The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-20

Brooklyn is leading just now MS the city
OF religious gatherings. On Wednesday there
closed in that city the annual Convention OF
the Protestant Episcopal Diocese of Long
Island. Seven years ago the island was created
adiocese, and its growth, under the admins
tration of Bishop Littlejohn, has been one Of
the marvels of the Church in this region.
Sixty-four parishes arc in union with the Con-
vention, but there are many moro than this,
including mission stations, which number
sixteen in the diocese. There arc ninety
five clergymen of the Church on tho island.
and very much of the wealth and rcspec-
liability and culture of the population is
represented in the Church. The Conyen-
ton was large and dignifed and its delibera.
tons covered all the interests of the diocese.
including the ministry, the parochial. Sun.
day school and mission wants of the Church.
Some of the discussions were warm and
earnest, but they were conducted with the
utmost feeling of good humor, SO that no
jar was heard throughout the proceedings.
The Convention deeply felt the alb
sence of Bishop Littlejohn, who has been
visiting the European missions of the Ameri-
can Protestant Episcopal Church. and while
abroad has been bereaved in the death of his
son-in-law- This loss has detained him q
few weeks later than he intended to be away,
but the Convention, with feelings of kindly
sympathy for him, recommended the Bishop
to study his own and family's health in his
return home
On Thursday morning another. larger
and more important branch of the Church Of
Christ convened also in Brooklyn. The Gem
eral Assembly of the Presbyterian Church
in the United States (North) gathered in
the Tabernacle. This body consists OF
five hundred delegates or commissioners,
representing more than four thousand
ministers and one hundred and seventy
three Presbyteries from mime to California,
besides missions of the Church in every
quarter of the world. Delegates from India,
China, Japan, Western Africa and South
America are present, so that even the most
distant interests Of the Church will not
fail to receive due consideration. Of the
delegates present majority are in mid
die life and not few come here for the
first time, 80 that New York and Brook
Ign and their appointments and surround
ings are new to them. But they will
receive warm welcome in Brooklyn, and
when o couple of weeks hence they prepare
for home it will be with regrets at parting
from such warm friends. An indication OF
the welcome that awaits them here was given
on Wednesday evening by DR.. Talmage and
his deacons in the church prayer meeting,
and several of the delegates expressed their
joy at the cordial reception they had met
everywhere. This hearty greeting was re-
peated on Thursday by the newly elected
Moderator, Dr. Van Dyke, of Brooklyn, SO
that the commissioners already feel quite
at home among their new made friends.
Important questions will come before
this body, and the very best and ablest
men of the denomination have been sent
hither to consider and act upon them. The
proceedings Of the Assembly will be given in
the HERALD from day to day. Yesterday IN
important paper was presented by the dele
gates from the Presbytery of Newark, N. j.,
touching the relation Of the Presbyterian
Church to the German population of our
country. The Germans hay become so
great an element in the United States, and
their influence in the future promises to be
SO weighty, it is high time that all tho re-
ligious bodies made note of the facts and
sought by increased efforts to win them to
Christ