, 1876-08-20

Churches OF England was opened at Shelf eld,
July 26. The increase OF the year In mem bers
is reported to be over 2,0U0. The Assembly
consists Of 222S delegates, 135 ministers, and 50
laymen.
The Prussian Government has seized the
property of the Archiepscopal See of Cologne.
The exercise of all Episcopal functions is now
forbidden, according to the terms OF the law OF
1874. As the Chapter refuses to elect new
Bishop, a Government administrator will be ap-
pointed.
The Scotch are evidently determined that no
one shall be at liberty to employ himself as lie
p1cases on Sunday, even In his own house, un-
less, indeed, he choose to drink. An inlabitant
Of Glasgow, named King, having attempted to
substitute for his orthodox pastime the lighter
amusement Of singing popular d;tties in COM
pany with q few friends, was fined 81 shllings
ment. About the same time blacksmith in
the same place, having lost 4 child, took to
solemn drlnkings, in apparent oblivion Ut the
fact that the death should, properly speaking,
obtained the necessary funds, but the bereaved
father Immediately spent them in drink. When
the coffin arrived he smashed it on u wheebar-
row and again adjourned to the public house.
He was arrested, but got off without panish-
mcnt, learning the lesson that it is better to
break hearts than the Sabbath.
In the closing debate on the University bill in
the French Senate, some Of the moderate Re-
publicans opposed ". .Waldington's amendment.
which takes away from the free Catholic uni
versties the privilege Of granting academic de-
grces. N. Challeme1-Lacour said that s. the
Free Universities bill was regarded as triumph
Of tho Catholic party, that only liberty was
asked for to-day, but that tomorrow it would
be independence, and the next day predomi-
nence.n He charged that the Church would be
,Eo3
French education. Bishop Dupanloup replied
that the ministerial amendment was only pre-
lude to other and more sweeping changes, and
that the Catholic universities could not exist
without the privilege OF comforting degrees. 4
powerful speech against the amendment was
made by the Duke dc Broglie, who contended
that "since the Church existed she had never
possessed less power to Cypress the State; nor
had the State ever possessed more power to de-
fend its rights.'' The amendment was lost BY
five votes only.
At the British Wesleyan Conference, which
began its sessions in Nottingham July Is, the
Rev. Alexander McAulay was elected President.
During the year the number of day-schools has
decreased BY six. Four Wesleyan schools we're
transferred to the School Boards and twenty
four were closed. The Sunday-schools have
greatly increased, the present number Of teach
ers being 113,OOo, and Of scholars 5,3l2. The
question Of withdrawing labor still further from
day-schools was earnestly discussed in the Elu-
ENLlou 4uE SIIl4ECu6 11OIlE MAS
reported to be prosperous. It has four branches,
three of them in England aud one in Hamilton,
Canatla. Two hundred aud fifty children
have already been placed in Canadian homes.
students in the three Theological schools, which
have al endowment fund of 95O,030. The sum
Of Eli 600 has also been invested rs the begin
ming Of an endowment for a theological school
in the midland counties. The Chapel Fund
Committee sanctioned, during the year, the
nf 13ts cha rr1e ar3 fhp
ncnt of 90 others, at i total cost of 4353, IL
The additional accommodation provided will be
20,210 sittings. -Four large chapels and two
temporary places have been opened i'll London
inclined Of late years to give up the system Of
denominational day schools, aided by the State.
The present number OF their day schools is SS4,
with IL, ,379 scholars.
NEW CHINESE SECT
A very extraordinary religious sect has re-
Gently sprung into life at place called Scaou-
shan Hien, III Che-kang. Its headquarters are
at ruined temple near a small market village,
formerly dedicated to deity called the Wci-to
P'u-sa; in immediate proximity with which are
few houses, thatched with grass but scrupu-
1ously clean, where some OF the leaders Of the
soriety reside. The movement is said to have
had its rise in the ecstacics OF couple OF old
women, aged respectively upward Of 50 and SO,
high priestesses, or sibyls, and at certain times
become inspired BY particular P1u-sa or spirit,
with whom they hold frequent intercourse, and
whose utterances, through the medium OF the
women, are regarded as divine oracles. Passing
by this nciglborhood during the day time
everything IS quiet; there is nothing whatever
to attract attention. At night however, the
scene is said to be most remarkable, The place
the Pythuness, Or to hear what it is all about
people Of. every description, men and women,
rich and poor, lad and good. The interior of
the temple is brightly lighted, and there is gen
orally deal of eating and drinking, for this
sect, unlike most Of the Others, encourages high
living and condemns vegctarianism Seated
upon high dais are the two old women, with
candles burning on either side Of them; and the |
people worship them with incense and joss
sticks as incarnatiuns Of the P'u-sa- Some Of
the ccstatics pretend to have vision Of this deity.
aud all the oraclcs delivered By the pricstesses
are unswervingly obeyed. One of the peculiar
regulations OF the sect is the abjuring of all |
silken clothes. Nothing is worn but the
simplest cotton. The initiated are firmly be- |
licyed to be endowed with magical powers and |
to be able to drive men mail with incantations |
aud the administration Of curious poisons. The |
number of adherents is rapidly increasing, and |
though the sect has only bceu in existence few |
weeks, it counts already upward Of 100 men,
bers.
RELIGIOUS DEMONSTRATIONS IN FRANCE.
From, the Pull 3EuA Gu.ene.
Religious demonstrations are still the order
Of the day in France. Recently commemora-
Tive service for the repose OF the souls OF mem-
hers Of the Bonapartc family. was held in the
Church of Napoleon -Saint-Lcu, when the Due
de Bassano and host of 1mperialist notabil-
Ties assembled to express dislike for the exist
ng institutions Of their country. II. de Saint
Prix, veteran OF 81, decorated with the St:
Helena medal, distributed the consecratca
bread to the congregation, and good many
officers bf the ACTIVE army were present, though |
not permitted to wear their uniforms on the
occasion. Nor have Catholics OF the Legit-
mist persuasion been idle:
The pilgrimage OF Vezelay Yonne) was re-
vived on the 22d July, being the festival Of st:
Mary Maedaene, 4 portion of the relics OF
This much-calumniated saint once belonged to
The monks OF Vezelay, who made present Of
them to Pope Martin ". in the year 12Sl. His
Holiness, who was a Frenchman, and possibly,
like some OF his countrymen, did not sufficient
" appreciate the value of such gifts, made the
bones over to the Cathedral Of Sens There
they remained till the revolution, when they
were taken out and scattered to the four winds
bY degenerate crowd. Somebody, however,
Is presumed to have picked them up; and now
Monsignor Bernadou, Archbishop OF Sens, has
restored them, inclosel in magnificent reli-
quarry, to the Church Of Vezclay.
= On the 22d accordingly procession OF TWO
Archbishops, three Bishops, mtred Abbot,
and 200 priests, with burners and crosses, made
solemn entry into the old Berguudiau town,