The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-11
The Anniversaries.

Tho anniversary meetings Of several Of
the leading religious and benevolent organ
isatlons Of the country were commenced on
Sunday evening last by the American Homo
Missionary Society at the broadway Taber-
naclo, and they will be closed this evening
at the same place by the American Board Of
Foreign Missions. The proceedings Of these
dozen or fifteen societies afford to their sup
porters and their opponents materials for
reelection and comment, while they are not
unworthy OF the serious attention OF that
large body Of people who usually bestow on
subjects OF this kind mere passing glance
It appears from the annual reports OF
these organizations that their operations In
tho past year have been OF the usual char
acter, though perhaps on rather an ex-
tended scale. They seem generally TO be
out of debt, or only slightly involved, while
tho receipts into their treasures are. with
few exceptions, little In excess Of those OF
the previous year This, however, Is q de-
ceptive standard whereby TO measure their
financial achievements, for In comparison
with the growth OF the country in popula-
ton and wealth during the mean time, tho
contributions 10 their funds are far below
what they were forty years ago.
The slight interest which these meetings
have excited here and hereabouts is a note
worthy feature of the week. Except on two
or three occasions, the Tabernacle has not
been moro than half filed. The largest
gatherings were on Tuesday, when q thou
sand rosy-checked Sunday school children
lifted their voices in song and on Friday
evening, after it had been widely advertised
that TALMAGE was TO address the American
Temperance Union, and that his Brooklyn
admirers would come over TO greet him.
Nobody was disappointed. As all hearts
were elevated on Tuesday by tho melody OF
the young nnocents, so on Friday packed
audience sent up n shout when the lank
figure of the escaped, yet uncleansed, Pres
bytcr appeared on the platform.
The small attendance at the meetings
might be partly due to the fact that the dis
tinguished clergymen OF this city and
Brooklyn were conspicuous by their alb
sencc. II shepherds on high salaries stayed
away, the sheep who get no pay would
naturally excuse themselves from attend
hnce. But the main reason was that the
oratorical feast TO which the people were
invited was not very rich OF savory. Tho
managers OF the societies did not seem to
know that the two million OF souls that
dwell within sound Of Trinity's chimes are
accustomed in the course Of year to listen
TO n great deal of public speaking Of the
most interesting description. The majority
OF our regular clergy, both Protestant and
Catholic, are exceptionally able and elo-
quent The displays at our bar are models
for the forum in the other chief cities Of the
Onion. Our large political meetings are
often addressed by the most distinguished
statesmen in the country. No lecturer is
listened TO here unless he is master Of his
theme. and Of the most attractive mode Of
presenting 1t.
Those who shape these anniversary meet
ings should know that people accustomed
TO such exhibitions Of oratory do not like TO
be bored by prosy speakers from rural dis
tricts even though Princeton or Yale made
them Doctors Of Divinity ever so long ago.
Nor can returned missionaries interest them
by faint. dull sketches OF events in Turkey
which the daily newspapers OF the city had
printed in living colors months before.