Weekly national intelligencer., 1860-08-04
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

merce, to that France at least among the "Great
Powers disposed to act with vigcr in relation to the
msssacres in Syria 1t is not likely that Russia viii fail
TO sustain her in her attempts the Christian popu
lation of that Province of the Turkish Empire which en-
braces Palestine well the Syria of ancient time
1t is natural that France should stand up for the Ma
rontes and other Christians who acknowledge in the
slightest FORM the claims of the Bishops of Rome to be the
Visible Head of the Church universal 1t just natu
raj that Russia should offer herself the protector the
Greek Christians and the adherents of other Oriental
churches which look up the Greek Church great
sister England claims to feel special regard for the
Proestants and she unites with Prussia sustaining
Protestant bishop at jerusalem but nowhere else the
Turkish dominion The number of PrOtestants residing
Syria not great But when call to mind that there
is considerable number of Protestant missions and mis-
sionaries Syria from Jerusalem to Aepp0 each whom
H or was before this outbreak surrounded by interest
ing band of converts-n large band-there is
good why England should take prominent part
this humane and trsy Christian work of putting end to
these atrocities"
The Maronites who have recently suffered ST Bar,
hoomews at the hands of the fanatca Druses
are sect of Christians which had its origin among the
Monotbetes who having been condemned by the Council
of Constantnope in the seventh century found refuge
in Lebanon.
"They took their name from John Marc their first
Bishop In the twelfth century they renounced the opin-
ions OF the Monothees and received into the Church
of Rome, making it, however, condition OF acknowledge
and rites should be respected Their church constitution
resembles that of the old Greek church They are still
nomnay connected with Rome, and the Pope pays the
expenses OF their public worship There is also college
at Rome for the education of their clergy They number
one hundred and eighty thousand They inhabit (or did
nhabit until now many villages scattered throughout Le
banon and have two hundred for and
They are peaceful and perhaps might add cowardy
people"
What renders the scenes of violence recently enacted
doubly thev faol rIaca
the cradle of Chrtanty-withn sight of Mount Hermon
under the shade Of the goody cedars of Lebanon
mels blooming heights and Sharons fertile plains almost
on the road which Paul passed on his way to Damas
GUS and not far from Nazareth, Bethlehem and the city
of Jerusalem. In a country in which nearly every place
is haowed by the profoundes memories Of the Christian
world, the followers of Him whose life invested it with
undyng interest ruthessy murdered and their bodies
left along the roadside to be deyoured by dogs
The old reference the Sabbath still retained in some
districts of New England but generally there little to
remind of the former Puritan habits described in the
following article:
The Puritan Sunday in the village of New England
commenced on Saturday afternoon No labor peorm
ed ON the evening which preceded the Lords day Early
ON Sunday morning the blowing Of horn in some placesf
announced that the hour oworshp was at hand In other
places flag hung out of the rude building occupied
church At Cambridge a drum beaten in military
STYLE at Salem bell indicated the opuence of that sette-
ment The public religious services commenced at nine
O'Clock in the morning, and occupied from six to eight
hours, divided by inermsson of hour for dinner
The people collected quite punctuay the law compelled
their attendance and there heavy fine for any one
tnat rode too fast to meeting The sexton called upon the
minister and escorted him to church in the fashion
that the sheriff conducts the judge into State
courts There were pews in the church. and the
gregaon had places assigned them upon the rude benches
at the annual town meeting, according to their age i'm
porance, and social standing person fined he
cuped the seat of another Our local histories reveal that
prlde envy and Jealousy active passions among the
men of Olden times and it delicate and difficult bus-
ness to seat the meeting house. as it quantity called
The venerable Dr. SPRING, of New York viii celebrate
tomorrow august 81 the eth anniversary his settle
ment at which time suitable will take place the
church, and Monday evening the congregation will have
social celebration of this event. when they will
make their pastor suitable memorial of his long and
useful ministry is striking thing in this day change
to see minister filling the pulpit for fifty years, and
bringing forth fruit in old age rich and ripe in his
pamiest days. The secret of this golden pastorate"
says religious contemporary found in the fact that DR.
Spring has preached the Gospel and practsed what
he preached Leaving other to preach the times he
has preached the eenes and fifty years experience has
Illustrated the wisdom of this course
The missionaries out by the Presbyterian and Dutch
Reformed Churches of this country have found no OBJ
sacle to establishing themselves Japan SO long closed
against Christian teachers Two temples were cleared Of
their idols and rented them The Mayor of Nagasaki
visited the missionaries, and asked them many questions
about their religion and accepted copy of the New Tes-
lament in Chinese.
late number of the Belfast (Treand) Mercury says
that the largest religious assembage witnessed in
Belfast took place the preceding Monday the Botanic
Gardens
1T was what is called revival meeting but without
the extrayagant physical prosratons and manifestations
that characterized the meetings in the place last
year All the railways special trains for the
at nominal fares and the result was the people from
distance poured into town to unprecedented extent
The proceedings commenced at twelve O'Clock and were
continued till four in the afternoon They conducted
with great proprety and decorum, forming remarkable
contrast with those in the Gardens last year We did
see any person affected during the meeting great
many ministers of the Gospel present taking
tive part in the religious exercises. There could not have
been less than twenty thousand persons in the Gardens
BY invitation of the members Of the Brooklyn Churches
the Annual Autumual Convention of the Unitarian Com
munon will be held in that city the 3D. 3d. and 4th of
October next. The period is fortnight earlier than
usual to meet the convenience of Rev Jahes Marneau
OF London who has accepted invitation to preach on
the occasion Mr. Martineau is well known by his Ra-
tonale OF Religious Inquiry his two volumes of sermons
entitled "Endeavors after the Christian Lfe and the
remarkable articles he has contributed TO the leading Eng
hsh reviews tor the last twenty years His connection
win ne National Review" and the brilliant papers from
MS pen which have appeared in that mastery periodical
have made him still more prominent of late
The number of pilgrims which arrived at Jeddab the
port of Mecca in the year 1852 was 936oo of which
6l 450 came by and 80 $50 by cafyans Tho number
in the previous year 100000 The large decrease is
ascrbed to the troubles which arose at Jeddb in 1879
and to dread of the cholera which carried @ tbusnd
of the pilgrims in that year From Jeddah to Mccs the
distance is twenty-eight hours journey by caravan
Mr.. RENAN, member of the French Institute has bet
charged by the Emperor Napoleon with the mission of en-
deayorng discover the sites of Tyre and Sdon He re-
Gently had audience of his Majesty and to leave with
his family in October III is nresnmed resaarnhos