New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-02-26
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

PAUL BERT AND ECCLESIASTICAL REFORM IN
FRhNCE.-The retirement from Office of NJ. Paul
Bert has not, it appears, cooled his ardOr for
ecclesiastical reform. Judging from letter
recently sent by HIM TO VI. Castaguary Di-
rector General OF Worship under him, it would
seem that he is resolved on pcrseveTing in his
anti-C Clerical campaign instead of returning to
the scientific pursuits in which he eycelled be-
fore he assumed q portfolio undei Gambetta.
According to the correspondent of The London
Times, "he takes credit in this communication
for submitting TO the Council of state a decree
which will restore peace IN the Protestant
Church of Paris-a peace disturbed for twenty
years through % decree which made Paris
single parish and thus gave the orthodox Sec
ton monopoly of the pulplts. lie also con-
graduates himself on having re%alned relns
long relaxed and eXacted obedience from the
Catholic Church to prescriptions justified IN the
rights of the State yet almost abandoned. lie
speaks of the pacfcatOn thus effected as ever
happening when the civil power takes a urn
stand of the cooperation offered by the
highest ecclesiastical dignitaries; of his con
hdence not III tins mise en- scene, but In leglsla-
ton and of his bill which he still intends to
lay before the Chamber. This bill deprives the
Church of privileges and immunltles conceded
by the weakness of successive Governments
viz, exemption from the CONSUMPTION, salaries
OF can0ns, burSarships in seminaries, bishops
residences, funeral monopoly, ETC., and 1t pro-
vides penalty for offensive paStOrals, attacks
on functOnarieS. absence without leave, and
illegal publication of bulls, etc. He claims for
this measure the support of all uphold ers OF
the Concordat, which must otherwise be to
great extent a dead letter, as also of the advO-
Gates of separation of Church and State, the
dangers of which step it will diminish. Unless
the measure passes NJ. Bert will himself be for
speedy separation, and he concludes 10y protest
ing his respect for liberty Of conscience, even
in the alterations least justified by reason"
MORMONIsM IN NEw-HAMPsmRE.--A writer
in The COngregdtiOndtist recalls memories OF
the attempt of MOrmOns to gain permanent
fOOthOld in New Hampshire. Jhe mother OF
Joseph Smith was n native OF the town OF Oil
sum in that State. Naturally, therefore, efforts
were early made by the "ap0stles to convert
their relatives there. Accordingly Smith and
some of his associates labored there Tor some
time, but without success But in 1871 certain
elders from abroad held protracted meet
ing in town, the result of which was a small
band of converts from this and surrounding
towns who were organized INTO branch of
the Church of Latter Day Saints. This had an
existence of few years, with meetings held III
various places. and then had to pass through
the fire of internal diSscnsOnS over the matter
of discipline. I'm lS49 new branch was
formed, one of the elders of the parent church
coming here for the purpose. 1t was made up
largely of those who mad been excluded from
the original branch. In 1919 this was reOrganlZed
by one Of the elders from Utah. But these
Latter Day Saints never have been very active
or harmonious, and so never have gained many
TO their belief. However, for forty years, at
times, they have contrivcd to act as thorn III
the flesh to the little Congregational church III
the place OF the original members, some went
10 Utah, u part perishlng on the way, aud some
became aposlates, SO that now only a very lew
open believers are known to remain: One of
these was ordained to the el,lershIp, in Peter
bOro', \. H., in 1914, by Brigham Young and
0rson Pratt, and TO the high priesthood in
Philadelphia, in 1856, by John Taylor and n.
II. Felt.
MUNKACzY's "CHRIsT BEFORE PmATE."-Of
this remarkable picture, which Is now being
admired by thousands OF people throughout
Europe The LoadOn Times says: Everybody
admired the grandeur OF its conception, the
grouping, aud its mastery color, drawing and
perspective. Only one reproach was brought
against it. This was a pretty general one.
The eXpreSsi of the features OF the CHRIST
was thought too human. 1t was a face OF
ideal beauty and striking aScctcism, but 1t
WIS thought that the naughty look and the
bitter contempt lurking about the mouth anu
the severity OF the brow did not harmonic
with the infinite charity of the Saviour even IN
the midst of His fer0cious Prosecutors. with
courage and cOnscientiousneSs which do INN
honor, Munkaczy went to work again. lie had
conceived Christ meeting his adVersarIeS by
proud philOSOphc diSdain. He wished to rep
resent "a law-giVeT confident in the eternity of
his work, and deSpsing those who think they
can destroy il bV DESTROYING Its author Public
criticism showed him that even the modern
mind could not understand Il Christ without the
divine charity and Infinite pity which have
been handed down rs tradition through cen
turtles. MunkacZy closed the room where his
picture was on view. He took up his brush
again, and the head of his Christ is now all that
the most piOus believers in the divine mission
of our Saviour can desire. It remains the ideal
of human beauty, but its brow is gentle and
humble the eye Is full OF pity ana sorrow ana
the mouth seems to be breathing pardon and
prayer. The work has become perfect and
chef dGuUre."
The NOnc0mfoymist and English Independent
has published q supplement giving an analysis
and summary tables oil the statistics relating
to the attendance at public worship in more
than seventy cities boroughs and districts in
England and Wales which have appeared III
the course of the last four months IN various
local newspapers From these summaries the
conclusions are arrived at: The total
DOpulatIOn Of the places specified Is 3,629,2OO
the total religious accommodation Is
| PIP, 500 the total attendanccS, l,302, l20; |
the estimated number of separate wOrsllppcrS, |
l ,O62, 52l, or 30 per cent OF the population;
The proportion of wOrshppers who attended !
the services Of the Established Church was |
81. SO per cent rs against 6l31 per cent of |
other religious bodies. The only places where |
the Established Church has a majority OF w0r-
shippers over all other religious bodies are
Portsmouth, GoSport Bath Ipswich ana
Gloucester. The WesleyanS number l2.J per
cent of the total worShippcrs; other Metho-
dist bodies, 6l.34; Congregationalist 9.23
Baptists, S.08 Roman Catholics, G.G7: the
Salvation Army, BIS; PresbytcIian,, l.6l
various sects, 7.21. In about 100 small towns
and villages, with total population of
iS5. 23G, The total attendanccs were in the
proportion of ~ per cent Church of England,
and SIS per cent for all other religious bodies.