The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-06-16

which was not above yard In diameter. Sob
eaqoently everything died round about: The
now about eight yards 10 dismeter, and hss
just reached . cherry tree planted twelve years
ago, which has died like the rest. The goose
berry bushes which were replanted on the spot
died In two years. The cause of the evil was
| evidently the lightning, but il 10 difncult TO
| exPIain why it's morbid setion continues ana
| steri!ity gains ground. The lightning posst-
bly, generated in the soil chemical compounds
| ioJ orious TO vegetation, or burned the humus.
A Congregational church in Connecticut, not
| far east of New Hoven, 10 suffering for the
want OF pastor. but is essesSdipgly s,sS difouls
reduced to $500. For over . year this church
has been engaged in the business of hearing
candidates, and has had great variety-prin-
men. not exactly pleasing nor yet displeasipg
the people, was invited to preach Q second
time, and them . third. After his third San
was probable that he would be asked again:
They told him they could not tell. "Then,"
said be. II goess will have to keep on candi-
dating somewhere else. Tnis 10 the seventy.
fret time have preached as q candidate, and
I'm getting used to it."
Two articles sent by the UniversAl Peace
Union OF PhilsdelphiA are obj ecte of much in
tereet at the Paris Expedition. They are .
swords. Mr.. Tnomss Atkinson. an Indiana
farmer, aud . member Of the Peece Society.
offered $40 for the first sword presented for the
purpose. and in reply Col: A. Grensel, Of Iowa
presented bis weapon. which had been worn by
him during the Mexican war and in that for
the Union. Mr.. Atkinson then offered sS for
its conversion into pruning hook. This vac
scoomplished by II. Clayton B. Rogers Of
Philsdelphia. Col. David B. Franklin Of Penn
sylvania, and several other officers offered their
ewords. and another was sent by the widow Of
an o6aeer, who did not wish to retain IN OBJ
ject that perpetuAlly reminded her of her hus.
bands death. Theee swords were all melted,
and converted into Q ploughshare. The two
objects are surrounded by numerous Peace
Society notices.
The Bishop of Manchester lately made q
speech at the Cooperative Congress in Eog-
land, recommending cooperative farming. He
gave an account of Q cooperative farm near
Assing;ou, which he visited in 1867, after it
had been in operation for thirty-eeven years.
II was started by John Gurdon, the Squire Of
the village, in 1880. He rented TO fifteen men
sixty acres ut % an acre per annum, and lent
them s. 600 for tools. stock. manure, etc. In
1867 they hsd long previously paid the loan
had increased their shareholders from fifteen
to twenty, and the amount OF hired land from
sixty to one hundred and thirty acree, for
which they paid 81 900 year. The farm was
managed by committee of four, chosen by
Bishop found the land in admirable order. and
the animals and poultry in excellent condition.
In 1854 Mr.. Gordon, finding the experiment
very successful. started thirty chosen men on o
second cooperative farm, each contributing
el7 so he also loaned them 81 0o0 They
began with seventy acres, but by 1867 were
hiring 2l2 acres at rent Of 81 CPS Q year, and
had $6, 900 worth of stock, be .ides having paid
od the $4,000 loan and supported their families.
Ibe Bishop thought that . class of co-opers.
tive agrioulturist would be Q most important
and stable element in the commonwealth, and
the Earl of Ripon, in subsequent speech, said
that he had also visited the farms and folly
agreed with him.