The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-10-27
R CLIGIOUs.

The Roman Catholic Council at Baltimore
has finished its business. In the concluding
sermon Archbishop Purcell said that this Coun-
ell was impressed with the necessity of reclaim
ing to Catholicity the United States of Ameri-
ca, and intimated this to be the grand object
of its assembling. There is to be no crusade
preached against Professionalism, no offensive
thrusting forward the doctrines and practices
OF Rome upon population, the great majority
OF whom are opposed to that Church, but in
quiet way the clergy are to set about their work
OF proselytism with energy, perseverance AMI
industry The freedmen of the South form the
held to be first entered upon. This work was
10 nave been done quietly, before Protestant
sects had caught the idea, and much indigna-
ton has been expressed at the publication of
cardinal Barnabo's letter upon the subject
That letter was received by Archbishop Spald-
ing who for the convenience of his brother
bishops ordered the printing of a sufficient
number of copies, with the most positive in
structions that there should be nothing said
abont it outside the Council. The printers say
they know not how the Latin copy could have
got out of the Office, unless stolen by cores
pondent of New York paper, and the transla-
ton they say was execrable. But, however
that letter got into print the fact is clear that
that the Catholic Church intends to take the
blacks under its protecting wing, and if posi-
BILE claim exclusive possession over them. 1t
is to be hoped it will take better care of them
than the Protestants have thus far done.
Rev. H.. j. Van Dyke of Brooklyn, con-
spieuous as an advocate of slavery and SYM
pathizer with the South during the rebellion,
has been nominated by the board of directors
of the Columbia (S C.) Theological Seminary
as professor of didactic and polemic theology in
that institution.
The contribution of the Park street Meth
odist Church in Lewiston to aid in the erection
of new college building at Kent's Hill, as
centenary thank offering to God, already
amounts to S54l4, and will be increased.
In accordance with the recommendation of
the Council, the trustees of Andover Theologi-
cal Seminary have just voted to request the
Faculty to prepare an abridged course for such
persons as may desire to enter the ministry
from somewhat advanced life.
Rev. Peter Cartwright writes that he has
spent sixty 1.-TWO years as a regular itinerant
preacher, and during that time has received but
two years salary.
The revival interest in various parts of the
State is still on the increase.
The very handsome new church of the
Baldwin, or Second Baptist Society in Boston,
was dedicated this week with the usual cere-
monies
The Convention ofthe Congregational and
Presbyterian Churches has appointed a Com
mittee "to consider the relation of secret socie-
ties to church fellowship, to report at the next
annual meeting" with special instructions to
inquire particularly concerning the orders of
Free Masons and Odd Fellows.
A movement is on foot to establish in the
Episcopal Church in this country the grades
in the ecclesiastical hierarchy which have been
disuscd since the separation from the mother
Church of England. The Diocese of Illinois
in convention have resolved that it is expedi-
ent to re-establish the office of Dean; and ress
olution favoring what is called the Provincial
system, was referred to a special committee,
with considerable likelihood of being adopted,