The New York Herald Newspaper, January 31, 1875, Page 15

~RPLIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE Ministerial and Church ovements. A Jewish Rabbi on the Moral Law as an Educator—Endless Punish- ment Abandoned. -. PROGRAMME OF SERVICES TO-DAY. At Allen street Presbyterian church the Rev. George QO. Phelps wili preach thia morning and evening at the usual hours, The Rev. W. H. Dunnell will preach in AL Saints’ Protestant Episcopal church this morning a@nd evening. Professor Taylor and others will speak for the Spiritualists in Harvard Rooms tuis afternoon. At the South B.ptist church Dr. A. C, Osborn ‘will minster to-aay at the usual hours, “The Limitations of Spiritual Knowledge” ana the “Dangers o/ Formalism” will be considered to-day atthe usual nours by Dr. Moran in the Church of the Strangers, In the Berean Baptist church the Rev. P. L, Davies will preacn this morning and evening. “The Power of a Soul to Ruin ltselt” ang “The Reality and Power of Sympathy” will be con ‘sidered at the usual hours to-day in the Church of Our Saviour, by the Rev. J, M. Pullman, The Rev. W. W. Andrews will preach in the Oatholic Apostolic church this evening, on “Early Obristian Worship.” The Disciples of Christ will be instructed to-day By the Rev. D. R. Van Buskirk in “Christian Faith, Its Basis and Ite Object,” and in “Obedience to Faith,” at the usual hourg. The Rev. E. Bore! will conduct services for the French Protestant Episcopal church in Calvary ehupel this morning. In the Free ‘tabernacle Methodist Episcopal -chureh the Rev. L. H, King will preach this morn- ing and Rev. Matthew H. Smith this evening, ‘The Key. &. S. M¢Artnur will speak this morning Jn Calvary Baptist church about “City Evangeliza- tion’? and this evening about “The Good Fight.” The Halstead Praying Band will conduct the services throughout this day in Lexington avenue Methodist Episcopal church; Rev. Dr. Wakeley, pastor. The Rev. T. D, Anderson, D. D., will preach this morning and evening at the usuai hours in the First Baptist church of this city. - Mrs. N. T. Brigham will lecture for the Progres- sive Spiritualists to-day. Dr. Thomas Armitage will preach this morning @na evening in the Filth avenue Baptist church. Tue Rev. Dr. Robinson will preach this morning in the Presbyterian Memorial church and in the afternoon will administer the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. A praise meeting will be held there in the evening. The Rev. W. H, Pendleton will preach morning and evening at the usual hours in the Fitty-third street Baptist church. The Rev, Dr. Hatfeid will preach this morning and evening in St. Luke’s Methodist Episcopal cbureh. The Rev. Robert Cameron will preach this morn- ing in Grace Baptist chapel, and in the afternoon and evening addresses will ve delivered by Drs. Jeffrey, Vail, Taylor ana other ministers and lay- men. The Rev. Dr. Taylor will preach this afternoon in the Madison avenue Reiormed church, and Rev, H. D, Ganse this morning. Tne Rev. W. H. Thomas will minister to the Beekman Hill Methodist Episcopal church this waorniug and evening at the usual hours, ¢ Prof. Forey will preach in Plymouth Baptist church thig morning and evening. ‘The Rev. J. H. Munro will preach this morning and Rev. S. M. Hamilton this evening in the Scocch Presbyterian church, ‘The Book With Seven Seals’ will be opened this morning by Rev. M. S. Terry, in Eighteenth street Methoaist Episcopal church. Dr. 8. D. Brown will preach there in the evening. In Laight street Baptist church, this morning and evening, the Rev. H. W. Knapp will officiate end preach. Zion Protestant Episcopal church will be minis- tered to this morning and afternoon, at the usual hours, by the Rev. J. N. Galleher, pastor., “The Best Investment’ and “Tne Desperate Effort” will be consiiered by the Rev. w. P. Cor- bitt to-day in Seventh street Methodist Episcopal cburch. Dr. Morgan Dix will preach in Trinity chapel this evening the sixveenth anniversary sermon of the Home of Mercy. The Rev. J. B, Hawthorne will speak im the Tab- ernacle Baptist church this morning on “The In- credulity of Thomas,” and in the evening on *‘Peo- ple who Live in Glass Houses.” In Wainwright Memorial Protestant Episcopal church the Rev. W. T. Egbert will preacn this Morning and evening. The evening discourse is directed to young men, Services will be held this morning as usual in the Russian Greek chapel, Second avenue, Rev. N. Bjerring pastor. The City Church Extension and Missionary So- ciety will hold a public meeting this evening in the West Thirty-fiftn street Methodist Episcopa; churoh. Messrs. Cornell, Fisk, Peyton, Brummell and others will deliver addresses. The Right Rey. Bishop Lynch will lecture this evening in St. Joseph's Roman Catholic church, Tremont, on ‘‘Biamarck and tne Church.” in the Protestant Episcopal Vhurch of the Atone- meat the Rev. . Tiffany will officiate this morn. ing and afternoon, The Church of the Holy Sepulchre will be mints- tered to this morning and afternoon by the Rev. J. Tuttle Smith, rector, The Rev. L. Crandall will preach in De Garmo Ball this morning and evening. A devotional meeting will be held there in the aiternoon. In the First Baptist cpurch of Greenpoint the Rev. D. Henry Miller, D. D., will preach this morn- ing and evening at the usual hours. The Rev. Mr. Kirkens will preach in St, Peter’s Protestant Episcopal church this evening. The usual services, choral and preaching, this morning, afternoon and evening in St, Ignatius’ Protestant Episcopal church. The First Reformed Episcopal cimreh will be ministered to this morning by the Rev. W. T. Sabine, and this evening by the Rev. Dr. Goddard, » Atthe Third Universalist cuurch, this morning, the Rev, E. 0. Sweetser will speak about “The chosen People,” and in the evening on “Uni- versalism in che Early Churcn."’ In the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Resur- reotion the Rev. Dr. Flagg will minister this morn- ing and evening at the usual houcs, In Elm place church, Brooklyn, this morning, Dr. Porteous will inquire “What is Trath and Wno Possess it?’ and in the evening, “What is Heresy, Who Divides the Church or the People?” ENDLESS PUNISHMENT ABANDONED. ‘To THe EDITOR OF THE HERALD :— The Christian Unton, Henry Ward Beecher editor in chief, has “abandoned” the doctrine of endless punishment, because enlightened Christian feeling declared ‘that it could not be true,” and that “the time can hardly be distaat when it (the Charen) will wholly reject the doc- trine.” But the admissions are accompanied by the still more starting expressions that, although “enlightened Christian feeling” ‘has risen to this exalted truth—vis., that everlasting punishment “could not be true; that this truch is notin ac- cord with the letter of Scripture; vhus—'The ap- Peal from the enlightened reason and moral sense of mankind to the letter of Scripture has never Deen successful, and never canbe.” “fhe issue fas been tried again and again, and always with she same result.” The course taken heretofore by thone of Caivinistic tendencies has been that Deenuse, in their view, the letter of Sgripture does Dot sustain those blessed trutha therefore they could not be believed. Now, however, by an inspiration, the glorious ligat of truth hag shone upon their minds, not- withstanding they 40 n0t, a8 yet, perceive the record of this truth in the revealed Word. This step i advance to higher altitudes of thought (made by tue Christian Union) has met with the unqualified approvation of the liberal press of the country, But this approval ought to have been somewhat moderated by the reflection that those altitudes have been @ttainea by the Christian Union, with the rejection of the letter of Scrip- ture, whereas, as before intimated, these elevated thoughts and an adherence to the letzer of Scrip- ture should have gone part passu with the Chris- tian Union, I have emdeavored to show, as herein contained, that it 18 not impracticab® to conform “enlightened Cortstian feeiing’ with the letter of Scripture: and tiffs article may, possibly, interest many of your readers. If, therefore, I can entirely eradicate the “Sting of the Bee,” if 1 cam by reference to the original tongues tn the Scriptures clearly show that no Prison house tn another state of existence was ever contemplated for the wicked; in other woras, that the modern heli was never uttered by the Old Testament writers or by the Saviour and His aposties, the dogma must fall to the ground. [ will humbly endeavor to impart that light, and show that the letver Of Scripture doves entireiy accord with those spiritual truchs which bave reached the mind of the author of the articie re- ferred to, ? The statement of the inconsistency of the dogma ofevernai misery with the present enlightened views of the Cnristian community is certainly a most hope.ui state of mind with which to attempt to eradicate the superstition which has so long been an incubus on the popular inteligence, In our transiation of the Old Testament the word “nell? appears thirty-two times, aud is always derived trom the Hebrew word sheol, That word Qppears sixty-four times 1m the original in the Oid Testament, and is translated thirty-two times intu the words “pit” or “grave” in Eaglish. The word “hell” in Scripture is always @ trans. lation trom sieol in the Oid Testament and trom hades (Greek), which is also derived from sheol, and also from gehenna (Greek) in the New Testa- ment, except in one instance, from tartarus, Albert Burnes, D. D. (Presbyterian), one oi our Most learned divines, tn bis “Notes on Acts of the Aposties” (xi., 27), Says:—“ihe idea which was conveyed by the word sheot was the dark, un- KDOWN regions Of the dead; the avode of spirits, good and baa. As they were ignorant of the size aud spherical condition ot the earth, they seem to have supposed the region toybe situated in the earth, lar below us, aud thence it is pat in opposi- tion to heaven, Tasceud to heaven thou art there; if 1 make my bed in sheot thou art there,’— Paalms, cxxxix., 8. And as iurther confirmation that the original meaning of sheol and hades was as. avove see “Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theologica! aud Eeclesiastical Literature,” by Rev. John McClin- tock, D. D., and James Strong. & T. D. (Metho- ists) ; also “Keclesiastical History,” &c., &c., by Rev. William Staunton, D, D, (Protestant Episco- al), General Protestant Episcopal Society, New ork, Also Webster (unabridged) says:—*'S/eol, a hollow, subterranean place; cave; place of de- parted — spirits; 3. Hades, the habita- tion of the q@eud; the tvisivie world, or the grave.” The Kev. Dr. Staunton says:— Hell originally signified to cover over or conceal and is still used in some parts of England, For example, to cover @ Church or house is to hell the building and the person by whom it is dune is called @ heller.” The Rev. Dr. Barnes says:— “Literally a covered ordeep place.” Dr. Staunton says “The main difficulty in regard to tbe duc- trine of Christ’s descent into heli arises trom the fact that two entirely distinct words in the original of the New Testament are rendered in our version by the single word neli—Hades and Gehenna. Now hades ts never used to denote tue place of final torment, the region of the damned, but signifies the place of departed spirits whether good or bad.” Compeiled to have some support for the dogma whicn Dr. Staunton stil! embraced, he was, perhaps, obliged to give the folowing definition (without, however, further explana- tion) to:—“Gehenna. The original term tor hell ce Of fina: torment,” Now, beyond dispute, the passages where haces is used in the New Testament, and translated hell (a8 Dr. Staunton says), are “never used to denote the place of final torment;” but are, as Dr. Barnes says, used to express the ancient be- lei of “a dark, uoknown region of the dead; the abode of spirits, good and bad,” The only pas- Sages in Which hades appears in the Scriptures are, via. :—In Matthew, Xi. 23, and Luke, x., 15, we find the following words, evidently figurative, drawing the great contrast between the elevated location of a city on a hill site and the fabulous hades located deep “in the eartn:"—And thot Capernaum, which art exalted unto Heaven, snail be thrust down to hades.” In Acts, ii., 27 and 31 quoting the prophecies of David in rejerence to the fesurrection of Christ—viz, “Because Thou wilt not leave my soul in hades,” &c, * * * “ile secing this belore, spoke of the resurrection of Christ; that bis soul was not leftin hades.” In 108, 1., 18; Vi., 8; XX. 13, 14, the apostle personifies’ death and hades, &c., thus—‘“The keys of deatn and hades;” “His' name that sat on Him was Death, and Hades followed with him.” “and Death aod Hades deilvered up tne dead which were im them.” “And Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire.’ In Mat- thew, Xvi, 18, figuratively—as the powers o/ evil, &c,—“and thou art Pever; and upon sais rock { will build my Church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.’?" Aud io Luke, xvi,, 23, we have tue celebrated parable of the rich man and Lazarus. This parabie represents the rejection of the Jews and the gathering in of the Gentiles. For full elucidation see “Whittemore’s Illustration of Parables.” The verse reads:—‘‘And in Hades he lilted up his eyes, being in torments.” So the only places where We can be called upon to admit we orrid definition given by Dr, Staunton as the place of “final torment’? must be those derived from Gehenna. It theretore becomes us to make acomplete analysis of that word. And in the frst lace, Professor Stuart, of Andover Theological Institute (Presbyterian), whose profound learning cannot be doubted, says:—‘the word ‘Genenna’ is derived, as all agree, from the Hebrew word ‘tiee-Hinnom,’ The Valley of Gee-Hinnom ts a part of the pleasant wadi or Vailey of Hinnom, whicn bounds Jerasa- lem on the south (Josh., xv., 8; XviiL, 6), Here, in ancient times and under some of the idolatrous kings, the worsnip of Moloch, the horrid idol of the Ammonites, was practised, ‘To this idoi chil- dren were offered tn sacr.fice (Il. Kings, xxiil., 10; Ezek., Xxitl., 37, 39; if. Chron, XxvuL, 3; Levit., XViL., 21; XX., 2). Lf we may credit the Rabvins, the head of the idol was like that of an ox, while the rest of the body resembied that ofa man. It Was Loliow within, and, being heated vy fire, chil- dren were laid in its arms, and were there literally roasted alive. We cannot wonder, then, at the severe terms in which the worship o! Mo- loch is everywhere denounced in the scriptares. Nor cau we wonder that the place itsei! shouid be called Tophet—that is, abomination, detestation— from ‘Topv,’ to vomit with loatning (Jer., xxi. 82; xix., 6; II. Kings, xxill., 10; Ezek., xxii, 37- 89.) Alter these saciifices had ceased tue place. was desecrated and made one oi loathing aad Lorror, The pious King Josiah caused tt to be polluted— (IL. Kings, xxii, 10) —that is, he caused to be carcied there the filth of the city of Jerusaiem, It would seem that the custom of eerenny, this place, thus Bappily began, was continoed in after ages, down to the period when our Saviour was on earth. Perpetual fires were Kept up in order to consume the oiful which was deposited there, And as the same offal would breed worms, hence came the expression, ‘Where the worm dietu not aud the fire 1s not quenched.’ Pro.essor Stuart, also, in commenting on the practice which extensively reveal | attaching @ double sense or meaning to Scripture, says:—"'I'ne consequences of admit- ting such an opinion should be well weighed. What book o1 rth has &® double sense, unless it is a book Of designed enigmas? And even this has but one real meaning. If a literal sense and an occult sense can at the same time and by the same words be conveyed, who that is unimspired can teil what ts the occultsense’ By what laws of in- terpretation 1s it to be judged? By none that be- long to human language, jor other books than the Bible have not a double seuse attached to them. For these aud the like reasons the scheme of at- tachtng @ double sense to the Scriptures is inad- misaidle. it sets afloat the fundamental principles of interpretation by wiich we arrive, at estab- lished conviction and certainty, und casts us upon the boundless ocean of imagiuation and col ture without rudder or compass.’ The only passages in Scripture where alg st ear, are ws lollows, Viz.:—Matthew, v., «Whosoever snall say thou fool shall be in danger or Gehenna fire’—a warning that opprobrioas names of that character placed persons using tuem tn danger of having their bodies, after deata, cast into that desecrated piace, which to a Jew (Who 80 highiy esteemed the rites of sepulture), was very ¢ tive, Matthew wrote more espe- cially to the Jews than any other apostic, In the next nive instances the words are so plain, enforcing the idea that it were better to suier lesser inconveniences than to incar greater; better to sufer & comparatively small loss cially to the Jew) than that his body after th suould be cast into Gehenna, vi: Matt., ¥., 13, 30; tb, X28; ib. XVill, 95 1D, XXII, 16; Mark, 1x., 43; id,, IX., 45; 1D, ix., 47; Luke, xin, 6. This last quo- tation, and the one from Matt. x, refer to the Ro- mau power, as in the times of the Saviour the Jews vad not the power to take life. Jam tit,, 6—"And it (the tongue) is set on fire of Gehenna.}? Once in ali Scripture the word ‘nell’ ts trom Tar- tarus. It isa denominative trom Hades. For a til definition thereo! see Webster (unabridge ‘The verse is as follows :—II. Peter, il., 4—“But them down to Tartarus.” So that by @ critical eXamination of the original letter of scripture it appears that it does conform to the present “en- hghtened feeling’ of the Christian community, contrary to the conclusions o! the Christian Union, WILLIAM COVENTRY H, WADDELL, VALTALL A, Jap. 7, 1875, ‘PHOU SHALT NOT KILI.” To Tak Epiror OF THE HERALD:— Being @ constant reader of your journal, and knowing the independence of ita convietions, [ desire to place before the world my most solema Protest against the taking) of human life by any individual or classes of individuals in a civil, miu- tary or any oficlal capacity. I make this provest @) a8 @ creature of God; (2) asa citizen of the American government; (3) as a member of the divine society of Jesus Christ. There ts but one Being who bas the absolute right to take iife, and | tnat one is He who created and gave lite, Tnts is a fundamental fact, stripped of ail tawdry senti- mentality, and lies at the bottom of this entre question, It {# not what tribes and nations in their associated Capacitirs have done, or are now doing, but what is the authority of God and the moral sease upon which al! human justice is professedly based, Majorities are no infallible guides; majori- ties do Wrong; majorities have sanctioned the most brutal and damnabie crimes; majorities killed the Son of God. “THOU SHALT NO? KILL." This 18 from the Decalogue, which contains a class of eternal principles, as binding at all times, upon all men, singly or collectively, and under all conditions, Tue ianguage is unqualified, It does not say thou shalt not Kili your friend, but you may be ieft to the inference to kill your enemy. it does not say thou suialt not kill a loyal, well- disposed citizen, but you may make the deduction that you may ailla revel. It does not say thou shalt not kill ag an individuai, but you may kill in your civil, military or any oMcial relation. Tne words stand out in boid and unequivocal outline, “Thou shatt not kill.’ The Ten Commandments are perpetually tn force, They were not temporary or expedient for certain rude states of society, They are immutable prin- ciples, But the argument always on the lips of the advocutes.of capital punishment is thatarawn from the language to Noah, which came before the moral law—‘Whoso sheddeth man’s blood by man shall nis blood be shed, for in the image of God made He man.” Grant the accuracy of this translation, a8 many emiment scholars of biblical science do, and what have we? The great mia take ig to put this passage in the aphere of precept and command when it rightly belongs to the sphere o/ prediction, “Put your finger in a hot stove and tt will be burned;” “He that pursueth sin pursueto it to his own death;’ “They that take the sword shail perish by the sword;" ‘In the day thou eatest thereor thou shalt surely die— or, dying, thou shalt die indeed.”* It does not say whoso killetha man. Men are killed by poison, cutting, strangulation, drowning without shedding of blood. Whoso is unquaufed @iso, and includes judges, juries, sheriffs, hang- men, everybody who takea human life. Capital Punishment was not inflicted upon Cain; he was banished from the scene of the murder as a fugi tive and said, “My punishment ts greater than I can bear.”” And the Lord said unto him, “There- fore, whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfoid.” Here is taught the in- violable sanctity of human life, and that violence will always bewet violence. But an objector will cite from the Levitical laws and sbow that for more than thirty offences capi- tal punishment was administered—for idolatry, Sabbath creaking, adultery, &c., &c, This is ad- mitted, The Levitica! laws are abrogated or they are not. Ifthey are, they ao mot bind usin any Particular in rites, ceremonies, penalties, &c.; if they are not, then modern society is bound to inflict capital punishment Jor over thirty offences, and everything pertaining to the politico religious commonwealth of tae Jews must be strictly en- forced. Rememper, tuey had no penal tustitutions then, a8 we understand the phrase; society was rude, shiiting, anarcnic. ‘he great teacher and lawg:ver of mankind, Jesus Christ, in that inimitable Sermon on the Mount, picked out the unchanging principles of moral law and enjorced them with empnasis— “Tnou shalt not kill,’? while he repealed every por- tion of the Levitica! law—incluaing the law of retal- lation—“‘An eye tor an eye,” &c. Wherever any aliueion 18 made to rigntini authority by the apos- tles, and an appeal made tor obedience to it, the langnave cannot by any possibility ve tortured into @ defence uf capital pusishment. “Lf thou do that which 1s evil be afraid. for He beareth not the sword in vain.” ‘he sword is an emblem of au- thority, and is used tn coniormity witn the times and in an accommodative way to represent that authority. ‘There is no biblical argument for the taking of human iife im any capacity. What poiitical reasous are there jor this practice? ‘Time and experience are proving that there are none which are worthy Of defence. 1t is admitted by many of the best statesmen of modern times that capital punishment, being politically inexpedient, should be avoided when- ever other meaus can be found of punishing with equal, if not greater, effect. John Stuart Mill was an abie defender of capital punishment, and his speecn delivered in the House o/ Parliament April 22, 1868, and reported in tue London Times, can be taken as the strongest plea in tavor of this brutum Julmen. but his arguments were riddied and bat-» tered down into worthiessness by Mr. Gilpin, of the same House. Mr. Mill took the position that capital punisnment was not so dreadful as gente Mentalists represented, because we only took away, the Ife 01 the culp:it and deatn ensues. What is death ? he asks triumphantly; “something com- paratively easy. Was it not tue object of ali edu- cation to teach us to despise deatn ?* As if he would say to the culprit on tne gallows, “You ought to be migaty thankful that the law does not exact any more irom you than your lite; that’s a trifle; ceath is nothing; you get off easy!” It is Strange that so Keeu @ logician as Mr. Mill dtd not discover that his argument was self-destructive and apposed to what the law ccntemplates by such punishmen'—viz., that death, a3 a final penalty, was terrible to the cuiprit, terrible to all wrong- doers and @ restraint of fear, if nothing else, upon society, Certainty those who execute the law ao Dot regard the gallows as a patnway ol roses, whatever Mr. Mill might have tnougot of it wheu he was this side of the grave. One cannot argue for the terror aod ease Oi the gallows at tue same time, Taat the gallows does not act asa restraint under @ny condition tn Wuich murder is committed is almost, if not quite, seli-evident. It proves itself. A Mud commits muraer under one of two con- ditions—imjulse or deliberation, When he rushes upon his v.ctim with pistol, Knife or bludgeon, What does he, under such an impuise of passion, think of the gallows? Nothing wnatever—it does not enter his mind. But if he 18 not deterred then, wili he be when in cool deliberation, day by day, montn by month, year by year, he plans how to get his victim within the meshes, and then de- stroys his Lie? There has been time for the gallows to rise awthart his vision dally and nightly; there Migot be seii-assertions of conscience; belore him might pass the forms of the broken-nearf€d widow ana dependent children or iriends, yet none of these things move nim to the right or leit, but on he goes to gloat lis soul im blood. The gallows is not a preventive of crime. It nas tated as such; and to defend it 1s auscriptural, unphilosophic, impolitic; it is absurd, In vhose countries where capital punishment bas been abulisued the ratio of crime hus de- creased wonderiully. For‘more tian iorty years Tuscany, alter having been starved by the fea increase of capital crime, has abandoned capital punishment, and coulda not be induced to readopt ib 80 Salucary has been tae Operation of the new ws. Portugal witnessed her last execution in 1846; in 1851 there were 278 homicidal crimes; in 1855, 173, and tn 1860, only 142, The Governor of Michi- gan reported in 1844, acter seventeen years’ ex- perience of the mew code, that crime had diminished and because conviction and pumisn- ment were so much more certain, ‘The death penalty has been abolished on the ‘ounds Of poiitical inexpediency in Tuscany, Portyy Oldenourg, Anhait, Nassau, Bremen, Neuicuatel, Wartemburg, Bavaria, Baden, Bruns- Wick, Belgium and several of our own States— as Rhode Isiand, Wisconsin, Michigan. we induige the hope that by a more thorough study 01 crime and its penalties and tue science of Velo discipline, by our legislators and, indeed, y the great mass of our intelligent people, that the day will soon come when not a capital execa- tion Will be witnessed on this Continent, Lt will bot do to rely on the gallows to prevent crime. What is needed is correct information on the operation of penal jaws, statistics, &c. These would heip us to get at— 1, The causes of crimes. 2 The progress of crimes. 8. The deiects \of the ageucics for repressing these crimes. Commissioners appointed by the Governors of the different States authorized by the Legislature would secure this information. ‘This, so far from being a lopping process, would be going to the root Of things. ‘An ounce ol prevention,” &c. Punish ail criminais. The tnfiction of suffering as & penalty for crime and the taking of human lite for crime are not, as Many suppose, equivalent expressions. Society has the right to impose pun- ishment, but it has not the right to rob any human being of the right wo live. This is elemental and belongs only to the prerogatives of God. With such a view one cannot but feel that every Judge, juryman, sheriff and hangman ia gatity of civil (?) Murder, This is @ startlin atement, but 16 stands here to challenge refutation. It is to be decided not by what other men buve sanctioned, not by what the laws are now upon vne statute books, but upon the inviolability 01 bumaa lite. THOU SHALT NOT KILL.’ It may be asked, how can we expect cthers to pect human life when We ourselves destroy it? Even ao. That question has force, What has been the effect upon society at large by those toul and bratal eabibitions around our wer It hag turned out that the people have juired everything but a decent respect for law I As soldiers who become hardened to the scenes of the battle Meld, so the people who read of or wit- Ness tue civil strangulation of a miserable wretch. Recall the conduct of those hard-iearted specta- tors a few days ago during the executiun of Lewis Jarvis aod ert Jackson in Long Isiand, As your reporter said, ‘it is almost incredible that men shouid entertain a private spicen against the culpric whose life is forfeited to the law, that they should feel a pieasure from having the sufferings of the condemned inten- sified; yet on every hand were bratal remarks.” While the poor Wan was asking simoly that toe | gallows. bungiers ander the rote of civil officers might kill nim—‘for God's sake, gentiemen, den’t make a mistake this time’’—and he was gradually stran- gied aud pummeiled to-death vy nand power. Does civil law kui men in the low sense o! revenge? If 80, tt did 1ta work well with poor Jarvis. When the writer waa a boy about twelve years of age he witnessed the execution of a German in the jail Yard of the city of Wilkesparre, A com- pany of Yagers formed @ hollow square about the hem the trap fell the victim descerded with it, Unt the tips o: nis toes just touched the trap. and he swung about half alive, hai! de It seems that the noose was not rightiy adjusted. and slipped. The leader of the company, having & large axe On bis shoulaers, rushed iorward and cut the trap to allow the vody to swing, while & posse of men leaped on the body to bear it down tor the pur- pose Of aiding strangulation and puttin the poor wretch out of his misery. Wha’ pro- name does that go by? A ctvil execution. I nounce it civilized murder! Civilized murder, forsooth? No, it 8 Oaroariam! that the wa Wwe moderns cultivate respect for human lite?” th cannot be aright way. I life must oe sacrificed, better far the Spanish guillotine, which detaches in an instant the root of sensation, the brat from the trun and branches, But oetter thi is isolated confinement, ‘The muraerer may buck some of the debi he owes society thougn he never restore tae life he has taken. Thataebt he never can pay back, either by confinement or the forteit of his own lite, For that he must give a strict account to his Maker, The ler talionis must be directed to the true end of punisument, which is not Vengeance but prevention. BENJAMIN F, BOWEN. COLD SPRING, ON HUDSON. A LADY'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE GENEALOGY O¥ CHRIST. To THe Eprror oF THE HERA! Will you be kind enongh to tnsert the following, taken irom @ Btble dictionary edited by the New York Bible Tract Society, on the genealogy of Christ, touched on in last Sunday’s HERALD/—-“The two accounts in Matthew and Luke, differ from each other; one giving probably the genealogy of Christ's reputed father, Joseph, and the other that of big motier, Mary. The two hnes descended from Solomon and Nathan, David’s sons, The unite in Salathel and sgain in t. Josep! was tne legal father of Christ aod of the same family copnections With Mary, so that the Messiah Was @ descendant of David, both by law and ‘according to the flesh,’ 4 LADY READER, ¢ 4 WOMAN'S DEFENCE OF SPIRITUALISM, To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— In your Sunday’s paper “Inquirer? makes Much too sweeping assertions about the chicanery of Henry Stack, in his spirit manifestations with a slate. I am an inguirer too, but I have investi- gated this phase of the phenomena to my entire conviction that unseen hands do hold tne pencil. Sometimes I have washed the slate, seatea my- Sell at three feet distance from Slack. Then 1 have thrown the bit of pencil away into the furthest corner of the room upon the carpet, Ihave seen vhat pencil placed upon the slate, held as | hold this peo now to testify for truth, and sey- eral senyences were written upon it Mean- time I held the slate at arm’s length in an oppo- site direction from Slack, who did not at that mo- ment “press my hands down upon the tabie’ \In- quirer says tuat isa trick of his.) If inquirer tas “an honest man’s respect for a true Spiritualist” there ts no need for mim to try to controvert this statement o/ an honeat, cultivated OMAN, JANUARY 4, 1875, VERITAS OBJECTS. “Veritas” objects to the false quotation of Serip- ture in Mr. Walters’ letter, published in the HERALD on Sunday, 17th inst., in regard to Peter being the Church’s foundation, “Veritas” de- ciares that the zeal which would misquote Scrip- ture and falsily history to make a point or gain an argument 18 Very apt to defeat itself. 1t will react upon tts authors and produce unwholesome fruits, MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS. PRESBYTERIAN. Last Thursday was observed by the Presbyteriaus and others in this city as a day of prayer for col- leges. Religious services were held in the Re- formed church, on Filth avenue and Twenty-first street, andin the University place Presbyterian church, There is deep religious interest in Dethi, N. Y., such as hag not been enjoyed for tne last filty years, since the labors of the Rev. Mr. Orton, who once so successfully labored there. The Rev. 8. Henry Bell nas resigned his pastorate ot the Brunswick church, Ga., in consequence of impaired health, and bas retired trum the active duttes of the ministry. Tne church at Malone, N. Y., has given the Rev. O, S. Richardson, late ot Robert College, Con- stantinople, a very hearty reception, after hearing him for a couple of Sabbaths, and he expects to begin his reguiar labors with that people to-day. The church in Abington, Pa., has called Kev. Leighton W, Eckard, late missionary ol the Preaby- terian Board in China, to become its pastor, The Key, Alexander Henry, of Philadeiphia, has received @ unanimous call to the pastorate of the Paconins: church, at Waverley, Pa., near Wiiliams- por! The Presbyterian Ohurch, North, now has or- fanizations at the following ou in Texas:— Galveston, Austin, Dennison, Kinney, George- town, Tne Rev. J. B. Whitten was installed pastor of the Seventh United Presbyterian church in Phila delphia last week. Rev. J. J, Pomeroy, of Upper Octorara, Pa., has bean called to Rahway, N. J. Proiessor Patton, of Chicago, has been called to the pastorate ol! the Jefferson Park Presbyterian churea in that city. Dr. Priest, of Quincy, L., will begin his labors pastor of the Presbyterian church at Newton, a, DEXE Sanday: ‘Toe Rev. John Kirkpatrick, of Ballibay, Ireland, nas received and accepted a call irom the West ‘Twenty-filth street church, of thts city, and was instalied on Wednesday last. The labors of the Rev. J. K. Fowler, who was re- cently ordained and installed pastor of the Pres- byterian church in Caledonia, Livingston county, ‘ ‘eatly blessed, icClosky, the new Professor at Princeton College. anu late of Bellast, arrived a Jew days since, acd has received a cordial wel- come irom the faculty and students, ROMAN CATHOLIC. A Catholic Association for the Sanctification of Sunday, called Livre du Repos du Dimanche, has been formed in Paris. Tue members of the association bind themselves not to buy, sell, work nor cause work to be done by others on Sunday. The Freeman’s Journal of thia,city notices that, for the first time, ina Bull or am Encyclical, pro- claiming the Jubilee, the laithful are not askea to a N. pray for “peace and concord between Christian princes!” “Uhristian princes have vanished from Europe. Princes thas spoken of by the Cuurch, in her prayers, mean those in recognized command ot governments. France, Austria, Bavaria, Bel- gium, &c., are no longer Catholic governments! The Pope now bids us pray for peace among Christian peoples! Father Hecker, ol this city, nas arrived in Rome and is much improved in health. ahe new church at Harleigh,: Pa., has been so lar completed that mass can be ceiebraced in it. Jt presents a very neat appearance, : ‘The Catnolic ladies of this city have sent a sym- pathetic address to the Countess of Nesselrode apa other German ladies who have been prose- cuted Jor presenting a congratulatory address to the Bishop of Minster. The Rev. W. Ryan, recently ordained at Troy Seminary, is stationed at Sts. Peter and Paal’s church, South Boston. A project is on foot umong the Catholics of Gloversvilie and Kingsboro, N, Y., to build a church somewhere along the highway between those vil- lages next season. Over $2,000 has been sub- scrived already jor this purpose. Tie Convention of the Young Men’s Christian Associations of the United States will ve held at Newark, N. J., Febraary 22. Tue receipis o| St. Peter’s church, corner War- renaud Hicks streets, Brooklyn, Cate the year 1874, amounted to $14,159; receipis of schuvis, $4,982; collections for euaritubie purposes, $4,071; expeuses of (he churei, $10,157; expenses of the schoois, interest on mortgiges, &c., $8,881; bale ance On hand, $22, Father Fransioli read’ this statement last Sunday to his congregation, and told them plainly that he could not continue to ineet tue obilgations incurred by him on taeir behalf uniess they were wore itberal. EPISCOPALIAN, Tne Reformed Episcopal church tn Baltimore expects (0 organize regularly at Raster. It bas been offeréd the iree use of the Congregational Yi ch, on Eutaw strect, for week evening meet- ows, and its Sabbath services are held ina hall aud are well attended. f In a letter to Lord Shaftesbury Mr. Disraeli ex- presses the hope that the intimacy whicu has spruog Up of late years bet laity of the establishment may continu crease. But he recognizes the feeling t one muss have of the inadequacy of 168 tical machinery to deal with the pep great cities; yet some not incousiderable expan- gion tn this respect, he admits, nas aiready been effectedPand he believes, under existing legis! tion, farther extension be accomplished. He has ever been of opinion that it was in the great cl the Church would effect in this age its most signal triamphs, and no effort omitted to gyaist the Church in that paramount object. tne . Philip Freaman, Arclideacon of Exeter, has resigned the Vicarage of Thorverton, Devon, in order to devote bimseli more exclusively to his duties as Archdeacon and in convocation. The annual offering for missions in Grace churcn, Brooklyn Heights, on Sunday, January 11, amounted to about $10,700, The Rev. Leighton Coleman has not as yet reached any decision concerning his recent eiec- tion to the Diocese of Fond du Lac. The vestry of his parish have unanimously addressed a memo- Tial to nim setting forth in cogent and affectionate terms their arguments for nis remaining in To- ledo, and the congregation at large join m their remonstrances, The Rev, Joun H. Drumm, D. D., has been elected rector of St. Mark’s, New Britain, Conn. ‘The Rew FR Dagham, recyor of tue Vharok ol & 8 NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, JANUARY 81, 1875 QUADRUPLE SHEET. 15 the Hoty Cross, Baltimore, #4., has been unant- mously elected rector of Grace church, Waveriord, in the Divcese of Albany. | a, The Rev. W. G, W. Lewis, rector of Curiat churen, | Meaavilie, tn the diocese of Pittsburg, has t | bi his resignation, to take eflect on the lat of ul N. Luson, late of Port Jervis, N. Y., ‘ne Rev, PF. bas accepted Emmanuel churen, La Grange, Ul. Toe Kev, Joshua Morseli, D. D., having resigned St. Luke's, Lanesvoro’, 8S., bas aceepted an election to Grace church, ‘City Island, Westchester county, N.Y. Kistop Whipple. of Minnesota, is compelled by feebie neaith, .o suspend his episcopal duties for @ time aud to betake bimseif to the West indies. The Bishop of Vermont has recently appointed the Kev, Dr, Hull, rector of Christ Church, Mont pelier, to be Dean of the Bellows Fails Convoca tion, in piace of the Rev. Dr. Dougiass, whose duties ag Presioent of the Norwich Universtty, have compelled him to resign the former office. The Rev. Dr. Peters, of ot, Michael's church, Bbroaoway and Ninety-ninth street, New York city, is speading the winter on the Pacific coast te re- cruit his health, alter many years of laborious Fepen work 0: cnaritable and missionary service, ‘uts 18 One of the oid New York Episcopal caurcnes and dates ag Jar back as 1807, The Rev. T. |. Randol, bh has been elected rector of Carist Onurch, Shervurne, N. ¥, METHODIST. Bishop Andrews is making a visitation of churches in lowa; Bishop Bowman has gone to Pittsburg, Pa., and other dishops of the\Cnuron are peramoulating the country supervising the spirit- Ual Interests of the denomination, Reva. Inskip and McDonald are holding meetings in \‘@nada, and report great success. br. J. W, Lindsay, of the Boston Untverstty, hag reacved home aiter an extended sour in Europe @ud Syria. Dr. Humphrey, who was compelled to leave Meth- Odist mission Work in India, because of broken heaith, 18 practising medicine in Littie Falis, N. Y. ev, Asa Makan, D, D., will remain tn London unui spring, Wuen he nopes to return to tie country, Rev, sanford Hunt, D. D., presiding elder of the Niagara distric’, Western New York Conference, Wa- ip this city a few days ago to consult prom- nent oMciais of the Church with reierence to 8 modification of the laws of the State affecting re- ligious corporations. Among other things, the election 0; church trastees py the public vote of adult members of tue churcn, is asked Jor. At the dedication of the Methodist Episcopal church tn Springfleld, Mass., on the 19tm inst., $24,000 was raised to liquidate the dept of $35,000 that rested on it. The balance due was promised ere Bishop Bowman dedicated tne vuliding. Dr. Vernon’s acceptance of the pastorate of the American chape] in Rome is with the consent of Uhe Bishop and the Mission authorities, ana does not at all interiere witn bis superintendence of ltalan missions, Kevivals and conversions are reported in the pues Ramed as iollows, in addition to what has wen previously reported:—At Hopewell, N. Y., 20; at Livingston, J., 68: at Cooperstown, N. Y., 40; at Esopus, N. ¥., 36; at Prattsville, N.Y. $4; at Pine street church, Williamsport, Pa., 2505 at Jane street church w York city, 40; at Far randsville, Pa, 31; at Lincoln, N. ¥., 40; at Buad- town, N. J. 30; at Broaaway church, Camden, N. J., 65; at Moorestown, N. J., 18; in Kighteenth street Methodist Spiscopal church, Philadelphia, within the past two weeks, several have been converted, and in Thirty-lourth sizeet cvurch, this city, & revival is also i progress, A spirit of re- vival prevails also in St. Paul's Methodist Episco- pai cnureh, tmis city, Dr. Chapman, pastor, The Gloversville Methouist Episcopal church has advanced 11s missionary collection $250 over last year’s, reaching $800 this year, The Rev. R. N. Siedd, of the Virginta Conference, is lying quite sick at his residence in Petersburg: F, T. Munday, of the New Jersey Conference, has resigned bis charge at Oceanport and has gone to Fiorida jor bis health. The Key. George W. Smith, of the Newark Comlerence, has also been granted an extended leave o! absence ior 4 trip to Fiorida, by his people of Montciair, Revivais ip Short Trict, N, conversions; in Windham, N. Y., 200; in ‘unk- hannock, 30; in Richiand Springs, Y., 30; at Pnilups’ Port, 40; at Foster’s Meadows, L. 1., 20, Mrs. Leroy, of Baltimore, is conducting revival meetings in Passaic, N.J., With marked success. In the German chureh jon Gerar:| avenue, Phila- deiphis, 17 have been converted, and at Lenman’'s chapel, 20, - BAPTIST. The Pilgrim Baptist Mission church tn Philadel- phia 18 building a chapel 40x60 feet, to cost $7,000, Grace Baptist chapel, Philadelphia, was deui- cated on January 21, Kev. W. D. Morgan has resigned his charge at Catasqua, N. ¥., and accepted a cull to Chester, conn. Revivals and conv jons are reported in the following Baptist churches:—In Stepney, Yt., 25; in Thirty-seveuth street church, Pittsburg, Pa., § in Springfieid, N. Y., churct N. J., 80; 1n Clinton, N, J. lank Road Bap- Usi church, near’ Syracuse, N, Y., 7; 1p Fourth avenue Baptist church, Pittsburg, Pa., 40. The Rev. Dr. Fulton, of Brookiyn, starts this week on a lecturing tuur in the South, to be absent, vhree weeks, The following Baptist-churches in Massachusetts are pastoriess, to wit:—Fitchburg, Westboro, Wo- burn, First Loweli, Gloucester, Washington street, Lynn, Chelsea, East Boston, south Boston, Har- vara street, Boston; Pleasant street, Worcester; and Huntington, and other vacancies are expectea shortly. First Baptist church, of Elizabeth, once the resulted in 50 70; in Bordentown, in P ‘The Wealthiest and most iashionable of the churcles there, is verging on bankruptcy. It is heavily in debt. 1ts pastor, Rey. Dr. H. M. Gallagher, took charge on @ Salary of $6,000. He has submitted to @ razee of $3,000, and preiers to stick by the church than take a $10,000 offer in New York. Tne Park street Free Baptist church, of Prov- idence, R. I, have given Rev. J. M. Brewster, of North Scituate, B. 1, a unanimous call to the pas- torate, The Baptista in Poland have increased in five Years from 312 to 1,162 The mission field extends over 400 miles. The Rey. James Boxer, late of Sing Sing, N. Y., has accepted a call to Goshen, Ind. Mr. Wiimont M. Mahew, a member of tne last gTaduating class at Newton, Das accepted a cail to become pastor of the Baptist church In Swan- ton, Vt. A handsome house of worship, erected by the Baptisis of Milford, N. H., Was dedicated on Thurs- day last by Dr. Lorimer, of Boston, ‘inere 1s nO intimation abroad that the Rev, Dr. Fulton, of Brooklyn, will shortly receive a cali ve Harvard street church, Boston, His ministry in tus city having proved nothing lke so successful a8 anticipated it 1s believed he will readily ac- accept the call when It comes. There are 15 Baptist associations in Massachu- setts, containing 282 Churches, 231 pastors, 316 ordained ministers and 44,679 Members, of whom 2,261 were added during the past year. Three new churches were recognized, %1x houses of wor- ship Gedicated, fourteen ministers ordained and eleven deceased during the year. Tne amount of money raised for religious purposes was $876,960. ‘There are fiity-one young meno preparing jor tne ministry. ‘The First church at Trenton 1s prospering under the pastoral care of Rey. E. Lucas. by a nearty vote $1,000 has recently been added to his saiary. ‘This is the second largest Baptist churcn in New Jersey, numbering over 700 members. The Washington avenue church, Brooklyn, now nearly twenty-iour years of age, has four vigorous chiudreo and ® memvership oi nearly 700 in the home body. MISCELLANEOUS. The Dayton Journal notices in complimentary terms the installation of tue Rev. T. T, Everett, late of Red Hvok, in this vicinity, as pastor of the First Latheran Church, of that city, His congre- gations last Sunday were large, his sermons ex- cellent and tne prospects of future success en- eet Mr. Everett was iormerly a journalist in this city, put for several years he has been a Minister ol the Gospel, Missionaries in Russi write to this country that the demand for the Bible and the New Testament in that lund is greater than supplied; that an edition of latter has been disposed of withi and a@nother edition is in press, British and Foreign Bible Society has circulated two editions of the Finnish Bible, equalling 27,000 copies, Within the past year, he Bidle Society Record reports a great religions awakening among the inmates of tue State Peni- tentiary at Littie Rock, Ark., growing out of tne reading of parts ofa Bible which had {allen into their bands. clergymen of the place hoid services in that institution now, and many of she convicts Dave veen saved, The Rev. John Welush will be tnstailed pastor of the German Second Reformed church ot New- town, to-uay, the 3ist, at balf-past two P. M. The Kev. John M, Wagner will preach the sermon, Rev. W. A. Ten Eyck will charge the pastor, and Rev. E. D. Steinfuherer will charge the people. Henry Variey is to begin evangelistic work in New York on the 14th of February, under the au- spices of tae Young Men Christian Pave old ‘The Methodists are the “leading denonNnation” In illmois, having @ membersnip of all sorts of about 90,000, The Baptists are next, with probab- ly full 65,000; shen come the Disciples, followed by tue Presbyterians and Congregationalists, quite a distance behind. At @ recent Ge pte “a the Congregation Mish- kan Israel, of New Haven, Conn., the Kev. J, Weohaler was unanimously re-elected minister lor another term of years, STANTON STREET SYNAGOGUE. THE MORAL LAW AS AN EDUCATOR—DISCOURSE BY THE REV. L OG NORT. The only Jewish congregation on the east side of the city below Fourteenth street where English preaching is ministered is in the synagogue in Stanton and Forsyth streets, where the Rev. Isaac C. Nort oMiciates. The congregation is composed mainly of Netherlanders of tne substantial if not the solid class. From week to week and year to year, as & general thing, the same faces are seen in to toe pews, and the number in attendance rarely varies at any service, A goodiy cougrega- tion gathered there yesterday, aud in tue course of reading adopted therein the Ten Command- ments were read, and to the importance of these provepts and laws Mr. Nort directed the attention of his hearers. His discourse was based on Exodus, iL, 12—“Witen thou hast bronght forth the people ont of Egypt ye shall serve God apon thia moun- \ tata.’ 1m these Words. ha remaxked, we gould pets = g rS cetve the great design of Goa m redeeming israel from the cruel tyranny of Pharaon ang many & Me did she hope Of serving God om this mountain and ip their own land im the pure ang invigorating @ir of liberty inspire and conseie their crushed hearts, Having described the at tendant etrcumatances of the delivery of the Lora on Sinai, Mr. Nort remarked that the echoes of Sinai sul reverberated tnronghout the civilized world. Every mora!, civil and munictpai law now tn iorce ip the civilized wor'd received its life im the dark cloud that enveloped Mount Sina. Ite higptnings have tllamined the best minds of every nation. independent of creeds and catechisms, and from its ceatre has flashea forth the divine Nght of love, humanity aud trath. That sacred decal+gue enkindied @ religious fame and gave birch to a creed whic can never Kuow decay or destruction, for the Word of our God abideth for ever. Mr. Nort reterred here to the percecuttons and sufferings which the Jewisii peopie bave va dured in aii ages ior religion’s sake, and added vhat they are at tails day LIVING MONUMENTS OF GOD’8 MERCY and of the indestructibieness of that monothe- tgtic ‘dea which wasreveaied vo the world through tiem by God on Sinai. Tua: is their peculiar isgacr Cd fd b nee, SPOR, Which Jadaism reats— @ coler stove of her nationality, tne sour her liberty and the ten sublime ‘degre: per holy order, And to-day, said the preacuer, tet us gaze attentively and joyously upon that decalogue which adorns the tablets of every synagogue throughout the world and ve reminded not only of the solemut'y of the oceasion on which this iaw ‘was given, Dt also of the redemption o: our fore. fainers by that great Redeemer in whose hands are the destinies of nations as well as o! individ- uals, And though the original tabiets of sione, written by the finger of God, are no more, thew records are not lost to us; for tney are transcribed 1p that holy Book of Trath, whose. inspired wach. ings and sacred exampies afford hope, reitef an@ comfort to our scattered race, Let us, tien, said Mr. Nort, adhere to that law whicn God prociatmed from Sinai’s mount and deeply engraft its income parable iessons upon the young hearts of our ohildren, an then we can claim to be the Lord's peculiar people and that law shall never cease to be Israci’s national Standard and her glorious pride. Li they desire te protect the doctrines of Judaism in these United States and to preserve the religion of their ances- tors they must, the preacher deciared, evince more zeal and earnestness than they do now in the re- lugious education of their children, They are te be the future custodians of Israel's creed and code, and the expectation of the present will rot be dis- appointed ti every Israelite will furnish bis mite toward the ADVANCEMENT OF HEBREW RDUCATION, One of the principal commands of the iaw is thas it shall be taught diligentiy to the children. This must be done if Judaism would be preserved im America. The /uture defence and shield of this jaw is an American Jewish ministry. With a feare tess band of such preachers—men of truth and Who fear God—they can anticipate that glorious day when Israel’s religion will be more univer- sally observed, honored and defended than it is to-day. Then, when the men of this generation are sleeping in the tomb, the sacred tree of Judaism will blossom and flourish with renewed Vigor a8 the cedars of Levanon of old, and Israel will tuifil her divine mission and be unto tue Lord a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, REGULATIONS FOR LENT. The following regulations for Lent have bees issued by Bishop Loughlin, of Brooklyn. They are similar to those observed in this and over dioceses :— 1, All the week days of Lent, from Ash Wednes- day til Easter sunday, are tast days of precept, on one meal. with the allowance of a moderate collation in the evening. 2, Generai usage bas inade tt lawful to drink, tm the morning, some tea or cotfee, 3 dhe precept of fasting .1pites also that of ap stinence irom the use of flesh meat; out by dispen- sat.on the use of flesh meat 1s allowed in this die~ cese at any time on Sundays and at the principas meal on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, wit the exception of Holy Thursday. 4. it is not allowed to use flesh meat and fish as the same meal. a se may be used in preparing fisn, vegeta- bles, &c. 6. The Church excuses from the obitgation 08 fasting (but not of abstinence from flesh meas except I special cases Of sickness or the heey the following persons :— Young persons under the age of twenty-one years; the sick; those whose duties are of an ex- hausting or laborious character; women in pre; nancy or Dursing infants; ail who, througn weal Bey age meee sagt Without great prejudice to their ea, DR. PALMER’S MEETINGS FOR HOLL NESS. Every Tuesday afternoon for the past thirty seven years @ meeting for the promotion of hole ness has been held at the residence of Dr. Palmer, in this city, There has been no interruption eves fora single week. Dr. and Mrs. Palmer conducted the services when at home, and when absent ts their work as evangelists, whether in Europe or in this country, their place was supplied by Mra. Langiord, The attendance numbered betweem 200 and 300 at each service. Ministers of different aenominations, Methodist, Presoyterian, Re- formed and Episcopalian, are present and cipating inthe exercises. Qakers also atten and one who was present recentiy said:—‘l a not know how your Methodist brethren feel wht they shout ‘glory!’ but I want to say, Glory! giory!g.oryi* The meetings commence at halo past two P. M., and continue about two hours, ‘Yhey are Leld in Dr. Paimer's large pariors 816 | Fifteenth stret, opposite Stuyvesant Park}, w have been most conveniently fitted op for the . purpose, SPIRITUAL _ HUMBUGS. REPLY TO “AN INQUIRER.” To THR Eprror OF THE HERALD :— My attention having been called to two articles. which have appeared in your excellens paper, written by some person signing himself “an Im quirer,” I deem it not impertinent to relate @ luttle spiritual experience with Messrs, Slade, Foster and Mansfleid. In the first place, I do nos.. doubt but’ “Iuquirer’ hag related his experience in what seems to him au honest way. The weak point of mis statement is the limit of his expert~ ments and the extent of nis dissertation. I have myself, before venturing to call my fellow men humbugs, heid over a hundred sittings with the mediums named above. ‘Inquirer’ has bad but two witheach of them (according to his own statement). I not only held so many sittings with them; but I employed other parties to go to ther and have sittings aiso. [ have carefully selecte parties to make these Investigations; and now can simpiy state the resuit, which, 1 trast, may yet awake a higher spirituality in ‘Inquire i the firat place, those mediums are ail nighly sen- sitive persons, and, in the sittings they give, come more or less under the influence of the per- sous they sit with. But of twenty-five differems ered I sent to these mediums | report as fob lows, to wit:— Four went separately, ander false names, with faise questions, for lalse personages. All of these reported that the mediums were fraads, possess- ing no extraordinary powers. Four went sep- arately, under their own names, out with false questions, Tuey reported that the mediums were cisirvoyants and tricksters. Four clergymen went separatel; any names. Taey were, so they said, “disgust with spiritualism” before they went. The: received d ting communications. Four tafidels went sepa under thetr trugaames and with honest questions. T'uree of these reported thas the spirits they inquired after were non est, The other reported in favor of Spiritualism. These Infidels all reported the medjams honest, Four Others were sent, who were {nclined to believe Spiritualism “irom their own fmpressions” betore they went. These were cautioned parti @gainst the supposed tricks @ the mediums; but, Revertheless, ail recoived wABE was satlafact proof to them of the presence of the spirits of their departed iriends and reigtives. These aiso ree ported that che mediums were strictly honest. wo honest sleicht-ol-iand men went under hone est conditions, and ovta feported that ali these mediums were not only honest, but possessed of extraordinary powers which cannot be imitated. by any human agency. "one reporter, ap tofidel and an sb man tn, the highest sense, reported that these mediums wore honest, and ke corroborated the remarkabdie . avtributes claimed ty them. His were publisned extensively in many Of the city papers over @ year ago. Two otiers sent became spirit- nalists at the first sitting. One of them was iiited from tue oor While ip his chair; cnair like wise iifted, and held Op six tmches from the ni until E counted flity. Tois was im daylight, aod saw, a8 Well as the Others, taat OO physical humam being or appliance lilved th These been properly introduced and went ander honess. conditions, To the careful student the above 3 sumictent to show the position of An inquirer According to his own reports he himself pl nar ine ve y without givi irauduleat part He went as @ trickster, according to & natural law ‘ois own fluence magnetized the mediume pim of bis own Kind, and Of this tact be Can easily satisty bm by taking some horest people to those mediums, properly introduehg them, = ior the re- ault. As stated yelore, I also Ingni into these things mysel!, baving had over a hundred sit ta the mediutas reierred to, have the paper atmy own home, ‘nd tn co} ee ey answered ¥ y e' Ihave taken my OWn Siaty to Slade’s house ana rocured the mysterious writing Slade sat down to ¢ ble | This by hi him com aul answer ® sealed let'er, in my presence, without openiag tt! Writtya on m: re ae 00, “in quirer’’ cannot get/tais, He is notin a conditiom to receive truth datil be himself becomes trate fui. Spirits wiliuot, cxunot, force themselves any one till theydoor yy Let him take tear gt ttle yarn al at ne 0 ‘the pureand holy came to him. Pievanes is