The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-11


spheres-What Is the World Coming TOT
For some years past, in the physical world
and its surroundings, in meteoric showers,
tornadoes, droughts, foundations, volcanic
eruptions and earthquakes, we have had
succession Of startling perturbations well cal
culated to shake the faith of the stoutest be-
lever in the duration of this shaky planet
During the same period, in the Old World and
the New, we have had succession of political
perturbations and revolutions equally surpris-
ing, and they are still going on. Nor have the
religious systems of either Of the four quarters
of the globe escaped the consequences of the
general upheavals and changes which have
marked these disturbing forces in mind and
matter, in things visible and things not seen.
Some philosophers, especially the Millerites,
contend that all these wonderful phenomena
portend the near approach of the day of judg-
ment; while others, through brighter me-
dunn, fancy they can see the day break, or the
''star in the east, which is to usher in the
millennium. But there are still others who hold
that we are in the midst Of those disorders and
commissions, material and moral of that awful
epoch of thousand years, during which the
Devil is to be let loose upon the earth.
Looking at the stubborn facts around us in
reference to the moral and religious aspects of
| the time, we are rather inclined to this theory
of the Devil and his thousand years. and yet
we have an abiding weakness for the mil
lennium. Pro-slavery and ants slavery, our
late Southern institution of slavery, in its des-
potic power, split up the most powerful
Churches of the country or made them sub
! servient to its DEGREES. Since the extinction
| of slavery these divided and demoralized
Churches are coming or trying to come to-
gether again; but they are making rather slow
work Of it with their endless twaddle upon
Church bubbles, riddles and conundrums. We
have, for instance, q national convention of the
Protestant Episcopal Church-High Church
and Low Church-in session in this city, the
largest and most imposing assemblage Of the
great guns of this Church, we believe, that has
ever been known in the United States; but
from its proceedings so far, on canons, and
rules and regulations, and claptrap and non
sense, there is no sign that it will give the
privilege to the Rev. Dr. Tying. Jr., to preach
the Gospel in Methodist meeting house with
out the special permission Of Stubs, Dobbs or
Scroggs. The belgerent propensities Of the
shining lights ofthis Convention, moreover, were
brought out into pretty bold relief yesterday
In some lively wranglings and squabblings on
verbal and ritualstic enormities very perplex-
ing to outside barbarians. In fact, the white
chokers' of this Episcopal sanhedrim, in their
hot debates upon stupid distractions, eclipse
the democratic roughs of Tammany Hall, al
though the Doctor of Divinity piously Restraints
the old man Adam within him from pitching
in la Captain Rynders.
We pass from this close religious corpora
ton Of the Protestant Episcopal Church for
the present TO the Unitarian National Confer
ence, also in session in this highly favored
metropolis. Here we find the doors open TO
the members Of all sorts OF churches, and
without distinction Of sex, race or color
The first motion on the meeting of the Confer
ence the other morning was that the represent
atives from the African Methodist Episcopal
Conference be admitted to seats on the plat
form, which was cordially adopted. Then,
again, in the course Of the day, after Bishop
Payne (baok man, Of the African Methodist
Church. had expressed his thanks for the
| reception given him aud his faith aud people,