JMwws-a ■ i * . .--A*#*-- v - - ITANGEMST. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5,1861 JOBS w, meae^ THE ohilde: The universal church, says our Form of Go vernment consists of all those persons in every nation, together vyith their'children, who make profession of the holy religion of Christ-and of submission to his laws. Chapter 9th of the Di leotory for public worship, explains more fully the nature of the relation sustained by the bap tized children to the church. From this, it does not appear that birth and baptism constitute them members in the full sense, or endow them with inalienable rights in the church, to be exer cised, as a matter of course, when they arrive at years of discretion. To attain to membership, they must he-free from scandal, appear sober and steady, add give evidence of sufficient knowledge to discern the Lord’s body. “Those who are to \ be admitted to sealing ordinances shall be ex } f'miWei as to their knowledge and piety." The officers of the church must decide, not merely a question of maturity, but of moral and religions character, Nevertheless the passage is plainly, based upon the expectation that they will be found, as a general thing, prepared to be admit ted; no public profession of faith is required of them, and from the seed of the church its in crease is mainly expected. Baptized children are so far members, indeed, as to be declared under the inspection and government of the church. The position of the Presbyterian Church ou this subject, therefore, may be stated as— 1. Comprehensive and conservative. On the one hand it would avoid the grave error of a birthright membership, which is the scandal and the weakness of the Reformed Churches of Eu rope; and on the other, it cannot renounce the t )Id Testament privilege, which our Saviour in his welcome to children, and the Apostle Peter i n his Pentecostal address, plainly recognised as belonging*.also, to-the new dispensation.. Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven, said Christ, blessing young children. The promise, says Peter, is to you and to your children; A real relation to the ‘■hureh, therefore, have children, "libf 'o'f Torn but of fact, and they are to be recognized as part of the entire organism of the church, visible and invisible; yet not such a relation as to secure their salvation by the mere growing up in it. 2. Membership in a Christian family and bap tism are both spoken of as constituting this rela tion. Before baptism, and as a reason for bag i ism, the children of Christian parents are said to be “federally holy,” (Directory vii. iv.) Hence baptism is a sign and seal of a gracious or privi leged fact, previously existing in the child’s condition. This fact, whatever is its precise na ture, puts the child of Christian parents, from its birth, on a different moral footing, and in a different relation to the invisible Church, from those occupied by the children of unregenerated parents. And its baptism puts it into a peculiar relation to the visible church, whatever it may be. Baptism is a aigb and seal of a previously existing fact; a recognition by the outward ohuroh of a fact already accepted in the spiritual church. And neither of these is regeneration, or the surety of regeneration, in ‘the understanding of our standards. The child brought to be bap tized is only “federally” holy, and its very bap tism is to show that “we are by nature sinful, guilty, and polluted, and have need of eleansing by the blood of Christ,” &c. Nor does the out ward act of baptism constitute full membership of the church visible, or a right to such mem bership, or a certainty of admission hereafter. But there is a real relationship to the church visible and invisible recognized bp our stand ards, which is not full memb rship nor yet that right to membership, which a minor possesses, iv ho only waits to maturity to enter upon it as a matter of course. To describe thii peculiar state of things, we nuke bold to borrow a word from the nomencla ture of a sister denomination,' and call the chil dren of the church, who have not vet pronoun c e u upomrneir own TeiatiOfis, probationers. “They" are candidates in a favorable position for enter ing—expected to enter. They are born at' the very gate of the church with their faces inward. They are already in the outer court of the tem plo. Probationers, it is true, are understood to be those who hove resolved to seek the Lord. They are. very remote from thoughtless world lings. Equally remote are the infant children of pious parents, though unconscious and unre solved. The question with them, as with the pi ofcationer, is, will they become thoughtless worldlings? Both are on trial, not as are all the hardened and ungodly, but as privileged ones, with peculiar chances of being saved. After all they are hut probationers, whose case is un- decided, and who miy be lost. Yet they—the children of pious parents—are the hope of the church, the grand source of its increasing strength and numbers, as it moves onward. They are of the church and yet not of it; not regene rate; not members; and yet organically "asso ciated with it, as the academical department is associated with the college; carried along with it, blessed by it, living in the penumbra of cove nant protection—a relation difficult to define, dangerous to truth when pressed too far, and yet, within scriptural limits, one of the most precious and practically important of all truths. 3. The Presbyterian Church has always con templated this r#latio«Shi|; with profound'inte- rent. High duties and ebfflforting expectations for parent, child, and church have always been regarded as growing out of it. And if stability, Christian culture, family purity and piety, and social order and security, have been in any high degree associated with this church, one chief cause of the fact is to be found in these views and teachings. And the decline of interest in this department of trhth and duty, the loosening of a seufß of obligation to the children of the ehnroit on the part of church and parent, and the lowering of our expectations in regard to the convertioo of the children of Christian t’amilies—all of which & illustrated' and proved by the neglect of the baptism of infants in many quarters —has much to do with the .present dis- organized: condition of our national and family government. : A well organized church is one not of individuals, but of families—families watched over with episcopal concern and autho rity; and the families of such a ehureh will he w.l organized, and a State in which such farai- Editor, OP THE OHUIOH, , llea abound will be in the loyalty of its citizens. We commend thig .subject to patents and pastors, and we shall render them such aid as we may, by future discussions in the line of thought here indicated. THANKSGIVING- DISCOURSES IN THIS CITY, AfftfjtflANTi'beautiful, and inspiring were the sentiments of patriotism and gratitude, 'which rang from thousands of pulpits on Thursday of last week. The clergy responded with alacrity to the additional call made upon them for that day, and seemed nothing wearied with the un usual number of special services, which the exi gencies of the times have laid upon them during the present year. And the truly cheerful and thankful tone of the sermons preached, showed what manly hearts, Sustained by divine grace and a consciousness of' the rectitude of our cause, beat on. their bosoms, and . throbbed re sponsively in the-, bosoms of the hearers. Loyal Virginia celebrated with us her very first thanks giving, and signalized her. union with the North by the acceptance o‘f a religious custom eminent ly Northern in its origin. Loyal Virginia may well give thanks, visited, though she has been, by the scourge of war. For her convention meditates emancipation, and reaches forth, the hand to join in the grand march of the Free States to empire and to .true glory; while cabaf of intriguers, who hatched the awful crime of treason ut-Richmond, plot to carry their State still further backward, to disfranchise even the free men, and to throw disrespect upon the sys tem of free schools. “ The causes for thanksgiving were fully and devoutly stated by many preachers. From the reports in the Inquirer and the Press, we gather the following:—Bishop Hopkins argued that we might properly give thanks for being pun ished m this dread visitation, of civil war.- The loss or imperilling of our dearest earthly inte ests is designed to bring us to a due sense of the value of our neglected spiritual interests. The virtues of patriotism and loyalty, the necessity of obedience, the value of discipline are taught us in these terrible lessons. The spirit of self ishness is being broken down; the necessity of prayer is more deeply felt; the better sympa thies of the heart are brought into exercise, while the frivolous follies of fashionable dissipa tion are cast aside. Military discipline ig,t|ie.foe of effeminate luxury. Party spirit is brokeh down, and men of true patriotism will be brought forward. One preacher, Rev. P. Brooks, referred to the fact that there had been found honesty and principle in the land to meet the extraordinary exigencies of the year, and that the determina tion of the people had survived the first excite ment and all the trials and reverses of the war. Another, Dr. Boardman, said:—‘-We have the commerce, the wealth, churches and institutions of e truing, thrift, enterprise, and the immense' preponderance is with the loyal States, and we ought to offer thanksgiving to God to-day that strength and majesty are arrayed on the side of law and righteousness.” He also referred to the zeal of capitalists and of persons in moderate circumstances to place their gold and silver at the disposal of the government, and to the cha racter of our immense army—all volunteers, not a conscript among them, with' an unexampled degree of'social, 'intellectual, and Christian, ex cellence enrolled in the ranks." tic said :—“The great problem as to the four millions of Southern slaves would come up soon enough for adjust ment, and no doubt would be considered by a Christian country without uncharitableness. He inculcated the necessity of Christian forbearance as practised by our Saviour and bis Apostles.” Dr. Wadsworth thought the grave of our nation had been well nigh dug, not by war, but by evils engendered in. our long enjoyment of peace. “Any one who successfully heaped up treasures was considered the prince and sove reign of our social system. Virtue had become a thing quoted with the price currents, and death the end of speculation. The public were mad for gold. * * * I do not speak of these things invidiously. I only speak what you all knew and felt. This insane passion for gain was ne cessarily advancing our ruin. There was a time when we thought our graves were dug: it was -uoT -neiore a-Dattie. ° * iJyhlasti we have reaped benefits and nobler influences. There are things worth more in this world than Southern trade and Southern cotton. There will be no more European interference in the affairs of this continent when we have developed an army and navy. From the nations of Europe we hear the prophecy of our overthrow, the wish being father the thought. We have a destiny to fulfil against the despots of the old world. But this war will have another benefit for us, in leading us to depend in God for safety. * * Men are beginning to believe that there is some God, somewhere. Men are not afraid to-day to men tion his name in large assemblies/’ Dr. Bomberger referred to our harvests— “enough for ourselves, for our children, for our brave soldiers, and some to spare for famishing Ireland." The patriotism of the North, as dis played in the vast army of volunteers, was the more remarkable as exhibited “even whilst it is still but partially roused to a ? sense of thp danger which threatens us.” ' - Dr. Brainerb’s Sermon.—After recapitu lating our ordinary blessings and. causes of thank fulness, Dr. Brainerd referred to our peculiar circumstances at present: “Looking- at our Commonwealth,” he said “it is matter for con gratulation that no invader’s foot has pressed her soil, and that old Pennsylvania has said to the tide of rebellion—thus far shalt thou go, and no further. He spoke of the evils Providence had sent upon us, and acknowledged that we deserved the infliction. He dwelt on the great rebellion and its attendant ills with great pathos, pdwer and patriotic feeling. He said, “ I have stood by my country in this conflict, but not because I was at all insensible of the evils of the war. My heart is p tender as the heart of any man, and as I have felt these evils! have felt the tears upon my pillow. But if war has its evils, there are evils worse than war. “ To have our flag dishonored among the na tious, imd thus he at the mercy of every, blood thiraty'fillibuster that might desire to insult or prey upon us; to lose all government among our thirty millions of people, and thus carry anarchy and fear into every family; to have a hundred wars on a border of two thousand miles ; to give up the principles of liberty and human equality m our Constitution, which is the hope of hu manity; each of these is worse than this war, and from these I bel«WGod designs to deliver us. 3Utc titan f d»«n«isjej <sMitpliot “I regankit>-theTefore, as on our part a just and righteous war, and have no hesitation in ask ing on it the blessing of the Almighty/. This" war has not been unmixed evil. It has bad its blessingß, • and its noble virtues; it Has brokeh up the selfish jargon of mere demagogues; it has taught thousands to subordinate love of gain to love of country; it has developed a noble patri otism, and made our army ajul havy what they are; it has killed the peijwy and-Hsecrettreason of the Judas Iscariots who: were willing, for power and place, to sell their country; it has saved thousands of young men from the grog shop and the brothel, and will result in putting down rebellion and give us back our wliolc country, more pure, safe, and worthy of love than ever.” DISCOURSE OF REV. E. E. ADAMS. Mr, Adams grouped together some interesting and telling statistics, to show, as a matter of thankfulness, the extent.of our resources and the supply of food. “Itis a matter of special praise, he said, that for two successive years our grana ries have been filled, as if in anticipation of the conflict that has come upon us. The wheat crop alone amounts to two hundred millions of hush ! els, enough to furnish a barrel and a half of flour to each man, woman and child in the Union! and ten barrels for every family on the average. But i in addition to the wheat crop we have 400,000,000 bushels of oats, and a billion of bushels of corn, with rye and barley to’the to say nothing of fruits and bulbous esculents. With an export of one-third of this produce, which would be nearly 600,000,000 bushels, there would remain 1,200,000,000 for home con sumption. And were all that is exported to bring the low price of fifty cents per bushel, it would return to us $300,000,000, a sum which, allow ing for the average expenditure of our Govern ment $700,000 per day, would supply our armies and the whole national administration for four teen months, as long as the war ought- to last. “Our income during the year, for all branches , of industry, has been less, perhaps, than in some • previous years; but it must have been as much as the year 1835, which was $3,000,000,000. Our taxable properiy amounts to $10,000,000,- 000, and onr personal to $4,000,000,000. Now consider these facts in connection with the ex traordinary claims of the present year, “ We have an army of 500,000 men to feed and* otherwise to provide for. Probably one-third. more is wasted by transportation and inconside rate consumption than is ordinarily done. “ But for all the bounty of God, by which such immense supplies can be forwarded, and continued for a whqle.year to come without di minishing foreign sales, and without stinting even the poorest of the population at home, our thanksgiving should ascend, and it does and will ascend to the infinite Goodness which crowneth the year with plenty.” The following brief but deeply pathetic allu sions to the-captives and the dead of the war, left few -dry eyes in the large assembly which heard them :. . * “And oh! we will'hot forget our prisoners who are in the power of the enemy ; who endure the taunts of malice; who suffer for food, for clothing, and for healing medicines; whose , wounds bleed afresh at every remembrance of home; whose chains wear deeper and deeper into their hearts when they -are thinking of wives sitting children weeping to ihothers'beiidlh£ 6ver“thO mementoes of their lost sons! “We beseech God to release them and bear them back to their sorrowing kindred and to a grateful people! “ I‘emetnbev, to-day, those who have fallen in battle ’ The noble dead !—Ellsworth and Gre ble, ahd Cameron and Lyon, and Baker, and those beside, whom we cannot name nor number, whose blood has sealed their patriotism, and be- come a sacrifice to bind the nation to loyalty ! “ Last year, they, too, sat with their families at- the thanksgiving feast! They have' fought and fallen in their country’s cause, and their names are written on the scroll of glory, and some of them, we doubt not are wearing crowns that a nation could not offer them!” We designed referring to the vietvg expressed on the all-engrossing topic of Emancipation in these sermons, but our space will not allow us this week. - . GE!T. M’OLELLAN'S RELIGIOUS CHARACTER It will be remembered by our readers, that the report of an interview between Gen. McClellan and his pastor, Rev. Dr. Thompson, of .Cincin nati, of a very interesting and pleasing character, appeared in this, as in other. papers, soon after the young chieftain took his responsible place. Much discussion arose as to the propriety of the publication of such an incident, and from Dr Thompson’s communication in our columns, it appears that he was not responsible for its news paper notoriety. For ourselves, we doubt whe ther such facts ought to be withheld from pub lieity. If a man in General McClellan’s position in this critical and fearful period of our national history, giyes evidence of personal, reliance upon God, this Christian nation may well expect, somehow or other, to be informed of the fact, and we. count it mere squeamishness in the editors of religious journals to close their columns against the fact, when it is once We are inclined to think that Dr. Thompson’s interview with Gen. McClellan will take its place in our history with the prayer, of Gen. Washington, .at Valley Forge, and posterity to-day thanks the man who overheard the prayer, for refusing to make a secret of the precious incident. : We now learn upon the authority of a chap lain who' writes to the last New York Observer, that “ Gen. MeClellan is glad to have this nation know that his sole' reliance in the war is upon the goodness and mercy of God in advancing the cause of law, justice, and order.” In a lat'e in terview with his pastor, “‘he threw tiimseif back m the chair and said, with deep emotion, ‘For what purpose can it bo that one but lately en gaged upon a railroad, so. young, and having yet done nothing to deserve such a place, should be advanced, for the time, to perhaps : the most re sponsible position in the country!’ We feel that he might have said, in the world. ‘But,’con tinued this modest, youthful, and truly Christian hero, ‘it is of God who often, chooses the wcak est and even the meanest instruments to accom plish His purposes.’ General McClellan said that so crushing was his habitual sense of his responsibilities, that were it not for his faith in God, he could not live un der it. But his trust in Gop,jmd the conviction that prayer was made for him unceasingly, sus tained him, and gave him an undoubting hope of Success.” • OUR CLERGY- IK NORTHERN MISSOURI. We chronicle’with high- gratification the faith fulness-of our brethren in Missouri to their ec clesiastical and national relations in these trying times. Some of them, it is true, has been com pelled to abandon their fields of labor" even in the Northren'part pf thc. State, from inadequacy of support, or. .of a commu nity partially.in, that be. Rev. dames-Darrah-, of West Ely,-and Rev. Thos. H. Tatlo.w, of Newark,•’Knox county, have thus far. maintained .their, positions, bearing a no ble testimony to -the truth* amid'disorder and difficulties of no common kind. Our attention has been called to a sermon, preached* by Mr. Tatlow, Oct. 20th, at Newark, and published by request in the Palmyra Courier, on the text Ro. xiii. 1, 2:—“Let every soul be subject to the higher powers,” &c. The Scripture clbctrine of submission to civil government, in all its breadth, minost imperatively insisted on; indeed the argument of the preacher would leave fio room for such a thing as justifiable revolution, and cannot, therefore,' be' accepted in its full ex tent; “but/’ correspondent, “you will not the less admire the Ghristiak fidelity with which he raises his voice against - Ijhe present rebellion in the midst of the of its wicked violence. This brother, jjjj as remarkable for meekness, and gentleness, ap<T fervent, devotion as for .holy boldnfssj I_Jcnow -of mo -iban who dwells and. moves amid' rebellion more i serenely. His piety seems to be an invisible shield over him; even as Milton, in /Cornua,’ represents ‘saintly chastity’ to be the Effectual shield of his heroine.” " | We presume some extracts from this discourse would be quite as interesting and profitable as anything we could lay before our readers. The lamentable condition of afFiirs*in the churches of that part of Missouri is Exhibited in-the fol lowing extract:—“No one -.ixrw would dare even to read publicly Romans xiii: in the rebel States, unless heshuuld. apply it tp-the rebel govern ment. -It is not to be thought.that, among rebels; those parts of the Bible will be set forth public ly, which forbid resistance to government: For an illustration of this point, Ineedgo no further than Marion county. In the summer, whil,e con versing, with the late Presbyterian clergyman of Palmyra, he. asked mg howjiay preaching pros pered in these secession tinges. In reply I re marked that while I forth the dofl trine&pfi eternal life, I also ?#M -whafl could to make men acquainted with theiT civil duties, as taught by the Bible; that, to this en'd. I had publicly read and slightly commented : upbn Ro mans xiii., and like passages, more than once. .‘Well, sir,’ said he, ‘I would not dare even to read Romans xiii. here in Palmyra.’ Such is the state of things, even in Palmyra, that those Scriptures which enjoin loyalty. are sealed, .as much so as if Antichrist had possession of them/ We add, also, one of the considerations ad dressed to Christians: in 'the conclusion ■ I will now speak directly to Christians; and I wish -to do-so in a practical way. The “ higher powers” to'ivhich yon are to “ be subject,” is the Government of the United States., It will not do for you to say .that the authority pf the State is as high as- that:of r the Federal Government. This is all pretence,! and. know it. You know that the Constitution is the Supreme law; of the lasiL_ You know, tooj[ that • the Federal tutioh, is the only'government aih’ong us which is known among other _nsltions; and it is bn,oWn and respected by them all, over the whole e§Vth; whereas our State' powers ’a|;e not known- ten mile 3 from our coasts. - t . '. • /... '' I appeal to' yqu, ,Christianas,.from: three consi- v derations:-—- 1. You rectder obedience- to - your governhfeßt as an act of 'religions s'ervKfea b‘for cbuseieuee 1 sake, and for the Lord’s sake. See vv' 5, “ wherefore ypu must ii|e|[s he sub feet, - not ;fbr blso'Joi .conscience sake.” f For you acknowledge government to be God’s ordinance. See, also, I. Peter ii. lB:-r- ! ‘Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man, for, the Lord $ sake, whether it b.e jto the king: as su preme, or unto governors.” :jSo .that in doing this service,- you submit to R evert/ ordinance.” -If'ariy one' of them he unjifst, yousuffer; yet you suffer as- a ; Christian'. - “ fcf a man suffer as a' "Christian, ld£ him- nht ‘let’ him glorify God onthis behalf”’’ <r ' ri ’ f ' But, says one, I cannot siiffer my rights to ; be taken away. In whose are your "rights ? What rights have you, but tiose which God con- I fers ? _ ‘ What have you thatjye have not not re ceived - If, by obedience <p r God, ! any =of your rights be taken away, thenj it is His will' that they be taken; away:.: Iff ylu cannot submit to that will, but rebellious!}' go |>d to resist it, then beware : £ examine yourselvqs, prove your own selves, whether ye be in the|Faith.’ The .will of the Christian is lost in the ujill of God. : But says another: These dommands of God do not necessarily .control-iny kction as a citizen. Although-! am a Christian, yet I am also a eiii- In the church I must [act as a Bible man j but as a citizen ! must act according to political doctrines. Well! Do, I understand you ? When acting as a citizen you ceasj! to be a Christian!' And when acting with menwho disregard- the Bible, you disregard ,it if tablr Shame on you I You are tTrue,youv have-the character'of hsci!#uj but your: eha. , racter as such is" subordinate- to, ■ and - lost-in, your character as T]be command of the text is one bf the laws of of Christ, by which lie directs the life of bis members. Obedience to it the efore i? a necessary condi tion of such membership, ahd one of themeans pf developing the Christitinl4aEBUter. ' .Loyalty is a Christ.-audaty-—a ,G,hrisi,ian-exeeFence;; 'l)|S' loyalty is a s:n, ml brings.‘Sdamna ion.’ AH EDITOR TD|rej> CHAPLAIN. . | Our highly esteemed in the editorial field, R^-Clement®. Babb, of the Cincinnati Lhrutian -Herald, las *esi|nedJiis position and become chaplain of the: Thirteenth Mo. ?Eegi ment, Crafts Jr Wright, Cplonel, .nowl in'Mis- The'regiment n% %gra*«late ifeelf on securing the services of 4he| : *9 welf qualified by true piety, fidelity, patriotism hud ability, as a thinher and writer, for the of the position. We wish the of the , gallant defenders of our pdnntry were all m, as good hands., The doubtless continue and be. the, vehicle'of its former editor’s commu- l nications to the public, j ! [Since writing the above, %e notice Mr. Babb’s name , as usual at ; the hetd of the Chruttan Herald; to which, doubtleasjhe continues to Hold' ! his former relations-]' 1 , -i A' WATOfIMAN’B EESPONSE. Two "Sleeks ago, we asked' ‘‘What of the Night ?” and expressed oar hope that Christians were waiting and praying with expectancy for the descent of the _ Spirit. A few days ago, we re ceived the following note from a pastor in Dela ware, whose field of labor has just been visited by a delegation from Wilmington Presbytery: “ You will be rejoiced to hearthat God is'Visit ing in mercy that old dry branch, M- church. Bros. 1 . E. and G.« have been visiting the peojsle, and the Spirit has been with us. Yesterday, we welcomed to the communion two precious souls. A third party was received under care of session till some-further occasion. Many, I believe, have consecrated themselves V 9 the Lord who did not then; come to his,table. Many others are deeply concerned for their salvation. Christians are prayihg. as they have never prayed before. The bouse lias been crowded to its fullest capa city, and many have remained .outside that could not get within. Our heart is full of faith and expectation that the Lord will yet do great things for this long neglected Zion. Bray, my dear brother, that the walls of this Jerusalem may now at last be built up." , BEY. JOSHUA 1. DjSISFOBTH, D.D. ,W» have to add 5 another name to the list of republished from the Evangelist in our columns list week. Kev. Joshua N. Danforth, D. D., of the Presjb- *of the District, of Columbia, died -ytery, yia, diet at ; Newcastle, .Del., November 14. r The New, ¥!ork,,Qsser«er says he was in the 64th year of his age.;,- He was formerly from Berkshire coun ty, Massachusetts, and for many years -was pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in Alexan dria. He has been for Some 1 time past connected wijh the lAmeKeah ’Colonization Society; as an efficient %eni He was a frequent and valuable contributor, to the columns of the above named journal, Indeed,,fey contributions tp its columns were more popular than those over his well known signature,-“J, So far as; we remember, they were' of a practically religious character, such as, when well * written , are most welcome to the conductor of a religions journal. During the latter years of his life Dr. Dahfortb Has lived a retired life, and' especially Since 'the' division 6f iB,s ( 7j;has ; mingled little, with his brethren in the‘ministry; ' •' ~/ . Thus repeatedly we, are .warned of the great, uncertainty of our hold upon , life; thus the ; sol emn lessons of the . pulpit are brought home to the- preacher; • Let ns thke -them to ourselves,' lest by any means, when we, have preached to others,' we-ourselves should be cast away. [FOR THE AMERICAN PB.ESEITTERIAK] PBESBYTEBIAN BOOMS. ‘ -Con/Vjskient oflices have been secured for the; U3e of the Permanent Committees of the Bresby temn;Church, in the Tract House, 150 Nassau street, ; ' New ! York ) whei'e : all’ matters eonnecteiil with the Educational and :Hoihe Missionary movements may be transacted during the usual business hotri. ; . , .' . ’ f HOME MISSIONS, \,’ letters pertaining to the general .‘Home j^ssignary^^rations^ofLtM-L-OhuretL should be Isvfrr j ’M> yi ‘iRev: i :HENBfciK:ENDAiE, ; • Presbyterian Rooms, Tract House, N. T. { Remittances shoiilcLbe ihade to ' Edw’d'A. XambeiUy Esq., Treas. Presbyterian Rooms, Tract House, N. Y. '; - ; Education ios the,/:Ministby..:\; ] Communications relating to tho gcncral sub ject should be addressed ; : ' Rev. Thornton A.-.Mnxs,’ See’y,. • , ■ Presbyterian Booms, Tract’ House,-N. Y. ' I- Contributioils'should be sent to the Treasurer, J. W. Benedict, Esq., . cv. ■■ 118 Broadway, New York. <®»* <&bml ftas. Philadelphia.-— Rev. Dr. Cox, of Leroy, N. York, preached' a Thanksgiving Discourse in djlitoh Street Church, i-mr Thursday morning last, to the gratification of his numerous friends in this city. We were pleased to see him in the enjoyment of seemingly robust health, and in full possession arid exercise, of His well-known; power in the pulpit. One canEOt but wish that a spi rit so generous, so manly, so pious; a mind so well stored with learning, sacred and secularj-i' ■theological, historical, philological and poetical,- a speech so ready, so affluent, so surprising, and a heart so kindly “ may go back, late to I heaven.” . ■ : ■ -The State Clerk of the Synod op N.'Y. and N. J., having forwarded the President a, copy of the resolutions expressive of loyalty and sympathy to, the government, unanimously adopted by that body, the Secretary of State on the,. yery ppxt .day, returned the following an swer , V, . \ ;i: ! hi7 , SEuni't '■ Vi■ - Washington, Nov. 27, 1861. f : bTo the Synod of andNem Jersiy ; - Reverend The: minute Con taining your resolutions bn 'the-condition of thi country which you directed to me, has beeu sub mitted' tb the President of the United States. ‘ f ■ ? , a ? n ihsfracted to express to you his great satisfaction with those proceedings, .which are distinguished equally by their- patriotic senti ments, .and - a ; purely; Christian spirit.,, ,It is a just tribute to our present system of government | that’it has enabled the Ameriean people to enjoy, unmolested, more of the blessings of Divine Pro vidence, which affect the rhaterial conditions of human society than any other people ever enjoyed, together with a more absolute degree of religious i liberty-, than before the institution I of that great, Uovernment, had, ever bepn hoped for,among them. , ; .. .... I The overthrew of . the Government might, therefore, justly be regarded as a calamity, not only 1 to this nation but to mankind. The Presi -1 deut is assured of the public virtue and of the '; t'^^^ > una.vmlixi^;YyitihpuA.' ; tiM favor of Go.d. The President thanks youdoryour invocations; of that indispensable support, and he earnestly solicits, the same, invocations from all classes and conditions of mem Believing that those prayers will not be denied by the God of our Fathers, he trusts and expects that the re sult of this most unhappy attempt at revolution will confirm and strengthen the union of the Republic, and ultimately renew the .fraternal af fections among its members, so essential to a re storation of the public welfare and happiness. I am, very sincerely, Your very humble servant, William H. Seward. -Synod op Geneva. —We have not yet re ceived the further proceedings of this body as we had expected. From a statement in the Itecmjeliat, vig learn tha,t; the Synod fully-aiH proved the action of the Assembly on Home Missions, appointed the stated clerks of the Pres byteries a Committee" of Synod on Foreign Mis sions, and. passed a series of earnest and able resolutions on the state .of the country as fol lows : i ; Whereas, Since the last meeting of this Synod, the uprising of a rebellion, senseless in its origin, malignant in its spirit, despotic'in its tenden cies, flagrant in its methods) and fearful in its magnitude, has forced our Government into a vast and arduous war for the defence and mainte nance of the republic; the great; calamities of which war are now upon us; therefore, 1. Resolved, That at such a time as this, it is the, duty of every organized body of loyal and Christian men to speak out clearly what they think and feel, with a cheerful readiness to fol low up their works with appropriate deeds. 2. Resolved, That we hereby recognize the chastening hand of God in this grievous war, -’ 4 rebnking-:and punishing us ftirr our pride of na tional greatness and power, in forgetfulness of our dependence upon Him; for our political and business corruptions, by which His law has been set aside, and the conscience of the people fear fully undermined; and for our complicity with slavery, in .violation of God’s law of love, and our own principles of freedom. ; 3; Resolved, That in the reverses and disasters which our arms have so frequently met thus far in this struggle, we acknowledge again; the faith ful hand of our God, aiming to purify dud ele vate our patriotism, and to make us worthy of the pure and holy cause we are called upon to defend and maintain. Resolved, That whilst we thus bow our selves in contrition under the just chastisement and rebuke of God, we can call upon Him to judge between us and our unnatural Chernies, that we have done them no wrong, that-we have exhausted the fulness of a fraternal patience and ! forbearance with them, and that,upon, them, rests* the entire responsibility and guilt of.this war. 5. Resolved, That whatever doubt may have been entertained heretofore in regard to the grounds and objects of this rebellion, the events of the past few weeks, especially in Kentucky and Missouri, demonstrate that the maintenance of the sovereignty of the States is not even among its objects, but that it is undertaken and carried , forward in the. interests of slavery, and for the purpose of extending and, strengthening that sys tem until it sliall be made the corner-stone of American civilization, and that while we know the war is against rebellion and not against slavery, yet in toe clear light of the rise’and’ progress of this insurrection, we can indulge n 6 hope that there will be permanent peace in tire land until the existence of slavery shall cease to hold us-in conflict with each other and the per fections of God. . , . , 6. Thfit we recommend to all our churches gnd congregations to be constantand earnest *in prayer .that God .will gnifa mg bur; rulers ini the officers hnd soldiers of our army' and ! navy,-in a vigorous prosecution of the war,, until, without great effusion of blood, if that can be consistent witli His willy prosperity and peace and brotherly; love be restored again to all our land. Mt. Carroll ChtjrCH, Illinois.—A Cor respondent of the Evangelist speaks of the dedi cation of this Church, which took plaice, Nov. 7th: “ The church was organized several years ago by the Rev. A. Kent; but for four or five years the prospect even of its existence was becoming clouded. About a year and a half since the Rev. O. I>. W. White commenced his laborers among ; them, and soon engaged in the enterprise of erecting a house of worship, which after many struggles he has accomplished. The house cost $4,000, and the half of that sum remained a debt when, the dedicatory services commenced. But at the close of the sermon, by Rev. Dr. Mattobn, of Rockford, in which the power of faith inovcr eoming the worid was set forth in an impressive manner, the Pastor, as if nerved to the task by the inspiring sentiments which had just fallen from the lips of the preacher, came -forward and announced his purpose to raise the amontit of indebtedness upon the church before it was de dicated. And to the joy of all he accomplished his undertaking, and the house free from debt was dedicated to God." Double Pastorate , —“On 6of our city pastors; Himself, perhaps, feeling the pressure of manifold labours, in a sermon last Sabbath even ing upon Paul .and Barnabas, suggested the ex pediency, of keeping in view a double Pastorate for . This would require the indi vidual churches to be fewer and larger, but it would allow a division and alternation of labors which would, he thought, result in very great g00d... Besides the practice of apostolic times, hu referred to the non-conformist 1 Churches of the 17th century, many ot which had two pas: > and the great theological works then pro duced have been the nutriment of the church* ever since. The Reformed churches of France have sometimes as many as three pastors a piece. The subject is worth considering. pLERXCAi, Wm. B. Dwight Pastor of the Church, at Englewood, N. J., has received the appointment of chaplain to the Sixty-sixth New York Regiment, Col. Pinckney, York, for the seat, of war on At the request of his congrega tion. Mr. Dwight did not resign his pastorate, and is expected to return to his charge at the close of the war. Rev. Dr. Scovd, of Oneida Lake, has accepted an unanimous invitation to supply the First Pres byterian church of Genesee for one year, and entered upon his duties as such the. first of .De cember. - .... ' Rev. M. Gelston having resigned his connec tion with the American and Foreign Christian Union, Has taken charge of the Congregational Church, fit Grass Like, Michigan. CorfWbbh; jdenfe will please address him at the latter place on Sabbath morn: mg, installed, pastor of the Second Presbyterian diurch in Oxford, Ohio, by a committee of the Presbytery of Hamilton. i Rev. JaeobC, tytidurltf IS. Y. city, has re- unanimous. call from Calvary Presbyte rian Church, Chicago. Rs>. Charles R. Bliss has been released from the pastoral charge of the church, at Beverly, Hew Jersey. “ v Westminster CAurch, Bufealo. —From the Buffalo Advocate we learn, that Bev. Joel F. Bingham'was installed pastor ofthischureh, on Wednesday,; the 20th November. The sen-ices were deeply' interesting.' The - brethren who par tbnpated i ,were.ReY. S. G. Orton, D.D., Mode rator of Presbytery; Mr. Flint, of Silver Creek; Mr. Goodrich, of Cleveland,who preached theser mon; Dr. Chester, Dr. Heaooek (charge to the pastor); Dr. Clarke_ (charge to the people). The Advocate says-: “ This people, have been a long time without a settled pastor, and are not a little comforted in the consummation of the new rela tion. Itev. Mr. Bingham enjoys their fullest confidence, and is highly] esteemed both as a minister and pastor. We. cannot doubt tbat un der his supervision the church will, prosper.” Church Destroyed by Fire. —On the 18th of November, the church at Pittsford, seven miles from -N. Y., took fire, and was de stroyed with the exception of the stone walls. A painter who was. at, work on the steeple had to escape by climbing. down the lightning rod. Loss $300.0,; no insurance. r Do not forget the First Union Prayer Meeting of our. Churches at the First Church, on Washington square, ou Thursday.afternoon, at 4 o’clock. . .. , , . ■ BIBECTOBY OF PBE3BYTEBIAN MHIS TE2SAND OHHEOHES OF PHILADELPHIA. PRESBYTERIAN HOUUE, 1334 CHESTNUT STREET. NAMES OF MINISTERS AND RESIDENCES AND CHURCHES. ’’ - ; [ • LOCATIONS. Adams, E. E. - ' . . ‘ N. Proadstreet Church. Adair, Robert. ... See. Phila. H. Mia. Soc. Barnes, Albert. . . . Ist Church . ' . . ... Brainer'd,T., D.T). . . 3d Church . . . . BrowhfGkdrles . : V : . See. Phila. Ed. Soc . . Bruen, Edward B. ■ . Burdett, M. . . : 2d Church ; Parby . . Butler, Jdnud Ef;‘. T . : W alnut st.ChiirchyW.P. Culver, AndreO)- :;- — r •; r Manayunk Church Darling, Eerirgfß.D. . Clinton street Church . Davis, James M. . .' . Ist Church,, Darby. . Dulles, John Hf. r ... -. See. Pres. Pub. Com. . Eva, Wm.' T. ’.. . . , ; i IstChurch', Kensington Helffenstein, J’b., DiD. i Mkt House Sq. Church. Jenkins, John, Di D. . . Calvary Church .. . Johnston,, Thos. 8. Mantua Church, W. P. Malin, David, D.D. . . McCaskie, James . . . Southwestern-Church . McLeod, John . ', Sec. A. B. C. F. M. . Mears, John TP., . ...... . Ed. Am. Presbyterian. Miller, Jeremiah . . . Phila. Sab. Asso. . . JdbrmtffihZjßlJ } i Central Church, N. L. . Ps4ton,Jol^.Jd.B i „ Pierce, E.J. . . ... .... Reese, J. B. . , AD-ican Central Chjorch Rojbbiiis, Frflkk L. / . ' G reen Hill ChurChi, V Thomds J: ; ! lst Churchy N; L. . ; : Smith, Charles A:, D: D Western Church. . . Smith, H. Augustus, ; r ; TKejfth 'Church.' . ; Taylor, W. W. .' . v . . Olivet Church,..... , , Van Dears,. George . . TahorMission... Waltaee, Bevy. J., Jb. D. Ed. Pres. Quar. Kev., V and Sep. H. Missions, j Southwark First GhurDi. I Vacant, ! . ; . . 1 Walker, Richard Kenderton Church! , The Near and Heavenly Horizons is a collection of essays and ;bidef tales by Madame de Gasparin, written in the most charming, easy and graceful English by a French lady. The thoughts and incidents .are &esh, frequently ori ginal and striking, and always, expressed in a vivid, picturesque, Gallic manner. • The division into two parts is based' upon the distinction in the topics; the first part being with scenes from life and experience-;—the last, with discussions of the questions in religious matters familiar to most reflecting minds. These last are not abstruse essays, But while touching upon the most difficult subjects are clear as perspicuity itself, and win the reader along from step to step with a peculiar attractiveness. They will prove aids to the faith of many, we cannot doubt. Rarely is a work of a devotional character brought before the;public in which so many excellent fea tures unite. s The mechanical execution is a high recommendation. : Published by Robert Car ter & Brothers. For sale by C. SaLuther, at i;He Tfesbyferian Boßfafcnre,/IS34' Chesnut street. 1 A .’ .a 1 ' - The Eclectic for December- completes the fifty-fourth volume of Otis monthly. The : illustration Prince iNapoleon and Clotilde —is,’very-timely and beautiful. The leading article on the Life andslßines of Chateaubriand, is of the most varild hmtoric interest. The article on the Centralization of France discloses a long and instructivepahorania in the history of that country, It is from the London Review. A great variety fills gp the remaining pages, one hundred and thirty-four, octavo, Tim indefati gable: editor announces, plates --bne shf a.reiiowned battle-scene in the past history of. our: country—will embellish the Ja nuary niimber* which is already far advanced in preparation; W. H. Bidwell, editor and pro prietor, No. 5 Beekman street, New York, i Erorn the “Protestant Episcopal Book So ciety,” we have a small square volume ofDero tional Poetry, entitled Hymns and Medita tions by “X, ’ which- has impressed us very favorably. It shows Considerable poetic feeling, deep insight into the workings of the heart touched by grace, and familiarity with the best productions of German Christian Lyrics, of whom it not unfrequently reminds us by the delicacy and subtlety thoughts : yet it is English in totee.,; We give a speeimen op the fourth page. DEC. 5 1632 Mt. Vernon st. Sp, Garden & 13th sts, 1708 Filbert street. Presbyterian House. 255 S. Eighth street. Wash. Sq., cor. 7th. 634 Bine street. Fourth & Pine streets. Spruce ab 40th. WJP. Presbyterian House. 1531 Chestnut street. Darby. Darby. Chestnut ab 40th, WP. Walnut, ab 30 th. Green lane, Manayunk Manayunk. GcnnairtoWu. •; —- 10th below Spruce. 20 North Tenth. Darby. Chestnut ab 40th, WP. Presbyterian House. 1116 Columbia avenue Gir’d av. near Han. st Market House Square. Germantown. Genfiantown. 1814 Pine-street. Locust ab 15th. Sycamore & 36th,WP 6th & Bridge, W. P. 1614' Chestnut street 425 South Twentieth. Fitzwater & 20th sts. Eeeseville. Presbyterian House. 2186 Mt. Vernon st. Presbyterian House. 1106 Oallowhill street. Vine & Franklin sts. Coates ab Third. 1621 Summer street. 20th anckVine.* 718 Sansom street. 17th and Race sts. Lombard ab Bth st. Girard av. & 16th st. GirardAv. 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. 250 .S. Juniper st. 17 th & Fitzwater sts. 1431' Girard Avenue. Presbyterian House. German ab Third. Tioga st. above ITtli.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers