, 1876-11-12
RELIGIOUS MISCELLANY.

| increase Tor The year was 6,luo.
The friends Of the movement to have Go
recognized in the United States Constitution
| will hold a convention in SteubeuYillc, O., Nov
Is.
There are now forty-seven Young Women
Christian Associations in this country. which ar,
formed on the plan Of the Young Mems Christian
Associations. r.
The Central Presbyterian Church Of San Fran
cisco, Cal, has obtained liberty from the Civi
Court to sell its church property. Value o.
property, s155oo0; debt, 100000.
The First Reformed Episcopal Church in San
Francisco has just been org99nfzed, the Rey-- y:
Newton becoming Rcexof. This-as~thc first
church OF that denomination on the Pacific.
The Baptist Association OF Massachusetts re.
ports 2S7 churches in the State, 247 pastors, and
47,173 members. The number OF baptisms dur.
ing the past year was 1,96s, and the amount Of
money contributed $685.
OF the twcnty-sevcn Baptist churches in New
York City, twcnty-three have mortgage debts Of
from $15,O30 to $4,000. One church was re-
Gently bought under u foreclosure sale for $50,
0O0, the mortgage, with interest, amounting to
s75,Oo0.
There are 266,391 native Christians now in
India, an increase Of more tnan $4,000 III four
years. The number OF commandments is e, ,GS9,
IN increase in the same time Of about 4,0OO
There are $50 active missionaries. There arc
116 woman missionaries connected with the ya-
riOus Wonlan's societies.
The second great Pan-Anglican Synod will be
held at Lambeth in the autumn of lS77. 4 large
majority Of the Bishops Of the English Church
are expected to be present. There will be rep
resentatiyes from Australia, New Zealand,
Cp11ft vim N7r.u Grr{fo nr1 .,+l.o
The Episcopal Church of the United States will
be .worthily represented both by the numbers
and the high character of its prelates.
The American Bible Society has modified the
administration of the Home Department by a
considerable reduction in the number OF State
agents. In New Eng land there is now only one
District Superintendent; in New York the num-
ber OF agents has been reduced from FIVE to one;
OIL the first OF the present month seven other
agents, chiefly in the Western and Southern
States were retired. The Society has paid in
past years for its agencies from $4,000 to S75,-
0oo. Under tue new system the expense tor
this item will be $2U, 600.
There is society lately formed in New York,
entitled 1.-THE Non-Denominational Gospel
Mission to the Prisoners OF the Tonbs." The
Rev. DR.. Howard Crosby is the President, and
the Supervising Committee embrace some most
eminent clcrgymen aud laymen Of different de-
nominations. They are fortunate in having for
LHt1F IAl5olUutiI1 tt!C MY. L. bELkEF. q 1Q00
OF an cnincntly self-sacrihcing spirit aud un-
tiring industry. Some OF the letters addressed
by prisoners to hlr. Betker are truly touching,
and show the value Of this work and the strong
hold the chaplain has upon their affections.
The Fraternity OF Illinois Liberal Religious
societies will hold its next selni-annual meeting
with the Second Congregational (Unitarian)
ference will begin on Tuesday evening, Nov. q,
and continue throughout the next day The
opening sermon will be by the Rev. Robert
Collyer, OF Chicago. Wednesday there will be
the address OF tile President, Firlnan Church,
ESQ.,, Of Chicago; records OF the last meeting;
report Of the General Western Secretary, tile
Rev. J. Ii. Jones; reports from individual soci
cites, and also from any persons attending from
towns where no Liberal Cllurcl, is established,
Us to the prospects of organizing such in their
vicinity, or what can be done to meet the want;
election OF officers for the ensuing year, nn1
such special business as may be brought before
thc Conference.
What is called "dcconsccration'' service
vas held in Allbal1ows Church, Bond street, re-
:ently by order oI the Bishop Of London, preim- |
nary to the removal Of the cditicc. This church
S one OF large number in the city which we're |
.cbuilt after the fire of London Ly Sir Chris
opher Wren and its history is noteworthy from |
he fact that its Rector in 1885, the Rev, LAWRENCE
saunders, was burned at Coventry for preach
ng in defense of the doctrines of the Reforma- !
!OIl, sluu LINZ HlllLUu wis UiFALLEQ uEIE ID uG-
ember, l60S. There was crowded congrc,a-
ion at the service, the Lurd Mayor and Sherlifs
ttending in state, accompanied by one Or two
Aldermen anu Common Councilnlcn. Bishop
,laughton preached the sermon, choosing for |
ext st. Luke, tx. 50: "Jesus said unto him,
let the dead bury their dead, but 90 thou and
reach the kingdom Of God-' While the Bishop |
'as ascending the pulpit all eld:r person III the
isle ucar the i ,or called out in loud tone, g.
rotest against this service III Gods name, ~ but
nd scarcely finished the sentence ere one of the
uariiaus Of the peace appeared On the scene
nd promptly escorted him to the street.
The Presbyterian Synod of Philadelphia has
lst rendered decision which is attracting con-
dcr.abie attention. In one of the churches
ithin the Synod's limits the pastor, by the re-
ucst OF a candidate for baptism, Immersed
i'm. a complaint WAS thcreuoon carried to
lc Presbytcry of Lackawauna, which took an
kception to the act. From the PresbyteEy the
lse went to the Synod, which has rendered q
ecison as follows: "In view OF the teachings
I'd principles entering into the doctrine OF bau-
sm, we Judge that the administration OF bap-
sm By the Rev. j. Fl. Clark, in tue case ex-
:pted to, came within the possible limits of a
ermissible administration of the rite, and, al
!ougl without any sanction Of command
fact in sacred Scriptures, yet did
3t involve a moral wrong. The mode OF ad-
however, not being accordant With |
&c distinctive mode Of baptism accepted and |
}pointed By the Presbyterian Church. We do
1t approve Of the spirit Of the exception Of the
resbytery OF Lackawanna, as hetokening a !
st, Watchful care in the exercise of its ne
.nnsih1e dt1tias and nf1fnf}pa that IT. chov1d =. |