The Somerset reporter., 1885-10-28
The Boston Letter,
llIE AMERICAN HAND OF MIssioNs.-A DIS
GRACEFUL AFFAIR. -BEfCilERs ORA
TfuN. THE STATE ELECTION.
October 9th. 1852.


TIoN. THE STATE ELECTION.
October o7th, 1850.
The seNenty-hfth anniversary of the
American Board of Commissioners of
Foreign Missions, the Congregational or
ranization, was held here last week and
was undoubtedly the largest and most inn
nortant of its annual meetings. fremont
Temple .Musicllall and Park Street Church
cs were crowded sometimes to overflow
ing nj all the sessions The number of visit
ors WAS thousandS--ihe official visitors
names filled seventeen columns OF Inc
Journal There WAS good deal OF en-
thusiasm at some of the meetings show
ing that the deep interest in missions
continues The ablest preacher present
was the Rev. DIR. Storrs of brooklyn. lie
is undoubtedly the ahlcst man in the Con-
greyationol pulpit to-day and also n man
of rare rood sense rs will be judged by
the Reporter readers when II is stated
that he takes no stock in Beecher. There
is a great deal of tlippant talk to the Ell
feet that the money paid for missions Is
largely wasted Every reader has heard
the old story of the man who gave ten
cents To the foreign mission cause ana
then dollar 10 take it where 1t would
benefit the missionary This is cheap
nonsense. No organization can be more
careful of their money. 1t goes to the
cause. True. little progress is made. The
samples" Of their work are not numer-
Gus. still the teaching must have an in
huence 10 educate and enlighten. And
vet when one makes study of heather
like the Chinaman, he cannot see much use
in acting upon the assumption that he
has an original soul of his own. FOR
thousands of years the race has been
moulded to century-old customs original
ity being ignored He is mere machine
and can initiate no better than machine.
| doubt If he has much of soul to save.
The prospect with full grown original
heather would seem to be better.
The disgraceful wrangle in the Bow
dom Square Baptist church l. doing the
cause of religion more detrimcnt than
score of Ingersolls could inict. The
pastor. a fippant, feather-headed little
wretch carries the rabblc with him. Last
spring an attempt was made to get nm
out of the church by the better element,
but the weak headed had the most votes,
That did not make much of stir but
after he had been detected In immoral
practices by the police, the church has
been crowded with vulgar throng every
time ii has been opened. just now he Is
being used rs witness of one of MS
deacons to get divorce from his wife
who has been very intimate with Downs
the pastor. The better element OF the
church are again trying to get rid OF HIN
but the probability is that he will continue
TO preach since there is no power whlcl
can prevent it. This is the weakness ol
congregational or democratic form oil
church government. II 1t was Metho
dist, an Episcopal or Il Catholic churcl
the church authorities could prevent {
disreputable man from preaching on III
church and to charge of the denomina
ton. The Baptist denomination feel th'
disgrace of Downs course very keenly
but what can they do? Fortunately sucl
creatures as this weak and brazcn pastor
are very, very-rare in the pulpit.
-
Beechcr's Grafton on General Gran
shows that he yet retains his intellectual
yigor In spite Of years and the exciting
scenes and episodes Of his life. Some
passages are full of power and as vigor
Gus and terse English as can be found
The poem, by Boston lady, contained
but nine stanzas but several of them art
full of the poetic spirit. Here are two OF
| Them
| True metal he to his bright swords tip;
| Potent and few the words of his lip.
Cajolcr of nome austcre yet tender;
Ofright, avcngcr; of wrong, amender;
Secure from fever Of rlvalship
| v it'll the lions front, and his football mild,
| Unangered, mistaken, and unbeguiled;
From camps to the heavy trust of a nation;
| Thro' censure, and triumph, and dcsolation,
To pardon, and peace, and the sleep OF Il child
Our State election takes placement week
There is very little interest and there vii
be a light vote. In the cities the registration
| is much below that of last year. Governor
Robinson who is one of the first men IL