The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-27
RELIGIOUS ITEMS.

A writer from Nashville, Tennessee, says tn at
rum and tobacco are two of the greatest foes to
the financial, social and ousimprovement of
the freedmen.
The London Recorder says that among the wes-
levaDs of Great Britain, the Sunday morning
congregations consist, TO very considerable ex-
tent, of children. There are thousands of congre.
cations, it remarks, throughout the length and
breadth of the country, in which from fifty to five
hundred children. between five and fifteen years
of age, are TO be found assembled.
A synod in Missouri has recommended the SEES
sions of the churches never to admit member
without first obtaining his unqualified consent to
abandon all uDgodly worldly amusements. such as
dancing, playing cards. theater going. circuses,
rafting, drinking intoxicating liquors to excess,
worldly visiting on the Sabbath. dealing in gift en-
terprses, and all other mproprieties calculated to
bring reproach upon the cause'of Christ.
A teacher in the Freedmen's Aid Society writes
that the friends at home do not know how much
these people need instruction, how anxious they
are to receive it, and how rapidly they improve
under il. He says thousand teachers are now
in the South to labor among this people.
Among the Choctaw Indians there are sixteen
Christian congregations, having HOO commun-
cants, and 1900 Sunday schoo. scholars. The
Bible has been translated into their language and
printed in New York under the supervision of
Rev. Mr.. ByiDgton, who has labored as mis-
sioDary among this civilized tribe for forty
years.
The Missionary Association Of the Friends are
laborer to Madagascar. She will cooperate with
Joseph Sewen and Louis Stout, the two Quaker
missionaries, now in the isand. Miss Gibson has
for the last five years been laboring among the
poor, and has approved herself worker that
need not be ashamed"
Henry Ward Beecher, In his address before the
recent National convention. New York, mentioned
Charles Wesley as the most perfect hymn writer
that the worldhas produced. MANY of his hymns,
as, for instance,
"Jesus, lover of my soul"
Said Mr.. Beecher, "are prayers that no prose pen
ever excelled." he read two OF the double verses
| of this well known hymn through, and with an
effect that stirred his audience with the profound
est feeling people can not pray a. prayer
develope them by asking them to stand.up and
read an appropriate hymn.
| Archbishop. Trench says: "Whst calming,
/ elevsting. ennobling view OF the tasks which we
| find ourselves set in this world to do, this word
would give us If we did but realize it to the full
| We did not come to our work by accident; but
under much that may wear the appearance OF &C.
cident and sef-choosing we come to il by Gods
| leading and appointment. What help Is this
thought TO enable us TO appreciate justly the dig
| nifty OF our work, though it were far humber
| work. even 10 the eyes of men? What an assist
ance in calming unsettled thoughts and desires,
| such as would make rs wish to be something else
than that which we are! What source of conf
dence, when we are tempted to lose heart and to
| doubt whether we shall be able to carry through
our work with any blessing or profit TO ourselves
or others! II Is our vocation, our calling. and
He who called us to it will fit us for it and
strengthen Us in it."
In lecture upon newspapers, delivered in Phi
ladelphia by Rev. De Witt Tsllmadge, he paid the
press the following compliment: 9 now declare
that consider the newspapers to be the grand
agency by which the gospel is preached, ignor-
ance cast out, oppression dethroned, crime extir.
pated, the world raised, the heaven rejoiced and
God glorifed. In the clanking OF the printing
press, as sheets fly out ! hear the voice Of the
Lord Almighty proclaimng to all the dead nations
Of the earth. Lazarus. come FORTH and to the
retreating surges OF darkness, Let there Do
| light!'"
A Danish journal gives publicity to the follow.
| ing royal decree issued in 1916, and having refer
renee TO the diocese Of Aarbuss: Hsving learned
that the number who sleep in the church during
service il very considerable, we have decreed that
every parish of the diocese shall appoint certain
persons to look after such offenders. For this
purpose they shall be provided with long rod,
having leather thong attached to IL, with which
they are to lash on the head all those who are
found sleeping"