The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-07-06
FOREIGN CHURCH NEWS.

The General Assembly of the Cal.
whistle Methodists of Wales, who are Presbv.
terrain In all save name, has Just been held in
Liverpool. The Church is growing BODY. In
1901 1T reported 5S, Sl3 members; now Il has
1929. The societies number l 147: chapels
l,i34 ordained ministers, 600; Sunday School
scholars. 1853 ,S73; adherents. 276. lS9. The Gain
In communicates the past year was 943 in
scholars, SPA. There was also large increase
IN the various collections, which aggregate
fSIo6 14O, gain of $l7,500. In South Wales
alone there has been an increase in membership
during the last ten years of IL 794, and upward
OF $4,000 in North Wales during the same period
"a total net increase of 25, 1914 in ten years.
The Spanish and Portuguese Church
AID Society, of England, reports a notable worl,
Oh o., reformation gong on in Spain and Portugal.
The object of the Society is announced to be The
extension OF the pure gospel of Christ faithfully
diction to the Roman Catholic system. The
Bishop OF Meath (Lord Plunkett) who has Wis
tied the Peninsula, writes:
have satisfied myself that the work of
Church reform in the peninsula is a genuine one
1t Is evidently work of self reform that for. at
least quarter of century has been steadily
and perseveringly making way and giving proof
Of increasing life Nor have been able to trace
1t to any motives of worldly self interest.
made careful inquiries on this head. and found
that those who forsake Romanism do so at no
small self sacrifice. No longer provided with
pastors and schools at the cost OF the State they
are called upon, as members of voluntary
church. to do what they can toward supplying
such provision themselves; and this is a cali
to which, L am happy to say, SO far as thew are
aDle' they willingly respond. Again the work
Is undoubtedly spiritual one 1t is not the
mere revulsion of natural pride against Ultra
montana assumptions; it is not the mere i'm
pulse OF political or party spirit; it is plainly
tne simple triumph. of an open Bible, making
Ghrist and his truth known to the hearts of men,
Lastly, as regards those congregations-those,
mean, who have adopted an episcopal constitu
ton and liturgical form of worship-it is great
cause OF thanktulness to find in them so close
similarity in doctrine and discipline to the
churches of the Anglican communion"
special mention Is made in the report of the
Society of the work of reformation in Madrid
Seville, Malaga, and Salamanca. The Society
which also aids the Mexican movement received
the past year S45 300.
THE NEW WALDENs1AN CHuRcH
The renovated Waldensian church of St Clio.
vanni at Milan was formally opened on Sunday.
May Sth. 1t is described by La Perseverance,,
local journal, as being quite plain in its ar
rangements, having neither symbols nor images
but onl y an organ and pulpit. Upon its inner
and outer walls are verses of the New Testament
sculptured In the st ne. The ediice was crowd
ed to excess and the service was of great sim
Plicity. The pastor read from the pulpit some
passages OF Holy Scripture, paraphrased them.
ana then INVITED the worshippers to prayer In
his prayer he asked for the pardon of sin and
for the divine protection of all, beginning with
supplcatlon for the king and the various ma
tlonal institutions. The worshippers repeated
mentally the words of the pastor. Several
hymns-the musical portions of which were dis
trlbuted throughout the church, even up to the
Portlco' and sung by the congregation
lnterspersed In the rite subsequently the Rev.
Professor Geymonat assembled the pulpit and de-
hvered sermon from Rom. i: Is, and the SER
vice ended In perfect order The original church
OF st. Giovanni existed in the ninth century.
In the beginning of the present century it was
desecrated, and afterward used for profane pur.
poses. Having been thoroughly renovated it is
now beautiful structure and stands in the very
heart of the city,
1t was generally expected that DIR
Watts would be elected to the professorship held
by Professor Robertson Smith. He secured 300
votes to 1854 for DR.. Landlow. DIR. Watts would
doubtless have been elected-certainlv he is the
ablest man-5ut for his advocacy of instrn
mental music in the Irish Church. DIR. Watts
can afford his defeat better than the Free Church
can.-CtristiGn at Work.
THE FAR EAsT.-The MINER classes
in Japan are drifting rapidly into scepticisn
IL Is SAID that every one of the 600 young men
IN the University of Toxic is an atheist The
greae middle class, however, is more accessible
56,OOO volumes of the Scriptures were sold dur
ing 1880, and the sale increases remarkable
There is no opposition to Christian PREACHING
and no lack ofinterested hearers.