The New York Herald Newspaper, December 29, 1872, Page 6

4 RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. TO-DAY’S PROGRAMME OF SERVICES Another Letter from Atheos on the Bible and the Public Schools. Infidelity a Matter of Physi- cal Constitution. Se ‘MOVEMENTS IN THE CHURCHES. Services To-Day. The Rev. Henry Powers will deliver, at the Church of the Messiah, a discourse in the morning on “The New Year,” and in the evening the third of his course of lectures to young people, his spe- cial subject being “The Choice of a Careerand How to Pursue It." ‘At the Presbyterian Memorial church the Rev, 0. %. Robinson will preach on “The Rich and the Poor Meet Together.” Dr. Cheever preaches in the Chapel of the Uni- versity im the evening, ata quarter to eight o'clock, on “Enoch’s Translation.” “The Delectable Mountains’’ will be the Rev, E, ©. Sweetser’s subject this ¢vening at the Bleecker Street Universalist church, ‘Thomas Gates Forster lectures at Apollo Hall to- day on “Generic Progress’ and ‘fhe Fool Has Said in His Heart There Is No God,” ‘The Rey. DeWitt Talmage preaches to his burned- Out congregation morning and evening at the Academy of Music, Brooklyn. Bishop Snow holds forth in the University at three P. M. on “‘ The Parable of the Ten Virgins.” The Rey, Dr. Flagg preaches morning and even- Ang in the Church of the Resurrection, Services will be held at the Berean Baptist church morning and evening. The Rey. Philip L. Davies ‘will be the preacher: Rey. William N. Dunnell will conduct Divine ser- vice in All Saints’ church. Rev. James Balin Laval preaches in the Bleecker street Mission, Carmine street. Rev. Stephen H. Tyng will preach in the evening tn the Church of the Holy Trinity. At Unity chapel, Harlem, Rev. Robert Collier, of ‘Chicago, in the evening. * Laight street Baptist Mission, services by Rev. Walsey Knapp. Preaching in the Old Forsyth street Methodist Episcopal church. Rev. George H. Hepworth will preach in Stein- sway Hall in the forenoon. Russian Greek chapel—Services free to all. In St. Ignatius church services morning and evening, and continuation of Rev. F. ©. Ewer's lectures. At the Rose Hill Methodist Episcopal church the Rev. J. H. Vincent will preach in the morning and the Rev. John Dickinson in the evening. The burned-out congregation of Grace chapel have morning and evening service at Irving Hall, the Rev. Mr. Kramer officiating. { The Rev. William H. Pendleton preaches at the Fifty-third street Baptist church morning and evening. ( At the Thirty-fourth street Reformed church the “Rev. Isaac Riley preaches this morning and even- ing. Rev. C. S. Harrower will deliver discourses morn- ing and evening at St. Luke’s Methodist Episcopal church, Rev. ©. A. Brigham, at the Catholic Apostolic church, delivers an address; subject, “The New Creation Not a Development of the Old.” Rev. 8. H. Smyth preaches at the Sixth avenue ‘Reformed church morning and evening. Bible in the Public Schools— Another Letter from “Atheos.” To THe Epitor oF THE HERALD:— A controversialist under the name of “Presby- terian” tells us that theWate decision of the ,State Superintendent is unfair and opposed to the best interests and to the wishes of a majority of our people, and that in excluding the Bible from the schools he has been in so far guilty of dissemi- gating atheism, sin and crime. We were greatly astonished at the assumptions of the Rev. Mr. McAllister. sible, surpassed him, He assumes that because the majority of the American people believe in revelation, that, therefore, this same majority must desire that revelation shall be taught in the public schools. Secondly, he assumes that the majority have the right to force their belief in revelation upon the minority; all of which are without proof. tf we deduct a great number of liberals or of unbelievers, a vast number of liberal- minded Protestants of all denominations, the ma- jority of both the Episcopalian and the Unitarian sects; if we deduct all the Jews, the whole Romish Church, Mormons, Budahists, Mobammedans and Adolators of this country, who are bitterly opposed or totally indifferent to the teaching of the Bible in the public schools, and who may be, nevertheless, recognized citizens of the United States, who sup- The port this government and obey its laws, and who | could justly claim its protection against the secta- rian citizenship of Rev. Mr. McAllister, and of “Presbyterian”—when we deduct all these,I think “presbyterian” would find his majority, ‘like bis desire of revelation in the schools, an assumed one, Tt is, Fain, assumed by “Presbyterian” that be- cause the government of this country is based upon the will of the people, a majority of the people can d6 as they please. Let us sup- pose, friend “Presbyterian,” that majority of the people hold—as they certainly do hold—Pres- | jd that they desire other | byterianism to be false. religious views in its ; Suppose, then, that this majority, which is now against you, should by legis lative enactment, or bya clause tm the constitu- tion, declare Presbyterianism to be faise, would you accept the decree us just’ Would you recognize the right of the maiority over the minority in that case ¥ Do you not believe that the people, even in the minority, would have the right of revolution, bad they only the power or could they procure it ? We bave in this country a bill of rights and pow. ers, a social compact, a fundamental, an organic law called the constitution. {t, thereiore, matters little what the majority may be that would insert a@ recognition of God and His Bible, so long as lib- erty 01 conscience is secured by that law to every individual; 80 long as the sacred domain and tem- ple of conscience is preserved sacred and inviolate to the individual, no majority e a right to dic- tate to the religious conscience of any citizen or to the recognition of any particular y particular revelation made by Him. resbyterian” holds, with the Rey.Mr. McAllister, that secular instruction Jeads to atweism. He says that ‘the absence of heat, the want of beat, the negation of heat are ali expressed by the term cold,’ and in like manner “the absence of God, the want of God, the negation of God are expressed by the term atheism,” and that our secular in- struction is in 80 far instruction without geod, ana therefore atheistic. ‘This argameut 1s based upon the ambiguity of terms. Atheism is sometning more than the want of God or the absence of God; itis the denial of God; and this is the definition | given by our best dictionaries. Tne absence of God or the ignorance of God is not the same as the negation of God or the denia! of God. Our friend “Presbyterian” pleases biniself by confounding both, and hence his fallacy. But it isnot true, speak- ing as @ believer—it is not trne to say that secular instruction ts atheistic, “Presbyterian,” as a be- liever, must hold that God is truth, that He is all truth, that there is no truth outside of Him, and that all truth is one. If he does not hold these he be a @ believer in @ divine, infinite and personal ‘od. Now let me ask my friend “Presbyterian” when a child is taught that two and two make four; that the whole is greater than any of its parts; that things that are equal to a common third are equal to each other; that cold contracts and that heat expands; that @ straight line is the shortest dis- tance between moves around the sun; that the earth is not fat, but round, does he not jearn truth ? does he not Jearn God's truth ? does he not learn divine natural trath, accoraing to your own teaching ? does he not learn God in creation ¥ truths, according to ‘Presbyterian.’ atheism, which is but “sin they are secular, because it leads to crime,” because not shown the Pupil that these traths have a divine being as | their author, and thereiore that they will but practically destroy or contradict them- selves. This, however,’is a paradox which the human mind has never yet accepted, nor can ‘ it until truth and falsehood are identical: If there be a God, natural truth must be divine, and the teacher who explains that divine nacural law must be @ teacher of in: a8 clearly and as really a8 when he explains the divine supernatural Jaw. If truth be one—and I defy ‘Presbyterian’ at jbia peril to say otherwise—then the natural trath AvsMaL Us ogg sebgols must be Iu Coa, phugt Wen \te “Presbyterian,”’ however, has, if pos- * Bat the knowledge of these | NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY. DEUEMBER 29, 1872.-TRIPLE_ SHEET. Of the valuable services which he had rendered to | him and overca: Woaver in his remarkably just and. clear decision did not either hs gar: Skt indirectly favor “‘athe- sin or crime.” ‘‘Presbyterian” tells that eism is irresponsibility, and therefore danger- ous in its jprinat § ponneanences For pans sane of gegnmens we peer so. On pege of the Shorter ‘Oatechism of tl Westminster AR. sembly we read the follewing question and an- swer:— . What are the decrees of Godt A. Tho decrees 4 God are His eternal Ly ye according to the council of His will, whereby for His own glory He hath fore- ordainea Ww! comes'to pass. a hatsoover Here it is very plain that whatsoever comes to pass is foreordalned God; itts decreed, and de- creed for Hig le. it may well come to pass that our friend “Presb; 8 commit mur- der, or ‘thrust his New Testament n the throat of my pie, or that of a Jew; and if it should come to pass it would have been foreordained, it yoo have been own decreed by God and decreed for lory; and if it were decreed and torcor- dained * would be but the tool or the instrument of that fatal decree, and couldin no manner be held responsible for the act or the exeeution of the eternal and fatal decree, Hence we must conclude that Presbyterianism is but utter irresponsibility, sheer fatality; since elem 19 irresponsibility, and since Yresby teriauiam ia irresponsibility, Presbyterianism and atheism must be fhe iid since things that are to a common third are equal to each other. And all the woos, and all the sins, and all the blasphemies which our friend “Presbyterian” finds tn the logical conse- quences of Atheism, must equally befall him in the logical cot juences of Presbyterianism. ir. Editor, to tre: so much upon questions for whioh I ask solutions, and in which will be found the settlement of this great school diMculty which has now become widespread and dangerous, First—! there exist an Infinite Being distinct from the universe, to whom we are responsible for our actions? Second—If this being does exist, has he made any other reve- lation than that expressod fn the natural order, or, in other words, has he supernat- urally revealed ? Third—is the Bible of the Kev. Mr. McAllister and of “Presbyterian” an authentic rec- ord of that revelation any more than the Koran, the Zendavesta or the works of Emmanuel Sweden. borg? Fourth—wWe wish “Presbyterian” to show how or wherein @ majority can justly force revela- tion upon a stpieath without violating the rights of conscience. Fifth—To show how or wherein the civil authorities have the right to. decide upon the trath and the authenticity of supposed supernat- ural truths, to reject some and to adopt others, Sixth—To show how civil authority can force obe- dience or support from its subjects to a supernat- ural law without union of Church an@’State. When “Presbyterian” has answered ail these, there is another and a very important question remaining which we will cali the seventh—If there shail be recognition of God and His Bible in the constitu- tion, itis but fair to ask, whether that God shall be the God of the Jews or the God of the Samaritans t Shall He be the God of Isaac or the God of Ishmael ? Shall He be the God of Christ or the God of Monam- med? Shall He be the God of Aristotle or the God of Zoroaster ? Shall He be the God of Luther or of Calvin ¢ Shall He be the God of the English Parlta- ment or the Westminster Assembly? Shall He be the tGod of Thomas Jefferson er the Atheos of Payne ¢ Shall we recognize the Bible of Joe Smith or the Bible of Swedenborg? Shallit be the Bible of the Greeks or the Bible of the Latins? Shall it be the Bible or Rome or the Bible of London? Ah! methinks I hear Presbyterian” answer It shall be the true God and the true Bible; it shall be the God andthe Bible of predestination, of foreor- dination and faith; it shall be a Presbyterian God and a Presbyterian Bible, all others to the contrar, notwithstanding. These questions, Mr. Kditor, tell you beforehand, willbe evaded in “Presby- terian’s” rejoinder should he favor us with any. ATHEOS. A Criticism on “Atheos”—His Physical Character. To ras Eprror OF THRE HERALD:— In reading the reply of “‘Atheos’ to “McAllister’’ in your Sunday issue of the 15th inst. it occurred to me that men differ in religious belief in exact ratio to their physical—take note, I say physical— ability to receive it, inthe several degrees of ad- vancement in which it 1s prescribed by the differ- ent sects, denominations, creeds, &¢., how strug- the same great truth. Were it not for this differ- ence of physical—not mental or spiritual—ability to receive, all men would centre upon one common point of belief and sectarian differences would have no ground for existence. ‘Thus, we have in “Atheos”’ aman who admits the absolute existence of God, while in the weak effort of denying Him, when he speaks of that “seet—in the article above referred to—which shall teach the non-existence of any other God than nature and its laws,” he actually believes in God and declares God, though he don’t know it himself, and is much more profound, perhaps, in his desire to believe aright than many of our pro- fessed Christians, In fact, they are the same; in degree only they differ. , Now, I propose taking this man on his own ground and from his own objective point of view. By the above quoted declaration he, in common with all atheists, infidels, &e,, proclaims himself a believer only in his physical or natural condition, and therefore can only draw deductions, infer- things which in tangible form surround him. This is not a fact ef the man, a8 @ searcher of truth, but rather the result of his actual condition to re- ceive the truth when presented. This is, in fact, the first or highest form of animal perception, where the brute ends and the man divine begins, The brute takes cognizance of things as } they are, man as they might be, which difference marks the possession of a higher order of reason or reasoning power, which at once not only weighs causes and effects, but goes beyond, away beyond, from eilect to cause. The pet dog lies at your feet, beneath the table, and accepts the crumbs or delicate morsels as they fall, Think you that it ever occurred to that dog that were it not for the law of attraction or gravitation which governs the fall of said morsels that he might go hungry very often by reason of them fly- ing up instead of down? or think you that all the delicate morsels that ever fell the jot of any dog ever suggest of his race the existence of G as the falling apple did to Newton? I think not. The dog accepts the crumbs as a matter of course, as, indeed, do many men, and, when hungry, he Jeels very grateful, as also does man, The dog naturally looks up to man as his source of supply; man as naturally looks up to God—that is, if he is properly and proportionately in advance of the rute, ‘Atheos” undoubtedly believes in God as far ashe is at present capable of believing; but, were he further advanced with an intellect capable of going beyond the mere to once understand that nature and its laws are the self-evident results of the existence of a God—but not God! Just a8 a great invention is proof of an intelli- and its laws a proof of God, and even as the thing invented is not the inventor, nor a part | Dor @ part absolute of His personality, But the subject is too extended for cull discussion at this time, yet if ‘‘Atheos,” or any of the many | who have been quoting from the Bible in the | HERALD of late desire to look further into the sub- | ject it eau be shown even from their own stand- point (materialism) that there is a God, without | referring to the Sacred Writ at ali. J. SESE. Ministerial Movements and Changes. BAPTIST, The Examiner and Chronicle (Baptist) and the | | Intelligencer (Reformed), both of this city, are at loggerheads on the question of infant or adult bap- tism and the relative merits of sprinkling or im- | mersion. In the First, Fourth, Sixth, Eleventh and | Seventeenth wards of Philadelphia the Baptists | have not a single church, Sunday school or mission | station. These wards contain an aggregate popu- | lation of 94,098 souls. ‘The population of the city ts | put at 700,000, and the forty-two Baptist churches | there are asked to unite to plant schools and | churches in those destitute localities. | missionary convention was held im Providence, R. | L, on Friday, at which addresses were delivered by | home and foreign missionaries, and the wants of the entire mission field were very ably and fully | presented. The North Baptist church, in | Camden, N. J., organized in 1861 with thirty- six members, has now a membership of Rev. A. B. Earle, Evangelist, wili commence a se- | ries of revival meetings in the Baptist church in | Vineland, N. J., on the evening of Thursday, Jan- | uary 7. The society have just built a neat house of } worship. Rey. Mr. Randall is pastor, Pearson, of Lafayette, Ind., is to occupy the pulpit | of the First Baptist church of Brooklyn, regentiy | filled by Mr. Gallaher, to-day. The Brandywine @ given points; that the earth | Baptist church, near Guthrieville, Chester county, | Liverpool Pa., after extensive repairs made, was rededicated | on Thursday last. Mr, Amos Myers, who once represented the oil dis- trict in Congress, is now a Leas eh clergyman in 4 Kentucky. @ Baptist church at Orange, N. J., during the past year toward the support of 0,776 40, In Maine there are 16,000 Free-Will ptists and 19,000 “regular,” or 34,000 all told. ach has a college. Rev. J. BR. Graves has raised $108,000 for the proposed Baptist Publication So- father and hay cous | Noses Mindayaaiet Noe’ prestata Ly count Ww i eachers Ls li , Will be dedjcated on day, Devewber 2. | thom to ulm as 6 sighs toKen of their appreciation | gling for the universal dissemination on earth of ences and conciusions from the external state of in the order of creation, | evidence of his own natural senses, he would at | gent inventor just so is the presence of nature | proper of lim personally, even so is not nature God, | Rey. R. W. || | chy | expended $3,644 56 | Magdalen, Taunton, thirty-four students | into the Catholic Chureh of St. Mary at Torquay. ~~ hegre foegarr 9 —— be proncnoe dy Brome a. rr, . ‘The Lor Jofterson Cn Lh Baptist ‘chtiroh. have decided to withdraw from Long Island Baptist Association, and henceforth hold an independent Position. e treatment of the church and their pratt Rev. P. F. Jones, by the association at its t two annual meetin; as furnishing the occasion for’ bre: ig up relation, The Rev, G, 0. Whitney, pastor ofthe Baptist church at Tarrytown, after several weeks’ sickness, on Wednesday last yielded to the exhaustion of typhoid fever an into she unknown land. le was & young man of great prcusiee, and ability, and had been but one year the charge. Rev. Manning F. Decker, ordained of the Baptist church In Pottaville, Pa., two months ago, Fonaned his charge on account of impaired health. ‘The Baptist church in Moberley, Mo., under the pastorate of thé Rev. A. J. Colwell, has just com- pees ® $12,000 house of worship, and added fteen to the church membership since July last. Rev. Muller Jones, of Brid, Pa., reports that on the 15th instant he baptized ten converts in the Schuylkill River; the witnesses were very many and the impreasion deeply solemn. There is a delightful wR grace in progress there. Rev. Dr. aay, Raver, di es the call of the Harvard street. church, Boston. Rev. B. W. Barrows, of Neponset, a suburb of Boston, goes | to the puinlt of the First Church of Middletown, Conn. Next to Dr. Nea! pouge & youDE, man, he was the oldest Baptist pastor, ‘of the Hub, Kev. Isaac W. Lamb, the knitting machine inventor, has returned to his former pastorate in Novi, Mich. His salary is pledged to him with notes payable quarterly direct to the pastor. Rey. Dr. Shad- rach has resigned the pastorate of the Altoona church, Pa, after a settlement of regre' your valuable time and space, but there are a tew | nearly five years. Rev. Thomas G, Wright, late of Philadelphia, has received an invitation to the pe of the Firat Baptist church in Westerly, 1, Rev, W. M. Young, D. D., has entered upon his labors as pastor of the Baptist church in Wo- burn, Mass, Fuiity-flve converts were recently bap- tized in the Pine stréet Baptist church, Richmond, Va. Rev, W. B, Tolan, of Columbus, N. J., has ac- gente acallof the Angora church, West Plilladel- phia, snd will enter upon hia labors on the first of the new year. Rev. A. J, Rowland, of the Tenth church, Philadelphia, baptized two candidates last Sunday evening. Others profess to have found the saviour. Key. &. W, Bliss, of Pittston, reports a glorious revival. Four have indulged hope and twenty-live are inquiring the way of salvation. METHODIST. Rev. Dr. Eggleston has been engaged to write the life of the late Peter Cartwright, the eccentric Western pioneer Methodist preacher, The writer and his subject are said to be perfectly compatible. The Rev. 5. N. Mudrows, Wesleyan minister at Scarborough, England, has the original ordination parchment received by Dr. Coke from Wesley when the Doctor was created a bishop and sent over here to organize the American Methodist Church, The parchment is now sought to be obtained as a me- mento for one of our colleges. Two young Bulgarians from Tultcha, members of the day and Sunday school of the Rey. Mr. Flocken, Methodist mission- ary in that place, have come to America to study in our colleges. They have spent a few months in the country earning money enou, to pay the expenses of a couple of terms in an academy, The progress of = Chris- tuanity in Madagascar is attracting attention. During the last year the increase to the Christian community was 63,000 persons, including 18,000 church members. in three years the total addi- tion has been about two hundred and fifty-eight thousand converts. Bishop Andrews, with his family, has established himself in Winter quarters in Des Moines, Iowa, Inthe Spring he will go for- ward to his home in Omaha, Neb., or Council Bluffs, lowa, as he may determine, Bishop Wiley and Dr. Rust are making an extensive tour in the South and Southwest in the interest. of the freed- men. They will spend a large part of the Winter im Texas. ‘Rev. Charles Freshman, D. D., of Inger- soll, Canada, for fifteen years a Jewish rabbi, but for the last twelve years connected with the Wes. leyan ministry, a man of extensive learning, ardent piety and tireless zeal, made a brief visit to this city last week, and delivered an interesting lecture in the First Methodist Episcopal church, Green- point, on “The Customs and Manners’ of the Jews.” The Rev. 8S, McKean, of Troy Conference, has retired from the editorial manarement of the Watchman, a temperance paper published in Alba- ny, and has resumed pastoral work in Ash Grove Methodist Episcopal church, Albany. Rev. Dr. Cobleigh, of Atlanta, Ga., who addressed the edu- cational meeting here last week, returned to bis home soon after. Rey. J. L. Trinity, St. Louis, has been appointed by Bishop Bowman Presiding Elder of the St. Louis district, St. Louis Conference, to fill the vacancy occasioned b: the transfer of the Rey. Dr. George to Elmira, N. Y. Rev. Dr. F. C. Holliday, of Indianapolis, has been seriously ill, and doubts are entertained of nis re- covery, The Board of Education of the Methodist Rescaeel Church have $100,000 invested and the sum of $3,500 interest is at its disposal to assist suitable young men in procuring @ theological edu- cation, Bishop Peck has appointed Rev. J. C. Davison and Rey. Julius Soper, members of the forthcoming graduating class of Drew Theological | Seminary, as missionaries to Japan to accempany Dr. Maclay. They will probably leave tor their dis- tant work about the Ist of May next. Bishop Wiley has also seiected and eer Oui Rev. Irwin H. Corrella, Probationer of the Philadelphia Con- ference, as _ a missionary reinforcement for the Methodist Episcopal mission in Foochow, China, | Rev. Dr. Eddy, of the Mission House in this city, has just returned from a missionary tour among the churches of the West. The new mission in Mexico found a lay champion in New Alvany, Ind., who has pledged $5,000 toward the purctiase of church property for that mission. At last the Wesleys are to have @ monument in the world- renowned Miestei nate Shey Rev. Dr. Cummings, of Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., bas seen the model and writes home in its praise. The Methodist Episcopal church in Chemung, N, Y., has been reconstructed at a cost of $1,300, Rev. RL. Stillwell, pastor. Churches have been dedi- cated recently in Philmont, N. Y., in Jounstown, N. Y., in Whitehall, lil, -in York, Pa. (Duke street chapel), in Riverside, Pa.. im Neosho, Mo., on Sun- day last, and in Milton, Ill, same date; in Hurd- J.,and in South Berne Trey Conference, N. Y.; also at Gridley and Prairie Colle; and at Elmsgrove, Ind, he Baltimore Met com- menting on certain radical semi-religious editors in the North for certain notions put forth by them touching laughter in heaven. remarks that if the leaders of modern abolitionism ever do get to heaven it willbe no laughing matter to any one who has to keep company with them. ROMAN CATHOLIC, The basilicas and churches im the city and province of Rome, Italy, yield a revenue of 5,436,536 francs. The aggregate of income from convents, monasteries, churches, &¢., i8 8,217,428 francs. | During the past week several ordinations were held in the chapel of the seminary of St. Sulpice, Baltimore, by the Right Rev. Thomas Becker, D. D., Bishop of Wilmington, Del. The following is a list of those who were ordained priests:—Rev. Oaspard Schmidt, Rey. John T. Delaney, Rev. Bernard A. | Marx, Rev. James Starkey, of the archdiocese of Baitimore; Rev. Michael Forhan, of the diocese of Chicago; Rev. John Baxter, the diocese of Brooklyn, and Rev. Frederic Holland, Rev. Gregory. Leggie, Kev. John McDonal Patrick Gieeson, Rey. Remigius Charter, Rev. Roman J. Verschaffel, of the Society of Jesns. On Ember Saturday, in St. James’ Cathe Brooklyn, Bishop Loughlin promoted to the p | hood the deacons Rey. Francis 8. Gardner of | Rev. Henry Zimmer, Father has been edu- | cated in St. Francis Navi y York, and tie | Seminary, Niagara. Fath ner has studied in Rome. fe is a brother of the late Rev. Dr. | ner, whose premature death deprived the «diocese | of an accomplished and gifted priest. The semt- annual ordination at the Provincial Semi Troy, took place on Friday and Saturda’ | December 20 and 21, Right Rev. Francis | MeNierny, D. D., Coadjntor Bishop of Alb | oOMiciated. The following were ordained pries’ Rev, Cornelius T. Donovan, Rev. Joseph Campvell. | Rev. Daniel J. bal ae Rey. Anthony Malloy, Rev. Joseph J. Powers, Rev. Joseph T. Westerman, Archdiocese of New York; Rev. Patrick Beechan, Rey. Wm. A. Drum, Rey, Charles A. Reilly, Diocese of Albany. Besides, there were ordained deacons, | 18; sub-deacons, 9; promoted to miner orders, 17; promoted to tonsure, 2 Total, 55. The recent death of the Rev, Father Burke's father | in Galway has so affected the famons po- | minican’s heaith that he has been obliged to post- | pone some of his lecturing engagements. Mr. hurke | Was over eighty years o! age at the time of his death, Mgr. Matteo Agostino Mengacct, Bishop of | Civita Castellana, is dead. He was eignty-seven years of age. The coming sixth centenary of the | death of St. Thomas Aquinas will be celebrated at | Bologna with great pomp, as aiso in other cities | of Italy. There have been over 1,112 processions | in Poland this year for the benefit of the Hoiy | Father, ana over 108,000 persons took part in ‘them. The lie of the venerable Archbishop of Uemen of the “red party’’ shot at iim through the | Windows of his palace at Marineo, Sicily. He es. | caped uninjuted. The venerable Archbishop de | Merode, while recently ascending the steps leading to the Villa Watson, Rome, slipped and feli withsuch | Jorce that his right leg and leit band were broken. He is under medical treatment ana expects to be | about his business in @ month or two. Last Sun Cay bishop Groce, (Of Pt Paul, Minn. conferred | in'the game compartmentand will exhibit its varied | | the order of subdeaconship on Alphonsus Kinsle, | Vincentius Seheder and Bernard Locknikor, of the Order of St. Benedict, priesthood to-day. Holy orders will at the same | Ume be conferred on the Rev. Henri Petersen. Mr. Petersen is the only Norwegian priest in the Northwest. He will conduct missions among his eople in the diocese, having been sent out from Norway specially for that purpose. Rev. Henry | J. Roche, late of Richwood, Wis, bas been appointed pastor of Columbus, Wia. is about to be raised by the | Pope to the dignity of an Archiepiscopal See. The Baptists in Omaha appeal | St. Cecilia’s church, Phiiadeiphia, will be dedicated for $16,000 to aid in paying for their new house. i by La Sa Reverend Bishop Wood to-day. The new areh of St. Elizabeth, Philaneiphia, was dedi- cated last Sunday by Bishop Wood. The Rev. John Higgins, one of the junior curates at St. Mary England, has been received | at seven different institutions; and the present | Father Adams, formerly pastor at Ballymena, | Year the sum subscribed is $3,775, all of which | county Antrim, Ireland, has been appointed to a was appropriated to the support of forty-one | curacy by Archbishop McCloskey, iew York. He ; Students im nine different colleges. Northern | was educated at Salamanca, Spain, and is said to Baptist ladies have collected for fore missions, | be a fine linguist. There are now eleven colored | from the ist of April to the ist of November, | seminarians in Rome preparing for tue Mission in America, The Rev, M. J. Phelan, late of Holy In- nocents, but now of St. Peter's, was the recipient last week of @ handsome Christmas present in the shape of a cabinet organ and a set of ongremee teachers of the Holy In- Valker, pastor of | Strasse, A Baptist | Palermo was attempted a few days ago. Two gen- | ‘They will be raised tothe | #lects. A depot will also be secured where the tracts the Sunday schoo! as prefect. PRESBYTERIAN. Calls have been accepted by fev. J. R. Gilland, of a Miss., to Auburn, same State; by Rev. W. W. Downey, of Harper's Ferry, to Hedgesville, W. Va.; by Rev. J. F. Baker, of Jerseyville, Ill, to Hanoi Mo.; by Rev. J, 0, Denniston, of Wash- ingtonville, N. Y., to Kingston, N. Y.; by Rev. Thomas Street, of the North Presbyterian church of this city (Ninth avenue), to the First Presbyterian church of Newburg, N. ¥., ata salary of $3,500 per annum, The death of Rev. A. A. Porter, D. D., of Austin, Texas, on the 6th inst., isannounced. Rev. H. 0, Brown has been released by the Presbyter} Of Menapnta teens the oral charge of the chu: var, Tenn, fine church has been com- leted at Topeka, Kansas, and formally opened for service. vy. Dr. R. L. Stanton, lately of the i has become editor of the Herald and Presbyter, Oincinnatt, The Presbyterian church of Ottawa, Ill, Rev. L. Y. Hays, pastor, 18 in a flour- ishing condition. Its fine house of woraiup, built two years ago at @ cost, with lot, of $20,000, ts found not to be too large. Sixteen persons were added to the communion roll of this church a8 its last quarterly communion. Rev. James B, Shaw, . D., has entered the thirty-third year of his astorate with the Brick Presbyterian church of ‘ochester, N.Y. The new Presbytery of Omaha, organized’ last month, has sixteen minis- ters on 1b embraces all of Ne- braska north of Platte River. Rev. A. T. Rankin has resigned his charge in Longa- coming, Pa. Rev. Tryon Kawards, D. D., of Hagers- town, . has gone to Wilmington, Del., to minis- ter to the Presbyterian church there. Mr. J. R. Ward, of the senior class of Princeton Theological Seminary, has accepted the call of the church at Danaviile, N. Y., at a salary of $1,500a year. Rev, ‘Thomas Aitkin, for over thirty years pastor of the Presbyterian church at Sparta, N. Y., is seriously il, Rev. Dr. 8. B, Bell has terminated his pastorate with the Presbyterian church at Lyons, N, Y. Ina recent revival there ninety joined the church at one communion. A revival in North Broad street church, Philadelphia, Kev. RK. D, Harper in twenty-five on pro- and thirteon by letter, The meet- ings continue. There considerable relig- fous interest at Hunter's Point, -Mectings have been held every evening for three weeks, and quite a number have made themselves Known as anxious inquirers. Also the Baptist church at Flushing, Dr. Middleditch’s, is enjoying tokens of a revival. Rev. E. W. Hitchcock, late of the Fourteenth street church of this city, has been invited to become the settled pastor, instead of the stated supply of the American chapel in Paris. Eleven members weye received into the Olivet Presbyterian church, Indianapolis, on Sunday, 16th inst. Rev. B. f. Words has left his charge in Grindstone city, Michigan, on account of i}l health, Rey. 0. N. Smith has gone to the Indian church on ‘Traverse Bay, Michigan. Rev. A. V. Lewis, of Hills- dale, — to Utica, N. Y. Rev. A. Spencer, of Dansville, N. Y., gees to Byron, Michigan, Rev. G. H. Haulin, a prominent preacher and editor, died at his home in Bloomileld, N. J., on the 21st inst., of paralysis, Rev. John McCoy has resigned the pastorate of the Broadway Presbyterian church, Baltimore. " Rey. G. M. McCampbell was on Thursday evening last installed pastor of the Spring street Presbyterian church in this city, formerly ministered: to by Drs. Paxton, Ludlow, Aitken and others. Mr. McCampbell is a young man, very earnest in all his ministrations, and in the few Sabbaths he has occupied the pulpit the con- regation has doubled. The Presbytery of West virginia has organized a church at Pleasant Flats, in Mason county. A house of worship ts going up. Rey. James Bolton, of New Jersey, has succeeded the late Rev. R. A. Malley in the pastorate of the Presbyterian church in Milford, Del. Rey. J. Baillie Adams, of New Jersey, has been called by the churches of Cold Spring and Georgetown, Del. latter expect to dedicate a meeting house to-day. The Second Presbyterian church of Cincinnati have purchased a $70,000 site and are about to build a magnificent house, Rev. Dr. T. H. Skinner is pas- tor. Rev. Dr. Wood, of Geneva, has been sick with asevere attack of lung fever, from which he is slowly recovering. EPISCOPALIAN. In the Spring of 1871 Rey. Dr. 0. J. Gibson, pas- tor of Grace Episcopal church at Petersburg, Va., gave to each of his 250 Sunday School scholars Six grains of corn and directed them to plant it and send in the proceeds for foreign missions. ‘The corn, on being delivered, was found to amount to about five barrels, worth about twenty dollars. ‘The idea is novel, but really commendable. Rev. Joseph Wood has accepted the rectorship of St. Paul's, Lansing, Mich., and will enter upon his duties on the 1st of January. Rev. Charles Breck, D. D., has accepted the rectorship of St. Paul's, ro, Central Pa. Rev. George W. Knapp has become rector of the Church of the Epiphany, Suspension Bridge, N. Y. Rey. John 1. Gulick and wile have just left this country, to resume their missionary work at Kalgan, China. Mr. Gulick is one of five brothers engaged in the missionary service, Rev. Dr. Elliott, of Clocinnati, has accepted a call to the Church of the Ascension in Washington, to be as- sociate rector with Bishop Pinckney. Bishop Hun- tington, of Central New York, issues an appeal to Episcopalians for increased contributions to the “Society for the Increase of the Ministry.” During the sixteen years of its existence, he says, “the society has helped educate nearly three hundred men, who are now fulfilling their office,” many of hath would never have taken orders but for this elp. MISCELLANEOUS. Three years ago the Church authorities of Prus- sia consented to open Sunday schooly. At the pres- ent time twenty-five churches in Berlin are en- gaged in tifis work and report 8,000 children re- ceiving religious mstruction from these schools. In eyery province efforts are being made to estab- lish them in the large towns and cities, Rev. E. P. Birch, President of the LaGrange Female College, Georgia, has resi “i to enter the ministry. Rev. 6. will take charge of the Mount ‘orgia, on the jirst Monday in were im 1872 1,000 Sunday es ne 60,000 holars, — con- nected with the Reformed Church in the United States, and the total number of Sunday school scholars of the Reformed Church in America was about 82,000. Rev. Charles E. Hart, pastor of the North Reformed church of Newark, N. J., reported an addition of 240 persons to the membership of the church during the six years of his pastorate, of whom 107 have been added on profession of faith. There have been raised for Sea regational purposes during the same period twice as much as the whole amount raised during the previous ten years, The receipts of the Ameri- can Board gerne but $55,362—scatcely one-half of the average ex- penditures— $12,289 below the receipts of the same period last year, and $27,127 below those of the same period the year before. The A aS church at Georgetown, Madison county, N. Y,, has been sold for $850, The house has not been in use for many years, the society being too small to support a minister. The Voted to benevolent objects. Rev. F. F. Wlison, of Cato, N. Y., has received a unanimous call from There January, schools, the Retormed church of Boonton, N.J. Rey. Alfred | iE. Meyers, formerly of Brooklyn, has undertaken to supply statediy the church at Bronxville, West- chester county, for @ period of three months. Rey. F. Pilgram, lately of Columbia, Pa., has accepted a call from the Reformed (German) charge at Green- ville, Pa, Rev. Ed. Lodewick has been installed | a 3 of the Reformed church in St, Johnaville, N. Kev. 0. H. Spoor, who has been pastor of the | Vermontville Congregational church, Mich., for fifteen years, accepts a call to Grand Traverse, same State. Rev. W. B, Bachtell, of Oxtord, has accepted a call to the Congregational church at Stuart, lowa, Rev. Charles H. Allen has accepted the charge of the Congregational society at West- boro, M Rey. J. B. Shoup has received and ac- cepted a call to the Loysville, Pa, Lutheran charge. Kev. J. FE. Reinmund was recently installed as of Zion's Lutheran church, Lebanon, Pa. pasto | Rev. H. Wells, of Colnmbia City, ” has | taken charge of the Lutheran church of | North Manchester, Wabash county, Ind. The | airdsville Lutheran church iv Lycoming | county, Pennsylvania, has been without | regular services one year. Kev. C. B. Whitacre, of | New Britain, Bucks county, Pa., has received and accepted @ call to the Lutheran congregation of Cobleskill, N.Y. The Rev. G. H. Davis writes to the London Record announcing the preparations | made for the promulgation of the Gospel through the pres at the Vienna International Exhibition of 18 An absolute refusal was given to the propo- | sal to erect within the grounds a kiosk such as ex- isted in Paris for the distribution of Gospels or tracts, Aneffort to secure aspot in the avenue leading to the exhibition also fatied, the | whole ground being allotted for cofee- houses, restaurants and amusements, An attempt to obtain vacant shops in the Pratter the wile street Jjeading to the | park, equally failed. No public distribution by paid agents, colporteurs, &c., will be practicabie, ut, though these exceptional efforts for the special season of the exhibition have not succeeded, more has been secured than perhaps could have been | anticipated for Austria proper. The Bibie Society | has secured space within the English compart- | ment of the building for the exhibition of its varied versions of the Holy Scriptures, and will be able to direct all inquirers to its depot in Elizabeth Strasse. The Religious Tract Society has also secured space publications in over one hundred languages and di- Diay be stored and obtained. A Tract Committee has been constituted within the city itself to carry ont the society’s objects, and a number of resident | sadies have been enlisted in the good cause of prudent and prayerful distribution, THIRTY-FOURTH STREET SYNAGOGUE. — The Maccabean Victory Over Antiochus Epiphanes—Its nok: or the Feast of Dedication— Sermon by Rev. Dr. Vidaver. Yesterday Dr. Vidaver, rabbi of the Congregation | B'nai Jesharun, preached a sermon appropriate to | Channka, or the Feast of Dedication, which Israel- ites are now celebrating, This festival began last ‘Tuesday evening. It lasts eight days, and is de- signed to commemorate the victory of the Jews under the Maccabees over the hosts of Antiochus Epiphanes. The latter had desecrated the Temple, sl, and for benevolent objects $35,949, being | the past three months have been: | roceeds of the sale are to be de- | Moral Meaning=Cha- | and had tried to get the Jews to eat food for- bidden by their religion, to ignore , circam- cision, to embrace idolatry and to @eny tho true God. The Jews arose in rebellion gqatust him in battle. ‘They then cleansed the Temple, and having found a litéle vial of sacred oll among the débris they nan pier the lamp, and though the of! was suMciens only one day tradition reports that miraculously it was found to last for seven days. Hence the Jews com- memorate the cleansing and recorded is ge apocryphal, all of equal value the otter books of the Bible. ‘The Doctor next related the facts concerning the la and the finding of the that from these the tival is called Chanuka, or dedication. And thus tsrael commemorates ‘THE TRIUMPH OF THH MACCABERS. over their enemies—the triumph of truth over error, of freedom over moral slavery. We are still clinging, he said, with all our hearts to the faith of our fathers. We are’ not boasting to-day of victories won on fields of battle 2,000 years ago by the Maccabees, thongh their heroism was indeed glorious, The heroism of those 11,000 Greeks at Marathon and those 3,000 at ‘'hermopy- le was indeed glorious; but these are confined special localities and 3, The triumph of the ceabees, on the other is for all men and all times and nations. Therefore the Psalmist says, “Praise the Lord, for pg Ba everlasting.” Dr. Vidaver again referred to history to find the cause of Antiochus’ hatred of and attack upon the Jews. What was it, he asked, that made the heathen rage and the people imagine vain things? As soon as Israel made his appearance on the stage of national life the heathen tried to make him drink the cw of their anger; but, thank Heaven, all their machi- nations were in vain and foolish, and they fatled. Patriotism cannot exist where God isunknown and unhonored, but there des; can prevail and flourish. Jewish faith? It is that GOD 18 ONE, NOT TWO OR THRER; that He is a God of love and mercy, and truth. You can see, then, why the heathen raged against Israel because of their principles. For when they take root in individ or nations, then farewell to sin and superstition, Tradition says that Mount Sinat was so called from Sina—hatred—becanse Israel had hatred of everything tnat was opposed to the law given thereon. As soon as Israel re- ceived the law Amalek arose, but it was against God ana his annointed ; but Israel was saved because he trusted not in oppression. Victory is the Lord's. In the second part of his discourse the Docter asked the question, ‘What were the Maccabees defending?” And, by reference again te the his- torical records, he said they were defending truth bono error. Tradition says that Jacob's wrestle with the supernatural being was on account of a bottle of oil which the patriarch had lett, The Maccabean fight was for a similar object—to pre- serve the oll. The oil is light, and THE LAW IS A LAMP. Preserve the bottle and you shall save the oil also; but break the bottle and the oil wiil be wasted and your hearts, said the Doctor, will be dark. On those days, said the preacher, the Israelites were aping the fashions of the Greeks, just as Israelites do to-day, and the excuse then, as now, was that they wanted to remove all distinctions between themselves and those among whom they lived. What was the result, then ? en they were asked to bow the knee to Baal they readily assented. The Doctor related a tale of persecution and dia- bolism connected with the Maccabeatt prrnggle. and aeante the facts, asillustrative of the héroic spirit of martyrdom which prevailed among women and men. They clung tothe law. And thus the pict of the Maccabees teaches all mankind the giorieus truth that God is opposed to oppression, and bids Israel remember the bottle of oil. That small vial burned not only one day but seven— even for ever and ever. So he preyed that his hearers might keep the sacred oil burning in their hearts every day, and that peace and prosperity might attend them all their days, and aiso all the children of God. tism and superstition hat is the reading of MUSICAL AND THEATRICAL NOTES. The next sensational piece at the Fifth Avenue Theatre is called “‘Alixe.” The charm claimed for it is singular emotional power. Mr. Edwin Booth’s “Richard IIL’? will be the dramatic feature of this week. It is needless to go into any advance encomiums of an actor so well kpown and appreciated in this city. Mr. J. L, Toole, the English comedian, writes to W. J, Florence that he.contempiates a non-profes- sional visit to this country next Summer. He is now playing “Good News" at the Gaiety Theatre, London. The first concert of the Theodore Thomas and Rubinstein combination will be given on Tuesday evening. A programme of great excellence, ren- dered only by such artists as Rubinstein, Wieni- awski and the orchestra, is a rare promise of ex- cellent music. 2 In addition to “A Son of the Soil,"’ which is to be produced at the Union Square Theatre on New Year's evening, Miss Jennie Lee is announced to make her reappearance in a litte comedy, cailed | “Orange Blossoms.’? A pretty actress and a pretty name ought to insure a pretty play. Mr. J. J. Bartlett, a well-known Australian thes- Pian and a former lessee of the Prince of Wales Theatre, Sydney, has just arrived from the Antip- odes, He brings with him “Hazard” and “Mag- dalen,” two pieces by Mr. Walter H. Cooper, who has achieved quite a success in Kangarooland as a playwright. The contrast between the acting of Mr. Sothern and Mr. John Gilbert in ‘Brother Sam” is as en- Joyable as the fun of the Hon. Mr. Slingsby. Each is thoroughly dissimilar to the other, and yet both are excellent to the point of exquisiteness. Uncle “Rummy’s” surprise at Sam’s impudence in light- ing a match on his coat is not more laughable than his attempts at caressing the hypothecated baby. The new English opera company begins in Chi- cago on Monday, January 6. It includes Miss Rose Hersee, Miss Emma Howson, Mrs. Zelda Seguin, Mr, Nordblem, Mr. Gustavus Hall and others. Speaking of this company it may be remarked that Miss Howson ts one of the most conscientious artists in the country. She has sung at the Grand Opera House this season 125 consecutive times, never being suMiciently “indisposed” to miss a | | performance. Mr. Daly has his entire mechanical and scenic force at the Grand Opera House employed on the equestrian drama of ‘The Cataract of the Ganges,” which will be produced when the run of “Round the Clock” abates. The natural spring of water, ‘under the stage will be utilized in this spectacular Piece in the formation of a grand cascade, making & beautiful and wild mountain scene, which, it is promised, will be one of the finest stage effects ever presented in the United States. The spectacle of “Leo and Lotos” at Niblo’s is at least suggestive of the value of stage decoration in light comedy. The objection to it, aside from a thousand other objections, is that it is moved by a vapid magician who is assisted or hindered by a stili more vapid spirit of mischief or fairy Snow- flake, and being utterly without humor exgept in- eongruitics like the gendarme’s song which M. Gabel will introduce into it, there is nothing left but the pictures and the ballet. One cannot strain his eyes all the evening over the glory of tinsel anal! the limbs of some pretty and a multitude of rather uncouth ballet girls. Yet there are in this piece the seeds of a brilliant dramatic harvest. Out of Just such piays as ‘Leo and Letos” will grow the drama of the future—the union of comedy and spectacie, realism and idealism—which can alone | satisfy the theatre-goers of the next generation. The lighter of the standard plays produced at the Union Square Theatre this week were accept- | ably done, and it would have been well if the en- deavor had stopped with them or plays like them. But when a theatrical company wants to show its | strength it attempts the “School for Scandal,” and | whenever an actor thinks himself capable of play- ing anything he is as certain to play Charles Sur- face a8 a child is to get the measles. Because Mr. Lester Wallack can play the part with consummate ability every young fellow is anxious to teach Mr. Wallack his art, or at least to show him that he cannot Nave the fleld all to himself. Two young actors have tried it within a fortnight—Mr. George | Clarke at the Fifth Avenue, and Mr. D. H. Harkins at the Union Square Theatre. Mr. Mlarke’s Charles was not the Charles of Mr. Wallack, but it was an excellent rendering of what may be called the new school of old comedy. The Charles of Mr. Harkins was as cold and hard as Captain De Groot’s Frank- lin in Printing House square, and the frivolity of the young spendthrift was characterized only by ingue laygater aud very ‘loud’ clotugs, | m PERU. 4 Interesting Attitude of Porw and Chile Toward Cuba. Peru and Her Coolie Br: cations with Japan, He may be that the ever faithful ie, Cen, wha receive ssslatance from a quarter whioh some time since was considered more than doubtful. The press ef Pert, both and oppomtion, is busily at work endeavoring to prepare the popula mind toward some possible demonstration om the Part of the government in sid‘of the struggtiag patriots. I say possible, becanse as yet Mr. Parde and his counsellors have made no sign, but thege are certain evidences which prove that the spirit of the government is favorable to such an under- taking. The agitation on this subject was originated ‘tm Chile about two months ago; great meetings were held, speeches deliverea by prominent men and a society formed for the ex- press purpose of succoring the Cubdans tn their efforts for freedom. To such an extent has the feeling in that Republic grown that @ few days since the Minister of Foreign Affairs was called te the bar of the House of Ropresentatives and ques tioned as to the sentiments and intentions oi the government respecting the matter. He very senal- bly replied that the gravity of the subject was sudh as to prevent any public explanations: Peru har now caught the contagion, and the work is cer tainly being pushed forward by tne Lima newapa- pers. Three plans are’ proposed; first, the iden is suggested that a loan might be effoctea in Lima for the benefit of Cuba, the author of the proposition hinting that at the present moment an agent of the Cuban Republit fs in this city, who holds a large amount of the bonda issued by the patriots; through this means a con- siderable sum of money might be raised, ana the extraordinary wealth of Cuba is of itseif’s guarantee for repayment, in case the revolution proves successful, The second project is baseit upon the supposed sympathy entertained by Ohite for the struggling cause, and she urges Peru te propose a South American league for the’ final iitberation of the island, Mexico would also be'in- vited to join the confederation. In case’ the league was formed, the plan of proceedings would be to inform Spain ‘that if within @ certain stipulated period the government at Madrid did not recognize the indepen- dence of Cuba, the South American Powers would combine their forces towards accomplishing that end, and would immediately open an active warfare. Should Spain consent to such an ar- rangement the allied governments would guaran- tee the payment, on the part of Cuba, of the value of the different fortresses, public buildings, ma- terial, &c., belonging to the Spanish government within the confines of the island, The third sug? gestion savoys more of the warlike Peruvian spirit. tis hothing less than that this country should enter the arena single-handed, employ her power- ful and now inactive navy in the effort ta assist the Cubans, with the strong hope that such an energetic example would speedily be imitated by the remaining Republics forming the Pacitie Alliance. Your correspondent does not for one moment attempt to deny the quixotism of the two final ropeniuuass but merely chronicles them as yi have been made public. But at the Jame time this general movement and attempt to induce the Breen tits ehe wi o the endeavor conclu- il SIVOy proves that the design ts popular, and some- thing may yet result from it. lt may be well to mention here that the extreme disinclination man- tiested by Chile and Peru to ratify the convention signed at Washingten by the wep. neers ee ol Spain and the four allies, Peru, livia, Ecuador and Chile, arises from the stipulation contained in that instrument that no resumption of warlare on the part of the high contracting parties or no de- monstration in favor of Cuba shail be made without a prolonged notification. Ever since the bloody days of the campaign which resulted in the. indepen- dence of these Republics the hatre: Spain and Spaniards has rather increased than disappeared, THE COOLIE SYSTEM. Another matter of vital importance to Peru is also being discussed—the question of labor. It would ap- car that the unfortunate difliculty of the coolie ship aria Luz, in the harbor of Yokohama, has brought unforeseen entanglements on the Chinese ti ic. The Governor (or Viceroy) of Nankin has pub- lished an order prohibiting abselutely the depar- ture of any Chinese from the dominions under his rule with the purpose of emigrating to Peru, and the large houses and . companies estab- lished here pogened wa the = trade = ‘re. gard this action 4s the first of @ sévies of obstacles which may prove too formidable to be overcome. The HERALD was informed some time since of the proposed special mission to be ac- credited by Peru to the Courts of Pekin and Jeddo. Captain Garcia y Garcia received the appointment of Plenipotentiary and was to sail with his suite in the 1ron-clad frigate Independencia. The object ot the mission was to endeavor to induce the Chinese authorities’ to open their northern ports for the exportation of coolies, in return for certain prom- ises and guarantees to be made by the government of Peru. An enterprising Congressman, however, attacked the scheme so vigorously that the Inde- ndencia will continue in Peruvian waters, and it doubtful whether the Legation will proceed to its destination; for it was remembered that England, France and the United States forced China to receive their representatives by a wholesome use of powder and Be and Peru would probably receivé Such @ rep' fromh the astute Prince Kung as would lead to grave embarrassmenjs. Consequentiy it appears possible that the Peray! Minister in England will receive instructions to seek the aid of the government of Great Britain, or Colonel Freyre, representing Peru in the United States, may request President Grant to use his good offices towards attaining the desired end, Mr. Pardo feeling somewhat confident that the humai intentions of the Peruvian government for tl amelioration of the condition of the coolles may meet with due appreciation. No steps have as yet been taken in the affair of the Maria Luz, From Bolivia we have received no news of any im- portance, OHRISTMAS AT ST. IGNATIUS’ CHURCH. New York, Dec, 28, 1872. To THE Epiror or THE HERALD:— In the report of Christmas services at St. Ignatius’ church, contained in your issue of tae 26th inst., it is stated that “at the close of the sermon the Lord’s Supper was administered te about a score of women, but no man partook thereof, save the priests,’ the inference designed | to be conveyed being obviously that on one of the highest festivals of the Church the parish could not ter up a single male commaunicant. Now the fact is simply that it is never the prac- tice of members of the parish (except in cases of edie necessity) to communicate at the late cel- ebration. Had your reporter been present at the midnight service, or at haif-past seven A, M., he would have seen no lack of either male or female communicants; indeed, at the former service the number was so large that, though there was no sermon, it was not concluded before two A. M. | Of the few who communicated at the half-past ten A. M. service, when your reporter was present, it is probable that the greater part were strangers, the members of the parish having almost all been present at one of the earlier services, L. | SAD SHOOTING AFFAIR IN FIFTH AVENUE. The Victim the Son of a Bank President. Coroner Young was yesterday called to the man- sion of Mr. Jacob Campbell, President of the | Pacific Bank, No. 656 Fifth avenue, to hold an in- | quest over the remains of Frederick A. Campbell, twenty-seven years of age and born in New York, who had shot himself the day previous under cir- | cumstances which induced the belief that he had committed suicide. Deceased, who was employed as bookkeeper in tne anking house of | Messrs, Vermilye & Co,, Nassau street, it appears from the testimony of his father, had been rtd ing an immense mount of mental labor, and trequent fainting attacks were the result. He may have been low-spirited, but if so his wife and other relatives seemed not to have observed it, Deceasea was in jus foom on ie forenoon, and hie brother-in-law, Charies H. Meigs, noticed that he {| looked pale and seemed depressed in spirits, and | at the same time young Campbell said, “I feel like | the deuce.” Campbell, being iaakod uP stairs, said | he would do so when-he changed his clothes; soon after which, the report of a pistol being heard in deceased's room, an examination was had, and resulted in finding him lying on the bed bleeding frem @ wound in the chest, in the region of the heart, and a pistol lying beside him, Deate ensued in a few moments alterwards, In the absence of any motive for selt-destruc- tion, it is believed by the relatives of the deceased that, while loading the pistol, it accidentaty ex- ploded in his own ‘hands, and he was shot as stated. Deceased was happy in bis domestic rela- tions, and seemed to have no pecuniary or other difficulties. The jury in their verdict found that the shooting was accidental. Mr. Campbell bas left a widow gud two iatecosting children,