News and Notes by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 22, 1887

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 13, No. 49.

News and Notes.

By Editor

RELIGIOUS.

—Eight millions of Indians in Mexico have never seen a copy of the word of God.

—There are 600 native newspapers in India, all of which, with the exception of about half a dozen, are bitterly opposed to Christianity.

—It is said that the Province of Honan, China, has a population of fifteen millions. Thus far, but one missionary has entered that field.

—It is estimated that there are over 700,000 Poles in the United States. They are almost universally Romanists, are very clannish, and can be reached only by a native ministry.

—The London Christian says that “the progress of Romanism in the Protestant Church of England is painfully indicated by the fact that praying and offering masses for the dead are greatly on the increase.”

—The English Church receives in tithes about $20,000,000 a year. Of this amount $5,000,000 is expended in schools, hospitals, church buildings, etc., and the remaining $15,000,000 goes to pay the salaries of the clergy.

—The anti-organites of the United Presbyterian Church held a convention a few days since in Xenia, Ohio, and resolved to withdraw from that communion, in case the General Assembly refuses to yield to their demands, and exclude instrumental music from their churches.

—Rev. Hugh O. Pentecost, of Newark, N. J., has resigned his position as pastor of the Bellevue Avenue Congregational Church. His prominence in the labor movement and candidacy for mayor on that ticket, and his utterances in regard to the Chicago anarchists, were the cause.

—In the village of Adrianople, the Roman Catholic Propaganda has been making such rapid progress among the adherents of the Greek Church that the Bulgarian Archbishop at Adrianople has taken alarm and addressed a complaint direct to the Czar. The Archbishop desires to have a restraint imposed upon the Roman Catholic missionaries.

—Since 1850, the population of the United States has increased 116 per cent.; Protestantism, 185 per cent.; Romanism, 294 per cent. Protestant ministers have increased 173 per cent.; Roman priests, 391 per cent.; Protestant churches have increased 125 per cent.; Romish churches, 447 per cent. In view of these facts, the question: “Does the increase of Romanism threaten the life of the republic?” is pertinent.