merion plobtterian
elatott ettageltiot.
THVIMSDAY. SEPTEMBER 27, ISSO.
JOHN W. 'HEARS, EDITOR.
ASSOCIATED WITH
ALBERT BARNES, GEORGE DUFFIELD la.,
THOMAS BRAINERD,. I JOHN JENKINS,
HENRY DARLING, THOMAS J. SHEPHERD,
OUR STATISTICS.
The statistics of our Church for the last year
hive furnished the ground for some gratifying de
ductions, especially in regard to the Synod of
Pennsylvania, which we have exhibited in these
columns. Without intending any disparagement
to other Synods, for we are all members one of
another, we have shown that the growth of the
Synod of Pennsylvania, within the last four years,
has exceeded any other Synod east of the Alle
ghenies; in other words, of any Synod depending
upon the ordinary means of growth, and receiving
no increase by immigration. This statement can
not be discredited by referring to the Synod of
New York and New Jersey whose increase in the
same period has been some 700 greater than that
of our Synod, for the former Synod four years
ago, was between twice and thrice as large as the
Synod of Pennsylvania, and ought to have gained
more than twice (instead of less than one and a
half) as much, in order to make its growth equal
to that of the latter Synod. In the former case,
the rate of growth has been a trifle over ten per
cent., in the latter case about nineteen per cent.
Upon further investigating the minutes, we learn
that the numerical strength of the Synod of Penn
sylvania is now greater than, it has been at any period
of its existence. This is,jhe case irrespective of
the recent extension of its territory. We state
these facto with humble thankfulness, but we can
not help regarding them as not more a proof of
the divine favor and of the wisdom of the course
pursued by the Synod, than a signal rebuke to
those who expected and labored to make this part
of the Church the prey of divided counsels, and
the theatre of a distraction unpropitious to growth
and prosperity. Words fail us to express ade
quately our views of such attempts, but God, in
his providence, has given us something more sig
nificant than words in these FACTS. Those who
take a pleasure in disparaging our Church, in de
preciating its good qualities, and in exaggerating
its failings, will seek to discredit them in vain.
In regard to our Church at large, it is , true that
up to the year 1846, our statistics show .a rapid
growth. This was in part the result of the recog
nition and ingathering of one and another portion
of the Church, as in sympathy with us. At that
date it may be presumed that all who felt with us
were included in our fold. The figures shown by
the statistics of that yew have never been reached
in any subsequent report, It is the practice of
some to ascribe this pause in growth, and this
somewhat retrograde tendency in the number of
our membership, exclusively to the slavery agita
tion, and the assertion of high anti-slavery senti
ments 'in our body which commenced about that
time. This is so small a portion of the truth that
it is very near being a falsehood. It ignores seve
ral facts, all of which began to operate about the
same time.
1. We were then just beginning to feel about for
the position evidently designed for us by Provi
dome, and so graphically described in the late
Moderator's sermon, as the MIDDLE GROUND
CIIIIIIO/1 in the family of Churches to which we be
long. It is notorious that radical men on Loth
sides began to fall off from us at that time. Nor
thern abolitionists were Oita as much dissatisfied
with uses Southern pro-slavery men, and churches
and we believe entire presbyteries at the North
abandoned us as hoptlessly pro-slavery, while the
Southern brethren were raising the cry of aboli-
tionism.
2. It is forgotten that at the Assembly in Wil
mington, we had the opportunity of increasing our
numbers by the accession of ic the Free Synod," a
body of earnest but somewhat radical anti-slavery
Presbyterians, but as we still adhered to our middle
ground, position we failed to give satisfaction, and
the negotiations were abandoned. Does this look
like losing ground by being too anti-slavery?
3. Above all, it is forgotten that during the
first few years of our independent existence, we
had the enthusiastic sympathy of the leading men
of New England, and the powerful co-operation of
the American Home Missionary Society. But all
that is changed and has been changed almost since
the very date spoken of. The Albany Convention
annulled, so far as in it lay, the Plan of Union;
leading New Englanders, looked on with indiffe
rence; a radical independent organ was started,
and the Home Missionary Society was, we might
almost say, subsidized in the crusade against us.
Was it then our increasingly anti-slavery mend
=out that set republican New England so strangely
against us, and caused us such losses, and put us
at such disadvantage in New York State and the
great and free North-West? It is a most absurd
'and erroneous conclusion. We have, indeed, suf
fered serious losses at the South, but they have
been more patent because more nearly simul
taneous. We venture the assertion that if an in
- vestigation Were practicable, it would appear that
.our losses in. the North from the suspicion of pro
slavery tendencies, and from the dissatisfaction of
such Independents as were in external fellowship
with us, are as great, if not greater, than those
proceeding from that one source which those look
ing through slavery spectacles perifist in regarding
as the only one. Certainly, at present, we in this
border Synod are growing stronger and stronger
every day, while those portions of our Church
in which anti-slavery views are supposed to be
more palatable, are really the suffering ones.
And the issue of the whole is, that our losses re
suit • from the very fact that, avoiding , radicalism
both in Church government and doctrine and in
moral reform, we are asserting our position as a
!diddle Ground Church, and our gains are ac
position is heartily accept
quired just where that
ed as the basisof Church life. •
GREAT NEWS PROM ITALY.
We have great news from Italy. Naples has
received the liberator of Italy, the Washington of
Europe, with, open arms. The tyrant king has
been allowed to flee, a fate quite too good for him,
and Victor Emanuel is proclaimed king of Italy.
It is a wonderful Knee, too, that on the ruins of
the crumbling government of the man of sin, the
banner of King Emmanuel is being raised. We
accept this as a figure of that which is to come.
Meanwhile Christians should labor and pray for
a uew development of enterprise and hopeful en
ergy and liberality to meet this unwonted enlarge
ment of their field of activity. The Christians of
Italy need our sympathy and our prayers now
quite as much as in times of trial and persecution.
Mai aid 03 Odittii4o;43 iNNO47,IIISI*-1,104350:41
WANTED
While our paper has received and is daily re
ceiving various tokens of interest and favorable re
gard, it is nevertheless a cherished purpose with
us still further to enlarge its sphere of influence
in the church. We feel that so far as we succeed
in this aim, we shall be accomplishing a good work
for the church, as well as for ourselves. We are
firmly convinced, and we say it without undue
self-esteem, that our paper is calculated to do good
in acquainting ministers and church members with
the condition and movements of our church, and
in stirring up and nourishing their feelings of af
fection and intelligent preference for it; and in
presenting and urging upon their regard, such
topics of thought as are calculated to promote per
sonal piety and to cultivate enlarged and liberal
Christian views, and in keeping them informed
both of the leading facts that are taking place,
and of the leading ideas which are at work in the :
church and the world generally. In a word, we'
feel we are not chargeable with arrogance when
we claim that we are doing our part as a religibus
newspaper to train up a generation of intelligent,
active, and zealous Christians; and we are dili
gently laborin to raise the standard of the paper:
Te there ore come forward uaiesitiiff
our request for an accession of 1500 names to our
list.
There is room for this increase. The Synods
of Pennsylvania and of Western New York, with
their 50,000 members, or the two Synods of Penn
sylvania and Genesee with their 26,000 members,
where we feel especially at borne, or even the Sy
nod of Pennsylvania alone, now much stronger
than it ever was before, might easily furnish us
this increase. The unwonted excellence of the
crops in the greater partof these sections of country,
warrants us in seeking and expecting it. There
are, doubtless, this fall, many more persons able
easily to subscribe for a religious newspaper in
this part of the country, than there have been in
any preceding autumn since our paper was started.
Besides this, there are reasons for taking a reli
gious paper now, such as almost never existed be
fore in the interesting and portentous condition of
things in the world and their evident and hopeful
bearing upon the kingdom of Christ. It is a time
when no Christian should be content to be igno
rant, or to receive his information through dis
torted channels. Religious newspapers were never
wore needful institutions than now to the Chris
tian.
We therefore call upon our friends in the mi
nistry and the laity, both in the Synods we have
named, and in the West and North-west generally,
to aid us in this effort to extend the circulation of
a paper of which we already know their kind and
favorable opinion. Especially we would suggest
to the brethren the importance of forestalling
the entrance of papers into their fold which mani
festly tend to disaffect and estrange our people,
by introducing a thoroughly Presbyterian sheet,
in full and, hearty sympathy with our church, and
aiming first and chiefly to train the people to an
attachment to the cause of the Redeemer as repre
sented in that church, and with God's 'blessing
they may then expect to have around them a re
liable active people, warmly , sympathizing with
them as Presbyterian ministers, and ready to se
cond their efforts in behalf of the various enter
prises of the church, as well as in behalf of every
worthy undertaking depending upon Christians
generally for support.
To encourage pastors and male and female friends
in making up lists of new subscribers, we offer the
following reduced rates for clubs, to be understood
as applying to the first year of their subscription
only.
Nail Subscribers strictly in advance
Club of four, $7. Club of ten, $l5.
Club of six, $lO. Club of twenty-four, $32.
Club of forty, $5O.
When delivered by carriers, 50 cents each addl.-
lona].
A full set of Barnes' Notes on the New Testri
meat will be given when $2O or more are remitted
for new subscribers.
It would be impossible for us to continue to
supply our paper at these reduced rates; we offer
them to facilitate the enlisting of new subscribers,
trusting in the favorable impression which will be
made upon them in one year's acquaintance with
us, for a continuance of their subscription on the
usual terms.
THE SOUTH WESTERN CHURCH;
In our last issue we gave the early history of
this enterprise, including the circumstances under
which a change of relation from the Old School
Presbytery to the Third Presbytery of Philadel
phia was accomplished. As the spontaneous and
unanimous movement of an interesting people
with their esteemed pastor, it deserves a cordial
welcome, and will receive it. Upon the invita
tion of the pastor, we had the ,pleasure of wor
shipping with them and of assisting in the admi
nistration of the Lord's. Supper on last Sabbath,
and we own we were most favorably impressed
with the whole appearance of things, and notwith
standing several peculiarities
, in the worship, such
as belong to the Scoteh-Irish congregations, we felt
perfectly at home, and enjoyed the delightful flow
of Christian communion. None need hesitate to
sing the old version of the Psalms with a people
who do not insist upon it as an essential condition
of Christian fellowship. None need be startled at
the customs of " fencing the tables," of gathering
in successive groups at the tables, and of handing
in "tokens," if they are accompanied by such a
cordial invitation to all members of evangelical
churches, in good and regular standing, as was
more than once given by the pastor. The re
verent demeanor of the people as they filed up
to their seats, with here and there the tearful eye,
the animated and heart-stirring addresses of the
pastor, enriched with the happiest Scriptural al
lusions, relieved the lengthened services of all
tediousness and made an inpression not easily
effaced. The congregation of upwards of two
hundred persons is now worshipping in the upper
room of a Hook and Ladder Company's house, and
is evidently both straitened for room and suffering
under the disadvantages of its locality.
Their church edifice at the corner of 20th and
Fitzwater Streets, is under cover, and is a sub
stantial and capacious building of brick with brown
stone dressings. It is in the very centre of a dis
trict which is filling up with dwellings on every
hand. The whole enterprise strikes us as in a
high degree wise and promising.
The sum of money needed at once, and for
which the property is in peril, is but- eight hun
dred dollars; besides which, some twelve hundred
dollars or more are required to put the Lecture
room in order for the use of the congregation, and
very urgently , do they need this improvement to
be made.
Ant:tri/rall ,g....0:0:b-ttcriitit..ll,
We know the liberality of our people, is already
heavily taxed, but there are some features in this
case which give it special interest, and which
no doubt, secure for it special attention from the
liberal among us. The congregation of the South
Western Church has already raised or contributed
between four and five thousand dollars, and ex
pect to do still more.. What they desire of •us is
not to take the work out of their hands, but to
supplement their contributions and to encourage
them to go forward. There may be persons
among our subscribers in other parts of the
church as well as in Philadelphia who would be
happy to assist in establishing a liberal Irish Pres
byterian Church among us. Contributions to this
object, either from the city or from abroad, will
be received at this office and handed to Mr.
M'Caskie, the pastor.
THE SLAVE TRADE.-INTERFERENCE
DEMANDED.
There are some evil practices so shocking to the
moral sense of mankind, so fraught with injury,
and yet, on account of their lucrative character,
so obstinately persisted in, that they demand sum
mary and extraordinary measures for their re
moval. One of these practices is.the slave trade.
We have seen nothing which better illustrates the
immense profit of this traffic, and the boldness
wi hi - vr rc . • . par s,
- than the folkiwing, from a respectable journal of
Long Island, the "leepubliCan Watchman," of
Greenport
The Montauk, a full clipper Ship of 512 tons,
celebrated for her speed, arrived at Sag Harbor,
from a whaling voyage, in June, 1859. She was
not refitted, but advertised for sale. After lying
at Long . Wharf all winter, she was sold in March
last, ostensibly to one Capt. Quayle, of New Lon
don, by whom she was taken to New York and
nominally fitted for a whaler. In reality, a man
calling himself Mitchell—a dissipated chap, who
is said to have spent several fortunes acquired in
the slave trade—directed her equipment, and
went out in her as passenger, Quayle clearing her
at the Custom House " - for North and South At
lantic." The attention of the U. S. Marshal or
of some of his deputies was called to the singular
and unusual style of her preparations for whaling
—for instance, stowing her ground-tier on top of
the stone ballast,—but, though suspicions were
aroused, nothing tangible could be found against
her, and she was permitted to depart. Her course
was first headed for Fayal, to keep up appearances,
and thence directed to the Coast of Africa, (what
point our informant did not state,) and took on
board a full cargo of "black birds," how many we
cannot say, but an idea may be formed from the
fact that in ninety days from sailing she landed
thirteen hundred Africans on one of the Wind
ward Islands to the north of Cuba. Mitchell
(who is in New York, and tells this story) says
that, after landing the negroes, he went to Cuba
and arranged with' certain authorities to enter
them 'at three doubloons (about $5O) a head,
which done, he boldly took them into the public
market place of a certain city, and sold them at
auction for an average of $l,OOO apiece. If tbia
statement, made voluntarily and with no induce
ment to deceive, can be relied on, the profits of
this last cruise of the Montauk amount, after de
ducting all incidental expeoaes, to the comfortable
sum of $1,000,000, which is somewhat better than
the best whaling we ever heard of, and for a three
months' voyage "will do."
.1
The Montauk was probably scuttled and sunk.
Astounding as these statements are, we are pre
pared to credit them every one. That the slave
trade is now carried on briskly, is an accepted
fact; that the profits are enormous may well
believe when we consider the_gpat risks ruu, and.
the force of public sentiment, : and of enlightened
conscience that must be met. But we do not be
lieve that public sentiment, law, penalty,—all
backed by powerful navies, will avail to remedy
the evil unless one thing more be done, that is,
unless . the market for imported slaves be utterly
broken up. We believe the, remedy must be ap-
plied at Cuba, and in the court of Spain. The
Spanish government must interpose effectively to
prevent the importation of slaves into Cuba. The
Christian nations of the world must remonstrate
with this supine government, and in the name
of an. outraged humanity, with authority summon
it to such action. We believe it is clearly a case
demanding foreign interposition. We cannot per
ceive any difference in principle between this and
other cases, where such interposition has been re
garded as justifiable. It is in the name' of out
raged humanity that the fleets of all European na
tions have been summoned to the. Syrian ports,
and strong remonstrances addressed 'to an ineffi
cient and indifferent government at Constantino
ple which looked on while one portion,Of its sub
jects slaughtered - ten or twelve, thousand other
subjects. Yes, and even force would have been
employed, if necessary, to stop these murders, and
its lige would have been applauded, and history,
through all time, would have found nothing *to
condemn in the deed, except that it was not as
prompt as it should have been.
Why not then interpose 'in behalf of the
wronged, stolen, oppressed victims of the abomi
nable slave trade, Nl* are deported from their na
tive country at 'the rate of a thmisand a week, and
scattered chiefly; on the shores of 'the Spanish 'de
pendencies in America? Why not express in the
most unmistakable terms to that guilty nation,
Spain, the 'ablierrence of the — Christiiiitiorld at
the traffic and her connivance at it? Why not
lay aside diploMatic circumlocution, and Say out
boldly 'that it must be stopped, With fleets "and 'ar
mies to back the declaration ?, Oh, for some great
smiled statesmen, inspired with lofty zeal. for the
right, to give voice to the swelling sentiment of
the civilized wprld, and like the grand old Puri
tan,,
Cromwell, hurling Saxon thinders,of remon
strance at the Pope, when eng,aged lais,inhunien
crusade against the Waldenies, :to' express man
fully to the abettors of this'-iniquitous traffic the
se ttled determination of at least one great:nation
of the world, that peaceably or foreibly, if Must
come ,to an end ! Shall America produce sueh a
statesman ?
FOE MIGHT - OF THE "OLD" AND "KEW,
.
If our "Old School" brethren could compla
cently look on while our recent Asiemblies were
engaged in the promotion of our denominational
interests, and, in the comparison, could congratu
late themselves upon the 'foresight which led their
Assembly, a quarter of a century before, to
lar. Ipeasures, the increasing divisions of sentiment
now prevailing in their ,own body on questions of
doctrine and church polity, indicate that we .are
holding ground far in advance of their own, as to
the toleration of a reasonable diversity of views in
the same branch of the Presbyterian Church. Such
a diversity is springing up, or, more correctly,-per
haps, -is coming to light, among themselves, as is
utterly incompatible with that uniformity with
which they have plumed themselves, and for the
sake of obtaining which, among other reasons, the
Church was divided twenty-five years ago.. We
have always held the ground that such uniformity
is unnecessary, andlhat-there is a reasonable . and
safe .degree *of differenee Which may be -tolerated
SCHOOL
when our views in funda . ntals are agreed. This
is the sacied heirloom of e Presbyterian Church
, of this country, the sine 2 z non of her origin and
early existence, the goi,•a . thread which runs
through nearly her entir ; history, and which it
was rudely sought ton '.' in the troubles of a
quarter of ~a century 'ago,'.ut which was caught
•up : by a band of resolute , nd self-denying men,
and inwoven into the fair .00f of our own history
as a distinct branch °fib , church. We believe
it is now felt that such iberality must be tole
rated in the "Old SehoO ''branch of the church
also. How else shall Dr. i bornwell's hyper-high-
Churehism dwell togeth. in harniony with Dr.
Hodge's no-no-Churchis% ? How else shall the
high-strung views of th once of Ruling. Elder
propounded in the Semi ary at the South, and
advocated and to be adv ated at length in the
Arorlh, Carolina Presbyters n by one of the profes
sors, stand side by side w h the .exceedingly mo
derate opinions 'of theinceton Repertory, one
maintaining that the ruli elder is a minister, and
the other that be is a I man? How else shall
the serious discord betwe 11 the views of the LW-
Aim Revealed and the t 'Citings of Princeton on
ia ! ,y
the imputation of Adam' sin,be endured? Are
Danville, and Princeton, a d Columbia, and Chico.-
go expected to see eye to e? Are the educated
minds who are there to occupy posts of instruction,
taught by their very prealgilxianisrn toz4 no
supreme i Niaa, fi n f r . . -
the invigorating and libcoViiing air of this great
z t
and free country, to bed: up to any pitiful sp
i
sissim verba theory of slt
bseription to the most
excellent of, merely hum standards? We have
no idea carryingof the possibility f out any such
scheme of uniformity in, e""Old School" branch
of the Church. Provid • ee is wisely permitting
tit
these grave divisions of s timent to arise in that
body, doubtless in-order i bring them to the same
ground which we prudent ,adhered to at the di
vision, in forsaking whit i they forsook the origi
nal and,only practicable. «, is of a great Presby
terian unity.
. .
PUNCTUALITY IN
PRESBYTERI
The undersigned were ppointed a Committee
by the Third Presbytery of Philadelphia; at, its
sessions in Darby, April, 1860,' "To address the
ministers and sessions o' , this Presbytery on the
subject of punctuality in , ttendanee on the .meet
ings. of Presbytery, inclu, ing a prompt attention
to all the hours and ..se ••* - •of such, meetings for
1
devotional as well as bu.si ss pnrpo.ses."
The duty of attending , he sessions of Presby
tery, on the part Of ever minister, and of every
elder delegated by, his se sion, is, and should be
felt to, be_of high moral obligation.
Upon the Presbytery are\devolved the highest re-
I
sponsibilities, in examinin , licensing , and ordain
ingcandidate's in receivi gOr dismissina minis
ters:, informing or dissol ing pastoral - relations:
in judging ministers: an ,generally in directing,
counselling and , oversecing the churches, strength
ening the feeble, and extending thethe bounds of the
, - r
Redeemer's kingdom.
No member of the PrOytery has a right by
absenting himself voluntily, to throw upon his
brethren responsibilities, which, by his ordination
obligations; rest equally 'akion biinSelf:' nor is it
Justiee to hisfelloW presbyters to de.privethern of
his aid and counsel. ne,rniniiter or L delegaied
elder, who neglects to >attend the ecclesiastical
_b ei tiaa_ o r—wirtclr - lre - is - afitanubeicisT guilty ot Ace
neglect of one of his most Solemn duties, and is
justly liable to censure. ,
What has been 'said of the duty of attending
the meetings of Presbytery; applies equally to "a
prompt attention to alt - the'lloure and services of
such - meetings,'' tor 'devotional as well es business
purposei. 'lt argims ill fOr.the spirit of devotion,
when, default in attendiUg the opening or the
morning-'hours of PreSbytely,is excused onthe
ground that there is "noibusiness" to be done.
Devotionatmeetinge are t.. part of the bisiness of
Presbytery, and not :the past important ' Non
attendance upon them is, no small, grief. and scan
:dal often to the people among whom we meet.
The effect of thinly attended'meetings of Pres
hyterY, especially in our country and village eon
.gregations, when the people look forward with an
,ticipation to a spiritual feYst, is very undesirable.
The impression' left is hal The good accent
plisked is very little thiresult is painfully felt
by the Presbytery itself iathe indifferenceinard
-
fested by so many of our congregations as, to our
meaings or our servicesA ong them: ' - •
Withrthese who do not uestion the importance
Of a full and prompt atte dance upon ecclesiasti
cal 'judicatories, there is liability to temptation
0 1 3
from another source. 'W en it would occasion
inconvenience to be• punet allyupon the ground,
the suggestion naturally*" Ours, "It is not essen
tial thatl should' be ther • the business'will go
on without Me." But, Ii 'not each member - the
same right to presume tha he will •not be missed,
and so may not all be al*nt or late? Fidelity
demands' that each be in his place at the appoint
ed hour NO one has a right to presume that the
harm of his delinquency will be neutralized by the
faithfulness of others: . .
In the name of the Preitytery we •would there
fore affectionately urge uon all our ministers,
and upon the sessions of o r churches, the duty of
1
prompt and uniform attendance Upon all the meet
inns of Presbytery, a duty-nwed:to the Master, to
1 ..
our brethen, and to the Church over which God
hath made us overseer. ' A.
'-')-: Bespecifuily; NM.: Et ' OM, Ir,
' - • ' - •
e r
• No.i ir.V . D ULLES,
oAnuirvirat2'
PRESBYTER:IA NalfUßollo--.
,The following iriterestil
in the iasp iiiimbeioethe ij
Our church in this p1:1
Rev. Edward McMillan
Both church and• congregl
vaned under his adhlin
now engaged-in building]
'edifice, 40 by 60 feet, to v ,
andla cost about $6,000. I
adopted; the ladies - as' w•
are taking hold-; and= the
ready for the meetittg,'of
October.
I spent the fonrth , Sabb
this people. In the- mo
house. -
The Trustees of BLAO •
their annual meeting on
Ten Of the twelve mere ;
Board were present. T 4
C. Downer, and the Trea ,
bois,' Escr. , presented 'their, , 1
it appeared that'the Aced,
continued' through' the yea
MesSrd. Downer and Jaeo
settlement bad been had
and that the property of`
sists of $24,300 in nOtes,l
drawing interest' at 10 per
worth $12,000, l and front'
of land - Yet `Unsold:
• . The policy of the Board
6,entott o.l.irattgtliot,
I TTENDANOE UPON
DUTIES.
.Auxois
LACKBURN SEMINARY.
,
g particulars appear
' resbytery .Reporeer:
e now numbers 96.
the stated. supply.
tion have greatly ad
oration: , They are
new brick church
and on the old lot,
The -plan has:been - I
11 as the gentlemen.'
'tendon is to have it
Synod, `early in next
th in Jane last with
.ing they:filled the
URN SEMINARY held
uesday, June 26th.
re constituting the
Secretaiy, Rev. J.
rer, McKiny De
etoorts. Fran them
is School 'had"bden
under the charge of
Clarke' that a full
( he
N. Coffin, Esq..,
he Board now ebn
t22,ooo' of whielria
[tent:; the building,
1,000 to' 1,0,000 acres
ill be to carryon th'e
literary department on an economical scale, and
to husband the resources until the time comes
for putting the Theological Department in ope
ration.
J. C. Conkling, Esq., of Springfield, sent in
his resignation as a member of the Board, and
Isaic Scarritt, Esq., of Alton, was unanimously
chosen to fill the vacated place. •
SYNOD OF ' GENESES
This body held its annual meeting in the Cen
tral Church, Rochester, commencing on the 11th
of September. Ninety-four menabers were in it;
tendance.
The meeting is represented as having exhibited'
a delightful degree of harmony and a healthy and
vigorous spirit. The three educational institu
tions in central and western New York, Efamiltnn
College, Auburn Seminar:) , and Ingham Univer ,
sity, were represented at this meeting, all of them
being in a flourishing and healthy condition.
Rev. George Fische or the EVangelical Synod of
France, was present l and made an interesting ad
dress.' Rev. J. G. Butler,'of Philadelphia, advo
cated the claims of the publication committee.
The following report, on church extension, was
unanimously adopted
The Committe of Synod, on Church Extension,
feel, in making their report, that they cannot too
strongly urge the importance of this 'work, espe
cially at this critical period, in the history of our
AO h OIL OiB.fiftiii.o94l4l. 4 .
ed to tla.ction of our' last
eneral Assembly, have only become more and
more palpable since that time:
The work of self-help. which then appeared
neoesssary, has greatly increased; and to
,say nor
thing of new fields to be occupied, the question
presses upon us, how shall we meet the immediate
wants 'of even . those churches which have long
existed and been aided, but which are now in
want? Without discussing the causes which have
led to the fact; the committee deem it sufficient to
say that, in view of the numerous cases in which
the usual aid from other sources has been either
avowedly or virtually withheld, the work to be
done by the Church, Ex.tension Committee, and
the amounts to'be raised, exceed the requirements
of last year at least threefold.
And while the agent
,of this cause, upon this
field, Rev. A. M. Stow, has met with gratifying '
uneipected 'fineness, Where he has been able in
person to visit the .churches, there is yet great
need of self-exertion in all our congregations until
he shall be able to reach them.
In view of these facts, the committee would sub
mit the following resolutions:
Resolved, That the Synod fully endorse the ac
tion of the last General Assembly on this subject.
Resolved, That all pastors and sessions within
our bounds, be requested to adopt such measures
as shall seem to them best calculated, to interest
the churChes in this work, till the church exten
sion 'agent shall visit them.
Resolved, That'all our congreoations be earnestly
requested to take a collection for this object at as
early .a day as possible. .
PHILADELPHIA FOURTH PRESBYTERY.
•
Presbytery met in Belvidere, 2d • Church,
Tuesday,evening, 18th Septemcer. The opening
sermon was by Rev. Charles Bliss, of Beverly,
Moderator. During the sessions, twenty-one mi
nisters, and nine elders were present. The Rev.,
Cornelius Conkling was elected Moderativ, .and
the Rey. Messrs: and. and Mallery, Clerks.
:Besides the usual devotional exercises, and, the
ordinary business.of thelessions, Presbytery ex
amined and licensed, I)Ir. George J. Mingine.,
The folldwing minute, reported by a committee
previously' appointed, in-relation to the decease, of
Rev.:Georg,e Chandler, was placed on record.
_ft The _Presbitery—roacamt.arith •
death of the Rev. George= Chandler, pastorof the
First Presbyterian Church in 'Kensington. By
forty-six years of faithful labor and:holy example,
he had not only won the hearts of thousands, -but
built up one of the largest ehurclies of the world.
kreat-success, as it was the result of patient,
well-directed labor, rather than of eminent gifts or
learning, gives encouragement to us all to rely for
die enlargement of 'the church, , and the salvation
of souls, on the plain, earnest, and faithful
preaching of the gospel. The people of Kensing
ton, without respect to sect or party, have agreed
to erect a marble monument to the memory of
Brother Chandler, as a philanthropist. -`:His
noblest monument will be found in souls immor
tal, enlightened and sanctified by hiilabors."
The next stated meeting of Presbytery will be
held in Kensington Ist Church, 2d Tuesday
evening of April next, 7f o'clock.
T. J. SHEPHERD, Stated ark.
MBE . TEE' WHITE -MOUNTAINS.
Profile House; Franconia Notch, Aug% 30;4860.
EDITOR: AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN
Dear Brother,—Did you ever visit, the White
Mountains of New'Hampshire not, the most
imposing, And by far the most striiing mountain
scenery, east of the Rocky Mountains, you have
yet to see. Be persuaded by' me, next year, to
turn your editorialleet in this direction., and you
will be my debtor as long as you live. Such are
the facilities for travelling., now-a=days, thatit will
require but little of either time or money, to bring
yOu from Philadelphia into the midst of:one' of the
most stupendous and secluded mountain scenes'
the continent. Twenty-four hour; and some - eight
or ten dollars, will carry' you -from New York into
the midst of this wonderful "notch ; " and; bete
arriVed, you will find one of the' largest hotels in
the country,'whose accommodations, for the com
fort and pleasure of visitor's; cannot be surpassed.
One of the first Iliin'ge, whibh attracted my at
tention, on coming Up the valley from Plymouth,
Where we left the railroad train, to the notch, was
to 'change in the teinPerature and character of
the 'atmosphere. ' Poriwo months my thermome-
ter'had,been ranging among the nine t ies; and only.
. 4
a day before, I hid found the heat in Neiv 'York , 1
peediary OppieSsive, bui here the mercury indi-' l l
cated at sunrise of the morning succeeding my ar-
rival, 38*; and, on no' morning daring my Stay,
has it stood above 'so°. With this . bracing tem
' to' 'be also
perature, there, seems to e something peon- -
Early exhilirating and animating, inclining one to
walk, run, or climb the mountains.
The scenery here at the notch, is very peCuliar
and; very grand. No pictures or lithOgraphs I I
have ever seen, do any justice to it. The moun- '
tains which constitute and form the notch, are
some three thousaiul feet high, and it seems as if •
,
the Almighty , by a single stroke of his hand, had
cleitihern, Solid, granite as they are, froni top, to
bottom ; and now 'their perpendicular' cleft sides, i
With only a few hundred feet bet Ween them, con-
stitute the justly 'eeletrated "Franconia.Arotch," 1 2
of the White Mciuntains. On the little plat of 4
ground lying, between , the, mighty granite bases 'of,
these' overhanging precipfces,is planted our really
magnificent Profile UntiSe: This house has aCCOM
iikcidtions for some three `hundred and fifty visi
~
tors, having how, at the close of the season, per
,
haps . ,
one half "that number. Two miles and a
half below, is another, the 4aftryette, at the foot
of Meint Lafayette; and still two'and a half miles
further down the' notch or gorge, is aiother, 'the
Plitine Hoiise, Of grand dimensions and 'superior
aecommodations
•
TUE MYSTERIOUS FACE
The Profile'House derives its ;mule fro,
t
most remarkable natural curiosity in this section.
It is "The Old _Man of the Mountains." The
mountain which constitutes the western wall of
this gorge, three thousand feet from - its base as - -'
sumes a form, which, seen from a certain point,
presents in striking and startling fidelity the pro-
file of the human face. The likeness is not ima
ginary at all, but is really so accurate and coin
. plete, as to:Pdefy your endeavors to resolve it, in
your conceptions, into fortuitous forms of rock;
and you cannot' resist the- impression - of a'eertain
mysterious awfulness, from the solernn, silent,
eternal grandeur, with which that truly human
face gazes - forever upward into the measurelese
heights of ether, towards the throne of the Infinite.
Chiselled in granite by the hand of the Omnipo
tent, the old man, from 'his starry height, looks
down with, silent.. ustronPled, awful indifference
. •
upon ail our' inort4 troubles and conflicts here be
low. I know not ho,w it is with others, but;
having seen w him, the 'bid man haunts me. Ido
not wonder that the untutored Indian thought him
the image of the Great Spirit.
At the base of the mountain lies a beautiful
little lake, clear as crystal, whose perfectly placid
surface, at the close of the day, reflects, with
striking fidelity, the features of the old man, and
TO'rt<.-.7-- 1 4 -- oporepliately called !‘ The Old Nan's
Mirror." UnfortfittaAy_tb e old rami--IS — tmakwa
upside down in the water, diying, and, not
immediately coming to the surface, you can
scarcely resist the impression that he is in danger
of drowning; but then, as he does not struggle,
and you can see that he still retains' his undis
turbed repose, head downward under water, the
awe of the supernatural again creeps over you,
. and you instinctively turn away for relief.
THE VIEW FROM MOUNT LA FAYETTE.
There are other natural curiosities in the neigh
borhood well worth a visit, as the Flume, the Ba
sin, the Fool, ete., etc. But the great attraction
at this part of the White Mountains for those who
have strength, to avail themself of it, is the
ascent of Mount La Fayette, and the view from
its summit. This peak rises, almost precipitously,
to the height of 5,300 feet. The ascent is gene
rally made by horses, and is nearly four miles by
the shortest . practicable route. It is a labor tci ,
reach its summit, but may be made by ladies ac
customed to horseback riding, without danger or
very great fatigue,: except of the patience.,. The last
500 feet rises as a gigantic granite pyramid above
the line of vegetation, the diameter of the summit
being about 100 feet. On this granite peak the
spectator stands, not only above, but-entirely iso
lated from all the mountains around him. The
view from this summit is one of ,surpassing gran
deur and magnificence. It overlooks New,Hamp
shire and portions of-Maine, the Atlantic, Massa
chusetts, Vermont, and ,Canada. It is said by
those who have seen both,,to be quite equal, if not
superior to that from - the summit ofMt. Washing
ton. Appropriately, therefore, does it bear the
name of Washington's compatriot; almost, if not
quite - ; his peer. Ten little lakes may be counted
from its top. On the, east, the view , is as it it
were an immense circle or nest of huge, mountain
billows, dashing. up from all directions against
each other to a height of two and three thousand
feet, and then, suddenly, converted into granite.
And there they stand, great granite,-waves, shoot
ing here and there up into, peaks, reposing in the
beneath
the. White drapery of the pasaing clouds. ;'ln
my mountain views,. and I have . seen many, I
know no one view for interest, solemnity, and bil
lowy grandeur surpassing this. In full view, be
fore you, to the east, towers. Washington, (6,200
ft.,) the monarch, of mountains , as of men, while,
appropriately, on, either side, of less height, but
all giants, stand e mounts. Madison, Jefferson,
Adams, Franklin, Clay, Webster, etc., etc.,--a
-grand and glorious conclave of mountains. These
are worthy representatives- of worthy names.—
Northward and southward, from: La Fayette, you
have an extensive view, far as the eye can reach,
of open and cultivated country, contrasting finely
with, the wild. and rugged mountain scene on-the
east, -while banked along against the Whole west-.
ern horison, and stretching, far, as the, eye can
reach, from north to south, , lies: the beautiful
Green Mountain chain of Vermont, altogether con
stituting one vast panorama, ;the ,like of which
you may-go far through the . world and not find
equalled.
Tn'one who loves to contemplate the grand And
imposing., forms. of natnrer--to study their in their
harmonies contrasts, and to give _himself up
to their impressions and elevating,influences, and
through nature to climb 'upwards to nature's God,
this, sublime view from the summit,.ofl,sfayette
will ever possess peculiar attractions, mid a thou
sand times repays the labors of the ascent.. While
gazing, as, you there never weary of gasing,,upon
the glorious works of God, you..repeatedly . will
exclaim, with the prince
. of poets
"These are thy glorious works, Parent of gbod;
Almighty, tbinethis universal frante,
Thus wondrous fair, Thyself how wondrous then!"
and, instinctively, that bare, rocky summit, scarce
.
ly a hundred feet in diameter, lifted up in lonely
seclusion five thousand feet into the heavens, will
become to you an altar of praise, and an oratory
of prayer.
But now, the length of this letter, and the bre
vity of my time, admonish me to say, for the pre
,sent,—Adieu.
BELT._
EDITOR'S TABLE.
THE WORKS OF FRA.prcp , RAZCON, Baton cif Vern
lam, Viscount of St. Albans, and Lord High Chan
cellar of 'England. Collected and .Edited by James
Spedding, A.M., of Trinity.Collegek:CamWdge,
Leslie. Ellis, El. D., and potiglas Dentin Heath, late
Fellows of Trinity College, CambriAge. " VOL if.,
being Vol. I. of the Literati and PrOfeasionalWeorits.
Boston. Published by Brown & Taggard; ;Large
12mo. pp. 461.
This is a most worthy and successful attempt to
ut the works of one of the ,great lights ef th e
scientific. world in a,befitting dress.
.is credit
able to the public that demands the issue of, works
of :such solid learning—creditable-to .the-..editors
:whose: prefaces and, annotations throw light upon
,the,author without being,obtrusite, and, creditable•
.to the publishers who here offer to the public a - work
which, in, paper, typography, and - .binding,:really
leaves nothing to be desired., The
„clear. chase
ters from the . foundry of H. O. - Houghton, .irn
pressed upon the substantial and delicately tinted'
paper, form a page most inviting _to. the eye ; while
the size and shape of the volume are ,euttally agree;
able to the; hand. The. engraved copy of a bust
, of Lord Bacon, while a boy, will be interesting.
Mr. Henry is the , agent in, this-city.
MESSRS. REM "Dit " CAarhoir have in press, "A
Tribute to Dr. kane:and Other Poems," byGeo.
Chapman, of *is., and "Lives,
Labors,add Loves eilhe Birdi," by i .
.~- w~ .
-_''t_.
riLECZURES ON AG.l)6l' . y Wm. Hamilton, Bart,
Professor of .ogle anti.Mitaphylies in the University
of Edinburgh.`',EditekhyAlurßev,:Henry, L. Manse!,
B. D LL. D., and .1 - ohn Veitch, M. )11 7 / Boston : Gould
& Lincoln. Royal tiro. pp. 731.' Cloth, $3. For
sale by Smith, English & C0.,...N0r"23 North Sixth St.,
This is the authorized American Edition of the
Lectures oxt Logic, published both in gcotland
and this country since the death of the distin
guished author. They comprise a second and con
cluding portion of Prof. Hamilton's Biennial
course which he commenced on the election to the
Professor's chair - lit 1836, and repeated with but
slight alterations till his decease twenty years af.
terwards. There is also an extensive appendix,
containing papers, composed for the most part,
during this period. The Index alone covers over
thirty pages of fine type in double columns. The
mechanical execution of the volume admirably
combines beauty and strength. As to the con
tents, they are the result of the most earnest appli
cation of an analytic and powerful Scottish intellect,
to the subtle and profound problems of the Ger
man metaphysicians as no British thinker yet had
attempted it, while yet it is Sir Wm. Hamilton,
the original and acute Scottish thinker in and after
it all. A great book, designed long to hold its
place among the movements of human specula
tion.
THE PRONOUNCING BIBLE. The Holy Bible, con
airnag—the"Onl aturTinWTeetamente, translated out
of the Original , .Tnagnee-__The_Pxoper Names of which
and Numerous other Words:, being accurately accent
ed in the Text, and Divided into Syllables as they
ought to be Pronounced, according to the Orthoepy
of John Walker. By Israel Alger, Jun., A. M. Phi
ladelphia: Wtn. S. Young, 1023 Race Street.
This beautiful Bvo. volume, substantially bound
in Turkey and heavilYgilt, is a worthy exterior to
the best of all books, and highly creditable to the
enterprise and good taste of the Philadelp Ma pub
lisher, Mr. Young. Its peculiarity as a pro
nouncing Bible, is. so valuable, and would prove
such a decided convenience to multitudes, that it
only needs to be known in order to be appreciated.
There are scarcely any, especially readers of the
Word in public, who will not frequently find it
helpful in a moment of embarrassment.
BENEFICII7III CHRISTI. THE BENEFIT OF
CHRIST'S, DEATH ; or, The Glorious Riches of
God's Free Grace, which every true believer receives
by Jesus Christ and him crucified. Originally written in
Latin, and attributed to Aonio Paleario; now reprinted
from au armlet& English Translation, with an Histo
ricid Sketch of the book and its writer. Philadelphia:
Presbytexian. Ptiblication Committee, 1334 Chestnut
Street. lfitno. pp. 131. Price 38 cents.
We do not wonder this little book of the 16th
century survived the violence of Jesuitical 'spite,
and re-appears to preach to this laterlage the pre
cious truths of the Gospel. Its spirit is so de
vout, its statements so clear, and ita style so lively,
so warm and so illuminated with happy illustra
tions; it is so personal and yet so . Scriptural that
it seems Calculated to take a deep hold upon the
reader, and to become a dear and cherished` closet
companion. The historical sketch- is, deePly inte
resting, and will have a place in our columns
shortly; - s:'•
A COMMENTARY ON THE SONG OF SOLOMON:
By George Burrowes, D. D. Second Edition, Revfrsed.
Philadelphia; W. S. &A. Martien. 12mo: pp. 454.
This is not only a thorough, painstaking'work;
it is a labor of -love, calculated to impart to the
study of a puzzling and muchmisundeustoodhoOk,
an rincommon.:degree of interest. .Ttletatttltur,cre
: ;fArtiLebeOlr as ail
goner ing r tbe
reciprocal loise of Christ and his people, .11e
views it with the eye of the poet, no leas than that
of the commentator, and brings to its illustration
a ilch , imagination, and a store of apt quotations
from : oriental and occidental, poetry, from the
classi'es, and from the hest .recOrdsof travel in the
East. The typography and 'paper are of very
best.
PAIIRELETS
BLACKWOOR's EDINBURGH MAGAZINE for Sep
tember. New. York :*.tecinara scOtt & Company.
Philadelphia : W B Zie,ber'
CONTENTS:—Sir, Robert PeeL Great WOi r --
Mad. Wits? King. Arther and his Round Table.
The. Struggle , at Melazzo, &o.
TxE ECLECTIC MAGAZINE for October con
tains a portraitof Garibaldi, by Sartain, "after . a
pkotograßli," with an , extended and valuable mis
cellany from the foreign magazines.
THE LADIES' HOME MAGAZINE for . 'October.
By. T. S. Arthur and Virginia F.: TOwnsend. Phi
ladelphia : & 06., 323 Walnut St.
=ME
GOPEY'S LADY' BooK for October: Edited
by. Airs. Sarah J. Hale and Z,. A. Gbdey. Louis
A. Godej, Philadelphia_
ITARPrat's NEw MovisiY MAGAZINE for Oc
tober.
The.illustrated articles are more numerous than
common, which is doubtless aceounted for in part
by the Aet,, that, two,of them are, from books pub
lished by the Nessti.„l4aTpers, namely :—" The
Amer Steppes," . and Journey to the. Land of
the Moon.'!, There are sixty,or seventy illustra
tions, good ones too, in all.
THE Non:Tar - Barris% REVIEW. No. LXV.
Anoust Ameriean Edition Vol. 28
No 1, 'New - York : Leonard Scat & Company.
Philadelphia c W. B. Metter.
CONTENTS :- - -Recent Discoveries in Astronomy.
Dr. 3'.iirC;VWl3 Life and Works. Scottish Nation
ality SociaLand intellectual. Colonial Constitu-
tions and Defences. Recent Poetry. M. Thiers'
History of the Consulate and the Empire. Imag
inative Literature. V La 'Write sur la Russie.
Recent Rationalism in the, Chuich of England.
Recent Theories on Meteorology. Recent Publi
cations.
F:A. CA SSEDY, O CAlit/YEN; N. will shortly
'phblish Historidal anil Chronological Almanac
for 1861`, to contain: Chronological. tables
front the diseoliery of America to the present time,
with fall statistics, rshlyiving the growth of our
- A
r,.
REMEMBRANCE . tIF PAST DAYS. A Memorial
Sermonibrthellev. Wmo H. M'earer„Pastor of
Presbyterian Church of Evans'ollie,' Ind., deliver
edlieforoithelehureh and congregation assembled,
Fehr:km-y.26,1860, for the last lime in the old
:house , of worship. Published -by. request,
r<: Mr. W. A. Booth ,reports 314,932.01. in all, re
velved for the relief of.sufferers in Syria. £2,500
are reported as linving- reached Beirut. from Eng
,lish•and Amerkan..'sourees. -There is an , urgent
call for east-off :clothing: and even rags -te rproVide
against the.eold;.damp Syria winter.
The Librail'ot the • late Rev. T. H. Beveridge
is being disposed of at private sale, front 3 to 9
o'elnek, P., .4„ in A,lte Cherob on Run sireet, west
a 21st. Sale contknues till Oetobei 6th.
#
-
.f4r
SYRIA