plausible arguments for the use of alcoholic stimulants, or of the powerful counter-arguments furnished by the physiologist. This controversy over the medicinal effects of alcoholic drinks is one of the Waterloo battle-fields on which we must either win decisive victory or disastrous defeat. We welcome the issue which is now fairly joined with the apologists for alcoholic beverages. We owe it also to our fellow-men the broad world over that they should know what is the verdict of medical science on so vital a question.

The Temperance Reform has a potent bearing upon political economy. It enters more immediately into the enrichment or the impoverishment of national resources than any question of tariff or currency. More money is touched by the drink-traffic, and the effects of the traffic, than by any other trade known among men. The tax upon national resources levied by the bottle is far heavier than the combined taxes for every object of public well-being. The vast majority of all God's creatures must inevitably remain poor while this greedy outlet for the earnings of industry remains unstopped. It is unaccountably strange that the finance-ministers of the leading countries have so long been reluctant to grapple with this subject, or that when they have done it at all they have stopped so far short of the only effectual remedy.

There are other phases of the Temperance Reform which also claim their share of discussion in this volume. Large as is the volume, it is not so large by far as the momentous topics of which it treats. We claim that none are more deserving of careful and conscientious study by every lover of God and of humanity. Many monuments have been erected during this year of a nation's jubilee to mark the headlands of history; many tributes have been paid to public benefactors; but it is not an arrogant presumption to assert that among the memorials of this Centennial year none will be of more permanent value than this "Centennial History" and defence of the grand endeavor to rid the human race of the stupendous curse of strong drink. To all those who long and pray for that deliver.

ance, and who sigh for the coming of God's kingdom upon earth, this volume is confidently commended. We firmly believe that the next hundred years will not shake one stone out of the solid foundation upon which Truth and Love have based the Temperance Reform.

INTERNATIONAL TEMPERANCE CONFERENCE.

AT the annual meeting of the National Temperance Society, held in New York May 6, 1875, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:

"Resolved, That, in consideration of the world-wide prevalence of the evils of intemperance, and to devise means for their more effectual suppres sion, and in view of the gratifying increase of interest in the cause of temperance in foreign countries, as well as in our own, we deem it expedient to call an International Temperance Conference, to be held in the city of Philadelphia in 1876, during the progress of the International Centennial Exhibition, and that a committee of fifteen be appointed to make the necessary arrangements for such a Conference."

The foregoing resolution was also unanimously endorsed and the proposed Conference commended by the National Temperance Convention held in Chicago in June, 1875.

The Committee hail the advent of our Nation's Centennial as a fitting occasion to consider the relations of the Temperance Reform in its scientific, economic, intellectual, social, moral, and religious aspects, to individual and national life, its progress and needs, and to invite to our deliberations representatives of the cause of temperance from foreign countries. We therefore call an International Temperance Conference, to meet in the city of Philadelphia on Tuesday, June 13, 1876.

It is expected that the Conference will continue in session three days; that simultaneous sessions will be held in sections, at each of which time will be apportioned for the presentation and discussion of the various topics which will claim the attention of the Conference. A series of papers embracing a condensed history of the origin and work of the various temperance organizations and orders, upon the several aspects of the movement, its present methods and needs, will be presented by able and thoroughly competent writers.

The Committee cordially and earnestly invite delegates from all churches and religious bodies, and all temperance organizations in sympathy with the objects of the Conference. All national and State organizations should at least send seven delegates; local churches and subordinate organizations at least two delegates. Any organization which may fail to,appoint delegates, or not be in session after the issue of this call, and prior to the meeting of the Conference, the presiding

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officer thereof, or, in his absence or failure, the Secretary, may appoint delegates.

The Committee appointed by the Board of Managers of the National Temperance Society to call a National Ministerial Temperance Conference, to be held in Philadelphia in 1876, has been consolidated with this Committee, and the proposed Ministerial Conference will be held in connection with the International Conference-its Ministerial Section. All ministers of the Gospel are hereby cordially and earnestly invited to attend and participate in the Conference.

The Committee anticipate that the week in which the Conference is to be held will be memorable as a General Centennial Congress of all friends of temperance. It is expected that special sessions will be held during the week of the Woman's National Christian Temperance Union, of the National Division of the Sons of Temperance, of the Grand Lodge of Good Templars, and other temperance bodies, including several great public meetings, breakfasts, etc.

All bodies appointing delegates to the Conference, and all clergymen who propose to attend the Ministerial Section, are requested to send, at the earliest practicable date, the names and addresses of such delegates and representatives to J. N. STEARNS, No. 58 Reade Street, New York, Secretary of the International Temperance Conference Committee, to whom all communications relating to the Conference should be ad dressed.

In behalf of the Committee of Arrangements,

WILLIAM E. DODGE, Chairman.
J. N. STEARNS, Secretary.

COMMITTEE.

HON. WM. E. DODGE.
REV. T. L. CUYLER, D.D.
JAMES BLACK, Esq.
HON. WM. B. SPOONER.
REV. A. G. LAWSON.
G. SHEPARD PAGE, Esq.
REV. H. W. CONANT.
E REMINGTON, Esq.
HON. WM. DANIEL.

REV. J. B. DUNN, D.D.
REV. D. C. BABCOCK.
REV. E. H. PRATT.
HON. NEAL DOW.
REV. W. C. STEEL.
A. M. POWELL, Esq.
J. R. SYPHER, Esq.
J. N. STEARNS, Esq.

INTERNATIONAL TEMPERANCE CONFERENCE.

The International Temperance Conference, invited by the National Temperance Society, assembled in the Arch Street Presbyterian Church, in the city of Philadelphia, at 9.30 A.M., on Tuesday, June 13, 1876.

There were in attendance about four hundred and twenty delegates, representing twenty-eight different States, England, Scotland, Sweden, New Zealand, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Ontario and Quebec, all the leading National Temperance organizations of Great Britain and of the United States, a large number of State and local temperance organizations, and many churches and religious bodies. It was a grand gathering of the representative temperance men and women of the world, such as in numbers, high character, and wide-spread influence has never hitherto been equalled in the history of the temperance reform. It was a fitting commemoration of the semicentennial of the temperance reform and of the first centennial of the American nation. It was a happy coincidence that the church in which the Conference assembled was the one in which was held the first National Temperance Convention. The first half-hour was spent in devotional exercises, led by the Rev. D. C. Babcock, of Philadelphia.

Prayers were offered by Rev. T. L. Poulson, of Baltimore; Rev. R. Simpson, of Glasgow, Scotland; Rev. Dr. T. L. Cuyler, of Brooklyn; Rev. H. W. Conant, of Rhode Island; and Mrs. Jennie F. Willing, of Illinois.

The Conference was called to order at 10 o'clock by Rev. JAMES B. DUNN, D.D., of Boston, in behalf of the Committee of Arrangements.

He said that the International Temperance Conference