Page images
PDF
EPUB

years had been a member of the Lutheran Church. He had returned home after a hard day's work, to find a serpent coiled at his fire-side, and his wife a shameless adulteress. Maddened with grief and rage, an affray followed. The guilty pair, to screen themselves, procured his arrest for assault, and, when I saw him, it was in prison for such a cause. His neighbors had missed him from his usual walks, but knew no more. They and your Missionary at length obtained his acquittal, and then secured for him again an opportunity to support himself by his industry.

It would be easy to fill volumes with incidents taken from real life, surpassing, in all that is hideous, and awful, and harrowing to the sensibilities, any thing that the reader can possibly imagine. For no pure mind can fathom the depths of infamy, into which the human heart is capable of descending. Two or three portraits we had intended to sketch, but we pass them by. Indeed, we have been greatly tempted to unmask hypocrisy in some flagrant cases, as we have seen it stalk unblushingly; and yet, to do it would destroy forever the peace of some domestic circles, and plunge some now happy families into the deepest misery.

Among the imperative needs which this Mission has brought before the Missionary, one is, some way by which those may be assisted who really wish to reform, and by honest industry lead a virtuous life. For them we want employment and a Home.

Another need is, a thorough system of Christian Education for the young whom this Mission could thus reach, and save from the doom which now inevitably awaits them.

We want clothing of all kinds, for men, women, and children. Many who come to the Islands are almost naked; and when their times of punishment expire, are without means or clothes in which decently to seek an honest subsistence, even if they are disposed.

Lastly. The greatest need of all is a radical change in some cases, of our criminal jurisprudence. The drunken vagrant will not respect the law as it is now too often administered; nor is the daughter of sin and shame very likely to reform, under the influences which are now brought to bear upon her. Our legislation is either absurd or greatly defective. We license the very causes that in no small measure create the social evils in our midst, and punish the results that are but the necessary consequences which we thus license into being. We are satisfied that the border line between the virtuous and the vicious is much narrower than is generally supposed, and that we should oftener mingle pity with our condemnation. Published statistics of crime show that over two-thirds of all the arrests "involve a very slight degree of moral turpitude." The property clerk of the New York Police, testifies "that 984 per cent. of stolen property is voluntarily returned to the owners." We could present an array of facts, that as causes, would soften, if they do not excuse the guilt of many offenders."

[ocr errors]

Hitherto we have omitted to make mention of the first Female Missionary connected with this Mission, in order that, in its proper place, we might both acknowledge her efficient labors and call attention to the first Charitable Institution, which has grown out of the work in which we are engaged.

When the Rev. Mr. Richmond, returning from Oregon, recommenced his visits to Blackwell's Island, he was accompanied by his wife. Her attention was directed, from the first, to the women, who, in great numbers, either as vagrants or for other reasons, found their way to the Island. Among them were many for whom there seemed a hope of better things and better days, if any home were provided in which the most hopeful cases might be invited to take refuge. In the then existing state of affairs, every good word was hopelessly thrown away. Upon the discharge of those women from the Island, homeless and friendless, their former companions in sin, or those daughters of hell who thrive upon their ruin, awaited their arrival upon the opposite shore, and led them at once to haunts of vice. After much thought and counsel and prayer, Mrs. Richmond resolved that at least an attempt should be made to furnish a home, in which those exposed to temptation might take shelter, and those weary of sin might find a rest. The result of the effort of that noble, determined, Christian woman has been the establishment of the Institution known as the "HOUSE OF MERCY," which, from that small beginning, has increased and prospered, until now more than thirty persons find a welcome home within its walls. As we propose in another connection to give some account of that much needed charity, it is neither a need or desire to enlarge upon it now. Our wish is only to show how out of one good work there springs another. As years grow by, and the love of Christ warms in men's hearts, many another needed refuge, or home, will, we believe, in like manner appear as an offshoot of this Mission.

In closing, we commend this work to those upon whom it rests, by labor and gift and prayer to speed it. We have told our tale, not in boasting, but in the humble trust that, under God's blessing, the knowledge of what may be done will stir up pious hearts throughout our land to this undone work of caring for the homeless and friendless. Having been for many years engaged in these labors, it has become our common inquiry upon entering any town or village containing either Jail, or Hospital, or Alms House, "Does any Clergyman visit this In

stitution?" The almost universal answer has been, "Not regularly; if any is asked for, he always goes." In truth, however, he is seldom asked for, and therefore seldom goes.

Upon visiting, some years since, the Jail of one of our Southern cities, we asked of the Jailer, who had been for half a generation in charge, if the Clergy often visited his prisoners. He answered, that twice an Episcopal Minister had been there; with that exception, he had never before seen any Minister within his gates. Yet, upon the breaking out afterwards of a pestilence, the men and women of that city, with a devotion which spared not their own lives, gave themselves to the care of the sick, thus proving, that no want of Christian love had made them neglectful of the prisoner. As there, so also we believe elsewhere, hearts are ready, but the field every day at hand is overlooked.

If any labors or words of ours shall serve to draw the attention of Clergy and Laity to a work given us by Christ and yet forgotten, then the prayer which goes with labor and word. will have been heard, and to those hopeless of blessing will it be given to see the glorious signs of Christ's presence and life. One of the most common and most weighty objections against the Church of Christ in our times, urged alike by infidels and worldlings, is, that the Church, though dignified in tone, and majestic in ritual, is not equal to the exigencies of society, that the paralysis of old age is upon her, and that a New Evangel is needed. Neglectful of her duty as the Church has been, we yet write under the deep conviction that the objection is really groundless, and that she is already beginning to vindicate her high claims by the most persuasive of all arguments, a humble, holy, Christ-like Charity. God speed our words to the hearts of all our Clergy and our Laity. We have been laboring in past years to prove, and we have proved, that we have the Apostolic Ministry and the Apostolic Creeds; let us now use another kind of argument.

We propose, hereafter, to give a sketch of the several Church Charities, such as "Homes," "Hospitals," Missionary Chapels, &c., a large number of which have been successfully commenced in the City within the last few years.

NOTE.-CORRECTION.

We have received from one of the Committee appointed by the last General Convention to report to the next General Convention “ "upon the whole subject of the Hymnody and Metrical Psalmody of the Church," the following Note, which we publish as thus best accomplishing the end for which the Note was written.

REV. DR. RICHARDSON, EDITOR, &c.

My Dear Sir:

The interesting and sparkling Article in the April Church Review, entitled "Hymns from Compilers' Hands," states, on page 49, and proceeds throughout on the supposition, that the gentlemen who proposed the "Hymns for Church and Home" were the Committee appointed by the General Convention in 1859, and that this book is the result of their deliberations in that capacity.

In fact, as you will remember, they were but a self-constituted "Committee;" the original edition of the book was printed before the Convention of 1859, and copies were placed in the hands of the members of the Convention.

The error, which it is easy to explain as to its origin, does not require any public correction on account of the Compilers of the book. Nor may it materially affect the purposes of the Reviewer, whose criticisms were in both cases equally just.

The Committee appointed by the Convention have never had a meeting; whether it would complain of this ascription of responsibility, I cannot say.

But it is still a historical error; and appearing in the pages of such a publication as the Review, might hereafter mislead some one who should be tracing the history of our Hymnology in the Church.

Yours very truly,

EDITORIAL.

THE absolute impossibility of reaching a large number of the Subscribers to the Review, in consequence of the derangement of the Mails, will compel us to postpone the mailing of this Number to them. Even in this case, the Volume will be completed as usual, and the Numbers will be sent as soon as possible.

We are glad to be able to say, that our subscription list, which was never better than now, has scarcely been affected by the civil troubles of the country, though the disturbed state of the public currency has rendered the payment of subscriptions, especially those at a distance, more than usually difficult. We bespeak from those of our subscribers, living where commercial exchanges are still kept up with New York, prompt remittances, by which we may be in a measure relieved from all embarrassment. Our Southern brethren, among whom are many of our ablest contributors, warmest friends, and best supporters, are assured that we look forward with pleasure to the restoration of a speedy and open communication with them.

The Article in this Number, on the "Essays and Reviews," though long, will not be thought too long by our readers. Nor are we yet done with the subject. This volume will be examined from another stand-point in the next Review. We are also prepared to state, and to prove, that this German Rationalism has already been imbibed in our own Church to an extent much greater than is generally supposed.

« PreviousContinue »