The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-09-01

affection. Jonathan dared the anger of
Saul for the sake of his friend.
A deep affection Is a great strain upon a
character. 1t brings out the evil as well as
been committed in the name of love. The
moral tension OF a strong affection is some
times tremendous. The impulse of self
sacrifice will lead men anywhere. David
tempted Jonathan to a small deception:
That lie was not so immoral then as it would
be now. But the danger Is too old and too
young to be limited to any age. Friendship
needs to keep its high ideal as an eagle
must guard its wings. Clip either and 1t
falls.
Friendship not only tests the weakness
In character. but the strong and true.
David was a poet. Saul was q warrior.
Both trusted the Lord and each other.
Their different natures found common
ground in a religious feeling that neither
was ashamed of. The intricacy of our
civilization, compared with the simplicity
OF the ancient. need not do away with re-
ligious fervor as a basis of friend
minds are distracted by business, and our
hearts are faint with a thousand subtle OPP
positions. This was a disinterested friend
ship. Neither could gain aught but love
from the other. As thus it has stood as the
type unto this day. Instead of asking from
each other they were greedy to serve. JON
athan gave David his armor and warned
him at the risk of his life. To lay ones
life down for a friend is yet considered the
snoblest of sincere attachment. Mutual
love to God is. then, the sure footing for
friendship. Christ is the best school for
friends the world has yet produced. He. by
his benetcence to men, teaches them
fidelity In their devotion to each other.
General Church Ncws.
The number of Indian church members in
the United States is 2S,6G3.
OF the 799 men who lave been educated at
Surgeons Pastors College during the thir-
ty-six years of its history, six hundred are
active pastors.
In anaIyzing congregational generosity,
Rev. James BrOwnlee finds that among the
Baptists 50 cents is the annual contribu-
ton per head; the Methodists. "a cents;
E~piscopalians. Sl.37; Presbyterians, S3.17,
and the Dutch, 1921.
A movement toward Christianity among
the Jews of Siberia is reported, the leader
being a Polish Jew. Jacob Sherman by
name. Exiled to Siberia twenty years ago
because of avowal of belief in Christianity,
he there began to proclaim his convictions.
Amherst College claims the honorable dis
junction of supplying from its graduates a
larger number of ministers than any other
American college; twice as many as either
Yale or Oberlln, three times as many as
Williams. four times as many as Dartmouth,
and nine times as many as Harvard.
The Catholic Review says that there are
in Ireland S,799.357 Roman Catholics and
3.251 priests. The Catholic population of
England number ] 1858. 45 and 2.S40 priests.
while Scotland has 3SS.541 Catholics and $50
priests. According to this Same authority
there are III the United States 1862. l6S Cath
olics.
A call signed by about twenty prominent
UniJarians has been published, inviting
Unitarians of the West to convene in the
city of Chicago In October, to consider the
needs and opportunities of that religious
body. Each church is to be represented by
it's pastor and one layman for every forty
families.
The increase of membership in the South
ern Presbyterian Church has been encour-
aging during the past year. The average
annual increase for many years has been
about 5000; last year 1t was T.105. While
the increase III membership was about q
per cent, the increase in benevolent con-
tributions was 10 per cent.
There has lately been a great increase of
proseiytizing energy among the Roman
respondent of the Manchester Guardian).
and it is reported that Lord st. Cyres, SON
and heir of the present Lord Iddesleigh.
and an undergraduate of Magdalen, has
been received into the Church of Rome.
A correspondent of the Christian Index
gives a somewhat encouraging account of
the churches IN Richmond, Va, stating
that with n population of $4,000 there is
very nearly a church for every 1000 inhabi-
tants. LII Is further noted that this city
has an excellent record for church attend
ance. There are twenty-four Baptist
churches, with an aggregate membership
of s20. 600. about one-fourth of the entire
population of the city. The Baptists here