The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-07-03

New York, July Z-ReV. UT. Nia is- tian F. Reisner, the energetic preacner from out of the west who has come to New York as pastor of Grace Method ist church and who already begun to demonstrate to the churches in New York the value of advertising. has pre- pared for the Publishers Press the fol- lowing prayer for the Fourth of July.
 A Prayer for Independence Day
 By Christian F. Reisner, D. D. fi
 We thank Thee o Father of our country for American citizenship. Va ., s,thank Thee for the self-sacrifcing sol- diers in all the past. Make us worthy heirs. Plant priceless patriotism in our hearts. Breathe on us spirit cf brotherhness that rubs out foreign marks. Merge our people into oneness. Lead us to honor only the honest. Armor us to rout the wrong. May dsdly deeds hang beautiful memories in our minds Construct in us Beacon-Mght characters for the coming genera tioms- Settle in us a purpose to serve Teacn us to get riches by giving. Set us to summing souls with kindness. Build nobility into our natures. For the eladness of men and the glory of God we ask it. Amen.
 The Pied Ftper of Hamlen had no . persua sivenes; with children not en- loved by Rev. Father John F.. Condon- s. J., who, With Father John Walsh S. l., is ccndu netting mission at the ] church of St. John Chrysostom in the Bronx.
 Father Condon announced that he would hold blessing service for ba- bies, and he wanted every child in tho parish present, especially the babies He urged the mothers to attend and bring babies. Those who had mono could borrow their neighbors' and those who had many could bring them all
 And don't be afraid to come with them because they make a noise," the priest said. 1T think there can be no sweeter music in the heavenly chotrs than the prattle of little tongues, and no sacred altarg were ever profaned by x their innocent prenenDe-" X The word spread therouSh tho Bronx and on the appointed day there was the widest search for babies that ever happened north or south of the Harlem Into tho church a crowd of coofn1s Eurg1ing, chuckling infants was car ried to the overburdened pewx Some or the little ones who could walk were toddlfng up the aisle and staring up with delighted faces at the blazing lights on the altars and one stood be- fore the life- sized statue of the blessed Virgin, lifting up her chubby hands in entreaty to be taken up and fondled-
 When Father Waish, who oficiated at the service, came to the altar. ready to say the prayers and pronounce the blessing, he paused in. astonish- ment. A chorus of "goos" and "gurs" and rippiing baby laugh ter met him, and seeing one toddler who was vainiy trying to make the step to the foot of the altar where the Saviour's benign face looked down, he caught the in- ing to the front repeated, "Sufrer ntue children to come unto me- for of such Is the kingdom of heavpn."
 The priest spoke briefly on the bless ings of motherhood. and proceeded with the prayers and blessings for children and mothers present and the blessing for sick children who could not coma
 All the responses were loud and fsrv- ent "goo-goos," and if they didn't como at the right place they came often. Not . child cried noticeabiy and tho congregation evinced much interest in the service, some. of the little ones s;laushed outright when, as the priest, passed down the aisles sprinklins holy water the drops hit their heads.
 There were 500 persons present. 800 5 children, of whom at least 400 wore babies in arms.
 A huge missionary exhibition, on unique and ambitious lines, occupies Bingley Hall. Birmingham. Eng1and.s
 
 < 5sMissionary Society. of Birmin gham. ;. The display represents Africa aud the Far East,' effectively. Practically the whole field of the Church Mission ary, Society's enterprise in those great areas is covered by the exhibition. It depicts the national life of those coun- tries with fidelity and vividly bAlngs home to the/n6tive religions, with their quaint customs and strange supersti- tions. <
 The hall Is admirably adapted to the realistic section of the exhibition. In the Eskimo scenes the society's or- eratfons against the ceremonial wor- ship which groups itself around Sedna. the spirit of evil, are to be witnessed. There Is a most interesting African village, in which Is shown Yoruba compound, a Sierra Leone hut. and other African buildings. Houses from north India and south India, wayside shrines, and towers of silence in rapid success sion pourtray the varying conditions of life in that huge country. In the Mohammedan lands section one isA re- minded of that vast religious system. Mohammedanism, which stands today s>qs the greatest problem facing Christi-
 sity. This section is ono of the most creating, and contains Bedouin tent, N th it's inhabitants in the costume of ~s sso tfave1ern of tha denert. q Turk