The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-04-19 00:00:00

THE RELIGIOUS CHARACTER OF THE NEW WORLD.

In the ecclesiastical establishments of America, we
may discern the same all-powerful democratic spirit. The
constitution may be said to ignore religion, for it is the
great maxim of the people that religion and government
are mutually independent. Undoubtedly, this is the
worst feature of democratic government. To separate
government and religion, is to separate man and wife.
Religion should refine government, and government
should support religion. It is folly to suppose that either
can with safety be independent of the other. Even the
heathen nations of antiquity were aware of this, and they
accordingly maintained a religion of the state. The
amount of injury done by this erection of popular will
above more elevated standards, can scarcely be estimated.
The Church and the State alike feel the evil influence;
while a selfish, worldly, and unstable spirit pervades the
laws, religion is turned into a trade by the establishment
of a voluntary system. The clergy are elected by, and
are made responsible to, the people. The natural result
of this is, that the clergy are deprived of their proper in-
dependence. In vain do the advocates of the system
point to apostolic times, and claim, as a precedent, the
example of the first preachers of the Gospel. The in-
spired disciple, speaking tongues which he had never
learnt, and astounding the heathen world by raising their
very dead to life, cannot properly be placed on a level
with the modern pastor. The former might accept alms
without detriment to himself or to the donor, while the
latter, whose mission is less clearly divine, incurs the
risk—when placed in similar indigent circumstances—of
sacrificing his integrity, and of being obliged to follow
where be cannot lead. Another consequence of subject-
ing the clergy to the law of popular election is, that the
relations which ought to subsist between the clergy and
their flocks are utterly destroyed. In the United States
the former are bound to the latter only by civil contract.
The cure of souls is seldom confided to the same man for
more than a few years. The pastor does his work for
stipulated wages, and men his lease expires goes about
his business. No provision is made for his old age, and
when his time is up he is no longer thought of. It is,
perhaps, on this account that the adopting and renoun-
dng of holy orders is so common in America. Men who
had previously been engaged in trade often suddenly adopt
the gown, and as suddenly relinquish it for the garb of
the layman. But the worst result of the voluntary system
is that it opens the door for designing men who, by lead-
ing the evil passions or practising upon the fears of their
flocks are prepared to sacrifice every consideration of
duty to that of interest. It offers a premium for specula-
tive discovery, and stimulates sectarian rivalry. Men
are encouraged to broach the wildest theories, in the hope
of rivetting the attention of the public by the sheer ex-
travagance of what they propound, for, in the chaos of
opinion which is engendered, boldness of assertion at-
taches to itself an unreal importance. while truth, more
sober and retiring, passes comparatively unnoticed.

Supplemental Volume of the Official Descriptive and
Illustrated Catalogue. London : Spicer Brothers,

and Clowes and Sons.

When we take up the first three volumes of the
" Official Illustrated Catalogue of the Great Indus-
trial Exhibition," and, divesting our minds of the
pleasurable excitement caused by its brilliant ap-
pearance and profuse illustrations, and calmly con-
sider its history, we must come to the conclusion,
that it is the greatest literary triumph ever accom-
plished. Such a book would have occupied years
for its production, under ordinary circumstances ;
nevertheless, this magnificent work was completed
and published within six months from the opening
of the Exhibition. Its pages embrace information
upon the present state of every known science, art,
and manufacture. The time, however, did not
allow of more than a limited selection of illustra-
tions, and the constant arrival of fresh objects,
even up to the close of the Exhibition, prevented
the work from being so perfect as could be wished.
We now find this want supplied in the supple-
mental volume, which is chiefly devoted to plates,
illustrative of some of the choicest articles which
were exhibited, and which, from their elaborate
character, required more time than could be com-
manded for the first portion of the work. Thus,
we have some of the choicest specimens of Westley
and Co.'s elaborate bookbinding ; Growcock and
Co.'s embroidered muslins, and lioniton point-
, lace; Pardoe and Co.'s carpetings. The iron and
steel manufactures of Stewart and Smith ; Evans
and Co.; Rodgers and Co., &c. The beautiful
metallic works, with Parian figures, from the ma-
nufactory of W. Wynfield, Birmingham. The
superb Exhibition Vase of Elkington and Co., with
its poetical adornments, and a great variety of taste-
ful designs from the same distinguished firm.
Others from Dixon and Co.; Morel and Co.; and
a host of others. Porcelain from Minton, Cope-
land, and Rose and Co. Glass from Baccher's
and Sons, and from the Ostlers. Jewellery from
Morel an i Co.; with furniture and ornamental
work from exhibitions of all grades. In the Indian
department the illustrations are very judiciously
chosen, and the Continental sections are also vividly
restored to our eyes ; indeed, these books will be
invaluable, from the perfection of the picture they
present of that vast array of all that man could
produce of beautiful in art or wonderful in science.
The publishers have accomplished a great task,
which will be appreciated fully only when it is
universally known.

SERIALS FOR APRIL.—The Christian Family
Advocate (Liverpool: G. Philip and Son) and
The Protestant Magazine (London : Wertheim and
Macintosh) are sufficiently varied to maintain the
popularity which they have so justly earned. At
the same time they are sound and instructive,
which many of the " popular" publications cer-
tainly are not.-The Bulwark (Liverpool : G.
Philip and Son) furnishes this month the most
cheering accounts of the movement originated by
the Scottish Reformation Society. That true-
hearted Irishman, Dr. Dill, has been appointed to
the office of acting secretary. Efforts are to be
made for rousing, concentrating, and directing the
energies of Scotland against the common enemy.
Protestant Defence Associations are to be formed
in every town, village, and parish in Scotland.
Missions are to be established for the conversion
of Romanists in every town and district where
Panists prevail. Our earnest desire is, that the
largest anticipations of the founders may be more
than realised. We observe that the editor of The
Bulwark recommends strongly the circulation of
that able tract, " Dr. Cahill and the Priests," by
the Rev. S. Minton, of Liverpool, The Scottish
Educational and Literary Journal (Edinburgh :
Hogg), though the organ of a class, is still living
and lifelike. We have laughed heartily at the
graphic picture of examination-day in a Scottish
academy, and can vouch for its accuracy; everybody
will admit its rich flow of humour. The literary
epistle from London is more than usually fresh,
and gives a nice tone of lightness to pages which
might otherwise be somewhat dull to the general
reader. A series of memoirs of eminent preceptors
is appropriately commenced with a life of Roger
Ascham, the tutor and friend of Lady Jane Grey.----
Punch (Webb and Hunt, Liverpool) has been
retrieving its character of late : the most marked
literary feature of the 141st part is a series of agree-
able papers on " Our Honeymoon." The Home
Companion (London : John Bennett) contains
some excellent selections. The original articles,
especially the Scottish tales by Sherer, are trashy.
- Diogenes (London : Piper Brothers) has
reached its third month, and is really a flourishing
and life-like addition to our family of British serials;
all the more noteworthy from the circumstance that
many predicted its early decease as a matter of
certainty. But Punch is not to have the monopoly
of the market, neither is it right he should. Two
Richards are now in the field, and we have hopes
that they may both win the favour of the public
and a respectable maintenance. - Chambers's
Edinburgh Journal (W. S. Orr, Liverpool), if it
never rises greatly above mediocrity, is never below
it. This is the secret of its success. Its reputation
is unimpaired by advancing years and increasing
rivals ; and for agreeable variety, sound informa-
tion, and correct taste the present part is in no wise
inferior to its predecessors.-Home Thoughts
(London : Kent and Co.) is one of those pretty
little monthly visitors to English firesides which
have sprung into existence during the past few
years. It abounds in wit and wisdom. The plates
are themselves worth the price of the book.

HOW TO GET THE GIRLS MARRIED.—A thriving
trader in Winconsin, claiming the paternity of eleven
daughters, greatly to the astonishment of his neighbours,
succeeded in marrying them all off in six months. A
neighbour of his, who had likewise several single
daughters, called upon him to obtain the secret of his
husband-obtaining success, when the latter informed him
he had made it a rule, after a young man had paid his
attention to one of the girls for a fortnight, to call upon
him with a revolver and request him to choose between
death and matrimony. " You can imagine," continued
be, "which of the two they preferred."—American paper,