The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-06-21
WHAT is MINISTERIAL s1,ccrse


crowded churches, full aisles, attentive
congregations. the approval of the re-
hIglous world, much impression pro-
duced? Elijah thought so and when
ne found out his mistake, and discovered
that the applause on Carmel subsidized
INTO hldeous stiffness, his heart well-nigh
broke with disappointment. Ministerial
success lies In altered lives and obedient,
humble hearts, -unseen work recognized
IN the judgment day W. Robertson.
The most pointed, and probably the
best remembered part of a Boston di-
vines sermon on late Sunday evening,
was, as usual, near the close. He paused
suddenly, and looking to the door quiet
ly said 1--WE would be glad If that
young man In the vestibule would come
inside and satisfy himself whether she is
or IS not here. That would be much
better than keeping halfinch draught
on the occupants OF the back pew" The
observation was no doubt kindly meant,
and showed the divine had not quite
forgot the doings and feelings of his
youth.
Professor Mahafy has not had it Lis
own way in his recent essay on the Decay
of Modern Preaching. Some of the re-
views and monthies have handled him
pretty severely. The Spectator last week
traverses Professor Mahaffy's funda-
mental assertion, and contends that it is
not preaching that has decayed, but the
power of listening to preaching. 1t saws
and we agree with it, that preaching
in the Church OF England, and amonG
form
better now than 1t. was twenty-five years
ago, though 1t freely acknowledges that
there is still much room tor improve
ment.-Belta8t Witness.
Very great progress is being. made
IN female education in India. At the
recent examination for admission to the
Calcutta University eight women passed
successfully Of whom six are natives Of
India; and at Bombay seven women
were matriculated, including four from
Poonah 1t is stated also, that female
candidate obtained a scholarship of the
first grade at the First Arts examination
of Calcutta. When our Mission in North
India first proposed to open Girls
School, an old Mohammedan ruler ex-
claimed " What teach girls The next
thing will be to open a school for cowsr'
But many OF the natives now appreciate
female education, and aid in promoting
1t. Christianity will yet elevate and en-
noble the women of India
-INTEMPERANcE AMONG BoYs.-The
Chief of Police of Jersey City, in his an
nual report, says
I would call the attention of your
honorable body to the alarming increase
of drunkenness among the boys of this
city. The difficulty has its origin in the
too free license of irresponsible parties.
who are allowed to keep saloons where
the game of pool for drinks is per
mitted. 1t is an every day occurrence
to see boys going through the public
streets, intoxicated from these saloons.
A knowledge Of the sureness Of punish
ment on conviction is the best proven
tive against the commission of a crime.
and some adequate law is needed to put
check on this startling and alarming
vice.
Noticing a work of Emile lola, the
Baltimore Sun remarks:
There is little now to be said at this
day of any of Zola's later novels. Thew
are all of one well-known type, and it is
the whole collection, forming now dis
tinct school, which is on trial. 1t is said
in justification of their class that nature
is to blame for having evil tendencies,
society for being corrupt, and it is the
duty of the novelist to portray these ten
denotes and corraptions as they exist as
a warning and picture OF the times. If
so, and Zola's novels reflect French
political and social life at the present
day and under the second empire, it is a
terrible indictment. If a prophet like
unto him had written a social and politi
cal history of Sodom or Gomorrah it
might have been something of the same
character, only the vice would be real
vice-naked, beastly, and horrible. The
modern gliding only makes it the more
repqqlslve, and, in the light Of the present
the more vicious