Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-06-08
Our Boston Letter,

BOsToN, June 1, 1871.
Editor Rutland Herald The religious
anniversaries of some shades of religious
faith and opinions have been taking place
this week in this city. They present the
usual variety, and nearly the same inter.
eat. There is increasing evidence of a
falling off in the interest of that portion
of the community which has sympatbized
with the Evangelical beliefs and means of
propagandism. These yearly meetings
may be convenient for the choice of yearly
officers, and for business purposes; but
the meetings of the various societies, re-
ligious and social, are poorly attended.
The tract societies cease to interest the
people, and the famous American Board
of Foreign Missions does not keep pace
with the increase of wealth and popula-
ton of this part of the country. The
truth is, everything of information is pub
lished and made fully known before this
event, and there is almost certain con-
viction among the Evangelical people that
the necessity for religious anniversaries,
as formerly understood, is a thing of the
past. This acknowledgment and with
drswal from the field would be made the
most of by the friends of those active or
CARNATIONS which have come into exist
ence within few years, which have little
or no sympathy with the old New Eng
land religious beliefs. But there is a very
large number of different organizations
for religious, charitable and educational
purposes, that hold to their organizations
and constitutions and forms of existence
with wonderful vitality, and one wonders
when they could all have been organized.
1t would not be hopeless task to learn
if it were not that each month brings a
new one into existence. But no new one
of importance seems to have reported at
this season.
The Spiritualists were very quiet this
year, meeting in some quiet hall and not
claiming SO much public attention as for
merly. Their efforts seem to be running
to publications, and they are fast losing
themselves in an ocean of words and
phrsses-a literature of their own-whioh
causes the world very little trouble.
The New England Female Suffrage AS
ISOLATION has met, chosen its officers for
the coming year, and lad its say, in sew.
eral sessions. There was nothing new in
it's proceedings or sayings, or among its
speakers to distinguish it from last year.
There was nothing new in doctrine or
form of speech. There was the same
dwelling upon the natural right of women
to vote, whatever that may mean, and the
equality of the women with the men in
mental qualities and power, which, with
the other superior qualities always yielded
to them by the male sex, makes them
quite superior. Some of the speakers,
among them Mrs Livermore, were more
modest, and will get troubled with the
old notion that men were capable of great !
er and longer continued mental exertions ,
than women, in fact more practically SUI
perior in that respect. But these same ,
women who seemed to have the cause at
heart, were not so clear in their vision as ,
to its final success. Some of the men !
seemed disinclined, by reason of their +,
public and political reputation, to say I
much, but could not avoid being dragged 6
10 view from courtesy to the sex, and their 8
fear of offending when it might cause q
future trouble. There seems, in these
meetings, to be sense of talking against
time, and patient waiting for the events
If the future. The meetings were not r
very fully attended, and lacked the en- q
husiasm of last year. f
The Universalists and Unitarisns each |,
lad their festival, which took place in the .
anne places and were conducted as for 4
nerly. The usual prayer meetings in the a
accustomed places, and attended by near S
y the same persons who attended last t
,ear and previously. Two of the most a
lively, interesting and valuable meetings v
f the whole list were temperance meet b
ngs 10 Park street church of two differ. r
mt societies, but having the same animus r.
nd directness of purpose. These were "
argely attended. In one, Rev. Mr.. Miner p
Tas the principal speaker, in the other s
Vim. B. Spooner presided, Prof. Seeley, b
be speaker. o,