Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, April 3, 1876, Page 2

e e e e ———————————— CHURCH AND PULPIT. . The Rov. Dr, Rydor Explains His Personal Opinion of Our City Government, Prof. Bwing on ‘“A Religion of Char- = moter "===A Timoly Sermon on ' o Present Want, Exsfov. Dix on tho Taxatfon of Church Properiy—1is Opposition to & Mrs, Cora L. V. Tappan's Views on the Day of Judgments Yihat Maody Says About Prayer-Meclings, Church- Mombers’ and Kindred Subjocts. OUR CITY GOVERNMENT. WILAT TON BEV. Dit. RYDER THINKA O¥ IT. At Bt Paul's Universalist Church Iast oven- tog the Ilav, Dr. Ryder preached & aormon that - was out of tho usnal order, insomuch na it ban- . dlod local politics without gloves, and wsa in fact on oxcellont campaign sposch, Ilo took as his text tho following ¢ TRightsousnses cxalteth a nation; bubain ia & ro- . proach 10 any poopio—Proverde xiv, 84, Mr. Rydor began by saying that ho waa not o politiclav, and ho did not preach political sor- mone. In that pulpit bp recognized no party ties, and did not Intend to bo influonced by any. partisan consldoration. 8tll, ho did rocognize it as his doty to support tho Govérnment, and bo thought that the Chureh sbould seok to fa- flaenco it for good. Tho kind of Oity Gavern~ ment Chicago needod had boon selectod an his themo that ovoning, for soveral roasons: First—Decauso, in common with many othor cltizens, ho was jonlous of tho ronutation of tho city. Hohad eaught tho Wentorn fover six-' teon years ago, and biad not lost it. 1o npoke to thom as ono dircotly intercated in the aubjoct. Sccond—Bacaliso tho City Govornment actuslly roprosonted the poople, and that, for the sako of tho good namo of tha pooplo, it demanded good men for offico. Third—Decauso tho conviction had been forced upon thom that thoy hiad not tha kind of - govornment that tho poople needed. Home good mon hiad always bocn connected with tho management of affalrs, but bad men had gon- orally oblained a majosity; and undor thelr dircotion tho credit of the city had boenim- tn&md, until to-day Chicago found it diffinlt to orrow sufliciont money meyiu Lonest dobts, Fourth—DBocanse tho kind of volitical and eo- clal ife in the City Government did_not on- courage good order and right living. It waa a sad opochs in tho history of 8 city when Jegiti- matoe trade was not nurtured by the municipality, {fth—The prescnt City Government exertod apon the community ao unhealibful moral 10- flnence. Indiroctly nvb;{‘ power oxerts sa in- finence of somoa kind. 0 disroputablo classon kuow what that influenco was. Tho.lumblest attacho in tho city ofticca waa influonced, and knew what ita tooo of mornlity was. Bhonld those who bolleved in truth and virtuo,—sbould they submit quictly to this, or spenk their honest thonght nnd throw thoir opinipn on tho side of sight and ufiflnut WIOLg ? 6 know thoy wore sometimea told that it was bettor to submit, sud ho also know that, toa rortsin oxtont, Bubmisaion was nooessary. Dut thera waa 8 point boyond which thoir consclenco would not sllow them to go. They conld not stand up like ton-ping at tho end of tho alley to be knocked down continually by thess diarepu- tablo classes, They must soonsr or later resist and mako war. Look at the statistics of the Roform Bchool, the Bridewall, tho Folice Ioard, snd aco whora tho criminals oame from, Of courss, the city could not ropross all crimo, but the Government sbiould a4 loast discourage it. The conviction was gonorsl that tho tonoof tus City Govern- ‘ment waa vulgar and low, and in sympathy with irrognlar practices and cvil purposes. In this viow of tho casa it wag easy to soo what kind of & City Government Chicago needed. It did not noed the kind it had. Three things are neodful. First, men of good common-senso. It might be thought utman that be put theso qualifications before moral principle. e did so because, lookins towards rosults, the ono tmplled tho other, If the pocple put men Into tho City Govornmont who bnd no common-sensc to managa their own affnirs, or thoso of thelr nelghbors, thors wasn't much hope of their conduoting the city prop- orly, flyecoud. thoy needed men of character,—not whisky-soakors, but men.who walkod with their Liauds by their sides, sud not before or bebind. rd, they necdod men of brosd idess, who would favor no policy that could be re; od as & hardship to any ono class,—who would nol tempt to forco {mpracticable ideas upon auy one,—who, coming from any ward, were elactod from tho whole, - flow oonld such a Clty Governmont bo ab- talned? Ho wastold that it heads wera counted there would bo fower of Li notions than of the oppoeite. Ho know that if an iss;o bo mado on any ordinary question, that the best side would bo voted down, But if tha issne waro on intelliganco and virtue, ln- tolligonco and virtuo would win, 1o only askod that they might ba allowed to exprees thom- golves. Tho trouble was that tha good men did not manko propor exertion. Clrist-serving men took littlo intercat in thoso things, bocause they thonght that what they conld do wonld be of littlo nvail, Hut there wore times whon the wicked. wers broken up, and then was the timo when intelligouce ehonld oxert itself, Thoy must all learn one trath,— ihat righteousness exalteth a nation, and it {s the only thing that does, The people sy * yes,” but they do ot Lolioye what they 13y, 1o Lalf an hour they would laugh with a man wholiad struck a aharp trede, IHo would have boca glad if thoro had nevor beon s Jim lisk in America, It was tho emart man who took with tha multitude—the man of gabble and tusa and epread. Bhould tho) ob ovor hat stato ot i ln?l';; Would it evor change? Chicago pcople bad somstimes had an idos that tho city could be anything it wantod to bo. Coucerniug tho disaster at Worcester tho othor day, they had all road about the reservolr bursting, and send- ing the water ;hron‘}h the city, That water had becn pisced thero for a usoful pa?oao. ‘Whon tho dam gave way, it awept ovorything before it, aud what was good bocame bad, ‘Io-day they Lnd & city fillod with everything qwd.—lnmlh— gant and cultared pen{xlo. with noble aspiratious. Yet thoro Lad como a hittlo stroam into it. One or two mon came lu,—publio mon, of woak con- sxenca, It wasnot noticeble at firat, Lut when the public came to investigate they foond a vaat amount of wickednesa. l’oul()le woro apt to tallk about tha hoga that were killed hero yearly, tuo gruin shipped, aud thereforo boast of tho greatness of the city. Iedid not propose to tako that ground. "When bo stood beforo hiy fellow-citizous, ho could only confess with ghnme that they were a epoctacio and a disgrace. Look ont upon the city to-day and avawor o fow quentions. 1lle had ‘scen that vory day sn wdvertisoment of & Bunday concert in a publio placa by the Good Bamantau Hoclety, Ho the people went, from bad to worss, At that mo- ment theatres and saloons wore open aud run- ning, aud tho newepapera dia nos apeak of them isapprovingly. Bhould not tue aity officers at lepat discourage thoso things, and uot go there sud spplaud their miverable performances? o Lad a right to malkt that the City Government ehiould uphold virtue and discourage vice,—that they should have some other object than o sup- glonfiuluul aod make Chicago’ & bichwsy for acklegs, While they were willing to submit to what was tow existiug, evila which they oould not exter- mioato they might regulate. A boy from tho lleform-Schoot bad told bim his history only a few daya previous, Yet thera wero Bunday- 10018, ‘I'ha preacher closed his addreas, which was n model of brevity, by sayiug that while the good citizons wore willing to eubmit so tho evila such 88 are neacasarily entatled upon & large city, yet they clatined a right, if not to_exterminato, at loast to ufulnux thoss ovils. Nor should thoy sit with folded wrmu and los things take their ocourse, bob they musiarouss themselves and aagers their manhood. Every man, from the Mayor down to the humbless official, who did ot ke s Aght agaiust uin, was a dishouor to the paca bo occupred. ——— A RELIGION OF CHARACTER. SEKMON BY POV, SWINO. Prof. David Bwiog preached aa follows yestor- @sy moruing to & large congrogation in the Cens tral Church, located at MoVicker's 1'hoatre ; Lleased'aze thoy thsd do Lis Cominandments,—Rev, &3u., 1b Lot us turm our thoughts to-dsy to & theme which Xmay designate ss a Religlon of Char- aator. Tho world has caused to pasa befors vd & groat many shapos of the Obriatian roliglon, As tho mind never seea all sides of any truth at one timo, It keepa up an avorlasting oxperimont, nat dosignodly but nctually, for it gousorally feols that it holds tho whole trath, but s just as gou- erally mistaken. Soclety ne a fact fa ongaged in trying tho fragmonta of religlon, nover being ‘ablo to comprotond the whole subject. Aa politica advances by partial effort, now crowning s king a8 boing the wholo truth, and now do- throning him and eleoting a Promdent ae bolng tho whole truth a second time, now lsvying & tax on imports and now pleading for froe trade, and In each inatance feeling that thoe perfoction of reason has boen found, 8o Christianity moves along, aasuming uaw shapes, and yct announg- iog in each epoch tho arrival of porfection. As ahundred rondors of mystory hove solved in diiTerant waya tho Apocalypse of 8t. John, find- ing the soven senls now horo and now thoro, so » hundred, indeod & thousaud, socts havo olosot- od thomaeives with tho Biblo, aud bave como forth with s thonsand differont forma of por- foct Cliriatianity. This comes to pass from tho fact that God only can seo tho whole of anything wlhatsoovor. Tho Greeks diszovercd that Lue human eye wag unablo to porociva the lovelinesa of a loug Jino of roof or entaablature, that tho mass sunk In the middlo, and bonce thoy caloulated tho arror of mind and laid thoir marblo to suit the faleo- noss of vision. Tho thoological artists havo un- consciously, but actually, lald down their long “,‘:f,,' line# of dogmas to the demandsof an erring sight. Nothing hng boen as it soemod, or soomod ms 0 has boon. It would ba for tho hopos of _ socloty, if, out of this long exporimens amid Lolf truths, thiore should not ba jssning & Iarger and more truthinl survey of tho grest reality. Though the buman faculty will alwava bo lmited, yot thero aro degrees of its limitation, and oat of re- peatod trials thero Abould coma bebtor insight, It ought to bo trno that the world I8 flnding, not tho porfact sbapo ot roliglon, but an improved sbapo, and this better shape lot us ontitlo, “Tho Religion of Character.” 8uch a themo will invoke romarka upen two points: What is roligion, and what 1a o religion of charactor ? Religion is o word that ewbracoa all those trutbs that poiot to CQod, nod all thoso feslings that are awakoned out of tho fact and quality of the Doity, Tloughts and emotions that accom- pooy tho iden of Wod mako up religion, Tho idens of tanfY, of money, of agricuitare, of chom- jutry, of anthmetic, are not roligioud idons, bo- causo thoy ara not nasocisted with any Intinito Onoj but thoidoss of right and wrong, of faith and penltonce, of prayor, of mturo life, of hoaven and Loll, aro_thoughta in tho realm of roligion, bocanse they suggest thoe idea of God, _ As political i{doas rovelve aronud the word Stato, 8o religious idoas and fosling ravolvo aronnd the word God. Honcs i roliglon not all made up of doctrines but equally of foolings. All that comes into the mind orinta tho spirit whon tho word Dity is prononuced belooks to the troad word roligion. ~ Christinnity Is mado up of tho religious ideas and feclings made or exprosaod by sho loader, Josus Christ. All thoso laws of action which seom to havo come from God rather thon from socioty or nature, laws of tho spirit revealed or repealed in Christ, make up that best sbavpe of religion. Imporfectly na the word may be defined, yot tho honrt comos vory near knowiug what religion means, and with this approach we must rest contont. Lot un pass_to reflections upon a religlon of charactor. 'Tho religion which Ohrist unfolded was most purely and thoronghly euch. Tho worda of Christ all tonded toward tho developmont of | a high mornl condition. Nono of the oxacting forine of worship assecn in the Groek Church, or lomsn Churoh, or Ritualistic Church cau pomnt to Christ as their foundor, oxcopt by setting at dofiance all the existing histories of the Havior, DBut it was in vain Christ inculeated euch an intolloctual snd opirtual religlon for that ago, for tho human soul rojected 1t very soon In that ehape, and roshaped it to fit itacll, Insulog out of Judaism and out of the Orosk and Latin roligions of extornals, raligions of arclutecturs, and processiond, and banners, and chariots, the peoplo could percelvo in Christisnity ouly a continuance of tha spoctacular. Tho highost pl.\ununghnra wore fond of ehow. Evon whon thoy did not personally enjoy tho dazzle of core- mony, they confesscd that tho peopls neoded the most possible of damounstration, The poo- ple which had often mot 80,000 stroug to witoess tho plays and combata at tho Colisoum could oot onduro a Christisnity that demanded only ao up- right lifo. _They could not concolve of such a religion. Ionce, nll tho way along to tho fif- toonth and sixtoonth centaries, tho Church was tho leader in whatavor would charm tho eye. The painters painted i, Paul in long scarlet robes, and tho Bi Potor that sprang into the wator and swam ous to the Lord stood on tho shore, not in tho wot gnrmenta of _» flsherman, but in tho gorgeous raimont of a King, Ouo of tho most brillisnt picturea of tho medioval times ia the delivery to Peter of tho koys of tho Kiogdom. Considering that there were no such koys, aud 1o such & Vico. goront of Chbrist, the plcture is doubly ‘wandorful in its oxaggorated atylo. Tho groat- noss of thie Sormon on the Mount no_ whoro re- wvealod itsolf, but tho scencs In tho Now Tesia- mont, from the manger to the erucifixion, tho trausfiguration, the Christ wooping, tho Christ dying, the Christ ontombed, the wooping mother (Afater Dolorosa), tho Magdalen, the mother and ohild,—all tho pictures in Cluistianity came to tho front becnuss the people were ali oyes and no refloction. ‘The rosuit .was art ra than manhood, Thus mannood falled to sco all of tho oxmsting truth, snd hencs they doveloped tho Testament only vo far as thoy saw the book, Thus tho religlon of forms took posscssion of socloty. 1t could pot but bo that, in turning over the Gospels, tho early conturies should soo somotbing else than the moterial oxtoroal There sprung up ln thominds of o fow a ro- ligion of metsphysics. In the vast lumber- rooma of tho paat you will discovér n roligion of deop snd obacure mf)huouuphy. roaching from Auguatine ta Abolard, 1f is were possible for all mankiod over to uvito in ono idea thoy would liave at once boon unanimous in the love of a material worsbip, But, whilo cortain cus- toms will oftou carry & vast majority, they are mover carried unsnimously, Thero iy “alwaya a minonty that loves somo other person or path. Alongeide of the groas spootacular Church thero camo a small company who loved the abstract and the transcoundental more thao they loved roboa snd bannors. In thn hands of this multitudo, smail bus learned, Clriatanity becams a long aud hopelesa specu- Iation, ‘Lhoro is searcely an inquiry Xouulbla to the imagination that woa not ralsed and dis- cussed in tho scholastio period. Llow Christ carried along the two mnaturcs, which nature waa it that died on the cross, how the Trinit; Iayin the natual, how the Lioly (host precsde: Low angels wont from polus to point, tho prob- able niza and weight of angels, the quality and appearsnce of the Virgin Mary, tho nature of ovil upirits, tho decroos, the deatiny of infauts, arc anly an fnadoquate spocien of the inquir- fon tLat absorbed intollect and eloquence from Origon to Luther. I'ho gront professions of aw, aund medicine, and statesmanship, aud sci- ooce, aud invention, and teaclung, bad not yot como with much power, aud the miod bad but fow gutiots forita euorgy. 1t was shutup to o thoalogival vath, aud in'its ondless labors there it wsoon oIt the wseful for the oo- rious and tho omazing. As the Chinoss botook themsclves ages ugo to tho manulacture of minute things and playtliogs, until at last they can make the *concenine sphores,” lvory ball within m7 ball, 0 tae theological mind for buudreds of yoars found lifo-long employ- ment in startiug and pursuing all kuds of wild birds in the marshos of spsculation. 'Tho ro- ligion of muugh:ulcu did nat occupy the whole remainder of tho communily, "Thers wero some in resorve to sos some other sldv of the {ruth, 'These corresponded to our own most rabid seo- tariana or 10 fho politically ambitious, They paw Christianity as o govornmont. ‘hore were thrones aud oftices in 1t They road only s much of the Tostamont as uufoldod the King. dom of God, Not ong did they pray, * ‘i Kingdom come,” bat they combinsd works wit prayer, and took up erms that tho Kingdom miglt come more rapidly and effectually, In this epoch, roaching from Constantine to almost our own porlod, milllons diod oan tho feld of bottle or at the stake, Here Jay, then, in all thoso bloody centuries, a roligion not of forms nor of wetapbysicu, bus a yoligion of Btate. It was ® paisow survoy of the Gospals,—a survey in which the Intoresé of rulers blinded all jndgment and atified all foolingy of humanity, Tho reason horesy was punished with tortures ar death may bs found fn the fucs that a man with & new religious idea became & munace to the Btate, If the Btate wora Armine 1y, then a Calvinwt was a citlzon n rovolt. Bhould be ba pormitted to spread Lis ideas, tha Arminias wight at lsad be crowded from the throne. The slaughter of Bt. Dartholomew, the edict of Naotes, were politioal severitioa| tho effort of those in oftice ta rid themaolves of dan- Eor and llmel-{. ‘Ihus wadiog in blood weat onward the religion of tha State, Wo bave now alluded to suongh of these sbapea of Obristianity to agsure ourselves fully that society 18 nuable o sco a truth upon ail vides &b ouco, and that it trios all forms of & politics, ox & worship, or & medicing, or an in- dustry, (n tbe course of ite long carcer. We need Dot pursue this thought further, We por- ceive the truth end venfess, ilaying thus marked the mothod of muadind, we may ek THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1870, now to what shapn of Obristianity have our timos Introduced na? What kind of partinlists arowe? Arn wo cherishing n roligion of pagenn- try? Aro wa fond of altars,’aud ‘yoatments, sud bapnors, nund pageantry? . It soema oot. 'Tho rnllfi!‘nn ol Amorica 18 plain and simplo. Excepting the Roman Cath- olics, who chango very slowly, and follow clvili- sation with laggard ateps, Joving to be a thou- sand yoara oobind, and excopting bera nnd thoro an Episcopal Ritualistio Church, the Chsiasianity of our day is_quite divorced from the oxternal snd quite allied to tho spiritual and mental, Are we ohorishing & roliglon of mataphysica ? By nomeaus, The discnasions of tho old-school men hiave fallen Into ntter contomyt. Even tho miodern Cnlviniam, which was tho last azony of the opach of mystory aud curlosity, lies a ney- 1ected phifosonhy ju oven the clinroliea that onco almost smotliored the croaturo with thoir love. Aro wo clingiog to roliglon of Ktato? That shapo of worsbip a3 wiso doparted, Tlo Btato Do longor rawes & Calviaistic, or Eplscoval, or T'apal tlag, but overywhera tho flag of ouly tom- porary and political Idoas uuder which bannor all religtons it down in_equal socurity. Tho Jsut body has been raoked, sho last honrt broken for religlous bolief. The Ktats demands ounly eaceablo citizons,—tho guilt of too much Leliof or too little, it loavon to * bo dotermined at tho par of God. To what shapo ot Chris- ““"L have wo como? Not fully to auy form haa our ago como, but with slow and Bure footstopa it ls drawing noar a religlon of char- actor. Tha pageantry of the barbaric agos, tho curjous_quostlons of tho schoolmon, the mys- tories of tho old croeds rivaling tho mystories of Llousis, tho bloody atruggles for ~ temporal powor Liava all boon turued aside or hutled iuto oblivion, that the human heart might bogin to peo itsoif in tho great mirror of Jouue Clurist. At Inst tho world draws noar the truth that Obristianity {8 not an oxtornal architeoturo, or wrt, or Bcarlet robo; ia nob & spoonlation ; ls not » military conquests butitis & washing whito of solf in_the fountain opened 1n tho belug of Curist. Tho words, *‘Bloesod aro thoy that hunger and thicat aftor rlfihmnusueus," is n toxt 1hat ia crowding into the background tho Borip- turo that soemai to appoint & successor of Pator abd Christ, and the Heripturo that lald the na~ tions open to invosion by sealots with sword and torch. For, in whatover etops tho Chureh bas takon, it Lias always ropoated scripture as it marched, Do tho verses of doublo or doubtful import havo boon divested of all powor, and ouly clear unmistakable words are written on tho modern bauner and flung to tho broezo. The words, * Blessed are shey that do Ilis commnndments, that thoy may have right to tho trce of lifo, and may entor in through tho gates into tha city,” are worda that bayond ali otliors botray the goulus of tho com- ing roligion, 1f our heartn aro not too sanguino, wo are standing upon tho borders of an age that will hold s roligion of priuciple, not of form, not of curious or complox dogmn, but of tboso decp principles that make maa, It s bo- cotnlng daily more and more ovidont that what God domanded all through the Old and Now Testaments waa an obedionco of His law, tho purity of human lifo, enidont in all tho rofleo- tions of reasou, that religion must lie in tho inner life, and now it has becomo evident by tho coudition of socioty that what s dewanded is & roligion of virtue. Julth which onco moanta belief of a creed must now imply & companion- ship with Chriet ; repentauco must siguify a purifying of the lifo, aud the baptism muat point out tho wasbing white of e einful soul. Al the volumo of roligion must flow toward & Duw man- hood. "To mark the dawn of tho roliglon of prinof- plo, of charactor, would bo as iuteresting and usoful 88 to make the rise aud fall of tho rotig- fous of form, of metaphysics, sud of congueat. Tuthor first bogan to nseall an extornal kpec- tacular sorvico. 1ie ses up the doctvine of faith in Clrist as agalnst tho Homan Catbolis formulas and ritusl, But the Roformation still carried too great a load of cmpty speculation and of tho temporal powor, New roformers had to como in tho person of Knox aud lia great allioa to cast Christionlty forward iuta greator banuty of privato life. AN the Bcoteh school for 200 yoars stood by the flowing stream and pwootencd tho bittor waters by plung- ing into them the most spiritunl lsavos snd brauches of Clrist’s teachiogs. Dut thora aro nlways =~ mony baodg nt work fn building the temple of Qod, While mome bralns sro tolling at the cedars, othera are Wworking in tho quarrles of Lobanon, and others still arc makiog tho delicato ornamonia of silver sult gold, or weaving tho crimson curtaos, Yon will hold an imporfect story in your mind unless, io socking the bistory of tho roligion of character, you sdd to Iresbyterian intluence threa other agencies, the Umtarians, tho Quakors, and the Mothodista. Theso inter- pretorn of tho oracles camo along one by one, and rondiog the old philosophors to piocea as they came. ‘The candinal fdoa of tho Unitarian was o rational following of Josus Christ, It was to bs the roligion of imitation, the roligion of moral principles. Clxiss was o walk bpfore man in all tho splendor of & hoayven-sont axain- ple. Up from thoae Unitarian minda camoa re- liglon of morality. Thon came tho Quakors, the ¥riends, with a furthor resolution of Christianity into quality of moul Oh, what an iofinite distauce be- between tho [llgulnky of o cathcdral and tho simplo mooting-house of tho followers of Goorge Fox! Compare tho robos of a I'apal Bishop with the dress of a Friend. Comparo the daz- zling oxtornala of tho Establishment with tho in- terna) states of tho trno Quakor hoart. That was the muihm of simplicity and integrity., Tho word of s Friend bocama as the promise of Hoaven. ‘The jails hold none of them. They wonld oot touch & bribo. Thoir savciuary was gimple, their waots few, their hearte white, their prayersthe langnage not of intoning priests nor of declaiming orators but & childliko whis- ponng futo the enr of God. But the Unitarions and the Friends wera not strong enoagh to ocompel the world to weparato ftaclf from Papsl forma or motaplysio creeds. Oat of n deop need and sore distress tho Motho- dists wers born. Tho times demanded thom and thoy came, Thoy came simply in the namo of » roformed 1ife, Thoy souglt no change in tha dofinitiort of Cuirtat, or faith, or salvation, Thoy hastenod to aonounce a more carefal personal life. Wesloy had no Intentlon or desiro to found a now gect. But ho saw (n the formallsm of the Establiabmont, {n the men who combined Ramos and drinka and all tho fashionable vices with the uubuc:gnlou of tho Thirty-nins Artloles, jan utter contradiction of all_ordored of His obildren by the Groat Mastor, Wealoy's longiug wan all ex- hausted for years in tho desiro to join thie pup- lio profeasion of roligion to an honorable lifo. Thus by looking into the past two or threo oconturios wo may all seo tha strugglo out of which cama what the world now possceses of & roligion mot of forms, not of enigma, ot of govornment, but of human character, Not that sach o roligion is everywhors confessed and taught and lovad, but ouwrard it is coming just na spring is now throwing itsolf forward sgalnst the oy barricades of wintor, Notat once in o wuingle bhuppy stop uoes tho aprmfi-lt\mo bound, but day by dsy it creepa northward from tho Floridas and Guif, Atlastit will take full poeseasion of tho prairica of tho Wost and tho wooded hilly of tho Last, will smile on the thousand of lakes, snd murmur in tho streama. The religion of au upright life is thus advancing with its warm air ond floral bloom. Tho exporimont the world haa meda on ompty forms will bo smplo for the futuro; the trial soclety has made of croeds jutorminable, inapplioable, aud unintelligible, ‘will need no more rapotition on sargh 3 the efforts of humanity to combiuo ratigion and despotuun, to enforce s bolict with the sword, will not hasten to return, but, pushod forward byt many uands snd prayed for by many hoarts, a rellgion of character must needs como inutead. Even those characters which in publio complaln at » creed waich wiahes to make Christ o way, and & truth, and a life, do, for the most part, in thetr religious meetings and In thelr homes, confess that all who love and oboy Christ are fully 1lis. 1In thelr more public worda they still assert the value of all their hundred or two hundrod doo trines, but (hose words spring from o sootn~ rinn pride is slow to dio, and siow even to confess the -¥Drolch of any decline af youthful vigor. How slowly wo con. feas tho changos! The Whig of 1830 and 16840 stll living calls himaolf atill an old Whig, when thore remaive not an fdea & that jdea was whon Clay nud Webstor first began ta ba oloquent. But nnconscloas though tha Church may be, the ooucluslous of roason and experiment make that to be occan which was once land, and tuat to ba & blostoning contiuent whera salt wayea onco golled. 1f tho geutle vuice of renson aball fail to teach tho Clirlstisulty of character, if tho footsteps of truth shall fall so eofily that cars dull of hearing eliall not confess Lor spproack, the calsmality with trumpes tonguo shall issue ordara which thosa who luva thele Muster will =3 hear, The churchew that 1 houorsble charactery will bmm? ufi‘}{fi‘x’ of man, as they will become dosorted firab of God. "Tha ntate which lies bleeding because the men reared inthe Chrlstian templos have heaped upon it overy form of dis. honor, will agk with tbe slu&;\genw of agony and eorrow for mon who con tind in Chriatisnlty the motive and way of righteonsness. It will in despair scout any other shave of tho holy rellglon of Jesus. Oh, may God grant $hat out of tho experience of tho presonk au oxperfonca rich in triumph and In defeat, rich in the light and the darkness of 1800 years, riol In tho simploity of the Quaker, {he thought of the Unitariana, the enthustasm of the Methodiats, the pieq]:ol the ola Calvinists, the rich seutiment of the Eplsco- palisas, shere may be coming & religion of chare actar dratving fta lighta and nspiration and sub- lime powor from tho groat Curist stauding be- treon onrth and hoaven, pramisse S * CHURCH-TAXATION. QUANT HOURES OF WOWAMIN TO EE TAXED P—A BTRKING LETTER FIOM EX-(GOV. DIX ON TUHR BUIMECT~IIE OPIOBES BUCH TAYATION, Nrw York, March 27, 1876.—My Daan Sins I was aurprised and grieved tolearn that the tax- ation of ctiurch edifices bad boon sorlously and oven enrnoatly advocated bofors the Committee of Ways snid Means In the Asrombly, Itis vir- tually a proyosition to Impooo » tax on the wor- ship of Almighity God, unloss l¢ {a rondored ln tho open ale or in some building already subjoos to taxation. Noono abjecta to the taxation of church proporty devoted to secular nses, It is tho imposition of taxcs on houses of worship that §5 80 objoctad to ma a profaustion of thay which shonld bo Liold aacred. Ono of the ndvooates of the mossuro com- menda to na the examplo of tha primitivo Ourls- tlans fn regard to ouuloor sorvice, na if s par- allcl conld bo drawn hetwean the climato of Judes, radisnt with sunshine and porennial bloom all ‘the year round, and ours, in which (oxtraordinary soasons oxcopted) we aro buriod in snow twoor thres moutbs, and phichod with cold, oven when under cover, two or three moro, Anathor says that the Apostles nahloved thole successea without ghurchos. But theso roferonows to tho habits of tho oarly followers of the Savior wanifest sh ox- tromoly muperficial knowlodgo of ecoleslastical bistory, ‘The last wupper was admistered by Him io an upper room, and moat af Hiu teach- Ings wero in tho mynagogues. Tho Acta.af the Apontles show that they prasched in tha Templo at Jerusalem, whonovoer they wero uilowed lo do s0, aud In tho synagogues at Aun- tioch, Theaealonfea, Athene, Coriuth, Ephe- sus, snd _ whorover olso they weont. They used Jowish houses of worship beeause thoey had nona of their own. After the cscen- aton of tholr Divino Master Iia follasors sero for n Joug period of time the tho objects of Jow- ish and Pagan porsocntion, mustaincd by tho temporal anthoritio, and thole worship was con- ductod {n hiding places, somatimos in catacomba intho bosom of the carth. If thoy had boon blossed with tho roligious toloration which wo ovjoy, and had poasossed our wealth, thero s evory renson to beliovo that thoy would have builé houses of worahip as tasteful nud costly on ourown. The inatinot of all communitics of man is to orect for the worship of their Croator edificos responding to thoir conceptions of Ilis majesty and Iia bonooliconce, ‘Thero aro, pt wo all know, moro Inoxponeiva than oxponeivo housos of worship; but it ls becauss, fn the groat majority of roli- glous socloties, thoro fs an inability to do more. It is creditablo to Christiaus of ol do- nominations that thowr oxponditures for religlous worship sra ooly limited by their pecunlary meane, We canitos doubt that the primitive Curistians ontertained os olovated vinwa of tho diguity of tho eorvica duo to thoir Heavenly Fathor as thoir Israelitio prodecossors, who built tho Templo of Jerusalem. ‘I'be Divino Founder of our {aith gave an lmpressivo proof of His concoption of tho eacrod character of edifices consccratod to the sorvico of God by driving tho monoy-changors out of tho templo, tho ouly nct of violonco in Hts meak and com- panslounte lifo; and I trust wo shsll havo courago and roveronco enough to imitate His oxamplo and provont tha monoy-changars from gotting & foothold {n our housos of worship and converling thom fnto dous of thicyes. ‘As Buou ns the prititiva Christisns coased to bo objocts of pereccution, and wore protoctod by their civil rulors, they began to oroot expensivo houses of wurnhlp; and from the ers of Con- stautino they converted splondid Pngan tomplos 10 the service of their Makor, ' Thers aro now in tho City of Home soven or oight of theso tom- ples reclaimed from heathenlem and consocrated 1o Christian worship. From that day to this— during tho lapso of nearly 1,600 yoars—no Gov- erument has undortaken 0 make church edificcs oy tributo for the priviloge of worahipiog God. ven the Pagnns, through tho veneration in whicks they hold tho tomplos dodiented to tholr idals, manifost moro roverenco thsa tho pro- moters of this raid upon roligious worship. No movemont lns given such encouragemout and comfort to unboliovors, who would oreate ovory possible Impedimont to tho progrees of Christ{an toaching, ne this proposal to tax church odifices. Bectarian disoussions have ano- cecded In driving religious instrncdon out of the publio sehools ; and wow oupidity aud unboliof would broak down tho Sundsy-soliools by pocu- niary impositions upou the odifices in which thoy ara held, andsoy communitios and nolghbor- hoods at work to cal%nlsto tho oash value of ro- ligious worship, Itis dificult to concoive that tho proposition could hayo had Its origin in any otlior breast than one unfriendly to all church organizations, or ono in which the love of money i3 thbo predon. .ant passlon. If thoso who have set on foot this movement want moro monoy, let thom tax thelr rum, their tobacoo, _tholr pictures, fast borses, gowo-dogs, liquor- saloons, dance-liouses, clube, thoatres, dismands, equipnges,—overything, in short, which minls- tors to thoir pleasnres, their tastes, and therr sensual indulgences, Nay, lot them tax thelr seminarics of learning, their institutions do- voted to human scionco, and even tho grounds in which the nnoonscious bonos of their ancos- tors ropose, rathor thau invads with mercenary oxnctiona tho edifices dovotod to the worahip of Almighty God and to tho teaching of our duty to Him and our noighbors. Somo of tho abbottors of this movomont have bad tho magnanimity to let ue understand that they aro ready to compromise with tho Bovoreign Rufer. They will maka reasonsble concessions. Thoy will allow 1,000 of the valuo of coch of His Churchos to be oxempt from taxation, and only oxact of IIlm payment on tho rosiduo. They may, perhaps, go o far as to allow Him §2,000—as much as it would cost a woll-to-do {nrmer to house his horees aud horned-attles, Thero 14 s degreo of sublimity in this con- deaconsulon which boggara all comment, and X diamiss it, With those who think tho Alinighty sufliclentl; bonored by rendering im homage in huildiogs no bettor than barns sud outhousos, no mattor how abundant the pecunlary menna of the worshipers, and who attach no more sanotily to ooe class of thoso edifices than to tho aihor, it wonld bo eqanlly fruitless aod Lumiliating to hold any conforonos. In manifold instauces, both in the 0ld snd New Testamonts, tho house of worship is called tho houso of God, and it is always nnmed with approprinte exprosslons of rever- once. The universsl hears responds to this domigoation; sud 0o matter how bumblo the edifice consoorated to Llis sarvice, all men whea within ita ballowed walls feol more sonsibly than thoy do amid tbe turmoll of the outor world that thoy aro ju tho proseuoe of the Om- pipotent Bolng, by whom the grest foroes of the universe aro movod and controlled, snd that by {guoring Him they renounce all hopa of a higher stato of oxistence. The schomo should bs repudiated and de- nounced in all ils parts. One can hardly debato it without & {oohnf of abasoment. Iuis oot & subjecs for humass logie, It 16 nod & problem of proiit and loss, to be argued by rolizious ohllgu tion on one side and floancini cupidity on tho ather. It ia a matter of inshngt, of inborn rave eronce, of tho consciousncss which overy mind, nob perverted by the sophistications of worldly ecionce, bas of ila own immeasureablo inforiority to tho Havereign Itulor of the universe aud of tho homage it owes Him sa ita orsator and ro- deomer. Thers {a something rovolting to the moral senne in ita normal stato in tho Idea of mmaking a morcenary profit out of an ediflcs con« socrated to His sarvico. Whon this inner sense is wanting, arguwens is fruitlosa. Tho most wttractive objects which meet ue In our travels in Europe are the eathedrals. Amid sl) tho wars, the bloodshod, ths barbarities, the desolatlon which nations Liave visitod wpon each ather, undor tho miszuldance of tuoeir ovil pas- #lons, these monumenta of thelr faith snd tf:lr devotion come out from the dark baak) I3 i ground o tha piotura in bright retiof ug saczed tributes to the Creator of tho universe, No man can siand heneath thoir domea and vaulted roofs withont fooling thal they atone for muoh of tho wrong committed . by “thelr authiors, who lavishied on them without stint the wealth they would other- wise have wasted on ocatentatious gratifications or nnholl indalgences. Heaven forbid that the Jesson of these comparatively unclvilized ages ehould be lost on us, and that in this day of in- tellectunl light and social refinemout the tax- atborer should be mant to #lil his bag of lucre vy lovyiog contributions on the sanctuarios of the living God1 1 do not bolieve that any communily whish neeks to throw its secnlar exponses oa the wor- ship of Qod, by levying contributions on the oditices consocrated to Ilis servise, can luhg eu-~ capo the chsatisoment it pravokes, It fs not noceasary to look for special visitations of ill aa manitestations of His displeasure. Cupidity, selfishnens, npwltz. the profanation of thinge whioh should ba held ssored, carry with them, by the force of imwutable lawe, the rotribution qenounced by the codes the; violate, Al religlons denominations have the same intereet in preventing sheir houses of worshij {rom being desscrated and secularized by taxa- tion. As was beautifully expressed by Madame de Btacl: **'Their ceremonies sre strongly con~ traatod{ bul tho same migh of _distrcas, the l:::xu«: .'1'1"‘"““ for suppozt, ascends (o Heaven It sooms to moe tha this whole movement is e ereser e ealculato to oroats in tho broasts of reflecting remnns » feoling of profound aorrow nnd unmlit- gnted dlxguas, Tho proper mode of {renting it 18 to scout it out of tho committsa roams, logls- Iativo halls,and social circles which it had dofiled by ita prosence. To give it aty conntounnce would be to furnish now ground for tho nationnl roproachi, too oftan cast upon us, that tho al- mighty doliar s the chis! objeos nf onr adors- tlon, Very truly yours, Joux A, Dix, ORLANDO Mzans, Eaq,, Albany, et THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. L.ECTURE DY MRS, OODA V. L. TAPPAN. Mra. Corn V. L. liatoh Tappan spoke yoator- day moraing in tho hall cornor of Greon and ‘Washiogton stroots, to s small audienco, Tho lady is » ** trance speaker,” and porhaps it would ‘be mora oxach to eay of tho discourso that 18 was the prodnct of Thoodoro Parker spoaking' through Mrs, Tappan. Aftor the proliminary ox- erciase, whioh Inciudod a sort of prayer ot invo- cation, and inusio, Mrs, Teppan camo forward aud sald: “The themo of this dinconrse is * The Judgment Day,’ and I wisk to havo the name of tho speakor known. It s Thoodoro Parkor.” Kollowing {a a biief avstract of tho discourse : Thoso poopls who oxpeoted to sco a litoral burning by tira, such as tradition had wade pos- aible or ta be oxpectod, would doubtiess be dis- appointod, John's vision in the Islo of Patmon, snd ko traditions, should, liko othor Eastern nflmllamu. bo intorproted not too literally, To-day, with the conscionsuoes that no wrong had ever pone unrequited, that every hidden thing must some time bo ravealed, menidnd pro- ceedad ax it the Dalty were bhnd, and tho world moved on s if thero woia no agout to briug to connciousness tho doings of man, _ rciaucs hud priod futo the socrots of antiquity, and laid baro: thiugs covered up for thousauds of yeary, notil it yeamod that tho. world had no secreta to bo hidden from Helonas, and evan tho atars had no yoico that could not bo luterproted. Now at Jength tha world beglos to undorstand thas tho earth bolds nothiug whicl it Is not possibla for Belones to ponotrato and lay bare. Lookat Egypt; shio dwelt for ages buried in the obscurity of tuo dosort, bub now sclence Liag determined the poui- tion of bor oities aud bas road bo bistory of their inhabitants; tho Sphinx evon has beon made to talk aud to roveal the poorots of tha forinor agos of soionco and loarning. If thoso wondors could bo wrought with etornal and material things, if history could ba un- rolled as n scroll, what must bo tha caso with all tho marvolous power of tho Spirit, which not only added to tho power of researoh but gavo- also tho gift of propheoy to make impossiblo tho oovering up of il-deods. Yassiog to conslder the omoipotont power of Nemosls to sbnpo human plaus, tho spoaker askod: *Whatwas it bus tho Judgment Day tlat compallod Egypt to bo turiod for ages and Liddon from tho oyes of won 2" ‘What was it but the Judgwont Day that com- peilad tho Orioat to sbrink into a toy-ehop, for cotertainniont of tlie nations ? What was it but the Judymant Day tuat gave to Greevo and Rome powor Lo grow great, and thon compelled thow to dwindio away aud bo- oomo as naught ? Wuat was it Lnt tho Day of Judgment that | mado the Xomau citizen dogliue till it bocame pm'a'ullb;u for him to becomo s Blave instosd of a nobla Wuat was it but the Day of Judgmont that E[crmhlud civilization to_pags tho_ Pillars of oroules and sllowed Eogland to bo? Whot waa it but the Day of Jndgment that caused England now to brood over hor sorrup- tion, and to tmourn far her grood ? What wasit but tho Day of Judgment that kopt Ltussia on her throno aod gave to Germany ner little doy of Iimpize ? What woe it but the Judgmont Day that led Frauce from frosdom into slavery,and baok again into froedom ? What wasit but tho Day of Judgmeont that mada ¢, Potor's ot Itome tho great ulaer of (Lo world, and all who followod aftor it full of corruption ? What waa it but tho Day of Judgmant Lhat in tho foundation of & nation fastonod liko o coil about ita neck o groat 1des, and madoe ita policy ond safoty go bond in hand? Belfishness ot tha inind wae the real tompla~ tionin every Garden of Paradise. The man who kaow ho bribod his connoionca was sure to bring upon himaott thoe sure punishmoat of tho orimo, Tho surprise was not that justico was 20 Bwift, for it was mometimes tardy, but that men, with the discornmens which unturo had givon thom, should dare to hopo to egcapo the consequonces of-thofr guilt, It was not so atranga that wrongs ehould be dono, ignorantly porhaps, 68 thak mon who did shom suuuld ox- pect by somo gubtorfuge to escapu the conso- quonces. ‘Iio romnindor of tho dlaconrse was dovoted to s prosontation of tho same truth—tlss the Day of Judgmont was somethiug which bLad alwaya boen and always would be io tho world ; in ocher words, that now was the Day. e MOODY'S VIEWS. A INTERESTING CONVERSATION, At tho closing scssfon of tho Olrlatlan Con- vontlon in Now York, on Thursdey last, Mr. Moody announced himsclf as boing wiliing to anawer ooy questions, and to the {nguiry, low can yon introduce new bymna lato tho servico? noreplica, ** Why, sing them some ovening in conneotion with®the old ones. Then, I would bave tho peoplo have tho song-books at homo, &0 thag thoy could slug (he Lymns thoro and be- como familiar with thom. I think, if tho mattor waa proporly mannged, we could soon £l every 1ane and dark alloy with joyful song.". Q.—What wonla you do it you could not get peoplo to come to hoar » proaching service ? A.—Got thom to coma to hear the Gospel suag. [Applause.] Q. —What_Is the best book for tho inquiry~ room ? A.—Ishauld eay o book written by John. {Laughter and applauso.] Q.—How can you wake up a dull pravor-moet- fug? A.~Wake up yourself, Theaudienco will soon cateh the spark of lifo, [Laughter.] Q.—Howcan you got eldors to be short in their romarka? A.—Bo short yoursolt. Hola good exampla; thoy'll follow it. [Applause.] Q.—How can you got youn men toattendrelig- fous sorvices?” A.—Form a number of Chrie~ tian young men into a bond of workors and let them go among the young mon of tha town, and kindly invite thomto attond tho sorvices, In my awt_oxpoerlence I hiave fouud that thoy will come, if thoy mee thas & persousl interest is shown in thom. 2 ’ Q.—My ohurch is sadly In dobt; would you rocommond o folc to help pay it? A—You muatn't ask such & queation of mo without ox- pocting no upgracioas anawer, I am bittorly opposed to all falrs, You do not know their effoot in tho West na I do, Thero is nothing that 50 opons ¢ho churoh to the world au_those miaerablo Qhurch bazaars, 1 remombor 1 was novyer so mortified as whon X readin a Westorn paper the advortisement that for 25 cents any man could kisa the Landsomest woman in the tair. Issythatitis s sinful shame, for which tho Oburch showd blush, We can nevor hold a fair but tho dovil gots in after a whilo. Why, I'd rathor a hundrod timea preach iu the stroot than in o church erccted with money raised by theao moans, [Applauss.] Q.—Xow can you got ohurch membera to work ? A.—Hecp them out of theso faira. [Laughtor.] This is & vory im|mlm¢ quostion. Now, there are mauy o tho Church who posesss oxoeutive ability, and who could sot othors 1o work st thnt braoch of Christlat labor to which they are bout sduptod, You could rodoh tho sick in this way, You oould reach the drunkards in this way, You could reachi tho infidelg in this way, It 'is this personsl work that tolls in the oud. Just log thouo people out ot $he Ohburch kpow that you foal an intersst in thoir wolfaro, and thoir hearts will respond to your nympn\hedc omorta. 1 zo- momber ou fublance o my Own eXperionco, Thero was & hquor-dealor ih Chioago who had four childron, whom he waa tralulog by oxam- ple to hocome infidels. I mot ong of them ona day distributing infidol traots, extracta from Palog’s * Aga of Reason,” and I renolved {0 try aud win thoso childron beok into tho right path, I wont to tho man'a saloon next day, and told him my orrand, and he told me to got out, sud 1 had to 50 faster than I opmo. But I thonght I would go back whan Lio was in & botter humor. I wont agpin, and he ordered moe out, bub the third tima I called I found Lim in com- parative good humor. Ho said: '*Now, soo hore, yOUDR AN, iuu road Palnc’s ‘Age of Tteason® through ond I'll read tho Now Toata- ment through.' Wall, I agrecd, although I know Do bad the best ond of $he bargain, I nevor bad 8a hard s task in my lifo ss accomplishing my ghare. Iused to moaot the liquor-doaler quite ofton aftor that, and ho always wautod totalk sbout the ** Age of Reason." I tnquired how he wed goting on, and flually tried o persuade him to coma to charch, *Wel," Le aaid, **you oan proaah hero;*I'm not golug up 10 your churchios, Dut you musn't expoct to mouopolize all the meoting, I waut to talk my- self & littlo.” Isald *‘agrood; you shall have tho firat forty-five minutes will ocoupy tha noxt fitteon,” The noxt day when Icama I found hie bad gone to 0 {riond’s because his own saloon was nob big enough. Thad brought s littla cbild with me, bat as soou as I saw the mamhl:gll began to regros it. Thera were tluaves, drunkards and loafers there,~all shades of criminef life. Bowe of tLem beliavod ther wunilifilv(or, and somo of u\uiu didn't, "J‘ng. wrang among thomsolvgs, an Anons Sto' " Diows " boford * the fosky- five minutea wns exhausted. X aald flaally, * Yonr timo’s up § it Is my turn now.” X Enunollmo child to pray. I wishyou conld ave hoard that prayor, [t wan auly's_simplo, childish tning, aud yet how toushing. T can re- momber now how earnoatly ha prayad for the forgivencua of thosomon who hnd nald so maay wicked thingn againat hia Jeaua. Weth when it wan finished the andience began to goawsy. One wont ons way, another wont auother, till thoy wora all gono. Thon tho fathor came up to mo, 1aid his hand gontly upon my shouldor, and with tonrs {n hia eyos; and hia volco brolton yith omo- tion, sald 1 You can bave my four cluldron.” ! You will flod, my triends, that this porsonal of-| fort, thia porsonal ntorost in infidels, and onrtoat, tendor appeals to their hearts wiil win, them to Christ in the end, [Applause.] Q.—~\What is the best book on revivala? A— Tho Bibla, 1t ia most anthontio, [Applauso.] Q).—To what extant i it hest to omploy wom- en in Christian Iabor? A.—Tho* work of our Chiriation syomen bing beon vory auccossful hore, No ouo can visit the sick or afilictod a3 well as & womsn. Thoy mala tha bost misslonaties in tho world. In London Iliavo seen women of wonltl and position engniod fn this glorious, sork of wosking to bring wanderors home to the Bavior. What n_ glorious thing it would bo if the Iadies of woalth and }msnlun Lore in Now York would porsouslly visit and ocomfort tho poorl I hoarof a0 manv young ladies having largo fortunes and nothing to do. Isayitiy tho greatost miafortuna that conld bofall them, Thoro ia notting that losves thom o opon to thio doyil's wilos, Q.—\Wliat doctrine would vou recomwmoud to bo taught at rovival sorvicos? A.—WWhat doo- trine? Why, the good old doctrine of our! fathors : Msn is fatlon ; Christ comoes to scolr, rodoem, and to save him, Q.—Hupposa nona of tho congrogation can slng, what would you ndvise? A.—Woll, oy can toad tho bymns and sing thom lo their; honrts. Tho gront tronblo is that the Chureh is nsloop half tho time, and lu too lazy to praisc, God in song. A lark nover slogs In “fts noat; it is whon it sonts up into the sxy that ita little throat bogine to warble. I remomber hearing: of a littlo boy who was always happy and sing- InE. onco saying to bis father: * I'aps, you'ro a Chriatinn, why don't you sing, I nover Lear you?" *Q," “sald way, “I'm too old; 1'm ostablished in my fashion of not singlog,” It rominds mo of tho farmer and hia sou, who wero on n hay-wagon, trying to drivo tho horse, The farmer oricd to ttio horse to go on, and usod the whip on lim, Dut stilt the horss wouldn't move, Thoy got down from tho wagon, and took hold of thot whoels, aod tried to turn them, but as tho horso pushed_tuo othor way, thoy couldn's budgo. them. The farmer bogan to gas angry then, aud gaid s ' I wondor what's the matior with him 2" The soa ropliod, ns ho tooked at tha horee, ruo- fully, * I guess ho's got ostablisbod.” I gnoas It's that way with o grent manyin the Church nowadays. They'vo got established in the old way of kooping silsut, and nothlng can make' thom sing, (Laughtor aud applaueo. ] Mr. Moody thon eaid : **The timo's coma for our noon mooting! Lot us closs by singlog, 1 nood Theo every hour.'™ Aftor the bonediction, tho Conventlon ndjonrued, and tho regular noon prayor-mootiog was hold, —_—— MISCELLANEOUS. MADISON, Wid, Bpectat Dievaleh to The CAleano Tridune, Mampison, Wia,, April 2—The oo, H., H, Gilen delivered an ablo temporanco nddrosa ot tho Congregationa! Uhurch to-night, In which ho made somo atartling statomontas in rogard to tho adultoration of liquora aud tho use of poisonous’ drinks, . Thero wore vory interesting cxorclaes at the Preabyterinn Church, the Itov. L. Y. Hays, pas- tor, whero forty-mx porsons united, all but two on profossion, making about 160 that bavo so fnr juluod tho ohtirohies hore, as fruits of the ro- vival meotings in tho wintor, THE AMERICAN TRACT SBOCIETY. Wastnyarox, D. 0., Aprll .—Judge Drindley, of the Bupromo Court, rm!idod at the annual moatiog of tho American Tract Boclaty this evou- ing. Baocrotary Hhoaror made a atatomont of tho Boolety’s oporations, and addrogses woro de- the fathar o la gouft.| ontloman, Btanloy's lottor han 1od fh tho AtAb0 DOWARAPOFA: Aun M oalema aro propating to contoat tha flold, Tholy |nbsurlruonn for Lthe purpono have heen Nibora| sono of thom helng over €601), Molnmmedan, ism has alroedy boen vory exteneively sproag through Afrioa by moans of tho Aravs, TUDTIO DINOUIION ON OMRIATIANITY, To the Kditor of The Chicago T'ribune Perny, I, BMarch 80.—Arrangenients hay beon mads, with the -oxception of fixing yhy timo, for » publia dlscunsion ln-J-nnnonvmn, i1, betwoon Olsck Bradon, Ohristian, and B, y. Underwood, Atholst, Tha lssues are: 2 1, Tho origin of oxiatencss,—Mr. Btaden af, firming that hey have an Intelligent Causo; ang ‘f Mr. Undormood donylug.” Mr, Unferwood af. firma then -the oternity and solf-existonce of mattor and force and tholr propertion, and (ly thoy ave the'canne of all existonce and pheuome, bas and Mr. Braden douies. 3 9, Itonsonabloness of religlon,—Mr, Bradny afirmiog that mon is consticutionally B rolz. fons bolug, sud useds an objootive rovelation of euch religion, sud alse Apacifying wliat shonlq be ita basis Ldoas + aud Mr. Undertood denying, Mr. Underwoad thon ailirms that religion ls porveraion of man's naturo, and tbnb roason [y his eole guide § and Mr, Draden'dealen, 8., Mr, Bradon aflirms that 'tha rollf;ou of the Diblo 18 tho roligion man neods; Mr. Undorwoog denios. Aud thot Mr, Underwood afiirme ting tho Bibla {8 wjurious in 1ta indacuce on mag. kind ; Mr. Biadou donies. v b 4, Mr, Braden aHfirios that the Diblo is auttion. tle, genulne, oredible, triwo, Inspirod, and of divine euthority ; Bir, Undorwood donlen, Me Undorwood then afirms that tho Diblo ia of hy. :lmu; origin, not authentio, eto. { and Mr, Bradey lonian. Bev 1 8 As tha dispntants have debated thros tonley povora! titnoa with each othor and otbor pitiss, .and ns Jacksonvillo is the Athons of Iilinois, thy discnesion will bo a ropragontative dircusslon, s gront deal of intorest Ig folt in” it all through Centrat Lllinols. Dus notico will bo gliven of g thne when detormived,’ - H Pixe, S I XTI, : LETTERS FROM THE _;’EOI’LE. A VIMIT TO THE UNION, ROLLING-MILLS. Zothe Editor of The Chicayo Tribune: - . - Onicaao, April §.—T'aking sdvantage of an in. torval hotweon our frequent March Auow-storms, a party of thirteen ladics and gontiemen frent lg visit tho Union Rolling-tills, situated at Bridge. port, a mile aud a balf west of Htate streot. Thy night was comparstively ploasaut, * although 4 fow ominous*alouds irduced one of' wa of thy gontlemon to catry umbrollas, as well as- their canes, by wsy of dofonso, ‘These proved eflica clous, for tho olouds kopt tbelr own ascrafs, an) no drops or snow-lakea dosconded to troublo ng while on our search _for kndwledgo. - "Phinking, pouuibl{). many of your ronders littla, roslize what n boautiful siglit msy bs witnessed so magy nigiita of the year, I thought a briof ‘description might interest, Takipg an Archor avenue oar,as it turned wost from Stats atroet, a zide of twanty minutes brought us near tho mills. Thy fmmesia chimnoya belohiog forth ‘volumen of"fluwe, lit up the Jurid atmosphore, ‘and’ rsured uo lbat all was right; that tho oight-workmaen atood in tholr placos, and that tha'wondorful procesy which oonvyerts iron into stool was in.full- o) , tion, The works hera uzo the Bemsemer pro. cons, patonted in 1850, 'I'he malted pig-iron iy rocoived from thoe blast-furnace into tha con. vertor, . Tho chargo is aix tonn. ‘The blower, sending its voluwo of atmosphoria air through this,—the chomlical operation; uvol{lng tho hiost requirod to keop the mauh in fusion,—was sl rosdy on, ps we entored the buildiog. Tl molten niass writhed as if in"torture, yuder the steady, continuous preosura it waa called to en- dure.” Seething aud foaming, tho furnace shook under tho intlagucoe, snd a°.volumo of Hame and aparks stondily ancendod she throat of tho spw clous chimouy. ‘Tho gentlowauly Scporin. tondonk, Mr. rington, wlood near awaiting the right momont for swinging ronad tho convarter, and running- off - tho liquid lverod E%’ the _Hon. J. H. Beelyo, Prof. ward W, QOlark, lato ‘of Japan, and the Rov. Dr. Chamborlain, of Indisna. Tho recelpta from donatlons and logacies oxocod 8100,000, and from aalas of books, tracts, and periodioals, $350,000. Granls of tracts average over 1,000,000 pages wooily. About 200 colporteurs have beon employed, chiefly in tho South and Wost. aud Toxns, Utah, and tho Pacific Coast are roproscated vory hopo- fuly. 201, GRAVES, TIE KVANGELIST, Special Correspondenca nf The Chicaao Tribune, LANmiNG, Mioh.,, March 81.—Tho Roy, A. P, CGraves, tho Evangelist, closod hls labors at Charlotte and In this Stato on tho 28th, and lott for Marehalltawn, Xa, Mr, Gravos has hoon yory sucoessfal a3 & rovivalist, & Jargo number af “conyorsiane belug tho result of bhis labora. When ho commenced his work, Lo said i¢ woa not for tho purpoas of attracting attention, or eliclting pubtlo applanse, or formancy,—for ha never callad on the publie for a cout, only ao- copting of Indlvidual donations,—but $o warn' sibuers of tho wrath to come. . Ho haa boon en- ancd iu ovangelical work for ten yoars, hia Gb;m oxtendlog into nearly evory Htato in the nlon. . Many persons in the central portlon of this Btate, who contomplated viziting the Cantonnfal xposition at Philadalphia, are disappointed in tho rallrond rates, and will make their Conton- ninl pilgrimage to the State Camp-Aeeting grounds, locatod on Little Travorso Bay, some time in August or Soptember. Ilalf-faro ratos aro promised on all tho roads, and thero will probably bo oxcaraton rates by tho steamor-linea on tho Lakos. 'Tho grouuda are situatod at the head of the bay, on & gontls glopo to tho beach, 2 mtles from Petosky, a thriviog viliage, not two yoars of sgo, of 000 inhabitauts, composed of desoandants of Frenoh voyagours and Indlans, who, at that season of tho yonr, may bo socn skimming the placld watora of tho bay in thoir birebi-barlk canoos ; and boiug on tho vory battle- ground of the Ouippowa aud Sauk rmd againat tho Ottawas and thelr allies, DOMAN CATHOLIO GROWTH. 4 Anotlior lnatauca of thc rapld growth of the Roman Catbolip Church, espoclally in tha manu- faoturing distriots of the United States, is the recout divialon of the Oatholic Diocesa of Pitte- burg into two Diocesea—Pitlaburg and Alle- ghony. Bishop Domanoo 18’ transforred to tho latter, aud a now Bishop—Tuigg—~was conse- crated for the former on Alaroh 10. Nishop Douonco, upon loavivg W old Dioceso, gave, in & farewell lotior, tho following atatistics: Iu 186U thero wore 50,000 Catholica in tho Dlo- coan; unow thore aro 200,000, In Allegheny County alone moro than 20 churchoy bave boon bullt, and large sdditions Lave boon made to othors 29 now convenla haye boon ereoted, and 8 new comwuuities of women Introduced. Thiy growth britas tho Imeb Prosbytorians, who abound in Westorn Ponnsylvauia, and tho Irlsh Cathotics faco to faco, very much xa they cons \front one soothor in . their old komo. The Prosbyterians fondly thought they nad esoapad from Ahoir old Qatholiv noighbory, bus tho lattor had no idea of belog woparated from Kood company in spy such way, and so followod tholr Colvinlatio friends to the Bmaky City, where thoy all svom to got along much more lxuuuonbly und harwoufously than they did oa he “oid sod.” TUE INDIAN QUESTION, ‘Tha trus solution of the Indian problom Iy very apparont in tho potition for n mission- 8oliogl went by the s{uacogeo (Oreex Iudimz Daptiat Assocation to the Bonthern Baptls| llome Alission Lonrd, 'Thay state that tha Bap- tists bavo au asyociotion comprluiny tuisty-two churches awmong the COroeks, besidos an asso- ciation among the Ohocktaws and Chickasaws, another among the Chorokecs, aud alao churchos nmong the Borainoles, In pieading for tho od- ucation of tholr childron, they &ay, very pa- thetically: “Our ohildren ara not bora sav- sges. ‘Lhoy at firsé ars sweet-tompered, and eeom playful snd hlpp{; and if they gmw nx pavagon, 1t {8 booauns their minds are dwarfe and corruptod only boaauso they sro neglected, ‘This I8 what makes thew savsios,” Thore never wss & troer word spoken, Tho petition dabes {roma Fufals, Creck Nativn, TUR BYULGEONS, Preaching ia heredizary in tho B) urfeon fami- X}. tho fathor and grandfather, or sho fatoous ‘fabornacle ruslnr aving apont long years {n sho Christlan ministry. Tiwenty years sgo, at & foa- tval hiotd 10 honor of the grandfather, the tirco gonerations wore repreasntod in tho addrosses made, Very recantly, at s quarterly mootlng of tho Btockwell Orphansge, r. Ohariea H. Bpur- oon took the clair, and made one addross 5 hiy fatbor, tho Rav, John Bpurgeon, delly an- | othery and kis son Thowss, & youth of 17, who is acsive in mission work, snothor. ‘I'his son is naid to bave much of his father's talont, A brothor of Charles H. Bpurgeon is also a Dsptiat T e y -r:aé'l o‘oufi'mt.l b Tha Moalems of Constantinople have organ- {zad a soclety for tho propsgsilon of Muhglm- medantam in the country of King Mtesa, Cove ¢ral Alrica, which was visited by Mr. Blanley a fow mounths 6go. Iv will be romombored that Mr, Htanjoy's lotter made knowa tho requosy of tho King for Ohristian teachess, and that aa ofex of £5,000 for tho NECHsEATY SXPeuN Was made by into the Lugo kettlo that stood ready to receira it, The tims required ia- from thirteon to Al seen - minutes. \Yhile awaiting the oparation, mavy of ong party quostioned “Mr, H. minnlaly as ta the process, ho giving information in s most courtoous mannor. Tha final momont sz tived: Blowly the immouso furnnco swung arcund, as it by magic. Tho light from this masw, Loated to & white heat,—wo thought far mora flery than Nobuchadnozzar's soveu-heated furnaco could have Leen,—lit up the building with tho dazzling brillisuoy of tho sun. A ubowor of sparks, in tho form of & hgif ank, full 20 near that wo foared wo ‘vers volopod; spd **grand!™ *'magniflcent!” were the oxclamutions from tbe Jips of nll. Blowly tho muars was tuuning off Into tho kottle, whic was to hold the autiro contents of tho converter, Tho carbon {8 suppoacd to bo soparatod from ths iron during fts stay fu tho gonvertor. Much slall {8 necossary to detormiue tho right momens for running off tho liquid mass, **'Foo short e postisd to the air, faillng to decarbonize and porlfy the crudo matal, and loo .long exposure rendoring it lioblo to bo sttacked ot tho exces gively high temperaturo by tho oxygen of the Llast, Pl‘uduclm; tho condition commoanly called burut.” Tho kettle belug flledopparently abore 1ts rim, so violont is .the boiling. motion, it it swung around uutil it stands uver tho ingob maulds, a stop is drawn from iho bostom, aud theso moulds, holding 1,600 pouuds each, ar 1lllod to the number of niuo. A workman throms sand on each a6 fast as fllicd to oxaluds the alr Wo nakod if accidonts ovor ocourred. ‘The onswer was, * Yes, occasionally:” ouce the im- menso kottlo was tipped pver, and, wator beiog in tho pit over which 1t swingy, the piccos of ateal wero thrown with violonca in overy diree tion. Ono workinan lost biw life, sad othen wore laid up for threo months, After s ghort timo tho iogota wora zomovod from thy moulds, and boiug placed on a car, Woro garried to anothar baildivg, whera a uew purprise awsile edus, Mr Harrington wan'now off duiy, and kindly offerod to show us the wonders that sl romnined. e wore now permitted to witnes the action of a mighty hammer, upon these bars of steal.. 'Uhis hammor woighs twelvejtons ;5o \largor one is. to befound tntho United Btaies and bus two that will equal st ju mzo, The ar vil, upon which suoh pondorous Llowy are ko 1all, is, as yon may sappone, well strongtheued Oslk pllos ave driven to thadepth of 80 fest.for it ta rest upon, and 100 tons of irop are used in its conatruction. 'Tho bars are subjected W these blows, boing comstantly turned, untl somoewhat elongsted,jthon thay are resdy for the volling process, Once niors we wera invited 10 ook anothor buildiug, Hersthe bars were placed undor the rollors, 7 esoh timg passed through growing longer and less brosd, until the perfoci stoot rail 1w formed, Tho ylory redness of i bars, as thu‘ pasy in aud out, from botween th rollers, writhiug nud twlsting liko some hoge sorpent in the hands of itg dostroyer, was a most boautiful pight, Knowing another clmrgu wasi thio oonyertor, wo wonded bur way baok to ile firet bullding, and stood awaitiug ita complotios. Ag]'nlu the wido und besugiful arch of uo? atary foli almoat sy our fest, mad:waq.turned amsy foscinsted, nud, wo brust, bouofited by oug evese fng's visit Lo ono of our well-loved city's mang: tugtorlos, os . o ¥ e WIDTTEMODE'S FLAN, 70 the Blitor ef Tha Chicage Irjvunss Wansaw, Warxe Oo, Iowa, March 3l From the denrth of financial sohemes in your lnst isaue I concludp that most wha dosiro tods B0 havo opoken their plece, so I will say mind Do we not flnd in $he mercantilo world those suocosd best who apply any sarpluy cash outells of thelr logitimate buelnoss to she payment tholc debta? 'Why then' might' pot the Ualied Statos tata the hint, sud justesd of. sepding 0% now groonhacka to sunply the placa of those torm and disdgured st & cust for and privkiog umanlmf to Tus TiuuNE, o cents for oyery now blil, send out any. surplua gold ther may have utor;nymg intorost, and 50 continue to do as long and wheoovor there {8 poy urplus gold la the 'Prossury ? ‘fhers will ba'no <oo: traction abous that method, It will save thai 25 couts, whioh with us i sbout the prico of & bushel of corn and moro than & bushel of osts. 1t will obyiate the necessity of locking 300,000,000 old up in the Tressury, which'in my opioioa would prove much like cerryiug water ju & siove on mocount of the convenlsns usca Copgrest would find for euch a eserve fund, I would Also_cbyiate the necessity of printiog thosa Londs whish the orscla of Tum Tuipung thioki 18 & panacos for all evils, It will preveut thst * gread financisl orash " which wa sro will resnlt from & sudden peturn to lo basis. 0f couree the tirat ones who got tho gold wo put it sway 1u ag old etocklug, but necssuly would s00n oblige them tu throw [t on the mats Xot. Your oraola will probably complain abo the lauath of time req to conyumata Ihl: rodomption of Ernauhncku in-tuis war hat ¥oowma to 1o that bat will meo) th objeetioss urged agalnst ather luhunoa. % ————— - Japsn bas & Bible-lu-the-schools goutroverdf mmdhhu ndeavoring to hava the rsuiw of the Bible in the Obriat sohool la Kivoto s;uhlmtedhy order of the Emperor. '.I‘M.B{‘H' sl oy ng i U1 ol mperor, bu his chief out [ gt ‘Eduoation aco triendly to Cliristianity, WHITTEMORE