Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-03-04
RELIGIOUS rorros.

The Water-street Mission has received
so girls from the disreputable houses in the
vicinity.
Bishop Simpson has appointed four col
ored men In Louisiana to the office OF pre-
siding elders.
Some pews in DR.. Scudder's rresbyte-
rian church in San Francisco sold at auction
for $500 dollars each, nearly as much as the
first choice in DR.. Beecher's church.
Absorbing to the Religious Telescope,
the United Brethren have increased, during
the past year, 10000, although no less than
$4,000 members are annually lost to the de-
nomination, by being "dropped" or by
moving away.
The Madrid correspondent of the Lon
don Daily Ne,Os writes that the Spanish
clergy are greatly alarmed by the sale Of
Protestant books, and an association has
been formed for the purpose of rcinstating
Catholicism as the sole religion of the State
on afrmer basis than ever, and to the ex-
clusipn Of all others.
Tho second instance of Chicago Chris
tian adopting the Jewish faith and being ad-
mitted to membership Ia that Church is that
Of Mis- Mary Gilmore, formerly of Detroit,
Michigan, and a member Of the Roman
Catholic Church. As In the first instance,
prospective husband was the paramount
reason for desiring conversion.
The first Protestant church on Spanish
soil, says the Pail Mall Gazette of Dec.
2sth, has lately been opened at Mahon, in
the Island Of Minorca. Stimulated by this
good example, the municipality Of BARGE
Iona sent, of its own accord, request to
the Protestant inhabitants of the city in
30 Gov snnsz t<
found church of their own. The Pro-
considerable. Apart fram the English resi-
dents, there are some 700 German speaking
people.
The believers called "Christians," be-
longing to New England, have found 1t
general belief. They have always refused
to adopt any creed. They accept, accord
ing to this statement, the Scriptures an in
fallible, the name "Christain" as most ap-
propriate, Christian experience and life
founded on Christian faith as the test of fel-
lowship, and Congregational church govern
ment. They generally hold, as they say, a
belief in the existence of Jehovah, the real
divinity of Jesus, who is no mere man nor
creature. the Holy Spirit as the divine Re-
newer, entire destitution of holiness before
conversion, freedom of the will, regeneration
by the Holy Spirit, salvation through the
atonement and mediation OF Christ, INNER
sion preferred, though with liberty of the
conscience, admission of all regenerated per-
sons to the Lords Table, equality of all be-
bievers, the resurrection, the judgment. the
everlasting happiness of the righteous and
everlasting punishment Of the wicked.
The Israelites throughout the world, on
Wednesday week, kept the Fast of Esther,
whilst on Thursday they celebrated the
Lesser Feast of Purim, and yesterday cele-
brated the Great Feast of Purim. They are
held in commemoration of the deliverance
Of the Jews, through the Intervention Of
9f amEan E s@ as RsrSsysSs Tssons d segn ks
Ahasueras, there were many Jews, and Ha.
man, the kings favorite, becoming angered
at Mordecai, procured from the king permis.
sion to slay all the Jews in the kingdom, and
particularly Mordecai, for whom high gal
lows was erected. The day for the massacre
was selected by Haman by lot. Queen
Esther, Mordecai's niece, determining ia
save her people, first kept fast, AMI then
invited the King and Haman the next day
to banquet. Hence the fast and the lesser
feast. At the banquet, the King, who was
much pleased with Esther, promised TO grant
her whatever she asked, even If 1t amounted
to half his kingdom. She invited him tc
second banquet, begged that her people
should be delivered from Haman's murder
GUS designs, and was successful. Hence the
Great Feast or Es-Purim Haman was
hanged on the gallows provided for Morde-
cal, and Mordecai was promoted TO hie
honors. The fast and feasts fall on three
successive days, depending on the Jewish
calendar. This year they were February
"a, 25 and 26. The Israelites commemorate
the Great Feast by much rejoicing, friendly
visits and the giving Of presents. In New
York, the "Purim Ball, }" given at this time
is one of the largest, most gorgeous ant
popular gatherings of the Hebrews of tha
city.