Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 24, 1876, Page 13

THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: SUNDAY., DECEMBER 24, 576—SIXTEEN PAGES. 13 = RELIGIOUS. i myer-lieefing of the Boys and Girls—The First Christ- mas Story. ifloon-Maefing of the Sunday-School Teachers at Farwell Hall. ' A Letter to the Rev. Mr. At- kinson on His Recent Sermon. .‘P.ei-Mfing a Stumbling-Block in the Way i of Christian Progress. The Recent Convention and Mr. Moody Relnctant to Deal with the . Question. Hotes and Personals at Home and Abroad «--Church Services. THE BOYS AND THE REVIVAL. e enfldren’s meeting yesterday afternoon " Farwell Hall was interesting. Mr. B.F. Jacobs conducted it. As many as 150 little boys + pd girls were present, many of them being - companied by their mothers. - ;. »We'll sing 2 song,” said Mr. Jacobs. * How - gany of you Lave brought hymn-books " +* Quite a number of hands were raised. “What's the matter?’ he asked. *Wh; * @idn's you oll bring books?' - + Forgot!”” exciaimed several. «That's bad. Did any of you forget your - dipper®” . #Hethenstruck up the tune * Hallelujah, * 1tis done,” the children joining in heartilv. . “Rejoice and be glad,” said Mr. Jucobs; ‘uwellsing that, and just repeat the chorus. “tSound His praises; tell the story of Him who ‘wasslain.’ uTake your mufllers off of your thronts” ex- dsimed Alr. Jacobs at the end of the first stanza, -4yon cen’t sing with your throats all tied up.” “*Now all the Christian boys aud girls lift up “their heartsin prayer. I suppose Christmus kg?l. away a good many, didn’s it2? “Yes, sir,” replied many voices. #\ell, now, you kuow we wouldn’t have had oy Christmas if it wasn’t for Christ. S¢ let us think of that during the meeting.” 2 He%n}:ed, and then ssid he would read the first Christinas story ever written. He read + . the passage in the Bible telling of the birth of Christ. - % What does that say on the board?” said he st the ' conclusion of the lesson, pointing to o Jarge black-board on which was drawn with -clalk a large heart surmounted by & text. “There was no room for Him in-the inn,"” re- jed the children. .7 Most of the chaoter was repeated in the same _manner by the children, the leader saying a Yerse and the children following him from mem- org. - :“A m&fém’" " shouted + -house,” shouted - a precocious . A hotel,” “A wayside tavern,” 52id others. - “What is the difference between a home and. an inn”? .. *One’s where you stay all the timfi and the ather’s where you keep moving,” reF ed one. -~ “Very Now [ want to tell you boys and you girls to stay at hume as long as you _can.” Never 2o to & boarding-house or_a hotel. “The beds are not as good in a hotel. The cook- ing isnot zs good, Did you ever know anybod. who vould covi as good things as yourmother £? “No, sir,” repiied the sudience, With emn- phasis. - “Now @o you know any hotels in town?” “Yes, sir,” and a score of voices cried out, “Palmer,” “Grand Pacific,” “atteson,” - % Sicrinan,” ete. ;. % Now, 1 want to introduce you to another Thotel,” and going to the blackboard and point- ing to the chalked sketch, said, ‘Itisthe *Beert Hense.” . He then went on to describe a traveler knock- -$ug at the door of the Heart, refe o to Jesus :Christ. ‘The lesson was very neatly brought i’ out, and the sttention of the children was kept .. from first to last. . Atter more siuging and prayer, the meetio el e S = THE SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. TEACHERS' MERTING AT FARWELL HALL. .. The attendance at the Sunday-School teach- _ers' meeting yesterday noon at Farwetl Hall .Wasnot up to the average, probably owing to “the extra demands of the holidays. The pro- “ceadings, however, were of the usual interest- ing character. Mr. B. F. Jacobs acted as leader. . Thepe was no set topic, but the hour was de- voted to a review of the quarter’s lessons. After theusual preliminaryexercises, Mr.Jacobs opened . .the discussion. Hesupposed everyone had some ‘pian for a revitw, but he thought the simplest - "plan they could adopt would prove the best. If teachers bad s-class that had carefully studied -all the Iessons, a thorough review might be profitabie and pleasant. For an ordinary class an outiine should: be presented, and they “ should try and bring out the truths with- _-out having tne scholars turning back to the {'Bible. During the - quarter they had tiree lessons; with regard- to Stephen; two with Philip—Philip at Samaria, and Philip and the Ethiopians; three with Paul—his con- version, his early ministry, and Psul and Bar- nsbas; three with Peter—Peter and Cornelius, Peter and Dorcas, and Peter’s release; and one * lesson éalled the “Gospel to the Gentiles.” i e wonld take the places tiicss men traveled over, 2ud poiut, out_the leadfng incidents con- nected therewith. He would stop at each les- son, and find out if any special trath had blessed. any one in the class. I they found auy trouble 1hey shouid refer 10 the particular lesson and endeavor to removeit. Outside of this, as they * . Lad some wonderful experiences during the past three months in the city, they might see what additional - good bad been done, during the . quarter. © Iness and willingness to come After the hymn, “Ineed Thee every hour,”” had been sung, the Rey. Mr. Parkhurst contin- ued the debate. He referred to iie great bene- fits conferred upon the Christian workers during: the revival, and pointed out the great results were to be scen in the Snnday-schools. ‘There was less stubbornness and resisting of the spirit now among the youth than existed some montbs azo, and there was 8 greater read- to the Lord. God wonderfully softencd and subdued the buman heart. They should use the tactics of - the world in the business of saving souls. It Was a fact that when there was preparation and s willingmess to yield God blessed their cfforte. Deacon Albro also bore testimony to the goofl ¥ork in progress among the youth. He hoped iat the Christinn graces would be.cuitivated so that the schotars would be blessed as they had Tever beeu before. s +Abrother called attention to the great power + of the Gospel Songs to draw souls to Christ. This inflnence especially worked upon _the " youth, aud he thought if they had more skilled Tusiciang, more souls would be saved. Mr. A. Farwell gave instances of recent con- Versions in the schivol of ¥lymouth Church. He assured the young men present that there was 10 pleasure like that of engaging in God’s work 1n the Sunday-school., T -Another brother referred to the great fm- portance of personal work. which had formed & Tromivent part of the quarter’s lesson. He could not help but rejoicing at the glorious of the revival among the children. A teacher on the platform remarked that the strong point, of the lessons was the personal of the ns nsmed therein. He Judged men by what they did, and not by their Professions, and the lessons especially pointed out the importance of this, X lher( telch(‘:;l pave his adherence to the 4 e of worl & had Hfiulpgfiu in hink;wn experience. The Superintendent and teachers should be thor- oughly acquainted with e one in _their sehiool. Wiole classes in the Michizan avenue .. Baptist, School had been converted, and they ‘Were having baptisms every Sunday. A Fourteeuth street Sunday-sauool superin- teudeut stated that excellent results were to be © .%enin his school. Teschers bad mo right to Deglect duty for pleasure, when their classes re- ired them, - A tumber of other brothers gave similar cn- Coursging reports from their schools, and ex Pressed thc Liope that the good results would - Prove permanent. - Mr. Jacobs stated that their school had been Er-atly blessed by having their children relate exnerience at the beeinning of the ex- ;rci:e& "He recommended the adoption of this The meeting closed in the usual manner. ; SPECIAL PROVIDENCES. THE BROOKLYN FIRE. To the Editor of The Tribune. CHICAGO, Dec. 23.—I have resd the sermons of the Rev. Mr. Atkinson upon the part taken by Divine Providence in the late Brooklyn ca- lamity. Whenever any of these great disasters occur we are invariably treated to a geries of sermons concerning God’s Providence in the af- fair. Amid all the well-rounded and smoothly- flowing periods concerning God’s_interposition in such cases, I have fnflcE to obtain an; r%oefinlta idea of where and how the Divine hand was in- terposed. 1had hoped that by reading these sermons of the Rev. Dr. Atkinson I “should have the difficulty cleared away in_ the case: of the Brooklyn Theatre at least. But I have read thesc sermons only to have my hopes again turned to disappointment. He has told us plainly enoush that God fnterposed, but he has not tofd us why or how. I have reviewed again and a.ghn:n the anteccdents of this sad calamity, and have found it impossible to dis- cover any interference with the order of nature, or any event in the chain of phenomena which led to and culminated in that terrible destiuc- tion of human life which may not be adequately explained without recourse to the supernatural, it would npot be contended by even Mr. Atkinson that God Iuterfeted physically by acting directly upon material objects, 50 as to produce any of the physical antecedents of the fire. Human hands constructed the building, human bands arranged the scenery and paraphernnlia of the stage, buman hands lit the and’ placed the jets in their final position. hat inflammable ma- terial when brought in contact orin too close ‘proximity to burning gas will ignite is a fact of every-day life, A ; ‘When' then, did_God {nterpése:?* Clearly if He interpose at all it must have been by acting upon the minds of those who constructed the theatre, or who were engaged in conaqucting it upon that last fatal night. ~But there is no evi- dence of any onc connected with the theatre at any time, cither as proprictor, builder, man- er, or employe, bLaving upon any occa- on acted otherwise than as human’ beings naturally do. Did God, in_anticipation of this calamity, at the time the theatre was built so intluence the mind of the owner, or architect, as to secure that faulty construction and arrange- ment that rendered sucha calumity possible? There is no evidenceof it. On the contrary, the fact that similar defcets characterize nearly all theatress evidence thut the owner and architect of this one acted, in its construction precisely as men similarly circumstanced ordinarily do. ‘That men, whether employed on the stage of a theatre or elsewhere, are liable to be careless and imprudent is one of the most ordinary and _characterigtic facts of human vature. So also is the tendency ol men in the presence of sud- den dauger to become panic-stricken, bewilder- ed, and mrantic. “Ihe assumption, therefore, of any special inter- position of God in this Brooklyn fire is entirely gratuitous. _There 1s not o single fact in the his- tory of the Brooklyn Theatre, from its _original conception to i‘s final destruction, which war- rants any such assumption, or which is outside the ordinary course of events. And what is trae in the case of the Brooklyn Theatre is true of everythicg. Look where we will, we sce_no break in the Course of patural phenomena. The 1aw of continuity rules everywhere. Event fol- lows event in an unbroken scries of causes and cffects. It is very easy to talk grand- ly about these great calamities —as visitations of God and special mauifestations of llis Divine Providence, but when we attempt to give shape and_definiteness to the iden, it vanishes away. The Rev. Dr. Atkinson seeins to bave experienced this difficulty. When criti- cised for attributing that terrible destruction of human life to God’s interposition, instead of pointine to the evidences of such intcrposition, he merely shows that its denial leads to ** prac- tical atheism,” and treats us to the usual de- nunciations of a universe controlled by immute- ble laws, and the usual platitudes about the mysterions ways of God. It is impossible to extract any Jefinite idea from the reverend gentleman’s sermon of last Sunday so far as regards the principal theme of “his giscourse. At oue time he asserts a special Providence in the Brooklyn calamity ; at another time he explaius himself 5 meaning merely that God was concerned with that eventas He is conceraed with every event that lupnens,—tlmt is, that God is in some way the ultimete source and efficient cause of all the phenomena that are manifested to_us, and so that everything happens through His agency. This theory, thouch consistent with the existence of uniform and immutable laws, and the one adopted by, tse more advanced and cultivated theologians. is destructive of the theory of spe- cial Providences. Why will not Mr. Atkinson quit talking about * the pulseless bosom of in- evitable and immutable nature,” and *the everlasting arms_ enfolding us,” and * the in- scrutgble ways of God,” and just address him- self to the fucts of the case, and give us some definite idea of what he means by ¢ the Provi- dence of God in the Brooklyn calamity ¢ Give us something tangible, something we can lay hold of and understand, sometning besides vague and inconsistent generulities that are in- capable of being reducedto defiuite conceptions, INQUIKER. ¥REE HOUSES OF WORSHIP. THEIR NECESSITY. o the Editor of The Tribune. NEw Yomk, Dec. 20.—Previous to the late Clrristian Convention held in connection with the Moody and Sankey meetings, I addressed to Toe TRIBUNE 8 letter which was published during the session of the Convention (on the 224 ult.) making an appeal for action, looking to the abolition of pew-renting in our churches. 1In that letter I referred to former similar con- ventions held in Piiladeiphia and New York, and gave a forecast of the action of this Conven- tion ou the question How to get hold of non- church-goers?—which is the ' question covering that point—based on the action of those former couventions. In illustration of such action I made meution of the incoberent outcries of an Irish pilot on reaching the deck of & ship Which he was to guide to its proper destination. The story beiug rather voarse, L hesitated at intro- dueing it as referring to so Jearned and grave 2 Dbody #8 would probably assemble to discuss matters pertaining to salvation. But the dis- cussion in the Convention on the question men- tioned—being _pointlcss, sud aimless, and evasive—has shown that the fllustration was apt, or at least not very wide of the mark. It must have been a remarkable sight to see 5o large a_body of learned men—theologinns, doctors of divinity, preachers, editors of relig- jous journals, men set apart for *holdlng forth the word of life,”’—sitting at the feet of an uplearned man seeking intormation concerning* their appointed and assumed Work, and that, too, by propouudinz such amazing questions as appear in thereports of the: Convention. Andone can bardly avoid thinking that some of Mr. Moody’s replies, accompanied as they were, by Jaughter and applause, if not foolish of them- selyes, were certainly framed on the Scriptural injunction of answering fools according to their folly. If thisisa healthy condition of atfairs then colleges and theological sciools are necdless. But ftis not a healthy condition. The corrupting intluence of the system of pew-renting in its far- reaching effccts, causes this abmorwial com tion. Why, we have giants in the ministry; and men all over the country ‘who might move the communities in which tney live to coutinu- ous spiritual prosperity. But they are without -power, because they are shackled to this great wrong. Thereforé, God has raised up’ Mr. Moody, who, practically cutting loose from the traminels of this evil, has been enabled to ac- complisha preat work, and has brought a par- tinl or tempornry deliverance from the spiritual decline caused toereby. 5 But the discussion in the Convention of the question rdentioncd is the one I then had and now have in view, so I will ouly review its action on that supject. . The opeuing was by the Rev. Nr. Stimpson, of Louigville, at the call of Mr. Moody, who beran by sayine he had had only five minutes’ preparation. Well, one Would think that less than thut time was de- voted to the subject. Mr. Stimpson must be the man who on another occasion upon begging to be excused from preaching on uecount of a headache, was told tnat that would make no difference, because if he preached as he usually did he would make no use of his head. ‘After closing his remarks and’ being followed by others in about the same vein, as reported in e TRIBUNE (which reports are generally com- mended), * an elderly gentleman in the gallery snggested that the way to get peu;zle in was to throw the church doors wide open. ? To quote H Moody to his feet with a crash, 2l » 0 his feel This bronght Mr. 4 h cins e splashed around and stam| ::gaiufnsucn a torrent of disjointed words and ‘Daris of sentences tst the reporters and best sten: raphers wero put to rout at once. The gist of $Be vemarks was that the saloons cost 100 times a8 Soich a8 the churches. There always had been ome kind of an attempt made to conince people hat churches cost the people who attended them moncy, but it was a mistake. here were 3 large be hes all over the clty, number of churc 7, th entranto absolutely_withont cost. ?n:::zg ::’flle Nnfl.h’s{fle which had cost nb::; build, and it was perfectly free, 3 §100,000 1o bufl, 2% £l Gver the ity just 35 frees it was niter nonsense to 82y that there was not freedom in the churches. * He then mave his own *idea of the way to get hold of the class, which was t0 0. from house to house and talk with them, &nd ask+aem to come in,”" adding “ another method to be fol- lowed where . wives and mothers hadun’t very finud lothes, because, perhaps, the busband had %:nzgkgtmm 1ihe earnings in a saloon, was to g0 they will not come to the churches.” said Mr. Moody, ‘“let us abandon our splendid buildings to the owls and the bats, and let them tumble down 2t their leisure, while we abandon itxl:e,;n and go ont after those who will not come The remarks were closed by a short descri] tion of the work which the speaker and h&: helpers did in the saloons and billiard-rooms of this city, and which is fresh in mind. . A At a subscquent session. of the Conventlon the question was asked, *Is there any way of reaching the masses with the Gospel while the system of pew renting. and letting prevails in our churches?’ to which Mr. Moody replied: A quickened chureh reaches the masses, pews or no pews. A dead church is dead whether its pews are free or renfed. What we want is to have the minister and people alive; the pews have not much to do with {t."” Here we have Mr. Moody on the record thatto say that our churches are not free is ntter non- sense. Now this may be so. ‘But, if so, let us know it more certainly. If so, my letter of the 22d is utter nonsense. This assertion by Mr. Moody scems rather incongrous, if not absurd, in connection with his previous remark that there was one church on - the North -Side, and others in the city, which were “ perfectly free.” ‘This, Dot to mention the absurdity of his subse- quent advice to “abandon our gplendid build- ings to the owlsand bats, and goount after those who will not come in.”! Then, too, on those churches is seen the fnscription: *Seats in this church are free.” Does not this imply that others are not iree? Mr. Mr wdy’s utterances because of his honest intentions, his holiness of life. his setf-consecra- tion, and his prayerfulness, are accompanied b the presence and power of the Holy Ghost. 38 has this witness that his ways please God.” Wisdom, too, is thus given him; a wisdom which . might ‘be called inspiration. Without that wisdom and Eowur, the services of Moody and Sankey would be no more than * sounding brass and tiokling cymbals.” “There are conditions to the presence and power of the Holy Ghost. Iu is one of the conditions that thercbe truthin the inward arts.” Mr. Moody, with commendable world- ly wisdom before commencing labors in a place, stipulates for.the upited support of the minis- ters of such place. He knows that those minis- ters are bound ‘to the system of pew-renting, because, if abolished, they fearfor their sal- aries. And be consequently must ot favor the movement for its abolition lest they, together with the liberal contributors to his work, be- come alfenated. Hence truth is sacrificed; and Tience Mr. Moody aid not speak on this subject “with that wisdom which is from -above.” ‘This inference, considering the disjointedness and incoherence which is so unusual with Mr. Moody, seems to me fair and legitimate. Now, I still hold that many non-church- oers aro made so by the system of pew-rent- g. Thererore, that there is nothing to do,. or at least the first thing to do, to get hold of them, is to make our houses of worship free, and that_until this reform is accomplished God is displessed with His people. This truth ‘not only the ministers and others composing that Convention evaded and ignored, but Mr. Moody himself endeavored to apologize for and maintain the wrong. Hence, the dis- jolntedness of his harangue on the subject. And thus it ever will be in attempting to maintainan untenable position. Wrong must be put away. The attendance on the Moody and Sankey mect- ings shows the popular inclination to wait on God in His Sanctuary. But this system prohib- its that attendance in our churches. Thercfore it is a wrong, in the maintenance of which there can be no “ great work "' of grace; and ere long our splendid buildings—if with scats rented— may indeed be left to the moles and bats, for worship will not be acceptable therein. Then the hopes of evaugelization must rest upon Young Men’s Christian Associations and_their *t workers,"—being without order and" without disclpline,—instead of upon the Christisn Church and the Christian ministry. Why will not our army of ministeys open their eyes, and ses that in clinging to this wrong they ure brh:[gln'.! Spir- itual dearth upon our churches? RUSSIAN SECTS. From the London Pall Mall Gazette. An interesting article on the various religions sects which are represented in the Russian army is printed in the Russki Mir. The number of dissenters in the Russian Empire is not exactly known, as, some of the sects not being tolerated by the Government, they are not noticed in the official statistics; but it is supposed to be 8,000,000 of both sexes. This would give about 78,800 recraits yearly, the number of men of 20 years of age being on an average 192 in 20,000 of the population. Deducting 30 per cent for those unfit for militury service, there remain 53,760 men as the contingent supplied to the army by the dissenters of the Empire. The Russian sccts are divided into three clisses: the Popovtchina (sccis with priests), the Bes- popovtchina (sects without priests), and the her- etics (Yeress). The Popovichina do not recog- nize ordination by the Orthodox Blshops and pricsts, and have therefore elected a Metropol- 1tan of their own, Ambrosius, whose see was founded in 1816, with the permission of the Aus- trian Government, at the Monastery of Biela Krinitza, in the Bukovina,” They pray for tne Emperor, but call him *“ruler” "instcad of “Czar.” They are on friendly terms with the members of the Orthodox Church, often attend their.religious services, and are very patriotic. The Bespopovtehina believe that Antichrist has | come into the world: they detest all novel- ties, do not recognize the authorities, do not go to church, abstain from meat end wine, and reject all religions ceremonies. They bave a strong feeling of hostility towards the natious of Western Europe, the Catholies, and the Turks. - Among the so-called _herctical sects is the Feodosseyevtching, which is very wealthy and numerous, furnishing mno fewer than 19,200 recruits to the armny, who are very intolerant to the members of otber ecrceds anc nationalities, but would tight to the death for the defense of their country. Even more intol- erent are the Philipovtzi, who preach suldde by fire und starvation as the greatest of Christian virtues. There are also about a million mem- bers of forbidden sects, such 2s the ‘*‘child- wmurderers,” who thmk it their duty to people paradise with the souls of innocent children, thereby converting them into ‘““angels”; an the ‘‘stranglers,” who believe that people can only enter paradise by a violent death. These scets s¢ldom su{zply the army with recruits, as they are usually iormed of men who have passed the age of youth, and whose children are killed before -they attain maturity. Other seets, which for similar reasons supply but fow recruits, are_the Flagellants and the Skoptai, or. mutilated, of whom there are alto- gether about 100,000. The Molokans hold it to e sinful to bear arms, and look forward to an Empirc of Ararat which is to destroy Russia. They supply about 9,600 men to the army; and, as tiey obstinately refuse to carry weapons of any kind, they have to be distributed among the savitary and transport corps. All these sccts, adds the ftusski Jfir, are very patriotic, and have subssribed large sumns for the Russian volunteers in Serviaand the Slavounic insurgents in Turkey generally = ——— “RELATIVITY.” k #QRTHODOXY AND REVIVALISM.” 7o the Editor of The Tridune. CricAGO, Dec. 23.—In speaking of the. **doc- trine of relativity,” which plays so important a part in philosophy, Prof. Tydall remarks: TThis docrine afiirms that the impressions made upon us by any circumstance, or combination of cir- cumstances, depend upon our previous state. Two travelers upon the same peak, the one having as- cended to it from the plains, the other having descended to it froma higher elevation, will be differently affected by the scene around them. To the one nature is cxpanding, to the othegit iz contracting, and feclings ere sure to differ Which Bave two such difiérent antecedent states. Ix our scientific judgmeats the layw of relativity may also play an important part. And if in matters of sclence this luw of “yelativity”’ may play 8 part so important, why may it not be also o factor of hardly less mo- ment in the forming of religious opinions, 2nd especially in judging of particular movements in the world of religious ideas and activitiea? ‘Why may it not be lawfully summoned to help s scconnt for the very different indzments mea Just now have formed, or sre forming, in rela- tion to the Moody and Sankey revival? 7 “\What means this eager, anxious throng,” who with such esrnest efforts are helping this marvelous movement along, if they 2ve not very sincere in the conviction that Moody, by reason of his mountain-moving faith and intense devo- tion, is specially favored of Heaven, or_at least specially blessed with a real success in the saving u}; souls? This whole concourse of helpers, dis- ciples, and converts, and the crowd still below $hese who have faith in the genuincness of the stir he creatcs, are looking up to him ss to ome who is speaking with a kind . of second-hand inspiration, derived !rnmdm: unqnu%}?:‘ingmmu; in :‘l(z: Scriptures, and regardin, with o revere: skinpw thfit they would feel for one fresh from the Invisible Presence with the light ofthe celestial abode still lingering in ‘halos about him. v . But how differently is Mr. Moody and his movement regarded by those who have outgrown for good or for ill his ‘theological -opinions, and therefore look down from thelr loftier helghts, em and hold cottage prayer-meetings.” .| feeling certain that all such excitemanta are to end in nothing much better than smoke and burned districts, in which * pure religion and undetiled hefore God and the Father * will tind a hard soil to send down its roots for some time tocome. Many of these peoplearc so sure that they have been through a mill o essentiallylike unto Moody's that his cannot possibly grind out a different grist. They know the wholc system from its Alpha to its Omega, and lave o un- yielding conviction that & genuine Christian devotion, or feeling, arlife, {5 not of its fruits. Representative of this class is the Rey. James T. Sunderland, pastor of the Fourth Unitarian Church, Chicaro, who has just fired off a whole volume of sermons at Moody, “On the Vital uestions at Issue Between Popular Evangelical hnsmnitfyx\ Especialty us Represented by the Revivals of Messrs. Moody and Sankey, and the Rational Religious Thoughts of the Time,” pub- lished I;y sz;‘mes Mi]rlcr.s Naw York. The first sermon i the one Mr. Sunderland preached in Northfield, Mass,, in the sutumn upl 1875, in reply to Mr. Moody’s first efforts after hisre- turn from abroad, in which orthodoxy fs in- dicted as, “1. Not taught by Christ, but instead contradicts many of ‘His “plainest teachings; 2. It is unreasonsble; 3. It is essentially im- moral;’ 4. The time and manner of its usurpa- tion of its place iu the Christian Church can be clearly traced in history.” One scrmon is devo- ted to **The Success of Moody and Saukey;” one to the **Moody and Sankey Revival as an Instru- menu'l‘lty {ar ul;hégching the Masses;” and all, very sharply, e system of religion they are strivine so hard to pn’.mote. S i Ttis surcly a noticeable event that, after for fifty years deprecating controversy and fellow- shiplig all sorts of opinions by Unitarians, one near the tip of the left wing of this sect should ‘be &0 much stirred—stirred to such intense op- Kusmon to the whole system of grace by which fr. Moody’s work is fuspiréd. Every.one of the nineteen discourses is a heavy shot at that system; his' arguments against its essential errors _are strong, clear, and unanswerable. Andyetthe *“Ideal Church” which Mr. Sun- derland paints in sach .glowing and beautiful colors has not yet gone into business on a scale large enough nor on a plane low cnough to do anything whatever for the masses whom Moody is inoving, and, it may be hoped, with some Zood resuits. Having read the volume with interest, I can heartily commend it to those for whom it was written, and to all who wish to see a discussion of both sides, and all. sides, of a sub- ject of so much {mportance. And yet it hardly seems ncedful to pelt Mr. Moody with so much invincible logic, for the reason that he is so far in advance of the old forms of orthodox faith as it respects the Di- vine love and desire to suve, and is there flling so large a place that were otherwise void, and doing a work which, It may be hoped, will bear fruit in temperance, virtue, interest in religion, —in saving some from their sins, and in assist- ing to level sectarian lines. And in 2 book that contains 8o much that is good, strong, and beau- tiful, it is not pleasant to find such an inconsist- ency asthat of proclaiming a present inspiration as worthy of being followed 4s that of any time past, and at the same time discrediting the in- spiration of the man who is now showing more signs of its power than any-score of those men who'most persistently claim that they share this distinction with the prophets and saviors of old. And besides this there are some other things in'the book that, will cause many good people to shutiit and layit sside. Mr. Sunderland says: ‘§Man was not made to be a bondman to any, even to his Creator Himself, but tobea frée man, walking ever with free volition where it scems best to him that he should go.” But where shall trae freedom be found if not in obe- dience to God, to His Jaw, to the spirit of life in Christ? Who is frce, indced, if uot he whom the Son hath made free? And what did Aaron Burr, Tweed. or auy other bause villain, but to walk ““with free volition where it ‘seemed best_to him that he should £0"7 - Again: “True, he was made to obey, but Tt was fo obey the commands of God_speaking through conscience . and reason, and throuch laws found out by his own sesrching.” But what clse have all heathen nations been doing through all the past ages? And where are they nowi A little more of Moody’s faith in the Scripture might have saved Mr. Sunderland’s volume from many a blemish, and given it much greater weight with a large class of readers. . P. RELIGIOUS MISCELLANY. . THE CHURCH IN GENERAL. The expense of collecting and disbursing the missionary fands of the Methodist Episcopal Church is 2% per cent of the amount collected. The growth of Protestantism in Palestine is rapid. There are now 250 Protestant churches in the Holy-Land, and the schools there have 7,600 pupils.. * Tpon *its ‘completion, the Roman_Catholic Cathedral gt Hartford, Conn., will be the largest church-édifice in New England. Its spires will be 250 feet in height. X The Church of the Unity (Unitarian), Boston, has paid every dollar of its indebtedness out of its regular income, and holds all its property free of incumbrance, and at the close of the present year has a balauce in ist treasury of $1,204.53. A qucer sort of petty unpleasantness is now going on in Brooklyn, where several columus a day of the local papers are occupied with dis- cussions 8s to whether this or thac particalar clergyman was_accorded his proper share of houor in the public services of last Sunday com- memorative of the theatre calamity. It is proposed that every communicant in the Episcopal Church lay by " each week, until All- Saints’ Day of next year, 10 cents for the general missionary work. At the close of lust year there were 261,003 communicants. so that ot 10 cents per weck for each one would yicld the sum of $1,357,215 for the year. The Oregon Methodist Episcopal Confercnce reports » membership of 3,623, with 741 proba- tioners and sixty-six local preachers, makinga total of 4,430. The Californta Conference re- ports 10,897, including probationers and preach- ers. This shows an advance of 16 per cent dur- ing the year. . More than half the pastors in Dakota Presby- tery are native Sioux. There are nine churches belonging to the body, six of whom have native Indian pastors. These churches embrace 757 members, and their eifts for various objects smounted last year to $992. Who dare say that the Indians catinot be - Christianized, with such a record? Seventeen young men were admitted to the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in this city at the annual meeting Nov. 29, making the woole uumber who have been matriculated” during the year twenty-seven. After the exercises were ended: the Bishop and his candidates in the Seminary and a number of guests took luncheon with the Dean. The Congregationalist_calls for the establish- ‘ment of a distinctdistrict Sunday-school bureaun for the. supervision -of Sunday-schools in, the Cnngr?,'ationnl churches. The cffort to obtain & mord thorough organization of Sunday-school work, through the American Home Missionary Society, has ot succeeded, the Society declininic to do iuore than receive and disburse contribu- tions. The ultra party in the Southern Presbyterian Church, represcnted_by Dr. B. M. Palmer, of Louisiana, are strongly opposed -to fraternity with the Northern Church on the terms agreed to by the two Assemblies lost spring. The New Orléans Presbytery resolves that * To require our church o negotiate on the basis of recignm ity would requiré what, in the, mature of the case, is impossible.” The Second Presbyterian Church_of Philadel- hia, which was founded by the Revs. Gilbert }i‘ennent and Whitetield, celebrated on the 6th {nst. its 183 anniversary. - Its charter bears the nsimes of Tiomas and John Penn. The church uow stands upon Walnut and Twenty-first streets. Many reminiscences of * the.ola time™s were brought forward by the speakers who took art n the celebration. 4 The Rev. W. C. Powell presents the following statefient fu relation to the'support of the Episcopal clergy in. California. Leaving out three Keetors in San Francisco, who receive an sggregute sum of 16,000, the Torty-eight cler- gymen of the diocese who are engaged in pa- Fochial and mission work receive $28,205.36, which gives them an annual stipend of $49.18 per month, which places their Work on a par witii Chinese laher.” * 3 i «Howtofilla church” fs a question which many & minister and many & church trustee is anx‘ous to solve. Sir Heiry Cole answered it in his own way at _the recent meceting of the Watford Public Library. The Vicar of the ‘Parish Church at Brompion gave him permission 7o hold a rusical service onve & week—on Tues-. day. All the scnts were to be free, there was o be: a ten-minate sermon, and there were to be five or six liyms or psalins, “sung to good old tunes, with’ an _sccompaniment of trumpets, trombones, and kettledrums. The vicar gave his.assent and the service was held, an im- mense congregation flocking in and joining with one consent in the hymus, the effect of which was rendered stili more impressive by the ancient musteal fnstruments. The students of Yale sang songs which were 0 far below the standard o1 the old-fashioned college songs that the faculty ordered all sing- ing to be discontinued on tle campus or in the buildings. But in issuing the order these some- .what impracticable gentlemen forgot that the chapel was one of the buildings, and forgot to say anything about singing in divine sexvice. -over the head with 8o on Sunday the students got even wittl the rofessors by stcadfastly refusing to sinz a note. he hymnns were giyen out us usual, and the pew drab-covercd hymn-books were reverently opened, but not a sound of vocal song came from the lips of the collegians. The three or four professore who were present had to take the burden of the service'of song, and a most onerous burden it proved to be. None of these gentleraen being musical men, the singing drag- ged along in a manner which was decided to be both paibfully wearisome and ridiculously in- harmonious. It was agreed all round that the students hiad the best of it, and that the faculty would do well not to interfere with such sing- ing as they may choose to pertorm. THE REV. 3. T- SUSDERLAND, i pastor of the Fourth Unitarian Church, pro- poses to preach a serics of six special Sunday evening discourses on subjects which have been . brought prominently before public attention by the recent Tabernacle meetings, beginning next Sunday eveninz, The following 1ist of topies will be discussed: Dec. 31. The Daty of Investigation in Religio i Believing"" a religious or an irreligious thing cording.as 1t 18 rational or frrationzl. What relig- fon owes to the doubters and questioners. ¥ Jan. 7. Map—\Whence came he? Whatis be? Is hea *‘fallen” beingr 1f so, has his fall been dmxnwnd or upwardj Is he & child of Satan or of odr gn‘n. 14. The Bible—What it is and what itis not. Gggn. 21. Jesus—Who and what was He? Was He Jan. 28.—Salvation—Such s is_worth having, and such as is not worth having, What is it traly **to be converted?" to ‘‘belicve in Jesus?” ‘1o Toye Jesus:™ *°to follow Jesust" "Feb. 4. Revivals—The goodand the evil in them. TAE POPE’S SEMI-CENTENNIAL. The following letter is being eirculated among the faithful all over the world: Roxe, May 21, 1876, —Next year, another event of deep intecest will take place in connection with the nuzust person of his Holiness Pope Pius IX. The 2lstof May, 1877, will be the sftieth anai- versary of his elevation to the dignity of the epis- copate. Divine Providence seems to have averted the in- exorable. hand of time from that precious life. ' which in this stormy_arena is indced the beacon of calvation to the whole Cathalic world. The Romans, who have the enviable privilege of possessing within their wulls the person of this august Pontiff, have resolved to make an appeal to all Catholics in every part of the world, to unite in celebrating an event fraught with such intercsting memories. A committee has been formed for this urpose. They iuvite all those belonging to the Catholfe Church to concur by sending such presents o fiFuxxngl to the Holy Father as will beacceptable 0 him. May neither distance nor any other difficulty pre- sentan obstacle to the zeal of Catholics, but oy they vie with one another in counterbaluncing ud far as lies In thefr power the efforts of the wicked, who take such active part in the fierce combat now waging against the Church of Jesus Christ. In order that the Father of the Faithful may, on that day, have the consolationof being surronnded. by his children from ull perts of the world, the undersigned Committee beg thata depntation may be sent from cach country as its representative on this auépiclous occusion; also, that the signatures of those who take part in this offering be sent in time to ‘have them bound in the albru which on. that day will be presented to his Holiness. So many proofs of devotion_and sffection are befns offered every day to the Vicar of Jesus Christ, that. the members of the Lloman Committee entertain graat hopes, and almost a certainty, that the prea- ent appeal will find 2 fiencroui echo in the heartsof all Catholics throughout the world; for which reason they even now offer up their thanks to the Most High. Princess Odescalchi, nee Branicki: Princess di Campagnano, nee Sayn Wittzenstein; Princess Jassimo, nee Lucchesi Palti Marchioness Putrizi, nee Altieri; Murchioness Sacchetti, nee Orsini Marchioness Serlupt, nee Fitz Gerald; Marchioness. Vitelleschi, nee de Gregorio; Countcss Moroni, nee Pfyfter; Prince Emilio Altie resident; Marquis Angelo’ Vitelleschi, Sccretaire; Prince Sigismund Chigi; Prince Phillp Lencellotti: Prince Thomas. Antici Mattel; D. Engento Raspoti; D. Philip The- odoli; Marquis Jerome Cavalleti. PERSONATL. Theé Chaplain of the Colorado State Senate is a negro, the Rev. B.F.Watson, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. L The Rev. Isaac M. See, pastor of o Presbyte- rian church in Newark, is to be tried for the of- fense of having had women preaching in his pulpit. The Rev. Dr. Randolph, D. D., the Sunday- school and Missionary Secretary of the Baptist Publication - Society of Philadelphia, has heen called to- the pastorate of the First Baptist Church of Indianapolis. The Rey. Dr. Boynton resigus the pastorate of the Vine Street Congregational Church, Cincin- nati, to take effect Jan. 1. He first settled with this people thirty years ago, and for twenty " years out of the thirty has been its faighful pas- tor.. A fop years -ago he becameits pastor, for the third time, and now, having réached the age ' of three-score years and ten, he proposes to re- tire, leaying the church united aud prosperous.’ v THE LATEST IMPORTATION. The Rev. Llewellyn D. Bevan, of London, has been captured by the Brick Presbyterian Church of New York, and has sailed for this_country to ussume his pastorate. “Che New York Herald thus describes the rgan and his work: Mr. Bevan has twice visited this country and oc- cupied Dr. Scndder’s pulpit in the Central Congre- gational Church, Brooklyn, and there the Brick Churoh Committee heard lum and conceived the idea of inviting him to become their pastor. But though well satisfled with s (rh“’ and pulpit ability here the church appointed a committee to follow Mr. Bevan to London and note his work at home. They retorned, not only satisfled, but en- thusigstic in his favor. and by s unanimous vote of the Church at 8 meeting calied to hear the Com- mittee's report, o_call was extended by telegraph: and by letter, and after due consideration Mr. Bevan accepted. He had received in the mean- time two ‘other calls—one to a pastorate in En— iand and one to & college presidency in Australia. ‘he Brick Church offer Mr. Bevan a handsome personage within three minutes’ walk of = the: church, well furnished and appointed, and $6,000 ayearsajary. Mr. Bevan is 34 years of age and. Tas been eighteen years in the ministry, which ke entered a8 & boy, asgisting the Rey. Dr. Thoma:s Binney in the King's Weigh-House Chapel, London., for one yearas o licentite, after which he wai ordained and became .copastor with the grestest Nonconformist pastor of theage. He is # graduate of the London Unlversity. i 1In 1869 he accepted the pastorate of the Totten— ‘ham Court Road Chapel, where George Whitfield preached in other years. Upon going to hls new" sphere of Jabor Mr. Bevan found that he had not only to gather u congregation, but sfterwards to induce them to wipe off the burden of a debt of no less welght than £7,000. Tllmnih zealous efforts this sum has now been reduced toless than £, 000, Mr. Bevan has an agreeable prescnce, & magnifi- cent voice, a cheerful, buoyant temperament, pro— found good natare, and 3 noble elocation; but allt Jl GiTT; sermon. these with him arc but aids to help him to_become “*'a ood minister of Jesus Christ.” He s an ex-— tensive reader and & ripe scholor, but he bas achieved his success throngh not beinz ** ashamed. of the Gospel of Christ.” His morning discourse: generully alms at enlarging the spiritul concep- fion and edifying the life of the believer. In the evening he i3 more emotional, and the xermon is Tenally devoted to the winning of sinners and to the refreshmient of saints by a return to the princi- ples of the faith. Then, too, heis o great Sunday- sehool run, and has preiched and written forcibly and extensively for the guidance and encourage- ment of Sunday-school teachers. Qutside his own Chureh his lubors 28 a lecturer and platforn speak- er have been incessant. He 1s u vigorous friend of the temperance movement and hos often_preached and lectured in its bebuls, e hos been the atead- fast friend of the Workingmen's College eatablish- ©od Dby the late Rev. Frederick Maurice. About three years ago Mr. Bevan accepied the Professor- shipat New Colloge of Enzlieh Langusge and Literature, and_also became s member of the School Board of London. WANDERING SHEEP. Boston Globe: The good are said to die young, but, according to insurance statistics, a New England clergyman lives to be 65 years old. ‘We have no confldence whatever in the report that Chicago clergymen have'offered an elegant chiromo to every new convert before the 1st of March, or fiteen to clubs of ten. We presame this report started in St. Loufs.—Quincy Whig. Rowland Hill was once requested to preach a germon to the elect. He promptly replied, « Have. the goodness to mark the elect with o piece of chalk, sothat I may kuow them, and I will preach to them.” The request was not fn- sisted on. Taking & cigar out of his mouth, the minister said to one of his parishioners, fond of sleeping: in sermon time: *¢ There is no sleeping-car on. the road to Heaven.” “And no smoking-car, either, I reckon,” said the man, in reply, now wide awake. Norwich Bulletin: A traveling theatrical company is going through the State playing the sacred drama of *-Eljjah.” The part ‘where Daniel pitches into Belshazzar and hits him his umbrells Is said to be very exciting. ) Worcester Press: Prof. Swing insists that z hat won on & bet will come down over the eyes: of the winner’s soul; but that will be very cold consolation for the losers. The average citizen. doesn’t care to pay $9 to sce a hat come down. over the eyes of anybodv's soul, or execute any ‘other style of gymuastics. e The Lawrence (Mass.) American tells the fol- lowing: * A Boston school-teacher whopreaches oceasionally supplied the pulpit of oneof our Baptist cburcheson arecentSunday, andJlaughed Bimaet e hearily 2 207 PO oy oy 30 made to )y 8 near-sij er] he eame out of the uhurui *Lal ugrs,’ she said, ‘what do you think of that sermon? ‘ [ '—The Rev. R.D. Shepherd, pastor, will preach at 10:30 a. m. and 7:30p. m. in the Western Avenue Charch, corner of Monroe street. —The Rev. E. M. Boring will preach morning t:and eveming in the Dixon Street Church. Didn’t mmount to much, did it? Brother H— mentioning the regular church pastor) could ave done better than that, couldu't het”” Burlington Hawkeye: Infldemll is recelving daily accessions to its numbers in this country as the buckwheat-cake season advances, so many, many men and women lnslng faith and beliex in Providence because it didn’t make the ‘buman arm two inches longer and put one more toint in it, so that the middle of the back could e seratched without cumpellhlE the subject to rush out and back up against a hitching-post. A minister of the Gospel advertises for a wife as follows: *Wife—A Bride Wanted—A preach- er, 30 years of aze, Who has traveled six years in'the Lord’s vineyard with an ese siogle to His glory,—well recommended for his faithfulness and truth,—desires to marry a good lady, who has talent and abmti to assist the cause; s gift to sing, able to welgh an argument, and some skill in t by talking and writing, and resenting worth ss,ooo." Norwich Bulletin: An up-town man and his wife agreed recently to learn a verse of Serip- ture every evening and repeat it to other for mutual fmprovement. The first. night, however, her_quotation happened to be, “Am Inot thy ruler{” and his wasgto the effect that he’d be hanged if she was;and the only resnlt ‘of the plan so far has been that he Thas taken to drink, and exhibits 3 willingness to sleep in the woodshed nights. The little daughter of a very wealthy New Yorker happened not long ago to hear-het small schoolmates congratulating themselves and one another mpon the regulurity with which thelr fathers sald grace at the table. Her father did not say grace, and, oppressed by a sense of in- feriority, the little one wept that evening and beaougg; him todoit. He sqid he thought it. was time he begun, and asked & blessing with all proper feeling at breakfast next morniug. Younger sister of his little homilist, 3 young ady still in the nurscry, who bad not heard the previons conversation, looked up surprised ; then her face cleared. “I know what you does 7at for, paps,” said she; ‘it's 'tause youre get- tin’ poor!? CHURCH SERVICES. BAPTIST. |, The Rev. D. B.Cheney will preach this morning, and Prof. W. W. Everts, Jr., thls evening, in the Fourth Church, corner of Washington and Paulina Streets, Morning subject: *‘Christ, the Smitten Rock.” Evening subject: **The Charch in the Wilderness; or, the Buptists Before the Reforma- tion.” —The Rev. Galusha Anderson will preach this morning and evening in the Second Church, corner of Morgan and Monroe streets. Morning subject: “\\The Birth of Christ.” Evening subject: ** The Prodigal's Reception. " —The Rev. J. W. Custis will preach this morn- ing and evening i the Michigan- Avenue Church. —The Rev. W. W. Everts, Jr., will this morn- ing deliver the fifth Centennial discourse in the ‘First Chureh, corner.of South Park avenue and Thirty-first street. Subject: **The Church in the Wilderness; or,, Buptista Before the Reformation. " In the evening the pastor, the Rev. W. W. Everts, will preach a Christmas sermon. —fThe Rev. John Donnelly will preach this morn- ing and evening in the Baptist Church at Engle- wood. Morning subject: **Christmas.” In the evening there will be 8 lecture to young men. —The Rev. N. F. Ravlin will preach, nndMr. G. D..Davis, of Brooklyn. N. Y., will sing, this morning and evening at the Free Chureh, cornerof YLoomis and Jackson streets. . CHRISTIAN. The Christians will meet at 3 p. m. to-dsy inthe chapel at No. 318 West Chicago avenue. S The Rev. W. A. Belding will preach this morn- ing and evening in the First Church corner of In- disnn avenue und Twenty-ffth strect. . CONGREGATIONAL. The Rev. Mr. Holbrook, of Oakland Church, will preach this momiug in Plymouth Church, Michi- . Pan avenue and Twenty-sixth street. :In the eve Tng the congregation unites with that of the S ond Presbyterian Church, when the Rev. Dr. Gib- son will preach. ; "~ The Rev. . F. Willitms wilLpreach this morn- ing 1n the Forty-seventh Street Church, . "% The Rev. C. A. Towle, of Sotth Chicago, will preuch this morning and evening in Bethany Charch, corner of Paulina and Huron streets. : Rev, L.T. Chamberlain will preach this i morning and evening In the New Bngland Church, j comer o Delawsre place and North Dearborn e Rev. G. 1L Peake will preach this morn- ng andevening in, the Leaviti Street Church.. Moming subject: **The Development of & True Tife.” Eveuing subject: ‘The Joy of a True “Lite, i Lime: Rev. Mr. Graves will preach this morning _and the Rev. Z. S. Holbrook this eveniog in the “Oskland Church, Oakwood avenue, near Cottage Grove avenuc. & EPISCOPAL. i The Rev. Dr. Harris will preach at8 and 10:45 o iy n St James' Charcny corngr of Cass and Huzon streets. —There will boservices 3 in the Church of the Holy Communion, Sout Dearborn street, between Twenty-ninth and Thir- tieth stzcets. —The'iRev. Dr, Cushiman will preach this morn- ingand evening in St. Stephen's Church, Johnson street, between Taylor and! ‘Twelfth streete. 'There will be services this moraing in_the Charch of Our Savior, corner_of Belden and Lin- coln avenwes. '—The Rev. T. N. Morrison, Jr., will preach this morning in. the Charch of the Epiphany, Turoo) street, between Monroe and Adama. -There will be & Christmas Eve scrvice at 7:30 p. m. —The . Rev. Henry G. Perry -will preach this morningand evening in Al Saints' Church, corner St North: Capenter and West Ohio atreets. —There will be morning prayer and Holy Com- munion in the Cathedral of §3. Peter und Paul at 10:36 this morning, Bishop McLaren officiating. There will be Evening Prayer, with special an- thems and Christmas Eve carols, at 7:30 p.m. BEFORMED EPISCOPAL. Bishop Fallows will preach this morning in Christ Church, corner of Michizan avenve snd Twenty- fourth street, and this evening in St. Paul's Charch, corner of Washington and Ann streeta. Bishou Cheney will preach this morning at St. Paal's Church, corner of Washington and Ann Bstreets, and thie evening in Christ Church, corner of Michigan -avenue and: Twenty-fourth street. Bishop Cheney will hold Beformed Episcopal ser- Vices for the first time on the North Side this after- noon, at 3 o'clock, in Temperance Hall, Huron street, near Clark. The Rev. J. D. Cowan will preach this morn- ing and evening in Grace Church, corner of Hoyne avenue and LeMoyne street. “'The Rev. R. H. Boaworth will preach this morning and evenmg in Emmannel Church, corner of Hanover and ’A‘\\'Ent_v-elih!h streets, and for Trinity congregation at the Baptist Church in Englewood at 3:30 this afternoon. 2 prot. Church will preach this morningin Im- manuel Church, corner of Central and Dayton streets. In the evening.Dr. Cooper will-delivera He will also hold afternocn Kland Conzregational Charch. services 1n the Oal E. Willinnson will preach this —The Kev. M. morming, and Bishop Fallows at 3 o'clock this afternoon, ut the Church of the Good Shepherd. corner of Jones and Homan streets. There will be preaching in St. Mark'a Church, South Ghicago, at 3 p. m. t0-day. LUTH ERAN. The Rev. Edmund Belfour wlll}:reach this morn- iog in the Chaurch of the Holy Trinity, corner of Nortn Dearborn and Erie streets. METHODIST. * The Rev. John Atkinson, pastor, will preach at 10:30 a. m. and 7:30 p. m. Church, corner of North LaSalle and White streets. —The Rey. Dr,Tiflany will preach at10:45 8. m. and at 7:30 p. m. at Trinity Church, on Indisns avenue near Twemg-lourm street. to-da; " fhe Bev. S. McChesney, pastor, will preach a Christinas sermon at 10:30 a. m.'to-day in the Fark Avenue Church, snd in the evening at 7730 S¥ill_ delivera disconrse upon the late revival, de- fonding M. Moody and reviewing some of his re- Yiewers. S'The Rev. W. C.Willing, postor, will preach #£10:30 2. m, in Lengley Avenue Church, corner * of Thirty-ninth street. Praise-meeting by the Sab- Duth-actiool #2790 p. m. . The Rev..S. H. Adams, pastor, will preach at 10:20 4. m. cm *+ The Visit of tne Wise Men,” and 3t 7:30 p. me on **God_with Us,” in the Cen- Tensry Church on West Monroe sireet, near Moi- will preach st 10:30° —The Rev. Dr.. Mich- ‘Williamson & m. 7130 and 7% p. m. _in the igan Church. .. Morning ject: -+Our :ImmanueL™ The following is the programme for the choral services in the morning: 1. Traumerel (reverfe 2. Glorla (Twelfth o mn NO. 725... .- 4. Sanctus (Twelfth 4ase) 83! g e Deut 7. Hj 8. Mes! PRESBYTERIAN. The Rev. Charles L. Thompson will preach this momning and evening In the 2ifth Church, corner of Indiana svenue and Thirtieth street. In the on, and in most Per- morning there will be a Christmas the evening the spbject will be s —The Rev. Henry T. Miller will preach this morning and evening in the Sixth Chaurch, corner °f Ailncennes and Oak avenues. Morning subject: ueation to Be Answered.” | e Rev. James Maclanghlan ‘will preach this morning and evening in the Scotch Church, corner of Sangamon snd Adams streets.’ Morningaub- {’ect:l“o‘oslzlklnxJufll." Evening smbject: “*Life . 0 ’—The Rev. E. W. Barrett will presan this morn- ing and evening {n the Westminster Chiirch, corner of Jackson nnd Peotia etreets. Mornia'g subject: s A Savior Which Is Christ the Lord.*” Evening subject: **Thomas the Donbter.™ .. _ SPIRITUALISM. Mrs. Cora L. V. (Tappan) Richmond wil! lectare this morning and evenrnfln Grow's Hall, i¥o. 517 ‘West Madison street. ¢ morning lnhjfl:l‘ as well as a subject for an extempore poem, W {li be chosen by the andience. Evening subjecn: ** Century in the Spheres, " by Dr. Pestley, Jame- this morningand. eventag, y in Urace sob- distely preceding the evening lectare, Mre. Rich- mond will, while entranced, christen two children, The services will close with an imprompta inspira- tional poem. UNITARIAN. The Rev. Brooke Herford will preach this morn- ingand evening i the Church of the Mesaiah. cor- ner of Michigan 8Venue and Twenty-third strect. Morning sublect: **What the World Was to Christ.® Evening subject: *‘The Earthliness. a8 Well as the Hesvenliness, of the Bible, with a Few Words for Brother Swing. ™ —The Rev. Robert Collyer will preach this morn- ing and evening in Unity Church, corner of Dear- ‘born avenue and Oak street. Morning subjec +'The Wise Men from the East.” Eveaing sub- ject: **A Carol with a Cantion. ™ ~_The Rev. E. P. Powell will preach this morn- ingand evening in the Tijrd Charch. cormer of Monroe and Laiin streets. Mominz subjects 44The Messiahs of Hmmanity." In the evening there will be a Christmas vesper service. % —The’ Rev. J. T. Sunderland will preach this morning in the Fourth Church. Cottage Grove Avenue, near Thirty-seventh street. Subje “*Mental. Moral, and Religious Epidemica and Delusions, Past and_Present.” Dr. Sunderiand will alzo preach at 3 p. m. in the Old School-Hoase in Englewood. Subject: ** After Moody, What?™* UNIVERSALIST. The Rev. Sumner Ellis will preach this morning and evening in the Charchof the Redeemer, cor- ner of Washington and Sangsmon strects. Morn ing subject: **The First and Second Advents.™ Evenin subject: **The New Testament Showing of the Destiny of the Ra —The Rev. Dr. Ryder will preach, this morning and evening in St. Paul's €hurch, Michigan ave- nue, between Sixteenth and Eighteenth streetd. Evening subject: ** The Sacrifice of Christ.™ MISCELLANEOUS. There will be a meeting of Friends at Room 20 Methodist Church Block at 10 o'clock this morning. —The Non-Sectarian Bible Society will meet az 149 East Randolph street at 22 p. m. to-day. Snb- ject of the lectare and discussion: ‘‘Resurrec- —Elder McCalloch will preach this morning and evening in Lheg;lbemcle, 91 South Green street. CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK. EPISCOPAL. Dec. 24—Fourth Sunday in Advent. Dec. 25—Christmas-Day. Dec. 26—St. Stephen, Dec. 27—St. John the Evangelist. Dec. 28—Holy Innocents. CATIIOLIC. Dec. 24—Fonrth Sunday in Advent. Dec. 25—Nativity of our Lord (Christmas-Bay). 6—St. Stephen. First Martyr. St. John, Apostle and Evangelist. Holy innocents. 59 8¢, Thomas of Canterbury, B. M. Dec. 30—0f the Octave. THE GAME OF CHESS Cuzss Dixkcrony. —Chicago Chess Clak, Nos. 63 and 65 Washington street; open fromda. m. 1o 10p. m. Chess-players meet daily at the Tremont House (Exchange) and the Sherman House (Base- ‘ment). : - All communications fntended forthls department stould be addrcssed to THE TRIBUNE; and indorsed Correct” solution to Problem No. 54 recelved from W. H. Ovington and Geo. S. Powell, city. Correct solution to Enigma No. 54 receivea from E. Bischoff, Freeport, 11l ENIGMA NO. 56. BY ME. JACOE ELSOS. ‘White 1o play and mate la four moves. PROBLEM NO. 56. BY MB. W. A.' SHINKMAN. Black. | . 7 /A i B %W’%/%%/// %, )’////éfi%/@@/fl////é%%7 &L = ,/% i O a” ‘White. %, d mate In three moves. === i . SOLUTION TO PROBLEM NO. 54 PAYSY 1Bk 85&5&'& . yBudR to & Kt 6q orhte SOLUTION TO ENIGMA NO. 54 | Black. takes Kt White. 1..Ktto QKL5 ch E oves o 3 B or kit mates CHESS IN NEW YORE, . - A clever little game played recently at the Cafe Internstional between Messrs Ryan and Roser, IRREGULAR OPEXING. 3 takes Kt 13..B takes K¢ 1428 takea P K7 QB3 K 7 (0) 20d wios. (a) Had he taken the ‘B! . Black would win thtbp(eAce blgk bl’og,Qfi’ £h, ete. (b) oud re 29 Ingelndil:lg yn-gdy.fiflmfl‘ifi;:d Q takesRP ch; bat Black never gives N (d)_A very elegant coup, -which leaves White ut- terly beratrof alixesource. — Zurf. Fieldand Farin e A CHRISTMAS GIFT. ) (suE BOSER.) Spring roses for Christmas! I hail them with foy, "Their petals ure fragrant ps dew. > Those sweet-blushing cups are 50 free from allay, And fewel-like nestle in beauty s0 coy, They thrill like a song strange and new. June roses from you! (no Sibyl Is seen:) ‘What hope Is concesled in the prize? Their color betokens the highes: esteem. 1 deem And, coming from thy noble haud, sir, It an honor 1 illy disguise. Though Pagansare censured for worshiping Pawer, "And giving to idols their soul, Yet here 1 am making one casket of flowers - A Sammer, an Eden, & vine-covered bower, And yielding in swe to the whole. These leaves must soon wither, their besuty sll fade, Like s mountain-mist vanish away;. ‘But the casket of treasures in Meraory's glade Will Jast when the great solemn record is ‘The kindness will never decay. Did we oftener scatter the roses of life On the &-m of the toiling and brave, ‘How much conld we leasen their sorrow and strife, ‘And thus make the flowers of Eternal Life “Perpetually bloum on our grave. STELLA S. COATSWORTE. CaIca6o, Dec. 25, 1876. -TOM—E. Gently crecping. softly steali Shades of night come clustering ’ ©Op'ning founts of thought and feeilng, ‘Stilling Labor's busy sound. Wintzy winds without are blowing, ‘Stary o'erhiead thelr vigils keep, Fires within are warmly glowing, ‘Shadows lengthen as they crezp. ‘Bright the fireside looks, and cheery, As our band now gathers there; Bat our hearts are sad and dreary— ‘We behold one ** vacant chair.™ One we mias from ont the circle,-. ‘Miss his resdy wit and song, — 5 Mlss the eyes that used to sparkle ‘Brightest of the family-throng: - Aye. our **bonny boy," we miss thee,~ * s thee morn] noon, and eve; Hearts are caress thee,— b7 to **Home "m to recelve. May the wintry breezes blowing Caft to thee onr love sincersi May the atars above thee glowing. ‘Whisper low our earnest prayer: That the Angel-spirits "round thee Moy protect from harm to-night, And, f garkened cloads surround thee, . . Help thee see the **silvery light.™ axy.