Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-05-20

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The NOacoetorn'ist draws the following in
ferences from the recent census of the religious
| determinations. of Great Britain -
We gather rom these returns other lnstruc-
tive facts, condemnatory OF the State Church
System. AT the period of the Reformation,
the Church OF England entered upon vast
Inheritance OF religious ediices, the greater
part OF which have been kept up ever since
by public taxation. Since that period, she
has dipped her hand pretty deep into the ma
tons purse, to aid her in church building
Her members are the wealthiest of the land
and whenever she has chosen to put forth her
energies in the way OF voluntary contribution,
she has had it in her power to eclipse, all 9TH
CT denominations. Nevertheless, at this mo-
ment, with all these advantages in her favor,
the non endowed sects have outstripped her
i'll the extent determination they have pro
vided, and furnish every Sunday more availa-
BILE sittlngs for worshlppers, and make more
use of them, than she can do. OF money,
materials, social influence, legal status, edu-
cational opportunities, and Traditional respect,
she has made SO poor use during the last
three hundred years, that, far as she was
ahead of the denominations, she Is now sur
passed by them-aiId they who took the up
per hand when she was already strong and
amply endowed, have not only done relatively
more than she, but have positively overtopped
all her inherited and accumulated advantages.
| And what they have, the fruit Of their own
zeal and self-sacrihce they turn to better ac-
count. The church-room they have provided
they use more frequently. They have less
! capital so to speak, but they turn it over oft
ener. This is the old story. Would you
make any moral agency twlee as costly as
need be, aud render it negligent and ineii-
| Gent, load it with State boanty--eurse it with
| Protection wither it by laying exclusive
privileges at its feet. In other words, destroy
mems strongest motives to exertion, and you
may surely count upon perfunctory perform
ance Of duty. Whilst you seem thefeby
to give men independence, it is only indie
pendenee OF salutary moral impulses, and of
beneficial moral restraints. M 8 s.5
The religious condition of the people of
England, according to the returns before US,
is not hattering Indeed, this is the most
mourllful feature Of the report, although not
without its elevations. 1t would seem that
while accommodation is needed for about fifty
eight per cent. Of the population. available
provision is made for forty six per cent. only
so that if all who can attend Divine worship
were dis 1osed to attend at one time, 1,644, 734
would be shut out for want of sittlngs. I'm
happily, no such spirit for church or chapel
going is prevalent. Less than Que half of the
sittings provided are customarily occupied
and on the Census Sunday, 5, 23S PA persons
who were able to attend religious worship,
once at least, altogether neglected to do. so.--
This IS lamentable fact-proying that some-
thing more is required to win the sympathies
of the people for Christianity than ample
church room. We have not space to enter
upon the wide field of inquiry and speculation
which this state of affairs opens up to u.s. We
must content ourselves Just now with Quoting
the apt and eloquent words of the report
"That neglect like this, in spite of opportuni-
ties for worship, indicates the insuticeney of
any mere addition to the number of religious
buildings that the greatest difficulty is to fill
the churches when provided and that this
can only be accomplished by great addition
to the number OF efficient, earnest, religious
teachers, clerical and lay, by whose pefsua-
sions the reluctant populations might be won.'
Payson, on his dying bed, said to his daugh-
ter, "You will avoid much pain and anxiety,
if you will learn to trust all your concerns in
Gods hands. sCast all your cares on him,
for he careth for YOU But if you merely 90
and sag that you cast your care upon him, YOU
will come away with the load on your shout
ders.
When the fail of affection is upon me. let
me not be the chat that flies in thy face, but
let me be the corn that lies at thy feet.
what shall preach about" inquired a
clergyman, on visit to neighboring pastor,
as they sat together in the pulpit . Are the
people who are here to-day, principally pro-
lessons or non professors F" sspreach the nos-
pei, was the reply; g they are all sinners,
and they need it.
A DIFFERENCE IN OPINION The New
York Tribune publishes a list of the Repre-
sentatiNes from the free States, who voted to
take up the Kansas Nebraska Bill, with a view