Religious News and Notes.
By Editor
—A writer in the Herald, who says he is a Roman Catholic, says also there is more trouble between their bishops and priests in this country than any other. —The editor of the Cumberland Presbyterian being sick, his wife takes hold and runs it well; but she fears he will recover before the paper goes to press, and throw out her editorials. We are happy to say he was unable to do out until the paper was. —Bishop Whittle of Virginia, in a church letter, says, the introduction into the church of evergreens and flowers at Easter, or of flowers, fruits, and vegetables on thanksgiving day, or any other occasion, is a novelty in Virginia, and ought not to be done or allowed. —A pastor of Tarrytown, N. J., is to receive a legacy of $5,000. Another pastor (location not given), to have a bequest of $100,000. Bishop Clark of Rhode Island recently received by will, $5,000; Dr. Houghton the same; Dr. Lawrence and Mr. Walker of New York City $10,000 each. —Religious charities and loans will become unpopular. Bishop Purcell misappropriated loans amounting to millions, and the treasurer of the Massachusetts Home Missionary Society squandered about $86,000. While this was going on earnest appeals were being made to help missionaries who were destitute. —The N. Y. Observer speaks as follows:— Rev. O. B. Frothingham is reported as saying in his last discourse, as the result of all his theological study, that "he who does what he ought, because doing what he ought is the most profitable, is a noble person. And we would add that he who is good only because it pays, would rob a hen-roost if he thought it would pay better. —The Pacific Christian Advocate, Portland, Oregon, highly commends the President's veto of the Chinese bill. A writer in the California Christian Advocate, San Francisco, says the position of the ministry in California has been misrepresented; while the secular press have said the clergy were in favor of the bill, the reverse is the truth, the majority sustaining the President in his veto. —The Michigan State Baptist Convention, reports, that "contributions per member are: From the Presbyterians, nearly $1.17; from the Congregationalists, nearly $0.75; from the Baptists, nearly $0.74. The humiliating fact thus appears, that the Baptists have contributed less than either of the other denominations. Whether this is due to the greater indigence of our people, or to their more imperfect training, your Committee are not able to determine. —The North Philadelphia District Conference of Methodists, admitted that ladies may be "called of God to the special work usually assigned to exhorters," but refused to renew licenses to the ground that "female laborers have not hitherto been recognized in the church as eligible to the office of exhorter, technically so called." Yet it passed a resolution that pastors may grant such licenses, which action is considered by some inconsistent, and the license of no legal value. —B. F. Burris, in the Pacific Methodist, tells a singular story of an incident which occurred in the town of Elmira recently. Elder Wilmott of the Christian (Campbellite) church avowed that they, as a church, had no book of discipline, and offered $500 to any one who would produce such a book. A lady present accepted the offer and produced the volume duly attested. She pressed the elder for her money and employed a Mr. Frazer to advocate her claim, which he did with ability. The elder employed Alex. Johnson of Oakland to plead his cause; but, in spite of his efforts, the verdict of unprejudiced parties was that the elder should pay the money, which he still refuses to do. —The New York Observer cites a singular case to illustrate the danger of criticising ministers. Rev. Dr. J. Parker of the City Temple, London, was severely rebuked in one of the daily papers not long since for using this expression in a public prayer: "Do not disgrace the throne of thy glory. Remember, break not thy covenant with us." Other critics took it up and the Doctor was scored and lashed soundly for his unequaled presumption and consummate impudence in thus addressing the Almighty. They went on this way for some time and vied with each other in the severity of their caustic criticism. Finally the Doctor replied, showing that his language was precisely that of the Prophet Jeremiah (14:21), and adding, "This comes of being too Biblical in prayer." —The N. Y. Herald has an article on preachers' salaries, from which we gather that their average compensation in all denominations, city and country, is less than $500 a year. Beecher's salary, once $350, is now $20,000, with a three months' vacation; Dr. Halladay, who does the real work of Beecher's pastorate, gets $3,000; Talmage receives $12,000; Morgan Dix, $15,000; Dr. William Taylor, $14,000; Dr. Hepworth's salary is $5,000, which he says is never paid him; Dr. Storrs, $10,000; Dr. Cuyler, $8,000; Dr. Hall, $15,000; Dr. Potter, $10,000; Dr. Tiffany, $10,000; Dr. Morgan, $15,000; Dr. Tyng, $8,000; Dr. Stone, $12,000; Dr. Chapin, $8,000 to $10,000. The Methodists in the cities range from $1,000 to $3,000, the Presbyterian from $1,200 to $10,000, and the Congregationalists from $1,500 to $20,000. The Episcopalians' average $3,000, the Baptists $2,000, and the Unitarians $4,000.