BA1TISTS. 



ere, and 4.4S9 scholars. The Conference 

 recommend..! the holding of Sabbath-school 

 teachers' institute* and Chun h normal-clme*, 

 the publication of a monthly Sabbath-school 

 journal, and an exposition of the Internation- 

 al serie* of lessons. 



IN'. TrxxEU. The annual meeting and 

 lore-feast of those German Baptists who are 

 commonly called Tun ten or Jtuntartl*, took 

 place at Dale City, Somerset County, Pa., June 

 Slat and 224. The meetings were held in a 

 barn. Between nix and seven hundred dele- 

 gate* were present, representing most of the 

 State* and Territoriea, and the British Posses- 

 sion*. The questions discussed concerned mi- 

 nute points of ritual and daily lite. Among 

 them was : " Is it sinful for n ministering 

 brother at any time to occupy a stand elevated 

 above the level of the surrounding space occu- 

 pied by the assembly, for reading the Script- 

 ures, praying, or preaching?" A decision 

 rendered in 1866 was rein w cd ; it left the 

 matter with the con- the ministering 



brother, but advised all to "try to keep down." 

 I' pi in the i|uction, "Is it according to the 

 Gospel, or U it conforming to the world, when 

 brethren subscribe for railroad-stock ? " the 

 meeting decided that such subscription was 

 not conilrmm-d by the Scriptures, but advised 

 the brethren "not to engage in it, because it 

 bring* them into a position in which they are 

 liable to violate their ("hrii-tinii principles." 

 The poeseasioa of musical instruments in their 

 members was declared "unauthor- 

 ized by the <iopcl, find clearly opposed to the 

 old order of the Brethren and the doctrine of 

 elfilrnial." The advice of the meeting was 

 (riven against the use of hymn-books with 

 Dote* in public worship, on the ground, as 

 avowed by the speakers, that their use might 

 lead to choir-singing. 



V. HnrxomTCS. The movement for the 

 emhjriiion of Mennonites from Russia to the 

 I State* began to assume definite shape 

 in 1878. Several commissioner)) representing 

 rent neighborhoods <! tin- liu-ian Men- 

 nonite* came to Amrrirn during the year. and 

 vlait<-i! ilitf. -rent parts of Canada and the United 

 SUto* for the purpose of selecting lands to 

 settle upon. Inducement* to nettle upon lands 

 belonging to them were offered l.y thcdovcrn- 

 meM of Canada and l.v the Union : 

 North* Pacific Rallrond Companies. One 

 of the llennonitc deputations visited th. 

 tlcmenu on the Red River, in Manitoba, l.nt 

 were not favorably Impressed. The saim 

 ntatloo afterward visited part* of the WeM, rn 

 State* and Territories of th, Inr 

 Selections were made by different j.:irti. 

 tracts in Kansas and Dakota. On the 2flth 

 of September, thirty-six families had reached 

 the United State* on their way to their m 

 Many of the families intending to 

 arc without the means of paying the 

 of such an undertaking, and th. Kn~- 

 bave ieraed an appeal in behalf of them. 



The American Mennonites have taken up their 

 cause, and are endeavoring to furnish all the 

 money that will be needed for the help of the 

 poorer members. It is understood to he the 

 policy of those who intend to emigrate, not 

 to settle in a body, hut to divide into smaller 

 neighborhoods, so that they may he brought, 

 into more close contact with the American 

 ] "pie. It is now thought that the whole 

 body of Nennonites in Russia, who number 

 about 40,000 souls, will, iu the end, remove to 

 this country. 



VI. I'AHTKTI.AnBArTISTS IN GREAT BRITAIN 



AND IKKLANP. The n, citings of the }:<ij>ti*t 

 Union of i, ''in Hi"/ Ireland are held 



in the spring and in the autumn. The spring 

 meeting for 1873 was held in London, begin- 

 ning on April 2sth. The committee appointed 

 at the autumnal session of 1871, to prepare 

 a revised constitution, presented their report. 

 The name, "The Baptist Union of Great Brit- 

 ain and Ireland." was definitely adopted as the 

 title by which the body should be designated. 

 The discussion of other provisions of the con- 

 stitution was continued during this meeting. 

 and at the autumnal meeting. The custodians 

 of the building-fund reported at the spring 

 meeting, that the income of this fund for the 

 > ;<r had been $46,000 greater than that of 

 the preceding year. The income of the Tract 

 Society was $18,000. The funds are disbursed 

 mostly through the Missionary Society. The 

 autumnal meeting of the Union was held at 

 Nottingham, and commenced October 18th. 

 The published reports of the proceedings re- 

 late chiefly to the addresses which were de- 

 livered. Dr. Underbill, the chairman, de- 

 livered an address on "Christian Missions." 

 An address on "Ritualism," by the Itev. Dr. 

 I.andels, attracted much attention, and v. as 

 widely commented upon in Great Britain and 

 the United States. 



The Home and Iriih Mittion is an organiza- 

 tion constituted by the union of the Baptist 

 Home Mis-ionary Society (founded in 177!') 

 and the Bxptist. Irish s. uncled in 



1 s ! 1 1. which took place in IM'.."I. It sustains 

 about eighty Evangelists in Ireland. Its work 

 in England is conducted chiefly through the 

 county associations. Its income for the vcar 

 ending in April. I73, was more than $8,000, 

 and slightly exceeded the income of the pre- 

 vious _i 



The anniversary of the EnijlM Ilnfitlit 

 Mimienary Noriety was held May 1st. The 

 income of the Society from all sources for the 

 <:! been 88,611, being a larger amount 

 than had been received in any rear except 

 1-7". Twelve hundred and fifty-three 

 churches, including 150,000 members, had 

 contributed to the funds of the Society. The 

 missions of the Socii ty arc established in 

 India. Ceylon, Western Africa. China, the 

 \\ , st Indie-, and on the Continent of Europe. 

 | if thes.-. the missions in India are the most 

 important. The Santhal mission in India ex- 



