Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1888 — RELIGIOUS NOTES. [ARTICLE]

RELIGIOUS NOTES.

Philadelphia has 629 churches, and it is no better than any other city of its size. New York has 800,000 Roman Catholics, and the value of their church property is $30,000,000. I know of no blessing so small which can be reasonably expected without prayer, nor any so great but may be attained by it.—South. Now that the life of - Archbishop Trench is just published, it appears that, like Thackeray,he desired and requested that no life should be published, but no one, after reading these two volumes, can blame his friends for insisting on its publication. Presbyterianism in New England has steadily increased during the last five years. Since 1883 the number of churches has increased from eighteen to thirty-one, and the membership from 2,975 to 4,588. A church has recently been established at Newport, R. I. Christ built no church, wrote no book, left no money, erected no monumentsyet show me ten square miles anywhere on earth without Christianity where the life of man and the purity of woman are respected, and I will give up Christianity.—Professor Drummond.

The Christian Inquirer puts tliis question: If Congress and the national conventions of the great political parties can properly be opened with prayer to God in the name of Christ, why may not the doctrine concerning God and Christ be taught in the public schools? Miss Charlotte M. Yonge, the novelist, is a devoted member of the Church of England. Y\ r iih the proceeds of her novel, “The Heir of Redcliffe,” she fitted out the missionary schooner, the Southern Cross, forthe use of'Bishop Selwyn; andslo,()oQ from the profits of “The Daisy Chain,” are said to have gone to the building of the missionary college in New Zealand.

New Jersey Presbyterians, who are, generally speaking, of an intensely “blue” stripe, are shocked at the declaration of Rev. H. Thomas, of Bridgeton, one of the oldest preachers of their denomination in the State, that “Calvinism needs toning down,” and that fire and brimstone preaching must go. His case will probably be considered by the Presbyter}’? Happiness depends far less upon the external circumstances that surround us than it does upon the condition of our own minds. The main sources thereof are within us, and not without. Many a man is happier in his poverty than a king on his throne, dr a millionaire in all his luxury. It is a great mistake to judge on the comparative happiness of men by the difference in their outward condition

Mr. Bradley, who founded Asbury Park, and who has made it one of the most virtuous and law-abiding towns in the country, finds that there are kickers in the borough. The auti-Bradleyites seem to be unhappy because the enterprising founder made money by his experiment. If he had made it in running a “gin mill” he would- be one of the most poDular men on the Jersey coast, especially if he had combined hightoned gamblingwith the liquor business. .

There is no such thing as an ignorant faith, for all true belief will rest on knowledge. What is commonly called an ignorant faith is simply superstition, and not faith at all. How shall men believe that of which they have not heard? and how will they hear without a preacher? The Bible everywhere teaches us that our faith must be intelligent. Then there is much that passes for faith that is presumption. •We are told that by faith the Israelites passed through the Bed sea, which the Egyptians essaying to do were - drowned. The presumption of the Egyptians is imitated by us tpo often. What we need is the faith which sees Him who is invisible.