Religious Gleanings.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 126, 31 October 1885, Page 5

Religious Gleanings.

No More Persecution. But to-day the light is dawning. Men and women are becoming ashamed to persecute in the name of religion, and we see the Jew honoured on all sides for real worth and fervid patriotism There can be no beating behind the bush. There is too much intel ligence and liberality among men in the world to admit of anything akin to applause for injustice to their Israelitish brethren When accounts of the Roumanian and Russian atrocities saw the light of day there were bleeding hearts among Christians as well as Jews. They felt for the poor, down-trodden Israelite, and view to-day with indignation that any civilised nation can be co degraded as to smite the subject that is only too willing to aid aud evej die for his native country. — "Jewish Progress."

Christian Conversation The art, if we may call it so, of Christian conversation, is little cultivated, and rarely practised. In fact, it seems to be an accepted canon that religious conversation, even among Christians, is not at all the thing to be practised, or, at most, at rare intervals, and only on special occasions. When the pastor makes a call, he, o£ course, is expected to ''introduce the subject," and the parishioner is expected to respond in such manner as he or she may be able to. But the matter is quickly over, and other topics are introduced. We have often noticed that, when the subject of God and the soul, the Bible and religious life, is under discussion — especially if the matter is made personal — there is more or less re straint, even between pastor and people ; whereas, if a new book, the last social item of news, the work of the I hurch, or, indeed any outside and worldly thing, is taken up, the conversation becomes fluent again. Even the question of "the difficulty in securing good servants" can be made the lively theme of conversation. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. There are households and individuals with whom and among whom it is a delight to hold religious conversation. The precious truths of God's Word, the personal experience ot the soul, earth and heaven in God's sight, life and death, immortality and glory, are matters that are eagerly dwelt upon. This however, is not the rule, only the exception. — ' ' New York Independent. "

The railway bridge over the Puniu River, Te Awamutu, is nearly finished. Bather than pay the £70 demanded for oarrying the Circus by rail, Mr- St.? Leon transported all his animals and baggage from Auckland to Hamilton by the Great South Road, • -, , • Bishop Redwood leaves New Zealand in a few days in order to attend the. Catholid Counoil in Sydney.