B#. fttSfegfrtia# —AND— GENISIE EVANGELIST. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21,1861 J6HN w. HIABS,. THANKSGIVING IN TIME OF WAR. ~ Though but lately we have turned from tfie solemnities of a great Fast, we, perceive no in congruity in the summons more recently issued by the Governors of various Commonwealths, including our own and that of New York, for a day of thanksgiving. If we are at war, it is a righteous conflict on our side, and one into which we entered with a reluctance, which put us, at an immense disadvantage in comparison with our fierce and eager foe. Hence we consider the final decision of our people to accept the . conflict thrust upon .them, as itself a main reason for thanksgiving. We rejoice more than we can tell, at the stern, enthusiastic, and almost unani mous decision of the North, to make all the sa crifices 'and endure all the' burdens of war in support of the insulted majesty of law, and in defence of our National .existence. We thank God that, when' treason tupk its final, irrecovera ble step, the selfish instincts of trade were not strong enough, even in the trafficking and manu facturing centres of the North., to restrain, for a moment, the overwhelming outburst of indig nant patriotism on the part of the loyal people. We thank God for the myriads of brave hearts; of husbands and fathers, of sons and of brothers, the rich and the poor, the cultivated and the rude; who sprang to their arms and pressed for ward with boundless enthusiasm to the defence of the beleaguered capital; and for the half a million now in arms on sea and on land uphold- ing our country’s banner, and girdling its ene mies, from the mouths of the Father of Waters to the Chesapeake; on the Potomac and the Ka nawha, in the mountain fastnesses of Kentucky, by the mouth of the Ohio and on the prairie borders 'of Missouri; and who. last of all, have flung out the starry ensign over the cotton fields of the Palmetto State. We thank God that thousands have proved, on the fiercely contested field, their cheerful readiness to die and to re seal with their Blood' the already crimsouecTheri-' tage of constitutional liberty transmitted from the fathers. We thank him for such new mar tyr-names to breathe to our children, and to in scribe on the unfolding scroll of history, as Ells worth, and Greble, and Wlnthrop, and Cameron, and Lyon, and Baker, We thank God that the heroic ages have come hack to our prosaic times, and that our pulses heat with a quicker throb, and a flush of ennobling impulse has found its way into the and the meanest mind, raising it from apathy and degradation to con scious and active participation ia the grand movements of humanity. Look back but a year; imagine yourself once more enveloped in the stifling air of the public opinion which then directed the councils of the nation. Take up the numbers of the “ Southern Rebellion,” which, with great minuteness, have been reproducing the Congressional debates, the messages, the spirit of public meetings of the time. See everything suffered to drift by sheer imbecility, seemingly to utter anarchy—to the resolving of all into its original elements.’ See God’s divine ordinance of Government scorned and flouted with unparalleled impudence. See one of the greatest and most hopeful of human governments paralyzed, lying in the impotence of a nightmare, basely robbed and betrayed by those who had grown great upon its favors; see the unchecked hatching in open day of a con spiracy more infamous than Cataline’s—-a plot to seize the capital, to usurp the government, to waylay and assassinate the chief magistrate elect on his way to assume constitutional authority. Look on this picture, and on this, and say whether the. privilege of having lived to see that day pass, and he followed by one like the present, is not enough to call for a thanksgiving appoint ment Even our reverses have been turned to our profit. Would that we might have back with us the brave spirits that 'have Would that the pining captives now fretting their gallant hearts in exile were with us again. But in the order of a mysterious but wise Provi dence, they have been taken from us, and these blotted pages have been inserted iu our history, tor our great good. The deeply painful and humbling lessons, we have been taught as a na tion, have been brought home, we believe, too offectively to he soon obliterated. We do believe that God has refined us in this furnace. So far from finding incongruity between the two—fast ing and thanksgiving—we may well reckon the fast itself, which our people were led so univer sally and so devoutly to observe, as a matter of thanksgiving. Though to-day we thank God for our recent great victory in South Carolina, and feel our approaching thanksgiving the more seasonable on this account; yet we can thank Him sincerely too for our great and bitter reverses. There is a movement of the public mind, de veloped and hastened hy this conflict, for which we feel too great cannot to the Providence that has brought it about. We mean the growing disposition to right the long-stand ing, grievous and shameful wrbngs of the African. race on this continent. The anomaly of the threat majority of a free, enlightened and Chrls tian people, acquiescing, from motives of politi cal and commercial expediency, in the continu ance and expansion of this great system of wrong, is rapidly passing away. As God hard ened Pharaoh’s heart, so he has hardened the hearts of the slaveholders of the South, till their , infatuation and their arrogance have led them to i attempt the overthrow of the freest and best of human governments, that they might more se curely maintain and perpetuate the enslaved con- dition of the African race. This, hyperbole'of ; wickedness has quickened the Northern con i'science. It is felt that the evil has reached its ■ culminating point in rebellion against the Fede- ral Government. The institution which, under f other circumstances, could be left to the con sciences of those immediately involved in it, (must be taken jn hand when it aspires to cental tree government and to subordinate human pro gress to its base ends. When, on the ruins of the fair fabric of our revolutionary, fathers, it aims to erect a government, whose very corner -stone is avowed to be the inferiority of the black to the white, race, the voices of twenty million of freemen echo back, never,, never! War, bloodshed, millions of treasure, death, before such dishonor! With rapid strides—even as the .development of pro-slavery arrogaacf was rapid— We arc advancing as a nation to the position that this blot on our National name and our Holy reli gion must be more than circumscribed, but, as G od gives us power, must be effaced; that this sys tem of oppression must he sown all over with seeds of dissolution; that this serpent of Na tional discord must he mortally wounded; that the Corner-stone, of. the proposed confederacy must be shattered. Editor. It is cause for thanksgiving that a quondam, pro-slavery lawyer and Democrat became the willing and skilful pilot of a Republican Go vernment through the first intricate passage ways to emancipation; that a crowded New York city audience refused to listen to a loyal and otherwise welcome Kentucky orator, so soon as he uttered the word “ compromise,” and over whelmed him with negatives when he proposed in the future to leave slavery to-take its course in the territories; and that in the city of Phila delphia, in which, less than a year ago, the worthy but misguided Mayor uttered, before an immense audience, back of Independence Hall, pretty plain threats against the free press and pulpit of our land, and refused to protect an ad vocate of freedom against a pro-slavery-mob, and was applauded for both acts; in this city, but two or three weeks ago, one of the most promi nient advocates of emancipation in the U. 8. Senate not only freely addressed an immense audience, but scarcely rose to the pitch of their enthusiasmhis powerful and eloquent exposi tion of the ‘ connection of Slavery with our Na tional troubles. • 4 The signs of progress in the press and pulpit are as hopeful as they are unmistakable. We may safely set them Sown as matter of devout thanksgiving. The hour of, opportunity is come. The question of the future condition- of the working classes [of this continent is in the hands of this Government. The power to undo the wrongs of four millions of ehattelized human beings may be said to be ours. It is a solemn, a privileged, a glorious hour in the history of men. We thank God—with some trembling it is true—that the signs of our fitness to meet the hour and discharge the high responsibility are multiplying. It is from the Romish Church itself that we are now hearing the most emphatic protests against the perpetuation of the temporal power of the Papacy. Italian, Roman priests, Jesuits even, have joined in the great struggle for the emancipation of their country from a yoke, which not only grievously oppresses* a part, hut which hinders the unity of the whole. Father Passa glia, a native of Florence, but until lately Pro fessor in the Jesuit College of Rome,, a person of brilliant endowments, high standing, and sin cere attachment to the dogmas of his Church, has issued a pamphlet in which he attacks the claim of Temporal Supremacy for the Pope with great ability. He had. previously abandoned the Society of Jesus, but was living in Rome when he issued his pamphlet. As it has cre ated an extraordinary sensation- in the, political and ecclesiastical world of Europe,’ we give a part of an abstract which we find in the Meiho aist. After describing and deploring the estrange ment of the Italian people from ‘ the Church,’ he •asks £ “Are the Italians renouncing.the doctrines of our orthodox faith f - No;' on 1 the Contrary, they all revere that faith, and observe its rights in the most minute particulars. Are they assailing the rights of their legally constituted bishops in all that relates to sacred and religious matters ? On the contrary, they all agree in professing for those rights the reverence which is their due. Do they despise the supreme and spiritual authority of the Pontiff? Far from it. Do they attack that freedom which was secured to the Church hy the precious blood of Christ? On the contrary, by proclaiming the principle of a 1 free Church in a free State,’ they seek out every possible means of settling these difficult questions; even though repelled in the attempt, they return a second and third time to the search for peace, and they protest by all the means in their power that they will preserve the Catholie faith.” Passaglia argues that Bishops, including the Pope himself cannot speak authoritatively on temporal matters. The sin is in their requiring obedience of their flocks not in the refusal to obey them. Believers in Italian unity may, therefore, innocently cherish their plans and re main good Catholics, while they assail those tem poral claims of the papacy which stand in their way- “ In the opening part of his treatise Passaglia reminds-the Bishops of the divine duties to which their mission is limited ; and he then goes on to prove, with a clearness, with a force of argument, with an array of patristic autho rities, absolutely leaving no hope of reply, that the Roman Catholic Bishops, by their addresses, by their pastoral letters to the clergy, and their flocks respecting the temporal authority of the Popes, have betrayed their duty, and have fur nished the world an occasion of gross scandal. Passaglia accordingly concludes that the autho rity of the Roman Catholic Bishops on subjects unconnected with moral and theological doctrine possesses. §8 whatever; that the chief end of that authority by divine institution, is to preserve the unity of the separate churches in the Catholic Church, and to combat schisms and here sies. Their authority was not conferred for earthly, but for heavenly purposes. And resting on the authority of St. Bernard, so frequently quoted in this controversy, he observes: ‘I have read that the Apostles were brought-up to he judged, hut I have never read that they assumed the charac ter of judges.’” This, from a priest in Rome, who had already seriously offended, was enough to rouse the old persecuting spirit, and Passaglia would have been in the clutches of the Inquisition if he had not availed himself of protection offered in the house of an- English lady, and, as soon as possi ble, fled to Piedmont. His pamphlet was con demned by the “ Congregation of the Index” on the 12th of October, and an offer on the part of the author •to present his defence before the judges has been refused. The Methodist con tinues “ According to the Natimalitea of Turin, , the example set by Father Passaglia appears likely to be followed by a great many’of the Ita lian clergy. The chapter of Milan has formally expressed approbation of the doctrines support ed in his famous pamphlet, and we are informed that the clergy of Pistola are preparing a similar declaration; and the movement is likely to be imitated in many other towns. Moreover, ac cording to the Naziom of Florence, several priests, and even prelates, are about to bring out pamphlets in the same spirit as that of Father Passaglia on the temporal power.” - .:. J. v *' FATHER PASSAGLIA. .fSftf.isftgifrWAtt and (fivattijeUst. But strange as is the.spectacle of Jesuits and priests in Rome pleading for civil liberty as against Papal tyranny, far stranger is that of a scholar and a statesman of the first rank, who had long, and as was imagined, worthily borne the name of Protestant, espousing the cause of that tyranny, and contending for the temporal f supremacy of the Pope, as against the aspirations of half-emancipated Italy! The Paris correspon dent of the North American of this city, under date of Nov. 1, says of the contrast:—“Here we have selling in Paris at one and the same mo ment, with almost equal favor and curiosity, the work of M. Guizot, who ought to be the first Pro testant and liberal in France, demanding the maintenance of the Papal power in the name of religious liberty, and denouncing the attempts of Italy to constitute herself a single State, with Rome for her capital; and, on the other hand, the translation into French of the celebrated publication of Father Passaglia, the Jesuit, de nouncing the temporal power as almost impiously arrogating to itself the saeredness of a doctrine, and thereby imperilling the chufch, and demand ing Rome for the capital of his country in the name of patriotism and civil liberty! Was ever so strange a contrast, or so whimsical an inter change of parts, exhibited as this which has taken place between two such advocates as the above ? No wonder the Emperor, declares him self to be, and is, in fact, puzzled how to act."- We are greatly astonished and pained at this most unprotestant attitude assumed by M. Guizot. It is almost as surprising as the sudden and clamorous declaration of the Press of loyal and anti-slavery England in favor of the pro slavery rebels of our own land. In the mean time, we are gratified to learn that Lord John Russell, with more generosity than' promptness, telegraphed to the British Consul at Rome, two days after Father P. had fled to Piedmont, in structing him to use every exertion on behalf of Passaglia, and authorizing him to grant him a passport as if to a British subject. CHAPLAIN OHILDLAW’S LABORS IN THE Rev. B, W. Childlaw, the former agent of the American S. S. Union, and a minister of our church, writes as follows to the children of Pine gtrpet Church, from Benton Barracks, Mo. . ■ ■ September24th, 1861. : My Dear Y OUTH : —It is a very strange thing for a Sabbath School Missionary to address you from a great military encampment west of the Mississippi. But here I am, the Chaplain of the 89th Regiment, Ohio volunteers, U. S. A. A thousand men unanimously called me through their officers to be their minister, and my heart could not refuse. I felt home and its endear ments, the Am. S. S. Union, and its blessed Missionary work, the necessary toils and dan gers of the tented field, pressing me to decline, but my country and its gallant, defenders, and the deep conviction of duty to preach Christ, and Him Crucified, and to win'their hearts to love and serve him, that they might be prepared to die, if needs he, or to return home better men than when they left, led me to the pastorate of my noble regiment. I have many difficulties and discouragements. Sin abounds, and a large number of the men never had any religious in struction when they werU boysL,— Believing that God sent me here, and "that he is my helper, I try to “see notions in-the way," and in the name of the Lord, I have undertaken his work; and I have already found that his.gra.ee is suffi cient for me, and*that through Christ strength ening me, I find duty a pleasure, and cheered hy that success .which helps me to trust I am happy in this new field of Christian service. For more than twenty years I Have been permitted to or ganize hundreds of Sabbath Schools, and now among these noble soldiers and the realities of war, I am permitted to hold on to my old work. In this camp I have aided in establishing three new Sabbath Schools. Sabbath, September Ist, I organized the first in my own regiment, the 39th Ohio. After preaching in the grove, a mile from our Camp, 10 A. M., where the staff officers and about 900 men attended, I invited all who wished ,to drill in the Sabbath School army to meet at 2P. M Nearly 100 caine out, and we formed a Sabbath School. A Captain, Lieutenant, .Sergeant, and private were chosen teachers, and I was appointed Superintendent. Our classes numbered one of 26, one 25, 24 and 20. Our lesson wa3 the Lord’s Prayer. At the close, the Superintendent asked questions on the lesson, and we had a lively good time, showing that my soldier scholars were at home in the Sabbath School, and had a good knowledge of the word of God. When-the regiment is to gether (part is now up the Missouri River,) we shall have a school of at least 250 scholars, and some 20 teachers. Sabbath week ago, I organ ized a Sabbath School in the 26th Indiana Regi ment of L l5O scholars. The Colonel, a pious man, made an address, and the Lieut-Colonel and other , officers tendered their services as teachers. This Regiment is now at Lexington, and, as old friend Paxson used to say of a Sabbath School in a wagon on the Plains to Ore gen, “it went along.” So with this Sabbath School, it goes along with the regimdht. Last Sabbath. 224,)’ I■ aided in, the) establish*, ment of another Sabbath School in Col. Birgc’s Regiment of Sharp Shooters from Illinois. These efforts show that Sabbath .School Mis sionary labor is not in vain in behalf of cmr sol diers. Every regiment has material, which" can be worked into a vigorous and efficient Sabbath School. Here we can .plant the Sabbath School Banner, gather beneath it our gallant men, hold our regular drills, study the heavenly tactics; and inscribe “ onward we move” on our waving banners. Thus, while I am 1 serving the Gov ernment, I feel .it my duty and joy to hold on to the Sabbath School work, and by and by I hope to resume my place in the Missionary service of the American Sunday School Union. . . . God bless you all. Pray for me and my thousand parishioners on the tented field, and the thou sands of soldiers with whom I meet daily. With kind regards to your Superintendent, teachers and to each scholar, I am yours, etc., i , B. W. Ohiiblaw, - Chaplain 89th Regiment Ohio Volunteers: ,*iap; ..eg: Third Pres. 8. School, Phila. A Drummer Boy in the United States Army, who was connected with the Sabbath School of Olivet Church, in this.city, writes home that he received his pay (018 75) recently, of which he sent 018 to his mother, and 25 cents out of -the remainder, as a donation to the Sabbath Sehool, A noble boy, truly.' May he become a soldier of he cross. - - - . ■ ' ARMY. FROM THE SEAT OF WAR IN THE WEST. NO. VIII. Springfield, Mo., Nov. 2d, 1861. A brilliant coup de guerre put us in possession of this place the "afternoon of 25th ult. This was really the in arms in .this de partment, in wlimu -tfiC commanding General had any inunediats? ,> &eeti6n. On Thursday night, 24th, ult., Major .Gen. Fremont, -being then 50 miles to the north of here, with his ad vanced forces, ordered his “Body Guard” to push forward rapidly, and dislodge the enemy from this town, if not too numerous; and if so, to fall hack and await reinforcements. They left us accordingly at Bp. m., 24th ult.. The next day at 3 o'clock, t! M., they had ridden the en tire distance of 51 miles, and gallantly attacked the enemy numbering three regiments, 2,100 strong, hidden in thickets and awaiting the on set.- The Body Guard, supported by Major White’s Rangers, did not number over 300 men —seven to one ! Yet victory complete and over whelming perched on our banners. Never was rout more entire ! 1 .The enemy fled in all- direc tions, each for hiriiself, thinking that he alone was the only man saved; and they left nearly 150 dead and wounded 1 on the field. It was sad to l5 of our brave and excellent Body fell jn hour of tri i.umphr- -They were Monday, 28tfeUsf., amid the lamentatipAte of the whole army. A word more as to the body Guard of Gen. Fre mont may not be out of place. This corps is composed of the elite of the land; and it con tains young men from nearly all the Northern States, East and West; Seveii of theinare from Virginia; and almost a whole company of them came from Kentucky. ; I have been with them daily for about three, .months’ past, and a more orderly, sober, and excellent get ofyoungmen I have seldom seen. • Many of them are members of Christian church’es, and sprung from choice families. A great portion of them are well edu cated, cultivated, and promising young men. They have spent days and nights, the past three months in fatiguing drills on foot and horseback. And their late glorious success is only the fair meed of merit in themselves and their accomplished officers. All present seemed to feel as we buried sixteen of their bodies in one. common grave, that the country had lost its chosen, sons, nffft .ih a|Nve mourned for younger brothers: All were deeply affected. This portion of MnSspuri—southwest of the Osage river—is a fine country, and only lacks a sober, intelligent, and active people to make it one of the garden spots of the earth. The finest wild grapes abound throughout the oak forests and bottoms; fertile'plains and meadows are spread out in all directions. “Only man is vile.” And some of the inhabitants are superior people, worthy of a Better fate than the fortunes of war entail, upon jhem. I am not 'without hopes that the severe Wessons and devastation of the present and former,. campaigns may he the means, under God, for-a social and moral renova tion in this naturally favored region. The progress of thdrarmy is necessarily slow; but it is sure. The country from here to St. Louis—three hundred miles—is now open. Daily mails are running where, for three or four months, the whole land has been shut up. The American PresHyhKWAN follows me more re gularly than the printer, Tor three mouths past, has Been able to issue if, ’- until lately. ‘ The enemy is now making use of feints and falsehoods to gain time*and deceive us; but be fore this reaches yoxi, I have good hopes that he will be in close quarters, unless he retreats into Arkansas, or Kansas', which will not benefit him greatly. Our sick and wounded are doing remarkably well. The weather is cool. But few, if any, deaths take ‘place. : Several distinguished sur geons from Philadelphia and New York are with us, and rendering excellent service. The lack of comfortable overcoats and blankets is the only cause for sickness at present. f* • -Ji; THE LATII MISSES ADAIR. ■ _l_* The funeral services of the two daughters of Rev, Mr. Adair, hellion Friday morning, Nov. ,Bth, at 11 o’clock, 'Western Church, were unusually impjjjssivje! ' two' coffins vwere laid'side by side before the pulpit, each adorned with a wreath of j flowers. The church was crowded in every part, a large part of the audi ence being young la|ies. The ministry was very fully represented ; |Rev. John Chambers, Drs. Jenkins, Smith (thejpastor), Shepherd, Brainerd, Patton, and Brown took part in the services, which were of the most solepm and impressive charac ter. We have received the following lines “in memory of Annie apd Sophie H. Adair:” Quietly; peacefully . Sinking to rest, ■ Young heads.forever laid, On Jesns’ breast. Soft voices hymning now, The Saviour’s praise They" ’mid the angelic choir, ’ Joyfully raise. • Hopefully thankfully, Think of our dead; Heaveni’light upon these.graves, Thmr MBits, in youthfulJqjre To God Wore given, And wth.. their Saviour now, Res£'|Key in heaven. " Easily, peacefully, Theyjhave reached home, . From ifcp bright portals No njore to roam. Sheltered from earthly ills, Free from each stain —; “ Forever with thee, Lord”—> Such diath is gain! . , • „ . r s . ■;■ : Patienj, then, cheerfully, ‘ . as they trod, The nivrrow pathway, That leads to God. Soon we shall hear His voice - Calling its home; • Joyfully we respond; “ Jesus, I come.” • ‘[COMMUNICATED.] SONS. There ' 'heal thful> an d beautiful - town of Belvidere, an Academy for Boys, and a Seminary for Young Ladies. Both of these In stitutions are supplied, with admirable corps of teachers, that of the. latter is under the direction of Miss D. A. qjocum. But wejfjd* not' intend to put the “Sons”fthere. We mentioned the Young Ladies Seminary, because ofitsmerits, which are, deserving of much praise. The Academy, is un der the principalship of Mr. Thomson' McGowan, • of whom President McLean, -ofNassau-Hall, said in a letter to the writer, that it gave him, pleasure to say that he was a gentleman of talent, scholar ship, and character. Mr. MeG. was the eloquent valedictorian of the class of ’6O. Students, to a limited number, board in a private family, with the Principal, under circumstances of a very ex cellent “home character.” We would direct pa rents to the advertisement of these institutions in our columns. WHAT OF THE NIGHT? Undoubtedly there is a want in our churches of the direct spiritual influences which the faith ful pastor is most anxious to see in operation. We have reports from every quarter of large and attentive congregations and thronged Sabbath schools, of highly encouraging attendance upon the services of the week, of a general seriousness, suitable to the momentous crisis in which we live. The Churches are united and sympathising. But our advices rarely go further. To say that there is a very low state of piety among us would be far from true. But that earnestness, liveliness and zeal, that solemn directness in preaching, that ac tivity and personal effort for the conversion of souls, which make up what we call a revival— where are they to be found ? We trust there is mueh waiting on God in prayer and. earnest expec tation for their appearance. We trust there are prophet: “For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteous thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that bumeth.” PRESBYTERY OF ERIE. Bell Valley, Pa., Nov. 6th, 1861. Rev. J. W. Meabs, Editor -of the American Presbyterian—The following brief notice of the Presbytery of Erie, on the subjects of Home Missions, education for the Gospel ministry and publication, will show that our Presbytery intends neither to falter nor stand hindermost in doing her part of the work assumed by the last Gene ral Assembly, in relation to these subjects. The Presbytery was convened for the special purpose of acting on the above-named causes, and the results reached were as follows: HOME MISSIONS. Un this point the churches of this Presbytery hitherto, have borne the relation of beneficiaries, having received aid from the Philadelphia Home Missionary Society, amounting annually to about 8600; but after a thorough inquiry touching both the wants and the abilities of this field, the Presbytery resolved that, for the present year, we will earnestly endeavor, not only to supply our own feeble churches, but, if possible, do something, through the General Assembly’s Committee, to preach the Gospel in the “ regions beyond.” In. order to carryout this resolution, the Rev. Messrs. Vance and Carrier were ap pointed the agents of the' Presbytery with instruc tions to visit all our churches, and urge upon them the obligation of a liberality adequate to the maintenance of the ordinances of the Gospel throughout our bounds; to induce the stronger of our missionary churches to assume a self sustaining position, the feebler ones to do their utmost for their own support, and the self-sus taining ones to supply what the latter may lack, and also to pour their tributary rill into the broad’ Streamby which the General Assembly purposes-to gladden the arid wastes beyond our own precincts. ' ft is expected that Messrs. Vance and - Carrier will accomplish the work as signed them within the present year. The Education- cause was next taken up and elicited a thorough and interesting discussion. The plan recommended by the General Assem bly on this-subject, having been adopted by our body at its regular meeting, in September, pro vision was now made by which it is hoped to ef fect the practical carrying out of that plan in each of our churches. The Rev. Wm. Grassie was appointed to visit our vacant churches and preach to them on this subject, and also by ex changing, to present it in all other churches, whose pastors may desire this method of bring ing it before their congregations. This work is to be done in all the churches before the first of March next. The action of Presbytery on the'subject of in all our churches in S of this cause during the month of November (inst.), and that, for the present year, one-half the amount thus collected be contributed to the General Assembly’s Publi cation Fund and the balance expended in pur chasing of-the Publication Committee’s issues, for sale among the people of our own congrega tion. The Presbytery has given each of the causes, above named, in charge to a Standing Commit tee, whose duty it is made to report thereon an nually at our regular spring meetings. The Standing Committees are as follows:—-On Home Missions —Rev. G. A. Lyon, D. 8., Rev. A. H. Carrier, and George Kellogg, (Elder); on Edu cation for the Ministry—Rev. Alexander Porter, George W. Cleveland, and J. Vance; on Publi cation—Rev. Wm. Grassie and T. T. Bradford, and Bavid S. Clark, (Elder.) J. V. The Pittsburg Banner (0. S.) asks and answer| a serious question as follows :—“Now, what does God require at onr hands to the ap peasing of his anger? 1. Confession and hu miliation. 2. The non-extension of slavery. 3. The Cessation of slavery’s domineering power in our National affairs. Equity we must give to the Sooth, hut hot supremacy. 4. The ameliorating of the .condition of the -slaves^—the .granting to them of the marriage and parental rights, the right to mental improvement, and a due reward for their toil—that is, the reduction of ‘service’ to - a true Gospel- standard. 5. Emancipation wherever and whenever it can be effected with out violating our national covenant, and without injury or injustice to the parties interested.” For ourselves we believe no constitutional rights whatever belong to rebels, and that a de cree of emancipation would be perfectly just to day. The question, if any there be, is one of expediency only.. REV. A. G. OAROTHEBS, . Late: United . States Consul to Turks Island, called recently at Our office, having just returned to this country. We were pleased to nqtice a very great improvement in his appearance, al though he had encountered on his passage the same severe storm that scattered Com. Dupont’s fleet. We trust he may find himself permanently henefitted by his year’s experience of island life inthe ; tropics. . We are expecting to lay before our readers some-of.-the -results of - his observa tions in•tbe-WestTndifs-.- _ -O - LIST OF CHAPLAINS OF THE PENNSYLVA NIA EESERYE CORPS. First Regiment —Has no Chaplain. Second Regiment—Has no Chaplain. Third Regiment—W. H. Leak, (Methodist), of Wayne connty. Fourth Regiment—Mr. Marks, Protestant Me thodist. Fifth Regiment—S. L. M. Conser, do. Sixth Regiment—Samuel Jessup, (N.S.) Pres terian, from Susquehanna county. Seventh Regiment—Thomas P. Hunt, (0.5.) from Luzerne county. Eighth Regiment—Wm. Aiken, (0.5.) Pres byterian. . Ninth Regiment Piatt, “Disciple” or “Campbelite.” Tenth Regiment—L. McGuire, Methodist. Eleventh Regiment—Wm. T. Dixon, (N.S.) Presbyterian. Twelfth Regiment ’ Bowler, (F. S.) Presbyterian. Thirteenth Regiment, or Ist Rifles —W. H. D. Hatton, Episcopal. • Fourteenth Regiment, or Ist Cavalry—J. H. Beale, (N.S.) Presbyterian, from Philadelphia. Fifteenth Regiment, or Ist Artillery—W. A. 'P. Eberhart, Methodist. Other Chaplains are: - Forty-Ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, William Ernshaw, Methodist. Third Vermont Volunteers—M. P. Parmalee, Congregational. Fifteenth Few York Volunteers George E. Post, M.D., (N.S.) Presbyterian, from New York city. Of the above, Messrs. Post, Parmalee, Beale and Jessup, graduated last May, at Union Theo logical Seminary, (N. Y.) and were expecting to go out as missionaries of the A. B. C. F. M. to i Turkey and Syria. ’ The Independent of last week, ill-humoredly accuses this paper of having never taken “a ge nerous stand- on any of the great questions of the day.” Such an absurdly false statement is not worth refuting; but, perhaps, our readers would like to know what the Independent's standard of generosity is. It is well known that some months ago, that journal, like many others, was in immi nent peril of extinction. In this emergency the Government was induced to come forward and make it an official organ for the publication of the laws, thus adding largely to its ineome, and in all probability, deciding the question of its con tinued existence. And yet, this journal has re cently been the vehicle of attacks against the Government, as scandalous, as wicked, and as fully calculated to shake the confidence of the people in'the Government, as anything which has originated this side of Richmond. The issue before the last contained a statement, vouched for as credible, to the effect that the Government was playing into the hands of traitors, and was literally on the point of. surrendering everything for which the nation is contending! The stupen dous calumny was met by a burst of indignation from the press, and a call for a place in Fort La fayette for its editors. Let not such perfidy set itself up to be the judge of what is generosity. Since writing the above, we have received from a highly esteemed brother, the following, includ . mg the extract from the New York Express, of the 18th: . , . , It occurred to me to say that the Presbyterian has never been dull enough to publish anything which rendered its editor liable to arrest for trea son, or made the public clamor for Ms imprison ment in Fort Lafayette. “ NOT true, “ The report in some of the papers that the editors of the Independent are to be sent to Fort Lafayette is not -true. The offensive paragraph which was introduced into the paper, surrepti tiously, has been explained to the proper authori ties here. A good many people have been sent to Forts Lafayette and Warren for less offences than the Independent has been guilty of.” BEY, JAMES M. DAYIS. We are pained to learn that this esteemed Brother was seized with a sudden-and- severe in disposition while preaching to his people in Dar by Church, on last Sabbath week. He.is now,, however, in a fair way to recover. Util jgjtaL MINISTERIAL CHANGES, ORDINATIONS, &c. Rev.R.A. Sawyer, pastor of the church at Yonkers, has declined the call from the church at Stamford, Conn. The congregation at Yon kers have presented Mr. Sawyer a check for seven hundred dollars, as a testimonial of their gratitude to him for the sacrifice which he. had made by coming to this decision. Mr. ■ WHEgm Atwood.— On the 15th of Octo ber last, Mr. William Atwood was ordained to the work of the Gospel ministry by the Presby tery of Geneva, and installed Pastor of the church in West Payette, Seneca county, N: Y. Mr. Rufus Apihorp, from Hinsdale, Mass., and a recent graduate of Auburn Theological Semi nary,-was ordained to the work of the Gospel ministry, Oct. 16th, at Cooper, Michigan. Rev. Wiilliom R. Palmer, of Danville, Illi nois, has accepted an invitation to supply the Second church at Fort Wayne, Inaiana. Rev. F. A. Griswold , late of Anderson, In diana, has accepted the chaplaincy of the 84th Regiment of Indiana volunteers. Rev. Daniel Clark, of Lyons, lowa, has re ceived and accepted a call to the Pastorate of the First Presbyterian Church of Galena, Ulinos. ' The Gospel among the High-caste Hin dus.—Rev. H. BaTantine, of the Ahmednug- of the American Board, writes under date.of September 9, that the high-caste popula tion are paying marked attention to preaching in Ahmednuggur. An educated Brahman has con tributed 25 rupees; eight other natives of the Police Corps, high-caste, have contributed to gether 20 rupees. He says:—“We have never had so many persons of high-caste brought into our churches in Ahmednuggur and vicinity in any period of five years before as we have re ceived since 1856. The inquirers, too, at the present time from the higher caste are more than usual—young men of the Brahman and Komabre castes. We have also a school forHieathen boys of the higher castes in Ahmednuggur, which is taught by a Christian teacher without any heath en help.” At Periachlum and Cumbum (five miles apart) in the . Madura Mission of the American Board, much religious interest had appeared in the latter, part? of April: - Coyilerpuram, on the 9th of June, thirteen persons were received on profession. Mr. Noyes writes:—“l h a( j often been called to examine candidates when, though they had been well instructed as to the way of salvation and were apparently sincere. I could not perceive that they had felt any deep conviction of sin; but it was not so with these persons. They seemed deeply impressed with a sense of their sinfulness, and appeared to possess a humble faith in Christ as their Saviour.” Happiness op • the Successful Pastor.— The Evangelist speaking of the review of Rev. Asa D, Smith’s successful pastorate, well says:— “ Happy is he who is permitted thus to labor for Christ, and to see the fruit of his labors. In the last day it will he better for us to come up before our Judge, leading one little child by the hand, whose wandering feet we have brought to God, than to come hearing all the honors of the world. What joy then must he his, who as he goes to receive his reward, has not one alone, but a whole train of the poor and the forsaken, to bear him company.” gjte® ffttMtataw. The Presbyterian Quarterly Review.— By some inadvertence, we have Relayed our notice of the -Reyiewbeyond the usual time. The issue for October must receive general atten tion and applause. Eew numbers have had a list of contents so varied, entertaining, and valuable. Of the first article: The Nature and Destiny of the English Language, we have given an ex tract in a preceding number of our paper. It is a rapid and popular survey of its great theme, full of animation and vigour, conveying much valuable information, and communicating its en thusiastic appreciation of our own noble tongue, irresistibly to the reader. Reform in England after the Death Wyeliffe, brings out some facts in regard to the free and bold character of the Romanism of England which called for radical reforms in the Papal Chnrch, and contended against royal usurpation at home, hut continued to persecute the Lollards nevertheless. The writer of “ Melchisedek” tugs at an old puzzle in hermeneutics. His solution is that Melchisedec was Christ. This is followed by a very close and searching criticism of a recent article in the New Englander, in wilich the old Apollinarian heresy of Christ’s person having no real human soul is revived by a Mr. Goodwin... Mr. Goodwin and Mr. Beecher, in laboring after a religion com prehensible by human reason, are likely to land where there is no religion at all. A brief ar article on the Intermediate State, satisfactorily handles the passages of Scripture supposed to favor the doctrine of such a state. Dr. Cox furnishes the most readable article of the num ber—Reminiscences of Dr. Addiscm Alexander. The venerable father, A. Alexander, in 1883. placed his son, then a' young man, in charge of the writer on a voyage made by both to Europe. This gave abundant opportunity for intercourse on a variety of topics, among which the then approaching schism in our church figures promi nently. Dr. Cox narrates the incidents and con versations with his usual affluence of language and nohleness of thought and feeling. Addison Alexander’s profound erudition, his eager curio sity, his inherited generosity of doctrinal view, and his -extreme shyness,-are frilly illustrated in these very original and entertaining recitals. The article on Dr. Davis’ Explorations and the Remains of Ancient Carthage is mainly oc cupied with extracts from the work. The prefa tory remarks broach the opinion that there was a close and influential connection in early periods on the one hand between Phenieia and Pales tine, and on the other between Phenieia and Greece, leading to the inference that “Greek genius received very much material from the Orient, and that while it was indebted to the original revelation made to the earliest fathers, it received direct and most important assistance from the Hebrews through Phenieia.” The usual book notices and Theological and Literary Intelligence are added. Records op an Obscure Man.—A pleasant air of mystery attends the opening of this dainti ly printed volume, whose title page is without the name of an author and without any clue to the purport of the book. It is the narrative of a storm-stayed and invalid traveller in the South, who, himself a Yankee,.meets a brother Yankee settled in that region, and with whom he has protracted conversations on the capacities of the African race in this and their native country. There is a quiet refinement in their talk, a grace of language, and a range of philological and geographical learning, which make the conversa tions in the highest degree instructive and enter taining. The criticism is most favourable to its subject, and some views worthy of general re gard are advanced. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. For sale by J. B. Lippincott & Go., Philadelphia. Life Work, or The Link and the Rive, is one of a novel class of books which mark the progress of these efforts recently so marvellously developed and multiplied for the evangelization of the masses of England. It is principally composed of reports of the Bible-Women, whose visits among the poor and the degraded of the large cities have demonstrated the power of the humblest Christian to accomplish great things for the Master. The hope of a nation is found largely in the vigor and success with which such humble efforts are pushed. New York: R. Car ter & Bro. For sale by Mr. Charles S. Luther, Presbyterian House, Philadelphia. 12mo. pp. 343. The handsome volume containing the Life and Writings or Nathaniel Lyon is a prompt and worthy tribfito to the memory °f this brave man and self-sacrificing patriot. The warrior was mighty with pen as with sword. He first discussed and then fought. He well knew the meaning of the pnflict on which he entered and in which he freely.gave his life. The ap pendix contains interesting reminiscences ot General Lyon, an account of his funeral, with poetic effusions. A portrait accompanies the volume. Rudd & Carleton, New York. For sale by T. B. Peterson & Bros., Philadelphia 12mo. pp. 275. The Schoolmaster and His Sons is a pa thetic story of war, tumult, and pestilence, in which the pious endurance of the chiefssufferd er and narrator is conspicuous. The scene is & er " many during the Thirty Years’ War. Lutheran Board of Publication, Philadelphia. 16mo- Several Of Dickens’ short stories, including the Lamplighter’s Story, Hunted Down, The De tective Police, &e., have been bound together w one volume, and. issued in very handsome style by T. B. Peterson & Bros., No. 306 Chestnut street, Philadelphia. NOV. 21,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers