€mmt feimcjfifet VHCRSDAT, 9BPTKMBSB 10. 1881. JOHN W- HEARS. EDITOR. A PROCLAMATION B? THE PRESIDENT OP THE UNITED STATES. Whereas, A joint committee of both Houses of Con gress has waited on the President of the United States, and requested him to recommend a day of public hu miliation, prayer, and fasting, to be observed by the people of the United States with religious solemnities, and the offering of fervent supplications to Almighty God for the safety and welfare of these States, his blaßsing on their arms, and a speedy restoration to peace j and whereas, it is fit and becoming in ail people, at all times, to acknowledge and revere the supreme government of God—to bow in humble sub mission to His chastisements—to confess and deplore tbeir sins and aggressions, in the full conviction that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and to pray with all fervency and contrition, for the par don of their past offences, and for a blessing upon their present and prospective actions; and whereas, when our beloved country, once, by the blessing of God, united, prosperous, and happy, is now afflicted with factions and civil war, it is peculiarly fit for us to recognise the hand of God in this visitation, and, in sorrowful remembrance of our own faults and crimes, as a nation, and as individuals, to humble ourselves before Him, and to pray for His mercy; to pray that we may be spared further punishment, though most justly deserved; that our arms may be blessed and made effectual for re-establishment of law, order, and peace throughout our cguntry, and that the inestimable boon of civil and religious liberty, earned under His guidnneo and blessing, by the la bors and sufferings of our fathers, may bo restored in all its original excellency; Therefore I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do appoint the last Thursday in September next, as a day of humiliation, prayer, and fasting for ali the people of the nation, and I do earnestly recommend to the people, and especially to all ministers and teachers of religion, of all denominations, to all heads of fa milies to observe and keep that day, according to their several creeds, apfl modes of worship, in all hu mility, and with all religions solemnity, to the end that the united prayer of the nation may ascend to the Throne of Grace, and bring down plentiful bless ings upon our country. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the great seal of the United States to be affixed, this 12th day of August, A. D., 1861, and of the Independence of the United States of America the eighty-sixth. By the President, Abraham Lincoln. William H. Seward, Secretary of State. CITY SUBSCRIPTIONS. The subscriptions of a large number of our friends in this city are now due, and our collector has commenced his calls. To those who have already responded, we tender our grateful ac knowledgments. Others, as they are called on, will please make prompt payment of the small sum due, —small from each individual, but in the ag gregate a very serious matter to us. Attention to this notice on the part of those whose bills are now falling due, both in the city and country, would place our paper beyond the reach of those contingencies which of late have threatened its existence, ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE OBSERV ANCE OF THE NATIONAL FAST DAY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26tH, 1861. It is recommended by the Pastors’ Associa tion that each of our churches hold a public service, according to the provisions of onr Di rectory for Public Worship, Chap. XIV., 6, at 11 o’clock, A. M., preceded by a prayer-meet ing at some convenient hour. In the afternoon, Union Prayer-Meetings will be held in the following churches, services, in each case, to commence at 4 o’clock, P. M.: I. At Dr. Brainerd’s Church, (Rev. J. McLeod to preside.) Speakers—Rev. Drs. Smith and Jenkins, Rev. Messrs. Brown and Hears. 11. At Clinton Street Church, (Rev. E. E. Adams to preside.) Speakers—Rev. Mr. Barnes, Drs. Malin and Wallace, and Mr. Bruen. 111. At Buttonwood Street Church, (the pas tor, Rev. T. J. Shepherd, to preside.) Speak ers—Rev. Messrs. Adair, Miller, Davis, and Robbins. It is also recommended that prayer-meetings be held in the evening in all the churches. RECEIPTS OF THE AMERICAN BOARD GOOD HEWS. We are rejoiced to learn that the receipts of the American Board for August have reached the sum of $45,000. The amount usually re ceived for that month has been from $lO,OOO to $12,000. Two legacies, amounting to $ll,OOO, have been received, and are included in the sum stated above. The financial year has closed and the debt will not be over $40,000. , This is much less than was expected, and we are very mneh gratified to find the sum so small- It was feared, two months ago, that it would reach the sum of $lO,OOO. The meeting of the Board will be held in Cleveland, October Ist. A FEARFUL JUDGMENT. There is nothing more terrible than the signal reproofs often administered by Providence to the lovers of pleasure in the midst of their unhallowed revels. A party of sight-seers, who were spending the hours close on the dawning of last Sabbath morning in one of the Theatres of our city, and who were expecting soon to be entertained by the loose shows of the ballet, were appalled by the spec tacle of one of the dancers, rushing prematurely upon the stage, her flimsy garment ail in a flame. And as the auditors, notified of the suspension of the performance on account of the accident, were leaving the scene lately so gay, what a deep and dreadful tragedy was being acted out in earnest behind those soenes! The flames spreading from one to another, created an ungovernable panic among over twenty of the unfortunate creatures connected with the dancing part of the establish ment. Some jumped from a height of two stories into Sanßom street; others sprang down from point to point on the stage, while others ran wildly to and fro with burning dresses, and bodies blackened in the flames, communicating the mad element from one to another until the clothing of thirteen or fourteen Was on fire! From two o'clock until nine, last Sabbath evening, no less than six of them died most miserable deaths; the remainder it is hoped will recover. What a sudden plunge from gayety into honor? What a warning to the eighteen hundred pleasure-seekers, who all, hv the mercy of God, escaped without a panic, and without disaster 1 Will they heed it? »Out of respect fbr the dead" the perform „™,*?* "” sl * ” sh,i “* *" is going oh as usual again. PEACE OF HIED. This is the jewel of Christian experience, the pear] of great price, the treasure hid in a field, for which a man might well and joyfully give all he has, id exchange. The times in which we lire seem unfavorable to its existence, in any large measure. Many sigh and long for quiet. They are tossed to and fro with every conflict ing aspect of the qnestions now pending. They bitterly lament that it was the order of Provi dence that they should live to witness such scenes of strife and carnage. Or, if they take a different and more hopeful view, their minds are so absorbed with the-contemplation of pass ing events and the calculation of probabilities, that they are the prey of a consuming restless ness, which even invades their sleep. All this is common—it is not unnatural—but, to the true Christian, it is as unnecessary as it is inju rious. Whatever agitations may afflict the worldly mind, Christians should, and they can, possess their souls in patience. They have done it, times and again, amid circumstances manifold more trying than those in which we are involved. The followers of Christ have not only been cool and brave in the field of battle, but have preserved their peace of mind amid the storm of death-dealing missiles. They have gone to the stake with serene joy. The removal of all, or of a considerable part, of the disturbing elements from oiir own, or the world’s affairs, ought not to be necessary to our peace as Chris tians. Nay, would it not be a confession most humiliating to make of our religion, that it was insufficient to maintain our peace of mind, ex cept in a tolerably comfortable state of affairs ? And, if it be real, will not its power to impart calmness be likely to appear, in exact propor tion as the world ceases to occupy our minds with its hollow pretences of good ? And as the affairs of time grow more perplexed, and pros pects more confused and desperate, does not the Christian see in all a clearer and clearer prospect of his Master’s Second Coming, which is to him the most joyous of all events ? When there are signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; when upon the earth there is dis tress of nations with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; what, amid all this wide-spread confusion, is to be the attitude of the Christian? When these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads ; for your redemption drawelh nigh. God in Christ reigns over onr world. It is a small, a very small part of his vast dominion. Even to the watching of sparrows, the clothing of the grass of the field with flowers, and the numbering of hairs on onr heads, its affairs are under his survey. The heathen are his inheri tance, and the uttermost parts of the earth a possession. When men rage against law and threaten to overthrow the very foundations of government, when they involve a peaceful Chris tian country in the horrors of civil war for the gratification of ambition, and for the upholding of a vast system of social wrong, when they threaten to turn back the centuries in their progress, and to bring to naught the great ex periment of self-government, inaugurated atsuch a cost by our forefathers, shall we believe that they are in the smallest degree thwarting the purposes of the Almighty? Shall we believe that a single life is lost, or a single sonl sighs it self away on the battle-field, or that a single ball or bullet speeds on its coarse, out of con nexion with the great lines of his everlasting decrees? Shall we allow ourselves to believe that the issues now shaping themselves were unforeseen to Omniscience, and that he will hold aloof, while might or chance leads them to con clusions to be graven broadly upon the pages of history ? If not, then how complete is the groond of our peace of mind 1 The plans of the infinitely Wise, are being carried into execu tion by these collisions and strifes of men. The clouds we so much dread are freighted with mercy. Behind the frowning providence the smiling face of Deity is hidden. It is his choice to move in a mysterious way; or rather onr short sightedness naturally enough makes his way mysterious to us. Bat, more than this, the Christian has a per sonal friend in this all-wise and almighty Euler. Peace should, indeed, overspread his sonl, when he reflects that it is to his own Saviour the reins of empire have been committed. The same Being who gave such marvellous proofs of love for him; who, to save him, took on him the likeness of Binfnl flesh, and became obedient nnto death—the death of the cross, is now go verning the world, and making all events work for the illustration and fulfilment of his plan of redemption. We need not dread the thunder bolt wielded by the hand of a friend so mighty, so wise and so near. Though lie slay me, yet will I trust in him. Calmly can we trace his footsteps, and follow the path of his flaming ar rows in the sky; they go charged with the high command: Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. We see his judgments abroad in the land, and are not confounded. The sense of his redeeming love shed abroad in ottr hearts, disarms them, of their, terrors. The Christian is complete in Christ. In Christ is all riches, all health, all wisdom and knowledge, all glory and all joy. Christ is all. In Christ—that is, so far as Christ sees to be needful and consistent with his true interests— the Christian lias everything: the world, life, death, things present or things to come; all are his. So far as these are withheld from him, be may feel that as surely as Christ reigns, they are purposely and wisely withheld, and that eternity will show it. If, in the convulsions of the times, any of them are snatched away or seriously im perilled, he may recognise the same intelligent, loving purpose devising his good. Meanwhile no power, no change can rob him of his Sa viour. Who shall separate him from the love of' Christ? What convulsion of the times can shake bis faithfulness, or diminish his affectiou, or deprive him of one ray of his glory, or viti ate his all-sufficiency and perfect adaptedness to the wants of fallen man ? Clothed in his righ teousness, reppsing on his covenant as on a rock, looking for his not very remote and most glorious appearing, what is there in the most ex treme changes of worldly affairs, and in the breaking up of the established institutions of men, to destroy the Christian’s peace of mind ? There is, indeed, much to interest him, much to call oat his energies, and his active, zealous and whole-souled participation. He may deem it bis clear duty to mingle personally in the deadly fray. But his peace of mind need not, meanwhile, be disturbed. Living and mingling in tbe world, be sees it from its spiritual side, and rises above it in sympathy and communion with Him who gives it its ordinances, and per ffujalrijlmatt and t&tntutt #»awpliist. petually sways it to his own glorious and holy purposes. A “CHRISTIAN” NATION- So we delight to call ourselves. In a passive sense there is much truth in the term. We are enjoying a civilization which owes its benefi cence to the teachings and principles of Chris tianity. Besides this, there is some open recog nition of Christianity in our laws. Official oaths are administered on the New Testament. The Christian Sabbath is a diesnon-— business trans actions on that day are not valid in the eye of the law; and the Christian people, not the Jews, are protected from disturbance in their worship by the suppression of all active busi ness pursuits on that day. Christian ministers are employed as chaplains in the military and civil service of the country.- if we deviate from these practices, that is rather the exception than the rule. Requiring mails to be despatched and carried on the Sabbath, invading the hours of the sacred day with the processes of national legislation and the like, are felt by all to be contrary to the spirit of our institntions. Yet, encouraging as all this is, how much more is needed before we can worthily bear the name of Christian, as a nation! To say nothing of the godlessness, the unbelief, the profani ty, the Sabbath-breaking of vast masses of the population, the law and the practice of our constituted authorities, in the State.and nation, are far behind what they should be. There is a great and absurd fear of overstepping the bounds of a due tolerance in religious matters. Let us, indeed, have the utmost liberality al lowable within the limits of a broadly con strued code of Christian morals, and Christian doctrine. Bat must a scrupulous sense of the rights of conscience tie our hands in regard to the treatment of such an enormity among ns as Mormonism ? Can we claim to be a Ghristian nation, while admitting to political equality such an instance of gross relapse towards Paganism ? We must deal with this organized and formida ble iniquity, when we have, by the divine good ness, concluded the struggle in which we are now engaged. Onr rulers and chief men frequently give ut terance in State papers to very devout and credit able sentiments. Yet there is, almost invariably, a strange absence of any thing in these utter ances which could identify them with Christia nity. The Deity is frequently and devoutly recognised, bnt when is the second per son in the Godhead mentioned or alluded to? How rarely does anything escape our officials which would indicate them to be any thing more than Deists, rationalists, philoso phers; about as well informed of Christ’s exist ence as was Socrates, or the Athenian worship pers, whom Paul found dedicating altars to the unknown God? Christians, and no mention of Christ ? A Christian government whose State papers, with all their religions allusions, might have been dictated by infidels who were only not Atheists? We believe we are witnessing an improvement in this respect. The recent proclamation of the President, calling for a national fast, and that of General McClellan requiring the observance of the Sabbath in the army, breathe a true spirit of Christianity. We scarcelysee how one, not a Chris tian himself, could have composed such a paper as the President's proclamation. Yet, even in this admirable document, we have a mere allusion to the connexion of Christ .with the hearing of prayer in the phrase, “ throne of grace.” As a Redeem er and Refuge of a sin-stricken people, we hear nothing of him. So in General McClellan’s order in regard to the Sabbath, which was as cordially welcomed by the country as the news of a victory, while we fully and gladly recognise its Christian inspiration so to speak, we cannot help noticing the absence of any name, but “ Creator ” and “ God.” Will it be argued that such a style of speaking will be without offence to the great mass, while dissent and opposition might arise in the minds of many at the mention of the Redeemer’s name? Yet if onrs is a Christian country, what need of such re serve ? Are we not deceiving ourselves, after all, in making this claim? Are sincere Christians, in official stations, subject to an unconscious pres sure, arising from the manifest and wide-spread absence of Christianity among the.people, which re strains them from bringing forward its distinctive features and language in their occasional appeals to the religious sentiment of the nation? If not, it is high time a style of address suitable to po lished heathens was abolished, and a distinct re cognition made on every suitable occasion of the fact that we have a religious character, as well as Turkey. If we are a Christian nation, there is one thing we ought to, and can, do. Nay, it is perhaps, the neglect to do it, that at this late day, leaves it doubtful what our religious status as a nation, is. We should teach our children, in the common, sdhootsfhe first principles of our religion. Among heathen nations, the indoctrination of the young in the religious belief of the nation, often con stitutes the principal portion of their training. Can we, as a people, claim to hold any religion which we care about, and yet neglect to commend it to onr children, as of least equal importance with any branch of knowledge we prescribe for their study? Are we a Christian nation, and do we suffer anything to avail as an excuse for the State omitting to Christianize her children? We know that a thousand difficulties may be suggested, but they should he overcome. A sys tem of truth, very general indeed, but valuable and Christian in its character, could be devised which would meet the views of nineteen-twenti eths of our population, and it should be thrown into a catechetical form, and made part of the in struction of our common schools, as mneh so as grammar and geography. The State owes it to her children, or she owes it to truth to give up the name of Christian. Quere: Is not God now punishing ns for the ab sence of Christianity from our national character? OUR PUBLICATION CAUSE. Onr readers will be pleased with the evidence given in our advertising columns, that our Publi cation Committee have not had their work para lyzed by the pressure of the times. Whilst the difficulties entailed upon an enterprise of this nature, by such a state of affairs as the present,- are great and peculiar, it still lives and acts. The Committee expect, with such a measure of support as they may fairly look for, to weather the storm and be ready for brighter skies and smoother seas. They hope that the fact that pastors are not visited by collecting agents, will not prevent tbe recep tion of contributions. We certainly think that this would be a poor reason for withholding aid. The modest appeal which they make for a'placi in the benevolence of the church; without claim- ing priority of other good causes, should not he refused, or ignored. The circulation of the Com mittee’s publications should bd promoted, and the cause should be presented as one of the regularly appointed agencies of the church'in its work of love to man. In this connexion w«- would notice and com mend for circulation, the'Almanac for 1862. an ironsides Regiment. Asa topic of bumiliationand lasting next week, we would seriously propose: the hesitancy of the religious and the better classes of the community, to take an active part in the struggle before ns. We feel as we should, apparently; we talk ear nestly, but few of us enlist. We do not, as a mass, evince the martyr spirit in this momentous struggle. Numbers from our churches, it is true, have gone; but the desire and readiness to go has not risen to any thing like a passion among the best part of the community. The contrary seems to he true of the South.; The cause of armed re bellion against one of tlje best of human govern ments, strangely enough, finds an abundance of active supporters amongjjthe ministry, the colleges and seminaries, and the highest circles of the southern people. The flood there are largely en listed for the worst of Jauses—while, to sustain the very best, the goo® among us show a very strange degree of slacking. We are satisfied to send away in the defence of the government, which is one of the very bulwarks of Christian progress in the world, men who/ in the majority of in stances, have no intense/soul-pervadiDg apprecia tion of the interest at sfake. And yet it is that alone that can truly make them heroes in the fight —match them with the excited, prejudiced, and high-spirited men—the elite of the South—who form so large a part if the rebel army. Even as it is, we may, by dii t of superior powers of en durance, and by the general completeness of all onr arrangements, piivail. Bnt Cromwell made up his mind, that tbe only material with which to meet the cavaliers of his day, with any hope of success, was an army if Bible-reading and praying men. . And we are quite sure, that such an army in heroic quality andlnumbers as would be speedily forthcoming, if the- churches should take hold, and turn the ensuing fast-day practically into an enlistment of volunteers from Christian congrega tions; such an artnyl would make short and com paratively bloodless'wOrkrof the insurrection. Cer tainly it is a shame'and" a scandal, and one that ought by no means tb go, down on the pages of history, that rebels have 1 been able to raise from a white population not qu|;e one-fourth of our own, an army believed to be/within a score or so of. thousands, as great as tbit of the Constitution and the laws. It is a shame, that at this late date we are, to so large an extern, on the defensive merely in this contest, and that i rebel flag is flying again, as in April, in sight o? the Capitol. Christian ministers and people should see to it that, as such, they are clear of the responsibility of this state of things. We do not regard them as altogether clear. They have ahi *h duty yet to perform. We want a regiment—nay a brigade—of believing, praying men in the army of tbe republic. We want such a body of min to give •morale to the army:.men who withoutrecklc ~ne or mere ani mal courage, can calmly! face death, borne up by the loftiest views of the cause in which they are enlisted, as welt as by tlie Christian s hope of ,4he future. We want men who can exercise the most implicit confidence m the divine protection amid every possible peril, whb with God for their friend, and Christ for their have no enemy in the universe to fear. Such men are not likely to give way to panic, and; when their characters are known, will prove a powerful barrier to its appear ance and spread among others. Such men, by their eheerful and prompt obedience to orders, will be an example of soldierly discipline to the army. From the regularity of their habits, their temperance and morality, they will always be likely to be in a high state of health and efficiency. Possibly, on that very account, they would be se lected for more dangerous service, and might thus run some special risks; but take them through the war, and it will doubtless be found, that their coolness, intelligence, |ood discipline, and good habits would bring off with less loss than that suffered by the ieckjcss, the profane, tbe in temperate, and the igiifnjnt. soldiery, who consti tute the mass of almost! every army. W-3 are pleased to learn that a movement is on foot, in this city, to form an “ ironsides” regiment. We hope it will receive a great impulse, and issue in one or more brigades'of Christian soldiers, as it ought to. As may bejseen in our columns, the brethren who have the matter in hand, naturally enough, endeavored to dbtain for their chief officer one who combined with the advantages of a tho rough military education, the high character of a minister of the gospel. It is a source of no little gratification to the friends and co-laborers of Dr. Wallaee in our church, that the first choice of these Christian soldiers for it leader in this holy and glorious undertaking, fell upon him. Nor is it surprising to us that Dr. Wallace, after mature consideration, has felt at his duty to decline the offer. The high ground which he takes in regard to the position of the ministry does him honor. In a few instances, ministers of the gospel in the North have thought differently, and, as in the cases of Col. Perry, ofNij?York, and Col, M‘Carter, recently commissioned in this state, have received positions at the bead pf regiments; we will not call in question the ejtimate which these brave men put upon their vocatiou as ministers; but we are glad to be spared here that indiscriminate rush of ministers into the raijks even as privates, which has prevailed all over'the South, and which has resulted in placing a j bishop of the Episcopal Church at the head of one of the grand divisions of the rebel army. j Bnt DnWallace is jclear, as we all are, upon the entire propriety of Christians entering actively into the conflict. His: [heart is in the work. He has a son in the advance —in the fore-front of the grand army of the Potomac; and he would rejoice to see him and his compatriots in arms sustained by a line of Christian) soldiers, gathering from every denomination in the North, setting up their banner in the name of the Lord, stretching out their wings to the breadth of the land, and sweep ing down with stern and determined front upon the armed champions pf the rebellious and unholy cause. . Can our approaching fast be put to better use than to confess our grievous short-comiDgs in this work hitherto, and to; stir up our congregations everywhere to a vigorous, united and simultaneous effort to amend them ? Let us remember that the acceptable fast described by the inspired writer, is one which not only leads to, but consists in, self-denying works of the highest practical value. The offering to our country and to onr Lord of a regiment of Christians, as the result of one day of humiliation in this city, would be tbe best possible proof that we are in earnest in responding to the call of our Chief Magistrate appointing the day, and would, we doubt not, draw after it signal proofs of the divine favor aod acceptance. While there may be, and doubtless are, other appropriate uses of the day, on the whole, we incline to. the belief, that such a course would most nearly answer its ends as a national and a religious observance.* A day which would bring out a spirit of martyrdom and self-sacrifice in such a cause, would be well spent; and, begun in fasting, might well conclude in thanksgiving and joy. THE CINCINNATI "PRESBYTER” OH RE-UNION. The discussion on the Re-union of the two branches of onr Church is becoming very inte resting. Besides the Quarterly, the Pittsburgh Banner, the Philadelphia Standard and our own paper, we now have the utteraDee of the Cincinnati Presbyter, in a leader of no less than four columns. The Presbyter is an “ Old School” paper, of very strong anti-slavery principles. Though there are some things which we re gret,to see in the Presbyter's article, especially its persistent attempts to be disagreeably per sonal, yet, on the whole, the deliverance is very encouraging. The spirit of the article is by no means what is desirable in the way of humility and courtesy—but there is enough in it to show that though there will be be some family Wick ering yet, the drawing together is very strong. Onr readers will not wonder that the ‘Presby ter is angry with the honest though severe article in the Quarterly, when we state that it still maintains that the Exscinding Acts are Con stitutional, and that both branches of the Church were about equally anti-slavery. Ho one can wonder that an editor who can believe such propositions should misunderstand the position and animus of the Quarterly and American Presbyterian. It is remarkable, rather, that he should be able to see so much truth, and we are disposed to rejoice in this; rather than to find fault with him, that, as to onr position in Phi ladelphia, he sees men “as trees walking.” We quote the Presbyter's conclusions, not that we may differ from them, but that we may agree in them. He comes to them by a strange path, but that is his business, not ours. The question with us is, not by what route he came, but where he is. Listen to the Presbyter: He first states that the part of our Church which were not exscinded themselves, but that went with the Exscinded Synods, were '“a large minority of the (original) Church, of sound principles .” Hexfc, that “ the Hew School body has cut loose from independency and voluntary associa tions to as great extent as the Old . School.” Then utters his opinion as to “the situation.” “ Good men in both Churches rejoice in the fact that the causes which have kept them apart are one by one removed out of. the way, and they deplore any thing that is calculated to widen the breach.” To which we respond cordially. Nobody agrees with this more heartily than all Phila delphia, at least on onr side of the house. The article in the Quarterly, to which the Presbyter objects, was written in order that the terrible lessons of a quarter of a century might not be forgotten. God teaches in history. The Quar terly desires earnestly that the Presbyterian Church should be re-united, but so re-united that the passions of men may never again be able to cause a violation of onr Constitution, or to bring the tremendons power of onr united Church to sustain oppression. It perceived that re-union is probable. It rejoiced in it, but it conceived that this was just the time to lay broad and deep foundations of principle whereon to bnild an edifice of re-nnion, that would not give away like a pile of sand, but stand forever, like a rock. It was necessary that its article em balming those principles should be so written as to be read. An impression was intended to be made that should not easily be effaced. The personalities of the Presbyter are of no consequence. The editor of the Presbyterian Quarterly, it may be proper simply to say, is per fectly well known in all this part of the country, to be one of the warmest friends of the re-union of the Presbyterian church to be found in it. He has been such for many years, and is prepared for every sacrifice that this union may be effected on principles that willlast until the millennium. That he was opposed to the action of the Assem bly at Cleveland, is a mistake. Though anxious to save the Southern brethren to onr church, it because of their attachment to the Constitu tion in trying times, not because of their pro slavery, with which he never had any sympathy, and because he earnestly desired a national, and not a seetional church. He went cordially for the paper that was adopted. In the drafting of this paper a modification was secured by Pennsylvania influence, So vital to them that the vote of most, at least, of that delegation turned on it. This course was adopted for two reasons. 1, The Southern brethren voted for an ultra abolition pa per as a piece of finesse. This absolved all North ern .moderate men from any further obligation to stand by them. 2. The paper as thus modified was so drawn as to prevent any division of our church at the North;, and strong anti-slavery men, perceiving that no principle was sacrificed by it, agreed to it to save the Northern church entire. Oar readers will see, therefore, how childish is the attempt to represent Pennsylvanians as forced into a measure, which was in fact a compromise to which they agreed in a body, bring consulted be fore the vote was taken. The Presbyter proceeds:—“lf nine-tenths of each branch of the church were to be put together in one communion, after the Southern General Assembly is formed, they would constitute a body as homogeneous and sound as either branch of the church is, or can be, while apart.” To which we say, Ament And a large part of the other tenth, we think, might come along. Finally, the Presbyter says:—“lt is the duty of all good Presbyterians to frown upon all efforts to alienate from each other brethren of a common faith, a common constitution, and a common name. And we are glad to say that the N. Y. Evangelist, and the Christian Herald, of this city, [Cincin nati] which, as weekly journals of the New School Presbyterian Church, cover more, than three fourths of the ground of the church, while taking decided ground for the distinctive, peculiarities of the church, are free from malevolent spirit, and publish nothing that is adapted to keep the churches apart. The same may be said of the Standard, of Philadelphia, the Banner, of Pitts burgh, and the Presbyter, which reach as many readers in our church.” We have omitted in this last extract the charge contained in it against the Quarterly, and only wish to say that this proposition has our hearty concurrence. Both the American Presbyterian, though the Presbyter is not very courteous in the ground it supposes it to cover, and the Review, ■which has subscribers in every Synod and. nearly every Presbytery in our church, would be cor dially in favor, though the Presbyter may not see it, of the re-union, on right principles, in one/ church, of all sound and true Presbyterians. GENERAL LYON. Lyon and Leonidas are not unlike in sound, nor, perhaps, in original derivation. If we have yet bad a Leonidas in our struggle, it was General Lyon; and the Kansas, lowa, and Missouri regi ments, at Springfield,, were the Spartans of the Western Thermopylae. Lyon felt that the enemy must be met at Springfield—with tbe disparity of forces, he felt it was a forlorn hope, perhaps did not cherish the expectation of victory: indeed, upon a close view of the enemy, it is said he ex-' pected defeat; but even at that risk, he felt that 1 a blow must be struck which would have a power ful moral effect upon the enemy, before the south west was abandoned and tbe path to Jefferson City and St. Louis made «o much shorter to the arch-traitor Jackson and his marauding crew. To accomplish these ends, he freely, and, it is said, with foresight of the issue, exposed his life, and, with hundreds of his little band, nobly fell in a hotter and bloodier contest than Manassas; and the sequel showed him to have-been correct in his judgment of the necessities of the case. As an army, the invaders have almost ceased to exist under the tremendous shock of that encounter. They have become a roving body of free-hooters. Tbe Missourians are spitefully ravaging tbeir own State. Hardee,and M'Oullough are slowly with drawing into Arkansas. The progress of rebellion in the State is at an end. The brave Lyon died as we might imagine, too soon, but manifestly not in vain. His kingly name will be linked forever with the redemption of Missouri from rebel ty ranny. And now that the brave warrior is laid to his rest, his will reveals a most touching proof of the depth of his patriotic devotion. He had already given his life, and it seems trivial to mention any other gift, as if it might come into comparison with that. But this selfish and calculating age needs to be reminded, that by General Lyon’s last will and testament, the country which paid, alas! too little attention to his exposed and weak con dition at Springfield, and so made the perilling of his valuable life a military necessity, has gained, besides tbe great political consequences of that death, the entire private fortune of the General. He bestowed it freely on the Government, Which he knew was half to blame for the exigencies of the situation wbieh hurried him on to battle and to death. Our latter-day patriots expect to be rewarded for living for the Government; the grave of tbe man who laid bis life and his fortune literally on his country’s altar, will ever stand as a rebuke to their pretence of patriotism, and as a proof that our matter-of-fact age can parallel the very ro mance of love of country. ATTEMPTED UNION OF FRESBYTE EIANS. In another part of our papeT, the reader will find an account of the recent unsuccessful attempt to unite the two Presbyterian Synods of New Brunswick into one body. The numerous colo nies of Great Britain have furnished an extensive, field for the exhibition of the disadvantages of excessive subdivision among tbe various branch es of the evangelical church, as well as opportu nities for the operation of the spirit of union. In Victoria, New South Wales, the union between various organizations of the Presbyterian body, has been complete and exhaustive, with individual exceptions scarcely worth naming. In Canada and in Nova Scotia, the bodies representing the United Presbyterian, and the Free Churches of Scotland, have recently united and formed a cor dial union. In each of these two cases, however, the colonial off-shoots of the Established Church of Scotland, have stood aloof. Not discouraged, however, by this unfriendly attitude, the Synod ' of the Free Church in New Brunswick recently made overtures for union to the Synod of the Established Church in that province* The issue, as will be seen, was not only unfavourable, but cold and discouraging. The disposition seems to be wanting in the representatives of the Kirk. “The Free Church went out from us; if they desire union, let them come back to us,” is the haughty and repellant tone of some of the speak ers. Others, and the greater number, spoke more kindly, but it appears to have been the unanimous sentiment, that the time for union had not yet come. The Free Church have displayed a’noble and magnanimous spirit in these transactions. They have scarcely been met in the same spirit by the Synod of the Kirk, a fact which the Christian public will put upon record, and a greater than the Christian public too. The name and privilege of a State recognition were allowed great weight in the deliberation and decision; The union was indefinitely postponed. But the force of Chris tian opinion in the colonies, and the pressure of their circumstances must, we think, bring these fragments, whose separate existence out of the mother country has so little significance, together, and that before many years. The course of things in the various branches of the Presbjterian Church, tends manifestly and strongly to union. We ac cept it as a providential indication of the greatest importance to the of Christ, and to the world. S YNOD OF GENEVA. PROPOSAL TO DEFER THE MEETING. Rev. W. N. McHay Moderator, and Rev. B. M. Goldsmith, Stated Clerk, desire notice to be given that-they believe a postponement of tbe stated meeting of tbe Synod of Geveva will be agreeable to the wishes and judgment of all the members, in order to give opportunity for the observance of the National Fast; and pro pose that at the time and place of the meeting there be simply a formal organization and ad journment to such time and place as may here after be designated in the papers. In this ease the attendance of a few members in the vicinity of Geneva will be sufficient. Letters from the seat of war in the .West. The third of this series of letters has been re ceived just too late for this week’s issue. It will appear in our next. WHAT WILL IT COST? What will it cost to furnish a comnanv of one hundred soldiers -with religious reading ? This question is so often asked that it is deemed wise to answer it through the press. B.ooks, averaging six ounces in weight and 12 cents each; for example the “ Camp Library ” of the Americaa Tract Sociefcy, which contain 25 choice volumes, can be had at the depository, 929 Chestnut street, for $3. . ! This will furnish a valuable stock of reading Cl but these books must be carried in long marches, with the baggage of the company. Books, weighing one and a half ounces, firmly hound in flexible eloth covers, as the “Pocket Library” of 25 volumes, at $1.50 to be had as above, will give a hook for each soldier’s pocket, at a cost of $6 per company. This is regarded as the best arrangement for men on active duties, and frequently changing their location. Six per company more, will give each man that admirable little book of texts of Scripture, suited to the changes of a soldier’s life, known as “ Cromwell’s Soldier’s Pocket- Bible.” Cromwell’s fearless soldiers derived much of their faith and courage from the constant use of this book. The American Tract Society has just put a beau tiful addition of it, 32m0. size, in flexible cloth binding, just suited for the pocket. Let every soldier have one. 0. N. L. INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE. OFFER OF A COLONELCY TO DR. WALLACE— HIS DECLINATURE. Phiadelphia, 4th Sept, 1861. Rev. and Dear Sir:— Shortly after the President's proclamation was issued in April last, a number of young men formed ourselves into a company for homo defence more than niueJentbs of whom, were members of different Christian Churches. Convinced that our country needed more volun teers, our company a few days since, concluded to fill up its ranks, (many having already left and gone into active service) and offer for the war at taching ourselves to some regiment now in the field. Feeling that a religious company would find it much more pleasant to be in a Christian regiment and satisfied that such a regiment could easily he formed, had we a good officer at its head, the un dersigned beg leave to ask if you would be willing to assume such a charge. Having been educated at West Point, we deem you eminently competent on that score, and al though a Christian minister, and actively em ployed in appropriate work, yet not laboring in .the pastoral office, no congregation would he de. prived of its spiritual guide. Ready and willing to aid in this movement to the extent of our power, may we not request your prayerful consideration of, and favorable response to our proposal? Very respectfully yours, •Jas. B. Rodgers, Robert Aitken, Geo. W. Grice, William Ivins. Rev. Benj. J. Wallace, D. D. REPLY OF DR. WALLACE, Gentlemen :—I have received your kind note, to which you, vjry properly, wish an answer, without delay, containing the offer of the colo nelcy of a Christian regiment to serve during the war.. The offer affects me more than I can say—more than you and the gentlemen associated with you probably imagine. My ancestry, on both sides, were fighting men, and on my father’s side we are of the old Scottish Covenanter stock. Edu cated at West Point, I love everything military. My heart goes with you, and.l can scarcely hold myself back from at once accepting your most flattering offer. But this is by no means all. It is a Christian regiment. The plan is a most noble one, and must be Carried out. Oliver CromWell said, that nothing could conquer men who had the'high principles of honor of the English cavaliers, but a higher principle still. “ Accordingly,” he says, “I raised such men as had the fear of God before them, and made some conscience of what they did. And from that day forward they-never were beaten; but wherever they were engaged against the enemy, they beat continually.” I am heart and soul in this war, and I long to see the Church of Christ taking the lead in it as ! they ought. Every thing that I hold dear in Church and State, is at stake in this conflict. My life or death is not to be named or thought of in such a peril. Whatever I can do, belongs to 'God and my country now and always. My con stitution, though not very strong, is elastic, and might strengthen by active exercise. The difficulty centres almost entirely in my profession. I know well that ministers have mi litary commands, on both sides, in this war, and I have thought the matter carefully over in regard to my own duty as one educated at the expense of the Government. My views of the ministry are the highest ever held by any part of the Church. A true minister is called directly by our Lord Jesus Christ to serve Him in His Kingdom. That Kingdom is not of this world. A minister sacrifices, all worldly aims and dignities. So I understood it when I resigned my commission in the army, for ordination in the ministry of the Gospel. I should certainly de cline any political office in the gift of the Ameri can people, if any such could, by any possibility, be offered me, and this could hardly be more strange to me than that a quiet person like my self should be offered the command of a regiment. Indeed, it is this strange offer, so utterly unsought, that disturbs me,.lest it should be a providential call that . I were refusing. If I were more disin clined to take this position, it would disturb me more than it does. In resisting my own tastes and inclinations, I gather conviction that I a® right. : The Bible, throughout, forbids ministers to take the sword, while it urges Christian people to fight on numerous occasions. The tribe of Levi never fought, though the Jews were among the most warlike of nations. Aaron never fought, w>r Samuel, nor Elijah, nor Isaiah. Saul was severely punished for offering sacrifice, and Hophni and Phinehas, when they carried the ark unnecessarily to battle, perished. David was not allowed to build the Temple because he was a man of blood. Yet military leaders, both under the old and new dispensations, were highly honored. Church history confirms my view. It has bee® deemed unseemly in every age, for ministers to take; military command. The exceptions are s° rare; as to confirm the rule. If I were a layman, I think that nothing bo* absolute physical inability could hold me b aC b- If I ean do anything for your plan, in any way, I shall be most happy. God will guide you to a leader, and he will give you favor, I doubt not. with His Church. Do not stop until you have three fall battalions. I trust you will spare ac labor to make yourselves fully efficient for tb honor of God as well as of your country. In thus most regretfully declining your offer, permit me again to express my gratitude to y<’“ and the gentlemen associated with you, and wf ardent desire that this noble example set to tb® Church may be fully successful. Very truly and respectfully yours, , Benjamin J. Waeia®- Jas. B. Rodgers, Esq., and others. . [Persons desiring information concerning t IilS regiment, can find it by calling at our office.] Sept. 19, Philadelphia, Sept. 10, 1861.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers