The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-03-07
FOREIGN ITEMS.

IIIITyIuk
Of peace. The diplomatic relations between Ssrvis
and the Porte are thus restored The Montenegro
delegates have visited the Grand Vizer and the
flreign minister.
The next General Conference of the Evangelical
Alliance will probably be held at Bsrne in Swift
zerland.
Father Chiniquy announces that during the past
few weeks not less than 220 French Canadians have
left the Roman Catholic Caurch and become Prot
estsnts.
The German Emperor has assigned 4, 4SO 600
marks from the part of the French war indemnity
pertaining to Prussia, for the Transformation of
the arsenal at Berlin into ball containing eolec-
ton of objects representing the glorious history
OF the Pruss'sn army and consequently Of the
whole Prussian people"
Germany twelve yearss ago had no Sunday Schools
Now it has over 1900. containing more than So
600 scholars.
Recent despstshes frou Mexico state that Gea
DiAz has been elected President.
Emperor William. in a speech at the opening of
the German Parliament, expressed the opinion
that the peace Of Europe will not be broken, st the
same time declaring that bis government would
continue to exert its Influence for this result, and
for the protection Of the Christians in Turkey
Christian Weekly.
There comes from nearly every part of Canada
intelligence OF deep aud decided spiritual move
ment as if the breath of the Spirit were passing
over its SHOWS with its genial and heavenly warmth
The different churches are crowded, aud deep i'm
pressiOns are made under the simple preaching of
the Word.
The American Chapel in Geneva, Sutherland, is
so crowded with worshppers on Sundays. that it
has been decided to build new and larger church,
to be completed by next July. The cost of site
and building will be about $50 900, and the Rev
Arthur Mason, OF New Y ork City, has signi6ed his
acceptance OF the rectorsbip.
The Irish Presbyteries have nominated the Rev
George Bells for the Moderatorship of the next
Assembly. he is between 10 aud so years of age
and has been fly years in the ministry For
long time mas acted as missionary secretary. 1t
cannot be said that be is man of extraordinary
talents but be has discharged the duties of his Of
fee with unWearied sssiduity and excellent judg
ment
APrssbytsrian Thank oEsring.-The Presbyterian
Church OF + lgand has signalzed its new departure
IN a way which has awakened universal admiration
Ii has opened thanksgiving fund for bul ding pur
poses. aud already the amount subscribed is over
100000.
writer in the Christian UaioR says: " have
no pleasapter recollection of any thing 10 Europe
than the old place 10 the Via de Serrag j, Flor
enee, where, 10 an upper room, are held the ser
doubt, the lofty halls and sOsoious chambers rang
with the festivities of the Uoertis, the Glelps the
ToTnabnopis, or whichever OF the old Florentines
inhabited the place; but 10 these latter days the
noise of revelry is hushed and the only echoes that
peTvade the Old gide6 salon are those inspired BY
the Songs OF the Sanctuary or the preacher ex
hOrtstOn. Among these "reminiscences OF a stored
past listened with rare pleasure one morning 10
November last, to the preaching OF the pastor now
located IN Florence, whom many viii remember IS
being at the American Chapel, Rome during some
years past and previously at the Presbyterian
church, MorristoEn n. The Rev. Gavin Lang
muir.
Rev. A. Il. sOmsrvills, success nj anyelst, has
been invited by the Glasgow U llted Evangelistic
Association to give up his ministerial charge,
Though not his connection with the Free Church
of Scotland and for the future to devote his life
to the fuItherance of the gospel at home and
abroad, but especially among the Eaglish-speaking
people in foreign lands and, tar In his power,
among the nOn-Chrisuan natives Of those coun
tries.
Rev. R. smith, Professor of Hebrew in the Free
Church College, Aberdeen Scotland, has had his
name uupleasanty before the public for some time
past in connection with certain articles which he
cOutributed to the Il IcyeloE @dia Britannica. The
College Committee, consisting OF twenty.one picked
men, having carefully examined the impugned ar
tices, and heard the authors explanation Of GER
which have caused grave concern to many orthodox
people whilst they have excited jubilation amongst
secular Ratoussts, have now issued detailed re-
port of the case They have come to the eonclu
sion that there is ground IN the articles to war
rant process for heresy. They also state their
satisfaction with the evidence they have received
of Professor Smiths decided adherence to the doc
triues Of the Reformed Confessions on the Word
of God, bis belief IN the inspiration of Deuterono-
my-the book about parts OF which he had used
peculiar aDguage-spsrt from the conclusions OF
science his high character and great learning
While atestiDg bis orthodoxy, so far, the commit
tee lament the dangerous and uuSettlng tendency
of statements made by him, in the article bible"
and declare that they regard with great concern the
theory OF inspired personation which the writer
advocates or what be calls literary form, as ap-
piled to the non-Mosaic portions of Deuteronomy.
Several members Of the committee dissent from
the conclusions of the Report for different reasons.
The report will not be dealt with its merits until
the meeting of the General Assembly in May
Cor st Louis Presbyterian.
Jspan.-Ths Christian world is now looking to
japan for early and large results from missionary
work. 1t has been opened to the propagation of
Christianity to a remarkable degree and the vari-
Gus societies are fastening to improve the grand
opportunities offered to them. A correspondent of
The Lutheran Observer writes from japan that be
has been collecting the statistics Of missionary work
in that country down to November 1875 He has
compiled them with great care and believes them
to be trustworthy
1.-THE total number of foreign missionaries is So,
and of native helpers is 49, There are 80 stations
now occupied in which the gospel is preached, with
An average weekly attendance of 4 600 hearers, one
thousand and twenty of whom are baptized con-
yerts. There are l6 medical stations 10 different
parts of the Empire, at which IA 900 new cases
are annually treated There are twenty mission
schools. with more than 500 scholars of whom 40
are students for the ministry There are 10 Sun
day Schools, with an average attendance Of go,
making in ali about 600 scholars. The National
Bible Society of Scotland, the British and Foreign
Bible Society, the American Bible Society," and the
American Baptist Missionary Society are all en-.
gagged diligently in the work of trsnslating and
printing the Scriptures so that very soon the New
Testament will be completed. Parts OF the Olc
Testament have been translated; but as yet only
select portions, rather than complete books Many
of the Psalms are in use; but there is no translation
of them entire. Several thousand copies OF TIT
Chinese Scriptures have been circulated, besides
large number of tracts and other religious pubies
tioos There is aweekly Christian newspaper, pub
6shtd by the missionaries of the American Board
which has q weekly circulation OF eleven huudre
comics This weekly Messenger, as it Is called, ]
printed in the Japsnes character and Is olrcua' e.
freely throughout 'he Empire IN the domestic maiI
carving the gospel to Its readers.
Besides the Protestant work, the Greek Churc