Year: 1867

RELIGIOUS MISCELLANY.


The "Ritual' question (so-ca1ledD has
been broached in Parliament,-the Earl
of SALISBURY in the House of Lords,
on the evening of the IIth, giving no.
tice of bill, looking to the repression
ofcertain abuses, which had crept into
the Church of England. He explained
that in bringing forward this measure,
with view of eliciting the views OF
the Archbishop of Canterbury on the
subject, as he tthe Earl had been given
to understand. that that Bishop had
been in consultation with the Bishops
on the subject.


The Archbishop of Canterbury said (:
1t Is quite true that the Right Rev,
Bench did feel the gravity of the mat
ter; the subject has been under our
serious consideration for some time
past, and we have come to the coucIu-
sion to bring in a bill. But am bound
to say, We hesitated whether that was
the course We ought to pursue. earn-
estly hope that in a week or ten days,
we may come to some definite CON


The bill was then read a first time.
It's most prominent provisions look to
the suppression Of what are known as
"sacrihcial vestments."


These proceedings impart additional
! interest to the progress of the ISM on
this side of the Atlantic A weekly re-
ligious paper states the communion
bread is now presented to the receiver
in the form of water (as if in imitation
of the Church of Rome, in an Episco-
pal Church, in Fourteenth street, while
in an uptown chapel, of similar pro-
clivities, it is said, arrangements are
making for the Introduction of the
confessional, in imitation of the practice
in vogue in some of the high-church
parishes in London.


The Unitarians of Boston and yicini-
ty, held a conference, few DAYS since,
in reference to the missionary works
OF the denomination. One of the best
speeches OF the occasion was by ak
Governor Andrew, who said, In the
course of his speech: ''It is only when
we succeed in rising to that degree of
generous devotion to the cause we have
at heart-only when we succeed in
rising to certain generous enthusiasm
which looks out of our own immediate
selves. that we do mostly prosper, grow
and thrive; and this is true of the reIig-
ious or moral prosperity of any man,
or of any condition of men. When
some one asked DIR. Clarkson, after he
had been engaged in his great work of
philanthropy for years, how il Was with
his soul, in the simplicity of lis heart,
he replied; My friend, had almost for
gotten / had one.' In the sweetness
and purity of that celestial flame OF
pity and love which held his soul SPELL
bound by the eternal truth and love. he
warmed his heart and inspired the en-
thusiasua of a great and noble nature
In the spirit of universal philanthropy
which united him with the humb blesT,
the poorest, the most destitute and
doBn-trodden OF the human race in the
bonds of q glowing brotherly love, he
had forgotten his SOUL because ii was
absorbed in the Infinite. When we
have forgotten ourselves, and remetn-
Der only God and Christ and humanity,
We are most thoroughly revived our
selves. For long years the fathers of
our faith have laDored in this WAY, and
it is a matter of rejoicing that of late
the denomination has awakened with
such unauimity in this glorious work
spread OF the glad news of a free saliva
ton among all mankind" = -Eil


The true reason why The societies of
men are so full of tumult and disorder,
so troublesome and tempestuous, is
because there is SO little of true religion
among men; so that, were it not for
some small reminder of piety and vir-A
tue which is yet left scattered among
mankind, human society would in a
short space disband and run into con-
fusioni the earth would become a great
Forest and mankind would become a
beast of prey, ,ione towards another.


Shortly after the departure of the la
mented Heber for India, he preached
sermon which contained this beautiful
Illustration:


'Life bears US on the stream of q
mighty river. Our boat at first glides
down the narrow channel, through the
playful u1uFm urings Of the little brook
and the bindings of its grassy borders.
Thetrees shed their blossoms over our
youthful heads, the flowers seem to
offer themselves, to the young hands;
we are happYin hope, and grasp eager-i
ly at the beauty around US, but the
stream hurries on, and still our hands
are empty. Our course in youth, and.
manhood is along a deeper and wider.
flood, among objects most striking and
IlASnluCSuI- w 2 are EnAu1ALeO al the
moving pictures and enjoyment and in
duStry around Us; We are excited at
some short-hved disappointment. The
stream bears US on and=our griefS are
alike LEFT behind rs. We may be ship
wrecked but we cannot be delayed
whether rough or smooth, the river
hastens on till ther of the ocean is
in our ears, and the tossing OF The
waves is beneath our feet, aud the
floods are lined around us and we take
our leave of tie earth and its inhabi-
tants, until our future voyage there is
no witness save the Infinite and Eter-
nal ~


Two angels keep watch upon each
mortaI-an angel on the right and an
angel on the left-tsking note of every
word and action. At the close Of each
day they fly up to Heaven with writ
ten report, and are replaced by two
similar ones the following day. Ac-
cording to Eastern tradition, every
good action is recorded ten times by
the angel on the right, and II the NOR
tai commit a SIM the same benevolent
spirit says to the angel on the LETT
''forbear for seven hours 10 record it
per-adyenTure he may repent and pray
and obtain forgiveness


We are passing toward final rest our
selves. Do not regret 1t If the eyes