The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-12-21
FOREIGN ITEMS.

Three or four Sundays ago he wished
to have a quiet day, and he reached
town on the borders of 4 beautiful lake.
From the bedroom of the hotel they
could fish and catch as many of the fnny
tribe as they pleased. There they had a
fine view Of continental Sunday. 1t
was Victor Emmanuel's birthday, and,
therefore, early in the morning, before
decent people ought to be awake, was
heard the firing of cannon everywhere,
right and left; pop guns and every species
of guns up to great feld-cannon were
used. Some pious people went to church,
whilst others prepared for enjoyment.
In the afternoon there were blazing bon
fires, and people climbing up greasy poles,
and every thing that could be devised for
amusement. He thought what mercy it
was that in England they had their quiet
Sabbaths. Although in London there
were Sunday trading and other objection
able proceedings, he thanked God that
they had MT gone so far as the Italians.
Wherever the Sunday was used as a day
of pleasure, there it was day of drudg-
cry. Wherever they had teteS on Sun
day, in the same places they saw carpcn-
tiers and bricklayers at work; trade went
on Just the same throughout the seven
days of the week, and the workmen got
no more than the wages for six days la
Dor. Sabbath dissertation insured Sab
bath rest, aud when once the Sabbath
was desecrated it ceased to be a Sabbath
altogether.
The NoBLEsT TTTLE.-A pleasant an
ecdote is current of the French Empress
that in visiting the cholera hospitals,
in company with Sister of Charity, she
was mistaken for a nun by a sick or
dying man to whom she spoke, and who
feebly answered:
"Yes-sister.
The real Sister" companion began
to correct the mistake, and tell the inva-
lid that it was the Empress but Eu-
genie stopped her, saying, with much
emotion:
. 1t is the nOblest title l ever had.
STATE OF RELIGION IN ENGLAND
During the late sessions of the Church
Congress in Norwich, England, report
was read presenting startling facts in re-
gard to the religious condition of the ma
iority of the people in that country
The report states that there are now
more persons habitually absent from pub
lie worship than there were in England
at the time Of the reformation. In Lon
don alone 1000 new houses are erected
annually, and to provide a minister Of
the Church to every 1000 souls, it was
calculated that 527 clergymen are now
required. London contains about three
million souls, but three-fourths Of this
population are left destitute Of the means
of grace, while inducements to irreligion
abound on all sides. In Birmingham the
Church only provides $4,000 sittings in
a population of 100000. In Liverpool
it is calculated that 100000 90 to no
place of worship. In England there are
$4,000 public houses and $4,000 beer
shops, the total bearing proportion to
the parochial clergy Of more than seven
to one. Twenty-nine millions of immor-
al publications are annually circulated
among the teeming millions of the labor
ing classes of England.
RELIGIOUS FREEDoM.-The Methodist
Episcopal Church has been granted en-
tire freedom in the kingdom of Denmark,
The American Minister, in announcing
this grant, to the Missionary Society Of
the Methodist Church, says: Il con-
graduate you on an event, the like of
which has not been done before in behalf
any foreign Church since 104S."
PERsEcUTIoN.-A letter dated July
18th, has been received in England, from
Rev. NJ. Stern, one of the missionaries
imprisoned by the King Of Abyssinia.
He says; To-day l have been in chains
twenty-one months, and during that
long heart-wasting existence, l have had
to submit to fendish tortures.' d.
Vigorous efforts are now in progress to
effect his Liberation, and that of his mis-
sionary companions.
PRoTESTANTIsM IN TURKEY.-The Of
flee of uek1 civil chief of the Protestant
community in Turkey, rendered vacant
during the late epidemic, by the death Of
Stephen Efendi, has Just been filled by
the appointment of Ghazaros Efendi in
his place. 1t is understood that the new
chief has been chosen by the Porte from
one of four candidates named by the no.
tables of the community in Constantine
pie. The appointment has been confirmed
bv the Sultan, and Ghazaros Efendi for
mally installed in the Office. The new
rekil is said to possess every qualification
for the post. He was educated at the
College of the American Mission.-Le-
cant Herald,
PRoGREss IN EGYPT.-A recent letter
from Alexandria, Egypt, states that the
Inhabitants who lately fed from that city
on account of the cholera have returned
to their usual occupations; and to wit
ness the activity and enterprise Of Egypt,
a stranger would scarcely suspect that
that the country was onl Y few weeks
since ravaged by that fatal epidemic.
While the high price of cotton and the
abundance of the harvest assures the
planters Of an ample rccompense for their
labors, the government is vigorously pros
ecnting its system of internal improve
ments. In the Delta of the Nile alone
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