The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-07-27
FOREIGN CHURCH NEWS.

-CHURCH ATTENDANCE IN LONDON
The ST. James Gazette publishes a census of the
church attendance of London on the first Sab.
bath in May. 1t is shown that the attendance
at the Established Churches averaged only ga
while the Nonconforming Chu ches averaged
$50. Some of the large, rich Established
Churches had very small congregations. For
instance, the rector of st. Nicholas, Cole Abbey.
receives over So 500, and preached on this Sun
day to t1oo persons! Rev. J. l.. Ross. of St
Dunstans in the East, gets $4,000, and preached
to four; Rev; I. Darling, of st. Michael, Col
Iege Hill, had congregation of eight; Rev. o.
P: Vincent, of st. Mildred Bread Street, had
mine; at st. Michael Wood Street there were
ten; at St Alphage, London Wall. Rev. r. w
Bush gets some 81 800, and preached to eLeyen
Rev. j. I. White, of st. Martin, Ludgate Hill
preach to tloetUe; the rector of st. Michael
Basinghalf Street, preached to hirtee,,-and so
on OF tfty-seven city churches, only eleven
had congregation of one hundred persons in
more than half there were not fifty worshippers
The 81. James Gazette further adds that there
were 7O6 chorlsters-most of whom were hired
to sing to this enormous total of 1858 wor
shippers, or about one singer to every FIVE per
sons. The Nonconformist Churches were we'll
attended. Dr. Parker's congregation muster ed
,255, the Weigh House 1876 and Falcon Square
The Presbyterians of Australia have
had heresy case, which has been ended by the
following deliverance of the Melbourne Presbv
terry:
THE Presbytery having considered the paper
on the Atonement, published in the Victorian
Re0ie'0 for October, 1880, and signed 'Chas
Strong and having also considered their com
mlttee's report on the same, expressed their
sincere concern and pain at the negative charac
ter OF the teaching In Mr.. Strongs paper, the alb
sence from it of all distinct mention of the Divine
n ma ord -
and Reconciler, working out the Atonement as
well as Its omission of all eference to the sup
ernaturaliy given revelation and inasmuch as
the Christian faith rests upon and the Christian
consciousness takes hold of certain objective
supernatural historic facts, especially the incar
nation, the atonlng life and DEATH and the res
direction and ascension of our Lord the Presbv
terry earnestly and in the spirit of brotherfv
Kindness urge upon Mr.. Strong that in his future
utterances he make these essential facts prom.
inent."
1.-Two obstacles to the advancement
OF christianity in India are thus stated by Lord
Shaftesbury -" The government system Of
EDUCATION s spreading scepticism RAPIDLY over
the whole face of Hindostan. I am sorry to
say that the government system of revenue is
very much encouraging the liquor traffic, and
%,snIn Ihe iast ten or fifteen years inebriety
mas MADE progress in India that never was
known before. The very progress we are max
ing In bringing the natives of India to larger and
more liberal notions brings with it concomitant
danger and difficulties"
The ComgregatiomoAst saws that
they are having eventful times in Janan A,
hobe week of prayer has Just been observed
i0lowed by mass-meeting in a large nev,
theatre at Kioto, with an audience of 800 ~
5'OVO In the latter place a single COPY of Jobn,s
gospel led sixty families to renounce idolatrv
On the other hand, number of citizens alarmed
az the spread of Christianity have organized
themselves INTO society in which each member
Pleuges himself by a solemn oath never to en-
brace that faith. -''0i " eii-
-Prlvate letters recently received
from the Presbyterian mission in Chefoo state
mat during the spring months Of the present wear
TWO oil our missionaries Messrs Levenb ergor
and Corbett, have baptized two hundred 81, 81
ss9rty Chinese IN the villages of the province OF
Shantung u
-BishopLittlejohn, after some months
solourn In Europe reports that the religions
Tonultlon OF the continent is not prosperors
guy mat there IS large gain to vital godliness
III the condition of the Church of England.
The London Religious Tract Soci-
ETY. states that ever since 1868 the Snonisl
people have bought a larger number pf tbe
scriptures, in proportion to their population
'han France or Italy"
The Rev. Walter Duncan. pastor NJ
one OF the Scotch churches, was suspended bv hi.
AIesDytery for the plagiarism of a sermon. The
suspension was for three months. and when 4
vas past large number of his parisbioner.
o FgA night when it was announced that The