Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, July 3, 1881, Page 9

i HE CHICAGO WiIBUN: vuUL wUinVArs vy, fool ots LinKIN PAGins, Per Cent Discount, or one- fifth off on all Cash Sales until August ist. be deducted. ORMER RHGULAR PRICHES, from which the 20 per cent will position at the junction of three streets, and at have been a diminutive specimen of a city. It seems impossible. Sixthy, 1 believe that the Monasticism In Japan — Papal Magnificence and Oriental . Loxury. Father Curci’s Lest Work on Polit- ical Catholicism Con- de-aned, The Bad Infiuence of the Russian Clergy on the People of the Czar. Or. Newman Suggests that the Time 1s Ripe for a Revision of the Canon. VICTORY OF GOD’S WORD. BY-THE REV, DWIGHT WILLIAMS. *Sosbull my word be,"” Whither sent. It goes with strength omnipotent: A conquering sward with royal spoil treasures more than corn and oil. eet my word be;”” ike the rain Descending on the thirsty plain, ich bringeth Howers, and Lringeth seed, ‘smiles away our human need. “epstally word be;"" ver sure fortunes on their tide. * “Soshall my word be." eongs that never tore shall eesso. “Soshat my word be;" Asa king Ptauted home with welcoming, Betureties Dearing in his train, 's Word, and not in vain. MONASTICisMt IN JAPAN. ’ i eRY AND PAPAL MAGNIFI- TRO RIVAL, EACTIONS. mn Mal cae two decates which bave been go rey- of te the civil institutions and customs regio em ‘ave still left discerotble in bor gd the. by mimonts Signs of great vitality. the princely subst sects have lost much of ria Patronage which they enjoyod in fone ond which Is 60 necessury for the nonte) nce beers splendor of a cere- And weal ¥ ey are not lacking pious kire them: devotees sutticiently nunierous to the case site ple support. This is pre¢minentiy lial deel tO Several of the most in- na Genominations whose accumulating canlly priens them to carry out large and tthe Monto. Shines Noticeable is: tho activity Sd Mt ingneia EEY Ceclesiustics, who do not “ staat with a strict conservatism in Yerles forgien ens PRECEDE 19 adopt in thelr tung lassen forms and materials, to tostow othe cols on the Lurcpenn model, and eon i er cleus of advancing with the times. Mnber or etical standpoint, the greater rau hybrid constructions cannot be fodomiean 4 Satisfaction, but they denote an i not wt ity, and a, spirit of progress comtenpsting thout import to those who aro Jaith changes in the long-established japan. -in ancient feud Of the people of J; ito Shinshu fraternity into ‘a the Mont ‘h, though possessing one 25 malniain eqn”, tenets, hold rivul claims ae lependent institutions. Oruin- Spe {monastery Occupied the site of n of Osaka, from which well- latter, in Son was sppoint- ed..suceessor, Hideyoshi, intent _upon--the tion, with many professions of triendstip and py means of munificent gifts, succeeded in remov- ing the monastery and_estublisning it with be- comiug splendor at Kioto, thereby founding what are vow known as the conveutual build- ings of Nishi'Hougan in that city. The death of Hideyoshi was followed by the encouraxement on the part of lyeyusu of the disinberited heir, who was thus assisted in Institutimg tho rival monastic buildings of Higushi Hongun. For several centuries those central estubiusiments of tho Eustern Hougan surpassed in maxnif- cence those of their western cuafréres, but a succession of devustating contiagrativas bas left them little but their benutiful grounds and replaced them in 1 secondary position. The grand rebul.ding projects towards which many provinces, and esfecially that of Owari, bave lately so liberally contributed, are to be under- taken in restoring WUigashi Hongunji to its former grandeur. abbatial buildings of Brel Meanwhile the Bouganji, as founded -under the pitrona Taikosuma, remain one of the most his interesting groups in Japan, - Tkese include two large oratories, one dedicated to Amita Buddba and called Amidd-do, unu the other sn- cred to the founder of the sect and going by the name of Kaixan-do. The former contuins xo jmaxe of the Deity, poytraits of tho seven futhers of the faith,—two Indian, turee Chinese, and tvo native—also a portrait of the great Buddhist propzgator, Shotoku Taishi. ‘Che lut- ter building contains the wooden stutuet of the founder, the grunt boue of contention between the two rival houses. Though practically the sume buildings a3 those erected under Hildeyo- shi's patronage, the in-do and Amuida-do have both reccived considerable renovating during the years l63vand A.D. More fraught with general interest ig the Abbet’s patace and the ornamental grounds adjoining, in which stands the Hiunkaka, one of those pleasure places for tea-drinking and {dle enjoyment so popular in the days of Nishi Honwau’s great patron. This tea-palace, the oldest building in the monastery, had been originally erected by ‘Yaikosama as bis own sutnmner resort at Juraku, and was in those days once honored by a visit from tho Emperor bimself. The transferrence of 2 dwelling aga gift apart from the estate on whieh it stands, incompatible as it may be with our Europeun ideas, is in_ no wise inconsistent with custom nor iinpracticable in Japan, and this light picturesque structure was accordingly hunded overus a mark of favor to the Hon~ ganjl cenobites to erect upon their own conse- erated rounds. ‘fwo ice-cold springs supply the water,which, carried in meandering streams amid rockeries and benexth fancy bridges, terminates in a deep tish-pond encircling the Duilding,—a_three-storied construction In grad- ually receding stage3,—whose white wooden walls and roofs of shingie time has mellowed to an asien y. Within, the old sterm bath which Hicesoshi ig said to bave used, the ven- erable written tablets which hang in dingy frames from the ceiling, and tho fuded paintings on walls und slides, testify to the veritable untiquity of this picturesque pile. The Abbot's Palace, 23 1t has been thought appropriate to the official residence of the chief of this ishment, {3 one of those build- alway$ existed in connecdon and which, supply well-pro- religious establ jugs which hav served examples of the more luxurious cl: domestic abodes. The larger Yuashiki of civ ians have many of them been repiuced by miunsious of foreign type, whilst others have undergone internal changes so complete as to rob them of ull interest to the artist Of antiquarian, Parts of tho palace | in Kioto, the present temporary palace ‘okio, and certain rooms in the castle buildings of Osaka, now the Kioto;Fucho,—provide other rare e: amples of the magnificence of domestic as dis- tinguished from ecclesiastical decoration. ‘In the monastery of Nishi Honan we tind all the retinement and luxury of Papal mazificence rather than the simplictty of cluistered ascet- icism. The principle roouis of the palace were reconstructed here xfter the death uf Taikosuma, having been removed from Momoyamaka ut Fushim, where they had formed the favorit regurtof that Prince. The principal of theseare the larze pillared reception hull (O-hiroma) and* the udjuining suite of rooms, which increase in richness towards the dais-chamber of jodan no ima. The reception hall, which is intended for special assemblies, is furnished with a raised dais, separated from tho main portion by a row of columns partly filled in with gracefully cusped tracery and pierced wooden panels. ‘The wall at the back of this dais is provided with the heavy lacquered slides, shelves, and recesses peculiar to a hich’ class room, and on the plaster walls above are large. ting palate ings from Chinese history, on a gotd back- ground. ‘The gilt slides which fll in the re- maining sides are decorated. with paintings, the subject of which is the stork and pine tree in varied combinations. The adjoining chaum- ers are called the Shiro-jo-in on account of the light and brilliant tone of the doceraton adopt- ed. A decided preponderance of gilding, sotn- bined wita crenm colored grounds and brown lacquered furnishings, produces a general eifect of amber and gold. Here and there a sprinkling of bright culor in the drapery of the figures, or patches of blue and emerald in the landscapes, relieves the sunny warmth of the general tonc- Of these three rooms the dais-chamber is the most gorgeous, being filled with lacquered ghelves, picture recesses, a trellised orlel and hundsome élides huoz with silk tassels. which open on the dais, for the entrance of the great est dignitaries. Into this jedan no ma itis sald in this finportant post=~' that none but men of high rank were admitted, inferior suppligants or messengers taking thelr Pwsition in the adjoining or further chamber, uocording to their importance. In pursuance of this custom it often happened that a itor of low rank~- was compelled te address the seated magnate from a distance of some thirty feet, and at x level lower by two steps, the tloor of cach room being raised one step above the next. These secondary apartments, dec- orated fn similar character, have each different subjects of embellishment taken trom Nature's: store of lower and plumage. The divisional pillars and Iatels, between which, when circum- stances require, painted slides ure inserted, are filled in permanently toward: the top, with ved and trellised panels calted “*ramma.” ch ramma forms perhaps oue of the most ornamental features of Japanese buildings. Some are desicned in. open arabesques or diapers, and some of pierced carving, with end- less variety of: form and motive. Hanging bunebes of wisteria twining amid the dainty lattice-work, lying pheasants ina Iabyrinth of leaves, wild-ceese souring through conventional eloud-putterns, are but 2 few of the subjects to be noted in the xubatint building of Nishi Honwan. These pierced carvings are wrought mustly in alto relievo and worked 80 as to be viewed from cither, side. A small sacristy or robing-room adjoins these apartments, equaling them in the elegance of its furnishings and puintings, and baying the further charm of minuteness. The sensational charm of the diminutive in size Is a source from which many literatures have drawn and to which wo owe the ittiraction of fairy tiles and many pretty stories. The Japanese, however, sco alone to have adopted it as a principle of arehi- tectural design, 23 2 means of plensing monu- mental etfect. For other nations tho great coup bus always beea one of surpassing size.—the sensation of grandeur and miigniticence of pro- portions. Here in Japan we tind in the Cha sext and other buildings and npartments the exactly opposit impression of surpa-sing tinyness worked out with almost equal cess. From such pninted enambers and fuiry halls the assombled ecnobites looked out in the vid days upon the mysterious posturings of tho No and other sacred dances, These performances took place upon a covered stage across the open court, trom which ‘a winding cortile legds to the more private apart- ments and kitchen Sitices. FATHER CURCI. IIS LAST RELIGIOUS WORK PLAC! “INDEX EXPURGATORIUS A pamphict from the pen ot Father Curci has recently appeared in Rome.'and has been read with a good deal of interest in religious circles owing to the position which he takes in recard to tho relations between the Cbureh and the State. Toward the close of the reignof Pius IX. Father Curel was expelled trom the Order of Jesuits, of which by renson of his abilities as a writer and preacher be had been tho leader in Jtaly, on account of his opinions on Cuurch topics. His new work is.entitled, “Tho New Italy and Old Zealots.” The portion that will bo read perhaps with most interest js that in which he describos Leo XIII., and accounts ror his fail- ure to carry outa conciliatory policy: “From what be wrote when in a bumbler station,” says Futher Curci, “from mis public. acts in his present high one, from what Iam wold by most worthy personages who know him inti- mately, Leo XIII. in many respects, and not of the best, forms 2 marked contrast to his prede- cessor. He ponders well before resolving, does not act by caprice,as Pius IX. otten did, and defers to tho opinion of the majority to the point of sacrificing his own inspirations. This pliable disposition rendered him the prey of the atmosphere impregnated with adulation and fanaticism ereated at the Vatican by Pius IX. On receiving for the first time the Suered Col- ege of Cardinals, he expressed bis intention to govern tho Church according to ancient cus- tom, setting due store by their counsels, not per- ceiving that the system or ubuses introduced arbitrarily and strengthened by time could only be eradicated as arbitrarily. The evil etfects of this noble deference showed themselves in his first Encyclical as Cardinal Bishop of Perugia, Whilst deploring the great evils which mar mod- ern clyilization, he recognized its good elements, ‘and thought the best remedy for the former wus to encour:ue the latter. Nor does he appear to have changed his mind. Ile is determined to sanction no usurpation against the Church, fnaintaintng her sicred immortal rights in the sphere of Justice; but practically ne cannot but wish all ood to New Italy, and chicily the ces- sation of the strife which bas now lasted tweuty years between Church and State, the source of inestimable evils to both. I have guod reason to believe that he bad aot only harbored but elab- orated these views, intending to set them forth in his first Encyclical. This felicitous aud sacred inspiration, which — would ave given peace to Italy and a now impulse to ber religious lite, remained without effect for the above reasons.” Furtner on Father Curct shows that the Church in itty, is traversing a period of decay, and dwells specially on the decline of theological studies and the neglect of the Bibie by the clerzy. He ry DIN THE maintains that, Provi e4s leading the Church toward a tinal epee eaE eats tho State, and be urges the necessity of her adapting herself to the modern form of society, namely—Democ- racy. What isto become in this sepnration of the property of the Chureh Father Curci Seems to cara little. pointing out how the wealth of cho Chureh has detracted from her spirituall- ty. A. dispaten from Rome a few dass aro stated that a decree of the Index Expurgatorius nad condemned the book, and that Father Curci had disavowed it. A DANCING PROCESSION. ° STRANGE PERPETUATION OF ST. VITUS? DANCE LN GERMANY. Serlin Correspondence Lonton Tetearaph. Not far from those places of rendezvous for all nations of the civilized world a spectacle bus been attracting the curiosity of thousands which jeads us buck to the depths of the Middle Ages, although {t 13 repeated year-by year. lam spexkiug of the Villuge of Echternach and its far-famed dancing procession. Fromm 15,000 to 20,000 pilgrims—I could not ob- tain more accurate information about the num- bers—assemble on some meadows within the Prussian territory, but close to the confines of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg. The inbabit- ants of different villages—men and women apart collect belind their clergymen, and a band of musicians fs placed in tho front.’ As the clock strikes 5on Tuesday morning in Whitsuntide a priest walks up the steps of 2 rude wooden pul- pitand thence addresses tho multitude, then already swollen to an ineredible extant by sigat- seers, who come by special trains and every imaginable veniclo to be. present at the per- formances. The community which happens to be nenrest the rond stands forth, preceded by thelr priest, who, however, docs not dance. Two men or two women hop away first two steps in advance, and then one backward, the bund playing a most monotonous tune. “Abraham bad seven sons, seven sons; seven sons had Abraham,” are tho words to this terrible melody, which each suc- ceasive set, as they join tne procession, take up with inereastpg vieer. Hour after hour passes away before the Inst people havestarted on their miles of way to the foot of the Church of St. Willerad, whence thoy zo up fifty steps, round and round the altar, and finally descend the titty steps. Nothing can excced the excitement and exhaustion among the dancers. old and young, Great are the numbers of those who, in spite of un occusionnl draught of water offered by char- itable bystanders, gink down on tho grass or on the dusty road not to rise for hours. The quos- tion is naturally asked: What does all this mein? ‘the inswer is: 1t is intended to perpetuate the remembrance of a frightful epidemic of St. Vitus’ Dance, which carried olf bundreds of victims in the neizhborhood re- ferred to some time during the fifteenth cen- tury; to offer up prayers und Vows to the patron saint: torecognize 2 miraculous cessation of the epidemic, and it is a fultilment of vows then that, in gratitude, there should be yearly dances performed,—two hops forward and one buck- rd, as closely resembling tho. visitation from which Heaven had delivered them as rbythm and guod taste would allow. During the French occupation in 1703 the pro- cession was forbidden, but the easy-going Dutch Government of Luxembourg buve allowed it to ve revived. ‘To judze from whit could bo seen this yeur of the drunken and debauctery in the numberless public-houses frequented by the pilgrims after their long fasting and exertion, I am inolined to think it would have been better to have continued the prebibition. TIE RUSSIAN CLERGY. THEM INFLUENCE ON SOCIETY IN THE CZAR’S 4 DOMINIONS. Aarticle in Macmillan's Magazinesays: Rus- siawsociety, skeptical to the core, has unfor- tunately a parochial clorgy utterly incapable of putting itself into relution with the thinking portion of the community, aclergy among whom men of literature and men of tho world alike have ceased to look for learning or moral eleva- tion. Neither in their writings nor in their min- istrations, still less in social iutercourse, are the Russian clergy as a body able, or apparently willing, toenter into the discussion of those problems of life and mind which borderon ro- ligion. But the negation of the infinit leads in- inevitably to Nibilism; and philosophical Nibul- isin. in its practical. application, cuds in the disintegration of the social and moral life of the nation. In fact, the influence of the clergy at this momentous crisis is most unwholesome: it ds that of the suit which hus lost its suvor. Hlliterate themselves, furnished with scanty information picked up inill-organized semi- navies, they fail entirely as pioneers of culture umon;z one of the most backward peasuntries of modern Europe. “God be thanked,” a devout Russian layman is reported to have said, the Eastern Church has never ruicd that religious light and Instrac- tuon are contined tothe clerzy?’ It. is a pity that what light thore 13 1s almost entirely con- fined to the laity, who themselves are’ only in the possession of refracted light from- German und French sources. But an’ ignorant. priest- bond will of necessity put impediments in the way of jutellectual advance. ‘Thus we find the reading of the Bible not forbidden indeed, yet ut the same time not encouraged. Priest and people kiss the book revercutially, but other- wise neglect it. Cases have come under the notice of the present writer of copies of the Bible having been carefully wrapped up and put by in the houses of peasants with the remark, “Now, litle mother, the good God cannot be bard on us when we have such a sacred treasure in the house.” Religious fenorance accordingly relgns supreme. An instance, related by an En- glish traveler, of 2 Russian peasant who, being uskes if be could name the threc persons of thi ‘Trinity, replied without hesitation, * OF course, it is the Savior, the Moth f God, und St. Nich- olag, the Miracle-worker,” is by n0 means a very unusual exbibition of ignorance. Religion amounts in many worshtp. ‘What kind of obedi to the Uzar?” inquires the Catechism. Answor— “An entire, passive, and unbounded obedience in evory point of view." The Czar, in short “the infulliblo vicegerent of God Almighty. The devotfons of the people are reduced to me~ Chunicnl formuly, there are no service-books in which to follow the prayersof the Cburch, and serinons are _scidom preached to appeal to their minds and consciences. The sight of a small prayer-book in. the kand of 2 lady at mass cnuses much concern ton old-fashioned ehurch~ goer in one of Lourgenieif’s novels: “ What ig she ubout?” be exciai “God forgive me! She must be a witeh—or what?” In the report ou ecclesiustical matters by Count Tolstoi, a rather portly volume, two Li only are occupied with vreaching, where it says, However, very properly, that the re- ligious and moral education of the people de- pends on Church schools and preaching in tho first Instance. Religious acts are regarded more in the light of magic incantations, and religious belief degenerates Into debating superstition. Faith in the wonder-working power of icons and suered relies is unbounded. The effect of this on the minds of the higher classes, half-cultured themselves, biases, and miorally vitiated, is most pernicious, whilst sLu- dents of science and the Modern Itussian party, with its strong leanings toward realistic views of life,.turn away diszusted from the teuchings of a clergy whom they consider only’as ignorant boors. The Nihilist conspirators niostly belong to this advanced section, und it is 1 notable fact that not one of them when condemned in former Ctute trials, would have anything to do with the “comforts of religion.” but scornfully rejected tho oflices of the Church in the extreme moment. GENERAL NOTES. Sixteen Jesuits were recentty expelled from Niouraua because they stirred up a strife over the appointment by the Government of a parish priest for the Village of Matagaipa. The result of the strife was a riot in svhich a dozen lives were lost and much property destroyed. ‘The-Church Union says that the Revised New ‘Testament hus been adopted for all services inthe chapel of the Theol al Seminary at ‘Andoyer and in Phlllins Academy. President Porter has introduced it in the Yule chapel. Dr. McCosb reads from it in connection with the old version in the religious services he conducts at Princeton College. : Native churches have already been organized in several districts of. Africa, especially Sierra Leone, Liberlu, Lagos, and South Africa, in which latter it 1s estimated that there are 40,000 communicants and a Christian community of 180,000. Yet, asa whole, these missions have only fringed the border lands of Africa, with some success in penctrating from the South to the Bechuannas, Basutos, and other South African tribes. ‘Tho Intest religious sensation is the following from the Church Union: “ Work on the excava- tion of aceilar for tho new Methodist Cuurch at Florence, N. J., received a plensunt start at the hands of the ladies. ‘Iwenty-five of the young- est and best looking, attired in graceful ard ap- propriate costume, dug out the first cart-load of earth. The occasion was one of great interest, n large crowd being present and applauding the helpful ladies. : On the 26th ult. the centeuntal anniversary of the serving of the first mass in Connecticut was observed ut St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church in Harttord. The tirst mass celebrated was by ‘Abbe Robin, chaplain of the French troups under Rochambeau whu were passing bere on their way to the Hudson. In the centennial mass Bishop McMahon was the celebrant. A sermon was proached by the Rey. Thomas O'Gorman, of the Paulist Fathers, of New York. Near the entrance to Lincoln Park stands a liquor saloon built of relies of the great flre that swept our elty ten yes ago. The queer struct- ure attracts many curious eyes that look with wonder upon its walls of amafgamated glass and iron. But the place now has a new and peculiar interest to the people of St. Malthow’s parish, to ali Reformed Episcopalians, and to Christians of every name, because tts site is to be re- deemed and consecrated by a house of worship, cat wil invite the thousunds who frequent Lin- col and throng the adjacent streets. Its vance on the followiyg disputed points: The gate of the great pleasure grounds, is pe- cullarly advantageous. Pastor Adams has the architect's pluns for a building, and hopes to bave it ready for dedication. before Christmas.— Episcopal Recorder. Some time ago it was announced in Taz Trrm- UNE that a revised New Testament in the Welsh language was about to be made. A committee, composed wholly of clergymen, has beon ap- pointed by the four Welsh Bishops to report on the subject. The work will be carried out on the principles and .methpd of the English re- vision; which means, it is to be presumed, that some noncomformist scholars will be associated ie the enterprise with Church of England di- vines. One of the hastily-prepared books on revision, snys the Methodixt, bis obtained a peculinr dis- tinction. It isnot very uncommon for a news- puper to report the death of a man still alive and able to read his obituary, The haste witn which dafly newspapers are prepared renders such mistakes possible. But Dr. Isaac H. Hall, in a book on revision, reports as dead one of the liveliest and most ferociously healthy men known to us, Dr. George R. Crooks, formerly editor of the Methodist, and now Professor in Drew Theological Seminary. ‘ne Primitive Methodists at, Frodingham, England, have a primitive way of holding ‘their public breakfasts. fecently they had what they’ calla “ May Morning Breakfast.” The chapel was lavishiy decorated with Howers, pliuts, canary birds, and parrots. The first table was ready at halt-pxst 5 o'clock, at which strunge- ly early hour a large company sat down, After they bad eaten a sermon was preached. The next table was rendy ut half-past 7, when the Inte risers and laggurds came along. The fes- tivities were kept up pleasantly for the greater part of the morning. ° Considerable excitement has been caused by the substitution of “from the evil one” for the familiar words of the Lord’s Prayer by the re- visers of the New Testament. A strong urcu- ment for the old traustation, says the Zndepend- ent, can be drawn from the post-Biblical litera- ture of the Jews. ‘he Karaites have a prayer in which the words occur, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver from the evil event "— words which appear to be the prototype of those used inthe prayer. The Hebraistic character of the Lord’s Prayer bus often been noticed. Almost every clause in it can be matched by similur Jewish petitions, and the idioms are throughout Hebraistic. Dean Stanley makes summary work of the yestment cgut‘o-: rsy. Te asserts that the dress of the clergy bed uv distinct intention, symbol- ical, sacerdotal, sucriticial, or mystical, butorig- inated simply in tne tashions common to the whole community of the Roman Empire era. They were not borrowed, in the first instance, mm Agron’s wardrobe, or thé Flaman’s ves- t and, if they symbolize anything, the: symbolize {dens contrary to those ascribed fhe eigniticance of these dresses,” he declares, “ rests on no historical foundation, and there is the wide distinction between theirorizin aud the origin of tha ecclessiusticul vestments ot other religions; the tormer were intended, not ta separate the minister from the people, but to make him in outward show and appe:r- ance exactly the same.” ‘Tho Rev. J. P. Newman now favors a revision of the sacred ‘Canon, and suys: We are better prepared to say what books snould be consid- cred canonical than the Council ot ‘trent. There should be a convocation of representatives of the whole Church to revise the canon. - ‘There 33 a division of opinion ns to Some of the books, and men of the deepest learning and piety would omit some books now considered canon- feal. Thoy may be .wroug in their Judgment, and future investizauon may be in proof. ‘The Old ‘Testament canen cannot beeasily disturbed, Yet there are many who would be glad to see Solomun's Song omitted aud forgotten. The ‘New ‘Testament cunon might be increased. And doubtless a tlood of light could be given to the Cburch as to when, where, bow, and by whoin each of the sucred| byoks was writteu. Now is the opportunity; the’ public mind is excited: the attention of the world is called to the Bible; the people know of no other revelation; they request uo other, but they demand the calm, scholarly, impartial judgincat of those whose picty and learning entitle them to the respect- ful faith of mankind. The Kev. Theodore L. Cur ler in one of bis let- ters from Jerusalem says: “Every visitor to Palestine is tempted to try a Kittle ‘identification of ancient sites on his own hook. I bave. caught the infection, and bave reacheda co:nfortable degree of gee First, believe in the genuiness of the Betbichem Chapel of the Nativity us the true site of the birth of Jesus Christ; secondly, Ldo not believe in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as the spot of his crucitixion and buriel. The elevation out~ side of the Damascus Gate, near tne ‘Grotto of Jeremiah,’ seems tenfold: more likely to bave been both the scene of his crucifixion und of the stoning of Stephen; thirdly, { hold that Christ ascended from the green hill immediately #e- hind Bethany, not from Olivet. It is the soutb- eastern spur of the mount of Olives. Fourthly, 1 believe that the Temple was built right over tho ‘Rock,’ und that the upper pool of Siloam (now called the * Virgin’s Pool’) was the genuine Bethesda. Fifthly, if the second wall ran in- side of the spot where the Church of the Sepul- chre now stanas, then ancient Jerusalem must grave of Luzarus was that open hewn tomb just this side of Bethuny. 1 also believe in the Brook Cherith, near Jericho, asthe most beau- tiful streamI have seen in Palestine. To all these opinions I willstick until another man ag wise as Dr. Edward Kobinsomcomes along to overthrow them.” From statistics published in the Harvard Daily Echo, it appears that of 1,000 students in the college proper and in the law and scientific schools 28.8 per cent are Episcopalians, 22.5 por cent Unitarians, 17.6 per cent Congregational- ists, 4.3 per cent Buptists, 34 per ceut Roman Cutholics,3 per cent Presbyterians, 2 per cent Swedenborgians, and 1.6 per cent Methodists. The agnostics, athoists, and non-sectarians number only 13 per cent, and the remaining 33 r cent includes the Lutherans, Spiritualists, utch Reformers, and a few other sects. The following table shows the prefereaces of the students upon which the above percentages are based: 27|Congregationalists . 176 12) Presbyterians.. wv 43/Quukers.... oe. 2 1|Koman Catholics... 34 2|Spirituatists... i’ 1)Swedenborgians Of the 193 members of the Senior class which is graduated this year, sixty-one are Episcopu- lians and thirty-seven only are Guitacians,while fifteen doubters have become atheists or. g- nostics. PERSONALS. Rabbi Bonkeim has received a call from the B'nai Sholom congregution of this city. The Rev. O. H. Tiffany, D. D., formerly of this city, but now of Philadetphia, has safled for England to participate in the Methodist Ecu- menical Council. ‘The Rev. L. P. Mercer, pastor of the Union Swedenborgian Church, will preach this fore- noon on “The Nature and Uses of Communism.” The Sucrament of the Holy Supper will follow the service. The Kev. A. J. Meyer, who has been appointed by Pope Leo XUL condjutor Bishop of the Gal- veston Diocese of Texas, was for four years President of St. John’s College in Brooklyn. He wus born in Germany in 1810, and cume to this country when 15 years old. For some years ho [ooh pustoral duties in St. Louis and in more. It is commocly reported that the Rev. C. J. H. Ropes, for tive years pastor at Ellsworth, Me., fy to be invited to the Chair of Greek and He- brew Exegesis made vacant by the resignation of Prof, D.S. "Talcott. His masterly essay on the Re¢ision, at the lute Maine Conference, made apparent to the public, whut bis own peo- ple had tong known, that he is a rare scholar, a sharp, clear writer and reasoner, with a genius for digging at rvots of language and thought. Pere Hyacinthe will sail for the United States in September next, havig been invited by mem- bers of different churches to yive a series of conferences in the larger cities of America. Mme. Loyson will accompany him. In addition to Pére Hyacinthe there are two other distin~ guished clergymen attached to the Gallican Church in the Rue d’Arras,—one a young Amer- ican priest. from New Orleans, who preaches equally well in French and English. The Church hus need of funds for its development and ex- tension, and that is the main reason that Pére. Hyactothe is coming to America. - CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK. EPISCOPAL, July 3—Third Sunday after Trinity. July 8—Fast. CATHOLIC. July 3—Fourth Sunday after Pentecost; Fea of tho Most Precious Bl July 4—St. Leo IL, P. C. July 5—St. Francis Caraccloto, C. (from June 4) July 6—Octuvo of SS. Peter and Paul. ~ ‘july 7—-St. Boniface, Apostle of Germany (from Judie 5). July 8-St. Elizabeth, Queen of Portugal. July 9-St. Norbert, B. C. (froin June 6). ——— One of the most marked and curious, feat ures of the present uiusical season fs thr absence of the conventional signboard upos the piano in the concert-room. Itis under stood that thisis owing to two reasons: First the dealers found that the signboard was ap to be placed of @ poor instrument; second the Haliet & Davis Coinpany, which has ne signboards, but. sells its instruments purely ° upon their excellence and merit, has outselling them. jancy, clearness, and long wear, the Hallet & Davis needs no concert advertising. . When it comes to_brilk- Oh, how refreshing, palatable, and reviving - a draft of cool water with Hop Bitters in it, tos fever patient. ‘: -. b Peagtes