The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-07-24

communications intended for insertion, must b
addressed as heretofore to JAMES GORDON BENNETT
ditor and proprietor Of the New York Herald.
Tx SIGNS OF THE TMKs.--Our lot has been cas-
in stirring times The barriers by which in thu
days OF the Icradled weakness Of thesworld tn,
powers OF the mind and the spirit OF free enquiry
had been imprisoned, have been unlocked, anc
Christendom now rings with the shock of conflict
ing opinion. There are weak and inexperienced
observers who see in these signs of the times
nothing but the omens of evil 10 come, and through
their visions OF the future, fit distorted images OF
desolation and terror, such as make up the dreams
OF dying, wicked men. But the thoughtful
student of the worlds progress, and the true
friend of liberty and his race, recognizes
in passing events a very different feature. He
knows full well that all this disturbed aspect of the
times, portends the approach OF that new and
better era in the history of mankind, which sages,
inspired and uninspired, have sighed for and pre-.
dictedfr from the earliest days-te knows that soon
in the words of the eloquent Macasey, the violence
OF contradictory opinion will subside, hostile theo-
rles correct each other, and system Of peace, or
der and justice be educed from the present chaos.
Amongst the prominent signs Of the times, one of
the most important and ineligible is that revolu-
tionary spirit which Is now at work amongst the
churches For heightened period deep sleep
had fallen upon the churches of the Reformation in
Great Britain. The mists and shadows of indif!er-
ence and moral apathy were upon them. II seemed
as if, indeed, every harp had been hung upon the
willows, and every spiritual energy had been nicely
LAID up In the house. But life was breathed upon
The valley OF the dry bones. The Church of Scot
land-the ancient and venerable church, with its
foundations deep in nations reverentia love- and
cemented by the blood OF an army OF martyrs, with
It's growth OF two centuries stretching upward to the
skles-was the first to feel the awakening influence.
The hoof OF tyrranous state supremacy became
too heavy to be borne, and the spirit OF the nine
teenth century speedily burst the chains which had
bound the " Church of the Covenant and restored
her to that free and independent position for which
Wishart, WEIGH and Knox so faithfully contended,
even unto the death.
The recent schism in the Scottish Church, we re.
gard of the most glorious evidences of the
progress OF civil and religious freedom, and the ad-
vancing majesty OF those great principles of truth
and liberty, which have on this continent attained
supremacy before which the haughtest potentates
OF earth have been made to treEble. It is the first
bold and decisive step towards the emancipation of
the church from the trammels OF the State. 1t
shows that the time has passed away, forever when
religious body that should, like an angel, flee
through heaven proclaimng peace and good will to
all men, shall remain chained to the footstoo of an
earthly throne.
And what does this Pusey:te controversy portend,
but the inroad OF the same glorious principle into
the Eugish Episcopal Church? An open schism
must be produced. Every day is widening the
breach already made. There must be speedily
separation OF the two parties. The Puseyites will
fall back the venerable Church of Rome, and
their opponents must eventually make common
cause with the various bodies of dissenters, who
now busily engaged in modifying their respective
creeds, TO prepare the way for general union
of their forces. What then? Why, nothing more
nor less then must result, than that great final dec
sive conflict between the churches w hich John in
the isle OF Patmos, and the Hebrew seers, who pre-
ceded him in the land of prophetic dreams, have
graphically described, and about which the Father
Mllers and Brownies of the last ten centuries have
been laundering so egregiously, to the terror of all
the old wives OF Christendom.
We must soon have all the churches of the Re-
formation-the Presbyterians, and the Wesleyans,
and the Baptists, and the Congregationalists, and
the various minor sects. uniting together in one
common bond The Puseyites must mlngle with
the I" mother church," whose arms are now open
10 receive them with all the welcome of the parent
OF the returning prodigal son.
What does Bishop OAderdonk intend to do or to
say? What course do the other clergymen who
consented to Mr.. Carey's ordination, intend TO
adoptl Mr. Carey is certainly right good son Of
the Catholic church. Is he not determined to sus- |
tain disposition? On all these matters we will be
soon sufficiently wel.informed. The controversy
has fairly commenced, and we will surely be able |
10 set Europe the example in its disposal. The old
serpent is hard at work, and chuckling over the |
controversies which are disractng the churches |
and he anticipates an accession to his dominion |
He is mistaken. Free discussion is the great en- |
CINE which is destined TO eradicate error, priest
craft and superstition Well all see that by and by
Administrations OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN THIS |
CTY-lt is certainly nothing less than apprecia
ton OF the wisdom OF the desperate policy of the |
importunate widow in the parable, which induces |
U.S. tor the hundredth time TO take up the subject Of
the NAL administration of justice in the criminal
courts OF this CITY, But there have occurred of late
a number OF such glazing cases, that we cannot al
low them to pass without comment. 1t does really
seem that the perfect immunity of offenders has
been declared by some OF our judicial authorities
Perhaps they are trying that very philosophical ex-
pertinent Of allowing the majority of offenders TO
escape with gentle reprimand, which was so fully
put into operation here some years ago, and Of the
blessed fruits of which not a few of the present
generation are able to speak very graphically and
concuslvely.
The other day we had most signal specimen in
The Court Of Sessions of that disregard OF the re-
QUESTIONS of justice which has, say, with burn
ing shame, so often disgraced our judiciary. A
feon, after long and entirely unjustifabe delay of
some eighteen months, convicted OF gross
and beastly libel on the lady of one of our most re-
spectacle citizens. The jury unanimously found
the scoundre guilty without leaving their seats
What was the punishment inflicted Will it be be.
leved' 1t was fine of twenty five dolIars What