davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-04-07
The Women of China.

The News from the Foreign Field" publ
cation by the Episcopal Board of Missions, has
letter from Miss Fay missionary at Shanghai,
giving the following facts in regard to tie position
and influence of woman in that country:
at seems curious fact, little noticed by writer's
on China, that the women are almost the only
teachers of idolatry; they take their own children
or their friends the temples of instruction some
times even before they can speak they are taught
to lift their hands, to bow and PROSTATE themselves
before the idols. The duty is imposed upon the
mothers by the priests, who take special interest
in the religious education of all the children. The
priests themselves rarely teach, except classes of
bows, who live in the temples, and are destined to
succeed them in the priesthood l mention this
fact of the mothers teaching in China, as an
argument in favor of girls schools.
Though the woman of China have not the
acknowledged social position as in Christian lands,
they have an immense home influence, and the
continuation of idolatry seems mainly to depend
upon them and the priests who direct them. They
are much more superstitious than the men, and it
is much more difficult to get their consent for the
children to enter Christian school than it is to
get the consent of the men. This applies partic.
ulary to the better classes: there are people so
Door who have little regard for anything save to
obtain the food that may sustain life, who will send
their children or give them away, but We have
found by experience that such children do not
make very desirable scholars and it is still very
difficult to get access to the higher classes, or to
get their children in our schools. | have been
trying for a long time to get the son of wealthy
man, who lives in the city, to come to my board
ing school here. AT last the father consented, as
the lad wished to come, but the mother objected
After month or two | won her consent; but then
the grand mother, whom neither the father or
mother dare disobey, will not consent; she says
he is the eldest SON the light of the house, and
the Joy of her heart would depart if he LEFT her ,
But | do not give up the point, though, | doubt
not, the old lady has her priest 10 sustain her. |
have already persuaded her to let him attend one
of my day schools, that is near her house in the
eity@so though he still studies Chinese classics
I have the comfort of teaebipe him Christian
books, and he goes to our Chinese Church every
Sunday, yhare our good and faithful Gbai1
breaches. Last Sunday | was pleased TO see him
come in, leading poor blind girl, who is one of
our COMMITMENTS, and lives in the family Of the
tesahap, whose school he attends. He y kind,
gentle lad, but / am sure he did has to please me,
and as value all personal influence over children
as the means Of leading them to Ae trQtA,. !
have hope that this child may yet know the truth,
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-04-07

Sore Heads.-People who get sore heads some
times take strange means for avenging or healing
them. Editors have been known to procure for
themselves such sore places by their own amazing
impudence. But what queer notion, for example,
it would be for one or two of them, when in this
uneasy condition. to write an attack upon brother
editor who had never given them as much, by a
long way, as they deserved, and publish it as from
a correspondent outside of the editorial columns,
and thus escape the danger of fresh sores? What
perfection of ingenuity and courage! What
strange editors, and ways of doing things they
must have in Denmark and in -. But ''verbun,
cnn ~
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-04-07
From the Christian Observer.
Revival in Bristol. Tenn.

returned last Monday night from Bristol, Ten.
nessee, where | had been for q week, and where
there is still in progress one Of the most interest
ing meetings ever attended. 1t has continued
every night for nearly, if not quite month
There seems to be universal seriousness pervad-
ing all classes OF the community, Large congre-
cations attend in the rain and snow, and listen
with the most serious md solemn attention to the
plain practical expositions of the truth, and from
ten to thirty come forward as inquirers. There is
no undue excitement, but deep earnestness per.
vades the whole community.
On last Sunday. with every available space in
the church occupied, there were ten persons re-
ceiyed on profession making thirty eight since
the commencement Of the meeting Sunday night,
there were tweay-sx enquirers, and though coll-
PEELED TO leave from severe cold and ho2lseness,
i was glad to welcome brother Park. ct Knoxville,
on his return, before left
Since my return, have received a letter from
an elder there, from which I will make some ex
tracts. II have just returned from church, r
about thirty inquirers, nine or ten made pro-
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-04-07
FROM THE NORTHERN STATES.

Mr.. Vernon Harcourt, O. c., NJ p. mas been
chosen Professor of International Law in the I'M.
versity of Cambridge.
The Rev. Mr.. Thompson, of st. Malpock's who
had dissented from the decision of the Presbvterv
to allow of an organ being introduced into the XII.
marnock High Church, and appealed to the Synod,
has now withdrawn his appeal
Rev. Robert A. Davidson has removed form Monti
cello, N. Y. to Westchesteg, N. Y.
Rev. James M. CLANCY has removed from Kansas
City to Dover, Lafayette Co., Mo.
The dwelling house of Rev. DR.. J. L. Yantis, at
Sweet Springs, Mo- was destroyed by fire on the
night OF tho 18th. A considerable amount of
furniture was lost
Montreal, Canada.-The American Presbyterian
Church has given a call to Henry Ward Beecher,
offering him salary equal to that which he re.
ceives in Brooklyn, New York.
The Sunday School Times" of Philadelphia, has
Just published valuable sketch of the life and
lahors of the late r. @. Pardee. from the pen of
John S. Hart, ILL., D., which will be sent free on
application to the publishers of the Times
Rev. N. L. Rice D. D. has received unanimous
call from the Southern Presbyterian church of
Chicago, with the offer of liberal salary. The
Northeastern Presbyterian says: DR.. Rice's
health which greatly impaired by disease
while in New York, is understood to be quite re.
stored so that he breaches with his former wonted
vigor."
The News from the Foreign Field" (Episcopal,)
in its late intelligence from Africa, states that the
health of Bishop Payne, who has been connected
with the mission of Cape Pamas more than thirty
years, lis very feeble. Mr.. Auer says the Bishop
is dying, as others have died, from being orer-.
,0Orked He feels that he himself cannot continue
unless white colaborers be soon sent; and. under
this impression, deems it his duty to withdraw,
should they be refusedo long delayed, rather than
fall useless sacrifice.
The American Board,--The receits of the Amer.
lean Board for the FIST half of the current year,
which commenced on the lst OF September, are
$780, 500 less than the corresponding period of the
previous year, and Sll4,S 62 less than half the
amouns apart for the expenses of the whole year.
Since the commencement Of the year the Tr AZ
urer has been called upon to expend about $780,
600 more than the amount received, and unless
the friends CT this Board come to its aid its annual
meeting will find it with heavy debt upon its
hands Its missions continue to he greatly blessed,
but they cannot be sustained, much less enlarged,
unless the means be furnished by the Christians to-
whom it looks for support
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-04-07
The Presbytery of Muhlenburg.

This Presbytery met at Franklin, KY, on Friday
Goth Of March, at o clock p NJ; and closed its
sessions Saturday afternoon.
The principal business related to the work Of
missions within the bounds of the Presbytery, and
the appointment of Commissioners Of the General
Assembly at Mobile.
By unanimous vote delegates were chosen to
represent the Presbytery in that Assembly. Rev.
r. K. Smoot: minister, was appointed principal,
and Rev. w. A. harrison alternate; ID. Banks
elder, principal; and j. W. Mcpherson, alternate.
The Presbytery cordially concurred in the effort
of Synod's Executive Committee to provide mis-
sionaries for the field in Southwestern Kentucky.
But there is vast field which that Presbytery
is unable to cultivate without liberal help from
other positions of the Synod 1t is 10 this region
of the otate,-the territory of Muhlenburg and
Paducah Presbyteries, that our church is to find
its enlargement, for it is to this region that i'm
migration is chiefly tending.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-04-07


The brother collecting this sum has paid his
own expense, and therefore it will go unbroken to
the object named He reports also promise from
Virginia lady now in New York; by which this
much needed fund may be largely increased With
this memorandum, however, he sends an earnest
request that our own churches in the Presbytery
will do the utmost possible.
The trial through which the churches in East
Hanover Presbytery has been passing for few
years is one that may well test their faith, and
prove what manner of persons they are. None Of
the churches are large in numbers except few
in the cities of Richmond, Petersburg, and Nor
folk and all of these have been exceedingly Grip
pled and reduced in the means of giving. Such
has been the prosration of trade, owing chiefly to
the unsettled political condition of our affairs, that
with perhaps one exception, they have less to give
now than they had three years ago. But they have
given freely and cheerfully of what they had, to
help Others
None of the country churches in this Presbytery
are large-most of them are very hardly pressed
Still they are holding fast to their faith and hope
to weather Une SlOIul' Auu WHdl ID SdIu VI IHIS
Presbytery is equally applicable to many other
places
We desire to speak word of encouragement to
such. Our full belief is that we shall soon be over
the worst There are unmistakable indications
that, besides the general restoration of wasted
strength, from their own exertions they will soon
have valuable additions from emigration. We
could point now to places in Yirgnia-and some
in East Hanover Presbytery where this is already
the case. In the meantime we should exert our,
selves to the utmost to sustain the means of grace
Let us show that we value them enough to make
any sacrifices for this object, The kindness shown
in the donations acknowledged above, and in other
similar acts, while it should be gratefully ac-
knowledged, should only stimulate US to put forth
the more earnest efforts, and see to it that nothing
is withheld on our part With this spirit pervaG
ing the Churches-(and if we have it not, what
claim have we to be kept from wasting and extino-
tion?) our feeble congregations will soon gather
strength; our dear brethren in the ministry who
have been sorely pressed will be kept from want,
and "God even our God shall bless US.
The brother who has so generously exerted him
self in this exgency, has already the reward Of
his efforts not only in the success met with, but
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-04-07

Moorefeld, West VA friend writes "We
have very earnest and faithful pastor in Rev.
George W. White-hia preaching is Of high or
der-a more bold and fearless preacher of the truth
as it is in Jesus, | have never met with, nor one
who breaches with more prudence and taste he
is gaining rapidly on the affections of the people
and in their estimation. For many years it was
the custom here to have preaching in our church
every other Sabbath this has been changed re-
Gently, and Mr.. White now has service every Sab.
bath"
Houses of worship.-The venerable Bishop An
drews Of the Southern Methodist Church is now
far advanced in years. and is laid aside from active
work on account of the infrmities OF age. Wri
ting to the st Louis Christian Advocate he makes
the following just remark about building churches:
ave have formerly paid too little attention to
our church architecture let us beware now lest Ia
our newly awakened zeal on the subject we run
into the opposite error Our houses Of worship
should be comfortable and decent, but when we.
think we are honoring God by grand display in
building his house, let see to it that not
seeking our own glory instead. "
Rev Thornton strngfellow, distinguished 1.}aptst
minister, died recently IN Cuipeper count at the
venerable age OF 81. He was man ugbly re-
spected for his talents pulpit eoquenes ana devo.
ton TO the cause OF his Divine Mastey.
Cuban Politics in Christian Wersb ip.-We learn
from our exchanges that On Sahoo Oh day. the Dist
of March, there was read in sam'; of the churches
of Washington an address frog. Cuban ladies in
New York" asking aid and sympathy in behalf
of the revolutionists of Cub1l This is truly re-
markabe state Of things pulpits of the capital
resoundlng with appeals for the money and prayers
Of Christians to further the designs of Cuban
rebels, at the same time that they are fierce for
the continued oppression of brethren" at home
whose rebellion" has long since ceased
Are the places where the religion of the meek
and lowly One Is protested and taught never to be
purged of the spirit of war? Is the time never to
come when ministers of the gospel, ia churches
which once knew no Master but Christ, shall tear
off their political mask, and with open-faced pety,
proclaim only salvation to dying men? Let us
hope that, everywhere, these Washington pastors
will be denounced no longer worthy of the posts
they degrade. -SoutherD Presbyterian
Zion Church. Charleston, S. c.-This church, under
the pastoral care OF the Rev. Dr. j. L. Girardeau
and the Rev. j. B. Mack. is in healthy and grow.
ing condition. Three weeks ago, twelve were
added to its membership from the colored congre
gation-eeven on profession Of their faith, one by
letter.
The Episcopal Theological Seminary of Virginia,
situated near Alexandria, has thir.y-two students
for the session of 1869. The senior class has
eleven members, the middle twelve, and the junior
nine. There are twenty one students in the pre-
paratory department, making fifty three altogether
in the institution.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-04-07
IMPORTANT INFORMATION WANTED.

The Rev. P. M. PincEard announces in the
Christian ADVOCATE, st. Lolis, that he intends to
prepare history of the religious prosecutions en-
dured in Missouri during and since the war; 1t
will include all denominations of Christians alike.
He says
"It is expected that book will be issued from
this house In few months, giving an intelligent
aud connected account of persecution of ministers
of the gospel IN Missouri, beginning with the refu-
sal of the General Assembly, in 1858, to elect a
chaplain, and eliminating in the martyrdom of
innocent and holy men OF God, under the sanction
of the New Constitution of the State. The names
and deeds OF our martyred heroes who have sealed
their fidelity to the Lord Jesus Christ, as the
Head OF the Church with their fe.blood, shall
not perish with the infamy that
dragged them into fame,
And chased them up TO heaven"
And while their souls are under the altar, v
the Church will preserve their names and heroic
deeds, and help to make the blood of the mar
tyrs the seed of the Church"
Much information is yet to be gathered in re-
gard to the indictment, trials and Imprisonment
of ministers Of the gospel who refused to take the
oath prescribeSnbyAt he New Constitution, and OF
violence at the hands Of lawiess mobs, the sch APP
dctment, every imprisonment, every trial, and
every incident and name that can give Importance
to the main facts, are wanted to make up a COM
plete history OF the Church in Missouri for the
last ten years. Every church taken or destroyed,
and every species of persecution suffered by any
class of preachers ought to be furnished forthwith.
Will the preachers, or friends of truth and right
eousness throughout the State, who can have ac
cess to the records of the proper courts, furnish
the names Of all preachers indicted, to what Church
they belonged, the names of grand juries present
ing the Indictment and the character of such min
lister of the gospel? And will all persons having
knowledge OF any facts important to correct his
tory OF religious persecution in Missouri, furnish
such information over their own proper names,
and such other witnesses as they can procure?
We publish the above, not only from the wish
to give circulation to the announcement and thus
aid in the proposed work. but to say that we greatly
hope similar facts may be collected in other parts
of the Southern States The true impression Of
the prosecuting spirit with which the recent wal
was conducted, on the part of so many in Office and
out of it, will never be understood without some
thing of this kind. And the sooner it is under
taken the better.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-04-07
NOTICE.

To ALL THE PREsBYTERIEs IN CONNECTION
WITH OUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Commissioner Fund, Statistical Reports;
and Reports from all the churches on SyS-
tsaatie BenevOlence and Sabbath Schools,
will be called for at the spring meetings, in
order to send up Presbyterial reports to the
General Assembly in May.
The Presbyteries in the Synod of Virginia
will make reports of Congregational action
to secure Church property.
Presbytery Of Roanoke expects reports
as to the regularity of the representations of
the churches in Synod and Presbytery.
The Churches of the Presbytery of Nash
vile will make reports on Stuart College.
The Presbytery OF Knoxville expects the
names of the elders sent up with the other
reports from the churches. Their assess
ments for Commissioner Fund, are as fol-
lows:
Chattanooga church, $l2; Knoxville LIST, 10;
Sweet Water, 10; MadiSOnyille, 10; Mars Hill, 6;
Cleveland, g. Lebanon, 6; Cedar Spring 6; Pleas
ant Forest, s New Bethel 6; Monmouth, 6;
Shiloh, 6; Mt Bethel, 6 Rockford, 6.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-04-07

iession, among them Mr. and -, two
young men, about wbom We fell 80 much interest.
The house was crowded to overlooking, no ndue
excitement. To day, you remember, was set apart
as day of fasting and prayer. About clock,
| walked up to Mr.. AS. Standing on his steps;
[ remarked to him that | then witnessed what [
never expected to sea SuJboh day IN. The week.
Every store was closed, and the Stiffness OF Sab
bath evening prevailed throughout the town. -
Here and there you might see little groups of men,
but their conversation was low and serious The
sun shone out beautifully, and it seemed to me-
that the sunshine of Gods Spirit was Illuminating
the town-everythiDg was quiet, so still, and
yet SO bright" May God continue thus to help
them. 7. W. H.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-04-07
A SWINDLE.

The readers of the Central Presbyterian know
that we have not put vail over our face in speak
ing of Gift Enterprises, and kindred impositions,
more especially when under the plausible but mis-
applied plea of promoting religious or humane OBJ
jects. They are, we believe, always more or less
connected with swindng, and under Whatever
preext all the worse if in any way connected with
the Church of Christi they deserve the sternest
reprobation as immoral and pernicious We are
glad to see the warning from such quarter as the
following:
Gift Enterprises Circular of Warning from the
Mayor of New York.
New YORK, March 30.-Mayor Hall, of this
city, has issued the following circular of warning
against gift enterprise swindles originating in this
city: ~
( To the Press of the United States:-I beg to
caution strangers against New York circulars and
prospectuses of tickets, shares and chances in CO.
operative unions or gift enterprises or dollar stores,
or in any other possible scheme whereby property
or the value promised is greater than the price
asked to be paid. Every such advertised scheme
is necessarily swinlle and false pretense There
do not and cannot possibly exist any such schemes
in this city. Country newspapers which advertise
them simply aid the swindle. If all the newspa-
pers in the Union would now make point Of
publishing and reiterating this information they
would charitably, and think effectively counter
act the swindling intentions of those who use the
mails for false pretenses, and will also save the
unwary hundreds of thousands of dollars.
A. OAKEY HALL,
Mayor of the City Of New York.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-04-07

also in MS own heart; and vii have it yet again in
the thanks of his brethren.
In addition to the above friend in Richmond
has secured two contributions of $50 each-one
from Baltimore, and one from Boston, to supple
ment the salaries of two brthren aborng in fee
BILE churches, one in East Hanover and one in
West Hanover Presbytery.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-04-07
OFFERS FOR 1859.

/. For erery fee names Of new subscrib-
ers deemed responsible, the agent shall be
entitled to a copy of the Central Presbyterian
for one year.
2. Any person sending the names of new
subscribers, together with payment for one
gear, may retain for compensation Seventy.frs
cents upon each.
Or, if preferred, for svery three such paid
Subscriptions, the agent shall receive copy
of the Central Presbyterian without charge
for one year.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-04-07

ACCOUNTS WITH SUBsCRIBERs.-Having
given very long indulgence to many who
are in arrears for the Central Presbyterian,
we have begun upon systematic plan,
the work of sending bills and making col
lections. Let it be hoped that the effort will
be a successful one.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-04-07

A Strange Fact is mentioned in the letter Of
Rev. Mr. Houston That deer and other game
should be abundant in the vicinity Of such city
as Hanehou-that be should start up pheasant
amid the very ruins Of such place-all this is
unaeeOuntable and most surprising How can this
be in the midst Of crowded population? The
Chinese it is stated, are not spOrtsmen, and be
sides, we believe they use animal food spagingy.
But still we have az present no facts at hand which
give a satisfactory explanation Of the statement.
Have any of our readerst
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-04-07
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.

THE DAY DAWN AND THE RAIN-In recon-
mending this volume Of sermons by the Rev. John
Ker, of Scotland, we omitted to mention, last
week, that it may be procured from Mr. j. D. K.
Sleight, Business Agent of the Presbyterian Com.
mttee of Publication, Richmond Va. He sells
it at publishers price, 50. No book of superior
richness of thought and expression has ever come
into our hands,
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-04-07

D. Appleton & Co., New York, are issuing a
cheap popular edition of the standard poets, at
the exceedingly low price of so cents volume.
Paper cover. A sixth has now been added in
"Campbell's Poetical Works, complete with a
Life of the Author" just issued. These editions
are surprisingly cheap and good.