The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-12-21
GENERAL ITEMS.


rette as follows:
"a scheme has been laid before the Turkish
Government under the auspices of influential
Jews, chief among whom figures Mr. Cazalet.
lie Is supported by many leading Hebrews, and
commands all the financial facilities required for
carrying out the vast undertaking which he
patronlzes, soon as it has obtained the consent
OF the Sultan. The scheme only awaits now
the approval of the Council of Ministers and the
trade of the Sultan, and both are expected to be
given In due course. So little indeed is asked
OF the Turkish Government, and so much is of.
Tered, that it seems difficult to suppose that any
reasonable objection could be raised. The
petitioners only ask for grants of government
land in any part of Syria at the Porte's own
choice, and they offer to spend FIVE millions
sterling settling Jewish colonies upon them
and developing the resources and means of com
munication of the country. The only condition
upon which they insist Is that the Porte shall
allow them full freedom for the construction of
all works of public utility which they NAV
think necessary for the benefit of their colonies.
This condition is so fair and so unexceptionah
that even the Turkish Government can hardly
fail to admit it,"
The National Baptist hits every
time IN the following paragraph: -" The man
who does not give to Foreign Missions because
there are heather at our doors is the man who
man who says that it takes dollar to carry
cent to the heather is the man who never gives
either the dollar or the cent. The man who is
ready to give for the gospel at home is the man
who is ready to give for the gospel abroad; the
man who can feel for the need of his remote
feilow-men is the man who can feel for those
near at hand"
1t is reported that little while ago
there was gathering of three hundred of the
most learned Hindoo Pundits in Calcutta to
consider whether modern Hindooism was cor
rect or not. Even the Hindoos are Obliged to
confess that their religion is not unassailable.
DIR. Thomas, of Chicago, having been
finally excluded from the Methodist Church the
Adcdnee gives the following judgment in his
case :" We feel sorry for Dr.. Thomas; he has
ability, and an opportunity but he has more
consciousness than he needs and he has
lnsensibly, fallen into the habit of prating in
cessantly about breadth and liberalitvf7 till
his preaching has grown into an almost mono
tonous controversy, in fact if not in form, with
the views either held by or imputed to his
brethren"
"A Southern Journal says this years
rice crop in the Gulf States will reach one hun
dred and fifty million bushels. 1t is predicted
that the rice industry will soon rival that of
sugar growing in Louisiana.
MI. clark Braden is unwilling to
the public the life and character of Robert q
1ngersoL and the exposure is any thing but
creditable to the infdel lecturer. He denies the
statement commonly made that the scepticism
OF Ingersoll Is due to the sternness of his Cal
whistle father and to the iron rule of his early
home, and asserts that Ingersolls father was
known to be far too lenient in the government
OF his household, and that the career of the son
is largely due to the excessive indulgence shown
by an amiable father
1t is strange how some things fall
out In this uncertain world. Two Baptist cbnrcb-
es IN New York had a controversy which lasted
twenty years, and went up and down through
all the civil courts. Meanwhile, awaiting the |
END OF suits OF various kinds one of the churches
invested its funds in st. Paul Railway stock
AS the years went on the stock trebled in value
and when the suit at last was decided il Maid |
all that the court decreed should he paid and |
has enough left to build handsome church. |
One OF the deacons said that he ALWAYS did
believe in st. Paul.
The University of Heidelberg cele-
brated on the Dist of this month the 495tb on.
niversary of its foundation The University.
founded In 1886, withstood all the vicissitndss Of
time and is to-day one of the first institutions of
learning in Europe.
m. Gambetta, after ten years patient
waiting and watching, has at last obtained
nominal as well as real control of the Govern !
ment OF France. He has become Prime Minis
ter. His acceptance of office has given great
satisfaction in France, and also in this country
while Prince Bismarck, having got the French |
involved In difficult complications at Tunis
bears with comparative equanimity the aces.
sion to power OF " the Ministers of revenge"
Art and Christianity are closely
allied. However much scientists NAV sheer and
atheists deride, the subjects which art selects for
Its greatest achievements are taken from the
Shlstlan faith. Music has sung the praises of
Christ In Its simplest strains and its highest and
grandest efforts are in the Creation, ;" Mes
slah Elijah" &c. We notice that Guonod's
latest oratorio, just about to be produced is
" redemption, and thus again the profoundest
truth OF Christianity is to be glorifed by art.
-CETEwAYo.-The 1Ioyninq Post pub
lished letter, six columns long, the P.S alone
3GNeing one column in length, in which Lady
Florence Dixie who has lately visited South
Africa, advocates the release and restoration Of
C,eedtewayo as King of Zululand. She saws -
There can be no doubt that the people are
unanimously anxious for the return of their
klng, and l am satisfied that by his return
alone peace and prosperity can be restored to
this grand and magnificent nation"
Musical.-The frequent appearance of the