,lnterion X'rtoiltterian
Stmegto evituFelid.
TRIIRSDAY, DECEMBER 27. 1860.
JOHN W. MEARS, EDITOR.
I=l
ALBERT BARNES, GEORGE DUFFIELDJs.,
THOMAS BRAINERD, 1 JOHN JENKINS,
HENRY DARLING, THOMAS J. SHEPHERD.
THE WONDERS OR GRACE.
The emotion of wonder is among the most de
lightful that we experience; and, to the cultivated
mind and heart, among the most elevating. The
pleasures of childhood and of the early period of
life, are mainly derived from the wonder with
which the new world of perceptions and experi
ences into Ahich we have
,just entered fills us;
an. 014 its interest in proportion as we cease
thing to wonder at. The nature and
• ks of God answer to this capacity of won
-4,1m birth° mind of man. The order s the nice ad
justint, and the harmonious working together
of great laws, no less than the vastness, splendor
antlmajesty of the visible creation are designed
to awaken and gratify this sentiment. While the
process of cultivation and the expansion of intel
lect deprive many objects of their wonderful ap
pearance, they open up through science a view to
far greater wonders, and furnist us the highest
reasons for admiration.
But religion, concerned as it is, directly with
the Author of creation, with the very nature of
that fountain whence all these wonders flow, and
with the relations of his intelligent creation to
himself, may be expected to furnish the best and
most abundtint material for our wonder. See how
the whole course of true religion in the world has
been attended with marvels. From the deluge and
the call of Abraham, the history of God's chosen
people was marked with wonderful interpositions.
Our Saviour and his apostles attested the truth of
their mission, by the most astonishing proofs of
supremacy over nature. We are amazed as we read
of the stilling of the tempest, the walking upon
the sea, the multiplication of the loaves, the heal
ing of the sick, and the raising of the dead. And
we seek in vain to express the emotions which fill
and well nigh overwhelm us, when we read of the
stone rolled away from the sepulchre, and the joy
ful announcement—" The Lord is risen indeed""
The great events orthe Gospel history are miracles,
i. e., wonders.
As we enter more deeply into the spirit of the
revelation, our wonder finds grander material, so
that it not only expands, but is transformed into
joy, adoration, rapture. It was for,beings capable
of such feelings, that the love of Christ in the gos
pel was revealed. In contemplating this love, in
spiration itself, instead of describing, uses lan
guage expressive of wonder only. " God so loved
the world that Ile gave His only.begotten Son."
And, centuries before, the prophetic spirit exalted
to catch a glimpse of this Divine love to be ex
hibited in the person of the Redeemer, commenced
its sublime muster-roll of descriptive titles with
WONDERFUL It passes comprehension. Its
length, and breadth, and depth, and height, can
not be measured. The riches are unsearchable.
The gift is unspeakable. It has often seemed to
us that one of the strongest proofs of the divinity
of the Christian religion is just here. Human
reason could not, and would not have given such
a conception of the love of God as appears in the
person and work of Christ. It does not belong to
earthly things, but to heavenly. When once it is
made known to us by the Spirit, it overwhelms us
with a ravishing glory that can be nothing less
than celestial. A religion with such a self-lumi
nous, central doctrine as this, cannot but be Di
vine. Yes litis as truly a miracle as any wrought
by the open grave or the couch of the suffering;
and it has this advantage over such, that every
soul may be a witness of it.
Wonderful, too, are the works of the regene
rating Spirit and patent to every observer. The cor
rupt nature is purified. The Ethiopian changes
his skin and the leopard his spots. Scarlet be
comes white as snow, and Crimson as wool. The
profane and vulgar tinker of Bedford, becomes the
saint-like dreamer of the purest, most Scriptural,
and most instructive of all allegories. The deeply
depraved son of Monica becomes the example of
Christian experience, and the teacher of Christian
doctrine, for all coming generations. The drunk
ard becomes sober; the covetous becomes large
hearted; the proud and passionate becomes meek
and gentle; the carnally-minded becomes spiri
tual. The most radical and sweeping changes,
involving the ruling principles and inmost kernel
of the character, reaching through and becoming
clearer and clearer during the whole life-time;
sometimes transforming multitudes almost in a
moment from devotees of self and sin, into tem
ples of the - Holy Ghost: these are some of the
'wonders of grace which transpire within our own
sphere of observation.
But all these are only prelibations of that won
der which shall fill our enlarged capacities in the
world of glory. There wonder shall form a part
of every emotion experienced by.the soul. Inspi
ration, though cramped by the narrow ideas and
forms of speech , it must needs employ, already
amazes us with the glimpses it affords into that
world. But we feel the power of its language
most when it gives up the attempt, and is content ,
to declare that "Eye bath not seen, nor ear heard,
neither have entered into the heart of man the
things 'which God bath prepared for them that
love him." There the grace, the majesty, the
holiness of the Deity will be disclosed. There his
wondrous works in nature, in providence, and in
grace will be unfolded to our gaze. There new pur
poses and new commands of His shall employ the
heavenly host in new manifestations of the Di
vine glory. And the enlarged emotions of our
wondering spirits will find expression in raptures
of praise, in adoring eestacies of worship, in songs
and everlasting joy. Because God is infinitely
glorious, our wonder shall be ever new, and our
praise, our adoration, and our joy shall be un
ceasing.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The undersigned has received from John P.
Robertson, Esq., from the Ist Presbyterian
Church, Ashtabula, Ohio, a draft for twenty
seven dollars and fifty cents, to be expended
for the sufferers in Kansas, particularly •for
some ministers of our own church, that may be
in distress. The draft 'has been accordingly
sent to Rev. J. C. Beach, exploring missionary
of the Church Extension Committee in Kansas,
to be expended according to the directions of
the donors. BENJ. J. WALLACE.
.Philadelphia, Dec. 24'1860.
THE TERCENTENARY IN PHILADEL-
The recurrence of memorial days, marking great
epochs in the progress of humanity and the church,
makes us rise above ourselves, takes away our nar
rowness and prejudice, and inclines us to generous
spmpathy with all others interested in these epochs.
There can be no question that Presbyterians, as a
class, are jealous, even to fault, of the individual
rights of opinion. While they are among the
most law-abiding people in the world, and while
they yield absolute allegiance to the divine will,
no class of men upon earth are keener to discern,
and quicker to repudiate any unjust assumption of
prerogative, any attempt to bind the conscience,
any interference with the Cod-gived rights of men!
Without entering into particulars, this is quite
sufficient to explairi their divided condition. Even
from their own brethren they will endure no at
tempt to lord it over the conscience; and to avoid
it, they rather undergo all the inconvenience and
the expense of feeling and of means necessary in
forming a new and separate church establishMent.
In this our divided state we are liable—for we are
but men—to all the feelings of mutual mistrust
and jealousy which one sect can have towards"an
other. We shall not undertake toportion the
P
degree in which the several divisions of our
church are guilty in this respect, nor are we dis
posed to admit that any great share of blame rests
upon the branch which we represent; . but there
is enough of the spirit of sect among us, to hum
ble us, to stain our repute in the Christian world,
to cripple our usefulness, and grievously to offend
our divine Master and common Head.
But the genuine evangelical piety and the single
Calvinist and Presbyterian sentiment which under
lie all these divisions, like the calm and changeless
depths of the ocean, slumbering beneath all the
waves and currents of the surface, must find ex
pression. Our divisions misrepresent and bide
the great central unity, and it has waited impa
tiently for an opportunity to appear in its strength
and grandeur, without compromise of the minor
truths involved in the divisions. Such an oppor
tunity was providentially afforded in the anniver.
sorry of the meeting of the First General Assembly
of Scotland, and it was joyfully accepted by the
Presbyterian bodies of our city. For just such an
occasion, they waited to pour out the pent up
sympathies which swelled every Presbyterian heart
towards his brother Presbyterian. Looking back
on that single, lonely, heroic General Assembly,
around which were gathered so many thrilling as
sociations, in which, as in a little seed, lay the
potent gerniof so many civil and religiuus bless
ings to mankind; of strong, sound, vigorous'doc
trine; of multiplied Syno o ds.and Assemblies that
should overspread the world with their active la
bors and testimonies for Christ; of schools, col
leges, and universities; of missions; of free insti
tutions, each and all rejoiced to have a share in
a heritage of memories so precious, so elevating,
so near the throne!
Thursday, the 20th of December, 1860, will be
a memorable day to the Presbyterians of this city.
At an early hour in the evening, the vast audience
chamber of the First Church was filled to over
flowing—aisles, galleries, sitting-room, standing
room. The throng of Presbyterians of the five
branches represented in our city, had come forth
to celebrate the Tercentenary of the Scottish Re
formation. The chair was taken by J. Ross
Snowden, Esq., with a brief address; and the con
gregation, led by precentors, joined in singing to
"Old Hundred," the 100th Psalm—
"All people that on earth do dwell."
Prayer having been offered by Rev. Joseph T.
Cooper, D. D., the first address was delivered by
Rev. Albert Barnes. Mr. Barnes cordially wel
comed the representatives of the various branches
of the Presbyterian family to the mother church,
which, be said, was the oldest, with the exception
of a few small churches, in America. He then
proceeded to unfold the Distinctive Principles of
Presbyterianism in his usual lucid and philoso
phical way. The Presbyterian, he said, was pe
culiarly a Bible man. Nothing could .be made
binding on his conscience, unless it was first shown
to be required by the Scriptures. Again, by rea
son of the combination of the Presbyterian form
of Government, and the doctrines of Calvinism,
acting upon his nature, the Presbyterian had a
character. Everybody had an idea of what a
Presbyterian. was. After disposing, in a quietly
humorous way, of the false notions of this character
which obtained among men, he proceeded to de
scribe the Presbyterian as devoted to the principles
of liberty and of law, and as calm and trustful amid
the changes of time. Finally, the Presbyterian
was a thorough-going Protestant. The Pope of
Rome always cherished a lingering hope of reco
vering, England to his See, but, he believed, he
had altogether given up Scotland. (This senti
ment was received with very hearty tokens of Ap
plause by the numerous Scotchmen and others
present.) If it should ever happen that England
were brought buck to Popery,—and he prayed
God that such a calamity might never befall our
mother country,—the denomination , represented
by these five branches would stand firm to the
principles of Protestantism.
Rev. Prof. James M. 'Willson followed, in an
address on the First Scottish Reformers—their
Position and Purpose. He said that when the
Assembly met in 1560, three hundred years ago
to-night, it was a great era in Christian history.
lie then proceeded to group together, in a very
lucid manner, the great ecclesiastical epochs which
had their beginnings in that period. As to the
Scottish reformers :—They had considered the
Church of God as one body united together. They
met under the conviction that they would be the
means of spreading the gospel. They also pro
vided for a regular organization of a Presbyterian
system. Order and liberty were taken cognizance
of by that assembly. . They declared that in every
notable town and city should be established a col
lege.
Prof. Willson here spoke of the wonderful ac
quirements of these men in ancient and modern
learning. These, he continued, were men of the
right stamp. They were wen who were somewhat
stern, whose understanding had been enlightened
by God's Spirit. In conclusion, let me say, it is
a good thing fur us to meet here to celebrate that
event, but it is much better for us to endeavor to
imitate the ways of those men, and carry forward
the work intrusted to us with similar zeal.
After singing the 78th Psalm, Rev. George W.
Murgrave, D. D., addressed the assembly on the
Reformation—the Restoration of the Pure Gos
pel: the Importance of Union and Co-operation
among its Friends. Ile handled his topics in a
familiar and popular manner, and impressed upon
his audience personally their indebtedness to the
Reformation for the clear knowledge of saving
truth. He insisted warmly on the superior im
portance of the points on which we Presbyterians,
though divided, are agreed, and told an amusing
incident to illustrate his feelings of. kindred to the
"New School" branch of the church, which he
PHIA
Airtirait ftt e ob.gtetian atta 6tittote Orangtliot,
regarded as nearer than the lowest of the Low
Church Episcopalians. He evidently touched a
sympathizing chord in the hearts of the audience.
Rev. John B. Dales, D. D., then followed in a
most able and discriminating address, on the Men
of the First General Assembly. He sketched the
Scottish Parliament of 1560, and its act establish
ing Protestantism, and then described the assem
bling of the body whose three hundredth , anniver
sary was• being celebrated. It was composed of
six ministers and thirty-six elders of the Scottish
church; the elect of the land, the men chosen out
of all the world to inaugurate so sublime a move
ment. He described the characteristics of Knox,
and of the other ministers that sat in that memo
rable body, and he spoke of the high character of
their learning, of their zeal, of their piety, and of
the impress they have left upon history. His ad
dress was frequently interrupted by hearty ap
plause.
Rev. T. W. 4. Wylie, D. D., delivered the closing
address, on the Influence of the Reformation on
Succeeding 'Ages. 4 ln the course of his very in
teresting observatio on this, theme, Dr. Wylie.
spoke warmly r divisions as Presbyterians,
and described them as displeasing to God, and
unfavorable,to our , use lness as Presbyterians.
After singing th r e 4 y, the congregation
was dismissed with the benediction, by Rev. Jos.
H. Jones, and the vast audience, which had re
mained in raptettention for two hours, and three
quarters, dispersed to their homes.
In every respect this meeting, gotten up almost
impromptu, was a complete success. As we heard
one of the audience 'remark, there was but one
thing omitted, and that was a vote of thanks to
the Committee of the Presbyterian Historical So
ciety, who had the matter in charge. It would
have 'been given with a hearty good-will. For
ourselves, we feel that if the Historical Society,
in all its existence, had accomplished but this one
thing—this gathering into one mass-meeting the
five branches of the church in our city to celebrate
so handsomely the Tercentenary of the Reforma
tion, it would have been worth all the pains and
expense employed in forming and sustaining the
organization. And, we believe, it will further
their excellent design of stimulating the historic
feeling of Presbyterians, and of bringing into closer
working sympathy the various portions of the
church, more than — all their previous labors hive
done.
We must not forget to speak particularly of the
singing. The precentors, Messrs. I:follow) , and
Robb, performed their part admirably. Old Hun
dred rolled forth in a vast volume of harmonious
song frbm the congregation, like the voice of many
waters. The 'Psalms were sung in the old version,
as a matter of courtesy to the scruples of many
who were present, and to aid in giving a memo
rial character to the occasion. It was truly a de
lightful, indeed a heavenly, part of the services,
—one calculated to set every one to thinking se
riously of the grievous defects of most of our con
gregations in this part of public worship.
It is a pity we cannot have a Tercentenary every
year. Can we not have something like it?
A full report of the exercises has been prepared
by one of the editors of the Christian Instructor,
with which we shall be able to fill out the above
sketch next week.
POSITION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH IN THE EXISTING CRISIS.
in our last issue we referred to the " eloquent
seceesion sermon" of Rev. Dr. Palmer, of the
First "Presbyterian Church, New Orleans, and
called upon his brethren in the other branch of
the church to disavow sentiments so false and so
unscriptural. Simultaneously wth this call ap
pears an article in the Presbyter of Cincinnati, in
which Dr. Palmer is termed a "rare specimen of
the clerical fire-eaters," and his sermon is censured
in the strongest language. We give one or two
extracts:
Dr. Palmer has studied the hook of providence,
and has found out that the church in the South
is a missionary society established principally to
extend and perpetuate slavery. Sublime mission !
The signs of the times are ill-boding—We depre
cate disunion. We dread civil warr What shall
we'do? Shall we all join the new Southeria Mis
sion Church, and go into all the world and preach
slavery to every creature ? Never ! Shall we say
to the South, go into the territories of the Union
and' "root" slavery wherever you please?
Never! The trouble is that some people of the
South are tired of the Union and the constitution,
and are determined to destroy them. If they
will, let the responsibility be upon them.
But a still more important and decisive indica
tion of the sentinaent prevailing in this branch of
the Church, appears in the first article in the
forthcoming number of the Princeton Review, on
the State of the Country, the advanced sheets of
which have been laid on our table. . In this docu
ment, the question between the North and
South is calmly and comprehensively surveyed
The reasons alleged by the Cotton States for
urging a dissolution of the Union are examined
and declared to be insufficient. " It has long
been the conviction of our most enlightened men,"
says the writer, " that it is nothing but the pro
tection which the flag of the Union spreads over
slavery in this country, that prevents England
arraying all her power for its destruction. Sepa
rated from the North, a Southern confederacy of
the cotton-growing states would be at the mercy
of the anti-slavery feeling of the world. The dis
solution of the Union, therefore, in all human pro
bability, would be the death-blow to slavery."
He then proceeds to examine the grievancesof
the South. In regard to the first, the spirit,
language, and conduct of the abolitionists of the
North, he says: "11.1e . re moral disapprobation of
the system of slavery would be no.just ground of
complaint." But as to the unjust and indiscri
minate condemnation of slaveholding as criminal,
he says, "The great mistake of our Southern
brethren is that they charge this offence on the
people of the North; whereas the truth is there
is not one in a hundred of the people of the North
who entertain these opinions and join these de
nunciations."
We are-so well pleased with his manner of dis
posing of a second grievance, that we quote at
length :
The fact that abolitionists generally voted for
Mr. Lincoln, is appealed to as one prouf, at least,
that the Republican is an abolition party. But
does the fact that all the Southprn disunionists
voted for Mr. 13reekenridge prove that all who
favored his election are disunionists, or that he
himself belongs to that class? The reverse is no
toriously true. Why, then, should the Republi
cans be denounced as abolitionists, because aboli
tionists voted the Republican ticket? No rational
man can believe that Pennsylvania gave Mr.
Lincoln sixty thousand majority as the represen
tative of abolition principles.
The only question of principle, so far as relates
to slavery, which distinguishes the mass of the
people at the North from the extreme Southern
party, is, whether a man's right to hold a slave
as ',property rests on statute law, or upon the
common Jaw. If the latter, then a man has a
right to carry his slaves into any state or territo-
ry into which be may lawfully carry his ox or his
horse. He may bring them by hundreds and
thousands into any state in the Union, and settle
with them there. If the'.lisriner, he can carry
them no where beyond the lhitipate authority of
the law by which slavery paste. Which of these
views is correct, thiis..not l tibp,place to 'discuss.
All that we wish to say on , The .point is, that this
was the doctrine of all partimin this'country un
til within the last twent or thirty years. If,
therefore, holding this opinion is a just ground for
separating from the North, it,-*as a just ground
for refusing to submit to dip' administration of
Washington, Jefferson, Madikm, Monroe, and
every other President, unles.' our present chief
magistrate be an exception. Holding this opinion
as to the foundation of slavery, therefore, does
not constitute the Republicans an abolition party,
and does not afford a reason for disunion which
can satisfy the judgment or conscience of any
reasonable man.
As to the coMplaint that Northek abolitionists
interfere with the slaVes, and by birculating
in
cendiary publications stir them up to insurrection,
the reviewer, while admittieg the fact and the
criminality of it, reminds the South that their own
newspapers, and those in their' •knterest at the
North, which circulate without restriction among
themselves, are'more potent instruments by far
in' diffusing inc:endiary sentiment's, than are those
of the abolitionists.'
"Those, (i. e.their . owir)7opers teem with ex
tracts from the extreme but -slavery publications.
They labor Co convince thos .ytho read them, that
the North with its eighteeit illion of people-is of
one mind that slaveholdi is a great crime.
They constantly en'deavor
,o prove that the Re
publican party is pledged tp abolish slavery, to
interfere with, the peciili f -institutions of the
South. Who read those ilpers? The colored
people read them. Their‘lontenta spread from
mouth to mouth--exaggpitted and distorted.
You might as well fire canan from one end of the
country to the other, andloomplain of the slaves
hearing them, as to allow ash papers to circulate
and expect thesr conientitito remain unknown.
We verily believe that it 4ould be less dangerous
to the South to allow unri4ricted circulation to
the Independent than to th‘New York Herald or
the Journal of Commerce.ll "
.In regard to the allegedlailure to fulfil the re
quirements of the fugitive; ve law, the reviewer
t
writes under the' influent ei f an honest indigna
tion which will be contagious with all readers.
He says: , .1 ,
.. .
.
"In not one instance . hale-the judicial or ex
ecutive ufficeri eharged.,*tK this _duly failed. to
perform it. So far- frokit)dicial officers
have notoriously erred on thmother side. They
have sent free - men to the
, South as slaves, who
have been returned on their bands. They have
shocked public justice in'rtheir zeal to carry out
the law. The United Stlites troops have been
called out to secure its e i ecution. Slaves have
been returned to their ma ters, in some instances,
at an expense of twenty, tirty, or forty thousand
dollars to the goVernmen i t. Educated men, pro
fessors in our colleges, have been condemned to
imprisonment for attempting to interfere with the
execution of the fugitive ave law
Contrast the zeal of the general, government 'in
carrying out the proyiSionlpf the Constitution in
reference to fugitive slaves', with its conduct in
regard to the. provision crhiCh requires that the
citizens of one State shallfthave in all other States
the same privileges as theeitizens of those States
themselves. This provision f i ef the Constitution,
so far as concerns coloredpeisons ' is a dead letter
in some of the Southern States. It has been for
mally nullified by law." ' ' '
The next grievancecqnsidered is, that the
South has lost its equaliljrin the Union.
"The thing.claimed . liAhis, viz., th'it the slave
interest should have equal political control with
all the other interests of the country combined.
This is what is meant by equality. Less than
this is declared to be inconsistent with their safety
and honor. . . . This supposes that the in
terest of the slaveholders is antagonistic to all
others, and is so iniportaht;that it may rightfully
be dominant, or at least wordinate and limiting.
It assumes tliat three hundred and fifty thousand
are equal to twenty millions."
The writer next proceeds to consider the ques
tion of the right of aState to secede, which he
argues to be utterly inadmissible. "Secession,"
he says, "is a breach oi faith. It is morally a
crime, as much as the seebssion of a regiment from
the battle field would NI." He quotes from the
Richmond Enquirer of 1 1814, to the effect that
unless the consent of a guajority of the States is
given, "any attempt to d isolve the Union, or dis
tract the efficiency of its constitutional law, is
,
treason—trettion, to alrtintents and 'purposes."
"rind," says ale eSsaYiii i rilteltstimAy the law of
God and minis one of titre`' greatest of crimes."
Here is a paragraph Or `b,:. Palmer and the
Synod of Soutli Carolinai
"We do not dohbt tl'at many excellent men,
many sincere Christians it the South, have been
brought to believe:that secession is legally and
morally right. But it , is no new thing in the his
tory of the world that
_reat, crimes have been
thought ilea. 'There 'ever was an auto da fe
which was not - sabetione I by the minister of re-
ligion. The greatest c imes have been perpe
trated by those who thou bt they were doing God
service. The fact, ther: ore, that good men ap
prove of secession, that hey pray over disunion,
that they rise from their nees and resolve to com
mit the parricidal act, ices not prove it to be
right: , It only proves h wperverted the human
mind, may become uncle the influence of passion
and th.e force of popula feeling."
Some religious papers in this vicinity have la
bored to throw the onus f this secession move-
ment entirely on the No the They receive little
countenance from the e-,yists of the Princeton.
While, admitting. that, t: • .W'orth., has its sins to
answer, for ,he says:
"But if the views pripanted in the foregoing
pages are eorreet, the blood and misery, which may
1 1 )
attend the dissolution of he confederacy must lie
mainly at the door of th se who for selfish ends
labor to effect it, who wis for disunion as a means
of prosperity." ? .
This whole deliverancelrom the venerable and
conservative Prineeton. iwkefreshing. It goes far
to relieve the deneminatioti in this part of the coun
try from an equivocal pos4ion which was becoming
painful to those, who, like ourselves, continued to
cherish a faith in its latent fidelity to the princi
ples of the fathers. Its utterances have a clear,
bold, and manly ring, contrasting most gratefully
with the despondent meanings of the great organ
in New York city, and with the tone of sundry
thanksgiving sermons of their own preachers, not
only in New Orleans, but in Brooklyn , and in this
city. Beforehand we ?night have doubted whe
ther such an article would really get into the Re
view. But there it is.sc Princeton has spoken.
Princeton is for freedom; •-
And in view of the 16ot: - that these brethren
have, come forward , withvtheir manly.avowal:at
such an important junctu4 in the Aevelopment of
public opinion, we feel -very 'much. like forgetting
old' excitements and,giciog them ,'a hearty God
speed.
BOOKS FOR .TILE SEASON
Our friends who are looking for books appro
priate to the season, will do well to call at the
Presbyterian Book Store. They will find a
most, attractive. assortment of books, for both
old and young, sold at, reasonable rates. By
the changes made in the arrangement of the
counters and of the fitting of the store, the
shelves are F all within the reach of customers,
who can choose for thernselves' what they want.
THE WORN BIBLE
We can give no higher testimony to the
worth of a friend than the careful preservation and
oft-repeated perusal of his communications to
us. To take out the well guarded sheet, when
no one is by, to eon over its familiar expressions,
and perhaps to drop a tear or draw a line by
the most tender of them, is proof of their sweet
ness to our souls and of the strength of the tie
which binds us to the absent one.
Our absent Father in heaven has sent us such
letters in the Scriptures. And though there are
many who view these messages of infinite affec
tion with indifference, or who hive them a pom
pous outward recognition, while treating their
contents with deep neglect; and though, again,
there are others who, admitting and feeling
their preciousness, yet content themselves with
afar too limited acquaintance with their con
tents ; others there are, who cherish them as the
dearest mementoes of an unseen friend. In
quiet, out-of-the-way corners, in retired closets,
there lie many familiar volumes of the Scrip
tures, Which constant use has made dear, even
to their trifling externals; in which "the place"
can be found with greater ease than in any
other copy, which show the marks of careful
but constant handling,, with scattered pencil
tnerks, and it May be marks of tender emotion,
indicating the points on which the soul has
fastened itself, or to which it has been drawn
with a peculiar attraction. Ah I those worn
Bibles; companions and sweeteners of our pil
grimage; in what varied seasons have we turned
their leaves; how their strains have aided our
souls when, like the lark, we wished to sing "at
heaven's gate ;" how their reviving words have
encouraged us in the day of gloom and declen
sion; how from the same pages the balm has
trickled, that alone could sooth the bereaved
and wounded heart, and arrest the wild grief
that was verging on rebellion, insanity and de
spair; how the promises have stayed and cheered
and nerved us, when worn and faintini; in the
conflict with sin and with the burdens of life,
we have sought awhile our closets, and taking
up the familiar volume, have been guided to
the very passage which answered to our wants,
or found new , light and fitness in one we had
often read without peculiar interest before.
- Unless it be in the hands of prOtessed and
formal devotees, we doubt whether liorans and
Shasters can be found marked with such evi
dences of intimate interest and tender regard,.
as many a Bible in the hands of unknown, re
tiring servants of God. The life-long invalid,
in heathen lands, does not console himself by
turning, and studying, and marking, and be
dewing with tears the leaves of a volume in
which he finds materials for balancing the ills of
his suffering lot. It is a spectacle peculiar to
Christendom. It is a testimony which, in Chris
tendom, is reserved (to the degree in which we
have described it) for the Bible alone. It is the
deep response of man's needy soul to the divine
provision for its wants.
And what a precious legacy for the depart
ing Christian to leave to bereaved friends, is
such a worn Bible! What hallowed associa
tions cluster at once around the gift I It is as
if the departed one had left behind the key by
which he had opened the pearly gate. The
very soiling of the leaves, the pencillings, the
tear-stains, are the way-marks of his pilgrim
journey to his home—the secret hints of his
wrestlings and of his conflicts ; the reports of
his soul's communings with his Redeemer.
The worn Bible of the departed saint, is the one
earthly possession. he would fain take with him
to paradise; left with us, it is almost like a
jewel shaken from his celestial crown, so clear
an indication is it of his possession of that
crown; so strong an attraction is it to us, who
remain, to follow in his footsteps, and aspire to
share in his glory and his joy.
ANOTHER DEDICATION Ili WASHING
TON, D. d.
FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN CITURCJI.
Last Sabbath, our house of worship was reopen
ed, and we enjoyed the blessing of three services,
blessed to the large congregations that filled the
enlarged and beautified edifice. -Rev. John Cham
bers, my early, my devoted friend, preached
morning and night. Rev. Dr. Samson, Presi
dent of Columbia College, preached in the after
noon. These sermons were all in demonstration
of the Spirit and in power. The house was filled
with the divine presence, and there was life be
cause of spiritual-mindedness. Every heart re
joiced in these tokens of the divine favor, which are
received by us all, as the earnest of future good.
With our increased number of pews, we hope to
welcome many more to our Father's house than
we have had heretofore, large as have been our
congregations. Already, we have rented more
pews than we had in the former house. Present
dimensions, 61 by 100 feet.
The preaching of Rev. John Chambers `made a
very decided impression, particularly in the'last
service. Eyes unused to weep, wept on that occa
sion. In all parts of the house, the youth, the
stalwart man, and the gray-headed, were m cited
down. The word of God had free course, and was
glorified.
A prhyer meeting closed the services. In this
we remembered our country in this particular day
of trial, and such a scene, and such intense feel
ing we do not often witness. God was there, and
,when ten o'clock came, the congregation still lin
gered.
This record of divine love is made to encourage
the hearts of God's people. Over this I thank
all who have helped me in contributions and
prayers. To the brethren and churches in Phila
delPhia, we are largely indebted for their sympa
thy and help in our time of need.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FAST DAY.
In pursuance of the recommendation of the
chief executive of the nation, the churches of our
denomination will observe the 4th of January,
Friday, of next week, as a day of fasting and
prayer. It is proposed that the churches be open
ed for in the morning at half-past 10
o'clock; in the afternoon at half-past 3 o'clock,
union prayer meetings will be held at the• First
Church, Mr Barnes'; Buttonwood street, Mr.
Shepherd's, and Logan Square,' Mr. Patton's.
The evening will be appropriated to prayer
meetings in the different churches, commencing at
the regular hour of service."
As to the manner of observing a fast, the Di
rectory, chapter xiv., Section vi: and vii., says :
" There shall be public worship upon all such
days, and let the prayers, psalms, portions of
Scriptures to be read, and sermons, be all, -in a
special_ruanner, adapted to the occasion. On fast
days, let the minister point out the authority and
providence's calling to the observation thereof, and
let him spend a more than-usual portion of time
in solemn prayer, particular confession of sin, espe-
ara:—As an invited spectator, I have, in
imagination, been to your committee room, and
listened to appeal after appeal from North,
South, East and West, for help to sustain the
institutions of religion among those who either
belong to, or sympathize with our branch of the
visible church of Christ. As it was the - first
appeal for many years, to us, as a denomination,
ou behalf of churches belonging exclusively to
ourselves, it has made a deep, and I trust, last
ing impression upon my heart.
There are marked events in the history of in
dividuals, churches and nations, and their ac
tions, under these, shape their destiny for a long
cupies a prominent position before the world:
the eyes of multitudes are turned toward her.
How will she meet her new responsibility?
Her labors, heAelf-denial, and her sacrifices in
the cause of missions, are found on every page
of her history, until their identity was lost in
her union with others. Dissevered by untoward
events, from an organization which she bad
contributed mainly to originate and nourish
into gigantic strength, she must, at this time of
crashing pecuniary pressure and of wild de
rangement in all regular business, again assume
the entire support of feeble churches in the At
lantic states, and the yearly addition of hundreds
of new organizations in the interior and on the
Pacific coast.
JOIIN C. S3IITEL
cially of the sins of the day and place, with their
a g gravations which have brought down the judg
ments of heaven. And'-let the whole day be
spent in deep humiliation and mourning before
God."
RESPONSE OP A LADY TO THE CHURCH
EXTENSION APPEAL
MESSRS. EDITORS:—The great Head of our
Church has, I trust, inspired the following noble
appeal. When Barak hesitated to deliver the
choSen people, God raised up Deborah, a mother
in Israel. She agreed to go forward, but warned
Barak that a woman would have the glory of the
deliverance. Our church, our men of wealth have
been altogether too slow in meeting this great
crisis, which is upon us. Let us stand aside
and listen to a voice from one of those who
were
"Last at the Cross and earliest at the Grave."
B. J. W
Barley Wood Cottage, Dee. 17, 1860.
while to come. I feel that our church now oc-
No church in modern times, except our sister
the Free Church of Scotland, has been called,
in the providence of God, to meet such a re
sponsibility. Did our Scottish sister fail when
her five hundred and forty-three ministers and
people came off in a body from the Kirk in May,
1843, leaving meeting-houses, parsonages, funds,
State patronage and all? Let her eight hun
dred churches, five hundred and sixty-five par
sonliges, six hundred and twenty school-houses,
and eight hundred and twelve ministers, answer
that question : and I have strangely misread
the character of our American Presbyterians,
if they are a whit behind their trans-Atlantic
brethren. The trial is now being made; Christ,
angels and men are watching the issue, and the
pen or the historian waits to record the event.
Fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters, on us,
under God, rests what that historic page shall
be.. The completion of our whole church erec
tion fund, of more than one hundred thousand
dollars, the endowment of so many academies,
colleges and theological seminaries, by our
people, and the rapid increase of strong, wealthy
and influential churches in our large cities, en
courage my heart to hope and believe that the
annual reports of our church extension and other
committees, to the General Assembly, next May,
will be all we could wish them to be.
I feel like doing what I can to help forward
the good work. Can yon find one hundred
ladies in onr church who are willing each to
contribute fifty dollars, within the year, to the
Church Extension Funds ? If so, herewith you
will receive twenty dollars in advance, as I
wish to be ONE OF THEM.
,ANOTHER LETTER JUST RECEIVED
FROM MR. BENTON.
NO. IV.
Mn. EDITOR. :—The people of Bhamdun yester
day were required by a French gentleman, in com
pliance with the order of the French General, to
give full information of all the property which the
Druses have brought to them for safe keeping, and
make out an inventory of the same, whatever
has been subsequently 'taken away, what still re
mains in the village, with the names of the Druses
who brought, and of the persons who received it.
This gentleman resides at Betatlier, an hour dis
tant from us at the South, and is connected with
a silk factory there. He has one or two hundred
French soldiers with him to enforce his demand.
It is certainly reasonable to require the restoration
of the plunder taken by the Druses from the Chris
tian villages. And in the execution of this order,
it is probable that some property of the Druses
will be taken with the things which are recovered
for the Christians. The result of this order may
be communicated in the sequel.
Betatlier has already passed through this or
deal, and after the people had given up what they
pleased voluntarily, the order was given to search
their houses, and some thousands of dollars' worth
of property, it is said, were recovered there. Be
tether has a mixed population, and the Druses had
taken much plunder from the Christians of other
villages, and of Deir el Sonar and,Zahleh. But
Bhamdun is exclusively Christian, has taken .no
plunder, unless the Druses have deposited some
with the people here.
I was at Beirut on Thursday last, and under
stood that the Turkish tribunal required four or
five sessions more to determine the case of Said-
Bey-Junblat, the chief Sheikh of the Druses, "the
pillar of heaven," as they call him. The court
has spent more than a month in the examination
of his case. The examination of the other Sheikhs
will follow. And the commissioners of Europe
are determined that justice shall be done. But
all the Orient from ancient times has moved in a
circle, or has perhaps not moved at all; and I am
not very sanguine in my anticipations whether the
time has now fully come for the predicted move
ment of the government and the people- in the
right direction. For that, unquestionably, the
preaching of the gospel, is a more powerful instru
mentality than all the governmental policy of Eu
rope. And the condition of the people, in a moral
point of view, is much as when "Moses stretalied
forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a
thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:
but all the children of Israel had light in their
dwellings." Snch, with a few individual excep
tions, is the present moral condition of all the va
rious e.ommunitieg in Syria.. The Protestants we
do not yet regard as a distinct coffimunity but
they will soon be recognised as a separate organi
zation, I trust, and have the light of truth in their
I returned from Beirut, accompanied by Mrs.
8., on the same day. The new carriage road now
in process of construction from Beirut to Damas
cus, passing within a mile of us, is a ray of light
passing over these mountains, and makes Phila.
delphia seem much nearer to Bhamdun, than it
was before.
Thursday, Nov. 15.—We have this morning
received your papers of October 11 and 18, and
the Missionary Herald for November. Thanks to
God, our Heavenly Father, for so rapid a corre
spondence between our different hemispheres.
I have just visited Abadeiya, and found sonic
400 Christians returned to their houses, and found
that I could not keep any money in my pocket.
Heaven will certainly bless those who give of their
abundance in the name of Christ for their relief
and conversion to righteousness.
For the American Presbyterian
PREACHING ON PEACE.
At the suggestion of ecclesiastical bodies repre
senting most of the religious denominations in our
country, the American Peace Society has been
wont, for a series of years, to request ministers of
the gospel to preach on the subject of Peace ; and
Churches to observe an annual concert of 'Prayer
on behalf of the cause, some time in December,
generally on or near Christmas. That time is
now at hand, and we beg. leave to remind all
friends of Peace, how loudly the times, at home
as well as abroad, demand their earnest and effec
tive attention to its claims.
We of course leave all ministers and churches
to observe this Annual Concert of preaching,
prayer, and contribution on behalf of peace, in
their own way; but we
some
hope that they
will all observe it in way that shall render it
most effective for its great object. That object is
confessedly of vast importance, and it is for them
to say, under God, what shall be done for its ac
complishment. Our request is certainly very
moderate.
One sermon, one hour of united, special prayer,
a solitary opportunity of contribution—is this too
much to ask once a year for such a cause? If we
ask anything at all, we surely cannot ask less : and
will the followers of the Prince of Peace refuse or
grudge so little as this for the removal or abate
ment of an evil so gigantic, so wide-spread, and
so deeply rooted, as the custom of war?
Bear in mind that this cause belongs not exclu
sively to. the Peace Society, we are only its ser
vants or instruments, but to all Christians of every
means, and ought to receive the cheerful and zeal
ous support of them all. If it is ever to triumph,
they must make it their own, and use the name
requisite under God for its full success. They
cam do this it they will; and if they do it not,
will not the God of Peace bold them responsible
for the result? It is in the power of the 40,000
ministers and churches in our land, by their
prayers, their example, and a right application of
the gospel for the purpose, to insure peace, both
among ourselves, and with all other countries;
and it' they fail to do this, will they not meet a
fearful account at the bar of God?
If ministers desire the aid of our publications
in presenting the subject before their people, we
will gladly furnish them without charge. We
hope, also, that there will be, in every case, an
opportunity given of contributing to the cause in
some way, as it is very much needed. This cause
cannot, any better than others, be carried on with
out means, and it is time for the friends of God
and man to bear this fact in mind, as it needs full
fifty fold more than it has hitherto received.
On behalf of the American Peace Society,
G-- C. BECKWITU, COr. ,Sec.
P. S. When a collection is taken, our periodi
cal, the Advocate of Peace, is , sent for the jear to
`the pastor.
THE PRESIDENT'S PROCLAMATION.
TO TUE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.-A RE-
COMMENDATION
Numerous appeals have been made to me by
pious and patriotic associations and citizens, in
view of the present distracted and dangerous con
dition of our country, to recommend that a day be
set apart for Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer
throughout the Union.
In compliance with their request and my own
sense of duty, I designate Friday, the 4th day of
January, 1861, for this purpose, and recommend
that the people assemble on that day, accordingly,
to keep it as a solemn fast.
The Union of the States is at the present mo
ment threatened with alarming and immediate
danger; panic and distress of a fearful character
prevail throughout the land; our laboring popula
tion are without employment, and consequently
deprived of the means of earning their llread. In
deed, hope seems to have deserted the minds of
men. All classes are in a state of confusion and
dismay, and the wisest counsels of our best and
purest men are wholly disregarded.
In this the hour of our. calamity and peril to
whom shall we resort for relief but to the God of
our fathers? His omnipotent arm only can save us
from the awful effects of our own crimes and
follies—our own ingratitude and guilt towards our
Heavenly Father.
Let - us, then, with deep contrition and penitent
sorrow, unite in humbling ourselves before the
Most High, in confessing our individual and na
tional sins, and in acknowledging the justice of
our punishment. Let us implore Him to remove
from our hearts the false pride of opinion which
impels us to persevere in wrong for the sake of con
sistency, rather than yield a just submission to the
unforeseen exigencies by which we are now sur
rounded. Let us with deep reverence beseech
Him to restore the friendship and good will which
prevailed in former days among tjae people of the
several states; and, above all, to save us from the
horrors of civil war and " blood-guiltiness." Let
our fervent prayers ascend to His Throne that He
would not desert us in this hour of extreme peril,
but remember us as He did our fathers in the
darkest days of the revolution, and preserve our.
Constitution and our Union, the works of it
hands, for ages yet to come.
An Omnipotent Providence may overrule exist
ing evils for permanent rood. He can make the
wrath of man to praise Him, and the remainder of
wrath he can restrain. Let me invoke every in
dividual, in whatever sphere of life he may be
placed, to feel a personal responsibility to God and
his country for keeping this day holy, and for con
tributing all his power to remove our actual and
impending calamities. •
Washington, Dee. 14, 1860
EDITOR'S TABLE.
GOOEY'S LADY'S BOOK for January, 1861.
This-veteran monthly opens the new year with
marks of increased enterprise. The frontispiece,
illustrative of the heroic and charitable acts of
women, oil the battle -field, in the prison -cell, on
water, among the poor, in the hospital, dc., is ad
mirably designed and executed.
We have also received the january No. of the
KNICKERBOCKER, much eulara r ,ed and with an
array of contributors such as must sustain and
even, if possible, elevate the character of that ex
cellent periodical.
The (Boston) HOAIE MONTHLY. By Rev. W. 3 1 -
Thayer, Mrs'. Arey, and Mrs. Gildersleeve, li''
also issued its January number. Its articles tiro
short and well written, with excellent "-
sluing a miscellany of profitable and entertaining
matter for the family circle.
Faith.—The sailor, by using his. eyes in looking
for land, aCquires great keenness of sight. use the
eye of faith in looking for your eternal haven, awl
you give it greater clearness of vision. To strengthen
fidth, exercise faith.
Dec 27,
WILLIAM A. BENTON
JAMES BUCHANAN