The New York herald., 1845-10-05
NEW YORK HERALD.
New York. Sunday, October 5, Is45.
Religious Movements OF the Age.

full of intelligence, discussion, and speculation
lative TO the extraordinary new movements affect
inc the religious and social institutions of the con
tnent of Europe, which now occupy so much OF
public attention. great revolution in popular
opinion is sweeping over Germany, Prussia,
France, Italy, and England itself All Christendom
appears to be agtated and convulsed, and a NOV e.
ment has fairly commenced which is destined TO
lead 10 the grandest results. A new reformation,
in fact, Is In progress But mixed up with the on
ward movement, is host of strange, ultra, wild,
and contending influences, which give to il a cha
racter full of novel and extraordinary interest.
A general reaction appears 10 have taken place
throughout Continental Europe agaj9 9si ihe eccle-
siastical despotsms TO which the people have been
subjected. The religonists have divided into two
great partes-ope clinging TO the old systems, the
ancient traditions and venerable foersss Of ''the
church"-the other spurning long-recognised autho-
riy, rejecting the antiquated beNsS N me legends
OF the past, and boldly demanding for all the right
OF private judgment in matters of faith The battle
between these conflicting parties has not been con-
fined, as our readers must be aware to a mere
warfare OF opinion. 1t has produced physical
colllslon-civil commonon-the shedding of blood :
and the shaking of civil dynasties In Germany the
new reformation" as It is called, is proceeding
with degree of tumult and violence, that threaten
terrible consequences. In Prussia, the " orthodox"
and movement" parties, are daily exhibiting
greater ascerbty of feeling and the King has been
forced into a policy, which, will probably, lead
speedily to decisive, and il may be bloody conaicl
between the two opposing forces Switzerland has
already been the scene of civil war. In Italy and
France, the antagonism OF opinion on rel-
gous matters, exists. Even in Great Britain we
see the same elements OF revolution at work The
war upon the established system of religion is waged
with greater violence and bitterness than ever
Meanwhile, the philosophers, infdels, rationasts,
socialists all sorts OF reformers, busy-wild and
visionary theorists announce all hands their ex-
travagant and ultra notionsthe foundations of popu-
lar opinion on religion, society," government, every
thing appears TO be moved-change, transition, revo
luton, appear everywhere be the order of the day
Here, In the UNITED States, we perceive the same
extraordinary revolutionary movement On all hands
men are calling out, as IN the days of the prophet of
old" Who will show US some new thing p The
old sects aIe split up and divided into fragments
All the churches are torn and distracted by internal
difficulties and quarrels.
What does all this mean What do these strange
signs OF the times porend We believe that all
this tumut-all this agitation of the churches-alI
this wildness and extravaganza of opinon-betoken
the advent OF better era in the history of mankind
the approach of the latter day of more perfect light
and liberty The human mind has been thoroughly
awakened from the slumber of ages. The Reform
alton OF Martin Luther was the beginning Of a new
era in the fortunes of the human race We are now
on the verge OF another greatepoch. Men gradu-
ally emanclpating themselves from the bondage OF
antiquated error The seeds OF civil and religious
liberty, some two centuries ago, and owe, which,
IN many parts OF Europe, the cold and
wintry blasts OF by-gone ages had swept
all but killing them, now begin TO spring forth
Repubicanism has taken firm root in the popular
mind. The grain of mustard-seed has lived and
rourished TIL II has grown into mighty tree, its
roots stretching far and wide over vast continent
and tsleaves-maywe not without profanity say for
the healing of all nations. The church as well as
the satereligious formularies and religious creeds
well as politics. begin to experience the influence
OF the newly-created but gigantic power of human
liberty. Hence these religious agitations, which
now convulse Christendom to Its centre. BY and
by however, the din and tumult of the conflict will
cease-right will everywhere triumph over wrong
reason and common will take the place of
superstition and implicit fath-and humanity, freed
alike from religious and civil despotisms will 90
forth to new fields of conquest and triumph wider
and more glorious than poet or philosopher has ever
yet imagined.
The WORLDS CONVENTION continue our
reports of the Worlds Convention, and give their
proceedings up to last evening, when they Adjourned
after introducing the question of the Liberation of
Dr. Boughton, the anti-renter, and Babe, the pirate
This body, with delegates from all portions of the
United States, and some from foreign countries has
now been in session four days, and have presented
TO the public of the most ridiculous and absurd
theories which entered into the minds of fana-
tics and vlslonarles for the ameeration of the hui
man race, utterly inconsistent with lall right prin-
clples of government and reason and clearly the
productions OF Ignorant visionares who are incap-
able OF managing the most unimportant matters
How ridiculous 1t must appear to all persons of
Judgment TO those fellows who cannot even
write their own names, or correctly spell the SIM
plest words, offer, with the greatest effrontery their
plins for the reformation of society," and the over
turning OF that code of government under which so
many millions have lived in the enjoyment of all
proper rights and privileges, and insisting that the
public should swallow their crude undigested theo
rles, and rush into state of anarchy, which would
be the inevitable result Just look at the report of
last evenings proceedings, ,and Judge OF the sanity of
these " reformers."
The Poor HOUSE SYSTEM OF ENGLAND
WRETcHEDNEss OF THE MASSES most heart
rendlng expose of the misery-the abject wretched-
ness OF the English poor, has recently been made in
the course Of an investigation into the conduct of
the governor of the work house of a place called
Andover The most sckening details of the suffer-
ings OF the unhappy wretches confined in this bas-
tile are given in the evidence 1t appears that the
poor creatures were daily in the habit of fighting
Tor the putrd fragments Of cartilage that adhered to
the bones which came from the governors, ia
BILE The sick were robbed of their necessaries-
the female inmates subjected TO beasty assaults
and systematic course Of outrage and cruelty per