The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-15
FLARH-Up In THE ENGLISH CHURcH.-The Church

of England, Gas by law estabiisheo, is e'iueh"J
in an extraordinary and we might add, anomalous
condition. Since the publication of the celebrated
Oxford tracts-and especially tract No. VA reac-
,iop has taken place in the public mind, and the
church has verged downwards in rapid degree.
The shock, however. which it sustained by those
publications. accompanied as it has been and is,
hourly 10 this day. by secession after secession, OF
MANY of its brightest and most learned men, was
NOT so great as that which it is destined to receive
nv the publication of an extraordinary work by
of its own ministers, the Rev. Mr. Allies We
have not vet seen this work but from the comments
passed upon it by the English press in the church
interest have no doubt that it will raise greater
commotion than even the Oxford tracts did
We have perused few extracts from it, which we
give, with comments.
Mr. Allies, the author, says 81 am quite con-
vinced that the reunion of the English Church
with the Church of Rome, would be an mcalcula-
bic blessing to the whole church of God, and to the
whole human race" Gracious Heavens, what an
admission, and coming, too, from of the minis
ters of the Church of England, in England, and
still preaching from the pulpit of the established
church
In another part of this extraordinary work, Mr.
saws that in one of the rooms is quantity of relics
&c. eThe Young missionaries" he says, " make a
visit here every evening" and pray before these re-
lies of their brethren soliciting their intercession-
a fitting preparation, thought, for so difficult a
task" Here is Popery or Romanism in Its worst
phase, and in light hostile as it possibly could
be to the teachings of the church by law establish
ed And yet these are the words of a minister OF
that church
From these and other indications of the signs OF
the times, it is obvious that revolution Is at work
in the English Church Such sentiments not many
wears ago, would have sent their author to the
stake We would not be at all surprised to live to
see the Church of England completely upturned,
and majority of its voaries return to the bosom of
the Church of Rome. Whether such an event is
desirable, or not, is question which shall leave
to the disputants of both sides. We are satisfied
with chronicling the signs of the times.
THE SHAKERs.-A curious document is before
US. 1t is &" The Report of the Select Committee on
| the Subject of the Shakers" This committee was
raised to consider upon the propriety of repeating
law of this State by which the Society in this State
is permitted to hold in trust property not exceeding
So 900 in annual value. Charges were made, by
petitions against the Society, that this law enabled
them TO unite in dangerous monopoly OF the lands
of this State; that they corrupted the children in
their schools and were dangerous people, &c.
The committee, in its report, says:-
On examining the schools at Watervliet, mode
worthy the imitation Of the best society presented
excellent library Of the most approved books
found; and thorough education for the business
man there impaired by teachers competent for the
task The scholars. both male and female seemed
highly pleased with their situation, and in tho
apparent enjoyment of all the pleasures Of youthful
Their workshops and manusc tories, it is truly be-
lieved surpass in mechanism any similar establish
ments in the country. Brooms, herbs, and garden
seeds the principal articles Of sale These have
worldwide fame.
The total number of acres of land held and owned by
the three Of Shakers in this State is about
| ten thousand but fraction ten to each
person. not one fourth the quantity held by the Papa
Indians of this State, against which not murmur has
| been uttered
The only remaining subject Reconsideration is that of
the right legislative interference. Your committee
clearly of opinion that written constitution fully
and unequiv ocaly settles this question
That the Shakers religious society ono has
presumed to doubt That their principles Of religion
and of worship may be sneered at. scorned,
regretted that from without tie pale of their commu-
nifty. all may unite in the modification that such
strange innocent and deluded people should exist may
readily be conceded but that they are inhuman and
do not possess moral feelings, all must deny. Hence
the ranoply Of our laws them, and they must
be allowed unmolested to enjoy the free exercise Of
their religious dcvotion5.
NOW, we nOld our lives anu property on q very
fra and doubtful tenure in this State, if any per-
sons or body of persons are liable to have the laws
which protect them in their property repealed, not
for any violation on their part Of those laws but
at the mere petition and representation of their
enemies The mere appointment of committee,
at the suggestion Of enemies, to inquire shall the
laws be repealed, is somewhat ominous. We are
glad this committee asked to be discharged
from the subject If any people violate
the laws, let the laws Judge them and punish
them; but let not the tongue of malicious SANDER
succeed in acting upon our laws or upon our law
givers to injure and destroy those who have not
been proved before a proper tribunal to have vo
lated the laws, under the protection of which we
ought to be sure of living securely as long as we
do not violate them.
DEATH oP THE REV. DIR. PowER.-It is our mel
ancholy duty TO announce to our readers the de-
cease of the Rev. Mr. Power, d. D., late one of
the Pastors of ST. Peters Church, in this city. The
sad event took place Yesterday afternoon-not en-