The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-12-06
FOREIGN CHURCH NEWS.

hopeful condition.
The United Presbyterians of Scot
land are giving much attention to home evan
gellzatlon. In the mission stations, connected
with seventeen congregations in Glasgow, there
are upwards of 800 COMMITMENTS.
The Rev. DIR. Laurie, formerly a
missionary of the American board in Syria re-
Gently read paper before the ministers meet
ing IN Boston, in which he took the ground that
there never was wine that was not intoxi-
eating know in Palestine. He thinks the pre-
sent usages of the east throw great light upon
the past.
"A new sect is gaining ground in
Finland, having for its fundamental principle
the reversal of all ordinary ideas of government,
and establishing all or more than the most en-
thuslastic advocates of womans rights" ever
pleaded for. With them the woman is the
priest of the family, and the husband under
takes to confess to her once a week. A similsr
sect, called the Purists, exists in Siberia.
The Rev. Joseph Cook is again in
Boston, after two years of travel around the
globe In that time he lectured or delivered
addresses two hundred and ffty-seven times
and everywhere spoke in English, except in
Japan, showing how widely the English Ian
guage is extended throughout the earth In
Japan he spoke through an interpreter Mr.
Cook is in good health.
The Rev. S. J. Stewart, who was
formerly United Presbyterian minister, lapsed
into Unltarlanism, and so downward. His pre-
sent position is set forth in book lately pub
Eshed, and this is thus summarized by the
Christian LnteLhgencer: " The first chapters are
in the Bible, and might be summed up in four
words, There is 10 Bible The next chapter
is on miracles, and its result is, There are no
MIRACLES Tho &c cd Il
sion is, There is no personal God"
DR. Robertson Smith, lecturing on
Mecca" IN Dundee, recently, expressed his
views on the vexed question of" the Holy Car
pet" Dr.. Beggs view was that the carpet
being sent to cover the tomb of Mahomet at
Mecca, Its salutation by our soldiers was an
act of idolatry. But unfortunately, the tomb of
the prophet was not at Mecca, and the carpet
was merely symbol of Royal authority, which
our soldiers saluted as they would anything of
that kind
-Forty-fve years ago there was
scarcely French Canadian Protestant TO he
found in the whole country; to-day thousands
OF men and women can be found who have re-
nounced their allegiance to Rome, many of
whom have, by Gods grace, become humble
followers of Jesus. Forty-fve wears ago tbe
Bible was virtually an unknown book in almost
every French parish in the Province of Quebec
tc-day there are few parishes in which the
blDle cannot be found-few parishes which
have not, to greater or less extent, felt the in
huence OF Bible truth. So recently as ten, vears
ago 1t was difficult to gather together congre-
gatioG OF twenty-five or thirty French Protes-
tants in the city of Montreal today there are
in that city five regularly organized French
Protestant churches besides several preaching
stations.
Principal Card, in formally open
ing the winter session of the Glasgow Univer-
slty delivered an address on "Bishop Butler -
lie spoke of the " Analogy" as an example of
the survival of book in an age that had long
passed away from the standpoint on which #
was based. The true reason for this was to he
found In the fact that while Butler was. in one
point of view, thorough representative of the
religious attitude of his time and whilst the ar
gument of his great work was in some respects
fallacious and untenable, there was nevertheless
In the spirit of his teaching much that was in
advance OF his time and that was of essential
and permanent value
The latest report from Berlin shows
a church attendance of nearly three per cent. or
10000 out of the !, 10000 population. Pastors
and church councils show more zeal in procur-
ing baptisms, combinations, church marriages.
Beyond this Home Missionary Societies are or
ganlzlng and operating with degree of vIgor.
They cooperate with Young Mems Christian
Associations and with Sunday Schools. The
latter, In the State Church, have over $50 600
scholars and 1900 teachers In Berlin If 600
children attend them, and there are fifty or
sixty teachers meetings held The Evangeli-
cal party is growing in strength in the Church
for the lines are now sharply drawn. Many
Evangelical sermons are preached.
The Christians of Greece appear to
be about to take full advantage of the oppor-
tunlties now open to them, and to set in motion
various agencies for evangelizing the land
For instance, the Greek Evangelical Church.
sustained by aid from America, in anticipation
OF their new church at Thessalonica to which
we referred recently, has appointed several OF
hcers to put in order the internal discipline of
the church The government has ordered that
New Testament be placed in every prison cell
In the kingdom. Public Protestant worship has
been opened at the populous center of Patras
and the Rev DR.. Craig has at the instance of
the London Religious Tract Society made y tour
OF the land in order to study how that society
may best aid in the work of evangelization Of
! poor, long-forgotten Greece
The native press in India is greatly
| interested in the doings Of The Salvation Army
/ In that country. Although differing from their
tenets and methods some of those papers plead
Tor more liberty of action for the Savationists
one paper, for instance, says We raise our
/ voice In their behalf because we are persuaded
that they have been treated with undue Sc
verify, and that the action OF the police in this
matter IS serious interference with the freedom
OF the subject" The Lpdiun Mirror saws: 1--WE
have strong and full sympathy with the weak