The New York herald., 1869-05-14

AMERICAN C0Nea GATnHAl UNION.
Anniversary Celebration ai the Brooklyn
Academy Of Music.
The sixteenth anniversary and social reunion OF
he American Congregational Union was held last
evening at the Brooklyn Academy OF Music. There
was a very large attendance present, with o con-
siderable sprnkling Of the fair sex. The programme
II exercises was exceedingly attractive consisting
besides the addresses-of instrumental music by
Dodworthis band; an opening hymn, other hymns,
and chorus OF "me ms voices" interviewer IN the
exercises was also an ODE Integer Vit9, very finely
delivered, and other vocal treats.
formal committee meeting had been held pre-
yiously In the afternoon, at which Alfred s. Barnes
presided and at which o statement OF the affairs OF
the Union was announced. From this It appeared
shat the balance in hand from last year amounted to
sos TO- to this s to be added egacies for the
year, amounting to $4,000; making Q total Of
$50. .se5. The disbursement account showed-for the
erection OF 81 houses OF worship, $27, 900; paid for
salraies, receipts, reports circulars postage, &e,
g. 72l; appropriations pledged 70 81 churches pay
SlS 400; making total Of disbursements Of $60627.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
officers Of the Union for the ensuing year ls6s7O:-
President-Rev. Leonard Bacon, d. D., New Haven,
Conn. Vice Presdents-Rev: Joseph p; Thompson,
Rev. Henry NJ. storrs d. D., Brooklyn, n T.; Rev.
o. e. Daggett, New Haven, Conn; Mr.. Bradford X.
wich, Conn; Rev. Edwards A. Park, D. j., Andover,
Mass; Rev. Mack Hopkins, D. D., williamstown.
Emory r. Rex
ss%5s worthy, Boston Mass; Rev: John Q; FisEs,
4 Rev. VI r. Rsy T. Rsss "fss5 D. g. R @ p' @ M
Amos Ii Esy THOMAS Gacs
sonville ILL., s. B. Gookins Chicago, ILL.,; Rev: Julius
A. Reed, Davenport Iowa; Rev. Truman M. Post
st. Louis, Mo-; Rev. Andrew L. stone, San Fran
number Of trustees were also elected.
The Corresponding Secretaries appointed are Rev.
Ray Palmer and Rev. Christopher Cushing. Trea-
surer and Recording Secretary, N A. Cakins.
The meeting was presided over by Rev r. 8:
exercises was the opening hymn. This was very
finely rendered, the audience joining.
Prayer was then offered by Rev. Mr.. CUSHING, OF
The CHAIRMAN then announced that the statement
for the past year would be submitted.
Rev. RAY PALMER then stood forward and read
very satisfactory statement OF the condition OF the
Union, morally, progressively and financially. to
which he added some interesting remarks, at the
conclusion OF which he was warmly applauded by
his hearers.
Next in order of the exercises was the singiug Of
an ode-Ilteger Vitg-which was so unmstakably
encored that the choir was compelled to treat the
audience to selection OF its own, which was also
very warmly received.
The CHAIRMAN then stood forward and made
brief address, congratulatng himself and his au-
dience that as presiding officer he had 30 little to
say and that his chief duty to call upon Others
to speak on this occasion. He promised, however,
that the evenings exercises would be fraugnt with
pleasure to all. The commencement promised much,
for they had been treated 10 some most excellent
music, vocal and instrumental, ana behind TINS
were some most eloquent speakers, who would
's M sSn%d anS ss a this had
had good time OF 1t at all the anniversaries, renect
ing, they did, honor on the men who first started
them. He had learned that the anniversaries on the
other side were ceasing. That might be, as he had
also learned that the speaking was not SO good az
Judge Payne, OF Massachusetts. The people desired
him to resign, but the old man didn't see It, But
gentleman was sent to sound the old Judge on
well he used to do. 0n, yes." said the Judge,
81 see perfectly well through my glasses" "But
ySa hear 90 IS said
don't speak so loud now as they did before the Rev0
luton" Uaughter.l So he would say that the
from the fact that they did not speak 80 well now
before the war; Uaughter.) But the reunion OF
was 81 tSs ." ~ IN
OF their annual reunions, which were increasing In
number and interest. The Chairman, on concluding,
introduced in a few pleasant remarks the nrst
Rev. STEPHEN II. TYING, Jr., who, on coming for
great deal Of experience oi Congregationalism. He
had been In an atmosphere pregnant with Congre
differences and difficulties OF the old tradition. But
IL was not the old fashioned ps aim singing Congre
gationalism-it was not the old Quaker burning Con-
gregatonalism-it was not the old
which drove Roger Williams away; it was the Con.
gregationalism OF the Church OF the Pilgrims. And
ConsreGatIonalsn % M SpAh Of those around him. % He He
was Puritan among Puritans. He was glad
70 be here associated with the members of sect
and OF Church that preached Jesus and the resur-
rection; and because this Congregationalism did
peach that great central truth around which all
other truths revove like lesser lights which draw all
their glory from the sun. He loved the society," and
was glad to say q word for 1t either in making a
fool OF himself or TO advance its interests seemed
to him that there was q vast work before them, O
work which was never greater than It was at the
present time. The work Is not TO be finished
Sa ny Spng Sp ans
not finished In spreading any denominational
literature. The work can only be finished IN the
triumph OF the principles and spirit and commun-
ion Of the old Reformation over all the perverslons
OF doctrines and accumuations and meretrcious
% oI wDpsnp anu M ts worS or we must s
the expression Of the chairman was not only his,
but that OF the body he represented so ably In this
great and imminent struggle they must be united,
TO oppress none to hold up all, to preach Christ
simply, to get heart 10 heart as nearly as possible
ana to work hand IN had as the Lord should give
them power. tApplause)
A hymn was then sung. Music by the band.
Rev. T. DEWITT TALMADoE, Of Philadelphia, next
addressed the meeting. He touched upon the sue
OF the Congregational reunion and the failure OF
the anniversaries IN New York. accounting for each
IN most humorous manner, Keeping the audience
marks to the close. He lkened Congregationalism TO
the last spkea golden that was driven into the
Pacific Railroad, and the last hammer that smote
the last spike was golden hammer. He hoped In
the good time coming all denominations would be
brought into connection with Congregationalism,
and that Congregatonalism Will be the golden spike
and the golden hammer that will unite the
great Atlantic OF Cavanism with the great Pacific OF
Armenanism, when there will be no more dissension,
no more hatreds and chickering's but peace shall
prevail on the earth and good will to man.
Mr.. Talmadge was very warmly applauded
throughout his remarks and at the close.
Rev. ROBERT LOWRY next addressed the audience.
As Baptist he was proud to join In the reunion.
They had not to turn over many pages OF history TO
see the burning words which showed that there was
time when ecclesiastical tyranny drove them from
their meeting houses from their dwellings, drove OF
their nocks and herds, spoiled them OF their pos
sessions, drove the Congregatonalists aud the Bap
lists through village streets and country roads,
and this had established kinshlp Of suffering,
so thauhelr fathers learned In their consciousness to
interpret that scrpura expression OF Fellowship, of
Christian suffering which made them brethren.
There was good reason why the Baptist and Con-
gfegationalist should stand together on the same
platform.
The speaker went over the history OF the early
Purtans, enlistinR the attention OF his hearers dur
ing a speech of COustderabp