The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-25
TIE ANNIVERSARIES DECLIEE.
Where Have the Anniversaries Gone to! AZ
Why Have They Left New YorkEHav
the Religious People Of the Metropolis
Lost Their Interest in the Great
National and Local Enter
prises Of the Churchi

National and Local Enter -
a prisss Of the churohs
These are questions Of significance. In view OF mo
departure from midst or the great national ana
local associations OF Christian workers which were
wont to gather here regularly in May OF other years
and which created 80 much public interest among
the churches here. But few years age half
dozen or these anniversaries would claim atten-
ton on the same day. and public halls couu not be
obtained without difcuty wherein the followers Of
the several organizations might meet to present
the results OF their work in the past
and to explain their necessities and grounds
or hope for the future. This Is all changed
now, and the leading religious associations
OF the land either pass this city by In silence
or the members and friends gather IN some quiet
church parlor or lecture room and transact their
business here without that glamour of glory ana
Importance which formerly attached to these
gatherings.
Several causes have operated to produce this
erect The excitements of other years have passed
away. Slavery, which gave Importance to the
Ant-Siavery Society, whose annual meetings
alternated between this city and Boston, has been
cast into the bottomless pit from whence there u
no hope OF its resurrection. The Peace Society
which drew its breath and inspiration from slavery
and from the civil war that ensued therefrom, ana
whose sages were wont to exalt the blessings Of
peace and to denounce the madness OF war, IL NO
more. These two great agitating societies have
done their work. whether well or Ill is for others to
decide, and they have passed away. Whatever
meetings they hold now are Of no more Interest,"
than the conventions Of any body Of ordinary
mOrtals.
THE FEMALE sUFFRAGIsrs,
OF NHnit
known to themselves or to Darwin than to this
writer, were generally yoked together with the
Peace Society or with the Spiritualists have be-
come OF little or no interest to the New York pub
lie. The great advocates who few years ago
stood forth in Steinway or Apollo Hall to champion
the right Of women to vote and hold civil or pott-
cal Offices in the Commonwealth were found miss
ing this year, and their places were but poorly
filed with lesser lights Of the strong-minded order.
Their agitation was too much like the rushing or
water through suice-it expended itself ere III
work was accomplished. And besides, It's adv0.
Gates did not always, nor, indeed, often, adopt
those measures to gain their ends which would
commend themselves to the sound sense OF the
community. Hence the interest In this movement
has greatly aDated. These causes Of a national
character which have helped to diminish the inter
e Sowever Of chaacte The selection Or
officers from given sections; the funess ana gen.
crosby OF invitations from particular Localities 70
honor certain cities which have contributed largely
and literally to the funds OF said societies and ass0
the requirements In the constitution Of some so
cleies, and, finally political reasons nave s some
CARNATIONS from this to other cities.
THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY,
the oldest and best tried Of all the national so
cieties, held Its anniversary n Philadelphia this
year, in accordance with its original agreement t.
convene alternately in New York and IN the
very much OF the eclat which formerly surrounded
i here Its President D., william III Asn %
for it in that city, SO that double reason might
thus exist for the transfer: The first reason has,
however, existed for half q century, yet II h30
never been needed until this time.
THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY
found q successor to Its late venerated PRESIDENT,
Bishop McIlvaine, in the Hon. William Strong,
Judge OF the United States Supreme Court and q
resident Of Phladelphi ia also: Judge strong 2
Is interested In every benevolent and Christian
enterprise that appeals to his sympathies or mis-
year, but slowed itself away on the second
story OF chapel in Fourth avenue, where compars-
lively few persons assembled, and the details OF
business lacked interest for outsiders. The old
slavery agitation gave this society some Of its
public Importance and LED 10 Spit IN its RANKS
organization OF that name IN Boston. They work
harmoniously together again, however. the
is Philadelphia, met In that city this year and
had grand and brilliant reception.
Is mainly II not wholly local organization. II has
It's .'h0men and its headquarters In this city, and
is sustained chiefly by Contributions OF the Denevo
lent here and hence has no good motive Tor meet
ing elsewhere. Its business meetings are confined
to ladies' but its religious meetings are held an
nualy in some city church where either an appro-
pirate sermon is preached or addresses are de-
ivered by local ministers. 1t met IN the Northwest
Reformed church in Madison aas avenue tins year
q non-sectaran national association designed 20
supply the benefits Of the Christian Church and the
La and tnd
of the South West, and Southwest, has its head
tive for holding It's anniversaries elsewhere.
THE HOWARD MISSION
is purely local institution, and has little or no
motive for travelling beyond its own doors. But
public anniversary is great help to Its treasury,
because an admission fee is charged to hear ito
youthful pr0te0es sing and chant and recite their
treasury The Five Points Missions, also local i'm
situations and sustained BY the contributions OF
New York Christians, hold their annual gatherings
are very little different from what may be seen In
those places every month
The only two great national organizations whose
anniversaries were attended here with anything
and the Satonai TEMPERANCE Society and Pubica-
tion House. The former transferred itself from the
classic halls Of Brooklyn, where its annual gather
ings have been welcomed as a treat and blessing,
to the staid and stately audience room and parl0r
Of the Broadway Tabernacle. The latter was able
to hold Its own because OF the reviving interest in
the temperance question.
THE BAPTIST SOCIETIES
and boards received cordial invitation from three
or Jour OF the churches IN Albany to meet in that
city and their annual conventions were held there.
proposition was before them to meet triennially
instead OF annually and 1t met with favor. Tho
Southern Baptists met In convention in Mobile
Ala and propositions looking towards q union Of
the two bodies have been discussed.
THE PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLIES.
The Southern Presbyterians met IN general as
sembly at Little Rock week or more ago. and the
Northern branch OF the denomination In Baltimore
at the same time. DR.. Crosby, OF city, was
chosen Moderator or this latter body the largest
and most influential Presbyterian gathering that
ever convened on this Continent. Measures OF the
utmost Importance to Presbyterianism In the
assembly. change will probably be ordered or AZ
lowed in the support OF students for the ministry
which will serve to weed out the worthless ana leave
In Hat n fho Forth I