The North Cumberland Reformer. — 1893-06-15 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

LORD JESUS CHRIST.  THE object of the Boys' Brigade movement, as officially worded is—" The advancement of Christ's kingdom among boys, and the promotion of habits of reverence, discipline, self-respect, and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness." A better object could hardly be conceived of, and from our point of view, a less likely agency for its accomplishment could scareely be adopted by a Christ-loving community. The movement is widespread, and is rapidly growing. Already the Brigade is composed of 570 companies connected with churches, missions, and Sunday schools, in all parts of the United Kingdom, with an enrolled strength of over 1,800 officers and 24,000 boys. We admit the importance of fostering self-control, ready and prompt obedience, patience, neatness, and every other quality that goes to build up manliness. But wc claim that there are other and better means by which such ends can be attained to. Life-saving brigades could surely be formed as easily. Why not have lire escape brigades, brigades that drill in all the points required for saving life from drowning, gymnastics that develop muscle, teach precision, and foster expertness and rapidity of action under circumstances of sudden emergency? Such brigades are as practicable and as likely to reach all the ends aimed at by the Boys' Brigade; and more also, even the higher valuation of human life, and an unselfish desire to lessen danger to others, and to promote the safety, welfare, and good brotherhood of all mankind. Militaryism may sneer at the suggestion that to train lads to save life is a noble and manly kind of training ; but we are sure that it is more Christly, and more worthy of our Christian character so to train them.  THE South American hatred of the race that they once held in brutal bondage has not, apparently, abated one jot since the great emancipating war. But that the United States should permit that hatred to assume and maintain the horrible forms of expression that the Lynch Law of the South provides, is an unutterable disgrace to the United States. Here is one case out of numbers.—" When the prisoner's train reached Paris, (Texas), a rope was thrown around his neck, and he was dragged out, placed on a four horse float, and driven through the principal streets of the city. The mayor of the city had given the school children a holiday, and when Smith, accused of murdering a little girl—an unproved charge —had been exhibited, he was bound on a scaffold which was built ten feet high. Here the relatives of the murdered child, with red hot irons branded Smith's body from the sole of his feet to the crown of his head. They rolled the irons across his abdomen and down his back, cooking his flesh. They cooked his tongue, and ran the red hot poker down his throat to stop his cries. They burned his eyes out Fifteen thousand persons looked on, and cheered this hour's torture of a human being. Then oil was poured over the almost lifeless body, shavings were placed under him and lighted. The flames, which bnrned the ropes from his body, brought him back to consciousness for a moment, and burned, maimed, and sightless as he was, Smith rolled off the platform and away from the fire. Then this mob seized his half. cooked body and thrust it back into the flames, and fought over the ashes for bones and buttons as relics." Will the negro American citizens stand this kind of thing much longer?