Y.M.C.A. NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 455, 13 March 1909, Page 9

Y.M.C.A. NOTES.

i (By H. N. H.) Mr, C. Dittmer, of Adelaide, passed through Wellington this week on routo to< Duncdin, whero 'ho is to bo assistant secro-' tary to Mr. G. B. Hughes. Mr. J. J. Virgo, general, secretary of the Sydney Association, who was recently approached by the International Committee of the Young Men's Christian Associations withi a view to his acceptance of an important position in the- religious work department, has decided to remain in Sydney. Mr. 11. Burgess bas received the secretary-' ship in Masterton, and Mr. N. Marshall hasi been temporarily appointed. , The seventeenth world's conference of thai Y.M.C.A. will bo held in Germany this year \ from July 2S to August 2. In all proba-j bility Australasia will bo represented by its! national secretary, Mr. William Gillaudors, i formerly of Wellington. Tho Sydney Association has commenced at campaign to raise 332,000 shillings to clear the now building of debt. Sir James Fairfax headed this effort with a gift of 10,000 shillings. . . Tho latest returns, of the entire association movement give tho figures as:—Number of centres included in world's alliance, 7681; number of enrolled members, 820,643; associations employing whole-time secretaries,', 1239; number of buildings owned by associa—' tions, 1181; approximate value of buildings, £10,257,815. Mr. John R. Mott (Foreign and Students Secretary of tho. International Y.M.C.A*.' Committee) has just concluded a wondering visit to the English universities. Of thoj 3000 undergraduates of Oxford, almost all, attended one or other of the fivo meetings. Of • tho visit to London, the most striking event, probably, was the meeting in tho Albert Hall, at.which Mr. Mott addressed almost 10,000', people, by far tho larger part of whom wore , students, both men and women, on "Modern.'" World Movements: God's Challongo to th» Church." Tlic Bishop of London presided. Dr. Campbell Morgan read tho Scripture son, and there were also present on the» platform the Bishop of, Soiithwark,' Sir Robert. Anderson, Lord Kinnaird,,Count Moltko,and Lord Reay. "To Mr. Mott," it has been, said, "missionary onterpriso is business—Hid , Father's business." JOTTINGS. General Booth continues to mako good progress, and is gradually resuming a more active participation in tho work which occupies all his thoughts. He has begun to his sight for reading and writing. I Colonel Hoskin, chief secretary to tho Salvation Army in Australia, who is well known in New Zealand, has experienced a complete breakdown in health,.and his medical advisor has ordered him to tako two months' rest. Methodism is brightening up its meetings in a ministerial musical way. At a Homo Mission gathering in Sydney, the Rev. W. Woolls Riitledgo forsook tho conductor's stand to sing tho solo lines of a coon frag—, ment, tho refrain of which was "There's a meeting hero to-night." 'Whether tho vqcaK offort was befitting tho dignity of an im-; portant denomination or otherwise is a quos-i tion that may bo open to discussion. To arrive at n determination-of i the matter,, imagine a ministerial choir lilting thus: — I'm a Methodist bred, And a Methodist born . There's a meeting here to-night. (Laughter.) And when I'm dend, There's a Methodist gone; There's a meeting here to-uigkt. (Renewed laughter.) ■ . This is a good old Methodist refrain, and, oi' course, was loudly encored, and duly repeated. The Rev. J. Stephen Barrass gavo an address recently to members of tho dramatio and music-hall professions at St. Martin's-in-the-Ficlds. In speaking of tho work of the Actors' Church Union, ho said a good deal of prejudice existed, upon both sides, between tho Church and the stage, but it was rapidly being rolled away. Ho wa» convinced of a steady growth of confidence. Many members of touring companies had acknowledged tho value of tho work of the union in the provinces, and the services at St. Martin's were intended to bring together those engaged in the theatres and musichalls in London. President R-oo'sevelt received the other day a deputation from tho Y.W.C.A. of Washington, and heartily congratulated them on, the success of their labours. This was ono of" the few gatherings at tho White House, h» said, that had taken pjneo on his own suggestion, not on that of his visitors. It was duo , ' to a recent call from an African missionary, who happened to bring with him a young lady connected with tho Y.W.C.A. In tho course of conversation the President became so interested in what she had to tell him that he offered to give a special audience to a delegation on tho subject, "not in the way of giving any advice, but with the earnest purpose of calling attention to tho admirable work that is being done, and to tho need that our peoplo should support it in every possible way. Tho Rev. , J. W. Burton, of the Australian. Methodist Missionary Society Indian Mission in Fiji, appeals for a radical reform in tho methods of introducing Christianity to nonChristian races. Ho says in tho '"'Hibbert" journal "thero is no evidence yet of any serious attempt to co-ordinate forces hi a world-wido movement. In tho great majority of cases there is no relation between the regiments stationed in tho individual field of battlo ... so it happens that mission fields are studded wth half-built castles and tho graves of capable workers aro marked by broken shafts of unaccomplished purpose. This is tho real tragedy of missionary life." Tho . Fedoral-Contonnial Conference of Churches of Christ in Australia and New Zealand is fixed for April 14 to 21, in Sydnoy. Fully 300 representatives are expected from tho respective States. Prominent speakors, including Mr. Uatchclor, Federal Minister, are planned to deliver addressee. Miss May Thompson, missionary of'Harda' India, and Mr. Frank Filiuor, missionary of tho Island of Pentecost, Now Hebrides," are expected to speak at the missionary rally.

THE EMPIRE.

—. „ 1 1> ■~—-,. , ... : ... lATEST NEWS BY THE ENGLISH MAIL." UNITED KINGDOM.;: ■;/.;;•; London, January 30. The amazing happenings, at Tottenham.; When two anarchists ran amok and killed a policeman and a Jittlo boj'j has drawn attention to the'■porils of policemen. -An official return (says '"the '"Standard of Empire") shows "that in , London rooro than 3000 policemen 4'ro, rndrc.or,, less seriously injured every year-while' piKdutyiiii the metropolis. Of these in"oho year 2302 were esßaulted whilo endeavouring to make arrests, and .in threo years 01 officers were permanently incapacitated in this way. A dastardly referenco to the crime of the Tottenham Anarchists was niado. by..a Socialist orator to a mob on Tower Hill. Ihe agitator Williams had gathered , , a throng to march to Belgrave Square, and his friends were addressing the men in violent speeches. Tho utterance —to which tho attention of tho polico- is called—was " • niado by "Comrade" Andra'do, of PdplarV -Ho'said:—.'lon ■have heard of the Tottenham murder, where a Russian Anarchist, is said to havo shot a policeman'. Tho policeman has been called a hero, and tho Anarchist a murderer. He is not. -Ho is a, hero. ■-I wish there ■were twenty' such irieri ' as that' Russian Anarchist in the ranks of the unemployed to do battle'' with us to-day in Belgravu " Bquare.",;;'. n ■_'.'■,■{■.*K : -' '.-vr-. ii'C.'.'-T , , •''■ r ;.':■■■.' A charming sequel to tho story" of a young lady's has just taken place by the ' marriage of a young Englishwoman, Miss Austin/to a Canadian. It appears "that last year Miss Austin 1 was tho witness, of an exciting struggle , between.a, policeman and.his refractory prisoner, who would have escaped him altogether : but-for ■ Miss-Austin!s-plucky assistance. Her action was warmly praised by the'magistrate. A Canadian who read the ,Btory far away in Ontario was so struck by her courage that he made 'up his mind' to "marry 'her. • He came- , to England quite recently,..and, haying, identified the young lady," succeeded in winning hor;for his bride. They aro now on the way to" their'home in ,-Canada. ■ ■. .', ; , A' demonstration by unemployed musicians S3 a protest'against the "War Office permit- . ting Army bands to compote' with them' in taking .-public engagements, notably at Olympia, whore the Royal Irish Fusiliers have displaced a civilian band, was witnessed bjr an lenormous crowd at Whitehall. • Knowing tho, Cabinet was sitting, the demonstrators played:tho Dead March in "Saul" at the Dottoin.'.of Downing Street, and also at the ,IV'»r Office and the Homo Office.A comedy, Which might easily have developed into ! a-tragedy, has just occurred at Btreatham, where thwre have been recently .numerous burglaries and attempts at burglary. A" housemaid in a large detached residence in Leigham Court, Road was aroused by an alarum which had been set, and, thinking it was time to get up, went downstairs and drew back the bolts of the side doAr. Hearing the unusual noise at so early an hour, tho master of the house thought'biirglars had come, arid whistled for 'the police. The. gardener and a plain clothes-inan answered the call; but unfortunately, mistook each ;othqr..'for.vthe. burglar. The consequence was a terrific struggle, in which another plain clothes detective joined. !A neighbor, aroused by tho noise, came-out end immediately endeavoured to ■ rescue. tho gardener ■ from tho deeming burglars. He got rather mishandled, so;his-brother.came to bis help with an ice-axe. At this juncture more plain clothes men arrived, and tho. Gilbertian .struggle...assumed-alarming.■.pro-portions. . Fortunately explanations were forthcoming before' serious injuries' had been inflicted. ' v ■"■•■*' .' A small "guests were invited to .18 Old, Broad Street," the offices of tho IndoEuropeaJi Telegraph/Company, and there , witnessed tho achievementy r bf a 1 world's record, when one of: the operators' sent'a message to Calcutta on a direct line from the London offic&to the receiving room,,over,. 7000 miles had an answer in seven minutes. For experimental:- purposes/other cities were signalled for ( messages. Bombay said: "It is hot here! , Wo'suppose-'you are cold." Madras said: "It-is cold 'but dry." Constantinople said: "Our Parliament is sitting." ;' Odessa, .-Tabriz, Pefa, and Teheran sent any messages which came into the heads of the operators. It was all done quickly and without a hitch. Ihe operators telegraphed .to' Pera as easily »s to Peckham Rye,; and Teheran was no further away-in-point ~of-time than •looting. : . .:; . ;,„,. , ~,,/,. ■ l An'.experiment'with the new : -anaesthetic,known as stovah.e, ,has-had.a.fataUrcsult.-At an inquest held at. Battersea on the body of John Sargent, 72,-who diod in the Waiidswonli Infirmary-while under the influence of this anaesthetic,, it was. stated in evidence ■that the anaesthetic, was administered as' preliminary to a grave operatioh,' which was absolutely necessary, if, life "was .to .be .prolonged; but the'patienbrdied -from'-failure , ' of the heart in consequence ' of'the':effect of the stovane. A .verdict of .accidental death, was returned. '■-^;-■;.■;■_•.■.';•.■ '■'■:::'."-■'■.■.-. Captain Amundsen, the. Norwegian" Polar explorer, who has arrived in England-for tho purpose of. laying before the Geographical bociety his plans for his projected North 1 olar expedition, in an interview with regard to his coming expedition, said:—"This is not to be any dash for'tho Pole, but V carefully worked out scientific expedition, having for its object the fullest possible investigation of the iNorth Polar basin. I .propose-to start early next season, and to bo'absent five or six years.- My object is to cross the Polar basin entering at Behring Straits,' and exploring slowly and thoroughly whenever possible.' The idea - iindorlying J the "whole" expedition "is" to use the means already provided by Nature < as proved by tho .drift of .the.Pram, and to of ...the cu'iTonts■ wliich undoubtedly run across the Pole. This means entering the Polar regions.. at'Behring Straits and coming out between - : Spitzborgen ■ and' Greenland. , ;.,... :~' .'. .". '.

Major A. J. Reed has made an extraordinary statement regarding the operations of Gorman spies in tho United Kingdom - He declared that the British Intelligence Department had recently receded" information revealing the organisation'of ;the 7 departnient of tho German secret.Vpblico operating in tho united Kingdom. -"Those, Oernian agonts," no continued, "aro .divided into- two sections. Ono section is known as fixed agents. These are men in all grades: of lifo/'fromlabourers to merchants,- .who 'make reports on ; our coast defences, railways, etc. The second ■ section )s termed.of travelling agents, who direct.the work of espionage, and makes payments to the fixed agents. Tho number of Germans regularly collecting information in England, more especially on tho east and south coasts, is computedto be over, 5000." Colonel Lamb, of the Salvation Army Emigration Department, by way, of popularising emigration, announces , that tho Salvation Army proposes, under certain conditions, for the sum of 165., paid when the passage ' is booked, to insure married emigrants against sickness, loss of luggage, and unemployment. They will pay them, for example, 'for a month after debarkation 21s. per week if during that time, the wnge-earner fails to obtain work. Tho premium for singlo adults is 10s. Assisted emigrants will share in the benefits, of tho scheme. The first party of emigrants to bo sent out by this organisation will leave on March 11.. -. ~ John Loo, of Abbots Kerswcll, Devonshire, known as "the man they could not hang " has been married at Newton Abbot- Congregational Church to Miss Jessie Augusted Bulled, head attendant of tho mental "wards at Newton Workhouse.' , In< 1884 John Lee was convicted of tho murder at Babbacoinbo of Miss Emma Keyso, in whoso service he was a butler. Ho was sentenced to death, but each of three attempts to execute him failed, and tho death sentence was commuted to penal servitude for life. Lbo served over 20 years in prison, and was then released, at tho age of '12. CANADA. The great storm- which swept up tho Pacific Coast, although without causing any marine disasters as far as is known, camo very near annihilating a party of Canadian, Pacific engineers on the hills in the rear of the town of Alberin, Vancouver "Island. A tir tree, 210 feet in height and inoro than Sft. in diamofcer, fell directly . across their

camp, smashing it to pieces, but fortunately tho wholo party escaped without serious injury. Tho City Council of Montreal is inquiring into a curious case. It ordered, some time ago, tho construction of a new polico station, 'which was to have been DO/t. iviile. A curious alderman, when the work was almost finished, had a measurement inado, and found the building was only 80ft. wide. There hail also been a reduction in licijrht, and in the dimensions generally. The inquiry has for its purpose to discover who is responsible. Tho undergraduates in medicine of M'Gill have presented to Dr.- T. G. Roddick ■ n bronzo bust of himself.- Dr. Roddick, who is an ex-president of tho British Medical Association, has been connected with the touching staff of M'Gill for thirty-six years. Tho Trades and Labour Congress of Canada has presented to the Premier a memorial asking for certain legislation next session. The memorial urges that the appreciation of tho Congress be expressed for the good work done by tho Department of Labour, and that the Government bo urged to create a portfolio for a Minister, to be known as the Minister of Labour, and also that the legislation making it compulsory for candidates at Federal elections to deposit 2000 dollars be repealed, and that election day be made a public holiday. A campaign has been inaugurated to raise a largo sum of money to build a now central Y.M.C.A. building in Toronto. Tho building outlook steadily improves. y Thd Ontario Library Association lias in.stituted a plan for the education of the adult artisan through the instrumentality of ihe local librarios. It is now definitely settled that tho Dominion Exhibition will bo held at St. John, Now Brunswick, in IDIO. Thp total immigration into Canada last year amounted to 148,700, which was a decrease of-over 120,000. Arrivals at tho ocean ports numbered 01,576. From tho United States there- were 57,124 arrivals. - Tho certainty that in the future very largo, wheat shipments will be made from British Columbian ports to tho United Kingdom Js. having a marked stimulus upon the development of the coast , cities. , SOUTH AFRICA. An Education Commission has been appointed in Natal to consider the advisability of instituting a system of freo compulsory education for tho children of white residents, and tho provision of agricultural and industrial training schools for the natives. In- replying to an address of welcome at Bloemfontein on his arrival from England, Sir Hamilton Goold Adauis, Governor of tho Orange River Colony, paid a tribute to tho broadminded patriotism of tho Convention debates. It is officially announced that the profits for tho past year of the gold mines.amounted to £12,324,029; tho average working costs per ton were 18s. Id.

INDIA AND THE EAST.

, At a conference of locomotive and carriago superintendents .of India,, tho committee resolved "that certain Australian timbers may bo usefully, employed in rolling-stock construction in place of teak, especially in wagon repair work." In the hopo of avoiding a repetition of disorders in Bombay last . year, during the lUohnrrum celebrations, a committee, com[xiseci of ieading members of the various sections of tho Mohammedan community of Bombay has been appointed to tako such measures as they deem necessary to prevent disorder. . . .An important and valuable irrigation project has been completed in the Chitaldrooc district'of ,the Mysore State, viz., the'Mankanavo reservoir, which has been constructed by the throwing of a dnm across tiio WedaT atl ?dno r- t>, was begun in September, 1893, and the cost of the dam is about rJt , .°, f n 'P MS - T ho dam is 1330 ft.'long, U2ft. high above tho bed of tho river, with a depth of 25ft foundation; its breadth at the bottom is ,150 ft., and at tho top 15ft The capacity- of.'the tank is 30,399 million cubic feet. _The Indian Government hos informed Lord Morley that they aro unwilling to join the British postal scheme for value payable (cash on delivery): post'between Great Britain and British-possessions. W f^ rd Tvn 9 f loy the abolition of the Military Supply Department, and tho change'will probably come into fores on April 1. By tho abolition of tliis department effect is practically given to Lord Kitchener's original scheme, Ins proposal boing that both personnel and supply should be concentrated ,under the control of,the Commander-in-Chief