The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-08-11
For the Central Presbyterian.
Letter from Ireland.

Letter from Ireland.
The Sunday School institution is re-
ceiving considerable attention at the pre-
sent time, and the Raikes centenary is
developing some unique characteristics
and phases of opinion. At the Lambeth
Palace Sunday School Conference, Canon
Tristram expressed the opinion that their
scholars ought to be able to explain why
they preferred church schools to Noncon-
formist schools Professor Plumtre and
the Primate both strongly disfavored the
Archbishop spoke vigorously in favor of
teaching fundamental truths and casting
into the shade all those minor differences
which tend to keep Christians apart. If
the Anglican clergy would teach more
Christian truth and less Church doctrine,
they would be fulfilling their duty better
than by giving undue prominence to the
latter. But this centenary celebration is
not the timefor criticism but for congrat-
ulation
The Deceased Wife's Sisters Bill was
rejected by the House of Lords. The
Upper House is sometimes in the way of
progress; but in reference to its action
anent this bill, [ feel somewhat thankful
hat there is such House; and sincerely
hope it will continue to keep this thing
out whene ,er it is thrust upon it.
The Rev. Jackson Smyth, of Armagh,
was elected Moderator of the Irish Gen
eral Assembly, and his dignity, frmness,
and impartiality disappointed many who
adjudged him too impulsive for the chair
of the Assembly. This able Church court
has debating talent of the highest order,
and it was brought out in full force by
the introduction of burning questions
which were discussed The obituary list
for the year was large one The num-
Der of licentiates is not large. Professor
Witherow, of Magee College, London
derry, stated few days ago, at the or
dination of the Rev. George Thompson, a
very excellent and promising young min
lister who was called to the pastorate of
church before his college course was fin
ished, that the number of licentiates now
is less by one half than it was fifty years
ago. This is not an encouraging and
hopeful state of things. English church
es look to Ireland for pastors, and call
some very gifted young ministers from
the Irish Church.
After an imbroglio of several weeks,
Bradlaugh, the notorious atheist, has be-
come member of the House of Commons.
He affirmed after the manner of Quakers
instead of taking the usual oath. His
presence is no honor to the House. The
constituency that elected him ought to be
ashamed of itself An in6del should be
adjudged disreputable. He may be moral
in his own outward behavior, but his
principles are essentially immoral in
themselves, and inevitably immoral in
their tendency, and therefore he should
be made to feel that he is unfit for re.
spectacle society.
The Rev. John Scott Porter, of Belfast
one of the leaders of Irish Unitarianism,
and well-known far beyond his own small
denomination, has Just died at the age Of
seventy-nine Belfast mourns his loss,
and representative men of all classes and
creeds followed his remains to the grave.
He was an eminent scholar and conser-
vative in his views for a Unitarian. He
had no sympathy with the THESIS of his
sect, who | regret to say, are filing the
places Of those who are being removed by
death. He was almost orthodox, some
thing like Dr. Bellows of New York.
Some men wish to immortaise them
selves by formulating creeds One Just
printed and circulated by the Rev. Dr.
Vincent, leading Methodist Episcopal
minister Of the United States is published
on this side the Atlantic 1t is like all
such productions--no improvement on
those creeds which have long been cher
ished by Christendom. 1t is wishy-
washy, and if its author has any specified
work to 90 he should attend to it and
leave the making Of creeds alone.
The London Weekly ReUie1o, the organ
of the English Presbyterian Church,
notices the fact that the minister elected
to the editorship Of the leading Metho-
dist Episcopal religious paper Of the
United States opposed the admission to
the General Conference of some female
orator who applied for permission to
show off her eloquence before that au-
gust assembly The Revic,O notices his
election with approval l share in that
approval / hope he will aid to keep
women in their proper sphere. Who