The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-10

thlrty IN al-whch have been held IN this CITY du-
ring the week, suggest great deal Of interesting
and not altogether proitless speculation and reec-
ton. They are SO many induces of the movements
and workings OF the popular mind in religion, morals,
civilization and philosophy reports OF hu-
man progress, which no intelligent and thoughtful
observer can allow to pass unslndied. Let us look
at them in this aspect
Two thirds OF these meetings are Of purely re-
lglous and moral character. And one remarkable
feature which distinguishes all, is high toned Pro-
testansm. strong and decided sectarlanlsrn
marks every one of them. The circulation of the
Protestant Bible-he dissemination of Protestant
tracts-the sending forth of Protestant mission
arles-the support of Protestant colleges-the vindi
cation and propagation of Protestant docrines,are
the great objects of these associations. The des-
truction of Popery the grand and avowed
aim of all their efforts. This is the ia
vorite theme of the orators. The movement OF
these societies then cannot be strictly regarded as
putting forth of the energies of the Christian world
for the evangezation of the nations-lt is part and
parcel of the great antagonstic effort which the ono
great has been engaged in since the Refor
nation. Catholicism meanwhile is not idle 1t is ever
active, but its mighty machinery moves silently and
without public appeals and public parade. Its thou
is planting churches and colleges and converts, and
seminaries all over the continent. Thus with its
policy changed and confomed to the spirit Of the
age, the church Of the hills still presents its
front, massive, extended and unbroken, to the adj
vancing forces of Professionalism
One third of these associations are philosophical
Fourierite, Abolition, and lnfdel They constitute
most singular and interesting part of this intelec
tual movement. Some of them are directly opposed
to Christianity-they denounce all the religious
movements as the work of priestcraft and inimlcal
to human liberty and happiness. Others affect to be
purely philosophical, announce new theories OF 90
ciety and seek to regenerate the world by upsetti
the present organization of society and substituting
the system Of Fourier, or Owen or other social
reformer
The number of persons directly engaged in all
these movements is very nsiderable-much
more so than many at first sight would imagine
And very little influence IS exerted on the great
masses of the people by these associations, notwtl
standing all the eff IT and noise which mark their
operations. Probably not more than from five 10
ten thousand individuals two thirds Of them females
take any direct interest in the religious societies
The clergy-young aspirants for clerical notoriety
and preement-and laymen whose vanity, ambition
for display in the only field open to them, and, per-
haps, pous feelings thus gratified-are the chief
conductors OF these movements The great mass Of
business men-the active members of the community,
who control the great tide of social progress-do not
take any part in these associations. The infde and
philosophical movements have still fewer supporters
Not more than one thousand Notwithstanding
OF them females, few of them young and most OF
them old and ugly-unite in these efforts to revolu-
tonize society and public opinion.
The philosophers too, men who have little
personal influence IN society They dreamy
wild, and visionary enthusiasts, unfit for the pract
cal business of the world, who are jostled aside in
the movement of the crowd of the active and indus
trious Millions and who wander away and are lost
In the wilderness OF abstraction and impracticabiGy.
All this curious varied and original machinery
moral, religious and philosophical of all kinds can
net be set IN motion without money. How much
money, then, do these associations collect! Where
does II come from? The religious societies do not
collect more than between three and four hundred
tlousand dollars annually Little of this is colec-
ed in New York. The great bulk of contributions
comes from the country-from the pous quiet re-
ligious, Popery-hating rural districts The phoso-
piers get very little money-probaby not more than
between three and four thousand dollars year. Il
is remarkable trait in the character Of these PHI
losophers, that they will give you great deal OF
talk, but very little money. They have, indeed,
something of contempt for money Industry is
contemplate according to them, when its object IS
the dirty dross called money. Pure philosophy
should, they think, serve mankind for meat, drink,
and lodgings A few, however, do manage to
make their philosophy "pay."
After ALL then, the influence Of all these movements
on the masses is very slight The masses are practical
masses-they are common sense masses-they are
money making masses. They are masses that love
the " almighty dollar more than they love Almighty
God. And yet, these proceedings, year after year.
these Observation-Disclosures, moral, philosophical
lnfidel, Fourerte, social, and all-are not withou;
certain resuts-results IN greater or less degree
beneficial. The religious movements the one
hand, representing the strong sectarian feelings and
prejudices of the past-and the philosophical move
ments on the other, representing the utraism OF the
age cropping Its way into the msts and darkness the
future, like the two opposing forces of electricity
operating the intellect and opinion of the tune
The results must be satisfactory. The spirit of free
inquiry is encouraged. The public mind is excited
to new and useful courses of investigation. Foolish
theories are seen in all their extravaganza and I'M
practicabllity. Genuine religion comes out pure and
attractive, as ever from the conflict with nidelity
Infdelity itself, allowed perfect freedom, becomes
more moderate and less blasphcmous. The rRurn
is all the time widening its dominion; and slowly.
but surely, amid all the dust, and turmoil and noise,
and extravaganza which mark its career, the mighty
progressive movement of the human mind goes on
the race, ever marching onward to the highest point
OF perfection, which ii is destined to attain in phio
sophy religion, science and civilization
New York HIstorical Soc,ctv
The regular monthly meeting of the New York
Historical, Society held at its rooms, in the
University, on Tuesday evening last. There was
Ell attendance MS a discussion ON the renort &c th1