The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-12

least profitable of all the spheres of missionary
labor. We know no good reason why Jews
should not turn the tables on their Christian
friends and neighbors, and, by the formal
establishment of missions to the Gentiles,
labor and pray for their conversion to the
faith of Moses 1t is impossible to speak too
encouragingly of every organization which has
for its object the healing of the Church's divi-
sions and the bringing about of that time when
unity, not division, shall be the dominant
characteristic of the body of Christ We
believe that much good is being accomplished
by the American and Foreign Christian Union
and also by the American Congregational
Union. But we must be allowed to say that
at the meeting held in Brooklyn on Thursday
the reverend gentlemen were slightly too
facetious. 1t is good to be witty, but surely
there is proper time and place. Some Of Mr..
Talmage's remarks particularly verged closely
on the profane. We have left ourselves little
space to notice the National Temperance
Society, the American Temperance Commits
sion, the American Bible Society, the Howard
Mission for Wanderers, and other religious
and moral associations, which, during the
course of last week, reported progress and afresh
presented their claims to the public for en-
couragement and support. Suffice it Of one and
all OF them to say that if they have not yet been
successful in demolishing the strongholds of
the enemy, they are at least doing good
work, and giving no signs that they are likely
to abandon their task in despair. Of every
society which seeks to advance the cause of
true religion and to promote the moral welfare
of mankind we wish WELL We cannot have
too many of them; and SO long as the work
undertaken is honestly and efficiently done
we cannot but wish them Godspeed.
OF the Women's Suffrage Association and
the National Suffrage Association and the
Human Rights Association and the Reform
League Association we have but little to say.
1t is the less necessary for us to take special
notice Of these associations and of their recent
doings that the general question of womens
rights is discussed at some length in another
column. Let us only say that if we may judge
been laid before the public it is not our opinion
that this woman's rights movement, in any of
the many strange forms which it has recently
assumed, is likely to be of much service
to the cause either Of religion or morality.
Woman has her own sphere. In that sphere
to notice that these women's rights associa-
tons command but little sympathy and
receive but little encouragement from the
more sober and solid classes of the COM
munity. We have little fear that Susan B.
Anthony and Mrs. Woodruff, whether they
early day succeed in revolutionizing
society. AS regards the other societies
to which we have already referred,
we feel it to be our duty to speak of them
kindly and to think of them with pride. They
constitute special glory of our modern Chris
tan civilization, and they reflect lustre on
the institutions of free republican America.
Such associations, having such objects in view,
formed no part of the boosted civilization of
Greece and Rome. 1t is especially Christian
doctrine that no man should live to himself
alone. No Christian man is permitted to be
Indifferent to the welfare of his fellows, and
our missionary societies, home and foreign;
our Bible and tract societies and our benevolent
institutions, such as the Howard Mission, are
but the outcome of those doctrines and the re-
ducing to practice of those precepts inculcated
by the Master. They do honor to our free
institutions. Here on this free soil the various
sections of the Church prosper and multiply
independently of State patronage and control.
Our American churches have amply revealed
the power Of the voluntary principle, and
these numerous missionary and benevolent
associations are the vigorous outcome of our
American Christianity. May the Christian
associations one and all prosper May they
never be without encouragement, and may
their exchequers never be empty! And in the
great future work of evangelization, which has
the world for its sphere, may the American
churches nobly do their work and worthily
earn their laurels