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and serious obstacles of a moral nature, which nothing, save the heroic and almost unparalleled self-do voted ness, the energy of purpose, the virgin purity of motive, and the undoubted holiness ot design, so c mmon to our American missionaries, e odd have bravely met and surmounted. Tie re were those numberless tribes, each with a dialect of their own, roaming in eos.-antly through boundless forests, for ever at war with others of the same family, totally ignorant of letters, and destitute of any and every species of literature, but lull of gross superstiti ms and most edaring vices, such as an utter state of ba bori m alone can engender and per petuate. To these proud, self-opinionated and cruel tribes, the adventurous Priest must make his way, alone and unpro tected, far away from the small colonies of his country men, far from his parents and relations, aye! far, even, from the most indispensable commodities and com forts of civilized life Nor was his pur pose already accomplished, when, at last, after days, and perhaps months, of fatigue and travel, he succeeded in reaching the ph;c< of his destination. On the contra ry, it was only from that moment, properly speaking, that his real labors began. We are all aware of the next to insurmounta ble difficulties that present themselves wherever tic attempt is made to persuade others, and more especially ignorant people, of their error, against deep-rooted and inveterate prejudices. Now, there was ha. dly ever a people more prepos sessed by false opinions, of God, religion, virtue, or duty, than our American In dians—who actually went so far as to adore the evil spirits with whom their vivid imagination peopled the forest, the hike, and the mountain, in fact, all nature, animate and inanimate ; whose lust did not acknowledge even the laws of nature as a check; who considered parenticide as an act of filial affection, and who looked upon the scalps torn from the heads of, often times, still living foes, as the only distinguishing mark of bravery and rank. Who then, but one who has made the experience himself, will be able to form a just idea of the difficulties and obstacles which those missionaries encoun. tered in disseminating the Gospel among these tribes ? Yet, with those words of power, “ Go teach ad nations,” ringing in their ears, these heroes of charity rushed forward to execute the commands of their Divine Master—to teach all, to announce to all the glad’tidings of redemption from sin and death, to reclaim all, or, if such was the providence of God, to labor in vain, except in so far as the accomplishment of lies will can never be entirely in vain; this was their sole intention, their only and most fervent desire. And it was just such a lively faith, such a spirit of self saer fiee, such a boundless devotion to toe cares of God that was required in them to undergo those innumerable hard ships and privations that were so inti mately connected with this holy mission. It was just such an heroism that steeled them likewise against those bitter party persecutions that were not less refined and bloody than even those of yore, when Paganism was universally professed by the leading nations of earth, and when, to be convicted of having embraced Chris tianity, was considered by the multitude a, sufficient reason to put the yountr neopuite to a most cruel and ignominious death. From all this, it is quite evident that the enemy of'God and man, leagued with his agents and abettors, has, from the very oeginning, spared neither labor nor pains to tliwait, it possible, the benign intentions oi liovidcnce in establishing His holy Church on American soil. But, thanks to the Holy Spirit, whose abiding presence is ever with this self-same Church, all those violent storms have hitherto dashed their breakers in vain against the eternal rock of truth upon which the Church is built ; and if here and there, some devoted men have, irom time to time, fallen as willing vic tims in the cause of Christ and His Church, their precious blood, like the fabled dragon’s teeth of old, was only a seed irem which sprung forth delicious fruit a thousand fold. Hence, we may confidently assert, even now, that error has been stormed in all its strongholds. Fairly and openly the battle has been fought, the victory won, and the day is ours. The sweeping storms of those . trying times have passed away, and on the more placid bosom of the present, the , ark of Christ, the Church, pursues her course in peace. She has conquered! \ Amid the ceaseless agitations, bickerings and conflicts of American life, the Catho lic Church has been silently gathering ! her golden triumphs—such triumphs as have but few parallels in her wonderful history. Seventy-five years ago there was scarcely any Catholic organization in this country. Where there was then but one single diocese to be found, you will now meet with seven archbishoprics, and something like fifty suffragan dio ceses, besides the different vicariates 1 Apostolic, which eaunot amount to less than half a dozen. Where there were then only fifty Priests employed in preaching the Gospel and administering the sacraments, you will find now over three thousand in number, all equally eager for the glory of God and the sal vation of souls, all equally busy in preach ing, hearing confessions, instructing, and baptizing tlm numerous applicants for admissions into tbe Church. Moreover, where at that time there resided but 80,000 who called themselves Roman Catholics, we have now, according to re. liable statistics, at least six millions who glory in that name, and who avail them •selves of every suitable occasion to show their childlike submission and their more than filial affection for that Church upon which they look as in very fact their spiritual, but on that account none the less real, mother. And finally, where even but. fifty years ago our Catholic fore fathers held their assemblies anti assisted at the most holy sacrifice of the Mass in a rude log cabin or a rented hall, one may now behold sanctuaries and temples by the score, which, in extent, in costli ness and grandeur, may well vie with some of tbe world-renowned domesfof the olden world. [to EE CONTINUED. 1 BEST. My feet are wearied, and my hands are tired, My heart oppressed, And I desire, what I long desired, Host—only Host. The burden of my days is hard to boar. But God knows best; And I have prayed—but vain has been my prayer— For Host—for Best. My way has wound across the desert years, And cares infest My path, and through the flowing of hot tears I pine for Rest. *T was always so ; when jet a child I laid On mother’s breast, My wearied little head, e’en then I prayed. As now, for Rest And I am restless still ; ’twill soon be o'er ; For down the West Life’s sun is setting, and I see the shor# Where 1 shall Rest. MoINA. MEMORIAL DAY, The same day for the Floral Tribute to the Confederate Dead has not been gene, rally observed. The 26th of April was selected for this ceremony in most places, but in more Northern latitudes wo find other days substituted, on account, as we are informed of the scarcity of flowers at an earlier date. We continue our ex tracts from newspaper notices of this Southern festival, believing that they will be interesting to our readers, and worthy of preservation in tl is form, as a part of the history of the Southern Cause : in griffin, ga. On Monday last, the different Sabbath Schools met at the Presbyterian Church, where they were joined by a large number of ladies and gentlemen, and headed by the brass bund, marched to the Soldiers’ Cemetery to perform a sad, but pleasant duty, that of decorating the graves of the gallant heroes of the “ Lust Cause,” there interred. The exercises were opened with a very appropriate prayer, by the Rev. Mr. Adams, aft< r which, extracts from one of Father’s Ryan’s editorials, and from the beautiful poem of Col. O’Hara, were read by the Rev.Mr. Rogers. Col. Doyal, the MIHIS Os SSI IfflISS, orator of the occasion, then delivered one of the neatest, most chaste and appro priate addresses we have ever listened to. We have heard and read many of the speeches of the Colonel, but we must con fess that, for the time, plaCe, and occasion, this excelled any we ever heard—any where ; and that the Colonel, although noted for the elegance of his speeches and writings, outdid himself on this occasion. What we have said of the address,- is the verdict of those present. The ladies then repaired to the different graves, and placed on each wreathes of tlowers. It was one of the grandest scenes we ever witnessed. The stately matron, the young lady, just blooming into woman hood, and the little girl, all united, silent ly and with sad hearts, peif irming this holy mission. The ladies of the Memorial Associa tion, as well as of the city, deserve the gratitude of all lovers of the “ Lost Cause,” for their services at the Ceme tery. It is tastefully arranged, and kept up in handsome style. All honor to our noble ladies ! The Executive Committee intend fitting up seats for the benefit of visitors, and we learn a handsome amount was made up by the citizens for this purpose. This is a move in the right direction, and we trust the Committee will call for more at once, if this sum should not prove sufficient. | Star, May loth. IN LYNCHBURG, VA. The Memorial exercises of yesterday were imposing and impressive. At an early hour the streets and sidewalks were thronged with little boys and girls, on their way to the various Sunday Schools, with baskets of flowers, wreaths, crosses, and garlands, in their hands. The pro cession moved up Church street in the order indicated by us yesterday, the seven Sunday Schools and three hose companies of the city being in line, and under the direction and command of Col. Lang horne, Chief Marshal, and his assistant l3 , all mounted. At the mm \afd there was a vast concourse a.-smubied to pay the last marks of respect to the heroes who sleep their last sleep beneath its mould. The exercises were opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr, Barnett, after which the Philharmonic Society sang an appropriate selection. Then followed the address of Mr. A. M. Trible, highly eu logized as a specimen of pathetic and ele vated eloquence. Mr. A. McDonald then read an original poem, and was succeeded by Rev. Dr. John F. Edwards, whose remarks, though extemporaneous, were marked by the usual appropriateness and beauty of that gentleman’s addresses. The Philharmonic Association then ren dered another song, and the exercises were closed with prayer and the bene diction by the Itev. Mr. Suter, of St Paul’s. Reverently and tenderly, then, the bo quets and garlands were laid by soft hands on the graves of our Southern heroes. Perhaps, as they lay in their silent and eternal slumber, some vague sense of comfort, some dim dream of the heroic and illuminated past, might have come like a transient benison to cheer and soothe them, as bright flowers were mingled above and around them. “ Love dies not when lie bows his head To pass beyond the narrow portals— The light those glowing moments shed, Wakes from tlic ir sleep our lost immortals! They come as in their joyous prime, Before their morning days were numbered ; Death stays the envious hand of time— The eyes have not grown dim that slumbered ! The paths that loving should ha ve trod Arch o’er the dust where worldlings grovel ; High as the zenith o’er the sod The cross above the Sexton’s shovel! We rise beyond the realm of day, They seem to stoop from spheres of glory ; With us one happy hour to atav, While youth comes back in song and story.” After an hour solemnly spent in the decoration of the graves, the assemblage, in groups and singly, retired from the grounds, and returned to the usual routine of daily duties. [Lynchburg Republican, May 10. IN NORTH CAROLINA. A large crowd of ladies and gentlemen gathered at the Memorial Cemetery on Saturday at 4 o’clock. The grounds were in fine order, and the display of flow ers arranged in every conceivable form for the decoration of the graves of our noble dead, has scarcely ever been ex celled. At about half-past 4 o’clock, Geo. M. Whiting, Esq., announced the open ing of the exercises, and the Rev. Mr. 8. Lacy offered an appropriate prayer; after which a beautiful ode written for tiie occasion, we learn, by Mrs. Mary B. Clarke, was sung by a company of gentle men. Mr. Whiting then introduced the orator, Capt. J. j. Davis, of Franklin, who delivered a touching and eloquent address. Most of the crowd stood during the exercises, and all seemed interested in the solemn and appropriate services. The graves were most beautifully decorated with flowers, and at a late hour the crowd dispersed. Our space will not allow a purticuhu notice of «’apt. Davis’ excellent address. [Raleigh Sentinel. Memorial Tribute. —The ladies of Newbern paid their visit to the Cemetery yesterday to deck the Confederate Mauso leum with their annual tribute of Spring’s freshest and sweetest flowers. May they live long to perform this sad ly pleasant duty, and may their pathways in life be strewn with earth’s choicest blossoms, and may their own. and the children of the slumbering dead over whose hist resting place they each year place the floral offering, “arise and 'call them blessed.” ■ Neicbern Jour- of Commerce. IN NASHVILLE. . Yesterday, which had been set apart by the Ladies’ Memorial Committee for a public demonstration in honor of the Confederates buried around Nashville, was, as regarded the weather, in every way worthy of the occasion. It is esti mated that between the hours of one and six in the afternoon, at least ten thousand persons visited the City Cemetery, while nearly all who could procure vehicles pro ceeded to Mt. Olivet, where the graves of Colonel Randall MeGavock, and a few other soldiers of the Lost Cause who lie there, received their due tribute of floral honors. Nor was the desolate spot on the common south of the Nashville and Decatur Railroad depot, allowed to pass unnoticed. On nearly every one of these two hundred and thirty graves a bouquet or wreath was placed. But the spirit by which the day was marked, is better shown forth in the following communica tion from a fair correspondent, to whom we willingly yield a liberal space in our columns: To the Editor of the Banner : —The Sabbath, always a sweet day of rest to the pilgrim on earth, was yesterday made doubly welcome by its having been ap propriated to tbe decoration of the graves of our “Confederate dead.,’” The sun, with its golden rays, seemed almost mockery, but what more fitting’ than sunshine and fl owers when weaving in our hearts sweet memory’s chains? The very association of the willow and cypress form one of the many bright links which bind us to the departed. By noon the old cemetery grounds were filled to over flowing. Not a lisping babe but bore iu its hands a floral offering, smiling in in nocence, and little dreaming that for “such as they” were those precious lives sacri ficed. Wreaths, crosses, and letters in terwoven with evergreen, by fair hands, were seen in the greatest profusion on every side; indeed, one would have sup posed that Nature had been shorn of all her loveliness to do honor to our noble dead. But is it not meet that it should be so ? Another Spring, and Nature will be clothed again in her fresh beauty, but naught save the final resurrection can bring forth the sleeping dust. The stranger grave! As we stood by that little m*und of earth, distinguished alone from the others around it by two simple words, “Texas Ranger,” before us, in im agination, stood a feeble, gentle, mother, gazing for the last time on her noble, maniy boy—oil! how fondly she repeats again, “/or my sake” resist the evil in the way. Regardless ot patriotism, she fain would recall him to her side, but away in the distance he hears the “battle-cry,” and be knows but one watchword—“free dom or death.” Far from the home of his loved ones, he sleeps beneath tbe flowers, whilst we acknowledge our gratitude by these dear memorials. To us who have seen our beloved land deluged in the blood of her martyred sons, there is bat one South, and to every noble, generous heart that beat so proudly beneath that Jacket, of Grey, we offer alike one simple tribute, satisfied to know that with us they suffered—for us they died. Unlike those cold Christian philosophers, who, in their Pharisaical pride, thought it sacrilege to desecrate the holy Babbath by sweet floral offerings oil the graves of “our dead,” wc feci that if the day could be made more sacred, it has been done by thus weaving for them the widow and the cypress. Cant on, ye whiners hi the Church—your “painted sepulchres” fail to conceal the corruption within, but we would not exchange the memory of yes terday—the inward feelings of right, for all your hope of heaven. The emotion of gratitude which prompted us to wreathe our garlands, and in the sweet act of re membrance leave them on the graves of “our noble brave,” was no wrong against that holy Saibath, and, doubtless, many a guardian angel, o’er that scene, iu sweet sympathy with the bereaved hearts, as sembled there. But whither are we wan dering ? What beautiful monument is this which arises so proudly before us? Lot us pause in silence, and step with noiseless tread, for there he the remains of our “young hero,” beloved, oh? how tenderly iu life and death! As lowly as the humblest private in the ranks, sleeps “our fearless, cherished Rains. 1 Proudly he botv * hiinself the head of his c< m mand, u» c h ( 'se the sinning mark and that l rave heart was pulseless! With mute eloqiK n . ce ’ ll P on % tomb the pure drops win ’ have all given life to t' e moss-covered ba which the hand of love has placed abc * ve restin # place. The flowers will w dther, the hand that with melancholy sadnt " s wreathed them for thee, will perhaps, ' re another May, be sleeping by thy side hut until our eyes refuse to weep, or th*.' Vl °lets to bloom, ever shall it be our p„ " ivilc g e to bring thee our dear offerings. 1 B. lfc is another spot, around which sweet memory lingers, even as precious as tfo's. “Beneath the green shade of this evening" tree, let us bend low our heads and do honor to ‘our noble Zollicoffer.’ ” Not, forgotten lias been thy resting place: even now the sweet flowers are glisten in «■ with tears of affection, and as we ] aused, in vivid letters came before us the sad olid well remembered past. Again, we see the gallant steed, but where, alas, is his brave rider ? Again we hear the cries of our sorrow stricken people, as upon the bret ze comes the sad tidings, “our Zollicoffer has fallen.” Lach year let us recall his virtues by these open expressions of our gratitude, and when our own voices can no longer tell his glorious deeds, may our children arise to do justice to our fallen “braves.” Fain would we plant o'er thy bier fadeless flowers, which would never know decay, but they bloom riot in this “wilderness of sm. In God’s own time they will iri e in “his image.” In that world there shall be no war or oppression. Until then, “r< «t iu pence. — -Nashville, Temi. } Banner. Embry ©logical. History of Oysters. —At the proper season, which is ordi narily from June till the end of Scptem her, oysters spawn, but, uni ke many ina rinc animals, they do not abandon ihcir eggs. They incubate them within the folds of the mantle, between the branchial lamina, where they remain immersed in a mucous matter necessary to their evolu tion, and within which the embryonic de velopment is accomplished. Thus united, the mass formed by these eggs resembles thick cream in color and consistency; hence those oysters whose mantle con tains spawn are called “ milky oysters,” But the whitish tint so characteristic of the recently-laid eggs takes gradually, as the evolution proceeds, a shade of light yellow, then a darker yellow, and ends by degenerating into brownish gray, or into a decided violet gray. The whole mass having at the same time lost its flu idity, in consequence, probably, of the gradual absorption of the mucous sub stance surrounding the cgg«, has the as pect of compact matter. This state shows that the development is drawing* near its completion, and that the expulsion of the embryos and their independent existence is near at hand, tor alrerdy they are able to live without the protecti *n afford ed by the maternal organs. In fact, very soon the mother rejects the young hatched in the mantle. Forth they issue provided with a transitory swimming ap paratus, which enables them to scatter themselves far and wide, and to go in search of some solid body to which they may attach themselves. This apparatus i\s formed by a kind of ciliated pad pro vided with powerful muscles, by the aid of which the animal can at will portrude it from its valves and again retract it. When the young oyster has managed to fix itself, this pad, henceforth useless, falls’ off, or, what is more usual, grows smaller on the spot and disappears by degrees. The number of young ones thus expelled at each emission from the mantle of one single mother cannot be less than from one to two millions ; so at the time when all the adult individuals composing an oyster bank give birth to their offspring, this living dust issues forth like a cloud, which dispersing far from the spot whence it emanated, and scattered by the move ments of the water, leaves upon the cultch ( souche ) only an imperceptible part cf tbe produce ; all the rest disperses, and if these animalcules, wandering here and and there by myriads at the mercy of the waves, do not meet with something solid on which to fix themselves, their death is certain ; for those which have not become a prey to the inferior animals which feed on infusoria, end by falling into a medium unsuitable to their ulterior development, and often by being swallowed up by the mud. Nevertheless, judging from the great thickness to which some oyster shells have attained, this rnoluso is capa ble, if left to its natural changes unmoles ted, of attaining a great age. Indeed, fossil oysters have been seen, of which each shell was nine inches thick, whence they may be considered to have been more than a hundred years old. Guilt is that which quells the courage of the bold, ties the tongue of the elo quent, and makes greatness itself sneak and lurk and behave itself poorly.— South. 5