Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-05-29

The week has beon particularly active one
in the Baptist denomination. Representative
churchmen of this sect have been gathering
here from all parts Of the country, tho occasion
being tho general meetings of the Bap-
tist church sccieties in the United
States. The different societies-the His
toricaI, Educational, Publication, and Home
and Foreign AlissonI--have been in ses-
sion on varying days and hours during the week.
| The meetings have all been held In the First
| Church, at Broad and Arch streets, and have
been OF great interest to this large and influcn-
tial body OF Christian people. The Baptists
| come next to the Methodists in numerical
strength and arc very little behind the followers
| of Wesley. Ten years ago the disparity was
greater than at present. but the Methodists have
not increased during the last decade in tho
same degree as in other periods while the Bap-
| tist increase has been very marked during
| that term. The particular 'shold" of the
denomination IL its devotion to missionary
| labor. The Presbyterians claim, believe, that
III proportion to their strength (they are scarcely
| half numerous as the Baptists) their mission
ary work il ahead, but ratios apart the Baptist
pre-eminenco in this field ls indisputed. The
reports on the subject, offered ths week, were
valuable and interesting accompanied, of course
by the standing appeals for help. But the need
of money il as constant rs the necessity of the
work. The fashion of rdculing missionary
labor, for which Dickens among others is re-
sponsible, has abont died away. Without regard
to the PROSECUTING result, education follows the
mission inevitably. with better living ways and
morals, and general lifting of the condition of
the people. Perhaps this practical and unseliish
work largely explains the increase and influence
OF the Baptistn.
Tho .Ogontz" salo did not come off, No one
could be found to bid even as high as 1850, 900
and the property was withdrawn. II tho intent
was to mals sale, and realize the best result
possible it was mistake to put up tho estate
in the method takea. Experience in auction
GALES show that property dumped" as the
phrase is, does not sell as well az when "jobbed
out" 1t may be less dignifed pro-
mansion, room by room, Selling the goods
for what they will bring, but that is the practical
and certain way to raise tho money. There
would have been hosts OF buyers i'll that case,
and there are numerous instances where such
exceptional sales have realized more than the
first cost Tho House might have found a pur-
chaser at good figure II it had been unbur-
thened by the luxury which Mr. Cooke has
crowded into it. 1t is desirable for summer
boarding house or public institution, for either
OF which purposes the owners could have no use
for its expensive furniture. 1t is understood
a Catholic Society is very anxious to obtain 1t,
but il wants only the House-not the oil pain
tings, library and stock of ''old Wines"
And 10 of the land. Tho farm might be
bought by persons having no possible use for
the mansion, or it might be divided into numer-
GUS Very desirable building lots, still leaving the
house sufficient lawns and surroundings. The
plan pursued was very unadvised. Willing pur-
chasers have been denied, and it has been dii-
cult even to inspect the property. A liberal and
conciliating spirit should have been shown;
free railway trains provided; and every
thing possible done to arouse attention and
secure throng of buyers. II this
had been done it is quite possible "Ogontz
would have realized every cent that MIR. Cooke
paid for it.
~, I. al,
through the close connection of tho interests of
the burned section with Philadelphia capital.
Tho real owners were here, and here the shock
was largely felt. The Moshannon coal and lum-
Der Co. one of the heaviest losers, has Its or
ganization hero. Only the day before the fire
this company thought its troubles through the
Long Strike were over, and that
tho way to renewed prosperity was open.
Oscoola, you will remember, is in the
Bituminous Region, and the strikers there
had gone to work. The next word was
that the country lad been burned out Such
a combination OF trouble and suffering has not
often fallen OH Pennsylvania community. re-
lief movement was speedily put on loot, and
with good results. Jacob NJ. Ellis ~ Sons of this
city, the owners of large mills and stocks of
lumber at Osceola, actively co-operated with the
Moshannon Company for the relief OF the
homeless worlimen, Most happily, the disas-
ter fell at this mild season of the year. The
Messrs Ellis arc prominent members of theSo-
ciety of Friends, aud II considerable amount of
funds for the sufferers was placed IN their hands
within a short time.
Mr. Macarthur, architect of the new Public
Buildings, has written letter to Mayor Stokely
in re. ard to the extent of the work at Penn
Square The figures are the highest ever known
in building operations on this continent liere
are few OF them-it being remembered that
they refer mainly to the basement story no.
$40 cubic yards OF excavation; 81, O30 perches OF
rough masonry; 1861, Oh pounds OF wrought
and rolled iron; 301 400 pounds OF cast
iron 57,s42 cubic feet of marble;
IA, 1856 cubic feet of granite, 100000 feet of
lumber, 49, 400 bricks All tHe
place, and the first main story-the marble
has but Just been commenced. Referr-
ing to the quantity of brick, Mr.. Macarthur says
there are but 49, 1876, 900 i'll Girard Colege,--so
that there are third as many again in the base
ment of the new city hall az there are IN the
largest completed building III Philadelphia at
present. Ihe structure of Penn Square Will be
ono of the architectural wonders of the world
when it is finished. Work was commenced on 1t
on the 10th of August 1871, q remember writing
you paragraph relative to the breaking OF the
ground ttnpus .fugt } and the architect says
the work has been exceptionally rapid Tor
structure of such proportions.
Phladepha bids fair to be the great gradu-
ating place of Episcopal Bishops in the United
States. Within short period Bishops Howe,
Hare and Jaggar have been elevated from the
pastorate and the news is now hourly expected
that Rev. Jas. III. Eccloston, oil the Clurcn OF Ine
Saviour has been elected Bishop OF Iowa. The
| Diocesan Convention has various Candidates be-
| fore it and has taken number of ballots, but
Dr. Eccleston is steadily leading, and his friends
| saw he is certain of the election, DR.. Eceeston
| is Dalhmorean, but was educated
| for the ministry here and has never
| been professionally stationed elsewhere-so tnat
we fairly lay claim to him. The Church OF the
Saviour, of which he il at present rector, - the
| leading Episcopal church of West Philadelphia,
| the one of which the brilliant and eccentric Rey.
| Mr. Wise had charge during the war, and which
| he finally thought it advisable to relinquish.
| DIR. Eccleston il young man for the Bishopric,
being but 2S years old, but lie is highly es-
| teemed by church people.
| The Point Breeze Spring Injecting COM
| menced on Wednesday and owners OF last
horses as well as tho more numerous
| lower house who enjoy the performance
| of that excellent animal, have been all
| astir. Ladies' have attended the races in num-
| bers and tho best OF order has been kept. On
"Wednesday two races were trotted. The hrst
| WAS for horses that have never beaten 24o
| 5000 to first horse and 300 to second-mile
| heats. best three in five. There were twelve
| eatries and the race was an animated one. IL
was won by .Tornado Maid" entered by ). IL.
| Clark, The second, q race under the same gen
| eral conditions, purse of $500, for horses that
| have never beaten 2.26, was won by John irouts
.'Sea Foam" Yesterday "Grey Chiet won
| the race of the 2.31 class, and " Thomas Jeief-
| son the 224 class. Except in the case OF the
yery highest grade of racers the lowest classes
| , ,wssrd t1,a moat amusement because permitting