4S«w*» THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, I S OI. JOHN W. HEARS, EDITOR. NATIONAL REGENERATION. From such ft day as last Thursday, we may venture to hope for an upward movement in the national life. It was a passage in our history which contained the elements of a favorable change ; and faith in the plainest principles of Christianity must be wanting, if hope is not derived from suoh a general fulfilment of the conditions she pre scribes for obtaining the divine favor. There is no merit in fasting, humiliation and prayer. Yet while we utterly disclaim all right to a blessing, we may sin equally in failing to discern the grounds of confidently expecting the divine favor, when they are present, 1. We do not believe the fast-day was a form or a sham. The people entered into it heartily. They did take an humbling view of their position before God. Boasting was laid aside. There was no disposition to criminate other parties, and so hide our own sins. Even the N. Y. Independent said: It is easy to mistake a zeal against slavery for a self-renounoing hatred of ali national sins; to narrow our vision to that form of national iniqui ty with which personally we may have had least to do j to vent against that the reproaches that should first fall upon our own transgressions; and even to make our anti-slavery zeal a self-righteous covering for personal sins. Indeed, there is some tiines an impudence of self-assertion in this way that savors far more of Pharisaism than of philan thropy. Our topics of humiliation should not be primarily the affinity which our fathers made with slavery, nor the extent to which Presidents and Cabinets, Congresses and judges, parties and trade have sinoe sold themselves to the same alli ance to do iniquity—not first, what evil has slavery brought upon the land, but what evil have I con tributed to bring upon the land, slavery included, by my sins? Jehovah has a broader indictment against us than is represented by this one count, even with all its frightful specifications. That indictment reads, “A sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil doers, children that are corrupters! they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.” To sum up the iniquity of thisnationin one comprehensible charge it is Godless ness; not atheism in the philoso phical sense of denying the existence of God, but that practical atheism which ignores the law and authority of God, and the requirements of reii- Stion in both public and private affairs; —which eaves out of view the law of God as a rule of civil and social life, and the favor of God as an element of public prosperity. There prevailed, we have no doubt, an unwont ed keen sense of ill-desert, as rendering us just ly liable to these fearful national visitations. The judgments of the Lord were so manifestly abroad in the land, that the people were inclined to learn righteousness in earnest. The startling truth that a guilty nation was now being directly dealt with by a just and angry God, was received with the power of conviction into many minds. There was a disposition to search the heart, and inquire into each one’s responsibility for the faults and vices of the nation now called to account. There was a readiness to come back to the great truth, that the divine favour is needful to a true and so lid career of national prosperity, and that God cannot be ignored in the life of a nation with im punity. After all, he is a Sovereign. Our affairs are in the hollow of his hand. We live and pros per by his sole permission. We shall be delivered from our present troubles, and perpetuated as a great and united people, only as he sovereignly wills it. We believe this temper of mind was wide spread} that it wae, and remains, a popular senti ment. It is a most healthful one. An humbled people is next to a purified people. They who are deeply convinced of the error of their way are already on their road to be clear of it. Those who read in the dark spectacle of national calamity the dire results of a oareless security, as to the manage ment of our public affairs; a prevailing apathy to every question but that of acquiring property with the greatest rapidity; a lack of family disci pline, and true Christian training at home; a cold ness towards the cause of the oppressed, and a readiness to sacrifice or postpone their claims to the cause of party aggrandisement, or for the sake of temporary quiet; those who saw in these dis asters, as they never raw before, the results and punisHtaent of national pride, boasting, self-con fidenceandgodlessness, of Sahbath-breaking,profa nity, lust, corruption, and violence, would naturally turn with greater or less determination from these offences, or from the indifference or toleration to wards them, of which they had been guilty. We have great hopes that there was much genuine re pentance on the part of the people on that day, and though it would he idle to look for immedi ate startling results of the change, we believe they are preparing and will show themselves from day to day. 2. Such an amount of faithful instruction, plain pointed reproof, bold and unsparing exhibition of sin, and closeness of application, the masses of the people have, perhaps, not listened to upon the same day, since the days of the Puritan preachers. The ministry, as a class, perhaps never before had such a simultaneous conviction of the greatness and solemnity of their duties,aß on that day. Fresh from communion with the most weighty truths, keenly realized, their hearts stirred and aroused to an unwonted degree, they came forth to meet the crowds thronging to hear them and hanging upon their lips, under a new and strange inspiration. Great as were the crowds, and pecu liar as was the occasion, few but had strength to meet them without faltering; few but could fall back upon their commissions as ambassadors of Christ with unusual reliance. Vivid must have been the contact between truth thus uttered, and the quickened waiting minds of the people. We may be very Bure it sank deep. We may be very sure that the Spirit of truth was in those assem blies, writing it ineffaceably on many hearts. It oannot die. It must accomplish that whereunto it was sent. From its faithful ministers, by the grace of God not wanting, in any denomination, to the crisis, the nation has taken warning. It would have been a great mistake to leave out the preaching. The people were ready for simple prayer and exhortation, and they flocked to those exercises quite as much as to the preaching. But their readiness for the humbler exercises of the day, showed their minds to be in just the state to re ceive the instructions and warnings of the pulpit. It was a valuable day for the pulpit, and it will be found, we believe, fruitful of rewards to all who faithfully employed that instrumentality. 3. We look for revivals among the churches. We cannot but contemplate such a fast as among the very best preparation for a revival. What sin gle ohureh ever saw such a general and thorough observance among its own members, of a fast, ap. pointed for the exclusive benefit of the church, as was seen last Thursday? What one ever saw a more general disposition to renounce human dependence, and to realize the central truth of all genuine revivals? Not by might or by power, but by my Spirit, saitb the Lord of Hosts. The way, in our opinion, is signally and widely pre pared for the proper work of the church. Men’s minds, even among the impenitent, are softened. First principles are readily admitted and forcibly felt to be true. The fallow ground of indifference is broken up. The currents of feeling are running. Wordly good is renewedly convicted of insuffici ency. And even if the destiny of the nation is the prominent thought in all these religious exer cises, to our minds great appliances or much skill do not seem necessary to turn them into a strictly religious and personal channel. Let us boldly and hopefully undertake the work. Let us look confidently for a revived condition of the church. Let us beware of a want of faith which may overlook it when really on ns. And what permanent good can we expect for our country without a revived church in the midst of it? How shall we really get rid of the sins and corruptions, the ambitions and oppressions, the avarice and the godlessness which gnaw at our so cial and political structure, save by the power of a revived Christianity ? What, after victory, but to commence another cycle of worldly prospe rity destined to end in another era of blood? No! the national regeneration is impracticable without that enlargement and revival of ibe kingdom of, Christ, to which, we hope this season of humilia tion is leading us. GOD’S TREATMENT OF REBELLION. Men in their natural state are fond of pic turing the God of the Bible as a hard master. His laws they regard as rigorous, and his judg ments as severe. They think it unreasonable that the good qualities and the many praise worthy acts of unconverted men, should not be. allowed to weigh in the final estimate of cha racter and award of destiny. They try to frame to themselves a very different conception of Deity; they paint him as less rigorous, less ex act, less of a judge and sovereign, and more of an amiable, indulgent parent. To some limited extent, they take refuge in universalism, loudly proclaiming the inconsistency of the doctrine of eternal punishment, with the benevolence of Deity. “ The sentiment of the sinner’s heart is that God is severe, arbitrary, and cruel, in dooming the soul to penal and unextiDguishable fires.” All this is the effort, conscious or un conscious, of an uneasy conscience, laboring to lessen its load of guilt, either by dividing it and casting half the guilt on God, as the slothful one pound servant in the parable did, or by men framing to themselves a moral government and a Deity quite on a level with their own abase ment. They think God to be altogether such a one as themselves. How shall we correct these grave errors? How shall the sinner be made, in spite of his own complaints and self-delusions, to feel his guilt ? How, convinced that his case is so des perate, that nothing less than Calvary’s infinite and anguished sacrifice can keep him from eter nal wo ? The sin of man is rebellion. It is an attitude of rooted opposition to God’s law. It consists in elevating self, in some shape, into the place of God in the sonl, and thus overturning the divine order of the universe. It is setting up a rival interest within the rightful domain of the su preme Deity. It is nullifying the divine pre rogative amid his own subjects and creatures. It is giving our influence, and joining hand to hand and forming treasonable combinations with onr fellow-men against the divine autho rity. It is aiding to strengthen habits of thought and public opinion, modes, fashions, and institutions antagonistic to the divine laws. It is helping to keep a race in insurrection, to perpetuate a history of rebellion, to encourage a world in revolt. Rebellion is a capital crime. It involves in itself the spirit of all crimes. It strikes at au thority, which is the basis of all law. So far as it is successful, it overthrows government, with all its restraints and penalties against crime. It brings confusion, anarchy, insecurity. It pnts to flight all peace, all social order, all mu tual confidence, all prosperity, all certain hope of the future. Society is broken up and civili zation is thrown back. The dearest objects— even life itself—lose their value. When the foundations are destroyed, what can the right eous do ? They who live in regions visited by earthquakes, scarcely suffer greater distress, or feel more insecure, than the unfortunate inhabi tants of a country whose political foundations are liable to constant and violent vicissitndes. If the effect of a successful rebellion against a human government is so ruinous to every in terest, can we imagine the consequences of the breaking up of God’s government over his mo ral universe. Gan we pictnre to ourselves the dismay and the despair with which all the world would look toward the abyss of chaos into which every thing was rushing ? Is itnot unquestionable that the welfare of every one of the inconceivable millions of God’s moral creatures depends upon the maintenance of this government? And does not every act of rebellion strike at the permanence of this government, and at the hap piness of every one of these inconceivable mil lions? God’s government is righteous, just, and beneficent above all other governments; it is infinite in perfection. The highest perfection and happiness of man, and all creatures, are found only and surely in conforming to it. All would be lost irrecoverably and forever without it. Hence, the heinousness of the crime of ar raying one’s-self against it Hence, too, the justice of the most condign punishment against the offender. Hence, rather, the feeling of impatience and indignation among men, when a government moves slowly in the work of punishment, or exhibits a mistaken len iency to those who so sorely have disturbed the public peace and imperilled the foundations of order. We clamor for summary and terrible ven geance upon those who have promoted a cause less rebellion within a peaceable, prosperous and fairly-working government. We shall feel a pro found satisfaction when sentence of the law is ex ecuted upon them. Should our own near rela tives he found among them, we would scarcely de sire to interpose in behalf of those whose course has brought into needless jeopardy all that makes domestic relationship pleasurable or possible. And for the offender against God’s order in the universe, is it too much that hell opens wide her mouth ? As God in the order of that universe has unfolded his infinite benevolence and glory for his creatures, can he do less than unfold in finite wrath as the doom of those who raise rebel hands against it? Would not a complete ex ffMo&gijenatt attfl (inawpliist. pression of His infinite regard for the welfare of His moral creatures be wanting, without a he for those who would frustrate that regard, and who would make hell everywhere? What 1b e but the shadow of infinite love ? And surely they who would frustrate infinite love deserve it, and will suffer it. It is objected that unregenerate men are often, in the estimate of their fellow-men, adorned with every virtue. They are amiable, they are culti vated; they are liberal, patriotic, heroic. They adorn the family and Bocial circle, they are pillars of state; they discover, they invent; they are re cognised as the benefactors of their race; they are wise, they are mighty, they are noble. Shall they too go down to the sides of the pit ? Shall they have their portion with the criminal, the profane, the vile; with the fearful, the unbelieving, the abominable, with murderers, and whoremon gers, and sorcerers, and idolaters ? Look at those who are in arms against a free, a great, and a beneficent government! Is rebel lion confined to the ignorant, the vile, and the criminally inclined among them ? Has amiability of temper, or any combination of admirable quali ties; has any degree of social elevation, or intelli gence, or culture, restrained them from dyeing their hands deeply with the guilt of this most atrocious of public crimes ? And are these quali ties any excuse or palliation of their conduct? And when at length their purposes are frustrated, and their armed resistance to the laws defeated, and justice prepares her impartial awards, think you she will pass oyer the renowned,.the cultiva ted, the reputed virtuous, and single out her vic tims among the base and ignoble throng ? Think you, when her avenging sword is about to strike, that any one will venture to interpose the unsul lied character and faithfulness of the victim in every other relation of life, with the hope that it will avert the consequences of flagrant guilt in the highest of all human relations ? No, not in a single instance. No one doubts that rebels may act the part of kind fathers, faithful friends, and even obedient citizens in the narrower relations of public life; .but rebellion vitiates all; nullifies the value of all; throws the hue of hypocrisy over all. Rebellion may arise from grievous delusion and misconception, but even that can be no plea where the spirit of a government may be known and read of all men as in the highest degree benevo lent. God’s punishment of the causeless uprising of his creatures against his perfect government, will, in like manner, he severe, impartial, and just. It is true, but in the light of our .discussion, not strange, nor revolting, that many who were ad mired on earth for loveliness of character, for ge nius, for seeming excellence in the subordinate duties of life, are likely to have their portion with devils and lost spirits forever. In spite of all their good qualities, they were rebels in the high est of relations, and against the most sacred and awful obligations. Their very goodness in other respects will tell more fearfully against them in lnstead of calculating upon an escape, they should rather expect to be singled out as examples. At any rate, we see enough to con vince us that when God announces his judgments, every mouth will be stopped and all the world be come guilty before Him. EAST DAY EFFORTS Below we give a brief sketch of Mr. Barnes’ discourse as reported in the -Frees, also the fine peroration of Mr. Adams’ discourse on the same occasion : The Presbyterian church on Washington'square, of which the Rev. Albert Barnes is pastor, was weli filled. A great many straogeis were present, attracted by the celebrity of Mr. Barnes, to hear him define his views upon the perplexing questions now agitating the public mind. In his introduc tory prayer he was fervent, patriotic and conside rate. Our volunteers were not forgotten, and .Deity was besought to guide and guard them.— Our misguided countrymen were also remembered, and prayer was made that they should see the error of their way, and that truth might reign triumphant. The Reverend speaker selected no particular passage of Scripture for his theme. Like all his pulpit efforts, his address was more of a running commentary upon passages bearing upon the sub ject under consideration. Mr. Barnes, in his remarks, spoke of the fallacy in attributing a con stituency to the South ; that they did not recog nise slaves or poor whites as a constituency. He then proceeded to argue how ridiculous it was in the handful of men who groped together in daA ness and created this act of Secession, to say they represented a constituency. He also dwelt with much force, upon a change growing out of the loss of relative power, and, though they have had office and control of the Government two-thirds of the period since we have existed as a nation, when a change occurred they refused to submit. Of their commercial re lations he said: “ They have held Conventions enough to have had a commerce, but they have none. They have never built a steam frigate.— They have no manufactories, and they have no men either to build their ships or run their ma nufactories, if they possessed them. Their con tributions to the national treasury were small, and diminished year by year. They saw their power waning. They looked upon the great city of Few York with a jealous eye. Its millions of inhabi tants ; its forests of masts; its industry and thrift, they attributed all to cotton; and so New York thought a twelvemonth since. They said to themselves, Cannot we keep this cotton at home? Cannot we rival in commercial greatness Boston, Philadelphia, and New York? Cannot we see the grass grow in the streets of those cities?— Cannot we have manufactories, and produce the same fabrics as the North ? Mistaken men 1 they have made the dreadful experiment of < their cotton at home, and they are reaping the advantages. Mr. Barnes spoke of the change of views that had taken place in the South on- the subject of and related very graphically the various stages from the abolishing of the slave-trade in 1808, to the ceding of Western territory to be forever free from the taint of the chattel. Their own church in 1818, while in General Assembly, drew up a resolution expressing their abhorrence and detestation of the system of slavery. This resolution was drawn up by Southern men who prayed for its abolition , and abolition was the word used. * He regretted that anti-slavery had connect ed itself at the North with skepticism and infi delity. But the present trouble arose from Mr. Calhoun, who first advocated nullification. The South then became solicitous in their in quiries about the normal condition of the African. Science was brought into requisition to establish the doctrine that he was of an inferior order of being. Ministers of the Gospel lent their aid, and more sermons were preached from the imper fectly understood text; “ Cursed he Canaan,” than any other passage of Scripture. The slavery they preach was not like Hebrew slavery, but that which takes away liberty, dwarfs the intellect, separates a man from his wife, and robs him of his offspring. PERORATION OP REV. MR. ADAMS’ DISCOURSE. Sin is a greater curse than national disaster. Sin—your sin and mine I—the sins of the whole realm—heart-sin, and wrong life—these stir up the world’s forces and God’s forces against us! They are the heralds of destruction, and its train also 1 Get rid of sin, and you have no more griefs! Get rid of sin, and nations shall not die! Here then, to-day, will we bend in contrition, mourn over our sins, and forsake them! —over the sins of onr households, of our church, of our city, of our country!—over pride, and impiety, and avarice, and ambition, and lust of power, and slavery, and falsehood, and all others that rise in dark array before the eye of conscience and of God I Here plead we and humble our sonls, until the Lord God shall lay his right hand upon us, and tell us that we are heard and pardoned! He may arise, and go forth to replace the loosened foundationS tO bring the people back to God and the church also. Let our life be a bold, earnest, affectionate protest against sin— shedding healtbfnl influence on all the depart ments of our citizenship'; advocating justice, go vernment, purity, freedom, union, pfety; voting for right men and measures; setting onr forces sternly against pretence and political corrup tion ; stirring the country and the government, if needs be, to an earnest, and vigorous, and un yielding patriotism and energy against the most deadly and barbarous rebellion, until the wounds of onr bleeding Bepnklic shall be healed, and the waves of sorrow ebb away; and the chan nels of healthful action] be re-opened ; and the' nation’s liberty be proclaimed, and the fallen empires in hades miss tpe accession of another nation to their shadowy realm; and the hostile, living kingdoms be derived of a jubilee over our lost birthright ; and God appear more glori ously in history, not tojdestroy, but to save us! There is going on i mighty conflict in the world! The war which has been waged by the invisible powers swells up into our view, and its waves dash on mortaljshores. This conflict is for man; for mind; for sonls; for law; for re ligion; for the word or God; for the vindica tion of Providence; the kingly claims of the Messiah; and who Inall not say it?—for the slave! : ■ .- , Can we forget, that, in-the olden time, a na tion was visited with judgments in dreadful ac cnmnlation, because its avarice, and ambition, and pride, and love of power would not lift the yoke from Israel? Can we be deaf now. to the sound that comes toj ns from the mystery of Providence— " Let the people go ? ” Is it not as easy for God to put our government, and our nation, in the posjtion which he has caused one of our Generals to take, with regard to the question of human chattels? Is it not as easy for God to dispose of four millions as it is Of two thousand contrabands when his time shall come? It is not our yyork. It is God’s work. We had the opportunity, but did not dare im prove it. God will not offer it again. We may now stand still, and gaze, and wonder, and see our wealth absorbed, but we can do no more 1 nor can we stop the hand of God. Thanks for our impotency! Who shall say that we m&y not behold another exodus of an exiled people going home with spoils like those of Israel ? Not through parted seas, but over the broad Atlan tic, in the fleets of the nation, which shall have nothing else to do. possibly in the navies of the world 1 A people-returning home to settle, with new thoughtsraniiirew;powers, in their own ancestral wilderness ) to make Africa a stupend ous cotton-field; to change the commercial cur rents of the world; that land of the sun a history—a redemption 1 Sublime possibility 1 Who would not say, Amen ? America and Africa free! Free by the hand of God 1 THE CHRISTIAN OBSERVER. The following letter from the pen of Rev. Samuel Sawyer, who may be described as “ one who knows," is taken from the Christian Herald : The Christian Observer has been published for a series of years in the city of Philadelphia. It claimed to be a new school Presbyterian paper. Its Editor, Rev. Dr. Converse, was born and reared in Vermont. One would suppose, coming from the Green Mountain State, that his columns would never be prostituted to any apologies for Slavery or Secession. The Grand Jury of Phila delphia have, however, presented the Christian Observer as a nuisance, and a recent telegram announeos that the Post Master General has issued orders against its publication. We are . not at all surprised' at this result; -s . We have known Dr. Converse a number of years; . and have been a careful reader of his paper since 1845 ; have held correspondence with him respecting its proslavery character ; and in a Southern State, have watched its evil tenden cies and blightinginfluence. When the American Presbyterian was issued, as one of the Editors of the Presbyterian Witness, we commended its cir culation in the South. Dr. Ross wrote us that the South would “ stand nothing but Dr, Converse and the Christian Observer.” Many and many a time did Dr. Converse “plan and propose” to merge the Knoxville Presbyterian Witness into the Christian Observer, but the Editors, and many of the patrons of the Witness objected, be cause his paper was too pro-slavery even for the South. Every week, nearly, some inflammatorv appeal to sectional feeling was made in his journal", which had a most disastrous effect upon the churches. I doubtif Lexington Presbytery would have taken its ultra el|very ground, and I question even if Dr. Eoss arnj a few others would have seceded from our branch of the church, had it not been for the 'constant goading of the Christian Observer. I was a inimber of the Murfreesboro, Convention, called by 'the Southern Church, and advocated by Dr. Converse, and I was a delegate also to the “Ross Convention’'at Richmond, four years ago, where I once more met Dr. Converse, anxious to be the special organ and mouth-piece of the South, and m both these bodies I had a full and fair opportunity of gauging the influence of the Christian Observer. I felt then that it was responsible for much of the intense sectional feel ing of the South, and that it would succeed in effecting a division of the Church. Dr. Con verse seemed delighted with the prospeets of Se cession, and he promised its leaders, in the pre sence of us all, in open Convention, much North ern sympathy. He went home to use his paper in the fulfilment of his promise. So over zea lous was he in his abuse of .the North, and in his defence of the' South, that, at length his long cherished plan succeeded. Rev. Andrew Blackburn bad died, and the Christian Observer swallowed up the Presbyterian Witness. Since then the paper has<dejreloped more and more its true character, until’-bo Christian patriot could read, it without sorrow, mingled with, indignation. Littj&wl tjrinkof the ability of Dr. Converse as an Editpr, now,,in his old days, I believe he is responsible for the late division of> our Church, and . I-ata satisfied that the arm of rebellion will be weakened, and much “ aid and comfort” taken away from the traitors of the South by the suppression of the Christian Observer. The American Sunday School Union is pur suing its important work of gathering into Sun day-schools the multitudes of children and youth who are without other and better means of in struction. They rely wholly on the voluntary contributions of those who realize, in some de gree, the momentous consequences of neglecting such a work, to aid them at this juncture. The missionaries have shown a most self-denying spirit, in submitting 'to - a necessary redaction of their compensation, while their labours are unremitted. To .sustain them and furnish needy schools with a small library at the out start, requires much more than we now receive. To dismiss them and leave the little ones in ignorance is both impolitic and unchristian. The present executive officers of the Board, are, John A. Brown, President. Frederick A. Packard, Corresponding Secretary, and Editor of Publications. Mr Worts, Recording Sec retary, and Secretary of-Committee of Missions. Levi Knowles, Treasurer. Superintendent of Depositories* Alexander Kirkpatrick. Address of all the qffiders— -1122 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. The New York Teacher for October, con tains papers of great value on various educational subjects. The present is No. lof volume 11. It is issued by the New York State Teacher’s Asso ciation at Albany, at $l, per annpm. SYNOD OF GENESEE. This body held its annual meeting at Batavia, September 10th, 11th, and 12th. It is composed of six Presbyteries, and had an attendance of sixty-nine ministers, and thirty-five ruling ciders. Eight ministers were also invited to sit as corre sponding members, making a total of one hun dred and twelve in all. Rev. Edwin S. Wright, D. D., was chosen Moderator, and Rev. Levi Parsons, Jr., temporary clerk. The following action on the state of the country, was adopted unanimously, all solemnly standing : In view of the present solemn crisis of our country ; Resolved, in order, as follows: 1. That we acknowledge the hand and the agency of eternal Providence, the justice as well as the mercy of the God of our fathers, in our present affliction, peril, discipline, though our sins have'deserved worse; and we would be humble as sinners at his feet; while it is our prayer, O Lard, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known, in wrath re member. mercy. 2. That no power in the universe can remove our present maladies, and restore our country, demonstrate our National Union, the supremacy of law, the magnificence of order, the hope of just and universal freedom, and the due stability and expansion of our noble system of Government, with all necessary corrections and improvements; no such power is in existence—beneath the throne of the God of heaven and earth—for our relief and our success, and the hope of our posterity in fu ture generations. 3. That we cordially respond to the call of pur President, as previously and so properly recom mended by Congress, to be collectively prostrate before God, confessing our sins; and as one man, in humiliation, fasting, prayer, especially on the day appointed, Thursday; the instant; deprecating his just and terrible judgments; sup plicating his grace; and in wrestling importunity, saying, each of us, with the earnest and de termined patriarch, 1 will not let thee go except thou bless me! so, that not as a mere formality, not as an impious ostentation, not as a spiritual hy pocrisy—all so offensive to God—but, as in sin cerity and in truth, worshipping and interceding before God, for our beloved country, that God, our own God, may be its king, in mercy, faith fulness, and salvation.. 4. That the Synod rejoice in all the true evan gelical efforts, that are made for the means of grace furnished to our noble soldiers, anny and navy, in camp, in fortress, and afloat, officers and privates; that they may avoid the vices that pro voke the indignation of the Almighty; while the especial care of their commander, to honor the day of God, which was made for man , commands our cordial and joyous approbation; while it de-. serves the gratitude, as it encourages also the strength 'and the prayers of the nation. We pray that those huge destroyers and mammoth vices, of profaneness, Sabbath-breach, intemperate drink ing, licentiousness, gambling and other destructive villanies, may be precluded and renounced; that God may dwell among them and insure these and other victories, to our good, and his own glory, in our restored nation. 5. That the spirit of subordination to law; to the constituted authority of the country; to the powers that he, and that are ordained of God; to pray for them; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty; that this spirit, with all its appropriate fruits, as it has been our want and our characteristic defect in times past; so, reformed and meliorated in all, the spirit of subordination to the best civie go vernment on earth, may become our own; at once our character, our duty, and our glory tool 6. That God may, in His own wisdom, and in His own way, redeem our nation from the grand evil that has generated so many other evils in our country, we mean the denuding of all civil and social rights, and that prospectively for intermi nable ages, of our brethren of the species, four or five millions of them, in the midst of us; whose servitude and vassalage are as plainly wrong, as the ten commandments are plainly right; knowing that God will never authorize the continuance of the former till he sanctions the repeal of the latter; however it might suit the rapacity, the sordidness, the short-sightedness, and in all, the shamefulim piety, of rebellious men. ACTION ON HOME MISSIONS. Resolved, That the Synod of Genesee, believing that the General Assembly of our Church assumes the responsibility of conducting the work of Home Missions within its bounds in accordance both with the genius of the Church,, and the obvious indications of Divine: Providence do fully, and heartily endorse such action, and earnestly call upon the Presbyteries and churches of this Synod to co-operate with the General Committee in ex ploration, in securing missionaries, and in ob taining prompt and regular contributions to the cause. THE FIRST WEEK IN DECEMBER. Resolved, That the recommendation of As sembly, in regard to the observance of the first week in December as a season of special prayer, for the oatpouring of the Holy Spirit on our con gregations be heartily approved, and; That it be recommended to pastors of our churehes, to pro pose for the consideration of their people on the successive days of that week, the following, or some similar order of topics relating to the gene ral subject, viz.: . ■ Ist. The nature and conditions of acceptable prayer. 2d. Evidences of the special presence of the Holy Spirit. 3d. Prayer for increased spiritual power in the ministry. 4th. Prayer for increased spiritual power in the Eldership. sth. Prayer for increased spiritual power in Christian parents. 6th. Prayer for increased spiritual power in baptized children. 7th. That by the influence of the Holy Spirit, the churehes may become more thorough, active,- aggressive, and missionary in their character. ON EDUCATION. ’ After renewing its recommendations of the Western Education Society, Synod Resolved, That we do with sincere regret recognise the re missness of a large portion of our churches in taking up annual collections for this important cause. i 2d. 'While we do not excuse churches for this remissness, we; still think it largely attributable to the unsettled condition of our educational inte rest growing out of the failure of the Assembly’s former plan of education to secure for itself the cordial approbation of different portions of the church, who are at present attached to their local education societies. 8. That we have listened with pleasure and gratitude to God, to statements of the Rev. F. Starr, Jr., Secretary of the Western Education Society, and financial agent of Auburn Seminary, in regard to the large increase of the permanent funds of the Seminary during the past year, amounting to about $17,000, and in regard to the increase of the number of students for the pre sent year, and the favorable condition and pros pects of the Seminary generally. {To be Continued.) We received, just before going to press, an account of the dedication of the new Presby terian Church Edifice at York, Pa., which took place on the Bth day of September. It shall appear in onr next. ' Bread. The members of the Pastors’ Asso ciation, the Editor of this paper and friends, were presented with a loaf, each, of patent un leavened bread, warm from the new bakery of Mr. Camp, on Broad near Buttonwood streets." It is healthful, nutritious, perfectly light and white, and was received with much favour by the company. We think it cannot fail to prove popular. PRESBYTERY OF WILMINGTON- This body met in the Forest Church, Mr. e * town —the first time in that church for eight years —and received a hearty welcome from the people. The hospitable homes of this roost fertile and beautiful farming region were thrown open to the brethren, and the ladies facilitated the busi ness of Presbytery, by preparing bountiful meals for us in the lecture room of the church. Forest Church has a commodious and comparatively new brick church, free from incumbrance, and is now enjoying the very acceptable services of Mr. Riley, son of Rev. H. A. Riley, of Montrose, and a licen tiate of Montrose Presbytery. It is to be hoped, that the temporary relation recently entered into between Mr. Riley and the church may lead to a permanent settlement. The action of the Presbytery op various matters was harmonious and important. It was agreed to co-operate with the Assembly’s Permanent Committee of Home Missions. The following re solutions on the State of the Country were unani mously agreed to. Presbytery solemnly rising: j ßesolved, That we deplore the existence of civil war now raging in our land: brought upon us as it has been, by reckless and unprincipled men, whose loyalty has never been equal to their tower ing ambition, and we mourn over the waste and desolation that rebellion is working in* most wise and beneficent government. Resolved, That, as we are taught in the Scrip tures to fear God and be subject to civil govern ment, we do now cherish the most ardent and un swerving attachment to onr own constitutional go vernment, especially while it is threatened by in ternal foes, and feel ourselves sacredly pledged to do all in onr power to sustain and perpetuate it. Resolved, That we believe every man, 'at* this time, is either a friend or a foe to his country, that there is no such thing as neutrality, and that dis loyalty in covertly or openly, directly or indirectly, aiding or abetting the enemies of our government, is abhorrent and every way to be deprecated. Resolved, That while we are in favor of peace, and make it the burden of our daily prayer, we recognise fully the justice of the efforts now being made by our government to put down armed re bellion against it. We see no way to an honor able and safe peace hut through war, and we en join it upon all onr people to put forth every proper effort to sustain the executive authorities in main taining the integrity of the government and the permanence of the republic. Resolved, That we regard with hope the re cent proclamation of the President of a day of National humiliation, fasting and prayer, as also the order of the commanding General re specting the observance of the Christian Sab bath by the army, and we exhort all people to keep the appointed fast with all due solemnity and sincerity. AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN. Resolved, That Presbytery express its entire confidence in the American Presbyterian, and sympathy with it as conducted by the Rev. John W. Mears, and do most cordially com mend it to the families of onr churches. OTHER RESOLUTIONS. Resolved, That a committee of three be ap pointed to prepare a pastoral letter setting forth the obligations of ministers, licentiates and church sessions, to the Presbytery with which they are connected, and admonishing them to a .faithful observance of the same. Committee:—Rev. Messrs. Aikman and Wiswell and Elder E. T. Taylor. Resolved, That in order to promote the spi ritual interests of our field, it is expedient that the Presbytery, as such, should acquaint itself with the condition of the churches under its charge, and systematically labor for the revival of religion among them. Resolved, That, in imitation of Scripture example, we will go two and two to visit the churches in the field, and that the elders co operate in the work; an elder accompanying each pastor. Rev. Messrs. Emerson, Gaylord and Hammer were appointed a committee to arrange such a system of visitation. The next stated meeting will be held on the Ist Tuesday of April, 1862, in St. George’s Church. Rev. Messrs. Emerson and Gaylord and El der A. M. Higgins were appointed a committee of arrangements for the meeting. A cordial vote of thanks was given to the good people of Eorest Church before adjourn ing. Presbytery will meet at the call of the Moderator, in the intervals of the approaching session of the Synod of Pennsylvania. An interesting personage was present during the sessions of the Presbytery. We refer to Ma jor John Jones, a retired Delaware farmer, who, though seventy-two years old, has given proofs of devotidn to his country that should bring the blush to the cheeks of many a yonng man. In the dark days of April and May, he shouldered his musket and served in the “ Clay Guards,” for the defence of the Capitol. We have heard something lately of “Sermonsin Stones,” found among the unplaced blocks contributed to the Washington monument, by States that have since proved unfaithful. Major Jones was charged with the preparation of the block from Delaware, on which he had engraved, “ Delaware: first to adopt the Constitution; (a fact) will be the last to abandon the Union.” The block is conspicuously placed in the monu ment, being over the main entrance in the first tier of blocks, and in the centre of the column; the Maine block being on one side, and that of Arkansas on the other. The Major finely re marked that having pledged Delaware thus to the Union, he felt it incnmbent on him, so far as practicable, personally to redeem his pledge when a time of need offered. CITY RELIGIOUS ITEMS. Since the fast appointed upon the death of President Harrison in 1841, twenty yearn ago, no day of the kind has been so generally observed by the people, as was the National East of Thursday. And for depth of feeling, for solemn earnestness and real heart-humiliation, we doubt whether any like appointment in this century can compare with it. The churches were attended by crowds in many cases exceeding those in waiting upon the regular services of the sanctuary. The prayer meetings were also thronged, and a general senti ment of dependence upon the Divine arm, and eagerness to hear the preacher’s words of admoni tion, reproof, or instruction, was manifest in the serious countenances of the multitudes. The gre at beauty of the day was favorable to the gene ral turn out of the population, but we doubt whether it stimulated pleasnre-seeking to as great a degree as it did church-going. The business establishments of any size were universally closed, and the thoroughfares wore a truly Sabbath aspect. It was in every respect a marked, a memorable, and a hopeful day, The Fast of September 26th 1861. flw Wilmington, also, the Day of Fasting and Prayer was observed with unwonted earnestness and unanimity. The pastors of both the churches had preaehing services, which were largely at tended, as were their meetings for prayer. From the Central Church ten young men have enlisted for three years. The Renting of Pews in North Broad Street Church (Spring Garden Hall) has resulted in a manner to satisfy the most sanguine. Three quarters of the seats were taken in a week’s time, the proceeds being over $2,500 per annum. This would be encouraging iaany kind of times—much more in such a dark day as this. The Manayunk Church, as we have already had occasion to observe, is much affected by the prevalent depression, the business of the place be ing mainly dependent on the manufacture of cot ton. Yet the people, with their pastor, are by no means disheartened, and the congregations are quite large. At a meeting recently held, the pastor generously offered to release them from their unfulfilled obligations to himself, but they resolved to endeavor to meet them in full, what ever might be the case in future. Forty members of this congregation are in the various three years’ regimentß; four of them are Sabbath School Teachers, and thirty-five of them members of the Pastor’s Bible Class. We have no doubt they will exert a very happy influence upon their as sociates in the army. We learn that a considerable number have en listed from the congregation of the Logan Square Church, and eight or ten from that of the South west Church. In the death of Stephen Fasranb, the West ern Church loses one of its most intelligent and valuable members. He had a very clear percep. tion of our denominational position and wants, and worked for us with all his heart. He long per formed the duties of School Controller with great zeal and faithfulness.. His loss will be deeply felt by a wide circle within and without the church. EDITOR’S TABLE. The Memorial Yolume op the Ambsican Board suitably and worthily marks the first half century of its existence. It is the work of Her. Dr. Anderson, the senior Secretary, and comprises a report of the Jubilee meeting; Dr. Hopkins’ Historical Discourse delivered on that occasion together with a very fall account of the origin' the founders aDd constitution of the Board, its ecclesiastical relations, its most remarkable meet ings, its prudential committee, its finances, agen cies and relations with government; its missions in their origin and various aspects, with a view of the field and work at the close of the half century. An appendix follows, giving valuable statistics, ineluding a full list of the missionaries and assis tant missionaries sent forth by the Board. The volume is rendered very complete by a Table of Contents and an index. In form it is a handsome Bvo. of 492 pages, printed on fine white paper, and very cheap at one dollar. The volume will be found valuable both for present perusal and future reference. By extending its circulation, the Board will be enabled to meet the cost, and the cause of Christ will be greatly promoted. Should not all pastors, and every library, be furnished with a copy? Published for the Board by the American Tract Society, Boston, N. Broughton, Jr., Depository, and for sale by Smith, English & Co., No. 23 north 6th Street, of this city. The Knickerbocker for October, with its orange-colored face, is as usual lively, witty and healthful. On the question of the day it is doing a good work, leading public and help ing it forward mainly by the projectile force of its wit. Yet such an article as “Emancipation” will commend itself to the thoughtful. It calls for the freeing of the slaves, not as a last resort when perhaps it would prove unavailing, but as necessary at a time when there is some show of power to back the government in its action. The author argues that the true and only way forever to prevent all slave' insurrections, is for the go vernment itself to take in hand the emancipation of slaves. Jl?he Knickerbocker is published in New York, by J. R. Gilmore, No. 5 Beckman street. The Congregational Quarterly reached the conclusion of the 3d volume, under peculiar and melancholy circumstances. One of its editors, Rev. Jos. S. Clark, D. D., has deceased. He was the author of a deeply interesting and valuable Beries of Biographical articles, written for the Quarterly, the last of whieh on Increase Mather appears in the number before us. Rev. A. H. Quint, another of the quarto, is in the army as chaplain of the “Massachusetts’ Second.” Rev. Dr. Kitchell’s interesting and rather self-lauda tory address on the New England Zone forms one of the articles. In the frequent references to our own denomination which it contains, thefe is a more respectful and even generous spirit toward us, than the writer has been known to manifest hitherto. For example: “ And so there are chnrches of these two orders, side by side, all over the west, with few exceptions walking in fraternal concord, and observing the comities of co-ordinate Christian bodies. . . It should be distinctly affirmed, that throughput the northwest, there is between these two no rupture of Christian charity, no controversy that should offend the Christian public. But they know themselves two beyond hope of blending, and the better for having tried it. Each stands on its own distinctiveness, and carries on its own work, in its own way.” This is a very graceful accepting of the situation. The next number of the Quarterly, will contain a portrait of the late Dr. Clark, with a sketch of his life and character. - The Southern Rebellion and the War FOR the Union. This valuable serial has reached the 6th weekly number, and the 192 d octavo page, bringing down the story to the debate in Congress on President Buchanan’s message of January Bth. The following description of the contents of chap. Y. will give a fair idea of the character of the work. Attitude of the Northern and Border States in January— The first bugle notes of alarm—Pro gress of the Revolution in South Carolina—Ad journment of the Convention—Affairs In Wash ing early in January—State of public feeling— Activity in the War Department—The Border- State Committee —Their Proposition—-The action of the Committee of Thirty-three—The Ports— Their Cost, &c.—The morale of the Conspiracy— Proceedings in Congress, sixth week—Speeches of Toombs, Hunter and Seward—The President’s Message—Resolutions endorsing Major Anderson and sustaining the President. Published by James D. Torrey, New York The General Agent, Fredk. Gerhard, Box 4001 New York Post Office, would be glad to employ competent persons to act as local travelling agents for the work, which we think must meet with a good sale. ■ Blackwood’s Magazine for September, Leonard Seott & Co’s., reprint, has been sent to us by W. B. ZlEBEtt of this city, where it, with the leading English Reviews, may be procured. The opening article, Scotland and her accusers, handles Mr. Buckle in the most sarcastic and con clusive manner. Indeed it discloses such a de . gree of unfairness, such ignorance, as well as such a completely atheistic spirit in the writer, that we begin to incline to the belief that too nmch notice has been taken by the cities of this bold and unscrupulous disciple of Comte. Enough of Mr. Buckle, we say. A day at Antwerp, vigo rously defends Rubens against the scornful under valuation of Buskin, besides dealing some not un derserved blows at Rustin's high-flown obscurity. The Atlantic monthly for October, contains one of the captivating essays of the Country Par son, (the “A. K. H. B,” of Fraser’s Magazine,) “ Concerning people of whom more might have been made.” It is full of practical good sense upon every day topics, yet invested with the pe culiar charm of the Parson’s style of composition. “What we are coming to,” briefly, and in the light of a parallel in the History of Scotland and England, very conclusively shows the practicability of reconstructing our Union. “Panic Terror,” is a very curious collection of incidents from the military history of civilized nations, showing the liability even of trained armies to ruinous panics, and depriving any of the right to exult over in our Bull Run humiliation. This, and the con cluding article: The wormwood cordial of history, are eminently adapted to console and encourage us by showing that we are not groping in the dark unaided by.human experience; but that our rebel 'lion and our difficulties in subduing it, are no new thing under the sun. Oct 3,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers