The New York herald., 1870-03-07
THE CATHOLIC APOSTOLIC CHURCH.
Latter Day Apostles nud tho Second Coming
Of Christ.

Latter Day Apostles aud tho Second Coming
Of Christ.
Among the most peculiar Of the various religious
sects represented by congregations In this city Is
that styling Itself the Catholic Apostolic Church,
and which holds Its services in modest ednce on
West Sixteenth street, between Sixth and Seventh
avenues Its nrst appearance took place In Scot
land in 1885, when number OF individuals
proressed to be inspired with The spirit OF prophecy
and invested with miraculous power IN healing
diseases, casting out devils, &c, performed by
the apostles Of the Bible. shortly afterwards the
same powers were claimed to be held by portion
OF Rev. DR.. irvings church In London, from which
they seeded and united with the Scottish society;
and finally a regular church organization was
established.
The body claims to hold no other falth than that
OF universal Chrlstendom, and adopts the three
great Catholic creeds which have been used in the
universal Church Tor over fourteen centuries, viz,
the Apostles, the Nicene and the Athanasan creeds.
1t believes In the permanent endowment OF the
church with the gifts OF the Holy Ghost as excr-
csed by the ancient apostles and that these powers
have been restored; and In addition TO this. looks
for the second coming oI Christ IN the body upon
which snail come the periods Of trlbulauon, the
millennium, and The final Judgment day. Twelve
persons were designated as Apostles. chosen OF
God but three or wnom are now living. These
manage the affairs OF the sect, which has churches
in various parts OF the Old World, this city,
one Hartford, Conn.,, one IN Boston, and three IN
Canada. The officials OF each church are styled
respectively the angel, or head OF the congrega.
tion priests prophets, evangests pastors. deacons
and teachers. The services are composed or q mix
ture OF the Roman Catholic and Episcopal exercises,
and are very peculiar in the fact that a stranger
carelessy listening, with his eyes closed, would
imagine himself in an Episcopal congregation and
observing, with closed ears, would suppose himself
az some iorm OF Catholic worship Most Of the
BODILY from the exercises OF both the ABOVE denomi-
nations, and II would puzze visitor no; perfectly
familiar with the Two different services To dstill
guish their distinctye authorship, 80 adrotiy are
they blended together. The church is entirely sup
port ed by titnes, eacn member contributing one
tenth OF MS income Ihs Is not enforced by rules
personal Inspections; but being one OF the funda.
mental principles OF the sect II IL supposed that every
member WILL conscIentiously make this payment.
No contributions are ever solicited but each person.
at his or her convenience, places In a receptacle
COnsplcuonsly located the amount OF his 1.-THE.
Some Of the churches OF TINS denomination are
very fine, especially In England. where they rival In
magndcence the most splendid Catnoilc aud Epis-
copai ediices The church In Sixteenth street ~
quite PLAIN IN all appointments. The walls and cell
ing are undecorated the seats are uncushiOna and
the atar as devoid OF ornament as the character OF
the services viii admit. Immediately within the
vestibule Is q baptsnal font, q vessel containing
holy water. In which the members, after bowing az
tney enter the church, aip their fingers and then
make the sign OF the cross upon then fOreneads aud
two boxes, one for Tie reception Of tltbes anu tho
other Tor general conrlDutions. The altar Is nanked
by Two pillars, on each OF which lighted lamp
stands during the services, and has nothing
upon IL except tabernacle. Above and IN front
OF IL small burning lamp IS suspended from
the ceiling, beneath which incense Is offered az In
the Catholic Church. Tue chief ecciesiastic or
angel az ne ~ terined-is attlred In long white
gown, over which he wears white surplicc bear
ing upon the back a large white satin cross. His
functions are similar 70 those OF tho ceebrant in the
Catholic ana Episcopal Churches and he Is assisted
by priests and deacons, also clad in sacerjota robes
The congregation yesterday was not large one
ana consisted principally Of the middle class OF
Englsn ana scotch residents There was no display
OF fashion Every person seemed to have attended
churcn Win the sole object OF humbly and devouty
worshipping God and participated IN the exercises
WIN Az ealnestness worthy Of emulation by
10 more prstsntous conaregatlons lne ser.