The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-05-15
Now York Correspondence.

L
As was anticipated, the anniversary week wa
ushered in with rain. The conventions, how
ever, have become SO accustomed to unpropitiou
weather, that though it moistens the garments O
those who attend, they do not allow it to dampel
| their ardor.
The meetings began yesterday If I give you
record of any Of their sayings and doings, pleas.
regard it as my report and not my opinion.
The audience at the Brick Church" in Beck
man street, yesterday, was addressed by a young
French Clergyman. Rev. Mr.. PLATTE, special
messenger to the United States from the only Bible
Society in France. Though eminently French in
his nasal intonatons and in his division of the svl
Liable emphasis, he spoke with onsiderable fuency,
and great simplicity and naturalness, for nearly an
hour, in the English language, which, Ibelieve, he
has acquired during the few months that he has
been in this country. He is short, thick set man
of "a or 50 years, with rather broad, but pale
beardless countenance black hair, dark, earnes
eye, and an expression Of much more unobsequiou
humility than is usual.
His subject was the history of the origin, rise
progress and present condition of the only Evan.
gslical and Bible Society in France-the institu-
ton from which he bears special mission to the
LVuukciIcdi hbSOcIduOnS OF America.
Mr.. PLATTE first treated upon the religious condi-
ton of France prior to 1880. The Papists, he said
had, with fire and sword, driven out and DESTROYED
the French Protestants. As they could only ex-
tirpate Christianity from that land by Staying or
banishine the Christians themselves, they killed
them by thousands and burnt their Bibles and places
Of worship. In this summary manner was Chris
tianity rendered extinct in France, and undsputed
sway usurped by Popery. About this time Vol
tare and his set of witty takers and satirists
though knowing no other religion, commenced
war Of sarcasm and caricature against the ceremo-
MES and supersttons Of the Roman Church The
Protestant religion could be destroyed in France
only by extirpating all who believed in it, but
Popery was laughed out of its influence and posi-
lion, and driven by shafts Of infdel wit and satire
into the monasteries and converts. In its place
Atheism arose, and the worship Of God was sup
planted by the senseless, biasphemous and licen-
tious orgies of a halfnaked courtesan of Paris,
whom the infatuated revolutionists of 1898 called
the Goddess of Reason"
1t was the natural result, he said, of Popery, and
he invoked the patriotism and good sense of Amer.
cans to beware Of the extension Of its influence in
the United States if they wished to preserve their
glorious republican system and free institutions
and not fall into the desolae and hopeless condition
in which we see France, Spain and Italy.
Is it not token of oIninous import that while al
true Americans should sympathize with those who
were engaged in the late Inflated Italian struggle
for liberty, there are those in this country who are
making busts and statues, and drinking public
toasts, to the prosecutor of the patrots-Pope Pu
TX; and while both this government and people
are heart and hand with the Hungarans, there il
a clique or cabal in New York aud Boston, openl,
and deliberately defending the tyranny of the Aus
TRAN government and the villanes of its minion--
Haynau!
Alter the extrpation of the Christians, Christian
ity continued almost extinct in France, until abou
sixteen years ago, handful of Catholics (1ho had
through the grace Of God and the influence o
Holy Spirit themselves discovered the necessity
vital religion, and not one of mere forms formed
Bible Society, the one which the speaker now rep
| resented.
1t was signally successful. Frenchmen, he said
were eminently fitted for propagandism. One con
vert was sure to make another. and another Al
soon as one OF his countrymen was converted, h,
could not rest until he had impressed his new faitl
into the heart and soul of some friend who woult
sympathize in his views and feelings. Frenchmer
had been, and ever would be, the most efficieu
| propagandisis in the world. BY means of tn,
churches, schools, teachers and colporteurs of th
Bible Society, thousands of his people had beer
converted to the TRUTH just prior to the revolution
OF iSaS Mr. Pi,alle then gave statistical accoun,
of the Society's means, appliances etc. The ratio
Of conversions and contributions increased daily
New fields OF usefulness were opening continually
1t was glorious to see how God prospered the goot
work. But the late revolution, full of promise cru
ely disappointed, had thrown trade and finance,
into confusion, suspended the wheels of business
and cut off the pecuniary supplies of the laborins
people, upon whom the Society has been chiefly de
pendent for its support. By this disastrous condi
lion of affairs. the annual income of the Bible ant
Evangelical Society of France was reduced las
year from $50 900 to $40 900. and this year to s25
ooo. They were consequently compelled to maxi
similar reduction in their expenditures, and at tn
very time when the demands for their teachers
schools and churches were the ioudest and mos
numerous, the Board of Managers, with achin,
heafts and faces bathed in tears, at their nov
gloomy meetings, were forced TO suppress NOR
'han nall their schools, colpor,eurs, etc.
mr.. PLATTE evidently felt his subject very despv
IL was very striking and affecting thing 10 him
De SAID, to observe the mental condi,ion of N,
French people Immediately after the Revolution q
nAp