170
akintr tun Wreollittian
e note enstelioi.
THURSDAY, JUNE O. 1801.
JOHN W. MEARS, EDITOR.
ASSOCIATED WITH
ALBERT 'BARNES, GEORGE DUFFIELD, J.
THOMAS 13RAINERD, if JOHN JENKINS,
lIENILF DARLING. THOMAS J. SHEPHERD.
THE CROSS ABOVE THE FLAG.
The Narrative of the State of Religion in our
Church, which we publish in another column, con
tains an expression of gratification that so many
have gone from our churches into this conflict
de who will ever keep the Cross above the Flag."
We admire the language and the sentiment. The
whole document is highly creditable to the Com
mittee, of whom Rev. Z. M. Humphrey of Chicago
was the chairman. It presents a truthful and
encouraging view of the condition of our •branoh
of the• Church of Christ; and on the poipt alluded
to, very exactly reflects the religious experience
of the church as developed by the war.
I. Our church puts the Cross and the Flag
close together. Next to our duly to God, comes
our great social duty to our country. After God
and his cause among men, the dearest and most
sacred object is the good government under which
we dwell. Christ's cross is the emblem of a pur
chase, hsr.an. : inealaulable—outia.v..-of..the—higheek..
spiritual blessings; our flag is the emblem of the
purchase, by numberless sufferings, of the highest
temporal good attainable by man. We would
cheerfully die for our Saviour's cause; the next
object for which we would offer our lives is our
country. It is part of every man's Christianity to
be a good citizen; it is much more a part of his
Christianity to be loyal to his government when
it is beleaguered by traitors, and threatened with
overthrow. Few crimes—it is doubtful, indeed,
whether any crime is equally heinous with cause
less rebellion, or the effort to break up a well-or
ganized, evenly-working, just and beneficent social
system; where wholesome laws have been en
forced and order maintained; where, as a rule,
the rights,of the people have been scrupulously
regarded; where freedom of opinion is not inter
fered with, and where the last and most enlightened
conclusions of the human mind on questions of
government have been incorporated in the Consti- '
tution and Laws of the land. Rebellion under
such circumstances•is an offence so uncalled for,
so reckless, drawing after it consequences so in
describably terrible to this generation and to
posterity, that it may be considered clear proof of
the unsoundness of that religiou s : and moral senti
ment that is not roused to indignant and absolute
reprobation of it. That is a very doubtful adhe
rence to the cross which can treat with toleration a
capital offence against such a flag as ours. When
such a plain and monstrous immorality as armed
rebellion against the best of governments, breaks in
upon us like a flood, it is the height of pusillani
mity for churches to evade committing themselves
upon it as a "political question." Is it a part of
religion to have nothing to do with immorality in
such a plain instance? And where gross immo
ralities become rampant in religious bodies them
selves, is It a fair argument against action, that
action will rend them asunder? Is not the very
plea against action—the sensitiveness of the
offenders—the most convincing evidence of a need
of prompt
_and decisive action? -----
The croirl oY unrrsz - fs — are — estrilted - object in
deed; but it is only so as it is Christ's cross;
not the Father's, not an angel's, but Christ's,
who was man no less than God, and who died to
redeem man in all hie relations—civil, social, and
domestic; and he who holds that cross so high as
to divorce it and its adherents as such from human
interests—the humblest as well as the noblest— ,
defeats its grand and comprehensive ends, and
evaporates the religion that emphatically was made
for man, into an abstraction fit only for monks.
Twine, therefore, in loving and lasting embrace
the flag of our country around the cross. Plant
that cross amid all the fair and glorious institu
tions of our happy land. In its guardian shadow,
secured by many praying, wrestling souls, may
they repose unharmed while the thunders and
the storms of battle rage around.
2. But it is the spirit of our church ever to
keep the arose above the flag. Its attractions,
its glory, its preciousness, its power to save, are
ample to reconcile us to the loss of every earthly
object. They make us willing to become strangers
and pilgrims on the earth. For longing to be
hold and enjoy them more fully in the heavenly
world, even the most prosperous and privileged
country on earth is to us as Canaan was to Abra
ham, a place of uncertain sojourn. We desire a
better country, even an heavenly. We shall gladly
turn from scenes of the greatest progress; from the
heights which the advanced columns of the human
race have reached in art, in science, in govern
ment; from the loftiest and most inspiring , prospect
of material and social advancement, rejoicing to
wing our flight to that world where the blessed
Redeemer, the true light of this and all worlds,
forever dwells; where all things are perfectly sub
ject to his most wise and holy and glorious will,
and where the true pattern after which we are
faintly struggling in all our best efforts for pro
gress on earth, Is fully and perfectly realized.
No! you cannot suppress in the breast of any
true follower of Christ a feeling of the insuffi.-
ciency of the best earthly estate fully to satisfy
his desires, and to command his energies.
And all that represents that cross upon earth;
all the means necessary for its exhibition as a doc
trine, a precept, and an example among men; all
that outward organization, and those ordinances,
divinely appointed,
_which make it a fact and
power in the world, must be cherished and up
held as of supreme importance. And all those
exercises, private and public, by which its ioflu
ence over the individual 'heart is kept alive,
roust ever be regarded as, the prime employment
of the Christian. - The loftiest type of patriotism,
in its most ardent breathings, cannot take the place
of devotion in the heart. The excitement. of the
most tremendous conflict between patriots and
traitors that the world has ever seen, must, : be, so
far controlled as to leave the Christian mind free
for its wonted spiritual exercises. Secret and
family prayer, and public worship, and the ordi
nary operations of the'ishurch_ must be kept up.
For the country is worth nothing without the
Church;
,the flag is worth nothius without the
cross. Without the Influence of the Christian
religion, past, present, and prospective, upon our
institutions, they would not be worth fighting= for;
certainly not worth the shedding Of Christian
blood to sustain them. It was the piety of our
forefathers that led them forth to found, this na
tion, which gave to our constitution and laws
their just and beneficent character, which laid
the great scriptural principle of the brotherhood
and moral equality of all men at the foundation
of the whole structure, and then nerved them to
shed their blood in its defence; so that, following
our history from the landing of the pilgrims, and
from the prayer at Valley Forge, we may say it
is to the Cross that we owe "the` flag. And only
the most superficial view of the necessities of the
case at the present, can lead any one into the
error of imagining that religion must be.neglected,
and the Church suffered to decline, while abso
lutely all our spare thoughts, energies, and means,
are bestowed upon our country. Not even the
Christian soldier in our army, in his long march-
Ongs and watchings, should omit to pray and to
be vigilant against his spiritual enemies; much
less should we at home fall into spiritual declen
sion by reason of overweening anxiety for his
fate, by our eagerness to follow his course and to
read the record of his exploits, by becoming swal
lowed up with a zeal—in itself most laudable—
for his comfort, safety, and final' success.
The permanence of our government is desirable
to us as Christians, mainly for such reasons as
these:—.lt insures us the free enjoyment and ex
ercise of our religious •opinions and exercises; it
subjects itself to an enlightened public opinion,
which, step by step, is bringing it into conformity
with the will of God, and thereby manifesting to
the world his glory; it prasents a wide and untram
melled field of labor for the conversion of men;
its high type of energy and enterprise consecrated
to the service of Christ, is making it the foremost
nation on the globe in the conversion of the hea
-thert....-Morld If flluiptjans, thereftire, in
gling for their country neglect their religion, they
are neglecting all for which their country is worth
struggling; they are losing hold of the substance,
and grasping what becomes a mere shadow. The
cross first, the cross always, should be our watch
word ; the flag only as it is stamped all over with
the cross!
THE RESPONSIBILITY ASSUMED.
The last Assembly is the crowning one of the
new era of separate denominational action in our
church. It was then .unanimously determined to
assume the responsibility of conducting the work
of Home Missions within our bounds—decidedly'
the most important of all the work which a deno
mination has to do. Twenty-three year's ago, our
church was organized on the basis of co-operation
with voluntary societies; this was regarded as one
of the fundamental principles and reasons of our
existence as a separate denomination. But gra
dually we have been attaining the consciousness
of a genuine, decided and controlling spirit of
Presbyterianism as a part of our denominational
character, which, without bigotry or high-church
ism, has become jealous of all connections which
prevented a fair degree of denominational progress
and sacrificed to a loose Catholicism the interests
of the church to which we belonged. While
cheerfully laboring to promote the common Chris
tianity by means of great national and catholic
enterprises, we could not feel satisfied to let the
particular department committed to our charge,
Suffer. And truth compels us to say, that our
convictions on this head were vastly strengthened
when we saw one of these voluntary societies
operated not only with the most palpable disregard
of our interests, but in several instances also, to
our direct detriment. Our Home Missionary field,
the very theatre of our growth, and security of
our prosperous existence in the future, was not
only inadequately, but harmfully managed by a
body owing us no responsibility. At first, having
an eye — Merely to the negleet of the American
Home Missionary Society, we established our
CHURCH EXTENSION COMMITTEE in good faith
as a supplementary arrangement; but this only
served to bring out more clearly the. animus of
an organization which evidently sought to restrict
our growth as a denomination. This hostility,
while it made denominational action necessary,
contributed much to convince us of the general
necessity resting upon each denomination of Chris
tians). of assuming the entire responsibility of pro
viding for its own domestic growth. As a church,
in oar chief representative council, we are now
unanimously brought to that culminating point of
conviction. It is a fit matter of congratulation
and of gratitude to God, that we have been thiis
harmoniously led to a decision of such importance.
We accept the position of the Assembly . most cor
dially. THE ASSEMBLY ASSUMES THE RESPON
SIBILITY OF CONAUCTTNG THE WORK OF HOME
MISSIONS WITHIN ITS BOUNDS. Many, of us in
this section have clung long to co-operation; but
we are to-day a unit with the united Assembly.
We hail the action as a most hopeful augury. We
are emancipated, as regards the direction of our'
nearest and most important denominational intere 4 ;
from the control of irresponsible men, a majority
whom had as little knowledge of our system,' as
interest in its growth and prosperity. Our mis
sionary work is no longer to be done at arms'
length, and with the intervention of cumbrks
outside machinery. The enlargement of the king'
dom of Christ under the form of our own chuieh
now comes definitely before us as a matter ..of
home interest; the missionaries are our missions,-
ries, designated by the Presbyteries, sent forth by•
our Assembly's own Committee, and, looking di
rectly tons for help. What is accomplished, O
der God, by them -in the forming of new churches ,
and ingathering of congregations of our own Reit
tered members,and from the world; in reclaiming the
waste places of our great cities or of the new re
gions of the West; in making the moral wilderness
blossom with the fair and sweet flowers of the
gospel; in fitting wen for the highest duties Of
citizenship here, and for the inheritance "of the
saints on high; all this will be felt to be our
work. All their revivals, all their declensions;
all their sunny and all their shady sides; all their
bold enterprise and high endeavour and soldier- `
like endurance of hardship and exploits of faith;
all their patience of hope and labor of love, will
come home to us; will he appropriated as ours;
will thrill us with tender sympathy; will furnish
us those specific topics which are the, very ele
ments of earnest prayer. The cause of God Will
be our cause as, in this respect, it never was be
fore.
Does any one say that this is appealing to nar
row considerations; that ae the whole church is
a nobler object than a part, ed- a, catholic zeal is
nobler than mere denominationalism; we answer,
it may be so; but if so, the Christian world is not
yet ready for it to the degree to which it has been
carried,; the' experiment of catholic action has
been tried under favorable auspices and it has
signally failed, at least in the ,department we are
considering. The amount of damage .we as a de
nomination, and the cause of Christi() Tar , as re
presented by us, have suffered from it, is greater
than we know o a r, perhaps, ever shall
With us, Providential indications are too clear to
admit a dispute. We enterhopefully;upon .the
path now- opened widely before' us: We believe
the set time to favor our Zion has come.
Anteriratt Vtt,oll#teriAn awl &cutoff Qt. ttgeliot,
And we call upon our brethren of New York
city to show their sense of the crisis and their ap,
preciation of the high trust the General Assembly
has laid upon them. We call upon them to walk
worthy of their new and high vocation as ap
pointed standard bearers in our ,independent
church work. Come - up, brethren, to the help of
the Lord! to the help of the Lord against the
mighty! Honor of no. common sort awaits you
if you prove true to our church in this new and
remarkable epoch of its history. If you altogether
bold your peace at this time, then shall there en
largement and deliverance arise from another
place; but we do not allow ourselves to indulge a
fear of your failure. We believe that you are
come to the kingdom for such a time as this.
THE REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH .
ON THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY.
An attempt has been made to detract from the
significance of our own .Assembly's strong and
unanimous action in support Of. the Government,
by a remark that as our body lay almost entirely in
the North, nothing else could have been expected.
But those who have observed the course of things
in the Synod of the Reformed - Dutch 'Church, re
cently met in,New York, will have discovered that
an entire Northern, field, such as that. Church also
embraces, is by no means a guarantee of unanimity
in measures to supportAhe Government in this,
its hour of sore trial. On Friday; the 14th, the
last day of the session, a committee appointed for
the purpose, brought in a report, which had not
been concocted without some embarrassment, as
..-.soute.snember. - - R e_ r b e
all action, or in favor of that of a general cha;
racter merely.
The resolutions embraced in the report are,' for
the most part, very good; their asseverations of
loyalty are all that a Christian patriot' could ask;
but their expression of Christian tenderness to re
bel "brethren,".thousands of whom richly merit
the extreme penalty of the law, quite exceed any
degree of charity which we think we are required
to exercise. As it was, however, the effort to
put the resolutions upon their immediate passage
was unsuccessful, and the entire time of the last
morning's session was consumed in resisting their
passage. The principal objections urged by the
speakers, among whom we notice the name of Ex-
Gov. Vroom, of New Jersey, related to their "po
litical" 'character. The very letter of the Church-
Constitution, it was urged, would be violated by
entertaining them. Able responses were matte to
these arguments; "The Government," said Rev.
Dr. Wells, "is sustained by public opinian. f The
Synod is a part of this public opinion." "Every
thing," said -the same speaker, "affecting man's
present condition and future state, was ecclesi
astical, so far that the Church could take' notice
of it." An attempt to postpone was made, upon
which the vote was 34 ayes to 71 noes, and the
resolutions were than passed, with:few dissenting
voices. But the proposition to record the vote
as unanimous was resisted, and fell to the ground.
The truth is, there is a strong influential ele
• ment in the . Old. Dutch Church, which prides it
self on its "conservativeness," a spirit which
would always keep the Church coasting timorously
along the shores of a blind expediency, and which,
instead of steering out boldly to meet and outride
a .storm; prefers the risk of being dashed to pieces
in the . breakers. The unanimity of our Church,
therefore, is not solely the result of the locality of
its field, but proceeds rather from the compre
hensiveness of its spirit; from the sincerity and
thoroughness of its loyalty, and from its more li
beral and scriptural idea of the functions, and
calling of. a church in its relations to human af
fairs.
EDITORIAL JOTTINGS.
NOBLE SAYINOS OF BRAVE MEN.—The heart
of the nation has already been thrilled with the
noble conduct of her soldiers, both in the regular
and volunteer ranks, and has received abundant
proof that the spirit of the best days of the Re
public is stirring in our camps. In comparison
with the interests of their endangered country,
our men count not their lives dear unto them.
The words which have dropped from the lips of
some who have faced great` danger' and already
suffered and died in the opening ofthe struggle,
ought to be treasured as among our most pre
cious national possessions. The steadfast COL.
ANDERSON who seemed to be abandoned by his
government to the tender mercies of traitors, in
stead of selfishly taking, measures for perSonal
ease and comfort, "carried out," as he tells us,
"the thought that God put into his heart"
Cob. ELLswoRTa who, in the history of this
struggle, will take the place of General Warren
atßunker Hill the first great martyr in that
great cause "—declared to a cbturade; the night
before he fell, that he bad "a presentiment that
his blood would be immediately required by the
country." On the same night he addressed tbe
following memorable words to his parents in a
letter, announcing the contemplated movement:
"Whatever may happen, cherish the consola
tion, that I was engaged in the performance of
a sacred duty; and to-night, thinking over the
probabilities of to-morrow, and the occurrences
of the past, •I am perfectly content to accept
whatever my fortune may be, confident that He
who knoweth even the fail of a sparrow, will
have some purpose even in the fate of one like
me." On his person after death was foun - d a
blood-sfained 'medal, with the inscription
"Non solum, pro rlotris, sed pro patricte Not
alone for ourselves, but for our Country. We
commend' this motto to our patriotic young raen.
It deserves to stand second to the Christien
motto caught from the dying lips of Dudley
Tyng. . •
Said the wonnded COL. KELLY, whorn'we hope
a tender Providence will yet spare id our armies,
speaking to a friend who bent over his couch;
."
I expect I shall have to die ; I would be glad
to live if it might be, that I Might do something
for my country;, but if it cannot be shall
at least, the consolation of knoirinf that - I - fall
in a just cause."
These are brave words. Who canr fail to see,
in them, and such as we have before quoted;an
augury of triumph: and an evidence of an answer
to the prayers of God's people . hr hehalf of thcie
who are fighting, their country's
To these we may addl the message of the
dying. Senator. from Illinois, to his children and
relatives, thus related :-- -^"t
Mrs. Douglas then placed her-arm around his
neck,, and
" Your boys, ROMs, and Stevie, and : yotyr
mother and sister Sarah—have you anymessage
for them ?"
The dying man.
TELT!, -TO OBEY THE laws Axil SUP_
PORT THE CONSTITUTION OP THE UNITED STATfO, ) , I
SLIGBTLY IPRESUMPT GUS. —The oarwregiit-
Wonal iterilla would assume for the religious body
which it represents, not only "the credit of its own
payititie seticiOn the preSent °rims bnt that.4l4o
of another quite distinct body of Christians. In
a recent editorial; after, referring to the tardiness
of the Presbyterian body, which recently met in
this city to action, it allows itself in the follow
ing highly self-cemplacent deliverance:
In contrast we point to the operations of the
free church polity-of Congregationalism; and its
reflected infliper,Ace in the largely Congregationalized
N. S. PresbYterian body.
Cool, indeed As if fidelity to eitil 'obliga
tions were not of Ahe:very.,essenee, the blood and
bones of Presbyterianism ; as if the Presbyterian,
Church in some of the earliest acts of its history as
an organized body;in this country, did not glori
ously Ind imperishably interweave its name
historic association; with that of the Republic; as
if the peculiar principles of Republicanism, as
embodied in our Federal Constitution, were not pe
,
culiarly dear to a church, whose own polity of govern
ment by representation - , so nearly corresponds to
them. We are patriotic forsooth, because we are
largely Congregationalized I Doubtless - we should
be none the less patriotic We were Congrega
tionalists; but among ourselves the prompt and
unanimous and earnest support our body gave to
the national cansa'is regarded as only an addition
al evidence of the justice•of our claim, to be con
sidered the true American Presbyterian Church
—successors of those who framed 'the Adopting
Act, in 1729; who sustained the Federal Govern
ment in 1789, and; who planted themselves on the
broad and Scriptural principle of human rights in
1818.
Meanwhile titirTeerahl sho
biAbabtfalhe decided and unanimous
action referred to, irr Syracuse, at the same meet
ing severed, with:equal decision and unanimity,
the main tie uniting them to the Congregational
Church, and adopted a thoroughly Presbyterian
method of carrying on its Home Missionary work.
So they became "largely" de-Congregationalized,
at the same time that they took high loyal
ground.
TEE ORITIOISM on familiar passages in John's
Gospel on our first page, will be foundinterest
ing and instructive. Oar correspondent, besides
Bengel, has such names as Augustine and. Origen
on the side of his view of the eighth verse. But
we believe this is the entire' show of 'authority
on that side. Very independent commentators,
like De Wette, reject it in tot°. Robinson's
Lexicon not only translates WY EVI4O. in this pas
sage by " wind," but also the plural of the same
word in Hebrews i. 7. He also gives 'several
instances itrwhiclithe word is thus used in the
•
Septuagint. If gorrespondent wishes to
see how easily and naturally the richest lessons
may be drawn then the verse, as at present ren
dered, let him turn to Mr. Barnes' Commentary,
ad. /oc.
HONOR TO THE KEYSTONE STATE.---A three
- million loan for war purposes has just been ne
gotiated by; and in onr State, and chiefly in onr
city, at par. The feelings naturally arising in
view of such an event, are well set forth in, the
Bulletin of Saturday :
We confess- to, a deep feeling of pride and
pleasure in our noble old State. The three
million war loan is taken at par. It is taken,
too, when the State is already iri debt near forty
millions of dollars. It is taken evidently by
something like a pro rata division among the
banks. Instead of taking advantage of the ne
cessity of the Stitte, , inasmuch as money must
be had for the tr&olPs, the people come forward
and take a six par cent: stock at par. We be
lieve it to be a perfectly good investment, and
yet no one belilies that it would have been
taken without t 'influence of high patriotic
motive. Nothinte',n show this more strikingly
than the fact, that State s's sold, yesterday at
77. This repreacritdthe regular market price,
influenced only by financial consideration& A
corresponding six.per cent: steck, it is very evi
dent, would fall rkinch' below par; yet here is
three millions of money freely offered to the
State at par to jiay onr soldiers, to promote
their comfort, an to' carry on the war with re
bels and support he government.
NOTE TO
Rev. tr. W. 'AIBAie, DEAR Buo:—In a letter
I sent you, and *high in course got into print
this Week, there %yea some,statement, I do not recol
lect what precisely, about .:31.r. Douglas dying a
Calholin. He did no die a Catholic; but Bishop
Duggan visited hini and pronounced a eulogy at
his grave, where there was no religious service.
Will you correetlto preserve the truth?
Yours,' etc,
To city
The pastors of onr Philadelphia churches are
requestedlo noticothe advertisement, in another
colmin, of services ),p'pOinted. for the day set apart
by the General -Allsembly as a day of Special
prayer, and fasting jin. view• of the state of our
country. .
They will please lannounee these services from
the pulpit without farther notice.
We trust that it will not he necessary,for us to
say, anything either 't.o . pastors or people, to ensure
the observance of Os day of prayer for our
country.
DEATIL OF DE. ELY
We _have just heaid of the death of this vene
rable : and distinguished divine of our' church,
,which toek place at'his residence in this city, on
Monday morning lakthe 17th JUne. * He had
,
just completed
,his seventy-fifth year. Having
entered the ministry in early life, he had been
zealously occupi# the pastor of the 3d church,
CI old Pine Street, ' nd in other positions of ho
nor`47 and usefulness ir
that capacity, until some
ten years, ago,,whenta.stroke of paralysis closed
ilia - active tabors, andleft him bat a wreck of what
he once was. 4 preacher and theological writer
Of high order and of unbeunded popularity, wield
ing, great influence in the councils of the church,
,by the power of his
as
and, his grasp of
:thought; reckoned as one of the fathers from the
heartiness of his synipathy . with our branch, from
the hour of the separation, able and, uncompro
mising in his defence, of our position,,and in his
'conflicts with , the ezoinding .party;. at one time
the brilliant and able editor of the organ of 'oar
denomination in this 'eityi he has filled no small
ii,laeOia - the history of; our church '
, %0576.)14 - 9 nodeubt 41at the,great error he
committed—for it was but an error—in. tin -at
tempted establishnieritra a grand' Presbyterian
Ninny, Mr the 'banks of' the . ,Mis'soiiii, -- Will be
judged by posterity, as it is new Already largely
judged, as ..a : truly_ great „undertaking r which, a
Attie Jater f would , have-been crowned with suc
cess, and , forever• madeits' anther's 'replitlition ins
one of the benefactors ,of Ilis'ciiiiiitry and of his
Church '
' , ~., • "-,-. , , -- l
_,.,His usefulness was, to -human understanding,'
prematurely.brought rbo- rt . close. His. life' mist
have been's - brirden tip' iittlself, despite the' 'tender
care of relativei and friends'. Says a 'daily:Pa - per:.
' ,'
"Only a. days ,befo l ',4 he„was • 4t' attacked.
ld take notice that
CHICAGO LETTER,
Chicago, June 10th, 1861.
by the disease which finally resulted in death, he
was heard to exclaim 'I long to be where
shall learn more of God in an hour than I havc
learned in all my life.' His closing moments
were calm and peaceful. Without a murmur be
fell asleep, surrounded by his devoted wife, seve
ral other members of his immediate family, and a
fewlriendi.
. [Reported for the Ainertean Presbyterian•]
REMARKS O REV. DR. BRAINERD,
- AT 'THE - FUNERAL OF LIEUTENANT MIN T.
OR B E
Before the place which has known our young
friend here, knows him no more forever, I cannot
refrain from expressing the feelings of my heart,
in view of his worth and his loss. I baptized
him in his infancy, and during all his life I have
regarded him with complacency and approbation.
Few have passed to the grave whose whole life
could better bear inspection, or who presented
fewer defects over which - we have need to throw
the mantle of charity. In his family circle, in
the Sabbath-school, in the High school, where he
graduated, as a cadet at West Point, and as an
officer in the service of his country, up to the very
hour when be bravely fell, he has exhibited a life
marked by, the purest principles, and the most
guarded and exemplary, deportment. In ;,his rap
ture he was modest, retiring, gentle, of almost fe
minine delicacy; careful to avoid wounding the
feelings of any, and considerate of every obliga
tion to all around him. Indeed such was his
amiability, modesty and delicacy of temperament,
that we might almost havgne.. "fined the exist
irtties, had notehis
_ in tiim of t. e storm). _
true and'unshrinking courage in the hour of dan
ger, stamped him with 'a heroic Manlines,s. In
.
this union of qualities seemingly antithetical, we
discover that beautiful symmetry in,his character,
which marks him as a model man of his class.
judging, him by his life, we may infer that an
outward conduct so exemplary, had its , fountain
in religious faith and the fear , of God; and this
inference is sustained by the fact, that daily before
retiring to rest, he was accustomed to kneel at his
bedside in prayer to the Author of his being. We
may hope it is well with him, and that excellen
cies of life and pharacter which so, endeared him
to his friends, and made him so valuable to his
country; have reached a field of full appreciation
and perfect development.
He seems to have been not without foreboding
of the fate which awaited, him. ,Before he en
tered the battle field, he traced in pencil on paper,
words of love for his cherished Wife; of care for
his now orphan children; of affection for his pa
rents and friends; and of trust in Almighty God.
This gives value to his manly daring;- showing
that it was no blood-thirsty impulse or reckless
.presumption, but a perilous service at the call of
duty - and his country's need. This view sanctifies
his martyrdom. It carries him to the field of
battle, with no loss of his, ,gentleness, amiability,
and benevolence; but wrought to a high enthu
siasm and a calm and tranquil courage, by a real
love of country and of mankind. Great, interests
have had noble martyrs. Stephen, fell under the
murderous hail of stones, at the outset of Chris
tianity, and when his life seemed-most precious,
to those who made great lamentation over `him.
So this young man has fallen in the beginning of
the conflict,..to preserve this western continent,
this noble country; our. constitution, our order,
our prosperityk the liberty of the masses of men
every where from treason, anarchy, aristocratic op
,
pression and final ruin We can safely , say,, the
cause was worthy of. , the martyr. It is a high
eulogy to imply that the martyr was worthy of
such a cause. He died' that his country might
not die. He died that the great eaperiment of
self-government in this land, which has made, man
.
everywhere feel that he was truly man, might not
fail; to the despair of humanity itself in all time
to come. In his case, -as in another, it may have
been "expedient that one man, should die, that
the .whole nation perish , not Gen. Des Saix'
on. the field , of Marengo, lamented in dying, that
he had; but one life to give for the glory of France.
lieutenant Greble, dying in a conflict with trai
tors, might have lamented that he had but one
life to give, for such a constitution and such la
country.
know that his friends are now inconsolable
for his loss. I know that no public considerations
can staunch the wounds of their bleeding hearts;
but to the circle that loved him, it must begrate
ful to know that in , his first conflict, he gainedA
weed which thousands might,envy;—that by per
severing and martyr bravery,' in 'circumstances of
trial and abandonment, he has written his'name
where neither his country nor himktiniq will 'ever
allow it to be effaced. Wherever the history Rf
this great conflict shall go in ages yet to come,
and in generations yet unborn, "this that he hath
done shall be told for a memorial of him." 5 ,
To this bereaved circle, we would suggest that
our young friend has only met 'the destiny of ,a
wise providential appointment as to the time and
mode of hfirdeath. His life, though brief, has
been complete, if in 'any *degree he has imitated,',
the Blessed One, who said, at a little over , thirty
years of age, in doing , and in bearing : fcl have
finished the work:thou gayest me to do!" This
is now a house of 'Mourning,- clouded with sorrow;
but over this weeping circle is the rainbow of the
covenant.
,"All things work togetheffor good to
them that love God."
For the Anietioan Presbyterian.
LIEUTENANT JOHN T. GEEELE
The sad circumstances connected with the death
of Lieutenant GREBLE already before the pub
lic. He fell at the early age"of 27=a sacrifice
his country his high sense of duty. A life
acquaintance with. this remarkable young man
..enables us to say that the symmetrical excellen
cies of his charaeter furnish another tribute to the
value of a careful, religions home-training."' 'He
of - l;
never made a public profession "
re i religion ,`'his
extreme conscientiousness was. probably the cause.
He distrusted.a personal fitness to: meet • his own
-high standard of Christian obligations.. Those
who knew himintimately, regarded him as a me
.
- del of -Christian morality. His habits of daily
prayer, reverence he the Sabbath,and abiding
trust in •god, furnish the principle's ,which his
life. was the 'development.
We are permitted to make the'-following late
restina extract froni his last letter to his family
written' the day , before his fatal engagement. ,
Dated: -
BUTLER, iggiITPORT'S NEWS,NA. ,
. • gundaY. J.lnie 9th, 1861;
,I :qt is. a delightful Sabbath morning it haa a
Sabbath'feeling about it. It yon. had lost the run
of the week, such a dayas'io-day would tell you
it was the Sabbath. The camp is unusually quiet;
and its stillness broken-bylittle except , the organ
tones of some of the Massachuititts men, who are
on the beach , sinoinc , deiiitioribl 'air; Last 'S' b
batli the men wake' at work in ihe'.iiencliess•
is their first day of-rest. A great:dealOt,work
has been done, and;_during.the lastiweek)tmder
unfavorable circumstances--raini days. 'Yi r itil F
very little more labor, our whole line, of entrench./
taint will be finished- There is a little 4i:timing:
off to be done, and a magazine *be little
4,little'
earth to be thrown up in front of some heavy co
lumbiads that have been mounted, and some store
houses' to be buil trbntrenough: lfarbeeednne!te
allow the rest to be completed-by general details r
and to give a chance for drilling.
Colonel Phelps has appointed me Ordnance offi
cer of 'the post - . We'd° not. do* fear any *attack;
-the position is too Strong.. ..LhEiax that: Davis has
given the Federal :troops ten daysYtime in which
to leave the soilrofArirginia. < Thd time is nearly
up—but we are kot guite ready to move away.
I hope that May be given courage and good
judgment enough to do well My, duty in any cir
cumstances in which I may be placed. As far as
I can see, there is not much dangers tolie incurred
in this campaign. At present, both sides "seem
better inclined to . talking than fighting:l If talk
ing could settle it, by giving the - supre,roacy forever
to the general government, I think it Would be
better than civil war; but that talking can settle
:it, I tip not believe."
Just before starting for the battle in which he
was, killed, he wrote on apiece of paper, in pencil,
for his wife
"May God bless you, my darling, and grant
you a happy and peaceful life. May the good Fa
ther protect you" and me, and grant that we may
long live •happily together. God give me strength,
wisdom, and courage If I die, let me• die as a
rbrave-aad honorable - maw; letno - etain of dishonor
hang over me or you." * * *
The sacred seclusion of home shelters'the an
guished - hearts that loved him. most. But his
country claims the benefit of his example; and
heie the patriotic parents, who have trained saeh
a son, furnish almost a parallel to the noble Ro
man, who, when his son rushed into 'his Femme
with wild depressions of grief in connexion ,with
his brother's name, exclaimed:
• ..• " What has he done? •
Has he forsook his post? has he given way?
Did he look tamely on and let them pass?"
" I met him, -
Borne on the shields of his surviving soldiers,
Breathless and pale, and covered o'er with wounds.
Long, at the head of his few faithful friends,
He stood the shock of a whole host of 'foes—
Until, oppressed with multitudes, he greatly fell!"
c. Thank.s to the gods! my boy has done his duly!"
(Then, as the corpse approached:3
, c Welcome, my son! Here lay him down, my friends,
Full in my sight, Mot I may view at leisure -
His bloody corpse and count those clorious wounds.
HoWbeautiful is death, when earned by virtue I
Who would not be that yonthl What, pity is it
That we can die but once to serve our country.
Ishould have blushed if Cato's house had stood
Secure ,and flourished in a,civil war.
Portius, behold thy brother, and remember
Thy life is not thy own when Rome demands its"
NARRATIVE OF THE STATE OF RE
LIGION
WITHIN THE BOUNDS OE THE FRESH x WERIAN
CHURCH IN THE 'UNITED STATES Cr AMERICA,
• MAN, 'lB6l.
A Narrative of the State of Religion in an ec
clesiastical body must have reference to both the
internal life and the external manifestations of
that life., 'This idea will give shape to our report.
The spiritual forces of our Church have'this year
been recruited by many revivals, and by the dili
gent use of the ordinary means of grace. The
number of revivals reported in the Narratives
placed in the hands of the Committee is sixty-six.
Had every special quickening enjoyed by our
churches been noticed, this number would doubt
less-hare been greatly increased. What ia'stYled
a revival by one is deemed by another scarcely
worthy, the name. One minister is like the woman
who called in the neighbors to rejoice with her,
When one piece of silver was fotind; while another
holds no jubilee over many converts, but rather
mourns gild they are so few. The revivals re
ported were neither so many nor se powerful, as
those which have taken place in some former years;
but they have brought gladness to many-hearts on
earth and in heaven. This spiritual life of the
Church appears to have been greatly promoted by
the " Week of Prayer," observed very extensively
by various denominations in , our country during
the first days of this year, at the call of British
Christians, and Missionaries. We notice with
pleasure, that, there is an increasing dispesition
use our excellent Skitter Catechism in the instrne
tion of the young, and to introduce the expOsitory
method of preaching into our pulpits. The evi
dences are abundant., also, that our Church is. be
coming more and more pervaded by . a spirit -of
Christian denominationalism; not a'sectarian. spirit,
which should be our abhorrence; not an exclusive,
nufraternal spirit, which is inconsistent with' the
generous liberty promoted by :our .Institutions;
but:a spirit efJove for our .cherished symbols and
modes of, government, which contributes tun:take
both better Christians and more loyaf,Preskyte-
The interior life of the Churbh, tints lostered
and developed, has - revealed itself during the past
year, in .coxitinuous and healthy grewth. Many
muses:have
,combined to Cheek this growth. Pi
' naneial embatrasaui'ent ha& 'prevented a hOped-For
exPanairin in - some of the-wealthier emitumnities.
In. States, Where , emigration has,..introdriceil the
nomadic element into society, our infant enterprises
have been_ _ greatly retarded;, while in Kansas fa
mine and political.troubles have conapired to 'de
feat the hopes of all denomination's. There are
nevertheless some anbstantial evidences'of growth.
Several new churches are'repOrted as brought into
our connexion during thelear, and several new
housesof worship as erected ,within our bounds.
The number' of communicants also is largely in
',creased.
The activities' of ciur churches -have revealed
I themselves, .firstly, in a careful 'ordering of each
individual. " household .of faith.". The . Sabbath
schools are almost invariably represented as, in a
flourishing condition. In three cases, at least,
libraries for" - the use' of the Pastor` have_ , been
founded. - r
, The activities of the churches have dev,eloped
themselies, secondly,; in a ,ready contribution to
the great benevolent Institutions of the day. Many
of our churches responded' nobly to the appeal. made
by the A. B. C. P. M., to relieve it, of. debt before
its last Anniversary, the jubilee of its history. But
werigretthat Our contributions have greatly failed,
since the opening of the political troubles' by whieh
' our country is at' present unhappily disturbed.
The cause of Education has received ionic new
• impulses. Our new Theological Seminary at ,
Chi
cago-is just about to`go into operation"; and our
'ether Seminaries and Colleges have been attended
by an unusual number *of students. There is how
ever, too much apathy as yet in regard to the Edu.-
cation of Candidates,for the Ministry.
'The activity of our churches in Mission-schoel
enterprises sheUld' not pass unnoticed. In New
"York' in' Brooklyn, in Philadelphia, - in' Chicago,
-Wilmington, and' in' other. cities, sPecial efforts
hive beetrinade to reach, by evangelical influences,
Ihe children; and' through them the adUlts in the
"Streets 'findlanes." The results of these efforts
are surprising., Commodious charOls hive sprung
up in the iiiidat of wretched dwellings. Hundreds
havebeen.taken from the slippery walks and filthy
guttersrand taught at once the le4ons of self
respect and' of Christianity. The`'" Stieniei's
Prayer"'has been turned into that of the penitent,
Artilihe'aing of. Zinithai taken the place Of the
obscene ballad New Chirches have beenlarined
the'eenti*es,ablished by the op~'ntng of thine
schools, and older ieplemiislted
by 'theta. *- Aortianiem has snfferediitit a little by
these agencies, .aid the spiritual graces of a
mil
trtiide of teichers ! been greatly kiedeloned bv
self-denying labors : • -
An unusual egree of sue ess has - attended the
Missionary efforts' of the i paklear' aMeng the Da
lota' -•There hive L liso been some''
kahtiar :adialneek itiadn among our foreign `oti,
• laden, especially a:Mang - the G ermans' ir the Pres
bytery Newark : z : ,
... .
is pp
....-.-
`The cause of Temperanceerance has declined. T .
failuie of the fonds reibitory legislati on
secure its adoption, mita thorough adininistrati,,,
his disconragedthetn4=Xpon.this they had ti,„ l.
„themselves and-burnt their ships. All other IL ,:
.
sures they had deliberately abandoned ; so 11,
when this failed, they-could neither go fersr l .' ,
tmor ,,,ro.ta.ane,their-steps.,,, -So al-least they h ave : 4
peered to feel, and many of them have done u.
thine' Some of the forger friends of Temp ri
er „,.
have retreated so far from prohibitory legiAtti ,
as to maintain that the true theory is, to a d,,,
ic e -A : aw l:l f-light *hits and fermented licialm., :,`,
thus substitute a comparatively harmless st r i n , ll :
lant for the poisoriedfe.ompounds which have 1,,, : ,
so generally Used; - thus again we find the ~:r ,
grass-grown road of moderate drinking trodd en i, 7
Christian feet., in some places, however, ur ,„ u :,
efforts have.been niacleAcr secure pledges to t w..
abstinence as will froin the dangerous wine of t k .
currant and blackberry, as from those of the 4 (
clusters of the vine.- In some instances a 1 1, ,!
companiei Of soldiers, - enlisting,,in our armies, I I ,:
signed the Temperance Pledge before enterin. 4 t i„'
camp.
The cause of Sabbath Observance has receiv,l
special attention in some Of our cities, especial];
in New York, with the happiest results.
This year is not without its mortuary recor,l
More names . than usual of honored breth ren
in the ministry are to be found in the ]it o f
those who have exchanged their earthly serTi Q
for their heavenly rest. This list is as folloz,,
viz:
William P. Curry, of Presbytery of Geneva
John Smith, tg Bath.
Henry G. Miles,
William Waith, " Buffalo.
Dung C. Houghton,t D. D., " Genesee
Daniel Crane- - " .Hudson.
John Gray, " North River.
William Bradford, " New York,
Elymas P. Rogers, " Newark.
Amos Bingham, " Philadel'a,
Robert Mcßride " "Washtenaw.
Paul Shepherd, " Monroe.
Chester Birge,• " Portage.
Charles A. Boardman, _ " Trumbull.
Alfred IL Betts, " Elyria.
James Wilson "
Israel S. TiOttibly}: tel " . Athens.
Lewis Godden, " Madison.
H. Spencer, " Chicago.
C:yrus E. Itnierderans, " Columb us
Abraham Van , Stavoren, " Keokuk.
George Delavan, ~ . " Dubuqu e .
David Davies , " Dakota.
One element which has - largely entered into th e
recent religious history of our Church is the spirit
of Christian patriotism. The wave of parrintie
feeling- Which has poured over the North, has in.
deed, lifted all upon its breast, or overwhelmed
those whom it, has not lifted, as a tidal wale at
the same moment buries the treacherous rocks and
floats the gallant ships. Large numbers of the
memhersot% our churches have enlisted to fish
their conntifS battles, feeling that the time has
come; when those of the followers of the Prince
of Peace who have no swords should sell their m.
meets and buy them. Our stalwart men have
taken up arms to conquer a peace, which was im
possible without ,
War. Many of them hare true
into the. field with a thoroughly religious spirit.
In some instances, they have marched almost lite.
rally, with , a sacred , song upon their lips, following
that banner Which the Lk& hath given them u,
be displayed because of the truth. They hart
carried religious influences with them lute
camp, establiahing prayer-meetings, and distribu
ting Bibles and Tracts at every opportunity.
Many instances of hopeful conversion in the camp
or the garrison arc' reported. More than one Irk
learned tolnake himself a living sacrifice to (3od,
by first laying himself upon the altar of his country
Providentially our. Church is 'free from those an.
happy divisions which separate, brethren of many
denominatieni, in thistrying hour. Whatever th,
issue of the &mini cOrdlicts, we shall share all
in its triumph's or its humiliations. Whatever
the feelings With which some may enter the fieli
of strife, we are glad tcy.know, that fromourchureho
have gone '
so litany who will ever keep the Cree
above the Flag; • whose courage will get its nave
from prayer rather than' from passion, and wlm, if
sent to 'the judgment-seat by the hand of violence,
Willi have. no account to render for shedding a
brother's blood in arLurtholy wrath.
By order;of the General .AStierithly,
iftibiiii.AS B Ookikr, Moderator.
&mug :F. TrAormaa);Siated
THE AMERICAN- CRISIS
Meanwhile, does - ,not our,heart thrill within us
_with mixed feelings of, shape, and admiratio,
and pride, as we. behold the North girding itself
'far the battle ? . - How'haV' We scorned the Ault!•
rleanalor their' worship of 'the "' ` almighty dollar!'
, Lof the , merchants of. New York—New York, the
one city of all the .Notth:most. dependent on it
Southern interests, the. fitter-out of slayers, the
stronghold, of the Democratic party for years—
wine forward "to .pledge their support to the Union
with a patriotism and Self-sacrifice which put our
sneers :to:the.hlush. For the ifst time in history,
sinee,t„he days.of old Rome, wben Ilannibal was
ender her• capital = the most arrant coward
under heaven—has Shown itself couraoreous.
"Bears" are'riowlere; - Mciney' 'Chooses to be abun
dant; the prices gif-Xorthern,i. e. loyal, securities
struggiumot
As we lookiupon these things, surely we Eng
lishmen ought .feel that these men of the North
are indeed "bone of our, btine and flesh of our
In l spite 'of the large increase in old Eng
larrs eolOnial New England, though new
dwelling apart, is still ter mother's: truest counter
part. Search the annals of America, and yell
cgill see,thub l ii . T a ,natural gravitation, almost all
- that IS - noblest and best ; has ever sought the Ninth.
- Nei* . England and Pennsylvania' are. peoples from
the - first carrying with them orderly freedom, and
self-respect; and energy : indomitable. Virginia, and
the. Carolinas, represent at. the outset but the sue
gles and:sn ra::Mbles of broker 'down gentlemen and
Tecliless l 'inlieniigerS. Any of moralbeinitY
which attaalo'the histortof the South soon it
come gloom. The toleration of Nary
land ends in the, disgraceful Totnclyism, of Balti
more: . The bright of Pcorgia's freedom
leads duly to the sad between Ogle
thorpe and the Wesleys, and the shameful sane
-Valuing of Slavery by-Whitefield. Since the Ame
rican - .Revolution; even more than before, each
worthier. batch of European emigrants—with one
single npteworthyptc:eption, the Germans of Teso
=has invariably settled in the Free . North and
IVeit. And'Us to the lade* recent accretions to
the ;South; is there 'one that does'not estrange it
more and More from , its:kinship with ourselves?
'Tow much, havP !Ain t cPulmon with the mongrel
population ollanisiana,,Pilirida, Texas, as com
pared eveti,With bahloi . 4 -t wiiich. the indomitable
enero3of tice ?i llitertli'hietransformed from one Of
the sinks of the earth into a settled country, in
half the .time which it has taken to introduce
the merest elements of• security and decency into
Texas? -
Yes; theitrong ties Of bl66d bind England above
all, yet not only England; but with it all the na'
tionst of free tirotestant Europe, all the variol b :
- branches , of
_the,great Teutonic race, Germans and
Xs...Po i .,l4, § wedpg, And Norwegians, essentially to tbe
alene cannot explain the 0 . 11-
din* tuiroVelf for spectacle of Northern self de
votion. • Nothing, as it seems to 'me, can explain
it but-that'strana o e religious revival which a few
-
years ago,. rah} through the , United States, but ex
hibited sPeCial power, 4 the North. It v as
'mixed up, no doubt wiiliinVet extravagance and
much. 'hypocrisy; ltlidiAteeniedi to end in "
practical result; it has appeared to many, and of ten
to myself,.;ll l o. MIL
pat sing. cloud. But. I doubt
greatly Whetlttrjpffiat,religions revival there ore
not sown tic:seeds 'Of. tile present, national move -
Mint. ' `TlV'nii t Jet tilifahsionate observers did not
fail toiiiotiegirtlihrfor the fiist dine it startled aten
hithertoJabsortedin:the pursuit of wealth, by sill
dor gligimpsof Ajvorld tbeyond; It must bare
f
teell to many a,,Arst revelation of the really o.
o s't r'es j Ita've hrolten up the !DI!
preparation Surbly it was the Di'
preparatrowfor tlifsohnurotterrible trial.
June 20,
Macmillian's Magazine