The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-06-24
DOMESTIC MISCELLANY.

A Presbyterian Church is being erected at Salt
Lake City, also one at Livermore, CAL
A fact to Ponder.-Some folks have entered into
calculations to show how much per head it takes
to convert the heather 1t is disgusting thing to
count the worth of souls But if it must be, let the
following be considered.
A late number of the Baptist Weekly shows that
the.expense of each convert in each OF two home
associations during last year was 1872 and SAL
per convert. against $50 tor Foreign Mission con-
verts. 1t also shows that the largest mission
church in Asia has 6S0l members. This mission
is maintained at cost to the Mission Union So
ciety of 81 SO per member. while in the case of
home church numbering 8lS members, the ex-
pense OF maintenance per member was $50 A. In
this church sixteen converts were made, and, reck-
onng after the manner of the directors, these cost
81 045 per convert, against $43 each for the con-
verts made in the largest church 10 ASIA
Dr. Heath Jones Miller, for many years connected
with one of the banks of this city previous to and
since the war, died in Charlotte county on Wed.
nesday last after protraced illness. The deceased
was member OF DR.. Reads church at the time Of
his death. and was widely known in the State He
was esteemed for many noble traits OF character.
Prot. Milton HUMPHREYS, of Washington and
Lee University, who has been attending lectures at
the German Universities for the past few years,
has returned to resume bis duties He comes
crowned with the brightest honors given those
ancient seats of learning.
The Convention of Alumni Of Washington and Lac
University to meet this week. will be important
event 10 the history of the Institution. The indi
cations are that an unusually large number OF
Alumni will be present.
As the result of a revival that has been in pro-
gress Tor several months among the Indians Of the
Round Valley Reservation, eight hundred adults
have been admitted to the church.
The common idea that any sort of teachers will
do for the younger classes has done very much to-
wards making poor sorts of Sunday Schools
Agassiz used to say that the best teachers should
initiate the studies and guide the early develop.
ment of children. 1t is the primary and younger
pupils that need special care taken OF them in this
respect.
Hampden Sidney College, Va "A correspondent
of the Baltimore american, writing in regard to
the recent Commencement says:
"All its buildings are unpretending even to an
extreme, and yet shady and cosy. Its funds, l
learn are, and always have been inadequate, and
the salaries paid very moderate. j was told that
at a dinner of the Alumni, some years ago, the as
tonishiog disproportOD between the small resources
which the country has bestowed on the college, and
the grand returns which she has made in the shape
pil, expressed By the following toast:
"Our Alma Mater-Like the venerable Apostle
of the Gentiles; Poor, bat making many rich. F"
THESE ARE MY JEWELS"
Certain it is, that when one looks at those mod
est brick walls and hears of the salaries of its pro-
fessors, and then reads the roll of its Alumni In
Guiding so many Of the most illustrious names
among the dvines, statesmen, generals, jurists an
business men of America it is positively startling.
These old Virginians are strange folk they eVl.
IDENTIFY believe that other things besides money have
power in them. Their professors must believe that
something else than money (patriotism, or some
thiDg) is worth working for; for we iud here CON-
paDy of gentlemen of polished manners, extensive
learning, acknowledged reputation, and tried skill
teachers, steadily working away at the wages OF
Baltimore clerks.
Another pecaliarity of the old College is that in
this radical age it tries no new plans, but simply
goes on perecting the old ones. 1t still sticks to
the old curriculum of the "humanities and sci
eDces" Taught with every modern improvement
and pursues the od-iashioned aim Of producing
Bachelors OF Arts who shall be- not specialists,
but men OF general and symmetrical culture. This
steady policy probably stints her numbers aud popu-
arity, in these practical and hasty days. But even
we fast men" from busy, pushing Baltimore were
compelled to admit that perhaps the old lady was
in the right. She does ROt follow the public with
promises to manufacture chemists, architects, en-
gneers, book keepers and lawyers, while one says
presto-chaDge but she engages to take youth
of sixteen and to make him in four years man Of
thorough, general culture, fit to take noble rank
in any profession he may afterwards adopt Some
how, when | saw the solid and manly taste OF the
graduates in their speeches, and recalled the stand.
ing she has conferred upon many of her Alumni
(such as the gifted Hoge, of Richmond, and Murk-
land, of our city Professors Venable and South
all, of the University of Virginia. and kirkpatrick,
of Washington and Lee University [ was com.
PEELED to admit the slow way may be the surest."