The New York Herald Newspaper, July 1, 1873, Page 4

——e— FREEMASONRY IN JERUSALEM ———— i Establishment of a Lodge in the Ancient City “Cotton Megara,” or Royal Quarry, the Meeting Place of the Fraternity. / —_—+—_——— ‘ The Crypt of “Silence, Se~ crecy and Darkness. ome ASONRY IN EGYPT. semaine INFLUENCE OF i Warrant for Org iwizing the Royal Solo- mon Lodge, No. 293—The First ~--*" Bot of tho New Lodge. bs ae ( “FROM THE WEST TO THE BAST.” The Ancient (raft in Favor with Sultan Abdui Aziz A Royal and Imperial Group o° Patrons of Masonry, | Charitable Es '‘ablishments in the East Under the Auspices of the Mystic Craft. The attempt to organize a Masonic lodge in the ‘clty of Jerusalem, under American auspices, which has been long on foot, has at length succeeded, Advices were received a few days ago from Mr. John Sheville who was sent out last Spring for that purpose, that “on Wednesday, May 7, he or- ganized the Koyal Solomon Mother Lodge, No. 293, ‘In due and ancient form, in the Great Mark Masters ‘Quarry, under the city of Jerusalem, and initiated a jeandidate.”’ As a preiace to this remarkable incident, which forms an era in Masonic history, we give an accu- 2ate ground plan of the Cotton Megara (or Royal quarry), with which travellers to Jerusalem are camiliar, The very existence of this vast cavern uatder the city had been forgotten. No recofds of cvusading times give any account of it, although the «scovery of Christian crosses on the walls shows visits of travellers at least since the era of Christ. Some Arab ¢hronicles of the ninth or tenth cen- tury hint at{the fact that “very extensive caves un- ‘lerlie the ly City ;?? but these may reter to other aoe €xcagations known to exist under various erts of Jegmsalem. Upen the whole, itds the set- ied Opiniog that no knowledge of oi THE GREAT QUARRY hater“ titan the first or second century of the Christian cra exists, and it was reserved_for an American inissionary, Dr. J.T. Barclay, to bring ‘the fact to light. Some twenty years since, pass- along outside the north wall of Jerusalem, his dog, in pursuit of a rat, scratched an open- img Under the wall and disappeared from the eyes of his master, This led to an enlargement of the opening and the most remarkable discovery that this most wonderful of cities has ever yielded. 18 was found that under the northeast quarter of Jerusalem is an abandoned quarry of such vast ex- tent as to answer most satisfactorily the query _ ‘sbat Mas tong’ puzzled antiquaries—“Where did . Solomon’s butiavc.z~gcure the native stone for the “walls and substructure :f me Temple?” To enter this 4 WEIRD AND MYSTERIOUS CRYPT , tt ts necessary to pass outside the city at the _ Borth or Damascus gate and turn to the right. ‘The city wali here is about fitty tect high and of . @orresponding thickness. It was erected, as an Arabic inscription shows, in the year Hegira 43, equivalent to <A, D. . 1542, by order of the Sultan Suleyman, In constructing this wali all sorts ef massive materials were used—granite umns, marble a » Dlocks huge bevelied “ashlars,” that had done similar im moral structuies ever since the days.or \mon. Ther. - into the great quarry has been en- Uarged with spade and chisel, so that it is an easy matter now to visit the place. The point of en- trance will readily be recognized in the engraving. Lighting candies to dissipate the midnight dark- ness you pass first in an easterly direction 113 feet, The way is over great mounds of rubbish, partly artificial, as the marks of chisels show; partly made up 0! pieces that have falien from the ceiling. | ‘Then the way turns, at nearly a right angie to the | @outh, 400 feet. The marks of chisel and hammer become now mor4yand more evident. LC$KS OF SQUARED STONE, in every staZt of preparation, from the rough to she perfect, encumber the pathway. Piles of clip- sings are heaped up everywhere. Upon the sides -of the quarry deep, narrow grooves are seen, cut lengthwise and perpendicular, marking out the -@imensions of proposed blocks, and showing the -encient method of detaching the stones from their “pative bed. The marble is of a soft, friavle nature, -oalled in the native tongue melekeh (a piece of . has been sent to this office). Occasionally » arder vein of stone occurs, but of the same chemi- ory jon, and this the natives call tion, jative Turnil oie to the left, we the distance of 196 feet to where via ~ THE MYSTIC TIE. | | honorary lite members of No. 293, with correspond. | | from the East and moved to the West” is an ad- / ih i pal GREAT CAVERN ri C. W. Nash, George D. Norris, A. T. Metoalf, Alexander A. Stevenson, Chauncey M, Hatch, Martin H. Rico, John W. Rison, A. ecier, John Scott, Albert G. Mackey, John H. Brown and DeWitt ©.’ Cregier, do hereby constitute the said brethren into a Lodge 1d Accepted Masons, under the title or tion of The Royal Solomon Mother Lodge, the said lodge to meet at the city of Jerusalem, nt places in Palestine, on the first Wednesday of every mouth; empowering them, in the said lodge, when duly congregated, to make, pass ‘and raise Free Masons according to the ancient custom of the craft in all ages and nations, throughout the known world. And further, at their said petition, and of the great trust and confi: dence reposed in every of the above-named brethren, we do hereby appoint the said Robert Morris to be the first Worshipful Master, the said John Sheville to be the first Senior Warden and the said Kolla Floyd to be. the first Junior Warden, for opening and bolding the said lodge, and until such time as another Master shall be regularly elected and installed; strictly charging that every mem- ber who shall be elected to preside over the said lodge, and who must previously have duly served as Warden in a warranted lodge, shall Installed in encient form and according to the laws of the Grand Lodge, thathe may thereby be fully invested with the dignicies and powers ot his office.“ And we do require you, the said Robert Morris, to take special care that all and every the said brethren are or have been regularly made Masons, and that you and they and all other the members of the said | ige do observe, perform and keep the laws, rules and orders contained in the Book of Constitutions, and all others which may from time to time be made’ by our Grand Lodge, or transmitted by us or our successors, Grand Masters, or by our Deputy Grand Master for the time being. And we do enjoin you to make such bylaws for the government of your lodge as shall to the majority of the members appear proper and necessary, the same not being contrary to or inconsistent with the general laws and regulations of the craft, a copy whereot you are to transmit to us. And we ‘do require you to cause all such bylaws and regulations, and also an account of the ‘proceedings in your lodge, to be entered in a book to be Kept ior that pur- pose.’ And you are in no wise to omit to send to us or our successors, Grand Masters, or to our Deputy Grand Mas- ter for the time being, in form and manner directed by the Book of Constitutions, at least once in every year, @ list of the members of your fodge, and the names and descriptions of ail Masons initiated therein and brethren who shall have joined the same, with the fees and moneys payable thereon, it being our will and intention that this our warrant of constitution shail continue in force so long only as you shall conform to the laws and Fegulations of our rand Lodge. And you, the said Robert Morris, are further required, as soon as conyen- iently may be, to send us an account'in writing of what shall be done by virtue of these presents, Given under our hands and the seal of the Grand Lodge at Hamilton, this 17th February. A. L. 5873, A. D. 1873. By command of the M. W. Grand Master, THOMAS WHITE, Jr., D. G. M. Thomas B. Harnis, Grand Secretary. Under this authority the Rev. Mr. John Sheville left New York April 8; conferred with a Masonic company at Catro, Egypt, May 2; arrived at Jeru- salem May 6; finally, on tho 7th of May, the day named 1n the warrant, organized the lodge. e Collecting together twelve of the resident and visiting Masons of Jerusalem, including tour of those specified in the warrant, Mr. Sheville entered th@ vast and gloomy vault at two P, M,, and pro- ceeded with guides and lighted torehes to ‘the Chamber of the Brotherly Covenant’ already named, where the Masonic emblems, e1 ved by Dr. Morris in 1868, remain to designate the place. Upon a square pillar which marks the centre of the chamber the essential objects constituting THE “GREAT LIGHTS’ OF MASONRY were displayed in traditional order. A proper arrangement of officers and members: followed, and the well-known forms of organizin the lodge and aedicating the work tothe royal patron, King Solomon, were proceeded with. On the same evening @ resident of Jerusalem, a gen- tleman of distinction, Was initiated., THE FIRST ACT OF THE NEW LODGE, atter the Grati larshal had pronounced the or- ‘anization perfected, was to declare that “all {aster Masons who are membersoi the American | Holy Land Exploration are hereby recognized as | ing rank.” The number of these is some two thousand. Before leaving the subject of the great quarry, pictured at the head of this article, 1t has been demonstrated by instruments that the floor of this cavern is higher than the surface of the temple site, a quarter of a mile south, and as the great stones still remaining in the WALLS AROUND MOUNT MORI unquestionably had weir origin in t' quarry, much light is thrown by this fact upon the manner of moving them. The operatives had only to con- struct ap inclined plane and roll those blocks, twenty, thirty and forty feetin length, down to their places, Our readers, who know that the Masonic Order 1n the United States and Canada are reckoned ata half million members, in 9,000 lodges, will not won- Ger at the interest taken in this movement by the American craft at large. That the Order “sprun, mitted Masonic fact in Masonic history, and as the membership of the world is less than @ million, the American branch repre sents more than balf the entire body. Tat there is a general uniformity in Masonic ceremonies and “gecrets the world over was fully established by Dr. Morris’ researches of 1868, and confirmed by the observations of Mr. Seward, two years aiter. But the Americans have taken bold of Freemasonry in | @ broader sense than other people. It has entered nore ly into the business and domestic rela- tyons of the people. Sixteen periodi are de- Bs to the instruction of its members. This very | jth, when the remains of the American Ambas- sador to Russia, Governor James Lawrence Orr, | veached New York, the Guard of Honor, at tus own | request, consisted mainly of l'reemasons, ROCK, Gve ieet in difmeter and half as deep, was made to collect wat r tor the workmen of ‘ ” The water at preseht is bitter and disagreeable to the / taste. Near this fountain is a deep circular pit, in which lies a bhumaa skeleton, jfebably of one of \those early Christian devotees who used the quar- nag J ton’ the same purpose as t TH® CAvACOMBS OF ROME, ‘viz., a8 places Of concealment during the persecu tions of the first four centuries of our era. A little farther to the’ south there is an apart- ment eighteen icet ed tae? which irom its reguiar form seems desig for @ particular purpose. Great numbers o! bats cling to the roo/, which is forty feet high, Bones of various kinds, brought Wo prebabiy by jackals, prove that there were ouce sypy’> “hings to the cavern, Numerous. ~~ ~ BS ARE TRACED UPON." ebrew inscription put not sumctently ryder nud. ft was in this apartment, among Free Masons a3 ~ THE BROTHERLY COVENANT,” omon sorey Lodge, 293, of auly organired, May 7. Pe bier will 4 have forgot- , renowned spot by Morris, the t, in 1868, Collecting together A SMALL & 3 CHISELLED IN THE Hi. | already been returned, to the piace from whence In the beginuing of June a convention of more | than two thousand Masons, representing 700 | lodges, met in this city to consult upon | matters of interest to the fraternity, At this mo- | ment there is a Convention Metts, in New York of delegates from every State and Territory in the Union Caen ig Be Rituals of the Royal and Select Masters’ Degrees of Masonry. Under this view of the condition of the worldwide institution | in America it was thotght eminently fitting that the first lodge im the Holy Land should go “PROM THE WEST TO THR EAST,’ and so the light and knowledge of thirty centuries should be returned, as Christianity and science had it fons pageonant oe 0 the. Past Grind Master 5, arr tah Pees sETION oF pity Pie, THE INCE! " and to the liverality of some two thousand of the Masonic fraternity, under his earnest ap- peais lor five years, its successiul accomplishment. The iouwit ON OF SOCIETY IN THE TURKISH EMPIRE, sosial and civil, is extremely encouraging just now to the establishment of Masonic lodges there, and itis proposed during the coming year to organize them in suMfcient numbers at Joppa, Acre, Naza- reth and Nablous to justify the iormation of the ntcrat. as were to be found in time, inciuding Captain Warren, éxplorer, the venerable Prussian ermann, and others, he entered this ble chamber and periormed there oes of Masonry so long disused. In SECRESY AND DARKNESS,” Ovherly interchange was made, which has erpetuated in every language under heaven, ‘nd ‘there our American brother repeated his own ses, which every Mason has acquired by “We meet upon the level and we part mm the square.’ Fines i808, most zealous and un have been pursued by Dr. Morris and bis associates to secure the organization of a regular lodge in Jerusalom. The dimiculties, almost insurmount- Able, were reterable to the sparsity of the crait in the East, their numerous languages, their inex- perience in Masonic work, the want of suitable chambers ior lodge rooms, &c., and most of all the tact that there is NO GRAND LODGE OF MASONS IN THE TURKISH DOMINIONS. Several efforts to organize this lodge at Jeru- galem iailed—one from the death of Hon. John P. Brown at Constantinople, and one from uhe deg- radation and death of the Pacha General at Syria, Mohammed Reschid, Beyrout, Syria, 150 miles in the north, =. sENCB, remitting efforts Palestine. ‘At last all the named difficulties were overcome, and the following warrant was issued by the Grand Lodge of Canada :— Wistsam M. Wr1s0%, ht Worsht We, Will i “in the Province of Ontario, Deo Greod Master of the Most Ancient and ‘Sow vx—That we, by the anthorit t Om eet the humble beloved brethren, Floyd, Macoy, James Zs The nearest lodges were at and Port Egypt, 200 miles to the southwest; but within the setae? of man there has been no lodge in Grand Master—To all and every our Honorable Fra: tee and Accepted Masons o! Canada, send and under the ia, vested im us for of our, right hobert ari ae Beardsley, Charios Ne ot Macoy. Jai |. Howry* Pk ee Grand Lodge ot Palestine. it is known that THR ANCIENT CRAFT 18 FAVORED BY THE SULTAN, ABDUL AZIZ, and that a good Roe ta of the Pachas and high Officials are members of the crait. The celebrated Fuad Pacha, long Grand Visier of Turkey, was & ' warm advocate of Masonry, and at his death was Deputy Grand Master of Turkey under the Eng! mn constitutions. The Sultan, some si commanded one of his favorite secretari to “join the Masons and tell him who they are and what they do.” THe did so, and reported so favorably of ‘the high character of the members, the innocence and propriety of their secrets, their devotion to gooa order and de- corum, their abhorrence of plots and conspiracies against the civil powers,” &c., &c., that the imperial inquirer let it be known from that time forward that he was ‘favorable to the Sons of King Solo- mon (Melek Suleymarn) and their work.” This adds his name to A ROYAL AND IMPERIAL “GROUP OF PATRONS OF MASONRY, which is worthy of record. William, Bmperor of Germany, is a Freemason of forty years’ standing; also his son, the Heir Appa- rent of the Empire. The father of Victoria, Queen of Great Britain, was a Freemason, aiso three of her soas, and herself, by royal consent, Patron of the Order, Victor Emmanuel, King of Italy, is a Mason, as is also hs son Amadeus, the late King of Spain. To them might be added the Kings of Holl and and Sweden and a host of princes and the nobility of europe. Bae want of asociety like Freemasonry is more keenly felt in the Turkish Empire, and particularly in Palestine, than in any other btgeny 4 in the world, So numerous are the religions, so keen the religions hatreds and feuds that quarrels, such as those reported at Bethlehem @ few weeks since, illustrate the normal condition of the country. Mo- hammedan, Christian and Jew have no common ground of union there except on { GROUND PLAN OF THE COTTON MEGARA OR ROYAL QUARRY. Weal i nil Amy alll Ha i ep ris’ masonic researches there. He found in Smyrna seven lodges, no two of which employ the same language in their rituals, and whose members rep- resent all the religions of the Levant, yet meeting and associating in a harmony which is a standing marvel to those who are familiar with the jarrings and contentions so. common in that city, So at Damascus and elsewhere, in the private convoca- tions of Free Masons to hear the masonic lectures of Dr. Morris, the Consuls of France, Italy, Eng- land, Germany, Persia, the. United Btates, &C., Joined hands with Pashas, Sheikhs, Beys, Cadis, Kar- niakams, Armenians, Protestants, Greeks and Jews in the one work of giving and receiving pleasure. It is belleved by the most thoughtful men. who have resided or travelled in the East that the MASONIC WORK MUST PRECEDE THE WORK OF THE : MISSIONARY ifany large success is to be anticipated. The latter cannot approach the Mahommedan without some social medium other than his religious mes- sage. This was exemplified in the case of Rev. Pliny Fisk, the first American missionary to the Holy Land. Preparing himself for what was to be his li'e-work, this earnest man became a Free Mason before leaving our shores, and s0, when he entered Jerusalem, April, 1823, a tie was already estabiished between him and the rulers of the people there. But for his early and lamented death, October 23, 1825, the American Mission, whose labors have certainly been extremely suc- cessiul, might have been a generation in advance of what it is through the additional influence of a fraternity whose covenants,are equally binding upon the Mahommedan, Christian and Jew. Nor must the necesalty of increasing the chari- ties of the world in behalf of the people of the East be lostsight of. Their normal condition is extreme poverty. The Masonic lodges are nominally de- voted to charity, In the first Christian upbuilding of Jerusalem, in Constantine's day, CHARITABLE ESTABLISHMENTS OF THE MOST EXTEN- SIVE CHARACTER— one, for instance, a hospital of four hundred beds— were founded. The institution of the Order of St. John was strictly a charitable one, as their name (Knights Hospitallers) proves. At the present day every sect has its charitable establishments within the Wwalis of Jerusalem. The Prussian Knights of St. John have a hospice and female seminary there, supported exclusively by alms. ‘The Jewish Hospital is ‘well known. The English Episcopalians have a charitable estab- lishment, as also the Latins, Greeks, Armenians, &c. Now it will follow & necessary outcrop ot the establishment of a Masonic lodge at Jerusa- lem that a Masonic hospital and caravansery will be founded, Already search is’being made for a building lot. A year ago a plan-was set on foot to raise the funds Jor an editice of three stories—the first two to be given to the shelter and rellef of “distressed, worthy brethren,"’ the third for Masonic chambers and the periormaace of the mystic rites in all des. Such an edifice will @ nucleus of lasonic interest to the world-wide fraternity. Serving both us the centre of Masonic charity, the pl of Masonic resort, the asylum for weary ana homesick craftsmen, a ciate gale of all the faces that have ever “looked to e Fast for light,” # seut of arbitration on all vexed .qucstions among brethren, and the work- in which good materials from the bands of the Common Father, men of all languages, nationalities and forms of rellj ous ‘elth, shal prepared un- der the mystic gavel for greater uselulness on earth, a higher appreciation of duty toGod an man and a clearer perception of those reveale truths concerning the immortality of the soul and the resurrection of the body which have always been preserved in and made a »art of the Masonic traditions, Such an edifice wil be a Pharos to the Craft wherever dispersed, and a convincing reply to, the query, often propounded, “What are the Free Masons doing to justify their claims to the world’s respect ?”” LITERARY CHIT-CHAT. Tue Saturday Review has a satirical and severe notice of Dr. Wallace Wood's book, ‘Chronos; or, Mother Earth’s Biography.” It says:—‘‘We have seen in our time a great many silly histories, but we have never seen even @ book for cramming which could have supplied Dr, Wood with all the ignorance of which he can boast.’? AMONG other forthcoming books in London is one by Mr. S. 0. Hall, to be entitled “The Stately Homes of England.’ Mr. Newby promises “The Great Condé and the Period of the Fronde,” by Mr. W. Fitzpatrick. Mr. E. A. Bonn, of the manuscript department of the British Museum, urges the formation of a s0- ciety devoted to paleograpby. To determine the age and country of an undated ancient manu- script is often a dificult task, for which the au- thorities are few and widely scattered. A multi- tude of fac-simtles are dispensable as a basis of | }3% comparison, and Mr. Bond's plan inc'udes the re- produgtion by photography of specimens of manu- scripts of all ages and languages. PREVIOUSLY to publishing his ‘Essay on Liberty | Mr. Mill said it would probably gtve the death-biow to any popularity he possessed. But the book added to his influence witt, the public instead of diminishing it. H. B. TRISTRAM’S bOok on ‘The Land of Moab” gives a vivid picture of the modern condition of this part of Paiestine and its people. Mk. CLEMeNTS MARKHAM is about to publish a work on %ne subject of Arctic exploration, entitled “The"/nreshold of the Unknown Region,” in which he will relate the events connected with all the principal voyages which have touched the boun- dary of the region as yet unexplored around the North Pole. He will also discuss the best route by which the unvisited area may be examined, and describe the important scientific results \o be de- rived from Arctic exploration. AN international congress of Orientalists (mean- ing thereby European scholars) will meetat Paris on the 22d of July. Four days of its sessiom will be | occupied with questions relating to Japan, its language, literature, institutions, indasry and relations to foreign countries. AT A MEETING of the Philological Societ}in Uni- versity College Prince Lucten Bonaparte <elivered a lecture on the Basque dialects, which,he said, were spoken in seven provinces, three ii France and four in Spain, the population being 80.000, PROFESSOR MASSON has completed the tird vol- ume of his magnum opus, “The Life of Milton.” Big though these volumes are, the third bings us down only to 1649, and deals with only six years of the poet's career. FATAL OAR OASUALTY. On Sunday afternoon Peter Trade, aGerman shoemaker, sixty years of age, died in ‘ellevue Hospital. About ten days ago Mr. Trade,vhile in Broadway, near Thirty-sixth street, stumted over apile of stones and fell, with his rightarm on the track, between the wheels of a Boadway | car, Before the driver could stop the hint wheel | passed over his arm, crushing it terrily. De- | ceased, who lived in Second street, had :o rela- tives in this country, he being @ singe man. Coroner Herrman will hold an inquest. PATAL SOAFFOLD OASUALTY Timothy Cuthbert, by trade @ plasterer, hile at work on a scaffold in Front street, nar Wail street, missed his footing and fell to he floor below, thus receiving injaries which reaited in death some hours subsequently, at the Prk Hos- pital, to which he had beer conveyed impdtately THE METHODIST PREACHERS. Religion in the Metropolis—Two Sides of the Great Question—Figures that Don’t Lie and Figures that Do—What the Statistics Show—Summer Adjourn- ment. The Methodist preachers met yesterday for the last time this season as an association and adjourned over until the first Monday in September next. During the vacation the brethren will spread them- selves around the country, visiting the camp meet- ings and seaside resorts and snatching a breath of sea or mountain air wherever they can. Some of them will no doubt be greatly relieved in mind by the closing discession on the relative condition of Methodism which took place yesterday. Others may not feel so comfertable under the facts stated. But ff, on their reassembling again in the Fall, any- thing shall be done to vitalize their church ma- chinery and remove the reproach which now to some extent seems to rest on the denomination here, the discussion will not have been in vain. Rey. Mr. MCALISTER opened the debate, taking a very favorable view of the CONDITION OF METHODISM IN NEW YORK and Brooklyn. He called attention to the absolute decline or annihilation of Episcopal, Presbyterian and other churches in the neighborhood of sands and York streets, and other Methodist churches in Brooklyn, while the latter yet remained vigorous and active, The same thing he showed was true also of New York, and he maintained that Method, ism in both cities had not given up a single point which it held twenty-five years ago. He fergot, however, one point at which he himself ministered some years ago, avenue B and Ninth street, which has been given up. But other denominations during this period had declined, as he demon- strated. He did not think, theretore, that the de- cline of Methodism was much of a fact; and he be- lieved that in the spirituality of its preachers and the number and piety of its members it would compare favorably with other denominations, Rey. JOHN PARKER relerred to the weeding out process which takes place in every Methodist church gt least once in three years, by which none but actual live members are retained on the church books, This 18 not the case with the de- nominations, Aman may retain his membership in @ Presbyterian or Episcopal church and not jovnear them three times ina year; but Methodists ve in their class meetings weekly tests of THE RELIGIOUS LIFE OF THE MEMBERSHIP of the Church. He believed that one-third of the membership of other churches, if in the Methodist Episeopal Church, would be weeded out once in three years; so that if Methodist processes were Carried on iu Uther churches Methodism would be found to_be increasing rather than declining reia- tively. He believed it 1s increasing gloriously. The downtown churches, he admitted, are sources of weakness, It with ‘them ®@ question whether they can exist from ear to year, If two weak churches could united to form one strong Church it would be a good thing for them all. Methodists should tmitate the Presbyterians in this particular, They should also increase their mission churches. The strongest class of church members have the downtown churches, thereby increasing the burdens of those who remain. There are men enough in St. Paul’s church he believed to man every downtown church, and he would say, “Give us bick our children and let them stay where God designed them to stay and labor for the salvation of their fellow men.” He was glad, he said, that the Greene street and Duane churches had agreed to come together, to sell their property and to bui.d a good church in a central location. STATISTICS OF METHODISM IN NEW YORK. Rey. C. C. Goss read some interesting statistics concerning the progress of Methodism in this city from the time it began its work here in 1766 down to 1870, and contrasted its condition with that of other denominatious and its ratio of increase to popuiation. In 1768 the first Methodist Episcopal chureh in America was built in John street, on the site of the church which now stands there at No. 44, The population of the city in that year was 15,000. In 1790 the Forsyth street church was built, and in 1800 what is now known as the Seventh street church was erected. From that time onward Methodism grew apace. But its golden period was from 1835 to 1860, Its relation tu the population between 1768 and 1870 i+ as tollows according to the statistics of church buildings :— Ratio of pop.” Pop. of city. No. churches. "to church, "hs O00 i 1 18,000 60,000, 3 20,000, 1800 i is00 5,000 x 0 Po 000 371,00 26 14,000 629,000, 0 15,000 813,000 wo “zu, vO 905,000 3 23,000 12,400 3 OU has declined during the last decade to a very ap- preciable extent. Mr. Goss suggested that the wealthy Methodists of the city would be honoring themselves and Methodism if tkay should erect her 100 churches in the centenary of Embury and let the church edifices bear this founder's name. The STATISTICS OF OTHER DENOMINATIONS set off the Methodist decline in a stronger light. ‘They are as iollow liane —Preabyterians —Roman Catholic Fear. Churches. Year. Churches, Year. Churches 1795 3 ite 1, a5 4 1806 6 1805 1350 ty 1825 ib 1325, cy 1860 32 1835, 2B 1835, B32 1870 so 145 » 1340 B 1855 w 18465 33 1360 67 1865 bo 1865 ol 1865 55 1370 70 1870 582 The Roman Catholics offer no statistics here pre- vious to 1825. The Baptists had im 1870 thirty-eight churches or one to every 24,000 of the inhabitants. The Method- ists and Roman Catholics have about the same pro- portion, while the Presbyterians have one for every 18,000, and the Episcepalians one for every 13,000. The Methodists have not tuerefore kept pace with either of their aristocratic neighbors of the Prot- estant Episcopal or Presbyterian churches or their democratic Roman Catholic neighbor, He had faith, however, in the machinery of Methodism and did not think it was wise for Methodists to take up that of any other church. He would have the pre- siding elders organize societies as far as possible 1n private and tenement houses on both sides of the city as the tathers did and let them be manned by local preachers or laymen until the places became to strait for them. Then he would have the City Church Extension Society provide larger and better places for the societies. After an address on the Indians and an invita- tion given to attend the meeting in Cooper Insti- tute the association adjourned over the Summer. THE HAVERSTRAW HOMIOIDE. ‘one Witness Bailed—Another Incarcer- ated. In the case of Frank Haverstraw, the barber who was killed by rowdies at O'Reilly's groggery, corner of First avenue and Sixteenth street, a few evenings since, Coroner Kessler yesterday ad- mitted to bali in $1,000 Andrew Diehl, one of the principal witnesses to the occurrence. Diehl at first frankly stated that he saw Haverstraw beaten, but subsequentiy, becoming alarmed, made contradictory statements. hile this important witness is enjoying his liberty, John Larkin, a respectable and industrious oung man, who was quietly taking supper at jome With his father at the time Haverstraw was beaten, is incarcerated in the Tombs, he having been arrested on suspicion, a8 a witness. The Coroner has three aMdavite more by truthful per- sons showing the entire innocence oi John Larkin, by proving an alivi; yet bail, which was offered in a large amount, has been persistently refused, Mr, Larkin, father of the prisoner, an educated and highly respectable ntleman, pledged hie honor that his son should be forthcoming when after the occurrence. Deceased lived #28 Com- merce street, Coroner Kessie: will hol an in THE CHECKERED PAVEMENT OF THE LODOR, This 1s proved by the facts collected in Dr. Mor- auest wanted; but the Coroner was inexorable, and jer- sisted tn hol to the witness, who in reality knows no! Of the matter Qt issucy NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, JULY 1, I873—TRIPLE SHEET, | THE COURTS. ‘The case of Carl Vogt, a Prussian sabject, whe is charged with having, at Brussels, Belgium, mur- dered the Count de Bois de Bianco, was up yester- day in the United States Circuit Court, before Judge Blatchford, on writs of habeas corpus and certiorari, for the purpose of reviewing the proceedings had upon the preliminary examination beiore Commis- sioner Kenneth G. White. After hearing the argu- ments of counsel Judge Blatchford rendered a brief decision sustaining the rulings of Commissioner White and dismissing both writs. The defendant, Vogt, will be immediately sent to Germany under the President’s mandate of extradition. ‘Yesterday, in the United States Circuit Court, Judge Benedict rendered a decision postponing the trial of F. L. Taintor, the alleged defaulting cashier of the Atlantic Bank, until October next in consequence of the absence of Mr. Ray- nor, an important witness for the defence. The Judge is anxious to ascertain from the lips of Mr. Raynor, one of the directors, whether Tamtor spéculated with the money of the bank with the knowledge and consent of some of the officers and stockholders of that establishment, This is one of the facts alleged jn the aMdavits upon which the motion for the postponement of the trial wag granted by the Judge. The District Attorney states that a new indict- ment, under the law of 1873, applying to papers, has been found against Woodhull, Claflin and Blood for forwarding through the mails Woodhull @ Claftin's Weekly, containing extracts from Train's Legue, which, the government allege, are immoral and obscene, Wut that the accused will net be arrested on this charge until nol. pros. has beem entered on the old indictments and the de- fendaits' bail on the same has been discharged. The pulfication complained of now is in a later issue of Woodhull @ Clajtin's Weekly than that in which appeared the article headed, ‘“‘The Beecher- Tilton Scandal” Ernest Seaman, who had been charged, a few days ago, before Commissioner Shields, with having assaulted Thomas Murphy, a satlor on board an American ship, with a hickory stick, was discbarged yesterday, the evidence failing to sus- tain the prosecution. Yesterday Daniel A. Southerton, who had been accused, beiore Commissioner Shields, with having committed perjury in swearing that he was twenty-two years of age, for the purpose of en- abling him to enlist in the army, waived an exam- ination and was committed to await the action of the Grand Jury; and the case of the father of the defendant, who is charged with resisting a deputy marshal in the execution of his duty while the latter was attempting to arrest young Southerton on the accusation above specified, was put over till September, UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COURT. Judge Benedict sat yesterday in the United States Circuit Court, and proceeded with the dis- charge of criminal business, The Atlantic National Bank—The Trial of Taintor Postponed till October. Judge Benedict, in deciding upon the motion for the postponement of the trial of Taintor till October next, said :—I wish to dispose of this case a8 800n as possible, and in postponing it till October Idoso for the tollowing reasons:—Although the District Attorney has admitted that Mr. Kaynor, the absent witness, would testify to the fact that the deiendant used the money of the bank in Speculation, with the knowledge and consent of several of the officers and stockholders of the bank, that is not an admission of the fact that he did.so speculate with the funds of the bank. If the District, Attorney had admitted that to be the fact the motion for the postponement of the case would assume a different complexion. Taintor’s defence is that he speculated with the tunds of the bank openly, and with the sanction and knowledge of those in whose power it was to stop such speculation. It is asserted in the aMdavits upon which this motion is founded that such @ state of facts would be made plain from the evidence of Mr. Raynor. lam, therejore, bound to say that Mr, Taintor is entitled to the benetit of this evidence. Mr. Raynor is one of the directors of the bank, und tnis, in my opinion, is another rea- son why the case should be put over until we can secure his attendance. The public, 1 think, are bound to have it from his lips, whether the directors and otler uMcers Of tue bank pormitted Taintor to culate with money placed there by depositors. t Mr. Raynor merely, but every oficer of the bank, should be put on the stand and closely ex- amined in reterence to the manner in which it ts claimed the business of this bank was transacted. ot or of Taimtor goes over, therefore, till Octo- The Case of Carl Vogt—Writs of Habeas Corpus and Certiorari—The Writs Dis- missed=The Prisoner To Be Extradited. It was stated in @ recent issue of the HERALD that Carl Vogt, a Prussian subject who had been ex- amined on several occasions before Commissioner Kenneth G, White on a charge of having, at Brus- sels, Belgium, murdered and robbed the Count de Bois de Bianco, had been held by the Commis- sioner to await the President's mandate of extra- dition. . Counsel for the defendant obtained writs of habeas corpus and certiorari from Judge Biatch- ford to review the proceedings had before the Commissioner, with the view of testing whether the case had been conducted in a legal manner during the preliminary examination. Yesterday the writs were returnable, and Mr. Bowen, counsel for the defendant, argued that the documentary evidence offered by the German gov- ernment in support of the charge had not been authenticated, as required, by the regular diplo- matic or consular Minister resident at Berlin. ‘the papers were not preper evidence of the alleged crime, and he, therefore, clamed the discharge of the defendant. Some of the documents were signed by Mr. Bliss, as the principal consular or diplomatic Minister of this country at Berlin, whereas Mr. George Bancrol\ was that officer. Ex-Governor Saiomons replied that the matter of who should be principal diplomatic or consular Minister of the United Statesat Berlin was for the President’s consideration altogether. There was no usage of this country requring counsel to show, for the purposes of this «se, that Mr. Bliss was not the highest dipbmatic or consular officer of this country at Berlin at the time he made the certficates. A chargé d'affaires was put in plate of the Minister during the Minister's absence, and during that absence he exercised tke oftice of Minister; for the time being he was the principal diplomatic officer of the Tnited States. Judge Bintchford delivered a brief jud; taining the views oe by Mr. also upholding the rulingsmade in the preliminary examination ry Commissiqer White. He dismissed both writs, and ordered th defendant back to the custody of the Marshal. The defendant will be immediately sent back to Prussia for trial there on théecharge of murder and ry after a legal ent, sus- lomens and rovbery alleged against battle extending to about elfiteen months’ dura- tion, the Prussian authoriti@ have succeeded in obtaining custody of the méMwho, they declare, killea the Count de Bols de Banco at Brussels, Vogt states that he ts wil to go back, and expresses himself confiden' % he cannot be cenvicted, as he is, he i Wholly innocent of TA he. 4g offended against SUPREME By Judge Pike vs. Pike.-Motion In the Matter, &c., Wilherding Ma Fowler.—Memoranduin for 1 pedir aida SUPERIOR COURT—SPEML TERM. B Devlin vs. The ment and stayii nel,—Order of pference. denied. r Selling Obscene Prints—He Brings mm Before Judge Hogau—A Black- ler Neatly Trapped. s Before Judge Hogan. Anthony Comstock, who has lately interested himself so much in the suppression of obscene lit erature, yesterday appeared as complainant against two men, named Peter Dwyer and James whom he charged with offering for sale sit cards and wood cuts of indecent Foros Certain cards have. been haw) kround the ¢ for months past by itor: parties, ook vendors lave.” never been molested ut belo . Lptger aized>illystrations of similar chavaé®r ugure conspicuoi in many of the drinking saloons of the city. ‘ne prisoners, who were arrested by Detective Fields, o/ the Fifteenth Bree beak were each held to answer, in deiault of * A Blackmailer Balke On the 20th of June Mr. Lewis D, Crossmore, & 58 Maiden lane, received a letter by mail, signed merely with the initiats, “V, EB.” ‘The writer of this letter stated in his communi cation that some time ago be had a case of horse stealing brought under his notice, and during his Igisure Moments had worked it up. That through diligent inquiry he had traced it te Mr. Grossmore and his brother, and ii Mr. Crossmore wished the Matter hushed up it could be done on payment of $375. The letter was dated from Danbury, Conn. In conciusion the writer states:—‘‘You know what a@eountry jury is, and you know how they treat horse stealers,.and the best thing you can do is to settle.” Mr. Crossmore conferred with Capes Caffrey, of the Second precinct, who advised him to inser’ @ personal in the HERALD. On the 23d of June, ac- cordingly, the following notice appeared in that Journal V. B.—Call for package. DL On the 30th of June a man, who subsequently gave his name as Henry Porter Riker, presented another letter in similar handwriting to the first, saying :— Please deliver package for V, E. to bearer. answer u@ questions. Mr. Crossmore had a package prepared, stuffed’ with paper, and a one dollar bill'on top. Mr. Henry Porter Riker took the package and was very shortly afterwards arrested and brought before Judge Hogan, who held him in $500 bail to answer. JEFFERSON MARKET POLICE COURT. Trouble Among the Bokers. Some interest was created in the Jefferson Map ket Police Court yesterday morning while Justice Cox was discharging the watch by the appearance in Court, in charge of an officer of the Twenty- ninth precinct, of Mrs. Utica Boker, a sister of Vie- teria Woodhull, on the charge of disorderly con- duct, When the case was called the complainant failea to appear, She immediately endeavored to prevail upon the Judge to have them subpenaed and brought into Court, stating that she had been severely beaten the evening previous by her sister, Mrs. Woodhull, and by Colonel Blood, who, as she said, had procured her arrest and incarceration. Her request was not granted, but on her reappear- ance in the evening she was granted @ summons against her alleged assailants requiring their ap- Pearance this morning at-eleven o'clock to answer er complaint, Felonious Assaults. At the Jefferson Market Police Court yesterday, before Justice Cox, John Quinn was charged with firing a pistol at Eugene Skipborn, 123 West Hous- ton street, with intent to kill him, and subsequently striking him on the head with a tumbler. He was held to bail in the sum of $1,500 to answer. Michael Killian, charged with assaulting John Eichber, of 529 West ‘I'wenty-eighth street, with a club, ana inflicting severe and dangerous wounds upon him, was held in the sum of $1,000 to answer. cree YORKVILLE POLICE COURT. A Conductor Robbed of His Watch on His Car, A city railroad conductor 1s, as a general thing, one of the sharpest customers that cam be met with in this city, not excepting a hack driver, and probably the knowledge of this fact will suMciently explam to some obtuse minded people why. it is that conductors are very rarely interfered with while in their cars by thieves and pickpockets, An exception occurred last Sunday, when M. D. Gardner, conductor of car 116 of the Third avenne line, was relieved of his watch while passing through his car, from one end to the other, in the neighborhood or Eighty-sixth street. The thief fed on being detected, pursued by the conductor, who overtook him atter a sharp chase, and gave him into the custoay of Officer Barrett, of the Twenty-third precinct. He gave his name as Charles Bentry, and was held for trial in default of $1,000 by Justice Coulter. The case of Joachim Loewenthal against his som Hymes, a lawyer of this city, was dismissed, the father failing to appear to prosecute the charge of perjury instituted by him at the above Court some days since. He wib Dan 7, 38, 60, 130, 307, 815, 316, 317, 418; 819, 830, 8 321, “ig COURT CALENUAR—THIS DAY, SUPREME CouRT—CHAMBERS—Held by Judge tels.—Nos. 306, 3° 298, 3 7, 811, 312, 313, 314, POSTAL AFFAIRS. Abolition of the Franking Privilege— The New Order of Things—Everything Passing Through the Mails Must be Prepaid. F One of the most important enactments made by the last Congress was the abolishment of sending letters and other matter through the mails on the “dead head” system, or more generally known under frank of the sender, entitled to such privi- lege. To-day this salutary laW goes into active operation, and no more letters of M. C.’s or heads of offices will be forwarded unless properly paid for at current rates. Many changes are made by the reguiations which for a time will embarrass, If not absolutely cripple some of the departments, but as soon as the new order of things once be- comes firmly establisted everything will work smooth and satisfactory. Postmasters are to be supplied, free of charge, with oficial stamps, to be used only for business of @ public nature. A strict account must be kept with the Department, and arecord made of the number of such stamps received, used and om hand, in order that the amount of mail matter passing through the mails free can be readily as- certained. THE NEW OFFICIAL STAMPS differ greatly from those used ordinarily by bust- ness men.. These new adhesives are of the same sige as those last named; but every department has a different color, although all are marked “Oficial Stamp,” and contain, instead of the usual face and bust,alarge figure from one cent to twenty dollars, which represents the value of the postage the package to which they are aMixed would be subject to if prepaid by the regular stamps. ‘The 1ollowing are the colors of the new stamps :— For the Executive department they are printed in carmine; for the State, green; the Treasury, velvet brown; War, cochineal red; Navy, blue; Interior, vermilion; Justice, purple; Agriculture, straw color, and Post Ofice Department, biack. For the guidance of officials, merchants and the public generally Postmaster General Creswell has issued the annexed :— OFFICIAL REGULATIONS, 1, Franking privilege abolished. 2. Postinasters supplied with official stamps. palmclat stamps must notbe used except for official usiness. 4 Stamp of one department cannot be used for cor- respondence of another. 5, No matter can pass through the mails free,» 6. Postaye must be collected on newspapers published in the country where delivered. 7. not free. Publishers must pay postage we rece:ved. Is uncalled for are not sent to the dead ‘offic 9 Postal 10, Ordinary cards can be transmitted. through the mails by affixing one cent stamp, provided the entire message is printed. The address way be written. POSTAGE. wetter—Three cents for each half ounce or fraction a Drop lettors—Wnhere delivered by carriers two cents for each halt ounce or traction thereof. At other offices ‘one cent for each half ounce or fraction thereof. Printed matter—Une cent for each two ounces or frac- tion thereot, Seeds, bulbs, cuttings, roots, scions, chromos and engravings are classed witb printed matter. Merchandise—Two cents for each two ounces or frac- tion thereof, limited to twelve ounces. When any one of the above matter is mailed wholly unpaid v inad~ vertence reaches its destination double rates should be charged and collected. The abolishment of the franking privilege has likewise been coupled with an enactment which materially affects the newspaper world, The post age of papers must from to-day be prepaid by the oifice senuing the same and cannot collected at its destimation as heretofore. It is velieved thas 4 large number of exchanges between the smaller journals will be done away with. The ape papers, however, have always pald their way, an to them the new law will be more of a blessing than injury, 0. cards cannot be sent a second time, Steinel vs. White vs, Mealio et al.—Case irdered on file, Noe vs. Onristie.—Order that hdgment of afirm- ance of Commissioner of Apphis be made the judgment of this Court. Hooper et al. vs, Kennedy imgeaded.—Order for extra allowance to deiendants, 25¢. Ehlers vs. Ehlers.—Report of teferee confirmed and judgment of divorce grante Cunningham vs. White et 4—Judgment for defendants on demurrer to “sec¢:d” paragraph in answer, and for plaintiff on demirrer to “third,” “flith’? and “sixth”? paragraph) in answer, costs to either party. Detendans may have to amend and plaintiffto reply althey may de vised. ne COURT GF COMMON PLEAS—SPDIAL TERM. Decision. By Judge J, F. Dal Fitzsimmons vs. Kokner.—{otion Memorandum for counsel. SURROGATE’S COURT, The Will of Mrs. Anna M. Squires. Before Surrogat Hutchings. ‘The will of the late Mra. .nna M. Squires, which bequeathed her entire prejsrty to her sister and niece, Was set aside yesteway morning by Surro- te Hatonings, Mra. Squires’ children had con- faved u tament the Pade hy their motber was of unsound and, and she had As there has never existed any oxperience in the Post Office Department as regards full pre- payment of all mail matter from officials, no Opinion as to the eficacy of the act can be formed, is, however, conceded on ali hands that mails will not be encunibered with weighty ht and — the carrying capacity of rT