The Portland daily press., 1868-02-15
Religious Intelligence

The Morning Star mentions as striking il
Illustrations of the growing spirit of Christian
unity the various Christian Associations and
Conventions fraternal intercourse of diff
ferent denominations that have stood long and
decidedly apart,-the position assumed by
Rev. Mr.. Tying in his teaching and in his
practice,-the virtual endorsement Of his pro-
cedure, in officiating in a Methodist place of
worship in New Jersey, by considerable
number of Episcopalian clergymen who are
themselves ready to exchange public courte-
sizes with evangelical ministers of other denom-
inations,-the establishment and extended cir.
culation of such papers as The Church Union,
and the general demand for charity and COOPER
alton among the religious men and women of
the country aa
The Newport tR. H. Mercury reports a
rather unusual instance of Christian fellow
ship. AT the close of the union services held
by several churches in that city during the
Week of Prayer, four congregations-two
Methodist, the Congregationalist and the Sec
Ond Baptst-met OF Sabbath evening in the
house of worship occupied by the society last
mentioned-Rev. c. II. Malcom, pastor,-for
praise and prayer and brief addresses. Nearly
three hours were thus spent, the interest of
the large audience continuing undated to the
very end. The exercises closed with the cele-
bration of the Lords Supper,-the pastors OF
these various churches participating in the
service, and the members sitting down to-
gether i'll free communion.
The plan OF theatre preaching, started in
Boston by the Unitarians nearly a year since,
is still continued and has been extensively
copied elsewhere. In New York, Chicago
and other western cities, the experiment has
been tried, and it has thus far proved success
full. The plan has been also recently adopted
in Lawrence and Providence. The expert
ment, however, as tried by the Young Mems
Christian Association of New York, does not
seem to be attended with all the success that
could be desired, and it is announced that the
meetings in the academy ofmusic will be clos
ed unless friends come forward to meet the
expenses.
The revival in the Congregational church
at Oak Hill, Scarborough, still continues. 1t
has been in progress for five months aud re-
suited in over sixty conversions.
Rev. j. Malvern has resigned the pastoral
care of the Mercer village church.
-Freewill Baptist Quarterly Meetines win
be held in Sidney, on the Pond road, Feb. %.
and in Embden at Deacon Walkers, March
The opinion Of DIR. Boynton, pastor of tie
Congregational church in Washington, is that
while no church should refuse to admi. color.
ed members, it would be better for the races to
keep apart. As he has announced this doc
trine from the pulpit, about a third of the
church, headed by Gen. Howard, have issued
a written protest and there is prospect OF
new church being formed.
1t is curious circumstance that the Ro-
man Catholic and Episcopal churches. while
making wide distinction between the priest
hood and the laity, recognize no distinction Of
color in their members. In the most fashion
able churches in Washington a black man and
aJulge of the Supreme Court may kneel side
by side at the sacramental table 81
The Independent quotes and comments
upon the passages in the Queens Diary in the
Highlands, in which she gives her impressions
of two distinguished Scotch preachers. The
fact that these preachers made so nrofound
and altogether unusual impression ON the
Queen, is accounted Tor by the circumstance
that they preached without notes. On this
fact the independent Gwells at length. hoping
that Congress win lay as high tax on SER
mon.paper as on whiskey-in conformity with
Napoleon's rule for taxing vices.