The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-06-15
FOREIGN CHURCH NEWS.

a0cuseu OF writing too rose cOlored views of their
work. In giving an account of the encouraging
features they do not forget that there is another
sue. IL Is not necessary now if indeed il
ever was, to suppress what is unfavorable.
Everybody believes that final success is. obtain
able, no matter how many or great the obstacles
are. No one need be surprised that native Chris
tians are not always such devoted Christians as
are European and American com unicants.
The old leaven of heathenism and Ignorance
cannot be worked out altogether in one genera
ton The Rev. S. M. Creagh, of the London
Society, writing of The mission in Lifu, one of
the Loyalty Islands, says of the Christians:
The aggregate number of church members in
the nine churches is 2.0S5. Native piety is not
so deep and real as the religion of sincere Chris
tan OF more enlightened countries There is a
vast amount of superstition error. and Ignorance
still pervading the minds of great numbers of
our church members. Their religion is more a
thing to be seen than to be felt and enioved in
the soul. We have not that amount of social
elevation we could desire The people for the
most part cling to their old habits; herd promis
cuously together; sleep in dirt and squalor, in
houses with but one room and no window wear
put scant clothing, except on service DAYS and
holidays; and use language offensive to civilized
ears Hence, refinement does not exist amongst
them and their moral feelings are not at all
elevated"
The people, however, contribute to the sup.
port OF their pastors and some have gone out
as missionaries to the inhospitable and un
healthy shores of New Guinea and given their
lives in Christs service. The training institu
ton has sent out fifty seven native teachers.
four OF whom are now in New Gunea.-Inde.
pendent.
In the midst of the contentious of
the Free Church of Scotland its work at home
and abroad goes on steadily It's Sustentaton
Funds amount this year to 1914 900, an advance
OF more than $4,000 over last year.
There seems to be perpetual pen-
tecost In the American Baptist Telugu Mission
The Rev. j. E. Clough writes from Ongole
March 18th. that in a sixw weeks tour he visited
hfty-two villages and baptized one thousand and
three persons.
The Chlu Kwai, in Japan, has been
divided and three Chiu Kwas formed. all of
them to be joined together in one Da Kwai. or
as we would say, the one Presbytery, which has
hitherto included the Presbyterian or Reformed
missionaries in Japan, has been divided into
three Presbyteries, and these are to constitute
the General Synod of the United Church of
Christ In Japan. This is an advance, and
token of the assured unity of the church in that
land
The "new" New Testament, saws an
English newspaper, is selling on both sides of
ny tlle uuuuT6u Thousand and from
the publishers point of view is an undeniable
success, especially as "all rights are reserved"
In the English Church dispute has arisen as
to whether 1T may may not be used in the
pulpit In lieu of the Authorized" Version
which 1t seems is after all no more authorized in
the legal sense of the term than any other trans
latlon. One serious fault found with the new
version by preachers of more denominations
than one Is the fact that some of the alterations
IN the text will make it necessary for them to
revise many of their old sermons, or write new
ones.
WAITING FOR A PREAoHER-.A few
days ago. at the week day mathis" in fash.
lonabie London church, a large congregation
assembled as usual-nine tenths being women
oSit no clergyman appeared, and after waiting in
anxious expectation for half an hour, the vestrv
clerk hurried in, and announced that as there
was nobody to officate, there could be no service
Inc interval had been spent by the vergers in
rushing through the parish in search of a stray
curate, but not one of the half-dozen emnloved
could be found.-London Truth.
DIR: Stevenson, of the Irish Presby
terrain Missionary Society, reported lately the
conversion OF two highly educated Mahometans
at Ahmedabad. Both had been baptized -
Their 6aptsms are regarded as the most impor.
tant which have occurred in the mission for
thirty live years and are likely to open mn a
new era in Western India.
Mr. Knight, whose ESSAYS on PRAYER
created some feeling in the Free Church of Scot.
land, lit that body and joined the Established
Church. He edited Scotch Sermons " which
nave caused much talk and no little anxiety in
the Established Church, and he has now gone
over to the Church of England.
The General Assembly of the Church
OF Scotland met on the same day as the Free
Assembly, the opening ceremonies being of the
usual elaborate and snowy nature-a feyee bv
the High Commissioner and procession of civic
and ecclesiastical dignitaries, in official dres,
with escort OF soldiers. The retiring Modera.
tor, DIR. Watson, preached the sermon in ST
Giles, after which the procession formed again
and marched to Assembly Hall. where the re-.
preventative body was constituted by the nomi-
nation and choice of Dr. Smith. of Gatbcart for
the Moderator's chair. The Queens HIGH Com
missioner, Lord Aberdeen, then prese5ted HE
commission and addressed the Assembly The
book OF Scotch Sermons" was AMONG the FIRST
business to come, not before the Assembly bnt
before the Committee on Overtures. The Com
mittee agreed unanimously not to report an
overture from the Synod of Sutherland and
Caithness to the effect that the Assembly take
into earnest consideration the recently Dublisbad
and now notorious volume entitled "Scoicb
Sermons, and that, in view of the princinles
advocated IN these sermons, thew take sncb
prompt and suitable action against such of the
authors OF them as are ministers of the Cburcb
as to their wisdom may seem best for protecting
her congregations and people from pernicions
error and by majority vote not to report
another overture of similar nature. but more