Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-11-05


They have recently sent number of
missionaries to Madagascar.
AT the close of the war the Baptists
in West Virginia numbered but 10000;
now they have increased to 24,000, with
evidences of continued prosperity
The Superintendent of Public In
struction of Indiana figures the total
valuation of school property in the State
at $40, 373, 692 %. an increase OF ~, 546,-
5f9.5S since 1866. The number of teach
ers employed at the present date is 49,
653, of which number z, 1851 are males. and
o, 292 females.
AS showing the rapid growth of
Methodism in Iowa, 1t may be noted that
the first Methodist sermon on Iowa soil
was preached in Dubuque, Nov 10,
1888. In 1886 the church had in Iowa
1856 members. In 1874 the first Iowa
Conference organized. To-day its MEM
bers in this State number about 6S, 600.
"A Cleveland Episcopal layman has a
pleasant habit of once or twice year
inviting some clergyman to take buggy
ride with him through some of the pleas
ant counties of the Western Reserve,
visiting scattered families of the Episco-
pal flock, and preaching by previous ap-
pointment to such as may not have regu-
lar Episcopal services.
"A minister, having cultured, judi
cious wife, invited her free criticism on
his sermons, much to his profit. On
one occasion, having preached from the
text, Remember Lots wife, he asked
her opinion of the discourse. Her reply
was 81 think, husband, it was one of
your poorest efforts, and would advise
you to have nothing more to do with
other mems wives"
Vermont seems to be in very bad
way as regards its schools. Over 700 OF
the school houses, or one-third OF the
whole, are reported as unfit for use, while
cheap teachers are everywhere sought
for, the ordinary wages being 81. 90 to "a
per week for Women-who constitute
majority of the teachers-and $4 and up
ward for men. There is no high-school
system, and it is optional with towns
whether to maintain graded school or
not, The examinations of tie achers, too,
are very lax. The old school system pre-
walls in general, while the demands OF
the State have materially changed. In
the rural districts the number OF school
children is decreasing every year, and the
population has drifted from its old local
tiles.
The heather distance us In the way
they contribute toward the support of
their religion. We consider a house OF
worship which costs quarter OF a
million an extravagant thing, and half
million church is set down as being pos
itively fearful in its cost. But what's shall
we say of the way the Asiatics spend
money on their temples and their idols?
The temple of Seringham has an image
of "Siva," formed entirely OF gold in
solid pieces, which is fifteen feet high.
The platform on which it stands is also
of gold, and the precious stones which
adorn it are of untold value. To maintain
the worship of single pagoda in Travan-
core $3.50, 600 is expended each year. A
missionary found the Rajah of Burdwan
sitting in his treasury with $50, 200
counted out before him. "What are you
doing with this money!" he asked. " 1t
is for my god" was the reply. The
yearly expenditure on the idol in the
temple of Khundosa is 100000 One
man gave at once upward of 81 ,500,0 900
for the support of heathenism in Benares.
Another in Ahmedabad built Jain tenn
pie at cost of 100000 These are but
specimens of the use of gold in idolatry
The only thing that comes near matching
all that in this country is the new Nor
mon temple at Salt Lake City, which is
expected to cost $10000,000. This build
ing will be 100 by 200 feet, and is
already up one tory.-Chrssttan at Work