ANGLICAN CHURCHES. 



105 offers for missionary services during the 

 vear, and had accepted 45. 



The annual public meeting of the Society tor 

 the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Farts 

 was held in London, June 3. The Archbishop 

 of Canterbury presided. The gross income of 

 the society for the year had been 110,039. 

 The number of missionaries returned was 544, 

 of whom 168 were laboring iu Asia, 135 in 

 Africa, 17 in Australia and the Pacific, 197 in 

 North America, 26 in the West Indies, and 1 

 in Europe. About 1,600 catechists and lay- 

 teachers, mostly natives, were employed in the 

 missions, and about 350 students were returned 

 as in the society's colleges. 



Ubentfn Sorfcty. The annual meetings of 

 the Society for the Liberation of Religion from 

 Stale Patronage and Control were held in 

 London, May 18. The receipts of the society 

 for the year had been 9,417, and its disburse- 

 ments 8,670. The Executive Committee in 

 ill report took the ground that the settlement 

 of the reform question had cleared the way for 

 more resolute and decisive action on the part 

 of the friends of religious activity. It was 

 believed that the time had arrived when, at 

 the coming general election, the question of 

 disestablishment should be resolutely urged as 

 one demanding early legislative settlement. 

 Hence it was resolved to adopt immediate and 

 energetic measures for securing the choice of 

 candidates favorable to the society's object. 

 In moving the adoption of the report, the 

 chairman remarked that the action of the so- 

 ciety was not directed against the Church as a 

 religious institution at all, but simply as a state 

 establishment ; and if irreligious men supported 

 the movement, it must be remembered that 

 the end in view was a political one, and .must 

 be attained by political means. The report 

 was adopted, together with a resolution de- 

 manding that all Liberal candidates should be 

 required at least to vote for the abolition of 

 the Church establishments in Wales and Scot- 

 land. The Government bill for amending the 

 laws regulating the provision and management 

 of parochial burial-places, and Mr. Hopwood's 

 bill for the abolition of compulsory oaths, were 

 approved. 



A special conference, convened by the Lib- 

 eration Society, was held in London, March 24, 

 to secure energetic action in preparing for the 

 general election, with a view to obtaining the 

 retnrn of the largest number of candidates fa- 

 Torable to the objects of the society. Satis- 

 faction was expressed at the introduction by 

 Mr. IVddie, M. P., of a bill to disestablish and 

 dUendow the Church of Scotland, and at the 



f-ntion of Mr. Dihvyn, M. P., to endeavor 

 to unbuilt to the House of Commons a motion 



F i^jfWishment of the Church in Wales. 



Peddle s bill in reference to the Church of 



HeptUnd proposes that it cease to be estab- 



ished by law on Jan. 1, 1887, when the min- 



te dealt with in respect of compen- 



Uon as public servants deprived of public 



office. All under thirty years of age shall re- 

 ceive annuities equal to half of all their emolu- 

 ments. The annuities allowed to ministers 

 beyond that age shall increase with their age, 

 so that at the age of sixty years every minis- 

 ter shall receive the full amount of his stipend 

 and of all his present emoluments. The sur- 

 plus funds are, by the provisions of the bill, to 

 be applied in relief of school fees and rates 

 and other educational purposes, and to such 

 purposes of public utility and necessity, not of 

 a religious and ecclesiastical character, as Par- 

 liament may deem fit. The conference ex- 

 pressed the hope that, besides the adoption of 

 the principle of this bill, and of the one pro- 

 posed by Mr. Dilwyn for Wales during the 

 next Parliament, the question of disestablish- 

 ment in England will also be advanced near to 

 a settlement. The bill to amend the law as to 

 oaths by permitting the making of a solemn 

 affirmation instead of an oath was approved. 



Church Defense. The meeting of the Church 

 Defense Institution was held June 19. The 

 Bishop of Durham presided. The report of 

 the secretary recited what had been done dur- 

 ing the year in England, Wales, and Scotland 

 to counteract the efforts of the Liberation So- 

 ciety, and to cultivate a public opinion in favor 

 of maintaining the several church establish- 

 ments in those countries. Concern was ex- 

 pressed as to the effect upon this question of 

 the large increase in the number of qualified 

 voters which would attend the operation of 

 the recent act of Parliament enlarging the suf- 

 frage. The Church of Scotland was represent- 

 ed by the Rev. Dr. Phin, ex -Moderator of the 

 General Assembly of that body, who, having 

 asserted the rights of the established churches 

 to demand to be maintained as such, said that 

 the Church of Scotland "had been assailed by 

 the Liberationists with the view to further as- 

 sault upon the Church of England," and that 

 he hoped that u the churches of the two coun- 

 tries would work hand in hand to resist the 

 common enemy." A resolution was adopted 

 expressing satisfaction at the result of the ef- 

 forts for the defense of the Church in Wales 

 during the past year, and urging attention 

 everywhere to the diffusion of accurate in- 

 formation respecting the work and claims of 

 the Church, and the inevitable consequences of 

 disestablishment. Another resolution expressed 

 sympathy with the Scottish Establishment in 

 the attack upon it, and pledged the institution 

 " to use all its influence to defeat any measures 

 brought before Parliament which would tend to 

 sever the connection between the Church and 

 state in. any part of Great Britain." [For the 

 later discussions of the question of disestab- 

 lishment, see GREAT BRITAIN.] 



The Church Association. The annual meeting 

 of the Church Association was held May 13. 

 Mr. J. M. Holt presided, and in his address 

 expressed regret at the spread of ritualism, es- 

 pecially during the last twelve months. The 

 report criticised what were styled the short- 



