The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-01
FOREIGN CHURCH NEWS.

The Edinburgh Free Presbytery has
expressed It's disappro baton of the terms on
which Prot. Robertson Smith and others were
received as Elders of the Free High Church of
Edinburgh by DR.. Walter Smith and appointed
committee OF investigation. The candidates
were told by Dr. Smith that they need only ac-
cept the confession of faith in so far as il aGread
with the Bible. Members of Presbvterv9 said
IN discussion, that any one might sign a Socin.
ian confession on such terms.
The PAPAL MILITARY.-Tbe once
powerful Swiss soldiery of the Papal States are
now reduced to about ninety men. The Swiss
Guard and the Noble Guard acted as the house
hold brigade of Leo XIII. at the ceremony of
Canonization on the 8th of December. Order
was preserved on that day by the Papal police
or gendarmeue, about hundred in number. and
by the Palatine Guards (Guardia Palatina. y
This latter regiment is now the LARGEST bodv of
troops in the Papal service 1t consists of eiobt
hundred men, all of whom are volunteers who
receive no pay, only their uniform being pro
vlded at the expense of the Pope. They are all
or nearly all, citizens of Rome.
COUNT DI CAMPELLo.-"D Katb-
dix" says Count Campello has, it is trne re-.
nounced the Papal Church in the Methodist
chapel at Rome, but he has not formally entered
the Methodist communion. As we learn from
very credltable communications. he il still a
Catholic priest and will JOIN an Italian Chris
tian Catholic Church as soon as sucb no,ro.
CATION can be established in Rome. From what
we hear, we must assume that the elements for
this are already present in Rome.
-INDIA-Mr. Kendall writes from
Madura, September 5, that during the previous
| eight months, 81 persons had been re6eived n
the three churches connected with the Madura
Station, and there are also II candidates applv-
ing for admission. He says " In regard TO the
position OF the heather, it may seem strange
that so few IN view of increasing light, embrace
Christianity. But when we consider the tie
which bind the people to heathenisrn and tbe
strong pressure brought to bear upon ever son
entangled in the meshes of Hinduism 7 an
sometimes led to wonder how it is that anv on
escapes" 'I
The Roman Catholic Church is stead
ny gaming in England, says the Liverpoo
Cgthohe Times There is no break in tn
steady flow of conversions
The Catholic directories Just to hand tell III
tale as TAR as 1t can be put i'm figures A Yea
ago tnere were 1862 priests in Great Britain
now there are 2,036, an increase of no less tbat
seventy four. The churches. chapels and ala
lions nave IN like manner grown from 70 {
l,lJO, an increase Of fifteen or something owe
one for each diocese. The greatest efforts bav
been made in Newport and Menevia. in which
nine churches and chapels have been opened
while Plymouth and Leeds have gained thre
each =. Since 1872 there has been al
increase Of churches amounting to 1856 in Eng
land and Wales and 90 in Scotland, and o
clergy amounting TO 437 in England and Vale
and 10 IN Scotland. Thus in nine years Their,
mas been very substantial addition to our re-
hgious machinery and resources, Westminster
for example, increasing by 30 per cent in priests
and III per cent in churches Beverley NOV
two sees), by 30 per cent in priests and "a ne,
cent IN churches; Birmingham, 20 per cent in
] priests and per cent in churches; Clifton