The New York Herald Newspaper, October 25, 1869, Page 3

NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1869.-TRIPLE SHEET. 3 RELIGIOUS. THE CHURCHES YESTERDAY. Catholic and Protestant Views of Pere Hyacinthe’s Position. Church Authority—Belief, Unbelief, Prayer, Councils, Ceremonials, Reformers and Reformations Treated. Sermons by the Rey. Dr. McGlynn, Bishop Littlejohn, Henry Ward Beecher, Rey. Dr. Chapin, Rey. Dr. Hepworth, Rey. Messrs. Powers, Cham- berlain and Smyth. ‘wing, perhaps, to the fine weather, ag much as to the longing for spiritual food, the churches were generally well attended yesterday, and tn almost all the churches, both Catholic and Protestant, Father Hyacinthe came in for a good share of notice, as the Feligious sensation of the day. The services and wsermons, which were of more than ordinary Interest, ‘will be found noticed in the following reports:— PLYMOUTH CHURCH. Training and Development ot the Soul—Ser- mon by the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher— The!Presence of Pere Hyacinthe During the Services Causes Considerable Interest—His Introduction and Welcome. Plymouth church was yesterday crowded to the doors by a fashionable congregation. The day being delightfully fine there was, of course,’ a charming array of toilets, which looked quite picturesque as the genial rays of the sun shone through the spactous windows of the edifice, causing the variegated colors to blend harmontously. The Rev. Mr. Beecher took his text from Galatians iv., 19. The reverend gen- tleman dilated at some length upon the early culture ofthe soul. When the babe came into life every- thing was against him, and so in like manner was the commencement of areal Christian life. Those beginning the true paths of rectitude were as in- fante just born; for how could they be teachers who were not practically conversant with the truths they endeavored to inculcate? Christian life Must grow and be properly cultured. It was a spark, @ fame, from which at first issued much smoke, and at length became a pure and burning coal. Children and youth might become disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ and might be safely gathered into the Christian fold if only their parents and their pastors would instil into their young spirits the faith of Christ. Some parents brought up their children with the expectation that when they arrived at ‘the years of dis¢retion they would become good Christians. But if properly instructed when young they grew up in the nurture of the Lord—gome without a break at all, and others sub- ject to certam ‘normal disturbances. As a general Working principle, however, if Christian families were eurly educated in the faith of Christ he be- lieved that generations and generations of children might be brought up in the love of Christ without afterwards departing from 1t, so that they woula be free from the usual entanglements of the soul and ordinary experiences, and would come full of faith, full of hope and purity from the cradle to church. Alter alluding to the great necessity of giving proper instruction to the young at an early age he went on to state tnat children were very sus- ceptible and comparatively comprehensive. Thus they iound the babe Jesus in the babe child, and did Not discover that great Christianity looked for in years. Feed them as little children and they would go througii all the temptations and all the trials and inthe end would become good Curistians. There were many persons who labored under the erroneous impression that by too early introduction Wo the Church young persons might disgrace it. But the Church was not to be compared to tue soul, for it was merely the servant of the soul. It might as Well be said that @ hospital was disgraced because Patients died in 1¢ when doctors did their utmost to cure them, or that a school was di use those who came in as 1ools went out as idiots, Moreover, it was not to be supposed that because man was imperfect he was not a Christian. If man enlisted in the army he was quay a3 much a soldier tuen as he would be five years aiterwards, though of course in a different stage of @fiiciency. So long as @& man was earnest he was still @ Christian, however imperfect he might be, so long as he looked up to God with ‘the con- sciousness Of his defects. The thing was to come into sympathy with God and receive the impulse to re- organize his life. The principles of life had two quutities—the force of nature and the voluntary drill to work in harmony. In order to grow to true man- hood tne eye, the earand the haud must be edu- cated. He must learn his trade or he must jearn tne Profession wiich he intends to foliow. ‘There must be a spontaneous intentional power vigorously ex- ercised. And it was precisely the same in the Chris- tan life. As men drilied in anything in which they excelled, it was exacwy the same tilug that took place in regard to progress in reiigion. Nature did great deal, bus iearning could oniy be acquired by spontancous action and a reguiar course of driliing. The spirit of humility was not infused into man without prayer. ‘lo be sure many persons thought that temperance, humility, faith, patience, hope, joy in the Holy Ghost were divine gilts, So were corn, aud sheep and. cows upon the mountain top divine guts, for which men mugt work. They were the frulis of man’s industry, not his jaziness. Faith could only be obtained by practice; nor did all divine gilts come, just by mspiration. They must be learned aud studied as the soldier learned his steps. The experiences in Ile ae OL sO promiscuous as Most peupie imagined. Tuere was a regular order of things. First came the leaf, then we blossom, the green fruit and then the ripe iruit; so it was in the Christian life, The later developments cannot be had beiore the intermediate ones; but just as some youtus aspired to manhood before their ume, Many persons did not like to wait for the proper de- Velopment. It was only when in an advanced state of mighieousness that men came thoroughly to compre- Rend and appreciate tiat serene joy emanating from @sincere love of Christ, Jt migut be said that no ae was periect while in this world, but there Were jose Who came to a perfect state of rest; tor when man came to that stave of experience that ne knew he loved Christ he eujoyed the triumphant teeling that he was beiovea by Curist, and reauzed beyond the grave tue great ovject ior Which he Was created. The Rev, Mr. Beecher had just conciuded the Denediction and the members of the congregation Were about to disperse wiicn an unusual buzz arose inside the chure Versons who had already Feactied the doors, and the throng that had arrived ft the outer gate turned back, and a sea of faces eagerly looked towards one particular object, as if sumMething Unusually interesuug aod attractive had g@uddealy sprung irom the ground. Tae low aud tnquisiive whispering which had hitherto prevailed now swelled forth audibiy, and “Pere Hyacinthe | Pere Hyacintne!”’ was heard distinctly through the building. ‘Lhe aisies were quickly packed again and Curiosity Was stamped on every countenance, In order to have amore complete view of tie diatin- guished visitor some stoou on tiptoe upon tie seats, While others, more iucky in tueir natural altitude, Stretched their necks with cousideravie earnestness, and altogetner the appearance of ere Hyacinthe in Plymouth cuurch yesterday created a reguiar sensa- Won, The eurmises of tie congregation were indeed very numerous, ‘he probavie cause of his arrival ‘Was dis«issed in the briefest possible sentences, aud, truth to say, the advent of the reverend genueman Was, judging by tne general expression, very favor- e@biy regarded. Had Pere Hyacinthe been the veri- tab e Luther himself he could scarcely have excited More attention or awakened a greater feeling of curiosity. The ladies were none the less anxious to @et a glimpse of him; in fact, the sudden announce- Ment of his presence in the building actually star- ted the congregation, Surrounded by @ throng, the eyes of ali composing it riveted upon him Pere liyaclathe, accompanied by his interpreter, had left the seat which fie had occupied during tue services and proceeded to greet the Kev. Mr. Beecher, who, meanwhile, having beea informed of The his visivor’s peers, advanced to meet him, ‘two great pulpit orators shook hands and the recep- tion on the part of the Kev. Mr. beecuer was, appa- rently, very cordial. Through the aid of the inter- ios Pére Hyacinthe expressed the gratification e experienced at being present; meanwhile the crowd gazed with the most Intense interest, doubt- Jeas in anticipation that some important topic might be aliuced tw, With the exception that iére Hya- cintue was very closely scrutimized by not un(rienaly eyes, nouning of wnportance occurred, Alter a very brief conversation tue divines parted, tie Kev. Mr. Beecher saying that he cordially welcomed Pére tya- cinthe, not because he was a Curivsity, but because he bad asserted his indepentence. his brought the interview to @ close, Pere Hyaciothe and his luterpreter then withdrew, entered a carriage and returned to the city, CHURCH OF THE DINE PATEONITY, Sermon by the Rev. wr, Chapin—Outward . Ceremonials—He Recommends All Non« Catholics to Let Father Hyacinthe Alone, ‘The Rev. Dr. Chapin took for the text of bis dis- course yesterday morning Matchew xv., 20—''These are the things which defile aman; buv to eat with unwashen hands deflieth not a man.” The Preacher said that this was spoken by way of ant Madversion to certain Scribes and Pharisees, 1t was probable that the blow then struck at the discipie ‘was really aimed at the Master by whose practice and example tne value of traditional usage was shown. Thus traditions were held superior to the law, because \¢ was declared that “the words of the Soribes are lovely above the words of the law; for the words of the law are weighty and light, but the words of the scribes are all weighty.” Now, among these traditions was the washing of hands, and whoever neglected this Tequirement was considered a fis subject for excom- munication and even of death, He referred to this in order that he might lead nis hearers to consider the first practical lesson of his text, which was that in the declaration before them our Saviour relied not upon practice, but upon principle. aggre he said wotning of unclean hands, but only of unwashed hands. But the great point before us bere and in the preceding portion of the chapter was the ingportaace of the inward condition 1n com- parison th outward performances. This was what the scribes and pharisees did. “Why ao ye also,” sald Christ, “transgress the com- mandments of God by your traditions?” They lad ound, not in the Mosaic ritual, but in the solemn decrees of the Decalogue, the words “Honor thy tather aud mother.” So it appeared that it was not a mere practice that was rebuked— superstitious and absurd as that practice might have been—and it seemed to iim that this opened vo them the entire subject of tradition ana ceremony 1n relation to moral obligations—a subject not with- out interest at the present day. It may be said that ceremonial was useful—that it was a help to many in their devotions, and that it leads to the deepest thought. Certainly no right-minded person couid dispute that; and he thougat @ man not merely ex- posed to rebuke but below contempt who found fault. with or ridiculed the religious usages of another, No matter how absurd these usages seemed to him, that man was remarkably hard- hearted who could pass mockery on them, ‘The Jeast we could say was they may benefit others. But when their practices were exalted—when it was said that their virtue or their very substance and essence was religious life—when they were re- garded as superior to moral Cag par then it was necessary to urge the spirtt of our Saviour’s words, ‘This mere washing of the hands as com- jared with the inward man and the state of the eart Was only secondary, for “it defileth not a man.” Bat when these practices become tyrannical, slavish and were set above the moral ruies of divine law; when ecciesiastical authority was put before social and natura! obligations, then we could see with what justice certain men might rise up and protest against them and even violently thrust them aside, Perhaps we could sympathize in this point of view with the stern manner of the Puritans, in laying their hands on the very altar and turning irom spiritual tyranny and the transgression of God’s commandment. He said the usages of the old Church, which were again creeping in among us, were looked on by the old Puritans as elements of tyranny and barbarism, While we might revere the sayings of good men and trea- sure up the interpretations of the wise men, never- theless, how fatally tne wth of tradition pro- gressed, preventing the full action of the mind and soul. ‘the sayings of men were put above the commandments of God, and that which claimed to be the Church of divine truth and love became the vehicle of oppression and a politi- machine, And men rose up in the very bosom of such a Church and asked “Why trans, the commandments of God by tradi- tion?” Why should we not leavesuch men to follow the developments of their own gell-imposed task? Certainly such a man as Father Hyacinthe, because he had assumed the position he occupies, was not necessarily 8 Luther, In welcoming this champion of truth and freedom here, then, those ought not to be conspicuous who, in their own narrow circles, might have nothing to recommend them but their own traditional Phil sory We should leave God's work in the hands of such men as father Hyacintne, to work it out in their own way. The preacher then went on in a philosophical manner to criticise and explain outward ceremony, and conciuded by say- ing that such ceremony was of no material use; for it was the heart of man—the inward man—to which God alone looked for homage. ST, STEPHEN'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. Sermon by the Rev. Dr. McGlyan—The Authority of the Church—The Ecumenical Council and Pere Hyacinthe’s Position. Atthe principal mass at St. Stephen's church, on East Twenty-eighth street yesterday morning, the Rev. Dr. E. McGlynn, pastor, taking his text, Mat- thew xvi., 13, 19, delivered an eloquemt discourse on the authority of the Church, which he con- sidered as peculiarly opportune at the present time 1n view of the Interest which 1s felt in the approach- ing General Council. True faith is the result of authoritative teaching by divine authority. “But whom do you say thatIam? Simon Peter Answer- img, sald:—Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God."* And Christ assures him that not mere human nature, but the Father in Heaven had revealed this truth to him, and in return for his confession of Christ’s divinity our Lord makes him the rock upon which He will build His Church, with the promise that the gates of hell shall not prevail ugainst it. He also promises that He will make this man Simon, whom He now calis Peter or The Rock, the chief teacher and ruler and judge in this same Church under the symbol of the keys by which he is made chief of that kingdom of God upon earth, whose threefold mission it is to teach the truth as taught by Christ, to administer ordinances and execute His law, and to intepret and apply both His law and His teachings. This was made clear by the promise that whatever Peter should bind or loose on earth should be bound or loosed in heaven. A similar promise of authority to bind and loose was given to the other Apostles (Mat- thew xviil.) subordinate, however, to the supreme ‘authority of the keys which were given only to Peter. ‘To this apostolic, teaching, governing body, 80 constituted, Christ gives the mission to represent Him ana perpetuate His work throughout all nations and all time, to teach what He nad taught, to do what He had done, to carry out what He had esta- blished. In fact, we may say that Cirist’s chief mis- sion was to establish such @ society, and without it His work in its bearing upon all future ages would have been fragmentary, incomplete and a failure. Hence, He says on another occasion to Peter: ‘Feed my lambs, feed my sheep” (John xxi.), and toall the Aposties (John xx,) ‘As the Father hath sent me, I also send you,” He makes this Church His living body with which he ts to be invist- bly present, and in which His Holy Spirit is to abide “till the consummation of the world.” Those who will not hear and obey this Church are to be con- sidered as aliens from His society. “Let him be to thee as the heathen and the publican’? (Matthew xviil.), The reverendorator then went on to show that the teaching and goveruing authority of the Church was given to Peter and his successors and to the Apostolic college, and was not to die with Peter or with the indiyiduai Apostles. The deiinitions and enactments of a general or Ecumenical Council, in which the bishops of the universal Church, the successors of the Apostles, assemble under the presidency of the Bishop of Rome, the successor of St, Peter, are the highest expression of ints, teaching and governing autaor- ity. What ts of divine institution the Church can- not Change, increase or diminish, Hence she cannot add to or take from the original deposit of faitn; she cannot alter her own constitution, ofiwhich she ig the creature and not the creator; she cannot change vhese ordinances of Christ which are com- monly called sacraments; she cannot cease to oiter or change the essential nature of the offering of her eucharistic sacrifice. But from her very nature, as @ living society for all times and all peoples, sie must be endowed, and as a matter of fact has been endowed by Christ with power over her® own disci- pine. Hetce she can change, modify or abrogate the old, and enact the new in mere matters of dis- cipline according to the emergencies of times and places. Yet her world-wide nature, the countiess number and diversity of her children, her venera- ble character as the Church of Ages, the very pru- dence with which she is-endowed by the Holy Spirit, who has been promised to abiue with her, make her slow+ to change even in mere matter of discipline or ceremony; and to preserve tiese powerful helps to unity, she requires various ages and peopies to conform to her universal discipline, rather than stoop to catch tickle popu- larity by stooping to adopt the fashions or caprices of any one age or nation, Yetfrom time to tine the bishops assemble by convocation of the chief bishop in geueral council to enact statutes of discipline, to reform abuses, to quicken their own faith and zeal and that of their focks, and, if necessary, or exped- jent, to define tne faith, They do not pretend, nay, tuey positively disclaim the power, to make new revelations or add to the deposit of faith, Tae Church simply defines what she finds in this deposit, as contained in the testimonies of Christian anti- quity and in her own every-day teachings, instincts and practices; that 1s, she explain® interprets and places in @ clearér and more explicit light some point of faith, asserts that she finds it in the original deposit, and forbids the teaching of the contrary under penalty of separation from her com- munion. ‘hus it fs that she has defined trom time to ume in her councils old Unrisiian truths, against tue quibbles of heretics or the sophistry of schoias- tics. At Nice, in the year 345, she defined the divinity of Christ, and later, at Ephesus and Chalce- don, the doctrine of His incarnation. And so on through the various councils, It was in this sense that, a few years ago, the Church defined the doc- trine of the immaculate conception, which, so far from being a new doctrine, was & household word of devotion to every Catholic child, and finds its mm- plicit argument in the writings of the earliest Fathers, No weak Or ill-instructed Catholic need fear @ new revelation to tax his faith. If, as rumor has it, the Council should define the assumption of the Blessed Virgin, 1U Would be but what is implied in the world-wide annual celebration of that event on the 16th of August; and uf it shoula define the prerogative of whe Pope to teach infailibly ec cathedrd—that 18, in his solemn judicial utterances to the whole Church, in matters of falth—it would but define What has been taught by the Council of Florence four hundred years ago, where Greeks and Latins all proclaimed “him we’ supreme teacher, rules, and father of the Curistian Church, ¥ At Various times ambitious or disappointed or IIl- advised ecclesiastics quibbled about the doctrines of the Church, or denicd them, or have been rebelitous to her authority, or rendered too halting an ob-di- ence. If in our time any ecclesiastic, no matter how eloquent, how brillant, or how honored he may have beea, shouid believe that a general coun- cil of tue Church can define as of faita what is realiy not of faith, he already declares himself uncatholic in his belief and heretical; if be is unwilling Lo sub- mit to its enactments in matters of discipline, he is disobedient to lawful authority and @ schis- matic. H's appeal to some other council ts futile, for none other can have any higher authority than this; his appeal to the tribunal of Christ to Christ, tor 1¢ 13 an appeal from Christ and His Holy Spirit, who has promised that He and His Holy Spirit should abide with the Church in her teaching and governing capacity ‘forever. If such a one, in Place of seeking the grace of humility and obedience and submitting to lawful authority, should choose detection from the Church, we need not fear that at this late day he will have many followers. All urue Christian elements, to-day more than ever, must gravitate towards the centre of unity, wuere alone they can find their complement aud their logical and nistorical bor vb Those who may be, to their own great misfortune, guilty of such defection are objects of our pity, to be prayed for as wayward brethren rather than be feared a8 formidable adversaries, Their aspirations for & recoaciliation between the Church and some imagi- nary or real spirit of the age are impossible of attainment if they would require her to change her Ueaching of the faith; and where they wouid affect mere mutters of discipline chey are vague, ill-detined, fantastical and unsupstantial. The Church la but too ready to use the great inventions of the age and to accept all tne discoveries of science, for sae holds that there can be no opposition between revealed truth and reason or its discoveries. We may well prefer the wisdom of a Council assembied in the Holy Spirit, to the imaginings of any man. And even if we had not the Christian humility to submit our intellects to such superior wisdom, even in mat- ters of discipline, we should at least have the grace, even in spite of our notions as to what may be expedient, to respect and obey the decisions of Jegiumate authority. ELM PLACE (BROOKLYN) CONGJEGATIONAL CKURCH, Father Hyacinthe and the Christian Law of Liberty—Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Powers. Last evening the Rev. Henry vowers preached to @ large and highly apprectative audience at the Con- gregational Churci, Elm place, Brookiya, on ‘Father Hyacinte and the Christian Law of Liberty.” The reverend gentleman selected his text from three sources. ‘he first from. the Epistle of James |., 25—“But whoso looketn into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein, he not beng @ forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man Shall be blessed in his deed.” ‘The second text was the declaration of Luther at the Diet of Worms— “Except | be conquered and convinced by the tes- timony of Scripture, or by clear and sufficient rea- sons (tor I put noconfidence in the Pope or in the Councils, because they bave both manifestly both often been mistaken and have often con- tradicted each other), I neither can nor will retract anything, inasmuch as it is neither safe oor advisable to do anything against conscience. Here I take my stand; I can do no otherwise; ao help me God. Amen.” The third was an extract from the celebrated letter of Father Hyacinthe, dated Septem- ber 20—‘With language perverted by a command or mutilated by reticence, I shall not ascend the pulpit of Notre Dame. I would not be worthy of the auditory of the archbishop of my consctence or of God if I should consent to act before them In such a rdle, I separ- ate myself, therefore, from the convent in which I have resided, which, under the new circumstances that have happenéd unto me, renders it for me a prison of the soul In acting thus I am not unfaithful to my vows. I have promised monastic obedience, but limited by the honesty of conscience and the dignity of my person ana my ministry. I have promised under the benefit of that superior law of justice and of royal liberty which is, according to the Apostle St. James, the proper law of the Christian.” Mr. Powers, having read these extracts, said that his congregation might be ready to ask, Why associate these three declarations? James they knew, Luther they knew; but who was Father Hyacinthe? why was he associated with honored names, like Luther and the Apostle James? Father Hyacinthe was a remarkable man. He had recently landed on our shores under circumstances exciting a very special degree of interest; was born—the honest child of a small farmer at Orleans, in France—in 1827, and ‘was therefore forty-two years of age. All thal was known of anything distinctive in his early youth was that he attracted some attention by his verses. He entered St. Sulpice at the age of eightee: fter four years of theological study he was ordained priest; he afterwards entered a Barefooted Carmel- ite convent at Lyons, becoming a brother of that order, and by his sermons in that city excited great attention. During the summer of 1864 he went to Paris, where his sermons at La Madelaine and at Nowre Dame became famous for their clo- quence and boldness, and he was not the popular esteem ao hest eminence, for various ig extraordinary powers of speech, all enhanced by the unconcealed liberalism of his opinions, the intelligence of bis face, the pecu- larly sympathetic tone of his voice and the sacred earnestness of his manner. He has always identi- fied himself with the progressive Catholics, and he had never rendered an unreasoning submission to the Holy See, the characteristic of the extreme ‘ultramontane party. The characteris tics of his preaching were 8 fiery, earnest, devoted eloquence; a deep, loving, yearning sSprituality, and a liberalism to Protestants not sur- passed by any divine of his Church. This was re- Markably tlustrated in @ celebrated sermon he preached at Paris under circumstances of special interest to the citizens of thiscity. A lady, a mem- ber of Mr. Beecher’s church, was on @ visit to Paris and went to hear the father. Under that sermon she became convinced of her duty to become a mein- ber of the Koman Catholic Church, and it was on recetving this lady into the Church at Paris that Father Hyacinthe expressed himself so liberally in reference to Protestantism, His preseat notoriety ig the result of this liberality; he stands as the representative of advanced thought in his own Church and is liberal enough towards other Churches to awaken in all Protestants a lively anxiety as to his future course. That, Mr. Powers hoped, would be to remain in the Romish Church, where he would be likely to do more good than by leaving her and allying himself with any form of Protest- antism. arnestiy did he (the preachar) hope that the father would, in the excellence of his judgment, see this to be the future course of his yet undeveloped future. He would not become a modern Luther because he has appeared in an age of ideas. Luther lived and grew famous in an age of dark ideas, and it was uot possible for men in modern times to awaken that notoriety that was awoke tien. he thought in the Christian Church Was too active; neither was it desirable that any awakening of that character should be necessary in the Church, and its necessity would be regret- ted by all thoughtful aud weil disposed Christians, What was to be said, then, of this Romanish Church? She was passing through a crisis more endangering from within than from without, Mr. Powers then Tead the dogmas that are to be enforced at the Ecumenical Council, and showed that they were op- posed the progress of modern thought. Queen Isabela of Spain, who had sent the Church the most muntiicent of presents and been its devoted follower, was now an exile, and the star of her people was rising vhrough the war clouds of Spain and her Western isiands, Austria had defiled the Pope despite the paper thunders of the Pontiff, and Austria might be Pe to be no longer Papal. Bavaria had also declined to endorse the letter by the Ecumenical Council on the politics of Roman countries. Nine- teen German bishops had met in council and declined to render submission tothe Council. In France the course adopted by Father Hyacintue had awakened considerable thought and attention. Yet amid ail thts dissension the Pope was preparing a tablet on which the general result of the meetin: of the Council would be discounted and the wort assured beiorehand that it met and parted amidst the applause of the whole Catholic world and the terror of the power of darkness. Yet, strange as it might seem, Romanism was growing in Britain, and Archbishop Manning, not the least of the cardinais, had recently said that the duty of Catholics was, in obedience to the Holy Father, to enroll themselves as the opponents of the bold and terrible errors, liberalism, progress nd modern civilization. Yet what was to be said of Protestantism? Why, this, that 1t was not in a poaition to profit by Romish dissensions. Some of the errors of Rome still re- mained in Protestantism. Priestcraft and Its power was great yet among Protestants, Jolin Milton had said that “Presbytery” was only priest written large. He (Mr. Powers) preierred one !’ope or Rome to an infinite number of contemptubie little Popes overthrowing the right of private judgment. The Protestant Church did not yet suificiently endorse thesroyal law of liberty, It did not yet suiticiently aliow conscience to talk of the things of God and embody thein tn the things of life. We believed in this law for ourselves, but we were not suMicientiy willing to allow it to be believed in by our brother and allow him to exercise it for him- self, That law of liberty must be adopted by the Church if it would suMiciently battle with the Church of Rome. ‘the Protestant Church, too, lacked some things which the Romish Onurch had, namely, ‘unity, Catolicity and tts care for the poor, Protes- tantism was not united, sectarianism had split up its forces, and these forces must be marshatied by unity if @ real, dectsive action was Ww be taken against the enemy of Romanism, There must be more catholicity, too, In Protestantism; an acknow- ledgement of the action of conscience in a manly ane Christian interpretation of the Word ot God. The Romish Church had a_ hold upon the masses in which the — Protestant Church was far behind. It adapted Itself to the Wants ofthe poor. ‘The rich and poor meet together to Worsuip one Father, and in that worship there ‘was legs distinction of class than in the Protestant Church, If the Church of Kome were destroyed without 113 error? being uprooted it would be & great misfortune. Tnere wos nothing in_ Pro- testantism to meet the demand that would then be made upon the Church; there was not that devotion to the work of God and the extension of the kingdom of righteousness that would compen: Sate for her destruction. Let them pray, not for the destruction of the Church of Rome. It filled her place better than they could do !t. Pray rather for its enlargement, and jet them pray for the Cbureh Catholic aud the destruction of Romanisin. Mr. Powers then pointed ont very tifully the useful and the trathfal side of Mariotatry, and the ge of the Church to show that side of the character of Jesus which represents the womanly, The com- ing Church must be catholic and also progressive, and should carry off and bury the ‘dead things of the past. after enumerating the various requirements of @ church that should by its progressive character nave influence enough to take the place of the Romish Church, he asked if there was not need for such a church? Was not effort in that direction needed? Was not superstt- ton losing the mind and spirits of men; was not idolatry and heathenism made more powerful by the coming In among us of thousands of those who in other lands had been nurtured in these deadly errors? Was.there not need that we should pray God to endow us with the right spirit to fight the coming battle? Let them use the light they had, and, in the words of a Brooklyn poet, pray Descend, O, Holy Spirit, like a dovi Into our'hearte, that we may be As one with Thee, to whom we ever t AAs one with Him, our brother and our friend. We would be one in hatred of all wrong, One in our love of ail things sweet and fair, One with the joy that bursteth into song, One with the grief that trembles int Ove in the power that maies thy chil To follow with and thus to follow the Ob, clothe us in Thy heavenly armo: ‘Thy trusty shield, Tay sword of * Our inapiration be Thy constant word; Give or witnhold, let pain or ploasure o Enough to know that we are serving Thee, ELEVENTH STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The Rev. Charles B. Smyth on the Ecumens feal Council. The announcement that the Rey. Charles B, Smyth would deliver a discourse on “The Ecumenical Council” at the Eleventh street Presbyterian church, “seats free,” drew a large congregation whom the reverend gentleman heid in rapt attention during an effective and instructive treatment of his sub- ject. After the usual preliminary services the preacher advanced and selected his text from Psalm xxii. 13:—“They gape upon me with their mouths, as i) were a ramping and a roaring lon.’ The speaker began by alluding to the Papal bulls which had formed so unporsant a part 6% the ecclesi- astical history, Bulls had been set loose upon all doctrines which had been antagonistic to the Roman faith, and they had been no respecters of persons or prelates, But three nundred and fifty Years ago, said he, there arose an obscure monk who took the bull by the horns, and backed the fero- cious beast into the flres unti) nothing remained but hia ashes. This was the acilevement of Luther, and occurred in the time of Pius I. Now, the present Pope, nine times as Pius as his illustrious preae- cessor, has issued another bull convening the Ecu- menical Council, to introduce new dogmas into the articleg of faith, which was dated on the 29th day of June, 1868, calling for the gathering of bishops on the 8th of December, 1869. In the past history of the Church eighteen councils have gathered atthe sorine of St. Peter’s, ‘Tne firat met in 325, and the succeeding ones 10 381, 431, 457, 553, 680, in 787 the Council of Nice, which concerned image worship; in #69, in 1123, wnicn related to the Crusades; in 1139, 1179, 1215, 1245, 1274, 1311, 1439, 1571 and 1545. It ‘was this last gathering of the Council which met to resist the great flood of Protestantism which was then overspreading Europe; and the one to meet by Papal bull on the sth of December next is the only one in the crises of the Church that has been thought necessary in the lapse of 300 years. What means the word ecumenical? It sig- nifles catholic, universal—it means vor popult, vox dei, Ita scope would therefore include all bishops in the Christian world, whether Roman or not, and Pius IX., in this spirit, sent invitations to the bishops of all churches, but to this date it is not known that any have accepted, Formerly a gather- ing of the Council included monarchs, princes and heads of ali petty nationalities, and the sovereigns assembled at Kome and participated in the de- liberatioas of the august body; but now no lay mem- bers have been solicited to attend, and potentates have been excluded. What do these changes sug- gest? Whathas been wrought in an interval of 426 years? At the beginning of this period the Refurmation was in its swaddling clothes, and every monarch of Europe was @ vassal of the Pope; now none are so poor as to ao him reverence. Then he was the king of kings on earth, now Rome bends to tue imperial purpie of Napoleon IiI. Then Catholicism was the only rell- gion of Hurope; now Lapland, Norway, Sweden, ingiand, Prussia and other great Powers are no longer of her fold. Hungary and Austria stand aloof from Roman domination. Russia and the Eastern countries sustain the Greek Church, and Bavaria and Portugal are the two rotten crutches upon which Catholicism hobbies over the vast domains of its once great stronghold. Such are the transfor- mations, and great and mighty have they been, The popviation of hat world 18 1,850,000,000, one- eighth of. which number constitutes the Romish Church, and the rest of the Christian Churcn, inciud- ing Greeks, Armenians, Protestants and Eastern branches, is considerably in excess of this number, and the bishops of the Roman Church are much leas than one-half of those belonging to the other de- “nowimations. The Anglican Churcn has 107 bishops, the 5 in this country 44, the Methodist 31, the Greek Church 274, the. Moravian and branches 76, other churches 82, The Nestorians might also come under this treat- ment. In the aggregate there are about 929 bishops who do not belong to Rome, and as the Bisnop of Orleans, an acute and erudite man, has estimated the number of Romish bishops at from 700 to 800, there will be an excess of 129 in favor of those who do not espouse Catholicism, and that great body will not be represented in the Ecumenical Council; hence ecumenical, which means universal, is @ misnomer. Yet the-Council will contain lea bs g, statesmanship and priestcra{t, and the experience of ages, The reverend gentleman went on to de- scribe what the operations of the Council would be in a parliamentary sense, and then proceeded to In- quire as to the cause of this important convocation of bishops. The dogma of the immaculate Concep- ton of the Virgin Mary, as first advancea In the fourteenth century, a8 decreed in 1864 by Pius 1X., was one of the innovations that will be brought before the Council for ratifica- tion, The preacher illustrated this point by copious quotations from authoritative announce- ments by the Pope himself. The other subjects to be traversed would be the press, destruc- tion of church i oegaetel suppression of monasteries, education of the youth, civil soctety, the re-estab- lishment of the Church where it has been sup- Planted and its extension to heathen nations. But in order to gain strength in these directions 1t would be the policy of the Pope to crown Napoleon IIL. Who has no existence as @ monarch in whe eye of Rome, to lift the ban of excommunication from the head of Victor Emanuel, to secure a popular and pliant king for the throne of spain and to throw a sop to the Emperor of Austria, who has defied Roman power. What the Council should truly guarantee was literal education, free press. free Bible and salvation by grace through faith in Christ, and not the celibacy of the priesthood, the sale of indulgences and other debasing influences that have dragged the Church to its present level. CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH. Power of Prayer—Sermon by Rev. Hepworth, The vast interlor of this massive and magnificent chureh hardly suffices for the increasing congtega- tions assembling both at the morning and evening services to hear the new minister, Rev. Mr. Hep- worth. Tne elegant diction, chaste and ornate illus- tration and forcible style of utterance characterizing his sermons and giving them all the brilliancy of a finished essay, no doubt largely contribute to this Tesult, 'His sermon yesterday morning, delivered to acrowded and most attentive congregation, was on the “EMcacy of Prayer.” He took for his text St. Luke 1x. 29—“And as he prayed the fashion of is countenance was altered,’ This was @ description of Jesus Christ fas He went apart ona mountain to pray. He did not pray to be seen of men, He sought the ear and eye of God alone, as he knelt in supplication to Him, But it was not necessary to go up mountain heights or in secret places to pray. One could pray any- where and at all times. Stiently one’s thoughts and wishes could be breathed in prayer in one’s walks or journeys or business. Omnipotence sits by our side, Whocan tell the inftience of this intimacy with God on man’s character? We are God's children, Our every footfall is heard by Him and our every heartbeat. Some persons, as the old Pharisees did, put on the cloak of religion that they may better serve the devil. Many men make long prayers that they may get better credit on the street. No matter whether rich or poor, or Whether living in a palace or hut, in all conditions of life, there was the same neces- sity of prayer and it possessed the same efficacy. There is no such thing as solving the philosopny of peayer, Logic cannot reach it more than the scaivel 1 reach and unravel the mysteries of the human mind, It ts too deep, too subtle for any such proving. No one can tell how, by casting seed in the earth, it germinates into the flower, Gut of the cold, damp,sod, so dreary, comes the beautiful flower, laden with the most fragrant perfumes. It was the same with prayer. The processes are un- known. The resultts bigh and holy. It makes tue life of man more Maniy and tne life of woman more woudnly, When he gees the martyr going up to Heaven in an ecstasy of de- light on the wings of prayer, forgetful of contumely and persecution, forgetiui ot the very flames burning bis body to a crisp, he feels and knows that there is great power in prayer. When he sees the mother watching over her sick child, and when the life breath passes out of tuat body he sees her fall on her kuees and say, ‘Not my will, O Lord! but Thine be done,” he sees a great power in prayer. It is natural to pray. A young man is about to leave home. A stout and manly heart 13 his caly outit to fight the great battle of life, His father piaces his hand on hia head and says, id bless you, my son’? His mother, through her tear- ful eyes, invokes God's blessing on her loved boy, ‘These prayers go up to God, and their mfuence tol- lows (hat young man in his combat with the stern world, At sea let a storm arise, and how — natural to to God in prayer, Jnsunct leads to God in time of danger, 1018 not Mr. logic, tt is not education, It ts so in any phase of bo It is a revelation of God. The world has been been erroneous teachings. Calvin's God is a hard, cold, distant befhg, @ hard task master, who serves as steward over us, a stera and inflexible judge. God was no such Lreog Ais relations to us were intimate and beautiful and good. He went with us everywhere, He was always by our side, our friend and adviser, trying to lift us up to the true ana beautiful. He referrea to his own father and his counsels and teachings, and how they had followed him through life, He could always go to that father with trust and confidence. It was so with God. God was their Heavenly Father, If he had g brother who was about setting out in life, and this brother would ask him what would best promote his inte- Test in the world, he would tell him “prayer.” It Was prayer made our burdens light, made life joy- ous and filled up with hope and assurance of @ gio- rious immortality, CHRIST CHURCH, BROOKLYN, E. O Sermon by Bishop Littlejohn, of Long Island—The Systems of Religion and the Unbeliefs to be Feared. Yesterday morning the services at this place of Worship, situated on Bedford avenue, near Clymer street, Brooklyn, E. D., were replete with pleasant interest, solemnity and instruction. The congrega- tion was unusually large, caused by the reappear- ance in the pulpit of their pastor, Rev. Mr. A. H. Partridge, who has recently returned from an extended European tour, the occasion of the rell- gious reunton betng greatly enhanced by the presence of the Right Rev. A, N. Littlejohn, Bishop of Long Island, The Rey. Mr. Fitch, who, with signal ability and success, has officiated during the absence of the pastor, united in the ministration of the services, At the appropriate time, after reading the lessons, Bishop Littlejohn arose, and in referring to the recent absence of Mr. Partridge said that without any formal Invitation he had visited them, and it was a pleasant duty, as bisnop of the diocese, to welcomg back their pastor, who had nobly earned the rest which the congregation allowed and enabled him to take. There was no better way for a people to de- monstrate their affection in such cases than to send one away from ordinary routine, across the ocean, to Jands and a life pregnant with signts, monuments and religious tustory that only men of intelligence and a minister of the Gospel could appreciate, It Was an investment fraught with the greatest kind of accumutation in interest, and the pastor would show it both in his teachings in the pulpit and in private iufe. This was a tine, he hoped, when the distin- guished laymen of Christ church wouid bring the same ability to work in the administration of its aifairs aud in the furtherance of the Gospel as they do tu secular life, leading the way to a nobier chapter in its history. Upon the conciusion of the additional introductory morning service of the Episcopal Church Bishop Lit- Uejohn announced as his text, St. John xx., 13—"Be- Cause they have taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid him.’? Mary at the sepul- chre of Christ after His resurrection was a most affecting scene. The narrative of her grief at the changed appearance of the tomb, where the bouy of Jesus had lain, the two angels sitting, one at the head and the other at tne foot, with tne saddened and Deeexed, poetee and the sight and recog- nition of the Lord standing by wary in the midst of her weeping did not require elaboration, The inci- dent wished to be turned to account was In reference to the fast that in some religious denominations fears were deep that they are gradually alldwing the Lord to be taken from them and laid away where they and milhons may not find Him. There isan attempt that looks like robbing God of His own, tending to the spoliation of the Godhedd. Coutro- versies by men that strangely rage are common, not only on the outposts of the Curch, but the citadel is being stormed; and although the former ts of but little consequence, the latter would converge, if care Was not taken, and do terrible work. The accept ance of the belief that the Lord, while more than a man, was less than God, would be the overtirow of a fundamental! principie of Christianity. Partial un- belief that Christ ig “‘nead over all im all things’? 1s viewed with profound sorrow. Creeds are aban- doned and thrown over, and now there lg also added to the list in the system of religions the attack upon the vicarious or propitiatory sacrifice of christ. The denial that Jesus died as @ substitute Jor us, and that He is accepted in the counsels of eternity as a mediator tor the whole world, is laden with thoughts of great import, Another system, characterized by energy and great force of will, and that is very vigilanc, aud extending over a large portion of the civilized world, is Popery. Jesus Christ in suci services 1s to an extent lost sight of—seemingly held in reserve for some great occasion, and in prayer scores of saints supplant His holy name, Bisuop Litttejohn concluded @ sermon of much earnest thought by reminding his that hearers none of the thefts, robberies and spoilations of atheists, deists, rationalists, and all others of like 11k, had, in 1800 years touched one point in the great faith of Christianity. The same tears, the same trusting Joy of heaven, here In the midst of sin and sorrow, as Mary had, will dissolve this false feeung of the day, swept here and there by each wind of unvelier that blows, THE CHURCH OF $T. PAUL THE APOSTLE. Sermon by the Rev. Father Deshon—Fulness 3 of Faith. At the high mass performed in this church yester- day the Rev. Father Deshon preached to an over- flowing congregation. He based his sermon on the words of the aiflicted Hebrew woman:—“IfI only touch the hem of His garment I shall be healed.’ In language at once chaste and vigorous he pointed out how sweetly the divine and human were mingled in this sentiment. It was human be- cause it was the cry of suffering and sorrow. It was a cry of the heart, She haa spent her substance on physicians, and she was still witu- out her cure. Her sentiment was divine, because it possessed the fulness of faith. She did not wish to employ the attention of the Saviour. She thought herself unworthy of His courtesies, though He was sweetness itseit to all. If she could put touch His garment she feit she would be heaied. Ap- proaching Him with this mind she touched Him and she was healed. The ‘lisease which bad bowed her down with infirmity for twenty years, and which had baffled mere worldly skili and Knowledge, mt disappeared in virtue of the faitu which Was iu er. ‘The preacher dilated at great length and with a fine fervor and persuasive eloquence on the lesson to be learned from tis narration, so reaoleut of redeeming charity. He reminded his hearers of the voiatlity of tie human heart—its capavility of good, its wreck and ruin when launched on slippery patas, , its despairing eiforcs vo catch the plank war would save 1 from eternal destruction. ‘Tuis Israelite was their example. Let them walk in their footsteps. Burdened With sin aud its inevitable miseries, they should approach the ali-healing Jesus, bul uot by the meaium of quacks and charlatans. In we tripunal of the coulessional, truly penitent for one’s sins and frailues, alone could peace—that peace which surpasseth understanding—ve obtained. He spoke to a discerning people, aud be appealed to their hearts. Outside of Uiis he denied there could be found peace. There mfgut be pious feeling which looked like faith, but dhe strength which made a really living soul, in the spiritual seuse, alone came from huinble confession in the Catholic Church and entire conforaity with ber dogmas, ‘Tue unpressive ceremontes were muci hu bad orchestra. An amateur choir, 1n Which sé ‘young ladies who have not flashed their mu education were very prominent, det.acted largely Irom the otherwise edifying services conducted vy the Pauilst Fathers, CHAPEL OF ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL, Anniversary Services—Condition of the Hose bi pital. ‘The beautiful little tempte of worship attached to St. Luke’s Hospital, Fifty-fourth street, was crowdea yesterday afternoon by tie friends of the institation, who had assembied to hear the annual reports read and to participate in the religious services cus- tomary on such occasions, Every seat was occu- pled and there was barely standing room even in the galleries. Immediately after the preliminary religions ser- vices the Rev.” Dr. Washbourne read tot annual report. It was quite interesting and suowed that the affaira of the institution were in a most satis- factory condition, pecuniary and otherwise, Tae management is still in the hands of the Sisters, who are uutiring in their attention to the patients under their care. It was the subject of much gratification that , owing to the handsome offer of over one hun- dred of the spectal friends of the charity, the Hos- pital was guaranteed against debt, an agree: ment having veen entered into by these gentiemen to pay yearly the amounts of expendi- lures over receipts. Over $10,000 had been icit vo tue instibution by Will during tue+year, Which fuiiy cove ered ali deficiencies. While it was an iminense relief to the management to know that tue payment of all (heir reasonable debts was guarantega, tueir generous friend might remain satistied tia: no un- reasouable debts would be incurred, A lospital was the most costly of ali charities, as it was (ue most worthy; but those who gave of their means to suc cor God's poor im their affliction and iminiscer to their wants bad an unspeakable reward, No paid apothecary was employed in the hospital, bub the managers had a plan of their own in making up and distrioution of medicines, which, White it saved @ consideravie sum of money, was said to be safer aud vetter than thacempioyed in other institutions of a similar Kiad. One of the aisters had charge of the dicpensary, and uot only mixed the Megices, but adminisiered them person: ally to the patents, whose pecuilar diseases she understood. ‘Ine jargest average of paticuts on any day last year was 160, whici was somewhat less than the previons year. ‘Iie .otal imcome from all sources was $38,977, and the expeud ture tor the same period amounted to $54,20 The legacies, bequest# and contribuvions [rut various sources would cover the deticiency, It was Salisiacwry to be abie to state that eleven wew charity vous bad bape Provided, which swelled the number to thirty» ree, The superintendent of the hospital, the resident Physician and othera@maving reported favorably of their respective departments, a large collection in ald of the hospital was taken up, ald the services were brought to a close. ZION CHURCH, The English Reformation—Lecture by Rev. N. H. Chamberlain. ‘The Rey. N. H. Chamberlain, of Morrisania, last evening commenced a series of lectures on the “English Reformation” at Zion church, corner of Madison avenue and Thirty-eignth street. The course Wil! consist of eight lectures, to be delivered on consecutive Sunday evenings in the same edifice, In opening the reverend gentleman remarked that in giving the ‘story of the English Reformation it would be scarcely necessary to remind his hearers that the theme was one which touched upon the most vital matters connected witlr their faith and practice. It would be his aim to siow on what ground Christ’s Churci in England, and consequently in America, was founded, and he should treat the subject asa church- man and as a minister in his owncommunity, He desired to avoid all uncharity. The priests of Christ’s Church were not the janitors of Heaven, nor did the prelate who sits in St, Peter’s chair hoid the key. The Roman Catholic Church had called his Church and every Keformed Church schismatic and heretical. The Anglican Church was neither of these. He should show how the English Church had thrown of certain dogmas of the Church of Kome, and how she became not a new Church of Christ in Ane a but the old Church, with her old cathedrals, ol parish churches, vid creed, old sacraments and o} spirit of God burning in the hearts of its believers. ‘he English Keformation was a part of the history of the American Church, and its members were the children of that Keformation. Tne cross planted on Calvary had come from the British Isies to this country. "At the time of the Reformation that cross Was covered over with priestly things and the devices of benighted Rome, In the providence of God heathen Rome pre- pared the way lor the advent of the Christian faith, Cwsar built tae many roads leading from the Forum to all nations for the use of bis legions; but many @ footprint of the svldters of the Cross could be found upon them. His navies were pot used by the Emperor, but bore messages of the Saviour. Caius dulius Casar conquered England, and this was (he first cause of tue introduction of Christianity. How or when it was introduced it was impossivie to say. It was impossible to fx the year when it was introduced or the person who iirst propa- gated It. Some thought it was St. Paul and others Bt. James. In the year Jl4the Bishops of London, York and Lincoln sat in the Synod of Annes and in 389 they attended a synod in Italy. ‘The Gospel must have been preached long before 314, since at that time there were three settled bishoprics. It was probable the English Church was recognized ;anad Christ preached in Briton a century after the Sav- jour had risen, The early English Church had two enemies—the passions of tne heathen human matore ana the persecutions of Rome. Tne beathen element was vanquished by pious men who suffered as martyrs. Heathen persecution condemned men to die, and the martyrs felt With outstretched arms to the earth in the shape of @ cross, as if to proclaim to the onlookers that the very earth was Ubrist’s, The early Church had also to suffer the persecution of heathen Rome, and as an illustration of these persecutions tne lece turer related the trial, torture, and veheadiag of St. Alban. In planting Christianity in any realm, there are noticeable turee elements, viz.:— The planting of the seed, the soil im which the seed i lanted, and the skies under which it germinates and grows. The soil on Which the seed fell was the English heart. ‘The English heart 1§ of granite, with veins of the purest gold. In 54, B. C., Cesar found in the Britons @n enemy before whom his legions again and again recoiled, The mottoes of these sritons were, “Fear the Gods,” “Do no evil, Fear no man.” This was tue soil the Gospel tell into. God always drives his Ploughshares in the richest soil. This was rough to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but never shallow, and when the seed was sown it produced much fruit. The lecturer then proceeded to describe the early natives of the Britisn Isles, dweliing at great length upon the religion of the Druids, which he character-. ized as @ superstition more shadowy and vast than any known in history. He then referred to the send- ing of Augustine to Britain by Pope Gregory. Alter tracing his actions ana the result of nis labors the reverend gentleman remarked that Augustine came from Rome, and he caine not only for Christ but for the Pope. Tuis was the beginning of the Pope's yoke and of bis atiempts to controi the English Church. In this country Rome demands the sub. mission of the Church, and this year calls @ council to decide upon the future of our humanity. THE STEAMER CITY OF BRUSSELS. Extraordinary Passage from Queenstown Description of the Latest Splendid Addition to the Inman Line. At midnight Saturday the magnificent screw steamer City of “Brussels, the latest addition to the Inman Atlantic mall service, arrived fere from Queenstown after her first trip at sea, and under the command of the veteran navigator, Captain Ken- nedy. She left Queenstown at eleven in the Jore- noon of Friday, October 15, and anchored in the North river at midnight Saturday, October 23, making the passage in eight days and thirteen hours, including five hours’ detention at sea. She had 110 cabin and a full complement of steerage passengers. Her machinery being all new it was found necessary to make a delay of about five hours to place it in perfect and satisfactory ran- ning order. There were alternate days of strong southwesterly winds, but the behavior of the vessel through the voyage was all that could be desired, Captain Kennedy expresses his belief that he cam eclipse, with the City of Brussels, the vest time made by the Cunard boats by sixteen hours. Judging from appearances, 1t will not be difficult to accome plisn that supassing feat. The City of Brassels was launched from the ship. buiiding yard of Messrs. Tod & McGregor, at Par- tuck, Glasgow, on the llth of August last. She is 406 feet in length over all, 40 feet in beam, 28 feet 6 inches in depth, and her tonnage is 3,00. She has four decks, divided by water-tight buikheads naving sliding water-tight doors, worked from the upper or spar deck. The forecastie, round house and poop cecks are ina line fore and aft the saip’s length, and are constructed wich iron framing and substantial woodwork. In the way of the boilers ou the decks are large air hatches for the purpose of creating @ current of refresn- ing air in the stoke hole below, and in the immediate neighborhood, on the spar deck, the house is completely sheathed witi tron plating, ren- dering the steam aud ship's galleys, baker’s slop, butcher’s shambies, &c., fireproof, Aili the deck beams are on the patent principle of the Butterley Tron Company, and it may be remarked that the ln- man Company were among the first to recognize the advantages of that form of beam in the construction ofiron ships. The spar deck is covered with heavy steel plates across its whole breadth and ali fore and ait. They serve to increase the iongitudinal strength of. the vessel to a degree not surpassed, if attained, by auy vessel In the mercantile marine. ‘The keeison and stringers in the lower parts are dis posed in the best manner adapted to secure the full benefit of the extra strength above. Uncer the poop deck ts fitted what is a novelty in Merchant service, viz. steam steering gear, on tha same patent a8 that on board her Majesty's steamet Northumberland and the Great Eastern, By thia arrangement 1 is invended to pat it in the power of the officer on duty, by simpiy turning a handle, to coutrol the course of the ship, aithough stationed captuin’s bridge, eighty yards from The advantage of tuls improvement upper ized when ie 18 considered that the ordin manual labor system of steer. ing @ vessel of this class frequenily requires the united efforts of from six to enght men to do what application of steam will be accompiisned oy movement of the hand. It should be added Ht a8 @ precaution no modification will be made on the steering gear as usually fitied to the steamers of the Iuman line, so that if any derangement tn the spevial machinery Connected With this unprovemen& should take place, tue eteam engine can be instan| disconnected and the old establisued wode of sieere ing by hand can oe reverted to. thé accommodation tor irst class passengers is Very spacious aud inciudes every convenience ace cessory to comlort thal experience can suggest. ‘There is ommodation for avout 6v0 second and thira passeugers, of the sdue description as tm the other vessels of the inwan lin ioe dining saloon is at the after eud and 18 Capable of dining about 200 frst class passengers, Wuile apie accome modation is provided on the main deck for dining the third c.ass passengers, Large ice houses are fitted up in tue forward part of the vessel, and under the forecastic deck comfortable quarters are found for the crew and fremety Tn the machinery departent tols vessel is finished on a scaie to take the lead of the iastest vessels of the Inman line in point of speed and efficiency. Her engines, constructed on the horizoutal trunk princts ple, are of 600 nominal horse power, Capavie of indicating 3,300 horse power, having the latest improvements in surface condensation, feed-neaters, &c. Her boilers are six in number and have twenty= eight furnaces. ‘They are arranged fore and alt on each side of the ship, and fired athwartships. In the boiler space provision is made for the exlinguishing of fire, by the utting up of a centrifu- gal pump capable of lifting more than 2,000 galiona Por water per minute; and there 1s also in the eugime room one large pumping engine, to which steam can be applied irom the main botlers as weil as {roux the donkey boller on the spar deck, iuere are steant Wiiches On the roundhouse deck, fied with ail receat improvements, and connected to pumps have ba access to the lower cargo hoids. twill thus be obvious that ample provision i@ made for such contingencies as would eudanger the salety of the vessel im (he event of lie or any sudaea indow of water arising from colimion or leakage from any cause, Water-tight sliding doors, cou. structed on a very simple principie and suitable for easy Management, are fixed at all the points of coms munication in and around tie ‘spaces allotted to machinery and fuel. ‘Tne cargo holds are well Supplied With bumus and steam re anuluilatord