The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-01-05
IL LIGIOUS.

Rev. DIR. Nicely, Bishop elect of the diocese
of Maine assisted by Rev. Dr. Higbee, con-
Quoted the Christmas Eve services at Trinity
chapel, New York. The Herald says the ser
vices were of the most impressive character
Sixteen boys and six men composed the choir.
The sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Higbee
'The stained glass windows, the high roof, the
dim but solemn light, The pealing of the organ,
the voices of the choir, traversing through the
long, cathedrsl-like aisle, the voice of the min
lister uttering the word of God, formed scene
quite delightful to the Christian Before day
light the junior choristers greeted Dr. Nicely
with the singing of Christmas carols, and were
Hospitality entertained at a sumptuous break
fast" - 70 g &A Fsa'-t 49, EE@
The University of Oxford, England, has
conferred the honorary degree Of Doctor of Di-
vinity on John james Whitehouse, Bishop of
Illinois. A&BQAA 5stN tg+44E -tf
"A letter from Russia in the London Her
aid has the following interesting information:
THE Pope complains that of fifteen Catholic
sees in Russia some remain vacant. 1t is true
that the law provides for fifteen Catholic bish-
ops, with their suffragans; at the present mo-
ment there are ten, and the number of person.
protesting the Catholic religion is 2,8OoO0O;
each Of the ten Catholic bishops has, therefore
on an average, the care of $50 900 souls. For
population of 100000 protesting the orthodox
faith, there are GA archbishops, bishops and Vi
cars, each prelate having $4,000 souls under
his charge. Thus, the Catholic bishops in Rus
STA, in proportion to their hocks, are three
times more numerous than those of then ational
church, and the proportion would be still great
er if the whole of the fifteen sees were oecu-
pied After having compared the position Of
the Roman Catholic church in Russia with
that of the national establishment, the journal
remarks that the Catholics have strangely
abused the privileges they have enjoyed by
making their religion serve as the instrument
! Of a nationality hostile to the Russian govern
| The Ritualists seem to monopolize the at
tention Of pretty much everybody in England.
Their rapid and threatening growth, their de-
| FAINT tone and position, their imperturbable au-
| dacity, seem to have stirred up an attempt at
| general and simultaneous denuneiation, as a
last attempt to conquer their boldness. Bish-
op EIlicott has been preaching against them
The Bishop of London's charge bears very
mentary interference if they do not behave
better The Bishop OF Oxford is down on
| them, too, but in more considerate ami SYM
thetio fashion,-one that does not mean much
| mischief Mr.. y. q. Hubbard has attacked
them in q speech on one occasion, and Mr..
Beresford Hope on another. Ths Guardian,
the Churchman, and all other sorts of papers,
join the hue and cry, the Times and Punch
| going with the crowd, of course. Meantime
the opinions Of nine of the first lawyers in the
| kingdom, who had been requested to pronounce
| upon test case, were given unanimously in IA
| vor of the legality of most of the revived
usages. The Saturday Review wittily says,
| speaking of the Episcopal charges Eand the
opinion Of the nine lawyers, that 1.-The leading
difference between the two classes of docu-
ments is shat the latter leaves it doubtful
what the law is, while the former make it
equally uncertain what the law ought to be-"
Tho Rockland Gazette states that Rev J.
o'Brine OF this city has succrrdsd to she charge
of the Catholic church. at Rockland, made va
cant by the death of Rev. Andrew Barron in
| September last. @ss p - g.
The Pope Of Rome proposes to hold a
grand convention OF Bishops in Rome next
June, ostensibly to celebrate the 18th centen-
airy of the martyrdom OF the Apostles Peter
and Paul. but the condition Of the Rom;sb
C,,,,a,, IN H., ,,,,, =. En-. -,
Onu.en wan 'non Nv "oo"' oe iuiiy oousiaeieu
The Pope Is Old and feeble, and looks with
alarm upon MS loss Oh territorial power.
Inc ohIis.lan Niiriof oi TINS week' fefer-
rug " .ne i'epor' VI 'ne NC" aorA ooniniie-
zee ior Tue ienei VI ot'i'na' u WHICH ho'ice
mas recently oeeh Maee IN 'ne 1resS' says:
,,.,s ,,l,.ta
tor slI. Ihis man, John, Archbishop Of
New York., replies that the contribution
ironl tue various oatno ~ enufenes VIOLA w
p I'D VINO ni,as..Iflost evervthInr- and whose.
congregation was left LouseIess, homeless, and
churchiess," The bishops shanty Is III good
state Of iorWafahess' anu one VI tns inosI nm