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The Christian Index.
THE SOOTH-WESHIBN EAPHST, ■ THE CHRISTIAN HEEALE
or Alaeama. , „
____________________________________ OF Tennessee.
VOL. 55—NO. 20.
Table or Contest!.
PiBW Page. —Alabama Department: Record of
Bt&te Erects ; H. B. Lyman : Jndson Female
Institute ; Spirit of the’Beligiou* Press ; Ala
bama church News ; Baptist News and Notes :
General Denominational News ; etc.
Second Page.— Our Correspondents : Think in
Time—B. Boykin; Dr. Warren's -‘‘Mission
Prophecy" —G. B. M.: A Plea for Toleration—
Gamaliel; Lesson for Young Evangelists—El
der Brother; From the Indian Territory— J. S.
Murrow. Bead to Sleep—Poetry-: *-Discours
ing Beligion:" etc.
Thibd Page.—Out Pulpit : Intemperance, Pi o
fanitv, Sabbath-Breaking—Sermon by Bev. B.
W. Whilden. Pleasant Hill, Ala.
Forms Page. —Editorials: The Herald's Inter
pretation of L Peter, iv : B—Bev. J, S. Baker.
Theological Inquiries; The Baptists vs. Dr.
Burrows: -Enquirer:'’ Toleration: Georgia
Baptist News—Bev. D. E. Butler. Be Not
Discouraged: Do we Beall” wish to be like Je
eus ? Prayer: God Loves tls; etc.
Fifth Page.— Editorial: A Just Defense; Emo
ry College Commencement. Secular Edito
rials: To the Centennial via the Atlantic Coast;
Literary Gossip: ‘-We Ought to Obey God rath
er than Men:” Georgia News: Personal; Spur
geon Declines; News of the Week—Foreign
and Domestic; etc.
Sixth Page. —The Sunday-School: The Queen of
Sheba’s Visit to Solomon—Lesson for Sunday.
August 6. 1876. Mission Department: Inter
esting Letter—Bead It—C. M. Irw in.
Seventh Page.— Agricultural Department: Re
port on Clover Sowing—Georgia Grange; An
International Cotton Convention: The Reapers
—Poetry.!
Eigth Page. — Book Notices ;* Marriages ; Obit
uries; Advertisements.
INDEX AND BAPTIST.
ALABAMA DEPARTMENT.
Eutaw baa had but two'deaths this year.
Selma, this season, will receive about 90,000
bales of cotton.
•There were 158 deaths in Mobile, during
June.
A negro candidate for the Legislature is run
ning in Sumter county.
The drouth has injured the crops in Henry
eounty.
The Baptist church in Eutaw will be reor
ganized.
There is a good deal of sickness in Butler
county.
Cotton is locking remarkably well all over
the State.
Cotton worms are reported in parts of Ma
rengo and Hale.
The Methodists in Troy, have been holding
a protracted meeting.
The agricultural fair association at Demop
oils is to .be revived.
Capt. George Houston, of Limestone, aver
aged 30 bushels of wheat to the acre.
Kev. J. H. Hendon preached at the first
Baptist church, Montgomery, last Sunday.
A good revival meeting wag recently held in
Prattville.
During the last session, Howard College was
ahead of any other college in the State in the
n umber of students.
The Trustees of Howard College have pro
hibited the existence among the students of se
cret fraternities
Dr. Samuel Carllidge, of Clay county, was
cal led to his door, the night of the 15th, and
kiiled, by an unknown party.
The Primitive Baptists held a three days
meeting at Beulah. Dr. J. H. Purifoy, of
Snow Hill, preached several times.
The next meeting of the ministers and dea
cons of the third district of Muscle Shoals As
sociation, will be held with Lebanon church,
beginning Friday before the fifth Sunday in
October.
The Alabama State Grange Fair offers for
the beet and largest display in merit and variety
of samples of crops, the production of one farm,
$100; for the best and largest diepiay in merit
and variety of products of the garden, orchard,
dairy and pantry, the contribution of a single
grange, $200; for the bfst and largest display
in merit and variety of samples of field crops,
exhibited by one grange, and grown by mem
bers of the same grange, S3OO.
An Oi.d Subscriber. --Our venerable broth
er John Swanson, writing from Tuskeegee,
July 2Sth, and renewing his subscription to
the Index and Baptist for another year says:
“I have been a subscriber to The Index ever
since its publication, when it was called the
Columbia* Star, with the exception of a few
years after I moved to Alabama. I think it a
much better paper now than it has ever been.
I feel gratified at the stand you have taken in
the defense of the doctrines and ordinances of
our denomination. I would be glad to see
The Index in every Baptist family through
out the land.”
Bubbillville Poultry Yards.—
Those in want of choice poultry, of
every discription, and eggs for hatching
in Beason, will find the genuine article
by applying to 3£ ' arles Brown,
Burrillville, E. I. See . *iseinent.
Hog cholera Is raging in some , of
the State
For the Index and Baptist.
H. K. LV.HA>.
Sad, sad indeed, was my heart when I read
these words in a recent letter from brother J.
S Dill, pastor of the church at Montevallo:
“ Knowing well the intimate relations which
existed between your family and brother Ly
man, I at once take my seat to tell you of hik
sad and sudden death.” Who that knew this
beloved brother—the model deacon, the earnest
Christian, the devoted friend, the tender hus
band, the loving parent and generous neigh
bor, does not feel sad? The sorrowful counte
nances of friends, the sighs and tears of rela
tives, and the gloom that hangß like a pall over
ilie community in which he lived, all testify
to the sadness which is felt at his loss. No one
but a pastor who has enjoyed the pleasure and
privilege of having a deacon who knew his
duty and did it, a brother who loved his pas
tor and heartily co-operated with him, a friend
in whom he could confide, and with whom he
could always advise, and whose liberality
equalled if it did not exceed his means, a su
perintendent whose whole energies, prayers
and purse were given to his work, can appre
ciate the feelings of the writer.
Panegyric of the dead is so common and
generally so fulsome that I hesitate to say all
my heart prompts for fear of being charged
with exaggeration; “ but I speak forth the word
of truth and soberness” when I say that H. R.
Lyman was a model deacon and a model Chris
tian, a model husband and parent and a model
citizen. Asa deacon he recognized his re
sponsibilities and tried to discharge them. He
did not wait to be informed of the wants and
wishes of his pastor, but sought them out and
tried to meet them. He was one of the very
few whose benefactions and contributions had
to be restrained by his brethren. Asa Chris
tian be was not only ready for any good word
or work, but sought opportunities for doing
good. He seemed to believe the apostolic
declaration that “no man liveth to himself’
and tried to practice it. His mind was fertile
in devising, and his hand busy in executing,
plans for the advancement of the Master’s
cause.
Asa husband and parent his constant and
.anxious care was to supply the wants of the
family,’land make every member happy and
useful. To this duty he fell a victim in the
swamps of Mississippi.
Asa citizen his earnest desire was, as far as
lay -*11,14* power, to promote the material)
m errt oAfMAtoral improvement of the com
munity in which he lived.
In his life he was loved and honored by his
neighbors, in his death he will be reverenced
and revered by thtm. Well may his partner
feel “ unnervedhe has lost his right artu !
Well may the church be draped in mourning,
she has lost one of her pillars 1 Well may
his neighbors sorrow, they have lost a faithful
friend ! Well may the family weep and wail,
they, have lost their stony prop, their wise
counsellor and loving guide ! May the Father
of all mercies sustain and comfort the stricken
family and friends.
Bro. Lyman was born at Meridian, Conn.,
in 1824, joined the Baptist church there in
1838. moved to Montevallo, Alabama, in 1846,
where he has lived ever since, except three
years spent in Selma, soon alter the war. Was
married in 1851, and died July 17th, 1876,
near Greenwood, Mississippi, where he Tiad
gone to look after his farming interests. Ex
posure to that malarial region in mid summer,
brought on a congestive chill which resulted
in his death. The consolation of ministering
to him in his last sickness was denied his lov
ing family, and this is an added pang to their
already terrible grief. T. C. 8.,
Once his Pastor.
Judson Female Institute, Marion,
Alabama. —The 39th annual session
of this famous institute will open Octo
ber 2d. “The Judson” has long been
classed among the gems of Southern
schools for the superior education of
young ladies. Its facilities, in every
respect, are unsurpassed. We com
mend the advertisement in this issue to
the perusal of parents and guardians.
In this connection we cannot forego
the pleasure of reproducing with our
hearty endorsement the comments of
Dr. A. J. Battle, upon the new Presi
dent of the Judson, Dr. L. R. Gwalt
ne v :
I congratulate thepatrong and friends of the
Judson on the accession of Rev. L. R Gwalt
ney to the Presidency of the famous old insti
tute. I deeply regret the retirement of my
excellent friend, the able and accomplished
Sumner, but after his resignation becam an
unalterable fact, I rejoiced that his mantle bad
fallen on one so worthy. Mr. Gwaltney is a
man of superior ability and accomplishments
—an eloquent preacher, a fine scholar, an ex
perienced and successful teacher. He is also
a man of fervent piety, and polished manners,
an admirable type of the Christian gentleman
—just such a man as should lie charged with
the administration pf the noble institution to
which he has been called.
Rev. H. Clay Toul, paftor at Wetumpka,
publishes William Bugg, of Louina, Cham
bers county, who claims to be a Baptist preach
er, as an imposter, and warns all good people
against him.
A post office has ken festal liebed at Perdue
Hill, Monroe county. J. K. Agee is postmas
m aster.
FRANKLIN PRINTING HOUSE, ATLANTA, GEORGIA. AUGUST 3, 1870.
Spirit of the Religious Press,
—The Baptist Messenger , (Woodburv, Tenn.)
commenting on the “Richmond Sensation,”
(Dr. Burrows’ communion with the Cmnpbel
lites,) says :
VVe cannot conceive how a Baptist can com
mune with any ifcher denomination, unless he
entertains falsdjp. of the Church of Christ
and its ordinance*®.
Alluding to the'statement made by the Wes
tern Recorder that Dr. Burrows “repudiates
what are technically known as old landmark
doctrines,” the Messenger continues :
It is evident that no one can repudiate this
doctrine without first rejecting a portion, at
least, of (he word of God, for it has shown to
be a Bible doctrine. We are never surprised
to learn of an affiliationist communing with
other denominations, for every Baptist who
affiliates with errorists acknowledges by that
act, that they are true Churches, that their or
dinations are legal, and their baptisms are
Scriptural. After such acknowledments as
these are made, the next step is open commun
ion.
—The United Presbyterian breaks a lance
gallantly in favor of beneficiary education. It
urges that help, well applied, will not inter
fere with a young man’s future career of use
fulness. It says:
Indeed the drudgery and perpetual vexation
occasioned one who is trying to fight his way
to success unaided, is much more likely to ruin
him than the considerate assistance afforded
him out of the funds provided for that purpose.
Besides, nearly all education is ol the benefi
ciary sort, and if we take ground againat spe
cific help, afforded under a system provided by
the Church, we must, to be consistent, set our
selves against all the current methods. A col
lege is but a charitable institution founded by
benevolent persons for the education of youth,
at which, also, a.I necessary expenses are borne
by parents and friends, the students having but
little thought as to whence their funds are de
rived. And when we send young men to a the
ological seminary it is that they may get their
training free of cost to them, except in so far
as they must provide for their personal wants.
The theory that a youth who will agree to he
helped, is not worth helping, is diabolical, and
is peculiarly out of place ..among Christians.
—ln The Index, sometime ago, we found it
our duty to denounce the reprehensible action
of Californians in regard to the Chinese pop
ulation of that State, and entered our plea lor
these maltreated immigrants in the name o*
justice and humanity. In a leading arflele of
a recent number of the Watchman we find the
following reflections in a similar strain :
The jealousy of lalg-fr- who-find themselves
rivalled, and who have never taken any pains
to study plans of economy, is doubtless respon
sible for a goodly share of the present agitation.
Let the government make due allowance for
these mercenary motives, and for the caste
prejudices which influence so many among us,
before it enters on the perilous legislation
which some of our political leaders seem to be
contemplating.
We cannot but believe that the movement
of the Chinese westward, is part of that sub
lime Providence by which the brotherhood of
humanity is to be demonstrated, and the su
premacy of Christianity secured.
While there may be occasion for an investi
gation of alleged abuses, and the rectification
of serious wrongs, we are satisfied that the
presence of Asia in America, pre-eminently
presents an opportunity for the extension of
those principles which have made our nation
what it is. We cannot drive the Chinese from
our .shores; but we can approach them in ths
spirit of Him who was neither Mongolian nor
Caucasian, but who claimed to be man ; and
by kindness and generousness we can win them
to a broader manhood, and a purer worship
than they have ever dreamed of in their fairest
visions. s
—I he New York Methodist makes merry
over the title epidemic which prevails at
every Commencement seamon. It says:
“Doctor of Divinity” has been so loosely
and extensively “conferred,” that it has ceased
to be a distinction. The best thing to do now,
would he to order and decree in some dignified
council, that, hereafter, all ministers over
thirty years ofage, who can spell with tolerable
correctness, shall be called doctors. The qual
ity of the body would be somewhat improved
by our plan, since many of the present doc
tors spell horribly, and in other respects do
not average higher than the non-doctors.
Alluding to the “Doctors of Law” handle to
a man’s name, it says t
“An able minister who is not exceptionally
learned, and hag not obtained reputation
for learning, is simply disfigured by being
paraded as a Doctor of Law. He looks,
to intelligent eyes, very much like a
vagrant Indian with a fashionable hat
mounted over his rags. There are Doc
tors ot Law who cannot spell their own lan
guage, and whose critical opinion on any point
of learning above vatlgar fractions is absolute
ly worthless. They are not even really in the
rank of great preachers, though they are pop
ular preachers. We very highly respect their
degree of popular power, but why lie about
them and' for them ? Why call a man a sage,
when he is a good carpenter? It is his honor
that he is a good mechanic."
Summing up the whole matter the Metho
dist caustically says:
The colleges are not blameworthy for the
abuse of degrees. If the public knew what
torments facilities endure, how hotly they are
pursued for degrees, what influences are
brought to bear upon them, and how bravely
they resist three-fourths of the hungry appli
cants, the public would honor the colleges for
sell-sacrificing devotion to decencies. The
public has itself to blame. Let it mercilessly
stone the unworthy aspirantp. Let it say out
loud what it whispers when a degree is mis
placed. Let it re lly respect the truth, and
persecute lies. When shams are pelted until
they sneak under cover, the brave men in
college faculties will no longer have to wage a
hopeless conflict with puerile ambition.
The Journal and Messenger says with re
freshing vagueness:
In view of the commotion created on ac-
count of the course of Dr. Burrows, in com
muning with a Cainpbellite church in Rich
mond, as of that over the Sioux City affair,
and others, We beg to say that occasions for
disturbance among us might be fewer and the
denomination experience no detriment. We
have a class of men who cannot be satisfied
with the regular course of things. They seem
to ..eed the Supper oftener than they get It at
home, or they have more sentiment than oth
ers- -a kind of religious sixth sense .that must
finq/hm object. If only we all were abnormal
The Canadian Baptist very appropriately
remarks of the “ privileged few”;
In times of commercial prosperity, all can
five, and funds flow into the treasury of the
Kid ; but, in times of depression, there are
many who are sorely pressed to live, and hence
ordinary supplies dry op and fail. In a sea
son oi drought common wells “ give out,” and
from living fountains, lakes and rivers sup-
be had; so in hard times, it being
utterly impossible for the many to give as they
would, the few must give for themselves and
others, thus bearing the infirmities of the weak,
and not pleasing themselves.
—Concerning the present trouble of our
government with on the frontiers,
The Watchman justljjk-efiects upon the remiss
ness shown by the authorities in permitting
the invasion ol the territory reserved by treaty
for tl#> Indians, by ruthless white men, and
the failure to punish these invaders; it says:
We should have used our troops in the ex
pulsion of these pirates, rather than the chas
tisement of those who resented their crime.
We have paid dearly for our sin ; and we have
yet to sacrifice many lives before it shall be
expiated. The Sioux must be crushed, of
course, in order to protect citizens who are
guiltless from their violence; but let us limit
our hostilities by the rules of civilized warfare,
leßt we add sin to sin, and lest a worse thing
come upon us.
—The Presbyterian (Philadelphia) says, in a
joooset rnoqd: “ The Sunday-school workers,
who have had many ‘ Conventions,’ last win
ter held a ‘ Congress,’ and are now to have a
‘ Parliament.’ The only thing that remains,
that we can (ink of, is an ‘ Ecumenical Coun
cil,’ or m ‘lnternational Pan Sabbath-school
Conference ol the Hemispheres.’ ”
—Tile Religious Herald expresses the senti
ments of every Christian, of every good citizen
in the land, in the following paragraphs on
“Virtue in Public Men.” We trust no other
standard for public men will ever be tolerated
in the public mind:
Candy* 4 s for the Governorship, for Con
gress Legislature, should be men of so
briety of integrity, of gentleman li
j>lace the obligation on on
tfc-i parties shoe
nrV for any office men who
commandments and the decent
life. No Christian man, no good
citizen, emi excuse himself for voting for a
drunkard, or a tumbler, or a debauchee, or a
defaulter. No_ party discipline nor alleged
necessity can biad a voter to the approval or
reward of vice or dishonesty. Fidelity to God
and patriotism, alike, require that men guilty
of crime should not be elevated to places of
honor and trust.
Sin in high places is particularly mischiev
ous, is contagious. Men and women, conspic
uous for wealth, for talents, for social position,
for official station, can lead others aßtray, cor
rupt youth, poison the fountains of virtue and
lower the standard of integrity. We would
not make piety a test of office; but we would
have votes withheld from the immoral and
the corrupt. The example and influence of a
drunkard, a gambler, a debauchee, in high po
sitions, are most pernicious. Instances, not a
few, could be cited from English and Ameri
can history, where the young have been led
astray by those who threw the glare of success
over vice. When offices are bestowed on such
as we have indicated, we practically say that
honesty and virtue and sobriety are at a dis
count. When vice wears the rewards and
honors, the country may well blush for fear
for the future.
For the Index and Baptist.]
ALABAMA CM BCH MOWS
Dear Index— The church at Clayton,
twenty miles west of Eufaula, is under the pas
toral care now of Bishop W. H. Norton, of
Lee county, Ga., a brother whose labors have
been blessed. He las not had care of the
church long, and his hold upon the people is
becoming stronger.
The church has recently received three ad
ditions by baptism and three by letter. Sev
eral days spent there enabled me to get an idea
of how much Georgia aided in settling East
Alabama. Brethren Caruthers and Reynolds
are Georgians, is also sisters Price and Foster,
the last named being the daughter of Elder
A. H. Borders, of Georgia.
In this connection, I muet mention Prof
(now Elder) W. H. Patterson, a Georgian and
a “ Mercer Boy,” as they are so frequently
called, who is now preaching every Sabbath,
and preaches as if he had been prwching a
long time.
Midway Church is located at the village of
the same name, about miduxiy between Eufauta
and Union Springs, on the E. & M. Railroad.
The church numbers some two hundred mem
bers. Rev. Pitt Milner Callaway is Bishop
where,ho is, as a man, n Georgian, but as min
ister an Alabamian, having begun to preach in
Alabama. Here, also, I met brethren Jordan
and Thornton, who also delight to hail from
the Empire State. As agent, I won’t report
yet for Midway, for 1 think I will hear from
there again, and owing to circumstances the
report now would be meagre—too much so for
a large, strong church.
Enun church,at asmall village of that name,
is a small church, with Bishop Callaway to
minister to them. Here I spent two days,
preached for brother C. on Saturday and Sun-
day, and “liued” a splendid collection for Home
Minions.
At Enon 1 found brethren Cox, Milner and
Glover, from Georgia. The Eufaula Associa
tion meets with this church in October next.
Mt. Zion church in Bulloch county, belongs
to the Eufaula Association, and the Moderator
of that body—one of the best-is a deacon of
this church, and brother P. M. Callaway is the
pastor. Deacon W. W. Battle is a Georgian,
I believe, and so are brethren Elder J. O.
Hixon, whose membership is here, and brothe
Drr. Here I had the pleasure of meeting sis
ter Davis, widow of Elder Jonathan Davis,
and her daughter Mary. This church has a
good house, completed, kept in a good state
and beautifully located. Of brother Hixon
and my stay at his bonse I would speak, but—
I won’t tell why, not yet at least.
To brother Callaway I can truly commend
my brother agents as the agent’s friend and
helper. Long will I cherish the memory of
his kindness to me. Let me also recommend
my brethren in the ministry to “ Baptist Ho
tel,” kept by Deacon Paullen. And if they
fall into the hands of brother Foster or
Thomas and their families, they will t fijd real
hotel accommodations—all at Clayton, Ala.
The Index is beloved and read by a good
many, who, while they read the Alabama Bap
tist for State news, read the Index for old ac
quaintance sake and old home news.
W- H. Chaudoin.
BAPTIST NEWS AND NOTES.
—A splendid and very successful festival was
recently held in Nashville by the ladies of the
Raptist churches of that city. The proceeds
were applied for the benefit of Central Baptist
church.
A pleasing event of the festival was the
presentation of a beautiful gold watch to Bro.
M. H. Lane, upon which was inscribed : “Pre
sented to Rev. M. H. Lane by his friends oi
Nashville and Edgefield.”
Mr. Theodore Coolev presented the gift in a
neat address, which was appropriately re
sponded to by the esteemed pastor.
—The Texas Baptist Herald prints the fol
lowing brief and interesting historical items:
On the 13th of December, 1835, Eld. Z. N.
Morrell preached his first sermon in Texas.
No Missionary Baptist preacher had been here
before him. In 1837 the first Missionary
Baptist church was organized at the town ol
Washington. • In 1839 the Plum Grove church
vys organized, and the first baptism occurred
near there. The first Association was ci’gan
|Tzed ip 1840 ; forty-six ijlerabers in the aggre
gate made the known strength of the denomi
nation at that time—of these three were
preachers. Nine churches and 384 members
were represented at the second meeting of the
Association. The Texas Baptist Education
Society was organized in 1841. Baylor Uni
versity was created in 1845. The denomina
tion probably now numbers over 50,000 white
Baptists, and a membership of from 15,000 to
20,000 among the colored people.
—The Western Recorder explanlory of Bap
tist characteristics says t
Immersion is not, as many may think, our
piime distinguishing characteristic. The grand
distinguishing characteristic has been a believ
er’s baptism; collateral with this, a converted
church, a peculiar people; who, while they owe
allegiance to the state, owe it above all to God
who has bought them. Another principle, is
that every church is a democracy free, inde
per.dent,_ antagonizing with hierarchies, every
church is a republic. Another, the most im
portant truth, the doctrine of the Holy Spirit
upon the heart. The revealed Word is inter
preted by the enlightening influences of the
Holy Spirit. Baptists never look to the de
crees of a council, but to the Work of God as
enlightened by the Holy Spirit. When ap
peal is made to decrees and human laws they
say God’s law is higher.
—The Watchman puts some splendid truths
in a nutshell as follows:
It is a fact that should be impressed upon
the memory of all that God bas so blessed us
in the past as a denomination in this country,
that as Baptists we enter this centennial year
with 21,253 churches, 1,815,300 members, 13,
117 ministers, 9 theological seminaries, 33 col
leges, with a property in churches, schools and
endowment funds, amounting to $75,000,000,
with Home Mission Societies expending year
ly $280,000 and supporting 500 missionaries;
ond 932 native preachers; with publication so
cieties doing a business of $310,000 and Sunday
school, missionary and colporteur work of
SIOO,OOO, so that there is no reason why any
man should be ashamed to be known as a Bap
tist, and no reason why the denomination
should not move to the front in every form of
Christian work.
—At the Baptist Convention in Mississippi,
delegates f*m fifty-nine churches were pres
ent, and eignteen Associations. The Southern
Baptist will be the State paper for the denom
ination. Rev. M. P. Lowrey, the Mississippi
editor of the Memphis Baptist, has resigned-his
.position on that paper and will doubtless have
a prominent place on the Mississippi paper.
. —Historians are slowly and reluctantly ac
knowledging the share which Baptists took, in
procuring for us and our posterity the liberties
now so much prized. We should often recall
to mind as memorials of honur, that the Bap
tists of a bundled years ago, contended for and
secured the right of their ministers to preach
to the soldiers in the Revolutionary army; the
suspension, and after a long and doubtful strug
gle, the repeal of ail the laws in the different
States taxing the people for the support of any
religious denomination; and further secured
the overthrow of the Established Church in
Virginia and the Standing Order iu Massa
chusette, and obtained the incorporation in the
Constitution of the United States of an amend
ment preventing any future union of Church
and State.
WHOLE NO. 2229.
General Denominational Heirs,
—There is progress in the mission work in Ja
pan. In Sakai, which has been the
most difficult places of access for, foreigners,
there is now gospel preaching, mainly through
the eflorts of several native members connected
with the congregation of the American Board
at Osaka. The government has permitted a
building to be rented for divine services, and
the Bible aud mission newspapers are exposed
lor sale.
—lt is proposed to use St. Paul’s Protestant
Episcopal church, of Boston, as a bishop’s
church.
—A committee appointed by the Main Con
gregational Conference, to collect statistics of
the attendance upon public worship in the
Evangelical churches of the State, have re
ported that in towns containing 234,000 in
habitants the attendance in such churches is
about 50,000.
The Philadelphia Free Church Associa
tion publishes the following, regarding free
and pewed churches : “1. In the city of Phil
adelphia the pew rents of all the churches pay
only three-fourths of the expenses, and aver
age $6.16 per sitting. The free churches, on
the other hand, contribute $6.60 per'sitting.
The free churches are mostly in the suburbs
and poorer districts of the city. 2. That in the
country districts no church is supported by the
pew rents, which average only $3.58 per sit
ting. The free churches, which are mostly mis
sion and poor, pay $2.73 per sitting. Leaving
out the missions, the free churches in the coun
try pay $5.50 per sitting—half as much again
as is raised in the other churches for expen
ses.”
—Miss Logan and Miss Reed, the English
evangelists, are preaching in (he principal
towns on North River, N. Y. They attract
large crowds, and their services are attended
with very marked success.
—The Jews in Spain lately petitioned King
Alfonso to allow them the same privileges en
joyed by their people elsewhere in Europe.
At present they dare not open a synagogue in
the Peninsula for fear of the popular fanati
cism.
—The first Roman Catholic chapel in Phil
adelphia was built in 1729, when Miss McGau
ley, and Irish lady, brought over a colony of
tenants and settled on the road leading from
Frankfort to Newton. William Peru, cousid
ered the celeb*iuioii of the mass in hi- prov-
a great indignity hot did not adopt any
messu-es to suppress it. ‘ W
—The Collgate Reformed Dutch church was
the first Evangelical church founded in North
America, and dates from the first settlement in
Manhattan Island. Dominie Bogardus, who
came over from Holland in 1633, was the first
minister.
—The Primitive Methodist church of Cana
da, has received a proposition for union from
the Methodist church of Canada.
The mission of the American Presbyterian
church in Upper Egypt is very flourishing.
The Indian Census Returns show not
quite 900,000 Christians in India, or less tLan
one in 200 of the population; and even of these
some 250,000 appear to be Europeans, or to
have European blood in their veins.
—There are no less than 1,200 Christian
congregations in the Island of Madagascar,
numbering 260,000 worshippers.
—So popular have the International Lesson
Papers become, that it is said half a million
more persons are studying them this year than
in 1875.
—The Congregational people of Brooklyn,
Massachusetts, have done a very good thing.
Unable to raise funds to adorn their .hurch
grounds, the parish turned out with Bhovels,
teams and turf, and made a day of putting ev
erything in excellent order.
Of the 6,000,000 Catholics In the United
States, 1,800,000 are Irish, and 4,200,000 were
born in this country or were natives of conti
nental nations in Europe.
—Tfie first Catholic priest in the United
States was ordained May 25, 1793.
—A pew fight has recently taken place in
a chapel in North Wales. The circumstances
are of a peculiarly painful description. It
seems that a farmer’s wife, considering that her
dignity was hurt by a person in an inferior po
sition occupying a pew immediately in front of
her’s, caused a screen to be erected between the
two. Prompt was the retaliation of the other
lady. Piling cushions on her seat to such a
height that the screen was rendered useless, she
remained mistress of the situation. Growing
tired, however, of her elevated perch, she hit
upon the design of demolishing the screen al
together, and accordingly, on a convenient oc
casion, she hewed it down with a billhook. The
screen was, on recommendation of the chapel
authorities, restored; and here for a moment
the matter rests, but the nerves of the congre
gation are kept constantly on the stretch, and
no one knows from moment to moment wheth
the screen will be allowed to remain standing,
the general impression being that it will be
down again before long.
—The[report that Mr. Spurgeon, is to visit
the | United States gis contradicted, j Many
would give him a glad welcome.
Dr Arnold Bellinger, one of the oldest Rnd
most respected citizens of Montgomery, died a
few days ago in his 71st year.