RELIGIOUS PERIODICALS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1124, 17 September 1880, Page 2

RELIGIOUS PERIODICALS.

(From the Otago Witness.) Some one has sent me a copy of an English periodical called The Christian, I snpposo as a specimen of the_ curiosities of religious literature. What sect or denomination The Christian represents I haven't been able to make out, bat its subscribers, as judged by their advertisments, would seem to be a decidedly " peculiar people." A perusal of Tlie Christian's list of " Wanteds " makes credible to |me what I have always thought half-mythical, namely Sydney Smith's specimens of religious advertismeuts given in his cruel Edinburgh Mevieto article on "Methodism." Henceforth the " religious hoy " which, "by the divine permission," sailed weekly from London to Margate, and the young man out of place " who has brewed in a serious family " will be included in the articles of my literary belief. Here are a few similar specimens cut from 27ie Christian : — NURSE.— Wanted, a Christian Young Women (a believer) as Nurse to an infant and three other children. No under-nurse. The nursemaid cleans and assists in nursery. Wages, £20, and all foithd' except beer. One may infer from the terms of this advertisment that young women may be "a Christian" yet not "a believer." The mention of " beer," which beverage it seems the young believer is to find for herself, suggests, when coupled with the advertisment of the young man who had " brewed in a serious family," Borne curious speculations respecting the social habits prevailing in these unworldly circles. The distinction between " believers " arid mere "Christians " is recognised in several advertisments. Thus we have a ' ' school for the sons of Believers," and another in which " Conversion to Godj where not previously experienced, and building up in the truth of those who believe are primary objects. " The terms " converted" or "Christian" occur in almost every advertisment A boy, 16, " who has been converted six months," wants a place as groom ; a young women, who offers her services as domestic servant, is "subject to rheumatism," ' ' has been converted, but has not yet attained to assurance." An "upper housemaid," who "must be converted, and able to take charge of children's wardrobe," is wanted for Tasmania ; and a " truely converted " governess is required for the same colony. The following is mysterious : — ABIBLEWOJIAN wanted. One desiring to live dependency in the power of the Spirit, whilst seeking to win souls. — D. P., Mr. Chown, 4 Queen's terrace Kilburn. Is this to be read as equivalent to "no salary 1" Many advertisers offer to let " apartments," but always and only to " Christian " tenants. There are also "sea-side lodgings suitable for Christians," and others for " persons of Christian principles." In some cases it is held out as an inducement that the "apartments" are "within tenminutes of" — not the post-office, but "an Evangelical ministry!" Fancy the exacting nature of a man's spiritual appetites who requires to live within ten minutes of an Evangelical ministry ; A gentleman, at Bronsely, Shropshire, after enumerating "kitchen, pump, cellar, front and back entrance, ' and other advantages of a "comfortable small house to let," concludes as follows : — PREFERENCE to one meeting for worship simply on ground of Christian Brotherhood, and would sympathise with Bethesda Bristol Liberty. Scope for evangelising and edifying ministrations. I haven't space for further examples of the excellent reading to be found in the advertising columns of The Christian, but must here take my leave of these good people. Doubtless they are good people, and whatever it may be about them that makes them absurd it isn't their goodness. But it is curious that so many good people should be absolutely destitute of a sense of the ludicrous. The subscribers to The Christian would seem to be a multitude of unfortunates to whom nature in one of her cruelest moods has denied the faculty of humour. Civis.

The race of Amazons is not extinct. Mrs. Duncan Kerr, a Nebraska lady, recently dug and finished a 53 foot well with no assistance except that rendered by her two little boys, aged eight and ten years respectively. It has been gravely suggested in England that ladies should give up the sidesaddle — after its having been in use 300 years — and ride astride like men, and a lengthened correspondence on the subject is now being carried on in the columns of the " Live Stock Journal."