p. 14 | News and Notes by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 6, 1888

News and Notes.

By Editor

RELIGIOUS.

—There are about 2,000,000 Finns, who are said to be in a state of dense spiritual darkness.

—Fifty years ago the Scriptures were circulated in 136 languages; now they are circulated in 280.

—It is said that the ratio of Sunday-school membership to population has decreased four per cent. in Michigan in four years.

—The Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, in Brooklyn, N. Y., the foundations of which were laid twenty years ago, is to be completed at once.

—Joseph Cook thinks that "many signs indicate that the churches are growing towards religious unity, and there is a prophecy that they will ultimately become one organic confederation."

—A call has been issued for a general conference on foreign missions to be held in London next June. Forty European missionary agencies are represented in the call, and the American societies are to be invited to send delegates.

—Rev. Robert Colyer thinks that "among the various denominations there was never before so much toleration, so much liberality of feeling and thought, or such an earnest desire to unite in defense of public and private morals."

—There are thirty-four missionary societies at work in Africa, and the Missionary Review says that all its 200,000,000 souls are practically within the reach of Christian missions. At the same time the fact remains, that for every missionary that goes to Africa, 70,000 gallons of liquor are sent.

—Says Spurgeon: "I regard full-blown 'modern thought' as a totally new cult, having no more relation to Christianity than the mist of evening to the everlasting hills." The figure is an apt one, for as the mist hides the hills from view, so does "modern thought" obscure the clear light of Christianity.

—Foreign missionary organizations raised $3,898,944 in the United States last year. This is less than fifteen cents for each individual. There are individual men who like to be thought charitable who could give more than that and not deprive themselves of a single comfort. The conversion of the world is not in sight yet.

—A Sunday-school teacher says that the question has been raised in his class as to the immediate state or condition after death, and asks the Christian Union whether it is a sleep, or an unconscious state till the Judgment, or whether the dead are immediately with God. The editor says: "It certainly is not an unconscious state. We can perhaps best help you by referring you to the book, 'Beyond the Shadows.'" Why not refer him to the Bible?

—The New York World says: "A dispatch from El Paso, Texas, announces that the celebration of 'Our Lady of Guadalupe' is being beautifully carried out just across the river in the Mexican end of the town. The festival is made up of bull-fighting, and every species of all-around gambling. The American tourists in that part of the world are being highly edified, and the managers of the bull-fights are encouraged to ask for an extension of the merry festival until the latter part of next month."