ay, he was using God's name very profanely, and an old woman me along-it was in front of Trinity Church-and stopped. The oliceman who was with him asked her if she wanted anything of hem, and she said that she had stopped to hear that officer swear 0. It made a great impression upon him. Some time after that

e moved into a house with a neighbor who was a good Christian oman. Then he began to go to church, and he said :—“At last I aid, I can't stand it any longer; I can't go home without going to nat altar;" and I said to my companion, "Wife, let us go and lay ff the cares of this world." The most trouble to me is, I am someimes a little nervous; but I tell you I do love the Lord, and I tell ou my whole heart's desire is to serve Him. Many and many a rayer I have offered up for you, my brother officers. I mean to ontinue to offer them up, and wish that every man in the department was a Christian. O what a police we would have! How the ity would rejoice! I hope you will pray for me; I will remember you. I make it a duty to pray for all classes, all sects and denomnations, even the heathen-even those who are shut up in prison. Pray for me that I may be faithful even until death.

A policeman's wife spoke of the trials of policemen's wives. She said that, instead of lying down quietly at night to sleep, they were tossed about with cares and anxiety. The policeman's wife did not know at what moment her husband might be brought in a lifeless corpse. It was her constant prayer that policemen might be saved. She did hope that prayer-meetings for policemen might be continued. A policeman from Brooklyn said that he felt rather embarrassed at appearing in this house with his uniform on. Sixteen years ago he gave his heart to God; he had since turned to the ways of the world, but now desired to return again, and he asked the prayers of all present.

After the meeting a large number of the laws and ordinances of the State and Corporation in relation to the observance of the Sabbath were examined.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The New York Young Men's Christian Association have issued a circular to the officers and members of the Fire Department of this

city, the object of which was to invite them to attend some of the t various prayer-meetings, and disignating the hours and places at which the meetings are held. The following is a copy of the cir cular :

"To the Fire Department of our City:

"GENTLEMEN: Through your worthy foreman, we would beg to present our kind regards to you as a department and as individuals. Wo know full well that your calling is a self-sacrificing one (for we have in our ranks many who in days past and at present the Fire Department were proud to recognize as fellow-members), and one, the prosecution of which subjects you to dangers and hardships, and at the same time gives an opportunity of displaying that noble heroism which entitles you to the respect and admiration of our fellow-citizens.

"You will agree with us, we think, that there are many among you who, by force of circumstances, do not have all the advantages of moral and religious enjoyment, which every one so much needs, and without which he is a great loser.

"To have these pleasures the 'House of God' should not be neglected; it is a fact, we think, that many noble and generous-hearted young men seldom attend church, not from want of early education by faithful parental care in this direction, or present denial of the advantages flowing from attention to those matters which pertain to the future interests of all. We recognize the reason of non-attendance upon these duties to be the force of habit.

"We would be happy to have so many of you as may be able, attend the Central Presbyterian church" (Broome street, opposite Centre Market), on Thursday evening, March 18, at 73 o'clock, to listen to addresses from the Rev. A. A. Wood, of the Central Presbyterian church; the Rev. Thomas Armitage, of the Norfolk-street Baptist church, and the Rev. R. M. Hatfield, of the Forsyth-street Methodist church.

"We assume that it has not escaped your notice of late that all the people are giving more attention to these things than in times past. We hope it will be but a short time before every young man in our city will call his neighbor 'brother.'

"Come as suits your convenience best, whether in fire or citizens' dress, but Come! Come!! Come!!! 'let him that heareth, say, Come.'

"We inclose a few slips, which might be placed upon the tables of your Committee Rooms, if you see proper. Our Reading-rooms are open daily, from 8 A.M. to 10 P.M. All are welcome who may feel inclined to visit them. The librarian in attendance will furnish documents, and give all needed information regarding our Association."

By invitation of several prominent members of the Fire Department, and other gentlemen interested in its welfare, Rev. William P. Corbit, pastor of the First Mariner's (M. E.) church in this city, preached a sermon on Sunday evening, at the Academy of Music, to

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e firemen of New York. The audience was undoubtedly the rgest ever addressed, within walls, upon a religious topic, in this untry. The capacious building was never more crowded. Long ›fore the commencement of the exercises every seat was taken, and ally all the standing room in the aisles and doorways was densely ɩcked, and hundreds were unable to obtain an entrance. Mr. Cort spoke for an hour and twenty-five minutes, in a very ornate and >wery style, as appears by the report. The audience signified their ›probation, on one occasion, by a grand round of applause. Noing less than a wisdom from above, can meet the exigencies of a me of religious awakening, and enable men truly to work with, and ›t against the divine Spirit. Prayer should be offered continually r the imparting of such wisdom to all who lead or minister in vine things.

THE PHILADELPHIA FIREMEN.

The following is a statement of the numbers who attended public orship, upon a recent occasion, at National Hall. The list of fire ompanies, and the number in attendance, were: Good Will Engine ompany, 210; Good Will Hose, 75; Good Intent Hose, 29; Waren Hose, 70; Western Engine, 52; Spring Garden Engine, 60; pring Garden Hose, 25; Fairmount Hose, 42; American Engine, 4; American Hose, 30; West Philadelphia Hose, 45; Taylor Hose, 0; Munroe Fngine, 29; Weccacoe Engine, 115; Robert Morris Hose, 39; Cohocksink Hose, 64; Empire Hook and Ladder, 39; Reliance Engine, 30; Washington Engine, 70; Washington Hose, 0; Columbia Engine, 64; Columbia Hose, 64; Friendship Engine, 50; West Philadelphia Engine, 60; Schuylkill Hose, 30; Vigilant Hose, 30; Diligence Hose, 50; Humane Hose, 20; Mechanic Engine, 30; Southwark Engine, 30; Assistance Engine, 40; South Penn Hose, 30; Independent Hose, 51; Union Hose, 29; Niagara Hose, 25; Pennsylvania Hose, 30; William Penn Hose, 50. Total, 1,779. On a recent Sabbath evening the members of the Fire Departnent of Poughkeepsie, assembled in the Mill-street church, and were ddressed by the Rev. Mr. Holman, with great acceptance.

PRAYER MEETINGS IN STORES.

In connection with the stores and counting-rooms of several of our most prominent merchants, private prayer-meetings have been organized within a few weeks past for the benefit of the clerks and other employees. They are held in some retired place in the building, secure from public intrusion, and have been of great interest and profit to those who have attended. Some years ago a young man from New England came to this city, and was employed as a clerk in a dry-goods house down town. Shortly after his engagement, he came to his employer with the statement that some of the clerks were seriously interested in the subject of personal piety, and requested that a small upper room in the building might be set apart and furnished, to be used exclusively as a place of retirement to which the various individuals connected with the establishment might resort for religious conversation, reading of the Scriptures, and prayer. This request was immediately granted, and the room was used for years for this only purpose, resulting in the conversion of a large number of the persons who during that time came in and went out of the employ of the establishment.

THE FREE ACADEMY.

A weekly prayer-meeting has been held at the Free Academy since the Fall of 1852. It was organized by two members of the Senior Class and three of the Junior, all of whom have since graduated, and some of whom have entered the profession of the ministry. The meetings have been continued every week since that time, except during vacations, and at several periods twice a week. They are held on Friday afternoons, lasting an hour after the close of the day's exercises. They are under the management and control of the students, the Professors making it a point neither to interfere nor to intrude. It is noticeable that the students who have taken an interest in the exercises, have generally been those who were prominent and successful in their classes, and of whom an unusually large proportion, after graduation, have entered the Christian ministry. Conversions have occurred in almost every successive class in the Institution, it is thought through their instrumentality.

The prayer-meetings at the Free Academy are increasing in interest. At the meeting last week one hundred and twelve were present, being about one-sixth of the whole number in the Academy. Members of all the classes attend, and the meetings are conducted by the students, without either the supervision or the presence of the instructors.

There has been from time to time much opposition and more ridicule manifested among the students toward these religious gatherings, a somewhat singular instance of which occurred a year or two ago. On one occasion, shortly after the assembling of the meeting, a party of wild students, who remained in the building in consequence of a violent rain-storm, with thunder and lightning, determined to employ the time in the annoyance and disturbance of the meeting. They accordingly tramped heavily up and down the halls by the door, striking it with their fists as they passed; and though they were remonstrated with, it was to no purpose. After a quarter of an hour of such injudicious sport, a vivid flash of lightning, which struck in the neighborhood, accompanied with a terrific peal of thunder, made such an impression upon the minds of three of the disturbers that they immediately desisted, and knocked for entrance to the meeting.

A PRAYER-MEETING FOR BOYS.

On Sunday afternoon a Union prayer-meeting of boys was held in the Lecture-room of the Church of the Puritans (Dr. Cheever's), on Union Square. The room was completely filled, the audience consisting chiefly of boys, with a number of their parents and friends. The Rev. Dr. Cheever presided, and the meeting was opened with the usual order of devotional exercises, singing and prayer.

The Rev. Theodore L. Cuyler said that this was a very remarkable time. It seemed as if all that Christians had to do was to get alongside of an immortal soul, and they found him ready to be taken hold of, and waiting for salvation. There a number of boys had assembled, who offered to put their hearts in the hands of good people, and who asked them to love them. Youth is just the time to commence serving the Lord. A tree can always be well cultivated in its tender years, but when a tree gets old it is difficult and