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,aurvican grtobtigvian
GENESEt EVANGELIST.
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1862.
JOHN W, NEARS,
THE OOHING GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
ONE week from today, the General Assembly
will convene in the Second Church, Cincinnati
—Dr. Thompson's—and will be opened with a
sermon from the last Moderator, Dr. J. B. Con
dit. In that central and beautiful city, we ima
gine there will be a large gathering, and a full
representation of the Presbyteries. The COM
iniseionera and delegates elected, so far as known
to us, fairly represent the church as a whole.
' Among the older members of the body, Rev. Dr.
Bernet), of ; Troy, leads the list; with him we
notice Dr. Aiken, of Cleveland, and Shaw, of
Rochester. The Cincinnati brethren have
evinced their judgment by commissioning Dr.
Thompson, formerly of Arch Street church in
this city, to represent them in the body which is
to meet in his own church. Dr. J. P. Wilson,
also at one time pastor (of Coates street church)
in this city, is among the commissioners. Rev.
Messrs. Osborn, of Belvidere, Aikman, of Wil
mington, Ellinwood, of Rochester, and H. W.
Ballantine, son of the veteran missionary, are
Among the younger members known to the
public. While such laymen as Judge Strong,
of this city, Wm. A. Both, of Now York, Hon.
W. H. Brown, of Chicago, and Hon. Peter Odlin,
of Dayton, are among the delegates. We rejoice
to observe that the Presbytery of the District of
Columbia will again, after a brief interruption,
be represented in the body. Rev. Mason Noble
is the commissioner.
The topics likely to come before the body, are
such es appertain to the quiet advancement of
the church, in the channels and by the instru
mentalities already agreed upon. Nearly all the
great questions relating to the methods of church
activity ando.the attitude of the church towards
the moral and social movements of the age have
been settled. The time for theorizing and de
bating on first principles has passed. What the
church needs in her assemblies now, is an ex
pression of mutual Interest, an outward realiza
tion of her unity, a watchful eye to the working
"Mier chosen plans and methods, the presence
of the Head of the Church and the outpouring
of his Spiriti . and the development of executive
ability among hii — offioera and members. The
machinery of her operatNsAas been spiclrred,
and is in operation ; what we netvwnt is force,
skill, self-denial, liberality to work it. What
ever the Assembly can do to encourage the
growth of these principles,—and it can do much
by recognizing and stimulating them so far as
they exist, by putting men possessed of these
qualities in charge of her enterprises—this is to
be regarded more peculiarly her business at this
time. Her fathers and her wise men will watch
the course of Providence, and be ready to inau
gurate such additional measures in the line of
independent denominational action, or to give
utterance anew to such opinions as the interests
of truth and of Christ's kingdom may require
from time to time; but for the present we regard
our work in those directions as concluded, and
all our energies as a united church, placed upon
uncommon vantage ground, may be concentrated
upon the promotion of our great interests as a
branch of Christ's kingdom, such as Home mis
sions, Church-building, Education and Publi
cation.
Perhaps we need as much as anything at this
time, to realize the extent of the divine favor
towards us as a denomination; to see how com
plete and how harmonious are our arrangements
for carrying on the work of the Gospel; how we
have been gradually rid of all embarrassments in
the way to this result; how without hasty or
compulsory legislation, but by an easy and spon
taneous movement, men of very diverse opinions
and in widely separate parts of the church, have
been brought to share in the same views of policy
on points which but a few years ago seemed to
defy solution. We should realize how cordially
all are espousing our Home Missionary enter
prise, insomuch that the receipts for the single
month of March in this year, largely exceed the
receipts of the first and the second years of the
Church Extension committee, and are nearly
one-fourth the entire receipts of the year ending
May, 1801, We should realize, too, the sagacity
and adaptedness to the best spirit of the age
which our church exhibited, in long ago casting
the weight of her influence and bearing her full
testimony on the side of truth, justice, and huma
nity. Such traits; under God, are the best secu
rity for the future of our church. What room,
and what a sphere for the activity of our Ame
rican Presbyterian Church, in a land which the
powerful arbitration of war, invoked by the ad
vocates of slavery, has devoted sooner or later
throughout its length and breadth, to freedom !
Our commissioners, therefore, can go up to the
gathering of our Israel with raised expectations
and expanded hearts. The moral and spiritual
influences destined to mould our country's wel
fare, will, to the full extent -of their . share, be
placed in their bands. Our era of contentions,
of sifting, and of experiment is over. Simple,
though grand is the work before us. Little bu
siness of an exciting nature, or attractive to those
without, is likely to be transacted. The ses
iions, though earnest, will be quiet, and probably
brief. Some matters were laid over from the last
Assembly which are deserving of careful atten
tion, and which indicate the disposition of the
body after disposing of vital concerns, to attend
to such practical details as are needful in carry
ing out its plans. The whole subject of Sys
tematic Beneficence was placed in the hands of a
committee, comprising some of the ablest and
most devout men in the church, viz : Drs. Ken
dall, Thompson, Darling and Spear, and Mr.
Hawley. We look for a thorough report from
these brethren leading to a practical plan, by
which the resources of the church may be made
more available than ever before. A committee
of Philadelphia laymen, including Judge Allison
and Messrs. Baldwin, Dulles and S. C. Perkins,
Esq., were appointed to report on a fund for
Disabled Ministers and their Families--a matter
of the deepest and often most painful interest.
Rev. Drs. Cox and Nelson, and J. P. Hovey were
appointed a committee on the overture upon the
question of administering "baptism to infants
whose parents, once having connection with some
evangelical church, now hold no such connection
in their present place of residence." Rev. Asa,
D. Smith, D. D., is the preacher on Home Mis
..- N ,i)...
Editor.
sions; Rev. Z. M. Humphrey is' his alteinate.
Rev. C. P. Wing, D.D,, will deliver he address
before the Historical Society.
Let us prepare the way for the meeting of
this Assembly by our fervent daily prayers for
an unusual dispensation of the Spirit's influence,
and the divine favor upon all its members.
REOONCILIATION OF GERMAN AND ENG
LISH THEOLOGY.
One of the remarkable results of the Evangeli
cal alliance, whose various branches on the con
tinent, and in England enjoy a vigorous existence,
is the approximation of German and. British in
tellece in the speculative department of theology,
which they seem to be effecting. It is felt by
the brethren of these alliances that it is not
enough for fellow Christians, of different na
tionalties, to work together; they must learn to
appreciate each other's intellectual position and
processes, and each others' experience—in a
word to understand each other. Prominent per
sons in the English and German branches of
the alliance, as Professor McCosh on the one
side,'and Drs. lloffman, Lechler and .Dorner on
the other, have held correspondence upon this
subject, which has been published in periodicals
of both countries. The part of the discussion
to which we wish to call attention is that between
Dr. Dorner and Bishop Fitzgerald, of Cork, in
Ireland, on the subject of the evidences.
in the theoligical training, both of England
and this country, much stress is laid upon " the
evidences" of the truth of Scripture, among
which the works of Paley and Bishop Butler
have long held a leading place. , Dr. Dorner
thinks that Englishmen ascribe too great impor
tance to these appeals to the mere understanding,
and doubts their sufficiency to satisfy the mind,
or to guard it from the inroads of a painful and
dangerous degree of unbelief. He thinks that
all who rely too strongly upon these external
evidences are iu danger of losing sight of the
work of the spirit, ,by which an experimental as
surance of the reality of Christ and his salvation
is attained—the teatimonium rspiritus sancti, of
the theologians. Bishop Fitzgerald desires some
security against utter self-delusion on the part
of the person who believes himself conscious of
such an experience. He says:--"
The question the mass of the people wish to
have answered, is : Why are we to accept it as a
fact that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead ?
Our theologians are accustomed to reply to this
question ; because we can prove to you, by the
incontestable evidence of facts, that he his risen
indeed. Can the German theologians give an
other or abetter answer to this question ? Ido
not believe that Englishmen will be satisfied
with the answer: You should believe it, be
cause it does you goOd to believe it; and they
will not easily rid themselves of the suspicion
that those who have ‘ no better answer to give,
are themselves not in earnest in this belief. . .
Can I say, I feel that this thought is the work
of the Holy Spirit, and thereforel know it to be
true ?"
Dr. Dorner defends the position of the later
theology on the testimonium spiritus sancti as, in
a high degree practical. It is much rather a
dream to suppose that a chain of propositions
can do what only repentance and faith can ac
complish. We, says' Dr. D. will not ascribe
any part of the power and the operations which
the Gospel claims for itself, to human methods
of proof; not certainly the power to assure the
heart of salvation and of religious truth. Spiritual
knowledge of life and salvatioo in Christ is im
mediate knowledge, as much so as the knowledge,
through the senses, of the light and warmth of
the sun. To deny the possibility of immediate
conscious commuion with God is to differ from
the Apostles, (Rom. viii: 15, 16 ; 1 John, iv : 16
ii : 27 ;) and from Christ himself, (John, vii: 17;
viii: 32; xiv : 21-23). The consciousness of
pardon is a, sheer impossibility if God does
not make himself immediately known to the
human consciousness as reconciled, if in fact we
know only by second-hand of things which are
in heaven.
This feeling of certainty, which Dormer re
gards as alone decisive or attainable, does not
take place in the mind previous to the exercise
of faith, but arises after the act of faith; yet not
as caused by faith, but - rather by the object of
faith i. e. Christ operating through the Holy
Spirit in the believing mind. Only after we
have received the Holy Spirit do we attain a firm
conviction, a full faith, which not only accepts his
torical and dogmatical propositions as true—for
these are but shadows and images, not things—
but grasps the personal living Saviour in his
word and ordinances, where there is no analysis
into separate elements, divine and human. Only
at this point is man assured of the authority
of Christ by the Holy Spirit which proceeds
from him. And here, too, the Scriptures take
their place as the believer'e rule of life; and
science, springing from faith, establishes a doc
trine of the Scriptures, and shows that the ex
istence of a divine revelation, in the form of
original and genuine documents, is indispensable
to the maintenance of the Gospel in its original
purity. Hence we derive the assurance of the
authority of Scripture from the authority of
Christ, after we have, by faith, attained to the
certainty of his power and excellence as, a Re-,
deemer. The method, of English, theologians,
on the contrary, is to derive the divine and in
dubitably certain authority of Christ from the
authority of the Scriptures, or from his resurrec
tion, which the Scriptures announce.
The Evangelical doctrine, as thus inculcated
by Professor Dorner, is distinguished from mere
enthusiasm, because it refuses to recognize a
faith which has not sprung from God's word as
the seed, and which does not find in the word its
continuous nourishment, its touchstone, and its
law of life.
Perhaps the most important of the views pre
sented by Professor D., are such as these : that
so long as belief in the inspiration and divine au
thority of the Scriptures is regarded as the first
step in Christian piety, there must be a constant
dread of all criticism of the canon; while the
secret of the equanimity of the modern orthodox
theology of Germany, even amid the perils of
the critic's work, lies in the conviction that that
faith in the inspiration of the canon, is by no
means.the first step to faith in Christ, and that
the moral-religious, actual—not intellectual—
life-process, will not fair to bring every one, who
sincerely, devotedly, and perseveringly employs
it, not only to life and to full satisfaction in
Christ, but also to the acknowledgement of the
divine authority of the book of Revelation, and
that is a far higher and better grounded certainty
in regard to the binding authority of the Scrip
tures than can be gained through the subtlest
ginteritait Probtteriatt and Otittort 6rangtliot
form of the Alexandrine doctrine of inspiration
From regeneration alone, from the fundamen
tal idea of the Christian consciousness, that in
Christ are bid all treasures of wisdom and know
lege (Col. 2,3,) is a Christian philosophy to be
evo,lved. Such a philosophy may, to a certain
extent, operate beneficially upon unbelievers, but
in the absence of, persona/ experience of the
spirit, the life, and the supreme, truth of the
Gospel, even the best theological system will not
be understood in any true sense, still less attain
complete certainty in the mind: '
Professor D. maintains that while faith does
not require the establishment of the authority of
Scripture, previously to its exercise, it cannot
exist so long as opinions adverse to the historical
trustworthiness of the Scriptures succeed in fully
maintaining their grolmd. .For example, in
times of active unbelief like our own, it is need
ful to place one's self upon the ground of the
doubter, not to satisfy him upon historical and
rational grounds of the truth of Christianity,
which can never be done, but to show him that
there is sufficient historical probability in the
facts of Christianity to make it binding on him
to exercise that faith which confidently seeks
salvation in' the Gospel.
" Never," says the organ of the English branch
- of the alliance, " was there greater need of the
discussion of the points here presented than now.
We are of the opinion that Dr. Dorner has a
good cause, and that as he ;has carefully guarded
against laying too great stress on. the self-demon
strating power of Christianity, it would be well
for English theologians to avoid the opposite
error, and not to insist too exclusively on histori
cal evidences and the power of logical proofs.
They should 'keep it in mind that faith—real,
hearty, saving faith, comes not, by might or by
power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts !
and that Paul and the other Apostles pursued
their missionary work with the avowed- purpose
that the faith of the converts should stand not
in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."
THE rAms OE NEW. ORLEANS.
Wreirr the first floating, significant rumors of
this momentous event, through the jealous and
reluctant admissions of rebel jyrnals, began to
take such a shape that they could no longer be
questioned, we were like those that dream. The
tidings still sounded like a romance' or a tale
from ancient history or mythology. It was like
the report of mighty achievements wrought by
heroes and demi-gods, passing from lip to lip,
and from tribe to tribe, to the remotest regions,
filling the mind with awe and wonder, the more
complete because of the absence of details. The
great deed is before the world ; and as we have
waited and longed to know more, and have peer
ed into the darkness created by the panic the
flight and the habitual falsity of the rebels, the
heroes of the conquest—the scene of which lay
nearly four times as remote from us as. Carth
age was from Rome —have loomed out in a
grandeur beyond that which the modern bulletin
board and the reporter could have given or will
give them. New Orleans taken I Why, the old
French city sat at the gates of the River of the
West, throned upon her fortresses and her bas
tions, like a queen, -haughty and secure in her
tiers of rifled cannon, in her invincible mail-clad
monsters, and in the prowess of her swarming
armies ; laughing the hosts of her enemies to
scorn; proud as Tyre or as Babylon. New t Or :
leans taken I Why, for nearly fifty years she has
been celebrating the utter and ignominious re
pulse of a veteran army of Europe from her rude,
impromptu fortifications. And the raw volun
teers and the improvised navy of the Union are
her insignificant foes to-day. Yet this improvised
navy, in spite of forts,and chains, and dams, and
miles of earthvVorks bristling with artillery, and
of floating batteries and fearful devices of rage
and rebellion, rides calmly and victoriously by
the levee of the metropolis of the South, receiv-
ing its subjection, sparing it from destruction out
of mere mercy. The modern. Babylon has had
to come down from her throne, to renounce her
dream of invincibility, and to sit down in the
dust. What avails it now to have seized forts
and ships, and arms, to have plundered the mint,
to have expelled sick soldiers from the hospitals
that they might be turned into barracks for a re
bel horde ; what avails it to have honored the
dishonorable, to have called darkness light, and
to have given an ovation to the meanest of trai
tors—Twiggs ? What avails the boundless arro
gance and insolence of your speech and your
schimes against a just and beneficent Govern
ment, and against the enlightened public opinion
of the Christian world ? They are Vain; the
forts could not bar our way; the stolen arms
could not impart boldness. to the soldiers; the
plundered, gold could not purchase prowess; the
traitor general has long ago been discarded; and
the press and pulpit have been out-talked by
loyal cannon. Sick soldiers may again lie peace
ably in the barracks, and over mint and custom
house the emblem of a re-asserted power and of
a vindicated Government, waves to the Southern
breeze. " Who bath taken this counsel against
the crowning, city, whose mer3liants are princes
and whose traffickers are the honorable of the
earth 7 The Lord of Hosts hath purposed it, to
stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into con
te-Mpt, all the honorable of the earth."
Under this overwhelming blow, which it is as
hard for the rebels to realize as for us, the fabric
of the rebellion reels from centre to circumfer
ence. In one year, from the day when Washing
ton City was relieved from its temporary invest
ment, their greatest city—in fact their only great
city falls into our hands. With Texas, Arkansas
and Louisiana cut - off, they are shut out of half
of their territory, and, what is far 'worse, of a
large portion of their supplies. Want had al
ready begun to stare them in the face, and now
seems to be inevitable. Their prestige is broken;
their self-confidence cruelly shattered. But un
less they themselves despond, they are by no
means to be regarded as conquered. Their ar
mies are concentrated—they are on familiar
ground—they have not been decisively beaten
since they were thus -massed together. Their
great armies, east and west, must be defeated be
fore their cause is lost,—defeated so decisively
that even rebel authorities will be fain to admit
it. Till then, we should never cease to labor
and to pray for the success which God alone can
Hall's Journal of Health, for May, contains,
as usual. a.ramber of valuable Essays on matters
of health and living, written in genial style with
happy hits and illustrations, calculated to make
men wiser and better at the cheap rate of $1 per
annum. W. W. Hall, M.D., No. 42 Irving
Place, New York.
NEW YORK CORRESPONDENCE.
NEW YORK, May 3.
Proverbially, it seems to storm on 4 anniver
sary week. As it has rained much of the time
this and the two preceding weeks, it is an en
couragement to believe the sir days following the
Sabbath will be pleasant, Sunny days. Prepara
tions are making by each:Society for the event.
Programmes are preArtig; - statisties of receipts
and expen4tures are nearly footed up, and the
labors and progress of each Society are about
ready to be submitted to the great Christian
public through each anniversary. In "all the
estimates of receipts and expenditures, for the
first time, this year, the Southern slave States
will be omitted. They have contributed little or
nothing to the funds of these National Societies,
and these Societieahave been nearly excluded in
their labors from those .rebelliclus States.;
Last year, at the different anniversaries,
nearly every speaker make allusions, if he did
not give prominence in his remarks, to the
wicked and causeless rebellion.• Many of them
were exceedingly impressive, especially the
speech of Rev. Dr. Kirk before the Boston
Tract Society. He had just come back from
Richmond, on his rectum in a steamer from
Charleston, where the;Otate Convention was in
session, discussing y,kihether Yirginia should
e XI
,secede. He was. ,sti ' ,. from his intercourse
with all classes of pe , that the hearts of the
masses were not in .sympathy with secession.
Probably the war, next,week, will not occupy
less attention than, it did at the last anniversaries.
The comparatively Entail per tentage of people
who regularly attend' religious worship, leads
one to suppose there' is a daeiency of church
accommodation in thisleity. This is a great
mistake. There are a dOzen evanuelical places
of worship almost within sight of Madison
Square and the Fifth AVenue Hotel, which are
only partly occupied on the There are
some thirty churches in that portion of the city,
and perhaps three• or four onlylave their sit
tings .taken. Rev. Drs: Spring, Adams, Rice
and Tyng, have crowded' parishes, but any num.
bet' of seats, or even pewS, may be had in all the
others.
The chief difficulty in;Nevr York is the extra
vagant rents charged. Pews range from $75 to
$3OO, and but few families inJuoderate circum
stances can afford such B'ollo.. Unless they are
Christian_ people, they rttard this expense as a
superfluity, hence the first retrenchment is in
that direction. Rev. Dr. Parkef, on Fourth
avenue, has a commodiods and beautiful 'church
edifice ; yet it seems to have - been under a cloud
of debt and local disaffection ever since it-was
dedicated. Other parishes have come to its aid
and relieved pressing pecuniary necessities, but
disturbances between pastor and people have re
cently led some old and influential families to
withdraw. Others' have been added to Supply
their places. Under right impulses, the trustees
have at last reduced the_exorbitant pew rates, so
that people outside of opulent circles, may now
have an opportunity for-religions worship. It
is an experiment, but it is to be hoped a. success
ful one.
Rev. Dr. Pierson, • President of " Cumberland
College, Ky., is now in this city, haying recently
been teaching the " contrabands" at Washing
ton, or, rather, expertißskiting, to seewhat can
be done with - them.t`Kna l a graduate of the
Union Theological Setnin4y, and has had a large
experience as Eible:4 - nt and laborer in the
cause of Christ outside of the pulpit. He re
cently delivered a lecture before the. Historical
Society of this city, on the domestic life of Tho
mas Jefferson. This lecture, greatly enlarged
turd embellished, with file similes of this emi
nent statesman's writing and familiar corres
pondence, has just been Published by Scribner,
in an octavo volume.
It was Dr, P.'s good fortune, while residing in
Kentucky, to meet with Capt. Edward Bacon, an
aged-and highly esteemed citizen, who for nearly
twenty years was Mr. Jefferson's business ma
nager and overseer at Monticello. He placed
before Dr. Pierson large quantities of corres
pondence and business documents in the hand
writing of Mr. J. In adation, from an accurate
and wonderfully retentive memory, he related a
great variety of curions citletits never before
brought to the light. Di P. speaks of Captain
Bacon as a most reliablelnd intensely interest
ing old gentleman, who patiently sat for hours,
and even days, while Dr. P. took down his nar
rativea of the domestic life and habits of Jef
ferson. ,
Nothing has excited more surprise than the
incontrovertible evidence that this great Virgi
nian, whose supposed infidel tendencies have so
clouded his character, was a most diligent reader
of God's word. Captain Bacon tells Dr. Pierson
that Mr. Jefferson had a large Bible which
nearly always lay at the head of the sofa, upon
which he was accustomed to recline or read.
Many and many a time," he remarked, have
I gone into his room and foundhim reading that
volume." Captain B. came in one morning
very early from Richmond, with a large amount
of money for Mr. Jefferson, and on entering the
room, "found him engages, in reading kis Bible. y
This certainly is a new phase in the, character Of,
the deceased, ex-PreaidpV fiV the truthfulness
and, accuracy of Captain Aeon's statement, Dr.
P. entertains no doubt. •
One of the largest, and so far as numbers in
attendance are concerned, among` the prosperous
Presbyterian parishes in this city, - hai recently
been abandoned. It was Occupied by Rev. Mr.
Hastings, one of the most accomplished and va
luable young clergymen in the denomination.
The church is located at the intersection of Va
rick and Carmine streets, on the west side of the
city, surrounded by a dense population or the
industrial classes, with very little pretension to
wealth or fashion. It has not changed its cha
racter, like many localities, but is much as it was
ten years since.
This church edifice is spacious and convenient,
having a Grecian front, the pillars of brick, co
vered with mastic.Thei .. e was no trouble, about
worshippers. A large audience was, always in
attendance, with a prosperous Sabbath school,
but they were not people of wealth. They could
pay only a small stipend, lad when . the three or
four opulent men " MoVeld*Otown," the church
was deemed. They could;spot conveniently come
down so far, nor'pay their accustomed amounts,
even to save the parish. As the expenses could
not be met, the worshipper; were turned adrift
and the church closed. It is now offered for
sale, and like many similar edifices, may soon be
occupied as a stable or grand billiard saloon. A
new parish has been organized on Murray
for Rev. Mr. Hastings, and so far, it is emi
nently prosperous.
Perhaps the most successful, if not important
religious instrumentalities in this city, are the
Sabbath schools. In all the various churches,.
there is a noble emulation, not merely who shall
have the most scholars, but who shall do the
most good. Hence, outside of the Sabbath school
connected with each church, nearly every parish
has one or. more mission schools. They supply
both, funds and teachers, and the extent of chris
tian effort exerted in this form is almost incal
culable: The wealthy churches generally lead
in these enterprises.
Rev. Dr. Adams has a large mission chapel in
Third avenue, with over one thousand scholars,
and Rev. Dr. Rice another in Seventh avenue,
with about eight hundred. But Rev. Dr. •Tyng
has probably the most successful Sabbath school
organization id this country. He heads it him
self, and once a month devotes a Sabbath after
.
noon specially to the lambs of his flock. The
anniversary of all the Sabbath schools, mission
and others connected with his parish, was held
on a recent Sabbath. It 'was stated that 2095
pupils were present, and the money they had
contributed during the year, exceeded $2500.
His personal efforts and immediate supervisi6n
of the schools, is one cause of their almost un
exampled prosperity. Is not his example worthy
of imitation ?
The Presbyterian church may justly, boast of
men of enlightened christian liberality in New
York. Mr. Lenox has ever been open-handed
with his wealth, and large-hearted in its bestow
ment on objects of deserved utility. No man
gives more liberally, and with less show or osten
tation. The Stuarts, brothers, who often control
the sugar market in this city, their operations
are so large, who have just given $50,000 to
Princeton, are cultivated, christian men, espe
cially Robert. They give without stint or mea
sure when the purpose is shown to be good and
the object praiseworthy. Two or three years
since, when the Academy of Music was opened,
and a series of popular Sabbath:evening sermons
were preached, ,Robert L. - Stuart regularly gave
his check every Monday morning to cover the
expenses,- asking no questions.
Anson G. Phelps both father and son like
the Stuarts, were opulent .christian men, and
gave, with wonderful liberality, in the. New
School church, just as Mr. Lenox and Mr. Stuart
are now doing in the Old School. They died,
leaving bright reputations for godliness, and large
and judicious liberality. Their places are now
being supplied by an = estimable kinsman, Wm.
E. Dodcre who is eminent among his cotempo
raries as an eneractic enlightened ) generous
Christian merchant.
TO THE FRIENDS . OF if omr, MISSIONS
THE General Assembly of the Presbyterian
ehurch,.which met in Syracuse in May last,
unanimously resolved, "In accordance with the
obvious indications of divine Providence, and
agreeably to the constitution of the claurch,
(Form of Gov XVIII.) to assume the responsi
bility of conducting_the work of Ilome Missions
within its bounds ;" and also,
"That the condition of the home missionary
work throughout the church at the present time
calls for a reconsideration and readjustment of
many of its arrangements, so as to give it, in its
new relations, the greatest stability and efficien-
Lest any - should suppose that this action of the
_
Assembly had failed to embody the ripe and de
liberate judgment of the whole church, we ap
pend the Resolutions of several of the largest
Synods on the subject.
The Synod of New York and New Jersey.-
1. " Resolved, That the Synod approve of the
unanimous determination of thc General Assem
bly henceforth to assume the responsibility of
conducting the work of Home Missions within its
bounds."
2. " Resolved, That they fully concur in the
plan of action adopted by the Assembly for sup
plying our feeble churches with the necessary
aid in supporting their ministers and for preach
ing the gospel to the destitute." -
The Synod of 111inois.—" Resolved, That we
do heartily rejoice and give thanks to God that
our denomination has at length, after a long and
painful discipline, been brought to see the neces
sity of controlling its own missionary operations,
and providing-for those of its own house, look
ing only to God for authority .to build up the
waste places of our Zion."
The Synod of Genesee.—" Resolved, That the
Synod of Genesee, believing that the General
Assembly of our church assumes ' the responsi
billity of conducting the work of Home Missions
Within its bounds,' in accordance both with the
genius of the church and 'the obvious indica...
tions of Providente,' does fully and heartily-en
dorse such action, and earnestly call upon - the
Presbyteries and churches of this Synod to co
operate with the General Assembly in the work
of exploration, in securing missionaries, and obi,
taming prompt, and regular contributions to the
cause.'
The Synod of Albany--" Resolved, That in
view of theimmediate necessities of our home
missionaries, we earnestly recommend that the
wants of the field be presented to the churches
as soon as practicable, and that special efforts be
made secure liberal collections for our Assem
bly's 'C ommittee."
The Synod of Ohio.--" Resolved, That as a
Synod .we adopt the general scheme devised by
the Assembly,, and agree to conduct our home
missionary woik in accordance 'therewith ; and
that we would • cordially commend this arrange
ment to our members and churches as being in•
our judgmenti the best practicable method for cul
tivating our large and destitute field."
The Synod of Geneoa.—"..gesolved, That as a
Synod we fully approve the act of the last Gene
ral Assembly in assuming; the responsibility of
conducting our home missionary, work!'
The Synods of Onondaga, Michigan, Peoria,
Utica, Western Reserve, Indiana, and indeed
nearly or quite every. Synod and Presbytelscin
our connection, have passed similar resolutions,
giving in due form the official and hearty en
dorsement of the whole church.
The.church therefore has fairly assumed the
responsibility, and the. Committee have entered
upon their work. Our feeble churches will
henceforth look to us for aid. They are com
posed of , our brethren. They are- doing -our work,
which is Christ's work, in destitute places. We
are laid under special obligation to render them
assistance on that account. Such churches are
coming to us every week. Already we have had
applications from every part of the church, but
particularly at the West; and up to the present
time every application properly endorsed has
been favorably considered. And we may eipect
them to continue to come to us in growing num
bers. For, though from $12,000 to $16,000 have
recently been paid into the treasury of the Amer
ican Home Missionary Society—the Legacies and
Donations of Presbyterians—we understand-that
net a dollar of it will ever be paid to anyy-fidme
missionary connected with any Presbytery which
operates through our Committee, or endorses the
action of our Assembly, after his present term of
commission 3xpires I That Society therefore be
comes to all intents and purposes a Congrega
tional institution. Nothing given to it will assist
our feeble churches or the missionaries in our
connection. We must do our own work, and
render them the aid they need, or the latter will
fail of support and the former be disbanded.
New fields of labor are also opening before us.
Ministers and licentiates are ready to enter them,
if they can have but a reasonable assurance of
support; and nothing prevents the establishment
and growth of churches in the new states and
territories, but the inability of the Committee to
grant the requisite aid. With these facts before
us, who can say that the church is not called on,
even in times like the present, to arise and
build 2"
Our hope and aim are to secure a contribution
to the cause from every congregation and from
every individual member, with the least possible
agency from abroad. We look to the pastors to
aid us. Pastors are our agents. Judicious and
energetic pastors can always secure generous
:contributions•from the people. But we also look
to the elders and deacons and other members to
encourage the good work. Our churches must
contribute' more largely to this cause than they
have ever done before, or our missionaries must
suffer. We hope that no ehureh, however small,
will deny itself the pledture of participating in
this divine method of Home Evangelization.
And yet thus far, many. churches have failed to
,contribute any thing to our cause since the last
meeting of the Assembly.
If you have not already forwarded your own
.contribution—if your church has not taken up
its annual collection for Home Missions, will you
not endeavor to secure its representation in your
church at once, that we may receive the amount
before the first of May, and acknowledge it in
our. Annual Report ?
All donations should be sent to " the Presby
terian Rooms," which Are the rooms of the Com
mittee,-150 Nassau stmet, New York, to Edward
A. Lambert, Esq., Treasurer.
The Committee, as constituted by the act of
the Assembly, is, as follows
Rev. E. F. Hatfield, D. D., Chairman ; Rev.
J. F. Stearns, D. D., Newark; Rev C. S. Robin-
Brooklyn;. Rev. Albert Barnes, Philadel
phia; Rev. Henry Darling, D. D., Philadelphia;
Rev. G. L. Prentiss. D. D., New York; Rev.
Thos. S. Resting, New York, Rev. Benj. J.
Wallace, D. D., Philadelphia; Hon. Joseph Al
lison, Philadelphia; A. C. Post, M. D., New
York; Hon. E. A. Lambert, Brooklyn; J. Mil
ton Smith, Esq., Brooklyn; M. W. Baldwin,
Esq., Philadelphia; J. F. Joy, Esq., New York;
J. B. Pinneo, Esq., Newark.
H. KENDALL, D. D., Gen. Secrotary.
CRomwiLL
COMMISSIONERS TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
PRESS'S:TR
3rd PhiladeP a,
4th Phiader a,
Wilmington,
Harrisburg,
Dis. of Col' bia,
New York 3rd,
cayuga,
Genesee Val'y,
Rochester,
Dela Ware,
Utica,
Marshall,
Knox
Cleveland,
Indianapolis,
Dayton,
Chicago,
North River,
Newark,
Hamilton, 0.,
Cincinnati,
Ottawa,
Scioto, .
Huron,
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Franklin,
Monroe,
Illinois,
Logansport,
Green Castle,
Elyria,
Trumbull,
Salem,
Madison,
Genesee,
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Long Island,
Grand River,
Fort Wayne,
A NEW WORK ON SANCTIFICATION by Rev.
Dn. DARLING, is announced to appear in the
course of a few days, from the press of J. B.
Lippincott & Co., under the title—" The Closer
Walk, or the Believer's Sanctification."
Hex Muller on. the Science of Languages.—The
public is indebted to. Charles Scribner, of New
York, for re=producing this valuable work from
the second English edition, on unusually heavy
tinted paper, in the elegant style of the River
side Press, Cambridge. Mr. Mueller's lectures
are a happy combination of popular and scholarly
elements; any intelligent person can read them
with interest, though the subject in some of its
bearings involves the profoundest _philosophical
questions. We are pleased to recognize in the
author a firm believer in the unity of the race;
indeed a reverent tone pervades the whop work.
The theory of the origin of language presented
by Mr. M. is that the 4 or 500 roots or constitu
ent elements into which the different families of
languages may be resolved are phonetic types
produced by a power inherent in human nature.
It is part of our nature—one of our original en
dowments—to utter these types of thought, just
as it is the nature of metals and other objects_to
give forth a sound when struck. Language is
not built up on interjections, nor on imitations of
sounds heard in nature, though both, of these
furnish part of our speech. There is a full index..
Small - Bvo. 416 pages. For sale by J. B. Lip
pincott & Co.
introduction to the S:uclu of the Gospels, by
B.F. Wescott, M.A. This is another of thosnre
sults of believing scholarship of the highest order
on - the contested field of biblical criticism, which
are becoming numerous enough:honorably to cha
racterize oui English literature.. The volume
before us is of a class familiar enough in Germa
ny, 'where however, the . spirit' of , a cold and un.:
B. B. Hotehkin,
T. S. Johnston,
H. S. Osborn,
Wm. T. Eva,
Wm. Aikm an /
Wm. Sterling,
Mason Noble
D: M. Seward
Wm. H. Babbitt,
S..W. Crittenden,
Charles . Hamlin,
Geo. W:Warner,
F. W. Stoddard,
J. B. Shaw, DD,
F.F. Eniawooti,
Thomas Larcom,
S. W. Brace,
J. B. Hubbard,
A. A. Corliss,
N S S Bemen, DD
J. H. Noble,
W. A. McCorkle,
W. McKaig,
S. C. Aiken, DD.
R. H. Leonard,
J. Dela Mater,
W. M. Cheever
B. Dickiuson,DD
G. L. Little,
E. B. Wheeler
J. P. Wilson, DD,
C. M. Nichols,
J. P. E. Kumler,
RevDrThompsou
J. E. Chandler,
'Newton Barrett,
T. S. Reeve,
F. Z. Rossiter,
B. Russell )
Downey,
E. J. Boyd,
W. G. Gallagher,
F. S. McCabe,
H. L. Dickerson,
A. R. Clark,
Wm. C. Clark,
H. W. Ballantine,
John Gerrish,
E. N. Manley,
H. F. Wadsworth,
Ed. Stratton )
D. Witter,
H. C. Cheadle,
Nstir Nuldicationo.
scrupulous rationalism 'too often pervades them.
In our own country, Theodore Parker, of Boston,
translated and published one of these German
Introductions to the Scriptures—that of DeWette
—in the hope of transferring its poison into the
modes of biblical investigation pursued among m.
Boston itself has supplied the antidote in this re
production of a thoroughly orthodox and able
work on- the same field of scientific inquiry.
Professor Hackett vouches in the fullest language
for the high character of the volume in every
respect._ The chapter on the Preparation of the
Gospel is especially commended for its originality
and instructiveness. The other topics are : In
spiration, Completeness andinterpretation of the
Scriptures; The Jewish. Doctrine of the Mes
siah; Origin and Characteristics of the Gospels;
GoSpel of John; Differences in Detail and Ar
rangement of the Synoptic Evangelists; Difficul
ties of the Gospels ; ApPendix. The Table of
Contents and the Index are very complete. The
The author has made some additions to the Ame •
rican edition, thus giving it a superiority to the
last English issue. Largel2mo, pp. 476. Bos
ton : Gould & Lincoln. Philadelphia Smith,
English & Co. Price $1 50. • •
A new edition of Discourses and Essays, by
Dr. W. G. T. Shedd, late Professor in the An
dover Seminary, and now co-pastor with the ve
nerable Dr. Spring, of New York, bas just been
issued by Warren F. Draper, bf Andover. They
will he welcomed by all who can appreciate pro
found thought, fine taste, culture, and sound
views in combination. Dr. Shedd b an ornament
to the theological profession of our land; more
than an ornament, the author of the Essay on
the doctrine of the Atonement will prove himself,
in the Presbyterian pulpit,. 12mo, pp. 324.
Price $lOO.
The Atlantic Monthly for May easily main
tains its position ar the head of the monthlies,
domestic and foreign, so far as we are acquainted
with them. Emerson's beautiful, poem, " The
Titmouse," is as healthful and encouraging in
spirit as it is sweet and simple in language and
artistic in execution. " The Weather in War"
shows the marked interpositions of Providence
in deciding the issue of many of the greatest
struggles recorded, in secular history. The wars
of the Persians against the Greeks, of Philip of
Spain against Queen Elizabeth of England, of
England with France, of York and Lancaster,
of our own . Re v olution, and of Napolton, furnish
the writer with a series of the most surprising
instances of this interposition, the lesson of which,
to us, is the necessity of comprehending this
element of the weather in all our calculations
and estimates of the military movements taking
place in our own country. Professor
,Agassiz
continues his papers on Natural History, the
topic at this time being the Coral Insect, as illus
trating the age of the earth: Papers on Health,
Gymnastics, Insanity; etc., are promised in early
future numbers. Boston, Ticknor & Fields.
ELbERS
" Lessons for the Little Ones." Here is a
great desideratum supplied in the apparatus of
the infant school teacher. Just such lessons we
know to have been supplied by manuscripts on
the part of the teacher, from week to week, in
one of our infant schools, and many sighs have
gone up from others for a work of the kind done
to their hands by those who had the time and
the ability to do it. Mrs. Hildeburn, already
well known as the successful writer of books for
the young, among which was "Money, or the
Ainsworths," the prize volume published recently
by our Committee, has also enjoyed opportunities
and acquired experience in this line, as teacher
of the infant school of the First church in this
city, where these lessons have been tried. The
judicious intermingling of hymns with the Scrip
ture verses and the questions, will add to its effi
ciency. We commend it cordially to teachers
and parents. Published by the Presbyterian
Publication Committee, No. 1334 Chestnut et.
Hon. Wm. Strong,
Isaac Ashmead,
R. Byington,
Th. Trenchard,
John. C. Clark,
John B. Hall.
1 — ,
Wm. A. Booth,
Dan'l IL Smith,
J. W. Bishop,
Ira Hamilton,, MD,
James Hyde,
H. Mead,
Harry Allen, MD,
C. K. Adams
Philip Bassett,MD,
Giles B. Kellogg,
Lyman Wilder,
L. Keeler,
K. V. Ro ins,
Isaac K. Mush,
F. S. Slosson,
J. L. Ketchum,
Hon. P. Odlin,
Hon. W. H. Brown,
0. H. Lee,
B. S. Van Keuren,
S. A. Gould,
C. M. Davis,
S. Whitlock,
E. D. Mansfield,
F. V. Chamberlain,
Henry Bergen;
Robert Wood,
Dr. Galpin,
A. Pratt,
Bridgernan,
A. L. Millard,
David A. Smith,
M. M. Post,
C. C. Knapp, ,
M. Derdoff,
Erastus Wolcott,
0. Owen,
John Sullivan,
Stephen Jones,
G. W. Seward,
J. S. Skidmore,
E. Chester,
Hon. J. L. Knight.
Medical and Surgical Reporter; a weekly
journal published in this city, at the Northeast
corner of Seventh and. Sansom streets, edited by
Drs. S. W. Butler and R. J. Levis, with the aid
of Dr. L. C. Butler, is highly commended by an
experienced medical friend to whose judgment
we have submitted the work. The weekly issue
contains 24 large double columned pages, with
illustrative cuts. Price $3 00 per annum.
Littele s Living Age for this week contains,
besides, the conclusion of a Tale; A. H K. B.
Concerning Atmospheres and Currents; A Non-
Combatant Hero; The Duel of the Ironsides
(Spectator); The Battle of Newport News (Sa
turday Review); Science and Arts for February;
etc. Licte,ll, Son & Co., Boston. Weekly, at
86 00 pef annum.
The Pulpit and Rostrum, No. 30, for May 15,
contains a report of Rev. Dr. Vinton's discourse
on The Sabbath and its Relations to the State,"
being the concluding discourse of the " Sabbath
Series," delivered in the various churches of New
York city. New York :E. D. Barker. Price
Ten Cents.
Blacktcood's Edinburgh, Magazine for April,
contains : Caxtoniana ; a series on Life, Liiera
tare and Manners—The Lives of Two Ladies—
Political Tragedies in Japan—A Box of Books—
Works of Charles Lever—The International Ex
hibition—Chronicles of Carlingford— Spence's
American Union.* New York: L. Scott & Co.
Philadelphia : W. B. Zieber.
Mr. Bidwell's Eclectic for A&, is - the com
mencement of a new voleime,the forty-sixth.
Twenty-five articles, from the North British, Bri
tish Quarterly, Dublin University Magazine, Lon
don Eclectic, grazer's, Chambers', Bentley's and
other periodicals, besides miscellanies, and the
whole embellished with a portrait group of the
Missionary translators of the Scriptuies into the
languages of the Levant—Drs. Riggs, Goodell,
and Scbaufller—form an attractive budget. W.
H.Bidwell, No. 5 Beekman street, New York.
Dr Peabody's highly eulogistic article upon
the American ' Board, from the North American
Review, has been republished in pamphlet form
by Messrs. Crosby, Nichols & Co., Boston. It
is remarkable, as coming from ona of the first
men in the Unitarian body in this country.
,liistory.and Theory of Revolutions, by Riv.
Joseph Clark, A. M., Chambersburg. From the
Princeton Review for April. A comprehensive
and- effective comparison of, the Southern rebel
lion with the leading successful revolutions re
corded in history, Philadelphia, W. S. & A•
M,artien.
Rev. 'W. M. Thayer's Hdime' Mout* for May
is 'on our table. Bostou : D. W. Childs & Co.
MAY 8,
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