JOTTINGS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 136099, 25 April 1908, Page 13

JOTTINGS.

An elaborate return lies been, prepared and published by tho Rev. E. Theodore Carrier, riving particu'lare of ihx> growth cf HVeeleyan Methodist Church, membership in England and Wales from 1781 to 1901. The tcuble shows the annual rate of increase for each decade, and the ratio of tlhe membership to the whole population. The geneval result reveals the foot that while the annual increase of the population cf England and Weules diuring the post century has been at the rato of 1.35, the annuaj increase of Church membership has been at t3ie rate of 1.75. probability, however, is, that taking the country as a whole, tho adherents of Methodism have grown in numbers more rapidly t!han its Church memlbere. The returns for 1907 show {jiat the jmmiber of dranches in- Great Britain is 8520. and other preaching places 1606, providing sitting accommodation for 2,326,228. Until 1880 it was hardly possible, says the "Catholic Press," to give more "than a vague guess at the number of Catholics in the whole worlcf, but in that year Father Werner made studies which, permitted him to form the conclusion that the Catholic population of the globe was about 217,000,000. In 1891 an "Official Bulletin of Statistics" was miblished in Rome, which put the figures at 238,000,000, but the latest statistics reoently compiled by Streit in the "Atlas of Catholic Missions," gives 265,000,000. The numerical strength of the Catholic Church, and of tho various oommunions that profess Christianity is stated thus:—Catholics, 265,000,000; Protestants (of all sects), 167,000,000; Greek Church (with, its sects;, 118,000,000. The total number of Christians im the world is, therefore, 550,000,000. The Jews are given as 11,040,000. The religion of Brahma and the different ancient cults of India include, about 222,000,000. the Buddhists are about 120,000.000. the Confucianiete of China about 235,000,000, the Taoists and Shintoiets of Japan about- 49,000,000, idolaters, mostly in Africa, about Some three millions of the human race are given as being of no religion-. Tho "Ca-tfiolic Directory" for 1908 gives the population of the Roman Church in tfhe British Empire as follows :—United Kingdom, 5,500.000; Gibraltar, Malta, and Gozo, 215.000; Asia, 2,085,000; Africa, 350,500; America. 2,810,000 ; Australasia, 1,092.500. Total, 12,053.000. In last year's directory it was stated that the 'total Catholio population" of theßritlish Empire is probably about ten millions and a half." It must be emphasised that the totals of "Catholic population" are estimatee pure and simple, and that the compilers of the directory state this fact most explicitly. General Booth celebrated his 79th birthday on April 10th. In this connection the "War Cry" says:— "Seventy-nine years of ago, and still bestriding the narrow world liko come beneficent Colossus; still full of projects for the uplift of men; still enthusing and kindling with a liko passion the rank and file of this great movement; etill picking from the 'chaff and ruin of the times' the 'miserables' of misfortune and vico, and still Testleee with a Divine unrest, seeking to comfort tho ■stinging trouble of humanity.' With the ruggedness of a Knox, the pertiI nacity of a Luther, and lie flaming I passion of a Xavier, the G.O.M. of the Army, and 'Apostle of the Poor,' holds first placo in the affections of the I human family."

Recently, at the invitation of the Duchess of Marlborough, a drawingroom meeting of tihe Church of England Waifs and Strays was hold at Sunderland House, at which a large and influential gathering was present. The Archdeacon of London presided, and said that the Society had, daring the twenty-six years of its existence, rescued over 13,000 children, and that at the present time nearly four thousand little ones were inmates of its 101 homes in England and Wales. Sir C. Kinloch Cook© pointed out that the Church of England, through the medium of the Society, was doing work which present legislation did not touch, and that, however effective they made the law, it couM not do everything The Roy. E. de M. Rudolf, founder and secretary of the Society, gave particulars of ite operations, and added that- £1000 was urgently required for the building of a chapel in connection with the Society's new Home for Crippled Children now in course of oon--6t ruction at Pyrford, Surrey. The Rev. D. Hird, M.A., who for the past six years has been pastor of the Trinity omirchi Chrietchurch, has accepted a unanimous oall to the control of the Palmerston North Church. The "Outlook" remarks that a coincidence ia here awarent in that this forms the second oooaaion on which Mr Hird has followed the R«v. S. J. Baker in the pastorate of a Church, Mr Baker having been minister at Trinity before proceeding to tfce northern town. No definite time has yet been fixed for Mr Hird'e relinqnjshment of office at Trinity, but it is understood he will probably terminate his ministry there towards th« end of May- _ _ _ . _.. .

The Her. James Harria, Father of the English Weskyan Methodist Conference, passed away recently in his 94th year. He was the founder of the Emaniiel Mission Hall. H«* ministerial life oommenoed 73 yeare ago, Hb

was a powerful evangelical preacher. Until quite recently his preaching powers remained unimpaired. On his 88th birthday he delivered a most impressive sermon on "Purity or Heart." In the address spoken at the grave side, the deceased was described as a powerful preacher, a Christian of Catholic sympathies, a great soul-winner, and a grand s»tfit. A memorial to tho late Mr fcxxMon, Premier of New Zealand wai dedicated in February in the parish church o) his native place. Ecdeston, St. Helens. It took th.c form of new choir-stalls, the gift- of Mrs Seddon, and there was a crowded congregation, among whom were members of the New ZeaJand football team. The dedication service wa» conducted by the Bishop of Liverpool who his sermon remarked upon tho faot that South-west Lancashire had given the world two groat Premiers—William Ewart Gladstone and Richard John Sedidon. The Bisboij paid l * hi.cdi tribute to Mr Seddon's work and character.

The oentenairy of St. Cuthbort's (Reman Oatbxlic) College, Ushaw, Durham, was to be observed on Sunday, Joily 19th, and following days, but on account of the> Oxford and Cambridge Higher Certificate Examinations tho celebrations will not really commonce till tho fallowing weak". On Sunday, July 3Gtth, fclio stud-ents , banquet will take place. aJid on the next day the visitors— a.lumni and a fc-w honoured gueste from far and near —are exp-eoted. Before any time will Ik\ allotted to festivities a Requiem Mass for tho repceo of the souls o-f all t'he U&haAvmen, lay and clerical, that have d/ied during the century will bo s>iuig—aeolmen and in a sense an unique eeromomy. On the same evening the ohosen of the Junior House will really commence <tihe week'e enjoyment by acting "The Hidden Gem," by Cardinal Wisoman, hirrlself not tho least of U&haw students.