The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-07-13

5. B., who was at the Commencement at Bid
die University says - With over two hundred
students the past year the prospects of this
Institution are now more propitious than ever
before. With the Theological, Classical and
Scientific departments well arranged, together
with set OF good working Professors, it is do.
ing noble work. Its future growth and sue
cess now demand the erection of large new
college building, and $4,000 are very much
needed Just now to put it up.
The great revival in indianapolis
continues. The Journal of that city says: If
the signs fail not divine hand has been laid
notably on the city of indianapolis. Of its so.
600 people, nearly 5000 have publicly professed
desire to lead a better life. In the phrase of
the Church, 5000 have been under conviction.
1000 have been converted, and half as many
have joined one or other of the churches. From
the Spring equinox to this Summer solstice,
through the three busiest months of the year.
from SHUTDOWN to darkness the streets leading to
the great churches have been full of men,
women, and children with their faces set in one
direction. What has been dong in the church
es seems but the overflow, the outward express
sion OF deep religious movement permeating
the entire city. 1t has been the topic of the
passer by, of the children in the schools, and
has had the respectful and usually reverent con
slderation of the secular press. In the churches
deep emotion has been shown Presbyterian
Banner.
Africa has been looked upon by
many as almost a hopeless field for missionary
effort, because OF the effects of the climate upon
foreigners; and they have been very fatal
" n the last forty years one hundred and twenty
MISSIONARIES on the west coast of Africa have
fallen victims TO the climate; but this sacrifice
OF life has not been without its over payment
OF reward and blessing, as appears from the fact
that the converts to Christianity on the field
now number thirty thousand or more, and
thirty three missionary societies are at work
now In Africa" In the meantime new and
much more healthy districts are continually
opening. In Biddle University, at Charlotte,
IN. u, no less than twenty colored men are pre-
pairing to become missionaries to the land from
which their heather forefathers were torn to be
consigned to slavery. And no doubt this ex.
ample will be followed by many others of the
same race.-Ib.
ABOUT A LADY's AGE.-A CORES
pendent Of the Louisville Courier Journal. on
the authority of the Hon. Alexander H. Ste
phens relates the following anecdote illustrating
now late IN life woman's sensitivepess about
her age may last;
AT time when it was known that the widow
OF PRESIDENT Madison was in such poverty as
really to be suffering for the necess aries of life
a bill giving her pension was introduced into
the House. Mr.. Stephens earnestly advocated
the bill, and made a point in urging its i'm
mediate passage by saying: Gentlemen, to.
day the lady reaches the venerable age of
eighty two years, and it would be particularly
graceful thing for this House to honor the day
by passing at once the bill for her relief" He
iald such stress upon the matter and advocated
the passages of the bill so warmly that it was
Ia fo1& Il
triumph that he fastened at once to her resi-.
dence. Some one, however, had preceded him
ana reported his speech to the lady, who
greeted him by saying: "Oh, thank YOU. Mr.
stephens, for getting my bill through, but YOU
made mistake when you said was eighty. two
G, day am not 50, am only eighty, to day
That was grave mistake" When Mr.. Ste.
pnens repeated this to Mrs. John J. Crttenden,
one OF Mrs. Madisons friends, who had told him
her age, she said: "All the same, Mr.. Ste
phens, 1t is true, she is really eighty two years
OLD. Mr. Stephens says he has never dared
mention lady's age since however much he
might hope to make an argument in her favor
by so doing.
-SoME SIGNIFICANT FAcTs.-There
are now invested in railroad property in this
country upwards OF four and a-half billions of
dollars Their net earnings for 1879 were up-
wards OF two hundred millions.
AIls Immense property is concentrated in the
hands of few men. The Presidents of four
raIlroads-the Baltimore and Ohio, the Penn.
sylvania. the Genital and the Erie-to dav con.
troll the price of breadstuffs on the Atlantic
Coast
1t is rapidly increasing. The funded debt
and stock interest have increased in three wears
over seven hundred millions of dollars: the
mileage nearly twenty per cent.
1t is exercising increasing political con-
troll. The Central exercises an almost irressti
bic influence in the New York Legislature the
pennsylvania controlling influence in the
pennsylvania Legislature the Central Pacific
desPotic control over legislation on the Pacific
Coast
1t has powerful ifnot dominant representa-
ton in the United States Senate. Nearly every
Senator added during the past three years is in
terested in railroad enterprises and the rail
road interest is straining every nerve to increase
this railroad representation.
1t controls three leading newspapers in the
metropolis, one in the capital, and many others
In different parts of the country.
The telegraphs of the country are concentrated
In a single hand, and that the hand of rail.
road president
These facts are worthy of thoughtful consid.
eration.- Christian Union.
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