The New York Herald Newspaper, March 2, 1879, Page 6

CHRISTIANITY'S FAILURE. Opinions of Religious Press and Correspondents. RELIGIONS GREAT NEED 1S DEVOUTNESS. Plus Separation of Creeds from Christ and a Woman to Lead. “MEN PLAYED OUT IN CHURCH AND STATE.” While the Henatp has published the views of cor- respondents on this important question a few of our religious exchanges have taken the matter up, not to reply, but rather to give evidences of its suceess or failure. Forinstance, Dr, Stork, of Baltimore, writes to the Jndependent concerning what he calls “ecclesi- astical gimcracks,” and which prove either the posi- tive or the negative of the question, Is Christianity a failure ? according to the way one reads it, Among those ‘‘gimcracks" the Doctor finds “affinity tables,” “eredence brackets,” “fouled stools,” “litany des! “maniples, chalice veils, pede mats, pastoral staves and sedilia.”” Then his admiration was called out by the ‘devotional chairs,” with double seats, on the upper of which one sits to read and meditate, and then turning it up, kneels on the lower to pray. Then there are fonts and fontlets and oak font buckets and a host of other things, which Dr. Stork wonders how they are used in the worship of God. And yet these are the things he declares that are leading Protestants Romeward and which lately led neighbor of his, Dr. Gans, of the German Reformed Church, into the Catholic fold. In one aspect of these ‘ecclesiastical gimcracks” Christianity is a failure. It makes those things more important than the spiritual lite of the soul. But, of course, the writer has no faith in them whatever, and therefore gives a ludicrous twist to his entire description of them. Dr. Debaun discusses in the Intelligencer the indict- ment of the Church by the world. This indictment he puts into three propositions—namely, Christians are not in earnest, they are no better than other people, and religion does not make them any better, and, consequently, Christians generally are hypo- crites pretending to be what they are not. These propositions the Doctor enlarges upon. IftheChurch were in earnest, if Christians were in earnest, noth- ing else in all this world would be counted worth doing in compasison with sending the Gospel of salvation to every creature, and Christians would search and send after souls with infinitely more eagerness than other men dig for hidden treas- ure. But Christians take the whole matter of the ruin and salvation of souls so quietly that it cannot be possible that they are in earnest. Christians pro- fess to have renounced the world, and to havo be- come citizens of a better country, and to have found infinitely better riches than the things here which perish with the using. But generally they are as eager after worldly gain as ure men of the world, and not a few of them need very close watching in a bar- gain. Very many Christians are as fond of worldly pleasure as worldly men are, and some, the latter say, are mean and underhanded in their dealings and very unpleasant companions and associates because of their utter selfishness and disregard of the feel- ings and rights of others. Some are censorious, captious, fault-tinding and incapable of seeing any good even in their brethren, and always ready to pull down the good reputation of others, Thero are passionate Christians, who have fearful tempers and are not careful how they give them vent; Christians who are very loose in their conver- sation, saying things which Would be shameful from the mouth of a respectable man of the world; Christians who let tneir children run wild, with no apparent sense of common parental responsi- bility; Christians who aro scheming, revonge- ful, unprincipled. And because men of the world make no profession of religion they excuse themselves when they do or say mean things, but doubly condemn Christians who are thus guilty. And so, Dr. Debaun declares, they try to have a con- tempt for the Church and the professors of religion, and to look down upon them from a more honest and open, if not an actually higher standpoint of morality and substantial goodness. At any rate, they make all this an excuse for disregarding all the claims of re- gion. In another article the Doctor will answer these charges which are here in substance stated. The Baptist Weekly thinks that just now there is nothing more necessary to present religion in its highest aspect to the world than greater devoutness. Intellectually it is nobly represented and has the support of the most enlightened and cultivated minds of Christendom, and the educated men of most communities constitute no small part of the membership of our churches. The disciplined minds of the present time are not exclusively in our pulpits; they are found in the pews, and the views which they hold of divine truth are such as they have received from their own study of the Scriptures, and are such as they are qualified to teach and defend, Activity in the Church, the Werkly thinks, is not so much lacking as devout- ness. Intellectual religion and consecration to work, it says, are developments of Christianity to be commended; but without the element of de- voutness there is a defect greatly to be deplored, and for the want of which other traits furnish no com- pensation. The following correspondence on the same general subject indicates that the interest in it is not dying out. ‘The first comes from a woman, resident in this city, who declares she would rather yo without her @inner than her Hrnatp, She writes:— To tne Eprrox or the Henatp:— We all feel au interest in the question, ‘Is Chria- tianity a failure?’ and have our own thoughts in to it, which if given to the public may pro- voke further discussion of the subject and lead to a ter knowledge of the truth. I believe that Jesus’ teachings were #n embodiment of principles as cternal as the Infinite mind, and they have manifested themselves whenever a Luman or- ganism has been sufiicicntly perfected for their as that of a Moses, a Joshua, the prophets and antient pocts and philosop that they gave a deific splendor to His own , the influence of which will remain torever, while churches and creeds ‘will fall int We learn from the history past ages good never dies, and that it is continually overcoming evil. Bo we believe that whatever is useless to the world will in due time be swept away. A mnonies of the Church among the re not needet—when man shall be- prshipper “in spirit and in truth.” ve that the Christ spiritean never die warts of men. But better harmonize with the more expanded heart and intellect of the people. And, by the way, does not the Christi correspond somewhat with the ideas conta ed in paganism respecting its gods and Bons of gods? 8S. W. K. This is from a Fredericksburg correspondent, who writes To 11 Eprron or THe Hrenatp:— The answer of three-fourths of the people of the civilize’ world to this momentous qnestion “Is be * A aystem its intrinsic merit won its way anity, Wherever and whenever fully aud fairly presented, a system that won prose- lytes from the bigoted Jews; a system that con- quered the stern and warlike Koman; a system that subdued the savage and barbarous Franks and Goths; ® system that tamed the fery Saxons; @ system. before whose wondrous onward march the old mythologies paled into nothingness; a syatem that in the comparatively short space ot eighteen hun- dred years has encircled the world and bi ft the breath of modern civilizat of morals right ean be a tailnre, or nations ineven th ree can be a ure, rom the Creator adapted t times and py to whom it was given. So t ligion of ¢ 80 of the manifestation of Brahma; so of But all became perverted the Buddhiem was « th » its wonderful mands of the divine part of human fx no sooner wnderstuod than it the peopios. Stripped ot all a al] mysticism, Christianity a set forth in the Bible Offers to man the purest and most complet ot morals that wo haye ever knowa, & NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, MARCH 2, 1879.-QUINTUPLE SHEET. code defective m no particular; therefore, if for no other reason, Christianity is not a failure. That the religion of Christ has been perverted, been made the cloak for innumerable vices, is true. That, as ‘one of your correspondents has suggested, we have too much church and too little truth is no less true. That the tendency of the age is in religious ritualism, in the secular world materialism, is also true. This is not strange. Just as Pro- fessor Edison described the beam of light as dancing up and down the graduated scale o: his instrument, but finally settling true to the micdie, so feeling may oscillate from one extremity to the other, but it must finally settle on the line of the true and good. The remedy for this 48 going to come in the new awakening that is even now to be faintly discerned in the Church herself. It may be a new revelation. It may end in the over- throw of what we call the Church. If the present system of churches wishes to hold its own it must strip for the fight; it must cast off all mere doctrines, and ‘throw aside the old superstitions and, discarding the teachings of either Moses or Paul, place itself squarely on the theology of Christ as set forth in the “Sermon on the Mount.” Say what we will of the Church it is open to criticism; but in the light of what Christianity has done, in the light of the civilization it has fos- tered and promoted, in@he light of purer manners and better laws that it has fostered, in the light of a purified and enlightened humanity, let no one say that Christianity is a failure. W. 8. WHITE, The next is a city correspondent, who writes :— To THe Eprror oF THE HERALD:— , I read with interest your comments on the two letters you published in your valuable paper some time ago seut you by acouple of persons who evi- dently wish Christianity was a failure, and who, al- though they take a right view of certain denomina- tions calling themselves Christians, pass judg- ment without reflection or ignorantly upon all the foliowers ot our Saviour. Agreeing with you in the main, inasmuch as you lament the decay of real ‘religious fervor, the growing infidelity, corruption of ministers, &e., I beg the liberty to difler with you us to the extent of this falling away from pure Christianity. That it takes in that vast body of the religious family called Catholic I am constrained to deny. Not but that the manners and sinful habits of some of my cereligionists war- rant you to arrive at such a conclusion (for in all still more of it, so as to insist on helping the world out of the wire where masculinity has placed it, re- gardiess of the abuse she gets for her pains, then shall Christianity be proved not “a failure,” and the real femininity of Christ's character be ized and sought after. 1 wandered into a very elegant church on Fifth avenue last Sunday, and with all my scepticism about the sincerity of the pastor, I yet was astonished at the fearful waste of time devoted to the sermon. The study was how not to rouse the religious element dormant be- neath the velvet and doeskin, No one less than an Atheist could have dared to stand there as the pro- fessed leader and then swathe the flock into such dead repose. How every thoughtful woman must have longed for the chance to say to these indolent, rich people, that they must rouse themselves to the duties of the day, That each one must individually come in contact with and raise up the fallen; how each beauti- ful home must be open at intervals to the homeless; how their feasts must ve spread, occa- sionally at least, for the hungry and helpless, and that they themselves must ‘‘stand like those raiiaag for the Lord.” Not only general appeals, but speci instructions should be given by women from the pulpit. Yet these proud men will neither suffer us to come, nor enter the kingdom themselves. The subject of the surface address to which I refer was one which especially called for earnest expostulation and vehement charges. So far as I can recoliect not one particle of instruction was given. The theolog- ical schools speak for themselves. Back of the dis- raceful scenes stands the fact that were an angel imself to ask for adinission to study for the minis- try, if in woman’s form, a rough refusal would be Strange indeed that women leave money and give the service of their lives to so inconsistent un institution, which, in deflance of the primal law of Christianity, excludes them from any honorable position, SHAWANSBEKE, CORRESPONDENTS’ CURRENT THOUGHTS. To test practically the question, “Is Christianity failure?” a correspondent who styles himself “Judra” has made a tour among certain churches, and sends the results to the HERALD as an addition to its current literature on this great question. He found All Souls (Unitarian) a most unique edifice, select bodies some of the members are wanting), but to condemn all for a few is hardly fair. You say that the great need of the day is some apostolic man or body of men who will preach the Gospel truths with primitive fervor and enkindle the earth with their burning words. Now, if you would but take a walk up to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, on East Fourteenth street, in this city, you would, I am persuaded, say that such men aré living and are doing very much toward that end. The Jesuit Fathers are now giving a mission in that church, and from half-past four o'clock 1n the morn- ing till after ten o’clock at night those zealous mis- sionaries are at work. The first mass is at five A. M., and then, in rapid succession, mass afteremass 1s celebrated till half-past eight o'clock, when the last mass is said, at the end of which a sermon is delivered. The priests then enter the confes- sionals, where they remain nearly all the day— almost to midnight. Between eighteen and twenty thousand persons are making this mission. Does this look like a falling oft from fervor? In the evening, at hulf-past seven o'clock, along and power- ful sermon is preached, in which the doctrines of the Church are explained, such as the real presence in the bl sacrament, &c., particularly adapted for Protestants and other non-Catholics. Another mis- sion was going on in the Dominican Church, Sixty- sixth street and Lexington avenue, last week. And these are only two cases among hundreds in this grandland of ours, for missions are being held nearly all the time somewhere in the country. I might go further, were it necessary, and speak of the self-sacrificing spirit of our religious orders, “both of men and women, to show that Christianity is nota failure. The austerity of the Order of Trap- pists is well known, as is, perhaps, also that of the Carthusians. But I draw attention to the Passionists, one of whose inonasteries, St. Michael's, is in Hobo- ken. The members of this Order fast three days in every week ot the year (besides Lent, of course), take the discipline (that is, scourge themselves) as often, wear no shoes or stockings, only sandals, except when they appear abroad on missions, &c. every morning at half-past one o’cl chant matins and lauds of the Divine offic out their rooms, make their own hard bed: 1. common with all religious orders of the Catholic Church, observe silence at their irugal meals, while one of the community reads a book aloud from a pulpit. Then there aro the Sisters of Charity we are so tamiliar with. How many of the fashionable ladies that pass them on Broadway and elsewhere imagine that they arise in the morning, even in the bitter cold of winter, at the very early hour of four o’clock? Then to what a degree of calm perfection have not the Jesnits arrived where, at a word from the Superior, long cherished plans—the fruit perhaps of much study and a gifted mind—have to be relinquished and the mind turned to some other theme of good doing. Few are aware of the interior perfection required of the Jesuit. But I have said enough to prove, I think, that Christian- ity is not a failure and that it is not by any means dead, but is a grand success and in a flourishing con- dition. VERITAS. “A Brooklyn Baptist” replies to James Owen O’Connor’s attack on the cause of the Master, and writes :— ‘To the Eprtor or THE HERALD:— The sword of the spirit is the word of God, What is the Bible but the lite and teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles? Betore making his assertions if J. 0, O'Connor had studied the subject, which his writing proves he knows nothing about, he would find that there is but one Bible, so far as the New . Testament is concerned, which is all that we have to do with. A few words have been omitted or altcred to suit the present Romish Church, which substitutes “do penance” for “repent” and “repentance.” Any one by reading the Douay version itself attentively can sec this is a wrong version. Christianity is giv- ing our whole hearts not to the Roman, the Baptist, the Methodist or any other Church, but to the Lord Jesus Christ, who redeemed us with His own pre- cious blood. "The Church of Christ is in the hearts of His people; theretore it cannot be a failure, Jesus Christ is the rock on which it is built, and He has told us the gates of heil shall not provail against it. “Founded by the salacious and adulterous Henry VIIL” Was there ever any one who dared to wor- ship God according to the dictates of his own conscience who was not @ rascal and ® villain who was kicked out of the Romish Church? “Your medium Baptist, with his elemental water idiosyncrasyg’ Does Jamex Owen O'Connor call himsvlf a memfer of thetrue Church ot Christ, and yet speak in such ® manner of one of the sacraments, instituted by Our Lord himeelf, and diessed by His example to keep us in remembrance of His death and resurrection till He comes again? In J. 0. O'Connor so blind that he cannot see that the Church of Clement VIL. has, to give way to the Church of Christ? What, suppose you, would Paul, who says in his first cpistle to ' Corinthians, i, 13, “Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you, or were ye baptized in the name Paul?” — arhat would He say were He to come on earth and go rot low sh our cities and see churches, claiming to fol- is teachings, with such names as St. Paul's, St. Ann’s and soon, and people calling Shristians with patron saints in every city? The Romish Church claims to be founded on the Lord and His apostles. I defy her to give one word of authority from the teachings or example of our . or any of His apostles, to ray to or give any honor to the Virgin ry. “Thero is no other name but that of Jesus given among men, whereby ye may be saved,” the apostle tells us. The Bible merely tells us that the Virgin Mary said that “all nations should rise np an call her blessed,” as she certainly was, in her near association with our Lord while He was on earth. If she had not been one of the Lord's people she would not have been chosen to bear the body our Lord took while on the earth. The first commandment in the Douay Bible says, “Thon shalt not make thyself a graven thing, nor the like- ness of anything that is in the heaven above.” There in scarcely a Roman Catholic family that has not an image of the Virgin Mary, blessed by the priest, which they hold in great veneration. Where is the authority for this in the teachings of our Lord or His apostles. Lastiy, I defy the Komish Church to give the least shadow of authority for that practice which holds its subjects in such complete bondage to man—confession to its priests. The Bible tells the early Christians not to go to law with unbelievers, as all the nations around them were cither Jews, who were their bitterest enemics, or heathens, but to keep all their troubles within the Church, and if any one committed any sin against his brother to coniess it; not to any man, but to the Church of God, which was all brethren there—not popes, bishops and riests. Having both versions of the Bible, in my Master's name and in defence of His causo I doty any one in Romish Church to answer me these things from the Word of God. A BROOKLYN BAPTIST. Our next correspondent is a lady, who telis us that men are played out, and what the Church or Cliris- tianity wants now is temale leaders, She writes:— To tHe Eprron or tHe Herany:— Your correspondent of Sunday last, J. 0. O'Connor, Bays, among other things to be dixproved, that th Komish branch of thy rch has turbance, “no yearning after something new,” &c. Does he forget the ultramentane disturbances ? The strite between the civil and ecclesiastical powers in Kome itself? The flourishing offshoot of his communion led by Pére Hyacinthe? Me admits the ‘necessity of the uprising of aman of genius and apostolic ter- yor,” &c. Should we substitute the word woman for man truth would be apparent. Men are played ont; thoy have done all they could in Church and State, and what have we? Well, we have in the State a financial deadlock, and such & condition of things in our judiciary that one is @ fool to peal to law for justice. ven the Spaniards say, “La justicia se a." Justice burns, Our legistative ‘power 1s contessedly most corrupt. Just now, beside other deviltry, it is trying to legalize prostitution. As to the executive, We are no longer sure who really is elected President. “Taxation without rpees nta- tion’ is enforced against more than halt of the citizens of the Republic. Education at public expense leaves out of view the moral ele- ment of character; and there are a thousand more inconsistencies and iniquities permeating the State. When the Charch foliows snit in trying to prosper without giving freedom to women she will as lamentably tail. God did not create us until He elf-conceited mon that he ¢ ish fellow hax gone on “like as it were a beast before The: fieent power of Christianity rehes of Heavenly Rest,” instead of When woman shall overcome with her “4 earthly work. cheerful, cosey and attractive. A ponderous organ loft hangs suspended upon two frail pillars at the left side of the church, which made him uncom- fortable during the entire service, lest it should tumble down inopportunely and crush to atoms the poor.sinners beneath it, as did the Tower of Siloam in the days of yore. Those who pay for this privilege are to be commiserated and deserve @ special dispensation of grace. He liked the solo singing of the quartette which occupied this gallery exclustvely, but their singing together was not hur- monious or pleasant. The congregation were quite willing to allow the choir to monopolize this part of the worship altogether. Dr. Bellows preached a ser- mon on tenement houses and suggested that the remedy for the present overcrowding is improved dwellings, the appointment of kindly disposed agents and collectors of rents and matrons who should en- force cleanliness and order. The Doctor complimented the Roman Catholic Church for its influence over the masses of the people and its ability to interest them as Protestants never had been able to do, While the Doctor condemned the elevated railroads for their audacious assumption of private rights he nevertheless looked upon them as a great blessing in giving the working people access to homes beyond the heart of the city. Providence seemed to be saying to the working men that this is one of their opportunities. Our correspondent then asks if, in view of this tenement house movement, Christianity is a failure? What, he asks, has brought about this condition of affairs? and how far is Chris- tianity responsible for it? To these and kindred questions ‘‘Judra”’ received no reply last Sunday in All Souls’ Church. The discourse seemed to him rather like the gilded ratters of the. edifice than a practical suggestion of remedy for the evils com- plained of. “Poter Bingley,” another correspondent, gives us his views on revelation, which he defines to be a direct revealing by Almighty God of Himself to His crea- tures, Any revelation from Deity, he thinks, must be as eternal as eternity, for with Him there is no change. Time, circumstance, race or locality can- not alter a divine decree. Some forty years ago the cry was all about the blessed Book, the whole Book, nothing but the Book, and to search the Scriptures, Well, poor fellow, he did search them, and into what a blessed state of confusion they have thrown him, For several years he attended the ministrations of the Wesleyan Church; but, from its close resem- blance to Antinomianism, he left it. That, no doubt, was a good thing for Peter, and, perhaps, for the Wesleyan Church. But Peter was on his travels and brought up soon after among the Unitarians, whose ism he soon discovered to be the highway to atheism. ‘Peter Bingley’s” next move was into the Cathotic Church, But even there he was not happy. The immuculate conception dogma disturbed his peace of mind, and then Papal infallibility was the straw that broke the camel's back. Peter night have withstood one ¢ but two were too many tor him. He was of an inquiring turn of mind, and asked himself why God should have left the world in darkness tor eighteen centuries concerning those two important doctrines? He thinks it strange that toward the close of the nineteenth century the Lord should have projected this new basis of salvation. He believes it is a serious matter for a man auxious to save his soul to stand face to face with doctrines so conflicting and contusing. Well, the result of this instability of mind and purpose is that Peter has begun the study of the Bible now at this late day, aud, naturally enough, with all his prejudices and predispositions, he finds contradictions in the opening chapters ot Genesis. He cannot, of course, reconcile them, but, like a sensible man, passes on, He has come in his studies as far as the histories of Abraham, Isaac and Lot, and in his opinion three bigger scamps never trod the sand lots of Califor- nia. If the account be correct Peter is impressed that the Lord was not very Cochran in the choice of His bosom friends. What a pity Peter was not one of those bosom friends, then the Lord would have been saved this sneer at His circumspection of choice! Mr. Wiltiam H. H. McClintock, ot New Bloomticid, Pa., sends an epistie to the Henan on Ingersoll and. Moses. He admires Ingersoll’s high order of intel- t, but deplores the base uses to which that intel- lect'is apphed. Colonel Ingersoll’s form of infidelity is growing more than the Church suspects, The Colonel gives his jearers painted perversions of his- tory, grand schisms of unbelief, and strong appeals to human depravity and ignorance. Parente who send children to school to learn everything else but the Bible are not to be pitied if such men as Inger- soll get their sons’ ears in after life. Our colleges teach high mathematics, Horace and Virgil, to the utter neglect of religion. Let us be condemned along with the outspoken infidel for the want of proper training to the rising generation. Ingersoll will tell you, “The college is no place to learn re- ligion,” and ‘Christians agree with the puerile re- mark. No student of theology has any patience with ‘attempts to call Moses a deceiver when no deception can be pointed out. Can we believe that Moses, being a man of great power, deluded the people, and made them believe in marveis which did not exist? Could you make a nation® believe that bread fell from heaven to feed them if itdid not? That they dwelt forty years in a sandy dosort if they did not? or waiked though a river with- out touching water if they did not? Itis all fudge. ‘Then, again, some want to orate about the correct- ness of the jaw of Moses. Where did he get the law? Moves was not an artful politician: he dia not make the law; but got it at the toot of a burning moun- tain. Then Moses was plain spoken. He tailed not to denounce sinners. He was not covetous for honor or fame. His tamily died in obscurity. A true prophet inust tell nations of their sins, and hence 18 hated by men. Those furthest from God are first to denounce His servants. ‘Rollin’s Ancient History” should be read in connection with the prophecy of Daniel, and then everything fits, Lecturers should be careful lest they speak unadvisedly with their lips against the servants of Him “who ‘sitteth in the heavens.” Moses is too far removed from danger for the feeble darts of Colonei Ingersoll to wound him. owes, With all his mistakes, has reached an enviable position. He stands on the pin- nacle of fame, Millions of people shouted his praises on the plains of Moab, and the song of “Moses and the Lamb” still reverberates around the evrth. He died in the faith of Christ, the hope of heaven and the promised land in full view. the langw of one who knew Moses he most authentic of ancient historians; the most pe ting, dignified and illuminated of prophets; the profoundest and kagost of legislators; the prinee of orators and poets; the most excellent and amiable of men, and the firtaest and most faith- ful of believers.’ Ingersoll is, ike Job's friends, & miserable comforter, True wisdom is found in humble piety. ‘the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.” A great imtellect, when controlled by the jewel of picty, shines with ‘increasing splendor. ‘The stupor of ignorance and unbelief veils our eyes, and hence our wun ix never unciouded. We shoul all go to God, like Moses, for knowled, id then our correspondent thinks that He who said ‘‘let there be light, aud there was light,” will illume our de- praved ‘and darkened understanding. PRIESTLY DISCIPLINE. A CATHOLIC’S VIEWS UPON THE LAXITY OF DI8+ CIPLINE AMONG THE CLERGY OF His CHURCH IN AMBRICA—-STARTLING ACCUSATIONS, To tHe Evrron or tHe Herawp:— In connection with modern habits and diseipline in the conduct of the churches of Christian denomina- tions in America, the letter to the Hmnanp signed “Old Fashioned Christian” has been read with great attention by great numbers. Owing to a certain ambiguity, perhaps designed, on the part of the writer, there is unfortunately room left for the members of each denomination to “lay the flattering unction to their souls” that the her natural self-abuegation, or rather when she hag | facts related do not concern their particular sect of Christians. I am a Catholic and do not believe in self-deception. Hence, finding that very many of the statements in “Old Fashioned Christian's” letter have special relevancy to my church, I think it but just to point them out, I do this in all earnest- ness, To such an extent has ‘the extraordinary con- a of many bishops and priests in this country disvouraged and disgusted me that were it not for my firm conviction of the teachings of the Catholic Church being the absolute truth in religion I should become an infidel, for I believe there is no half way between faith in the Catholic Church and infidelity. First let me say that the self-denial and suffering of the eurly missionaries have few imitators in the Present generation, and too often nowadays the young priest may be openly heard exulting in the wealth and numbers of the parish to which he has succeeded, Never will you hear these young clergy- men speak of the number of souls they havea chance of saving. To this degrading worldliness is added a sordidness of ambition and a petty jealousy difficult to conceive without intimate knowledge. No lieu- tenant in the army is more anxious for his ‘‘step’* than many of the young assistants, and if by any chance a talented clergyman is adopted to the diocese from another diocese or another country, the stir among these young priests is the reverse of edifying. Indignation meetings are held by them, and the au- thorities are petitioned against the new comer being allowed to take precedence of them. A great source of many of the troubles in the Catholic Church in America is the fact that there is no canon law in this country. ‘The ordinary of the diocese is the law to his priests. An effort was made—a feeble one, it is true—to remedy this at the last Council of Baltimore. Very little was done in the way of granting rights or privi- leges to pastors or assistants. The reason is very plain, The Council consisted of the epis- copate and their theologians (who all expect to become bishops) as well as the heads of the regular orders. Why the first two divisions of the Council did next to nothing may be surmised, and as the regular orders have no necd of canon law, their constitutions being their canons, they did not interest themselves in what did not immediately con- cern them, What the Council actually did in the matter of dis- cipline, well intentioned as it may have been, almost absolutely failed of effect, and the ‘“pre- cepts,” “recommendations” or ‘“mandaments’’ are daily violated by the secular priesthood. Among these violations I may emphasizo the wearing of the Roman collar, the abstention from visiting places where liquor is sold, the use of picnics and water excursions for the purpose of rais- ing funds, the charging for admission to the church at mass, and so on to the endof thechapter. It needs but little exercise of memory on the part of tens of thousands of Catholics to recall instances where these “precepts” have been treated as if they never existed. In consequence of the numerous cases of trouble between bisnops and priests, which were appealed to Rome, the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, which has dominion over all mission- ary countries, has created a law that each bishop in the United States bhall appoint threo or four of the most learned and holy pastors of his diocese before whom all cases of disagreement may be brought, This law takes away from bishops the power they have hitherto held and frequently abused of changing about their priests at their whim or pleasure. It is satisfactory to many of the bishops who do not like the odium of even having to remove passive or ineffective priests, Not so is it regard«d by another class of bishops, who look upon it with alarm, as an entering wedge forasystem of canon law as it obtains in other countries. They are bit- terly opposed to it, and Bishop McQuade is now in Rome trying to have it modified on their behalf. ‘These constant disagreements lead naturally to the question, What causes them? Why is there more trouble in this country between bishops and priests, between one priest and his brethren? They are produced by the same cause that creates troubles in everyday life—namely, money; the greed of it, not the want of it, In no other country in the world are the priesthood as well off financially as they are here. When the Church is poor or oppressed it is pure; when wealthy it presents many exceptions to purity, When riches are realily acquired by almost every priest and the field of pecuniary profit is full of golden prizes what wonder that the scramble for fat livings should present repulsive features. Incompe- tence and ignorance hold grimly on to every venal advantage gained, and the new comers clamor and eabal for the places of the old. Decency is shocked by the diatribes with which further food of Mammon is exacted from the poorest congregations. Amid all this greed, theac everlasting squabbles among the priests and appeals for more money and still more to the laymen, what is the chance for the souls of the neglected thousands in almost every parish? Iam not writing from hearsay, but from painful observa- tion, and there are too many painful incidents in the modern history of the Church in America to permit of my statements being seriously disputed. CATHOLICUS, CHARITY’ NOBLE WORK. TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OP THE NURSERY AND CHILD'S HOSPITAL—THE ANNUAL MEET- ING YESTERDAY-—RESULT OF A YEAR'S WORK. The twenty-fifth anniversary of the establishment of the Nursery and Child's Hospital was celebrated yesterday at the institution, Fifty-first street, corner of Lexington avenue. The annual meeting was held at noon, and there was a large attendance of the patrons and managers. Rey. Dr. Courtenay, assist- ant rector of St. Thomas’ Protestant Episcopal Church, presided. Rev. Dr. Tiffany and Mr. Erastus Brooks delivered appropriate addresses, z Mrs. Du Bois, the first directress, read the report of the directors, which stated that the six schools of the institution were progressing satisfactorily, but the number of children had increased so rapidly that it had been necessary to send some of the chil- dren to the West. During the last month twelve of the older girls had been placed in private families; they had been well trained and educated; they now carned their own board and $2 50 por month. Their places were filled by hungry and neg- lected chikiren. The records of the institution showed that three-fourths of the children admitted were paupers because of their parents’ vices, which for the most part took the form of drunkenness, Poor children inherited a love of liquor, and the love was actually encouraged by their parents. ‘The ro- port asked, “How long shall drunken parents be allowed to present an unlimited power of extending ."" It was recommended that the m who was proved to be a drunkard should have the child taken from her atter it was weaned and that it should be placed in some public institution until the mother had retgrmed, The report of the Secretary, Miss Hunter, con- gers the patrons that the institution, estab- ished in 1854, had been permitted to see its twenty- Atth anuiversary, and that its first directress, Mra, Du Bois, had been permitted to see the result of her labors of over a quarter of a century. It also re- ed to the necessity of the addition of a tine building and a reception ward to the building. Tne honse income bad been nin than in former years, though the expenses we: any less. Logacies of $10,000 by Mr. Cleveland, of $4,000 by Miss Mibby and $1,000 by Mix» Mott, had been lett the institu during the past year, ‘Two thousund and seven children had been cared for dure : «¢ 903 were in the city nursery antry branch. The Treasurer's report was read by Mrs, William M. Kingsiand, and showed that the expenses of the city branch were $42,909; of the country branch, at Staten Inland, $59441, and that there had been ex- pended in building and repairs, $4,953. The net receipts were $125,058, of which $102,000 were re ceived from the city government. The balance in hand was $15,645, but this will be absorbed in pay- ing for repairs and additions to the present build- ings. The receipts from the profits on the Charity Halil will amount to about $10,500, which is about $2,000 more than last year, ORTHOPMDIC DISPENSARY AND HOSPITAL, Tho Orthopedic Dispensary and Hospital for children afflicted with spine and hip disesses has published its cleventh annual report, giv. ing ® good record of its work within the pist year, In 1866 the dispensary was or ganized, an act of incorporation being passed two years later, and itis located ity a ce 6 building at No. 126 Last Fifty The work of this charity is ab exclusively among children. During t 1878 the: |= number of patients the hospital for treatment was 6,114, while its physicians visited 2082 invalids at their homes. There are now sixteen patients in the hospital, and six more could be ac- commodated; but, though not in debt, the trustoes .are in noed of additional iunds for current expenses. font and comfortab ninth street. most ADULTERATED TEA. Poisonous Stuff Sold to the Public for the Pure Article. JOHN CHINAMAN'’S TRICKS Alarming Extent of the Bogus Tea Trade in America. The fact that swill milk is daily sold in New York, and that so-called respectable venders of that essen tial deal in milk adulterated with water, flour, chalk salt, sheeps’ brains, gum arabic, annotto and caramel, has suggested a general investigation all along the line, and experts like Professor Ange!, of Boston, and his consréres have taken hold of food adultera- tions in earnest, intending to bring influences to bear on the Legislatures of the several States, hoping for practical relief therefrom. From facts and data in our possession it is sus- ceptible of proof that nearly all the essentials of life are seriously tampered with, and that the adul- teration of food is the rule rather than the excep- tion. The following list is carefully prepared, and will give an idea of the extent towhich the evil ex- tend: Sausages—Made of impure meats and seasoned with spices. Bread—Mixed with alum, lime water and flour ground in with lead. Flour—Adulterated with damaged peas, powdered alum and casejn, in which are worms, insects, acari and emut, Soffee—Adulterated with cocoanut shells, almond shells, chicory, beans, peas and corn. Tea—Colored with black lead and Prussian blue. Oysters, Clams and Lobsters—Stale and decaying. Cheese—Colored with saffron, Venetian red, carrots and annotto, which latter 1s often found to contain poisonous chromates. Essences—Adulterated and contaminated by nitro- benzole, prussic acid, oil of turpentine, sulpnuric acid and citric acid. Sugar—Injured by putrid blood, with which it is “purified,” and adulterated with clay, sand and bean dust, with now and then a fair share of marble dust. Cake—Flavored with oil of almonds, containing prussic acid. Spices—Black pepper, adulterated with buckwheat, caramel or shorts; cayenne pepper, adulterated with red lead, almond shells and ginger. Confectionery—Adulterated with arsenic, sulphate of copper, prussic acid, tartaric acid, fusel oil and flour. While there are scores of thousands of consumers who never make use of coffee for various reasons, it is doubtful if there are many readers of the HrraLp who are not indebted to the tragrant tea for beneti ts almost innumerable. ‘fea,’ wrote an ancient Chinaman, ‘tempers the spirits and harmonizes the mind; dispels lassitude and relieves tatigue; awakens thought and prevents drowsiness; lightens or refreshes the body and cleans the perceptive faculties.” Possibly the ancient Chinaman was prejudiced in favor of his native growth, but if so there are hundreds of thousands in every civilized Jand who will cheerfully bear witness to the refresh- ing influences, the calming and soothing potencies of this Oriental beverage. There is, however, a general feeling, not to say a decided conviction, that the delight and benefits derived from tea might be vastly greater if @he leaf from which the tea is made could te hed in the vingin purity, undiaguiss’, Un- colored, unadulterated. ‘TEA IN CHINA. In the land of Pekin, Hong at and Shanghai tea takes the place of beer, ale and whiskey, and can be had at public houses on the highways. The wealthy Chinese use it wastefully. They simply infuse the leaves in elegant porcelain cups, that have covers also of porcelain. The leaves sink to the bottom of the cup and generally remain there. Others beat the infusion with a spht bamboo until it foams, when both infusion and powder are drunk with relish. There seems to be no ood reason why we should not have good tea in this ‘country, for it is casily raised in China, where as an object of cultural produce it takes the place oc- cupied by vine in Southern Europe and the grains in this country. ’ In spite of the cheapness of labor and the facility with which good tea is raised in the Flowery King- dom adulterations have been made for en, are now and probably always will be. The aduiteration abroad grows out of the fact that fancy brands and peculiar colors of teas commend high prices, while the heavy duty imposed here on the import is an inducement that very few dealers can resist. It is not necessarily shown that these adulterations are injurious to the consumer, Some of them are, beyond doubt, but others are harmless. shows that millions ot leaves of plants, of ash and are dried ot lum, anuually by the Chinese middicmen for adul- terating purposes; while in Great Britain and Prot- estant America leaves ot beech, elm, horse chestnut, plane, fancy oak, willow, popiat, hawthorn and sloe aro gutenmively | used. | These leaves being ground are ‘mixed ‘with gum paste this in turn with leaves of genuine tea. ‘These mixtures may not do harm to the body politic, but they certainly do not contain the happy ingredients from which desirable and resttui refresh- ment tor mind and body come. The sale of exhausted tea leaves was long ago brought to the notice of British officials. Here hotels, hos- pituls and restaurants furnish immense quan- tities of partially exhausted tea leaves, which are carefully gathered, preserved, sold and used again by families who pay good prices for high-toned teas, ‘he average tea drinker knows nothing about his tea beyond the fact of taste. He orders a pot of tea, it is brought to him, he pours and drinks. If it suits his taste he is content. But there are men, nd expecially dealers, who literally examine their teas, and for such it is necessary to prey the ex- hausted leaves so that they will resemble, in form and color, the original. Sulphate of iron, rose pink, 0 are found serviceable in these 4 simulates strength in black tea and rose pink gives color and bloom to its surface. CASES IN POINT. ‘The London Times mentions the case of who were arrested for manutacturing spuriou It was found thot they had an extensive turnace, — befor which was suspended an iron pan, x sloe leaves and tea leaves purchase The officers discovered large quantities of exnausted tea leaves and bay leaves, mixed with solution of gum and copperas. One of the parties was caught stirring the leaves and gui ins pan, and over one hundred pounds of the stuff, exactly imitating genuine tea, were discovered in an adjoining apartment. These people sold largely to country grocers, Other in- vestigations detected varying proportions of starch, gum, catechu, sulphate of iron, blacklvad, talc, china clay, soapstone and turmeric, THE GREEN TEAS. There is so great » demand for green teas that the genuine article cannot be supplied, but with charac- teristic ingenuity John Chinaman, aided and abetted by Brother Jonathan, finds spurious articles quite as good for ordinary buyers, slack leaves are colored to resemble green leaves, and damaged black leaves furnish the basis for the choicest of green. All that is needed to turn damaged blacks into first class greens is a cast iron pan, a fire and the chemicals, Turmeric, Prussian blue aud gypsum do the busi: ness to pertect satisfaction. The coloring matter so disguises the character of the leaves that the fraud is not easily detected. The fact that green and black tea can bo and is made from a parent common tea is of itself a sty. gestion of fraud, which when followed show very clearly that the fraud is also a fact, For the sake of a color and a possible bouquet the consumers of tea” make away with thousands of pot mau blue every your. ‘This coloring is la China during the curling process, and adds nothing whatever, save weight and poison, to the leat, When teas were higher than at’ pre portant importation was known as lic sition made of tea d oxide of iron and starch, | This lie-tea (aud thote is # poorly concealed satire in the na is a question) Was nsed largel a compo- quarts, tod not, y for adulterating pure OF late @ : h this impalpavle pow- der look quite as good as new and find a ready sale, Strange ae it may appear itis a fact that the intelli- gent public resointely decline to touch or be in- veigled into purchasing the genuine article. They clainor for the “nice piven color,” while the natarai, uncolored leaf has # bilious, yellow color, which no one cares to see. Recently several samples of tea were analyzed and caretully examined under the microscope, especially for foreign or spent tes leaves, With the exception of tea cust and coloring matter the microscope re- vealed no foreign substance. The coloring matter looked, under a microscope, as if it had been plas- tered on the surface of the tea without any regard to quantity. THE MIXTURE, posed of china clay and tale nate of lime anda yellow organic coloring matter for the yellow color called Dutch pink; sulphate of yta and Prussian blue, culled celestial blue, tor the blue coloring matter, ether a yreen coloring matter is ntage being as follows :— re | The mixture was for the white color Of thisfrom 1 to 3 per cent was found in the samples by shaking the ‘tea’ in # small pleco of fine niuslin over a bit of black paper. It does not appear that « sufficiont quantity of this coloring mat. ter can be taken by tea drinking to do material dam- age to individuals, but the experiments prove the existence of the foreign substances, for which the only possible excuse can be the ceterimination of the public to eneourage the drinking of the green. It would be folly in the face of facts to deny that adulterated teas are sold in this market, or to assume that any considerable percentage of teas used is tree and spotless from the hand of the chemical tamperer; but, while adulterations are mado here, it seems tobe the general official conviction that the heathen Chi- hee is the bad, bad man to whom most of it ie directly traceable. ‘The laws of England refuse entry to adu'terated teas, Here, accordirg to Dr, Angel, of Boston, “exhausted tea leaves are imported at a low price as teas.” 'They have been redried and colored with Prussixn blue or indigo and combined with powdered gypsum and turmeric. Every hotel proprietor knows that his tea leaves are kept and sold. During the late war the hospitals were furnished with tea, and leaf gatherers went about collecting what was left. It is not probable that the business sof fixing up—renovating, in fact—these if used tea leaves, once so profitable, is entirely dead. On the contrary, it is said that ‘in this city there is a factory where these leaves are dried on copper plates, steeped in acid and various: phed with chemicals until they anes their pristine curl, and aro ‘sent forth again in brand new Chinese paper pack- ages to charm the nostrils and delight th metropolitan connoisseurs in pure foes, Macon parties have mado their appearance in’ downtows stores and offices, where they offer “pound packuges of tea,” done up @ la Chinoise, and with all the flimsy paper addenda that yo far to imprese the average mind. 1! sell these pound packages at the reasonable rate of ten conta, ple purchase freely, and some say they can detect no difference between that tea and tea for which they pay sixty cents a pound. Investigation suggests that hotel refuse is tho basis, and that sun- hine and acids are the supplemental factors, Pure chasers readily detect the exquisite bouquet, for the bouquet is there; and the gorgeous green, for that too is there; and they shrug their shoulders when told thatthe tea is too cheap for a genuine article, and altogether too dear at any price if a manufactured one, REAL ESTATE. The following sales were made on the Real Estate Exchange March 1:— Elliott. Sandford, refe ‘oree four story brown © front dwel of lot 20X90, No, 836 Lexington av., W. 8, #. of G4th st.; leased May §, 1665; to plaintitf, salo of the x ‘oferve—Forée lot of land, 64.4X—x150.2x 100x140, on the front betweon southor! Al . 3 uzh, referee— the four stor dwelling, with lot 25x102.2, 2 t., N. &., 200 ft. w. of Ist av., to East 76th st. John,lL. Klehlenbacker. BY VAN TASSELI . Galo, referee.—Foreclosure silo rick dwelling, with lease of lot West 51st st. 8. 131 av. ia College lerse, dated Ni 1868, term 18 years, to Elijah J. Simpsi BY LUDLOW & CO, George B. Bonney, roferee—Purtition sale of the four story brick building, with plot of land 57x125x 92x25x35x100, No. 110 5th av., nu. w. corner of 26,100 OFFICIAL REAL ESTATE ‘TRANSFERS. The following is a statement showing the real estate transactions recorded in the Register’s office March 1, 1879:— 4th ste. 8. 718 ft. n. of Porry st, Eleanor Wilson (executrix) to Richard P. R, 8., 200 ft. w. of 7th av. Parily and wife to Benjamin T. Bal Rendo st., n. &., 100 ft. w. of Chureh at., Francis W. Seagrist, Jr., and wife to ‘Aj Zschwetzl 12th % spoon. Madison av. W. corner 49th st., 27x59. 0 Wells Southworth, William Zschwetzke to Francis Petor Krumsich and wi 52d st. 6 8. 1689ft. w. of Loxingte av., 1 William Bradle; 104th n. 8. to Daniel J. 4 ft. Bist st. n. s., B25 ft Littmann to ba a’ Clifford. . 49th st... s., 27 Et w. of Madison av. Oharles Daggin and wife to Isaac P, Chamber: r of 56 25x08; of H. Deineritt.... ft. s, of Houston at, ech to William Prager. 77: Patrick H. Nash and others + 138 f ott to dobn + 14K, B Guild @oxecutar) t mh, B evie Iverbauh. . Harlem Commons, map lot. N also O1n6 st., n. w. corner of th a Prospect av. 0. W. Watson (referee) to James Sin 111th st... 5. 608.4 ftw. of Bd T. L, Ogden B7th wt, nn, of id a Wontworth (referee) to Augusta oreo) to 52d wt... #8. Braning to Leo K. 124th st., n. 8. 207.8 ft. ©. of E, Butler to Haneon ©. Gibse 9,000 Hint st 8. m 224g Hh. eof Sth av, sto dames 4. Hixggcin Nom. Laight and others (executors) to hh xt, ORGRTS: Anny id to William Limbeer, @. of Mh ay, in B, pans. und Norvillo ©. corner of Lexington av. and 119th ur Allen, Silas A. and w What ste L year. J Bruning, Charles wo of 7th av. ; instal » veal Sot Ist [mke's place; % youra..... Godwin, J. il und wife, to dusai & of Bloomingdale Road. » instalments... Johnston, Emma J. (executors, ae. i mi Ogden, F. J. and wife, to Samuel D. Babevek, wes. of Palisade ay. (Riverdale); du Peek, George H. and others, to in. w, corner of New nv, any Min vs V4 and 6) ssroad, 418 Marketfold ot T 1 . . Rood. tigorice anid wits, ¢ of A7¥h wt, 6. of Sth ay, Rodman, Exane and wit other (tenet, trator, &e. Spite, Kat yew Kianor, Wil Wost 4th st; iy: % oth noe esse Hutton, Btizabeti Now Vink ite Insurance Heo viruaton, A.) ps scot Willows, Mdward ML, ta Sharyaret W. Bowrdivan mapany to AN