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the memory of men yet in vigorous life, there was not only no National game, but playing was not the National habit Up to twenty years ago there was hardly a place or a society in this country where a grown man could openly set about to play without doing violence to the established prejudice, and without a certain sense of personal shame. He might go to the theater after his day's work was done. He might escape to the wilderness out of the sight of men and disport himself with rod and gun. But frankly and openly to set about to amuse himself he did not dare. The " American Sabbath" had also had much to do with this side of life. For more than two centuries the people of this country sincerely believed. that, with the exception of "so much time as may be taken up with works of necessity and mercy, the whole of Sunday should be spent in the public and private exercise of God's worship." They did not always and everywhere act upon the belief, but the belief was prevalent and potent enough to keep them from openly acting contrary thereto. There is nothing in all the rest of Christendom to correspond to those enactments on the statutebooks of every American State for the protection of the sanctity of Sunday against desecration by amusement.

But within the last score of years we have passed into a new social order. A leisure class has arisen which has time to play. The old prejudice against pleasure as being intrinsically evil has broken down nearly everywhere. The Puritan Sabbath has been definitely renounced. The holiness of work for its own sake and the unholiness of pleasure on its own account have both come to be questioned by the people everywhere. With our characteristic lack of moderation, we threaten to become a people who live for pleasure. We have already come to be the greatest theater and play going people in the world. The bicycle has tolled off old men and maidens, young men and children, into the country by the tens of thousands on Sundays, holidays, and in every spare hour. The automobile is getting ready to carry a new multitude in search of new recreation. Summer vacations are growing longer and are more generally taken. The hours of labor are being steadily shortened. Summer playgrounds are being

equipped and maintained for even children of the poor.

On the very topmost crest of this wave of movement Golf rides. It is an institution which marks an epoch. It came in the fullness of time. It requires more leisure than any other amusement-not even excepting cricket. It costs more money than any other. It requires more time, care, preparation, provision, than any other. It was not possible in any general way until a whole mass of prejudice, custom, and tradition had been melted away. It stands pre-eminent as the exponent of a new era. Its devotees are the priests and priestesses of a new cult. I have no idea how many golf links there are in this country, and still less idea how many people disport themselves upon them. But I venture the assertion that the golf-players present an average of intelligence, position, influence, and wealth far beyond that of the frequenters of any other game. They are, as a matter of fact, making public opinion and fixing social customs in a way and to an extent which few of them realize. In one most important particular they have it in their power to make custom, which is more powerful than law. That is concerning the treatment of Sunday. And allow me to say that I am writing, not as a parson, but as a golf-player. But "Sunday" is a good deal more of an institution than every one realizes. It is probably by far the most popular institution in the country. If its maintenance were put to vote, the plébiscite would be practically unanimous. Priest and presbyter, workman and lounger, butcher, baker, and candlestick-maker— all would give it their suffrage. The hebdomadal free day, the day whereupon tasks may be laid down and on which competition shall let up, is one of the valued possessions of the people. Probably it has contributed more than any other single influence to make us what we The philosophic historian might draw out a very pretty moral of the effect of the conventional of the conventional "Sunday inspection," "Sunday parade," Sunday bath and dress-in a word, of the weekly return of all the people to cleanliness and selfrespect.

are.

But we are just now entering upon an experiment in regard to the day which thoughtful men will watch with interest, and

some with apprehension. Heretofore Sunday has rested upon a religious sanction. It has been a weekly "truce of God." In the fear of their Overlord men have laid aside their competitions one day in seven. They have mutually agreed to stop work to give a chance to pray. Can they maintain that agreement for sake of a chance to play?

This is really the most serious question which will confront a people who have gained leisure, who have ceased to think shame of pleasure, who have equipped themselves with the machinery for amusement. A great manufacturer who is also a shrewd politician said lately, in an address to young men: "Employers of labor have been and are willing to close down once a week to let their people go to church. They would probably be willing to do so to allow them to improve their minds. I am not sure that they will feel bound to do so for sake of allowing them to ride their wheels or to go to baseball matches."

Here the golf-player has an advantage. He usually controls his own time, and is not bound to ask leave of any man. Still,

it might be well for him to consider whether or not his rival and competitor in business who does not play golf is likely to close his office always, after Sunday shall have the divine sanction emptied out of it, and has come to rest only upon the need of a time for recreation. What action shall we, then, expect of that great class of men who don't want to play, who find their pleasure in work? Will they shut their offices that we may play golf? And if they conclude to work seven days in the week, can we compete with them in six? There be signs already in the commercial world which will bear watching.

Might it not be well for the golfer to stop at church and say his prayers of a Sunday morning on his way to the links? He can leave his clubs in the vestibule. The sexton will look after them. At that early hour, while as yet his mind is fairly free from the intoxication of his game, it may well be that the spirit of the holy place will so steady him that he will go out a better man, will find fuller satisfaction in his game, will treat his caddie with more consideration, and will count his strokes more carefully.

M

ORE than most years, the year 1900 has been distinguished and will be distinguished by important conferences, conventions, and gatherings.

By far the most important assemblage is that which the Paris Exposition is calling together. Up to the present, the Exposition has not been in a condition of readiness, but it is anticipated that by June 15, at all events by July 1, everything will be in order, and the "Ville Lumière," as the Parisians love to term their capital, will witness a multitude in attendance on the Exposition, more remarkable both in quantity and quality than any preceding assemblage of the kind.

The spot chosen for the main Exhibition is in the heart of the city, and not at a considerable distance outside of it, as was the case in our International Exhibitions at Philadelphia and Chicago. Nor is the space covered so large as that of our recent Columbian Fair. We may add

with pardonable pride that, though individual buildings may be more remarkable than any which distinguished our "White City," the view of the Paris Exposition as a whole lacks the unity and beauty of effect which was obtained at Chicago.

Many will naturally be interested first of all in the spectacular features of the Exposition-in the Water Palace in the Champs de Mars, which eclipses the famous fountain at Versailles; in the movable sidewalk, operated by an electric current; or in the trans-Asiatic railway, where one lunches or dines in the train, enjoys a moving panorama, and makes an imaginary journey from Moscow to Peking. These spectacular features naturally lead up to a consideration of the first great point of importance in the Paris Exhibition-its registry of the many inventions which have been developed since 1893, especially in the domain of electricity.

A second lies in the more characteristic

displays from fifty foreign nations than were seen at Chicago.

A third is found in the really stupendous exhibition of painting and sculpture. It is indeed proper that a city, more than any other the home of art, should be the special home of art at this Exposition, as in its predecessors in the French capital in 1867, 1878, and 1889.

The supreme merit of the Paris Exhibition, however, has nothing to do with any material displays. The idea which found such noble expression at our Columbian Exhibition-the evidence of spiritual advancement alongside that of material progress-finds in Paris a larger and more widespread emphasis. We refer, of course, to the various Congresses which are to be held in connection with the exhibitions. The Palais des Congrès is a spacious building, as it must be to accommodate the one hundred and five great gatherings which will meet within its walls. The meetings have already begun, and will last into October. Certain among them will not comprise more than two days, others will require an entire weekthe extreme limit afforded by the Exhibition authorities. As many scholars and experts are interested in the matter of more than one of the Congresses, the schedule has been arranged so that visitors may take part in the sessions of several cognate congresses without unduly prolonging their sojourn in Paris.

The Congresses of Applied Science will be in session from May 25 to September 29, treating successively these subjects: Horticulture, forestry, mines and metallurgy, vine cultiva tion, insurance, agriculture, steam engines and machinery, applied mechanics, naval architecture and construction, photography, applied chemistry, navigation, economic and commercial geography, tramways, fruit culture, fisheries, and railways.

The Congresses in Social Science and Economics will begin on June 18 and last until October 6, considering the subjects of housing, women's work, agricultural co-operation, credit banks, co-operative production, profitsharing, life-saving, co-operative alliances, commerce and industry, colonial sociology, poor relief, the blind, deaf-mutes, anti-slavery, colonies, the history of religions, women's rights, social education, and peace.

From June 26 to October 7 the Congresses in Science, Philosophy, and Religion will be held. They include congresses on history, physics, mathematics, geology, electricity, anthropology, archæology, psychology, ethnography, religions, folk-lore, chemistry, and botany.

The Congresses in Medicine and Hygiene

Of the above, the Congresses in Social Economics seem the most elaborate and carefully classified. The President of the Congress is M. Siegfried, a recent Cabinet Minister, and more latterly famous as the firm friend, through evil and good report, of Colonel Picquart, the hero of the Dreyfus case. Our American Social Economic Exhibit has been divided into the following heads: The country, the people, institutions, social and industrial betterment, hygiene, and charities.

The Congress of the History of Religions, meeting September 3-9, will also be of peculiar interest. Its President is Professor Albert Réville, of the Collége de France. This Congress forms, with other cognate congresses, an uninterrupted series, beginning with psychology August 17, and closing with folk-lore September 16.

Outside of the Exhibition Congresses there will be summer schools of hardly less value. After the usual courses of the Paris Sorbonne, the College de France, and the professional schools, the semesters of which close in July, groups of summer schools are being arranged in these institutions to last throughout August and September for the study of the sciences, but especially of the French language, literature, and history.

The International Association for the Advancement of Science, Arts, and Education is already providing lectures in Paris dealing with the general aspects of the Exhibition, as well as with the popular, the agricultural, industrial, commercial, artistic, and educational sides, including a survey of the work done at the various Congresses. These lectures are

delivered in both English and French. The

International Association has also instituted art courses with special reference to the exhibits, and it has established, as well, certain special technical and commercial courses. An even more practical service rendered by the International Association is in its institution of a "Department of Skilled Guidance." This Department is intended for the benefit of those visitors to the Exposition--and they form a majority-who come to see the Exhibition as a whole rather than to attend any of the Congresses. If they choose to avail themselves of it, these visitors have the benefit of interpretation to all the departments of the Exposition.

Religion

Among the religious features of the year, the performance of the Passion Play

at Oberammergau, Bavaria, takes first place. Twenty-five performances are to be given during the summer, the last being on the last day of September. Those who attended the spectacle in 1890, 1880, or earlier for the performances are given but once in ten years-will be interested to learn that this year, for the first time, the spectators' seats are to be under cover, though the stage will continue to be open to the sky. There is accommodation for about four thousand visitors at each performance, and the present season will undoubtedly record more foreigners at Oberammergau than ever before, perhaps chiefly on account of the great crowds not so far away at Paris, but also because there is a keener interest in the simple religious devotion characterizing these spectacles. Some changes have taken place in the personnel of the actors, most notably, of course, in the part of Christ, which is no longer taken by Josef Mayer, but by Anton Lang. It is to be hoped that no one who has the opportunity of going to Oberammergau will fail to witness at least half a day of this wonderful presentation of Christ's life; to remain from early morning until night, with but a slight intermission at the middle of the day, witnessing the Gospel story produced with a realism and a directness beyond all compare, might be almost too much for extrasensitive and emotional folk. Oberammergau is still, fortunately, removed from the great highways of modern travel through Europe, and the Passion Play is still presented with an absence of commercialism most grateful to all who seek for genuine spiritual refreshment. The impressively rugged scenery of the Bavarian Highlands, the genuine fervor of the inhabitants of the town noted so long for the production of the sacred story for which it has always taken ten years in preparation in short, the meeting of nature and religion on a quiet Sunday in the little mountain village, produces even upon the most irreligious an ineffaceable impression.

The first great reiigious gathering in America will occur June 5-7, at Detroit, Mich., when the annual meeting of the Congregational Home Missionary Society will be held. The Rev. Dr. Philip S. Moxom will preach the sermon. Other speakers will be the Rev. Drs. Bradford and Kingsbury, and Mrs. Kate Upson Clark. Major-General O. O. Howard is the President of the Society. The General Synod of the Reformed Church in America will hold

its sessions June 6-13, at Asbury Park, N. J. The third annual Convention of the Federation of American Zionists will occur June 10 at New York City; and in August, at Basle, Switzerland-the meeting-place of previous Congresses-the General Zionists' Congress will hold its session. Professor Richard Gottheil, of Columbia University, is President of the Federation of American Zionists. The Convention of the Young People's Christian Union of the United Brethren Church will hold its sixth biennial session June 21-24 at Lebanon, Pa.

It is cheering to know that Mr. Moody's work at Northfield will go on this summer as usual. The series of Northfield Conferences will begin with the World Students' Conference, lasting from June 29 to July 8. Among the speakers expected are President Schurman, Bishop Vincent, and Mr. R. E. Speer. Mr. J. R. Mott will preside. A part of each afternoon will be devoted to athletics and recreation, a committee of different colleges being in charge of this department. The programme of other years in regard to discussions of students' work, Bible classes, missionary gatherings, and sunset meeting on Round Top will be followed. The Women's Christian Association Conference assembles July 13 at Northfield, and continues for ten days. The General Conference for Christian Workers will hold its eighteenth gathering at Northfield from August 2 to August 20. Among the speakers from England we note the names of Messrs. Morgan and Meyer. Conferences of young people and Sundayschool work will be added features of the Northfield season. The Moody Bible Institute will hold its autumn session from September 19 to September 26 at Chicago, under the direction of the Rev. J. M. Gray, D.D., of Boston.

on

The College Students' Conference will be held from June 15 to June 24, at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, under the auspices of the Young Men's Christian Association and of the Young Women's Christian Association. The meetings will have a Northfield character, as their principal features will be conferences on religious labors among college students, missionary meetings, and Bible study. Following the College Students' Conference, the Conference of the Young Women's Christian Association will occur June 29-July 9, at the same place. The sixth Southern Conference of the Young Women's Christian Association will be held from June 15 to June 25, at Asheville, N. C.

July religious gatherings will be begun by the twelfth annual Convention of the United Society of Free Baptist Young People, which meets from the 5th to the 8th of that month at Lewiston, Me. The Baptist Young People's Union will hold its international Convention from July 12 to July 15 at Cincinnati. The annual sermon will be preached by the Rev. E. G. Gauge, of the Regent's Park Baptist Church, London, England.

An international convention of greater general interest will occupy the time from July 14-18, when, at London, England,