The American Presbyterian. (Philadelphia) 1856-1869, October 04, 1860, Image 2

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 18130.
JOHN W. MEARS, EDITOR.
.AIIIOOIATED WITS!
ALBERT BARNES 1 GEORGE DUFFIELD au.,
THOMAS BRAINERD, JOHN JENKINS,
HENRY DARLING, THOMAS J. SHEPHERD
PERSONAL CONTACT.
Be who has ends, and particularly good ends,
to gain with his fellow men, will find their ac
complishment greatly facilitated by coming into
personal contact with men. Every man who
wishes to establish a business must see and con
verse with those whose patronage he would se
cure; it will scarcely avail to distribute reams of
paper circulars if he himself stays at home. The
teacher must form the acquaintance of pirenta if
he would have their children in his school. And
the politician must not only harangue the 'crowd
at arm's length—his chances of success are almost
always to be measured by the degree in which he
is personally acquainted with them. Almost
always the best method with a person who has
offended one, is to seek an interview with him,
and let explanations be given and objections
answered face to face. • ,
The unbounded influence which. Ntipoleon ex-
Braised over his soldiers, was due not only to the
confidence they felt in his military genius, but to
the marvellous accuracy and minuteness of his
acquaintance with them. It was not his influence
upon them in a mass, but the degree of his per
sonal contact with them.
Here, doubtless, is a great secret of power.
Great geniuses may be powerful without it, but
plain men, when they are possessed of good, social
qualities, and of judgment in using them, rival
them in their practical, working influence upon
their fellow men; while the power of a great
genius will be largely enhanced by the addition
of
. such qualities. All this is essentially true of
the work of the Church among men. Sinners
will not be converted while they are kept at
arm's length, The faithful shepherd calleth his
own sheep by name. The measure of the Church
and the ministry's power over men is in general
exactly proportioned to their degree of personal
contact with them. It is not enough to ha
rangue them. We can hardly call that preaching
which springs from an ambition to address them
in a mass, dissevered from an interest in them in
detail and as individuals. True preaching, evan
gelical preaching, finds its themes and draws its
directness and point from pastoral observation and
then (lefties the preacher with fresh impulse back
to the sphere of personal labor again. Evangeli
cal preaching is the distant artillery which thun
ders at the frowning fortress and rains its iron
storm upon it until a breach is made in the
walla, and the way is clear for a hand to hand
conflict, a rush to the battlements, and the plant
ing of the victorious standard upon the walls.
We must not stand behind the brea - stwork of
the pulpit or, if we be laymen, crouch behind the
preacher and consider the work of the church
done if we look on complacently while he fires a
few volleys promiscuously at the enemy. If we
do, the breaches made will be repaired, the fort-.
rasa will be strengthened, our work will have to
be done over again, and the defence will be inde
finitely prolonged.
..
In plain words, you need to go and take the
sinner by the hand, as an anxious love for souls
will of itself prompt you to do. You need to
meet his troubled look with the calm light of your
Own friendly eye. You need to meet each rising
objection, each evanescent phase of thought as
they come and go in animated conversation: you
need to watch the delicate play of the features,
and to avoid or seize upon those personal peculi
arities which thus alone you will discover, and
which often constitute the fatal difficulties, or the
happy facilities in the work of converting the
sinner. You need to give the sinner this fair
opportunity of testing the sincerity of your pro
fessions of interest in his case, and the grounds
of your confidence in the merits of your own.
While you hesitate thus to approach him, he
wonders that you do not come. Are you in ear
nest? Do you believe your own professions?
He cannot explain;—you, before your own con
version, could not explain—the taciturnity of
Christian professors upon this subject in their in
tercourse with men of the world. Children won
der at the sealed lips of parents; friend wonders
at the reserve of friend.
Christian reader, ministerial brother, cultivate
this bolder, franker form of religion. Learn this
noble art, so often perverted to base purposes, of
noting personally upon your fellow-man for good.
Learn the eloquence which not only sways him in
the crowded assembly, but which speaks in the
pressure of the hand, in the light of eye looking into
eye, and in the pleading tones of personal friend
ship. Behold your example in the Word made
flesh, who, not content with uttering commands
and hurling threatenings from his sublime and
distant throne, descended and veiled himself in
our nature that he might come into personal con
tact with us, that he might offer life and salvation
directly to the humblest of men and the vilest of
tun Ot3 0
RETURN OF DR. JENKINS.
We are happy , to announce the return of our
esteemed and beloved ministerial brother and co
laborer, Rev. Dr. Jenkins, from his European
tour. He arrived in this city on Thursday last.
His health has been benefited by the trip, though
there is something still to be wished for in this
particular. Our fine autumn climate will doubtless
supply the look of service of the transatlantic sum
mer, and complete entirely the restoration of his
health.
Dr. Jenkins was warmly welcomed in the San
som Street prayer-meeting on Thursday. Rev.
Mr. Chambers, with that spontaneous cordiality
so natural to him, extended a warm welcome to the
returned brother, whom NI unexpectedly saw be
fore him, and led in a prayer of thanksgiving;
after which Dr. Jenkins arose and addressed the
meeting as follows:-1 felt anxious to find my
way to this meeting at the earliest possible mo
ment to testify to the power of prayer. It is in
answer to your prayers that I am here in some
what renewed health, and more than ever with an
earnest desire to spend the remnant of my days in
the Master's service. I have kept Philadelphia
time ever since I have been away, and have often
reourred to this hoar of prayer. It has been a
great comfort to me to feel that the brethren here
were bearing me up in the arms of their faith. I
am glad to be with you and to join in your prayers
once more. lam glad to find this meeting so
well sustained. Brethren, I have lived long
enough to see that therp is nothing for the Chris-
tian hut to live and labor for the glory of the Sa
viour. Let me to-day be permitted to exhort you
all to a new consecration of yourselves to this Sa
viour; let us join in perpetual covenant to serve
him. And if there be a sinner here refusing to
yield, let this be the hour of his submission.. I
trust there is a real baptism of the Holy Spirit's
influences in store for us all.
The object of my journey was not like that of bro
ther Stuart's. I went for rest, yet I saw enough
to be able to testify that the churches of Europe
were in a state of revival, and that God is carry
ing on his work, as from time to time I may have
Opportunity to tell you.
ANOTHER DISASTER IN lOWA.
We give below a letter from Rev. G. E. Dela
van, an esteemed brother in lowa, containing the
very painful intelligence of the destrnction of, the
unfinished church edifice, which his people, with
great effort, were erecting in Wyoming. Mr. De
lavan and his people'deserve, and will'have 'the
deep sympathy of the brethren, wherever their
misfortune is known. Their proinpt and almost
heroic determination to repair these unexpected
and serious damages, should secure for them not
only - sympathy, but a hearty co-operation.W.e
may feel very sure that 'it will be no inefficient'
kind of a church'that is reared under such difft:
oulties.
Wyoming, lowa, September 24th, 1860
MESSRS. EDITC44:-At si i x. o'clock kit even
ing, in a severe gale, the walls of our beautiful
church edifice in process of erection and ready kir
the roof, were blown to the ground.
By arrangement the timbers were to have been
placed on the building to-day, and . we looked for
ward with pleasing anticipation to the completion
and dedication of the house. A good lady in Pitts
burgh at thelate meeting of the General Assembly,
had generously.given us five 'hundred dollars to
wards the enterprise. This little missionary
church belongs to Dubuque Presbytery, and has
twelve male and twenty•one female members, thirty
three in all. This morning 'I have surveyed the
ruins. By the help of the Lord we have resolved
to repair the ruins immediately. I trust a chord
of sympathy will be touched in Christian hearts.
We have heretofore received tokens of kind re
gard from Eastern friends for which we are truly
thankful. It is proper that, they should knoW
the disaster which has fiddler" us in the provi
dence of God, doubtless designed in some way for
the promotion of His glory.
It may benefit this feeble band of disciples. It
is possible that something may be laid up in store
by some friend of the cause of Christ for such a
crisis in the history of a struggling little church.
The enterprise seems so important that we cannot
think of relinquishing it. Truly yours,
UMBREIt AND,BITZSCH.
One of these 'distinguished German theolo
gians is dead, the other has recently celebrated
the jubilee or fiftieth anniversary of his activity
as academical teacher, at the age of seventy
three. Umbreit, who died April 26th; was sixty
five years old. He had for thirty-three years
been "connected with the editorial department of
the Studien and Kritiken, the fourth Heft of
which, for 1860, comes to us in mourning for his
loss. Umbreit, the only son of pious parents,
pursued theological studies at Gottingen,, "then.
under the dominant influence of Eichhorn, and
was turned aside by admiration for `his gifted
teacher, to the pursuit of the oriental languages
and literature. The' 'Hebrew Scriptures were
objects of profound study and interest to him,
as prominent parts of this literature. Thus he
sees in the' book of licclesiastes, which was the
subject of his first - published`studies in the Old
Testament, in 1818, only the "Attempt of a
worldly wise Israelite," to discover the chief
good. Although in reviewing his life in 1849,
he says it did not take him long to gain better
views, and although the very decided influence,
of Herder concurring with his inherent love of
truth, restrained him from the absurd extremes
of the "Enlightenment" school, yet, in the main,
he pursued the same general course in his Job
and Proverbs, 'published 1824 and 1826 . . In
fidelity to the text, in the beauty of his transla
tion, and in tracing out the connections, Um
breit render& substantial service to the inter
pretation. of these books. In 1829 he became
professor in the University at Heidelberg, a re
sidence fraught with decisive influences in the de
velopment of his intellectual character. At that
period of transition from the "Enlightenment" to
a new era of theological and church life, Umbreit
attached himself devotedly to the movement in
which such men as Herder and Schleiermacher,
were engaged, with the view of embracing and'
preserving the substance of the old faith; in a
form corresponding to the advance made by
science. Taking this position, Umbreit now
appears upon the Old Testament ground, as
alike the opponent of a destructive criticism,
and of a strenuous orthodoxy, which attempted
a sudden return to the theology of the severi
teenth century. Ullmann, a colleagne, and_
himself, about this time founded the Studien und.
Kritiken, one of the most valuable results of
the movement then taking place, and continuing'
to the present day in the foremost rank
• of such
productions in .Germany or elsewhere. Neither
of thin theologians have ever denied that it:
was only by gradual steps, following a move
ment in which'they recognised the hand of pio
vidence, they attained the moderate position
now held by that journal, and in which Umbreit
concluded bis course. It is not one by any
means satisfactory to us, as it still leaves open
to question, in many respects, the authority of
God's word. Yet, to any one acquainted with
the lamentable degree of defection from safe
views of divine truth, which marked the scienti-;
fie German theologians.of thirty-five pears'ago,.
it will appear as a most encouraging instance of
advance in the right direction. The one work
of Umbreit, most important in the history of
interpretation, appeared in 1841-45, the prac
tical Commentary on the Prophets of the Old
Testament. In this work, he not only shows
appreciation of the form, but enters into the
substance and contents most thoroughly.
In character, he manifested humility before
God, and gentleness towards his fellow-men,
when differing from himself, and in the midst of
severe party strifes, he sought to promote the
truth in love. Not a word can be found in any
of his writings, dictated by passion, or trans
gressing the bounds of true dignity. Cleaving
to essentials, he laid little stress on names and
formulas. "Stand firm," he says in the preface
to his commentary on Jeremiah, "on the foun
dation of faith, in Rim who is the truth, the
life, and everlasting Ring, and adhere to Him
whom He raised up as the Branch of David,
whose name is the Lord our Righteousness."
G. E. DELAVAN, PASO!
Amtritait
c grtoblttr,4itt,,alti, 6tittott erattoti,ot,
After living a life of the happiest domestic
tranquillity, his life was brought to a close by a
disease, which for two years made inroads upon
his system, and marked its course with in
creasing pain, until he often was constrained to
observe to his, friend; that after having so often
explained, he must now actually experience the
sufferings of Job, and learn to understand better,
how it was, that' pain was there represented as
something Satanic. Sighing forth the.words of
David : Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for
him, and, 0 Lord,low long 1 at last deliverance
was vouchsafed to him, and on the'26th of April,
he gently slept in the Lord.
THE OCTOBER EFFORT.
This is the month designated by the General
Ass'embly for a collection in`all the Churches in
behalf of the Publication Cause. By a simulta
neous, hearty, whole-souled effort, it is proposed
to raise the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars
as a mo aerate, yet safe basis for the operations of
the Committee. Though this sum is small com. 7,
pared with the capital invested by other Denomi
nations in this vital department of religious labor,
it is deemed by our Assembly Sufficient for the
demands of the body—more than which it is not
wise to attempt Less than this, ; would ,be a
discredit to is to achieve.
Whilst no one of onr denominationatinterests
is more important than this, none has been sus
tained thus 'far with Odder labor and self-sacri:
free by its devoted friends—at tbe same time (we
are 'sorry to say it,) a goodly number of our
churches will now have an opportunity—to make
to it their
„first contribution. To such, we would
earnestly say, rally to the support of the brethren
whom you have entrusted with this enterprise.
To the old friends of the cause we would say,
join your contributions with those of your brethi
ren to put:it above the necessity of an appeal for
a basis for its work. Once well done, this work
will not , need to be repeated. It is economy to
put the Committee on a self-supporting founda
tion.
We could wish that the services of some ener
getic' and competent person, who has cordially
espoused the interests of our denomination, and
who could wield a decided influence upon the
church generally, were within reach of the Com
mittee to employ in securing this fund. With
this assistance we believe the $25000 could be
raised in a short time. Yet let each pastor con
stitute himself agent in the field where be has
more influence than any one else, his own parish,
and the work will be easily accomplished:
HOME MISSIONS AND CO-OPERATION.
Under this head the last Congregational lierald
of Chicago, has an article giving the Congrega
tional side of the question with tolerable fairness,
at least so far as general principles are concerned.
The charge of unfairness would lie against it as
ignoring the special influences under which
the general principles were brought into action.
We mean to say, the oppressive and unconstitu.:
tional acts of the A. H. M. S. towards our churches
in. Missouri, and in the Alton and Schuyler Pres
byteries, have been almost entirely overlooked.
But even what is said on the general principles,
particularly on the exercise of Presbyterial power
over the churches, needs to be revised and cor
rected. The writer, H. C. J., (to be read back
wards we suppose,) in comparing Congregational
with Presbyterian Churches, says of the former:
"Above the churches there is no body to exer
cise control over government or benevolent ac
tion, except by giving light; none that would en
ter upon -its records: Ordered, that the church
in . report two collections-for-education at the
next meeting of Presbytery.'''`
Now, we would like to ask whether there is
any meaning to those quotation marks, or whether.
the sentence thus distinguished did not emanate
from the brain of the writer, just as much as the
one before and after it? Will, or can, H. C.
produce or name the book of Presbyterial records
from which such an extract was, or can be taken?.
We have never seen such an entry, and H. C. J.
is honestly bound to produce it or to give us proof
of its authenticity or recall the imputation which
it conveys.
OPEN 'AIR PREACHING IN PHILADEL
PHIA.
The following, which we clip from Saturday's
Press, shows what the Christian ministers and peo
ple are doing in our city for the evangelization of
the masses, in addition to the usual means of grace.
It is a good work, and we are not surprised that
the Lord is setting to it his seal of approval. We
are glad to see that prominent laymen are render
ing efficient aid in the work. It should not be
left entirely, or even principally, to our over-tasked
clergymen, whose regular Sabbath services are quite
sufficient for their strength.
Some weeks ago an experiment was inaugurated:
in this city, which is likely to prove successful.
We, allude to a series of open air religious services,
conducted by ministers and:others, in some of the
lanes and by-places of our city, where the resi
dents, either from their poverty (the church should,
blush to confess it) or disinclination, are practi
cally outside the pale of, gospel influence. The,
following interesting incident 'is connected with.
the origin of these meetings. On a Sabbath last
month, Mr. john Wannamaker, who is the Super
intendent of the Bethany Mission, in the vicinity
of Lombard and Twenty-first Streets, called a few
families together, and held an impromptu service.
About two hundred persona . , were present, and
among the number was a young man, who, being
ill, was carried to a convenient spot where he
heard the word that was being preached. On
the following Thursday he died, having confessed
before his death, that until the occasion referred
to he had never heard of Jesus Christ as the Sa
viour of sinners. The young man, it is said, died
rejoicing in the pardon of his sins through faith
in Christ.
The first meeting has been followed up, after the
plan of the open air meetings, now being held in
England, Ireland, Scotland, and-Wales, and what:
is most remarkable, the people residing in the
streets and courts where these services are held,
are eminently respectful, and desire their continu
ance. 'Among the ministers of the gospel in this
city, who have taken an active part in this laud
able movement, are Revs. W. J. R. Taylor- and
George Duffield, Jr. George H. Stuart, Esq., has
.also done much to encourage this new enterprise
by his_ presence and statements of what he him
self witnessed , of a similar nature in- his recent
tour through parts of Great Britain and Ireland.
We shall have more to say of the progress of this
work at a future time.
AUBURN SEMINARY
We; are -gratified to learn that this excellent
institution has already received; since the recent
opening of the term,: twenty-four new students,
more than ever before .at ..the same time in the
term. This is just suell'an indication of prospe
rity as we were prepared to hear of from the abili
ty of the professors, the soundness and consistency
of their teachings with the theological basis of
our church, and the ample and generous ;provi
sion made for -students •
ANNUAL ' CONCERT OP PRAYER
The Second Annual Concert of Prayer for the
Unity of the Spirit was held on Monday morning
of this week, in the Church of "the Epiphany in
this city. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the
weather, the house was filled, and the meeting was
one of marked and memorable interest.
Rev. Richard occupied the chair.
A hymni prepared, for the occasion was sung.
Among, others, Dr.,,Tenkins made pertinent re
marks. He said tbat on such an occasion the
spontaneous utterance of the heart was, It is good
to be 'here; and we felt like constructing a taber
nacle consecrated to the spirit of Unity. To rea
lize the last prayer of•Chriat, in the increased vi
sibility of 'Christian unity, there is need of a deeper
spirituality. In the language of the hymn just sung,
"Nearer do: the children come,
As nearthey draw to 'thee."
And the universal Christian prayer and effort
should be more•and bore, that Judah and Ephraim
may not envy and vex each other, hut watchmen
and people of *different tribei realize "one Israel."
"All one in Christ, our glorious Head,
No other name we know,;
No other name is known above,.
Why shOuld it be below?"
Dr. T; IL Stockton' said: Christ, Christ, Christ,
—this one word is comprehensive of all religion.
And as, the Redeetner of all Christ is a manifested.
Unity. His ascension-blessing, fully realized, will
be a showering. of the Spirit of Unity upon all, Of
every life and nam .. 'Christ intends that his
people and his rah' all
Vail be one all over the
y
Werld—one, if not in, sentiment, at least in love.
(TO this a brotheiresponded, Amen.)
Rev. Mr. Cookmab remarked: Personfi,in as
cending nmoutaiiii from different side,4, gradually
•
converge'as they;ear the 'top, and cometogether
in cordial meeting on ;the summit. And Mount
Calvary is such a meeting-place of kindred spirits.
Brethren, we want not only 'a 'baptism of unity,
but of power. In a'htlianie battery layers of zinc
and copper are brouoatternateiy together,• and
positive and negativevoles meet, and then there
is power. Thus there may be such a union of the
different elements of , Ohrist's Church, as to de,ve
lop great spirituel pow in the whole. ' 0 for an
.
outpouring of the Spirit this autumn, more glo
rious than ever before onethat shall shake the
•
gates of bell, and nuisie the Artdomnipotent that
moves the world. i
Rev. Mr. Chamber! remarked: To the bitten
Israelites there was bet one object on which they
were to fix their gaze. 3 And there is hut one up
liftedjesus to fix the annex's wondering eye. And
one Christ implies out Christendom.
Rev. Mr. CoeperOien led in prayer, after which
the 54th Hymn--"Hitil to the Lord's Anointed"
—was sung, and the Benediction pronounced.
Per the American Presbyterian
NEW YORK CORRESPONDENCE,
Mn. Enrron,—You were surprised, as Were
many others, by the appearance Of theatrical ad
vertisements in the oriplumns of . a daily paper in
our city, conducted; professedly upon Christian
principles; and
,you . .have given expression to
your feelings of surprite, as others also have. We
are no advocate for the insertion of such advertise;
menta in such a paper, nor indeed in any paper.
It is, in our humble judgment, all wrong. But
we do not believe that - this World lapse is So had
or so hopeless -as yamr readers would gather kora
your remarks. • '
IV is true that sue ti ,advertisements hive been
inserted in the columns of the World, •but it is
nothing more tharksimple justice to the intelligent
and Christian editor to,say, that they were insert
.
ed without his knowledge; and that it is by no'
means certain thatthq will continue to' be
Relied in that paper.tise who have the gene
ral control of the enterprise, are intelligentand
Christian men, - who, When they take this matter
into consideration', as they soon will, and look at
it in the light in Christians generally, we
think, regard it, will in future exclude such things
entirely from the columns `of their paper
The great difficulty; however, , is that, in all our
large cities, there are R rofessors of religion, "in
good and regular standing" in their respective
churches, who visit the theatre, and especially thS
opera, and we must add, even the ball-room. If
the churches allow such:things, then we are asked,
where is the wrong in alsemilar- paper in 'publish
ingauch ad - vertisements? Thus men reason, end
we confess that it is no easy thing to answer them
from such a stand-point .We presume you have
such professors of religio n in. Philadelphia. New
York has them. Igek I nver the list, for example,
of managers-of the ,great ball that is soon to be
given to the heir. apparmia to the British crown,
in this city; and you-will Munn-that list as pub
lished to the world, the names of Doctors of Di
vinity, Elders of Churches, Vice. Presidents of the
American Bible Seciety,of men who stand high
on the` - roll of the benevolent enterprises of the
day. And there will be present at that ball the
editors of religions papqrs, and others. prominent
in giving shape and direction.to Christian senti
ment and feeling in this and. We blush at the
thought of it; and yet 6uch, we believe, will be
the fact. Many of the friends of Christ are mourn
ing over the prospect, and feel that in such an at
tempt to honor the Prince of Wales, they will .
greatly dishonor the PHI? of :Peace. The la - Pee
of the World,.in publishing a theatrical puff, is
nothing,. in our view; in. comparrison with the
deep and lasting injury deno to the cause of vital
religion by its professors in countenancing and at
tending this tall. But one wrong does not justify
another.
It should be said in this connection, that some
of our most prominent Christian merchants, whose
names were on the list of managers for a dinner,
at once, when the affair was changed to a ball, or
dared their names to be stricken from the list, and
thus freed themselves frotn,all participation in the
intellectual and Christian,Ofort-to turn the brains
of men and women in NesiYork from their heads
into their feet. There.is kvery general feeling in
this region, that after all, the gopd people in this
city have been outwitted, if not betrayed in this
matter. There was a general rejoicing• when the
merchants undertook the management of this affair,
and thus prevented the Common Council from turn
ing it into another Japanese swindle. And, if it
had been, left, as the Climber of Commerce fixed
it, it would have been *dl r. But the Committee
sent on with this ..invitation to a dinner, and only
to that, exceeded their commission, and turned the
whole thing into one,of utter folly; andthe great
reception, of the great Prince, in the great city of
New York, is to be a great---:ball: I I
Good Adviee.—Said a distinguished Anieriean
statesman to a debating club of young men-4' Life
is a book of which we can have but one. edition. As
it is first prepared it must_ stand forever. Let each
day's actions, as they add another page to the inde
stritetible volume, be such as that we shall be willing
to have an'assembled world read it"
In an editorial report of the proceedings of the
4th Presbytery of Philadelphia, at Belvidere, pub
lished in the Christian Observer of last week,
there is the following sentence :--
"The Rev. Mr. Duffield gave an account of the
pecuniary difficulties of his church, and the re
moval of members. It had no elders left, and it
was kept alive as a church by the Spirit of God."
What the inferences would be from such a sen
tence, each reader must determine for himself.
Mr. Duffield's account of the pecuniary difficulties
of his church was simply this—that .the year of
the panic their income was much reduced, but that
the year following, after a powerful revival, the
receipts were increased more than threefold. l
nstead of saying "it had no elder left," Mr. Deffield,
said that "there were no elders left of those whom
he found in the sessioweight years ago when he mine
theiv." As to being " kept alive by the Spirit of
God," it gave him great pleasure to state, that at
the present time there were some special tokens of
the presence of the Holy Spirit in recent oases of
conviction and conversion,—a little cloud that he
hoped might, soon 'be followed, by a plentiful,
shower. A very slight glance at the Statistics of
this church, as reported in the General Assembly's
Minutes, will show that it has been.neither " bar
ren nor unfruitful" during the last three years,
and that whatever may be the peculiar embarrass=
meats of its location, it is striving_ to the utmost
to fulfil its: important mission. G. D, Jlt.
Phila. Oct. 1st•; 1860.
THE PRES33YTERY OF WILMINGTON-
This body net in Old Hanover Street Church,
Wilmington, on Tuesday, September 15. Seven
biShops and eight ruling eldera' *ere in Attend
ance.
Perhaps the most interesting incident of the
•
session was the reception of Yir:R, Norris, Esq., of
Dover, formerly of the Bar of York, Pa., and lite
Representative off the State Legislature fromthe
city of Philadelphia,'under the care of Presbytery
as a candidate for the ministry. Mr. Mouis is a
man in middle life, of excellent reputation in his
profession, but for a long time, and especially since
his connection with the church, hisinind has been
powerfully drawn to the ministry, so that he cau
realize the' meaning of the Apostle's seolenin de
claiation :—"Wo is me, if I preach net the Gm.'
pen " Mr. Morris has been pursuing a course of
theological studies, and parts of trial were'aisigned .
him with a view to licensure six months hence. '
The subjects discusied by appointment of Pres
bytery, were timely and important; such as the
State of the World in Relation to the kingdom of
God; the .Remedies of 'lnfidelity for the Moral
Evils of the World; every Church a MisSion,
every Christian a Missionary. Sermons were
preached by Messrs. Gaylord and Hamner.
A committee was appointed to gather statistics
upon the number of communicants who were bap
tizedin infancy, the' number not'so baPtized, and
the number in each congregation baptized in in
fancy, but not communicants:. ' 'l4-
The narrative of the State of Religion; though
without marked features, on the whole was de
cidedly encouraging. On the Milford and Mis
pillion field there is steady progress. The Felton
Church edifice on this field is now nearly com
pleted. Farmington, another. outpost ten miles
from Milford, has organized a Sabbath-school and
regular weekly prayer-meetings since Mr. Hamner
commenced his labors among them, and the in
dications are that ere long a' newchurch will arise
in that promising section of country.
The sessions.of 'Presbytery closed , with a general
Sabbath School, gathering, which in spite of the
rain, was large and deeply interesting. -The idea
was a happy-one, thus to, make the children, as
well as the-grown-up people,.share is the 'benefits,
of a Presbytery meeting, and acquaint them
somewhat with the organization of the church
to which they belong. What a contrast to Pres
bytery meetings as we used to know them, when
their very atmosphere, repelled ,the grown people
even, while now , interested congregations wait on
them ,through the .day and the children are learn
ing how profitable and pleasant they may be.
Presbytery adjourned to meet in Milford on the
14th of N'ovember, for the purpose; if the way be
clear, of installing Rev. J. O. Hamner pastor' of
the Milford and Mispillion Churches, of organizing
a new church at Felton, and of dedicating the
edifice in that village by that time to be completed.
For the American Presbyterian.
THE.PRESBYTERY OF NEWARK.
The Presbytery met - iu the High St. Church,
Newark; on. Tuesday afternoon, and was organized
by appointing Rev. E. Cheever, Moderator, and
Rev. Messrs. Pingrey and Crowell, Clerks.
In the everunr , an excellent sermon was
preached by the last Moderator, Rev. W. T. Eva;
from Som. xv. 29.
• During the session of the Presbytery the pastor
al relation between Rev. J. F. Pingrey, and the
Church and congregation at Roseville, was dis
solved, at the request of both parties, and, with
mutual good feeling, and with the expression of
much respect and kind regard on the part of the
Presbytery. Rev. Mr. Maxwell, a licentiate 'of a
Presbytery in New York city, and lately called to
the ,church in South Orange, was received as a
member of this body, and Rev. J. H. Ricketts re
cent minister of the " Christian" Church at Tr
vington, having saified the Presbytery as to the
soundness of, his doctNinal views, and testified his
assent to the doctrines and discipline Of the Pres
byterian church, was also received to its member-
'The Second church, Orange, was chosen for the
next stated meeting.
The subject of the customary visitations of the
churches was considered, and it was resolved to
leave this to the voluntary arrangement of the
churches for this year, with the earnest recom
mendation that they take measures to secure its
benefits..
The narrative represented the condition of the
churchei to be in the main healthy and proiPer-
oits, but without any special revivals of religion.
A request was presented from persons connect
ed with the German mission at Quarry hill to be
organized into a church, and a committee was
appointed to attend to the request. ,
On Wednesday evening an excellent sermon
was preached by Rev. Mr. Crowell, at Orange„ .
from Job xxiii. 3,---after which the. Presbytery
adjourned to meet next Thursday, at 10, A. M.,
at South Orange for, the purpose of ordainino , and
installing Rev. Mr. Maxwell . pastor of the church
and congregation.
ALPINE.
Thursday. Sep. 27. The Presbytery met at
South Orange. Mr. Maxwell sustained a very
creditable examination, after which, Presbytery in
the presence of a large and deeply interested
congregation, Proceeded to his ordination and
installment The moderator presided, and pro,
posed the'Coest4utional`Questions. The sermon
was preached by : Rev, Dr. Poor, of Newark froca
CORRECTION.
. . '
2 °or: v. 18: the ordaining and installing prayer
was offered by Rev. Dr. Few. Smith of the same
city. Rev Dr. Hatfield of New York gave the
charge to the Pastor, and Rev. Mr. Hoyt of
Orange, that - to the congregation.
call from the Church at Roseville, for the.
Paitoral services:of Rev. Mr. Haley, was presented
to Presbytery, and pnt into his hand, and
arrangements made for hi' ordination and installa
:tion,••on Wednesday, Oct. alit pros. Presbytery
adjourned to meet in Yonkers, during the intervals
of Synod, Oct. 16 inst.
TRB A)IERIOAN BOARD.
As we go to press, the fiftieth anniversary of
this venerable and noble Christian institution is.
commencing: The occasion promises to be one
of deep-and thrilling interest. A week ago two
thousand names of persons proposing to-attend
the services had been registered by the Commit
tee. Besides these there were perhaps as many
who were expecting to lodge priyately with friends
in Boston. President S. W. Fisher, of Hamilton
College, preached the Jubilee Sermon in place of
President Hitchcock, who is prevented by sickness
from filling the appointment We have made ar
rangements for full reports, which irill'aipear in,
our issue of next week.
SYRIA AND THE TURKS.
The day of violence in Syria seems to bane
passed for the present,And the hour of retribution
is really Come. Flied Pasha is acting with cam
mendable energy . in the dispensation of justice to
the offenders. He is about to compel - ail the
Moslem young men in Damascus, not executed for
murder, to enter the Turkish army for life, in
distant parts of the Empire. This is worse to
many a Moslem, than death itself. The great
Mohamtne,dan dignitary of Damascus has been ar
rested for comPlicity in the outbreak. There is
intense and scarcely smothered indignation among
the Mohammedans at these summary proceedings,
which may lead to further trouble. The French
troops have not yet been brought into action.
B i hamdun the home of Mr. and Mrs. Benton is
still represented as unmolested.
MRS. JIMSON'S BETROTHAL
The following beautiful and truthful sketch,
written by Dr. Kendrick, is a part of the tenth
chapter of the forthcoming Life and, Letters :
Dr. Judson: conducted her to the sofa, saying that
he wished to talk with her. She replied; half play
fully, that she should be delighted and honored - by
having him talk to her. With characteristic im
petuosity, he inquired how she could reconcile it
with her conscience to employ talents so noble in•
a species of writing so little useful or spiritual as the
sketches which he had read. Emily's heart ineltedl,
she replied with seriousness and candor, and ex-,
plained the circumstances which had drawn her into
this field of authorship. Indigent parents, largely
dependent on her efforts—years of laborious teach
ing—books published with but little profit, had
driven her to still new and untried paths, in which,
at last, success unexpectedly opened upon her.
Making this employment purely' secondary, and
carefully avoiding every thing of doubtful ten
dency, she could not regard her course as' open to
serious strictures. It was now Dr. Judson 's turn
to be softened. He admitted the force of her rea
sons, and that even his own strict standard could
not severely censure the direction givento filial
love. He opened another subject. He wished
to secure a, person to prepare a memoir of his re•
-
cently deceased wife, and it was partly, in fact,
with this purpose, that he bad sought Emilfs ac
quaintance. She entertained the proposition, and
the discussion of this matter naturally threw them
much together, during the ensuing few days;
The consequences of:the earning together of two
persons respectively so fascinating, were what, has
often,occurred since the dayi of Adam and Eve.
j They 'became mutually interest* Dr. judson
discovered in her not only rare intellectual-powers,- -
but a= warm heart, an enthusiastic and richly en
dowed nature, that throbbed in sympathetic unison
with his own.. That she was not in the exercise
of that living piety—those high spiritual graces
so essential in the missionary, and scarcely less in
the missionary's wife, he saw with pain; but de
tecting in her experiences the undoubted germs
of genuine faith, he soon , conceived the idea ; of
her not only writing, the life, but takina the place
of the sainted deceased. Having reached this con
clusion, he pressed the subject upon her, `with all
the energy of his impassioned and most truthful
character. He painted to her the glories and
the deformities of the Orient; its moral desert in
a wilderness of luxuriant beauty. He set forth,
the toils and privations of the missionary's lot, and
over against this, the privilege of being a reaper
in the great moral harvest Of the world; the
blessedness of those who turn many to righteous
ness • the glory of that coming world whence faith
already draws many a.presaging token of,bliss,
It was not in Emily's nature to be inseneible to
the force of such arguments from such a pleader
—falling from "lips wet with; Castalian dewsf as
well as with the dews that descend upon then:lollU
tains of Zion—coming from one whose;tastes were
as cultivated as his faith was lofty, and who could
appreciate equally the fascination's which he asked
her to resign, and the glories to which he asked
her to aspire. Yet a revolution in her destiny so
sudden and total, so complete: a - reversal of her
plans, filled her with perplexity and almost alarm.
Her family friends—her literary friends—her re
ligious' friends—and above all, that übiquitous,
myriad-headed, myriad-tongued personage called
the World—what would that say upon hearing
that Fanny Forester, the peppier' magaainist, was
about_to turn her back on her newly-commenced
career, and quench her rising fame in the night
of heathenism? Above all—and here was the,
stress of the conflict—she weighed her spiritual
deficiencies—her. want of that deep consecration
so imperatively demanded in_ one who lays hands
on the sacred ark of the missionary cause. She
had declined from her earlier consecration, and
the path which she once sought the privilege of
treading, it noir, as she afterwards declared,
" seemed like death for her to enter." She urged
these objections upon Dr. Judson; but he over
ruled them with the impetuous logic which cha
racterized his energetic career and laid upon her
the spell of a nature that combined whit is holiest
in the saint with what is most attractive:in the:
man. Time, too, with him. waw -pressing; he
longed to be back to the scenes of his life-labors;
the children that be had left, behind pleaded elo
quently: for a mother; and in the gifted young
lady whom he at first intended merely to secure
as the biographer of his' lamented Sarah, he saw
one Well fitted to take her place as a mother; as
well as to meet the.yearnings of his intellect and
heart. The rapid decision to which they arrived
sprang from a conscious congeniality of temper
and endowments. The ripe experience, the reel=
low wisdom, the ardent piety of Dr. Judson' were
combined, amidst all the severities of his mission
ary consecration, with an inextinguishable warmth
of heart, a delicacy of taste, and a breadth ,of
ture which reeognized in Emily answering quali
ties, and drew him to her with all the warmth of
his singularly gifted susceptible nature, while they
in turn stirred her deepest fountains of reverence
and love.
'• Dr. Judson was now fifty-severe. But one
needed only to look into his ark eye, heath*,
with benignity, and flashing with intelligence, and
' , to listen to bim, when, in his`moments of unre
4erve, he poured forth the exuberanCe of his joy
ous spirit, to see that age had passed lightly over
him, and that the dew of yduth was yet fresh upon
his soul.
Byron, at the early age of thirtpsix, wrote with
terrible and most instructive truth:
My days are in the yellow leaf,
ft The flowers and fruits of love are gone;
The Worini.the canker, and - the grief
Are, mine alone.
Compare this desolate - utterance of a palled
and sated spiriewith the Unaffectedly warm and
tender letters of Dr. Judson down to his latest
years; with that death-bed utterance of his sixty.
second year: "0, no man ever left this world with
more inviting prospeets, with brighter hopes or
warmer, feelings."-.This the genius of Chris
tianity-such the power of, that religion which
pours heavenly oil on the same of eakhly affec
tion,, and keeps the lamp burning undimmed down
to the very verge of the sepulchre.
THE PRESBYTERIAN MANUAL.
Our Publication COmmitiee are adding to their
list works which it'gives us pleasure to commend.
Their last issue, to-day received by us, is one that
will be welcomed by many a Pastor and Elder.
a THE PRESBYTERIAN' • MANTTAL " is a neat
18mo, containing 'forms for the records
,of the
Session, Presbytery, and Synod; and for judicial
and other ecclesiastical proceedings' required by
the polity of the Presbyterian Church.
It is, we think, the only book of its class, and
one much needed.
The labor of preparing it was undertaken by
the Rev. John N. Lewis, at the request of a Com
mittee ofthe_General Assembly.
The original design was to append the "forms"
to the new Digest of the Acts and Decisions of
the Assembly, which the committee has been_
appointed to arrange. When, however, it, was
ascertained that the Digest must be made so
much more voluminous than was at first intended,
Lewis was -reqUested to enlarge the plan of
the Manual, and to prepare it for publication as a
separate and independent work.
Thelabor expended upon this volume has been
by no means inconsiderable; but it is believed that
the attention thus bestowed by one so eminently
qualified by. expezience and. information fer the
task, has been' well spent... The Manual will meet
the wants of'a multitude of Presbyterian ministers
and elders, and prove to them great saving of time
and trouble. To know how to do a thing right
ly at first is a privilege which will be appreciated
by those whose lot it has been to halt for lack of
this information with• regard to the details of
ministeral and official duties. In other depart
ments books of forms have long been used, and
are considered indispensable; but for ecclesiasti
cal proceeding no "Clerk's Assistant" has been
put forth. " THE PRESBYTERIAN MANUAL" will
doubtless prove acceptable and helpful to office
bearers in all braoches of the Presbyterian Church.
The Price of the Manual is thirty-eight cents.
EDITOR'S TABLE;
REASON AND TDB BIBLE, or The Truth of Religion.
By Mmis P. Saturn, D. D., Prof. of Moral and Intel
lectual Physiology, Beloit College. New York : Chas.
Scribner. 12mo. Pp. 340.
There is scarcely any feature more apparent in
our theological literature, than the, disposition to
re-examine the foundations of belief, and reassure
oneself of their verity. This volume, of course,
reminds one of Mr. Barnes' Faith in God's Word,
which in some respects, as a cursory examination
reveals its character, resenables that Essay. Two
thorough and learned articles in the Studien und
Kritiken of this; Year;'eampiising , the great bulk
of two numbers, have been occupied with a similar
discussion. The Princeton Review of July has
fonts opening. article "The Bible its own Wit
ness ancl,lnterpreter!' These and similar pro
ductions are worthy of:a comprehensive criticism,
such as . would exceed the narrow limits of the
newspaper. • Dr. Squier's essay is brief, analy
tical and intelligible, and will prove helpful to
every mind seeking to attain greater clearness as
to the foundations of his faith. For sale by Wm.
S. & A. Martien.
THE LITE . .AIifVtETTERS MRS. 'RIMY C.
.117DSON. By lt.` , C. Knronactc, Professor of Greek
Literature in the University of Rochester. New York
Sheldon /Sr..,Co. 12mo. pp. 426.
What is uninteresting which bears the name of
the hero-missionary.; the 'chief character in the
modern counterpart of the Acts of the Apostles ?
And this bOok:redeetits the repute of his wife from
that odor of levity which her relations to maga
zine literature seemed to fasten upom her. It ap
pears that from her entrance into the visible church,
an inexplicable conviction-dwelt' upon her mind
that she was destined to a missionary life. Even
when a small child, on reading a memoir of the first
Mrs. Judion, this feeling arose in her mind. Her
magazine , efforts 'were not her lading pursuits.
They Were. indulged in 'chiefly when - he compa
nions were asleep, or at recreation, and with a
view of: `supporting herself, and paying debts con
tracted in procuring for her aged parents the com
forts of a home. The volume is well got up, and
is embellished with , an engraved' likeness of the
subject. Smith, English & CO., Phila.
Tom BRoww AT O.xFoRDI a Sequel to School
Days at. Rugby. By Thomas Hughes, author of
School Days at Rugby, &e. Boston : Ticknor &-
Fields. For sale by J. B. Lippincott & Co., Phi-
Monthly part IX.
BOTH 'aiDES OP THE GRAPE QUESTION, com
prising three:Essays. 1..' On the Culture. 2. The
Physiography. 3. - Classification of the Grape.
The first is it prize essay secured by the offers
of the" Farmer and Gardener," by William Saun
ders, of Germantoirn. It is a 16mo. pamphlet of
96 pages, aid has reached a second edition. -
:A Rn.TorsmEtt to the Princeton Review upon
the Elohini Revealed; touching the Doctrine of
Imputation and Kindred Topics. By Samuel J.
Baird. Philadelphia: Joseph M. Wilson. Bvo.
pp. 44.
Those who have read Dr. Baird's book, and the
caustic review of it by the Princeton Quarterly—
those, too, who.are interested in the vain attempt
of the , other branch of the chureh to maintain its
rigid views of subscription, will read with inte
rest this continuation :of an able and important
diecussion.
carabilsrs BOOKS.
We have received from :the EPISCOPAL BOOY
SOCIETY, 1224 CHESTNUT ST., the following books
for children, published by HENRY How, Boston:
Ptery situktun *. by E. L. Lewellyn, 36m0. 234 Pp-
TUE Leer 'WILL, by Ann E. Porter, 294 pp
Srstrurreems, by Lacy Larcomb, 103 pp.
Tee Eunscau, 124 pp.
Lirri.E'Jistrv,--.A Story fur Boys, 53 pp.
Lam STERuErr,--Not Slothful, 43 pp. .
LesvorcAtorts,—A Story for Boys, 50 pp.
Btrue ETWAN,—A Story for'Boys. 48 pp.
These books are got up in - sisiiperior style for
ebildren'S books binding, paper, and presswork
being of the be st quality. They are abundantly
supplied with illustrations in excellent taste. The
character of the publisher is suirrcient guaranty
of their merit. •
Prince of Wales' Furniture.—We learn that
the furniture used by the Prince of Wales, at St.
John, N. 8., has been sold by auction. The Prince's
bedstead brought $126; the Duke of Newcastle's bed
stead, $53,25 ; 'recepton chair on which the Prince
sat to xedeiro ceinpany, $13,56 . ; dressing-table, with
glas3 and marblis top, $64.
Oct. 4,