Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-10-20
RELIGIOUS NOTES.
Pastors, Pulpits. Churches, and Pews.

Quoth the Tndependcr'. THE Rev DR..
Thomas T. Davies, Of Philadel phia, VIII
soon vacate his seat as deputy IN order TO
become Bishop Of Michigan. The Rev. Dr..
ID. X. Goodwin, another Pennsylvania
deputy. is rugged old Low Churchman
who is a constant thorn IN the sides OF the
Ritualists. for whose dOgmatic positions
he enteTtains the most cordial detesta-
ton"
Considerable interest has been aroused
in the Old Southwark Presbyterian
church, Philadelphia. A short time ago II
was proposed 10 dIshand. but so great -
the interest awakened under the preach
ing of the Rev. William Best. late Of De
Kalb, y. y. who has supplied the pulpit
recently. that at late meeting of tho con-
CregatiOn it YVES agreed 10 continue the
services and have Mr.. Best preach rcgu-
larly for time.
Says the Standard Of ne Gross anil ne
Church When this Church, Protestant
Episcopal. or its representative body, re-
solves that il will not abandon the sub
ject of marriage and divorce until leglsla-
ton upon il be effected in full accordance
with the law of God it simply processes
LOYALTY 10 Gods law until the kingdoms of
this world shall become the kingdom OF
Christ. Our Church may or may not cor
poratelv seek 10 shape civil legislation;
but she does not hesitate to say, rs IN the
marriage service, that If any persons are
married otherwise than "a Gods Word
doth allow. their marriage Is not lawful
II should require no phenomenal religious
courage TO take that position"
The Philadelphia correspondent Of the
Ecan7eisi SAYS summer absenteeism among
the parishiOners IN that city Is quite eNicn-
siye. The ministers are all back with lew
exccps lions. Int many Of the members are
absent. On Sunday, September $50, one
of the largest congregations ia the heart OF
the city. which reports a membership Of
above COO. had barely 100 wOrShIppeTs.
Another not far off. with membership Of
about $50. had only about 80 attendants
mt the morning service Many Of the iami-
lies that belong to these churches have
country homes outside the city, where
they rest fully half the year. IN some cases
eight or nine months out of the twelve.
During al this time their city houses are
closed and their pews in the city churches
are empty. Every year an increasing num-
Der Of families adopt this mode Of resi-
dcnce and the summer absence grows
larger"
Is pastoral visitation going out of date?
asks the Presbyterian. We have plenty ot
personal calls or social visiting. but is the
purely religious visit maintained as form
crly? We know that II is not popular
affair among outsiders, nor even among
many church members. ndthati it requires
much courage and tact 10 make 1t accepta-
bic and profitable. yet it Is means OF use
funcss that must not and should MOI be
neglected. When people are sick OF diving
it IS comparatively easy TO introduce the
subject Of religion to them. Then they
are disposed to listen TO prayer and the
reading of tho Scriptures. and even 10
take kindly to the minister's counsel, e.
hortation. and instruction. II is, however,
when the parties are prosperous and IN
health that the chief difficulty is ell
countered in giving observation-disclosures
turn TO the conversation, or IN dealing
personally with the souls Of ones PARISH
i4p4~a