The New York Herald Newspaper, December 5, 1875, Page 10

— RULIGIOES INTELLIGENCE <n Ministerial Movements--- Chats by the Way. How to Get People to Syna- gogue or Church. PROGRAMME OF SERVICES TO-DAY ‘The Sclavonic language will be used im the Oriental chapel (his morning. The Rey, Chauncey Giles will speak in the Sweden- borgian church to-day on “How to Hear the Truth.”” The Rev. W. R. Alger will preach in the Church of dhe Messiah this morning on “Liberal Christianity vs Catholicism and Orthodoxy.” The Rey. Dr. Patton, ofthe Baptist Weekly, will oc cupy the pulpit of Fifty-third strect Baptist church this worning and evening. The Rey. Mr. Jutten will speak in the Sixteenth street Baptist church this merning on the ‘‘Fortitude of Jesus am Prospect of His Suiferings.” In Allon street Presbyterian chureh the Rev. George ©. Phelps will speak this evening on ‘The Thief Cap- ‘wred.’’ Morning sermon also by the pastor. Dr, W.N. Dunnell will officiate and preach im All ‘Saints’ Protestant Episcopal church at the usual hours “The Centra! Question in Modern Retigious Thought” and “Immortality” will be discussed to-day in Wash ‘ngton square Methodist Episcopal church by Rev. William Lloyd. “The Highest Resolve” and ‘Satan's Palace” will be considered by Rey. John Johns in the Free Tabernacle Methodist Episcopal church to-day. In Bleecker street Universalist church the Rev. C. P, McCarthy will preach this morning on “Jehovah Speak- ang to Humanity” and im the evening on “The Forbid- den Fruit a Vegetablo Production or a Mental and Spiritual Quality—Which !” ‘The Rey. S. H. Tyng, Jr., D. D., will preach m the Chureb of the Holy Trinity this morning and evening and the Rev. J. W. Bouham this aiternoon. Dr. Deems is to preach in the Church of the Strangers to-day at the usual hour. Rev. J. D. Herr will minister to the Central Baptist church this morning and evening. In the Church of the Holy Apostles the Rev. Dr. Barland will preach this morning, Service in the even- ing also. ©. B. Lynn will address the Progressive Spiritualists, this morning and evening, in their hall in West Thirty- third street. The Rev, Frank H. Marling, late of Toronto, will be- gin his pastorate to-day with the Second avenue Pres- vyterian charch. Dr, Armitage will speak in Fifth avenue Baptist charch this morning on “A Handfal of Sorrows,” and this evening ona “Hard Heart.” Revival meetings and sermons also week evenings. In Harlem Universalist church the Rev. J. E. For- rester, of Newark, will preach to-day, “Bishop” Snow will preach in the University chapel this afternoon on ‘‘The Parable of the Ten Virgins— Has it Been Fulfilled? If so, When and How?” In Lexington avenue Methodist Episcopal church the Rey. J. W. Selleck will preach morning and evening. The New York Presbyterian church will be minis- tered to to-day at the usual hours by the Rev. W. W, Page. ‘The Rev. Charles E. Harris will draw “Lessons from the Life and Death of the late Vice President Wilson” for allen strect Methodist Epscopal church this evening. The Rev. S. M. Hamilton wll preach in the Scotch Presbyterian chureh to-day at the usual hours. The Rev. J. H. Lightbourn will preach in Seventeenth street Methodist Episcopal church this morning on “Regeneration” and this evening on “Procrastination.” The Rev. W. P. Abbott will preach in St. Luke’s Methodist Episcopal church at the usual hours to-day. Rey. H. W. Knapp will preach on “The Word of Sal- vation” this morning, and will offer “Water for tho ‘Thirsty”’ this evening, in Laight street Baptist church. Dr. William Adams will preach in Madison avenue Reformed church this morning. “Superabundance’’ will be described this morning by Rev. W. H. Leavell,and ‘An Invitation and an In- ducement”’ will be offered this evening, to the Stanton street Baptist church. Rey. W. B. Merritt will speak about “Joshua” thig evening in the Sixth avenue Reformed church, The Rev. J. S. Willis wiil present “The Lord # Strong Tower” this morning for the Seventh street Methodist eburch, and this evening he will speak about “Winter.” Di service will be held at the usual hours to-day im St. Thomas’ Protestant Episcopal cburch; Rev. Dr. Morgan, rector. in Thirtieth etreet Methodist Episcopal church the Rev. George H. Corey will preach this morning and evening. The Rev. Henry M. Sanders, of the Union Theolog+ eal Semmnary, will preach in the Tabernacle Baptist church this morning and evening. The Rev. James M. King will preach in St. Jobn’s Methodist Episcopal church at the usual hours to-day. Dr. Talmage will discourse this morning in the Tabernacle, Brooklyn, on “The Expulsion of the Bible from the Schoqis and the Moral Standing of the Teach- ers of Brooklyn.’? Sankey’s popular solos are introduced as congrega- tion singing at Benjamin Albro’s meetings for prayer and testimonies, West Thirty-seventh street, Fridays, at seven P.M. Books furnished. All welcome. D. M. Bennett will lecture in Trenor’s New Hall this evening before the New York Liberal Association on “An Hour with the Devil.” Mr. Sankey’s Gospel hymns will be sung this evening at the people's service in the Church of the Holy Trim- ity. The Rev. Dr. Preston will deliver the second of the course of Advent sermons on the mystery of the ador- able sacrifice in St. Ann’s church this evening. Sub. ject—‘'The Nature of the Christian Sacrifice.” A Spiritaal conference will be held in Harvard Rooms this afternoon and evening. In St. Ignatius’ Protestant Episcopal church the Rev. | Dr, Ewer will officiate at the earlier services, and in the evening Dr, Mulchabey, of St, Paul's church, wil) preach. ‘The Rev. C. C, Tiffany will speak to the young of the Church of the Atonement this morning on “Abrabam, the Man of Faith.” CHAT BY THE WAY. If you bave anything to give to the poor andany | inclination to give it give it now, while the mercury | te playing hide and seek with zero, ‘The pithy advice of Plymouth Charch to ono of its ex-deacens is—Go, West. Birds generally moult or shed their brightest feath- ers in the spring, but in Brooklyn the Mouil’m season bas just began, ‘The Congregationalists, finding it dificult to rule some of their eccentric members, propose # council that nball try to ferule thom instead, Mr. Moody calls for 1,000 Christian workers to help ‘him when he grapples with New York. them, but it is so mach easier, even for Christians, to ait in the amphitheatre and appland the gladiator than to stand by bis side and fight with him that we doubt if he gets them. Weare revived to the point of cu- riosity as to how he does it, but not to the point of belping him do it. The Churchman arraigns the revivalists for appeal- ing tothe emotions, This unwillingness to help unless ourown methods are used is what slows the move- mevt Why not stop grumbling and criticising, and let | Moody have full swing to do as he pleases, so long as he succeeds in taking €onverts? It seems to us that the Church is standing im iteown Light, aod then finding fault with some one else. Roman Catholies are generally so warmly we'comed when they attend divine service that they speak of tho Mother Church; but some strangers who recently at- ‘tended an uptown Protestant church, aod were ‘.- Jierly treated, came away with the feeling that it ought to be called the Mother-in law Church. Dr. Vanghn 1s giving in the lecture room of the Mid- Ale Temple, London, some Bible readings in Greek to lawyers. This is regarded as a novel proceeding in Bosland, put iv New York every jawyer is pretty well Ho will need | NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1875—QUADRUPLE SHEET. read in the profits, and to many of them who are infal- ‘wate as three or four-legged oracle, the Bible would be wo stranger in Greek than in English, Rey, Dr, Bjerry very yas account of the Russo-Greek Church oa Tuesday ing, at ABsO- ciation Hall, If be used rose water @ little freely in some of his deseriptiona, and omitted a few tacts which an impartial critic might bave stated, he only did what we should do under like circumstances, When the Greek Church becomes inclusive we sball all ex- pect to touch shoulders and march across the threshold | of the golden age. | Itis pretty evident that Plymouth church matters | can be unsnaried and untwisted only by a council. | Worn out and saddened as the public mind and heart | are by the details of this whole business people would where they keep their conscience if some competent ecctessiastical authority would render a verdict or ex- | press an opinion one way or the other. In spite of all | that has been said of the position of Drs. Storrs, Bud- | ington and Taylor, the community is waiting for the | Jud. meat of a coumeil in which these gentiemen sball | act in the interests of truth and Congregationalism. It is very curious to note the various disguises under | which the same thought makes its appearance, We are | jaciined to laugh when we read of the little five-year- | old who went upto his new-born brother and asked “How was God, baby, when you left?” and yet there | is something very tooching and tender in it, It was | Precisely the same state of mind which impelled Wards- | | worth to simg— Our birth is but a ‘The soul that rises with us, ‘Hath had elsewhere its setting, And cometh from afar; Not in cutire forgetfuluess, And not in utter darknes Bat, trailing clouds of gla From God, who is our home ; Heaven lies about us in our infancy. | Dr, John Cotton Smith, who is one of the ripest and sweetest scholars among the city clergy, is about to ablish a volume ot miscellaneous essays which have Been delivered at intervals during the last twenty years, One of them isa review of the somewhat famous “‘Sus- pense of Faith” with which Dr. Bellows was afflicted some time since. The essay will probably be applicable | to the eloquent divine as long as he lives, forhe has , the rare faculty of suspending his faith at will and at will assuming it again. | Mr. Spurgeon denies with a clerical oxpletive that | he ever said Uhat men are seldom converted after forty. ‘A great many of us who have painfully watched the gathering white on our beads ought to be grateful to the London preacher, ‘There is a story somcwhere about a wild set of fellows who tumbled about the world until the eleventh hour, and even then received a welcome to the feast. That story certainly contains good news for some of us who are belated. To be sure, the time to look for warm weather is in July and August; but even nature is merciful and gives us an Indian ‘summer, fenced in by snow and ice on either side. We sometimes think that the heart has its In- dian summer as well as nature, However, the clergy will perhaps set ns right on this matter, ‘A great many minisiers on Thanksgiving Day, which seems to be the canonical time to vent the feelings | which the Sunday restraing, talked to their people about our public schools, and the necessity of continu- ing the practice of reading the Bible as a part of the | regular exercises. They used a great many adjectives | of four syllables with which to convey a more decided opinion ‘on the subject, and altogether abused the | King’s English unnecessarily. We have already sug- gested the question to be answered before the quarrel goes any further, and we feel that it is no more than fair to meet the question honestly, ‘Which Bible ought to be read 1m the schools, the King James or the Doyay?? It the schools are intended to perpetuate Single sect the answer is already given; if, on the other hand, they are intended to educate the people, without interfering with religious peculiarities, then let this hue and cry about destroying the public school | system be confined to the pyrotechnic orators who gush at the slightest provocation. Thoughtful men, who love fair play, will settle the matter when it comes to the right issue, not only easily, but in the interest of all parties and all religions. Mr. W. R. Greg informs us that Christianity can be saved only by clearing it of all mystenes, dogmas and miracles, and by giving up our belief in the Gospels as genuine historical narratives This is what Mr. Greg calls smooth sailing, but to our limited understanding it | looks more like being high and dry on the hugest rock of all, and so fast there that no tug could ever haul us into deep water agam. Just for the sake of discover- mg how much of the Good Book we should have to give up if we followed Mr. Greg’s ad we took down an | old-fashioned Bible the other day, and crossed out all the mysteries and dogmas and miracles, and to our sur- | prise the red line of elimination was ‘broken only at | some half dozen places, which, curiously enough, were filled up with denunciations of the very work we were doing, and after awhile we abandoned the task to the | less sensitive nerves of Mr. Greg’s disciples. A great many people have tried to improve the Book, but it is generally undertaken after the Book bas lost its power to improve them. It 18a curious fact that they who try to show their wisdom by denouucing, or severely | criticising the Bible, are men who wouid not stand a | first class examination on its contents in a mission Sun- | day school, ‘A new and novel project ison foot in the Hanson place Baptist church, where even Dr. Fulton’s pacitic ministrations fail to produce serenity. They propose to connect the church tank with one of the boiling geysers of the North and in that way secure an inex- haustible supply of water, both hot and muddy. The Doctor is in such a feariul quandary, having resigned and then taken it back, and then been tempted to re- sign again, that some wise brother will probably. be soon called into make up the pastor's mind for him. How beautiful und edifying isa church quarrel! ‘The Doctor must either go or stay, or—something, or we | shall soon have in Brooklyn another mammoth cave, THE PRISONER AT THE VATICAN. ‘The Rev. Dr, Field, of this city, who is travelling in Europe, writes thus to the Hvangelsst concerning the voluntary imprisonment of the Pope in the Vatie: It is a great loss to travellers who come to Rome to see sights that the Pope has shut himself-up in the Vatican. In the good old times, when he was not only | @ spiritual but a civil potentate—not only Pope but King—he used to ride about a great deal to take a sur- vey of his dominions. One might meet him of an af. | ternoon taking an airing on the Pincian Hill or on | some of the roads leading out of Rome He always appeared in o magnificent tate carriage of red, trimmed with gold, with six horses, richly caparisoned, and outriders. going be. fore and the Swiss Guards following after, (What | would poor old Peter have said if he had met his suc- cessor coming along in such mighty pomp?) The car- dinals, too, arrayed ip scarlet, had their red carriages | and their fine liveries, and their horses pranced up and down the Corso. Thus Rome was very gay. The pro- cessions, too, were endless, and they wi lorious to behold. ’ It was, indeed, a grand sight to see the Popo and all his cardinais, in’ their scarlet dresses, sweeping into St. Peter's, and kneeling together in the nave, while the muskets of the Swiss Guards rang,on the pave- | ment in token of the might of arms which then at- | tended the spiritual power. But now, alas! all this is ended. The spoiler has entered into the holy place, and the bay: thew ap- pears no more in the streets, Since that fatal day when the Italian troops entered Rome—the 20th of September, 1870—he has not put his foot in a carriage, nor shown himself to the Roman people. The car- dinals, who live in different parts of the city, are obliged to go about; bus they have laid aside all their | fine raiment and glitterin uipage, and ar only in solemn black, as it” they wero undertakers atsending the funeral of the Papacy. The Pope | has shut himself up closely in the Vati He is, indeed, just as free to go abroad as ever. | There is nothing to prevent his riding about Rome as usual. Bat no, the dear old man will have it that he is restrained of bis liberty, and calls himself “a risoner !”” To be sure, he is not exacuy in a guard. | ouse or in a cell, such as those in the Inquisition just | | across the square of St. Peter, where heretics used to be accommodated with rather close quarters, His “prison” is a large one—a palace, with hundreds of | richly furnished apartments, where he is surrounded , with luxury and splendor, and where pilgrims flock to | him from all parts of the earth. It princely re- treat for one in bis old age, amd agrand theatre on which to assume the réle of martyr. Almost anybody would be willing to play the part of prisoner if by this means he might attract the attention and sympathy of ; the whole civilized world. * But so complete is this voluntary confinement of the Pope that he has not left the Vatican in these five Years, not even to go into St. Peter’s, though it adjoins the Vatican and he can enter tt by @ private passage. It is whispered that he did go in on one o nto BeO his own picture, which is wrought in mosaic and plac over the bronze statue of St. Peter, But on this oc- casion the public were excluded, and when the doo! were opened he disappeared. He will not ev: take part in the ye festivals of the Church, which | are thus shorn of half their splendor. How well I remember the gorgeous ceremonies of Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday and ending with Easter. I was one.of the fore} in the Sistine chapel.on Good Friday, when fope’s choir, com- of eunuchs, sang the ‘‘Miserere;”’ and on the Piazza of St. Peter, at Easter, when the Pope was car- ried on men’s shoulders to the great central window, where, in the presence of an immense crowd, he pro- nounced his benediction writ et orté, and the cannon | on the Castle of St. Angelo thundered forth the mighty | blessing which had thus descended on “‘the city and the world.” I saw, too, that night the illumination of | St. Peter's, when arches and columns and roof and dome were hung with lamps that, when all lighted together, made such a flame that it seemed as if the very heavens were on fire, Bat now all this glory and splendor have gone out in utter night. There are no more biessings for unbeliev- Jone great within the sacred precincts of the Vatican, whe! the successor of St, Peter is now visible, "It is cially to those enthusiastic persons who feel that they cannot “die happy” unless they have seen the Pope. 1,'This pretence of being a Prisoner, ts 50 plainly » device jo ex that i 1 public sympathy it absurd manner. A lad Pope behind the bars of @ prison, and @ to rhow that he is compelled to Tena: Hike @ conviet! The same thing THE WEEK OF PRAYER. The first week in January has come to be very gen- erally observed by the evangelical churches as # season of special prayer. The appointment is likely to be more noticed the coming season than heretofore. The widely diffused desire and expectation of a special work of grace will have the effect to lead to more dili- gent use of the means of grace, both common and spe- | cial. The Evangelical Alliance have sent out their an- } nual st tion of topics for prayer during the first | | wovk of 4316, Jt may ve edifying to some Christians fecl.a little easier in that pare of their organization , | Convert for Keven years, there is remarkable revival | ere—nor even for the faithful, except as they seck them | loss to those who have not been in Rome before, espe- | to look over this list/put as a matter of fact we never attended a series of veetings in which Christiane prayed by the oganm, ‘which is this year as follows :— Sumpay. 2, sermons—The love of God perfected in him who “‘keey,eth His word”—I John, ii, 5 Mompay, Jan. 3, Thanksgiving and Confessiou—A of the Yast year, Toxapay, Jnn. 4, Prayer for the Chureb of Christ— For the mem/oers recently added to the Church ; for the ‘union of tree believers in (raternal followship and active ‘co-operatioy.; for the removal of error, the increase of godlimess and a clearer testimony among. believers to | the dectrmes and the power of the of the grace of God. ‘Wepxxspay, Jan. 5, Prayer for Families—For godless | pares; for prodigal sons; for children at school; for thoseentering upon professional and commercial life; for widows and orphans; for sons ana daughters in forengn lands; and for all who are mentally or otherwise adticted. ‘Tuorspay, Jam. 6, Prayer for Rulers, Magistrates and | Siatesmen—For soldiers and sailors; for national in- stitutions; for philanthropic and charitable societies; Yor prisoners amd captives, and for the persecuted and | oppressed. | FPripay, Jan. 7, Prager for Christian Missions—And for the conversion of the world to Christ. Sarcrpay, Jan. 8, Prayer for all Nations—For the | maintenanoe of peace; for the cessation of tumults, wars and crevi strife, and for he removal of intemperance, immorality and infidelity from the land. Sunway, Jan, 9, Sermons—The ultimate triumph. Psalms, Ixxii., 17. | | MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS. | re PRESBYTERIAN, A Presbyterian Centennial Memorial Convention is to ve held at Pittsburg December 7. The objects of the | Convention are to commemorate the planting of | Presbyterianism ip Western Pennsylvania and to dis- | cuss the means of promoting a general revival of religion. After an absence of thirteen years in India the Rev, J. W. Scudder, M. D., with his farily, has returned to America to recruit his health. ‘The Rev. Dr. J. Clement French, owing to feeble health and the impaired financial ability of his people, has resigned the pastorate of the Westminster Presby- | terian chureh, Brooklyn. ‘Trade and commerce has, for a few years, been driving away the wealthy residents | of the neighborhood who used to worship in and sus- | tain the chureh. \ The Board of Foreign Missions have recently sent | forward Rev. J, M. Alexander and wife and Rev. Joseph M. Gohcen and wife to India; Rev. D. J. Stewart to Mexico and Mrs. E. P. Capp to China, The | Rev. W. Imbrie and wife, previously sent out, have ar- | rived safely in Japan. ‘The General Assembly last May appropriated $545,477, including a debt of $38,000, to be raised by the Church | for foreign missions, The ' treasury has received be- tween May and November only $97,388 80, or less than one-fifth during the first six months of the fiscal year. If the receipts of the next six months shall be equal and only equal to those of last year, the real debt of the Board of Missions on May 1, 1876, will be $88,675, To carry the Board through the year without debt will require $75,514 70 per month from November 1. The Rey. E. P. Hammond is in Harrisburg, Pa, to, labor for 4 time in that important city and centre of in- | fluence. wETHoDrsT. Rev. Dr. J. B. Wentworth, pastor of the Methodist | Episcopal church at Le Roy, N. Y., is about to be trans/erred to the Rock River Conference and stationed as pastor at Evanston, IIL | The Methodist Conference in Indiana, before which the Rev. T, A. Goodwin was arraigned for heresy in a | book concerning the unmortality of man, has dismissed | the charges, The prosecutor was not present, and the | Conference refused to hold the case over. H Twenty-two years ago the Methodists of Chicago and | viemity, with the usual shrewdness that seems to in. here in that denomination, purchased 380 acres of land | and swamp twelve miles north of the city, on the lake | shore, for the purpose of founding and locating a uni- | versity. Twenty-five thousand dollars only were put | into the enterprise, of which Dr. Jobn Evans gavo 5, in bonor of whom the place was named fanston, Now there is on that purchase | a young city of 6,000 inhabitants, having | gas” works, water works, banks, newspaper offices, ten churchess public library, &c., &c% while tho | university is worth $1,500,000, and comprises, in the language of its enthusiastic President, ‘seven ‘colleges with seventy instructors ”” tsetween 500 and 1,000 stu- dents of some grade or other are in attendance, and | what is best of all the income is ample, so that no ap- | peal is made to the public for endowment. Dr. Curry, of the Christian Advocate, will farnish bis brethren some original ideas on “Justification by Faitn’” at their meeting to-morrow. \ Revivals are in progress in Embury church, Brooklyn, where last Sunday might fifty were at the altar as peni- tents; also in Fleet street, Warren street and De Kalb | avenue churches, in the samc city; in St Pani’ church, Jersey City, where twenty-five have been co verted; in Broadway church, Camden, N. J., wh thirty ‘have professed faith; Centenary church, same place, twelve; Hackettstown, N. J., ten; Asbury chorch, Staten Island, thirty; Quackertown, N. J., | sixteen; Asbury church, Bethlehem, sixty;’ Nyack, thirty were forward for prayers. The revival at Port Jervis has resulted in 600 conversions im eight weeks and the baptism last Sunday of 165 converts; 432 have united with the church on probation and the work is still in progress, In Paschalville, Pa, forty conver- sions. ‘The new Methodist Episcopal church in East St. Louis will be dedicated to-day by Bishop Bowman. ‘The great power of ihe revival wave paseing over the country is seen in the influence that follows the meet- | ings held by Messrs. Moody and Sankey in Brooklyn, Especially is this evident in the work for young men, The Rev. George A. Hall, General Secretary of the ‘Young Men’s Christian Associatian of Washington and member of the New York East Conference, was seut for by Mr. Moody to take charge of the Young Men’s mect- ings, and they have gone on with great power. Many souls bave been converted since Mr. Moody left, and a very large audience gathers at the hall of the Young Men’s Christian Association each evening from nine to ten o'clock, The work is very hopeful for the young | men of Brooklyn. Rev. Dr. J. P, Newman, of Washington, spent a few days in this city last week. ‘he Official Board of the Methodist Episcopal church of Islip have unanimously resolved to call a meeting for Wednesday evening next, to take into consideration the | advisability of uniting with some other church, and thus | lessening the financial burden under which the charch has for some time been laboring. BAPTIST. ‘The Rev. W. E. Watkinson has been conducting ser- ‘vices at Baptistown, N. J., im which twenty have pro- fessed conversion. Seven were baptized last Sunday evening at the Six- teenth street Baptist church in this city, Rev, D. B, Jutten, pastor, Before the service was over thirty-one | arose for prayer. A revival going on in the Church at Green, N. ¥., has | resulted thus far in the reception by baptism of forty- three believers. The Baptists of Maine are expending their energies in | raising endowments for three academics in that State, Ex-Governor Coburn has given them $50,000, to which some otber parties have added $25,000 and Mr, Hamlin has given $1,000, A new church edifice erected by the Baptists of Wat- erville, Me., at acostof $17,000, is nearly completed | and ready for dedication—all paid for. In Chorebland, Va., thirty-one persons have recently professed conversion in revival meetings there, Ab alleyrand, Iowa, twenty-one have been added lately. | In Darien, N. Y., where the Baptists have not hada | going on now apd converts are professing their faith | every day. ‘The Baptists of Aledo, IN, will dedicate a new church to Fifty have been converted ina revival in progress in Virdin, Lil., and still they come. | A lawyer named Penn, at Jefferson, Texas, has gone | forth like Moody to preach the Gospel, and at Tyler | eighty were converted and at Bryan 100 professed faith. | Let ministers excel this. ‘The Baptist ministers of Chicago at the weekly meeting | last Monday discussed the question of the Bible m the public schools, and gave four reasons why it should be | Tetained, viz:—Because of universal precedent; because of it@ copnection with the traditions of the Republic; be- cause Christianity is a part of the common law of the | land, and the Bible is the text book of Christianity; and | lastly, because Christianity is so inwrought into the tex- ture of education by the very nature of the process that it cannot be safely eliminated, These seem to us very | like the reasons why the Catholics ask for the removal | of the Bible Srom the rchools, November 21 the East Side Paptist church of Des Moines dedicated a new house of worship which it had erected at a cost of $4,600. RPISCOPALIAN, Bishop Hare, of Niobrara, sailed for Europe on | Wednesday. | The Rev. Addison B, Atkins, D. D., of Georgetown, p g has taken charge of St, John’s church, Yonkers, The Rev. KE. 8. Thomas has resigned the Associate | Secretarysbip of the Society for the locrease of the Ministry. The Kev. Frank W. Blake, formerly of New Haven, | Conn., died recently in Minnesota, The Bishop of New Hampshire a few days ago dedi- cated a new church at Littleton, 1t is of brick and cost who two years ago left the | Episcopal for the Roma: ch, has got tired of that and returned to his first Jove in the diocese of | Northern New Jersey. Bishop Odenheimer has rclected Newark as the epis- copal residence for his diocese—Northern New Jersey. The Kev. Mr. Ely, of Newport, Ky., has accepted a call to the rectorship of Grace church, Lockport N. Y. and fs expected to assume charge of the parixh to-day’ The consecration of Dr. McLaren, Bishop-elect of Illinois, j8 to take place in the Cathedral church of Chicago next Wednesday. Owing to certain alleged informalities in the election of the Rov. Dr. Eccleston to the episcopate of Iowa, ho withdraws froin any further consideration of the call. The Rey. F. O'Connell, D, D., has accepted a call to the rectorship of Christ church, Greensburg, Pa., in connection with the rectorship of Trinity cburch, Con. neilsville, Pa. s The Rey, W. H. Hopkine, rector of Grace church, Watertown, Central New York, hus accepted a call to St Jobn’s charch, Chicago, Iit ROMAN 140, Tho parish of the House of Prayer, Ne secured the services of a sister at Order of St, John the Baptist, more generally known as the ‘Clewer” Sisters. They are from tho branch house of the Order in New York. The arrangementa for the dedicatton of tho new Ca- thedral of the Holy Cross, Boston, on Wednesday next, #0 far ag periected, says the Pilot, promise one of tho most impressive and significant religious ceremonies that Catholicity in New England bas ever known. Not fince the dedication of that historic little Church of the Holy Crosg im Franklin sirect, under the devoted | in New York started for their homes | bas removed to Helen: | minded Mati and and by the ive aid of President Adams and hiberal ta, seventy two years ago, has there been so interesting an evi- dence of Catholle growth in Boston, The first .cere- mony found Boston with only a handful of Catholics and with no Episcopal head; this last finds ita Metro- politan See, with a strong and thoroughly organized Ca- tholic body and the first American Cardinal add- ing the ectat of his presence and high office. Right Rev. C. M. Dubuis, D. D., Bishop of Galveston, Texas, with Rev. George Allen, Rev. Autoine Defliche, Rey. P. Chandy and Rev. L. Granger, all of the Dio- cese of Galveston, with Sister Blandine for the hospital at Galveston, arrived in New York from Europe on the 21st ult,, aud after neat day or two Texas, All were in excellent health. The Catholics of Bergen county, New Jersey, are making good progress in the work of church and school improvements, and all owing to the zeulous tors in charge of the different sections, Rev, Fathor Smits has made his church at Bnglewood (St. Oecilia) as pretty as any in the neighberhood, and Rey. J. Rolando, who Was stationed at Newark when the Most Rev. Arch- bishop Bayley, of Baltimore, was there located, has effected improvements of the most gratifying kind in | Hackensack and Ledi. A Carmelite monastery has been consecrated at Mon- treal. Six monks from Rheims have been laboring there for some time past. ‘A church is being built at Gibney, Canada, under the direction of Father pipe. It is rumored that the Rev. Father Conway, 8. J., of St. Patrick's church, Chicago, has been appointed Bishop of Peoria The Holy Father has appeinted Rey. Lewis Zepherin Moreau to be Bishop of St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada. ‘The pew Catholic schoolhouse of Covington, which is a credit to the zeal of the Bishop and laity of Coving- ton, Ky., was dedicated on Sunday last. Rev. J Beotukes, formerly of Chambersburg, Pa, Phillips be Arkansas. R. 1. are about to for Ube use of The Catholics of Valley Falls, erect a schoolhouse and shall combined the children of St, Patrick's parish. Father Tom Burke bas recovered from his late ill- ness, but the doctors say he must not work so hard any more. Bishop C has appointed Rev. D. Senez, pastor of St. Mary’s church, Jersey City, to the pastorate of St Mary's chureb, Hoboken, ‘in place ef Father aga. Av the late Paulist mission in Minneapolis, Minn., eleven converts from Protestanism were received into the chureh. Rey. J. C. Roche, of the Diocese of Detroit, reached this city on Friday last. Father Roche 1#’in good health, and started ‘immediately for the fleld of bis la rs. Next Wednesday is the feast of the Immaculate Con- ception and a holiday of obligation to refrain from un- necessary labor and attend Lo religious duties. The Catholics of Sumpter, 8. C., are raising money to | build a church im the place where they say there is great need of one, MASCELLANROUS. The Charch Missionary Society has received $50,000 from a single contributor, the money to be expended upon the society’s labors in Africa, This handsome gut is in response to the appeal which the African Chief M’tesa made, through the explorer Stanley, to the Christian world for the Christianization of Africa, The Moody and Sankey Committee in this city are not only providing a choir for the Hippodrome, but are also preparing a Bible reading class of 1,000 persons for Mr. Moody's afternoon meetings, The Mormons lately dedicated a chureh structure in London, Canada, and at their first service a “Gentile” stood up to refute the arguments of the Mormon apostle anda lively time ensued, The service was lengthened to four hours, and the hostility of the | people of the place tended toward the destruction of the church, Professor Swing suggests the establishment of a “House of Industry for ladle D. D’s” On this the Christian Union remarks, “The country is 60 full of such houses that no D.D., with the infirmity to which Professor Swing alludes, can grow weary before finding one.” ‘A revival is now in progress in the Friends’ meeting house, on Lafayette avenue, Brooklyn. Nightly ser- vices are held with all the fervor and enthusiasm of re- vival meetings, except that there is no singing. The most emment speakers of the sect visit Brooklyn and are heard with L eved pleasure and profit by church members outside of the society. Rev. Mr, Helmer is supplying the Tompkins avenue Congregational church with marked acceptance. He holds in abeyance the call he hag received, though the new society hope he will accept. The fine church edi- | fice was built for a Presbyterman congregation that is no more. The new society are offered a new church edifice and appointments for $60,000 which cost over $150,000, ‘The congregation have until next March to complete the purchase. Few new congregations have so fine an edi- fice offered to them at so low a cost, the foreclosure price of the first mortgage. Messrs. Whittle and Bliss, having concluded their work at Minneapolis and St. Paul, are going to Milwau- kee. Their work in the Minngsota cities is reported to have been very successful, theif converts numbering be- tween 300 and 400, The Reformed church, of Farmer Village, in Seneca county, N. Y., have extended a unanimous call to Rev. Philip Furbeck, of Buskirk’s Bridge. to become their pastor. Dr. Ganse, of this city, having accepted the call to St. Louis, the Classis of New York will meet next Thursday to release him from his pastoral relation to Madison avenue Reformed church. ‘fhe Church of the Messiah is not to be sold to a Bap- tist society, as reported, No such thought ever en- tered any ‘member of the church or society. They sa a on the contrary, to pay off the debt. The Church of All Souls, Newark, N. J. (Unitarran), will hold ordination and installation services on Friday evening, December 10, when Rev. John Andrew will be installed as pastor. Rev. Edward E. Hale, D. D., of Boston, will preach the sermon. Dr. Bellows, Rev. Mr. Chadwick and others are expected to assist. SYNAGOGUE WORSHIP. THE REV. DR. MENDES ON JACOB'S VISION OF THE ANGEI8 ASCENDING AND DESCENDING ON A LADDER. ‘The great question with Jewish ministers, as well as | with Christian pastors, is how to get the people to | Synagogue orchureb. It ie not pleasant for a minister | to hay to preach to rows of empty pews before or on either side of him. And yet this is done by both Jow- ish and Qhristian teachers Sabbath after Sabbath throughout the year, except when special efforts or occasions call the people forth, Again and again those who do attend synagogue or church are exhorted to do something to fill up the empty seats, but little or nothing is done. And there they stand unoccupied at every service. And once more yesterday Dr. Mendes called tho attention of | his congregation in Forty-fourth street synagogue to | the decadence of Judaism through the inertia and neg- leet of its professors, He painted for their entertain- ment a word-picture, in which a young man was seen‘ leaving his father’s tent and home and wandering his | weary way toward tho land of his kindred, The sun has gone down the western hills, and, fatigued with his | journey, the young man rests and the darkness draws its curtain over the scene. Amid that weird darkness which awes tho savage the young man halts and'takes | asstone for his pillow, and, with the canopy of heaven for his covering and God for his protector, he lies down to sleep in that lonely forest, But the forest is illuminated with a flood of light, It is no common sun- beam that illumines the place, no ordinary sotind that he hears. Large, hel 4 forms are seen threading up and down between earth and sky—silently, yet active, Whence comes that light? Its splendor’ grows more resplendent, its brilliancy more brilliant, SUCH GLORY 18 NOT POR HUMAN EYES to witness, but the ear remains the channel of com- munication, and he hears the voice of God telling him that He would ¥ ing him back to this place. Then the young man, arousing himself, said, ‘Surely the Lord ie in this place and I knew it not! How dreadful is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the very gate of heaven!’ You recognize the traveller as Jacob, who first called that place Bethel—the house of God. Then Dr. Mendes drow for his hearers another picture among the heathen, of their temples is entered. It is magnificently deco- rated with ail the taste of the times, They give freely toward furnishing a shrine for their idols. They assem- bie therein once a week for worsh: mainly, if not wholly, are there. The men are away worshipping the gods that are presumed to preside over mercantile pursuits, But though the number of the ab- sentoes 18 large, those who do assemble are by no means ineonsiderabie in numbers, We enter on one of their ho- lidays and think, perhape, to find devotion there. But there is none. As the priest recites his interminable prayers there is no response from the congregation, heir bodies, to be sure, are there, but their souls are elsewhere, following their ‘yday pursuits. Andas we stand in such a place, wi will assert that God is there, whether we knew it or not? This is the house ot God, and this the gate of heaven. Dr. Mendes re- his congregation that this heathen picture would answer very woll for people and temples nearer home, even for themselves, It was manifest enough that his people understood the locality and accepted the portraiture as satisfying the condition of probably every Jewish congregation in the city, Then applying his pictures to practical ends be iransterred the scenes: from tbe Syrian forest and the heathen temple to THR HOMES AND PIRESIDES OF RYERY ONE of them, where once peace and devotion and oe reigned—aacending and descending on the ladder of daily life, But we have lost mach of our early sim- plicity. ‘The father is no ionger the priest and teacher, but merely the bread-plodder of the household, And instead of peace there exists dissension there. And no ‘one will dare assert that God is there, though we knew it not, or that such a home is the gate of heaven. This ia tho disease of to-day, and the Doctor said that next week he would portray the remedy—the syn- agogue and the home—through which (mf can Judaism be saved. He would be glad, ho said, to receive suggestions from his congregation, and would ponder them over before next week, when his theme will be ‘Bethel, the House of God and the Godly House,’ Dr. Mendes offered a closing prayer in deep sympathy with the subject of his discourse, and in which he lamented the decadence of Judaism and prayed for its revival. Historic Juda- jam seers to be slipping away from the grasp of ortho- dox Israelites, and they havo nothing yet to take its place, The teachers and some of the older people aro ‘opposed to any innovation, and hence the young men and women absent themselves or go where they hear music and sermons that are not the less Judai becauso they are modernized, For self-preservation they will be compelled by and by to accept reform in soine shape; and if moderate reform is not accepted now they may bave Ww take absolute radiculium ere J00u One but the women | INVESTIGATION. The Senate Committee Probing the Sheriff's Office. MR. CONNER'S BAD INVESTMENT. Police Officials on Licensing Houses of Prostitution. MORE OFFICERS NEEDED. Comptroller Green’s Receipts from the Courts. The Semate Committee on City Affairs met again yes- terday, Senators Booth, Bradley and Toby were pres- ent at the opening of the session, but the latter did mot remain throughout, Commissioner Davenport -con- ducted the examination, which was of a rather deswitory character, and consisted mainly in the introduction of documentary evidence, financial statements, ex- | hibits, &c, General Fitz John Porter, Commissioner of Public Works, was the first witness called, and presented several tabular statements of amounts expended on | Various contracts for flagging, paving and repairing of | streets and avenues. In response to questions by Senator Bradley, General Porter declared it as his opinion that in most cases it was more advantageous to the city to have work done by the day than by contract, He assigned as a reason that the former class of work was better inspected and more thoroughly executed. In the case of contractors, there was col- lusion with inspectors and others. The work was hurried through and defects were constantly coming to light after its completion and acceptance. He denied that ap additional force of laborers had been employed for the purpose of affecting the elections, but stated that the approach of winter had necessitated the more rapid execution of various improvements which would otherwise have proved failures, and a larger force of ls borers had to be employed. Sheriff William C. Conner was then called and sworn in relation to the management of the Sheriff's office. He entered the office January 1, 1874, and has thirty- two deputies, He stated that his expenditures exceeded his receipts from all sources by $11,749 05, and that, taking into consideration his election ex- penses, he was already out of pocket over $23,000 by reason of his supposed lucrative office, He experienced great difficulty in collecting from lawyers the term fees to which he was entitled. | The total receipts from the regular legal business of the office, including term fees, attachments, orders of ar- Test, executions against the person and property were, for ‘the year, 1874, $5,717 80; for nine months, 1875, 7,883 91, making in all, $13,521 71. He had a claim against the county for over $36,000, which Comptroller Green had refused to allow, and which remains unpaid. The deputies receive no balaries, employ their own clerks and depend for their emoluments upon what they can wring out of unfortunate debtors, They are legally entitled to twenty-five por cent of a nominal me , Supposed to be to the Sheriff himself. ‘ho latter is only allowed office room by the county, and all other expenses are borne by himself. Senator Bradley asked Mr, Conver if, in his opinion, the Sherif!’s office should not be made a salaried one? He replied that the matter had been fixed by the con- stitution, but he himself thought a salary would be preferable to the present mode of compensation by fees. The main objection seemed to be the danger of saddling the county with viet 4 for tortious acts of the Sheriff. He had are en indemnity bonds for upward of $900,000. He thought these bonds might be taken by the Court instead of the Sheriff. This — C4 case in Philadelphia and seemed to work satis- factorily. Deputy Comptroller Abraham N. Earle was then called and examined in relation to Sheriff Conner’s bill against the county and the reason for its non-pay- ment. He said that the bill contained many items which the Comptroller deemed illegal and exorbitant; the most objectionable item was a charge of $1 75a head for earrying prisoners to and from the courts. There was a legai question as to the proper tribunal by which the Sheriff's bili should be auditea. The Sheriff claimed that the Board of Supervisors had the power, but the Comptroller refused to recognize their right to do so, That body had already oeres &@ resolution on the subject, but the Comptroller maintained that it was not retroactive and could only apply to future bills when rendered. Sheriff Conner claims to have omitted many charges from his bill which had been made by his predecessors in office, notably Sheriff Brennan. Mr. Earle then continued at some length in an endeavor to show that the city burdens had been lightened under the present Comptroller. The perma- nent bonded debt of the city had increased and was in- creasing. He could not give even an approximate esti- mate of the amount of claims which bad accomulated ainst the city, they were already so numerous, many of sbem dating far back. He said that he had prepared & statement with great care, decrease in expenditures under financial administration, and the the amounts raised by taxation | accounted for by the difference in valuations since 1870. The interest on the city debt in 1870 was $4,376,007; the interest in 1875 was $9,300,000, makin; a difference of nearly $5,000,000. The amount raisi for asylums, &c., in 1870, was $396,265; in 1875 it was $825,905, making'an increase of $420,639. The amount of expenditures for 1870 was $20,004,035; in 1872, when the reins were held “taut,” they were reduced to $17,082,782; in 1873 they were $15,674,289, making a difference of about $5,000,000 decrease since 1870, In 1874 the Westchester district was annexed, which made an increase in the annaal expeaditures of $118,117, at pete, there were a large amount of arrearages o showing the the present difference in was to be Migs ine tors Rahat 74, $250,000, and in arle then remarked that the busi- 1875, $245,000, Mr. ness of the office had swollen fourfold since 1870, Sena- tor Bradley remarked that the increase of the perma- nent bonded debt should be checked somewhere and that the only proper course for manicipalities, as well | as individuals, was “pay as you go.” Since 1870 this | debt, tt seems, has increased by $8,000,000. This is | partly attributable to the fact that some departments, | especially that of docks, are sustained altogether by the issue of bonds, Henry J. Storrs, a clerk in the Comptroller's office, presented a tabulated statement of the amounts paid into the city treasury from the various courts, includ- ing district and police courts, as well as those of record, from January 1, 1875, up to date, The table is as followe:— RECEIPTS PROM THE COUR’ Supreme Court Superior Court, 6,474 67 Court of Coinmon Pleas. 4,476 18 Special Session: 670 00 Murine Court. 368 00 | First District 1,911 00 | Second District Civil Cou 1,239 50 | Third District Civil Court. 2,050 00 Fourth District Ciyil Court 2,265 00 Fifth District Civil Court 1,613 50 Sixth District Civil Court. . 1,198 00 Seventh District Civil Court... 1,759 00 Fighth District Civil Court 1,427 50 Ninth District Civil Court. 711 00 Tenth District Civil Court. 273 00 First District Police Court. 14,446 00 Second District Police Court. 12,264 80 Third District Police Court 7,454 00 | Fourth District Police Cow 0,689 25 Filth District Police Court 1,563 00 Sixth District Police Court 627 00 & at | ten o'clock. THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE. The Assembly Committee on Crime reconvened yes- terday at the City Hall, when George W. Bogart, real estate agent, testified that he had charge of certain houses in Wooster, Greene and other streets; he had Jet two houses in Wooster street in good faith, and did not know that they had been used for improper pur- poses; he goes to No, 229 Wooster street to collect the rent; others paid him his rent; he had received notice from the District Attorney's ollice as to the character of certain houses; I received notice from one Neville, but paid no attention to it, as I had under. stood that he was a biackmailer; I was informed that he tried to blackmail Mrs. Myers; Nos, 223 and 225 have been closed up for some time; | saw Mrs, Myers twice in court; once she came to my place anden- doavored to get houses from mo, andI refused to let them; subsequently, I understand, she had ani interest in one of the Wooster strect houses; in No. 225 Wooster street there are respectable colored people as. tenants; I let No, 227 Wooster street to a Mr. Bellorni; I have been informed that this house has been pulled; No. 19 West Third street is owned by Dr. Clemmena, who resides in Sixth avenw have not within six months received any notice from the District Attor- ney’s office of these houses. This witness was brought down under an attachment, and having testified was discharged, Inspector George W. Dilks testified as to the system of police inspections recently established and the duties Of the inspectors; they are suppored to see that the captains are carrying out the laws; he thought that the present system is a good one; as to the existence of disorderly houses he said tt was a diffenlt subject to deal with; if house js broken up the girls will sepa- ] Fate and bake Lhe eqinpany lay Waele, Gapbalns break up. oI city; he direc be a eee cat oan ine vi tod. to ey ‘amount to an: 0 gregh gdp stance of No, 1 Ann sti Teel . P.M, and st threo o'clock "the oe ing hat a new set of furnitare. in it, all ready for work, we have no right to make a descent unless thera’ is a complaint, or we have knowledge of gambling; hot did not know of a gambling place now existing im. his district; against houses of prostitution the Polic Department does not take action anless a complaint made or the inmates are disorderly; in regard to liquo’ saloons the man on post is expected to visit places an find whether any one is selling without license; h would not gay that no one in his ct is selling with. out license; the captains are instructed to arrest all violators, and, as furas he knew, they were doing so he believed that houses of PROSTITUTION SHOULD BE LICENSED; d it is an unpopular plan, but it is the ouly way to sup. press it; they would be registered and assigned to particular house; witness described his investigation o! the system in St. Louis, where the license system is. !m force; betore the law was pussed there were 120; ii nine months they were reduced, and the number o Prostitutes and disease were greatly reduced; Mr. Dilk described the investigations made by the members 0 the Convention of Police Otticers held at St. Louis, anf Stated that all the police ollicers agreed that tne system was @ good one; the womcu were not allowed (o go into the streets ‘or expose themselves in the prnaity, of one year’s im- edengerraags rl it would do well to locate ther in @ city like this, in a particular neighborhood, r moved from respectable tiabitation; the moral sense of this community is against the license system; but, 23! far as Lknow, my opinion is joined in by the police! officers of this city; wheu the ietropolitan system wus first established I found sergeants in Brooklyn who} could neither read nor write; I found a captain a con firmed drunkard; another who went off ov & sprecy allowing all the men to go to a funeral, and there was not @ man on duty in the precinct; witness was IN VAVOR OF A METROPOLITAN SYSTEM, covering New York, Kings, Queens and Mishmoudi counties; it would tend to make the police force mora eflicient and give the residents of these countie: baler of security not now possessed. Commissioner Disbecker thought that the Board of: Police should consist o1 three persons, he did not ap-» prove of asingle Commissioner, as they have execu- tive, judicial and legislativo powers; be described his} practice ag a Commissioner in the suppression off panel and gambling houses; he claimed that a Com~ missioner a8 an individual has no power to bel arrests or order arrests; that this must be done by th full Board; he was opposed to ward detectives as at present constituted; he would make them directly re-/ sponsible to the Superintendent, who should. be chiet of detectives as well as Superiitendent; he believe that the force was efficient ia some particulars and ims others not; a Commissioner of Police should only be, removed apon impeachment and not subject to the’ sudden changes of political parties; he would favoi system of State police, so that an officer could be tran: ferred from Buffalo to New York, and vice versa; it 1s the trae metropolitan plan; he was in favor of grading: the police force as suggested by other Commissioners 5 it would be a very excellent idea; he doubted the ex4 pediency of having persons convieted of crime unde surveillance for a stated period; all the prison official in the State should notify police authorities o the discharges of persons, so that the movement: of prsioners should nosed; there is not sufficient force of police. which shoald be increased t other department if done by day’s work; he rej it of great importance that tne police should be en abled to compel the attendance of witmesses; 1t wou! enable them to get rid of many bad officers, as wi! nesses stand on street cornors and laugh in the face the Commissioners. ij ter Mitchell, ex-member of Assembly and a Jawyers/ asked permission to answer toa personal matter { which Justice Murray attacked him, He asked thi Justice Murray’s evidence reflecting upon him be e: punged from the record, or thathe be permitted tol appear before the committee: under oath. The com. mittee consented to hear him under oath. Justice B. T. Morgan testitied that seventy per cent of the crime coming under the notice of justices is the re-| sult of rum, and a law should be passed preventing that adulteration of liquor. : Robert H. Johnston, Clerk of the Special Sessions, "/ stated that there was no time when the public could) not get into his oflice by knocking at the door, Mr. Cooper, chairman of the committee, informed him that he was one of the public who tried and failed to get in| after knocking. Inspector McDermott testified that when inmates o! houses of prostitution are arrested and takeu to court! they are discharged anlesst ey have bggn disorderly 5 he approved of the Hosnsinigof euch Houdes The committee adjourned until eleven o'clock A. M./ Wednesday. THE SUNNYSIDE INVESTIGATION. ‘The investigation into the recent sinking of the Troy steamboat Sunnyside off Hyde Park, on the Hudson, and the large loss of life resulting therefrom, is to be commenced about next Friday, at Albany, before Mr. Brainerd, United States Inspector of Hulls, and Mr. Harvey, United States Inspector of Boilers, who con« jointly form the United States Local Board of Steam+ ship Ins} rs, The delay isin order to get all the officers of the Sunnyside together, The investigation will be held at the corner of Broad and Divisio street. Captain Addison Low, Supervising Inspector of Steam Vessels, of the Second district, New York, leave for Albany on Monday morning, and will be present the proceedings. No explanation has yet been received, as to why the captain of the Sunnyside was not on duty, but asleep, when his vessel sunk. CUSTOM HOUSE SALARIES, WHY THEY WERE CUT DOWN—THE REPEAL OF THE MOIRTY LAW—WHAT IS DONE WITH THR MONEY SAVED. : It was a question of necessity. The Secretary of the ‘Treasury is restricted to the annual appropriation, and) that was “regular”? $5,500,000, and $1,000,000 expected to come in from seizures, fines apd penalties. But that $1,000,000 has not come in—nota tenth part of it~ and so Mr. Bristow was seriously “short,” What was to be done? With a republican Con~ gress he might have ventured to throw the mat~ ter over to that body. But the House is democratic, ‘and of course, since it is not democrats who are ta suffer, that party is horribly virtuous and terribly im favor of retrenchment. So the Secretray thought, since something must be done, be would make a virtue of necessity, and a little party capital, too, by an order for retrenchment, When the order came the Collector said to himself, } “It will be hard to turn out a lot of the boys just as the winter 1s coming on; | will ask them to sacrifice some- ” Hence the reduction of ten es not fixed by special law. ‘Thero some reappointments and a few minor changes, and all was over, The place-holders grumble, of course, but no one has resigned ; few could afford to do 80, even were the shave twenty-five per cent, Business 1s dull, places are scarce, and coal and: whiskey are high. It was rough, coming so soon after a substantial “git” for the election; yet they will stand it. But the sufferers grumble andibly at the cause of their misfortune, that cause being the repeal of the: Moiety law. Under that law the informer who tracea, out a fraud upon the revenue got about haif the net. proceeds of fines, sales, &c. This share was an incen- live to vigilance on the part of officers, and some of the sharpest of them made a great deal of money—Jayne, for instance, In the eleven years and four mouths from July, 1862, to January, 1874, the gross proceeds of ch seizures, &c., at the ‘port ot New York one footed up $4,210,372. Of this sum $222,775 went for the duties, $254,104 for costs and expenses, $407,246 to Collectors Smythe, Grinnell, Murphy ‘and ‘Arthur, $324,059 to the Naval Officer, $391,214 to the Surveyor, and $716,248 to informers; and after all this the Treasury got $1,914, 746 clear gain, Here was an average per month of $5,267 for informers, and there may be found a poweriul reason. for rar, Under the present law no such inducement exists. Nothing is promised in advance, and nothing is pro+ vided for, save that the Secretary of the Treasury may, in his discretion, allow rewards or presents pot to ex- ceed ten per cent of the sum recovered. For small jobs this amounts to nothing. Indeed, in the matter of cigars, from which mach revenue was formerly derived, the law is now so construed that the officer making a. seizure cannot expect a penny. The effect has been to reduce the $500,000 or $600,000 expected within the year from such sources to justabous nothing, And the oflicers so recently stimulated to zeal by the hope of fat moieties are not only without sucty siimulant, but are actually assessed on their $40 day to make up the deficiency. In the meantime the gov~ ernment hires the old sugar house in Hubert street at rent of $80,000 a year and the large building for tne Naval Office, fits up both these establishments and carpenters and paints the Custom House—works involv~ ing great expenditure—and char it all against the ‘one appropriation. And not only here, but all over thet the clerks and other officers complain that such oxtra exponses should not be charged against th fund from which their salaries ate paid; but there is no help for it. ‘the gonoral, it may be said unanimous, opimion in revenue circles is that the repeal of the Moety law was a grave mistake, It oo has not made smuggling less difficult nor less frequent, while it tn has made revenue officers and outsiders indifferent. In his) remarks to the committee on the Moiety repeal last’ winter the United States District Attorney showed that in the matter of internal revenue such @ repeal bad completely suspended the operations of all the best detectives, and no effort was made to hunt out illicit distillers and other frauds. As far as the customs are concerned, the repeal has produced a similar offect, ‘There are about 1,600 officers connected with the Cus- tom House im and around this city, The salaries wilb not average more than $2,000 a year—say $3,000,000. The reduction will continue for seven months, unies Congress interferes. It will produce about $25,000 a month, of $175,000 in all. RICHMOND COUNTY SEAT. It has been rumored for some timo that the county seat of Richmond county, S, I., was to be removed ton more convenient locality, the present place being about two miles from the railroad station The owners of certain property situated at Tompkinsville, 8, 1., and formerly the old quarantine grounds, have offered tno. county authorities @ site, consisting of one acto of ound Krab,