The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-01-19
FOREIGN ITEMS.

Christian Association in India.-An exchange
SAYS: One Of the most hopeful signs of Christian
advancement in India Is the formation, recently,
among the converts IN Bengal, OF general society.
called The BENGAL Christian Association. It's
composed Of members of different denominations.
Tue members are required to be believers ic the
Lord Jesus Christ. who have been called into the
marvellous light Of the gospel out Of heather dark
ness Their declared objects are mainly the pro-
motion Of gOdhness and the nOurShment of true
religion in the souls of the indigenous Christians Of
the soil of India, and the presentation Of Jesus
Christ to their non Christian cOuntrymen as the
only Saviour of sinnerS'-in other words, their
own spiritual edi6eation, and the propagation Of
the gospel among the unevangelized around them.
Sunday Schools in Germany-The opposition to
Sunday Schools is breaking down in Germany At
the late meeting for Home Missions in Bonn, sew
eral pastors, who had hitherto opposed, advocated
them, having seen them tried 10 their own par
ishes. Prot. LANCE, the Bible commentator, Is
on, of the most decided advocates Of this plan Of
difusing knowledge Of the truth.
Church History BY Pressense This great theOlO-
gian of Protestant France will soon publish fifth
volume Of his work, entitled History Of Christian
Doctrine
Idols Destroyed aud Rights Of Conscience Preserved
The Queen of Madagascar avOwed herself Chris
tan when she came to the throne two years ago.
But she has recently distinguished her reign by an
act of liberation that puts the Pope Of Rome TO
shame. The London Record publishes an account
of the destruction of all idols belonging to the
Queen in the Royal temples. The public act was
one Of extraordinary bOldneSS, but done calmly and
deliberately, under the orders of the Prime Minis
ter, and with the sanction Of the Royal Council
With a degree OF wisdom which has characterized
all the proceedings, the Queen at the same time
declined TO make any compulsory order for the
abolition of ldOatry IN private temples not belong
ing to the Crown. When asked whether all idols
were to be destroyed. the Queen stated that her
example sufficiently Indicated her wishes, that none
but the true God should be worShipped, the God
and Father Of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose blessed
Word declares that all idols are the works OF men $
hands, and no gods. At the same time the Queen
would force no mans conscience, but leave them
to the enlightening influence Of God Holy Spirit
-Nelg York Observer.
I've learn, saws the NORTH German CO7respoa
dent " by a letter from Rome dated lst Deem
ber that the bishops, who at that time had already
reached their destination, had been making trial
Of their Latin aud found 1t satisfactory neither in
quantity nor quality. few days before, a deljbe
ration had taken place IN the chambers 5t Cardinal
Altieri on the subject OF an address to the Pope.
Every one tried to express hi opinion IN the purest
CcerOnian be could comma d. but the result was
unfortunately merely modern adaptation OF the
scene which once took place IN the plain Of Shnar
la this confession some of the American bishops
began to speak French, and the conversation be-
came tOlerably lnteligible u the Bishop OF Reggie
protested, and declare that all ecclesiastical mat
tiers must be discussed in La-in. The consequence
was that the victory was won by those who had not
quite forgotten their declensOus and eOujugatiOus
the rest signed their names 10 bundle resignation,
without attempting to take any part IN the debate
letter to an English paper from Rome gives a
vivid description of the care taken by his Holiness
to exclude from the city all newspapers suspected
of Liberalism. OF French papers, the RerUe de
Delec M0ndfs and the Debqts are positively pro-
hibited. Seek the AugsJ,vy Gazette, says this
correspondent, land your money will be taken,
but you will be lucky if every week you have not
a number withheld. As for English papers, the
Times has been stopped four days running, and so
on with every journal that is not an abjeo produc
+ ton of Roman inspiration.