The New York Herald Newspaper, February 21, 1875, Page 15

. NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2], 1875—QUADRUPLE SHEET. RELIGIOUS. INTELLIGENCE, Ministerial and Church Movements. *‘Prudentius” to His Critics--Wolff Defends Spiritualists. ‘Alleged Decline of Episcopacy—Is It True? PROGRAMME. OF SERVICES TO-DAY. The “month’s mind” for the late Father Woods ‘will be observed in St. Patrick’s Cathedral to-day. Dr. Ewer will resume his place in the chancel and pulpit of St. Ignatios’ Protestant Episcopal enurch to-day at the usual hours. The Rev. E. O. Sweetser will this evening ask the Third Universalist church ‘What Hinderst” In the morning Rey. A, Gunnison, of Brooklyn, will Preach. Im the Wainwright Memorial Protestant Epis- ‘copal church the Rev. H. C. Potter, D. D., will preach this evening and Rev. W. T. Egbert this morning. The Rev. C. 0, Tiffany will oMciate and preach this morning and afternoon in the Church of the Atonement, + “Ine Uses of Great Men” will be set forth in the “Ondtch of the Messiah this morning, and “Les- sons from Washington's Character” be drawn this evening by Rev. W. R. Alger. ‘This evening, in the Clermont avenue Univer- salist church, Brooklyn, the Rev. H.R. Nye will review Dr. Talmage’s sermon on “Universalism ‘vs. The Bible.” This evening the Rev. William Kiskins will treat of “Christian Compromise,” and in the Morning the Rev. R. Heber will preach in the An- thon Memorial church. Elder Marvin Lutz will talk about thieves this evening. , In the First Baptist church, Greenpoint, the Rev. D. Henry Miller, D. D., will preach at the usual ours this morning and evening. The Rev. George B. Porteus will repeat two ser- mons to-day, by special request, in Elm place church, Brooklyn, The Janes Praying Band, of Brooklyn, will con- cuct three services to-day in the Methodist Epis- copal church in Tuirty-fifth street, New York city. Henry Varley will preach this evening {ti Associ- ation Hall and give: Bible readings at four o’clock P.M. The Rev. Dr. Thompson will declare the ‘Uses of “Temptation” this morning in Christ church, and this evening will preach on “God and the Soul.” “How God Has Restored the Worship of the One ‘Catholic Church” will be detailed this evening in the Catholic Apostolic church by Rev. W. W. Andrews. The Rev, Dr. Tyng, of St. George’s church, will preach to the people this evening in the Church of the Holy Trinity. Preaching there also, morning and afternoon, by Dr. Howland and Dr. Rylance. “The Indictment Against Christ” will be consid- ered by Mr. Hepworth in the Church of the Dis- ciples this morning. The Rev. Dr. Dowling Will preach there in the evening on “The White-robed Multitude Before the Throne.” At Washington equare Methodist Episcopal church, this morning, the Rev. Dr. W. ii. Du Puy, Will preacn, and this evening the Rev. W.P. Abbott will preach. “Heaven” is the topic chosen by the Rev. George O. Phelps for thts evening’s meditation in Allen street Presbyterian churcn. Preaching also in the morning. Professor R. W. Hume will speak in Harvard Rooms this evening. In All Saints Protestant Episcopal church the Rey. W. B. Dunnell will preach at tne usual hours ‘tnis morning and evening. The Rev. P. L. Davies will preach in the Berean Baptist church this morning and evening. Dr. Talmage will discuss ‘‘Unitartanism vs. The Bibie’’ tnis morning in the Brooklyn Tabernacle. The Rev. J, M. Pullman will contrast the ‘Moral Influence of Universalism and Caivinism” this Morning in the Church of Our Saviour, and this evening will give a familiar talk to young peopic on “Realizable Ideas.” Dr. Deems, having returned from the South, will occupy the pulpit of the Church of the Strangers this morning and evening. ‘The “Gospel Feast,’’ will be spread this morning by Rev. K. S. McArthur in the Calvary Baptist church, This evening he will speak about the “1utroduction of the Gospel into Europe.” In the Church of the Disciples of Christ the Rev. D. R. Van Buskirk will preach tnis morning and evening. Th the First Reformed Episcopal church the Rev. ‘W. T. Sabine will preach this morning and even- ing at the usual hours, The Rev. W. H. Pendleton will occupy the pulpit of Fifty-third street Baptist church and preach this morning and evening. David Price’s Praying Band will conduct the ser- ‘vices all this day tn the Free Tabernacle Methodist Episcopal church, L. H. King, D. D., pastor. A service of song will be given in the Howard Mission chapel this alternoon by the children of ‘that institution. The Rey. Henry Varley, the English Evangelist, ‘will preach this morning in the Fifth Avenue Bap- tist church, and this eveving the Rev. Dr. Armi- tage will occupy the pulpit. “Songs of Sorrow” and “The Folly of Inde- Cision” will occupy the attention of Rev. W. P. Corbit, to-day, in the Seventh Avenue Methodist Episcopal charch, The Rev. Robert Cameron will preach this morn- ing and evening in Grace Baptist church. The Rey. Henry Varley will speak there in the aiter- noon. Mr. E. Y. Wilson will lecture for the Progressive ; Spiritvuaiists this morning and evening in their rooms in Fifty-third street. near Broadway. The Rev. 5, M. Hamilton wiil preach this morn- ing and afternoon in the Scotch Presbyterian eborch. The Rev. W. i. Boole will preach in Seventeenth street Methodist Eprscopal churca this morning and evening, at the usual hours. “The Oburcn’s Glory” will be considered tnis morning, by the Rev. J. 8. Kennard, and “Our Names Written in Heaven,” this evening, in the Pilgrin Baptist churen, Mr. W. E. Dodge and others will address the Morning Star Sunday Schoo! this afternoon. In St. John’s Methodist Episcopal charch, at the ‘usual hours to-day, the Rev. James M. King will preach. The Rev. J. B. HawtnorLe will preach on “Household Government’? this morning and on the “Advantages of Church Membership” this evening in the Tabernacie Baptist church, The Rev. Dr, Moran will describe ‘The Religious Work of To-day” and “The Incentives to Christian Labor,” tn the Forty-second street Presbyterian church, this morning and evening. In Zion Protestant Episcopal church this morn- ing and afternoon the Rev. Jonn N. Galleber wii officiate and preach, Dr. J. B. Wakeley will preach tn thé Eighteenth Street Methodist Episcopal church tuis morning and the Rev. M.S. Terry this evening on “The Beast anc the False Propnet,” in conunuation of his Apocalyptic series. “PRUDENTIUS” REPLIES TO HIS CRITICS. To THE Eprror or THR HERALD :— Witb your kind permission I shoulda wisn to answer in this letter your correspondent, “Uniric von Hutten,” and to reply to “Seeker of Light” in My next. This is a pleasure to me, because no offen- give personality intrudes itself on the pubiic at- tention, and I ¢m aliowed to induige in the luxury Of setting sincere inguirers forward on the road ‘a truth Such I take both your correspondents y. } Never in the whole history of the Church has to be, else they should not provoke me to one word in reply to them. I have never in your columns attempted to “define” the great doctrine of Pontifical infanibil- ity. The two first letters addressed-by me to the HERALD on the Gladstone-Manning controversy were in reply to editorial statements made by you, I did not presume to take up the contro- versy formally or officially, thinking, at the time, that to others in eminent position this belonged exclusively. In my third letter—Decemper 8—1 arraigned Mr. Gladstone for ill-faith or ignorance in mistranslating and misrepresenting the very Pontifical documents on which he based his “Ex- postulation.” My charges then made have since been amply sustained in Dr. Newman’s ex- haustive “Letter to the Duke of Norfolk,” and the positions taken on Civil allegiance in the two first letters are substantially the same maintained by Dr. Vaughan, Archbishop Manning, and, after all, by one whom no title can make greater—Dr. New- man himself. This much I say here, because the HERALD al- ways sets off the name of “Prudentius” over against “Definition of Papal Infallipility,’”” which I have left studiously alone. Next, as to the accusation of my misunderstand- ing the terms ‘Ultramonsane” and ‘Uitramon- tanist,” this may suffice. I objected to the superad- ding of the name ‘-Ultramontanist”’ to the familiar and definite one of ‘Ultramontane,” just as I, or even you, would object to the laying aside the ap- Pellation of “Watholic” for that of “Catholicist,” be- stowed upon the great old Church in spite or igno- Tance by some religious or political opponent, The name of “Ultramontane” was local; it desig- nated in France (never much in Germany) the Catholic theologian who upheld in all their legiti- mate length and breadth the traditional preroga- tives of the Roman See. Their opponents in France were denominated Citromantant, or Galli- cans. [t were useless now to discuss or explain terms, With all deference to “Uhiric von Hutten,” I do not admit that Ultramontanist is interchangeable for Ultramontane. 1 simply affirm two things— that there exists no longer in St. Sulpice or in the Sorboune, the great nurseries of Gallicanism, one single professor who still maltotains the old Gal- can doctrines, or who has not adopted with heartfelt acquiescence the Ultramontane or Roman doctrine of Bellarmine as defined by the Council of the Vatican; and next, that in the French hierarchy not one individual 1s to be found at this day who does not, with Bishop Dupanioup (the foremost and most eloquent defender of Gallican- ism), adopt the doctrines defined in the constitu- tion Pastor Aternus of July, 1870, as Vatholic and reveaiéd trata. “Uhiric von Hutten” judges me wrongly if he thinks that I have been needless of the revolu- tions, political or religious, which have been or are taking place in European Christendom. Ihave livea too long in Europe, and bad too favorable oppor- tunities of observation, not te read “tue signs of ine times.” Nor the “unification” of italy, por that of Germany, bor the upheaval which upset the Second Empire in France, and alternately overthrew and restored the Bourbons in Spain, have been unforeseen or unfuretold by me, “though claiming to be neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet.” Nay, more, when, during the session of the Englisn Parliament of 1865, my friend the Right Hop. William Monsell (now Baron Emly) introduced ots bill for the repeal of the test oath imposed on Catholics and otner dis- senters, whatI heard and saw in the House of Commons 8t its second reading made me fee! con- vinced that @ tidal wave was rising in English politics which would sweep away, not merely the test oath, but both the Irish and English establish. meats. This my friends here and in England Know to have been my proclaimed conviction. You can say at this distance of time whether I was biind or not to “the signs of the times.” There are Other Momentous changes coming iu England, and coming inevitably—one can see them advancing with the steaay, iron cold- ness which marks the progress of an express loco- motive on @ midnight train. God knows, I do not desire these changes. 1 would fain see England and France strong by internal union and political unity of purpose, because on their being supremely great and retpecerant in_ European politics depends the stability of peace in Christen- dom, as well a8 the sure progress of Ubristian eivilization. Lam tree to confess, too, that another dream was caressed by me during my lonz stay on tne Con- tinent of Kurope—that of seelng the Iberian and Italian peninsulas restored to their former place of power while cherishing toeir hereditary venera- tion for the Catholic Charch and the Holy See; that of seeing the great German race united tna contederacy like our Own, eschewing centraliza- tida ol power as between themselves, but organ- ized so freely and so strongly as to external na- tious that they could act likea unit Jor de ensive or aggressive purposes, I say notaing of Ireland, Poland or Russia, And, let me say it here, I knewthen as! know now, with the distinctness with which I perceive my own existence, that in all these aspirations aud wishes my heart was in unison with the Holy | See, and especially with the venerable Pountif, | whose length Of years is not more extraordinary than his love of popuiar liberty, popular rights and navional greatness among all peoples is notorious. All this, I feel it, is very imperiectly and loosely exXprogsed; but time fails me todo better, anda something within me urges me to write it Low. No, we Catholics are not blind tg what is p ing at the surface of things in the wide world wu Teligion and politics. We see that the first act o1 the great social revolution accomplisned tn tne sixteenth century is followed im our own days by a second act. The first severed the union of Unris- tendom under the pretext of reiormation; the second is destroying Christianity itseli under the pretext of social regeneration and progress, The organization of the German Emvire is now made the prevext or the occasion of utterly bior- tng out in Germany tne rights and liberties of Catholics as such. Chancellor and Emperor, as well as the majority in the Imperial Reichstag, are used as blind tools by radicalism and revolution. Emperor and Chancellor will, within the next two decades, become names of the pastin Gerinany, just as tne miserable puppets of royaitv are sure to disappear in Spain and Italy. Woo that bas looked beneath the suriace of European society does uot know and say this? Who that bas taken but one peep into those subterranean abodes where the heads of Italian, Spanish, German and French radicalism meet aad conspire, does not know that the official Christendom 01 to-day is intriguing, lying, tyrannizing over one vast pow- der magazine, which may blow up at any moment? | But when it does—when thrones go down and Hieertifee disappear—will the Roman. See or the Uhurch of God disappear in the convulsion? We Cathblics think not, We know she bas survived more leariul convulsions, and that in the midst of @ desolation more utter even and widespread | vhan that whicn is at hand she remained as tie | sole saving, enligntening and regenerating social | jorce. No, We tear neither Von Bismarck nor Wubeim I, The Church, our great Mother, wiil Say # requiem over the grave of the German Chan- cellor, ag she did over Pombal’s corpse, unburied | tor fiity years; she will bury the German Empire. as she buried the Roman and the Greek and the French. But she knows, as we know, that the | Roman people and the German and the French will outlive dynasties and empires, and still look im their need to the Church that has been to them the source of civilization, of true and certain knowledge tn laws, morals and arts; tn all that makes life happy here and lifts the hopes of man bes ond this present existence, This knowledge, this happinoss, this certain basis of all progress and prosperity, neither radicalism, nor revolutionism has yet supplied to @ single nation or @ single tribe. “Uhiric yon Hutten” is utterly mistaken when he says or supposes that the Vatican decrees have created @revolution within the Church, and made the whole body of Catholics take up the position oc- cupied before by an extreme and paitry taction. There has been less Of commotion, less of trouble, dissension or discussion even than when, in 315, the majority in the first Nicene Council condemned the large and poweriul Arian minority headed by the favorite 0: Constantine, and soon to be backed by all the tmperial power in the hands of the sons ana successors of Constantine. There pas been less of revolution, far less, than when Nestor- janism was condemned at Ephesus, inspite of What appeared to be soon aiterward an over- whelming majority. there been so peaceful a settlement of a great religious aiMculty, and 80 spontaneous and unani- mous acquiescence of the entire body of the episcopate and the faithful. If “Uhiric vou Hutten” will only refresh his historical recollec- tions /e will feel less inciined to pin his faith to | the creed of the “Old Catholics” or to believe that | either Prince von Bismarck or the New York HERALD 18 more infallibly assistea in discerning the present interes: r forecasting the iucure welfare of mankind ti the Church which in herits Christ’s promises, or the Pontiff! to who: was committed, in Peter, the care of the entire human iamily. PRUDENTIUS, 18 EPISCOPACY DECLINING ? Since the adjournment of the General Conven- tion of the Protestant Episcopal Church, which sat in this city last fail, there have been three or four elections of bishops to dloceses created anew or made vacant by death, but in every case the candidates have dectined the office and the honor, Notaviy among these declinations are Dr. Potter, of this city; Dr, Huntington, of Massachusetts, and Dr. Coleman, 0! Ohio. As might be supposed, 4 cause for these refusals was sought by the Church and the Church press. Dr, Hugh Miller Thompson, of this city, than whom no presbyter im the Church is more watchtul of the interests of the denomination, nor does any Wield @ more ready pen, in a recent number of bis Paper, the Church Journal, endeavored to account for this almost unknown experience tn the Charch, , The cousideration of this subject very naturally led also toa review of the “rowth of the Church. be and tne statistics plainly enough indicated the policy of the Uhurch in dividing dioceses, and multi- plying bishops did not conserve or advance the Interests of the denomination, The findings in the case and the reasons for the same were given im the Journal, but they appear not to have ex. cited any comment. But when Dr. Ynompson ad- dresses his brethren in their monthly gathering on the same subject and his address gets into the HERALD there 1s a general outcry raised. ‘THE GENERAL CONVENTION created vacancies lor six or eight new bishops and stopped in Its work only by the expiration of time, as it were. The result, as deciared in the Church papers, now 1s that some parishes contain more wealth and have many more communicants than can be found in some ol the new dioceses, Notably ts this the fact in the new diocese of Fond du Lac, to which Dr. Coleman had been elected, Bisdops can no more live on the wind than pres- byters, and those who have declined episcopal honors doubtiegs Rave Bad domestic comfort in view as well as the affections and ties of present charges. But the progress of ritualism in the Church is considered by Dr. Thompson and Dr. Joon Cotton Smith and many other eminent min- isters of the denomination a bar to its growth here, and they have sostated. A vestryman of All Saints’ church agrees with Drs. Tnompson and Smith, and any persons who were present in the General Convention when the canon on ritual was passed will remember that the committee urged its adoption on the ground of its negative- ness. The opposition to it from the ritualist side of the house compelled its modification so as to Temove the prohibitory clauses and substitute per- Missive ones. And the opposition that it received on its final passage was trom Low Churchmen mainly, who had no faith in negotiations, and demanded some unmistakable voice of the Churen, through its highest authority, on this subject. Certain clergymen of the Churcn have been interviewed lately in regard to Dr. Thomp- son’s statements and Mr. McDonough’s letter, but they almost, with one voice, declare that RITUALISM 18 DYING OUT, and if left alone it will be dead in a jew years. Dr. Drowne, Dr. Schenck, Dr. Paddock and’ others, of Brooklyn, declare that ritualism does not exist in that diocese, and that it is decituing and not increasing in the United States. But the many secessions irom the ministry of the Church since the adjournment 0! the Convention and the rapid progress of the Reformed Episcopal Church seem to tell a different tale concerning the general Church. Dr. Hall, of Brooklyn, whv is a remarka- bly low Churchman, thinks ritualism is » matter O1 taste or of discipline jor individual churches and rectors, and with which none others have any business to meddle. But this can nardly be, &ccording to the constitution or discipline of the Church; for what affects one member of the de- nominational body must aifect allin a greater or lesser degree, In last week’s issue of Church and State Dr. John Cotton Smith expresses his belief that Dr. Thompson is entirely right in his assignment of the Romeward dritt of the Protestant Hpiscopal Church as a cause of its decline. And he adds, of Pr) own gdservation, that the tmpression of this rift has unquestionably been a most serious hin- drance to the Church’s growth, espeueny 1m por tions of the country where it has been less Known, The recent election of Dr. De Koven to the episcopate of Illinois will scarcely help to allay the fears of Low Churchmen concerning the drift of the Chure), and the discussion of the subject promises to widen rather than diminish iu volume and ex- tent since it has obtained currency through the secular press, The Church Conierence have de- cided to resume the discussion of it at their next meeting, and our readers wiil see that it com- mands the attention of presbyters and people out- side of New York and Brooklyn. LEIBNITZ ON THE POPE. To THR Epiror o¥ THE HERALD:— It will doubtless interest such ef your numerous readers as know of Leibnitz and the position almost unparalleled, which he holds among in- tellectual stars of the first magnitude, to learn what were the opinions of that most consummate jumgpt, mathematician, philosopher and theologian ie question Of Papal authority. I need not here do more than allude to the ‘union of the churches,’ which Letbnitg strove to bring about. I will merely add that, like the celebrated states- man, Edmund Burke, he had projected that uoton on a purely Catholic basis. The pursuit of this matter led him to a thorough examination of the Catholic doctrine, the result of which he em- bodies in his “Systema Theologicum.” ‘This work, although written by a champion of Protestantism (vide Leibnitz’s dispute with Bossuet, 1691 to 1694, the famous Cardinal Archoishop of Méaux), 1s, nevertheless, an epitome of sound Catholic theology. It is from the latter and the “De Jure Suprematus,” as also his correspond- ence (Kortholt), that the subjoined facts are taken. [n his treatise, “De Jure Suprematus,” Leibnitz represents the primacy of the Pope as dating “irom the earliest times,’’ and recognizes itas “of divine right and origin.” In tne thirty- first chapter of the same work he calis tne Pope “tne vicar of God,” and adds ‘that he has full power from God to work the salvation of souls.’ In the thirty-tbird chapter Leibnitz ms in- dignantly, “What a thing to boast ol!—rovbing | the Pope of Rome of his treedom—he who ts the originator of public Itberty!” He writes to the | Landgrave of Hesseh-Rheinfelds in 1683 that “tue hierarcny is a matter of common jurisprudence, because a director o1 the bisuops and priests 13 necessary.” On the 29th 01 september, 1691, Leib- nitz writes to bossuet (who, by the way, was suspected of Gallicauism) tiat 4t be- longs to His Holiness to acknowledge and contirm bishoys.”” | Com now ‘to the “systema’’ we find saying, alter | qavting @ long array of testimony {n support of what he advunces:—‘‘Romanum ceterorum prin- | cipem merito agnoscimus,” “we recognize the | Roman (bishop) as bemg deservedly the chiet of | tne rest.’ He adds:—‘‘/iaque saltem illud certum | esse debet in omnibus que moram concilit uni- | versalis non fuerunt aut concilium universale non merentur, interim eadem (eandem ?) esse episcoporum principts sive pontijvis maximi po- wstatem que totius ecceisi@.” (Kd, Mainz, 1825, page 29.) Anglicé:—“Hence this at least must be accepted as certain, that in all that cannot be de- jerred to & universal Council, or that may not de- serve @ universal council, the first of tae bishops or the supreme Ponti, has, meanwnlie, tie same power as the whole Church.” In the eighta letter (Pema) the jollowing passage, “Circa Jus Romant Pontificis occurs—“Cum Deus sit Deus ordinis, et corpus unius ecclesie Catholice et aposiMice uno regimine, Hierarchiaque unwwersalt continendum | Juris divini sit consequens est, ut ejusdem sit juris | supremus ines spirituals magisiratus.” “since | uod is a God of order and sinve the body of the | one Churcn—Catholic or Apostolic—wanich must | \ ve held together by one regulation and a universal hierarchy, is of divine right, itfollows that there isin it, of the same right, a supreme spiritual magistrate.’” From these extracts it would appear that Letb- nitz, who Was Unquestionably the greatest genius and soundest thiuker Germapy ever produced, and who was, besides, an apologist of Protestant- ism, held vieWSs as strougly ultramontane on this great papal question as if he were a Catholic tiving in 1874, ratner than a Protestant writing in we latter part of the seventeenth century |* SUB NIVE. For still more startling details touching this question of Papal authority see Leibnita’s “Codex diplowaticas juris gentium,” and his letters collected by Kurthoik. MINISTERIAL AND CHURCH MOVE- MENTS. ROMAN CATHOLIC. The Dominican Fathers Daly, Bokel and Hoban, O. P., close @ mission in Hamiiton, Canada, to-day, and this week open one in Rutland, Vi. Revs, Power, Lilly, McKenna and Dinahan, O. P., are holding @ mission this week in Washington, D. 0. At its close they will open one in St. Paul's church, Brooklyn. The Rev. Father Petri, of Baitimore, who has been for some time at the point of death, is now improving so that hopes of his speedy recovery are entertained. Rey. Father J. Noonan, of St. Francis Xavier's church, Baltimore, has been chosen Provincial of | the Mission to the Colored People of this country. | A Jesuit mission is now being conaucted in St. | Francis Xavier's church, New York city, by Father | Glackmeyer and others. It will close next Sun. dag, 28th inst, 5 | Last week Messrs. Ward and Smith, of St. Mary's Seminary, Baitimore, were ordained to the priest hood, | In the Kingdom of Belgium there are at present | 4,000 monks and 17,100 nuns, 178 monasteries and | 1,144 nunneries. ‘ | The Rev. J. O'Farrell, of the Church of the Visita | tion South Brooklyn, 1s rapidly recovering from | is late tliness, The Redemptorist Misston, recently closed tn | the Church of the Sacred Leart, East Boston, re- suited in making twelve converts, 256 confirmed and 2,000 communions. The following appointments nave been made tn i the Catholic blerarchy of America, besides those already announced:—The Rev. James A. Healey, of Boston, has been made Catholic Bishop of Port- | land, Me.; Very Rey, Thomas Galberry, the An- gustinian, Bishop of Hartiord; J. J. Kain, of Har- per’s Ferry, Bishop of Wheeling; Rev. Krautbayer, | | on the site of the slave market. Oo! Milwaukee, Bishop of Green Bay; Rev. Hurley, of Peoria, Bishop of a seo created for that cit Rev. John Ireiand. of St. Paul, Ming, Vicar Apos- tolloof Nebraska; Abbot Seidenbush, the Benedic- tine, Vicar Apostolic tor @ part of Minnesota. The Oblate Fathers, from Lowell, have jast brought to aclose a most successful mission of two weeks in St. Luke’s church, Westboro, Mass, At the request of the Rev. Father Patterson these same fathers opened a mission on last Sunday in St. John’s church, Ohnton. From thence they will to St. Aun’s church, Worcester, of which the v. Father Scannell is pasior. Re’ J. McManus, of St. John’s church, Balt!- More, who is travelling in Europe for hia aealth’s sake, 1s at Nice, Itaty, greatly improved. The new Church of St. James, in Boston, will stand almost unique and unrivalled in the whole country a3 @ pure classical basilica. Unfinished as if pow. es one. of the most beautiiul ate Of Massuchusetts. It 18 112 Jeet and its width 80 feet, gh vreciae ‘The recewtly arrived missionaries to the colored eople have gone to their respective flelds of labor, Revs. schmidt and Murphy have gone South, to replace Father Tolcni, woo returns to the Jesuits, of Baltimore, has gone to Rev. Richard Gore, Louisville, Ky., to labor, and Father Homan re- mains tn Baltimore, to carry on the work in St. Francis Xavier’s church, in that city, Rev. Father Kelly, the first priest to organize a Catholic church at Sait Lake City, has been a polnies ne Pastorate of St. Brenaan churcb, reka, Nev. The Presbyterian church at Middleport, Niagara county, N. Y., has been sold to the Catuolics for $1,750. A special despatch trom the Rey. Charies Mur- ray aunounces the death, on the morning of Mon- day, February 15, of tne Right Rev. Dr. Buran, late Bishop of Kingston, in Canada West. BAPTIST, Dr. Falton, of Brooklyn, now travelling tn the South, writes to the Eraminer and Chronicle of this city that Dr. Thomas D, Anderson, of the First Baptist church, whose resigaation as pastor Was recently announced, is to succeed Dr. Parker he a ea eee im Waylana Seminary, Wash- ven, D. - The Kev. Dr. Wilson has reaigned the pastorate of Grace street Baptist church, Richmond, Va. The Rev. James McWhinnie, of New York, has just settled as pastor over the Free street Baptist church, Portiand, Me. Anew Baptist church was organized in Den- mark, N. J., on the llth inst. Its recognition by Council will take place on the 22a inst, The Baptist Pastors’ Conterence last Monday discussea the practicability of the free pew system in she churches, and the majority seemed to be in 8 favor. The Rev. B. B. Gibos, of Spencer, N. Y., will as- sume the duties of tor of the Melrose Baptist chureb, New York City, lately vacated by Rev. F. E. Osborne, of Hoboken. Filteen converte have recently been added to the churca, which now humbers seventy-five, ‘fhiriy recent converts are reported in the First Bante churea of Newburg, Rey. J. Q. Adams, pastor. Rey. B. A. Francis, who has lahored as an Fvan- gellst lor twenty years, has bedn latd aside by Sickness since the close of bis meetings at Ketch- umviile in November. He is now reported con- valescent; but there 18 little prospect of his being able to engage in further labors this winter. A_poweriul revival is progressing in tne church at Norwich, Rev. L. M.S, Haynes, pastor. There are now about 100 converts, among wuom are thirty young men, Tne Croton church, in Flemington, N, J., is en- joying @ gracious revival in connection with the labors o! Rev. G. F. Love, of Deckertown. Some twenty-five have proiessed conversion. Mr. Love has just accepted @ call to the pastorate of this church. Rev. A. H. Esiey resigns at Westborough, Mass., and Rev. E. H. Smith at Plainfleld, N. H. The Rev. Almond Barrelle, of Melrose, has re- signed his pastoral charge. ‘ne First Baptist society of Woourn, Mass., has aavenued @ cail to Rev. Edward Mulls, of Rutland, te The Greenwood Baptist church, Brooklyn, ex- pect to Jedicate their new church home on Mon- day, Washington’s Birthday, It 18 understood that the Rev. J. L. Hodge, D. D., will take oharge of the new church lately sormed at Bowronville, Brooklyn, N. Y. ‘The First Baptist church, Elizabeth, N. J., have abolished pew rents and venvured on weekly of- terings instead, The olauge, at the start, cer- tainly promises well. ‘The Rev. T. R. Howlett has tendered his resig- marion ce the Second Baptist churcb, Plain held, N. J. Dr. Goodspeed, of Chicago, has received from his churci one year’s vacation, with salary paid, to enable nim to recruit his healtn, Tne Baptists are to hold their anniversariés in Philadelphia next May. Rev. W. B. Skinner has resigned at Providence, Beaver county, Pa, and goes to the First cnurch, Hubbard, Ono, In the three years of bis pastorate at Providence about 100 were added, EPISCOPALIAN. The host of triends and aamurers of Rev. 5. H. Tyng, Jr., D. D., will be giad to learn that he ts recovering. He hus been prostrated with brain congestion, caused by overwork in nis various charch enterprises. ‘The number o! ministers on the sick Mst seems toincrease. Bishop Helmuth, of Huron, Canaca, tne Rev. W. Davis, of Wingham, and the rector of Wakerton, in the same auocese, are off duty on ac- count 01 sickness, The Rev. William A. Hitchcock has resigned bis pastorate o! Christ church, Binghamption, N. Y., and accepted that of Trinity church, Pittsburg, Pa., on which be will enter on March 1, ‘The Rev. R. R, Mason resigns at St. James’ church, Monkton, Md., probably to go to Holy Cross churcn, near Baltimore, whose pulpit the Key. F, &. Dunnam resigns, to take & charge in Western New York. the Rev. William S. Spiers has resigned the rec- torsiip of Grace church, Canton, Miss., and ac- cepted an election to Christ church, Ottawa, Lil, te has entered upon bis duues at the latter face. Pipromn February 21 to February 28 a mission 1s to be held at Thomaston, and from March 7 to March 14 at Wiscasset, Me. The clergy combine and help one another at these missions, and the results, so | tur aa this system has been carried on, have been all that could be desired, An extreme rituatist, the Rev. Alfred Newde- gute, vicar of Kirk Hallam, Derbyshire, Eng., has joined the Churen of Rome. Mr. Newdegate was Secretary (lor the diocese of Lichfield) of the So- clety lor the Propagation of the Gospel, also of the Courch Extenstun Soctety. The Rev. Henry Forrester, Superintendent of St. Paul’s Associate Mission, Terry, Miss., has been invited by the Bishop elect of Arizona and few Mexico to accompany him to his new fleld of avor. @ The Rev. Mr. Catheil, of Baltimore, ts still in Georgetown, D. C., quite ill with inflammation of the brain. ‘There are two Eptscopal churches tn Maine with- out ; pastors—one at Camden and another at vulton. Good work 18 being done and ts to be done by Bishop Steere, of the Church of England, who suc- ceeded Bishop Tozer in the diocese of Zanzibar. He intends to esiaplish missions On the shores of Lake Nyassa, He desires also to erect a church, aschooi and & hospital in the town of Zanzibar, ‘The education and care of released siaves will form part of nis work. METHODIST. Graham avenue Methouist church, Brooklyn, BE. D., over which Brother Konklia is pastor, is en- joying a very precious revival. Twenty-six con- verts were enrolled last Lord's day. The Methodists of Bathurst, N. B., British North America, are erecting a church building which they eXpect to Bave ready ip the early spring time. ‘The next session of the Jersey City District Con- ference Will be held at Hackensack, in the new pia on February 23 and 24, R. Vanborne pre- siding. At the time of the breaking out of the late civil war bot the Presbyverian and Metnodist churches separated tuto North and South branches respect- ively, and each bas been looking atits neighbor askance with @ view to union. Methodist caurches, North and South, have ap- pointed & commission of nine trom each body with power to submit the terms of union te 4 genoral convention, The convention will meetin Abing- don, Va., on the first Monday in May, 1875, According to the Rev. Dr. J. P. Newman, who has travelled around the world, and spent a littie time in China, the State religion of that empire ts formalism, Confucianism ts idolatry, Tanism ts superstition and Buddhism ts fanaticism. The jaith of whe people ts protean. China 1s a vast Pantheon, wherein are ail the gods. Carroll Park Methodist Episcopal charch, Brook- lyn, orgauized two years ago wit five members, as now a membership of 135 and church property valued at $35,000—all paid for. Anew Metuodist Episcopal church in Kanona, N. ¥., will be dedicated on Wednesday next. Another at Ox Bow, N. Y., will be dedicated on Thursday, Anew church at Hammondton, N. Y., was dedicated on lJast Thursday. A new church at Arlington, in the suburbs o! wark, N. J., will be dedicated to-day, The Virginia Conference, now in session at Ports- mouth, reports 1,167 probationers, 5,240 church members, sixty local and fity-five traveling preachers, eighty-four churches and ten parson- ages, valued at $131,175; seventy-seven Sunday schools, with 3,054 scholars and teachers. In Flees street Methodist Episcopal church, Brookiyu, 60 converts are reported recentiy; in the Gothic church, Brooklyn, KE. ., Jo; im Eaghteenth street, Brooklyn, 40, and in Old ban, 50. ghe aunuai reports of the publishers of the Methodist Book Concern in this city presented to the Book Committee last week represents the ag- sregated sales at New York and Cincinnati dur- ing the past year at $1,652,048 50. being an in- crease over the sales of the previous year of $92,639 69, notwithstanding the depression in business, at. MISCELLANEOUS. The English Congregationai Year Book reports 7,614 churches tn the world. ev. Mr. Stone ts a Congregationalist minister of Rochester, N. Y. He ts an intense prohibruonist, His zeal has given great offence to sume members of his parish, and to get ria of bim his salary has been cut down. He announces his purpose to stand by the “stuf.” Oursiders, liking bis piuck, have drought the salary up to the old point. Rev. Dr. Quint’s annual stavement of the strength and condition of tue Congregational churcves 10 this country puts the membersnip of ; the denomination at 330,39 —a net increase of 6,712. The jarger gains were in New York, Massa- cbusetts, Ono, Michigan, lowa, Wisconsin, Mis- sour, Minnesotta and Connecticut There was a net loss of 506 in Vermont, once @ stronghold of the denomination; o1 118 in Tilinois and 68 in New Hampshire. The net increase in the membershi was forty per Gent larger than that of the preced- Wwe year, The number of now churches was 150; And now the | the number dropped was 52, Of the new churches, 62 are west of the M: Pl an evidence that home missionary ave mot been idle, The in~ crease in the membership of Sabbath schoois 1as been nearly 15,000; the falling off in the contribu- Mons for benevolent purposes was about $25,000. Rev. Mr. Thatcher, of Wareham, Mass., nas ‘own Old and blind in the service of his navie longer to serve his people, he resigned. His parish came together, and refused to accept the resignation. They saia ‘ou gave us your youth and your strength and we willstand by you how that you are old and blind.” A correspondent rovores the recent baptism tn Campsie Parish church, Glasgow, Scotland, of an entire Jewish family, consisting of seven persons, all converts to Christianity. Sir Moses Montefiore, the venerable advocate of the Jews, has issued a circular letter, in which he urges the colonization of Palestine and the en- couragement oi Jewish agricuiturists and me- chanics. Dusee revival still in progress in Blue Mouo- tain, N. Y., the Reformed church in that place has Tecelved an accession of eighty converts. Rev. Jon Hart, of Locust Valley, Long Island, has received and accepted a call to the Kefurmed cuurch of Nesnaaic, N. J. ‘The Universalist church in Albany 1s tn financial trouble, with a morgage Of $15,000 pressing upon it. Five thousand doilars ai pede lunmediately s ands, Rev. G. W. Bailey b: jigned his pastorate of the Universalist caurch, Morriavi.le, Vt. Mr. A. R. Williams was ordained and installed Pastor of the Universalist church in Athens, N. Y., on Tuesday last. The Urthodox Russian Church, according to a recent oficial report, tn 1873 had 54,062,003 pro- fessed adherents. Its administration inciuded three metropolitan bishops, nineteen archbishops, thirty-five bishops and twenty-seven vicars— Episcopal. The Church is dt d into sixiy eparchies, one of which 1s ip Amer! The Rev. Thomas &. Pynchon, D. D., “Scovill Professor of Chemistry and Natural Science," has been elected President of Trinity College, Hart ford, Conn, A correspondent in Texas writes to know “what relation, ff any, by blood or marriage, exists be- tween Archbishop Manning ana Mr. Gladstone ?” Perhaps some of our correspondents can answer jury. The Kev. John Howard Smith, formerly rector of the Episcopal church on Washington Heights, New York, and reoan hy, rector of the Episcopal church at Knoxville, Tenn, has accepted the unanimous call of the Reformed Episcopal church in Newark, N. J. MODERN SPIRITUALISM. ‘MfEDIUMS NOT EXPOSED”—MR, WOLF¥'S REPLY TO INQUIRER. To tng EprTor oF THE HERALD:— We have veen go often exposed, vilifed and misrepresented of late, by writers in the HERALD and other papers, that we are impelled to ask, what your sense of Justice will not deny, a place in your paper, to set these nuisances right. The labored effort of An Inquirer” ts so fair a sample of the class he represents, as well as the ordinary fulminations of pulpit and press, that we select it tor special criticism :— 1, Tis writer affirms “‘an expressed desire that some honest investigation should ve had.” = pat the purse 18 » condition Oo! any investi- gation. 3. That no form of religion has sssumed such Proportions in 8o short a time. 4. Chat faith in it becomes & fanaticism, em- bracing all phases o1 mind. 5, That mediums taking pay are usually trauau- lent 6. That there are honest mediums and believers who produce lacts which cannot be ignored and challenge investigation. 7, That he and his sctentific confederates know nothing about the cause of these puzzling facts, but Dope some day that they will find taeir solu- tion In ap ‘honest science,” and that some me- diums do not caarge a price. 8, And finally, that he bumseilf (or berself) 1s not an honest, competent investigator. We reply to these assertions :— 1, That the tacts of Spiritualism have al- Ways been open to fair and honest tnvesti- gation. without money or price, for the public good; that thousands of mediums never charge; that pay mediums devote a large sbare of their time without compensation; that nearly all mediums, without regard to compensation, yield to these invisible powers with great reluctance; that the world, scientific, theological and illiter- ate, have conspired to crush the phenomena and their subjects out of existence. It will be remem- vered that the “Fox girls’ came from their homes to New York city in the very beginning, and sub- mitted to the most rigid ordeal of a committee, of which Horace Greeley and otver prominent Liter- ary men were members. The result was pubushed and signed by all its members. To this we may add that “fair and honest’? in- vestigators have no occasion to depend upon speculative or amateur mediums, out may at any ume arrange the conditions which will give them the facts in their own homes; and bence this charge of unfairness and disnonesty is simply to cover up ignorance and conceit. 2 ‘rhousands of persons equally competent and honest as “inquirer,” have had satisfactor: tests through the mediums, specially denounce on ex parte testimony, as obtaining money on fraudulent pretences. Moreover, neither this man, nor auy Other 1s compelled to go io eitner o1 the parties named, ° & Qhere 18 no class of people who have less superstition or fanaticism than Spiritualists. ‘Lhey are in nowise religionists, and they are, for the most part, rationalists in the highest and most complete sense. fo them Spiritualism 1s a fact, and has @ science, challenging the closest scrutiny’ by competent and honest inquirers. That they are deceived at times, and that persons similate tbe phenomena we lave never denied. Whatever of fact or philosophy has been evolved ts due, not to scientists or our investigators, Dut to a persist- ent determination on tne part o! its friends to Know the whole truth regardless of cost. Re- lgion 18 Matter of jaith, and not of demonstration aud philosophy, and hence addresses itsell, not to the senses or understanding, but to the credultty and superstition of the ignorant. There is no ex- isting or obsolete question of religion that has so little blind belief, unreasoning credulity and wild lanaticism as this new gospel, which supports its thesis by facts, present to tue senses, In the Me ¢ Quarterly, August, 1852, the editor, Dr. McClintock, in reviewing Bledsoe’s at- tempt to reconcile the existence Of moral evil with the acknowledged attributes of God, says, substantially, ‘Religion is not a matter to be rea- soned o} we have to do is to take God at His word and travel on.”” And Bledsoe, after spotling several hundred es 1b proving the ignorance Of all his theological predecessors, ends by telling us that “God, seeing that more good would result irom making man lable to moral evil, took the re- sponsibility and made him so.’ We want tt dis tinctly Understood that we are ready at all times to compare no‘es. Has it never occurred to our accusers and traducers that there are such things as fanatical scepticism, Uratioual iationalism and scientific iguoramuses? 4. When men talk about the sctentific investiga- tion of phenomena, of whica theie is as yet no science in the technical sense, and of the lacts of which they have no knowledge, they talk like fools. These carpers and hypercritics opposed animal magnetism, clairvoyance and other sclences in the same way, and will likely continue in tnis line to the end of their time. When scientists have learned to suppress opinions until they nave knowledge of tacts taey will be entitled to more courtesy and credence. It does not fol- low that a man who makes material science a specialty 18 tuereby qualified to investigate phe- nomena oO] & duplex coaracter, material and mental And & man ia especially disqualifed who practises fraud and utters lies for the truths’ sake. Some of the old ecclesiastics taught this kind of morality, but it Illy betits tnia age or the demands ol truth. “Inqairer”’ coniesses that ne did allin his power to mislead and deceive the spirits in and out of body, and then turns and denounces the me- diums tor doing the very Ge he and his friends did! It 18 not necessary to he or cheat in order to detect irauds, and those who use such methods Bre uot qualifed to periorm well toeir sell-ap- pointed duty. He is “willing to believe on sucn testimony as every honest and truth loving man has aright to demand,” but he wholly faila to show what the rights of honest, truthful men are in this case. And he maniiests wiliul ignorance or great perversity in assuming that the ‘tanatics”’ wil meet him with the assertion that scepticism breaks the charm or is deceiving spirits. On the contrary, Spiritualists assume that “a rational doubt Is the beginning of wisdom, and nothing deserves credence which cannot be de- monstrated.” No honest man assumes the dishon- esty of others tn the absence of proof, and the highest morality will not doevil that good may come. ‘There is still another side to this subject, It 1s now conceded, after twenty-five years of insensi- bie negation on the part of the rational and scien- fic, that there are facts which are not frauds, Hitherto they have denied all genuine facts, Having conceded this much, and reiused our ex- planation, they are obitged to give a better, strictly in accord with scten Come, gentlemen, try your hands, Select your suvjects—develop your mediums, free from suspicion. Produce your jucis aud give us the law ana philosophy. You will do the World and us a great service; and surely you will consent to no fraud, fiction, tallacy or, lanaticism. Cease your fault Onding and slanders, aud address your torce to the more honorable and usviu) wok of @ scientific explication of the puzziing fact@ you cannot deny. When you have sSettied the mystery of these you will be better qualified to perform the same service for still wore occult phenomena, . B. Ww. Un behalf of the Firat Society of Spirituatists of New York, THE POPE ON INFALLIBILITY. HE DOES NOT POSSESS THE RIGHT OF DEPOSING LAY SOVEREIGNS, His Holiness the Pope recently delivered an ad- dreas to the “Academy of the Catholic Religion,” the text of which has been republished by the Journal of Florence. In the course of tt the Holy Father made the following remarks on the ques- tion of infallibility :— Among the diferent subjects which you will have to treat there is Cop which se to me of special importance, und that is to thy the ofturts that are being made io Jalsify the 15 idea of Pontifical infalithiltty. Of all these that which seems whe fullest of malice'conslets ia atiributing to the infallibility of the Pope the right of deposing sovereigns and of absolring subjects from their allegiance, Without doubt this rigot has sometimes been exercised by the Popes in their supreme ‘uggies, but it never had anything in common with their infallibility, and its source was not in infallivility but im the Pontifical authority. Moreover, the exercise of the right in the of fatth—when men recog- nized in the Pope what he really is, the eupreme Judge of Christendom, apd acknowledged the ad- vantages of bis tribunal for the solution of greag questions arising between people and their sover- eigns—the exercise of that right spread itself, seconded as it ought to haveebeen by pubic law and the general agreement of the nationalities, to the gravest interests of the States and their chiefs, The conditions of the present day are greatly changed, and only malice can coniound two things so different—infailibility in regard to revealed principies, and the right which the Pope exercised in virtue of their authority when thi Wellare of society demanded it, Our enemies know this-a8 wel: as we, and itis easy to see why they call up this confusion of tdeas and put _for- ward bypasheses in which nobody believes, They invent these pretexts in order to afilict us and to exclie princes against the Church, There are some who wish I should explain and render still more clear the definition oj the Council, | will not do it. it is clear enough in itself, and has no need of further explanations or commentaries, AN IRISH EDITOR AGAINST A JESUIY PRIEST. {From the Wellington (New Zealand) Times, De- cember 21.) A curious action is likely soon to engage the attention of the Victorian law courts. an action has been brought by Mr. M. O’Keilly. proprietor of the late Arishman newspaper, against the Rev. J. O'Malley, S. J., for slander and conspiracy with others to suppress that journal by denunciation from the altar, The case would have been pro- ceeded with long since but for the absence of ight Rey. Bishop Goold from the colony, he bein; @D important witness in the cage. ‘The allege slander and conspiracy refer to Certain proceed- ings at @ spiritual retreat of the clergy, when they - Were exuorced by Father O’Maliey, wi0 actea for Dr. Goold, to pronibit the circulation of the Jrish- man tor asserting that it was nota “Drum Ec- ciesiastic’”’ and for supporting the new Education Dill. The damages are laid at £1,000. CASTELAR ON ALFONSISM . (from the London News, Jan. 30.) Our spectal correspondent im Spain gives thy following acount of an interview ne recently had with Sefor Castejar:— The other night I had a very interesting and, in some sense, a patuetic tnierview with ain's most disinterested reiormer. Bitter as has been is disappotntment, cruel as 1s the consciousness that the present outcome of all his travall, for the regeneration of Spain is the Bourbon restora- tion, he is able, like the ancient Roman, uae memento rebus in arduis servare mentem. here were times when it seemed to me that he de- sponded utterly; at the best his hope is very leeble and fickering. But he had lost novhing of his wonted brilliancy and felicity in conveying his meaning; uniortunately my power of reproducing his utterances is very incommensurate, and the best that lean hope to do 1s to give a general summary of his views, 4 DISCOURAGING OUTLOOK, His Republic, he said, bad been the Republic of order and legality—the reconstructive, developing, improving Repablic. But §; was not ripe for this; everywhere be had jound selfish intrigue, greed, corruption, and no soundness of elastic springboard whence to make an effort. His essay has fauled by reason of the absolute and utter disorganization of his party. Some had gone one way, lapsed into red republicanism, and 80 brought ridicule on the cause; others had straggied into Alionsism, and others had cared only jor themselves and were prepared to be anything so that at least they might be something Jor their own advantage. “Yes,” he owned, with a sigh and a shading of the eyes, “my party is atterly vroken up, whistled down the wind. As to the future, Quien sade?” ‘The only policy was to walt and watch ; tne cuance might offer again when least anticipated. Would his adherents constitute themselves into an opr, sition and dght the liberal battle consticutionaliy & “in what way 13 this possible t” wus the chaileng- ing reply. “We do not know how tt ts possible ior us to take the oaths of allegiance to his reaction- ary regime aud, granting our readiness for she good OJ the cause, where 1s our field of action ? ‘Toe Cortes are closed to us. Robledo, the Minister of the Interior, who has served his apprenticeship to the work under Sagasta, and who, by the way, bas been all round tue political clock—been an Isabeilist, an Amadeist, a Montpensierist, a Ser- ranist, everything but a genuine Republican—he will sO manipulate the elections as to keep every One out Who is not of the true Alfonsist color.” HIS OPINION OF THE ALFONSIST CROWN. l asked Seilor Castelar ff he were free to speak Of the probabilities o: the future. “Tne future,” said he, “is chaos, The political situation 1s de- plorable; as bad asit can be. Cariism is impos- sible, that is one certain consolation. Alfonsism is ‘tres Gipicile.’ Its very essence is reaction. It 1s a standing menace to every movement toward liberty. It menaces alike religious liberty, civil freedom and public instruction, It blocks every wheel of progress. Alonsism means the domin- ance of priestcrait, the perpetuation of supersti- uon, the wilful maintenance ol ignorauce, the suppression of the liberty of the press, ireeaom of thuught, of instruction and of culture in our academies and universities, general darkness over the face of ail the land. It may iast for a time, but the same elements that overthrew the dy- nasty before must inevitably operate toward and cuiminate in the ultimate upheaval. In the m time all that I can sadly discern is taat the pol cal ivuation 1s ‘e aad THE IRISH REPRESENTATION IN PARLIAMENT. bi (Dubun (Jan, $1) correspondence of the London Standard.) The position which the Irish members, especially the fraction of our representatives pledged to “home rule,” shali take in tae coming session, is houy debated in the “national” journals. Ac- cording to the resolution adopted by the Home Rule League in Belfast the home rale mem- vers were to deciare their want of con- dence in the will or power of the House of Commons to legislate honestly for fh land, and then to take further instructions trom their constituents. It 1s belleved by many that this was bata preinde to a general secession ol the indignant patriots irom the House of Com. mous. The Nation, however, desires them to be in the very thick of. the party fight, and prepared lor Whatever may tarnup. ‘We can assure ail whom it may concern (gays the Nation) that the fine old pian whereby Cinderella Erin” was ex- pected not to intrude ‘before folk’ ts all a thing of the past, The convenient policy of having what was called ‘an Irish session’ once every forty years, and throughout the other * thirty-nine pleading that English and Scotch business had to be done, 13 hopelessly applicable in the Rew state of things created by the establishment o1 a third party in the House v! Commons—the party o. Ire: very session to be ‘an Irish session henceforth, and the Irish members have arranged that the next sball be one in good earnest.” There wili be Irish work enongh and to spare cut out for Parhament. ‘the Morning Ma concludes, from the pro- gramme lurnishea by the Nation, that whatever measures tie home rule Members may Introduce, however obstructive they may prove, the House of Commons will hear little of nome rale pur 6 simple, 1t will be sunk in ultramontanism. The chase after endowment (says the Mat) will be hot and crafty. Intrigue im the old shapes will be acuve. The hierarchy will not find tue patriot in the foreground blocking their way. Only the clamorous agents of thelr own policy will ogcupy the 'vantage of eee No one, happily, need very much care. the House is wise it will let the “Irish members” idly rave, anless they pro- pose beste useful and practical, and then will deal with them as having no power except what argument may give witn reasonable men. There is behind them no force whatever, neither of public opinion nor of Episcopal influence. FRENCH REPORTS OF THE TRANSIT OF VENUS. {Krom Galignani’s Messenger, Feb. 2.) At the last sitting the Perpetual Seoretary read a letter rom Saigon about the transit of Venus. ‘The two French observers there, MM. Héraud and Bonnitet, had sent in all observations and calcu- lations, and 1t turned out that there was between their two results a discrepancy of twenty seconds. The Perpetual Secretary remarked that the cause Of this difference must lie in the instruments, M. Héraud naving an excellent telescope, and bav- ing had much training in Paris, while Bonnet was only provided with an indifferent one, which ne had found at Saigon. M. Le Verrier added that notning could be done without a Ginch telescope, mu bring to noth- | because otherwise the “olack drop” would mar the contact, Should he happen tu be appointed & member of the commissicn to be hereafter ~ trusted with the examination of ali the re we 4 would move thas all doubtful observations be He | once discarded, since, if erroneous, they cou! only be & source of cou/usion, and, If correct, oe could sad nothing to the exactness of the ultl- ¢ of the date thal an quarters should be published in tho Comptes Rend 5 lan of the British government was the ee that oil the answers from the diferent observers should be sent in under sealed envelopes, in that Way the mind could not be biaased by uncertain or incomplete results, M. Bertrand objected to keeping back the ov- servations ag they came in, since many astrous- mers of the provinces were waiting for them order to commence thetr caicalations. Some furs | ther conversation took piace on Wie ryt ad the Academy eventually decided that M. Heraa. a letiar ahanid be inserted 1 the Gounies Renhiiy