The Washington herald., 1911-06-25


National Council of the Free Churches
of England and Wales sent a comlnunt-
cation to President Taft. and II has
Just been given him in person by a
committee from the council with the
Rev. F. B. Meyer as chairman. Tne
federal council expresses its willingness
to take the lead in a world council for
peace that shall include Christian or
ganizations OF Germany and Great
listers and laymen Of standing and in
fiuence. The predictions is made that
In such q world council Catholics of
Europe and America will unite with
Protestants Agitation of the whole
matter is to go on at summer confer
ences during July and August with a
view to concerted action early next
fall.
The new President of Mexico. wheth-
er the leader Madero or another, is
committed to the task OF improved pub
lie sentiment In Yucatan, In the
Campeche section. in Lower California,
and to some extent in the vicinity of
the City of Mexico itself, fanaticism
obtains to the extent of being willing
to take life, while stoning religious
gatherings and arresting Bible agents
on suspicion of being common thieves
are not at all infrequent
Colporters of the American Bible
Society have playel part in bringing
about improvements now expected.
Keeping out of politics, they have held
services in streets and halls, and have
visited prisons and private homes In
great numbers. At Campeche Lerma
not long since, there being gathered a
handful OF people for religious wor-
ship, stones came through the windows
and injured worshipers. When the
leaders of the meeting went to the door
to protect their service books and tracts
were grabbed from them and burned
in the street.
In Northern Sonora, supposedly one
of the most progressive regions, a theft
occurred from a church. The Bible
colporter was suspected, arrested. and
put in prison without a bit of EVIL
dence against him, he wes hurried for
miles over a mountain road, subjected
to torrents of abuse. and finally re-
leased, his only compensation being
guarantee of a safe conduct to the
place from whence he had forcibly
come.
In Chuyamel man, not wholly sober,
snatched a New Testament from col
porter's hand, threw 1t into the mud,
and attacked the colporter with q
machete. These are incidents of a not
well settled condition of society. and
serve to show the tremendous difflcul-
ties which confront Madero and those
who labor for the improvement OF
Mexico. They also show the work of
the American Bible Society and of
Christian people OF the United States
who through it seek to help a sister
republic.
During 1910 the centennial of the
patriot Hidalgo, the soldier-priest, who
| led Mexicans to liberty, was observed,
and the American Bible Society's part
in 1t was the gift of editions of the four
Gospels and the Book of Proverbs, with
the Mexican tri-color on the cover. No
fewer than 52.O69 Gospels and 1928
Proverbs were sold or given away. and
IN spite of the political troubles and
with the coming of peace through the
efforts of Madero, 1t is expected that
the entire editions of both books will
be distributed this year.
The extent to which some Christian
people of the United States are con-
tributing to changes in Mexico Is
shown by these facts: Last year Bible
colporters visited no fewer than 1899
cities and towns, and distributed ST.
los copies of the Scriptures, almost
wholly by sale. In, the larger cities.
notably in the national capital, Mon
terey and Oaxaca, Christian Endeavor.
Epworth League, and Sunday School
work fourishes Much OF this change
has come as result of Bible distri-