Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-06-02
Religious Intelligence.

sembly has been in session during the week.
From the six congregational bodies of New
England delegates were present only from
Maine and Massachusetts, \ prominent fea
turc has been an animated debate on the va
lidity of Romish baptism. Two reports,
majority one written by Dr.. Hatfield Of New
York, and a minority one by Prof. Smith of
Union Seminary, were under discussion
Rev. Drs. Bemar, Brainard Spear, Dobie, and
others, made able speeches. The latter gen
tleman argued thus " The New Testament de-
fnition of the ceremony includes the idea of
the application of water. But the Romish
ceremony simply applies to the subject mix
ture of salt, oil and spittle. An application
Of chalk or yellow ochre, or lamphlack, might
with just as much as much propriety be cal
led baptism. The very element that gives
the symbol its gnifcancy-watcr-is absent
Now, no matter who administers such rite,
it is not baptism The discussion has oc-
cupied large part of every day during the
week.
The Old School Presbyterian General As
sembly has also continued its session at Buff
falo. A letter was received from French
Presbyterians, stating that that the Church
in France had suffered much from the in
trigues of Catholic Priests, and were oppres.
sed by those in high places. The report Of
the Board of Foreign Missions was read
The whole collection for the year was Sl73,-
600, and the balance in the treasury was
81 200. The Board of Publication have cir
culated $4,000 books, and 10000 tracts
during the year. Value Sl36, 900. The re-
ceipts had increased over the previous year
$4,000. The balance in the treasury on
the lst of April was $4,000. The Board of
Domestic Missions reported in favor of build
ing a Church at Washington on a liberal
scale, and recommended a collection of from
$50 900 to 100000 Considerable time was
occupied in considering a judicial case, invol-
wing the right of the Church to strike from
its list Elders refusing to have their children
baptized,
The Protestant Episcopal Convention of
Pennsylvania, held its session last week.
Resolutions were submitted recommending
that the salaries of Clergymen be fixed at
500 if single, and $1,000 if married, and
that tax of cents per week be enforced
upon the communicates of the various par
ishes, the proceeds to be dispensed by trus-
tees in assisting any parishes unable to pay
their clergymen. The Convention refused to
admit delegates from colored church, be-
longing to the diocese. The New York Con-
vention, it will be remembered, last year ad-
mitted colored church without restriction.
The Methodist General Conference (South)
decided on an increase of three Bishops. The
Southern Methodist Book concern is to be To-
Gated at Nashville.
The Baptist Missionary Meetings in Phil.
adelpha last week, We're interesting. The
receipts of the Am. Bap. Missionary Union
for the year, were Sl36,S02 40, the expendi-
lures Sl46, 1888 SO. Receipts of the Home
Missionary Society. S62,7 25, expenditures
S5s ,427 55. The number of missions under
direction Of the Board, is 81, embracing s.
stations and $40 out stations 66 missiona :
ries, and 63 female assistants native preach
ers and assistants, $40. There are some 81
churches, having membership of 1918, o.
whom were added by baptism the past year
1850.
Convention to promote the more genera
observance of Sunday, was held last week il
Chicago. About one hundred delegates wer,
present. The formation of the "Northwes
tern Sabbath Cnion,' in order to render tn,
efforts of the friends of the Sabbath "unlted
systematic general and effective" was re
commended and adopted
1t was resolved "that the violation of thu
Sabbath by Railroads, Steamboats,, Cana
boats, or other public conveyances in tn
transmission of passengers or freight, or til,
United States Mail, is an immortality alik,
repugnant to the Divine law, to the best in
terests of society, and to the pecuniary inter
est of the owners Of such conveyances.
Rev. DR., Duff has taken his departure from
this country. The contributions raised b,
him for the seminary and college under hi
care at Calcutta, amounted to $4,000.
Bishop Hopkins, of Vermont, has engaged
to oficiate at Trinity Church, Boston, during
the absence of Dr. Eastburn, Bishop of tn,
diocese, in his spring visitation to the severa
churches.
Auburn Theological Seminary has now
vacancies in its Board of Instruction, givinl
occasion for almost an entire reconstruction
of its faculty. The filing of these vacancie
is to be determined on in June.
The Wesleyan Methodists are about layin
/ the foundation of Metropolitan Church i
, the city of Washington.
The longest pastorate ever held in Ney
England, was by the late Rev. 5. Nott.D . D.
, of Franklin, Conn, namely, seventy years
e during all but three of which he discharge
all the duties of pastor, entirely unaided, an
lacked but twenty months of one hundre
years of age at his death
1 The citizens of Winchester, Mass, recent
ly met, to consider the action of the schoC
= committee. in excluding the Bible from th
: schools, and resolutions setting forth
S strong and emphatic language the value {
. the Bible TO the Schools. that the action {
= = the School Committee was hostile to the bes
d interests of the same, requesting them to r.
n scind the rule, and requiring all the scholar
IS to read portion of the commonly rece'r'
', persion of the Bible daily in the schools, wei
n adopted with only three dissenting votes.
y y DoUeLAs AND CArALINE-A Preshyteris
q Clergyman writes letter to the conserv
n tives through the Tribune about the NebrasE
A Bill, and comparing Douglas to Catalin
: puts these words in his remarks
1. " Look to your hesrths my Lords For there
"a Henceforth shall sit for household gods
Shapes hot from Tartarus, all shames and crimei
Wan Treachery, with his deadly dagger drawn;
+ Suspicion, poisoning his brothers cup
S, Naked Rebellion, with his torch and axe,
" Making wild havoc of your blazing throres,
Till Anarchy comes down on you like night,
Ia And Massacre seals Rome's eternal grave ~