The Portland daily press., 1869-05-26
Especial Dispatch to the Daily Press,

man Ioid your reporter to-day that he couldn't
understand why the religious or Orthodox
meetings of the beginning of the week were SO
thnly attended, while thousands foeked to its
close TO listen to addresses heterodox in their
nature. He had carefully studied the subject
and feared that he should finally come to The
conclusion that public opinion was deteriorat-
ing to a terrible degree, and that the world was
fast drifting into infdelity. Without express
ing an opinion upon the correctness of deduo
tlonS OF the reverend gentleman L can honest
ly endorse the statement from which he rea
sons. Nearly every meeting that have at
'enued this week presented a beggarly array o
empty benches, with perhaps half dozen
whlte-checkered and dignifed-appearing indi-
Viduals clustered about a table ON the plat
form. Everything seemed to have been cut
and dried for the occasion, and there has been
notable lack of life and fire in their delibera-
tions. A dsagreeable duty was performed.
and then each drew a long breath, put on his
hat and quietly walked away. The meetings
to be held tomorrow and the remainder Of the
week. If they follow the example of the prede-
cessors OF a like nature, will exhibit marked
contrast to this dead-and-alive manner of pro-
ceeding And then each participant seems to
have avital interest in what is accomplished
and, although there is generally great deal of
speechifying, great deal of work is DONE
The New England Woman's Suffrage Assoca-
ton opens the ball tomorrow with three pub
Tic meetings, to be addressed by well-known
speakers at Horticultural Hail. On Thurs.
day similar series will be held by the Anti
Slavery Association at the same place, and, at
o'clock, Hon. Israel Washburn, Jr, will pre-
side at the Universalist Festival at Faneui
Hall, while Joseph H. Choate occupies a like
position at the Festival Of the Unitarians.
The meetings Of the free religious associations
ON FIR day will be more than usually interest
ing. Among the speakers advertised are
Ralph Waldo Emerson, the venerable Lucretia
Mott Rabbi Isaac M. Wise, Rsvs. o. b. Froth-
lnsham, Rowland Connor, Francis E. Abbot.
of Dover, N. H., Mrs. Julia Ward Howe Prot.
William Denton and Lucy Stone This list
exhibits nearly every shade of religious opin-
ion, from atheism and infidelity to Judaism
and liberal Christianity. There promises TO be
a spicy and instructive discussion.
THE MEETINGS TO-DAY
have been more OF a national character than
those held on Monday. Most worthy of note
among them were the following:
THE AMERICAN CONGREGATIONAL ASSOCIATION
held its sixteenth annual meeting at their
rooms In Winter street. The report of the
Directors showed that the library had largely
increased during the past year, numbering at
present nearly 1000 volumes. A suitable
building was greatly needed for the use of the
Association. There are now one hundred
leading Congregationalists in Boston who can
and should erect such building, for the honor
OF having it located in their midst. The re-
port took strong ground against indiscriminate
beneiactions to other or s'Union" societies.
Congregationalism should work for the extern
sion of its own polity and not build up the in
stitutions Of other denominations at the ex-
pense Of its own The Treasurer reported the
present assets of the Society to be $70,17376.
Mr.. Edward s. Tobey was reelected Presi-
dent, and among the Vice Presidents are Rev.
George Z. Adams, of Brunswick, and Hon.
William w. Thomas, of Portland, Me. The
folty-fourth anniversary of
THE AMERICAN UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION
was celebrated in the Hollis Street Church.
Tbs Treasurer's report showed a balance of
ein the hands Of the Association and that
$50 600 was held in trust During last year
the pulpits of 124 churches were supplied gra-
tuitous:y. The general practice of preaching
In theatres and public halls has been quite
successful and will be employed the coming
year. Of works not strictly UNCONVENTIONAL,
Miss Bradleys colored school at Wilmington,
N. G was especially alluded to as deserving
of confidence and support. The Association
hos oi1 1ad ,l.o A f,.a
Church in educating ministers at Wilberforce
University for the reason that the managers
know of no other way in which they could do
SO much good with the means at their COM
mand Three hundred thousand tracts have
been distributed since the last meeting and
the receipts from sales have been larger than
during any previous year. The New England
branch Of the
AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY
met at Music Hall, Rt. Rev. Bishop Eastburn
in the chair. After an organ concert by Mrs.
Frohock, the Treasurer reported the total
amount of donations received to be S28. Al. 81,
and the aggregate for the past nine years
$4Sl, 1874 Thirteen colporteurs have done
good service in the field during the year. The
parent Society reports balance Of 81 1891. .16 In
the treasury, having gratuitously distributed
$61, ,322.19 in addition to its publications. The
average cost of the latter per week will exceed
$1,000. The Freedmen, and others of the poor
at the South have enjoyed the labors of more
than 100 colporteurs during the past year.
Many hundred Sabbath Schools have thus
been established among them and besides
other needed books, more than 100000 copies
of the United States Primer have recently
been distributed among that poor people. The
Society's business department sustains itself,
Addresses were made by Bishop Eastburn,
Revs. w. 7. Buddington, J. M. Stevenson, N.
G.. Clark and A. T. Rose, Hon. Heury Wilson
and others. The Trustees of
TUFTS COLLEGE
held their annual meeting at the vcstry of
School Street Church. From an examination
of the various reports, it will be seen that the
institution is in fourishing condition. The
library has been increased by the addition of
639 works; 700 additional trees have been set
out on the college grounds, and very many i'm
provements have been accomplished. The
Executive Committee recommend the addition
of Professorship of Civil Engineering and
the extension of the Mathematical department.
The trustees received $25, 1884 and expended
$3509460 last year. Oliver Dean, NJ. D., was
elected President
THE AMERICAN REVIVAL ASSOCIATION
met at fremont Temple and celebrated its
eighth anniversary. The proceedings exhib-
tied no proceedings worth OF note Rev. Geo.
z. Langworthy presided and narratives of re-
markable conversions at revvals of religion
were recited by Revs. W. ?. Paine and d. b.
Brooks and others. The object of the associa-
tion is sufficiently designated by its title. The
New England
wOMAN SUFFRAGE
Association held the first Of its series of public
meetings at fremont Temple in the evening.
The attendance was large and very enthusias-
tic. Mrs. Mary A. Livermore, editor of the
Chicago Agitator, made decidedly the speech
OF the evening, followed by James w. Still
man of Waverly, r. l., and Mrs. Julia Ward
Howe. At the conclusion of the addresses the
meeting adjourned to meet at Horticultural
Hall at ten o'clock tomorrow morning, when
Wendell Phillips will make a few remarks.
A. d. III.
BASE BALL MATCH.
Especial Dispatch by International Lne.I
Boston, May 25-The great Base Ball match
between the Mutuals OF New York and the