Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 26, 1879, Page 9

e THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: SUNDAY. JAUARY 26, 1879—SIXTEEN PAGES. RELIGIOUS. The Jewish Race and lts Re- ligion---Which Shall Survive ? ghe Remarkable Story of Uri Adams and His Delud- ed Followers. How Feminine and Masculine Minds ‘Were Enslaved by His Saint~ ly Fanaticism, From Sword to Palpit—The Contributions of West Point to the Army of the Cross. Another Controversy Over the Inspira- tion of the Bible and Its Appar- ent Contradictions. General Notes, Personals, Seri- ous Smiles, Church Serv- ices To-Day. RACE OR RELIGION ? THE FUTURE OF JUDAISM. The Jewish Adeance of this city bas been pub- {ishing & series of articles by the Rev. Dr.- rel- centhal, one of the leading Jewish Rabbis of Chicazo, which it issurprising bave not attracted more attenzion than they have as yet received. Coming {rom a5 prominent a source as they do, 1he bold position tsken regurding the future of +he Jewisn race and of Judaism eannot but ex- cite gencral attention amoug Jews aud Gentiles slike. Briefly stated, Dr. Felsenthal does mot trouble himself about the future of the Jewish race. Theimpression produced upon one by reading bis articles is thatto his mind the race must die out, or beome amalgamnated with other races, becoming undistinguishabie in the oaud whole. But Judaism, to his mind, has an eternsl misslon, independent of the Jewish race, and al) crergies should be bent to the end that it may go onward, conquering and to conquer, until it has won the world. The Doctor commences his articles with a ref- erence to the New York Society for Etbical Cult- ure, the founding aund prosperity of which he considess oue of the most important, if not the ost important. and consequential facts in the pistors of American Judaism. It puts itself on the broadest—the &o-called bumanitarian— crounds. It bas been asserted that its mem- ‘bers deny that they are Jewsany longer. If true, which be doubts, he should regret it. But if they declare that they are Israelites, in- tend to remsin within Judaism, and do not wish to sever the bonds that unite them with the religion of their fathers, then the Society may bezome & power of blessing in Judaism, and a fsctor for producing bealthy development in the religion of JIsrael. The Soclety is a patural outgrowth of pre-conditions long existinz. Should it be treated wisely by the leaders of American [srael, it micht be in- 2uced to remain on Jewish grounds, but an un- wise method of dealing with it might drive off its members from Israel, and they might become an clement for working rapld disintegration in Isracl’s camp. A spirit has steadily srisen which forbids the existence of barriers between races and races, ires-arosnit, t Jew and Gentile is steadily drawine to an end. ‘There should be no surprise, therefore, if Isracl- ites were now met who argued that, if Judaism wasindeed & narrow social relizion, they, would have nothing more to do with it. A majority of the Jewish teachers for the last forty or fifty years < havc been proclaiming that Judsism was identical with humanity; that the religion of the prophets must be the religion of Isracl_and of mankind, and the heaps of cere- monial rubbish must be cleared away.. They had provlaimed that Jedaism was humanity} tbe dead weizht of ceremonies must be taken from Israel’s shoulders. Bui they also took falsc steps and comumitted inexcusable sips. Iustead of constructing a pew and better life, they were satisticd if 1hey destroyed theold oue, They suceecded in -abolishing many old and ionocent customs which might well have been retained. And now come the Society for Ethical Culture, five or ten years abead of most of the Jewish congregations, who were charzed with being atheists, sinners, and seducers of others, and that, if their wishes should become re- alized, Judaism would disappear from the ecarth before the present century ended. ‘These werc erave charges, de- serving serious examiuation. The Society was the natural product of several factors, priu~ cioal among which was the conrse which the Jewisn reform movement of the agze had taken. Modern Reform-Judaism asked compliance with the eternsl moral demands of theteachersof old, not because those laws had been supernaturally revealed, but becanse those demands were in har- mony with the revelation of the Divine will in. man's reason aud conscicnce. 1f reform Juda- itin Jooked to the lawsivers and prophets of thuir Bible 25 venerated authorities in prefer- ence to the sayings of Grecks and Hindoos, it was berause those teachers were of their own flesh and blood, beeause the ethies of the Bible were purer than thuse of other aucient nations, and becouse the Bible had influenced and shaped the jnner relimious life of pearly all ‘the civilized world. 1f Reform-Judaism retained A few of the features of the traditional mode of Jewish worship it did so only toTemain in fellowshin with the race ot Israel. In this latter point _lay the main difference be- tween it and the Soicty for Ethical Culture. Were there no other radical gifferences? None, he Society proclaimed that its relizion wasa re- ligion of the dved. not of the crced. But thiswas also the standpoint of Reform-Judaism. Jnda- ism was not a religion of the creed. It had no petrified dozmatics. 1Its whole history was Proof that it had no creed save the doctrine that there was 8 God. inconceivable, who could be ealled Father, to whom they could pray. This Was one of the maiu preferences of Judaism over Christianity, which must cease to exist s0 s00m 35 the world could not _believe any mote in its irrational dogmas. ~ 1i Christianity’ continued to exist, it would do 5o only as ormanized. petrificd hepocrisy. Judaism, however, claiming as its ¥ital principle the right to_deny at aoy time what once was believed and could honestly nos bebelieved suy longer, alwavs providing that the doctrin,e of a Supreme Being was faithfully mtintained, could, in all timesto come, reju- Jenate self, and progress with mankind. Ju- ists hzd within itself all 1be conditions of be- fuz able 1o become a universal relicion. t was now said the Society for Ethical Cult- re denied the existence of a God, and, con Juently, couid not be claimed 10 be a Jewisn Society.. On this point Dr. Felsenthal differs. 1t could only be the teacher of the Society, Dr. dler. aeainst whom such an accasation coutd ratsed. But Dr. Adler's discourses contained Dotling to prove such a charze. Dr. Adier had recent)s stated that *the Jew- race will ultimately die.” If come Coristian Papers drew frow his assertion the conclusion 1Lat bt was prediciing the triumphof the Chris- tizn Churchi o crecd thev were mistaken, for Dr. Adler bad sajd that Christianity_was, in the course of time, becoming extinet; that Judaism Fould eertaialy triumph over Christianitys and 1bat, at Jeast a5 ooz as there was & Coristian Chureh in thie world, a Jewish Church would be 3 Becessily. The Jewish press was cqually the assertion, and was unanimous in condemning bis views, But Dr. adier used the worgs, “ the Jewish Teee will ultimately die,” and did ot say the Jewieh relizion will die. This was a highly im- Portant cistinction. He mieht ave meant that he Jewish rcligion will live, while the Jewish Dation would bucome merged in other bations, and finally cease to exist as such. He wmight ve meat thut the times were approaching when, in e lanmeare of the prophet, mer of other ations would take hold of the skirt of "M who was a Jew, sayiog, *Let us go with Jofor we have heard that God is with you.’ it h!l mizht not be Dr. Adler’s rcal opinion, but if be did opine that, in a comparatively near fa- ure, not only the Jewish race, but the Jewish seligion, must die, then he expressed an ides which every true Istuelite must vigoronsly op- E:M:. for such an opinion, if numerously siared would lead to fatal and us conse- the Jack of intercourse between | quences. For a thousand years, perhaps, a dis- tinet Jewish Church sh e licistion heait ould remaln n existence. i tienism suill prevailed too power- ully among 1he most, civilized notlons of the a.mu. Its decomposition had already st in, {ur: it misht ot come to anend within -a ew ceuturies. Tet Gentiles form free religious assozintions if they chose, if they did not 13!’&:[’:!' Jolofng Jewlsh Church of the fa- ture; but wiy Jews should leave their Jewish relizion and form also a free _congregation. was something difticult to understand. would ac- complish " nothing, and in such cstrangeraent there lurked great danger; for, while those who formerly lett the Jewish orzanization might be sceure against falliug a prey to Christian iysti- cist, they had no security that their children or £randehildren would remain upon the hights o a truly relirious rationaism. Many ¢complained that Judaism did not satisfy their telizious desires; that its forms did not sult them. If so, then change the forms. The present generation bhad s nuch right to make changes as those encrations which made changes early in this_century. If Prof. Adler and “the Soclety for Ethical Culture hon- estly inteaded to remain Israclites, they wowld probabls be a harbinger of & new birth—of a Jewish religion emancipat- ed from a Jewish nationality. And this seemea to be the real issue now within Amerlean Ju- daisim. On one side it would be declared that Judaism was_indissolubly connccted wth the Jewigh race; on the other that Judaism would be endanzered if not clevated from the harrow contines of a social relizion to the hights of a universal prophetic religion. The party question in the Jewish world of the Brcsc_m. was National Judaisin or Cosmopolitan udaism. That was a stubborn fact., That was the issuc: National or Cosmopolitan Juda- ism—religion or race. The writinzs of men like Auerbach and Kompert, and alsoa great number of Jewish theologians, were, iu sub- now, stance: “We have been a race until but we don't want to be longer! No longer are we a nation; henceforth we are a denomination.” These ideas were being practi- cally carrfed out by many. In America mar- riages between Jews and Christians were be- coming very umerous. - Many of the older men and women among American Istaelites cling with tevacity to the old traditios and customs. But vfthyoung American Isracl the case was different; and that generation could not be es- pected to readopt the old national customs and lawg, and remain within the narrow national bounaaries. The stream thatearried them away was too powerful. Itwould bte svell for the Society of Ethical Culture to retain the young Jewish meneration of New York as members of the house of israel, and see that they did not dissolve partnership with Israel altogethier. They could appear be- fore the worla with the declaration, * We are lsraclites. We have not separated from the house of [fsrael, and _ we bave no desire to separate.” And for their own satisfaction . they miaht further declare, ** Judaisim, as weunderstand it, is not restrict- ed to members of the Jewish race. In full ac- cordance with the spirit of the prophets of old. e open our gates wide to every one who wishes to joinus. We accept proselytes without any formality or céremouy whatever. Any Gentile who desires to become one of us may be admit- ted as a member.” Undoubtedly those who used to uohold the Jewish nation”in contradistinction to a Jewish religious community would be ooposed to such proceedings; but every Jewisi congregation was & little republic in itsclf, which mizht proceed in its own way, and none could hinder. An at- tempt at excommuuication, if made, would prove ridiculous and futile. 4 It is suggested by the Doctor that the Society retain a few verses from “the old Jewish literature, and celebrate in common with the other Israclites the five chief festivals. By their cclebration another con- necting link might be had which would bind the Judaism of the future to the Judaism of the past, the Society of Ethical Culture to the relizious acnomination from which it branched off. Of ceremonials and the like, be- Jonging to _the province of individual Jife, the Retorm-Judaism of the present are took coz- nizance no longer, and still less would the Juda- ism of the next generation. TURI ADAMS. STRANGE CAREER OF A RELIGIOUS FANATIC. Zochester (Slich.) Letter in Detroft Post. ADAMS—AL his late residence, near Rochester, Oakland County, Mich., Jan. 2, 1879, atlla. m., Tri Adams, aged 71 sears. ‘This brief paragraph, clipped from the obitu-~ ary column of the Weekly Sun of this village, records the close of a remarkable and event- ful career. It recallsa phase of & short-hived, but very intense, relicious excitement which “swept™ over-certatn ~portions of this country some thirty-five years azo and left many mental wrecks behind. I refer to what was kuown as Millerism, and, as explanatory of and preliminary to a sketch of the man whose death at the ripe age of three score years aud ten is above rnnounced, it may be profitable to briefly refer to thut religions belief. It o inated in Massachusetts about the year1833. preacher named William Miller, who had been studying up on the prophecies, came to the conclusion that the time set for the destruction of the world was near at hand. He did not at first i any date for that event, only putting it fo the indefinite but immediate future. Subse- quentiy the day was declared, cither by himself or bis disciples. Such plausible reasous did be give for his views that he soon had hosts of followers. The excitement which prevailed m Alichizan will be remembered by your older readers. It was of the most intense descrip- tion, slmost unparalicled in the bistory of re- ligious frenzics. Scores of men gave up their business, neglected everything pertaining to ihe affairs of everyday life, and devoued their whole.attention to relizion, making themselves rendy to ereet their Lord when he should ap- pear. Url Adsins, the son of whom I write, was born in East Bloomficld, Nov. 22, 1807. When ‘he became of aze he bought a farm near that of hiis father, and settled down in life, having pre- viously marned a Miss Farrington, She died in 1337, and a few years later ke married Miss Mary Badzer. who lived until 1861. _After her Geath he muarried Miss Eliza J. Warner, a daughter of Erastus Warner, a respected citizen of Plymouth. She still survives, estcemed by all who kpow her. Mr. Adams had’ few aa- vantazes of education; but le had a'vizorous and active mind. He read much and thought more. 2 of a naturally religious turn of mind, the Bible was bis constant”study, and it became well known in the community “that he was exceptionally well posted on Biblieal mat- ters, und that he was exceedipely fond of ais- cusslon and argument. The excitement which Millerism caused in Michican is_still well rememberec. A preacher named Necdham came to this nelghborhood and proclaimed with zreat vizor and some eloguence he sccond_coming of Christ. ‘The excitement spread, and soon a larze pumber of people flocked to his standard, among them Uri Adams and_his wife. Mr. Adams belnz a areat Biblical student, searched the Scriptures for himsclf, znd from the prophccies verified, 1s he believed, the predictions of Mr. Miller. He satisfied mself that Christ was about to appear in the clouds of Heaven, surrounded by« host of his anwels, xnd that the wicked wers to be burned up and destroyed, while the carth was to be inherited by the saints, puritied und freed from the burdens of the fi Enbraciug this doctrine with characteristic earnestuess, aud be- inz naturally a leader of men, an_effective and earnest speaker, uid possessed of magnetic in- fluence over others, he soon becawe the head aud front of the Millerites bereabout. Theday for the second appearance of Christ had been fixed for the 23d of October, 1844, _As the time approached the excitement intensified. Believers neglected their worldly affairs to make preparations to receive Christ when he should aopear. Crops were ieft Lo rotin the fields, cat- tle were lett unfed,and things of such small moment as pertained to food and clothing were atmost forgotten. The faithfal prepared their ascension robes and sat themselves downin state to avwait the sounding of the last trump. It was lndicruus. it it were not too sad, to recall Teminiscences of the periormances iu which the deluded indulzed. % ‘Among the most devoted friends ot Mr. Ad- ams, and firm adhicrents to the religious doe- trings he hiad taught, were his sister, 3liss Eliz- abeth Adams, and bis brother, Julius Adams, named J. Mills Gilleztand his wife. diss Adams was a very intellizens and prepossessing_younz lady, wiio Yoas e cotetThed. a the nefshborHood, Shi was bright, sccomplisued, and a_general favor- ite. Gilletzand his wite were quite ordinary people. Gillett nimself was a plain, unassum- ing farmer, who had fallen 1 with the AMlerite doctrines and bad persuaded bis wife to do like- wise. She was considered the brizhier of the two, and, though she cmbraced the doctrine somewhat refuctantly, she adhered to it firmly and with sbundant arzument alterward. Tired of the perperual chatllug of unbelievers, and for mutal _comfort aud consolation, all these people went, in the spring of 1843, to live in the same house with Uri Adams. Gillett bad five children and-Uri Acauis four. _All ate and slept under the same roof and lived ns one family, cultivativg the farm and enjoying the product thereof in common. 5 About this time occurred the sickness to Uri Adams alluded to, which was in all probability the result of the inteuse nervous excitement which he had but recently undergone, and the disappointment which preyed upoa his mind in consequence of the blow to his cherished be- lief. llisexperiences during that sickuess, as related to an futimate friend and nighbor, form a curions feature of the man's life, und hud a determining influence upon his subsequent his- tory. As an fustance of the effect of mental hallucination they are worth recording. He said thet while he was lying sick in bed he sudden [y became aware that there wag a young fufant in bed with him. He saw the child dis- tinctly, felt it, and recornized fn it the nost beautiful and lovely creature he had ever scen. Its countenunce was radiant aud shone with a beavenly lustre. The chitd said to hfm: *You have been looking for the second comiug of Chyist, but you do nut look aright. You did not know what the second meant. You thought to see a great and marvelous demonstration of power which should astonish all the earth. Know, then, that you were mistaken.” Then it was revealed to him that the child’s name was Abdiel, and on searching the Scrip- tures he found that this was none other than Christ himgelf. The he saw wherein he was mistaken as to the manner in which Christ was tocome. They should not bave looked for Him in. the clouds, surrounded by the sigus of majesty and power. But Christ bad literally come, and here He was manifest in the flesh. Then the babe disappeared, and its spirit took possessiondn bis body. Uri Adams had died and Christ had entered in and dwelt there. It was clear to him now what was meant by the coming of Christ; it was that Clrist haa ap- peared and taken possession of things in this world in the person of Uri Adams. The pected resurrcetion hud ulso taken place with others. =Persons who had been living had died, and their bodfes had been taken possession of by the saints long dead. Thus it appearcd that the resurrcction did not mean a literal raisingof the dead, but was a resmrraction of character. The people whom he saw about him were not the same people whom he hud known before. At first he could pot tell who they were. He discovered thut Ghrist had taken possession of his own body, but whose spirits had *irans- migrated ” into Gillett and the rest of them he ;_lm knew not. All this would be revealed in ime. . He told all this to his followers—his sister, brother, and wife, and Mr. and Gillett. Here they too saw the complete and literal ful- fillment of the prophecy. ‘Ihey accepted his version implicitly and immediately fell down and worshiped him as Christ. "It was given out {o the neighbors that Uri Aduws was dead. Mrs.- Adows put on mourning for ber husband, and when the neighbors, startled by this strange story, called to see her, they were told that Mr. Adams had in truth and reality zoue the way of all flesh, und that the person in the other room, and who looked and acted so much like him, was none other than Jesus Christ, the Xing of Earth and Heaven. Obscrving the emile of in- credulity which the avnouncement invariably Dprovoked, the family soon grew disinclined to see visitors. Finally, as the idea that Christ possessed him frew upon him and developed, be declared his room to be the Holy of Holles, and outsiders were not admitted to the sacred presence. His toflowers impliutly believed all he told them, and worshiped bim as the Very God. They were required to remove their shoes when they cntered the room and to approach him on bended kuees. He had po paraphernalia to distinguish his high rauk, The room was very pluinly furnisbed; indeed, the commumty was exceedingly poor, and lived in the plainest and ‘homeliest fashion. An open Bible always lay upon the stand at the end of the rcom, nnd be- hind this be scated himsclf when he received ‘his followers. ‘Then he gave his followers new names, as he discovered wWhose spirits had taken possession of them. Mr. Gillett was John, the beloved Apos- tie; Julius Adums was called Peter, the bold Apostle who would never deny bis Master any more; Miss Adains was Mary, and Mrs. Gillett Martba, Mrs. Adams was discovered to be Vashti. Hedeclared by virtue of his authority as Christ that the relations heretofore existing between husband and wife and parent and child were dissolved and that pew ones shoula be formed. Mary he gave to wife to Mr. Gillett and Martba to Julius. But this rearrangement of the relations beretofore cxisting between these people was only spiritual. e said the time had not yet come to carry it into effect literally. ‘They must wait. His followers ac- cepted all he said as authoritative and governed themselves accordingly, belioving that he was what he considered himself to be. But these things coming to the esrs of the neiehbors naturally created great scandal. The story of his sayings und doines traveled far and fast and ggined by sceretions as it went. By the time it got a mile from home it was considerably eXaagerated. There was ter- rible indienation over the goings on at the 4% Court of Heaven.” Mundane ideasof the propriety of things, especially in- respect to the “marital rejation, were shocked oy the - new-@is: pensation. The neizhbors bezan to talk and to say among themseives thata straight-jacket was the proper thing for Uri, under the circum- stances. ‘This talk came to his cars, and he said that if they artempted to interfere with him he should command the earth to open and swallow them. Not gaunted by this terrible threat of Deing mysteriously put ontof buman siuht, they finally appointed a committce to take chargre of Mr. Adams and put him ** beyond the lines.” 1t was believed that his mind hud got into a morbid state from his sickness and from brooding over religious subjects, and that a change of scene would be bencticial to bim, by breaking up his associations and getiing his mind on new sub- jeets. - “ g After Mr. lams had beenshutup in his Holy of Holies for a few months, he seemed to havea longing for a breath of fresh air. He thencame out dréssed up in comparatively fine style. The farming operations were carried on by all the members of the community. The women work- ed in the ficla as well as the men. Mr. Adams, cailing himself Christ, elaborately dressed, strolled about the farm, superintended operstions, and #ave an encouraging word now and then to subservient and sweating adberents. But, this state of things gradually passed away. Atter awhile it was noticed that ““zood clothes were lald aside, and the would-be Christ took hold of business a little himself. Perbaps symp- toms of discontent on the part of Lis followers ar_maintaining him 1u elegant idlencss without any equivalent benefit to themselves had some- thing to do with this chauge, Some may wouder why these people staved there and toiled without any compensation. He had taught them that if they went away they would surely die. So long as they stayed ont the prermises they were sure of eternal life. But this belief received a terrible shock when the sister Elizabeth sickened and died in the very house which was supposed to be guarded from the enemy death by the Master Himsclf. There wasu rude awakening. Some cxplanation on the part of Uri scemed to be called for. He €aid that Elizabetit bad sinned by fretting. He eaid: *Itook Elizabett on mylap and told her that if she did not stop fretting she would die, but it was no usc; she would fret.” In 1564 arose the great rebellion, so-called, in this hitherto larmonious community. CUri's , and he had married again. This sa brizht and educated woman, nt some time in the houschold, who had spt Soon atter she assumed the relation of wife of he head of the family trouble arose between ber and_Mrs. Gilletr, probably from jealousy. Mrs. Gillett objected to longer doing the drudzery aud periorming the menial service re- quired of her, while the woman who, she thonght, had usurped her place in. the home and aifections of Urd enjoyed a comfortable and casy pusition. Mrs. Gilleit said she had been tonling all these years for lier board and cloth- foir, and now skie wanted compensation for past services; money was what she wanted, and $500 was the sumn mentioned. Uri had no such sum, and could not command it, cven if he bad been disposed to grive it to ber. Then she threatened to make disclosures which would astonish all the surroundmy countrs. The nesotiutions dia not reach a satisfactory” conclusion, aud the dis- closures camne. “fhey did astonish the good people of Roches- ter, who had long suspected that things were bad, but had no idea they_were half so_bad as she had puinted them. "The details which she gave were shocking in the extreme. It seemed almost incredible that civilized human beings could have consented to live for years in such a state as she portruyed. It was dizzustiog in its moral and . physical, depravity. Naturaily, the whole country uronnd about was sticred io its depths and deeisive measures were de- termined upon. ° ‘I'hehusbund of Mrs. Gillett made a criminal complaint azainst Acams. A complaint was also madeuzainst him by his brothers. He was brougi:t to trial on the first charze in ihe spring of 1865 in U rcuit Court ac Poatiae, Judze Green pres . E. Crofoot, was prosceut- ing attorney. and Mrs. Gillett told their story in cotirt, and that constituted the evi- dence forthe prosecution. ‘The defensc con- sisted simply of the ovrisoner’s statcment, which was a_denial @ foto of the testimony of the otber side. The jury spcedily brought him in guilty, and Judge Green called on him to stand up and reccive his sentence. Addressing afm in the most earnest and impressive man- ner, Judge Green said to him, turuing to Mr. and Mrs. Gillett, “ When [sce_thesc poor de- Juded creatures sitting here I pity them from the bottom of my heart. But I have no sympa- thy for you; you kuew better.” He then sen- tenced Adams to the State-Prison at Jackson for one year. The latter received his sentence with composure. He sald he was innocent; that he had -been convicted throuch pobular prejudice; and he wrote to his wife, 120 like a lamb to the slaughter,” intimating that he still retained his divine character, and that he was persecuted on account of bis opinions. ‘He was docile and quiet in prison, and gained all the possible time on account of Zood be- havior. When his term had expired he returned to his home andresumed his occupation as a farmer, ‘Thie little community which had dwelt under his_roof for twenty years Was then entirely broken up., The Gilletts weat their way, and are now living In the western nart of the State. The slster was dead. Julius’ wife has become disgusted, and had gone away before the ex- osture. Juls bimself bad died, 0 that when Mr. Adams returned from Jackson he found no one in his home but his faitbful wife and a son of Julius, who had taken ggarze oi the home- stead farm, and still carries iton. He uever publicls alluded to the subject ot his relizious belicf or the peculiar doctrines which he once preached, but bis neizhbors got” the fmpression frow. his expressions from tine to time that he still cheristied them, or rather that he was unwilling to concede that be had ever been In error,—a feeling which probably arose more frow pride of opinion than anythini else. He still believed it possible for man to live forever in this world, and that thre human race would ultinately reach: that state of per- fection. He thouzht that life was a constant strugule with the arch enemy, and that triumph would ultimately come. THE CHURCH MILITANT. SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS FROM WEST POINT. The Military Academy at West Point, savs a correspondent of the Christian at Work, has not wenerally been considered 8 nursery for the Church, and yet some of ti:e noblest soldiers of the Cross have been soldiers of our army,— graduates of the United States Military Acad- emy. 'The reader will naturally recall the Re: Dr. Francis Vinton, Assoclate Rector of Trinicy Chureh, New York City. Then thereare the Rev. rs. Pendleton and Bledsoe,. who bave passed 'The oldeft living graduate is the Rer. N. Sayre Harris, who was graduated ir the class of '25, and is now assistant to the Rev. Dr. 8. H. Type, Jr.,in the Church of the IToly Trinity. He was the classmate of Prof. Bartiett, Col. Alexander Centre, and Gen. Albert Sydney dJohnston. Dr. Marvin P. Parks is remembered as a promibent clerzyman of the Prot- estant Episcopal Church. He was at one time Chaplain and * Professor of Ethics in the Miltiary Academy. In 1841 he was eleet- ed Bishop of Alubama, which oflize he declived, accepting Jater an appointment as Assistant Rector of Trinity. Dr. Parks died at sea in 1853. _Another is the Rev. Jawes Clark—Roman Catholic, He entered the briesthood in 1847, The Methodist Churen is represented by, Rev. Robert T. P. Allen, who graduated fn 1834, IIe cntered the ministry” in 1837, which he eventually guitted, thonzl maintaining bis con- nection and interest with his church and its re- rjous interests. Heis living in Florida, The ev.. Dr. M. 8. Culbertson was graduated in 183Y, in the class with that fl’:md old hero, Gen. Georze H. Thomas; Gen. Halleck was also his clasemate. He entered the ministry of the Presbytertan Church in 1844, shortly after hav- ing been graduated at Prioceton. Dr. Culbert- son’s greatest work was his tranglation of the Bible into Chinese. He refused to come home und take part in the War, thourh he would have been made n general officer, preferring - the Master’s work in China. He died in China in 1862, universally regretted. One of the finest spirits Who ever eraduated from West Point was Col. Charles C. Parsons. as he was onc of the youneest. Ile was graduated in 1861, and the writer knew him well, and constantly mct him at Marlrees- boro and Chattenooza. ~ He served at the Mili- tary Academy as Assistant Professor of Ethics in 1864, and from 1867 to the close of 1870, when he resigned from the army to take ords the Episcopal Church. He was ordeined by Bishop Quintard of Tennessee in 1871, and took ckarge of a church in Memphis. He removed to the North on accouut of his wife’s health o 1872, and became Reetorof an Episcopal Chburch Cold Spring, N. Y., and subsequently of one in Hoboken. ‘The death of his wife and chilaren here led bim in 1876 to return to his old post at Metnphis, and here he remawmed doing his Mas- ter’s work uotil he fell a victim to the terrible scourze which visited so many Southern cities during the last summer. We may add that Dr. John Forsyth, of the Reformed Church, isa iraduate of the Military Academy. After Sery- ing in the ministry he accepted—we believe in 1867—the Chaplainey of the post at West Point, where he fs at present. The little record here made, and such pames as Thomas, Vicker: Havelock, show—what we all know—that sol- diers of the army not unfrequently, make the best soldiers of the Cross. THE BIBLE :QUESTION. . FRANK'S REPLY TO NATHANIEL. ENGLEWO0D, Jan. 22.—Since I am a reader of Tre ‘TRIBUNE it is to' bésupposed that I, with many others, bave been greutly amused by Nathapiel’s * Comedy of Erro; suceeeds in proving to the public hisown lack of Biblical learning, but not a single contradiction of the Scriptures. 1t is but courtesy to assume that N. was sin- cerc io making his weak objections to the Bible, and yet neither truth nor courtesy will allow us to assume that he has an independent. knowl- edge of the subject with which ke has attempted to amuse the great world that looked mnto.TiE TRIBCSE this morning. It might be reflecting on the literary honor, and personal, intellectual independence of N.to hint that the objections he offers have not sprung from hin own investiga- tions.. They flavor of Tom Paine, who wrate the first part of * Age of Reason® without laviog a Bible 2t hand to study. Why does assert that contradictions occur and yet fail to Doint out the books, chapters, aud verses; where they maybe found? If he borrowed his pbjec- tions he is excusable for this omission: but he can have noexcuse for apoearing 2s a critic aainst the Bible unless it be to amase rather than instruct men. I venture that N. neser found one ot these so-called contradictions him- self, since he bas not put his finger oa one chap- ter in which a contradiction apnears, although be has the presumption to assert that there are more contradictions in the Bible than there are chapters. To saynothing about N.’s inconsist~ encyin assafling the person who counted the verses, ete., of tiic great Book becanse it was a usel d unimportant thing, let us look into bis firss eveat and startling contradiction. The robe placed uvon Jesus at Pilate’s hall is de- seribed as “scarlet™ by one_writer, while an- u‘tlmr says it was “purple.”” Ergo, a contradie~ tion. There 15 1o doubt that it wes a royal robe, and as euch might have beeu scarlet or purple. More than this, it might be of such a tint that one would call jt scarlet or crimson, while another wonld call it purple. Doubtless it is known to N. that the purple of the ancients included many different tints. Morcover, the €brews were acquainted with what was called reamon,” a reddish ourple, and also “Techeleth,”” a bluish or ceralean purple. 1f one of the Apostles calls the robe “scarlet” and another *purple,” then instead of a contra- diction we have two truths united, viz.. that the robe was purple and that it was of_that ting which is called reddish purple, as distinmuished from bluish purple. Let us say in reference to the second so-called coutradiction, that the words, ‘“He sascended from HBethany . and “summit of Mount Olivet,” do not appear ln the Bible in connection with the = ascen- sion_of Christ. 'This coining of sentences words o suit the purpose will not do. But per- haps N. is not snfliciently “up” mthelaumu;_'u On this poiot, if any contradiction occurs, t. Luke contradicts himself, and the contradiction lics between Luke, xiv., 50-31, and Acts, i, 12. ‘The first statement of the Apostle is thig, **And He led them out as far as Bethauy,” ete.; then follows the ascensiop. Thisis the second state- ment, which refers to what took place after the ascension, “Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet.” Now for the wonderful contradiction. Bethany was on the eastern slope of Mt. Olivet. So that the Savior could be in both of these places at the same tinie, just as easily as N-_can live in Chicazo and on the shore of Lake Michigan at the same fime. Thus the ascesion took place in ihe viclity of Bethony oo ives. the castern slope of the Mount of in, i “that one writer'places the jon at the “ninth hour,” while another places iz at the “sisth hour” T should liise to nave cll us which writer says the crucifixion took place at the *“ninth * hour. Not one of them does this. Allagree that, after a darkuness of three hours, at the ninth hour Jesus expired. L will say for the instruction of that St. Mark places this event at the *third Tiour ': while the others place it.at the “sixth.” Mark doubtless referred to the third part of the day, the time between 12m. and 3 p. m., Which would agree with the others, as the sixth hour was 12 o'clocks, or moon. Many of the best sebolsrs think that the Greek letter representing three bas been taken for the letter reoresenting six, on account-of their great similarity in the M35, And thus the mistake, if iv be one, is only a mistranslation. "I'he fourth _* contradiction™ scems to bein reference to Christ’s first appearance after His resurrection. Not one of the Evangelistsasserts that Clirist’s * first appearance was in a mount- ainin Galilee.”” Notone says His first appear- ance Was *‘while on the way to Emuaus.” Not one declares that His first appearance was “io a room where the doors were locked.” The only place in which this first appearance is spoken of, in so many words, is in Mark, xvi.,, 9: “Now, ‘when Jesus was rigen_early ihe first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene.” Matthew teaches that it was after thisihat Jesus truths of modeérn ble story of the sun standing still is a -fair specimen of Bible infallibility. 9 met His Disciples in Galilee. Mark teaches that it was after this that Jesus met the two Disciples on the way to Emmaus. John teaciies that it was after Mary had seen Jesus shat e appeared in the room. Mary saw Him in ihe moroives He apoeared at the room mentfoned in the even- ing of the same day. So that, while N. may man- ufacture contradictions on this subject, he cer- tainly cannot find them in the Bible. In avswering the next objection, I am tempt- ed to ask N.'whetber or noi be knows what a contradiction fs. Wil he risk his reputation for sense or honesty by claim'ng that it is a contra- diction between historians when one chooses to give the namé of but one of a number of per- sous. while the other chooses to zive the names of two or three? May they not both be correct? Beeause John says Mary Magdalene came to the sepulchre, is that denving that the *other Mary " came also? And when Matthew tellsus that these two came, does he deny that *Sa- Jome * came, whom Mark inentions?” N. cannot mention the passaze of Scripture in which it i3 stated that onjy one, or oulv two, or only three, or only any otlier number came to the sepulchre. All the” writers say _that Mary Maz- dalene was there. ~ No onme of them ays she was the oy one_there. - Some men- tion others besides her. No one denics that others were there. Where, then, in_the name of zood logic, is the contradietion? When I say Sherman marched to the sea, do I deny that Kilpatrick and thousands of others also marched to thesea? When I say I saw N. cast his ballot on clection-day, do 1 deny that I saw others do the same? Or, to cowme nearer the point, do I thereby contradict another, who says he saw N. and B.; or still another, who_saw N., and B., and A. cast their ballots? No more is there any contradiction between the Evanzelists on the point under discussion. I have already taken up too great a space; yet it takes more words to answer false assertions than it does to make them. 1 will only say, the other so-called contradictions are greater frauds than those we have cxposed; and we hope before N. writes again he will “search the Scriprures.” FRANE. 18 1T INSPIRED ! To the Lditor of The Tribune. Cmicaco, Jan. 23.—There seems to be a good deal of religious enthusfasm fn Chicago at this time. Perhaps it would be more in keeping with the truth to call it sectarian enthusiasm, orafight for denominatioral supremacy. No matter what we call it, for the name does not in the least modify the fact to which I wish to call cspecial attention. This religious cntbusiasm is founded ‘on the assumption that the Bible'is aperfect revelation of the Divine mind and con- tains the only true code of ethics. Very few people take the pains to investizate the claims of the Scriptures for themselves; if they did, the result would he very different, forinvestiza- tionis{atal tothe doctrine of plenary inspiration. “Thepeople bave gonewildover the Bible, and have attached to it an importance and a savetity that does not legitimately belong to it, und that, in all reasonable probability, never for a_moment entered the mind of its authors. If anylof | the Bible ‘writers had supposed that some mod- ern_secker for religious anomulies would have pored over the Bible to find a verse that con- tained all the letters of the alphabet, ther would doubtless bave gotten one up for his espevial benetiz. One would suppose [rom a re- cent letter to THE TRIBONE, by ‘A Bible Reader,™ that the sinc qua non of all Biblical lore was to know how many letters the Dible contained, and to find a verse that contained all the letters of the English aiphabet.. [f sucha verse could” be found, no matter what truth or error it might contain, or what historical fact it might give expression to, it would be regarded the coup de grace of scriptaral learning to be able to repeat it; and no doubt a knowledge of such a remarkable occurrence would be the ail- sufficient means to sccure the eternal salvation of the one who should be so uanspeakebly bappy as to make the Wiscovery. Why dow’t our super-smart * Bible Reader,” who knows so mueh about the numerical orthography of the Bible, look uo o passaze that contains all the punctuation-marks known to the science of grammar? Perhaps he mizht find a verse that contained all the words of the English lnoruage. But enough of this nonscnse. Tu my previ Jetter I called attention to a few Biblccontrad tions. Iwish in this to speak of the Bible 2s an infaliible book or as a gure guide inmorals. The Christian world is divided first into two depart- ments: Catholics and Protestants. Both be- lieve in and advocate au infallible dogma. The Catholics belicve in the infallibility of the Pope; the Protestants in the infallibility of the Bibls and 1 have no hesitation in prononncing them both twin superstitions, having no foundation whatever cither . in = reason, fact, faith, or philosophy. The: Catholic dogma of an infallible fallible man is too absard” to descrve even a passing recognition; but the Protestant idea of an infallible Bible is so ge: eraily received as to demand a careful investiga~ tion. The doctrine of the infallibility of our Bible is not only absurd in the extreme, but ab~ soiutely impossible in the very nature of things. If it were infallible it wonld be perfect, and it it were perfect it would he 5o plain and so ‘sim~ ple that if would not be susceptible of such end- Iess interpretations: aud, iustead of there being nundreds ot churches fizhtina about what the Seriptures teach, there could ne but one Churci and onc faith. Rizht bere in the City of Chi- cago are scores of churches that teach diamet- rically opposite views relative to certain Scriptu- rat_doctnnes. When D. D.'s differ, who will decide? Toassume that the Bible is infallible, would be to assume that the copyists, transla- tors, sud all wno were engeged in trans- mitting it to us werc divinely in- spired and thoroughly _infallible, and tnerefore incapable of ‘making a mistake, We have no such copyists and translators now. The Hebrew langaaee in whica the greater part of the Bible was written contained no vowels. The marks indicating the vowels were not in- troduced into the text until about the scventh century, and not until Hebrew bad been a dead language for some time. The old original Hebreyw contained only the consonant outline of words, and it was necessary that the read- er should supply the vowels in reading, and one word could be made to represent maoy, and sometimes even contradictory ideas, oo cording to the vowels supplied. How lonx with such a languaze as this conld 1ofallibility be preserved, even if the origzznal bad been infaili- ble? This is sufficient of itself io show the im- possibility of the infallible transmission of the ible. The Bible cannot be infallible, because it teaches thiuzs, and represents them as com- mands of God, that are not only wicked, but shocking to the moral sense of every enlighzen- ed mind. In the Oid Testament is a com- mand to stone disobedicnt children to death. “The (inl who planted instinetive love in every par~at’s heart never gave such an order as this. Moses, the meek man, gave command to “Kill tverything that breatheth,” men, women, and children, and_claimed that God ordered it to be donme. [n oneinstance ouc of these divine orders was to rip up every woman that was with child that dwelt in a cerfain city. It is elaimed that God ordercd the Israclites to steal all they could from their neighbors before leaving Ezypi. There arc abundant_proofs o _the Bible to sus- tain slavery, polyzamy, and many other atro- foas crimes. b oy this morning’s TRIBUXE that “some réligious bigot ordered _his paper stopped be- cause an article appeared in its columus in re- gard to Beecher. No doubt this same man will read the Psalms of David, and extol the aathor to the skies. David’s sins, as combared to Beecher’s (erantug that Beecher as guilty, ‘which scill remains to be proven), arc 83 mount- ains to_mole-hilis. David not only seduced the wife of his faithful fricnd and bravesoldier, Uriab, Dbut tried to poison him, and _finally, failing in that, he_caused him to be put in the fore front of the battle, und was thereby the direct cause of hisdeath. David was, therefore, guilty of ceduction, bastardy, and murder; yei men who decline to read THE TRIBUNE because it recoras certain facts about Henry Ward Bececiter’s finan- cial success will read all this wickedness of. Da- vid, and call it God’s infallible word. “The Bible cannot be infallible because its ac- coust of creation is unscientific and untruc; and no amoung of relizions quibdling and hes meneutical pettifosging cun ever barmonize the Bible cosmogony " with the demobstrable And wben we learn that God had the sun stand still, so that the bloody Joshua could kill the inhabitants of certain clties, so heand his foliowers could possess themselves of the property that belonged 1o their helpless victims, it maices God violate the laws of the universe_in order to gratify the merciless am- bition of 2 heartless,sblood-thirsty, avaricions Jewish Geaoeral. Again, if the Bible were infallible, it would not contain any contradictory statements. But careful study reveals the face that it is out of all harmony with itcelf, and abounds inexacgera- tions, misstatements, and_palpable contradic- tions. As 2 sample of Bible consistency ob- serve the following. It says: ‘‘ Answer .afool according to his folly.” Ivalso says: ** Answer not a fool actording to his folly.” 2 Chrisc says: . ““If I testify of Myself, my testimony is true.” "Arain He says: “If L testify of Myself, My testimony is not true.”” 1 mav’ hereafter furnish chn%ter and verse, and present to the readers of TRE TRIBUNE 2 list of contradictious that i challenge the clergy of this city to harmonize or explain in the light of rational hermencutics. 1f the Bible is per- fect, and is, as its adherents delieve and teach, the word of the infallible God, then these con- tradictions can all be fully and perfectly ex- plained, and the Seriptures can be made to bar- monize with the revelations of science. The Bi- ble has pothine to fear from an honorable inves- tigatfon into {ts claims, no matter_how uncom- promisingly conducted. If the Bible be not whatitis claimed to be, it is high time that the world was made acquainted with it. Let us have light aud truth, no matter where it strikes or whose faults it reveals. NATHANIEL. SABBATH-SCHOOLS. TUE TSACUERS' MEETING YESTERDAY. The Sabbath-School Teachers' mecting in Farvwell Hall at hoon yesterdav was attended by between 500 and 660 people. After singing © What a friend we have in Jesus,” prager was offered by Mr. W. B. Jacobs, who ssked that they -mighe be filled with the spirit of God and encouraged and helped in their work. Thanks were returned for the tokens of ‘His presence in our midst. ‘The lesson was in Nehemiah, Iv., 718, and Mr. Jacobs said the enemies of God’s people didn’t care anything about the walls of Jeru- salem as lone as nothingZ was done, but when a man came to cheer and encournge the Jews they were wroth; and when God’s people beean the work of restoration their enemies conspired to thwars it. They had to meet the opposition without, and the discouragements of weak-hearted friends. Their refuge in their trouble was God. -+ Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch agaivst them dav and night, because of themn.” Mr. Ebwell sid he would teach the boys the beauty, the usefalneass, the almost ecessity of studying the past. A thivg in the lesson that interested him was the motive of Nehemiah; he sougnt to relieve his fellow-men. Perhaps it was’ notso much worship of God as love of man, the highest form of worship. that in- fluenced him. His missfon was building a wall. We ‘were building one to sbut out sin. The praver and faith of old was good now, but we did not necd the old sword. This century had furnishedanother one,—money, which, while the source of all evil, was the source of almost all ihe good accompiished. Withous it, nothing could be done; with it, almost all the evils could be squelehed. We shoutd watch and pray and usc this sword. Mr. Hobbs made o few remarks to show that Nehemish was 2 man of prever, faith, works, aud zeal. A Christian could not expect to ac- complish anything in this ‘world unless he worked. With sll tlhese qualities one would have success xnd gaia salvation in Christ. A teachier spoke of the practicality of the les- son. The boys should be tauglit to overcome difficultics. Another teacher thought unceasing prayer was the secreg of sucvess. No great work was ever done withou 1t. Aunother remarked that the sword of the Spirit—the Word of God—was needed. S tescher led in pruyer, and then all sang “Yicld Not to Temptation,” with which the exercises were closed. GENERAL NOTES. TItis rumored in Jewish circles that the Kehilath. Anshe Meariv and Sinai congregations of this city are about to unite. Dr. Shaw, of Rochester, says that a Conzrega- tionalist is simpl7 “ a Presbyterian who has left his catechism at home, and forgotten where he Inid it down.” A Methodist minister in Essex County, Mass., was promised a salary of $400. By digging clams and_making shoes he earned 3200 last year, aud his flock withheld that amount from his stiend. It is cited as a curious fact that the public affairs of Englund, a Protestant country. are dirccted by a Jew; thatin Catholic Franée the most important departments of the Govern- ment are dirccted by Protestants: and that the Minister of Foreign Affairs n Turkey is a2 Christinn. The rage for selecting funny titles for sermons has extended all_the way to the usually quiet town of Salem, N.J. A Methodist vlergyman of that place disturbs the habitually unruffled calm which pervades the place by announcing that he will preack on “The Devil’s Hog-Kill- ing Time.” Eleven ministers of the Gospel, a Governor of Pennsylvania, and a United States Senator are among the graduates of a little country Sunday-school at Spring Mills, Peno., organ- ized by the American Sunday-School Union half a century aro. {ts Superintendent, notw in his §1st year, has bevn ao officer in the school for the whole fifty veors. His_son, the Rev. J. D. Wilson, is a pastor in New York City. The rumors of the impending beatification of Pius IX., are set at rest by an oficial publica- tion from the Vatican. According to the gen- eral jaw of the Church a decree pronouncing a per:on * blessed ”? (shich is the preliminary to enrollment in the catalozne of saints) cannot issuc nntil filty yeats affer the death of the candidate, _ Petitions have been oresented to the Holy See for the suspension of this rale, in order thiat the case of Fius IX. may be ined at onez; but Pope Leo hasdecided depart from the usnal course. ‘The Rev. Dr. Morris, of Lane Theologi: Seminary, wants to kmowjwhat is to be done with the Presbyterian ministers who have embraced the belief set forth in the recent Prophetic Con- ference. He would, if he had his own way with them. turn themoutof Church; but the difliculty js that peither the Westminster Confession of Faith nor the Book of Discipline sav anything amainst the holding of their views. Distasteful as these views may be to Dr. Mo eminent Preshyterians, the presence of the bretbren who Boid them will have to be en- dured. Forty-one vears 320, o far as is known, there was not a Baj in Berlin. * In 1837 Gottfried William Lebmapn and five others, the tirst con- verts, were baptised by the Rev. I. G. Oncken, of Bambuig, und a church of seven members was at once organized. of which Lehmann was cliozen pastor. althongh he was not ordained till 1840. “Te good work has gone on till the pres- ent membership of the Berlin Cburch is about 500, of whom from 300 to 400 reside ip the city. Since 1563 the pastor has had as co-laborer in the care of this larze and scattered flock his son, the Rev. Joscoh Lehmann. A liberal friend of the great work of the American Sunday-School Union in the North- wWest has supported a missionary of the Union for tvo years past, and the-Iollowing is the first Tesult of his investment: Sixty new Sunday- schools cstablished in new or destitute settle- ments: 197 men and women enlisied as teach- ers; 1,620 children and yonth brought inus seholars; 261 have professed faith in Christ: 19 churches have been formed; and 517 persons were supplicd with the Scriptures. At an out- Jay of less than _$1 per scholar these children have been placed under Bible instruction at the eritical timne iv their lives. Three thousand two hundred und ninety-one such Sunday-schools liave been establis=ed by the Union in the North- west since 18 /1t has been estimzted that there are fn th State of New York no fewer than 6,400 ecclesi- ustical organizations of all denowminations, occu- pyinz uearly as many edifices, which furnish seats for over 2,600,000 persons, and having an enrolled metbership of 1,300,000 in round num- bers. The aggregate valne of these church- edifices and the fots which they ocoupy is about $101,110,000, to which shonld Fieadded, say, $16,- 500,000, the value of the parsonazes and other real estate belongine the various denominations. 'he Methodist Episcopal Church is the most owerful oue in tiie State, all thinas considered. It has the larzest number of organizations, the largess number of cdifices, the Jargest number of sittings, and pavs its clergymen 20 per cent more money in salaries than any other denomi- Dation. The Rey. Dr. Adams, pastor of the First Con- gregationat Church in Fall River, Mass., is one of the most prominent men in that town; but he has offended a £reat many people by his op- position to the late revival which stirred up the churehes thers. He felt the pressure of public opinion iu his own cburch and out of it enongh to make an explanation of bis condact Jast Sun- day week, in which he declared that he objected to'the machincry that they bring and not to the Evapgelists themselves, and that thuse who at- tended the services worshiped the Evangelist rmuch more than they worshiped God. This ex- lanation has made matters worse rather than getter, since a great mapy of his 0wn congrega- tion sympathized with the Evangelists and at- tended thieir mcetings. There may be a vacans pulpit in that town by and by. 1n o prominent up-town Baptist Church o Brooklyn a whole familv receatiy becatae candi- dates for baptism. Its various members were examined in usual form, and declared_true con~ verts and proper subjects for the administration of the rite. Xot onv did they profess sincere sorrow for their sins ind a desire to lead a god- 1y life, but they also acquainted the church peo~ ple with the 1act of their greac impecuniosity, and humbly suzgested thacrelief would be. act ceptable, both in the matter of raiment und as regarded housebold sapplies. Christian sympa- thy took practical shape to the extent of nearly $200, wud the mew couverts were devoutly thaakful. But very soon after being baptizes and thus formally admitted 3 members of the charch, their zeal for the services of the sancta- ary slackened, and the regularity of their at- tendance'dropped off. Inquiry was iostituted, the result of which was the discovery that the wholc lot had beer. baotized at a ‘down-town Baotist Ciurch last winter. ander cirrnmstances of corresponding nced and relief. Anv other Baptist Church Wantng new recruits can have this choice lot of converts. Although it fs dif- ficuls to ascertain with absolute certainty, thers is good reason to believe that they Dhave been baptized a pumber of times, and there is zo doubt of their willingness to go under-the wa- ter, even in this inclement season, for more clothing and groceries. Perhaps the most remarkable Bible-class in this country is taught at Harrisburg, Pa., by Mr. James McCormick. The teacher is about 30, years old, a_ miltionaire, President of a bank, and the financial manager of a lare business concern. His class has been organized abouc twenty-ive years and now contalos some 300 members, of all ages. Of his pupils be says: There are men in this class who are by no means Christians, men who arenot even reformed. One of the worst mambler< in_this city is, and has been foralone time. a regular attendant ot the Bible- clasz... Nothin:s but sickness would keep him away. Hewsa oad manand confesses it. but there's 3 spark of zoodness in his heart which some day may be fanned into a flama. Why, sir, there is to-dsy up-stairsa womanin my niece’s class who live: With & man wko is not her husbund. Sheisa rez ular attendunt. Some day we lope to makesd thoronghly good woman of her. The following fizures, showing the relative strength of the Sunday-school forces of the sev- eral religious denonnuations, as compared with the regular churchroine population, are con- densed from the statistical tables of the Tnited Brethren Almanac: 5. 8. teachers n fembers. ‘and scholars. Regolar Baptist, North and Sonth.... ST 843,020 Methodist Episcopa 3 3. E. Charch South. . Prosbyterian (North) rotestant Episcopal African M. E African M. E. Zion. Cumberland Presbyteria Reformed (Dutch).... These fizures, says the Christian at #ork, are suggestive, and amoug the lessons they teach not the least important is thut Activity in the Sunday-schaol work is in exact proportion to the measure of church prosperity. When the San~ day-school approaches or exceeds the church in numbers, there is evidence that the membership i3 actisc not only in Sunday-school, but in other Christian work. TIHE FIRST DAPTIST CHURCH. - To the Editor of The Tritune. CHICAGO, Jan. 25.—Some reports recently ap- peared in THE TRIBUNE derogatory to the Kirnt Baptist Charch. As a member of that church, und by request § wish to say that the statement that the First Church is on the *verze of disso- Jution ’ is totally untrue. The fact is that thev have farge, ioteliizent congregations every Sabbath; the prayer-meetings are large aud spirited, evincinr & good degree of piety and avility. Again, it was asserted that plans were on foot tonaite with the Michigan- Avenue Charch. We wish that church prosperity, and sincerely hope they will be able to sursive their troubles; but theré s no plan whatever now, nor will there ve, for any such union. If any interested party aflirms it he speaks foolisbly. The First Church is now struzgling to arrange for its in- debtedness, but this is true of otber churches. It is without a pastor, but that is true of other churches also. “Yhe church is united and in- tends to be so, and all zeports injurions to the church are simply and Atterly untrue. ONE Wro Kxows. PERSONALS. The Rev. Jack Walkingstick is a Cherokes ‘Baptist clerzyman. G. R. Chubbuck {s conducting a revival in 0ld Town, Me., With great religions interest. Moody believes in mothers bringing their ba- bies to church, and hoves it will become the fashion. . The Rev. T. D. Anderson preaches his fare- - well sermon to-day to the First Baptist Church of. New York. ‘The” Rev. H. K. Pervear, of the First Baptist Chureh of Cambridgeport, Mass., has tendered his resignation. 5 The Rev. A. B. Marshall has accepted the call to the pastorate of the Presbyterian Church at New Lisbon, O. ' It is reported that the Rev. Jonn Henry New- man has been chosen as the successor of thelats Cardinal Cullen. . Spurgeon denics the charge made by Neal Dow that he is given to teking a little wine for his stomach’s sake. The Rev. Carlos T. Chester ';ll!- be-instailed-- the pastor of the Andrew Presbyterian Chuarch, of Minncapolis, to-day. - Bishop Simpson, of the M. E. Church, says that in forty-five years preachinz he has mever attempted to read a sermon. i The Presbyterian Church loses one of its mast. valusble preachersin the recent death of the Kev. Elias R. Beadle, of Philadelphia. ‘The Rer. J. G. Haigh, lately a Methodist min- ister in Arcadia, Wis., iS now preparing to re- ceive orders in the Episcopal Charch. ‘The Rev. George Clinton Wood, who labored in Jacksonville, 11, as a Presbyterian mission- ary for twenty-two vears, died in that city on the 5th inst., aged 3. The Rev. Mr. Mansfleld bas resizned the par- 1sh in this city which was formed by the union of St. Jobn’sand the Atonement, and will take a parish in the East. ; The Rev. J. McGrath, of Battle Creek, Mich., is proposed for Bishop of the Eastern Protes- tant Episcopal Diocese of thut State, in the place of Bishop McCoskry, resigned. ‘The Rev. George 8. Todd, some time Chap- Tam ot St. Luke’s Hospital in this city, has been added to the Cathedral staff in Milwaukee. Ho will be a zealous laborer among the poor. The members of St. Paul’s Church, Norden, England, have preferred charges against the Rey. C. H. Whitehead for mumbling through the service aud preaching sermous only seven minutes long. The Bishop, of Huron, Canada, will remain in England all this winter to further the fnterests of the Western University, of London, Ont. He nas already sent over £1,500 sterling for this institution. Bishop Kip, ot California, has deposed from the ministry of the Protestant Episcopal Church the Rev. Gearge M. Hobbard, who had previons- 1y left that Church for the Reformed énbm&! Church in San Francisco. The two oldest Unitarian ministers in the country—by_ordination—are the Rev. Calvin Lincoln, of Hicgham, Mass.. and the Rev. In- crease Sumner Lincola, of Wiltan, N. R., both of whom were ordained in 1524, P The Rev. W..D. Owen, who has officiated as pastor of the Cbristian Church, corner of South Park’ avenue and Thirty-third street, since its orzanization, und hag ereatly endeared himself to his congregation, is oblized, owing to falling Dealth, to give up breaching, and witl fill his ‘pulpit for the iast time this morninz. He leaves the present week for Crawlordsville, Ind., his future home. SERIOUS SMILES. It is said that Bob Ingersoll is engaged in get~ ting up matter on Job's life fora lecture. It will probably boil over with fan. Oysters are pulling on their overalls in an- ticipation of the coming church festivals. All that is demanded of them {5 that they wade through a barrel of rain water. Obitusry in the Philadelplia Record: “Littls ‘Tommie has gone throngh all the diseases in- cident tochildren, but was at Jast cailed to his cternal home as a jewel for the heavenly diadem.” There s nothing that fils the soul of a voung man with consternation so much as to take his Test girl to praver-meeting, and have the pastor call upon *our _stranger friend for a few re. marks and a prayer.” Vre are surronaded by danger from the cradle to the grave: and the only wouder, as an Irish~ wan says, is that. having our first appearance in - long enough to reach the latter. The_evening prayer-meetings are by tended by the male Sex in-this munth.eu'al';elrz are seasons when a man’s rélizions convictions are 5o stron that he will not remain away from 2 service even to help lift a stove or to put down a carpet. A colored preacher in Norwich a while 220 zave out the following announcement: *Brotu- ers and sisters, next Sunday, the Lord willing, there will be a baptizing” in this place, the caudidates being four adalts and three adult- eresses!?” iv’s all very mice to talk about attending praver-meetioz. Sut s nice cozy parlor with a sofa hardly biz enough for two catches two. thirds of ‘the younz people quicker than a prayer-meeting house with a whole seat to themselves. “ Pat your tru v in Him who doeth well,” said ¢ mint er to a sick m:n v‘v%:‘u‘::hf: was helping . at- inat the depot yesterdyy, wt-% vol 7 fumy company,” pat fn the former, we fhould ever succeed fn living o