lian. It occupied more than an hour, and consisted chiefly in exclamation, exhortation, addresses to the virgin Mary, &c. During this exercise a large cross with an image of our Saviour upon it, was brought out by a priest dressed in white, on each side of whom was a boy dressed also in white, each carrying a large lighted candle. After the preacher had addressed this image awhile, it was carried into the pulpit, when he held it up to the people, and afterwards kissed its feet, and set it down again. After the sermon a long procession was formed in the yard, which marched around and entered the front of the church. Each individual carried a candle burning in his hand, and every now and then came one completely covered with a kind of sack, made of dark cloth, with two holes in front for the eyes, and bearing a cross with an image upon it, or a picture of some scene connected with the crucifixion. In the rear were the priests, dressed in long flowing robes of white, ornamented with gold. Six of them bore a crimson canopy of damask silk, with a rich fringe and tassels, upon as many gilded poles, and under this, another priest, more richly dressed than the rest. carried the host, in a golden ark covered with fine green gauze. Before the host another priest carried a silver censer of burning incense. As they passed trough the crowd, every body uncovered his head and kneeled, an act of homage to the host, which they worship as God. Thus they marched into the church. After a few more ceremonies the people dispersed. As I witnessed these exhibitions I could not avoid asking myself, Is this the religion of the Bible-the simplicity of the Gospel? Does the Lord Jesus Christ prescribe these unmeaning ceremonies-these puppet shows to be exhibited in his church? Surely it is all mockery in the sight of God! And those who thus delude the people, substituting, for the simple and intelligible terms of reconciliation which the Bible proposes, this senseless parade and mummery; how awful must be their account! Truly they are “blind guides" which "neither enter the kingdom of heaven themselves, nor suffer those that are entering to go in." The day following these ceremonies, the priests visited the different Catholic houses and sprinkled them with holy water, for which they received pay from the deceived people. It is quite a harvest day with them. One of them came into a merchant's counting room, where we happened to be at the time, and sprinkled his water about, bearing an instrument for this purpose in one hand, and a bowl for money in the other.----Missionary Her. Persecution at Jamaica. The opposition to Missions in this island still continues with unabated energy The newspapers teem with the most malignant aspersions against the Missionaries and their followers, many of whom are slaves. One of the slaves, a member of the Baptist church, was recently flogged in public with a cart-whip and afterwards worked in chains, simply, and for nothing else, but for praying to his God in public worship! and that too after his owner had given his consent! PARENT DOMESTIC MISSIONARY AND EDUCATION SOCIETY OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN SYNOD OF MARYLAND. `On Monday evening October 18th, this society held its second annual meeting, at Taneytown, Frederick County, Maryland. We feel assured, that not only Lutherans, but all disciples of Jesus, will read the proceedings with deep interest. After singing a hymn, and prayer, the Rev. Dr. Kurtz, Vice President, in the chair the following report was read. Second Annual Report of the Missionary and Education Society of the Synod of Maryland. IN presenting the report of the operations of the Society during the past year, your managers would express their gratitude to the Great Head of the church, for his manifest blessing upon their highly responsible labours: He has put it into the hearts of Christian brethren to come up to their help, and excited a degree of interest in the objects of the Society, which never before existed. We would ascribe the success of the past year to his gracious blessing, and pray that he may continue to favour us with the smiles of his countenance. We are engaged in an important and interesting work: that of supplying destitute portions of our venerated Zion with faithful and well instructed Ministers; and we desire to feel all its responsibility, that we may be roused to more active exertion and more ardent pray er. At the last annual meeting we reported that four young men had been received as beneficiaries, and regularly received the authorized allowance. Since that, two others, one from Maryland, the other from Pennsylvania, have been accepted, upon the recommendation of individuals, who were well acquainted with their characters for piety and talents. All these beloved young brethren, three of whom are in the Seminary, and three pursuing preparatory studies in the Gymnasium, are advancing rapidly in their studies, and maintaining a Christian walk and conversation. They promise well for the church, and hereafter the Society may congratulate itself that God so highly distinguished it as, to place the theological rearing of such youth into its hands. * We cannot report the formation of any new Auxiliaries during the past year, but we have the pleasure to mention the renewed zeal and efficiency of some which before existed, besides the laudable activity of some congregations which collected money, without being organ *Since this was written, two of our beneficiaries have been taken under the patronage of that most noble institution, The American Education Society, so that we have, at present, only four in our especial care. ized into a society. We sincerely hope that every year they will increase their benevolent efforts, and enlarge their donations to so good a cause. This is, perhaps, the best plan in some districts, that could be adopted. Let the Clergyman, if he pleases, in connexion with his council, take the whole management into their own hands. All we desire is, union, and then the work will be done. Whilst we rejoice that some congregations during the year, have generously stepped forward to our relief, for the first time, we have still to lament that many, as yet, have done nothing, to whom the Lord has liberally dealt out his favours, and from whom he expects something in return. In these days of activity in behalf of the church, no congregation can be guiltless, which does not come up to the help of the Lord; but we trust, that after the subject has been fairly presented to them, they will come to the relief of our imploring Zion. We cannot but congratulate ourselves upon the harmony of sentiment and feeling that exists among the members of this Synod on this subject. The Society has met with no opposition. Every brother feels its importance and we all lament that we can do no more in its behalf. Brethren let us bless God that peace reigns among us, and that united as we are in promoting the glory of God, in the furtherance of the church, let brotherly love continue.-Union is strength, and God will bless the undivided efforts of Ministers to advance his reign.-Let us proceed in our responsible labour,-and with exultation we may exclaim: "The time to favour Zion has come, for thy servants take pleasure in her stones and favour the dust thereof." The Treasurer's report will exhibit the state of the funds, and you will rejoice in perceiving that much more was received and expended during the last, than the preceding year. But you will also learn that the funds are now nearly exhausted. We had enough to meet the demands of the last year, but we have very little with which to commence the operations of the coming year. Some of our beneficiaries will soon want their quarterly allowance, which has never heretofore been denied for want of funds, but how will we meet them now? Shall we dismiss them from their studies, send them home, and thus deprive the church of several very promising Ministers ?We dare not do this-the frown of God will be upon us if we do.We hope that the interesting exercises, the impressive addresses, and the spirited resolutions of the last annual meeting have not yet been forgotten, but that every member of the Society will exert himself more actively than ever in this noble cause. We would most earnestly recommend the appointment of a Missionary to travel through the bounds of our Synod, to awaken the people upon the subject of our Education and Missionary Society. This is the most effectual plan that we could devise, and we hope that it will be carried into effect. We profess deep attachment to our church.-We venerate her ancient institutions, we admire the simplicity of her worship, we revere the orthodoxy of her doctrines, we honor the galaxy of illustrious names, which have been her defence and her glory, O then let us evince the sincerity of our devotedness to her interests, by labouring hard in her extension and perpetuity, through the instrumentality of the Missionary and Education Society. DR. Lewis Medtart in Account with the Missionary and Education 27. Auxiliary Society of Martinsburg Va. Dec. 12. Auxiliary Society of Winchester, Va. by Miss 14. Auxiliary Society of Fredericktown, Md. 17 Juv. Auxiliary Society of Fredericktown, Md. • 1830, Jan. 22. From an unknown individual at Boonsbo rough, Md. Several friends at do by the hands of Mr. June July 26. Mrs. Eliza H. Morris Treasurer of the La- March 9. Auxiliary Society of Fredericktown Miss 28. Juv. Auxiliary Society of Fredericktown 15. Auxiliary Society of Fredericktown, Miss R. 13. Juv. Auxiliary Society of Fredericktown, 145.06 19.00 13.00 7.50 1.00 50.00 22. Ladies of the Lutheran Church of Taney- 340.00 26. From the Rev. Michael Wachter, collec- October 1. From the Rev. J. N. Hoffman, by the hands Balance in the Treasury do. do. 9.52 1.42 $5.00 10.00 21.95 30.00 $728.12 639.00 $89.12 1829, Nov. 4, To Ab. B. Shuman, Student at Gettysburg, Pa. 15.00 Dec. 2, Samuel Rothrock do. Peter Riser 10.00 25.00 do. 1830, Jan. 22, Mar. 31, April 18, July 25, 24, Ab. Shuman do. Francis Springer do. do. do. do. Ab. Shuman do. do. do. do. Jesse Vogler do. Peter Rizer do. do. do. Ab. Shuman do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. Vice-Presidents. Rev. J. Winter Rev. J. Albert Rev. J. Hoshour Rev. H. Bager Dr. Boerstler J. Baughman do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. LEWIS MEDTART, Treasurer. 639.00 Resolved-That the Report be adopted, and published in the Evangelical Lutheran Intelligencer. Rosolved-That we continue our efforts in behalf of this society, and introduce its design to our people from the pulpit. Resolved That our sisters, who during the past year aided the society by their exertions as members of sewing societies, merit the thanks of the society. Addresses were delivered by Rev. B. Kurtz, D. F. Schaffer, Winter, Hoffman, Haverstick and Winders. 30.00 40.00 30.00 30.00 30.00 45.00 30.00 50.00 25.00 45.00 45.00 50.00 12.00 35.00 30.00 20.00 25.00 17.00 The following Gentlemen, were then elected officers for the em suing year. President GEOROE HAGER, Baltimore. CYRUS MANTZ, Corresponding Secretary, Rev. JOHN G. MORRIS, Baltimore. Recording Secretary, Rev. A. RECK, David Martin J. Harbaugh John Baker |
0 Recensies Reviews worden niet geverifieerd, maar Google checkt wel op nepcontent en verwijdert zulke content als die wordt gevonden. Review schrijven |