The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-05-03

AT the formal admission, few DAYS
since, of seven lay readers to their Office at
Lambrath the Archbishop of Canterbury said ;
Once 1T used to be thought that the clerical
profession had the monopoly of spiritual instruc-
t!on and that none but an ordained man had a
right to point out to his neighbors the way of
life. We have outlived that prejudice. along
with many others. We have learned to 90
back IN this, as in other matters, to primitive
times"
The United Presbyterian Church has
recently had in Edinburgh a series of most sue
cessf9l missionary meetings. In these the vari-
Gus departments of the work were reviewed in
succession, and an impulse given which will no
doubt tell both at home and abroad This
church Is showing an example to all the other
churches OF Scotland in its self sacrificing devo-
tion TO the great concern of the conversion of
the world
The death of Professor Bruno Bauer
In his I'D year takes away distinguished Ger
man centroversationalst and critic. His ear
nest work was severe criticism of Strauss s
Life OF Jesus" He afterwards changed his
views and published rationalistic exposition of
the Old Testament. He was obliged to quit
Berlin, but soon found a chair at Bonn. where
ne became noted for his attacks on Christianity.
ana lost his professorship. Then he retired to
Berlin and posed as prosecuted thinker tor a
while, then diverged into political history, and
wrote enormously turning out Is volumes in
seven years, on German history OF his time on
the Eighteenth Century" and on Napoleon.
Afterward he returned to theology and his last
book was a dissertation on 'SPhilo Strauss
henan and Primitive Christianity" His in
nuence was not uncomfortable in Germany. but
lish
DIR. SoMERvILLE IN HAMBURG.-A
correspondent writes to the London Christian:
" DIR. Somerville and his companion, Mr.. G.
Il, Morgan, have just left Hamburg, and are
now on the way to Berlin. Our expectations
with respect to the meetings here have not been
unfulflled. The numbers attending the meet
lngs increased steadily, till instead of about $50
or lou being present, as was the case at the first
meeting In the Conventgarten at least 1900 to
l6OO were present at meeting held in a hall
In Altoona on Sunday evening At the last
public meeting about 100 Gospels were given
away, but many people left before the close of
the meeting, so that some hundreds more than
that number were present DR.. Somerville stood
near the door, and shook hands with all as thew
went out, and many heartfelt expression of
gratitude to him and of good wishes for him was
expressed by those who had attended the meet
ings.
The character of those attending the meetings
Chahgeu somewhat towards the end. AT first
the majority of the attendants consisted Of be-
lleving members of different churches but to
wards the end the number of those who were
not In the habit of going to church increased.
IL is TOO soon yet to say much about the fruit of
the meetings, but no one who attended them
can doubt that much good fruit will follow.
Already many cases have come under our notice
in which blessing has been received; if l had
time and opportunity to inquire after interest
ing incidents connected with the meetings, l am
sure should find out many"