The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-03-14

tor ofthe drain on the pulpit force.
There are under appointment as
feathers, from College Presidents TO
/ instructors In town schools, l67
Christian clergymen sOlemnly eonse-
Grated II ordination t. spOngIng
blackboards and teaching primary
arithmetic.
The next drain is made by financial
agencies and secretaTyships. These
take men from the pastOrate and set
them to mOney-raising. A few Of
them are important, but the number
is too great by far, and is sadly waste
full Of ministerial strength. There
are seventy five Methodist ministers
thus in service.
There are twenty-seven chaplalns
for various institutions, three mission
airy secretaries, secretary and a gen
eral agent in the Sunday School
tension Society. four Book Agents,
and an editorial staff of seventeen.
(hll these are not officials. y
We have then a reserve list par
italy out of the hands Of the Epis-
copacy and ineligible for the pulpit Of
1,6l2 men; or, deducting the superan-
nuaUes. OF 40.
Next Is the roll of supernuneraries,
of whom there are 461, an increase Of
53 over the previous year.
The total increase of effective
preachers In 1867 was 273. The list
of superanuates and supernumera-
ries increased 128; the list of super
numeraries increased 50. The pro-
portion is suggestive.
MISSIONARY Work IN CHINA.-At
the meetings held in Shanghai during
" the week of prayer +" in January, as
we learn from the Shanghai Ne10s
Letter, very cheering statements re-
specting the mission work were made.
Rev. Mr.. Yates, of the Baptist mission,
speaking 10 the light of twenty years
experience, declared that missions, so
far from being a failure, were almost
the only thing In China that had not
failed. Diplomacy had failed; mer-
chants had failed; others who had
sought to benefit China had failed
but the missionary work had steadily
advanced. Twenty years ago the
neighbOring cities could be visited
only at the risk Of life; to-day, mis-
sionaries may go freely wherever
they wish throughout Shanghai and
adjoining provinces; nor are they in
debted to treaty stipulatiOns for his
Gberty-the purity and morality Of
the religion they teach has won for
them this respect. Rev. Mr. Muir
head, whose experience extends over
a similar period, cordially endorsed
what had been said. and spoke of
t1CeiUe hundred converts In Shanghai
and vicinity, who had made consider
able attainments in Christian knowl-
edge, some Of them devoted and zeal
Gus Christians. Nearly all the church
es In Shanghai had recently received |
additions, and many candidates were
seeking admission. Several new sta
tons have been opened in the coun-
try, and prospects were very encourg-
ing.
THE new Baptist Church on Eighth |
Street, Richmond, will be a beautiful
structure. 1t will front forty five feet /
on Eighth Street, running back /
ninety feet. 1t will be of a gothic |
style of architecture. The audience
room will be fOrty-two by sixty-fve /
feet, and will comfortably accom-
modate five hundred people. The
ceiling will be grOined arch, and |
beautifully frescoed. The gallery, /
pulpit and seats will be arranged with
due regard to neatness aud comfort.
The root of the building will be Of
slate or metal, and will be surmOunted
by spire one hundred and twenty
five feet shigh