The New York Herald Newspaper, April 4, 1869, Page 13

OUR STEAMBOATS. A Visit to and Inspection of Our Inland Passenger-Carryiag Vossiis How They Are Fiited with Life-Saving Appurtenances—Means ef Escape in Times of Peril—The Remedies That Should be Instituted. ‘Wise and judicious laws have been enacted by Con- {gress at various times siace the year 1833 relating Wo the inspection of the hulls and machinery of ves- els designed to carry passengers plying upon the . ea, lakes, rivers and sounds, with the view of ‘wo great ends—the protection of life and the @eourity of property. These were measurably gumMoient in their various provisions, but here was rofuircd additional legislation touch- Ang the equipmest of steamboats, which the law- ‘makers endeavored to supply by the passage of ce aggre Act of 1852,!’ wherein are embodied t provisions and just requirements in refe- wence to the quality of the materials used inthe con- Btruction of hulls, the sufficiency and adequate @ature of machinery, the precautionary measures to t fire and its extinguishment, the necessary (provision of life preservers, the possession of life- ‘boats, &c. ‘These are elaborately detalled in the and, if complied with in every particular by whose positions make the discharge of the ‘@uty 8 moral obligation, the steamboata of this aie of the country would then be entitled y pratse as secure and safe mediums of ‘¢ransportation, even as they are now open to con- @emnation. Fach and every one of these measures Mave so repeatedly been violated and non-complied with that the story is @ “twice told tale.” Frequent @isasters, the direct cause of such omissions, have sent the cry of mourning into thousands of families and made the nation shudder. with horror as the ago- nizing recitals came laden with chapters of hard- ships and sufferings. It would require a long list 10 ‘sam up the number of steamboats In this country ‘that have met with accidents since the first intro- | duction of steam navigation, as there are recorded scores of cases where, upon lake, river and sound, brave vessels have gone down with hundreds of souls, Occasionally the causes of these disasters were very trivia! in their nature, and by the proper equipment of the vessels might have been averted; Dut in the absence of such precautionary measures there have been appalling culminations, that for the time startled from their lethargy the men ap- pointed and handsomely paid to see that the A4aws mado and providel to avert such ca- Aamities are complied with, The existence of the stain that the proportionate loss of Ufe by steamboat disasters is greater with us than with any other nation does not add much to the Anflated repututioas these oMicials often possess. ‘The HERALD in times gone by bas fully inquired into ‘the matier where tuis negiigence in executing a wighteous law rests, and has given the substance of such investigations to the pubilc, fully showing that Dy ignorance and criménal coituston such men have eontinued to contriute their share to the disastera of steamboats on the sea and its tributaries, the loss of ‘ives and the horrors incident to which are conceded universally to be the most frightful of all terrors. 4n the further prosecution of this purpose it is at this time desizned to confine its remarks to the in- and steamboats plying from this harbor, with a view of calling the aticntion of the travelling public to @heir conijition, and at times lamentable deficiency in being suiiably provided with boats, life-saving apparatus, fire hose and other necessary appur ances, togeticr with their adopted security aud pro- visions against fire. At this season, when the 101 chanaels of steamn- boat traffic from the metropolis are again about to be opened, and the decks and saloons of a thousand ‘and one crafts will be Jadea with precious haman freight, sailiu here aud there, through the Sound, along the Hudson, along tho Mast river, about the ‘ay and up aad down the hundreds of tributaries that pour their waters iato this grand commercial asin, it is particularly desired to attempt this nar- ation, teliuns the Interested millions of passengers who will seek this mode of business communication or of pleasure during tie summer in what instances owners and oficers of such boats arecriminaily neg- fectful in the provision adopted for the prescrva- tion of iife in case of fire, collision or other disaster. It is also proposed to refer to the character of the modern life preserver, an instrument designed to Save life upon occasions of terror and alarm, bat which really, because of its miserable construction or long neglect when stowed away on vessels be- comes an clement assisting in too many instances the waves iu swallowing up their victims. To this end, within the past few days an inspector, duly authorized, left the Hexanp oilice and visited the inland steamboats which he found at the piers along the North and East rivers, to note how far these met the requiremeuts of the act referred to in the matter of remedial measures which their owners have adopted (o arrest or av ert disas} LIPE-SAVING APPLIA In numberiess cases of inspection the condition of the life-saving appliances required by law, and their character, were such that it suggested incoimpot enc ‘unfaithiulness and criminality on the part of oficere nd owners. True, in the matter of the posseasion Of the number of life and wooden boats the law re- juires the vessels visited to carry, this provision has * teen almost in all the cases literally complied with; but their locations in the majority of fnstances are 80 absurdly inconvenieat and imaccessl- ‘Die that they might as well—before @ terror. stricken and frenzied lot of mugers could use them—be a hundred miles away from the scene of the disasier, as on board. There fs also seen tne negiect of the judicious provision made in the law, that such boats should be fur- mished With oars and necessary apparatus, meaning to include thole pins, rudders, life-ines, &e. It may geem trifling work ana easily remedied to place in boat desigued to save life in the face of a calamity, the oars and thole pins a8 required by the 'y of the case, but seconds at such times are very ious, and can be more profitably employed than in searching @ vessel for oars or procuring ing to act as substitutes for thole pins. The accessible position of a boat should be demanded by not only the imspectors receiving iarge salaries to carry out the provisions of a just law, but such a demand should be made by each and every one of the gers who trust their hives sometimes to the care of incompetent aud reckless captains and crews, They should never be stowed away on huar- Ficane decks—as as been observed and will here- giter be noted in this imspection—when con- siderable time would necessarily be consumed fm reaching them in order to get them pn Ped launching, and under no cireumatances ah they be hampered with old lumber, buckets or rubbish of any kind, In too many instances are ‘the boats also unseawortiy, as many poor fellows ‘would find out to their sorrow had they to entrust ‘their lives in them of a dark night far from shore, This hors de conbdat condition of several of the boats observed shou d first open the eyes of the com- —, if not our jegisiaiors, to the reckless disre- for human life in this manner displayed. We that of the large feet of steamboats that will goon dart about and pass continuaily between New York and our suburban towns, Albauy and Boston, the charming sammer resorts set [ike diamonds emerald surroundings that border the lakes, Fivers and bays about us, that eome time one of their Dumber, Inden to the water's edge with passengers, = have a terrible accident bef her. At such & period would there not happen something similar to that which veil the unfortunates of the disesier on Lake Mich a, when the Bird was burned over a Dundred passengers went downt It will be remem- ‘bered the burning boat was seen from the shore, te an effort was made to lannch the lifeboat Wan when, on examination, it was found securely up ina warehouse, and finally proved wholiy ‘onseaworthy; and to have vencured out on the stormy Jake in her would have been certain death. There ‘wore found in this emergent moment but one thole in and two oars in the boat, the rest having been joaned to fishermen, More than one example of asimilar character regarding the cruninal tneft- In the fitting of lifevoats could be given in inspection, show! the shameless course pur- by the owners of mbonts, and even by the employes of the government, Ing the present boat disengaging ayers 18 to some steamboats, owners and masters on- contrary opinions. The steamboat act of at lifeboats be provided with a ting ately tnunoned ‘hen containing a complement of passengers, ‘whie the versal uy mnder fall Pc CS #0, 80 that one person can di n at the same thm uch is the law, we believe. ‘ile the it for such an accom iment, lly ado, aa ite advocates soa- it peril," Wako pt Noe J here it ta ye two Fi fA boat hurriedly, lesrien in disastor, when excitement Js the rule and sible. to be stowed away i tion moment it does that both owners and caprains of sveamboats, with the exception of temporary vigilance, suggest- ed by selfish considerations, are careless and neg- lectful as a rule regarding the lives of those entrusted as passengers to tueir care. taugit us in Many mstances by frequent disa h resuiting it loss of life, that the time is at hand when the most thorough, competent and effective means to prevent aud preciude the possivility of a recurrence of suck dreadful calamities should be made, ‘The Atlas, hence to South Amboy, is owned by the Camden and Amboy Kailroad Company, avd is about 850 tons burden, mmigint, ian disasiroas tainty depends oa Taind of the ‘man whose daty it is 10 lower sence of i or ‘free’ the boat from the steamer’s side, In a word, patent may, under disciplined nu work satisfactorily, properly and eflecvely, bat it \uires practical experience aud Coolness to manage it, and in the hands of others, in the bustie and courston ernent tO o temp See fae @ Wieden Gr mo St CS, 8 whole aiuir would be foun to be 80 Complicated it would drown more than it ever saved. if owners of steamboats will furpish them with Iifeboais in good condition, enough of them and in accesatble positions, they can wait awhile until the invention of decent disengaging apparatus shall supersede the old sate plan of “lowering” a boat, ‘The life preservera of the present day! Won't many @ traveller by water smile when they are ailuded vot Who ever heard of the old “cork Jackets” or “rings” saving the life of any one? Who ever saw these instruments di "1 to save live on poard of any of our river boi in such acces- sible positions that if the abandonment of the vessel was hurriedly decided upon they could be easily and Duamediately procured? and who ever tound them in perfect condition? The life preservers of the pres- ent day are mere rubbish; there is not a decent in- strument of the kind extant. More poverty of in- vention has been displayed in the manufac- ture of these things than in aught else in the broad range of mechanics, The “cork jackets’? may have saved at times some poor wrecked fellow at sea, but it is so common to place them in outof-the-way locations, letting them rest without attention for months, even years, that their outside covering becomes torn, the cork like a stone and the stri inteaded to fasten the pre- server about the y gone. One and all of these so-Calied lite-saving affairs can be placed in the same category, It is certainly strange that our commend- able fertile inventive geulus has not ere this placed before the pablic and in the water not a straw, but something a drowning man could clutch at and pe saved, aud which in times of anticipated danger could be easily and securely adjusted to the body, enabling its wearer to take to the water with confidence. One cannot help but feel every time he reads of a fatal disaster on the water that tnere has been culpable negligence in providing means for the saving of life. it may not be within the wisdom of map nor in the strength of timber to prevent winds and waves as- serting at times their superiority, and collisions will occur in spite of the efforts of officers to keep vessels. apart; but there need not be the frightful loss of life winch so often attends these mishaps, Collisions and burnings of stcain- boats occur so often on our rivers end lakes, resuiting in great loss of life, lead us to the supposition that there 13 no such eng as a good life preserver manufactured, aud realiy there is nof. If there be one, Why are not all steamboats compelled to be supplied with it? Owners of these vessels will not provide means of safety for their pesrenuere unless compelled to do so. They will not voluntarily be at the expense of piscing good life preseryers in such accessivie posiuons that they could be used in emergent cases. Beside the expense they seem to have a prejudice against Afiving anything on board their ves-els which implies that she could possibly be lost. In tha respect something should be done, and that at once, to lessen the frightful risk of voyages on the water ia the matter of ine invention of gud life buoys. We have a friend who was among those at the awful disaster on Lake Erie last summer, and who was neariy sunk by @ poor life preserver, the “cork jacket,” and only saved hiniself by discarding it, and we cannot recali to mind at this writing more than one man who was ever saved by one of them The reference ts made to an Individual in the fearfal Henry Clay disaster onthe Hudson many years ago, wid fastened one to his body aad jumped into the water; but before ten minates had elapsed it began to settie aad pull him under, When he saved his life eventaatly by climb- ing on a floating baie of coiwon, where he was rly frozen to death before being rescued. Assuming that disaster shonld pefall any of our palatial souna steamers, in the height of tue sumuner season, Or tue Albany boats, Wien each has trom 690 to 1,000 per- sons on board, i3 it dificult to answer the interroga- tuve, “How many lives would ins ‘cork jacketa’ of the preseut day save?’ But fow. Many of their manufacturers, too, practise lm their construction the most shameiess frauds. ‘his has been proven recently in London, aud sach experiments might, Without duabi, be repeated heve with like results. A prominent gentieman intcresied in such matters went among the “satiors’ shops’? and bought infec buoys, ov preservers, wilh a view of testing them. His slory sugzesta the mguiry wheter or not the “ILe preservers’’ Ol ord Our st boats are any vetier Uian tuose described and tested by bun, Ue saysi— ‘One waa branded “warranted corkwood," one “all cork,” and the third simply bore the word “warranted.” They ranged In price from six shiiags to seven and sixpen ‘The were wii tarec carried home wad dissected with we Lc lowing resnits No.1 (*warranted corkwood"), when its flimsy, yellow af slit, Was discovered to cousist bodily oO: Straw, coveve i With cork shavings for tae gatisivction, it 13 presaned, of any cautious mariuer who mlyht feel dixpored rik a like elit in his ase 8048 to make sure Of Its becore he pal for tt. uranted") was staifed with rushes. Jo. 3 (“ail cork”) core chips and rushes, about twenty per cent of the former and eighty of the ‘Vo teat the buoyant capadility of che three detected impos- torn, they were pinced in water, u welght of teu pounds be Jached to gach, This was the res corkwood"—San's tn an ho -Stoud the test for nearly two houra, and ulm Dbed. Fire backets should be on hand in abundance in every steamboat; the application of & bucket of water has often extingauhed we trifing spark, wnich in @ hundred cases of frighifal steamboat burmings Was tue beginning of the disaster, The negiect of furuishing & poat with proper fire buckets and keepiiay them Giled with water bas proven wreally destructive of life and property, carrying wrief into once happy households aud reducing to peuury many who were prosperous until the calamity arising (rom criminal negiect or careleas- ness brougat them to, periaps, pinching want. Were the proper precautionary measures adopied on board steatnboats, in ning out of ten cuses none of the dreadful oecurrences which too often frigiten the community from iis propciciy woud tnd a record ta the dally history of life, ‘The mere poeses- mot sudicient, For ali practical n during ur late inspections. stances 01 Similar comment may be made in relation to water hose, If stored away uuder the Loipression of false security, and Uaat it may not be required, owiag to tue precaution otherwise adopted to guard against acctivat, the moment surely WUl come, and at a ime pocted, When, panic stricken with tear, the ce thas reposed resuité in a iiiserable and irightfal delusion. Axes sliould also abound in number and be acces- In namerous in sthey have peen found oftivers’ “rooms or m pilot houses, Whicre no passenger is permitted to go. VESSELS VISITED. Carrying out the avowed purpose noted as far as practicable wien tais subject mater was annoanced, our luspector has visited the inland steamboats cari the purteuances.” eye also to thelr adopted “security ee eee ugainst fire.’ At tuis season, 1! is repeated, ing passengers lying #t our piers, to observe ‘quantity and quality of their life-sawng ap- Tavs ran his tastructions, wich an toforma- of great showing as this = character to the travellin, musi be pabiic, of It certainiy has been £8. ‘The captain could not be found, nor could the 160 life preservers which the United States certificate of inspection called for, One miserabie “ring,” painted yellow, was found hanging aft, and this m such a condition that i would probably sik sooner than & man who could not swim. None othera could be seen. They muy be on board; bat of what service are they tn the hold of the vessel or eixewhere, hid away where naturally they must be neglected? Only eighteen ont of thirty required buckets were foand, and but one of six axes could be seen. There was fout after diligent search one sinail wooden boat on ti upper deck forward, covered with canvas visu of wood, aud no attached lowering ap; It would not be of the least service tu case of alarin. Another boat of metal was found att, wiih the thole pins gone. The security and provisions against Ore of this boat are very indifferent. The Matteawan, hence to Keyport, of 175 tons bur- den, Of the 160 Tite preservers she is required to have forty-turee cork jac! nde the lower decks, inaccessible except giant; the gangwaye beiug filled with freygit, mu of it di rectly about these racks, the jackets could not be then used under any circumstances, On the up+ per deck were found the balance, These conid easily ne reached, but they were in a miserable state of repair and confusion, the pleces of eork enciosed feeling like pieces of stone. Many of the miseravie coverings were torn and mitiated so that afier an exposure tothe water for several minutes they undoubtedly woud be useless. Oniy one of the two boats required by law was noted, this being att the port wheelhouse, capabie of holding counfortabiy about twenty-five persons. It had no oars, and its lowe! apparatus contained — knots, Twelve out of the twenty required buc were found on the upper deck, The security against fire of this vessel is indifferent only, and the ability of its officers to save many passengers in case of danger, merely conjectural. ‘The Thomas P. Way, hence to Newark, ts of 459 rien ese acer el be | ae a em je us in bad condition. nm ie st in condition, i ii i : E feeey, oe ont the initiated knowing of such @ domWay and roveptacie. Aboui fifteen or twenty other jackets were found below situatod in racks that Freigut 1s carried 3 and even in the nly csasuravle, tier fire are not to be com- mended, ‘The Electra, hy to Provideuce, is of 1,567 tons hurton, pone has 47 staterooms and 299 bortins, Lene awa one an Kea of her paasenver- oarrying capacity, ue oe fp EMG baess oe vided with 200 life preservers, which are of the oral- nary character, and these are placed in the stare. rooms‘and berths, Thirty-six buckets were found aft, easily observed, but not easily reacued. Twenty-lour were noted on the upper deck in very convenieut locations. Her five boats were found on the upper deck, three on the port and two on the starboard side, in good condition and with loweriag apparatus in excellent order, ‘This 18 to be com- mended. Her fire security is also worthy of com mondation, ‘Tne Galatea, of the same line, and a sister vessel, is similarly fitted. The Doris, also of the same line, 1,360 tons burden, 13 a freight boat, but carries an occasional passenger or two. Her cork jackets are of te old style, thirty in number. She has two boats on the Bppoe eck, ‘Tue Hmpire State, hence to Newport, belonging to the Boston, Newport and New York Steamboat Com- pany, is 1,692 tons burdea. When this vessel was visiied and permission given to inspect her the officer saluted answered, “Weil, yes; but we allowed a HERALD man here once before aud he went back onus, and that wasn’t square.” This boat has 106 staterooms and 500 bvertns, but her certliicate trom the United States 1aspectors cails for bat 353 life pre- servers; these, of the old cork jacket style, are in the various rooms and berths, so far as they hold out, Six hundred eet of hose 18 called for, and part of it was seen. Of the sixty buckets demanded to be on board, twenty-two were found on the hurri- cane deck, each coataining a few drops of rain water; ten on stateroom deck, not filed, and six in the cabin, very ornamental but not very useful. Of the boats, two very small ones are on the hurricane deck, ait, outof the way and hardly vo be reached im case of alarm; one had no lowering apparatus, two others were abaft the starbourd sud two ait of the baat wheelhouses, with lowering gear, but their location cannot bul be coudemued. ‘They arc too far trom the water and two Ciosely hemmed in by staterooms, &c, The boilers of this boat are on the guards, and the woodwork about them is too near, alchough protected, as the con- ued radiation of heat from tue boiler ts to be eared, The Andrew Harder, hence to Stuyvesant. The person in authority said the United States certificate was “locked up in the sale”? ‘The boat has vhuirty- four staterooms, aud there were fouad but tlurteen cork jackets on board, ‘Lhe otuers wul be neve next week,” said our informant, One small boac was discovered on the upper deck, and another of lke character on the lower deck; neither would be of much service in a hurry or duriag an alarm. The boners ave not felted, and no buckets, axes, hose, , could be found. The tire risk of the boat is uot to be praised. ‘The Jesse Hoyt, hence to Port Monmouth, ts of 624 tons burden, ser inspector’s certificate caids for 490 life preservers, two boats, thirty-mme buckews aud eight axes. Only two hundred and nivety three in large titles In tne Baloon of this boat, which security and provision against hor fo bo pro- of the old cork jackets were counted, some being easily reached and others inaccessible, Lhe boats are placed in inconvenient locations, have no lowerlg apparatus, and taey would not hold one- twentieth of the number of passeazers that soue- times frequent her decks and saloons, Some or the buckets were seen and two or three of tie axes, Her security and provisions againsi tire are not first class, ‘tue Wyoming, hence to New Hamburg, is of 265 tons burden, Her certificate from the United states authorities calls (or 154 life preservers, two boats, twenty buckets and five axes, After thorvugily searching tae boul but seventy-three cork jackets could be found, aud these were In paces that during a panty among a large number of passengers, would be regarded as iuaccessibie, Buckets and a not seen, The boats are small, This ve the summer season of 1868 ran on several routes from this city, among them being to the Fisning Banks and New Haven, and on tmany of these trips carried several hundred passengers. ‘The life-saving apparatas she was then supplied’ with, based upow the present stock, Was totally inadequate to save one ont of ten of those Who entrusted ties tives to the oficers of the boat, bad a serious accident oc- el ‘ue Stonington, hence to Stonington, Conn, is of 1,634 tons burden. She is fitted with 117 state- vooins and 881 berths for passengers. Three hundred and seventy-five life preservers are called for vy her inspection certiiicate, these belug in the staterooms, &e. Any one who re- collects the crowded boats at times dur tus numt state of the Souud steain- past season will stamp Her un r of cork |i 3 a8 inadequate, in number, ure jn good condition, are placed in such locations that great dilicuity might be experienced in launching them in case of eight of the prescribed 110 Luckets . ‘This boat is also supped with a it, but it is stowed away on the upper deck, and, for ali the purposes for Which it is designed, might a3 well be m the Joit ot the manufacturer, ‘dhe security and provisions agatnst fire ia tid vessel are quite good, The Narraganset, sister vessel to the above, is, We believe, fitted in like manner Tha James W. Baldw! hence to Rondout, ts of 1,002 tons burden. She has been anacrgows repairs during the ige eurbarge of the Hudson. Tne inepec- tor’s certificate calls for 250 Ife preservers and two boats, besides thirty-nine buckels and elit axes, She is fitted with sixty staterooms aud 20) berins. ‘The boata were not furnished with any lowerins ap- paratus. Most of the buckets and axes were found, ‘The life preservers ave the old cork jackets, slowed away imracks, Comment ig unnecessary, Fire risk suscepubie of improvement. - . Tue Adelpiti, hence to Sing Sing, is of 64% tons burden, it 1s supposed she 1s fitted with, or rather the inspector's certificate calls for 250 life preservers, two boats, twenty-iive buckets and five axes, The cork jackets fouud approach very nearly the above number, but many are placed in racks #0 far above the reach of individuals of ordinary height tuat heir usefulness is negatived, while others are where no mortal would think of finding them in case of alarm, ‘The boats are in good condition and might be effec. tively used if needed. The reensivle pr of blocking up the gangways of of this character 3 ere in its Worst Her seourtty aud fire are is about 200 tons burden, The certificate of inspection, which should been on deck prominentiy, could not be found, captaim has tt locked up, I guess,"’ said one of the employés, It was fouad that she had aes cork jackets, placed in racks out of reach, of these were in very vad condition, the covermgs being shamefully torn. Twelve buckets were found on the upper deck, aa were two small boats pbait the wheeliuuses, not fitted wath lowering apparatus, Her security against fire might be greatly tuproved. The T. V. Arrowsmith, hence to Glen Covo, of 527 tons burden, should have by inspection authority 19% life preservers, twenty buckets aud two boats, There were found aad counted after some troube 102 old cork jackets, uot worth the room they occu- pied, 80 for as their life-saving virtues are concerned, ‘The boats are located on the saloon deck aft, covered with canvas, and two or three buckets were Keen on the upper deck, in such an insecessible lo: that they might as well be overboard. The risks of tits boat can be improved wituout troubie or great expense. The Nelly White, from this port to Glen Cove, of 444 tons burden, her certificate says Wid Possess 233 life preservera, two boats, twenty buckets. kc. After an extended search eiyghty-seven cork jackets were found in positions not easily reacled and many in a very bad state of repair. Tue boats are abs the wheolhouses on the saloon deck, aud might be improved, bow ta rize aud quality. Not a stugie bucket could be found anywhere avoard the vessel. If they were stowed away of witat use would they be in case of Gre? Her security and provisioa against fire are but indifferent. ‘rhe City of Martford, hence to Hartford, Is of 1,007 tons burden. She ig Mited with forty-eight state- rooms and 204 berths; her certtiicate advises, and the same authority assures the tnqui that sie i sapplied with 200 life preservers, which, we presame, are cork jackets stowed away in the rooms and berths; some few were seen; sixty-two buckets aud lireo of the boats don the #aioon deck tn tions not easily i reached, three were on the hurricane dock , with no lowering apparatus, and so placed that during an excitement taey Would ouly be found by tee crew, and it i8 questionable if they contd launch them. Fighteen buckets were found on the hurricane deck ait without water, and twenty-four forward, in the lected condition. i The provision against roved without trouble. © New Haven, of 1, tons burden, her laspection certificate advises, has 815 life preservers, tx boats, seveuty-two buckets and tweive axes, Sho ts fited with fifty etx state. rooms and 300 berths. In these are placed, so far as they hold out, the cork jackets, denominated Ife pre servers, Of the boats, nono in the very best of re- air, three are placed aft on the saloon deck, with lowering apparatus; they are approached with some diMculty: one is stowed away on the hurricane deck and ts useless, while the other two are plaved fur ward of the port and starboard steam chimney only to be found by the initiated. Twenty-tre buckets are on the hurricane deck without water and twenty-two were counted on the lower deck. ‘The security and provisions againat fire, as noicd « this vessel, are not to be commended. ‘The Syivan Shore, hence to Port hington Tac inspector's certificate could not be found, one of the oMicers supposing “that the captain had it, as it Was never hung up.’ One hundred cork” jack- ets, many in bad repait, were found in the saloon cabin under the seats, and thirty-two in racks out of reach on tie main deck, ‘ihere were no buckels visible, and the two smail boats—one without any lowering apparatus—are not in good condition. Her fire risk is bi ‘The New Haven, is of 448 tons burden. Her certificate of inspeotion calls for ninety-two life preservers, Uiree boats, thirty buckets and Sie is Gited with twenty-six sat same neg = and, aiter some deliberation, he opeaed two state. rooms and di the “hie rvers’’ at the head of the yin boats were oh the peta inaccessit one Wi ‘tuced site ony lower rr ty buckets eel after gent search, ‘on the upper thorougi- conggivabie char: new YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, APRIL 4, 1869.-QUADRUFLH SUEEr, acter, incluting mie) that was Oy inflamma and explosive, that it was vaprecueabie to pos froin the bow to tho stora of tas boat throwsh the rep ee This practice is so mconsistent wiph tas Kea of safety in the running of a passenuer sien) bout that it partakes of a criminal neglect on t. part of its oMicers for the lives entruste) to their care. ‘This blockade prevented the inspector's Uflcate being seen, if the boat possesses ove, and consequently the number of Lie preservers boats, &c., the law requires her to be fitte canned be given, Five _ boats, however, found of their Kind, two ot wen: b the port side of the alter saluon deck. upside cw, Without any lowering apparatus a ‘One was found on the hur “, with ed, yeu 1t8 Inaccess!b! > Le tion makes it almost worthless, and the o. were in quite as toconvenient piaces, wilh no Pliances for lowering. Tue condition of repalr of these boats can be improved. Neither buckets nor axes were seen, The fire risk of this vessel is very indifferent. The P. G. Coin, hence to Sing Sing and Nyack, 1s of 440 tons burden, The United States inspec ors give her 150 life preservers, two boats, twenty buckets and fiveaxes, ‘The cork jackets fuund on the jower deck in racks are beyond a@ passenger's reach, and those in the saloon are old, torn and greatly worn. Oniy seventy. it could be mustered. Neituer of the small boats can be boasted of. One is located aft of the starboard wheel and 1s in oor repair; it would not be very serviceable. The other is stowed away on the hurricane deck without any lowerimg apparatus, and si.vuld itever be launched in time ot alarm it wouid re- quire considerabie trouble and no smal! degree of wenuity to do it sifely. The gungways tn this boat are also flied with Treight duriug their trips. Paitent searching failed to reveal either buckets or axes. The fire risk of this boat is not good. ‘The New Champion—an old boat witu a garbled nae, it is ailewed, but newly painted—was lying at per No. 85 North river, The captain was found on the alter guard of the boat with a paint brush in his hand when our inspector approached and requested permission to “look around,” After reading the authority shown to him he tor a second stopped his painting and petulanily exciuimed, “Go to the laws of the United states and see what this pou should have, and then you can bet wo have got it.” Having bad something of an experience with steamboat captains before tuis—particwarly in what their ideas consist of when their own boats are ailuded to—the tlekaLp lspecior declined the source of Information suggesied, and repeatea bis with that he mirat “see for himacif,"” wuea he re- ceived @ poiut blank refuaal; yet he did look around, aud tl the resuit—Tiere were no preservers nor axes seen on the iower dec buckets were (ound piled toe deck, Of course they were empty } one small boat, located aft o: the starboard witeel- house, and another scen on the hurricave deck. Atl the service the latter would be during an alarm m- cident toa jire or collision can be easily imagined, ‘the fire risk of this boat cau and should be im- proved, By what authority the name of tis craft (a3 we were informed such 1s the case) has been changed from “Champion” to “New Champion’? we could not learn. Did Conzreas give he: D per- mission to make this change? The United Siutes in- spectors’ certificate cola not be seen. As cousider- avle freight was noticed on thia boat's deck it 1s sup- posable sue will soon take up her posiiion on the ime to Catskill. The Lhomas Powell, hence to Catskill, is of 625 tons burden. This boat has aiso been painte! up, aad oue of her deck hands said she was ready’? tobe placed on the route. It ts. supposed thac cork jackets are piaced in each of the terooms and berths: bat that can oaly be conjectared, as permis sion could not be obtained to make the inspection, four were couated oa vie tower deck, saié Old inaccessibe locations, out of reaca in Yr over head. Que ordinary sized wooden boat was found on the lower deck. Perhaps tie eupioye of the boat spoken to was mista! avout wer I neas. For her future passenzers’ sake, in 2 of accident, the Hexacp hopes so. The tire risk v1 tae boat should be laproved, The Ansonia, plying to Saugerties, was found in about similar condition, She has been recently painted externally, and as the certudeate of the in- Spectors Could not be fouud it is tinpracticabe to state how many jack e¢., Sueshoviu pe curnisiied <4 Were ug locaced on The e xtern with, It was iutunated om board that she would at oace be put on the line of her route. Alter diligent searching a small nmuinber of cok jackets, appareutiy old and in poor repair, were found stowed away In lockers, where, If tucy remain When the bout is iu sefvice, migit just as weil be at the boftoin of the Red Sea, so far us the beneiit they would be to her passengers if needed. One simail boat was noted on (eck; ueither puckets nor axes could be found. Tho fire risk of this beat 15 NOL to be commended. ‘The John L. flasbrouck, hence to Poughkeepsie, of 477 tons burden. More [resi paint bere, has been running several weeks, but her ce ot Inspection could not be seen, alter Ue Mivet patient searching from siem to stera, No cork Jackets could be found, nor were there any buckets or axes where «hey should have been—in iact, none could be exhumed. Vor the information of Ler pas- sengers We vouciisafe tie siaiement taat the brouck should be supplied with 100 life preservers, two boats and twenty buckets, Is she thus sup- plied? One boat was discovered on her burricane deck, stowed away without oars, thole pins or lower- tng apparatus, asif it would neVer be requird. Just a Well, periaps, as it Would be of very liltle service oO & number of startled passeager-. Her security and provisions against ire are nol good. ‘The ©. Vandernilt, plying between this port and TTOY, Urcasurce 1,0 tuna. How eostadoute of inspec tion calls lor 236 Ife preservers, forty-seven Or buckets, nine axes aud two boats. The cork jack- et# are presumed to be in the bertas pad state. rooms; some of them could be in better repair. ‘Tue two boats are on the upper deck and of ordinary size. Some of the buckols were seen, and two or three of the axes noted. Those who are acqainted with the large number of passengers that sometimes cvowd this boat and the Conaecticut, the sister boat of the line, may well axk “Is she properly supplied with life-saving appurtenances!” r The St. John, on tne route to Albany and return, 1s about 1,769 tons burden, Her certificate requires her to be fitted with 407 life preservers, ninety-thres fire buckets and four fenoats. As it 1s boasted tat bowl tue St. Jobn aad her associate boat, the Drew, have accommodations for over 700 pas sengers, it is submitted should @ — coi sion occur on the Hudson at dead of night between them and some craft with less upper work, of light character, and should a panic ensue, how many of the seven bundred—assuming that number to be carried, and it often is—could be saved by the cork jackets hid away in berths, &c. ier boats were found to be tu a fair condition, but uot very accessibie. Her security and provisions against fire cau be improved, and showid be. ‘The Bristol, hence to Bristol, K. 1, 18 of 1,962 tons burden. she has ten boats, 110 fire buckets, twenty- fous axes and 800 iife preservers, or rather her cer t.ll- cate credits her with these, Itneed oniy to be men- tioned that her oMcers boast of having accommmoda- tions tor 1,200 passengers, and that daring the oppo- sition on the Sound last season such a number was, il has been said, repeatedly carted by tis boat. Under these circumstances how many lives would jackets have saved had a disaster then occurred’ Four of the boats are in accessible loc tons, but the balance are not so well placed. Some buckets and few axes were seen. The boat's fire risk 1s passable. stwilar remarks in every essential particular refer to her sister steamboat, the Provicte ‘The City of New York. N of 1,682 tons burden. he other Soand 4, las the cork jackets with which she is piaced in the staterooms aud berths. The te of the authorities says she has 450 of yhty-five buckets, twelve axes, four life and th ner boats. ‘Two of the boats are forward of the whicelhouses, two stowed away amidships, the ng the smaller ones, in locations not ‘The backeta are not accessible, . like her sister boats, the City of New Loudon and City of Lawrenc very large number of passeng: London has 200 lile presery fire riak ia fair, these cot rwich, Conn., is CONCLUSION. Here is a pretty revelation | in the jnbred love our citizens for summer travel by water they f at times by the hundreds to tive decks and salvo the above and other steamboats that ply from metropols to the tt nd and one resorts that are y termed our suburban towns, The owners by trafic amare fortum © they, seemingly, for the live Ail decent men heartily i sernmnps” and “longasore’ sharks who pre arly on seamen and feece them of their i ‘They utterly abhor the ‘wrecker,” the cold blooded, murderous yillan who, by tmeaas of false Jights abd signals, betrays a noble vessel to certain action, that he may gather the plun- the ‘wreck und tu drowned bodies inton of the man or What, bien, ts the of men, who, for the sake of litt a fellow creature to the lngeriing by graduAl drowning: Such resi of the manufacturers ven eave the mark |) tested by Mr. dames Green 48 hoted above, How many of # iewe ‘uiré are furnished to our steamboats piying daily our doors and cartying our friends from place to place’ We do not charge them with straw, rushes and chigg, but many of them in their if tion are no mo rvice has not often happened that, being cae ¢ face of the waters of the Sound or North or Bi iver, the possessor of a life buoy deserving life preservers fing diled with we do assume that 1 ame has inthe ead been worse off than the man who had no such hope left tim out of a wreck, aud ewent down aud was done with ft but this has been providential, Who will under take to tell, wnlese this wretched itmposture ceases, how many instances in the future there Will be of desperate hope unexpectedly mocked to death, of lives lost that would have been saved had the promise of @ treacherous preserver heid out but proved trae? how many men, and Na women, too, have been and wii be cheated out of their lives by abandoning the spar or plank for the more hopeful ooking cork jacket, “warrantod solid cork Wood,” but which 1s no better than straw and rag’, Whieh soddens 1 einks, dragwing the cling- ers with it, So It ia with the equipment of t regard to lifeboats, What in t plied aloft out of reach aud without thole plas or oars In case of disaster? e use of having buckets to extinguish fires if they are locked up and empty? Where is the propriety of tn having axes to cat aWay & wreck if they are stowed away out of view? Where ia the judgment displayed of those who go up and down rivors, across takes and through the Sound in patronizing eteainboat owners who are vety #nre to get their =a money in acd. vance, and have note proper care for the lives of and do not provide means for their of dancer? neo ateamboats in value of a bout naloty RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. r Erclesinstical Mectings, 1869. The following table of the times and places of holding ecclosiastical meetings for the present year wl be found valuable to many of onr readors:— GENERAL ASSEMBLIES, ©. 8. Presbyterian—S@W York city, May 29, N.S. Presbyterian—New York icy, day 2% bouther» Presb: terlan—Mobile, » Oumberland rresoyterian—Murirevsbore, Tentt., ay 2). yeh wulted States Presbyterian—Monmouth, lL, May GENERAL SYNODS. Reformed Preshyterian—Cedarville, Ohio, May 10. Evangel.cal Lutacran—Cinciunati, May 20. Kelormed—Phuadeiphia, Jone 2. German Keforuwed—Pauadelpaia, November 24, _ GENERAL ASSOCIATIONS, CONFERENCES, &( Kansas Geueral Associution—Lawreuce, May Michigan General Association—vast Saginaw, May May = Indiana General Association—Indianapol linois General Association jowa General Association—Deninark, June 2. Knode Islaud Conference—Litie Compton, June 8. Ohio Conference—Akron, June 8. Nebraska Congregational Association—Fremont, June Lo. Counecticut General June 16, Vermont General Association—Brandon, June 15, Massachusetts: General Assoclation—Woburn, June 15, Oregon Congregational Association—Salem, June Farmington, May 26. Association—West Haven, Maine General Conference—Bangor, June 22, New Hampshire General Assucisiiou—Keene, Au- gust 24, Wisconsin Presbyterian and Congregational Con- vention—Sparta, October 6, Caitfornia General Association—San Octover 6. Minnesota Conference—Owatonna, October 14 _New York General Associativa—Potsdam Junc- tion, October 10. Missouri Weneral Conference—Sedalia, October 29. Francisco, Progress of Christianity—Conversions, Acces= sions, Revivals, &c. We have received reports for the past week of some 7,000 accessions or conversions to various eburches as the result of revivals. Ot these 4,000 are among the Methodists, 850 among the United Breth- ren, and 600 each among the Baptists and Presbyte- Tian. At its last communication the Congregational church in Bridport, Vt., received thirty-nine acces- sions. Other revivals are noted in the Congrega- tional churches of Sudbury, and Sunderland and Palmer, Mass. (See correspondence.) The Baptists have shared in the revival m Vittsfield, Mass., and fifty-five have joined that Church. Dr, Newell's churen in this city (Presbyterian) received fifty new meinbers at its last communion, The North Preshy- terian church in Busfalo is enjoying the most remark- able work 01 grace tn lis bistory, and 100 converts lave begun a uew life. Iu Bel vr 0, forty converts are numbered among the Congregauond and eighty-four among the Presbyterians of ZAbEL N= town, Ind. in fulton, Il., Rev. J. D, Potter has veen Working with great success, and the churches have been greatly revived, ana there are said to ve v0 converts, of Whom sixty are among the students of tue Illimois Soldiers’ Colles forty-one ay been received on profession of their faith by thi Westminster Presbyterian churca of Salt Polat, Dutchess county, N.Y. Ona tate sunday fifiy-foar persons were received into the communion of the First Presbytrian church, Bridgeiown, N.J. ‘The second church has aiso received uw goodly number. Tweive persons were received by pros m the Presbyterian churen of "Chester, 2 Y. In Salem, Washington county, N. Y., there has existed for sever montis past a very luveresting work of giace. There w on the urst sabbath in March twenty-oue added to th: church, all but one on exami were persons of ulmust ev years o.d, two of them with their w lis wile and gon, a mother and daagi and sisters aud a brother, turty-ihree persons were admit munion of the old Plue street Presvy Vuiladeiphia, on Sabbath, zuth ull. A remarkable revivai of redgion began wiih the week ol prayer In the Presbyterian chuceh ats le oki, Pa, Some who nad long withstuod the invila- tons Of the Gospel are amoug the converts. A country neighborhood prayer meeting, whic! has been sustained for a year or TWO past by a te¥ laymeu and Womed lnone o. the towns of Mas cuusetis, has been much biessed of latc. A Ww two since more than oue huaared were present aut among them ten iuquirers. A revival 13 reported in progress at Sto Wis., in which tue plan of visiting, i “Ay ing in saloons, hotels aud Oller pubic places, las been adupted. ‘Lhe churches of Lawrence, Kansas, held a union communion service February 24, in walich about 590, of whom at least 100 were colored, parvicipated, Nine pasvors took part m tne servic ‘The Preabyterian charch ac Mouat Hope, N. Y., tion. In baie Muinber age, three men filly 3,0ne with ir, sisters, hag recently enjoyed a season of &pirttuai recres! . A decided Interest Was developed uring tae s Vices or tae Week OL prayer, Which were continue through four successive weeks. A revival of considerable interest has been in pro- gress at the Presbyterian church in Babyion, Long isiaud, for some tune past, The services of last Sunday morning were rendered more tian usually solemn and interesiiag by tue ce.ebration of the Lord's Supper aod au accession of elguwen new members, four by certilieate and fourtecu oa contes- wion of faith. Catholic Confirmations. On Sunday, March 14, the Kight Rev, Louis de Goesbriand, D.D., administered the sacred rite of con@rmation tn the Church of St. Francis de sales, Bennington, Vt., to 120 clildren of bots sexes, They had been prepared for the reception of the ra. ment by the respecsed pastur, Kev. Deunis A, Ryan, Lay Delegation in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of last week contains a full report 44 in Washington, March 9, for the purpose of advancing the interests of the lay repre- sentation in the Methodist Episcopal Church, Ad- dresses were made by the Hon. James Harlan, United States Senator from lowa, Senator Willey, of West The Methodist ofa meeting Virginia, and the Rev. Dr. Mcxendree Reiley, of Cov- tou, Ky. The spe embrace a ink history of delegation agiadon inthe Methodist Church, of the arguments by which the friends ot the measure sustain it, By the act of tue Last General Conierence the question of the admiis- sion of lay delegates tnto the legisiative bodies of the Methodist Church ts to be submitted to tue lay metobers, without distinction of sex, during tue month of June next, when, it is thought by those best informed on the subject, the measure will be adopted by a decided majority. The triends of lay delegation seem to be certain th the matier, an ventious are being held tu all paris of the coun The New York Methodist Anounl Conference. This ecclesiasticat body meets at Sing Sing on Wesnesday, the 7th, instead of Friday, the 24, a8 wrongly stated in some of the papers. ‘ihe ter ritory of the Conference Wes mostly along the Hudson river, comprising twenty-turee churches in the city of New York, the countte of Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess and Colaba entire, parts of the counties of Urange, Ulsver, Suilt- ven aud Delaware, with a few stations in the Svat ‘ ut and Massachusetts, Tie Conferenc into six “districts,” each of which has presiding elder.” It has about 500 minister 90,000, and & lay members! ontributed last year tor benevoieut pur- the sum of $55,000. it has aiso 470 Sunday with 60,000 officers, teachers and scho! 25 4 bet poses echools, and 120,000 volumes im the livrurics, The Cor Was organized In 1790, Its oldest member is vin Richard Poughkeepsie, who entered reuce m 1809. Bishop t presides at wsion of the Conferen Amertcan Bible Society. The stated mecting of thé Board of Managers was held at the Bible House Apri lL. Bieven new auxiliaries were recognized, Communications were received from Mr. Thomas M. Westrup and Mr, Andrew M, Milne, giving an account of their work in Mexico and on the Kio de la ; from Kev. Charles Jackson, British and igh Bible Sootety and Mr. Henry ©. Hail in re- iS the tn “8s of revelation aiready so that we have nothing far 7ROF to learo and the minisiers of retig nothing more Phas communicate tous. Do we andor stand clearly yet ..°¥ t iaake this world likea paradise for the whole man farnity, or the noxt world a joyful heaven fo.” “the spirits of ali Mosh Until tuis is known and und, Vst00d I cannot belteve that revelation is atterly exha. “4, or that ministors olr n Lave potaing more Lo te,’ US, OF bhe greak dic nothing further to learn. ‘i ke.lore. T caunos butsympatiiae with you in calling upoa “ue minis ers ol religion for ideas ag well ag oratory, Winte oar fund of information is daily increasing im “eterence to all the other seignees why should our kao Wledgo of theoiogy alone appear to stand stil any more than on Knowledge of anatomy, geology, chomietry, é&e.* Why siiould ihe seachers of theology aesere anything dogina ically in this enlightened age? Why not tell us canuidly how mneb is certainly known and Clearly demonstrable and what appears to be as yet but tiperfectly understood im reierence 10 tie ology, 80 that the line between the Known and (he unknown may be as clesriy defined La this as tt isto igi the other sciences; and thea, surely, theotogy may be progressive also, us ace all the other sciences, until at lase that remarkable pre shall be jul filled whien declares that event “the whole ally earth shali be {uli of the knowledge of she glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.’? Do not Iet me be supposed to mamuate that the ministers of religion have not in general consoien- tiously done their dull hitherto and faithfully ausWered the requireme. of the various (Christian associations. All 1 meau to intimate is that our age—thia ay ® comparatively very great dit- fusioa of ge knowledge—this rapidiy pro- greassive age of steam and eleciricity—de mands inuch more from its teachers than any formor age, andif the ministers of reiizion would long seta the attention and respect iwey have hitiverto com- manded they must prove themseives in some dogreo equal lo the mauilest religious requirements of our own times, which are emineutly practical aud year ticularly progressive. I suppose that the chief object of @ practical re- ligion adapted to this age would be to tuduce peoyte to begin to become “better and happier here, tub they may be prepared to become very [olice better and happier to ail eternity hero- utter. [ suppose also that tae cuief object of revelation is to rurmelt us with all the informusion and encourage nent requisite for this purpose, 16 should cularge our views beyond this tlic and cause us to act wisely in reference to a future life, as well as with regard to tue mture ages of tis world, $0 that i shoaid practically cause us to aiu at sd ally improving tue condiuon of manku having & firm faith in (de ulumate realization of Saviour encouraged us to taaulze in w His diselpies to pray to our Heavenly Father, “Phy kingdom come, Tay will be done on in heaven.’ So ner or later wisdom, mercy, trath, righteousness and peac. ii Most certarmly prevail inthe earth as they do giready in heave, or tho Saviour would never have tauzht us to fopo and pray for God's Kingdo.a on earti if that King Was never to come; aud it 1s manifestly our duvy Christians each to do our part towards advancing this glorious 1uture age of tue word. Kut my -ntention 14 uot to discuss generalities im this letter, but merely turoagn tue HaxabD to Po quest ministers of religion to jet the worid know What ine Bible reveas as fo the ultimate destiny of the “ten tripes of israel," commonty kaowa as the “teu losi tribes,"’ in coniradistiactioa to the Jews of our day, Who are the desecnuants of the remaining “iwo tribes,” Juda and Benjamin. One is naturaliy not a litre surprised to ind thas of “twelve tib Wile are represensed in tae Bible as more particularly cared for h oaly Should be preserved in 80 remarkabl miraculous, & manner as the J for thousands of rs, while all tra “ten tribes’ appears to have been ult Let us get the Biblical Scuoiars to give us s9me idea as to what Was to be the d y Of these “ten tribes’ in the counsels of Provideuce adr the Bible, aud tuen ler us get ethaologtsts t er their science furaisies any proofs of ie stating that the impor- hibited, but that the re printing the . Dr, Revel, Flo- t gard to the work in Spain, fauion of Bibles 1s still y Britis and Foreign Bib’ Scriptures m Madrid; fre rence, stating the cireulation of the Italian Bible from that city: from Key. b G. Cairo, with gratifying accounts of Bible work in Egypt from Rey. Ur. Williamson, missionary ainong the Dacotah Indians, as to the Seriptures in the language of that people; trom key. Dt. J. V. N. Talinage, Amoy, with accomnts of the bivie work in the Mission there; from. Key Dr. Trutabull, Valparaiso, with encouraging wiate- mente ag to ‘Bible distribution in Clule; anal from progress of printing the Rev. Dr. Gulick, Honoiuiu, with favorapie ac- counts a# to the sale of the Bible recertiy eleo- trotyped at the Bible House and sens thither, Th yoke ate highly appreciated and cagerly sought for. Granta of books were mado to varfous organ- izations. They were in vartoas languages ail dif ferent sizes and deserip' The total p wor of volumes granted 1s 9,156, besides others to different partios amounting to $344 © Ideas, « it Upen Clergymen to Murpiel ‘To THE EDITOR OF THR FLARAt In one of your Sunday editorials you ew Ministers of religion to furnish their audiences with “dens ge well as eloquence, now That the press in general and the Henao iv particular ts ready Willing to aid the pulpit to an aulimited degree, that religious truth may become ae intelligible and ua- deniable as scieatifie truth i to every One Who ready and stadies % Sorely we have not oxhausted al apon the tacss of the conclusions of tue stbdlical stu- da ‘thus we might possioly add a litie to tae religious *iueas’ of the wor and the discussion would probaviy be a3 prodtably as most other rele gious questions, omething More Wanted Time is Precions,? fo THR EpiroR OF THE HERALD: — In your edito! of the 24 instant, im alluding to the meeting of the Spiritualists you say the rape pings, &c., fail to dge the wide gull between the seen and unscen:—*We want sometiing more, Can the Sprrtiualists give us what we want? We fear not, Time is precious. many cinurches, all give J and me whi < Go's © n minisiers lit the veil? Are not ¢ ounders (a3 th ay) able to dispel the ad inists which hb: over tne grave? The arth unites in that sensible exciaumation of yours to-day, “We want soutetiing more’! than has yet been given vs. ‘the so-called Christians of to- day speak as plainly as words can speuk:—“We do not believe what we profess.” We do not betievs that turee-fourths of aii the human race is doomed to endless damnauon—our tathers, mothers, brothers, sisters aud cutiuren among tae rest. Well mag you say we Want someting more, and you might D led “betier? —a nov.er, briguter jaith than this. di grant We may have it svou; for bo ts, whose while hair speak® of tae frosts of death, “tune is precious."? A Pious Young Man im a Fox. To Tux Eprrorn of THE HeKkaLp Tam a pious young man, and al oye read the re ligious intelligence in the Henacy. Indeod it is to me a delightful thing to peruse your reports of sermons which appear in Monday morning’s l:sue—a# source from which | derive spiritual aid aad mstreciion, iB & late umber of the HfkAAD you give Lac denomt- 1 of fhe various clergyined Whose sermons FOU uirably report—the Catholic, the Swedeabor+ , the Presbyterian, the Metuodist, the Baptiss aad others are dis y noted; bat iu your nolice— a copious one—of the Key. Heary Ward Beecher, you do not hint at the division of Pro*estantism of which he is the exemplar, Now, what the —— denomuna- (lou does he belong to? Yours, seriously, IN A FOG (Some brother acqnainted with the subjcet wilt please respond, Butavoid proianity ,please.—Bp.} Withdrawal trom the Episcopal Ministry. Rev. Marshall B., Smitn, for a number of years rector of St. John’s church, Passaic, N. J., and for two yeara editor of the Protestant Churchman of this city, has witudrawn from the Episcopal minis- try and written a letter to Bishop Odenbeimer plaining his reasons. The Odverver, rewarkitiy upon ts step, says:—*We have for several years been acquatated with Mr. Smith asa clergyman and @ man of the bighest character, and we are as- that his leaviny the charch with whieh he has been connected is tue result purely of couscientious conviction of duty. orrespoudence, IN PALMER, MA PAaLwen, April 2, 1880. Daring the past three montas a revival of uncom- mou terest has prevatied in both the Congrega- tional and Baptist churches, The conversions among m of the Congregational Soetety have been nomerous, and a renewal of zeal has been manifested PRELING among the members of the ch. For we mectings have been held al every evi drawiug large audiences. One great hindrance the cause of Christianity, temperance the liquor traffic, which has no check hy the passage of the present Massache law, Which 18 not observed in its requirements (0 obtain a permit before selling, there has been free run, and old men, whitening for the grirye, and young boys below their teens are s sel) ng UPR the sireei. ‘Ihis state of things 18 dau agug «@ society, to morality and prosperity. THE ECUMENICAL COUNCEL, A Florence correspondent of the Beange tout Chis endom gives the following account of the arrange iments for (he great coancil to be coaverped at Rome in December next:— In Rome active preparations are bésing made for of the Beuienical Conga whieh Wwul n the 8th of Decembe Among tue sud. s tivat Wu th assed atre the benupe wer of the Pe 1 peraanee, the mw riage of priests and other matters (of Church di It has also been said that a succossur t) will be chosen on tha. oc tals IX. Romwn Catholic journals sa doultiess remove Much auxiety minds of those who are present state of toings shio such & plan could be carried an interregnum would be avo mignt be made with the granting the s. protects new now enjoyed by the present occupant of the tarone. It has been n Tjreed that the meen of this counctil will be held /n that part of St. veter’# which has recet Mme of the chureh Of Sts. Potasio and Mart om account of the altar that has been ratzed to those ‘ints. Tt ts situated in t nave, fund ts capable of containts . itisin tis chapel thas tf preceding Good Friday, wast the feet of the twelve 0 jon who represent tit and 14 known to the livers of One arisas the 1 St, Peter « which cov Aams the tout of Clement right wing of tl at least 2,000 by Canova, the ‘sopy in mosaies of the paint of “santa” Petrouiija,’? by Guercine. The seate awe to be arranged in the form of a semi-circle. ‘the cardiauls and wYchbishops will b ted on the right hard, while the orators and ambass of the Cathglic sovereigns will have their places mn left. About 880 patriarchs, archbishops and bishops have received Auvitations to attend this connell, bat it 18 Dot EXpeded that more than 700 or 750 Of these Will be presevit, It has not yet been decided wheth the bishops in juytions will be alowed to take p in the propecdings, At present it is believed the only thosa who have strong leanings towards (ie polley of fins 1X. and bis followers will be admittect, and thr these wil attend, not as bishops, bub as secretaries In this way those who are obnoxious to the, Papal court can be oxcinded. A college of sev ographers ¥3 betng formed from among the prisets, who Will have @ special part of the buiiding # A aside for them, and whose duty It whi be to take Verbatim reports of the addresses deliveret at the ys. The Latin language will bo the only at these meetings; and, as the Bag. kG, do Rot BrOROMMCS LAL public meee one enyploye’ leh, Preach, Germans,