JOTTINGS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 330, 17 October 1908, Page 12

JOTTINGS.

A movement is being initiated to a memorial on the spot where the first Christian service in Australia was held.

A new "citadel" opened by tho Salvation Army at West Green, Tottenham, boasts a penitent-form which is tho first of its kind. The new style of penitenWorra, carafully carpeted, is enclosed, but is readily made accessible when occasion domands. Commissioner Hay remarked at tho opening of tho citadel: "It does not help a man in coming to tho penitent-form to feel that ho is to kneel down in dust and dirt, and spoil his now trousers."

Tho English Presbyterian Official Handbook for the current year reveals the fact that tho average, annual increase in membership during tho thirty-one years sinco tho union in 1876 has been over 1000. While the fusion of the two Churches necessitated the closing of a church in towns where both were represented and ono was sufficient, there has nevertheless been a satisfactory addition of eighty-nine churches. The value of the church buildings has increased from less than a million to considerably over two and a halt million pounds since 187G, tho latter amount excluding tho value of Wi'slminster College and the extensive mission property in China.

A contributor to a Jewish weekly journal lias provoked some contention by suggesting that " boforo they leave the influence of religious classes," Jewish boys and girls should ba told something they ought to know of the Now Testament, "with truth, tactfulness, and the necessary amount of respect duo to what constitutes the religious belief of a largo proportion of civilised humanity." In defending his position, the writer says:— " Thero comes a point in the education of a Jewish child when it is a positive necessity that some guidance shall be given as to how to regard the dominant faith. It is a mistake to ignore it, mid the only sane course is that tlio evolution of modern Christianity shall bo made clear to those of our young peoplo whoso studies have already lid them to the threshold of this requirement, and who must be guided by a Jewish teacher of the right sort if they are not to fall an easy prey to tho seductions of Christian influence.