The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1884-01-16
FOREIGN CHURCH NEWS.

Inc via Catholics OF the Canton OF
Geneva, says correspondent of London Times
are preparing coup detat
AS their movement has now come to an end
they are anxious to die in decent way. and
their ambition Is to turn Protestants. In one of
their parishes they have offered their church to
the Protestant minority, who possessed no place
OF worship in the village. The Geneva Protes
tant Consistory seems disposed to accent the
proposal. But it is a secret to nobody that vsrv
soon the Protestant service will swallow the
va Catholic mass and the old Catholics become
frotestants. This example will be followed bv
other parishes. a great many Potestants. how
ever, are opposed to the Protestants taking in
that way possession of churches having from the
beginning belonged to Catholics THIS, to their
eyes would be spoilation. The Roman
Catholics, who in several Old Catholic parishes
form majority, would be left without an
othcial place of worship. In short this wouid
be the absorption by the Protestants of all the
advantages attached to the system of the union
OF Church and State. II the revolution I an
nounce to your readers takes place-and there
Is but little doubt in that respect-it will be one
step more toward the separation of Church and
state for 1t would not be possible to have in
our canton the Protestant Church alone sup
ported by the state, and the Roman Catholics
who form about a third of the population
abandoned to their own resources
"A Scotch minister at Ayre is quoted
as having recently prayed o Lord, bless the
Established Church, and the Free Church, and the
United Presbyterian Church, and all the other
Ohurches. Thou knowest the various nick
them ALL" We should predict a re-knitting of
severed slnews and bones in Scotland, if this
were the general aspiration of the ministers of
the Churches named. The better portion of the
various nicknames" would then relent. and we
should hear of better and better things In Scot
land: May the day come when those grand
DIVISIONS OF the Lords host shall see eve to eve.
ana mat In our time 1t would gladden. many
"A GREAT RECoRD.-Mr. Spurgeon.
before leaving for Mentone, attended. as he al.
ways does when well enough, the annual meet.
ing OF the Pastors College, which he founded
ana winch Is mainly dependent on the gifts of
MS church. He said in his address that thew
had now 100 students, had educated from the
beginning 667, of whom 527 remained as earn
est workers In their denomination-5O3 BEING
engaged as pastors, missionaries, or evangelists
ihese men had baptized So 900 believers and
the churches under their care had at the present
Time membership of $4,000 persons. The an
nuai income of the college had risen from a yery
si l sum at the beginning to $4,000, derived
0ii iioi lne weekly collections at the Tab
ernacle. In concluding, Mr.. Spurgeon spoke
strongly In favor of a definite orthodox belief
Such record is full of instruction, as shown
What one earnest man can accomplish
tan Inteltigencer
-PREsBYTERIANIsM IN THE COLONIES.
Canon Arson, who has returned from America.
thus writes to the Guardian In Assiniboia
an area of 450emiles by 200, the only services
regularly held are those of the Methodists and
Presbyterians. These bodies seem somehow
to be able to find men to lead their services
and they are almost everywhere on the ground
before 3!I the Church. Churc people are getting
dlsheartened, and are often aiienated.
could not but feel deep shame and sorrow for the
Church The Canon, in another letter, is al
most more complimentary to Presbvterians.
Our Canadian brethren have. it is clear done
no6ly, and have great claims on our sympathy
and aid.