The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-12-30

Free Church of Scotland.-At the last meet
ing of the 4. g. Commission, MIR. Patterson
(elder) submitted report by the Committee
on the Insurance of Ecclesiastical Buildings,
which stated that the total number of returns
sent in was 26l, Of which 800 were from dea
cons courts, ana Al from Presbytsries. All
these courts approved of the scheme, except
the Presbytery OF Chanonry, which pro.
nounced no judgment MIR. Wilson, Dundee,
moved the approval of the report, which was
seconded by DR.. Smith, and agreed to. DIR.
McLauchlan, ccnvener of the Highlands and
Islands Committee, made an earnest appeal
for subscriptions to enable the Committee to
carry on their operations. He stated that the
sum at the credit of the Committee was at
present little more than 9200. DIR. Buchanan
submitted a report of the Sustentation Fund
Committee, which showed that for the halt:
year ending 18th November, the fund amounted
to Eos 500 IS. ID, being net increase of
el ,056 l5s. I'D. over that of the last SIX
months The clerk read letter from DIR.
Stewart resigning his pastoral charge at Leg
horn, and declining the appointment as con,
veneer of the General Assembly's Continental
Committee.
The missionaries in China are liable to make
strange mistakes in learning the language
The same word may have utterly different
meanings according as it is more or less
drawed or is pronounced on higher or lower
KEY. One of the Presbyterian missionaries
tells how he asked for hammer and had a
pole brought to him. Another sent for some
steak, and received three sheep-tails. A re.
quest for hoarhound candy brought rusty
Ratchet.
The Government in Russia, not content to
assimilate or to destroy the Polish nationality
by forbidding the use of the Polish language
to Catholics as well as Jews in that unhappy
country, has also published an ukase of the
Emperor enforcing the use of the Russian
language in the family, the school, and even
the Churches of the German and Lutheran
populations of the provinces Of Courland, rs
thonia, and Livonia
DR.. Norman Macleod, who has succeeded in
making his Good Words so acceptable to the
grown up people has started new Magazine,
called Good Words for the Young, which is as
thoroughly good, in its way, as the other.
The American Catholics are asked to contri-
butte $3.50 900 to the College Of the Propaganda
at Rome and they will make it half million.
Twelve wealthy Catholics of Baltimore have
given so 900 to this object.
The Circulation of the Bible in Spain is yet re
tarded by great obstacles. The British and
Foreign Bible Society managers explain that
nothing on large scale can be accomplished
as the question of the Constitution remains to
be settled by the Cortes. The proclamation
of religious liberty by the provisional govern
ment is not lao, but merely proposal which
they are DESTROYS to see adopted" The hope
is entertained that this wish will be made law
before long. But in the meantime the govern
eminent (Spanish) are anxious that Protest
ants shout exercise little patience, and not
be precipitate in their action. An utterance
to substantially the same effect has been put
forth by Lord Shaftesbury, as President of the
British and Foreign Bible Society, and pub
lished in the London Times
Japanese Converts.-The Rev J. NJ. Ferris,
Corresponding Secretary of the Board of For
eign Missions Reformed Dutch Church.
corrects the statement copied from the Ne,o-
ark Daily Advertiser, viz, THAT Nagai is
with one exception, the only baptised native
of Japan" and says the Rev. j. II. Ballagh,
of the mission of the Reformed Church, pub.
Gcy baptized two natives of Japan at Yoke
hama, last spring. The Rev. Mr.. Thompson,
of the Presbyterian 20. S. Mission, also
publicly baptized two japanese during the last
spring. But for the uncertainty as to whether
the law of Japan against Christians and their
kiasmea will be enforced, the number of bap-
tized japanese would be larger.