The New York Herald Newspaper, January 2, 1871, Page 6

RELIGIOU NEW YEAR'S DAY IN THE CHURCHES. Solemn Dedications, Imposing Inaugura- tions, Sermons and Services. Chureh Unity and Church- men’s Duty. Discourses by Archbishop McOloskey, Dr. Armitage, Kev, Messrs. Foote, Gallagher and Others. “siging from the character of the congregations 4m attendance at the various churches yesterday and Trom the style of the Below will be found reports of the more interesting #ermons and ceremonies, and on this second day of the new year they will be found to be interesting and instructive reading. KEW ST. AVN'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. Solemn Dedication—imposing Sermon by Arcibishop Inauguration Mass—The Programme. Yesterday the Ceremonies Music and the new church of St Ann’s, tn Tweifth street, was solemnly dedicated witn all the | imposing and lopressive ceremonial of the Catholic Churca. uncomfortably so, 4ud some of the most distin- guished members of various professions occupied weais—some attracted to the church by the solemnity of the occasion, some by the fact teat Archbishop McCloskey was to preach, aud others by the music, which promised to pe of a superior character. High ‘Mase was sung by the Very Rev. Wilvam Starrs, assisted by Rev. RK. L. Burtseil, D. D., dea- vy. J. A. Keogh, sub-deacon; Rev. Francis MeNairny, master of ceremonies, and Rev. W. 0. Poole, assistant master of ceremonies. At half-past ten o'clock the GRAND PROCESSION entered the church, and the impressive ceremony of ihe dedication took place. The middle aisle was crowded with young giris dressed in white, with Wreaths of flowers on their heads. The aitar was Driluanily lighted, and the chureh presented an inveresting sight. The blue and starred roof and dingy white color of the columns, however, mar the beauty of the architecture. Improvement is needea 4n tne decorations. At the close of the reading of the Gospel for the day whe Rigat Rev. Archbishep McCloskey delivered from the altar the following eloquent and appro- priate sermon, taking for his text the first few verses of the twenty-first chapter of the Apoca- lypse:—*And I, John, saw the holy city, the New derusalem,” &c. THE SERMON. It is, beloved brethren, a pleasing circumstance, a happy coincidence, that while to-day our footsteps are pressing on the threshold of a new year we enter for the first ume within the precincts of this new ana Deautiful temple of God. ing Ss ana warm felicitauions which ever accompany ‘this festive season are now to be added those which | are prompted by the special occas lon which we are here to celebrate and which is one of so much in- terest and so much joy to all. Tis stately and majestic temple, 80 syimetrical in all its parts, so fair in its proportions, so goodly to the eye; this noole temple, so creditable to the genius that has designed ft, to the skill acd Jabor of those who have executed it, bas tls day, a8 you have just wit- messed, With SOLEMN RELIGIOUS RITES and ceremonies, and hely prayer and invocation, been aled to the honor and to the service of Alinighty God, ander the invocation of one of His most favored saints. You have orfered ir pleased to accept it irom your hands. He bas now made it Hisowa; He adopts it as His abede; and ’m & few moments more He will descend, not, in- deed, a8 a bow in clouds of majesty, but with His divinity strouded and His glory vaued, upon this newly consecrated altar, and ‘abide within this sanctuary, to bless aud sanctify this tempie, even uth His own divine and everlasting | esence, and assuredly I may, from this altar and 2p this holy place, in the first words which I address w you, present to all my warmest and MOST SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS. I congratulate your pastor who bas been privileged to sec this, Whicu has been traiy for him a labor of Jove, 80 quickiy and so successiulily brought to its accomplisnment; I eongraimiate you, also, wno by our generosity Lave co-operated with him, and have how the Consolation and delight of kneeling and worspliping before this veauteous altar. You Fejoice—we ail rejoice, aud well may a Catholic heart ever rejoice when there isa new-born ailar erecied for the holy sacrifice; when a new ant wider gate 1s opened to Go1’s holy sanctuary, invit- ing (hose even Who are without it to cume and en- tel in; when a new bond of contact is given between earth and heaven, and new voices are added to lite chorus of thanksgiving and praise that, ing 0m the temple oa earth, rises up even to the one above and 18 mi and perpetually surrounds the throne of the Lamb im Heaven. And thus are we ied from the cortem- plation which here meets the eye through the pre- sence Of lus material tempie to consider, with tne eye of faith anu with the Vision of the soul anetner, a GRANDER AND MORE GLORIOUS TEMPLE, shat of ch the apostle speaks in his rapt vision as beheld by him. He beheld, he says, “the new Jerusalem, the city of God, descending from heaven and aderned a8 a bride for her husvaud.” And he heard a voice, saying “Behold, the tabernacle of God with men, and He willdweil with them, and they } be His people.” This material temple, like any work of man’s hands, will in time grow old, and im the end will per und decay. But there a8 another temple, not bulit by the hands of man, but by the eternal God and by the saviour, Christ, which, though ever an- cient, 18 ever new, which will never grow old, will never perish, but will endure forever. Her foundations, as the Psalmist tells us, are seated on the hoiy mountains; her wails are built of living stones; her dimensions cover the earth; her summits reach the heavens. She nas been placed visibly to the eye of all—not hidden away, but seated on the mountain top, and God has xed upen her the stamp of Bis own divinity—has given to her characters and signs and attributes whereby at ail times and 1n all places she shall be Knewn as His spouse, His bride, His chosen one on earth. THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH, first, perhaps, and most couspicuous among all e narks and attributes, is that which eminently characterizes ue Godhead itself—unity. God 1s one, Curst is one, and the Church is, therefore, one. ‘Vast as may be {ts extent, spread as it may be every- and th where throughout the world, yet has tt been so made | and £9 proportioned that ail its parts are compacted and knitied togetker in such a way as to presept to the eye of the beholder but one grand and beauteous and harmonious whole. it is then tis nity which marks the Cavreh of God as His and His alone. In unity ts Lhe perfection of its beauty, the secret of its strengin, the token of its heavenly origin, the principle of its indestructible and its undying life. Itis not tobe doubted Jor a moment that Carist did found a Church on earth He timsel! lished it and culled tt by Fis name, and Cpon this rock will 1 build my Church. Against that rock the gales of hell shall that He would butid h, Aud that it would be built upon arock. That rock was Peier and that Church Was founded aud was dedicated to the rounder for- ever. Whenever alluding t mn the manner whic was his favorite on of Hgures and simui- tudae—he desgribed it as weil organized, all subject to one as un empire, 26 a kingdom shecpield and ne fiock under one Aud jo show how deeply ihe desire was rt that ihet Church snould be forevi in umty on the very eve ol His do that Mom, touching and momen ous tant’ of His life, “surrounded by His dis- 3, two Whom he was seon to break the precious read, He did not forget His Church. Father, He said aloud to his mw in thy name, that th e one, as We also I pray, but for il believe i rt in me r first tor unity in the body of the aposties and then for unit among ull thosé whe, io the course of successiv ages, through their ministry aud teaching, should beileve im Chr end = that that woity should be so holy and so perfect as | to ve a fit resemblapce even of that existing between Jesus Cnrist our Lord and Gog, the Eternal d jurtner, that thistuaity im tne aposue- among beuev ers should become UNTO THE WORLD A SIGN and an evidence of the divinity ol Christ’s mission Upon earth, that, believing In that divinity, they should ajso believe in iis Church, and, beheving in His Church, suould enter within His fold, there to jive and there'to die und afterwards to be saved, Mark that He prayed that ali those who, threagh the werd and teaching of the apostles, phowd vefeve w Mim S. various discourses it may | salely be said that the new year was begun weil. | McCloskey—Grand | The congregation was very large, but not | Thus to the kind greet- | f 1 may | #0 say, to Him as your New Year offering, and He is | id | sequently one with one another. gied With that which ever | posties, ‘keep | 7 ‘possess this unity. He prayed, then, net oniy for, the apostolic age, but for uli peoples tu all ages, who i Fone the preachin, of the Gospel should believe in Bim. He pray then for us, as well as for the of io teachers, and in praying for us, Who are betievera, he indicated that the unity thas manifested and thus preserved should be to all ume the evidence of the divintty of His Church, What He prayed for and What fle willed must have been accomplished, He, ‘Who Was Omnipotence iselt, although born in the flesh, 1f He willed the end, must also have willed the means, And, thereiore, he gave to each of his chosen aposties & special mission, that they should ge and Leach all uations, baptising them and bring- jag whew into COMMUNION WITH HIS BODY. And how could this body remain united—a visi- ble body without a visible head? Therefore he chase Peter as that head—the rock upon waich the Chureh was tobe built, Here, then, was the orga | ization completely formed, the Church founded, a consiitution given, & government so arranged a8 that it had within it all the natural elements of du- rabuity and ef conesion, It wanted only one thing more to make that unity divine, und therefore he said, “lam with you always. Your unity mignt be breken if you were leit alone. But 1 am with you, even te the consummation of time.’? And so that Church, founded and constituted and receiving this prom- ise, Was to grow up and expand and eadure in unity forever. And the aposties—who can donbi iti—when they Went forth upon their mission in Lheir respective places impressed this NRCESS\TY OF UNION ) especially upon the minds ol their people, Who for | & moweut Can suppose that Peter was at liberty to teach one set of doctrines in Rome and James an- other set in Jerusalem and Paui another in Corinth? Who can suppose that as they spread themseives | throughout tue world that those who listened to their teachings were not called upon to | believe one and the same thing? Though scattered far apart they lormed in reality but the one body of | the upostiestiup, under its H DIVINELY APPOINTED HEAD, And in tratm, as we Know irom the insmred re- cords, (here was no one thing upon Which the Apos- ties sougat bo Insist more earnestly than this, Paul , writing vo the Ephesians says:—*l beseech you that those who make divisions abd make against the dectrine that you have learned, wad avold Laem.” And again:—“i beseech you to be of one mind and of one heart.” Then we learn that the first Christians were in truth of one heart and ue spirit, aud that this unity became vo the unbelieving world an evidence of the truth. “See,” bhey salo, “how these Christians love one | another.” And why was this unity of heart so marked? Beeause of the unity of faith aud the {| unity of body under one head. How, when we look | abroad on the world around us, when we see what is called the great Christian family SPLIT UP AND DiVIDED | into various discordant and conflicting sects, we j ask ourselves, Is tnis God's work? Has God so willed ity Is this the fulfilment of the saviour’s prayer? Is this the fruit of apostolic labors— the grand and glorious Charch which prophecy had spoken of and which patriarchs and holy men had sighed for, for which the Savieur died, for which | martyrs bled, for which confessers suffered, ior | whicb men have given up all things, in order that thereby they might obtain all things—the treasures of heaveny We answer, “No. If there are DIVISION AND DISCORD (and there are), that is not God’s work—‘an enemy ath done this’? Christ Himself said that heresy wouid come, ard it was therefore in the inscratabie designs of Providence that there would be those | even of the Church who would go out from her bosom; that there would be individuais, peoples, | eVen nations, wko wouid fall away from her commu- mion and her faith. But no matier in what numbers or in what fashion they left ner they could ) Rot take with them rj ed the divine privileges or | prerogatives, or any of that divine life with which she | alone was and still 1s filled. They might impair in certain places or times her beautiful symmetry, but they could never destroy her unity, because & pro- puso had been given that Corist was with her always. Notwitdstanding tals, we vehold the | spectacle to which I have ailudea of so much division and ANTAGONISM AND CONTRADICTION, yet side by side and in the presence of these towers up (bat grand and immorta! Church, which stands | how 4s sue has stood ior nearly two thousand years, breasting every svorm, resisting the waves and the | tempest, and’ ever remaiming with her unity un- | broken, with her life young and streng and vigor- | ous asever. And the lact 18 important that they who go away from her, though they have tried the | experiment, have ever been unable to display any- tning like umity, and that, instead of coming nearer | and nearer togeiher, they simply divide more and more, This shows to the world that unity is only found and can only be found in that Chureh where | Christ is present. Where He 1s, there is unity; where He is not, there unity also 1s absent, We are | told that there may be an ~ AINVISIBLZ UNITY: | that, thongn not bound together in a common faitn, ; We can be bound together in heart and charit | Brethren, an invisible unity 18 no unity atall, any more | than an invisible body isa body atall. The Charch of Christ, to which men are invited, must have a | body and the body must have members and a head, aud we must know taat they are one. Wecan say this only of the unity calied invisible, that if such @ thing could exist at ail it 1s incompatible with a , VISIBLE DIS UNITY | such as we see—that we cannot outwardly and by word of mouth contradict one another, and hold conflicting and antagonistic truths as the traths of revelation, and at the same time be one in spirit. but there 1s another and | holter and more beautiful effect of unity, and if you | Would Know wat it isi have only to ask you to luok at that altar, that tells you of a sacrifice and of | a victim that died on Calvary, and that that same sacrifice and that same victim is offered dally upon tat altar, or wil be henceforth, and 1s offeredidaily on every Catholic altar throughout the world, and | that the biood of that victim is still mystically flow- ing from the altar at the cross and still mystically | Rowing frow vis altar representing the altar of the should | cross, It tells us, too, that Christ by real and divine presence 18 among us. It telis us how | irom the altar the priest of God brings to those who surround him the precious bread of life—wnat 1s nothing less than the body and bived, the SOUL AND DIVINITY of Christ Jesus. And thus they become partakers of His divine life, become one with Him, and cen- He that kneels | ber re this altar and there receives the holy com- j Munion is in that simple but beautiful act brought in direct communieation and communion with Christ, as Well as with those who, like him, kneel at that same altar to partake of that same food, and | as well, also, as with the brethren in every portion of the world who are sogeeea in that same sublime and holy and ineffable act of worship. Go where you will throughout the Christian world, wherever there Is a priest at the altar you can go and receive {roui bis hands, Do matier whether you understand the language that he speaks, no maiter whether you are not in unison either in national or personal feeling, this holy sacrifice, and so we be- hold in that the spectacle, only to be seen within the Catholle Church, of an act of worship where rich | aad poor, high and low, can come together, and it matters hot from how distant climes they come nor What may be the costumes they wear or the dialects they speak, there they are, all blended and united to- | gether in ‘one beautiful, harmonious whole in one faith, one sacrament and one aderable sacrifice. Here, then, 1s the TRUE SECRET OF UNITY. Here is the beauty and the glory of the Church of God, Here is what explains to you all that is before your eyes within this sanctuary, which gives to every ceremony and every motion a holy life and meaning, Jt is this that tells us why you should build beautiful temples and why you should not stop to consider whether it will be too large for the voice of any single man. It cannot be too large for those who come within tt, because all, whether they hear the voice of the preacher or net, can be moved with one common impulse, with one senument of devotion, with ene feeling of faith, as they kneel and assist at the sacri- fice. Well, then, my brethren, may you love the beauty of God’s house and the place where His gioly resiaeth. Well may you rejoice togetner on this day, kneeting here at the beginning ofthis new year to inaugurate this temple and tois holy altar. Alu well may you pray that that precious faith, taat most glorious ce Ged to you may ever be pre- served, that it may more and more strengthen within you, and that in kneeling at the altar and participating in that victim you may be partakers of divine lite and worship Him in God's temple here, and so, uaited with your Saviour ; here, you may pass from the heavenly temple on earth io the heavenly tempie above, and there unite Your voices with those that stand round the altar of the Lamb, saying, “Amen, benealction, and honor, and glory and power, and’ divinity and thankeglv- | ing and praise ne to Him who sitteth upon the | throne of the Lamb forever aud ever more. THE MUSIC | was unusually grand, and was rendered by the fol- | lowing solo’ art —Miss Marle Krebs, Miss A. Wella aud Miss De Braux, soprani; Mme. Michalest Krebs and Miss Gomten, contralu; Signor Errani, tenor; Signer Remi, bass; Mr. Biederman, organist, | assisted by a chorus of about thirty-five voices and | Bhen’s orchestra of twenty-five instruments, all ction of the regular organist of the under the dir church, Mr, Leuis Dachauer. The music consisted of DACHAUER’S INAUGURATION MASS NO. 3, written especiaily for the occasion. | Tae following is the programme and order of the music:— |, During the Proceaston.—“Overture,” “Te Deum Laudamus," “Grand Triumphal March,” grand orchestra and chorus. For the Ma rie fleison ;” solo, rite Kleison,"* Miss choras, “Kyrie Hleison ?” chorus, “Goria in Exceisis Deo Miss do Brauxi; alternate choris, female and male voices, "Qui lie;") quartette for wale voices, without accompaniment, “Quoniam tu Solus Sanctus ;” graud finae, “Cum Saucto Spirita Lyore the Sermon.—Solo, “Ave Maria,” with accompa: | mi iinged instruments, Mme, Michalesi K. recitation and so} edo in unum deum ;" omnes,” Mr, Errani; solo and chorus, i Kesurrexit;" quartet, aturi sweull; choru or Solo and chorus, * - chauer, alike A Welis and chorus; chorus, “Sancti lo, “Benedictus,” Mr. ‘emt; chorus, “Hosanna i Exceisis;"? ao, "Agius Dei,” Miss’M. Krebs; chorus, “Dona nobis } paren.” Pig er Mas.—Wedding March, T. F. Petri, grand orchestra, THE OVERTURE begins’ with a majestic Largo movement in E major, with fu, orchestra, and brings in a few of the most striking Wemes of the mass, especialiy from the redo. ‘1™en, With an introduction of two bars by the horns atone, the voices, trumpets, trombones and contraba él break forth into the first phrase of the old Gregan chant, Ze Deum, all in unison, This is repeated Wice and four trumpet bars lead {oto a fine march’ Movement, at the end of which UuOpeRNN AY Hine, | bbe Zé Jew bared, ACA ahd & FeMtIUOR of Lup en ‘theme forms an appropriate ending to this wor! THE KYRIE 18 peoullar in its construction. Two bars of tympant alone give a gloomy introduction, after which come the cell, horns and bassoons in a quaint little phrase, ‘preceding the voices which chant Kyrte eleison without in @ sort of Palestima-like theme and harmony. Commencing very piano, this theme gradually increases in strength and loudness, bring ing in instrument after instrument to swell its measures, und when the climax 18 reached the first vocal theme 1s repeated, tuic, ‘The contralto sings the C7 ie, accompanied be 4 @ brass quartet, the them@and accompaniment having a Meyerbeertsh coloring tn its sombre measures. The Kyrie, first theme, 8 tien repeated. TAR GLORIA 1s still more pecullar in its constructien, Two horns and two bassoons, followed by two trumpets, give the usual triumphant beginning, ond then the voices, without accompaniment, sing Gloria in Excel- sts Deo twice, Lento and p. p. The eifectis very good, although this is a departure from the usual style, Et in Terra Pax 18 & bass chorus, with string ac- companiment. Then follows a highly dramatic pas- sage. The words Laudamus, Benedicimus, Adora. mus, Gloryicamus are given forth with full power, each being a semitone higher than 1s predecessor. ‘This treatment gives an ecstatic orexultant tone to the words, which 1s appropriate. A short, brilliant and effective fugue ends the Glorta, In THE CREDO, besides the ‘beautiful tenor solo which anno the Incarnation, and the dramatic effect pr ad by the constant outburst of the chorus, Crucifizus, at intervals during tne tenor air, a most remarkable passage ia the announcement of the mystery of the Resurrection. It commences with a roll of the tympani, and the voices burst forth in ejaculatery phrases, each a half toue higher than Its predeces- sor, Judging frem the score this can be mado startling and effective, but judging from the per- formance yesterday it was chaos, The Credo ends with @ movement in the Palestima scnool, with the most diticult progressions of harmony. This move- ment, contrary to the usual custou, is very slow. AT THE OFFERTORY. Miss Wells’ fine, cultivated soprano voice was tested to its utmost capacity by the brilliant ana high-pitched soprano solo of the Regina Celi, The test showed what a store ef artistic talent she possesses, BEFCRE THE SERMON the rich, expressive voice of Mme, Krebs found a subject worthy of it in @ tender, prayerful Ave Maria, which she invested with all the wealth of ex- pression and devotion that an accomplished artist 1s capable of. But we were not prepared for such a surprise as Was given by the exquisite singing ef her daughter, whose fame in this city has been that ofa great pianist, fhe Agnus is the best solo, we opine, in the mass, and the effect of the chorus in the Dona novis 18 similar to that of one of those grand ensembies thas close an act of some of the operas. Miss Krebs’ voice is fresh, sympathetic and cultivated to a igh extent in the German school. There is not a weak point in any of its registers. THE BENEDICIUS 1s a trio for bass voice, horn and violoncello, accom- panied by a string pizztcato, We cannot accord the same praise to the performance of the mass as to the work itself, ‘The choir itself 1s too contracted in asp to accommodate chorus and orchestra; In fact, the ergan seems to monopolize the entire space. Accoréingly sin; and instrumentalists ‘were placed yesterday at the side, in front and in every adjoining pew where they could catch a glimpse of the conductor’s baton. Again, the want of sufl- cient rehearsals was apparent, and in the beginning of the Gloria the trumpets came in gt the wrong pe: unexpectedly, nearly upsetting ail the others. ‘he chorus were much better than the orchestra, and, with the exception of the #¢t Resurrext, they acquittied themselves satisfactorily. In fact we think that orchestras are, in general, unsuitable for the church. and a geod organ is preserable to Oli the bands in tne world. CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION. The ‘Litthe Church Around the Corner?— New Year’s Servico—What the Kev. Dra. Houghton and Twing Say About Sabine’s Saintly Scruples. At the beautifully deeorated Church of the Trans- figuration, Twenty-ninth street, near Fifth avenue, yesterday morning, the sermon of the day was de- livered by the Rev. Dr. Twing in aid of the mis- sions of the Chureh. At the concluston of the service the HERALD reporter waited on the Rev. Drs. Houghton and Twing im the vestry. After some remarks on the missionary labors the conversation touched on the SABINE SCANDAL, The worthy Dr. Houghton, who seemed suffering from a slight lung indasposition, averred in a tone of meek deprecation that he could see no justification fer Mr. Sabine’s refusal to read the funeral services over George Holland, except some scruple of prin- ciple, and he could not even see that. Dr. Twing, who is a hale, six-foot champion of the Lord, remarked, in his full, aeep voice, that Sabine had NO RIGHT TO REFUSE HIM whatever. It was admitted all round that Sabine would be giad to hear no more about the matter. Dr. Houghton, however, seemed as much riled as a man of his mild temperament could be within fifteen minutes alter morning service, at Sabine’s wouid- be contemptuous remark that “there was some one } io THE LITTLE CHURCH AROUND THE CORNER”? who was in the habit of doing such things. He could see no harm im consigning any Christian to the grave with the rites of the Church to which he had belonged. When Mr. Holland, Jr., and sir. Joseph Jefferson waited on him in the matter a coupie of days before the funeral he simply asked if the de- ceased belonged to the district, from a natural de- sire not to trench on another clergyman’s parish. They mformed him that George Holand did, and he consented, Mr, Jetierson said, “I think it right to inform yowthat mor on was anactor,” to which lied, YE NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.” He did not know atthe time of Sabine’s refusal, nor afterwards, until he saw it in the HERALD, He supposed the way in which it was believed that he was “in the aabit of doing such things” arose trom the fact of his having performed a similar service some years ago for A POOR GIRL, AN ACTRESS, at the request of Laura Keene. They had, perhaps, remembered this, but he saw nothing in either act but that which nis duty dictated. Dr. Twing vigor- ously seconded this remark. Dr. Houghton then read a letter to himseif froma member of an emt- nent publishing firm in this city applauding his action, and regretting that the reverend gentieman’s sacred profession prevented him from seeing JOE JERFERSON’S LAY SERMON in the part of Rip Van Winkle. His wrath, if such a term may describe the quietest expression of dis- approval possible, was directed against the refe- rence to his church as @ little one, “when,” as the Doctor remarked, ‘it will seat 1,000 persons, two to one with Mr. Sapine’s.”? THe CHRISTIAN FREE CHURCH, Sermon by Rev. Mr. Foote—Review of- the Events of the Past Year, Politically, Scienti- fically and Religiously. The Rev. Mr. Foote entertained and instructed his audience yesterday morning in the Christian church, Twenty-cighth street, near Broadway, with a@review of God’s dealings with the world daring the year just passed. His remarks were based upon I. Samuel, vil., 12, which reads—“Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.” The historic connection of this event was briefy told. The ark of God had been brought from the land of the Philistines, and the Israelites, who had during its captivity there given themselves over to idolatry, were now directed by Samuel to gather together at Mizpeh and sanctify themselves previous to bringing the ark from the house of Abinadab, whither it had been taken. The Philistines heard of this religious gathering, and armed themselves and went out to battle against Israel; but while Samuel prayed and offered sacrifices unto Goa for the people the Lord thundered with a great thunder upon the Philistines AND DISGOMFITED THEM, and the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh and pur- sued the Phil) es and smoce them until they came under Beth-car. And to commemorate tuis great victory, both over the enemies of the Lord and of israel, Samuel set up this stone of help and called it Ebenezer. He meant that not only that gepera- tion, but ull future generations should know how great and how complete was tue victory over their enemics, and tuat while thus contemplating its iinportance they might raise their hearts to the God of their salvation. it is quite a common thing in these days to failto recoguize the hand of God in the common affairs of ie. The peopte did the same thing i Samuei’s days; but the stone raised by Samuel between Mizpeb and Sheu rebuked the infl+ ty of that age and commemorated a very tmpor- lant interierence of God in tue aflairs of men. In the lauguaye of the poet he saiu:— Here I raise my Ebenezer Hither by thy help I've come, And I hope by thy good picasure Saiely to arrive at nome, A MEMORABLE YEAR GONE. The past year has been the most marvellous the world has ever liad. We are apt to tink aud to say that the age of miraoies has passed, but the past year has been a year of miracies the most stupen- dous that God has ever wrought. Miracles are of two kinds, physical and mental. These were mere articularly detined, and tne latter shown to be the kind Wrought in 1870. Who would have thougnt a year that the political power of the papacy would be gone beiore the beginning of 1871, and that the military arm that maintained itwould be broken gud sept to perdition? Who would have thought wien France declared war against Prussia that Rus- sia would free herself from the trammels of the ‘Treaty of Paris, 1856, or that Roumania, the most important province of Turkey, wouid declare tts in- dependencey Nevertheless these things have hay ened, and the Turkish power 1s waning; the Suphrates is drying up, that the way of the kings of the East may be prepared. But who cap pat at IhgHe SYEMte and Wet FenueNiCe Laat every oy NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 1871. uring the year has been for the good of the dewn- trodden masses of Europe? of THR MONT CENIS TUNNEL. But the physical changes have been as great as tical character, and probaoly not less important in their ultimate results, ‘ht years the Mont Cenis tunnel was commenced, and, by the most extraordinary engineering skill, the two sets of men working from each end met on the same Jevel last week, and daylight was let through the Alpa, and this great barrier te European commerce has given way. RELIGIOUS CHANGES, The religious chavges that are going on in the world were also referred to, and the spirit of Chris- tian union that prevails now among differing de- nominations was utifully and hopefully noticed; ana, in speaking ef his own church, Mr. Foote said tat the year had been one of trials, but also one of < success, While they bad lost fourteen by leath they had received a net increase of forty py letter, cenversion, &0. Teh Sabbath school had also increased, and it now became a question of vital importance to saint ana sinner vo consecrate them- selves anew to the Lord during this year 1871; and 1n this spirit the consecration hymn was sung, after which the Holy Communion was administered and the congregation dismi ssed. FIFTH AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH. Sermon to the Aged by Rev. Dr. Armitage A Gentle Sacerdotal Rap for Attending Other Churches. The New Year's Christian worship at the Fifth avenue Baptist church, near the corner of Forty- sixth street, Was inaugurated by a large attendance at the services yesterday morning. There were no decorations in the church. After the preliminary exercises of prayer, reading the Scriptures and sing- ing, Rev. Dr. Armitage, the pastor, preached THE SERMON, which, as he remarked in advance, was in reference to aged people, while that of the evening discourse would relate to young women. He took as the basis of the discourse the text Revelations, 1., 19— “Things which thou hast seen, things which are and things which will be.” When Colonel Fremont reached the summit of the Rocky Mountains, in Oregon, he saw behind him a vast tract already ex- plored and familiar to him, and before him a vast region of which he knew nothing. such was lile. We can take a retrospective view of the past. Tne future lies all dark aad uncertain before us. Still it Was given us to form some judgment of the fuiure by the past. Stronger by weakness, stronger men become as they stood upon the threshold of a new world. Man’s character in life is fixed very early. He dwelt at length on this point, showing how ij portant it is in early life to lay the foundation of a good character, in ancient times the character was formed slower. THE PRESENT AGE IS greatly different from tne past age. While great events were the work of centuries in the past the work of centuries is now almost crowded into a day. Who sponge for instance, a year ago that the capital of Italy would be removed from Florence to Rome, an jat Victor Emmanuel would occupy the important Position he now fills? Having elabo- rated this point by still further illustrations, he went on to show that whatever the PAST OF AN OLD MAN may have been it is invaluable. Although this past is changeless the old man makes it enrich the future, He urged in this connection that it would not be wondered at that old people were fond of dwelling upon the remote past of their lives, and that this feeling should be cherished rather than repulsed. Because they did this, because they talked of their times amd how things were then, and by way of contrast disparaged tne present, they were not to be ridiculed, but heid so much the more in reverence, They were not to be looked upon as OLD FOGIES, but relics of the past. Enlarging upon this topic, he next enforced the old scriptural truth, that what- soever @ man soweth that shall he reap, and ilus- trated its truth in the closing lives of the aged. Having thus far spoken of the past, he now pro- ceeaed to speak of the present. When we look at the young ouk sapling we think of the future, but when we look at the old father of the forest then we think of the past. Most men are either his- torians or prophets. The great Jone is the fruit of the past. ‘The flower that budded yester- day blooms te-day and will be blasted to-morrew. The present is the dross that is passing here, not the ore @ block above or a block below. Tue present is like the tick of aclock, whic, while it strikes its birth also sounds forth its death knell. There has always been in the breast of man a de- sire to PIERCE THE FUTURB, When Saul came before the Witch of Endor to find out bis fate sue commenced her incantations, and in the midst of them a spirit in the form of a human corpse suddenly rose from the earth—‘‘You desire to know your fate; to-morrow tuine enemies shall have thine head.” ‘The past is ours, the present 1s ours, | but the future is unborn. With this idea he brongnt | his sermon to a close, and after taking his seat arose | again and induiged ina Httle extemporaneous talk ‘upon the subject of PREACHING TO CUSHIONS AND SEATS. He said that the members of the church were too much in the habit of attending im the evening the churches of Chapin, Hepworth, Richardson, ‘Tynj and other pulpit ceiebrities. He wanted they shou! attend thelr own church, He gave them one of three alternatives, either to have a new minister for evening services or dispense with them altogether or attend them more regularly, At the conciusion a vote was taken and all decided to attend by raising their hands. Taking up a collection for the benefit of the poor, admission of two ladies to membership of the church and the communion services terminated the exercises, 3 Woped A Uypnaand seare, It bag LYRIC HALL SERVI The Festival of the New Year—Somcething it Teaches—Its Reminiscences—The New and the Old—Man Wills and God Obeys—Ser- mon by Rev. O. B. Frothi A dense audience greeted the Rey. Mr. Frothing- ham at Lyric Hall yesterday to hear the first dis- course of the year. The Rey. Mr. Frothingham said:—New Year’s Day is the day of gladness and of hope. Old things have passed away, and, we be- lieve, all things will be made new. The gray old planet comes back nearer the sun, the days will soon grow warmer, the frost will pass away, the vegetation will flourish, flowers will blossom and birds will sing. The coming of the New Year has always been a merry time, when men and women danced, sang and maae festival. It was so in old Rome; it was the day of cheer, of healmg of past wounds, of forming better friendships. AL memories of il were banished on the threshold of the new year, and only such omens as spoke of joy were per- mitted @ hearing. Presents were made among Iriends and acquaintances—not ostentatious presents such as we make, but some LITTLE SIMPLE THING of pleasing significance—a golden nut or honey cake or some similar pretty trifle. This new year was not ushered in with a eon- vulsion of nature any more than were those ot the dead past. Last night the wacchers heard no unusual sounds from the skies and felt no unusual trembling of the earth; all nature seemed still and sleeping. Phe clock ticked no more loudly than it was wont to do; 1t did not pause an instant to bid adieu to the old or to wel- come the new. Quietly and unseen one glided into the other. Tne guiden wheels of THE CAR OF GOD never make a noise as they revolve on their axles, Dor do the golden reins of the sun ever shake or rat- tle. There is no shock in history, nor are there any surprises for God. Nature knows no sudden con- vuisions, We talk of convulsions, but nature knows them not, We cannot tell the moment when the bad ends or the good begins; both are so closely woven in the web of life and time that we can find no separating We all remember how calm and peacetul Was last New Year's Day, but dark clouds were ris- ing on the horizon, which have since evolved the direst war and disaster. It came upon us suddenty, but had long before been written in the book of Time, it was the culmination of little, but many, causes. In the tumult of marching armies impe- rialism Was swept away, and men regarded that as the cause, in some sense, of the war. We examine Unis French imperialism aud we cannot justiy desig- nate it more than other imperialisms in history. Imperial France was hardly so bad as imperial Rome. You say the country was licenttous, There was not so much licentiousness in France under Napo- Jeon Jil. as there was under Louis XIV. and Louis XV. You say the empire was extravagance. The cost of the government for the last ten years was not so much as for five years of Louis’ reign. lt cosis no more Lo keep Paris clean than to KEEP NEW YORK DIRTY. The empire was peace, order and prosperity. You say tne Kmperor was a tyrant, He was elected by tue people. You say the election was not a Jair one and that the ballot boxes were stuffed. The bailot boxes are staffed here In New York. In spite of cavil Napoleon submitted the qrestion of imperialism to the people four umes, and four times the people said, “‘Kule over us.’ The empire was splendor. ‘The glory of Paris was the glory of the world. What Franice lost was thought—freedom of thought. This was the cost 0: her splendor. There was ephemeral thought—a light, fantastical expres- s10n of thought. No great school of philosophers, no great circle of poets, no great group oi arusis had au existence under the empire. Works of flimsy philosophy were written; @ strange, spangled, soulless music was born, and artists decorated the costly carpets on which the rich and elegant trod. Tne French people have achieved a rare excellence in em! the grandest of Princes, Kings, Emperors and Saints, It was under the shadow of angels’ wings and the immediate p1 uon of God. It grasped in some sense the globe and kept the consciences o! the race. It held the keys of heaven and heil. It watched the course of every life {rom the cradle to the grave. It was everywhere and everything. It prayed for men, believed for men, absolved men, cursed men and sent them to heaven or consigned them to hell. It had a spy in every conscience; it had @ confessor in every heart; it took the babo from the mother’s breast to biess it and prayed for the Which it placed in consecrated ground, Jt was wound round every tradition and instinct of the people, and for centuries it was to them a kind mother and @ faithful friend. ut, like French im- pertalism, 1t has lived at the expense of thought, AU has received 1ta death blow; 1tmay be centuries in dying, but it will surely die. Our Protestant Chris- w ve sown among them the seeds of the same decaying influence which is destroying Rome. They go to church, not to worship God, not to meditate on nobler and grander impluses or gam strength for a better and purer iufe, but because 10 1s a cus- tom with others or a habit with themselves; be- cause they meet acquaintances; to show their fine clothes or to help their business, aspirations of tnelr ewn nor to the aspirations of others, and so on this New Year eve I put together the old and the new, hoping everything Jor the com- 1 Tet hoping’ that in may bring to ice restoration to former magniticence an glory; to Germany unity without the terrible shadow of imperialism; to Italy the good influences and noble as} ions born of the removal of its ancient enemy and worst foe; to the Church of Rome the purity and simplicity which once made it gierious and noble, and to ourselves, a new peeple, advance. ment toward all tnat ts noble and true. Looking forward and not backward may we improve the future of our lives. ‘The past was fated to be as it has been, We have no control over it, It is dead to us, ‘the future is our own, Behind us the past lies all faded, before us the future spreads all green. Before us is the infinite possibility, and in our breast is the sublime power. So far from believing that the will of God predestines the course of man, I be- lieve that the power of the earnest, determimea hu- Man will predestines the will of God. CHURCH OF THE HEAVENLY REST. Ritualism Ignored—English Cathedral Style of Worship~A Devout Discourse. The Church of the Heavenly Rest was crowded with New Year's callers yesterday, attracted by the Tumor of ritualistic services and the announcement that the extension of the building out to Fifth ave- nue had been completed. Ritualistic services, how- ever, were not held, nor is it the intention of the pastor to move so far ahead in canonical devotion just yet. That reverend gentleman intends to make ‘Als church the type of an English cathedral so far as services are concerned, and utterly ignores anything and everything that approaches nearto Rome, He sayshe would go “the whole hog” if he moved a step furcher and take such luck as might be if his belief led him to conclude that the mass was a genuine religions article, THE MASS OF THIS CHURCH yesterday was celebrated on an altar, with a crucifix before it imbedded in ivy, in honor of the Christmas tree, the ante-pendum being of white and having inscribed on It in letters of gold the word “Emman- uel.” So far as the ceremonies are concerned the most of the worship is left to the choir, consisting of men, ladies and boys, who sing the greater part of the exercises. The organist, Mr. Charles 8. Fisher, Jr., and Mrs. Shandley and Mrs, Rockwell are the leading spirits in the choir. The music yes- terday consisted of selections from Millard and Mo- zart, with a Gloria Tibi by Mr. Fisher, Jr., the or- ist. After the usual opening prayers the entte, by Beckwith, was sung; then the Te Deum, by Willard; after which a lesson was read; then came the Benedictus by the choir and prayers by the clergyman; then the Jntrov, which con- sisted of @ hymn, and the Gloria; after which came @ sermon by tue Rev. R. 8, Howland, rector, who took his text from the fifteenth verse of the thirty- first Psalm—‘“My times are in ‘Thy hand.” He said thatman was absolutely under Ged’s control and power, joys and sorrows, health and sickness, life and death being ordered by Him. The right hand could not be extended without His permission, nor could the mind perform the simplest operation. tour purpose. Aen fay that they Will try and of our len si ey will try and con- quer; bea says you shall be weakly and Duffer. An example of this was afforded recently in Europe, when the Emperor of the French sent out his armies to conquer. God willed that the French army should be beaten and turned back, and the extra- ordinary history of the present European war was enacted. We are like men on ;the deck of a vessel walking eastward while the vessel is varrying them to the West. Schemes may be laid, plots may be concocted and everything may look well toward their accomplishment, but GOD I8 SCHEMING AND PLANNING, and His plan of our liie mest be worked out and Bae our own. He that trusts in God need have ao ‘ear. My times are in Thy hand, ‘My God: I wish them there, My life, my friends, my bons leave entirely to thy care. But if God is igngred He will break our heart in order to break our “stubborn will. As our times are in His hand He will se order them that He will maye sufferings and fear conquer us if mercy and bles. sings do not. God shoula notbe made to feel that we deal unjustly by Him, Tn the afternoon, at half-past three o'clock, a ser- Vice was held, though much shorter than the morn- ing one. It opened with the clergymen reading the Psalms of the day; then the singing by the choir of the Canfate and Deus by Balley in F; then a hymn; after which came a sermon appropriate to the New Year season by Rey. Dr. Swope, of Trinity parish, the service concluding with the Gloria Pairi and the hyma, “Abide With Me.’ The church 1s gotten up internally with extreme neatness, and looks much better now that the ex- tension has been made. The rector of the church 13 BOt at all pleased to know that some people imagine that he 1s bent on introducing ritualistic services, while the truth is that he wants to make his estab- lishment a halfway house between High Church and Low Church. He claims that the only difference be- tween the services in the Heavenly Rest and in an English cathedral is that in the former there is no chanting, while in the latter it is a chant all PAINTING THE SKIN; but they have allowed the soul to be consumed; their exterior was brilliant, but within. were only rowtenness and decay. When the mailed hand knocked at the portals of the nation it crumbled France. jhe downfall of that other impefialism in Italy ‘was a greater ial! from a higher pedestal—the fall of the Roman Church. 1 had ruled many countries; it had boundiess wealth, and had reigned unques noble peduarea, [ heen through. CHURCH OF THE ATONEN:NT. A Congregation UVisappointed—No Atonement for the Holland-Burial Scandal. ‘The pretty little Episcopal church, on the corner of Madison avenue and Twenty-eighth street, “around the corner” from Dr. Houghton’s, was well filled yesterday morning. The regular congregation of this church is @ stylish one, and so fs the church itself, Yesterday, however, there was agonsidera- ble number of strangers present, drawn thither doubtless by the expectation of hearing the parson hold forth on a matter that gained him a 4A QUESTIONABLE NOTORIETY last week; but if that was their object in attending they were entirely disappointed, for the preacher— the Rev. William S. Sabine—made no allusion what- ever to his action regarding the funeral of the late George Holland. He took for his text the verse (from I. Kings, xx., 40), “And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the King of Israel said unto him, so shall thy judgment be; thy- self hast decided it; and on this he preached @ good orthodox sermon, showing what Christians may expect by minding their own business and looking out for the welfare of their souls. BROOKLYN CHURCHES, CHURCH OF THE PILGRIMS. A Baptismal Service and a New Years Gift to Seven-Year-Old Children—Dr. Storrs’ Announcement as to New Year’s Calls— A Sacramental Sermon by Proiessor Green. The Church of the Pilgrimsis situated in Henry street, on the Heights of Brooklyn. The exterior of the structure Js ancient, but the interior fs modern. Recent renovations have imparted to 1t a decorative- ness that Owen Jones wonld have been proud of and the Puritan Fathers covsiderably shocked there- with. All that a careful combination of color; all that mellowed and soft-toned music, with its beauti- ful disdain; all that stained glass, with emblazoned quotations from Scripture thereon, can do to solem- nize the mynd and soften the heart has been done as perfectly and as costly as could have been expected from the members of a church whose history com- mences with the rough and primitive religious cus- toms of those pligrims and Puritans who came over in the Mayfower, The new-born year was yesterday morning hal- lowed by a service that will not easily pass from the recollection of those who took partin it. The ser- vice was opened by the singing of the well known verse, Praise God, from whom all blessings flow, and, after a short prefatory prayer, the pastor, Dr. Storrs, descended to the front of the altar and in- yited parents to present their children for baptism, Four little ones, borne in their fathers’ arms, and accompanied by heir mothers, filed in front ef the altar during the chanting of the choir. These chil- dren each received two baptismal names irom the doctor, and, after an appropriate prayer, the parents and their children ieft the church for an adjoining. vestry. At the conclusion of this httle service there” foliowed one that was even more interesting tan wae, @ small table within the altar enclosure LITTLE PILE OF PARCELS, all in snow white paper. Dr. Storrs, advancing to ‘the side of this table, said that 11 had been the cus- tom of this church to present to each cbild who nad baptised in the chureh and Dad sitalued the | suffer.’? ‘age of seven, on the first Sunday in the year, with & copy of the Bible. After enlarging upon the attrac- tlve extertor of these copies of the Scripture, and also upon the tntrinsic value of the sacred Word, he said that each of these copies bore this Inscription on the outside:—From the Chureh of the 8 to a Child of the Covenang” una inside was mn the name of that child and the date of the birth, He then read the names, and as each ee four ex- ceptions, Was announced, a little gu ‘nt Bibles publicly were unabie to be present, and in the other case, a little boy responded to his name and joined the juvenile feminine throng that stood 80 innocently and so charmingly around the minis- ter. Each recetved a bible, and after a prayer, in which their future er? Sota ie wee care of im who had given them their young yous itt. put who in iis wisdom had taken unto. Hiwselt other of their young friends whose lives had not been spared, but who had been taken unto Himself in the earlier days of their infancy, this PRETTY LITTLE GROUP filed off with a chastened expression of gladness. upon their gleeful countenances to the pews im which their fathers aud inothers had had quite a. time in keeping the emotions of their hearts from the gaze of the public. Among the anneunce- ments, which were confined entire! 4 to those relat to the church, was one in which|Dr. Storra jstate that he should continue the practice of receiving New Year’s calls from the gentlemen of his congre- gation and parish on the ioliowing day (Monday); but that failing health and slowly returning strength would deprive Aim of the pleasure of permitting, himself the usually allotted time for those calls. Hitherto he had recetved from twelve to nine o'clock ; this year he must be permitted to say that the time would be frem twelve at noon untill four in the afvernoon, ‘The sermon was preached by Professor Green, of Princeton College, and was on a@ subject suitable to precede the Communion service to be held in the afternoon. The text was selected from St, Lakes xxi, 15—“And He sald unto them, With desire have desired to eat this passover with you before E The expression of the text “with desire’® was the main part of the passage elucidated, words. which the Professor said were indicative in the original with “HEARTY AND LONGING DESIRE." The circumstances under whicn the words were said: the probable feeling of our Lord at the time being anxiety to impress upon the apostles the In~ expressible greatness of the work they were about to undertake In planting a new kingdom upon the earth. ‘Then the strong aesire of our Lord to pass through that unenviable ordeal in which He was to be deserted by the Father. Au analysis of the pro- bable emotions of the Saviour, a sketch 01 the Feast of the Passover under the Jewish dispensation, itd: more ail-embracing eifect witch this eating of the Passover by our Lord had ushered in, formed an- other part of the sermon, which was concluded py an earnest exhortation, addressed to those who were shortiy to celebrate the last Supper of our Lord at the Communion Service, FIRST BAPT OnURCH. The Rev. Mr. Gallaher on the Afflictions of Mankind—Get Rich and be Dimned. There was an Immense congregation assembled at Mr, Gallaher’s church in Brooklyn yesterday morn- ing, pretty nearly every seat in the entire house being occupied. The reverend gentleman was not, as 18 frequently the case, In one of his humorous moods, nor was he over-pathetic; but he never- theless preached @ splendid sermon, and one which, like the majority of his discourses, will not soon be forgotten. He selected for his text Romans vilt, 28— ‘For he will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness; because 4 short work will the Lord make upon the earth.’ After speaking at considerable; length of some of the principal teachings of the text Mr. Gallaher said every ove should be able to give at least some reason for the faith that is in him. It is well enough to say you believe so and s0, but why do you believe 80 and so? Some men are awakened, as it were, and brought suddenly to a sense of their sinful con- dition by sorrow, others by prosperity, and others, again, by poverty, There is A GREAT MYSTERY surrounding godliness; but there 1s a still greater enveloping sorrow. There were men belonging td his church, and who were at that moment within the sound of his voice, who were suffering from various causes, and they knew not why, nor could they help themselyes. Jt was their nature, an over this they had no control. Why is it that were so sorely beset by sorrow upon almost every hand’ And why 1s temptation, our master, tha tyrant, 80 to speak, who holds us down, Domnd hand and foot? About these things there 1s a great mystery, yet not so great that it cannot be solved, God has a purpose in view when fe inflicts poverty and serrow upon some and wealth and affiu« ence upon others. But how absurdly ridiculous some people do act when sorrow overtakes them We see a person who has lost a dear triend py deat! immediately rush into a full suit of black, as though: that would do them any good or would attest to On world their sincere grie! at the loss they had 81 tained. A dear, good Christian, man or woman, dies and goes straight to heaven, where they arrayed in robes of purest white, and straightwa: their friends go in black for them, just as though: they thought the “dear departed” hid GOEE TO PURGATORY, . Instead of that land of pure delight “where the wicked cease frow troubling and the weary are at rest,” } There are a great Many passages in the Bible that most men and women, too, never can comprehen@ the full meaning of till they are finally Ic down to a bed of sickness and paln. Then they can) and do understand and appreciate it all. fora: they are sick you cannot drag them into a converd sation upon religious matters scarcely to save your life, put let them get sick and approach near to the brink of that place where All are equal, Bide vy aide the poor man And the son of pride Sitealm and stil, and then how glad they are to have a minister Sone to their bedside and talk to them of the Bible its dear assurances. There you see God, in His mn finite mercy, brings these people to understand Him.) But worse, far worse than sorrow and sickness, 1s overty. Those of his congregation who heard him\ knew Not one tithe of : THR ANGUISH POVERTY BRINGS with it. Some men struggle along through life day’ afler day, making enly just enough to put m their, mouths and partially appease the gnawings of hun- ger, until they are finally made to see the hand off God in It. He had been very poor once, and he often, felt thankful that the dear Saviour was once a ehfl and was poor, too; for he knew He could all the better: appreciate and pity the poor. He was left an or- phan when quite young, and a poor orphan he was,! too; but God raised up a dear, kind friend, who took; ee cared for ee) babe fle every day, Wealthy men’s song running through property and, leading the most ‘dissolute. lives, ‘aba Domeumned Jets them go on untl they finally open their eyes an see the folly of their ways. Other men, too, grow, rich wonderfully fast, but often in a questionable manuer, and God lets them go on and be damned, CATHOLIC MISSIONARIES IN AMERICA. Tho Claims of the Pilgrim Fathers Contrasted with Their Catholic M.ssionary Brethren— Lecture by Mr. Bernard: Hughes. A lecture was delivered by Mr. Bernard Hughes’ upon the subject of “The Labors of Catholic missions aries in America,” at the Atheneum, corner of Clin- ton and Atlantic streets, Brooklyn, last evening, be- fore a large and intelligent audience. The proceeds of the affair is 1p aid of the worthy “Sisters of the Good Shepherd,” whose office is “to resoue fallen, humanity from the snares and depravity of corrupt associations.” Having eulogized the self-sacrifice and true spirit of practical charity,! which ever characterizes this noble order of gentle! and religious women, Mr. Hughes satd:—My object is to repudiate these hollow pretensions of quacks) and ‘ APPRENTICE POLITICIANS who claim that this country ts indebted to the! genius of Anglo-Saxonism for its magnificent sys/ tem of clvilization, and that the mere aceident of birth is conclusive evidence of superior citizenship. Italy claims the honor as the birthplace of Colum- bus; but Spain—grand old martial, heroic Spain— lent her atd tothe development of his transcendant gemus. Helanded on American soil with a sword) in one hand and eross in the other, tai {AN ALTAR WAS ERECTED. The Spaniards fell down and kissed the earth and returned God thanks, The first act of piety the Pilgrim Fathers performed upon lanaing was to shoot the Indians and steal their bearskins, Lag Casas, the learned, heroic and immortal defender of the Indians, ‘accompanied Columbus on his second: voyage to Hispaniola, and there established a Catho~ lic mission for the purpose ef conv the In+ dians. The nardy sons of St. Francis Dominick and Lyola spread out the banners of the cross andi bore itwaloft from Cuba to Florida, from thence to Mexico, 'Fexas, Peru, Brazil and Paraguay. THE CIVILIZATION O8 THE INDIANS } in America was confined to the monks of Spain, o! France, Portugai and Italy, and only once attempte by the English, under Lord Baltimore, in Mary-| land. The Spaniards raised the standard of the! cross in the south, the land of the settingsun, The French Jesuits spread all over the North and Canada. ‘The English, under Lord Baltimore, attempted one mission, bul one only, in Maryland, which wi afterwards destroyed by the English and their Puritan soldiers, In 1519 Cortes tanded in Mexico, with about six hundred men, mostly sailors. Hei had scarcely obtained a foothold upon the soil when he wrote to Spain fer priests ) TO CORRECT THE INDIANS. | His appeal was nobly responded to. Don Sepas« tan, @ Franciscan, was made Bisiop ofMexico, By repaired to that country in company witha a