Vrtsbgttrian 6altlttr PIMIII3III, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1861 Soy. Dr. Andersen, of the American Board of Missions, has reaelied San Francisco on his way home from' the Sandwich Islands, Thither tie as sent on official duty by the organization with which he is connected. FAVORABLE SYMPTOM. An Opposition journal, which, as seems to us, has been in the habit of doing great injustice to President LINCOLN and his counsels - , haft been able to discover some: thing good in him for once at least. After speaking of a spirit which it does not ap plaud, it says " :Happily `for himself and for the char ht the nation, the President speaks in ihnther and a;far higher " He bide us offer up thanks to God for Our signal victories on land and sea, not because those-victories have made desolate so many homes °tour enemies, nor because they .. have added another chapter to the dijiMial annals of Jiuman 'glory,' but be cause they afford reasonable ground for an'gtnenteil confidence that the Union of these States will be maintained, their Con s(iinicon,,their peace, and their prosperity permineittly. preserved.' In other words, we are asked to show forth our gratitude to Heaven for the - brightening dawn of peace. No more legitimate motive of thanks giving and praise' can move the hearts of a great people. Not less legitimate is the ' prayer in whichthe - President leads all, the people of the Union. The President invokes the influence of the Holy Spirit to' sehdue the anger which has produced and so long sustained a needleis and cruel tebellion to change the hearts of the in surgents, and to guide the councils of the Government with wisdom adequate to so gr r iat an emergency'" It would be well for ns all, socially and politically, as well as religiously, if we would learn to note and'dwell upon the ex cellences of each other. General' View of the Er esbyterian Churth During the Year Ending' Ray, 1861, Synods in connexion with the Gen'i Assembly-86 Presbyteries 172 Licentiates . 288 Candidates for the Ministry. 389 Ministers 2,205 Churches ...2,541 Lieeisures.. - 82 Ordinations • 91 Installations ' 100 Pastoral relations dissolved * 1 • 94 Churches organised 29 Mitiiiiers ( received from other denominations..lo Ministers dismissed tip other denominations....ll CEirsiiise - repeived from other denominations... 6 Churches dismissed to other denominations 8 Ministers deceased 27 Churches dissolved ' 18 Members added on examination 8,781 Members added on certificate 6,535 Total:is:umber of eomnunioanta reported-227,675 Adults baptized 2,165' Infants baptized 10,194 Amount contributed for Congregational pur poses • ' $1,294,785 Amount contributed for the Boards. .$846,448 Amount contributed for Disabled Ministers' Fund.. AmCunt. contributed for Miscellaneous pur polies • $150444 Whole amount .. ... ..',l 808 660 - ins .0 year : NAMES. PRESBYTERIES. L. H. Lee, Troy. John J. Cameron, Albany. . J. T. Coit, Rochester City. N.-C. Locke, Nassau. Robert Baird, New-Brunswick. Charles Webster, Monmouth. William Clemens, Corium. Francis D. Ladd, Central Philadelphia John McDowell, do. • Robert Steel, Philadelphia 2d. James Latta, Newcastle. S. M. Gayley, • do. James S. Woods, Huntingdon. Elias Harrison, Potomac. David M'Cay, Clariep. John .E; Woods,. Columbus. John McLain, Michigan. • Thos. C. •C l ainpbell, Western Reserve. J. S. Galloway, J. P. Van Dyke, Cincinnati. J. Sharer, • .do. • C. Fitch, ineettneff. .rohnsGilishrist, Indianapolis. James C-Browii, Lake. Jzitues E. Manlius, Peoria: Charles Cummins, Toledo. Jahn F. Cowan St. Louis. • • ALEXANDER T. - McCaig., Stated Clerk of the General Assembly. A . !E! 11.01UBTRIL Monasteries are all new, in the United ; and they are still but few in num ber. The enterprise of our country, the light which shines so resplendent, the Christian activity which is called for by the freedom of religion, and by denominational zeal, are all unfavorable to monasteries. Still, they are things which, to some little client, must be expected. The corner stone of a new monastery waslaid, at West Hoboken, N. J., on Sob baik, 9th inst., by the Roman Catholic order' of "Pessimists." The order , was founded about the middle of the last cen tury, by " Blamed Pala of the Cross." In this country it - now numbers about fifty miniters. 'They are attired , in, sable robes. ceremony., of Japing the stone took place in the evening, at about 5 ceslock. Some_four thousand persons were present. Tice monastery , is situated on high moun tainous ground, whioh overlooks the Hud so9, and commands a beautiful view of the &antler of New-Jersey and the bay of New- York.Tlasof*te is eminently healthy. The of - the building will be of bb# stone t. from the ground of the order. Tke triteminge will -be of Newark brawn. etane;neatly chiselled: Its length will be. ICSUi'hundred and nix feet' by thirty-six feet ei inches. The style . _Of architecture . will onmbinction- of (othw ant beencrw It will consist QC: arse storieit,, excluding*the basement Mid tittle, and will hate fourteen apart:Ciente on' each floor. Nte regret that monasticism should fake hold - Or human _Minds, abstracting them' filoplc j ha work to which the soul is adapted, sarto ithiCh it is called' by the Gospel. But sinus there are those who are disposed to avoid'the activities of life,*yre rejoice in a Government which allows the freedom to do soSieddigivanintiph4wonnalcmi 71- 'COMMENCEMENT, JEFFERSON COLLEGE, FL The Sixty-first Annual Commencement at Jefferson College, took place at Canons burg, Pa., August 6th. Twenty-nine young gentlemen took their first degree in the Arts, and seven- took the second degree. There were no honorary titles'of DD., or LL.D., conferred. The occasion was very pleasant. A large audience 'filled the Col lege Hall, to listen to the addresses. Rev. DAVID H. RIDDLE, D.D., the n'ew Presi dent, performed his part -with great grace and dignity. The young men who spoke, ten in number, gave evidence of well cul tivated minds. Everything indicated at tention on the part of the President, the Faculty, and the students, to their appro priate duties; an d the citizens manifested ,an interest highly becoming, in .the pros. perity of the institution. The exercises of the occasion commenced on Sabbath morning, the 2d, with a sermon before the Evangelical Society of the Col- Jege, by Rev. Mr. Inoxiv, of Allegheny City, from the text, " Who is on the Lord's side ?" The Bacealaureate sermon was delivered on Sabbath night, by the President, from the Words 'in 2. Chron. : 9. The . text was considered as the, affectionate ex hortation to in telligen t and, earnest piety, • of a father to his son, as his parting words, - urged by the sorrows of one course and the perils of the other. This was*npplied by the speaker to, the circumstances; 'and motives to intelligent and earnest piety , were affectionately urged on the class, as' his parting counsel. This was also pre- , seated as eminently desirable at this crisis, when treason and rebellion are threatening the life of the nation, and demanding principle and patriotism for theirsuccessful overthrow. The - tone of patriotieSeeling evidenced in all the exercises of the occasion, was, as represented to us, highly gratifying to the, friends of our country. Jefferson College is true to the nation. One of her Professors, and many of her . pupils and Alumni, are doing good serViee in the bat tle field. On the afternoon of Tuesday, we reached, the scene of operations, after an eagerly performed journey, and were quite disap pointed in not bearing of the life and do ings of the graduating Class of 1833. The orator selected for' the occasion, Rev. EDWARD KEVIN, D.D., bad for some rea son, doubtless an adequate one, failed to be present. Heretoforethat part of the Com mencement programme has been made pe culiarly interesting. The evening of Tuesday was devoted to the Literary Societies; and they were, this year, exceedingly happy in the selection of an orator. The address was delivered by Rev. Hartamt. JOHNSON, of Pittsburgh. His subject was, " THINKING." , "Any thing but a dunce," said Mr. JOHNSON. And it was well said. A' dunce, at school, is intolerable. We want igte/koirrwbV.entieFtnfettg who thinks most. Living is different from existing. The cabbage exists. The man of thought lives. But the man of thought runs: risks. There is an independence of mind. And it is to be cherished, but not to be permit ted to run wild, without guide or restraint. Truth is not, to be dreaded. Catch truth where you can. Follow where she leads. Away with the Manacles of mind. But still, there 'are risks. Caution is reqUisite. There are those who say that there is no such thing as absolute truth; or, no possi , bility of making its attainment—that 'a man's belief depends upon his parentage, his school, his associations, that is, upon, his geographical position. This is so to .a great extent, but not entirely so. There are truths absolute, unalterable, and attain able. The mind may acquire them beyond the possibility of doubt. Our own exist- . forme; of whichwe are conscious, our pow ers and emotions, the being of God, the $10,973 revelation of God in his Word, are truths of this class. Yea, God has . _ flooded the world with truth, and has given us facul ties to investigate and appreciate it; and the man of thought will devote himself to the acquisition. But thinking, as was said,• has its risks. The pursuit of knowledge is attended with dangers ; and the very pleasure enjoyed by an absorbed mind, increases the danger. 1. There are ph,yrical dangerd connected with thinking. The mechanism of the human system which thought brings into activity, is exceedingly delicate—the brain, the nerves. The vital force is necessary. But the whole system needs the vital force; and if this is abstracted,. from the muscles and concentrated on , the brain, ruin may speedily ensue. And the vital force needs food, just as the steam engine needs fire and water. Man naturally loves truth. Its acquisition delights his soul. He; is lured on, bound, enchanted, exerts every power, still presses on, wastes, destroys his mental mechanism. - Madness ensues. Death is speedy. BUCKLE is an instance. At the age of fourteen, he discarded "his preceptors, and gave loose reins to his de sire for knowledge : His " Progress of Civilization " is a master work. But he became crazed, and died. HUGE MILLER, is an instance. His acquisitions were im mense ;. but the_ mechanism failed, and de- lirium and suicide were the result. There is a nobility in the passion - for truth ; but the passion must be restrained, or thought will soon accomplish physical devastation. 2. The mind goes with. the body when thinking is excessive, though, sometimes, the mind is a serious sufferer, as to the character of itiactivities, while the mechan ism of thought may yet be possessed of vital force. Monstrosities of mind result from ill-directed thinking. A well developed mind is impossible, where 'a man devotes himself wholly to one Subject Monomaniacs, fa natics;„some of our..professional men, our rabid politicians,. are oaniplesiotthiwitally, PRESBYTERIAN BANNER.---WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1863. and injury of devoting the mind to one idea. Such ;re really but little men, though they flaunt themselves, and jeer at the truly great. 3. • The moral risks of thinking are great, and by far the most injurious. Error here is fatal—eternally fatal. Our thoughts are likening us to angels, or to fiends. They react upon ourselves and transform us into their own character. "As a man thinketh, so is he." BYRON is an in stance. It is a tendency of thought, to' foster pride. Reason is man's glory, but his rea soning is often,his shame. These risks, though immense, may all be. avoided. The physical danger is utterly, obviated by taking rest in' time, and fully: The detiand for intermission of study- T for rest—is imperative. - Educators- should know this, and urge it. There should be gymnasiums at sehooll, or, some' strong 'and sweet attractions to the taking of:exerchie and makine , it, joyous. .Mental dangers we may avoid by deny, ing unlimited license to a •peculiar - Vary the studies: Resort to a mental gymnasium. _ To protect the mind against,, the moral risks, hold much intercourse with- the good of mankind., __Be fitmiliar with the Bible. Cherish 'religion. The reading,.. - the.j.nves-f tigation, the, reverence, the emotions, the worship * the social intercourse of true re ligion will be, in every 'especi, a protecOr and a helper. tield an intelligent' belief to credible-testimony—to Divine authority: Beason's-posture. toward . . revelation, is not. that of IL judge of the things revealed; but of the evidenee that God has sPeken.,, This being Ascertained, bow to_ the author ity. This is the highest reason. And what dutiful and loving -child can -either fail to know his father's voice , - or' refuse a yielding assent' to his father's authority? Mr. Jorllisom's address occupied., nhortt, an hour, and was listened,to with mitvearied` attention. ' ' The graduating class comprised the fo lowing names W. GuTHRIE BARNES, HUGH W. BOYD, T. M. BROWN, RAI. CAMPBELL, R.' MOR ROW CAMPBELL, WILLIAM L. CHALFANT, T. BEER CUNNINGHAM, W. - G. DUFF,, S. GLENN, L. LEASE HAUGHAWOUT, J. C. HENOH, J. GLADDEN JOEINSON, JOHN J. JORDAN, HUGH .Y. LEIPER, ET.' M. LINN, J. IYUGREgon, ALEXANDER F. Mciarasorr, WILLIAM B. NOBLE, GEORGE M I . PAXTON, A. BROWN RIGGS, ELLIOTT S. RIGGS, GEORGE R. SLATER, J AMES S. SMART,: W. J. SNODGRASS,- Tilokas A. SPROULL, THOMAS H. STEWART, T. CALVIN STEW. ART, J. 4. 1 11. R WrLsoN.-29. The second degree ,was conferred in course on Born CUMRINE, Esq., Rev. J. W, HAMILTON, H. 0. KNIGHT, Esq , , A. STEWART, Esq., Rev. N. A. MoDo'NALD, of Bankok, Siam, and Mr. SAMUEL WATSON,' New-Orleans; and the Ihfifiorary "degree - of Masters of Aro on Itariui, Tiziothsos., The ~number.of graduates,. this ; year .is ment, fora long time. This 'hi - owing' to the number of young' men who have.volun teered in the service of ',their .` . country. Twelve members of the. late Senior Class had left it at the call oftvatriotism. Dr. RIDDLE` has niade. a very fair :begin ning, in conducting the affairs of the, Col lege. Citizens, students,. Trustees and vis item speak his praise.. The Faculty enjoys unabated esteem.. May:Jefferson still share largely in the blissful tokens of Divine favor. , Home and Foreign ,Record =The Record, for August, speaks not of. anything -new and remarkable. The receipts for the mouth of JuneSs given, are as follouis Domestic Missions, - $2,509.29 Education, 1,463.77 Foreign - - 8,129 - 81 Publication—Sales, 3,944.50 Donations, - 2,395 49 Church Extension, - 651.60 These amounts are small. EASTERN SUMMARY. NEW-ENGLAND. .; IN TEE LAST. Evangelist there is an' in- Wresting article on the early Puritan- Wiliam of New-. England. It is based main ly on information furnished by Joseph . B. Felt, in =his Ecclesiastical History of Nei- England. 'The folloWing extract contains some curious records of the Courts in regard to offences against morality, religion, and common propriety : - " TaVerns maybe searched - for drunkards ; who may be put into the stocks till their cases are legally - decided !"`As"early - as 1649, it is recorded that the wearing of long hair, after the manner of Russians and barbarous Indians, has begun to invade NeW-England, contrary to the rule of God's Word,' and the Governor and. Magistrate of Massachusetts protest'against the hateful fashion—L . so 'disrespectful to, the g round head'Piritans—and 4 earnestly - entreat all the elders to manifest their zeal against in their ministrations,' and deal with their' members .who hive indulged in if and will, not reform. "The most frequent penalty is that of fines, althoughiluzdefauW of payment, the prison, the 'stocks, or whipping-post are called into service. A fine often shillings is imposed for neglecting Norton's catechiz ing. Ten shillings are the"' penalty fOr . rel* maining outside of the Meetingzhitise•during :public service. For' blasphemy, t4"efinii nal is branded B,',and sent out of the colony. An infidel is t4l). be mulcted..in a sum not exceeding.. .E5O. Forhabitual neglect - of public worship there is_first a : fine ,of ten shillings, to be increased on subsequent ~ neglect ;. for bringing: in, zeeplog, PAy-. ing eardit,.forty shillings; for sporting - ,.in' the fields on:SaturdaY or .Sunday evening,' ten' shilline. Dancing ago is -punisled with a fine. Walking the streets .on the, Sabbath, or smoking within , two miles of the meeting-housb .on that day, cannot be tolerated.' .As to the Ecclesiastical Polity of New- England two centuries. since, we are rold that "Absolute independency, or even:n-74d erate Cong - regationalisra, was a did known. A church Might _call a minister butt4,magistrato co* forbid his ordina, *.3;40,, 414. mine what a church may, and what it may not, do. * * * In fact, the State was the Church. Its constituency was the member ship of the churches, and to question the spiritual authority of the magistrate, was at once a civil and an ecclesiastical offence." DARTMOUTiI COLLEGE has for some time been suffering in consequence of the pro slavery and anti-war views of the President, Rev. Dr. Lord. As the Trustees• of the Institution have formally disclaimed all sympathy with the objectionable sentiments of. Dr. L., and as the latter has resigned his position as President,,the College will, we trust, be speedily' reinstated in the public favor it has beelf.wont to enjoy. LordDr has for thirty-five years ably and successfully discharged the dutiei of the College, Presidency, bat he has found it impossible to successfully breast, the tide of enlightened Popular sentiment. It is `due to the retiring President te,mention thst he was; neither forced nor solicited by the Trustees to resign,his' office. His'resigna= 'tion ' , was =voluntary, and we presume attrib= utable to a regard for the -mtereste'of the - institution is well as Ins own personal sat isfaction. , , WETTER; in the last COkgregalion'aiis' t offers some valuable thoughts tor the sub ject of physical, and mental hygiene as it relates ..to, ministers. Speaking, of the " Mondayishness" - So much talked of by preachers, he remarks "Monday` may be just Us good a working day as any `tither-'—not in sermon•-writifig, perhaps for the brain needs variety of em-_ ployment, but'for hiitoridal, critical Sr` lit erary studies, Or 'for' writing litiOn extra profesisional 'or -'colliteral'subjeCte: k.ban imagine 'that - one .,- Who has fermed :the vicious-habit-of postponing; until the last of the . week hia- preparation for the Sab bath,' and who then , writes with feverish anxiety' far into Saturday 'Tight, may so exhaust hid nervous Sytiferille -to be worth leis , Ter-two or three do,yelafter the Sabbath: That iS•riot , preaching theiexhausts-biin, Much less is it anxiety for souls; ie his 'own foolish abuse Of ilia hrein: The venerable Dr. Spring once told me that, `through his long ministry, he had made it a.,..ruletofinigh his pulpit preparation' by noon Satiirdayand to - devote the after part of' Saturday physical r andtmental yeereatinn; and it is just' ad easy todo- this, as to Overtook the brain at thnlast of the week:i and in con sequence, to be.weary and fretful for three days . after the Sabbath!! THE Congregationallit las the following in regard to the hikitory of the Temperance Reform in New-England "Dr. Lyman Beecher is usually : spoken of as the Pioneer of pulpit attack upon the inn of intemperance. When in Litchfield, Coiin.; he wrote and"preached—we do not know in what'year—his famous Six sermons against intemperance, which were after wards repeated in Boston and published. Year's before publication—we cannot 'say Whether before their preparation and first preaching, or not—at least two 'pulpits in this' iicitity had spokep,pirt faithfully with . the same' intent. 'Bev. Mr. Bates, of Dedham; preached a urein s perance Set.. mon ' in . 1817, and Dt. of Med way—follOived with' two :Sermons on the 841 - 2 40;4Pukt le agi , e, 4Y urkegrk I• — t may. be stated in this connexion - was establish ed the first Temperance Hotel in 'Norfolk County, and one of _the first in the Bird& The good people there paid a man pilfor trying the experiment.' TgE L'OWN,G ,witty and suggestiie inOident is, taken freak the Boston-Review: ",Dr.: in , treating of the subject of Depravity in.the-.light of New Schoolistn; grew waim.:..;•sis broad.brimmed :hat~ was on'..the:tible beside him. In the 'earnest ness:and varelesdness of his: geaticulation, he knocked the, bat upon the floor: Sipa ingly-the .said, '-. 4 That is the,warwe . knock down Old, School doctrine.' ...An Old.Sobool doctor, who was honoring the lecturer with a hearing, sitting -,by his picked l ap the. bat, and replacing ; 'it oven the,table,' and this pis , the _way : we, set It ,up need not.be said that the / reply was greeted with' something more:-that a smile. REv. - N. E. 0014LEIGII D: D., now Pres ideit of MeKeadree :College, 111., has beeo sleeted Editor of Zion's Herald, Boston, by,the Methodist Association having con trol of this paper. A REVIVALI, of great interest and power is reported in the' congregation of Green Street' Baptist 'church' in Newhary port, Masi. There' are; already aboutl.oo hope ful' converts. THE Reporter estimates from the income of the Jast eight months, that >the city of Lynn, Mass, will pay a total. of $250,000 during.the year as a national tax, and yet with this taxation the city is thriving as it never ♦ throve before. Jcxsort, a Colored clergyman , of Bedford, N ass.,.has just been com rniationed Phaplain of the - 55th Maisachu r , setti regiment (Colored)". DEA. -JOHN oPumm - ps,' of Sturbridge,. Mass:, conipletedl hisl.lo3d-year on the 29th ,of tittne. His heilth is' good; and-all his faculties are well 'preserved: To a= good constitution and - regular and temperate habits-he ascribes his long life. JUDGE WRIGHT of the Pence Court of Balton', decided lately, that" " bar-tending is not a employment; and, sentenced a man who clainied; this calling to the House Of industry. • NEW,-YORK. At-A it meeting of the American and , Foreign'' Bible Seciety,larai 'number's of cppiesof the ScriptUres were granted in ansWer toA special request, froth Michigan 'to ,supply. ten thousand 'Fieach - 'citizens, said - to reside in one tgf the cities of that State. Five hundred dllar's were also ap propriated to - the publication and.eirqula tion of the Bible in the. Karen langriagel and a similar amount was directed - .Co be forwarded •to Rev E. C. Lordiat.Ningpo, to aid in circulating the Chinese • Serip Tau rr.otrittsnrwo condition of the First Baptist Sahhath JiSehool 'Albany. is de serving ,of :'attention. We quote the fol. lowing encouraging Statement from "a Bap; i Mist , contemporary; "Besides the pastor,ltev: E. L. Naom i , TD.D., who teachealtheTßible - chiss, there are 142 teachers inf:the Main school; and nine in the.infant Department. The Bible class contains the, large .nnsfiber of 270anembers, he gaverageottendansei being ,119 D class has a separate library of 763 volumes. In the Infant Department, there are 275, the average attendance being 126 little ones. During the last year they learned and recited 13,721 verses, and contributed nearly $6O to benevolent objects. In the main school there are 315 members, and the whole school contains 930 scholars—a regiment in the Sunday School army. The main school during the year recited 52,562 verses. " The combined libraries of the school contain 1719 volumes." FOUR YEARS AGO the Broadway Taber nacle church in New-York took possession of its new house of worship. Since May 1859, the Society, retainino• a the ownership of the pews; has received in yearly pew rents, $39,500; has raised for the extinc tion of the building debt, &e., about $30,- 000, In the.. same period upwards of $30,000, have been given by the church to various objects of benevolence; making a total raised for religious purposes in four years, of ahout $lOO,OOO. PETER COOPER, has given $lOOO to the Police.. Life Insurance fund in New-York, in testimony of , his appreciation of the ser vices of the police during the.riots. 'T. Sfewart has made a donation of $5,000 for the relief of the, firemen, police, and...soldiers who were injured during the late riots, and the families of those Who were killed. THE FASHIONABLE SEASON at Saratoga is now, at its height.' A corresiondent' of the Evening Post furnishes an interesting account of the chaiacterritics and occur ratites of this famous watering place. We make a, few extracts'; ',The great, hotels are all swarming with guests, the streets are blocked with liveriejd servants and the pleasant drives are -lively with the costly equipages, of the ylealtliy. The whole, town is.now-the gayest,stall in ' Vanity Fair.' "The ladies viewilli,each other in ,the elegan tasteand novelty of their toilettes. The life of aTfashionable woman here, must be arduous, in the extreme. 14fore break fast comes the,elaborately-trimmed morning dress, with open. front, revealing the lace and, embroidery of the underskirt; before dinner the silks and satins, the last, novelty in, the way of co;:hre,ur, and the whole in ventory of a studied toilette; at tea, such modifications of the dress as a capricious taste may suggest ; in, the evening the "hop," with silks of a gayer pattern, jew elryin,inore profusion, laces of a . costlier', teitife, opera eloiks, ornamental fans, and all the f praphernalia'of the ball - -rooth. 46 Then' the' hot, stifling air of the hall,_ the:odor of white kids, the ravishing sweet ness of 'the =laic,' the diiziness of the dance", the'sentimental simpering of Julia, the' 'elegant twaddle of Charles—these things make up - the; programme for the night'. And then eikneS sleep to 'drown the unsatisfied wearinesiof the soul that finds its higheat' enjoyment in the pleasures of sense. Such is faShieiable life at Saratoga Strong, indeed, must be the - recuperative force of the waters to enable the belles of the season . ' to pass through this .fa tiguing, ciperienee and r go - away as strong as they came. - " Still this is One . of the most de lightful of watering:Places, and-, ration ally enjoyed, affords the amplest oppor tunities ,for recreation and for recruiting the.constitution. There are many people here Who seen to understand the true use' - ingly ; but a majority of the visitors 'are the . devotees of Fashion, who regard Sara togiiii her most exalted shrine.' THE PRICE of Gold on Saturday was quoted at 126. Superfine State and'West ern, Flour sold at , 54.20®4.80-pet bbl. PHILADELPHIA. -:THE Bos'Aix Pilot asserts that, General Meade is a Roman Catholic. The'RortA. American states, hoWever, that the General is a member of the Protestant Episeopal Church,- and that his, family occupy a pew inSt:Mark's church Philadelphia. ' Tr x STATE - Di:BAß : lmm has commenced paying the ,semi-annual interest on the State Debt, at the Farmers' am:UMW:tattles" Bank, Philadelphia. The whole 'amount, whichis about one million of dollars, will, we:understand, be, paid in coin. LAND Ts selling, at exorbitant prices in the suburiti:of Philadelphia. Less thaw an acre; at Chestnut Hill,' broitght- recently , foUr 'thousand five hundred dollars New School Minutes. for 1863, The Minutes of the Assembly for the year ending May, 1863, have , been receiVed, They present the 'following statistics, as reported to the General Assembly.: Synods, 22last year.'Presbyteries 106; $ as ; a gain of two. Ministers, 1,616, a gain bf 61: 'Licentiates; 162; a , gain. of 11. Chiirchesyl,4s4 ; a leas' of' 12. Added on Examination, 4,744 ;' 'and on Certificate, _4,079: Communicants, 135,894; a cmin of 440.' Adulte Baptized, 1,556. Infants Baptized, 3,191. -Contributions . for Ex penses of = General - Assembly, $6,263.06;. sl,l2s'more than last year. Contributions to Domestic''slis,sions, $122,407.39; $30,- ,486 more:than last year. , To Foreign Mis sions, • 580,529 97;, -'an> advance of over $11,0002 -To Edueationi 1149'.362.78; an - - advance of -over $2,100:- To Publication, $40,569.04, .an advance of over $1,400. The whole amount of contributions reported i& within a fraction of s3oo,ooo—an ad vance of 20 per cent. upon' the amount re ported last , year. The war has not in ter fereft with-the sustaining by•our churches 'of 'the great objects of Christian benevo lence. Me.have made - -healthful proaresi in: this respect; amid its distractions and demands.—Christian Herald. , For the _Freeby4riarißaziner. bare ileetOgs. Prayer meetings-they are called ; spar. meetings they ought • to be .called,". say s . Spurgeon, " for sparely enough are, they at tended:" _ . - Why is it so? Why are less than one' tenth of the tnembers. of the Churc,h ~present at the place of.social *h.prayer ?- :It is not because the absentees' do slat admit, that prayer is important. i They confess , that•it s to the Christian as the.breath of i life. They profess to regard prayer ; as important , to thenyes to -those =:Avhci; are constant ila their attendance at the prayer -meeting.....• - • It maybe said that they do not find they meetings interesting.. Did they ever: find prayer, private,. social, and public, inter-; 'resting ? If not, what right- had:' they to 'make a profession of religion t. If prayer was once' intereating, and is now no longer -:sok.there must be se deOline of spirituality. Is pideclitie in spirituality , a . suffteietit ex cuss - for,: neglecting. social ,;prayer .Cer-F,' tstainly n ot4 (aid otel Ito thisteitusuitialobe4 feared, it is owing that so many Christians neglect the prayer-meeting. " I need the influence of the prayer- Imeeting to carry me through the week from one Sabbath to another," said one who was eminent for spirituality. " I get an im pulse in the right direction on the. Sab bath, but intercourse with. the world turns off my attention from Divine- things, and chills in some measure my &clings. The prayer-meeting in the middle of the week comes in and renews my strength and car ries me through the remaining days of the week." That man expressed the experience of thousands. The man who strives to keep his heart, who pays attention to the condi tion of his soul, will prize the prayer-meet ing. He will not attend in order to be in terested in the structure of the prayers ar the exhortations ; .he will go to meet with God, and receive a blessirig from him., The writer has never known an eminently pious soul wilfully to neglect the prayer meeting. SUPPLIANT. United States Christio Commission. The Army Committee of Western Penn sylvania representing the U. S. Christian Commission, reports that in the month of July the following named persons have gone as delegates to the Army of the Cum berland, in Tennessee:. Rev. W. W. Woodead, Saltsburg, Pa. Rev. Thos A. M'Curdy, Rev. J. IL Brown, ler - Seport, Pa. Rev. W. F. Sean, " Rev. W. Galbraith, " Mr. Isaac linff, • Rev. Robert MeWittly, Mercer, Pa. Rev. , Wm. M. Grimes, Rev. T.D. Ewing, Theological' Seminary. As delegates to the Aimy of the Poto mac . Rev.'.7. - E.'apsley, Indiana, Pa. A: H.'Broivn, " R.'Miller, " - " Rev. B. E.' Higbee, Pittsburgh. 'F. A. Kammerer, a Jas. B. B. Meads, As special delegatea,to the battle•field:of Gettysburg: My. Robert P. Nevin, Sewickley, Pa. Mr. Jobn Irwin, Jr., kgr,, s. m. - C C , Rev. R. S. Morton , Hookstown - ; Pa Rev. W. B. Keeling, " , Rev. Mr. Gaston, Rev. -W. M. Ritchie, Harshaville, Pa. _Our special delegates reached- the field of Gettysburg, • without detention, and labored faithfully among the wounded as long as; their services were needed. We have established a station at - Camps Copeland and - Howe, in charge of Messrs. John H. Boggs and Wallace Radcliffe. The Commandant and Surgeon have kindly granted us the use of a pleasant room in the Hospital building, frogs which reading, matter is-distributed to all soldiers who will- receive it, and hospital stores given to those who need them. .Religious services are held every Bab. , batb, and prayer-meetings during the week, The•. Treasurer thankfully> acknowledges the Allowing cash donsitions Union Relief Association of Western Pa. _ , and, N. W. Va., per Rey. .W. B. Keeling. 5291.65 Union Relief Asiociitiou of Weetern Pa. and. N:‘ W. ',Va., pei; Rev.!' W. M. Rithhie - Ladies of Calcutta, Ohio 'Westmoreland fitsl Ohio Pieiihyterian church, Rev. W. H. Barr - - 30.50 Second U. P. church,' Mercer . 57.40 Presbyterian church; t Glade Run 27.00 Presbyterian .chuich, Saltsburg - 7.00 U. P.-phurch,, Salem, Ind 5.00 . St. Clair U. P. church, Mt. Lebanon 56.55, Presbyterian church, Cowansville, \. 218:00 Presbyterian church, New Alesandria::. ' 73.50- churcb72Pinity,lOrlr - ohic:"' Army Committee, Salem - cong., - ; New Derry, Pa 61.10 Soldiers' Aid Society, Canonsburg, Pa:.: 200.00 Soldiers' Aid Soc., Clinton Tp., Butler County, Pa 15.00 Soldiers' Aid. Soc., Hillside, Pa 49.40 " Livermore, Pa . 10.00 Franklin, Ps - 40.00 Rostraver, Pa 30.00 " ' " Circle:olle, Pa' ' 39.75, "^ Pigecni Creek, Pa " 12.56 ,Curllsville, Pa 50.00' Murrysville Pres, cong., Rov. W. Edgar, 62.95- Sscond M.,P. cong., Pittsburgh, proceeds of Lecture; Rev.' D. Jones_ 80.00 U. P cong., Cherry Run, Venango 26.00 Mrs. E.:Wallingford • 100.00 w Mr. A. W. Wallingford 100;00 Mr. William Thaw • 100.00 Mr. Thos: - .S. Clark 100.00 Mrs. Mowry . 50.00 William Tate 10.00 Miss M. Robinson- ' ' 5.00 Mrs.. Parker . 11.00' Mrs:: Barker 1.00 P.,Hilands . 1.00 Cash, Brownsville, Pa' 10.00 ' • " Walton Phillips, Co. Saw Mill 10.00 - 32:00. Sheakleyville Ladies' Mite Society :"6.00 - Soldiers' Aid Club , 16.00 A Friend . 50.%) `MrS. 7 A: Patterson 5.00 Cash 5:00 Geo. Kennedy, Scott 'Pp Mrs. A. Kennedy, Scott Tp Gla„qc. Rungy Pres. church Mrs. Meek - Cash, Uniontown, Pa 2.00 Collection by Mrs. Baker, Dayton, Pa.... 7.60 Chartiers' Christ,. Aid Society 9:80 Xohn Lyon, lluntingthut county, Citizens (if Mercer, Ps 'lB.lo` Mrs. Culbertson • ' 1.00 . Mrs. James ' . Logan •6.00. One-who was not drafted 20.00 'Geo. I: Townsend , 10 - 00 ..= 8 .*R. NV., WIZ, Ohio -2:00 R. C. McKinney, Come, Ind ' 3.00 Cash • 8.00 Cash; Valley church, W. P. Ilultoni Pa., Robt. 'Boyd • - 21.00 Cash,,a friend to the cause , 6.00 2d M. P. church, Pittsburgh;,proceeds,er Lecture; rev. D. Jones ' ' 80.00 Cash, " per Rei. - Thos. A. McCurdy" 2.00 Mrs. Mawhinney • 2.00 A Friend,' Frankfort,-Ind 5.00 U. P. Church, Peters creek - - ..... 4.80 Soldiers' Aid Society, Jefferson, Green co.,' 21.25 Long Island Pres. church, 1.50- The Army OomMittee'icknoiledges-tlii foll Owing contributions of stores, during the - past - Month . Three boxes hospital clothing; from Ar my Committee of Beaver'coulty. . Two boxes of stores from - Ladies' Aid So= ciety,-,of Sharon, Beaver Bounty. . ::One box, of hymn books,:frOlnist Ger man. Trinity, church. :One box of bandages and, lint from La dies of 2d. German Lutheran.church;Titte- One jug.of , trine, from the One box of hespital clothing from Ladies' Aid - Society. of New Castle, Two boxes fronii Glade.„Run Presbyterian church, Butler County. One box of clothing from Soldiers' Aid Society of Freedom. - One box of hospital stores from •Ladies'- Aid: Society of Belknap, Armstrong, county, Two boxes from Ladies' Christian. Com mission Society. of ,Preibyterion congrega tion, of Pigeon, Creek, Washington, county.; Thrie , ,boxes...of gitores; Oi pof ills ~s Rung Allegheny couttr ) " For the Presbyterian Burner. 273.30 40.85 EMB 5.00 LOU 2.00 6.00 LOG 'A - 10.00 One box from Ladies of Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland county. One box from Ohio township School Dis trict No. 6, Beaver county. Two boxes from Ohio township School District No. 4, Beaver county. Two boxes from Ohio township School District No. 5, Beaver county. Two boxes from Ladies' Aid Society of Sharon, Beaver county. One box from Ladies of South Beaver township School District. No. 3_ Onebox of clothing from Ladies' Aid Society of Rochester, Beaver county. One box of clothing from Ladies of Brighton township District No. 6. One box of hospital stores from Ladies' Christian Aid Society of Phillipsburg. One box of hospital stores from Chris tian Aid Society of Industry School Dis trict No. 2. One box, of hospital stores from Ladies of M. E. , church and school, Saltsburg, Pa. Ten boxes from unknown , donors. Two boxes from Soldiers' Aid Society of Beaver county. One box from Ladies of Neville Island. One barrel of dried apples from Mr. Gee. W. Rahn, Allegheny City. One box from Miss R. Finney, Elizabeth, Allegheny county. One box of hospital stores from the Union Relief Society of Stealer township. Three, boxes of fruit and one box of clothing from. the Aid Society of Clinton township, Butler county. One box of hospital stores frora Mrs. S. Baker, Dayton, Armstrong county. . One box of fruit from Mrs. M. B. Patter son. Two boxes from the Ladies' Christian Aid=Society of Cannonsburg. One, box from the Ladies' Society of.Ro cheater. One box from congregation of Bev. S. Patterson, New Gallio, Beaver county. One box from scholars of :the Ist U. P. Sunday School of Mercer, Pa. One box of clothing, one barrel of fruit, and one keg of butter from Ladies' Aid So eiety of New Castle. Three boxes of hospital stores,from Sol diers' Aid Society of Blairsville and vicin ity, Indiana county. Pa. One box from soldidrs' wives of Presby terian Sunday School, .Tarentiun, Alle gheny county. Four boxes of hospital Stores from Sol diers' aid. Society of Hillside, Pa. One box of hospital stores from School DiStrict No:3, Brighton township. One box.and two barrels of hospital stores from Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society of Buf falo, Washington county. TWo boxes of hospital stores from South Beaver Christian Corn. Society. ',One =box and one 'bag ot hospital stores from Pigeon. Creek church, Washington county. One box of clothing from two, ladies of Grace, church, Mt._ Washington. One'box of clothing from SOldiers' Aid Society of thaYirsi Presbyterian church, Pittsburgh., One box of clothing from 4th School Dis trict of Industry, Beaver county. Two boxes from Aid Society of West Deer township. 'One 'box of clothing from Mahonirtgtown Ladies' Aid Society. One box of hospital stores from -J. Wal lace, Jr., Brownsville. One box of hospital stores from Rev. Mc- Watty's,ehureb, Mercer Three boxes from Ladies' Aid Soeiety, of Pigeon Creek U. P. congregation, Wash- One bog of7o cans of fruit 'from ladies of Clinton,. Butler county. One. box of hospital stores from 4th School District, Industry township. One bOx from Mrs. C. Wilson, Jefferson township. One, box of hospital stores from Ladies' Aid Society. of Lawrente county. One box of hospital stores from Soldiers' Aid Society of School District:lto. 2, Dar lington townshiP. One box of hospital stores from U. P. Valley church, near Balton, Allegheny county. One bog df,boSpital stores from ladies of , Pigeon Creek church. One box of• hospital stores from ladies of U. .P. ohurch Peter's . Creek Allegheny county. One box of hosintal stores from Ladies' Aid Society of Jefferson, Green county. One box of hospital stores from Ladies' Aid Society of Newcastle. One box: of hospital stores from Ladies' Aid Society, of Freedom; Beaver county. One box from soldiers' wives of Valley Sunday School, Was4itigton.county. One box of hospital stores from Ladies' Aid Society of'• Greenfield, Mercer county. Also contributions of clothing, fruits and reading matter from Mrs. Lowers, Mrs.Wal lingford, Misss= Dickson, Mrs. Dickson, A Friend, W. L. Kennedy, Gee. Kennedy, Mrs. =A. Kennedy, Rev. E. S.Black, Mrs. Robinson; Mrs. Culbertson, Mrs. Jas. Irwin, Miss M. Robinson,Misses' Lathrop, Mrs. A. C. White, Mrs. M. - A. Kennedy, Mrs. Black, C. Yeager & Co., 1001 ans, Mrs. J. Birminghami Mrs. J. H. Law. 17kom a friend-50 pieces of muslin, val ued:if $5OO. Proceeds of exbibition by children at the Cresson Ef0n5e,•62.31: - Work done at eity.Hill by the ladies -418 shirts, 216 •pairs drawers, and 350 ban dages- rr ; in- the -} great piresnre of the. past inchith, we'' have - make - some au kn6vilidoiitUnts `w6 friends will pardoft us. ' - • • The ;following articles have been for warded' to the hospitals and' camps of our armies, and:distributed by the delekates of the 13:„S: Christian Commission : Coßforls 73 Sheets 114 killows. 857 PillOw,eases .. 194 1789 rhymers 792 'rowels . 495 Pads and Rings- 11:5 Sorter (lbs) 3435 Xgis (dos) 1.78 Wine r and Whisky (gall).. 260 Lead pencil. (doz) nutidlds of lint...—. . : ~ ;4681 Rolls, and ba.ndages. ..... ....845 Sock* (palrs) 4'218 Mosquito ban .. . .. ... 1 17 Buttons (gross) 8 Thread (lhs). .... . . 1 .. . 16 nooks ..... —43201 Soldiers' .. 2151 ...... Thei Committee are thankful to their friendswho,hive voluntarily made, so lib eral mations of money and stores.. Their assistance is , still needed. All.parts of the great field look to the Commission, and cry out,-Ar, continued . and enlarged supplies. W;i:are sure they will not look in vain. Continue..to send , alL . steies to • • WJLP . WEYBIAN, No. 79 Smithfield Street, and money to JOSEPH ALBUM, Treas., No 71 Wood Street. , • ROP.T. MeRNII3II; ,JOSEPH ALP4E,E, R WEYM&N, ILOBT. 1 0—TOTTEN, Josnig JOHN MeCFNE,_ = 41, Executive: C ara. =0 ~ _ , .. , Fruit (in cane)» 1265 Dried irbit (lbsY '' .3v19 Mittens (Isaira) n . « . - 28 Slippers (kairs) 61 Dreseing-gosofis 25 liandkexehiers. ....... ........ 460 Potatoe- eqhnsh).----- 45 Crackerallbe)) 146 lOrangas and 1em0n5.... .... 4G4 Wilting paper(reamsi.... 17 Teb(lbo). ........„.... 12 qbaarAlb; 115 Corn starch (Ibis) ..... ---. 52 Farina (14) . .29 06 . 6ectIate (11)0 25 . T0bacc0(1130)..... • 31 Pipes 25 Papers ' and' Thula,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers