The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-11-08

The Agricultural College land-scrip due to Mis-
sissipp amounting to 100000 acres, was lately Is
sued to Gov. AlcOrn 1t has been sold at 80 cents
per acre, to COL G.. F. Lewis, Of Ohio, who has
bought the scrip of 20 states-an aggregate o.
nearly 100000 acres.
| Hon Thomas Ewing ST., died at his home IN Ohio
on the 18th ult As a statesman and lurlst he
took high rank at time when men like Clay and
| Webster figured in polite. He was stauneh ad
vocate of the protective system, opposed the re
moval of the deposits from the United States bank
recognized the general land Office presented
memorials for the abolition of slavery IN the Dis
triet of Columbia. In 1851 he retired from public
life, and has since resided iu LANCASTER Ohio en-
gagged in the practice of law. Mr.. Ewing took hi
seat in the u S. Senate in 1881. He was Secre
tary of the Treasury under Harrison and Taylor
| He was a man of varied learning and general ln-
| formation. His reputation as lawyer stood sec
ond 20 none in the United States, aud as patriot
statesman he was beyond all reproach. Mr. Ewing
was eighty-two years Of age at the time OF his
death.
Nearly Used Up The German teachers conven-
ton, which made such "a noise last year in Louis
VILE and threatened to annihiate all religious ed
ucation, was considerably 6zzled out this year in
Cincinnati. An infdel German paper In New
York says; at was impractical aud tedious. The
practical results can be compressed within nut
shell. Other papers report that the members OF
the convention made up by frequent visits to the
beer saloons for the ntoerable WEAKNESS and pro-
| lixity of the sessions A Nationalist German
sehOomaster cannot legslate without jug OF lager
! by his side
ouery.-The Nashville Christian Adrocate says:
'We are very glad for fifty reasons that we do not
use tobacco, never used more than few ounces IN
our lite, except when we administered it once to q
sick horse" The reason why it probably deemed
itself called upon to rise and explain was the
following query from a subscriber, which 1t justly
terms "a tight question:
A layman of the Methodist Church denied him
self the use of tobacco for which he expended
S25 per annum, in order that he might pay his
minister that amount more than was his custom;
now, what announcement has he in so doing when
his minister expends for the same luxury S75 per
annum?
Beware The Baltimore Episcopal Methodist,
in an editorial on the Chicago fire, comes over to
our doctrine of Gods sovereignty in the provi
Dental ordering of all events. The editors say:
"A single extinguisher on the ground, or the
active exertions of the police in tearing down the
adjacent buildings, might have put stop to the
flames in the stable. But it was not so to be. ln
His inevitable wisdom, God had doomed the city. "
We trust our contemporaries will not allow them
selves to pass us and run into fatalism. In regard
to the absence of "a single extinguisher, or of the
active exertions of the police" we hope they will
cling to our explanation; "Yet so that neither is
violence offered to the will of the creature nor is
the liberty or contingency of second causes taken
away, but rather established. Herald and Pres
Jyter.
A Clean swsep.-At a meeting, Sunday of the
congregation OF the Fourth Presbyterian church,
of Chicago, it was ascertaned on close investiga-
tion that eight hundred worshippers in that church
were burned out of their dwellings, and are home
less to day. Their house Of worship and their
mission school were likewise destroyed. 10 fact
the home of not single worshipper escaped de
struetion. This was one Of the most Furnishing
Presbyterian churches in the city.
Days of Misunderstanding are coming from
various parts Of the world of great destruction of
life aud property by floods and fires and wrecks
In China 5000 suare miles were submerged in a
typhoou, and 5000 persons we're swept away
Destructive fires are recorded in Russia and In
California, and numerous wrecks along the Atlantic
coast
The Chicago Tribune relates that when its vault
and safe was opened everything was found intact
including a linen coat and box Of matches.
Eleven years ago petroleum was unknown as an
article of utility. Now the total capital invested
in it. at home and abroad is 500 100000, of
which the American capital is $7O,OOO,OOO
The Commissioner of Pensions Annual Report
will show that only forty nine widows OF soldiers OF
the Revolution survive, and that there were upon
the rolls June &c. 1871. POI ass pensioners of all
classes. the aggregate amount of whose pensions
was SO S04, 1894 %, and to whom was paid during
the preceding fiscal year S33 1888 63.
Is 1t Settled l-Esery Saturday has the follow
ing:
Zone of the witticsms of Baltimore is that the
Episcopal General Convention declares that the
word .'regenerate" is used in the baptismal ser
vice of the Church in a Pickwickian sense
Whether baptized person is necessarily regener-
ate, and whether one can be regenerate without
being baptized are questions OF profound interest
to persons of a certain mental cast and moral Tone
however unimportant they may appear to the world
at large. And it pains US to say that their right
reverences in session at Baltimore have really done
nothing to elucidate these problems. The last
mentioned they have not taken In hand, indeed ;
and though they essayed struggle with the other
their conclusion is one Of those by which nothing
is concluded, and leaves US more IN the dark than
we were previously; for they held that the use of
the word degenerate" does not determine that a
moral change is wrought by baptism This is a
erievous ruling for babies and their fond and pous
parents; because if regeneration does not mean a
moral change, what does it mean? 1t certainly
cannot be applied physically or Intellectually with
out moral significance it has none whatever
The bishops appear to have lodged the issue
raised in various quarters and we presume they
dil so in the endeavor to avoid making a schsm
by an explicit declaration. But the secular public
already sees that the peaceful intent will be failure.
When one party holds that word means this,
and another that it means that the difference can
not be healed by declaring that it means nothing,
This will be apparent to the Episcopal brethren
BY the time they next meet in general convention.
The Chicago Periodicals show great vitality The
I daihes resumed at once. we believe, The Adv1Hce
comes to us already, little reduced in size ye',
but coming up to the old standard. The Standard
we have not seen, but it has resumed publication.
The subscribers of the Northeastern Christian Id
vocate are furnished the Western Christian Adro-
cate of Cincinnati at present until press can be
secured, when it will launch again. The Art Re
pje,o will probably suspend. The Little Corporal
will be out with large December number, aud
will 90 on to victory as usual All the Sunday
School publications of Adams, Backmer Il Lyon
will be continued, that firm supplying their sub
scribers with everything except the November
number of the National Sunday School Teacher,
| The Prairie Farmer and Western Rural resumed
at once. We have not heard what will be the fate
/ of the Lakeside Monthly