The New York Herald Newspaper, April 16, 1876, Page 15

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE, Ministerial Movements—Chat by the Way. The Jewish Conversionists Stirring Up Opposition. Easter Observance and the Greek Church, PROGRAMME OF _ SERVICES. The Rev. Wesley R, Davis, late pastor of Simpson Methodist Episcopal church, Brooklyn, will begin his ministry with St, James’ church, Harlem, this morning, The Rey, Father Bjerring will conduet an Easter service this morning in the Russian Greek Chapel in Second avenue, This is the last Sabbath on which Mossre, Moody and Sankey will labor in the Hippodrome, ° The services to-day will be the same as last Sunday, Arrangements have been made to continue the public services for some time longer by different clergymen of the city. In Allen stroet M-thodist Episcopal church the Rev. C. H. Travis will preach an Easter sermon in the morn- ing, and the Rev. ©. E. Harris in the evening a sermon on the subject, ‘From the Grave to Glory,” At tho Free Tabernacle Methodist Episcopal church the Rey, John Johns will preach to-day as usual. At the Spring street Presbyterian church the Rev. W. D, Nicholas will speak this morning about ‘‘Petor’s Deniat of Christ.” Confirmation and communion will be administered to-day in All Saints’ Protestant Episcopal charch, the Rev, W. N. Dannoll rector, “A. T. Stewart Living and Dead” will be considered ‘this morning in the Brooklyn Tabernable by Rev. T. De Witt Talmage. An Easter servico will be preached this morning in Washington square Methodist Episcopal church, and a resurrection one this evening by Rev. William Lloyd. The subject ot Rev. George 0. Phelps’ discourse this evening in Allon street Presbyterian church is ‘Which Way?” Preaching in the morning also, The Rev, B. E. Backus will preach in the Church of the Holy Apostles this morning, and Rev. John Cotton Smith, D. D., this evening before the Young People’s Missionary Association. “The Episcopal Church’? will be discussed before the Fifth Universalist Society in Plimpton Hall this morn- ing. Miss Annie E. Fay will test the spirits again this evening in-the San Francisco Minstrel Hall, Broadway. Dr. Ewer and Professor Randall Hall, of the eral ‘Theological Seminary, will occupy the pulpit of St. Ig natius’ Protestant Episcopal church to-day. Tho peoplo’s service in the Church of the Holy Trinity this evening will be conducted by Rev. 8. B. Tyng, Jr. Preaching morning and afternoon; also Bible readings during the week by Misses Logan and Beard, 3 Easter services will be held in Bookman:Hill Motho- dist Episcopal church to-day. Rev. W. H. Thomas will preach in the morning on the *Resurrection”’ and in the evening on “A Poor Rich Man.”? The Sunday school will have an Easter celebration in the afternoon, At Harvard Rooms Mrs. Emma A. Britten will ad- dress tho Spiritists Association this evening. An Apocalyptic lecture will be given in the Catholic Apostolic church this evening by Rev. W. W. Andrews on ‘The Escape from the Great Tribulation. ’* The Rey. George Howell will preach at the usnal hours to-day for the Reformed Episcopal church, East Twenty-ninth street, near Madison avenue. The Rev. W. C. Stecle, who has been observing Holy Week as assiduously as an Episcopalian or Catholic, will preach a sermon to-day on “Thomas and the Resurrection” in Fleet street Methodist Episcopal church, Brooklyn, which editice will be decorated with flowers. In Bleecker street Universalist church the Rey. C. P. McCarthy will preach this morning on ‘Easter Day and the Resurrection.” In the evening he will give his impressions of a visit to the Hippodrome and con- trast Mr. Moody’s preaching with that of Jonathan Edwards. The Rev. James Jarrett will minister to the Advent Protestant Episcopal church this morning and evening. Bishop Snow, of the true Catholic Church, as he calls it, will preach in the University chapel this af- ternoon on “The Resurrection of Christ tho Only Foundation for Our Hope of Immortality.”” The Rov. W. T. Sabine will mini to the First Reformed Episcopal church to-day at the usual hours, “The Evils of Restrained Prayer’ will be consid- ered this morning and ‘‘A Journey with an Object in View” this evening in the Central Baptist church by Rey, J. D. Herr. The Rev. W. H. Milburn, the Methodist ‘blind man eloquent,” will preach in the Church of the Strangers this morning, avd Dr. Deems this evening. Mr. Mil- burn sails {ur Europe on Tuesday on a lecture tour. 1a the Church of Our Saviour this morning the Rev, J. M. Pallman will preach an Easter sermon, and this evening will discuss “Universalism and Morals,” Dr, John Lord will lecture on ‘Daniel on the Little Horn” this evening in the Thirteenth stroet Presby- terian church. Dr. Burchard will preach an Easter sermon this morning. There will be an early morning service to-day in Christ church and the reguiar morning and afternoon service beside, with preaching at both as usual. Dr. Armitage will speak this morning in the Fifth Avenue Baptist church about “Jesus Risen, the Gospey Wave-Sheaf,” and this evenitfg’on “Alfde with Us.” In Harlom Universalist church the Rev. J. A. Scitz will preach morning and evening as usual, “Trust” and “The Foolish Barter” are the topics to bo considerod to-day by Rev, Mr. Rowell in the Free Baptist church, Wost Twenty-ninth streot, Mra, Bullene will lecture for the Prozressive Spiritualists this evening on ‘The Experience in Spirit Life of the Controlling Spirit.” Mra, Stoddard ‘will materialize at No. 453 Sixth avenue this evening. The Rev. M. H. Smith, in the Park Congregational chureh, Brooklyn, this morning will discuss the ques- tion, “Uaght Women Preachers and Reformers to be Encouraged?” Rey. J. M. King will preach at the usual hours to- day in St. John’s Methodist Episcopal church, Rev. & H. Virgin, of Harlem, will speak in Associa- tion Hall this evoning. “The Resurrection ef Christ” and “Death and Its Leasons” will be discussed by Rev. J. H. Lightbourn to-day in Seventeenth street Methodist Episcopal church, Rey. J. Spencer Kennard will preach tn the Pilgrim Baptist church this morning dnd evening at the usual hours, The Rey. W. P, Abbott will preach In St Lude’s Methodist Episcopal church this morning and evening. Rey. Dana Wolcott will preach in Madison avenue Reformed church this morning. ‘A sunrise service will be held in St. Thomas’ Prot. estant Episcopal gburch this mornivg, and other ser- vices atten A.M. and four P, M., with sermon and communion. Rev, W. B, Merritt will minister to the Sixth ave Reformed church this morning and evening. Revs. J. 1. Danner and J. R. Kerr will address the Sabbath echool in the afternoon, ‘ew itnesises to the Resurrection” will be called up this morning in Stanton street Baptist éhurch by Rev. W. H. Leavell, who will preach in the evening on “He Died for Me.” The Rev. J. B. Hawthorne will speak this morning inthe Tabernacle Baptist church on ‘Triumphs of Patience," and this evening Rev. H. M. Sanders and Mr, Frank Beard, the ‘‘obalk talker,” will address the Bunday school mass meeting. ‘The Ninth Ward Union praise mocting will be held this afternoon (four o'clock) im the Central Methodist Episcopal chureb, Seventh avenue, near Fourteenth street, The Rev. W. B. Merritt, of the Reformed Church, will lead. Sankey’s hymos will be sung. Daily noon meeting ta Mr. Page's church, West Elev- enth street. ‘The Church of the Disciples will have a grand day this Baster. The floral decorations willbe fine, There will be sermon in the morning by Mr. Hepworth on ‘tbe Resurrection,” and the administration of the Lord’s Supss: Spd recantion of 200 new Members, In the evening a sermion 6b “The Crucifiea Lord” and an Easter service by the Sunday school in the afternoon. Mra 8 A. Lindsley will entertain Spiritualists this evening at No, 206 Ninth avenue, ‘The Rev. W. R. Alger will speak in the Church of the Messiah this morning on “The Different Gates of Heaven, or the Law of the Salvation of Souls,” Rev. Chauncey Giles will explain to the Swedenbor- gian church this morning “What Flowers Teach Us About Our Resurrection. ”” In the Chureh of the Atonement the Rev. C. C, Tiffany will conduct special Easter services to-day and preach at the usual hours. Mr. Marchant, of London, will minister again this evening in the old Chatham Street Theatre (No. 153). Sankey’s hymns will be sung and no collection taken. CHAT BY THE WAY. ‘What men want is more “grip.” We are constantly getting hold of good things, but our fingers slip and we Jose them. The man who holds on for life holds fast, There 1s too much waiting for something to turn up and too little determination that it shallturnup. Ifa man should keep all the blessings that come to him even the poorest would be rich. We often let go the Jess to grasp the greater and lose both. The word endeavor is peculiarly applicable to the Christian life, It igderived from two French words, en and devoir, and meane on duty, as, for instance, a soldier—whon, as a Christian map, you endeavor to remember that you are always on duty and must not ask for “leave of abgence.”” God does not ask your opinion. We simply gives or- di nd expects you to obey them. A certain class of men make their own judgment tho standard of God’s possibilities, If the Almighty will explain they will obey. A great many people recognize the duty of taking each otber’s part, and if they can do it they will, Such is the selOshness of mankind. It is said that the world was Qnisbed at about four o’clock in the aflernoon; at leagt, the Rabbinical tra- dition runs thus, and it is safe, therefore, to conclude that Adam was just made before Eve, Don’t fret; it only adds to yourburden, To work hard is very well, but to work hard and worry too is more than human nature can bear, What a ploasavt thing it is to do your very best, and, having failed, to hear your friend, who didn’t lift bis finger to help you, mildly remark, “I told you 80,” Such criticisms enable you to control your temper and encourage you mightily. It willmever do to simply point the way to heaven, A sign post can do that; but a man must do something more. During the war the impassioned speaker who said “Go!” was hissed down, while the man who said “Come!” was loudly applauded, Anybody can tell you what you ought to do, but he alone stirs you to do ig who {s trying to do it himself, People used to be very superstitious about matri- mony. In Rome certain days of the month were r garded as espectally unlucky, and In some parts of the country even now brides refuse to march up the broad aisle on Friday, and take especial delight if their friends throw a slipper after them when they start on the tour of the honeymoon. Bat times have so modi- fled our city notions that ifa wealthy suitor presents himself the day of the wook and the attendant ceremonies sink into insignificance, and the immediate entrance into possession of a largo income is of primary importance, It takes more grace to make some people even de- cent than it does to make others saints. Thero are men who are like a harp with only one looge string. To be sure the harp is good for nothing until that string is fixed; but it is fixed very easily. There are others who resemble a harp with all the strings loose bat a single one, perhaps. When that harp is new strung and in perfect tane the maker must touch the chords with pe- culiar pleasure and satisfaction because it was so difll- cult to get the instrument into good order, There is too much fear and too little iove in the re- Hgion of the people still, Christianity is an attractive not a repetlant force. It is wrong to do right because you are afraid to do wrong. The man who goes to heayen with fear in his heart carries a little bit of the other place with him, just enough to spoil all his pleasure, Let the pagans tremble, but not the man who With filial confidence inspired, Can lift to heaven an unpresumptious eye And, smiling, say, “‘My Father made tt all.’’ Well, next Thursday morning, Moody and Sankey will “fold up their tents” and quietly steal away from a very large circle of friends and admirers. They have preached and sung enough to give the entire clergy o, New York a bronchitis that suggests Europe, but they appear to be hale and hearty asever. They never worry about their work, but do the best they can and leave tho rest to the Lord, and perhaps that is the reason they suffer so little wear and tear. If ligion makes life avale of tears a man naturally gets pretty well worn out on tho way, but if it makes life a season of trium- phant faith, spent in companionship with the angels, then the fret and anxicty are gone and the oxhiliration of praise takes its place, The trathis that some poople run themselves into the grave by putting a large quantity of gloom into their religion, Take the gloom out snd fill the whole place with sunshine, and this world and the next will take ona different com- plexion. Lent has come toaclose. To somo it bas beens season of deep personal sorrow, and auring its saddest hours they bave dwelt amon; past and held spiritual communion with the “way ing Man of Grief.” To others it has been simply the irksome timo when the table diet 1s changed and thea- tres are under taboo. To such there is hardly ‘‘a rel- ish of salvation’? in the unwilling eclf-denial, and their , but not a good coin The temperance movement is sweepiag through New Hampshire with the force of a tidal wave. It ts not only making sober fishermen on the coast, but also sober farmers in the north. This is one of those prac- tical effects of the revival which every man can esti- mate, The ‘‘drop too much” has been a pitfall into which some of {he best have fallen—a gaping chasm, half filled with broken resolutions and broken lives. It is safe to conclude that the ‘drop too much”? is the first drop you take.* Old Sam Johnson, who declared that “there is nothing which bas yet been contrived by man by which so much bappincss is produced as by a good tavern or inn,’’ didn’t live in the days of Mr, Gough, and never went through the lower wards of New York, where every other shop is a liquor shop. The best work of the Hippodrome has been done among the victims of strong drink. To sing or pray a man out of a drunkard’s g: isto do a great deal toward your own salvation. One will soon’be able to study his Bible jn the Cen- tral Park Museum, and find stuffed and otherwise pre- pared illustrations of its statements, Certain people, who seem to be taken with a kind of religious spasm, propose to institute a new department, containing specimens of Bible animals, minerals, woods and plants. Several Syrian wolves and foxes have already been received, and the sheep and goats are on the way. A trip to Central Park will soon be substituted for a trip to Jerusalem, and the Hippodrome congregations will march up the avenue on an imaginary pilgrimage tothe Holy Land. Since they can’t go to Palestine it has come to them. Traly, this isa wonderful age, We condense everything—not only milk, but life itself. And now we have the whole of Syria, in its Scriptural peculiarities, compressed into the Central Park. Centennial Christians may be raid to be on the alert. The Pennsylvania Bible Society are erecting, on a pleasant spot within the magic circle of the great Ex _ hibition, a neat building, where the Scriptures will be furnished in every leading language. This is a wise thought, If the Bengaice, in the general haste of traok packing, forgot to include his Bible in his in- voice of goods, he need not learn English in order to continue his devotions, Lut will find here a Biblo in his own tongue, Happiness does not consist in the length of your bank account so much as in the size and purity of yoar heart. Aman thinks he wants money, but he knows he wants faith. How many Christians are there to whom this anecdote isapplicable? They believe caough, but they don’t do enough. They are all right in the theology, and all wrong in life. A professor in one of our colleges was talking very learnedly about the selonce of skating to some college students, when his feet slipped and suddenly found himself study astronomy in broad daylight, with so msny stars circling about his head that he became confused. ‘Ah, boys,”” he exclaimed when he sufficiently recovered ms self-possession, “I find I am up ia theory, but down in practice," Funerals are undoubtedly necessary evils, In our present state wo cannot well get on without them, But everything at a funeral which is not expressive of sorrow or sympathy is conspicaously out of place. The floral dianiaw «t the abecauies of Mr. Stewart were & delicate and worthy tribute from those who loved him and desired to express that affection. The great and good gathered in the marble mansion with bowed heads, recognizing the fact that millions will not pur- chase a single minute of time when the summons has been sent. In abrupt contrast with this, however, was another funeral, with its hearse and six horses, its mourning carriages and four horses. Sometimes it takes six horses to carry a man or woman to the Park, but two will easily carry one to the grave. -Funereal pomp has something sad about it. We may live as we Please, but the same sod covers us all at last, The Celtic laborer who looked upan himself as op- Pressed by the necessity of giving ten hours’ work with spade and pick for $2 a day, and who showed a profer- ence for the ‘‘clane business” of a bishop with a large salary, only expressed the general ambition to do little and get heavily paid for it, Weare apt to forget that whatever position we are eminently fitted for we Gravitate toward. “Why,” said Wordsworth, “I could write like Milton easily enough if I had amindta” ‘Yes,’ remarked Lamb, ‘so you could; but what you lack is very important—that is, the mind to.” Make yourself able and the world will, sooner or later, want you, ‘Tho pit is crowded,” said Choate, to an assembly of young lawyers, ‘‘bat thore’s plenty of room on the stage.”’ Instead of grumbling because you are obscure make yourself worthy of prominence and you will, by and by, be invited to come up higher. Aclergyman who had just made the change from Unitarianism to the Episcopalians wrote a note to Freeman Clarke, headed “St. Stepben’s Day,’? and Clarke answered it with a letter headed “Washing Day.” Days are nothing; hoart iseverything. Every day | int’sdayto you if you are doing saint’s work and singing on your way to glory. The saints are only guide posts to tell you how far you have travelled and how many miles there are before you. Depend on nothing except yourself and God, and you can make no mistake, Let us make a suggestion. Don’t waste the flowers which to-day decorate your churches, Let them serve adoubdle purpose. They are the symbols of the glo- ious resurrection now, and will, with their silent ap- peals, carry gladness and hope to thousands of bearts; but to-morrow change them into symbols of lovo and sympathy, break the harps and crosses and crowns up into scores of bouquets, and carry them to the sick beds in our hospitals. Though half jaded, they will cheer the weary life and pain of the sufferer and prove that ho also is included tn the general hope of the eter- nal life, An aptown clergyman lately told his congregation that he and his wifo aiways take turns m indulging in bad temper. When onc gets heated and out of sorts the other is especially cheerful and kind, and after the fit has worn off the other indulges ina bad mood, It isastanding rule to take turns in this matter, and never to allow more than one of the household at a time to say disagreeable things. If any two happen to be taken at the same moment, they cast lots and decide which has the preference, and the ono who loses has the next turp, This arrangement Is said to work well, because it saves that exaggeration of -bad temper which is the result of over indulgence, Be- sides, it is noticed that the spasms are of shorter dura- tion than under ordinary circumstances, JEWISH CONVERSIONISTS. LOCAL CHRISTIAN MISSIONS TO THE JEWS—THE ANCIENT CHURCH TROUBLED—A CONVENTION OF ISRAELITES TO BE HELD HERE NEXT MONTH—EIGHT CONVERTS LAST YEAR. There is no subject that to Jewish minds carries with it so much weight and importance as efforts of church ‘missionaries to reach the Jews of this city and bring them under gospel inflacnces—that is, to convert them to Christianity. Eforta in this direction have been put forth quietly for many years by local churches, and are included also in the ministrations of the city missionaries and the benevolent associations, But the success has hardly equalled tho cost in timo and money, and Christians have settled down to the conviction that “the times of the Gentiles” are not yet ful- filled, so that there is very little hope of success in converting the Jews for the present But all such efforts are based upon the assumption that for purposes of salvation the Old Test- ament is of little or no value. There was a time, many centuries ngo, when it was believed and declared that “galvation 1s of the Jews,’’ but that article of faith has been changed so as tosubstitute Christians for Jows, and the conversionists butt their heads, so to speak, against a. religion that counts its years by thousands instead of hundreds, and which has the purest code of morals that has ever obtained among men. Very pertinently, therefore, did Dr. Gotthoil, a fow weeks ago, ask what had the Christian to offer the Israelite in exchange for Judaism? Are ite morals purer, its doctrines clearer, ite adherents more honest, truthful ‘and consistent livers, or its teachers men of purer lives or more faultless character? And, in a previous address, the Doctor emphasized this thought when he declared, without fear of contradiction, that bia people would not be found in prisons and peuitentiarics, in rum shops and g: ling saloons. They may be poor, but they are hon they may be idle, but they aro not criminal, JEWISH NUMBERS AND CONVERSIONS. There are about 110,000 leraelites !n this city, accomd- ing to the latest estimate of the missionaries operating among them, and of this namber, it is said, 200 are converts to Christianity. The aim of the Protestant Episcopal Church, therefore, is to gain easton of the 109,600 that remain unconverted jow shall this be done? It has establizhed the Jews with hoad- quarters at No, 352 West Thirty-fifth street, where a preaching service is held every Sunday forenoon in lebrew and German, ara a Sunday school session in theatternoon, The miestonary in chargo isa Mr. J. 8, Nathans, who personally or by jis friends professes to be a converted rabbi, But the learned and liberal minister of the Temple Emanuel! repudiates his rabbin- ical assumption, and offers $25 to the conversion'sts if they will bring to him one Jewish rabbi converted to Christianity. Bishop Potter, of New York, has tssuod @ circular to the rectors and churches of this city ask- ing them to help Mr, Nathang and his work financially and spiritually, Mr. Nathans nimselt adds that tho Jows are reatly to embrace: Christianity and that his homo and his mission are daily crowded with Jewish in- uirers after the truth as it is in the Episcopal Church, 18 circular and correspondence i+ what han caused the present ripple on the calm sea of Judaism. Andthe ventilation of the subject matter in Jewish and Episco- palisn pulpits and press shows that it cannot be treated with Indifference any jonger, But it suggests also that the “rabbi” Natbans have been moved by sordid motives in bis acceptance of Obristianity. The facts developed by the controversy show that he obtained access to the pulpit of tho congregation “Adath Jesharan” in Philadelphia on forged papers Lent open | to be signed by the rabbi of coat wall Hungary, an: as soon as this {act was discovered he left Puiladelphia and Judaism about the samo time His next public appearance was as a liceniiate in @ Baptist church standing before an exalnining council await- mg ordination. He was sound on the devomtnational doctrines, believed in immersion asthe only Scriptural mode of baptism, and had no faith whatever in baptismal regeneration. So far the Council was sxtistied, for the rig ne oe the Kpisco- ans, had bogun to consider how they should reach he Jows. But there was something suspicious about the ‘rabbi’s” career that the Council did not like, and as they could not get at “the bottom facts” they post- poned his ordination for six months. But ere the six months has expired Mr. Nathans has repudiated 1m- moersion and close communion and accepted baptismal regeneration and apostolic succession and all the other Pigments of belief of bis new cuurch love, and bas been duly licensed, and by and by, doubtless, will be ined by Bishop Potter. The SOCIETY POR PROMOTING CHRISTIANITY AMONG THE JEWS, with which Mr. Nathans is at tb conn ex. pects great results from his labors. One or two public meetings have been already beld here to arouse enthu- singm on this question. It is reported that 152,000 ages of tracts in tho German, English and lebrew inn; thirty-eight German Bibles, forty-one nglish, twenty-eight New Testa- ments in jerman and three in Hebrew havo been disiributed among the Israelites of New York. e Jew is born a liturgist and ritualist,” is the argument of ‘the Church," and *‘to nothing would he turn so Cree as to the Book of Common Prayer, the use of which grown out of the service of the synagugue.” The jitew of New York have alrondy heid consultations on this subject, and aiso on the pro- jects of Christians to get Jewish childgen into Protes- tant mission schoois, tho 24tlFof next mouth o convention of Israelites will meet here to discuss and take action m the matter, The call for this conven pre has boon mat pA Leb gary rabbis a ign jewish la: if city. correspondent of the Sewish Times lyzes the last report of the Soctety re- ferred to above, and shows that six Jewish adults and two children ombraced Reed Jast year, and the cost of the operation was $2,177 There is no dan- fd ‘of any such conversion schemes being set on foot i ager, the Jerachtes of New York; nor, at this rate, is ere much ground for hope of many defections trom the anetent faith of Abraham. ‘The following letter on this subject from the editor Of the Jewish Messenger will be read with interest: — To rae Eniton ov tre HuraLp:— ‘Bisl Potter, of the Episcopal Church, has seen fit to ‘eatgnate es. a “lay reader” one Nathan! who claims to have been a Jewish rabbi, F Who is anxious to convert the ‘110,000 Jews of New York.” Achurch in a fasbionable locality bas been for the services of this unique revivaliay Potter, in a circular indorsing the for the usual ‘Good Friday” contriba' work of converting the Jews. Mr. Moody ized b Aayd Bi asa of experience | Gpartmel t, and we have the solemn assurance of this ovangclist that be has no confidence m the conversion of Jews to Christianity, The history of most conver- nappil of mercevary weeives ‘and pecan lag Dental Cees. It we avi that the garb of lity is now given tothe vement The gain to Christianity will be the actual loss to Judaism, and that, by the record of the past four years, will be in- nd now, for the gratification of Bishop Potter, I would suggest that he has taken the very course to render conversion from Judaism impracti- cable. Hoe has compelled the Jewish coi ns to unite in self-defence, It is essentially vu this arrangement of a Hebrew service to be repeat Sunday evenings with the ostensible purpose of prov- ing to jewish audiepce the truths of Christianity, No Israelites will attend, save from curiosity. however, affor¢ churchmen a weekly etre for discussing the momentous question of turning the Jews from the error of their ways, Such is the spirit of the day, the sensation will be pressed into the ser- vice of the ry and the ‘lay reader Natbans’’ ‘will constitute himself the centre of observation. The any and all ritual- in a movement of It takes the ‘innocent ing and improving the Every Jewish minis- Jewish congregations, discardin; istic differences, have just unit stamping out conversionists, but inefectual form of en! ‘stem of Hebrew free ter has promptly identified himself with this measuro, and when the missionaries to the Jews find, as they will, that there {s ample provision furnished by t Israelites of New York for tho religious instri tion of their poor, the occupation of a ‘ay readers’ will be gone, and Bishop Potter will enjoy ample time for reflecting upon the absurdity of spending thousands of dollars upon charlatans who protend to have the power of bringing the Jews over to the Church. Does Trinity wish to pay with intorest the debt incurred in the eighteenth century, when certain New York Israclites contributed to the fund for building tho church? The worst possible use to make of the money is to spend it on conversionists. By all means, if it vexes Trinit to have been assisted in its early days by Jewts charity, Jet compensation be mado in a gift to Bt. John's Guild. When there are no Christians to evangelize it will be time to begin with the Jows. At present it would ap- pear that tho field of labor 18 ainple without recourse to the “110,000 Jews of New York,’’ who are fully competent to take care of themselves. There are bundreds of thousands—men, women and cbildren— dwelling in New York for whom neither the Episcopal Church nor any other Christian denomination has ade- quately provided. Exhaust all your energies to con- vert those before you interiero with the Jews. M, 8. BB4ACS, MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS. < BAPTIST, Tho Baptist churches of Brooklyn last month ro- ceived eighty-four persons into their membership by baptism. Duriug the pastorate of Rev. Dr, Galusba Anderson, in Brooklyn, he has baptized 132 members into tho Strong place Baptist church, The Second Baptist church of Chicago, to which he goesin May, nasa membership of 1,200 soals, In 1836 New York had, in round numbers, 70,000 Baptist: members; Ponnsylvania had 16,000, In 1876 New York has about 104,000 members; Pennsylvania, 58,000, Im forty years, then, New York has gained $4,000 members—less than 1,000 per year. Pennsyl- vania has gamed 42,000—over 1,000 per year. There ig a debt on nearly every Baptist church in this city. Dr, Anderson’s and Dr. Armitage’s socioties are abundantly able to pay off theirs, but they pretor to owe than to pay, Filty-third street church basa debt of $70,009. Evon the furniture, organ, cushions, ke, are mortgaged. Nearly $50,000, however, have been raised by the Missionary Union toward a reduc- tion of this debt. EPISCOPALIAN, TUness In nis family has compelled Rev, J. H. H, De m bis pastorate of Grace churon, Cherry Valley, N. Y. ‘Tho American Bible Society has donated 200 Bibles for distribution among the lighthousos of this country, and a call now comes to tho Protestant Episcopal Church for prayer books to accompany them. The Reformed Episcopalians of Boston are making fierco onslaughts on the parent body from which they separated because of the Romish tendoncies of the lat- ter. The Kev. E. C. Coleman in a recent discourse charged two of the Protestant Episcopal churches of | that city with practicing the confoasional, proscribing sogar from the dict of their choir boys, praying for the dead and practicing extreme unction, He charged the entire Church with an unscriptural partiality for rich men to the neglect of the poor, and prodicted that the Reformed Episcopal Church would supersede the other by and by. Bishop Cummins, of the Reformed Episcopal Church, in a recent address before a Sunday school in Baltimore ig represented as saying it you take the rind off us you wilPfod us Mcthodists within.” A school for the training of colored ministers will bo opened by the Reformed Episcopalians in Charleston the beginning of next year, PRESRYTERTAN, Thore are four Presbytcries and 6,000 communicants in the Christian churches of Spain. The Presbytcrians are operating at forty points in Mexico, but as yet own no church property. ‘The Presbyterians of Pennsytvania have made ar- rangements by which the ministers and laymen of that deaomipation who go to the Centennial Exhibition can secure board and lodging at reasonable rates The iden is too good to allow our Presbyterian brethren to monopolize tt. The reiigious interest in the Brooklyn Tabernaslo, after throe years’ continuance, koowe no cessation. Last Sabbath there were over 100 now cases of religious inquiry. ‘the %pourtn Presbyterian church of Chicago (late Professor Swing’s) have called the Rey, Mr. Jenkins, of Amherst (Mass,) Congregational church, to theif pastorate, Rev. A. F. Dickson has resigned his pastorate at Chester, & C., and Key. J. B. Mack has accepted the toraloof the Presbyterian churches at Unity and faxham, 8 C. Rev. Henry M. Field, D, D., in his last letter to The Evangelist, says that before coming to India he thought Fadi there was some germ of good in Hindootsm, t, alter seeing it, he thinks nothing can be worse, METHODIET. Fifty converts have united with the Methodist Epis- copa! Church at Succasunna, N. J., on probation. | he Park avenue Primitive Methodist church, Brook- lyn, have secured a successor to Rev. Fred Belt in the person of Rev. Joseph Odell, of Gravesend, Eng- laud, who began his ministry witn them oa the first Sunday of April. A marble memorial of Jobn and Charles Wesley h: been placed by tho side of the bust of Isaac Watts Westminster Abbey. I) don paper, hag a deep s:g) altered state of the age we live in, and as an carnost the dawning of a better day, when tho strife of cree: and the conflict of doctrines will cease to impede al e growth and spread of an enlightened Coris- ROMAN CATHOLIC. The Catholics of Spain number 15,807,753 and the | Protestants 60,000, Portugal has 4,000,000 Catholics aad scarcely any Protestants, mThe Vatican or Pontifical University, and also the tifle Institute existing in the Palazzo Altompts in | me, i declured illegal and closed The pretect of the province of Rome is chargod with the execution of | the decree, ere isa good prospect that the heavy debt on St, Jobn’s Catholic church ut Orange, N. J., will be eer soon, Other churches are giving generous ai Very Rev. James Orlando, C. M, tho venerable Visitor of the Lazarists im the United States, was Buffalo, : Y., last week, en route for Germa: town, N. ¥. After six years’ labor the Catholics of New London have nearly completed the new church of St. Mar, Star of the Beas which Will be dedicated by Bishop G@ berry early io May. Its cost is $150,000, and it has a seating capacity for 1,500 persons. ‘The parish heretofore included between Maspeth and Fiushivg, L. L, has been divided, and Rev. Fath | McElhinney, the pastor, has been assignod to West Flushing, while Father Baxter, of St. Paul’s church, Court street, Brooklyn, has been sent to Maspeth, ; The new Church of the Sacred Heart, West Fifty-frst street, east of fenth avenue, will be oponed and wass | said therein for the first time to-day. The building will seat about 500, For two weeks the Redomptorists have given a suc: | cessiul mission in Hantington, L. I, and its out-mis- sion, Bay Shore, Five handred approached the sacra- ments in Huntington and over 200 in Bay Shore, MISCELLANEOUS, The Brattle square church of Boston, which cost $278,000, tins a debt of $100,000, and is now offered tor falo at $150,000. 11s lato pastor ix in Europe, and tho society has “gone where the woodbine twincth,”” Three Unitarian churches in Boston aro now occu- ied by Roman Catholics, ono by Presbyterians, one by Bapuste an‘? one Universalist church by Baptists and another by Jews, Liberal Christianity doos not seem to hold on to property if it does to people in that city. Five Lundred and sx applications for divorce were mado last year in the courts of tne single county ot Cook, in which is situate the city of Chicago, in the State of Niinois, Six closely prinied columns in one of the local papers of that city contain the names and other facts interesting in that neighborhood of the saccersful applicants, And yet wo ure sending mis- jonaries abroad !—Church Journal. Tho celebrated “Sinzing Pilgrim,” Philip Phillips, has joined hands with a British evangelist named Tho- burn, whom he met jn India, and the two are jointly prosecuting their jabors after the manner of Moody and San! are now operating in tho Corin- thian Theatre in ita and draw congregations lim- ited only by « ity of the buildin, Demo! ised Bete teotion in Japan have lately contributed to the erection of the best church in the country, Tho pulpit and communion table of th» Reformed Mission chureb, recently opened, were made from wood that came from demolished temples, THE REVIVAL. There were no meotings at the Hippodrome yester- day, but, as usaal, the prayer meoting was held at Association Hall, cornor of Twenty-third street and Fourth avenue. Rev. wr. Kennard presided over the meeting, aod spoke feeling!y to all young converts, He said that he had never had such glorious experience as that of the last four weeke, and the rumbor of people who were coming to Jesus was almost marvellous. Here Dr. Kennard asked those who had found Jesus to stand up and , and five different gentlemen, one nother, up and to the edification udience t, numi 1g 1,000, of which 100 were males, A the prayer and tho ex, meee converts were related, the hym very Hone”? Mean anue ona tha meals NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, APRIL 16, 1876.—QUINTUPLE SHEET. THE ANCIENT REGIME. M. Taine’s New Work on France Before the Great Revolution. Evils of Society and Government Leading to Liberty and Enlightenment. RELIGIOUS TYRANNY. THE CHURCH GRASPING THE PROPERTY OF THE NATION Royal Pleasures at Versailles Hasten the Period of Universal Disorder, + Hippolyte Adolphe Taino is known to American teaders through his admirable works on art and liter- ature, He now comes before the public as the author of the most important work on France which has appeared since the publication of De Tocqueville’s “L’ Ancien Régime et la Révolution. ” It isa critical study of the period when, at the end of tho last century, like & moulting insect, France underwent a metamorphosis; and the author’s object is to discover, by this inspec- tion of the past, the social and political mould best suited to the nation, Ho starts from the principle that “a people, on being consulted, may, indeed, tell the form of government they like, but not the form they need; this is possible only through oxpori- ence; timo is required to ascertain if the political dwelling is conveniont, durable, proof against inclom- encies, suited to the occupant’s habits, pursuits, char- acter, pecultaritios and caprices,” In proof of this he cites the fact that the French have never been content with their own political structure; within eighty years they have pulled it down thirteen times in, order to re- build it, and this they have done in vain, not having yet found one that suits them, Hence M. Taine con- cludes that the ‘‘social and political mould into which nation may enter and remain is not subject to its will, but determined by its character and ite past, It ig essential that, even in its least traits, it should be shaped on the living traits to which it is applied; otherwise it will burst and fall to pieces.” Ifthe French succeed in Onding theira it will bo ouly through a study of themselves, To understand coa. temporary France we inust know how France was formed; and M, Taine enables his readers to be- come as it wore spectators of tho tragic scenes in which the ancient organization was dissolved and the new was substituted for the old. ‘In the organi- zation which Franco offected for herself at the begin- ning of the century all the general lines of hor con- temporary history were traced—political revolutions, social Utopias, division of classes, policy of the Chureh, conduct of the nobility, of the cOmmonalty, and of the people, the development, tho direction, or deviation of philosophy, of letters and of the arts. Bence, when wo wish to understand our present condition our at- tention always reverts to tho terrible and fruitful crisis by which the ancient régimo produced the Revolution and the Rovolution the new régime.” These three conditions M. Taino describos with all the brilliancy and vigor which characterize his pre- vious works.” The volume is divided into five books— “The Structure of Society,” ‘Habits and Charac- ters,” *‘ The Spirit and the Doctrine,’’ ‘‘The Propay tion of the Doctrine” and ‘Tho People.” Inthe tirst book the author traces the structure of society from medieval times down to the period of tho Revolution, when three classes of persons—tho clergy, the nobles and the king—still occupied the most prominent pori- tion in the stato; and the part they bore in constructing the foundations of modern society is described with grevt force and eloquence. Of these foundations tho most ancient and deepest was the work of the clorgy. During the first four centuries they conatituted re- ligion and the Charch. Ina society founded on con. quest, bard and coid like a machine of brass, forced by its very structure to “destroy among its subjects all courage to act and all desire to live, they had pro- claimed the ‘glad tidings,’ held forth the ‘kingdom of God,’ preached loving resignation in the hands of a Heayenly Father, inspirod patience, gentleness, hu- mility, self-abnegation and charity, and opened tho only issues by which man stifling in the Roman ergas- tulum could again breath? and see daylight—and this {3 religion.” Again, “in a stato gradually undergoing depopulation, crumbling away, and fatally becoming a prey, they had formed a living society governed by laws and discipline, rallying around a common object and a common doctrine, sustained by the devotion of chiefs and by the obedience of believers, alone capable of subsisting bencath the flood ef barbarians which tho Empire in ruin suffered to pour {n through its breaches— and this is the Church.” But for theso forces and influences Europe might have remained in barbarism. The clergy tamed tho wild brates who ruled it. ‘Before the biebop in his gilded copo,”’ says M, Taine, “bofore the monk, emaci- ated, clad in skins, wan, dirtier and more spotted than achameleon, the converted German stood fexur-stricken as beforeasorcerer. In his calm moments, after the chase or inebriety, the vague divination of a mystert- ous and grandiose future, the dim conception of an un- known tribunal, the rudiment of conscience which he already had in his forests boyond the Rhine, arouses in him through sudden alarms half-formed, menacing visions, Atthe moment of violating a sanctuary he asks bimsclf whether bo may not fall on its threshold with vertigo anda broken neck, * * * Thus, over the whole territory the clergy maintain and enlarge its asylunts for the oppressed and the vanquished. On the other hand, among the warrior chiefs with long hair, by the side of kings clad in furs, the mitrod bishop and abbot, with shaven brows, take seats In the assemblios; they alone know how to use the pen and how to discuss, Secretaries, councillors, theologians, they participate in all edicts; they have their hand in the government; they strivo through its agency to bring a little order out of immense diserder; to rendor tho law more rational and more humane, to re-estab- lish or preserve picty, instruction, justice, property, and especially marriage. To their ascendancy is cer- tainly duo tho police system, such as it was, intermit- tent and incomplete, which prevented Europe from faliing into a Mongolian anarchy.’? ‘Thus tho clergy lay the first foundation of social order; the second is the work of the nobles, the mili- tary chieftains of the teuth century, under whose rude, iron-gfoved rule the common people enjoyed protec- tion. Society was no longera prey to strangers or in danger of overthrow by nomadic invasions, The pea- sant is no longer to be slaughtered, no longer to be led captive with his family, in herds, with hie neck ina pitebfork, ’ He ventures to plough and te sow, and to rely upon bis crops; in case of danger he knows that he can find an asylum for himself and for his grain and cattle in the circle of palisades at the base of tho fortress, By degrees necessity establishes a tacit con- tract betwoon the military chieftain of the donjon and the carly sottlers of the open country, and this be- comes a recognized custom. They work for him, cul- tivate bis groand, do nis carting, pay him quittarces— 80 much for hoase, so much per head for cattle, #0 much to inherit or to sell; he js compelled to support his troop. The picture, of course, bas its dark shades, ‘Those who seek the protection of the strong chieftain become his serfs, his mortmains; wherever thoy may go he is to have the right of fetching them back, ‘and from father to son they arc bis born domestics, assignable to any pursuit be pleases, taxable and workable at bis discretion, and not allowed to transmit anything to achild, unless tho latter, “living from their pot,” can, after thoir death, continue their ser- vice. ‘Not to bo killed,” says Stendhal, ‘and to have good sheepskin coat in winter, was, fur many people im the tenth century, the height of felichy.” But when wo clearly represent to ourselves the eondition of humanity in those days we ean comprehend how were readily accepted the wost obnosious of feudal rights, oven that of the droit du seignewr. The risks to which they were daily subject were even worse. ‘Tho proof of it is that the people flocked to the feudal structure as soon as it was completed, In procesa of time the email seigniorics came (o bo combined in the hands of a single scignior, and tho king, chief of the moles, overlaid the work of the nobles with the third foundation of France. Hugues Capet laid the first stone, Beforo him royalty con- ferred on the hing ne right tos province: be added bia i bt Gomain to the titl, During 808 years, through quest, craft, inheritanee, the work of wenton. Throughout this time the king ‘“s at the head of public defence; the liberator ef the coun against foreigners, against the Pope in the fourteen! century, against the English in the fifteenth, against the Spaniards inthe sixteenth. In the interior, from) the twelfth century onward, with the helmet on hig brow, and always on the road, he is tho great justicary, demolishing the towers of the feudal brizands, reprees- img the excesses of the powerful, protecting the op- Pressed; he puts an end to private warfare; he cstab- lishes order and tranquillity.” Meanwhile all useful projects carried out under his orders or de- veloped under hig patronage bear his im- print and proclaim the public benefactor. He is ‘the anointed of God.’ The nobles, through an old instinct of military fealty, consider themselves his body gaard; he is their general by birth. The people down to 1789 regard him as the redresser of abuses, the guardian of the right, the protector of the weak, the great almoner, the univesal refuge. Under the ascendancy of this idea he was allowed todo everything. ‘By fair means or foul he go reduced ancient authorities ag to make them a mere ruin, a semblance, a souvenir,” “The States-General were, not convoked for 175 yoars; the provincial assemblies which continue to subsist do nothing but apportion the taxes; the parliaments are exiled whon they risk a ree monstrance. Through his counci!, his intendants, hig sub-delegates, he interposes in the most trifling of lo-. cal matters, He enjoys a revenue of four hundred and seventy-seven millions, He disburses one-half of that, of the clergy. In short, he 1s absolute master, and he 80 declares himself, Possessions, freedom from taxa- tion, the satisfactions of vanity, @ few remnants of lo- cal jurisdiction and authority are consequently all that is left to his ancient rivals; in exchange for thesa they enjoy his favors and marks of preference." Such, in brief outline, is the bistory of the privi- leged classes in France—the clergy, the nobles and the king—down to the time when the people, no longer protected, but trampled in the, dust by those above them, turned upon their hard oppressors and overthrew them, Their advantages were enormous, The abbey of St. Germain des Pris possessed about 900,000 acres of land, almost the ex- tent of an entire department. The possessions of the clergy, capitalized, amounted to nearly 4,000,000,000f. ,' asum which must be doubled to show its equivalent af the present day, One-half the land in the kingdom was in the hands of the privileged classes. It has been’ calculated that the appanages of the princes of the royal family, the Comtes of Artois and of Provence, tho Ducs d’Oriéans and de Penthidvre, then covered: one seventh of the territory. The princes ef the blood had togethor a revenue of from 24,000, 000 to 25,000,000, the Duc d'Orléans alone bad a rental of 11,500,0000 The attractions of Paris and Versailles drew tho grandces from their estates, None remained im the rovinces except the poor rural nobility, “Sire,’? said M. de Vardes, to Louis XIV., ‘away from Your Majesty one feels not only miserable, but ridicuious.”’ Saint-Simon and otter cour! historians, on. mentioning a coremony poatedly state that “all France was there.” ‘Th 1s not in the kingdom,’ says the Marqui of Mirabeau, ‘‘a single estate of any size of which the proprictor is not in Paris and who, consequently, neglected his buildings and chateau."’ The whoie country wore a sombre aspect, France was a land with a vital contre and dead extrem:ties, M. Taine’s pictures of the spiendors of the Court, in glaring contrast with the desolation and poverty of the country, are powerfully vivid. We give space to his description of tho ceremonies attendant upon the King's getting out of bed and dreseing: Tho King 18 expected to keep tho enfire aristocracy, busy, consequently to make a display of himself, to pay back wiih his own person, at all hours, even the most private, even on getting out of bed, and even in bis bed. In the morning, at the hour named by himself beforehand, the head valet awakens him; five series of persons enter in turn to perform their duty, aud,‘ulthough very large, thero are days when the waiting rooms can bardly contain’ the crowd of courtiers.” Tho first one adiitted 19 “Ventrée familiere,” consisting of the children of France, the prince and princesses of the biood, and besides these, the chiet physician, tho chief surgeon ‘and other serviceable persons. Next comcs the “grande entrée,” whicn comprises the grand chamberlain, the grand master and master of the wardrobe, the first gentlemen of the bedchamber, the Dukes of Orleans and Penthiévre, some other highly favored seigniors, the ladies of honor and in waiting of the Queen, mesdames and other princesses, Without enumerating barbers, tailors and varions descriptions of Meauwhile spirits of wine are poured on tho Ki hands from a service of pla! the basin of holy water; he crosses Limselt and repeats aprayer, Then ho gets out of bed before ull wwese peopie and puts on his shppers. The grand’ chamberlain and the first gentieman hand hun bis dressing gown; he puts thie ou and seats him- self in the chair in which he is to put on his clothos, ‘At this momont the door opens and a third group en- tere, which is the “entrée des brevets.” Tho seigniors who compose this enjoy, in addition, the precious, privilege ot assisting at ihe ‘petite coucner,”’ while, at the same moment there enters a detuchment of attend- ants, consisting of the phy: @ and surgeons im ordary, the intendants of the amusements, readers and others, and among the latter those who pres over physical requirements. The publicity of a royal life is so great that none of its fuuctions can be exer- cised without witnesses. At the moment of the sppresch of tho officers of the wardrobe ta dress him, the first gentleman, notified by an usher, advances to read to the King the names of the grandces who are waiting attho door, This ts the foarth entry, called ‘la chambre," and larger than those preceding) it, for, not to mention the cloak bearers, gun boarers, rug bearers and other valets, it comprises most of tho superior officials, the grand almoner, the almoners on duty, the chaplain, the ' master of the oratory, the captain and major of the the colonel — general be 4 guard, = major of the French guards, the colonel of the King’s regiment, the captain of the Cent Su:sses, the grand buntsman, the grand wolf hunteman, the grand provost, the grand master and master of cere- mmontes, the first butler, the gr: master of the pan- try, the foreign Ambassadors, the Ministers and Secre- taries of State, the Marshals of France and most of the seigniors and prelates of distinction. Ushers place the ranks in order and, ft necessary, impose silence. Meanwhile the King Waches his bands and begins his toilet. Two pages remove his slippers, the grand master of the wardrobe draws off iis might shirt by the rightarm, and the first valet of the wardrobe by the left atm, and both of them hand it to officer of the wardrobe, while a valet of the wardrobe fewhes the shirt wrapped up im white taffeta. Things have now reached the solemn point, the culmination of the, ceremony ; the fifth ontry has been introduced, and im afew moments, after the King bas put his shirt on, all that is left of those who are known, with oiher household officers waiting in the gallery, comp'cte the rt There is quite a formality I gey to thia t.* The honor of handing it is reserved to the sous d grandsons of France; iu default of these to the princes of the blood or those legitimated ; in theiz default to the grand chamberlain or to the drat gentleman of the bedebamber; tie latter case, it must be observed, be- ing very rare, the princes being obliged to be present a the King’s levée ay well as the princesses at that of the queen, At Jast asbirt is presented a valet enrries off the old oue; the first t of the ward and the first valet-de-chambre hold the frosh one, ea by a right ond left arm respectively, while the two other valets, during this operation, oxtend his dress- ing-gown in front of him to serve as axcreen. The shirt 1s 20w on his back and the toilet commences: A valet-de-chambre supports a mirror before the king, while two others on two sides light it up, if occa sion requires, with fambeaux, Valets of the wardrobe fetch the rest of the attire. The grand masier of the wardrobe puts the vest on and the doublet, attaches the blue ribbon and clasps his sword around him, Th 8 valet assigned to the cravat brings several of these in @ basket, while tho master of arranges the King’s neck that the this signed to the peed hed — : o pow iy iatly the master of the wardrobe hands to the King his bat, his glovss and bis cano, King the side of the bed, kneels on Soe and i r selects, After La J handkerchiefs or while an almoner 8 Fo tes th us omnipotens, This done, the King nounces the order of the day ee with the leading perzons ot his court into his where he sometimes gives audience, Meanwhile rest of the company await bim !n the gallery ia order to accom; nf = mass va aptaa er banat peat Meanwhile the people were ot hunger. hundred years the most frightful destitutvon had ex- isted all over France. Just behead 1780 Bruyére wrote; —"‘Certain savage tag Cotas ee and ve r «1 fomale, are seen in the country, 4 inburnt, and belonging to tho soil which they grub with invincible st roness. They seem of articulation, and when thoy stand erect they “7 haman Mneaments They are, in fact, men. 4 rotire at night into their dens, wh: on blac! bread, water and roots. Tho; beings the trouble of soning, ploughing and harvest- Ing, and thas ghould not be bave planted.” In 1716 more than one-third of the patation of Fran: unger and of Europe," wrote ki ed op tarming bis. ktugom dying poople, of yaurmar, " pi, oat the ine and mortall Been ave prane See r Women carry! nated on the bighways. decreased popul ‘on all sides, On to Soper tee pene is in some dance repied Ag ‘was not worth while to bring todd od je Such was under the ‘“Ancicnt me," the of which was the Revolution, Sorves most carotul study. of which it treats it it surparsed, at the “Ancient Régime’ plished transiator oi T Volume ia published by