Religious Gleanings.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 265, 14 November 1885, Page 5

Religious Gleanings.

No More Persecution,

But to-day the light is dawning. Men and women are becoming ashamed to persecute in the name of religion, and we see the Jew honoured on all sides for real worth and forvid patriotism There can be no beating behind tho bush. There is too much intelligence and liberality among men in the world to admit of anything akin to applauee for injustices to their Israelitish brethren When accounts of the Roumanian and Russian atrocities saw the light of day there were bloeditighearts among Christiana as well as .Jews. They felt for the poor, iown-trodden Israelite, and view to-day with indignation that any civilised natiOD can be so degraded as to smite the subject that is only too willing to aid and evoa die for his nativo country.—"Jewish Progress."

Christian Conversation

The art, if wo may call it so, of Christian conversation, is littlo cultivated, and rarely practised. In fact, it seems to be an accepted caDon that religious conversation, even among Christians, is not at all the thing to bo practised, or, at most, at rare intervals, and only on special occasions. When the pastor makes a call, he, of course, is expected to "introduce the subject," and the parishioner is expected to respond in such manner as he or she may be able to. But the matter is quickly over, and other topics uro introduced. We have often noticed that, when the subject of God and the soul, the Bible and religious life, is under discussion—especially if the matter is made personal—there is more or less re straint, even between pastor and people; whereas, if a new book, the last social item of news, tha work of the Church, or, indeed any outside and worldly thing, is taken up, the conversation becomes fluent again. Even the question of "tho difficulty in securing good servants" can be made the lively theme of conversation. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. There are households and individuals with whom and among whom it is a delight to hold religious conversation. The precious truths of God's Word, the personal experience of the soul, earth and heaven in God's sight, life and death, immortality and glory, are matters that are eagerly dwelt upon. This, however, is not the rule, only the exception,—"New York Independent."