The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-23

remarked that ''the struggle for the White
House is lottery, and no man can tell in adj
vance of the drawing who will get the price
but the late Senator Douglas, down to 1860
held to the opinion that 'the democratic nom
ination will open the door, In 1860 the
democratic party, torn to pieces by secession
and the rebellion, fell from its high estate; but
bearer on the new departure of elderly, equal
ity and fraternity may astonish the world
The outside free traders are sufficiently aston
ished already at the prospect; but are appa-
rently satisfied upon this point, that peck
measure will not hold bushel of corn.
Tho Explosion at tho Liberty Street
/ Fire.
Yesterday morning fire broke out in a
wholesale drug store in Liberty street. The
| gallant fremen, of whose organization, cool
ness, pluck and effectiveness New York has
reason to be proud, were promptly on the spot,
and set about their work with characteristic
vim. The police Gordon was formed and every
thing done which experience dictates to ex-
tinguish the growing confagration before
further harm to property had been done. While
thus engaged fearful defamation was heard,
followed soon after by Others and instantly
the firemen on the premises and in front of it
were struck by portions of the building and
dreadfully scalded by the exploded fluid
which was discovered to be vitriol, con-
tanned in number of carboys or
huge glass bottles upon the first floor.
Although no one was killed outright,
some twenty-five persons of which seventeen
were firemen, were injured by scalds and
burns about the head, face neck and hands
some, it is feared, fatally. Now, it seems
incredible that with such dangerous stuff
in such large quantities on the premises,
the iremen were not warned of their danger
by some of the residents of the neighbor-
ing buildings. From the manner in which
the brave fellows exposed themselves it
is certain that their peril was unknown to
them, yet not word seems to have been
whispered to them in warning. 1t is truly a
lamentable occurrence, and we trust that in
future it will be made a matter Of instant in
quiry, when the department sends it's forces to
fire, whether the building contains anything
likely to explode, and that the men whose
daily duty is one succession Of heroisms shall
at least have premonition Of the greater
danger lying amid the vengeful element they
hasten SO promptly and fearlessly to battle.
Ministerial Summer Vacations.
The time Of year again approaches when
those who have been for eight or ten months
engaged in educational enterprises whether Of
a moral or an intellectual character, close
their schools, churches and colleges and HE
themselves away to the bracing air Of the sea-
side or the cooling breezes of the mountains.
This custom has always prevailed to some
extent in regard to schools and colleges. 1t
was more recently adopted in regard to
churches, SO that dozen or even half q
dozen years ago it was not an uncommon thing
to find on a warm summer Sunday in July or
August one-third of the Protestant churches Of
the city closed. The theory, of course, was that
their congregations and supporters had left
New York and the work and opportunities of
the Church and its pastor had for the time
being ceased. Such theory was and IL libel
upon Christianity and upon the original in
tent and purpose of church organization.
Within q few years past, however, there has
come upon the religious community revul-
sion of feeling in this respect, and now, though
city preachers and people may take vacations
in the "dog days." the churches are almost
invariably kept open and their pulpits supplied
by men to whom the country is not treat
and who breathe the mountain or the sea air
perpetually. There can be very little fault
found with pulpit exchanges, whether made in
summer or in winter Were the practice in
dulged in more generally, not only by CORE
spending UNCONVENTIONAL ministers, but by
ministers of differing denominations with each
other the effect would, no doubt be very
beneficial, and would go far towards helping
forward that unity of the Christian Church for
which its Great Head so earnestly prayed and
SO many of its leading members now so fer
vently hope.
But we may inquire, Do summer vacations
benefit the churches or the ministry? Both a
negative and an affirmative answer may be
given to this query. If by close study and
hard labor during ten months of the year the
pastor Of city church in trying to keep intel
lectually abreast of the intelligence of his con-
gregaion and of the literature of the times
has SO taxed his mental and physical system as
to endanger his life and health then he ought
undoubtedly to enjoy season of rest and re-
creation, and his people should pay his ex-
penses and supply his place. If, however, he
has not done this, and desires a vacation, he
might, with the consent Of his church, take it
at his own expense and supply his own place
to the people during his absence. If we may
form any just Judgment Of the amount of study
required to prepare two such sermons week
for any pulpit as we have reported and pub
lished in the columns of the HERALD during