The New York Herald Newspaper, December 20, 1851, Page 6

The Congregational Church, ITS CHARACTER, PHILOSOPHY, AND HISTORY IN THE | UNITED STATES. It would be a matter of no small difficulty to find | out the precise date when Congregationalism began its existence. Lord King is said to have ascertained that the primitive churches were Congregational ; but the most we could ever Jearn from his lordship’s luoubrations is, that they wore in the habit of choos- ing their own ministers, and therefore could not have been the most primitive. Still, it is allowed that we meet with trace: of the Congregational principle ve early in history; and the present race a are looked upon as descended from an ancient and respectable organization. It is not true, as many seem to think, that Con- gregationalism originated with the Puritans of England. This was only a third or still later edi- tion of it ; the thing itself existed long before, and there was a revival of Independency, as truly as there was a revival of letters, under the fostering genius of the Reformation. As early as the reign of Queen Mary, churches are known to have been formed in England on the congregations! prin- ciple. In the native town of the writer of this retrospect, is still a Congregational church, from which, (in Mary’s reign, of course,) a martyr was taken, and burned in the city of Coventry. ‘Tradition still hands down the dreadful particulars. And the descendants of the martyr, who are still among the most important members of said church, are most deeided Congregationalists, and not only Protestants against Rome, but Protestors against the Church of England, and haters of prelacy in every shape and form. | is foolishness to burn men, for their spirits come again ; and if even the church of Rome could only put Ler hand to her heart, and say before God, that she had never killed a saint, and had never put gunpovder under the king, she would be considered a highly respectable old lady, and a fit wife for the Archbishop of Canterbury. A late writer on churches and sects, tellsus that the first Congregational church which can be traced, with agy degree of accuracy, was in 1583. But this | must be a very great mistake. The fact is that the Congregationalists, under the reign of Mary, met and held their worship in the night; not always in the same place, but in places agreed | upon from time to time. And thus they con- tinued their religious rites, till it should please | Godto take that she head of the church to himself, or let the devil have her. We haveno certain knowledge of the way in which she was disposed of, and therefore can only guess—a privilege which is allowed to Yankees all over the world. If Congre- getional churches were unknown in this reign, it ‘was not because they did not exist; but because this more than she Haynau, instead of sending them to another world ina mild and comfortable manner, asthe Spaniards despatched their old and | tried friend, Lopez; instead of flogging the women, | and making the children stand on a stool for their heresy, jure divino, burnt them alive. A Congregational church was founded in 1583, in the city of London, by one Brown, a puritan of warm affections, and a zealous opposer of both Pres- byterianism and prelacy. But even this was a step before the times. The church was broken up, and the leader fled to Holland, with many of his fol- | lowers, where he died in a state of apostacy, the not | @ncommon subsequent of extraordinary religious | exeitemont, or outbursts of animal feeling, which sprends itself, and is succeeded, aa the doctors say, by a corresponding reaction. The person said to have been the founder of Cen- gtegationalism in America, is a Mr. Robinson, who had been a Puritan livine in England; and on the passing of a law in 1601, by which all minis- ters, with their flocks, were required to conform to the liturgy of the Established Church, on pain of imprisonment and banishment, was first imprisoned, and afterwards sought refuge in Holland, and formed a church in the city of Leyden, consisting chiefy of refugees like himself Amongst these were some who afterwards became distinguished | settlers in the wilderness of New England. A pa- | tent being obtained in 161%, a part of this congre- gation sailed for America, and nally landed on the celebrated Plymouth rock. | These aro genersily called pilgrims, and the In the government of this church, notwithstand- ing the democracy of each of these little eeclesiasti- cal republics taken singly, we nevertheless see traces of the representative system We might call it a representative democracy. The churches severally were democratic and independent, each having, within itself, the elements of supreme power over its members ; and all questions of disci- | pline or law were settled as they are now, by vote | of the members, as an independent democracy. But | for purposes of general good, ecclesiastical councils | and associations are held, consieting of a pastor and elder, as representatives from every church withia ® certain district. These correspond very nearly to the Presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church. True, the decision of these associations is said to be | | advisory only, but, what went with those who would not be advised? They were unfellowshipped. It becomes a question how we are to account for this Presbyterian caste, in the Congregationa Church? Yet it is easy. The Presbyterian and Independents were two wings of one great army— they were beth originally Puritans, who, beginning to differ in ecclesiasticals, divided into two great branches, which originally held the same church order, and differed only as to the need of standing courts of authoritative review aad control. The Independents of the Westminster Assembly, and the Commonwealth, were the real prototypes and representatives of the Presbyterians of the prosent day. The New England Puritan originally was, ia substance, a Presbyterian. Carlyle tells us that the Puritanism of Scotland became that of Eng- land and New England. In every question of a political bearing, we regard the Puritans as the ancestors equally of the Presbyterians and Indo- pendents, “ between whom,” says Mr. Junkin, “as they were found among the colonists of New Eng- land, and the Southern States, there was but little difference and no separation.” No wonder, thea, that traces of Presbyterianism should be found among the Congregationalists. This was the reason that, before the revolution, the discontented in New England recommended a union of the Presby- terian and Congregational interests throughout the colonies. This no doabt was one thing which helped the impression that the chiof glory of originating, advancing, and developing the censtitutional principles of liberty be- longs to the Congregationalists, and not to the Presbyterians, whereas the Puritans that came over here were Presbyterians in substance, or differed from them but slightly. And none can question the influence of Puritanism in fashioning those ele- ments of republican government which gave origin | to the commonwealth, to the revolation, te these | United States, and to the rapidly extending moa- sures of reform which are now preparing to shake down despots, to overturn every kind of tyranay, political, civil, or ecclesiastical; to convulse all Europe to its centre, and introduce a new era of liberty, equality, harmony, and consequent prospe- rity, in the history of the world. All may be traced to the spirit of diseussion and free inquiry, which existed in the mind of the Puritan (co insignificant that churchmen laughed at him), and nerved by the genius of the New Testament, burst the fetters of power, bigotry, and oppression; and in spite of them all, gave birth toa representative republic. | bustip ueneing election: most wbslesale dealers in votes of parishes upgodly union of church and were sincére at the time; but know the pride and naughtiness of For they themselves, a8 goon as fered, did the very same 3 and when this union commenced, the history church is little else than a history of the State which she was buried alive. In the height of zeal for religious liberty and rights, they exolaim- ed, they protested, they suffered; they went on pilgrimage; they came over here to institutes pure system of religious democracy, all bt worship God according to their own views; and finally, set up an ecoles' despetism which al- lowed no such rights and liberties. Various reasons have been assigned for this anomaly; but the fect is, the carol is ke oltee sacion » she likes Acad about; and when wasan hyo - ing herself up on the very topo @ tree, she could not resist the temptation, r the of om tablished Congregationalism. rties wa for nothing. Pus jan Was @ affair. ptists were perseeu prisoned Quakers were tried, co! ed and whe differed from the established se! stamped to the dust. The freeman’s lege—his right of suffrage, was taken none might vote but members of the eburch; and the very mea who fied esole- siastical intolerance at home, eet up om the free soil of America a compulsory stem equally oppressive and intolerant. ohureb, then, was a more exhibition of Esau’s hands and Jagob’s voice, with goat lid over the smooth ofher néck. Whatasight! Mini-torsand magistrates mecting at the gallows to hang a poor Quaker for his religion Hutchinson was condemned and bi ed for A number of Epise petitioned the of Massachu- heey. setts for the right of suffrage, ibility to ae, with permiasi to unite Congrogatio: churches, or to form one of their own; and what wasthe answer? The court ordered them to be dand imprisoned. There was but one romedy fate of things, and tl hat was 6 total revo- To see a parcel of grim Puritans trying a lution. oor Quaker yhoo yey imprisoning Episcopa- ed leave to go ts church, could no longor be ar. There is no telling what churches will do when they have the power of the State to carry out their dogmas. They are not fit to be trusted with power. Churches are mero quacks at government, and itis as natural for them to turn it to some bad uso as it is for one quack to rup down another. Mach is talked in Europe about the balance of power. Our balance of power is edb: churches. They keep the balance of power, and are kept by it. The produce a constant action on the public mind, which reacts upon thom in return, in she the same degree, as action and reaction are and altogether a: check on the war spirit that is sbroad; om the Cuban invasion men, as woll as on the scheming avarice, licentiousness, immorality and infidelity of the age. If there wore no churches, we have men who would run us into a war with Austria, Russia, England, France, Spain, and tor a we kaow, other countries; then draft us and send us to the fight, and stop at homs themeelves to oollect the taxes, and to keep the bag. If it was not for the churchesali over the whole United States, ting the spirit of harmonious co-operation and obedience to the laws, we should beeome an aggressive, lawless, and divided people; one State would back out of the Union; then another would back out—in fact, the Union tage fe exist. Our legislators could no more keep things in aright trim than ancient legislators, who i erin of te rel eae while they are legislat: at ‘ashington State capitals, there are hundreds of thousands of men going about in all directions, preaching, teach- ing, visiting every cottege and hamlet, permeating the whole mass of society to the furthest off fron- jars because they The commonwealth, under Cromwell, tended to give a more independent or democratic caste to the | up to the time of the revolution, when the consti- | tution of a republic was formally and forcibly | crushed by the Independents, maintained their | Presbyterian character. If the Parliament had been left free, England would have been a thorough | going republic; but Cromwell said, “ Take away | that bauble, (the mace) you are no longer a parlia- | ment.” The Presbyterian Parliament was over- | awed and dispersed by an army of independents, and the constitution of a republic snatched away from the bands of the members when they werejust about to adopt it. “Had Presbyterianism ob- tained the ascendancy,” saye Mr. Junkia, “in the English mind—had it stamped its system of a regu- lar and well balanced commonwealth, England, and | not America, had won the glory of haviog first | solved the problem of national sel-government. Cromwell, as we have intimated, corrupted the original Puritan. Still, as we hadhim in America he answered the purpose. Notwithstanding the democracy of his Congregational votes, he had in emigration a pilgrimage. Their motives, never | theless, are believed by many not to have been so | purely spiritual ae bas geverally been represented | Instead of @ religious pilgrimage, it has been thought to be a money pilgrimage, or a pilgrim- age to get settlements in the world. The word is often rather curiously employed. Bishop Hughes made a pilgrimage to Rome latel, but it was a pilgrimage toget anew hat. Andif we can ju by the toasts that were drank, and the vast amount of birds and all sorts of good | things you can think of, that wore epitted and cooked, at every place where the pilgrim wont, (and, like Israel in the wilderness, he appears to have been led round sbout,) we should think that without any exception, this was the most comfort- able pilgrimage ever made by man. Andat Rome the people were so well behaved, that the Bishop candidly told them their fsith was spoken of ihroughout the whole world. We do not pretend to know the motives of our American pilgrims, of course,*but the simple fact of their contriving to do without a minister for some years, and patting ap with the ministrations of a lay elder, who could not administer the sacraments for want of ordiaa- tion, when, according to ‘»eir own principles, they might bave ordained Lim —. mselves, does not look as if they were very part vr about sacraments at allevents. Ordinations. « »ferred by the hands of lay: Were not uncommon, and were some- times co performed even won ordained ministers Wore present. We do know whether they paid the elder for bis serv e*, or whether they went to werk more econo ily, and helped him a little at the getting in of bi harvest. Atall events they could not have tho. ¢ uch of erdination Bat they were Puritans, 4 been persecuted by the church at bo: 4 as the tendency of the English church is to magnify tho clerical offiee and keep the clergy & distinct body from the laity, the Puritans might have run into the opposite extreme of loworing the consequence of or ii on, and,as a set off against apostolical sucession, of allowing it to be performed in some cases by lay bands Hore wo seo, at least, the kind of stuf our New Engiand Puritans were made of. They were me who loved liberty—men who would resist, did resist. and taught others to resist, evory kind and degree of despotism, both civil and ecclesiastical, and parti- ularly the latter, from which they had suffered ‘As the church of England was precise on the efficacy of sacraments, they took a step the other way—or- Gained men themselves, bh preached themeclves. They wore independent— they wore off-hand m they dispised the ocere- mony and circumstance that attended the English ostablishment. They were men who valued everything according to ite uso, “ Of what ase is it?” is still the question of a genuine New England- or. Antiquity went for nothing. They despised the government by the church of bishops, and ran right off into @ spiritual democracy, which insensi- bly became the order of the day on other subjects. Everything in the church was decided by vote of the whole, or by committee of the whole house iple was carried inte politics. So Eng ee extended, they infased this cloment into tl aa.208, Where it leavened to a very great oxtent the subsister. °° of society. —_ In 1629 two orda’ned ministc't# came from ing. land, who bad received orders itt the wants church Those were immodiately located. oo wore planted at Plymouth, Salem, Charlestown, Duxbury, and other places, and soon spread Ver the whele of New England. About 1635 all the Congregational churches consented to ® plan of union, by which, like so many young republics ina | mained still s Paritan, and would belon; him something of the representative system; and it is certain that he fought well through the whole revolutionary war. The New England Puritan was the first to perceive @at taxation and representation were inseparable. The New England Puritan threw the tea, with a tax on it, into the sea. The New England took pretty active measures about the stamp act. aa at least three quarters of a Presbyterian, he derived his ideas of representation | from his religious system, and so impressed himself on the co vey om that bah tad vo His do mocracy and independence in bis churches, but re- carga in bis synods and associations, was not ost upon the plastic mass when our political inati- tutions were in a forming state. The puritan, so to speak, embodied himself alive in them; and now we look at him thus embodied as the greatest character of modern times. The Harringtons, Sydneys, Vanes, Miltons, Cokes, Lockes, were all indebted | for much of their light and enth im in defence of | ular freedom to Puritanical influences. Ry | jiams, Lord Baltimore, and William Penn, | been under the same training. Sir Henry Vane re- to neither | the Presbyterian nor Independent branches, but so thoroughly republican that he openly, condemned the powers assumed by Cromwell, and when sent out as Governor of New England, he failed not to | water the rising schools that eprung from the seeds of liberty and tm J dence, brought over by the Puritan settlers bis ‘constitution, he s i cording to Lord Brougham, the elementary ples of the constitution of the United States. Men may talk about churches, but if there had been no churches, there would have been no United States— or the churches made the States. The | Coe of liberty was grafted on the stalk of religion. spiritual is the beginning of the temporal. ‘The spiritual will bodies itself forth in the outward enjoys there ihe ery ts for poltieal freedom, enjoyed, there the cry lor polit om, mal and dence pee “ Those con- troversies (respecting the (Genevan discipline),” says Archdeacon Bilackburne, “ first struck out, and in due time perfected, those I rous pritciple civil and religious li without thore strugg! it a wet of that sort, would hardly have unders' to this very hour.” Those who had fled to Geneva, grew so | fond of the government and —— of the place, that on returning to England, they proceeded, by degrees, to quarrel with the kingly government, till, in the reign of Charles I., it rer @ crisis, reeolved to be absolute, the to be free nd Congregationolists were no tore, im our own revolutionary strug: as they were, with a conse of persocu- themselves, were sturdy, impal- | ‘customed, from their very religion, cond) inging, ‘be m tion sive, resolute, to equality of rote—provoked by the Stamp act, an ‘oing without their tea—it was not to be supposed Srey would be idle in the busi ht the names of all the distingui triots for t! it they were all, the Paritanie principle. Th is predominant, and in on Waldensces it Camen’ th - walt 5 it tray t of contederated the States of Swit | B | of i blicanism ; it combined the States of Protest rmany, to resist their threatened extermination by the Emperor and the Pope; it res- tored the united provinces of the Netherlands, yy threw off the yoke of = AT ; it 80 tn Imost equivalent to | 3” it ereoted the com- je tyra and despo tism of the Stuarts; originated si? those prinei- ples of liberty and reform which are still at work, gradnally transforming the constitution of which is now in its transition state; It ga’ that spirit of independence which is gone out, and going out, into all the nations of the earth wi monarchies are found, to revolutionize the one and rock the other, till they are overthrown. It is, in one word, the grand root from which our mo European history branches out. This is Puritan- ism, and in all this glory, Congregationalism hasa | _, Phe Congregational church once either changed ite opinion, or turned into @ very accommodating @reature, gifted with an clastic conseionce. The | fathers, when in I:ngland, cried out and protested against the iniquity of an established Church; | lth of England on | gonoral federation, they greatly strengthened the congregstional interes’. they held the clergy P to reproach for interfering | in polities, beading the great parties of the day, Aivending verlons’ a4 Jadgee, “appearing om (94 | dren into school Puritans, whe were originally Presbyterian; and | the citizen, and imbuing their unoccupied and yet | illiors says, | i tier, and incnlcating a full and conscientious obedi- ence to the laws they make; gathering the chil- making them learn the duty of plastic understandings with the ideas of union and the constitution of the United States. These are vast assistances to legislators; and legislato: could not do without them either. But if any one of these churches should preponderate, and destro: the balance of ious liberties. n religious liberty goes, civil fiberty with it, for it is the shadow of it, and follow: the shadow does the body. You can- teke away the body and le: the shadow be- hind, try it as much as you 5 bevery church has a tendency to seek the bn oe and then turn round and crush ot! Sanning, who statesman, knew this, Lord Brougham, ve on the Duke of Wellington's adm- nistration.) “ and bis plan was to emancipate .bo holics and dissenters together ; the blundering uke cing rg the ditsenters first, and gvery- bedy knows what trovh’s and bother ac had aiter- wards to get thd Catholics emancipated.” Suppose the Catholics predominated, do you think jishop Hughes would be that meek aad lowly Jesus, amongst us, which he is at present? or would ho, like Cromwell, turn out the members, lock the door, and put the parliament house in his pocket? Every sect would tyrannize if it could Even the pure, meck-bearted Puritan could not resist the tempta- tion, as many @ poor departed Quaker could testify if he were here. But, trem the improvements stiil making in our means of communica:ion—if we are to believe come of our cotemporarics—it islikely we eball bear from thom. The established Congregational church did 4 great deal to set our people against all religious establishments whatever, and bas about cured us of thatevil, The law requirin; church membership a8 a qualification for citizenship and suffrage, was as badas the English corporation and test acts, which required ali officers, civil, military, or neval, to be church members; andas a ification for office, to take the sacrament thrice every 5 Why, to be sure, men would be religious. “It is enough to make @ revival. Congrogational bap- tiem was so important @ stopping stone, thata question agitated the eharshes whether a man was Bot entitled to bapttem in virtue of the faith of his | npreerey ; or if she had none, his grandfather? he answer of the counsel was evasive, and left the poimt undecided. Numbers of men of no religion entered the ministry, and numbers more became members; the church went about with the State carcaes on her back, and cried, ‘‘ Who shall deliver me from thie body of sin and death?” The revo- | Jution cut the Gordian knot which nobody could untie, and released her from her burden, though still, in the State of Connecticut, some traces of the union remained as late as 1516, and Methodist ministers were fined for marrying members of their own church. Conrgregationalism now is a different affair. it has spread into all parts of the Union, and done much to cheok the Romanizing tendencies of other communions, which are closely watched by Con- gregational ministers, and freq on from th tform and the pulpit. wy ——— are pe and taapaldve. ‘0 subject of episcopacy they are uncompromising, as may be su)posed from their pedigree’ Like their own Cromwell, they are not only talented, but bave a faculty of infusing their own dispositions into the public, so far as they get audience. Their influence on community is for most part de- mocratic, in the proper sense of the word. Their organization very vaturally pore to foster that prin- ciple, and to convey strongly the idea that public opint is omnipotent. i juality of votes 1 diet tions, and continually repeats in iL ont own tty fter the storm had g by, beautiful, in the brow of the heavens, was planet it revealed to us. The old Puritan daway He was killed in the revolution; d by @ more polite, intellectual, was suce ist of the present day. the subject of education, this church has been vory active. Their literary publications, and especially educational ones, aro much sought after: and they have the good sense to avail themselves of the works of the most talented and indefatigable German scholars, which they either translate or in- corporate, and bring forth afresh, so as to suit the American mind. Various of their literary produo- tions, notwithstanding their Con; tionaliem, are onl itted but applauded in the English uni- heir standing in this res will appear from the various tests h constitute the rt to good society in our cities. In New York, ealth; in Philadelphia, family; in New Or- chivalry; in Boston, ey, in New York ® man bas to abow his money; in Philladelpbia, his connection; in New Orleans, his honor; in Boston, his education They have eight colleges, four theo- a Seminaries, a number of high schools and a institutions, under their supervision and con- On the cabject of slavery they have been much disturbed; and this uneasiness i” been promoted by their constant intercourse with English Con, gationalists, betweeon whom the tie is closer than with most other bodies. They have not divided, because they were never united in anything like a | convention or general assembly, but consist of a namber of assoc or clusters of little indepen- dent republics. Those in the North are uncom- promising, and yp of the higher law, which they deny that any human law can supersede or set aside Tose in the South prefor the lower law. ‘The Northern Congregationalists denied the autho- rity of th gitive Slave law, which they denounced as an out on the "e of humanity, an ingult te Wa? moral comme of the cibiags, and a sia against y | They are a constant check on each other; | ower, Wo be to our civil and reli- — 8 | education gentleman, the Independent, or Congre- | pocrisy, and that if theo stand on slaves’ legs, itis has been spilt about it. Still, there are not a few who look upon all these com: whe "ings teas while sla eee ay 0 8 together, je slavery ally pee away ot iol in the common order of nj We ave only to add of this church, that her bishops are about 1,700, and her communicants about 200,000. Anniversary of the York City Tract Soetety. The New York City Tract Society oolebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary at the Tabernacle, in Broadway, last Wednesday evening. Considering the extreme coldness of the weathor the attend- ance was Very numerous, comprising, as is usual in such cases, a large number of the gentler sex. The president, the Rev. Dr. De Witt, took the chair at seven o'clock, after which the Rev. Mr. Baunard delivered an appropriate prayer. From the Treasurer’s report, which was read by the Rev. William Walker, we learn the amount of receipte and expenditures for the yeag 1851;— worth the blood Total... ......$15,081 87 1 87 sport was then read. It says :—Se- venty yeers ago, when our city contained only 23,000 inhabitants, there was a place of worship for every 1,353 persons; but new, with an increase of halfa million toour population, we have not ono for every 2,100 persons, even though we include those in which Jesus is not preached as the Messiah, or as the one Mediator, or as the atoning sacrifice. | Yet there are but few of our churches that are filled © Interesting Corre Our Philadelphia Correspondence. Prrcapeenia, Deo, 17,1851. The Christiana Prisomrs—Payment of Defendant's Wit- nesses—sive Hundred Dollars Bail for Murder—Hanway and his Wife=Telegraphic Blunder—Interesting Law Question. In the Circuit Court of the United States, this morn- ing, Judge Kane presiding, John W. Ashmead, Esq., United States District Attorney, stated to the Court that be had received the following letter from William Thomp- son, the District Attorney for Lancaster county:— Moxpay Noon, Deo. 15, 1851. Dear Bir—I have just received the despatch from Phi- ladelphia, with the names of the prisopers; and Mr. Reigart has gone to Philadelphia with commitments for them, which I directed were to lodge with the keeper of Moy amensin, . 1 peesame’ on Wednesday, when the cases are called up, that upon # motion to the p ; it will be answered that they are held by virtue of com- mitments from this county, and that Marshal will remove them here, at his leisure. As my health is not very gocd at present, I do not desire to come down unless there Decessliy for it, of which I see none at * * . Yours truly, © JOHN L, THOMPSON. 3,.¥, Ashmead, Beg guar: “eet ons t be bag seme ta ant be uty. If the prisoners escaped én’ 35 wottld his feoit; be bad sbrunk from no responsibility; and he now turned the rlomers over to the 8tate authorities, pr esent. detainers with the Btate authorities against the prisoners, so as to hold them for misdemeanor; or, if they should escape, on the charge of murder. ‘The Court then discharged the jurors who had been in atterdance for the trial of these cases. ‘The Hon. Jobn M. Read moved for a rule to show cause why the costs of the dlefendant’s witnesses should not be paid by the United States. He said that he would read part of page 531 of Burr’s trial, in order to show the authority on which his motion was based. He then read as follows:—“"As soon as Messrs, Belknap and Dana were examined, Mr. Botts moved the Court to di- rectthe Marshal to make payment daily of their allow- ance, to about twenty witnesses, summoned for the ac- cured, most of whom were so poor that they could not #ubsist without it. He hoped the Marshal would have rye them without applicati: Colonel Burr thonght them material, and summoned them from the best information be could cbtain, and when the United States even imprisoned witnesses, to compel their with hearers; and of those persons who are of sufli- cient ege to attend our san: 8; there are more than one-half who pariney beueee doing it. ‘When asked to account for ps ipo some un- | blusbingly avow their enmity to religion; some de- | clare their preference for Sabbath excursions; some | complain that our church yg meager are made | for the rich and intellectual, rather than for the | poor and unlearned, and others make other ex- cuses; but, whatever their excuses may be, the ap- palling fact remains, that there are in the city we inhabit about two hundred thousand persons who | are beyond the reach of the ordinary ministrations | | of our clergy. |. During last year twenty-one missionaries | have been sustained, including seventeen ward mis- sionaries, one for seamen, one for resident Ger- mans, and two for immigrants. The additivn of a | missionary for the recently formed Twentieth ward has been hitherto delayed, but cannot with pro- prety, be tect ry any longer. The pemend num- er of visitere is 1,178, and the same been the arersee number through the year. The results re- during the year are as follows:—1,631,59) | : ‘acts, containi | | | 6392, 191 pages, have been dis- _ ributed. These have been chiefly in English, but | many of them in foreign languages. 1,565 | biblee, and 2,157 testaments, have been ried to | the destitute on behalf of the New York Bible So- | | ciety; 6,467 volumes have been lent from ward libra- ries; 1,914 children (ype into Sabbath and 351 into public schools; 149 persons induced to attend | Bible classes, and 1,647 to attend church; 1,026 tem- | perance pled es obtained; 1,372 district prayor | meetings held; 42 backsliders reclaimed; 1! r- sons hopefully converted, and 130 converts untted with Evangelical churches. | The Rev. Mr. Sronz addressed the audience, | ang, after referring to the proceedings of the so- | ciety last year, he on the benefits which it confers ‘on those of the community who ca: not be reached in any other way than by through such a society asthis. Such a society is essentially neces- | | eary in this city, into which emigration is pouring atsuch an un dented rate; but what is the measure ofour sucoess andthe prospect of increased usefulness! This depends on the means oomres- | They are represented in thereport. The mission- ary gees to destitute—finds them out, and, af- ter jeeding the hungry and clothing the naked, they speak of heaven and glory, and God. Bat what can a tract do towards all this ? it us see. In the Birman empire a manjwho had killed thirt; _ bis he ress aoe tract. It stuck in cert; and the result was, he was converted, | accres were turped. 49 Chrisette a ae | This ‘a ati éxample of what is done through tracts; What bas boon done during the last sixteen years | «0,105 persons were induced to attend churoh- 20,637 temperance pled, re obtained; 515 back- sliders were reclaimed; 4,393 persons were hopefully converted; and 2,546 converts united to evangelical churches. Thus God bas set his seal on this sovicty, | andtbus pproves of this and kindred institutions. | The speaker then appealed for increased donations, in order to increase the usefalness of the society, par- ticularly in consequence of the increased immigra- | tion. Ofour penietion, one-fifth is fe French, German, Irish, &c. ; and in the year 1910, the cen- sus of this country will show a hundred millions of Recple, twenty millions of which will be foreign. ‘he most of these will come through New York Hence the necessity for increased means and in- creased usefulness for this society. | The greatest | fear which our statesmen should have for the per- manence of our institutions is, not in the exten- sion of our territory, but in the of disinte- | gration. As it i*, there are wards in this city and Gistricts in other States, inhabited by people who epeak different languages, and owe allogiance to other countries. Look at the militia of this city. The other day, during the procession, there wore Irish, and Gorman, and Italian regiments, showing spirit of clannishness, and separation from the stars and stripes, which might be extremo- ", injurious in case of war. Not! will remedy this but the gospel of Jesus Christ. Other addresses were made during the evening ; a collection was taken up in aid of society, and the exercises were concluded Lecture of Rev. J. W. Cummings, D. D., Catholic Institute, The Rev. Dr. Donnelan, of Baltimore, who was an- nounced to have delivered a lecture for the institute last evening, having telegraphed that he would not be enabled to do #0, the Rev. Dr. Cummings delivered ono in his stead, taking, as his theme, the subject—“ Do the Catholic Priests forbid the people to read the Bible ’”’ ‘The lecturer denied that they did, but drew » distino- tion—they did not allow every person to do #0, and apply ® rule of construction of their own, but they encouraged them to read the Scriptures, together with the commentaries and interpreta- tions of the church. Upon this they were much misunderstood,—se as to images and pictures they were accused of worshipping. He would give them upon this an anecdote of Bextus V., who’ having heard that ® monk profesred to have « crucifix by which he miracles, and supposing that he was what, in Present day, would be called “a humbug,”’ seat for him, and taking the crocifix, he first kissed it and then broke it, saying, “as an image of an he an instrament of imposition I break thee.’ Ie then dwelt very minutely on the various editions of the jeriptures, and analyzed d'Aubignie’s description of Martin Luther finding the Bible as « hidden book im the library, showing that by his he must ‘have seen it « hundred times, twenty editions having been publir hed im Germany alone before Luther was raid to have made this discovery in the library. He would then answer some questions that ‘were frequentiy asked by Protestants, viz —Did the ts know anything about the Bible? Did the people ything of it before the art of end ‘s'ant reformation had thed » ‘of Light, what did the #0 called “iasy monks" know of he to answer, by showing that ‘Theee e Becemarily were acquainted with the Bible by the course of theit education by which they were it Latin, and, generally, Greek and Hebrew. The Mireal in constant use contained extracts om cover to cover, ef the Scriptures, and the Breviat @ mede 2 the Pealms, all of hb | every year a | but in © | As introduced L— | the reformation was ever heard | of; and the firet book published was a Bible, | years before the reformation in 1466; in 1460 there was snother, and in 1462 another The lazy monks, too, as they were called, had beon done great injustice; to their labors, especially England, were we indebted for the transeribing and preserving the Seriptures. ‘We \sbould consider, before the oo ing. | the diticuities they had to contend with and the means $e, ae caused man: My . o do now--to make the people aoquainted with the stories. ‘The reverend lecturer then gave an account of several editions and translations of the Bible, published with authorized ex nte, before the reformation, and down | bd ey ‘ime, « valuable account of upwards of fort; | whi he had, in the course of hie researches, foun: lished in the Dublin Review ; and, recurring to the labors of the monks. gave an accouut of the sale or ae struction of heaps of MBS., nil those decorated by illu | mination or cciore having been specially considered papiatical and detertable | tt ing he conclusion of thia lecture. those fer the ensul fearon were annow! comprising, for the months January and February, one on “The Agreement of Sci- ence and Religion,” by the Rey. Dr, Moriarty of Penn. ia; on The Future of the United States, and its Dangers,” by James A. McMasters, of New York, “ Papal Agareesion.” by Rev. John Boyce, of Mass, the pro- coeds to be devoted, as utual, to the Honpital of Bt, Vim. | | cent. Thirteenth street, under the charge of the Birters of + Vlmaity , i | were | Charles’ College ‘pel attend. ance, those of the accused ought, at least, to be supplied with the means of subsistence. The Marshal said, that as the number of witnesses was so great, and many of were said to know nothing of the subject im controversy, he was cautioned by the Att for the United States not to pay them eM their materiality was ascertained, or the Court or- dered bim. Mr. Hay seid that the expenses were so enormous that they would be felt by the national treasury, though it was full. This justified the caution alluded to; and the laws contemplated to pay the witnesses as soon as they gave their evidence. Colonel Burr said that when the Attorney cautioned the Marshal, it wes supposed that he had summoned be- tween two and three hundred witnesses; whereas the truth was that they did not exceed twenty; that they material; that some of them were summoned to re- pel what might be said by the witnesses for the United Btates; that the United States had many a compelling the attendance of their witnesses, which he bad not; that yy not corners i oe = ment of @ principle that might prove jous ers; that the witnesses ought to be paid. and he hoped that there would be no more difficulty made on the subject. ‘After come more desultory observations, as the wit- nesses were stated and c to be material, the Court directed the payment to be made by the Marshal. ‘The rule was granted. Mr. Achmead will 0} nesses by the United Friday morning, at 10 o’clock, to hear upon it. Judge Kane said that he had ai that an act of Congress jed for the defendant's witnesses the United cares. Castner Hanway was nt in the courtroom this A ate may He looks very og yment of these wit- the bag appointed arguments ynient of the in such the tates; the procee proved in hi and ita, since his liberation. Han- way and Lewis were under bail in thesum of five hundred dollars each, at Lancaster, to answer to ac! of riot and murder. This proceeding is freely ed onas extraordinary and seaiculows. If there was any sufficient ground for holding them to bail on go serious a charge, they ehould have been bound to appear under a much heat penalty. If there was no good reason for holding them. the act was petty and contempti- bie. sees forbids it on the one hand, generosity on the other Mrs. Henway. the true wife, whore noble and glorious devotion Lega the dark days of her busband’s im- prisopment and trial, woo for her universal esteem and admiration, has nearly sunk, at lest, under the ageaising exeitcment through which she has been doomed to pass. During the last day of her husband's trial, and eapecial- ly while Judge Grier was Teagy hy cbarge to the jury, the looked more like ® corpse like a Uving person; and I learn that she is now quite seriously il. Some blunderer it the country, by telegraph, afow days since, that Mr. Ashmead had determined to teat 222 jucatioi, wether Fefulng toss a0 coer in rescuing @ fagitive tlave was a forcivie }, under the itive Act. This absurd ides has been neither ex- pressed ner nnqeangr 7 that ee oe he oe ropore, in the cave of the negro, Williams, i the slaves at Christiana the intelligence that Mr’ Gor- such and the officers were in pursuit of them, to have the quertion settled, whether such acts constitututes « forci- ble obstructing of the process of the United Btates, within the meaning of the law. Unless other circumstances can be proved, implicating the defendant in the affray, I do not believe that a conviction can be obtained. Prwanecenia, Deo. 18. 1861, Obstructing the Navigation—Anti- Slavery Convention Small Por= Speculation in Jenny Lind Tickets. ‘The Delaware river is blocked up with ice, and most of cur steamboats have isid up for the present. The Zepbyr started down the river for Smyrna this morning, but was forced to return. The boats of the New York lines have all been withdrawn, and the passengers are ncw landed in Kensington, at the depot of the Trenton Railroad. ‘The Anti-Slavery Convention bave been in session since yesterdsy at Sanscm street Hall, and there is great rejoicing over the result of the treason trial. This eve- ning addresses will be delivered by the ion. Mr Gid- dis avd the Kev, Mr, Furness, both of the red hot kind of abolitionista, ‘The email pox is quite prevalent in Weat Mayme om yal ‘be last concerts have been pd forty cases are now under treatment by the pl clans. The Jenny Lind tickets for t! it up speculators, in ex} of « rush for asking © premium for them Our Washington Correspondence. Wasninorow, Deo, 16, 1861. Kossuth Resolutions —National Theatre A rpecial mensenger leaves the State Department this afterncon, te carry to New York, and place in the hands | of the great Magyar, the Congressional Resolution of Welcome to Kossuth. The President of the United States ‘very properly determined to give the completest “ order of cMelality” to the ° Weloome,” by sending it in charge of the acting chief clerk of the department, William Hunter, Erq. The resolution has been most elegantly tramecribed om parchment, and emblematicaliy embellish ed with tricolored ribbons, by that skillful. tasteful. and able agent of the Btate Department, Col. William C Zant- ‘The President's son and Private Who with Miss Fillmore. has for a few days beem 0) “yr will reach the White House to-night, we know when Kossuth designs visting, the —_ He will be received Fi and dined at the White Houre. His hesdquarters will be either at Willard’s Court End Hotel, or nearer the capi- tel, at the National ht, with the sbould be represented, and the Present pledged their members Sel phe. on ’ to appear in the proces Our Key Weat Correspondence. p Kxv Weer, Doo. 8, 1861, Arrest of Ramon the Spanish Spy. Ramon, the murderer, and spy of the Spanish govern. ment, who escaped from this piace in August iast, has been arrested at Havana, and thrown into the Punta Prison, there, to await his trial for the murder, some earn back, of a 8 officer. An unconditional par- had been promised him by Merti.in reward for his services as spy at this point. After nis return to Ha he was concealed in the house of Marti, until his by order of the Captain General. Our New Mexico Correspondence, Navaso Country, New Mexivo, Sept. 21, 1861. Expedition of Col. Sumner among the Navajoes. Col. Bummer, commanding this department, has just made ® campaign into the Navojo country, and estab- lished a new post in the midst of those Indians. He vi- sited their strong hold, the Canon of Chelle, which was abandoned except @ slight opposition. The Indians made several night attacks, besides the skirmishing in the valley, but without success, having several killed or wounded, and only wounding slightly one dragoon. The expedition consisted cf Col. Sumner, commanding; Maj. Blake, Ist dragoone; Brevet Maj Graham, Capt. Ker, i i and Lieut. Jobuston, let dragoons, an: om te mit, Jieut. Grifin, 2d regiment, with two mountain howitzers, Fort Defi the new post, is commanded by Mej. Backus, _ I. peed com~ ny of artillery, two of dragoons and two o, - fantry ie ficers present, Ua} alge Kak ond Relea Lieut. Suet, Sar grede, Astin wipes’ “Ens pot fantry; or ler, ; is ahead 250 —_ southwest of Santa Fe. ours, | Lieut. Holliday, 2d cannes Brevet Major Thom ULB. A. Consecration or a New CatHEpRaL.—The new cathedral of St. Louis, at New Orleans, was consecrated, with great pomp. on Sunday the 7th inst. The New Orleans Delta gives the following account of the ceremonies on tne ocearion:—“This fine tem to the Living God was, on Sunday, consecrated to dir service with all the solemn and im ceremonial of the Catholic Church. At the appointed hour, the Or- leans Battalion of Artillery was stationed in martial array in front of the sacred edilve, and—amidst the discharge ——— fired in hones of Bt. a8 solemn and pressive procession of the clergy made its appearance. In the procession we noticed the Right Reverend Aroh- bishop Blanc, the Rev. = Pe of Mobile, and Chance of Natchez, followed by our resident and the Parish Beadle, bearing @ massive cross of silver. There were, besides, the deacons ot the Church, and the clerks, who filled ouc the rear of the procession. ‘The solemn pageant, on | the Cathedral, filed off to the right and continued its couse round the building, commencing the ceremony of consecration by sprinkling the exterior of the walls with holy water. ‘After baving passed completely round the church, the doors of the hely temple were thrown open, and the pro- cesrion entered, passing throwgh the various aisles, and epripgling them, as the outside of the building had be- fore been sprinkled. ‘The appearance of the interior of the building di the performance of these ceremouies, was attractive gergeous in the extreme. The ladies, who ocoupied more than half of the seats, the showy uniforms of the brigade officers. and the magnificent robes of the hierar- chy. tinged with the iris lights from the colored windows, all gave an air of brilliancy and beauty to the scene, en- tin pane from the mcre solemn realities of the cere- m ‘The consecration was concluded by the chanting of a high pontifical mass, composed for occasion by Mr. Curto. Both the style and execution of the music were of the most magnificent description The sermon was delivered by Birhop Potier. Itis said to bave been an extremely eloquent and appropriate discourse, but at the distance that we were from the altar we could not judgo for ourselves of its merits ‘ With characteristic liberality the Artillery Battalion tock up a very handsome collection for the benefit of the 01 Asylum of the Third bale gs - the orphans, accompani in and benefactor, Mr. Anthon: ‘8 conspicuous place at the entrance of the church. Darina Ropneky ann OvTRace.—The Boston fol account of hed Mrs. the mone; seseed in the house. Mrs.@. instantly seized child, fifteen months old, and looking the full Ip the face, told him she would never bie demand. He then seized hold of her chi wreuched it from Lp yo and passed it to ion, et the rame leclaring to the mo: would inetantiy kill both her and her child, sides, would bure her house and that of her mother, joining, if rhe hesitated another moment to ai ‘demand. Fearing his awful threats, Mrs. G tened to another room, followed by the robber, and from @ drawer all the money she |, amounting to sum of $25 in gold. Both robbers then left, threatening to burn the houre ‘‘before a great while.” Both robbers ‘were dir, with moutiiers and whiskers. The only persons inthe house at the time, besides the ‘were Mrs Goodnow and her children. Weare to Chief Constable Lawrence for the above facts. 3 uilite ‘ gst : 4 ery FEE Deatm or Rongat Dentor, or Aunany.—We sce by the Albany papers that Robert Danlop, an old and respected citizen place, died on Monday last -— Mr d from Scotland, and took up his residence A y in 1800, In 1825 he removed to Watervilet, where he has ever since resided. in s rominently identified with most of the important public enterprises which have carried forward during the last forty years; has successfully managed an «tensive and com| business, accu- mulated an ample fortune, and always maintained the ebaracter of a pure, upright. and honorable man. The Albany Evening Journal raya: —Few am the vee nerable citizens who still linger amor a ‘woult be ‘more missed or more sincerely mourned. He to bis reat after # long life of active usefulness, and leaves be- hind bim the pleasant odor of » good name,’ Conven lant ARRANGEMENT ror TELEGRAPHING.— taingsapher and sioags onrions trlngrogh Ectromes telegrapher, iways 01 ate and battery jn the cats with bim. Whe should pass at Sener academe marae ear ) or gives | tion Seg depot on the route. To rig his machine does | Rot require threé minutes time.— Detroit Tribune Fs Teveorareine Sovru-West.—The Cincinnati Co, whose line is to extend also to Buffalo, have carried o wire cress the iaeetays to Bt. Loule. The o gutte upon a new princip Moree line have also laid a gutta river, and it is found to work fine! co ep G from Boon- it was received in Bt ‘Lous shortly after putlicetion here, the Mesrage will reach Banta Fe in twenty-five days from Warhington. Ravenvr or Canapa.—The revenue of C for the eleven months emding November 30, 1951, has been— From Customs, £667,100; Pablie Works, £08,71: This shows an increase of £96684 on the former, a £5,407 on the latter, over last year. ‘The National theatre opened last well fled-the ‘eting Sncellentrthe:appeiatments ai: I—the acting excellent . most perfect—and the sudience pleased. President Fill- more and lady, and Attorney. General Crittenden. oecu- = the right-hand etage-box, upon entering which, the gave the President three rounds Mr. Gust poner | Webster and family, with Miss from Furope ) were in the opposite stage box. As soon as the immense head and Daniel were seen, an enthusiastic round eee of the great appiause was given which brought a dignified bow from bim Our Baltimore Correspondence, itimone, Dec. 17, 1861. Cold Weather= The Ice BusinessmFiremen's Visita—Arvest of Counterfeiters = Ministerial Changes— The Odd Fellows and Kossuth, & We have not had euch cold weather in Baltimore for many years as the past two days and nights, and ice is forming with » rapidity that promises to be fatal to the prorpects of the regular importers of the article, ‘Two men, calling themselves Humphrey J. Bimpson fend David Woods, were’yesterday arrested in this city, charged with passing counterfeit notes om the Farmers’ Bank of Bridgeport, Conn. being arrested, several other counterfeits were found in their possession, and they were fully committed to answer the charge. ‘The New Market Fire Company, of this city, are making arrangements to visit New York, Philadelphia, and Bos-~ ton, carrying with them their powertal time ot thelr departure is not yet fixed upon. The Li- berty Fire Company, also, design visiting Philadelphia and New York, at the same time. Both these active and ‘well organized companies will, on their return, particl- te in the parade of the firem which is to take place ort! "Ine Ito py R Gnacdler delivered the introdac- tory lee! before the oe Institute, last night, to large and Intelligent audience. The Rev, Dr, Plummer, of this city, one of the powerful and elequent of our clergy. bas reeeived vitation to the Presidency of Princeton Ooliege, and fears areentertained among his congregation here that be may be induced to accept. There was, pethaps never ® C le more devoted!y attached ‘The Rey. John P. Donnellan, for several years pastor of the Catholic (Bt. Vinoent’s) church, yesterday left for Beeston. to enter on bis duties as a profesor in Bt Odd Fellows of Baltimore had a convention last one, composed of delegates from the lodges, relative rontiety of their par toedied Wak the Orda | The Turf. Narcnne Races, Beoonn Da’ eepstakes. No 2. one mile beats for two year clds, $300 entrance. $100 forfeit. ‘There was no race. Col. Bingaman paid forfeit, end he Minor gall his chesnut gelding round the track- ‘et heata, entrance ap Day. —Sweepstakes, two mile forfeit J. Minors b. f. La Vraie Reine, . Bor Raine ns reareies here on this cecasion, and the renown of the blood stock brought upon the field an Dar, Nov. 26.—Mile heats, purse $200, entrance W. J. Minor's b,c. Jericho, by Jordan, out of 1. a yests Od sce 4o3 8. D. Billott's (J.B: Wells’) ch own sister to Ri 4 years oll. 2 4 dist. Ichn Jacquemine's b. m. Goose, by 1 Swan dam by Pacific, 5 years old... " Time, 1:54—1:54—1.66. Brconn Dar, Nov. 27.—Two mile heats, purse $00, em- trance adde i. Wm. J, Minor’s br f. La Vraie Reine, by 8o- vereign, out of Verncity, by Pacific, 9 years ‘3 32 1, 2 with's. old oape ne 94 soegee AL. Bingaman’s ch f by Jordan, dam Se- tah Bladen, 9 years old... .... 8. D. Elilott's (T. J. Wells’) gr. £. 0 by imported Sovereign, ‘ years old Time, 8:53 4—4m Trino Day Nov 28.—Three mile heats, purse $400, en- trance added B.D. Elliott's (1. 3. Wells?) ch. h. Hiddleston by Trustee, dam by Muckle John, § years Duncan F Kenner's bay co! imported Bameon, out of Pioayune, 4 years John Hi Mardis bay mare, by , Wagner, d by Barpedon, 5 yeara old... ........0+ WJ. Minor’s (J & H. Cage's) oh. fi Waverly, cut of Miss Bowie, by Levi three years old T a. Louis @Or, by ‘i 4 The firet beat wae won by only « distance of tweire ches, the sewed sumetnung more,