The New York Herald Newspaper, December 29, 1878, Page 13

RELIGIOUS TELLIGE a Ministerial Movements--Chat by the Way. SYNAGOGUE WORSHIP. Programme of Services To-Day. ‘The Rey. W. F. Hatfield will preach a national ser- mou this morning on ‘Lhe Political and Moral Events ‘That Have Occurred During the Ycar." In the even- ing Mr. Hattield will speak about ‘The Solemn An- nouncement.” A gospel temperance meeting will be held in Sev- enth Street Methodist Episcopal Church this after- noon. Rev. J. L, Gilder will preach in the evening. The National “Temperance Institute will meet also this afternoon, in Cooper Institute, and will be ad- dressed by V. W. Blanchard, M. D., on ‘Lhe Effects of Alcohol on the Human Mind.” Mr. Sawyer will conduct a temperance meeting this evening in the Park Theatre. Dr. John Cotton Smith will preach in the Church ot the Ascension this morning on ‘Ihe Great Tribu- lation and the Second Advent; the Millennium and the Judgment.” Dr. C. D. W. Bridgman will preach this morning and evening in Madison Avenue Baptist Church, Rev. E, A. Reed will minister to the Reformed Church, in Madison avenue, this morning and eyen- ing. “Gain and Loss” and “A Voice from the Vanishing Year" will be considered to-day by Rev. William Lioyd, in Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church. “How Christ Changes Our Lives” will be described this morning by Rev. George H. Hepworth, who, in the evening, will present to the Church of the Disci- ples “Something to Depend On." “The Morale of Christendom as Affecting Missions’» will be discussed this afternoon by Rev. Dr. Tucker, in Madison Square Presbyterian Church. ‘The Rey. A. C. Morehouse will preach in East Elev- enth Street Methodist Episeopal Church this morn- ing, and Philip Phillips will give a service of song in the evening. Services in the Pilgrim Baptist Church this morn- ing and evening; Rev. F. M. Van Slyke will preach. “The Triumphs of the Advent of Christ—the First Resurrection,"’ will be considered by Rev. H. W. Knapp, D. D., this morning, in fhe Laight Street Bap- tist Church. In Fiftieth Street Methodist Episcopal Church the Rev. W. P. Corbit will speak this morning on “Sow- ing and Reaping,” and this evening on “The Mést Valuable Thing in the World to Man.” Rey. James Kennedy will conclude his series of premillennial sermons this evening in the Fourth Reformed Presbyterian Church, Subject—‘The Judg- ment or Judgments, Final Apostasy and End.” In the Sixth Avenue Reformed Dutch Church the Rev. W. B. Merritt will preach at the usual hours to-day. Dr. M. H. Smith will speak in Stanton Street Baptist Church this morning on ‘True Religion and False,” and this evening on ‘Fragments of the Closing Year Gathered Up.” Dr. William M. Taylor, of the Broadway Tabernacle, preaches in the South Reformed Church this morning. The Yorkville Young Men's Christian Association will be addressed this afternoon by Rev, W. R. Davis, of Harlem. Preaching in the Thirtieth Street Methodist Episco- pal Church at the usual hours to-day by Rey. T. B. Smith. In the St. James’ Methodist Episcopal Church, Harlem, the Rev. W. R. Davis will speak this morn- ing on “Purity, the Condition of the Vision of God,” aud in the evening on “Seeking a King and Finding a Child.” “A Hero of Faith Discouraged” will be introduced this morning to the Tabernacle Baptist Church. “The Speaking Past’’ will utter its voice in the even- ing through Rev. R. B. Hull. In the Twenty-fourth Street Methodist Episcopal Church the Rev. B. H. Burch will preach this morn- ing on “The Counsellor.” In the evening Captain Sturdivant, the temperance advocate, will speak. “Our Riches from Christ's Poverty” will be pointed out to Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church this morn- ing by Rey. J. F. Richmond, who in the evening will speak abont ‘Standing All the Day Idle.” Dr. King will preach in Washington Square Methodist Episcopal Church this morning on ‘False Foundations” and this evening on “The Bright and Morning Star.” i At Willett Street Methodist Episcopal Church Mrs. Van Cott will conduct the services to-day and every evening this week. Mrs. Bonham will give a Bible reading for women only in the Lyceum Theatre this afternoon. In the evening Mr. C. A. Bunting will deliver a temperance address and several reformed men will relate their experience. Dr. Armitage preaches, as usual, to-day in the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church. At the people's service in the Church of the Holy ‘Trinity this evening the Rev. 8. H. Tyng, Jr., D. D., will begin a series of sermons on ‘‘The Cross—First, As the Measure of Sin. In Spring Street Presbyterian Church the Rey. A. H. Moment will preach this morning on ‘The Branch the Root of Jesse,” and in the evening on “The Peril of Waste.” ‘The thirty-first anniversary of the- Youths’ Mission- ary Socicty of Allen Street Presbyterian Church wil} be held there this evening. Preaching in the morn- ing, as usual. Dr. J. B. Simmons will preach in Trinity Baptist Church at the usual hours to-day, At Chickering Hall this aiternoon Rev. 8, Colcord will speak of ‘‘Lessons of the Closing Year.” “Past, Present and Future” will interest the Rev. W. N. Searles and the Free Tabernacle Methodist Episcopal Church this evening. The anniversary of the Church Extension and City Missionary Society will be held there in the evening. The Rev. KR. B. Hull and Dr. Remington will ad- dress the American Temperauce Union, in Clarendon Hall, this afternoon. “A Lesson from the Flight of Years’’ will be read to Bleecker Street Universalist Church this evening by Rey. E. C. Sweetser, : The Rey. Alexander McKelvey will preach this | morning and evening in Canal Street Presbyterian Church, At Calvary Baptist Church the Rev, R. 8, MacArthur will preach this morning and evening, as usual. ‘The Christmas music will be repeated to-day in the Chureh of the Holy Spirit, and Rev. E, Guilbert will officiate ut the regular services, The Rev. Dr. Shipman will minister to Christ Church to-day, as usual. “fhe Discernment of Time” is the topic thut Rev. 3.D. Wilson will speak about this morning in the Central Presbyterian Church, Iu the evening Rey. R, K. Booth, D. D., will preach, Dr. J.D. Herr preaches this morning in the Cen- tral Baptist Church. In the evouing the anniversary | of the Sunday School Missiouary Suviety will be held, at which Drs, Bevan, Bright and others will deliver addresses, Dr. Doems preaches to-day as usnal in the Church of the Strangors In the Church of the Disciples of Christ the Re’ D. BR. Van Buskirk preaches to-day as ustal. “The Love of Lite’ witl be preseuted to Duane Methodist Episcopal Charch this evening by Rev. J. | W. Ackerly. Dr. J, P. Newman will preach in the Central Meth- odist Kpiscopas Church this morning and evening. “Bible Views of the Impenitent Dead" will be pre- sented this eveuiny by Dr. C. HM, Fowler in Bt. Luke's | Methodist Episeopal Chured. In the First Retorr Episeopal Church the Kov. | W. T. Sabine will preach at the usual bourse this morning and evening. In the Free Baptivs Church this morning the lev, N. 1. Rowell will prowch on “Waiting for Christ.” | In the evening a temperance imeeting will be held. At the Church of tho Heavenly Rest this morning Dr, Mowlaud will preach about “Christ iu Mis Bus NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1878—QUADRUPLE SHEET. manity Sharing the Lot of the Humblest,” and in the eveuiny about ‘The Birth of Christ in its Relation to Men and Angels.”” ‘The services in Grace Chapel to-day will be con- ducted by Rev. Dr. A. B. Carter. Dr. H. L. Chapin will preach in the Church of the Divine Paternity at the usual hours to-day. ‘The Rey, A, G, Rogers will preach before the See- ond Universalist Church this morning on ‘Ketro- spect nd this evening on “Farewell to 1878, In Peter Dwyer’s yospel mission this evening a praise service will be held aud reformed men will re- late their experiences. ‘The Ladies’ West Side ‘Temperance Union will hold a meeting in Bleecker Building this evening, at whi prominent temperance men will deliver addresses, ‘The Rey. R. Heber Newton will preach in Anthon Memorial Protestaut Episcopal Church this evening on ‘Retribution in the Light of the Scriptures,” his closing discourse on “Retribution.” In the Church of the Messiah Dr, A. P, Peabody, of Harvard University, will preach this morning on “The Foundation of God Standeth Sure,” and in the evening on “Retief with the Heart.” ‘The Rev, 8.8. Seward will speak to the Sweden borgian Church this morning on “Redemption.” Dr. F. C. Ewer will minister to St, Ignatius’ Protes- tant Episcopal Church at the regular services to-day. The Christmas music will be repeated. Dr. J. N. Galleher will minister at the usual hours to-day for Zion Protestant Episcopal Church, Rey. J. H. Hartzeli will preach in the Chureh of the Good Shepherd, Jersey City Heights, this morn- ing, and in the evenlng will deliver a lecture on “Books and Authors.” CHAT BY THE WAY. Every man likes flattery. It is pleasant to be told that we are great, even if we know him to be a fool who tells us. Equivocation is a shadow of falsehood, which grows by what it feeds on, until at last it is evolved a full-grown lie. ‘The poet says— Equal nature fashioned us All in one mould; but after she has fashioned some men she puts a trade dollar in their hands and leaves the next one to hunt for his. Copper money is coined for exclusively religious purposes. It enables a man to feel that he has con- tributed to the spread of the Gospel without drawing too largely on his income, A bad man is one who grasps a strawberry and gets a@ nettle instead, The devil runs an immense manufactory of ex- cuses. They are of all sizes and shapes, suited to every possible occasion, and such is the demand for them that it is impossible to overstock the market. It is considered quite proper to call your wife “Birdie,” because she is always associated with a bill. Some men are so constituted that they can even look at a mule and say, ‘‘We are fearfully and won- derfully made.” It does not follow that the clergy would make good railroad men because they are well versed in the act of coupling. The reason why the coal market is so depressed is that coal is a demoralized mineral, It is never deliv- ered to the buyer, but invariably goes to the cellar. ‘There is many a man who courtsa fortune and then marries a woman in order to get it. There is nothing like strong common sense. An Irish soldier went to his station with the order to report anything remarkable that happened during the night. A drunken -fellow fell from the wall and broke his neck and no report was made. When ques- tioned about it Pat replied:—Faith, and I obeyed orders, It the man had fallen off the wall and not broken his neck I should certainly have reported it.” Strange ideas of honesty prevail. It is surely wrong for a fruiterer to put all the big peaches on the top of the basket, but it is as surely right to build the front of the house of fine free stone and the back of common brick. A ccrtain amount of shain is necessary to human happiness. Children ought to be repressed, because they tell too much truth. It is a habit from which we en- tirely recover when we reach years of discretion. A physician's child was encouraged to write poetry, but after her first attempt the wise parent suggested that she should turn her prodigious genius into some other channel. The verses which drew him to this conclusion were ;— There was a little girl, and she was very sick, Her father sent for papa, and she aied very quick. “Readin’, spellin’ and spankin’’’ is what makes good men out of bad boys. This is what Solomon said, or words to that effect. There are very few men in the world who couldn’t write better than Shakespeare if they only had the mind to, but they haven't the mind to, and there's the rub. The fundamental difficulty with human nature, and the cause of half the disappointments of life, is that men are always trying to get cider out of the barrel with a straw that is too short to reach the cider, Puck has written an obituary which ought to receive the prize of achaplet of dry parsley. Not every poet could express so much in so few words or so deli- cately refer to sad facts :— Aue et eet ‘The wood being green, She used kerosene— (Pause. Then continued solemnly.) She has gone where the fuel is dry-ah. Some murriages are of use in that they produce a very humble and repentant state of mind. They are said, however, to have a startling resemblance to an electric machine. It is easy enough to catch hold of the handles, but, alas! when you ure sorry that you ever touched them you find that you can't let go. There is many aman who used to sing with tearful, pathos and an unwarrantable craving for the delicacies of the season, “Oh that I had the wings of a dove!"’ who would be perfectly content in these hard times with the second joint. It is said that the most solid argument against bigamy is a Scriptural one—no man can serve two masters. Avery useful and significant Christmas gift was a broom presented to a young bride with these lines :— ‘This trifling gift Its use I would In sunshine use the brushy part, In storms the other end. And now that we are in the flush of poetic fervor we ask kindly attention for these pathetic words, which are to be found in the cemetery at Childewald, England, There is atone of regret in them which may serve as a wholesome warning :— Here lies me and my three daughters, Brought here by using seidlitz waters; If we had stuck to epsom salts We wouldn't have been in these here vaults. Boyhood is candid, and middle age, though it may think the same things, is reticent. ‘What part,” asked a Sunday school teacher, “of “The Burial of Sir John Moore’ do you like best?" He was thoughtfal for a moment and then replied:—‘ ‘Few and short were the prayers we said.’ ”” Nothing is plainer than that the office which we ourselves hold is indispensable and that its swlary is none too large. Economy is a very pressing neces- sity, but it certainly ought not to begin at our door, Every man thinks that the country swings on bim- self as a pivotal point, and hence the widespread contentment throughout the land. What the world will do, and how it will get on, when we take our departure, is something we don't like to think of. Even in religion as well as politics it is truo that if you choose my tnan you ave orthodox, and strongly heretical if you choose any one else. Yes, 1 du Lelieve it’s wise an’ yood ‘To sen’ out furrin missions; is, on sartin understood An’ orthydox conditions. nine thonsand dolls. per ann., Mine thousan’ more fer outfit, An’ me to recommend @ man ‘The place ‘ould jest about fit. ‘Vhe ills of the mind are greater than the ills of the flesh. It ix said that of two men, one of whom bas » raging toothache, while the other is desperately in love, the man who has the toothache will always gu to sleep first. Aman will sit still in the theatre tor threo hours and think the play the shortest he ever saw, and yet sit as uneasily in his pew on Sunday a» though he were being used for a pincushion and think the twenty-minute sermon the longest he ever heard, ‘The temperance organizations ere so engaged in quarrelling among themselyes that they have uo time to work, and Dr, Crosby is doing so much work that Le has no time to talk. The orators of the cause | | are apt to resemble rivers too much—largest at the | mmouth—to be of any yreut use, ‘Thoy indulge in the { { | excitement of a great meeting and nse rhetoric with a looseness that makes the uninitiated feel that they have the demon of rum by the throat, while he quietly shuts up the shops one after another and makes it harder every year for New York to get intoxicated. In the end it will be found that honest work is better than profession. ‘The same thing is a different thing under different circumstances. If you begin with the Irishman, who has a hod road to travel, it is called “pay;” on the next step higher, it is regarded as “wages;” higher still, we have well dressed clerks who receive ‘sala- ries;” above them are gentlemen who own large prop- erty and who enjoy an immense “income” or “re- venue.” The word becomes more dignified and awe inspiring as the bink account increases, When you get down to the uncertain dollars of the burglar it is called “swag.” Lite tlows very sweetly, and the world seems a lovely place to live in when you sit by the blazing pen grate fire on a cold winter's evening with the little specimens of evolution gathered’ about you, But if the door bell rings and the coal bill is thrust into your face, wanting only in the signature of the dealer, the children ure hustled off to bed, the night becomes suappishly cold, miserable and wretched and you wonder why coal was over taken out of the bowels of the earth. An unrecgipted bill is ared rag that excites the worst passions of haman nature, while the most valuable iutographs you can possess are those of the landlord and grocer. There is onc custom which has rooted itself so deeply in the life of feminine human nature that it cannot be abolished without abolishing the sex; one duty in the performance of which-woman is univer- sally faithful. If by chance it is neglected troubled dreams are the result, Even at midnight the gas must be relighted, and though the mercury be at zero that duty inust still be performed. Once done, however, sweet sleep visits the tired eyelids and the most delicious sense of calin repose steals over the weary body. This grave duty, indispensable to the happiness of one-half of the human ruce, consists in looking into every closet and under the bed to find the man who is lurking there with intent to run away with everything in his pockets when the bell strikes one. All women have an exaggerated: idea of the capacity of a bad man to hide himself, Cup- boards, in which no Christian could conceal one of his boots, are thought to be quite large enough to afford a temporary asylum for a six foot thief, Even keyholes are watched lest they may contain a box of burglar’s tools. The consciousness of duty, well done, makes life very comfortable, and the night passes serenely away. ‘There is a great deal of suggestive truth in the criticism of the doctrine of election by an old lady. “I must have been elected,” she said, “in the very beginning of the world and before the Lord saw me, for Iam sure He would never have chosen me after- ward.” In theso dreary wintry days many a man catches so severe a cold that he can't even tell the truth. If a man slanders you does it follow that you must slander him in return? The Old Testament rule is, resent in kind; the New Testament rule is, resent in kindness. It does not follow that because a dog bites you you should return the favor by biting him. It was certainly an honor well deserved. The American Carriage Builders’ Association have made Oliver Wendell Holmes a member of their guild be- cause he constructed “The One Horse Shay.” ‘These words by Celia Thaxter are too beautiful to be forgotten. We need such kindly encouragements to help us bear our burdens :— ‘And up the east another day Shall chase the bitter dark away: What though our eyes with tears be wet, . ‘The sunrise never failed us yet. The blush of dawn may yet restore Our light and hope and joy once more. Sad soul, take comfort, nor forget ‘That sunrise never failed us yet, EDWIN BOOTH ON ‘THEATRES. Edwin Booth is the most distinguished modern representative of the dramatic profession, The Chris- tian Union of this city having published a series of ar- ticles by the Rev. Mr. Scoville—Mr. Beecher's son-in- law—on the theatre, in which he showed it to be evil and only evil, and that continually, and, subsequent article by P. T. Barnum, the showman, who tried to excuse the theatre and other amusemen‘s because they supply a want of the human nature, that paper, thrangh one of its edilors, requested Mr. Booth to write his experience and observation on the same general topic for its pages. ‘The letter was not in- tended for publication, but permission to publish has been given. This is what Mr. Booth says:— Dear Srr—On my arrival here I found your favor of 1st inst., but have been prevented from answering it until to-day. Having no literary ability whatever I must decline your flattering invitation; nor do I know how to aid the worthy cause you advocate. Could I do so be assured it should be freely done. My knowledge of the modern drama is so very meagre that I never permit my wife or daughter to witness a play without previously ascertaining its character. This is the method I pursue; I can sug- yest no other, unless it might be by means of a “dramatic censor,”” whose taste or judgment might, however, be frequently at tault. If the management of theatres could be denied to speculators and placed in the hands of actors who value their reputation and respect their calling the stage would at least afford healthy recreation, if not, indeed, a wholesome stimulus to the exercise of noble sentiments. But while the theatre is permitted to be a mere shop for gain—opeu to every huckster of immoral gimeracks—there is no other way to dis- criminate between the pure and base than through the experience of others. Yours truly, EDWIN BOOTH. Commenting on this letter the Christian Union says it is a most cogent testimony to the truth of the principle laid down by Mr. Scoville—namely, that the tendency of popular amusements is to degener- ate, The most accomplished Jitlérateur, the Union xays, could not have embodied the answer to the question, Shall I go to the theatre? more effectively in a three-column article than Mr. Booth has done in his brief epistle. But ‘what, then, shall we do,” usks the Union, “forego all popular amusements be- cause popular amusements tend to degenerate ? No! Use them; withstand and conquer the degenerating tendency; redeem them from their own innate de- ravity. We do not expel Dickens, Thackeray and iss Mulock trom our libraries because Charles Reade has written ‘A Terrible Temptation,’ nor fuse to play croquet because ii is a modificd game of billiards on the lawn. We shall not always reiuse to hear Jefferson in ‘Rip V Winkle,’ and Booth in ‘Hamlet,’ because a troupe of charlatans are playing bouffe around the corner. ‘The answer to the question, Shall I go to the the- atre? is a twofold one. “First, discriminate. There are theatres and the- atres; there are plays and plays. Each person must to judge for himself, cach parent must judge for his children what are beneficial, what banetul. ‘The moralist’s indiscriminate attack on popular amusements drives hix pupils to an indiscriminate enjoyment of them. The er calls all bad; the pupil calls all good: and, because he has never been taught how to separate the tares from the wheat, grinds them all up into flour together. “It ia true that discrimination is dithcult; how diffi- cult in the case of the drama Mr. Booth's letter elo- quently illustrates. That is a reason for caution in exercising discrimination, not for abandoning it. ~The second principle is that already #0 ably ‘laid down and illustrated by the Rey. Mr. Scoville in our columns, In this discrimination keep on ‘the safe side of certainty.’ He that doubteth is condemned if he eateth, Avoid the dangerous.” ‘The Union closes its homily with the last sentence of Ameriva’s yreatest actor, omphasiaed by italics :— “While the theatre is permitted to be a mere shop for yuin—open to every huckster of immoral gim- cracks—there is no other way to discriminate between the pure and base than through the experience of others.” CHURCH AND STATE IN FRANCE Much has lately been saitt and written concerning religious movements in France, aud American Prot- estants are Jaying much stress on these indications, as they appear, of a not very distant separation of Church and state in that country. The endeavor of Pére Hyacinthe to found @ national church in France under the auspices of the English Episcopal hierarchy, the prospective establishment of a Protes- tant journal in the South of Franco and the recent success of missionary operations, as well as the growing boldness of republicans and the decadence or stipposed decadence of the clerical party=- all these indications have seemed to a large class of Protestants in this country to be ta vorable to the speedy severance of the Church from State influence or control. But the Rev. J. P. Cook, a French Mothodist minister, writes to the Christian Advocate, of this city, to disabuse the Ameri- can mind on this point. He shows some of the diffi- culties that surround the question from the French standpoint. First, the suppression of the salary which is now paid by the State to the clergy woula be considered as an iniquitous and unjust measure, not only by ths Catholic priests, but by the people in general, Before the first French revolution the Komish Church owned cousiderable property in France, When this property was seized upon by the government, and the Church was required to renounce it wil, it was ayreed in exchange that the State would from its own budget support the Church and | St. Mary of the Cataract, at Niagara Falls, | accompanied Right Rev, Bishop pay its ministers. This annual payment is therefore considered simply as the interest, in Fe of the seized property, and the clergy say, and with some show of reason, “You cannot repudiate this pay- ment aay more than the public debt. The day you will couse to support us you must return to Us all | the property which lawfully belongs to us and of | which We only consider you 2 Phis i probably the greatest practi y at isan ‘The State cannot yive back the immense property of and if it could it would greatly be the loser by doing so, as its annual budget for the purposes of religion is’ very inferior to the profits it derives from this property. Hence the clergy are opposed, to a nan, to a separation of the Church and State, unless it be on the simple con- dition thut they will be placed again in possession of what the Church possessed formerly—namely, nearly one-third of the land in France! And it cannot be said that their views and opin- | ions could easily be overruied. ‘There are 45,000 ‘iests in France, and, allowing to each the care of 10) souls, there is a minority not to be despised. And, indeed, it is the general opinion of the whole people that a government that would proclaim a separation of the Church and State would very soon be overturned through the influence of the pries hood, and the overthrow of the republican yovern- ment would be to France the most disastrous event we could inmgine in a political point of view, But another difficulty in the way is the opposition of the democratic politicians, from Gambetta down, to any separation of Church and State, ‘They are afraid to give the Church ful) swing. They are anx- ious to have the mastery over it, and believe that in order to govern it, or to take it subservient to their designs, there must be a union between the State and religion, In other words, they hold to this union, not because they wish to help or pro- tect the Church, but in order to enslave it. For these reasons Mr. Cook thinks the first movement for a separation between Church and State will not be made in France, but in Switzerland, and first in the Canton of Geneva. The obs named above us existing in France do not exist’ in Switzerlund—at least to any great extent. If the experiment suc- ceeds there it will undoubtedly be copied into the larger republic of France. But Americans need not i so very sanguine of its speedy accomplishment in ‘ance, MINISTERIAL MOVEMEN'IS. PRESBYTERIAN. The Rev. G. 8. Plumley, late pastor of the North Dutch Church, in Fulton street, has been appointed to the charge of Calvary Chapel, Worth street, one of the City Mission stations. Rev. William R. Lord has accepted a call to the pastorate of the church at Riverdale, on the Hudson. Rev. J. W. Marcussohn has retired from the pastor- ate of the church at Lyndonville, N. ¥., and Rey. Mr. Daniels has taken his place. The Rev. D. D. McColl was recently installed pas- tor of the Presbyterian Church at Bergen, N. ¥. Rev. D. M. Rankin, late of lion, has taken a charge at Charlotte, N. ¥. Rev. 8. H. McKain, of Wilmington, Del., has ac- cepted a callto the Presbyterian Church at Mount Holly, N. J. Rev. E. A. Buckley, late of Western New York, has been installed pastor of the chureh at Ruth- erford Park, N. J. ‘The Rey. J. C. Thompson, of Hagerstown, Md., has been called to the pastorate of the German Street Presbyterian Church, in Philadelphia; and the Rey. John McMillan, of Mount Pleasant, Pa., has been called to the Fitteenth Presbyterian Church, Phiia- delphia. ‘The Rev. George Swan will be installed pastor of the Presbyteriar Church at Batavia, N. Y., January 2. ‘The Rev. ‘Thomas Aitken, pastor of the First and Second Presbyterian churches in Sparta, N. Y., though now in his cightieth year, is still preaching every Sabbath. Of late years he has been subject to turns of fainting. Recently he was taken with one in the pulpit of unusual severity. He was carried out of itand ministered to. For some time it was thought that his labors were ended, but after a while he re- vived and said, “I must go on with what I was say- ing,” which he did, conducting the service to its close. His people have proposed to release him from the afternoon service at the Second Church during the winter, but he is reluctant to accept their kind- ness. It is nearly forty years since he begun to serve them, and his heart is so deeply im his work that he 1s loth to discontinue it. EPISCOPALIAN. The Rey. W. 0. Jarvis is doing chaplain’s duty at the Church Charity Foundation, Brooklyn, N. Y. The Rev. E. B. 'futtle, chaplain United States Army, has returned from England and taken up his resi- dence in this city. ‘The Rev. Charles Pelletrean has assumed the rector- ship of the Church of the Holy Communion, Pater- son, N, J. The Rev. George W. Douglas has been elected a junior assistant of Trinity parish, New York. The Rev. Lewis F. Morris has taken charge of t parishes at Fuirticld, Norway and Middleville, Herki- mer eg a N.Y. ‘The Bishop of Easton sailed for Europe on Tues- day, December 10, to be absent afew months, The Rey, Arthur H. Barrington has become assistant to the Rey. W. T. Fitch, at Fall River, Mass., and is in charge of the two missions ot tho parish located there. ‘The Rey. Dr. D. C. Weston has resigned the rector- ghip gf Graco Church, Madison, N. Y., which he has held during five years. During this period the parish contribu $26,000 for all purposes. Dr. Weston leaves his parish with the intention of travelling for the benetit of his health. The Rev. H. M. Collison, of Washington, D. C., Episcopal has become pastor of St. Paul's Reforme: Church, Chicago. The Rey. Dr. Edward Sullivan Episcopal Church, Chicago, is Chureh, Montreal id is reported about to ac though’ at a reduced salary. He has fo » yea been the first man of his denomination in Chicago. Rey. J. B. North, pastor of St. John's Chure! m rking in tive parishes of the Retormed Epis- copal Church in Sussex, N. B. ‘he Rev. George C. Hall, late of the Reformed Dutch Church at Danville, Pa., has become an agp! ae min- ister: Professor Wells, tormerly of the Congrega- tional College, Cheshunt; Thomas G. Wilson, another dissenting minister, and Rev. W. Inpey, for forty years a missionary in South Atrica—all these have recently taken orders in the Church of England, UNIVERSALIST. One hundred ministers recently applied for a hear- ing in a vacant pulpit and the press of the denomina- tion is buzzed with correspondence favorable and un- favorable to such candidacy for pastoral support. A. M. Dean insists that the American boy who courts a girl is no more dixgraced by that fact than the savage is Whose mother docs the courting. And, of course, he cannot see why a minister who courts a pulpit should be any more disgraced by that fact than one who gets a committee or an agent to do the courting. ci ‘The Rev. George Adams, of Perry, N. ¥., has ac- cepted a call to the parish in Clinton, N. Y. The Clinton Church has been without # pastor for some time, and has most wisely concluded that it will not do to remain pastorless much longer. After January 1, 1 the Christian Leader will make a meal of the Universalist, and not leave even afeather of the name sticking out of the title. It will be pub- lished simultaneously at New York and Boston, both places being represented iu the new editorial ' man- agement, ‘the paper will be enlarged and its torm chan; oy ‘terring to the “Women's Church” proj ed here next month it the Lyceum ye, “ALL that will now b necessary to prove that there are more fools in the world than was supposed will be the proposition to start a religious organization exclusively for men. ‘The Leader, of course, would not be guilty of charging the women with folly. Hence it wants the church for men. Dr. Forrester’s church in Jerscy City has sold the lots which it bought for a building sits some years ago. They have been an increasing and unprofitable burden. Dr. Chapin has diverted his Friday evening lec- tures in the Church of the Divine Paternity trom or- dinary topics to an exposition of the Sunday school lesson for the Sabbath following, the Doctor holding himself ready to answer questions that may bo asked, Rey. George W. Bicknell, of Portland, Me., has been led to the pastorate of the Church of the Res- toration, Philadelphia. He will commence his ser- vice on January 1. Mr. Bicknell has been for more than seven years pastor of the India Street Univer- salist Church, Portland. METHODIST, | if North Georgia Conference, | es and filling the pulpit of t Episcopal Church in Wash- F Dr. W. P. Harrison, now chaplain in Co the Southern Meth ington, D. C., has been trausterred to the Batiniore | Conference, in whose bounds the church is located, | Rev. L.. P. Cushman has been appointed by Bishop presiding elder of Houston District (Lexas) Conferenée, ‘ | Rev. De Witt C. Challis and Rey. Stephen Thomof | sailed last Tuc-day tor Bulgaria, by way of England, | ‘They hope to reach the ticld oecupied by the Meth- | odist missionaries about the Lt of Febraary, ‘Tho Methodist ministers of Chicago in a reeont meeting discussed Mormonism, Dr, Hatfield held that it was not a matter of conscience, but a soul de- basing crime, and on the increase under government protection, ‘The yote of the meeting wax that good government ought to distranchise all polygamists, Fifty yoars ago there wees bat five Methodists in the village of Yonkers, N. Y., now there are 500, So writes Dr. L. H. King, pastor Fist Methodiat Episcopal Church there, whose semi-centennial was colebrated a few days ayo. But such progress is hardly worth boasting very much about, ROMAN CATHOLIC, Rev. Father P, Moynihun, pastor of the Charch of , wand who yan to Europe, last tall, died at Genoa, Italy, a few days ago. ‘The Pope has sent 2,000 francs for the support of the missionary college of the Rev. Don Bosco, of ‘Turin. He has also given 500 frances to the Areh-Con- | fraternit, 1 Doctrine, to be distributed among those young persons who distinguish the ed in the catechetical examination and in the pute which will shortly take place in the Church of San Carlo a’ Catinari, the fathers conducting the Redemptorists’ mis- | sion, Boston Highlands, have already heard over two thousand confessions, and the mission is expected to rove, when finished in about two weeks, oue of the jargest ever held in Boston. ‘The mission of the Dominican F Rev. C. A, McKenna, which at Gate of Heaven Church, South Bustun, has given en- tire ixtaction to them and to the pastor, Father Higgins. It is announced that there were ia ail 2,700 communtons, there being 1,400 women and 1,300 men. ‘ Bishop Burgess, of Vewoit, bax Just celebvuted the thirtieth anniversary of his ordination to the priest- hood in 1843, He has been a bishop nearly nine years and ordinary of the see of Detroit nearly seven » Holy Cross have just terminated & most successful ion of two weeks in Windsor, Ont., of which Very Rev. Dean Wagner is pastor. ‘There were eight converts to Catholicity. These are to continue to be instructed by the local clergy. The number of communions went over 2,000 and here were 1,975 contessions. ‘fhe fathers occupied above mission were Rey. Fathers Cooney, O'Mahony, Robinson and Maher. ‘The indefatigable and zealous Father Coghlan, aided by Fathers Verdin, Venneman and Bonige, ot the Society of Jesus, have just completed two most successful missions in the city of Chicago—St. Mary's, of which Rev. Father Roles is pastor, and St. Stephen's, presided over by Rey. Father Barrett, In the former over two thousand approached the hol, tuble during the week, and six embraced the fait! taught by the Catholic Church, In the latter nearly three thonsand went to holy communion, and tea presented themselves to be received into the Church. MISCELLANEOUS, Mr, Howell Gardner, evangelist, of Brooklyn, hav- ing finished a very successful engagement in Passaic, N.J., Where about one hundred and fifty persons were converted aud united with the different churches, starts this week for Providence, R. 1., where he is to open a campaign against the devil, the world and the flesh. ‘The press of othercities have been making notes of the church attendance on the Sabbath, and find in Indianapolis, Ind., the total of all deuomiinatious, on # recent Sunday, footed up 25,465. The Methodists and Presbyterians averaged largest, but the Catholics, having service only in the torenoon, and several con- stegations ayyregated 7,535. In Chicago the order of attendance gives the Methodists the lead, the Presby- terians second and the Baptists third, ‘The two first averaged over 1,000 worshippers aud the latter over #00 on 4 recent Sabbath. Out of 537,000 inhabitants in that city the Alliance hus found that only 37,000 attend Protestant churches, The Catholic churches are better attended. Dr. Thain Davidson has conducted religious ser- vices in Agricultural Hall, Islington, London, during ten years, and has been clerically helped by nearly every well known minister in the metropolis of an 1 type; as he says, “from a bishop to a d from an. earl to a costermonger.” And every week some souls have been brought to years, ‘The Fathers of th | # saving knowledge of Christ. YEMPLE AHAWATH CHESED. MAN'S JUDGMENT OF GOD--SERMON BY RABBI ISAAC M, WISE, OF CINCINNATI. Rev. vr. Isaac M. Wisc, one of the most notable rabbies in the West, filled the place of Rev. Dr. Huebsch in the Temple Ahawath Chesed yesterday. His text was from Exodus xxiv., 1-11:—‘And He said unto Moses, come up unto the Lord, thou and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship ye afar off.” The learned rabbi said:— “To go up to God” and “to step up near Him,” can only be understood as metaphors conveying the idea of a perfect knowledge ot Deity, which among those who were the witnesses of revelation was given to Moses only. Therefore it is said of him that he was truly acquainted with the entire household of Provi- dence and that the Most High spoke to him face to face, even asa man speaks to his neighbor, and he beheld the Deity in the most lustrous mirror, the Talmud adds. It is @ great consolation to ‘man that one or some of the race had th ability to understand that which, accord- ing to the Kabalists, not even the angels understand, who ask one another, Where is the place of His glory? This fact places human nature as near the Deity ax the son stands to the father, and the mediating angel between God and man can be human reason only, aud among allcreated beings He alone is God-like, because he only ean con- template eternity, cause, the canxe of causes, God. This pas: furthermore teaches that man’s knowl- edge of God is not a product of evolution; it is a re- sultant o¢ direct revelation. however one might un- derstand this term, and stands completely betore us in the cogitation of Moses. The monothism of Moses is perfect; it admits of no improvement. ‘THE POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVES OF ISRAEL, The seventy elders who were the political repre- sentatives of the children of Isrrel, worshipped from a distance. They did not step up before God with Moses, The Hebrew people celebrated the triumph of redemption from Egyptian bondage. ‘They wanted liberty, independence, equulity and justice, and to thei the revelation of the law was in these particular points most important and intelligible. They could know God as the Redeemer from bondage, the Leg! lator of justice and freedom, the Almighty deliverer; they could not think and reason with Moses, and worshipped from a distance, and saw only that which is under the teet of Elohi this earth with its in- habitants, their fate, history, wants, woes and happi- ness. GOD'S WILL TO BE OBEYED. Still they listened to the revelation and promised to do and obey whatever God might command them. ‘They understood well that God alone could be the legislator for all generations, for He alone knows that which was, is and will be; only He who'has made the heart of man knows its wants and energies under all influences. They knew that justice itselt mast start from certain established principles of law acknowledged by all us true, divine and unalterable; and they heard’ the wonounced to them as the eternal constitution of the human realm. HOW YOUNG IXRAEL WORSHIPPED, And the nobles. or select men cr youths among the children of Israel also worshipped, although it was chiefly by eating and drinking at the sacrificial meal; they also had a vision or a conception of the Elohim, although His power and glory had not reached them; also they promised to do and obey all which God might comimand, Not all men are prophets, philoso- phers, reasoners or masters of learning; not all men are apostles of liberty, champions of independence or high priests of justice; not all men rea- son, struggle and act for many. There are many or whom it. might be maintatned that they are perhaps too ignorant or indolent to rea- son, too feeble to entertain great schemes, too timid or too modest to go beyond their narrow spheres of thought and deed; and yet they are good and excel- lent people in their ways and xpheres of action. They feel the woes of suffering humanity, and wish to help and try to alleviate misery, to dry up tears, to cou- sole, protect, assist, help; they are benevolent, charitable, always ready, Wiling or even desirous to do good to their neighbors, although it is only in cat- ing, drinking, garments and dwelling. Thesc are the nobles or the select ones among the cnildren of Israel, the generous souls, the noble nearts, apostles of suf- fering humanity. ater . TEMPLE BETH-EL. THE TEMPLE OF HUMANITY—SERMON BY REY, DR. HIRSCH, OF LOUISVILLE, KY, The period when the Temple was about to be rebuilt by Zerubbabel was first described by Dr. Hirsch, of Louisville, in his sermon to the congregation assem- bled in the Temple Beth-El, Lexington avenue, be- tween Sixty-second and Sixty-third streets, yesterday morning. Of Zerubbabel and his associates, he said, inveterate idolators, the fathers had departed; de. voted worshippers of the one and only God, the sons returned, The iron smelting furnace of keen misfortune had separated the worthless dross from the sterling gold. With what cmotions must these regenerated descendants of degenerate ancestors have approached the sacred spot tor which their souls had so long and so ardently pined, around which the tearful memories of an eventful past clustered, in which the stern duties of the present centred, from which the bright hopes of an unknown future sprang. Ours, too, my friends, is the sucred obligation to rebuild the temple of hu- manity. We, too, this day are standing before a shapeiess mass of wnsighily ruins, every broken rafter, every cracked pillar urging us on to set them right.” What was it that overthrew the sanctuary ? ‘What are the sins which we, the returned exiles, will have first to eradicate if our work of reconstruction is not to fail? Three causes combined to overthrow the Temple—idolatory, disregard of the nobility of man and bloody strife; and are not the same disin- tegrating influences operative in our own times? PREVALENCE OF IDOLATR Mdolatry—that is, indifference to true religion—is the characteristic feature in the pnysiognomy of our . Church und synagogue are tellow sufferers from the bane, Antagonists during many centuries, the irony ot history bas willed them to be comforters reciprocally under the smart of common injury. The spacious temples and richly ornamented tabernicles everywhere greeting our eye seem to have been erected but to becoine costly m ntal tombs. ity munitested of in building but the delusive cnevgies of the dying ays id the payantiam of the present age when contrasted with that of former times. Where then there was poctr art now there is naught bat cold, bar icuce? The heathen, deitying nature, at least kuew how to warm and cheer the sentient heart; while our self-conceited, — self-admirin, atheist can only shudder and tremble in the cold, vast void he himself has fashioned with netarious hands, As of old so now man becomes the slave of natwe, not her master. The guilt that divides him trom the lowest of animals dwindles down to essentially nothing. In common with the whole of nature, we are told, our existence oscillates between the two poles, self-preservation and the per- petuation of our own kind. We talk of mind and Roars, and are asked, What are they more than brain tissue and muscle? of love, and we are told that it is but another form of selfishness, Honesty is, perhap: the best policy, but in itself of no intri sic value. Thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not murder, are pot eternal truths, but only laws enacted by society for mutual self-protection. Jus- tice veils haggard face, while cunning and tricky smartness everywhere wield the sceptre. But in the depths of our hearts reigns the genial sunshine of a clear conscience, freeing us trom the iron grasp of low sensuality, elevating us far above the considerations of outward circumstances. It wiil Pg ‘us from the gorg palaces of the wealthy to he lowly cottages of the poor; it will smooth the pillow the Vea ag his fevered brow and wench his maddening ‘ It is this that gives the sweet hope of immortality. ‘The Divine in Us can never die, Not from mere no- thingness are we evolved to return to nothingness when our life here is ended, Not the cradle and the coffin mark the confines of our existence, Virtue and jo will pad hon Fe oe = will usher ‘us into a life beyond, of er duties greater tur timacy with our Father aud God, 13 FININCLIL AND COMMERCIAL, The Stock Market Active and Strong. THE BANK STATEMENT. Government Bonds Dull, States Lower and Railroads Strong. Money on Call Easy at4a8a 2 1-2 Per Cent. ii Wate STREET. H SartRpay, Dec, 2s—6 P. M. Tpon the Stock Exchange an active business wae transacted to-day in ull the prominent specialties, and without exception there was an improvement shown in closing prices. The Northwesterns led the way, as it was natural they should have done, backed up as they are by the best speculative talent and bank accounts of the street. Higher prices bya matter of ten per cent are confidently predicted, and the reported earnings of the road would seem to justify this anticipation. It is, however, to be re- membered that the article of “taffy’’ is cheap, and that the free distribution of it in the shape of points to buy costs the givers (whatever it may cost the acceptors) little or nothing. Like Daniel in the lion's den, the first named are in a position to see the show for nothing. While the North- westerns secured an advance of nearly one per cent upon the day’s work their companion granger, the St. Paul road, attempted to vie with them in sym- pathetic emulation, ‘The attempt was successful so far as the preferred shares were concerned, a rise be- ing secured of nearly one point, but was unsuccess+ ful in the case of the common stock, which closed as it had opened. There is reason to believe that the next comparative sta‘@uent of earnings (which this company is to be commended for giving with praise- worthy regularity, whether it be of good report or | bad report) will show a material increase instead of | decrease, a8 was expected, and this belief helped to stiffen values to-day. The anthracites were irreg- ular, Delaware and Lackawanna being weak, Jersey Central strong and Delaware and Hudson steady, The first named sold down at one time to 41, which, if memory serves, is the lowest quotation for the year; the second gained nearly one per cent on the publication of its probable connection with the Balti- more and Ohio road and the third remained firm from the support of buyers who were identified with the rise of last summer. Meanwhile coal is selling at about $2 20 per ton, and it is rumored that the Dela- ware and Lackawanna Company will offer 100,000 to 150,000 tons at auction shortly after the first of the year. Erie was inclined to weakness, Western Union remained firm and neglected and Lake Shore rising to 70 received its customary black eye and retired to the safer quarters of 69 and a fraction. The petition of some six hundred members, requesting the Goyern ing Committee to establish some modus operandi by which fractional shares can be conveniently dealt in, was favorably received by that body and steps will at once be taken to perfect a plan. Probably the system of bi-monthly settlements in vogue upon the London Stock Exchange will be adopted, and if the plan worka smoothly it may be extendel‘to the settlement of larger transactions as well. Apart from the stocks re. ferred to the market was dull. There was more ani- mation, however, in the Gold Room, where the com. modity was in demand for borrowing purposes, and the premium advanced thereby to 1-32, which was bid in the street after Board hours. The opening, highest, lowest and closing prices of stocks at the New York Stock Exchange to-day were:—= Opening. Highest. Lowest. Closing, Delaware & Hudeon.. 37? BT), 37 bat D4 ds 937, vw 134, Mls = 10 214 20% Lake Shore.... 7 695, Morris & Esse: 4 “ Northwestern . i 494 483g Northwestern pref. 76%, 16% St. Paul..........++5+ B54, 35% | St. Paul preferred. ... 1% TN Del., Lack. & Western. 42 41 Michigan Central.....b7 1% «= 71% Union Pacific 664, 66 Rock Island, lak 1203 Wabash . _ - Central of N 93% 81 Kansas & Texas 6 575 C, C&L. . 5 Canada Southern. 45 43 N. J. Southern... 144 2g 14 ‘The closing quotations at three P. M. wer: At & Pac Tel Chicago &.N W Chi & NW pre! chi, REE St ora Sy Bur WASP pref. 74° 7 Y Central mo 11d she it gait itt Shiengo & Alte Chic & Alton p: Canton ama. Pr Pitts & Fort W.. Quicksilver. . Han & StJo Han & St Jo pi. IN Contral Kansas & Texas. 5? ‘The total sales of gated 165,260 shares, which were distributed as fole lows :—Canada Southern, 1,600; Chicago and North. western, 8,400; do, preferred, 14,660; Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific, 615; C., C. and I. C., 406; Dela ware, Lackawanna and Western, 51,130; Delaware and Hudson Canal, 1,105; Erie, 22,140; Lake Shore, 13,222; Michigan Central, 600; Mi.waukee and St. Paul, 5,400; do. preferred, 6,200; Missouri, Kansas and Texas, 400; Morris and Essex, 3,010; New York Central, 270; do, preferred, 4,200; New Jersey Southern, 3,122; Pacific Mail, 600; Union Pacific, 500; Western Union Teles graph, 7.1 Money on call lent at 4 a5 per cent, and at the closa as low as 2!, percent. The following were the rates of exchange on New York at the undermentioned cities to-day :—Charleston, scarce, buying 316 dia« count, selling par; New Orleans, commercial 4 5-16, bank ‘,; St. Louis, 25e. discount; Chicago, steady, buying 1-10 discount, selling 1/10 premium, and Boston 25c. premium. Foreign exchange was dull, as is usnal on Saturdays. The rates remain at 4.83 and 4.88!, for bankers’ short and sixty days* sterling. ‘The bank statement shows a small, loss in all the items except legal tenders, which have increased $1,167,100, In the other averages the most important change is in that of circulation, which has been re duced over $500,000, The banks gain $873,675 in sure plus reserve and now hold $10,478,775 in excess of legal requirements. The following shows the con dition of the New York city banks this week, as come pared with last :— Dec. 2, Dec, 2%, | Differences. Loans. 285,974,100 $295,824,400 Deo. $149,700 Specie. 20,911,500 20,514,100° Dec... 397, Legal tenders 39,600,009 40,767,100 Deposits .....200,625,400- 20s, 209,700 Circulation... 20,077,000 19,576,700 Dec. Gold sold all day at 100 1-64, ‘The borrowing rates were 1 to 2 per cent. ‘The Clearing House statement was :— Currency exchanges Currency balances. Gold exchanges. Gold balances. . —and the weekly Clearing House statement was ag follows :— Currency exchanges 325,696, 134, Currency balances: 16,323,515, Gold exchanges, 475,796 Gold balances, as 4,746,559 The gold clearings at the National Bank of the State of New York were;— Gold balances. ... $951,150 Currency balances. 951,410 Gold clearings... +s 4,683,000 Government bonds were dull but firm, and they closed firm at the following quotations :— United Staves currency sixes ........ United States sixes, 1441, registered. United States sixes, |, coupon.... United States sixes, 1867, registered, United States sixes, 1867, coupon.... 1 United States sixes, 1868, registered United States sixes, 1908, coupon... 109