The Evening critic., 1883-02-17

Joseph Cook praises DR.. Dorchester's
book ON "Religlous Progress"
Agitation for using the Bible in common
schools is going on in Canada West.
The First Congregational Church of
Bradford, Conn, has celebrated Its two hun
dredth anniversary.
More than one in ten of all the books
published in America last year treated OF the
oloey; of new books theology was the subject
OF one In eight.
In Zions Herald Mrs. Mary s. Robinson
attributes the moral defects OF Gambefta to
his training ana the low moral tone Of French
elegant literature.
Gustave Dore's best work was religious.
Many of his $4,000 designs were devoted to
frivolous and grotesque subjects unworthy
OF great artist. Religion inspires excel
lence.
Professor Tay, of Harvard, formerly. q
Baptist professor, goes too fast and too far into
ratlonalism for DR., Thomas Hill, OF Portland,
and DR.. Stebbins, Of the conservative wing of
the Unitarlans.
The Rev. DIR. Judson recently preached,
on behalf of the New York Baptist city mis-
sion, In Calvary Church, and the collection at
the close amounted to Sl4,20O, the largest
ever taken for that subject.
Formerly Joseph Cook called John
Fiske brilliant; now he calls him "the echo OF
a charlatan." Christianity can gain nothing
from such exaggeratlon. Spencer Is not u
mere humbug, nor Is Fiske merely Spencers
echo.
OF Oscar Wilde the Lsndon World some-
what profanely says; "He goes back to America
in the fall; then to Australia, and ultimately
TO Heaven The New York Euehin9 Post sug-
gests the desirabiilty of his reversing the or.
der OF his trip.
DR.. Wilder gives statistics of 100 mis-
sionary societies In tho Missionary ReUie,C.
Here is the total Ordained missionaries
2,GO0, lay 625, women 1,6O6; natives or
dained 1857, others 22,09S; native commu-
ncan;s 574,721. This is only Protestant
work.
A vanishing quantity In 1880 there
were 19OG0,000 protesting Christians out OF
21,0O0,OO0 OF English speaking people. In
1881 there were 50,OOO,00O protestants and
13,50O,OOO Roman Catholics as against 49,
100000 non.religlous people in the same
class.
The First Congregational Church of
Natlck passed formal vote some time ago
abolishing infant baptism. The Rev. +. N.
Peloubet, who was pastor then, has Just re.
signed, probably intending 10 devote himself
10 his wellknown "Notes on the International
Lessons"
A bronze doorstep from the great temple
OF Esaggil Borsippa, has been placed In the
Assyrlan gallery OF the British Museum. on
1t are the name OF Nebuchadnezzar and n
statement of his recovery to health Is not
this another silent testimony to the book Of
Daniel?
The Examiner (Baptist) states that in
New York State there are 452 Baptist
churches that report not even one baptism in
twelve months, out of n total of $40 churches.
such notice should make them ashamed. In
such churches there are continual divisions
and strife, the ErdHiiHer Informs us.
The Congregationalists in Manchester,
Nashua, Bethlehem, Franconia, Conway, TIL
ton, Bedford, Franklin, Henniker, dolrstown,
Bradford and several other places in New
Hampshire, have been building, rebuilding or
beautifying church edilces in most edify-
ing and cheering manner, as II they believed
that the Christian religion was likely to live a
little longer. at must have been good many
houses Just completed, in process of erection,
or undergoing extensive repairs says n cor
respondent of the COngreGatiOnaliSt writing
from New Hampshire, who is our authority for
these facts.