Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-03-07
For the Spectator.
Mr.. stuart and the New York Pulpit.

| VIZ stuart anu the new IOTA E-uipiL
spent Sunday during the last month in tht
| City Of New York. At that time course of lee
lures in the various churches against Popery wa:
in progress. These lectures were, largely atten
ded and evidently fell in with drift of public feel
ing. In the evening of the day referred to, | at
tended one ofthese lectures delivered in the spen
did white marble 'Church..of the Pilgrims, or
| Union Square, the pastor of W hich is the distn
prnshed DIR. Cheever. The lecturer for the even
ing was the Rev: N. S. Beman, d. D., a Presby-
terian On. S. of great ability and influence, resi-
ding in Troy.
His subject was the ''Difficultes we meet with
in opposing Romanism" The heads of the dis
course were |. The ignorance of the people con-
corning the true character of Romansm, z. The
apathy of the people occasoned by an over conf
dence in the stability of our free institutions, 3.
The unprincipled f1attery of the Romanists by our
politicians for the sake Of their votes, 4. The
same spirit in our political press to some extent.
The lecturer put forth his utmost strength on
the third head; and whilst there was great
deal in his mode Of treating the subject which
would have suited the platform much better than
the pulpit, there were many facts presented cal
oulated to produce Indignation and alarm concern
NC the habits Of those who are entrusted with
civil office, or aspire to office. The Rev. DR..
seemed to have been watching like hawk the
ways of the politicians for the last five or six
years, and to have noted down as if for this very
occasion all their sayings and dongs which squn-
ted toward bidding for Catholic votes. The lee
urer did not confine himself TO general state
ments, but he o,ruigned the politicians by name
gave incidents in which they figured, extracts
from letters which they wrote and from speeches
which they delivered, and whilst he maintained
becoming cvility of tone. he brought them forth
man by man without respect 10 party or localit.
and told his witheTing tie upon eau, with the
most plthv remarks accompanying the cases sew
erallv.
Perhaps the richest tabeaux of the evening
were drawn from the famous dinner given at the
Astor House some years ago to Bishop Hughes,on
the occasion Of his return to New York from a
pilgrimage to Rome where he had received the
honorable pa!liun, and had been led to expect the
Cardinals hat. The lecturer first gave a very
piquant account Of the getting up of the dinner,
in which he intimated that Bishop Hughes man
aged the wires himself, that the politicians gen
orally entered readily into a filtration with the
prelate as they had mutual fayors to crave
However that might be, the dinner came OIL In
grave style, strongly reminding one OF the dinners
ST. Peter used To eat on The shores OF the Sea OF
Galilee as to both uateriette and personcHe. At
this Astor House dinner were political distingues
in abundance gormandizng and guzzling to the
honor of the Pope and his very obedlent servant
John Hughes Well, the Bishop spoke glorify-
ing the politicians, and the politicians spoke glo-
riying the Bishop. AS their libations and low
ing eloquence poured forth, they perhaps scarce
ly remembered that
chiels's amang 'cm takennotes,
And faith he I'll prent 'em.
There were variety uf letters read from dis
tinguished persons, who were SO unfortunate as
to be unable to attend the Apostolic banquet
The burden of both speeches and letters was the
profound and irrepressbe admiration of their au-
lhors for the Pope Of Rome, for the Roman Cath
Ollie Church in general but above all for Archbish-
on Hughes, who was described 10 be n man of
great mind, enormous learning. large heart, lib
eral principle, bewitching eoquence-in short
bright ornament TO his country, to his church,
and to the entire family of man. Among those
connected with the banquet either by letters or
personal presence, the lecturer mentioned Ex-
Gov Hunt, EXPIRES. Van Buren,, Gen. Cass,
Dan. Webster, Henry Clay. Vim. H. Seward,
Stephen A. Douglas, Horatio Seymour, ct ceterG.
After quoting from various speeches and let
tiers, the Reverend lecturer paused moment and
drawing up his venerable and highly d'gnlfied
| form, said In an altered and respectful tone-ln
words to this effect.
"My hearers, there was still another letter
written 10 the managers of that potico-regions
dinner-but it was letter in its tone and senti-
ments very different from these | have been quo
ting-it was letter, ami it was the only letter of
the evening, worthy Protestant and statesman
in this free land. The author Of the letter was
Alexander H. H. Stuart, Of Virginia The let
ter contains unbecoming glorification of Pope,
Popery, or Prelate, but a bold, manly statement
of the true American doctrine Of religious liberty
u.s. all ecclesiastical interference, open or disguis-
ed. My hearers, when think OF Mr.. Stuart ut
tering these noble sentiments in face of the tyr
any loving prelate and the truculent politicians a
round him, am strongly reminded of "LuIher at
the diet Of Wormsl"
The sentiment was evidently well received by
the vast and intelligent auditory, and ], as Vr-
gilman, enjoyed the deserved tribute to our emil
nent statesman, whose fame is widely extended,
and is unsullied by even the semblance of a blot.
FARMER.