News and Notes by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 12, 1890

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 16, No. 18.

News and Notes.

By Editor

RELIGIOUS.

—During the self-denial week of the Salvation Army, $100,000 was raised for mission work.

—At the recent session of the Presbyterian presbytery of Utah, there were present twenty ministers and two elders.

—The Baptists of the "regular" order in the United States have passed the three-million point. Their total membership, white and colored, north and south, is stated by the Year Book for 1890 to be 3,070,047. The number of baptisms reported for the past year is 144,575.

—Rev. Father Whelan, of St. Patrick's Church, Montreal, in dealing with the subject of public schools, recently, maintained, according to Roman Catholic doctrine, that the church should primarily look after the child, the parents coming next, and the State third.

—Sweden seems desirous of taking its share in African enterprise and exploration. Mr. Sachrissen is the leader of a projected Swedish expedition to the Victoria Nyanza; 100 Swedish artisans have entered into arrangements extending over three years. The intention is to form stations from the northeast of Lake Tanganyika in the direction of the Victoria Nyanza, designed to co-operate in the suppression of the slave-trade.

—Dr. Talmage says "there are crowds and armies of good people to be found wherever one goes." But a wiser than he has said: "They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." This telling the world that it is good will not bring it to Christ. "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins."

—It has been decided in Illinois that the Y. M. C. A. is not a strictly religious organization within the meaning of the laws of that State, but is a benevolent and charitable institution as well. It is not alone in Illinois that religion has become so weak that it is no longer regarded as benevolent and charitable. The assumed necessity for a special side organization for every good purpose within the purview of the Christian religion, has given rise to much distrust of the church as a practical working body.

—Rev. W. W. Wilson, of Baltimore, was called upon, at a recent session of the African M. E. Church Conference, to answer the charge of making a speech at a banquet in honor of the colored pugilist, Peter Jackson. In his defense, Mr. Wilson said: "I told Jackson that he had achieved great success in his line, which was somewhat different from mine, and I hoped that he would use his strength in bringing souls to Christ." It was finally voted that Rev. Mr. Wilson be merely told of his error, and this action was taken amid much laughter and applause.

—It is said that the rectors of two churches in the Protestant Episcopal diocese of Maryland, who use a very advanced ceremonial, have for some time been placing what remains of the consecrated bread and wine after the Communion service in a miniature tabernacle on the altar and burning a taper in front of it. Bishop Paret has, in consequence, issued a circular letter, it is stated, which says the church law is explicit that whatever remains of the consecrated material must immediately after the benediction be reverently consumed by the minister and other communicants.

—Of the interest manifested at Bombay, India, in the protection of Sunday as a day of rest, the Harvest Field says: "It was proposed to change the day for the sailing of the mail steamer for England to Sunday, but the proposal has been vigorously opposed, not only by the Chamber of Commerce and the Corporation of the city, but by a great demonstration made in the Town Hall, which was packed to overflowing by representative Christians, Jews, Parsees, Mohammedans, and Hindus." This demonstration shows the utter inappropriateness of calling Sunday the "Christian Sabbath," which is so strenuously insisted upon by many in this country.