The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-10-20
FOREIGN ITEMS.

recent visit to the Holy Land reports that he
/ found in Jerusalem, on Mount Zion, Sunday
I school for sixty-four children.
The Change coming.-Mr McLaren, member of
Parliament from Edinburgh, says: g" No sane
man can believe looking to the signs of the times,
that the Church of Scotland will exist an endowed
and Established Church for anything like thirty
years.
The Irish Episcopal Synod The Bishop Of Down
and Common has published an outline of the dlOce-
san Synod, which he proposes to form for the
three united dioceSes under his authority. He
would have clerical delegate for every five clergy
men, making forty-one in all and lay delegate
for each four thousand members, making forty OF
| these. To them we would add, for the sake of
dignity, seven deans and other official clergy, and
nine members OF Parliament and other official lay
men All these to. be impartially chosen, making
a Synod of one hundred members, renewable once
in two years
The Pope and Lord Bute.-The Italian papers
state that Lord Butte has presented his Holiness
with tiara, encruSted with diamonds, costing 3d.,
00OL The Pope had scarcely need OF any Orna-
mental head dresses, as the ex-Queen of Spain
lately compounded for some little peccadiloes by
gift of diamond decked tiarra which cost TO-
000i
Dr. Wilson, the veteran Free Church Missionary
of Bombay, had two or three very severe and pro-
tracted contests with men OF learning and elo-
queDce In securing the Introduction OF such books
as Buffers Sermons and Pilgrims Progress into
the middle aud higher parts of the course of study
of the Bombay University Yet he was finally
successful; and now after years OF persevering et
fort, on the part of jealous as well as faithful sup
pOrterS, Christian literature occupies no mean or
contracted position in the University course. This
and the Calcutta University are the two highest
institutions of learning in India. Upon examina
ton DR.. Wilson had lately ascertaiued that both
their English and vernacUlar educational, and their
evangeliStic departments had about equally cOntrl
buted to the strength of their Church Again,
that the Brahmin caste had, proportionately to
their numbers contributed their share to the mem
| berSbip. Thirdly, that large majority of the
members had come from the lower or degraded
castles.
Publications in Italy.-The Evangelical Publica
ton Society in Italy has issued eighty-One books
and tracts during the past year The most impOr-
tant is large octave edition of DiOdatis transla
ton Of the Old and New TeStaments, with the re
frences prepared by him. This Is the first edition
of the whole of Diodati's Bible that has been
printed IN Italy since the Reformation. In 1851,
the sales of evangelical books amounted to 40 459
copies la 1866 these had risen to g., 627 copies;
copies. Throughout the whole of Italy, during the
past year, 0,350 copies of books, tracts and
periodicals have been disposed of-showing an in
crease of % $50 copies over the sale of the prevl
Gus year.
Reconstruction in Ireland.-The two largest Pro
testant Churches in Ireland, the Episcopal and
Presbyterian, are now very buSily occupied IN adj
ustlng their affairs, which had been thrown into
some confusion by the recent act of Parliament.
Meetings have been held by Episcopalians all over
the country, for the appointment OF delegates lay
aud clerical, to attend the grand aSSemblageS for
the reorganization of church affairs, which are
now in session The deliberations mainly concern
provision for the support of the clergy in place of
the endowment. From the favorable terms given
by Parliament for the Communication, and the fact
that most of the great landed prOpretOrs, the no
bilty and gentry, and wealthy merchants, belong
to that communion, it is likely there will be ample
provision for the support Of that Church and Its
institutions.
The Presbyterian Church is employed in arrang
ing for It's SuStentatOn Fund; and though the
terms granted by Parliament for Communication were
not so favorable; yet from the Jealous spirit that
has been awakened there will be ample support
provided for it. Ii may be necessary to state that
Communication" means the giving up by the clergy
Of both Churches their present endOwments tor
dumped sum, to be paid at once this forms the
basis OF the SuStentatlOn tuuQ. lnere Is now
depptation visiting the Presbyterian congregations
in the south and west, to encourage them under
their present altered circumstances, and to assure
them Of sympathy and aid. 1t viii require extra
ordinary activity, as well increased berality, to
maintain the various missions and benevolent nSti-
tutiOnS of the Church in their present efficient
state along with an adequate Sustentation Fund
Cor. Of " l. ECaR.
Interpreters of scripture.-An English journal,
writing Of work containing notes on the Gospel,
drawn in many cases from those whose lives were
not guides to right apprehension Of the Bible and
its doctrines, remarks:
"Tt is of small concern to US now to read what
Bishop Sherlock said about passage of Scripture,
when we knew that he died leaving ESQ 600,
though the time of his episcopate one of great
distress; or what his father (the DEAN wrote, to
whom South dedicated one of his treatiSes, because
among his admirers he was the greatest of them
himself or what was penned by naughty and i'm
porous preateS like WarburtOn and Horsley il is
Of far more consequence to learn what men like
Baxter or Bengel thought The former might be
dispensed with; the latter we can always read with
pleasure.
SPECIAL NOTICE.
MEMBERS OF THE SYNOD OF VIRGINIA
Visiting the city, are invited to call at T. S. BALD