The New York herald., 1869-05-31
Tho Churches Yests,,Iay.


Alta moment when the moral feeling Of tina
the country at large is both offended and
shocked by the attempts which were made in
Boston during the past week to revive the
more prominent and seductive of the New Eng
land 'fsms"-from free religionism to Vol
taireism-and impress their peculiar doctrines,
as well as their general unbolief in established
creeds, on the public mind, 1t is quite refresh
ing to turn to perusal of our special reports
OF the church services and ceremonials which
were conducted yesterday in New York
classed as the Gomorrah of the day by tho
modern Pharisees-and its extending suburbs,
in New Jersey, Washington and other points
from which the community is impressed either
by precept or example. From our reporters, in
manuscript and by telegraph, we learn that the
churches were well filed, Notwithstanding the
threatening aspect of the weather the pulpits
served with zeal and eloquence, churches
opened, Sunday schools organized, and ths
corner stone of q new temple laid in the pres
ence of faithful and devout thousands This
ceremony, an initial Of religion since the daya
of Solomon, was performed in New York by
Archbishop McCloskey with all the solemnity
ordained for such occasions by Rome, ths
Rev. DIR. Morrogh delivering an ad-
dress to the people subsequently. In New
burg the Presbyterian reading desks we're
for the most part filed by members of the
Reformed Presbyterian Synod, in session
in that place, while the Methodists col
ebrated grand Sunday School anniver-
sary, the children being addressed Ivy
laymen as well as ordained preachers. Pres
byterianism was forcible and impressive in
the Westminster, Alexander Mission and other
edifices devoted to the celebration of its minis
trations. 1t was also much more tolerant in
its tone towards dissenters from its tenets, its
clergymen manifesting a vast Improvement in
Christian tone contrasted with that observed
in the early days Of the Church by John Bal
four-''a saint to prclates surly" towards the
Protestant Bishop of Edinburg whom he was
accused Of having murdered for conscience
sake. In the Church of the Reconciliation
Rev. DR.. Potter sustained the position that the
Church was Protestant and at the same time
Catholic by its universalism, truth fairly de-
monstrated by the general worship offered by
all classes to the Creator, one God. Tho
decorations of the soldiers graves was alluded
to in fitting terms. Rev. Henry Ward Beecher
instructed a very crowded congregation OH
the subject of the Prodigal Son, and Brooklyn
was fervent and forcible as usual in the work
of the cure of souls.
Washington city sustained its reputation for
charity, indifferentism and intolerance. The
Catholics gave three thousand dollars to the
Pope, besides opening new church, with an
Italian pastor, for the use of their colored
brethren; the Sunday School teachers had
meeting and sermon, while the Rev. Mr.
Sharman objected to the decoration Of the
graves of the rebel dead, asserting that tho
grave Of Judas Iscariot was equally worthy Of
honor. He did not say, however, where the
suicide was inferred, although animated with
the wretched feeling which induced the com
parison.