Yol. YI, No. 16.—Whole No. 285.
IfflltW.
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The Day-laborer.
In ilio morning sow thv soed, and in the eve
. ini? withhold not thine hand: for thouknowest not
■i hotlicr shall prosper, either this or that, or whe
,]uy both shallbe alike good.”—(Eccl. xi; 6.)
Sow ye beside all waters,
Where the dew of heaven may fall;
Ye shall reap if ye be hot weary,
For the Spirit breathes o’er all, *
Sow; though the thorns may wound thee,
One wore the thorns for thee;
And though the cold world scorn thee,
Patient and hopeful be.
Sow ye beside all waters,
With a blessing and a prayer;
Name Him whose hand upholds us,
And sow thou everywhere.
Sow, though the rook repel thee,
In its cold and sterile pride;
Some cleft there may be riven
Whore the little seed may hide.
Fear not, for some will flourish,
And, though the tares abound,
Like the willows by the waters
Will the scattered grain be found.
Work while the daylight lastoth,
Ere the shades of night come on;
Ere the Lord of the vineyard cometh,
And the laborer's work is done.
Work 1 in the wild waste place,
Though none thy love may own,
(lod guides the down of the thistle
The wandering wind hath sown.
Will Jesus chide thy weakness,
Or eall thy labor vain?
The word that for him thou bearest
Shall return to him again.
On t with thine heart in heaven,
Thy strength in thy Master’s might,
Till the wild waste places blossom
In the warmth of a Saviour’s light.
Watch not the olouds above thee;
Lot the whirlwind round thee sweep;
(l od may the seed-time give thee,.
Hut another’s hand may reap.
Have faith, though ne’er beholding
The seed burst from its tomb:
Thou knowest not which may perish,
Or what be spared to bloom.
Iloom on the narrowest ridges
The ripened grain will find,
That the Lord of the harvest coming,
In the harvest sheaves may bind.
— Anon.
NATIONAL FASTS AND THANKSGIVINGS.
It were unjust to close our retrospect of
iiiitional profanity -without record of the fact
;!mt, though the Constitution furnishes no
proper warrant for any such procedure, Oon
gress, by the appointment of chaplains to
"pen their sessions with prayer, does make
itch acknowledgment of God, in public affairs.
This is right, whether it be Constitutional or
i»t, The venerable Washington, in his in
uiguvation speech before the first Confess,
imler the Constitution, was not ashamed to
i mnv God, saying: “ It will be peculiarly
improper to omit, in this first official act, my
Vvvent supplications to that Almighty Be
ng who rules over the universe, and who
incudes in the counsels of nations.” Imme-.
liutcly after the inauguration, with the mem
k rs of both Houses, he attended Divine ser.r
vice in St. Paul’s Chapel. Congress, and
siceessive Presidents have also, on various
wciisions of national distress, acknowledged
the hand of God, and humbled themselves
imler it by appointing national fasts. It is
<«e of the hopeful omens in our troubled sky,
that the President has thus publicly recog
nized the Great Ruler of our nation, and
that the people, without distinction of party,
have rendered such a general and appropri
ate recognition of the call as to constitute a
truly national observance. For though sick
ed religion is always suspicious, and God
' harges it as one of the sad defects of Israel
that “ When he slew them they sought him,”
hut iii the return of prosperity returned to
ungodliness, yet he has never refused even
the transient penitence of the most depraved.
The King of Nineveh proclaimed a fast, and
averted for a time the destruction of that
wicked city. Ahab humbled himself, and
put on sackcloth, and the Lord deferred the
punishment of the nation till his son’s days.
And when even the late President proclaimed
! fust, in the same week the Lord inspired
Anderson to that heroic occupation and de
tun' of Sumpter which awakened the nation,
au l sent a man into the cabinet with sense
•■mutgli to catch up the fallen reins of gov
vi nuient, check-the State in its revolutionary
'areer, and save the trembling President
‘"Hu the gallows. In the feeling of hopeful
amid the multitude of our disasters, in
■l’i'vl by faith in the God who delivered our
jitlars out of still greater perils, we have a
nvi'e greater than armies.
hut if we are to obtain help from our
fliers’ God, we must seek it as our fathers
11 h All Christian men are grieved to ob
| how universally and industriously the
j u H" of Christ, through whom alone our
I I vers are accepted, has been omitted from
< proclamations. For so universal and
1 Hutment among all Christians of every de
■ "lination, is the habit of presenting our
!’ >,vt rs in the name of Christ, that now, as
1!i dir days of the Apostles, their West com
i '■ ”."Hsive designation is, “ All that in every
i'luv ca \j upon the name of Jesus Christ our
1 ' Only through his atonement and
’■ vision will Goa pardon sin, or accept
"iMhip, as all Christians confess. The
1 '"ion, then, of all reference to that bless
-1 "me is peculiarly unhappy, in a religious
"nation in all other respects so pious and
1 " |uiate. In a proclamation calling the
1 I'd* to confess their sins, and pray for the
11 'li of them, it was surely natural and
, '-Mirv to give the Lord Jesus Christ, the
® lutm' of Nations, yfhose last words of
"lesion were offered for a guilty nation,
1 without whose intercession we can have
"l»e of deliverance*, the honor of such a
'v confession 6f his name. For he de
1' that, “Whosoever is ashamad of Him
‘ men, of him will the Son of Man be
' "cd before his Father and before the
uiigels.” And God commands that,
' 1 men should honor the Son even as
'"’Hot the Father.” He will accept no
dess worship. It is not a return from
1 " "i Atheism, to national Deism, hut to
"mil Christianity, which will save the
Kiss the Sod lest He be angry; and
ye periah from tie way.*’ « There is none
other name given under heaven or among
men -whereby we must be saved.” 6
It is written, that “the nation that will
not serve Christ shall perish.” The fate of
the Deistical nations is the best comment on
the threatening. The Jews believed in one
Cod, and worshipped him with much devo
tion ; but they refused Christ, and those ele
ments of national life which his Gospel alone
can bestow. Where are they now? What
has become of that powerful people who
once made their mark upon the world's lite
rature, commerce and laws; to whom the
nations from the Euphrates to the Mediter
ranean gave homage ? Homeless wanderers,
and aliens m their own land, they are the
slaves of Turk, Tartar, and Russian, and can
only obtain rest for the sole of their feet
when they reach a land that owns Messiah's
Gospel. The Mohammedan nations had all
the elements of Saracen valor, Moorish lite
rature and civilization, Persian eloquence,
and Turkish power, established over terri
tories much larger than our own broad Re
public; but they, too, refused Christ, the
lne and the light of men, and to-day then
expiring empires receive the last offices of
charity from the hands of their Christian in
habitants. It is no disputable theological
dogma, but a broad indisputable historic
fact, that the religion of Christ is the life of
nations. Every nation which has refused it
has perished. —Banner of the Covenant.
CAN THE MURDERER ENTER HEAYEN?
I Do not ask this-question, thinking that
the person can be found, who will have the
audacity to answer yes; without adding by
repentance and faith in Christ. Yet we fear
there are many, if we may judge from their
deeds, who virtually believes he may, even if
he follows up this unholy practice through
his whole life.
Permit me to give One or two illustrations.
There was a family living at N , in the
full enjoyment of domestic bliss for a few
years, until some of their good Christian
neighbors introduced a new guest, who seem
ed to be quite a jolly fellow, and always made
merry the hearts of the father and mother,
when present. This friend, coming so well
recommended, and appearing so very agree
able, soon won their hearts, and made them
feel that his presence was indispensable to
their happiness. Thus by the continued aid
and influence of his worthy associates who
introduced him, he brought the family en
tirely under his control, and their peaceful
enjoyment fled. The usurper now arrayed
the husband against the wife in many an an
gry dispute, and caused the children to be
neglected and abused. The two beautiful,
bright-eyed little girls he deprived of their
nice winter frocks, and sent them forth upon
the cold, frosty mornings half clad, their
slender limbs exposed to the pinching frosts
of January. Thus shivering, they were com
pelled to go from house to house, and seek
from the cold hand of charity, a morsel of
food to sustain for a few days longer their
miserable existence. At length, one morn
ing he placed the dagger in the father s hand
raised his powe ful arm, and sent the deadly,
weapon to the mother s heart a few feeble
struggles ensued, and life departed. The
father seeing what was done, next destroyed
his own life. A few weeks since, this same
guest placed a pistol in the hands of one he
had duped, and impelled him to take the
life of a near friend. Worse than all this, it
is the purpose and business of this agreeable
friend not only to destroy the mortal life of
man, but to cast him out eternally from the
presence of God.
Now, let me ask you, kind reader, are not
this agreeable guest, and those by whose in
strumentality was enabled to do these
deeds of wickedness, all equally guilty of
murder, with him by whose hand it was really
committed? Could you suppose either of
them can have good hope of heaven? Me
thinks I can hear you answer no ! Now
would you know of whom I speak ? This de
structive friend is intoxicating drink. But
who are his associates in crime ? Christian
-readers who sell it, I would say to you in the
words of the prophet to David, “ Thou art the
man.” Christian friends, who do not refuse
to take a social glass now and then, I would
say, “ Thou also art the man.”
.A Sympathiser. -
Bonner of the Covenant.
(For the American Presbyterian.)
LETTER FROM MT. LEBANON.
Bhamdun, Mount Lebanon, 1
November 5,1861. . j
Bear Editor. —The administration of the
Government in this mountain, on the complex
plan inaugurated by the commissioners of
Turkey and Europe, is one of the greatest
problems of the age. . The division of Mount
Lebanon into half a dozen districts, under six
governors—three Maronite, one Greek, one
Gre< k Catholic and one Druse, each Govern
or having a distinct court, composed of Chris
tians of \ ariou sects Dru e", Metatawalies,
ten or twelve m number ; and eaeh judge
made the special advocate of his own coreli
gionists in each eourt: and all these govern
ors and courts under the jurisdiction of a
Christian Pasha and hr -upenor court, among
the members of which all the communities in
the mountain must have each one its special
advocate and representative, —a highly libe
ral and almost democratic arrangement. But
the support of this complicated system, and
of 1500 soldiers, in a financial point of view,
paying the Pasha and all the members of his
court, and aU the governors and their coun
sellors, what the law provides, as well as the
soldiers, will require three times the full
amount of the taxes in years past. The
taxes are doubled. But the enrolment of
the soldiers is suspended until the means for
their payment are. provided. In the mean
time, the Turkish soldiers, not paid by the
mountain will remain, of whom we have now
800 m this district, and 200 posted at Bham-
The commissioners are at Damascus. We
hear that the one hundred and fifty millions
of piastres indemnification to the Christians
of that city are reduced to forty-five millions,
less than one-third of the estimate. Sheikii
Yusif Ab’d-el-Melik, and the Emir Moham
med have been released from prison at Bei
rut. The other sheikhs of the Druses are
held as prisoners of state in the. Danubian
fortresses. Our former Governor waM&e
only Druse sheikh who has recovered Jus
PHILADELPHIA. THURSDAY DECEMBER 19, 1861.
liberty. The preservation of Bhamdin last
year saved him.
The carriages now run daily between Bei
rut and Zahleh. In Beirut much sickness
prevails; twenty thousand persons are said
to nave taken to their beds within ten days
past. . But Rahleh is healthy and open for
the missionary. Who will come over and
help us preach to its ten thousand perishing
souls, Christ and him crucified ?
a nd Europe are deeply interested in
the United States’ civil war. Our hearts are
With our government and all our brethren
engaged to maintain and transmit our na
tional inheritance to our children. In our
prayers we anticipate the morning watches,
and believe in God that the issues of this un
fraternal conflict will be overruled to the wel
fare of the whole country, and the advance
ment of that era predicted in the Scriptures,
when “ nations shall learn war no more.”
Brethren, pray for that promised age, for
the success of our country, and the conver
sion of Mount Lebanon, and for its mission
aries. Yours, in Christian love,
William A. Bentos.
WESTERN MOVEMENTS.
Tiie past week in Chicago has been one of
great interest. During the previous week
the contributions of the neighboring churches
and towns for three Hundred miles around,
were coming in to the Sanitary Commission,
amounting to over one hundred and fifty
boxes of hospital clothing and cordials for
our sick and wounded soldiers in Missouri.
How greatly needed these are appears from
the statements of Miss Mather and other la
dies, who went out to Rolia to visit them.
Men have been lying for three weeks in the
uniforms in which they fell, and patients in
the lowest stages of typhoid fever, were be
ing fed with boiled rice, and covered with
felt blankets, for want of proper bedding and
cordials. We have despatched two reliable
agents With stores, to put this right without
delay. The regimental surgeons do not wish
to send their men to the tender mercies of
St. Louis contractors, many of them are
utterly unfit for such a journey; and the men
are all so attached to their regiments, that
they absolutely refuse consent to any ar
rangements that would separate them from
their officers and comrades, and put them
under the care of red tape, which is just now
more deadly than the measles which have
broken out in Camp Douglas.
East week, set apart by the Mew School As
sembly as a week of special prayer for revi
val, was observed by daily morning prayer
meetings in the churches of that body. Those
I had the pleasure of attending, were marked
by a spirit of humility, confession, and long
ing after a higher experience pf religion.
Prayer for revival was also specially offered
on the Saturday previous, in the noon meet
ing. It is written, “While they are yet
speaking, I will hear.”
On Monday previous, telegrams began to ar
rive from merchants in St. Louis, stating that
G. fi- Stuart had been there : had addressed
sixmeetings on Sabbath, arousing the whole
city, and h d left foi Chicago A deputa
tion of the Young Mens Christian Associa
tion, accordingly rs at the depot to arrest
him,' and deliver him up to the officers of the
Christi n army at headqu itcra who refused
to pass mm mrougn our lines wimout satis
factory proof of his loyalty in the shape of
a lecture on the Religious Condition of the
Army. On Wednesday, a circular from the
clergy appeared in the papers, adjourning
the prayer-meetings—all held on Wednesday
here—on account Of Mr. Stuart’s lecture. In
the evening, the largest religious meeting ever
ield in Chicago on aweek-day evening,—over
2000 persons assembling in Bryan’s Hall.
After singing, prayer, and introduction of
Mr. Stuart by Mr. John V. Far well, Presi
dent of the Y. M. C. A., Mr. Stuart ad
dressed the meeting for an hour and a half,
in his own natural and indescribable style :
illustrating the subject with incidents of his
own observation, and producing an impres
sion unparalleled in the history of Chicago
lecturing. During one of the rounds of ap
plause with which he was interrupted, turn
ing round; his eye fell on an old friend on
the platform, Dr. Pratt, of Trinity Church,
whom he had not seen for years, and step
ping back he grasped his hand; gave it a cor
dial shake, and surprised by the friendly
grasp amid the thunders of, the. audience
electrified by this touch of nature, proceeded
with a most eloquent appeal for the souls of
our brave defenders, concluding with" a so
lemn exhortation to the young men present
to give themselves to Christ now. The col
lection was , over $l3O. Next day he address
ed the Noon Prayer-meCting, introducing a
young gentleman he met in the street —went
to Camp Douglas, inspected the men’s berths,
tasted their soup, talked of the love of Christ
to the Catholic cook, the Adjutant, and offi
cers of the day; whose most deep-felt want
was 5000 good muskets, and an order to
march to the seat of war; for both which he
promised his good offices with; the Secretary
of War, gave’ the Camp church movement a
move forward, and started for Pittsburg in
the evening, leaving about a score of young
men here fully determined to wake up for
Christ, and henceforth enjoy life in earnest.
—Banner of the Covenant. R. P.
(For the American Presbyterian.) s,
THE WAR IN THE WEST—SAD SCENES.
St. Louis, Dec. 5, 1861;
One of the most affecting spectacles which
this Missouri warfare has yet pre ented, h~~
been making our hearts ache within the last
few days. Each day, may be ~een a proce~
sion of emigrant wagons, drawn by oxen, or
sometimes by mules or horses, laden with
families whose homes have been pillaged,
whose farms have been ravaged, and vrho
have been compelled to flee eithei from mo
lence, or from starvation. The whole south
western region is di ol - ted ~nd seems like
ly to be nearly depopulated. Our city and
military authorities have taken prompt meas
ures for affording temporary sheltei to there
refugees ; and the charity of citizens is act
ive and prompt in providing them food nd
clothing.. '
Many of them arrive in a condition of ex
treme destitution: and as the werther for
the first two or three days of-this n onth was
quite severe, (the ground being frozen and
covered with snow,) they have doubl lere been
great .sufferers. An efficient Committee of
ladies have .charge of -the clothing nd food
contributed, and administer'them judiciously.
I am authentically, ihformed that they have,
in some instances, found it necessary to car
ry out clothing to fjhe wagons, to women who
bad not enough on 1 their persons to enable
them to leave the. wagons with decency; that
not a few of the women arrive with only a
single garment; that one came as scantily
clad as that, having left her home with her
first-horn infant less, than a week old ; that
on the arrival of one wagon a woman within
it was thought to 'be asleep, but was found to
be dead, and stiffened with the cold; that in
one instance a man, was seen riding into the
city upon a horse, with a little -child in his
arms, whose nakedness he was not' able whol
ly to conceal, as he strove to keep it wrapped
in the folds of bis own garments. Women
rushed from their bouses into the street with
covering for the little stranger..
Yesterday all wfyo had then arrived, had
been elbthed and sent on their way. Others
have arrived to-day, and many more all com
ing. Some of them have friends in Illinois,
to whom they are 'going —others go, they
know not whither, but ‘all seem eager to get
heyond the limits of the State in which they
have eaten the bitter fruits of anarchy. The
men, however, not* t seldom express the pur
pose to return, for war; sometimes (I am
sorry to learn,) expressing that stern purpose
with profane effrses. The friends of our
country, the martyijs of the Union, are not
all friends of Christ;! The more must Chris
tian hearts pity them, oppressed with such
sorrows, and uncheered by Christian hopes,
unsustained by ; Christian faith, God grant
that their sufferings! may lead them to Him;
: • ■ - • j-4-. • .
GffiN. haixeck’s orders.
To-day the friends of justice are delighted
by an order from General Halleck now com
manding this Department, providing that
these refugees shall be “ quartered in the
houses, and fed and- clothed at the expense
of avowed seccessnpusts and of those who
are found guilty -of giving aid, assistance,
and encouragement to the enemy.” There
are many such, livipg here in comfort and
safety, under the. protectioa of the govern
ment which they prpt to destroy. It is but
just, however, to state that some secessionists
voluntarily contribute to the relief of these
sufferers, in corin'ection with the friends of
the Union. *
The General Order of which this is only
one provision, announces the purpose, and
sets forth the method of preceding hence
forth with stern and 1 steady severity, accord
ing to the laws of war, against all who aid
and abet the rebellion. In this respect, it
breathes the same spirit with Fremont’s fa
mous proclamation; ! f>ut -it more'- deliberately
prescribes the, mode of executing its. provi
sions, and we have' good reason to believe
that the General noW has the means of exe
cuting it, I believe|hattlie'seasori of lenieiv
cy and indulgence i^past^—that forbearance
towards traitors'-is now to, be - exchanged for
protection of loyal people, by means of the
just punishment of traitors.
There is something m General Halleck’s
orders which gives'll,impression .of wisdom
and efficiency, and which is fast winning him
the, confidence of the people whom it is his
duty, and purpose, to protect. One remark
able exception to this has elicited a good deal
of criticism, viz : his order to exclude fugi
tive slaves, and to expel,those already within
the lines on the ground that they are said to
convey important "information to the enemy.
The reason given for the order is too obvious
ly illogical to be easily regarded as the real
reason. It is, however very ti f ccory to
find, in his order of to day an assurance that
whatever laws shall be enacted by Congress
will be strictly enforced. " Military officers,”
he says, “do not m ke l w but they should
obey and enfoice them when made There
certainly are good indications that the pres
ent Congress will enact a policy in which the
essential manhood of all this human beings
whom the war shall bring under the United
States’ jurisdiction; will be recognized and
respected.
How large a part of the 'enslaved popula
tion are thus to be directly enfranchised, is
a question, the solution of which we may
well entrust to that almighty Providence
which controls the armies of rebellion and of
loyalty, and orders all the events of war as
well as of peace. But be the number great
or small, there is no need of doubting that
they will be the advance guard in the rapid
march to universal liberty. It is wonderful
what varieties of opinion on ethical, economi
cal, political, and military grounds—are by
the “logic of events”, becoming harmonized
in the conviction, that slavery must cease. —
SPELLING AND ALL THAT.
Scribimus indocti doctique poemata passim. — II or.
As writings were the easiest of things,
And writing .poetry but common play, . ■,
We, learned and unlearned, clowns and kings,
Turn authors, critics, wits.! each moment’s wings ,
Some novelty of special wisdom gay,
For praise orfame, in iba- mid (heavens' display.
Fnlit immature is Useless at the best,
And our hot haste, that runs before ’tis drest, •
Can ill achieve what ought to last for ages,
And be admired by fools—much less than sages, j
I was lately crossing, said a gentleman,
from South Ferry, Brooklyn, to--New York,
when, standing in front- and conversing with
follow; passengers, the. following dialogue,
“ for substance .of doctrine,,”; ensued:
A. What % lively and .beautiful scene !
The surface of the water is.all alive with sail
ing craft of various sorts, kinds, names and
uses; for pleasure, commerce, observation,
tri lof speed with steam with s~ 1 with
oars: ■ with flags. - pennons, streamers, devices
nd in shoit everything to m ke the pic
turesqne vanety beloie u~ Their name”
too are curious original queer uliculous
as well as m ny of them chs-ic ] scuptural,
suggestive ■ -nd evincing liber-1 learning m
ntiquity, ~ well m modem new pipei”
in poetry, history, and fabulous enormities.
B. The Sabbatli school system is to be
credited for much the biblical knowledge
in which this generationexcels our ancestors.
Probably,, many of the names of ships and
lighter vessels -retaken from the Scriptures
Ihei e—while I pe k is a ste* m tug m ich
ing like a hero, .a giant, too: and its name,
you see. in flaming capitals., on its wheel
houre Goliah, lia“lnng and dishing sit
flies m the water.
A True And the e I see anothei in the
distance that just passed us. named Samp
~on For strength and peed well named,
piobably It is plea-ant to Chrjrtian to
see the proof n any community, that their
knowledge of the Holy Scriptures is popular
and general. We may infer better things of
them, too.
B. The education of the masses ought to
be a matter of concern with the government
of every civilized country, especially of every
free and nominally Christian country; and in
eveiy system, the influence of the Bible in
copious infusions, deserves pre-eminent re
gard.' . "
A. Certainly it does.. Man is a moral
being ; in,.-his very nature; and not merely
should education ever ; aim to develop and
enrich his intellectual powers, but with, these,
also, his capabilities as a moral agent and a
creature immortal. as' his maker. What a
piece of work is man !
B. We agree there entirely—but, I allege,
that his mental training ought to make him
also discriminating and correct. He should
be a* scholar, as really as a gentleman and a
Christian. , How bad it is when biblical and
devout sentiment discovers ignorance quite
fross, as well as general respect for the
criptures. .
' “It seems a spot upon avestal’srobe, ’
i : The worse for what it stains.”
as Cowper has it. With this I was impressed
as either steam-tug marched across our path;
since scriptural more they had been; if either
name had not been corruptly, instead of 'cor
rectly jspelled.
A
Is it so?. Indeed, sir, I did not ob-
serve it. . Are you sure ? They , seemed Loth
to cut a fine figure, as they steamed by us so
gallantly, catching their breath as they went.
I saw no error of the sort. It all looked
good and grand.
B. "When you see them again, perhaps you
will remember our conversation; and then,
comparing each name with the same one in
the Bible, you will see that in “Samson”
there is-no p, and that “ Goliath” is correct
to a t, which t that noble steamer, by the
joint wits of, both painter and master, or .
owner, utterly omits.
A. Is the fact so ? Well, I may say that
scarcely one in a thousand knows it!
B. Very probably. They are just as likely
to make such mistakes in England as in
America. My attention has gone in that
way a little; and only a minor degree of ob
servation is required to see blunders not in
orthography alone, but in other matters re
lated to learning; to the Scriptures, to the
classics, to philosophy and to every other
thing connected with the free and fantastic
naming at a launch, of the' vessel that glides
from its ways so grandly into its fluid ele
ment. I have a list of them somewhere; it
is laughable, too, to reconnoitre it at one’s
leisure, and see all its fooleries; .‘;
-A. Really, I should like the opportunity.
Where men use and affect a learned style,
if is unpardonable, as well as ridiculous, in
public, .to parade their, blunders, before the
eyes of the universe. The fop that struts in
a hall-room, admiring his own limbs, move
ments, dress, address, yet all unconscious of
a black smut of some sort on his pretty face,
is only a less censurable dunce, as well as
pitiable, more than such organized barbarisms
as are the perpetrations we now reprove.
B. At present, I will only cite one more.
I refer to the well-built and respectable
steamer “ Catalinej” often seen in these very
waters, proudly cambering on her way, like a
wealthy Carac or Argosy; a floating castle,
at which the fleet of Julius Caesar had been
dispersed with terror, when it came in such
state to take the island of Britain, then po
pulous alone with half-naked savages.
A. Yet, really, I see no fault in that name.
Is it indeed false in spelling, or a blunder?
B. Plainly it should be “ Catiline,” if he
is meant, so signally denounced by Cicero,
when, in consular power, he so terribly as
sailed the traitor in the Senate house:—
“ Quousque tandem abutere, Catilina,-pa
tientia nostra ?” It is Englished with one a
only.
A. You ftre right. I, too, am one of
those who" less observe or criticise such mis
takes. Yet, if it is true, that whatever is
w-orth doing at all, is worth doing well, then
all our errors of the sort ought to he ex
pired; then sign-painters ought to learn how
to spell as well as paint; then more care in
our schools, our counting-rooms, our episto
lary performances, our common conversation
ought to he inaugurated and maintained, es
pecially among scholars, gentlemen, Chris
tians 1 !
B. Y m say the truth. Blunders are
fashionable almost in every department of
letters ; and some are so wedded to their
faults, that others may not with impunity
correct them. In orthography, etymology,
syntax, .prosody; orthoepy, > and everywhere
else, they appear; and in some places they
actually abound, and seem incorrigible. It
is my purpose to declare them, in some pro
per way and time—at least the few occa
sional blots and blemishes of the sort that
have met Yny view, and may soon become
common, perhaps honprable. - - -
. A. 3?'or one, I shall only''thank you ;
though possibly “ Groliah,” -“ Sampson,”
“ Cataline,” and other honored crudities of
the claSs, may recalcitrate in some way, re
senting the audacity..
B. From you, sir, I can anticipate only
what is honorable, fair, and so correct, that
to others, mainly or alone, may my censures
anticipate the application. Orito.
A New Italian Movement. —At the No
vember meeting ,of the Society for Promotr
ing Christian Knowledge, an application was
made for Prayer Books and other books for
Italy. The Rev. -Prebendary Burgess, B.
D;, rector of Upper Chelsea, stated that when
he was at Naples in the last week of Sep
tember, he ascertained that as many as 400
priests had joined the : association, for effect
ing certain changes or reforms, in the Church
of Rome. The majority of them went no
futther than to protest against the Pope con
tinuing to Hold his temporal dominion to the
prejudice of Italian unity with injury to the
Church.' This section of the reforming
priests was represented by the Dominican
Luigi Prota, who had written a learned trea
tise on the inconvenience of the Pope holding
earthly dominion, and on the necessity of
Rome becoming the capital of the kingdom
of Italy. But another section of these asso
ciated priests, led by Zaccarp and Mialla,
and represented by the journal called La Co-
IdnndSdLFaseo, went further, and called for'
reform in the discipline of the Church, and
even on some matters which touch on doc
trine. Not many of the priests had turned
their attention to any reforms in the cere
monies and services of the Roman Catholic
Church, and they were unacquainted with
any Reform Liturgy, and hardly knew of the
existence of a Reformed Episcopal Church.
Mr. Burgess having conferred with some of
those priests and some friends of the Re
formed religion at Naples, purposed to get a
copy of the Italian Prayer Book, as pub
lished by the Society for Promoting Chris
tian Knowledge, into the hands of each
priest,, and an .Italian marquis, the French
pastor, and the English phaplain at. Naples,
undertook to see that the books, were pro
perly distributed - The committee made a
liberal grant.
- A New Law on the Relation between
Church and State—Abolition oe the Con
cordat. —The most important event inth is
year's history of Austrian Protestantism is
the draft of a new arrangement of the rela
tion between -Church and State, made by the
Committee of the Diet. It- completely abo
lishes, in spirit as well as in letter, the noto
rious Concordat, and, if adopted by the Diet,
will place Austria among the most liberal
States-of Europe. Among the members of
the .Committee were one Catholic priest, one
Protestant clergyman, and one Jewish rabbi.
Some, of the most important provisions of
the draft are the following.: There is no pri
vileged church. Full liberty of faith and
conscience is guaranteed to every one. The
same is the case with the exercise of one’s
religion at home. The law affords to all
churches and denominations equal protection
and equal rights. Every church adminis
ters its own affairs independently. Churches
and religious denominations are subject to
the legislation of the State. The influence
of the Church on the public schools is lim
ited to religious instruction; lectures on
theology at the university are free from it.
The legislation on marriage affairs, as far as
their legal validity and civil effects are con
cerned, belongs -solely to the State. The
coercive power of the churches is limited to
an exclusion of their members from attend
ance at divine worship or from membership.
The income , of the churches has the same
rights and duties as other property. All of
these provisions intend to place the recog
nized religious denominations of the empire
On an equal footing. Other articles have
the special aim of guaranteeing to the Ro
man Catholic Church a number, of rights
which she did not possess in Austria before
the year 1848, but recovered from the libe
rality of. the revolutionists in that memora
ble year. .The intercourse of bishops, priests,
and laymen with the Pope in Rome is un
trameled; synods of any kind may assemble
without' permission of the State government;
the religious orders may keep up communi
cation with their superiors residing in Rome;
ecclesiastical decrees of the Pope, not inter
fering;with the laws, of the State, may be
promulgated without previous authorization
of the. State government. The Liberal party
iii th s States of Continental Europe, instinc-'
lively following a law of retaliation, has too
long contested to the Roman Church the ex
ercises of these and similar rights, and, while
adopting the principles of religious tolera
tion in other respects, has believed it neces
sary to restrict somewhat the 'freedom of the
Roman Church, in order to prevent her
from carrying out, with regard tonon-Catho
lies, her intolerant principles. It is gratify
ing to see that the friends of religious lib
erty in Europe begin to feel a greater confi
dence in the efficacy of this great principle,
even in its application to Roman Catholics.
— lndependent.
Religious Life in London. —As to the
present aspect of religious life in London, I
believe it to be encouraging and gladdening.
"We cannot be sufficiently thankful that great
numbers are spiritual, earnest and active,
who not long ago were careless professors or
open enemies Of the Cross of Christ. Female
effort also has been enlisted to an unprece
dented extent, by the influence and success
ful example of such works as “The Missing
Link,” “ Ragged Homes and How to Mend
Them,” and the “Link and the Rivet.”
Cheering is it also to find London Episcopal
clergy and Nonconformist ministers harmo
niously working side by side, and at stated
seasons praying together, as, for example, in
Islington parish ; and this in striking con
trast, I grieve to say, with many country
towns and rural parishes. Add to what I
have noted, that now the special services in
halls and theatres have been re-established
for the coming winter and spring; that even
in the autumn season one place at least has
been kept open and well attended ; that new
laborers are rising up, among these Dr. F.
Winslow, one of our first physicians, who
lately preached to a body of working people;
that new classes are being sought out, amongst
whom are the Lamplighters of London, num
bering at least one thousand men—-a work
of grace among them begun, and a special
city missionary assigned them; that already
this year three hundred daughters of sin and
sorrow have been rescued from ruin, and
some of them truly become new creatures in
Christ, and are following Him in spheres of
Holiest industry as servants, or welcomed
back* purified and made white, to their
father's? houses, their mothers’ embrace, and
their childhood’s home.
In former papers I have referred to the
establishment of Cabmen’s clubs and reading
rooms; city missionaries also have for some
years been laboring amongst them. “ One
after another received the gospel, a change
of life followed, and they became blessings
to their fellow-drivers. There are now six
hundred, communicants among the cabmen of
London". But there are still to be cared
for a lower class than the day cabmen—the
Night; Cabmen, hitherto a- most degraded
class. “ They are often without a character
and without a home; sickly in appearance,
owing to constant nightwork and irregular
rest by day;" and a great number of them are
aged men.” lam glad to state that the piti
able condition of these men, who number one
thousand, has, through a little work, “ Earn-;
ing a Living,” by Miss Barber, become the
object of practical compassion, and that one
of the city missionaries, who has been em
ployed twelve years among,the day cabmen,
has willingly resigned his easier post to other,
hands, in order to take up the work of a night
missionary. Doubtless other laborers in this
field-will follow him ; but already he .has com
menced his-;labors and met with a favorable
reception. A number of Testaments have
GENESEE EYANGELIST.— Whole No. 812.
t 0 ? ld men ’ who been night
cabmen from ten to thirty years, and who
if? 0 ™ °J never attend a place of worship.—
British Messenger . *
T o E -^ meeican Missionaries laboring in
the Sandwich Blands, have been recently
cheered by a revi val of religion amongst their
people, who appear to have lost their early
zeal, and so have sunk into a state of slum
bering indifference.. The latest details re
ceived are confirmatory of ; our previous intel
ligence. An unseen power is described as
moving on the hearts of the people. The
prayer-meeting became no longer neglected.
-Backsliders would rise spontaneously and
coniess their wanderings, imploring the pray
ers of the congregation. Careless and pro-
Jljgate men were arrested by convictions of
sin. Ihe members of the church and the
newly-awakened were drawn together, and
continued with one accord in prayer and sup
plication, often for hours together. “Young
converts,” writes a missionary, “dilligentlv
sought out their former companions in wick
edness, and labored to bring them to Christ,
lhe brethren went m companies of two, three,
oui;, or &ve ? and visited every house, without
distinction; would converse and pray with
the inmates, read the Scriptures to them, and
urged them to attend the meetings for public
worship Multitudes have'thus been brought
under the influence of the gospel, who live far
up the valleys and ravines, among the birds
and wild goats of the mountains, who were
quite inaccessible to their pastor. A won
derful change has come over the whole com
munity. Order and quiet reign ; the fear of
(xod rests on the inhabitants. . Some of the
most distinguished leaders of the licentious
who were notorious as disturbers of the peace
wherever they were found, are now clothed
and m their right mind, sitting at the feet of
Jesus. — lbid.
From Polynesia we have intelligence o -
a chequered character. Eromangalnd the
adjacent islands have been devastated by th i
measles; in many villages two-thirds of thj
people have been carried off, and the natives,
tenified by this new scourge, have risen up
to destroy all foreigners. “They nearly
succeeded,” says a missionary, “in killing
all the Europeans a few days ago, and made
another bold attack on the sandal-wood esta
blishment two nights since, and burned one
house and set fire to some. They held a
council before our door to kill us, but were
divided in their council, because the fear of
God seemed to be upon them all.’ Yet
even this dispensation has its brighter side.
Crimes had multiplied during the last two
years. “In warning them of their danger,”
says the same missionary, “but one week
before the measles came among them, I
taught the doctrine of a retributive Provi
dence with unusual earnestness. That day
will not soon be forgotten, for the chiefs and
leaders in crime and idolatry are now nearly
all dead. Many exclaim that the Word of
God is certainly true, but hate us' as the
cause of bringing their sins to remembrance
in the light of this new doctrine. Idolatry
has received a death-blow. Some of them
have so feared Jehovah as to remove their
images out of the villages where the sick
were lying, and I hope that they will soon
destroy them! They are now sorely wounded,
and seem to require nothing but the balm of
Gilead, after which they are beginning to
inquire.”
Good News from Madagascar.—R -
dama 11. had transmitted a communication
to the Governor of Mauritius, inviting a free
intercourse, and the Legislative Council had
despatched amission to congratulate his Ma
jesty, and thank him for proposing facilities
to commerce and trade. The Mauritius So
ciety of Arts and Sciences also sent an ad
dress, soliciting the King to promote a dis
play of some of the rich products of Mada
gascar at the Great International Exhibition
of 1862. The King is reported to have pro
claimed commercial liberty throughout his
territory, with equitable customs regulations
at every port, and at the same time to have
intimated that he is not disposed to accept
the protectorate of France or of any other
Power, although he will readily listen to any
friendly suggestions of the Emperor Napo
leon. Meanwhile he has appointed an Eng
lishman—Mr. Lambert, long a faithful ad
herent—as his chief Minister, and has com
missioned him to proceed as ambassador to
France and England to procure a recogni
tion of his Majesty, under the style of Ra
dama 11, King of the Hovas. Madagascar
is larger than Great Britain and Ireland;
has rich mines of metals and coal; the soil
is-wonderfully productive, yielding valuable
timber, dyewoods and vegetable substances
in endless variety; and the climate, though
bad on the coast, is healthy in the interior.
Many persons, it is inferred, will settle when
protection is afforded to Europeans.
The Prospect of Protestantism Bright
ening in Austria. —Religious liberty and
Protestantism have been steadily progressing
in Austria ever since the power of the Ultra
montane party was broken by the Italian
war in 1859. The progress still continues,
and already many of the great hopes with
which the Austrian Protestants entered the
year 1861 have been realized. The fetters
which have so long impeded the free deve
lopment of Protestantism are rapidly falling
off; new life is being infused into all classes
of the Protestant population • the Ultra
montane party is not only losing the power
of curtailing the rights of Protestantism, but
is bein'* more and more reduced to a defen
sive war. Thus a new Protestant nation is
rising in the east of Europe, and all the signs
of the times indicate that it will perform a
great mission.
Statistics of Rome.— The Correspond
ence de Rome gives the following statistical
details for the year 1860:—There are in
Rome 54 parish churches, 37,706 families,
34 bishops, 1,417 priests, 2,390 monks and
religious men, 9,031 nuns, 886 pupils of se
minaries or colleges, 884 inmates of the apos
tolical palaces, 213 infidels and heretics.
There were 96,294 men, 87,856 women—
total, 184,049. The number of births in
1860 was 5,957, or one birth to twenty-eight
inhabitants. The number of - deaths was
5,764, or one for every twenty-nine inhabit
ants. The number of marriages was 1,423.
There were also 4,468 Jews in Rome in 1860.
One who loves his home, will go out to ac
tive duties, that he may well support his fa
mily, and bring in good to his home.