The New York herald., 1872-07-14
Suggestive Gossip OF the Religious
Press.

Our religious contemporaries appear to be
take the present week as an example we might
be led to wonder how the religious press sue
ceed in entertaining and retaining their
readers from one years end TO the other. But
it SO happens that during twelvemonth there
are many happy and gracious revivals in the
spirit that pervades their columns. There are
the conventions and annual assemblies, ami
versary gatherings and discussions upon
great variety of other topics, which furnish
themes and serve to impart lively and ami
mated coloring to their pages But here in
the middle of July, with the thermometer on
the trapeze and the mercury almost grasping
the round hundred in the shade, who can ex-
pect cheerful repartee or heavy logic or pom
derous dogmatism in our religious journals
Some-the Golden Age, for example-may treat
on politics, and pronounce Horace Greeley's
letter accepting the Cincinnati nomination
equal to anything the brain of St Paul ever
produced after his conversion. The Christian
Union may talk of political Consistency
and declare ''the republican party to
bo sounder safer, more earnest for
the great ends of public good, than
any nascent party made up by the most extra
ordinary coalition known to political history"
The sterling old Methodist may show " The Way
the Irish Catholics Are Humbugged," or pub
lish letter from Pastor Ribeti, of Rome,
Gavaz1 in q speech delivered by the latter at
Princeton o few weeks since. The Presby-
terian Observer may go "In Search Of Chris
tianity," touch on the REV DR.. Loyal Young
and Free Discussion" suggest something in
regard to Progress Toward Union, and have
something to say about " Welcome to Scot
tish Divines" The Evangelist may want to
know "What Shall We Substitute?" referring
to the subject of ministerial education, or draw
can American Parallel for John Henry New
man." The Independent may preach o SER
mon upon the text of "Not Bad Heart" and,
ghoul-ike prey upon the heartstrings of the
living while it cants upon the heart of man
mouldering in his grave. John Cotton Smith,
editor in chief of the Church and State, Pro
tessant Churchman and Christian Witness, q
surplusage Of pious papers all boiled into one,
may descant upon Christianity in Our Col
leges'' or give "An Interesting Specimen of
clergymen wishing to take orders in the Epis-
copal Church and requiring them to be six
months off clerical duty. "What for ?" asks
the Rev. Mr. Cotton Smith. "To give them
vacation, or is it to put them on proba-
ton and test their meetness for the priest
hoods" 1t might be suggested that they
may make it either q vacation including q
trip TO Europe or to Newport Saratoga, Long
Branch, Sharon Springs, Lake Mahopac, Ber-
gen Point or Niagara Falls, or to 90 to some
political convention, like those recently held
at Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Baltimore
and open the proceedings with prayer. In
the latter case they might fit themselves for
the duties of chaplains of the United States
Senate or House of Representatives or of some
Of our State Legislatures, and in time become
competent to serve as chaplains on board of
some of Uncle Sans rnen-of-war bound on n
three years cruise. At any rate, by all means
let them have their vacation for great
number of good and godly people are on it
about these days. The Baptist Examiner may
think it the DUTY OF Every Man To Doubt"