The New York Herald Newspaper, February 29, 1876, Page 3

ne to the other. BEECHER AND MOULTON. The Latter’s Suit Against the Former for $50,000. BUTLER AND SHEARMAN. Argument on the Demurrer of Mr. Beecher.. THE SCANDAL SLUICES STILL OPEN Mr, Francis D. Moulton’s suit for $50,000 damages aginst Henry Ward Beecher for malicious prosecution came up on argument on the demurrer, in the Supreme Court, Kings county, yesterday, before Judge Dyk man. In August or September of 1874 Mr. Beecher ap- | peared before the Grand Jury, Mr. Winslow being Dis- jrict Attorney at that time, and gave testimony upon + which that body found a bill of indictment against Mr. Moulton for nder and libel. Mr, Moulton gave bail and pleaded not guilty to the indict- ment, demanding at the same time an early trial. In the fall of 1875 Mr Moulton wrote to the District Attorney, Mr. Britton, and sought an immediate trial, but instead of complying with bis “request, and with Mr. Beecher’s sanction, a nolle pros- equi was entered in the case. Then Mr. Moulton insti- tuted proceedings for malicious prosecution against Mr. Beecher, claiming the amount set forth as damages. The attorney to the latter, Mr. Shearman, then served a demurrer to the complaint, which was argued yester- day, and the court room was crowded to excess during | the day, the proceedings lasting from ten A. M. till after five o'clock in the evening. On the bench were Beated by the side of Judge Dykeman Chief Justice Neilson, of the Brooklyn City Court, and Judge McCue, of Part 1, same court, The argument for sustaining \he demurrer was made by Messrs, Thomas G. Shear- man and Austin Abbott, and against the demurrer by Beneral R. A. Pryor and General Benjamin F. Butler. Mr. Shearman spoke for nearly two hours, citing ninoj reasons, fortifled with authorities, why the demurrer should hold good in law and be sustained. In conciu- sion he said:— Pheu the Court consider the question as one en- ely new, and without being governed by previous decisions of the courts, the same conclusion must be reached, if any regard 13 to be had to the general prin- viplos which have governed the administration of jus- Vice in other matters by the tribunals of English and American law. Actions for malicious prosecution aro looked upon With disfavor. Tbe American law has, on groands of public policy, transferred both the respon- sibility and control of criminal prosecutions to a grand jury and District Atiorney. oe 1. The jaw allows vo “criminal informations” (as in England), and no man cgn be accused by indictment xcept on the oaths of the Grand Jury, and the act can- not be tried in a private suit for damages until tried defore a petit jury or otherwise by the State. 2. The State’s attorney has the sole power to prose- vute, and private counsel have no power to determine whether the prosecution shall proceed or not. 3 Under this system the function of the citizens that of informer and witness, not in any proper sense that of prosecutor, The designation’ ‘prosecutor,’ Bometimes used, is borrowed irom the English law as a, traditional designation merely. 4 It results trom these features of our criminal pro- cedure that the public interest and right must be pro- tected or finally barred before a private action to ques- tion the tndictment can bo sustained. The fact that there 18 no precedent for such an ac- | tion where there must have been many occasions for bringing it, if maintainable, is a strong argument Against it This 1s not an action on “new facts” within the ex- ception to the foregoing rule. It is uttempting a new principle within the rule. If nt 18 said, on the other hand, that itis a hardship on a person who claims to be unjustly prosecuted that he should be deprived of his remedy by acquittal and by a subsequent recovery of damages, aud the maxim \hat “every wrong should have a remedy”? is invoked, we reply that this moxim is always limited, but admit- ting its fall application to such cases, though it 1s quite flour that there 1s another remedy of a more efficient character, although upon the ground of public policy it is not by way of damages, for maitcious pros. ecution cannot be sustained without perjury, and | for perjury there is an unquestionnole and effective temedy inthe way of criminal prosecution. If it is Suid that this does not afford relict in damages for a great wrong, we answer that if the original prosecu- lion should be made successtul by means of perjury, Moat would be a stiil greater wrong, and yet it is 1 eflisputable that for this wrong no damages can be re- covered, It is, theretore, not at all unreasonable that when a less wrong has been committed, to wit :— & mere pros jon, HOt resulting in an unjust conviotion, the Court d the prosecuting officer together ould have a dis- tretion to suspend the proceeaingsin éuch a manuer as to require the party claiming tobe injured to pro- peed by way of a criminal prosecution itsell, instead of by acivil suit. If it 18 said that stronger proot is re- quired vpon an indictment for perjury than in an ac- Mon for damages, the answer to that’ is that itis so much the more rea-on for requiring one who prose- tutes ayainat the judgment of the court and the Dis- jrict Attorney toadopt that form of proceeding. He Yhought to make his case clear beyond the shadow of a fonbt, in order to justity bis bringing any case into court under such circumstances. * GENERAL PRYOR'S ARGUMENT. General Pryor then made an eloquent argument, in which, among other points argued most forcibly bear- Ing on the position taken against the demurrer, wer ‘That plaintiff pleaded not guilty, and was then and ever since has been ready and arxious to stand trial on said indictment, but the District Attorney in and for \he county of Kings, after consulting with defendant, | Bud in comphauce with his request, but against the will and protest of plaintitl, did, on or about the 22d day of Octobe: ht move the said City Court of Brooklyn that a nolle prosequi be entered as to sand Indictment, and the prosecution thereof against the plaintiff, and the said City Court did then snd there | Frant said motion, and it Was thereupon adjudged and ordered by the said Court that a noile prosequi should _be allowed and entered as to said indictment and prose- cution against plaintifl, and the same was allowed and entered of record in said court. That the said indictment, complaint and prosecution, and each of them, is wholly ended and determined in favor of plaintiff, in the manner set forth im the Jast paragraph. Defendant demo and the epectic point presented for adjudication is whether an order of nolle prosequi granted by the Court on motion of the District Attor- hey und entered of record is such a determination of the cause as will support an action for malicious prose- cution. Ifa criminal prosecution be capable of termination by anole prosequi the complaint is ‘sufficient, tor 1t alleges the prosecution was wholly ended and deter- mined. The reference to the nolle prosequi only indi- tates the manner of the termination, but docs not qualify the tact of the termination. * * * * * * * A nolle prosequi is such an end of the prosecution Will sustain this action. Entry of a nose prosequi being an end of the prose- cution, the defendant's discharge follows as a legal coi sequence. (Citation.] Driggs ve. Burton, 44 Vt, 124 Abb., N. Y. Digest, 278; and to allege it would be merely to plead a conclusion of law. If a nollie be not an end of the prosecution, then an allegation of de- fendant’s discharge woula be nugatory. geo In reviewing the authorities it is exsevtial in limine to distinguish between cases bearing on the point in controver and cases touching the question whether a particular termination be prima facie proof of want of provable cause; for universally a uolle Pprosequi alone, though an end of the prosecution, wil ‘Dot avail to establish malice or waut of probavle cause, [Citations. } The precise point in controversy has been deter- mined both ways. But, conceding everything to adverse anthori- ties, it is still apparent they cannot be decisive of this coptrov because a nolle prosequi by the Btate’s Attorney, and a noile prosequi adjudged by the Court, and matter of record, ure tou dissimilar sub. Blanece aud eflect to authorize an inierence from the Otherwise, as to authorities in sup- ort of plaintifi’s contention; for if a nolle prosequi by he State's Atiorney of itself avails to devermine tl Prosecution, a mulio tortion wil a judgment of nolle awarded by the Court and recorded upon its minutes, [Citatious.) That a voile prosequi is sufficient to support an action for malicious prosecution has been directly | and explicitly desided. [Uitations. } In conclusion he said that vo phase of injury bad | ever occurred that common law had not provided a remedy tor, + GENERAL BUTLER'S ARGUMENT. General Butler in opening his speech said in sul Stance, that ne felt that he owed an apology for being present: where there were so many others round him Who were competent to discuss the questions at issue, An the early common law there were two classes Of ac- tions—one.for civil suit, and the other for malicious Prosecution, Both classes are now governed by the tame rules of common Jaw, Ju a civil suit the Attorney y holle prosequi under the ntering of a notle prosequi Js to be at the beck of the District Attorney alone the Court can net! prevent nor aid it. The counsel re- viewed in briet the laws of Massachusetts ond other States on that question. Ail the ‘ye ot his friend on the other side had fo show that it was the beck of General. The whole question turned cn whut is the status of the Court. — It 18 contrary to the common Jaw in #his State to make aw Mt if it is con. trary to the common law. This question must be set- fled on point of law, as it was raised upon an indict. ment, which was procured on tostimony by the per jured defendant. ictment was arrested, and was arraigned and held to bail. He was Kept before the Court tll the person who procured the common law. been learn. | the Attorvey | NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 1876.—-WITH indictment was satisfed. Then, through the collusion | of the District Attorney, when the man who prose- | to the District Attorney and thought | cuted him w that the prosecution he had commenced should be pped, a nolle proseqai was entered. The guilty man, when he heard hata nolle Pprosequ! was to be entered, went to the District Attorney and said, “I don’t want thet prosecution stopped. I want it to go on and to settle the question whether I am to be proved a yesirees villam or whether some other man sball take my position at the dock.’ All that was admitted in this demurrer to the complaint, wherein the plaintiff charges that he was falsely and maticionsly indicted, arrested and held to bail, When the day for the trial came round, the District Attorney entered a nollie prosequi, and defendant’s counsel now say that they have no doubt that that will protect the plainuff from the consequence of his crime. In that position the case now stands. The question is whether a citizen in the State of New York can be indicted, held to bail and brought before a court until it’ serves the | purpose of his persecutors, the latter having influence with the District Attorney, who has, then, only to enter a nollie —prosequi in order to be saved from the consequences of is act. It had been said that there was no precedent for such a motion. They now asked the Court to give case of the plaintiff. oing before a grand fae tell the trath. An innocent and upright man ary. is never tn danger, let him Tnder these circumstances the imnocent, The plaintiff said defendant was guilty, and that be had told the truth about him, and he pleaded for the privilege to go before a jury of his countrymen and to take the consequences of their verdict. These were his rights, bat the grei right of trial by jury was reversed. There never had been a case where a nolle prosequi hud been entered against the consent of the plaintiff and against his earnest protest. Mr. Shearman said there was a precedent where a nolle prosequi bad been entered against the wishes of the defendant, General Butler asked was there no remedy for aman had but for collusion between the District Attorney and the defendant? Austiz Abbott read extensively from law digs support of the Court took the papers, decision being reserved. ts in that the demurrer will not be sustained, in which event an appeal will be taken by Mr. Beecher’s counsel, BEECHER—GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY? The press of the country is again talking of Mr, Beecher’s position in regard to the old charge of adul- tery, We give the opinion or the inclination of recent exchanges :— Guitty—Cincinnati Times, Chicago Times, Rochester | Democrat, Auburn (N. Y.) Advertiser, Springfield Re- | publican.’ Cohoes (N. Y.) Eagle, New Haven Union, | Chicago Tribune, Worcester (Mass.) Press, Louisville | Courier-Journal, St. Louis Times, Salt Lake Heraid, St. Paul Despatch. Nor Guury—Janesville (Wis) Gazette, Chicago Inter. Ocean, Lewiston (Me.) Journal, Troy Times, HENRY 0. BOWEN’S CASE. The charges against Mr. Bowen, made by Plymouth church, will be considered at an adjourned church meeting to-morrow evening, to which admission by | ticket only will be permitted. Mr. Bowen bas been served with a summons to attend this meeting, but Mr. | Shearman stated yesterday that he had been given to | understand that Mr. Bowen would not attend, and would thus leave the church to decide what should be done in reference to his case, It is believed that a ma- jority of the members are in favor of at once terminat- ing his membership, and yesterday Mr, Shearman, Deacon Howerd, Ross Raymond and other advi- sera of the pastor ot Plymouth church, met him at his residence and discussed the point. Mr, Beecher onjected to any immediate or hasty action in regard tothe dismembership of Bowen and favored the idea of putting the entire matter into the hands of what is known as the Scandal Bureau. This committee will be empowered and will be ready to receive and consider uny statement Mr, Bowen may have to make within sixty days. It Bowen does not appear betore ther, within that period, or if he does, the committee will make its report to the church at the } on the cuse, Mr, Bowen stated yesterday that he was not prepared to make any statement to the committee, as they were manifestly opposed to him, and further that he had not intended to reveal any facts except toa committee sworn to secrecy. THE SEVENTH REGIMENT. The following is an official statement of the fund now being raised for the new Seventh Regiment Armory :— Amount last reported. Wm_ H. Vanderbilt. John C, Barron, veteran "Third company James Price, veteran Third company | John W. Salter, veteran Third compa’ > 100 | “A Veteran,” veteran Third company. 250 Other subscriptions, veterans Third comp: 325 “A Veteran,’’ veteran Second compa Wm, A. Pond, veteran Second company. . B. Brower, veteran Second company H, Lane, veteran Second company Moore, Veteran Second compa’ R. ©. Buchan, veteran Second company. C. V, Smith, veteran Second company. Wm. F. Blanck, veteran Second company. J. E. MeFarland, veteran Second company. James J. Morrison, veteran Second compa Ed. L, Molineaux, veteran Second company Jobn J. Budd, veteran Second company... | Other subscriptions, veterans Second company. George Kemp; veteran Sixth company. .. Edward Kemp, veteran Sixth company,...... Cyrus H. Loutrel, veteran Sixth company Gould K. Thorpe, veteran Sixth company... - ©. H. Cadwell, veteran Sixth company, KE. G. Arthur, veteran Ninth company... Other subscriptions, veterans Ninth comptoy Fd. Renshaw Jonos, veteran Tenth company. Henry L. Pierson, Jr., veteran Tenth company.. 200 ‘Thomas Lord, Jr,, veteran Tenth company... 200 Other subscriptions, veterans Tenth company 400 Additional regimental subscriptions (since last | _ report)...... 1,165 | Brown Brothers & Co, The committee earnestly request further subscrip- | tions, in order that the project may be carried out to a successful end. There has been a great deal of en- thusiasm displayed among the active and yeteran members of the Seventh touching this new armory, and there would seem to be no doubt bat that the building will be erected in due time, The cost of the armory, though heavy, will undoubtedly strengthen the command in the future and enable them to main- tain their ancient reputation as the crack organization mM our State militia, SHROVE TUESDAY. To-day is Shrove Tuesday, or ‘Pancake Day.” These are known as ‘‘Fastuacht,”” But people know the day in this country more particularly by its general name ot “Shrove Tuesday."’ In Scotlaud it is called F ten’s Even, ana is regarded asa day for mirth and jollity. The pancake and Shrove Tuesday are inex- tricably associated in the popular mind and in ail Iiterature, Shakespeare makes his clown in ‘‘All's fitas a pancake for Shrove Tuesda distinguished writers also refer to the pancak separable trom Shrove Tuesday. In view of the approach of the Lenten e¢ason a | HeRatp reporter wended his way yesterday to the Ful- ton fish market to Jearn what the chances were of an abundant supply of fish, The market was unusually animated and a large number of dealers and their as- * sistants were to be seen handling frozen fisn previous to sending them away to the retail dealers, Ascending into the private office of one of tho leading men in the place, and in which the atmosphere was fearfully fishy, the reporter gained the following facts respect- ing the coming great demand for tne finny tribe during Easter:— “Lent trade 18 a poor trade un fish are cheap, which they are not at present, owing to rough ‘weather at sea cansing the ‘home fleet’’ to be kept out | and unsuccessful in their catehing, Of course, we re- ceive a good deal of ‘stuf’ trom Gloucester and Bos- ton, but we rely to a great extent on our own vessels. Our prices vary with the weather, Last year at this season they were about twenty "per cept higher than at present, on account of very hard weather. I will ran over some of our ‘leading articles’ for you to show how wre stand, Cor is scarce, but we are expecting a quan tity by the home fleet. Halibut is short: last week we had plenty, and then the supply suddenly stopped. Savanoah shad—there is a tair supply. Striped bass | is scarce. Of white fish we have a supply. Of bull heads, eels and flounders the supply is very irregular and short. The stock of fresh herrings is large, and veral of those vessels moored outside here aro ers of fish are unconscionable fellows, and make mense profits during the Lenten season. Well, to con- tinue, the best pike from the inland lakes is rare, and pickerel from tbe Chesapeake are not plentitul, To- morrow and the next few days we expect to receive very large orders for fish trom all over the country— and if stocks come {in no quicker than they do now, prices are bound to run up quickly, Within a few weeks, and before Lent has expired, we shall havo a strong demand for ‘native’ shad, weak fish, blue fish, porgies, sea bass, &c,, and other fish which then como | on the market.”” SUICIDE IN PLAINFIELD, N. J. A woman named Margaret Mack was found dead on Sunday evening in @ stable at Plainfield, N. J. An empty glass which it is supposed contained poison was found ide her, She had been receiving tho atren- tions of the coachman, but lately his manner toward her became cold and she feli tito despondency. An inquest was ordered, o. them a new writ out of Chancery which shali meet the | defendant made this accusation, saying he Dimseit is | 80 wronged who demanded a trial which he would have | ament of Mr. Shearman, and the | : | those who became converted have since then been | The opinion expressed among several lawyers was | en‘ of the sixty days and then the members will decide | Washington R, Vermiiye, veteran Fifth company 1,000 | Well that Ends Well” speak of something being ‘as | MOODY AND SANKEY. The noonday prayer meeting at the Hippodrome yes- terday was very poorly attended; at no time during the | service were there more than seven bundred people | present. The cause was no doubt the very inclement | weatber and the great danger to pedestrians from tho | slippery state of the sidewalks. The proceedings opened | with the singing of the twenty-fourth iymn, ‘Rejoico SUPPLEMENT clety to elect its superintendent, and gives it a voice in the Quarterly Conference by the approval of that body, But should that Conference not approve it was claimed by some that the Superintendent could continue to serve and run the school in opposition to the Clfurch and the Quarterly Conference; that approval gives hin: the right only to a seat in that body, but non-approval | does not deprive him of the position to which be wus clected? and, moreover, a body that dors not elect cannot depose. Bishop Bowman, in @ recent case which came before him, de- cided that non-approval by a Quarterly Con- ference was equivalent to deposing the Superintendent. | and be Glad,” in which all joined, Rev. A.C. Arnold | Butas other bishops might take a diflerent view, it | read & number of requests for prayer, Alter | prayer the congregation sang the ninety-second | hymn, commencing, ‘Ob, Think of the Home | over ‘There.’ Mr. Moody then read part of the 103d psalm, “Bless God, © my soul.” He said there was no sutisfaction outside of Christ, | field next week, and Revs. J, M. Kin was deemed advisabie to appoint a committee to con- siderand report atafuture meeting the advisability of memoriulizing the next General Conference for further legisiation on this subject. Revs. Lippincott, Curry, Crook, Vail and King were appointed such com- mittee, A Sunday school convent meets in Plaip- Westgate, 5. J. and unlessa man had received and accepted Christ | Ferguson, A. C. Bowdish, M.S. Terry and W. P. Estes there never was peace in his soul. His spirit and | mind were always perturbed till he had received that reat blessing of knowing and believing in Christ. | When He comes tous He blots out all our sins, We | thank Thee, 0 Lord, that thero are so many in New York who could tell the story of their converston, and who were even now working with. all their might to | bring other sinners to repentance, goingon, and the traits of the labors of the Christian | workers were already becoming apparent. | Dr. Lorimer, of Boston, gave a detailed occount of the Christian work in Boston and Charlestown. said that the revival of religion in Charlestown was versions made was wonderful, In Boston also the good work was progressing almost beyond his greatest anticipation. 5 | Dr, Lorimer was faliowed by Mr. McDougall, the American Consul to Dundee, who gave a description of | the result of Messrs. Moody and Saukey’s labors in | Dondee, When Mr. Moody came there first he had to | combat a great many old-time customs and prejudices. | His method of ’ conducting prayer meetings | was altogether new, andthe _ ministers did not like innovation, But his — success | 1m bringing thousands of souls to Jesus was marvel- | | lous, Crowds went to hear hun out of curiosity merely and of these crowds many remamed to pray, anit steadfast and true, and have brought many others into | the Chureh of Christ since, When Mr. Moody came to | Dundee the Young Men’s@hristian Association owed £1,500 on their building, which even then was inade- quate to the wants of the association, In three weeks > Mr. Moody raised £5,000 for the association, and now the Young Men’s Association of Dundee has tho finest building of the kind in all Scotland. ‘The meeting closed with prayer and benediction by Mr. Moody. On the plat- of Boston; Rev, Messrs. Newell, Osborn, Sloan, Ki Wilson and Moore. A wom of the inquiry rooms immediately after the gene meeting. ves, Anderson, Paxtor, bine, Arnold, Matthews, 6 meeting was held in one EVENING SERVICE, As at the noonday serviees the evening meeting at the Hippodrome last night was poorly attended. The hall was about half full, and most of the assemblage were composed of the male sex, Alter the singing of thehymn, “There Were Ninety and Nine,” Mr. Moody announced to the congrogation that the subject for to- day’s noonday meeting was “Joy,” and on next | Sunday morning, when he wanted to gather all the young men pussible together, the subject would be “Daniel”? Admittance would be by ticket. Five | building. Any person applying during the week would be provided with one, He then preached on ‘Faith,’? Ho said:—I imagine I hear some one say, “That is a very dry subject, and if I knew that was the subject I would hardly come out such a night as this.” But it is a very important subject—one on which all our hope of sal knowledge, best definition pendence on the veracity of another, the belief = in the substance of things hoped for, though unseen. ‘The question is, Who shall we have faith in? We must have faith im God and in the promises of the Lord Jesus Christ, His son. The reason we have 80 many so-called backsliders is that were never converted to God. They may bave and the can find of assent I hold. laying faith is been couverted to churches or to me, Some of them were, perhaps, merely taken — with the minister whom ‘they heard preach, or the congregation, perhaps. If you are teak converted to the Lord Jesus Christ, you will find strength and grace to continue in the way of the Lord. prophecy of Jeremiah, chapter xvii., 15—Blessed is the man who trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is.” If we put our trust merely in man wo may lose faith, but if in God we never lose it. come by some sudden blow, some tiraculons turn in our ordinary affairs, But there iz nothing of the kind necessary, it 1s only necessary to study the Word of | God and believe what He says. If we firmly believe in the Word of God we will feither lie, steal, murder or | people again who say it don’t make any difference ‘what a man believes if he is ouly sincere. ‘There never | was a greater he come from the pits of hell. illustrate it. There were two men once who had charge | of a balloon. They thought it was fastened by two ropes, and it was only fastened by one. They untied this one rope, and the batloon started to rise. One of the men caught hoid of the car and the other of the Tope. never heard of again. Those men were sincere, but | their sincerity avatled| them not. Have faith in God, | Look to Jesus, tire Author and Finisher. There was | @ young prophet that God sent down to Bethel to | prophesy against Bethel, and He told him not to eat | in Bethel nor to come back the way he went; form were the following clergyimen;—Rev. Dr. Lorimer, | thousand tickets would be left at the Young Men’s | Christian, Association, and 2,000 would be kept in the | ion lies. There are three things about faith: | Turn to tho | Some people think to have faith in Christ it must | commit any of the crimes against God. There are some | The good work was | Dr, Thomas was appo' | ‘ He | his reviewer, | very successtul; that the young men were flocking into | the Church by hundreds and the number of solid con- | view, Next | | { | wore appointed delegates to represent the preachers there. The Baptist ministers yenterday listened to a very able and interesting review of the late Dr. Bush- nell’s latest work on ‘‘Luw and Sacrifice’ by Rev. Dr, ‘Thomas, of the First church, Brooklyn. Dr. Bush- nell is supposed to have been a@ little heterodox on tho subject of the atonement, and a couple of months ago inted to review the book, But the exciting times connected with Dr. J. open communion movements in part has kept it back, unul the author who has been reviewed cannot reply to The Conference, however, deemed tho Paper so important and exhaustive that'it requested the publication thereof in the Baptist Quarterly Ke Monday Dr. D. Henry Miller, of Groce! pint, will reada paper before the Baptist Ministers’ jonierence, THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE. The Executive Committee of the Evangelical Alliance | of the United States met yesterday afternoon at Asso- | ciation Hail for the purpose of organizing, Rev. Dr. Sampson acting as temporary chairman, Rev. William M. Taylor, ). D., of the Broudway Tabernacle, wa elected permanent chairman. No other business was transacted. MARTIN LUTHER. Dr. Jobn Lord lectared at Association Hall yesterday morning, taking for his subject ‘‘Martin Luther.’? The hall was well filled, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, The lecturer began:—I propose to pre- sent to you to-day aman greater than Dante, Michael Angelo, Hildebrand or Sayonarola—Martin Luther, the great expounder of Christianity. All may not agree | with mo in that opinion, but some have outhved Chris- 1 | tianity, (Laughter,.) What Cromwell was to Europe, what Columbus was to America, Luther was to the German nation, We almost despise those critics who point out spots on the charavter of such a manas Luther. He was capable of enduring great futigue, great self denial. Todo great things a man must be bodily as well as mentally strong, he must giant im strength as well asin intellect, This, | grant, | 1s animal vivacity, but itis essential ma a great leader suchas Luther was, His greatest gift was his faith; he | was almostan inspired man, but with all bis gifts he | had his fanits; he lost his patience in controversy. j Let us cons.der his work. We know in general what | it was. He did not enter into life with the idea of being a reformer, He reyerenced the forms ot the Roman | Cathohe church. His first important movement w | his entrance into an Augustine monastery, The ques- | tion that agitated bis mind the most was, “What sball it profit man of he gain the whole worid and lose his own soul?” The people of Germany were electrified with Luther’s teachings, He denied the whole author- ity of the and the Pope, and appeals wo the Bible for the foundation for his relagious taith. FUNERAL OF MR. IRVING. The funeral services over the remains of Pierre M. Irving were held yesterday morning in All Souls? chirch, corner of Fourth avenue and Twentieth street, which was filled with relatives and friends of the de- ceased, Tho remains lay in a highly potished casket, richly ornamented and bearing on the plate the in- ription :— a = Qvevececcconccccereresecoceeeeese ce hate teeennee ee te oe PIERRE M. IRVING. Died Febr 3 3 3 Aged 74 years. Cea iig honurdlacart ceetmcuensnphestinc The floral tributes were rich and bountilul, and wero the gifts of numerous sorrowing friends. The services were conducted by Rev. H, W. Bellows, who patda high tribute to the memory of the departed gentleman. At the covelusion of the services the remains were | were interred in the Irving plot. conveyed to the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, where they In this lot are buried the remains of William and Saran Irving, the founders of the family in Uns country, and all of their sons. In Irving, once an eminent lawyer aud meniber of the judiciary; William and Ebenezer Irving, both tormerly merchants, and Washington Irving, the author, RAILROAD FREIGHT TARIFFS. I will | IMPORTANT ACTION OF VARIOUS COMPANTES. Yestorday a meeting was held at the Metropolitan Hotel of various freight representatives of the leading | raiiroads for the purpose of considering the question as They were both swept into mid air and were | | to the continuation of existing contracts after the end of this month. Although the discussion was a private one enough was learned to warrant the assertion that the present contracts with shippers will be annulled. after March 1, | and the young prophet went as directed, and left there | decision of the whole matter will bo referred to the | without eating, though the Prince of the city invited him to sup with him. But ax he was passing outside | the gat | angel appeared and said that he, the young | prophet, should eat with. him. The young prophet accepted this invitation, because he believed it came from an angel. But he was soon undeceived, for 4p old prophet met him and said that an | presidents of each of the trunk lines for final ratifica- tion, A HekaLp reporter waited on one of the princi- palofficers of the Cheap Transportation Association to learn his views in regard to the matter, and that gen- while he was eating he heard the voice of God calling | to equalize the tariff, an* that within the last ten days on bim, and he left immediately, and on his return he | was slain. This prophet bad more faith in the angel than bo had in God, and he was punished. Now, I never knew a man or woman who had faith in God who ever lost by it or ever fuiled | still | to accomplish the work God laid out for him to do. How many of you will say to yourselves that God is true? T hope there will be a great many, and I wish all that | have any doubts to go into the inquiry room and there vecome satistied of the love and merey of the Lord Jesus Christ. At the conclusion of the general meeting the men | were invited ito the Fourth avenue hall, where they remained for three-quarters of an hour singing and praying. Several recent converts got up and gave their experience and others asked for the prayers of | the assemblage for strength to continue in the good | work. The women remained in the largo ball, and Dr. | Tyng and Mr. Sankey conducted a special prayer meet- | ing for their benefit. MINISTERIAL CONFERENCES. } THE METHODIST MINISTERS DISPLEASED WITH | SUNDAY SCHOOL MANAGEMENT—THE Bar- TISTS REVIEWING DR, BUSHNELL’S LATEST ik WORK. | The management of Sunday schools has become a very important question with the ministry and churches of different denominations, but specially with the Methodists, because of their large namber | and the great prominence into which those institutions | have grown of late, Many of our Sabbath schools are | conducted independently of the church or the | pastor, They raise the money to carry on | their work in their own way, elect their officers to | suit themselves, and in several instances are not only independent but actually hostile to the church authori- ties, And, as Rev. D. C, Lippincott, of Now Jersey, in bis paper yesterday declared, many of them are Hittlo better than places and occasions for recreation, flirtation or display of the atest fashions in dress and millmery. The reported number of scholars in the Methodist Sunday setiools of tho United States for | 1875 is 1,406,168, vo which may be added over 200,000 | officers and teachers. And yet out of this | great army only 87,000 converts are reported. This | REDUCTION OF | Yesterday, fifty-one years, ago the gas was first lighted | number, while large in itself, 18 relatively very small, | | as Mr. Lippincott thinks, when we consider the very | extensive machinery employed. But the great ques- | tion was how to MAKE THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS MORE BFYICIENT. | lation of the church is defective in that it permits an association of teachers who may be independent of the church to elect an ofheer or officers (superintendent), who become members of the Quarterly Conference, if | approved by that body, and, if not approved, may con- | tinue as such superiniendent against the will and pro- | test of that conference, Mr. Lippincoit's remedy 18 additional logistation by the next General Conterence, g Ving 1o the Quarterly Conferences tye right to elect Sunday school superintendents and tehchers; to raise moneys to carry on the work of the schoo! in the same Manner as it provides for the preacher's salary and other chureh ex; $ and be in every respect respon- sible for the welfare aad conduct of the school. He deprecated the method by which Sunday schools now raise money by fairs, concerts, tavleaux and lec- tures of doubtful character, and found in these things only the evidence of the immorality that exists among the teachers. If the provisions of the “Disci- pline” are enforced 4 the pastor ensues and the sevool is broken up, and few Ike to engage in any such enterprise, The subj was discussed by Drs Curry, Crook, W. W. Clarke, Marri | ficting views were entertained. So confitcting, in deed, that Or, Curry, who at first thonght there was no of Jegislation on this point, Was not quite so cer tuin at the close, but (hoaght that Mr. Lippincott had | good reasons vow lor pressing bis suggestions to the General Conference. ag cited in the discuasion, that the Church authorities, from the highest to the lowest, recognize the existence ofa row It also recognizes the right of the Sunday Schovl So- Mr. Lippincott ts of opinion that the present legis. | Tt appears by the “Discipline,” | | | of the most Holdick, J. M. King and others, and very con- | | wchool,, with the rates of freight had come four cents per hundred nearer to the Baltimore schedule from the West, and it was hoped beiore another fortnight thg rates would be nearer alike, so that the discrimination against New York would be but little if any. Ou the whole, he believed the railroa now ahve to the damage slready init the commerce of this city and were moving of their own accord to adjust the differences, Feasons for the diversion of foreign trade to Cincinnau, St. Lous and other large Western cities, was the law authorizing transportation in bond, and payment of duty at the piace of delivery of the goods, and now the Western wholesaler, instead of making purchases from the New York merghants, goes to the foreign market direct. An examination of the customs receipt atthe Western ports will prove this fact. Then teas come in by way of San Francisco and overland to Chi- this number are included Dr. Peter Irving, John T. | It 18 believed, however, that the final | | on the historic spot. One of the chief | | cago and St. Lows, so that New York has lost her old | | control of this ’great and profitable trade, The same hoids good as to coffee, Baltimore now almost monop- | olizes this trade, | THY STRAMSMIP CARRIERS OF SOUTHERN FREIGHT also met yesterday some railroad representatives at the office of D, B. Hasell, No. 817 Broadway, for the pur- ose of a classitication of freight. Nothing definite was, owever, arrived at. The Erie Railroad bas issued or- shall be ders to its agents that allverbal contrac’ | qnashed, and tbat no reduction of tho regular tariff to | the West shall be made. A REDUCTION OF FARE TO NEW YORK from Philadelphia takes place on the Pennsylvania Railroad on and after March 1. The prive for a single passenger 1g to be $2 75 in place of $8 25; excursion tickets, costing $5, will be issued, good for five day and all commutation tickets are to be withdrawn, ‘Th is a movi atinthe right direction, asthe fare br twoen the two great cities bas alwa; excessive. WORK ON THE DELAWARE, LACKAWANSA AND WESTERN Rajiroad was begun yesterday in the alteratiop of the company's track trom a wide to @ narrow gauge, One thousand workmen commenced this labor on full tine. The cost of the alteration will be about $1,250,000, the principal items ot which will be for ihe alteration of the rolling stock, the locomotives being the most expensive to change, GAS RATES, in the house of Samuel Luggett, the then prosident of the Now York Gas Light Company, at No, 7 Cherry street, now Franklin square. In honor of that event the company have reduced the rice of gas from $2 75 to $2 50 per thousand fect, which is the lowest price at which gas has ever been sold on thisisiand. During all these years the tire that was lighted when the com- pany started has never been allowed to expire, and when in 1847 the works.were removed from Canal and Centre streets, the burning coals were transported to the present location at Twenty-first street, East River, SALE OF PAINTINGS. ‘This afternoon at three o'clock, the paintings from the collection of Mr. James T. Sanford, will be sold by H. D. Miner, at 845 Broadway. Tho collection contains some of the best pictures which have been offered at | anction sale this winter, Among the principal pic- tures of the collection is a Jarge Troyon containing a number of cattle ina Hollaud landscape, a Zamacais containing about a dozen figures called “The Strolling Players,” “Wreck on the Coast of Sicily,” by Andreas Achenbach; Bertrand’s “Ophelia by Merle; ‘Grandmotner’s staff,’ aint irl helpin, her old grandmother to her chair, by O, Rettel; ‘Dance of the Haymakers,” by W. S. Mount; noticeable trom its having been ono pop geld of its day, when the Art Union flourished in this city. “Tho Rival Landlords,” by Hiddemann; y O bere Peter ony th Spanish Lady,” a young peas- M rs Joy and Mother's 8 “Interior of an Artist's Stndio,” by ner; a good specimen of the Munich warm color and strongly marked in duality of the figures, A small Italian scene, simple and broad 1m treatment and full of warm groys, by Oswald Achenbach ; a microscopic interior, by Poseutt; “Prat,” by Preyer ¢ Toast,” a small interior, by Escosura; “Grandma's Birthday,” by De Heuvel; a small Jandses pe by Daubigny;'bust, by Lambinct Jhickens,”” by “UNDA BeHOOL. socHery” “Shoop and erboeckhoven; two of jn every charge or cirewst, and the General Conferenso | Lasall preity peasant pictures; ono of Edward has provided a form of constitution for such societies. | Frere’ landscape by Thomas Cole, and miniature of George Washington, by Trumbull. been considered | | The New York Herato was represented by a special teman said that the railroads were doubtless prepared | correapondent theb, as now. By recommendation of | | the Mayer business was generally suspended, shops MOORE'S CREEK. Celebration of the First Vietory of the Revolu- tion on the Battle Ground. . INTERESTING HISTORICAL REMINISCENCES. | Sketch of the Monument Which | Marks the Spot, \ i Speeches, Salutes, Patriotism and | Bunting. | Wuatrxarow, Feb. 28, 1870. | The action at Moore’s Creek Bridge was no plebeian | skirmish, such as were most of the so-called battles of | the Regulators which had preceded it, Tho combatants | upon either side were chivalrous and brave mon, some | of whom had achieved high prestige upon’ former | fields. They were not rustic native boors or immigrant | banditti inspired by mercenary motives and seeking | plunder or promotion, MacDonald and McLeod, chiet- tains of the Highlanders, were veteran soldiers, and had won reputation at Culloden from the cannon's mouth, The dreaded claymoors of their clansmen had, in their native land, flashed always at the right of the whole Scottish clans After the unhappy de- feat of Charles Stuart they had — honestly transferred their loyalty to the house of Han- over. When their chief was made com- mander of His Majesty's forces in North Carolina and summoned them to rally by bis side; when, too, the loyal and beautiful Lady Flora, whose mingled | charms ot person aod oric fame gave her a resist- | less mastery oyer men, added her appeal to that of her | gallant husband, is it any wouder that ‘Thoy came as the winds come when forests are rended ; They came as the waves come when navies aro stranded, On the other hand rises Lillington, Caswell, Moore and others equally heroic—ft representatives of that | proud and high crested race ot cavaliers which so largely sottled.in the Southern colonies, It was acon- flict of the two pivotal principles which permeate all | history—loyalty against liberty, obedience confronting | freedom, Nor was tho EVERLASTING NEGRO QUESTION absent, oven in thoxe early Ameriexn days, Lord Dun- more, at Norfolk, and Governor Martin at Fort Joun- ston, had sougnt to excite and arm the slaves against | their masters, and had actually succeeded in enlisting many ofthem. Itwas this, more perhaps than any- thing else, that made the estrangement of the patriots complete and irreconcilable and added largely to their ranks, The colonists were menaced with a servile war, A letter written in North Carolina at this tims, and | which may be found in volume v,, third series of the American Archives, at page 959, remarks concerning their machinations among the negroes :— Governor Martin has coaxed a number of slaves to leave their masters In the lower parts, e thin wholly changed the temper and disposition of the inliabitants that are iriends of liberty. All regard or fondness for the Ki or nation of Britain fs gone. A total separation is what they want. Up to this period a decided majority of the poputa- tion between the Pedee and Cape Fear, trom the sea- bourd to the mountains, were tories cither open or secret, Butthe bare intimation of Governor Martin of a willingness, In any extremity, to arm the slaves against their masters, aroused a furious and wide- spread storm of indignation. Thus potent was the negro as a factor in tho political problem of 100 years | ago. Tho late Governor Swain, of South Carolina, pro- nounces the account of tho battle of Moore's Crock, written by the able and impartial hand of Edmund Burke, aud printed in the “Annual Register” for 1776, to be the most accurate and comprehensive he had ever scen, In this account Burke does entire justice to the colonists, and fully recognizes the importance of the action as a turning point in American destiny. Interviews with many prominent citizens of Wilming. | ton, of antiquarian taste, supplemented by an exhaus- tive overhauling of the ante-bellum Mles of the dofanct Wilmington Herald, and of the old, but very lively | Wilmington Journal, reveal THE STRANGE FACT that, with the exception of a small gathering at | Moore's Creek Bridge, in 1856, so insignificant as to | have received merely a brief mention 1m the daily | papers of this city, there has been only one formal | celebration of this important .initial Southern battle of | the Revolution within the last hundred years, This cele- | pratiott took place on Friday, Febraary 27, 1857—the | eighty-Orst anniversary of the engagement. A very | cloquent oration was pronounced by Joshua G. Wright, | of Wilmington,.and the coracr stone of an intended | monument was laid with the customary ceremonies. and stores were closed and a large crowd congregated Colonel Alexander Lillington’s silver crescent, inscribed with the legend, “Liberty or Death,”’ which fastened bis plume to his Continental cocked hat m those old days of war, was exhibited to the patriotic spectators, along with the Demy that tra- dition says he wsed to tonch off the refractory cannon | which commanded the bridge and- mowed down Mcl.cod | and the Séoich loyalists in their brave but disastrous charge. , THE PROPOSKD MONUMENT, however, Was not erected until February, 1859. Con- tributions toward it bad come in sparingly and slowly, | and nearly the whole expense was borne by two patri- | otic ladies, Mrs. Dr. E. A. Anderson and Mrs. Marga- | ret H. Harding, hneal descendants of Colonel Alexan- der Lillington, and by Mr. Donald McRae, of Wilming- | ton. The monument stands near the yet visible traces | of the old entrenchments of the patriots, upona slight | elevation, about 100 yards from the memorable bridge. It is of ‘drab sandstone, purchased in Philadelphia, | where, in fact, it was constructed, Owing, probably, | to the effects of the weather, it bas-a singul ty ancient | look. One could hardly suppose it had been erected within a score of years, Its height is fifteen feet clear of the foundation, or pedestal. ‘The base is toree feet Kix inches square, the plinth two feet ten inches, the dic twenty-three inches, the cap twenty-six inches. The obelisk or shaft is six- teen inches in diameter at the bottom and twelve in- | chesat the top. The inscriptions are in elegantly de- signed Gothic letters. On the front, facing the bridge, are the following words :— INSCRIPTIONS. POOO LL LOLE OL EOLEODLETELOLETOOETEDE ME OE BODE, $In Commemoration of the battle of Moore's Greek’ Bridge, 3 : Fought bere 27th February, 1776, z 3 The First Victory Gained by the American Arms in | the War of the Revolution, POLOOOOL EE LELELE PETE LULELL POLE LODE DPLEDPOETEDE LODE On the rear are these words | POODLE LELELELOUETELLTELELTTE LE DOLELEOLO DEDEDE EEG) Here lie the Remams of 4 Puvats JouN GRavy, 3 Sor puptin county, Who Fell Brayely Fighting for; z His Country, 3 The First Martyr in the Cause of Freedom in North 3 Carolin and the only Whig killed in this Battle. } PLP ELEO LL OOLEOLELEEEETETLUELEDOLELOPEDE PETE HELE DED Upon the side facing the main fond 1% the name “Lillington” and on the opposite side is inscribed swell,” The names of the two heroes are in relief; thé other inscriptions are in sunken letters. The style of the monument is rather of thé Grecian order. A | warlike emble of which the chief feature is two crossed cannon, 18 handsomely chiselled upon the shaft, No ceremonies ever attended the erection of this monument. Itwas quietly putin place without any | fuss by a small force of hired workmen, and has been but little visited during the seventeen years which havo | since elapsed, | must make one exception to this statement, however. General Sherinan, on bis march from Wilmington go Bentonsville, in Jotinston county, N. C., in the sequel of his famous expedition ‘to the sea,’’ passed by this memorial pillar with his army of 125,000 men, when he crossed Mooro’s Creek Bridge on 's celebration was initiated by a meeting of leading citizens of Pender county—a regently forined shire, tnainly carved out of New Hano- ver—on February 5 of the current year, at a littl, vil- loge called Lilincton, six or seven miles from the bat- tle ground, Several gentlomen made spirited speeches anda series of patriotic resolutions were adoptod, To this meeting United States Senator a. som alluded in his 8 tional Senate, om the 111 500,000 appropriation for the Ph After a sharp, briet thunder storm, appropriately tn- angurating the day with celestial artillery, the sun shone out gloriously. At sunrise a salute of thirteen guns was fired by the Cape Fear Light Artillery. Most of the vessels in the harbor were gay with bunt- also a liberat display in the ce Exchange, Board of T f Commerce, including nearly all the merehants, having consented to make a holiday of the oceasion, the majority of tho warehouses, mulls and shops were shut, and there was, even at an early hour, « very perceptible hush in-the clamor and din of onsiness, Large numbers of the residents of Wil- mington, men, women and children, left for the jramor- tal battlefield, thirty or more miles away. All means of locomotion Were severely taxed to accommodate tho pilgrims thronging to the new found Mecca, The trans- riation commitee had provided two steamers—the town, and Chamber ‘ortheast and the North State--lor the conveyance of | The Germ: fi nd visitors generally up the Cape Fear add ine Diack rivers to & poms per: | Cornet Concert | followed by a long processic | luxuriance and diversit | thee 3 enema Prien of the hallowed ground, The Northeast ft Market dock at half-past seven A. M., the North State at eight A. M., after the arrival of the northern train of the Wilmington and Weldon Rail which caine in crowded. Considerable numbers of peo: ple bad also arrived by the Wilmington, Columbia and Augusta and the Carolina Central railways, Proceeding nearly due north, or THe CAVE PEAR, we entered the sinuous windings of lack River, whose channel is so barrow that the steamer brushed tne branches of the treees on either bank. We threade¢ forests of Jaurel, bay and ash, with here and theres hoary tree laden with moss, a lonely raft, a canos glancing over the placid water, fishermen drag, zing their nets of succulent ' shad shoreward, terrapins basking on their logs, and an occasional as: tonished ailigator taking @ plunge out of sight at our and then a group of people were seen upon th . [saw one man with his wife and no less than nineteen children gazing at us with gaping imtration. After the debarkation THE LINE OF MARCH Was taken to the meinorable ti Martial music s of the primeval Woods, and the sunlight glanced upon polished bay. onets. The Wilmington Light Infantry, the Cape Fear Light Artillery avd the fire and book and ladder com panies of the city took the lead, accompaniod by the ‘ub-band, of twenty-two pieces, and , comprising bemdes & 8 and perrons plodding along multitude of equestrl: OM toot, vehicles of every imaginable kind. Arriving at the site of the monument on the verge of the hui that overlooks Moore’s Creek on the left hand side of the road, going north, we found the thick undergrowth which surrounded it dp to a few days ago cleared away for about two acres. Here was a large assemblage of men, women and children from Cumberland, Jones, Lenoir, Duplin, Sampson, Bladen, Colambas, Brun wick, Pender aud New Hanover, and the Lord kno’ where beside, And still they came, and they kept on coming till there were full 4,600 of them. The ereek is about thirty fect wide, where it ts spanned by the famous brid nd just below it makes asudden sharp detour to west. The banks are here very bigh ands The bridge mses from the each end toward the centre of it like the root of a house, It is just such a bridge, | was told, as the original, and is upon precisely the oldsite, ‘tis, im fact, claimed that, like the boy’s ancestral pocket knife which was still the same old knife, though no part of the primitive article remained, tis structure is, de- spite repairs, which have ‘left hardly an atom of the original material, the identical WIDOW MOORE'S CREEK BrIDG of 100 years ago, The loculity i dark, ‘gloomy and peculiar,” such as would suggest a grim and bloody scene like that which makes it notable, All around are ancient trees, mostly oaks, sycamores and heavy pines. The eastern bank of creck, on Which the patriots were posted, is higher than the opposite one. ‘he whole surrounding coun- try beyond thfs immediate neighborhood is a vast plain, with searcely any elevation, and is covered with adense growth of pines. This spot stands in marked contrast by reason of its greater height and the differ- ent character of its forest trees. Tho bridge 1s spe proached at each end through a defile ur ravine deeply cut through the overhanging bluffs, It is about twenty: live feet lower than these blufts, and some fifteen tees above the suriuce of the water. The current is strong and rapid, and the stream looks very black, To an unattended visitor it must present a weird scene. ‘There is no hutwan habitation within several miles, the nearest village veing Lillington, six or seven miles dis- ant, Apart from to-day’s crowd it is a spectacle of profound SOLITUDE AND DESOLATION, ‘The banke are clad with a mingled mass of vines, brit reeds and tangled undergrowth of almost tropi Huge fallen trees and Dumerous crevasses washed out by rains and freshete completo the wildness of the spot, parts of which lie im porpetual shadow, unvistted by any direct ray of sun- ight. Led by thirst to the brink of the creek I found the water clear and sweet, but of the color of lager beer, It ts similar in hue and taste to the “juniper of Lake Drummond in the Great Dismal eaten? Swamp. A LARGE AMERICAN FLAG floated from a huge pole tminediately fronting the monument. Smaller ones decorated the speakers’ and music stands. Proudly flying from its sta was the warworn banner of the Twelfth United States inlantry, borne through the Mexican war, now in custody of George Edward Cantwell, regimental Adjutant, Atter A national salute of thirty-seven guns by the Cape Fear Light Artillery THY SERVICES opened with prayer by Rev. Colin Shaw; an address of welcome by Dr. T. G. Hatchwell, Chairman of the Cen- tennial Executive Commitice. Captain Samuel A. Ashe, of Raleigh, then delivered a tine and scholarly oration. Kloquent speeches were made by State Sen- ator Edward W. Kerr, of Sampson, and Kev, Mr. Stallings, of Duplin county. Edward Cantwell, a vet- eran of the Mexican and Confederate wars, pronounced THK CLOSING SPEECH. We are face to face (ne said) with one of the grandest acts of history; on the spot consecrated by the blood of the frst martyrs of the Revolution; the first vic~ tory of our indissoluble Union was won liere. Judge Cantwell’s peroration was magnificent and war enthusiastically cheered. The President then read patriotic letters from Oliver H. Dockery, United States Senator; Augastus 8, Merrimon and Walker L, Steele. After benedic tion by Rev. Julian P. Faison a musketry fired by the Wilmington Light Infantry. lute wag Sandwiched | between the speeches were saintes of artillery from A GUN CAPTURED » here from the Highlanders one hundred years ago, in. termitted with music from the Wilmington Citizens’ Cornet Band, Chief Marshal Colvin maintained excellent order notwithstanding the large crowd, and everything passed off pleasantly, The military display was un- usually fine. Toward nightfall the crowd began to thin out gradually, and the obliquely talling beams of the set. ting sun threw the old-time “dark and bloody ground’? iuto dismal shadow, And now the cold, calm start peer curiously down into the silent, sombre wildernest but a few hours ago vocal with rejoicings and traversed by the steps of thousands. As iciose this the fyi feot of the dancers prolong the festive celebration in & “centennial ball” at Lillington, All this ig welt Post laborem voluptas. LOWELL'S SEMI-CENTENNIAL, THE HALF CENTURY ANNIVERSARY OF THE SPINDLE CITY TO BE ELABORATELY CELE- BRATED, AND GENERAL BUTLER TO BE THE ORATOR OF THE DAY. Loweit, Mase., Feb. 28, 1876, The city of Lowell, so justly renowned as one of the principal manutacturing cities in the country, is ar. ranging for a high old carnival on Wednesday, on the occasion of her semi-centennial anniversary. There wili be all the “pomp, splendor and circumstance” of a civic and military procession, business will be wholly suspended, and then there will be tho imevitable banquet and literary festivities, the latter to be dis- tinguished by a set oration from no & person than ral Benjamin F. Butler, The city doos not rejoice Revolutionary antecedents vo glorify over, but ereises will be exclusively in commemoration o her birth and filty years of almost unprecedented pros. perity. . Tbe act of incorporation of the town was passed or the Ist of March, 1826, and ten years later the tower in | was incorporated as a city, There were only 200 imbab jtants in the place fifty years ago, and now the popula tion figures up in the neighborhood of 40,000. Probably there 18 not another manufacturing place anywhere that been so much favored as this thrifty city or tne ks of the bold Merrimac,” Strikes, calamit failures and other adverse events common in mot mannlacturing districts bave been almost wholly un- known bere. Indeed, during the fifty years of her career the heaviest fire involved a loss of less than $125,000, An idea of the educational facilities of the city may be formed from the fact that there are over seveaty pub. He schools here, ‘There are 82 mills now in operation, comprising 800,000 spindles, and furnishing employ- ment to 10,500 women and 7,000 men. The aggrogate capital represented by these mills is about $20,000,000. The celebration about to take pl has long ny anticipated with eagerness by the citizens, and it will undoubtedly be a grand aftair, One of the chiet tures will be the gathering of a multitude of old who have been in the past or are now identified with the city. The foilowing circular bas been issued by the ladies interested in the Exhibition in this city:— New York Women's © ion subscriptions from women ip ut the interior is yet in. has b 'y various parts of the United States, wont A pavilion built b; complete. New York hopes to contribute her thus sulst in promoting Kenersl knowl cd eons soa that come within woman's legitimate » Though late, we can work with a will; and ff each woman will contribate even @ fitly ‘celebrating the | 10¢ dependence. All funds not Lotthe Exhibition will be devoted quested to form theme! ro comrntttons, to be connected with the and Bight 1 communte in ing, also subscriptions, will be received. A book the caratment ot meinbers Al wishing 10 oxbibie request we ply to the Committee ol epectis York, fwho will it necessary, assist in forwardi ‘og sultable for acceptance. Mrs. General CU. Chairman Execative Committes N. ¥. Mrs, Bexsasin SULLIMAN OHUREH, Secretary. Mrs, N. Pxxpieron Hosack, Tr THE GERMAN SOCIETY, The German Society of tho City of New York, one of tho oldest established organizations in the city, held its ninety-second annual meeting at Liederkranz Hal} last night, Frederick Schack presided, ahd¢he annoal report showed that the Relief Committee of the society doring the past year aided 6,771 destitate immigrents, and the amount ner tor that Two thirds of the urer. ‘par. pose Was | $12,634 90, an- nual receipts of the societs are ex for charitable objects; the remainder i ee to maintain the agency of the socety and the Labor Excllange, ‘The society hax jou Board 0 Vaited Charities and appoimted Willy mh as it Fopresentative, The receipts of the society durihg the past st, amounted to $25,950. The expenses wert $15,760 08. The capital of the society amounts te $61,000, and is com of the Astor fund, $20,000; the general fund, $15,600; the reserve fund, $25 085 the new extra fund, ‘and the Ludwig fund, $1,000, immigration at this port y ey ETRE Ton