Religious News

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 14, 1888

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 14, No. 36.

—The London Jewish Chronicle thinks that a Pan-Judian Conference should be held at an early day. There has not been such an assembly for more than three centuries.

—It is stated that Berlin has a population of one million, only 2 per cent of which go to public worship. With nearly four hundred thousand people in Hamburg, only five thousand attend worship.

—It is said that the religious condition of Germany is more hopeful than it was twenty years ago. Utter skepticism is less common, and Christian faith is more active. It should, however, be remembered in this connection, that the standard of Christian faith is not now what it was even twenty years ago; and that the church has become so very liberal that it is no longer necessary for one to believe much if any of the Bible in order to be called a Christian.

—According to figures presented at the Pan-Presbyterian Council in London, the various bodies of Presbyterians in the world number 1,392 presbyteries, 25,689 pastoral charges, 27,996 separate congregations, 3,448,225 communicants, and 2,879,721 Sunday-school scholars. It is claimed that these figures come short of the truth, and that the whole number of Presbyterian communicants in the world is not less than 4,000,000, representing five times that number of adherents.

—It is stated that the priest in charge of St. Mary's Church at Millhausen, Ind., who returned recently from Rome, where he had an audience with the Pope, says that the Pope may leave Rome at any time. He will probably go to Spain, where he is invited, and is sure of a cordial reception. The headquarters of the Catholic Church will then be located at Madrid. Even now preparations are being made for the departure, which, it is said, is liable to take place at any moment.

—The Pope is making strenuous efforts to secure an alliance with England. A recent London dispatch says: "Monsignor Persico's mission to Ireland is finally closed. The Vatican has countermanded the order for his return to Ireland, and directed him to remain in London and negotiate the resumption of diplomatic relations with Great Britain. All the Irish Catholic prelates and a section of those in England, headed by Cardinal Manning, have vainly brought pressure upon the Vatican with a view to the recall of Persico. The Vatican's policy of a closer alliance with the English Government keeps Persico here as a special envoy. He has had two private interviews with the queen."