—The Church of England has nine mission stations along the Panama Canal.
—Last year the Congregational Church made a net gain in membership of 17,015.
—The net increase in the membership of the Methodist Episcopal Church last year was 61,910.
—The Episcopal Sunday-schools in Utah contain over five hundred children of Mormon parentage.
—The London Methodist Times says: “There is no subject on which the Methodist pulpit is so incoherent and helpless as baptism.”
—A Spiritualist journal, in a tirade against preachers, says: “Man knows instinctively right from wrong, and hence is a better preceptor for himself than any other man of any calling.” And yet the man who wrote that goes right on publishing a paper professing to give instruction to the people.
—At a recent meeting of the Tremont Temple Bible Class, Dr. Meredith said: “A man will sit on the fence all Saturday afternoon to watch a base ball game, and then complain if the sermon the next day is more than thirty minutes long. Now I maintain that an hour and a half is the shortest possible time in which a dignified, reverential service can be conducted on a Sabbath morning.” Perhaps the very state of mind which enables a man to sit on a fence to watch a game is the reason why he cannot sit and listen to a sermon.
—In the winter of 1881–82, there were 1,314 theological students in the universities of Prussia. This winter there are 2,221, an increase of about seventy per cent. What a pity it is that German theology is so destitute of the spiritual truth of the Bible. If these theological students were drinking in the sincere milk of the word, as were those in the time of Luther and Melancthon, what a blessing they might be to the world. As it is, too many of them will be only bearers of darkness.
—In the last number of the Old Testament Student, Dr. Harper says: “In some institutions of sacred learning (the statement is made guardedly) Bible study is a farce; in too many it is sadly neglected. In very few does the work performed at all correspond to the vital relation which, it is generally believed, a true conception of the Bible events and precepts sustains to the efficient accomplishment of the minister’s work. . . . The ignorance of the Bible which characterizes the average seminary graduate is amazing. Nor does he realize it until he stands in the very midst of the conflict for which a proper knowledge of the Book would have armed him.” And then, too often, he seeks to make up for the deficiency by German philosophy and “science falsely so-called.”
—The Christian at Work says: “The Christian world seems year by year to regard with growing favor the setting apart of seasons for special religious observance. The week of prayer and the period given every winter to extra services, and known as ‘the revival season,’ as well as the increasingly large number of summer assemblies and conventions for spiritual uses, are instances of this growing tendency. The joyous Easter festival is being more generally accepted each year by churches of nearly all the denominations. As is natural, an increased interest is felt in Lent. The Lenten fast, which precedes the Easter feast, is seen more and more to have its uses for all, and to supply in some phases a fitting preparation for the observance of a true Easter.” While the Saviour says: “But in vain do ye worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
—At a late ministers’ meeting in Chicago, the subject was “How to Use the Bible in Dealing with Inquirers,” when some good points were made. “Mr. Emrich suggested that we should be saturated with the word; that the minister should be thoroughly familiar with his Bible, and so familiar as not only to turn readily to a chapter or verse, but also to quote what he would read, without hesitation. Col. Geo. Clarke spoke out of his experience derived from the Pacific Garden Mission work which he has in charge. Meetings are held at this mission largely for drunkards, afternoons and evenings. Large numbers profess conversion. Col. Clarke remarked that his method in dealing with infidels is to quote Scripture even to those who deny its authority. Dr. Goodwin emphasized the reading of the passage you want an inquirer to get, and setting before him not an argument but God’s word.”