Evening star., 1869-01-12
The Christian Convention.

y, v.
The Christian Convention.
This morning, a convention OF pastors and
delegates from the various Evangelical
Churches of the District, called by the Yonus
Mems Christian Association, commenced ITS
sessions at the English Lutheran Church 4 Raw
Dr Butler'sD corner OF Ilth and streets.
Inc convention was opened by devotional
exercises conducted by Rev George ri. Smvtb
OF the Sixth Street Presby terian Churcb atter
which the following officers were selected
President, Rev. A. f. Taylor; Vice Preslden Is.
n. b. H. Gooke, OF GEORGETOWN, Gen. J. A. Ekn,
Rev. Dr. Sunderland, Gen. .. o. Howard.
Hon Peter Parker, Mr.. Il. H. Stnemetz. Hon
Amos Kendall; II. ID. Ty ler, and o. H. Norton
Secretaries; VIM Ballantyne, Rev. DIR. Butler
nass nau WarIen W Onoate We're appointed the Busi-
The President on taking the chair, made a
few remarks on the objects Of the Convsn: ION
Rev. Mr.. Creecy, Of PHILADELPHIA, and Rev
Mr.. Wilder, missionary to South Africa. ad.
dressed the Convention On general religious
The Char announced the question for dis.
cussion. " How can the attendance upon pub.
lie worship be made more general p
Rev. DIR. Drinkhouse, Of the Nintb bs,res,
Methodist Protestant Church, opened the dis.
cussion, taking the ground that the De " system
was draw back, and members OF the Clutches
Were IN measure responsible for lack of in
Rev. George H. Smyth defended the ne " sys.
tenn, but would not ARve the membership Act
exclusively, but friendly.
MI. J. q. Hardness tsok the same view as
DIR. Drinkhouse and instanced how MANY
young men are driven from churches by the
action Of parties closing their pews to them
Rev. q A. Hall spoke of the cold looks ofYen
bestowed on strangers in churches, and urged
that it was the duty Of the members Of churches
TO make strangers feel at home. and Introduce
them TO their friends.
RevDr. Strobel, OF Baltimore, said there was
large class Of persons whose circumstances
were such that they could not attend divine
vorshIp: some failed to attend on account of
habit; and these people should be reached by
visitation, their children brought into the Sun.
DAY school and trained up to love the church.
Rev. Dr. Hewlett, of Calvary Baptist Church.
urged that there was too much formaIity n the
chuEchss, and the services should be so con.
Quoted as 70 attract the people. 1t was not the
fault Of the nGn.attendants but of the minist RS
and members that the churches are not filled.
Mr.. H. ID. Tyler pictured the II kyish mar-
ner Of some church attendants as calculated TO
drive strangers from them, and expressed the
belief that the best name. Of improving the
attendan ce is TO get the children interested,
Rev. MIR. Suman, OF the Georgetown Luthe-
ran chapel, gave his experience Of going out
among the people, and said that TO increase the
attendance on public worship the ministers
should do their whole duty-go out into the
highways and persuade men to come into the
sanctuary.
Rev c. W. Dennison thought that the mis-.
take was not owing to pews, but that the masses
feel that the ministers have but little or no in.
terest IN them. and he believed that much
would he accomplished by practical subjects
being introduced in the pulpits
The Convention will continue its sessions
this evening and tomorrow morning and
evening, the first half hour Of each session to be
devoted TO religious exercises. This evening the
first hour " ill be occupied with the consldera.
tion OF "The mission work Of our city. How
can ii he prosecuted - The subject of s.I.ay
pr. .aching. Is II desirablel When! Where p
will occupy the second hour. Tomorrow the
subjects for discussion will be "DevotIonal
meetings. How made attactive! Ought they
to be confined to churches7' and What can
and ought Christians individually do to VIA
souls to Christi" aud In the evening appropri.
ate closing addresses will be made.
DIVORCE CAsR-Whdt Constitutes T'yueHy-
In the Equny Court, Judge Olin, a suit na~
been entered by Annie q. Jsnes for a decree of
divorce from bed and board with Frank W.
Jones, III which the question comes up as to
what. under the law, constItutes'crue The
stand, is a highly educated and intelligent
lady, alleges that the defendant, after an
engagement OF six months, was united to
her IN the bonds OF matrimony on the
6rh day Of September, 1sGG, In the city OF
Hartford. Conn, and produces the marriage
certificate, signed by Rev. MIR. Spalding. who
ofliciated that they lived together as man and
wife for ten days, when he lett her and return ed
10 this city TO resume his duties as a clerk in
the Pension Office; that after his arrival h.
wrote her a letter announcing his determination
nr
has refused to recognize her "a his wife, or to
contribute a cent towards her maintenance and
support She declares that this cruel deter
mination was brought about by no fault on her
part, and that her hus ban d. up tc this time, has
not given her any reason for or explanation OF
his course. She complains that her husband.
during the past past few months, has been
engaged in circulating the Yilest SANDERS
against her character, and that his conduct
towards ter IN this respect has been such a
seriously to impair her bodily health, aud to
require her, in the vindicatlon Of her honor. to
seek the protection Of the honorable court, and
to ask Tor divorce a meRsd et hoYa from the
defendant ..a"
The defendant admits the allegations con-
tanned in the bill filed by his wife, but denies
that under the law they show state Of facts
| which would warrant the court in granting
! the divorce prayed for; his counsel contendipg
| that no such divorce can be granted unless
there has been personal rioteace and todilyNbeut-
| mo.
| The counsel for the complainant claimed
that this Interpretation OF the statute had been
| repndiated by all the late American decisions,
| and that whatever might be the law In Eug-
l land, yet In this country, where woman's
| rights" are more highly appreciated, American
Judges have ciaIed the law to be :. that any
health or bodily pain, dl0tough operating pri-
marty upon de mind, should be regarded as
legal cruelty" .a,E- - sAls .f-i
that the defendant should pay complainant
$50 month for alimony pendente lite, and sI0o
| for counsel fees.
CANTERBURY HALL.-The manager Of this
| popular place of amusement, introduced sew
eral novelties last evening, and is making ar
| rangements 10 introduce further succession
of attractions. Tue Can.Oan is retained as a
l conspicuous feature.
BRNEvoLKNCR-Ias Saturday evening an
envelope was received by the Rev. MIR. Mckee,
agent Of St. John's Home and Mission House,
which on opening he found TO contain &l00
! Treasury note tor the benefit of the "Home,n y
from an anonymous contributor. "a =
FIFT1RTH ANNIVERSARY OF ODD FetLow.
1 sHIP.-The Odd Fellows fraternity here have
abapdoned the idea OF celebrating the sami.
/ centennial annlvepsity in this city on the 26th
L of April, but will unite with the Grand Lod %
Of the United States in celebrating the anniver.
| ssry at Philadelphia. eea = sssi.
1 DEDIcArIoH-At Laurel Village, Prince
l GEORGES county. Maryland, anew Presby,er-
ian charch has heen dedicated recenfiy TO the
l service of the Most High, With appropriats
ceTemonies. This sfs she Afst church OF that
II nkv~~e - ~ =