THE HENRY-FARQUHAR MISSION

Southland Times, Issue 16689, 18 March 1911, Page 7

THE HENRY-FARQUHAR MISSION

“ riTTXJKE OS' TEE ANGIO-SAXON BibCE.” Dr Henry gave the third address in the Victoria Hall at tnid-day yesterday of his series on " The future of the Anglo-Saxon Dace.” The attendance at these men's meetings has not been large, and there is cause for disappointment in this fact. Many men vi'ho slum the emotion-charged atmosphere of the ordinary mission meetings would thoroughly enjoy the addresses given by Dr Henry at an hour which is believed to he convenient for business men. No one need ho shy there is no penitent form. Mr Uarqtihar sings and leads the singing (most of those present prefer to join In. hut the missioncr doesn’t make personal remarks about it). Dr Henry speaks with earnestness and power for about twenty minutes, some visiting clergyman is asked to pronounce the Benediction, and the meeting is over unless one regards the unobtrusive offertory box at the door as part of the service. Continuing ins remarks on the race and alien . problem, of the United Stales, Dr Henry said that no other nation in the world had been called upon to face such a difficult problem. The ignorant alien immigrant was the source of all the political corruption because lie gas given the full rights of franchise and was under the absolute sway of unscrupulous politicians. There were less than 16 million aliens In the United Suites (out of a total population of 98 millions), and they were responsible for OS per cent of the crime. Practically all the capital crimes wore committed by aliens. One could not judge a bona fide American (if there was such a thing as a bona fide American) by the criminal .statistics of the country. The strikes all originated through exploitation of labour unions of alien workers. the country had to face not only the alien problem, hut also the race problem. The negro population had increased from i million to 1- million an unparalleled rate of increase. In fourteen southern states nine had more black people titan white people, and in order to retain political power in the hands of the white population every effort was being made to limit the franchise of the negroes. There was a property qualification, and an education qualification, but the negro pointed out (with a certain amount of reason) that no such restrictions were imposed in the case of the ignorant alien immigrants who did not even have the qualification of being Americanborn. It was understood that ttie validity of the restrictions would be legally tested. There had been a suggestion, which might bo feasible, that Hie younger people of the negro population might ho deported to some other place. In addition to the problem caused by the presence of 1(1 million aliens, and 111 million negroes, not to speak of the aborigines, the* re was a Chinese problem, a Japanese problem, and a Mexican problem. The solution of one would bo the solution of all. There were three fields of service, continued Dr Henry, which furnished resources that were being used to arrive at a solution of the problems enumerated. The first was the field of temperance reform. Most of the aliens were men aceustomed to Hie use of drink. Sixty-five per vein of the brewers were foreign-boni, seventy-five per cent of the wine merchants were for-eign-horn. and ninety-two per cent of the publicans were foreign-born. Nine out of ten cases of lynching and of southern outrages were due to the inlluence of strong drink. The spread of prohibition in the southern slates had been attended by a marked diminution of strife between the black and the wiiite population. The speaker detailed one or two of the more nefarious aspects of the drink traffic among the blanks. Foi' instance on Hie bottles containing a .lie concoction alleged to bo whisky (it was throe parts poison), there were labels hearing pictures of miked white women. This stuff was sold to til" negroes by white men and bud the direct result of inllai-ing their passions. I lurrying on from this unsavoury subject. Dr Henry said that the temperance sentiment, was the product of religious conviction. He outlined Hie large areas In tip* different states where prohibition (total prohibition. not no-license) Inal been carried by local vote. lie mentiomd Ilia I the eily of Chicago, with a population of two million people, had more dram shops than were in the fourteen southern stales, with a population of sixteen million people. Scientific temperance i ns t rue t i on was given in all the puhlie schools of the United States, and every teacher was required to pass a written examination on the effects of alcohol oil the human system. Kdncalion and temperance went hand in hand, a result Hint was due to the stupendous work unde-laUen by the Women's Christum Temperance Union. The temperance sentiment, lie said, wa.s never at such a while lie,it it; it was to-day in the United States. It was not so much sentiment, he declared, as sense ; not so much religion as business. It had been confidently asserted Ih. t commercial ism i uuid kill strong drink. The whole question was one of efficiency, and the trade of the future would he in the hands of a sober people. The public school system, free (from so much as the purchase of a load pencil) from the kindo arten to the State University, and the sobriety of Hie teachers, would v >ry largely solve the problem of c.i Moonship in America.

The last point touched upon hy Dr Henry, as a contributing factor to the solution of (lie American social proidem. was the enterprise and the religious effort exhibited by the churches. They were 'adding to their membership year hy year by hundreds of thousands. He put it this way : The business enterprise ami energy that characterised church life compared favourably with the enterprise and energy shown in the business life of America. Contrasting this state of affairs with the different experience of Groat Britain in the same connection, lie remarked that Groat Britain washed its dirty linen in secret ; the United States washed it on tho house lops. Evangelism was an integral part of the church life of America. Finally. Dr Henry said that they had not yet solved their problem, but it was in process of solution, and prospects of success had never been so bright as they were at the present time. He believed in a religion that found expression in the ballot box ; that voted as it prayed, witli this difference that ’.lien they prayed with their eyes shut they should vote with their eyes open. Sobriety. education, and evangelisation, were the three important factors in tho great fight tiiat was now being carried on. INCREASING INTEREST. As the mission proceeds, the interest is increasing, the attendance in 'the theatre last night being by far the largest so far at a week night meeting. The big congregation, with the assistance of tho large choir, joined most heartily in the slnginj. and the service throughout was most Impressive. Dr Henry took as his subject “How a great man lost his grip,” and dwelt interestingly on tho story of Samson and the mission given him to fill. Ho drew conclusive and striking lessons from the diabolical character of Samson, warned his hearers of the ultimate fate of those who followed the groat giant’s footsteps. He urged them to settle the most important question of their lives whilst they had health and strength and opportunity. Previous to tho meeting an open-air demonstration took place. A procession formed at the Theatre, and, headed by the Salvation Army Band, marched tiirough tlic principal streets. A Halt was made at the rotunda, where several speeches were delivered. A meeting for the benefit of farmers will be hold today at 1.45 p.m.