The New York Herald Newspaper, June 13, 1870, Page 3

——————— RELIGIOUS. OBSERVANCE OF TRIMITY SUNDAY. The Mystery of the Trinity, the Doctrine of Infallibility and the Memory of Dickens in the Pulpits. Sermons, Ceremonies and Services ‘in the Metropolis and Elsewhere. Discourses by Henry Ward Beecher, Charles B. Smyth, Rev. Drs. Bellows, Holden and Tallmadge, Fathers Preston, Morrill and Others. ‘yne rapidfapproach of midsummer, and the annual exodus of the votaries’of fashion and seekers jor rest to watering places or rura) retreats, might naturally give rise to ihe idea % the chureiite yesterday would be but slimly attended. such, however, was not the case. From: the reports given below it will be seen that there was lite, if @py, apparent falling off in the number of worship- pers. The services and sermons were generally 1- teresting, and im some cases pecuiar., The day being Gevoted te the commemoration of the divine mystery of the Trinity, @ large portion of the discoarses were devoted to the explanation of the doctrine. Otuer mutters of moment Were touched un, however, and the sermons below wiil be douud worthy of aitention* CHURCH OF THE Mi: Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Bellows, Embracing @ Sketch and Eulogy ot Charles Dickens Trinity Sanday in a Uniturian Poiat of View. There was a large attendance at the Church of the Messiah yesterday morning—an attendance made ‘wp of wealth, fashion and refinement worshipping at this church and the Church of All Souls, which two congregations still are temporarily worshipping together, owing to the latter churca still undergoing repairs, ‘The choirs of the two churches also united in singing, and the result, as on the previous Sun- day, was a union of harmonies almost sweetly divine in their exquisitely attuned intonations, Besinning THE MUSICAL PROGRAMMER” was the tenderly impassioned voluniary, “Quoniat,” from Mozart's “Third Mass,” played with most won- @erful expression by Mr. Edward Howe, Jr., the organist, Following this was ‘‘Venite,” an anthem composed by Mr. Howe, and certainly a musical composition of rare depth of feeling and grand power Of melody. In it are several solos—one, “The Sea is His,g sung by Miss Annie Bulkly; an- other, “O Come Let Us Worship!’ sung by Mrs. Ficher; another, “For He is the Lord,” sung by ©. F. Whiting; and another, “O Worship the Lord! sung py Miss L. C. Rushly. These soios were ail most OGnedy sung, as might be expected from such sweet sovereigns of song. After tiis was sung “I'he Beati- tudes,” a trio, also composed by Mr, Mowe;with solos by Mrs. Sophia Mozart, Miss Rusbly aud Mr. Wihit- ing. Asa musical imierpretaion of the scriptural passages forming its basis, nothing can be conceived More fittingly appropriate and more replete with grandly stirring melody. Next was the yea by the two fuil choruses, “Glory be to Thee, O Lord!” ea A congregational hymn was now sung, and re then came THE SERMON, which was preached by Rev. Dr.' Bellows. Hetook as bis text Ephesians ill,, 8, “Unto me who are less ‘Ubun the least of all saints is this grace given.” After portraying the chiei characteristics of Christ in gene- Tal but eloquent terms of description, he dweit upon that phase m his mission when he gave his attention to the vilest of the vile—when he showed, in short, that he came to call sinners to In Christ’s eye one soul Was just as good as another, Position, station, and the vuigar significancies of rank and splendor, had no effect upon him, His ailuent love took tn ali alike. He Worked umong the poor Msbermen around Nazareth With the same zeal, and possibly more, than if He had had as His discipics the sons of kings who had gat at the feet of Plato and Aristotle. He did not wo over the world looking for precious souls: ail sorts were precious in Hissight. From this he pro- ceeied to speak of the effects of culture upon the soul, and aiso portrayed the power for good or evil of the soulin proporiion to its culture or degreda- tion. There were saintly and imspired souls, and berein was the capacity of every soul. oe. of CISY OF THE SOUL was great, Jesus Christ had his ges, his ne in James and Peter and John and others of dis- ciples. These men had great and good souls, and they accomplished missions of great good. ‘The World was full of people of the same capacity of soul. He traced the glory and beauty of souls as shown mn the lonely walks of life and the contrast between ail these, who live almost unknown and uncared for, and die and are buried in almost unknown graves, attended by but few mourneis and a few flowers scattered over their graves, . With the pampered of wealth and fashion who have long funeral processions and high sepuichral monuments placed over their buried bodies. From this he proceeded to speak—and he did it in a strain of singular eloquence—of the pre- vailing corruption of these modern times. Corrup- tion in business, corruption in polities and corrup- tion on the bench of justice. The worli wasin a woful way. Low toned, massive moral sin prevailed im high places. But from all this he showed that there was great encouragement, and urged that each in his sphere of duty had a work to do. In couctusion he alluded, in terms of beautiful and ap- propriate eulogy, to THE DEATH OF CHARLES DICKENS asthe closing of a life of singuiar brightness, the career of a grand and noble soul. Few writers had written move or written better. A great master of details and microscopic in observation, and having his own purpore from the start, he was a true artist. He worked for one end, Tiat end was invariably exalted, noble and high, His words reached hearts preachers couid never touch. He made hypocrisy coniemptible and.sin a great wrong. Countless hours of enjoyment he had given and would give to countiess homes in both Nemispneres. Who had given such pure and unalloyed pieasure—who such genuine merriment—who meuleated s great mo- raiiiies? In his lifetime he drank the cup of the dregs. Every huaan soul was eni: splendor of genius. Not 2 profess excelled ali the professed moralists of these days, He was a high and hioly instrament 1 the hands of God, The usefulness of his life aod character would never die, 2 TRINITY SUNDAY BY TAB UNITARIANS, The sermon ended, the choir chanted the Lord’s Prayer and then Dr, Bellows told those present that they wished to observe ‘'rinity Sunday in a way pe- cullarly Unitarian. He then went on to say that there was @ new Unitarian ciureh to be builtin Harlem, for buiiding which the sum of $1,000 was greatly Wanted, He Gweitontue subjectut some Jength. v. Mr. Hepworth said that heconld say amen to what had been said, but suggested that as some, asthe soliciting boxes were belug passed around, would find they had put on their other, clothes and had, therefore, no money with them, that ed could put their subscriptions on slips of paper ie! for the purpose in the hymn books. The subscriptions poured in i1berally, and singing and benediction concluded the exercises. CHURCH OF THE DIVINE PATERNITY. ¢ Discourse on Joy and Love—Ser- » men by the Rev. Dr. Chapin. A large and very fashionable congregation assem- bled in the above church yesterday to worship, The ladies have now fully donned their summer cos- umes, and it was some time ere the rustle of silks @nd satins of variegated hues was hushed and allowed the service to proceed, The late arrival of @ goodly number of the worshippers had its share in dclaying the commencement; but ‘‘better late than never’ i very applicable to church-goers, The air Was redolent with sweetly smelling perfumes as, well as the odor of innumerable bouquets, which, with the melodious tones of the organ, the coustant hum of fans aud the pure tones of the preacher, tended to draw the minds of the listeners futo that dreamy and blisaiul state which resembles “HEAVEN ON EARTH? more than apytiting else, and makes one feel that Mere ts an Omnipotent Ruler who is guiding our eve! —e and watching with tender eye all our in} The preasher took hip text from St. Luke, xv., 7— “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteih, more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no re- pentance.” He said this doea not mean that the sinser will be thouget more of than the just man, Bor taat he will be the receiver in heaven of more joy and happiness than the just man, but that, no piattor what the depth of sin in which a man hb een living, no matier how vile he has been, the y 10 Leaven at bis repontance Ie quite as great as SSIAd. ‘ NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, JUNE 13, 1870.—TRIPLE SHEET. the joy at the man coming to God. The reason of this is that are no men who. have not been sinners, All have sinned, consequently the joy in heaven over THE REPENTANCE OF BVEN ONE SINNER is quite as great as the joy over he who is already become a man. ‘Take any family on earth, and when one of its members falls away into sin how anxiously the other members look to the fallen one’s redemption and repentance. The preacher here told an nteraating. anecdate of an old woman in Scotland, whose daughter fell into the ways of sin, and after exhausting every means of bringing her back to her own home, always leit her door unfastened so that at any ume her mis- ry child might return unquestioued aud forgiven the arms of her sorrowing mother. We can trace all those finer feelings of our human nature to that love implanted if our minds by God. ‘The prodigal son coming back to lus forgiving father after LEADING & LIFE OF DEBAUCHERY and squandering bis patrimony in rivtous living is @ strong aud couyincing prool of the loye which is borne by parents to thelr offspring. ve, that magic, Wondroas word, so full of deep meaning to some and to others signitying nothing beyond the mere expression | 5: are our Latures, different in their construction and incomprehensible in their actions. Which of us has not seen insiances even im this city of young men and women piunging maaly into all those dissipations which are too surely THE WIDE AND OPEN GATE TO HELL? How many Happy homes have been broken up and ynaue sorrowful, and families disgraced among their friends by the wicked courses pursued by some of its members? And still we always find the worn ont roué, if he ever returos to the home he has destroyed, welcomed by the fond love of a parent or @ wife, and all the past for. etten or forgiven. ‘The preacher = said he now wished to siy something about one Who was dear ty thes all, en saa 2 se Otahiae bikes, how Ho more, but though his body has erumbled to a Kparit tives after him ond his fame will He who has been insirumental by his wriungs in softening our hard human hearts towards the numberiess poor; who his becn the means of briuging light and cheerfulness to mauy a dull and diear abode; he indved was u man of genius, who mastered tue minds of men and by his soft and twuching tales made them look more charitably on thet sufferiug brethren and uy and ment in place of denouncing those evils which go frequently abound da ihe riotous rich and the houseless, homeless poor. Men of intellect may aud will abound, but men of geulus are few and tar between in the periods of thelr existence, ST. ALBANS CHURCH, The Beauty and Pomp of Ritualism—Ser- mon by Father C. W. Morrill—The Chris- tian’s Warfare. On Thirty-seventh street, near Lexington avenue, stands a church of modest exterior and of plain architecture, but on entering its portals a very alf- ferent view 18 presented, and the eye is charmed with the imposing grandeur, yet solemn appearance which the embellishments of the church present to a spectator, The feeling of sanctity is increased ten- fold during the celebration of divine service, and a feeling of devotion takes possession of those assist- ing at the service, which is somewhat heightened by the other cencomitants—namely, the vestinented ministers AND SURPLICE CLAD CHORISTERS, which render vais church peculiar from other Episcopal churches, Yesterday the services (rite ualistic) were most imposing and, were celebrated by Father Noyes, assisted by Pather ©. W. Morriil (rector) as deacon, and Father Downie as sub-dea- con. Tie chureh was crowded by @ congregation composed of elegantly attired ladies and gentlemen, At the concinsion of divine service, Holy Commu- nion was given round and was partaken of bya large number of both sexes, The sermon was preached by the Rev. ©, W. Morrill, rector of the church, a gentleman who combines fluency of speech with excellent delivery and appro. priate gestures, He Was listened to with much attention and took for his text— “This 1s the victory that overcometh the world, even our fatin.”"—John, v., 4. This he exemplified as fol- lows:—The world 1s the Christian’s adversary and the eficient that gives him the upper hand in his faith, By the whoie worid is meant the “COLLBOTIVE COMMON LIFB OF SIN,” the whole realm of evil, the entire system of od- lineas, with its authors, abettors and servanis, where the Apostie, even as his Master nad done, sets the world over against God in chronic antagonism, and he warns men that its “make up’? is’ sensuality, unbelief and covetousness. ‘Thus it ts that, as it 4s arrayed also agalust the children of the kingdom, in perpetual enmity, 1t will, if it can, overmaster them. In proportion as Christians are not of it, “the world” hates them, acording to Christ’s words, ‘Thus the faithful are on foreign soll, in the adver- sary’s country; and to come off ‘more than con- querors” Christians must be aggressive; they must “¥IGHT THR GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH.” The enemy must be followed up, encountered, at- tacked on ail sides, pressed sore until routed and “all, his armor wherein he trusted be taken from him.” The faith of which the apostle speaks 1s that Open, unqualified, generous venture of virtue whereby tt reaiizes the things it wishes and hopes for; whereby it makes the trial of, acts on the belief of things unseen, Its sole object is the Triune God; its subjects are all things and whatsoever He nag been pieased to reveal or sanction. Not so much an intellectual as a moral act, it depends not upon tie overpowering force of logical processes, but upon @ certain moral taste, and it is governed by that in- flexible law in God’s kingdom, “First believe, then thou shalt kuow,”? in unveuer is contained “all that isa tie World. Look se 9 ite parts for an exemplification of the truth of this remark. The devil had no sooner succeeded in undermining their belicf in God than the whole world broke in upon aud overwhelmed them— “THR LUST OF THE FLESH,” “the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.” God said, “Ye shall surely die; the serpent said, “Ye shail not surely die,” and the latter amrmation seemed vastly more in accordance with the deduc- tions of reason than did the former, for the “tree Plainly was good {for food,” “pleasant to the eyes’? and thtended “to make one wise.” Nevertheiess, with the sin of unbelief—that 1a, giving Satan’s word the preference over God’s word—came in ail the sing imagmable, ani with them all our woe. Every one who has fallen stace—from Cain to Judas and from Judas to the founder of the last sect or to the last blasphemer—has fallen through unbelief, the tertile Womb of all unrighteousness. Faith, on the other hand, 1s the fruitful source of all that is “lovely and of goud report,” the grand principle by which evil is overcome and good attained, the blessed mother oi all righteousness, Faith, however, is not to be regarded as one grace by liself, but rather as the aggregate of all graces, the sum total of godli- ness: no temporary; itapetuous feeling or emotion, excited merely by the sudden presentation of truth to the mind, leading to nothing practical; no mere Indolent trust in the Saviour, or anything He vouch- Safed vo do for us. FAITH 18 A HABIT OF THE MIND, the one moving or raling princtple of daily action: it is the swaying and governing principle of tho Christian’s mind; it is the standard gauge and mea- sure Of ail things wich are to be thought of or acted upon, and always it works by love and sowsin hope. There is, therefore, no such thing, except in thought, as justifying faith without evangelical Works. Allsuch works are, as it were, wrapped up and contained m failb, ready to spring out of it as God calls. When once it lives in the soul it 1s all that Christians practice in the germ. It is the living root of the iruiful tree, It 18 in its full conception the very sum total of all our supernatural iy for has not our Lord said, “This ts the work of Go that ye believe in Him whom He hath sent.” FBaith knitting us to our Redeemer im- parts to us of His strength that we can work good works, Justifying works. kt Includes everything that is good. Itdoes God's will, as He wills. Pas- Sive virtue algo it has: it sutlers what He will because He wilis it, Father Morrill continued by explaining more par- ticularly the meaning of “true faith” and the sacri- fices which @ Christian will make for his God when Impelled by faith. In conclusion he said:—Above all things and in ail things look steadfastly unto J the author and finisher of faith; not so much what he has done for you—although that—not so much at his maxims—although that—as at Him and His match- less beauty, For love of Him of His per pe aniong the foremost in every good word and wo! BECAUSE HE 18 THE DIVINE CHRIST. His bie ted cannot be criticized, much Jess gain- sayed, because Jesus is what He is—very God. His example carries absolute authority, because He is the person He is, His work in our behai{—in behalf of the great sea of being—is all efficactous, and chat- lenges the adoring jitude of every human soul; for in him every soul has its friend, Look unto him and you shall have.an ever-grow! faith; and the worid, the whole empire of evil, shall Not hurt you; nay, you shall vanqoish it; for this is Be saad that overcometh the world, even our a On next Friday, St. Alban’s Day, there will bea high celebration of holy communion, at seven o'clock A. M., in this church, 8ST. FRANCIS XAVIER'S CHURCH. Nicou-Chorouw’s Messe Semi-Solennelle. This composer was formerly Inspector of the Royal Conservatory of Classic and Religtfous Music, and has been dead some years. His style 1s strictly clas- sical, in the Palestrina school, occasionally colored by Schumann ideas, The Xyrie opens with a genu- ine Haydenish subject, admirably treated and coun- terpointed in @ massive, impressive style, which car- ries one back to the primitive Italian school, when Scarlatti and Palestrina wrote their imperishable works. In fact, the great feature of the mass is lis contrapuntal beauty, and in this respect it is ex- ceedingly interesting to all musictans. The Gloria Opens with a tuééé duct for tenors and fol- lowed by the gery and altos in @ simple little phrase, to which the admirable organ cho! givea bares effect. The opening subjects are not bril- , in the modern accepiation. of the word, but express more of @ deep religious joy. Some of the quarteta yemind one very much of Schumann, ‘The coneiuding fugue, as well as the pent of the Gr are excellent specimens of the Palestrina seh ‘The &: Incarnatus, Crucificus and Bt Resur- rexit are expressive and dramatic in contrapuntal eifects. The Sanctus is severe aud massive in char- acter, and the Agnus Dei, which commences with a bass solo, is acharming number. The solos were rendered in the most unexceptionable manner by ‘Migs Teresa Werneke (soprano), Miss Mary Werneke (one of the best contraitos in ant eburch in this city), and Signori Tamaro ana Baceill, tenore and baaso. Be mass was celebrated by Rey. Father Hudon, 8. J., and Rev, Father Mignard, 8. J., preached at the Gospel. The preacher referred to the collection which was to be en up atevery Catholic church yesterday for the Pope, and made some brief re- marks on the Epistie of the Mass, ST. ANN9S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. ‘The Question of Infatlibility—Eloquent Sermon by the Rev. Father Preston—A Large and Fashionabie Congregatiou—Fine Music and the Latest Styles. St. Ann’s Roman Catholic church, in Eighth street, ‘Was crowded yesterday morning by an unusully ele- gant congregation, Summer toilets prevailed in abundance, and some of those charming, exquisite Utile hats, just brought across the broad Atlantic, divided the attention of the ladies between the pastor on the one hand and these mognificent pro- ucttons on the other, Ail in all, though, the wor- shippers were exceedingly devoted, and only took those brief glances at the fashions which it is the Weakness of all to display. THE MUSIC. Was excellent, and though there Were fewer solos than might be heard at St. Stephen’s, them quality was superb, The soprano voice especially was that of a celebrated artist. After the usual preliminary services the Rev, Father Preston advanced and preacned a very elo- quent sermon from the text, selected from the twen- ty-eignth chapter of Matthew, eighteenth verse, There isa peculiar charm in the oratory of Father Preston, for he speaks entirely extemporaneously, yet with a certain precision and freedom that are traly marvellous, One would think, to hear him, that his phrases had been nicely selected and admi- rably arranged before hand. His remarks are per- suasive, ratber than wiidly declamatory, and his treatment of a subject is from a method seldom found in off-hand Seapine | in the pulpit, Als subject seems to be measured off, as of 80 many feet on @ straight line, with many lateral branches; but when the reverend gentleman goes off in illustration or observation towards one of these branches he never loses his way and forgets to turn back, but, keeping in mind the logic of his discourse, returns to the main proposition. ‘This admirable faculty of continutty and assimilated terseness is embellished with a rich abundauce of diction and a musical ow of picasant periods. The polish that covers an ad- dress distilled through such intellectual strata is of course marked and effective; and because of these qualities Father Preston has obiained his present high ae, among the priesthood and clergy, In > ania the text he said that this was the day 6 COMPLETION OF THE CHRISTIAN FESTIVALS, and that it suggested many interesting themes bear- ing upon the well-being and glory of the Hol: Catholic Church, which now stood before the world the living embodiment of truth, the fearless enemy ofgin, He thonght tt peculiarly opportune to refer to some of the articles of faith and some of the divine mysteries which belonged to the office of t he true Christian, Among them was the mystery of the Holy Trinity, confirmed and decreed in Ecumenical Council in A, D. 326. Mysteries were of two kinds— those which relied for explanation upon the evolu- tions of reason, and those mysteries in grace which could only be brought through the Chureh—the agent of God on earth and His way to the kingdom of heaven, Owilug to the distance betweeit God and His children it Was impossible for man to decide upon all articles of doubt in faith for himself. There must be some tangible, responsible and constituved authority, and that au- thority was the Holy Catholic Church, How much of heresy and unbelief, of atheism and infidelity, were to be found in that society where every man ‘Was the architect of his own theology, making from ashailow mind and an impoverished education a creed of hisown! All this had injured unity—the unity of the Church in man, the unity typified by the Trinity. The Church was teacher of these mys- teries to men, and such an iustructor was necessary, for were not the Holy Scriptures full of mysteries ? ‘The Bible was not @ book of dogmas or a catechisin, Hence there must be some court to decide upon dis- puted points. The MYSTERY OR THR HOLY TRINITY, now almost universally accepted, even by dissenting sects, was solemnly declared in 825; and now the great council in the Vatican, across the water, were about to pronounce the Church infallibie—that 1s, the decrees of the Pontiff on religious matters were to be authoritative and final. And how pore sd was this! The Sovereign Pontiff who was the hea of the Church must noi err; for if his teachings are falsenoods, where would be the stability of the Church? They must be infallibie. He (the preacher) bad long foreseen this decision, and there was a pal- Pable parity between the question of Trinity and Papal iialiibility, He, thereiore, rejoiced tm the cousumtnation of the’ great trath, which he doubted not wouid svon be promulgated. He would, before the promulgation of this decree, bind his heart closer to the Church of his Redeemer, and offer up his hum- bie tributes to Him who sitieth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. He would ask his hearers to make fresh sacrifices for their Maker; to follow correct and Christian lives, working for the Church Sig prog the Chureh for God und their unmortal a0 WY eee ge cY¥ CHURCH, The Spirit of Irreligion—Sermon by iev. Dr. . Dix. The grand old pile of Trinity never presented a More imposing and beautiful appearance than yes- terday, with the glorious sunlight pouring down from acloudiess sky on its lofty spire, its pmnacies and Massive buttresses. An air of solemn devotion reigned within its aisles, lit up by the softened light from its staimed glass windows, and the most oynical must have been impressed with a religions feeling as the organ peated forth its wondrous music andthe crowd of worshippers united in songs of praise and supplications w the Almighty, ‘The balmy air of ‘THE SPLENDID SUMMER DAY, foilowing the rain and dismal weather of the pre- ceeding days, enticed many to Ly in an appearance who would have been deterred by a lowering sky. Once within the sacred Walls egress was impossble ag the worthy sexton, 1a his great zeal, closed all the doors and kept the congregation close prisoners until the conclusion of the ceremonies, This ar- rangement, no doubt, prevented inapy from gaining admission Who arrived late, but contributed in a great measure to that religious stlilness so well cal- culated to raise the soul from the contemplation of sublunary things and to concentrate its powers on heavenly thoughts. THE RHV. DR. DIX PREACHED @n impressive sermon on divine worship from Psalms Xxix., 10—Give the Lord the honor due unto his name; worship the Lord with holy ways.” ‘rhe preacher spoke on the necessity of devoting at least one day in the week to the worship of God, and commented severely on the spirit of irretigion whicn unhappily prevails at the presentday. Many men seem wholly absorbed in their woridly affairs, and though they labor uoremittingly during six days of the week to accumulate the yellow dross which is the carse of the world and the root of ali evil, they consider it too great a Bact ifice to God to spend a few hours in religious services, Ojhers, again, are re- ar SYBARITES, REARED IN THE LAP OF LUXURY, who will not condescend to worship the Lord un.ess. He gives a beautiful day for the purpose, while yet another and a very ljarge class of persons devote their lives to pleasure and shut out all tuoughts of God ana of eternity, A day of retribution wili surely come for all those, and they wiil, bemoan, with gnashing of teeth amid the torments of heli, tieir criminal neglect of God during their sojourn on earth. CHURCH OF THE HOLY LiGdT, A Work of Love Successfally Prosecuted Under Difiiculties=Ihe Lesson of Jucob’s Ladder. ‘This is @ cosey little edifice, consisting of one room, Plainly furnished and appointed, and containing an organ gallery, with a very neat instrument, in the south end of the church. The building is capable ot Seating about 600 persons. The church was organ- ized in April, 1868, by the Rev. Eastburn Benjamin, a small, dark-complexioned man, of acute nervous temperament and untiring energy. He said that the Protestant Episcopal Church had almost wholly lected the adult blind, and he assumed for himself and his little church the duty of caring for such. In November, 1868, a nome was leased im Seventh avenue, between Fortieth and Forty-first streets, where Aiuy or sixty adult blind persons, of both sexes, have been maintained and ministered unto ever since. Mr. Benjamin Pica himseif on the success of this mis- sion and devotes his entire attention to 1%. In the spring of 1869 he purchased two lots in Seventh ave- nue, near the southwest corner of Thirty-fourth street, where @ coal yard was kept, and thereon erected his present neat littie church, The lois cost $82,000, and the building $15,000, They commenced worship in it with & mortgage debt of $20,720 ant a floating debt of $18,520, about one-tiird of which has since been paid off. This, beside maintaining the “Home” and the regular ministrations of the Gospel, has taxedithe feebie con; ition; but they have given cheerfuily to the utmost of their ability. ‘The State furnishes no assistance to blind persons over thirty years of age, and hence the “Home” must depend for its support wholly upon voluutary contributions. A very good congregation yoaterday attended the services, Which were conducied by the Rev. Mr. New- berry, in the absence of the rector, The sermon ‘Was an excellent effort to ilustrate—by the narrative of Jacob's dream of the ladder on which the angela aacended aud descended—the various steps of the Christian life, These steps—repentance, faith, prayer, humiliation, love, &c.—were plamly pointed out and their earnest Renews jaculcated, and at the clo#e of the sermon the sacrament or the Lord's Supper was tered W about two dozen per- THE MUSIC im this unpretending little chapel is more than me- diovre. Professor Biederman presided it the organ yesterday, and the choir gave “The Jubiliv’ and ‘Te Deum” in exquisite style. The principal solo fell to Miss M. E, O'Grady, a young 1 pos- Soeaing & cuoly modulated voice aud of much pro- mise. SERVICES AT LYRIC BALL, The Life of Jesus Christ and the Death of Charies Dickens—Touching and Pathetic Tribute to the Dead Author=—Sermon by Rey. 0. B. Frothingha: The very fine quartet at the Rev, Mr. Frothing- ham’s church (Lyric Hall) yesterday gave, in addi- tion to the ordinary choice selections of music, & dirge, “Blessed are the Dead” (Spohr), in memoriam of the universally lamented Charles Dickens. The opening anthem from Mosenthal was well rendered by Miss Gibbs, Mrs, Garainer, Mr. Clapp and Mr. Haws, and the third piece, “On! for the wings,” was also very fine. After prayer the Rey. Mr. Frothing- ham sald:—Were Jesus tw return to earth m our day He would hardly recognize in the MITRED BISHOP AND THMPORAL PRINCE the representative and follower of the lowly fisher- man. Catholicism and Protestantism have removed him 80 far away invo the region of the gods that he seems no longer near to man. One of the most cel- ebrated of all books, the “Imttatio Christ,” which has been translated into every language under the aun, Which has been printed in a thousand editions, and read by the highest and lowest of men, is me- chanical in its tone, and though the author wok Christ to pieces and set them up separately in the minuteness of his examination, showing only their truth and beauty, yet he saw nothing of humanity and only the attributes of a God. Protestantism has ouly succeeded in achieving the same result at the hands of its most eminent ministers, As Jesus is brought DOWN FROM HEAVEN and nearer to earth men warm more in simple love for Him, and the destre to imitate His perfect good- nea springs up within their souls, ‘The Unitarians, however, of ail sects, bring him the nearest to hu- manity, and believe more than any others in the ossibility of imitating Christ, But to counsel imt- mo is against the spirit of our age and genera- tion. We are told how widely various are all cre- ated things. Botanists have discovered in the mil- lions of varieties and, modifications of flowers only the intuity of the feld, It 1s said no two leaves in the forest are precisely alike, and Who cau estimate the innumerable varieties of species in the insect or even animal world, CHARLES DICKENS, whose death we mourn as we mouro that of none save our own most dear and intimate friends, wieided an influence over the world that few others ever wielded. He drew from all ranks of life and all flelds of industry pictures which will never cease to touch the heart by their wondrous individuality, trath’ and warmth of life. He was as familiar with the simpie joys and sorrows of the lowly as with the griefs and ambitions of the high; equally at home in marble halls, in tne cabins of the wretched and the haunts or vice, Yet ali the characters he drew so well are but an infinitesmally small part of those that may be drawn in ages to come, and then but a fragmen- beet view of ludividual life be given. Jesus had said fo one whom he asked to follow Him, but who refused, saying “I must first bury my father.” “Let the dead bury the dead;” and He had told others to leave their nets and to leave the handle of tle piow. JESUS WAS UNMARRIED, unbound by those ties that bind us together by the strongest bonds, and uniniluenced by tose interests and ambitions which coastitute the life and power of our Civilization Jesus marched straight to death; and though we are apt to think that this ‘was the only perfect and almost imevitable ending of His life, yet we know that such a life and such an ending Would accoinplish little for the beuedit of the race in our days. The reformer to-day avoids death, His mission is to live as long as he may and to labor constantly. Death would be to bim @ tinal faliure instead of a sealing consummation. It is in the ideal and glorious love and mercy and charity of Jesus that we ‘inust find the periection we wouid strive to mitate—those attributes which attended him as a halo of glory. The great reformers have always bowed before Jesus and studied lus life as the life of a Great Master. I aliude once more to Charles Dickens, he who dramatized the beati- tudes and made the peoples of all climes hts ; CHARITY CHILDREN, The creations of this masier, who, without pro- fessing it, was a disciple of Christ, contain sublime lessons of charity, mercy and love. They instruct the heart as well us the mind, and have opened up wells of the purest feeling in palaces end cabins which had known only coldness and desolation before. ‘The effect of his fife stories has been w banish much Of injustice and woe trom the world, and while veaching a broader charity to une Barrow and un- feeling, to cast @ ray of hope -and promise on tne darkened path of the unfortunate children of want and sorrow; I am thankiul beyond measure to the great dead for those wonderful crea- tious he has given to the world, and above and be- yond him I am thankful to Jesus of Nazareth. In a be pocprit te outburst of eloquence the speaker con- cluded @ touching tribute to the memory of the dead author. In conclusion he said:—Jesus is not con- tamed in the New Testament, but his sublime image 1s phovographed in every soul. Scholarship cannot efface It, nor the gatheriug time; selfishness, hatred, bitterness and scorn Can and do obliterate it, and it is sad to behold that man in whoin there is no longer a of the boundiess love, purity, and harmouy Of Jesus, ” CANAL STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. Worshipping God with MusicSermon by the Rev. Mr. Mitchell. ‘The Canal street Freebyterian church, like most of the other churches, was crowded yesterday morn- ing. The church, although smali and not very piea- santly located, is a model of neatness, During the last week the congregation have succeeded in baving completed a very fine organ, which was opened yes- terday for the first time. The pastor, Rev. Mr. Mitchell, preached a most eloquent sermon upon the subject of MUSIC, and selected his text from the 100th Psatm, fourth verse, The gentleman said that it was impossible to look without much interest on the movement that is now going on throughout the Presbyterian Church, as well as other churches, in regard to the improve- ments in church music. It is well known that throughout the land there has becn a considerable indifference to music as an element in religious worship. The consequence has been that in the vast majority of churches the musical part of the services has been allowed to sink into @ very low state in- deed. The fine collections of tunes which ars well adapted to pudlic worsiip have been spotled, either by ignorance of congregations not educated to sing or by leaving them for execution by the choirs, who are in no Way fitted for this difficult and responsible duty. But we cannot siat our eyes to the fi hat there Is a growing laste among our people which is destined, though it be slowly and gradually, to work out A GREAT REFORM. Many are feeling it a great absurdity to goto church merely to hear wnat the preacher hav to say. ‘They not only want to hear what the preacher has to say, but they want also to hear good and appro- priate muste, and unless a church has 1 it certainly will never have anything of @ congregation, Mr. Mitchell was not 0 much in favor of fine sing- ing by a choir as he was of good, heartlelt sipgiag py the congregation. He said there are a ‘eat ~many who to this day object to having an organ in 4 church, because it will, a8 they say, lead to tomy in religion rather than to worship of God in spirit and in truth, I would join, said the speaker, with those so far in say- ing that there are very many who are keenly agita- tang the stibject of music during religious worship merely to gratify their taste for harmony. They say we Will come to church if you GIVE US GOOD MUSIC, and it 18 confidentty predicted that many of this claas think that, were instrumental muste adopted in our churches, they would be filled to overflowing every Sabbath, Mr. Mitchell would, however, dis- tinguish between such persons and those who wish to introduce @ better system of singing into the churches, The former are forimalisis, to begin with; they worship the mere furniture and the temple— yea, they worship the temple itself ratner than God, whose worship is to be therein observed. But it by no means jollows that the attention to forms only fosters and encourages the spirit of io} ‘The fact is, that as long as we have a cor- pororeai nature we must have forms in every posi- tion in life, whether in business or in the services of the Church. When we are disembodied spirits, and we SEE GOD FACE TO FACE, and commune directly with Him, then we shall dis- pense with ail acts of devotion. There will be no temple in the kingdom of heaven. Instrumental music, liturgies and sacraments. are of this earth, and must pass away and yield to those higher and nobler things of which they are nothing but mere public representatives, But so long as We are what we are, having eyes to see and ears to hear and hands to handle with, we cannot possibly dispense ‘with forms. CHURCH OF THE TRA! SFIGURATION. Ordination Service=Protest Entered—Gradue ating Class of the General Theoiogical Sem- inary Refused Ordination. At the Church of the Transfiguration was held, yesterday morning, the annual ordination of candi- dates for orders in the Protestant Episcopal Church in this diocese, On this occasion it 1s usual for the graduating class of the General Theologi- cal Seminary in this city to receive ordi- pation. In accordance with this custom the young men prepared themscives for tho reception» of this rite, invited their friends to be present on this (to. them) most Important and golem goranig. et presented omen res Pw jay, properly hi mL ted pon but found, much to thelr surprise, that certain clergymen—the Rev. Mr. Richardson, of Bridgeport, Conn., and ‘had en: & bro- Vest, and the Bishop, yielding to the pressure, hac postpoued their ordination indefinitely, The events which led to this result are briefly as follows:—Many of young men at the seminary have imbibed there what are commonly known as Catholic opinions. These opinions are aud always have been held by some of the greatest doctors of the Church, both in this country and in Rogland, CATHOLICITY IN PROTESTANTISM. At present Catholic views are advocated in the English Church by such men as Dr. Pusey and Canon Liddon; in the American Church by Bishop Doan, of Albany, and Dr. Dix, of Trinity, But in this country the majority of the clergy hold conser- Yative views, and are bitterly opposed to Catholic innovations. About ten days ago some of bred pe uating class, having passed their canon ex~ amination, went to Bridgeport, Conn., aud tormed What is called a retreat—that 15, they took with them a father confeasor and spent the time in prayer and Meditation, preparatory to th ordination, ‘This they did witioutasking the consent of the Dean of the Seminary, who has, it is said, been endeavor- dug to suppress this school of thought ever since his entrance span the duties of that ofice last Novein- ber. inquiries were made at Bridgeport; the con- servatives became alarmed, entered their protest and stayed proceedings when the young men were almost under the bishop's @ands, But although these gentiemem were disappointed others were more fortunate, a8 Mr. E. A. Kdgerton, Mr. Charies 8. Knapp and Mr, C, Whipple were admitted to the prcsennads Mr. A. D, Miller and Mr. Cornell to the deaconate, The sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. G. C. Houghton, the candidates were, presented by Rev. Professor Samuel Kobmson to Kight Rev, Bishop Potter, from whom they received the rite of ordin tion. The chancel and aitar of the chure were beautifully ornamented with flowers and hangings; the singing was rendered by the undergraduates oi the Seminary, COLLEGIATE REFORMED DUICH CHIRCH. Butterflies on Fifth Avenue Sipping. the Sweets of ReligionSermon by Kev. Dr. Ludlow. If the elements of a glorious, sunshiny day, a beau- tiful church ana an eloquent sermon, are calculated to inspire feelings of religious fervor, the gaily- dressed congregation which yesterday morning as- sembled in the Reformed Dutch church at the corner of Twenty-ninth street and Fifth avenue must have experienced a great amount of devotion. ‘THE BUTTERFLIES OF FASUION from the avenue, glad of the opportunity of alring their exquisite tollets after the last few days of dreary weather, filled the seats and presenied most charming picture, as the Rev. Dr. Ludlow ascended the pulpit. The reverend gentleman selected as hia text the twenty-sixth verse of the fourteenth chapter of the Gospel of St. John:—*But the Comforter, which 1s the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name; he shail teach you ail things. and bring all things to your remembrance which I have spoken to you.’? These words, he said, were addressed by our Lord i His disciples a short time before He ascended into heaven, He had in- structed them in all the great principles of salvation and had prepared them for their bitter struggle on the earth; but when He was finally about to leave them and assume his rightful position in heaven, he pote to send them a Conifor'er who should take is place and bring ali things to their remembrance which he had spoken to them. The Gospel narrative contamed the fulfilment of this promise, and on last Sunday they celebrated the anniversary of the com- ing of the Holy Ghost which was productive of such wondrous effects in the minds of the discipies. It is only meet, then, for Christians, at this GREAT PENTECOSTAL PERLOD, to reflect upon ihls presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church and derive therefrom some practical lessons. in the devotions of the Church there is not muca allusion to the Holy Ghost, and even devout souls who worship the Lord in spirit and truth, and have a perfect contideng? in the Redeemer do not suilciently bear in mind the presence of the Great Comiorter. And yet it is to His sweet infinence that. all true piety is due, Unless the soul is inspired and strengthened by the Holy Spirit all is barrenness on desolation, They should therefore endeavor to gain THIS BLESSED COMMUNION WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT by imitating the conduct of the discip!es before the coming of the Holy Ghost. They should try and attain a singleness of sou!, and, as far as possibie, live tn this world as though they belonged not to it; they should wean themselves from worldly affairs, and by earnest prayer of the Almiglity that the benign infuence of His Holy Spirit be infused invo thelr sous to render them trily pious and fitted for the future enjoyment of the heavenly kingdom. ST. JOSEPHS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. Papal Contributions—Fashionable Charity Charity for the Patriot of Seven Hundred Years—Sermon by Rev. Father Dumphy. Every available seat in St. Joseph's church was occupied at the morning service yesterday, and large bumbers of worshippers had to perform ther devo- tions in erect posture. It was announced that the collections throughout the various services of the day would be for the BENEFIT OF THE HOLY FATHER, The reverend preacher, in making the announce- meut, stated that the Pope 1s a man like unto other men, obliged to maintain his position as an earthly roler ag well as the head of the Church, and that the present Ecumenical Council had thrown on his shoulders heavy expenses, which his children should help him to bear. He urged his | hearers to contribute according to their means, and assured thern that they would be rewarded fouriold in the heavenly kingdom, Rev. Patuer Dumphy preached the sermon, taking his text from David's Psaiins, xl, 2 and s— ig the man that uuderstandeth the poor,” &c. reverend gentleman spoke in substance as ivl- lows, He said :—The proposition that want and distress aud biiter misery are visible every- where around us needs no proof, We will uot siop to-day to consider the causcs of the lowly state of the child of poverty; for Christ assures us “the poor we Nave always with us.” We shall proceed to con- sider the remedy for the evil and the wide sphere which is ever open for the exercise of the ennobling virtue of Christian charity. We see natures so low and depraved that hardiy a vestige of humanity mains; but when such out!aws are stretched 1D ckness, their langs wasting away undér tlie ence of fcetid air, a gentle hand wipes the persp ion from telr brows and pure lips Whisper words of hope into tieir ears; then the ferocions eye becomes subdued; resignation takes the place of blasphemy; and in this we see che daily, unostentatious and sweet workings of band of ladies, THE SISTERS OF CHARITY, Whose fame 1s world-wide. How dierent the dreary thing fasnionably called charity, which builds finé he mses and supporis ho. ts of useless officials in utter id ea, Wille it scorn to recognize the ants Of Vice aud noverty witen ‘This species of charity is begovwen of pride, ant ceives Its reward in this world. But the! wrong which religious people too frequently pss over in silence or witn disdain, I have seen th eéviis brought on by whiskey ana b se; but these Uhat have never bowed a heart so low as the’ patriotic feeling which inspires the jarge portion of our people, wio have endured bondage for seven hundred years, and whose every efort to surike off thetr chaias has bat rivetel ti Charity is universal, and shoul mind as well agto the body anc classes of society, more gly. Xteuded to ihe should reach all FIFTIETH SIREGT CHURCH. Charch Affaira—Services of Fitty-third Strect MethodistsSermon by Kev. Dr. Joseph Holden. The old chureh on West Fiftieth street isndw occu- pled by two socicues. The Fifty-tmird street Me- thodists will hold services in this church each Sun- day morning until their new edifice is compicted, and in the evening @ new Congregational Society, under the direction of L. A. Benjamin, occupy the church. wast night Rev. Dr. George B. Cheever preached for the Congregationalists on the ‘Development of Iin- mortality.”’ In the absence of Rev. Willfam Goss, pee of the Methodist church, Rev. Dr. Joseph olden, one of the secretaries of the Bible Society, occupied the pulpit, ‘The attendance was rather small, and the church, its occupants and the exercises were more In ac- cordance with a New England country church than the usual Sabbath ceremonies in this vicinity. Tne choir consisted of #1x ladies and four gentlemen, the latter modestly yielding the frout seats to the ladies. Dr. Holden’s sermon was based upon two passages of Scripture—Lamentations ni., 23, “For he doth not amict a bor grieve the children of men,” and Hebrews 1v., 15, “For we have uot an high priest which cannot be touched with the feclings oi our indrmities; but was ii ail points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.’ The general topic of the dis- course was on the ministry of faith, or the “End or Design of Physical rain.” Pain was treated as not necessarily an evidence that God was dispicased with the sufferer, but as a consequence of sin and precursor of death, an inevitabie visiior to every human being. Pain is to be revarded as a mereifal provision for the protection of lie and # forewarner of approaching death, A vigorous a.tack was made upon ALCOHOL AND FOBACCO on ground that no one ever loved the taste of either unt the Custom of using them Jouud an artidcial appetite. God made alt poisonous substances with some painful taste, and these aFtificial appetites were cou- sidered man’s worst enemies, li God had made ail poisons pleasant 10 the taste there would bave been 3 : snes No safety ot Ife, Yet man ts in andermining ‘his constitution gud destroylag Ie & Ussue by form- Ang this aris craving for polsonous substances. God's mercy in introducing pain was further tius- trated in case of hanger, thirst and sleep; for if it was leasant to be hungry, inirsty or sleepy, what stimu- ‘nt would man have to labor? Fretting, makiog oneself unhappy over pata is Lot in keeping iy With the Paulmist's words:—-lt 18 good for ine have been aMiicted.” Ail must go borg 4 the of suffering before we reach the end of Ife, bat by seeking.tie Saviour and comtuitting the soul to Him death Will loge ail its stings in the certainty of being Pear sto thas gocious rest which Christ re o prepare for Unose tat and keep. commandments, apt ST. PATRICKS CATHEDRAL. The Mystery of the Triulty—Sermom by Vicar Genoral Starrs, Thousands of devout worshippers attended the cathedral yesierday morulng, among whom were gayly dressed andapparently very devout maidens, each of whom seemed to discard all ideas of things worldly and to concentrate her mind upon the sflent utterance of that prayer for which, the poet sdys, “feaven has a care;” ma- trous overflowing with religious fervor; oid ladles who told their beads in @ slow and purl- ing mutter, at times venting explosive-beginning but “long drawn oul’ sighs, that told the strength of their emotions; and lastly, of men, much abused men, whose numerous attendance refuted the state- ment that churches are only attended by ladies nowadays. Duriog the mass, which was celebrated by Rev. Dr, McSweeny, the choir sang Kossi's mass lie splendidly, (he ..usle swelling Uirough the nave and fliitig and resounding trom the Gothic novks Ua au Inaze ol harm * The Rev. Father Saris! preached from the epistie . Appropriate tu the day—Trimty Sunday—chap. x1, 33 36, St, Paul's Bpistle to the Komans—"Oh, the depths of the riches, of tie wisdoin and of the know- ledge of God,” &e. He comiuenced by saying:—The Maker is the mys- lery we are called upon lo contemplate tis day. What can I say to give you a just conception of What is above the mind Of man; what only God can. comprehend? For the comprehension of which we Inust bow tn adoration of the Lord, aud wail for, the future sweeping away of THE VELL OF MYSTERY, Should we attempt to anticipate the leavenly knowiedge we shail find ourseives in more complete darkness. The great stuimbling block in the way ia the minds of Jew and philosopher to the truth the Christian docirine is iis Incomprebenseulllty. iby ‘These remarks are to show this Micomprevensibil to be & proof of divine origin. The Christian is the only doctrine which is incomprehensivie. No phi- losopher would invent a religion and avow inability to understand it, St Paul solved the idea of the Christian doctrine when he wrote to the Corluthians, “We preach. the wis- dom of God in mysteries.” These doctrines unless of divine origin could not have received be- het at first. The fishermen of Galilee, going to Rome to preach to the wisest of men, not their owa wisdom, but that of God. Bverytiing belonging to God is so far above the attributes of aan Unt Mt is tmcomprehensit id man but compresend he would equal 1; and that independeuce upow which he most prides uimseif would cause bis fall into tie labyrintis of Lucier. But only believing these things upon ‘he authocity of God, he Lows in adoration before Him, The preacher concluded by en) clung jah in the Holy ‘trinity, and depteting The deatlbe is of those Who have Uus fattn. ST. SIEPHESS CHURCH, Tho Mission of the Apostios and the Foundne Hon of the Ciyrch=sicrmon by the Kev. Father Grittin. A crowded assemblage cougreg ited in this beautl- ful temple ab the moraing service yesterday. The appearance of tie interior Was grand and impres- sive, and the ceremonies were throughout marked by th usual characteristic svlemnity, Scarcely an available seat was left unoccupied, while the vicinity of the principal entrance wis thronged to exc’ The display of fashion was not at all ostentatious; but there was nevertheless a modest yet picturesque array. Bright and cbeer- ful as was the weather the atvendance did not seem to be increased; for, storm or sunshine, St. Stephen’s is ever crowded to the doors, The Rev. Father Henry offictated as celebrant, attended,by a host of acolytes and assistants. At the termination of the first gos- pel the Rev. Father Griffin preached a lengthened and argumentative sermon, taking his text trom the Gospelot the day—namely, the twentleth chapter of of St. Matthew, from the eighteenth to the twenti- eth verse. During the introductory. portion of the discourse the reverend gentleman lucidiy explained the . COMMISSION GIVEN BY CHRIST to Aposties. All power was given to him in heavy and on earth, and ie sent his Aposties to teach all nations, thas establisuing a body which was to live forever, According to the promises in the same Gospel he was to be with them for all time, and they were to exten! their teachings from the limited cireles of Judea to the nations of the — earth. Though he seemed to have intended Hits preaching and teaching for the Jews, as was learned from the fact that He told His apostles not to go into the ways of the Gentiles or enter into the land of the Samarttans. ‘The Jews re- Jected His teachings, and then He e-tablished His Charech for all peuple, Including those outside the Jewish nation, Subsequently the party was formed just as all other bodies, ih had its infancy, and in its infancy it required ouly su things as belong to the infant state, and claime | only sach powers and privileges as were appropriated to the narrow girele in which they rested, The reverend genth nm then went on to show that as t Swareh gt So also did ite powers grow, It developed all the germs that had been planted by the Lord in the natural way. Though it now seemed to be a diferent Church from that which appeared in the Gos; el, yet it was THE 8AM# CHURCH, Just as a man grown was the same person as the tn- fant. The chid claimed only the things beiongin, to a child, claiming others a8 he developed roto ful manhood, So also the Churen had its infaney, its growth, ffs maturity, and all this time assurances were given | the Lord that He would be with it, that Ie would ai nd guide tin all truth ont that tt wouid never cease to be the Church, And, though controverstes micht arise in i thef were always, wheu conducted by her true children, concerning matvors open to controversy, Though there might be i T DIVFRRENGHS, nees were about non-essentials, vere asked by aw ybody, even in hot controversy, trey by ved, they Invariably | pointed wo the Charch, stating that they Letieved | iu what she ta that they hela what she held, and did Wisi to hold, teach or preach anything e'se, 8@ controversies about non-essenuials begin from the time of the } aposties themse! Wis seen that Paul | withst a vl aud barmabas partert fro F ch other, and yet that “ul had th » faith, sad thal Barna- the as both, gall professing the same docirt of Christ, and that. from, the tme of aposies to th presen’: | day and to the end of a time controversies as to none: Le, 1 thas the parties to tn silence and were, a3 sila: Q Was splendidly performed. A beautitul ua tion of Vent Creator was formed on the arp by Toulmin with much tenderness and brilliant ution. . SOCILTY OF PROGRESSIVE SPIRITUALISTS. ASpiritualistic Extemporizer—Charles Dickens and the “Golden Age”?—Improvisation and Music. A large number of people attended the. exercises of the Society of Progressive Spiritualists at Apollo Hall yesterday morning, for the purpose of hi the soi-disant improvisatrice, Mme. Nellie J. T. Brig- ham. The total absence of the conventional and much reprobated “long-hatred individual,” whose spirttualistic tendencies are supposed to be pro- claimed in @ haggard and cadaverous countenance, and the “lone female,” with corkscrew curla, in the inevitable rusty black silk, who most assuredly is from. these outward tokens “a woman's rights, woman,’? together with the other eccentric curiosities, as rule indigenous in spiritual communities, was matter of some surprise wo the curiosity seekers. One gentleman asked, “Why 19 it thusly? ‘The reply was 1u the word of Kdgar Poe's raven, “NEVERMORE.”? The room was bathed in sunlight, so bricht that a spirit, uniess endowed with morta! attrivutes, Woala ever have dared to show its ethereal nose within so yaitish & place, Young ladies, as radiant a8 Phopus himself shone resplendant 12 the ‘Jatest.” — Gentiemen with amorous, giancing eyes feit “queer? when they regarded those far terrestrial spirits, and were only recalled & a sense of propriety by the entrance of Mine Brighant. Mme Neliie J. 2., was ciad in adove-colores silk, With @ sash of salin of the same color. Aiver au in- Vocation lad been ovfered Uy & hymn was sug called the “Golden Age,’’ at tie conclusion of wale: Mine Noihe J. T, Brigham came forward. inspired by | “spiritual character,” Which It seems lad fi- its “spiritual ¢ fused the desirable amount of inspiration tito her susceptible organization. Her discourse Was on THY “GOLDEN AGB,’? | which subject had been suggested by the title of the | aforesald hymn, and Was, as she said, woolly ex- temporancous. The discourse, fcom its hichiy eo- atic character, it would be impossible to give in de- tail; but allusions to ‘4 religion of action, a practi. cal religion” Were caught now and then, Ske de scribed the “Goldeu Age.’ in words so orieutally