Itutricau (gtitobettrialt -' - A NI)-- GENESEE EVANGELIST. )" THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, '1862. JOIEN - Wi' NEARS, TUE PRAYER MEETING of our Churches will beheld to-day, Thursday, at 4 o'clock, P. M. in Caavaryr church. 40111110 H GOVERNMENT IN MINIONS. _Pam the American Board has done and is doing, a great work for Christ in the heathen World, is a most-evident, as it is a gratifying fact. No Christian, but especially, no member of either of the Christian bodies in America composing its constituency, can withhold his thanks to Almighty God for the signal success which has &owned its efforts. , Yet it cannot be regarded as, inconsistent with this feeling, to notice, in its management, what seem to be defects and hin drances to even a still greater measure of success. For our part, we believe that a much broader basis would be laid for steady and permanent results among the heathen, if some legitimate form of church government were established in connection with the missions of the Board. Such a' government does not, in our opinion, now exist. The arguments of " NV" in our columns have served but to confirm us in this opinion. The part taken. by W" in the organization of such forms as obtain on one of the most impor tant fields—that of Turkey—qualifies him to give testimony on the subject. There is doubtless a good deal of machinery, there are old familiar titles, but when the test is applied, the empti ness of the whole structure is manifest. The outside, independent " Mission" reserves to itself the'right of review, and accepts or rejects the deolsions of the native court, as seems best to themselves.. The decisions of the native court are not, of themselves accepted as authoritative by rthe Mission ;" it is requisite that they should 'commend themselves to the judgment of this body, which is in part made up of laymen, and which has not the slightest ecclesiastical h• connection wit the native court, Whose decisions it reviews. ,- NPw ,this may frequently have been expedi ent; under the circumstances, but how idle to argue- that it is a regular ecclesiastical process or that it is not utterly at variance with the essence of Church Government, and, that the Church Cunrt, whose decisions are thus set miide, is not, o talgto; a sham 1 "W." says the finding would be accepted as final "until new proceedings could be had in a regular, manner." Where would these new pro ceedings be had ? If in some superior , native court, surely the Mission would still regard the result as open to their revision, "if they saw crime" still " shielded by a native court." And though the native ecclesiastical system comprised *Am courts of appeal, how' would this better the case if the mission had power to review and te. annul the last decision which was reached ? It seems, to us that for the protection of all rights, for the culture among native converts of a , llOl-,ohurch.cousolatumess, and for the deep and solid establishinent of the kingdom of Christ in thellission field, nothing is better than the ex tonikm of the Home organization over the foreign field, thus 'including missionaries and their con vipts and engaging the whole church for the, nurture, and the defence of the feeblest of her membership. To this the Presbyterian Church is .adapted, it is a complete system for the extension, of the Gospel over the world. MUT A WISE ADMINISTRATION CAN DO. 3 , Wl= .we • reflect upon the vast influence which an Administration can exert upon public opinion., we are more than ever impressed with the duty of earnest prayer on the part of every Christian in its behalf. e believe that the present- administration has unusual opportnni. tits for directing' the sentiment of the people upon the highest of moral questions, and that there is in it an amount of sagacity eminently qualifying it for the task, , How it can even sway, zhodify, and convert that opinion, was most manifest in the Trent 'affair. No one doubts that, if they had, seen fit, the President and his Cabinet, might have led on the people to a war with England, and that while we read of amicable and henorable adjustments, we might have been involved in all the phrenzy and excitement of a universal armament against this new and power ful foe., At one time, it would have been the easiest matter in the world to bring this about. Gentlemen . 9f intelligence declared that to offer to :surrender the commissioners would give the death-blow to the administration, and the van, eking' correspondent of the Times asserted that Mr; Lincoln' was too much afraid of mob violence to think of such a thing. On the contrary, the administration, by coolness, by a prudent silence, at, length wisely and ably, ordering its reasons, and by its influence, as an honest and patriotic government, revolutionized utterly the popular sentiment, end has Jet everybody praising it, and filled every one with pride in his nation for &Rag the very thing which at first looked like tlireixtreine of humiliation. 71Pittry friend of humanity watches this same abitiee of moral power with profound interest, phying that it may be wielded in the interest of *lan fieedom. The , rebellion- has been de w ii k ia In the interest of slavery. The vie a tergo o phe whole movement is supplied, through many intermediate channels, by the 850,000 slave holders, of the South. The wickedness of the. System of American Slavery has culminated in the form of rebellion and war, and these develop- Merit cif inhumanity and incendiarism, are open inithe eyes of the people to the true ch,aracter of the system, and preparing them to demand its removal from our social structure. They are clearing the vision of the North, once so blinded by commercial considerations, by political expe diency and ecolesiastieal ambition, and awaken ing its conscience to the monstrous wrong, the flagrant inconsistency, and the pre-eminent dis grace of slavery'to this Christian age and emit tit'''. Great and remarkable progress has been Whi t tle in the development of a national anti /41.01y sentiment. Nor will it, under any eir ogwnences, materially retrograde. The nation Will never, never forget the murderous blow which 1;w1. been aimed by slavery at its own existence. II mill demand that henceforth it be deprived of all power to stir . up such awful mischief. De est fa written upon it by an outraged peo ple. The blood of our slain, the mournful burial places of our battle=llelds, the memories of our (Treble, and Winthrop, and Cameron, and Lyon, and Baker, our often-insulted national emblem, cry out to us and swell the pleadings of humanity itself in our bosoms, until all the best principles join with all the greatpassionawithin us, in one ir resistible demand for the removal of the great evil. It is a far deeper sentiment than the ebullition of unthinking pride which was occasioned by the capture of Mason & Slidell, and cannot be turned aside as that was. Editor. But every Christian and - friend of humanity should pray that our Government may be led in the exercise of its powerful influence, to culti vate, develop and direct the sentiment, to en courage it all over the country.. While warring for the Constitution, let it be manfully and un compromisingly on the side of humanity. Let it lead on the nation in this great opportunity to a high and honorable position on the great ques tion of personal liberty. (For the American Presbyterian.) THOUGHTS ON THE ANNUAL CONCERT OF PRAYER FOR VTR CONVERSION OF THE WORLD. - 8 A. M.—We must not think 'of this day of prayer as beginning now, when we come together for our morning prayer-meeting. When yester day's sun was setting upon us, and rising upon Japan and China, it awakened some who are known to us, brethren in Christ, who are living and toiling in those far Eastern lands, to whom this is a day of precious observance. While we have slept, they have kept the day—have knelt in their closets, and have met together in pray ing circles ; have sung the same hymns, in the same tunes which we sing; have read the same promises from God's word, by which our faith is supported; and have offered up their petitions for the same great object, in the name of our only Mediator. They have kept the day, and its light has passed from them. They doubtless close it with .evening devotions in harmony_with those with which.we , hail this morning. Letting our thoughts move Westward, we are sure, that in India, and Persia, and throughout the. Turkish empire, there are scattered groups of beloied missionaries, from our own land, and from Europe, and with them many thousands of converts from paganism, and from corrupt and paganized Christianity, and from degenerate Ju daism, and now some from Mahometanism, who as the day advances , to their several' meridians, welcome it With grateful joy in "the communion of saints" which. it exemplifies; and are now spending its advant i ,ing. hours in- hannonious prayer. „ . Coming on to Europe, we are sure that .where ever there are Evangelical Christians, who read the Christian literature of our timesithey are not forgetful of this concert of prayer; in Britain, where it is now past mid-day, there are multitudes of Christians whose hearts are in union with us in offering the petition—it Thy litigd.Shi Mitten nor should we fail to notice that, in the Southern hemisphere, in corresponding longitudes, the de votions of the brethren in Southeast'Aftica, arid in Madagascar, have kept time with, those in-Sy ria and Turkey; while those in Western Africa have similar correspondence with those . in France and Britain. All, the broad and populous regions country east of us, hai"e already beheld the rising of this solemn, and happy, and hopeful anniver sary; and as it advances, the brethren on the Pacific coast will join in the concert,.and in due succession, they at the SocietY Islands, the Sand wich Islands, the Micronesian Islands, and all the Pacific isles on which the day-star of Gospel light has risen, and whose populations have been wakened from their heathen sleep by the glad song of redemption. Not until this day's sun shall have set upon the westernmost of those groups, will this concert of prayer be concluded. Thus does the whole Christian population of the globe move in long proceisl6, unbroken as the march of the hours, before the throne of Em manuel, reverently saluting Him as King, and entreating Him to take unto himself His great power i and reign for ever and ever. 8 P. Ml—Let us not close this days exercises without bringing to our minds 'one thought, full of comfort and hope, concerning our own dear country. The Christians of Britain have leng been in most fraternal union with us in the great work of universal evangelization. , One - of the finest illus trations of theirfraternal spirit, has been given Ey the Turkish Missions'. Aid Society: Much , more closely connected with Turkey, in political; relations than we have been, the Christians of . Britain have duly recognized the fact-that Chid, in His providence, had given to Amenean Chris tians the chief opportunity and responsibility for conducting the work of evangelization there. Wishing to assist in that great work, they have formed the association, just named, which simply raises funds from. British donors, and pays them into our Missionary treasury, asking for no part in the control of the Missions. This is a satnple' of the fraternal alliance between British and American Christians, in the work of evangeliza tion. Shall there he . war between 'these two nations ? It may be till() that - son - Le politicians in England would be willing to bring this about—and doubt less there has been recently much irritation of the public mind of Eritain under the misappre hension that our Government was disposed to act in a spirit of hostility. How pleasant it is to think that this day of prayer for nations conies immediately after our British brethren have probably read in their newspapers the pacific 'and magnanimous answer of our Gov ernnaent to the demand of their own I Have they not thanked God to-day for the spirit of jus tice and of friendliness which He has given to the rulers of our country, and for the relief thus vouchsafed to thein ffom the apprehended neces sity-of waging war against us ? We need not doubt:this--and we may be sure that in all Bri tain and Ireland, and in the Continental coun tries, in the remote and obscure valleys of the Alps, and wherever else there are Christians who know, by their own sufferings, howto prize reli gious liberty, no petition _has been offered more 'earnestly than this, that. God will preserve our free Government, and .rescue and save our dear distressed country. There surely is no better hope for our country, than that its welfare is connected with the high interests of Christ's kingdom, in the: almost unanimous prayers of His people, in all parts of the world. REV. DANIEL MARCH —We are Imppy to an nounce that Mr. March will preach in the Olin ton Street Church, on. Sabbath next the 26th inst.; morning and . night, ST. Louis, January 6, 1862 H. A. N. 24,..mtrixak . •Vrt.,oo.:t.t.iiotittld"-..6(titt0rt.,.....4-ttiot.- .., .. . ~ . .. PHILADELPHIA FOURTH PRESBYTERY, At a meeting of Philadelphia 4th Presbytery in the, Presbyterian House, 13th Jan. 1862, called " for the purpose of hearing, and dating upon the request of the Itev. D. G. Mallery and the Central Presbyterian church of Norristown, for a dissolution of the pastoral relation existing between them:" Mr. William McDermott, elder, appeared in Presbytery as a commissioner from Norristown Central church, and stated that the Session of the church, received from Rev. D. G. Mallery, pastor, a communication in Which he announces his acceptance of a chaplaincy in the army, offered the resignation of his pastorate, and re quested Session to call a congregational meeting to act on said resignation. Mr. McDermott further stated that, agreeably to Mr. Mallery's request, a congregational meeting was held on December 10th 1861, and it was voted to accept the resignation of the pastor. A letter, dated Camp Union, 51st Regiment, P. V. Annapolis, Md. December 27th 1861, and addressed by Rev. D. G. Mallery, to Rev. Robert Adair, who had presided at all the congregational meetings in Norristown, was read in which Mr. Mallery expressed the desire that Presbytery would dissolve his relation to the church. Presbytery, having heard the whole case, resolved to grant the request of the Rev. D. G. Maßory. The pastoral relation was thereupon dissolved, and the Rei. Andrew Culver, was ap pointed to preach in Norristown Central church, First Sabbath in February next, and declare the pulpit vacant." A true extract from the minutes. T. J. SHEPHERD, Stated Clerk. TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OP THE SABBATH SCHOOL BIBLE SOCIETY OE THE • THIRD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, PHILA. . Wu have not before us the records of the Third Presbyterian Church, from which to quote the day, or ; the year, on which, was laid the ", corner, stone" of the edifice within whose waits we are now assembled; but memory recalls .a historic fact embodied, more than ten years ago by the present pastor,. Dr. Brainerd, in the lan guage of poetry : " Old Pine street church I love, Full eighty years • Leading the heart above, And hushing fears, Its ancient walla have 'stood." So, then, we may fairly r infer a duration, for this church, of nearly one hundred yearsl - Our Sabbath School, however, is of modern origin; audits Bible Society brings us into a still more recent period; yet the Bible Society, if we ex cept the missionary cause, is the only society complete in its orginization,,which in . the Sab- bath School; has been able to maintain more than an ephemeral existence. Its path, hitherto, lies been marked by a certain, steady and uniform growth ;s and should we find in its present year's history, aught that has lain as a sttunblingiblool to impede ite accustomed progress, we may 'per haps, discover its analogy in those checks by which a wise.,..„„yet set ore Providence teaches et — iisailikood that nothiv but , viszilanee—and untiring perseverance are compatible with ctjeutl lifetime of prosperity; or,- perhaps, the cause of adversity may be sought outside. of the Bible ; Society, and found amongst the remote results of an unparalleled - calamity which has enwrapped the great framework of the nation at large in the flames of civil war. Like the lurid fires of expiring templewhich illumine the peaks of distant mountains, and . , steal ,into the shaded attic where lies the faded , form of the sick and dying—nothing escapes the influences of rebel lion and ,:war. They affect, as by a blighting curse, every peaceful interest, small and great, within the vast domain which God gave to .our fathers as our inheritance.. Without a ' metaphor —the war has taken from us some of our male . managers,; deprived us of our secretary, diverted our energies and diminished those' resources from which the managers not, enabled to glean their harvest. It need not, therefore, take our friends by surprise, should the results of the present year compare unfavorably with the past. TREASURER'S ACCOUNT FOR. 1861 Balance arthe: end of last year, $281140 Paid for fourteen Life memberships in the parent society,' for Miss Fanny Gula ger, Miss Lizzie Powell, Miss Emma 'Brainerd, Mrs. E. Ivins, Miss Jo sephine E. Park, Miss Mary T. Pile, Miss Caroline S. Pile, Mrs. Sophia Do naldson Mrs. Hannah Fliekwihr Thei: . 0. Brainerd, ReV. games M. ,Crowell, • - Bev. j. W. Jackson, E. W. Mclntire, Albert E. Hand, . $2lO 00 Bills for printing, in 1860, . 14'98 Balance COLLECTIONS FOE 1861. By Male Board, . . $102.94 By Female Board, . . 99 20 By interest on colleetiona 6 - 05 207 19 Balance The collections of 1860 were $254.30; those of 1861, as seen in the - Trea,surer's account ; are $207 19, which exhibits. a diminution of $47:01_ when compared' _with the preceding year; ' but what is, perhaps, more remarkable, is the fact that even more than the entire dinainution is dile to the male department; for the female' depart ment this year exceeds its colleptionr. of 1860. Yes. It is true that our,present year's, : labors have not been crowned with that degree of, suc cess which in previous years distinguished. the labors of our managers. We have already re ferred to what we believe are - its principal causes. Our society is neither discouraged nor dismayed. It still sings, as its resolve, one 'of the first of its anniversary hymns "We wont give.up the Bible God's Holy Book, of truth." Indeed is there not more need than ever for its sacred pages ? For the gospel which it bears to fallen man? How comes; it that our noon-day brightness has been turned to midnight dark - - nem? For sin God 'drove man from Eden. And man's depravitY has been permitted to work man's fearful punishment in .all his generations. The blood of nations, shed on the battle field, is but the external, painting of its inward and in veterate, guilt. The hardness of man's heart has severed , the golden chain of the marriage institu tion, and marred :the beauty of the family altar; made man the slave of man; and masters and slaves ialike" the alavei of appetite and passion. But 'God, against *hom we had rebelled, sent his son to break the iron fetters of sin and set free the;captives.. r . He, the great Physician brought a cure for the curse entailed on man by reason of transgreSsion; and modern Gihristianity has mistaken the balm of Gilead for the serpents poison! In the days of the Saviour evil spirits, cast out of . men, Wervinffered to seek shelterin the herd of srwine. At the present moment sla very, driven from almost every. Christian nation on the globe, makeva desperate struggle here to. , avert its overthrow by seeking to base its " cor ner stone" on divine authority! Or, at least, it endeavors to shield its upholders, fiom bnpen -.! ding doom, by virtue of letters patent awarding the degree of "surviving executor" under the law which pronounced the * curse of. Canaan. " Thy bond-men and - bond:maids shall be Of the HEATHEN ;" and "Ye shall take them as an -in heritance for ever MUst now be read in:the light of the gospel. give the HEATHEN" said the Most High to his - Son whom he " sent into the world, not to condemn the world ".to a continuation of its curse, "but: that the world through him might be, , saved"—" I will give the HzAmmw.for thine inheritance and -the utter most parts of. the earth for a possession." The negro slave belongs, then, to the promised inheri tance of him who is fifsee of ;the travail of his soul and be satisfied i3ttd*inust have a clear title to the full privileges the' Christian system ; Slavery needed no condemnation from the, 4pos T des to accomplish its 441:throughout' the Romail Empire: The chain * Melted, slowly, but surely, before the fires of thattospel, as it is melting at this moment throughout the vast dominions of Russia. Withhold not from the AmericanFlave his Bilge, his wife, and his children the Chris tian's inheritance; and here, as elsewhere; the iron oppression of slaVery itself, Must inevitably melt away and disappear for ever. Until all this be accomplished we surely have need for the con tinuance of Bible societies. DIED--In Catskill, on ,the 7th inst. at the residence of Mrs. Caroline Wey, Mits. Runt CROSWELL, widow of the late Dr. Thomas 0' H. Croswell, aged 96 years 10 months and 15 days. Iler long life was, passed in a most eventful period - of the world's' history, and eepeciallY of that portion of the weed in which we are most deeply interested, Shy-was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, the 22d of February, 1765. Had she survived but ;three years more, she would have completed a century. Her. life was almost a sixtieth part of the whole period of human his tory. It more than spanned the entire era'of our national' xistence up to the present time. Born in the year of that celebrated' act which first deal sively shaped the popular sentiments that event ually led to our Independence,' when the war of the Revolution breke out she was a girl of ten years, and when *ended, a young lady of seven teen. During this, eventful struggle her brother, John Pierce; was: the Pay-Master General of our forces, obtaining the appointment through the personal solicitations ""of the Commander in Chief himself, who, being 'assured of 'both his ability and his integrity, Pht forth special, and to, him unusual effort, to secure his election to this all important post. He held the office throughout the war ; &Behar in duties so as to.meet the _approlm •m S ashingtein; and to, receive from. the Representativof trpeople wrote oftlianksi with the commendation that he had so . fulfilled his trust that " his heart was 'pure; and his hands were clews." His name, I belicie, has no ,Place in our fOrinal Histories; but 'it lives'in the slettera of Washington. The wife: of this brother, was a daughter of Dr. Bard, , an eminent physician of New York, and, the medical attendant oroUr Commander in Chief during his residence.in that city. In conSequenee of these connections, 'Mrs. Crosviell, then Miss Ruth Pierce, and twenty-two years of age, wit.. nessed the inauguration of Washington, as the I First President of the United States. She re . membered vividly to her last days, the majestic forni of 'that man on whom so many and such vast hopes ,then centered, as he .striped; forth upon the balcony of the old Federal Hall in New ' York, (which stood where • the Custom . House now stands,)—and.after the enthusiastic shouts of the immense , . crowd:that welcomed him were at last silenced, took thelialemn oath to faithfully administer the Constitution and *laws of these United States. Subsequently, while on, a visit to. New York, she was invited to take tea with the family Of the President. He was at the time severely, and it was feared dangerously sick, and she remembered how Dr. Bard came down from his patient's room with a grave and anxious face, and- while they *ere seated at the table"told them What the Presi dent had said to him A few MODaerits before: His disease was the quinsy. ` Irving in his Life of Washington speaks of the attack, and the ang iety it caused, and this the more because it oc curred so near the commencement of the, first Administration. Washington knowing = the dan ger of suffocation, turned to his physician and said, " Doctor, if I am to die, do:ot hesitate - to tell me. Lam quite .prepared.' If it be the will . of God, lam ready to fall asleep, and In this World never wake aofain." In 1791 Ruth Pierce was:married, in. Litchfield, to Dr. Thomas te H. Cr4tswell,* and the next year became a resident of Catskill. $213 6 Mrs. Croswell's.life in. Catskill was chiefly one of .quiet, domestic duties, and Christian faithful ness. She was among the menabers who -united With the Presbyterian Church of Catskill at its organization. Through all her long life she was an interested, earnest, useful Christian.' Unusually conscientious and prayerhil she walked with 'God, seeking with great sincerity and honesty to know His , will, and when it was . clearly ascertained, doing it, if need were, quite indepently of the - opinions,and habits of others. An instance of this may be seen in her forma-, don of a Temperance Leaguelamorig the ladies of the village. The custom obtained at the time of gathering by invitation first at one house and then at another early in'the afternoon;nominally to spend a few social hours and "take tea." But about midway in the visit sweet and intoxi . eating cordials were'handed round, and .by some of the ladies partaken of : with not a little freedom. Mrs. Croswell was convinced that in this custom *Dr- Croswell was to. Catskill in the. Medical Pro fession what the Rev. Dr. Porter was in the Clerical., Griming up :with the town, he became - its leading physician- and `by virtue of his ability, courtesy; arid true kindness of heart, he acquired such :popularity that, he. easily retained the position until his death, which ()Canned in 1844. We have an evidence of Dr. CrosWelPs Popularity, and of his integrity as well; in; the fact that for more - than fifty years he was the post master of Catskill. .He received. the appointment during the first term of the Presidencyof Waehingtori; acting first under a letter of instructions until the fUll organization of the ,P,,,_o„ . ,Depxtureat, when-he re ceived a commission in form winch he held until his death. AN AGED SAINT. there was,. a growing danger., She DOA.; bad heard of .a temperance 'pledge; ,or societff, Int after consulting with a Christian friend, a pledge not to provide either cordials or wmes on these cichasionewardfziwif iip; and after.praying, , God:to , _ helpiter Bike - went tforth to'fsecureAbe - names of Whom'she could induce to sign it. Amidst :much ridicule.and.some reproaches she .patiently continued her efforts, until they were crowned with unexpected success, The pernicious cus tom was completely broken tip, and principles of temperance were ;thus early planted in, many in fluential minds. , For many years,—l think more than a. quarter of a century F-she gathered aboutber the mothers and pious women of the - Church, and maintained a female prayer-Meeting, imparting to it not's little of its interest by her own religious fervor. She had what some one has called " the grace of continuance patient continuance in well doing,"—te a remarkable degree. Turning over the leaves of-;a journal in which she wrote down her religions views and aspirations: during sixty or seventy years, we find no change, 'except by growth' and Christian developement. • The funeral services at the Presbyterian Church On 'the 'afternoon of the 6th inst., were attended, by a,largefttumber.pf her relatives and connectionS,43oMe, of L yrAi:44, l l:kwileogl4; froxa..:a great:_distaned to testify in this Manner their ea teem and affection. • All the clergymen of the place werepresent; and the, house was crowded by the concourse of her friends, During this time, and while the -funeral - procession was pas sing tlorough the streets, &lithe places :of business were closed, and as the procession slowly wound its way to the beautiful cemetery on the outskirts of the, village, the bells of all the churches were tolled. Such honor has old age which has been made venerable by a truly. Christian character and life. ' G. A. H. Catskill, januctry, 1862. • THE CHRISTIAN COMMISSION. OFFICE OF THE CHRISTIAN COMMISSION, 1 NEW YOltK, JanUal7 13th, 1862. j • THE following named gentlemen 'were appoin ted a Christian Commission for the Army, pur suant to the resolutions of a National Convention held in the city of New York, Nov. • Rev. Rollin H. Neale, D. D., Boston, Charles Demoncl, Esq., Boston, Rev. Bishiipir S. Janes, D. D., New York, Hon. Benjamin F. Manierre, New York, Rev. Benjamin C. Cutler, D. D., Brooklin, Mitchell H. Miller, Esq:, MaihingtOn, George H. Stuart, Esq., Philadelphia, John P. Crozier, Esq., Philadelphia, , , Rev. M. L.P.. Thompson, D. D., Cincinnati, Clinton B. Fisk, Esq., St. Louis, . John B. Farwell, Esq., Chicago, Illinois, John D. Hill, M. D. Buffalo. CEPHAS BRAINERD ; • See'y ethp, Convention_ The Chriitian C omMission. met in Washing ton, and arranged a plan ,of operations which they-now submit ; to the puhlic, and call upon the friend of ,the soldier to aid them , in their -work; Their object is to promote the 4piritual and the temporal welfare_of the brave men who now arefin -- arm — sto amint'zdow — ri - er le erebellion. They'propose 'to do this by aiding the chap lains and Athers in their work 'lst: By furnishing to them religiOus tracts, periodicals and books . - 2d. By aiding.the formation of religious asso ciations in the severe). regiments. .- - 3d.: By putting such associations in ..corre spondence with the Christian public. 4th.` By cultivating as far as possible, the re ligioue - synipathies and prayers of 'Obriatians their behalf. sth. Byubtaining and directing such gratui tous persoual labor among the'soldiers and sail ors, as may beyracticaille.,; 6th By t improving such other opportunitics and means.-as may in the providence, of Ood be presented. ' . 7th. By furnishing:as, far as possible,'profit able reading, other than religions, and, wherever there is ;a - permanent military post, by establish ing a general library of such works. Bth. By establishing a medium of speedy and safe intercommunication between the, en in the army and navy and their friends and families, by which small packages of clothing, bookwand me dicines,%and mementoes of social affection'can be interchanged. - ' Gentle Men well 'known and - of high character; in various Cities.,baye . .generonsly offered to give the timeand attention needed to earry,.out this plan; and, we hope to r be, able to appropriate to the benefit, of the soldiers all contributions en tru.stedto us, with a small expense for interme diate agencies. - • . But we need money to provide religions and other reading for the army, and a vety-laige innn can be -judiciously and profitably used in this The Bible, Traet, and other bettevolent societies will aid us, but they need funds.. We must pur ' chase books to s.Jarge extent, or leave manyof • ..the soldiers destitute. _ It is hoped that: editors and, publishers will furnish papers and books gratuitously, or at re duce&prices. Secondhand books, also, 'Win be welcoinedgratefullY by the 'Soldier, Anfd will 'be of iralie in making up the cont4,lnplated libraries. All contributions , of, bOoks, and all ~packages. and articles designed for the soldiers, may be sent to any member of the. Commission, or of the District Committees,-which ill soon' be pith , halted, or to the. rooms of any Chthtia'n Assoeia-: tion in the land, and they will •be cared for and forwarded:'" Articles directed to any p'artienlar' Seidler, company or reginient, will be carefullYconveyed, the donor furnishing money to pay the express age. Articles not particularly directed, will be dis tributed as the Commission shall deein best: , Contributions in money may be, sent to any monber of the . Commission, 'or to the Distfiet Comuiittees, or to the Treasurer. All communications shmild be addressed to the Secretary and Treasurer, }lc n. BENJ.. F. MAN IEikE 21 Wall:street, New Yoik. '.A SPECIAL PRO RE NATA, DIEETING Of the Synod of Genesee, will. be holden in the Presbyterian Church, in the village of Leroy, N. Y., on Monday, An. 27th, at 7 o'clock, P.M., : for the pupae of receiving a Report front the' Connell of Ingham "University on the interests of said Institution; al • ,so; of taking whatever de: liberative order and action thereon may seem ex pedient and right. EDWIN S. Wltimyr,„Moderater. EXTRACTS ' , FRO!. THE BOUTZBAUT PABBRYTERI9N.-/.l' THE Synod of Georgia deeply regret the em .4Fagnd account of the non-payment of interests on, e vested funds; and approve of the omissioxi 'of the usual Commencement Exercises, and the College year weeks before the usual time. They say : Such= is the depressed condition Of monetary affairs of the country, owing to the wicked and cruel war being waged spins'qts, that we'cannot hope for any improvement in this respect at present." They - call, the action of the Assembly in this city, " atrocious and ca."' -The South 'Carolina Synod says that the Assembly was "so far betrayed by passion and, perhaps, abandoned by Providence as- to enact such measures ; which were the distinguishing features of the last Assembly." It magnanimously refuses to rejoice over`-the Assembly as a fallen enemy, and has no other feeling for theta than " that of bmindless pity I" Of course, all are eager . for the formation. of the new General Assembly. As to i its proposed evangelizing schemes, the following from the editorial columns, will be interesting to such as believe in a real difference between Beards and Oquim - ittees.: • rep rd to the benevolent ,enterprises of the' Church, there seems to be: a remarkable unanimity of opinion that the agenciei to be in stituted for conducting them ought to be much more simple than those employed by the Church in the United states, more simple in organization, and more directly responsible to the constitutional authorities 'of the Church. The indications are that the complicated machinery of 4 Boards' will be discarded, and the simple plan of corn .ntittees, few in number, appointed by the As sembly, and directly in communication with it will Abe adopted!' - ACTION OF THE SYNOD OF PENNSYLVANIA., ON THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY.—The follow ng resolutions are copied porn. the published minutes of the Synod, having been called for by some of our readers. They were offered by Rev. Dr. Brainerd and wernadopted unanimously by a rising vote .Resolved, Ist, That inasmuch as the rebellion nowraised-in the. Southern portion Of the United States has : grown out of -no oppression, and pro poses no.material improvement on the Constitu tion of our country, it is causeless, and wicked, rendering its authors responsible for all the sacri fice of treasure and blood involved in the unna tural conflict. Resolved, 2d, That we tender to the President of the United States, and to the officers, and men of our army and navy, the assurance of our hearty sympathy with the . cause in which they are engaged, and our earnest prayers that God will crown with victor . * and success their , efforts to restore , the control of law, order and .peace to their suffering country. Resolved," 3d; That the acknowledgement of God . on the' part of the authorities, in the ap pointing of a day of fasting and praYer, and the universal uprising of a united people, with their Contributions of men and means to sustain the — GO — virnment, is Matter of devout thanksgiving, and inspires the bests hopes for the future of our country., _ • Resolved, 4tll, That our abhorrence of this causeless rebellion, is =intensified by the fact -that its authors have announced as their Chief purpose the formation out of our common inheritance of a new empire, of which human slavery shall ke the chief corner-stone: • - • - R - Kv. 31. B. ANGIAR was dismissed" from the pastorate of. Trinity Congregational Church, Ne pans, Dorchester, on the 2d of January. 'The conneil—Rev. Dr. Storrs, of Braintree, Modern , tor, iiivoting unanimously to dissolve the 'paiM mai relation, made the following minute " In coming to This fesult,"the Council desire to bear Witness to their own full conviction of the faithful and Self-sacrificing spirit and the unwea ried and devoted labors of Rev. Mr. Angier, du ring his pastoral connection with this people, and of : his many and generous efforts to secure their financiall as, well -as their spiritual prosperity. And they oommend'hinkas a minister of the Gos pel Of , Christ worthy of the esteem and confidence Of the chuichea." . The church also passed a 'resOlUtion, testifying inthe'fidelity of their 'pastor's ministry, and to his devotion as a Christian. AGENTS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. SUBSCRIBERS .in 'New York. State, indebted to thia paper; and residing in the following places, are requested to make payment to them' dividuals muted, who have :kindly consented to act as Agents for us. Bins for.all amounts due in these places, have been placed in their hands for collection. .. Attioa,--Jamee, Barker. Auburn—S. M. Keeler. AM/on—Rev. 0. O. Beardsley. . Buffatoz-Rev. D. L. HUMI. - Bataviar—L. McFarland. Corfu--Rev. R. H. Dexter. Corna . ng---W . T. Haven. Dunkirk,--Rey. W. L. Hyde. Dcenveile---H. O. Sedgwick. Elmira--Rev. B. H. Close. East Blootrateruel. Hough. , East. Avap.--Rev.. A. Elmer. East Pembroke---j. Ingram. Geneva—ReV: T. M. Hopkbis. Hontwe Falle--Asa, Pride.. Leroy—B. R. Crane. Lewiston ---Dr.' S. E, Hackley. Livonioßev. "A. H. Parmelee. .Lythis—Rey. G. R. Rudd. - Morria 4 --Rev. L. Per6o.itS, Jr. North, Cht7,l,--It.. Fulton. Nezourk—Rev. G. B. H. Shumway. New York City-4.1 P. Jones. INund,a—Earl . Painef. • Palmyra- - A.. B. Clemons. • :Pavilion Rev. R Dexter." • Perry---H. E. Hamm Pike--A. R. Sherrill PM -4 ps C S te vens Sth ye. Recheeter:-.T. S. Minn. Spence/port—Alva Chapin. Creek,--Jae. R. Semple. Susp Bridge Abel Wilder. ,Westfield—Rev. L. A. Skinner. Watkine-.:-H: M. Hilleman. • • York—M-F. Baldwin. Youngstown--Jos. Holden. gur fulicationo. PERIODICALS AND PAMPHLETS. THE first number , of .:the.. CONTINENTAL MONTHLY, 'a- new Boston Magazine, was early laid upon our` table. :It is devoted to - Literature and National Poliey, and - will diamias especially the leading phases Of th'egreat'qneStion of the day.' Itaiina to be the representative magazine of the time. A. high aim, indeed, and one which seems at least to have inspired the , projectors with „a proportional degree Of enthilsiasrn. Btit p' - b , . ~~ rt w'itth s kai 't the` * .brilliant 'and distinguished pa i t br e writershwhose•names appear in the pros v peetus, including , Nessrs. Greeley, Dickinson, Bancroft, Kimball, '''"ittier,-Bayard Taylor and ro t i fd - f rg.lcidand -. - the e:diter him .self,,, there is, a. fair - prospect that - they will accom pah their - end. The Januarynumber opens with_."4lluSituation' in which our• troubles are ascribed to the ambition of Southern leaders, and it is proposed to'colimize the conquered por tions of South Carolina with Northern men, under the protectionof our troops. " The , Ed wards Family' is full of interesting reminis cences. " Among .the Pines" is doubtless a continuation of "Through the Cotton States"— a most picturesque• series of sketches of travel - in those regions just to the breaking out of thurebellion, which appeared in late numbers of the " Knickerbocker." It reveals the exist once. of a system Of - Freemasonry among the blacks, and depicts :the miserable condition of the " white trash," 7 --the dirt eaters of the _ South, who are really inferior in many respects to the negroes. "Across the Continent," the first of a series from •Horace Greeley and the " Slave-Trade in New York," must attract atten tion. The articles.= ','.Progress". and " Ralph W. Emerson" Would certainly do harm, if their transcendental extravagance of rhetoric did not excite the repugnance of the reader. The Edi tor's Table" is in , a style to provoke comparison With that of the " Knickerbocker"—it is high praise to say that on the whole, it stands the ordeal well. The current number of the " Con tinental" undoubtedly gives evidence of decided ability. The Philadelphia publication office is at T. B. Peterson & Brothers, 308 Chesnut st. Nos. 17 and 18 of the SOUTHERN REBELLION, closing the first volume of about 500 pages, and containing the table of contents, is at hand. The name of the author now disclosed is Orville J. Victor. The work would prove even more ac ceptable if it kept pace more nearly with the pro gress of events. The fullness of the record of speeches and documents is very valuable. New :forki Jas: D. Torrey, Publisher. BLACKWOOD for :December, (New York L. Scott & Co., Philadelphia, W. B. Zeiber) would prove a much more acdeptable document to the blockaded section of our country than to those of us whom it actually reaches. The two articles on our affairs, "'A Month with the Rebels," and "Some AccOunt of both, sides of the American War,' are so thoroughly committed to the South ern. cause, that if the censorship over the press at the North, falsely complained of in England, hadactually existed, this number and several of . f the 'recent issues of the British Reviews, would never have been• suffered to see the light. We thought of making some extracts, but the reader need only turn to the morning papers and read the selections from Richmond and Charleston papers, to understand the spirit of "Blackwood." For example, to show the utter ignorance, blind ness and boastfulness of the North, the 'writer of the first article says,, that in New York a friend of his informed.him. " one morning after break fast, that he had gone to the trouble of counting the number of the enemy killed since the com mencement of the war, and found it to be, ac cording to a leading journal, 1,200,0001" The same writer . says, " Kentucky is not altogether secessionist." He , also speaks of " Genius, vir tue, integrity now languishing in Fort Lafa yette!" We have read of English honest scorn at the treason of Benedict Arnold, though per petrated in her own interest. What a change, when :blacker-traitors, in the interest of slavery, and plotting the overthrow of a friendly power, should be thus flattered and fawned upon by one of her leading literary organs. Other articles are three fictions commenced or continued : Au gastus Welby Pugin (criticism, of the life of an eccentric architect); A word from a new Die tionary--Flunkeyism ; Index. • THE NATIONAL PREACHER for January con tains Sermons by Rev. S. T. Spear, B. D., and by Rev. john McLeod. - A new feature is intro duced, which promises greatly to increase the value of this old established monthly, to be called " the Prayer Meeting. It is designed to place within reach in convenient form, a rich variety, of impressive 'and suggestive thoughts to aid• those who have the management of prayer meetings. An excellent and timely idea in these times of the great enlargenaent of the sphere of praYer' meetings, and well carried out in the nuMber before us. 'A fine portrait of the pub ligher, W. H. Bidwell is also given. The MrsgIoNART HERALD and the CHRIS TIAN WORLD each come out for January in im proved form, and with new external and internal features,- promising a larger degree of usefulness and success. The BosToN RE viaw for January presents an attractive table of contents. Those interested in New HaVen divinity, will be attracted by the first article, in which comparisons are curiously drawn between the theology of John Taylor, D. D., of 'Norwich, England, a contemporary of Ed wards the Elder, and that of N. W. Taylor, D.D., late Professor in New Haven. Edwards re viewed the works of the former, and in so doing, in the opinion of the writer, has virtually re viewed the second Taylor. The first was a Uni tarian. The war spirit as an antidote to the social corruptions that gather in the course of a long peace, is illustiated in an article on Tenny son's ‘c Maud. A Review of Park's: Life of Emmons; Right Culture in the School room; The Present state of the Country Historically Developed; London and its fornis of Social Life ; Short Sermons, LiterarY Notices, and the Round Table Make up the remaining contents. Boston, John G. Whittemore & Co. Ree,eived since the above : The American Theological Review for Ja nuary. The.Bibliotheea Sacra.for January. TherCoutinental Monthly for February. Magazine of Good News for January. Atrudal Report of the Philadelphia Water Department. 94alognes of Union Seminary and Hamilton 9olleges. Tom 'Tiddler's Ground, from Dickens' " All the Year Round." Pilgrims of Fashion, Harper & Bros. . • Practical Christianity, Harper & Bros., by J S. C. Abbott. Hymns of Faith and Hope, R. Carter & Bros., by Bonar. Midnight Chimes, R. Carter & Bros., by the author of " Headly 'Vicars." Kurtz's Church History from the Reformation, Lindsay & Blakiston. The Pulpit and Rostrum, Nos. '24 and 25, E. Da Barker, New York: '. 4. 'PA L- - JAN. 23,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers