of the State. Mobile is still first with 38,469, against 31,076 in 1890. Birmingham has risen to 38,415 from 26,178 in 1890. The territorial limits of Birmingham have been enlarged since 1890. Montgomery, which had 21,883 in 1890, has now 30,346. The population of the other larger places is: Anniston, 9,695; Selma, 8,713; Huntsville, 8,068; Florence, 6,478; Bessemer, 6,358; Tuscaloosa, 5,094; Eufaula, 4,532; New Decatur, 4,437; Gadsden, 4,282; Opelika, 4,254; Phoenix, 4,163; Troy, 4,095; Girard, 3,840; Pratt City, 3,485; Sheffield, 3,333; Dothan, 3.275; Greenville, 3,162; Decatur, 3,114; Avondale, 3,060.

Of the 66 counties, 2, Cleburne and Lawrence, have decreased slightly in population since 1890; all others have grown. The figures for the two

COUNTIES. 1900. 1890.

Henry...

17,915 13,330 13,194 8,941 Jackson 35,152 34,898 || Jefferson 18,498 13,824 Lamar 23,119 21,927 || Laudervale 31.944 27.063|| Lawrence.. 25.761 21,641 Lee 34.874 33,835 Limestone 32,554 21,319 Lowndes.. 21,096 20,459 || Macon 16,522 14,549 Madison 18,136 17,526 Marengo. 27,790 22,624 Marion 17,099 15,765 Marshall 13.206 13,218 | Mobile 20.972 12.170 Monroe 22,341 20,189 Montgomery. 17,514 14,594|| Morgan 16,144 15,906|| Perry 13,346 7,536 Pickens Crenshaw 19,668 15,425 Pike

Cherokee Chilton Choctaw Clarke Clay

Cleburne.

Coffee

Colbert

Conecuh Coosa. Covington

Cullman

Dale

Dallas

DeKalb

Elmore

17,849 13,439 Randolph. 21,189 17.225 Russell.. 54.657 49,350 St. Clair 23,558 21,106 Shelby. 26.099 21,732

Escambia. 11.320 8,666

Etowah

Fayette.

Sumter Talladega.

Franklin.

27,361 21,926 Tallapoosa. 14,132 12,823 16,511 10,681 19,906 10,690

Tuscaloosa Walker

Washington Wilcox

Geneva Greene Hale

24.182 22,007

31,011 27,501 Winston

Finances. The statement of the Auditor for the fiscal year, issued in October, showed a deficit of $184,564.22. During the past four years the revenue has increased by about $1,000,000 in all, and the deficit has been reduced $168,389.35. The receipts for the seven months ending April 30 were $2,243,191.53, and the disbursements $1,428,179.28.

The valuations for the current year were: Real estate, $158,025,028; personal property, $108,218,142; total, $266,243,170. The tax on real estate was $874,573.42, and that on personal $595,102.87. This does not include the figures for Winston County.

The last Legislature imposed an additional mill for the public schools, estimated to amount to about $250,000, and an additional half mill for soldiers and widows of soldiers. The amount placed to the credit of the school fund Oct. 1 was $442,810.19.

The State Supreme Court declared the revenue law passed in 1899 unconstitutional.

Education. The number of school children by the last census was 633,546, of whom 282,879 were colored. The amount apportioned for public schools for the year ending Oct. 1 was $672.239.47. The contingent fund was $1,000, and the Winston County special appropriation $800. Amounts appropriated to higher institutions were as follow: Troy Normal College, $5,000; Florence Normal College, $7,500; Livingston Normal College,

The sale of university lands at prices believed to be far below their value was declared by the trustees to be illegal, and suit was brought to

annul it.

Military. From the statement issued by the Adjutant General it appears that the organized military force of the State is 2,471, while the number of men available for military duty, but unorganized, is 165,000. The Adjutant General estimated in the summer that about 80 per cent. of the State Guard would volunteer for service in China if called upon. The State appropriated $12,500 for encampment expenses, and the entire amount was used, together with funds subscribed in Mobile and Birmingham.

The number of persons allowed pensions this year was 11,214; in 1899 it was 9,628. The amounts available for distribution were $105,506 the former year and $244,303 the present.

The Governor and other citizens of the State made a trip to New Hampshire in September, on the occasion of the presentation of tablets to the battle ships Kearsarge and Alabama. The Governor of New Hampshire gave to Gov. Johnston two Confederate flags captured by two New Hampshire soldiers in front of Petersburg-the only captured flags that had not been turned over by the State to the National Government. The regiments and States to which they belonged were unknown. The Governor and members of his staff sent afterward to the Governor of New Hampshire a loving cup bearing the motto "Non Armis sed Amore Victi."

Talladega. The Andrew Jackson Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution asked and received permission to remove from the battlefield of Talladega the remains of the 17 Tennessee soldiers who fell there Nov. 9, 1813, and to reinter them in the city cemetery. The battlefield has passed into the possession of a coal and iron company, and the Talladega furnace stands on the grounds.

Mobile.-The increase of the commerce of Mobile during the past decade is given as being nearly threefold-from $3,479,444 to $10,485,072.

Insurance. From the report of the Insurance Commissioner it is learned that 115 companies are doing business in the State. Five retired during the year and 16 came in. The net gain to the State from the office was $50,000.

Products. In the production of iron ore in 1899 Alabama took the third place among the States, with 1,009,327 tons.

The coal product for the year was estimated at not less than 8,500,000 tons.

The cotton acreage in 1900 was 2,911,167, an increase of 5 per cent. The estimate of the crop made at the Convention of Cotton States Commissioners at Raleigh, in August, gave it as 821,000 bales. The consumption of cotton in the mills of the State, by Mr. Hester's estimate, was 137,922 bales.

The Dispensary. The dispensary law passed by the last Legislature, applying to some counties, went into effect Jan. 1. Some of the larger towns in counties where it applies are excepted. According to newspaper report, candidates favoring it in some counties where primaries were held found the question rather a drawback to their popularity.

Lawlessness.-A negro guilty of criminal assault was taken from jail at Huntsville, July 23. The sheriff made a brave resistance to the mob, but the doors were battered down, dynamite was thrown into the prison, and the man was hanged just before the arrival of militia from Decatur. In October a negro boy, sixteen years old, was burned at the stake near Eclectic for the same crime. In August part of a letter was published said to be written by the supreme commander of the so-called Regents of the White Shield in Alabama to a woman who was reported to be about to lead an army of negroes to avenge the lynching of a Southern negro. The extract from the letter read: "It gives me pleasure to inform you that the Regents of the White Shield are a very substantial body of organized patriots, who are ready to receive you and your Ethiopian escort and extend such other service as would be appropriate to express our contempt for a white with a black heart and at the same time to add another hue of darker shade to that of Hades. So come on, fair Joan of Arc, and don't be too modest about the number of black crusaders you bring with you. Ten thousand are not enough to tax our hospitalities in furnishing you sleeping accommodation in our potter's field. In conclusion, let me state that as we raise large crops of cotton in this section we have an abundant supply of rope on hand for every emergency, and we'll know when and how to use it."

Political. The primaries in April resulted in a victory for John T. Morgan as candidate for re-election to the United States Senate. There were originally 4 candidates: Senator Morgan, Gov. Johnston, W. C. Oates, and J. D. Roquemore. Col. Roquemore died and Gen. Oates withdrew, leaving the contest to the two first named, who "stumped the State" before the primary elections. The proposed constitutional convention and the so-called "land scandal" (see Annual Cyclopædia for 1899, page 4) played a prominent part in the campaign. Senator Morgan carried all the 55 counties that acted on the senatorship, and he was chosen by the Legislature, Nov. 15. The State elections were held Aug. 6. There were 4 tickets in the field, as follow: For Governor, William J. Samford, Democrat; John A. Steele, Republican; G. B. Crowe, Populist; H. L. Hargett, Prohibitionist.

For Secretary of State, Robert P. McDavid, Democrat; John H. Porter, Republican; T. W. Powell, Populist; L. F. Whitten, Prohibitionist. For Auditor, T. L. Sewell, Democrat; J. C. Swan, Republican; M. W. Whatley, Populist; R. O. Simpson, Prohibitionist.

For Treasurer, J. Craig Smith, Democrat; Pope M. Long, Republican; O. L. McKinstry, Populist; D. C. Batchelor, Prohibitionist.

For Attorney-General, Charles G. Brown, Demo

crat; C. D. Alexander, Republican; Leroy Watson, Populist; H. L. Martin, Prohibitionist.

For Superintendent of Education, John W. Abercrombie, Democrat; James I. Abercrombie, Republican; W. M. Wood, Populist; Porter, Prohibitionist.

For Commissioner of Agriculture, Robert R. Poole, Democrat; John B. Shields, Republican; J. M. Askew, Populist; C. D. Alverson, Prohibitionist.

Walter H. Matthews was nominated for the office of Auditor at the Democratic convention, but died in July, and the State committee filled the vacancy.

Samuel M. Adams was the nominee of the Populist convention for Governor. He declined because he disapproved the policy of the naming of a State ticket by his party. A. G. Dake declined the nomination for Treasurer, and the two vacancies were filled as above.

For

Following is an abstract of the principal declarations of the Democratic platform: "An honest and economical government. A scrupulous regard for the American Constitution. commercial expansion. The construction of the Nicaragua Canal. Denunciation of unjust treatment of Porto Ricans. The legitimate expansion of home and foreign trade. The regulation of trusts and riddance of the protective tariff. Belief in renomination of W. J. Bryan and a demand for his renomination. Belief in the Chicago platform, but no demand or instruction for its reaffirmation. The furtherance of public education."

66

The more important articles in the Populist platform were: That we advocate and urge upon all voters who are opposed to the liquor traffic the necesity of supporting candidates who favor the dispensary system as an improvement upon the license system. That we condemn in unmeasured terms the proposed constitutional convention as being inimical to the best interests of the people of Alabama. That we condemn the resolution passed by the late Democratic convention which recommends that defeated Democratic candidates for the Legislature be consulted in regard to local legislation."

The Republicans were divided into two factions at the time of their State convention, in April. The dispute over the right to control resulted in violence, during which a young man was seriously wounded. The differences were adjusted later, and in July the State committee put out the ticket with candidates drawn from both factions.

All the Democratic candidates were elected in August. The vote for Mr. Poole, the Democratic candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture, was 105,429; for Mr. Shields, Republican, 21,525; for Mr. Askew, Populist, 14,131; and for Mr. Alverson, Prohibitionist, 2,203. This makes a total of 143,288 votes cast. This is much less than the regular vote of the State. The vote for Governor would probably show larger figures, but the returns are not at hand. The Democratic majority was given in round numbers as 75,000. The Legislature is overwhelmingly Democratic. Senator holding over is a Populist, and the Populists and Republicans have about 9 Representatives.

One

At the November election Democratic congressmen were elected in all the 9 districts. The Bryan electoral ticket was successful.

ANGLICAN CHURCHES. Statistical.— The Official Yearbook of the Church of England gives the number of communicants of the Established Church as 1,941,760, with church accom

modation for 6,979,150 persons; number of pupils in Sunday schools, 2,394,804, with 207,539 teachers; net clerical income, £3,357,006; amount of voluntary contributions, £5,954,738; number of incumbents, 13,873. Another table of voluntary contributions given in the work increases the total and allots them as follows: I. To central and diocesan societies and institutions: (1) home missions, £548,881 48.; (2) foreign missions, £772,246 98. ld.; (3) educational work, £119,387 108. 5d.; (4) the clergy (educational and charitable assistance), £197,195 198. 8d.; (5) philanthropic work, £428,273 68. 2d.; total, £2,065,984 98. 4d. II. Funds locally raised and locally administered: (1) for the parochial clergy, £798,521 48. 11d.; (2) for elementary education and Sunday schools, £1,177,288 158. 7d.; (3) for general parochial purposes, £3,422,639 158. ld.; total, £5,398,449 158. 7d. The total voluntary contributions thus amounted to £7,464,434 4s. lld.

Statistics furnished by 990 out of 1,000 incumbents of Welsh parishes give the number of communicants in them as 133,223.

The accounts of the Representative Body in the Episcopal Church in Ireland showed that the amount of voluntary contributions had decreased by nearly £40,000. Yet a balance was left of £60,000 over the expenditures.

The Synod of the Episcopal Church in Ireland was held in Dublin in April. The primate, in his inaugural address, referred to the considerable decline of voluntary contributions which had taken place, and to the decrease of the receipts from assessment. The synod, however, possesses a capital fund of £8,000,000.

Grants were made from the incorporated Church Building Society during 1899 to 34 new churches and 25 mission or temporary churches, besides 6 grants for rebuilding churches and 28 for enlarge

ments. The total cost of the proposed church works was £297,217, while the society's grants were £16,035, in addition to £665 for mission buildings. The society had since its formation given £885,143 toward works involving a further expenditure of £14,840, and adding about 2,000,000 seats, three fourths of which were free. The year's income had been £6,869.

The annual report of the Bishop of London's fund, presented May 10, showed that the receipts for the year had been £28,172 and the payments £25,709. The temporary investments amounted to £36,913. Up to the end of the year sums aggregating £1,052,722 had been received for the fund, including £3,000 from the Queen, £1,000 from the Prince of Wales, £25,000 from the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, £25,681 from city companies, and a number of large gifts from individuals. The past year's grants had amounted to £5,067 for clergy, £3,058 for lay agents, £7,099 for mission buildings, £6,725 for churches, £319 for vicarages, and £676 for schools.

At the annual meeting of the Additional Curates Society, April 30, the secretary reported that the general income of the society for 1899 showed a decrease of £1,500. An increase of £700 over the corresponding period of the previous year had, however, taken place during the past four months. The last year's expenditures had been £58,785. Aid had been given to 1,020 parishes with 1,217 grants, amounting to £56,968.

The two hundred and forty-sixth festival of the Sons of the Clergy was held May 9. The total number of pensions and grants in 1899 was 1,689, on account of which £24,374 were paid.

Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. -The annual meeting of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, marking its

two hundredth anniversary, was opened April 27. The report showed that the gross income of the society for the year had been £136,846, indicating an increase of £4,490. The number of ordained missionaries, including 12 bishops, was 785, distributed as follows: In Asia, 253; in Africa, 185; in Australia and the Pacific, 47; in North America, 209; in the West Indies and Central and South America, 53; and 38 chaplains in Europe. Of these, 135 were natives laboring in Asia and 48 in Africa. There were also in the various missions about 2,000 lay teachers, 3,200 students in the society's colleges, and 38,000 children in the mission schools in Asia and Africa. With the exception of North America, it might be said that in every part of the empire, and beyond its limits, the work of the Church had been hindered in the past year by disasters and visitations which no human foresight could have reckoned with. The London Junior Clergy Missionary Association had advanced in work and in numbers, having now 500 members against 430 one year previously. The federation of all the Junior Clergy Associations numbered more than 5,000 members.

The two hundredth anniversary of this society was celebrated in London, June 16, 17, and 18. The exercises began June 16, the anniversary of the foundation of the society, with a communion in St. Paul's Cathedral, followed by a sermon by the Right Rev. W. C. Doane, Bishop of Albany. The bicentenary was the subject of special sermons in a large number of churches in London, Sunday, June 17. On Monday, June 18, a public evening meeting held in Exeter Hall was addressed by the Archbishop of Armagh and the Bishop of Kentucky. An historical review was read, which showed that the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel was established for the purpose of instituting a central organization to superintend the ministers of the Church of England who were sent out to serve the spiritual wants of the people in the colonies in America and elsewhere. It dates its origin from March 13, 1701, when a committee was appointed to inquire into the best means of promoting the Christian religion in the plantations (as they were called) or transmarine colonies. A charter was granted the society by William III in the following June, the object of the body being defined as "the religious instruction of the king's subjects beyond the seas," and the first two missionaries left a few months later for Boston, Mass.

One of the principles strongly held to by this society in its missionary work is that of caring for the religious welfare of all subjects of the Crown, without distinction of race or color. Its work has never, therefore, been limited to the conversion of the heathen to Christianity, although that is a most important part of its operations; but it has always endeavored to supply colonists with the means of maintaining those religious observances which they enjoyed in the mother country, and to do this by supporting clergy, endowing bishoprics, founding theological colleges, and other acts of similar nature. The first region in which the society carried on its work was that of the North American colonies, where the churches founded by it and their branchings have become the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States. Newfoundland was another early object of the society's attention, where help was first sent in 1703, and 59 clergy are now laboring. The first colonial bishop, Bishop Inglis, whose diocese covered all British North America from Newfoundland to Lake Superior, was consecrated in Nova Scotia, Aug. 12, 1787. Since the establishment of its missions there the society has maintained in Canada 1,500 ordained missionaries, who have ministered

to races speaking 16 languages, and has expended on church work, including endowments of bishoprics and colleges, £1,867,852. In the West Indies and Central America the society has expended up ward of £644,000. The first missionary to Africa was sent to the Gold Coast in 1752. With the first attempt at a regular colonization of South Africa, the first clergyman sent out by the society was stationed at Wynberg, near Cape Town, in 1820. At the present time there are 10 dioceses in South Africa between Cape Town and the Zambesi; and during the eighty years of its work the society has helped endow 8 of these dioceses, maintained 545 missionaries, and spent £821,395. It still has 155 missionaries among the 370 clergymen in South Africa, 23 of whom are natives. Work was begun in Australia in 1793, and the country was made a diocese in 1836. There are now there 15 bishops and about 850 clergymen. The society's expenditure in Asia has amounted to £2,340,799. Of 781 clergymen in India, 169 are chaplains maintained by the Government, 38 others are employed by the additional clergy societies and ministering to Europeans, 53 are engaged in educational work, and 521 are missionaries proper, 245 of whom are natives of the country, in the great majority of cases supported by their own people. Other fields of the work of the society to which it has made liberal grants and where active labors are carried on among both colonists and the native populations are Mauritius and Madagascar, New Zealand and the Pacific, Borneo and the Straits Settlements, China, Japan, and Korea. The expenditure of the society throughout the world during the one hun dred and ninety-nine years of its existence has amounted to £6,419,608; of the 94 colonial and missionary bishoprics now existing it has helped to endow 45; and at the present time it is wholly supporting 5, and partially 7, bishops. It also supports 787 missionaries, working in 55 dioceses and preaching the Gospel in 54 languages or dialects.

On Tuesday, June 18, an address from the Church Missionary Society was presented by Bishop Doane, and was acknowledged by the archbishop. Greetings were received from New Jersey, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, and an address was delivered by the primate. The Marquis of Salisbury was introduced, and made an address expressing sympathy with the cause of missions, but recognizing certain dangers that were likely to arise when their work is followed by commercial adventure and the intrusion of political schemes, and the missionary might be made to play a part against his will for these things. In closing, he said: "The world, however slowly, is traveling to a point where the government of all races will be not by organized force but by recognized and advancing public opinion. You have in your hands one of the most powerful and one of the most sacred forces that ever acted on opinion, and the results for which we all pray will be dependent not only on the zeal, but also on the wisdom and Christian prudence with which you work." The Bishop of Kentucky was another speaker. A resolution of humble thankfulness was proposed by the archbishop and seconded by the Bishop of Albany. Church Missionary Society. The one hundred and first annual meeting of the Church Missionary Society was held in London, May 1, Sir John Kennaway presiding. The treasurer's report showed that the gross income of the society for the year had been £404,905, of which £32,883 had been derived from legacies, £80,619 taken from the centenary funds, and £20,611 had come in the form of special funds not available for ordinary purposes. Omitting the two latter items, £303,675

were left to constitute the net proper income. The expenditures had been £367,268, of which £14,002 had been from the special funds. The centenary gifts had amounted to £198,948. This sum had been variously appropriated, with the exception of £16,280, which were kept in reserve for future contingencies. The society had in its mission fields 520 stations, which were manned by 418 ordained and 140 lay missionaries, 358 native clergy, and 6,459 native lay teachers; 71,051 native communicants, 268,240 native adherents; 2,144 schools with 104,388 pupils; and in the medical missions, furnished with 1,484 beds, 11,457 in-patients and 630,356 out-patients had been treated. The baptisms numbered 19,161. A resolution was passed earnestly welcoming every effort aiming at the full and orderly development of native churches, as the speedy evangelizing of the world before the coming of the Lord depended very largely upon the labors of the Christian people of non-Christian lands. A message of greeting was sent to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, which was celebrating its two hundredth year.

Universities' Mission.-The report of the Universities' Mission in Central Africa showed an income of £37,549, nearly £9,000 less than in the previous year. The expenditure had been £43,279. Church Army.-The reports of the Church Army made to the annual meeting, May 2, showed that 116 trained workers had been added to the staff during the year. The demand for such workers far exceeded the supply. The income of the general and evangelistic account was returned at £54,022. The previous year's deficit of £1,718 had been reduced to £1,364. In the social departments the income had been £54,557 and the expenditure £55,779, but a balance of £4,404 still remained. The assets were £49,538 in excess over liabilities. The financial requirements of the coming year would amount to £173,000. The workers of the army had obtained admission to the convict prisons.

Liberation Society.-The Council of the Society for the Liberation of Religion from the Patronage and Control of the State held its annual meeting in London, May 2, Mr. Alfred Thomas, M. P., presiding. The report referred to the prospective amendment of the burial laws and the failure of the movement for obtaining a census of religious opinion. The tithe rent charge (rating) act was mentioned as having contributed much to promote the sentiment among the electorate against a church establishment. The report dwelt upon the educational condition, and regarded with regret the disposition on the part of influential men to accede to the demand for a Roman Catholic university for Ireland. The income of the society had fallen from £5,093 to £4,311. Resolutions were adopted urging upon the Liberal party, in view of a general election, to give a prominent place to disestablishment; appealing for such additional subscriptions as would enable the society to seize the unprecedented opportunities for extended work presented by the course of events in the Church of England and by the change in the opinions of a large majority of the members; calling on the friends of religious equality to press the subject on liberal organizations as one of the most urgent matters demanding legislative action; and describing the events of the past year in the English establishment as confirming the conviction that neither legislation nor the bishops' action would prove effectual in suppressing sacerdotalism or lawlessness.

Church Reform League. The Central Representative Council of the Church Reform League reported to the annual meeting of the league, May

25, resolutions recommending the giving of power to the convocations to reform their own clergy, to constitute in connection with themselves representative houses of laymen, and to arrange for the joint sitting and acting of the two convocations and houses of laymen as representative bodies. Missions to Seamen.-The report of the Missions to Seamen, presented at the annual meeting, May 2, represented that the expenditure in 1899, £42,514, exceeded the income by £3,898. Sailors had given £1,535 in offertories, had bought 5,741 Bibles and Prayer Books, and had furnished 98,500 attendances at 13,500 services or Bible readings afloat and 348,000 attendances ashore.

The Convocations. At the meeting of the Convocation of Canterbury in February (Feb. 6) petitions were presented in the upper house from two rural deaneries in the diocese of Truro, praying the house not to initiate or take coercive measures to enforce compliance with the recent decision of the archbishops concerning incense and processional lights unless their lordships were prepared to enforce strict compliance to the Prayer Book impartially on all alike, having regard to variations of defect as well as of excess. A prayer was included in one of the petitions that their lordships would take steps in the endeavor to gain for the Church of England a larger power of self-government than it had at present, but not self-government incompatible with the position of an established church. In view of the failure of the two convocations in 1899 to agree upon a joint report upon ecclesiastical courts, a committee of conference with the committee of the Convocation of York was appointed. The resolutions passed by the lower house in February, 1899, respecting missions to Israelites, were agreed to. They recognize the title of such missions to special attention; advise co-ordination of the several agencies engaged in the work so as to avoid overlapping and wasteful expenditure; emphasize the responsibility laid upon incumbents by the presence of many Israelites in their parishes; advise the provision of prayers for the salvation of Israel for the annual day of intercession for missions; and invite the attention of divinity and other professors to the existing need of clergy to undertake the Jewish side of parochial work.

In the lower house, the prolocutor having resigned, Archdeacon Reginald Prideaux Lightfoot, of Oakham, was chosen to that office. A resolution was passed affirming the necessity of the spiritual agencies of the Church, and a committee was appointed to consider and report as to the desirability of a revival of the subdiaconate. A second report, drawn up by a joint committee, on clergy pensions, which explained in detail the work of the clergy pensions institution, was adopted in

both houses.

A resolution was adopted in the House of Lay men, asking for a joint committee of the two convocations to consider and report upon the best means of securing a fit and adequate representation of the laity in the House of Laymen of each province.

At the meeting of the convocation, May 8, the upper house, upon the presentation of an article adopted by the lower house on the subject of temperance legislation, resolved unanimously, "That it is desirable that a bill be drafted and submitted to Parliament based upon such recommendations contained in the final report of the Royal Commissioners on Liquor License as are common to the majority and the minority reports of the commissioners." The Committee on Ecclesiastical Courts reported progress, representing

that they desired to confer with the committee of the Convocation of York on the subject. The Committee on the Position of the Laity in the Church submitted a statement that they had not yet been able to prepare their report. The question was a large and important one. The committee of the Convocation of York, with whom they had conferred, had appointed a committee of experts to examine fully the historical aspect of the question, and they were waiting before presenting their own conclusions until the report of that committee had been drafted.

A resolution was passed contemplating the appointment of a joint committee to confer with a committee of the House of Laymen to consider the desirability of appointing a central Church committee to work with the chaplain general and the chaplain of the fleet for all purposes concerning the moral and religious welfare of soldiers and sailors and their families, and the status of chaplains working among them. A draft bill was brought forward by the Bishop of Rochester which was characterized as an attempt to promote the object of giving the Church more voice in its own affairs. It did not deal with the question of the best means of carrying out the reform of Convocation, or of how the houses of laymen could be recognized by Parliament; but it aimed to provide a method by which, if it should please Parliament that power should be given, Convocation itself could take the initiative in the matter. The archbishop gave notice to both houses that the Archbishop of York and he had agreed to summon a meeting of both convocations in the form of committees, to meet July 5 and 6. In the consideration of the resolutions of the lower house on elementary education, an amendment was suggested proposing that voluntary schools should receive support from the public funds. The lower house approved the elementary education bill introduced into the House of Commons by Sir John Gorst and the Government burials bill, except as to certain sections, respecting which further information was desired. The action of the upper house contemplating the appointment of a joint committee on the moral and spiritual welfare of the soldiers and sailors was concurred in. report of the Committee on the Supply and Training of Candidates for Holy Orders, embodying a series of recommendations to the schools, was adopted. A report on the reform of Church government was approved, to the effect that in the opinion of the house the next step toward the attainment by the Church of a greater measure of autonomy should be to urge her Majesty's Government to introduce a bill into Parliament declaring, first, that the convocations have power to reform their own constitution in respect of the representation of the clergy; second, empowering the convocations to constitute in connection with themselves co-operative houses of laymen; and, third, authorizing arrangements being made by the two convocations and houses of laymen for their joint sessions. The house expressed an earnest hope that legislative effect might be given to such of the recommendations contained in the final report of the Royal Commission on the Licensing Laws as received the support of all the commissioners. It also expressed general approval of the burial grounds bill."

The

At the meeting of Convocation, July 4, a discussion took place in the upper house over the report of the committee of the lower house on the supply and training of candidates for holy orders, in which the fact was brought into view that the number of candidates was diminishing at a time when the population of England was rapidly in