•—AND—
GENESEE EVANGELIST.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28,1861
JOHN W, KEARS,
NATURAL SCIENCE AND MIRACLES.
——«— —
The breach between Science and the Bible
has, doub'less, been widened by the publication
of Humboldt’s Cosmos. That master-piece of
classification in which the results of all past in
vestigations in the whole domain of natural
science are gathered and arranged in one admi
rably constructed Whole, captivates the reason
and bewilders us with such a wondrous admira
tion of the works of God, that we forget that
God himself is shut out. A taste for the study
of Natural Science as a field of thought, with
which religion has nothing to do, is undoubtedly
encourage l, by such works. Nature is regarded
as something complete in itself, round, regular,
systematic ; and in the limited portion of her
works which can eome within the sphere of his
observation, the philosopher soon persuades him
self that ho has found the key of the whole. He
calls It “ Law,” and Re pronounces it immutable.
Such a view of nature must lead to a disbelief
in miracles, and a hostility to a religion which
claims credence on the ground of miracles.
A writer in the last number of the London
Quarterly ably argues upon the phrase “ the
Immutability of Nature’s Laws,” and assails with
vigor, positions which men of science have taken
and which have even been acquiesced in by believ
ers. Ho first shows that ‘ 1 law,” properly speaking,
can refer to intelligent, moral agents only; used
of the sequences, conjunctions, and concomi
tances observed in nature, it is an accommodated
term. Wo are in danger of being misled by it.
The will of the Creator is the only true cause of
all. “Dei voluntas, rerum natura est,” the will
of God is the cause of nature, says Augustine,
and he is ns wise as the wisest philosopher. And
what is N ature ? Is it an arrangement such that
mimqlos a*e above it, or beside it, or contrary to
it? Or may not those views of Nature which
exclude miracles, by that fact, be shown to be
erroneous ? As there are acknowledged secret
agents iu Nature to which we give names, hut
of the cssenee of which we know nothing—Elec
tricity, Gravitation, Magnetism, Voltaic Elec
tricity, Calorie, Vitality,—why may there not be
a miracle working power which could properly
be reckoned among these mysterious forces?
From the dawn of time to a late period in re
corded history, there have been rumors of mira
culous events; some of these have been attested
by an array of evidence, which we cannot reject
without unsettling all the grounds of belief on
testimony. Miracles, if they exist at all, are
facts —-facts in nature —which we dare not over
look in forming, on the inductive method, a sys
tem of nature. "Why reject them; or set them
aside ns belonging to a sphere beyond or above
nature ? Why not rather ascribe them to an uu
named, mysterious power in nature: whose effects
we see, but whose essence we cannot, penetrate ?
And if it needs a name, let ns call it the Thau
mnturglc—wonder-working—-power.
After r.ll, are miracles such very unnatural
evcuts, thi.t they should he reckoned as no part
of nature? On the contrary, says the Review,
“ they are BO natural that they are represented
hy the school of Paulus and Strauss, as com
mon occurrences exaggerated into miracles by
igi o ante or romance. Perhaps there is not one
which nannot find its germ, as it were, and em
bryo in some acknowledged fact of so-called Na
ture, as Augustine often warns us. Stars have
appeared and vanished, as well as the one which
rested over the cradle of Bethlehem, Life, by
one continuous marvel, is multiplying itself each
day in hotb, and tree, and animated being, till
not the power is exhausted, but the occasion
ceases. The magazines of Nature are to this
day charged in Egypt with curses, which Moses
brought forth only in more awful forms. The
voice of man is ruling the world, and the hand
and touch of man are healing its infirmities, now
as when our Saviour was upon earth, by his will
now as then, and only hy his will.”
But what test has Science by which to exclude
the well attested miracles of Scripture from the
domain of Nature? Are they so rare? So is
the blossoming of an aloe. And the miracles of
Scripture are not rare. The skeptic “ must ac
count for a systematic, connected, periodic re
appearance of such interpositions in a certain
zone of man's history.” Can natural occurrences
be prophesied ? So were miracles. Are means
employed in nature ? Miracles are results pro
duced by iewer means—so few as to bring man
sensibly near the Creator whom he has forgotten
or misconceived. And if we argue farther
against miracles, that Nature's Laws have been
shown by a vast mass of observations to be im
mutablo; if we insist that the mind instinctively
demands the immutability as the eorner-stone of
all science; we answer, the mind equally demands
the acceptance of all valid testimony; and if
valid to Uhnony exists to prove a variation from
those laws, then we must, as rational creatures,
cause to regard them as absolutely immutable.
One instinct, that of belief in testimony, can be
set against the other. And as to the vast mass
of observations, by which this immutability is
sought to be proven, the Reviewer most conclu
sively shows their liability to error. Of Astronomy,
the most exact of sciences, he asks: “ What is its
chief fundamental occupation, but a guess-work
elimination of known, avowed, inevitable errors?”
Certainly, no greater obscurity or liability to
error surrounds the testimony to the reality of
the Spriptpre miracles, than that attending the
accumulated observations from which the “ im
mutable” laws of science are deduced. The
truly scientific mind rejects nothing for its mere
novelty or incompatibility with his pre-arranged
systems. Newton's greatness is more evident,
in his renouncing, for a time, his magnificent
hypothesis of gravitation, because of a reported
difference of three feet in the movement of the
moon,-thau in the discovery itself-
Are there after all no miraeles of present ex
perience to appeal to ? Here the true Evangeli
’eal spirit of the reviewer appears. Conversion is
a miracle. The Church is a miracle. The
Christian lift is*miracle in its various mani
festations, in the safttly resignation of the sick
bed-rtbe patient .Buffering, the peaceful blessed-,
ness, the spftened agony, the joyful death.
11 These,” he eloquently exclaims* “ are the sub
jects of the Dlviae Thaumaturgy of this day.
They are the blind, the lame, the lepers, the
f )r M i whom it is healjitg and rinsing Wto Jife, in
a mode, whatever it be, which defies all human
immitation.” Let the unbeliever accept the
conditions, try the experiment, and by his own
experience prove the miracle true ! If he will
not take the trouble to do so, let him cease de
crying the fact. And if God now interposes and
works in Nature with thaumaturgic power, why
not in time past ?
Editor.
We would not carry our cross-questioning of
science so far, perhaps, as the Reviewer does,
who seems to be brought almost to the verge of
skepticism in defending the faith, Having re
sisted the claim of immutability to Natural law,
so far as it would exclude miracles from God’s
world, and having recognized the miracle-working
principle as among the secret agents of Nature,
we cannot see the impropriety of admitting that
this principle, too, is governed by what we
loosely calf Law. Let Nature be reckoned im
mutable, if the absolute superiority of the mira
cle-working power be immutably established. A
highest law comprehending both the ordinary
and the miraculous in all the phenomena of the
Universe there must be; and that law must
have unity, and, in its essence, immutability, as
its authqr is one and unchangeable. Philosophy,
natural science, dare not surrender this guiding
clew of unity, or do violence to those great in
stincts of the mind which yearn for order, for
the Cosmos. Even the antagonisms of which the
reviewer speaks, and which we must admit ex
ists everywhere in nature, would forever distress
us, if we did not secretly believe their reconcila
tion possible. But the great error and sin of
Natural Philosophers, like Humbold, is, in pro
pounding a Cosmos which contains no reference
to moral truth; in teaching that Nature could
be a unit without a benevolent Deity; in depict
ing the universal order as that of a stupendous,
meaningless machine, all wrapped around and
complicated with moral heings, whom it is sweep
ing along in its iron arms without a token of
sympathy or relationship. Cosmos! Nature with
out a miracle is chaos to the soul. ....
INSTALLATION OF REV. GEORGE DUF
FIELD. JR., AT. ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.
We find iu the Adrian Daily Expositor, of the
14th, an account of the installation of Mr. Duf
field, as pastor of the church in that place. It
opens as follows:—“ The Presbyterian church
was crowded to its utmost capacity last evening
by an audience who listened with undivided at
tention to all the services attendant upon the in
stallation ofjj Rev. George Duffield, Jr., as pastor
of the Church. The Society have been fortu
nate in securing so promptly the services of an
able and devoted minister and it is fervently to
be hoped that the union so auspiciously begun, may
be long continued to the mutual blessing and
profit of both”
Rev.. R. R. Salter, of La Salle, Moderator, of
Monroe Presbytery, presided. Mr. Duffield’s
father, Rev. George Duffield, D. D., of Detroit,
preached the sermon on Jer. iii. 15—“ And I
will give you pastors according to mine heart,
which shall feed you with knowledge and under
standing.”
The Expositor says:—“ The sermon was a
learned and able discussion of the character, duty,
and aims of a pastor, and of some of the sources
of his usefulness. The pastor should be a teach
er, a provider and a defender. The name is syn
onymous with that of shepherd, and there is a
Very great correspondence in the duties. He is
to instruct his people, teaching them the know
ledge and will of God; to foresee their dangers,,
warn them of these, and to provide for their
defense ; to direct their efforts that they may be
turned into useful and profitable channels, and
not wasted or perverted. He is to preach a pure
gospel, that of Christ, and wisely to adapt all his
instructions to the needs, tastes, temptations and
capacity of his hearser, to the exigency of the
times, and the presence of peculiar forms of er
ror and sin. He is to be vigilant, earnest, unti
ring, l if by any means he may save some.’ He
is not to care what the world may say, but to re
gard only the expressed command and will of
God, preaching his truth in all plainness and
sincerity, and with a deep conviction of its vast,
undying importance. Such duties can only be
well discharged,when there is a divine.call to the
work, a clear indication of Providence leading
the way. They can only be successfully sustain
ed by prayer, constant study of the word, and
conscientious efforts to do good. The speaker
charged Ms son to ‘ walk worthy of his high re
vocation.’ To be installed as a pastor was more
noble than to be crowned as prelate or king. He
bade Mm labor in the spirit of meekness and
self-sacrifice of Christ, His Divine Lord and Mas
ter, and invoked his special blessings to rest upon
him.” j
The Moderator, Dr. Salter, proposed the con
stitutional questions, after which the charge to
the pastor was delivered by Rev. Mr. Wishart,'
pastor-elect of the church at Tecumseh, and that
to the people by Bev. Mr. Nichols, of Clayton.
Mr. Nichols is reported as saying :—“A member
of the church had remarked to him upon the
leaving of their former pastor, that he did not
see .what he wanted to leave for—if he wanted
anything all he had to do was to ask for it, and
he got it. The man did not stop to think that
there were many things that a minister wanted
besides money. And it was because of his labors
ever multiplying upon his hands and thought
lessly left for him to perform, that his strength
had given way, and he had been compelled to
seek a change of scene and labors. He urged
them not to repeat the mistake.”
After prayer by Dr. Duffield, singing, and the
benediction concluded the very interesting ser
vices.
The best wishes of Mr. Duffield’s brethren and
friends accompany him to his new field of labors.
They will greatly rejoice to hear of his prosper
ity. They are confident that he will give his
people abundant reason to “esteem highly in love
for his works’ sake.”
The ohoir of Nouth Broad St. Chtjroh
expect to give a Grand Concert under the au
spices of the Board of Trustees of the Church,
on Thursday evening, Dec. 12th, at Handel and
Haydn Hall, corner of Eighth and Green streets.
There will be a company of over fifty perform
ers. B. C. Cross, conductor. M. H. Cross will
-preside at the piano and organ—the whole under
the direction of Mr. T. Rawlings, Jr., leader of
the choir.
The pieces are mainly sacred; some choice
secular, martial, and patriotic airs are included
in the programme..
The character of the music, the ability of the
performers; and the object— to provide means
for purchasing an organ for % cjiyrch—will
doubtless secure a large attendance.
Jtauman and Ikium #nanpliot.
TEE REVIVAL OF BENEVOLENCE 00N-
TINUED.
This novel and cheering development in the
progress of Foreign Missions still g oes on *
Among the Nestorians and the Zulus, our read
ers have already been informed of its appear
ance. A Methodist missionary in Nynee Tal,
India, has recorded the exhibition of a similar
feeling among the converts of Ms station. But
the missionaries of the American Board in.Pa
sumalie (India) have recently witnessed a bene
volent movement among their people, as remark
able as that among the Nestorians at GeogTapa,
Mr. Webb, of the Madura Mission, has sent a
detailed account of it to Boston, which we would
be glad to publish in our columns in full, but
want of space forbids. A meeting of native
pastors, catechists, and schoolmasters, accompa
nied by the missionaries, was held September
11th in the church at Pasnmalie, at which a let
ter from the Nestorians, descriptive of the ex
hibitions of liberality which had transpired
there, and which had previously been read in
their hearing, was again referred to. It was
followed by prayer and exhortation among the
natives and a succession of offerings of money
and valuable articles on a scale of extraordinary
liberality for the poor converts. Some persisted
in giving in spite of expostulations from the
missionaries. We- eopy some of the para-
graphs :
“ One poor catecMst, from Piilney, gave seven
ty-five cents, and after a little while added
twenty-five cents more. His heart was not even
then satisfied, hut what more could he do ? He
remembered a fowl he had at home, and rose a
third time to say that he would give that; it was
worth twelve cents. Not long after it occurred
to him that he had six cents tied up in the
the- corner of his cloth, reserved for his expenses
on the way, and he got up again to beg us to ac
cept that There was also a small copper coin,
worth half a Cent, wMch he had found by a
tank; but as it was much defaced he feared it
would he useless, and so did not offer it. But
after Waiting a time, and observing his brethren
around'Mm still giving, he rose and said, ‘Per
haps it will pass —do not refuse it,’ Still Ms
heart was full; he had no more money; but
taking off his turban, he sent it up,*-saying, ‘lt
cost me, a few days since, seventy-five pents; it
has been washed but once; please accept this
also.’
“ Many present gave the remuneration they
are accustomed to receive for an entire month’s
service ; very few gave less than half a month’s
salary. The list of donations on the occasion
contains the names of 125 native brethren, who
subscribed, in money, 251} rupees; and in arti
cles of jewelry, wearing apparel, household furni
ture, domestic animals, &c., about 73}; making
a total of 325 rupees ; —-a little more than 31.25,
for each individual who gave. The donations
made at the same time by the missionaries, bring
up the whole amount to about $325. All tMs, I
should remark, was unpremeditated—unexpected.
Two and a half hours were spent amid these en
thusiastic demonstrations of interest.- The Di
vine Spirit was evidently with us; and we now
looked up to our blessed Lord, begging him gra
ciously to accept; our offerings, and to enable us
to regard them with an humble, thankful spirit.
“ The catechist who first led in prayer, now
rose. He was much affected, and spoke with
tears, saying, ‘ Will not He who gave Ms sog,—
his*own dear Son—give .us his Spirit, too ? Is
he not our Father—ours, as well as his-—and
will not our Father, who gives us Ms holy child
Jesus, give us of Ms Spirit?’ A seminary
teacher spoke of the love of Christ to usj and of
our obligations to him. ‘ The question -is not,’
he said, ‘ what shall we give him ?’ but, rather,
‘ What can we withhold'from him ? We will
give our money, our jewels, our wealth, but let
U 3 not withhold what is More precious than all
these—-our own beloved eMldren. Let us give
them to him. Let us consecrate them to his ser
vice,' and train them up for that —not for the
world, its wealth, or its honors. Help] ns, Lord!
Come in, 0 blessed Spirit! come in. Now are
our hearts open, they are wide open, for thy gra
cious entrance. We have been avaricious and
covetous. The Christians of our congregations
have followed our example. They and our wives
and children have given nothing. Our giving
hand has hung useless and withered by our side.
Now, at the word of Christ, .we stretch it out;
and it is restored whole, as the other.’”
FROM THE SEAT OF WAR IN THE WEST.
St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 18,1861
This is a world. of sudden changes! Since
my letter of 29th ult., Major General Fremont
has been succeeded in command of this Depart
ment by Hunter; and to-day Major-General
Halleck succeeds Hunter.
The effect of such rapid displacements, as one
may readily suppose, is to unsettle every thing.
Secessionists seem to “take heart again.” But
In this they “reckon without their host.” - How
ever friends of Fremont-may admire him, they
love their country better; and I have never seen
the spirit of true-men more .finely displayed,
since the s defeat of Henry Clay for the Presi
dency in 1844, than here of late. Not a man
meditated resistance to the “powers that be.” It
is true,-some muttering-of discontent were
heard—some expressions, . hardly above. one’s
breath, arose—complaining of the apparent in
justiee of the act; but these were all speedily
hushed by the voice of the great chieftain, in
devotion to whom they originated. No sooner
was his will made known than all was prompt
alacrity and obedience to the new commander-in
chief.
It does not become me to surmise as to the
causes of Fremont’s removal, or to question the
wisdom of the President in ordering it. I had
some misgivings myself as to some of those
around him, and would gladly have seen others
in their places. But I have no question at all
as to General Fremont's integrity, or capability
of commanding a large force in the field. In
fact I can say now, I know it, having seen abun
dant proof of .the, same the past eight weeks.
AH the efficiency and completeness of every
military matter here have been, due to him alone.
The prestige of his name drew thousands to
gether, who desired to serve the country under
.him as-their leader; and his untiring energy, in
the face of many and great difficulties, supplied
at length the means to do so. The country and
the future will judge as to results.
A new plan of campaign has been inaugurated
here. Oar troops from Southwestern .Missouri
are now pouring into the city and eager to meet
the enemy wherever he may be found.
no. xx.
Secessionists are not half so confident as be
fore, though they may often be seen together in
groups in all places of public resort. A great
many of them are to be inet in this city. The
churches (O. S:), are full of them. One of
these has lately dismissed the pastor on ac
count of Ms devotion to the Union—because he
prayed for the President. *
But the news from Kentucky, and from South
Carolina, and the Potomac, does not comfort
these worshippers of idols—images of their own
imaginations! In the “make-up," by and by,
it is to be hoped, that they will confess that
they were “ vanity.” Every day is now proving
the weakness of secession, and the strength of
the. Union. Family ties, and pride, and the
madness of the hour, must all yield to the neces
sities of the case,yrhich, in fact, know no other
law. While all things appeared to favor the
wicked plot .of disunion, many “ set themselves”
in array to foment it; but as reason returns the
aspects change. For months I have predicted
that those of the South; —once our brethren—
would not hear reverses'well. It is so. I make
the same confident assertion to-day. Let the thun
derbolts of war ,fall fast, and hot,'as at Beaufort,
upon their guilty heads, and they will soon cry
out, pecavimusf f*havc no hopes of peace till
wasting and desolation shall be carried into their
borders. The war policy of “ Jim Lane and the
Jay hawkers,” I am quite inclined to think is the
true policy of the government. We have had
too much diplomacy, too much corruption—too
many leaky vessels—in Washington, to denounce
the campaign in Missouri, or elsewhere, where
the enemies of God and the nation have been
made to feel a little of retributive justice. .It is
no time now to relax our grasp upon the throat
of rebellion. May Gen. McClellan have grace
like Joshua, to make war and fight until there
shall not stand; a man of all our enemies before
Mm. (Jos. -21:43-45.) And to God our Sa
viour, shall be all the glory forever. Amen.
THE. WORK ADVANCING.
The Washington correspondent of the Boston
Watchman and Reflector thua groups the facts,
which show how we are moving towards the so
lution of the question of the day:—“ The work
of practical emancipation advances as rapidly as
union and success will permit. General Sher
man's proclamation is gentle but firm, informing
the rebels that no subordinate rights shall stand_
in the way of crushing out the rebellion. - It’s
the iron hand in the kid glove. John Cochrane,
one of the most ultra of Northern Democrats,
addressed his regiment lately, and placed himself
squarely upon the doctrine of the ‘ military ne
cessity of the emancipation of the slaves.’ The
regiment applauded, and Secretary Cameron en
dorsed it in thes^ words: ‘lt is idle to talk of
treating with .these rebels upon their own terms.
We must meet them as our enemies, treat them
as enemies, and punish them as enemies, until
they shall learn to behave themselves. Every
means which God has placed in our hands it is
our duty to use for the purpose of protecting our
selves. I am ,glad of the opportunity to say
here, what I already said elsewhere, in
these few words, that. I approve the • doc
trine this evening enunciated by Col. Cochrane.’
So George Bancroft and Gen. Burnside, at a
meeting in New York, uttered a similar doctrine.
Thetold Democrats go ahead of the Republicans.
The administration arte prepared to act radically
and efficiently when they can unite the whole
country on the platform of a military emancipa
tion of the slaves. But they ought not to be
forced into positions where they must contend
with the loyal men of Kentucky and Missouri,—
neither should they issue proclamations which
are sheet lightning.” -
TEE WEEKLY PRAYER MEETING.
Upon Thursdayhext, Dec. sth, the Union
Afternoon Prayer Mooting of the chnrehes of
our denomination- will recommence. In past
years we have had many seasons of near approach
to the Spiritual world in these social gatherings.
Christ has been,.seen to be a glorious Saviour in
them. The worth of the soul has grown upon
us there. As we have united our hymns of praise,
our'words of exhortation, our prayers, the power
of this world has lessened, and that of the world
to come swelled'and strengthened until it moved
our souls and affected our lives.
We need a full attendance of church mem
bers—of the men and the women, and the chil
dren of the churches. Let our readers resolve
to begin and to go ihrmtgh with the meeting as
it passes from ehurch to church. And let them
bring their friends with them—-the unconverted
as well as the pious. f
We need'the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Come with God's Spirit in your souk, and the
meetings. will not be unblessed.- Come from
prayer, and in prayer to this meeting for prayer.
And to the brethren, of the churches we would
say, come, prepared-to take an active part in the
meetings. They will he open to. all, and it is
not the wish of the ministers that they alone
should qhd pray. ‘ . .
' The first -series will he held in the First
Chureh, on Washington Square (Reverend Mr.
Barnes) on Thursday, Dee. sth, at 4 o'clock, p. m.
Mr-
vitation to labor as Stated Supply in the Coates
street Chureh, formerly Mr. Duffield’s, for four
months. % -
The Directory of Ministers and Church
es will remain m our columns for some time.
Brethren, who notice errors or omissions, will
confer a favor by pointing them out to ns.
Next Week, a concert-of daily prayer will be
held among Christians of all denominations. No
special arrangements have been: made in, this
vicinity.
BE?. JOHN 0. SMITH, D. D.
- : “ Burleigh,’-' the Washington correspondent
of the Boston Journal, thus speaks of Rev. Dr.
Smith, of Washington :• '
“ One of the most remarkable men in this city
is Rev. Dr. John 0. Smith, of the Fourth Pres
byterian church. He has been pastor of that
church twenty-three years, and a pastor in the
District twenty-nine: years. He .came here to a
feeble congregation, and was in such poor health
that it was supposed he would not live long. He
took a house for one month; he has never moved
from that house. He has still the same church.
He has one of the largest and most influential
congregations in the city. He has steadily re
fused all invitations to social life, so much sought
after; has never made a prayer in Congress,
though invited over and over again; refused to
dine with the Presidents, from Jackson to Lin
coln; never goes out to tea, or dines out, hut
constantly and indefatigably attends to all the
duties of his position. When all was confusion
and fear, he went up to the War Office, and of
fered his services to the Secretary of War, in any
way he could he useful. In the time of threat
ened invasion, he came out with a sermon on pa
triotism and devotion to the Government. And
liking the post to attend to the sick in the hospi
tal of disabled soldiers, he was commissioned to
go through the wards on his errand of mercy. He
has always kept an open house, and is in all re
spects, a model minister. While eloquent men,
and great men have come to the capital, made
their sensation, run their brief Tace and passed
away, Dr. Smith still abides, able, devoted and
successful as in the earlier days of his ministry,
and never more honored than now/'
[FOR THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN.]
A GOOD SCHOOL.
Among your advertisements of Schools, is
found that of the West Chester Academy. Ido
not know that a greater kindness can be shown
a parent, who desires to. find a good school for
his son, than to answer for him the question—
“ Where shall I find such a school ? thorough
instruction, blended with a strict regard for the
physical and moral well being of my child.” I
have found such a school, and for the last three
years have most gratefully availed myself of its
privileges. The healthiness and beauty of its
location are its best recommendation. It is a
good school, and good schools are rare. Its prin
cipal, William F. Wyers, A. M., a graduate of
Halle, for twenty years a, teacher in our country,
is a most accomplished scholar, and a thorough
teacher, with a large corps of skillful assistants
abo.ut him. Mr. Wyers is himself the main drill
master of his school, and his drill is through. If
his pupils are not thorough in their studies, the
fault is not with. him.. His scholars have taken
high rank in Tale and Harvard.
Mr. W. is an elder in the Presbyterian church,
and takes a deep interest in the spiritual welfare
of his pupils. With the fondness of Fatherland
for out-door sports, none about him are likely to
suffer for want of muscles and pure air.
You may safely commend the West Chester
Academy as unsurpassed in the facilities it af
fords for a thorough and complete education.
Hons sana, in corpora sano.
#« filinxl fjtaw.
DIEEOTOEY OP PEESBYTEEIAH MDTIS
TEES AHD CHUEOHES OF PHILADELPHIA,
PRESBYTERIAN HOUSE, 1334 CHESTNUT STREET,
NAMES OF MINISTERS AND RESIDENCES AND
CHURCHES. LOCATIONS.
Adams, E. E. . . . .
N. Broad street Church.
Adair, Robert . . . .
See. Phila. H. Mis. Soe.
Barnes, Albert . . . .
Ist; Church . . . .
Brainerd, T., B.D. . .
3d Church , . . .
Brown,\Charles .
Sec. Phila. Ed. Soe. .
Bruen,Edward B. . ' .
BurdeU, M. . , ■ ~ .
2d Church, Darby. .
Butler, Jaimes G. . : .
Walnut st.Church,W.P.
■ Culver, Andrew . . .
Manayunk Church . .
Darting, Henry, D.D. .
. Clinton street Church .
Davis, James M. . . .'
Ist Churchy Darby. .
Dudes, John W. . . . .
See. Pres. Pub. Com..
Eva, Wm.T. . . . ,
Ist Church, Kensington
Helffenstein, J’b., D. D. I
Mkt House Sq. Church.
Jenkins, John,, D. D. . .
Calvary Church
Johnston, Thos. 8. .
Mantua Church, W.P.
Malifi, David, D- D. . .
McCaskie, James . . .
Southwestern Church .
McLeod, John. ' . . ,
Sec. A. B.C. F. M. .
Maars, John W. . . .
Ed. Am. Presbyterian.
Miller, Jeremiah . . .
Phila. Sab. Asso. . .
Morris Win. R. ...
Central Church, JNT. L. .
Patton., John, D.D. . .
Logan Square Church.
Pierce, E.J. ....
Reese, J. B. _. . . , .
African Central Church
Robbins, Prank L. .
Green Hill Church. .
Shepherd, Thomas J.
Ist Church, N. L. . .
Smith, Charles A., D. D.
Western Church. . .
Smith, H. Augustus, . .
Twelfth Church. .
Taylor, W. W. . . . .
Olivet Church. . • •,
Van Deurs, George . .
Tabor Mission. . . .
Wallace, Benj. J., D. D
Ed. Pres. Quar. Rev., 1
and Sec. H. Missions, j
Southwark Mrst Church,
Vacant, ...
Walker, Richard . .
Kenderton Church,
DEATHS OF MINISTERS.
“E. F. H.” iu the Evangelist, reckons up 14
.of our ministerial brethren deceased since the
meeting of our Assembly.
1. The Rev. William: Hanford, of the Presby
tery of Portage, who died at Tallmadge, Ohio,
May 31st, 1861, in his 71st year,
2. The Rev. Solomon Stevens, of the Presby
tery of Trumbull, who died at Cleveland, Ohio,
June 7th, 1861, in his 66th year.
3. The Rev. Daniel Murdock, D.D., of the Pres
bytery of Chemung, who'died at Elmira, N. Y.,
June 18th, 1861, in his 61st year.
4. The Rev. Ezra Stiles Ely, D.D., of the
Fourth Presbytery of Philadelphia, who died at
Philadelphia, June 17th, 1861, in his 76th year.
5. The Rev. David R. Dixon, of the Presby
tery of Washtenaw, who died at Unadilla, Mich
igan, June 24th, 1861, nearly 78 years Old.
,6. The Rev. William S. Kennedy, of the Pres
bytery of Cincinnati, who died at Cincinnati, 0.,
June 30th, 1861.
7. The Rev. John Hough, D. D., of the Pres
bytery of Fort Wayne, who died at Fort Wayne,
Ind., July 17th, 1861, in his 79th year.
A* Parent.
1682 Mt. Vernon st.
Sp. Garden & 13th sts.
1708 Filbert street.
Presbyterian House.
255 S. Eighth street.
Wash. Sq., cor. 7th.
684 Pine street.
Fourth & Pine streets.
Spruce ah 40th, W.P.
Presbyterian; House.,,
1531 Chestnut street.
Darby;.
Darby.
Chestnut ah 40 th, WP.
Walnut, ab 39th.
Green lane, Manayunk
Manayunk.
Germantown,
10th below Spruce,
20 North Tenth.
Darby, ,
Chestnut ab 40th,WP.
Presbyterian House.
1116 Columbia avenue
Gir’dav. near Han. st
Market House Square.
Germantown,
Germantown.
1814 Pine street.
Locust ab 15th.
Sycamore & 36th,WP.
6th & Bridge, W. P.
1614 Chestnut street.
425 South Twentieth.
Fitzwater & 20th sts.
Reeseville.
Presbyterian House.
2136 Mt. Vernon st.
Presbyterian House.
1106 Callowhill street.
Vine & Franklin sts,
Coates ab Third.
1621 Summer street.
20th and Vine.
718 Sansom street.
17th and Race sts,
Lombard ab Bth st.
Girard av. & 16 th st.
Girard Av. ab 16th.
507 Brown street.
Buttonwood below 6th
1530 Arch street.
17th and Filbert.
1530 Arch street.
South above 11th.
2021 Wallace street,
22d and Mt. Vernon,
919 S. Fifteenth st.
17th & Fitzwater sts.
1431 Girard Avenue.
Presbyterian House;
German ab Third;
Tioga st. above 1 17th.
8. The Rev. Frederick H, Brown, of the Pres
bytery of Trumbull, who died at Sandusky, Ohio,
July 31st, 1861, in his 57th year.
9. The Rev. Daniel M. Lord, of the Presbyte
ry of Long Island, who died at Shelter Island,
N. Y., August 26th, 1861,' in his 62d year.
10. The Rev. George W. Gale, D.D., of the
Presbytery of Knox, who died at Galesburg, 111.,
October 13th, 1861, in his 72d year.
11. The Rev. Clement Long, D.D., of the
Presbytery of Cayuga, who died at Hanover, N.
H., October 14th, 1861, in his 55th year.
12. The Rev. Benjamin Coleman Smith, of the
Presbytery of Bath, who died at Prattsburgh, N.
Y., Oct. 17th, 1861, in his 62d year.
13. The Rev. Charles White, D. D., of the
Presbytery of Crawfordsville, who died at Craw
fordsville, October 29th. 1861, in his 65th year.
14. The Rev. Henry A. Post, of the Presby
tery of Troy, who died at Warrensburgh, N. Y.,
November 12th, 1861, in his 27th year.
The average age of these beloved brethren was
not less than 61 years. In some eases they had
been laid aside from active service, but others of
them were in the full maturity of experience and
usefulness. Six of them had received the hon
orary degree of Doctor of Divinity. Several of
them had occupied eminent positions in the
Church and in seminaries of learning. One of
them, the Rev. Dr. Ely, had been the Stated
Clerk of the General Assembly for eleven years,
and Moderator of the Assembly of 1828. “ Siste,
Viator!” Matt. xxiv:44.
Rev. J. Parsons Hovet, D. D., of the Ele
venth Church, New York, has declined, after
much deliberation, the call of the Fourth Congre
gational Church, New Haven. “His people,”
says the Evangelist, “have been perfectly united
in him, and made his work pleasant, and yet such
have been the difficulties of the field itself, that
he has sometimes felt that he might be obliged to
accept a call elsewhere. The deficiency in his sa
lary was promptly assured to him by those who
felt that our city could ill afford to lose a man
who had been so faithful and so useful. This
result is to us a source of great gratification/'
Clerical Changes— Rev. E. H. Payson has
removed from New Hartford to Utica, N. Y.
Rev. Berg. F. WiUovghhy has accepted an in
vitation to supply the pulpit of the Congrega
tional church, ofParishville, St. Lawrence coun
ty* an d has commended his labors at that
place.
Mr. Tsaac was ordained to the Gospel
ministry, and installed pastor of the Second Pres
byterian church of Elmira, on the 12th instant,
by the Presbytery of Chemung. The prelimin
arj examination was a thorougli and very satis*
factory one. The ordination sermon was preached
by Rev. Charles Hawley, D. D., of Auburn.——
Evangelist. ,
Mr. James McLaughlin was ordained October
Bth, by the Presbytery of San Jose, at Brooklyn,
California.
Rev. A. F. White. —The Presbyterian church
in Carson city, Nevada Territory,” says the Pa
cific, “have engaged Mr. White, formerly of.
Gilroy, California, as their stated supply. Mr.
White is a true, earnest as well as able minister,
and in him the new church will find a pastor who
will spare himself no labor or sacrifice to build
them up. Mr. White officiates as chaplain of the
Council during the session of the Legislature of
Nevada. '
We shall begin to believe that the leading
minds of the “Old School” branch of the Pres
byterian Church are thoroughly and incurably
infected by their long subserviency to Southern
dictation, and incapacitated ntterly from render
ing sincere and earnest support to their country
in its hour of need. Rev. N. L. Rice, D.D., of
the Fifth Avenue Church, Hew York,-has just
published two sermons—“ Our Country and the
Church” —which we shall never believe a truly
loyal audience were content to hear. They are
a protest, in fact, against the action of the late
Philadelphia General Assembly, and an elaborate
argument against the ministry and church, as
snch, faking any sides on the present question.
It isenoughto know that he ranks the present war
among “such quarrels” as the Mexican war!
Ministers should not undertake to decide the
merits of “the quarrel!” But Dr. Biec himself
takes sides when he uses language so insulting
to freemen. We see nothing in the sermons to
show that the course of the loyal clergy in the
Revolution would meet the writer’s approval.
There is reason to fear that far too many such
half-hearted patriots are not only in the “Old
School” Church, but in the Government, in the
Army and Navy, as chaplains and in every grade
of service. Every where they are thorns in the
flesh. The sermons are published by C. Scrib
ner, New York,
Poems by John G. Saxe, complete in one
This is one of Ticknor & Fields' hand
some blue and gold (cloth) edition of the poets,
16mo. It is accompanied with a finely engraved
portrait of the poet. The verses are mainly of
a lighter’ cast of sentiment, mirthful, Knicker
bocker-like, healthful. “The proud Miss Mac-
Bride” is ■ a good specimen of Saxe’s favorite
vein of playful satire. The lines on his Thirty
ninth Birth-day explain somewhat the prevailing
type of the pieces. “ Few,” he says,
“Have trod a brighter path than mine,
From blithe thirteen to thirty-nine. ’ ’
What a contrast to Byron's
“ My days are in the sere and yellow leaf. ”
For sale by J. B. Lippincott & Co,, Philadelphia.
Two more of the A. L. 0. E. Books have
been republished by Robert Carter & Bros.,
New York, and are for sale by Chas. S. Luther,
Presbyterian Bookstore, No. 1384 Chestnut St.
They are powerfully written, and convey impor
tant truths effectively to the minds of the
young. Marry Damjerfield the Poacher, and
Angus Tartion, or Illustrations of the Fruits of
the Spirit , are the titles of these stories. 18mo.
pp. 148 and 135.
We-have received the first number of the Li
terary Chronicle and Advertiser , published by
Geo. L. Dix & Go., Boston. To be issued on the
15th of each month.
Also, the Minutes of the Synod of Pennsyl
vania, for 1861, issued promptly by Rev. Wm.
E. Moore, Stated Clerk.
REVIEWS AND MAGAZINES.
The London Quarterly Review, for October,
(L.-Scott & Co., New York; W. B. Zieber, Phi
ladelphia,) opens with a deeply interesting paper
on the Life and Character of Shelley. Such a
bitterly anti-Christian writer has never been pro
duced in the walks of literature. His hatred of
true religion; his wild, yet earnest, schemes of
moral and political reform, cherished in connec
tion with some of the most hideously immoral
views, are well presented by the critic. The se
verity with which his works were handled in this
game Review, forty years ago, when they were
just coming before the public, is vindicated. To
his utter want of hivtftoT is attributed much of the
unhealthy sensitiveness which characterized the
man and his works. “Life, Enterprise, and Peril
in rhe Coal Mines," collects a great amount of
valuable matter about the coal-workings of the
North of England, their expensiveness, their
productSj and their perils. The great outlay is
frequently made in clearing the mine of water.
One and a half million of dollars was spent m
reaching the coal at an opening near Durham
Castle. The whole supply in England and
Wales is roughly estimated to he sufficient for a
thousand years. “ The Immutability of Nature"
is a most noble and satisfactory defence of the
Bible against the objections renewedly raised by
scientific men. The terras Law, Nature, and
Immutability, as employed by these unbelievers,
are closely scrutinized, and the obligation to take
into view all well-attested facts and all depart
ments of truth, in order to a true philosophy, is
earnestly and justly insisted on. We should
like to see the article in the hands of every stu
dent of the physical sciences. “Newton as a
Scientific Discover” is a very interesting paper,
which goes over the ground of his whole scien
tific activity with great candor, showing how
much of his great success was due to the labors
and hints of predecessors, and vindicating hj s
claim to originality as against Leibnitz. “Plu
tarch” gives us an account of the several ver
sions of the Lives, and explains their great po
pularity. A remarkable coincidence between
passages of North’s version and the Roman
plays of Shakespeare is pointed out. It is claim
ed that “to North’s Plutarch we owe Shake
speare’s Roman, plays.” “Whole speeches in
Coriolanus are directly rendered from North’s
prose.” The noble character of the biographer,
in a most dissolute age, is noted. “Education
of the Poor” discusses a question of far greater
significance and difficulty in a country of such
broad social contrasts as England presents, than
with ns, by whom it may be considered as sub
stantially solved. We, however, have still some
unsettled questions as to the religions instruc
tion commnnieated in our free schools. “Alexis
de Tocqueville” sketches very ably the charac
ter of this political philosopher, and refers to
his residence in onr own country and his views
of our destiny, which were almost prophetic of
our existing troubles. The opportunity thus af
forded to say a few unhandsome things of us is
not neglected by the Reviewer. De Tocqueville,
Plutarch, and Isaac Newton: these are noble
names in history, and the essays upon them in
this Review give it peculiar interest and value.
Blackwood, for November, contains, besides
lighter articles and poetry, an exposure of Mr,
Buckle’s Scientific Errors, and a critical notice
of the French Philosopher, Ernest Renan. Mr.
Buckle is very fairly treated, indeed highly
lauded, and his scientific errors are all stated—so
far as the critic has been able to discover them.
They are errors in physiology—Mr. Buckle dis
cards the idea of hereditary transmission of
qualities physical and mental—and in his state
ments in regard to the; Deductive Method. He
does not seem to have mastered the distinction
between Deduction (reasoning from general prin
ciples to particulars) and* the Deductive Method
in which the three processes of Induction, De
duction, and Verification are included; a dis
tinction with which any college junior may be
supposed-familiar. Renan is a Kantian philoso
pher of France, distinguished for his essays on
philosophical and religious subjects. He pro
tests energetically against the worship of wealth
and luxury, which now seems to prevail among
the French, and that mistaken reliance on indus
trial progress as the proof of national prosperity,
which prevails throughout the civilized world.
In his half belief, which protests against Strauss’
Life of Christ and rejects miracles, he seems to
long after a more settled state of mind. The
reviewer incidentally gives four reasons for the
slight impression made by Strauss on the Eng
lish mind:—l. He assumes the incredibility of
the miraculous; 2. A large part of the work is
employed in refuting other methods of explain
ing the miracles prevalent in Germany, but un
known in England; 8. Strauss’ Hegelian Christ
ology was too wild to win attention; 4. and
chiefly, the absence of all attempts to bring be
fore the reader what was the veritable history.
One cannot turn from Blackwood of Novem
ber, to the Atlantic Monthly for December, with
out an instant perception of the complete supe
riority of the latter over the former in all points
except its religious tone. If tie Atlantic were
not so much the organ of a clique of superci
lious, self-opinionated Boston free-thinkers, we
could not easily express our admiration and
pride in the ability, grace of style, and compre
hensive range of its articles. “ A Field-night
in the House of Commons” is a graphic descrip
tion of the manners of the House during- an ex
citing and important discussion, “A New Coun
terblast" ably and good-humoredly argues
against the use of Tobacco. “ Health in the
Hospital” continues the admirable sanitary
series on the army, and refers to the character
and labors of Miss Nightingale with merited ap
plause. “The Story of Thanksgiving” is touch
ing, American, and timely. “English Emanci
pation” tells the story of the philanthropic
movements, in which Pitt, Buxton, Clarkson,
and Wilberforce were successfully engaged.
“Self-possession vs. Pre-possession ” is in a tone
! of manly severity towards the English press and
public men. We quote a sentence:—“ Our pre
sent experience of the unsoundness of English
judgment, and.the narrowness of English views
concerning our policy and character, may have
the good result of making our independence iu
matters of thought and criticism as complete as
our political emancipation.” So may it be.. .
In-the prospectus for 1862 is a series of papers
on Natural History by Prof. Agassis. Boston:
Ticknor & Fields.
Tie thirteenth number of the “ Southern R«-
hellion reaches nearly to the Inauguration nf
Mr. Lincoln. We are disappointed at the slight
attention paid to the causes of the sudden de
parture of the President elect from Harrisburg
to Washington. Perhaps they have defied in
vestigation as yet, but it is just such matters
that we expect to find subjected to examination
in a work which travels over the ground leisure
ly as this does. New York-: James J). Torrey,
No. 18 Spruee Street.
NOV. 28,