The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-09-05

Baptist Statistics The Baptist Almanac for 1859 has
just been issued by the American Baptist Publication So
ciety 1t contains AZ pages We gather from the fol-
lowing summary of Baptists in the United States
Associations sos
Churches III 900
Ordained ministers --------------------- 7,l4I
Iicentiates ------------------------ l,025
Baptized in 1857 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 63,506
Total menbefs- !-i-. IL .923 1873
Besides these there are the anti Mission Baptists So
900 and the Freewi Baptists so, 3l2 and Of Disciples
and other denominations that practise immersion about
100000 of periodicals supported by the regular Bap-
tists there rs weekies IA monthes and quartees
Of educational institutions 81 colleges and IL theologi
institutions The increase in the last years has
been, I44 associations, 1895 churches 2l9l ordained
ministers, and 225, 448 members.
Conversion Of Mss Rr. The Freeman Journal speaking
of Miss Fox's conversion to Catholicism, says 'For
many years past Miss Margaret Fox has refused to hold
any communication with these spirits, from conviction
of its dangers and its unlawful character Such right
minded resolutions with the grace Of God have brought
her at length to that faith to which, alone the deccivng
wonders of spirituasm present nothing inexpicabe.
Miss Foxs profession Of the Catholic faith is far enough
from casting any suspicion Of cousion imposture
her former life, that of the members Of her family
who STILL unfortunately engage in those occult practices
She enounces for herself all such communications hav
ing been for months carefully preparing under the nsruc
tions of Mr.. QUINN
The Spiritual Tlswup. adds 1--WE deem it proper to
say that Miss Fox does not deny the reality and spiritual
the peculiar state of mind In which she has been during
the past year has led her to discountenance
them
A Wolisasan Church. The Waldenses have church in
Turin the system of religious freedom in Sardinia
allowing them to worship openly in cities Mr.. Bryant,
of the N Y Post, recently attended services in their
church, which, lie writes, do not vary much from those
of Presbyterian church In New York except that the
prayers mostly read by the minister from book,
aud the languagein the morning French in the after
1tua 1xf
manifesy of different conditions in lfe the opulent and
the aborng not large, but its attentive
and devout Aa
The Celebration of the four hundreth anniversary of the
Magdalen College, Oxford attended by the bishops
of Exeter and Oxford Among the celebrated en-
rolled among its alumni those of Dr. Hammond and
Gibbon the historian and Dr. Rout the late president
Correspondent Of Cwchnan
S. Partcks Cutlo1ral The Cl,uciman speaking Of the
laying OF the cornerstone Of St. Patrcks Cathedral by
Archbishop Hughes and of the lberality with which
Roman Catholics contribute to such works. says
..The Roman Church is earnest in her work She does
with her might that which her hands find to do Go to
of her churches at early before the respectable
portion of the community stirring and see it throng
I'd pews asles and porch-with worshippes. No mat
ter what the hour how large the edihce when public
service is performed it is not done to empty seats The
Romaniss church going people their contributions
for religious purposes largely in advance of those of
any of the secs around proportonate to their wealth.
The Cathedral will not lack funds for its completion
costly it is to be for the duty of giving to the church
is thoroughly and constantly instled into the minds
and hearts Of children that what Protestant would be
likely to regard large Donation seldom to be repeat
ed, is with the Romanist duty frequently freely and
cheerfully performed"
Important MoremaR among he LraeliesThe recent
secraton of the synagogue Ohcb Shalom, in Han
street, has inaugurated important reformaory
movement among the Israelitcs in this city The
bes of this congregation who had up that time pro-
fessed the orthodox creed Of the Hebrew church. and
strictly observed its prescribed rites and ceremonies have
discarded of the fundamental principles Of their
faith and abandoned its old and established form of
worship Besides the introduction Of organ and the
singing of hymns in the vcrnacuar tongue they have
adopted prayer book which gives due expression to the
remarkable change of the religious sentiment which n
beginning to make its way among large portion of that
| ancient people. Among tho most important changes
which have thus far characterized the movement the
restitution of the Mosaic policy and the return to Jeru
saem and the rccstablshment of sacfcal worship are
longer objects Of hope AMI prayer. The dogma of
millennium, in somewhat modified form, is promi
nent feature of the prayer book. These radical
changes among the people Of Israel who have for 50
many centuries adhered to the strict faith Of their fathers
have of late resulted in the formation of
gregaons which deviate less from the orthodox
standard Tho prayer book Is the conoined pro-
duction of three Rabbs of whom Rev. DIR. Isaac NJ
Wise of Cincinnati, Is the most distinguished The
gregaton OF Har Sanai in High street. also differ from
the orthodox creed in far that the males and females
occupy the floor the latter not being required to
occupy the gallery. Another feature Of this congregation
is the fact that its members permitted to cat what
food they peasc all laws regulating that principle
having been abolished With regard to the Sabbath
however all agreed, and the seventh day still OBJ
served day Of rest entire cessation from labor
that not fire may he kDdled in the house of thu
Israelite on that day. Baltimore Sun ffrI t-s
| Sn,guldr Religious Kingdom in Afrioo.-In tht
| highlands Of Ethiopia, Major Harris found so-callet
Christian kingdom, national establishment dating from
the earliest ages BY this church. saints and angels arr
invoked, the Virgin and ST. Michael made scarcely
subordinate dctcs crowded calendar of saints receive
honos and half the year is composed Of fasts and cst
walls 1t enjons also confession to the priest, whose curs
is dreaded by the people the last calamity, while thcl
confidently rely the almsgiving and pcnnaccs he i'm
poses expiration Of sin. It's most extraordinary pc
cuartes certain usages and ceremonies, either Dor
rowed from the Jews retained from the Ethiopc faith
Their churches, which generally small and mean
resemble precisely the Jewish temple; they are divides
into three parts the innermost Is the holy Of holes