The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-01-04

The Roman Catholics are making
determined efforts to convert the people of Cen
trail Africa to their faith Already more than
htty missionaries have gone from Algeria to
Equatorial Africa, and the Pope is urging great
er effort.
Recently whole family, consisting
of nine persons, were baptized in the Free Church
OF Calcutta. The head of the family was brought
to Christ through the influence of his wife, and
she received her instruction through the Zenana
missionary.
"A new Protestant church has been
consecrated at Metz, Germany. The German
annexation, and the presence of a German gar
rlson required larger accommodations than the
French Protestants formerly had. The church
is very large one, and was paid for by the
government out of the war indemnity
Observation-Disclosures IN SCOTLAND
The Edinburgh Daily ReUiel0 says:
The hrmness and clearness with which DIR.
Rainy announced the future policy of the Free
Church with respect to the subject of Disestab-
lishment have, we are glad to learn, been re-
celved with almost universal satisfaction through
out the Church. 1t is felt that the time for en-.
ergetlc action has fully come, and the summons
to battle will be promptly responded TO- Nor
is the preparation for the final struggle confined
to the Free Church. In other quarters move
IN w weeks 1t will probably be found that
the Noncomformist body generally has been
brought into line. The Established Church. is
as usual, busy also A course of lectures in the
interest of the Establishment has been organ
lsed and 1T is noticed that the Sabbath evenings
previously selected for the delivery of the course
In Free st. Georges on The Evangelical Sue
cesslon, have been chosen by the Establishment
arians"
The biennial meeting of the Synod
of the Free Churches of France was held last
month, in Paris, under the presidency of DR.. E.
de Pressens6. The Union of Free Churches was
established in 1849 by Frederick Monod. Count
de Gasparln, and others, who withdrew from the
Reformed Church, because the synod of that body
had refused to declare the divinity of Christ as
one of the fundamental doctrines of the Church
The Union has gained but little strength num-
berlng only 43 churches in all but it is patient
ly waiting for the day when the Evangelical
party of the Reformed Church will renounce Its
state connection, when doubtless, a union of
the two bodies will be brought about. Much of
the attention of the Synod was given to the
condition of several of the poorer churches and
1t was resolved that if the churches consented
they should be reduced to stations and be sup.
ported by the evangelistic committee. 1t was
also voted to propose to the Wesleyan Conference
that In small villages in the south where a Free
and also Methodist Church exist, union be
effected between the two, and thus time money,
and energy be economical Independent.
The bishops or superintendent of
the State Church of Prussia are certainly not
overpald. In the Province of Brandenburg
there are 1000 congregations, with IS bishops
or superlntendents to ordain and induct pastors
and elders, to conduct parochial elections, to
consecrate churches inspect churches and schools,
and generally to carry a large amount of
| correspondence. For this work they get moth
ing except their travelling expenses, which are
paid by the congregations The state gives
them their title, but adds no pay. The synod
| OF the province this year discussed the question
OF bishops incomes, and decided that they might
have $25 year for Office expenses, together with
a gratulty varying according to parochial in.
come. One of these bishops has an income Of
$4lO year and seven others have incomes
falling below $75O.-B.
The Missionary RevieaO has collated
the reports of the different missionary societies
and secured some valuable statistical results
There are eighty four of these societies, expend
ing annually 1922, 48S, of which $2,976, 73l is
spent by American societies. The societies
work Is thus summed up: Ordained missiona.
ries-American, 500; European, 1,414; total
Z.Z2o. Women-Amercan, 1923; European
BOZ; total, 1870. Ordained natives-Americar
Missions, ,O9O; European, 1861; total, 2, ISL
Other native elpers-American Missions. 4 236
lIuIOpedn Io,t5o. Native communicate
American Missions, l89 III; European, 349, 544
total, 539,3l5. Years gain-American Missions
1899 European, 1904; total %, 983
The Roman Catholics of Naples, instigateC
by the 10000. priests and monks in the citY. ar,
showing the prosecuting spirit of popery by
threatening those who attend Protestant meet
lngs, and by seeking to prevent them from
securing places where to hold their meetings.
Also there is a systematized effort among tn
Roman Catholics of Santander, Spain, to harass
every individual who is seen going to a plac,
of Protestant worship. Masters are induced tc
dismiss servants landlords to eject tenants. anC
) customers to withhold patronage from any who
embrace the Protestant faith. But this canno
last. In the face of it our Congregations
brethren are contemplating the establishment O
two schools, of high grade, at convenient
points one for the training of young women
the other for educating young men to becom
evangelists
Sierra Leone, one hundred year,
ago, was great slave depot. The Church Mis-
slonary Society began its work there In 1908
/, it was made settlement for released slaves
} The population therefore, is of a singularly
mixed character, embracing natives of ali part
of Africa. 1t Is said that sixty languages ar
spoken in the streets of Freetown The mis-
slonaries found it difficult field The climat
was Of the most deadly character The rainfall
is 100 inches year and the dampness, com
: bined with the intense heat and noxious ex
halations, were terribly destructive of life. O
eighty seven missionaries and catechists sen
out by the Church Society in forty years, thirty
|, five died, and the Wesleyans also suffered terri