The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1872-11-20
FOREIGN ITEMS.

The EuphrateG Valley Railroad-0f the progress
of this interesting enterprise the LevdRt Herald
announces that the Grand Vizer has commissioned
NJ. Pressed, the well-known engineer to undertake
the survey Of the ground for line of railway from
TripOi, on the coast OF Syria, to Bagdad, and a
preliminary step has already beenTaken In the dis
patch to Tripoh of two experienced engineers,
Messrs. Schernik and Schutt-the former OF whom
took an active part in the pioneering work OF the
Roumeian line. The object is to obtain an accu
rate professional tracing of the route devised by
the Grand Vizer, In substitution of the lines pre-
yiously proposed for connecting the Mediterranean
with the Persian Cult. The line now suggested
by Midhat Pasha will cover a distance OF about
$50 miles, commencing at Tripoi, on the Syrian
coast, passing by way of Palmyra and crossing the
Euphrates; thence traversing Mesopotamla and
the Iigris, and terminating at Bagdad, where 1t
would meet the Persian Gulf line, as originally
planned
ROmish MisssOns-The Propaganda, or Society
for the Propagation of the Faith, which has its
headquarters at Rome, received il the year 1871 a
little more than one million Of dollars. Only fifty
five thousand dollars of this sum was collected out
side OF Europe. We are surprised to find that
more was expended in Asia than in any other part
of the world, nearly one halt Of the whole sum
collected having been spent on that continent
One hundred and eght-seven thousand dollars
came to America, but this docs not at all indicate
! the amount spent by Rome IN the extension of the
! Church 10 this country. The real estate which is
purchased every year would far exceed this sum-
From her own people in this land she gathers vast
sums of money, which she expends in founding
churches, colleges converts aud schools, ia every
city and town 10 the States and Territories. Her
rural parishes are few in number - Presbyterian.
New Dictionary Government of India
have ordered for distribution among the learned
I ~ IL =. N
! tiOnary, by Professor MOnier Williams, Just pub
lisbed at the University Press, Oxford. The va
rious missionary societies have also applied for a
considerable number Of copies for the use of their
servants in India.
The Contest in Prussia The recent contest be
tween the lords and commons in the Prussan Diet
over the country reform bill, present the En-
peror William as the champion of the commons
and people against the mobiles of the upper house.
The object Of the bill is to prevent clerical troubles
and agtations by defining more exactly, than at
present, the boundary line of jurisdiction between
Church and State. Marriage by civil authority is
made valid without the sanction of the church,
which has, heretofore, been indispensable; and the
registration of births is also placed under the d.
rectlon OF the civil authorities These changes
will conform matters in Prussia to the condition of
things in this country, in respect to the subjects
mentioned but the clergy and the ncbles stoutly
/
| through, the Emperor was not only obliged to dis
solve the old and order the election of a new Diet,
but also created number of new peers to secure
majority In Its favor In the upper house.
The Dutch continue to take Holland. In the
formation of the Amsterdam Ship Canal IL, 500
acres will be reclaimed from the sea, which will
pay One.thrd OF the whole cost, 66L los per acre,
the estimated value Of the land having been al
ready raised to enable the works to be carried on;
! 45 230 acres reclaimed from the sea at HARLEM.
Nicer at a cost Of 49, per acre, being now valued
with the farms at S0L or Co.,, holds out an induce.
ment to the Dutch to reclaim 100000 acres from
the Zlyder Zee Such cOnquests are more worthy
of celebration than those that are made with the
sword.
The London Presbytery of the English Presbyte-
rian Church have had for some time little trou.
BILE with the Presbyterian Church in the Island of
Jersey, which was transferred to their jurisdiction
by the Free Church of Scotland in accordance with
the wishes OF the minister and congregation, in
consequence of the opposition which was ostensi-
bly, raised by four of the trustees, although vir-
tually by only one. The latter individual raised
the Glamour de HarO, or cry for justice, while
wall was being removed lately which led to a stop
page of the works, and the question found its way
into the civil or royal court. 1t has just been de-
cded that the cry was raised without Just cause,
and the trustee has been fiaed The question of
the legality of the transfer of the church has yet
to be decided but there is reason to believe that
it will ultimately be decided in favor of the minis
ter, REV, Mr.. MUIR congregation, and London
Presbytery.-COr. Southern Presbyterian.
The Rev. David strang, of the United Presbyte
Iian Mission in Alexandria, Egypt writes to the
Christian Instructor that there is an increasing dis
satisfaction among the Armenians there with the
administration of their church property. They
have long desired reform, but the clergy resist it
In despair of efecting it, about sixty have sepa-
rated themselves from the Armenian community
and united with the Protestants They now at
tend service in the chapel, where elder Carabet
who speaks Turkish, breaches to them.
Success still attends the new SustentatiOu Fund
of the Irish Presbyterian Church, nearly 9S 900
having been received during the last half year.