The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-22
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.
Progress Of Religious Interest In the United

STATES.
We have gratifying intelligence OF the progress Of
velgious interest in all parts OF the country Inc
mast week the t,dngs have been particularly cheer
ing from the South, especially IN North Carolina
Georgia and Alabama In the former State, in the
SMYRNA church of the Fayetteville Presbytery
nty-eipht converts have Just been received, OF
whom Ave are colored persons. To the two societies
constituting this charge there have been added the
mast month 100 members. Thrty-three con-
yerts have lately joined the Smyrna and
Bethel churches OF the Atlanta Presbytery, Ga.
Rev. J. NJ. MLean ia supplying the pulpit Of
nve churches in the nelghborhood Of Fayetteville
Ala. Al one OF these, the Unity church. season OF
fruitful religious interest has been lately enjoyed
The membership has increased from twenty-one TO
forty-nine. One OF tue converts was . colored
woman
market, KY, Presbyterian church was organized
and house OF worship erected. The membership
the pastor removing from the place, the pulpit was
suffered TO remain vacant Public worship was
suspended last month, and only six names
church edince had become sadly out OF
repair. But last month, says the western Iresbv-
serian blessed meeting was held IN the place. The
weather was favorable. The people locked In from
the country. Gods spirit was present For fifteen
days services were held morning and evening. And
now the church Is reorganiZed with thirty Two MEM
bers including sixteen heads Of families. The house
OF worship is to be Immediately renovated, and
try Of the Word.
A year ago the village Of Eureka, Kansas. con-
sisted OF four log CABINS. Now there are between
twenty and thirty buildings In the place, among
which are al stone schoOlhOuse, i've stores, print
ing ONCE where the county paper Is published and
growing community last month Congregational
church OF ten members was organized.
small company OF Christians, representing nine
different denominations, lately united In forming the
Union church, OF Bethel, Branch county, Michigan.
At BIRDS Greek, Wisconsin, and Chebause ILL.,,
CONGREGATIONAL
A large Presby terrain church OF III members was
organized lew weeks ago IN Wilmington, Del. The
new society win be known as the 'West Presbyterian
In Frankford, Pa the 10th ult., the Herman Pres
byterian church was organized, Rev. DR.. Herrick
Johnson, Of Philadelphia, preaching the sermon.
ten OF them on profession of their faith. Dr. Leake
was elected and ordained as elder.
At the late meeting OF the PreSbytery Of Palestine
committee, previously appointed, reported the or.
ganization Of the Second Presbyterian church OF
Tuscola. H., consisting OF about forty members.
Baptist churches have been lately recognized at
Holland, Green county, Pa, where the Sugar Grove
church begins with membership Of nfty; In Cor
donvile, Pa; at Burke's Station, Fairfax county,
Va; at Plymouth, N. G., and in White Oak Valley,
A new German Reformed congregation was orga-
Of the Philadelphia Chassis, on Sunday october II,
under the title Of "Heidelberg Reformed church."
"Grace church, Is the name given to q new Meth
odist charge organized lately in indianapolis Ind,
by the appointment OF Rev. NJ II. Mendenhall as
Of whom, like the pastor, come from Roberts
chapel.
Special religious interest is now prevailing in Bid
deford Me-; Cuildhall, VT; West Attleboro, Mass;
Providence r. L.; Howard, Steuben county, N. Y;
Whitewater, Mich; Glade Run, Allegheny county
Pa; Deleyan, Wis.,; Stockton, CAL, and In various
parts OF Mississippi.
The Jesuit Controversy in IT'S Historical
Aspect.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
In the HERALD Of last Sunday an article appeared
reply to one in defence Of the Jesuits the writer
which makes some rather remarkable historical
statements. He complains that in the previous art-
Gle referred to no appeal was made to history, and
proceeds to appeal to history himself In q manner
which can hardlybe termed felicitous
The Jesuits, he informs US, sprung up when Popery
was on the decline-"Ninerva-llke." Minerva, ac-
cording to the NEUROLOGICAL account, sprung, fully
armed, from the head OF Jupiter. Hence, to make
the figure complete, the Jesuits should have been
originated by the Pope and vested with full power
from the beginning. On the contrary, they were
originated by Loyola, and when at last they were
sanctioned by Pope Paul ILL.,, their number was
limited to sixty and their power weakened by vow
II obedience to Rome. The great object Of your cor
respondent to be to prove that the vocation OF
the Jesutts Is to prosecute and their legitimate
patton Dioodshed; He cites the inquisition In Elan
massacre OF st. Bartholomew. That Jesuits were
employed In Flanders as inqusitors admit. That
they were more cruel than other Officers Of the nsti-
tuition In other countries there Is little evidence.
And II few were employed by Philip II. to perse-
cute Professionals s it reasonable to charge ali the
order with prosecuting spirita The writer seems
to consider that II he can convict few Jesuits OF
cruelty he proves the whole order guilty OF bru.
tally.
He mentions the revocation of the edict OF Nantes
next, for reasons best known to himself although It
happened after the atrocious massacre next referred
TO- The revocation was a measure executed by
Louis XIV, who was not always on such good terms
clined to aid the Papa authorities "by their agents
the Jesuts for the restoration Of their power and
and the determination OF heretics." The massacre
OF st. Bartholomew was schemed, planned and con-
summated by Catharine de Medicis and Charles *
The Jesuits OF whatever crimes they may have been
guilty are not usually accused Of want OF sagacity
and no body OF reasonable men would ever sanction
such wretched act OF senseless brutality.
This remarkable order was not more intolerant as
. whole. than most persons were in the sixteenth
and seventeenth centuries. The nquision In Flan-
ders was not more cruel than in other parts Of
Europe and Protestant countries slow to set an
example OF liberation. Calvin approved OF burning
at the stake those VINO disagreed with him, and In
England, although autos du ne have not been In
vogue during the last three centuries the penal laws
caused Catholics In Great Britain TO suffer almost
But many OF the early Jesuits had nober end In
view than the persecution OF Protestants. Those
who toed in the reductions OF Paraguay and those
who suffered and died among the Indians OF Canada
may be az truly said to have pyed their vocation as
those who were inquisitors In Flanders. Yet your
correspondent concludes by assuming as certain that
for the last two centuries they have not exercised
their vocation. But is II comprehensive that the
order should last for 200 years. the greater part OF
its existence without exercising its vocationa IL
certainly seems SO; and It appears not unreasonable
20 conclude that the JesuIts to-day plying their
vocation, while teaching the young. converting, II
they can by persuasion, consollng the poor and CON-
f0rting the sick.
Christian Temper ance Convention.
The following call for Christian temperance con-
vention has been signed by nearly 800 Minister'S OF
various denominations, in the six New England
States, and by many others:-
Regarding intemperance with the customs which
lead to It, as OF the chief enemies OF the Church
or Christ, hindering her work among men whose
bodies defled by strong drink, not meet ITEM
pies OF the Holy Ghost" we invite ministers and
church members to assemble In o New England
Christian Temperance Convention at the Meionaon,
fremont Temple, Boston, on Wednesday, December
a at ten O'Clock A. NJ, to consider the religious
aspects and spiritual bearings OF the subject and
send forth such utterances may seem TO them wise
and timely tending TO the purity and activity OF the