The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-05-09
AMERICAN AND FOREIGN CHRISTIAN
JTNTnN


AMERICAN AND FOREIGN CHRISTIAN
UNION.
The sixth anniversary Of the American and Foreign
Christian Union held yesterday morning in the
Broadway Tabernacle. As the weather was rather
propitious the attendance not numerous
former occasions of the kind. Rev. Dr. Dewitt presided
The exercises we're commenced with the hymu-'Exert
thy power thy rights maintain" which was sung by
the choir and the meeting. portion Of the Scriptures
was read by Rev. Dr.. Mcleod after which prayer
offered by the Same gentleman The heasurers report
was next read by EDWARD VERNON, Esq. The report
says that receipts Of the society for the year ending
April l. $63 1857 g. and the expenditures 500 38l &c.
The Board regret that the former not equal to those
of the preceding year. The great financial embarrass
ments says the report Of the country the causes Of
this falling of in the Of the society," misfortune
which has BEEN however, way peculiar to this socie-
ty. Indeed, il has suffered less, it Is believed thau
several Of the other and longer established religious and
benevolent organizations The board also sgnRze the
act interesting and encouraging one that the de.
nciency less in the receipts from the usual donations
and annual contributions the part Of the churches
than from legacies Last the amount received from
from that quarter was Is in the 18th year Of the
s0ciety's existence.
From the report Of the directors which was read BY
Rev. Dr. BAIRD, learn that in Sardinia the govern
ment Ia marching steadily forward in its liberal
The of the m0nAstic Institutions, and
curtailment of the ecclesiastical power as regards
church property, measures which Rome herself has
forced the state to take. In Spain, government
determined to con6scate eli church property and
place the church on the ground which it stands in
France The principle Of religious liberty has failed to
be incorporated in the constitution by less than
dozen votes. In South America, especially in Brazil,
Venezuela, New Granada and Uruguay, liberal spirit
characerzes the present government the is true
Of Peru.
In regard the question Of the tenure Of church pro-
perty affecting the Catholic religion the report refers
to the action Of the Legislatures Of New York. Pennsy
vana and Michigan hopeful of what will be done by
the rest OF the country.
The Komsh Church in this country at the commence
ment OF 1855, may be stated to embrace Arch
bishops, SO Bishops, 1,704 PRIESTS 1924 churches, 81
incorporated and i've unncorporated colleges, (having
1862 students 81 theological seminares with 500
dents) and III female academies. The entire nominal
Pspal population can hardly be less than 326o00o at
this time.
The society has aided the French Canadian Society to
the amount OF Ot0 during the year, which sup
ported six lab0rers in the field.
The entire number Of missionaries, of all classes,
supported by the society last year. l08 OF whom 81
were In the home field, and 40 in the foreign.
The Hon. BRADFORD r. WooD, Of Albany, read q series
of resolutions These referred to the work in which the
Union 10 engaged; the necessity of harmony and CO.
operation among evangelical Christians for the advance
ment OF that work; the ignorance Of Catholics their
superaons and the enslaved conc ition of their
the great Of Catholicism in the United States
and the efforts making its further extension in