fmbgtemtt
—AND—
6INISII EVANGfEIIST.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14,1861.
JOHN W. HEARS,
TEE STRICKEN HOUSEHOLD.
If the happiness of Eden lingers anywhere on
this fallen earth it is in the Christian household.
Where cheerful piety prevails, where natural:
affections are sanctified and refined by the Spirit,
where mutual confidence is unwavering, where
each strives to bear his own burden, while labour
ing to lighten the burdens of all the rest, where
worship and thanksgiving mark each day and
each meal, there are the conditions of a tranquil
happiness such as no other earthly lot affords.
The sources of domestic bliss in such a family
are not earthly, they are divine; it is through
Christ’s presence in the house that they enjoy a
glimpse of Paradise regained; and yet in some
respects they are more liable to suffering than
are the families in which Christian influences
are unknown. There are stronger ties and finer
sensibilities among them; there is a greater sur
face exposed to the action of the various causes
of human suffering which cannot be excluded
from their Paradise' ,In proportioh to the ten
derness of the relations subsisting among them—
yes, in proportion to the genuineness and fruitful
ness of their piety must be the agony of the sepa
tions which they eanuot escape. How bitter the
sorrow, that sweet Christian intercourse is now at
an end, that familiar places at the family altar
must now he vacant, and familiar voices in the
hymn of worship he hushed, that the oompany
which walked to the house of God together is
broken up! Ah S how sore the bosom from which
those endeared by the double ties of natural and
spiritual affection have been suddenly snatched
away. And when the spoiler enters not once, hut
twice into the same circle, and within the circuit of
two rising and setting suns, strikes down both the
pious daughters of a godly house, robbing the home
ofits earthly grace and beauty and light, as he has
lately done in the circle of our ministerial ac
quaintance, fountains of grief are opened which
seem to rival in depth and intensity any known to
the children of the world. Such is the calamity
that has just befallen our Brother Adair, ..in
winch the sympathy of his brethren, profound
and general as it is, must he inadequate.
Yet the Christian sufferer parting from those
who have helped to make up his earthly paradise,
is overwhelmed but a moment. Hope soon opens
the inner eye to penetrate the shadows of the
tomb. We have, indeed, lost what tongue can
not describe, but they have gained what eye hath
not seen, nor ear heard, nor heart of man con
ceived. Soon we begin to detect in our inordi
nate grief a subtle element of selfishness—why
should we sorrow so inconsolably when they are
so blessed? Are we indeed prepared to follow
them? If so, then comes the inexpressible re
lief of realizing that the ties which united ns are,
after all, unbroken; there is an electric chain of
sympathy between ns and them—it is the com
mon love .of the .Redeemer—which, makes not
only the individual, hut our sanctified relation
ships, immortal.. Faith sees that the family is
not broken up; only the circle is widened ; only
part have gone, to the mansions which long ago
were prepared for all; all shall soon be gathered
around the same Saviour in heaven, whom all
had learned to love on earth. Happy, thrice
happy Christian household I The ties made
doubly sweet and strong by piety were not de
signed only to gladden the brief hours of earthly
communion, and then to add intensity and bitter
ness to the last pairing; they were not designed
to put Christian households at. a disadvantage,
aB compared with those united by the coarser ties
of merely human affection. No; they are the
beautiful types and foretasteß of the heavenly,
immortal joys of reunion! They bridge the
chasm of death; they are channels of consolation
from beyond the dark river. The spoiler has not
destroyed the Christian household by his worst
invasions; it is beyond his power. The monu
ments of his triumphs are like the altar erected
by the two and a half tribes who dwelt beyond
Jordan; not an index of separation as some
misunderstood it, but a "solemn token of real
unity between those whose dwelling places only
were separate; it was a witness between them
that Jehovah was the God of both. So let us set
up our memorials,
‘ 1 Courage, dear ones of my heart!
Though it grieves us here to part,
There we shall joyful be.”
“There be graves where sweetly sleep,
They—the beautiful and good,
Leaving in our hearts to keep
Fairest types of womanhood;
Lovingly, think lovingly
Of the fond and faithful hearted;
Joyfully, speakjoyfully,
uf the blessed Ones departed. ’ *
DISSENT AMONG THE ARMENIAN CON
VERTS.
We have always inclined to the opinion that
the proper method: .of dealing wish converts
from heathenism and native helpers in regard to
ecclesiastical matters, is to introduce them at an
early day to the responsibilities of church go
vernment and to a full ecclesiastical standing. It
is well known that the American Board has
hitherto, to a very large extent, pursued a differ
ent policy. A limited autonomy was granted to
the churches, hut the whole missionary field was
subjected to the quasi-Episcopal supervision of
the mission — i. e,, the body of foreign labourers
sent out by the Board. In some instances, we
believe, this supervision has been abandoned 5
recently the Evangelical Association of Hawaii,
and the Presbytery of Maui on the Sandwich
Islands, have been formed, in which, we suppose,
the principle of ministerial parity has ’ been car
ried out as between foreigners and natives. We
fear that in other eases the tutelage has been
protracted to the great damage of the real inte
rests of the mission; We refer especially to the
case of the Armenian converts. Intimations of
discontent among the native pastors of that in
telligent people have been us, through
different channels, for nearly two years. They
may have been overstated; the parties possibly
are not of a character to demand .serious notice;
other and impure motives may have mingled
with their acts 5 we, by no means, wish to be un
derstood as taking their part against the Board.
But we think the facts promise to take a place in
the history of the ecclesiastical management of
missions, and will he found to corroborate our
views of the expediency of an early establish
ment of regular and complete church organiza
tions among the converts.
The New Evangelical Kirchenzeittmg, organ of
the German branch of the Evangelical Alliance
at Berlin, and a journal of the highest charac
ter, in its issue of Oct. 8,1859, noticed what it
terms “ a serious discord between the American
founders and leaders of the mission and the Ar
menian native helpers, which broke out here and
there, and particularly at Constantinople, but
which wps settled .by concessions upon non
essential points (church constitution, church cus
toms.”) It adds: —“ The religious practices of
the American Presbyterians and the Indepen
pents appear very strange to numbers even of
the Armenians who are turning to the pure Gos
pel, and they adopt them with reluctance.”
In the News of the Churches for July last, the
ease of Mr. Williams, the converted Turk, is
mentioned; he is said to have left the mission of
the American Board, to which he originally be
longed, and connected himself with the Gospel
Propagation Society. Mr. Williams, it is said,
professes undiminished confidence in his former
friends, hut leaves “ as a result of long-continued
solicitation on one aide, and a restiveness on his
part under those restraints,, to which every helper
in a system of missionary operations must he
subjected.”
Editor.
But the most remarkable statement on the
subject has just appeared in the Church Journal
of New York, being copied from “the last”
Colonial Church Chronicle into the columns of
,the former paper. Hie article is entitled “ The
American Presbyterian Missionaries and their
Armenian Converts at Constantinople.” It is
written from a strong, High Church point of
view, but, as will be seen, that only increases its
value as evidence on the point in question.
After speaking of the great extent and large
success of our Missions in the Levant, the writer
proceeds to say:—“ They have been compelled
to avail themselves of the aid of native teachers,
appointed and ordained by themselves, over whom
they have exercised a quasi-episeopal control,
not regulated by any laws, nor based, it would
appear, on any constitution, human or divine.
“ This irresponsible power, exercised with jeal
ous exclusiveness by the foreign missionaries,
excited, as was not unnatural, the jealousy—we
use the word in no invidious sense—of the na
tive Armenian pastors; and for some years past
they have preferred their complaints to the Con
stantinople s oommittee of the American Board,
claiming, as their natural right, a voice in the
ecclesiastical arrangements, and in the govern
ment, of the congregations to which they minis
ter. Their representations and: remonstrances
were met, on the part of the Americans, with
the declaration that 'the missionary policy can
not move by even as much as a hair-breadth from
its position and principles/ This was followed
by a virtual vote of independence on the part of
the Evangelical Armenian Church, at their an
nual meeting in 1857, by which they asserted
their right of self-government, and renounced
all connection with their former masters, except
that of mutual Christian sympathy.
“In this arrangement the American Missiona
ries appeared for a time willing to acquiesce; but
when they became convinced that the Armenian;
Protestants were serious in their determination
to vindicate their liberty of action, they repu
diated all further connection or co-operation with
them, under the pretext that they had now no
sufficient guarantee against their converts lapsing
into error.”
The document to which he now proceeds to
refer has, we believe, never seen the light in this
country. The Church JoUrnaP® ays it is dated
Pera, August- 6, 1861. Concerning this, the
writer proceeds to say:—
“It is under these circumstances that the
Evangelical Armenian Church cones before the
world with their ! Declaration addressed to all
Christian Churches/ the object of which is to
vindicate their orthodoxy from the injurious sus
picions of the Missionaries, and by a statement
of their grievances, to justify the course which
they have pursued in throwing off ‘ the intolera
ble yoke of such missionary principles/ to which,
they protest, ‘wild and barbarous heathen con
verts can hardly yield their necks.’ This is
strong language, hut not by any means the
strongest contained in, r the document; for ‘The
view of the Evangelical Armenian Church in
general is, that the cause* of the Gospel and the
Church of Christ has been greatly damaged in
this country by the system of action in which
the Missionaries have hitherto persisted.’ No
wonder, then, that they utterly renounce all re
lation or connection whatever with the Missiona
ries of the American Board, and declare them
selves ‘free and disconnected from all adminis
tration and subjection of their missionary pro
ceedings.’^’
The writer in the Colonial Church Chronicle
searched this document closely, in the hope of
discovering there some evidence of a tendency
to a.n ecclesiastical position, which he, with his'
extreine prelatical opinions, could applaud—some
trace of 'dissatisfaction with “ the narrow range
of doctrine, and the extemporaneous effusions of
the ultra-Protestant sects” of the West, hut it is
with “ the deepest regret” that he observes “the
marked absence” of any such expressions, “ the
utter want of any sense of the defectiveness of
the pseudo-Evangelieal regimen.” “ The dis
sentients wish it to he distinctly understood that
“ this separation of the Church from the mis
sionary body is no division on the subject of re
ligion and the Christian doctrine; only the sys
tem and principles of Evangelization adhered to
by the Missionary Board, and their course of
conduct,” are “ considered undeniably injurious
to the cause of the Gospel, and (qrnre because)
against our unquestionable rights." There is
throughout the article as might he expected, a
disposition to set our excellent missionaries in
the East in an unfriendly light, with which of
course we have no sympathy, and it is quite pos
sible that the whole movement is insignificant;
unworthy motives may be at the bottom of it,
high-church organs chagrined at the comparative
failure of their own missions in this quarter may
he led to magnify hindrances which to our own
labourers are trifling. Certainly the Prudential
Committee have presented none of the facts, that
we are aware of, to the public, which would im
ply that they have a low estimate of their impor
tance. Nevertheless we think the principle and
methods of missionary government which they
have laid down, might naturally enough have led
to just such results as those described, and we
are inclined to believe that the Committee has
received a valuable lesson of experience on the
subject, such as will, in all probability hasten on
the formation of more scriptural organizations—
Congregational or Presbyterian, in place of the
nondescript governmental arrangements which
have widely prevailed hitherto.
That such a course is feasible and greatly pro
Jttttmratt sirs' tjemti atifl <*kti tutt
motive of the efficiency of the native ministry
among a people far inferior by nature to the Ar
menians, may be learned from the following
account of Missionary operations amongst the
Karens, which we take from a recent editorial
in the New York Examiner (Baptist). Speak
ing of the very great expansion of the work
among this people,, the writer says: “ This led
first to a great increase in the number of native
laborers; next to the support by the churches of
the native pastors, and the formation of the
Karen Home Mission Society for sustaining na
tive evangelists; and lastly, through the convic
tion that to keep these preachers, who bore the
responsibilities and performed the duties of pas
tors, in an inferior and dependent position as
merely helpers of the missionaries, was to intro
duce the scheme, without the name of prelacy, it
was resolved that those who did pastors’ work
should have all a pastor’s rights. Ordination be
came no longer an exceptional and cautiously
granted privilege, but the ordinary regimen in
such cases. The effect has been excellent. The
native preachers, so long as they were merely
assistants of the missionaries, seemed wholly un
fit to take any responsibility. But when respon
sibilities were -laid upon them, they ' rose to the
situation,’ and proved equal to it.”
MRS. PHEBE H, BROWN.
[The following notiee of this/'excellent and
gifted lady, from the pen of one of our most
esteemed contributors—also a lady, and an ac
quaintance of the subject—r-contains some facts
which have not hitherto appeared in our columns.
Mrs. Phebe Hinsdale Brown died at Henry,
Marshall county, Illinois, at the residence of her
son-in-law, Mr. Elijah Smith, on the tenth of
October, aged seveniy-nine years;—]
“ Mrs. Brown baa been long known to a large
circle of friends as a woman of uncommon abili
ties and of symmetrical piety. Early in life she
wrote the tract, “ Poor Sarah,” which was a
truthful narrative of a poor Indian woman, of
the tribes then lingering about the hills of west
ern Massachusetts. The portraiture was so faith
ful that the author suffered a series of persecu
tions from a wealthy family, which had repaid the
toil of the poor Indian woman with so scanty a
pittance as made. it a mockery of her wants and
poverty. As all concerned have now gone to
their final account, no evil can result froih this
which, for years, was. a living trial to
the writer of the tract. Mrs. Brown is, per
haps, best known as tbe author of several of our
popular hymns. Among them two are especially
worthy of notice: —
‘I-love to steal awhile away
From every cumbering care,
And spend the hours of setting day
In humble, grateful prayer,’ &e.
“ And another, which may be called a sacra
mental welcome to new converts, first published
in Mr. Nettleton’s collection of village hymns:—
‘Welcome, ye hopeful heirs of Heaven,
To this rich feast of Gospel love:
This pledge is but the prelude given
To that immortal feast above. ’
“ Mrs. Brown was an old-fashioned Christian
with great reverence for the ministry and the
ordinances of religion. She believed in family
government,, restraint and doctrinal instruction.
Her three children were early followers of their,
mother’s example. Her two daughters were
married to clergymen; and her only son, the
Rev. Samuel R. Brown, after graduating with
credit - at Yale College, became a missionary to
China, under tbe direction of tbe American
Board. He returned to this country, "some years
after, on account of the ill health of his wife,
and established a classical school for-hoys at Au
burn, N. Y.,, while he supplied the pulpit of a
small church in the neighborhood at the same
time. Many of his pupils can bear testimony to
the parental kindness and fidelity of their in
structor. The health of his family being re
stored, Mr. Brown was again urged to join the
late mission to Japan, fitted out under the pa
tronage of the Dutch Church, and accordingly
sailed from New York in May, 1859, on this
second embassy to carry ‘ light to the nations
sitting in darkness/ In writing to a friend at
this time, Mrs. Brown said“ My son’s society
has been a grfeat solace toime; but he # was given
to the Lord from his birth, and I never yet took
back the gift. ‘■ The Lord has need of him,’ as a
pioneer missionary in the 'Land of the rising
sun,’ and I can only say, ‘Go, in the strength of
the Lord God!’
“The close of her long, useful life, in- its
peaceful serenity, was an answer to the prayer,
recorded in the final stanza of her own beautiful
hymn:—
‘Thus, when life’s toilsome day is o’er,
May its departing ray
Becalm as this impressive hour,
And lead to endless day. ” 1
[FOB THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN. 1
THE HOME MISSIONARY OOMMITTEI,
Dear Brother :—Please : give notice that by
direction of the Home Missionary Committee
all drafts of missionaries becoming due up to
and including the 15th of November iust. are to
bp paid at the office in hereto
fore, and all drafts becoming dueiUfter thdfc time
are to he paid at the office in New .York.
Accordingly, reports of missionaries and other
communications, except remittances of money,
are to he sent to the undersigned until Novem
ber 15th, and after that time to the Rev. Henry
Kendall, D, D., at the Presbyterian Rooms,
New York. city. Remittances are to be made at
once to E. A. Lambert, Esq., Treasurer, Pres
byterian Rooms, No. 150 Nassau street, New
York.
The following appointments have been recent
ly made by the Committee:—
Rev. L. P. Webber, Presbytery of Indianapolis.
Rev. Joseph Gordon, Presbytery of Alton.
Rev. Williston Jones, lowa Falls and vic’y, lowa.
Rev. J. H. Scott, West Liberty and Atalissa, la.
Rev. C. 0. Reynolds, Hunter, N. Y.’
Rev. George Ransom, Bedford, N. Y.
Rev. Chas. H. Thomson, Biloam Church, Brook-
lyn, N.Y.
Rev. Wm. H. Megie, Junius, N. Y,
Rev. Isaac Winans. Yernon and vicinity, Ohio.
Rov. J. Garland Hamner, Milford, Del. ‘
Rev. Chester Holcomb, Joy and Fairville, N. Y.
Rev. T. Sherrard, Centralia, 111.
Rev! E. E. Gregory, Corunna, Mich.
Rev. G. C. Wood, Presbytery of Illinois.
Rev. Wm. Hunter, Springwater, N. Y.
Rev. Chas. J. Adams, Quincy, Mich.
Rev. S. J. Downey, Reynoldsburg, 0.
Rev. A. G- Gaston, Hastings, Mich.
Rev. W. H. Smith, Lexington, Kansas.
Rev. Geo. M. Boardman, Petersburg and Deer
field, Mich.
Rev. John Walker, Palmyra and Blissfield, Mich.
Rev. Sam’l Fleming, Momence and Medina, Mich.
Rev. Geo. W. Nicolls, Clayton and Dover, Mich.
Rev. R. R. Salter, D.D., La Salle and Ida, Mich.
Benj. J. Waldaoe,
No: 1334 Chestnut street, Philadelphia.
NEWSPAPER ABSORPTION.;
The jffMstomVy, a ah|;feifellent Lutheran jour
nal, until recently issued in Pittsburg, by Rev.
W. A. Passavant, well known for his active reli
gious sympathy with the suffering and the desti
tute, has been merged into the. Lutheran of this
city, The united paper is now issued in this
city under the editorial'control of Rev. Chas. P.
Krauth, D.D., (who has resigned Ms pastoral
charge for the purpose,) and Rey. Mr. Passavant,
who remains in Pittsburg. The Lutheran and
Missionary is a good-sized sheet, presents a fine
appearance, and is, conducted with marked
ability. ! :
The Banner of the Cross of this city has been
merged in the Church Journal of New York;
both are High Church papers. The Episcopal
Recorder has now a clear field in tMs city, wMeh
it would gratify us to see in its possession.
FROM THE BEAT OP WAR IN THE WEST,
Springfield; Mo., Oct. 29,1861.
Since my last we bridged and crossed the
Osage, come eighty miles, taken this place after
a most gallant fight, and are now hunting out
secessionists in all directions. The enemy in
force sixty-five miles to the southwest of tMs,
are said to—be advancing or rereating ?t—that’s
the question. They have already rapidly re
treated two hundred and fifty miles from Lex
ington, and must continue to retreat out of the
State, or fight soon. ,
Many advantages of late have been afforded
me, to gain access to prisoners, and families of
secessionists in our lines. It is astonishing to
observe the prejudices, ignorance, and shallowness
in all they offer on the subject of the war. The
falsehoods which have been believed by so many
are most deplorable of @JI, but.they are the con
sequences ot what I have previously stated. The
remarks I often make to them appear to be a
new Gospel. Sometimes I “preach” as We
march, to a “ squad” by the,wayside for three or
five minutes, givihg tiisM a Christian Almanac,
or .Testament,, and hgaih never to meet
any more. IstiUpity thpsepoor misguided Mis
sourians. .Sometimes in tears the women beg of
me to intercede for their absent husbands, sons,
or brothers, and say, •' if all the North are the
like of you and Gen. Fremont, they themselves,
.are for. the Union.” ; I tell them “ they are for
the most part such as we are; but that Gen. F.
is one of the most excellent men living; while
there are tens of thousands of better men than I
am in the Northern States, who are in reality the
very best and and truest friends the South have
in the world.” They seem to be relieved, evi
dently confiding in us J who are present with
them; but they are mystified as to the evidence
respecting persons, and-things not seen.” Un
travelled, simple minded people! I pity you;
and lament “ the just judgments of/God” which
are falling heavily upon you now on all sides!
-The ruthless track of war, like th at .of the tornado,
leaves many a ruin and ewasth iiilEfe wake ! 7 :,,i
Yet these hitter enemies of the U. S. govern
ment through whom we have ‘ come these three
hundred miles from St: Johns, via Tipton and
Sedalia, have been treated, kindly, tenderly ! I
do toot know of a 1 single ease 'of “ wrong or
outrage” (wantonly committed by our troops.
“ Oamp ! ibllowers,” as always occurs, have rob
bed hen-roosts, risking iheir own lives in do
ing.so,.as the Strictest orders have ; been promul
gated on the above subjects, by Major Gen. Fre
mont. All things which soldiers and officers
obtain for themselves, are bought and paid for
by them in cash, at good prices. 'Tens of thou
sands of dollars are thuj scattered over a coun
try parched and sere as to business, like streams
in a desert. Paymasters,accompany all our divi
sions.
In face of all these facts the atroeities with
which our poor wounded; and prisoners here have
been treated, within the €ast few days before the
main body came up, are, appalling. And of the
evidence df this lam a {witness. The mutilated
remains of one Yonbeek, whose body was brought
in from the bushes six miles out of town, last
Sabbath afternoon, is *an instance. He was
clerk of the Third Co. of the “ Body Guard,” a
choice band of most excellent young men, who
accompany us, and who do more work than any
men in the service. He had a Hew Testament
in his pocket which I had given him! His face
was battered to a jelly, cheek bones broken,
teeth knocked out. His left arm had been
twisted and broken, nearly off, evidently to tor
ture him ! He was the unhappy victim of mad
rage shown towards a'prisoner by, our enemies
who were discomfitted. and from whom some of
our men taken prisoners, just escaped. • The news
papers will furnish further details than I can
write. But I must close to-day, interesting
events are at hand. ' •**
— ■■ •
’ BLAH OF VISITATION IN WILMIMGTON
PRESBYTERY.
•. -
We received this plan-too late for its publican
tion entire. In part, it is already carried out.
The churches of Christiana and the Milford field
are on the list for Oct. §oth; those of Forest and
Glasgow for Nov. 6. For Nov. 13th, we find the
following appointment!:—
St. George’s—Rev. Messrs. Aikman andHamner.
Bel. City—Rev. Messrs. Wiswell and Riley.
Chesapeake City—Rev. 1 Messrs. Foot and Morris.
NOVEMBER 20.
Hanover st., Wilm.—Rev. Messrs. Foot and Hen-
dricks. . .
Mispillion—-Rev. Messrs. Emerson and Gaylord.
December 4.
PortPenn—Rev. Messts. Aikman and Hendricks.
DECESIBER 11.
Central, Wilm.—Rev. Messrs. Means and Morris.
Drawyers’—Rev. Messfs. Emerson and Hamner.
A nniversarY.— Tie twenty-third anniversary
exercises of the Saljba|b School Bible Society of
Pine Street Church (oor. Fourth and Pine Sts.)
will be held on' SabMth afternoon next; Nov.
17th, at 3i o’clock. ’ Addresses will be delivered
on the occasion by Rey. Mr. Mowry, Rev. J. S.
Willis, Hon. James FWloek, and Rev. T. Brain
erd, B. B.
Congregations djesirous' of purchasing or
gans are referred to ithe advertisements on our
third page. We have no doubt they will be sat
fied as to quality and price at either of' the esta
blishments referred ten
THE LADIES' AID SOCIETY,
This Society established at the commencement
of the rebellion, for the relief of the sick and in
sufficiently provided soldiers, is quite too wel
and favorably known to our people and to the
army to need any commendation from us. We
mention it now in compliance with the wishes of
its officers, to call the attention of the benevolent
and patriotic to the precise wants of the soldiers
in the hospitals, in supplying which they are
prepared to act as agents. They say in a recent
circular:
To the men of our land belongs the honor of
fighting our country’s battles; ours is tbe duty
and privilege of ministering to the comfort and
relief of our brave defenders when sick, or
wounded.
To the ladies of Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
and adjacent States, we therefore confidently ap
peal for aid and co-operation in our glorious un
dertaking. Wc call upon them as lovers of their
country, as friends of humanity, as followers of
Him who went about doing good, to forward
contributions in money, or in such hospital stores
not furnished by the government as they may
judge needful.
Red and gray flannel shirts and drawers, can
ton flannel shirts and drawers, and ordinary un
bleached muslin shirts of different sizes, also knit
woollen socks, knit woollen mittens, with thumb
■and fore-fin^fir,"crash old
or new, and especially ilanketSj are at this mo
ment urgently called for.
Other articles,' if not indispensable, are most
acceptable. Such are jellies, dried fruits, hit
ter, apple butter, egg s, crackers, wine, brandy,
ale, white’ sugar, tea, cocoa, chocolate, farina,
pickles, dried beef, ham, citric acid, lemons,
oranges, and apples.
Patriotic transportation companies will forward
hospital stores gratuitously. Packages under
this arrangement, or freight pre-paid, may be
sent to Ladies’ Aid, care of J. P. Rhoads, No.
701 Walnut street, Philadelphia, or on Fridays
to the Church, corner of Twelfth and Walnut
streets. A list of contents should accompany
each package. ;
Money may be remitted, and letters addressee
to either of the subscribers.
Mbs. Joel Jones, President Ladies’Aid, No.
625 Walnut street, Philadelphia.
Mbs. Stephen Colwell, Treasurer Ladies’
Aid, N. E. corner Eleventh and Arch stveets,
Philadelphia.
Mbs. John Habbis, Secretary Ladies’ Aid,
No. 1106 Pine street, Philadelphia
, October 20th, 1861.
THE DRIFT.
The following extracts from the Washing
ton correspondence of onr exchanges reveal
the progress of opinion iii • our government
as to the proper conduct of the war. The first
is from the Anti-Slavery Standard : “A Western
member of Congress, a few days since, had an
interview with President Lincoln on the subject
of Fremont’s removal, when he admitted that the
administration was. at first very much displeased
by theslave proclamation issued by tbe General
‘But,’ asked the M. C., ‘do you not believe
you will soon have to adopt the principle of the
proclamation, or ; something like it?’ ‘We are
drifting in that' direction,’~was~Mr.''Llffcoln’s"
reply. Such is the fact. The government, Gen.
MeClellsn, and the American people are drift
ing in? that direction.” The second is from the
CongregationaMst of Boston : “ There are indica
tions that the government will ere long'take hold
of the slavery question boldly, and settle it and
tbe rebellion forever, by a decree or order de
claring tbe slaves freemen. It is reported that
even Mr. Holt of Kentucky, after having seen
the conduct of a large proportion of Kentucky
slaveholders, declares that slavery is at the bot
tom of the war, and that he shall not complain if
it results in its entire overthrow. If Mr. Holt
is becoming ■ a convert to the anti-slavery doc
trine, there is hope that the government will
take the proper ground when a favorable mo
ment arrives.’’
The Boston Recorder makes the following
very sound and jußt remarks as to the partial
progress already tlm work of emancipa
tion. The writer is speaking of the fugitives at
Fortress Monroe: “So God seems now to be an
swering our prayers, or holding himself ready to
answer them conditionally. He has given us
here a : little specimen of emancipation, done in
his way, to see how we will respond to it; and
as if to tell us that the future of emancipation
will be according to the results of these first
fruits of it, and that this people who have suf
fered so much in bondage,-are not to be m'ade
to suffer in their emancipation, before they find
their way to subsistence, So he seems,to be
saying to us now—See to it that they aTe not
made to suffer, and then you may have good
grounds to ask for' the. deliverance of more.
Yea, he seems now to challenge us to put him to
the test—“ Bring ye all the tithes into’ the store
house, and prove me now herewith, if I will not
open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a
blessing, till there he no not room enough to
receive it.
PREACHING IN GAMP.
An empty goods box, on which I stand in
front, is the usual pulpit. The sight when ready
for worship, is exceedingly interesting and beauti
ful. A thousand men in regular and close mili
tary order, in fall uniform, and burnished arms )
• —congregation large enough for any minister to
address. The services are conducted in the
usual manner of onr churches—prayer, singing,
reading, and preaching, the whole not usually
exceeding half an hour; longer would weary;
the men standing all the while. /The utmost at.
tention is invariably manifested by all.
From about 10 a. m. to 5 P. M. each one is at
liberty to follow pretty much his own inclination,
provided no unnecessary noise be made. Some
read their Bibles, or a religions book or paper,
provided I have any of these to furnish them.
Some sing psalms and hymns; some saunter
about camp; some talk together of home, of
army matters, of religion, or politics; some sleep;
while Others hide away in their little tents, to
play cards, or exereise themselves in some other
miscellaneous Wickedness. About sp. m. an
other dress parade is held, and at its close, an
other public service, similar to that of the morn
ing. Mueh of the long interval between the
hours of preaching, is spent in the different
companies and tents, distributing whatever of
religious reading matter can he obtained; with
such other exercises as circumstances seem to
suggest or warrant. From 6to9p. m. Sabbath
evening, general quietness prevails. In very
many tents, or in the open spaces in front, sing
ing psalms or hymns, as the singers were wont
to use at home; gives our place the appearance
of a large camp meeting. At 9 o’clock, the
drums heat the tattoo, warning all to prepare for
rest. In half an hour after, an officer passes
through camp, ordering all lights to be put out,
and noise to cease. Such is one of our ordinary
Sabbaths in camp life with the 13th'regiment.
Banner of the Covenant.
#« flank pews.'
Last Hours of Rev. Dr. White. —At ten
o'clock, Tuesday evening, Oct. 29th, a member
of Dr. White’s family entered his room, and
found hiiq. lying lifeless. It would seem that he
had just risen from his wonted evening prayer,
and had sat down upon his bed-side, when the
welcome release came. The evening had been
spent in writing a sermon, and the ink was
scarcely dry on the paper, when the hand that
penned the following was found cold in death: —
“ 1 Faith presents death in its true character.
It shows that they are the dead and dying who
are detained here in, the present world, that the
persons who live are they that have passed the
bourne whence no traveller returns. The Chris
tian ! Faith assures him that at death he lan
guishes into life, and in joyous exultation ex
claims I live 1I am released from a fcommuni
ty of the dead! This is my birth! I have
never lived before! I now live!’” Christian
Herald. ,
The Western Christian Advocate says: — “Rev.
Charles White, D.D., President of Wabash Col
lege, Crawfordsville, la., died of apoplexy, Oct.
29th, aged about sixty years. Dr. White was a
native of Eastern New'York, and spent a con
siderable portion of his ministerial life at Oswe
go. N. P. Willis was one of his parishioners
there, and addressed to him some beautiful and
highly appreciative poetry. He removed from
Oswego to Crawfordsville about eighteen yeans
ago, having been elected to succeed President
E. W. Baldwin, D.D.
“ As a president, he governed by securing the
confidence and love of his students, and hun
dreds of the educated men in Indiana venerate
him as a father. Dr. White stood very high as
a counselor and leader in the churoh of which
he was a minister—the New School Presbyte
rian,. Only two weeks ago he was Moderator of
the Synod of Wabash, at Lafayette, la.”
Rev. Dr. Asa D. Smith’s Twenty-Seventh
Anniversary —On Sabbath evening last, Rev.
Asa D. Smith, pastor of the Fourteenth Street
Presbyterian church in this city, preached a ser
mon on the twenty-seventh anniversary of his
ordination. Dr. Smith began his ministry in
this city, and has been longer in the.pastoral
office here than any other pastor in the New
School connection, either in New York or Brook
lyn. He has also been one of the most laborious,
faithful and successful ministers of any denomi
nation; as the following facts, furnished by a
friend who was present will show. During the
twenty-seven -years of his ministry in this city,
Dr Smith has preached nearly 3,000 sermons.
He has received under his pastoral care about
1,300 different persons—ss9 of them (an aver
age of over 20 a year) on profession of their faith.
It.is estimated that there Rave been_in_f,lie-SaA-
hath Schools connected ! with his pastorate, not
less than 10,000 different children. The aggre
gate of the gifts of-the congregation has not been
far from 3230,000. For the last ten years
they have averaged more than one thousand dol
lars a month. Of the members of r his church
about forty have been called to the ministry of
the Gospel. Some of these have, gone to the
heathen; others have labored as Home Mission
aries ; several of them are in important posi
tions connected with our institutions of learning.
Such a record as this may well excite gratitude'
in a pastor's heart, and a grateful people may re
joice that he is continued to them in the fall
vigor of his life and measure of his_ usefulness.
May this happy relation long enjoy the same
tokens of the divine favor and blessing.-— js. Y.
Observer.
California. —The correspondent of the Bos
ton CongregationaMst writes in regard to our
Synod and the Association in California as fol
lows :—“ The Old School and the New School
Presbyterian Synods and the General Assoeiar
tion, have met the last week, the two latter, as
usual, in one place, Sacramento. These were
well attended, and were interesting and profita
ble meetings. Some soreness is felt in the sun
dering of the co-operative ties which have for
ten years so pleasantly hound together the two
denominations here. But the Synod have taken
the steps of the General Assembly, and are
pushing now their work of extension with all
their power. They have had one of the zealous
ones all the year in the field. Rev. Mr. Brier,
and he is to continue exploring, and organizing
churches, as rapidly as possible. The Home
Missionary Society must have some one to do
this kind of work also.”
The Synod of Cincinnati in their narrative
say ;—“ Reports have been received from twenty
nine of our forty-two churches. Three of them
have enjoyed interesting revivals of religion,
viz.: Georgetown, Higginsport, and New Rich
mond; five others have received important ac
cessions to their membership. Eleven of the
churches report emphatically no special religious
interest, and among them are nearly all of our
largest churches.”
Synod of the Western Reserve. —On the
subject of Home Missions, the Synod adopt
ed the following: —
Resolved, That while Synod fully concur in
the Assembly’s plan of Home Missions, and cor
dially recommend it to the churches, we do
not understand that plan as conflicting with the
plan .of, union and co-operation between Presby
terian and Congregational Churches, nor would
we wish to control any church in the direction
of its contributions to Home Missions.
Resolved, That Synod request the General
Secretary of the Assembly’s Committee of Home
Missions, to present the claims of Home Mis
sions at the meeting of Synod, at Fremont, next
year; and the Synod appoint Rev. J. B. Bittin
ger his alternate—and that Sabbath evening be
appropriated to this cause.
Dr. Kendall’s Appointment.— -The Pres
byterian Banner of Pittsburg, speaking of the
appointment of Rev. Henry Kendall, D. D., to the
office >of Secretary to the Board of Domestic Mis
sions of the “ New School” Presbyterian Church,
says : “ During Mr. Kendall’s residence in this
city, the church of which he was pastor pros
pered greatly under his labors, and he made
many friends among all denominations, all of
whom greatly regret his departure from a field of
great usefulness and much promise.”
Rev. Geo. R. Moore is supplying the pulpit
of the church in Bloomfield, 111., during the ab
sence of Rev. Alfred Eddy who has taken a
chaplaincy in the army.
Charles John Andersson, the author of
* ‘ Lake N’gami,” has just issued a second volume
of African exploration and discovery, called the
“ Okavango River” republished in this country
by Messrs. Harper & Brother. The explora
tions embrace a region of country on the western
side of the continent, reaching from the tropic
of Capricorn northwardly to about the 17th de
gree of south latitude; they resulted in the dis
covery of a great river, bearing the name of
Okavango, running eastwardly towards the heart
of the continent. Although the traveller remain
ed nearly three months in the neighborhood of
the river, he was unable to make any extensive
explorations on account of sickness. His jour
ney occupied two years and was full of perils and
partial repulses, which none but a man of the
most resolute purpose would have overcome. Its
result was the addition of an important item to
our knowledge of the topography of the interior
of Africa, though it adds, another to the already
existing mysteries of tie potamology of this
continent. Mr. Andersson appears to have been
a great hunter of elephants and his book almost
deserves the name of “elephant-book,” as that of
Duchaillu has the name of “gorilla book.” It
is a deeply entertaining book of adventure, and
is illustrated in very fine style by the publishers
whose series of late works on Africa is now quite
extensive. Bvo. pp. 418; for sale in . this city by
J. B. Lippincott & Co.
Messrs. Martiens, of this city, have sent us
a new work from the well-known pen of that fer
tile and favorite devotional writer, Rev. J. R.
Macduff, D.D., which will add to Ms reputa
tion as a fervid, imaginative, and vigorous writer,
eminently successful in moulding the most im
portant and profitable spiritual truths into rich
and attractive forms of expression, .and illustrat
ing them with gems of the best modern poetry
from Wordsworth, Keble and others. There is
a slight air of affectation in his title —Sunsets on
the Hebrew Mountains —which is explained to
mean: the closing seasons of the lives of promi
nent characters of Scripture, connected, as many
of them were with some eminence in Palestine.
There is felt, too, we think after a time, a slight
weariness at the excess of the imaginative and
exclamatory and emphatic elements in the style;
but, on the whole, we can heartily commend the
hook to those who seek a truly devotional hook,
over which they do not wish to go to sleep.
12mo. pp. 313. Published by the Carters,
New York.
The Last Travels of that remarkable tra
veller, Mrs. Ida Pfeiffer, will be received
with unwonted interest, both from the author
and the subject—Madagascar. Elsewhere in
the paper, we give an extract from the volume.
It contains, besides her diary, a brief account of
her life by her son, and a portiait, said to be a
good likeness. Her powers of observation are
very good, and her style transparent and unpre
i tending. She combines perfect, independence
and a-Traveller’s curiosity with delicacy. Her
hook abounds with original and valuable inform
ation. She died oft a fever contracted in Mada
gasear.' For sale by J. B. Lippincott & Co.
18mo. 281 pages:
Works of Lord, Bdcon.~ —We are pleased to
be able to announce the renewal of the issues of
this very valuable edition of the works of the
great philosopher, by Messrs. Brown & Tag
gard, of Boston. The work is a reprint of the
latest English edition, prepared by a combination
of labourers in a thorough and; satisfactory man
ner, giving us a truly a standard library edition.
The paper, typography, and binding are, in
every respect, suitable to the character of the
work, and constitute it a true student’s luxury.
The present is Yol. H. in the series, hut in real
ity the eighth that has been issued, and com
prises a continuance of the philosophical works
in the Latin, with English prefaces bytheedi
tors. For sale by S. McHenry, Book Booms,
No. 406 Walnut 'street.
The Student and Schoolmate, for November,
is an excellent number. “ Sam G-olding’s Vieto-y
ries” ought to be read by every school boy. Thf
other articles are of high character. Nothir
is put in to fill up. Galen, James & Co.,
ton. Price, $1 a year.
The Westminster Review is becoming toi
zen in its hostility to Christianity to exper
tiee at the hands of religions journalis
would suggest to Messrs. L. Scott &
they would probably gratify a large majority 01
their American subscribers by dropping^this pes
tilent quarterly from their list, and substituting
one of equally good literary standing, such as
they might readily do from among the later en
terprises of the more orthodox of the English
literati.
Rev. T: H. Stockton is about to publish a
limited edition of his Poems, illustrated by de
signs from Darley, Hoppin and others, and ac
companied .by autobiographic .and other note 5
Pri’ee, $l. Persons desirous of subscribing trill
address Dr. Stoekton early. Box 1717, Phila
delphia Postoffice.
The Southern Rebedim and the War for
Union has reached the twelfth weekly number-
It contains the counting; of the electoral rote,
and Mr. Lincoln’s progress towards Washing
ton, with all his addresses at various points in
full. Published every Wednesday, by
D. Torrey, No. IS Spruce street, New York-
Price, 10 cents.
Messrs. T. B. Peterson & Brothers have
sent us their cheap edition of Great Expedi
tions. Price, 25 cents.
A choice paper in the Atlantic Monthly Pr
November, is by the Country Parson, “Con
cerning .People who carried weight in Life-'
i. e., who work at greater or . less disadvantage
It is full of the strong, practical wisdom, bk’B'-'
ed with the delicate taste and kindliness of be**
which the public have long since learned to es
pect in . the writings of this favorite essay!--'
Other noteworthyarticles are on Be Tocquerilk
Health in the Camp,- and the Contrabands
Portress Monroe; Ticknor & Fields, Boston-
Among the noteworthy articles in the Ecu 1
tic Magazine for November, are l; Eevolmi"" 7 '
in English History,” “ Mad Dogs and their l’h e ‘
nomena;,’ “ Froude’s Henry VHI.;” “ N» ltiU ?
Panics.” The illustration is a portrait of i/*"
erick the Great, from the original by Van J' o
W.H. Bid Well, Editor and Proprietor, b°-
Beekman street, New York.,
NOV. 14,
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