The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-05
OF CANALS
NJ AY BE RESTORED

contributed so largely to populariztng
anew. church going. to rendering piety
fashionab BILE. partly through precept,
and partly through bestowing their
favor upon those building and endow-
Ing churches. That this success of
theirs should now be compromised by
these assertions from tho church ar
fects them very deeply.
The Kaiser, moreover, sees In these
directions danger to the dynasty and
the state. For he looks upon the
abandonment OF the church as a step,
not only towards irrcligion, but also
towards that socialism which, In his
eyes Is the principal peril and foe
OF his government
AT his Instance, and at that of the
Empress, endeavore are now being
MADE by tho government to stem the
movement away from the church by
rendering very much heavier the fees
demanded by the state for each act OF
remuneration OF the church. But this.
alter all. Is very unsatisfactory
method of keeping citizens against
their will within tho folds Of tho state
! Protestant establishment The So
ciaiists arc organizing everywhere pub
lie meetings to protest against this
increase OF tho fees; while the gov
ernment through tho police, Is en-
| deavoring to prevent the holding Of
-
ing rise to a considerable amount Of
POPULAR c0mmot!on and ill-will.
IL is not particularly cdifying, no
matter which way ono looks at IL.
either that people should he deserving
thcir church In order to avoid having
TO contribute to Its support. or thar
the government should be endcaroring
( 70 keep them within the sheepfold Of
the church by making diem pay an
extortiohate fec for letting them out
II comes oown to Il sordid question OF
money.
Miss Edith Durham Is SO we'll known
70 the newspaper reading public In the
united States. in connection with her
| letters, her magazine articles, and her
books, on tho subject of Albania.
| montenegro. Servia and conditions In
ire Balkans generally, that her re-
turn to The King OF Montenegro of the
gold medal OF his Order of Merit,
which he bestowed upon her in 1907.
cannot but arouse interest
she declines 10 wear or retain the
medal any longer; not because of any
thing done by King Nicholas or the
members or his house. but as n pro-
iest against the Cruelties practiccd nv
the Montenegrins in Albania during
the last year or so. She claims that
the Albdnians have suffered more at
the hands OF the Mcntenegr,ns and
aervians during the last eighteen
months. than In all the centuries OF
turkish oppression and persecution:
ana as she has received universal ac
knowledEment OF the splendid work
whicn she has done in connection with
the relief OF tho sick, wounded ana
suffering, IN the Southeast Of E,urono
since the beginning of the war In tho
laikans' her views are entitled TO con-
sideration.
Miss Durham Is not as so MANY peo-
pie seem to believe, an American. bur
an Engiishwoman. is clever artist,
has exhibited with considerable suc.
cess at the Royal Academy In London:
put during the past cigh. or ten years
mas devoted herself to the study OF
conditions In the Southeast of E;urope
ana especially to good works there
winning universal admiration and tho
good viii and gratitude OF the DconIe
! ior whom rho labored
The return to sovereign Of n
decoration bestowed by him Is rela
lively rare; far more 40 than the re-
rusai to accept distinction OF this
KIND in the nrsc place: and Il is usual
! ~ done. as In tho case OF Miss Dur
nam. as species of protest against
some net either OF the crown or Of tho
nation that bestowed the order
| copyright, 1914. by tho Brentwood
Company