The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1885-05-27
CORRESPOND NCE.
Letter from New York.
Rome not Triumphant.
MAY 22d, 1885.

MeSSrS. EoltorS,-More than once In
my correspondence l have referred to the
Freedom of Worship Bill, that eminently
Jesuitical measure, which has for its real
object the setting up of the Romish Mass
in non-sectarian asylums and reformato-
ries In the State of New York. With
great relief write that the measure was
not passed by the lower chamber of the
Legislature at Albany. Public opinion
had sufficient effect upon the Legislators
to deter them from passing it. Many Of
our representatives were evidently anx-
ious not to be compelled to put them
selves upon final record, and so they
managed to prevent the bill from coming
up for third reading. That this is the
last of the movement on the part of the
Romanists is not to be believed. They
will maneuvre and manipulate in ses-
sions to come, but if the same watchful-
ness and energy be shown in the future
by Protestants it is to be hoped that che
measure may not only not pass, but be
voted upon and voted against.
Brooklyn Matters
The Brooklyn Elevated railroad is
running, and if always as much used as
it has been during the first week of its
existence, it will pay its promoters hand
somely. In my last letter l spoke of an
other measure then in a state of suspense.
1t was bill for the reorganization of the
control of the East River Bridge (making
the Mayors and Controllers of New York
and Brooklyn the Board of Trustees and
arranging for an extension of the bridge
by elevated railroad to City Hall The
section of the bill relating to the extern
sion was stricken out, and the bill as thus
amended was passed by the Legislature.
To show the slip.shod way in which much
of their work Is done, may say that the
bill as passed makes several vital refer
ences to the section stricken out, so that
it is just doubtful, at this moment, whetb-
er the Governor of the State will sign it.
If religious newspapers were conducted
after the same methods as is much of our
legislative business, there would hardly
be a successful religious newspaper in the
country. There is a sad lack of thorough
ness in those to whom the peoples inter-
ests are committed.
The Bible Society.
A very different system prevails in our
large religious and charitable societies.
Some of these have been holding their
annual meetings since l wrote you. AS
usual the reports show a good years
work done, and that with incomes that
are by no means gigantic. Great iudg.
ment must be exercised all the way
through the year to ensure so much work
as is accomplished with the means pro-
vided. The American Bible Society hes
had its sixty-ninth anniversary. Only
on Wednesday its somewhat recently
elected President, the Hon. F. T. Fre-
linghuysen, ex-Secretary Of State, passed
away after several weeks illness. The
Society, during last year, received nearly
six hundred thousand dollars, but that
includes receipts for Bibles sold. The
Bibles, Testaments, and portions of Scrip
ture circulated during the sixty.nine
years of the Sooiety's existence have ag-
gregated 45,440,2O6 The report says
" 1t is now two years and a half since
this Society and it's auxiliaries entered
upon the Fourth Re-supply Of the United
States with the Scriptures. In that brief
period the following has been accom-
plished:
Families visited, 3.O73. .355
Families found without the Scriptures, 394 1856
Destitute families supplied 275177|
Destitute individuals supplied, 163, $50
During the past year the Society expend-
ed Sl42, 292 upon the work Of translating,