consecration, on August 30, by Cardinal Rampolla, Papal secretary of state, as archbishop in partibus infidelium. He assumed the duties of his office in Washington, October 4, on which date also a most cordial farewell reception was given to the departing delegate, Cardinal Satolli, who, since his appointment in 1892 as first Papal delegate to the United States, had fulfilled the difficult duties of his position with eminent dignity and wisdom.

MARTINELLI, MONSIG NOR SEBASTIAN, second Papal delegate to the United States, was born in the parish of Santa Anna, near Lucca, in the Italian province of Tuscany, August 20, 1848. The late Cardinal Tommaso Maria Martinelli, who also belonged to the same order as the present delegate-the Augustinian-was his elder brother. At the age of fifteen Sebastian entered the Order of Augustinians (December 6, 1863); made his solemn profession January 6, 1865; and was ordained to the priesthood March 4, 1871. He spent several years as a teacher in the convent of the Irish Augustinians at Rome, and became resident regent of studies at San Carlo on the Corso, this experience giving him a fluent command of the English tongue. He also became a Consultor in the Congregation of the Holy Office. In 1889, without having passed through the offices of prior and provincial, he was nominated prior-general of the Hermits of the Order of St. Augustine. In 1894 he presided over the chapter of the Augustinian Order which was held in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; and also visited Ireland in 1891 to preside over the Irish chapter of the order. He is considered to be eminently well fitted for his office, being a man of wide learning, keen insight, broad sympathy, and unaffected modesty. He is the first Augustinian general ever to visit North America.

CARDINAL SATOLLI,

The Christian Endeavor Convention.-The fifteenth annual convention of the United Societies of Christian Endeavor was held in Washington, D. C., July,

9-13. The attendance was larger than ever before, numbering about 40,000 delegates and visitors. The annual report from General Secretary Baer presents most interesting figures as to the growth and extent of this wonderful

movement.

The total number of societies is given as 46,125, with a membership of 2,750,000 (the growth during the past year being the largest in the history of the society), and all but three or four countries on the globe represented.

All Canada has 3,292 societies; foreign and missionary lands, 6,399. The United Kingdom has over 3,000; Australia, over 2,000; France, 66; West Indies, 63; India, 128; Mexico, 62; Turkey, 41; Africa, 38; China, 40; Germany, 18; Japan, 66; Madagascar, 93.

On this side the Atlantic, Pennsylvania still leads with 3,213 societies; then comes New York with 2,971, Ohio with 2,311, and Ontario comes fourth with 1,817. Pennsylvania for the third time carries off the badge for the largest gain. Mexico, however, takes the banner for the largest proportionate gain, now held by the Canadian province of Assiniboia.

Special interest attaches to the over 8,000 societies which have definitely asked to be placed on the missionary roll of honor. They include 5,869 Young People's societies and 2,331 Junior societies from thirty-five states, five territories, seven provinces, four foreign lands, and have given $154,022.68 through their own denominational boards, to the cause of home and foreign missions. In addition to this amount, $206,150.21 has been given by these same societies for Christ and the Church in other ways, making a total of $360,172.89, the largest amounts given by any one scciety being $1,107.01, by the Clarendon Street Baptist Society, of Boston, and a little over $1,000, by the Calvary Presbyterian Society, of Buffalo, N. Y.

In view of the denominational discussion, the following statistics will be found interesting. In the United States the Presbyterians lead, with 5,458 Young People's societies and 2,599 Junior societies; Congregationalists have 4,109 and 2,077 respectively; Disciples of Christ and Christians, 2,941 and 1,087; Baptists, 2,679 and 927; Methodist Protestants, 975 and 302; Lutherans, 854 and 268; Cumberland Presbyterians, 805 and 289; and so on.

In the Dominion, the Methodists of Canada lead, with 1,041 Young People's societies and 150 Junior societies (most of the societies known as Epworth Leagues of Christian Endeavor); Canadian Presbyterians are next, with 1.026 and 134 respectively; Baptists next, with 173 and 34; Congregationalists next, with 103 and 40; etc. In the United Kingdom, the Baptists lead, with over 900; Congregationalists next, with nearly as many; then the Methodists, with over 700, and the Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Moravians, and Friends, in order named. In Australia the Wesleyan Methodists lead; and Congregationalists, Baptists, and Presbyterians follow.

Baptist Young People's Union. The sixth international convention of the B. Y. P. U. was held in Milwaukee, Wis., July 16-19. Delegates numbered 8,000, besides visitors-probably the largest gathering of Baptists ever assembled. Forty states and Canadian provinces, and several foreign countries, were represented.

The report of the board of managers stated that the year had been one of growth especially in the Southern states; special attention was also called to the success of the "Christian culture courses," which are especially prepared by scholarly pastors and professors and pursued by thousands of young Baptists all over the country. The May examinations brought in 6,495 papers, an increase of 2,381 over the record of last year.

There are not less than 8,000 societies with a membership of more than 400,000; this includes about 1,500 Junior societies with a membership of 40,000. The treasurer's report showed total receipts of $62,610.97, which was $11,475 less than was received last year; the expenditures were $62,953.21. Obligations aggregating $14,000 confront the treasury. This debt was incurred principally by the purchase from the Publication Society of the paper issued by the board as the Baptist Union, which now has a weekly circulation of more than 30,000. The convention will meet in Brooklyn, N. Y., next

year.

International Sunday-School Convention.-This convention, the eighth triennial gathering, was in session in Boston, Mass., June 23-26, attended by 1,700 delegates from the United States and Canada.

The report of the chairman of the executive committee gave the following statistics for the three years:

In the United States, schools, 132,639-a gain of 9,466; membership, 12,286,600-gain, 1,262,229. In Canada and Newfoundland, schools, 9,450-gain, 1,205; membership, 746,575-gain, 78,638. In all, schools, 142,089-gain, 10,671; membership, 13,033,175-gain, 1,340,868. The percentage of gain for the United States is 11.4; for Canada, 11.7; for all, 11.45.

The following were elected the committee to fix tne scheme of lessons for the period from 1900 to 1905.

Warren Randolph, D. D. (R. I., Baptist); B. F. Jacobs (Ill., Baptist); A. P. Schauffler, D. D. (N. Y., Presbyterian); A. E. Dunning, D. D. (Mass., Congregationalist); E. B. Kephart, D. D. (Md., United Brethern); J. P. Repper (Tenn., Methodist); Prof. J. R. Sampey, D. D. (Ky., Baptist); Mosheim Rhodes, D. D. (Mo., Lutheran); John Potts, D. D. (Province of Ontario, Methodist); J. S. Stahr, D. D. (Penn., Reformed); J. I. D. Hinds, Ph. D. (Tenn., Presbyterian); B. B. Tyler, D. D. (N. Y., Christian); Bishop W. H. Warren, D. D. (Colo., Methodist); W. W. Moore, D. D. (Va., Presbyterian); Principal E. I. Rexford, B. A. (Province of Quebec, Protestant Episcopal).

Miscellaneous.-The Young People's Christian Union (Universalist), occupying the same relative position in the Universalist Church that the Epworth League does in the Methodist Episcopal Church, held its seventh annual convention in Jersey City, N. J., July 8-15. From 1,200 to 1,500 delegates and friends were in attendance: forty-three states were officially represented.

August 19-26 there was held at Swarthmore College, Chester county, Pennsylvania, a series of conferences in

connection with the work of what is sometimes known as the Hicksite," as distinguished from the "Orthodox," branch of the Society of Friends in the United States. These two branches have had a separate existence since 1827.

The conferences comprise four separate organizations, which, though closely identified with the Society of Friends, are not a part of its regular disciplinary organization. They are known as "The First Day School General Conference," "The Friends' Union for Philanthropic Labor," "The Religious Conference," and "The Educational Conference." The attendance was remarkably large.

SOCIOLOGY.

Catholic Total Abstinence Union.-The twentysixth annual convention of the Roman Catholic Total Abstinence Union of America, was held in St. Louis, Mo., the first week in August.

The report by the secretary, Father Doyle, showed that there are now 895 societies with 75,390 members. During the year 120 new societies have been organized, with a membership of 5,601, making in three years an addition of 312 new societies and 18,382 new members.

The spirit of the convention was indicated in the resolutions unanimously adopted, of which the following are the most important clauses:

The Union rejoices that Catholics were never before so fully alive to the monstrous evils of drink.

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1. Keeping before the public mind the injury and disgrace of intemperance, the great danger of so-called 'moderation,' and the safety produced by total abstinence, the Union again appeals to all Catholics to join it in its warfare upon intemperance.

"2. As in union there is strength, the formation of total abstinence societies for the repression of the pernicious vice of intemperance is to be encouraged everywhere, as it is of first importance. The Union urges upon Catholic parents and other guardians of Catho lic youth the great importance of training up those in their charge in the practice of total abstinence, and, where possible, of enrolling them in cadet total abstinence societies. The practice of giving the pledge to boys at confirmation is good, but enrolling them in societies is far better.

"3. The Union is convinced that the wives and sisters of our men who are so frequently subjected to the temptations of drink, can do very much to preserve them from and strengthen them against these temptations by joining total abstinence societies for the sake of example, and by making home more attractive than the saloon.

"4. But if the rising generation is to be successfully trained in total abstinence, parents themselves should be total abstainers. Catholic fathers should set the example to their families by becoming members of a society affiliated with the Union.

"5. As the Plenary Council of Baltimore, twelve year ago, called upon pastors to induce such of their flock as are engaged in the liquor business to abandon the dangerous business for a more becoming way of making a living, the Union believes that they have had sufficient time to abandon the business without pecuniary loss, and that if they desire the respect of their fellow man they should get out of a business that occasions more want, suffering, and sin, and is a greater obstacle to the advancement of the church and the salvation of souls, than all other traffics combined. The saloon, as ordinarily carried on, is no business for a Catholic to be engaged in, however legitimate the state may make it.

"6. The Union again renews its former condemnation of the course of that portion of the Catholic press which encourages intemperance by advertising the liquor traffic, and commends to the patronage of the friends of temperance those Catholic periodicals that close their columns against such advertisements. We note with pleasure the action of some Catholic fraternal societies, especially the Young Men's Institute, in refusing honorable position to liquor dealers.

7. The Union urges subordinate unions and societies to encourage in their corporate capacity honest efforts to secure and enforce legislation for the proper regulation and restriction of the sale of intoxicating drinks and prevention of intemperance."

IMPORTANT LEGAL DECISIONS.

A DECISION handed down August 11, by Judge Welborn in the United States circuit court at Los Angeles, Cal., denied the right of land-grant railroads to fix the rates of compensation which they may demand from the federal government for transportation of troops, mails, and other public service. Such right is vested in congress. The roads claimed the right to charge the government the same rates as individual shippers and travellers. Under acts of congress, the government has been accustomed to pay only half rates. A test case was brought by the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad under the Court of Claims act, the decision, as stated, being a victory for the government.

In principle the decision is applicable not to land-grant roads alone, but to all railroads, and is not confined to government business, but involves the right of congress to fix the compensation for all charges by railroads for in

terstate commerce.