f MSfegimal —AND— GENESEE EVANGELIST. THURSDAY, OCTOBEB 17, 1861 JOHN W. REARS, CORBEcmoN. —In the Beceipts to the Philadel phia Educational Society, published in our paper of October 3d, the printing should have been 0. H, Willard, $5; J. W. Queen, $l. 088 DUTY AS CHRISTIAN CITIZENS. Unless there is a greatly increased disposition in the Christian community to apply the princi ples of Christianity in all the' relations of citizen ship, our national troubles will teach us no les sons of good, and may be expected in some shape to reour more. than once in our history. ’ Most lamentable has been the apathy and the neglect with which Christian people and respectable peo ple have regarded the whole business of politics and the management of eleotions, and they are themselves in great part to blame for the disre pute into which it has fallen. Now, when war is upon us, we can realize the individual respon sibility we are under fop the maintenance and transmission of oiir government to generations to come; strange is the infatuation that can regard that responsibility as not equally a fact, while, in times of peace, corrupt men are with less noise,, hut just as surely, undermining the foundations of the structure in every part! Indeed, in some respects, the present tumult may be viewed as nothing less than the inevitable catastrophe for which unchecked political corruptions have long been preparing us—the crush of a building which had already become a mere shell; the snapping of supports long since weakened by the venom ous tooth of selfishness, bigotry, and ambition, under the guise of party politics. But others have recently spoken so well from the sacred desk, on this topic, thatwe prefer to let them speak here. We quote, first, from the very manly and Chris tian discourse of the pastor of Calvary Church, in this city. Says Bey. Da. Jenkins: “ I now deliver it again as my solemn convic tion (for I expressed it some three or four years ago in a Thanksgiving discourse,) that never can there be seourity for the United States until the power return to honorable men, and until that covrupt doctrine, that the spoils of office belong to the political victors, be rooted out of the na tion’s thoughts and purposes. These reforms will never be accomplished until respectable men, as of old, exert their influence in primary elec tions and consent to accept nominations, to leave their business and their homes if need be; and until the wives and daughters of the land con sent to give up their husbands and fathers for the safety of their country. If these suggestions be not generally accepted and acted upon, whatever may be the result of the present struggle-, ano ther calamity will overtake the country, greater, perhaps, than this which we are called upon to mourn over to-day as a just judgment from God. It will be inevitable ruin if the great interests of this nation be still committed to corrupt men. l: Our laymen, especially, have much to hum ble themselves for in this respect; Christian citi zens have not, as a whole, done their duty; they have not disoharged that responsibility which Providence has imposed upon, them; they have not diffused into the political atmosphere the right influences.” Speaking of the political corruptions prevailing among us, Rev. GE. WISWELL, of Wilmington, on the some occasion, said: “ I dare not say that we are the most immoral nation on earth, hut I Believe immorality in our national legislation and political action has in creased more tapidly for the last quarter tof a century, than in any nation of past or present times. I refer to the corruption of the right of suffrage; the use of money ini popular elections for the purchase,of votes; the Buying and sell ing of offices; the system of lobbying so notori ous, that buys Up whole legislatures; and controls entire States; Bribery in the places of justice; the 'control of the ballot-box by mere physical or brute force, so that peaceable citizens are often kept from voting through fear of personal vio lence; the putting of corrupt and incompetent men into responsible offices for mere political, pecuuiary or party ends. All these things have been done openly, and to an extent perfectly ap palling to those who were solicitous for the safety of the Republic. More than this, the fierce and malignant party spirit that for years has been in creasing in the land, has been a grievous wrong and immorality, gradually placing the love of party as superior to the love of country, and eat ing out the very heart of patriotism itself. Look at the enormous frauds practised under the prin ciple that “to the party in power belong the spoils.” Millions have annnally been filched from our national and state treasuries to fill the coffers of ambitious demagogues and unprincipled politicians. And the people have hem guilty m silently looking upon such unbounded immoralities, and allowing them to go unrebuked. “ Literally has this been true, that the man ! who attempted tb he honest and upright in po- ' litical life, who expected to he successful as a candidate for office on the platform of strict in tegrity, has been laughed to scorn. This is no toriously true, and so shamefully has the once wholesome political character of our people de generated, that good men not only see these things, but tacitly if not openly consent. Now, must not all this he displeasing to God, who led us in the way to national honor! What hope is left for any people when the very fountains of justice and legislation are corrupted?” From the East-day sermon of Rev, Charles Little, of Manlius, N, Y., we also quote: “The people have alarmingly careless in respect to these things. The best men in large numbers have neglected the primary meet ings for the nomination of officers. “They have hot been willing to make the sa crifices necessary to secure the election of good men; come have been- indolent; many bave been careless; many have preferred party to purity — in few has love of country, true loyalty, been the impelling motive to earnest action. All thm must bo changed; men must he willingto endure thebur dens as well as enjoy the benefits of govern ment, or our country cannot prosper. Loyalty must become a prevailing, controling feeling, in the hearts of the people. How this change shall be made, is a matter of some interest. If we will, we may give our thoughts to this subject, until we shall feel its importance; we may cliauge our course of action, and so conduct ourselves that a benign Providence may continue our free i nstit utions, but if we are careless, God may teach us, as he has begun to do, the value of our go vernment by its. subversion. In its place he may giVe us anarchy, confusion and despotism, and cause ns, by years of suffering, to understand the lesson which all his goodness has failed to im press upon us. The change must be made; it is for the' 1 people to decide, by Which of these in strumentalities it shall be effected." Editor. On a cognate subject, Bev. W. Airman, of Wilmington, speaks with great severity, yet, we must own, with far too much truth in regard to the processes of our courts of law. “With.all our boasted equality and excellent laws, I am of the opinion that there is not a na tion, I mean, of course, the most enlightened and Christian in the comparison, where the course of justice is so uncertain and where crime is per mitted to escape with such impunity. I will not stop to say where the cause is found. It has be come a national sin. ; The sense of justice has become blunted, so that we have ceased to rea lize its infraction. What hope has a poor man of justice, if his case lies against a rich man? What expectation have any of you of seeing a rich criminal convicted, it matters not how fla grant or how open the crime? We have ceased almost to expect it. The wealthy villain walks unblnshingly and defiantly abroad and laughs at the law., I may seem to speak extravagantly, but the thoughtful! recollection of any of you will' convince you that Ido not speak falsely. Great crimes have gone unwhipped of justice, murder and violence have bought themselves off; gigan tic breaches of trust, wholesale robberies of widows and orphans, filling homes with desolation, and bringing utter and hopeless poverty with all its train of woes, all these have been permitted and the perpetrators have held their freedom and their places. “ God is a God of justice. He abhors oppres sion and robbery. He regards the cry of the widow and the defenceless. He will make him self their atenger, and will punish a nation where such things are done. INDIFFERENCE TO OUR PRIVILEGES. “God has bestowed benefits upon us as upon no nation under heaven, and we have held them as if they were nothing. Said a foreigner to me other day: “You Americans do not seem to know what a country you have got. We, who have felt what it is to live under a despotism‘un derstand it." - Ami so it has been, our liberties, our institutions, in all their wealth of blessed ness, we have received and treated as lightly, we have bestowed as little care upon them as if they were not worth a thought.” [fob THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN.] HOME MISSIONABY COMMITTEE. Dear Brethren: —There are two subjects upon which the Home Missionary Committee of the General Assembly desire to say a word to the churches at this time. There seems, from letters received from various persons, a failure to perceive exactly the reason why it is necessary, that the Committee should adhere to their conclusion to have but one treasury. Brethren, looking at a single Presby tery, and seeing no practical inconvenience to us in having a separate treasury, do not observe the effect of such a system. The first effect would be to care for the feeble churches of the strong Presbyteries, leaving but little surplus for the vast West and the Pacific, the proper missionary field. The tendency will be to raise about enough for the wants of the specific Presbytery only. But there is another great difficulty. The Committee, on this system, will never be able to realize its means or to know upon what to rely. The treasury will be always feeble. There are a hundred Presbyteries. Suppose a hundred trea suries, and a hundred treasurers, each busy with other affairs. The treasurer will not know ex . aetly what he needs for their own wants, or whether there will he any surplus. The eentaal treasury will be crippled at every point. Besides the attempt to keep accounts with a hundred Presbyteries, and ' draw drafts on a hundred treasuries for small balances, would ruin the en tire enterprise. The Committee have been com pelled, therefore, to adopt the plan of a single •treasury; all funds to be transmitted to and paid out of it. The experience of . all similar institu tions shows its necessity. The expense of ex change is not, ordinarily, very great; and it is dust in the balance compared with the inconve niences which clog the system of separate teasur ies. The Committee desire,’ also, to say to the churches, that they are falling in debt to their missionaries, and are obliged to refuse commissions to numerotis applicants. They suppose that funds may have already been collected in Presbyteries and churches; and they wish-to say, that it will relieve much suffering if they are transmitted at once to our Treasurer, Edward A. Lambert, Presbyterian Rooms, 150 Nassau Street, N. Y., who is now prepared to receive them. Other communications will he sent for the present to the undersigned, Benjamin J. Wallace, 1334 Chestnut St., Phila. DEATH OF REV. GEORGE W. GALE, D. D., OF GALESBURG, ILLINOIS. The following letter records an event of no, ordinary interest, The life of Dr. Gale has been one of hard labor and severe trials. We first heard of him thirty-five years ago, as pastor of the Presbyterian chureh in Adams, Jefferson county, New York, where he was blessed with a great revival ofTeligion, and among the converts were the Rev. Charles G. Einney, then a roving young lawyer. In the great Western revivals of 1826, in Oneida county, New York, Mr. Gale was a faithful co-worker. His health failing, he rented a farm in western New York, and took in some six young men to prepare for the ministry, under his instruction, while they labored on the farm for their hoard. He then founded the Oneida Institute at Whitesboro, on the manual labor principle, and made it effectual in training many useful men-for the work of the ministry. The Rev. Dr. Wads worth of this city, was, it is believed, among the early students of the Institute. , But the great life-work of Mr. Gale was the founding, of Knox College at Galesburg. How he toiled for this object, and how he triumphed, our readers already know. That noble institution, and the city, which bears his name, will he his monument in centuries to come. It may be proper to add, that Dr. Gale, though always battling with feeble health, was, never theless a truly great man. He had a large pene trating, comprehensive intelect; an enterprise courage and .self-sacrifice equal to any work; a caution and shrewdne; s that made his enemies re spect while they feared him, and a lofty sense of Sttutifflit gfusifoglmatt atttl <£>*n*o**. ©vattpliist. honor, a true magnanimity, and a tender spirit, which chained to him the hearts of his friends. His gravity and conscientiousness were softened by a child-like faith, and the spirit of universal benevolence. He lived much among ultaaists, without allowing them to either taint him with fanaticism, or to draw him into cold conservatism. He knew how to temper zeal with wisdom, and to connect caution with progress. How he died, the letter of his son-in-law in forms us. The undersigned regards the death of Dr. Gale as a great personal affliction. Ho feels that he cannot replace among his friends another so long known and loved, and one from whom he is likely to receive such tokens of confidence and affection. T. B. Augusta, 111., Sep. 26, 1861. Thomas Brainerd, D. D. Rev. and'Dear Sir—You may have heard, ere this, from some other source, of the death, on the 13th instant, of Bev. G. W- Gale,. D. D., of Galesburg, Illinois. I have just returned from the funeral of my venerated father-in-law, most deeply saddened by the event, and unable to rea lise yet that he is really to be with'us no more. Yet it is too true. He was growing feeble from the time yon saw him through the summer. About tbe Ist of September he was threatened with a paralysis such as he experienced seven years ago, and escaped it after severe medical treatment, only with his general physical powers Still more prostrated and enfeebled. Just then he was obliged to have a troublesome tooth ex tracted; severe inflammation in the face ensued, which the enfeebled system could not carry through; gangrene in the face apppeared, and baffled the most strenuous medical efforts, and after a week’s severe suffering, terminated his life on Friday evening, the 13th instant, at 10 o’clock. On the Sabbath following, the largest funeral concourse ever assembled in Galesburg, testified the respect of the people for the founder of the town and college, and after funeral ser. vices, conducted by Prof. Baily, assisted by Pre sident Curtis and Bev. Charles Stebbins, his body was consigned to that resting place which Dr. Gale had selected for it before a building marked that unbroken prairie. During the last week he was fully conscious of his condition, and frequently expressed; the conviction that it was the merest chance that any medieal appliances could be of tbe least avail. He was able to converse freely, and make all arrangements with reference to his death; and in his conversation, generally, as well as in a written document which was prepared at his dictation only two days before his death, he showed that the cause and kingdom of his Re deemer was still, as ever, nearest his heart. Yours very respectfully, E. L. Hurd. [FOR THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN] OHUBOH DEDICATION AT YORK, PENN- SYLYANIA. On the second Sabbath in September, the new church edifice erected by the Presbyterian Con gregation of York, Pennsylvania, was dedicated to the service of Almighty God, with the simple, yet beautiful ceremony customary in our denomi nation. Rev. Dr. De "Witt, of Harrisburg, preach ed the sermon and offered the dedicatory prayer. He was assisted in the other services by Bev. Dr. Wing, of Carlisle. There was a peculiar propri- 1 ety in the selection of Bev. Dr. De Witt to con duet the services. He has been for many years a member of the Presbytery with which this church is connected—was a warm personal friend of the first pastor of the church—stood by him in the division of 1857—retired with him from the Presbytery of Carlisle, and aided in the for mation of the Presbytery of Harrisburg. He deeply sympathized with this church in the troubles that followed, and now returns once more to rejoice with it in the hour of prosperity, and to recall the memory of days gone by, and of the aged pastor who has passed away. In the afternoon, the large and flourishing Sabbath School assembled in the church, and presented a handsome puipit Bible, which was re ceived on behalf of the church by the pastor. The Infant School at the same time presented the pulpit Hymn Book. In the evening, Dr. Wing : preached an appropriate and impressive sermon. The dedication of this new and handsome church edifice, marks the hundredth year of the existence of a Presbyterian organization in this place. In 1761 was recorded the first applica tion of the Presbyterian congregations of York and Shrewsbury for ministerial supplies. The church edifice which was moved to give place to the present more commodious structure, was erected about 1793. Plain and unpretending though it was in appearance, the old chureh was dearly loved by the people. Erected in days of weakness and adversity, it witnessed the early struggles of the congregation, their increasing strength and growing prosperity, until finally their numbers overflowed its bounds and required enlarged accommodations. It was not uncon nected with stirring events in the history of the denomination. It was the scene of the trial of Rev. Albert Barnes for heresy, by the Synod of Philadelphia; and shortly after the division of 1837, the “ Old School” party, a smalt minority of the congregation, instituted a suit to obtain pos session of the church and other property, in which they signally failed. The following description of the new edifice is condensed from the York Gazette: — It is built iu the Romanesque style of archi tecture, and is 108 feet long by 58 broad. It is surmounted by a graceful spire, 182 feet high. The exterior of the building is painted in imita tion of Pietou stone. The sides of the chureh are divided into ten panels, five on a side, each containing an arched window. Along the upper parts of the panels, are small supported by ornamental corbels. The steeple is in the middle of the front of the building, and is 21J feet square at the base. On each side is a vesti bule leading to. the audience room. In the rear are also two vestibules communicating with the pulpit recess and the audience room. Over each of the four doorways of the audience room, is a circular window of stained glass. The audience room is 74 feet long and 54 broad. It contains 126 pews, and will accommo date 500 persons. The ceiling is divided into fifteen panels by the principal and longitudinal ribs, at each intersection of which is a beautiful pendant of stucco work. In each panel is a cir cular arrangementof quatre foil apertures, which serve as ventilators. An argand gas-burner 1 and reflector is in the centre of each circle, covered with ground glass. By this method of lighting, all glare is avoided; the flame being concealed from view, and a light, soft and mellow, yet suf ficiently brilliant, is shed through the edifice. The ventilators are surrounded by ornamental work, and the corners panels also con tain such ornaments. The Tibs are beautifully modeled and ornamented, 1 while a cornice with quartre foil paneling extends round the building. Each window occupies l ; arpahel along the upper side of wheih are sihall arches' supported by cor bels. The cross ribs* extend down , the walls several feet, aud axe .supported hy beautiful brackets. The ceiling panels are of a light stone color, while the rest of the interior is of several tints, approaching a light fawn color. The pulpit recess is semi-circular in form. On each side are -handsome ; blustered pillars with carved capitals, from which springs an arch covered with an elaborate ornament of stucco work. The recess is lighted through an opening in the top, filled with ground glass, and contain ing four Argand gas-burners; daylight being admitted through the same aperture. The choir occupies the base of the tower. There is but one feature that can he made the subject of criticism, and is the carved orna ment —finial we believe w the technical term— which crowns the spire, [in the opinion of the writer it is very ugly;, akd detracts very much from the beauty of an otßjfbwiswremarkably grace ful and'well proporlion4|'spire. Why will’ Pro testants suffer mere'dehdiSinational prejudice d prevent the use of a cross for this purpose ? What more suitable and appropriate could he devised to crown the steeple of a'jChristian church, than the symbol of the Christian religion? PHILADELPHIA FOHETH PEESBYTEEY. The Fourth Presbytery of Philadelphia met the Bth instant, in Nesbamin churchy. During the Sessions, there were 'present twelve ministers out of thirty-two, on its roll, and 'three elders out of more than one hundred, constituting the ses sions of twenty-seven churches. The small at tendance, especially of elders, upon the stated meetings of Presbytery, was the topic of not un frequent remark; and; “the Bev. James Boggs was appointed a committtee to prepare, and re port to an adjourned meeting, a minute in rela tion to churches unfepresented by elders.” The Bev. Henry 8. Osb&rn was elected Mode rator, and the Bev. liLwfo.’lShepherd and Boggs temporary clerks. The principal items of business, in addition to the free conversation on tire state of religion, and the usual devotional and-preaching services, were the following: . •* 1. The appointment of Bev. Messrs. Turner and Culver to prepare a minute for transmission to ehureh sessions, on the desirableness and im portance of greater accuracy and completeness in their statisticafreports, especially in regard to the various contributions to religious objects. 2. The appointment of the Bev. Messrs. Baines, Brainerd and Shepherd a committee on Home Missions. 3. The cordial approval; by resolution, of “the action of the last General Assembly on the State of the Country.” —* 4. The recommendation of the American Presbyterian in terms following: “Whereas, the American Presbyterian is the only paper of our denomination published in Philadelphia; and, whereas, its spirit and tone, under its present management, axe such as to commend it to our warm approval, therefore, “ Resolved , That it deserves a far wider circula tion among our churchefi than it, at present, re ceives, and that we will cheerfully lend our per sonal influence and effort to increase the number of its subscribers.” * 5. The selecton of Fairfield First church, Fair* ton, New Jersey, and the second Wednesday of April, 1862, 9 o’clock A. M., as the plaee and time of next stated meeting. 6. The repairment of Presbytery in a body to the old graveyard of Neshaminy church, where, beside the dust of Rev. Messrs. Tennent, Irwin tand Wilson, “addresses were made by Messrs. Long, Brainerd and Barnes, and prayer was of fered by Bev. Dr. Brainerd." The Sessions of Presbytery were characterized, as -usual, by kindness and harmony, and after sermon on Wednesday Evening, were adjourned to “the call of the moderator during the sessions of synod.” T. Jl' &jsa^PELEm> r Stated Clerk. [FOB THE AMERICAS PRESBYTERIAN.] THE FOBKS OF UESHAMIHY.—THE OLD GEAVEYAED VISITED. My Dear Brother Mears—To the brief account I send you of the meeting of Philadel phia Fourth Presbytery, I add some particulars, which, interesting to myself, will be not less in teresting, I trust, to your readers. NESHAMINY CHURCH. Neshaminy church, in which the late Sessions of Presbytery were held, stands on the east bank of the south fork of Neshaminy Greek, amid venerable oaks, and in the centre of finely culti vated faras. Its material surroundings are “beautiful exceedingly.” Hill, valley, winding stream, field, forest, farm house, village, are ad mirably disposed to make a landscape on which the eye rests ever with delight. But that which invests Neshaminy ch4reh with a rare attractive ness, is not so much the natural scene, in which it is a feature, as th| Presbyterian history, of which it is a far-famed scene. If it be “impos sible to .abstract the mind from all local emotion,” to embrace “such frigid philosophy as may con duct us indifferent and unmoved over any ground which has been dignified by wisdom, bravery or virtue,” a visit to “ the Forks of Neshamina," as the old writers call it, is an event. It is this spot which, perhaps above all others, was, more than a century ago, the battle ground of the New Side. Upon the oaks from which the acorns are just beginning to fall as they fell four generations since, the eyes of the godly Tennents, the learned Beatty, the earnest Robinson, the holy Brainerd, the indefatigable Rowland, the incomparable Blair, and the eloquent Whitefield were frequent ly turned. Within the graveyard where lie the remains of William Tennent, founder of the log collegej of Irwin, one of the honored pastors of Neshaminy, and of Ijr. James P. Wilson, clarum et venerabile »iqm ) £B'jj,Ge,orge Whitefield on ,the 12th of November,- 1798, “found Gilbert Ten nent preaching to three thousand persons,” and followed with a sermon which was the beginning of “an extensive and powerful revival.” It was here, too, in the pastorate Of Beatty, William Ten nent’s successor, that David Brainerd addressed, “with amazing power,” a great assembly, “con sisting of three or four thousand,” and “hun dreds were much affected, so. that there was a great mourning;” It may be doubted whether other locality in America than this of Neshaminy, can so converge the • best memories of the past. It may be safely assumed that no other ground has so much that is interesting to New School men. As one treads the holy soil, the forms of William Tennent, engirdled hy the forms of his four sons, and by those of his illustrious pupils, Samuel Blair, Rowland, M'Crea, Bobinson, John Blair, Samuel Finley, Roan, Beatty, Lawrence, Campbell, Dean, seems to confront one every where. “ To. William Tennent, above all others,” says the accurate historian, Richard Webster, “is owing the prosperity and enlargement of the Presbyterian church. Other men were conser vative; others were valiant for the truth, and ex erted, by the press, a wide influence on the age; many were steadily and largely useful in particu lar departments, and in limited spheres, but Ten nent had the rare gift of attracting to him youth of worth and geniuß, imbuing them with his healthful spirit, and sending them forth sound in the faith, blameless in life, burning with zeal, and unsurpassed as instructive, impressive and successful preachers.” an interesting scene. During the Sessions, Presbytery repaired in a body to the old grave yard, and standing around the graves of Tennent, Irwin and Dr. Wilson, listened to addresses, and . engaged in worship. :It was affecting to link thus closely the living to ■the dead; to -reflect that in the dust the dead now lie, the living would he lying soon! It was elevating to drop a tear on graves so honored, and to give heart-felt honiage to that living Lord, who, though his workmen die, yet carries on his gracious work of saving men from age to age! Mr, 1 Mahlon Long spoke chiefly of the Tennents, Dr. Brainerd, of Bev. Charles Beatty. Wm. Ten nent’s successor, whose body rests in BaTbadoes; and Mr. Barnes, of Dr. Wilson. The addresses were admirably simple j and suggestive. I do not know that you have ever seen the inscription on the shaft surmounting Dr. Wilson’s grave. I subjoin it. Written by himself, it is a model of elegance in thought and expression. “ Plaeida hie pace quieseo,. Jacobus P. Wilson: Per annos bis septen , • 1 Composui lites; Sacra exinde dogmata Tractans: Quid sum et fui, Jam noscis, viator; Quid, die suprema, videbis; Brevi quid ipse futurus Nunc pectore versa. . Nat-us 1769: Obiit 1830.” But I forbear, only adding with Wordsworth: “Great men have been among ns; hands that penned And tongues that uttered wisdom, better none.” FAST DAY IS FAIRFIELD OHUEOH. A correspondent sends us an aecount of the celebration of the National Fast in the Old Stone church of Fairfield, New Jersey, whieh we regret that we are unable to publish in full. Our read ers are generally acquainted with the age and the hallowed associations of this venerable structure. That patriarchal pastor, the late Bev. Ethan Os bom, discharged the duties of his long ministry within its walls, and his remains are interred in the adjoining graveyard. A picture of the church accompanies his memoir. The propriety of holding a union meeting in this building was suggested, as says our correspondent, by a very worthy brother in the other branch of the Church. He continues:— “As all the churches in the township, of every name, to some extent, look up to the Old Stone church as the mother, there was a propriety in all meeting in it. All feel some interest in that church. It is to some extent a bond of union. There, their fathers, almost without exception, worshipped God. There very many of them in their juvenile days listened to the truth as it fell from the lips of the ‘Old man beloved;’ for. for many years Fairfield had but one chureh, and but one pastor.” The assemblage of people was the largest ever seen there by our correspondent, except at the funeral of the venerable pastor. Almost the en tire township met there to. pray for their country. An unwonted spirit of prayer was poured out upon the people. “I believe,” he continues, “the records of eternity will show that Septem ber 26th, 1861, was a day which God has blessed. We scarcely feel that war , is an evil when it drives us nearer to God. We can scarcely de plore the‘Bull Bun’ defeat.. We can scarcely feel that it was a defeat, if, under God, it was the means of securing us such a fast. Ah! ’tis thus we conquer. We are permitted to fall, that through God, our strength, we may rise. “Bev. Charles F. Diver had gone to Trenton to lay a son on the altar of his country, but a father’s heart also wished that that that son might be laid on the altar of his God, and there fore he left with us the urgent request, pray for him. It was a day of prayer. No sermon was preached, no set speech delivered* and very few remarks were made; for the feeling seemed to be, we have need to talk with God. We have come to talk with God, and to unburden our hearts at the mercy seat.” . . Death of Rev. John N. Lewis.—lt is with deep sorrow, says the Evangelist, that we an nounce the death of this excellent man, which took place very suddenly at his house in Brook lyn, on Friday, the 4th instant. Mr. Lewis was well known in this city and vicinity, where he spent the greater portion of his life. He was the son of Zechariah Lewis, Esq., long an honored citizen of Brooklyn. For many years he was the Secretary of the Central Education Society, and also Clerk of the -Synod of New York and New Jersey, which made his presence familiar in all our churches. For a few Sabbaths past he had preached in the Brick Church, Rev. Dr. Spring’s, and was actually engaged in writing a sermon until after midnight, when his Master’s summons came. He died almost instantly. His death will be much lamented by his brethren, by whom he was highly esteemed. He leaves a family to mourn his loss. It will be gratifying to his many friends to learn that he had an insurance of ?3,000 on his life, which will enure to their benefit, now that he is so suddenly taken away. Clerical Calls, Ordinations, Changes, etc. —Rev. E. B. Walsworth has felt con strained to resign his pastorate of the First Pres byterian Church, at Marysville, Cal., and the same has been reluctantly accepted. The Marys ville Appeal says: “He has labored long and well with his congregation —has been mainly in strumental in procuring the erection of the most beautiful house of worship North of San Fran cisco—-has done the country much service as Superintendent of Sehopls-r—has made a large circle of friends, and will be parted with regret fully by the entire community.” Mr. Wm. J. Stoutenburgh.— At an adjourned meeting of the Lyons Presbytery, held in Palmyra, Sept. 17, William J. Stoutenburgh was ordained as an Evangelis t The candidate received ordination in the church where he was baptized, and where he made a public profession of his faith in Christ. Rev. A. M. Shaw, late of Waddington, St. Law rence county, has removed to Canastota, in Ma dison county, N. y. Rev. L. R. P. Hill was ordained and installed over the church at Little Falls, N. Y., on the 19th ult.; sermon by Dr. Backus. Rev. W. Wr Collins has resigned the pastoral charge of the church in Dundee, N. Y. Me. Edward A. Pierce, are cent‘graduate of East Windsor Theological Seminary, has been invited to the Westminster church in Chicago. The pulpit of the Ist Church, Mh.wauk.ie, is still vacant. Rev. J. P. E. Kumx.ee has accept ed a call to the Second Church of Oxford, O. Rev. John Stewart, of the Presbytery of Ox ford, (O. S.) has accepted a call from the churches of Cleves, Elizabethtown, and Berea, 0. The Presbyterian and Congregational Convention of Wisconsin, met recently at Mil- waukie. It was resolved, that we recommend i the members of our churches to engage actively and zealously in petitioning the Congress of the United States, at its next session, to enact a law which shall confiscate and endow with freedom all the slaves in the eountry owned by the rebels against the government; and set at liberty all remaining slaves by compensating all loyal slave ’ holders. The condition of the Congregational Theologi cal Seminary at Chicago, was represented by its Agent and one of its Professors as very precari ous. Appeals were made to the Congregational side of the Convention to come to its help. Re solutions were presented in harmony with these, from which the word Congregational, yraa finally erased, on the claim that the Seminary is not sec tarian, that several Presbyterians are among its students now, and that its great object is to pre pare young men to preach the gofepel, no matter to what denomination thev belong. Many of the pulpits in the city were supplied on the Sabbath by members of the Convention. Washtenaw (Mich.) Presbytery.—At the reeent meeting of this Presbytery, two interest- ing facts became evident. One was that all the ehurches now enjoy the preaching of the gospel —a fact existing probably in no other Presbytery in our Church. The other was, that all the ministers, save one, are entirely supported by those to whom they minister. T. J. S.' The Presbytery op Salem, Ind., in their late narrative, say, several of the churches have been richly blessed by the outpouring of the Spi rit of God. Of these might be mentioned tbe Evansville church. It shared largely in the pre cious revival of last winter—so much enjoyed by all the ehurches of Evansville and vicinity. Forty-one were received on profession of their faith, and five by letter. With few exceptions, all our ehurches have received additions. Hope ful conversions have taken place, without the presence of what is commonly called a revival. There is more of a disposition to look and pray for conversions at all. times of the year. The - opinion that there must be stated times—addi tional preaching—in order to bring souls into the chureh, is dying away. Dayton Presbytery. —The report of the late meeting of this Presbytery, as given in the Christian Herald says:— The beau-ideal of Presbytery was realised in a grand conversation on Home Missions, beginning with a careful survey of our own field of destitu tion. After which strong resolutions of approval of the Assembly’s plan of Missions and Ministe rial Education were adopted. It is evident from the printed minutes, that the key-note will; be clear and high in all our churches in this arm of the service,.to wit, Home Missions. Decided and encouraging progress has been made in the grace of giving property, as faithful stewards of God. The standard of giving since we adopted our present plan, has been advanced to two dol lars per member. - Among the fifty Presbyteries of the West, there are but four in advance of ns—-Chicago, Knox, St. Louis, and Cincinnati. We have been visited by no agent or secretary. We do our own work. All the churches are beneficiaries but three. . In the late meeting of the Synod of Ohio, the subject of Education chiefly occupied the at tention of the body. This is one of the four West ern Synods which have been acting together bn a well organized plan through a Central Com mittee. On Saturday evening, says the correspondent of the Herald, a meeting was held on behalf of Education and Home Missions. President An drews, of Marietta, made the opening address, setting forth th@ nature of Education, and its ne cessity to man as man, and not to any particular profession or calling. Education was mental discipline, and the truly educated man would succeed in business. He established this propo sition by many striking facts; and enforced it by pointed illustrations. I wish I could give you a full synopsis of this address, which occupied some forty-five' minutes, and was delivered with out any notes, and yet with the utmost accuracy and precision. Prof. Day, of Lane Seminary, followed with remarks on the same subject of thrilling interest. It was Resolved, That in view of the new exigencies in which our Central Committee are placed, and in order to secure uniformity of action through out our entire church in this great work, we con form our action to that of the General Assembly in its late meeting at Syracuse, so far as may be practical in our present circumstances. ;The Synod of Albany has just closed its sessions at Glen’s Falls. The opening sermon was preached by Rev. Herrick Johnson, of Troy, from Daniel ix. 25:—“The street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.” The devotional exercises of the Synod had special reference to the state of the country, and to the' necessity of increased faithfulness on the part of God’s people in view thereof. Wednesday even ing was devoted to the consideration of the vari ous benevolent objects to Which'this large and vigorous branch of the church is giving special attention. Dr. Seelye, of Albany, made a very stirring and impresssve appeal in behalf of tem perance, having particular reference to the duty of ministers and private Christians in connection with contemplated legislation on this subject. Interrating addresses were also made in behalf of the cause of education and of publication, and of home and foreign missions. - The whole pro ceedings of the body were characterized by the most entire harmony, and action was taken upon the various subjects brought before it with a unanimity and enthusiasm that gave certain pro mise of success in the further prosecution of tbe work of the church. Auburn Theological Seminary. —This Se minary Iras' now sixty-eight students —thirty-one in the'Junior Class—the largest Junior Class that" the Seminary ever had. The Middle Class -numbers twenty-four; the Senior, thirteen. CITY RELIGIOUS ITEMS. We are pleased to see the evidences of prospe rity in the Mantua Church, Rev. Thomas f? Johnston, pastor. .The congregations fill the ample structure on Bridge Street, so much so as to suggest the idea of rebuilding or of coloniza tion. . Something of the latter is being attempted in the organisation of a new church in the mis sion chapel connected with the church, which is situated on the western confines of the district This organization was annonnced as to take place to-day. Eighteen persons were added to the North Broad Street Church at a recent communion season, principally by letter. The membership is now over one hundred and forty. We learn that the operations of a benevolent society,, connected with the First Church, whose visitations cover the entire city, reveal the fact that there is much less suffering among the poor of the city than usual. Frequently a straggling family is relieved by the enlistment of one\ho ought to be its head and support, but who was Teally nothing but a burden. The number of persons supported by Government work, is really amazing. An Elder in one of our churches, at one time has had employed no fewer than fifteen hundred females and two hundred men in fiJlnw a contract. We noticed a call for fifteen hundred shoe makers in one of the Market Street stores, for Government work. The Silver Cord is a work of fiction by a new writer, with the name, real or assumed, of Shirley Brooks. The story is deeply interesting, the plot complicated and skilfully wrought up; no time is lost in entering upon-it;, the style is good, andthe moral tone appears to be correct. With illustra tions : Bvo, pp. 268, handsomely bound. Harper & Brothers, Publishers. Mr. Torrey’s weekly and monthly serial, The Southern Rebellion and the War for the Union, is regularly issued, and is evidently prepared with great care, and wifi be found increasingly valu able. It is attracting the attention of such distin guished civilians as Messrs Everett, Dix, Holt, Sherman, Wade, Andrews and others, who have given very favorabte opinions of its merits to the publisher. Nos. 7 and 8 have been issued since we last noticed the work, which brings the narrative down to January 28th. General Agent, Frank Ger hard, No. 81 Nassau street, New York. * Dr. Jenkins’ Fast Day Discourse. —Published at the request of Judge Strong, Mr. Baldwin, and eleven others of the congregation of Calvary Church, has been got up in luxurious style by Messrs. Sher man & Sons, and is a purely evangelical and faithful presentation of the national ill-desert which may he regarded as the cause of our present calamities. It fa based upon the words of Isaiah—“ Show my peo ple their transgressions,” and the course of thought fa limited to what the preacher regarded as radioed evils. The points made are first—That the Nation has dishonored God; second—The failure to train the rising generation in habits of filial obedience, and of respect for their superiors; third—Neglect of po litical responsibility; fourth—The disposition to make light of our Rational defects, and to cloak even national tins. Under the latter head, Dr. Jenkins, with manly candor and unreserve, holds up to repro bation the timorous conservatism of the North on the subject of slavery, and compares it with the strong language in which the whole Presbyterian Chureh in 1818, and the Presbytery of South Caro lina and Georgia, twenty-eight years ago, expressed their abhorrence of the system. We hope to be able to give a fuller notice, ere long, of the October number of Rev. Dr. Henry B. Smith’s American Theological Review. We must, for the present, confine ourselves to a mere statement of its rich and varied contents. Article 1, On Nsegelsbach’s Homeric Theology; 2, Life and Character of Dr. Emmons; 3, The Will; 4, Con stitutionality of the Sunday Laws ; 5, Moral aspects of the Present Struggle; 6, Calvanism of the Church ot England; Theological and Literary Intelligence; Literary and Critical Notices of Books. Published by W. H. Bjdwell, New York; and for sale by Smith, English & Co., Philadelphia. We have omitted to mention at an earlier moment, as we intended, Mr. Bidwell’s Eclectic Magazine for October, which contains leading articles from as many as nine English magazines, besides smaller selections. The embellishment is a portrait of Mot ley, the historian, and Minister to Austria. Thayer’s Home Monthly. Boston: D. W. Childs & Co.; Arthur's Home Magazine, Phil adelphia, T. S. Arthur & Co.; Student and Schoolmate, Galen, James & Co., Boston; for October, are all on our table, and contain an enter taining and useful variety for the family. Godey’s Ladies’ Book is in great request among the ladies. TRACTS FOR THE ARMY. One hundred regiments have been supplied each with one thousand of the Tracts for Sol diers, by the American Temperance Union- Officers and Chaplains have sent their, thanks for the timely gift. The following appreciation to been expressed from high authority on receipt of the Tracts :—• * Head Quarters, Western Department, 1 St. Louis, September 12th, 1861. ) Mr. John Marsh, Sec’y Temperance Union, AT. Y.: Sir —I am instructed by Major General F re ~ mont to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th ult., in relation to temperance in the Army, and to express to you in return his cor dial sympathy with your efforts, and his appro bation of the object for which you labor. Respectfully, John K. Howard, But the work has only commenced. The ter rible enemy intemperance, must be promptly met in every manner. Two hundred regiments are now to be reached, and can be easily, if means are furnished. Will yon aid by a small donation ? Saved from intemperance, the soldier is sure to be free from the other evils of the camp. The smallest donations will be gratefully received and acknowledged, at No. 10 Park Bank. Any regiment specified, will at once be served. Our next paper will appear at the usual OCT. 17, Captain and Secretary. John Marsh, Secretary A. T. lb
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers