New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-31
IN THE CHURCH PORCH.
NOTES OF CHRISTIAN THOUGHT AND WORK


appealing to the nd-heared people Of tho North for
financial assistance in building industrial school
for colored people at Lynohburg Va. He should re-
celye generous response: for the work in which he
is engaged is most deserving Of recognition and sup.
port Moreover, DR., jaeger is slngnlariy wellhtted
for this work. which he has bean prosecuting FOR many
years. He has letters OF commendation not only
from the most prominent cergymen Of his own church.
Dut some of the bestknown men in the country M
cludng ex.Presdent Cleveland and President Harri-
son. In speaking Of bis proposed school DR.. Jaeger
says while teaching practical farming and suitable
trades, the moral effects OF systematic work
made easy by the comfort Of faith in the Invisible VIII
GO one chief end. Tho formation of true Christian
character is the main object IN view. A large and
separate farm will be procured for boys when they
reach the proper age for separation but the training
Of girls for tho publication and elevation OF the sphere
Of home win receive most particular attentions Dr..
Jaeger hopes to raise $4,000, which Win suffice TO
start the school t
A @handsome young Christian preacher has been
shocking some of his parishloners In Newton, Mass,
by INDUCING in the eddy waltz. believe in allow
ing to the clergy the largest liberty in such matters
but must say l sympathize with the shocked
parishloners In this To speak Of nothing else,
a clergyman who dances shows q painful lack Of
dignity. Few Of US, imagine would like to ask
dancing clergyman to pray at the bedside OF dying
at any rate have nothing 20 say hero against IL
But its strongest advocates will not maintain that 1t
belongs TO the higher life, either intellectual or
spiritual It is purely animal enjoyment which
DO relshed keenly by the savage IS tho civilized
man. 1t is therefore, entirely out Of keeping with
the presumed ideals of clergyman. Liberty Of ac-
ton is high and holy thing of course but in the
case of clergyman such liberty should not always
be exercised All things may be lawful for him. but
al all mt
The Roman Catholic Church Of the Paulist Fathers,
on the corner OF Fifty and Ninth-ave. has
done much TO encourage congregational singing.
The excellence Of the singing IN this church has been
largely due TO the zeal and musical ability Of the
Rev. Alfred Young, who has himself composed hymn
music Of great merit. He Is an enthusiast on the
subject Of Gregorian music, Of which IT may be said
that those who Like IL like It very much; and those
who want TO hear this ancient plAn.song In Its per-
lection can do so by attending . service at this
church During this present Lent, Father Young Is
trying the bold experiment Of having no choir at all
at tho Sunday Wednesday and Friday evening services
All the singing Is done by the congregation, which also
Joins in the recitation of certain prayers IN English
which are used Tho congregational character OF these
services Is brought out stn more distinctly by the
officiating priest conducting them from the pulpit
Instead Of from the altar 60 successful have they
been that they win be continued permanently. The
Immense church is packed, and Ave hundred moro
movable chairs are about TO be provided The
success Of these popular services at St. Paups Will
doubtless lead to their introduction in other Roman
Catholic churches
Tho Paulst Fathers arc nearly AL converts from
Professionalism. They arc men Of wide culture In
lines outside Of the theology Of their adopted church
That they arc enthusiastic in their work goes without
saying for tho zoal OF converts Is proverblal Tho
fhoIIc bukc al a
deal Of wisdom in utilizing the services Of It's con-
Terts. II always recognizes their ability, and often
raises thcm 10 the highest Offices IN its gift. It made
Newman and Manning cardinals, and In this country
Il made Bailey archbishop and Preston monsisnor.
The Order Of the Pauiist Fathers expressly created
for tho priests of whom am speaking, and II seems
destined 10 do an important work for the Church
Am always shocked when I hear people who
presumably believe in tho existence Of hell and the
devil. cracking Jokes about these subjects. Even
the most orthodox clerymen arc frequently found
among those who see something amusing 10 these
two tremendous facts II they DO facts. To me this
is the most convincing evidence that many Christians
who sincerely think that they believe in
literal physical hell and . veHtabIe personal
devil really believe nothing OF tho kind They have
accepted formula OF words about hern' without
realizing their meaning. Hence their hppancy
would say 10 all, clergmen especially, VINO arc
tempted TO tell q good story In which the devil
figures. or ono in which there sldo-spting al
nsious to the birthstone of hell resist the temptation
II Won believe in these things such stories ara grossly
Irrnyercnt And even II you do not believe In thon,
a IA exceedingly bed taste 10 cast ndcule on them.
read in Boston paper the other day that when
GOOD old bishop Easburn rector Of Trinity Church
10 that city no had three four assistants, whom he
never allowed to take any part In the social life OF
NJ from
character who believed thoroughly In social caste, and
he didn't want to meet a clergyman who ranked
below him professionally IN the exclusive social circles
which he adorned. This happened long time ago.
but an almost similar state OF affairs exists to-day
in the denominations where assistants arc employed
There are assistants IN this city who never by any
possibility get chance 10 preach In tho parish church
II they preach at an II Is I'm some mission. This Is
done on the theory that the regular church members
are only anxious hear the chief pastor and that
anything is good enough for tho mission people.
Socially TOO the assistant docs not faro as wen as
the pastor In innumerabla little ways no Il mado TO
feel that he occupies inferior position. Sometimes
even the pastor holds him at arms length and treats
him with little more consideration than he would
treat an upper servant All this may DO proper
enough from a worldly point of view: but 1t IL wholly
contrary to the spirit Of Christ
The Rev. Dr. Dorchester, OF Boston, who IL one OF
the authorities ecclesiastical statistics IN this
country, estimates the present population Of the
United States at about sixty millions The number OF
evangelical Protestant churches he estimates at
1874 with 80 e46 ordained ministers, and Il, 1872,
OOl members In full communion.
Tho late Rev. Or. Nathaniel Burton, OF HarnoVd,
Conn, was q very unconventional man. Some years
ago no heard great many complaints about the length
OF his prayers To sottlo the matter he employed
stenographer one Sunday TO take down HIS prayer
On reading II over no overwhelmed with astonish
nent at its length, and determined TO shorten It there
after Speaking Of the matter sfterward, he said
II seemed sort OF sacrllego TO me when people be-
gan 10 animadvert the length Of my prayers but
.hey kept on all the same tnever harshly though IN
single nstanoel, and by and by went over to their
side, and have had comfortable amount Of peace
ever snee.p
Dr. Burton passonately loved fine horse. One
sunday after the morning service, his attention was
called TO splendid horse that was standing In mont