Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-06-09
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS
FACTS AND OPINIONS GATHERED
FROM CONTEMPORARIES.
ooNcREoATioNALisM.


The Congregational church has always
been one of the strongest religious forces
in New England, and the Intelligence
and energy represented in its member
ship make its condition, to a certain ex-
tent, symptomatic of the religious con-
dition of the community. Its statistics
also are gathered with regularity and
painstaking care which make it pos
sible to watch closely any changes, en-.
couraging or otherwise.
1t is matter, therefore, of concern
not only to the denomination, but of
those outside of it, that the Congrega-
tional Year Book for the current year
shows little growth In any direction and
positive loss in some. There were 10
churches added to the list during the
year, but these gains were almost offset
by the dropping of 104, leaving a net
gain of only 6. The denomination made
gain in membership in 30 states, and
lost in 2l but the gains more than
balanced the losses, and the total men,
Dership is now G2S, 234, which is larger
by 2370 than the number at the begin
ming of the year. In the enrolment in
Sunday schools more states lost than
gained and the footings show net loss
of 300l.
In home expenditures there was an
increase in the outlay of the churches,
the total being SG,725,9ll, gain of
S173,Sl3 over the preceding year. This
only serves to emphasize very depress
ing reduction in the gifts for benevo-
I,n
gifts amounted to S2,445,324. For the
year covered by the present report they
dropped to S1,S92, 9l9. Here is a shrink
age of S552 ,405, or more than % per
cent.
So considerable loss as this seems to
suggest some influence widely operative.
1t was not hard times, for business con-
ditions were better last year than the
year before. Whatever the explanation
may be, the increase in the home ex-
penditures of the churches, coupled with
a sharp decline in benevolences, shows
the need of some such scheme as that
recently devised by the Congregational
committee of fifteen for systematizing
and extending the charities of the de-
nomination.-Bost journal.
RELATIONS RESUMED WITH SPAIN.
Diplomatic relations with Spain,
which were severed on April 81, 1898,
were formally renewed on Saturday,
when President Mckinley received the
newly appointed Spanish minister, the
Duke of ARGOS, at the White House.
The reception by the president was not
mere courtesy, but was part of the
settled ceremonial which is recognized
and clearly defined in international law.
The audience given by the head of the
state is the acceptance of the diplomatic
minister by the state to which he is
accredited. An ambassador is entitled
by the custom of international law to a
public audience with the sovereign or
chief executive of the state to which he
comes, for the purpose of delivering
his "letters of credence;'' minister
plenipotentiary is accorded a private
audience, and others of lower rank are
received by the secretary of state, or in
other countries, by the foreign minister.
When the formal ceremonies have been
completed, the minister from that time
becomes invested with all his rights
and immunties, which continue until
his mission ends.
The relations of this country with
Spain are regulated by various treaties
and conventions, the first of which was
the treaty general of 1895. Other treat
ties were concluded in 1902; in 1919,
when Florida was ceded; in 1884; in
al 20
done in Cuba; in 1877, extradtion and
judicial procedure; in 1881 and 1882, con.
corning the Cuban claims; in 1882, ex-
tradition again; in 1884 and 1856, duties
and on April 10 of this year notifications
of the recent treaty of Paris were eX
changed in Washington.
The suspension of diplomatic relations
with Spain lasted a little over thirteer
months. On April 81, 1898, Minister
Woodford received his passports from
the Spanish government, and on Apri
% the president issued a proclamation
announcing state of war. Spain for
mally declared war April 81. On May
Admiral Dewey destroyed the Spanish
fleet; on June 20 the American army
landed near Santiago; on July 3 tn
Spanish fleet was destroyed Of Santiago
and on July II the Spanish at Santiag,
surrendered. The French ambassador
acting for the Spanish government, oil
July 26 asked for terms of peace, whicl
were accepted on Aug. 0, and on Aug
\ ? the peace protocol was signed and al
Enistice was proclaimed. On Oct.
K American and Spanish commission
rs met in Paris the peace treaty wa
{signed on Dec. 10; on April 10, 1899, tn
Notifications of the peace treaty wer
NXchanged in Washington, and on Satul
Nay last the Duke of ARGOS presented hi
cftdentials and full diplomatic relation
were Observation-Disclosures Ledger.
LIE IRuIMPH OLE SNIsIlOE.