glw liArtrrio.,:: . :. 'rL'kl',l)ll,crilin
New Series, Vol. VI, No. 16.
Strictly in Advance $2.50, Otherwise $3- Jo'nnA.Weir 15i1 11 9 69
Posta& 20cts, to be paid where delivereu. PHILADELPHIA , THURSDAY,APRIL 22, 1869.
gmtriran Itubljtrrian.
TTIURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1869
THE RE-BNION-SHALL •IT BE NARROW
OR COMPREHENSIVE ?
There are two alternatives, both of a radical
nature, one•or the other of which must be dis
tinctly recognized in any safe Re-union : it must
be based upon complete harmony of sentiment; or,
if that does not exist, it must be'broad and gene
rous enough to comprehend the differences as
not conflicting with agreement in essentials. On
the basis of a thorough and minute agreement in
doctrine and polity, Re-union presents no prob
lem for the wisdom, sagacity or patience of any
one to solve. And this simple thing alone it is
that some extremists believe to be proper or safe
for the churches to undertake. Let those who
agree come together—that is the extent of their
re-union sentiment. To their minds, Calvinism
is a. system so compact and vital in all its parts,
that it has scarcely a jot, or a tittle, or a nail
pairing of speculation which can be dispensed
with, without impairing its essence. There are
others, who play into the hands of this class, by
their anxiety to prove that the New Scheol have
abandoned their doctrinal peculiarities and come
over to the positions of the Old School; or vice
versa, that the Old School have softened their
rigor and have substantially adopted the position
of the New School. Thus the idea that Re-union
proceeds on the ground of substantial identity of
view, and that such identity is necessary to its
success, is strengthened.
In our judgment, this is a false and dangerous
position. It covers up important facts. It casts
•
dishonor upon the history of both branches of, the
Church. It ignores great currents of opinion.
Its tendency is to suppress, obliterate and con
found things which are distinct, which ought to
be distinct, and which it is a mark of moral cow
ardice or obtuseness not to recognize as distinct.
And it degrades the notion of Christian and
Protestant, no less than Presbyterian union, as
something impracticable without a dull dead
level of uniformity in belief: a new Romanism
on Protestant ground.
Let us cease the idle effort to persuade one
another that we think alike ; that all the recog
nized differences between the two schools are in
cluded in the little arc, within which the minute
philosophers of Princeton and Allegheny believe
Calvinists may oscillate without impairing the
integrity of the system. Let us say clearly, intelli
gibly, union or no union, that we do not accept
the realism of the Confession, or the Cocceian
gloss of the federal headship, which Princeton
puls upon it; that while believing thoroughly in
the Scriptural statements of a moral union be
tween Adam and his posterity, we refuse to be
bound by any theory of that union that is or has
been current in the Church; that we repudiate
all such notions of the nature of the fallen will
of man, as must destroy his conscious responsi
bility, and convert him into a dead machine ;
that we would supplement the grave defects of
our Confession of Faith, as was suggested in a
celebration of the Centenary of its formation, in
a meeting of Scotch divines over which Chalmers
presided, by a clear declaration of that which is
the very burden of the gospel, that Christ died
iu order truly to bring salvation within the
reach of all men. 'Whil:t holding to the vicari
ous nature of Christ's sufferings and their rela
tion to the attribute of divine justice, let it be
clearly understood that we consider it presump
tuous in any teacher or school of theology, to in
vade the sacred mystery of the atonement, with
any philosophical theory of its nature and effect
which is alone to be accepted as authoritative.
Let it be nnderstood, that as the fathers who
framed the Confession did not believe that all
wisdom died with Augustine and Calvin, but
deemed themselves capable of doing a better
work for their own day, so we cannot be brought
to believe that all wisdom died with the West
minster Assembly of divines, and that within the
clear, safe limits of the grand Scriptural system
they taught, there have been, and still are going
on, developments of opinion, quite as worthy of
recognition as those which they put specifically
on record. They themselves, as the New School
men of their day, vtotild doubtless be the first to
reprove the blind exlusiVeness of those who
bind. .heinselves to-day to the circle of their
ideas.
Unity, uniformity,—that is the drift of those
who wish the qualifying clauses of the First Ar
ticle erased, and who cry out against the stead
fastness of our Committee to the sentiment, while
consenting to give up the words. Unity uni-
Tormity,—that is the platform towards which
those are willing to drift who on both sides ply
the work of extenuation, who cry out upon a
frank exposition of differences as a disturbance of
the peace, and who expect, in some favorable mo
ment of good feeling, to carry through a union,
in which all differences are ignored. Such a
faulty union, if any, those who cannot trust their
cause to the future, but must have it 'to-day or
never, will obtain.
And some innative weakness there must be
In him who condesoends to victory
Such as the present gives, and cannot wait
It is the honor of our branch of the ,Church
that it has openly pursued the policy of compre
hensiveness ; that it has grown up fresh and elas
tic in the invigorating atmosphere of free opin
ions. Only last week, we saw and participated
in the reception of a candidate for ordination,
who did not believe it in any sense true that the
sinner could repent ; that he was absolutely impo
tent, and who knee nothing of the distinction
between natural and moral inability. There , was
perhaps, not a single member of the Presbytery
which voted unanimously to sustain hits; 'but held
to that distinction as; of great importance; yetin
the true spirit of Calvinistic -eonaprehensiveness
of our branch, he was received. If Re-union is
to be on the basis' of the comprehension of all the
recognized types of Calvinism, our bran'eh, and
ours alone, is; and always has been, on Re-union
ground. And it is ground that never should be
stirrendered; and the tenure of which should
never fora moment be obscured .in a haste for
Re-union somehow or anyhow:
- The " mutual confidence" basis of ReuniOn must
be tested by reference to this phase of the matter.
Is it mutual confidence in the oneness of each oth
er's sentiments; or mutual confidence in each'other's
sentiments in spite of recognized differences ?
, The first sort.
of mutual confidence' is mutial ver
dancy. The second sorts manly and generous,
and never be caught shrinking nervously
from the frank avowal of its opinion, such as was
given in the rejected clauSes of the First Article.
This is the only sort of confidence which is worth
a`stravr in the contemplated Re-union.
A Comprehensive Union, based Upon the spe
cific recognition of minor differences and liber
ties of interpretation within the circle of a gene
ral genuine Calvinism—that is our. watchword;
on the eve of this important meeting of the Gen
eral Assemblies ;—that or postponement of the
whole subject to better times.
PEN PICTURES,
BY REV. PETER STRYKER,
,D.D.
No. L THE NON CHURCH-ATTENDANT
He is not a Pagan or an Infidel. He is only
a careless man, who works hard all the week to
make money, and thinks he needs Sunday as a
day of rest and recreation. On the week days
he rises early, and without a word of thanks or
petition to the. God who has made and preserv
ed him, he bolts down his, breakfast, and flies
off to his business. But on the Sabbath-day he
sleeps late, rises slowly, eats long, and wrapped
in his dressing gown, and delighting in his new
slippers, he lights his segar, stretches his limbs
over a chair, and reads the Sunday newspaper.
The wife cannot go to church, because her hus
band expects to have a sumptuous dinner to
day. She, must, as his slave, consider her body
and soul are his, and dev,ote herself to his wishes.
Very likely some of his boon companions are ex
pected, and there must be a grand display as well
as a bountiful supply upon the table. .Conscience
tells her this is not quite •right, but she is only
a woman, and of course her, opinions upon such
matters are not to be consulted. She must sub
mit to her lord and master. He is, the head of
the household, and his word, nay his wish is law.
Duty to God and herself, must be a secondary
consideration.
And how about the children ? Well, the baby
is dandled for a few moments on papa's knee,
and then with little Tom, the second baby, is
sent up into the nursery. The older children,
to get them out of mamma's way, and keep them
from tormenting papa with their noise, are sent
to Sabbath-school with the permission to stay to
church, if they want to. Blessed children !
may they, learn a better way than that pursued
by their inconsiderate parents I
Dinner time comes. The expected guests have
arrived. Without a word of devout acknowl.
edgment, but with a deal of fashionable ceremony,
strangely commingled with; jokes and repartee,
the hour passes,—very likely an ; hour of glut
tony and dissipation.
After dinner a game of cards must be in
dulged in. " The better the day, the better the
deed." And then the carriage comes, and mine
host with his friend takes a ride to the Park..
We do not lift the curtain any farther to see the
Sabbath breakers trying the speed of their horses
by the way, or stopping at some " Gem" for, a
drop of good cheer.
Of course, after this round of gaiety the head
of the household is too weary to attend evening
service. Even the dramatic performances of
Rev. Mr. Dashaway, who preaches just around
the corner, cannot attract him. He is weary
and must retire early, that he may be well rested
for the coming week's duties. Thus life glides
away, and God is forgotten; the interests of the
soul are unheeded, and the influence which
might be powerful for good is all, averse to piety,
and given to Satan and the world.
How many there are who answer to this pic
ture! ,My next neighbor is one of this sort. A
very clever man he is, affable and pleasant in his
social - bearing, but he is not interested in
gious matters. , What , can I do to change his
mind in this particular ? Perhaps, reader, you.
know oe many men who answer to this descrip
tion. They form ; a very large class in the com
munity.. Some of these carelessi people live in:
the country, but not many of them. The social
habits. of people who reside in our rural districts
where religion prevails, is such that a man, toy be
respectable; must ,have his pew in church, and
himself attend at least ' But not so
ip our large cities. There, people may lose them-,
selves quite easily in a crowd, and each'one does
in this particular, as he pleases. ,
It is an interesting question, why•there are • so
many moral and respectable people in our cities,
who call in the clergyman to weddings and fu
nerals, but never frequent the house• of God?.
High pew rents •may sometimes laccount for: it,
but, not always. When these people are interested,
'they will pay a .good price for the gospel as well
as for concerts and bails, and other amusements.
We feel quite confident that the free pew system
would not attract them. • This would be too com
mon, and might bring them into, society they
would not relish. The secret of it is , carnal feel
ing. They are indifferent to religious matters,
and need to be educated ,to new habits.
This devolves upon all God's people, a great
responsibility. Would they could se it, and feel;
it I Sermons, and tracts, and Bibles, and. news
paper articles will nob-reach the4"people,lsimply
because, they do not read them or hear 'them.
What is required is; that Christian neighbors
shall lay aside their various excuses;and courage
ously, prudently, persistently use their influence
personally with those who are non-church-at
tendants,,and persuade them to accompany them
to the house of God. It can be done. Those
who shake, the head at this declaration,• probably
have never tried to exert ,this.happy influence.
If they have, and have failed, let them try it
again. Let them have faith and perseverance in
this, as they have in other matters of not half the
importance, and they will be sure to succeed.
Let them mingle prayer with-Christian effort, and
He who turns the hearts, of men as, he does the
rivers of waters, may, give them their earnest de-
Try it, dear brother or sister ! It may cost
you an effort, perhaps a great effort; but that ef
fort will enlarge your own heart, develop your
Christian character, add much to your pious en
joyment, encourage your minister, strengthen the
Church, and may save a soul from 'death, and
bide a•multitude of sins. Of this you may be
sure, it will glorify God, and thus accomplish the
great end of your being.
THE NEW CHRISTIANITY'S LESSON TO
THE OLD.
There has been a strong impression abroad, foi!
several years, that the newly gathered churches
among the heathen were exceeding those at the•
old centres, in the practical fruits of their Chris
tian consecration ;
.but it has been reserved to a
furloughed missionaly from Broosa, Turkey, Rev.
J. K. Greene, to put the comparison into the
form of exact statement, which he has recently
done in The Advance. It appears that there are
in Asia Minor precisely the same 'limber of
Evangelical churches as there are Congregational
churches in Minnesota----sixty•three ; while in the
Minnesota , churches there are, in the aggregate,
only ninety-nine more members than in those in
Asia Minor: 2,865, and 2,766 being the numbers
respectively. The first fact in . his statement that
strikes us is, that while only five of these Minne
sota churches have pastors, thirty-six of those in
Turkey are thus supplied. Second and still more
remarkable fact: While only eight of the -Minne
sota churches are self-supporting, twenty-one of
those in Tuikey are.
Our denominatiOnal divisions have much to do
with the figures thus far. In a new and rapidly
developing country, and where Christianity is the
acknowledged religion, denominational rivalry,
leading to Such meagre results at first, must be
allowed; in the hope that the results will be
grander in the end. If Congregationalists and
N. S. Presbyterians were united in Minnesota,
and if they alone had the field, as in Asia,Minor,
the figures would be far more impressive. But
by what line of argument shall we extenuate the
force of the comparisons which follow ? We con
fess ourselves at a loss for any other explanation
than the superior quality of the Christianity of
these lately-reclaimed half-idolatrous Armenians.
The total of contributions of the sixty-three
Minnesota churches for general and home purpo
ses, during 1868, reduced to a gold standard, is
put at $15,536 by Mr. Greenei Those , of the
Turkish churches for 1867, in gold, •were
$13,055.
By, a careful estimate it is ascertained that the
average value of property, per family, in the
Congregational societies of Minnesota is $3,568.
On the other hand, the average value of the pro
perty of 1 3 !rotestant families in Turkey is not more
than WO. Aaain the average income of the
first named families, reduced to gold, is $550 ;
that of the Turkish Protestant families, $250.
Judging the gifts of these new converts by the
value of their property, they give eight or nine
times as much, in proportion, as do the old estab
lished Christians of Minnesota,; judged by their
annual income, they give twice as much The
comparison with the thirty-six churches cornpris
.
ing the Synod of .-Minnesota (N. •S.), in May,
1868, is somewhat more favorable to the Ameri
can Christians : These churches containing 1956
members, contributed $21,500 to all purposes, say
$15,000 in gold, or nearly $8 per member during
the year. The Congregationalists gave a trifle
over $5, and the Armenian converts a trifle less
than $5 each, in gold: The average contributions
of all the members of the Presbyterian churches,
of both schools, last year, were about $ll each,
in gold. The average annual income 'of the , fam
ilies of those comparatively wealthy churches
must be quadruple that of the Armenian. con
verts, and the net result of the 'calculation is, that
proportionably these converts of half a genera
,
don, give twice as much as ourselves, whose an
cestors were converted to Christianity; a'thousand
years ago l
CERRENT TOPICS.
—The Prussian journals state that a Protes
tant jubilee is to be held next Autumn at Berlin,
as a sort of counterpoise to the Ecumenical Coun
cil at Rome.
—Excellent service has been done by Haiyer's
Weekly, for Protestantism, in the recent discus
sions upon convent life in England. By skillfully
designed and finely executed engravings, the con
trast between the ideal and the real life of the
nunnery, and between its unnatural loneliness
and the beauty of -domestic life' has been ef
fectively set forth. We rejoice that the popular
illustrate& press is put to such good uses, es
pecially wlen we think of its frequent gross per
versoes.
—Column after column of the secular papers
of Rochester and Lockport are devoted to ac
counts of Mr. Hammond's meetings, with full re
ports of his remarks on the Scriptures and
sketches of his sermons. The printing of the
poems.which he recites, for example the long one
entitled, "No sect in heaven,'' creates an im
mense demand for the papers containing them.
In one of his meetings, in Loc,kport, Mr. Ham
mond declared that the Rochester Evening Ex
press had been, the means of a great revival in
lova through the printing of religious intelligence.
—The 0. S. Presbytery of California has
passed resolutions warmly expressing sympathy
and approbation towards our Presbytery of San.
Jose, in regard to the, trial and deposition of
Mr. Hamilton of Oakland. The California cor
respondent of the Congregationalist mentions
Rev. David McClure and Prof. Durant, of Oak
land College, as among those giving countenance
to Mr. Hamilton.
—Mr. Barnes''Commentary on the •Psalms is
now published complete, in three volumes by
Messrs. Harper & Brothers, New York. We
give the closing paragraph of the work, reserving
fuller comment-i to another occasion :
"I cannot close this work without emotion. I
3annot lay down my, pen at the end of this long
task, without feeling that with me the work' of
life is nearly over. Yet I could close it out in
no better place than in finishing' the Exposition
of this book ; and the language with which the
Booksof Psalms closes seem to me to be emi
nently appropriate to all that I have experi
enced. All that is past,—all in the prospect of
what, is to come, calls for a long, a joyful and
a triumphant HALLE LIMA Ei."
—Singularly enough, while we were writing
our inquiry in regard to the status of Dr. Wad
worthin the reunited Church, in view of his
denunciations of the doctrine of Limited Atone
ment, the Wires were carrying to our city the
doctor's affirmative to a call from a church of
another denomination, in some respects more
rigid and old-fashioned than his own—the Re
formed (Dutch). Encouraged by a number of
Genesee Evangelist., No. 1196.
1 Home & Foreign Miss. *2.00.
t Address :-1334 Chestnut Street
his friends, the church, worshipping at the cor
ner of Tenth and Filbert streets, sent him the
call which he promptly accepted, and the distin
guished and eloquent preacher is perhaps already
,on his way by steamer to the East. The benefit
to the struggling church of his pulpit labors
will be great, but the whole Reformed Church
will be advantaged by receiving a divine whose .
published sentiments are so far from doctrinal
rigidity or narrowness.
—Various indications of serious interest in the
relations of unemployed ministers and vacant
churches will be found in our Religious Intelli
gence, but we cannot see any encouraging ad
vance in the solution of the problem involved;
i. e., how to bring the parties interested together.
The Presbytery of Luzerne (O. 5.,) proposes
a more vigorous supervision and a holding of
ministers and churches responsible to the Pres
bytery; a course which the Third Presbytery is
endeavoring to pursue. And we believe there is
not a vacant or unsupplied pulpit in the Third
Presbytery, so that if there are unemployed min
isters on its roll, the Presbytery can do nothing
for them. The subject deserves much study. A
Sustentation Fund is needed. A Church Exten
sion spirit is needed by Presbyteries and unem
ployed ministers. A Bureau of Exchange,
gathering up and classifying facts .drawn from
every part of the Church and acting as the agent
of both parties is conceivable, but whether feasi
ble or not, is quite a different question. It is a
perplexing case, but we believe as times improve,
the difficulties will much diminish.
—A correspondent at the State Capital writes :
" Your late editorial—' A steady hand at the
helm' meets the views of all good men
who have watched the course of a Legislature
that will live only as notorious for corruption
and its shameless prostitution, to the worst classes
and passions of society. If, as is imtimated in a
late number of the N. Y. Evangelist, the Legis
lature at Albany has exceeded our own in bad
ness, it can only be accounted for by its greater
ahility.. Good 'nen:stand confounded and hor
ror-stricken at the course of our Legislators.
They know not where to turn for relief. It was long
supposed that the Senate was possessed of a dig
nity and self-respeet that would save the com
monwealth from public shame. It is not so.
The evening sessions have been disgraced by
public drunkenness of senators. Corruption is
believed to be as full grown there as anywhere.
Good men there are in both branches, but they
have been overborne by the venality, cunning
and skill of others. The Legislature has been
notorious as a great Divdree Court, where all the
scandals .of unhappy marriages were publicly
ventilated to the amusement of our Law-makers.
It is sincerely wished by many that the Legisla
ture could be convened but once in three years.
We should hope then for some diminution of
public vices."
—The administration under which we are
living will be famous in history, as the first
which, gave practical proof of the over
throw of prejudice against color, by the ap
pointment of a black. man to any civil office
of trust and emolument in the national ser
vice. It is a startling 'instance of the retribu
tions which have come so thick And fast in our
day, that Charles M. Wilder, but six years ago,
or less, a•South Carolina slave,worth fifteen hun
dred dollars on the auction-block„should now
hold the office of Postmaster in the capital city
of that proud State, with a salary of $3,200 a
year. At the same session in which Mr.
Wilder was confirmed, one other. colored man
was . confirmed as assessor in Louisiana, and
a third as.justice of the peace in the District of
Columbia. Mr. E. D. Basset, Principal of the
Colored: High School of this city, has received
the appointment of Minister 'to Hayti. At the
same time,' the President has shown the com
prehensiveness of his regards, by appointing the
ex-rebel General Longstreet, who since the war
has been an earnest and consistent Union man,
Collector of the Port of• New Orleans, and by
nominating an ex-rebel Colonel of Alabama to be
Governor of New Mexico. A keen sense of justice
too.seems to have suggested the appointment of
Mr. Hoare . as Attorney-General, he being the
son of Samuel Hoare, who went as agent of
Massachusetts to Charleston to remonstrate
against the confinement of one of her citizens in
the jail of that city merely on account of his color,
ant who was, driven •off by a mob at the peril of
his life. Right bitter are the dregs of the cup
of oppression. The administration by simply
conforming its policy to the great principles of
justice, are the scarcely conscious instruments of
recording some . of the most striking lessens of
Providence.
Rev. Moseley H. Williams, of the 2d Cong.
church, goes to Grand Avenue chapel, Brooklyn.