RELIGIOUS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 791, 29 April 1887, Page 7

RELIGIOUS.

DISTRESS AMONG THE CLERGY. The Dean of Wells, speaking at the annual meeting of the Bristol Clergy Society recently, drew attention to the distress existing among many of the clergy. He said not only in particular districts but throughout England, they were witnessing a kind of process which could only be described as that of disendowment by degrees. The endowments of the Church, so far as they were derived from rents, glebe lands, or tithes, were becoming less. Giving instances of the privations to which many of the clergy had to submit, he said they not only had to dispense with the luxuries of life, but the comforts and necessaries also, and many had to deprive their sons and daughters of the necessary education they should receive, and they might become even straitened by fihe pressure of household difficulties eo that gifts of cast-off clothing proved welcome. The bishop of the diocese, Archdeacon Norris, and Bishop Marsden, spoke on the same snbject. Bishop Marsden said that the great want of the Church now was help to the clergy, some of whom were suffering keen privations. He instanced the case of a vicar who had spent hi 3 last shilling, and was deopiy grateful for a few shillings sent to him, whileothers were

glad to have old clothes. Archdeaoon Norris enumerated benefices which were so poor, that the Dean and Chapter of Bristol had the greatest difficulty in finding clergymen to fill them. HEBREW RECOGNITION OF CHRISTIAN PHILANTHOPHY. The proceedings of Christian missionaries, especially in Oriental countries, are often so insidious, and so thoroughly deserving of condemnation, that it is positively refreshing to hear of an exception to the general state of things. An incident, almost unique, hasoccurred at Bizerta, inTunis ; it is nothing less than the presentation of a good medal by the Jewish congregation in that town to the Capucin Father Alexandro of Varrazze. This priest, although a missionary, appears to play the rdle of a philanthropist rather than that of a perverter of souls, for the testimonial was intended to express the gratitude of the Jews for the paternal kindness and solicitude which he has always shown to the sick and poor who, without re gard to creed or natiouality, invoked his aid.—Jewish Chronicle. A DANCING PARSON. On a recent evening, at Anderton’s Hotel, Fleet Street, a Cinderella ball, got up by the members of the Rev. H. C. Shuttleworth's congregation of St. Nicholas Cole Abbey, went off with much Bpirit, the rector, several other clergymen, some gentlemen of the long robe, and several actors and actresses, being present. A stately minuet was danced, which had been rehearsed under the instruction of a lady member of the congregation who before her marriage was a well-known dancer at the Alhambra. Mr Shuttleworth gives ‘ At Homes ’ at hia own rectory, where dancing lessons are given without charge. He is a member of the Church and Stage Guild, and also an extreme Ritualist.—English Churchman. A FRIENDLY ARGUMENT. The way ‘ they do it ’ in America has not yet became fashionable in England, though the e is no knowing what may be in store for us with '- > ociali3ts at church and the unemployed hissing and applauding during the course of the sermon. At * Plymouth Church,’ Mr Henry Ward Beeeher’s conventicle in New York, on a recent Friday evening, the congregation were edified by hearing the Revß. Henry Ward Beecher and Edward Beecher disagree both in prayer and a short discussion, in a kindly brotherly fashion. —Church Review. CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS IN GERMANY. A manifesto was published in Berlin re. cently, signed by more than 200 Evangelical dignataries, University professors, and others from all parts of Germany, in which an appeal is made for the foundation of a league for the protection of German Evangelical interests in the contest with ‘ the increasing power of Rome.’ The manifesto is a prolix paper, written in very ardent terms. It commences by declaring that the German Evangelical Church and the Fatherland are threatened with serious dangers owing to the increase of the power of Romanism, due to the concessions it has extorted from the German Governments in the settlement of the Kulturkampf. Its apparent moderation and peacefulness jnst now are simply assumed for the purpose of gaining more advantages. Protestantism lias always suffered the heaviest losses when the hierarchy has succeeded in coming to an understanding with the State. The manifesto urges the the settlement of all party quarrels within the Protestant Church, owing to which Protestant Christendom is, it says, in a state of sorrowful disorder in face of the powerful unity of Rome. It also urges the formation of a league, with a central committee and branch associations throughout the whole of Germany, for joint operations against the common enemy.—English Churchman.