GENESEE EVANGELIST.—WhoIe No. 751
ot-trg♦
MILTON'S SONNET.
The following sonnet by the great epic poet of our
mother 'tongue is invested just now with peculiar in
terest, The persecution of the Protestahte to which
it refers broke out in the year 1655, 4,little over two
centuries ago. Looking at, the change which has
been effected in the government and in the civil and
religious polity of Piedmont within:the past few years,
and also at the momentous crisis now impending dyer
Rome, and the Italian peninsula generally, we van
not but conclude that the day of retribution" it'W
hand, and that Milton's prayer, as put , forth in the'
lines In question, is about to be answered:
On the late Kaseaernat Piedmont.
Avenge, 0 Lord, thy !slaughtered saints, whose bones
Lie scattered on the Alpine mountains cold;
Even them who kept thy truth so pure of old,
When all our fathers worshipped stooks and stones.
Forget not: in thy book record their greens
Who mere thy sheep, and in thy ancient fold,
Slain by tie bloody Piedmontese, that rolled
Mother with infant down the rooks. Their moans
The vales redoubled to the hills; and they"
To
To heaven. Their nfartyrec; blood and asbes soy
O'er all the Italian fields, where still doth sway.
The triple tyrant; that from these may grow
A handred4old, who, having learned day way,
Early may fly the Babylonian woe.
"MAMANATHA."-THE LORD COMETH.
BY. 3. N. MAODUPP, MITUOR or THE VAlrinflTh
Christ le corning! let creation
Bid her groans and travail Cease-
Let the glorious proclamation
Hope restore and faith increase—
Maranatha I
Come thou, bloomed, Prince of Peace.
Earth elm now but tell the story
Of thy hitter _cross and pain;
She shall yet behold thy glory
When thou oomeet bank to
Marane.thal
Let each heart repeat the strain.
Though once cradled in a manger,
Oft no pillow but the sod;
Here an alien and a stranger,
Mocked of men, disowned of God—
All creation
,Yet shall know thiLt IdixtglY rod. '
thpexihs ]lave }teem 14 11111 ),Ri
Far from rest and house anti, trtee
Itut, In heavenly vesture shining l
Sootiihey shall thy gloey
Maranath a 1 '
eats the joyous jubilee.
With that "blessed hope" before ha,
Let no .harp remain unstrung;
Let the ighty advent.oboroa
Onward roll from tongue tcf tongue=
Maranathar
Come, Lord Jeoug, 9‘ii4l3,
- ,inossisont(tott.
LETTER.: PROK , NSW i'ORK.
lb was my pvivilege to be ptbetient.at the noon
day meeting in Sansom street When the venerable
Rev. Lyman Reedier, D. D., at the suggestion of
the Rev. Thomas Brainerd, D. D., took .hitt place
at the side of the 'leader's tabls in I'llll vie* of the
audience. His _ tongnei' onee so eloquent, irati
silent, and' his BM, which once was nerved so
fearlessly in his earnest denunciations of sin and
oppression, hang listlessly by his." feeble knees,"
and as w.e looked, all felt that T his work was,done,
and he was . wititiirtig Ihe 4444/4104 , 1 1 4 5 iNtIiPAPr
to go up higher.. .- 1 1.,hisneeene muse baek.to my
mind the other day when an aged servant of
Christ front Cincinnati' was relating, in' the Fulton
Street Church, the success and prosperity of the.
meeting in his own ,city. He stated that the
prayer meeting was held in the church in which
the late Rev. Mr. Wilson had. formerly officiated;
•that, as is the case all over:the union, all denomi
nations had freely joined bi lis exercises; that an
excellent fraternal feeling pervaded. the entire as
sembly, and as his picture of the brethren " dwell
ing together in unity" deepened upon our minds;
he prevented to our imagination the spirit of the
deceased minister in heaven beckoning to the
other spirits to gather around him and to look'
down with him upon the scene, " See-there!" said
the glorified saint, "there, in that church for 30
or 40 years 1-labored, and preached good, sound
old school doctrines ) .and fought brother Lyman
Beecher right valiantly ) and now, see they are
having it down there much as We have it up
here!'
It is all very well for controversialists to talk
and advise us that we "should contend earnestly
for the faith which was once delivered unto the
saints," but, "as one touch of nature makes the
world kin," so one breath of , the Holy Spirit in
melting our hearts together and in breaking down
the barriers and walla .between brethren which
dwell more with sanctified genius and in the
brains of holy men, who, as Addison has it, have
divided the world with , their wars, than in the
real necessity of the, case; so one breath, we say,
thus reveals to us more. what the faith really is,
than whole tomes of theology, tracts and treatises.
It may not be , wide of the mark. when it is said
that as soon as we can simmer :down; the theology
with which the chunk-is deluged into "This is
my commandment, that ye love one another as
have loved you," we shall escape into the sum and
substance of "all the law and the propheta."
The Prince of Wales seems at present to divide
the honors with the Prince: of Peace. In the
published list of the martagerauf the coming ball
are the names of some of •the most conspicuous
member* of the Congregational, RefortnedAguteh
and Presbyterian Churches. Among .them also
appear the names of two venerable Doctors of
Divinity, Chancellor Ferris and the Bev. Dr. G.
W. Bethune. It is supposed, however, that these
well known intliiiduals occupy a false position
before the:world, through the alteration of
. the
original scheme, whieh contemplated but a recep
tion and dinner in hotAlr Of his Highness, and it
is .anticipated that when the correct list shall have
been , published, magi Christian hearts in this
'city and throughout the whole country will be
relieved of their anxiety. . -
The churches are all now re•opened, and the
churi3h-going world have returned from the
watering places, sea shore, mountains, and every
now and then stragglers from Europe, and a run
through Palestine, are filling up the rear.
It may very reasonably be supposed thug one of
the objects contemplated by the committee in the
compiled°# of the new Tune Book, was to pro
mote congregational singing, so that one of the
privileges of the people shoulO f Imyeatirely,ab
sorbed by thorehoir and organ. We had the mis
,fortune a Sabbath or so age toliiten 'to a perform
anoe in one of our fashionable- Presbyterian
Churches, where this book is used; that made one
hold one's-breath, and whes it, Was 'omi - eluded, to
exclaim, in the language .of the'Prince of Wales,
upon witnessing Blondin's last stilt exploit on the
rope at Niagara, "Think 'God, it is all 'over,"
The hymn; was .',that peculiarly aoletnU and , ixn
prosily° one commencing thus,:
Lo, on a narrow neok of land , '
'Twist two unbounded seas I stand;
Yet how insensible,"
and ,thc, manner in which the prima donna gy
rated and corruseated above, around, and through
these words was both electrifying and, at,
times,
from the very antithesis of the subject, positively
comical,—at one time shooting out away above
AS thunder of the organ lances of sharp, quick,
fife:lliwmelody that pierced the ears through and
throes ; , i -,_ again coyly, and daiatily,tossing .the
words up and down 'like the gildedViiMif a jug
gler, and, finally, upon "how insensible," sinit inc ,
the voice into a tendtk and pathetic trenuto dui"'
reminded you of flUte..toned street orgabs on moon
light' ',nights. The "pomp of that tremendous
day" was entirely lost in the thunders of applause
which only seemed to be restrained by stony-eyed
propriety. PENN.
New 'rink, Sept. 21st, 1860.
For the American Presbyterian.
THE HAPPINESS OF HEAVEN.
Zn the "New Jerusalem" above, all jarring in
terests, all discOrdant paisioni are unknown. None
but the sons of peace shall enter there. None
shall strive nor cry; neither shall any, one lift up .
'his voice in the streets. Brethren shall dwell to
gether in unity—all will be of one heart and one
mind. Nor will it be a small part of our happi
ness, to see there face - to - fit:oe the illustrious dead
whose Praise is recorded in Seripture,—Patriarchs,
Prophets' and Apostles, all who have walked with
`God on earth, , or suffered for the testimony - of Je
sus. To. see , there, perhaps, the very man who,.
by his writings or preaching, converted us from
the path of sin; who, by his -,holy 'eitlinple or his
faithful reproofs, snatched tmas.brands out of the
hipping. And amongst the ,:multitude which no
man can number, what joyful', meetings, what
blessed re-unions will there be; lietween those who
were bound to one another upon earth, is friends
of God, as brethren in Christ, and fellow-soldiers
of the : Cross; between parents, who had watched
and wept and prayed over their dear children's
souls, and . children, who had trod in their dear
parents' steps, and followe& their good example
(thank God, for pious parents;) between all those,
in, a word, who, united in the faith of -a living.
Redeemer, were pleasant to each other in life,
and in death were not divided. They shall hail
one another on .that happy shore, in that happy
land;; ,they shall pall to mind the. many dangers
and ileßverances of life's tempestuous voyage;
adore 'and magnify together that merciful God
whose gracious hand, unseen, had led them all;"by
their allStte4,CcFses to land of eyeo4tißg
lite.
Mail
And let us not forget - , in Jthe 'catalogue of hea
ven's blessedness,,that which indeed constitutes
th e e, very beaverojor heavens—the presence of the
Beloyed, of Rim who is altogether .lovely, the very
ohief among ten thousand. In that glorious world
where "frignds shall Meet again. ph.° have IQved,"
it will be the ;bleseed : privilege of all who, love the
Lord NintB Christ in : sincerity, to, see and meet
that 44 friend who stieketh closer than a brother." ,
Who can comely° and estimate that exceeding
weight = of joy with which the faithful flock shall
hail their triumphant Lord and Shepherd when
appem,in glory?. -When the glorimis standard
of the cross ~shall :beam with ineffable bright
ness from all the - towers and the battlements of
heaven When the dead, small and great, shall
stand before'the Son of, dod, no longer- the Saviour
of sinners; and when, from the awful judgment
seat, He shall look down with unutterable, love
upon the humblest soul that was faithful to him
in life, and from amidst the dazzling glories that
surround him shall say, "It is I, be not afraid,
fear not: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great
reward." "Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
My dear reader, these realms of everlasting joy
are not displayed in Scripture to tantalize you with
forbidden fruit; they are the inheritance of, every,
one of you who will accept the mercies freely of
fered to you.
Hopeless, indeed, would be our condition, if in
our own strength we had to tread the upward path
which leads to the , mansions of the blest; or pay
down, as the price of our admission, the ten thou
sand talents which we owe to God. But the Scrip
tures assure us that the full price of our entrance
into heaven is paid, that our sins, though red as
crimson, as the sands on the seashore innumera
ble, are expiated by the reconciling blood of Christ;
that entire forgiveness is purchased for the guilty
and the lost; that the kingdom of heaven is opened
to all believers; that all may now come to the
waters of salvation; may come and " buy wine and
milk without money and without price." AltAhat
is required on our part, is to repent, and believe
the gospel; to come unto Him who is the - way, and
the truth, and the life; to own and to aieceive Him
as our great deliverer from the power and the pu
nishment of sin. WILLIAM B. EVANS.
Woodstock, Howard County, Md.
For the American Presbyterian
THE HAWAIIAN ASSOCIATION:
In a recent notice in the American, Preskvterian
of the Hawaiian Evangelical Association, it is de
signated rt - Congregational body. Some of your
readers have in mind the facts in regard to the
character of that organization, but many have not.
Mr. Alexander, -to whom in the notice you refer,
in a letter to the Central CAristian Herald before
his return to the Sandwich Islands, gave, the fol
lowing account of it and the forms of church go
vernment on the-islands : •
When the great Head of the church smiled upon
our labors,
and a few converts were„gathered, they
were but babes in `Christ;. and when organised
into churches ' they needed the Missionary. hand
which had gathered them, to guide them still, just
as a father guides and directs his children during
infancy and childhood As they have grOwn in
knowledge and Christian experience, an increase
.of responsibility has been laid upon them. About
cue-half under this guidance have assumed the
forM of Congregational Churches in their organ
ization, and . the other half Presbyterians. In. the
latter, the,church :members elect - ruling elders,
who, are ordained - by their pastor, and who, with
the pastor, oonatitute a church court, who ex-
ETIILAPELPHI4.;
.:TITURS-DAY;;-'.O.CTOS:E-Rr„i4,..10.()..,
amine all candidates for admiesion to thelealing
ordinances;-and who perform all acts of ecclesias
tical discipline. The pastor's influence is grater
these 001.14 p r -than ,this country; andsuelt
ought to be. When a, church wishes to have a
pastor installed,,or ordained and initalled over it,
they will invite the neighboring churches'to aid
them'in the work, Those organized as Corigin4•
gational Churches, send each, their pastor and a
laydelegatn; the otliers send their pastor and a
ruling
We , have no. Presbyteries, but we,
have the Hawaiian Evangelical 'As - Sedation, of
which all the missionaries are Members, and also
all the other Proteitint ministers of the Gospel
in the islands. ,
This,AsVulutiort meets °nee a. year: to_confer on'
the interests of, Zion ; and. it exercises theyoPer
of control am? discipline similar to that of et Pres
bytery over its own members. You May consider
this u`sort of=oompromise between Congregation
alism and ,Presbyterianism. We find it works
well. ; , : We have ever been able to.work,,,together
with perfect harmony. We, have
,ordained five
Americans to the work of the ministry, and ,eight
Hawaiians ands five 'other Hawaiians have been
used to, preach the Apel.'
d ou
Ir ecclesiastinte tion we have sought to
pursue that, cours,e_whipb. we believe is best adapted
to build up the'chilreliei of our Lord'Jesus:Christ';
and.'we have acted most freely in -View 'of the facts
around us and all'the lights we could , gather:.
The Prudential Committee have never pretend
ed to direct us in such matters. They have no
desire to exercise ecclesiastical control over the
mission chirches. They labor rather to have all
the.churches brong,hf to exeitise seli-control and
self-support as BOOR as possible. For. years they
have been urging our mission to increased activity,
in providing native pastors for, the churches, and
placing them in a position to assume, as aeon as
pessible,4ll the responsibilities o£ 'a Chriatiitia Com
munity. •
The colloquy with Mr. Alexander before, the
Board at Philadelphia, will, not be forgotten by
those who heard it. While he spoke of their
church government as, in his view, '.'Apostolie,"
he was , emphatic in his declaration of differences
from Congregationalism on important points.. As
reported in the American 13.esbyterian, he ex
presqy denied that the Hawaiian Evangelical As
sociation is a Congregational , association, while he
did not claim that it is a Presbytery, although it
has inpart the powers of a Presbytery. He stated
that appeals may be carried from the churches er
sessions to this body, and that the native pastors
have a vote in it on the same level , with the mis
sionaries. Its decisions in matters,of discipline are
authoritative, and not merely - advisory; and it is
a permanent judicatory, not an occasional council.
**
[Weeheerfully insert the above coinmunication,
although we think its;proper plaie is the columns
of the Independent; as our notice of the body in
question:was based upon the fact that, that jour
nal had given an account of its proceedings under
the head of "Congregational." Our purpose was
not to impugn •Mr. Alekander's statements,: that
the Association Was neither Presbyterian nor Con
gregational, but "rather apostOtioil;" but to show
how those statements affected; Or failed to affect,
the views of the 'lndependent, and of those. who
think with it.. That which is described as neither
Presbyterian Mir Congregational, may readily be
imagined to fall in with•some of the.various forms
of - church polity which obtain within the limits
of Congrekationalism,:while Presbyterianism has
absolutely no 'place for it. Itr says would
thou wert either cold or hat"-=-Eos.]
SYNOD OF GENESEE:
. 24 - .A.RRATIVE.--INGITAIi UNIVERSITY.
The Committee on the Narrative of the state of
Religion, made the .followidg report, which was
adopted':
(Your committee on the state of, religion, within
the bounds of the Synod of Genesee, would respect.
fully report, that while no general revival of re
ligionhas been enjoyed among our churches during
the past synodical year, we hive been favored
with a state of general religious prosperity.
The, churches report a good attendance upon
the stated means of grace—the continuance of
large Sabbath assemblies—a good number at the
prayer meeting—the usual .cnntributions to the
various objects of beneiolcuee,- rr a slue , attendance
to, the baptism of children, and an increasing inte
rest in their religious instraction.
A laudable enterprise bas been shown in many
of the congregations within our limits, in the eree
tion of new church edifices, and, in repairing and
beautifying their formerplaces of Worship.
Some of the presbyteries connlieted with us have
been doing 'Much 'for the feeble churehes, by the
support of Missionaries, who have devoted them
selves faithfully, to the visitation of these churches,
occasional preaching on the Sabbath, and the ad
ministration of the ordinance&
An increasing interest , is manifest in the Sab
bath School—teachers' meetings are well attended
—and in many_ of-the churches in the country
parishes, as well, as in the cities, a system of Sab
bath Ochool missions is established, by which the.
Sabbath school is brought into the reunite dis
trictsnnd neighborhoods. Thus is our church fill
ing up whatis behind'of the labors and toil of love'
for Christ, by *hich the Head of the church is ful
filling the prediction of prophecy, and approxi
mating to the day of niillennial-glory, when " He
shall gather the lambs with his arms, and carry
then' itthis bosom." The :ittore of strength-and
sympathy we can give to this department of labor
in the church; the more closely we are identified.
with the body of Christ, as his arm of strength
and his heart of love.
On the whole, we have evidence that the Lord
is still with us, and that he is preparing our Zion
in the set time of his faVor, for precious revivals
and large ingatherings, when the seed which is
now sowing, shall become matured for the harvest.
The silent process 'of spiritual vegetation is
going on; nor would we, in our own impatience,
open the soil to see its working. We would ra
ther "go forth weeping, bearing the precious
seed" to the hearts of our people, leaving it to
grow, we know not how, until our faith shall be
vewarded by seeing, "first the blade, 'them the ear;
after that the full corn in the ear."
The promise of God 'assures us,
brethren, that
"in due time we shall reap, if we faint not."
A hallowed influence is, still left upon our
churches from revivals recently, and so generally
experienced, whose savor is manifest in a higher
consecration of many of our members to Christ, in
a more elevated faith, and more constant assu
rance, and in the growth of those graces which are
to perfect the, church for its work on earth, and
for the glory of heaven.
Oar denomination is becoming more compact
in its religious enterprises, more united in its
views of ecclesiastical polity, and denominational
action—and is manifestly, by the favoring provi
dence of God, reaching forth its' hand and heart
toward the achievement of greater things for
Qhrist and his kingdotn, than we have hitherto
been encouraged to undertake, or prepared to ac
complish.
For all this, let us be thankful to God, and let
us continue steadfast, unmovable, always abound
iv' in the work of the Lord, inasmuch as we know
that our labor is not in vain inlhe Lard."
.
In closing this report; we`would call the atten
tion of the synod to the loss.,..rhich our body has.
sustained during the past par, in the death, of
two of our number, the -Rev. Vern. Waitli of. Rip
ley, and the Rev. D. C. Houghtim, D. D., of Phi
ladelphia.
We are reminded by this disnensittion *of God's
hand, of the kindly admonithst of our Saviour.--
"Work while the day lasts;: for the night cornett'
in which no man can •work..Y - - ,
E. S. WRIGHT
G. P. Forams, Committee.,
t
Rocheser Thursday, Sept. 13, 1866.
The committee on mattein,-pertaining:to the
Ingham University, report -M followsi
Ist. That this institution-ciao given to the synod
as a free and unembarrassed offering,- at the value
of at least twenty thousge4 dollarsk'and: that the
debt now resting on the property, accruing mainly
from the necessary enlargement of .the university.
buildings, was expresely riefiened by_this - hody.
2d. This debt has now increased, by' interest
and other imperative expenses,rto2tfie amount of
about fifteen thousand dlll„,akil the m,ortgae
expiring akthe close of or school year, it is,
incumbent` on this' bo`dY, edikcise means to meet
thatindebtednessi and lionoribly secure the 'pro.'
perty. )A , ',",\ ; ' ' ' ,
3d, 'lt is believed; thet , did the pagers and
churches appreciate the value and: indispensable
ness of this institution to the highest prosperity
of the PidSbyterian Church, 'eSpecully within the
bounds of this synod, and -*Mild iseetheir influ
ence;scholars Might be secured, more than enough
to meet current expenses.
4th. That instruction university, em
bracing, in addition to claspleitaii on s by a corps
of teachers, never; it is b4ftled;;Strouger than the
coming year, lectures on. the history and
general literature, by the honored Chancellor and
other distinguished scholawby him provided, is
thorough, various, most Ipy,, and wisely and
successfully adapted to the educational deVelopment
and miltuie of the young 'Wei. 'Therefore f
Resaved, That the couneitt of the uniiersity be
authorized to raise, a cemulitte6 of the synod,
whose duty it shall be to grituitonsly present the
claims of the university to hoividual members of
the congregations, and solicit , pecuniarY assistance,
to liquidate - the debt, in conjunction with the pas.'
tors - of the churches, and adopt such other 'niea
sures as they, may deem advisable, in, aid of its in
terests.
Resolved, That this institution, as the child of
the church and the effective nourisher of intelli
gent piety, Christian utility and good' works,
wherever its graduates and pupils go, be renewed
ly commended 'to, the praers and earnest co
operation of the pastors, stated supplies and el
ders. - • _ V:
PIKE'S PSAK.
The Congregationalists . have united with the
New and Old School PrOsliyterians informing,a
union church in ..Ikleuntai s a — cipy, in
,Gregory's
Gulch, which numbers fifty members, yeing one
week's growth.' We have' kconfession of faith,
such as is in common use,alitfa covenant suitable
to our , circumstances, and4.deacons, Ste. Rev.
Lewis Hamilton, a New ,School, Presbyterian
sister, preaches regularly foits.--Zqnestrille Ga 7
Mee. - ' •
.
This sounds' very well, but le ' principles' of the
church ,Crovernment of these 'bodies are such that
a union is an impossibility. The fact is, that the
Old and New,School PT . ip.na of Pike's Peak
have'iliitedint l
the Cong tionahs in forming
lr
a Cong,regational church. Ais the only union
that can be formed. - In such if union Congrega
tionalists give up nothing i -Presbyterians' every
thing, The Churches of the A.B. C. B. t missions
are repelled to be founded upon what is called a .
union of Presbyterianiini.,*d Ob . i*Egiiinitalisixt.
The thing is nominal , and not'real: We find in
the. Congregational Herald; of`Chicago;
a , letter
E
from a missionary in the ast r which acknow
ledges what is obvious , to every one, that govern
ment by' the congregation, and by the session,
presbytery, &c., are essentially,ditterent.
He says:
"The last number of the Evangelist which has
reached us, that of May 10th„,contains a letter by
Dr. Riggs, of Constantinople, on the same subject,
which will give you a clear idea of the churches
we' have formed. Oar churches are, essentially,
Congregational; and, up to the 'present time, we
have, always been in the habit of admitting all
new members by a unanimous vote of the brother
hood. We have elected a committee to examine
pandidatei, bit this is only as a matter of conve
nience, since we find it.difficult to get' all 'the
church together during the week for this purpose.
But then the members are finally received by vote
of the whole church.
The union of Congregationalists and Presbyte
rians whether at Pike's .Peak or in the missson
ary fields of the American Board, is like the union
between the earth'and= the clouds. The latter are
taken in.—The Presbyterian.
fiPtTRGEON'S NM TABERNACLE.
The British Standard states that this structure
was on Tuesday, the 21st nit:, the scene of a deep
ly interesting meeting. The roof was on, the
windows in, the frame of the pulpit, up, and by
using the galleries, and the immense area: of the
filor for temporary seats, arrangements were easily
effected for accommodating M a targe assembly.—
The object of the assembly was to raise £l,OOO,
to aid in the completion of -the chapel, which is
estimated to cost £30,000 or $140,000. The
conditions of admission-.:formed.a •decided test of
popular seal, as with a style-of freedom peculiarly,
Eeglish; the assenibly was •advertised as i'firee to
all donors of - five shillings," about a'dollar and a
quarter, of our money. ' The congregation- was;
bowever, very largei andarmild have crovided most
edifices.
'after the opening services Mr. Spurgeon gave
a graphic description of the edifice, setting forth
all its intended appliances, seen and unseen, inti
mating that aniong the latter was a baptistery just
under. the platform, which, like the gates of
heaven, was to be always open. The report of
the Treasurer was then read, after which the
streams of donations flowed in briskly, and by
varied strokes of pleasantry, short addrasses, &c.,
was kept up until it was announced that the
thousand pounds had , not only, been realized, but
fifty morel Concerniek, the edifice itself the
Standard says:— •
" Nothing, we believ4, now extant, admits of
comparison with it. The maximum of utility has
fairly been attained. It is not easy to conceive
any substantial advancement on, it; but to be at
all understood it must be examined. Everything
is vast, and yet, that verymastness is so concealed
as to give it an air of special compactness. The
spectacle excites in the beholder feelings of intense
satisfaction; it is a - wonderful creation of practi
cal genius; and the skilful builder, it seems to us,
well deserves the glowing eulogium
.pronounced
on him by Mr. Spurgeon.
The purpose to enter this new Tabernacle
sanctuary, free from debt is most laudable.
Forever with the Lord.—A. few more trials—a
few more tears—a few more days of darkness—a few
more days of trouble; grid we shall be forever with
the 'Lord! • • . -
Reader, do y . ou desire to be forever with the Lord?
Could you enjoy his society? Could you hear to
have his eye upon you ? Why then are you so far
away from him now? ^ You'do' not needlessly keep
away from the friend whos'e society you. desire. if
you are content to live so iarfrom God, here, will
yod then I asltyott; delight to be forever with himhereafter'? • *
THE MODEL
It' began punctually at the Inoment. As the
clock struck eiglt, the leader rose and 'sounea
the reveille by giving out the inspiring lines:—
Came, my.scna, thy_ st,4,prepare,
prayei;"
A sweet . synaphony *as touched on a piano in
one of the crowded rooms, and then the words of
the hymn were sent heavenward: on a full tide °limi
ted and enthusiastic song. ,--Every voice chimed
in.. Each, verse was sung with, more spirit than
its predecessor, markingthe.outcome of the rising
devotitaq and like a strong,. "off-shere" breeze
the 'opening chant of 'praiSe carried the whole
meeting, but of harbor into.thelarger liberty. and'
deep waters of the open sea: Thee the leader
evoked-4h°, descent of the, Holy Ghost, tlie.gift'of
utterance and tbePentecostal baptism... Itwas a
very short prayer;
,hut very full. He . prayed for
the-gfft , of prayer upon'ill; for honesty 'of speeek:
for deliverance from dead.foricalitieS, for 'sincerity=
in , ,confession, for,childlike-familiarity of approach
to God for filial faith- and then closed by in
viting glaist to eonal t Ati,as through the ..closed.
doors of the 'ls' Upper .icibin at Xerdaile'thi
and speak iMace'be into
As Soon ass'fitting- passage'. of the Word had '
been read, each one present seemed,ready to'bear.
his part, in giving life and interest to the occasion.
Each Cnefelt—thiS is 'not the leader's.ineeting or
tha pastor's, Init'my meeting mywith own spiri
tual fainilyut"tfie feet of lily'own Saviinir. Here
I have a right to weep, and sing, and melt in spi
rit, and ,flow gout.in. social• conintrinings with,the
brotherhood around me. If I am silent, then the
meeting. may, prove
.dumb; and if I freeze up,
then my neighbor may chill ihrengh Until, the,
becomes an ice-house: So there - was no`
entreaty required .on , the part of the leader to
"draw out" those present. Be was obliged to,
use no turnkey. What is mere pitiful than to
see a poor embarrassed elder or, deacon sitbefore a
petrified company, and after a long awful pause
in Which 'you can count 'the chick-ticks—beseech
mglyi.
mplore "smite brother present to improve'
the time?" As if the dreary dribble of dulness
that was forced out by such a process was not a
downright ads:improvement and Murder of the
sweet 'sacred hour of devotion. It is no wonder
that so many of us grew Up with a loathing of the
very name, and• next'to a taste of the'birch which
grew behind the school-house we dreaded a sen
tence to "go .to prayer-meeting„'!. Our only.
solace was a sound nap, - until some one shook our
eyes open and with an admonitory thump in
formed us that “meetin's oukk it is time- to go
But even a child Of eight years' old'would hive
been interested in the enlivening
* service we are
now sketching. Not a Moment, was lost; not a
syllable of persuasion was needed. One man rose
and gave a teaching
.account of the scene a few
evenings before when he hid first set up a family
altar in his once prayerless house. That was his
first audible prayer, and this was his first speech.
While he is speaking, the tears stream down the
cheek of his astonishedandovedoyed wife. Then.
comes a fervid prayer of thanksgiving to God from
Sortie one present, and a petition that the
altar thus reared - may never be' desecrated, or
thrown &yin. After this a youth -anise, with a
blue jacket, and an anchor etubroidefed 'on lie.
broad' collar. lie had been brought there by a
tract visitor. The burden of his, short artless.
Speech - was . cometo " WhPioevef
let him• come," Said the sunburnt YoUth; - " that
means-that 'everybody, on
• - boaid:may
the captain to the cabin-boy. We are- bound for
heaven. Christ is our pilot. The anchor is
sure and steadfast. Come aboard, friends, before
eight bells strike , ' and your time is up. - "- No - one
felt like criticising this'earnest lad, or objeeting to:
this simple-xernamilsr_of the sea. He - spake as
the Spirit gave him utterance. ,So did they-all.,
One young man_, asked - counsel in regard to the
rightfulness of his discharging some prescribed
duties in a Government office on Sabbath morn
. .
ings. The leader answered` his question briefly,
and a brother offered prayer that God would, guide
aright his perplexed child, would enable him to
"do right even if it cost him his daily bread," and
would deliVer the land from Sabbath desecration
in high places. - '
When his prayer was ended; a tremulous,•
stammering voice was heard;in the farther room .
fora moment,, and then it stopped.„ There was a
breathless pause. Every one felt for the young
beginner. Every, one ,warited to help out.
He began again—hesitated—stammered out a few
words IrOkeiily;--rat lea he . "tirGoq'thou`
knowest I cannot tell whata want to say, but
thou hearest even, what I do not ; say. Have
mercy on' my Poor soul, 'for Christ's sake.
Amen." An audible sob broke out thrbugh the
whole. apartment. Then outspoke a gray-hairedf
veteran, in tones like old Andrew Peden's among
the Covenanters of the Highlands. The, old man
went into his prayer`like Gideon into the battle
with Midian. The sword of faith gleamed ha his
right : handy` the light shot forth as from the
shivered pitchers, and the whole host of doubts
and sins : and, fears were-scattered like chaff at: the
breath of the gale. .Ilow he took,us all on eagle's
wings heavenward I How he enthroned the out-
Break Lamb! And the close of his rapturous Out.
hreak was in a a seven - fold chorus Hof hallelujahs,
and harping symphonies."
When the old man's prayer was ended, (it was
the seventh prayer offered during, that one' busy,
blessed hour,) the time had arrived for closing the
service. The leader touched his 'bell, and read
the doxology. We were all in the very frame for
that most celestial of strains—lglorious Old Hun
dred=that magnificent' battle-hymn to which
Luther marched`againat principalities and flowers
and spiritual wickedness` in lighplaces. ammor;
tai` that - strain dike',him who gave it birth.
There Is' not a Christian's tomb in our land
where repose not the 'silent - ,lips that dice sing
that matchless tune. If .any of earth's music
shall be, heard amid the "new songs" of Para
dise, be assured that the one surviving piece that
shall outlive the Judgtnent; *ill be that "king of
sacred airs" Old Hundred.
With this ancient song upon our lips, we closed
ourservice, spent a few moments in hand-shakings;
in introducing strangers, in cordial heart-greet
leas, and so ended a model prayer-meeting. A
model alike in what it was, and what it was not
—in what it embraced r and what it
,avoided.
From first to last, it was an artless, honest, affec
tionate reunion of a householdof Jesus, Baptized
with the Spirit of . the Master. There was no
thing stiff, nothing forced, nothing feigned; not
a faultless , meeting, but as near to it as a
,service.
of sinful mortals 'well can be. During one brief
hour, at least, we were delivered from that all'
pervading curse of life, cant.
The language deployed in the petitions was
mostly woven from the words of Scriptiire;—yei
it was exeeedinaly fresh and unhackneyed. No
man went through the stereotyped' routine, be
ginning.with the Apostacy and ending with the
Apocalypse. Nor did any one have occasion to
circumnavigate the globe in search of objects to
pray for, taking in his way 'the "isles of the sea,"
"thine ancient covenant people;" and finishing
up by sending all the idols «to the moles and the
bats.' The spirit that pervaded the meeting was
too intensely earnest for phnMeology as sapless
and dry as last year's corn -husks; and at the
same time too reverential for affectations and flip
pancy. We lingered about the hallowed spot,
loth to go away. But for the rigid rule that re
stricted the service to, a single hour, we might
have tvried until midnight praying and singing
praises" to God: And :aswe turned rehictantly
homeward, more than `one' gratefully said, "Truly
the Lord was in this place, _:,,Why may net.every
church of Christ' have one or more just such
tnodelprayer-meadigs? T. L. CUTLER.
MULL I DANCE ?
BY" Raw. JOSEPH. F. TUTTLE.
It is a fact that.a vast multitude of that sort
of Christians who, compose the working forces
of the church, do condemn ;this amusement, as
exerting a most disastrOus influence ou the piety
of religious professors and the anxieties of the
unconverted.' Thus, Edwards of Northampton,
speaks in the most .decided terms of the irreli
influerice,of ",Conventions of both sexes
for mirth and jollity, , which they call frolics."
A main feature in these frolics was promiscuous
dancing.
The Rev. Albert Barnes says that "dancing,
balls, and , parties ; . . . lead to
forgetfulnes,s •of God. They :nourish passion
and sensual desires. They often lead to the se
thiction and ruin of the innocent. They are
unfit for dying, creatures.”. "No one ever has
maintained, or can maintain, that 'dancing is,
or min be; a means, of grace,. that it tends to
prepare the Mind for prayer, teir a More thought
ful:selirching of the Bible, for a closer attention
to the preaching,of the gospel, or for a serious
contemplation 0f.., the judgment. It secures
none of tlie influences which promote the salve,
tion of the soul. . . No child
dances hits , ' heaven'; but many a one dances into
In 1843, the Presbyterian General. Assembly
declared "the fashionable amusement of promis
cnous 'dancing to be .entirely unscriptural, and
eminently and exclusively of the.world, . . '
wholly inconsistent' with the spirit of Christ,
and With that propriety of Christian deportment
and that purity of theart which his followers are
bound to maintain." In 1853, the Aseembly
renewed this testimony by passing the reiolntion
just quoted in part
In 1856, the Synod of New York and New
Jersey, after mature deliberation; and with great
unanimity, expressed its fear of the "dangers to
piety arising. . . from the ming
ling of professors of religion in amusements not
only detrimental to piety, but inconsistent with
the Spirit of Christ,—such, for- example, as are
accompanied with wine drinking, dancing, and
card-playing, which, indulged in, cannot fail to
injure the religious influence of those who par
take of then; and prove 'a serious obstacle to
the upbUilding of the Redeemer's kingdom."
The late Rev. John Angell James, in a
"Christian Father's Present to his Children,"
says, "Ilave nothing to do with this fascinating,
though injurions, species of amusement, dancing.
. . . How does it dissipate the mind
and poison it with a vain and frivolous taste for
dress and personal decoration l How completely
does it unfit the soul for piety, and, even, for the
necessary occupations of domestic life!"
Rev. 'Dr. D. Smith, of New York, says,
"ItAsnot: safe for the Christian to dance; . '
the general of the pious is against it,
. . the general sentiment of the un
converted is against it, .
viirals of religion are against it. .
thfife has hardly been a time 'for forty year's
when the reviVing - influences of .Godfs, Spirit'
have, been so generally withdrawn, as >at the
present period, (18470 and just at this time is
there an almost
.unprecedented passion for
dancing—not confined to the 'World, bat making
Patens upon the chuich: As religion declinea,
&tithing fiburikhen - - 4tid2-vho-doei ',not know
that the reverse is true t Who ever knew
dewing and parties .to abound in a powerful
4
revival of ?"
Bishop Meade, of ec ares that
dancing is not a "proper eatertaitunent (a' prac
tice for:the Christian';" add it was the,opinion
of the late• Bishop Cross,,of New - Jersey, "that
the familiarity consequent upon dances is per
aicious. Here is not only the pride of life but
the-last of the flesh."
•
Bidhop Hopkins,' of Vermont, 'says,- "I' am
obliged to conclude' that the hilarity of the ball
room cannot be truly harmless. . .
In the period of youthful education, I have
shoin that dancing is char„veable with the waste
of time, the interruption of useful study, the in
dulgence orpersorial vanity and:display, and the
premature excitement of the passions: At the
age of. maturity, . . its incon
gruity with, strict Christian sobriety and prin
diple, and its tendency to the love of disaipation,
are so Manifest, that no ingenuity can make it
consistent with the covenant of baptism."
Bishop ItPlivaine, of Ohio, in one of his An
mini Convention Sermons, says, "Were the
'Cilia made of a , series of, dancing assemblies
condUcted in all respects as becomes the sobriety
and spiritual-mindedness of the Christian cha
racter, so that it would be nothing inconsistent
if every attendant were a devout and .earnestly
pious perion, it would need no prophet to pre
dict their entire failure. The world would ridi
cule such a dance, and' Christian people would
think they had something else to do than-to at
tend it."
The Rev. M. L. R. P. Thompson, D. D.,
writes, "I am satisfied, and feel more and more
every year, that the kind of social life with
which dancing is connected,` is the source of the
worst danger assailing the piety ofthe church." -
Mr. Horace. Holden, the well-known elder of
the Brick Church in New ; York pity, declares
that' "'the Church will be engulfed with the
world," if the present uri-Christian tendencies
of society are not corrected. "The scenes wit
nessed at dancing and waltzing parties do not
look much like waging war with the world!
Here I am in a vortex : I am surrounded by fa—
shionable dancing late-party Christian& My
children are exposed to their influence. We=
'have lab 'o er'socie ty. - What tue - ItO do f"
Let me conclude this array of testimony by:
*tin a few sentences from Dr. Adam Clarke's
experience in this amusement: "Dancing was
to me an unmixed moral evil; for ulthough, by
the mercy of (led, it led me not tbdepravity of
manners, it greatly weakened the moral principle,
&owned the voice of a well-instructed conscience,
and was tlte first cause, of impelling me to seek
my hapPiness in this life. Every thing yielded
to the dispositionit had produced, and every'
thing was absorbed by it. I have it justly in
abhorreneetor the moral injury it did me."
This amusement is often ,apologized for by
its friends as a venial offence, in which the
yOun - g`may indulge without serious risk. It is
a universal feeling that dancing is a°sad'prepa
ratien,for death. We shudder to heerbttlfose
who have become sick by the exposures incident
to this custom; and there, is no devotee of plea
sure who would not he horror-stricken at the
prospect of passing from the bill-room to the
bar of God. But why this feeling if dancing
be the innocent amusement many declare it to
But whence does modern dancing derive its
fashions, and who, are they that give character
to, it? The apologists for, it, sometimes quote
the exempla of Miriam and David; but the al) . -
surdity is laughable, when we. think,of the ladies
at a dancing-party smiting.the cymbals together,
and crying out, In holy ,ecstasy, "Sing ye unto
the Lord," or of the young men dancing with
all their might before the Lord and singing holy
but joyful songs The devout Jeweis and royal
Psalmist are not the patron -saints of modern
dancing; nor is Jerusalem the source whence it
derives its laws. The gay, voluptuous, and
godless capitals of the Old World, and not je
.
rastilUth, are' the sources of the mcdern dance.
- Pre'-eminent, nanduk these is-Paris,--infidel even'
VOL. V.—NO. 6.--Whole No. 223.
in her gorgeous religious forms. Paris, having
ainple asylums for her foundlings, but far too
few homes; Paris, with no Christian Sabbath ;
Paris, the modern• Babylon, steeped in vice, and
most successful in beautifying the broad road
whiCh leads to death,---Paris is the main source,
the chief lawgiVer of this amusement.
Besides, much of the dancing practised is
immodest in its character and denbralising in
its influence. .It is useless to attempt to conceal,
this fact. As a lady of the old school, who had
moved in fasidonable circles, recently' said of the
dancing at 'pin' great watering-places, "It ie
positively blindest and immoral." 'Look at
some 'of the figures which are practised, and
you must come tothe same conclusion. And
il.is.not satisfactory to hear people say in re
.
ply to this argilment„" To the .pure all things
are pure."
,The Saying Cannot cover indecent '
dances.".;
But.private dancing is likely to lead to. the
more public, and .objectionable practice. „This
remark, is to, meet those who ,allege that they
,
learn the art, or have their children learn it, in
order to make`'them' graceful and easy in' so
ciety. Such profess to deplore •any tendency to
public dancing. But facts prOve how difficult
it is!to confine the habit to any certain. bounds.
It becomes more and more, fascinating, until it
chafes under restraint, and plunges into the
rushing stream of pleasure. Many' a pkster
can give illustrations of the fact, showing that
even Christian professors have become so be
witched with this amusement, as to pass the
prayer-meeting by in going to the dancing
party.
A GAELIC SETTLE KENT IN . CAROLINA.
In a letter which the Inverness Couiter ha.s re
ceived from a Rev. friend in North Carolina, 11.
S, are the following interesting particulars:
It may be .interesting. to some of your readers
to learn that the Scotch Highlanders were among
the first settlers of the State of North Carolina.
The majority of them were from the Hebrides,
from Islay, Jura, Mull, Coll find Skye, and not a
few from the mainland .of Argyll. The precise
date of the landing of the first Scottish emigrants
in the Carolinas cannot be well ascertained. It
appears - that &etch families were settled on the
Cape Fear River previous to the division' of the
province into North and South Carolina in 1729.
Some time between 1744 and 1746 a Highlander,
named Niel Maerdel, from Argyllshire, visited
North Carolina. He returned to Scotland in
1748, and in the follovting year landed in Ulf
mington, North Carolina, with' his family and
about 300 emigrants (some say 600) from the
district of Kintyre, Argyllshire. It is said that
upon the arrival of so unusual an importation at
Wilmington the authorities, struck with the dress
and language - of - the new comers, requiredMaMlici
to enter into a bond for their peaceful and good
behaviour. Perhaps the warlike - spirit of the
Celtic race struck the Wilmingtonians with such
terror is led to the demand of the bond. Our
intrepid countryman' managed to evade the de
mand, and ascended the Cape Fear with this band
of his- •countrymen. From this period the emi
gration was yearly on the increase. Mr. Macdo
nald of ,Kingsburgh and his lady, the far-famed.
Flora Macdonald, famous;Ter her adherence to the
unfortunate Pretender, Prince Charles, in Ids for
lorn condition . after his defeat at Culloden, end
grated with • a number of others from the Isle of
Skye; : so that every ,year added to the numbdr of
the Scotch Highland emigrants until. they soon
formed the majority of the population,,and con
trolled the . 'civil and neetelastical interests of no
less than seven counties,
viz., Cumberland, Bladen,
Robison,' Richmond, Montgomery, Alloore and
Harnet.
The Gaelic language is spoken in its.purity by
many in these counties, and in both my churches
I preach in it every Sabbath. On last Sabbath I'
assisted at the dispensation of the Lord's Supper
in a congregation 40 miles distant from my home,
and .preached and served a table at which upwards
of 150 had taken their seats, who have not heard
a sermon; in the language of their Childhoqd for
the last-ten years. ' Many a tear was shed during
the service,'many a warm shake of the hand,
such as a lighlander can give, was given, and
many a blessing was bestowed upon' your corres
pondent at, parting with the warm-hearted people.
The Rev. Collin Maciler, a native, of Stornoway,
Lews, was the last preacher who could preach in
Gaelic till I came to the State two years ago.
He died in this town in 1850, much respected
and regretted by his countrymen in North Caro
lina. I will state an instance of the preponder
ance of the Scotch Highlanders in this State.
The North Carolina Presbyterian, a religious
paper and the organ of our Synod, published in
the town of Fayetteville, has upwards of 800 Macs
on its list of subscribers, besides those who claim
the honor of pertaining as much to the. Celtic race
as those who bear that ancient patronyinic.
The Presbytery . of Fayetteville ' of which I and
one of my sons are members, has 13 Macs among
its. clerical .inembeis,' and' seven others who will
not yield the
_palm to 'their 'brethren of the Mac
familiei in tracing their Celtic origin; and hence
our Presbytery has the cognomen of the Scotch
Presbytery given to us by our brethren of the
Synod of North Carolina.
The Christian under affliction is especially called
to meditate upon the place that afflictions occupy
in the plan of divine redemption, in the develop
ment of the reigp of God Upon the, earth, and in
the revelitions of the'Holy Scriptures. It isthen
that he understands the meaning of that passage,
so simple and so profound, "Think.it not strange
concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as
though ,some strange thing happened unto you."
But it Would be' extraordinary if we could be
ripened for eternal life, and more particularly if a
servant of God should see his labors blest, I do not
say without'afilictions,but without a large measure
of affliction. "We must through much tribula
tion enter the kingdom of God." This doctrine
is clearly revealed in Him whose sacrifice we now
celebrate, since it is through His sorrows and sa
crifice alone that we can obtain eternal life. The
Saviour was "a man of sorrows, and acquainted
with grief;" not only a man of sorrows, but the
man of sorrows, in whom all kinds of sufferings
met, and who suffered what no man can either
suffer or even conceive of suffering. But as was
the Master, such must be the disciples, and such
have been the disciples of oar Lord Jesus Christ.
I speak' more especially of those inspired men in
whom the Lord more particularly manifested him
self; they were, I say, a succesSion of men of sor
rows, from Abel down to St. Paul and St. John.
This does not strike us sufficiently upon a super
ficial reading of the Sckptures; but if we pene
trate a little into the study of the Word of God,
we are more and more struck by it. The apostles,
the prophets, appear throughout the Scriptures as
men of sorrows, and of sorrows greater than we
know or tan 'clearly see; for the Scriptures rather
give,us glimpses than a full description of things.
To make u.s - understand what these men of God
suffered, the Word of God must have detailed all.
the circumstances of life.
Troth.—both the moon stay herself to lecture
every dog that bayeth at her? Doth the lion turn
aside to rend each Cur that barketh at him ? Do the
stars cease to shine because the nightingales reprove
them for their dimness? Or does the sun stop its
course because of the officious cloud which rails it?
Or doth,the river stay because the willow dippeth its
leaves into the waters? Ah i no,—God's universe
moves on, and if man will oppose it, heeds them not.
It is as God hath made it: it is working together for
gooil, shall not be stayed NT the censure nor
moved on by the praise of man.—SPURGEON.
AFFLICTION.
Adolphe Monad