Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-04-15
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE,

fifty members.
The Rev. William Claggett has been dis
missed from the pastoral charge Of the Con-
gregational church Al West Hartford
The Poghkeepsie r. ale says awe learn that
the Rev. Francis b. Wheeler, Of Saco, Maine,
who has been called TO the pastoratc Of the
Presbyterian Church of this city, has arrived
prepared to enter upon his new duties, and
will preach in said church tomorrow.
ave also learn that the Rev. Mr.. Bracket
has accepted the call rendered to him by the
Central Baptist Church Of this city, and is
expected to enter upon his duties on the first
of July"
The revival at Baltimore, Md, increases
in power, and has reached the rich and lash
ionabe classes as well as the lowest strata
of society. Several prominent desperadoes
have apparently become converts, and have
exchanged their revolvers and bowie knives
for Bibles
Lists of recent accessions to the NJ. f.
church are published in the Western Chris
tian idrocaie and other papers embracing
over 5000 persons.
The Sabbath services in the National
T.sat.. a New T1la. -5r:il.s to ca le!r
a-.5a-.i. I'D win .gi.slt'7 increasing pro-
i.. Ia .t.-tailg j. li th5 ll.-. plain. d.
rect and practical character. Rev. MIR,
Hiscox and his church have had charge Of
these services but are now making arrange
ments with several other churches to divide
the labor and expense and make the service
permanent
The Foreign Board Of the Reformed Dutch
Church Of New York, are preparing to send
mission to Japan, consisting of two clergy
men, a physician and three ladies. The
party is to sail about the lst Of May next
The New York Churchman is contending
for more energetic organization Of the Pro-
tcstant Episcopal Church, and has compiled
statistics of various denominations in the
State of New York, from which it appears
that the Methodists have l ,542 churches,
l.l39 ministers, and 1877 Ill communicates.
The Baptsts have 839 churches, $50 min
isters, and 90, ,253 communicants. The New
School Presbyterians have 6l9 churches, 73l
ministers, and n ,l22 commitments. The
Old School Presbyterians have 2l9 churches,
273 ministers, and 26,073 communicants.
The Episcopal church has 32l clergymen
and % Ill communicates
OF this matter DR.. Stevens says
THE greatest barrier to the success Of his
sect is its High Church pretensions, 50 in.
compatible with the popular sentiments Of
this country. and its consequent unchari-
table treatment Of all other religious demo-
limitations.
One Of the most sorry spectacles in the ncw
world is the actual status of this old Church,
with its prestige, education, and opulent re-
sources, dwndling into the lowest numeri-
cal rank Of American denominations, and
meanwhile shouting itself hoar>e with its
protestatons Of being "ihe Church. Of the
country
1t is said that some Of Mr.. Spuigeon's
sermons, republiahed in this country, have
been mutilated Of all his remarks in favor
of "oren communion" TIE following is
from an English copy Of one of his sermons
AT the Lord's tdhl always invite all
Christians to come and sit down, and COM
mune with Us. Ii any man were to tell me
that am separated from the Episclralian,
the p. lyterian. or the Methodist, | would
tell iu he did not know me. Tor | loved
th"m with Il pure heart fcryently, and | am
not separated from them. This bears rather
hard on our triends-the Strict Communion
Baptists. l should not like to say anything
hard against them, for they are about the
best people in the world; but they real y do
separate themselves from the great body of
Chrst's people, They separate themselves
from the great universal church. They say
they will not commune with it; and il any
one comes to their tablo who has not been
baptized, they turn him away. The pulse
of Christ's body is communion: and woe to
the church that seeks to cure the ills of
Christ's body by stopping its pulse. think
it sin to refuse to commune with any one
who is member of the church OF our Lord
Jesus Christ