Earlier text: THE BIBLICAL INSTITUTECaution to Christians.
By Cuyler
EVERY one, whether within or without the visible church, is in danger of falling through temptation. No church-wall can be built so high as to exclude the tempter. However far any Christian has traveled on his spiritual way, he has not got beyond the reach of danger. However firm he may stand, he will stand all the firmer if he feels constantly the need of caution, the need of prayer, and the need of clinging close to Christ. Young converts, in the ardor of their “first love” are in danger; so are all who are enjoying peculiar spiritual prosperity. It is the sunny day that brings out the adders. Every state of mind that tends to breed vain confidence and good opinion of ourselves is a state of peril. Peter boasted that he stood impregnable when he uttered the vaunt, “Though all men forsake thee yet will not I!” Hark! listen for a moment after that presumptuous boast, and you will hear a fall! “Then Peter began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man.” Poor Peter! bruised, bleeding, crest-fallen! as he goes away weeping into the garden, methinks some one might whisper into his ear, “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” Worldly prosperity is always a state of danger. A man is led to feel rich, when in heart-graces he may be really becoming poorer every hour. He wins friends, and feels strong. He has a high standing in society for wealth, popularity, or culture; and yet all the time he may be waning in his spiritual life. He is growing less humble, less devout, less dependent on God. He is being gradually undermined—and leans slowly over more and more from the perpendicular, like a dwelling whose corner-stone has been washed away. Let him who thinketh he standeth on such a quicksand take heed lest he fall. “A presumptuous spirit is always perilous. “Who is afraid?” is the vaunt of the presumptuous professor. “Who fears?” says every self-confident Peter in the church, “others may fall, but I am in no danger.” Yet Peter was the very first disciple to desert his Master. I always feel apprehensions for those who, on entering the church, make a very fluent, showy profession, in which the little word “I” is painfully prominent. They are often the first to backslide. I had rather hear more self-distrust and less of complacency. Poor “Mr. Fearing” in Bunyan’s allegory, managed to reach Heaven at the last, though with a very poor opinion of himself; while self-conceited “Mr. Presumption” was left on the road fast asleep, with the fetters of sin upon his heels. When a church-member says “Who fears?” I am ready to answer “I am afraid for you, as your pastor.” I always expect to see men stumble when they hold their heads too high. I am always anxious for those who, on entering the church, make a very fluent, showy profession, in which the little word “I” is painfully prominent. They are often the first to backslide. I had rather hear more self-distrust and less of complacency. Poor “Mr. Fearing” in Bunyan’s allegory, managed to reach Heaven at the last, though with a very poor opinion of himself; while self-conceited “Mr. Presumption” was left on the road fast asleep, with the fetters of sin upon his heels. When a church-member says “Who fears?” I am ready to answer “I am afraid for you, as your pastor.” I always expect to see men stumble when they hold their heads too high. I am always anxious for those who have an unbounded self-confidence, who are glib in self-commendation, or else most suspiciously severe in denouncing themselves as the very “chief of sinners.” My brother, when you begin to expose yourself to irreligious influences, and feel no fear, then may your Christian friends begin to tremble for you. When the Pilot, in steering his ship along the coast of Sicily, finds that she will not obey the helm, he knows that he is within the suck of the whirlpool of Charybdis. It is an undercurrent of tremendous power on a ship’s keel. What is the safeguard at such times? you ask. We answer, keep out of the currents. Avoid the region of danger. Go not nigh it. Where the ice is thin, keep off it and you will never be drowned. Whenever you feel a sinful inclination drawing you toward any object, or pleasure, or pursuit, then brace your foot down, and say to yourself, “No! I’ll not go one inch!” A church-member, or any man, who finds a glass of wine tasting good, has no business to touch another drop. He is in danger. He does not see it yet; but there is an adder coiled in the bottom of that glass for him. No Christian, no minister of God, no saint, however saintly, has any right to tamper with that cup that has sent millions to damnation. If God says to me, “Look not on the wine when it giveth its color in the cup,” what right have I to sip where the serpent lies hidden in the ruby depths? If a Christian finds a card-table pleasant, let him never sit down there again; he is in danger. If one visit to a theater or a ball-room makes him want to go again, then let him stay away. He is getting into the undercurrent. He will be wrecked upon the rocks before he is aware. The safest rule for the child of God is to practice a total abstinence from the glass, from the theater, from the card-table, from the dancing-hall, from everything that leads the footsteps into slippery places. A Christian should never go where he is not willing to pray to his Saviour to keep him! How would it sound for a young church-member to say, “Oh, Lord! I am going to take a social glass with some of my companions to-night; I pray thee to keep me from loving the drink, or from setting a bad example.” We close these few familiar cautions with reiterating this safe rule—Never do what you cannot ask Christ to bless; and never go into any place or pursuit in which you cannot ask Christ Jesus to go with you.—Cuyler. (Condensed from Review and Herald.) NILES HILL.—Bro. Carright reports meetings of deep interest in this place. He and Bro. Hall expected to hold only a two days’ meeting here, but the attendance and interest were so great that they stayed two Sabbaths. Though everybody was hurried just at this time, every meeting was largely attended, and from the first their house of worship was crowded. Every day from one to half a dozen made a start. Each new one immediately began to look up others. At an evening meeting of the youth, twenty were present, and eighteen took a part, most of them for the first time. Bro. C. says: “The next Sabbath was a rejoicing season. About twenty united with the church, most of them to be baptized. At evening a half dozen men decided to go with us—the ones for whom we had felt the most anxious. Sunday morning a lot more came in weeping, and took their place with us. In all thirty-six united with the church, and twenty-three were baptized. This alone would make a large church. The baptism was one of the most beautiful scenes I ever witnessed. The day was lovely, the place was fine, everybody was sober as at a funeral. Though a large number were present, no one made any lightness. Most of those baptized were young people from thirty years old down to twelve—largely about eighteen to twenty-five. How good and lovely it seems to see husband and wife, brothers and sisters all going together in the service of God!” “At the last meeting several came out and said they should now keep the Sabbath. Indeed, the whole community is stirred as never before. I think I never saw anything quite equal to it. The brethren say they can hardly believe what their eyes have seen. The attendance at their Sabbath meetings will now number about seventy-five. One hundred and sixty dollars were raised to repair and paint their house of worship, which will be done immediately. Bro. Hall remains to follow up the work till camp-meeting, which nearly all expect to attend. Some fifteen tents are ordered from this section. We hope to meet a large turnout of our people at the Aurora camp-meeting, June 7–12.” ELIZABETHTOWN.—The Ky. and Tenn. Conference met at this place. Bro. Osborn reports a membership of about seventy in this Conference, and one hundred and sixty Sabbath-keepers within the bounds of his mission. For a month previous to the camp-meeting he was engaged in visiting the churches and scattered brethren. And he states that “May 16 our meeting commenced with prayer and self-examination; and as it advanced, we were admonished by the Spirit of God that we must make close work here. We held nine prayer and social meetings and four business sessions, and Bro. Orlando Soule and I preached alternately eleven discourses upon the main points of present truth and its practical application to us as a people. In the judgment of this conference there are young men here who should labor in the cause as ministers. Upon the whole, our meeting was a success. Those who thought they could not take time to come to the meeting lost much. Oh! if our people could see the importance of these meetings, and grace them with their presence and help, with what power would the cause move forward. We all go forth with good courage to proclaim the last call of mercy. We claim the prayers of all who are interested in the advancement of this great work.” VALENCE.—Bro. Bourdeau reports ten keeping the commandments in this city. He says: “Doubtless we would have had five times as many if we could have spoken in a hall as we do in America. But till now this privilege is refused us, even as it has been refused Father Hyacinthe in Paris, although he is a popular speaker, standing midway between Protestants and Catholics. The influence of the Eastern war is being felt here. France is not disposed to meddle with it at present. May God hold the winds, and may we act well our part in leading our fellow-men to prepare for the coming storm.” WEST LIBERTY.—The work has progressed here through the labors of Brn. Lane and Covert. Meetings were held May 19 and 20, to organize a church. Five were baptized. A church of twelve members was organized, and more are keeping the Sabbath who will join the church soon. A new course of lectures is requested by some who have not yet decided to keep the Sabbath. VINELAND.—There are twenty resident members of the church in this place, and others keeping the Sabbath that will doubtless unite soon. Union and harmony prevail. Reading rooms here and at Millville are each supplied with the SIGNS OF THE TIMES for 1877, a set of books, and an assortment of pamphlets and tracts. ORDINO.—Meetings were held here May 12 and 13. Six were baptized and united with the church. Two who were professors of religion decided to keep the Sabbath. One of these had been reading the SIGNS sent her by a friend, which has been the principal means of her receiving light. BEAVER CREEK.—At this place eighteen have signed the covenant to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Bro. Fulton stated in a former report Rock Creek, which should have been Beaver Creek, Rock Co. SPRING ARBOR.—Bro. Frisbie met with this church May 12. Ten were baptized, and the ordinances of the Lord’s house were celebrated for the first time. ELIZA H. MORTON
By Eliza H. Morton
TEARS are generally the outward expression of grief, sorrow, remorse or pain. They are not unmanly, for “Jesus wept.” I believe that tears keep the heart tender and draw the soul near to God. I do not advise people to be forever sighing and crying over their misfortunes; but I do say, let the tear of love and the tear for sin freely flow. Water the garden of your heart with tears and the harvest will be eternal life. The cause of human woe will soon be removed, sorrow and sighing forever done away, “all tears wiped from off all faces,” and joy become the portion of the redeemed forever. The Bible Predicted Apostasy
A ROMANIST once said to a Christian, “You Protestants could not prove your Bible, if it were not for the Holy Catholic church and her great men.” “True,” says the Christian, “for the Bible predicted that there would be such an apostate church and priesthood, and here you are, just as the Bible said.” —It is dangerous for infidelity, which it confounds; dangerous for sin, which it curses; dangerous for Satan, whom it dethrones; dangerous to false religion, which it unmasks.—Messiah's Herald. Samuel Vessie, the old East India merchant and ship-owner, left a large property to his wife and children. To his three sons he left his ships, and his business, together with all the books and papers of his office, and having made this provision he went on in his will to say: “Among my debtors are many worthy men whom I have not pressed, and whom I would not consign to needless suffering. It is my desire that those who deserve forgiveness may be forgiven, even as I pray that my Heavenly Father may forgive me.” When the sons came to take possession of the business, one of their first moves, after having provided for the management of more weighty matters, was to consider this injunction of their father’s will. “Our father has left us enough,” said John, the eldest brother, “and we will not fail to honor his memory and his wishes.” “And lead others to hold that memory fresh and sacred,” added Andrew, the second brother. And says Peter, the youngest son, “We will not forget our father’s oft repeated prayer—‘Forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors,’ for I think he died with that prayer upon his lips—or in his heart at least. I would suggest that Mr. Witherspoon be requested to make out a list of those debtors whom he may judge to be worthy of forgiveness. He has been our father’s confidential clerk and correspondent for almost thirty years, and probably knows the exact standing and character of every person indebted. Let him give us a list, with such marginal explanation as he may deem necessary, and we can then do as we deem proper in individual cases.” Peter’s plan was adopted. The old clerk made out the list, and the amount of indebtedness thus shown, without reckoning interest, was over twenty thousand dollars. “A big sum,” said John, thoughtfully. “And think of the interest,” suggested Andrew. “Yet not as large as was our father’s and bearing no such interest,” says John, after more thoughtful consideration. Time passed on. One cold, bleak day, in late autumn, a woman entered the counting-house. She was past the middle age, humbly clad, and her sad pale face was marked with care. John and Peter were in the office. “Is Mr. Vessie in?” the visitor asked timidly, and with much tremulousness. “That is my name, madam,” returned John, handing her a chair, “and this is my brother.” “Your father held an account, or a note against my husband, and I have come to settle it.” “What is your husband’s name?” “He is dead, sir. His name was Lawrence Patten.” “Do you know what was the nature of the indebtedness?” “It was a debt of honor, sir;” and my husband could only die content when I had promised him, upon my bended knees, that it should be paid. Your father was his bondsman for a large sum. He was collector of taxes, and a partner whom he had trusted ran away with a great deal of his money—so much, that it crippled him; and would have been his ruin had not your father saved him. He was a poor man, but honest; and when he knew that he must die, he placed in my hands all his accounts, and all his property, and he bade me rest not until I had gathered together enough to pay this indebtedness. He said Mr. Vessie had been a father to him—had put forth his hand and saved him when others had forsaken him,—and he would rather his children should beg than that dishonor should attach to his memory.” “Did your husband owe much else?” “No, sir. He contracted no debts for his living. This was all, but it was a heavy debt for him to bear.” “You say, you have raised the money?” “Yes, sir. The original debt was three thousand five hundred dollars. The interest, he said he didn’t think Mr. Vessie would take more than simple interest, brings it up to something over five thousand.” “I will find the account, my good woman, and see how it stands.” Thus saying, John opened a drawer of his desk and drew forth the list, which Witherspoon had prepared, and the very first name was that of Lawrence Patten, and against it, in the old clerk’s hand, was the following: “An honest man, and poor. His indebtedness, entirely the result of the absconding of a business partner.” Then John found the note, given nine years before, with the interest, to the time of the clerk’s making the list, cast upon the back. “The principal and interest I find to be five thousand three hundred and eighty-two dollars.” “I knew it must be not far from that,” said the widow. She shuddered and her lips quivered as she spoke. “You must find it hard to pay this, Mrs. Patten.” “In one sense it is very hard, sir, but in another it is very easy, because it is right, and because I know my—my husband—would—but—” She wiped her eyes again, and opened her reticule. Just then John Vessie tore the note into pieces, and gave those pieces to the widow, who took them mechanically, and as she clutched them in her hand she drew from her reticule a large pocket book. “Don’t take any money here, my good woman. You owe us nothing.” “It is all right. The debt is paid.” “Yes. When our father, in his last hours, came to realize how much he needed God’s forgiving grace, he, in his heart, forgave his worthy and unwilling debtors; and he enjoined it upon us that we should honor his memory among his fellows. Your husband’s debt he forgave on earth as he hoped to be forgiven in Heaven; and I have cancelled the obligation.” For a time the widow sat like one in a dream. Then she folded her hands, and tried to speak; but tears and sobs choked her utterance. Finally she raised her streaming eyes toward heaven, and to God she found speech. She blessed the sons; and she prayed that all joy and peace might be theirs. She was happy—very happy; life now offered her hope of comfort. She would go to her home, and she would teach her children to bless the memory of Samuel Vessie, and to pray for the good of his sons, And with a face more radiant than she had worn for months, she turned from the office, weeping still in the exuberance of her joy. John wiped his eyes and looked up. “Peter, what do you think of that?” “I was thinking,” replied the younger brother, “what we ought to pay Andrew for his share of the heart-wealth of this scene. Surely, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” A FRIEND told me not long ago, a beautiful story about kind words. A good lady passed a drinking saloon just as the keeper was thrusting a young man into the street. He was quite young and very pale, but his haggard face and wild eyes told that he was far gone in the road to ruin, and with an oath he brandished his clenched fists, threatening to be revenged on the man who had ill-used him. This young man was so excited and blinded with passion, that he did not see the lady who stood very near to him, until she laid her hand on his arm, and spoke in her gentle, loving voice, and asked him what was the matter. At the first kind word he started as if a heavy blow had struck him, and turned quickly round paler than before, and trembling from head to foot. He surveyed the lady for a moment, and then with a sigh of relief he said:— “I thought that was my mother’s voice, it sounded strangely like! But her voice has been hushed in death these many years.” “You had a mother then, and she loved you,” said she. With that sudden revulsion of feeling which often comes to people of fine nervous temperaments, the young man burst into tears and sobbed out, “Oh yes, I had an angel mother and she loved her boy! But since she died all the world has been against me; and I am lost to honor, lost to decency, and lost forever!” “No, not lost forever; for God is merciful, and his pitying love can reach the chief of sinners,” said the lady in her soft, sweet voice; and the timely words swept the hidden chords of feeling which had long been untouched in the young man’s heart, thrilling it with magic power, and wakening a host of tender emotions, which had been buried deep beneath the rubbish of sin and crime. More gentle words the lady spoke, and when she passed on her way the young man followed her. He marked the house she entered, and wrote the name which was on the silver door-plate, in his memorandum book. Then he went slowly away with a very earnest look on his pale face, and a deeper and more earnest feeling in his heart. Years glided by, and the gentle lady had quite forgotten the incident we have related, when one day a stranger sent up his card, and desired to speak with her. Wondering who it could be, she went down to the parlor, where she found a noble-looking, well-dressed man, who rose deferentially to meet her. Holding out his hand, he said: “Pardon me, madam, for this intrusion; but I have come many miles to thank you for the great service you rendered me a few years ago,” said he, in a trembling voice. The lady was puzzled, and asked for an explanation, as she did not remember ever having seen the gentleman before. “I have changed so much,” said the man, “that you have quite forgotten me; but though I only saw your face once, I am sure I should have recognized it anywhere. And your voice, too, is so like my mother’s.” These last words made the lady remember the young man she had kindly spoken to in front of the drinking saloon so long before, and the tears flowed freely,—both wept. After the first gush of emotion had subsided,—the gentleman told the lady how those few gentle words had been instrumental in saving him, and making him what he was then. “The earnest expression of ‘No, not lost forever,’ followed me wherever I went,” said he, “and it always seemed that it was the voice of my mother speaking to me from the tomb. I repented of my many transgressions, and resolved to live in Jesus as my mother would have been pleased to have had me; and by the mercy and grace of God I have been enabled to resist temptation, and keep my good resolutions.” “I never dreamed there was such power in a few kind words before,” exclaimed the lady, “and surely, ever after this I shall take more pains to speak them to all the sad and suffering ones I meet in the walks of life.” Oh! is this not as sweet a sound
As ever ear has heard,
Or ever dying lips could breathe
For those who may have erred?
From that last prayer upon the cross
Come Christian, come and learn,
When others may inflict a wound,
Forgiveness to return. Along the rugged ways we tread,
Where brother wars with brother,
There would be many a lighter heart,
If one forgives the other;
How ill compares a scornful look,
Or coldness to a friend.
With those kind words of him who died
That every strife might end. Though 'tis not outward forms alone
Display affections' powers,
And many a face that coldest seems,
Conceals the sweetest flowers;
Perchance these pine for one kind word
From gen'le hearts and true,
As those within the forest shade
Are languishing for dew. Yet oft a word forgiveness breathes,
To many a life would bring,
As sunny a ray as warms the leaf,
To gayer bloom in spring.
Oh! try to bless the heart that wrongs,
The little time we live,
'Twill not be much the soul can lose,
By learning to forgive. Genius counts for much, but work for more. Genius ofttimes accomplishes brilliant results, but the great lever of social progress and individual success is work. The old story of the hare and the tortoise is familiar to every one, and to all it should be something more than mere fable. It should act at once as a curb and an incentive. It should curb the impatience of work and flightiness so often characteristic of the genius gifted, and encourage the less highly endowed to a steady perseverance in using means which will certainly place them along side of if not in advance of their brilliant fellows. Nothing is more common than to find genius going up like a rocket, and coming down suddenly and swiftly like a stick, and simply for the want of application. It may be a youth at school, who, finding himself quicker of apprehension than his companions, forthwith becomes possessed with the notion that he can neglect study for play, and fetch up in a few days the neglect of weeks. Or it may be the man of business, who depends on occasional brilliant speculations rather than upon careful attention to the details of every-day transactions. It may be a lawyer whose reliance is upon his native powers of oratory rather than upon a knowledge of law acquired by diligent study. Perhaps it is an artist, who, having a natural aptitude for drawing, and an eye for color, has given evidence of the possession of the true artistic talent, and therefore imagines that the drudgery incident to art may be overleaped by him. But one and all, school-boy, business man, lawyer, artist, or whatever be their position in life, find possibly all too late to retrieve their error, how fatal has been their mistake. The school-boy discovers that his superficial brilliancy avails nothing against the solid acquirements of the patient toiler in search of knowledge; the business man's dashing speculations fail, and he is involved in ruin, while his slower and more careful competitor passes on to sure wealth; the artist's ignorance of his art ceases to be condoned by his genius and his disappointment is more bitter by observing his less talented but hard-working rival winning fame and fortune, while the lawyer's inattention to his law-books has led him into so many blunders that clients no longer entrust their interests to such incompetent hands. Industry intelligently directed always makes its mark. Possibly it may not bring the laborer high position or wealth; but seldom does the person who makes diligent and conscientious use of the powers given him, and the opportunities vouched him, fail of measurable success, and never of securing the respect and esteem of all whose regard is worth having, nor of the contentment which flows from honestly discharged duty. Genius, allied with industry, is productive of the highest results; but the combination is, and necessarily must be, rare. Few are gifted with genius, but all can work, and there is scarcely a limit to that which perseverance may achieve. Let, then, none despair of success. In whatever direction they feel themselves best fitted to labor, let them work honestly and intelligently, with the full assurance that though it may be slow in coming their reward is certain. How fast time flies, when you are working to fill it up! What a difference between trying to get your work done before your dinner hour, and trying to fill up your hour before dinner without work.—Sel. JOHN WESLEY wrote upon many subjects. Health was prominent among them. He published a work under the title of “Primitive Physic; or an Easy and Natural Method of Curing most Diseases.” From his rules the following are selected:— 1. Pure air is very important. 2. All persons ambitious of good health should be as clean as possible in their houses, furniture and clothes. 3. The great rule in food is to suit the quality and quantity to our digestion. 4. All pickled, salted and highly seasoned food is unwholesome. 5. Nothing conduces more to health than abstinence and plain food, with due labor. 6. Water is the most wholesome of all drinks, most quickens the appetite and strengthens the digestion. 7. Strong, and more especially spirituous, liquors are a certain though slow poison. Experience shows there is no danger in discontinuing them at once. 8. Coffee and tea are extremely injurious. 9. Walking is the best exercise for those who are able to bear it, and riding is the best for those who are not able to bear walking. 10. We may strengthen any weak part of the body by constant exercise. Thus the lungs may be strengthened by loud speaking or by walking up an ascent, the indigestion and nerves by riding, the arms and hands by strongly rubbing them daily. 11. The studious ought to have stated times for exercise, at least two or three hours a day. 12. Those who read or write much should learn to do it standing, otherwise it will impair their health. 13. The fewer clothes any one uses by day or night (provided he is kept warm), the hardier he will be. 14. Exercise should never be taken on a full stomach, it should never be continued to exhaustion, and when we are done, we should be careful not to cool off too suddenly. 15. The flesh-brush is highly beneficial, especially in stimulating a part which is cold and inactive. 16. All violent and sudden passions dispose people to acute diseases. Slow and lasting passions, bring on chronic diseases. 17. The love of God, as in general it is the sovereign remedy for all miseries, so in particular it prevents bodily disorders. And by the unspeakable joy and perfect calm, serenity and tranquility it gives to the mind, it becomes most powerful of all the means of health and long life. RELIGIOUS NEWS AND NOTES.
Philadelphia has more Baptist churches than any other city in the world except London. —It is reported that Mr. Sankey will spend the summer at Cohasset village, near Boston. —It is said that three and one-half million copies of the Moody and Sankey song books have been sold. —It is estimated that more than 2500 persons were received into New England churches the first Sunday in May. —The English revisers of the New Testament have reached the eighteenth chapter of the book of Revelation. —The Congregationalists claim to have 3,500 churches in the United States, with a membership of 350,658, and 3,330 ministers. —The Colored Methodist Episcopal church, which was organized in 1870, has at the present time four bishops and about 80,000 members. —The congregation of St. Andrew's church of Montreal have decided, by a majority of 213, against union with the Presbyterian church. —There are 960 missionaries and ordained native pastors in India proper, excluding Burmah and Ceylon; and 116 lady missionaries connected with the various societies. —About 10,000 Roman Catholics marched in procession through the streets of Ottawa, Canada, on Sunday, May 20, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the pope's episcopacy. —The number of Roman Catholics in the United States is computed at 6,300,000, and the church provides pastoral oversight to this entire population by one cardinal, ten archbishops, and 5,297 priests. They have 5,292 churches and 1,587 schools, and 1,200 students preparing for the ministry. —An Eastern paper says: “Fears are expressed that our missionaries may be greatly disturbed by the military movements in Eastern Turkey, and should the war be protracted it may become necessary for them to retire, at some points, to safer places. Erzeroum is one of the stations of the American Board.” —There are eighty local temperance unions in Massachusetts, all of which have been organized within the past year. Their aggregate membership is about 10,000. The money raised by them this year is nineteen thousand five hundred dollars. Massachusetts reports twenty-six reading-rooms and two temperance restaurants, all in successful operation, so far as heard from. It has also thirty-one juvenile unions, with eight thousand four hundred members. Over seventy reform clubs have been organized since last November. —A Hungarian nobleman recently gave a million of dollars to the Protestant church in that country, and soon afterward renounced the Roman Catholic church and became a Protestant. —Recently the amendment to the Burials Bill, proposed by the archbishop of Canterbury, permitting the reading of other services than that of the Church of England in church-yards, was passed by a vote of 65 against 60, despite the opposition of the Government. —Persecution of the Jews in the Danubian Principalities has broken out again. The prefect of one of the Moldavian villages, Vaslin, put himself at the head of a mob to drive the Jews out of the houses which they had hired. Three hundred of these poor victims, without regard to age or sex, were sent out into the street, where some of them died of exposure. No reason was given except that the sufferers were Jews, and so outlaws.