Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-22
Religious Notes.

Religious Notes.
The English working people as a class
are not anxious to have tue Sunday secu-
lsrized. Up to March I'd 1l,66S per
sous had joined the Peoples League to
Oppose the Sunday Opening Of the Peo-
ple's Palace, London" The great bulk
of those Joining give their trades. and In
most cases their age Out of 800 Of the
FERNS filled up las different trades and
occupations are mentioned. Nearly all
of those signing the protest reside in
the tower hamlets and within walk OF
the palace. The trades include every
class of workmen and working women.
Saws the SundaV-Sch0ol Times: Two
extremes are to be avoided by CLERGY
men and other teachers in their public
exposition of the Bible. On the one
hand everything that sayors of pedAntry
should be summed on the other hand
there should be a care to keep clear of
mere DINING Of words, which have lost
| their freshness Of meaning through con-
slant repetition in the same unvarylng
form. Here il is that the golden mean
is to be preserved in the wise references
TO other translations without deprecating
those more familiar to the popular mind.
The Bible, says the Independent, is
far too much used as q mere book to
furnish texts with which to dignity what
are called sermons, that in reality, when
tested by the true idea of preaching the
/ GOSPEL. are not worthy OF this title.
Some of these so-called sermons are
simply literary performances, without
the Gospel in them and without
any apparent attempt to preach IT..
Such talk in the Christian pulpit is not
appropriate TO the place and to the man
who does the talking. 1t is not be-
coming to an ambassador for Christ.
care women eligible to seats in the
| General Conference?" asks the CHRIS
tio1 AdrocQte. "In its present posi-
ton this is simply question OF ta0.
Neither prejudices nor prepossessions
have any rightful weight in determining
! II. When the first woman was elected
we reviewed the history of the Methodist
| Episcopal Church, and examined every
law that can have any bearing on 1t with
the purpose of avowing and supporting
whatever view the results might require.
That the election OF women Is illegal,
and that they have no right to SIT In the
General Conference we find no room for
reasonable doubt.
General Booth states that the Saliva
ton Army conducts 900 professions
weekly through the streets of the United
Kingdom, or an average OF l, 300 per day.
Only in one place-CbiPping Norton
are the processionists knocked about by
the mob, and only in one other-Ior-
quay-are they sent to gaol as common
criminals for playing music through the
street. The Salvation Army have vindi-
Gated the right of public procession.
They have done so by suffering it up,
by calmly ignoring the mandates OF the
authorities and taking the consequences.
That, after all, is the only way in which
anv good thing, from Christianity down.
wards, has ever made much Roadway IL
this world.
An English correspondent, writing Of
the disagreement between Mr.. Spurgeor
and his Baptist brethren, says: alt il
a notable fact that Mr. Spurgon breaches
with even greater force and earnestness,
and with very manifest results in the
shape of numerous conversions. bis
people-elders, deacons, and members
are all united, warm-hearted, and earnest,
and it is really pleasure to address
them and pray with them. II anywhere
people think the old gospel has lost Its
power to convert and save men, that
opinion is not entertained at the Taber'
nacle. They have constant proofs to the
contrary. The Lord give US all greater
living force by means OF closer contact
with the living Christ !"
In history of the London Missionary
Society in South Africa, published in
London, Mr.. John Mackenzie, for TWEEN
ty.fye years missionary in Bechuana-
land, disposes Of the prevalent impress
sion that the introduction of Christian
civilization has a tendency TO seal
the doom OF native races Mr.. Macken.
zie cites the case of the Gariepine
people at the Cape, Hottentots, Bush
men, Korannas, who were once so de-
graded as 10 DO hardly accepted IS hu-
man, and who at the commencement OF
the century were Z" fast dying out. )" Not
only has decease in their numbers been
arrested but steady increase has been
going on 80 that the 1870 Hottentots
had Increased to %, SCI IN 1875, and the
race there are now all processing Chris
tianity.
The London Open-Air Mission OBJ
served its thirty-ffth anniversary re-
Gently. Sir Arthur Blackwood occupied
the chair. The following is summary
Of operations for the past year; Mem
bers, 933; special SCENTS, wholly or
partially employed, 10 races, steeple-
chases, fairs, wakes, ieasts, Jctes, "holi-
days" and regattss visited, 100; con-
feIences held by the mission and
its branches, %; special services
and addresses given, l,405; tracts,
cards, and books distributed, $685.
$50; towns and villages reached in
the United Kingdom, 794 stations oc-
cupied in London and suburbs (about),
200; estimated number OF hearers
(sbout, 100000 The secretary, Mr..
Gavin Kirkhsm, did a great years work,
which is thus summed up Towns and
villages visited in 80 counties, SO dis
tricts in London visited, 50 open air
addresses delivered, 1886; indoor adj
dresses (of which some 4s were TO Chris
tian workers., 295; estimated number OF
persons in attendance at meetings,
60,543; miles travelled in the course OF
the year, ll.719.