The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-09-29
VOL. 16---NO. 9.
Other Churches.

teal and financial table published with the Min
utes of the General Assembly for 1880, shows
the following aggregates:
Ministers, 1856; licentiates, 27O; candidates.
1859; congregations, 2457 elders 1924; dea-
cons, 2,6l6i members received on profession, g.
COL; by letter, 3,007; making addition for the
year, 12,6os. Baptsms: adult, $3.50; infant.
zoos. Total tommuncants, III ,S63; of officers
and teachers in Sabbath Schools, 7,117; scholars,
54,Sl3. Funds contributed by schools, $11 ,6S2
The report shows that in all departments the
last year was one of prosperity and growth.
The University of Lebanon, Tenn. of
the Cumberland Presbyterians, opened on Mon
day, Sept. 18th, with a larger number of students
than for many years before
Reformed Episcopal Wishing to know
more of this particular phase of Episcopacy, and
how it hourished in this Puritan City, entered
their church on Somerset street a Sabbath or
two since, and both during and after service be-
came satisfied that it was, or was to be, a sue
cessful enterprise. At the outset, some two
years ago. they had for pulpit supply Rev.
Mr. Cutler, who died in the early part of last
simmer. The present pastor (they do not say
rector, Rev James NJ. Gray, has been settled
but short time, is young man of good address,
devoted and Jealous in his work, and if the ser
mon heard is a fair average his pulpit talents,
both as to matter and manner, are of a high
order. He had no notes, but spoke with ease
and grace, and with remarkable precision and
force of language. With such a preacher and
pastor, there would seem nothing to hinder this
church from becoming one of strength and i'm
portance. This seems the more likely from the
fact of their reform" being, as we should say,
IN the right direction-that of discardng the
dogma of Apostolical Succession, putting them
selves on a simple equality with other evangeli-
cal Churches, exchanging pulpts with ministers
OF other denominations, encouraging extempora-
neous prayer, &c. They are thus brought into
closer sympathy and fellowship with Christian
people generally than can be done by the Epis-
copal Church proper, with its high and exclusive
Pretensons and usages. They are distinctly
Episcopal in little except their liturgy .-Boston
Cor. Of ". Y. Evangelist.
Extensive work.-Up to August 1st, 1880,
the Board of Church Extension of the Methodist
Episcopal Church has aided by grant and loan
2,075 churches The amount disbursed by the
Board on general account from the beginning to,
August lst, is one million seventy-six thousand
seven hundred and eighty one dollars. The loan
fund has paid-up cash capital of 1851 ,915, be-
sides real estate sufficient to swell the total to.
nearly 100000. The Board has collected and
reloaned Sl66, 1855; so that loans have been
made to the amount of $51S ,39l so
Permanence of the work.-Rev. DIR.
Gordon says of the revival in Boston in connec-
tion with the labors of Messrs. Moody and
Sankey, that he knew Of fifty men redeemed
from sin and intemperance, twenty-seven of
whom were in his congregation In regard to
the expense connected with building the Taber-
nacle to which some made objections, one of
the converts had since given $4,000 for the
advancement of the gospel, and another had
gwen as much more. The Ministerial Union
OF San Francisco has unanimously invited Mr..
Moody and Mr.. Sankey to visit that city this
winter. AT the meeting which voted the invi-
tatlon, among other strangers were Bishop Simp-
son OF Philadelphia and Rev. DIR. Cairnes Of
Scotland, who gave similar testimony to that of
MIR. Gordon. DR.. Cairnes first saw Mr.. Moody
IN 1873. The movement was regarded favora-
bly, by the Scotch and the impression made has
lasted and the work of Mr.. Moody has done
good. Bishop Simpson said that his labors
were highly beneficial to churches.
The Church Monthly Magazine describes a.
Western church edfce, which, though new,
has the oldest tower on the continent. The
building is of the rudest material. The tower
is composed Of fir tree, seventy feet high, cut
of forty feet from the ground, and surmounted
with bell cote, bell, and cross The annual
rings Of the tree indicate an age of 265 years.
Within fifteen days the corner log was laid, the
last nail driven, and the first service held. The
church fronts Puget Sound. Mount Baker rises
1000 feet, with its snow-covered peaks, at its
back The place is Tacoma, the western ter
minus Of the Northern Pacific Railroad. The
rectory is as romantic as the church, where the
cheerful faces Of the rector and his wife and
the faith and the love Of the occupants in and
for God and his Church make all beautiful
At the beginning Of this century the
ratio Of Evangelical Church members in the
United States, to the whole population, was one
to fifteen. Now the ratio is one to five.
Our population is now $4,000 600.
Our church edifces are estimated as affording q
seating capacity Of 100000, used on an aver
age Sunday by less than 100000