Church Cullings.

Evening Star, Issue 6915, 30 May 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

Church Cullings.

The Rev. G. S, Reaney, who is so well known for his work among the poor at the East-end of London, has been delivering an address on “The Robbers on the Road to Jericho.” He said some very severe things about greedy capitalists, and gave the following instances in proof of his arguments: —One poor woman, on taking home some lawn-tennis aprons to one of the “ robbing houses ” in the City, was told that the frills were too short. She protested that she had put on the frills that were given to her. No matter, she had to do the work over again; and though it took her a day and a-half to do it she did not get an extra penny nor even a “ thank you ! ” That woman, Mr Reaney thought, was on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho —she had “fallen among thieves.” Another woman, applying for work at a place in the City, was told to wait; after six hours she was sent away, and told to come again next day. The next day she again waited six hours, with a like result. This was repeated for six days in succession. She, also, the speaker contended, was on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho.

The Rev. Mr Whitehead, 8.A., Cambridge, curate of Benington, Lincolnshire, who is totally blind, reads his prayers and lessons with his fingers on raised letters; and his sermons, which are delivered with much power and earnestness, are much appreciated. On the Pope’s birthday the Sabred College of Cardinals waited upon His Holiness to offer their congratulations. In the course of his reply Pope Leo expressed deep regret at the present position of the Papacy, winch had been given up to the enemy, who was moreover able to despoil the Vatican of what was left to it by the law of guarantees, as witness the spoliation of the property of the Propaganda. His Holiness, in conclusion, declared that neither he nor his successors could ever accept this state of affairs.

We (‘Argus ’) have been a little surprised, but not distressed, at hearing that Dr Moran, Archbishop of Sydney, is to leave for Rome, perhaps not to return. He is a great fallingoff from Dr Vaughan, and though he satisfies the desires of the Catholics, by reason of his being an Irishman, he has not done anything to put his Church on a better footing with the country generally, nor has he succeeded in making a favorable impression. Dr Vaughan, though a fighting man, commanded respect all round, and everything he said and did carried weight. If the people of Dublin would like Dr Moran for an archbishop, they are heartily welcome to him, and it surely ought not to be difficult to find a better man, and one more suited to the archepiscopal chair in Sydney. , The new Bishop of Brisbane (the Rev. W. Thornhill Webber, M.A.) is known largely as an organiser, Mr Webber graduated at Oxford in 1859, and has occupied his present charge since 1865. His district was then about to be formed. Assisted by a grant of LB,OOO from the Bishop of London’s Fund, Mr Webber has in the twenty years purchased sites, and built church, manse, and schools at a cost of L 47,000. In all branches of social work Mr Webber is well known, and the working men’s organisations have specially to thank his untiring energy and kindliness.

Hard times in New York State have affected the churches, and the economy of. reducing or doing away with church choirs lias been necessitated. A favorite plan is the forming of young people’s choruses, to lead the congregations in the hymns. The Free Kirk of Blairgowrie has been bitterly disappointed by the will of its late elder, Mr Borrie, a retired Dundee merchant. Mr Borrie has left L 2,000 to build a Wesleyan chapel, LIO,OOO for its endowment, a line house for the use of the minister, and about L 12.000 to the Wes-, leyan body. It is remarkable that there are no Wesleyans in or near Blairgowrie, and the testator was never connected with that denomination.