The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1885-03-25
FOREIGN CHURCH NEWS.

The Salvation Army is rapidly
vanishing from London. The disorder created
on Sunday morning by General Booths young
men, who blow their emotions into brass trum-
pets, no longer takes place IN the leading
thoroughfares. The circulation of the Salvation
newspapers has diminished but what is a surer
sign of decadence, the subscriptions from out
side have almost ceased to low
"A large and influential Society of
persons connected with the Church of England
has been formed to promote emigration to
Manitoba. The emigrants will be settled near
each other and their religious interests will be
looked after by the Society for the Propagation
of the Gospel.
The Presbyterians of Scotland are
divided into three bodies-the Established
Church, the Free Church and the United Pres.
byterlan Church. A movement for union was
lnaugurated toward the close of last year, and it
seems to be gathering strength, though few in.
huental men are lending it countenance At
a largely attended meeting held in Edinburgh.
1t was resolved TO take steps to appoint a repre-
sentative committee, consisting of seven from
each OF the three churches, to confer on the sub
| ject of union.
The Free Church of France has sent
to this country the Rev. Mr.. Lortsch. of Nismes
to make American Christians better acquainted
with Its work, and to lead them to give finan-
clai support to Its mission operations The lar
gest Protestant body in France is the Reformed
Church, which Is recognized by the state, and re-
celves government aid 1t has $40 churches
and 100 ministers. But at least third of these
are Ratlonalists, while the Evangelical men,
bers of It's clergy hampered by the state
connection. Members are received to commun-
ION SIMPLY on their baptism In infancy no posi-
tives evidence of conversion being demanded,
and In other respects there is too much of the
dead Journalism which is so common in the state
Churches of Europe. These facts led MANY
Evangelical Protestants to organize in lS49
| the Free Church, which, like the Evangelical
Churches In America. holds to the voluntary
principle and converted church membership.
1t Is enriched with the names of men like Fred
eric Monod, De Pressense, and De Gasparin 1t
has 56 ministers and 5000 members. 1t has
over fifty churches and mission stations Az
many OF these there have lately been cheering
revivals.-Independent.
CHRISTMAS Day IN CAwNPoRE
From private letter we are permitted to make
the following extract, which gives a good picture
OF the way Christmas Is spent among Christians
IN heather land christmas day was verv fnII
First thing in the morning came the distribution
OF prizes among the boys in the Industrial
School Then, Hindustani service Dr. johnson
preaching. Then, English service, with a SER
mon from Bishop Hurst Then the Sunday
School tamoSha, celebration in the Memorial
School building, by far the most orderly and
satisfactory one we have had a thousand chill
dren, regular attendants. Two or three hun
! dred - hangers on" were not permitted to enter
the building. The singing was by schools. con.
sequently mach better than formerly. I'VE can
appreciate that statement for our ears have been
! deatened by the indescribable noises pYodnced
| by the lungs Of the whole company exerted at
one tmeY The prize boys, one hundred of them
sat on benches in front and were catechised
Among the children were about forty girls
heather and Mohammedan Think of that { We
had made no special provision for them but
they came and sat by themselves up in front
and seemed to enjoy it. There are not more
than three schools now IN which there are not
greater or less number of girls, regular attend
ants with their brothers and neghbors That
native Christians made a good thowing in the
| examinations, and were provided with seats in
the assembly. They were much better pleased
than ever before. Then we had the jugglers for
the Bishops delectatlon, who was hugely
| amused. The day ended with a company of
twenty-four Americans meeting to dine at Miss
Haston's, at the girls school in Cawnpore.
The Nonconformist of February IL
published Especial supplement containing stats
Tics OF the accommodation provided by the vari
GUS religious bodies in what is called Inner
London, the estimated population of which last
| Midsummer was 4.Ol9 36l. The information
has been collected during the last two years bv
the London Congregational Union with a view
TO discover the work done by all denominations
and exis ing DEFICIENCIES, and is derived from
official sources. 1t appears that the total cit
tlngs povlded are 1888 1872 which ia about
double the provision of 1851, when the last re-
liglous census was taken, and is 10 the ratio of
34.55 per cent. to the population. Neverthe-
less the aggregate deficiency Is now forty per
cent more than in 1851 owing to the vast in
crease oil the population in the interval-7O per
cent. The total accommodation includes a very
large number OF mission halls and rooms. which
provide the means of public worship for no less
than 256,og4 persons. These mission stations
are, 1t is believed, frequented by people who are
more at home in them than in ordinary pIaces
of worship. and most of them are centres of re-
hgious and benevolent agencies. which more or
less connect the poorer classes with those above
them in position. The ratio Of provision made
by the nine principal denominations as fol.
lows:
Church Of Eugl d
Congregational IT,
Baptiss
Wesleyaus
Prmitives,
M. Free Churche7 17I0O
PresbyteriaIs 3222I
Salvation Army, 35I6O
Roman Catholics Fl 100
Comparing the Church Of England with all the
outside bodies combined, the relative proportion
of slttlngs is as as 8 per cent. to 5i2 per cent
showing that the Free Churches Of London
provide "a per cent. more than the Established
Church. IL ls also shown that since 1901 the
former have increased the means Of public wor-
ship al lhe rate Of l52 per cent the latter at