The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-23

period when the nation was gathering up all It's sner
gss for desperate struggle the chief public meetings
the Russians, the English nor the French, but were
addressed particularly to the aborgnes Of Polynesia
lemindedness and fortitude Of the ancient Romans,
who when Ham bsl at the gates Of their city de-
patched troops on their ordinary duty in smother drec
stood was sold for s full price in the market But the
proper counterpart to this consistency rather in our
which maintained with profound indifference TO the
possible exgences Of the war. The Exeter Hail meet
ugs exncs species o. serenity a rom the
realities Of lfe the Roman Senate should have occupied
Itself with the condition Of slaves in Parthia or the pro-
ceedngs Of the Egyptian priesthood while the liberties
OF Italy staked on the issue Of campaign
We not making these remarks In any tone OF cen
sure Upon the WHOLE it IL both fortunate and desirable
that the whether serious otherwise of every
day life should be continued with such composure but
must to some little when tne reports
of these annual gatherings reached exactly in the
standard shape among all kinds Of fiery missves from the
continent and debates from the houses Of Paria-
requires some unreay in its Objects or K not unreaIity
any that degree of enchantment which distance
and doubt may contribute to them. 1t is of to
say that there is misery enough in Behnal Green, and
ignorance enough within mile Of st. PauPs to occupy
all the energies Of philanthropy charity is to
qust poor ard the suirerngs upon ' saerinss which
war must have in store for them This not the kind Of
be Purveyed every May for the Exeter
neglect It, They neither grudge their money their
services in sid Of their fellow countrymen; but when
they have discharged their duty they have craving for
some obligation besides After being good and charita
BILE in their own parishes, they want to be good and
So ss
ton of their catchumens are cannibals Occa.
s.onally, indeed, this romance is exchanged for
reality, when Lord Shaftesbury advocates rag
ged schools, city missions come in place
Abysnnian scmnaries But this is not the true Exeer
charged with the foreign affairs Of religion It's
sphere, to say the least, must lie beyond the
Line. must receive It's missionaries on return
black and living from the latest settlement Of the society
New Zeaanders the attraction but they hav
long ceased to be novelties Even Feejee Islanders hav
lost their char and unless the Antarctic region
contain some Of savages it is hard say wher
Exeter Hall to obtain the pets Of the Perhaps
shall Chinese Christians this year. As much
money has already been expended on restaments for
every metropolitan parish.
Nobody can find fault with these good people, Ex-
cept where their missionaries needless position
Of antagonism to the Of the place. and dis
parage the policy of all Engshmen but themselves, 1t
may certainly be said of them that they do harm.
II they unmahe few doaors We fear thew rarely
make Christian; and Sidney Smith said il Is almost
with atty legs arms than that he should believe in
god at ALL Yet though their money may be wasted,
everybody wastes money occasionally and the money
they spend s essentially pleasure money The constta
ents Of the May meetings to Exeter Hall in their best
bonnets and FOR regular holiday, and it would be hsfd
say why they should not go there well CHS
wick gardens the opera, even Of the
| investment.
At present however, these gatherings really possess
features of public interest There is nothing like
them In any other country under the sun, do be-
leve that any nation but our has ever witnessed
spectacles Of such distracted philanthropy lsuch
meetings regularly and annually held in New York,
and We believe, in Boston and Philadelphia and the
yearly contributions amount to million Of dollars.
I'D. HERALD The war appears to be totally disre-
garded nor is i likely indeed that it will enter at all
into the annual speeches reports, unless colony Of
outrageous heathens should be discovered in
part Of Eastern Europe As to the subscriptions they
will pour in doubt not through their usual chan
nels freely taxes and consos stood at the figures
Of 1858. 1t Is something to numerous
portion Of the population exempt apparently, from all
but sentimental suerings and satisfactory to reflect
how much war must do before it touch even the
middle classes Of English society curta the contribu
tions Of fancy benevolence The pressure Of the
crisis must assuredly be limited long as people OF
moderate means can afford to indulge unreservedly in
these Injuries of goodness but shall be excused
haps briefly suggest that many of their fellow
countrymen win be less fortunately situated Whatever
the war do for the rich must needs make the poor
poorer than ever aud it would be little variety this
festive charity It's streams to be diverted for
once to the stern, though unromantc necessities Of
home. -