These hurrying years are bringing us to an increasing number of centennial and semi centennial celebrations of important events in the formative period of our National life. The first day of January, 1913, is most significant as being the fiftieth anniversary of the issuing of one of the greatest proclamations in all the romantic and thrilling annals of liberty. That providential act not only gave freedom to four millions of black people in America, but it was simultaneous with the freedom of more than fifteen millions of serfs in Russia; and was the initial step which resulted in the manu mission of all slaves within the boundaries of all Christian countries.