The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-04-20
FOREIGN CHURCH NEWS.

Last week we gave some account oil
the Catholic Mi sion in Dahomey and of the
horrible practices of the people, as related by
the Catholic missionaries. The latest mails
from West Africa state that the Rev. j. Milum
superintendent of Wesleyan missions in Yoruba
and Popo District. has visited Porto Novo,
Whydath, Abomey, and other places, and he
reports that during his stay at Abomey the
annual customs" were being held. These
were of the most horrible description, several
hundred natives being killed in the most bar
barous manner and offered in sacrifice. The
customs" were observed, notwithstanding the
presence of Mr.. Milum. Abomey is under
French protection, King Gelele being the
reigning monarch Mr. Mium had a confer
ence with the king and the prince respecting
the establishing of a mission house at
ydah.-Independen
Both houses of the Parliament of
Brazil have adopted Article VIII of the reform
of the Constitution, (which gives to Protestants
and their religion the same civil and political
rights as the Catholics enjoy. In word, the
government has thrown the whole country
open to the sowing of Gospel seed as never be-
FORE"
In England the Roman Catholics in
the past three years have gained 80 priests and
80 churches, having in all 1852 priests and
.l75 churches. In Scotland they have gained
~ PAiNSSo "hN ~ ShuIOheo
The triennial consistorial elections of
the Reformed Church of France were held
March l3th except in Paris, where consistory is
to be first divided into wards, according to
the decision of the government. These cleo
tions are the first held since the annullng bv
the Council of State of the test of orthodoxy
imposed by the Synod of 1872. All the pro
scrlbed liberal electors were permitted to vote
at this election, the result of which has not
been announced. 1t cannot be pleasing 70
the Orthodox party, who have been beaten at
every point in the struggle with the Rational.
lists.
Mr.. Gilbert Scott is preparing the
plans for the Roman Catholic Cathedral which
the Duke of Norfolk is about to build at Tor.
witch in fulflment of a vow. 1t is to be in the
early English style, and is to cost at least elOO.
000
The purpose of the Confraternity
OF the Blessed Sacrament" an Anglican so,iety
Is among other things, to help poor parishes
to provide the proper mass vestments and altar
furniture, and spreading by its publications the
Catholic doctrine of the Real Presence. To it.
Tor instance, we must, in the course of time
look Tor agltatlng the restoration of the Per.
petuai' Presence, at present unhappily not
provided for In our church laws, and the estab-
lishment OF a system of Perpetual Alteration of
fraternity preached at st. Pauls Cathedral
London during Lent.
DIR. Rule, a Wesleyan missionary in
Spain, writes that the downfall of the Spanish
Cabinet Is the greatest event since the revolution
OF 1868 when religious liberty was proclaimed
During the last six years king, cabinet, and
priests had been steadily, yet not quite openly
united In an effort to reinstate civil and relic
lous desspotism, and gradually to extinguish lib
erty OF worship; but in one day the king
found himself compelled to give up the cabi2'
net that would have provoked another revoln
ton and overturned his throne. The members
OF the present cabinet, the leaders of public
opinion and the most intelligent and inAuen
tlal Spaniards, are declared advocates of relip-
lous liberty but the ground is equally open
to the propagators of atheism and the preachers
OF the Gospel" The Spanish Liberals and
Democrats are demanding more federation for
Protestants and Rationalists. The influence of
the Preates and clergy makes it very difficult
for the cabinet to pursue policy of federation
In March the cabinet resolved to give free par
don and liberty to native Protestant pastor CON
demned to several months Imprisonment. under
the Canovas cabinet, because he held PRAYER
meetings IN Catalonia, and the village authori-
ties prosecuted him under the law of public
meetings. The judicial proceedings against
several Protestants will also be abandoned in
the provinces, under the orders of the ministry
The reply given to the Papal Nunico states that
neither the Concordat nor the constitution is
violated by the federation the government is
determined to grant to Spaniards who are not
Catholics, and that no interference of the bsbops
and the Holy See against the rights of the
government under the constitution will he
tolerated. Independent.