Religious Notes by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Oct 25, 1883

Religious Notes.

By Editor

—The Catholics have established an Immigrant Mission at Castle Garden, New York, with Rev. John G. Riordan as missionary.

—Several of the parish priests of Columbus, O., recently met and resolved to no longer permit the abuse of exhibiting corpses in their churches.

—At Mr. Moody's Christian Convention, held in Chicago last month, it was asserted that out of 647,000 inhabitants of that city, only 30,000 attend church.

—The building erected in Boston as a memorial of Tom Paine, and as a propaganda of infidelity, is now named Appleton Chapel, and has been opened for Christian worship.

—According to the Directory the number of Catholics in the United States was 5,760,000 in 1874 and 6,880,000 in 1882. This is equivalent to an increase of about 20 per cent. in ten years.

—There is considerable agitation in the Protestant Episcopal Church in regard to changing the name of the denomination—some leading ones desiring to drop the word "protestant."

—The colored Baptists, in convention at Wyandotte, Kansas, have "resolved" against the recent decision on the Civil Rights Bill, and notify all political parties that they intend to hold whatever ground they can as American citizens.

—A Salt Lake telegram says President Taylor of the Mormon Church will resign on account of old age, leaving Apostle Cannon, ex-Congressman, at the head of the church. Cannon is a much more active and aggressive man than Taylor, and it is thought will greatly strengthen the polygamous cause. Thirty missionaries recently left for the East, accompanied by Cannon and Caine, Delegate to Congress.

—Dr. Ewer, of St. Ignatius (Episcopal) Church, New York, was stricken down in the pulpit with paralysis, while preaching in Montreal on the 7th inst. The Dr. has for some time been leaning more and more toward Catholicism, and had got so far along as to preach the "real presence" in the eucharist, when the church objected, and he withdrew. A portion of the church followed him, and St. Ignatius was built.

—The London Times is authority for the statement that there is an appalling state of poverty among the clergy of the Church of England. In a financial point of view many of the ministers would prefer disestablishment. The practice of purchasing positions by wealthy friends would cease, and the people would have more power in the appointments, and would take upon themselves more pecuniary responsibility.

—At West Hartlepool, Eng., on a recent occasion, the furniture and effects of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, under distraint for rent, were up for sale by auction. Amongst the lot sold was a large brass crucifix from the center of the altar, which brought 8s.; the holy water vat and a gong, 2s. 2d.; oaken lectern, 1s. 2d.; and fourteen paintings representing the stations of the cross, 2s. each. The host and chalice were seized and were about to be removed when the priest dared the auctioneer's man to disturb them at his peril, and, after some demur, they were allowed to remain.

—That polygamy is not confined to the Rocky Mountain region is demonstrated by a little church episode at Hebron, Conn. It seems that one of the leading members, a man of large wealth, has been married four times, having been divorced in two cases. His third wife is a member of the same church, and his fourth wife, before he could marry her, was compelled to secure a legal separation from her husband. This man's voice was frequently heard in prayer-meeting, a circumstance which naturally annoyed the clergyman. Finally he could endure the travesty of religion no longer, so he preached a sermon giving a spirited sketch of a whited sepulcher, whom every one recognized as the much-married member. The latter was so wroth at what he called a personal onslaught upon himself that he has brought suit for $5,000 for defamation of character. Peace-makers in the church are trying to placate the Connecticut Mormon, because he is a heavy contributor to the current expenses, but the clergyman will make no apology.