The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-03-19

l
might yet be made here, for while one meet
scores of children going to their variOu
"Cs!e ,chimes," ss their national Sunday
Schools are called, yet it is noticeable tha
many stores are opened, building going on
theatres frequeuted, and the Sabbath even
ings devoted to every species of amusement
The ancient Cathedral 81. Pierre, from whose
pulpit Calvin preached so faithfully, as vel
as the Theological University which he found
ed, are here, but the strict Sabbath obSerV-
snee, and the sometimes too rigorous laws,
and the old faith are gone! There is rem
nsnt yet remaining of the faithful wholly
men, who are devoting their time and SER
vice to what may we'll be called the modern
Reformation. These have established an
evangelical society in every portion of Swift
zerlsnd as we'll as having wide field of ope-
rAtiOns in France and northern Italy. "There
is no danominational exclusiveness or dis
ordinations requiring only evangelical ex'
perience and devotion to the work +" Con.
tending here against these national churches,
whose views are said to be exceedingly lib
eral and unorthOdox, they have need of great
zeal and bravery in their holy calling. 1t
is indeed a fountain of evangelical power
for the French speaking communities of the
continent generally, having such men at their
head as Prof. La Harpe, splendid old gen
tleman of noble physique who has preached
for ua lin excellent English) several times at
the Sale de Ia Reformation, as we'll as Pas
teurs Dardier, Chatlen, and others, whom
We have met at their mission chapels through
out the city. Last week another French
mission was established here under the au-
spices of our ADglo-Americsn church, with
what success remains yet snxiously to be
seen.
A fancy Bazaar was held here on the 18th
of January, to establish Cafe on temper
ance principles in order to abolish if posi-
bic, the excessive drinking among the O3U-
riers class, and with abundant results -
three thousand francs being raised BY this
one days entertainment and ssle-mostly
patrOnized by strangers temporarily residing
here. And now they are enabled to furnish
them daily with hot coffee, chocolate aud
soups, for mere pittancs, providing nice
library and reading-room for their evenings
entertainment, and thus begin to save them
from the downward road to ruin. These
Pasteurs, as the ministers all are called, are
doing good work here in their modern Re-
| form, not however so austere as Calvin, who
banished Castellio, one of bis earliest friends
and fellow.lsborers, because he differed from
him on the doctrine of predestinatiOn, and
caused the Spanish DR.. SerVetus to be burn,
ed at the stake, few months after being
banished from Vienna, on account of his re-
ligious tenets "a judicial sentence which it
is said will forever remain stigma on his
just but unrelenting character. But this
only teaches US anew that perfection can be
found nowhere on earth even the most
noted Scripture characters, have all, without
exception, some sin that mars their fair page
Of existence. Many extenuating circum-
stance must be considered in Calvin's time.
The city had long been governed by Catho-
lie Bishops who ruled with rod of iron
every excess and error had crept into reli-
gious teaching, when he joined Farel, in his
work of moral Reform, and severe measures
were ofttimes necessary to serve for exam
pies. His preaching is spoken of as being
exceedingly eloquent, his z'al against the
Romish Church was unbouuded, and his in
auence over others magnetic and irresistible.
Certainly he effected most wonderful changes
in government, as we'll as in religion, the in
Auence of which is felt this day to the at
termost parts of the earth. How different
his life and death from that of Jean Jacques
Rousseau, also of Geneva, who though a
social Reformer, and Philosopher produced
nothing from his brilliant mind tending to
elevate or make his fellow. citizens nobler or
better. Proud are the GeneVese to claim
him, aud they have placed on the " Lille de
Rousseau" his statue by Pradier. Last
summer, his centennial anniversary was eel
ebraled here, it is said, with great pOmp and
ceremony, hundreds of children, dressed in
white were gathered on the beautiful little
island, sdorDing the statue with roses and
immortelle8, and singing to his praise. A
simple granite slab marks the resting place
of Calvin, at the Cemetery of Plain Palais,
but whose good works will follow him, that
of the stern Reformer, or the "self tortured
Sopbist ?"
Geneva abouuds with histories on every
aand of intellectual and social progress. The
principles, which from the 16th century has
shaken Europe to its foundation, are accrsd
tied to have emsnsted chiefly from Geneva.
Calvin first, then the direful influence Of
Rousseau and Voltaire, who dWelt near by
at Ferney, afterwards Madame De S'se
and hosts of others too numerous to mention,
for Switz ,rland has been rich in saVsns.
Every place is suggestive. Whether we re
gard the ancient Cathedral, everywhere
prominent or pass the old Tower it is said
Caesar buils when he conquered the HelVe
/ tia, as Switzerland was called; or see the
old city's wall, which the Savoysrds fruit
lessly tried to scale; or the Hotel de Vile
} mhara the wnrka of Vnltsire and Z lusseaI