Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1859-04-28
Religious Intelligence.

Religious Intelligence.
TGoGREss or PRoTEsTASTIsM IN GERMANY.
\ comparison OF the religious statistics of
Germany in 1910 with those of 1858 shows
that the number of Irutestanis in nearly eve
~ state has increased in . larger ratio than
that Of Roman Catholics. IN Hanover, for
instance, the number of Protcstants in 1Sd3
was 400 900, and that Of Roman Catholics
200 900; III 1853 the number Of Protestants
amounted to $40, 900, that cf Roman Catho-
lics 2l7 900; showing for the former an in
crease vi 10 per cent, and Tor the latter ot
only per cent The whole number Of Prot.
estants in the states of the German conledera-
cy IS at present 60 l00 200, that Of Catholics
Is, $50 900 If we include all the non-Ger-
man PROVINCES which are under the scepters
of Austria aId Prussia, the proportion is rs
follow: Protcstants, 25,S00, 600; Catholics,
! 10, 10000 In consequence Of the more
| frequent intermgraton of the ESQ denomi-
nations the exclusively Protestant or Catno-
lie character Of some German states dissp-
pear entirely, Protestant congregations a.
rising in the Catholic countries, and Catholic
congregations in t he Protestant COUNTRIES
! But it is q remarkable point of difference that
while no case is known where whole Profess
tant congregation has turned Catholics,
number OF instances may be adlucci in Ill
parts of Germany where whole Catholic con-
grcgitions or ut least the large majority of
thea have been received in to tie evangelical
! Church. If the number of Catholic priests
who have turned Protestant were compared
with the number Of Protestant clergyman
who have gone over toRume the former num-
Der would be found 10 be .. least four times
| rs great rs the second. In the grandduchyof
BADEN no less than sixteen priests have been
received into the Evangelical Church during
the last forty years. among whom were four
doctors Of divinity. one professor OF theology
at the University of lE.5Irs, and the Rev
Mr.. IIenhoier. nJw one Of the leading evan
gclical clergyman IN Southwestern t'erTnaEy
VISIT OF Mn. SPCGGEoN TO THE UNITED
STATES.--lt was stated = few weeks ago,
that Mr.. SrupGnoH had declined TO visit A.
merca, lest in the public mind he should be
connected with the personal financial and
scctaran schemes who had sought to use him
! for their own purposes. The number Of ser
| nous proposed to be preached was 10 De
q very limited number, and tho SUN to
| be charged for admission WAS to be two Cui-
meas each person, So that thc scarcity OF the
preacher would cause the money to be paid
willingly to bear him. Mr. STURGEON hav-
| ing discovered that it was purely Il specula-
! ton to make money out of his popularit- de-
clincd to accept the terms offered. The Lon
don Star now hears from reliable sources
that document signed by responsible gontlc-
men of various denominations in New York
has been forwarded To Spurgeon Urging him
to revoke his decision and guaranteeing him
against the petty annoy ancGs which he refers
| Reliable arrangements have been made by
the American Congregational Union to give
him cordial welcome at the meeting which
they will hold on the 18th of May Should
| Mr.. Sturgeon decide on q transatlantic trip
it will probably take place during the ensu-
Ing summer. since be is to lay the foundation
stone of the new tabernacle in May. One
year will he required 90 complete it. 1t is
therefore probable he will not be able to
| leave in time to attend the American C1ngre-
gatoual Union.
| Proxies ~ RELIGIOUS SocIET1Es. The
| Christian IlteLligeaer severely denounces the
| bin pending in the Legislature AUTHORIZING
members Of religious and benevolent societies
10 rote By proxy. Il states that the bill was
drawn and taken to Albany by JoHH JAY,
Esq. who has long been an active and infiuen-
| tial Aboittionst and that its immediate OBJ
| iect is either to revolutionizc Or destroy the
American tract Society. The hlteiige1icer
contends that such a law would he m st in
Ljurious In It's effects upon all the leading be-
nevolen' societies OF the day. So long as their
policy IS 10 b, decided in open session, after
| full debate and the votes Of all the members
present public confidence in them can be
maintained. But if proxy votes are to BE- al
lowed, intrigue will take the place cf arsu
mcnt, agents will traverse the country per-
sonally or by letter, soliciting the proxies Of
women and childrcn-many Of whom are
made members Of these societies, and they
will become the field for .he exercise Of. the
worst ard most degrading arts Of our polit;
cal controversies. II sums mp its objections
to the bill by saying that l. Tie religious
societies have not asked for tbs law, G.
They have demonstrated against Il. g. It
savors OF craft in which fanaticism in morals
is mingled with prodigacy in politics. 4. 1t
is an interference with institutions whose
management the State has no right to con-
trcl. s. Il is an attempt to 60 at Albany,
under sanction of law, what could not be
done by open and fair means in New York.
g. 1t is partlzan in its origin and its ends !;
and therefore unjust aud oppressive towards
the societies which are to be coersed by its
power.
A lot Of negroes were baptized in the river
at Louisville. Ky. on Sunday. One OF the
men was so big and heavy that as he went
under he drew the preacher down also. No,
even the reverence due to the occasion could
restrain the bystanders from laughing at the
scene But flesh is weak
i METHopIsM II FRANcE.-Th Mtehodists
in France now have 152 chapels or places o.
public worship, 20 ministers, 70 local prea-
chers, about 1900 members, and some 5000
pupils in Sabbath schools.
j Rev. JosErH::SYELL!se.-This venerable
brother. long connected With the rrcses.sn'
Ms.bc die.. tna yst,lynel 20 tha NJ e cit;ireh