The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-01
READING FOR THE SABBATH

A writer utters great truth IN the Hollow
ing sentence: "Heart-piercing instruction
Oh practical Christian living is what a mate
realistic age like this sorely needs."
The Revs. f. E. jenkins, NJ. A, and NJ c.
Osborn were re-appointed missionary secre-
taries of the Wesleyan Missionary Society by
the British Conference for another term of
six years.
The Christian Advocate says; ''The con-
clusion is painfully forced upon us that both
law and religion are failing to stem the de-
structive tides of vice and crime which
threaten to engulf our cities"
More than 800 pilgrimages will be made to
the sanctuary of Lourdes, in France, this
year. Taking ar average of 1000 in each
pilgrimage, the total reaches 100000. not
counting those who go alone or in private
parties.
According to the bishop of Salford Eng
land, the amount needed TO carry on the
business of the government of the Church of
Rome is 100000 francs, or about 81, 400, 900,
the greater part of which amount is supplied
by Peters pence.
Mr.. H IT. Mawson,was elected president of
the United Methodist Free Churches, by a
majority of three out of over 200 votes, by
the Partially of the ministers, as they greatly
outnumbered the layman. He is the first
layman so houored.
1t is said that the Indians OF Alaska do not
belong TO the same race as the North Ameri-
can Indians, but that they probably an
Ofsheot from the Japanese or Coreans. The
missionaries who have been laboring among
them say that In many respects their con-
eeptions of moral law are better than those
of civilized nations.
1t is not necessarily the member of fam
lily who is the most famous, or makes the
most money, who should be considered the
most successful. The most loving the most
patient, the al est unselfsh, the most pure
6ro tp11 v lift thoaa 10 WHOM, fbau
are bound by the ties of blood aHd name.
Central Christian Advocate
w. W. Wheaton, of Bon Wis writes that
1t is not whether the time limit of the pas
torate shall be extended is the most import
ant question to come before the next general
conference Of the Methodist church, but to
invent plan for developing the spiritual in
forests and working power Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church and its ministry.
A Hebrew philosopher long since dis
covered that Ito everything there is sea-
son, and a time to every purpose under
heaven" and the greater part of all the evils
in the world grow either from the root of
untimelness or that of out-of-place-ness.
Inappropriateness curdles everything-even
good nature is unmitigated evil when it gets
cut of place or season.-Anon.
Dr. Buckley writes a correspondent: "We
do not see any evidence of special movement
toward Christianity among the Jews. The
Rev. Jacob Freshman, CT this city, is doing
what he can, but the majority of the Jews
now are little better than infidels. The
orthodox Jews are in a comparatively dis
couraged state, and the reformed Jews, so
called, are practically unbelievers."
There is much dissatisfaction among the
parishioners of Father Walsh, pastor of the
Roman Catholic Church at Waterbury,
Conn, because of his removal to Westerly,
r. I. The removal is attributed to the de-
sire of the Pope to break off connection be-
tween the priesthood and the Irish move
ment. Father Walsh is the treasurer of the
National Land League Association, which
has very powerful branch at Waterbury.
Robert Laird Collier writes from England
emphatically of the increase of religious
spirit How very odd it is, indeed how
positively ridiculous it is, to assume, as so
many essay writers and newspaper para
graphistS do, that religion is losing its hold
upon the faith and practical support of the
people. / doubt if this ASSUME tion holds
good IN any Christian country of the world,
and it is certainly wide of its mark in Eng
land. This is the simple fact-let it be pro-
claimed from the ouse-top-infidelity is
dead"
The number of Roman Catholic Christians
in India is set down as 1853 05S. or little over
half of the whole. Indeed, a strict scrutiny
is stated to have brought out the total of ma
tive protestant Christians as only a little
over OOV,UUO. DuC INlS NUMBER SHOWS the
very satisfactory increase of SO per cent. in
ten years, as in 1881 the total was only 318-
1863. Thirty years ago the number of native
Christians was only 1902 951 In 1861 this
number had increaeed by SO per cent, and
again in 1871 by 81 per cent, so that there
has been for some time back a rapid and un-
broken progress.
THE PEW SYSTEM.
There Is in the pew system as we have
come to know 1t something antagonistic to
the spirit of the gospel of Christ. In Great
Britain, as here, the subject is commanding
increasing attention 1t is found to be init
matelv connected with church-going and
non ch-going-with attention to and
neglect of ordinances. AT a recent meeting
of the London Congregational Board Rev.
Newman Hall, in a special paper devoted to
the subject, discussed the question in all its
bearing. He compares the pew rent system
to the means adopted for raising funds at
concerts at theaters, at lectures and similar
entertainments. 1t differs mainly in this
one thng-that it invited others than seat
holders. DR.. Newman Hail argues against
the system on gospel and upon economic
grounds as well, and he comes to the con-
clusion that the system is not reasonable
not equitable, not expedient and that it is
beyond all question unscriptural. If for DO
other reason than that it makes improper
distinctions in the hou Sc of God he argues
that it ought to be abandoned.
CHRISTIANS IN ToNQUIN
The Germania, the leading organ of the
German Catholics, commenting on the
French proceedings in Tonquin, gives some
interesting information concerning the
strength of the Christian element in that
country, and the organizations of the Catho-
lie missionaries. The kingdom of AMMAN
embraces an area OF about 440, 800 square kilo-
meters, with popnlation of about 81 00O,-
O0O The native Roman Catholics are minis
tered to by six apostolical Wears, whose
charge is distributed as follows: Eastern
Tonquin, 81, 900 Christians AZ missionaries;
middle Tonquin, 142, 600 Christians, 81 mis-
sionaries western Tonquin, $4,000 Chris
tians, 1913 missionaries; southern Tonquin,
"a 0O0 Christians 76 missionaries north