RELIGIOUS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 874, 30 November 1888, Page 7

RELIGIOUS.

A ‘VALUABLE LABOURER,'

It is often mentioned in cojaversionisl prints that * converts ’ make sacrifices when deserting their ancestral faith, and the many ways in which the traps are baited with gold are justified on this ground. It appears that not only during the process of ‘ conversion ’ are the stray sheep cared for with bounteous hands, but their patrons endeavour to make their lot aa agreeable as possible after they have definitely left the fold. A circular now lies before us making an appeal for £l5O a year on behalf of a convert, on the ground that this would enable him to train for Holy Orders, and this * valuable labourer ’ would then be secured * for the work of the conversion of God’s ancient people.’ So here is one specimen at least of an indifferent Jow (to say the least), whose lot has not been of bright promise for some years past, clearly made comfortable for the rest of his days by accepting baptism as the condition. —Jewish Chronicle. New York is said to be one of the strongest Catholic cities in the world. It has 75 parish churches, 40 chapels, 300 priests, 300 Brothers, 2,000 religious women, 40,000 pupils in its colleges, academies and parochial schools, and 15,000 poor or sick or orphaned oared for in its homes, hospitals and asylums. Fall 30,000,000 dols. are invested in Catholic churches and institutions, and there are 800,000 Catholics within the city limits. So the Boston Pilot tells n 3.

A unique ceremony was that a Bethany Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, when the mortage of 39,000,000 dole, was burned. It was borne in by "John Wanamakerand the other officers of the ohuroh, while the tolling of the bell twenty-five strokes to mark the ago of the debt, gave an added solemnity. Dr Pierson,, the pastor, and Drs Cuyier and John Hall spoke in congratulatory vein, and the document was then laid upon tin waiter, a match was then applied, and a large congregation witnessed its reduotion to ashes. -v i f ■: The growth of the Episcopal Church in New York city is quite remarkable. The New York Post has been looking in,to the matter and finds that the increase in population during the five years ending with 1887 was about 15J per cent and the increase of the Episcopal Church was nearly 32 per oen,t., while the increase of all the other Protestant denominations was only a little over 3 per cent—the Pres.bytqriang, pi all kinds, gaining not .quite -7 p t er cent, tfa.e Baptists a Ijttle over 5 per cent, the Methodists a little over 1 per cent, the Dutch Reformed 6 per cent, and the Gongregationnlists losing nearly 6 per oepfc, . The Bibje Society recently celebrated its twenty.fifth anniversary. Hereafter the Dutch Reformed churches will reoeived * offerings,’ not ‘ contributions ’ or ‘ collections.’ The General Synod recommends the use of the word • offerings ’ as indicating a higher conception of giving to the Almighty. ■. > Most Rev. Dr. MoEyilly, Archbishop of Tuam, in the coarse of a short address to the congregation after mass, at Westport re-

cently, ddvised his people to shun the society of the irreligious. * Boycott them,’ said he.' * I use the word deliberately, althotigh it has at present an unpleasant association. Dp not talk with them or walk with them.’ We have heard a good deal lately about the hundreds of young men in our schools that are preparing to go as missionaries. But somehow they do not materialise in any overwhelming numbers. The Baptist Missionary Union is begging for five healthy, earnest, able men to go to India andßurmab, and it cannot find them. The Presbyterians have the same tale to tell.—lndependent.-