Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-04-10
MINOR TOPICS.

MINOR TOPICS.
The centennial anniversary of the birth
of DR.. Thomas Chalmers has been OBJ
served with much enthusiasm in Scotland.
1t is proper that Presbyterians of the
United States should take some notice of
an event of SO much interest to the whole
church.
Ex-Governor EDWIN D. MORGAN has
not only given 100000 to purchase Ii
brary for the Union theological seminary,
in New York, but he has presented S25, 900
to the eye and ear infirmary, and has do
mated liberal sums for extinguishing the
indebtedness of DR.. Springs old brick
church society. His friends say that he
has given quarter of a million dollars for
charitable purposes within year.
THE "Jerusalem Chamber" in West
minister Abbey is place of great histori-
interest. There sat the Westminster as
sembly when forming the confessions and
| catechisms which Presbyterians accept
| there sat convocation when busy with the
| revised prayer book-and then in our day
sits the gathering Of divines and scholars
who are diligently revising the English
version of the Holy Scriptures. 1t is a
famous chamber.
The Norarian complains that the statis-
tics of it's church have not been correctly
given in some quarters. 1t says: ''The
Moravian church in this country had a
membership of 9, 491 at the close of 1S79
an increase of 81 on the number for the
previous year. The scholars in the Sunday
schools number $3.50, an increase of 303. -
Previous statistics gave the membership as
S,212 and the number of the scholars as
1868, thus excluding the membership of
the Southern province.
II does not appear likely that the coming
Methodist general conference will take any
action concerning modification of the sys-
TEN of itineracy. Thus far only one an
nual conference, the New York East, has
recommended any change, and although
the conviction is rapidly gaining ground
that change permitting longer pastorates
is desirable, the friends of the movement
do not believe that very large minority
of the general conference would vote for
it,
THE dual funeral at Calvary church, New
York, on Wednesday, of Herman d. Aldrich
and Robert II. McCurdy, two Of the Oldest
merchants in that city, has been announced.
They came to New York early in this cen
tury-one from Connecticut and the other
from Orange county, NewYork. They found
employment together, and after reaching
their majority went into the dry goods
business with a partner. In 1857 the two
senior members drew out with 1000, 900
each and retired, living in adjoining houses.
Mr.. McCurdy died on Monday afternoon
at 4 o. clock, and Mr.. Aldrich on the same
afternoon at o'clock. Death in both
cases was the result of heart disease, and
the former was kept in ignorance of the
lattcr's death. They were inferred in ad
joining lots.
THE New York Observer says 'We are
entering upon fierce political campaign.
At present the fight is as to tho men who
shall lead the contending forces. In few
weeks the two parties will be in battle az
ray. The pulpit has it's part to perform.
1t is not a disnterected factor. But if the
pulpit has brains as we'll as heart, con-
science and Judgment as we'll as feeling, it
will employ its power to calm the passions
to restrain the rashness and suppress the
violence of the hour. 1t is not our busi-
ness to dictate in matters of taste or any
other, and we know very we'll that every
minister will judge for himself as to how
much of politics he will minglc with the
gospel in his pulpit. To his own Master
he stand and falls. But to our minds there
is something surprisingly unbecoming in a
preacher of the everlasting gospel, profes
sing to know nothing save Jesus Christ
and Him crucified, counting the applause
of the pews by preaching man for politi-
cal Office, though that Office be the high.
est on earth -
Hopeless Ignorance Enlightened.
L