Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-01
RELIGIOUS NOTES.

two Congregational churches In tho Sou5a
Now there are seventy three.
The Six Methodist churches OF Betroit
have just paid of debts aggregattng SIS, o0o,
and celebrated their emancipation BY a jubilee.
The Rev. George B. vosburgh, formerly OF
Jersey City, has written novel. which is b.
Ing published as serial by one OF the Chicago
religious weeklies
The Baptists OF Atlantic city are making
preparations to build new house OF worship,
which they hope 10 have ready In time for tue
opening OF next summers rush to the sc aside.
The Church OF Christian Endeavor in
Brooklyn Is no longer independent Of all de-
| nomtnational connection. but has taken its
place In the Congregational ranks Mr. Crafts
Is now its pastor.
A Springfield clergyman preached Sunday
or two ago on the Puritan fathers, and said
that these worthy men were neither gloomy
ascet1cs nor ragged beggars, as had Deep sup
posed by many people.
1t Is estimated that there are 1000 900 Jews
In the world, and 500, 600 of whom are in the
United States. There are Z. 600 In New York
city, and they are thrifty, orderly and re-
markedly self supporting people.
The First Baptist church of Brooklyn. OF
which the Rev. DR.. Thomas is pastor, some
time ago abandoned the pew system for the
voluntary envelope plan" OF contributions.
The result was the raising OF the income OF The
church frora 81, 500 to SIC, 600.
-Whittaker's church Almanac for 1881 will
show that the Protestant Episcopal church
has gained the past year 30, $40 commune ints
and 1T clergymen. and Increased its contri-
buttons by S4sO, 49, The number OF clergy Is
s,435, and Of communicate S45, Sal. Tho total
OF contributions was S7,05. 76s.
The woman who went to church with one
bonnet thoughtlessly stuck on top OF another
had the honor OF being envied by all the other
women in the sanctuary. They thought it was
new and charming style OF bonnet, and spent
1t was Planned and where it was made. that
they forgot to listen to the sermon or even to
the exercises OF the choir.
Bishop Elder. coadjutOr to Archbishop Pur-
cell, in the diocese Of the Catholic church, mas
issued strict order to the clergy. which causes
some excitement He enjolns plalnness In
dress for children at first communion, prohibits
found dancing and church entertainments aud
dancing of any kind after dark enJOins the
strict enforcement Of the church laws on all
money on deposit; advises fn!l Christian names
for children, instead OF authorizations or pet
names; en]oins the use OF plain music. and such
as Is not heard in places Of amusement, or in
tended to show Of the voice of the singer or the
genius OF the composer.
AT meeting OF the church and stage
Guild OF London recently Mrs DAnnetts read
paper On "Operatic Church Music" The
best music, sacred and secular, she said ought
to be performed In church. even II 1T drew its
INSPIRATION from the opera. In the discussion
which followed, one lady, among others pro-
tested against the use OF operate music in
Churches. 1t had been her misfortune TO hear
oLeratic singers In churches, and she thought
trey carried with them al influence which
was not religious. They were employed TO
slng, were paid for their services, and read
their novels or cracked their nuts batWeen
the pieces just as they pleased.
Rev DR.. Dexter, OF the Congrrgat,o nal,st, has
arrived at Liverpool On his European tour and
Whites in this wise of the tedtousnes5 OF Goa
efegational church services there: 1 confess to
the renewal OF All old doubt whether our dis
senttng brethren here are wise, or otherwise, In
Initiating the stupendous length OF the mora
80 many singiDgs, but two ''long" prayers fall
to edfy, and when the communion exercises
are to be appended rs the concluding portion,
| one may perhaps be pardoned for Questioning
whether the occupation OF SAY three full
hours thus be the wisest propOrtIoning OF all
the sacred privileges OF day which should be
Watchfully guarded against all danger of being
made WEAKNESS to the good.
-"Sunday In France" says the Pail Mall
Gazette, INSTEAD OF being universally given up
to mere sensuous qualification or idleness. is
devoted by vast numbers to some OF the most
labcrious and philanthrOpic objects. Since the
inauguration OF the republic, a real apostolate
OF instruction may be said to have originated
throughout the country; and lie conference pop
uiaire, or Sunday afternoon lecture, has BE-
come regular thing ia most OF the large
towns, though 1t has the strongest mold In
Paris. This method Of promoting Intelligence
was part OF the plan OF popular education
suggested by CondOrcet, who realized that the
time was at haLd whea Dantons famous for
mula would be thus changed on the lips OF the
tue republican: DC l'lnstruction, encore de
INSTRUCTION toujours de instruction.
Treating upon the fact that there Is an
unhealthy surplus OF ministers in all the de-
nominations the Golden Rue says: Every few
weeks a representative meeting OF some one of
the denominations. will bring this matter up
for consideration. And, whatever decision
| they may reach. the fact Is apparent; when q
vacant pulpit Offering but little inducement
has, within q month, as many as hundred
| applicants; when score or more OF preachers
| are waiting around the headquarters OF the
| different denominations each Saturday for q
| chance to preach on Sunday, when very good
preachers can be had for Ave dollars SaObath's
! supply. These facts have been known and COM
| Mented upon by the churches for years. Now,
| have these facts any thing TO do With the gen.
| eral uneasfneSS on the part OF the churches.
| and the tendency to unsettle ministers! Does
! II not tend TO weaken the pastoral relation,
v hen the churches know that ministers are so
plenty, and can be had at any price? And
| more than all, does 1t not degrade the sacre1
| calling OF the ministry? Then we submit
| whether this abnormal condition cannot in
part be remedied by little more Sitting, In
the examination OF students who seek entrance
10 our sem1nartes, a little more wisdom in
granting aid by the educational society.