The New York herald., 1872-12-22

Is the power OF God which gives man moral innu-
ence over the souls Of other men. God calls whom
lie wills and no ceremony, no form OF words, no
imposition OF hands can confer spiritual authority
except in periunctory way), although men call.
apostles or actually being such successors, may
say "receive the Holy Ghost" Therefore,
friend "E b. !" follow him who is most likely TO lead
yOu in your own sweet words, to "being forever
with Cod" II you found peace in Unitarianism
until Hepworth gave it up, and find peace in it no
One with your susceptible and wavering soul
should ever follow the lead OF stronger natures.
]. N. ID.
The Bible I'm tho Public Schools.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERAD:-
Knowing the HERALDs love OF fair play can
justly presume your kindness to insert the fol-
lOwing:-
"AtheOs" holds in his reply to Rev. Mr.. McAllis.
ter that Mr.. Weaver is right in his decision, and,
therefore, right in excluding the Bible from our
schools. This question has been greatly mooted
for some time past, and. since it is one in which
not only Rev. Mr.. McAlister and "Atheos" are in
terested, but every parent and child throughout
the length and breadth OF the land, respectfully
take the liberty Of saying few words in reply.
With all due respect to our State superintendent.
beg say that his decision Is unfair and very pre-
judicial to the best interests OF this nation and to
the wishes and ng-established customs Of the
majority of its people.
Our government is one founded upon the will OF
the people, and since we know that vast majority
OF our people believe in supernaturally revealed
truths us recorded in the Bible and since that ma
jority desire that these truths shall be taught In
our public schools and public institutions IL is
great injustice to our people to be deprived OF the
exercise OF a right guaranteed by the will and by
the established customs Of the majority OF the peO-
pie. The right claimed is not alone rom the fact
man, but also from the fact that the majority OF
our citizens demand that the truths contained IN
certain book shall be taught in our public schools
remedy for vice; and hence whether God exists or
not; whether he has made revelation or not;
whether this book be correct record OF such
revelations or not, are not the questions
in dispute. and may or may not be assumed.
lead to atheism. could wish that it might ever be
said with truth that secular teaching does not lead
to the fearful and to the blasphemous opinions ad.
vanced by "Atheos." The absence OF heat, the want
of heat, the negaton OF heat are expressed by the
term cold; y the absence Of God. the want or God,
''atheism." The absence OF God in our
schools and in our public Institutions is In SO far
negation OF GOD ir is in so far nogodism it is in
far atheism. Therefore, secular education leads
to atheism. Atheism as Plato says, is disease OF
the soul before IL becomes an error OF the mind
that is what we commonly call q SIM Atheism Is
responsibility and in It's relations to society must
Mr.. Weaver. by his decision, has in so far aided
in the dissemination Of atheism, in the dissemina-
tion OF sin and, indirectly, In the dissemination
"Aiheos" says, should the system OF sectarian
schools and sectarian appropriations be adopted,
he hopes prOpOrti0nate amount Will be given
to the sect that shall teach the non-existence
Of God as well as to the various sects that shall
Supreme Being, and Of their relationship to Him.
This language "Atheos' should know, is offensive, II
not highly Insulting to to- Christian and IT. i III be-
ings Of any fellow citizen, to say nothing or the
great majority OF our fellow citizens. l hope the
good taste and sense OF the American people and
OF the whole human race will ever keep us from so
great disgrace as to appropriate the public funds
of sin and OF crime as proposed by "Atneos." II
we are to have atheism taught and supported by
our government to our children and in our schools,
II Gods revealed word, His precepts and His laws,
II the will OF the great majority Of the people shall
be excluded from our Jas, our PRISONS our reforma-
tories and our homes. institutions erected
and maintained by this same majority, surely the
sooner we understand ourselves and each other
the better; for those who are taxed for the
support OF these institutions could hardly be will
ing nor could they be compelled to pay money for
the dissemination or the additional sin OF atheism
among criminals and culprits, and not only
among criminals and culprits but among their
own children. II the ignorance OF God Is the great
good TO be reaped in our public schools, our public
institutions, our asylumns and our hOmes-if this
shall be the glorious aim and future OF our mighty
nation, OF a great and intelligent people--if our
shall be put out OF tiff God must leave our ideas
OF public affairs our conditions and thoughts
God must be driven out Of His own creation, in
order that the American government may exist
Il must choose between Scylla and Charybdis
raise the epitaph OF this Republic rather than to
bury God in the midst Of his own creation.
PRESBYTERIAN.
Dedication OF St. Thomas Chapel, In
sixtieth street, Yesterday-Dfscours by
the Right Rcv. Bishop Potter.
The Free Chapel Of st. Thomas church, the cor
ner stone OF which was laid In october last in SIX
tieth street. between Second and Third avenues,
was yesterday opened for public worship by the
conservation OF the edince to the service OF God.
Rev. Bishop Potter conducted the religious cerc-
monies. which were participated in by a large
congregation. The Bishop was assisted by a num-
Der OF clergy. Rev. w. d. Walker, OF Calvary
church, led the opening services; Rev. F. L. Nor
ton read the lessons; Rev. j. J. Roberts read the
morning prayer The Bishop conducted the ante.
communion services and delivered the sermon
on the occasion. The celebration OF the
communion was by the Bishop assisted by
REV. Drs. Walker and Price, There were also
present Rev. Dr. Flagg OF the Church OF the Trans.
iiguration; X ev. Mr.. Nesbet, OF Brighton, England
and the rector OF st. Thomas church, Rev. William
+. Morgan. The chapel ID commodious prick
structure plain but neat in Gil Its appoint
ments, and Is free to the public 1t Is the creation
Of the young men Of the St, Thomas % Association,
q house of worship In this locality. One oil the
chief promoters Of the work Is William J. Peake, OF
At the conclusion Of the usual services Bishop
Potter preached an earnest and eloquent dis
course, taking for his text the twentieth chap
ter of st. John, descriptive OF Christ's appear.
ance to Thomas, the disciple, after His
resurrection. In opening his discourse the
Bishop stated that on the 4th OF October
he had assisted in laying the foundation OF the
chape! which on this st. Thomas day he had con-
secrated. The erection OF the chapel seemed like
wondrous Christian miracle, and to-day we re-
turned to find In place OF mass Of unseemly ma
teriaIs that these materials had grown into q
goodly house, made for the worship OF the glorious
Trtnity-the Father, Son and Holy Ghosf--Hhere
prayer and praise win ascend to God, and the way
worn stranger, the weary and heavy laden, can
hear the truths and receive the heavenly light.
After dwelling upon the energy which the society
had exhibited IN the completion Of the structure
the bishop expressed the hope tnat II might con-
tinue for age after age, to be 9nown as the house