The New York Herald Newspaper, December 11, 1875, Page 6

PLYMOUTH CHURCH Annual Election and Business Meeting of Mr. Beecher’s “Diocese.” ITS MEMBERSHIP AND FINANCES. Continued Growth and Advancing Prosperity, as Shown by Figures. West and the Examining Oommittee. Long before seven o'clock last_night every seat in the lecture room of Plymouth church was filled. The event which caused so great an interest was the annual meeting of the church, and it may be that spice of curiosity mingled with the desire to participate in the transaction of the most important business pertaining to the management of the church. And this seems, perhaps, all the more probable as the front part of the room was Milled entirely with ladies. So overwhelmingly did the feminine element predominate that by actual count there were fewer than a dozen men tm eight entire rows of seata, It would appear from their actions, too, thata majority of these were not members of the church, for when the opening bymn was sung it was Joined in feebly by a few faithful brethren in the rear of the room, who had not come early enough to redeem their seats from the vigilant Jadies in front Mr, Beecher quickly took in the situation, for he said, “ ‘Beecher’ te a good old tune that you all know, and not more than one-half of those present are singing it, Now, go on and sing it through Then I am going to give you another in place of it” The words of the pastor apparently bad no effect, for the hymn was con- cluded without any increase of fervor. Mr. Beecner offered an unusually long and fervent prayer, Brother Davenport offered a short prayer and the pastor delivered his usual Friday night “talk.” There are, he said, many phrases now in use among religious people which have lost their original, literal meaning. The prase “Come to Jesus” waz one of these. Originally, it meant literally to come to Jesus when he was in the flesh. Now it had Jost that meaning. We could now ‘come to Jesus” only in spirit. A great deal of trouble was caused through the change in the meaning of these phrases. There are two genera, tendencies in the religious thought of tho world—the Christian and the Roman—not the Roman Catholic, but the ancient Eoman. Thero are rhaps three, counting the Greek, which is purel: Fatollgetual. rhe Roman tendency 1s to Cdisteate bravery and strength, alternating with love and the gentler qualities. ‘The Christian idea was to cultivate the imagination and al] the moral faculties with a sub- stratum of the stronger qualities. Mrs, Josephine Worth desired a letter of withdrawal and Miss Agnes E. Demun asked aletter to Prospect Park Presbyterian church, This announcement, was read by Mr. Beecher, who followed it with the bene- diction, and the devotional meeting closed. THE BUSINESS MEETING. Nobody left the room after the benediction, but, on the other hand, quite a number of gentlemen who had arrived late, and waited throughout the service in the lobbies, now managed to force an entrance. Mr. Beecher stated that Deacon Hutchinson had been nominated for Moderator of the meeting. That gentle- man, who was seated in the gallery, arose and stated that his business was very pressing, and as the meeting would probably be adjourned several times and would be likely to meet at times when he would be called out of town, he most respectfully declined, and proposed that Brother Edgerton should take the chair. The motion was put and carried unanimously. Brother Edgerton imme- diately took the seat which had been occupied by the pastor, and Mr. Thomas G. Shearman, clerk of the church, proceeded to read the minutes of the meeting held one week ago. The moderator then announced ‘that the clerk would read the annual report. As he did po Mr. Beecher stood up and said:—‘I move that when this meeting adjourns it will be to meet at haif- past seven on Thursday evening next to hear the report of the Committee on the cases now in their bands” The motion was carried and Mr. Shearman read ‘THE ANNUAL REPORT from which {t appears that the membership On roll last year.. by letter. Admitted by profession. ie a during the year by death. 'y letter to other churches. Dropped from jeowene. 7 — 2,490 ‘There were reported during the year thirty-five chil- @ren and fifty adults by sprinkling, and immersion 8 eighty-seven. Children attending Sunday school 3,844 Children attend: Sund: 1,950 Number of teachers... 255 | ‘The increase of new members of ve From 1861 to 1865. 462 From 1885 to 1870. 726 From 1870 to 1875. 1870 to 1875. The contributions sions for benevolent purposes and for the maintenance of worahip during the year have been:— Church co! PS $35,882 Church collections for 1,289 Collected in Plymouth school. $40 Collected in Bethe! mission. 1.614 Collected in Mayflower miss: 853 Donations . aA Pow rents. 71,000 Total. ....sseseeee teens socseee seeeee $111,414 ‘This does not incinde any personal or outside chari- ties of members of the church, but ts sap ve nt of suns which have passgd through the hands of the officers of the church and its schools and missions. ‘Tho report conciudes by declaring that the church has cause to thank God for the many blessings He has showered upon the congregation. ‘The collections from pew rents, in round numbers, are as follows :-— From 1861 to 1866, . $140,000 2 266,000 000 From 1865 to 1870. . From 1871 to 1876. . 206) Over $100,000 of this has been devoted to charitable purposes, oTher Rerorts. ‘Treasurer White made his report, as follows:— Balance on hand last year fur benevolent pur- pOseS, ....- $899 Collected daring the year .. 5,882 | Disbursed during the year. 6,425 Balance iD Ueasury sees cess 1,356 | Colonel Horatio C. King, of the Masic Committee, re- ried that $7,500 had beon disbursed, of which $1,500 ad gone to Mr. Zundel, the organist, and the balance ‘was disbursed under the direction of Mr. Camp, the director of music. The reporte having been received, accepted and adopted, Mr. Beecher patd @ high compliment to the | efficiency of the choir in moving the adoption of the | report from the Committee on Music, and stated that | the volunteer choir is a school for the training of Singers for other clmrehea, He DO owections to ‘heir going away to other churches, as every oue thus going to another charch gave him one more friend there. Mr. Beecher moved an amendment to one of the Tules respecting the Examining Committee, and gave notice of a proposed amendment to another, The annual election of officers was then declared in order, and Messera 8. V. White, HO, King, @: W. Brush, J. Seccomb, B. ¥. Blair abd HB, Waite were appointed tellers. George W. Morton nominated B. F. Blair for clerk of the ee Place of Thomas G. Shearman. Mr. Beecher uominated Mr. Shearman for re-election, nd that geatleman declined on the ground that the office was “‘a great burden apon him; he wished to be rid of i, amd would not be able to serve throughout the year in any event.” Mr, Beecher sad :—"Thongh I do not like to oppose Mz. a in the matter, it is very essential to the rw, ‘he church that Mr. Shearman should more #0 than during tho next three or four months, I may fay that no person who has not been fatimate the internal workings of (he affairs of the church has any con of the amount of work which has been done by Mr, Shearman, not simply in addition to, Dat at the expense of, bie own private personal atairs, and no such — can understand what the value of nis emergency if that f. Shearman. “fApplacsa) i office were gone trom still » that with a wide experience ob- wish to say, 1 among men, ‘kind men, ten, Stinate men—I have never founds man that was so fixed and clear im bis own notions, who, wnen over- ruled by big brethren, so directly went right on re through good report and evil re rt as Mr. Shearman has dona (Applause) '@ has not counted his own time or comfort in any re- * bat whei Jadgment was set aside by others be invariably sought to make that others’ Padgment saccessfui. He i# more in possession of She facts regarding thie ehurch and the whois history of i shan | am. of than any two men with him personally and with history, and I have learned to love him as much as any living man; and I am very ‘that he is my personal friend, that | love 1 houor him. | Shearman received 286 votes, Blair 22 and 8 were scat- | tering. It was moved t make Mr, Shearman's | election unanimous, but a member objected and the motion was consequently lost Mr. 8®V. White was re-elected Troasurer by acclamation, R. W. Ropes, ©. T. Christiansen and J. C, Robinson were eiocted Deacons, Deacon Kaward J. Ovington resigned, giving asa reason he was compelled by hig business to be absent in Europe a great part of every year and could not properly attend to the duties of this office, His resignation was accepted, and Mr. A. B. Davenport was elected to serve in his place. Mrs. Joseph abbort were elected jeecher resigning, ber pi the election of _ Balba; ye taken for members of the Examining Committee, Dut it proved @ tle; and, as the hour was getting late, on motion of Mr, Beecher, further balio\ing was postponed tili Phursday evening next. As, under the rules of the church, one week’s notice must be given of ang meeting for the transaction of business, the committee have to lie over for another week, On Mr. Beeeher's motion the meeting then adjourned. WEST BEFORE THE EXAMINING COMMITTER. The Examining Committee of Plymouth church held & meeting yesterday afternoon at Deacon Hallic house in Willow street, Brooklyn The question of determining the pourse of the church in regard to Mrs. Moulton was ject of the meeting, In response to an invitation, Mr. William ¥F, West attended, not, ag he expressed himself to a H#Raup reporter, for the purpose of delivering a letter, but to answer such ques- tions as, ander the circumstances, the members of the committee might deem fit to pat, It was under- stood from Mr, Wost that his answers would be substantially the sentiment of what he has already published in two letters to Plymouth church. He says his position is sosimple and easily explained that he who runs may read, It is just this, that Mr. West is willing to join communion with Plymouth church when he is satisfied of the purity and innocence of the pastor. The verdict in the trial of Tilton ve. Beecher has not given him this satisfaction. His soul js still troubled with doubt and anxiety, and he thinks his character as @ Obristian, God-fearing and self-respecting man would be imperilled by his continuing any longer to hold fellowship with a church over which a pastor presided against whom sach grave and as ‘et disproven charges existed as those against Henry ‘ard er, He prodlered, in effect, the foregoing reply to the questions put to him by the members of the wning Committee. The line of policy laid down for the committee before the mdéet- ing of yesterday was to have a sctistac- tory explanation from Mr. West of his conduct for some time past, and if no explanation was received, changing the aspect of his case, as pre- sented by his letter, to udvise him to make forthwith @ full and ample apology, and in case ot his refusal to | comply with the advice of the committee w drop him sans ceremonie from the rolls of the charch, It ts needless to say that the latter course in the case of the West is the only one that can be made available, GERMAN UPTOWN SAVINGS BANK. Three hundred or more depositors of the suspended German Uptown Savings Bunk met at Terrace Garden, East Fifty.eighth street, last evening, to consult to- gether with the view of protecting their inter- esta, and, if practicable, obtaining their money in full. There was but little concert of action, and difficulty was experienced from the first tn properly bringing any matter before the body. Aiter much discussion, which amounted to nothing, 1t was pro- posed to appoint a committce of nine depositors to investigate the affairs of the institution and report at the next meeting. This was forcibly opposed by Mr. A. P. Fitch, who felt that the suggestion was premature. If such a matter was deter. mined upon the committee should be men that all were acquainted with, Men of known honor and integrity should alone be selected to fill the” position, and if other than those were charged with the delicate and responsible duty he feared for the result. Mr. King advised that he had recently seen and talked with Receiver Uhi, who sakd that a full report of the condition of the bank would be published by Monday next, and consequent) be considered it betser to defer all action until that time. At last this was agreed to, but a committee, composed of two attorneys and one other, was appointed to inquire if by the appointment of the receiver the charter of the bank had been dissolved. This committee wil! report at the next meeting. None of the old directors were present, although invited. Mr. Rice presided, and Mr. A. N. Douglass acted as secretary. MUTUAL BENEFIT SAVINGS BANK. Owing to a misunderstanding as to the time and place of meeting only a few of the creditors of the Matual Benefit Savings Bank assembled yesterday afternoon at No. 21 Park row. A notice had been proviously sent out, calling upon the majority of the creditors to be on hand, but only a few of them responded to the summons. A quorum was present, however, apd Mr. W. H. Phillips presided. -Messra W. H. Lee, W. H Devins and F. Holiender were named asa committee to investigate the affairs of the bank and report et a meeting, to be h@d next week, some practical plan by means of Which the creditors can secure their money. A Henatp reporter was inormed last evening by one 6 depositors that some objections had been raised receiver, inasmoch as he bad at one time been in the employ of the managers of the institution. Tho gentleman said that he did hot know whether the ru- mor was true or false, but that the committee of three appointed yesterday alternoon would thoroughly inves- uigate the matter A CENTENARIAN’S FUNERAL. ‘The remains of Bridget Cogan were consigned to their last resting place in St, Peter’s Cemetery, at Jersey City, yesterday. The funeral took piace from the res- idence of her daughter, mrs. Duane, No. 316 Third street. The body was taken to St, Mary’s church, where the obsequies took place. The inscription on the coffin plate was as follows :— eeneeeeee eneeeneo one tee ON INONICONAROOIOE BRIDGET COGAN. | Died, December #, 1875, 3 Aged 101 years, Fy 1month and 3 days. This venerable woman, whose centennial anniversary Castletown Deivin, county ‘Westmeath, Ireland, came to this country twenty-five years ‘ago. She had eight children, of whom four, two dons and two daugh- ters, are now living, She retained her mental facul Shes ll the last, and was able to walk abroad tll two years ago. She was never subject to disease. Dr, Lochner, who attended her during the past year, states ‘that her death resulted from physical intirmity. She is survived by an older woman named Mra Curran, who resides on Railroad avence, Jersey City, and who has attained the age of 105, while still and | enjoying good health. Lng | the attendants at the ri fon al were four old ladies of Irish birth, all of whom passed the age of four score and ten, DR. PYNE’S FUNERAL. St, Mark’s Episcopal church was filled yesterday on the occasion of the funeral services of Rey. Smith Pyne, formerly rector of Calvary church, and moro recently of St. John’s church, Washington, D. 0. Dr. Rylance, rector of St. Mark’s, officiated, assisted b Rey. J. Tuttle Smith, the regular ritual peing awed, Many clergymen were present. At the concingion of the services the body was taken to Tripity churchyard for interment KILLED ON THE RAIL, Yesterfay afternoon as the Chatham accommodation train, on the Delaware and Lackawanna Railroad, passed the Hackensack bridge, ® man was seen walk- tng on the track Asignal was given, bat he dia not seem to hear it, and he was struck and instantly killed, Deceased was an employé of the railroad company and was formerly a justice of the peace at Harrison. KILLED BY A FALL. An infant, two and a half years old, namod Bender 117 Essex strech Jersey City, yesterday, at noon, and ‘was instantly «ill FIRES. At half-past three o’ciock yesterday morning fire was discovered in the basement of the four story brick Duilding No, 43 South street, which was soon extin- guished by the Fire Department, The basement was oc- eu; by Ward & Towey, shipchandiers, whose stock fran damaged to the amovos of $000, The ‘cause of tho “oe present Lt ag pn fires occart yesterds e following ences 9 Kast Third sireet, No. 64 Bast Vorty- rat street and at No. 412 West Twelfth street, The Columbia saw and planing mills, Nos. 68 to 86 Sedgwick strovt, Brooklyn, caught fire at an Ney ty A morn! and was partially destroyed fire could be extinguished. The loss on and machinery will not exceed $2,000; ope Sy 4 6 in the Orient, People's Lapeer (2a) companies. . cannot be elected on that night, and the matter will | the main ob- | of against the propriety of retaining Mr. W. F. Aldrich as | was published in the Hrgaup, was born in the parish of , fell trom the second story window gf the house No. | ORK HERALD, SATURDAY, DECEMBER Ul, 1875.—WITR SUPPLEMENT. AMUSEMENTS. PHILHARMONIC REHEARSAL, The last public rehearsal for the second concert of the | New York Phitharmonio Society took place yesterday | afternoon as the Academy of Music before a rather small audience. The orchestral works were the same as | have been already given at the matinée concert a week ago—Spohr's Symphony, “Consecration of Sounds,” founded upon Oarl Pfoiffer's beautiful poem; Schu, mann’s overture, “Genoveva,” and Liszt’s symphonic poem, “Les Préludes.” The performance of these works, under the experienced direction of Mr. Carl Bergmann, was such @ great tmprovement on that of the previous week that quite ap enjoyable treat may be expected at the concert to-night But one great attrac- tion yesterday was the highly artistic and finished violin playing of Mr. Joseph White, a Cuban artist, who has already appeared with success in this city, He select Mendelssohn’s well Known and briiliant concerto in ia which so many eminent virtuosi have been in this city. He played it admirably, with a nicety of phrasing, intelligent expression, and o clearness and evenness of tone that compensated for | {te want of breadth, and he was recalled by the unanimous yoice of the audience, In the Bach cha- conne in D minor his success was even greater, and rarely has the quaint old work been given with’more | effec. The response to an overwhelming encore was scarcely suitable to follow Bach, being @ transcription | of the concerted finale of the second act of “La Son- | nambula.”’ The contrast between the works was too violent, but the playing was no less artistic, opus heard GERMAN OPERA IN BROOKLYN. A very large house greeted the last performance of Mile, Eugenie Pappenheim and Mr, Wachtel in two of their best réles, Valentine and Raoul, in “Les Hugue- | nots,” at the Academy of Music, Brooklyn, last night, Both artists were in exeellent voice, and the great | duo of the fourth act was received with more than usual enthusiasm. A matinge to-day | will close the Brooklyn season, and on Wednesday | “Lohengrin” will be presented, with the following Lohengrin, Wachtel; Ortrud, Mme. Clara Perl; | Elsa, Mine. Wagner; Telramund, bunzberger; King | Henry, Fassbender; Herald, William Formes. ' There | ts tt6 reason to doubt the ‘success of the artists to whom the two first réles are entrusted. The orchestra and chorus have been carefully selected, and Mr. Neu- endorff may be relied upon to make those essential do- partments entirely satisfactory, MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC NOTES, Mme. Carreno Sauret has joined the Titiens troupe. Matinées will be given at all the principal theatres two-day. A German military band, under the direction of Mr. Gast, gives a matinee performance at Steinway Hall to-day. ‘The first Brooklyn Philharmonic concert takes place this night week under the direction of Theodore Thomas. Dion Boucicault announces in the London papers that he will visit America to play in 1876, beginning at Philadelphia in September, at Boston in October and New York in November and December, * ‘To-night, at the Lyceum, Mile. Juliette Clarence will take her beneflt, presenting ‘La Maitresse Légitime” for the first time. The Camille of this lady has won her 4 much higher position in public opinion than she had previously obtained. ‘A concert, vocal and instrumental, will be given for the benefit of Mr, Alexander Lachman, at the Ger- mania Assembly Rooms, in Seventh avenue, on Mon- day evening, when a fine programme will be offered. The beneilt is given under the auspices of the Masonic Order. OUR PARIS LETTER BY CABLE, The following correspondence tells its own story — Lyowum Tueatre, Dec, 9, 1875. To ta® Eprror ov tax Henatp:— I beg you will accept my apology for a correction made by me of the statement included in your Sun- day’s cable letter from Paris, ou a point relating to my own business 1 am now compeled to acknowledge that your correspondent was better tnformed than 1. Your happy résumé of Paris intelligence made known | that Mile. Zuima Bouflar had cancelled her New York engagement. Having at the time no intimation whatever | of this fact, I deemed it necessary to dispute the accuracy of the announcement. To-day’s mail has brought me the enclosed letter, which, apprebend, establishes the correctness of your correspondent’s information. While I regr tthe necessity of further trespassing on | your time, allow me to say that I shall spare no efforts io constrain Mile. Bouffar to fulfil ihe contract signed by ber and now in my possession, ff only with a view to checking the anti-American epidemic which | threatens to deprive the public of the acquaintance of | all the artists engaged by, very respectiully yours, ih M. ok Gav. AURI {Copte.} j Panis, Jeudi, 25 novembre, 1875. | Cur M. pz Bovoans:— C'est une femme bien désolée qui vous écrit Vous savez que depuis longtemps Je souffre d'une gastralgie, | et que mon docteur trouve que le théatre ne vaut rien | pour moi. Seulement, une chose que mon docteur ou- blie clest que je n’ai pas de rentes et que Je ne peux | me mettre dans le commerce, , | Enfin. j'ai toujours cru qu’avec de grandg soins cela | ne serait’ pas si grave qu’il veut bien'le dire, Malhen- reusement, je ne vais pas mieux, et avjourd’hu! {! ne veut plus entendre parler du voyage de New York. 1 dit qu’un voyage en mer peut compromettre ma santé pour toujours et qu’il est pret & s’y opposer de tout son pouvoir. Je ne sais que faire, moi qui étais si heureuse de par- tir. Je crois vraiment que mon docteur m’aime trop et | qu'il voit ies choses trop en noir. Aussi, Je vais avoir une consultation de plusicurs médecins, et nous ver- rons si vraiment i! y a lieu @ ne pas faire ce voyage. Si yous écrivez & M. Grau, dites-Iui que je suis au dé aespoir et que Je ne Bais pas ce que tout cela deviendra, | Votre bien dévon 2%. BOUFFAR. | ™ Prranaition| | Panis, Thursday, Nov. 25. Dear Mr. Bovoars:— It isa very distressed woman who writes to you. 1 have suffered this long while with gastralgia, and my doctor says that the theatre is no place for me; but he forgets that I am without fortune and untitted for business, I have always believed that with proper care I could overcome the obstacle thus imposed, and, in fact, that my case was not so bad; but, unhappily, I get no better, ‘| and now 1 am absolutely forbidden 'to venture the voyage to New York. My doctof assuresme that asea voyage now may endanger my health permanently. do not know whatto do, | was greatly pleased with the prospect of my journey, and still believe tnat my doctor’s too gr at sulicituae leads him to take @ too gloomy view of my condition. But there ts to bea consultation of several physiciaus, and we shall see if there is rea! need to relinquish the journey. If you write to Mr. Grau teil him that I am tn despair about it, and cannot tell what will come out of all this, Truly yours, Z. BOUFFAR THE TABLEAUX AT THE THEATRE COMIQUE. MATT MORGAN REPLIES TO PATERFAMILIAS, Theatre Comiquer, Dec, 8, 1876. To ras Epitor or THR Henauy:— Allow me afew words in reply to your correspondent “Patertamilias,” whose attack upon my classic pic- tures appeared in your columns of to-day. He writes:— “| fortunately went to the Theatre Comique without my wife and daughters.” Now with ali due respect to his wife and daughters I beg to inform ‘‘Paterfamiliag” | Ubat since my assuming the reins of management tho Theatre Comique has become quite » popular resort with the wives and daughters of men in every respect {1 presume) the equal of ““Paterfamilias.” These ladies benold my classic pictures with enthusiasm, and nightly demand their encore withouta blush. Your | correspondent compares my pictures to the “Model | Artists,” &ec., who were very properly suppressed by | ‘he police some years There can be no compari fon between the two exhibitions, my pictures being ex- ‘act copies of art works which hang in every art gallery | and adorn the walls of respectable homes, while the | oung girls who appear in the tableaux ‘themselves {°Selleve, without exc eption, are virtuous women. “Pateriamilias” states that “these tableaux have neither ace nor beauty te excuse or refine them,” Now it so | happens, as] have just remarked, that these pictures are exact reproductions in figare, attitudes, expression, | costame and background of some of the most cplebrased , of modern classical works of art. It follows, therefore, thataccording to the logic of ““Paterfamilias” these chefs- @awore themselves must bo destitute alike of beant; and grace, which 18 areductio ad absurdum and | artistic blasphemy. As for the absence of costume to which your corre- spondent objects, 1 would state that my dgures are very much more draped than in the originals, and 1 would most solemnly and serious.y assert that the tableaux | Are in evory respect as pure aa they are arvistic, utterly | free from the slightest taint of suggestrveness, aa for Mr. Comstock, that gentioman has bis mission. | Thave mine. His {# to suppress obscenity, Mine to cultivate the beautiful and create the artistic. I wish him every success and Godspeed tn his work, He | should not do less than wish me luck in mine Regarding the variety exhibition, which ‘Pater- familias looks upon with such horror, all I have to say about it is that it is confessedly one ‘of the best in the city, and is nightly drawing large and enthusiastic audiences, _—e for trou! tee I remain, yours faithfully, MAT? HORGAN. CARD FROM MR. JEROME HOPKINS. To ram Bprror ov rie Heraty:— Although I sometimes fai vo get credit when deserved, 1 must not allow myself to take it when it t# andeserved. In your kind notice of my Christmastide concert for the Orpheon fand this morning you credit the Orpheonists ‘with supplying the quartet. In fustice to the gentlo- men who co it 1 beg to state that the “Orpheus came from Newark, N. J., and gener- boy 0 volunteered their charming talents in bebalf of the Orpheon Free Schools at the said con At Soncabeas, gos 30. na! cork, HOPKINS. THE DEVIL. _— MONCURE D, CONWAY TRACES HIM FROM RE MOTEST AGES TO THE PRESENT TIME Mr. Moncure D. Conway, who hag come to be exten- sively known by his letters trom London to various papers and periodicals at this side of the water, ad- dressed an audience of fair proportions and high intelligence last evening, at Masonio Hall, on tho subject of “Demonology.” It would be difficult to tell from his accent, dress and manner to what country the lecturer belongs. The preponderance of opinion, it one did not Know his nationality, would incline in favor of nis being a genial, intelligent Englishman, full of love for his species, full also of very curious learning, which he showed a modest, manly ambition to im- part to whoever might be kind enough to listen, Such stores of Oriental érudition, as he poured forth con- cerning the ‘‘devil,”” whom he followed down through the ages until in the glorious lightof the nineteenth century the traditional devil was hammered out so thin on the anvil of modern thought that he is as little thought of or regarded as the pasteboard sign to a shooting gallery, Mr. Conway wears a loose gray beard around his face, His features are of the homely, self-asserting Sort aaaer. to Peter Cooper and fessor Tyndall. en he spoke, how- eve® his want of resembiance to Apollo was forgotten, ‘The quality of his vorwe was parti ly pI ing, ‘and in half.a minute he was en with bis audi- ence, The quiet, unpretending, subtle humor that cropped out constantly in his discourse on the ‘tevil? was exquisite, and before Mr. Conway had proceeded half way through his lecture his ‘auditors must have eagerly wished, like Desdemona, that Providence had sent them such a man for a daily companion, A more interesting discourse seldom been heard inthis city, To make it what it was the lecturer must have ransacked every library of Europe, and, after boiling down his wonderful pot of the broth of learning, speut consider- able time in acquiring the admirable manner he ex- hibits in dealing out the precious, but over-powering essence to his auditors. Some little girls, of from seven to ten years, were among his hearers, aud yet so, sim- ple was the Substance of the lecture, however recon- dite, 1m expression an occasional passage was, that demonology must have been as clear to them as a’ chap- ter from the First Reader. THE IDBA OF A PERSONAL DEVIL, he said, originated in Persta, He was made the scape- goat of everything that went wrong. He not only re- lieved God of ail responsibility for all that was ugly and evil in the universe, but he also relieved man from many of his own wicked doings, which he was only too glad to father on the devil. In ‘ancient Assyria he was @ grand prosecuting attorney of the universe He comes up to Jehovah among the sons of God and is spoken of with reverence, @ Assyrian devil was ofa very superior type. ‘The Assyrians gave him winged feet, to indicate that he should be swiftto pursue the wicked, and in his hands he held a measuring rod and a scak 80 as to measure the wickedness of men and weig! im the scales; so as to determine the Gomes of punish- ment, from Jash that scourges the back to the axe that decapitates the head. In the long years after this the devil found way into other countries, and he ‘was given horns and a cloven hoof, and he assumed the reptilian shape and was made a bogy and a spook of and was greatly transformed. ‘The lecturer gave a most amusing explanatfon of the tempting of Kve in the Garden of Eden by the devil in the guise of a serpent, and an equally funn¥, though, no doubt, perfectly corréek, account of how the devil came to be called “Old Nig” With the progress of civilization and Christianity the demon fs found shrivel- ling up and growing small and stupid. For a while the devil im the Middle Ages came to the front when witchcraft flourished, and even when the Puritan came on the stage he was unable to ize a universe without a devil, It was then believed that the pillars of Paradise rested on the floor of the pit Although Milton’s Satan is an Oriental figui it ‘8 easy to that it is mean see for some proud English peer, some Monmouth aimin; at the throne. The lecturer drew a very eloquent pic: ture of the devil of the priests and the devil of the re- formers tn the Middle Ages, the one identified with thought, mind and intelligence, as in & unfiversity student; the other identified with narrowness and sv; tition, as in the monk of the period. He wound up ‘bis most interesting discourse with congratulati 18 audience on living i 80 ad- vanced a stage of the world’s history when the devil is no louger an ogre, and when every man can create his own devil just to bis liking. WIT AND HUMOR, . LECTURE BY HON. 8S. M. ANDREWS AT ASSOCTA- TION HALL, Hon. S. M. Andrews delivered a lecture, entitled “Wit and Humor,” at Association Hall last evening. The house was crowded and the lecture was a thor- oughly enjoyable one, Various extracts from Artemus Ward, Mark Twain and Bret Harte were cleverly recited by Mr. Andrews. The title of my lecture this evening, he said, is “Dialect Humor,” and I shall illustrate my subject by humorous selections in various dialects. Most of the humorous writings of this country have been written ™m dialect, as being best fitted to express the humorous. ‘England 1s divided into sections, | Jury.” the inhabitants of cach speaking a dialect peculiar to themselves, There are several varietics of Irish brogue. In the North of Ireland it ts slightly Scotch, The Dublin 1s refined and scarcely discern- ible, and the Cork brogue 1s thick and guttural In this country we have two varteties. We find the Yankee in its purity in the uphill sections of New Eng- land; the Soutbern is strongly touched with. the negro dialect, Humor is justly considered as one of the moral forces. With what power did Dickens wield this most potent weapon! Humor is to life what sait is to food. It gives piquancy and flavor, and without it we should be flat and insipid. Laughter and evil thoughts are no kin. 1 might speak of grief as its kin- dred emotion, for grief is THE ANTITHRSIS OP MIRTH. They are the opposite extremes of the same emotion. Excess of laughter becomes tears Humor not only adds to, indeed it constitutes much of genuine happi- ness, and it also improves morals, for the reason that to be good we must be happy, to be happy we must laugh A true humorist te & publio benefactor, and America ts especially fortunate in this particular, While young in music and art, and in both pone A copyists, we possess a humor that belongs to ourselves, In relation to the cause and effect of humor ® singular contradiction exists in fact That which most causes our mirth exists in the mis- fortunes of others; for both mirth and sorrow are caused by the misfortunes of others, only graced by the degree of the mishap, How often we ugh and cannot help ft, though we feel that we aro cruel! Humorous and witty sayings are usually more foreible for being dry, tor then it seems as though the speaker bad no intention in gad we were the first to find {t ous Sydney ith speaks of tho dangers of wit when its powers are abused, It 16 pleasant to observe how wit, combined with sense and softened by benevolence, penetrates through the coldness of society, like the combined in- fluence of wine and oil. It gives to each man a glow- ing hear, Genuine and innocent wit is the flavor of the mind. God has given us wit and flavor and laughter and humor to enliven the days of our weary pilgrimage. MRS. BLAKE ON JURY TRIAL. Mra, Lillie Devereux Blake lectured in Plimpton Hall before the Liberal Club last evening on “Trial by She was listened to with evident Interest by a crowded audience, After a general description of tho Grand Jury, its composition and functions, she pro- ceeded to detail the workings of petit juries and to des- cant at length on the hardship to woman that her rights of person and property should be submitted to Juries in ali cases composed solely of men, LECTURE ON THE MEMORY, ‘Tho next lecture in the free course for the people, at | the Cooper Institute, will be delivered in the large hall this evoning. The lecturer who is to appear is tho Rev. Joseph T. Doryea, D. D., and his subject ts “The Memory.” As tho memory le admittedly one of tho greatest mysteries in nature, {t cannot fail, when oleaverly treated in a popular lecture, to prove a very interesting subject. THE INFANT ASYLUM. Mra, Panny Barrow, “Aunt Fanny,” tnterposing in behalf of the little ones in the Now York Infant Asyj lum, entreats the more fortunate ones without to send to her, at No. 178 Madison avenue, all the old toys, books and clotting that they are tired of or have outgrown, 80 that the Christmas of the httle waifs may be made the more merry. The asylam ts at prosent supporting over 150 children, togethor with the helpless mothers of many of them CHOKED TO DEATH. William McCatcheon, a man about forty years of age, was choked to death last evening in a very remarkable manner. He was = sitting eating his supper Britton’s saloon, No 126 Greenwich avenue, when he took @ more than ordinarily ' largo plece ef bread into bis moath, The portion gorged his throat and sopped up the entrance to his windpipe. It was im- bte to relieve him and he was lily suffocated. is body was taken from the saloon to the Morgue. An imquest will be held to-d MATRIMONIAL FELICITY. The police of the Fifth precinct wore yesterday nott- fied that at an early hour in the morning Mary Conklin, living on the third floor of No, 468 Greenwich strect, had been beaten in am inhuman manner by ber husband, Andrew, They were doth Intoxicated, 10} been quarrelling. The walls of the room wherein the affray hud occurred were covered with blood. The womem was severol; hort, She was taken to the Chambers Street Hospital ‘The brutal husband escaped, and has not yet been sted. The couple have four cbildren, tho oldest RIVER AND HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS, REPORT OF THE UNITED STATES ENGINEERS ON THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED ON THE HUDSON RIVER AND IN THE WATERS IN AND ABOUT NEW JERSEY. ‘The following are extracts from the report of the United States engineers having reference to the im- provement of Rondout harbor on the Hudson -— Congress not having appropriated funds for the further prosecution ef these works no extension of them has been made during the season, With the balance of funds remaining of the appropriation ot March 8, 1873, twenty-five springpile fenders were Hiheed gon te Sar face of north dike, to fend off vessels likely to be driven upon it by southerly winds and the waves while in the act of enterinj the harbor, This additional work did not Belong $0, the plan, and was rendered necessary by there having been no appropriation to construct the south dyke, which would have afforded the protection needed. The condition of the work is as follows:—The north dyke has been constructed, and the extremity of it reinforced by a large crib, laid in the line of the pro- posed branch dyke leading toward the coal wharf, near ingston Point As the north dyke now tuo. dat and exposed on both fanks to the ice floating with the currents its condition {s necessarily preca- rious, and each succeeding winter will increase the damage done, until an unlucky concurrence of ocircum- stances effect its final ruin, Serious damage was dono by the ice, both to the north dyke and the crib, at the break up of the last spring, and this should be repaired before the next winter. ‘The effect of the north dike has been to deepen the channel over a small width and to admit a large class of vessels, Owing, however, tothe shoalness of the water between the channel and tho lightho! an ice dam was formed, extending from the north dike to the lighthouse, which, on belng carried away, left a bank of heavy material across the channel, necessary to be dredged before navigation can be resumed. Had the south dike been constructed and the channel deepened no ice dam would have formed. THE WORKS NECRSSARY to be undertaken to complete the project are the south dike, the branch dike and the dredging of the channel to a Suitable depth and width, The operations of these addttional structures would be to preservefa deep chan- nel of the normal width of tho creek, to assist in dissi- pating the bar which otherwiso might form beyond the entrance, and finally to serve as mutual protection against foating ico. Certainly this work should not have been commenced had it been intended to limit the construction of works of improvement within tho scope of tne partial appropriation granted, and if the marker works are to be left in their present unfinished condition, the inbabitants of Rondout may with pro- priety complain that injury instead of benefit has been conferred upon them. If no further appropriation should be made for the construction of the works of improvement the north dike and crib should be removed, in order to restore the harbor to the condition it was in prior to its at tempted improvement. + The estimated cost of this removal of the north dike is $25,000, ORIGINAL ESTIMATE, Amount appropriated. Amount expended Amount in ane sane heer subject to his check July including ¢ due on contracts not yet cotmslebed) nn $15,702 18 Amount expenced during the fiscal yi 875 Amount required for the wpe ent Juno 30, 1877, south dike and dredging... 74,000 00 In reference to the work at Kast Chester Creek, New York, the report says:— EAST CHESTER CREEK. ‘This work remains tn the state of suspense reported 1n my lastannual report, The commissioners appointed te condemn and purchase certain marsh lands in the vicinity ef Lockwood’s have as-yet failed to accomplish any practical result, I am waiting the action of this commission to report to the Chief of Engineers a pro- Ject for the disbursement of thé appropriations for this work, ORIGINAL RSTIMATE. Basin, purchase of site (18 acres) at $150... $2,700 00 Excavation to level of mean low water, 200,000 cubic yards, at forty cents........ 80,000 00 Excavation of cut, 60,000 cubic yards, af forty COnts........-+ + 24,000 00 Dik:ng and reveting banks of som cul Engineering and contingencies. Amount appropriated 87, East Chester Creek {s in Collection district No. 10. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Balance tn the Treasury of the United States “Agnoudt appropriated by act approved March TB eee eecctesseessescterecesecseeeses Amount expended during the fiscal year end- ing June 30, 1875... Amount available, Jul: BELLEVILLE BAR—PASSAIO RIVER, ‘The contractors completed work on this bar durin the month of December, 1874, having made a cut 2,; feet long, 1,800 feet of which ts 75 fect wide, and 500 feet gradually widens to its greatest width of 120 feet, with a uniform depth of seven and a half feet mean low water, The total quantity of material taken up by the dredging machine was 9,828.7 cubic yards stone and boulders, 6,524.5 cubic yards sand and gravel, and this material was used in constructing a dike paral- lel to the channel, 1,800 feet in length and sufficiently high to prevent its overflowing except in unusually high tides, Of the above mentioned stone and boulders removed 1,556 cubic yards of stone were drilled and blasted with the smail drilling scow mentioned in my report for last year; the stone was mostly bed rock of indurated sandstone and shale and was constantly developed as the dredging progressed, The lower end of this cut is in close proximity to the bridge of the Midland Ratlroad Company, and it was found ne y to remove a large quantity of matertal from the east draw, which was entirely closed by the wreck of cars and material dropped from the bridge, Since the contractors finished their work is has been ascertained that a large shoal had formed just above the upper end of the dike, and due to the sinking of a barge loaded with stone. This shoal has been removed by hired Jabor and the channel cleared w a width of seventy-five feet and a depth of seven and a half fees mean low water. RUTHRRPURD PARK BAR, The work of dredging this bar was completed by tho contractor in* December, 1874; acut bas been made twenty-nine feet long of an average width of fifty feet on the bottom and to a depth of six feet at mean low water. Bed rock of the same character as that foand at Belleville was developed by the contractor in doing this work, and a number of surface blasts were made to break up the rock forremoval. The line of the cut needs straightening by the removal of certain project- ing masses of bed rock, and the small @riliing scow was wut upon this work in April, 187 Since that period it Bas driiled and blasted twenty-two holes to an average depth of five fect, and 126 surfgce binsts have also been made. In November, 1874, ye small — scow was towed to the bar opposite Passaic and drilled, blasted and removed a rock measuring 18x2Jx7 feet, leaving a depth of six feet at mean low water. Several boulders were also removed from the channel. Under the appropriation of $20,000, granted March 3, 1875, the removal of the shoal opposite Belleville and above the upper end of the dike, the straighten- ing of the channel at Rutherfurd Park bar and the im- provement of Holsman's bar will probably be effected, Original estimate... seeneeees $123;928 00 Amount appropriated + 90,000 00 ‘Amount expended tes 72,765 90 FINAN 1 STATRMENT. Balance in the Treasury of the United States, July 1, 1874....+cs.cseeeseeeaces $33,000 00 ‘amount’in bands of officer and subject to his check, July 1, 1874 veseese 9,998 15 Amount appropriated by act approved March 3, 1875. ..... ++ asses 20,000 00 Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1875... + 45,704 65 Amount available July 1, 1875 seeeses, | LURE BE Amount required for the fiscal year ending TUBEOOV NTT .00 550s eseneree Settee 000 60 In reference to the droaging of mud bars in Hudson River in front of Jersey City the report says:— Under appropriation of March 3, 1875, of $25,000, ft is proposed to dredge about 50,000 cubte yore more or Jess, trom that portion of the river lying betwoen Pavonia ferry and a short distance south of the Canard docks. This work has been advertised, and proposals will be opened on the 14th July, 1875. Amount required to complete the 4 OF AMPFOVEMENL......4eeeseesereseeere ee $76,807 20 ORIGINAL RSTIMATR Dredging 221,800 cubic yards, at 400. ++ $88,523 00 Contingencies and engineering. ..+« 13,279 20 eeceeereseeess $101,807 20 FINANCIAL STATEMENT, Amount appropriated by act approved March 8, 1875... $25,000 00 Amount ¢xpended dur! Juno 30, 1875.--2 0 1,243 87 Amount available July 1, es 23,756 63 ‘Amount required for the discal y A June 30, to complete dredging,..... 76,807 20 ‘The report on the channel between Staten Island and ‘New Jersey is as follows :— Under appropriation of June 23, 1874, contract was made with James D. Leary for the construction of 2,000 fect of pile dike. Work was commenced in November, 1874 ‘and com in May, 1875, a total length of 2,237 34 feet of dike having been built, ‘AR ion for examinations and surveys of this channel aod for a report upon the mode of its im- rovement was granted June 10, 1872, by Congress, and t is believed at the Instance of the atures of ‘New York and New Jersey. A report was made February @2, 1878, setting forth two modes of improve- ment—the one permanent by means of dikes the other by dredging alone, requiring continued repetition of the rocess, When the appropriation of June made, it was applied under directions thority to ee eae areal of the diking. No appropria- in the last River and Bar l, but the Secretary of War was required to ap- point aboard of engineers to examine and report at the next session of Congress a plan for the impro ment, FINANCIAL STATHMENT, Balance in the Treasury of the Unived July dy Mites sscesereysanmmanannnmamman ADIN 00.1 saath of Remark, 2,000 tim’l|To be eon- ite dike, | Sunes RL A MOLLY MAGUIRE MURDER. 4 BAND OF FORTY MASKED MEN MAKE AN ATTACK UPON AN IRISH BOARDING HOUSE—A MAN AND WOMAN SHOT—ONE OF THE BODIES BURNED—THE PROVOCATION NOT KNOWN. Porrsvitig, Pa, Dec. 10, 1875. » This community and the whole of'the Schuykill coal region was startled ana horrified this morning by tho intelligence of a dreadful outrage committed by a large band of masked men at Wiggan’s Patch, a small mining village, between Mahanoy city and Gil- berton, About the time mentioned a body of men, umbering between thirty and forty, came ap from the direction of Gilberton, and halted in front of the house of a widow, named 0’Don- nell, who keeps an Irish boarding house. A detach, ment went to the kitchen door and burst it open, ene tering the house and proceeding up stairs, they first encountered a woman named McAllister, daughtor of Mrs, O'Donnell, and shot her dead, The mother was aroused and appeared at a door, when a pistod was immediately levelled at her, One of the party saved her life, but could not prevent herjfrom being Amocked down by the bullet # a revolver. The party then entered a room, where four men, named James McdAallister, Charles O’Donnell, Johm Purcell and James Blair, Were, sleeping, and took them from their beds, Purceli they tied to the bed and took the other three down stairs. Here McAllister made a bold and successful attempt to escape, carrying with him a bullet in the shoulder, O'Donnell and Blair were taken out into the road, and | Date of Contractor.| Resictence.| PMeor Com| Subject of J.D. Leary, | Brooklyn |Oct, 30, “7 the latter, after an examing' was t0ld to go.! O'Donnell’ broke away ‘#id “ried ‘to escapo but fell wounded, RIGHTEEN BULLETS PARED. and to The assassins fired eighteon bullets into hi then set his clothes on fire, burning hi bona acrisp. After accomplishing their the whole party of masked murderers arted the they came, tiring off volleys of pistol shots. The ex- citement ‘in the nelghborhood when news of the crime spread was nse. “qe tee came flocking to the Pig: Bn hundreds; public indignation became even’ more and intense when it was known that the murd woman was on the int of dew coming @ mother. A force of po- lice were at once put to work and scoured the country without any result. They are because of the mystery attaching to the affair. No motives for the murder can safely be assigned. It ts said on one hand that O’Donnell’s family had a with another clan at Gilberton some time back, in wl they were victorious, and that this was the revenge of the defeated On the other hand it is claimed that the murders were committed by the Vigilance Commit- tee of Mahanoy City, which was formed after the mur- der of the mine bosses—Wren, Langer and Jones—last ~ fali, It 1s said also that on Thursday a piece of paree was thrown into O’Donnell’s house on which was written, “You are the murderer of Wren and Langer,’? A PROMINENT OITIZEN ARRESTED. Ata preliminary examination Mrs, U’Donnell swore that. she could recognize no one in the crowd of murderers, and afterward swore that who knocked her down was Winrich, of Mahanoy City, First Lieutenant the Silliman Guards, National Guard of Pennsylvania, and a most respectable citizen. He was committed to the county prison and will at once have a hearing. ‘There are rumors of other arrests, among them that of a lieutenant of the Coal and Iron Poll but these romors are baseless. There is no doubt of Wenrich’s innocence. As Wiggins’ Patch and foe Mrs. O’Donnell’s house, has been the resort of the Molly Maguires, it is believed by a great many that the murders were com- mitted by a Vigilance Committee, who have made a horrible botch of their first Job. THE TORONTO MURDER. COMMITTAL OF FRASER 4S AN ACCESSORY IN THE MUBDEB O¥ JANB GILMOUR—BAIL REFUSED. Toronto, Dec. 10, 1875, ‘This afternoon the closing scene, for the present, in the cases arising out of the murder of Jennic Gilmour took place in the Police Court here: by the committal for trial of Fraser as an accessory after the fact to the girls death.- Application for bail was made to the police magistrate amd refused, whereupon agother application was made to Mr. Justice Wilson to allow the prisoner out on bail. His Lordship, for the present, refused but Ley: to consider if there were any ids upon which he could, after deliberation, justify bimeel in reversing his decision, Dr. Davis and his wife this morning closed their rather checkered career in Toronto. They were taken. to Kingston Penitentiary, where, if the sentence now standing against them be not again interfered with, they will spend the rest of their days. Petitions are to be circulated asking for Executive clemency for Mrs. Davis, and there is no doubt that they will be largely signed, inasmuch as there is a feneral opinion that was under the dominion of fer husband and was nota free agent. RACE CONFLICT IN MISSISSIPPL Cuicaco, Dec. 10, 1875. The Zimes bas a special despatch from Vicksburg, Miss., mentioning a conflict at Rolling Fork between » ‘band of seventy-five whites, ander command of Coloned Ball, and a band of 200 negroes, commanded by Noah Parker, It is reported that the colored commander, Captain Arthur Brooks, and five other negroes were killed and a large number wounded All is quiet now. CHARLESTON RACES. Cuanuestor, 8. C., Dec, 10, 1875. In the races of the Camden Jockey Club to-day the first race, one and one-eighth miles dasb, was won by Abdel-Koree, with Eutaw secend and First Chance third. Time, 2:064. The second race, mile heats, for three-year-olds, ringlet.. ie tie Lee, me, 1 The third race, atwo mile dash, was won by Jack Trigg, Mary Lo second and Busy Bee third. Time, 804%. MOODY AND SANKEY. PaiLapetpnta, Dec. 10, 1875, ‘There was an immense audience at the depot taber- nacle this morning. The meeting was opened by sing- ing the fifty-sixth hymn:— t The great Physictan now is near. ‘The asual requests for prayer were read, after which ‘Mr. Moody began his discofirse, making ‘Intemper- ance” hts subject. He said that he did not intend to taik eo mach about the evils of intemperance, but to send ap @ cry to God that He will save the poor drankard. Mr. Sankey then sung a new hymn, entitled A drunkard reached his cheertess home, after which the benediction was pronounced by Ret Dr. Blackwood, VICTIMS OF THE SUNNYSIDE, Povanmxerrsm, Doo. 10, 1875, Two more bodies were found at the wreck of the Sunnyside to-day, being those of Miss Stewart, a pas- senger from New York, and Nathaniel Johnson, a walter. bodies are now in the hands of the under- taker ‘nt wil be forwarded to New York to-morrow. ‘One body only remains to be found, that of Butler, thé chambermaid. Grappling will be resum again to-morrow. THE COLLISION OFF BACK RIVER. Bauerwonn, Md., Deo, 10, 1875. ‘Phe Italian bark Madre Cerruti, Captain Marchesa, hence for Queenstown, Lesage gets. yp egreb Back Ri return fhe Ae Sor damage estimated at $4,000, TROOPS. MOVEMENTS OF Key Wrst, Fla, Doc. 10, 1875, ‘The United States transport steamer General Meado arrived to-day from New York with six companies of Fifth artillery. Two rematn hore and the other four proceed to-morrow to Ponsasola. INTERRUPTION OF THE DIRECT OABLE, New Youx, Dec. 10, 1875, ‘The officers of the Direct United States Cable Com- pany announce that their line je interrupted 130 mileg iota Scola,