The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-04-07
FOREIGN CHURCH NEWS.

III Is singular fact that the leading
Roman Catholic newspaper of Great Britain. the
Iaotet OF London, is opposing the Disestablish-
ment OF the Anglican Church, on the ground
that the Church of England is "serviceable
o~It0drk against the aggressive spirit of the
Noncontormists. The English Church. used to
be called the "bulwark" of Professionalism. but
seems to have changed its front.
-LUTHERANs IN ITALY.--Quite a
number of Lutherans are settling in Italy. There
Is strong Lutheran Church in Naples 1t has
a parochial school in which there are one hun
dred and thirty children. At Salermo there is
another German church, which with that at
Naples, forms considerable parish
-LUTHERANs IN SIBERIA The report
of the Central Committee of the Russian Mission
airy Society of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
Tor last year refers to a Lutheran community at
Blagoweshthensk, in Siberia, the outermost east
ern station of the Russian dominions, near the
Chinese city of Alum.
-RoMANISM IN ENGLAND. -Speakino
of the progress of Romanism in England Roo
man Catholic contemporary says -" The fact
that nephew of the ex-Premier of England,
w, b. Gladstone, is studying for the priesthood
in the Scots College, Rome, is evidence at once
OF the rapid spread of Catholicity among the up
per classes in England, and the earnestness
which characterizes English converts generally.
Many of them already enrolled in the
priesthood, or preparing for the dignity, while
those who remain seculars are devoting their
talents and their wealth to the propagation
among their countrymen, of the religion which
they themselves have embraced Not long
since, for an English Protestant to renounce
heresy and return to the Church was considered
an evidence of mental hallucination which ex-
cited the pity of his neighbors, or an act of
treason which drew upon the scorn and indigna-
oil o., the entire community. But it is no longer
There are few families of any distinction in
England now in which one or more converts IN
the Catholic Church might not be found And
accessons to their number are so frequent that
NOBODY is surprised and very few are indignant.
when 1t Is announced that on such an occasion
Lord this or Lady that, after reading a solemn
recantation OF heresy, was baptized conditionallv
and received into the Roman Catholic Church"
How CHRISTIANS DO IN PERSIA
A letter from Rev. j. H. Shedd, dated at Oroo
miah, to the New York Evangelist, speaking of
the famine in Persia, says:
=, AT such a time the question What does
christianity do for man more than Mohamme-
danlsmY Is fairly answered The spirit of
Islam 4 reslgnation) accords oftentimes with
Its meaning If stolid resignation to suffering
and death, neither asking nor expecting mercy
from thelr fellow-man, Is a trait to be coveted
many Moslems possess it. Fatalism asks no
helP. The Koran very often enioins the giving
Oh aims but 1T supplies no adequate motive to
enforce the injunction. To Persian's view II
Is lar more meritorious to make pilgrimage to
Ihe grave OF some dead Imaum, than to feed the
hungry There is IN their system no fountain
OF pity, no tender mercies no Christ to ween|
with them that weep, no twenty-fftb cbanter IF
Matthew, by which they expect to render an
account at the Judgment There is a deqree of
almsgivlng to beggars, but with few executions
there is no such thing as helpful charity be-
slowed by the rich upon the poor This famine
will only make the rich richer and the noor
poorer. The spectacle of intensely selfish hard.
hearted Pharlsaism is as conspicuous TODAY as
IL was IN our Savlour's time, and the most de-
graded Christian village shines as the BLESSING of
heaven In comparison with the cold and cruel
lndlherence OF the Moslems. Said man in the
market You will not see one of these Chris
SJS aae o IN Sis winter while our people will die"
why so said his companion. Because their
rellgion teaches mercy, and ours does not They
WILL help each other, and we will not
10 the praise of divine grace be it said that
selt-denlal and heroism are not dead amonp
CHRISTIANS. In one of our large congregations,
where nave Just spent the night, there is the
heroic spirit OF our faith. They are very moor
and for two years have suffered greatly from
the failure OF crops. But notwithstanding thew
PAID down their pastors salary in cash when
the famine began, they united in the resolve
Ihat not one OF the thousand souls in their vii
iaSe .shouIG ole II they In their poverty could
help 1t. Their relief committee was formed. and
every house in the village visited and thus far
every needy person has been fed Systematic
economy, like half rations in beleaguered gar
rlson prevails, and feasting' tea-drinkinp and
! every extra expense, is given over Every time
the pastor or relief committee have asked for
food, the response has been made at once. els
not this the fast have chosen to deal thy bread
to the hungry" In the Week of PRAYER two
fast days were observed, and the food that would
5ave oeen eaten was brought to the church and
poor; Last week they observed as second
week OF Prayer, and again did the same. This
spirit Is bringing its own blessed reward A
revival prevails such as the village has never