Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Monday 10 July 1882, page 3


BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

ii

THIS SALVATION ARMY.

THE opening of a " National Barracks and Congress Hall " by members of the Salvation Army at Clapton, prior to the opening of the "third triennial " War Congress," was the occasion

for a large gathering of that body from all parts of the United Kingdom. The new building was formerly in the occupation of the London Orphan Asylum, and has been purchased on behalf of the Salvation Army for £15,000, including the freehold. The alterations to render the premises suitable for the purposes to which they are to be put have cost nearly £8000 more. The meeting on Saturday was called for 3 o'clock ; but long before that hour the large hall was well filled by an enthusiastic audience, a majority of whom were in the uniform or were the badges and medals of the Salvation Army. During the time before the proceedings commenced the band from the head-quarters, composed of brass and string instruments, reinforced by banjos, tambourines, and one youth with bones, played some of the "war tunes" in which the Salvationists delight. At 3 o'clock a procession of officers and cadets marched into the hall. Shortly afterwards shouts of Hallelujah "Amen," "God be praised," and cries of a similar nature greeted the appearance of General Booth, who was accompanied by Mrs. Booth, Admiral Fishbourne, Mr. Blackwood, C.B., and several ladies and gentlemen who have identified themselves with the cause.

General Booth explained their object in opening, these barracks, in which it is proposed that cadets shall stay for periods of from three to six months, to be grounded in Scripture, reading, writing, public speaking,

and in military training as to how to

" attack and bombard towns." He stated that of the £23,000 which the hall and barracks had cost, they still required nearly £8000, which he asked to be subscribed that day. Mr. T. A. Denny addressed the meeting, and promised a sum of a thousand guineas towards clearing the debt. This was supplemented by sums of £500 each from Mr. Edward Denny, Mr. T. Livingstone Learmonth, and Mr. John Terry. The announcement of these gifts caused enthusiasm, and papers were rapidly passed up to the platform offering amounts varying from £100 downwards, and bringing the total subscription up to about £4000. In the evening another meeting was held, and on Sunday several services took place in and outside the hall.

THE RADICAL CLUBS. !

A demonstration by the members of the whole of the London Radical working men's clubs, the London Trades Council, and other trade organisations, took place in Hyde Park, in support of the constitutional right of Northampton to its full representation in the House of Commons, and to protest against the continued illegal exclusion of Mr. C. Bradlaugh, M.P., from the 'seat in that House to which he has been thrice duly elected." There were probably not fewer than 30,000 persons present. Some of the clubs marched in procession to the park with bands and banners. Mr. Bradlaugh who was loudly cheered., said he did not intend to detain them long, because on the following day he had to argue in the Court of Queen's Bench the question which a short time ago he was supposed to have no present intention of raising. It was said that he had rushed into litigation but the fact was that until last month he commenced no litigation at all. The litigation was against him by those who, pretending that they wished to prevent him from profaning the oath, tried to make him bankrupt because he did not take it. He asked them not to believe that

the question was one of religion or irreligion.

The men who excluded him from the House of Commons at that moment excluded Illili, not because of any theological views he entertained, but for two reasons one was that they wished to damage Mr. Gladstone and the Liberal party, and the other, was that they were afraid he might pursue, if he continued in the House of Commons, the course he commenced while he was in it, and press the question of the abolition of perpetual pensions. Well, he meant to fight until he won, Mr. Bradlaugh concluded by asking those who dis-approved of his exclusion from the House to hold up their hands, and every hand seemed to be raised in response. The crowd then, after cheering " for Bradlaugh," dispersed.

PRAYERS FOR IRELAND.

The following are the forms of prayer agreed upon by the Upper House of the Canterbury Convocation for use during the continuance of the present troubles in Ireland censor Use in I Churches and Chapels Almighty God, King of kings, and Governor of all things, to whom it belongeth justly to punish sinners, and to be merciful to them that truly repent, appease, we humbly beseech Thee, the tumults in Ireland, and heal the sores thereof. We confess that we are not worthy of the least of Thy mercies ; we have sinned with our fathers and done wickedly ; yet, O Lord, be not Thou

extreme to mark what is done amiss. De-liver us from blood-guiltiness. O God, Thou art the God of our health. Preserve us from secret conspiracies and open violence, from hatred and mallee and grant us to be of one heart and one mind in serving Thee our God, in obeying the Queen, and in ] leading a quiet and peaceable life in all good| liness and honesty. Hear us, O Lord, for Thy . mercy is great, and after the multitude of Thy ' mercies look upon us through the merits and mediation of Thy Blessed Son, Jesus Christ I our Lord. Amen." "Player for use in Private and in Families God, our refuge i and strength, who orders all things in Heaven and earth, we flee to Thee for succour in this our time of trouble. Look down with

i Thy mercy on us, and on our brethren in I Ireland. Remember not our iniquities, nor

the iniquities of our forefathers, neither take Thou vengeance of our sins. Deliver us, O . Lord, from blood-guiltiness ; preserve us from

open violence and secret conspiracy. Pour out, upon us, and on all the people of that land, ! the spirit of grace and supplication, and join them together with us in piety, loyalty, and

brotherly love. Direct the counsels, and strengthen the hands, of all in authority, for the repression of crime and outrage, the main tenance of order and law, and of public peace

and safety ; so that leading quiet lives in all godliness and honesty we may be Thy people, and Thou mayest vouchsafe to be our God; and that we may bless and glorify Thee, our Defender and mighty Deliverer, through Jesus

Christ our Lord. Amen."

THE PERISHING) SCOTCH FOLK.

A meeting of the London Invernesshire Association was held at the Freemasons' Tavern, "to consider the grievances under which the crofters in the Highlands suffer," more particularly in reference to Skye. Delegates representing several societies in the Highlands were present. Dr. Roderick McDonald presided. Professor Blackie moved, "That this meeting is of opinion that the condition of the crofters in the Highlands generally calls for the urgent attention of her Majesty's Government." He had, he said, lived more or less in the Highlands for twenty years, during which time he had taken every means to acquaint himself practically with the land laws and he had come to this conclusion that the principle upon which the land laws of Scotland were enacted was a false one; indeed, all the land laws were wrong, because they were one-sided, and were made and executed by landowners-in short, made by the strong to support the strong, whereas they should be made to support the weak. Instead Of the more favoured class thinking of nothing else but making money out of the land-in doing which they placed the nation and themselves on the road to perdition they should consider the interests or those who were under them, and the feeling should be mutual. Mr. Nicol seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Professor Hunter moved that, "While

gladly acknowledging the just and generous treatment by many Highland proprietors of their crofter tenants, this meeting is of opinion that enough remains of a different character to make legislative interference necessary." He bore testimony to the terrible poverty of the crofters and small farmers in the West Highlands and in Argyleshire. The fundamental principle which lay at the root of national wealth was, that every man should enjoy the fruits of his labour, but the laws protected the landlords and not the crofters, There was a good deal to be said in favour of Mr. W. H. Smith's motion, although Professor Hunter would be content with something less revolutionary. He held that a tenant had a right to live upon the land which his father had filled before him and if Parliament interfered to prevent the landlord appropriat-ing the fruits of his labours in the shape of improvements. to, the Highlanders would be content with such a solution of the difficulty. Mr. B. D. McKenzie seconded the resolution. On the suggestion of Dr. Clarke, the words "in order to settle the people on their holdings" were added, and the resolution was passed. On the motion of Mr. J. M'Donald, seconded by Mr. John Fraser, it was resolved, " That this meeting, fully realising and deeply regretting the deplorable consequences under which crofUrs hold their land, pledge themselves (alike in the interest of the crofters, the landlords, and the general community to use every lawful means to have the land laws so (altered

! as to afford security of tenure at fair rents."

[News has since this appeared that the whole of the families of the Glen, numbering 100 have agreed to emigrate to Canada. The landlord in chief gets £50 per year more from somebody than the crofters paid him. This needs no

comment. In a little time the verdict will be given, and all these verdicts will make up a grievous total for that land " where wealth ac-cumulate and men decay." E. 25C]

1 THE RIOTS IN RUSSIA.

The disastrous effects of the anti-Jewish riots which continue in the south are already making (says the Times correspondent at St. Petersburg) themselves felt. Commerce and industry are suffering in an unprecedented degree. Business men are complaining loudly, especially those whose trade depends upon the confidence and credit given by commercial houses abroad. Even the Moscow Exhibition bids fair to become a failure. The number of exhibitors from an empire of 90,000,000 of subjects is only counted at about 2000, and many of these have not yet been able to send their goods. Foreign houses express so much mistrust that, as business men on 'Change remark, twenty or thirty telegrams have now to be exchanged with houses abroad before one transaction can be carried through. According to trustworthy data gathered from various sources, the material damage done by the anti-Jewish movement of last year and this spring, including the houses breadstuffs, and other property destroyed, the money taken away by the 5100 Jewish families who emigrated last year, and by the 228,000 families and 32,000 single men who have emigrated this year amounts approximately to about £22,000,000, all lost to Russia. To this must be added the losses resulting from the prevention of labour and profit, not only of the Jews, but of others during the riots from the stagnation of trade generally, and in various other ways, which would increase the total by many more millions.

THE ARABS AND TUNIS.

The Times correspondent at Constantinople wires as follows, under date 16th May The semi-official Arabic paper El Jawaib publishes a letter signed by Ali Ben Khalifa, in which the writer contradicts the rumour that he was

negotiating with the Bey of Tunis with the object of recognising the latter's authority and abandoning the struggle. The letter proceeds as follows;-" The Bey having delivered up Tunis without consulting me or my partisans, we have resolved to recognise no authority in Tunis except that of our Caliph, the Sultan, and we are determined to fight for the inde-pendence of our country to the last extremity." The semi-official journal adds that the names of the chiefs of the great tribes whohnv C refused to submit to the Boy and now follow Ali Hen Khnlifiv are as follow seen Youssonf, Chief of the Hiunmnma tribe ; Hussein, Caul of the Mass. tribe Herds, Card of the Evladicsid and Sheikh Zou, Caul of the Ourghemmas.