Llangollen Advertiser Denbighshire Merionethshire and North Wales Journal

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THE PEACE CRUSADE. PROGRESS OF THE MOVEMENT. By W. T. STEAD. The Crusade prospers bravely. The Duke of Argyll many years ago spoke of the House of Lords as "the house-top of the world." That the same phrase may be applied to London the proclamation of this Crusade is a notable example. The echoes of the word which has been uttered in favour of an international movement in favour of Peace have gone round the world. It has produced immediate and excellent results in the places where, of all others, it was most needful to make its influence felt, viz., in the Governments of Russia and of England. The great meeting at St. James's Hall and the strong expressions of sympathy from influential leaders of English opinion have done much to encourage the Emperor of Russia in his resolve to persevere in his philanthropic designs. From the first tirpe the Peace Rescript was issued, opinion in Russia has been divided, very much as it is here. The Emperor's initiative was hailed in some quarters with enthusiasm in others was regarded as Utopian and impracticable. The latter party, consisting largely of the old men, the Czar's uncles, the Grand Dukes, and the cynical pessimists who abound in high places, did their best to minimise its significance and to pour cold water upon the Czar's enthusiasm. They declared that he would make Russia a laughing-stock, inasmuch as no one really cared a fig about arresting the growth of armaments, and that England was certain to meet the proposal with the deadliest animosity. The long delay which took place in the despatch of Lord Salisbury's answer to the Rescript gave the party of reaction a great chance and the preparations for war carried on in England, in view of the Fashoda difficulty, tended in the same direction. The hopes of the party of progress, with the Czar at its head, sank steadily, until at last they were so discouraged as to contemplate getting out of an impossible position by the expedient of reducing the Conference to a mere confabulation of the Ambassadors at St. Petersburg. It is not dimcult to imagine with what joy, therefore, the proclamation of the Crusade in England has been rceeived in Russia. It has been as a sudden outburst of light in a very dark place, and the Russians, who are keenly sensitive to the movement of opinion on the Conti- nent, note with surprise and delight that the action of England has already produced a sensible effect upon the Press of Europe. If the English initia- tive is followed throughout the country, no one can predict how far-reaching may be its beneficent results. A very striking instance of the value" of public meetings and of popular expressions of opinion was afforded by Lord Salisbury's despatch to the Russian Government acknowledging the receipt of the Rescript, In the ordinary course, that despatch would not have been published until the meeting of Parliament. Its publication is a slight, but significant, sign of the goodwill of the Govern- ment to the Crusade but still stronger evidence is afforded by the passage in the despatch in which. Lord Salisbury, writing to the liussian Govern- ment, calls the special attention of the Emperor to the public meetings which had been hoVt and the resolutions which had been passed in England in support of his proposal. After such a friendly lead as this from the Prime Minister, it is felt that no true Briton need hang back from participat- ing in the agitation. Tllere is. indeed, no reason to think that they will hang back. The Christmas holidays are barely over, but already it. is evident that people will manifest their wishes and aspirations in this matter with a unanimity and an earnestness for which previous agitations afford no precedent. Brighton is not exactly the most enthusiastic place in the world, that in which advanced political movements find their most congenial soil, but the report from that precious city of the southern coast shews what may be expected where interest in public questions is much keener. The local magistrate who took in hand the requisition to the Mayor for a town's meeting on the subject obtained at once the signa- tures of the leading men in both political parties, and when their names were seen at the head of the requisition, the aldermen, members of the Town Council, and the School Board at once appended their signatures. In the whole town, of all the leading householders to whom application was made, there was not a single refusal. The Mayor, therefore, will call a town's meeting at an early date. Equally good results are reported from the great cities whose identity is merged in the metropolis. London, which really consists of a dozen cities the size of Birmingham or Manchester, can only act through its constituencies, and before the week is out what are practically town's meetings will be arranged in several of the largest and most influential divisions of the metropolis. Throughout the week the task of sowing the seed and spreading the light, in the shape of the dissemination broad- cast throughout the country of 1,000,000 copies of the Crusade broadsheet containing the Czar's Rescript, the manifesto of the Crusade, and a report of the Conference in St. James's Hall, has been energetically carried on. At the headquarters at first considerable misgivings were entertained as to the possibility of distributing 1,000,000 copies of so large a broadsheet in such a short space of time The paper alone weighed twenty-seven tons. The task has been accomplished, however, with such celerity and ease that the committee is already considering whether the issue of another million copies may not be necessary. To quote even a tithe of the letters which have been received at the offices of the Crusade would fill many columns. Men and women of all parties and of all creeds have vied with one another in expressing their sympathy, and in urging the neces- sity of a truly International movement. The clergy are throwing themselves into the Crusade with an enthusiasm which promises to be contagious. Sup- port, however, does not come alone from the pulpit. and from those whose names are associated with every philanthropic movement. Men like Colonel Rottoii and Mr. G. R. Sims, whom nobody would dream of accusing of being visionaries or senti- mentalists, have not been behind in their expres- sions of approval, the former remarking that "no one realises the horrors of war mOre keenly than those who have practical experience." The Crusade has this week established its journalistic organ in the shape of a penny weekly paper entitled War Against War, the Chronicle of the Crusade. The first number is a curiosity in journalism, and a phenomenon absolutely without record in the annals of peace propaganda. Ihe middle pages of the paper contain, besides an original drawing by Mr. Holiday, alle- gorical of the triumph of Peace over War, a, collection of autographs of eminent men and women, which, for number, variety and interest, has no parallel in the history of British journalism. The first two- signatures among the autograph benedictions with which the new organ appears in the interests of peace are those of Lord olseley, Commander-in-Chief, and one of our Admirals, Sir Anthony Hoskins. Altogether there are about fifty autographs reproduced in fac-sinrilfl, a collec- tion which makes the first number of Wur Against War unique. Besides the chronicles of the Crusade, the new number contains a very important signed article by Mr. Bryce, concerning the bearing of the Anglo-American Alliance on the future of peace. This is supported by signed letters from many of the most famous American statesmen and senators. There is an illustrated character-sketch of the Czar, which will be followed in other numbers by sketches of leading pioneers in the cause of Peace. Mr. Kipling's Recessional poem, which he published in the 7>r,m in 1897,^ is republished by permission as the first contribution to the psalter of the Crusade. One hundred thousand copies of th>> first number will be readj for issue to the trade on Friday.

DKM'SEPS AND ITS CURE. A very interesting little o. •'i..iilet will he sent, post free to any sufferer from l.ts-, Noises in the Head, etc., by a gentleman wto completely cured himself after many years' suffering. The treatment is perfectly harmless, and has proved qnit,f> successful in curing hundreds of other cases, many of which were lonjr-staridinp and considered hopeless. Address—M. Cijinoir, Amberley Honse, Strand, London. W.C. (6170) For the convenience of West of England and South Wales Advertisers, a cony of this paper is regulnrly filed and may he seen at any time, at ionigs BBOTHEKS' Advert- aing Offices, 39, Queen's Road, Cliftoa, Bristol.

TEMPERANCE TALK. A most interesting and edifying address was (jiven by Mrs. Lias Davies, Arvryn, at the Band of Hope meeting on Saturday. In the course of her address she related many remarkable instances of how faithfulness to the pledge and to temperance pr,nciples had benefited even little boys and girls, and had brought them honour and fame. Amongst others, she instanced the following :—When Gen. Lord Roberts was surveying the British Army in ludia. his notice was attracted much more by one regiment than the others, and on making enquiry he found that they were all total abstainers. That regiment looked cleaner, healthier, and therefore stronger than the others. On further enquiries being made, it was found that it was all brought about through the instrumentality of one young man who had temperance principles planted in him when a boy at the Band of Hope at Leeswood. Flintshire, and had advocated temperance in the regiment to which he belonged, with the result that the whole regiment became total abstainers. The other items of the evening were—recitation, Y tren," Lizzie Hughes duett, Ring the bells of Heaven," Cordelia and Dora Rowlands duett, Cassie Hughes and Nellie Jones recitations, The little hero," Martha Roberts, and Learn to say No' Emily Roberts. At the close of the meeting an opportunity was afforded those who wished to sign the pledge, and some new pledges were taken. A very successful meeting of the local branch o the Gospel Temperance Association was held in the Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, Yroncyssylltau, on Sunday evening,, when Mr. J. Samuel Jones. Trevor presided over a crowded attendance. An able address was given by the Rev. Clement Evans, Llangollen, who dealt with the imperative duty of christians becoming total abstainers. The follow- ing short programme was then proceeded with Solo, R. E. Jon-s, Vron; recitation, ••Tear-drop,' Master Thomas Williams solo, Must I go empty- handed ? Master S. Rowlands. An address dealing- with the temperance theme was also delivered by the.Rev. J. Rhydderch, Brymbo, and the meeting termina'ed with prayer by Mr. T. Morris, Vron. At the usual weekly meeting of the members of the Ark of Safety lodge of good templars in the English Wesleyan Chapel, Acrefair, on Thursday evening, an interesting reading was given by Mr. Allen Lettsome. D.S.J.T., Llangollen, on ''An incident of rhe Indian war." The reading- was illustrated by several beautiful slides and during the evening two illustrated solos were rendered by Miss Bessie Evans and Miss Nellie Lettsome. Miss Evans sang The Holy Cirv in finished style and .1 The children's home" received an admirable treatment by Miss Ler,t, orne, and both were highly appreciated." Votes of thanks to the soloists and reader was proposed by Mr. Lacey, D.T.. Cefn, seconded by Mr. B. Williams, D.C., Penybont and unanimously passed. The proceeds were in aid of the Grand Lodge Reception Fund and a pleasant entertainment terminated with the singing of Work for the night." A striking instance of true bravery and faithful ness to the pledge was witnessed at' a certain hospital in Liverpool last Christmas. As usual, on Christmas Day, all the convalfsoent patients sat together for their Christmas dinner, attended to by the doctors and nurses of the institution, and in their midst was a little boy of about 12 years of age. After doing justice to the meat provided, the customary plum pudding was handed round, and to this little boy was handed a plate of the delicacy, but he refused to partake of the pudding. On beinsr asked by a doctor whether he liked plum pudding, the boy answered, Yes, sir." Then why don't you eat it?" "Please sir," answered th" boy, I am a member of the Band of Hope." Spirits had been poured over the pudding, and the little boy. because of that, refused to partake of it The story was :told by one who witnessed the. incident. Mr. Herbert Roberts, M.P., was the principa speaker at a temperance meeting held at Rhyl, on Tuesday. He spoke of the need of strengthening the public sentiment in favour of temperance, and commended the proposal to place the controlling power over the liquor trrffic in the bands of the people, he said. were wondering what effect a change in the Liberal leadership might have upon the party's attitude to the question of local control, but he declared that there could not be any change on that point. He believed that an unflinching support of temperance principles was not only the best, policy for the Liberal party, but that the vigour and permanence of the Liberal party in the future depended upoa its courageous advocacy of I temperance reforms.

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