NEWS FROM HOME.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4424, 24 April 1876, Page 3

NEWS FROM HOME.

(from our own correspondent.)

THE PERSONALITY OF SATAN.

The celebrated case of Jenkins v. Cook, which I have mentioned during its various stages, was brought to a final close yesterday (February 10), when ike Lord Chancellor delivered the judgment of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. This judgment was entirely in favour of Mr Jenkins (the parishioner), on the grounds that nothing had ever been alleged against his moral character, so that he could not be refused the communion as being "an open and notorious evil liver"; and that the mere omission of certain passages of Scripture from his book entitled " Selections from the Old and New Testaments" did not constitute him "a common and notorious depraver of the Book of Common Prayer," otherwise the Church Lectionary would be open to a similar charge. The Court also attached little weight to Mr Jenkins's letter, in which he said that he had omitted portions of the Bible from his " Selections" on the ground that " in their present generally recaived sense" they were "quite incompatible with decency or religion," tbe said letter having been written at Mr Cook's solicitation. At the same time the Court reproved Mr Jenldn3 ior commencing the controversy with " an uncourteous and un-called-for letter," in which he " protested against aud condemned " a sermon preached by Mr Cook. The upshot of the whole matter is that the judgment of the Court of Arches is reversed, aud Mr Cook, besides having to pay the costs of both trials, is admonished for his refusal to administer the sacrament to Mr Jenkins, and directed to do so in future. It is stated that Mr Cook is resolved to leave the Church rather than do th:s last thing.

THE CAMBRIDGE WRANGLERS,

The list of honours in the Mathematical Tripos at Cambridge University was published in the Senate House on January 28. The Senkr Wrangler this year is Mr Joseph Timmis Ward, of St. John's College. He is a native of Baubury, and was educated at Rochester Cathedral Grammar School. He is in his 23rd year. The Second Wrangler is Mr W. L. Morrison, of Ciare College. He is a native of Aberdeen, and was educated at the Grammar School and University there, being a graduate of the latter. The second and third Wranglers, who are bracketed as equal, are Mr J. H. Poynting, the sen of a Unitarian Minister at Morton, near Manchester; and Mr F. G. Trimmer, of Heston, near Houuslow. Both the latter belong to Trinity College. The congregation to confer the degrees on honour men in the various Triposes, was held on January 29th, and was accompanied by the usual demonstra tions on the part of the undergraduates. The ceremony of presenting a wooden spoon to the lowest on the list was carried out as uoual. The recipient, an unattached student, deftly cut the .string by which the spoon was lowered from the gallery, and thus brought the ridiculous incident to a speedy termination.

THE IRON TRAD 2.

From the article in the Times reviewing the iron trade of the United Kingdom during 1575. referred to near the beginning of this letter, I glean the following important, statistics, showing the relative quantities of the two leading kinds of iron exported during the years 1874 and 1875 respectively : — 1874. 1575. Pig Iron .. .. Tom 770,116 Tons 95i,4"5 Malleable Iron .. 1,701,350 1,511,105 2,747,4C0 2,405 GlO It will thus be seen that there was a considerable falling-oil during 1875, for although the grand total does not show averyJarge decrease, tni3 is owing to the export of pig iron having increased, while that of the more valuable malleable iron has fallen off by no less than 190,185 tons. To tbis I lr.ay add the factsgleaned from other reliable sources—that the export of steel rails from Sheffield to the United States, during 1875, has fallen from £340,00 r! to nil; and that an American firm is now selling in Sheffield certain kinds of iron manufactured in tLe United Stages, the prices charged being . leas than those of the local articles.

KENEALY AS A PREACHER.

Dr Kenealy, finding that the Orton business is a " dead hor.se," and the Magna Charta Associatiou a dying one, is about to come out in onew role —viz , that of a preacher. This is his declaration : — "The whole of our religious system is out of joiut, as is proved by the worldly conduct of the clergy genera^y, and the dreadful public crimes wdich are raging around us, not only with impunity, but even vith applause. It is time the tide was stemmed, or the fi'es of Heaven will descend its upon Jerusalem (sic) and the Cities of the Plain, and sweep us into destruction." With a view to avert such fearful judgments, Kenealy intends to commence a serious of religious services for the people on Easter Sunday. Bad as his previous performances have been, it is to be feared that those he now contem plates will hi vet more scandalous, for iv his writings Kenealy has given only t«o ample proof of the enormities of blasphemy he is capable of.

this connection I may mention that Dr Kenealy's eldest son Ahmed—who has been happily described as " a chub by-faced youth of 25, with a loud voice and a face nearly as full of confidence as Ms father's "—became a candidate for the seat for Buruley rendered vacant by the death of Mr Shaw, but withdrew on finding his success to be hopeless. 'Ihe very biil stickers of Burnley refused to post his address without receiving payment iv advance—a fair indication of the reputation borne by this true '" chip of the old block."

A JIANCSCBIPT AS OLD AS MOSES.

Much interest is being taken in learned circles in a facsimile published at Leipsic of a very ancient papyrus obtained in Egypt three years ago by Herr Boers, a German archaeologist. He borcjhi, it of an Arab of some position, who stated that a man now dead had found it 1-1 years previously between the bones of a mummy in the necropolis at Thebes. The original forms one immense sheet, divided into 110 pages, and both the material and the written characters are in an excellent state of preservation. By a consideration of the forms of the latter, the occurrences of the namea of Icings, and an examination of a calendar on the back of the first page, Herr Ebers has deter mined that the writing must be assigned to about the year 1552 8.c., when, according to ] the usually accepted chronology, Moses was 21 years of age. The manuscript is a treatise on medicine, but contains also much interesting information regarding tho domestic life of the ancient Egyptians. Among the matters treated of it is curious to find such things as hair invigorators and dyes, pain-killers, and flea powdvr-i. One of the chapters :d;;o gives directions for making medicines for killing lico, wliich j- iiil.-T&ting in connection with the total i:i'.-.is:'(\ty of the Ivjyp!.i;-n ivi;o «*:ws t<; yrappk- with ihe {il,\^u>> o£ lieu held; >>y tlod through th» agoncy of Moses, a man v.-'no was "le:inu'd iv all the wisdom of the Egyptians" (Acts vii. i'L'). T!io vulu'i of tlio iii:ii.i:-.:m].t is :c.iu>iiiod up by a ci.-miii.'tetit authority, the Liliraikai of tk A.-Ur" iitiUHi; F/iLntry, I>qw

York, in the following termsi—"lt ia.ksrfy possible to exaggerate the literary, scientific, and historical importance of this remarkable document It is the largest, best preserved, and most legible text in the language of hieroglyphics, and does not speak vaguely of incomprehensible and fantastic ideas, but furnishes indubitable insight into different phases of the life of the ancient Egyptians."

THE POPE A FREEMASON.

The truth of the repeated allegationthat the Pope was a member of the Masonic body, seems to be at length established, an Italian newspaper having published a copy of hi 3 ceriificaieof admission into the Lodge "Eterna Catena," of Palermo. The certificate is written in Italian, and sealed with the great seal of the Grand Lodge, "Luce Perpetua," of Naples. The follovaug is a translation of it: —" We, the masters, dignitaries, and officers of the three Masonic degrees of St. John, do certify, in the name of the Supreme Master who directs all, that on this date, at twelve (miJnigrht) we have received into this lodge, with all the forms prescribed by it§ ritual, and with entire obedience to its constitution. Brother John FerrettiMastai, native of the Pontifical States, who, after having taken the oath in presence of all of m, has given. assurance that he belongs to no secret Society except this lodge, and has paid the fees required by it. We enjoin all tho Masonic lodges of the world to xecog1 nise him as a real and true mason, received in a real and perfect lodge, as we, being men enlightened and honoured, do judge him and attest him ; and that all mn,y hold this document as true, we append to it our sign manual in Palermo, in the profane and civil year 1839, on the Ist of August—Ne Varietur, Gicv. Ferreti Mastai; the Yen. of the Lodge, Matteo Chiavo ; the Secretary of the Lodge, Paolo Duplessis; the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Naples, Sisto Cab no.

SCOTCH NEWS.

Mr Daniel Macnee was on February 9 unanimously elected Sir George Harvey's successor in the office of President of the Royal Scottish Academy. Like his illustrious predecessor, Mr Macnee is a native of Stirlingshire, having been born at Fintry in 1806. He has been a m 3mber of the Academy for over 20 years, and is famous as a portrait painter. The well-known estate of Larbert, near Falkirk, was sold a few days ago to Captain Stirling for £50,000. A scheme is being mooted for the connection of Inverness with Glasgow by a direct line of railway through the great glen, Glcncoe, and by the side of Luch Long a.nd the Gs>reloch to Helensburgh, the present terminus of railway communication on the northern side of the Clyde. The length of the line would be 145 miles, and its estimated total cost, including stations, &c, is £1,542,000. It is believed such a line as this would greatly benefit a large portion of the Highlands, while the large cities of the South would be gainers by the facilities afforded for the speedier conveyance to them of fish, meat, &c. The scheme is in much favour in Inverness, and is likely to be more heard of than it is at present. A me'ancholy accident occurred at Clyth, on the coast of Caithness, on January 27th, result ing in the drowning of six fishermen. As their boat was found floating bottom up. with the sail set and the sheet tied, it is supposed that it was capsized by a squall. Four of the men drowned were two pairs of brothers, named Sutherland. Five out of the six leave widows aud children, and as they were all connected with each other by marriage, the painful nature of the occurrence is intensified.

Steps are being taken for the establishment of a Technical College in Glasgow. At a meeting of thnse interested in tb.6 matter, held on January 27t0, it was stated that the arrangements for making a beginning by giving teaching in textile manufactures were well advanced. A site for the College had been secured in Well street, and £3230 had been subscribed. A factory would be forthwith erected at a cost of £1411. It would contain ten steampower looms and two hand looms, wfcicli had been presented to the College by manufacturers. When the state of the funds permits, it is intended to add the teaching of engineering, &c, to that of weaving textiles. Steps are being taken to have a suitable monument placed over the grave of the late Tom Morris, juu., the champion golfer, the funds being contributed by golfers throughout Scotland and England. The annual soiree of the men employed in the Glasgow Corporation Gasworks was held on February Bth. The Lord Provost who presided, said that the city had invested L1,016,C00 in the works. They had 400 miles of pipes, 317,500 meters, and 1309 workmen; and 1(150 millions of cubic feet of gas had been registered at the work? during the year. The Scottish Volunteers have resolved to send a team to compete at the International llifle Match at Philadelphia, and not to coalesce with the English Volunteers in sending n composite team. Their contention is that if separate teams are sent by England, Scotland, and Ireland, there is a better chance of this kingdom being victorious, than if a joint team, even if composed of the be3t s>'ots, is sent. The English Volunteers, however, e>ay it is doubtful it an independent team can be sent from England—a statement as remarkable as it is discreditable to the public spirit of the Volunteers in England. A Parliamentary paper jusrf issued, obtained by Dr Cameron, one of the Glasgow members, states that during the twelve mWths ending on June 30th, 1875, 01,173 persons were, arrested in Scotland for drunkenness. 38,213 were charged with being drunk and incapable, and the remaining 22,960 with being drunk ana disorderly. IHISII NOTES. Another of those precious squabbles about the O'Connell statue, occurred in Dublin on January 28, at a meeting of the O'Connell Monument Committee. The cause of dispute was the old one, whether O'Connell should be represented as weaving a cloak or not. Sir ■Dominic Conigan, the Chairman, is a fierce anti-cloak man", and he assailed Mr Gray, of the Freeman's Journal, who is in favour of the cloak, in no measured terms. Mr Gray gave back as good as he received, and caused Sir Dominic to leave the chair. At the solicitation of the Q'Ccnnrr Don, however, he resumed his post, and kept it throughout the prolonged scene of disorder which ensued, and which resulted in the former decision to have a cloaked figure being re-affirmed by 30 votes to 23. Mr A. M. Sullivan, M.P., is determined not to trust entirely to the chance or his appeal against the Dublin Benchers proving successful, for he is taking the requisite steps to ensure his admittance to the English Bar. The Duke of Abercorn's first levee of the season was held in Dublin on February Ist, and was attended by no less than 3000 persons of all ranks, from noblemen to barristers.

Sir Henry Beechsr, the owner of Cape Clear anil much of the neighbouring land, has just had built for him a steamer of 270 tons and CO horse power, to be used both as a yacht and to cruise about in seaich of derelict vessels, which we not uncomaion in that quarter. As her daily consumption of coal is only four tons, the steamer can Seep at sea 30 days at a time. She is also provided with v steel-wire hawser for towing. The experiment is a curious one. Sir Arthur Guinness has adderi another to his many benefactions to the city of Dublin, by giving £5000 to the Commissioners of Stephen's G reea to enable them to pay off the debt upon ii and convert it into a public garden. The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, speaking- at the inaugural dinner of the Lord Mayor of Dublin on February 10, referred to some of the principal signs that the country had been prosperous and progressing during the preceding year. The deposits in the Bank of Ireland had increased by a million, making an increase of 12 millions during ten years, and other banks were proportionally-prosperous. The agricultural returns had been very favourable, leaving the farmers little to complain of. The statistics of emigration showed a diminution of 22,000. The paupers in workhouses were fewer by 4000. The amalgamation of the northerr. railways was likely to facilitate traffic and promote prosperity, while at Dublin the shipping and commercial returns shewed an increase. At the same time his Grace was obliged to refer to the deleterious effect on trade and industry exercised by the occurrence of crimes of violence. Comparatively few though they now were they put a brand on the country in the estimation of investors, and capital, which was the most tiipid of all tiavellers, was afraid to set foot on Irish soil. Such plague spots as these must be eradicated.

There is some talk of an industrial exhibition being held at Jselfa»t this year.