The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-03-02
RELIGIOUS.


The new church recently erected by the
Baptist Society at Beech Ridge, so called, in
York, was dedicated on Thursday the 21st inst.
The dedicatory sermon was delivered by Rev.
George Moore Payne, of Kittery.
Rev. John Nichols, pastor ofthe Universal
ist church in Beverly, Mass, while preaching
farewell discourse to his society, on Sunday
last, was attacked with paralysis, and had to be
conveyed to his home, where he died at eleven
o'clock in the evening. He was apparently in
sound health before the attack.
1T is reported that member of Or. Hunt
ington's Church has given 100000 to found an
Episcopal Divinity School at Cambridge.
An exchange says that in the town of Patten
in this State, a bell given by friends, in Wor-
cester Mass, was raised to its place Feb. 1st.
Many of the children in those parts never be-
fore heard ehurch-bell. Rev. W. T. Sleeper
is the pastor there, and by his personal effort
has done great work for the place.
la The Watchman and Reflector il publish
ing series of articles entitled Half Century
Sermons" The two men commemorated the
present week are Rev. Joseph Strong of Nor
wich, Conn.,, and DIR. Ripley of Concord. Mass.
DR.. Strong's ministry and that of his predeces-
sor, Rev. DIR. Lord, taken together covered the
period of III years. DIR. Ripley died at the
age of 80 after ministry of 90 years
"A conference of the Unitarian churches of
Wisconsin and Minnesota has recently been
organized, and Dr. Bellows of New York
preached upon the occasion.
The Rev. DIR. Pusey has written letter to
the editor Of the Literary Churchman," in
which he expresses great contempt for the
project to cure discussions in the English
church by means of legislation. Such meas
ures would be powerless for good; they could
only add one element of strife the more.
The Gospel Banner calls on all Universal
lists of means and liberality to aid in establish
ing fund for the relief of aged or invalid elcr-
gynen of that faith, or for the widows of such
--"The Charleston Advocate" is the name of
the new loyal Methodist paper published by
Fl. Judge Moore, in Charleston, s. C.. Messrs
A. Webster, b. Randolph and T. W. Lewis are
its editors. al.s.
The Winter Street Congregational society of
Bath have added S 500 to the salary of their
pastor, Rev. j. o. Fiske making it $4,000.
Two Jewish young men, natives of Hun
gary, who have lately been converted TO the
Christian faith, were baptised by Rev. DIR
Neale ut Somerset Street Baptist Church last
Sunday.
The Banner says "the First Uuiversalist
Society in Portland, whose church is located
in Congress Square, has got to be ono of the
largest and most earnest, able and efficient Of
any in New England Though their new
church ediiee contains nearly 200 large pews,
many OF which accommodate more than one
family each, the demand for eligible seats cam
not be met"
The Penobscot County Christian Conven-
ton, which met in Bangor ON Tuesday was
largely attended, and the discussions were ex-
tremely earnest and interesting. The subjeess
brought under consideration were similar to
those discussed at the State Convention held
in this city.
The Christian Era says that pastorates are
short among the Baptists, first because tho
contract between minister and people is made
ea business transaction" the people want a
minister that "will draw" and "fill the pews"
and.'do not seem to care how minister
preaches u NJ" Nc ANeoI II iio ouiy puTsues "
course that draws multitude and secondly
because of the meagreness of the salaries paid,
And then the minister often leaves from in
sufficient causes "rhese frequent pastoral
changes are sources OF great weakness to Bap-
tist churches" They are injuring all ceurches,
in all denominations, where ttey occur
The National Convention of Spiritualsts,
convened in Providence, Il. L. Aug 2lst to
26th, 1866, appointed committee to examine
the Spiritual phenomena, in their physical anu
psychological characteristics, and report 10 'no
next National Convention oJ Spirituansts' Oh
the following points: 1. "The different phases
of ,hanon,ana q "Do all manifestations
cal,ad sn;ritual proceed from spiritsY D. IF
I. .,onortion of the modern manifesto
.o' .rohablv originate with spirits, and what
-, oan he accounted for by other causes? and
~, other statistical matter as may contribute
:, the better definition of our relation in life"
In accordance with this appointment the conf
mittee invite all Investigators of the spiritual
phenomena, to note and forward the results OF
their investigations to +. L. Wadsworth, Draw
er 6325, Chicago, H., M. b. Dyott' fhiIadeI-
phia, Pa, or to Mrs. e. G. Clark care banner
of Light, Boston, Mass
"A new phrase has been coined for certain
members of religious societies who will not
work easily with their brethren in any good
cause. They are called "Balky Christians