The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-02-09
Presbyterianism Throughout the World

| across tne Atlantlc, surrounded as III Is Will
the congenial air of freedom, it also displays
an undecaying vitality and a steady progress
sive power in these three United Kingdoms. T.,
In Scotland, which may be called its classic
country, it was never more healthy and Wig
orous than at present. The Established
Church, though sadly shorn of her once fair
proportions, and infected with an Erastian
spirit, has still some of her old sap and pith
left; while the two great free Churches are
full of life and power, and in many respects
examples to the whole Protestant world. In
Scotland the Presbyterians may be said to
have everything their own way. The other
religious bodies, including the pretentious
Scotch Episcopalians, make little real pro-
gress, or barely keep their ground. 1t is
the Presbyterianism of Scotland that is
recognised power in the world, and is con-
stantly felt in distantlands. They are Scotch
Presbyterian ministers who specially make
their country name revered in our colonies,
and on the fields of foreign missions In
England and in Ireland, also, such repre-
sentatives of Calvipistic faith and Presby-
terian polity have often exercised whole
some influence, and done much for the cause
of truth and freedom.
Never during these last two hundred years
has Presbyterianism been SO vigorous in
England as it is at present. Its two great
sections, soon to be united, are equally pros
porous, each increasing the number of its
congregations and the measure of its liber-
ality year by year. When once they be-
come one body, Presbyterian congregations
will be still more rapidly multiplied in the
South, and many excellent but distracted
members of the Church of England may be
led to join the Presbyterian communion
The Presbyterian polity, which SO admirably
harmonises liberty and order, and reconciles
the rights of the ministers with the rights of
the people, ought specially to commend itself
to the hearts and minds of Engishmen.-
Were it not for unhappy historical events
which we need not specify, Presbyterianism
would have been much greater power in
England than it now is. But at length it
has got something like fair play in the South,
and an opp stpnity of usefulness which it
can hardly f turn to excellent account.
If intestine ons on matters of inferior
Importance, the bane of the Presby-
terian Chui IA only be avoided, our
English Pre- ans will be sure to culti-
vate with succ, noble field now opened
up to them, anu nail reap in abundance the
fruits of Christian usefulness.
The Presbyterianism of Ireland is c
the best bessings 81 " IA
country. Bu' { ef
ster, could Irela Scl held
time past, or could it be held at t
ment? These loyal men, who posses
scriptural creed and Church governmen.,
are engaged at present in preparing their
church for new and better order of things.
In the hour of their disendowment they
"abate not one jot of heart or hope" and
are about to rival the Free Church of Scot
land in the work of self endowment, and in
other grand efforts Of voluntary liberality.
The energies of their Presbyterian system
are being more fully developed than ever,
much to their own advantage, and also, We
believe to the present and prospective advan-
tage of Ireland. 1t will soon be seen how
Presbyterian principles will spread and ope-
rate on the Irish soil, now proviientially
prepared for the reception of the truth
The disendowed Episcopalians are taking
leaf after leaf out of the Presbyterian book,
and we should not wonder if many of them
soon become Presbyterians altogether. The
two systems, Episcopacy and Presbytery,
now start in Ireland on something like equal
terms; and we cannot believe that the Pres
byterians, in the long run, will yield the
palm or suffer from the contest.
We might speak of the progress and pros
poets of Presbyterianism in the Colonies,
but we need not dwell on topics which 50
little require illustration. In Canada, in
Australia, and other large colonised regions,
the Presbyterian Churches flourish, and have
evidently before them splendid future. In
extent and influence they will probably be
inferior to no other churches, and perhaps
superior to any. They will certainly, under
the guidance of their divine Head, be en-
ployed to diffuse the pure blessings of the
gospel over vast and interesting portions of
the earth, marked out by Providence as the
) future abodes of free nations and mighty
empires. On the whole, then, we have rea.
son to be satisfied with the progress recently
made, and at present making, by Presbyte-
rianism in the world. Yet while acknowl-
2 edge such satisfaction. we are free to confess
| that no amount of Presbyterian progress
would give us real pleasure if we did not
believe that the Presbyterian Churches of
5 our day eminently help to conserve and diff
fuse evangelical truth, while they exhibit to
the world most needful modes of Scriptu-
raj discipline and government Weekly Re-
| view, (LOndOn.)
THERE Is NOTHING equal to cheerful
and even mirthful conversation, for restoring
! the tone of mind and body. when both have