Amtviciut
-Ituttits evangtliot.
THURSDAY ~ NOVEMBER 15, 1860.
JOHN W. MEARS, EDITOR.
11.1900eXATED WITH
! ALBERT BARNES GEORGE DIIFFIELD.M,
THOMAS BRAINEBD, JOHN JENKINS,
r HENRY DARLING, THOMAS J. SHEPHERD.
To AID IN INTRODUCING OUR PAPER where it
is not yet known, we offer to send it, post paid,
for the remainder of the year 1860, to any ad.
dress upon the receipt of six cents in postage
stamps.
We will also send a copy to apy new address
from the present time to .Dec. 31, 1861, upon
the receipt of the subscription price for one year.
For terms, club-rates, and premiums, see third
page.
It is our purpose to increase the value of our
paper in various ways at as early a date as our
means will allow. Its prosperity is, we believe,
greater than at any previous time in its history,
and it is in constant receipt of evidences of the
high favor in which it is held; yet it greatly needs
the further co-operation of its friends in the en
largement of its circulation. If each one of our
present subscribers would procure us a single ad
ditional name, or if each one of the ministerial
brethren to whom our paper goes would procure
us four_or...fiVe t)ew names, we would be at once
prepared for the improvements we are contem
plating.
THE CONTEST OVER.
The quadrennial conflict in the political
world, is over, and the nation's choice of chief
magistrate is made. We are glad that the peo
ple themselves have decided the election. What
ever disquieting effects it may have on the South,
as now settled, if by the failure of the people to
decide, it bad gone into the House of Represen
tatives, the confusion would have been more ge
neral, and the feeling more intense. The whole
question is now simplified, and suspense is at an
end, both in the North and the South, and all
can form their plans at once, in view of definite,
well ascertained facts.
A great national question, which hitherto
has been in. doubt, is settled. In the struggle
between liberty and oppression, which the ad
vancing spirit of the age, in the Church and the
State, bas brought upon us, and upon which
most evangelical churches, including our own,
have laid down their emphatic testimony, our
country, after a brief period of uncertainty, has
taken its position in a clear and emphatic man
ner. It has done so deliberately. It has re
fused any longer to postpone a decision. It
has acted in full view of the consequences,
which many regarded as direful, and in spite of
menaces and denunciations of the most violent
character. The position of the United States
of America on the great question of the 19th
century, is taken. It is for freedom. While ,
the great world is going forward, while clearer
views of truth and dtity, are spreading abroad
over the earth, our country is not to be left be
hind. There will still be slavery in its borders.
There will be no unrighteous crusades against
it, and no cruel and useless incitements to in
surrection under it. There will be no change
in law or administration to excuse or facilitate
sach. thiniqs • neither is therk-aruixtui-ocakeuit.° 4 -
.4_uncrer trie - law, to redof slavery. But the
declared sentiment of the nation is against it as
an aggressive, expansive and dominant institu
tion. Administrations, men, parties, as such,
are nothing to us; we care not which or who
hold the reins of power; we have but moderate
confider.ce in them as representatives of the
principles by the force of which they are carried
into power. But, indifferent as we are as to
the men, we cannot behold, unmoved, the spec
tacle of a great nation recording its testimony
on such a scale, and in such an enthusiastic
manner, for the right.
The contest is over, and the disturbing
anxiety that preceded it, is removed from our
minds. It is to be presumed that we are pre
pared now to direct those minds more effectively
to other affairs, including the spiritual. As the
neglected duties of business, so the neglected
duties, public and private, of religion, will be.
resumed. Our young men will close their club
rooms, and restore some of the time borrowed
by them from the prayer meeting and the lec
ture, back to these services with interest.
Their zeal for a worldly object, will give them
a basis of comparison by which to judge of the
proper degree of zeal for the Master. The fa
tigue they have cheerfully endured, the expense
and inconvenience they have borne for political
ends, will help them to compute the degree of
self-denial they should undergo in the Master's
service. The importance of impressing and
winning over, the masses, to their party, will be
a lesson to them, and to all, in choosing the
field of labor for the advancement of Christi
anity among men. The bold and aggressive
means used; the indifference as to the outward
circumstances of a meeting; the earnest, vigb
rous, and direct appeals of the speakers, full of
the subject; the perseverance, the untiring
energy, the wakening up of the resources of the
whole inner man, and the becoming all things
to all men, such as were seen in this, and may
be seen in every political campaign, will instruct
both layman and minister in campaigning, as
they are now doubtless, afresh, preparing to do,
against the power of ungodliness. Let us
now hope and labor for a signal blessing
from God. Let us see to it that, by divine
grace, our church is found a large participant
in the spiritual movements of the age. Let the
word be "onward."
REV. H. GRATTAN GUINNESS.
BAPTISM or THE REV. H. G. GUINNESS.—The
Bath England, (Chronicle) says that this gentle
man, who has been au Independent, and who has
been recently preaching in the various dissenting
chapels in that city, has been, previous to joining
the Plymouth Brethren, baptized at Somerset
street Chapel, Bath, in the presence of a large
concourse of persons. After singing and prayer,
the Rev. gentleman gave his reasons for being
baptized, and what he considered to be the Scrip
tural view of the subject. Prayer having been
offered, Mr. Guinness walked down into the recep
tacle containing the water, and was baptized by
Lord Congleton, one of the Plymouth Brethren,
after which other addresses followed, and the
proceedings closed with singing and prayer.
We have read the above extract with grief,
though not with surprise. When this young and
popular minister was with us in Philadelphip a year
age, we thought there was' indication of self-reli
ance and want of balance which would ultimately
interfere with his usefulness. We feared, though
we did not say so, that he lacked that power both
motel and intellectual which is essential to an en
&ring popularity and success ; Itpd now our worst
fears are confirmed. We see by the above extract
how great a wrong is inflicted upon the church by
the introduction into its pulpits of meu on the
grounds merely of piety and popular gifts. 'Men
ought to be well trained in Theology and Herme
neutics, and their training should be proved, before
holy hands are laid upon them. How otherwise
can they be expected to fulfil the command im
plied in that apostolic caution to Timoth . y, "Let
no man despise thy youth."
The "Plymouth Brethren," as we understand,
ignore the existence of an ordained ministry as an
integral part of Christ's constituted churcl.
Hence the dispensation of immersion in this
instance by a layman !
THE PRESBYTERY OF ST. LOUIS AND THE
DISMISSAL OF REV. J. J. PORTER.
In our issue of the 25th of October, we pre
sented to our readers the facts of the above case,
so far as they had come to our knowledge through
the St. Louis (Old School) paper. Since then, a
neat pamphlet bas appeared in St. Louis, giving
the particulars of the Presbytery's action with the
speech of Dr. Nelson, the Moderator, a copy of
which is before us. The facts of the case, as al
ready stated are, that the Union Church, of which
Mr. Porter was pastor, finding itself in a very dis
couraging state, and believing a change of rela
tions would prove beneficial, if not absolutely ne
cessary to its existence, passed over from the - St.
Louis Presbytery to the Old School body some
time since, leaving the pastor in his old relations;
and now, on the Bth of October, the pastor makes
application to the St. Louis Presbytery to be trans
ferred in the same manner. The Presbytery grant
ed his request with regret, but unanimously, and
added the following resolutions, which disclose the
gist of the matter:—
3. Resolved, That we receive with satisfaction
his assurance, that his request for dismission has
not resulted from any change of sentiment on his
part, but solely from the fact, that the church of
which he is pastor has, contrary to his preferences,
withdrawn from this Presbytery, and become con
nected with the other.
4. Resolved, That we deem it just in our branch
of the Church to record the fact, that the Church,
whose action thus deprives us of a valued member
of our body, has published the declaration, that
its withdrawal from us was not on account of any
dissatisfaction with " the measures or policy" of
this Presbytery, or of our7.:yrtiod, or of our Gene
ral Assembly.
5. Resolved, That these occurrences add to the
already abundant proofs of the deep injustide of
that arbitrary act of exclusion which occasioned
the separate existence of the Constitutional (com
monly called New School) Presbyterian Church,
and of the attitude of the Old School Church
in persistently refusing every proposal for honor
able union with our body, while they are ready to
receive any of our ministers and churches who
will consent to leave us, although still publicly
avowing their adhesion to our principles and
policy.
6. Resolved, That in dismissing our brother in
such circumstances, we console ourselves with the
assurance that, in the other body, he will be an
able and faithful witness in our behalf, and will
be ready to unite his influence with that of the
many already there, who know and feel, and
would gladly remedy, the injustice to which that
body is a continual, living protest.
The address of Dr. Nelson which follows is
worthy of notice. It reviews the history of the
Synod of Missouri from the time of Mr. Porter's
installation by the St. Louis Presbytery to the pre
• • nt • _shawL-what a nrate 4 ene+
Mr. Porter took in the discussions which arose
after the action of the Cleveland Assembly, in
volving the very existence of the Synod; fixes Mr.
Porter's position as an intelligent, decided, and
efficient advocate for the maintenance of the Synod
and its existing relations; shows that he had before
given what was, in effect, a casting vote at a criti
cal meeting; and then, seizing upon the fact, that
both Mr. Porter and the Church go into the Old
School body, avowedly with their convictions un
changed, it pins the Old School to the wall in the
most complete and triumphant manner. No won
der the Presbyterian of our Union, the Old School
paper at St. Louis, is uncomfortable.under it, and
dislikes the " raking up the ashes of old contro
versies-between the two branches of the Presby
terian Church." It is afraid it may catch a
glimpse of the fragments of the Presbyterian Con
stitution which still lie uneonsumed among those
ashes. We think Dr. Nelson did perfectly right
under the circumstances, and we hope the notion
of Presbytery and Dr. Nelson's speech, will go
over the length and breadth of the Church. This
is the simple fact: that an individual minister and
an individual church are received from our owe
into the Old School body while protesting their
adherence to their old principles; and yet," the
body as a whole, to whose principles they adhere,
and which has nothing distinctiue but those, prin
ciples, is repudiated by the Old School—is not re
cognised as a Presbyterian Church—has, in fact,
in its former advances towards communion, been
repulsed in such an overbearing, unchristian man
ner, that the merest self-respect compels it utterly
to cease from such advances; or, as Dr. Nelson
well puts the case:—
" Their Presbytery of St. Louis is about tole : .
ceive the brother whom we are about to dismiss;
and his well-known adhesion to the principles and
policy of our Church, and his able advocacy of
them, constitute no obstacle to his reception.
They are 'ready to receive' any minister' of
good character
,and repute with us, who is will
ing to leave us. Ido not complain of this. It
is right. We are ready to receive any minis
ter from them who brings regular credentials
of good standing in any , of their Presbyteries.
What, then, is the difference? It is this; We
have always been ready for an honorable re-Union
of the two bodies, and have made repeated over
tures for such re-union, but have always been
haughtily repulsed. It is consistent for us to wel
come members honorably dismissed from a body
with which we are ready for honorable union; and
I allege their equal readiness to receive members
from our body, as proof of their injustice in first
exsoinding and then continuing to repel our body
itself."
Dr. Nelson speaks in high terms of the Old
School Church. He says:—
"I call her a great, a noble, rind a soundly Or
thodox Church; meaning all that those words pro
perly convey, and with hearty emphasis. I mean
all that, ' ipsissimis verhis.' But great and noble
churches, as well as great and noble nations, do
sometimes mar their histories with very unworthy
actions."
While the speaker does not venture to predict
au ultimate re-union, he does express his convic
tion that a mutual and honorable recognition will ob
tain between the two bodies. It may be Providence
has gracious purposes to accomplish "which would
not be as well fulfilled by one Presbyterian Church
as by two." He then proceeds, in an eloquent
g'ttobtteriait Oturott Cvangtliot.
manner, to draw a parallel between the history of
the Presbyterian Church in this country and that
of Great Britain and her revolted American colo
nies. The two Protestant countries are doubtless
more powerful for good in the world, than one alone
would have been, and the recent visit of the Prince
of Wales to our shores and the kind welcome he
received from us, furnish an illustrious example
of the possibility of laying aside serious enmities
and jealousies ip even though separation be an estab
lished fact.
"Just so," says Dr. Nelson, a the church whose
rulers—the rulers then of a party and not of a
church—would have ignominiously, deposed our
Albert Barnes from the ministry, even while he
lives, hears it proclaimed in her highest judica
tory, that no better commentary on the Scriptures
for the instruction of her children, is within the
reach of her ministry, than those which Albert
Barnes has written; and, on the other hand, the
works of her most honored ministers are found in
as high estimation in all our church, as diligently
and appreciatively studied by our people s and our
ministry, as by their own."
We are sorry that our brethren in Missouri; in
their present weak and critical condition, have
met with a loss which they regard as considerable;
yet we do not suppose it will seriously affect the
hopeful movement recently begun in their Synod,
which now is in declared organic union with our
body. We do not believe that there is the slightest
ground for the impression sought to be made by
the Presbyterian of our Union when it says of Mr.
Porter, " He has, indeed, co-operated with his
brethren in St Louis. to.Jai
_Re the_New-Sehonl...4'-
gaiiiiitThii — ErthisState, and shared in their dis
appointment at the result—seen the four Presby
teries reduced to two remnants—the Synod !de
stroyed." This is, certainly, a. specimen of very
reckless writing. There still, remain three Pres
byteries and a regularly organized Synod; con
taining, even after Mr. Porter's withdrawal, (his
church does not appear in our last minutes,) nine
teen Ministers ,and twenty-two churChes, and we
believe our brethren there are farther now from
giving up than ever.
Since writing the above we have received the
Presbyterian cl our Union of last week, which
evinces the degree of importance attached to this
pamphlet by giving it a column of editorial and
a column of correspondence with promise of more.
The following occurs in the article of the corre
spondent. He is trying to show that our branch of
the Church was not so very badly off after the
division as is commonly supposed. He says :
The Old School had Princeton and Allegheny
Seminaries, and generously gave their New School
brethren Lane Seminary, near Cincinnati.
I " Generously gave" up Lane Seminary ! Where
has the correspondent been studying the history
of the case ? Or whence has a new meaning been
derived for the word generous insomuch that it
may properly be applied to the conduct of the
nonsuited plaintiff renouncing a claim which he bad
in vain appealed to the courts to recognise as lasi?
Generously. gave !. Reluctantly yielded, rather,
because compelled, time and again, by the stern
mandate of the law to relinquish their grasp.
Need we enter upon the serious consideration
of an article which is written with so gross an
ignorance, or so evident a disregard, of palpable
facts?
TILE PRESBYTERIAN QUARTERLY RE
VIEW.
The October number of the Quarterly has
come to band, bearing sour traces of the "pe
read it with interest, and can say, without he
sitation, that it is a number which fully main
tains the high character of the Review.
"ARABIA" brings to view a race of men, and
a quarter of the world, peculiarly interesting at
the present time, and dwells upon the history,
language, and manners of the descendants of
Ishmael in such a manner, as to exhibit the
striking fulfilment of the angel's prophecy to
Hagar, more than 3,500 years ago.
"RussiA" continues and concludes an essay
written con amore and graphically, by one who
has not only studied various second-hand
sources, but who can bring the valuable and
interesting element of personal observation to
enliven his sketches. It embodies a great amount
and variety of information upon the remarkable
history of the nation, its succession of rulers,
governments, populations and classes, serfs and
serf-emancipation, literature, religion, and po
litical position. This si'ngle article is worth
the whole price of the Review.
SCHLEIERMACHER--second article. The per
sonal character of this prince of German think
ers in the sphere of theology, has lately been
brought to light by the publiciition of his let
ters. His strong practical teedencies, passion
for teaching, and bold and burning patriotism
during the dark days of the French supremacy
over the fatherland, are brought to view in this
article. These are new and unsuspected traits
of character in one who has been regarded, even
in his own country, too exclusively as a dialec
t
tician. Whoever wishes to look.into the heart
and inner life of Schleiermacher will be gratified
with the perusal of this and the preceding arti
cle on the subject.
DUTIES OF OUR LAYMEN, by a Layman. Of
this article we have already had occasion to
speak in terms of commendation, besides making
exitzacts for our columns. We cordially wel
coml articles of this stamp and spirit in our pe4
riedicals, • and trust this, one may be the means
of calling out, what a • correspondent of the
AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN well describes as the
great amount of "unemployed- talent in the .
dership."
THE NEW RULE Or THE A. H. M. S., is a
resume of pretty much all that can be said upon
the question of the day in our church. The
discussion is thorough, its tone is manly 'and
dignified, things are called by their right names,
and the array of facts given in the appendix, to
prove that the Rule is new, and that the. Con
gregationalists have violated it with impunity.
are the End of Controversy upon these points,
They do, indeed, "speak for themselves."
THE FATHERS OF THE HARRISBURGR PRESBY
TERY. "Honor to whom honor." Such in
stances of adherence to the cause of the exscinded
Synods as those of Rev. Mr. Kennedy and Dr.
Cathcart, men of Scotch-Irish extraction, whose
prejudices might naturally have been expected
to run in an opposite direction, and who were
left almost alone in their section of country,
deserve to be chronicled and held in grate
ful remembrance. It was Mr. Kennedy, who,
though placed on the committee of prosecution,
to the amazement of all and the consternation
of some, threw himself before Dr.-Duffield when
on trial before the Presbytery of Carlisle, and
secured him from censure. Dr. Cathcart is bet
ter known to the majority of our readers as, for
a long 'time, the Nestor of ' the Harrisburgh
Presbytery. , ' The sketch of Dr. Cathcart, and
the other documents incorporated into this ar
ticle, are full of interest. Theological and Li
tery Intelligence concludes the number.
THE tiERNAN REPoRiIttED AND THE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES IN PENN-
SYLVANIA..
The following paragraph which we .find going
the rounds is undoubtedly very incorrect:
"Pennsylvania 4 0 - . 8 - the stronghold of the Ger
man Reformed Church, and it is a fact not gene
rally known, thaethere are more German Re
formed churches'in this State, than of Presbyte
rian, (Old School and New,) Episcopal, Dutch
Reformed, and one or two other denominations all
put together; or the communion is as strong here
as the Congregationalists in Massachusetts. The
denomination is alSo pretty strong in Maryland
and Ohio, and has a large number of churches in
Virginia, New York, and in several of the West
ern States. The 'body embraces 366 ministers,
1050 congregation, and 87,176 members!'
Now we have taVen the pains to look over the
minutes Of our r own and the other branch of
the Presbyterian 'Church, and we find that the
combined strength of these two bodies in Penn
sylVania is just about eighty thousand, with six
hundred and thirty "odd churches. If the Ger
man Reformed Church, with a total of but 87,
176 members, and 1050 congregations, is pretty
strong in two othe States, and has a large num
ber of Churches in We know not how many other
States, the UnavelAble inference is that the ease,
in comparison yr' , the Presbyterian and other
denominations i together too strongly put.
V_
Ilialarii;; 77— ij o PMibyterian fluarterly
Review, in the last issue, estimates the Presbyte
rian' Church membership in Pennsylvania at one
hundred and twenirlhousand, in which the seve
ral smaller bodies, Reformed, United, &c., are in
cluded. We should , judge this to be correct.
ELECTIVE AFFINITY.
Surely the times tre greatly changed since the
above principle was one of the leadin g issues between
the "Old" and "Noir School"- parties in the Pres
byterian Church. Djd we think we should live to
see the day when the principle, practically ignored
with us, should be espoused and acted upon by the
ancient Presbytery of Philadelphia itself? It is
even so.. The quarter of a century has, scarcely
rolled around sinee those debates and - denunCia
tions, and we learn that the Presbytery of Phila
delphia is dividedbythe line of Market St., with
permission to the churches situated one square to the
North or the Southat c line to make their owe
eleCtion between the new :Presbyteries. This
is an important' coneession, of which at least five
churches may aVail,,:themselves; those Of Mr.
Shields, Mr., WadSwarth, Mr. Crowell, Dr. Ed
wards, and, one, we ttdok, in West Philadelphia.
All of which; as cot i mected with -the internal
affairs of another church, would be none of our
business, if it did not furnish a new illustration of
the untenable and impracticable nature of the
positions upon which tke necessity of the exscind
ding acts was asserted. It becomes more and
more evident, as time` rolls on, that doctrines,
modes of thought, and Principles of action, about
which much stir was, made at the time of the
division, and of whiehl the Presbyterian ,church
was to divest herself as foreign to her nature, are
inherent and congeniak to both the branches in
which she is divided, 4a may be expected to show
themselves in both, as:eireurnstances are more or
less favorable to their appearance.
CHURCH,
We are gratified, to lea}n that the newly electil
pastor of this flourishing church, was warmly
greeted upon arriving in this city, together with
his family, on the 2d inst. After arranging the
house:for the cOmfort of Mr. Eva and his fan:lily,
a large number of the, congregation met in the
evening and, with several of the neighboring
pastors of different denominations, sat down with
the pastor's family to a sumptuous supper, and
then and there, in bellf of the people, presented
them' with a store of ( 6 geed things.'i The evening
passed away most pleasantly, and we shall ever
be happy to knowlliatlthe future will only add to
the already earnest affiction between pastor and
people: - *
On the 4th. inst., Rev. Mr. Eva preached -his
opening sermon from Romans ail. 29.
The Fourth Presbytery of Philadelphia have
•
appointed to-morrow iL emning, the 16th inst.,,for
the installing serviette; Aen the Mociefator, Rev. C.
Conklin& wilpreside; Rev. Dr. Brainerd, preach
the sermon; Rev. Anfirew G. Carothers, U. S.
Consul, of Washington, D. C. (his alternate, Rev.
T. J. Shepherd;) gi've charge to the pastor, and
Rev. G. Duffield, the charge to the congrega
tion: Our church at Kensington has always been
among the largestin - numbers in our body, and
we trust that. - in the 'new relations;formed, the
same 'spirit of union end:love that prevailed under
their late beloved and venerated Chandler, may
ever continue to , the praise and 'glory of the
Master.
WALNUT STREET CHURCH, WEST PHI-
LADELPKIA.
The beautiful and much needed edifice of this
flourishing church, under the care of Rev...T., G.
13utler, is now COmple,d, and will be dedicated to
the service of Alinighty God this (Thursday) even
ing, at 72 o'clock.;
THE S. S. MISSIONtLEY SOCIETY OF THE
WESTERN CRUROK.
Rev. R. a. WI nEwpresented the cause of his
mission at Kolapoor, India, to the Western Church
(Dr. Smith's) on Sabbath morning last. After
service a card was handed in from a gentlethan,
pledging himself-to $25 a year for the neat five
years. The Sabbath School Missionary. Soeeity
held a meeting and voted unanimously $5O an
nually for five years; and there are other subscrip
tions being handed in. We learn that one month's
delay now to Brothel... Wilder, will cause eight or
nine months' delay in reaching his field,, as it
would not be prudent to arrive there with his fa
mily after the hot semen has fairly set in.
The same society has just voted $25 to our
CILIJEOR EXTENSION COMMITTEE for the Western
Field. This makes $lOO that they have paid in
since the establishment of the Committee. Why
cannot
. all; our Sabbath Schools do likewise? This
a
is bat small school, and their donations come in
small amounts, each Siabbath from .each scholar
and teacher, and in 4.ree years past they have
raised over $6OO for missionary purposes.
OLIVET CHURCH
The exterior of this church, is undergoing a
thorough renovation,'which, when completed, will
render it a very pleasing and attractive object to
the eye. The neighborhood is filling up with as
tonishing rapidity .. . The congregations are good.
IlM i ll
SINGTON
lENDERTON CHURCH.
We call the attention" of our readers to the fes
tival and fair to be held in aid of this Church, in
the lecture room of the building on Tioga St.
west of Broad, on the 19th, 20th, 21st, 22d and
23d of the month. Access may be had to the
locality. by procuring exchange tickets on the Bth
and 15th St. cars for Tioga St. We hope the
energetic and persevering ladies in this important
enterprise will receive all due encouragement from
their friends in the city. - .
NORTH BROAD STREET CHURCH
We are gratified to learn that the number of
families recognised as in:parochial relations to this
church, has reached one hundred— The pastor,
Rev. Mr. Adams, is preaching ou the ten com
mandments in course; the fifth commandment was
the topic on last Sabbath morning. The plan
adopted for the new church edifice is very beauti
fdl. The style is Gothic, with a single lofty tower
and spire; the lecture room will occupy the first
story of the building.
LETTER FROM SYRIA
Mr. Geo. W. Mears has placed the following
letter at our disposal which, as Secretary of the
S. S. Missionary Society of the Western Church,
he has just received from Mt. Lebanon.
Bhamdun, Mt. Lebanon, Sept. 15, 1860.
D.WW2' BELOVED BROTHER IN CHRIST:
Your highly acceptable and much desired let
ter of July .28th :was received the.-13th instant,
nd replenished our hearts with joy, love, and
raise to our Redeemer, and your Redeemer,
for your continued friendship and, correspon
dence. I thank you for it, and, for the Alum-
CAN PRESBYTERIAN of May 3, 10, 17, received at
.the same time. lam surprised, and gratified with
al, to find therein extracts from our correspondence.
My special thanks to your brother for placing my
name on, his list, and,ruailing his valuable paper
to my address.. If our, heart and pen . fail suffi
ciently to remunerate, the Lord himself has pro
mised to reward all this kindness and unexpected
benefit.
I am happy to learn that our letters are so
kindly received. You are welcome to make of
them whatever, use you please for the one aim, the
advancement of the cause and kingdom of our
great Redeemer. And if the Lord . will, it will be
My happiness also to prepare a series of letters
from Syria for your brother's excellent periodical.
THE MISSIONARIES REMAIN AT THEIR POST
We are infinitely indebted to you for all your
interest, sympathies in, and prayers for us and
our brethren touring the late terrible events in
Mount Lebanon,- and at Hasbeiya. and Damascus.
In my communication of June 6th, you were in
formed of our position, and the identification of
our residence, and American citizenship at Bharn
dun, with, the preservation and tranquillity of this
obscure village; *obscure, I mean, in, a political
and worldly point of view. From this position we
could not retire without taking all its inhabitants
with us, and relinquishing their dwellings to plun
der and destruction, and other villages and ham
lets of this neighborhood to the same end.
Our good consul, and missionary brethren at
Beirut warned us of Our imminent danger, and
once and again urged their official and fraternal
n
warnin upon our earnest consideration,but we
In
could not retire. For twenty-five days the smoke
and flames of this terrible conflagration continu
ally ascended on all sides of Bhamdun, as one
village after another was taken and burned, and
71C — Ita BruTtiana to
Sidon, from Sidon to Damascus, and from Damas
cus to Baalbec, over an area of a thousand square
utiles. The Druses were our 'friends, and feared
and respected us. Our humble, defenceless abode
was directly under the shadow of the Almighty.
A thousand fell at our side, and ten thousand at
our right hand, but it did not come nigh our
home. Only with our eyes have we seen the re
ward of the wicked.
And now the Druses are looking to us for ad
vice and protection. The Sheikhs are summoned
this day•to appear at a convention in Beirut with
the Christians fora thorough
,investigation of the
causes, events, and, guilt of this war. I can but
advise them to' comply With this legal summons,
and if they have done anything worthy of death,
they should not ref - Ilse to die. 'lf they do not ap
pear, incOmpliance with this order, they are out
laws, and sin lieth at the door.
Commissioners from England, France, Prussia,
Austria, .and Russia are appointed to co-operate
with Fuad Pasha of the Ottoman government to
render justice to all parties. This Pasha has just
returned from Damascus, where he has taken sig
nal vengeance upon other pashas, commanders of
soldiers, governors of provinces, and hundreds,
not to say thousands implicated in destroying the
Christian quarters, and sought to restore order
and security.
'LORD DITEPERIN'S INVESTIGATION
Thursday, Sept. 27.—1 owe you an apology
for these twelve days' delay. On Monday , of last
week I was called to Beirut, and had an interview
with Lord Dufferin, IL B. M. Commissioner, who
brought me a letter of introduction from Hon. J.
Williams, our worthy Ambassador at Constantino
ple. He 'comes on the mission, from the English
government to investigate the nature and facts of
the late war, and I did not return to Bhautaun
till Saturday, P. M., and our mail is once in a
fortnight. Lord D. has requested from me a
"carefully digested summary of the evidences (if
any) which can be adduced .to prove the provoea
tions received by the Druses from the Christians,"
the substance, of which I enclose for your bro
ther's‘paper, if he wishes to publish it, 4 ' If it ap
pears to be too earnest special pleading, for a
semi-barbarous people, in mitigation of the fero
cious atrocities which have beetr committed by
them, allow me this apology that it is the simple
eloquence of truth.
It is a remarkable circumstance that the Turk
ish government has sent so distinguished a civil
officer as Fuad'Pasha to decide by the law this
great Syrian question of a government which
France has sent. SO, large a military force to termi
nate; and that the Christian religion on one side,
and the Druse religion on the other, should be
brought before the civil tribunal of a Mohamme
dan judge, who is called from a civil process to
pronounce the illegality and unmitigated barba
rism of war. God will make war a reproach for
ever.
THE AMERICAN LEGATION AND THE "INDEPEN
DENT."
Ism sorry to learn from the Independent, New
York, of the 19th of July, that the editor, as well
as some missionary correspondent from the Ori
ent, complains of a want of sympathy in the Ame
rican Legation at Constantinople for Americans
resident in the Turkish empire. The article pur
ports to be a censure of Mr. Brown, but of course
' * Will appeiti in our next
the responsibility is with the Minister of the
Vrated, States. The editor sip:
"The Embassy at Constantinople should he in
competent hands." "American residents in the
interior of Turkey complain that the Embassy
does not give them adequate protection and re
dress." "We are of opinion that the time has
fully come for a more decided American policy in
Turkey."
Now I am persuaded that no Embassy at Con
stantinople has been more Isuccessful than that of
the United States. Our' noble representative has
twice visited our mountain, and his efficient pro
tection, above that of the Sultan himself, has
guarded his fellow-countrymen, and under God
made thein dwell quietly on this mountain, while
our brother missionary of England has been killed
in the streets of Damascus. And if, indeed, the
time has fully come for a more decided American
policy in Turkey," I beg to suggest for the con
sideration of the' merican people that our wor
thy Ambassador at Constantinople, and.our Con
sul at Beirut may be continued- at their places.
During a second Presidential term their influence
and efficiency in office will be.more than doubled.
I wish this suggestion to come into-public notice.
Ever your brother,
WILLIAM A. BENTON.
For the American Preabyteritm.
REVIVAL IN THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.
FORMATION OF ;A . PRESBYTERY.
Letter from Rev. W. P. Alexander to a friend,
dated Waluku, Maui., August 24th, 1860.
After a prosperous voyage, I reached Honolulu
in May, in season to attend the annual meeting
of the .Hawaiian Evangelical ASsociation. We
had a very interesting and harmonious meeting.
Many items of serious importance came before us
for consideration : the mission "to the Marquesas
- Islands, and the mission to Micronesia,. and Abe
Morning Star, that takes new forces and supplies
to them. But no subject engaged our attention
more deeply thaU the measures we must adopt to
perpetuate the institutions of the Gt;spel, planted
by our instrumentality here - in 'the Sandwich
Wands. The Board tell us they do' not hereafter
expect to supply our places from the United States
as they shall be thinned by removals or death, ex
cept in extraordinary cases, but we must raise up
here from amid the churches, all that is necessary
for their perpetuity and growth.
We resolved, therefore,'to address:ourselves to
this work in earnest. Many of our churches
`comprise a population scattered along a coast,
from fifteen to one hundred miles in extent; such
churches of course do not ordinarily worship to
gether, and if we were to organize churches, so
-- that each separate church might ordinarily meet
together, we would need a large battalion of native
pastors. As we now do our work, the white pas
tor does not see the majority of his flock, more
than once in three months, yet they need more
pastoral care. To inquire minutely into the des
titute places, and means of supply throughout our
large field, was too large a job to be undertaken
by our Association at our annual meetings. We
therefore recommended that the pastors on the
larger islands, take 'measures to form local eccle
siastical organizations, to assume the special care
of the churches in their respective fields: We,
of Maui and Molokai, met at Lahaina last week.
There were present, Messrs. D. Baldwin, J. F.
Payne, S. C. Bishop, A. 0. ForbeS, and W. P.
Alexander. Sickness in his family prevented C.
B. Andrews from meeting with 'us. We spent
two days in session. 1
In this field there are now five pastors from the
United States, and we need ten more to enable us
to man it`fully: We examined and licensed two
candidates for 'the gospel ministry, during our
meeting. We now have six licentiates under our
care, four of whom have been licensed for several
years.' We adjourned to meet again on the 13th
of October neit, at Honolulu, for the purpose of
ordaining Nuiltu, whO, for fonr 'years past, has
beenlaboring there as a lieensed preacher, and in
whom we have great confidence.
We have organized ourselves into . a Presbytery,
to be called, "The Presbytery of Maui and Molo
kai!' We do not, however, expect to connect
ourselves with either the. Old or the - New School
General Assembly. Until we have time to draw
up a system of church government, we have re
solved to take the boilk of Discipline of the Pres
byterian Church of the United Stites, as our ge
neral guide. We expect to meet quarterly, the
Presbytery, consisting of the pastors and one ruling
elder from each church. We shall have our li
eentiates meet with us, and exhibit essays, ser
mons, &c., previously assigned, - and thus we hope
"to train them for their work, and hope when vire
are called from our posts, that they will be pre
pared to carry on the:work. Last June, brother
Payne visited the destitute field in- Ilona, on the
east end of this island, two days' journey from any
of our stations, and administered the Lord'S Sup
per- there. I win to go thither, ''next October,
'when I shall take with me, Messrs. Monase and
Kuaumana whom we licensed last week, and
lo
'cate .the`m in that field.
The state of my field had not been improved
by my long absence. Stupidity and deadness per
vade the church. A few, however, are awake,
and mourn over the desolations. Oh I for a visi
tation from on high. Pray specially for us when
you meet in concert at the Bible House. We
are cheered, too, amid our gloom, by reports Trout
Kaneohe and Honolulu, on Oahu. - Aniong the
most hopeless avid abandoned people in the islands,
there, seems to be .a shaking; and:a turning to the
Lord. I trust a shower from the cloud of blessing
will ere long be poured out upon us.
ACTION OF THE SYNOD OF PENNSYL
VANIA ON THE RELIGIOUS PRESS.
At the meeting at Westchester, Oct 21st„ 1857,
Resolved, that a Committee be appointed to report
on the subject of the "Religious Press,” and that
the committee be instructed to report at the next
meeting of Synod.
The Committee were Rev. G. F., .Wiswell,
Conway P. Wing, D. D., Jelin McLeod, Thomas
Street; and Ruling Elders,'Hon. W. Strong,
Charles S. Wurts, and J. Marshall Paul, M. D.
The following was also adopted.
.Whereas the Synod has appointed a Committee
of seven on the "Religious Press," therefore
Resolved that all existing recommendations of
weekly Religious periodicals be suspended until
the report of said Committee at the next meeting
of Synod, •
AT GREEN RILL, OCTOBER t2iST, 1858:
The report, of the Committee above referred to,
was received and acted on, and the following t.e
solutions were the result :
Resolved, That we regard the sphere and influ
ence of the periodical relig,ious press with in
creased lathiest, as holding rank "among the chief
agencies in carrying forward the cause of tr : .
, piety in , the world; and that we most deeply a ,
cordially sympathize with those who are called
conduct religious journals, occupying, as we h e ,
lieve they do, positions of grave and solemr,
trust.
Resolved, That we hold it to be the duty r ,f.
every Christian family and individual, having th e
means, to read the religious newspapers and other
religious journafs, whereby to inform themselv es
of the movements of the Church, and the progr e ,p
of events in the Christian world.
Resolved, That while we commend to the amp',
patronage. of our Churches and people, all such
papers and periodicals as are conducted in accord
ance with the principles of the foregoing report,
we call special attention to such as are published
within the bounds of our own denomination, a re
in true sympathy with our own branch of the
Churcli, and are striving to advance its interests.
AT HARRISBURG, OCTOBER 22D, 1860.
Resolved that Synod has heard with pleasure
of the accession of Rev. John W. Nears, to the
Editorial department of the AMERICAN PRESBY
TERIA
Resolved that Synod has entire confidence in
the AMERICAN PREsnrrEarAN as a religious
paper, advocating the principles and tending to
promote the welfare of our denomination, and
would cordially recommend it to the patronage of
our churches.
Fur .the American Presbyterian
A PEW WORDS.
To the Pastors and Elders, on the Collection for
Publication :
Permit us, Messrs : Editors, to say a few words
to our honored pastors and elders, on the present
position of the Assembly's Publication cause.
The action of the General Asenrbly in resolving
upon the raising of MAO as a working capital
for its Publication Committee was cheering. It
started in the right place, our highest representa
tive judicatory, and was in the right direction.
The sum named, though small compared with
that thought needful in other denominations for
the establishment of a religious publishing estab
lishment, was wisely fixed. It is not so large as
to be a bug-bear, nor is it too small to ensure the
living and working of the institution.
The Synods have held their meetings. There
also our brethren have cheered the Committee.
From One and another and another, from New
York to lowa and California, comes the report
that the "Subject cy" Publication" was taken up
and acted upon. The 'strong and hearty recom
mendations for the suitable endowments of the
committee, and for the establishment of local de.
positories to facilitate the circulation of their pub
lications, have encouraged the committee and
strengthened their hearts.
Thus far, all is as it should be. The subject
has come down with very proper endorsement tf,
the Church. But here, if it stops, there will be a
painful break in the electric current. " Resolu
tions" comfort the committee but do not pay bills
to carry on the good • work; of diffusing the reli
gious literature which we deem ourselves called
•
upon to give to our people and the : world. Shall
it stop here? Are the, committee tobe sustained
by these comfortable resolutions only, or shall they
have the material aid which is fore-shadowed in
resolutions
.Already have .some =of the churches answered
this question, and forwarded their contributions;
and, even where the annual collection had been
previously madft. Others ha, appoiited a day
for taking up their special gontribution, and will
see that it is done.
But, are there not many churches in which
nothing , definite has yet been determined upon!
And, may. we not respectfully urge such charities
to do their part toward making this , effort a united
and successful one? That which the Publication
Cause has most to dread is inaction. If all will
do, (and do , promptly,).what they , honestly think
they can and should. do, (no more,) .a new impulse
will be given to the work, and new progress will
be made. The advance of the. cause has been
very marked, both in favor externally and in en
_
laygement The, times demand a forward
movement. It rests with the individualchurehes
to supply the, means for this movement. The
churches will act when the sessions brinc , the mat
ter to their attention. .Is it unreasonable to ask
that they_ will do this J. W. D.
THE DENODIINATIONAL PRAYER-MEETING.—
This meeting rt was resumed on Tuesday after
noon last in the 'First Church. We go to press
too early to!be able to : givea report of it, but we
are sure our People , ate , gratified to have again an
opportunity for weekly reunion in these `social ser
vices. • May the Spirit of the Lord lead us in
them, and may -a great' blessing attend them in
every congregation in which they are held.
Dar GEORGE D. PRENTICE, Esq, of the Inas
vale Journal, expects to lecture at National Trill,
on Tuesday evening, Nov. 20th, on the !Polisity ,
and Politicians of the United States."' An
in
teresting lecture may, be expected.
CAAVELE'S ESSAYS.—The American edition
.of Carlyle's Essays, published by Brown & Taggard
of Boston, has pleased even the crusty author. In
a private-letter. to - thneditor of the edition, Car
lyle writes:—" It is one of the prettiest books
imaginable, printed with beautiful accuracy and
taste; . beautiful , paper; careful index; nothing
deficient, nothing superfluous perfectly got up
in all respects." We understand =that an edition
of Macaulay's Essays, printed at the Riverside
Press in a style of equal beauty and elegance, i 3
soon to be published.
A number of -our - readers will be interested
during the present Cold weather with our list of
COAL ADVERTISEMENig ' in another column. 15
will be seen that lir.'Edmends on Market Street
and Mr. Hess on Ifroad Street4' supply ministers,
aurehea, anted/Ai/tate institutions, at reduced
rates. The Cara of Diesirs. Rothermel &
& CO., 'and - Arthur & Brothers, are worthy
of attention'.
The Grace DaTlingiamily . bave again perform
ed a' hiiiriane - net. On the everting of Tuesday, the
Bth of Oct:, the sloop. Trio; Anderson, of Arbroath,
(coal) for Leith, left Shields with a fair wind, and
was overtaken by the gale on Wednesday morning,
off- North Sunderland';` got as far as Skate Roads,
when they let go both anchors. which, during a per
fect hurricane, were, snapped, and the vessel drifted
on the Long,storte Rock, where the Porfarshire was
lust. The master' and crew• had great difficulty in
getting from the ship, and, after being twelve hours
on the rock, were picked off by the father, a broth er '
and two nephas of that heroine, Grace Darling—.
the father now being in ; his seventy-fifth year, fifty
of which ,he has been in ihe light-house service—and
after being kindly'tretited - by them, they were landed
nest day at North Sunderland, whence they were
forwarded to Arbroath by the Shipwrecked Fisher
man's Society.
Nov. 15,