The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-05-18
RELIGIOUS SERVICES YESTERDAY.

RELIGIOUS SERVICES YESTERDAY.
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Among the important reunions yesterday wee
hose OF the Board Of Delegates of American ,erae.
ties, held at the Synagogue B'Nai .eshurun. in
rhiryourth street; that OF those Of the Protestant
Episcopal Church interess "a in missionary LABOR
among seamen, he'll. ct the Chapel Of the Holy
saviour " Ease rwentyeighth street, and the Amer
lcan Soard Of Foreign Missions, in DR.. Adams
church, on Madison avenue and Twenty-fourth
street. Our reports OF these meetings will be found
exceedingly interesting. In consequence Of the ex
cessive rains OF yesterday and the muddy condition
Of the sidewalks and roadways comparatively few
were In attendance at the usual religious services
Possibly the mental strain which the observance Of
and attendance upon the meetings OF the various
religious societies during the week induced very
many regular attendants OF churches to forego their
usual custom and rest-in the full acceptation Of the
term Sabbath.
The American hoard of Foreign Missions.
The anniversary meeting in behalf Of the American
Board OF Foreign Missions was held last evening in
Dr. Adams church, in Madison square, corner Of
Twenty-four street. Mr.. william e. Dodge, Vice
President Of the Board, presiding. The reverend
Secretary Of the Board, after a suitable hymn had
been sung by the excellent choir OF the church, ad
dressed the congregation on the abors OF the mis-
sonaries in the various parts OF the world particu
larry in Western and South Africa, Greece
Syria, Turkey, Asia Minor, Persia, West and
world Of the pscidc" rSere we're p now he said
one hundred and fourteen American missions, under
the guidance OF the Board, and four hundred and
eightytwO house stations. During the past five years
the native laborers had increased two hundred and
ninety-twO Ia number, and during the year ending
August 81 1867 nine new missionaries had been or
had been added 10 the band Of labOrers working In
the vineyards OF the Lord In all there were now
one hundred and ffty-eght wives OF missionaries
who active laborers four assistant laborers and
borers. Since the last meeting of the Board three
ordained missionaries, three married and five I'M
fields for the II" first time and one mssionarv
had died IN India. There were now in the
employ of the Board, or rather doing the work pre-
scrbed by the Board 272 native teachers and $50 in
all, the total number OF missionaries and teachers
being 1900. There were in the foreign fields 25 500
ooO pages OF tracts and other spiritual printed
teachings. The expenditures OF the Board during
the year ending on the slst Of August, 1867 had
been $44s,524 leaving balance in the treasury Of
$4432. The appropriations for the ensuing year
were 1925 oo, and the amount already received
$500 larger than that received during the same
period OF the year previous and leaving sos to
be collected during the next four months.
After the secretary had retired the Rev. H. II. Jes-
sup, ID. d., of Syria, addressed the congregation ON
the work OF evangelizatiOn in Turkey, and alluded to
the great difficulties which the missionaries had to
contend against In their labors. He said the Moham-
medans had laid down the sword and were now
fighting the Christians with the pen. In this connec
tlon he spoke Of a book entitled Manifestation OF
the TRUTH" written by Mussulman In defence Of
Mohammedanism and in which the writer endeav
ored to prove the divine mission OF the Prophet Nc
homet by quotations from the Old Testament. In
challenging an answer to the book the Mussulman
author commended that to answer 1t fully, he who
should so dare TO answer must quote the Mohamme-
dan work verse by verse and give answer TO each.
AS the book is of bulk Of seven hundred pages the
bulk OF full answer can be imagined.
Rev. william Tracy, Of India. next addressed the
meeting, and during his discourse said that there
were nOwt in India thirty regularly organized Christian
churches, with twelve hundred and fifty cOmmuni-
cants, eight ordained pastors and ninety-four cate
chists who are virtually licensed preachers Of the
Gospel The reverend gentleman made the astonishing
statement that during the first six years the mission
aries OF the Board were In India they did not succeed
DR.. Adams was the last speaker, and concluded by
calling on the congregation to strengthen the hands
OF the missionaries In Their great work by every
means In their power.
st. Patrick's Cathedral.
Rain or sunshine the august services at the Cattle
dral rarely fail TO attract immense congregations,
and the attendance yesterday formed no exception
to the crowded and solemn appearance which
the sacred edilce usually presents. There was
no variation from the customary ceremonies, which
were performed with all the grandeur and impress
siveness characteristic OF the Roman Catholic Church.
High mass commenced at halfpast ten o'clock, the
Rev. Mr. Kearney officiating as celebrant The must
repeated with splendid effect, and udciously so: for
Mercadantes compositions, especially his beautiful
mass In minor possess sweetness that to the
pinnacle OF classic melody and will ever render them
among the most popular and appropriate OF church
music with discriTnnat ng and artistic choIrs. The
excellent manner In which me CredO was produced
IL particularly worthy OF mention, nothing being
wanting either In harmony or effect to make the
on1 Mr.
Adolph SOlist basso bosh OF whom acquitted them
selves admirably. At the termination OF the first
and argumentative sermon taking his text from the
gospel OF the day. The reverend gentleman alluded
rom daily that although they prayed for
things necessary for salvation God did n0t Incline
His ear to their suppiicatons Undoubtedly there
theology than the nallibility OF prayer. II was per-
haps, the greatest resource Of mankind; and the
question why the prayers OF some men were I'M
avail ing required the minutest examination and was
wen worthy Of the most serious consideration. God
required ceran conditions from man In prayer He
should not be wandering In his thoughts nor during
The period Of his supplicatOns for spiritual advan-
ages, thinking only OF temporal favors fortune and
but should have his soul entirely
rated on GOO, should beg for purity OF manhood, a
good conscience, humility, love TO his ncighbors and
perfectlon. Prayer was conversation with God,
he sanctuary in which the soul was land before Him
md all weaknesses represented, and therefore re.
Inired the whole attention Of the mind Man should
pray FOR grace To pray Nor was prayer solely eft
,acious without good works, which ever accompa-
lied the sincere aspirations OF the SOUL The reve-
'end gentleman concluded an eloquent discourse by
exhorting the congregation TO pray and pray fer
genty not heedlessy, but with love and affection.
rne ceremonies terminated shortly after twelve
o'clock.
The Midnight Mission.
lions church, corner Of Madison avenue and
street. last night well filed Oh the
occasion of a discourse by the Rev. Dr. Morgan, OF
u. Thomas church, behalf OF this popular mis-
10 nrnn NJ