The New York Herald Newspaper, February 5, 1877, Page 8

8 GOD'S GARDEN. Pioughing, Sowing and Reaping by the Pastors Yesterday. DIVINE LOVE AND ANGER RECONCILED. Mr. Beecher Weeding Popes Out of Protestant Parterres. THE IRRELIGION OF THE POOR A Sermon by Dr. Talmage to Godly and Obliging Clerks. PLYMOUTH CHURCH. POPES AND PASTORS--THE VALUE OF TBUTH— SERMON BY HENRY WARD BEECHER. The services at Piymonth church yesterday were more impressive than usual, owing to the fact that Mr, Beecher was to leave home this morning ter an absence of seven weeks to fulfil bis lecturing engagements through the West, ‘To-nigot ho will lecture in Oswego in this State, and every night thereafter up to aad including the 23d of March in a differeat town, making his way through Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, lowa and Indiana. The last lecture will be delivered in Dayton or Columbus, Obio, on the evening of Friday, March 23,und on the same night Mr, Beecher ‘will take train tor home, arriving on Saturday night 80 as to preach to his people tne tollowing morning. Dudley Buck’s grand Te Deum, in B flat, was dnely sung at tho opening of tho services yesterday by Miss Cabaniss (late of Calvert, Toxas), soprano; Miss Cranch, contralto; Mr. Georgo Werrenrath, tenor, and Mr, Henry Camp, basso and director. PROTESTANT POPES, Mr. Beecher preached from the passage in the third chapter of the second epistlc to Timotby, wherein the Scriptures and its uses are spoken-of, He urgued that the value of truth 13 to be estimated By its practical effect upon.the minds and morals of mén, and the true test of the divinity of doctrines is to be found in the character of the trait they produce. On this basis he compared the Roman Catnolic Church with the Prot- psiunt, and declared that the latter, with all its warring cls, Was more conducive to the moralelevation of maukind than the former, with its iron-bound unity, Keierring to the subject, upou which he dwelt in bis sermon the previous Sunday—nameiy, the present vutcry about lax teaching—Mr, Beecher questioned whether the tendency of thought in the pulpit to-day is specially dangerous, There are, he said, a great many who cry out because they have ‘directorial’? tmuds, They are, he said sarcastically, men who are elected from all eternity to take cure of other folks, fue they feel that they should make their calling and election sure, Then there were other people who bated the trouble of thinking, who did not want to have their opmons changing from time to time, bat Waut tu have their beliets tixed once for all. These met every new tendency with the outery ‘‘Are wo bever going to nave anything that is settled?” This feeling was met by preachers who offered tu do their thinking for them and leave them at rest, Tbe doc- trine tuat truth must be sought und tauznt without re- gard to its practical value was opposed, aud it was ue- Clared that Professor Tyadallia uis lectures was mis- Understood by those who thought ne upbeld that | goctrine. He who was searching tor the truth suould hold himself unbiased, but whon truth was once found its entire value lay in its practical results; und the whole practical elficiency of life might be aug- mented by a truth which ut first seemed to bave no practical value whatever. CORRESPONDENCE OF MORAL AND PHYSICAL TRUTH. So the truths of physical science might be salu to have their value in that which ultimately they can do for mankind. Their truth did pot depend upon that, Dut their value dues. Toe text deciareu thisto be so ‘with moral truth, Alt Scripture, everytning that passes for revelstion or iwspiration, was benelicil that the man of God might be perfect That wast) scbeme that God has ou nand in wis world; and the Successive stages of development aud upbullding that going on towaru the flual, full man, the true man, which is the child of the ages—every truth that bears Ob tbat bas its value iu the degree of fruufuloess aud power of its individual cperation in enlarging the ining and clearing and puritying the consciencu aud affections und giving thew purer and floer disclosures, in enlarging the whole operative sphere of wan in the family, iu society aud in the world. With these pre- lhuwiuury remarks Mr. Beecoer proceeded to discuss some of the doctrinui difficulties that men frequently encounter, ‘The phrase ‘‘tundamental docsriues of Christianity”? was iret picked to pieces. He chul- lenged any one to show him where was to be jound o disciosure of fundamental doctrines “in relation to that system of truths and ethics culled Christianity.” Phe Master did not discriminate aud label one part of His teaching major and the over minor, The phrase had come down to us trom the schools of theologians. Mr. Beecher, however, proloundiy believed that there wus such a thing #8 funaamental truth, But there were many truths whick were luudamental to nothing but a system of theviogy; Lbey Were not iundamentat bo human nature or God's goodness, THK R&AL YONDAMENTAL LOCTRINES, “Thou sbult love the Lora tuy God aud thy neighbor as thyscil,”’ was what Christ cume to teach as tue un- deriying basis of manhood ir its efforts to develop. ‘This was the centre of universal moral government us it was reveuled tu Christiamity and was fundamental to everytuing. ‘ihe Trinny was vot iupdamental except to the orivodox system. It way not known during tue | Uist ove buudred yeurs of the Church, und even now to pivety-nime people vut of w hundred ‘it was merely # bewaticai truth, without sixuifcance, A mun Lit uot believe in the Trinity and yet stand upon the damevtal dvetrine of jove. A man might disagree with tue Cuurch aud with the theology of the period, auu yeti be were in essential agreement in respect to Lis (Wa disposition, in Wis leeungs toward God aod ard meu, he bad that which ty fundamental ere are,” sud Mr. Beecber, ‘the Romun sect, or Catuolic; tue German, or Protestant sect; the Angheau, or modited Komanic-Vrovestant, und the American sec, Whico Is everything und nothing. (Laughter.) In regard to ail these the Roman Unurch ioinks at is the broom haudie and ail the other churches ure like the sput ead, divided imio iuaumerable siraws; but | never knew any use of abroum uandle to sweep tbat must be done witu the spit part, All sevis Were necessary tu bring out the truths which were not taught by the bierurchy. Kuch one of twenty different eecis claimed to have exclusive churge O! thetruth, The test of their claims, Mr. Beecoor Said, was to be found in the anawer tothe question, What bave the different sects done in the production Ol true men from generation to generation’ In other words, if the fuodamental truth hus in itself power to produce and exalt manhood and that in augmenting oe gaere that sect Which makes most men of the west magnitude and that produces them from generation to generation, transforms society up the possesses most Tred in this way the Protestant Church, with ail tts faults, been tar more fruitful than the Roman Cuurch, That is, said he, we deterinine that while certain of the graces Have veen better developed ia the Komun Church than smong us they buve been developed at the ex- pense of intelligence and power, and men have hever made sheep of the Lord’s told, and they have kept them ike sheep, tor shearing anu eating. ‘The value of cach sect then, Mr. Beecher claimed, was Ww be estimated by what it can do. ‘ihe tendency of Dy sect was not to be judged, however, by the opera- tions of any one church, for just as a skilful workman Will produce with poor tools an etfect which a bungier could not equal witu the finest implements, so a liberal man placed in a Presbyterian pulpit would work out | @ore democracy than a thoroughgoing aristocrat Would in u Congregational church, “Wuen you & Vope at the hend of it,’ satd Mr. Beecher, ‘a Con- greene church isa most tyrannical institution, jen, however, don’t cail themselves popes now; they say pastors. Bus it you were to take the regular pas tor, who holds that the ends of the church and overy- | thing iu it 18 to be done through ur by bim, and then dissect the old Pope, you would lind there 1s nota par. ticle of difference between the Pope aud the pastor, Mauy Episcopal churcues are more free than Cougre- ational churches, aud many I terian churebes have more popuiar liberty in them than many Congre- gational churches, iheretoro the effects of any sys- tem mast Hot be judged by the men Who bappen w be 1p it. WHY THEY DON’T PREACH SCIENCE. In conclusion, dr, Beechor discussed the relation of Beivatific research to religion in the present day and defended ministers trom the charge of being narrow | minded because they cid pot immediately preach every ew discovery to their peop. Muny new facts, he | Said, were bustily seized upon Ly sciolisis even before the discoverer himself bad fully tmasvered them aud wrested unto the destruction of \hemselves and others, Even when a fact was well sabstantiated it was not the business of the preacher to ako Limseif a mere mouthpiece for the promulgation of scientific truth. Lesides a preacher bore the same relation to bis peo- tather beurs to his fumily, and it was conse- uty to consider the eflect upon the minds of his congregation of every word he spoke Teason be could wor, and should not, preach to them all truth, for they were vot all pre- jntes to receive it and see 4 in the same light with winxeil; just ax a father does not tell bis litte c dre: ny things whien be knows to be true and ev will ope day tind out for thomselvca, ry @hich th $T. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL. SERMON BY KEV, FATHER KANE ON THE SEED oF GOD. A largo congregation attended the balf-past ten @'clocn services at St Patrick's Roman Catholic Gesnedsns in Mulverry street yesterday morning The sermon was preached by Kev. Father Kane, He prefaced his remarks by reading @ circu. lar from Cardinal McCloskey calling attention to the fiftieth anniversary of the ascension of Pius 1X. to the episcopacy. ‘The reverend gentle- man read the gospel of the day as the text for his discourse, St, Luko, vill, 4th to 15tp verse:—“And when avery great multitude was yathered together and hastened out of the cities to him, he spoke of a similitude: A sower went out to sow lis.seed, aud as be sowed some fel! by the wayside and it was trodden down and the fowls of the air devoured i,” 26. From this gospel Kev. Futuer Kane preached a sh 4 interesting —dis- course, He alluded tothe nocessity of receiving the word of God with all proper preparation andin ap humble spirit. Without such a spirit the necd of God's teaching would fali flat and unprogtable upon our souls, ‘Tbe parable of the Gospel is that **the seed is the word of God,” 1t would not do to stand idly by and listen to these holy teachings. We should be in- spired by their wisdom and truth, so that we might, by outward acts of faith and charity, exbibit the biexs- ings that pad been bestowed upon us, A beautitul landscupe,*a gorgcous sunset, @ severe storm or sone s other scene ef nature, occasionally tnspired us with religious jing. We began to ponder upon the hollow- ness of and its fleeting pleasures, How much ronger should the words oi God appeal to our under- standings as they were read or spoken to us! The seed thus sown should be nourished by constant medi- tation so that it could grow and expand in our souls, CHURCH OF ‘THE DISCIPLES. PLOUGHING AND SOWING—SERMON BY BEY. DR, HEPWORTH. ‘Thirteen new converts joined the church yester- day, and the ordinance of the Lord’s supper was administered. Mr. Hepworth selected his text trom Isaiah xxviil., 23, 24, 25, 26, 20:—“Give ye car and hear my voice; bearken and bear my speech, Doth the ploughman plough all day,to sow? Doth he open and break the clods of bis ground? When be hath made plain the face thercof doth he not cast abroad the fitches and scatter the cummin and cast in the principal wheat und the appointed barley and the rye in their place? For his God doth instruct him to dis- cretion and doth teach him. This also cometh forth trom the Lord of Hosts which is won- dertul i counsel and excellent in worming.” You remember, brethren, that when Joshua and Caled returned trom their tour of investigation they re- ported that the promised land was a land flowing with milk and honey, and thoy brought back a cluster of grapes as ocular evidence of what the soil was capable of producing. Years afterward, through neglect of known laws and through willul disobedience, not only th titutions of the Hebrews fell into decay, but the svil itself, neglected and uncultivated for genera- tions, became worthless, The only way in whico to restore it to its original fraitfulness is by means of the plough and harrow and tho watchiul caro of the lur- mer, This seems to mea ‘mbol of human lite, I delight to find types of myself im the Oid bcp ype and there are many of them. We can read the gran " old book recital of actual tucts of history, or we can look upon them as something more—as the type of our own wants and noods, of our own actual condition, of our own aspirations and hopes. I bave often thought that we ure the promised land of God—that in the begianing we brought forty abundant fruit—faith, temperance, sobri- ety, conildence in the love. and promises of God; but through disobedience of somo laws, and through wii- ful negtect of others, tue land has gone to ruin; it has Jost its productive power. It is a land barren und rocky and unproductive as a wilderness, MOW TO REACH HEAVEN, In order, then, that we may produce fruit tor the garners of’ heaven, what becomes necessary? What Means must be used—harsh or gentlo? The text teils us that we must needs be ploughed ; the harrow, with its sharp teeth, must pass over us; the weeds must be burned and the stones Iilted out. That seed worthy ofthe original sot! must be planted and watched, and then the promise comes that im Oc- tover we shall bave a harvest whose golden grains will gain the approving smile ot Him who is our hope and lite. We can do all this with God’s help, RLESSINGS IN DISGUISE. There is no chance in avy human life—thank God for that, Nothing can bappen to us excopt by His per- mission, and everything in the reach of possibility can be used by us as stepping stones to bigker things. God knows what the soul cau be wod do. God knows what experiecces will lead up to that ideal, aod He sends the needed discipline in order to’ produce the desired result, Wo stand aghast sometines when God sends His richost biess! and refuse to accept His best gilts becauso they come in the guise of sorrow xd trouble, But if we could only suy at all Umes, “God will take caro of us; He 18 respousible, aod in Him 1 pat my trust,” lie would sing itself into bappiness and all our distress aud misery could be put aside, Ah, how many troubles we borrow— how many times we make to-day miserable because we fear to-morrow! God has said, ‘As your day is 80 sball your strength be,” aud why cannot we trust Him? 1 wish we could catch bold of God with a closer clasp wnd walk with him and let Him walk with us, MQ. BRPWORTH’S LKCTURES. According to aunouncement yesterday morning an- other balloon journey to the Holy Lund 18 to be taken to-night, £ SWEDENBORGIAN CHURCH. THE APPARENT CONTRADICTIONS OF THE BIBLE ACCOUNTED ¥FOR—SERMON BY THE BEV. CHAUNCEY GILES, Rey. Chauncey Giles preached yesterday morning atthe Swedenborgian church, Thirty-fifth street, be- tween Foarth and Lexington avenues. The subject of bis discourse was the apparent contradictions of the Bible, He instanced several passages of the Scriptures, some of which referred to God as a kind, loving and boneflcent deity, and others as a God of vengeance and of wrath, angry with man, and proclaiming chastisement for bis offences, he contradiction of these passages had, he said, always tarnished an argument against the divine character and authenticity of the Scrip- tures, Mow did tho cruel and implacable qualities attributed to God differ trom the wrath and anger and hate ot man? Surely they bad nothing to do with divine sove und mercy. It could be fairly argued that it Was Impossible that two sets of attributes totally op- posite in ¢hemselyes could exist in the Divine mind, Af the passages of Scripture which represented God as loving and beneficent, and thuse others which de- serived Him as wrathful aud vengetui, were true jo the same sense the Lord would be exercising two distinct qualities that were Wuolly incompativiv with each otuer, Then would His mind be a kingdom which woud be divided «gaimst itself, and which, thereiore, according to His oWa word, could not stand. ‘Yhere must, said the preacher, be some means of reconciling these apparent contradictions of the =crip- tures, some Satisiactory reasons wnich would recon- cue the ways of God to mao. the new Chureb, he said, bad solved tbe ditticuity by taking the ground tuat both represent: true The juve God was Infinitely loving; it was an apparent or rela- tive truth that He was at mes angry. Ihe difference wag not the same as existed botween what was true and What was tule, but was rather the aistinc\yon be- tween diflerent degrees of «ruth. The uighor degree of truth never appeared to be true to the lower, For instance, it Was true to the eye that the sun sets in the evening and that it did not shine atnight, The senses were not designed to apprehend tne higher truths of sejence, but the appearances were as true to them as the uctual forms were to tho higher reasons. Applying those principies to the interpretation of the Word, it was munilest what good could be ovtained trom it, The changes in mood und dispesition atiributed Ww the Lord were true as they uppeared to us and as they affected us, but the absolute truth was that the Lord did nut change, but men veing evil felt that be was full of hate and anger, Umnipresent, He was represented as coming and ; o1ng; omniscient, He made inquiries; immutavie, He was de- scribed ag frequently clanging; eudowed with imunite wisdom, He wus represented us disappointed in His plans and repenting of tnem, Butit should ve borne 1) mind that these changes were in ourseives. To tke A material example, #a:d the preacher :—When the eye was sound (he light was pleasant to it, but wheu it was diseased then the light becu torment und fire to 1. But there Was no change in the ligut; the change was in the eye, FIFTH AVENUE BAPIIST CHURCH. THE REY. DR. ARMITAGE ON A RATIONAL IDEA OF HEAVEN. Man naturally desires to know something of the fu- ture world, said Dr. Armitage in beginning his sermon y day morning. Much inquiry is excited im the Christian mind with reference to heaven. Is ita state ora place? Shall we enter heaven immediately atier death? Shallwe recognize our friends in heaven? Memory is perfect knowicdge; therefure wo must rec- ollect our earthly condition, Shall we all attain tothe same measure of joy and glory in heaven, or sball be partakers of different degrees of glory? This is the theme of the text, Consider it. That there will bo different degrees in giory we gather from Mark x., 36- 40, and other similar texts, Now lot us weigh a few of the principles upon which this gradation im glory ot the doctrine stands upon sovereign Jove aud wisdom of God, the It i aitficult to cowprehend these except as we seo them mani- fested. But even on earth we discover the wisdom o1 God, Kut even on earth we discover God in the measure of intellectual apd moral distinction which optains ainong his saints, They that Lonor Me them will | honor ts one ot the principles of God's imistration on earth, Ail the glorified will be en- for enjoying God, All the satistied, They Kueh star sbeds torth all tho glory of w nutare is susceptible, ‘They are all celestial in their origin, and nature and glory charieterize them ali; 80 that’ pone of them complain. Neither can the saints of God complain more thau His stars. But, as one star differeth irom another in glory, 80 the capaci ties of the glorified in heaven for the different degrees in glory Wil Vary iu keeping with tueir earthly attain we in grace, Mun's suciai uuture is lo Le reuined | BO store secrets; don’t blab. in beaven, and tho ganetifed infugaces of beavep must be preportioued by the honor which they received from God as saints here below, Unless the cxsential y His works, in He unclothes Himself face to Wo know that the angels are capable of an incrense of happiness and that their joys are influenced iu part by the progressive developments of the plan of salvation. “There is joy 1n heaven over one sinner that repeut- eth.” So shail it be with the ransomed Son of God, Every apparent contradiction of Providence will be reconciled, New discoveries will eternally be inade in redemption, and these new ideas will become new powers; new powers will become new mind. ‘The ar- Tost of progress would be the Papel for pain and disap- pointment. But the effect of every unfolving dis- covery in God, ir providence, in reaemption, will add one more wave to tho thunders of eternal praise,’” BROOKLYN TABERNACLE. CLERKS, MALE AND FEMALE—SERMON BY THE BEY. T. DE WITT TALMAGE. ‘The subject of Mr. Talmage’s sermon yesterday was “Clerke, Mule and Female, in Our Stores and Banking Houges and Offices,” He took for his text Acts, Xxvi., 14—“And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of tbe city of ‘thyatira, which worshipped God, beard us, whose heart the Lord opened;” Prov- erbs, xxii., 29—“Seest thou a man diligent in his busi- ness? he shall stand before kings.”” The first pas- sage, said Mr. Talmage, introduces to you Lydia, tho Christian mercnantess. Her businevs is to deal in purple cloths or silks. She ts not a giggling nonentity, but a practicul woman, not ashamed to work for her living. The other text shows you w young man with head und band and heurt and {cet all busy, toiling ou up until he gains a princely success. There is great encouragement in these two passages for meu and women who will be busy, but no solace for those who are waiting for good luck to show them at the {vot of the raimbow a cask of buriedegold. It is folly for any- body in this world to wait for something to turn up. 1t will turu down, The Jaw of thrift is as inexorable ‘as the law of the tides in New York harbor, There are certain styles of behavior which tend to usefulness, honor and permanent success, and there are certain styles of behavior which tend to dishonor and moral deiault, 1 would like to fire the ambition of young people. Ihave no sympathy with those who would prepare young folks for life by whittling down their expectations, 1 came out to uttor words of encourage- ment to clerks. I sball say all I havo to say to them this moroing, though from every temple in the land there should come on mo a scorching anathema, There are carcusses Which need to be dragged out into noon- duy light. 4 CLERK’A DUTY. In the first place their clerkship is only a transition stage from which they are wo be graduated, So { 1vel that to-day 1 ain stunding before people who will yet Dave their hands on the helm ol the world’s com- merce —now clerks, but to be bankers, importers, 1n- surance company directors, shippers, superimienucnis ot railroads, standing foremost in the great physical and religious enterprises of the day. You are now in a position whero you cap Jeurn things never to be ieurned anywhere else, Many Ol the richest estublisuments of uur cities uro giving their clerks mercantile education is thorough us Yule or Harvard of Princeton is giving in scientitic @ttalnmonts to the students matriculated, But, you Bay, Will the women Who are clerks in our cities bave promotion? Yos, the time 1s coming when woiuen will be paid for their toilim mercantie circles as mucl as inep are now paid, All bouor to Lydia, tuo Cort tian saleswowan. in passing, 1 might as well say that you twwerchants who have iemaie cerks in your stores ‘ought to treat them with great courtesy and kindvess. | When they are not engaged ict them sit auwo. (Great applause.) In the name ol that God wuo has maue the womanly constitution more delicate than a inan’s, | de- mand tuat you let them sit down. In the second place you who are clerks must seek out what are the regula- tions of your establishment, ana then subinit to them. Those who don’t Jearn how to obey will never learn how fo command. Don’t go to the store ten minutes aiter the time; be there within two seconds, und let it be two seouuds beiore instead of two seconds uiter, Tell Don’t be of thuse who {imagine they can build inemselves up by pulling somebody else down. You ure to seurch out what ure the unlawiul and dishonest allairs of the establishment and resist them. 1.18 never right to do wrong. If the bi man of the firm expects of you disLonesty disappoint him, Ob, yuu say, 1 shall lose my place. Better tu lose your piace than to lose your soul But you will not loge your place, either. God won't let a man suffer who dues right, ‘Tuere 18 one great tempt. tion wuich comes to clerks who ure called “drum- mers.”’ ‘Fbat occupation 1s as good asany other. But there are Christian merchants who have cierks in New York to conduct the merchunts of Chicago and Ciweinnatt through the debauchberies of a great town iu order to secure their vet a ue store, After 1 you are besoiled ana dragged Bat with sin what will they do for you? Ub, they will givo you a pension, build youu “line house, give ypu a horse and wagon. Wi they? No. Some time you will xo to the store shabby und intoxicuted, they will ay to you, “Joba, you are disgrace to our house; wow: just’ look at yodrsell.”” *accouhtant, bow much doyou owe this min?” “A dollar und thirty cents’? (Laughter.) ‘Well, now here, here it ibis, a duiar and thirty cents, go olf; don’t be hang. ing around the store.” Magnanimity superb! They have stvlon the lustre from nis eye, the color irom his cheek andthe henor trom his svul, aud theo they kicked Lim out, (Great laughter.) If such professed Christian merchants don’t go s.raight to beil 1 aou’t | know any Use of baving such a pluce, This burst of inaiguation on tbe part of the preacher Was succeeaed by laughter aud loog und loud applause. After the excitement had a ite. subsided Mr. Talmage sau, “Pieaso dun’t do that,’? and then contiuued bis ser- mon, and TRIALS IN CLERKDOM. Again I counsel clerks to cunquer tho great trials of their profession. Men and women go into a store to price \hings, ‘They ure not sutistied until every roll as been taken down, till they huve tried every pair of gloves and stretched them out of shape, til they have put on things and walked to the murror with thein, ‘Then they go out saying, ‘1 will not take it to-duy,”? which means, “1 dou’) wantitatall” (Laughter. ) Wheu | see you go into uw ature stealing the time of the clerks aud the employes I say “Stop chiet!”? (Applause) It | were usked which clerks moat negded the grace of God in their unnoyances 1 would suy ary goous clerks, hey see the parsimonious side of! hu- man pature, Then there ure ali the trials of insufl- cient Wages. Rich employers were gathering fortunes | in those times duriug the war upon which there hus | been tho curse of God ever since—rumbling in the car. nage Wheels, flashing in the cuandetiers and thunuer- ing iu the long rot! of the teppiu alley. Thero juve | Deen greut estaviishinents Whuse owners have died | worth millions and millions of uollars, and who thade NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, | dictions the moment we inquire what is necessary for | salvation." Here we ure told that it is oply neeced to trust to t; but im another place we sre coim- wanded to work with aji our might But, ob, Christian, you can comp¥ehend this! The simple trust of the past that has brought you to God must now give place to the strength aud energy of the Christian. MASONIC TEMPLE. IRBELIGION IN MODERN SOCIETY—SEBMON BY REV. 0. B., FROTHINGHAM. Every religion, said Mr. Frothingham yesterday morning, bas its own forms, Modern socicty has itsform pecuiiar to itself in the religious classes. ‘The irreligion of the last generation came mainly from France, trom the philosophers who preceded and prepared the way for the French Revolution— Voltaire and other like philosophers, It was brougnt to this country by their follqwers in France, ts representative in England, and for a certain period in snis country, was Tom Paine, That phase in irreligion has passed away. Very few care to road their books. ‘The works of Voltaire stand upon the shelves of the library scarcely touched or read by the religious pro- fession, The works of Tom Paine aroa curiosity—no more. His opinions have no influence upon the working clasi of mind iu the com- munity. The ruling mind of modern sgciety is not Irreligious. Jt bas passed through the phase of the former generation, and by dint of culture and enlightenment has emerged upon a higher plane of faith, 1 do not say that it ia Christian, or likely to become s0; Ido not think that itis, Some thinkers regara Christianity as 4 mythology impres- sive to the sensitive; others a kind of superstition; others, agalu, as an imstitution imporiant tor the pres- ervation of ordor tn socie! As a syatein of faith it 18, | vy thougutful and cultivated people, dismissed, But & phase of irreligion which was prevalent bait a cea- | tury ago bas penetrated to what are somtimes called | the masses of society—the working people, the un- | trained, unvefined. The untaught bave caught these | ideas which bave been dismi the truined and y | educated und refined; congequentiy this is one of peculiarities of irreligion—tout is, religion among 1 people, 1p the last youeration the thoughtiul clusacs {| turned their backs upou irreligion, and the people— * the working Class—were devoul Now the thoughtful turn their jaces vuce more toward the light of faith and the people turn ther backs to it. The cause of irreliyion umong the people is not the sure as the cause of religion among the elegant, 1t is common to say that irre! a is due tw science. This is pot true, Scieniific men ure put uumeroux, Their books ure few and ward to under- stund, ‘the number ot pe outside of the tramed scientists, Who understand scieuce is very smail indeed. The common peuple, as they are called, catch here and there uw crude opinion, w wandering pbuse, but the touchings of seience tuey cannot un. derstand; the vearings of science they cannot tullow. But, again, science 18 not irreligious; On tue contrary, science erects the pillars upon which religion rests, Science is a guarantee of religion in thage days We ail go to science for our religious impressions. Itis science that puts us on the track of suith aud effects w reconciliation between the private heart, the per- sonal desire, the individual purpose and that which is supreme and constant, Mr, Frothingbum spoke at { some Jength of the priestuvcd us the frat cuuso of irroligion uimong the people Ho spoke of their tyrauny over their sybjects und their desire to keep the people in ignorance sod thraldom. Protestantism had its priesis uiso, The pustor-was jo a certain sepse u priest, and he believed tbat u jarge responsivity of the irreligion of to uay rested upon the ministers of region, It they should stand forth simply as wea, as servants williog to do more than taeir #bare of the world’s work, then the theory that religion wus on oppresser aud toe of mao- kind Would pass away and its full power, puritied, en- hwbtened and inspired, would be restored. Another cuuse vu! the prevalent irreligion was tho prevalouce in our modern society of what could be calied the moncy making spirit—the universal energy and necessity of earning a hvcliboud. It was seldom considered how universal this spirit was, Iu the pust age the money makers wero comparatively lew. The men whv con- trolied finance, wno laid new tracks of Jubor, who built ships and controlled tne markets of the world could be numbered with a few scores in a large city. 1t wus so no longer. Every class bad its wares to sell, Every one was u candidate tor the wealth of the world, ‘Lue commercial spirit toucbed every man and wowan, Minisvers of religion uo ionger lived in seclusion; thoy hud no time. ‘They were all men of business, and their business must be attended to. Mbey lived a lite of tur- oil and fears, lifted up or dragged down by rising und falling stocks. ‘Lhey lecture, write letters and u Jor magazines and papers. ‘They in ipg like other men, All the count great business of competition. ‘There was no time for religious contemplauon, and, there being no tine, there was littie disposition, The sensibility of the mind became deadened and bardened, and this deep- ued ito uutipatby to religion, Tho ideas seemed visionary that were not harnessed into some diflerent interest, Tbe interests iu material Ubings assumed the preponderance, und 1t told upon a belief in God. Nov that God seemed so far off, sv ideul, but that the peo- ple found they could do without Him. “Our lile what we make it,’? men would say, ‘What do e wunt of a Providence to contro! our lot when thrift and energy will do it??? was the modern idea, ‘the belie! of God and hereatier becomes unreul, Tho only natural remedy for this religious apathy was cul- tore, education, training and refinement. In tho Mmeuptime work and wait ior that eud, When tt came men would be gradually lifted up to a higher plane of being. When religion emancipated itueli from the thruidom into Which it bad been vound; when it should Stop forth associated with all belptul iufuences; wuen its beliet shali simply stand as the best interpretation it can give now to the divine reality; when its oulogies shull stund us so many Lelps to a better, then the old light would come buck again, This natred would place tv love. Religion would uo longer be the oppres- sor of mankind, but be adored and yiorified, ST. FRANCIS XAVIER'S CHURCH. THE POWER OF GRACE—SERMON BY THE REV. FATHER DEALY. Rev. Father McAuly celebrated mass at haif-past ten o'clock in tho Church of St, Francis Xavier yosterday, and Fatner Dealy preached ou the ‘*Power of Grace.” He read the gospel of the day—John iv., 6-29—wnich tells the story of Chrigt’s conversion of the woman of Sawaria, He said-that there was no pussage in tho entire Scriptures which more clearly showed the powor of diviue grace. He portrayed the state of depravity tu which the woman was living, aud showed how ber perseveranve in tulidelity bad so injured ber moral sense that she had become, Letore Jesus net her ut Jucob’s well, utterly degraded. such, too. was ler stubourness iu error that she wrsistently defended the superstition she prolessed, the vast umount of their estate out of the muscles aud | blood aud nervosof halt paid clerks. Such inva as | A. ‘t, — well, [wont mention any names Ob, woat | | | | | a contrast with thoge mea are those Curistian mer- chants who are in symputby with their clerks; when | they paid their salary acting as if that fal ary was not all their toterest in them, as il they were ipterosicd in their presents and eteruul _weilare, There are many clerks | in our great cities who bave cume from the granie hilis of tue North, the savanuas of the South und the prairies of the West w get their fortunes. ‘bey waut ame ip itstaver with a coumderable umount of roligious subtiety. No case more difficult of relor- , Without mire ale or argu ice her reason, by merely shouding on ber the light of grace, recreated her heart, as it were, purified ber soul and lied her with the truo faith, 30, suid the preacher, ali sinners: should tuke heart and should hope tur the divine grace; tor with 1ttbe human seal was proof against #iu, HO Inatter how strong w hold it may have on the spirit, eather by long habit or vutural suclination, encouragement; give it to them. My word ts to all in this house, ‘Be mightier than your temptations.” Every misiortune you conquer 1s so much adued to your moral power. With ompipotence sor u lever und the throve of God for a tuicrum you cun move heaven | and earth, While others dissipate, drink out of the | fountains of God. | TUR PINAL ACCOUNTING. | Ob! young nan, While you Lave goods to sell remem. | ber you baveu soul to save! It is uoban tmagioury | conilict Whicu J bring you beture to day. 1n ibe name | of God, up and atthe enemy! Alter the lust store bus | becn closed, the lust bunk gone down, the shulite uf the | fees on the Custom House steps sbull have passed away; alter Brookiya und New York and Loudon | anu Vienna bave gone down into the grave wucro und Babylon and ‘Tyre lay buried, after tho 4 fire Dells oF tue Judgment day bave tolled ut too the word, you wil be on trial All the uflaite of urms will come chou. Ob! Whulun opening of account be people who own (urewd und peedio stores on the same tuoting will the Stewarts! All the gr burning of day. that lists of prices, ali the private marks ot tims wil be | explained so thay everybody cau undersiand them. All the taps of cies that were never built, but in Which lots were sold; all suap judgments, all talss 10- thresis, all adulteration of Niquors with cupperus und strychnine, wil aumixture with cheaper material, wil emveziement of trust tunds! On tha: day, wheu the cities of this world are smoking in the last contlagras ton, the triad will come, uad down jn the avaiauebe of destivetion will go those wiv wronged mau aud woman, insulted God and deied the judgment, On! that will be w great day for you, hovestCuristian clerk! . No getting up curly, but’ a munsion iy when to live and a realm of joy over which to huid everlasting du- mina, Hoist him up irow glory to glory, aad trom hover to honor and from throne ty throue; lor while | others go down with their gold banging like a mill eto their uecks, this one shall yo up Loluing in bis right bund a pearl of great price 10 a sparkling, glittor- ing, Juming casket, NORTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. THE CONTRADICTIONS OF SCRIPTURE —SERMON BY REV. DR, ROMgITER, Rov, Dr. Rossiter delivered a sermon yesterday at tho Nortn Presbyterian church on “The Contradic- | tions of Scripture us luterpreted in Experience.’? Human nature, be said, is composed of two elements, the good and the bad, and man is thes an enigma—at ono moment our admiration and at another our detes- tution, This proposition being understood, ail thoso passages of Scripture that scom theoretically absurd ure experimentally the greatest of sruths. Thus to tho ian who bas never penetrated to the interior sense of | the Seriptures what more paradoxical than “Work out your own sulvation;”? and wgain, "Without me you can do nothing’? Batto him that bas trodden the way of the pemtent, and has ut last found tis Father, whut is more true’ You may theorize as you please ubout the movement of the spirit avd of the heart, but if the sinner solves the question by being willing to sil nO more then he 18 saved. God's’ blessing is withheld itom us While we turry; but is w sunlight for our work. Aguiu, weare plunged into seeming contra. ALL SOULS’ CHURCH. DIVINE GkACE—SERMON BY REV. DR. BELLOWS. Dr. Beliows preached yosterday in the Church ot All Souls un “Divine Graco,” taking for his text, | Ephesians, fourth chapter, He said:—Take that word ‘grace’ in our text as an example, Think of the definition it 1s capable of. In dierent combi- nations of Scriptural use grace means favor; next, di- yino assistance, and, third, facility and rbytnm of tecling. Thus it is the name of a gilt, a virtue and | the name of movement that is free und captivating, | God 18 grace Himself in His compussionate spirit, and | the virtues of the Cnristian are called graces, Faith, hope and charity form the iro, and their irmness in | the heat correspond to the movements of tue soul. | leis a possession that grows by uniting itself with certain aptitudes by Which We progt vy it. Grace, then, 8 Irom God and is divine. Lt lows through the allections aud, therefore, becomes natural. For this is | one of the coniradiciuions whereby the supernatural becomes the naturul—thut the hardest things are made tue easiest, Here we have ap example of the indetfinitenoss of one word of Christianity, Mako | grace avother word tur virtue and we lose its sgnid- cance; think of it only asa stranger and we lose sight | ov itas a guest, Consider whut religion ts—tu unite God und man by a twolold method, by bringing God’ spirit dowu and raising man’s spirit up. Noturug ts su crusting to crviiization as the conception of ao ab- solute, a crushing God. Thus, that God belps thove | who help themselves is simply a sober account of a great tact, God's suushine and rain help those farm- | evs most who are prepared for it. Work out your | own salvation With tear and tremoling, BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC, HOW OLD ABT THOU?—SERMON BY BEY. FRED BELL. At the Brooklyn Academy of Music yesterday fore- noon Rev. Fred Beil preached, taking bis text from Genesis, xlvit., &—*'How old art thouf”? He said the question of age was sometimes a very delicate one, As a rule, we can form some idea of the age of « person, | though we may bo mistuken, Some people look younger and others older than they really are, ‘tho kind of people who grow prematurely old aro the growlers, the gramblers and the fretting, whom noth- ing Wil please, Tho chronic grumbler finds no sym- pathy among those with whom be lives. As rympathy 1 necessury to success in Iife, such a person Goes bul succeed, but is cast down ju despair, He is always reminding you that something 18 going to bap. | pen—to ‘look out for breakers,” And yetrt is true, Ju contradiction to the axiom of ‘iaugh and grow fat,’’ the granbier lives to a good ripe ay Iv is she duly of Christians to help chem out of their inirmity by incuicuting the Joy of region in their hearts. cures are simple, When you are disposed to grum! press your mouth as tight a8 you can, and don’t zg 1877.-WITH SUPPLEME THE NEW BEDFORD STRIME | Mass Meeting of the Operatives of the Wamsutta Mills. NO REDUCTION T0 BE ACCEPTED. Statements of the Employers and the Help on the Wages Question. AN EXCITED GATHERING. New Beprorp, Mass., Feb. 2, 1877. ‘The operatives of the Wamsutta Mills, of which there are five, and which employ about 2,500 hands, aro determined to strike. They were expecting, in view Of the cheering state of the market, an increase in their wages instead of a reduction. Less than a woek ago they were notified of reduction, varying trom seven to teh per cent, in and about the mills, Among the weuvers it was understood they were to be cut down tive cents per cut, the spinners seven and a half per cent und the loom fixers twelve cents per day, the average rate of reduction being seven per cent. This will look like a small amount; but it #hould be under- stood that a man with un income of $6 or $7 per week would be apt to miss the amount of the cut-down, and more especially when 11 18 taken into consideration that they have large familics to support. The best weuvers before the cut-down earned $37 per month, and to do this were obliged to run five looms, but there ia nut one male weaver ont of four who can run tive looms. Women who tend tive looms cun earn but $28, owing to the hard work uecessary 1m caring for them. Ring spinners curn 76 cents per day; carders, $1 per day, butin order to do this the Operatives state they are obliged tu do two mens? work; strippers got $1 12; pickers, $1, aad grinders, $1 35 per duy, Several operatives blessed with large families were seen at the recent monster mass m ing, who inlormed your correspondent that being obliged to work on six-quarter looms they could earn but $25 per month. ‘these looms are of an old pat- tern, which fact has made some of the operatives foel irritated at their friends who were favored with the new and improved machinery ; but the latter class ure not pald so mucb per cut as those using the old jooms, The operatives were detormined to resist the reduc- tion, apd accordingly u few evenings ago assembled atthe City Hall and adopted the following resolu- tious :— We, the operatives of tho Wamsutta Mills, in meeting Asseuibled in Gity Hail, express our astonishment ut the action taken by our agent, Mr. Kilburn, iu uotiiying ux, the operatives, of « reduction to tuke place on the Int day ot February, und when, acourding tv the condition of the market, we fully expected un advance insted of & reduc- 01 * exolved, That since we submitted readily to reductions when the stute of trade demanded it, we now think wo ought to receive the benefit of the improved state oi trade, Aseaolved, That wo have suffered uch trom tormer re id the present high price of food, that we eanuot honestly support our tamilies at the present rate of wag much less submit to a reduction of waxex. ‘MR, KILBURN’S REFUSAL, At this mecting a committee of tive were appointed to wait upon the Superintendent to see what could be done to avert the proposed “cut-down,” and at a sub- sequent meeting they reported that thoy had waited upon Mr. Kilburn, who bad politely informed them that neither the resolutions of the operatives nor what they had to say would change the decision of the Boara of Directors, He had read the resolutions, and informed them that they contained some very erro- neous statements—viz., in relation ta tho improve- ment inthe market, He told them that theNew York daily (not tho Hsratp) which they had quoted as au- thority for the price of goods was wrong, and, conse- quently, the company did not rule by them. ‘They (the company) were only governed by the market reports which came through their salesman, He also in- formed them that the last sale of civth of the com- pany bad been made at a great sacrifice, in order to clown out the stock, the rate received being only twelve aud a obalt cents jper yard, with charges to be, deducted, Mr. Kilburn cited cases of mills where the operatives made less mouey than they did bere. He also made a statement that there was not another mill in the country manu- facturing the same class of goods paying moro than fifty-six cents for w forty-two yard cut of t! ame kind, reed, quality and length, as the Wamautta Mills, which now paid sixty-three ceots fur a cut, and would pay sixty cents alter the cut-down, The committee, in answer to his state! it of other mills, which were country mills, who wore paying less than in New Bed- ford, informed him tht rents there were much lower, us well as the price of living. PRESIDENT GRINNELL’S REPORT, The President of the company, Joseph Grinnell, who has attained tha’ remarkable age of cighty-eight, and who was the founder of the well known house of Grinnell, Minturn & Co., of New York city, gave them a brief financial statement showing the con- dition of the company, and told them of the atruggies they bad gone through uf lute, Because of the ‘hard timea,’’ he said, they bad been obliged to reduce ex- penses, and to do this had tried several exporiments, among them being the introduction of new machinery requiring le: labor, that tho wages of their operatives might not be re- duced. He admitted that tho tenements owned by the company were rented too high, but that the Board would eudeavor to reduce the rates in this im- portant item. Houssured them that as soon us the settlement of the Presidential quustion was decided upon, togetuer with the approach of spring, times would be better aua the company would be able to give them tue benellt of the market, THM SUPERINTENDENT'S STATEMENT. This report was uccopted, and 14 was decided to ad- Journ until the 8Uth uit,, when the sense of the meet- ing should be taken us to the advisability of a strike. Previous to the meeting your correspouuvat called upon Mr. Edward Kilburn, the superiuteadent, at his resi- dence, for the purpose of geting u statement in reter- ence to the mauer. He cordimlly invited hin in and was glud that the HuRaLD hud ken the matter in hand ‘and Was willing to give bot parties abeuring. Hespoke in the highest terms of bis help, ndt only worally, but ag to their skillus workmen, The company, alter ma- ture deliberation, had determined to reduce wages, us jor the past yeur they had earned less than six per cent and had Inid nothing by tor depreciation, ‘ihe cotton which they were using now could uot be pur- ebased for tourteen cents per pound STATISTICS OF THE MILLS, The company own tive milis, anu the corporation was organized in 1847, The first mill was built in 1849, the second in 1855, the third in 1845, tbe foursh in 1809 und the iifth in 1875. The grand tutal of spindles 18 150,000, equal to abvut 3,300 four-quarter looms, ‘They bave looms fur making cloth ail the way from 40 imches to 108 inches in width. They manutacture sheetings und suirt. ings, both plat and iwilied. ‘The present price of cloth, Mr. Kilburn furtuer stated, aqmuted of no possible margin, and all of their competitors who ure making the same goods us theirs pay Jess wages, and consequently offered their production at less rates than the Wamsuita Company could under the present payroll, Alter the reduction went into effect they would be paying more wages than any of their com- petitors, He nad reasoned with the help, and they all kuew that the Board of Directors were gentleinen wo had their inturests at heart and who would give ®hem the advantage 1 the advance ot their goods. Tho treasurer of the corporauon, Andrew G, Pierce, had dove his best to avert 4 reduction, as nad also the directors, one of whom wus 'Cou- gressman W. W. Crapo,’ Tue other directors were Charles L. Wood, George U, Crocker, Kuward D. Man- deil, Horauo Hathaway, Joseph Grinnell, Josepa De- Janu and William Jy Rowcn, and were known for their provity of charac er and Who would nut Have advised @ reduction bad it nut been absolutely necessary. The lant strike was ten years ago, and the last cu.-down waa one yeur ayo last Decumver, ‘The weavers had starved the present agitation, and it hud now extended vo ail parts of the ‘the company, he suid, were now Belling goods ata figure than ever beiore, ‘The di- rectors wore determined uot to rescind their decision upiess there Was un improvement im the market, but had not decided wuether they would lock the mill gates alter findiug that the nelp remained out over one day. ‘The wills needed pew machinery, but, owing to bard times, they could not ufford wo purchase the samo, Wyear the company paid two dividenas of three per cent, but the previous dividends bad been passed. Owing to the excellent financial credit of tho company, hewev had been avle to hiro money @t a low rate of interest, all of which had accrued to the benollt of the holp. The various departments of the milis bad been conducted economically, in order to give the stockholders somo return tor their money, ‘There were no sularied officers except himself and tbe head clerk. Your correspondent was eurprived to learn that the cat-down would not average five per cent. The highest cut-down was seven and « hall por cont, They were paying betore sixty-threo cents per cut, and new they would pay turee cents less for cuts of forty-two yards One of their competitors was paying but forty-eight cents for forty-lour yard: and another itty: for forty two yards. | expression to your feelings, There is « way to “take thimgs as they como’ When we have done our duty, If we stop to fret we lovk older than wo reaily ure, Wamsutta Company always used the best material, which was # great venelt to tho operatives or to those doing piece work, bes | Felerence to the com- pany’s tenements, he said tho Board of Directors pro- posed to reduce them eleven per ceut trom the prea ent rates. He admitted that the corporation, like others in Massachusetts, were sufferers to a considera ble extent by the Ten Hour la’ All the officers of the Wamsautta Company, how were decidedly im tavor of the law. ‘This company to-day was payir more for day labor us wel! ay piece work than a other mill be could name. ‘he production of the mills was equal to abe 20,000,000 square yards, the capital of the compan, was $2,500,000, und the payroli was $55,000 per month, ‘The company rigidly ouiorce the State law in regard to having all thetr employés uader fourteen yeurs of uge to attend school twenty Weeks-in every year, Thi Kilburn, who, by the way, is a son of tun over 8 the gentioman who occupies a similar the iamous mills of the Lonsdale (It. L.) Company, tor | bis kindness ip furnishing the HxkaLp with the above facts, your correspondent proceeded to the mans mevt ing of the of ves at the City Hall, a stately stone building ‘and capable of holding 2,500 people. MEETING OF OPERATIVES. At an carly hour in the evening the hall was filled with as respectable and well dressed a gathering of meo and women as could be seen in any manufacturing distriet in the country. ‘There were ubout 400 temules present, and they tovk a lively interest 1m the meeting. ‘Yhe order was excellent, save at times when an opera- tive would seem 1p his speech to mdicate that it would be the wisest policy to keep at work, At such times the excitement was very great, and the scenes in that hall lust evening will never be forgotten. Daniel Ricketson, « prominent citizen of New Bed. ford and a geutioman of means, although not an opere ative, was chosen chairman, and as be and Mr, Hen: Seavey, the editor of tbe Fall River Labor Journal an the Datly Democrat, entered the crowded hall, they were vociferously applauded, Mr. Kicketsom told them that he was giad to be tn their presence, as he had been 1 their days of trouble in the past. Ho told - them that theirs was 4 reasonable and just strike, and the country wag with them in their laudable efforts al self-presergation, He referred to the leading writerd o! the day on labor topics, who had written that trikes had been productive of good. He understood - {harnone but operatives were present, and it wad their duty to speak for ther rights. The immediate cause of the reauction was not because tho company could not dispose of their goods at # profit, nor thas they had un over production, but its extravagance daring the past three years was the cause; and at this remark there was loud applause. He {eelingly re- ferred tothe head of the covcern, Mr. Grinnell, me! tioned above, who, at the longest, bad but a little while to remain on earth, and who, he had under. stood, was in favor of the cut-down. He hoped now that,’ as ho was about to enter his grave, he ‘would arise in his might and do the crowning act of his Iite—viz., prevent the cut-down from going into effect—and the people present, who had helped him to umags bis immense weulth, would revere his inemory. ‘Tho Wamsutta Mills could not alford to Jet them sirike, owing to the present netivity of the market und the largo amount of cotton which they had on band. The present meeting Was an earnoss one, wud it represented all the operatives, and it was the sentiment of all toat if the proposed reduction went foto eflect. there would be @ general strike. ‘The operatives in Fall River had pledgea themselves ta Stand by them in the matter. Lf they were not united tbey bad bettor nut strike, bat be was of the opinion that they would come off Victorious, and all that was necessary for them todo was tobe firm, and God would prosper them and give them’ success, ‘A committee of tive were selected to present resolu. tions, : AN UNEXPRCTRD ACCESSION, A loom fixer reported that their chuirman bad waited upon Mr, Kilburn and bad a very ungatistactory in view, and in view of this fuct they had decided strike with the rest of the help. This unexpected announcement created no little applause, SPEKCH OF MK. SKAVEY. ; Mr. Scavey was tuen introduced, aod, being the special iriend of the operatives 1m general, he was received with great applause. When he had heard of jon of the millowuers in the local Po poe he med, ‘What an infamous shame!’ hile the operatives in Fall River were looking for an advance in their wages thoy had 1 mau whose luce was looking other direction, and everybody was looking into the future to bring them prosperity and plenty; and yet in view of this tact their employers bolieved ia Fetrograaing instead of progressing. He spoke of the goods in Fall River which found a ready market, and denounced their employers tor wanting them to work at reduced rates, Notwithstanding thay wages had advanced ten pér cent in Full-River the spinners of that city, a¢ a special meeting held the previous even- ing, voted to send the ollowing to their employers :— ‘To Our KarLoyvEns, Tax Maxvractonens oF Fact River :— GENTLEMEN—We trust that the manufacturing interests ure in a suificlentiy prosperous condition to war- rant you in considering favorably # memorial for s resturas tion of cen por ceut in our wages, We need not remind you thus our labor is now bringing us oniy # very bars subsist ence, wud that we are living rather upon our hopes and ex- pectutions than upon our actual earnings. You will, of course, be aware that many of your spinners have large families of young children to support, wud that our waxes adequate tu provide even the ordinary necessu- Ot course, we owo it to our families, as well ae wives, to ask for u tair day's pay for w tuir day's work. We rejoice with you thut the present relutions between employer und employed micuble, and sincerely trust that nothing may occur to interrupt them. Our object in addressing you 1s respectfully to ask you te cousider vue necousities und claims, and believing that the present profits will admit of a restoration of ten per cent ig Our wages, wo trust vou will tuvorably entertain, this memos THE SPINNERS IN E rial, iN YOUK EMPLOY, N. B.—If you will k.ndly give wn answer to the mernorii ou or before the 1Uth day of February, 1877, turough you overseers, you will oblige the spinners iu your employ. The reading of the above was the cccasion for long ud prolonged appiuuse, This, Mr. Seavey coutinued, Was ibe aspect uf the wage question in Fall River, He had heard of an understanding between the mill owners in this city and those in Fall River, the lattor giving the former to understand that if they cut down ibey Would follow suit. He then proceeded to hugdle tho argument of the company that they were having competition in their class of goods. There were two sinall mitis—one in Rnode Island and the other In New Hampsbire—aud these were no competitors for the Wamsutta cloth, and its excellence was known far and wide, The statement was a “lie? that they had any competitors. THE HERALD ON LABOR. He was pleased to sce a representative of the New Youk HeRacp present, aa that paper, in all lavor strikes, bud ailowed the operatives to be heard through its columns as well ag those who owned the mill, The newspapers gencrally were prejudiced and wrusan iu their reports of labor troubles. The KRALD Shows a dispow!! and a desire to state th truth in this and all other matters. The largo audienc evidently appreciaied this candid statement irom a journalist, tur he was obliged to stop speaking until they had applauded his remarks m reference to the HERALD, CAUTION ADVISED, ‘The manufacturers were more urtful than the opora- tives iu baving their grievances slated in the papers, aod inthis way often made the best showing. He thea explained why different prices per cut had been paid, und also the reasons for cummmencing the present cut- down some time ago in vuricus departments of the mills, He thought (be exact truth should be kuowd, and be hoped the newspapers would discuss the mat- ter, He desired them to wait abd not be too hasty io striking, ‘They should be united, and if they were ae- termined to strike they should do 1% in a mass His proposition was this: —[n Full River they hud had a suc- cessiul strike, but they did not leave their work. They had ther meetings und discussed the matter for six weeks, apd, without losing @ day’s work, gained their point. The market was affected, and tt had pree cisely the same effect us the strike woulu had, lu caso the help here pursued this wise coursé, in New York and elsewhere the merchants would gay, “Tucy are going to bave a strike in New Bedford aud we hud better buy our goods ‘now.” ‘The agent would then give back the reduction upon the plea that the price had gono up. He again cautioned them against strik- ing bow, ‘They should appoint a striking committee and yo to work Thursday morning and sybmit, but under protest, and at the proper tine should “up guards und at them?’ in eurnest. je udvised them to be extremely cautious and to select their best men for the strike committee aud let them go to work privately, i The Committee on Kesvlutions reported the follow- ing:— Resolved, That {t is the opinion of the meeting that we cannot accept the terms offered by uur employers, tnking into consideration the present state ot the murket, and we Detieve that our employers are able to run the mills to ad- vi event pri i thin meeting, composed of the operati of the Wamsutta Mills, who ure now under notice of a duction, wilt cease work ut the expiration of sueh noti unless the same be withdrawn, The above seemed exactly the sentiment of the meeting and gave general satisfaction, Mr. Seavey offered an smendmént tothe resolution that the whole matter be relerred toa striking com- mittee, and it was unanimously passed, AN ANTI-STRIKER, At this point of the meeving av operative arose and Baid they Were about going through a groat cri: he hoped nothing would be done in haste, lieved that as the Presidential question would soon be settled business would revive aod the reduction would be in force bata short tine. He believed they would yet their back pay; a strike would always be remem- Dered against thew. (Cries of Put hun out” were heard from all pafte of the hall, und a lady near the writer saug vat, *He’s been promised a good jov to cumy here aud talk to us like that.”) By a temporary submission, he continued, they would gaily more than they would by striki Strikes had aiways resuited in disaster to the operatives, He, however, seconded Mr, Seavey’s amendment, amid a storm ot hisses, Mr. Seavey suid that the previous speaker had sec- Onued his motion, but still did not agree with him, He (Seavey) Was not fo favor of a “submitting commit. we,” and it Was periectly atrocious that such a com- mittee should nave been proposed. He congratulated the provious speaker, however, for his cour: ‘Was speaking agutust the masses, and he should nut be surprised if he turned out to be one of their truest irionus, e Di Thay HISSRD DOWN, ‘The loom-fixers’ chairman having put in an appear- ance he made a report of nis visit tu Mr. Kilburn, Ho had a talk with him aud be treated bin very kindly, He (Kilvarn) would iy a tew weeks give them back the reduction, und that if they knew hig (Kilburu’s) heart they would not strike. (Cries of ‘He's got no heart!” were heard trom several females.) He (tue Chairman) believed that if they would wait they would get back the reduction. This announcement Again croated great excitemeat, and the speaker was ed irom all partsof the hall, Hoe saw plainly that he could not talk in that strain and so he sut down. A STRIKING COMMITTEE APPOINTRD. The motion was then put and carried to appoints Striking Committee, and the original resolution was also carried, 4 The Chairman said ho thowght that the committeo pode be yor ony —- pow og ne have their pames if employers lueed on tho ‘black tise ial aninehdonay t was nally voied, alter a good deal ef discussion, that tho appornting of the commitioe be leit with @ committee appointed ata previous meeting to carry on the proposed movemeut, and ava late hour the muete (CONTINUED ON NINTH PAGE]