PROTESTANT SCHOOLS IN ROME.

Otago Witness, Issue 1442, 12 July 1879, Page 8

PROTESTANT SCHOOLS IN ROME.

The first number of the N. Z. Presbyterian, which ' has supplanted tbe Evangelist, js- a great improvement upon the latter journal. ,It is edited, by Professor Salmond. In the introductory article the Presbyterian's . mission is thus set forth :—": — " Wo have a part to play (arid no mean power is lodged in our hands) in"shaping the young strength of this country and this Church. We have opinions to express and'principles to advocate. We abhor ■ Secularism and Popery, lawless anarchy and all .despotism, the dreariness of negation and scepticism,, the puerilities of will- worship and superstition ; we have to advocate universal education, just and equal laws, the authority of a divine rule of faith and manners, tho sacredness of the Sabbath rest, the sanctity of family life and ties, 'the ' godly\^ up-bringing of our youth, the value of 'Churfli^P life and ecclesiastical order, the claims of phil- ' anthropy and missions. We are not quite alone in all this, but we are the largest Church,' and most deeply-rooted in the land, and ought to speak and niuke our voice heard." . ■

Mr Wright" gave an evangelistic address in the Queen's Theatre on Sunday evenings There wa3 a largo attendance up-slair3. Mr S.*]?razer presided, and the .choir led the singing. It appear?, from an intimation made by Jthe chairman, that, the weekly expenses' of-' the\' service, amounting to nearly £3, have been falling behind, and Christians were invited to contribute towards the deficiency, or the Committee may be' compelled to di-continue the servicss 'for a few months.

A serious accident happened on Saturday io the coach that runs between Catlin's Jbtiver and ;Balolutba. At about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, while the cnacb. was passing a blacksmith's shop near Mr Somervilla's, at Waitepeka,»the diiver's attention was directed to a horse that had just ' bolted with a cart. Just at this moment the coach ran against a bridge, and the ie3ult of the accident was that the horsca ran away with the forecarriage of tHe vehicle. The driver wa3 thrown off the box, and sustained several cut? and bruisev but the three passengers escaped unhurt. The coach was completely wrecked. - '

We nnderEtaud a firm in this city, -which" re.pres6nts some large station interests inOtago, has received authority from London- by the mail to invent a sum of L6OO for the benefit. of the diocesan fund which is being raised by Bishop Nevill, this total being made up of three separate sums of L2OO t ach from ths owners of three distinct properties. .These mu'iificert gifts should help to put freshlheartinto Churchmen under their present depressing circumstances, and presents for imitation an example which we dare say will be followed up by- other donors.

The last of a series of lectures in connection with 1 the Dunedin -Young' Men's Christian- Association was given by the Rev. D. Gordon' at the Temperance Hall last evening, Mr Dick presiding. Owing ti tbe inclemency of, the weather there was not such a good attendance as there might otherwise have been, j The .subject of the lecture. was "The Reformation in r. latio'n to Civil and Religious Liberty, " andtttie rov. gentleman's remarks were listened to with great attention. • •-'' ' * ; " ' One section of the Ritualists (says the World are about to take advantage of the elevation of Dr Newman to the purple ,to bring the project of a"Uniat"Chuich to the.front again? / ft appears that' some hole and- corner consecrations have taken place, by 'which Borne of- the extreme party haye 1 juggled themselves into the episcopal dignity in a way that Rome must accept. These, .clergymen wish to be received ia the form of a kind of confraternity, 'headed by theic own Primate, sayiag Mass in English, and remaining ' with their wives, if- already married. Whether Dr' Newman will become tha CardbaT " Protector " of this comfortable sildeiing together a broken .fragment of 'his Church is more than one can guess.

The Rev. Mr Hamilton-, of Oust (in the Canterbury district), baa signified his intention of resigning on account of che irregular manner 'in which he has received Ills stipend. , A bill ! o regulate this matter is now bef ord the Diocesan Synod. ' -'• ' "■• ,

rizi are named among his co-workers. This commission, penetrated in face of the many and grave difficulties they will have to encounter, are instructed to exactly acquaint themselves with the state of all the schools in the different regions of Rome; inquire whether in number and size they correspond with the needs and multitude of the youth of both soxeg who require Catholic instruction ; see how many require to be enlarged, where new schools ought td be opened, and use every endeavour that they be entrusted to fitting teachers, who to proven blamelessness of life add the requisite ability for exercising their Office of instruction with profit. The members composing the commission, besides meeting frequently to confer "before their president and consult upon what is to be done, are to be called several times in the year by the Cardinal Vicar, to report and advi3e «to the measures most opportune for conqueri»<}bstacles and providing for needs., # But as Struggle of error against truth is principally u&intained by the money which is largely distributed in the midst of a people reduced to poor conditions of fortune, the Holy Father appeals at the same time to Catholic piety to -furnish the means for counteracting the evil, aud declares that he will not only furnish assistance from his private purse, but will also de vote a portion of Peter's Pence for the sime purpose. He has. indeed, followed up his words foy contributing 100,000fr towards the work for 4he present year.