Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-03-27
FIRST EDITION.
PHILADELPHIA.
OUR sAruR RDAY LETTER

| MENrs--sINGLE AND MARRIED MINIsTERs-T
| tPELLlNd " BEE h-EAsTER AND THE CHURCHES
| -tcANDALs IN THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.
Special Correspondence ofthe Commercial
PHILADELPHIA, March &c.
| The Pennsylvania Railroad has OF course won
in it's contest against the people in the abattoir
business. Judge Allison, in deciding the appca-
ton for an injunction, said to be suro that after
these works were constructed they would
be enjoined il they should prove a
nuisance, but the court placed no hindrance in
the way OF allowing the company to prove what
has practcally-if experience and common
sense go for anything-been demonstrated al
ready. | have shown you her tofore that opn-
ion is overwhelming against this project Prop
eity-owners in the neighborhood of the propos-
ed slaughteriDg establishment arc dismayed,
and all persons whose business or living affairs
connect them with that section of the city are
greatly indignant, and they have the sympathy
| OF most Of the citizens, who although removed
from the scene of discomfort yet feel that a
shameful burden will have been placed upon
their fellows. 1t is very well to talk
of the injustice OF prejudginB an act, or to say
that if it proves an evil the law provides reme-
dy, but on the other hand reason shows that
when works are built costing immense sums of
money, and backed by such an influence as the
Pennsylvania Railroad it will be a tedious busi-
ness to get rid OF them. Even should they be
abolished, what mischief might not be wrought
in the meantime2 Delay and objection of every
sort would be brought to bear against their re-
movaL That they would have to be removed,
or else that large and valuable section
would be practically deserted, is unequivocally
true, if honest and able scientific opinion
is worth anything. How would Wilmington
like to have such a nuisance covering several
acres, planted at the Market street bridge, and
discharging deleterious matter OF all kinds
hourly into the Christiana? Ours is precisely
similar case, for the Schuylkill front has grown
to be I'D crowded and important a section to us
as the one have mentioned is to your city.
would like if , could to make your people take
personal interest i'll the outrage which 1t ID pro-
posed to inhict on Philadelphia. The concerns
of the two cities are IN many respects identical
especially are many of your people connected by
close personal ties with ours, and it IL natural
the matter should excite an active feeling in
Wilmington.
New York has taken positive step in aid Of
the Centennial. A number Of handsome indl-
vidual subscriptions, headed by one of A. L.
Stewart OF $4,000, have been made, and yarlons
hotels. express companies, &C., have given llb-
eral amounts the whole footing up Sl60 600.
This might appear to be very worthy subscrp-
tion and would indeed be for an enterprise OF
less extent than the Centennial. But consider
ing all things it is disappointing. New York has
been latteriy a main reliance of the Exposition
authorities and theiamount here named large as
itis,goes very little way towards answering the ex-
pectations formed. There is tremendous job to
be carried through here somehow aud only the
biggest kind of figures will settle it. Nothing
comes from the community at large and our own
community feels that it has done its share. The
Centennial will be of such an immense beneht
to New York that it could afford to subscribe
many times what it has given, and to add to the
loans of some of its liberal citizens large muni-
cipal subscription as Philadelphia has, and as
New jersey and Delaware have done. 1t ID in
dcated that the work is not finished III New
York yet, but guess it is practically accom-
1. f,. 1,,al Lar 10
otherwise the result would not have been an
nounced in tho manner chosen.
The Philadelphia Methodist Conference, held
this year at NorIistown, has closed its delibera-
tions the appointments FOR the ensuing year
have been made and numerous congregations
are pleasantly exercised over the advent OF Their
new preachers. The Itincrancy claims to be,
and would appear to be, the farest OF religious
systems. but like everything of mortal origin 1t
is liable to abuses. There is, indeed an amount
OF nannuvring and sharp practice in making out
the appointments for so large and Important a
conference as that OF Philadelphia
which would do no discredt to eau
Gus of well posted politicians. The trad
ngs and compromises do not appear in tie
decorous list as the members see it, but there is
many u wrangle, not 10 say fight, before the mat
ter il settled. The wealthiest churches pick
out the bast men. against which natural doml-
nance the smaller churches vehemently stFug'
GLE The selections are supposed to be entirely
IN tho hands of the Bishop and the Presiding
Elders, hut it not unfrequenty happens that
church bent on securing certain parson sends
its committee into tho council and causes great
furry 1t ia not all brothery feeling at such
times. Tho conference just closed made some
stir iu Methodist circles by deciding not to admit
any more young men on trial at preseht. IL
was stated that ministers married SO
early, and responsibilities gathered 30 quickly,
that the Conference found dfli,ulty in supply
ing sufficient places for men with families.
Conference admitted its want of young, single
men for minor places, and seemed to imply by
its action that if men would offer who would
promise not to add to the complication by mar
rylng-at least at once-it would admit them.
Knowing by experience however, how hard it1s
to keep preachers from marrying 1t took the
only ground possible.
The Spelling Bee was a huge success 1t
had the happy fate OF exactly striking the popu-
lar fancy, and is noted to have been one OF the
best shows in many seasons. The audience was
in high state of jollity from the beginning to
| the end and the general satisfaction was unmis-
| taxable. Does not the result show how simple
| are the springs of emotion? Only give people a
| chance to be natural, and to escape from high
| mighty " airs which custom has assumed to pc
| the proper thing for Society, and they Will take
to primitive amusement such as this as naturally
as children to play. There s something right
down pleasant in this. For once the restraint OF
| the public assembly was broken and each IN
| diyidual experienced the freedom OF his home
circle. The abandon of the affair gave il novelty
| '--N-
| rarely passed pleasanter evening Inc success
| OF tie :. Bee " wherever introduced should be u
| hint to people to return to simplicity and home
| methods in their amusements. Ii 1t should
somehow work out this problem 1t would do a
| greater work than that of teaching the spelling
| of difficult words.
Easter goes off with even more OF flourish
than usual How the Objectionable practice OF
:. starring the churches began l cannot say, but
| the practice has now attained such dimensions
| as to be offensive to persons of taste and feel
ing. To Judge from the newspapers the whole
church seLson is nothing but one of show and
rivalry. Ceremony is one thing but show IL
another. The reporters have finally got the
thing to such point that the
church announcements read like go many
play bills. The managers. indeed, would be
very glad to get the amount of free advertising
which ia given in the Good Friday, Holy Satur-
day, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday pro-
grammes. by hunting carefully through these
elaborate documents you may tnd hurried
alluson to the sermon or the service OF the DAY,
but for the most part the announcements arc
concerned with the artists who are to appear
and with the compositions to be rendered, the
latter being given with much particularly con
corning the composer, the number OF his
" operas" the key in which the delectable affair
is set, and other matter OF like consuming III
terost. Frequently there are such nothcatioh'
as the work to be given by
full chorus and grand orchestra, IN
der the sole direction OF somebody
who knows how to connect devotion and busl