Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, October 17, 1880, Page 9

RELIGIOUS. The Irrepressible Coniflict Between the Church and the World. ocpristianity Has Failed; Men Must Return to Christ.” ghe Evils of Sectarianism and the Reasons for Its Abandonment. Avonal Meeting of the American Mis- sionary Society—Its Labors Last Year. Prof. Ezra Abbot, of Harvard, on the Chronology of the Gospels. The Authenticity of the Last Twelve Verses of St. Mark. General Notes, Personals, Sunday Recreations, Services To-Day. GOD’S LOVE, thou grace divine, encircling alll * Atwundiess, shoreless sea: ‘Wherein at last our souls shall fall; Osove of God, most free! ‘When aver dizzy steep we mo, + One soft hand blinds our eyes; ‘The other leads us, safe and slow, Olove of God, most wise! And though we turn us from thy face, Aud wander wide and long, ‘Thou hold’st us still in thine embrace, Olove of God, most strong! ‘The saddened heart, the restless soul, ‘Tho toll-worn trame and mind, Alike confess thy sweet control, O love of God, most kind! “ But not alone thy care we claim, “Wor ope steps to win; ‘e know thee by a dearer name, Ob love of God, within! And filled and quickened by thy breath, Our souls are strong and free, ‘To rise o'er sin, and fear, and O love of God. to thee! MISSIONARY WORK. ANSUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIA- ‘The American Missionary Association has been insession at Norwich, Conn., during the week. ‘The Treasurer's report presented the following figures for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30: Re- celpts, $188,955; expenses, $188,172; cash on hand, $763 The expenditures were divided Among the Indjans Foreign missions... Publications. .. The receipts of Berea College, Hampton N. and A. Institute, and Atlanta University are added below, as presenting at one. view the con- tributions of the same constituency for the general work in which the Association is en- lecelpts of the American Missionary As- sociation........... 0000 - S1GT 480 lan niversity, ‘6 appropriation. Borea College... e-see ene ee cea Fi00t aleria G. Stone at the band of Trus- Arthington Mission—Donations received trom Great Britain... - 6576 Avery Fund—Amount received from ex- ECULOL. «.. 250+ 0eeeeressenceeen segs aves sess 408 «The following is an abstract of the annual re- port of the Executive Committee: ‘The battle-cry of the Association now is Einlarge- spent, to which it is called by areview of the i During the decade ended with the year the anti-slavery reform was pressing for ward, the Association—then four rs old— Baling its part for the sluve, and also in home and foreign missions on an income of $25,000. At the close of 1860 ines tation was intensitied, and the Association felt the pressure of the coming strurgie. Its picket-lines of mission~ aries in the South were driven in; thirty-six «persons fied from Berea, Ky., to save their lives; one missionary in North Carolina escaped, an~ other was imprisoned, those in kansas were . providentially shielded, while their frienas wero murdered around them. From 1861 to 1870 tho Association sent into the South a steadily-in- stream of missionaries. The review of the decade drawing to a close with 1880 is full of encor ment.. ‘Che financial situation of the on is one element of encouragement. ‘The receipts for the year, aside from Mrs. Valerian G. Stone's donation of $160,000, have been- $186,~ 423i, which, together with the balance on hand Bept. 30, 1879 ($1,475.90. makes a total of $187,0827; und the expenditures ($188,141.51), thus givea credit batance of $763.73. Asa part Of the gratifying resultsof tho year’s expendi~ ture, as there was no debt to pay, there are now four school-buildings newly erected or greatly baproved; six church edifices completed; two dn the process of erection; five repaired and improved; and three parsonages built. Among ‘tuese rew schoo) buildings is the large and com- modious editice for Tillotson Institute, Austin, @permanent outpost in the rapidly-in- trensing population of the great Southwest. One of the new church buildings, that at Tecumseb., ;, Ala, waserected by the yn Company at that x ‘The educational work is the next source of en- ‘couragement. The increasing appreciation of the schools by both the white and colored people Sf the South is manifest. Georgia continuesber ‘annual appropriation of $8,000 to athe Atlanta University. re are assurances ‘that Missia- ‘siopl wilt again extend afd to Tongafoo Univeral- ‘ty. The anniyersarics of the schools are largely Attended by prominent gentlemen and are fa- ‘Yorably noticed by the press. There fsanincerased Qtlendance of, colored poopie at the schools, and the total ‘number of pupils reported ine Year {s 8,052, against 7,207 last year. e indus- ial departments ard doing Well an Important York, and there is much interest in the recent £xperiments of Prof. Steele at Memphis to in- Woduce sewing,.the cutting of garments, and Yerious branches of needlework, knitting, etc., and algo the training of nurses. ‘This last may Dethe opening of a wide door of usefulness to colored girls. The religions influence of the Schools fs manifesting itself, and there is an In- qrease of students in the theological depart- meats. Talladega reports that “cight young men graduate from the Theological Pertment, all ofsvhom will enter the Congrega- Roval minietry in tho South. They are now Warmly welcomed to the pulpits of all denomi- From New Orleans: _ “fhe Theolog- seal Department is larger than fn any previous Year. Four of the class are ordained ministers, wh are pasters of churcbes in New Orleans "The Ts partment of Hl "fhe Theological Department of How- atd Duiversity Doe that “sixteen students Teen forth to ‘preach, all of whom go to the Church work shows 2 stead ly and healthful fFowth. ‘The number of churches in the South Of che nty “three. as against sixty-seven last year; earch Members, 4,961; lust year, 4,600. ere ‘nda interest in the prayer-meetings, the erowin disposition for self-help ed me urckes. The Sunday-schools, as reported, & slight increase in numbers. ‘The temper- pro cause holds its course, and is earnestly fap! forward. The woman's work for women expoypouth fives increasing satisiaction. The ton and Gat iot educating Indian youth at Hamp- ject eagersle ‘s & confirmed success, and the 1 ful to bots” the black and red races seems ork among the Chinese on the Pacific ‘Gust has been pushed f Cessf; ‘orward quietly and suc- Bey Wy, (The eflicient Supe Mtendent the Detter Pond, says that not only more but before, (ork bas been done this year than ever Seren poe total enrollment of pupils is sixty- Marl r than last year, but the most arein those reported as baving Sa5ed trom idol. word 5 hip, and as evi- gence of conversion; in the former, aM against year, and in the latter, 127, against Cgbty-four. the Mendi Mfisston, Africa. ina discou: Bspect of SittRce survey, seems raging, butadeeper t element of success, the one peability of employing the colored men of Troe hate of mis lonaries. Seventeen of that andor been sent to the Mendi Mis- and bax oan uumber not one man has died, oust se a8 been obliged to leave on ac- ily i-health, Gemands of the tutu: Te include entarge- inthe work already in band among the I SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17, tréedmén- Bui eR pe Cepartmentts nead-es student aid should be morg, abundant: and steady; endow- ments are an absolute necessity for the institu- ‘tons of the South;-and the church work needs macy mening. Beyond the South the work ‘peeda enlarging, The Chinese schools in Cali- ‘ornia need tha Rermanency. of having build- ings undor their own control; and a mission at Hong Kong iscalied for. The work of educating ie Tadians at ibe Bast, should be enlarged. It & substitute for schooling amo) Hee Geet Th eas coders sae “ ical- What does the future ask uw Danés inher behalf? When we recall the sau gies of.the past for her enslaved children iu this country, when we think of the sraves of our missionaries in the Mendi country, and when we hear her children in our schools asking ta be sent thither, we feel called to a new and strong .offort ‘to equip conipletely the mission:on the ‘west ‘const. io enst ‘coast calisto us also. The Arthington Mission, thouch we have moved. gautfously, is neither forgotten nor abandoned. "he gencrous offer’ of Mr. Arthington still re- Maing; considerable. sums have been collected iu this ‘country and in Groat Britain,and as soon juate amount fan be We sball feel called to go sormned, Sore From all these considerations we ask for a new und wide enlargement of our work. The duty to America and. to Africa demands it. Fispecially do we aeee that Americe owes it to 5 and honor that it shall ad care for the Treodmon. aan ———__ INGERSOLLIANA. QUESTIONS Foi MR. BRONSON KEELER. : To the Editoy! of The Chicago Tribune. - Curcaao, Oct. U.—I propose the following questions for Mr. Keeler to answer at his con- venience: Ry @) He asserts ina recent issue of Tae Tnm- UNE that ‘Orthodox scholars concede that the Gospel of John was not written till 90 A. D., but they claim that tho other Gospels were written carlfer than that. Better scholarship places all the Gospels, ut their beginning, about a century ora century and a half after Jesus [i. e., 180 A. D.}, probably the latter.” Let him name. first the orthodox scholars, and then the better scbol- sranip. Does. he Lees Ake Ezra Abbot, of q seholartipe = nn ler tho better or povrer 2) 0 give us hi standard book, ndtonting. the page Tor the ae. sertion. that the Bible contains 150,000 errors? - @) Will he kindly state Canon Wescott's real views as to the timo when the Gospels arose, and whether he is one of the poorer or better scholars? UNE that thero is no trace of the Gospels. before 150 A. 2B xeata upon the argu- iow evidence ¢ eppored to tis profudies. > Tesieting Tt) gives an im; ot (which I heard stated in a DUBe Toatuce’ by Prof. Kahuta fo Leigalye University): “The very lute date assigned. to the Gospel John] by Baur and Sehwegier namely: somewhere between the xonrs 169 and-170 A. D.—cannot be maintained. Zeller and Scholten. retreat to 153; feld, who its uee iigen- ig at least constrained ‘to admit by Justin “Martyr, back to between 130 ond 140;" Renan now says 125 or 190; Keim, in the’ first volume of bis ‘History of Jesus of % ed. it with great confidence between tho ears 110 and 116, or more loosely, A. D. 100-117. ia fatal consequences of such an admission 28 that were, however, soon perceived; and in the last volume of his iistory of Jesus, and in the Test elton oF ble sertarment of (at work, he 19 year 130, to A. D. 135-120." enol esslena: Wh “This enforced shifting ot the date of the Gospel to the earlier part of the second century (which I may remark incidentally is fatal to the theory that {ts author borrowed from Justin Martyr mstead of Justin from John) at once pre- sents very serions difficulties on the supposition of the spuriousness of the Gospel. Itis the uni- testimony, that the Evan; john lived to a (4) He affirms that the writings of Plato claim’ -to have been written by Plato. Iam eo ignorant on this subject that I should be exceedingly obliged to Mr. Keeler if he would exactly indi- cate in what writings of Plato this claim is mado. ¢. g., the dialog, giving the section. (6) Will you tell us when the Puranus, in which Krishnn ig mentioned, received their final form? Was it before or ufter Christ? If after, can he prove that the alleged resembiances of Krishna to Christ have not been derived from contact with Christianity or avochryphal writings? 1 want brief and explicit answers to these questions, although, as Sr. Keeler professes to be an agnostic (I. ¢., a know-nothing in matters of religion), it is perhaps too much to expect that he should know anything definit about crit- {cal matters. Would it not be well for him to admit that he does not know anything more about them than he docs about religion? ‘VinDEx, PRACTICAL VERSUS THEORETICAL PIETY. To the Editor af The Chicago Tribune, New Haves, Conn., Oct. 8—Among the many great responses called forth by Mr. Ingersoll’s remarkable lecture, can you admit to your columns a very small one? Many of the ideas which are put forth as new and startling products of the emancipated reason are merely different forms (and not always bet- ter forms) ot old truths which believers have been discussing and using for practical pur poses from time immemorial. Years ago, ina country village, we listened ton discourse, de-~ signed for edification rather than for discus- sfon, in which the preacher spoke of the dif- ferent kinds of plety, such as theoretical, ex- perimental, and practical. “It is remarkable,” said he, in substance, “that in the Bible the | final reward is always given on the ground of practical plety aloue.” John Wesley somewhere declares himself disgusted with those who are continually erying nothing but “ Belleve, be- Heve; so much 6o that he would rather listen to @ sermon on either zvod tempers or sood works. This is a good deal for one to say who so cordially hated those moralizing common pleas which ignore conversion. And did not St. James at the very threshold of Christian history say, “For us the body without the spirit is dead, 80 faith without work is dead also"? ‘Faith is to the soul something like what good health is to the body. It is that which gives us power to take all othor blessings. We say with truth that.the whole subsistence of the working men is dependent on his health; yet n0 one sup- poses that the burly laborer can support himself ~and famsly just by loafing round, enjoying-bis health. Health must bear fruit in work. Nor is it any news to the great body of smmcere believers that different parts of Scripture kre adapted to different persons, or to the same per- 502 at different times. We cannot doubt, to be panded and elevated by forming some acquaint- ance with the whole Bible. But no reasonable person would think of crushing out the instinct or the judgment, whichever jt be, whieh leads each to select the spiritual food best suited to ‘his own present wants. For example, the Gospel of St. Matthow has many excellences which we all admire, and many of us muy take, more pleasure in reading that Gospel thin in reading the others. Butwe need not, therefore, throw discredit on all the rest; others have a right to their choice as well as we to ours. Some ot Mr. Ingersoll’s bluntly expressed opinions are full of instruction for the Church, He has his shure of the truth, and must havea fair bearing; but he is not the only once whohas a share, 1nsome respects he is an ex- cellent judge of religion; in othor respects his early association with Christisnity hus been ao positive injury. If he wishes to be more thana | very smart lecturer,—if be aspires, as well he may, to boareally valuable public guide,—be ought to associate for a considerable time on termes of equality and sympathy with sincere Christians. It would be better to choose x3 companions some whosg love for their Lord and Master is not too much Ohscured by a burning zeal for their own authority. + By their fruits ye shall know them.” Public and private discuésions are all well in thoir quae But they give outside views; and for learning the “true inwardness” of a system thore is nothing so as familiar acquaint- ance With those who are imbued with its spirit. ate —_—— GOSPEL DATES, SOME QUOTATIONS FROM PROF. EZRA ABBOT. To the Editor of The Chicago Tribune. CnrcaGo, Oct. 16.—One would suppose from some pieces which havo recently appeared in Tae Sunpay Trrsone, that the best scholarsbip hus settled down to the belief that there is no trace of the existence of the Gospels until tho year150A.D. I do not know that there is any particular use in trying to refute this state- ment with those who are bound to have it 80,—whoare not able toappreciate the arguments by which men of the highest learning in this country, England, and Germany assign the origin of the Gospels in their written form to the first century. If this isa question which is to be settled by ignorance and bluster the pages of THE SUNDAY TRIBUNE might as well be de- voted to the crudities which have so lately ap- peared without protest: _ Christianity has nothing to fear from the truth. but its defenders may well feel sad to seo the credulity of the public, and the unquesnon- ing way in which so many accept the reckless, false, and garbled statements of the merest tyro in these matters, while they reject the Seriptures which have survived the fierce as- saults of infidelity for centuries. There are, however, doubtless not a few who would really like to know whether the best acholarship holds that the four Gospeis arose in the first century, or whether there is no trace of them before the year 150 A. D. ‘This is u question that admits of a definit so- lution. It ‘is perfectly well known among all New Testament critics what names have weight. In does not, however, lie within the proviuce of anybody who can consult books in the Chicago Library and .can write along article to give correct. information in regard to this matter. The best sources are in the German language, as German echolarship ts particularly rich in this department. Ouly those who are versed in such matters can give us the results of New Testament criticism, The consensus of this scholarship may be found in Hertwig’s Tahel- len zur ‘Binleitung ing Newe Testament, Berlin, 1872, or fn various rer works. It is not ., however, to quote from German from the works of English scholurs, Witerso wi r who'd Gevervedly have a high reputation among the critics, but from a littie book by an “American, who is confessedly one of the fore- jnost New Testament critics of the age. Irefer to Prof. Ezra Abbot, D. D., LL.D., of Harvard College; 2 man of the most painstaking accu- Tacy,of nicest pasgments and of the utmost conscientiousness. these traits were not suf- floient to insure confidence, the fact that he is a ‘Tnitarjan would remove the suspicion of un- fairness ‘and prejudice. Such ure his sttain- ments that he was invited by German scholars to prepare the prolegomenpas to the eighth edi- tion of Tischendorf’s Greek Testament. Tomy certain Knowledge he has furnished valuable corrections ia the text of Greek Testaments edited by famous English scholars. There is no that when such a man writes a book oa a subject to which he has devoted years of In- Yestigation itis worth reading, and that the xe lation of his statements in accuracy und relin- bility on matters of New. Testament criticism as Jd with those of certain agnostics, who fy ic mis- ‘ister. up Col. Ingersoll in his worst 1 fakes is ume ‘of a ton's weixht to a feather's. e ‘In bis book on “The Authorship of the Fourtl G *” Boston, 1880, Prof. Abbot says repurd- fag the writer, Who was put forth in. lest Sune 9 4RIBUNE as the embodiment of tho better ae harap on the ad Testaments fasted: uals differ widely in the! aint reste! reed evidence opposed to their preju on tu ernatural Religion’ has few equ: BUEnDT capacity.” That ts, tke ‘statement in last sure, that the spiritual nature ought tobe cx- | ‘ form tradition, sunported: by erent weight of ee very advanced age, spending the lutter portion of his Ufe in Asia Minor, and dying there in tho relgn of Trajan, not far: from A. D. 100. How could a spurious Gospel of a character so pecul- iar, so different from the earlier Synoptic Gos- pols So utterly uahistorical as it is ed to be, gain currency as the work of the <postio both among Christians and tho Gnostic heretics, if {t originated only twenty-five or thirty years after his death, when so many who must have known whether he wrote such a work or not were still living?” . . . - “T begin with the statement, which cannot be questioned, that our present four Gospels, and no others, were received by the great body of Christians as genuine ana sacred books during the last quarter of the second century.” . . . Mr. Norton, in his work on the * Genuinencss of the Gospels,” argued with great force that, when we take inte condsideration the peculiar ebaracter of the Gospels, and the character and circumstances of the community by which they wore received, the fact of thelr universal re- ception at this period admits of no reogonahle explanation, except on the supposition that they aro fenulae. Pues shalt not re- capitulate Mr, Norton’s argument; but I would call attention to one point on which ho justly lays great stress, though it is often overlooked—namely: that the main evi- dence for tho genuineness of the Gos- pels is of an altogether different kind from that which can be adduced for the gen- uineness of any classical work. It is not the testimony of a few eminent Christian writers to their private opinion, but it is the evidence which they afford uf the belief of the whole body of Christinns: and this not iu respect to ordinary books whose titles they might ¢asily take on trust, but respecting books in which they were most deeply interested; books which were the very foundation of that faith which separated them from tho world around them, exposed them to hatred, scorn, and persecution, cae often demanded the sacrifice of life it- gat.” Prof. Abbot in answermg the assumption of the author of “Supematural Religion,” that there isno certain trace of our Gospels until 150 years after the death of Christ, makes the following quotation from Mr. Norton: “About the end ot the second century the Gospels were reverenced as sacred books by a community dispersed over the world, comiposed of men of diferent nations and languages. There were, to say the least, 60,000 copies of them in existence; they were read in tho churches of Christians; they were coutinually quoted and appealed to asof the highest authority; their reputation | was 08 well established among believers from one end of the Christian community to the other. asitisat the present day among ‘Christians in apy country. But it is asserted that before that period we find no trace of their existence, and it is therefore Inferred that they were not in common use, and but little known, even if extant in their present form. This reasoning is of the same kind as if cue wero to say that tho first mention of Ecyptian Thebes is in the time of Homer. He, indeed; describes it as a city which poured a hundred armies from its hun- dred cates; but his is the first mention of it, and therefore we haveno reason to suppose that ibe his time it was a place of any considera- le note.” Twill not quote farther from Prof. Abbot's book, which is accessible to all who may wish to investigate the subject for themselves, but will only romark in closing, if it be charged that Christians have a bias fur Christianity let it be remembered unbelievers bave a bins against.it, Scfentific criticism, as illustrated by eof. Ezra Abbot, arzues tho question simply on historical data without bias, and finds the strongest: papopealles that the Gospels originated luring the Hirst century. so SAmcgn Ives Corriss. GOSPEL AUTHENTICITY. ‘THE LAST TWELVE VERSES OF MARK—ARE THEY GENUINE? Prof. Blackburn én the Intertor. : Do the last: twelve verses of Mark's Gospel rightfully belong to the canon of inspired Script- ure? [To dla me reader they are herewith ap- pended:] 9. Now, when Jesus was risen early the first day of tho week, He nppeared first to Mary Mag- dalane, out ot whom He had cast seven devils. 10. And she went and told them that had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. Hi. And they, when they bad beard that He was alive and had been scen of her, believed not. 12, After that Ho appeared in another form unto two of them 2s they walked and went into the country. 13. And they went and told it unto the residue; neither believed they them. 1g. Afterward He appenred unto the eleven as they sat at ment, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had -seen Him after He was risen, : 15, And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. 116. He t believeth and is ‘baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damued. . ii, And these signs shall follow them that La- lieve. Inmy name shall they cast out devils; they shail speak with new tongues. 48. They shail take up serpents; and if they drink pay ‘deadly thing, it shul! not hurt them: they shalt lay hands on the sick and they sball recover. ° 19. So then, after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into Heaven and sat on the right hand of God. : 20, And they went forth and preached evory- where, the Lord working with them and con- firming the word with signs following. Amen. The question was mooted 1,500 years ago, and recent utterances give it afresh intercst. Treat- ing the subject historically, though not exhaust- fyely, we offer the following outline of factsand opinions: ' IL. Citations previous t2 A. D. 350, Irenmns, Bishop of Lyons, 177-202, quoted tho whole of verse 19 as written by Mark “at the end (in finem) of his Gospel.” ‘The canonicity of tho entire passage is supported by Hippolytus, Dionysius of Alexandria, and Athanasius. Verses 15 and 18 are quoted in full, as sayings of Obrist, although no writer is named, in the Apocryphal Gospel of Nicademus which may have been written in the third cent- ury. Verse 16 appears elsewhere twice as Christ's words, in the same book. This verse is quoted in the so-called Apostolic Constitutions (perhaps before 325), and verse 17 Is quoted on another page of the same docu- ment, a8 say! of. the Lord. We hare a right’ to infer that these verses were quotations from the Gospel of Mark. II. Earliest versions. The passage is con- tained in the Peshito (bezun “ perhaps within the Apostolic age,” says Wescott), the old Latin, the Coptic, aud, says Stier, “all the oid ver- sions.” Thus far the evidence jn ity favor is peculiarly weighty. No challenge of its gen- uineness, before the year 30), comes from truth- loving men. + z HI. Variations in manuscripts which are not pow certaisly known. to exist. The first re- corded mention of these vuriations seems to bave been by Eusebius, the nistorian (20-40), who wrote that the passage was found in some manuscripts, but nearly all omit it Did he know of all? Horne thinks thar be ‘has ox- aggerated.” Gregory of Nyssa (312-305) did not finditin several of “the most exact copies.” ‘Victor of Antioch (401), after noting the ditter- ent readings in many copies, says, “« Yet we havo found the words {verses 9-0] in very many of the accurate copics, . . . and according to the cops of the Gospel received in Palestine, we -bave added them as the true original of St Mark hasthem.” Prosper of Aquitaine quotes verse 1. Jerome (405) may not mean, as often asserted, that the entite passage was wanting “jn almost all the Greek copies.” but that only verses 9-11, in reference to Mary Magdalene, were omitted. Heseems not to have rejected posed discrepancy between it and the Gospel of atthew.- It is in the Latin Vulgate with his Sekar ipts retaining the passage aft . Manuscripts retaining the after its canonicity was questioned. Itisin the Codex Alexandrine, and in the Codices of Ephriam and Beza, three very important manuscripts which may be older than the year 500; ulsoin at least eleven manuscripts of iater centuries, and in “the very ancient evangclistaria,” or Hturuical selections. Still it ig marked as doubtful in some later manuscripts. It isnot contained in the Vatican Codex, perhaps of the fifth century, nor in the recenily’ known Siuaitic, which Tischendorf and others assign to the fourth century. ‘Y. Writers, from 350 to 1500, in favor of the canonicity .of the passage. Chief among them aro Cyril, of Jerusalem; Ambrose, of Milan; Bighop of Hippo, 391-429; John Cassian; Leo, of Rome, 440; ren Ory Bishop of | tome, 530, who preached on verses 14-40; Bede; John Mamascus; Photius, 859-891; Theo- phylact, 1070; and Eythymius, 1100; who found variant readings of the passage in manuscripts, but thought “it contains noting contrary to the trath””;.also ‘Thomas Aquinas, fo the Catena Aurea, 1270, retainod. if, and he was likely to be an authority until jong-hidden manuscripts should come to light. VL Modern writers; ‘three classes: 1. Those who reject.the entire ‘passage a3 Cardiaal ‘Cajetan, 1517-’27;-Tischendorf, Reuse, Hoffman, Meyer, who calls 1t ‘an apocryp: the passage, for he secks to remove the sup- ; 1888—SIXTEEN PAGES, fragment,” and many cs, especially a ree réxard it ad Of doubtful genus EA ose Who a nuine- ness, | Amon; them are Griesbaen, Michaalis, ner, ant pe e 5 . 3. Those who retain it a8 & cnnonteal addition cither (a) by some writer-of authority other than Mark. ‘This is the view of. Aiford; David- gon, Westcott, Archbishop Thompson, Tregelles, who. accepts’ it “as @ genuine part of the Gespel,” and | Wordsworth,”. who. ‘says: “Let ‘this portion not jedieathy ten by St. Mark, still it. ts. as’ much a art of the Gospel as what was Written by fim.” This opinion does not involve a denial oft ‘the in- spiration of the passage. * Or (bh) by Mark.” It may suffice to name bere Erasmus, Catvin, Bi -Grotius, Bengel, Richard -Simon,Rosenmueller, Kuinoel, Eichhorn, Storr, rdner, Campbell, Mill, Knapp, _ Horne, sen; Guericko, Schiaid, Stet, Lange, Ebrard, De Wette, Cardi nal Mai, Bloomfield, Burgon,--Greswell, ‘Robin- son, aud J. A. Alexander. - Gardiner, in bis Har- mons, p. 27%, says: “Possibly it may have been added by St. Mark at a later period than the first publication of his.Gospel. ‘This supposition would harmonize with all the facts.” ‘So also Lange supposes. Ebrard'thinks thst somehow Mark was provented from'making a fuller rec- ord: of the events concerned, and ‘therefore -wrote brief, condensed conclusion ta his Gos- el. 3 BA Davidson admits that'“ external testimony of itself preponderates in favor of, the authentici- ty.” But be relies for his doubts, and othersfor thotr denfal of the genuineness of the ‘passage, largely on the style and use of words not elae- where common to Mark. Ebrard says: “The necessity for beesity, will account for a the changes in style and expression, and the genu- ineness of the section need nat be disputed on account of them.” 7 CHURCH VS. WORLD. A VIEW FROM A PRESENT-DAY STANDPOINT, John Latoson Palmer in the Victorian Review. . . . Tao tide of orthodox religion is un- questionably on the ebb. The stream towards the churches ig thinner; Teverence for “the ctoth'? is on the wane; faith in professions of. conversion and saintship, a8 affording any guar- antee for nobler, Durer, Or less selfish lives, is only exercised by the simple.. Thousands on whom tho spell of early associations, old memo- ries, and sacred ties i still’ strong, who would believe what once they belleved if only they could, nnd who often yearningly wish they could, are compelled by sheer conviction to let one tenet after another go, and with pain and in mystery they murmur to themselves: if . the strange rhyme , Of bygone Merlin, “Where'ls ha who knows? From the great deep to the grert deep he goes.” ‘With a profound veneration and an idyllic af- fection for the character, the life, and the teach- of Jesus Christ, they know: not where to place Him, nor how to regard Him: ‘Thou seemest human and divine, ‘The highest, holiest manhood Thou— expresses the wistful uncértainty of multitudes of brave, sincere hearts, and exhausts all that they surely, believe. They. long to range the Messfth on the plane of . Deity, but they cannot doso with honest conviction. They - pause si- lent: some hopeful und expectant; some hope- Jess and despairing. : As for organized Christianity, the aphorism of the German philosopher—“Christianity’ has failed; mon must return to Christ’—ss nearly as possible crystallizes the thought of many, who, whatover may be their bewilderment as to the truo doctrine of “the Christ,” have no doubt whatever that croeds, céremonies, traditions, and machinery; have made modern Christianity as unlike the religion inaugurated by Christ, as they are sure Phariseeism in Christ’s time had metamorphosed and corrupted the teaching of Moses. be This condition and attitude of modern society is sufficiéntly interesting, if indeed it be not graye enough, to invite inguiry and to call for the freest discussion. Whatever standpoint may be occupied, the mystery of; existence, the rela- tion of man to the origin or.Originator of life and to that part of himself;which ho knows .to ve distinct frum his body and bis intéllect and calls bis soul, the passionate aspiration for im- morality, and the evidence for and the nature of a future atate, are subjects of perennial in- terest to mankind, Though the religions of the races into which thefhuman family Is split are as different as the regions they oocup; a gud though the objects they worship lissimilar as thoir habits, are yet itis admitted on all hands thar man is a be- tw coincident ing with religious instincts. In him—to whst- ever zone he belongs, snd whatever may be his color—longiug, ‘apprehension, hope, demand some answer to the immemorial questions which successive erations have continued to ask: “Whatam i? Whuseam I? What is my rela- tion to God, if there be a God; to eternity, if there be un eternity! What is the-chief good for which I should goin quest? Must I worship; and,-if’s0, whom or what? ‘Whither am I going? | -Woatshail I be—it Lahull, continue to be—wher _the heat has gone .from.cut. ‘eyelids are closed for the lust time?” i For orthodox Christian folks, of course, sll these questions are definitly and authorita- tively ‘answered, For them the riddles aro solved, the problems explained, the mysteries cleared away. Creation, conscious existenoo, tho purpose and drift of life, the final destiny and ultimate conditions of the race, are ex- unded and settled. Within the covers ofa ook which modern enterprise produces fora few pence, and which the aevotion of those who accept it as a supernatural and complete reve- Jation presses gratuitously upon the acceptance of every nation and tribe into whose lanzuage it has been translated, orthodox Christians say—and in many instances there is no just renson tor doubting their sincerity =the “ obstinate questionings” of the common human beart are all answered. To them the only true God is revealed, the will of God for the conduct of life is made known, the exit hence which men call death is lit up, and thoy are sure of eternal life and biessedness. Probably nine out of ten who read this article were brought up to regard the Bible as these do, and were bidden to receive every word of it without daring to ask a single question. Many who now doubt because thoy have been forced to think, still regard the Bible as in some sense a divine revelation, even though they see the impenetrable shudows which lie upon portions of it, and the yawning abysses which no faith remaining with them bas strength of wing to cross. Even those to whom the Old Testament has become but the fragmentary story of an ambitfous, seif-seeking, conceited—but withal —_ patriutic—Eastern people, and whom the New Testament with to all its theology, is but a record of a “creed outworn,” feel the spell of 2 reverence which no positivism can root out, a reverence which prevents them from putting the Bible upon the sime shelf as the Shasters, the Greek classica, or the Korau, But many who still hold the Bible, kold it with a trembling hand, for after turning its pages, not in carplug, but ina devout spirit, they have closedit with a profound sorrow, bo- cause neither lawgiver, bard, seer, Messiah, or apostle has given convincing replies to the “ ob- stinate questionings” of their hearts. It is not to be wondered at that those who thus regard the Bible. should distrust the guidance and deliverances of the clergy, who base all their teaching upon it and appeal toits literal words as furnishing an authoritative end to all controversy. It has become somewhat the fash- ion, indeed, among flippant writers to represent the majority of the clergy or.ministers as either coarse bypocrits or a sort of middle-sex—a lit- tie more than woman, and something less than man. Butafter all the smart things that have Ueen said and written, it cannot be doubted by” the FRougte fal that tne average clergyman or minister is just the lopical product of the Bible, and of ‘the creed and ,customs of the Church to which be belon: He is necessarily dogmatic, because the Bible is the most dogmatic book in the human language. He cso hardly fail to be cramped nnd partial, because his mind is im- prisoned between hard and fast walls payors which be thiaks it isirreverent to go, Hels al- most certain to be patronizing, because he be- Jicves he is an ambassador of the Almighty, and is invested—even when he does not claim to be a priest—with mysterious spiritual functions. He Is often commonplace and forceless, because he feels he must preach, not what he thinks and believes, but what tho people who pay him his stipend expect him to preach. He is usually lamentably ignorant of what men of the world think and believe, because he lives apart from them, and because, a8 the result of a thousand conventionalisms, he cannot get to kaow them, and.they will not take him into their confidence. So, in'a sort of serene dream,—no doubt some- how ‘sincerely believing it himeelf,—many a clergyman or minister gocs on repeating as ab- solute facts and unquestionable truths the crude theories, the supernatural traditions, the merci- less theology which pi current when tho human race was {nits Infancy. Whatever he finds in the Bible he holds to have the authority of a mathematieal demonstration. He treats the dramatic representation of the creation as exact scientitic truth,—insisting that the uni- verse is not over 6,000 years old, and that it was vall created in six days of twenty-four bours each. He recites the parabolic illustration of the origin of evil as if it were severe history, in- sisting upop every item of it, even to the talk- ing of the serpent and the eating of the fruit. He affirms that the entire globe was once sub- merged for forty days, and that the ark of Noah rested on the almost inaccessible summit of Ar- arat in Armenia, from which the descentof the oceupants was a sheer impossibility. He ac- coe the whole cycle of miracles as indisput- able facts, including the standing still of the sun,and the Hoating of the ax’s head. The Supreme Being is often represented as an East- ern absolute monarch—a tyrant—who chooses favorits irrespective of their moral character, whose sole end in the government of the world own sovereign will The devil is depic fiend filled with a malignant but—except upon the Miltonic theory—inexplicable hatred of mankind, and -in power little tess than an Al- mighty EviL With an unblanched cheek it is qnnounced that the majority of the human race are foredoomed to unutterable and unend- ing torments in a piace called hell, which is a bottomless pit blazing with burning brimstone, and from which the shticks of the eternally damned will ascend. and smite for spurious: | ever against the ears of a relentless God. It to «} dieates surely need hardly be said that, so long as these astounding or horrific ideas are reiterated from the pulpit as truths which not to believe is to be & worldling, a child of the Devil, and to have 20 Part nor lot in any kingdom of God: long: Eee OS, ening aa inexcusable here, not to Samhaets, that there are clergymen aud ministers lear-eyed, jarge-souled, broad-minded, and outspoken, who have the full coursge of thoir convictions and express them eronaly. But the sharp exporiences of Ii . Robert~ son, Manning, Gynch, lenso, rt thers, — who son Smith, mm ol in silent Obseurity. ‘are proof ‘have suffered hen the opinions of the preacher are with ‘the articles ES -creed ‘of the Chureh with which he is connected, he may ex- pect merciless persecution, and is sure to learn that a church will hunt down and crush, if pos- sible, one who leaves the old landmarks and di- Verges from the traditional lines. It is not at all surprising, with the facts of history which lie behind, and the tacts of experience which lie around, that those who are unshackled from bib- Holatry and emancipated from pulpit-dogmat- lam, should regard the churches, which are the orgunized embodiments of Christianity, as com- pased largely of the tim{d, the credulous, tho abnormally devout, the bigoted, and those who, pele churcbes in existence, and prudentially ap) ising ‘their value for social, monetary, or political purposes, remain fu them and use them. for their own personal advancement. A smitten faith in the literal inspiration of all that is to be found in book of the Bible, a mental Surrender of articles, creeds, and - confes- sions, as inadequate when they” are not impertinent, anda revulsion from clericalism a8 delusive and often daugerous, can only re- sultin diminisned confidence inthe organized communities which imajatain and defend them all. No man of the world, whohas sufficient cult- ure to gauge the mental condition of the time, and who hus had a commensurate experience of what: this generation of English-speaking people think and talk about, can doubt foat the great majority—of men at any rate—look upon. churches as failures, vven when they do not re- gard thom as positively inimical to the welfare of the human race. fact, the Church de- and the Wi See biel and ivalds the Courch, World probably be well to detine the twe words “Church” and “ World,” which are ured in the title of this article. The word “Church” ig employed in no technical sense, nor is it lim- ited by any tocal application. Itis used in its widest and most con:prehensive siguification. It is intended tu include every form of the Chris- Uan faith; from the venerable, stately, and ornate system of Roman Catholicism, to the newest, narrowest, and most dogmatic coterie of Plymouth Brethren. The Church, in fact, Stands for all who profess and call themselves Christians, who on that ground are associated together, who draw a sharp line of separation ‘Detween themecives and thérest of the human race, and who assume that because they believe they believe certain doctrines—because they think they have passed through certain emo- Honn) experiences, or because they have com- Plied with cortain ceremonies or ordinances, they have established a kind of claim upon Je- bovah, ure “ elect" and “aaved.” az ‘The Church, in this aggregate’ aspect, is com- sed of somewhat heterogencous: elements,—aa infallible Pope, Cardinals, (ietops, priests, cler- gymen, ministers, members, communicants. No one who knows Christian churebes can doubt that thore are in them some of the “freest, brotherliest, bravest human souls.” There ara those who walk humbly with the God in whom they believe. and sincerely with thetr fellow- men, for whom in charity and earnestness they ut forth self-denying labors. On the other ‘and, noone can deny that there are in the churches some.of the meanest, hollowest hypo- crits. There are those who stand: before an omniscient God, in whom they profess to be- lieve, with lies in their right hand, and by a false pretense of ploty deceive their feilow-men: ‘They are correctly typified by that smug Pharisee who went up to the Temple two ray, and, in his arrogant self-conceit, thanked od he was not as other men, who, like the rest of his order, trusted in himself that he was righteous, and despised others. The ‘word “ World” is used generally for those who stand aloof from organized Christian societies. Those, however, who are specially contemplated, are they who remain without tho pale, not because they willfully refuse to be- jieve what Js necessary to entrance, but because, in honest-heartedness, they cannot uecept tho y or conform to the usages of the churches. Libertines, as well as criminals, are as fas separated from decent worldly society as they are from the professedly religious. ey are not those who are spoken of as the “world,” or “wordly.”| In a very summary fashion, those who aro addicted to vice and crime ate handed over to “the flesh and the devil.” And yet, oddly enough, the Church re- gards the ultimate chances of the worldly leas hopefutiy than those of the profane and de- bauched. A gay Lothario will, it is supposed, see the error of his way, repent, and be con- verted; but a mora) unbeliever who cannot pat- ter a shibboleth he does not believe or under- stand, and wili not associate himself with a eburch, fs held to have a very slender chance of waking up to bis danger in thistife, and has no hope of getting into Paradise. In the meantime, just in the proportion that the Church is losing, oy fails to win, the men of this generation, the World is adding them to its ranks. At the same time, itis both superficial and: false to suppose that - abstention from religious services and _ refusal bo enrolied with church members in- increasing — irreligiousness. Many a “heated pulpiteer" accuses the age of irreverence, und denounces the present genera- tlon as materialistic, scoffing, and godless. He who has any true insight into its mental coudi- tion knows this to bea libeL It is no exaggera- ton to say that multitudes who give no outward evidence of the slightest interest in religion are really im the solitude of their own hearts rever- ently pondering relizious apeutione. To any ‘one, too, whose perception is not dimmed by prejudice, our best literature—books, serials, und newspapers—bears its witness to the in- tense earnestnéss of inquiry which thrills mod— ern society. Loss of faith in dogmas and church systoms does not imply loss of interest in the great problems of existence, nor in the relation of man to the unknown! Philosophy pursues her inveatigations, and science prosecutes her dnguicies in the presence of the idea, at jeast, of a God, and with dofinit reference to the Bible. ‘The theories advanced, the conclusions drawn, may be wrong, but they are not dishonestly wrong. Some of the criticisms upon supersti- tion are, no doubt, severe; sume of the rebukes of arrogant presumption and of the malignant tenets of current thoology are scathing, but they have the ring of sincerity and the accent of conviction. There are iconoclasts and bius- terers, it must be admitted; but he must indeed be a bigot who does not admit that the great in- tellects of the age are addressing themselves to the study of the natural and the supernatural, with the single desire to discover—* What is truth?” Naturally at this point the question arises, how it comes to Rip that the “Church” is losing the orld”; or, rather, that so many drift over to the World, be- cause they spparaaty do not wish to identify themselves with the Church. Some answer has been already given in the manifest unrest and uncertainty which prevail. Undoubtedly, how- ever, the number, the diversity, and the rivalry of the Christian sects account for much of the alienation which exists. Even where the study of uatural laws and of comparative mythology has weakened faith in the Bible as the onty in- spired book in the world, and fn the thaumatut rf the Soripuires as entitled to implicit belief, there would still be strong influences to secure outward recognition of Christianity if there were homogeneity among its professors. Instead of unity, however, there is discord. Even the most credulous seeker for truth must be puz- zled to understand how a Supernatural ind i vealed religion claiming to u ny. ons tt inal cao be suscepti- ble of so many antagonistic interpreta- tions. Buddhism, Brahminism, Mohammedun- iam each presents to neophytes a solid front and # compact body. Christinaity, however, dis- plays a set of separate and often hostile camps. 'The teaching of Christ is parted among his sects ag his vesture was divided among the soldiers who crucified him. Not only is thereau absence of toleration among those “who profese and call themselves Christians,” but they denounce each other as deceived and deceivers, and warn those who are tleeing from a wrath to come, or are seekinga God, against entering any fold but their own. It'is not denied that there ure many better than their creed in all the denominations, large Bouls who find good ineverything, and evi- dence of divinity, wherever divine deeds are done; yet it is certain that these are but the few amongst the many,and the few are regarded a 6 it guppos 4 : fairly educated,—familinr, that tu Cy ie with ‘Biblical Uterature, with tne re- sults of the inquiries of the past half century, with the writings of the positivists— begins to feet the ennui of existence, and turns toreligion for solace. It may be imagined that he is free from the prej dices: Fis bias, the warpings of early ignorances snd sentimental associations. He has not‘to uniearn, for exam~ ple, that God made the world out of nothing in six days of twenty-four hours each; or that the human race have had to swelter through ages of agony in consequence of the first woman who was made picking the fruit of a tree; "or that the Almighty, during the centuries when Egypt, ‘Assyria, Greece, and Rome were the homes o! art and civilization, cared notbing for any of the human race, except the tribe of He- ‘brews who occupied the narrow strip of land on the castern shore of the Mediterranean Sea; or that the God whom men have been taught to call their “Heavenly Father" is 2 capricious tyrant, who can only be Dropltiaed by the shed- ding of blood; ora punctilfous being who can ‘be placated by the offices of a specially- fasa, who wear clothes of avertain cut and who perform certala, ome he t Manner and at any exa Would probably ‘be difficult in the whole of Christendom to find many who are in this state of nature, but for the sakeof the argumentitmay ‘bo supposed. The one thing of which he {s most deeply conscious is, that he is tired of the world’s affairs und enjoyments. He is pressed upon by a Sense of his own framortality; com” Pigs pevor 1d, this a life ies you Like mare ‘Antony. only for & nobler purpose. witha “fine scorn” he can “toss the wort away.” He despises mere wealth. Fame iga cuckoo-cry. Pleasure is a syren’s ‘song. He wants heart's ease,—inward quiet, He hss studied the Bible. He has accepted Cnristinalty, ‘The unselfishness, the utter byes the mol grandeur of the character 01 Berted thelr power upon him. He decides that he will be a. tian,—in no half-hearted fash jon, but with a full surrender of his whole ar AL Immediately his difficulties Sere ee ciate: t he has to decide what kind Bewill be. Ho is ready to say, “+X will and color, Christ tor my. Lord‘and Master, and &ll ‘who ‘are His disciples shall be my friends.” He learns, in “this initial stage. that it cannot be. If ‘he: be- come 4 Roman Catholic, he finds he must regard tints..as_ heretics. .1f-he join“ the Church of England, he will be deemed a heretic by the Church of me, and wil be re- quired to jook upon’ all . outside - the churoh . of “his: choice as schismatics. . If he attach himself to the’ Wesleyan, the Presbyte- rian, or the Cougregationalist denominations, he will be taught thut Roman Catholicism is anti- Christ, and he will be-debarred from all real communion with the Church of England. If he unite with the Baptists, some of. them: will ex- thim to believe that only those who have -n Immersed are certain of regeneration, and if his child ‘die without some form of baptism, 0 priest of tome nor clergyman of the Church of England will yield it.the customary rites ot sepulture in what they term “consecrated ground.” If he be attracted to Quakerism, he will ex, himself to the same disabilities, and because of his nou-observance of the ordinance of the Lora’s Supper he will be practically ostra- clsed from the whole Christian Church.’ If he seek refuge with the Plymouth Brethren, he will be expected to cousidor all’ “ sects " as cor- rupt forms of Christiunity, and unless he exer- cise the most vigilant caution, he may find Aimself cut off from his own little band, because he has “ satdown” in some kindred meeting where heterodox views are held on the abstruse subject of the possible “ peccability " of Christ. if be cast in his.lot with the Unitarians, all those who claim to be Christians indeed will unite in a cborus and pronounce him to be “ Anathema Maranatha.” Probably, many who. read this article have passed beyond the barriers, and bave some esoterio knowledge of what is within the churches. Some bave been mure or less inti- mately connected with the “undisciplined cburches,” as they are technically termed— those which accept Jesus Christ's purable of tho draw-net as the prophetic revealment ot what the Church would be; in which the good and the bud are both caught and kept, until on the shores of eteraity the good are gathered into baskets and the bad are Hung out to destruc- tion. In them they have encountered hier- archies, priesthoods, rituals, ceremonies, which they have found it impossible wo accept because they are radicaily alien to the genius of Chris- Uanity a8 taught by tts illustrious founder. Some haye been connected with the “disci- pifmed churches,” in which each member by public profession claims to be “regenerated "— to be a “new oresture," tobe “filled with the Spirit.”. In them they have probably seen how poor and mean a life can be eheltered behind these solemn and sonorous phrases. They have been forced to know that the vulgarest ambi- don, the pettiest spite, the most malevolent un- charitableness, the harshest bigotry, can be held to be consistent with avowed disci; leabip to Him who was “meek and lowly in heart,” who was patient to Samaritan villagers who de- nied Him hospitality, who would not condemn an udulteress caught in the act, and who prayed for His muraerers. They havo found. that “presbyter” and the “minister” may pe but “ Jack Pricst writ targe,” the vagueness of au- thority often only affording sn ampler margin for the vagaries of assumed supremacy. They have learned that “Tozerism,” as represented in the * Chronicles of Carlingford,” isnot a cari- cature, but a soberfact. They have come one and now stand outside, not because they f they are better than those who are within, but because they ure compelled by the hard logic of facts to believe that, all the pretestion notwithstanding, a greut many with- nin the “Church” are no better, and nut a few oro morally worse, than a great many without in the “ World.” For themselves, they know they are but mortals with the frailties of mortality, which they refuse to hide under the cloak of a professional ‘saintship. They have learned, too, how egotistic and hardhearted all creeds, whether written or unwritten, are prone to muke those who accept them. it is now time to make an end. Two questions may be asked. and a rew suggestions offered. ‘The frst question is that of Bunsen’s: * How far ls orthodox Christianity possible for those who are not behind their age in scholarship and sclence?” the second, “Should not all sectarian- ism be abandoned that the Church of the future may be reared, broad, helpful, and elevating?” ‘The suggestions are (1) that all who are cor nected with existing organizations be ut- terly loyal to truth and conscience; (2) that no one profess to believe what ho does not underat and sincerely, admit, nor claim to be better or other than he knows he is; (3) that all creeds which have been spun out of single texts and wrought into patterns by the ingcauity of theologians be abolished as standards and tests; (4) that asso- cation with a religious community be under- stood to mean only a single-handed desire to discover the truth, to do Fight, to be kind, to live weil; (5) that if any one fail in realizing his ideal sepiratons, it be held to be the common duty of all, by gentleness, by sympathy, by helpruiness, to make failurein the future fess likely and suc~ cess caster of attainment. Possibly, 1£ the “ Church’’ adopt the spirit of these suggestions, the “World” will begin to beliove in the “Church,” ana in the end the “Church” may win the * World.” GENERAL NOTES. ‘The Episcopal Church numbers 162 Bishops. One-eighth of the population of New South ‘Wales attends Sunday-school. There arc elghty-sevea Sunday-schoois, with 5,866 scholars, in the jurisdiction of the Seventh- Day Baptists. The American Board for the cantrolof foreign missions recently received a check for $150,000 from the trustees of the Stone estate. Iv is rumored that at Harvard College morning prayers will be abandoned at the close of the year. This will be shocking to many of the orthodox. . ‘The Spanish Government proposesto “warn” preachers who indulge in political sermons. It is well for some of our brethren that they do not dwell in Spain. - In the Forty-fourth Street Synagog in New York it is only recentty that families have been allowed to sit together, or that the music of the organ has been introdueed. In Great Britain there are 371 Baptist preach- ers without pastorates, and 291 churches without pastors. “Why don’t they make x trade?” is the natural query of the worldly-minded. Itis proposed in France_to give a diploma to each Catholic convert to Protestantism. Here the plan would be chromos, sewing-macbines, or acheap railroad ticket to St. Louis or Kansas The Baptist Convention of Massachusetts, at a recent adjourned meeting, accepted the rather novel bequest of Deacon Asa Wilbur, of about sixty pews in the Bowdoln Square Mesting- House. Sunday-scbool children are no longer taught to believe that Lot's wife was turnedintoa pillar of salt; but, in the “ loternational Bible Studies" for Sunday-schoois, it Is said that she was caught jnastorm, which “suffocated her, encrusted her, and possibly burned her to a cinder.” In Engiand there are 500 branches of the Lon- don Young Women’s Christian Associztion. ‘These branch associations have been useful ia helping young, women to employment and in preserving them from the pernicious effect of bad company. They hold stated meetings for prayer and Bible study. ‘The old Buddhist method of teaching sacred geography tothe Japs is different from that which prevails in our schools. A Buddhist priest recently told a missionary that 80,000 miles north of where they stood there was an immense square mountain, on the other side of which was Heaven. And yet the people who undertake to locate Heaven and prove precisely where it isdo not make a much better. business of it than this Buddhist priest. ‘The demolition of a row of sbops in London wall, immediately adjofning the gateway and hall of Sion College, has brought to light the western front of the Church of St, Alphage, which is suid to have been originally a Norman structure. St. Alphage, to whom the church 16 dedicated, was a Saxon Bishop of Canterbury, who was murdered by the Danes in the eleventh century, xt or near Greeuwich, where the parish church of St. Alphage enshrines his memory. The Duke of Argyll, by # recent speech at Ballachulish, bas thrown the religicus world of Scotland intoa ferment. The Duke stated that Episcopalianism in Scotland is “an exotic,” and the phrase seems to have been generally inter- preted as a term of vitupegation. All the sects Presbyterian, Catholic, and Angiican—nave been, praying over itever since. Tho Bishop of Dunkeld bas delivered a solemn charge against }t, and the controversy has nuw degen- erated into u dispute about the primitive organ- ization of the Christian Charch. There are in New York City about 266 mis- sionaries, who probably make 800,000 visits o ear. Besides these are hundreds of tract-vis- tors, and hundreds of poor-visitors, and other voluntary agents of various churches and s0- cfieties who are going about continually doing ‘There are 18 Protestant missions where jabbath-schools, and preaching, and other re- ligious snd moral services for adults or chil- dren, or both, are regularly carried on. Of this number forty-five are permanently established in suitable, commodious, church-like buildings, with the ministry, the ordinances, and the gov- ernment that usually appertain to churches, though they be not regularly incorporated as sue! A very enthusiastic meeting of the members of Grace Church, Oak Park, was beld Jast Mon- day evening at the honse of R. S. Worthington, for the consideration of the purchase of a lot apd the erection of a new church. Several localities were discussed, and pledges to such an amount were made that the officers feel war- ranted in going forward in the prosecution of the work. The Ladies’ Aid Society, at thelr regular meeting On Wednesday afternoon, also pledged themselves to ralse a generous amount towards the same object. ie interest mani- fested by all connected with the conzregntion, and those who sympathize with the effort. is very encouraging, and the prospects are that the work will go steadily forwa: ‘The Southern. Episcopal Deanery of the Dio- cese of Dlinais met in Christ Church, Ottawa, Oet.12, continuing ita sessions until Thursday. ‘The ope! discourse Tuesday evening was by v.' Duane S. Phitlips, Dean of St, Paul's, Kankakee; and the sermoa in conyocation ‘Wednesday morning by the Kev. Heury G. Perry, M.A. of All-Saints’, Chicago, the collection being’ for diocesan missions. At the closing services, 18th inst., brief applicable aaanie On subjects of interest £0 tho Church and mis~ rik were made dy members present, the Revs. Messrs. Hiester, John B Bout, 6 Hodge, and Frank B. Nash, Jr., Rector of Ot- tawn. The next convocation fs to be held at Christ Church, Joliet, on the call of the Dean. The advantage of emplo; temale cdans in missionary ore etd was reat Polated out in a lecture in Baltimore by Miss ell Kelly, who ia about to sail for Bombay, Whither she is sent by the Women's Foreign. ‘Missionary Society of Baltimore. She sald that it was well known that no male physician was allowed to attend an Indian woman of hich caste. no matter how severe hor fliness. By the Same rule, female physicians, whether native or foreign, were admitted to attend patients of their own sex, and in cases where physi- clans were instructed in the Christian religion they were capable of doing much good. These fomsle. pI hp yeicians secured admission to places _ : oe anes: ary missionaries could not gain ‘The first regular menting: of the Presbytei Sunday-School Mission Union of Chicago. held ia the Palmer House Friday evening. Mra. H. H. Forsyth presided, The object of the meet- fog was for completing the organization and electing officers. After an animated discussion. regarding the expediency of the movement, the meeting proceeded to thé election with the fol- ran was lowing results; President, Mrs.George Bancro! of the Fitth Presbyterian Cour: First Wiee? President, Mr.W. G. Clark, of the Third Church: Second Vice-President, Mi Jefferson Park Chureh: Heconliee retary, Mr. Harry H. Forsyth, of the Fourth Church? Serta Cousens and Seeasa ae Operon OF the Eighth Church. aE oes eae Father Malo, who has been for many years a Catholic missionary among tho ‘aborigines of regon, confirms the oft-repeated assertion thas the Indian must go down before the white man. Ail the congregations he established or saw es- tablished during bis twenty-one years of work are stlil in existencé, but in many cases with re- duced numbers. . Insensibly the Indians seem to die away when they come in contact with the white man. They cannot bying themselves to work a3 he works. The hunting-ground and the fishery nlond appearto agree with them. Yet, says the Father, they nre very bright and quick in Jearni ik matters a5 well as trade mat- ters, But what they learn at school they are apt to forget almost as quickly as they learned i opnecially” whon they return to their nomadia The annual report of the Hawaifan Evanget- ical Association for the years 1879-'S0 gives a list of se churches, with a membership of about 6,000 souls. All but seven of the churches. are-ministered to by pastors or stated supplies. A large proportion of these ministers are native Hawaiians, who are faithfully doing, the Lord's work. One of the churches has raised, $14,000 for a new edifice. Another bas builta mew church in place of one destroyed by fire. One has a membership of nearly 1,200, whose beneyolent contributions during the year waa over $1,500. The Sabbath-schools have recently raised $1 as a thank offer to the mission= Sern peel ee Helps for em in their fes- labor a for the Chinese coming among them, and y contributed within the year $4,498.96 for fore! missions. The theological institute is educating and sending forth native preackers bath for tha home field and the foreign missionary work. The sum voted yearly for the Catholic cl of France is 51,00, francs, besides 200 francs voted for the expenses of the depari- ment, Of this sum 45.000 franca gucs to the Archbishop of Paris and 20,000 francs to the Archbishop of Algiers. Sixteen other Arch- bishops yet 15,000 trancs each and sixty-nine Bishops 10,000 francs. Toward the expenses of diocesan visitations 97,000 francs are cov- tributed. The Vicur-General of Paris receives: 4,500 francs, efghteen metropolitan Vicars-Geo- eral each 3,500 francs, and 167 other Vicare- General each 2,500 francs. In Algeria, five Vicars-General receive cach 3,000 francs. Minor grants, varying from 2,400 francs to 450 francs, go to Canons, -Curés, and other members of the ecclesiastical body. Ecclesiastical pensions and aid toinfirm and aged priests amount to a total of. 887,000 francs. Toward the repairs of diocesan buildings. 2,000,000 francs are voted, whilo afurther sum of 3,150,000 francs goes Beard the repairs of other eccleSiastical insti- PERSONALS. The Rev. Dr. Chapin, of New York, recentiy~ { completed his 68th year. Bishop Fallows is about to visit Colorado in the interests of the Reformed Episcopal Church. The Rev. e a Hoot: Ge the Lincoln (Ps.) Uni- versity, bas determi i : aa bas a upon going to Africa as The Rev. J. W. Riddle has retired from the Secretaryship of the Baptist State Convention of Minnesota. The Rev. Dr. Curry 13 to become associate editor of the Afethodist, He was late! the Christian Advocate. - ° lately, edigeroe ‘The Rey. Robert M. Luther, Fecently. pastor of tieamers ere ep ee, upon his duties ag ican Baptist Missionary Union. ‘The Rev. Dr. Chapin is slowly but ‘gain- ing in strength in fe ett te Tetreat at Rockport, Mass. He 1s not yet able, howover, to , walk out, but is wheeled around in aneasy chair when the weather allows. The Presbytery of Chicago will hold a special meeting on Monday, 18th inst., at 10:30 o'clock Room 48 McCormick Block, Chicago, to ‘Arthur First. Presbyterian Church, vu! and to be dismissed to the Presbytery of Cleveland, SABBATH SMILES. The toughest job on record isthe gentleman of that name mentioned In the Bible. About thistime expect casual reforences in the sermons of: returned ministers, ‘As Iwas ascending Vesuvius,” or, “Standing one day be- neath the dome of St. Peter's.” A junior was heard to remark ona recent Sun« day, after Prof. — bad preached an eloquent sermon: “That was asptendid sermon. Gad! 108 single gestures and thirteen double.” “lf you will consent to my marriage with yout daughter she will be treated as if she were an angel.” “That is,” was tho matter-of-fact re= ply, “in a short time she would not have any- thing to wear.”—Harper’s Bazar. A young wife remonstrating with her husband on nis dissipated habits, was. answered: “Iam {ike the prodigal son, my dear; I will reform and by.” “I will be like him, too,” she said; * will arise and go to my father.” Arich Scotchman, at the polnt of denth, sald to his pastor: ~ Do you think It Yleft £10,000 te the Presbyterian Church my soul would be saved?” “I can’t promise you anything,” an- swered the man after a second thought, “bat it's worth trymg.” A Methodist paper relates an amusing inci- dent at the General Conference when, on an oc- cusion of considerable noise and confusion, one of the colored brethren cried out, “I rise to a pint of order.” | The quick response of the del- egate, that a “pint” of order would be of no perceptible vilue in such an uproar, largely to the wecriment, =~ Rowtand Hill was always annoyed when there happencd to be any noise in the chapel, or when anything occurred to divert the attention of his hearers from what he was saying. On one oc- cazion, afew days before his death, he was preaching to one of the most crowded congrega- Uons that ever assembled to hear him. Ia the middle of his discourse he observed a2 commo- tion in the pale. For some time he took no notice of jt, but finding It tucreasing be paused in his sermon, and, looking in the direction in which the confusion prevailed, he exclaimed: “What's the matter there? The devil sees to have got dmong you.” A plain, country-looking man immediately started to his feet, and, ad- dressing, Sir. Hill, in reply, sald: “. fet alr; it arn't the devil ss is doing it; it’s a fat lady wot'r fainted; and she's a werry fat ‘un, sir, as don’t seem likely to come to again in a hurry.” ‘0! that’s it, ig it” observed Mr. Hill, drawing bis haud across his chin; “then I beg the lady’apar= don—and the devil's, too.” The Kev. Theodore L. Cuyler, D. D., was in at= tendance at the Presbyterian Council. One day in the week the butchers had a festival of some kind, and were to have 2 grand parade. Thst morning Dr. Cuyler visited a barber to get shaved. When the knight of the razor had stretched his cnatomer’s neck and pushed his head as tar back #s ible, and filled his eyes, nose, and mouth with lather, he sald to bins in~ terroratively and speaking as a friend: “Well, you're gotng to tura out ERE" satd the Doctor. te aeus® Tsay you're to have your big display.’ 5 Going to-wit? I didnt’ catch your re- mark?” “Tsay you butchers are going to turn out. You're a butcher, ain't you?” put Petia thee Till aecks atl, F belong ut [can’t say that mu toan order closely connected with the butch- ers.” : “You do? What's that?" “Tho Order of Cleavers.” < Out sna. what do yoo do?* + We cleave unto the ‘The astonisned barber had sufficicat presenco of mind to collect his {co from the member of the Order of Cleavers. But Dr. Cuyler couldn't help telling the atory. ——— fs CHURCH SERVICES. - EPISCOPAL. Cathedral Church SS. Peter and Paul, corner ‘West Washington and Peoria streets. Tho: Rt.- Rey. W. E. McLaren, 8.'T. D., Bishop. The Kev. J. H. Knowles, pries¢ in charge. Holy Com- munion,$ a.m. Choral morning prayer and celebration of the Holy Communion, 10:80 a.m, Chora! evening prayer, 7:80 p. m. ~The Rev. J. M. Stevens preaches at St James" Church, corner of Cass and Huron streets, morn ing and evening. ~The Rev. R, A. Holland officiates at Trinity Charcb, corner of Twenty-sixth street and