The American Presbyterian. (Philadelphia) 1856-1869, December 06, 1860, Image 2

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TIIVELSDA nEOIIIIIBEIt O. 1800
JOHN W. MEARS, EDITOR.
AISOCIATZD WITH
AtAlittr WARM, GEORGE HUFTIELD In.,
THOMAS BRAINERD, JOHN JENKINS
HENRY DARLING. 1 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 ittielpt of the subscription price for one year.
We also make the following liberal offers, to
hold good until the lst of next year.
Any clergyman not a subscriber who will send
vs one new name and two dollars, shall hate 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 PREMTERIAN QUARTERLY
MINIM free for one year; or Osborn's FRUITS
AND FLOWERS 01' PALESTINE, or, if preferred, a
'copy,of the Publication Committee's N.F.w DIGEST.
ler three new subscribers, with payment in
advauce,.a.oopyaf Lindsay & Blakiston's splendid,
edition , of Mrs. Sigourney's Poems.
THE IN SYRIA.
We may regard it as almost tantamount to a
settled principle in the mysterious arrangements
of Providence, that the demands at any time made
'upon the sympathies of the more fortunate classes
14,4 d peoples of the world by the afflicted and suf
fering, are proportioned to the ability of the for
mer to render aid, and are not graduated too far
above the present measure of their liberality. We
must learn thus to contemplate and interpret the
multitude of calls made upon us for help. So far
as they are well-founded and honest, we must per
ceive in them the voice of Providence directed to
us. The often timid and hesitating solicitor who
comes to us on what he feels to be a thankless er
rand, must be viewed as the repre'entative of
IJhrlat,—as Christ himself appealing to us in the
form of a needy brother or a needy enterprise.
Though we may have many such enterprises on our
hands, full as many as we think we can do justice to,
welsbould not allow ourselves to be vexed or discou
raged by the appearance of another just as impor
tant and just as needy as the rest. Christ, who
suffered it to come, will provide a way for it to
be met.
In the midst of all the numerous and pressing
claims which our liberal men in the church are
striving to meet, the deep necessities of Syria have
been thrust upon us. A race—a whole tribe—
have been reduced to beggary. They are sur
rounded by hostile hordes, and under a govern
ment which neither can nor will render them ade
quate protection. Driven from their homes and
crowded together in a few cities, principally at
]ieyrout, they cannot be induced to return in any
great numbers to their desolated homes, for there
is every reason to fear a renewal of the carnage
and outrage which , drove them away at first. The
Imperfect punishment visited by Ynad Pasha on
the murdeTers of their , husbands, ; ; ; brothers and
children, has only stirred upileretthatti and deeper
plottings against them. In their'boverty and die ;
tress the winter is upon them. a 260,000, say the .
Anslo-American Relief Committee, will be needed
to supply their necessities during the winter, in
htidition to what has been already contriblited.
The effect of prompt and liberal assistance will be
to bind these people by grateful remembrance to
the Christians of Great Britain and America, and
give us an unwonted influence and opening among
hem in the work of the Gospel. It willbreak down
prejudices againq the truth to an extraordinary
Octet. It must be viewed as a direct interposi
tion `of Providence to bring about this effect.
We ask, can Philadelphia do nothing distinc
tively for this work? As editors of this paper, we
nek, will not our churches and people do anything,
if not for the whole field, at least to aid that noble
missionary fut)ily whose letters have appeared in
these columns, and who luc;ze alone stood at their
post right on Mount Lebanon, amid the very
sweep of the destroying whirlwind, with their
view hemmed in for days by the smoke of con
suming villages? There/they have remained in
spite of warning and remonstrance, and have saved
an entire community from sharing in the common
destruction. And now they are surrounded with
the dire results of % the conflict on every side.
Zahleh, the Christian village that once contempt
uously repulsed them with abuse and violence,
now lies in ashes, its
.pride overthrown and its
miserable remnant of inhabitants welcoming the
missionary who exemplifies the forgiving spirit of
the Christian, by seeking out his persecutors in
tfteir hour of humiliation and of want. Chris
tian brethren and sisters of -Philadelphia, shall we
do nothing for these missionaries, who have ap
pealed so directly to us? Mrs. Benton, in her
letter. of September 27th, hopes "something ere
this is on the way for us." We do not know of
. anyt : bittg lhayiggiteen sent; we fear that the kind
and noble-hearted couple are doomed to disap
pointinent so far as they have looked for help from
'this quarter. ' Yet it is by no means too late.
'b.:mations in clothing of almost any sort and qua-
Jity will be gladly received, to clothe the destitute
Maronite women and children especially. We
hope to hear of a movement to this end among
our benevolent people very soon.
SMOURNEY'S POEMS.
A very fine illustrated edition of these poems
has been placed, upon our table by Messrs. Lind
say & Blakiston, of this city. As to the con
tents, they are too well known to require particu
lar notice at this day. Their sincere Scriptural
Piety, the excellent lessons they inculcate, the de
limy of sentiment,and !expression which charac
terize them, and the true poetic sweetness which
they breathe, make them a most appropriate and
unexceptionable token of regard , from friend to
friend. The handsome exterior with which the
enterprising publishers have graced them, is a just
tribute to their worth. The heavy paper is deli
cately tinted, and nine of Darley's choicest de
signs, executed on steel in the best style, accom
pany and interpret to the eye, very happily, the
meaning of the poetess. The whole work is a
credit to the skill and taste of our friends, Messrs.
LINDSAY & BIAKISTON, as well as to the publish
ing enterprise of our city.
South Carolina is the only Southern State which
has an armory of her own. It has been in operation
some years, and turns out good work.
THE BOOK OF ZOE.
God's word is perfect. Faith accepts it as
such, though reason hesitates, and at times is
stumbled at the claim. Yet, even reason, nar
row and sluggish as it is, can discern marvellous
excellencies and high degrees of fitness in the
divine law and its various parts. Reason feels
that the book of Job is needful to the perfection
of the Bible, as designed to meet the universal
wants of man. What an omission, if that
matchless story of suffering and human expe
rience under suffering, drawn with the never
failing skill of inspiration, had been left out!
How just and wise, in a. volume designed to
reach the wants of a being whose most inevi
table lot is suffering, thus to devote one of its
largest and most elaborate portions to a great
example Of suffering, illustrating its moral and
religious bearings ! Man, that is born of woman,
is of a few days, and fall of trouble. Man is
born to trouble, as the sparks. fly upward.
These declarations, of the book itself, are the
echo of universal experience, and must needs
find utterance, and lead to practical conclusions
there.
But how does this book throw light on the
question involved in suffering, particularly the
suffering of the good? How..does it aid in
cultivating a proper spirit in circumstances of
trial? What phases of pious experience does it
design to exhibit in the dramatic and unusual
form in which it_is expressed? These inquiries
are not without diificulty, arising from the an
tiquity of the book and its peculiar plan, giving
admission to sentiments in the debate, which are
contradicted by the general drift and conclusion.
Without venturing an opinion as to the solu
tion given by others, we may express our grati
fication in the perusal of Hengstenberg's LEC
TURE ON THE BOOK OF JOB, which has recently
been given to the public, in connection with• his
COMMENTARY ON ECCLESIASTES.* According to
this critic., the point of view taken by the writer
of Job is, of course, not Stoicism, nor yet is it
that which counsels a blind submissiOn to the
ills of life, and a postponement of the whole
question of retribution to the future. .'Only
when we see in the course of history a conti
nuous judgment of the world, can our faith
in the final judgment he well founded and ra
tional." The key to the sufferings of the right
eous, "and to many other secrets," is the fallen
condition of man, which holds true of him even
in his best•estate.
After arguing strongly for the didactic and
poetical, as against the historical, character of
the book, Dr. Hengstenberg proceeds to deve
lop its meaning. Job had attained a' high de
gree of spiritual excellence. Yet he was not,
as no man is, clear of corruption; and the form
in which the evil principle is wont to manifest
itself in advanced stages of piety, appears in
the case of Job—it is spiritual prides This
trait is often so subtle and so firmly rooted in
the soul, that stroke upon stroke is' necessary
to disclose and to eradicate it. "Lesser visita
tions serve only to make it worse. Spiritual
-pride finds nourishment in becoming master of
such attacks', in showing that they are unable
to shake its faithfulness towards God."
The sufferer at first appears to endure his af
flictions in the most exemplary manner. "The
Lord gave," he says, "and the Lord bath taken
away; blessed be the name of the Lord.P But
there is too much blindness in his resignation.
He "had not advanced far enough to. recognise
in his sufferings the righteous punishment of his
sins, and the chastisement necessary for his sal
vation. This was his Achilles•heel. And
this it is which he must now be made to learn,
and which, at the end of the book, we find he
has learned, after hard and severe conflicts and
sad defeats. The fnap result is, that he is
transformed from a dignified righteous man,
into a poor sinner." It is only after the seven
days and nights spent in silence amid the severe,
reproving looks of his "comforters," that Job
begins to realize that his claim to righteousness
is in danger of being vitiated. Clinging to
that ("my righteousness do I retain and do not
let go,") as the only alternative, he breaks out
against Providence, and cnrseEi -his day: "Let
the day perish when I was born I"
With this declaration commences the priitract
ed debttte between Job and the three friends.
Job is wrestling with all his might to retain his
self-righteousness, and to save his spiritual pride.
His "miserable comforters" labor to overthrow
it, bat their views are narrow, and they fail.
Their fundamental error is a coarse, external
conception of sin—a very popular one, however,
which leads them to conclude that Job is not
merely a sinner, but a criminal. He is under--
going punishment for some palpable infraction
of the moral law. They have no pity. "With
unrelenting consequence they apply their theo
logical prejudices to the case of their poor
friend Bitting in the ashes, and smitten by the
hand of God." The general truth used by
these friends, of a close connexion between sin
and suffering in this life, is unquestionable.
Paul quotes from Eliphaz, in 1 Cor. iii. 19,
(see Job v. 13.) The error is in applying this
truth to the case of Job. And their argument
fails, and they are reduced to silence at last,
by their inability to produce proof of the crimes
alleged against him.
But now a new champion enters the list.
Elihu, the youngest, having kept a respectful
silence up to this point, can restrain himself no:
longer. He is utterly dissatisfied with the
views of Job and his three friends, alike. He
rebukes. Job for complaining of the Almighty,
and for insisting upon his own righteousness;
and while he agrees with the friends in recog
nizing that all suffering is a, punishment, he di
verges from them in showing suffering to have
the aspect and purpose of chastisement. The
divine dealings, according to Elihu, are designed
to "hide pride from man." "Lo F all these
things worketh God oftentimes with man, to
bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlight
ened with the_light of the living." Elihu seeks
to humble the self-righteous complaining of Job,
by arraying before him the sublime attributes,
the wise and mighty workings of Jehovah.
And at last the wonderful drama is wound up
by the appearance of the Almighty himself upon
the scene, who reveals his majesty, and sanctions
the doctrine of Elihu. "Who am I? and what
art thou? These two questions pervade the
divine discourse, which, indeed, consists of ques
tions; for questions are the proper mode of ut
terance for majesty in wrath." The result of
all is, that "Job repents in dust and ashes.
His repentance refers first of all to his dis
courses, and then to his entire conduct. . . .
What now pains him in his own discourses, is
the assertion of his own perfect righteousness.
. . . Now his righteousness had become as
i 6 Publithe(' by Smith, Zoglish & Co
Aintaran fttobtjtrian and 6,entott
dust and asheS." Quoting the words of James:
"Ye have heard of the patience of Job," &c.,
our author adds: "Job gave special proof of
his patience or steadfastness, in that when actu
ally assailed by Satan on the weak side, he still,
at the right moment, repented in dust and ashes,,
so that Satan was forced to retire ashamed,
and lost the bet which he, as it were, laid with
God at the commencement, when he said, 'Of
what avail is it, he will curse-thee to thy face 1"-
A joyful issue is that, when no one concerned
receives harm save Satan himself."
Let the people of God discern in their afflic
tions the divine purpose to break down their
pride, both of the flesh and of the spirit, and to
sanctify them wholly to the service of the Mas
ter.
A Pram ,TALK ABOUT CHURCH X.
TENSION.
Let the readers of this paper conceive that the
whole of this vast country, from .the 411egheny
mountains to the Pacific, lay spread out before
them as on a map, and that it became their duty
to send'missionaries everywhere to evangelize it.
Suppose that to sustain this large responsibility
only a few thousand dollars were at their com
mand, when scores of thousands were needed.
To complete their dismay, suppose application
after application came to them, as the messengers
to Job, prpasing the claims of one Western State
and Territory after another, as if they had unli-
Mited means of helping th!em. The brethren can
then have some faint apprehension of the dismay
and semi-distraction that seizes upon that suffer
ing body: The Church Extension Committee.
Will the brethren please come into.onr Com
mittee Room? Here is a pressing letter from
Missouri. It must have help, and we vote all the
appropriations asked, counted not by hundreds
but thousands. A most earnest appeal from
Kansas. They have formed a Presbytery, but
one exploring missionary cannot evangelize a
whole territory. So we have just appointed two
Missionaries to help him. Rev. J. Aspinwall at
Prairie City and Olathe, and Rev. W. H Smith
at De Soto and the neighborhood. $1,600 for
Kansas.
But here comes an appeal from Pike's Peak.
A multitude crowding in to dig gold, and hardly
a minister to be found. Here is missionary
ground, if anywhere. A brother from Indiana
offers to go, if we will send him. How can we
refuse? So we risk this, and he receives his
commission. We open three or four more letters.
A fervent appeal for Nebraska. Our Church has
not a single minister in the territory. The peo
ple of Omaha city, the capital, are anxious to
have one. The Rev. Dimmick, from
Lane Seminary, is ready to go.' The time seems
to have come and the man. How can. we resist 7
The appointment is made.
,
Letters fro m the Pacific coast. They must
have an exploring missionary. Our cause is suf
fering deeply : for want of one. But this is very
expensive, and it staggers us. And here is a faith
ful missionary who formerly preached to the In
dians, and who wishes to raise our banner in
Washington territory, the farthest north-west of
all our great American country. What can we
do? Our money will not hold out. The
churches are giving as though we had a single
State to evangelize, and not a vast Empire stretch
ing from ocean to ocean. Who will help Cali
fornia? Who will give us this money for Wash
ington territory?
Here is Alton Presbytery, the step-child of the
A. H. M. S. We must help that. How much,
or rather how little can they get on with? They
finally agree to take $9OO from us and raise $lOOO
themselves, and we vote it.
"The cry is still they come." Michigan com
,plains that she is neglected in , this ministration.
She almost threatens to take care of herself if .we
will not help. But it is a vast State, stretching
from Ohio away along the southern shore of Lake
Superior. Who will give us money fpr Northern
and Western Michigan? This pile of letters
speaks of grand openings in Minnesota, and the
brethren say that they must be helped. How
shall we stretch our few thousand dollars, to thirty
or forty thousand? Chicago and Detroit, Cleve
land and Cincinnati! Are you doing yo,.rbest
for the great West? Do even you Understand the
barden iyou have laid on us ?
These earnest, and almost impatient letters say
that lowa must have more help. Why there are
cities there, of thousands of inhabitants, with no
church of ours among them. What means that
other pile of letters? Why our Chicago and Mil
waukee friends have just sent us messages that
if we do not help Wisconsin immediately, they
will not answer forthe consequences. And here
are Northern Illinois and Indiana, and Ohio—
they all ask and demand help. What shall we do?
The Committee almost lose patience. Is it our
duty to bear all this; as though we were refusing
money that we never had? Has the Church pus
us on a forlorn hope and does she refuse to sus
tain us? We look around for help, and we see
rich and flourishing churches who do not seem to
realize this crisis in our history. For, in the very
midst,of our other perplexities, we learn that the .
American Home Missionary' Society is $26,001) in
debt, and that it has adopted another new rule,
the effect of which will be to throw a multitude
more of applications upon a Committee already
over-burdened. The suggestion of our friends of
the Evangelist to help these churches outside of
the Committee will only make confusion. Why
have two plans for doing the same'thing?
But if ever there was a time when the, help of
the Church , was needed to prevent suffering and
deep sorrow, as well as to do our imperative duty
as a Church, a duty pressed upon us by the pro
vidence of God, it is now. Men and brethren,
help ! New York and Brooklyn; Philadelphia
and Newark Trey and Albany, Utica and Syra
cuse, Rochester and Buffalo, Pittsburgh and
Harrisburg, York and Reading, help ! Let every
church, without waiting for an individual appeal,
do something!
The Orphan Asylum at Philadelphia was once
burnt down, and the managers sent an affecting
appeal to the Legislature for aid. A . bill was re
ported at once and put on its passage. Some for
mal legislator opposed it on Constitutional grounds,
when Col. C. sprang to his feet and his speech put
the . bill through. This is the whole of it:
"Mr. Speaker ! Let us pass this bill I Let
us pass it now. Let us do it, before the ashes of
the Asylum are cold, and the tears of the orphan
are dry !" B. J. W.
BOOKS WANTED.
A worthy and veteran laborer in lowa wants
Books for Sabbath Schools. Second-hand books,
if in good condition, will be acceptable. They
will be forwarded if sent without delay to the Se
cretary of the Presbyterian Publication Commit
tee at the Presbyterian House.
Donations for Sabbath4Slhools can be well tip-
plied by our Committee, and are much needed by
our feeble churches.
THE CHINESE. REBELLION
Recent advises from China represent this move
ment as far moie4inportant even than has previ
ously been suspected. ; : The patriotic and religions
elements of the pael'ement appearto be predomi
nant and centrolle . It is an uprising of the
native Chinesa' a foreign dynasty, that of
•
the Manchus, which has been in power since 1644.
A writer in the last' Watchnicat and Reflector, de
_
scribes the origin'of the insurrectio_n„whiCh has
now, been in progress for ten years,"as follows:
"A man called T'4 Pine. Wang having become
interested in Christianity through a tract handed
him by a convatnd native, was led, after a lapse
of fourteen ye, t 4, seek further instruction of a
missionary at - Cantoii. Subsequently he returned
.
to the Swangsi province, in the south of China, a
little west of Canton, and there began to declare
his new faith. Ccinierts were soon made; but this
aroused the hatred of : the government, and impri
sonment, with other ; cruelties, followed. But those
whop arms.
escaped took.o - They issued a procla
.on, calling
oration, upon the people to resist so corrupt
and cruel a goverrintent. The rapidity with Which
this rebellion extended, and the success which
crowned its efforts, i pake it one of the most re
markable events in *story. , Nanking, the ancient
capital, with other important cities, fell, into their
hands. dt is not wonderful that native professed
converts should preach the Gospel to their friends,
t
but that it should' be parently received by a great
body of the peopleqiina,'and a great insurrec
tion made in defence religious and civil liberty,
by a people whom* hid supposed to be so idola
trous and servile,- wonderful. Their camp re
minds us of Cromwel's• -as it is said that prayer
and praise to the one God, Father, Son and Spirit,
ascend from it daily 1 . They are professed Gospel
lers; and as they prkess to trust to the atonement,
of Christ for salvation, so they declare their trust
to he in the Father Of our Lord Jesus Christ for
success. Opium and tobacco they eschew, together
with the many heathenish and idolatrous practices
of the Chinese. They invite free and friendly in
tercourse with all nations. They lay aside the
common Chinese appellation for strangers,
'fo
reign devils.' and call them 'brethren.' If they
succeed in driving out the present idolatrous, cor
rupt, treacherous, cruel Manchu dynasty, they will
extend the Gospel throughout the empire, and
China will take its place among the free Christian
nations of the world' /
Some facts of greatinterest have lately transpired
in regard to Hung Jin, the present Chief Coun
sellor, and a relation of the insurgent leader. For
several years he was connected with different Eu
ropean missions; fro : 1855 to 1858 with the Lon
don missionaries, at! Hong.- The-Overland
Register, of that .' '..August 2sth, thus speaks
of him: . ' .
"His literary attainments were respeCtable; his
temper amiable and genial; his mind was charac
terized by a versatility unusual in "a Chinese. His
knowledge of Christian doctrine was largely in
creased during his residence with the missionaries,
and of his attachment to it there could be no doubt.
His intercourse with the Chinese Christians was
calculated to promot&their purity, and stimulate
their zeal. With other Chinese he was the prose
lytizer, fearlessly exposing their errors, and ex
horting them to repent and believe the Gospel.
Over young men his influence was peculiarly be
neficial.'►
In 1858, after some hesitation and reluctance,
he joined the rebels - at Nanking, it is believed from
a pure religious andlitriotic interest in them, and
was not heard from until last July. It now appears
that he was kindly imeived by his old friend and
Tatron, T'ae Ping Wang, who gazetted him the
following month as Oiling, Kan, and in fact con
stituted him his lifiViefer in Chief. Since that
time he has played att*portant part in the rebel
affairs, and to him the improvement in their affairs
and prospects is mainly,,bwing.
In that position he has published a volume en
titled: . "Aids to Government; A New Collection
of Essays: From the heavenly Kingdom of Great
Peace." Certainly it is a most remarkable volume.
It seems to indicate that with this great political
movement of the Chinesie, the fall of the covering
cast over there, and the veil of heathen ignorance,
blindness and prejudide, spread over them for ages,
is about to be removed. The writer seems to have
been lifted almost erltirely clear of all the tram
mels, and all the narrowness or Chinese, thinking,
and exhibits a surprising breadth of view, a sympa
-thy with every thing good and valuable.in modern
civilization, and a pie ieal purpose, in applying it
to his own ppoplef. 1
rebelsOf the:Plaii "'- calendar , 66 rejection of
Chinese superstition a put lucky and unlucky days,
, .
and the observance ; of the sabbath as a day of
worship. The Christian religion is explained in a
truly evangelical manner. Popery is denounced,
and Protestantism hi'exalted. An attempt, dis
playing no little ingenuity, is made to explain the
,
nature of the Trinity, and the, proper , term to be
used in the Chinese, to designate the Supreme
Deity of the Scriptures, is discussed. There is,
also, a collection of about ninety Christian hymns,
taken from a book employed for many years by
the London Missien at Hong_ Kong,,,and which
had been revised by Hung Jin, during : his stay in
that place. They are now sung by thousands of
Chinese insurgents. The last document in the
volume counsels the :thief T'ae P'ing Wang to
sweep away the debasing customs, practicei and
tastes of old China, and to establish a liberal go
vernment, after the not approved ideas of modern
times. The Press ii to be eneouragek foreign
trade and the labors' "the Missionaries are to be
i.
sought, roads, banks,:, Imanufactures, mining,
post offices, newspa '',- benevolent' associations,
and a local magistracy,' are advised. Infanticide
slavery, the use of winOnd ardent spirits, tobacco
and opium, are forbidden. The people of the
United States; as a whole, are set above the. British.
Among these documents . there is a prayer, oon
tainingpassages of the most fervent aid importunate
character, dictated, it would seem, 'by the circum
stances of disaster and need in which at times the
insurgents have found themselves. Here is - one
passage
"0, Heavenly Father, 0, Heavenly Elder
Brother, Thou host said that Thy will shall be done
in Earth, as in Heaven. Thou bast said, also,
that where two or three agree in heart and mind,
whatsoever they ask shall be done for'them by Thy
Father in Heaven. We, now, the multitude of
little ones, take firm told of these words of pro
mise, from Thee, 0 heavenly Elder Brother."
If this . volume, emanating from so high a source,
truly indicates the prevailing sentiments of the
rebel hosts, we may 11 hope and pray earnestly
for their success. Pi ?only blemish which appears
in the system it adve Ites, is aliare allusien to the
vision' and ascent to . even of the Chief. But
after all, "he knows no revelations but those in
the Bible. He acitiwledgewo mediator but the
one Lord." . -,;
Who knows but filet we are about to see great
displays of Divine power and grace in the hitherto
inaccessible but mighty empire of China, distancing
utterly in the rapidity end extent of the movement,
its most marvellous extdbitions in the heathen world
in times past? Nay, do we not already behold it,
in the extent to which Gospel truth appears, even
now, to prevail am ring the masses of the insurgents?
We can but wonder -and pray and wait.
CHICAGO COR 6PO.IIDENCE.
DEAR PnEsnVTEarArr.--Since my • last letter,
the political eagle has gone through, or began to
go through, with it& quadrennial moulting. The I
process here was very gentle indeed. Some of our
municipal elections for some years past, have been
far more exciting. In fact the conclusion seemed
to have been foregone, and but one party was
really in earnest This was the fact in our city;
but the country was alive, particularly, that which ,
extended southward; and in the centre of the
state, and in Egypt the contest was very warm.
But the result is near 12,000 plurality for Lin
coln over Douglass, and near 5,000 majority over
all. The clergymen hereabouts have confined
their political endeavors for the most part, to a
careful reading of such political documents as
were of interest to them and to voting. South - of
here, I- think they have, in some oases, entered
more openly into the canvass. Perhaps here also
I ought to except some of ,our more ardent Con
gregational brethren, who follow the ways of the
Independent, and also our friend, Dr. Rice. The
Doctor is a Democrat,,and at heart a Breckinridge
man, though no; disunionist; but is inAmortal fear
on account of the threats thereof. He is now at
the South, or bas recently been, to see his friend
Dr. R. J. Breekinridge; some say, to induce the
Doctor to rein in the boy, who is thought here to
represent disunion.
Speaking .of' disunion, we are not frightened at
all up this way t :es yet. Wejather like. a sugges
tion. just made in this quarter, - viz.: that the states
which will not hehaVe themselves in the union, be
forthwith kicked out of it. if secession be a right
of the State, expulsion is a r4ht of the Union.
Why not? So much for political matters.
PROGRESS.
The Presbytery of Chicago, has recently re
ceived to its connection, Rev. Edward Anderson,
who is now ministering to the Calvary church of
this city. The church has just completed a new
edifice, which Was dedicated on Tuesday evening
last, Rev. Z. M, Humphrey preaching the ser
mon. The house was filled with representatives
of all our churches, and the services were appro
priate and interesting. The building is of wood,
and will seat about 250 to 300. The cost has
been about $2,300, which is nearly or quite paid.
Mr. Anderson begins his ministry very hope
fully.
The same Presbytery has also received Rev.
W. McKaig, from the Methodist Episcopal con
nexion. His reception, upon a thorough exami
nation,, took place last week. Mr. McKaig has
been preaching in this city for the year past in
connexion with the conference, and has been con
sidered their leading preacher here. But he has
discovered that he is not a Methodist, and has
gravitated to his true relation, as he and we
think. 1
He has received a call from the church at Pe
oria, left vacant by the removal of Rev. J. E.
Carey to Keokuk, lowa, and has gone to his work
there.
Rev. W. W. Adams, who has supplied the
Congregational church at Como for a year past,
has received a call from the New School 'Presby
terian Church at Detroit, Michigan, and has ac
cepted the same; and will commence work there
with the first of iTanuar4 . . Mr. Adams is a young
man of superior acctimPlishments,.and good hopes
of his ministry are entertained. The church at
Beloit has come forth clear of debt; ,through aid
extended them by Rev. Di. Chapin, and Prof.
Blaisdell, of Beloit,Collfge,-w3o hive gencroutly ,
supplied their pulpit &ring the past year:, free of
charge. .4. '
IZev; Dr. Brinsmade has resigned the charge of
the First Congregational Church in the same
place.
SUIT AT LAW
Onr own regi6n not only, but the country at
large—say St. Louis, Cincinnati, Albany, New
York, and more or less the regions thereby repre
.
sented—are all agog with a suit for divorce now
being tried-in Du Page‘county, before Ron. Jesse
O. Norton,, by J. H. Burch, Esq., of this city.
Mr. Burch is a banker of several years' standing,
of wealth and position. His-wife is a niece, and,
I helieve, an adopted daughter of Erastus Cor
ning, of Albany, N. Y. They are both members
of the Second Presbyterian Church, Dr. Patter
son's; and up to the time of the denouement held
high religious and social position, living in abun
dance and with seeming need of-nothing. For
two or three years Mr. Burch has been a growing
and active Christian, taking a part in the religious
meetings of the church, and superintending a
large and flourishing mission Sabbath School, in
which he was much absorbed. He retains the
undiminished confidence of all the religious com
munity who know kfm; although the most des
perate attacks are being made on his private cha
racter, with a view to drag him down along with
his partner. The whole matter is one of the most
monstrous of scandals, and is used to the disgrace
of religion, as such things always are.
0111NIQUY AND 0. S
I perceive that a paper in the kingdom of South
Carolina: is disturbed at my statements in regard
to matters under this head, and utters itself thus:
i‘ We find the following from a correspondent
of the American Pyesbyterian, (a New School pa
per published in'Philadelphia,) unaccompanied by
any. , notice from,,the editor.::Of course we do not
belieVe word of it. 'lt is no doubt an ebullition
of party spite and envy, and it is a precious ex
ample of New-School charity and affection towards
the Old School. Have our brethren North and
West nothing to say in reply to it? Or is it too
gross and too pitiful to be noticed?
The allusion to Dr. Tyng explains the statement
recently published, that some Episcopal parties,
unnamed, were at the beautiful work of endeavor
ing to proselyte the people of Father Chiniquy
from the Presbyterian Church to Episcopacy. Dr.
Tyng, be it noted, was one of the leaders in the
attempt to pervert the American Tract Sosiety in
to an anti-slavery crusade, weld writes for the no
torious 'lndependent.' foral and mental obli
quities are gregarious. When you discover one,
look for More.'
I do not feel under any obligation per se to at
tend to the objurgations of the men of that king
dom; but I recognize my obligations to truth and
to my neighbors. I have thenibis to reply. That
I did not tell half the truth as. relates to that Chi
niquy and French matter, nor dill N you print all I
did write; my aim.was to state onlY that of which
we as a denomination here complain in the con
duct of our Old School neighbors. Our coniplaint
was, that they were urging their endeavors against
our weak churches, with a view to get them into
their own connection. I'd°, not withdraw that
complaint. Our Old. School friends seem to have
a different code of ethics in regard to this matter
from ours. •They seem to think it rigid and fair
to induce churches to leave us and join them. I
do not know on what principles they settle it, but
such is the fact.
Our idea is that is not right nor fair to buy tip
churches or ministers, by offering such induce
ment&as to support one• or the other; or to pay off
a debt; or build an edifice; or to 'pay such' 'arid
Attiot,
such expenses. We can buy churches thus, all
about us, at, this very hour, and could have done
it for the past 'ten years. And had we used our
power in this direction, our Old School friends
would have now fewer churches in Illinois than
they have, by a good many. , Butwuhave refused
to make pledges or hold out inducements to
churches again and again; and at this very mo
meat we are so refusing to a church which seeks
our connection. All we will sar is, that "we
take care of our own churches, as well as we can,
and when churches come to ns from other deno
minations, we shall,feel bound to put them with
the rest, and do for them as for. others."
If our Old - School friends will take this ground,
we shall not complain when a church goes to them
from us.
him, are among the French. In other words, the
French people have pretty considerablyleft the
0. S. connexion, if we may believe reports, and
gone over to the Episcopalian. We hear that
Chiniquy himself has written home to give up his
house and pulpit to this latter denomination; and
OSBORN'S PLANS OF THE HOLY LAND.
A coPv of this elegant volume has been laid
on our table, by the author, and we have just
been enjoying the luxury 'of a somewhat pro
longed glance through its pages. The author,
REV. HENRY S. OSBORN, pastor of the second
church, Belvidere, is favorably known by his
"Palestine Past and Present," and phis volume
must add• greatly to his reputation ae akclose
observer, a person of excellent taste and an elo
quent writer. Manifestly it- has been a labor
of love with Mr. Osborn, to reproduce, with
suchfidelity, the forms, and to describe with so
much care, the character of the fruits and flow
ers of the Holy Land. Fifteen different plants
are delineated in colored'engravings of exquisite
beauty and finish, and they may be relied upon
as correct representations, many being the re
sult of personatexaminathiii and all having been
designe&bY the-author. So that we have in the
noble begat - Y., of the aloe, the fiery glow of .the
pomegranate-an& the deceitful lustre of the' eip,
But the truth is at hand of all I affirmed in my
former letter.. And yet, operations are a good
deal suspended, as I judge, among the Emrich, on
the part of the Old School Church, on account of
discouragements arising from causes at which I
before hinted. I said that "Dr. Tyng had got his
hand' in." He has more than got:his hand in;
his whole body, and the. Episcopal Church with
that suits are either commenced or threatened
against the Church property at St. Anne's and
Kankakee, in behalf of the 0. S. for these or other
like reasons.
I commiserate our 0. S. Mends on their expe
rience in this French business. But what else
could be looked for in a denominational scramble
with a people but half enlightened, and just out of
the Romish Church? Our 0. S..friends ought
to know better than to scrape in six hundred pa
pists into their church, without examination; and
to violate the rule of their own Assembly in ne
glecting to baptize such a people.: John, the Re
velator, once ate a Book; which, in his mouth,
was sweet as honey—but as soon as he bad eaten
it, in his belly it was bitter. • Slich is the expe
rience of our friends in this case.
Suffer me to relate a bit of truth in definite
shape. Itev. Yates Hickey is the superintendent
of colportage for the A. Tract Society in this city.
As soon as the breach had been made by the
withdrawal of the French from the Papal Church,
he found a young Frenchman (no !natter now, for
his name) whom he set at work aas a colporteur
among this people in Kankakee county. Suddenly
he discovered that this young man, without no
tice, had left his Employ, and was at work as col
porteur in full blast for the 0. S. Board of Pub
lication. Yely soon the 0. S. Presbytery met at
Kankakee, and licensed the same man to preach.
So far, all well. Soon this young man had occa
sion to go to. Canada—and came back a full-grown
Episcopaiian—set up Episcopal worship alongside
of his. Presbyterian neighbor, and' at. Once emptied
his house, and the change thus inaugurated has
gone on. .
What is the,seeret of it all? Probably this:—
These French people have been. educated in the
morals of the Papacy. They havei" suffered much
from poverty, loss of crops, papal oppressions and
the like. What at first they wanted was help.
Our 0. S. neighbors were in a position to give it,
and did give it; collecting sfor.thispnrpose from
their own, and the lobepevi . ".if; other churches,
taking -care to tie,up the "c Lipxoperty to their
own. denomination. 'Bizt the Episcopalians, it is
supposed, outbid them; gave them end promised
them more money; or, if not that, they thought
more money was to be made by going that way.
Is it strange that such considerations should pre
vail with such , a people?
Besides, •there is perhaps something in the
Episcopal worship better adapted to reach a rude
people from the, papal church, or, at least, more'
taking with them than the • simpler forms of ours.
I cannot say how far this consideration availed,
or if it availed at all, but merely suggest it as . of
some possible. moment.
• And now one word as to "N. S. envy and
spite," as suggested by this foreign-newspaper.
The, following extract is from an article by the
writer of this, which was published-in this city in
March last, when the matter, of denomination was
fresh. It will show the feeling which has dictated
this, as well as that, communication:
FATHER CHINIQUY AND THE FRENCH
The anxiety of such as have interested them
selves in the case of these people, not only for
their true. Evangelical enlightenment and conver
sion, but for their junction with.this or that branch
of the. Church may now be dismissed.. Father
Chiniquy has united with the Presbytery of Chi
cago 0. S., and the congregations of St_ Anne and
Kankakee are received to the care of the Presby
tery. This has in fact been a certainty for seve
ral months. The church property at the two
places designated, was secured to the O. S. As
sembly, by Reir.-31. W..„Staples, agent and attorney,
on the third of Octoberlast, on, account of monies
paid from Mr. Staples for their relief. '
The only question on which the public will de
sire any information, probably, is, whether these
monies were collected from 0. S. Presbyterians,
or from others, with the understanding that the
property was to go to that church. We presume
it is all right; still, Questions will b , Led on that
point. -.
..
We consider the.4n e fstion,, , , cf . ' . ere are these
French people tO go?" well an% ed. .331te 9. = S.
Presbyterian Church will doubtless be w t .F.,11 adapted
to' et their religious wants as to instruction,
ran sto substantial aid, in men or money They
*
,
Will e more at home there than elsewhere, and
Will receive a surer and better care. 0' iV9vm'
branch of the church is in. no conditi. , "Paid
them as they Would• need, and they are no :kyle
of people to find themselves at home with all other
branches of the church. We are heartily glad
that they have decided so wisely.
There are other matters of news; but my letter
is so long already, that I will postpone them.
WZST.
ple of Sodom, not only something to please the
eye, but to convey accurate and satisfactory
ideas of objects already familiar by name to
readers of Scripture.
The two opening essays treating of the wide
diffusion of flowers and plants, and the delicate
relations of the plants to the qualities of the
soil, present in felicitous style some striking
facts in these departments of natural history, and
some remarkable proofs of the truthfulness of
Scripture statements, in regard to the vege
table proda9Bo.the Past.
The volniMS n,leaf front tbe great book of
Nature, wheie she is most,directly in contact
with the revered word, and - breathes the devout
spirit, which leads up through Aature to na
ture's God.
Our readers seeking a gift-book at this sea
son, have, in this, elegant volume, , something
which will be sure to give satisfaction.,_ It is
published by J. B. Lippincott k.,04 and for
sale at the PRESBYTERIAN Boos
EDITOR'S TABLE.
RUNYAN'S PILGRIM'S PROGRESS, with Scott's Ex
placatory Notes. Jllnstratecl by Charles Bennett.
New York: Carter & Bros. 12m0., pp. .56p.
The decidedly unique characteristic of this edi
tion is the engravings. These are all ideal beads,
(with the exception of a portrait of the anthor,) ,
boldly drawn in ontliPe, With a view to embody
in visible shape the strongly drawn charaCters of
the volume. Here we have. Christian, Obstinate,
Evangelist, Legality, Mr. Worldly Wiseman, the
Interpreter, and a host of others, some of them
perfect Studies, and startlingly true to our own in
ward conceptions of what they should be like.
There is a quaintness and power in these sketches
that remind us of Hogarth, sometimes, shading off
into the delicacy of Retzseh. They- are in our
opinion far better calculated to give vividness to
the dreamer's narrative which is mainly dramatic
and personal, than the landscape views and ex
tended scenes with which the book is commonly
adorned. For sale at the Presbyterian Book
Store, 1334 Chestnut Street.
TRAVELS IN THE REGIONS OF THE 'UPPER ANA
•LOWER AMOOR, and the Russian Acquisitions on
the Confines of India and China. By Thomas:W. At
kinson, F. G. S., &e. With a map and numerous il
lustrations. New York: Harper & Brothers, Royal
Bvo., cloth, gilt. pp. 448.
This is one of the fruits of modern travel which
deserves to be classed with the works of Living
ston, Barth. and Burton in Africa, and Kane in
the Arctic regions of America. It introduces-us•
to regions almost as little knowA r as either of those
- n amed. 'lt is replete with - the most varied infor
mation upon the life and manners of the people,
the peculiarities of topography and natural scenery
and the animal life of the regions traversed. It
abounds in stirring incident, and forms altogether
a delightful means of entertaining the family
group during the lone, evenings now upon us.
For sale by Lindsay &-Blakiston.
THE LAST WEEK IN THE LIFE OF DAVID JOHN
SON, Jr. By J. D. Wells, Pastor, &c. Nov York : R,
Carter & Bros. IRmo., pp. 182. •
An impressive narrative of the last week of a
young man's life, who, while in the bloom of
health, met with an accident which proved fatal
in that brief period. The faithful attentions 'of
Mr. Wells to the unfortunate -youth, - seemed, by
the divine blessing,. to work an entire •change ht
him, as he lay, helpless on his bed. The narrative
is an instructive. exhibition of the interm' *ling
of great mercy with severe afflictions, and of a gr, a
ciou's purpose to save, where the carnal eye sees
only destruction and death. For sale at the,
Presbyterian Book,Store_ ' - •
THE FLORENCE STORIES. By lacohAbbott Ex—
*union `to the Orkney Islands. Ifimo., pp 262:
iffIE'OLICTANn STORIES; Claiborne. By George B.
Taylor, of Virginia. 16rn0., pp. 186. '
Tat' two, hooks of travel, by and for young
people, the ftrsit , in Great Britain., and the second
in the aate of Maryland, are. published , by Shel
doit :43; Co., of hiew York, end have •been laid on
by;Messrs. E. H. Butler & Co., of this
city. TheyAipiot fail both to, interest and in
struct the lining people, and to stimulate their
powers of Observation. The aim and spirit of the
authOrs is good. Mr. Abbott, if anything, is tee
minute. Both, are handsomely illustrated.
HOLIDAY BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
These are pouring in, in such numbers that we
can do little more than indicate theni to the
reader.
From T. B. PzmusoN & Co., we have received
two vOlumes of GRIMM'S POPULAR: TALEs AND
HOUSEHOLD STORIES; published by Crosby, Ni
chols, „Tee & Co., Boston. These stories, redo
lent of true German quaintness and mystery, are
in 12mo. volumes of over 400 pages each, on tinted
paper, profusely illustrated with effective "pen and
ink" sketches.
From Messrs. LINDSAY kBLASISTON, we have
Life of TEKMIAS TBuai and.P.ELEatud'sPuoauEss
for the young, 18mo, square, cloth, gilt; pub
lished by themselves; together with Ouu YEAR,
a delightful collection of pieces, in prose and verse,
seasonable to the various parts of the year, as
viewed by the children, by the author of John
Halifax, 10mo, pp. 297, with numerous wood
cuts.
'From the. PRESBYTERIAN BOOR. STORE, we
have a work from the pen of one who has already
won an enviable repute among the young for his
kind efforts for their spiritual good, Dr. Newton.
It is THE KING'S HIGH WAY, or illustrations of
the Commandments; 16m0., pp. 341, with excel
lent wood cuts. Alpo from a foreign source; DAYS
AT MUIRREAD, or the Lessons of Little Olive's
Midsummer' Holidays: 18mo., pp. 314. Illus
trated. Both are from Carter's Publishing House.
MACIAZINES.
THE 'ATLANTIC Mormity '
for December, CM
tains : The United States and the Barbary States,
Sunshine, The Two Tongues,
_Midsummer and
Ma* Epithalamia, Arthur Hallam, The Confes
sions of a Medium, John Andre`and Riirioii Sneyd,
We Shall Rise Again, The PrOfessoFii'Sfory, A
Plea for Freedom from Speech arid. Figures of
Speech-Makers, Reviews, &o.
THE ECLECTIC MAGAZINE, for December, con
tains a fine half-length portrait of .Dr. Van Rens,sa
leer, with eighteen well-selected-articles. Ample
arrangements have been made for,the coming year
by the proprietor. Far,, Jaouary, two beautiful
historic prints of historic scenes are proink;ed, to
appear early - in December.
BLACKWOOD'S Xioazita, for November, from
Leonard Scott & Co., contains : Civil Service Ap
pointments; Carve Them, The Administration of
India, Judicial Puzzles, Ary Schaffer, The Cour.
tesies of War,-Iron-Glad Ships of War, and Lighter
Articles.
THE LONDON QUARTERLY, for October, frost
W. B. Zieber, contains: The Brazilian Empire;
Deccounesses; Public School.. Education; Wills
and Will-Making, Ancient and Modern; Elliott's
NOvels; Arrest of the Five Meinbers; Iron Sides
avid Wooden Walls; Competitive'Examinations
THE EDINBURGH REVIEW, for October, from
W. B. Zieber, contains: RecentGm:graphical Tie
searches, Memoirs of the MasteWOnelairi, Nac
Muller's Ancient Sansmit Litereitire; Grotiuslna
the Sources of International Law; The Churaw
of the Holy Land; The Grand Remonstrance;
Scottish County Histories; Brain Difficulties; The
United States nude Mr. Buchanan.
TIIE SATURDAY EVENING Posr.—We call attention to
the Prospectus of this old and well-known Philadelphia
weekly in our advertising columns. It will be seen that
its publishers offer a Lennsand HANDSOME ENGRAVING, as
Well as Wnssrsit's Dicrrossatv, and Dimmers's Gerry-
TEnit es PaLsirtnits. The Posr is g j enerally acknowledged
to be one of the best literary papers published.
Dec 6,