grand organ led and supported the mighty chorus in their favorite hymns, "Onward, Christian Soldiers," the "National Hymn," "Nearer, my God, to Thee," the Sunshine" song, and others equally familiar and impressive, was an experience never to be forgotten. ་་ The total number of delegates in attendance was 56,585, probably the largest assemblage of people in a representative capacity ever known on earth. This was a gathering of delegates only-what then must be the societies! Over 3,000 of these delegates were from Pennsylvania, in which State also we have the greatest number of societies, with the greatest membership. Every state and territory in the Union, with Canada and other foreign countries, was represented. The organization was begun some years ago, in Portland, Maine, by Rev. Francis E. Clark, who has been at its head ever since and has gone round the globe in its interest. The annual report of Secretary John Willis Baer shows that there are now 41,229 societies including 2,473,740 members. They are found in every country in the world but five, among which are Iceland, Italy and Persia. The same report showed the Presbyterians to have 5283 young people's societies, and 2,269 junior societies; the Congregationalists, 3,990 young people's and 1,908 junior societies; the Disciples of Christ and Christians have 2,687 young people's and 862 junior societies; the Baptists have 2,686 young people's and 8o1 junior societies; the Methodist Episcopal, 931 young people's and 391 junior societies; the Methodist Protestants, 853 young people's and 247 junior societies; Lutherans, 798 young people's and 245 junior societies; Cumberland Presbyterians, 699 young people's and 231 junior societies, and so on through a long list. Sunday services were held in more than 200 churches which were conducted by the visitors. Addresses were made by the men most eminent in Christian work in all the land. Almost every known Protestant denomination was represented among the delegates, the Friends and the Mennonites included. At times during the week meetings were held in shipyards, factories and business houses, and on the wharves. It has been decided to meet next year in Washington, D. C., in San Francisco in '97, and London is talked of as the rallying-point for the year 1900. After the adjournment of the Convention thousands of the delegates made excursions to points of historic interest in and about Boston. On Tuesday 10,000 went down from Boston to Plymouth. At the Rock they all gathered and sang "America." Later they visited the National monument there, and other historic spots, at each of which there were brief historical speeches by the local clergymen, and singing by the Endeavorers. The Salem excursion numbered 5,000. Sixty guides escorted them about the "witch city," showing them the points of historic and literary interest, the greatest interest being in the landmarks of witchcraft, the Custom House, around which cluster memories of "Scarlet Letter," and the Grimshawe House, where Hawthorne wooed and won his bride. On Friday evening we took steamer for Portland, a hundred miles distant by sea, returning by the Saturday night boat. Early Sunday morning we happened upon Boston Common, which, after the rain of Saturday and the careful attention it had received during the night, every trace of paper or other waste being removed, looked as fresh and attractive as the rich green in spring time. It is one of the most pleasant pictures we recall of a delightful excursion. God speed the Christian Endeavorer, whether in the Society or without its pale! He is doing as good educational work as is done anywhere in the wide world. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Tast Ht meeting of the Lancaster County HE subject of most importance at the Agricultural Society was the new State Agricultural Department of Pennsylvania. The law under which it is organized was passed at the late session of the Legislature. It is designed to take the place of the former State Board of Agriculture, and for the information of the Society, Hon. John H. Landis, Senator from Lancaster county, discussed the new department in a formal address. The matter is one of general interest. Many readers of The Journal are farmers, or in close touch with the large and substantial farming community of the State, and we give herewith a full abstract of his remarks: The bill to establish a Department of Agriculture" did not create a new department; it merely consolidated the various branches of the old State Board of Agriculture under one responsible head, thereby guaranteeing a more thorough organization and a more efficient management. Each officer who has charge of a certain field will be directly accountable-will be required to report in detail his movements and labors to the Secretary of Agriculture, and everybody will be made acquainted with what is being done. Secretary Edge will have among his assistants some of the most progressive and wide-awake men in the State. By this change will be created a stimulus for a higher intelligence among all classes in the rural districts, and a feeling of friendship instilled into the tillers of the soil toward every other industry or interest, and at the same time a public sentiment cultivated which will demand that the interest of the farm be guarded and cared for. The men in this department, with these enlarged duties and increased responsibilities, can do more work and give more efficient service with the same amount of money than before. Here is a statement showing the expense of the Department of Agriculture so far as it can be shown, and also a statement of that Department as constituted: OLD STATE BOARD SYSTEM. State Board of Agriculture . . . Dairy and Food Commission salary State Agricultural Society. State Horticultural Association now $16,500 00 10,000 00 2,000 00 350 00 250 00 130 00 $29,230 00 $ 3,500 00 3,000 00 1,600 00 3,000 00 4,000 00 4,000 00 4,000 00 2,500 00 800 00 600 00 10,000 00 2,000 00 $39,000 00 Under the act of 1895 a Deputy Secretary of Agriculture will be named, who will have charge of the farmers' institute work, and such additional duties as may be assigned him by the Secretary. The Economic Zoölogist will have charge of the ornithological interests of the State. He is expected to conduct investigations into blights, fungi diseases, and all diseases incident to plant life generally, and recommend remedies; also to injuries done by insects or destructive birds or mammals. A wide-awake Economic Zoologist, such as is the man who will have charge of this work, will benefit the farming interests of the State to the extent of many thousands of dollars. Some of you will recall the ravages of the pine-tree beetle in West Virginia, where in a comparatively short time it destroyed over a million dollars worth of fine timber. It had already invaded Somerset, Green, and other counties in our own State, and begun its work of destruction. West Virginia employed a skilled economic zoologist to study this insect and devise means for its destruction. These efforts were successful, the ravages checked, and its entire destruction now seems assured. On the item of scalp premiums, thousands of dollars could have been saved the State had we a wide-awake Economic Zoologist. The scalp act of 1885 was a sample of the kind of legislation that has been urged in recent years. This one measure alone has cost the State an immense amount of money, which was worse than wasted. It provided for the destruction of hawks, owls, foxes, weasels, etc., a majority of which, according to investigations, were far more beneficial than harmful. In less than a year over $150,000 were paid for the scalps of different birds and mammals. Of this sum about $80,000 was paid out for birds of prey. Post mortem dissection of several hundred hawks and owls under this act showed that 95 per cent. of their food consists of field mice and other rodents and divers forms of insect life which are detrimental to fruit growers. An expensive scalp law was enacted which was not only a wanton waste of public moneys, but which was instrumental in slaughtering thousands of the best friends of the farmers and fruit growers of Pennsylvania. One county paid over $3,000 for a mule's hide, a colt's skin and pieces of an old buffalo robe. A party of scalp hunters cut them up into pieces imitating scalps of some of the birds and mammals for which bounties were offered. Agricultural Department, there are those who are ready to find fault. Pennsylvania has a grand record for liberality toward the cause of benevolence, charity and education, and she has ever been willing to extend encouragement to her agricultural interests. There is, however, no State in the Union that appropriates less for agricultural purposes, when you consider its agricultural population and its industrial wealth. The Forestry Commissioner will be re- | proposed to set aside $39,000 for the sponsible for the work of his department. He will have the aid of a clerk, and the two together will receive $4,000, with no separate contingent fund. Before there were two Forestry Commissioners, who got $10,000 and spent the entire amount as they pleased. The forestry interests of this State are so far-reaching and are enlisting so much deep concern on the part of many of our most progressive and patriotic citizens that few will be found to-day who will not concede that this is a most important adjunct of the Agricultural Department. The change in the law relating to the Dairy and Food Commissioner is surely a change for the better. If this official will be faithful in the performance of his duties his services will be invaluable to the dairy interests of our State. The fines collected by him for violations of the "oleo-margarine law" will now be returned into the State treasury, and an itemized statement of them, together with a report of the work done, rendered to the Secretary of Agriculture. The State Veterinarian, who must be a graduate of some reputable veterinary college, will hold himself in readiness to respond at any moment to the call of the head of the Department of Agriculture to aid in the enforcement of any and all laws relating to diseases of domestic animals. Whoever will examine into the matter will find that the increased expenses are caused by increased duties, and that at least $15,000 out of the $39,000 is for duties not now performed by any one; and for the work heretofore performed there is practically no increase whatever. The fact is, there is not a department of the State government that is so economically conducted and by which so many of our citizens are benefited to the same extent for the money expended as the Department of Agriculture in Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania to-day we have over 230,000 farmers and over 170,000 farm laborers, some of whom are the sons of farmers, aggregating over 400,000 Pennsylvanians who are tillers of the soil, who are among the most frugal, industrious, law-abiding and patriotic citizens of our State; who contribute their share in carrying on both State and local governments; and yet out of the millions that are annually appropriated, when it is No State has a Department of Agriculture that does more work, and more practical work, with the same amount of money, than that of our own State. This department in the hands of competent and faithful men will accomplish much to promote the general welfare of our agricultural interests. ARTICLE III. Meetings. One stated meeting shall be held annually, beginning on such day as the Association or its Executive Committee may determine. Special meetings may be held at the option of the Association, or upon the call of the Executive Committee. ARTICLE IV. - Officers. — Sec. 1. The officers of this Association shall be a President, two Vice-Presidents (one lady and one gentleman), a Secretary and a Treasurer. Sec. 2. The President and Vice-Presidents shall perform the duties usually devolving upon such officers. The President shall be ex-officio a member of the Executive Committee. He shall sign all orders on the Treasurer. Sec. 3. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Association, and read them when called for by the Association. He shall countersign all orders on the Treasurer. He shall have authority to employ a reporter to prepare the proceedings for publication in The Pennsylvania School Journal. Sec. 4. The Treasurer shall receive and keep all funds belonging to the Association; pay out the same only on orders signed by the President and Secretary, and endorsed by the Chairman of the Executive Committee, and report the condition of the finances at each annual meeting of the Association. ARTICLE V.-Standing Committees.-Sec. 1. The Standing Committees of this Asso- | ciation shall be an Executive Committee consisting of five members, exclusive of the President; an Enrolling Committee consisting of five members; and a Legislative Committee, consisting of five members, with the addition of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction as an advisory member. Sec. 2. The Executive Committee shall manage the general business of the Association, and have sole charge of the same between sessions; call regular and special meetings of the Association; secure railroad facilities for the Association, furnish information of the same to persons willing to attend the meetings, and issue certificates of membership upon application accompanied by the membership fees; prepare programme of proceedings for the annual meeting, and have the same printed; keep a record of all action of the Committee, and report the same at the annual session. It shall meet for organization as soon after election as practicable, and shall elect its own officers. The Chairman shall endorse all orders on the Treasurer, but no order shall be approved for any bill which is not presented within thirty days after the close of the session. Sec. 3. The Enrolling Committee shall collect the annual dues and pay them to the Treasurer, and shall prepare lists of the members of each year, classified by counties, with their post-office addresses, and give the same to the Secretary for the use of the Association, and for publication in The School Journal. Sec. 4. The Legislative Committee shall consider all measures referred to it by the Association, together with such measures as in the opinion of the Committee require legislative action, and report to the Association the result of its deliberations. It shall also endeavor to secure the enactment into law of such measures as are recommended by the Association for such purpose. ARTICLE VI. — Elections. The Officers and Standing Committees of this Association shall be elected by ballot at each annual meeting, and shall enter upon their duties at the close of the meeting at which they are elected. The nominations shall be made at least one session before the time of elec tion; all the names of persons nominated for the respective offices shall be placed upon a printed slip under their proper headings, and members voting will strike off all the names but one for President, all but one lady and one gentleman for Vice Presidents, all but one for each of the remaining offices, and all but five for each Standing Committee. Tickets containing more than the proper number of names for any office shall not be counted for said office. The Election Committee shall keep the polls open one entire session, and shall make a list or all members voting; and no vote shall be received unless the member offering the same shall present his or her card of membership. ARTICLE VII.-Amendment. This Constitution and the following By-Laws may be altered or amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any regular meeting; provided, that notice of such proposed alterations be given in writing on the first day of the meeting, and action on the same be taken on a subsequent day. BY-LAWS. 1. An Auditing Committee, consisting or three persons, shall be appointed by the President on the first day of each annual meeting. It shall be the duty of this committee to audit the Treasurer's account, and report the condition of the Treasury to the Association during the meeting. 2. An Election Committee, consisting of five members, shall be appointed by the President. It shall be the duty of this committee to conduct the election for which it is appointed, in the manner prescribed in Article VI. of this Constitution. 3. The Executive Committee shall have power to appoint Local Committees, whose duty it shall be to make the necessary local arrangements for the meetings of the Association. 4. The Secretary shall be paid ten dollars annually for his services. 5. The President's inaugural address shall be delivered on the first day of the annual meeting. 6. Any person reading a paper or delivering an address, which is afterwards the subject of discussion before the Association, shall have the opportunity to close such discussion. 7. All papers and addresses read before the Association shall become the property of the Association, and shall be published with its proceedings; and no paper or address shall be read in the absence of its author without the consent of the Executive Committee. 8. No paper prepared for the day sessions of the Association shall exceed thirty minutes in length, and no speaker, except the person opening the discussion which follows the reading of said paper, shall occupy more than five minutes, unless by vote of the Association. OFFICIAL DEPARTMENT. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, THE HARRISBURG, August, 1895. } HE Legislature appropriated the sum of one hundred and thirty thousand dollars to the Normal Schools for the year beginning on the first Monday of June, 1895, and a like sum for the year beginning on the first Monday of June, 1896, making ten thousand dollars each year to each school. In addition to this a special appropriation of twenty-five thousand dollars was made to the Slippery Rock School, for the purpose of rebuilding the boys' dormitory which was accidentally destroyed by fire. For State aid to Normal School students an appropriation of one hundred and thirty thousand dollars was made for the current year, and the same amount for the year 1896, making $260,000 for the two years. These Normal School appropriations have all been approved by the Governor. The schools are to be congratulated on this evidence of appreciation, and we have no doubt that by judicious management on the part of the officers in control of the same, as well as by their good work and influence, they will continue to prove themselves worthy of the liberality of the State, and of increasing public confidence. COMPULSORY LAW DEFERRED. AN important decision has been given by Attorney-General McCormick, affecting the operation of the Compulsory Education law. He advises the Department of Public InInstruction that the registration of school children need not be made until next spring. The question was submitted to the Attorney-General as to whether County Commissioners are required to furnish the necessary blanks and books to the Assessors immediately, preparatory to making the enumeration and enrollment this year, and whether the duty of making the registration is mandatory upon the Assessors and Commissioners before the spring registration of voters in 1896. As the act was not approved until May 23d, and the spring assessment was completed in all the counties, the Attorney-General decided that the section must refer to the assessment in the spring of 1896, and has so instructed the School Department. The following is the text of the decision, in reply to letter of inquiry from Deputy Supt. Stewart: HARRISBURG, July 16, 1895. HON. JOHN Q. STEWART, Deputy Supt. of Public Instruction: Sir: Your communication of 18th inst., requesting my opinion as to the proper interpretation of Section 4 of the Act of May 16th, 1895, known as "The Compulsory Education Act," has been received. You therein propound the question: "Are the several boards of County Commissioners required by the act to cause an enumeration of children to be made immediately, or can they defer the duty imposed upon them until the spring assessment of 1896?” I am of the opinion that the registration provided for in the Act of Assembly referred to should be made at the next succeeding spring registration after the passage of the Act. Very truly yours, HENRY C. MCCORMICK, RECENT LEGISLATION. CLASSIFICATION OF HIGH SCHOOLS, ETC. An Act to regulate the establishment, classification and maintenance of high schools the distribution of appropriations in aid of high schools and the employment of teachers in high schools receiving State aid. Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That the directors or controllers of any school district may establish a public high school, and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction shall prescribe a uniform course of instruction which shall be taught in the high schools of each grade. 'Sec. 2. The directors of two or more townships or school districts shall have power to establish joint high schools, and the expense shall be paid as may be agreed upon by the directors or controllers of said districts, who shall meet jointly as often as may be necessary for the transaction of business pertaining to the joint high schools under their jurisdiction, and all proceedings in relation thereto shall be spread at large upon the minutes of the respective boards. Sec. 3. A high school maintaining four years of study beyond the branches of learning prescribed to be taught in the common schools, and called the common branches, shall be known as a high school of the first grade; a high school maintaining three years of study beyond the common branches shall be known as a high school of the second grade; a high school maintaining two years of study beyond the common branches shall be known as a high school of the third grade. Provided, that the reviews necessary for the prosecution of high school studies shall not be excluded from the estimate of the year's study beyond the common branches. Sec. 4. From the annual appropriations in aid of high schools a high school of the first grade shall each year receive a sum not exceeding eight hundred dollars, a high school of the second grade a sum not exceeding six hundred dollars, a high school of the third grade a sum not exceeding four hundred dollars. If the appropriation is insufficient to pay the above amounts to the several high schools, then the appropriation shall be distributed to the schools of the respective grades in such a manner that each school |