Religious Notes | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 8, 1882

Religious Notes.

-There are 23,373 Baptist churches in the United States, with a total membership of 2,336,022.

-The American Bible Society distributed over 100,000 Bibles among immigrants during the last year.

-About two and a half million copies of the Revised New Testament have been circulated thus far in Great Britain and India.

-It is said that out of 2,500 persons who "confessed," under the efforts of Mr. George O. Barnes, the Kentucky revivalist, less than 100 have joined any church.

-The Independent says it thinks that "what is called infant baptism is nothing more than a consecration, and that it does not at all involve even a modified form of church membership." If this be the case, would it be amiss to inquire why those who receive a so-called baptism in infancy, are not allowed to be baptized when they arrive at years of discretion?

-General Buford, of Kentucky, is a church member, but is also noted for his love of fine horses and horse-racing. This excited considerable remark. When asked by some one if he was going to leave the church, he replied: "Only the puritans are against me. Christianity now, compared with Christianity one hundred years back, is like an electric light compared with a tallow candle." Who can imagine what it would be if time should continue a hundred years longer!

-Every mention of converts from among the heathen, brings into prominent notice their liberality as compared with that of other Christians. The Christian at Work says: Gray Cloud, a chief among the Dakota Indians, who was sentenced to be hung for his part in the outbreak of 1862, but was pardoned by President Lincoln, is now one of the most active Christian ministers in that region. These Indian churches have a membership of eight hundred, with ten pastors. Their contributions average one dollar a month from each individual.

-Dr. Barbour, of Yale College, recently preached a sermon from the text, "The Scripture cannot be broken," in which he uttered the following truth: "Our Lord does not ask us to spend our time and strength in defending the Bible or apologizing for it. He has taken that upon himself; the gates of hell shall prevail against it never. But he does ask us to circulate it—to bear witness to it in our own lives. If we bear the testimony he will see to its preservation. Let our faith be calm in his part of the work; let our anxiety and activity be spent upon our own."

-The Methodist Church South elected, May 16, five bishops; viz., Alpheus W. Wilson, of Baltimore, Missionary Secretary of the church; Atticus G. Haygood, D. D., of Georgia; C. Granberry, D. D., Professor in the Vanderbilt University; the Rev. R. K. Hargrove, of Tennessee, and Linus Parker, of New Orleans. Dr. Haygood declined the position, believing that he could accomplish more good as a teacher. The Committee on Revivals recommended the insertion of a chapter in the Book of Discipline prohibiting promiscuous dancing, public or private, visiting the theater, opera, or circus.

-Infant baptism practice does not show any better results as investigation is pursued. We have already recorded instances of no infant baptism in pedobaptist churches in this city. Now comes Philadelphia, and in that city three Presbyterian Churches, with an aggregate membership of 979, show not a single infant baptized in the year, and there are other churches that make a like showing. Indeed, the whole Northern Presbyterian Church, with nearly 600,000 members in 1881, presented only 17,500 infants for baptism, while the Protestant Episcopal Church, having only 345,000 members in the States and Territories, baptized 45,000 infants. We are aware that figures can be made to lie, like sinners; but, like other sinners, they can also be made to tell the truth. And, if in these instances the numerals stoutly and persistently assert that infant baptism is on the decline, will any one accuse them of bearing false witness? — Christian at Work.