Urartian §«shgtei»# —AND— GENESEE EVANGELIST. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20,1861 JOHN W. MEAES, THE CASH SYSTEM. We are very desirous of carrying out this sen sible and satisfactory method of doing business in the management of our paper, and we look for the hearty co-operation of our subscribers ; oth erwise it will prove a difficult and one-sided affair altogether. Cash to the printers, cash for mate rials, cash for office expenses, and editor’s salary, requires cash promptly from our subscribers. At this season, while money is flowing freely for a thousand minor objects, the claims of our paper in ADVANCE, will not be forgotton. FAREWELL TO THE YEAR. It is part of our duty, as journalists, to make a note of the lapse of time and gather up its lessons and warnings, as it flies. Ere our paper makes another appearance, the passing year of our Lord, eightoen hundred sixty-one, will be gone, chronicled with the figures of the past, a matter of remembrance, of regret, of gratitude, of history; and another will have silently glided into its place. A memorable year it has been. Deeply in the pages of history will its events hereafter be found engraven. Our Church will look back to the Assembly of 1801 as an epoch in its existence. That Assem bly marks the termination of a period of incer titude in our history and of comparative ineffi ciency in our operations. Then it was that the development of a spirit of self-reliance was com pleted, and the grand point was reached where the most vital measures of Church policy were, for the first time, resumed in full by the Church itself. Then a self-consciousness, a spirit of organic unity, and a sense of Church respon sibility for our share of the work of evangelizing this country was felt, and the throbbings of this spirit bock and forth through Synods and Pres byteries, in all our bounds, from the Delaware and the Hudson to the Golden Gate, have been unanimous and cheering in the highest degree. The Presbyterian Home Missionary Committee in the Presbyterian Rooms in New York, with able and competent men, la whom the Church confides, at the head, in New York and Phila delphia, is a fact which most happily character izes the passing year of our history. It is a date from which doubtless our prosperity as a Church and an evangelizing agency will be chronicled; a date to which the origin of many a new instrumentality for good will he traced; a date, we ore persuaded, which will not be un recognized in heaven as having led to more zealous and effective efforts for the salvation of lost men. Appropriate was it, and scarcely accidental, that at the same season when we had opportunity thus to express our loyalty to our Church as un changed through a quarter of a century of trial, suspicion and obloquy, we also were called upon by the tremendous crisis in our country’s affairs to express our loyalty as Christian citizens, and to offer our sympathy and our prayers to our country as our loyal forefathers had done in the previous century. That, too, we did with most solemn utterance and enthusiastic unanimity. It is our Assembly and our year of union upon the most profound questions alike of Church and State. The storm of dissension, then first burst ing on the land, found no theatre in our councils. By honorably and fairly meeting the exeiting questions of the day when they were in the shape of moral questions only, and when they first came up for debate, wo had secured peace,- unanimity, loyalty and a firm and undisputed holding ground in onr Church for the principles of human liberty which are identified with our country’s cause and aro destined in the end to a glorious triumph. 2. The year has been ono of severe trial, not only to business men, but to the benevolent operations of the Churches. Yet we have seen a great rally to the support of at least, some of these operations when imperilled. Few, if any, years in the history of Foreign Missions give better evidence of the ability and the inner purpose of the Church, by God’s blessing to carry out her ascending Lord’s command to teach all nations, than the year just closing. There was something sublime in the outpouring of contributions to the support of the American Board, during those months of the year, too, which aTe usually least productive, and which swept away completely the huge incubus of in debtedness that seemed rapidly gathering to crush it. Not only was the abundance of these sudden accessions to the Treasury of the Lord remarkable. They were general and wide-spread in their sources. It was a thrill of devotedness that visited the separate bosoms of Christ’s ] people of every degree of ability, and in every part of his church, where his pervading Spirit abides. Heathen lands, too, felt the surprising . mpulse. Recent converts from the dead Nes torian Churches, from the miserable degradation 'if South African superstition, and from the blindness of Hindoo idolatry, suddenly and si multaneously broke out iu this new manifestation Christian character. In a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep po verty abounded with the riches of their libe rality, The missionaries of these regions have been privileged to witness spectacles such as called forth the applause of apostles. 8. Although the cheering evidences of pro gress in the church, which were still numerous a year ago, have in a measure ceased, and electri zing accounts of the great and manifest opera tions of the Spirit can no longer be laid before nur readers, the year will be memorable for suoh events as—the extension of religious toleration in the despotic kingdom of Austria, by the pa tent of April last; the rise of a new Protestant element of great power in the bosom of the Ro mish Church on the subject of the Pope’s tem poral authority; and the great meeting of the rivangolical alliance at Geneva, in September last, regarded by those competent to form a judgment, as the most important and encour aging conference which the alliance has yet held. 4. Though we shall not now dwell upon it, the history of our own country will contain no year more memorable than eighteen hundred and aixty-one. In the great struggle between con tending passions and principles which, in this year came to open war, the future reader of history will be astonished alike by the vehemence with which ar. unchristian and oppressive institution was espoused and made the pretext for epen re bellion on the one hand, and by the unanimity and the majesty and the promptness of the re sponse which it received from an outraged and unprepared loyal people. It is a year which opened with imbecility and concession to impe rious and avowed traitors, which wore on with gathering plots of assassination and of capture directed against the chief magistrate elect and the capital of the nation. Its first quarter had scarce worn away when the mask was thrown off, and the nation compelled to ehoose between dis memberment and war. How sublimely that choice was made we all know and saw for our selves. And how the alternative of war with a united North hardened the South to a bitter re sistance and an open and blasphemous avowal of human slavery as the corner-stone of the na tion they expected to found we all know. And how we have been misunderstood, and misrepre sented, and scoffed at, and menaced, and what aid and comfort have been given to our foes in our deepest national trial by the people nearest of all in the world to us, we all know. And how, by the character of our national fast and humiliation, as much as by any other manifesta tion, we made the year memorable and hopeful as ono in which the people renounced depen dence on man, and trusted their cause to God, we all know. And how God has preserved the loyal States from invasion, and confined the war to soil claimed by the rebels; how he has given the North the lucrative business of feeding France and England; how he has given uncom mon wisdom in the management of our great financial transactions, so that our moneyed insti tutions are stronger than when the war began, and not a cent has been borrowed abroad to meet our vast expenditures; how his winds have favored our naval expeditions, sparing them even in tke height of their violence; how, in his own marvellous Providence the centre and nursery of the rebellion has been laid in ashes within a year from its first open inception, and ; the same skies that reflected the burning of Fort Sumter were all aglow with the incandescence of the buildings in which the attack on the fort was plotted, we all know. Editor. Old year —eighteen hundred and sixty-one — the annus mirabilis of our lives, faiewell. A MARKED PROVIDENCE. The course of events since the breaking out of the rebdllion presents no clearer instance of the Divine interposition than the recent great fire at Charleston. It would seem that the Al mighty himself visibly took in hand the punish ment of this city, anticipating, by a few days or weeks, tbe movements of our army, and wresting from them the opportunity, when almost within their reach, in order to show that the work was his own and not of man. The very fact, too, that the origin of the fire cannot be traced to in cendiarism, and was unattended by a slave insur rection, and that from a single point, by the agency of the wind alone, it swept onward un checked, until it had exhausted the material, strengthens one’s conviction of the open judicial character of the event. And further, if we look at the prominent buildings destroyed in this great conflagration, its retributive character be comes more manifest. True, there is scarcely a dwelling in this wicked city which is not rank with conspiracy and treason, scarcely a pulpit from which lawful government has not been ve heuientlj denounced, scarcely a wall whose very stones eould not cry out, and whose timbers could not answer in startling confessions of criminality. The five hundred and seventy-six buildings de voured by the flame and the five to ten mil lions of property laid waste, are not, as a general thing more deserving of visitation than was the larger portion which was spared. Yet it is not to be overlooked, that among the public build ings thus destroyed are the very ones which had acquired an infamous notoriety as the hatching places of this very conspiracy. Institute Hall, where the Presidential Convention of the domi nant party was held, and in which took place the ominous and fatal split into the Douglas and Breckenridge wings; and Hibernian Hall, occu pied by adjournment by the State convention, and thus made the scene of the passage of the Secession Ordinance on the 20th of December, 1860—over these tabernacles of violence tbe finger of God has passed, and they are a desola tion ! If the vail of the future could have been lifted to tlie conclave of conspirators who sat in the latter place, and if they had been permitted to see the wide-spread mass of ruins which, in one short year, should oceupy tbe scene of their wicked labors, even their madness would have felt the rebuke, and at least have hesitated in its fearful course. The offices of those organs of the secession frenzy and zealous poisoners of the public mind, the Charleston Mercury and the Charleston Courier; the Circular Presbyterian Church, in which a degenerate son of Massachusetts prosti tuted the services of the sanctuary, the Presby terian name and the Word of God to the defence of slavery and the support of rebellion : the two foundries—one lately employed in the manufac ture of cannon and the other of ammunition for the rebel service—including a large stock of government work then on hand; the State Cot ton Press with three hundred thousand pounds of sea island cotton and fifty-two hales of upland cotton; a dozen or more handsome private resi dences, from whose tops, doubtless, the fall of Fort Sumter was beheld with exultation, besides Banks, Savings Institutions, Insurance offices, Market houses, Theatres, Hotels, and Merean-. tile establishments, including, in fact, almost the entire business part of the city, plainly attest the peculiar gravity, and judicial character of the visitation. Let the sufferers speak for them selves, as they do in the following extracts from the Charleston papers: “ After the breaking out of the fire, the flames continued to increase in violence, and with the scarcity of water, seemed to defy all human «f -forts to arrest them. Keeping a southwesterly course, the roaring elements rushed through the air like forked lightning to commence the work of destruction. In King kfid Queen streets the scene was truly terrible. Roof after roof fell in, the fire rushed out of the windows and leaped around buildings with an awfully sublime appear ance. The flames spread right and left, destroy ing and making clean sweep of the fine resi dences on Logan, New, Savage, Mazyek, and the lower end of Broad streets; nor could the work of destruction and desolation have been staye , had it not been that the fire exhausted itself or the want of material.” The Mercury of Friday says : “ Yesterday was a gloomy day for Charleston—business was uni versally suspended and with one impulse our community has united in giving sympathy an aid to the victims of this great public calamity. The Courier says: “The fearful conflagra tion that, has just passed over our city, will cause the 11th and 12th of December, 1861, hereafter to be remembered as one of those dark, trying periods, which for a moment seem to paralyze a our long-cherished hopes and bright anticipa tions of the future. We have been visited by one of those mysterious dispensations of Providence which we cannot attempt to solve. Our city has received a terrible blow which it will take the work of years to repair. Let ns nerve ourselves then for another start, thankful that we are still loft with the same bold spirit and strong arms to make new and perhaps more substantial pros perity for our beloved city.” Were the city still an acknowledged part of an unbroken and peaceful American Union, and had it been the will of God to visit it even then with such a disaster, what a strong, hearty and universal tender of efficient sympathy would long ere this have been made by all points of a pros perous Union, and how cheerfully would the North, from Maine to the Chesapeake, and from the Atlantic to the Paeific, have united in the effort to realize the hope of recovery so feebly expressed in the closing sentence of the quota tion ! Bnt alas ! for the ruined Charlestonians! they have nought but a bogus, bankrupt and rebellious “Confederacy" to rely on. They have brutishly tbrust away the fostering aegis of the mighty Union. They have provoked its just wrath and its slowly gathering hut inevitable vengeance. Tbe armies that shall complete its overthrow are setting up their banners almost in sight of the housetops that yet rise above the ruins. The inlets of its harbor are being igno miniously sealed. The waters on which the banner of our country was insolently spurned and assailed, shall be tabooed to commerce and to travel. The consumption determined is begun. Instead of restoration, shall come the completion of the rain which Providence has been beforehand in inaugurating. A PEEP INTO OUR LETTER-BAG. In the variety of letters we are receiving at this office, there are not unfrequently many that deserve to go into print, though not intended by the authors for any such destination. We cannot withhold from onr readers a share in the interest and pleasure we have felt in perusing them. We give some specimens from the correspondence of our ministerial friends without the names of the writers, commencing with one received some weeks ago from a subscriber in Northwest Mis souri. The picture which it draws of the la mentably divided state of opinion among churches even in the northern tier of counties, is deplor able. FROM a subscriber IN N. W. MISSOURI. You are probably aware that rebellion and sus pension of business have wrought sadly upon all the religious interests of this State. Onr church divided before and well nigh extinction by the secession at Cleveland, is now suffering again from the sides taken on the great question of the day. Christian friendship of long standing is broken —ehurches united and prosperous before, cannot now worship together. These evils seem to me to be worse here than almost anywhere else in my knowledge; yet I still think-it no crime to adhere to the government I have ever been taught to love. The apostle has commanded that we should, he subject to the powers that be. If, therefore, I disliked some .things in the go vernment, I would he wicked to join a rebellion to get rid of it. But others think differently, and act accordingly. The result, so far, is a di vided State and divided households, with war at hand and ruin in prospect. Yet the Lord may he better to ns than our fears, and we have this token, that it may he so, —or perhaps I should only speak for myself in this. I have not been molested so as to cause me any alarm, and yet my nearest neighbors have been, and are, strong se cessionists, and threats have been made of a ge neral character, hut I have remained and felt quiet. I think it better to still trust God, and see what He designs to do. He is able to bring out of this apparent evil, a good to our State for which some, at least, in it have been praying for these years. When God “ thunders with a great thunder,” and strikes terror and eonfusion among his enemies, should his children be dismayed and shrink from the hand in which they have trust ed ? “ The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice.” It is a dark day for Missouri, but clouds and darkness may be dispelled. Many fear for the future, because they are not able to see it; but if the Lord reigns, what rc ason have we to fear ? Still the flesh is weak—we need faith. I see the Christian Observer has left your city for a more congenial latitude. I hope the editor may see his error before he gets to heaven; should he go there before he is able to under stand the ten commandments as explained by the Saviour, he might wish himself hack again, that he might correct one, at least, of his faults. I read his paper until he took on his ultra views of slavery, since which I have seen the paper only in slaveholding families, where I have no doubt his poison has been secretly at work for years, and now we see the fruit in the fana ticism of secession. The fathers of our country no doubt took the correct view of slavery, and he is unsafe who tries to mark out a more.ortho dox view. The next is from a subscriber in New York State, whose generous warmth on the great ques tions of the day, is not less acceptable to us than his kind estimate of our own services. Our opi nion is that if we do not soon arrive at some humane method of emancipation, tbe necessities of war will compel the arming of the slaves as allies of the Union. The interference of foreign nations may lead us reluctantly to this result. from a subscriber in new YORK. I am happy to he able to say that the paper daring the past year has pleased me more than ever before. The editorials are well written, and the other matter contained in the paper is good. Especially am I glad to see you standing up so nobly for the Union and the great cause of hu man freedom. The day has eome when the people in every part, of the land—except in dis loyal communities—are demanding strong anti slavery doctrine. As for myself, I would not allow a paper of another sort to come into my house. Not only are the people, but God is de manding of ministers, editors and the govern ment to speak out on this subject, and to speak right,. What a day is this in which we live, nor will it he better till something efficient is done toward emancipating every slave in the nation. The doctrine I hold is to emancipate every bond man in the land, and reasonably compensate the owners of slaves that are loyal to the govern ment. This last I would have done, not because I believe any man has any more right to hold a slave as his own than I have to hold a stolen horse, as my own, but on the principle of assisting to bear each other’s burdens. I would thus show the slave-holder who is loyal, that we do. not wish to injure hut to do him good; that we are not his enemies, but his friends. Wishing you all success in your arduous and good work, I wish yon to believe me, Yours, fraternally, A subicriber in Michigan discourses humor ously and justly upon the true uses of money as a circulating medium. We trust many of those who read his letter may catch the contagion of his views, and of his cheerful readiness in dis bursing to us our rightful dues. FROM A SUBSCRIBER IN MICHIGAN. I had forgotten that my subscription run out last May. Here are-the two dollars cheerfully sent, though drawn! from a poor man’s pocket. If they shall find as needy a place as that from whence they are sent, they will still be answer ing one of money’s best ends in'the commerce of life. If every one would pay his honest debts, much of money that is now stagnant and dispeptie would go boundingly and healthfully upon its noble mission. How must some noble gold pieces feel, in going plump to the bottom of some long hag of avarice, there to lie in degraded uselessness for months and years ? Or how must it be with those smiling faced hills which seem so glad in imparting joy and comfort, when rolled tightly together and tucked into some dark cor ner, to be “prisoners of hope” they know not how long? No doubt they would rather be iu the gay whirl of worldly pleasure, contributing to the enjoyments of erratic passion, than thus to lie, making no stir at all. But neither of these may be the end of tlieir existence. Some of these may better pay the printer for what will bless the heads' 'and the hearts of those who have both these as well as bodies. Says another in our own State:— My Dear Brother Mears :—I wish it was in my purse to respond to your call, but it is not. X hope for relief in a short time, and then will aid you with performance instead of pro mises. I have ever regarded it as a benefit to our country that you have uniformly and ear nestly sustained the “powers that be.” Stick fast to tbe “key-note" you have so happily struck, and your voice will be gratefully listened to in tbe glorious cadence. Let the trimmers go to Meroz! Another wrote when our prospects were much darker:— I hope the American Presbyterian will live. If I were rich it should not die for want of means to sustain it. It is our paper. True hearts have sustainhd'it, and I trust in God its V , "*' 1 friends will .be multiplied. It occupies, on all the important questions, true and noble ground. ANSWERS, WITH COMMENTS. Messrs. Editors : In a late issue you published (and endorsed) an appeal to the Sessions of our churches from Mr. Barnes and Judge Strong, in behalf of the Committee of Publication. The appeal espe cially asktd that, in each chnrch, the Session would fix one Sabbath in the year in which the Publication eause shall be presented and a collec tion taken, and the contribution, no matter how small, he forwarded to the Committee. With no collecting agency the Committee must (and such is their desire), look to the pastors and elders. With no tax for agency, the feeblest church heed not be discouraged from contribut ing its mite. But it needs no wisdom to show, or understand, that without a collecting agency , and without action by'ike Sessions, the Committee will be in a poor way for doing the work assigned them. We have already had the pleasure of receiving responses to this appeal—the precursors, we trust, of many others. The calls made upon us for works and tracts to be used by our own bre thren, make ns anxious for the means of meet ing the wants of the ehurches. As t e have no organ of our own, permit ns to report, through you, some of the replies to this appeal, which have come to hand. The pastor of a small church, in Indiana thus responds: “I presemed the Circular of your Publication Committee to the Session of our church, yesterday; we agreed to place it on the. list of benevolent causes. We will take up a contribution for you on the fourth Sabbath of this month.” Here, it will be scon, we have two points set tled—the putting of this cause on the list, and the assigning to it pf a specific time. Knowing this, the Committee have, so far as this church is concerned, what they ask. The pastor will present the claims of our Publication cause, and the people will give what they deem proper. The pastor of a Northern Michigan church thus writes :—“ Enclosed, I send three dollars, in response to the call of the Publication Commit tee. We should be glad to do more, hut times are very hard and; our church feeble. Please send us Presbyterian Almanacs for 1862, to. the value of half the amount contributed.” The prompt response thus made to a call upon a poor church, is worthy of much praise. The sum is small, but it is cheerfully given. The request for half' tlffi amount in publications is also right. It will aid in diffusing the information needed by the congregation. We are not', how ever, told whether a time has , been assigned for the annual presentation of .the cause by the pastor. .The treasurer of a New Jersey church says “Please find enclosed $l3, collected in our church, and send *us 100 almanacs, 2 paleario, and 1 Presbyterian manual.” We should be glad in this case also, if the wor thy treasurer had given the time at which this cause comes before the Church (as we believe it does regularly) each year. This would enable the secretary to send a report, or any useful do cument to the pastor in advance of the collection. In case of a change of pastor, or the overlooking of the assigned time, to remind our friends of their good intentions, and to suggest a conver sion of the good intention into good action. Unhappily, our churches are so accustomed to act under the spur of outside pressure in their benevolence, that, when the spur is removed they are in some danger of forgetting to act. If, by dispensing with a collecting agency, our com mittee can aid in inaugurating a system of spon taneous beneficence, it will do a good work. And if for the present it suffers, it will not suffer in behalf of its own cause alone. Will not Sessions encourage this dependence upon them alone ? A Southern Indiana pastor writes: —“The Publication cause was placed upon our list for regular annual contributions two years ago. In June last, at which time a collection should re gularly have been made for it, we were all giving every cent we could spare for sending off and equipping our soldiers. I raised $l7, however, which was expended in copies of your Soldier's Friend , and distributed among our soldiers. “ Here along the river (Ohio) where our trade is almost entirely with the South, we feel the pressure of the times more than any other part of the North. All we can do just now is to St nd the enclosed ten dollars, and to assure the committee that our church feels its responsibility in the matter , and will'give to the cause annually as wc may be able. Please send us 70 copies of tbe Almanac.” . , “ I very mucb feaT lest tbe coming year be a severer one for our benevolent operations than the past. .In order, so far as we are concerned, to provide for deficiencies, and supplement our annual collections, I have just started the sys tem of regular monthly contributions, by each pei-son, young and old, in tbe congregation, with ten or twelve collectors, and one to act as super intendent and treasurer. I expect that we shall in this way raise, without any one feeling it, what will astonish ourselves." No doubt they will! Any one who systemati cally gives, say one-tenth of his income, will as tonish himself, and his neighbors too. Tbe ag gregate in a congregation, will astonish them, and equally and most agreeably astonish the Treasurers and Secretaries of Benevolence. Try it and see! The aged Pastor of a country church, in New York, writes: “We are thankful for your libe rality in furnishing us with a few dozen of the Church Psalmist. You will excuse our delay in taking a collection for the Publication Cause. We are unanimously and sincerely attached to our branch of the visible church, and are labor ing with some success to obtain a permanent standing in this unpromising population. « The enclosed item may add a few pages to your issues, and, accompanied with our prayers for the prosperity of this agency of our Church, we hope it will be acceptable.” We might add other responses which have cheered us in our work, hut desist. We trust that the churches will, as you say, now give Pub lication its turn. J. W. D. THE WAR RUMORS. During the past week very paeific assurances from as high an authority as Secretary Chase, have been given to the public as to the settle ment of our difficulty with England, but later advices by the Arago, the America and the Edinburg, to the 12th inst., represent the war feeling as intense, and the military preparations of Great Britain as formidable. The govern ment has sent a letter, approving the course of the mail agent, Commander Williams, of the Trent. He protested against the removal of Slidell and Mason from the vessel. The Paris papers say that the British govern ment, in answer to petitions from the manufac turing districts, stated that the cotton ports would be opened by February, at the latest; and from Hamburg we learn the impression prevails that the blockade of the Southern ports will soon be broken by England, and that the price of cotton is falling in consequence, At Liver pool, however, prices were firm and unchanged. A ship destined for New York was stopped in the Thames, having 100 tons of lead on board, the export of that article having been prohibited. American shipping in England is entirely idle. The following vessels are named as destined for our waters: the Warrior, iron-plate frigate, coaling; the Hero, 86 guns, sailed; the De fence, iron-plated frigate; the transport Mel bourne, with troops, arms and ammunition for Canada; sailed on the 6th; transports Persia and Andalusia, with 1100 troops, 5000 stand of arms, 300 tons of stores and two field batteries, were to sail on the 15th; the Blaek Prinee, the Sutley, 51 guns; the Orpheus,'2l guns, are also named as destined for North America. More troops, a large corps of engineers, a large staff of medical men and : many drill sergeants for Canada volunteers, are preparing for an early de parture. Nearly as surprising as anything, in this budget of news is the return of the venerable General Seott by the same vessel —the Arago— by which he went out. It is reported that he brings offers of mediation from the French Em peror between our government and that of Eng land. We venture to suggest that these preparations on the part of the British government are quite as mueh designed to satisfy an excited public at home, and thus to serve the ends of the political party now in power, (the Whigs,) as to intimi date our own government. They are by no means conclusive evidences of a fixed determina tion to fall upon .us in our present condition. The Times of the. 10th speaks hopefully of a peaceful settlement, in view of the advices re ceived from'this Country by the Niagara. Un der the influence of those advices, English, Canadian and United States securities rose. ■ At Washington it is reported that Lord Lyons has been- satisfied by our government, and that despatches to that effect went out on the steamer of Saturday last. Beyond the assurance of Se cretary Chase, that our difficulties would he amicably arranged, we have as yet no official an nouncement from Washington on the subject. We have space to add but the single remark, that while the North can in our opinion raise an army and a navy numerically sufficient for a war with England in addition to her present high re sponsibilities, we have not the wealth to bear the additional burden which such a war would im pose. Therefore, if it can be avoided, or even deferred, without sacrifice of: national character, it must he done. Calmness, prayerfulness, firm ness and Christian we trust, will be exhibited by our people and government. In the midst of thy sorrows look to thy God. Peavek fok H. w. Beecher and his Chukch.— A gentleman, in Fulton Street Meet ing, New York, said lie belonged to the church of the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, and he wanted to present him and his church as a subject of prayer. He gave some reasons why he made the request. The response was made by a prayer, full of earnestness, by a Presbyterian minister, that the pastor and church might exemplify the gospel of Christ in doctrine and example, and be made to -use their influence in saving souls. He prayed that the pastor might preach the preach ing to which he had been consecrated and set apart by the laying on of hands —knowing no thing in his doctrines and teachings but Jesus Christ, and him crucified. The spirit of the' prayer was one of great brotherly kindness and charity, and yet it was lelt that there was good reason for earnest supplication that the high po sition and influence of this pastor and people might, in the highest sense, subserve the cause of truth and holiness. Mr. Charles Desilver , of this city, has issued the “Greek Text of the Gospel of John,” with an interlineal translation upon the one page, and the Greek text in its proper order, with the En glish version and the Roman Catholic translation of the Vulgate on the other. While we may doubt the adapted ness of the work of itself to acquaint the people generally in any important degree with the original of the Scriptures, we freely testify to its interesting and valuable character as presenting in a combined view the text and two important versions, and in such large, hold type that it is a pleasure to read it. Price, $2.50. Mr. Desilver has also brought out Mr. Barnes’ well-known collection of Family Prayers in very attractive styles of binding. This is mainly a compilation of prayers from such authorities as Jay, Jenks and Biekersteth; it is followed by a selection of hymns suitable to family worship, but the preliminary essay on Family Prayer, which should be pondered and heeded by every Christian parent, with many paragraphs inserted in the prayers, are original with Mr. Barnes. The book is one of the most valuable of aids and in centives to an all-important Christian duty. It obviates the objection raised by many to family worship—the inability to conduct the service, and much more j it will improve the tone and character of the worship which is offered ex tem pore, wherever it is read. We commend it most cordially to general use, and trust it may aid in turning the hearts of the fathers to the children extensively. 12mo, pp. 360, in very handsome cloth gilt binding. Mr. Desilver has also just brought out a large and profusely illustrated volume on Natural His tory, entitled Glimpses of Animated Nature. As it embraces all departments, the amount of information communicated on each topic, must be confined to a narrow space. Yet the descrip tions are clear and satisfactory, and the style cor rect and interesting. A vast amount of valuable information is communicated in the compass of the volume. The illustrations are nearly three hundred in number, and generally very good. The paper is very heavy and smooth, and the ty pography and mechanical execution excellent. Royal Bvo, pp. 423. The Atlantic opens well with the new year. The January number is crowded with valuable and choice articles from the best pens in the country. The first place is deservedly given to Prof. Agassiz’s opening article on Methods of Study in Natural History. This distinguished naturalist refers to bis own work as an investi gator for which he is famous in every civilized country, in the following modest and remarkable language : “It must not discourage us that the process [of generalization] is a slow and labori ous one, and the results of one life time, after all, very small. ... I may at least be permitted to speak of my own efforts, and to sum up in the fewest words, the result of my life’s work. I have devoted my whole life to the study of Nature, and yet a single sentence may express all that I have done. I have shown that there is a correspondence between the succession of fishes in geological times and the different stages of their growth in the egg, this is. all." The writer touches upon Aristotle’s narrow and de fective classification, passes with a few words over the great void between the Greek naturalist and the Swede Linnaeus, and settles upon Cuvier as the first one really to reach the very archety pal ideas of the Creator as the foundations of a true classification. The key to Cuvier's success was the combination of anatomical studies , with the observation of outward peculiarities. Yon Baer, of Germany, by pushing anatomical re search into the department of embryology, which he founded, went a step beyond Cuvier, and was competent to even a clearer discernment, than the great Frenchman, of the structural di versities of the animal kingdom. His paper was published the very same year with that of Cuvier. Yet his countrymen seemed but slightly impressed with bis great merits, and have suffer ed the claims of Cuvier to precedence, to remain uncontested. Even Cuvier is not, in the judg ment of Agassiz, thoroughly appreciated. The question arises, whether Agassiz himself wiil be appreciated by the readers generally of the Atlantic j it is certainly a high compliment to their judgment and interest in science on the part of the Editor, to place his communications before them. The late Adjutant Winthrdp’s Posthumous Papers are continued, “Love and Skates” being the singular title of the one in the present number. Winship, the strong man’s “Autobiographical Sketches,” Fremont’s Hun dred Days in Missouri, and Jefferson on Slavery will attract attention, not to mention others of, perhaps, equal value and interest. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. From the press of Warren F. Draper, of An dover, we have in an elegant volume, “ The He brew and English Psalter," a work which sus tains the publisher's reputation for sagacity in discovering and bringing out the real desiderata of the theological student’s library. In church history, sacred hermeneutics and choice theologi cal works of a high order, his catalogue is very rich. The work before us contains the Hebrew Psalms from the Text of Hahn arranged in ver tical columns with the authorized English text. Its tasteful exterior is enough to tempt the clejgy, into whose hands it ought especially to come, to a renewal of their too often neglected Hebrew studies. For sale by Smith, English & Co., Philadelphia, $1.25. An - admirable little present to-one’s pastor. The Eclectic for January gives abundant evi dence of enterprise in Mr. Bidweli. The list of articles comprises a great and varied store of en tertaining and nourishing materials culled from leading foreign reviews and magazines. The illustrations bring before us two scenes of Very diverse character, yet both having a comn oi element of protest against tyranny —one the pro test of a woman, the wife of John Bunyan against her husband’s imprisonment—the other, that of the improvised American army at Bun ker Hill against the usurpations of the same tory party thatnow is moving heaven and earth to involve us in a new war, and if possible to com pass our destruction. We are reminded as we look at this picture, of a conversation between an American of few words, and an exeited En glishman in this country. The Englishman de nounced as roundly as an insolent nation, and concluded by saying : “We shall have to whip you Americans yet!” “What! again?” was the only, but sufficient reply. Mr. Everett fur nishes a clear deseriptiou of tlie battle, and the painter. Col. Trumbull’s account of the picture is also given. Meditations and Hymns , hy “N.” —(Second Notice.) This unambitious, title is borne by a volume of lyrical pieces, written by a person of fine taste, true noetic feeling, and deep sympathy and familiarity with the various phases of inner Christian experience. Hymns we can scarcely call them—the meditative, introspective tenden cy is quite too strong, but poetry they really are, and to thoughtful and cultivated Christians must prove as attractive as many of the rieh devotional pieces which, from time to time, are rendered from the German into onr tongue. Or sometimes again they remind ns, by the force with which a few simple words bring out a good thought, of the older Christian Lyrical poets in our own tongue. The last stanza of lines on the Butter fly illustrate this trait:— ‘ ‘But He whose power doth all those works prepare, That clothe with glory sea and earth and sky, ’ Unto the least, of such grace gives a share, That it proclaims His Sovereign Majesty.” Even the short pieces show great care, vet marks of unfinished work, and of further need of the file are not unfrequent. We like “Dyiim Grace,” “Dusk,” “The Butterfly,” “Teacher Taught,” a part of the “Snow Storm.” Indeed there are very few of them that can fail to gratify the Christian reader. Published by tbe Protestant Episcopal Book Society. For sale by C. S. Luther, No. 1334 Chestnut street. The Knicherhocher for January lays off its ex perimental orange-color coat and resumes its more subdued and familiar tint. We have only space to say of this valuable and now ancient institution, among the younger, but never-so sprigbtly monthlies, now entering upon its fifty ninth year, that the Publisher liberally offers to send it gratis to any regiment on application of tbe Colonel or Chaplain, and will receive sub scriptions at half-price from those desirous of sending it to soldiers in the ranks; also that the poem, New Tear’s Call is a valuable and timely appeal to the ladies, for which the authoress and KnielcerLocker deserve the thanks of temper ance men and of lovers of good habits gener ally. New York :J. R. Gilmore. From the American Tract Society. Eve and Her Daughters. 18mo. Square, pp. 144. Handsome binding. • Sketches for the Young. By Eev. Joseph Belcher, D. D. 18mo. pp. 127. Grandfather’s BirtJiday. 18mo. Square. 32. pp. paper, The first of these is an easy versification of Bible incidents about women; the second is composed of many brief narratives of events in this country and in England from the writer's own observation, with practical remarks; the third appears originally to have been a presenta tion book to the children of Christ’s Church by the excellent rector, Dr. Johns. A most ex cellent little story. From Ticknor & Fields, we have, in blue and gold, a handsome edition of AUingham’s Poems. Allingham is one of the gifted song writers of Ireland, of whom the late number of the Forth British Review says : “His poems deserve great er fame than they have yet won. Some half dozen of his ballads have never been surpassed." It is a welcome addition to a series, every sepa rate volume of which has been well reviewed by the public. For sale by J. B. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia. T. 0. H. P. Burnham , Boston, has issued in very beautiful style, IMieshaf being a con cluding series of passages in the life. of Mrs. Margaret Maitland, of Snnnyside, written by herself. The style is quaint and antiquated. The author’s reputation as a skilful writer of tales with pure and elevated aims is well known. The work is for sale at Messrs. T. B. Peterson & Brothers and at Messrs. J. B. Lippincott & Co.’s, Philadelphia. Arthur’s Home Magazine: is published by T, S. Arthur & Co., No. 323 Walnut street, Phila delphia, at $2 a year. Mr. Arthur, whose name itself is a host, commences a sequel to “What is Money,” called, “What Came Afterwards." Godey's Lady's Book, published by L. A. Godey, is an invaluable guide for workers in every department of feminine industry. Price, $3 per annum. BOOKS FOB CHILDKEN. The American Tract Society , H. N. This sell, Agent, No. 929 Chestnut street, are working earnestly and well, for the entertainment and profit of the young people at this season. Their volumes are models of .typographical clearness and beauty, and the- contents are pure, elevating and evangelical. We have before us : Story Truths, by Bev. Joseph Banvard, D. D. Four 18mo. volumes in a stout ease, handsomely printed and illustrated. The author of these graphic narratives is an experienced and suc cessful writer for the young. .They embrace a great variety of stories, vividly illustrating and enforcing the most important truths. Very few holiday presents are at once so elegant and so cheap. Historical Tales for Young Protestants is a series of narratives well calculated to keep alive in the bosoms of Protestant children, a sense of their profound obligations to the martyrs and confessors of the sixteenth century. The Promised One as revealed in the Old Testament is a sort of Ohristology for the Young- Square, gilt. Kitty King , by H. C. K. Very acceptable to the quite young portion of the household. DEC. 26,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers