The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-06-30

The advocates of the union of
Church and State in England are enlarging
their borders, not by uniting with Christians OF
other churches than the Established. but to take
in the theatrical profession. A Guild or Society
has actually been formed with the title of The
Church and Stage Guild" which, according to
its official report, Consists of men and women
who feel that the antagonism which has been
shown in times past by some churchmen towards
their brothers and sisters on the stage has been
wrong and harmful, and who want to do what
they can from both sides to be friends in the
future" The annual meeting was held at
Langham Hall on Tuesday the I'd inst when
the Honorary Secretary the Rev. s. d. Head
lam, read the first annual report, which stated
that the guild numbered 476 members, of whom
172 are theatrical and 81 clerical. The stage in
London must occupy higher plane than it does
in this country, if the Church is ready to form
a union with it.
THE EXPULSION OF JESUITS FROM
FRANcE-The decision of the Belgian Govern
ment not to receive the Jesuits expelled from
France, has caused the Vatican to take into ma
ture consideration the position and prospects OF
the company. menaced as it is in nearly every
country in Europe. But it would seem that the
Vatican has no better comfort or proposal to
make than that the members of the formidable
company should submit to the laws and live in
dividually as best they may, adapting them
Italy. Many of them will go to America where
already they are both numerous and powerful
1t is further intimated from Rome that the Pope
cannot utter any word of a nature tending to
forbid tie corporations which have become OBJ
noxious to the French Republic from using what
ever means of resistance on their own behalf the
law or public opinion may place in their hands
The Generals of the different menaced orders are
now, however, having heightened conferences
with Cardinal Nina with view to determining
what line it may be best to take to diminish the
evils to be feared both on one side and the
other. Several Superiors of religious houses in
France have been called to Rome to assist in
these deliberations.
-ABsURDITIEs OF SACERDoTALIsM.-
What will the English Rituaist propose next
The latest of idiosyncrasies is the plea of a
writer in the London Church Times for THE re-
sumption, out-of doors, of the official robes of
the priest" His soul is stirred with indigna-
ton at the thought that, broadcloth and clean
linen being available for Dissenting ministers.
there is danger of one of these being mistaken
for the parish priest" Such misfortune as this
might, he suggests, be averted if the cassock
were worn by the State clergyman all day
on Sunday, 80 once or twice a-week, in the
churchyard or cemetery" and in going to and
returning from visiting invalid parishioner
The house of feasting is evidently not to be lost
sight Of " How much better, too, he adds, " to
W 20 pr o" PteSC 10 CIVIC ana ofnclal dinners
and gatherings, instead of in swallow tails or
multi; The Nonconformsts need ask no bet
ter advocacy Of their cause than such displays
of absurdity as this Nor does it help the Es
tablishment greatly when Canon Codd, writing
in The Guardian, includes among prospective
measures which make him trembte for this
Church and nation" not only the =" Burials
Bill" but the measure for equaIizing the county
and borough franchises-lifting up his eyes in
pletistic horror at the thought that in this way
" the rich and the great and the noble are to be
gradually subordinated to the many" and in
voking prayers to the Almighty to avert such
catastrophes.