Weekly Mail

THE CHURCH IN AMERICA. A GLANCE AT ITS PAST HISTORY. ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN THE STATES. By THE VICAR OF ABERPERGWM. [Re-printed from the" Western Mail."] LETTER I. For the sake of brevity, I shall in the course of these letters speak of the Church with which I shall deal as "the Church." By so dcing, I shall not be necessarily arrogating to it an exclusive rignt to that title. Its full legal name, "The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States," is clumsy ard awkward. That name, which it has borne since 1780, is t-tiil regarded as provisional, and it will not be surprising if another is substituted for it by an early General Convention. The word ".Proteshwt" finds no favour with the Ritua- lists, though it would be difficult to find another word to differentiate the Church from the Church of Rome. "The Anglo-American Church" has been proposed, and has the merit of being succinct, but some think it as well to keep all reference to England out of the title. "Episcopacy" is not the Church's differentiate. There is not only the Romanist Church, but there j s also the Wesley an body, which in the States is Episcopal. American Churchmen are dissatisfied with the present title of their Church, given to it in the first instance with.- out dteliberation, and would welcome a shorter and less awkward one but every name that is suggested as a substitute is open to objection, and so they keep to the old designation. It is all the more necessary that I should explain what I mean, by the Church, because in the States all the other denominations are called "Churches," even by members of our own communion. We often in England these days hear the sects described as the "free Churches"; but that is among the Noncon- formists themselves, and that designation has only become of general use even among them in recent years. In the States members of the Church seem ungrudgingly to accord that title to the "sects," and when you speak ( f "the Church you are liable to be asked, even by Anglicans, "Which Church ?" Oar Church has not that predominance in the States which would oause it to he distinguished from the other denominations by the appellation of "the Church." But, as, will be learnt in the course of these letters, in three or four of the States such is the progress made that in an- other generation we may expect to see her establish her right to that pre-eminence on the ground of numbers and influence which is already hers on the ground of history and authority. Before I proceed to give the evi- dence which I have gathered a, to the work- ing of the voluntary system of the Church in America (which is the immediate purpose of these letters) it will be p.g. well that your readers should have some idea. what that Church was when it rested on the arm of the State, when it was in some of the Colonies which have since developed into the United States an Established and Endowed Church. Because, in the very loose language used in the House of Commons in the debates on the Welsh Disestablishment Bill on the Govern- ment fcide before I left the Old Country, I frequently read references to the Church in the States before it was disestablished and the supposed benefits that remltedi from dis- establishment, as if the Ciiurch of that day was a, highly-organised body, and in any sense, analogous to the Church in Wales to- day, and even Mr. Bryce, who knew so much better, and whose great work on the American Commonw-t-alth is admired by Americans and Englishmen alike, used language for party purposes which countenanced the same idea,. They were careful to keep "the man in the street" in ignorance of the fact that the Church of that day was so far from being that complete organisation which could be brought into comparison with the Church at home that it was not even Episcopal. It scarcely de- served the name of an organisation during the period when it was supported by the secular power, but was made up of a number of isolated congregations or "parishes," the only bond of union between them being the Bishop of London, who, in virtue of a bishop of that see having been a director in the old Virginia Cowanv. exercised a shadowy power of superintendence over them. 13y glancing rapidly over tne short history of the Church in the States prior to the War of Independence we shall see both how it was established in the several Colonies and what was involved in disestablishment when it came about. The life of the Church in America, like that of the Church in Wales, has been continuous from its first planting. It was also the first on the ground. The first settlement of Church- men was made in 1606 in Maine, but it was to Virginia, in the following year that the Cliuich of England, together with the State, was first transplanted. It was by the Virginia Company, to which I have alreadv referred, and which had for its mem- bers peers of the realm, temporal and spiritual, rich merchants, and high officers of State. By the terms of the charter the Church of England was to be the Established Church of the Colons. A temporary church, with a sail for a roof, wa,s built as soon as their rude cabins were, and there the Holy Communion was celebrated for the first time in America according to the Liturgy of the Church. June 21, 1607. The Colony was, as it were. a. little English parish, having its minister (Chaplain Hunt), its prayer-books, and its manners and customs transferred to a foreign soil. The settlement, after a hard experience, began to prosper, great interest was created in it at home, and collections were made by the archbishop's orders in the Province of Canterbury for the new Colonial Church. After a. serious check through a massacre by Indians, the Colony became prosperous again. New settlements were planted and new parishes organised. In 1619 they selected the first representa- tive Assembly in America, the acts of winch relating to religion, not only give us a, vivid picture of the place and time, but show to us in what way the Church was supported. It was enacted that:—"Care should be taker by the officers that the people resort tc church on the Sabbath Day, the penalty of absence to be a pound of tobacco, or for a month's absence fifty pounds; that all who till the ground pay tithes to the clergyman that there be throughout the Colony a uni- formity of doctrine and worship; that clergy and churchwardens present to the midsummer assizes a return of official acts, and also the names and offences of persons of profane and ungodly life, common swearers, drunkards, blasphemers, neglecters of the sacraments, Sabbath-breakers, adulterers, slanderers, and also of parents who neglect to catechise their children and servants; that no man shall disparage or speak lightly of a magistrate or minister, or be married other than by the Book of Common Prayer; that ministers shall preach at each of their stations at least once a year; that they shall visit any one who is dangerously sick; shall administer the sacrament at least three times a. year shall not drink to excess, dice or play cards for money; that each minister shall have a hundred pounds of tobacco per year, and also the twentieth calf, pig, and kid; that the cost of raising and repairing churches shall be assessed upon the parishes that the mem- bers of the Legislature shall attend Divine service 'upon the thyrde beatinge of a drume, under a line of two shillings and sixpence." I may here say in parenthesis that, if any reader of these lines who is not a friend of the Church should say that the above enact- ments of the Episcopalians of Virginia breathe the spirit which the Church has manifested in all ages where it has been dominant, I could give him a long list of enactments which were passed and sternly enforced by the Puritan Colonists of Massachusetts compared with which those I have quoted are mildness itself. When the Church of Rome was dis- established by the Commonwealth the Church in Virginia underwent no change, and no break in its history as a State Church occurred. It was as late as 1684 when the Church became established in Massachusetts in the eyes of English law. There the Puritans, who styled themselves Churchmen, had been established since 1629, during which period they had been diligently purging their Colony of the Church leaven. For fifty years Puritanism was the "Established Order." One of their champions, "the worthy Mr. Endicott" (ancestor of Mrs. Chamberlain), was noto- riously bitter against those who ventured to use the prescribed Prayer Book. It is re- markable, I may observe in passing, that the descendants of those who were notorious for their hatred of episcopacy and their harsh treatment of Churchmen are now among the most faithful Episcopalians in New Eng- the most faithful Episcopalians in New Eng- land. The name of almost every prominent Puritan at that time is to be found on the rolls of the Church to-day. I do not happen to know what Mrs. Chamberlain is per- sonally, but there are members of her family in New England to-day who have not inherited their religion from their Church- hating ancestor, John Endicott. When New England had purged itself of all obnoxious elements, and Churchmen had been driven into conformity with the "Established Order" or into exile, the charter of the Puritans was withdrawn, Massachusetts became a Royal Colony, its territory became again part of Great Britain, and the Church of England became the Established Church. (To be Continued.)

NEW SERIAL STORY FOR THE "WEEKLY MAIL" OLD BABETTE": A ROMANTIC STORY OF NORMANDY, BY C. M. HAWKSFORD, [St. Saviour's, Jersey, IN THE WEEKLY MAIL OF SATURDAY, JUNE 22nd, will be commenced a delightful story of a Normandy peasant girl and her lover, introducing otberinterc-siiiag characters, and dealing- with intrigue, matrimony, reli- gion, &c.

OPENING OF THE MATRICULA- TION EXAMINATIONS. The Welsh Matriculation Examination, for which 89 candidates wer2 entered, opened on Tuesday Mr. T. Darlington, M.A., secre- tary of the University presided over the 34 candidates sitting in the University College- buildings, Cardiff, the subjects of the day's examination being mathematics (arithmetic and algebral and Latin. The following statistics as supplied by Mr. Darlington may be interest- ing. There are ten subjects three of which, English, Latin, and niatheiwics, are obliga- tory, but any of the subjects may be postponed until a future examination. The aggregate number of candidates fitting at the three centres of Cardiff, Aberystwith, and Bangor ii3 in Euglish 89, Latin 63, mathematics 81, Welsh 22, Greek 21, French 32, Germ a a 0, chemistry' 30, botany 16, and dynamics 38. There ire 23 male and 4 fcm:de candidates at Abürystwith, 19 male and 9 female at Bangor, and i9 male and 15 female at Cardiff.

ARRESTED IN COURT. At Cardiff Police-court on Monday Lizzie Hole, a single woman, summoned a labourer, named Foxalll to contribute towards the main- tenance of her illegitimate child, of which she a-l!esred Foxall was the father. After Lizzie Hole had gone into the witness-box defendant elected, to be sworn, and stated, in answer to the stipendiary (Mr. T. W. Lewis), that since the da,te of the issuing of the summons he had had no communication whh plaintiff.—His Worship then produced a letter which Foxall admitted having written since service of the summons. Mr. Lewis thereupon ordered Foxall to be arrested at once, charged with the committal of wilful and corrupt perjury. He was taken to the cells, and, after being formally charged with the offence, wan brought up anil placed in the dock. — Detective Gretton gave formal evidence of arrest, and stated that when chargcd prisoner replied* -"You may write down that J was confused, it being my first time in a. oolice- court, and I may have made a great mistake." —Prisoner was then remandtd in custody ttll that day week.

"I fwl dell/i." J\ on sense! If yon Trere dead you wouldn't feel anything about, it. jllst feel cmong- 3 our loose change for 9d. Send it, to Newhall and Moson, Nottingham, for sample bottle of Alton's Extract of Herbs for making Xc.n-Intox icaiinn; Beer, which will quench your thirst and refresh your system. A 6cl. P.otile makes eight gallon*. Of 0u cbe»}:*t<i aiici grocera, 6d. and la, i<ci^48— £

(F/'0»i Our Own Correspondent.) PARIS, JUNE 12. The Eastern Quostion. The diplomatic world is in a kind of flutter, due to the grave outlook of the Eastern ques- tion—t-he old anxiety. In the clubs there is a good deal of head-shaking, and the incredulous, who do not put their faith in princes and potentates, assert that the Sultan would not potentates, assert that the Sultan would not beard the Triple AJIiance-England, France, and Russia—if he had not very well-founded doubts as to the sincerity of that union, and of its keeping together until Armenia. was securely protected for the future. It is easy to boinbard Jeddaih—that appears to be a periodical necessity for the moral sanitation of the natives. The collective attacks on the allies in question are too methodically strategetic, display an occult organisation superior to the ordinary tactics of the Porte as to justify suspicion. A naval demonstra- tion in the Bosphorus? But would Russia and France join in the "firing party," if necessary, to open the Sultan's eyes, or leave that work to England, a.r.d sail awoy—Alexan- drill, like? Or. if Russia and Franco joined in the shell work, and their ships cast anchor before Constantinople, they might take into their heads to remain there till the Bulgarian Ri:d Egyptian questions were settled, and the Dardanelles made as free as the Straits of Dover or of the Sound. This time the Sick Man is really sick, and Surgeon Russia has been caked in to prescribe—his processes are pro- verbially summary. The Miners' Congress. The International Miners' Congress just held here demonstrates the valuable influence of Anglo-Saxon common sense. It was the sixth congress, and, as compared with the firs' sug- gested order, method, and practical aim, re- placing chaos. Of the 76 delegates from miners' syndicates and federations. Great Britain sent 36. the pro rata representation of its associated members The others were French, Belgian, and German delegates. As a general remark, the Belgian and trench delegates are deeply tinged with Socialism, harmlessly wild and undangerously impracticable. TheUerraans are divided more upon (theories' and principles, than actual, facts the British stick to the latter and aim to minimise obstacles by united efforts inspired by sell-help. Their ideas, their attitude, their hostility to demolish till sure of being able to re-edify have toldj and still tejl, on their Conti- nental confreres, v. ho have a marked tendency to introduce extreme politics, and national rivalry into the discussions, but less so than heretofore, because the English delegates view all that fireworks as waste of time and alienat- ing public sympathy from their demanded re- forms. Lessons of the Congress. Congresses at large commence to recognise the da,wning truth that, as consumers, the public have a very potent, though not syndi- cated, voice in the programmes; of social economy; a rise of 2d. per bag in the price of coals comes home to every man's bosom and business, as much as an increase of a, penny in the price of a loaf. The grit ques- tion at the Miners' Congress was not the legal fixation of eight hours a day work for pit- men, nor yet compensation by employers for injuries sustained by their operatives while on actua-l duty. The French delegates added a rider, to prove their sense of justice towards the capitalist, that he was not to make com- pensation in case a workman committed suicide while at labour. One hardly expected a bread- winner, with a wife and children, would, in crder to secure their support, indulge in a header into a, vat of boiling soap, plunge into a glass furnace, or throw himself into or under moving machinery. Even Jean Jacques Rousseau's system was better—when his mistress-wife, Tlierese, presented him with a little stranger, he sent the baby to the alms- house to be reared. But to the main question, the over-production of coal. Till miners hold the whip-hand to restrict the output of coal by working shorter hours and fewer days in the week, but guaranteed the living wage to actual current wants, the miner's condition could not be radically ameliorated. But neither cdliery- owners nor colliers are likely to fall into line on the plethoric extraction of coal. The Ger- man relegates object to miners forming "rings as they protest, against mane-owners organising "trusts." The French and Belgian representa- tives, oblivious that it required six days to make the world and all that therein is, would regulate the over-production of coal in a few- hours by nominating an International Coal Minister, to shut down too prolific pits. No statute-book will ever rule that when a man's business is prosperous he must stop, to allow weaklings to creep to the front. The Triple Alliance ap- plied that doctrine to Japan, and are supposed the .Taps do not honour them for that signal service by baptising captured Chiiese iron- clads after the disinterested Trinitarians. The Japs Progressive. So the Formosa Republic did not live the life even of the rose. Clearly, the Celestials are not yet ripe for liberty, equality. &c. The French must feel annoyed at the rapid and dashing capture of Kee-Lung by the Japs, and that defied Admiral Courbet. The Japs are not allowing the grass to grow under their feet, they are already laying down keels for additions to their splendid mercantile marine, and have sent orders to Clyde and New- castle firms for the construction of four trans- port ships and six up-to-date swift cruisers. The belief of Westerners is next to unanimous that China, will move hand.in-hend with Japan, as France does with Russia. Egypt a Humorous Expedition. Of all the humorous expedients for evicting the English from Egypt—and which, of course, makes them still greater a texture- is the calling in of the aid of the fine arts. A nature artist has executed a picture, and made it a present, r.ot to the Louvre, but to the Chamber of Deputies, with the usual "high falutin" letter to the president. The subject is France asked, "as the liberator of nations, to deliver Egypt," not from Napoleon I., but the English. It appears that the people of Egypt are again in bondage, &c. It is an amusing skit. Expect the House of Commons being presented with a tableau, the "Holders of Egyptian Stock, and the emancipated Fellaheen, imploring England, the mother of nations," not to evacuate the Nile Valley, and so cause the value of Egyptian bonds to fall 50 per cent., a crop of Araby Pachas to rise up to sweep away the Khedive, and to bring back the old Turkish party to lash the poor cultivator, and allow the land of Goshen to be the parade ground for every European intrigue. "Egypt for the Egyptians," with Engfand for their tutor—that's the solution. Incidents at the Grand Prix. A few incidents marked the race for the Grand Prix yesterday, the day, though lowering, kept up, and only some drops of rain fell when the event of the "card" was over—"tears for the chronic defeat of Lev Anglais." Next M. Faure agreeably sur- j prised the public by arriving at the' grand stand as plain as any private gentleman— no cavalry escort, MQ drums beating, m 'slewing of tumipets. His carriage, a la daumont—two horses, and preceded by an out-rider in hunting costume. The President, always the pink of fashion, was in plain frock coat, and rosette of the Legion of Honour in buttonhole. His lady accom- panied him, and both were enthusiastically cheered. The President is quite right to dispense with all fuss and feathers. Tha crowd was very dense, but, beyond doubt, the velodromes and their bicycles have their own thousands of fideles. The racing, as a, general remark, was only so so. The lot of horses, on the whole, was not of extraordinary importance. The English; horses attracted no attention, and the winner, —Andree—an outsider, as a matter of course, scored the total stakes, 200,000f. The French were glad Viiat,a French horse won, but not much enthusiasm was displayed. The C'WMJ of the winner—M. Edmond Blanc—is not popular. The prize of 200,000f. will help to console him, besides, since, 1879, it is the fourth Grand Prix that he has carried off. Since 1887 the French horses have always won the "blue ribbon." The gate money yielded 384,744f. The total registered stakes amounted to 3,846,400f., of which nearly the moiety was for the Grand Prix. Those who bet on Andree—16 to I-won 177f. for their lOf. stake. There were 285 betting booths, worked by 2,000 clerks, at a oosfc of 40.000f. Gambling pays the winner and the—abstainer. Holiday Sc-.ck;-rs. Parisians are mort'! occupied to seek a run far into the country DTuai with any other sub- ject. They have dwoovered fresh air—and which oosts nothing—as I) urn as pero dis- covered the Mediterranean. At Whitsuntide there was a general stampede, by rail or bicycle, as dur-tant as possible from the capital, and so escape the water-closet odours th*t infect its atmosphere with a serious persis- tency. The air stenches destroy the pleasure of strolling during tha shades of evening along the boule- vards, or lounging in the foreground of a cafe to see the world pa-gs by. There is not muc'h fresh air to be found now in the suburbs; the regions are all built upon. St. Cloud and St. Germain are no longei the country; they must be left far behind if green fields a-re to be reached. There are no more pic-nic parties, in the sense of bringing the "materials" with you the excursionist seeks his ease at his inn. There are well-nigh 40,000 taxed bicyclists in Paris and its suburbs. On a holiday all these are set loose, and wheel 30 to 40 miles into the country the riders dejeuner and repose, and then spin back to dine in the city. That is the trend of out-door pleasure now. Age has even been drawn into the vortex of bicyclism. The iron horse has killed the piano book- sellers assert it is doing the same for their wares, and the theatres hold it responsible for the emptiness of their benches. The bicycle is effecting other changes—it enables a pater- familias to reside in the cheaper suburbs, to ride on the cycle to business or office, save tram and rail fare, and secure improved health into the bargain. The Numbering of Houses. It was in 1795 that the system of num- bering houses was first adopted, and Beriin claims that honour, and will celebrate it in a fe.Y weeks by a centennial fete. And when the anniversary for hall-door knockers and dooc bells? Berlin is far behind American cities in numbering houses. The peculiarity about the numbers of Paris houses is tfFtfe drawback of not being able to discover the figures; they a.re like the la.ws of Draco, so high as to be invisible. If you wish to find out a number you will have to back into the middle of the roadway to take in the facade of the house, and run the chance of being crushed by a vehicle, or retrace your steps till the number of another mansion be found, and ther count the houses till the one you seek be harpooned. As a rule, it may be said, shop sign-boards in Paris exhibit no number. France and Russia. The French press is discussing the question if an alliance really e> fcs between France and Russia. Deputy Dwa-fasse, an able man, does not believe in the existence of a treatv. So long as the two Powers find it to be their interest to stable their horses together they have no need of any parchment deeds. They rJn together so far, and have very few points of friction for their diplomacy. So long as the French will not invade Moscow, or Russia quarter herself in Constantinople, even with France and England, to be re- joined in time by Germany, Austria, and Italy, they can live in peace. England has no treatv with Italy, but the first shot fired! in the Mediterranean would make these Powers allies. Then the French receive 240 million francs a year from Russia as interest on money loaned. That alone ought to make them lovers. Proposed Tax on Bachelors. A big petition has been addressed to ilh Chamber calling upon it to impose a tax on bachelors, equal at least to what the married man is forced to expend on dutiable articles for his establishment. The peti- tioners leave it to the sagacity of their Solons how to arrange the matter—which is pru- dence. Bachelors reply, "We are willing to wed if the State secures us the means of supporting a wife and rearing a family." Others say they have contracted a "free marriage" that neither State nor Church recognise, but which costs them very dear to maintain. There is another financial peril—the number of young women who decline to wed, and prefer to live alone, or associated in housekeeping with one of theii own sex.

THE WELSH REGIMENTS MARCH. At a meeting of the Cardiff Corporation Oft Monday (the mayor, Alderman P. W. Carey, presiding) the Town-clerk (Mr. Wheatley) read the following letter from Colonel Albert E. W. Goldsmid, commanding- the 41st Regimental District: My dear Mrr. Mayor,—It is a source of greafi gratification to me to be able to announce to you that. the 1st Battalion of the Welsh Regi- ment Hate 41st Foot) will, under present airangements, stop at Cardiff, encamping in the Barrack Field for a few days-probably three or four-at the termination of its march from Pembroke Dock, arriving about August 1 next. You have shown during your tenure of office such genuine interest in the welfare of her Majesty's forces—("hear, hear")—that I am sure you will be glad to see the 1st Battalion of the territorial regiment quartered in the capital of its district, and I trust that your satisfaction will be shared by the municipality and citizens of Cardiff. so that the visit may be recorded on the annals of your mayoralty as one of the most pleasing events of your year of office. Believe me to be, My dear Mr. Mayor, Yours very faithfully. ALBERT E. GOLDSMTD, Commanding 41st RegimentaTT>mnc& -The Mayor said he was certain the town would give a hea.rty reception to the 1st Batta.- 'V311,°tfr the. Welsh Regiment when it arrived at t-l" "Hoar, hear" and applause)—and that would assist him in welcoming the regiment to the town. (Applause.)

The Central News correspondent at Falkirk fays j—On Monday afternoon a man named William Conbroug-h, a compositor, aged 45, who has been living in Glasgow, apart from his wife, entered the lattcr's house in Falkirk 8,r;d, without provocation, firecl the contents of a six-chambered revolver at the woman pad himself. A dauglter, who was present *oofc shelter beneath a table- Tho woman' was,' wounded in the breast and alxiomen, and the mar. in tho face, but neither fatally. BOEWICK;S BASING POWDER. Best Bakin* rowdtr BORWICK s BAKIKO J'OWDKR. in the World. BOEVTICS^S MUX' POWIJER. Wholesome, BORWICK S BAXIXO POWDER. Pure, and BOSFWICX'S BASIHS POWIIEK, FSEEFROM AMM. 10-1'-