The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-08-18

American Board of Missions-We are sorry to
learn, says the COngregatiOndlist, that the finan
cial condition of the American Board occasions
good deal of solicitude at the Missionary House.
The Prudential Committee has ascertained that
they will need, in donations and legacies 100000
in July and August. This sum appears to be very
large and yet 1922 36S were paid into the treasury
in July and August, 1868, so that the churches
have the same problem before them which they
solved SO successfully one year ago.
DR.. scudder of San Francisco, has just preached
notable sermon in answer to the question "Shall
we drink wine?" from the text "'Thy Word is
lamp unto my feet and light unto my path. =
The discourse closed with a glowing representation
of California, her mountains and groves her wheat
fields, her gardens and orchards, her schools and
churches and vigorous people-and was the con-
summation of all this to be, that we might annu
ally pour forth three hundred millions Of gallons
of wine and thirty millions of brandy? MAY
God keep far away from us the day when our rep.
utation on the earth shall be this: that we make
more wine and brandy than any other people. -
The sermon will be issued in pamphlet form.
Little and often-The Old School Presbyterian
Committee on Systematic Benevolence propose to
assess their entire church membership,at the rate
of one cent day, Sundays excepted in order to
raise $6S50OO., The assessment is veryIEr, as due
allowance mas Dccn ulaQe Tor SUCH as 700 poor
to pay even the small amount assessed
Pine Street Church, St. Louis-The alterations
and repairs in this building are progressing with
out delay and will be completed early in Septem.
Der.
brethren in the interior of the State, assisting
them in protracted meetings He is accustomed to
recreatDg in this way, and we are pleased to learn
that his labors attended with precious results
Missouri Presbyterian.
announcing that
l. 'Steps are already taken to issue from Chi.
cago, during the ensuing autumn, new weekly
religious paper of the first class;
2. "a joint stock company, under charter al
ready obtained, and with capital sufficient to en-.
sure the success Of the paper is in progress of or
ganizatlon;
3. "Whie catholic in spirit, its denominational
character will be Presbyterian, and, anticipating
the reunion it will represent the interests of the
Reunited Church," &c.
The circular is issued by authority of "a meet.
ing of gentlemen representing both the Old and
the New School branches of the Presbyterian
Church, and is signed by Revs. DIR. Lord DIR.
Patterson and MIR. Blackburn. and Messrs. Mason,
Holiness Woodbridge and Hurlbut, Of the Old
School, and by Rev DR.. Patterson, Messrs Trow-
bridge, Matthews, Mitchell and Reid, and Messrs.
Anthony and Hubbard, of the New School
Lafayette College.-The Furnishing condition of
this College at Easton Pa, is apparent in the fact
that while the number of students in 1866 was ca,
it is now l45. This is owing to the liberal contri-
buttons given for the extension of its course of
studes within the past four years about $500, 900
having been thus donated through the lberality
of A. Pardee,. Esq, OF Hazeton; Col Barton, II.
jerks, and Messrs. VIM Adamson, John A.
Brown, and Thomas Beaver.
| Nine graduates received the degree of Bachelor
of Arts and three that of Bachelor of Science. at
the commencement on the 18th ut.
A Good work-The Occident of San Francisco
says:
ut is worthy of notice that five Presbyterian
churches have been built in the south western part
of Sonoma county, California. chiefly through the
labors of the Rev. Thomas Frazer. That at Two
Rocks cost about So, 500. That at Tomales cost
about $4,000, but was burnt just before compile.
ton. Another has been erected at somewhat less
cost. The church at Bloomfield, not yet finished,
is to cost $1,000. The one at Bodega Corners will
cost $1,000 or $4,000. There is also smaller
building at Valley Ford, where services are held
The church at Santa Rosa completes the list"
The American Bible Society managers held their
|
| Winston, ESQ.,, in the chair Rev. DR.. HOldicb
read the Scriptures and offered prayer. Three
new auxiliaries were recognized two in Georgia
and one in Arkansas
Communications were received from various mis-
sionaries and agents; the Rev. l. G. Bliss. Agent
lin the Levant, sending another report of the sue
| eessful labors of the Bible women of Niconiela.
The total number OF volumes granted was .0,503.
One thousand dollars we're appropriated for print
ing the Book OF Psalms in modern Greek, at Athens
Mr.. Henry Dickinson gave an interesting ac
count of recent visit to the British and Foreign
Bible Society, to whose anniversary he was ap-
pointed delegate, and Mr.. Chandler Starr re-.
ported his attendance at the anniversary of the
Sussex County Bible Society, n j.
Fung Tang.-The address to the Congressional
Committee by the Chinese of San Francisco, was
delivered by Fung Tang, and was so suggestive as
to its statements and so interesting as coming from
the most intelligent Chinese in the country, that
it was telegraphed entire to some of our daily pa
| pers
The eloquent Chinese speaker was educated in
| the school in China, which, in connection with
church, dispensary for the sick, and newspaper in
Chinese and English, 1.-THE Oriental was estab.
lished by the Rev. DIR. Speer under the care Of
the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, and
is still continued under his successor, the Rev. Mr.
LOOMS The education of one such man as Mr..
Fung Tang, in the influence he will exert is worth
all the cost Of such mission And yet this is but
small part of the good accomplished by it.
The Protestant Ch1uchn,an says that Bishop
Mcllvaine has lately prepared letter more favor
able to the advocates of the revision of the Prayer
Book than the one which he wrote some time ago.
The speedy publication OF this new letter is an
nounced.
1t is announced that more than dozen Phila-
delphia cergymen have united in the determination
to attend no more Sunday funerals unless the ne
cessity is certified to by physician.
The Methodist decaims against scamp meeting
Sabbath breaking" and tells some unpleasant
truths about the secular business done at the meet
ings on Sunday.
The Hon. E. Joy Morris American Minister at
Constantinople, has been elected President of the
English and American Bible Society of that CITY,
Sharp Colporteur.-A Hartford paper tells
story of a sharp colporteur who lately made his
appearance at the residence of clergyman who
oficiates in Connecticut village, and stated the
object of his visit which was to secure funds in aid
of Western college. After some conversation the
agent said What | want is this, that you will
direct me to people of wealth, who ara either in
the last stages Of consumption or are heredtarily
disposed to apoplexy. find this class of persons
are more easily reached than those who possess
means and are In possession of perfect health. In
one Western town found gentleman who had
received two apopletic strokes, and he put our col
ege in his will for $4,000, and lady consumptive
ly inclined gave us $4,000 Neither is dead yet,
but you see the Importance of getting such people
on the right side" The clergyman after listening
to this argument" said that the members of his
church were. so far as he knew, in the enjoyment
of good health and it would be impossible to select
any who gave promise of early DEATH
Religious and benevolent societies cannot exer-
else too much care in the selection of their agents.
One man with much zeal and little piety or with
much even Of the latter and little prudence, can do
more mischief than years can repair