The Portland daily press., 1868-08-01
RELIGIOUS Intelligence.

Il
The Hebrew fast of Alb, founded on the
destruction of the temple and other misfor-
tunes of the race, was celebrated by Jews
throughout the country this week, beginning
on Monday night. The fast consists in total
abstinence from food or drink, together with
recitals of the difficulties through which Israel
has passed, and prayers for her future welfare
and prosperity. 1t is called Alb" from the
month in which it is observed-the fifth of the
ancient Hebrew year, the eleventh of the civil,
and the twelfth of an intercalary year.
The B'nai B'nith Jewish Convention has
closed its series of sttings and adjourned until
January, 1873.
"A yearly meeting of Norwegian Friends
was recently held at Stavanger, in Norway.
On this occasion several persons made their
first appearance. A special epistle from the
London Yearly Meeting was read; also one
from monthly meeting of Norwegian Friends
in Iowa. called Stavanger Monthly Meeting
This is described as an instructive document
Several of the large towns OF Austria have
protested against the Papal Allocution. The
Ilo,,d of Pesth saws: We shall no more toll
crate the interference of Rome in our legisla-
ton than we did that of Vienna. We shall
tremble as little before council of churchmen
at Rome as we did before council of war at
Vienna. nation which has passed without
wavering through the fusilades of Haynau
will be able to maintain its independence
against the thunders of the Vatican"
The Wesleyan general conference of the
United States has decided to allow women to
vote; also to drop from their communion all
churches toeratiug members connected with
Masonry or other secret societies.
Brigham Young and his saints have adopt
ed a new policy towards the outside world
within the last twelve-month. They have
abandoned their persecution of Gentle trad
ers and residents, and of other religious denom
nations, and offer facilities for all to come and
establish themselves among them-at price
in greenbacks. The Catholics have been al
lowed to buy church site in Salt Lake City,
and few Sundays ago, Rev. Mr.. Fisher, an
Episcopalian of Nevada, stopping there on his
way through, was invited to preach in the
Mormon tabernacle, and did so with Brigham
and his chief apostles on the platform. The
Pacific railroad is to be a chief agent in the
now probably peaceful and gradual overthrow
of all that is distinctive and repulsive in Nor
monism. Polygamy is likely to be quietly
though slowly abandoned, and with its decay
and that of the present chief rulers of the
church, the Mormon organization will subsde
into one of the ordinary sects of Professionalism
FOREIGN ITEMs.-At dinner recently Civ
en- by the United Service Club to Sir Robert
Napier, now Baron Napier of Magdala, the
Commander of the british forces in the late
Abyssnian campaign, he said it was with pc
culiar pride he reflected that the reward he re-
ceived at the hands OF the Government was
given to the first English soldier who from a
simple lieutenant, with nothing but his name
to begin with has won the honor which has
been so generously conferred upon him by his
Sovereign.
Portugal is in the throes of ministerial cri-
sis, caused by the refusal of the Council of
State to allow the Cortes to be closed until
November next,
The Wurtemberg elections have resulted in
the victory of the democratic party, it having
returned 81 of the IS members of the Cham.
bers of Deputies.
The London Times urges the expediency of
bringing the Paraguayan war to a termina-
ton by .he joint influence of European and
American diplomacy. The war has brought
Brazil to the verge of ruin. 1t is not popular
in Buenos Ayres.
The Paris journal, the Epoque, gravely as
serts that Madame Italia Garibaldi, wife of
Menotti Garibaldi, is about to raise a regiment
of Amazons, who are to be clad in the celebrat-
ed Muratori cuirass, which is both ball and
hau Tho 1rtb hot
two "sergeants" of the regiment left Paris for
Dover on Friday evening, with the declared
intention of recruiting "parmi les miss ct les
ladies de Ia veiNe Angleterre"
Mr.. Longfellow left on the 10th ult. for the
Isle of Wight, on visit to Mr.. Tennyson.
Subsequently he will proceed to Switzerland
and Italy, and he is expected to return to
London in May of next year.
News ITEMs.-Gen Selden Conner is at Rye
Beach, where he intends to spend a month or
so. He is enjoying very good health this sum-
mer.
Mr.. Samuel Bowels, editor of the Spring
field Republican, has left Sprinfeld to join Col
fax on his western trip.
Professor Gamgee has been carefully looking
into the subject of the losses by disease among
animals in the United States during the past
year, and comes to the conclusion that they
amount to the surprising sum of $146 202 1877 40.
Reverdy johnson will leave Baltimore to-day
for Europe.
Senator Sumner is still in Washington re-
vising some of his speeches.
Mr.. James S. Eldridge of Boston has resign
ed the presidency of the Erie railway company
and Mr.. j. Gould of New York has been chos-
en- in his place.
The Second Auditors Office has progressed
so far with furnishing records from its rolls
for the use of the paymaster general in settling
additional bountes, that is now expected all
this class of claims will be paid by the middle
of October.
Bryant has returned to New York and the
Evening Post from Cummington, Mass, where
he has been spending his vacation.