ABSTRACT NEWS AND NOTES

MICHIGAN AND OHIO ABSTRACTERS' CONVENTION.

The program of exercises for the Michigan and Ohio Abstracters' Associations convention has been sent out. The meeting will be held at Breakers Hotel, Cedar Point, Ohio, August 7 and 8. While accomodations have only been reserved for fifty attendants, it seems likely that more than that number will be present. Michigan abstracters have always been a lively lot, and in itself ought to bring out quite a number of Ohio members.

The morning of the first day of the convention will be devoted to routine work. At the afternoon session, an address will be delivered by Mr. W. J. O'Neil, attorney for the Citizens' Savings Bank and Trust Company of Cleveland, the subject being "Land Titles-A Banker's View Point."

Hon. Walter R. Taylor of Kalamazoo, Michigan, will address the joint conventions on "Legislation and Federal Land. Banks." There is no better qualified abstracter in the country than Senator Taylor, and his address is bound to be of great interest.

A banquet will be served on Thursday evening at the Hotel Breakers. An exceptional menu will be provided.

Separate meetings of the Michigan and Ohio Associations will be held Friday morning, August 8. Routine business and election of officers will take place.

At 2 o'clock Friday afternoon, a joint meeting will be held of the two associations, at which some representative of the American Association of Title Men will be present, and address the convention.

"Discovered-the Missing Link," ought to be a mighty interesting address by Mr. Stanley McMichael, Secretary of the Cleveland Real Estate Board.

Mr. Charles R. Adair of Flint, Michigan, will deliver an address comparing "Abstracts of Title in Two States," after which adjournment will be had.

Many of the Michigan members will come to Detroit, taking the Ashley and Dustin line of boats for Cedar Point, returning the same way, thus affording a most enjoyable rail and lake outing. The convention is sure to be interesting and instructive.

FARM LOAN ACT ATTACKED.

The constitutionality of the Federal Farm Loan Act of 1916 was attacked in a suit filed in the Federal Court at Kansas City today, July 21st, 1919.

Frank Hagerman of Kansas City and William Marshall Bullitt of Louisville, Ky., formerly Solicitor General of the United States, filed suit on behalf of Charles E. Smith, a very large stockholder in the Kansas City Title & Trust Co., against that company to enjoin it from investing its corporate or fiduciary funds in farm loan bonds, which it was just about to do.

The plaintiff alleges that the company proposes to invest its funds largely in farm loan bonds because it believes they are exempt from every kind of tax-state, city and federal; whether income, surtax, inheritance or ad valorem.

The plaintiff, as a director in the company, opposed investment, as he

thinks they are taxable and that the tax free clause of the Act is unconstitutional. When he was outvoted by the Board of Directors, he resorted to the courts to test the question. It is said that the company will vigorously defend the suit and will ask the Attorney General of the United States to assist in upholding the constitutionality of the Act. A bitter legal fight will be waged over the tax exemption feature.

These bonds have become a very popular investment for persons receiving large incomes, as they are as free from income tax and local tax as the 3 1-2 per cent Liberty Bonds, though they are neither an asset nor a liability of the Government of the United States. The suit is of great importance to taxpayers, because the Federal Land Banks expect within 2. few years to refund a large part of the four billion five hundred million dollars of taxable mortgages, issuing tax free bonds for them, thus relieving the present owners from all taxation and shifting that burden upon farmers, miners, merchants, and all other owners of taxable property.

The McFadden Bill, now before the House Committee on Banking and Currency, aims to make future issues of these bonds taxable. The Kansas City suit will be more sweeping in its effects, as bonds issued in the past will be taxable if the courts declare the law unconstitutional

FARM MORTGAGE BANKERS ASSOCIATION CONVENTION.

The sixth National Annual Convention of the Farm Mortgage Bankers Association of America, will be held at the Auditorium Hotel in Chicago on September 23rd and 24th.

The Board of Governors decided to depart from the usual custom of holding a three day Convention with a program partly composed of entertainment features. This year the Convention program will be confined to two days, Tuesday and Wednesday, releasing the members Wednesday evening to return home or follow their own inclinations as to subsequent entertainments.

Mr. H. J. Curry of the Pearson-Taft Land Credit Company, Chicago, is Chairman of the local convention committee. His associates are Mr. L. P. Robinson, of Associated Mortgage Investors, Inc., and Mr. C. H. Rodenbach of the Day & Hansen Security Company.

The program committee is making arrangements for many interesting and attractive features. Strong speakers will be heard on both days. Many important questions will be considered and hot discussions may be expected.

Delegates from thirty-seven States to the Legislative Procedure and Public Policy Section of the American Bureau of Law Drafting and Reference in convention at Boston, Mass., on May 24, 1919, passed the following resolution:

"We recommend the establishment by legal enactment of the pricniple of abstracting titles to automobiles as invented by Mr. C. L. Snyder of Detroit and favor a uniform state law subject to proper and adequate safeguards, making the work and service compulsory, as well as its rigid systematic enforcement."

The Florida Association of Title Men will hold their eighth annual convention at Daytona on August 14-15th. The program presented is a very strong one, the subjects and the discussions on papers read will be of absorbing interest.

BOOK REVIEWS

DENTAL JURISPRUDENCE, by Elmer D. Brothers, B.S., LL.B., published by C. V. Mosby Company, St. Louis, is a well printed book of over 200 pages, cloth bound.

Not alone concise and readable, it treats of all the law likely to bear on the profession of dental surgery, giving principles and their application. It is an instructive work, which should be in the hands of every dentist, and every well equipped law office. The text is confined almost exclusively to the legal aspect of the questions involved. Price $3.00.

MENTAL DISEASES is the title of a most interesting illustrated handbook with diagnosis and classification by Walter Vose Gulick, M. D. of the State Hospital at Fort Steilacoon, Washington. The learned writer undertakes a statement of the data essential in the recognition of the different psychoses. The physician in court or conducting office or public examination of insane persons will accept this work with relief, while lawyers who have occasion to handle cases involving mental disorders will find the book of great value. Dr. Gulick's handling of the subjects shows deep study, wide experience and thorough specialized training.

In cloth, 142 pages. Published and for sale by the C. V. Mosby Company, Metropolitan Building, St. Louis, Mo. Price $2.00.

Dr. Anton Nystrom, the noted Swedish medical-sociologist, has written a most interesting book on the NATURAL LAWS OF SEXUAL LIFE. Two hundred and sixty pages are replete with interesting data and facts all conclusively showing the ignorance which generally prevails regarding sexual conditions among the laity, married and single. The work by Dr. Nystrom is distinguished as filled with scientific truths from a physiological viewpoint. It can fairly be said to be an unprejudiced expose of the sexual life, its laws and the nature of love. An effort runs through the Doctor's treatment of the subject, to dispense ruling prejudices, founded on false teachings, contrary to the laws of nature. He holds and proves that obstacles in the way of gratification of the natural function leads to misery, pessimism and repugnance of life.

Price, $2.00, cloth bound.

publishers and sales agents.

C. V. Mosby Company, St. Louis, Mo.,

THE CONFLICT OF LAWS RELATING TO BILLS AND NOTES, preceded by a Comparative Study of the Law of Bills and Notes. By Ernest G. Lorenzen, Professor of Law in Yale University. New Haven: Yale University Press. 1919. pp. 337.

It is a pleasure to have so painstaking and scholarly a work. The concise pages of the text represent a thorough study of the subject, a careful thinking through, a clear and logical arrangement of the matter, a sufficiently full reference to authorities, and the matured conclusion of the author on every point. As one studies the work one wonders not that so much could be made out of a narrow subject, but that so much could be carefully stated and considered in so small a compass.

The usefulness of the book to the lawyer and the merchant is apparent. We look for a wonderful expansion of commerce; we are preparing for commercial relations with every part of the world. Whatever else this may entail, it certainly calls for an extensive exchange of bills, drafts, and credits with all countries. Here may be found the law to which these instruments must conform.

THE TRIAL OF CHRIST

(Continued from Last Number.)

Gentiles laid the cross on Jesus, Gentiles took Him to Calvary, Gentiles nailed Him to the cross, Gentiles lifted Him up to die in agony, Gentiles pressed the gall and vinegar to His lips, Gentiles mocked His dying agonies, Gentiles pressed the spear into His blessed side, Gentiles divided His garments among them, and gambled for His coat; Gentiles crucified Him, and stood guard around His tomb to prevent a resurrection.

Right the wrong. Convince the Jews that they did NOT, as a nation, crucify Christ, but were guilty of rejection, being betrayed by the priestly conspirators. That the Jews were priest-persuaded in accusing, and in crying crucify, in the trial the Gentiles conducted. So do, and the conversion of the Jew is nearer.

In making the world believe that the Jews are a nation of Christ killers, Gentiles have made the Jews irreconcilable, by thus fixing their status before the world. Having convinced the world that the Jews killed Christ, Gentiles ask the Jews to confirm the infamy by conversion to Christianity.

Show the Jew that his status is not an irreconcilable one, but as good as that of the Gentile. That a Jew may own the Savior without owning that the Jews crucified the Lord, for the Gentiles did it.

That his nation's theocratic rulers, dominated by Annas of "the serpent's hiss," were intrigued into rejection of Christ; and these rulers betrayed the people into the cry of "Crucify Him," shouted by the mob voice in the trial before Pilate. That the Jew may repudiate this cry without denationalizing himself, without dishonoring his n'ation, without shame, but with honor to himself. For, although a crazy mob cried crucify, his nation brought the Savior to Jerusalem with hosannas. Many of the rulers, and multitudes of Jews believed on Him.

The Gentile crucified Him, declaring, "I find no fault in Him," then repents and owns Him Lord, and Savior. It should not be harder for the Jew, than for the Gentile. Therefore Jesus made the gospel offer, "Beginning at Jerusalem." ""To the Jew first, and also to the Gentile."

Hear, O Israel! This Jesus was born of the Jews; and the angel came all the way from heaven to give Him a Jewish name; an angelic host revealed Him to shepherd Jews; among the Jews, and for them, He did His wonderful works; He died for them, and through all the centuries has echoed His tender tearful call, "How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"

The world has judged the Jews by the acts of the chief priests who misrepresented them. Let us be fairer with the Gentiles, and judge them

by the acts of Pilate, who did represent the Gentile world in the divine tragedy. Pilate is not alone there in Jerusalem. Pilate is the Roman Empire, and the Imperial Eagles are upheld by his armed cohorts. Pilate represents the Gentiles, as distinguished from the Hebrews.

The church is an ever living witness of the holy passion, and the creeds of christendom have chanted around the world, through all the centuries, the dirge divine, "Suffered under Pontius Pilate." The Apos

tles voiced this creed while the truth flamed in their hearts, and burned in their memories, "the Holy Spirit bringing all things to their remembrance;" yet nothing for Pilate, but the rather against him, arraigning him for all the ages: "Suffered under Pontius Pilate."

Yea, and while these truths fired their souls, the Apostles, in solemn prayer to God, made a record no cavilier will question. For when the human soul voluntarily leaves the world and enters the Divine presence to commune with its Maker, only the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, will be sacred enough for that holy hour. It was at a time like this that the Apostles made an unimpeachable record.

Peter and John had confounded the chief priests, scribes, and rulers, and even the implacable Annas, and Caiaphas, took knowledge that they had been with Jesus. And when the Council let them go, Peter and John went to the disciples, reported all, then they lifted up their voices to God, and said: "For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together," (Acts 4:23-27.)

In this first psalmody of prayer of the Christian church, it is declared that Pilate and the Gentiles were AGAINST Christ. How strange that the Copts should look upon Pilate as a martyr! and the Abyssinian church should now canonize him who was piloried in the first prayer of the Christians with, "For 'of a truth against thy holy child, Jesus, Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles!"

In vain do commentaries, critics, and historians condone, and tell that Pilate tried to save Christ; that Pilate was coerced into scourging. and crucifixion, overcome by the Jews, made errant by his worldliness. The Gospel record has said from the first, and now says, that Pilate was against, not for Christ. And Pilate represented the Gentile world power,

Rome.

Here is language that needs no interpreter, "Pilate against Jesus." No commentary is necessary that the meaning be understood. Against means opposed to here, and he who runs may read.

How can a Gentile read this plain, unimpeachable evidence, and brand the Jew as a Christ killer, canoninze Pilate as a saint, and Pharisaically thank God the Gentile is not as other men, even this poor Israelite?

Pilate was against Jesus, and the New Testament records make it plain because it is the truth, and because the proof of it will prevent

error.

Admit that Pilate was trying to save Jesus from crucifixion, con