Page images
PDF
EPUB

many miracles related in the Scripture quite unworthy of God. * * * * That to behold in Christ more than man is absurd; and that the deceit of Priests alone has attributed to him divinity. The spirit of the nineteenth century, however, must destroy this cheat."

In confirmation of the above we find a report was current at Vienna on the 12th, that the Austrian Government had resolved upon energetic measures against the propagation of the new religion established by this Abbé, but no particular fact is mentioned to corroborate the report.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

From this it appears, that the whole number of regular communicants is about one-fifth of the population of the United States. If we put down the cost of erecting all these churches at between 5,000 and 10,000 dollars each, the gross amount paid

out for that purpose will be 305,555,000. The gross amount of money expended in religious worship will then appear to be as follows:

DOLLARS.

Salaries of 32,563 ministers, at 500 dollars each 16,281,500 Interest, at six per cent., on the cost of the

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

Thus we see, that the religious worship of one-fifth part of the population of this country costs annually the immense sum of 34,614,800 dollars, being a greater amount than is required for the expenses of the Government in all its branches, to which may be added several millions more, paid in supporting and holding missions abroad. We understand, that the progress of the Catholics within the last ten years has been very rapid, and greater in proportion than the Protestants. In 1834, their houses of worship numbered 272, while in 1845 the number increased to 675, with over 1,000,000 communicants. The Catholics are generally confined to the cities and small towns; the Baptists are scattered principally over the west and south-west; and the Episcopalians are strongest at the east.-New York Herald.

TEMPERANCE TEA PARTY.

The half-yearly Tea Meeting of the Taunton Temperance Society took place on Friday, the 23d Jan., in the Temperance Hall. The audience, which numbered upwards of two hundred, was one of the most respectable we have ever seen at these Teetotal soirées, and consisted of persons of every religious denomination. Amongst those present we observed the Rev. R. M. Montgomery, B.A., Rev. J. Fanning, W. Beadon, Esq., Capt. Hornbrook, Rev. Mr. Holman, and Messrs. Brannan, Cook, Lovell, S. Curry, T. Horsey, &c.

The room was gaily decorated with evergreens, laurel, &c. A chastely-executed painting by a lady, which represented, in contrast, the life of a Drunkard and that of a Teetotaller, received, and well merited, the encomiums of all who had the opportunity of viewing it.

On the motion of Mr. BRANNAN, the Rev. Mr. FANNING, Catholic Priest, was called to the chair-a position which he sustained with great credit to himself and satisfaction to the meeting.

The CHAIRMAN, in opening the meeting, said if ever in the course of his life he felt a moment of unalloyed pleasure, it was in meeting that assembly. The cause which they had assembled to promote was one of pure humanity; its principles could enter into no selfish feeling-could be the slaves of no unworthy interest. (Applause.) At this festive season of the year, when kind wishes and kind words were so frequently uttered, he would not omit wishing those before him many happy returns of the

day, and might each return find them increasing in happiness, increasing in good works, and increasing in the promotion of just and righteous principles. (Much applause.)

The Rev. Mr. MONTGOMERY was received with general manifestations of pleasure; when the applause had subsided, he said, he should have been glad if those who had not lately spoken at their meetings had supplied his place that evening; yet he must be allowed to say that he felt a pleasure in supporting a cause which not only did good to themselves, but to others. The purpose for which they had assembled that evening was (to use an expression in one of their Teetotal hymns) "for the purpose of doing good." And could there be a more profitable employment -one invested with higher motives and virtuous principles than this? They were met that evening to root up a moral evil, which clung to their social system, and which, like the Upas tree, spread its wide branches over the land, desolating and destroying human happiness, and investing God's creatures with untold misery and crime. (Hear, hear.) After some further remarks the speaker said, "Intemperance leads to crime; it gives scope to every evil desire, it destroys every moral principle: it breaks down the intellect, and turns the man upon society, hardened in every vice, deaf to all remonstrance, careless of all consequences." If they looked at passing events, how often did they read of the revengeful feelings excited by drunkenness, and how Englishmen, under the maddening influence of drink, had, like the Italian or Spaniard, stabbed and murdered when intoxicated. After reading the sentiments of the late Lord Bacon, Sir Matthew Hale, the present Mr. Baron Alderson, Mr. Justice Coleridge, and Mr. Poynder, a gentlemen who had spent many years in India-and all of whom had described the crime of drunkenness as productive of every misery and the social bane of existence-Mr. Montgomery remarked, that the drinking evils of this country could be put an end to, if the people would be but in earnest. Already the movements which the society were putting forward were encouraged by many of those who were not enrolled in their ranks. (Applause.) As intelligence advanced, the working man especially would see that intoxicating drinks took a sum from his earnings, more than he could spare. If he spent 4d. a-day in beer, that would amount at the end of the year to £6 1s. 8d., and who would deny that the money could not be applied to better uses? (Applause) The following articles of clothing could be purchased from the mere abandonment of this needless liquor :

LOSS.

One quart of beer a-day, at 4d. a quart, comes
in a year to

£ s. d.

[ocr errors]

6 1 8

[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

Intemperance led a man to the Union Workhouse, and when he got there, who would help him out? If they looked into the habitations of the destitute, (and their worthy friend, Mr. Cook, could bear him out), they would find that Intemperance had been at work. The vast sums which were spent in intoxicating liquors were enormous. In 1834, in the large manufacturing town of Sheffield, nearly £40,000 was spent alone in beer. The number of houses open for the sale of beer that year was 749, and how many shops for the sale of necessary articles of food did they think were then open?-759- - a difference of 10 only. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Allison, a gentleman of high standing, and who had written on the subject of the Poor-law, stated in reference to Glasgow, a few years since, that he had made a careful calculation, and the amount spent in that city in the sale of liquor during the year, to which he referred, was about one million two hundred thousand pounds, of which one million was spent by the working men alone. (Hear, hear.) With what grace could the working men demand the removal of taxation, when they, instead of making the best use of their wages, were thus impoverishing themselves? Mr. Montgomery then referred to the manufacturing town of Kidderminster, and remarked that there, the evils of Intemperance were openly seen amongst the artisans ; he had been informed by a friend residing in that town that many of the workmen, instead of spending the week in profitable labour, would work only three days, for which, if clever, they might earn from £2 to £3 each, the remainder of the week, including Sunday, being spent in the public house. Mr. Kenrick, an extensive manufacturer at Varteg, and also a Teetotaller, had

taken the pains to inquire into the state of things in that town, and he found, on close inquiry, that out of a population of 17,000 there were 1,962 drunkards. It cost this country every year no less a sum than fifty millions per annum for intoxicating liquors. What was the interest of the national debt, compared to this? (Hear.) Poor-rates were high, and they were so, simply because of the expenses entailed by drunkenness. A gentleman, to whom he (Mr. M.) was speaking the other day, had remarked, in reference to a Benefit Club, that he was anxious to make it available to working men, because he knew that the temperate habits inculcated in the rules of the society, would reduce the amount of the poor-rates very considerably. He (the speaker) would be glad to know the amount of taxation which could be reduced, if our population were a sober one. (Hear, hear.) Referring to the condition of Ireland, he proved, by well-attested facts and figures, that the temperance reformation in that country had lessened crime, and broken down in many instances the vindictive feelings of rival factions. Mr. Montgomery concluded his address as follows:-The temperance reformation is one which is throwing its healing influences upon society; it is one which is merging mankind into the circle of one generous and holy feeling; it is assisting the regeneration of the human race in its onward struggles; it is emancipating the slave of unholy indulgence from his thraldom, and pointing to nobler objects, and while assisting the moral elevation of the human being, the spiritual is not lost sight of. The work is one for which many ardent minds are toiling the work is one which Providence has blessed, and which is everywhere reaping abundant fruit. (Great applause.)

The CHAIRMAN said the lady whose talent had been shown in the painting hung behind him, had also favoured them with some temperance verses, which he was sure all would be pleased to hear sung. He was glad to find that two such noble arts had been enlisted in the service of the Taunton Temperance Society. (Applause.)

The piece was excellently sung by Messrs. Brannan, Hancock, and Mosse.

Mr. Montgomery then left the hall.

The CHAIRMAN said, a gentleman now having taken his departure (Mr. Montgomery), he felt he could betray the little secret to which he had adverted. The beautiful painting and the exquisite verses were the production of Mrs. Montgomery. (Applause.) He felt grateful, as he was sure all did, for her kindness, and he was confident it would not be asking too much if he asked the meeting to give that lady a vote of thanks. (A voice, "and three cheers, too.") Well, they might wind up with that, but let them first set the other a-going.

The vote was warmly responded to, and the cheers were given with a strong ebullition of feeling.

A piece of music was then sung, after which

The CHAIRMAN said the business of the meeting was about to conclude; he thanked those present for the order and good feel

« PreviousContinue »