The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-02-11

any minister who may think of coming to this
field, and will give him such information as
can concerning these places"
Other Churches.
1t is said that the revival meetings conducted
by the Rev. Thomas Harrison, Methodist
evangelist, in Philadelphia, have resulted in
over 800 conversions
The Southern Methodists are collecting money
for monument to DIR. Lovick Pierce to be
erected in Columbus Ga.
DR. and Mrs. Lyman Whiting, of Charleston
W. Va, recently received very generous gifts
from their people On the following Sabbath
the church gave to Foreign Missions a larger
sum than they ever gave before at any one time
In the history of the congregation of more tlsrn
sixty years. and more than has been given in
several years together Just past
The German Reformed Church in the United
States has been agitated at times with vio-
lence that threatened disruption, in relation TO
certain points Of belief and in regard to the
Sacraments. Finally Peace Commission was
formed of wise men, and they have addressed
pastoral to the church. in which the following
is given as the basis of union "The Reformed
Church of the United States unites in the
confession of her adherence to the doctrines
OF the Holy Scriptures as set forth in the
Heidelberg Catechism, taking the same in its
historical Lor original sense; and declares that
any departure from the same is unauthorized
by the Church and renewedly directs all her
ministers, editors, and teachers of theology
faithfully to preach and defend the same"
What the Papists think of Protestants appears
N he fol oh r.
Standard
PLAIN LANGUAGE BUT TRUE.-In work re-
Gently published in England, entitled Pages
from the autograph of Convert to Rome" is
the following pithy statement:
"Protestantism in all its forms, whether Epis
copal or not, is but miserable abortion-and
Its first promoters were monks who broke their
vows, kings who committed adultery, and a
race of church-land bought courtiers and pre-
lates. AS with its birth, so with its progress
thriving only when it had the power to perse-
cute, fading wherever Catholicism had free ad
mission-the tool of monarchs and the laughing
stock of inhdels, it denied the supremacy of the
Pope to succumb to the supremacy of Kings-it
taught rebellion agaist Papal authority, and
now 1t is only question of generation ere it
fall INTO the pit never to rise again Catholic
ISM, on the contrary, the more it is persecuted
the more it has thriven day by day the decline
OF all other creeds shows the Catholic Church
shining like sun in the heavens-day by day
converts, sick of the negation called Protestant
ism, rush into her open arms, wondering with
blank astonishment how it was possible their
eyes should ever have been blind to the evil
IDENTIFY divine character of the Holv Roman
Church"
at the annual meeting of the Manhattan Con
gregatlonal Association New York; there was
discussion on the question How to make
most effective the service of public worship on
the Lords day" The discussion was opened
by DIR. Storrs. The work he said, of bringing
the gospel into contact with the public mind is
becoming daily more difficult on account of the
great rapidity with which people live, especially
In large cities. The gospel is now only one of
many subjects that claim attention on the
Lords day the newspaper comes into the fami-
ly as freely as on week days, bringing its burden
OF literary, social, and scientific topics In ad-
diton to this fact there is tendency in churches
TO slight the evening service. But the church
instead of retiring should seek to multiply ts
services, or, at least, put more in those already
existing. The practice of some ministers of
making their sermons sensational, advertising
queer texts and delivering their sermons with
fantastic gestures for the sake of drawing a con
gregation is very hurtful to the church There
is a recoil sooner or later, and people so much
amused come to think there is no vitality in re-
hglon. 1t is right enough to make the church
attractive by administering to the aesthetic
tastes If not carried to excess but 1t should be
kept in subordinate place and made to con
tribute in imPressing the truth 1t is necessary
now a-days to make sermons, not dopmatic but
vital with truth and to preach with great enerov
and directness
1t is estimated that there are church accomo.
dations in Providence, r. l., for 5000 of the
100000 inhabitants of that city but not more
than 10000, or not quite one-thrd, habituaIlv
attend public worship. The $4,000 who could
attend church, and do not, simply" saws a
correspondent Of The Era1,insr, dress. read
lounge, sleep, walk, talk ride, visit 90 down
the river or over the hills, saunter about and
squander the sacred time. Not few find cor.
rupt places of resort, and mingle in vicious
circles. Indeed, more drinkingplaces thar
churches are virtually open" Here is pro
blem for the churches fc so1,,o E,.;1.z41.. n