The Portland daily press., 1869-05-15
Religious Intelligence.

Archbishop Spaulding, in his recent pas
toral, strongly denounces German, or round
dances He says that "Divine revelation, the
wisdom of antiquity, the light of reason
and of experience = all concur in pro-
claiming that these kinds of entertainments,
even when restricted within tolerable bounds
of propriety, are attended with more or less
danger to the Christian soul"
The Boston Pilot announces that the Rev.
G.. H. Doane has nearly completed the work
assigned him by the committee in charge OF
the affairs of the American college in Rome
He has collected from the various dioceses, not
including the large diocese of Brooklyn, one
hundred and sixty-eight thousand dollars.
"A "House of Deaconesses'' was dedicated
in Boston few days since. Its design is to Of
fer to Christian women place of training,
where they may receive such instruct IN as is
necessary to fit them for the service of Christ,
in hospitals, prisons asylums, and other public
and private charities, as well as in mission
work at home and abroad.
"A movement is on foot among the actual
members of the Episcopal Church to increase
and improve the supply of literature for the
use of that denomination. The Church Jour
nal has an article strongly insisting on its me-
cessity, and giving valuable hints as to the
best manner of accomplishing the desired re-
suit.
The agitation of the 'Woman Question"
is extending itself to the churches. Some ex-
element was produced at the last sitting of
the New York East Conference of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church by the announcement
of the fact that presiding Elder had licensed
a woman to preach the Gospel Considerable
discussion arose upon the questions of revok-
ing the 'Widow Van Colts" license, and of
censuring the Presiding Elder, but as major
ity of the assembly were opposed to doing Ell
ther. the propositions failed. The subject was
finally referred TO a special committee, which
was instructed to report an opinion at the next
annual meeting. Meanwhile the matter is un-
der discussion in the papers and pulpits of the
denomination. In the Baptist church we find
the Rev. DIR. Arnold and the Watchman and
Reflector discussing the meaning of Paul's
assertion in his first letter to the Church in
Corinth-"It is a shame for woman to speak
in church, Also the similar Injunction
"Let your women keep silence in the church
es, for it is not permitted them to speak." The
Doctor contends that this language must be
interpreted to mean a positive prohibition to
woman from speaking in the church on public
occasions or for public purposes They are to
''learn in silence" The Watcaman, on the
other hand, maintains that these and similar
exhortations were not "intended to restrain
the less formal and more private utterances of
Christian experience 1t distinctly recognizes
''the prohibition as excluding women from the
office of public teachers, a position of author
ity which involves a transcending Of her sub
ordinate place in the social economy" The
argument made in reply is that local customs,
change of circumstances, and other influences
properly modify number OF apparently spe-
cific Bible commands
-Protestants-and there seem to be many
such-who live in dread of the establishment
Of the supremacy of the Roman hierarchy and
priesthood in this country may possibly find
some relief for their fears from the admissions
contained in the following extract from the re-
Gently published pastoral letter of Archbishop
Spaulding of Baltimore:
While we are gratified at witnessing so many
intelligent persons throughout the country en-
bracing the true faith. ace are Obliged to comics
aCith sorroac that greater number are lost to
the Church. There is no exaggeration in say
ing now what Bishop England felt it his sa-
cred duty to state many years ago, that hun
dreds. nav thousaD&s, CT souls annually stray
away from the fold b this country on account
of their early religious education. If we look
for the descendants of numerous Catholic
families which have emigrated to the country
during the past and present century, age scsH
find that q,,0nu of them haze aCOTdered G1Cdy
from the faith of their fathers, and not few
OF them are now ranking among the most ac
tive and unrelenting enemies OF the Church
of God.
"A very elegant Jewish synagogue was
dedlcated in New York on Tuesday. 1t cost
about $l25!OoO, and is in Forty fourth street.
The Rev. John Anketell. an Eniscopal
clergyman OF western New York, supporting
the plan OF Bishop Coke for union between
the Episcopalians and Methodists, urges that
the latter should "accept the rectifcaton of
their episcopate at the hands of the Morav;an
bishops" so that the former could recognize
the canonicity OF their orders So far as we
see, the Methodsts do not see it in that light
and do not seem to care whether or not a
tactual succession from Peter can be proved
for their bishops.
The morning prayer meeting at Boston
still keeps up its interest At recent meet
ing it was stated that very powerful revival
is now in progress at Halifax Nova Scotia,
having begun through the labor oi the Young
Mems Christian Association
Two Baptist clergymen from Ireland, the
Rev. Drs- Price and Henry, have come to this
p<ts.