The New York Herald Newspaper, May 31, 1868, Page 4

a ‘ Re Snnhint 1 ee FREE RELIGION. Convention of the Free Religion Association at Boston. Miscellaneous Gathering of Apostles of Both Sexes, Representatives of All Protestant Denomi- nations on a New Platform. The General Religious Aspects and Weeds of the Age. Boston, May 29, 1868. Just a year qgoa number of prominent religionists, belonging in various parts of the country and repre- senting the majosity of sects and denominations in America, met in this city for the purpose of organiz- ing what has since been known as the ‘Free Reli- gious Association.” The proceedings were fully re- ported in the HERALD at the time, and it will be re- membered that the objects of the association, as de- + Clared, are to promote the interests of pure religion, to encourage the scientific study of theology and to increase fellowslup in the Spirit; and to this end all persons interested are invited to fellowship. The attendance at the second annual meeting here to-day has been much larger than at the meeting which gave birth to the association, the spacious Tremont Temple being crowded in almost every part at each of the three sessions. Probably every sect and de- nomination was represented by visitors on the floor, but representatives of several denominations who were invited to participate in the proceedings failed to appear, but in consequence of prior engage- ments generally, as their letters indicated. Only a representative of the Catholic religion declined being present, for tlie stated reagon that he did not sympa- thize with the movement. Rev. 0. B. FRoTHINGHAM, Of New York, called the convention to order, stating that its object was to promote scientific religion and theology. They did not propose to be political, reformatory or philan- thropic, or yet strictly Christian. Christianity, he added, is @ sect, and is not included in the great re- ligions. Jews, Mussulmans, the Rationalists, Spir- itualists, great numbers of scientific men are not Christians, and they should therefore use the term religion, for that is as wide as humanity and cannot be termed sectarian. Christianity isa complex term, but religion is a perfectly simple term, and is under- stood allover the globe. We are satisfied with the. Ten Commandments and content to let our religion rest there. Our next word is “free,” for freedom is not Jewish, Mohammedan or Christian, but it leaves us free to follow the train of thought. Liberty is only a condition, but it isa very vital condition—a necessary condition of all progress, as is shown by our American ‘civilization. We do not mean freedom to fight, but freedom of debate, freedom of thought—a freedom which shall bring no ill will or reproach or create enemies. This, he added, is not a vague statement, but itisan exceedingly definite statement. Every man who has taken a part in fhe formation of this association kndws perfectly well where he stands and has a definite will and purpose marked ont. Of course oun, work will De slow and long, for we must avoid a clique and sect and study many other things not todo, which dgne would overthrow the whole foundation upon whith we are to build. Last year Mr. F. said our purpose was to give expression to all, but now we are more concentrated. The people ‘@re asking questions about the blessed life, and we offer a platform on which all can stand and give their views. A Catholic has been invited to come here, but he declined, saying that when he came to Boston he should come asa Catholic and he would address an audience that would fill the largest hall in the city. An Episcopalian h ad also been invited, but he had declined to take part in the meeting. pA dia not care wnat professions of religion a man le if he ipa pa answer the great re- ligious questions of the hour. After the opening remarks of Mr. Frothingham Rev. JAMES FREEMAN CLARKE, of the Indiana place chapel, Boston, was introduced. He said he could not heip thinking in this meeting that the man who comes ine will have the best chance, for he can pull down arf demolish every idea that had been built ip 4 those who preceded him. He came here most decidedly as a Christian—as an orthodox Unitarian— if there is any such thing. The way he came to be one was because he found a Ie and a power in the great clement of faith, and if he was any different he found that he had no power. He did not believe that any man can out of the great currént of Providential life and amount to anything. Some men here, he said, don’t want to be Christians, but pro- fessed to have something higher, deeper and broader. If they could show him anything that was deeper, higher and broader than poo! he would be glad to take it; but he had yet failed to see anthing. He found something divine and holy in Christianity, for it recognized the progress of the soul on, and on, and on. He found that it recognized life as a@ battle, that it teaches that Jesus Christ is God in us and shows us je best thi that we can know of the relation of G to man. It seemed to him that Christianity was not a sect, but that it was inclusive. He did not believe that the Catholics were going to sweep the whole country any more than any other religionists, for there was too much known of the history of the Ro- man Church, He felt, however, that the Catholic Church had done and is doing a good work, and there were many things in their creed which all would do well to copy from. He believed that Chris- tlanity was just as broad as religion, for men are elther Christians or have the WHLity of bhecomin; Christians, He believed in religion, progress an humanity, and therefore he believed in Christianity, for he believed that was at the root of all the others. A characteristic song by @ couple of the Hutchin- sons came in here, after which Rev. ROBERT COLLYER, f OF introduced. He felt, he sat, that begin by demolishing some of Mr. Clarke’s structure, although he.was @ Christ and meant to be one to the end of the chapter. iis fact that he was what he was did not in vent him from being glad to welcome tl God, who does not seem to itself yet, but 13 being pretty thoroughly He hoped that when spanked by one and another, it got through the eo cough and other dis- eases incident to youth that it would bloom as the full embodiment of the spirit of true gy om and a Pioesing to humanity, Tie said he had e been a Methodist, but he was now @ preacher in dne of the Unitarian churches of the West, but Ne did not say that he should stay there always. He was always = to be led by any new light vd spirit tinder the leadership of the spirit of Jesus Christ. Hé was glad to see such an organization as this and to see it so prosperous, and they should go out and see ff they can’t practically move men to the higher life. Then they would find ft a blessing and prosperity, doing the best work that can be done—the lifting of men and women into the higher life. ‘The next speaker introduced was the Rev. HOWARD, MaLcoM, & Baptist now under a ban for participating in this new free religion movement. He said that the diberty of conscience was dear to the heart and shonid not, according to Roger Williams, be denied to any one. He believed that all came here as seek- ers, with their souls —s to the whisperings of the Divine Spirit, who at all times lends a listening ear to the inquiring soul. They came to seek everything beautiful, and wherever they found it they would lay hold of it as an inestimable legacy with which | ‘They were all seeking the they would never part, some day to pass same common goal, and all hoy through the glorious gate; therefor@, they should join hands and heurts that, the great and common purpose be consummated. They should seek to pro- mote harmony, virtue and morality among the whole people, He believed, he said, in @ sect to which be belonged, and many in that sect believed in the freedom of be np be and pro- gress, although some are beginning to forget the glorious lessons of the pasty and ave only to build up a glorious structure. Tt mi that the Whole Wattle of reli is to be fo over the despotism of ecclesiastical power, We should, he added, reassert the principle of absolute right of every human soul to interpret for himself the Holy Scripture, and take to ourselves the lessons exem- plified in the behavior of Jesus, We should not deprecate what a man believes, but what he does, If he ts holy. temperate, virtuous and moral we must honor and love him, and not set ourselves up as an ecclesiastical tribunal to try and condemn him. Neither should they be #0 industrious tn erec! rgeous edifices as they should be zealous and care- fit do that which is righteous, just and true, whether they belong to one sect or another. The vital and absorbing question is, “Are we conscious of the deep solemnit; resting upon us f performing our rief mission well?" ite, when the sod is over him, would rather have it said of him, ‘There lies @ man who was a friend to the widow and orphan, and followed in the foot. steps of Jesus,” than havg it said that he was mighty jm establishing the d of sect. He seemed to Loan ae of = a 4 Lye seiion crying out to those wi eructaxion follow after his stepr and enwilate his holy example of immaculate purity and love. this pont Mr. INGHAM stated that he made an error in stating,that no Episcopalian would be present. Dr. Tyng, of New York, he added, had been invited. but for good reasons he hail declined, = NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, MAY 31, 1868—TRIPLE SHEET. but Rev. J. P. Hul cape an invil views. Rev, Mr. HUBBARD was received with warm plause. He said that they were all one in humanity and one in the incarnation and death of Onrist, and there vere 7 ha a ye ores Sage com: mon. ‘erring itualists a8 sup these wants he said that asa it to be “tie that communion is held with the of the other world, it is. a welt Known fact that their statements are conflicting, and are taken all with a great deal of caution. He believed tn the nearest to the simple trath, a Divine int tion in our of Westerly, R.1., had ac- would now present his and when he does not, found what was indeed a revelation in reading the life of souls of his fellow men he felt that solution to all the questions of difficulty. In closing he referred to the testimony of Rapoleon, in_sustain- ing the divinity of Christ, after which he said that although they differed in certain dogmas he never- ben believed that they all bore true allegiance to ist Another vocal effort by the Hutchinsons was in or- der here, after which Mrs, Rev. OLYMPIA BROWN, of Woman’s Rights renown, was introduced. She said she hailed this miscellaneous meeting as an omen of coming Christian love and to enable all denomina- tions to feel that they are one great family, all laboring for one common object, one common home. Nothing of the kind was ever more needed in such an age as this, when there are so many inquiries and When so many are seeking to promote C' love. She had been in the West and there witnessed a con- flict of sects, but such gatherings as this would soon Temove all difficulties and leave in their stead true Christian charity and Christian love, which is now the great need of the world. They could not afford to denounce denominations, but they should fight evil and wrong and oppone their influences, and with- out Organization and denominations they could do but little. She would as soon think of doing aw: with steam cars because Weston can walk a hundre: miles in twenty-four hours, There is not a single de- nomination they could do without. The Congrega- tionalists, the “Methodists, the Universalists, the Catholics, all represent great truths, and we should honor them and pray for the great brotherhood of faith so we can work ef- fectually, nobly and grandly in advancing the great truths of Christ, We must reach up and seek to at- tain His large charity, which has animated the whole world, and in doing this we must retain denomina- tionalism. This question 1s the practical one. Rev. JOHN WEIss, of Watertown, Mass., was next introduced. He endorsed warmly and eloquently this great_ movement and believed that its tendency was rapidly and surely onward. When he had fin- ished the Hutchinsons closed up the forenoon ses- sion with another of their vocal entertainments. At the opening of the afternoon session there was the same large attendance, nearly filling in every part the spacious temple, The first matter was the reading of a report by William J. Potter, erick of the association. The document was intent to show the increase in religious feeling in the country during the last twenty years or so. It claimed that in the Churches where there has been a freedom of z thought there has been an increase in seekers of re- ligion of five per cent in excess of the increase of paaion, while in those Churches where religious freedom been forbidden or restrained the increase has failed to keep pece with the in- crease in population. The Catholics, Methodists, Episcopalians and Spiritualists are among the most liberal lonists who can claim the lara gains. The’ Unitarian and Universalist lies, both of whom claim to represent freedom of thought, have not increased so rapidly as the deno- minations before named. The whole tendency, how- ever, outside of the churches is in the direction of free thought, as 1s proved by the success of religious meetings in public halls, theatres, &c. There is also @ tendency to combination and union among all re- ligious sects ag well as towards freedom. although bodies who. donot act hearty. ii tue progressive les, Who do not act rogressive movements of freedom and fellowship. Those who in or discountenance such action, however, are generally in the minority. ° Alter reading his report Mr. Potter read a letter from the leading man in the free religious movement in India, in which co-operation was promised in the ES work of us pl ion. The movement ral uaa somata Sa rs le de! encot ment in paving the way for the foundation of the great religious ‘church of the world. At this pane Colonel T. W. Higginson, of New York, took the renal and praised Rev. Mr. Malcom, the expel Baptist, of Rhode Island, kis manly and reli Spt ete secutions of all the Baptists of the State. ie colonel said there was not a Baptist there who would poo and him as a Baptist or who would exchange pulpits with him. Yet he was not dismayed, but would continue in future, as in the past, to show his development of courage and advocate the cause of religious freedom. irs, CAROLINE H. Datu, a Unitarian, bel: in Boston, was, ereeeey introduced. She G she felt proud to witness the eecitey shown by Rev. Mr. Malcom in advocating the belief of his own con- science. She also gave an interesting account of the of free reMigion in other countries from sta- Sais kaans eas mae once ie usband, nOW an active e belief im India, 3 Mr. CHARLES C. BURLEIGH followed. He de- clared in favor of the fullest freedom of thought in all churches and criticisea rather sharply those whom he termed so far behind the times and so thoroughly wedded to old theories as not to givea ane ~ to those who have new ideas of mn Mr. J. S. PEEBLES, of Battle Creek, Mich., and a Spiritualist, spoke briefly afterwards. Refer- ring to the fact that there does not exist ere & church erected by the Spiritualists he explained that believers in that faith felt that their souls were ong free. in worshipping in open groves and public Mr. Pink, of Brooklyn, N. Y., came next for a few moments, He said was neither a Christian, atheist, religionist nor a Mussulman, but he appeared simply as @ man—the highest creature ever produced by the Creator. He avowed himself in favor of free- dom and equality in substance, but beyond this his remarks were evidently as incomprehensible to the audience as to the reporters, with perhaps the excep- tion that he believed in the purity of body and soul e. Mr. AARON M. POWELL, editor of the Anti-Slavery Standard, who was next introduced, said that-he was & Quaker, but he did not wish to claim to repre- sent them. He claimed to stand upon the platform ofthe haman soul and act in obedience to the law of life, and thus be led inthe right direction. He still belleved, however, ta the essential princtples o1 ss claiming that the Quakers had done more t any others towards advancing the nation and liberating the siaves, they fad also done much in et public pba! ion and emancipating minds from judices, cl he encouraged right losing educa rather than regeneration for an advance- ment of religion and independence of thougit. mer Sis slang as separa a ry 6 The first 5 bok an essay or report by Frank b. Sanborn, of Concord, Mass., on the “Religious duty pias and social reform,’ which was as follows:— MR. PRESIDENT AND ergs 4 OF THE ASSOCTA- pee | the — it soe xecutive Commit- tee it to my Bt to oben ussion of one of the most important guestions Which can present itself ina reliisoge oo jon, namely, How far and med - a we = recognize at our religious dui e claims of active phil and of reform? We might en this question as far ference, the qnestt as the Ass ion con by pointing to the that its most honored rej ta tives and the great majo! of ite members are known (whenever they are wn) as the A steadfast and self-devi friends of the poor and the unfortunate, the sworn and Constant foes of oppres- sion and wrong. There needs no oa to show what view has been taken of philanthropy by a ae an Emerson, af Frothing! @ Higginson, orby the devout women who, in this city and else- where, have for so many years befriended the fugi. tive slave, the sick soldi , the untanght freedmen and the poor of everyfclass. But it be worth white to point. out the nature of the duty thus ful- filled and its paramount claims on all who are drawn together by the ties of common religion. Nor will it be whotiy superfuons, even in t assembly, to indicate some of the most ing demands for Social reform which come to our attention when we consider the commnnity tn which we live. What- ever may now be our speculative opinions concern- ing the Trinity, the Atonement, the divinity of” esus, the authority of the Bible or the future condition of the soul; whatever change these opinions may un- ergo hereafter, itis certain that the teachings of is concerning love to God and love to nan will never be falsified or antiquated, since they are the expression of @ sentiment inborn and natt- ralto the haman heart. The sympathetic feelin of mankind responded to them When first uttered, and wiil continue to do so, Tuey do not require the Support of logic nor of infalliable authority; for they ish their own evidence, and no miracle could ‘© impressive. There have been dis- Y tie percetved by the in- tellect ‘ina ‘Accepted by the heart. I never heard the good Samaritan claim to goodness denied, even by the most orthodox Hebrews, And yet something there is peculiarly Ve ay in this portion of the teack- of Jesus, It is not = the most undoubted the most affecting part of the Christian religion. hard to persuade ourselves that there ts not also something particularly religious in the maintenance of an ‘and 80 We are in the habit of ing of @ man’s “religious opinions.” But it is in the alone that religion manif itself; the tn ual Convictions are as nothin, ts compadoon, —- in some such way as this and resolute! overlooking the fact that it 4 opinions rather than modes of- which have been the source of religious discussions, 1 have fancied that the time might come when all shades of religious beltef would cordially unite in works of charity and re- form; and I have interpreted the word “free,” in the name of our association, as implying this libera- Hon from the tyrannies of sectarian jealousy and dis- like rather than as eae @ particular form of bes ef on the part of oar tes. Let us all come to our work, as we invite to our platform the cham. pions of every opinion, provided they are willing to labor with us for the elevation of mankind. Let the Catholic who loves God welcome in does the most encouraging dency of all our Fell x. rol wards works form. ‘me oldest and the ne and almost complete. in those cities are given up to pauperism, while others are as ex- clusively the abode of luxury, Mr, Gladstone, in a he dwellings in the west late 3} h, laments that tl end of London “are in di r of ONE of the enoatest misfortunes that can befall a man—that of living in habital blindness and ignorance of the n¢ ties and claims of his fellow creatures, a, Co} juently of leaving them unacknowledged Unsatisfied;’”’ while in Eastern London the poor have been starving in spite of the poor laws. In our own cities the same contrast is seen, and if not le appalling, it ison the way to become 80; wi on the broad Western prairies and and throughout the rural districts of the South the is of relapsing into primitive barbarism such ag in wait for the cranes Americans, and in which the life of man Is what Hobbes describes it among the sav: — “Solitary, poor, cruel, brutish, and short.” Observing this centrifical and cent tendenc, towards depravity the quarrelsome churches an sects of Christendom have taken the alarm, and, forgetting their fears for a time, are making great efforts to counteract it. Foreign missions are less considered, Home missions are the order of the day. The ministry at large, under various names, the Sunday school, the even! school, are ail very modern, but very powerful ar the good cause of the pecs; and not only do the Protestant churches avail themselves of these instrumentalities, but the Catholics plao—parsoularty in America—are doing the same thing. One does not need to read Mr. Parton's Bandgyris of the Catholics to become aware of this; it is an obvious fact in all our cities, and not only are the churches doing this ecclesiasti- cal work, but they are also founding hospitals, open- ing dispensaries, starting: employment societies, training young delinquents in reformatories, carine for orphans and unfortunate women, and in all ways purring their hands to the work of philanthropy. ay, » we may go further, and say that It is ropic this philantl activity which is great- est among the churches. Whoever visits—as many in the audience doubtless have done— the great mission Sabbath schools of our western cities—of Detroit, Chicago and St. Louis—will find that those wonderful institutions are for something more than to teach Bible texts, sing hymns and make childish proselytes. The teachers, the super- intendents, do not confine themselves to their ‘dun: day labors nor to the limits of their parish. They go about on week days visiting the homes of the poor, observing their necessities ; they carry among the swarming children of Poveney she means of ma- terial and the incentives of spiritual life. Work for some, amusement for others, lee seid and encour- agement for all, are the attractions which bring thousands of ragged boys and girls into the schools, and which overcome the op, ion of the drunken or the ignorant parents. md these schools do teach, along with certain theological tenets, which most of us would find it hard to accept, the lessons of cheerful piety, industry, sense and good will, and these outweigh, many times over, the doubtful or the pernicious theology. Now, less all signs deceive us, this good work will continue and will gather strength and show results, He would be very unwise who should elther dread or hope for the supremacy throt of the Catholic Church or any of Churches. -No such ecclestastical possible. The religious opinions and servances of our countrymen sity, Wee at tae ta ee sect has at least two “schools” of faith, ‘ave twenty, and each of these schools is on the to become a separate organization. We- have seen within the last thirty years two very sects— the Mormons and the Spirit Ww up among us but in reality more important—the Theists and the Positt' have also become established, But while this separation has been on, & constant movement towards unity in matters of’ philanthropy and re- form is eq manifest. There is leas and less in- quiry every year among reformers about the religious ities of their associates. M er’s differences. I conceive this to the best test of* true religion—that it shall manifest itself without drawing attention to its pan form, just a8 those persons are said to be well shaped whose attire causes no spinalgremark. The provincialities of reli- gious bel are passing away like the other provin- Clalities of our people. It is even ible to antict- pate @ time when our churchmen says ways dan, tural In that millennium when tian shall not lift up the sword neither shall they learn war any more, the labors of the philanthropist would lose half their diMculty and more than half their necessity. In the meantime the most active reformers need not fear that he will lack occasion for his activity. The har- Vest will be plenteous and the laborers few. Let us, therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth laborers into his fleld. Every age: “oc gaan fous pati- ite own evils in its own ghosts. mur, manss. The unlai _— of some it age always torments us. Even if fanatics read the New York Nation—perhaps some are compelled to for their sins—they ni not take any hints its ages about a “new field for fanaticism.” ile ew Yorkexists God will not suffer the race of fanat- ics to die Out, for nothing short of fanaticism can enable a man to live honestly in that city. Yet New York is the forus of our concentrated civiliza- tion, and what is needed there is partially needed everywhere else. The labor question, the woman question, the question of education for the poorest, of reclaiming the thief and the prostitute, of suppress- ing intemperance, of dealing with insanity, of dl- Ing pauperism—these and a hundred other questions derived from these or related theréto press a us for decision and we cannot escape them. If we have a true religious feeling we shall not to escape them. We shall en- tertain them all, and devote ourselves to those with which we can best deal. One person will teach the freedmen, others will secure,them the right to vote, will visit prisons, will found hospitals, open new avocations to women, proclaim a truce between labor and capital, diminish poverty and banish drunkenness, and at every step of every reform re- ligion will be present to give her sanction. She will not always Wear the vestments of the Church nor ak the voice of tradition, but sometimes she will io both, and she will never fail to attest the truth of Pliny’s saying:—*‘To benefit mankind is worthy of a .”” In this glorious work, this task which has n signally and providentially laid upon our coun- try to accomplish, there is a duty, humble, but at the present time most needful, which our assocta- lon ~=scan = perform, at least in part. What peeansitony now “eh more than all hings cise—for it is the key to all future Pprogress—is to be reported and made known to country, and throughout the several from country of each country. Whatever courage has achieved, or science has invented, or patience overcome, or charity has won in this never end- contest with wrong and suffering, is to be pro- mulgated beyond the narrow limits of the hamlet, the city or the 31 where it took ag The handi- craftamen of dale—English spinners and weavers—who planned and established the first co- operative movement amomg the English working- men have now thousands of imitators, because what they had done and how they succeeded became known throughout England and the world. The Irish Pg of dealing with convicts is slowly coming to e knowledge of other communities and tnelein imtitation of its excellent results elsewhere. The mode lodging houses of Boston, New York, and London only need to have their success made known to the world to secure their increase a hundred and a thousand foid where the evils which they guard po age ple rant. The methods of teaching the blind, the deaf and dumb and the {diotic; the vest ‘stem for rearing motherless infants and for trainin; neglected boys and girls, and al! the other eaters appliances of modern benevolence ought to be com- municated from land to land and from town to town, and when this is done they will take root and thrive as do the groves Whose seeds are borne through the air by nimble winds, or the wings of wandering birds, and pianted iniands remote from the parent tree, The processes of nature are the same {n mofaias m physical events, and if we would gather her fruits we must her hints. if T might ventare to advise the association in such a matter I would say, then, let every one of us, and the aaso- clation a8 a body, devote some time to learning and spreading abroad the last results of philanthropic activity. Let us when we can have the privilege aid in works of charity and reform by direct exertions; but when that is denied us let us remember that we can do much, and sometimes much more, by the in+ direct method of publisiin’ abroad what has been done. In the pamphiets aud volumes which we may issue from the press let us give a place to essays and appeals which deal with these topics, and in all our gatherings ict us assign a portion of the time to the cause of the poor and the re ly of wrongs. Inno “dent, can we so weil advance vligion and promote the inter+ ind, After Mr. Sanborn had finished the reading of his report Colonel HiGGixson followed in a somewhat lengthy and complimentary allusion toit. He uw every member of every denomination take the sentiments contained into his or her own heart and to work at once, and earnestly, He discoursed hen at soine length in strong terms in favor of the cure purposes for which this association was rmed. ‘The ubiquitous WexperL, PaILetps came next and was of course received with thunders of applause, He said that the question treated in Mr. Sanborn’s paper was @ new one to him, and he hardly knew what to say about it. He began life said, with profound - ~~ ay “y Po, church organization for the ol of prom tier. yeart he. had oh urposes ; but in lal ad that Maite him, Uburoh of \ out of jowever, co make "phe Church to-day away evils, dissem! its neighbors from star’ ion of churches ts like a manent state, but it is , melts and the 2 their type of religion; but the ter now than when were years ago. They have o1 tial was the aia et et with times. Church would say, if one had an idea, not, the authorities for that would be fanatical and blasphemous. With all respect, he added, if Jesus shoula come and preach in the streets and try to create a feeling among the masses he would be jail in less than a week. The first duty, he added is to give all souls a fair chance; ose of the women and those of lends made try improve meapecaye of the church o1 In the anti-slavery movement its fa mistake in believing that there was vigor in the Church, but rf found that there was none until the shackles had fell from three millions of slaves, and then. they only wheeled into line because it would not have been res] le to have kept out of it. The cross of jay yen Wi wash out all dis- e country for years e m epoch is rise up and stand so far forward that Amer- ican law will know no color. After Mr. Phillips’ speech the Hutchinsons wound up the convention by singing the old woman’s rights campaign song of the ‘Kansas Pratrics.’” RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. The Grand Summing Up of the Religious An- niversaries. From the reports of most of the leading religious and benevolent associations we gather the following statements of their receipts for the past year:— I,—-THE NATIONAL SOCIETIES. American Bible Society— $723,106 American Home Missionary Society 292,135, American Female Guardian Society. 65,540 American Seamen’s Friend Society. 56,352. American Tract Society— American Tract Society (Boston)— Bales, i. 469 it Donations. 149,525 Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions (O.S)eeeeees Kasia sae sdenea + 285,689 American Church Missionary Societ; 82,334 Missionary Society of Methodist Episcopal American Bible Committee Foreign Missions. 444,001 American Missionary Association............ 400,000 Protestant Episcopal Committee on Foreign MISSIONS.......+4+++seeeee seeseeeerersesees 82,604 rsa oot Episcopal Committee on Domes- tie ions... . se eersseees Protestant Episcopal Committee on seseseeses 142,136 Freed- - MED. ..++ 000042 nena American Anti-S! svery Seclek National Temperance lety . American Sunday School Unios American Congremational Union. American and crea Chaian American Baptist Missionary Union. Board of Foreign Missions of Reformed Chure! oo eneodeapccongees cepeseneniae ‘The Boards of the Presbyterian Church (0. 8.) and the Committees of the Se ey Ht (N. we and the Bay Home Missionary ety are [Pane now pre] their reports. receipts to reach about $500,000, and add the same to the foregoing table, we shall have a sum total say of $5,260,000 as the aggregate roonae of the prin- cipal sectional secieties, and if we subtract from the amount the proceeds of sales, which are about $1,250,000, we shall have the round sum of $4,000,000 as the sum of the voluntary contributions to these societies. I.—THE LOCAL SOCIETIES. New York Bible Society. Female Bible Mission. New York Orphan Asylum. Society for Prevention of Cruel are CL rages Society. eltering Arms.. Protestant Episcopal City Mission. Howard ON. ++. 00+ ity Mission. Sun 001 and Missionary Society of lethodist Episcopal Church. New York branch of Freedmen' ‘3 Committee. Javenilé Asylum . « 1b: Roman Catholic Protectory . 100,316 Ladies’ Educational Union. + 15,696 + 4220 + 13,809 . 13,204 Total.. sesesesseses $1,063,112 If we add to this enumeration about as much more for the other organized city charities, excluding all State and oy appropriatio: we shall have say $2,000,000 as the annual amount contributed by the citizens of New York for the support of the local charitable societies. It 1s well kn that the national societies, as given in the first table above derive a very fair proportion from this city; an during the last year, as in almost every year, there have been Canes ag 8 gy ob 4 Ro mission’, hospi Cy AN endow. an other institutions and date church debts, s0 that a complete record of all the voluntary ot of the rood people of New York woyld undoubtedly show a ndsome aggregate of several millions of dollars. Progress of Religious Interest in the United Staten, We continue to receive encouraging reports of the progress of religious interest throughout the country. Specially encouraging intelligence reaches us the present month from Congregational churches. At the meeting of the Mendon Conference in East Med way, Mass., April 22, it appeared that all its churches but one have enjoyed revivals, which have been attended by five hundred hopeful conversions since the week of prayer. Evidences of the continuance of religious interest among the Baptist churches abound in all thelr religious journals. At Yonkers and Tarrytown, in this State, at Williamsport, Pa, and at Fall River and Berlin, Wis., nearly one hi and fifty converts have tone J baptized, while many other towns and States similar good tidings are con- stantly received. In North Cornwall and Seymour, Conn., strong religious interest prevails. At the former place as many a8 170 have risen for prayer in a single m¢ aad in one cor tion at Seymour fifty conversions are reported. In the same State, at Putnam, twent; were added to the Congregational church on the inst., eleven to the Methodist, seven to the Baptist and ten to the East Putnam Congregational church. Others are waiting for the next communion, A correspondent, writing from Stock! Cal., thus refers to the two oldest societies Tee the First Presbyterian and the Methodist copal:— “These two churches, a8 also the tional, Episcopalian and German Methodist, have been greatly blessed during the past winter. Over 100 united with the Methodist church, About eighty with the Baptist, fifty with the Presb; forty with the Episcopalian, twenty with the Ger- Man Methodtst and ten or tweive with the Con- tonal.” hirteenth street Presbyterian church in this city received to their communion in January thirteen; in March, forty-nine, and during the presént month, twenty-seven, Every pew in the church is rented, and the Sunday schoo! is very eificient. The pastor meets those who desire to converse on ae eer of religion upon every Monday evening. from twenty to thirty are present. This great wor! has been wrought by the spirit, with the use of the ordinary means of grace. Prayer and inquiry meet- ings have been held as the exigency seemed to re- quire, and all the fruits are righteousness and peace. At Clinton and Guilderland, in this State, the Pres- byterian churches have received to their communion nearly seventy converts, and are still r in the uiet and wonderful work of the spirit, Also at omer, N. Y.,on the 3d instant, 101 persons made yublic profession of their faith, and for the first time ik their seats at the table of the Lord. Twenty-one converts united with Olivet churc! Milwaukee, on the 3d inst, This society, —_ in Janu now numbers 160 members. new church edifice Just. projected is urgently needed, as the chapel is too suiall for the rapidly increasing congregation. Four churches of the Plymouth Rock Conference, a received last Month as the fruit of a recent rel the th jous interest 160 new member and on inst., in Chicago, fifty were added to several Cot ational societies. But it is in New communion seasons of the present nearly as many of Vermont, 360 have publicly confessed nd Joined the number of his diaciptes. — The Presbyterian church in aver ea N. Y., has the past winter with a precious TOOK to Hee in conmanthes wire Old School Assembly at Albany that “a majority is decidedly favorable to reunion with the New School, but a large minjority is evidently inclined to the be- lef that the time has not yet come for its consum- mation.” From the New School Assembly at Harrisburg the Observer has the same statement in the majority, with the regard to additional informa- tion that the opposition to union on the terms posed is disappearing. Both assemblies om Pod lor spend the morning hour of Tuesday in p) divine direction in to the matter. Confer- ence and prayer have been wonderfully instru- mental, during the whole course of these negotia- Bone in overcoming the obstacies and opposition to reunion, Auricular Confession in the Episcopal Church. The Catholic World in its number for June has the following:—There is no doubt that there is quite a party in the Episcopal Church which upholds the practice of auricular confession and seeks to extend it. There are ministers of that communion who are anxious to set up the confessional and disposed to teach its necessity. In the city of New York it is well known that the clergy of St. Albans are solicitous to hear confessions, and love to be styled fathers on ac- count of their spiritual relation to their peniténts, The Rev. Dr. Dix, the respected rector of Trinity church, the oldest and most influential corporation of his denomination, is said to have quite a number of penitents, and to be the most Popular confessor, especially among the higher class. We presume he makes no secret of his practice, while his position as the spiritual director of the Sisters of St. Mary is notorious. “How many of the bishops favor auricular confes- sion does not appear. So far as we have heard, no one has openly recommended it; but the Right Rev. Dr. Potter, of New York, has allowed a manual to be dedicated to him, in which the practice is strongly urged, and devotions for its use are extracted trom Catholic prayer books. While he has rebuked the Rey. Mr. Tyng for preaching in a Methodist. church, he goes openly to St. Albans, and, to say the least, gives sanction to ritualistic performances. We have a right, then, to conclude that he favors the confes- sional, and is willing to set it up in the churches which he superintends.”” Confrmations by Bishop Potter. Chapel of the Holy Cross, New York, confirmed 38; Anthon Memorial, New York, 16; Mission Chapel of the Holy Trinity, New York, 38; Church of the Refor- mation, New York, 11; Fifth Sunday after Easter, Church of the Transfiguration, New York, 38; P. M., Christ Church, New Brighton, S, 1., 15; St. 'Paul’s, Tompkinsville, S. I., 10; Christ Church,’ Pelham, 9; ., Christ Church, Rye, 5; St. Peters, Portches- ter, 16; Mission Chapel of the Reconciliation, New York, £1; Ascension Day, Ohurch of the Incarnation, 14; Mission Chapel of the Holy Trinity, 20; Sunday after Ascension, A. M., Christ Church, Williams- burgh, 12; P. M., Grace Church, Williamsburgh, 12; S. Andrew's, Harlem, 14. Roman Catholic Items. The Most Rev. Archbishop administered confirma- tion May 21in the Church of St. John the Bay itist, West Thirtieth streeet, to two hundred and forty | oye and on hag vt May 23, in the Chapel of he Convent of the Sacred Heart, West Seventeenth street, to twenty-nine persons. It was announced in the Cathedral, in this city, on last Sunday, that the exercises of the Triduum, authorized by our Most Holy Father the Pope, to be held throughout the Oatholic world, will be held in this diocese on the three cane pavces ‘Trinity permis merce June 7, and be brought to a close on junday. On that same Sunday (Trinity Sunday, June 7) the collections in all the churches of the diocese, Ae all the masses and likewise at vespers, will be appro- riated for the benefit of the Holy Father. This col- lection will take the place of the annual collection for the re prescribed by the last Plenary th during the Counctl of more, We learn that Sireular to the reverend clefgy ollclaliy aunounciag ci reverend c! announ the triduum and collection. a The vi of the Holy on Wednesday, _ On Saturday, 23, the Rev. W. T. Cunden, New Groans, of ee same order, left this port, per steamer City of for Liverpool, also en route to Rome, to nA ral Chapter of the Cot ation. e Rev. Father Rolfe, of the rt per same steamer, it to his native country, Ireland, for the benetlt of his health. avenues, A itor, will solemnly blessed by the Most Rev. Archbishop McClos- key this morning. His Grace will be assisted by a eon of the reverend clergy of the city and vicinity. The cost of the whole church when com- pea will be about $100,000, and it is expected that it will be finished next fall. Mr. Henry Englebert is the architect and superintendent, A grand concert, at which several leading lights of the Italian opera will assist, will be given even- ing at the Church of St. Anthony, Sullivan street, near Houston. This church was established some ten years ago by the Franciscan Fathers, who, in spite of most seeceeane. difficulties, have succeeded in establishing the church on a good, firm basis; and hav assigned to them the care of a large, popu- lous and not over munificent parish, they take this means of obtaining assistance to help them in their good work. Religious Notes. Miss Morris, a missionary, sent by the Women’s Union Missionary Society to Calcutta, died suddenly at the American Home on the 13th ult. ‘The Ovserver states that the good people of Albany made generous provision for the entertainment of the members of the Assembly and others expected. About four hundred persons were assigned to places, and enjoyed the hospitalities of the citizens. The meetings of the Assembly in the early part of the Sessions were not largely attended by the people; but: as the proceedings advanced they excited a deep in- terest in the churches, Junkin died at his son’s rest- The Rev. Dr. Geo ja, On the 20th instant. He had the Presb, a in ae pad identified with yterian Church a full century. The 7adle-—Roman Catholic—in discuss! the subject of the recent religious anntt par- ticulgrly caustic upon the foreign of these annual gath ‘to the amount of money collected the uses it ig put to the Tablet sn; “it is easily seen that th Pregby- terians, Dutch Reformers and Methodists have pleni of money to ; but, spare; , even 80, we cannot heip thinking that they might find somet! better to with their surplas revenue at home, w! Li of their benevolence would be under their own eyes. Do they not know that the whole world is oe oe | at them and their excessive credulity ih trasting su: enormous sums of money to their so-called mimsion- * Ass fine lady Lida EE, do n Jet an they are greater fools than we tool for—that is all’? The Evangelist—New School Presbyterian—endorses Grant and Colfax, but has a saving clause in to Grant, about whom it has the following:—* One fear only troubles us—and we may as well frankly—it is in regard to hig habits. There is 10 disguising that at one time they were bad. His friends, while of Cnt Hg | do not proclaim the fact, still, we presume,-do not deny it But since the war called him a second time into the Cif he is said to have risen above this. The responsibilities of command seemed to elevate bim ve tempta- tion, and we are assured that his habit was one of total abstinence. General Howard, we understand, testifies that in all the campaigns in which he served with him he never saw him in any degree under the influence of spirits. If such was hia practice amid all the temptations of army life we may hope it will & so if he should be elevated to a yet higher sta- on." The Protestant Episcopal Convention of Pennayl- vania have voted 4 divide the diocese, provided that two-thirds of the clergy and parishes, representing two-thirds of the communicants reported in 1867 ap- rove of being set off as a mew diocese, and that — yd f ear for five onabe The oto Lt = ’ P ort of the new - bowed to be fatal te the establishment of the new Hocese, The Freeman's Journal advocates the organiza- tion of an American battalion for the to be stationed at Rome. It :—We have re from gentlemen anxious Xpense, in this cause, This is but ken of what, on & general invitation, will be forthcoming. Some of these, going at their Own expense, a be disaj pointed, as not having the Sq military qualtfi- cations, This will, perhaps, their own fault, ti they do not seek proper advice in New York before i} But, on we sald last week, it is not needed American battalion should be composed of ricans. They may be of whatever country, 80 that they join ‘this battalion. By thus making the rendezvous in Rome, not only. ho pretext can be given to Garibaldi’s friend, WwW. He to fheddle with it, but we will be exempt from the general exponse of sending soidiera that may grove unit ao far away from homes ‘The Arrival and Reception of the Various Dele- gatione—The Programme for To-Day. The Seventeenth ward, at least that portion of #& which lies within @ radius of haifa mile around the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer on Third atzees, put on an appearance of Such festivity yesterday as it never presented before. The angels even seemed toamile upon the proceedings then developing om this particular spot of mother earth, for the clouds which had hung 80 heavily over us all day, sending down upon us poor mortals sprays of mist, broke and divided and the bright rays of the sun shone forth once more for the third time, we believe, in the whole month of May. Every one who is Acquainted with the locality of which we speak Knows the rows of large tenement houses that blecks of ground in that neighborhood 14 can picture to himself the appearance of those houses say that there was not a window in either of them which was not gaily decorated with and wreaths of evergreen, and in some with flowers also. Some buildings were even di nae by handsome inscriptions; and to show the or of them all, we give twoof them. In front of the Catholic book and picture store of Mr. J. Koelble, on Third street, we read the following:—“Der Felsen- ney aie SS oo in i e8 hallet fort von zu Lay ir Daun aus Gott ; er ists der uns und seh't, wer ndett den m Which, free English translation means about as follows:—The man on the rock (St. Peter) has given it to all the world and ft passes from land to land. We rest in God; it is He who calls us and who would have foretold such a Mapes At another building in avenue A we read the following:—« Hilf, Here, was wir vereint in Sturmes Wehen, Bin Fels der Kirche, 80 Jest wie Petrus und Paulus popets: or in English, ‘Aid, oh, Lora, what we joined in tl storm's wild raging, that we stand a rock of the Church Uke Peter and Paul.” And below this in- scription was a somewhat hastily executed represen- tation of the two Apcaticn of the Church, St. Peter and St, Paul, and below that the words, “Weicome, brethren.” The arches, of which we made mention in our report yesterday, were all completed towards evening, and in their green covering, here and there interspersed with well el bouquets of natural flowers; they, indeed, looked beautiful. The wo “Welcome,” on a large piece of canvas spi under the arch, gave it a still better appearance. The church itself was also decorated with innumera- ble flags, the Stars and Stripes, of course, and @ large emblem of the unity of the States waved un- furled from the peak of the spire, jnat below the cross. Banners and flags and streamers were hung across the streets and avenues at short inter- vals, and among them was numerously repre- sented the znew German flag, black, white and red, in horizontal stripes, with a double headed black eagle, emblematical of the old German Empire, in the white centre stripe. The church inside, when our reporter visited It in company with the Right Reverend Rector of the Redemptorist’s Convert, was being decorated with wreaths of evergreens and flowers and drapery of red, witite and blue, in honor of the national colors of America, Ail the delegations which were announced in yes- terday’s HERALD to arrive Guying, the day, did make their appearance, though somewhat later, each, than the specatee time. At the office of the chairman of the Committee of Al ments, Mr. Koelble, on Third street, several.cierks and a number of assistants were kept busily at work to make out requisitions for quarters and to send the delegates, many of whom had their wives and families with them, to comfortable lodgings. It may safely be said that more than one- half of the German Catholic residents of the city have each one or two of these delegates for Minoo | boarders, while a large number of them are locat in the large halls of which we made mention yester- day. The president of the Union, Mr. John Amend, a! of St. Louis, and the vice president, Mr. Geo Bal- dus, of Buifalo, are already in town, and will open the Congress this afternoon. This morning at seven o’clock the nd proces- ston will move from the corner of Houston and the Bowery. It will be preceded by a platoon police, under orders of Captain Mount. In fact, Su- Fras hn Kennedy, on the request of Rev. Father leurer and Mr. Koelble, as a committee, ordered the police to clear the several streets and avenues through which the procession will pass on its march. The procession itself will be arrany in the follow- ing order:—A,section of cavalry, in Schwartz- man; the Committee of Arrangements; the honot members of the Union; band; Independent Rit company, Captain Behrmann; the De! tes to the Union, by Marshal Kerpen, of Chicago, whose go the mame Teaches to his 3 pig hdl The Union: the clergy and the pa cipal authorities of the city; the societies from burg, with band; the societies from Butfalo, Rooh- ester, Utica, N. Y., Pa., Columbus, Ohio; the ‘St. Francis and St. Stephen’s reimapecnacigs Syracuse, es from ol ie an Gere nee societies frou witilaeas- burg, with Band; ion Rifle compaae a Braun; St. Joseph's Society of East New York. Then follow a number New York societies, and from Paterson and Jersey City; a Newark society will be accompanied by an a rifle com} tain rer t city, amd fwoP ouler Newark societies will be escorted by Captain Wiesner’ a ‘p' 8 rifle company and lee club from shto" After Elizabethtown. will march the St. Boniface of Brooklyn, and Behind neni ip yo carried the, Papal dg: sur rounded by twelve horsemen on w! chargers. flag was made in this city, is of white silk, side a good Pius LX., with: Page Mays red he yy last Sunday in the Third ¢ church, under solemn ceremonies, the Reverend Father E Preaching the consecration sermon. This fing will bE follows by seven more New York societies, and the rear is to ve Lhe up by the Society of St. oe od the oldest 1n the ony, aid & section of ‘cavalry under command of Capt Schurtz, At eleven o'clock the Waites is expected to reach the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer, when the celebration of high mass will The Vi Reverend rector, Father Lei celebrant, and the well known bilot will be by ~— bg Moe — ge Ciciia an an estra thirty eces wil assist, Rev. Father Wayrich, 0. ss. e {Congregationis Sanctissimi » will deliver the sermon. To-morrow even! the same reverend gentleman will deliver a lecture in the church on tle ‘Condition o: On esday morning Archbisl celebrate Pontifical mass and deliver a sermon to the assembled delegates at the same church. CHILDREN’S AMERICAN CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. An anniversary meeting of the above society waa held yesterday afternoon at Steinway Hall. About two thousand children belonging to the. Sunday school connected with the organization attended, being marched thither in und@ the Jead~ ership of their teachers, the Rev. in 3. Rising acting as superintendent. The Rev. Dt. Tyng pre roises was as follows. 2, Selection mountains;"" ¥ tation of tifieates: 13. 1h “Beaatiul Homa, Above 0 i a eae ft by the Rev. Dr. Bancrott ne aa bel ati ‘The Rev, - “Aten te gammbece of mein! and ‘a bar of silver from & Paul’s Banday irginia , worth A th eB ra. months), 30 atonal fees embers Reeoeipt rom Apr ine, (0 Ape, 18s, ec bership, $4, ys ay some perio’, $3,428 97, Total, $7,704.67. During April and May, 1868, $11,280 82 ° LONG ISLARD_INTELLIGENCE. THE STABBING APFRAY AT FLUSHING.—The ¢@x- amination unto the circumstances of the stabbing of Daniel W. McNicoll, at Flushing, on bag: mye ce terday concluded, whey John Wright, the acot ra found lity of the chi a rerered and held im the sum of $1,000, to remain imprisoned until the sumMictent sureties can be had. ATTEMPT TO Porson A FamtLy.—On Saturday morning circumstances were oe to light in the family of John Foung, at Port Jefferson, Sufoik county, which led to the belief that a servant em~- loyed in the famtly had administered poison in the and she was therefore arrested on suspicion and taken before Justice Hunting, to whom she made aconfession that she had before that morning at- tempted to poison the family upon several ons, but each attempt had agar P ‘ NHASSETT.—The lange dwelling house of award Wet tn this town, was entirely con- by fire arsday on night, causing a loss of About $3000. The furniture in the lower story waa nearly all saved, but the contents of the upper stories were completely burned up. MAILS FOR THE PACIFIC. ‘The steamship Arizona wil. sail from this port on Monday for Aspinwall. ‘The mails for Central America and the Soath Pacific will close at half-past ten o'clock inthe morn- ng. Tas New York tenaty-—Rdition for the Pacifio— will be ready at half-past nine in the morning. Single conjos. in wranvers for mailing, six centa,