The New York herald., 1872-12-31
DEATH OF TIE OLD YEAR

among many OF the churches. The MethOdists
nave 1eu W s
tions assemble an hour or 80 before midnight, and
with fervent prayer. addresses and hymns OF
thanksgiving for past mercies Ill up the Meeting
moments Of the dying hour OF the year. Every
EFFORT ID made to convince the unrepentant Of sin,
trsns9ressions even Of the most are painted
q the most vivid colors.
MANY CONVERSIONS
are made on these occasions indeed IL Is rare
that they pass away without any visible fruits.
Some times, 1t IL true the extravagant excitement
which marks these exercises mas brought them
into ridicue, but still they have done their share
OF good In the past and should be able to do the
n ss s ar Gays % s,RcG
observed among the societies on the night pre-.
cedng the full moon. As religious service 1t
had their regular Saturday night bacchanalian ca
rousals; but under the preaching OF the Wes-
came Christians; they could never, however, be
In the '.ola countffy'' the church members ne.
quently, and as many as possible, stand round
the alter rails, and, claspng each others hands,
sing hymns Justify, and then. kneeling down, con-
minutes while s the hand hand Of time counts M the minutes
which separate the old year from the new, and
passing rapidly by indicates that the new year has
begun. Americans do not give such rigid atten
ANCIENT RELIGIOUS CUSTOM
as DO their Wesleyan brethren OF Great Britain and
Ireland. At nine tonight the services will begin in
most OF the Methodist churches and all the sinners
enough oil WnOm are 6rOunu new 1Ork 10 MAKE u
pretty considerable congregation, are cordially In
vited to attend. At the old John street church a
great crowd and many conversions OF the hard
cases In the Fourth ward may be anticipated.
oLD-TINE OBsERvANcEs.
Memories are still preserved by tradition or the
imposing manner in which New Years Eve was
observed at the monasteries when England was
still o dependency OF the Roman Catholic Church.
The Abbot sat In his chair OF state at the head OF
the refectory table, and as the year trembed on
the verge OF death the serving brother nlled
mighty cup styled Pocuum Cartatis, and the su.
perlor and all the brethren drank In succession TO
each other. The merry monks Of old then held
high festival through the night, making the mo-
mastery walls ring With their reyelry. In France
New Years is the great social festival OF the year
II Is honored chiefly by the mutual Interchange Of
Jour des Etrennes." Each male member OF the
other members. No matter though the etren1se be
but worth a sous worth Of bonbons or comfits, Il
must be rendered. Ladies' however, are exempted
rom giving; 1t is simply their privilege TO receive
what may be offered, and as all OF their friends
give something,
FASCINATING YOUNG LADY,
with Q respectable number OF admirers and friends,
generally makes . very pretty little rake. In
order to keep alive spirit OF emulation among the
gentlemen the gifts are sometimes spread out on
table in the drawing room, and each donor en-
Joys the proportionate amount OF credit to which
his measure OF generosity has entitled him.
A PRIMITIVE PEOPLE.
In the primitive parish OF Deerness In Orkney.
Scotland IL was customary In the beginning Of tue