The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-10-12


ministry in the United Presbyterian
Church has immensely increased, and
was never greater than at present.
AS regards the Church in Wales have
not much that is new to write. The
Quarterly Association (or Synod of the
Calvinistic Methodists was held at Car
nawan, August 1896. The weather be-.
ing very wet, the preaching was held in
the pavilion and in two of the largest
chapels of the town. The places of wor-
ship were quite full, and it is computed
that 5000 or 5000 persons attended the
Wednesday evening service in the pavil-
ion. Interest and attention are still
manifested, especially when, as was the
case Oh that occasion, the audience is
called to listen to preacher of great elo-
quence and power; but the old wave of
lite that used to come over such assem-
blies is now greatly wanting.
The general report of the body was en-
couraging. The missions in the Khassia
Hills of India, in particular, are reported
to be in very fourishing condition, and
good work, if not as yet very wide
spread one, is being done among the Gel
tic inhabitants of Brittany.
The danger to which the Church is ex-
posed in Wales is that of attempting to
live upon the experiences of the past, in
stead of graphing with the difficulties
and antagonistic forces of the present.
The sentiments uttered at the British As
sociation in York the other day, fltrate
into the remotest towns of the principal
lty; and the utterances of Farrar, who
In his zeal for Universalism is pleased to
group together Calvinism, Fatalism, and
Materialism, without appearing to per
celve any lncongruity in the association,
are re-echoed without calling forth the
faintest protest from those who must know
how diametrioally the first of these is op-
posed to the latter two. Such travesty
of Scripture doctrine would not have
passed unchallenged in the days of John
Elias; but forty years have suficed to
famlIarlze new generation of Welsh
men with some strange views, and, it is
to be feared, proportionately to weaken
their attachment to those truths which
are not after man."
From the new act for the closing of
public houses throughout Wales on the
Sunday, which received the royal assent
at the close of last session, great things
are hoped In the way Of removing one of
the crying evils of the land. The bill
has had the almost unanimous support of
the people of Wales and of the Welsh
members in Parliament. The law was
designed by Its promoters and supporters
to come into operation at once; but it
appears that the wording of the act is
open to the construction which would
make it come into effect only at the next
licensing season after the passing of the
act. This means delay in some cases
OF nearly twelve months before the law
begins to take effect. Thus by culpa-
BILE negligence in the draughting of the
act It's beneficial operation is DELAYED in
most districts for many months to come
Yet we have to rejoice that such bill
has been at length passed. 1t will no
doubt afford valuable aid in the effort for
the recovering Of those who are becoming
lost to the purifying influences of Chris
tlanlty. May true believers both in
Britain and the United States long con-
tinue to march side by side in the fore
front OF every movement for the anchor
alton OF mans lot on earth, and above all
for the extension Of that kingdom which
alone has the promise of the future, in
patient waiting until He shall come to
whom every knee shall bow and every
tongue confess that He is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father"
MAURICE j. EVANS.
The Later Viewa of Meaua,J.,