The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-15
A PREACHER ABROAD.
What Rev. r. A. Beard Observed
On His Travels i'm Europe.
CHURCH GROWTH IN ENGLAND
Lands Where Christianity is at Dis
eount-The Congregational Conven-
tion-New Field of Labor.

Rev. r. A. Beard, until recently superintend-
ent OF the American Home Missionary Society
ior washington, with headquarters at Seattle,
who, in March last accepted the call 10 the pas
torate OF the First Congregational church at
spokane, has just returned from tour in
Europe. Thursday afternoon ne left for his flu
ture home in Spokane with his family.
Mr.. Boards itinerary included England,
France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany. Belgium
scotland and Ireland. He left Seattle Nav l9
going 10 New YORK. There ne took the German
Lloyd steamship Havel, landing at southamp-
ton From there he went 20 London, thence TO
ParH, Genoa, Pisa, Rome, Naples, Sorrento,
Venice, Milan, Florence, Heidelberg, schaff-
hansen and Neuhausen: thence down the Rhine
from Mayence TO Cologne; thence 10 Brussels,
Antwerp and London. The last city he reached
On July Il, just in time to attend the meeting of
the International congregational council, to
which he was delegate from Washington.
This meeting" said Mr. Beard, Speaking of
the trip yesterday, Blasted nine days aud was the
most important gathering ever held by the de-
nomination. Out OF nearly 400 delegates from
almost every civilized country on the globe only
seven were absent.
"lEe programme was packed with papers and
addresses on ali phases of practical Christian
WoTA- There was no attempt at ereed-making,
but the whole aim seemed To be in the direction
OF devising the best methods OF making the
world better. In other words, the meeting was
in the interest OF practical Christianity rather
than dogmatic theology. The meeting proved
to De such a success that il was unanimously
decided to follow it with others OF ike charac-
ter at intervals OF five or ten years the exact
length OF the intervals TO he hereafter fixed.
There is great deal TO say about all the
cities ! visited and the sights | saw con-
tinued Mr. Beard, but think that the ancient
city OF Rome, considering the part it has played
in hssh fst. 81
interesting OF all There is both an old and
new Rome. New Rome is very similar in its
+ nnely graded streets and elegant stores 10 an
American city. The one thing that impresses a
visitor most at first sight is the almost unlimited
number OF basilieas (churchesl and chapels.
Rome IS city which, perhaps, has
the most religious machinery and the least
religion OF any city in the world. The church
buildings are not interesting for the purpose
they serve, or rather fall to serve, in advancing
the interests OF Christianity, but are interesting
specimens of fine architecture The most
wonderful OF all, of course, Is 81. Peters. 1t de-
fies description. There is such a symmetry in
the general form of the building that it is diff
cult TO appreciate its mammoth dimensions
Staying there for so short time / did
less than a week. got, OF course, but glimpse
OF the wonderful art galleries. The treasures OF
painting and sculpture in the Vatican alone are
so vast as 20 be almost bewildering
''fes, visited the ruins of Pompeii." said Mr..
Beard in answer 10 question. 1.-The govern
ment has regular force at work there OF from
l00 TO 800 men, and should think that they had
unearthed fifty or sixty acres now. During the
past year two new streets have been opened up
and very large amphitheatre unearthed.
''Then / climbed Mount VesGvius. The vol
cano is in an active state of eruption and sui
phur smoke issues from the crater at unusual
intervals in immense quantities. During the
last three months the eruptions have been very
frequent. The day after / was there two men
were sutfocated while standing on the very spot
where 1 had been, looking down into the crater.
When l went up was tied 10 a rope 100 feet long
and a man stood az the other end 70 hold ME ii