Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-18
RELIGIOUS NOTES.


Preachers, Churches, Pews, and Pulpits.
The number Of Catholics in Ireland, ac-
c0rding 10 statistics. Is 3,79Z,35I; the
churches number 2.5i7, and the priests,
3.25l. In England the Catholic population
numbers l,353.455; the priests 2.3ij, and
the churches ,2Gl. In Scotland thore are
33S Gl Catholics. 295 Catholic churches,
and 800 priests. There are 1902. lG8 Catho-
lies III the United States.
The Protestant Church of Spain num-
bers at present 1l2 Chapels and school
houses, III parochial schools, with sixty
one male and sevcnty-eight female
teachers, 2,545 boys, and 2,09j girls. There
are eighty SUNDAY schools. with 1873 helpers,
and a. 2sl scholars. The churches are min
istcred 10 10y ffty-eix pastors and thirty
five evangelists. The number of regular
attendants is 9,164 ; OF COMMITMENTS,
J,442.
Christianity, says the Nashville Christian
AdrOcate, crosses continents and seas to
seek and save the lost klndles the light OF
hope IN the conyict's camp, III stockade, or
mine; finds its way 20 the hospital and the
prison where the sick are dying and the
sinful are perishing; gOesto the rough and
out-Of-the-Way places of earth, where the
least favored of our brothers and sisters
are fighting their hard battle, unseen, un-
pltied, unhelped.
Among other organizations engaged in
promoting evangelical religion IN France,
the Evangelical Societyof Geneva occupies
"A prominent place. It's work Is among the
destitute quarters, where other agencies
have not gone. Fifty students seeking
preparation for the ministry are connected
with this society. and "A large number of
colpOrtcUrs is employed. Last ycer they
sold y 900 Bibles and distributed GO0,OJO
tracts, and held large number Of re-
/ ligiOus meetings.
To-day thirty-four missionary societies
are at worl, III Africa, and all lis 200, 0OJOOl
souls are practically within the reach OF
Christian missions; thirty-three societies
have begun work in China, and all its 800,
O00. 0Og souls may be visited with the mes
sage of the Gospels; more than fifty socie-
( ties have entered India, and the hight IS
dawning upon its 250,OJ0, 600; Turkey and
/ Persia and Japan are filing with mission
! churches and mission schools. Practically
| the whole world is open, says the O5STc@,
and tho grandest day of opportunity for
the Kingdom OF God that the earth has
ever seen has fully dawned.
Churchmen, SAYS TIE Liuing Church Opis-
copan, should live up 10 their own prlncl-
plcs and practice their own methods. Even
! II poor method pcrs silently followed VIII
Give better results than a desultory, indis-
criminate practice of hnlf-dozen better
methods. Our Church ways are not only
! older WAYS lut better ways OF dong
I Christs work than those that the denOmi-
/ nations have galvanized into popularity.
/ They are diyincly sanctioned, historically
attcstod, cXperlmentally approved. Why
then DO we get such lneagre results III our
work IN comparison with what might be
expected from the means at our COM
mand?
The .H,risa Messenger, speaking Of the
persecution of Jcws III Russia, says
PRAY, why are the American papers, 50
many OF which can devote whole pages 90
Kilrain and Sullivan and publish the most
vile and brutal stuff 90 poison the minds
of the Young and ditfuse vulgarity IL the
commumtv-why is our American press
silent al these repeated acts of Russian
y2rdalismy ls not the Protestant aim
ed nj IA well as the dew? is not tho
splrit os our ace openly trayestied
And we cherish intercourse with such q
Power Is il because the spirit OF the
American nation Is itself changing that
such inhumanlty IS unreOukedI is II be
cause American patriotism - last being
prostituted for selfish gain and " business
methods are degrading all parties and sap
/ ping the national energies? We dare not,
we cannot believe il. We have faith. az
don't faith. in Americas mission as priest
and prophet. and here is an opportunity u
prove to the nations that our country VIII
not endure the spectacle Of I;usslan inhu-
manity. Our country should maintain its
old-time reputation IS the champion OF the
oppressed IN every land"