The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-06

service In the Rev. DR.. Macauley's
Church.

EHg ANrIyERSARY OF THE SOCIETY OF INQUIRY OF
UNION rBEoL oGIcAL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. BY REV.
PBILF scHAFF, DID,, OF MERoERsBURG, PA.
highly instructive and interesting discourse was
delivered Sunday evening at the Reformed Dutch
church corner of Fifth and Twenty hrst street
<Rev DR. hscauiey's), by Rev. Philip schaf, DID,, OF
Mercersburg Pa before the Society Of Inquiry OF Union
Theological Seminary, and large number Of the mem
beers Of the congregation The subject was the cosmo-
Foltaa character and mission Of the Eogsh language and
sterature in the advancement Of Christianity and civil
cation throughout the world The learned gentleman
introduced nis subject by general remarks upon the
philosophy Of language upon the different languages, and
upon their relations TO different nations lie Then
entered al large upon the composition con-
Etruciioa LAd history Of the English language
mo Saxon element, said, the natsSal ground
work ard bssls of tho laDguag e, constituting its
Dody and furnishing the most essential cords In giving
At vgor and force. The Latin Is also highly importaa
element in the construction OF the language; 1t wa
rst introduced with the Christian religion the seventh
century and to 1t indebted for many religion
and ecclesiastical terms for exampe:-Region, from
releio bishop, from epscopus priest, 'rc pscsbyer
preach, from predecare master, from mRgster; monk
from monachus, SC, &c In the middle ages scholastic,
philosophical and theological words introduced
from IL real, virtual, entity nonentlty, Ounce, Nc
The third modern importation. OF .og j., mostly
OF scientific character, which retain their FORMS as
basis, formulas calculus fundamentun erratum ssima
aus, emporium, &c.
Tho frea,n Of English languages imported
by the Norans a. the time Of their conquest in the
eleventh century, and called the Norman French is Of
great importance in tho construction Of the language
This for long time along side OF the Saxon without
ihe French have all the terms connected with chvay,
dhe chase and the feuoal system such words sover
eisn, prince, duke MARQUIS, count treasurer throne,
terms or state government and law as Office parliament,
privy council, treaty, court esquire, and military terms,
navy army, peace, war Sc also names Of articles Of
suxury ano ornament
The Celtic element then adverted TO the Oldest
In the English language but had been reduced TO few
zerms illustrative OF he mental condition TO which the
Cets had been brought by the Saxons--such words
crOckery, crook hook funnel button rail matoch &C.,
The sebrew clement from which translators of the
3 ibie had retained many names, Jehovah, Messiah,
soned
The Greek element from which nearly all the technical
terms for the various branches of learning and art
derived philosophy theology metaphysics, grammar,
geometry astronomy also political terms, monarchy,
oiigarony, democracy, alsocracy, ANARCHY, &c. also
nodern terms as telegraph telegram stereotype, cleo
The Dutch elemen, was next introduced. From this
we derive many sea terms as soop, schooner yacht &c
The italian element, from which We get our musical
terms, soprano, pianoforte, prna donna, &C. also
umbrella, pantaloon, gazette &c.
The Spanish element, from which get alligator,
bigot, cortes, tariff negro, mosquito, &c.
inc Arabic gives us ma.nemat,ca astronomers, enc
mics and medical terms, as algebra almanac, alchemy,
alcohol, elixir, &c.
The Indian, from which VIC get wigwam, hammock toma.
names, az Mississippi Missouri, Ohio, Arkansas Illinois,
Oregon, &c.
aects OF mixture OF the different elements which enter
into the composition Of the language. These elements
were ali thoroughly assnilated and melted into
language, comprehensive and efficient than any of
1he The first effect is the utter confusion OF all the
DAVIS OF pronunciation spelling and sound, which makes
abe English language exceedingly difficult for foreigners
10 learn the letter having sometimes five
more different sounds. The second eject is the
middle sounds, which impart English higher de-
illustrations showing this fact given from the
~ s s s Bys0n Eds rec snd Meeser
OF the difieren elements which make the language
for business and practical purposes Illustrations are
here given Of Latin words abridged in FRENCH and still
more Abridged in English wordsof four syabes in Latin
being reduced to two in French and then TO single syl
liable il English Many ustTati given, aud quo
aations from Tepnyson and Hood The fourth
effect Is the unusual number Of synonyms in the lan
ns Il s b boz hs soe the sp char.y
the Istin "pastor' ard the Saxon shepherd, all Of
which have different shades Of melning. ,-..-,
The next result effect, the power OF acquisition and
Of Incorporating terms from all these various sources
The third division of the subject the Cosmopolitan
Mission Of the English anguague FIom It's cosmopolitan
competition this mon derived and IL ia destined 10
become and more the worlds language, still more
the Greek Latin in ancient times rand the
French in modern. 1t accompanies the progress Of
christianity and civilization !, the end Of the earth and
carriee with IL commerce and industry; rich and healthy
literature the arts and sciences Of self govern
ment civil and religious Freedom domestic virtue, ma
toDal prosperity ana evangelical chrsansy bearing on
and on earth; peace and good will to men,"
Services 1T the Reformed Protestant Dutch
Church. corner Of Henry and Picrrcpont
streets, BrOoklyn--Ssrmon by the Rev.
James Eelis.
Yesterday evening this elegant building occupied
by highly fashionable and attentive audience TO hear
the above eminent clergyman preach, this being the
twenty third anniversary OF the sailors Homo Society
The cergymen assisting In the services were the Rev
Mr. Robinson the Rev. Mr. Bisse Secretary Of the So
ciety and the Rev. Mr. Loomis another Secretary The
service was opened by the singing Of beautiful hymn
The Rev. Mr. Robinson then read the a2d chapter Of
Isaiah
r Els took his text from the 18th chapter of the first
book Kings and 44th 1.-The little cloud from the
sea"
need detail the circumstances which are narrated
in chapter further than say that IN the midst 81
dreadful famine, from drought, Elijah was praying
for rau. Though the heavens continued 10 be Ike
braps him, and the earth like powder beneath
his feet, he ainted not when little cloud
roee from the sea and there a great rain.
In this narrative Gnd parallel tho history Of that
Christian enterprise whose claims we have aEsenbled To-
night CONSIDER By common consent, for many years
sesrnen abandoned to tho dominion OF evil spiritual
drought aod famine desoatonprcvaieoa among them and
Efforts put forth TO reach them with the Gospel
and after some felt that something must be done for
them societies crmed for their evsngezi tou
they found but little sympathy from the mass Of the
church, and seemed 10 make but limited impression on
those tor whom they labored. II work that sup
ped liz to encourage that must 6epend largely upon
tah. yet they coDinued 10 pray ana abor ana expect
until at sst to .he wrestling prophet on Mount Car
mel little cloud from the sea 20 greet Their vision
give them hope Of abundance Of ram By which the
thirsty earti DO refreshed and blcsseds To the
sured faith of Elijah, that cloud, which his
servant to be only a. large az a rnan's hand,
contained glorious promise OF relief FOR nation.
The eloquent gentleman then said that Intercourse with
foreign people. unwimgly forced at FIRST End oppressed
st b, the leaders who progress has wrought won
ders India and China within twenty years, ana "
shaking the pilared superstition and gnorsnce OF
she natives Contact with other lands has opened tho
country of japan coecd for centuries 70 every approach
from without Commercial exchange has already toed
The death knell OF Mahome'anifm from the towers OF
Constsntnople aud breaking up the caverus within
witch The millions Of Africa nave been hidden in toe
darkness ~ absolute heathen'sn Herein j. the
influence Of seamsn they net only receive attention
the by which the interests of trade sustained
between different portions OF tho globe bet they present
themselves for comparison with what they ind: and
Whatever be the character OF their ininence IL II
often percepiibe at There facts which chow
both Chat this s true, and why " true Frst, there