The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-04-15
FOREIGN ITEMS.

Scottish School Question.--The people of
Scotland seem To be evenly divided upon the
question of schools with or without denomina-
tlonal peculiarities. A late crowded meeting
in Glasgow carried, but by bare majority, a
motion in favor of Il national system OF educa-
ton, in the broadcast sense unsectarlan-spe.
ci6cally religious instruction, II any, to be
given separately An amendment, declaring
that no schools ought TO be sanctioned, except
those in which the Bible and the Shorter Cate
chism are used in ordinary school hours, did
not pass. A resolution was also passed, de-
claring that the schools ought in part to be sup
ported out of the local rates and that while
the general management should rest with a
government board, the local management
should rest in a board appointed by the rate,
payers.
3 scotland-A call has been extended to Rev.
John Laidaw, of Perth, TO be colleague and
successor TO Rev. DR.. Candlish.
DR.. Norman Macleod has been obliged, on ac-
count of sickness, 10 hasten his departure from
India, and was to leave for home March Sd.
The Union Movement in Scotland appears ra-
Their 10 have retrOgreSSed than advanced du-
ring. the last month The minority in the Free
Church are doing all in their power tn put a
stop to further progress A meeting of int1u-
entail laymen has, however, been held IN Ed'n-
burgh, in favor Of union: aud if the laity take
up the question with spirit, it will probably
soon be settled. Sir David Brewster gave very
strong expressions to his views upon his death
bed, urging that it would be better even for
the cause of religion, to leave behind those
who were dlsncned, than to retard move
ment of such Importance 10 the cause OF true
religion.
The Wesleyans Invited Back.-A correspon-
dence Is being carried on IN the Guardian as
to the possibility of bringing back Wesleyans
to the Established Church. II has been pro
posed to take in the Wesleyan system bodily
-chapels preachers, class meetings aud all;
and one correspondent points out the great
advantage for evangelizng purposes which
would result. The We>leyans themselves ig
more altogether such a movement, which they
regard as insulting The Wrtchman says that
there are now stronger reasons than ever tor
keeping apart from the Establishment, and
that when such union was moOted, quarter
century ago it Was at once repudiated, on &C
count of the unSoundness of the doctrine pro-
pagated by the Established clergy.
The Need of Missionaries is labor
my IN China about one ordained missionary TO
every four million inhabitants. Think of the
United States containing but eleven clergy
men In the Ningpo district there are thirty
foreign missionaries, four ordained native
preachers, and seven hundred and seventy
eight commandments. Nearly three fourthS
Madame Henrietta Teller, of Switzerland, died
March 10Th, at Grand Lgne, Canada. She
arrived in Canada in 1885. In 1856 she open
ed a school Of twelve children Of families that
had left the Church of Rome; soon the num-
Der increased to twenty. and also an evening
school for adults. La 1887, the heat being in
>uppOrtable IN the garnet where they were
held, the exercises were conducted in barn.
Friends in Champlain, Plattsburg, and Mon
treal built house. that served for place of
worship, School-houSe, and dwelling. A small
church of sixteen members was also formed.
On the insurrection in Canada they left for
Champlain, many Canadians following them.
On their return the mission increased, and now
embraces 40 parishes, II central stations 10
organized churches, mploys 90 laborers as pas
trr-- cvanscli~t-, and cOlportc"rs and over
3 900 persons have been convinced of the truth
Of the Bible through its instrumentality.
The pressure of famine is so terrible in Tunis
and other parts of the coast of Africa, that
mothers have been found eating the flesh of
their own children. The Irish famine was
nothing compared to the horrors of this now
prevailing at Tunis, (in Finland.) 1t has been
fearful in the north Of Sweden. In Russia it
is spreading far and wide, and peStileuce is APP
pretended TO follow in its wake.
Presentation of Bible to Turkish Chief
The American missionaries at Beirut. Syria,
recently presented rich and elegant copy of
The new Arabic Bible to his excellency Davoud
Pa>ha, the Governor General of that province
of the Turkish empire, bv Mr.. johnson, our
Consul The Governor General received the
elegant work of art in most appreeiative
spirit, and returned thanks for the same. and
added that he should value it highly, and
keep it on exhibition at his palace for the ben
fit of his visitors, and as an Illustration Of the
labnrs Of Americans in Syria-G OLserrer