The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-07-06
The American Chapel i'm Paris,

The following letter about the American
chapel in Paris, and the work of evangelsins
France, written by Rev. F. Campbell, Painted
Post, N. Y, to the Euaagelist will be read will
interest.
The American chapel in Paris wa:
founded in lS57-5S, in response to g
demand for an undenominationa Ameri-
can church in Paris. Ten years later
the Church of the American Chapel
was organized. 1t is a Union church,
composed of members of all evangelical
denominations. 1t is under no superior
ecclesiastical authority. On an average
the church has an addition of thirty
members each year; but it is necessarily
a very fuctuating body. DR.. Hitchcock
describes the members as lively stones, -
so lively that they are soon gone. There
are few among the communicates who
come to Paris with any idea of remain
ing, They are all pilgrims and soiourn-
ers." Some come for few years bust
ness, or study, or pleasure, or sight-see-
ing, and Others, it may be, for only few
months; these soon pass away, and they
are OFT tor home once more, while others
come to take their places. This keeps
the church in a continual state of change,
and leaves it with that element of per
manency without which it must, to a
greater or less extent, lack stability
Services are held in the chapel every
Sabbath, with preaching in English ::
Sabbath School is held every Sabbath
morning Since DR.. Hitchcock became
pastor the benevolent spirit of the con-
gregation has been great y enlarged, and
they have undertaken a number of mis-
sionary enterprises; this is now a very
important part of the work of this
church. During the year 1879 they
supported one of Mr.. McAll's missions.
gave literally toward another, con-
trlbuted to four Evangelization societies
three churches in France and one in
Thessalonica, gave to nine miscellaneous
missions, and assisted in various other
charities. Altogether their benevolence
IN 1879 reached the sum of 1913
francs; last year it was good deal more.
One seldom meets more candid man
than DIR. Hitchcock. No doubt many
who have learned little about "the
wonderful work IL France" would be
somewhat less enthusiastic if they should
sit down In conversation with him and
let him tell of the dark side as we'll as
the light. Scarcely anything reaches us
here which does not paint it in the
brightest colors, and impress us with
thoughts of pentecostal seasons. If one
is eager to raise money for the work in
that country, it is natural that he should
tell us all that there is to encourage us
in giving for that object; and it is also
natural that he should keep in the back
ground. certain facts, which are still lust
as real as the conversion of Bouchard
and Reveillaud. Not that DR.. Hitch
cock would discourage any one in Civ
ing, and praying, and hoping, and be.
lieVlng for France; but, being in posi-
ton where he can see the true condition
OF things, he is frank to acknowledge that
there is a dark, very dark, side to this
beautiful picture.
A hallelujah was sent up by America
when we saw majority of the French
Cabinet made up of Protestants; and yet
France then stood one Protestant to
thirty eight Catholics; and in the next
Cabinet this majority no longer existed.
a Theological Seminary was to be dedi-
Gated In certain quarter of France; it
/ ANONoOohHJ uOVdDleS OF
the country and of the Government were
present and sat upon the stage: one of
these made an address, in which he said
that the grand bulwark of the Republic
had always been Professionalism. BE
tween these two let us here form an
eternal league" he said. America rang
with the echo of his words, and every one
thought that the French millennium was
at hand and yet in few days this same
man appointed to two Of the chairs of
that seminary men who were known to
be infidels. This, says DR.. Hitchcock, is
the French idea of Professionalism they
make it synonymous with free thinking.
Professionalism places no iron grip upon
the intellect and the conscience, as does
Catholicism. Then welcome Protestant
ism But alas Of that change of heart.
OF that new creature, which this de.
mands, the French still know next to
nothing.
Then again, there has been great en-
thuslasm over the reports of Mr.. McAll's
missions; that their agency is a grand
one no one dare dispute; but the fervor
OF a first enthusiasm sometimes cools
down after awhile Thus there was one
which started out with such crowds.
and with such interest, that every one
said Paris will be soon saved" dThen
was good time to write letter to
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