Religious News and Notes.
—Mr. Wigton, of Berkshire, Ohio, a Baptist minister, died aged 99 years. —Bethany College, W. Va., was partially destroyed by fire, Oct. 23. The west wing, with libraries, was entirely destroyed. —Dr. Buddington is in Boston, being treated for cancer. He has been operated upon a number of times in this country and London. —A camp-meeting in Anderson Co., S. C., is described as being the theatre of the most outrageous scenes. The disorder on Sunday was so great that services had to be dispensed with, and the profanity, vulgarity, and abusiveness of the large mob of people were beyond description. —Contrary to expectations the Governments of England and Germany receive with favor and act upon Secretary Evarts' letter on Mormon immigration, which, it is thought, will be nearly stopped. This, with measures taken in Utah by our Government, will strike a heavy blow against the abominable system of polygamy. —The following we take from the Oakland Evening Tribune: "The fair held for the last two days and nights, at Assembly Hall, under the auspices of the ladies and friends of St. John's Episcopal Church, closed last evening. The enterprise was a success financially and socially. Last evening the shadow pantomime entitled "Mary Jane," was performed, and proved a mirth-provoking feature. At 9:30 o'clock the floor was cleared for dancing, which was continued until midnight." No comment. —Attention having been drawn by recent extensive departures from Liverpool of Mormon converts to the proselyting efforts made by professors and elders of that faith, Major Creig, Head Constable of Liverpool, has issued a notice by way of warning, reciting that there is reason to believe that the system of soliciting persons to join the faith and emigrate to America extensively prevails, and reminding that by the American law polygamy is prohibited, and that those who practice it are liable to heavy fines and long terms of imprisonment. —The California Chinese Mission shows an aggregate membership in its schools of 554, with an average attendance of 280. Nine schools are in operation. Nineteen teachers are in service, five of whom are Chinese missionary helpers. A large amount of additional service is rendered by volunteer helpers, both American and Chinese. Four cases of conversion are reported, and several others of apparent conviction concerning the truth of the Gospel, and interest in it. The membership and average attendance in the schools are increasing. —To a petition of the Roman Catholic clergy of the dioceses of Munster and Paderborn to the Prussian Educational Minister for the removal of the hindrances now in the way of religious instruction in schools, Herr von Pulkammer has replied as follows: "The almost unanimous and systematic resistance of the clergy to the laws of the country has been, and still is, the cause of their exclusion from the schools of so many places. I deplore this state of affairs, for which the Government is not to blame; but I can do nothing to bring about any essential change until the Roman Catholic Church has formally acknowledged the inalienable right of the State to make its own laws." —It is related of a dissenting minister in England that he went to preach in a country village, and met the vicar. The vicar was very angry with him for his intrusion in his parish, and concluded some offensive remarks by saying roughly, "You ought to be stopped." "That would be difficult," was the reply; "it would be easier to stop your preaching." "Why so," inquired the vicar. "Because," said the preacher, "there is but one way of stopping me, and there are three ways of stopping you. If I took away your book you could not preach; if your pay was stopped you would not preach; and if your gown were taken off you dare not preach. But the only way to stop me would be to cut my tongue out." —Rev. James A. Spurgeon said, in a lecture in New York:—"I was once at a meeting of Quakers, and I noticed one intelligent man sitting silently all through. One after another spoke, but my neighbor remained silent. I said, "Does not the Spirit move thee to say something?" He rose solemnly, and said: "I have a talent, and I use it, but not in speaking; my work is to make money for the Lord." That was all he said, and then he sat down. I found afterwards that he was a very successful business man, and that his liberality was equal to his business capacity. I have often thought of his short speech since, and I think that it does not require much talent to make money, it requires a great deal to give it to the Lord." —Gee Gam, an educated Chinaman, for many years interpreter in the Oakland Police Court, and a missionary helper in connection with the California Chinese Mission, has gone to Chicago to attend the annual meeting of the American Association. The Pacific (a religious journal) of yesterday, says: "He goes on the invitation of that Association, and after its annual meeting will participate with its District Secretary of the Interior, Rev. James Powell, in the proposed missionary campaign in Ohio and other States. Gee Gam has made a fine record as a helper, speaks English fluently and correctly, and never addresses an audience without securing close attention, and awakening a practical interest in the work he has in hand."