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THURSDAY. JAW* 1», 1860.
D. C. HOUGHTON. EDITOE.
ASSOCIATED WITH
ALBFRT BABNES, I GEOKGE DUFFIELD, Jp.
THOMAS BRAINERD, . JOHN JENKINS,
HENRY DARLING, ' THOMAS SHEPHERD.
THE PURITANS.
The providence of God is signally displayed
in the history of the early settlers of onr country,
and in the preparatory training through which
they were made to pass. We can never, in view
of the circumstances under which they were de
veloped and schooled, wonder at their indomita
ble spirit, their love of freedom, and their un
ceasing activity and persevering energy. Born in
the midst of excitements; agitation, activity and
progress, have been the elements in which they
have lived and thrived. The Lord never de
signed them for conservatives, in the stand-still
sense of that term; they were raised up for ac
tion and mighty achievements. Systems of re
ligion and government were to be overturned and
changed, and new institutions established which
should embody the principles of freedom, and
exemplify the spirit of Christianity. Such an
undertaking required bold and courageous men
—men wedded to truth and principle, and
trained to endurance.
It is wonderful to observe the process hy
which Providence prepared the men for the
work to be accomplished. While we see Co
lnmbns in Spain preparing to go forth upon the
mighty deep, with bold daring and prophetic
instinct, for the living spirit that was in the
wheels did move him, and whither it was to go,
he went, to seek a world unknown; God at the
same time had his Moses training in the schools
of Germany in the person of Luther, to be a
leader and a law-giver to the people that were
in due time to go forth to possess the land of
promise, that His heritage should not be de
voured by greedy Spaniards or bouhd in bigotry
and superstition to the court of Rome. The
old world’s reformer trod fast upon the foot
steps of the new world’s discoverer; so that while
the one was making his prodigious discoveries,
the other was laying a train of causes to possess
and preserve them for the divine glory. He,
indeed, armed with the panoply of truth and
righteousness, went forth, breathing the cha
racteristic spirit of the Saxon race, undaunted
by bulls of popes or threats of kings: and would
not turn from duty to use his own words,
“though it should rain Duke Georges for nine
days running.” He counted all worldly in
fluence and temporary considerations as nothing.
Hk own ease and safety made no part of his
reckoning. Principle eclipsed every other mo
tive. He was engaged in a work for which the
world had long been preparing, and nothing
could hinder him, and it went on rapidly and
surely.
And what followed ? what else could have
followed, but an age of giants ? Elizabeth be
came the patron of learning and religion, giving
her royal sanction to their union, and lending
the ineitemeht of her high station and influence
to give this direction to the restless spirit of
her people. There was excitement, for this the
race demanded—without it there will never be
enterprise or advancement —all will be stagnant
and sickly—it was a commotion, too, that
stirred below the shallow surface of things: it
moved the very depths. There was food for
thought, and the stimulus to action —the inter
nal spirit and the external cause cooperating
together~and the fruit were the Bacons, Shaks
peares, Miltons, Baxters, Cudworths, Newtons,
Leightons, and like master minds by which the
seventeenth century was distinguished; for such
a development of giant intellects and choice
spirits, whose "tongues dropt manna,” and
whose thoughts have been the food of ages,
will be sought in vain in the classic age of
Greece and Rome.
This was the school in which that noble band
of learned and godly men were prepared and
equipped to go forth to be pioneers to carry the
Protestant religion to the newly discovered
world. Indeed, the very wrath of man was
converted into instruments of discipline, and
persecution and in toleration seemed to fan
the fires of liberty, and contributed to develop
those indomitable spirits of our pilgrim fathers,
‘so needful to qualify them to endure hardness
as good soldiers; so that a wilderness home in
a land unknown, amidst wild beasts and savage
men, had more charms for them than all the
luxuries of the land of their fathers and the en
dearments of the homes of their childhood, pos
sessed only at the sacrifice of a free spirit and
a pure conscience.
These men were prepared to sacrifice to prin
ciple everything dear, and peril property, com
fort and life, for freedom. To them religion
and conscience were of more real worth than
all the world besides. Snch men tyrants and
despots Will always fear, and sloggish, eofller
vative selfishness will hate and abase. Snch
were the men that went out into the wilder
ness to plant a nation whose institutions should
unite and preserve as indissoluble, freedom
and religion. They went forth in the name
of God, and for the advancement of the Chris
tian faith; and to this high cause they were con
tent to sacrifice friends, home, country, and
all earthly blessings. To any other eye their
'situation was gloomy as the wintry, iron coast
on which they trod. But they saw in it the
abode, where the spirit of religion and the
spirit of liberty might be developed and ex
panded without restraint,and they possessed their
souls in patience. This was the guiding star of
their ambition; this was the end of their long
cherished hopes and their fervent prayers. It
made the icy blasts of December grateful; it
lighted the clearest mid-winter sky. They, no
doubt, amidst the darkness of that day, were
.cheered and sustained by the revelation of
coining years, as the eyes of their faith saw the
realization of their high religions hopes in the
future, as the Hebrew prophets saw the return
of Israel from bonduge to the promised land.
They foresaw the altars of God ascending in
that desert region, and millions of their descend
ants bowing down before them; peace, industry
and comfort settling on every valley and crown
ing every hill; from the depths of ages to come,
they heard a voice, as if from the holy of holies,
saying, "They shall inherit the land forever,
the branch of my planting, the work of my
that I may be glorified: a little one shall
become a thousand,, and a small one a strong
nation; and the Lord will hasten it in its time.’’
We believe they heard this, and were comforted :
that they saw this day, and were glad.
It was the mighty sustaining power of a reli
gious faith, the controlling influence of great and
Jiving principles that nerved onr patriot forefa
thers for their appointed work, and fitted them to
suffer, to endure, and to conquer. Though they
were men of like passions with other men, stern
necessity was their school-master, and under such
tutorage were developed vigorous minds, noble
energies, and lofty intellects, suited to the times
in which they lived. Born in the wilderness,
cradled in the storm, literally nourished, like
the fabled heroes of olden time, on the marrow
of bears and the milk of wolves—the hoarse
notes of Boreas, their lnllabys—the grim howl
of wild beasts, and the more portentons yell of
the savage, their nightly songs—the roaring
cataract and pealing thunder their pleasant in
struments of music—beset with perils on every
side, with spirits as free as the air they breathed,
like Samson they went forth in their might
from conquering to conquer, and before their
nndannted spirits all enemies were like the un
circumcised Philistines before that unwarlike
weapon in the hand of the Nazarite.
Had we now, as a people, the same inflexible
and self-sacrificing devotion to principle, the same
indomitable energy and hardihood-, to labor for
God and the country, what a speetaele of pros
perity would we present to men and to angels!
Were we as rich in faith and works as we are in
physical comforts and in accumulated facilities and
means of doinggood to others, the wilderness would
soon blossom as tlie rose, and a nation might hope
folly be born in a day. We pray but faintly, be
cause we labor feebly and give sparingly. We
need more of that Puritanic faith which converts
the entire man and all he possesses of means and
influence into active and vigorous instrumentalities
for promoting the kingdom of Christ and the glory
of God in the world. We need such a devotion
to principle as to subordinate all narrow and sor
did selfishness to a predominant love of right and
truth, which will sooner sacrifice property, honor,
and life itself, than bate one jot or tittle from the
great chartered rights of a heaven-born freedom.
It is comparatively easy, if our hearts were in the
work as were our pilgrim fathers, to plant churches,
school-houses and .colleges in all the destitute por
tions of our vast country, and thus carry tbe ark
of God in the advance rank of emigration, and
erect an altar, and raise the standard of Christi
anity as the first and most important step towards
planting a new settlement. We dishonor tbe an
cestry of our country by making our religion se
condary to any other consideration. This is the
tenure on which we hold all our cherished privi
leges and blessings; onr civil and political freedom,
our personal liberty, our national union, had their
origin in our holy religion, and cannot be main
tained without it. When we yield this, we sur
render the ark into the hands of our enemies, and
Ichsibod will be written on the temple of liberty.
Patriotism, the love of our kind as well as fealty
to God, and tbe high trust committed to us, require
our increased and devoted efforts to extend and
perpetuate the religion of our fathers, as the surest
means of saving the union and perpetuating its
blessings.
THE SUCCESS OF FOREIGN MISSIONS*
Many out of the church, and not a few in the
chnreh, seem to suppose that nothing has been
accomplished and that nothing ever will be ac
complished by efforts to spread Christianity in
foreign countries. Such impressions, however,
can be cherished only where there is want of
faith in the word of God, and want of informa
tion respecting tbe history of the church and
the history of European civilization.
It is enough to remark that, in the middle of
the first century of the present era, Christianity
was confined to a narrow strip of land forming
the south-eastern border of the Mediterranean
Sea; and but a few hundreds in that land were
its professed votaries. In all the world beside,
other religions prevailed. Not a soul within
the boundaries of Europe had yet called on the
name of Jesus. But to-day, as we examine the
statistics of the world, about one-fourth of its
population is ranked under the name of Chris
tian.
We do not, indeed, say, that-all these three
hundred millions are true disciples of Christ,
but we do say that many millions are genuine
Christians, and that all are more or less influ
enced in their conduct by the religion of the
Bible. We are not to measure the power of
the gospel in the world slnfply by the number
of those who have been truly converted. We
have only to compare nations even under the
adulterated forms of the Latin and Greek
Churches with what they would be under any
other religion, to see and feel the superiority of
the Christian scheme. Prance may have but
little evangelical Christianity, still the religion
of Jesus in that land, covered up as it is with so
much superstition, has been the civilizing and
is yet the conservative element of the nation.
Prance would not be Prance without Homan
Catholic Christianity, and a purer gospel will
qualify her for the dignity of self-government
and civil liberty. Russia would not be Russia
without the Christian element of the Greek
Church. Certainly England and America would
not be what they are to-day but for the restrain
ing and elevating influences of the gospel on the
masses of the people
The simple question is—How came this ex
pansion? How came the religion of Jesus to
pass the boundaries of Palestine ? How came it
to penetrate Arabia, Egypt, Persia, Asia Mi
nor, Europe?
There is but one answer—Christians carried
it through these countries. It was under the
foreign missionary principle that the leaven
spread.
We need not travel beyond the limits of our
own history to learn a demonstration of the suc
cess of Christian missions. It is for us, the de
scendants of the Celtic and Anglo-Saxon races,
never to forget that we owe to the work of fo
reign missions all that we possess of Christian
hope and Christian civilization.
It might be a useful lesson to contrast Bri
tain, the home, pf our ancestors, in this nine
teenth century, with that same Britain in the
first century, when the commission was given
to the apostles to carry the gospel to all na
tions.
What Britain is to-day we know. Behold
that little island of the sea, cultivated like a
garden, dotted all over with temples for. the
Worship of Christ; with its beautiful villages,
thriving towns; its many homes of piety and
plenty; its literature, poetry, eloquence, and
statesmanship; its ancient and well-endowed
universities; its noble societies fbr giving the
Bible, the tract, the Sabbath school, the Chris
tian missionary to the world.
awE (Sendee
Note, too, its busy fingers of machinery, do
ing tbe work of five hundred millions of men,
(nearly one-balf tbe population of tbe world,)
and, because “knowledge is power,” holding
under its healthful sway two hundred millions
of men on the other side of tbe globe. This is
something of Britain in the nineteenth century.
Look now at this same land in the first
century. And what, we may ask, was the con
dition of our forefathers in ancient Britannia,
Caledonia, and Hibernia, when Jesus gave the
command to spread his religion? When tbe
great Csesar, the soldier and historian, made a
forced landing on the shores.of the Strait of
Dover, what did be find there? Just what you
may find to-day in landing on some distant
island of the Pacific never yet visited by the
gospel,—all the ignorance, all the superstition
apd degradation, and much more of the savage
ferocity.
Then, in that now beautiful island, there was
no cultivation of the land except a narrow strip
of tillage by the sea. Its inhabitants lived on
flesh and milk. They were clothed with the
skins of beasts. Their bodies they painted to
appear more hideous in war. Cruel rites formed
their worship. Hnme, in his history of Eng
land, that “no species of superstition
was ever more terrible than that of the Droids,”
and these were the priests of onr forefathers.
“No idolatrous worship ever attained such an
ascendency over mankind as that of the ancient
Gauls and Britons.”
And now we may ask, What has gone to
change this condition of things, to form this
contrast of Britain in the first century with Bri
tain in the nineteenth century. Was it Roman
arms, Roman law, Roman civilization? No.
It was the gospel of Christ, brought to Britain
by foreign missionaries, sent and supported by
Christians far distant in Italy and Asia.
But for missions to the heathen what would
Britain be to-day, and we, descendants of Bri
tain, bnt bands of savages? And in place of
being gathered from Sabbath to Sabbath in
Christian temples to offer spiritual worship to
Him.who is a Spirit, we should be gathered, ac
cording to Druid rites, around an elevated
wicker-work, filled with human beings, and set
on fire a bloody sacrifice to propitiate oar ernel
deities.
There are men in Britain, and men in this
land, who are accustomed to sneer at the work
of missions to the heathen. Had early Christians
so regarded the work, these very gentlemen
would now, like their progenitors, be roving
about amid unbroken forests, half-naked savages,
offering up under the sacred oak, their human
sacrifices to their heathen gods.
There are educated men who can write against
missions to the heathen, by reason of the fact
that the Foreign Missionary has raised them
from the ignorance of barbarism, has given them
language and literature, has put a pen into their
hands and taught them to wield it, has given
them civil and religions liberty to assail with
impunity the very cause which lies at the foun
dation of all they enjoy. Their poisoned arrows
are feathered from the breast they would pierce
and destroy., These gentlemen would not be able
to write their names, bnt for tjje fact that the Fo
reign Missionary once visited the land of their
pagan ancestors.
We may not forget that we inherit the same
human nature with the heathen of the present
day. Onr elevation and position in the world
has arisen from no unaided innate principle of
progress within us, but from a divine heaven
descending power without ns. Tbe history of
England, and tlie history of the Dnited'States,
as its complement, cannot be written without the
recognition, at every step, of the presence and
power of the Christian religion as the element
lying at the foundation of onr progress, social,
intellectual, and political By the grace of God
we are what we are.
'And for encouragement, we may bear in mind
that what the gospel has done for us, it may do
for others. We do not say that Christianity
will make,all nations equally powerful in intel
lect—equally inventive in genius—or equal in
force of character and national power. There
are differences in the same family of children, so
there-will be differences in the family of nations.
Christianity will not change this law by bringing
all to a dead level. The highest welfare of men
does not demand this. But the religion of Jesus
will give td all nations the same high moral pur
poses, the same blessed hopes, and the same
glorious immortality.
As then we have freely received, let us freely
give. As early Christians brought the gospel
to us, let us gladly earry it to 'others. Many
are waiting to receive it.at our hands. We have
entered upon a new year. We begin it with a
week of special prayer for the outpouring of the
Spirit on the world. Let us see to it that we
follow our prayers by corresponding efforts,
otherwise our prayers become a mockery. It
is said that there are but 1500 Protestant mis
sionaries in the world, from all Christendom —
how have we a right to pray that God would
convert the world with snch a small army as
this —when we have in onr churches 1000. more
who might, and ought at once, to be sent into
the field ? When Britain would reconquer India
she does not pray that an army of but 1500 may
accomplish the work. She does not pray that
victories may be achieved when no forces have
been sent. But Britain sends forth 100,000
troops, and then she has faith to pray that God
would give the victory. Let us not be asking
God to work miracles for our convenience. We
have clearly no right to pray for the outpouring
of the Spirit, where we have not sown the seed
of Divine truth—“ For how shall they believe
in Him, of whom they have not heard.” The
present is a fitting time for higher aims and more
vigorous efforts.
CHURCH EXTENSION COMMITTEE, HELP
EOR MISSOURI.
The Rev. T. Hill, secretary of the Missouri
Home Missionary Society and exploring agent of
the Church Extension Committee for that State;
was recently requested by that Society to visit the
East and confer with the friends of our church in
relation to the missionary work in Missouri. He
made statements to the Church Extension Com
mittee at their recent meeting, which were of
much interest, and after full consideration the
Committee voted unanimously “that they deeply
sympathize with our Missouri brethren, and that
it is their opinion that not less than ®2500 would
be appropriated to the Churches in that State
during the year ending December 31st, 1860, pro
vided the Churches will furnish the Committee
with the means of doing so; it being understood
that onediajf of thjs gum is expected to fee raised
by the Churches iu Missouri."
We think that this constitutes an appeal of no
ordinary power. Here are our oum Churches
which are cut off from all aid except what we our
selves furnish. They adhere to the Assembly in cir
cumstances of extraordinary trial and difficulty,
showing a loyalty beyond all praise. And their
brethren on the ground exert themselves to their
utmost to meet thanr-own wants. We hope, that
every one whom tins-case touches will send his
contribution to the Committee at once.
UNION OF CHRISTIANS.
It is one of the practical fruits of the revjval
spirit, that Christians learn to forget* for the
time, their non essential differences and secta
rian feeling and mingle together with one heart
and voice in the exercise of prayer and praise,
and in common efforts for the extension of the
kingdom of Christ. They do not repudiate or
disband their own households, but, while faith
ful to their separate organizations and to their
distinctive principles, they recognise all their
separate families as constituting' one body in
Christ Jesus nmtediy laboring for the same
glorious end, the glory of the Redeemer and
the salvation of men.
This union pint r illustrated in the follow
ing statement- of the course pursued by the
Chnreh of England towards the other clergy of
the kingdom m their assemblies for prayer.
The following account if the manner of con
ducting the union prayer-meeting appears in a
London paper:
Arrangements having been made for a united
prayer-meeting on the 2d of January, a prepa
ratory meeting was held on the'2d inst., nume
rously attended by clergymen of the church and
ministers of various dissenting congregations of
the city. It is to be hoped that so good an
example as is described in the following report
from the Bath and Cheltenham Gazette, will be
very generally followed.
The Rev. Mi Hobart Seymour, who presided,
reported the result of a meeting of the clergy
held on the previous day They solemnly ap
plied themselves to this question, and I am now
before you, I will not say delegated, but au
thorized, to state explicitly the result at which
those clergymen arrived. First,-—They desire
to share together with you in the wish for the
cultivation of a spirit of prayer for the outpour
ing of the Holy Spirit in private meetings, in
soeial. circles, in their school-rooms, and in their
congregations generally. Secondly,—They de
sire also and Wipe for the best results to accom
pany them; tqfjhold meetings for united prayer
more generally in Bath for members of their
congregations’; that is, they will meet their con
gregations or members on Sabbath in their own
parishes, and pastors may also have an oppor
tunity every week to meet the members of their
congregations all through the city, and join with
them in prayer for the same blessed object.
Thirdly,—-They arrived at this conclusion, that
they will hold a large public meeting in the
largest place they can obtain, for prayer that
Gfod would send down his Holy Spirit on the
city of Bath; and to this meeting I am author
ized to say, they invite the whole body of Dis
senting as well as Church congregations—not
merely the Nonconformist laity, but their mi
nisters; that they may sit with us, beside ns,
and among us, that we may all, as brethren, as
Christians, join together in prayer to God for
his blessing oh this city. lam authorized, then,
to make the proposition openly and frankly to
you: we, the clergy of the Church of England,
now invite all,the ministers of the Nonconform
ist bodies of-this city, and their congregations,
to meet us on this occasion. We do not simply
ask you to come and listen to us; we wish you
to takje precisely the same position as ourselves
—that the clergy of the Church and the Non
conformist ministers shall unite together, pray
together, ana alike be called to lead the prayers.
I believe this proposition, on the part of the
clergy of the Church of England, made in this
public way and in this Christian spirit, will be
responded to in the same , spirit ; and that all
denominations in the city of Bath Will lay aside
their denominational feelings for the moment,
and unite as “Christian ministers and Christian
brethren on the occasion I have referred to. I
feel strongly, and many, feel with me, and I am
sure you will concur with us, that the person of
all others fittest to preside over such an occa
sion is Mr. Kemble, the Rector of Bath. When
I state that he undertakes the office in the most
frank, free, and Christian spirit, and when I
state that, in order that there might be no mis
take about the matter, I put. the question in the
presence of all our brother clergy as to whether
he felt his position to be such that be could call
on Nonconformist ministers as readily as on
Church clergy to lead the prayers, he distinctly
replied that/with heart and hand, he was ready
to undertake the office with that feeling and in
tention The' reverend gentleman then sug
gested that the proposed meeting should be held
on Monday,\fhe 2d of January.
Cordial acceptance of this proposition was
expressed by the Rev. R. Brindley and the Rev.
R. H. Dyerj Dissenting ministers.
The Rev. Dr. Winslow, (Baptist,) speaking
of an interview he bad had with the Rev. C.
Kemble, in which the question was discussed in
air its bearings, said:—He opened his mind
with the frankness of a Christian brother, and
I was authorized to state a further view of the
subject which has not been broached. Mr.
Kemble thought this meeting would afford the
nucleus of yet more extended operations of the
same kind; but previously to that, as Mr.
Widdrington had kindly proffered the free use
of; his public hall for the object, the Christians
belonging to the Established Church should
hold a meeting there on one evening of the
week, throwing it open to such of their Chris
tian brethren of other denominations as de
sired. to unite with them; that the Nonconform
ist body should occupy the room on another
evening of the week, with full permission to
their brethren of the Church of England, to
unite with them. Thus united, the minds and
purposes oFChristians might be conciliated, and
those little prejudices which now exist would in
all probability be worn away in the minds of
some brethren. He thought, and so did I, that
by this meaqs various bodies of Christians would
be so baptized with the spirit of love, that
eventualjy they would be called, on to merge
their meetings into one, and reach the point at
which all desire to arrive, the identity and es
sential unity of members of that one Church of
which Christ is the Head. He carried me with
him entirely, and we parted with the conviction
that the plan was most feasible, and most likely
to compass the ulterior object which we all have
so fondly at heart. -
After some remarks from other gentlemen,
the Rev. Mr. Dyer moved a resolution, express
ing the cordial approval of the meeting.in the
proposition to hold a united prayer-meeting on
the second day of the new year, to be presided
over by the Rev. C. Kemble, and suggested the
appointment Of a committee to act with Mr.
Kemble in making the necessary arrangements.
VALUABLE BOX.
The. Presbyterian Church of St Geqrge has pre
pared and for warded a Box to the Bey. Win,
Kain, Western lowa, valued at,s2o4, and also
paid the freight on the box. The whole cost
$236. ■' " - ' •
The church has also contributed to the Phila.
H. M. Society $35, which was collected and for
warded by the pastor, Bey. D. H. Emerson.
Jesuit Tricks. —The Jesuits in Coohin China, who
have been interpreters between 1 the. Annamese and
the French,: are accused of having played the latter
false. The: French Admiral, it is said, having dis
poyprgfi .the tfiek, immediately. pot the bishop and
all the other' Jesuits, b@ pould lay hands on, under
arrest, exclaiming that were they pot priests he would
blow them from the mouth of a gun, ’ :
DR. FOMROY
We publish the following statement at the re
quest of Dr. Pomroy, that the public may. judge
of his case in the light of his own confessions
and asseverations:
TO THE CHRISTIAN PUBLIC.
* The following statement of facts and personal
feelings, deemed to be due both to myself and
the Christian public, has been delayed till the
present .time, that I might be able to speak
with more calmness and self-possession. Many
things have been said, inferred, surmised and
taken for granted; some correctly, others not
sb; But I have never authorized the publica
tion of any statement which may have appeared
respecting the offence which has been alleged
against me. It is perhaps proper to say, that
considerable portions of this communication
were sent, some days since, to the church of
which lam a member. Details will neither be
expected nor desired.
I have admitted, and do now'admit, that
there were three instances in which I was made
a victim; and that, whether foolishly or other
wise, I did pay certain sums of money from my
own private resources, to be relieved from cir
cumstances and dangers into which I had been
drawn. Exact dates are unnecessary, but the
three instances referred to, occurred several
years since, and all came'within the compass of
perhaps fifteen months, possibly a little more.
Some of the payments extorted from me were,
however, of a more recent date. There is too
much reason to believe that the persons con
cerned in these transactions, " were in league
with-each other, and operated together for ;the
accomplishment of their objects. lam aware
that these facts, and some others which have
been made public, present an unfavorable as
pect, and seem to authorize dark suspicions. I
do not undertake to exonerate myself from
blame. Far from it. • I ought"hot to have gone
where, nor to have "done what, I did. To have
ih jeopardy such momentous interests, was
atl aggravated offence, and wholly without ex
cuse. This I confess with shame and deep self
abasement before God. At the hand of a right
eous, G0d,. 1 have deserved all that has .come
upon: me, and infinitely more. At the same
time, I have never admitted, and do not now
admit, the actual crime which has been so ex
tensively alleged or taken for granted. How
ever great my guilt in the sight of Heaven—and
that it was very great I freely admit—still, I
have denied, arid do deny, the,actual crime. It
was not committed, and therefore no testimony
can prove it. ■
The brief “ Card ” published by the Commit
tee of the Board with which I was connected,
was' based entirely on statements I myself had
made, in peculiar circumstances, and without
consultation with others. There has been,.l
believe, no other testimony in . the case, except
my own admissions. Whatever thoughts I may
hare had respecting that official document of
three sentences, they will not be uttered here.
It has gone forth, is doing its work, and cannot
be arrested. Its effect upon my character and
standing, among men, I regard as a part of the
heavy trial by which it was needful that I should
be overwhelmed. The hand of God was in it,
.and I desire to say always, “The will of the
Lord be done.” I will only add,;that I have
not a doubt that the Committee in this matter,
did no more than what they thought the emer
gency demanded.
. There is another general view of the case
which I would not overlook. The tempest
which has been beating upon me for a month'
past, has not come by chance, but has been per
mitted by that Providence whieh governs all
things, for wise and holy purposes. Consider
ing the case,in this light, and looking at the in
finite scandal resulting from it, I feel that there
have been and are abundant reasons why he
should have.dealt with me as he has. My own
guilt in the premises, was greatly-aggravated
by my Christian and ministerial profession, the
position I occupied, my extensive acquaintance
in this and other lands, and by all the vast and
precious interests involved in my official cha
racter and relations! No finite mind can com
prehend the injury that has been done. It
seems to me infinite. If an offended God and
Saviour should see fit to exclude me from the
sacred office, and from the visible church; nay
more, if he should’ leave me to unutterable and
eternal despair, I should have no ground of
complaint. God is righteous in all his ways.
He has done me no wrong. I would throw my
self npon infinite and sovereign mercy, offering
no apology, making no excuse, but pleading
simply that atoning blood which has been shed
for sinners. •
And now, if I could address my former breth
ren and friends in the Christian ministry, one
and all, I would say to them: Dear brethren,
forgive me this great wrong. No words can
express the sorrow I feel for the reproach I
have brought on you, and the anguish of which
I have been the-occasion. For nearly thirty
five years I - have been numbered among you,
however unworthy, and I can never., cease to
love and honor you, whatever mayjie my lot in
time to come.
And when I think of the thousands of Chris
tian people whose friendship I have enjoyed,
and the many thousands more whose esteem and
confidence 1 have shared, I feel as if I must also
say to them: Dear friends, I have grievously
injured you, and the cause which lies so near
your hearts. I entreat your forgiveness. You
can never know what has passed within my
heart during the days and nights of this closing
month of the year 1859. But it has all been
known to One, who condescended to be “ num
bered with the transgressors.” That I may
have some little share in his forgiving love, I
intend to pray, God helping me, while life lasts.
Thns much my heart prompts me to say, and
here~l pause. S. L. Pomkoy.
Sunderland, Mass., Dec. 27, 1859,
WHAT A BOSTONIAN THINKS OF PHILA-
DELPHIA.
The last Congregationalist has a letter fpom
a Bostgnian written from this city. It seems
he found no eastern light among our Christian
young men, which led him to judge that we were
all looking southward. We extract part of the
letter; it may contain a useful hint:—
“This (Philadelphia) is really a Southern
city. The New York papers are found here;
but a Boston paper is a ‘ram avis.! In the
‘Young Men’s Christian Association,’ one of
the largest societies in the city, I inquired for a
Boston paper. I was told that they had none;
they had formerly had the Congregationalist,
but it had ceased to come, and now, not a Bos
ton paper, religious or secular, daily or weekly,
is to be found there. This might not seem so
strange, were it not for the fact that the same
Association is in the daily or weekly receipt of
at least fifty Southern papers, from such cities
as Baltimore, Washington, Richmond, New
Orleans, and the like, down to the organ of the
smallest hamlet or village that can produce a
paper of the size of two hands. What does all
this speak ? but our trade is with the South.
Still, the number of New England people here
is immense, and they fill offices and posts of trust
in every department. One is surpHsed to find
how many of the lawyers, clergymen, merchants,
teachers, elders of the churches, and booksellers
are from the 1 Eastern States. !
The multitude of the learned men here are
graduates of the Eastern Colleges. It is but a
day or two since I heard the Rev. J. H. Jones,
D. 0., say he was a native of Connecticut and
a graduate of Harvard College—that eight of
his classmates had entered the ministry—three
of them had been ordained over rich and large ■
societies in two of our largest cities, and all the
eight had now relinquished the ministry; three
■of them were dead, and the other five were now
men of high standing in the world of letters and
politics. I ought to add, said he; they were all
Unitarians.. r 'i .
Rev. H. Grattan Guinness is still preaching
there to crowded houses, and It was stated a day
or two since, at the noon-day prayer-meeting
that the evening before, he requested none to
stop but those who did not think that they were
Christians, and five hundred remained for reli
gious conversation; five hundred inquirers, none
o" them pious! He is said to be a great preacher,
but the writer has not been able to see wherein
be very much surpasses, in • applying and ex
pounding, Rev. Dr. Kirk; or, in description;
Rev. Mr. Stone; or in beauty of language and
logical acumen, Rev. Dr. N. Adams, of. your
city. But, as Dr. Blair says, difference from
the general taste indicates a wrong taste,;l sup-,
pose the taste of the writer must be incorrect,
for' it certainly does not harmonize with the
multitude wbo run- after him. Still, it is be
lieved he is accomplishing much good here, and
that conversions are taking place under his
preaching. .
At the head of the New School here stands
Rev. Albert Barnes, the admirable commenta
tor, and at the head of the Old School, Rev.
Dr. Boardman. They are men differing widely
from each other in address, manner, conversa
tion, and preaching, and yet both exerting a
wide influence; and eminent in goodness,?’
NEW YEAR’S DAY IN NEW YORK.
The custom originated with the Dutch in New
York City, and extends now very generally
throughout the State, of devoting the first day of
the year to social calls,'and to the forming of new
acquaintances, and the renewal of old friendships,
■ft is a pleasant Custom, and may be productive of
touch social .enjoyment. In cities, especially, we
need the influence of such holiday occasions to ar
rest'the tendencies.to selfishness and seclusion. A
New York correspondent writing to the Presbyte
rian suggests that the Philadelphians borrow or
imitate this custom, and. we’give the thought as
worthy of attention. In describing the scenes of
Monday a week, the .writer says:
The first day pf January occurring on the Sab
bath this year, the social anniversary was post
poned until the second. The day was gloriously
clear; and though the thermometer was down al
most to zero, the air was so pure, and- the sky so
bright, that the gentlemen on foot, as they hurried
from one house to another, did not seem to feel
the cold. But he who rode, had no reason to
boast over him that walked; and no doubt many
a swift pedestrian, as some gay equipage rolled by
him, congratulated himself that he did not own a
carriage or a sleigh. Stores and offices were uni
versally closed; and instead of the hum of busi
ness, the noise of merriment and good cheer was
heard in the streets.
One of the excellent features of New Year’s day
in New York, is that ministers are-numbered with
the ladies, and stay at home to receive their friends.
The pastor has thus the opportunity to shake hands
and exchange kind words with some whom it is
not easy to find disengaged at any other time during
the year, except the Sabbath. -We are sure there
were not many blue Mondays among the New York
clergymen this week; though we suspect there
were not a few right hands, which," like the one
that pens these lines, were weary with shaking,
on the Tuesday. But What signifies the weariness
of the hand, if only the heart be warm with the
glow of renewed Christian friendship, and strong
in the purpose to work for God and his church.
Will our Philadelphia friends be -offended if we
suggest that this New Year’s custom is one of the
things in which they might profitably imitate New
York ?
CALVINISM RESTRICTED.
Our Methodist brethren in opposing Calvin
ism are prone to define and restrict it, so as to
embrace but a small portion of those who claim
to adopt the views generally known as Calvin
istie. The ultra opinion of a few should not
be made the standard by which to measure and
judge the large community of Calvinistic be
lievers. Much of controversy is thus wasted in
contending with sentiments which are not held
by those against whom the controversy is waged.
To state correctly the views and opinions of
those from whom we differ, would wonderfully
narrow the actnal field of controversy. _ Infant
damnation and a limited atonement are often
charged upon Calvinism, when in truth they
form no part of the system, and are held by com
paratively few who adopt the Calvinistic creed.
A Methodist paper in Cincinuati is endeavoring
to impress its readers that such are the approved
views of all Calvinists. The Watchman and
Reflector, of Boston, justly reproves the writer
for thus attempting to restrict the term Calvin
ism to a: peculiar view, which neither Calvin
nor the great body of his adherents adopt. The
Watchman says:—,
“But onr anti-Calvinistic brother limits the
application' of the term Calvinism to those who
believe that Christ died for the elect only. Does
he not know that many Calvinists—many, at
least, who cannot be called Arminians with any
truth or propriety, believe and preach, that
Christ died for all men ? Baxter, and Bellamy,
and Dwight, and Chalmers, were they not all
Calvinists? And yet they all openly and em
phatically proclaim the offer of salvation to every.
man, on the ground of the death of Christ as a
sacrifice for the sins of the world. The thirty
nine articles of the Church of England are con
fessedly Calvinistic; yet they affirm explicitly,
that the offering of Christ was a perfect propi
tiation and satisfaction for all the sins of the
whole world, both original andactuaL (Art, 31.)
And Calvin himself, whether consistently or not,
repeatedly expresses the same doetrine. In his
commentary on Rom. v. 18, he uses the follow
ing language.
‘ Paul makes grace common to all, because it
is proposed and declared to all, bat in reality
not extended to all; for though Christ suffered
for the sins of the .whole world, and by the
kindness of God is offered indifferently to all,
yet he is not apprehended and laid hold of by
all mankind.’
In his last will and testament, too, he com
mends his soul to ‘Him who shed his blood for
the sins of the whole world.’ ”
“ANNALS OP THE POOR.”
DEATH.
Yes, he whose case I mentioned under the title,
“The way they die,” now sleeps in the dust.
“ The wintry storm that hurries by,
Mo more disturbs his deep repose;
Than summer evening’s latest sigh
That shoots the rose.’’
The storms of life can no more disturb him, for
they are all over ;• and may the turf be green above
bis now lifeiess form. I tried my best to point him
to the “Lamb of God that taketh away (he sins
of the world.” I followed him to his last resting
place, and oh! how vividly did that “ Life and
immortality brought to light in the gospel" seem
to flash all'around.
And novr, she who vyafched over him so ten
derly, so faithfully and with a true woman’s heart
—she who “did what she could,” she whose
husband and child sleep together, is left to travel
life’s rugged road alone. How she shall succeed
may "depend very much upon some “Good Sa
maritan.”
A PRAYER MEETING.
On Wednesday evening, the second prayer
meeting was held in the sebool-room. Quite a
number of adults were present, hut by far the
larger part-were,of the Sunday School. Several
teachers were present-—even the children were
most 1 orderly and attentive, while air apparently
deep seriousness pervaded the adult portion.
Hymns were sung, those present generally joining
in them. Several prayers were offered, and the
gospel presented as plainly as we were able, and
when the meeting Sosed a happier, more kind and
affectionate collection of people could hardly be
imagined. A number of the children, in the ful
ness of their hearts Wowed As two or three streets,
and seemed unwilling to let go of our hands
and return to their homes. I hope: some of them
are near to the kingdom of God.
CONTRIBUTIONS.
It has been suggested to us to publish statedly
an abstract of the contributions. Upon mature
reflection we are still of the opinion that so far at
least as such donations come from the city, the end
will be accomplished by leaving such abstract with
Rev. J. W. Dulles or Chas. S. Luther, X§34 Chest
nut Street, subject to the inspection of those who
may 'desire It. When ' donations -of money,
or if any thing come from the. .country or
from abroad, they will hereafter be -noticed, unless
a request to the con trary is made. Last week $1
was sent from Westchester fora particular person
mentioned in the article, “Come and see,” and
here in the city repeatedly money or articles of
clothing have been sent with a note stating for
whose benefit they were intended. Last week we
received §8 in cash, from three different sources.
All these and all similar cases will be uniformly
left as above for inspection.
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS.
Will not two or three female Sunday School
Teachers come and help us? We mean such as
can he relied on. There is maDy a teacher feels
that she would like a fair field of labor. Well,
here it is—here then is labor enough to satisfy
her—at any rate, let several such come and try it.
EDITOR’S TABLE.
AN OVERLAND JOURNEY FROM NEW YORK TO
SAN FRANCISCO, iii the summer of 1859. By
Horace Greerey. New York: C. M. Saxton, Barker
& Co. Philadelphia: G. G. Evans.
Horace Greeley, the distinguished editor of the
New York Tribune, made during the summer of
1859, an over-land tour to California, through
Kansas, Utah and Sierra Nevada. His letters,
written during the journey, were published in the
Tribune, and extensively copied into other papers.
They ate here collected, and publlshed : in a volume
of nearly four hundred pages. No merit is claimed
for the book as embodying valuable scientific and
geographical observations, but as a book of incidents
of travel and descriptions of scenery in a sparsely
inhabited wilderness, and in mountainous regions
soon to be subdued and peopled, it will attract at
tention, and will receive a passing interest. ‘ It is
well worth a careful perusal, both for its instruc
tion and amusement. ,
HISTORY OF PETER, THE GREAT, Emperor of
Russia. By Jacob Abbott, with engravings. New
York: Harper & Bros. Philadelphia: Lindsay &
Blakiston. ■ i
This-is another addition to the most valuable
series of histories written by Abbott for youtb.
These volumes are ■ issued -in a most attractive
style by the enterprising publishers, neatly printed,
elegantly bound, and beautifully illustrated. They
are just the books that all our young readers ought
to have in their libraries. ; The early, history and
success of Peter the: Great, "will be found to be
full of interest and instruction,to all boys who,are
aspiring to be good" and great men." i
DE TUfiCARUM LINGU.E INDOLE AT NATUBA;
Philadelphia: 1860. -
This pamphlet by Prof. P. L. O. Rdshrig Is a
treatise in Latin on the importance of the Turkish
language as the key to the principal Oriental lan
guages and dialects. The object of the author is to
bring. to the attention of scholars the Turkish
’tongue, not for the literature which if contains as
uiuch as its philological relations to other’eastern
languages and its practical importance in this re
gard to missionaries. It is not only spoken by
the Turks of Europe and Asia, but by the various
tribes and nations known as Tartars, mostof whom
are Mohammedans and idolaters. The author
writes con amove of the structure, elegance, har
mony and beauty of the language, while its cog
nate relations to other living languages gives it an
additional practical importance.
Prof. Beehrig is a' distinguished linguist, and
has published several works of A philological cha
racter; among which are “ Researches in the
languages of Centred Asia ; 1 ’ « The Idioms of the
Turkish language''’ His works have acquired
notice abroad, and obtained the premium of the
Imperial Academy of Eraoce. He has lately issued
a general introduction to the study of the German
language, exemplifying a new method of studying
languages. Prof.-.Roehrig is now a resident of
this city, and-we have, known -him for years as a
man eminently* learned in the languages, and
skilled in interpreting hard sentences and in read
ing characters that have puzzled the wise and the
learned;
SELF-HEI.P; with Illustrations of" Character and Con
duct. By Samuel Smili-s, author of “The Life of
George Stephenson.” New York; Harper & Brothers.
Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston. .
This work has been already noticed by us as
published by Ticknor and Fields, Boston. It is
a book of a practical character, and worthy of an
extensive circulation. Its design and tendency
is to stimulate the poorer and laboring classes to
self-culture and self-improvement. It shows what
can be done, by what has been done.
MISREPRESENTATION. A novel. By Akna H.
Drury, author of “ Friends and Fortune,” “East
bury,” &c. New York: Harper & Bros.: Philadel
phia : Lindsay & Blakiston.
This is No. 214 of Harper’s Library of Select
Novels. A chaste and clever stoiy by a popular
authoress.
THE REVIVAL IN ULSTER; Its Moral and Social
Results- By Benjamin Scott, London.
This is a pamphlet of :114 pages, giving an ex
tended and detailed account of the remarkable
work of grace and the attendant fruits. It is
compose 4 principally of letters written by intelli
gent ministers and laymen who have been eye
witnesse|.of scenes and results described. The
main facts-have been given in onr columns by our
intelligent correspondent on the ground, and from
papers weekly received from Ulster.
ROSE COTTAGE; or, Visits lo my Grandmamma. Pres
byterian Publication Committee, Philadelphia. With
Five neat Illustrations. 30 cents.
A pretty book with lessons on "the common
faults of children conveyed through a simple
narrative. It will be appreciated by quite
young readers, and is a good book for the fa
mily circle.
THE SHORTER CATECHISM. With Scripture proofs
m full. By Rev. Edwin Hall, D. D. Presbyterian
Publication Committee, Philadelphia.
This is a new and cheaper form of this very
valuable book, which we noticed a few weeks
since. It is substantially bound in boards, and
sold for fifteen cents. ' It should be in the hands
of all' our Sunday ‘School teachers. " ■ -
Jan. 12,
! b.