of congregations. The board was directed by the General Assembly to consider propositions for establishing missions to the Jews and among the Chinese in British Columbia. Resolutions were passed expressing "emphatic condemnation" of the act passed by the Province of Quebec, incorporating the Order of the Society of Jesus, particularly on the grounds "that the body thus incorporated is an alien one, and under ban throughout the empire," and that its influence "is hurtful to the public welfare, and even dangerous to the public peace"; expressing like emphatic condemnation of the Jesuits' Estates' act passed more recently in the same province, on the ground that "besides carrying with it an unconstitutional and dangerous recognition of the authority of the Pope, and a consequent invasion of the supremacy of the Queen, it diverts public funds and funds held in trust for educational purposes to ecclesiastical and sectarian uses, and is subversive of well-understood civil and religious right." The moderator was authorized to sign a petition on behalf of the General Assembly to the Governor-General in Council asking for the disallowance of the Jesuit Estates' act; the support of the Assembly was pledged to measures for obtaining an authoritative expression as to the constitutionality of the two acts in question; and a committee was appointed, acting by itself or in concert with other bodies, "to guard the interests of civil and religious liberty." Liberty of conscience was accorded to members of the Church with reference to marriage with a deceased wife's sister. The committee on union with other churches reported upon conferences that had been held during the year with committees of the Episcopal and Methodist churches. A revised edition of the "Book of Forms and Rules of Procedure" was adopted for publication. Previous declarations were reiterated in favor of teaching in the public schools the fundamental historical facts and doctrines of the Bible, with provision of a conscience clause for the relief of objectors and permission to trustees to dispense with such instruction when it deemed expedient. The conviction of the Assembly was declared that the general liquor traffic is contrary to the word of God; that prohibition is the proper goal of all temperance legislation; and that sympathy with Prohibition should be considered an essential qualification in members of Parliament. VIII. The Kirk of Scotland.-The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland met in Edinburgh, May 23. The Rev. Dr. Gloag, of Galashiels, was chosen moderator. The report of the votes of the presbyteries upon the overture sent down by the previous Assembly respecting the subscription of officebearers showed that out of 84 presbyteries, 64 had pronounced in favor of the overture and 16 against it, while 4 had cast qualified votes. The overture was made a standing law of the Church. It requires only a general subscription to the Confession as a whole, and relieves the subscriber of "everything that does not enter into the substance of the Confession." The Committee on Foreign Missions reported that the number of baptized persons in India had increased during the year from 3,000 to 3,700. The financial condition of the missions was good. The relations of the Assembly with the Synod of the Presbyterian Church in England in connection with the Church of Scotland, were brought to notice by a motion for allowing delegates from that Synod to take seats in the Assembly without voting-which was denied. A debate took place on the failure of the Church to draw large masses of the people into its congregations, and the means of remedying it. A committee was appointed to consider and report as to the extent to which divinity students might with propriety be allowed to take part in the public worship of the Church. A motion to delete the Apostles' Creed from the services of worship was lost, it receiving only two votes. The Presbyterian churches in Canada, in connection with the Church of Scotland, include those churches and parts of churches connected with the Church of that name that declined to go into the union from which the Presbyterian Church in Canada has resulted. The Synod of Pictou, N. S., exclusive of the very large parish of Prince Edward Island and one other, from which reports were not received, returns 1,960 families, with 1,957 communicants; payments for stipends, $9,020; and contributions to the schemes of the Church, $2,471. In the provinces of Montreal and Quebec there are 21 churches of this connection. IX. Free Church of Scotland.-The General Assembly met in Edinburgh, May 23. The Rev. Dr. John Laird was chosen moderator. The feature of the business concerning which most interest was felt was the election of a Professor of New Testament Exegesis, in the Free Church College of Edinburgh. The principal candidate was the Rev. Marcus Dods, D. D., a theologian, whose views upon controverted questions respecting the inspiration of the Scriptures were regarded as "broad" in the most liberal sense, and who had not hesitated to utter them explicitly. An address which he had delivered at the meeting of the Presbyterian Alliance in London, in 1888, attracted much attention at the time for the boldness with which those views were enunciated. The bearing of Dr. Dods's views and his fitness in other respects for the professorship were fully discussed in the Assembly, after which he was elected, receiving 383 votes to 280 votes cast for two other candidates. An informal meeting of the members of the Assembly opposed to the selection of Dr. Dods was held during the sessions of the Assembly, at which the subject of forming an association for the maintenance of the orthodox views was discussed. Several overtures concerning a revision of the Confession of Faith came before the Assembly. Motions were made in various forms that the subject be passed from as not called for; that a committee be appointed to consider it; that the proposers of the overtures should be called upon to specify what doctrines are opposed to the Scripture; and that whatever might happen, the Calvinistic element should not be tampered with. A motion to appoint a committee to inquire into the condition of opinion in the Church regarding the Confession of Faith, and to consider what steps should be taken, was adopted by a vote of 413 to 130. The Assembly resolved to invite all ministers and members of the Free Church to consider the sub ject of union with the United Presbyterians, and to promote local and general co-operation between the two Churches. The report of the Committee on Church and state defined the position of the Free Church to be that of holding that establishment in Scotland is inexpedient, unjust, and wrong, and should be terminated as speedily as possible. The matter had got past discussion, and had entered into the region of practical politics. There were apparently an everincreasing number of Established Churchmen who saw the situation and confessed that their position was anomalous and indefensible, and would not lend their support to keep their Church in it. The number of the minority in the Free Assembly supporting the establishment principle was also diminishing. A great change over this question had taken place within a year in the Highlands, and the principle of disestablishment was now predominant in every constituency in the North. The Committee on Temperance represented that the reports from presbyteries had been more numerous than in any former year, and showed that both in congregations and presbyteries Gospel temperance work was now recognized as an important department of Christian effort. X. United Presbyterian Church of Scotland. The statistical returns of this Church, presented to the Synod in May, showed that the whole number of members was 182,963, or 793 more than in 1888. The gain was above the average rate of increase for the last ten years. The The Synod met in Edinburgh in May. Rev. Dr. Drummond was chosen moderator. The third jubilee of the secession in Glasgow and the west of Scotland was celebrated in Glasgow in December, 1888, at a meeting which was attended by representatives of all the denominations except the Established Church. Historical papers were read by Dr. Andrew Thomson on "The Origin of the Secession Church," and by Principal Cairns on "The Religious History of Glasgow." In an address on "The Recent Movements and Present Position of the United Presbyterian Church" the Rev. A. B. McEwen claimed that the Church had moved forward in its creed, its worship, and its organization. While there were few doctrines held forty years before which they would be inclined to discuss or deny, there had been a change. Doctrines once prominent had fallen into the background, and other truths were now given a foremost place. Their Church was the first Presbyterian Church to discuss the use of instrumental music, and in their case the transition had been made with very little friction. The work of the Church abroad was presented by Dr. Corbett; Principal Rainy spoke of "The Influence of the Secession on the Religious Life of Scotland." XI. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland. -The income of this Church is derived from the proceeds of investments, gifts, and bequests, and congregational contributions. The total amount for 1888 is given in the "Blue Book" of the General Assembly as £214,683, or £9,577 more than in the previous year. The number of children in Sunday-schools was 105,960. The clerk of the General Assembly made return of the number of enrolled clergymen as 668, the largest number reported in the history of the Church. From the foreign mission fields were returned 4 missionaries and their wives in China and in India, 353 communicants, 1,653 baptized members, and a Christian community of 2,194 persons, with 26 schools for boys and 18 for girls. Mission churches were also sustained in continental Europe. The General Assembly met at Belfast, June 3. The Rev. William Clarke was chosen moderator. The General Assembly having been formed in July, 1840, by the union of the Synod of Ulster and the Secession Synod, the year 1890 would be its fiftieth or jubilee year. A committee was appointed to make arrangements for the due celebration of the festival on the 10th of July, and for holding a "jubilee meeting" of the Assembly. The delegates that represented the Assembly in the General Council of the Alliance of Reformed Churches holding the Presbyterian System, held in London in July, 1888, made a report concerning the proceedings of that body, of one feature of which it was remarked: The only topic eliciting diversity of opinion was one phase of the intellectual tendencies of our day in their bearing on faith. One of the delegates read a paper, in which he ascribed a large amount of unbelief of our age to the extent of the demands made upon the faith of men as a condition of salvation. Among these demands the writer specified the doctrine of a plenary verbal inspiration, involving the doctrine of the infallibility of Scripture. He claimed that a Christian creed should not demand anything beyond what he alleged Christ required, viz., that men should follow him and accept him as the true Ruler of their lives. We have no right, he maintained, to ask more, or to require that men should accept a number of propositions about him. The Council was careful to vindicate itself before the churches of Christendom by setting apart an hour and a half for the criticism of this paper, and the delegates took part in its review and condemnation. A proposition was considered for forming a United Presbytery in China, to consist of the missionaries of this Church and of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland. XII. Presbyterian Church in England.The statistical report to the Synod of 1889 gave the number of congregations as 287, and the number of members as 64,054, against 62,566 in 1888. The total income had been £210,376. It was represented in the Synod that while ten years previously the value of the entire property of the Church was £1,000,000, it was now £1,500,000, and that within the same period the aggregate debt had decreased from £121,000 to £94,000. The year's income for missions had been £17,000. The Church had in China 28 ordained European missionaries and 16 woman missionaries, with many native evangelists. Eight native pastors were supported by their own congregations. The Church in China was becoming self-supporting, and sending out missionaries. The Synod met in London, April 29. The Rev. Alexander McLeod, D. D., presided as moderator. The Committee on the Confession of Faith which had been adopted in the Synod of the previous year for submission to the presbyteries (see "Annual Cyclopædia" for 1888), reported back the document as it had been revised by it in the light of the amendments suggested by the presbyteries. The most important differences in view were in respect to the wording to be given to Article XIX, treating of Holy Scripture. Instead of reading that the revelation has been "so far as needful committed to writing by men inspired of the Holy Spirit, so that the word of God is now contained in the Holy Scriptures," some would have it assert that the Bible is the word of God. The report was received, while final judgment on the articles was reserved for a year. The committee was reappointed, with instructions to consider any further suggestions that might reach it, and to report to the next Synod. It was also directed to prepare an appendix, setting forth the mind of the Church on matters of ritual and practice referred to in the standards, but not embraced in the articles. A report of the Committee on the Instruction of Youth dealt especially with the diplomas and medals gained in examinations in the prescribed subjects by pupils and teachers in Sunday-schools. A general approval, reserving final judgment, was expressed of the draft of the revised directory for public worship, and the committee was authorized to put copies in circulation. The difference between a directory, such as the committee had drafted, and a liturgy, was explained in the discussion on the subject. In reply to a letter from the Archbishop of Canterbury communicating the resolutions on reunion, adopted by the Lambeth Conference of 1888 (see "Annual Cyclopædia" for 1888, article Anglican Churches"), the moderator of the Synod had informed the primate that his brethren would appreciate the fraternal sentiments expressed by the Anglican bishops, and would bring the matter before the Church. A committee was appointed to consider whether it was expedient to reply further and more fully to the archbishop's letter. To a fraternal letter from the Assembly of the Irish Presbyterian Church containing sentiments in opposition to "home rule," the clerk was ordered to reply, acknowledging the letter in a brotherly spirit, without reference to politics. It was resolved to petition Parliament in favor of Sunday closing of public houses, and against the opium traffic. 66 XIII. Welsh Calvinistic Methodists.-The General Assembly of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists met at Llangallen, May 7. The Rev. Griffiths Parry presided as moderator, and the Rev. Daniel Rowlands was chosen moderator for 1890. The retiring moderator, Rev. Owen Thomas, D. D., represented in his opening address that the connection had 1,410 chapels and preaching stations, 1,500 Sunday-schools, with nearly 200,000 pupils, 110,000 communicants, and 300,000 hearers. Another estimate gives 130,000 communicants and 281,000 adherents. The Foreign Missionary report showed that there were 11 missionaries and 24 native preachers in India, with 1,595 members and 8,080 members of congregations. A proposition to withdraw from Brittany was not sustained. A committee was appointed to consider what changes beneficial to the connection might be effected in the constitution of the Assembly. The erection of a manse in connection with each church was recommended. PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES. This Church, whose ecclesiastical position is for the most part well understood, has entered upon the second century of its existence separate from the Church of England, of which it is properly the successor Number of missionary jurisdictions. Candidates for orders Whole number of clergy Lay readers Number of parishes.. Families Baptisms, infant. Communicants Sunday-school teachers Academies Hospitals Parish schools Parish-school teachers.. Total offerings for religious purposes.. Alabama, Albany Arkansas 51 14 69 431 3,632 820 4,021 1,396 8,094 1,988 170 274 1.825 1.458 156,110 138,700 32,861 112,741 488,785 46,643 91,013 40,114 388,804 149 15 19 40 60 57 126 586 10,251 22 $663,864 65 $734.220 26 $355,818 43 $876,358 96 $38,316,514 44 PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES. 721 Commu- 718 2,940 2,517 962 2,492 477 823 1,789 13 595 876 1,271 890 445 1,021 10 80 40 415 2 588 826 1,249 1,118 Wyoming and Idaho 888 3.428 3,02 5.882 6,007 6.546 20,791 2.958 6,094 9,415 8,406 tinued in session until Oct. 24 inclusive. There were sixty of the bishops present, and clerical and lay deputies from all the dioceses, and delegates from eleven missionary jurisdictions. The Convention consists of two houses, which hold sessions as distinct bodies, viz., the House of Bishops and the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies; but concurrent action is necessary to any valid legislation. In addition to regular business which requires attention, such as amendments to the constitution and canons, reports of standing and special committees, the state of the Church, education and progress, etc., the chief features of interest to Episcopalians in general this year were the reports and discussions on the revision of the prayer-book, the new hymnal, reunion of Protestant Christendom in America, change of name of the Episcopal Church, etc. The proceedings of the two houses, in respect to the important subject of "Liturgical Revision," are presented consecutively in "Supplementary Journals," covering nearly two hundred pages, and bound hp with the "Journal of the General Convention" of 1889. Of the details of this revision, and of the numerous changes, additions, etc., in the Book of Common Prayer, we have not room here to speak, nor indeed is it necessary. The learned gentlemen occupied in this work were very earnest and diligent in the effort to reach a final settlement this year; but a strong minority report was presented, and considerable 3,978 opposition manifested. The result was the adoption of nearly all the alterations, and a Standard Prayer-Book is accordingly to be made 2,841 ready for adoption and use at the General Convention of 1892. A new Hymnal" was proposed and met with favor, but it was judged best to recommit the book to an enlarged commission, who are to report in 1892. 14,541 48,405 8,342 8,814 2,240 9,102 4,431 7,572 3,507 5,362 8,250 Domestic Missions.-Sept. 1, 1888, to Sept. 1, 1889: Missionaries (12 missionary jurisdictions and 31 dioceses): Bishops, 12; other clergy other (white, colored, Indian), 475; teachers, helpers, etc., 105; total, 580. The financial condition was as follows: West Africa Balance in hand, Sept. 1, 1888. Offerings. Legacies Specials.. $89,082 14 163,453 52 52.652 65 84,376 85 $289,565 16 = $188,887 93 32.422 81 15.254 72 50,050 20 $289,565 16 Foreign Missions.-Sept. 1, 1888, to Sept. 1, 1889: Missionary bishops, 4; other clergy (foreign and native), 66: teachers, helpers, etc., 234; total, 300. The financial condition was as follows: $58.000 00 87.708 82 66 | 31,443,321 General fund for foreign missions. 97.720 84 50 88,558,871 Legacies 9.942 63 21 844,789 76 The General Convention.--This body, which under the constitution is the supreme legislature of the American Episcopal Church, meets triennially. In 1886 it met in Chicago. In 1889 it assembled in New York city, Oct. 2, and conVOL. XXIX.-46 A Salaries, printing. etc.. Total | 50,152,566 Specials. 14,657 81 Total $218,024 10 Expenditures on missionary work in Africa, $141,628 69 Specials 18.300 81 17.275 51 83,-19 09 $213,024 10 The Woman's Auxiliary to the Board of Missions renders aid in all the departments by means of parochial, city, county, and diocesan associations of ladies, formed for the purpose of raising money, forwarding boxes to missionaries and mission stations, etc. Money raised for domestic, foreign, Indian, freedmen, and other missions, 1885, 1889 Boxes for the same (3,456 in number), value... Total. 184,593 15 $303,973 13 Stevens, of Pennsylvania; Bishop R. W. B. Elliot, of Western Texas; Bishop G. K. Dunlop, of New Mexico and Arizona; Bishop J. H. H. Brown, of Fond du Lac; Bishop S. S. Harris, of Michigan; Bishop E. R. Welles, of Milwaukee; and Bishop T. H. Vail, of Kansas. One of the missionary bishops, W. F. Adams, D. D., who $119.379 98 resigned his jurisdiction in 1876, was elected to and accepted the bishopric of Easton in 1887. Eleven out of the ranks of the presbyters have Assistant Bishop of Kansas; E. Talbot, D. D., been consecrated bishops, viz., E.S. Thomas, D.D., Missionary Bishop of Wyoming and Idaho; J. S. Johnston, D. D., Missionary Bishop of Western Nevada and Utah; L. Coleman, D. D., Bishop of Texas; A. Leonard, D. D., Missionary Bishop of Delaware; J. M. Kendrick, D. D., Missionary Bishop of New Mexico and Arizona; B. Vincent, D.D., Assistant Bishop of Southern Ohio; C. F. Knight, D. D., Bishop of Milwaukee; C. C. Grafton, D. D., Bishop of Fond du Lac; W. A. Leonard, D. D., Assistant Bishop of Ohio; and T. F Davies, D. D., Bishop of Michigan. The American Church Missionary Society (also auxiliary to the Board of Missions) has employed during the year in 22 dioceses and missionary jurisdictions, 46 missionaries. It has also in the foreign field 1 clergyman and 4 lay helpers in Cuba, and 2 clergymen in Brazil. The financial condition was as follows: Total Specials ($30,000 being for Colorado, Kansas, and Texas) Balance, Sept. 1, 1888 Total. $39,652 58 4,997 05 $44,649 63 $44,561 58 31,873 33 $121,084 49 The society has also in securities, property, etc. $145,250 00 The American Church Building-Fund Commission, established in 1880, is doing good and efficient work. The trustees in charge keep steadily in view the raising the fund to $1,000,000, as originally proposed, so as to enable the commission to aid in the important duty of furthering the extension of the Church by means of loans and gifts to struggling parishes. From various causes the increase of the fund has advanced but slowly. It now stands at $176,786.35. During three years (1886-1889), loans have been made to 77 churches, in different parts of the United States, in sums from $300 to $1,000, with several as large as $3,000 and $4,000, amounting in all to nearly $90,000. The Society for Promoting Christianity among the Jews (also auxiliary to the Board of Missions) reports steady and encouraging progress. The society has missionaries at work in ten of the large cities. There are four missionary day schools, and ten other schools. The organized work by the parochial clergy extends into almost every diocese and missionary jurisdiction of the Church. Of new publications 57,000 copies have been issued, being a large increase over preceding years. Former publications have also been largely distributed, and the Holy Scriptures and the prayer-book have been circulated in English, Hebrew, German, and other languages. Contributions, specials, etc. (Sept. 1, 1888, to Legacy. Balance from old account Total.. Expenditures for schools, salaries, publications, etc. Real-estate account Balance to new account Total.. $12.963 03 1,030 00 6,764 66 $20,732 69 $11,278 43 1,158 25 8,296 01 $20,782 69 General Condition of Church Affairs.Since the General Convention of 1886, ten of the bishops have died, viz., Bishop H. Potter, of New York; Bishop W. M. Green, of Mississippi: Bishop A. Lee, of Delaware; Bishop W. B. The Committee of the House of Deputies on the State of the Church call attention to numerous matters of interest and importance. They note the gratifying increase in baptisms, confirmations, communicants, clergy, and candidates for orders, and in offerings for Church work and support, varying from 10 to 25 per cent., during the last three years. In regard to increase of the ministry the appeal is again urged that all lawful and proper measures should be used to induce young men of not only character and ability, but also possessed of worldly means to offer themselves for the Master's service in the honorable work of the ministry. "The Master's call for laborers is addressed equally to the rich and to the poor, and the young man of wealth has a responsibility to meet and a duty to discharge and a privilege to enjoy, as well as his poorer brother. Surely parents and sponsors who are themselves devout Christian people are sadly remiss if they fail to keep before the minds of their sons and godsons the claims of the sacred ministry." The zeal and devotion of the laity are highly commended in the several agencies employed by them in the good cause, such as the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, the Church Temperance Society, the White Cross Society, the Girls' Friendly Society, and the like. A much needed warning is held up against allowing the Sunday-school to usurp the place of the pastor, who is charged equally with feeding the lambs as well as the sheep of his flock. The committee further lament the inadequate provision for the maintenance of the clergy, and the lack of a general pension fund for their support when age and infirmity compel them to retire from active duty. The committee feel it necessary, in conclusion. to say "a word or two as to the spirit which pervades the Church to-day with reference to Christian unity. God is guiding us. May we recognize his guidance! May we wait with patience! May we work in faith! May we give ourselves unto prayer! Great things are in store for us. That they all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they all may be one in us!' It is the supplication of our blessed Redeemer. The answer will surely come. The Lord hasten it in his time!" |