, 1872-12-29
The ministerial Association and the
Bible i'll Public Schools,
The Methodist Church Of America
Organized On Christmas.
The Week of Prayer---Seryices in the
Churches To-Day.
Episcopal and Roman Catholic
Calendar for the Week.
GENERAL RELIGIOUS NOTES.

GENERAL RELIGIOUS NOTES.
The Chicago Ministerial Association (Congre-
kational) has been discussing tho relation that
religion should sustain to the public schools !;
not exactly whether the Bible should be retained
therein, or ruled out but, in addition to it's re-
tention how far should it's doctrines be specially
inculcated. It WAS contendcd by somo Of the
divinos that State education included moral as
well as intellectual culture, tho responsibility,
while resting largely on the parent and church,
In part, likewise, rested on the public school, In
the course Of the debate the subject met with n
searching analysis, presenting itself under four
general departments, to-vit: /. Tho State to
have nothing to do with education in the public
schools: 2. The State to provide schools and
allow UNCONVENTIONAL religious teaching, accord
ing as the maj jority IN power may determine; 8.
The State to provide public schools, but rule out
all religious instruction 4. Tho State to pro-
vide schools and allow religious instruction to q
certain extent, limited to the most general teach
ing of the Word Of Gcd. The discussion harmo-
nized mainly in line of this last view, although,
while held as sound theory,it was generally I'd
mitted as difficult respecting it's feasibility.
paper advertiny to the theme Wes road by Rev.
Dr.. Patton.
On the sane general topic, though respecting
the higher departments Of educatlon, the Meth
cdist Bishops have juit issued their encychcal
address to this effect It is certain that al
attempts to secularize highor education will fall
aad that this must still be largely under the
Christianity and 1nfdelity. II tho College Is not
Christian, it will be anti-Chrlstian."
2IEruoD1sM IN AMERICA.
The Nort,,ces|ern Christian 44dcocate is out
with article showing that the Methodist
Church of Arnerica was organized on Christmas:
It appears that the first Conference was held
Pee: q, 1854, in Lonely Lane Chapel.
the Protestant Episcopal Methodist Church Of;
the United States by special permit from Mr.
Wealey On the following day. Some sixty isia-
Grants were present on tho occasion, amo3E
The latter was chosen Chairman, and read tho:
letter from Alr. Wesley. This document after
stating the difficulties necessarily attending t1e
growth OF the Methodist Church in country
while its great centre of ecclesiastical power was>
30 far away in Europe), makes this Official and
final declaration:
conceive myself at full liberty as I violate
es5 INTO mt he
appointed Dr.. Coke and Mr. Francis Asbury to be
America. % As a!so Richard Whatcoat and Thomas
Vasey to act as elders among them by bsp;izing and
the 10fd any viii point od
guiding those POOR sheep in the wilderness I Will
glndy embrace it. Atrrsse''t cannot see any better
method than that I have taken. It has indeed
been proposed to desire tho English Bishops, to
e5dn 'a psT Of our preachers rs 13s AeTf M BIZ Ut
consented, We know the alowne.s OF their r7occednes
ord.n them now they would Likewise expac: 10 govern
then. And how grievously would this entang!e US.
4 As our American brethren totally dtsentan
gled, both from the State sud from the English hcr-
chy, dare not entangle them again either with the
the ss mnsy a1a opd a
And we Judge it best that they should stand fas: IN
them free.
Whereupon it was then agreed ''to form our
selves in an Episcopal Church, and to have Su-
perintendents, Elders, and Deacons;"
THE "wEEK OF PRAYER"
Ehich originated some years ago at the call of
khe missionaries in India upon all Chrstondon
to p1ay for them, and which has since passed al
most into international religious institution,
will be, as usual, observed in the city by most
II not all. the Christian denominations. There
will be local and general meetings Tor prayer,
and the programme as announced BY the Evan
Eelcl Alliance will be mainly followed. The
opening Of " the week " will be next Sabbath
tie 5rs} one Of the New Year, and tho subjects
from day to day as follows, as given by the ~ Al
1innce":
sunday, Jan. 5.-scrnons. Subject; Tho founta
daton, security and universal extension OF the Chris
Monday, Jan. 6.-Devout acknowledgment. Re
nd to- the ehurebes proydenal and sirtuai Bless
ngs to ourselves; confession Of sn
Il s:T % s
siearer manifestations Of tho unity in the faith 10
ministers, missionaries, and eva4gelists
Ind daughters Of Christian parents for blessing
home tnduence, and on the services aud ordinances
"the Church Of God" for schools, colleges, IN
anive1stties for children ut sea in foreign lands
FOR young nen II business or 2rofsssona for Sci
Hngs md III in authority for the maintenance s
spread Of religious liberty; for the growth Of soun
knowledge; for contentment, concord, and good W
IN a national judgments and for tho removal Of il
temperance, immortality, aud the Eins which arc II
Friday, Jan. lo-Praycr: For mankind tor IL
circulation Of the Holy scripturee and the spread
pure literature; for tho overthrow Of al kinds {
granny and op ,reesion; for the removal Of ever
md Tor the Increase OF. that Iinelon WHICH
"righteouBnesB, pence, and Joy In tho Holy Ghost"
Saturday, Jan. 1l.-Praycr: For sunday-schoos; i; f
missionary, tract and other religious societies; #
into His barTest;7 and for the removal Of hndrsnet
to the spread Of the Gospel aud the conversion of ii
world.
Sunday, Jan. 12.-Scrmons "Let the whole cart
be filed With His glory. Amen, and asnen."
THE CHURCH BUILDINGS.
The weather has held back, but not entirc1
checked, operations among the church building
The Second Presbyterian structure has nlat
good progress. and the rear section fronting c
Twentieth street is nea- readiness for the conEr
CATION to occupy their Lecture Room, DC. Fl
Michigan avenue front will bo finished No:
ecaeon. The Church OF the Messiah Rev. Lai1
Golfers, is not being pu:hcd. but the lectu1
room will be finished in May. This congreyatio
have just made arrangements to worship
Marines Dancing Hall until their own preln4s
are ready.
DR.. COLLIER
WAS at Amsterdam, MY, hale aud hearty. on Il
24th inst, and expected to spend his holidays
Troy. The line Of his lecture tour touches
PoughkeepBe, Syracuse. Montrose, Hudso
Sing Sing, Plainield, Nowburgh, Bath, Clyd
Seneca Falls, in New York, and at DetAlche1
Towanda, and Westchester. III rennsylvan
Meantime, his church is bcinGu s1plod hy Pre-
ident Hosmer, Of Antioch College, and 9th
noted divincs from the East. Tho Rev. \
Weiss, OF Boston, is expected to I'LL the pull
next month.
ANOTHER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
Chicago, which now has four theological &c
tnarles IN full blast. that arc graduating = hu
dred ministers OF thercabouts annually. for t
Presbyterian, Congregational, and Baptist
nominations, is to havo fifth. that "
represent the Lutheran Church. Official acti
has been taken III the matter, and already Q
prefaaenr The 1}av IT r. JarnHa ae Cat;