Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 January 1891 — RELIGIOUS NOTES. [ARTICLE]

RELIGIOUS NOTES.

The receipts of tho American board for November were $24,179. against $39,800 for the same month last year. The receipts of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church for this month, ending the first of November, anount to 200,194, a gain of $66,786 over the receipts of the same period of the previous year, There are already 1,500 communicants in the migsion churches established along the Congo by English and American missionaries. Considering how short a time it is since this whole region was unexplored this is a remarkable record, Prof. William James, of Harvard, who is becoming almost as famous out of college as in because of his interest in psychology and in societies of pshchical research, Is a brother of Henry James, jr., the novelist. The father of these two famous sons is a preacher. , . According to the Living Church Almanac for 1891 the Protestant Episcopal Church has 4,163 clergy, 299 candidates for orders, 2,230 parishes and missions, and 508,292 communicants, The number of baptisms last year was 61,685, of which nearly 47,000 weld infants. The contributions for the year are $12,754,767. In PariJr-, a few months ago, there was formed a “national league against atheism.” Every member oi the league must engage to oppose, with tongue and pen, and by every legitimate means, all forms of atheism. The league is open to any person of either sex, of any religion and of any philosophical upinion, who affirms the existence of God. Dr. Leonard Woolsey Bacon, of New Haven, croateda sensation recently by indorsing from hia pulpit the new $lO,OOJ heater In that town. He alleged as his reason for his commendation the changes from former times in the theater Itself, its ways and its personnel, and concluded by a welcome to the new theater and a hope for its success. The Methodist Board of Education reports a large increase id collections during the past year. The amount received was $52,000 against $42,000 in the previous year, aßd $31,000 in the year before that. The income from all sources was $69,358, The beneficiaries aided last year numbered 935, of whom 814 were males. All but 155 of the 935 expect to become ministers or missionaries. A church is to be dedicated in Pittsburg this week which has, it is said, no pastor, no consistory, no congregation and no members. It is to be known as St. Mark’s Memorial Reformed Church. It has been erected in memory of Christian H. Wolf by his brother at a cost of $60,000. Tho church is to be open at all times to all comers. It is said tat a pastor and congregation may be acquired by and by. Mr. Spurgeon is severe on ministers who undertake tbe duties of this most sacred calling without proper qualifications. He uses this language in one of his lectures to his students: I heard one say the other day that a certain preacher bad no more gifts for the ministry than an oyster, and in my own judgment that was a Blander on the oyster, for that worlhy bivalve shows great discretion In ins openings and knows when to close.”