The New York herald., 1871-03-19
Review Of tho Religious Press.

We refer elsewhere to the hubbub created
among some of. our religious contemporaries,
In consequence Of the anomalous position
taken by the Rev. DR.. Duryea, of Brooklyn,
on the question Of total abstinence. Any
movement that stirs up our drani-drinking
population to a lively sense of the sin of
habitual intemperance should be encouraged.
Among the most remarkable events in this
connection the past week was the parade of
the Father Mathew total abstinence societies
on ST. Patrick's Day. P rhaps nine-tenths
Of the entire procession displayed the
total abstinence insignia, and 1t was
more than pleasant to notice that among the
number was so large a concourse of lads and
youths from ten to sixteen years of age Our
religious papers, however, take no notice
whatever of this significant token of the spirit
OF temperance that animates so large por-
tiOn of the population of the city Of New
York. Our religious contemporaries should
look little beyond their own peculiar sphere
If they wish to assist in great moral move
ment like that of checking the spread Of
that the Catholic papers pay due regard to
this branch of the demonstration on the 18th
inst and give good share TO it in their
reports OF the pageant Of the day. The tenn
perance legions are abroad. Who knows but
their influences may penetrate high official
places? So may it be.
The Independent gives its accustomed dish
Of politics in connection with its more special
duties. 1t refers to its protest last week
against the folly of Mr.. Summers removal
from the Committee on FSeign Relations, and
says, snow that the deed is done, and some
of the results are already seen, the act does
not seem 10 us any less unwise." The editors
Of the Independent must be among the peri
pateto wseacres Of the land, for they jump
from an important matter like the above to
the announcement that lady contributor said
to one of them, Il did not like that picture
Of q woman over washtub on one of your
advertising pages" But it was explained that
it was the pay from just such adver-
tisements that enabled the publisher
to employ such men as Bryant Hyacinthe,
Sumner, Colfax, Whittier and others to write
articles for the Independent Here's the re-
ward of genius The sublimities Of a con-
stellatioa Of writer's like these to be paid for
out of the proceeds of patent machine for
creating soap suds and soap bubbles! Angels
of the washtub and spirits of potash defend
them!
The New York Ledger, which, although not
a strictly religious paper, publishes articles
breathing mere sound moral philosophy and
solid sense clothed in chaster andpat the same
time more vivid and sparkling language than
most of The so-called religious press, copies
from the HERALD a notice of the Rev. DR..
John Hail. and endorses it as correct.
The Christian Union touches on the Sum
her business, and says the moral and thought
fu men of the republican party will not
abandon it on such slender reasons as the
dispossession of trusted and honorel man
(meaning Sumner) from place OF influence.
Henry Ward Beecher has the faculty Of
rubbing man up or down as he would the
fur of a cat to suit his own or his pariys pur-
poses, and bis is the way he is manipulating
Senator mler at this time
To-day is Mid-Lent, and the F,eeman's
Journal (Catholic) says it will be day of
great rejoicing among pions Catholics. 1t is
st. Josephs Day. This year for the first time
the Universal Church" Such is the tenor
of the decree of our Holy Father Pope
Plus TX. of the sth December last declar-
ing this honor of the foster father of our
Lord. His festival is declared a duplex of the
frat class. Its solemnity, therefore, causes
that of the Sunday to give place TO it. II will
be St. Joseph's Day and not the Sunday Office
that will be celebrated in our churches.
The Tablet (Caholic) hopes that the reli-
gious fervor with which all true children of
ST. Patrick celebrate the feast of their patron
will extend itself to that OF st. Joseph, ''the
greatest of the saints"
The New York Leader refers to Theodore
Tilton's paper as The G0l1ess Egg. If it
means that it is soon to be laid out, we think
the Leader will fad itself mistaken. This
weeks Go1aea Age takes up the cudgels in
behalf of Mr. Sumner and deals blow upon
President Grants head that may resound with
the intensity that the blow Brooks Gu dgel in
fiicted upon Summers head did some years
ago. But the situation is slightly changed
since that time.
A writer in the Hs5rs,o Loader suggests
that suitable appeal in behalf of CO. lection
in aid of France be made by Hebrew clergy
men on Saturday, March 25, in all the temples
and synagogues in the city. A good idea.
The Jewish Messenger says there are twenty
seven Jewish inmates on Blackwelrs Island
aud over forty in Sing Sing. 1t is suggested
that steps be taken to supply these unfortu-
mates with bread for the ensuing Passover fes-
tival Would not the prisoners like it US well
If their friends should, while helping them to