The Portland daily press., 1876-02-12
Religions News and Notes,

The MarOnte PatriarchS have sent to the
Archbishop of Paris twelve cedar panks, which
they say are sawed from the old trees of the
Mount Lebanon, and are as old as the wood of
SolomoE's Temple. They will be used in build
ing the church OF the Sacred Heart, on the
"Hill of the Martyrs" in the French capital
In spite of persecution, Protestant worship is
increasing in Spain. There are now thirty
seven chapels in which service is held.
The society for promoting Christian knowl-
edge is about to issue a series Of volumes de-
scribing the Pagan systems of religion. Brah-
manism, Buddhism, Islam, the African supersti-
tions, and more, will he treated by competent
writers.
Mr. George William Curtis is supplying SER
vices as lay reader at the Church of the Re-
deemer, Staten Island; he has of late been
reading from the sermons of Rev. StpofOrd
Brooke of London. He reads with great spirit
and with less dependence on the book than
most ministers place on their manuscript. The
Evening Post says in this connection, vt may
become a serious question with us hereafter, as
it was in the Old World long time ago, wheth-
er preacher should always depend upon his
own compositions instead of reading at his dis
erection the best productions of the masters of
sacred wisdom and eloquence."
Gratitude is not an Oriental virtue. Within
the last year American missionaries in Urgub,
in Cappadocia, have distributed thirty thousand
pounds in the district to the suffering poor, and
have saved many thousands of persons from
starvation. Now one hundred and fifty men,
bers of the Greek church have petitioned the
Greek Archbishop of Cesarea to have them ex-
PEELED from the territory as dangerous persons,
not only seducing the faithful from their or
th0doXy, but stirring up rebellion among the
Sultan's subjects.
Pow Saloh Marr;lI Of Apdouar pou, Will,
the Palestine Exploring Expedition, write an
interesting letter to the London Athen@um,
giving an account of the work done in the Hau-
ran aud the region beyond the Jordan. He sx-
patateS on the numbers and the beauty of the
ruined cities, and gives unexpected testimony
to the fertility OF the soil in what was suppes-
ed to be desert. A great number of photo
graphs were taken. The whole circuit of the
Journey was accomplished without accident or
serious hndrance from the natives. One gen.
tleman of the party took a severe cold. which
ended in dangerous fever, from which, how
ever, he recovered. The weather at times was
very warm. reaching 900 in the shade 10 the
month of October.
Thirty-nine students are now in attendance
at the Bangor Theological Seminary fourteen
in the Senior class, seventeen ia the Middle aud
eight in the JUNIOR. During the past year the
faculty has been increased by the addition of
HrOI, JOnn .. SeWaII, EOSS EroIeSSOr OF "a
cred Rhetoric and Oratory. The Institution is
in excellent condition and constantly improv-
ing.
An interesting revival has been in progress
in the Free Baptist church in North Shapleigh,
and twenty-three converts are reported.
Rev. George Colby is holding a great revival
at East Vassaboro. About fifty have been con-
verified already.
Rev. Howard b. Abbot, well known Meth
odist preacher, died last week at his home in
Waterville, aged 81. He was brother of Hon.
Nehemiah Abbot, and formerly resided in Bel
fast.
Rev. Edwin Blake, Free Baptist, will close a
pleasant three years pastorate with the church
in Lyman, to take effect April 1st.
The Rev. John w. Kinds of Belfast, latterly
Of Augusta, has accepted call, and has set
tied as pastor of the Universast church at
Oak Park, Illinois,
The Congregational church in Andover is
without q pastor and has had none this winter
to the great detriment of the society.
An extensive religious feeling is manifested
in West Buxton and vicinity under the labors
of Rev. j, Burnham Davis. A large number
have signifed their intention to live more up
right life.