New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-05-08

had been unavodaby detained from attending the meet
ing.
concluded with PRAYER and benedcton by the Rev Mr..
CCYLER.
ANNIVERSARY OF THE SOCIETY OF INQUIRY.
The Society of Inquiry of the Union Theological Semi
nary held their Anniversary meeting last evening at the
church Of DIR. ASA d. SMITH, of Fourteenh-st.
and Secondary.
The Rev Mr. SMITH opened the services with prayer,
after which the hymn beginning "Watchman tell Ills OF the
Z" night sung by the choir.
Tie Rev. w. s. CURTIS of Michigan addressed the 80.
ciety in brief and eloquent discourse. lie remarked
that il was subject of congrauatOn that in this CONNER
cia metropolis where worldly science is pursued with
such devotion and vice holds such wide sway there was
school of the prophets where are gathered more than one
hundred deV oed to the work of the Christian minis
try Subjects adapted TO this Society are not wanting
He remarked that he should resign himself to beaten
to the of religion by the few ideas which he should
throw out His subject was, the religious deVelopeneht
"of our race and what is to be its final
of the history of religion from the period Of creation down
to the present time. Man is religious being lie began
religious being at the creation He 9woke to conscious
the supply of his physical wants. incense in praise OF
Cod Although created in the image of God, man
soon fell from the right way IA Inc destroyer came ana
mediately Christ promised to mankind. God, now,
ever kept the world in suspense for forty centuries VII
the Savior was born in manger Through al ages man
has been endeavOring construct religion for himself
His progress in the world of science Is matter OF interest
But in point of view is be worthy OF sucn con'enpa.
of the race requires treatise to do justice 10 the SUBJECT
rather than single discourse. Idoatry sprans
into existence sooa after the creation. Some say
that il did not exist till after the food 1t
was perhaps, at least, coeval with the food. We
read that Rachel stole the images from her father Laban
Idoary the religion of the Cbadeans and Egyptians
The first objects deied were the principal objects oa
turc. The heavenly bodies, from their brllancy and
change of position could not fail to attract and fix the atten
tiono f ma NJ
Ann moon and stars were the hrst oDjecs ueneu
Persians however, did not permit any image o you ~ oo
made but worshpped him in the semblance OF nre' rum
these exalted objects of worship the descent mao oaS
the most insignificant and oahsome The Egyptians wor
shipped the qualities and attributes OF things anu even t
fed insects and creeping animals Nor was IL oelcr ~ e
vest Philosophers poets orators and statesmen al CON
formed the popular superstition al Inc SAM ,n c ep
which the people should not know. Athens had 3ooOo
dvinities among which was one with Tue lhscrP'oh,
Tho unknown God" Rome religious capital ana
permitted within her walls every form OF worship. one
gathered to herself the gods Of all nations me Pauoo
Ind in shrines for every religion such was ine poct "a
the Old World If turn to modern PaSahsh VIC nil'
NO mnrovement As we look at the religious de.SloP-
ment of man rising up before us mgnl! Sis
small at first, but increased now 10 monster
In tbs orshn was the mind of the Chadee engaged Deore
, ocni6cent TEMPLES were built which have been re-
Gently unearthed. Here Rome spent her wealth. ana ieai5
mud be Chinaman his curiosity Here have the bias en-
crted their skill and now by Tradition ana cas'e u!
IN nrop M the crumbng walls OF their idoiarous 'eP
Beneath its dome what rites, what cer1inoncs NV -
G oration Of the religious has been gratlhed or
SINGLE soul renewed and saved through iheso luoa'es
Not The question meets US e iaoiSr Without
any opposition the jew, the Mohammedan ana he
will all give place better and purer religion Hls mus
recorded iii some OF their own writings Ever! euoi
made for the extension of commerce and the spread
of the natural sciences is death,blow 10 me COT
rupt systems Of idolatry Ihey oesn aH, Se! owe
feel a pressure from without. Let us resi- inc Eye
for few minutes on of the parts OF the heathen
world For wears India has been undergoing ren0v atoh
Her ancient customs fast giving way before the au
of civilization. Agriculture ana commerce are sl' G
mn in their midst. Schools, academies anu coeses ai "
creasing while railroads and teegraphs are rendering
munication to all parts of the empire Ne resu VI
Is that the sumber ages breaking up ii we turn our
10 China we see these great changes For &c" YEAR
five ports have been opened to Christians ana soui
accommodation between California and Cna WIN oe a.
treonent as between New-Iork and lAverpooi. japan
and Africa are daily becoming more ana NOR t,s
lied On this continent doatry mas ou iTeD' go
while in the islands of the sea the facility oil 49,
does not diminish their superstuous cus'v 1h
% are nj work which will destroy ldola'ry Inc
sneaker here noticed the rise and history OF
~ and remarked that il religion that prospersd only
in the track of flying armies Ii never could exl oI
once in the world and never can rise again IL mus
forever had Christianity never existed he next spoke
m. free.thnker remarkng that while the Christlan
travelled with torch snatehed from the Temple OF goa
the free thinker vainy journeyed by his own feepe h
Man needs one clothed with divine authority TO rescue mn
| from perdition. We have completed survey OF tht
world in regard to idolatry and have shown It's %
supply the wants of man We turn now 70 s
at the foundation of all religions The idea OF God a;
expressed in the Bible satisfies man the best The Goa
! the Bible is the only true God.
The speaker predicted the universally OF the Chrsan
religion and demonstrated the verify OF the Moral Law
Christianity supplies the wants of the human race
is right in other systems OF worship y roneon.
what is doubtful il clears up what Is erroneout'
i, condemns He then spoke of the obstacles win %
Christianity had TO contend and the success Will WI III
She had met them and predicted in eloquent language %
speedy downfall of Papal power He concluded a. ,or
lows Let say to young men VINO ale s ss 80 use
,he nresoni You go forth with the conviction thal no
only God and religion uphOldng YOU but asS Inc
undercurrent of the world Is setting IN your 10 ;h,
ns,.r 70 the question 'watchman tell Us oil the nsn''
! answer The morning cometh
UNION MISSIONARY MEEIiN'.
meeting as above was held Friday evening ~ 'A'
eruacle The house densely Crowded -.
Irrurp RRADIsH Dresidcd lie expalneu INC n"'"IN -