General Intelligence.

The following account of a curious Chinese ceremony is given by the Ballarat Star:—"In accordance with their half-yearly custom, the Chinese of Golden Point proceeded, a few days ago, to drive the devil from the camp. The ceremony is rather a curious one. Two or three loads of firewood are purchased by subscription for the purpose of making a large fire in the open oir, and near the fire are placed tables, with washing basins, clean towels, and plenty of Chinese soap-balls. Along the main street of the camp were placed candles at intervals of several yards. The Chinese make a great [point of sending the devil away in an amiable mood, and the fire and washing materials are provided so that he may leave the camp in a comfortable condition, and the candles are to show him the way. While the candles were burning, a band of Chinese musicians performed on the drum and gong in a very decided manner. The ceremony lasted for several hours."

According to Dr. Macdonald, of Melbourne, there is not in Victoria a town of 500 inhabitants where a place of worship cannot be found.

News from Fiji, brought by the "Sea Gull," states that forty Solomon Islanders, hired from a vessel at Levuka, who were being taken to Taviuni by Messrs. Kington, Robson, and Whittaker, planters there, in a cutter of ten tons, murdered the white men, including Mr. Warburton, a Levuka merchant. They also killed the Fiji crew, except one man, who swam ashore to the island of Angau, whence word was sent to Levuka of the massacre. The Government sent the mission schooner "Jubilee," the schooner "Kate Grant," and the cutters "Xarifa" and "Pomona" in pursuit of the islanders, who, after committing the murders, ran away with the cutter.

A large meeting was held in the Town Hall, Melbourne, to procure Imperial interference for the suppression of kidnapping in the Pacific.

Victoria was visited with heavy thunderstorms on the 22nd and 23rd November. At Bendigo, a brickmaker named Jones was struck dead instantaneously, and fifteen in one building were knocked down senseless, but afterwards recovered. At Melbourne, a woman was struck blind. On board the brigantine Belle (from Dunedin) Captain Hill and Pilot Hansen were struck down by a flash of lightning, while the vessel was in the Bay. A second flash killed Hansen, who had only time to say, "Better anchor," before he died.

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New Guinea.—It is remarkable that this island should be so little known to Europeans and should have been left so long without the knowledge of the Gospel. After Australia, it is the first in magnitude of all the Australasian islands, and has been known since 1526. It is situated directly north of Australia, between the equator and ten degrees south. It is about 1,200 miles in length, and its average breadth 150. Little has been known hitherto about either the country or its inhabitants. They have been regarded as a little higher in the scale of humanity than the Australian aborigines, and their disposition has been supposed to be utterly savage. It is pleasing to learn that efforts are now made to introduce the Gospel among them, and so far the prospect of success is most satisfactory, as the following paragraph from the 'Sydney Morning Herald' shews:—"The schooner 'Surprise,' from New Guinea, has lately been employed by the London Missionary Society on the coast of New Guinea, where she has been most successful in placing missionary teachers and their families on the main and adjacent islands. Captain Paget informs us that at every place visited, instead of hostility and treachery being shown, as has generally been believed, they experienced nothing but the greatest kindness and hospitality, and all seemed highly pleased at having teachers placed among them, and it is evident they are very desirous of having intercourse with Europeans. At Redscar Bay, Captain Paget and his chief officer went about 15 miles up the Manoa River, where they had communication with several tribes, and were kindly treated by all; they seemed a perfectly harmless race of people, and not a single war instrument of any kind was seen amongst them. They were certainly of Malay origin, and it is quite evident they had never seen white men before, as they gazed with wonder and astonishment at them, and would not believe they were human beings until they were convinced by thoroughly examining them; they also seemed most anxious to have further intercourse with them by inviting them to stay; and upon their departure they showed great sorrow, the women and children crying, and the men following them a long way down the river, waving green bushes, and making them presents of sugar-cane, &c. That gold exists is quite certain, as one of the missionaries had an earthen cooking utensil made a present to him in which several specks of gold were distinctly seen. We understand Captain Paget and his chief officer intend shortly to go and settle on New Guinea."

Dr. Parke and Dr. Sanderson, the two commissioners appointed by Professor Huxley to investigate the sanitary state of Liverpool, sent in their concluding report on Friday to the Town Council. They state that the utterly degraded and destitute condition in. which many of the laboring classes live took them wholly by surprise. Hardly a fifth of the population live under any kind of restraint or decency; and the dock laborers are worse off with respect to houses than common tramps. They recommend that steps be taken to limit the reckless indulgence in drink which is at the bottom of all the poverty and crime of the town, and also that the streets in which overcrowding exists to such an enormous extent be recast, and built with a due regard to ventilation and the comfort of the inhabitants.

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English Bishops in a, Presbyterian Church.—The Archbishop of York, and the Bishop of Winchester, officiated in the parish church of Glengarry. Their action, however, has given offence to the Bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church, and the English High Church party. In the Reformation age, such interchanges were the rule in Protestant Churches differing in church organization; but in these days, not a few, by elevating circumstantials above fundamentals, do violence to the Divine law of charity. Will the Bishops act on the principle of reciprocity, and throw open their churches to Presbyterian ministers?

For Students.—In addressing the students of the U. P. Theolog-f cal Hall, Dr. Edmond took for his general theme "What I would do ii I were a student again;" and he illustrated this under the six particulars—"1st. I would dearly love the brotherhood; 2nd. I would greatly revere my tutors; 3rd. I would resolve to be a student always; 4th. I should purpose to be always young; 5th. I should be disposed to take more than ever for my motto 'Pray without ceasing;' and 6th. I should thank God for casting my lot in the present age." In speaking of the first of these particulars the rev. doctor made touching reference to the recent deaths of Rev. Dr. George Johnston, Dr. Smart, and Mr. Muir, of Leith, and in the conclusion of his address he directed attention, with great earnestness and ability, to many of the more hopeful signs of the present age. Nearly 160 students have been attending the Hall during this session, which has in all respects been a prosperous one.

The Origin of Life on the Earth.—The hypothesis, that the germs of life were conveyed to the earth by meteoric stones, the fragments of other worlds, with which Sir William Thomson lately astonished the savans of the British Association, was claimed by Mr. Peter Bayne to have been anticipated by himself in his "Life and Letters of Hugh Miller." An idea of a similar nature was given forth more than forty years ago in France by Charles Fourier, who gained considerable popularity and power as a Socialist or Communistic leader, as the following quotation shows:—"The phnets procreate their own species, but their functions of creative industry consist in furnishing each other with the various types of animal and vegetable life which live and grow upon the surface of each globe respectively. Thus, all the moons and planets of our solar system have contributed to the creations of our globe, in the mineral, the vegetable, and the animal kingdoms. The elephant, the oak, and the diamond were created by the sun; the horse, the lily, and the ruby were created by Saturn; the cow, the jonquil, and the topaz were created by Jupiter; the dog, the violet, and opal stones were created by our earth itself; and all the moons and planets have created special series, classes, orders, and varieties of animals, vegetables, and minerals upon our globe, and also on each moon and planet of our solar system.' ("Doherty's Introduction to The Passions of the Human Soul," by Charles Fourier, page 14.) Ordinary readers will probably exclaim, "This is very absurd!" We would simply remind them of an old saying, "Nothing is so absurd as not to have been said by someone of the philosophers."

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Progress in Rome. —"One of the most important features of the new movement, is the opening of secular schools, removing the rising generation out of the hands of the priests, which is now not only being done by private benevolence, but very effectively by the Italian Government, which has taken possession of a portion of the great building of the Jesuit school, the Collegio Romano, and applied it to this purpose. The English, American, and Scotch churches also, hitherto forbidden to worship within the city, and with their cluster of chapels outside the walls, within a stone's throw of the Porto del Popolo, are anticipating, with great satisfaction, the erection of their own places of worship, cathedrals it may be, within the old city itself, Prince Humbert having assured the chaplain of the American church, when speaking with him on the subject, that there would be, henceforth, liberty of conscience in Rome. The world moves in this nineteenth century more effectively than it did in the days of Galileo, and all that Pio Nono seems to have obtained, in the common outer world by his two great Church dogmas is a passing joke, that he has proved himself the greatest miracle-worker in the church—he has made one immaculate woman and one infallible man. In fact, almost every day loosens a link in the chain which has held for so many ages the Roman mind in bondage. Day by day innovation advances. But few even, comparatively speaking, of the poor animals came in for a blessing on the 17th of January, the day of their patron, Saint Anthony. People are beginning to doubt its efficacy, many a vetturino saying truly that his horses would be better by a few soldi-worth of provender, than by all the saints' blessing."—Leisure Hour.

Religious Accommodation in London.—For the three millions and a quarter of persons residing in the metropolitan district, the following provision is made by the various religious bodies:—Church of England, 461 places of worship; Congregationalists, 200; Baptists, 176; Wesleyan Connection, 102; Primitive Methodists, 77; United Methodist Free Churches, 60; Plymouth Brethren, 21; Undenominational, 25; English Presbyterians, 31; Methodist New Connection, 12; Society of Friends, 11; United Presbyterians, 6; Bible Christians, 6; Wesleyan Reformers, 5; Church of Scotland, 3; Countess of Huntingdon's, 2; Calvinistic Methodists, 2; Moravians, 2; and Calvinists (not otherwise described) 2; making a total of 1204. This is, of course independent of religious services held in schoolrooms, mission halls, &c. Supposing, however, there were as many of these places as of the regular churches and chapels, each building would have to contain 1350 souls, to hold the entirepopulation; the average capacity is, however, only about one-fourth of this; so that, with efficient men to minister, and a disposition to attend religious worship, about as many more churches and chapels as these would have to be erected. It is also worthy of note that, notwithstanding the immense effort made by the Church of England, through the "Bishop of London's Fund "and other means, that the Free Churches have about two buildings for religious worship for every Episcopalian edifice.—Nonconformist.

Rev. Francis Muir, of Junction street U. P. Church, died on the 13th September, in the 75th year of his age, and the 49th of his ministry.

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Souls in Purgatory.—A Freeman's Journal of August last contains the following advertisement:—"Help for the Holy Souls.—All who com-passionate the sufferings of the souls in purgatory, will assist the Rev. Fr. Kirk, a native of Dublin, in building the new church and school of St. Mary of the Holy Souls, at Kensal New Town, near London. The name of any deceased relative or friend may be forwarded with every ten shillings subscription: it will then be enrolled on the mortuary list and share in all the special devotions of the Church Living people who wish to secure themselves against the forgetfulness of those they leave behind, can send in their own names, merely adding the words, 'when deceased.' Subscribers of one shilling can have any soul prayed for during the space of one year from date of entrance. Full particulars sent by post. Address, during the months of August and September, the Rev. Francis Kirk, 5, Upper Leeson Street, Dublin."

Licensing Statistics.—Some returns as to the trade in beer, wine, and spirits in the United Kingdom have just been issued in the form of a Parliamentary paper, which was moved for by Mr. Bass. They refer to the year ending the 31st March, 1870. From this return, we find that the revenue derived from the licensed trade in beer, spirits, and wine is summed up as follows:—England: Licenses, £1,440,608 17s 5d; malt duty, £6,022,284 4s 11d; spirit duties, £5,795,849 10s; total, £13,264,742 12s 4d. Scotland: Licenses, £130,204 18s 9d; malt duty, £314,069 5s 10d; spirit duties, £2,682,001 10s; total, £3 126,275 14s 7d. Ireland: Licenses, £157,034 1s 4d; malt duty, £390,065 9s 5d; spirit duties, £2,512,488; total, £3,059,587 10s 9d The total revenue derived from the trade in this country thus amounted to £19,450,606 17s 8d; besides which £4,124,628 was paid as duty on foreign and colonial spirits, and £1,478,862 as duty on wine.

The, death of Dean Mansel, Dean of St. Paul's, from the sudden bursting of a blood-vessel in the head, took place on the 30th July. He was promoted to the deanery in 1868, and was in his 52nd year. As a mark of respect to his memory the great bell of St. Paul's was tolled on Monday.

At the Wesleyan Conference, held in July last, a long discussion ensued in reference to the Contagious Diseases Act, opinions being freely expressed on both sides of the question. Eventually the following resolution was carried nem. con.:—"That a memorial be presented to the first Lord of the Treasury, expressing the solemn conviction of the Conference that the requirements of Christian morality demand the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts, and that no amount of supposed sanitary or other advantages derived from these Acts can outweigh the evil involved in their original enactment, their continuance on the statute book, and their practical administration."

The Christian Vernacular Education Society printed during the last year 260,300 copies of school books and periodicals, in seven of the principal languages of India. Their circulation has been 303,152 copies, and the proceeds of sales, £2613.

Fiji news, via Sydney, states that 25 settlers burned a native town on the Ba river, killing 22 Fijimen.

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Medical Missions.—A valedictory meeting of the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society was held on 30th July, in the Queen street Hall, Edinburgh, on the occasion of the departure of three of their students for stations in India and China. The chair was taken by Professor Balfour, and among the gentlemen on the platform were the Rev. Thos. Binnev, London; Rev. Dr. Alexander, Rev. Thomas Main, Rev. Dr. Thomas Smith, and Rev. Mr. G. D. Cullen. After the delivery of a number of addresses from gentlemen present, the departing students were each presented with a handsome copy of the Bible.

Mission Festival at Utrecht.—A correspondent of the Weekly Review describes a missionary festival held on the 9th of August, near Utrecht in Holland, at which about 40,000 persons attended. There were six platforms at equal distances, each disposed picturesquely among the trees Some things in the national Church of Holland indicate a revival of religion, and promise better time than have been known in the country for a century or two. That church, though originally highly orthodox, and blest with a Presbyterian form of government, was for a long time sunk in Erastianism, nationalism, and worldliness. But of late years favorable symptoms have appeared in the Church and State politics of Holland. The people, in all the cities and parishes that have chosen to claim the right offered them by Government, have now the privilege of selecting their own ministers. This is an awful blow to the Rationalist and anti-Evangelical party. In Amsterdam, for example, all the vacancies in the ranks of the national clergy are being filled up with Evangelical pastors of eloquence and talent. This change is telling beneficially on the interests of true religion in Amsterdam, and in Holland generally. We find here, also, a fresh illustration of the power and value of popular election. Whenever the people have the power of choosing their own ministers, they are almost certain to fix upon men who know and are able to preach the Gospel. In this respect the common people are often wiser and more to be relied on than the learned and mighty of the earth.

Infallibility of the Pope.—The infallibility dogma is being fully discussed in Bavaria, and amongst the intelligent classes it evidently has scant favor. Professor Zirugiebb, a theologian of the Munich University, has published a pamphlet against the dogma. He charges the Pope with having used corrupt means for the attainment of his elevation to infallibility. Several anti-infallibilists have been appointed senators of the University. In Saxony some sensation has been caused by an order having been issued by a Roman Catholic Bishop in Dresden for the celebration of mass in honor of Ignatius Loyola. The order has importance chiefly because the Jesuits are strictly prohibited in Saxony.—'Scotsman.'

The congregations of Winton and Forest Hill, Southland, have resolved to call the Rev. J. M. Thomson to be their minister.

The Independent Order of Good Templars (teetotallers) has now upwards of 500,000 members.

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