The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1889-03-13
FOREIGN CHURCH NEWS.

the Presbyterian College from London to that
seat Of learning.
During the present century only
Sweden, seven By the University Of Upsala and
one by the University of Lund.
The Synodical Funds Of the Presby-
terian Church of England show a satisfactory
advance upon the previous years revenue. The
Free Church Of Scotland's Sustentation Fund is
considerably in advance of last year.
The late DIR. Grant, of Grants
House, near Bewick, has bequeathed $4,000 to
the Foreign Mission Fund of the Presbyterian
Church OF England. The committee is looking
out for additional missionaries for the Island Of
Formosa.
The German Secretary of War has
given strict orders to the generals to observe the
rules and regulations on the sanctifcation of
Sunday. Everything preventing the soldiers
from attending divine worship must be avoided.
Rev. John Mcneil is to be inducted
to the pastorate of Regent-square Church Lon
don, on Thursday evening next, Rev. 2. B.
MIR. Mcneil again preached in the Metropoli-
tan Tabernacle on Sunday last, there being
crowded congregations both morning and even
ing.
ToLsToI AND THE OHURoH.-Count
Tolstoi has fallen foul of the numerous holy
days of the orthodox Greek Church in Russia
He declares they exercise a most demoralizing
effect upon the lower classes of Russia, who do
not understand their significance but consider
them only as being so many good occasions to
cease work and to get drunk. People are curl
GUS to learn whether the Holy Synod will take
any steps against Count Tolstoi.
Bishop A @. Coke has an extended
interview in the New York Herald on the state
of religion in France. He quotes recent ar
tiole from the Paris GaLicGn, which says: "Out
Of SO 100000 of French people, the total num-
Der OF those who make their Easter communion
does not reach one million" And the Bishop
adds: ut must be remembered that this million
includes all ecclesiastics, nuns and officials of
the Church. and thousands of children who neg
lect this duty on reaching adult years"
Father Hyacinthe says that he finds,
In his mssionary journeys in France evidence
OF great change In public opinion Since his at
tempt to re establish the Gallican Church was
begun. He says that he has become convinced
that more than half of Catholic France is outside
of the Roman Church, for "all persons who do
not 60 to Confession and Holy Communion. at
least once year. are, ipso fdcto eZcommuni.
Gated, and are denied the Sacraments and the
rites OF burial. But while at least one half of
the nation are outside of this Roman obedience
not one in hundred has ceased to be Cathol c:
indeed, not one in a thousand; for Infdelity is
very often but pretense to escape the exigen
cles OF Roman superstition, and the assumption
OF negatlon and indifference toward religion are
but superficial coverings of embarrassment and
ignorance.
The REVIVAL IN RUSSIA -This
work which began in 1874 when Lord Radstock
paid visit to st. Petersburg and addressed
few persons assembled in a drawing room from
day to day on the subject of Spiritual Christi
anlty, still continues TO some extent Several
prominent leaders of society then became sincere
Christians and from this small beginning the
movement spread in every direction, and soon
became one with a similar work wich began
earlier in the South of Russia and is known as
the Pashkotf5ki movement. These religious
teachers find a prepared soil In the minds of
Russian peasants who are taught by the Greek
Church to say God be merciful to me sinner. :"
From this seed of truth it is moi difficult to pro-
duce harvest Of spiritual life. No attempt has
been made on the part of the converts or leaders
OF the revival to establish religious sect or Sod
arate themselves from the Greek Church. But
when one enters the clear light of the Gospel he
is very apt to break his idols, and this course
brings down the Government on his head There
has been severe persecution, and soue of the
converts have displayed the spirit of true Chris
tian martyrs as they have accepted banishment
even to Siberia with composure. 1t is said by
one who has been in that country, that the Gov
ernment with all it's vigilance and cruelty is not
able to crush out or impede the work.
Probably none of the Protestant State
Churches Of Northern and Central Europe de-.
velops relatively 30 intense and extensive a
Christian activity as does that of Norway.
There is no department of what on the Continent
is called Inner Missions" which does not -four
ism in Norway, that Is 30 poor in this worlds
goods Young Men and Young Women's Chris
tian Associations Marths Houses, Tract Soc1e-
ties, Bible Societies. Sunday-Schols, Luther In.
sttutes (for the spread of Christian literature)
Christian periodicals. for all classes and ranks Of
the people, the Pope's High Schools Ia peculiar
lY Scandinavian arrsngemenO City Missions
Temperance Associations, Seamen's Missions
Jewish Missions, Associations for the Observa-
ton Of the Lords Day, ETC., ETC., are vigorously
maintained. The old love for Foreign Mlssions
which many decades ago impelled a Thomas of
the West to 60 to Finland and Hans Epede to
Greenland has been revived IN its former
strength. Mission work ia being prosecuted
among the Lapps, the Zulus and IN Madagascar
On this island there are fifteen Norwegian sta
tions, with tWentyseven missions, 600 native
teachers catechists, etc. mission ship.
Eleser," is devoted entirely to this work No
Christian enterprise has, however, been flourish
ing az has hat of Deaconesses The first dea-
coness came from Neudeitelsau ia Bavaria and
the fret Mother House was established at Chris
iiana Now branch houses have been establish
ed from Tromesford IN the extreme north to
S0reu In the far South And in Norway tho
deaconesses have a work to do that exceeds the
demands made upon them elsewhere In Europe
10 ls the only country M Europe IN which that