Aintririm tholgteviAn tout + liy THURSDAY• Novignisza 2 i 1800. JOHN W. MEARS, EDITOR. ASSOCIATED WITS I ALI:MAT BARNES, GEORGE DUFFIELD JR., THOMAS BRAINERD, I JOHN JENKINS, • 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 address upon the receipt of six cents in postage stamps. We will also send a copy to any new address from, the present time to December 31, 1861, upon the receipt of the subscription price for one year. We also make the following liberal offers, to hold good until the Ist of next year. Any clergyman not a subscriber who will send us one new name and two dollar; shall have a copy of the paper free for one ,year. Any one sending.us two new names and four dollars, shall receive a copy of the PRESBYTERIAN QUARTERLY Itzvzsw free for one year. THE PLYMOUTH BRETHWEN.—An article on this subject has been crowded out by press of mat ter, but will appear next week. PRAYER-MEETINGS WHICH ARE NOT MODELS. Some time ago we published an excellent and stirring description of D..MODEL PRAYER-MEETING, from the pen of Rev. T. L. Cnyler. It is a less agreeable, but perhaps quite as important duty to attention to the very faulty methods of con ducting prayer-meetings, which are by no means uncommon. We will now speak of but two in stances, which have recently come to our know h dge, and which may be taken as specimens of classes, but not as models. The meetings were conducted in both oases by the pastors, although competent laymen were not wanting. In the first instance a hymn of considerable length was read and sung. A long prayer was offered by the pastor, which expatiated on a great variety of topics, and which was largely of the descriptive or narrative style, and so far, a very poor substitute, indeed, for prayer. Then followed the reading of a passage of Scripture with pro lolled comments by the pastor. Then came a hymn, then a prayer, and then a call for remarks or voluntary exercises. There being no response, the pastor made some remarks himself, and called on a brother to pray; after which the invitation already made, was renewed and followed as before, 1w a dead pause. The uncomfortable silence was at length broken by calling on a brother by name who consented, with a tolerably good grace, to aid in meeting the emergency. After he bad con elated his remarks, he was called on to pray, and a hymn and the benediction closed the meeting, which bad been dragging along its slow length for nearly an hour and a halfl The leader of the other meeting avoided the ex treme of tediousness, but was not entirely clear of the opposite fault of over haste, and a despatch too business-like and mechanical in its character. The hymn, prayer by the patter, hymn, prayer by a layman, reading of Scripture with comments, hymn and two prayers were all hurried through at a speed truly modern, and the audience dismissed in forty minutes ! No opportunity had been given for voluntary participation in the services. The whole was done up and got out of the way, as if some other piece of business equally pressing, was waiting its turn, when this should bo despatched. Room for a rise of feeling, a tenderness of spirit or a hallowing impression, there was none. Such methods of holding prayer-meetings should be known only to be avoided. On the one hand, if' there is really a lack of fervor and spiritual life in the assembly, it only becomes the more discou ragingly manifest by prolonging the meeting to a groat length. On the other hand, to take for granted the absence of such fervor, and to crowd the meeting through at a hold-your-breath speed, twill just as surely quench the fervor that may be in existence. Again, if a pastor really desires to bring out his members and make them active par- ticipaßtS in the social services of the church, it is very doubtful whether he should lead the prayer meetings at all. In all probability, it would be better to have an understanding that the responsi bility of sustaining and conducting the meetings rested with the people, while the pastor's part should be limited to attendance upon them, and a readiness to take part with the rest. Pastor and people should be co-workers in the prayer-meeting. The people should come prepared to aid in giving it variety and interest. No layman should think so disparagingly of himself as to despair of con tributing anything in this work; no one should allow a mere backwardness to restrain him from making the attempt under proper circumstances; again, no one should think so highly of himself as to regard any and every social meeting lucent- Flew without his active participation. The regu lar appearance of such a brother, if it does nothing worse, will give the meeting a stereotyped cha racter, which it is not in human nature long to relish or tolerate. Necessity, such as exists when the praying men, are few, is the only thing which would justify it. Few things are more important in our religion than the social side of it. Let every pastor look well to his prayer•meetings—as much so as to his public services. "THREATS OF DISUNION." We have received two communications on the above topic, suggested by our article two weeks ago. One of them is from a "Kentuckian," the ()thee from a "Subscriber" in New York. We must respectfully decline publishing either, as we desire to have no controversy on the subject such as these articles would be likely to initiate. Our hopes, preferences, and earnest prayers are for the perpetuity of the Union, and such is the prevail ing state of feeling, we'are confident, throughout the North. And though there is a very strong disunion. sentiment at the South, stronger, per than was suspected a few weeks ago, we are quite sure that much of the noise will be found ere long to he vox et prcvterea nihil, got up to aid in bringing on a financial panic, of which the unscrupu lous authors are reaping the fruits. After that has vanished, there will still remain enough, doubtless, l'o".give us some trouble, and to put the strength of our government to a practical proof, similar to those which it has already safely undergone. Mean while, we will hope in the wisdom of our country men of the "Border States," and above all in the guidance of Providence to carry us unscathed through the storm. • a 4l lO ,gf :14, THE NEW ,OXFORD THEOLOGY. Twenty years ago this caption woUld'have sig nified something entirely different from what it means now. Then, it was the synonyma for a superstition approaching the borders of p'''opery. In fact, its origicators, with the single and singu lar exception of the individual who gave it its cur rent name, Dr. Pusey, have all gone over to the delusions of Popery. But "New Oxford Theology" to-day means a system of negations scarcely de serving the name of theology. There has been a veering round from superstition to skepticism. As says the Christian Register, " instead of be coming the English Rome, Oxford seems, in di vinity, to be taking the place of the American Cambridge." A volume of essays and reviews has lately been published in London, and has reached its second edition, whose seven writers were, with, we be lieve, a single exception, professors, tutors, or fel lows in Oxford, where some of them still hold high positions and exert a great influence. These essays cover pretty much the entire ground of modern science, in its bearing on the character and claims of the Scriptures and of Christianity as miracu lously inspired. Their spirit.may be given in a word. They are gross and painful indications of defection from the faith. They are an almost to tal surrender to the claims of the infidels and ra tionalists of the day. On their face they make a weak show of retaining Christianity, but only as better than—not as radically distinct from—all the false systems that have preceded it. The Bi ble is to be studied and honored, but only as a book confessedly full of imperfections and errors in doctrine, example, historical statement, and science. Miracles are repudiated; the supernatual element is thrown aside and the moral teaching of the Gospel alone is retained. In fact, the whole seven writers are abroad on a sea of skepticism, as uncertain, as treacherous, and as trackless as any on which mortal has ever made shipwreck of his faith. This is an indication of a melancholy state of things in the Church of England and in that country generally. It reveals to what an alarming extent the thinking mind of that country is in fected with the most radical forms of skepticism. It shows us some of the leading , educational influ ences corrupted at the very fountain. Dr. Tem ple, the author of the opening essay, in which all religious systems are alike regarded as ,evolved in the development of the human race, is Head Mas ter of the important Grammar School of Rugby. Two other writers are at the head of colleges in Oxford. One of them, Mr. Jewett, Regius Pro fessor of Greek, is described by the Westminster Review as "the foremost man of the foremost col lege," "the friend and guide of most of the ablest of the young students," who may "well be taken as the mouth-piece of all the fresher and younger intellect of Oxford." Yet mischievous as these essays are likely to prove, and baneful as may be the results of this new development of skepticism in England, we can hardly believe that her think ers, and theologians, and churches, are, to any great extent, to pass through a period of rational istic darkness such as the churches of Germany are just escaping. Phenomena of this sort will not, and happily in this age of increased light, need not repeat themselves. Having all the steps of the process before their eyes in the experience of a neighbor, and having all the results of it that are valuable within their reach, the Christians of England will not passively undergo this mental and theological revolution. But there are a few reflections suggested by the facts as they now are, which it may be worth while to dwell on for a moment. 1. See the affinity of superstition for skepti cism. The Oxford theology of twenty years ago was superstitious. It magnified non-essentials and made them matters of faith. It required that re verence for forms and externals which is due to the substance alone. It gave authority to inven tions of men which rightfully belonged to the plainly attested word and ordinances of God. There is a point in this-process beyond which the enlight ened mind finds endurance impossible; and from being required to believe too much, relieves itself by the opposite extreme of believing too little, or indeed, nothing at all. This rebound is per ceptible at Oxford. The burden laid upon men's shoulders bytractarianisrn was too grievous to be borne, and they have fled just across the line to skepticism. So it is with enlightened minds in every Roman Catholic country. They are asked to believe too much, and they reluetate froni be lieving at all. France is, and for a long time has been, full of unbelievers, They are abundant too in Italy. The new Oxford theology is only the reaction from the old. 2. The exceedingly loose structure of the Epis copal Church is manifest. The authors of these essays hold high positions as Episcopalians. Se veral of them have been admitted to holy orders. One of their school, (Rev. F. D. Maurice,) has lately been elevated by the government to a pro minent ecclesiastical position in London. What standard of doctrine has this Church which is so scrupulous of forms? While it is laying out its strength on altar cloths and vestments, and ifman millinery," is it unconcerned that , infidelity is taking possession of its pulpits and its chairs of learning? While it is overseeing architectural details, is it unconcerned that the enemy is destroying the foundations of the whole structure? Is it worth while to contend for apostolical succession while the acknowledged fundamentals of the apostles' teaoh ing are being subjected to the most destructive processes of criticism? We are well aware that the whole compass of evangelical doctrine, from a loose Ariuinianism to a strenuous Calvinism, has place unquestioned in its borders, and under the name of comprehensiveness, has been made an oc casion of some little boasting at times. Is Uni tarianism, is Rationalism, is a bold and pronounced attitude of skepticism towards the supernatural divine claims of Christianity, to be added to the list of tolerated varieties of opinion? Is THE" Church powerless to rid herself of the elements of Anti-Christ that have found footing within her? Surely she must cast them out, or her true chil dren must themselves come out from the midst of her as hopelessly corrupt and demoralized. 3. There are parties who are rejoicing in the appearance of this book; and their welcome may be of service in opening the eyes of those who otherwise would be led away by its pretence of adhering to Christianity. We have already alluded to the Christian Register, a leading organ of the Unitarians in this country. In its issue of Novem ber 10th, it welcomes the book cordially. It treats it as an indication of a natural process, resulting from an increase of light. It is reason springing up " with natural and instantaneous resilience into the religion of intelligent people." It derides the idea of piety being exterminated by the inculca tion and acceptance of such views. Those who indulge fears of this result, are like Micah in the Judges, complaining of the loss of his "foolish little teraphin," as destructive of his, religion. aintrican gitgobgteriitit 'Ana 6tittott But all this is mere child's play compared with , the response it has received from the Westminster Review in its recent article on N e e-Christianity. There is somethinff almost terrific in the intense hostility to ChAtTatity 'whialr it 4 1 Ihterweaves with its welcome to these apostates. It sounds like the very drum beat of Diabolns under the walls of Manson]. The monster of unbelief spreads its hundred arms and thinks that, like the huge cat tle fish in the fable, it has seized the vessel, hull, spars and all, and will speedily drag it with all its horror-struck crew, to the depths'belowl We are not exaggerating. It is the Review that ex ceeds itself. " Much, very much, of what it (the Scripture) does contain, is actively injurious and positively repulsive." "It is time to point out the powerful substratum of, truth in the fierce in vectives of Voltaire and Paine." Such boldness, unwonted in its own infidel pages, does the West minster attain in the contemplation of this new phenomenon—this seven-fold apostacy of Oxford theologians. Good people will be 'earned by the violence of these demonstrations of welcome. Even the Christian Register, conservative as it is among Unitarians, will shrink at finding itself in such familiar quarters with the Westminster. A re action from the reaction will, in all probability, be promoted at Oxford, and the Essays and Reviews will prove a new instance of the, wrath of man made to, praise the God against whoso appoint ments and institutions it rages. REPUTATION FOR LIBERALITY CHEAPLY EARNED Our Low Church Episcopal brethren frequently ,receive great credit for, liberality, towards other de nominations, by the utterance of sentiments like the following, which we take from the newspaper reports of Dr. Newton's sermon on the recent Cen tennial Celebration of St. Paul's Church, of which he is the rector:— "The Rev. William Goode, in his admirable work g On Orders,' has shown, by an array of tes timony that can neither be gainsayed nor resisted, that at the time of the Reformation, and for long years afterwards, the Church of England never took those exclusive and unscriptural grounds in regard to her ministry, which writers of the Trac tarian school, and those who sympathize with them, are now disposed to press so offensively. She owned, as true ministers of Christ, those who had not received Episcopal ordination. She acknow ledged, as sister churches ' those bodies of Chris tians who differed from her in regard to her mi nistry and order of worship. She refused not to fraternize with them, while holding firmly, not withstanding, to the truly Scriptural character of her own ministry and worship. This is the ground in regard to what is called churchmanship, which this congregation has always occupied; and on this ground I pray God it may continue to stand, in kind and Christian, but uncompromising testi mony, till the Lord comes." Many very liberal and catholic sentiments may also be found in the recent work of the excellent and godly Bishop of Ohio, entitled the "Holy Catholic Church." Speaking of the differences between "denominations who agree in the great essential doctrines of the Gospel," he says, page "What is their difference compared with their unity? The former is about matters which, if important, are not vital: the latter is vital, essen tial. The former separates them into various eccle siastical bodies; the latter keeps them all together in that one church, which is the body of Christ." Again, -he says, pages -107 and 108': - " In the present divided condition of the visible church, when sect contends with sect, and party with party, and peace seems so far off, must not every true follower of Christ, having in himself 'the mind of Christ, feel it a very precious conso lation, that wherever in the whole earth - are those who, under any name or form, do believe in Jesus with the heart as their only and sufficient Saviour, there his brethren are; there are those who are members with himself of the same body, commu nicants with him in the same spiritual meat and the same spiritual drink, to be joined for ever with him in the same kingdom of God ?" These are delightful sentiments, and readily find response in every bosom; and the source from Which they come is supposed to entitle them to peculiar attention. The popular notion is, that they exhibit a praiseworthy degree of liberality on the part of the Episcopalians who utter them. But we sometimes need to be reminded, that the conduct of those who utter these sentiments, is widely and habitually inconsistent with them. We need to be reminded that, if all that is re quired in Order to secure a reputation for liberality or for any other good quality,, is the utterance of sentiments, reputation becomes so cheap as actually to be worth nothing at all. Our excellent Low Church brethren, whom we sincerely love and admire, must be aware that the recognition of other bodies of Christians with their ministers in words, which are regularly contra dicted by acts, strictly taken, amounts to rather less than nothing at all. Or does any one for a moment suppose, that consenting to unite with a miscellaneous body of Christians in a union prayer meeting, however excellent and fraternal the spirit that prompts it, is acknowledging the various de nominations of which they are composed. as "sis ter churches?" Ana I acknowledged as a "true minister of Christ" by an Episcopal minister who consents to occupy my pulpit and preach to my people, while he refuses to reciprocate the cour tesy? Did Bishop Potter, in the slightest degree recognise, or intend to recognise, the ministerial charac4r of Mr. Barnes, by taking „ part in the in auguration of Dr. Goodwin as Provost 'a the University of Pennsylvania recently, Mr. Barnes having opened the exercises with prayer? The High Church papers have made a very great ado over it, as if it were an enormous instance of Epis copal delinquency, but Bishop Potter knew very well that he could stay by and listen to the prayer of any pious, respectable layman without any in consistency; then why not to that of Mr. Barnes? Dr. Newton can unite with a Presbyterian minis ter in conducting so much of a funeral service as is performed in the house of mourning itself, for this involves no recognition other than that of simple Christian character confessedly common to both clergymen; but at the more public services in the church, will Dr. Newton invite, or expect, or tolerate a continuance of the participatiOn? We put the question with entire confidence that it will and must be answered in the negative. It matters little to us how our claims to mole siastical or ministerial character are regarded by either party of the Episcopal Church. They stand not in the counsel of men. .But we do think the praise accorded by over-generous and unthinking persons to the Low Church brethren for their " liberality," and which is likely to be called out by such language as we have quoted above, needs to be reconsidered. We like to see things called by their right names. This much we may truth fully say of them: They want to be liberal, they make faint and timorous ventures towards liberal ity in union prayer meetings and the indoor parts of funeral services, and their convictions of the Chriatian duty of liberality find vent in eloquent paragraphs and declamations, which set the High Church editors to vehement scribbling, but the testimony is•never boldly sealed with the act. They stay in a church, they live in a eburch, they ren der obedience to a chureh*whesn organic laws con tradict their eloquent parag4hs., They act over and over again,the conduct of ther,son in the pa able who said, "I go, Sir," and went not. "THE DUTIES ,Or 0141 Jr/LINEN." The last number a the Gernichz_lkfortned fifes: senger contains an extendedmotice of this excellent pamphlet reprinted from the Quarterly Review. It saye: This is a pamphlet of 222. pages, written by a prominent elder of one of the Presbyterian churches of Harrisburg. Thebtijeet of the paper, as the caption indicatesji to open more fully, the field of lay activity in the Church of Christ; to show that "t the pews," as well as "the pulpit," have their legitimate work to perform; and that unless the whole Church as such, is active—active in all her parts and simultaneously—she cannot hope for that full measure of prosperity which otherwise would distinguish her in the world. It may be called a pungent sermon for the times. It embodies the active, earneilt spirit of the age; is full of Scriptural point lieiring _upon the general subject which it discussch 3 and is written in an easy, racy and practical style, so that all, will not only be profited, but also i deeply, interested in its perusal. After ; giving a 'summary of the contents, the writer continues: Throughout, 212_ and the the sttot is well 'handled, and the wide circulation of the pamphlet -would, we have no doubt, result ingreat good to the cause of Christ The following Parag4ti4ill on tbe necessity of re turning to a more; churchly form of aotivity, is truly ref:vetting: Here' follows the extinct on Iknomiliatianal Spirit among our Laymen, which has already ap peared inn - our columns. To which the,writer adds: Here is uttered apropliecy, the truth and force of **eh we have long since felt. All movements organized outside of the,Christian Church _itself, and which are designed, in the spirit of charity, to aid the general cause of (Christ, must, each in its time, come to an end.' in the present state of the Protestant Church, all ()amide unions, whether in the cause ,of Sunday sciools, Missions, or in the Tract interest, must be fnore or less eliminating and negative in their character. * * * As in timated in the extract alieve, justas the Chrietian mind wakes up to the fl perception of its great interest, as this is- involved in its positive faith, will itdraw back from all„unions of a, mere nega tive character : Again-tray the more healthy tide set in towards denominitionaliim, and It-is 'alto gether vain for, any tnatlerapt to stay` ts progress. * * * The religioukuund is waking every where to the perception of the superuetural in the Church of _Christ. Let this movemert go forward, as go forward it must, fiet the different denomina tions, each in its own way, riseup tom full sense -of the divine and positivn realities in.,the Church of Christ, and let all be pervaded, fully pervaded, with this sense; then we shall be in a better con dition for the all; which seems, so:desirable in the minds of all; then, we shall be able to come together, and to stand , together, on a platform which ,shall be wide enough, and _strong enough for all, and where each can endorse the - positive features of Christianityin the Other. Let each be moulded by the same positive divine Church powers, and the way will be for a union in the church itself which-will save each conscience, and whose aggressive power will be acknowledged by the world. We are glad to find that the pamphlet of our excellent friend, Mr. Weir, is receiving a share of the attention, it deserves. It should be read and pondered by every pie-df . eur laymen. Other ,articles , by, .tWhst ItlfirlEW have been similarly noticed paio l ßanner of Covenant gives an extended arrit cquiplimeitary notice of the article.on RUSSIA, Mr extracts. The 'Even ing Bulletin treats the article on ARABIA in a manner exactly similar: It is a periodical which does honor to.the church, and is deserving of large patronage. To aid in extending its circulation, we make the following very liberal offer: : Any one sending us the names of two . new subscribers to the AISIBRICADI PILBSBBTBRTAN, prepaid in full, before the Ist of January . 9ieret, shall receive a copy of the REVIEW free forone year. CUR CHURCH IN DELAWARE. On Wednesday evening, Nov. ,14th, the Pres bytery of Wilmington held an adjourned meeting in Mu,Fon.n CIIIIROR, at'which they received RE.v. J. GAnrawnll4mNENfrom the Presbytery of the District of Columbia; and installed him pastor of the united . charges ot,Milibrd and Mispillion. The occasion was one ofirery deep interest. Rev. H. J. Gaylord presidedond proposed the consti tutionar questions, Rev * - 2). IL Emerson preached 'the sermon, Rev. Wm. Allman delivered the charge to the pastor, and Rev. John.W. Mears the charge to the peopled This is Mr. Hamner's first pastoral charge, and be is the first pastor ever installed over the ; .Milford Church. May the re lation as it is equally n ew, be equally profitable to both parties. • A new church edifice has recently been con structed at Felton, in , this field, and a church of ten members was orgailized there on Thursday morning, the 15th inst., by the Presbytery. Still another enterprise is in , contemplation at a third point, where an Ex-Governor of the State, residing in Milford, has made liberal offers of land and money, and others have expressed their readiness to follow. What a change from the appearance of things three years ago, when the friends of the cause, who were but a handful in this section, were almost ready to give up'irt despair, and when the 1 abandonment of an eb rprise, which had long been feeble and dubs bi in its character, seemed. unavoidable.. But faith' and'perstiverance are al ready reaping their reard. We are happy to learn that the preachink and other services held by Mr. Hamner, are attended with evidences of the divine blessing in ,the awakening and conver sion of sinners. MIDDLETOWN CHURCH', This church, after a temporary independency, has voted, with great una nimity, to renew its relations to the Presbytery of Wilmington. Its position, in the midst of one of the very finest agricultural regions, from which an immense amount of .grain is freighted on the Delaware Rail Road, with a commodious and sub . • itantial church - edifice and parsonage, renders it an important point. During the ; revival its numbers were doubled. We are confidant it will be cordially Welcomed to the commits of the brethren, Srekt whom, indeed, the great : majorityof' the eliiireh, were never estranged. ODESSA OUDECII. gOV. Mr. Gaylord, the pas tor, having been very saceessfut in his effort to secure the balance nnedtd,„ the large i and elegant structure designed fot this church will be vigor-, ously pushed forward, and, it is hoped; will be com pleted early in the 'Whit*. THE ORGAN OF THE SECESSION TO BE TRANSIT:II'R ED TO PHILADELPHIA. We-`clip the following from the last New York Observer: • The Presbyterian Witness, of Knoxville, Tenn., in its last editorial announces its discontinuance. Arrangements have becii_made to unite it with the Christian. Observer, Ind to publish it simulta imously in Philadelphia and'Wehmond. This was the organ of the United Southern Synod, a secei sion from the New Scheel Assembly. il'or the Amerioan Preaby LETTER PROM MOUNT LEBANON. Dhareidun, Mount Lebanon, Oct. DEAR EDITOR. :—ln my former letter of Hop timber, I attempted to give your readers a digested summary of the provocations received by the Brumes from the Christians and expressed the possibility of communicating the result of the trial of both Parties before the mixed' Commission of Turkey sand Europe, in another letter. But that result, perhaps, will not be known for several months to come. The Commission consists of the five Com missioners of England, France, Prussia, Austria and Russia with Fund Pasha as their Chairman. They have full powers to examine, judge and punish all the guilty parties, whether they are governmental, national or individual; and ,to in augurate a future government for'the mixed inhabi tants of Syria. And as they have devolved upon them so heavy responsibilities, which are so inti mately connected with the precious interest of the Redeemer's kingdom for all the different commu nities and all coming ages, in this unhappy land, :1 beg to commend them, in a special manner to .the prayers of all the friends of Zion in the United States. , • • While I was preparing my first correspondence to your :excellent paper, Sheikh. Yusif Abaci- Melik, the Dnise Governorof Bhamduti, sent me his summons from his Excellency, Fuad Pasha, to appear in the Convention at _Beirut, and prove his innocence, or take , the punishment for his non appearance. Of course I advised . him at once to comply with the summons, within the _ five dap to which the order was restricted. I think no one Of the Dnise Sheikhs, however, appeared within the required time. But during the first three days after it was expired, thirteen of the noblest Druse families appeared, and were put under con finement from Friday, Sept 21st. The rest who were summoned, ten or fifteen in number, disobeyed and fled. They were ,immediately , proscribed; and their property was confiscated. Thee Christians summoned, at the same time were left at liberty, only promising to appear before the commission whenever they are called. The Druse Sheikhs under this confinement- are separated from one another, and each is undergoing a. particular examination before the. Turkish Court, preparatory to their ultimate trial before the mixed Commis- After their voluntary surrender and apprehen sion, his Excellency, rued Pasha, left Beirut for Sidon 'where heapprehended a large - number of Mohammedans, and sent them to Beirnt. Then he came up into the mountain, advanced towards Has beiya, and sought the Druse Sheikhs who - had fled from Lebanon. He has a large force, 20,000 soldiers, it is said at his command, who are sta tioned at Beirut, Damascus, Sidon, in the Bukaa, and othei places. On Tuesday, September 25th, some 3000 French troops came up to the mountains towards Deir el komr; and the following day another detachment, 2000 strong, passed on the Damascus road, and encamped about three miles from Bham dun, whither in company with several persons of this village I afterwards visited them, and was re assured from their commander that their object was not war, but peace, and the restoration of public tranquillity to all. This confirmed me in advising and urging the Druses all to remain quietly in their homeland Villages, expressing the truism that their continuanpe as a nation in Mount Lebanon depend ell on the continuance of their families in their _places. of residence. And lam happy to say that they remained in much anxiety unharmed. But the Christians (so called) accompanying the first detachment, disturbed the peace, plundered a dozen or fifteen villages more or less, killed some forty persons, old people, men, women, and children, and brought much disgrace upon themselves and the French troops, who not only suffered, but also committed such things. Both these detachments joined each other at Baruk, and marched into the Bukaa; and subsequently returned, and separated, marching in Lebanon. A new phase of disturbances has recalled Fuad Pasha to Damascus. The Mohammedans there threatened again to massacre the Christians, some 12,000 still remaining in that city, and the authori ties requested his return. But all things are tranquil and peaceful in Mount Lebanon, except ing the new aggressions of the _Christians upon the Drums and others. Last Sabbath they killed a Mohammedan at Betathiv; they hate the Dr u, ses, and threaten if the French do not fight and destroy them, themselves to fight. It will be in my opinion a more difficult part for government to restrain the Christians than to protect them from evil with the whole Druse nation. The antici pated trial of both parties in Beirut, after the return of Fined Pasha, will serve to evince the respective character and intentions of each party. And let justice in a Christian spirit be done to both. It is a marvellous thing to bring up a moat atrocious civil war for trial at Court. But this is the noble aim of Ottoman policy, laying down the sword of Islamism, and taking up the pen of con stitutional diplomacy. And I most heartily wish them success, in putting an end to all such massa cres, and in the re-asssurance of tranquillity and security for all the inhabitants, of Syria under a just and official government. And lam confident that all these terrible events, and the consequent intervention of Europe, will issue in the further ance of the Gospel, and the introdtiction and ad vancement of true religion in this land of so inte resting sacred and historical recollections. It is still 'as' it was of old, the - land of the Bible; the same customs, and cruelties, and measures of re taliation, and extermination of races, or their exclusion from their ancient' possessions, prevail as they did in the days of Joshua, and of the judges of Israel. In the days of Shamgar, the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through by-ways. Since I have resided in Mount Leba non, I have known no case of capital punishment, though I have heard of some hundreds of murders. But as in old time, the avenger of blood is :abroad, and "sin lieth at the door." We now anticipate from these terrible events, the inaugura tion of a strong government, in accordance with the will and providence,of our ascended Redeemer. Yours in Christian love, WIELIAM A. BENTON. AMERICAN BOARD. The undersigned, the District Secretary of the Board for Philadelphia, having no* charge also of ,the Cincinnati District, which will require his absence for long seasons from the office at Phila delphia, requests that friends of the Board in this District, having funds to transmit, will send them to Jas. M. Gordon, Treasurer, Missionary House, 33 Pemberton Square, Boston; or if more con venientrto Samuel ; Work, Esq., No. 36 S. Third street, Philadelphia, who, kindly consents to act as receiving agent for the Board' at Philadelphia. 01IN Mo Dist. Sect. A. B. C. F. M. THE FAMINE IN KANSAS. IeATIMOT MOM PRUVATS COnakSPONAgNOE . .May I any a word to you, and, possibly it±, oo " one through you, respecting what may be truly called the famine in Kansas? You may be cer tain the aoemmte you have seen are not over- - stated. I could fill many sheets with details if had dm°. I met, a few days since, a tab and' his wife, and the weather was quite cold, pulling up buckwheat In the field / bare-footed. It was too short to cut. Provisions of sal kinds, especially away from the river ) are filin6St &ohne prices. I paid for a small hap of AMU, 'Wedgy, CO. They could have been Ismgh€ie ordlnmar seasons for 412. I have no qttestiedi but Oust there ig a sympathy and Christian feeliog at the east, that would relieve us, could we be tasselled, There has been on a formerr occasion, such a perversion of funds, and so much fraud in their manage ment, that people have lost confidence in furnish ing aid. The only safe way is to consign aid to individuals who are known, and where you'can be sure funds will not be misapplied. All commit tees, appointed to act for a large community; will be sure always to be a failure. Those who have friends here should make them the chasm* through whom aid may reach others. I make these suggestions to you, a stranger, in the hope that you may possibly be stirred up to do some thing for our relief. Any inquiries you may wish to make Will be readily answered. Olathe, T., Nov. 8, 1860 For the American Presbyterian. OUR PRESBYTERIAN HOUSE. CORRESPONDENCE IN NEW YORK. I am glad we have one of , our own; and I mean to aid the committee in the , circulation of their publications. They ought to,be sustained by the whole church. I have looked carefully over the American Presbyterian Almanac for 1861, and I find it a valuable Christian and denominational tract. How can its circulation be extended? At a trifling expense it can be placed in every family of our denomination. Will not every pastor, and where there is;not a pastor, every session, see that this is done?" I have just ordered a package of the Almanacs 'for my people. I intend 'to place one in every family of my parish. " It is full of just such information as is needed throughout the bounds of our beloved church. I have also sent for more copies_ of the Eclectic Tune Book. We like it. It must ' be a stand ard work for many years. Our churches are adopting it. It was published for us, let us use it. R. S. Per the American Presbyterian. LIBERALITY ACKNOWLEDGED. Lexington, Richland Co., 0., Nov. 13th, 1860. EDITOR OP THE ,AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN:— As pastor : of one of the feeble and needy churches in the West, with a great sense of gratitude, I hereby testify to the prompt and ready_liberality of the pastors and churches of the N. S. Presby terian order, in your large and very beautiful city, The kind sympathies of such men as Barnes. Brainerd, Jenkins, Shepherd, Duffield, Smith, Adams, Darling, Johnston, Helfenstein, Culver, and others, and the large-hearted churches they re present, have strengthened the hand, and cheered the heart of many a,ppor pastor and destitute mis sionary in the West. -No one; perhaps, who has really needed, and properly deserved help, has ever gone to these'brethren and their intelligent and very liberal churches,, without getting it. At the pastors' meeting, held every Monday morn ing at the Presbyterian Book House, there are constant appeals to the sympathies of, these pas tors from weak churches, and I presume it safe to' say, that they always respond • kindly and libe rally. This is my testimony, and doubtless, that of many poor pastors of poor churches who, like myself, have gone , to Philadelphia with gloomy and desponding feelings, but returned eheeredund blessed by God, through these his servants, and people. PASTOR, of THE (N. S.) PRES. CID:TECH. PitrzE 'AWARDED. The announcement of the offer, by a Friend, of a Prize of One Hundred. Dollars for the best Sabbath School Book,' to' be published' by the' Presbyterian Publication Committee, called out a number of manuscripts. The one deemed most meritorious and best suited to the purposes of the committee is entitled " Money; or The Ains worths," by the author of "Day Dreams," "The Barclays," &e. To it the prize is awarded. It has been put to press and will soon appear. The aim of the book is to illustrate the proper, as well as the improper use of money, by a skilfully con structed narrative, in which three boys are repre sentatives of three classes of money-users.. The unsuccessful manuscripts will be subject to the order of their authors. JOHN W. DITLLES. Philadelphia, November 17, 1860. For the American Presbyterian. "ANNALS OF THE POOR." ALMOST DISCOURAGED There is a family of two persons only, a mo- ther and daughter, living near our mission.: We, have known them for nearl3r. 'year. The mother, when the spring opened, enjoyed only passable health, and while the great drops of perspiration rolled down her face, she would often look up from her washtub, straighten her Alack, and sigh. Her room, which at first Was ocenpied only by a pine table, bed-stead , stove and two or three chairs, soon had acarpet covering over most of her clean floor, and thewhite walls were marked with a new calico dress or two--thrift was marked upon their appearance. She regularly attended the meetings of our mission, and' we believe be came a Christian. • But one day early in the fall, a severe wild set tled itself upon her, and for some time she laid a-bed, while her little Sate kept, despondency from her soul by her joyous prattle—though the room was darkened. . • Time passed on, and all seemed well a'gt; Her little store, laid by from her daily :labor for ,the winter, truly had suffered in purchasing medicines and food during two or three weeks' sickness, but there, was a balance left, and again she went.forth to struggle with the world. Some weeks since she found her little Sate sick Of.scarlet fever, and now all must be given up, work dropped,- and no thing done but nurse her only childt—Whakmo ther would not? Th e writer believes her atoms" exhainted and yet she cannot, renew her work. ' B. N. .13.—A number of ladies have determined to procure, by their own labor or otherwise, enough articles to hold a Fair in some good-Hall; perhaps on Chestnut street, about Christmas week. They meet every Thursday evening, at our'room 1210 Shippen street, and request me to say in my" An nals, that, they would be very glad to have as many, ladies as , possible join them in this me.rito rious. work, either in their weekly meetings or in work at home. It is pleasant to think that Jesus saYs: 2 - , ""iiigonmeh. as ye have done it unto one of the least of one of these ye havoidone it unto Me." RECEIPTS FOR THE lOLAPOOR MISSION, Rev. R. G. Wilder desires to report the re.. eeipt of the following sums from friends in Phila 'delphia and elsewhere. We are authorized to state, that if there are others desiring to contribute tq sustain Mr. and Mrs. Wilder in this important and -promising -field for the ensuing five years, they can leave the amount with Mr. J. S. Cummings, \-„, 321 Market,Street who will forward it to the sionaries. ' Mission S. S. of First Pres. Church, $lO.OO M. Newkirk, 5.00 Arch Street Church S. S., 5.00 Mrs. 5. P. WethOrill, 25,00 Mrs. Rebecci. Gumboil, , 10.00 Mrs. Constable, 5.00 Ladies' Society of Philadelphia for educating heathen youth, 125.00 Tabor Mission Sabbath School of Calvary Church,.... ......... . ... PITTSBURGH. D. Bushnell, Esq., $lO.OO "Louisa W.," 5.00 THE FOUR GEORGES. Sketches of Manners, Mo rals, Court and Town Life By W. M. Thackeray. With Illustrations. New York: Harper & Brothers. 12mo. pp. 20. Interesting, lively, piquant sketches are these, bringing to view and relief the less known points of character and incidents of the daily life of the four Kings of England and the courtiers, statesmen, and literati of their day. Satire, light and keen, mingles with severer denuncia tion, or, with delif i lte pathos and appreciation of what is good in' their characters. Royalty fares but ill in the hands of the most searching analyst of life Wand manners that our age has known, while. Washington's resignation of his commission at Annapolis, fills him with admi ration. Of course, every body will read the I book. For sale by Lindsay Er, Blakiston. J. C. BEACH. LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF JOHN A. QUITMAN, Major General, U. S. A., and Governor of the State of Mississippi. By J. F. H. Claiborse. In two vols. 12mo. Pp. 400, 392. An extended biographical sketch of one of the most distinguished citizens of the Southern States, in the ranks of war and statesmanship alike. There is, of course, much that is inte resting and worthy of perusal in the work, espe cially to those who are studying the political history of their country. The politics of both subject and author are of the most ultra fire eating disunion stamp. For sale as above. THG GREAT PREPARATION: or Redemption Draw . eth Nigh. Ry Rev. John Cumming, D. D., Minister of the Scottish National . Church.. First Series. New York: Rudd &Carleton. 12m0., pp. 259 This is a series of: lectures from the well known eloquent Scotch preacher in London. Every thing from his pen, is attractively and gracefully written, and exhibits a truly devout mind, though sometimes led away by brilliant fancies into wild speculations scarcely reliable. The volume before us, is introduced by a view of, the actual condition of things in various parts of the world, drawn froth the most heterogene ous sources, even including the New York Re raid, (will Englishmen never get` rid of the ob stinately cherished delusion that; this is the lead ing American journal ?) and then proceeds, in a course of lectures, to instil valuable practical lessons in view of the probable nearness of great prophetic 'issues. The speculatiie portions are by no means prominent, and the conclusions drawn—as, for ,instance, that the Jews will re turn in 1861--are stated-with all proper mo , e desty. The study , of prophecy in such a spirit can'do nothing but good, and we commend the book to general perusal. For.-sale as above. MUSIC BALL DISCOURSES. Miscellaneous Sketches, • '.. - Ministerial Notes, and Prison Incidents. Aso, Song of Creation—A Poem: • by Rev. Henry, Morgan, to 'which is added a Sketch* of his life. Second En : largad Edilzion: Boston: V.-Dege:n 12me., pp. - 356. For sale at the Methodist Book and Tract "'Depository, No. 119-N. Sixth Street, PhiLada. QUIET THOUGHTS FOR QUIET HOURS. _By the anthor of "Life ' s Morning ." Boston: 3. E. Tilton S. co. .1ft:o. pp. 266, with illustrations; PriOe, ots. A collection of simple essays in prose and verse of ,a familiar domestic character, written : with an cxcellent purpose and * spirit, and of ,fair merit. The mechanical execution of the voluxne is ad mirable. For oak by W. S. - arld'A.. Martien. :BOOKS RECEIVED. DAYS OF OLD: Three Stories from Old English lits tory.; For the-Young. By the author of "Ruth and Her Friends." New York : Robert Carter & Brothers. -16 mo. pp. 315. • • HINTS'. ON. THE FORMATION OF RELIGIOUS OPINIONS: Addressed especially to young men and women of Christian Education. By'Rev:. Ray Palmer. D. D., pastor ofthe First Congregational Church, Alba ny, N. Y. New York: Sheldon & Co., 115 Nassau --street. pp. 324: 1860. -THE RECREATIONS OF A COUNTRY PARSON. Boston : Ticknor. & Fields. 12mo. pp. 442. . . TUPPY ; or, The Autobiography of a Donkey, with four illustrations, by Harrison Weir. New York: Carter Brothers. , 16mq- pp. 178. THE GOLD DIGGER.- Boston: Henry , Hoyt. 18mo PP. 77. For sale by the same. EVAN HARRINGTON, or. be would be a gentleman. By George Meredith. Nevi York : Harper & Bro's. 12:no. pp. 491. For sale by Lindsay & Blakistoe, Phi ladelphia. /ler THE ENTERPRISING MANAGERS of the Pres byterian. Book Store, 1834 Chestnut St., have im ported a large and bautiful variety of Scripture and Missionary Scenes boldly executed on linen, of large size, which will be found very servieeelle in the lecture-room when the pastor is desirous d communicating clear ideas of the topics and lo calities on which he is lecturing -to his people- Call and tee them. LEWIS' NEW GYMNASTICS: a 16 page monthly well printed , on strong, white paper, devoted io the subject of physical culture, which it handle= in a very simple, practical Manner. The Eclitt: is a practical gymnast of Boston, whose exhibi tions before the American Institute of Instruction ',ast, August created a very deepinterest, and se. cured general approval. There is no doubt the lives of many are shortened, or their uscf nesss crippled, for want of exercise to which tlu might be drawn by the ingenious and yet simple methods suggested by this journal. Students nn: sedentary persons, especially, would derive rot: from its perusal.. Puhlisbed.at $1 per an nina, l 2: Dr. Dio Lewis No. 20 Essex St., Boston. THE- WESTMINSTER REVIEW, No. CXL - CI • for Oct. 1860. New Yerli, Leonard Scott Co. Pbilada., W. B. Zieber, No. 106 S. Third Street. Contents: Neo-Chriitianiti, 'North American 111- diens, Robert Owen,The. Organization of Italy, The Antiquity of th Human:Race, Russia, (p O7 sent and future,) Our, National Defences, "Macke ray as a * Noidist - PhOtegrapher, Cotelaporary Literature. zrimPIYSCO,NMENTARY ON GALATIANS, Draper, of Andover, with several other volumc daly - noticed next week. 1 1A.BP,.pes. MONTHLY for December, profußly and admirably illustrated with articles of wet' than usual value and interest. THE ATTENTION or 'OUR READERS is directe d to an advertisement or O'Donnell's Book .Keel'in Institute in another column. From the nuincrou.' commendatory notices of the press and the tel,ti nmniais of its graduates, presented in the circular of the Institutefor 1860 and '6l, we are disrw d to say, that this establishment is eminently worthY the attention or parents who desire to prep their sons for ~mercantile pursuits. Whilst th i ': course of instruction afforded is the most thorong • and `practical in its' character, the rates of charge= in this Institution will be found considerably thaw those of other establishments where a t 1 rough commercial education may be acquired. Tb_ Institute is %cote& on the south-east corner Elgth and Arch Streets. Nov. 22, EDITOR'S TABLE. $250.00
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers