The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-08-11

York for the purpose of convcl
pie to the doctrine of Confucius. H.
ten thousand Chinese in New York, wiz
means of worship according to their faith, afdl
meet the spiritual necessities of these is an addi
tional motive with the pbilanthropist in question
for constructing temple to Josh. An enter
prising Yankee, it may be added, has obtained the
Job and the work, am told, will be commenced
at once. So our Christian missionaries, instead Of
being obliged to 60 to the heather, will in future
find the raw material right here at their DOORS
But 'the Greeks" as well as the Asatics are at
our doors. Before the year is out we shall have
Greek chapel added to the multitudinous other
public places of worship, of wh&h this very cos
mopolitan metropolis may boast. The adherents
of that peculiar faith in this city number several
thousands, and among them are several of our
wealthiest merchants; some of them in the Medi-
terranean fruit trade, with residences on Murray
Hill. Having long felt the want of place of pub
lie worship, according to their own tenets, they
have just purchased site in Twenty eighth ST.,
near the Fifth avenue which will be erected a
neat and commodious chapel, to be finished about
Christmas 1t will be in charge of a Rev. Mr..
Chrystal, who was formerly an Episcopalian min
ister but who gave up that faith, and was regu-
larly baptized into the Greek communion last win
ter. As most of our readers are aware, the Greek
mode of worship, together with their doctrine and
faith, is sort of cross between Oxford Episcopa-
lianism and Roman Catholicism-N Y Cor. of
PHILADELPHIA Republic.
Interesting Facts.-The international Conven.
ton of the Young Mems Christian Association
was recently held in Portland, Maine, and was at
tended by very large delegation. Among other
items we find the following:
The statistics which were presented exhibited
remarkable increase in numbers and efficiency
In 1866 the number of delegates at the annual
meeting was 259, representing that number of As.
socations, having 10000 members In 1867 the
number of delegates was 594, representing l07
Associations, and there were reports from al,
with membership of $4,000. Last year there
were GLIB Associations, reporting 10000 members
This year 759 Associations, and membership Of
10000. Property, to the value of $780, 900, is
held by the Associations, and nearly $500 CONFER
sioas are attributable to their efforts. There are
1000, 900 of young men in our land, and only
$50, 900 profess to be Christians What would be
the po,oer at work if all were earnest, active, con-
sistent workers in the service of our Lord and
Saviour.
We are aware that there have been some who
have opposed these associations as antagonistc to
the Church. 1t should be remembered that there
was not one word uttered during the Convention
which would indicate that this was the case. The
ministry was spoken Of most respectfully, and the
desire was most earnestly expressed for the coop.
Grafton of every pastor and office bearer Loyalty
to ones congregation and denomination was re-
garded as perfectly consistent with fidelity to the
obligations of membership in the Association, and
there was an evident wish to do nothing which
would interfere with religious services regularly
held by any congregation. Indeed the most eff
cent members of these Associations are generally
the most valuable members of the congregations
to which they belong, and in fact these organiza
tions are the development and outgrowth of the
true spiritual life of the Church, and no more de-
tract from its strength or usefulness than the luxu-
rious branches weaken the parent tree.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP
Among the most important OF the proceedings
of the Convention was the action takeQ{n regard
to the qualification for membership. had been
decided, at previous meeting, that all persons
connected with any associations represented in the
Convention should be members of evangelical
churches, but there was difficulty in regard to
the term EVANGELICAL some Unitarians and Uni.
versalists claiming that they were not excluded.
The subject was referred to Committee of which
DR. Crosby was Chairman, which brought in a re-
port affirming the divinity of Jesus, and stating
in scriptura terms the grand doctrines of vica-
rious atonement, and future state of rewards
and punishments, the belief of which was to be
required for membership. The report is as follows|
heSOtOeu, IHdI DIS tlcse organizations pear inc
name of Christian and profess to be engaged d.
recty in the Saviour service, so it is clearly their
duty to maintain the control and management of
all their affairs in the hands of those who profess
to love and publicly avow their faith in Jesus, the
Redeemer, as Divine, and who testify their faith
by becoming members of churches held to be evan.
geelical, and we would add the following further
affirmation
And we hold those churches to be evangelical
which, maintaining the Holy Scripture to be the
only infalibe rule of faith and practice, believe
in the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son
of the Father, King of kings and Lord of lords
lin whom dweleth the fitness of the Godhead
bodily, and who was made sin for us, though
knowing no sin, bearing our sins in his own body
on the tree as the only name under heaven given
among men, whereby we must be saved from ever
lasting punishment
This report was adopted unanimously and the
noble, Coronation" hymn was sung with fervor
which showed how intense was the feeling which
animated every heart.