The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-05-29
Religious Thought and Note.

II is said that the friends have forty mission
aries is Japan under their care. They are also
doing missionary work in Constantinople Rou-
mania, and on Mt Lebanon, and in Roumelis,
Madagascar, Zululand, India, and China.
There is only one lutheran church in Switzer-
land 1t is found in French-speaking Geneva,
Calvin's city, but is composed OF German
tradesmen settled there; and her pastor reports
to the supreme consistory at Berlin. The mem
bership is 600.--Chriaidn at Work.
According to an English authority a success
full evangelical missionary among the Jews must
possess Abraham's faith, Jobs patience, Moses
meekneSs Samson's strength SOlOmOn's wis
dom, st. Peters courage, st. Johns love, and
Rothschild's money.-Ie1CiSh Messenger.
The British and foreign bible society reports
that the sacred scriptures were last year trans
lated into six fresh languages. The number of
tongues in which this society now publishes
the bible is thus increased to 800 Fifty years
ago it was published in 80 tongues. The So
ciety distributed 4,2O6OOO volumes during the
year.
The Rev. John Liggins in his great work on
Foreign Missions says: "In Madagascar
where as late as 1857 nearly 1000 people were
put to death for adheringto the Christian faith,
there are 1000 churches and 71,5S6 commune
cants. The native churches during the past
ten years have given nearly 81 100000 for the
spread of the gospel.
There are some good and gentle souls to
whom everything in the way of controversy in
religion is shocking. Theirs is kind of placid
piety which is not to be despised, and for which
even in the church militant there is place. Ii
should not, however, be exalted above the more
sturdy type which has the courage of its con-
victions and seeks to propagate them by all
means that are lawful.-LjUinJ Church.
Christianity needs no defense. Ii is Self-evi-
dent truth, holy, serene, calm, immutable; or
1t is delusiOn that must ever thwart intelligence
while the mystery OF life fills heart and soul
with intense lOngings for the fulhllment of sub
lime hopes, and the fruition of ideal faith. In
either case the believer can but preach the
word as it stands, believing, presenting the
character Of Christ as it is revealed in the Cos
pels, trusting. Defense is out of the question.
Chicago Inter Ocean.
in Belgium religious teaching is usually given
at the commencement or at the end of school
hours, but children are excused If parents re-
quest it. In Austria the religious teaching is
under the supervision of the church; in Bava-
ria it is part of the curriculum, and is given by
the parish priest. In Holland the school-house
may be used by the priests only out of school
hours. In Hungary arrangements are made for
every denomination to provide some religious
instruction in the schools In Norway the
lutheran religion is taught. In Prussia religious
instruction is compulsory. In SaXony the
master teaches the protestant religion, the
priest also teaching. where the pupils are cath
olics. Religion is taught in Sweden, but pupils
are excused upon the request of parents. In
Wurtemburg one-third of the school time is
given to religious instruction.-Jouradtof Edu-
cation.