News and Notes by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 24, 1887

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 13, No. 8.

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News and Notes.

By Editor

RELIGIOUS.

—A bill to prohibit base-ball playing on Sunday is before the Illinois Legislature.

—The Louisiana Supreme Court has declared the new Sunday law of that State constitutional.

—Last year the M. E. Church in Utah received into its communion sixty-one proselytes from the Mormons.

—Statistics show that of the 31,319 births in New York City, in 1886, 22,000, or more than two-thirds, were of Roman Catholic parentage.

—Congregationalism is said to be making rapid progress in the West. Its success is attributed largely to its Sunday-schools, which it is stated, are under excellent management.

—There are in this country 30,544 Indian church members exclusive of those in the five civilized tribes in Indian Territory. Of these 14,550 are males and 15,994 females. They own 155 church buildings.

—According to Dr. Strong, in "Our Country," Chicago had in 1840 one church to every 747 of the population; in 1851 there was one to every 1,009; in 1862, one to 1,301; in 1870, one to 1,599; in 1880, one to 2,081.

—The Presbyterian ministers of Philadelphia have adopted resolutions declaring that the American ballet performances are an injury to public morals, a disgrace to the community, and an outrage on Christian sentiments.

—A new feature in the shape of a "pie-eating match" has been added to the "church social." On a recent occasion of this kind the champion glutton ate fifteen pies and won first prize, consisting of a huge pumpkin pie and an appropriate bottle of medicine. The one who came out second best ate thirteen pies. It is evident that some people are determined that the gospel (?) must be supported even if they have to make hogs of themselves to do it.

—The Independent says: "At last, after so many years, a fine batch of English saints have been added to the Roman Catholic hagiology. Fifty-four English martyrs who suffered death under Henry VIII. and Elizabeth, all whose martyrdom was conclusively proved, have been admitted to the calendar of the beatified. . . . Somehow Rome has neglected the more numerous martyrs under Queen Mary. There is an advantage in being a Catholic martyr."

—Rev. Geo. F. Pentecost, in Words and Weapons, says: "It does not require any argument to demonstrate the need of a general awakening among the churches to the fact that we are not even approximately doing the work for which the church of Christ was organized."

—Speaking of fears which have been expressed that Protestant churches are not keeping pace with the growth of population in the large cities, Rev. W. W. Halloway, writing to the Christian at Work, says: "I have had occasion to investigate the matter so far as the Presbyterian Church is concerned, and that investigation shows that these fears are not altogether groundless." Again, after giving the facts upon which he bases his conclusion relative to New York, he says: "These are not pleasant facts to confront. And they are probably samples of facts of other cities and of other denominations."