The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-02-23

professor:
"Much sorrow is felt in the University and com
munity because of the serious sickness of Prof.
Agassiz. For some time nervous prOsration has
disabled him from all professional work. Even
his correspondence is attended to by members OF
his family His physicians insist upon absolute
rest as the only possible means OF recovery. Some
near aud confidential friends assure us of great
anxiety entertained by them as to ultimate recov-
cry. If simple suspension of labor on the part
of such man makes gap in the worlds progress
and causes so much solicitude, what will not utter
cessation? He is missed in college and at the Ly-
ceum, but may he speedily recover and long live to
advance that department of science of which he
may almost be called the father. "
The Christian Union has collected with consid.
cradle care the official statistics of the Roman
Catholic Church in the United States and Canada,
and has reduced them to a shape convenient for
reference. The total churches and missions in the
United States are reported to be 1924; clergy
men, 1914. Churches in British America 1864;
clergymen, 1887. Roman Catholic population in
that country, l,62S000. The same ratio Of popu-
lation to the clergy in the United States would
show Roman Catholic population in this country
not exceeding five millions making the denomina-
ton of smaller size than the Methodist Church,
which. in all branches, reports membership OF
nealy two millions, and estimating the population
as two in every family disconnected to one in con-
necton-a very small estinate-w give a
Methodist population OF SIX millions.
The Joint Committee on Publication appointed
by the two General Assemblies at Pittsburg, in
November last to recommend to the Assembly of
the United Church what changes are required in
the Board of Publication and the Publication Com
mittee, in order to their union as one concern,
met at S2l Chestnut street, Philadelphia, the 9th
instant.
Nine of the ten members of the Joint Commit
tee were present. The discussions were full and
Free yet of the fourteen resolutions adopted, COW
ering the entire ground of all proposed arrange
ments for the future, all but three were adopted
with perfect unanimty after which the Commit
tee adjourned to meet again in the same place, at
four o'clock p. NJ, on Tuesday, May 18th.
The essential points agreed upon were:-That
the Board OF Publication and the Committee be
united under the title of the Presbyterian Board
of Publications. that it be composed OF forty-eight
members-one-half to be appointed the first year
from each of the late branches, afterward one
third of their number to be elected each year for
term of three years. that Its executive officers shall
be either Secretary or Secretaries, with titles
and duties to be defined by the united Board and
a Treasurer. Each Presbytery shall appoint
Presbyterial committee to correspond with the
Board, look after its interests, and promote the
circulation of its publications within the bounds OF
Presbytery. All property belonging to the two
concerns or held for their use, to be united in the
hands of the Trustees of the Presbyterian Board
of Publication, who have charter from the State
of Pennsylvania. The Board is to sell its house,
No. S2l Chestnut street, and provide larger Pub
LEGATION House for its prospectively extended busl
ness either on the premises now occupied by the
Publication Committee at No. 1884 Chestnut ST.,
or in the vicinity. In order that the Board may
be able to provide such house without absorbing
capital now used and needed for providing and
distributing religious literature churches and
people are asked to raise one hundred thousand
dollars, all contributions thereto to be recognized
as part of the Five Million Fund. All commit
tees and officers OF the two concerns are to con.
tinue to perform their present duties until other
arrangements are made by the newly.organized
Board.
How to Settle Church Difficulties. following
letter from the Rev. Mr. Quarles of Lexington
Missouri to the Rev R. Z. Farris, editor of the
Missouri Presbyterian. is seasonable paper, which
we would commend to the consideration of breth
rem, who have difficulties to settle arising from
conflicting claims on church property. 1t reveals
the How-tbe modus operdndi-the fraternal and
equitable mode of procedure to adjust such difficult
ties, and at the same time promote the peace and
power Of the Church as the light of the world:
"Our entire church property here including the
house in which we worship and the Elizabeth Aull
Female Seminary, has cash value, L suppose, OF
over twenty thousand dollars.
AT the time Of the division of the congregation,
over two years ago. we stood related to each other
numerically about as three to one.
Some six or eight months since, each congre-
CATION appointed committee of conference, that
they might jointly agree upon fair division OF the
property. Their first joint report was accepted by
us and rejected by our Assembly brethren. Since
the Supreme Court decision in St. Charles cases,
they have submitted another report, which has
been accepted by both congregations
1t is substantially this: we are to retain posses
sion of all the property, except the church BELL
and to give them five thousand dollars in cash. as
an equivalent for their interest.
Let us give our brethren credit for making an
honest, just and Christian settlement, when they
very we'll knew, that by going to law, they might
dispossess us Of all. would love to see more of
the same spirit on both sides in the adjustment of
these difficulties.
st is our hope and expectation to take i'm
mediate steps for the erection of new house of
worship, which we have long sadly needed.
Your brother for peace,
j. A. QUARLEs. %
Reception Of an Episcopal Minister. Second
Presbytery of New York, at late meeting, re.
ceived the Rev. A. McElroy Wylie from the Pro-
testant Episcopal Church, Diocese OF Massachu
sets. Mr.. Wylie leaves the Episcopal Church
because Of the prevailing tendencies to Rtualism
in that Church. and because there seems to be no
reasonable ground Of hope that the evangelical
party In that Church can regain sufficient influence
to stay the progress of error.
Moravian Mission.--The Moravian mission ship
Harmony" has returned safely to England. after
finishing the one hundredth annual tri to Labra-
dor. The missions include twenty one brethren,
of whom two are unmarried and also several who
connected with the stores as it is the Noravian
policy to support their mission there partly by
trade The question Of changing this policy has
lately been decided in the negative, much to the
satisfaction of the missionaries there who believe
it would be very injurious to invite in the Hudson
Bay traders Last year a mission among the hea-
then E>quimaux undertaken by two native
converts but their effort seems to have been nearly
abortive.
The Joint Committee on Foreign Missions appoint
ed by the assemblies of Pittsburgh have held
very harmonious meeting in New York The SUBJ
ect Of future arrangements with the American
Board having been entrusted by the n. 5. Assem-
bly, to Special Committee, no action was taken on
that subject, except that the Joint Committee ex-
pressed the opinion that the missions, or missiona-
ries, should be cordially received, who might pre-
fer to change their relations and who could be
transferred without injury to the interests of the
work, and at the same time with due regard TO
the ability of the Board, in its circumstances,
to provide for their support The reconstruction
of the Board, so to represent both branches,
and the simpIldcation OF its organization dis
cussed, and the results embodied in the following
minute for the approval of the next assembly:
The Board of Foreign Missions shall hereafter
consist Of fifteen members besides the Correspond
ing Secretaries and the Treasurer, who shall be
members ec oficio. The term Of service of the
members heretofore appointed on the Board, the
Executive Committee, and the Permanent Com
mittee, shall Be considered as ending at this meet
ing of the General Assembly. aud the Assembly
will now elect the fifteen members above mentioned
by ballot sc.
Religious Discussion in New Field-It may still
be remembered by some that the Rev. NJ. R. Mil.
Ter delivered some lectures, few years ago, in two
churches of Philadep ha, on the subject of Judaism
The Rabbi Of Boston Mass and be. have made