The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-07
THE ANNIVERSARIES.
Meetings of Our Mission, Bible and
Tract Societies.
FOR HOME AND FOREIGN HEATHENS
The Work Of the Past Year-HOpes ard
Aspirations for the Future.


anniversary services In this city yesterday and below
Will DO found resume OF the exercises at oach
THE ioxH MISSIONARY SOCIETY
large congregation gathered last night In the
broadway Tabernacle 10 celebrate the nifty nrst
versary Of the American Home Missionary Society.
Tho annual report showed total Of 996 minister's Of
tho Gospel in the service OF tho society,
distributed throughout thrty-two States and
Territories Two missionaries have preached 10
congregations OF colored people aud thirty three
In foreign anguagcs-Wosh, German, French and
Swedish. Tho number OF congregations and mission
AIRY stations supplied was l96 There were SO, 800
pupils in the Sabbath schools There had been rev
walls during tho year in ISL churches s. 3o4 hope
full converts wcrc reported to have been made. Tho
balance in tho treasury s94 o.. Tho yearly re
ccipts were S6,3l5 less than tho preceding year,
to the vast amounts OF money diverted from channels
OF bcncvolcnco by the Centennial Exposition, The
Presidential election and tho killing or grasshoppcrs
the West
CATHOLICISM sTGMATlzED
Tho anniversary sermon preached by the Rev.
Dr. Zachary Eddy, OF Detroit His text from
Numbers, KILL l3-"Lct go up at once aud possess
tho land for able It," Tho preacher
summoned the various secis to evangelical work IN
this country. Tho genuine Caucasian popu-
lation divided into two great branches
tho Celtic aud tho Teutonic. Tho Celtic
religion crouched in trembling prostraton before tho
priest. His hearers should not shut from their eyes
the dark cloud OF ignorance ana superstition which
overhnngs largo masses OF our population Ii their
minds wcre only vacant the simple remedies OF tho
Gospel might DO received with gratitude, although
not with intelligent rcccption but their minds were,
Tor Tho most part already occupied. II long ago had
passed into proverb that ignorance Is the mother
superstition; and tho most ignorant classes Of tho
population were precisely those who most hope
lessy enslaved TO superstition In the South tho
heather negroes In the North tho iIlte.ats part
svqf n
In which all tho most terrible and fascinating
supcrstitions which ever captivated the mind Of
edy religion tor the icratc, and II was IN these
years making hcrcuean Efforts TO attract and crys-
Romanism hnd its schools and what il
called ITS educations but should not
forget that there was litcratc us we'll as erato
ignorance, and that what was called education
seldom desire Tor excluding rather than impartng
knowledge. The evangelzation OF tho whole country
must incido that OF these unfortunate millions
STEPPED ~ british gnoranco and bound BY tho letters
OF SUPERSTITION.
This work ought to be done soon. Now was tho
golden opportunity Two parties were struggling Tor
tho maslery-the Roman Catholic party ana the
heather atheistic party The nominal Roman
Calhohc population to-day was I, 0OO 900; but this
estimate included multitude whose religion
loose tradition which had como to them with
their blood and only became active principle when
II was excited by tho violent appeals Of priests and
dcnagognes to cIannish preiuiice. The preacher
had no tear that poDcry would ever become pre-
dominant IN this country. but unless checked
u would ruin tho Republic. The thick cloud
midnight gloom. Progress IN tho arts aud sciences
would DO arrested. Vica and immortality would pro-
vail Tho United States would become more corrupt
than Mexico. To avert these fearful calamities Tho
armies OF Israel must up at and possess tho
land. Rome and he'll never slept.
THE AMERICAN BIDLE SOCIETY.
Instead of holding its usual anniversary exercises
tho American Bible Society last evening listened to
discourse Thc Diicrliies and Advantages OF Bible
Translalion" by The Rev. w. NJ Taylor. ID. d.. at St.
! IA Ennis rhurc
and Twenty street. DR.. Taylor took for
his text Acts, H., 2-"wo do hear them speak Ia our
tongues tho wonderful WORKS Of God.n Hc COM
mcncod his sermon with a'lusion to the descent
OF tho Holy Spirit upon tho apostles, and
dwelt at some longth upon the mirac ulous gut OF
language in which tho SPIRITED exaltation of the apos
ties found uttcrancc Ito considered that this miracle
proves II 10 BIO tho will OF God that all people should
receive His word IN their own tongues that they
may become familiar with II aud have It's rrcccpls
deeply craven upon their minds But tor long period
the Church had lam The rcproach OF negcctng
this evident wish OF God. The mass OF Christians had
no means OF obtaining personal knowledge OF the
dangers and hardships that few devoted men had
succeeded IN opening tho Bible 10 the multitude Even
to-day one OF the Chief difficulties OF missionaries
among heather nations IL tho want Of versions
ot tho holy book the languages Of the nations among
whom they are aborng Is 10 tho lesseung OF this
difficulty that the Bible societies OF England and
America have directed thor most strenuous Efforts,
and tho result of The work OF Bible translation up to
tho present day may be summed up In tho statement
that revsions have been prepared Ia 90 different
languages or dialects In estimating the greatness OF
this result It must DO remembered that It represents
long history Of scli-sacriilce, perseverance and
unnnchng loyalty and devotion to truth. Trans
Iaors Of ,hc Bibo have generally had tho greatest
trials TO contend against. Some Of them
had endure and to risk loss OF lie
Ia their efforts 10 spread tho Gospel aud
had tho bitter disappointment Of beng defeated by
death when just ut tho threshold OF success All had
TO devote many years OF patient labor first In the
QUESTION OF tho necessary carnng-ior profound
knowledge Is requircd-and aitcrward in the tedious
performance OF tho work Of translation. In proof
OF this DIR. Taylor cited many cases, as those OF
YEARS IN version p
Schauncr, who devoted fourteen years to All Osnan
version. and Dr. Chereschansky who labored Tor III
teen years TO produce version in the Mandarin coll
loquia tongue. He then dwelt on tho many advan-
,ages Of the translation OF tho Bible laying great
stress on Its missionary value. as well as on IT'S high
moral influence, not forgetting tho cxalting effect that
its INSPIRED style Is known 10 havo on all languages
into which II IL rendered. He then concluded with
prayer for It's universal dissemination, well
as Tor Mi who may aid tho progress thereof
THE AMERICAN FEMALE GUARDIAN SOCIETY.
At the Rev. Mr. Congling's Presbyterian Church,
corner Of Madison avenue and Twenty ninth street,
the forty-thrd anniversary OF tho American Female
Guardian Society and Home Tor tho Fricndcss was
held last cvonng largo number OF young children
nlcd the forward part OF tho church ana sang
Der of hymns. Addresses made by the Row. Mr.
Conkiing, the Rev. W. T. Sabine and the Rev. c. W.
Calhoun, but tho chief interest centred In the ad
dress OF Mr.. Conkllng IN which was embodied tho
annual report OF the workings OF the society.
This report stated that during the past twelve
months the Home for the Fr,endIcss maintained by
THIS society has sheltered 400 adults and
COO children IL 42g persons have boon aided and tho
number OF applicants Tor various purposes, with
friends visiting tue institution, amounted TO 5,03j
each requiring personal attention. In the shelter
$50 women and children oil various natonaities were
received, many oil whom were provided with homes
IN the country In tho baby nursery 20 infants from
month to two years Of age were cared
for. Homes provided for 127 children
by adoption aud other Thoro were
80 deaths during the ycar, most OF which were occa-
soncd by dlseasc ana neglect before reception.
record Kept Of the parentagc reception and yearly
condition OF each child. There III industrial
schools In charge OF tho socisy IN which the names OF
GAG children OF the poorest class OF the city have
been registered. Among them ana the families they
represent upward Of 1910 garments besides quits
anu shoes, were discussed, more than 1000 visits
made by teachers and committees and
90, 900 ioaves OF bread disposed Of Tor the
daily lunch, AMI occasional loaf Tor the
destitute family. Three visitors were employed dur
Ing portion OF tho year. Tney reported 900 VISITS