ittle brick church was comfortably filled with the townsfolk and
with such of the summer visitors as had not "left their religion behind
them in Winnipeg," as Jane said. The preacher was a little man whose
speech betrayed his birth, and the theology and delivery of whose sermon
bore the unmistakable marks of his Edinburgh training. He discoursed in
somewhat formal but in finished style upon the blessings of rest, with
obvious application to the special circumstances of the greater part
of his audience who had come to this most beautiful of all Canada's
beautiful spots seeking these blessings. To further emphasise the value
of their privileges, he contrasted with their lot the condition of
unhappy Servia now suffering from the horrors of war and threatened with
extinction by its tyrannical neighbour, Austria. The war could end only
in one way. In spite of her gallant and heroic fight Servia was doomed
to defeat. But a day of reckoning would surely come, for this was not
the first time that Austria had exercised its superior power in an act
of unrighteous tyranny over smaller states. The God of righteousness was
still ruling in his world, and righteousness would be done.

At the close of the service, while they were singing the final hymn, Mr.
McPherson, after a whispered colloquy with Mr. Murray, made his way to
the pulpit, where he held an earnest conversation with the minister.
Instead of pronouncing the benediction and dismissing the congregation
when the final "Amen" had been sung, the minister invited the people to
resume their seats, when Mr. McPherson rose and said,

"Friends, we have just learned that a great and terrible evil has fallen
upon the world. Five days ago the world was shocked by the announcement
that Austria had declared war upon Servia. Through these days the powers
of Europe, or at least some of them, and chief among them Great Britain,
have been labouring to localise the war and to prevent its extension.
To-day the sad, the terrible announcement is made that Germany has
declared war upon both Russia and France. What an hour may bring forth,
we know not. But not in our day, or in our fathers' day, have we faced
so great a peril as we face to-day. For we cannot forget that our Empire
is held by close and vital ties to the Republic of France in the entente
cordiale. Let us beseech Almighty God to grant a speedy end to war
and especially to guide the King's counsellors that they may lead this
Empire i