Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-05-29
THE GAZETTE.
SATURDAY. MORNING, MAY 20 1858
1NDlTION OF CHRISTENDOM

THE CONDITION OF CHRlSIENDoM.
For an able series of views OF the progress
of Christianity in Europe, from the Evangel.
ical standpoint. the moe, thorough aud eug-
oest;ye work is that on The Religious Cor
dition of Christepdom," by Dr.. Sseaue, OF
London, published last year, being transla-
ton Of series of papers presented by the
ablest man of the reformed churches on the
continent OF Europe, at the Paris Evangelical
Conference.
That Chri. tianity as a whole, is gaining
immensely and rapidly upon the heatnen
world, no one will doubt who has attended
any Of the missionary meetings. or even reau
the newspapers. 10 fact. while Missionary
Societies are differing among themselves ana
splitting to pieces on questions as to the pest
way of carrying on missionary operations
the beathen are casting away their gods,
ard seeking Christian Instruction, with a
ranidjty IN heard of since Creation, and the
different denominations of Christians are
getting to act together better. Commerce Is
bringing the nations Of the earth into daily
contact. This leads Christian nations and
heather to measure strength, and 1t Is found
that the former have a secret source OF power
that the others have not. They observe more
closely the social laws of all religion. such as
truth apd Justice. The Chinese, for instance,
the largest nation on earth, is found to be the
yery weakest, because all its ficials lie, and
exaggerate, and cheat, and report nothing
truly to their government. The people see
the force and power Of Christian nations,
and are not far wrong in the gross and gen
eral idea that il they could learn Christianity
IL sfr
that the rebels in China have circulated
Christian books and doctrines. mutllated, in
deed, but not more corrupted than various
types of Christianity, as preached among
heather nations in former periods. Three
hundred millions are thus having Christian
ity sowed broadcast by their own citizens.
So 10 Burmah, az this moment, the pres
emit king (his BROTHER having just been beat
eu BY the East India Company sees in Chris.
tianity a force, and has taken to read the
Bible, wbloh Judson, the American mission
airy. translated years ago, after having been
door. The king has dismissed his priests
and taken tue missionaries into favor. The
auelling of the rebellion in India is death
blow to hesthenism amODg two hundred
millions more. ,E'ren the s,cord of Havelock,
he so long and nobly endured ridicule,
have sowed the seeds OF Christianity among
Hindoos whose faith bad reached It's d.
tsge before the babe Of Bethlehem lay era
died in the mapger, but which has held TO-
gether simply for want of a superior force to
overthrow it. Africa, too, is being p"netra-
ted to the core-peustrated by Christian mis-.
sionaries, like our own cuuntrymer Bowen IN
Yoribah, as DR.. Livingstone travelled it from
east to west.
While the circumference Of nominal Chris
tianity is thus rapidly enarging. the great
question is, hoW fares ii at tie centret There
has been a feeling 10 past years that there
was declining interest in evangelical Chris
tiauity at home. just in proportion to it's ex-
tension abroad. The immense impetus,
however, that has been given to personal re-
ligion within the last few months, through
the Young Mems Christian Associations and
similar societies, uoequalled 10 power by any
known previous movement of the Church,
shows that this ia not the case. but the con-
trary. Even in a pecuniary point Of view,
notwithstanding the enormous pressure o.
the times, it was estimated, in recent mum
Der of the New York Herald, that the sum
total of contributions to the benevolent socIe.
ties of the day, amounting usually TO over
two millions OF. dollars, was eighty thousand
dollars over that this year, and had only TALL
en- about twenty thousand dollars below that
the most prosperous OF years, /. e., 1851.
Phil Led0er