New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-10


command and left an impression on the memory far
profound than that Of merely intellectual adj
miration.
Mr. Hughes commenced his address with retro
spect of the progress of the cooperative movement
since 1882 the date of the last Cooperative Conference
in London. His view of the advancement OF the
cause during those seventeen years was not latter
ing Attention had been too exclusively given
to the production of wealth, without sulil-
cient reference TO the cultivation OF friendly
and helpful relations among the workmen' IN
a business point of view, the movement has been
singularly successful. Many of the societies nave
been embarrassed by too much capital. The mem
bers have been in the habit of leaving large part of
their profits to accumulate at interest The rate mas
generally been fixed at per cent at which it has
been found impossible to make good investments OF
the surplus deposits Hence it has become necessary
TO paw Off the non-consuming stockholders, and to
decline retaining the investments of consumers, to
the amount of many thousand pounds. reaction,
according to Mr. hughes is beginning to take place.
and the workmen returning to the original IDEA
of the integral elevation of their class as the OBJECT
of co6peration. They are satisfied that this cannot
be effected by any improvement in the ma
chinery for the purchase and distribution OF
the means of living. They must strike out
into new fields of enterprise, and for this VIII
require all the capital they can command The grand
idea of the cooperative movement is " Sef-help by
fellowship in work" This point was urgently insist
ed OIL by Mr. Hughes, and if the workngmen of En-
gland do not engage in efficient combinations for
their social advancement as well as for their mate
rial success it will not be for lack of inspiring coun
sells and friendly sympathy on the part of some OF
the noblest minds in the country.
Among the delegates to this Congress, was our old
friend and fellow-laborer the Rev. William II. Chan
ming whose wise zeal in the cause OF associated in
dustry has received fresh stimulus from his expert
ence in English society. His long residence III
England has made him thoroughly acquainted with
her social dangers and hersocal needs The lapse of
time has only strengthened his interest in the
elevation of the laboring classes He has never
grown cold in the cause to which, in his earlier days,
he lent the aid of his fervent eloQuence and electric
sympathy His faith in the dreams of his youth has
been fortified by the studies of his manhood and his
strenuous endeavors in manifold spheres of activity
for the advancement of the race. Though now
chiefly devoted to literary abOrs of high ORDER the
fruits of which will be harvested in our native
land" he has mono of the habits or tastes of tho
recluse scholar but finds his purest inspiration in his
faith in humanity and in his devoted services for the
common good OF the common people. 1t is doubtless
grateful to his heart, to witness in some OF tAe most
intellectual English circles the cordial recognition of
the IDEAS of which he was the earnest advocate,
when they were almost universally misrepresented
and misunderstood.
Another meeting of more than common interest
which took place during my visit in London was IN
connection with an important movement for pro-
noting the cause of Free Christian Union" of
which the Rev. James Martineau is prominent
leader Besides several ministers of the Unitarian,
Baptist and other denominations of. dssenters, it
fox plp Established
Church. who are not afraid of staining their robes
by contact with ecclesiastical anomalies. The move
ment as understand it, has no reference to the re-
Cancellation of doctrnal differences, but seeks to
combine the practical efforts of various communiOns
for the common good on the universal principles
of the Christian Tfaith. Its purpose is neither
radical nor destructive. 1t does not dis
tub the current traditions of any church.
In fact 1t seeks only to apply tho policy of mutual
cooperation, which has had such large success in
temporal affairs to the interests of organized TO
ligon The public religious service which attended
was sngularly beautiful and impressive. 1t con-
sisted of series of devotional forms prepared by
Mr. Martineau, couched in language of remarkable
simplicity, in which the words of Scripture were re-
tanned to considerable extent, presenting veneer
able mosaic of spiritual aspirations and equally free
from thorny points of theology, and the tawdry and
fantastic decorations of some modern Gturgies. The
service was read by Mr.. Martineau, whose sanity
voice and apostolic presence are benedctlon
of themselves. A discourse in French by
the Rev. Athanase COquerel. the celebrated
Protestant preacher in Paris, formed not the least
interesting feature of the OCCASION It's fervOr, and
pathos, and natural eloquence more than compen-
stated for its being in foreign language, and made
powerful appeal even to the sedate English hearts,
that were touched by its spirit though without fully
appreOjating its sense.
On the following Sunday, l heard Mr.. Martineau
in his own pulpit and even more impressed than
before with the magnetic charm with which he holds
his audience, though utterly free from the entice-
ments of artificial oratory. His chapel is low,
small building in obscure street. with no adOrn-
inents of architecture or upholstery 1t reminded
somewhat of the old-fashioned country meeting
houses in New-England in which our grand
fathers shivered under the preaching of the Gospel
in Winter, and slept sweety under its drowsy tones
in Summer. Themusic, however, is excellent and has
evidently been organized by skllful hand for de-
yotional effect. The little congregation had mostly
assembled, before Mr.. Martineau made his appear
ance. He wore a black robe, more like students
gown than cergyman's surplice, and assembled the
aisle with grave and modest STEP. His countenance
exhibits strange union of sweetness and austerity.
In some of its lines it resembles the portrait Of St
John, while its general expression betrays the vgils
of the laborious scholar. His features however,
indicate the habtual abstraction of the thinker,
rather than the toll Of studious research and are
remarkably free from all touch of age. In fact he
looks at least ten years younger than he is, not
so much by any youthful freshness OF form
or coloring, as by the air OF sanity re-
pose which marks his presence. The occasion
was one TO him of deep, personal interest,
10 Int fha oct utt