lasievicau tritob4ttrias GENESEE EVANGELIST. THURSDAY, JANUARY I'6, 1862 JOHN W. MEARS, TEE ART OF PRAYER, ART need not be artificial. It need not repress and chill impulse. Nor is it to be regarded as a substitute for nature, or as a mere form intended to hide the absence of reality. True art goes hand in hand with nature, rising above, but not running counter to, nature; different from, but Welding, nature. It is a naturalness refined, purified of blemishes, formed by election and combination of what is best in nature. Hence why may there not be an art of prayer? Not that by any amount of application a prayer less spirit may reduce the wide distance between himself atkd the earnest soul that by the simplest, rudest methods presses its way to the mercy seat. But there is a best way even for the earnest soul to draw near to God, and that is the art of prayer. 1. That we may more certainly escape being misunderstood, we lay it down as a prime element and prinoipe in the art of prayer, that there be some thing seeking expression. There must needs ex ist a want, a devotional sentiment, a gush of spi ritual joy, an upward, lark-like impulse of grati tude, a deep craving tor God, an interest in his name and his kingdolii and in our fellow : men as the Subjects of his government, pressing for utterance in private or in public, before we can speak of prayer or its methods. As the painter, the sculptor, the architect, the musician, the poet, must have an idea seeking expression be fore he can claim to be an artist, so the elements of prayer must precede the art of prayer. 2. Prayer is a method of speech. The Sa viour taught his disciples to pray in certain words. He himself in- -prayer " lifted up his eyes and said" the sublime words recorded in the seventeenth chapter of John. Vague reveries, devout sentiments, or even raptures of religious emotion are not a cultivation of the art of prayer. That is done by the use of articulate words. Thinking on ono's knees is perhaps a too com mon form of private devotion. Not but that we may ray iri._Ategght. Th4ght is deubtleas a suflolent expression of our . - feelings and wants . to God. Yet he prays with most facility and thinks most clearly, who , gives articulate expression to his thoughts. The uttered word reacts upon the unspoken word, helps to check wandering thoughts, lays a demand upon the thinking power . for continuity, concentration, clearness. It is part of the art of prayer to use spoken or whispered words, even in secret. Else why a closet, to which even the Saviour bids us repair ? Why shut the-door against the, world and pray in secret, when every man may make a secret Chamber at any moment of his thoughts, and direct them to the Deity unnoticed in a crowd ? The Spirit, it is true, helps our infirmities with groanings that cannot be uttered. Yes there are desires and longings in the heart of every one that truly prays, that open into the infinite, and that transcend the methods of human ex pressiou;--yetthe very struggle to pour out these ciesires is profitable and elevating to the soul. thVindeed be true prayer, if they did sot press for utterance f And would the Spirit's hSlp be prized, if their utterance ve:e not felt to be of the highest importance and necessity ? In fact, is it not one of the main difficulties of truly devout persons in this state of existence, that all forms of expression to which they are now limit ed, are inadequate, aidlio they not long for the heavenly world is .one in which these checks Shall all be taken, aiiy,,and when the highest fervora of holy passion shall find free channels of expression? And what- is all that sea of music which is. described as rolling over the plains of heaven,and centring in the throne of the Deity, but a figure _by which to convoy to us the libera tion of tongues and the enlargement of our pow ers df utterance which shall distinguish that exaltetV state of existence ? Doubtless the cul ture of the artot Fart-upon earth by articulate utterance, is a preparation and training for the larger, ever melodious, all-sufficient utterance of heaven.., 8. We may we' ourselves, body and mind,. prudently or otherwise in prayer. We may be wise or unwise: in the management of the being vtlio prays. Time, place, -circumstance, may all lie bOnstated as adjuncts in secret prayer. We can scarcely cultivate the art of prayer' in utter disregard of them. Jesus went up into a moun tain to pray. His divine nature yearning to , wards heaven, prompted him to climb the heights ef, 'Palestine, and there, beneath the stars all garttiar: and_seemingly close above him in the transparent azure of the Judean sky, to spend the night in communion with his Father. Peter went up upon the. house-top to pray. The gathering place of the first company of disciples was in an upper room. ' And every one . who keeps up the prietiee of secret prayer, knows the power of association in the stated hour, and the fathiliar closet, corner, or retired spot,- seeming to repel Worldly suggeitions and inviting an d facilitatipg the heavenward movement of the soul. The art of prayer includes a proper regard. tp thps_eiroumstances. It provides, too, suit "" able order of topics from day to day. The devout soul is ,neVor kr want of objeks of prayer. As faith in..a . proyer-hearing God id strong, so these ()Weep multiply , until time and memory itself fail '..us rot rehearsing them in his ears. Let thim be aysternatized then and brought in order before-him. Let °Roll season of the year, each d'ay of the week, nay, 'each hour in the day, if you please, have its more appropriate topic of supplication. The topics presented by the Evan- Alliance for the preceding week of prayer illi'uatrate our meaning. Each day had its own e'ilaelne, its own class of interests, around which the, prayerful meditations of God's people every where might gather. In this view let every week be a week of prover: • Set aside a class of objects for every day. As the seasons change, or as leading events in your own history or that of the Church 'and the world seem to demand, modify your sohente. Better than the best constructed prayer -book are the providence and the word of God. Managed thus, your prayers will grow in fullness, in definiteness and in inte rest to yourselves, and even a dull and prayerless fine will be quickened and prompted by the contemplation of the topics for which thus be fcreha,d your prayers are solicited. (But come, 0 supplicating Spirit ! help our infir mitiee with thy unutterable groanings. Teach us -A N D who know not how, what we should pray for and as we ought, and intercede for us, and in us, ac cording to the will of God. • THE ATTITUDE OF ENGLAND, • "COMMON FAIRNESS" TO REBELS. This phrase . as it appeared in our news columns of last week, has called forth an inquiry- from one of our subscribers. It was spoken of the probable fu ture attitude of England in the event of the sur render of Mason and Slidell to the protection of the British flag, and was transferred from the te legraphic columns of the dailies without altera tion and without thought to our own. One would think that" common fairness " to a friend ly power, implied an unfriendly and discoura ging attitude towards rebels causelessly and wick edly in arms against it. The application of the phrase to the rebels themselves has quite a differ ent look, especially in case of a reaction from po sitive sympathy with the rebellion, and as indica ting the utmost that can be expected in the way qf friendly manifestations from Great Britain dur ing our troubles. As the phrase was in all pro bability coined by newspaper agents without au thority, it may not be well to lay too much stress upon it: Yet, if it shoiildthin out to be true, or even better than the. truth, who that. has consi dered the course of England; could be surprised? Who would,be greatly astonished to-hear of the British recognition of the sliveholding Confede racy ? • While many noble spirits, and many enlight ened Christian men, and, perhaps; the great body of EVangelical Christians and true philanthro pists in that country are clearly with us in this struggle, the governing classes, nearly every lead ing newspaper, the quarterlies and monthlies which are known on this side of the Atlantic— the Edinburgh, the London Quarterly, even the North British, and, of course, Blackwood, most of the M. P.'s who, have expressed their views . to their constituents; have in the most decisive manner revealed their conviction and their plea sure in the downfall of the reptiblie, and even. in many instances, their positive SyinpathY - with the South. This has been the of things hitherto, and unless we at home quell' this rebel lion promptly or Show that we, can do it; it will be so more and more, even if a -- dazerikaion and Slidell surrenders take place. If pie do our part, we can afford to set at naught the opinions of a people we wish to: love - and respeet,lut *hose worship of monaretyaa of titles;'WhoSe devotion to commerce and whose jealousy of the v.:myth of fbreign powers; overbear their love of • •- . order and loyalty and geod government; :Weir chivalrous sympathy with. the oppressed, -and their cc renowed common sense," and repel- us just when we are taking a position more worthy than 'ever of their esteem, and .more likely: to conduce to friendly relations with them. We do not wish to give up. England. Besides our Own, we have esteemed her above all the nations of the earth; but as things now' look, we should not wonder if our country were drawn into a close alliance with that brave and liberal Sove reign of the North, who, strangely . enough, though autocrat of an ancient 'despotism, stands in the same position with this young nation in the historic movement of the race towards free dom, and is involved in internal troubles, as we are, from his attachment to the principles of personal liberty. 11 - e - Who. has proclaimed free- Jam to twenty millions of serfs will synirathize with a nation which has decreed a limit to the extension 'of slavery. England, alas ! has for gotten the era of her noble, self-sacrificing en thusiasm for freedom. She has forgotten the days of Clark and Wilberfoce. If it be not a mere transient frenzy, and if reason and righ teousness come not back to her councils, it is a black omen for her future. Editor. UT DR. COX AGAINST WAR WHITING [TEE following communication, 'designed for earlier insertion, did not reach us until our last week's issue was about going to press. The reader will feel with us that the delay has not unfitted it for publication, and every Christian heart must respond to its earnest desire for peace with England, and with the unhappy rebels in our own land. The war which we advocate, is for the defence and security of the only prin ciples upoit which pekoe , can be 'permanent— therefore is in the interest of peace. No true Christian could consistently advocate any other sort of war; but there are times like the present, when the advocacy and the vigorous support of war becomes one of the plainest and highest duties of the children of peace.) The recent death of Prince Albert may have some large influence, direct and indirect, on the empire of Great Britain possibly some on our • own relations there. It ought to have a salu tary religious influence, not on that nation only, as all of us must die, and some—not . us; have learned'of Jesus Chriat, that - preparation for death is of real importance ; necessary as well as practicable, attainable, supremely good. On this occasion, however, I have no funeral sermon to deliver; though now an aged preacher, probably not long for this world. I desire, for the sake of my country, of our parent nation, of the human race, and of the hope, and the faiths too, of the approaching millenium, to utter a word to whom it may concern, against the possibility, not to say the probability. of another war_ with F,ng latid. With the, secularities, the personalties, the politica of the question, I wish to have little to do. Enmigh of wisdom and folly, learning and ignorance,- passion if not principle, venality if not candor, rage if not humanity, prejudice if not statesmanship, will be found, oral and writ ten, in myriads of places, and perhaps to no very good result, at all events. Let us reflect on our highest relations; those supreme and 'eternal; involving considerations of duty, destiny, the account we must all render at the judgment seat of Christ, and the conse quences hereafter, to the wantonness of those who make war at such a time, and between two such nations ; professing so generally the only true religion, that of the Prince of Peace ! Should politics, or party, or politeness, or philo sophy make us forget two other matters, that we spell with the same frontal consonant—philan thropy and piety ? If war comes, some must make it for pride, or pelf, or—cotton; and we are accountable for what we do! - What a shame, a sin, a horror, for us again to enact that hell on earth ! a devastating, internal war of outrage; misery, murder; on land and wa ter 1 and for what? Can we justify it before God f The question answeis itself. Beware. LAND. Ainttican I?trobttrtian, and &cutoff .tlang.elifit. The sober, middle classes of both-nations, I am sure—as extensively knowing them, are unani mously adverse to the thought, as well as the fact I Who then are the factors of this damning abomination ? The partisans, the mercenary few, the political schemers, the soft grandee's, who stalk on elevated' platforiftir'ef national opulence and safety; loving "the: dear people" so well; as to set them at that work or Satan, in the- arena of fury Ain& death; where "the blood of your sons shall fatten your corn-fields, the war whoop disturb the sleep of the •cradle*—the surface of the main he ensanguined with red murder, as corpses float and navies sink amid the troubled waves of marine warfare. 'Yes, the authors of it all do none of 'the fighting ; and often find,'what their short-sightedness - deems sa tisfaction and reward, in the resulting conse quences. Why not think of the advantages ac cruing to them—in eternity? from his Award, who NEVER said Egir "Blessed are the [war] makers ; for THEY shall be called the children of God."—Matt. v : 9. See, if he did ! ,gya What special art, bravery, patriotism, or eter nal good sense, is there in forgetting who made us ? .for what-.we were made ? and what is the . good supreme of 'our existence ? Are not the pages of history sufficiently saturated with blood?• The first man born of a woman murdered his own twin brother; and since then, one-half of "the human species has been engaged almost steadily, that is directly or indirectly; in niurdering_the other half. My .soul, excliims" with one rof ; Old— a veteran of many Wars, whein experience`of such business of pandemeniuni had well nigh - sickened of the trade of war—but first, I quote that- best thing that Wellington - ever said, as - lie: walked his war-steed - over the eorPse7strewn field of,Wa terloo: "Good heavens"! what is worse than a , . • .• battle won—except a battle lost !" And also, that of our own Franklin : " I am of the opinion that there never was a bad peace, or a good war, yet!" And now for the histories of Scripture. .More than-two thousand nine hundred years ago, it was " Then Abner - called to Joab and said, Shall the sword devour forever ? Know est thou not that it will be bitterness in the lat ter end? How long shall it be, then,,ere thou bid the people return from following their breth ren ?' " Oh ! let the sword be less, and more the pen, in all Our futui:e contests ! shed ink, not blood ;•get the argument rather than the victory; cari more to .please the wise and the-pod, who - are to 'read it a thousand years hence, than or mimicking the ugly and the savage manneis'and .manceuvres of the chivalry of heathendom and the dark ages, to dispute the palm - of war; with all its damages, its dishonors, its terrible contingencies, and its entail of judgments and deadly sins ! Let us take full time for negotiation; for all the re sources of diplomacy; for reflection, calculation, research, and especially for -- prayer ! that the Great God may in mercy illumine out- path, who is the Father of mercies; that He may dis pel our prejudices, and rectify our vision, who is " The Father of lights ;" that He may calm our tempers, and bring us honestly to solve all our problems, in the tones of pacification and.reason and righteousness, who is "the Father of Sprits!" What I now say has much reference, indeed, to our home troubles; but intentionally:and mainly-more tothe idca of international war with England. I am no traitor to my country, arid can be no favorer of its present rebellion. Still, I remember that they are our national brethren 7 —and would 'they only read; meditate, and in wardly digest, the, Farewell Address of our own common Washington, and return to our own glo rious " E pluribus unum",:again; with no pride, malice, or memories of evil, how soon could we all receive them; healing every breach, and re storing paths in which to dwell together in unity again ! 0, might it be soon ! I call on Earl Russell, I call on our own Sew ard, and all others officially related to it, to ma nage this national nodus, with wisdom not only, but especially with. Christian wisdom, since " he that doeth wrong, shall receive for the wrong which he bath done; and there is no riespect of persons."—Col. iii: 25. Statesmen are no ex ception. Nor is there any argument in the uni verse so properly portential as;this—what God thinks of our doings ; and whether we can afford to offend the God of Peace, who knows our mo tives ; who condemns` our - negative, as well as our positive, aberrations from' his' law ; and who cri minates the lost, for what th. 4 did not; of truth and duty, to his cause and-to his people; as really as for any other and More overt transgres sions. It is time that the law of God was more re cognizedand honored as the law of nations— as it Will be, supreme and universal, when "the Lord hath made bare his holy arm," as soon and permanently He will, " in the eyes of all nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see, the salva Lion' of our God." Mat. 25:31-46; Heb.l3 : 20;_ ; 10. - ''Need we beseech all Christians, especially the ministers of Christ, to pray for peace, with one grand, goodly agreement ? All events are in the hands of God, who is " excellent in counsel and wonderful.working." Isa. 28 : 29. Is it possible that two nations so allied, with Bible Societies, churChed, Sabbath schools, and a common a glorious Christianity, for their reli gion,:can proudly andimpiously plunge again into war'; to the dishonor of their Redeemer and the contempt of all the' malicious enemies of the truth ? Forbid it all Christians, forbid it Jos s Christ Shall we go again to war? Rumors and re verberations from the. British Islands, seem to portend it. And for what, oye recklewleVelers of thousands ? for cotton for money, for greed, for sordidness in some way 1 A good motive is not to be suspected in it. Q God ! prevent the diabolical mischief; the grand nuisance of the World's history; the deepest death-grave of ages For one, as the minister of the Great God, I re cord my official, personal, cordial, devout and solemn PROTEST AGAINST IT ! -I will not cease to pray, and hope Chat war be tween the two nations especially may never again exist! SAMUEL HANSON COX. Leroy, N. Y. Jan. 3d, 1862. *'Esher Ames The Second Church, Arcwqrk, Olvio, le Imp plied by Mr. Williant :Lusk; Jr., a recent gradik_ ate of Princeton. - The Third Church (v* Cincinnati, Ohio, has given to the Bev. J. B. Stewart,,(©. S.) who has been their stated supply for several months, a unanimous call to become tkeir.pastor. A REQUESTED REPLY. To the Editor of the American Presbyterian : It is not my desire to.write on the subject of the Constantinople difficulties,''but I- am happy to respond to the inqliries to which you ask an answer. • The extracts whj'gave from the two latest 'annual reports attbspoard,.show that informa tion has been given to . the Board and the public, of the precise character of the difficulties at Con stantinople, viz : that they were connected with questions of pecuniary disbursements, growing out of a desire on the part of certain native bre thren to share in iheicontrol of the [American] missionary funds; and therefore, by necessary inference, were not related to the- question of ecclesiastical rights, unless it be an ecclesiastical right of the native ininistry to administer- the contributions of AmeziOan churches, made to the treasury of the American Board; and by it com mitted to its own agents, the missionaries, for use in the work of evangelization in the fields of its operations. Your colaments and inquiries leave me still at a loss in regard to your view on this point, which is fundamental to the question of the ecclesiastical parity of the-missionaries and native ministers. AA. native ministers deprived of an ecclesiastical xight, or .subjected to a posi -1 tion of ecclesiastical ' eriority, because they are not allowed 1.6 vote ' `r :715W11 salaries-:from :the American Board;'l3f , "e the `aid - to.be.given to' native helpers and churches, they hiving respon -sibility not to the givers, but only to the re ceivers ? Shall brother Mahar and brother Zahar outvote Dr. Goodell in determining how much of the Ameriemi Bible Society's appropria lion shall be given ta . a son Of the one, or whe ther a brother of theather Shall be employed as a colporteur ? I surely- need not argue -this question. - -.: . And, 3 et, unless *thi.s ground• is taken, what foundation is,there for the complaint of. the pas tor of the Pera church r or your query in regard to it ? Dr. Dwight has tetkified in your columns that. the pastor and church have administered their ec clesiastical affairs without any interference from the missionaries. The' latter have recognized pas tor Simon as a minister, on an equality with them selves in every relation and manner, except by admitting him to the,' business . , sessions of the mission, or station, Nifth an equal voice in, the disposal of its funds, and : have-further. left lahn entire independefi*Chemselves in the gov ernment-of his churel4-4n,what, then, does-his alleged inferiority consist ? We are now prepai* to consider your specific inquiries; premising. tat they are supposed to imply the existence Of such a permanent ecclesi astical organization as the native pastors and churchei in Constantinople and its vicinity have taken steps to form, and which will soon be com pleted. , 1. By whom would a native pastor accused of theft be-tried? By the ecclesiastical body—" The Presbyte rial Assembly"-4 which he is a member. If found guilty, be would be deposed from the mi nistry. In this procedure, the missionaries, as corresponding members of the body or otherwise; might' give counsel and instruction, but would have no authoritatiVe-Zice. _ The full 'ecclesias tical rights and responSibilityvionld be with the native orinrkatian. 2. If thus tried by a court of natives, would the Mission or the .11.givtaceeRt the finding of that court as final ? Final as to what?_ Ceriainly, it - would be ac cepted as final, at leak., until new proceedings could be had in a regular mariner, as to? his status as a miniSter-A4that-tiody'But would the Mission, if they saw crime shielded by a na tive court, be obliged to employ the, criminal as an agent of the American Board, or support him as a pastor from its, funds.. If the native cede siastical'body tolefates?heresy, will it'not be the right and duty of the missionaries to counsel, and instruct, and _plead for the truth, and, In eases of sufficient magnitude, withhold-,peenniary aid ? Missionaries have no right ,of dominion over the native churdies but they are under respOnsibility to God and their sUppoiters for all proper moral influence and the right use of mis sionary funds commit* to there. , . , . [lt is very plain thAt, according to W., the finding of the court wolhld not be - regared as final by, the ~ , Misslon.,Justes ,the. Atnerican Home „ at om Dijs,sionary Soeiety. - have refused to . eon, sicler the finding of, `ritPresbytetyfm'al as to the standing of Of' itsraissionaries within the bounds of thee Presbytery, 130 'the outside organization of the fission reserves to itself a right, which, must be seen to be incompatible with ecclesiastical parity.l—En. ' 3. Why should ,missionaries be pastors, and united with the natives in ecclesiastical bodies in, the Sandwich Islands, and not, in Turkey ? For the reason first,- that the Armenians of Turkey are- nComparably superior to the natives of the Sandwich Islainh; and can furnish'-their own pastors and admirter their` own ecclesias tical affairs, aS"the lattercannot do. But, secondly and chiefly, the missionaries in the Sandwich. ; lslands are .perma.riently- and closely identified with the people. Theyare•co lonists, landholders, permanent residents, natu ralized citizens, and members of the government in certain instances.' =. The foreign eleinent is there, in important respects, and as a future cer tainty, the prcdom.iii*sui.e :D But in TUrkey, the missionaries are aie:iLscattered foreigners,. laboring to introduce pure Christianity among abiding, And strong, 4tia. independent races of men, who will not yield to a foreign ecclesias tical control. When the Plan of 'chnieb. organi zation was drafted at' Gonstantinople in 4:846,- the Armenian converts declared against becoming an American church. They could not have easily, if at all, been persuaded into becoming anything else than fi l mic and ".Evangelical Arme nian Church ?" And:why shonld they be any thin& else ? Why should they be pressed into a foreign mould ? The, missionaries and •natives were -unanimous in their, judgment; and why should there not be liberty. accorded to them to found a self-governing:Arminian Church, ludo pendent of a foreign admixture as well as , sub. • jection. . • fl So long aathe partieular churches are few and feeble, and farther -from each other, (as several of the contiguous ones in Turkey are in time, and cost of travel,) than i Philadelphia . is from St. Peel's, the managemettinust be: according to the cirsminstances; but wiiin. they are related. to each other, as some are . Western Turkey,: they should be (as these -arelaboutto be) associated by a bond of,ecelesiastical union. The native pas tors are, in every caseland to the fullest extent,' ministers. As such they are treated as oda foot ing of perfect- equality with the missjonaries. The Armenian pastors and church of Constanti nople and vicinity, chose. not to take the mis sionaries into their ecclesiastical organization, and the missionaries prefer to waive all claim to all ecclesiastical ,connection. That they, will have weight and influ'ence, - and that their administra tion - of 'the fundg of the:missions (not of native contributions) will practically affect the action of the ecclesiastical body in some instances, is inev itable and most desirable ; but this will be on any plan. The native pastors in Constantinople do without missionary interference what the na tive members of the Presbytery of Maui and Mo lokai cannot do, and therefore have a higher, not - a lower status, as compared with the missionaries from America. All questions that are reserved exclusively to the missionaries in the one case, are equally so reserved in the other; so that the native pastor in the Sandwich Islands has no advantage, but is less independent in respect to missionary • control. The conduct of the Pera Church and pastor has evinced a painful degree of human imper fection; but the latest intelligence has a consid erably more favorable aspect: . Grace will triumph where it exists, and experience will give instruc tion. The testimony is that Pastor S. and his chureirlave very little, sympathy, from others it - their complaints, and more in - their declaration of schism; and there is some prospect of an early reconciliation. W. A SOUTH CAROLINA PAPER. A copy of the Southern Prcskyterian, pub lished at Columbia, S. C, December 7th, has been furnished us by a friend. It was brought through the lines by a lady who recently made her escape .from the far South. The paper on which it is printed is dark and flimsy, though the size of the sheet is unaltered as compared with former issues. In general appearance it is very inferior. Extracts from Bancroft, Edward Everett, and the Scientific American make up a large part of its miscellany, showing that even South Carolina as yet depends in part upon the North for its intellectual supply. It is ominous that two columns of fine type are appropriated to obituaries. One of these ref" to the surgeon Buist, who was slain at the en- Ogeraent at Hilton Head Island, by a shell from one,of'our vessefi. He WaS the son of Rev. Ed= ward T. Buist, D. D., and was but 25 years old. , Allusion ,is Also made, editorially, to his death, 'and mention is made of a tribute paid to his me mory in the Second Presbyterian church, Charles- ton, which was apparently of the most bombastic character. It was deemed suitable to introduce several poetical quotations into the address, among which "A high-born heart and Southern pride," sounds strangely from an evangelical pul pit. The recovery of his body is spoken of as if it were an accident merely, and not due to the generous courtesy of the victors; so different from the conduct of the rebel, generals in refer ence to the body of Cameron. Large- extracts are given from a sermon preached on the Southern Fa.stlday at Peters- burg, Va., with the very candid title : "The sins of the gouthern Confederacy hindering its Suc cess and threatening its Existence." The main point made, is the failure to recognize_ the an- thority of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the new govertunent, ,The Atheistical character Constitution. is referred to, And we are furnished with one of those gross and melancholy instances• of delusion into which goos men , of the South -fall,' as to the character of our Chief Magistrate. The redder will remember that in the early part , of the struggle, the Southern papers persisted'in representing Mr. Lincoln as - habitUally ; drunk. The Petersburg preacher is sure he is an avowde Atheist. Hear. him I Speaking of the absence of the divine name from our Constitution he says.: "The omission was .a fearful one, and it is not surprising that He, who proclaims His jeal ousy of His own glory, should let fall the heavy blow which has brought down that irreligious nation. - And a signal proof of a retributive Pro vidence is afforded by the fact that the over whelming blow fell upon 'it under the adminis tration of an avowed Atheist, for such is Mr. Lin coln as I have been informed upon good autho- rity, a fact communicated by a distinguished gentleman Of this State, who once resided in the same town and knew him well. Thus, the Ame rican :aation..begnia its :career under godlcos Constitution ; and ended it under a godless despot." , • From various ecclesiastical reports'we gather a number of interesting facts. One` thing is Clear—the Thorni'ell doctr:ine that the Church has nothing to do with Secular matters, is now utterly ;repudiated in-South Carolina. One-half of the male membership of;the churches in South' Carolina Presbytery are reported by the Synod to be in the army; and but for their female Mem bers, their Sabbath Schools would have tO 'be abandoned. In Bethel Presbytery, ins the same Synod, the 'attendance on the services' of the sanctuary has been greatly reduced t by ,the war. EfFerti'for‘the evangelization of - the colored po pulation "of one blood with us," say the,Synod; are spoken of as vigorously and successfully pro secuted. There is nothing of the pond and defiant tone of Southern, politicians , in the follow ing sentences in tie narrative "Notwithstanding Provi deuce has greatly blessed no 'With abundant harvests, Yet from all 'of -our Presbyteries we hear Ofilhebd - ruin villa - our present calamities have wrought throughout our beloved Zion. The number which appears in our sanctuaries is few—our hoines have been dismantled; and already have :Many been called, to lay their loved ones in thee grave. May trod speedily avert from us this terrible scourge, and say to the destroying angel :- " Stay. .thy hand; it is enough.' [More in our pelt] REFRESHING; THE following extracts from the Cotonial Presbyterian, St. John, New Brunswick, we call refresking, because we have not seen so ranch good common sense; Christian charity, and mag nanimous impartiality, in any of the aniinadier along of the British Press, a few eases excepted, upon the present struggle in this country. W e are glad, to know,that there are some loyal sub jects' of England:who are not so far .blinded by selfishness, that they cannot perceive the prin ciples-involvot in our present contest, and whose judgments are'' not so completely perverted, as to prevent them from coming to a fair and righteous dieeiSion on the claims of the two contending par ties to, the sympathies,.support ; and good wishes of the rest of the world. "To us it appears much more difficult for a true British subject to sympathize with the South than with the North, and we are convinced that principles enunciated by the pro-Southern Cana dian and New Brunswick press, would, if prac tically carried out, be fatal to the safety of the British Empire. They are, in short, utterly se-, ditiout and dangerous, contrary to all divine and human laws. " Curses" are not the only things which " like chickens come home to roost." Evil principles bring retribution in their train. To hold that, apart from any exercise of oppression by a Government, creating a moral right of revo lution, its authority is to be cast off at pleasure or through caprice; its property seized; its courts of justice subverted; to hold that all oaths Of allegiance to it may be violated without moral guilt or political degradation, is to hold that civil - government rests upon no divine sanctions or other stable basis. We maintain that there has rarely been a more just war waged in this world than that by which the Federal Government aims at suppressing the Southern rebellion and pre serving the nationality of a great people. As British subjects we resent any insult to our na tion's flag, and demand an antende. But internal rebellion is worse than external war ; to be an enemy is to occupy an honorable position as com pared with being a traitor. How well it looks to see those who are ready to fly to arms to maintain the honor of th'eliritish flag, in the same breath'. de nounce the United States for rising up as one man to wipenut the reproach of Fort Sumter I Dr. Bowring is horrified that a peaceful solution cannot be had of such a fratricidal strife. But he and all those who think with him can hardly think of settling a national affront otherwise than by an appeal to arms. There has been revolt in India. There has been discontent in Canada. There was lately a jubilation over a dead rebel in an integral section of the British empire—re echoed even in New Brunswick. Do we wish to establish the principle that rebels—that men who revolt without any just cause against a legitimate and beneficent government deserve sympathy and .aid, while the legitimate authorities deserve only to be treated With coldness if not with hos tility ? Such is the clear and undoubted ten dency of the teachings of the pro-Southern . press of New Brunswick. To maintain the honor of our nation; to sustain, perhaps the:best govern ment the world ever saw, swayed by the best of sovereigns—this is our duty, and its performance I redounds to our honor. To gloat over the mis- fortunes of a kindred people ; to smile upon trai tors; upon a slaveholding oligarchy; to discou rage the friends of human freedom, and the patrons of honest and well regulated labor—this will prove to be the disgrace, if not the ruin of all who are 'found so doing." The following, from the last number of this paper, is on the settlement of the "Trent" affair, and manifests a truly Christian spirit, as well as a strong desire, for the peace and prosperity of both England and the United States : " Notwithstanding the preparations for war made in England, and the firmness of the Palmer ston-Russel Cabinet, we are not absolutely shut up to the conclusion that war must have ensued had the just demands of the British Government been rejected. Surely, had the Federal Govern ment:been clear that, the law was on their side, there would have been room for diplomacy or for abitration. If not, what claims can England put forth to be a Christian or even 'magnanimous , As , the matter has turned out, a firm policy has proved to be the safelf, 7 , - e;i;e as regarcii peace. < Bue,who is it that does" not feel - that we have had a narrow escape from 'War ? - Who is it whose heart is not truly grateful to God that we have been saved from thii fearful calamity? The Christian - people of Great Britain and Ireland were bent as• one man in prayer to God that so great a calamity might be averted. Our letters and papers describe the . profonnd feeling on this .subject which pervaded the country. Great will be the joy of the fatherlanida, when, contrary to all expectations, it is kaown that the difficulties in the'way of peace have been overcome." CITY RELIGIOUS ITEMS. FIRST. CIFORCEI KENSINGTON.—The annual sermon preached by the pastor on the first Sab bath of the New Year, showed a very flourishing state of affairs.. There were received into the church during the year, 123 persons : the whole number of communicants now is 912: number of . pew-holders 228 number of families connected with the church, 350 All the pews are -taken, and there - are constant applications, which, the Trustees. - are unable to meet „he income from pew yents . dnring the year, was over 200 dollars more than the last, or any previous year; and about 160 more than the current expen,ses. For purposes of benevolence, etc., the contribu tions amounted to over 1100 dollars, In the afterUoonthe Sabbath school held its 45th anni versary, an immense gathering was present, and the exercises were deeply .interesting. The children presented their offerings . to . the American Sunday School: Union, amounting to 180 dollars. Addresses were made by Messrs. Paxton and Godfrey of the Union, and by the pastor, Rev. W. T. Eva. INTERESTING. STATE qp. THINGS Rt Jefferson ville and Flourtown. We are happy to learn from Rev. A. J. ,Snyder pastor of the Springfield church, that a delightful and profitable season has been enjoyed in the above places.- Special services have been held in both churches, Which ciesed the 3d inst. Christians were revived, backsliders. were, reclaimed and a number of hopeful .conversions took place. ; Very serious impressions still prevail in many minds, and the pastor is encouraged by the prospect of accessions and a general strengthening of the churches un der his care. - The 23d anniversary of the. S. S. Bible Society of the 3d aura was recently held. The annual report his been received and will appear in full in our next. ' THE MCTIVAINB S. MISSION SABBATH SCHOOL helongipg to the let Presbyterian church,.Philadelphia, celebrated its fourth anni versary, Jan. 9th, at 3i o'clock, in the Sabbath school rooms, at 7th and Spruce St. haiing long since out "grown the room they usually occupy. Over one hundred and fifty children were present, and were highly commended for their orderly conduct, and especially for their excellent .sing- Adinirable and.aPpropriate addresses were de livered by Messrs. Geo. W. Mears and - Paxton, interspersed with singing . ; the latter,,giving an interesting account of his first. experience in Sabbath school teaching, and his subsequent `ourneyings with his faithful pony Robert .taikes. The pastor Rev. A. Barnes, was then invited to ask a blessing upon the good things so bounti fully provided for the occasion, which he did; first calling the attention of the children to the goodness of God in bestowing so many blessings, and then to the stars and stripes which gracefully decorated the rock°, After the entertainment was over, and another interesting address from Mr. Lathrop, and sing. ing, the School was dismissed. The teachers then joined in their nival parting exercises. REV. DANIEL MARCH of Woburn Mass. has accepted the charge of Clinton St. church, made vacant by the resignation of Dr. Darling. He was expected to enter upon his duties at once, but we regret to learn that the health of his fa mily is such as to interfere with this arrange ment, an invalid daughter having suddenly be come & too ill for removal. Mr. March brings with him a high reputation as a public orator and has made an exceedingly favorable impres sion upon the congregation of Clinton St. church. We trust that the delay thus providentially in terposed, may prove but temporary. THE WEEK OF PRAYER was observed by daily union meetings of our churches through the week. The weather was unfavorable during nearly the whole season, and the attendance was but moderate, yet an excellent spirit prevailed, and the impressions left upon our people were good. Monday appointed by the Assembly as a day of fasting and prayer_for the world's conver sion fitly introduced the services. Mu Oath gen. Hr. Edward Payson Walker, late Professor in Marietta College, Ohio, was a licentiate of our church. A correspondent of the Herald and Recorder thus speaks of him: Though but twenty seven years of age when he died, Prof. Walker had developed remarkable powers, and there was every reason to believe that a career of distinguished usefulness, was be fore him. He was, hopefully converted early in his college course. He entered upon his duties as Professor with zeal, and had already formed large plans. He possessed, in an eminent de gree, many 'of the requisites for such a position as he occupied, and high hopes were entertained of his success. He had consecrated to the work all his powers, and was ready by teaching and by preaching to do all he could to promote religion and education in the field where God. had cast his lot. He was a licentiate of =the Athens Presbytery, the members of which, knowing, as they did, his great promise, will mourn his de parture. The College, the Presbytery, the Churches, the whole community, have suffered bereavement. Seconl Church, Nczcark.--ne pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, Newark, N. J„ J. Few Smith, D.-P., has been doing what every pastor ought, who lives to commemorate any special anniversary in- his church. He has sig nalized the completion of half a century since the building of the church, by preaching a historical discourse, in which he has embodied all the facts of interest that have marked these first fifty years of its life. The, church has had seven pastors, and several of them are historic names in Pres byterian annals: .1. Rev. Hooper Cumming; 2 Rev. Edwa.rd ,Derr Cliffin, D. D.;2, Rev. P.,C. Hay, D. D.; 4. Rev. Ebenezer Cheerer; 5. Rev. J. B. Condit, D. D. 6. Rev. G-. L. Prentiss, D. D.; 7. Rev. J. Pew Smith, D. D. Origi nally the church - had 93 members, all from the First Church, three of whom are still living in connection with the church; 1545 have been added; making the. Whole number 1638. The present number is 448.--LN. Y. Observer. Opportgne Indemnity.—We understand, says the Evangelist, that the Treasury of the Ame rican Board is soon to receive a considerable sum of money from China. Some years ago, a serious loss fell upon our mission in that country by the destruction of the printing establishment. The recent treaty provides' for the payment, by the Chinese, of such losses by _citizens of the United States, and the claim of the Board is un, derstood to be allowed to the - extent of $20,000. This sum, providentially coming in this winter, will go far towards balancing the debt .of $28,- 000, reported at the last meeting, and leave the contributions free for current expenses. Revival at 874elbyville, IX—Our little church at Shelbyville has been watered from on high, and precious souls enlisted in the army of Christ, as " soldiers .of the Cross. 7 Last Sabbath, the last Of the year, Brother Sheldon received twen ty-four on profesSion of faith, and three by letter, nearly "doubling their previous membership; while others are indulging hope. God has chosen here, at this time, those who are now exerting a wide influence in the community, and therefore give promise of much usefulness in the church. We hope-and pray that these mercy , drops may be multiplied upon our feeble churches through out Southern Illinois, even though the din of war does so nearly drown the claims of religion, and• the voice Of God.—Car. Evangelist. • The First Church, at Parsippany, N. J., have given a nnanimons call to the Rev. T. P. (P. B.?) Bonney, of New Brunswick, to become their pas tor, and he has aceeptedit. He was to be or: darned and installed by the PresbYtery of Rock away, on Friday afternoon, Jan. 3d at 2f 'o'eleck. Coshocton:, Ohio.—This plane contains about 1500 inhabitants. Within - the last-six months, the house of worship of We SeeondTresbyterian Church has been repaired, or rather finished, at a cost of $425. TIES GASH 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 looli for the hearty co-operation of our subscribers; oth erwise it will prove a difficult and one-aided .affair altogether. Cash to the printers, cash for mate riali, cash for office expenses, and editor's salary,. requires cash promptly from' our subscnlers. At this season, while money 'is flowing freely for, a thousand minor objects, the claims of our paper TN anvANoz, will not be forgotten. GOD never prepares'a future birth of a inulti tude,_ any more than of an individual, 'without having prepared a bosom on which it may he, and food which it can eat. When there is "want there is a supply already provide& gare.ef_the ; fo.l/1 s the.one thing needful JAN. 16,
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