The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-05-04

leve4ied at Boston alone, although that oly
stands preem'nent In the ranks of lcentiousnSB
just at presen Ia gtanoisg over our exchanges
from Philadelphia, Baltimore, and other interior
cities, we find a similar longing aft err forbidden
fruit, and similar anxiety to direct the public
attention to 1t. 1t seems to be a sort of rivalry
to see which paper shall be the dirtiest. The
journals in these cities are generally in sickly
condition, and their conductors eagerly seize q.
any stuff, however disgusting, that will pander
to depraved appetite, and, by a temporary in
crease Of their circulation, put a few coppefs in
their pockets. Ia the West there are three great
Cities Cincinnati, st. Louis ard Chicago-aud
we have not really been able to distinguish which
of the journals In those places eau claim pre-
emineuce in licentiousness. 1t is almost an even
race.
It is not safe, then, for resident of the cities
we have mentioned to introduce local journal
to bis domestic hearth. In fact if he has any re-
gard for the well being, the happiness, the repu-
tatOn the moral character Of his wife, sister, son
or daughter, be will avoid the local press rs .
pestilence more dangerous than the cholera OF
the yellow fever, for they can only kill the body,
while wicked press kills the body and the soul
together. In this country we have no official
censorship, and 1t is right there sbould be none
but we do have q law prohibiting the printing
and sale Of obscene books or newspapers. Either
this law should be enforced against the provia-
cial press, or the good citizens Of every comma
nifty afflicted In the manner we have described
should combine together and ignore the exist
ence Of the licentious journals until they have
undergone q full course of penancc purgatiou
and publication.
The Religious Anniversaries In New York.
The annual gatherings Of the religious and
benevolent societies Of the country begin this
week. From all pointsin the rural districts, from
the provinces, and our second class cities,
hither the tribes repair rs to another Jerusalem
And with the representative men of the princi-
pies which are now to receive their annual eulo-
gies, and be ledgerized into the Ineligible shape
of dollars and cents, there comes an attendant
crowd Of excellent people, who take this oppor-
tunity of ascertaining the progress Of religion
and benevolence, to hear the addresses of their
fayorite speakers, end in their leisure hours to
explore this great and mysterious city, and see
little of the fOllies Of it--for themselves The
hotels and boarding houses of the more economic
and moderate Glasses profit to considerable ex-
tent by these religious influxes So do the book
sellers and 50 do the milliners and nantuamakers;
for it is certain, however the good men Of these
societies may differ on the doctrine the fair We
men 90 in strong for " Irresistible grace"
1t is not, however, on the surface we must look.
There are many remarkable peculiarities about
these anniversaries And the great one is, that
without extensive cooperation, mutual support,
and very large pecuniary aid, the great cause Of
religion would not prosper; for this is the drift
Of all the speeches-the bed-plate of all the ma
chinery. This curious dependence Of principle
upon the support Of those whom il most violently
denounces-this exalting of God by sacrificing at
the altar of Mammoa-is one of those expcdients
which it is said spreads tn. gospel farthest and
widest, and TO employ which brings the shepherds
Of the plains so often within the peris of the
smoke Of Gomorrah. That "godlines is great
gain" both Gin the world that now is and that
which Ia to come" is fixed fac. in the minds Of
every tunctionsry who draws salary out Of
these Institutions; and good many double cylin-
ders, and steam engines, and type moulds and
ninble fingers set in motion by the same princi-
pie, are never idle in earning their share Of the
advantages These annual meetings, then, be-
come the great moral and religious machines Of
the day. The most expert engineers have them
under their management aud regulate the pros
sure ard the supply Of steam One would think
that some quiet, lovely village In the interior
would be selected for these meetings, where, amid
the beautiful scenery Of nature, and pure and
heavenly atmosphere Ground their peaceful balm
ditfusing,' these lambs of the fold would ga.hce
themselves together. But far from IT, Into the
dens OF bulls and bears, and wolves In sleeps
clothing, they enter fearlcsly, and generally ~
tire with full share OF the spoils which ere
collected in such places
In one thing, then, there IL great unity: that
Of purpose In getting all the money and doing
al the good with is they can What does NOT
come in by the periodical rilis, sometimes ruAhcs
in like an avalanche. And il is curious cir
cum stance that Of late years requests to rcll-
gious associations have become very frequent
and are by no means small In amoCnt These
bequeets are often made 10 the injury Of rels-
tives who are In want ind misery; but the do
vi,ees in thcse cases are lever known To give any
thing up, be their misery "never 70 great" What
remains after being well tolled as il passcs from
hand to hand on its way, must be sent TO Asia OF
Africa to save the souls Of the heathen--ao work
OF godllnees nearer home will answer the purpose
Of such heaven born charity.
We do not disopprove Of the system with which
the business Of these great societies Il carried on;
IL is ~ the cover TO never ccaslng importunify
that IL attracts our attention. The American b
bic Society is an instance Of the advantage q
good management In good cause The disri-
button Of the Bible II the starting point Of all re-