The New York herald., 1868-04-05

Total. ..1o5 1,ees AGO
In great number of instances the good work Is
still going on and in many more only the first fruits
have been garnered, so thot these statements give
Lord Is accomplishing In the churches.
REvIvALs AMONG THE ROMAN CATHOLICS.
The Tablet gives the following account OF fervent
revival among the Catholics In Connecticut:-"On
Sunday, March l. three fathers OF the Order of st.
Dominic opened mission at St. Mary's church, Nor
wich The greatest fervOr prevailed during the three
weeks which the mission continued. Fears were en-
tertaned lest the church building might give way
beneath the dense throng by which 1t was packed
every night. The confessionals were also crowded
every day and night Quite number Of the clergy
OF the diocese rendered valuable assistance In the
sionary spirit. Two more Dominican Fathers also ar
rived during the second week, and their services
was:-3,5Oo communions, hundreds Of strayed
sheep brought back to the fold, the estab-
Rosay and 0 Of the Ansec and
heavenly graces. We understand that the Fathers
of the same Order opened missions on Sunday, 22nd
ult, in st. Patrick's church, Hartford and in st.
Johns church, Albany, N. Y.
Amuscments and Churchcs-Picty and Gard
Playing.
The Ooserver-Presbyteria from Mrs.
Stoves last work the following expressions Of one
Of her characters upon which to hang q hOmiy on
the snfulness OF Christian people enjoying them
selves by going to theatres, dancing and indulgng
In other rational amusements:-
think, II the different churches of city, for ex
ample, would rent building where there should be
a billiard table, one or two nincpin alleys, reading
room, garden and grounds for ball playing or nnO-
cent lounging that they would do more to Keep their
young people from the ways OF sin than Sunday
school could Nay, more, could go further. I
would have portion OF the building fitted up with
or dramatic performances and thus q Give scope for
the exercise of that hstrOnic talent OF which there
Is so much lying unemployed In society.
The Observer then quotes from q cotemporary:-
Do You think we shall have checker boards In
heavenY' This Is no argument; II Is sheer nonsense
and most unworthy trinng over serious subject.
"Think Of Paul dancing? Well, think Of him
Think Of Paul wearing q blue swallow tailed coat
with brass buttons Think OF Peter skating, cutting
figures of eight and performing outer edge back,
wards ~ Think OF John in white cravat or of Bar
tholomew putting up seidlitz powders or Of Timothy
running with fire engine How would they have
lookedf "Would you play chess your DEATH
bedr Probably not, my friend. Neither would
put on my boots or do great many very innocent
things at such time.
And hereupon our Odd school birthstone Presby.
terian contemporary discourses as follows -
We would go as far as the furthest and as fast "a
the fastest to encourage innocent amusements. We
love them, indulge in them we play as hard rs
we work, and enjoy both with equal zest. We
laugh SO loudly as perhaps, to be an annoyance
unto our neighbors, and no man will accuse us Of
being opposed to wholesome sports in their time
and place. But II at the foot OF an inclined plane
or platform there was bottomless pit, and we
had seen for q long, long time that very many who
down. and finally into destruction. we should
advise our young folks to make themselves merry
another floor, where no such danger lurked be-
low II would not alter our opinion of IL that stout
pair OF legs could resist the downward slope nor
that many had enjoyed the peril and were none the
worse for the experiment. Enough for us that en-
perience has shown IL to be dangerous, and that
there are exercises equally useful and entertaining
which never exposed any one to harm and are cer-
tainly safe il we stood at the head OF the popular
writers of country or on the height of Christian
pulpit, we would not for all the gold OF California
and the diamonds Of Brazil advise one young man
or one young woman TO pursue an amusement
that has been followed by such results as have
marked the history OF the card table and
the theatre. II we believed that the Young MEMS
by evil counsels into the adoption OF such measures
to entertain their members, we would invoke them
to pause and consider. But we have no fears that
their judgment will be perverted by popular appeals
to the sentiment OF the age. They have sense enough
TO know that thing may not be wrong and yet be
very nexpedlent; and they have principle to resist
the temptation TO do unwise thing for the sake of
temporary popular effect And wlel our Christian
churches find IL I'm their line Of things TO run card
tables and theatres the ministers ut the altar may be
discharged from further service.
Touching this subject Of sinful secular amusements;
Archbishop Spaulding has been spelling the fun Of
those OF his flock who have been ndulpinq I'm what
are called "round Dances lie calls special attention
to the utterapces Of the Pastoral letter of the late Pen
airy Council at Baltimore In reference to these dances
Tie pastoral signed by the Roman Catholic
bishops OF the United States, and has now been an
proved by the Holy See. II says:-'' We consider it
our duty TO warn our people against those amuse-
sion OF sn and especially against those fashionable
dances which, at present carried on. are reyopQ
to every feeling of delicacy and propriety. and
fraught with the greatest danger 70 morals"