The New York Herald Newspaper, February 28, 1875, Page 15

a NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1875.--QUADRUPLE SHEET. RELIGIOUS. INTELLIGENCE Ministerial and Church Movements. *Prudentius” on the Mind and Soul---Cor- espondence, Brooklyn Churches, Past and Present. ‘PROGRAMME OF SERVICES TO-DAY. The Rey. Robert Cameron will Preach in Grace Baptiss church, West Twenty-ninth street, this mornikg gad evening. Morning subject—“iieaven @peneq,” The Rev. Mr. Vjerring, pastor of the Russian- Greek chapel, Second avenue, will deliver a dis- course in English tis morning on “The Intro- duction of Ohristiamity into Russia and the Inner Life of the Orthodox Church.” Jn St, Ignatius’ Protestant Episcopal churcn{the Rev. Dr, Ewer will officiate to-day at all the ser- vices, The Rey. John S. D ivenport will apply the epis- tle to the Ouarch in Laodicea to the Church in our time 1n the Catholic Apostolic church this evening. An the First Biptist church, m Greenpoint, the Rev, D, Henry Miller, D. D., will preach this morn- tog and evenine. The three services will be conducted and ser- ‘mons preached in the Cnurch of the Holy Trinity to-day by Revs. Mr. Kirkus, of Grace church; Mr. McVickar, of Harlem, and Dr. Tyng of St. George’, ‘who Will preagh to the people in the evening. “The Alabaster Box” and “The Need of Tempta- tion” will be considered this morning and even- ing by Rey, E. 0. Sweetser in the Third Universal- st church, In the First Reformed Episcopal church the Rev. W, T. Sabine wiil preach in the morning and Dr. Armitage, of the Baptist Church, in exchange in the evening. ‘ The Rev. E, Borel will preach in French this A, M. to tne Reformed Church, in Calvary chapel, Fourth avenue. In the Church of tne Resurrection the Rev. Dr. Flagg will preach this morning and evening. Elder Lutz will indicate the ‘Five Steps to the Gallows, and caution those who are taking or ‘have taken the ‘ourti: to stop this evening. The Rev. &. Hathaway will tell the Fiftn Uni- Versalist Society, 1u Pitimpton Hall, this morning, “How a Saint Got Into Hell and Out Again.” ‘The Rey. ©. O. Tiffany will officiate and preach this morning and evening in the Church of the Atonement, The Rev. George B. Porteous will minister this morning and evening in All Souls’ church, rvokiyn, The Rev. 8. H. Plat: will give the fourth of his series of sermons on “Science and Scepticism versus Obristian Faith and Experience” in De Kalb avenue Methods: Episcopal church, Brook- yao. “The Cause and Cure of Procrastination” will be presented this mor ing in the Church of the Mes- @iak, and this evening some “Moral Grafting” will ‘ve dine by Rey. W. K. Alger, Bistop Loughlin wii deliver a charity sermon in the Assumption Kuman Catholic charch, Brook- ‘lyn, to-day. Dr. Preston will deliver bis second sermon on %he Dolors in St. Anu’s Roman Catholic church this evening. The subject is “The Flightof the Holy Family into Exypt.” ° A parochial Mid-Lent mission will be opened to-day in St, Ann’s chapel, Brooklyn Heights. Dr. Schencg will minister. “Hell” wili occupy the attention and thought of Rev. George O. Poe's this evening m Allen street Presbyterian church. In Washing'ou square Methodist Episcopal church this morning and evening st the usual hours the Rev. W. P. Abbott will preach, ar, Jobn B, Wolf will tell the Spiritualists in @arvard Rooms this evening “How to investigate ‘Spiritualism.’ At All Saints’ Provestant Episcopal charch this morning and eveuing the Rev. W. H. Dunnell will officiate and preacu. Tne Rev. P. L. Davies will minister at the ‘wsnat ours to-duy in the Berean Baptist church. “are Christians Insane and Are They Narrow?’ will be asked and unswered to-day at the usual hours by Rey. vr. Deems, of the Strangers’ charch. The Rev. R. S, MacArthur will speak about ‘The Great Commission,” this morning, and about the “First European Convert’? thia evening, in Cal- wary Baptist church The Rev. J. M. Pullman will show the “Signifi- «cance of the Lite That Now Is” this morning, and an the evening will tuik to young peopie about “Realizable Ideas,”’ 11 the Church of Our Saviour. In the Charch or ti Disciplesof Christ the Rev. -D. R. Van Buskirk wii preach this morning and evening, “The Mystic Bab) ion? and “The Whive Horse” will be considered vy Kev. M. S. Terry this morn- ing and evening in Eighteentn street Methodist Episcopal church, in coutinuation of bis Apoca!yp- tic series. in the Fifth avenue ytist church this morning the Rev. Dr. Ari ll preach. In the even- ing the Rev. W ine, of the Reformed Epis- copal Church. » ou (, 4 King will preach tn This mornin, the Free Tabe: hodist Episcopal church, snd this eve Rev. C. E. Harris will minister. ur. E. V. Wi ecture for the Progressive Spiritualists th ng at No, 57 West Thirty- third street. Professor M. i: y will preach this morning ‘end evening in P , ch, Baptist church, " The Rev. S. fiaotiton will minister to the Becotch Presbyterisi church this morging and afternoon. “The Brazen Serpe it” will be held up before St. Peter’s Protestant E 1 copai church this evenimz by the Kev. Mr. Pier v. “The Rock in tie Midst of the River’ will be ‘talked about this morning im the Seventh street {Methodist Episcopal church by Rev. W. P. Corpit. The Rev. Dr. Morano wiil preacd this morning und evening in the Forty-second street Presby- terian charch. The Rev. W. S. Mickels will preach this morning and baptize conver's this evening in Stanton Street Baptist church. In St. John’s Methodist Episcopal church the Rev. J. M. King will preach this morning and evening. ‘The Rev, W. W. Page will m'nister to the New York Presbyierfan church this morning and even- anil Halstead’s Praying Band will conduct services this morning, afternoon and evening in the Seventeenth strect Methodist Episcopal Orie Bay. J. B. Hawthorne, will consider this morning what “Conversion” 18, and this evening “Immortality,” in the Tabernacle Baptist church, ‘The subject of “Communion” will be discussed this morning by Rev. J. 5. Kennard, who will tn- vite the Pilgrim Baptist cnarch in the evening to “Behold the Lamb of God.” Rev. Dr. Rylance, of St. Mark’s Protestant Epis- copal churen, will preach this evening tn the Wainwright Memoriai church, The Rey. John N. Gulieaer will minister this morning and afteracon to Zion Protestant Epis- copal church. PRUDENTIUS ANSWERS PSYCHOLOGICAL QUES- TIONS. To THE Epiror or THe HERALD:— ‘The queries addressed to me in the LHBRALD ot the 14th inst, by “seeker of Lighv” involve psyclio” logical difficulties wnat have oceupled the deepest philosophers since the aays of Plato and Aristotie up to the present year of grace, It had been my intention when commenting on the modern ma- terialstic theories to devote a few letters to the “principle of vitality” and “the soul,” but I feared Thad alreaay wearied the patience of your readers and dropped the matter. Let me now answer briefly and in order the questions of your corre- spondent, First—The mind ts the soul considered with re- gard to its power of thinking and knowing; it is the soul apprehending, judging, reasoning, remember- ing. The soul is one simple spiritual substance, found by experience and seif-consciousness to be endowed with various capscities or powers gen, erally designated “faculties.” These, though not really distinct from the soul, a8 one independent or separable substance is from another, are dis- tinguished in the soul from each other, Thatis to say, the acts of one faculty are found to be exer, cised maependentiy of another and some- times in spite of another, Thus to re, member is quite @ different thing from under- standing; we remember and repeat in childhood and in more advanced years many things which we do not then, and, perhaps, may never after- ward understand. YetI am conscious that it is the same principle within me, the ego or I, which remembered as a schoolboy many things of which Thad not then the intelligence and which I only came to understand in maturer years, Thus the faculty of memory 1s quite distinct trom that of intelligence, and the acts of the one are found to be' quite distinct from those of the otner. So with the intellect or understanding and the imagina- tion or sensibility. The acts of the latter are often nelpiul to those of the former, but in very many instances they are anything but nelpiul. Thus the intellect in tts conception of pure ideas and abstract mathematical truths 1s not unire- quently led astray by the imagination, wnich ob- trudes its sensible representations and fancies upon the mina bent on the apprehension of in- corporeal truths, Yet itit the same intellectual and sentient soul which corrects the vagaries of her tancy and pats away the images thrust upon her meditations by the interior senses. My intel- lect apprehends in the conception of God a pure spirit, infinitely perfect in every concelvable way ; but my imagization is forever clothing this notion of the Deity with some human form or sepsibie limitation, and this my mina corrects as contrary to its clear apprehension of the truth, In like manner my intellect apprehends with necessary distinctness this mathematical truth, that the asymptotes in the parabola must forever approach each other and yet never touch; while my imagination sees in this a contradiction. Again, on the infinite ai- visibility of space: it 1s admitted that the mole- cules of matter are never in real contact, else they could never be separated or divided. Now pare mathematics teach that while in the censdst metal no two molecules can be in real contact, yet in the real space which separates them an infinite number of parallel lines can be drawn none of which can touch the other. This, once more, is another of those admitted mathematical theorems the truth of which is clearly apprehended by the mathematician’s intellect, while it is a puzzle tor the mathematician’s imagination, And tnese ilustrations I permit mysell in order to show that the pure intellect is a distinct faculty trom tue fancy, the imagination or the sensibility. A iast instance of the real distinctness of the faculties in the soul trom each other is evident in the difference all are conscious of between the will or the faculty of choosing, determining, una entering upon a course Of action, and all the other powers of the soul Thus there isan essen- tial difference between memory, understanding, imagination er sensibility anid the will itseil. There are many things we all cannot heip re- membering, and the thought of which we would Jain put far away from us; many imaginations which disturb the astronomer in his calculations, the lawyer 1m his concentrated endeavor to anal- yze the evidence of a case and thoroughly remem- ber and understand the complex jeg:slation that bears upon it; many fancies tnat make a bedian of the hermit’s cell and a hell on earth of the great man cr the wealthy man’s guilty soul, and all this is sorely against toe will. It 1s equally ciear that if 1t 18 One thing to remember and another thing to will, One thing to feel and another to asset, ene thing to understa! id another to act upon the truth understood; therefore the will, tne ex- | ecutive and ruling faculty im the rational, 1s rea:ly distinct in the soul from the other taculties or powers, though not really and substantially ais- tinct from the soul itsell, Second—These faculties, powers or capacities of the soul have received different names in diftereut schouls; but, provided puulosophers are agreed as to the nature of the thing itself, one may deem the mere names or signs of tuings a8 of seconaary importance. The faculties of the soul have aiso been diverse: cisaeiies if the ancients as well as by the moderns. ‘The Classifications most ger- erally admitted are, first, the division uf the raculties of the soul into memory, intellect, ima- gination or sensibility and will; secona, tne division into intellect, sensibility aud will; aud third, that into mind and will. This jast can be admissibie only on the supposition that under mind we Eyal or include ali the perceptive fucul- ties with the memory and imaginavion as distinct and subsidiary powers, absolutely necessary to tie exercise of thought in t's fullest sense, watle the Will comprises the power of deliberating, choosing and acting. I snould object to the term “element of tne soul’’ being uppited to tue mind, ooly because it might lead to coniusion., ‘Ye say Of @ material body that it is. mude up o eiements, which are really ty themselves separaie and tndependent substand@s, fitted by nature, it is true, to enter into composition, but none tue 1es3 capable of oe- coming integral parts oi unother body or com- pound at any moment, It is, indeed, true that in speaking Of mental operations, and their re sults, as summed up in consciousness, we say he elements of thought.” But tas expressi a offers here quite @ diderent sense from that which would present itself to the understanding i! one, considering the mind as @ whole, suould call this or that facolty ‘an element of the soul.’ When, alter having applied myself tor hours to the study of some great question, | retlect, in consciousness, upon tbe ground over whico my mind has ranged, every principle, re«soning, conclusion, generalization and illustration, may be called, and ts called, hy logicians an element of thought. Because they are successive and dis- tinct stages in one mentai process; and several such processes often constivute the separate ava distinct elements of a meutal aualysis Of @ great subject. Toese are in themselves separable, and olten really separated both iu logical connection and in time; but not so when L enter into myseli and cousider my soul a3 employing her powers upon some mighty theme o! apstract or piactical truth, 1 feel that the acts of euch of my laculties while thus employed are to the eye of conscious- ness or refection so many distinct things or els- ments to be remembered, reviewed, analy zed and classed. But I know perfectly that it is the s ul hersel!, the indivisible and identical ego, whica remembers, thinks, reasons, deiiberates, chooses and acts. it is the same one elementary Drinoipie which displays her activity in eliciting, by her lacuities acting together or Separately, tnese va- rious results of memory, reasoning, laucy aod final determination. ‘Yo be sure, there were found philosophers in ancieut Greece, in the medieval scoools aad 1D our own times, Who taught that tae mind, or nor considered as the principle of pure inteilection, was a different substance [rom the sensibility and the will, Bat this aistinction was sounded, in their notions, on what they taougnt the irrecon- cilable antagonism oi a disordered imagination and a will prone to tll,on the one hand, and a spiritual acuity capabl, of knowing the loitiest truths and yearning to contewplate them, on the otner, Ali men, however, are cunscious that it 18 the same soul which experiences, ta her own in- Most veing, these apparentiy opposite tendencies, and whicn has it in her power, by the exercise of a strong and resolute will, to reconcile the claims of the pure intellect with the tendencies of tue sensiollity, and so to coutrol and regulate the lower powers within her as to make them even @ help to the most exalted use of the higher. These, then, are the reasons which | must hur- riedly suvmit to your correspondent’s second aery. be Thra—The mind (understanding here by this term memory, intellect and sensibility, or tue ag- gregate of the perceptive and reasoning facuities) 18 1M Many things independent o1 the soul—that is, of the will or ruling power in the souk Twis will be evident after a moment's reflection. Tie faculties are independent of the suul not only as to the way in whica they exercise eacn its ace tvity; but with regard vo some of the data or con- ditions most necessary to their exercise, and to certain involuntary and unconscious states during that exercise. It is Clear that 1 du not know any- thing of the wonderiul laws Which reguiate tne Mechanism and functions of my memory, nor of the bo less mysterious but certain laws which control the action of the sensorium, of the Imaul- nation, 0: feeling in all its wondrous and ever varying phenomena; nor, again, of tue origin of these primary notions or concepts which seem to make up the tunaamental elements of rational truth tor civilized man and for savage alike, tor the Greece a: Pericles, tue Rome of Aagustns and Leo X., as well ag for the Mexico of Montezuma, ana the New Zeadlanuers and Austrahaos of our own time. Considered as to the laws which govern thought, botn as to the reasoning fucuity Itseif and is hecessary cop¢itions, we men and pailosopbers o1 this nineteenth century know no more than we do of how aud by what in- telligence our heart was organized or filled with its frst blood, or Wience come and by whom wee established the laws which regulate the mysteries 01 circulation, No More than We do about the laws and mechanism and functions or digestion. We observe tem, speculate upon them, but we did not establish them, ‘Their existence, their author- ter nature, funcuions aod high purposes are indepen ient Of; as and beyond us, The con- stitution O. those magnificent faculties in tue soul Wiica constitute tue rational powers of man, tie jaws woten legulate tneir exercisa, the myate- rious necessity Wh ca suvordinates thea or ali tue practioul purposes 01 life (O the Control of the will; all this an’ much more He alone knuws who made man what he is and is ever present with His creature to prompt and guide every beat of tus heart, every thongnt of bis mind and every deter- mination formed by his will, There 1s, therefore, much tn the first and ancon- scious acts O| man’s mind which ts tudependent of the will, and tor which, as belng indeliberate and Iniependent of itself, the will, as a moral agent, cunnot be hela responsible, It does not de- pend on the Me to teel the biting cold, or the sum- mer heat, or the pain which racks my limbs, or tae very shocks that paralyze my brain and un- herve my arm and suspend all consciousness. It does not depend on me, it Lopen my eyes, to see or not to see tne object betore me: uo more than it ts depencent on me to hear the crasuing of the thunder or the notes of the lewd song which are sung in my ear by my chaace companion on a ratl- way Car. But it does depend on me, tat is, on my soul, not wo gaze at what 1 see, nor to listen to what I hear, nor to yield co the promptin:s of this or that train of thought, or to tue solicitation of fancy or seusibility in their most seductive mooas, The will is mistress, sovereign in the house of the soul. Tue reasoning faculties administer lignt *to her that she may see what ts true and what is false, and the moral facuity of disceroing right from wrong enadies her in that same light to see what is to be avoided and what ts to be done. But I bave trespassed tar beyond the limits 1 have set for mysell, and I must reserve for an- other time the last great question of Christian re- sponsibility and liberty of the will moved by your correspondent. PRUDENTIUS, MR. GLADSTONE AND HIS CORRESPONDENTS. Mr. Giadstone, in alate letter to Dr. Schaff, of New York, makes the following allusion to his re- cent Americau correspondents:—"Tne inquiries, correspondence and further proceedings in the matter of the Vatican decrees fave 80 absorbed my mind and time that lam unaole to Keep pace with the packs of letters | have received. {have once or twice made this known in the English newspapers, and tt would be a kindness if auy one would secure the tusertion of a similar tnti- mation on your side of the water, by way of apol- ogy to unanswered correspondents.” “NO SECTS IN HEAVEN.” ‘This beautiful poem, which has been going the rounds of the religious press of New York and ot the country, having been copied by the Obs*rver from an English publication, and avout whose authorsaip @ newspaper discussion has takea place, it appears fsan American production, A correspondent sends us from Bioomftleld, Conn., a copy of the oom as originally written by Mrs, Ehzabeth H. Jocelyn Cleaveland, the wife of a Con- gregational minister, and herself a native of New Haven, The poem was originally published to the Congregationalst and thence was copied into tie Englisn papers without name or credi', where and how the Observer iound it and gave again to the world, The only change made tu the origina! has been the substitution of.“Presbyterian” for “Con- gregational,”? made at the instance of the HERALD correspondent, a reiative ot the uutuoress, This should settie the controversy at ouce and forever. JEWISH FUNERALS—A SUGGESTION, Aneminent Israelite of this city sends a com: munication to the HERALD on the subject of Jewish funerals, which calls for the attention of the “powers that be” tn the several synagogues, It is the custom at present co bury all deceased Israel- ites from their houses and not from their syna- gogues, although there is no law requiring it, and the inconvenience to which friends and asso- clates are put by being compelied to stand jor an hour or more on the street, vde- cause they cannot be accommodated in the douse, should lead to the prompt repeal of this custom, It18 the same tor a public manas for one who may be unknown outside of his own tam- lly circle, aid the iriends who would honor the memory of the deceased must risk their own lives in heat and cold, snow and rain, or else ap- pear to lack respect for the dead by keeping at nome, Our correspondent thereiore su2gests to the trus'ees of the synagogues that they shoulda throw these buildings open to the friends of any deceased brother who should preter the synagogue to mis bome ior funeral services. Dr. Einhorn lately admitted the corpse of the sexton o/ his congregation to hig temple, and he delivered an impressive eulogy before 800 persous. This Is a reasonabie request and should be complied with, MR. BEECHER SHOULD PREACH UNTIL HE IS CONVICTED. mr. “Wm. White’ asks the HERALD If tt would convict Mr. Beecher before the jury have done so, that it calls upon him to “step down anc out.” A 1ew weeks ago bis church sittings were sold ata premium of $70,000, which sale was a pledge of at least another year’s ministry of Mr. Beecher, If he should cease to preach he would cheat his church and congregation. Mr. White asks, “Did Generai Jackson throw up his commission and ae ver up bis sword pending the investigation of charges against him? And did not Dr. Johoson sell Goldsmitn’s ‘Vicar of Wakefloid,’ though ne despised pDovels, puetry, sensation and all gos- | sipy trasn?” From which Mr. White concludes that Mr. Beecher should nold cn tu lis pulpit untii he is legally compelled to g.ve it aes BROOKLYN CHURCHES, PAST AND PRESENT. ‘To Tne Evrror OF THE HERALD :— . AS an old resident ef Brooklyn I was highl: pleased with @ recent articie in your Sunday issue on Brooklyn churches and ministers. Brooklyn bas always been famous for puipit talent. The Dutch Church was the first organized, The First Datch church, in Joralemon street, has recently been calied to mourn the loss of a worthy pastor in Rev. Dr. Kimball. He was a qutet, unas- suming man, who went about bis Master’s work ‘without ostentation, and won for himself the love, admiration and respect of all who knew him. This congregation in the olden time worshipped 42 an edifice wbich stood where Fulton and ridge streets intersect. When the pregent butiding was * erected the old chucch was taken down and put up again or Clinton avenue, and 1s now occupied by St, Luke’s congregation. Rev. Dr. Dwight ministered to this charch many years, and 1s stull remembered by the old settlers. The Presbyterian charcb of Brooklyn was incor- porated in 1922. Rev. Dr. Sandiurd was the first pastor, and was succeeded by Rev. Dr. Carroll, to whom your correspondent referred in bis sketch. Dr. Cox was pastor of the First (new schoo!) Presbyterian church many years. He was a man wondertully guted with language, and delighted in lectures upon astronomical suvjects, Ou one occasion the Doctor made use ofa peculiar word, aud tiinking, doubtiess, that his congregation would not understaud ifs meaning, stopped ap- ruptly and remarked, “tus is a word of Greek and Sanserit origin, but come to think of it I guess 1¢ is a word of my own coinage.” This church was tnen located in Cranberry sirect, on the site occu- pied by Plymouth church, It was destroyed by tue great fire tn Brooklyn. It was usually selected thirty years ago for the annual Fourth of Juy ration. Mg Rev. Dr. Greenleaf was another father of the Presoyterian Church. Some thirty years ago, being @ man of sixty years of age, witbout charge, be visited what was then Known as the Walia- bout, and started a mission churcn in the academy, in Skillman svreet, near Park avenue. His edforis were successiul, and in a short time church wus built in Frankiin avenue, which is now one of ths most prosperous in the city. He lived to be over eighty years of age. At bis funeral it was related of him that on one occasion during the war, when ministers were preaching politics, he was asked when he intended to take ub the prevailing sub- ject, He replied, in his deliberate way :—~I have not yet got througn the Bible, When I finish tho B.bie it will be time enougn to select some otner pit topic.’ be spencer, of the Second church, was a man of large heart aod huge brain, a kind friend, a sae adviser, erudite theologian, and, thouga dead many years, his memory “smells sweet and bios- soms in the dust.” Rev. Dr. Van Dyke, of the First Presbyterian church, Remsen street, has lavored with bis present charge twenty-two ts. He tg the suc- cessor of Kev. Dr. Jacobus, who 1s now Protessor in the Alleghany Theological Seminary, and who was Moderator of tae Old School General Assem biy at the time of the unioo of the two brancues of Presbyterianism. Dr, Van Dyke 1s the ablest Presbyterian divine in Brooklyn, Utten called upon to discharge important duties, be is looked upon as the leading ecclesiastical logician in the Presbytery. He is @ ripe scholar, and 19 «always reacy to give a reason for his taich. He would sooner sacrifice bis lho than princtple. His discourses are argumenta- tive, cleur aud forcible. He believes that a churca once consecrated to the Worship of the Almignty should be used only for sacred purposes, and that churen fairs, negro minstrels and other outside entertainments should be prohibited im the Louse of God, Would that we had more men like him, and then sensational preaching and allits kindred evils wou.d be buried beyond a resurrection. The Kpiscopal denomination has had bright Brookiyn. Eons is the mother church, Several o! her rectors bave become bishops. Rev. Dr. Onder- donk, afterward Bishop of Pennsylvania, was Der rector fifty years ago, tae A on Mclivaine was over jorty-five years ugo. reeisiop Paddock, of Massachusetts, Was at the time of his eevation to the bishopric rector of Grace church, on tbe Heights. Kev. Dr. Francis Vin‘on, latety decease !, was at one tune rector 01 ter. Dre Cotler succeeded Bishop Mclivaine as rector of St..Ann's. He was @ man of gentie mien. He was rector over twenty years. For many years he was President of the Brooklyn City Tract s - ciety. aid was greatly loved by ministers and lay- men of ail denominations. Your correspondent fell tnto an error about L Fariey’s church (Unitarian). He says that when it waa built it Was, next to the Holy Trinity, the most imposing In the city. ‘ihe fact is Unat Dr, Farley's chuica was built many years betore Hoy ‘Trimity. ihe writer well remembers in 1842 the erection of the Pierrepont street Baptist churon and Rev. Dr. Farley's (Unitarian) church. The round in the ueighborhoud w: but sparsely ulltup. The entire city at that time contained a population of but 36,000, and the ground occupied now by Holy Trinity was vacant lots. The Methodtst Episcopal church im Sands street is the oldest of that denomination in Brooklyn, enjoyed tne services of the eloquent young divine, Joha Sommerfiela, who attracted crowds to hsten to his words Of ourning eloquence. At the early age of twenty-six he was laid to rest beneath the ebureh, A few years slice lis remains were re- ores A tablet to his wortu was erected in the chuareb, Rev. Dr. Lansing was another old minister, He was the first pastor of the Clinton avenue Congre- getionat church, How under the pastorate of Kev. r. Budington. ‘This church was the meeting place of the late Congregational Council, Archbishop McUloskey was in early life a Brook- n boy. ‘The oldest Episcopal minister in Brooklyn ts Rev. Dr, Detlar. He bas oMiciated in Brooklyn nearly forty years, and is rector of st. Luke’s, Clinton avenue, Rev. Dr, Stephen H. Meeker recently celebrated his fittteth anniversary as pastor of the Old Bushwich Dutcn Reformed church, Dr. Storrs has been pastor of the Church of the Pilgrims nearly thirty years, Among the Bapttsts Dr. Welch is remembered by manv as an eioquent divine whose discourses were word pictures. Rev. Dr. J. L, Hodge, now oMciating in the Marimers’ chapel, Oliver street, New York, was pastor of the First Baptist church, Nassau street, and aiterwards started and built up the Sy aaiunge ton avenue church. He is @ strong man physically and mentally, and wherever he labors works earnestly. As rejerence 1s repeatedly made to the Brooklyn sCugdal, it might be well for me to state that a Mormon churco was established in High street, near Washington, about 1845. It was a small brick budding (still srendiig). two stories high and about fittcon feet wide. It did not succeed and soon passed irom memory. inedents 0: the past are always interesting, and I hope some of your readers who are familiar with the past religious and social history of our city will concribate scraps for the benefit of your numerous readers. 8. MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS. EPISCOPALIAN. The Rev, J. Howard Smith, of Knoxville, Tenn,, late of the Protestant Episcopal Church, has acvepted the pastorate of tue Reformed Episcopal cburch in Newark, N. J. Three months ago the Rev, W. H. Johnson, of Somerville, S, U., jotned the Reformed Episcopal church and took a@ pastorate in Louisville, Ky., which he bas now resigned and returnéd to the Protestant Eptscopal church, trom whose fold he Tecrets having ever departed, Next Sunday evening a “Parochial Mission” will open iu St. Anu’s church, It will be conducted by the Rev, P. B. Morgan, the Evangelist, and will continue through the week. The following clerical changes are announced this week;—Rey. N. Barrows, of Mansfield, Pa., goes to the Holy Comforter church, Rahway; N. J.: Rev. R. Estill, of Atianta, goes to Dalton, Ga.; Rey. J. Kiernan, of Deposit, N. Y., goes to Eliza- beth City, N. C.; Rev. T. L, Murphy, of Newport, R. L, has accepted a call to Christ church, Fitch- burg, Mass.; Rev. W. W. Newton, of Brookline, Mass., goes to Trinity church, Newark, N. J.: Rev. E. C. Porter has resigned at Racine, Wis.; Rey. T. W. Punnett has resigned at Edgewater, Staten Island, and Rey. 0. Witherspoon, of Buffalo, goes to C.nctnnati. Ohio. Rev. B. Jonnson, of Macon, Ga., and Rov. G. A. Redles, of Mount Airy, Pa., have united with the Reformed Episcopal churen, Dr. De Koven bas formally accepted the bisnop- ric of the Episcopal church in Illinois. Now for the steuggle on the question as to whether or not he shall be consecrated. Petitions agatnst bis consecration have been sent to ali the siauding | committees of dioceses in the country. | The Rey. U. KR. Hammes, of Catousville, Md., has accepted the call from =, Paul’s chur Py Lars. burg, Va., and will epter upon lus duties Apri i. The Rev. 3. H. Tyng, Jr, D. D., will spend the next month in the South to recruit his health. The Rev. O. A. bruce has accepted the unant- mous Call of the vestry of st. John’s, Helena, Ark. and has entered upon the duties of the same. St. Jonn’s is a tree church. The Rev. Wm. Bowérs, late assistant minister of St. Lake’s church, Philadelphia, has resygned thai position, has Witharawn irom the ministry of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and has joined the | ministry of the Reiormed Episcopal Caurch. ‘the Rev, A. W. Seabrease ius resigned the rec- | torsnip of Calvary*churco, Rochester, Minn. The Rev. Campbell Fatr has resigned as istant minister of Carist chureh, and Key. C. W. fulton has resigned the rectorsuip of Mount Olivet church, New Orleans, La. The Rey. Dr. Locke, of Grace church, Chicago, 10 @ sermon last Sunday draws the following picvure Ol episcopacy im the diocese of Iltinois :—We looked over this splendid diocese, Mlied witn tre flower of the American peopie—tne grandest field God ever spread before a churcn, We marked our own Church. Witness its feeble, discouraged 8,000 | communicants and nearly 3,000,000 0: people; $2,000 ag the contributions tn one whole year toward diocesan missions; with the exception of a lew parishes, everything meagre and dragging. the whole fleid @ dreary Waste—and our hearts burned within us, The Rev. De. Gillespie has accepted the Episco- pate of Western Michigan. His letier 1s a com- Mendable ippovation on the usual practice. ite waits ontil tae canonical con-ent of a majority of the bisnops of the Courch has been obtained before sixullying bis acceptance, ‘he Rev. W. M. Newton, of Brookline, Mass., has been called to the rectorship of Trinity cnurch in Newark. The Rev. Dr. J. foward Smith, former; of the Episcopal church on Washington Heigits, New York, and editor of the Prot Church- man, has accepted the unanimous call of the Reformed Enviscopal church of Newark. ‘The Rev. H. B. Stuart Martin, of Hackettstown, N.J., bas accepted the call of tne vestry oi St. Mara’s church, tn Jersey City, to become the rec- tor. He will assume the duties on the first Sun- day ol April. In the meantime the Rev. George Love, of Brooklyn, E. D., will occupy the pulpit. BAPTIST. The Baptist Women’s Mission Association of Long Island neid their annual meeting last Thurs- gay in the Wasbvington avenue Baptist church, Brooklyn. Interesting reports were presented and officers erected ior the @usuing year. Toe Rev. Wm. McKee, who has bad charge of the Mission church 10 East Thirty-third street, New York crty, jor some tme, has resigned and accepted the pastorate of ‘the Open Communion bapust chaich at Lowvilie, N. Y¥. The Baptist church at Westport, Mo., is divided on the communion question, and dity members have withdrawn and, with the Rev. A. Machett, pastor, have organized an open communion church. ‘Tue Rev. Robert Cameron has resigned his pas- torate of Grace Baptist churca, of tus city, wotch he has held tor more than Jour years. He retires une 1. A revival of religion is in progress at Barring- ton, N, J., Rev. J. Parker pastor. Many bave veep converted. ‘I'welve were vaptized on the night or February 14 The Baptists of Wales, Mass., a few days ago Gedicated a new churcu, which bad beea built and donated to them by Elyab Shaw & Sons, of that town, The Baptist church at Hamilton, N. Y., have fics @ unanimous call to Professor James M. tifler, ot Shurtie® Coliege, to become their pas- tor. le accepts tne call and will enter at once upon ihe duties of the new relation. ‘rhe Rev. C. Manly, D. D., of staunton, Va., re- centiy recetved an urgent call to take charge of the Baptist churen in Greenville, S. C, ‘The Kev. J. J. Irving bas received a call to the Western avenue Baptist church, Chicago, Ll. ‘Yhe Boston South Baptst Sunday School Con. vention, which met @ 1ew days ago, reported 913 Officers and veacuers and 7423 scholars 10 its 43 schools, The North Baptist Convention, of tne game city, reported 33 scnools, 1,089 teachers and oiicers and $,873 scholars. pr. Reuben Jeffrey has resigned his professorship in the Tabernacle Lay College, Brooklyn, aud Rev. BP. Thuring has succeeded to nis place. Rev. B. Mills, of Rutiind, Vt., has accepted the call of the Wobarn Baptist caurch, Boston, to the pastorate, and enters on nts work immediately. The jollowing pastoral resignations are an- nounced :—Rev, C. J. Page, Peekskill, N. Y.; Rev. W. Humpstone, Muton, N. Y.; Kev, G. Hopkins, Covert, N. Y.; Rev. 3. L. Lee, Johnson’s Creek, N. ¥.; Rev, W. H. Sloan, Marion, N. Y., to go ag missionary to Burmah; Rev. G. P, Mathews, Auburn, Me., and Rev. 0. E. Mallory, Basavia, N. Y., 10 go to Lowell, Mass. his Wiil be the last day of the pastorate of the Rey. Mr. Hammond over tue Bergen Baptist churen in Je:sey City. A reeting ol the congrega- tion was heid on Tuesday evening, and it was voved to retain him vy 85 to 58 Mr. Hammond immediately arose and annonncea that ne would preach nis.farewell sermon to-day, and positively refused to yermain any, \netE @ troable has been brewing for several montes. sunday evening services at tne North Baptist church in Jersey City bave become highly popular. rhe third sermon o1 the course will be given this evening by the Rev. Dr. Hoimes, of New York. ROMAN CATHOLIC, Forty-five parishes and 50,000 Roman -Catholics in Poland have gone completely over to the Russian-Greek Churcu on account of tne attempted enforcement of the Papal Encyclical oi May 13, 1874. There are twenty-six priests among the converts m Rev. Father P. McMichael, one of the most aged Ol the Catholic priesthood in Louisville, Ky.,48 lying = tector kill, Pa., and ts succeeded by Rev. T. F, Hopkins, of the Sacred Heart church, Philadelphia, who im turn is succeeded by Kev, T. Quinn, of St. Pat- Tick’s church, Pottsville, Pa. ‘The Rev. J. McElroy, Of St. Joseph's, Summit Mul, goes to St. Patrick’s Pettent le. ARG Hav, ne i Brebony goes from e Maternity, Bustleton, to SI Joseph’s, Summit Hill, Pa. * sieeatied The Rev. M. P. O'Brien, of the Holy Family church, New Philadeipnia, exchanges places with Rey. J. J. O'Reilly, of St. Kyran’s church, Heck- shervilie, Pa. The Rev. A. D. Filan leaves St. Ce- cila’s chureh for the Immaculate Conception church, Philadelphia, and is succeeded by the Key, T. Barry, of the Annunciation church, Phila- delpbhia. The Rev. G. Coghian leaves the Immacu- ine Conception ior St. Mary’s cuurch, Puiladel- phia. ‘the Rey. P. J. Mackin, of St. Mictiael’s church, Chester, ., exchanges with the Rev. H. J. McManus, of St. Ambrose chureb, Schuyikill Haven, Pa. Rey. J. J. Ward goes from the Church of the Sacred Heart to Annunctation, Philadelphia, and Rev. William Collins irom St. Vincent de Paul's, Minersville, to St, Stephen’s, Ntcetown, Pa, On Saturday, February 20, Revs. M. J.'Malone, M. A. Dennison, M. J. Murray, M. S, Boylan and U. J. Curtin, of the diocesy of Brooklyn, were raised from deacons to priests’ orders at the Seminary of Our Lady of Angels, Niagara, by Bishop Ryan, of Buffalo. The Revs, T. A. Cullen and M. C. Gavan, of Albany, were similarly promoted. ‘rhe lecture delivered by the Rev. Dr. McGlynn at the Passionist Monastery, West Hoboken, last Sunday evening In aid of the poor, was attendacd by a crowded congregation. The Rev. Father Eusebius will deliver the Pas- sionist sermon this evening in the Catholic church at Guttenberg. A new temperance organization, in honor of the “Sacred Thirst and Agony of Cnrist on the Cross,” has been estaolished in connection with St Pairick’s church, Jersey City, by the Rev. P. Hennessey, pastor. An abstinence of not less than five years from the use of intoxicating urinks is required ofeach member, The organization num- rs 2 The Rev. J. L. Conron, pastor of St. Peter's church, New Brighton, S. L., and Catholic chaplatn of the Queranune, New York Bay, has gone to Havana ior the benefit of his health. He will be absent a iew weeks. ‘The ladies of the Church of St. Paul of the Cross, in Jersey City, have established a society tor feed- ing the poor, The Very Rev. Canon Moynihan, of New Orleans, is preaching a crusyde against intemperance aii over the country. The Lower House of the New Jersey Legislature, in considering the bill to incorparate the Roman Cutholic Protectory of that State, struck out the section granting State aid, also the section authorizing justices to commit juveniles to the in- stitution. ‘Tne feast of St, Patrick will not be observed as a day of abstinence in the diocese of Newark, A dis- pensation has been granted vy Bishop Corrigan on account of the consecration of the Catuedral in Newark on that day, PRESBYTERIAN, The Rev. S. M. Hageman, who has been running an independent Presbyterian Church in Williams- barg tor the last year or two last Sunday planted it squarely on the union principle, aiscarding de- nominational names and creeds and shibvoleths altogether, Drs, Kennedy and Bonar, of Scotland, are en- gaged iu a warm pampniet controversy over the evangelistic methods of Messrs, Moody and San- ble labors have upset the staid tneortes of Saxon ana Ceit alike. Dr. Kennedy does not like their bymns and organ worship, their simple addresses to the common people. There is not theology enough in them nur culture enough displayed in their presentation. Dr. Bonar considers these very objections their highest merit, and intimates that im tne question of hymnology the orthodox parapbrases of the Psalms lack the elements Which make the evangelists’ songs 80 acceptable, namely—poetry and sentiment. Dr. Bonar, it may be remar! Gey is one of tue most pleasing hymn writers o/ the present day. The Presbyterian Committee having charge of the proposed monument to Dr. Witherspoon have issued an appeal for junds. The statue ta expected Lo cost about $20,000. The project is a wortliy one. Rev. Dr. Boardman and wile, of the Presby- terian Cburco, Pniiadeiphia, have been holding meetings lor the promotion of the ‘‘higter Cnris- cee among the Quakers in Stoke Newington, ondon. The Presbyterians of Bridgeport, Conn., are pre- paring to replace their Boor burned church ASEH ERES witu @ $53,000 granite butiding of Gotinc style. ‘the Rey, A. Snashall nas resigned his pastorate at Huron, N.Y, kevivals are progressing in many Presbyterian churches throughout the country. In Mansfield, Pa., 13 were received February 14; in Peoria. LL, 48on the same Sabbath; in Blair, [IL, 63 wera added the Sunday previous; in -Liberty, Ind., 14, and in Lexingtoa, Ind., 8 at the same time; in Perryville, Ohio, 11; Bamtam, Ohio, 23; Leroy, Mivn., 10 also on the same date. Toe Presbyterians and Cumberland Presbyte- Tlans of the Pacitic Coast nave, by synedical com- mitvees, agreed upon a basis of union for the two bodies, which uow needs only to be ratified by their constituents, Rev. #. V. Bartlett, wno bas been supplying the First Presbyterian cburch, Lexington, Ky., has received @ unanimous call irom that church, ata sulary Of $2,500 a year, With a furnished parsonage. Rev. M. Sherwood, pastor of the Second Pres- byterlan chureh, of Elmira, N. Y., has resigned the pastoral charge of that church, om account ef im- paired healtn, A Presbyterian church of thirty members has been organized among the Warm Spring indians, which tribe numbers only 800 souls. ‘roe Rev. A. W. Haines bas resigned the charge of the Presbyterian church at Brooklyo, Iowa, in the Presbytery of lowa City. The Presbyterian Union bill has passed the Lise Council of Quebec and will become a aw. The new Presbyterian church at Sioux City, fowa, cost $6,800, 4 new Presbyterian church was organized in Chicago February 14 A new Presbyteriau church bas been dedicated at Poynette, Wis, The Presbytery of Des Moines, Iowa (United Presbyterians), has addressed a pastoral letter to the members of its churches on the swbject of “Secret Societies,” cautioning them against join- ing all such orders, Rev. R, Randall Hoes, a member of the Senior class of Princeton Collexe, has received a cali trom the Presbyterian courch at Mount Holly, N. 4. The Rey. Mr. Baldwin, the bew minister in the Presbyterian church gt Bound Brook, N, J., 1s to be installed pastor of that place next Wedmesday by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, METHODIST. In response toa request of colored clergymen, the bishops of the African Metuodist Episcopal Church have fixed upon Marcn 1 as a day of fast- Ing and prayer, and issued an address to the American people pleading tor the enjoyment of every civil and political rignt, and that they shuald be permitted to lead quiet aud peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty, with ample pro- tection for their brethren in the South trom the few bad men who persecute them. The Rev. E. E. Griswold, a superannuated minis- ter of this city, being no longer able to talk tor his Master writes to the Christian Advocate to sa: e t when he was admitted into tne New Yor! 0 Si mierence, in 1820, there were in the United tates and Canada altogether but 229,627 membe's and 748 preachers in the Methodist Episcopal Cburen. The New York Conjerence, whieh then embraced the territory now included in that Dame, the New York East, the Troy Conference to the Canada line, contained only 33,170 mem- bers and 173 preachers. The growth of method- ism within forty-Gve years bas therefore been wonderiul, Most of those who were in the Con- ference when Father Griswold entered have long ago excha: earth for heaven. v. J. S. loskip and wile reached this city on Saturday morning last on their return from Can- ada. Both are in a cok health, but they will seek @ brief and much needed respite from thetr Special work until the meeting of the New York East Conterence in April. Old_ Forsyth street Methodist Episcopal church, New York city, having uudergone great changes oe improvements, will be reopened on Sunday, Migs Colburn and Miss Burnett leave New York March 1, tor Pekin, China, to join the miasion with Miss Doow and Miss North, irom the Wowman’s Union Misstonary Society of America. The revival results in Islip, L. |l., are set down at 40 converts; at Cokesbury, N. J., 85; at South Adams, Mass, 85; at Northport, L. L, 20; im De Kalb avenue church, Brooklyn, 48. Dr. J. P, Newman, alter two years’ tour around the world, returned to New York last week. The Jersey City praying band visited the Metho- dist Episcopal churco in Bonnsville, West Hobo- ken, last Sunday night, and held .ortn before a crowded congregation. A large party waited last Tuesday and Wednes- day evenings on the Rev. Mr. Tuylor, o1, the Bull’s Ferry church, to tender him tne réspect ana esteem of the congregation, An enthusiastic meeting was held on Wednes- day nignt at the Hedding Methodist church in Jersey Vity. Twelve ladies and gentlemen pre- sented themselves at the altar for prayer and twenty-five announced their conversion, The Rev, J. R. Bryan, of the Methodist church in Hoboken, is lying seriously ill. Revival meetiugs aro beld nightly in his church and numerous conversions have taken place. MISCELLANEOUS, Dr. Parker, of London, writes to the Christian ae Work that next July the Anti-ritualism bill will go into operation in England, and that then they will hear several irregular verbs conjugated with rare explicitness and Vigor, Many a colored coat will be taken Off, dipped in the biood of a goat or a kid, and handed to sorrowing priests, woo will mourn their siain ritualism with muca lamenta- tion. The Doctor has no jears, however, that the ritualists will desert the old ship while there is a shot in the locker, In Madras the Free Church missionaries have gradually built up a great Canistian college, which not only provides a good secular education alike for the Hindons and Mohammedans, but also for very lilatSt. Xavier's Insitute, The Catholics of the town of Redding Ridge, Conn., are going to erect a new cburch. A Jesuit mission began last Sunday tn Sf, Pat- rick’s church, Erie, Pa., tor Bnglisn speaking Catholics. ‘The same order will close & Mission to- day in St. Francis Xavier's church, this city, The Redemptorists are closing a successful mission tn St. Alouns, V nd \to-day Will open one at Mont- peller, Vi.. Next Sunday, a mission. by the same order will begin at Qaincy, Mass, The following clerical changes are announce: The Kev. KR, O'Connor goes irom Si. Jerom Tamaqua, Ta., co ot Briumet’s, Malls of Scuuyi- the growing number of respectable native Chris- ie First Congregational church, Middle Had- dam, Mass, bas engaged the services ot Rev, F. Munson. ‘The twentieth Convention of Young Men’s Chris- tian Asi 1ons Will assemble in Richmond, Va., next May (26th), and extensive preparations are being made for the event. It ts fiteen ra and more since such @ gathering was hei in any Southern city. The Congregational Union of Engiana and Wales recently dedicated a Memorial Hall and Library in 3 key, the American missionaries, whose remarka- | 15 old Fleet Street Prison, and {s designed to com- memorate the fidelity to conscivuce of the 2,000 ministers ejected trom their livings by the Act of Uniformity of 1602, The butiding contains a nall capable of accommodating 1,000 persons, a library, conference and board rooms and twenty-tive offices for the various religious socteties of the Congregationalists. It was erected at a cost of £72,000, Of which sum over £70,000 has been sob. seribed. Not one tn a hundred of the baptized Kohls tn ndia has been brought to Christ through the irect agency of the missionaries, Nearly every baptized Kohl becomes an evangelist to bring others to Corist. Next month the Reformed Church in America will celebrate its semi-ceutenntal anniversary aod the iounding of its first educational institution here at Carlisle, Pa., in 1825, ‘The Rev. James Crawiord has resigned his pas- torate of the Retormed church at New Bloomfeld, Pa., aud accepted another in West Susquehanna, S'. Paul's Reformed church at Ada, Onto, hag erected & new house of worship at a coat of $3,600, The Kev. ©. Reiter has left Aaronsburg Re- formed church, Pa., and accpted a call from the Reiormed charch at Augusta, Pa. Miss Sarah Smiley, the evangelist, is at present ministering among the churches tn Cincinnath. The Rev. George H. Hepworth 18 sill laid up with a throat disease, The Orst anunai meeting of the New Jersey Sab- bath Union will be held at Trenton, N, J., on Tacs day next in the First Presbyterlan church. ev. Dr. J. O. Means, of the Vine street church, Boston, bas been elected secretary of the Congre- ational Publishing Society, the position having en vacant tor a long ume. Rev. Joseph Nee Sima, the Japanese convert who spent several years in this country, returned to Japan last tall and now writes back to his friends at Amherst, where he graduated, that be 1s having unexpected success as a missionary to his couutrymen. He speaks of preaching in Budd. hist temples to eagerly lstening crowas, among them being Buddhist priests, where the puplio rarely thronged to hear him, so that he was obliged to run to the house of a neighbor to write his letter. [His family have become con- verted and thrown their idols into the fire, the charred remains of one of which he has sent to Alpheus Hardy, of Boston. ev. Goyn Talmage has been called as associate pene with the Rev. Dr. Quackenbush, of the rospect Hill Refermed church, in Eighty-fifth street, New York city. Mrs. Lowry, the evangelist, who was formerly an actress, will occupy the pulpit of the Bedding church, in Jersey City, to-day, She lectured during the week, and her lectures were addressed chieny to young men, ‘he Rev. George L. Wolf, pastor of the Central avenue Re 4rmed church, of Jersey City, has tene dered his resignation, to take effect immediately. A Ketormed Episcopal church 18 avout to be eg tablished in Mount Holly, N. J. A meeting was held last Tuesday evening at the house of Mr. Swayze, on Washington street, Hoboken, for the purpose of organizing a Univers salist church society and thence erecting a church, ‘The First Universalist chareh of Jersey City ts im avery flourishing condition. <A reception was given by the Ledies’ Social Union connected with tue church last Tuesday evening. ‘The plot of ground on which the South Bergen Reformed church stands having been sold, new location has been leased on the Opposite ai of the street, and the building will be moved thereon at an early day. The Reformed Episcopai Church movement is making rapid strides throughout the country. The Rev. Mason Gallagher preached to the Jersey City people last Sunday evening, arousing them to action,.and to-day he will preach in Baltimore, ae has been invited to Jersey City for next Sune ay. 2 ‘The Pastors’ Conference of Jersey City will be held on Tuesday next, at four in the afternoon, tn the parlor o! the First Presbyterian church in that city, and will aiscuss the subject, “How Shall the Needea Spiritual Revival be Best Promoted ?"” The vill permitting clergymen o1 all denomina- tions to bave access to the State Reform School of New Jersey at Jamesburg has aroused a liveiy ope position in the Legislature. NINETEENTH STREET SYNAGOGUE, THE REV. GEORGE JACOBS ON HALTING BELIEV= ERS—ISRAELITES WHO FEAR TO CONFESS AND WHO FORSAKE THEIR FAITH. Yesterday the Rev. Mr. Javobs preached in the Synagogue in Ninéteenth street,.near Fiith ave enue, Irom the narrative of Eljah’s controverey with the prophets of Baal and the people of Israel who nad vecome s0 immersed in idolatry that Elijan declared be was the only worshipper of the true God that remained. Mr. Jacobs’ text was I Kings, Xvili., 21, “And Elijah came to all the people and said, How long nait ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him; but if Baal, then foilow him. And the peopie answered him not a word.” Mr. Jacobs portrayed some of the results tat followed from this wholesale turning of the people after idols—the neglect of the poor and the famine that overspread the land and which compelled Elijan to fee away out of the country and take refuge near a running brook, after a few years he comes forth from his retreat and faces the fury of Ahab, ani makes a last effort to bring back the erring sons of Israel to the true faith, They had become unsettled im thetr religious convictions, and were halting as to the propriety of turoing to the Lord or remaine ingidolaters. The man who empts to play fas= and loose and whose word cannot be relied on is aiways @ subject of distrust. We expect littie trom such aman. You aobor all his dealings be- cause his word cau never give you assurance, and as men of ousiness the less you have todo with him the better. Mr. Jacobs illustrated his point here by @ sketch of @ political trimmer, who, whatever he may have been at other times, is about eection time aiways with the popular side, But tf parties are nearly equally matched and re- sults 100k doudtial he halts and trims and waits to see which side will win. Tuls wus the condi- tign of Israel when Elijah presented this Suaenee: to them, and they answered him not a word, you meet this halting man in society he has 00 settled convictions. He panders to ali and 1s dis- believed by all. He seldom ventures an assertion of bis Own unless satisfied that it will be kindiy received. He never attempts to contradict. Jn his religious professions before the Gentile World this man is all concession. He hardly knows that he 1s a Jew; he yielus bis own faith rather than offend the prejudices of his Gentile triends. He bas no self-assertion and will sneak out ol & conversation which drifts toward bis jaith, which, while he does no& exactly deny, he fears to acknowledge. His is the pe proiession. He keeps the little morsel of Judaism that he has carefully wrapped up and put away out o/ sight, as 4i it were some ugly thing which might offend suse ceptible nerves. itis designed for Jews only or to be exhibited im the synagogue perhaps once a ear. Your kippur is @ kind of income tax which e pays grudgingly as @ sort of necessity which he cannot very wellevade. And wnen he pays ithe heaves a sigh of reliei that it is over tor another year t least. And then, who knows, iu this enlightened age, when so much new religious legisiation is going on among minis- terial carpet-baggers, but that the repeal o1 this law may. be secured and he may thus uet rid of this kippur tax altogether. But while the man ts thus halting and wavering in his religious princt- pics religion prevails. The demand of the text and tne cry of the times ts tor firmouess and tu- trepiaity. It ts the lack of this principle thas the halting between two opinions that we Firmness will sustain us in all our tribula- tions and will enaoie us to sa: “fhe Lord is my detence. I will uot sear what man can do unto " is firmness is the corner stone o2 which all our hopes should be based. It will enable us to stand up for God and for His law. The con- cluding words of the text tell us that the people answered Eijah not a word, Not so with many of us. Go among the violaters of the law—those who have departed from the principles and taita of our jathers—and you will find taem neither abashed nor penitent, but defending their actions, Endeavor to dissuade them and they have reasous weighty and numerous. There never Wasa wrong yet committed but there could be found some men ready to explain and justify 1%, Men are cowards in presence of their ‘own consciences, and they will endeavor to bind you and themselves by specious sophistries cone cerning what they call the right or righteousness ofths charge. it is not a question of indifference or of profit, but purely of conviction, that has caused them to forsake the laws of their iathers, Bad as the people were in the time of Eiijan they yet had a sense o1 shame left. The propliet’s de- Dunciation of their idolatry struck home to their hearts and consciences, and they were speechiess, dumbfounded. They answered him not a word. They gave that much evidence of humfilation if not of awakened couscience, and these two states are but preludes to conviction and amendmeat, Be warned by their mistake, said Mr. Jacobs, im closing, and remember that when you, hke them, are brought face to iace with God, you cannot ane swera word. Let us all seg, then, that we have this firmness of character and not be halting in our faith, but let us all be for the Lord, our God, the Creator and Preserver of ali things. MODERN SPIRITUALISM. MR. SLADE'S BEPLY TO ‘“‘INQUIRER’S” CHARGES, New York, Feb, 16, 1875. To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— As your correspondent, “Inquirer,” may be sin- cere in his opinions regarding my medtumship, and as | am desirous of setting every candid mind right on the subject, not so mach for my own sake | as for the sake of all inquirers after truth, £ ropose that a committee of two middle-aged, Piniid and iutetligent gentlemen, neither Spirit= aalists nor members of any churoh—persons who are known to be tmpartial, sincere and honora~ ble—snali wait on “Inquirer” and have @ séance witn him in his own room, during which he snail aliow the tabie and chairs used in connection witn his experiments to be examined and shail explain how or in what he has detected fraud on my part. After this committee shali bave been tully posted by "Inquirer I propose to go with them into any anfurnished room they may 6 in this city, and there, using @ taolé aad chai to be procured by themselve: @ OF ti sdances, us the case may be, in the hope of diw posing eifectually of the charges Londen, It is Dailt won 4 Dart of the site of the Peers bg “inquirer” agaimat me, HENKY SLADE,