Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-24
RELIGIOUS NOTES..

-Jndge Thomas Sergeant, of the Supreme
Court OF Pennsylvania, once said that g II 1t
were not for the women this world would be
hard world for painters, paper-hangers and cier-
gymen."
We like the Bible for everything except Its
criticisms on our daily conduct, as Locker said
of Jenny Lind that he liked everything about
her except her singing.
"A Jewess having applied for position
as chorfster In Brooklyn church was terse-
ly told, the N Y. Herald says, that Christians
were alone suited to sing Christian hymns to
Christian congregations. At last weeks meet
ing of the Clinton Street Synagogue an order
was made to remove the non-Jewish choristers
from that choir.
- The Free VIII Baptists will celebrate in
1850 the centenary of the existence of their
denomination. Their first church was organized
at New Durham, n. II.
editor of the Chicago AGrdnce, has received and
will probably accept a call to the Congrega-
tional Church at RockpOrt, Mass.
- The Bishop of Rochester, in pastoral let
ter, calls upon the church to "doff the some
generations of high backed pews" and calls for
lay evangelists who shall usually minister by
themselves in unlicensed rooms or the open air.
The Bishop thinks that one of the results of the
movement viii be to compel churchmen to
appreciate and esteem-though not in all things
to concur with-thoSe whom once they fancied
to be their foes.
-Dr. W. S. Smart, of Albany, has just finished
good campaign in his church, by his own per-
sonal effort raising among his people, without
outside aid or great public appeals, the sum of
$4,000 to pay Off the mortgage on the First
Congregational Church of that city, which, with
81 900 raised by the ladies' fair provides for the
entire fndebt edness.
The Catholic Church has been strengthened
by another convert from the English cOmmu-
Mon. The Rev. Arthur Wagner was minister
of goodly parts and OF distinction In the Brighton
fold, and his conversion seems to have thrown
his late parishioners into a condition of uncon-
trollable frenzy. 1t is said the reverend gentle
man will be followed by several OF his late con-
gregation.
The following are the estimated numbers of
religious denominations among English-speak-
ing communities throughout the world: Episco-
palians, 1S,oO0OO0; Methodists of all descrip-
tons, 16,00OOOO; Roman Catholics, 13,5O0,00O;
Presbyterians of all descriptions, 1O,250,OOO;
BaptiSts of all descriptions, 5000 900; Congrega-
tionalists, 6ooo,Oo0; Unitarfans, 100000 minor
religious sectS, 100000; of no particular re-
ligion, s.5OO,000; totals, 81, 1901 900.
Children are often puzzled by questions
which are not understood by their eldars. Dur
ing the late Franco-PruSSian war a Sunday
school scholar read about the prayers with
which the Germans and French were petition
ing Heaven for success to their arms "Mother,"
asked a little girl of her parent, 81 don't see
what the Lord can do under the circumstances,
do you? He can't give the victory to both of
them and it seems to me like terrible dilemma
to be placed in." Her mother. who was not en-
tirely satisfied with the role which Great Britain
played In the affair, remarked, ''Well my dear
remain NEUTRALITY. Y. Herald.
The circular which announced the appear
ance in Rome on January of a new daily paper
to be called The aurora denied that it would
have an official character, the denial being due,
no doubt, to rumors that have been widely cir
culated that the paper would be an organ of the
Vatican. Nevertheless, it is said that public
opinion in Rome still regards it at least under
ha M not nd of ipl,
and believes that it will draw its spirit from the
Pope himself Without anticipating his 1nten-
lions, or having the air of forcing his hand. it
Will aim directly to follow his policy. In style it
Will adopt that temperate tone which at present
prevails In all Vatican utteranceS
Archbishop Purcell Is failing rapidly under
the weight of years and the great calamity
which has over;aken his diocese. He has given
up all attempts to administer the affairs CT the
church and Is i'll retirement at the convent in
Brown county. According to recent reports he
has grown so feeble that he has to be helped
from one room to another. No special disease
is affecting him, but there has recently been
very perceptibe loss of strength, and grave.
fears are entertained that he will no. be able to
recover it. His Grace is In his eighty-lrst year.
The financial troubles of the past year would
have broken down many men In the prime of
life. The venerable prelate has the matter con-
stantly on his mind, and with the disappoint-
ment at not having been relieved months ago,
by coadjutor, of the great responsibilities OF
his ONCE, there comes now prospect of a forced
sale OF tne churcheS OF the diocese Which 1t has
been the work OF his life to build.
The theological arithmeticians are again at
work with tape measures and blackboard taking
the area of heaven. Some time ago Lutheran
minister gave the world the benefit OF his calcu-
lationS, which showed lust how MANY persons
the heavenly city would accommodate, giving
each OF the redeemed room about the size of a
hotel bed chamber. Another genius is now
heard from in the New York Observer. He is not
so liberal in the matter Of accommodations, but
makes his reckoning for standing room only"
This expert in mathematics states that the
heavenly city will have an area OF 2250, 900
square miles, which equals IS, 0l06 600 900 square
feet. Allowing three square feet for each per-
son, would give standing room for 10, $50 GDj,O0O
persons, and two square feet for each perso
would give space for "a, 502, 500, 900. According
to such computation, heaven viii hardly BE- a
desirable place. The Lutheran calculator ade
1t something like a. jail. or cheap lodging
Portable as street car. 1t is not very encour-
aging to a company OF weary and rheumatic Old
christians, sorIowing over the ills OF the present
life, to tell them that there is glorious heaven
before them where each one viii be allowed a
space OF two Or three square feet to stand in.
The weary might reasonably hope that they
would at least be provided with something soft
and substantial to lean against.-N Y. SIN.
Under the head of ministers Heartaches,"
Dr. Cuyler, OF Brooklyn, tells the lay readers of
The ErnRgetist some plain and unpalatable
truths regarding their treatment OF ministers
He has received several letters on the subject
chiefly from pastors in the west who complain
loudly of the dislOyalty OF their people to them
Instead OF ralying to the aid of their pastors
and sustaining them In the Masters name and
for the Masters service, they straghtway begin
to find fault and pick flaws, and within two or
three years worry them into resignation. All.
the caviling criticisms OF irrellgious pewholders
are eagerly caught up and hurled at the pastors
head, until his usefulness is destroyed and he is
driven Off with his wounded heart into some
new and equally tOrmenting field OF labor. AS
long as the novelty OF new minister lasts the
church makes temporary Roadway; but pres
emily all the solemn installation VOWS Of the
tickle flock are forgotten, and the ambassador
of Christ is ''badgeredn into a reluctant re-
treat.
The base ball reporter of daily paper was
once sent to a choral service, which he reported
as follows: ..Melodious Praise-Grand Choral
circles have been on the
Qtt rtre for some time on account OF the new
choral service to be brought out at the Church
of the Excellent last evening. The sacred edl-
flee was crowded in every part by very FASH
ionable congregation of ladies and gentlemen.
The coup d'Ru of the field from the scorers
stand. on the left of the organ, was indescrb-
ably beautiful. No sooner was the game opened
than it was apparent to all that a champion
nine were getting in their work in mastery
way. AS soon as the organiSts hand warmed
to the bat he sent daisy cutter to the soprano,
whose voice is capable OF the best fielding seen
in this vicinity for several years. The tenor
was caught out on fly by his voice giving way,
but his bad play was compensated for by the
magnificent work the baSSO did as ShOrtStOp.