Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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THl ' ] BRANKSOME SLOGAN

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20 THE BRANKSOME SLOGAN ments, and tlie necessity of guarding against the superficial in this phase of life is very apparent. Many explanations of this unrest which is sucli a great factor in world affairs just now, have been advanced. Some believe it to be only a natural result of war, a result which has followed every great war in history; others consider it to be the too rapid evolution of a new phase of life which, through the War, was forced upon the world before it was ready, either intellectually or commercially, to accept it; while a certain eminent French scientist declares the present un- rest to be due to bacteria which are engendered by hunger and ex- posure, and which have gradually spread over the world from those countries most oppressed and laid waste hy war. Many famous divines believe that the lessening of interest in church life, and the falling-away of the people from religion as a daily support have much to do with the present discontent. Whichever theory may be the correct one, it is widely known that the unrest is spreading through propaganda. The Bolshevist leaders are past rn asters in this work, and have sent out huge numbers of paid propagandists throughout Eur.ope, the United States and Can- ada. These Russian leaders realize too late that they hold false ideas, which, if fully carried out, would bring the world into a state of chaos; but, having gone so far, they must continue on their way. To stop would mean ruin to them, and the more corruption they can force upon the world, the longer will that world remain safe for them. The Irish Sinn Fein are also well-known propagandists. So clever are they that they have even misled a certain neighboring nation into sharing with them in their discontent against the British Government. It is plainly to be seen that this state of affairs cannot continue, and must be reckoned with at once. For the government to force an issue at the present would be foolhardy in the last degree, but propa- ganda can be fought by propaganda. The Government and secret service are fighting to check this insidious tide of propaganda which is corrupting the country ' s morale, and they can be greatly assisted in their work by all lovers of law and order. There is no time when it is not the duty ..of every British subject to speak up and defend the institutions of his country from the vicious attacks of the discontent- ed, and to help allay a harmful unrest. In this way we can all help to ensure the progress and prosperity of our Empire in this trying time. PHYLLIS HOLLINRAKE, Form Y.

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22 THE BRANKSOME SLOGAN A MESSAGE FROM VANCOUVER Miss Cole has suggested that I send a message through the ' Branksome Slogan to ' ' our girls, past and present. As I raise my eyes from the pages, I see in the distance the mountains that shut in Burrard Inlet — Vancouver Harbor — to the north, with many snowclad summits rising in lofty and solitary grand- eur away behind, and the strange rock formations tliat seem like two couchant lions, side by side, overlooking and guarding the li arbor, and I feel inclined to tell you something of tlie natural beauties of Vancouver and vicinity; but you will see these for yourselves when you visit British Columbia, and this will be more satisfactory than any word-picture. So I shall tell you about something you cannot see for yourselves, but which will, I hope, make more impression upon your heart and mind than the most lovely natural sceneiy in the world. Your little sisters in India, for God ' ' made of one blood all na- tions — and remember, India is part of the British Empire, and they are thus bound to us by another tie — these little sisters are in great need of the assistance that you, out of your abundance, can give them. Multitudes of them are orphans or child-widows in conse- quence of famine, plague, desertion, or the heathen laws and super- stitions of Hinduism. In great mercy, God has raised up some who, for love of our Lord Jesus Christ and love of the little ones, give their lives to caring for them, gathering them into homes, feeding and clothing, teaching and training them, so that they become good and useful women. You and I cannot do this, but it is our privilege to assist and to make this blessed work possible, by sending them part of our tithe; this is our opportunity. In India at present, the missions are all bearing the extra burden of a very heavy rate of ex- change, so that our gifts should be much increased. A quotation from Manoramabai ' s January letter will give a clear idea of the situation in India. She says, We have not been sorry to say good-bye to the old year for it has been perhaps the hardest we have known; the high prices, the tremendous loss of money in the exchange, and the starv- ing, hungry people all round us have been hard to bear; but it seems as though in these last days, God is testing His people, and we know He is working out something beyond description both in our earthly lives, and in the life that is to come. Looking back, we can say His grace has been sufficient, and His hand has brought us through. We had no presents of any kind to give to our girls this Xmas, but I think they were just quietly thankful and grateful that they had at least no lack of food, and all seemed very happy on Xmas Day. The outside people came as usual and we had very little for them; just some parched rice and dried dates, but they were grateful and seemed to understand that we would have given them more if we could. It was good to see how they now understand why we rejoice at Cliristmas time, and to realize that they now know Christian hymns, which once they would not have listened to. T am lhankful to have been able to send Ramabai three drafts since last September, totalling £22, and have now almost enough for another draft. Just before Xmas Miss Robinson ' s and Miss Reynar ' s