The New York herald., 1868-11-01

opportunity to participate In the religious ceremonies
o. the festival Pope Gregory ~ transferred the ies
would be over aud the poorer people could with
much less Inconvenience undertake the pilgrimage
TO Rome where the festival was most grandly ceie.
brated.
All Hallow Eve.
Among the festivals in the calendar there scarce
~ one beyond Christmas and Easter which brings
with it 50 much real pleasure as All Saints Day.
The pleasure which it brings however, IL not con.
fined to the day itself, but Is more particularly
characteristic Of the evening before the festival,
known as All Hallow Eve, All Holy Eve. This
night was, In former times celebrated with about as
much festivity as Christmas or Easter; but as the
old customs and superstions fast dying out the
festival is now scarcely celebrated except In family
circles where games and jokes are played and stories
told for the delight Of the younger members Of the
household. Everybody Ia familiar with many or some
Eye-suspending an apple ~ rom the s ceiling ILL by q
tempting to catch the apple in his mouth. Another
stick and each end OF another stick fastened trans
versely 70 the frs secure two short lighted candles;
attempt to catch one Of the apples while the sppa-
ratus s twrling rapidly around. The witches and
Haox Eve, bent on doing Ssrp, to those s who cross
them and favorng those who seek their aid On the
strength OF this superstition many foolish pranks are
played by matrimonially inclined young females.
One trick to throw rape seed over left shoulder
while walking In the fields or gardens, sayin2:--
Over my shoulder the rape seed throw;
My husband viii follow whether
Another trick Is to pour molten lead through the
ring OF an ordinary door key into vessel OF clear,
cold water The lead will form In most fantastical
looking Fragments which 10y the imagination or In
clinaton OF the expermentasts are likened TO the
tools used in the avoeaions pursued by their lovers
water and the fists filled with SALT so that the pcdes
trian cannot speak or shake hands with any they
may meet then the anxious ones retire still without
speaking to anybody. that the loved ones may
appear 10 them IN their dreams party viii SIT
flame. ana accordingly as the nuts are con-
sumed OK forced away or burst by the action
OF the heat the temper OF the persons by
Peeling apple without breaking the rlnd, then
after twrling the rnd over the head casting it over
the lett shoulder that the initial letter Of the name
OF tho future husband or wife may be formed, Is
another old superstition The tricks and devices in
GUS, and many Of them border on the sacriegious
and blasphemous, while many others-and these
eI & are naes,on est pesnd ahe
festival Is made an OCCASION for returning thanks for
bountiful harvest; and when the potato crop has
been good in each family huge pot Of potatoes
VIII be cooked and mashed ana then eaten, like stir
about, with butter. This dish of potatoes is styled
colcannon and In most Of the Irish families through
out the world the custom OF preparing the mountain
| Of colcannon Ii still preserved. In Scotland the
festival Is largely celebrated, and the many games
and tricks practlsed there touchingy set forth IN
| Hurns' beautiful poem OF 'Hallow Fen"
i
1 To morrow In all the Catholic churches win be
celebrated the festival in commemoration OF all the
souls OF the faithful departed still undergoing tempo
rary punishment. The festival is not holy dag OF
obligation, bnt IL, nevertheless, most universally
epected.
LAYING Of sh- Corner stone OF the Now
Building for tho Young Mems Christian
Association.
The Young MEMS Christian Association having
much TO bring forcbly TO the attention Of many
leading citizens the fact that an institution under
the direction OF the ASSOCIATION, devoted 10 the
purposes OF free reading and lecture rooms would
prove TO he at useful and ornamental. The
association succeeded IN purchasing the valuable
piece OF properly az the southwest corne2 OF
Fourth avenue and Twenty street. and ycster.
Gay afternoon the corner stone Of the institution 10
be erected was lowered into It's place with all duo
cerenony There were present on the occasion
large crowd OF leading citizens with their families
| ard many of the most distinguished diynes OF this
Vicinity. Several appropriate and eloquent ad-
dresses were made, after which the ceremony Of
laying tho stone performed by the Presi-
4 dent OF the Association.
There were deposited in the stone bound copy Of
| the Bible, MSS. copies of the addresses o. Kev.
Isaac Ferris delivered nj the formation of the Asso
by the same divine Rt the request or the Association,
November 1852; several pamphlets. annual reports
quarterly reports OF the New York and London Asso
ciatons &C, s,so copy OF every respectable paper
4
l and printed matter issued by the Association.
When the stone had been carefully laid an appro-
" %as snh pen WeS sa
ris, Of the New York University, pronounced tho
benedicton.
ground IT'S feet front by eighty five feet deep. it viii
be constructed Of varegated stone, chiefly Ohio aud
Belleve free stone. in the renaissance style. The
front OF the building at the centre over tho grand
entrance, win project slghtly from the face OF the
building and At the top OF this protection wiz be
| ingly ornamented, while the interior arrangements
and decorations Will pe strictly in keeping With tho
Of the stracsT @ when compeea VIM en.rs /. nor sr
from hut will not exceed $3co,00o.
Progress Of Religion.
The Protestant Episcopal Convention which has
been IN session in this city for two three weeks
past has finally adjourned Ns proceedings have
been published 10 the daily papers and hence it IA
useless TO reproduce them here. II may be stated,
however. that the abors OF the convocation cal
culated to improve the tone Of the Episcopal Church
in this country, although tho proceedings occasion
ally smscked OF bigotry and intolerance. fhe Tying
matter was disposed OF by reaf1rming the dogma
which has given occasion for so much irritation
Therefore ID must he understood that the free dspcn
sation OF the Gospel Is nos among the catholic
regulations OF the Protestant Episcopal Snurca ih
The John Alien water street prayer meetings have
not been without Their good results hoWey IN maSa Sa
public press. II seems tina, these meetings nave
been continued although the place Of holding mem
has been changed from Aliens den TO commodious
dance hall. We learn that the interest IN the meet.
inps ia not only sustained, but has been decidedly
increased since tho novelty Of the dance nall Al
place OF prayer passed away There have never been
/ less than Gfty, aud Isore commonly from eghJ 10
/ one hundred men presest during the hour. Ear
nestness in prayer has uniformly cnaracterlzed me
meeting; often deep wrestling spirit VIII prevail
thai aod will bless the people Of that neghborhood.
1 Two meetings arc held each day; the one at
| uoou, al which there II larger proportion OF
| stranetra and which is mainly a meeting OF
| preyer Introductory to tss eveninA service.
| Tho han in the evening is commonly filed by
the peOpe in the vicinity and ON the sabbath there
are ordinarily not less than four 1--WE hundred IN
4 attendance. The plao recomfnc ended by the Young
l Mems Christian Association fUr conducting the out.
door services has been catered upon here the plat.
form for the speaker being on the door stoop, the
1 hesr tha