1862. rerobgitvias -A N D--- •GENESEE EVANGELIST. JOHN W. HEARS, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 1862 THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN A WEEKLY RELIGIOUS AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER, IN THE INTEREST OV THE Constitutional Presbyterian Church, PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY, AT No. 1334 Chestnut St., Philadelphia. TEEMS—(in advance). $2 00 per annum. 2 60 " By mail, • , By carriers, in the city, PREMIUMS. Any clergyman procuring us two new subscribers, with the pay in advance, is entitled to a third copy one year, Tree. Any person procuring three new subscribers, with the pay in advance, can have a fourth copy free, for one year. For Five Dollars we will send two copies of the paper and a copy of the Quarterly Review, for one year, to new subscribers. Any one procuring new subscribers is entitled to Fifty cents for each one secured and prepaid. digiono utielligtort. Congregational. Revival in Illsesaohussetts.—The report from Plymouth continues highly interesting. A brother who has passed a, few days amid the revival, said, the meetings are continued to late hours notwith standing the remonstrance of the pastor. The peo ple are so interested that it is difficult to make them leave the place of worship. In one case they were three times dismissed before they left. The inter est is not confined to the limits of Plymouth, but is extending to the surrounding villages. In North Middleboro'. a work of grace has lately commenced. Within four weeks, about seventy persons have obtained a good hope through grace, The revival commenced in the Sabbath-school, but has extended to all classes in society. Conviction of sin is deep and pungent. The features of the re vival are much like those that prevailed fifty years ago, wherein the work was more of God and less of men than what k has in modern time been called re vivals.—Boston Recorder. Army Gen. lifoOlellan's Elabbath.—Spesking of the recent Sabbath orders of this officer the New York, Examiner says General MoClellan is clearly as well as nobly right in this. He will effect more with his army and horses in six days than in seven, as all experience proves ; and gain more strength in the crisis of battle, and in the long and trying strain of the oampain, from the preserved energies of his men, from their greatful attachment and con fidence, and from the higher moral tone of the whole organization, than could possibly be derived from a few Sundays labor. Above' all, the blessing of God, who promises to honor those that honor him, must be more precious to our cause than vic tory itself, even if we are but doubtfully warranted in expecting it as an immediate reward." Rev. J. C. Laverty, pastor of the church of Conshohooken,laving notified lifsWeslifterfell intended return to the " church of his' fathers"— the Episcopal Church—the pastoral relation was dis solved, and the name erased from the roll of minis ters in bis Presbytery. Mr. Laverty has been in both branches of the Presbyterian Church, lie now goes from the " Old School." The General Synod of the Evangelical Luthe ran Church was in session from the let to the Bth of May. A Sabbath school paper, with a circulation of 25,000 copies, is issued by the Board of Publica tion, which is in a prosperous condition. The Church Extension (Erection) Fund—sll,447 18— has nearly all been loaned out, but of $7293, now due, nothing has been repaid, and only one church pays interest. Notwithstanding these discourage ments, the society has, under God, been the means of -accomplishing much good. The mission in India is prosperous. Many of the heathen are applying for baptism, and the schools are prosperous and increasing in size and number. Several young natives are preparing for the minis try. A meeting of the East India Synod was no ticed. There are ten congregations, eight mission aries, four ordained and four assistants, two cate chists, two colporteurs, one hundred and ninety-four communicants, six students of divinity, twenty-three schools, forty teachers and six hundred scholars. The African mission in Liberia was also represented as doing a good work. In their resolutions on the state of the country they say they regard this rebellion as more imme diately the natural result of the continuance and spread of domestic slavery in our land, and there fore hail with unmingled joy, the proposition of our Chief Magistrate, which has received the sanction of Congress,•to extend aid from the general govern ment to any State in which slavery exists, which shall deem fit to initiate a system of constitutional emancipation. Miscellaneous. Too Many illooietiee.—A correspondent in New York writes :—The calm in religious circles which has followed anniversary week suggests something retrospective. examination of the receipts of many of the societies shows - a large reduction from last year. Something of this is due to the times and the state of the country, but not a little to the grow ing sentiment among the contributors to these great Christian charities, that the organizations are too numerous and the funds misapplied. In regard to the first allegation, there can be no question of the justness of the complaint; and yet, new societies, under all sorts of pretexts, with new officers to sup port and new rents to be paid, are almost weekly started. There are two feeble societies in this city for the relief of female outcasts. Recently a third was started by some interested women, and the com motion they made secured for them funds the others in vain had tried to obtain. There are societies with expensive machinery and heavy outlays in New York, which perform exactly the services other organizations perform, except one makes aomethind a speciality, while the other em bodies it among various duties and responsibilities. It can hardly be charged in any direction, there is intentional misapplication of funds.' It is in an in direct way, in managing the financial affairs of some institutions. It is such as no intelligent merchant or competent business man would for a moment per mit in his private pecuniary operations. What would be thought of a small bookseller buying a printing office, expensive press, and hiring press men and numerous hands to print an occasional book or monthly newspaper, when there are large establishments which would do the same work at 25 or 50 per cent. less than he actually pays. Yet there is a charitable society or institution in this city with a little monthly sheet, which actually has fitted up an expensive printing office in its building, to do the work which probably could be done at half the cost in any of the regular large city printing estaLlishments. Novelties in •Worship.—The Unitarians in New York have taken to " Vespers." Those who have gone with the crowd each Sabbath to Rev. Dr. I Osgood's Church, opposite the New York Hotel, on Broadway, say it is only the Episcopal service chaunted. " A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." By giving the music an attractive desig nation, surrounding it with novelty, the Unitarians gather a great crowd, as they do at Rev. Dr. Cum ming's Roman Catholic Church on the Sabbath, to "hear the fine music." At Rev. Dr. Bellows' Church, on Fourth avenue, (the "Holy Zebra," as it is called for its parti-colored brick and marble ornaments,) the singing is admirable, being simple and expressively congregational. In many churches, Rev. Drs. Spring and Rice'S for example, the music is led by a "Precentor," with the organ accompa niment, and the entire congregations join. It has that deep power and religious unction which is ex perienced in your mid-day Philadelphia prayer meetings, as well as in those inPulton street, in this city. In some churches one simple, familiar hymn or psalm is sung with the congregation, but the suc ceeding pieces are so artistic, or operatic often, that the contrast is both distasteful and disagreeable. When will people learn that singing sacred psalms and, hymns is as much part of public worship as praying ? Editor 'The Young Men's Christian Association in New York city, for years, has been under a cloud. It was rent into two portions, a few years since, by three or four members, who insisted upon making it endorse ultra opinions. The party temporarily succeeded, and then some two hundred of its MOO efficient and best men withdrew. Under its new management it became disorderly and even riotous, until the society had to reject its new leaders or meet with inevitable death. It did the former, but it has never reached its former honorable position. It has no such power as the corresponding society in Philadelphia, which has really done honor to the cause of Christ and the young men who assumed his name. Recently, or rather some months since, the Young Men's Christian Association of this city took up the subject of aiding the soldiers, and the distribution of religious reading among them. One of the foremost in the good work was Mr. Vincent Colyer, and the society did well when they sent him to Newbern and other places South. lie has proved himself a most valuable man among the poor whites," and the " contrabands;' have found him a wise teacher and a considerate Christian friend. Mr. Colyer is an artist (a painter) by profession, and for years has struggled on in obscurity; yet he is a man of much cultivation and talent. He was formerly a member of Rev. Dr. Morgan's (St. Thomas) Church, but is now with Dr. Tyng. He married the grand-daughter of John Hancock, .of Boston, of Revolutionary fame, and at the recent death of the wife's father, he became the recipient of an interest in the estate of the great patriot of our Revolution. Mr. C. is a most earnest, con sistent Christian, and his " light" is never obscured. Deaths of New York Ministers.—The vener able Dr. Bangs of the Methodist Episcopal Church, has just gone to his rest. He was aged and infirm, but, like a shock of ripened corn, he was ready for harvesting. Another aged servant of Christ, who has labored for years, in the foreign field, for the " American Board," passed away to his reward. a day or two since, in this city. Rev. Benjamin C. Meigs, long of the Ceylon Mission, has been a suf ferer for some time ; but his age precluded much hope of his recovery, and on Monday he expired. Still a third aged minister, long known and once eminent in the Dutch Church, of New York, has just passed away. Rev. Dr. McCauley for many years had a high position, and was eminent as a preacher of the gospel. In appearance he was a ;cow venerable Man, and, 'in bettelFiltiß foiw commanded more admiration or had a larger circle of warmer personal friends. Of late years his life has been one of strange vicissitude and deplorable change. To his friends it became the saddest grief, and' to his estimable son a burthen and a cross, which could find but little alleviation, even in the universal sympathy of friends and the most strenuous personal efforts for the venerable man's reformation. Deplorable as is this infirmity, the Superintendent of the Inebriate Asylum, now in process of erection at Binghampton, in N. Y. State, says there are hun dreds awaiting its completion. Judges of the Courts, eminent lawyers, clergymen and statesmen are all anxious to become its inmates, trusting, with God's blessing, thit this terrible malady may be cured. The ink on the above record was scarcely dry, be fore it is announced that the Rev. Dr. Bethune is dead l A telegraphic dispatch from Florence met the steamer just as she sailed, merely announcing the melancholy fact. The presumption is, that his death was sudden and from, apoplexy. He had never recovered from an illness of this sort the last time I heard, him preach, in the Twenty-second street Dutch Church, just before he sailed, where he was associated with Rev. Dr. Van Ness. The impression was unalterable that he would never sur vive his European tour. Dr. B. had become so lethargic his health could not but suffer. Physical effort of every sort was excessively wearisome, and his pulpit exercises had become exhausting and a burthen to the flock. The fervid eloquence for which he was so distinguished had in a great mea sure yielded to bodily infirmities, and his very look plainly told that life was held by a very gentle tenure. Mrs. B. was with him, and she survives her husband, although she has for years been a help less invalid, requiring two men even to move her. Dr. Bethune leaves a very large circle of warm friends, and not a few of them are in Philadelphia. Rationalism in Holland has gone to great lengths. One of the two teachers of theology in the Semilary of the Lutheran Church in Amster dam, has pliblished a treati.,se• on the Resurrection of Christ, attacking the doctrine with many sophis tical considerations, and, in fact, denying it. The Synod has condemned the treatise, but we cannot find that the author was removed from his position. Discipline must be even less prompt and effective in the Lutheran Church 'of Holland than in the estab lished Church of England. It is regarded as a mat ter of thankfulness by the correspondent of the New Evan. Kirchmeitung, March 1, that able oppo nents of the heresy are appearing on the field of controversy; prominent among whom is C. Lentz, German preacher to the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Amsterdam, and a pupil of the good Tholuek. In his pamphlet he . brings the contro versy to the question of the fact of sin in human nature, and declares that the denial of this fact is the grand leading error in the so-called system of modern theology. The great question, says the correspondent, which now agitates the entire theo logical world of Holland is, whether Christ really rose from the dead, or whether the testimony of the Church to this great event is an idle sentiment!, Holland must be the Sleepy Hollow of Christen dom. The Catholic Press of Germany.—An elabo rate German work on this topio has reached a third edition. The Kirchenzeitung gives an interesting summary of the contents, from which we learn that the Press is described as but a second-rate power in the esteem of the Catholic Church. " One sister of charity is worth more than ten writers for the press." The strength of the church is in its orders. Yet, with, no little inconsistency, it is after wards said that he who wields the word, wields the high-priesthood of humanity." Doellinger writes for the " Historiseh Politische Blietter," of Munich. There is no Catholic Church parer of a general character to set over against the Foreign. Protestant journals, which comprehend the inter ests and movements of the universal church in their scope. Such a paper is greatly needed by the Ca tholics of Germany. In Mayence, however, there is a local paper, Des Katholische Volksblatt, with a circulation of 25,000. I n Westphalia there are three such journals. Fifteen others are named in various parts of Germany, but their characters and circulation are not given. Among journals for science, literature and art, the Tubingen Quartal-Schrzft, founded 1819, stands highest as a theological organ. It is claimed that this journal first extorted 'respect for Catholic exe gesis and church history. The author complains of the multitude of sermons incessantly issued by some of the journals which have large lists of subscribers. All Catholic preachers,_ he thinks, should bind themselves by an oath to give no sermons to the press for thirty years to come I (On the principle of tarrying at Jericho?) Among journals for the family is the widely-read Jugend-61mgal., of Stuttgart, which he calls a "true pearl of juvenile literature;" the Jizgend Freund, (Youth's Friend,) of Munich, and others, of which many thousand cbpies are issued. Yet a new peri odical for the young is about to be issued, abund antly illustrated, and which, in the hands of com petent laborers, is expected to exceed in value any now published. We were interested in the declaration of the writer that there , is greater necessity for bringing forward a class of conscientious publicist° than for founding new journals. He bewails the slavery of the public - 'mind -to incompetent - literati. The Bishops should labor zealously to exclude hostile journals from Catholic families, and to surround themselves with men selected from the clergy and trained to this sort of literary pursuit, and who, when they become mighty in the use of the pen should settle in the cathedral towns and employ themselves in literature and journalism. In our day, says the writer—and we Protestants: may take a note of it—while the grandest movements are taking place in the world's history, no man, and, most of all, no priest; should be willing to remain inactive. He who will not take part in the great spiritual struggle of the present, deserves to be treated as the unprofitable steward. Perhaps our readers will not be unprofited by considering the hopeful view which, in conclusion, the writer takes of his church at the present time, while we Protestants are daily expecting its over throw. " Catholic air," he says, "is breathing through the world. In North America already the church is represented by 47 archbishops and bishops, and with her 6,000,000 of Catholics* takes an imposing positaon. In England, which, fifty years ago, could count scarcely 50,000 Catholics, there are now more then 2,000,000, and the conversions are numerous every year. In ,six years the number of Catholic bishoprics has increased 150; 178 different orders work in the church. The approximation of the Russo- Greek and Romish churches is significantly increas ing from year to year, and meets with no opposition in the highest circles of the Russian capital. Even in the lowlands of Northern Germany may be heard the summons to return en masse to the church. In France the priesthood stands in a determined and warlike attitude ; where sixty years ago none of the various sisterhoods existed, there are now .60,000 members of the various orders. In Holland the Catholics are united for vigorous efforts: in Aus tria, too, the ecclesia dormiens assumes more and more the character of the ecclesia militans. The purifying wind 'of revolution will act healthfully upon the Italian, as it did upon the Spanish clergy, and purge away deep seated abuses. Whoever can look discerningly into the life of the church, is as tonished at the unusual nu.mber conversions •to the judicious the'ehurch appears as the leading con servative influence and the power of the first order in the world. The domain of charity is seen to be long, in her numerous orders, exclusively to the church; art, too, is her prerogative, and the future will catholicise science." This exaggerated and boastful statement is plainly made, in part, to keep up the courage of the faith ful in this remarkable crisis in the fortunes of po pery. Yet the Kirchenzeigung would have the Evangelical Church beware of under-estimating the foe, especially as so much of the nominal Protest antism of Germany is undermined with Rational ism. Hence, it does not draw much encourage ment from another pamphlet: "A Word upon the Protestant Press of Germany," published at Augs burg, in which it is shown that there are 1500 Pro testant establishments in the book trade to 24 Ro mish; and that the Protestants have 200 or 300 journals to 30 of the Romanists. For itis a lament able feet that by far the most of these Protestant journals are governed by tendencies no less hostile to the Evangelical Church than to the Catholic. Truly the Evangelical Church in Germany, on this view, is in straits which should secure for it the pro found sympathy of the world. A. double flood is poured out by the dragon to swallow up the:woman. * According to the census of 1850 there were ac commodations for but a little over one-tenth of this number in the Churches of the country. At Sydenham, an old stronghold of dissent, and where no • Church-rate had been carried for many years until 1861, the Easter elections resulted in the triumph of the Church wardens by 418 to 188, and other Church officers by 413 to 99. This is only a symptom of a change going on in many places all over the realm.—Church JcurnaL crolir Another Advanoe.—General McClellan is slowly but surely advancing upon Richmond. A few days must decide the fate of that city, and perhaps of the rebellion. A great battle is expected by many in its vicinity.- Otheits confidently 'say that the rebels will follow their accustomed policy and eva cuate. The Federal army has advanced to within eight and a half miles of the city, at G-ain's one and a half miles from the Ohickahominy. On Wednesday, the 21st, General Stoneman, in com pany with Professor Lowe, made a balloon recon noissance. They rose to the height of five hundred feet, and had a good look at Richmond and the sur rounding country. Evidences of a large force of the enemy were seen to the left of Richmond. The health of our troops is quite good, and as a sanitary measure, two rations' of quinine and whisky are daily issued. Still. Nearer Riehrnond.—General McClellan has advanced one and a half miles beyond the Chic kahominy, and is seven miles from Richmond. On Saturday the 24th, there were three skirmishes. In the despatch to the War Department, General McClellan says—" We droie the rebel's from Me chanicsville, which is seven miles from Newbridge. The Fourth Michigan Regiment about finished the Louisiana Tigers, fifty of whom were taken prison ers and fifty killed. Our loss was tea killed r and wounded." The South and Southwest. Emancipation.—As was expected, the President has issued a counter-proclamation to that of General Hunter. He declares that he had no knowledge of the intention of General Hunter to issue such a paper, and that he had given hint no authority to do so. He says that he will reserve to himself the right of deciding whether it be competent for him as commander-in-eh ief of the army and navy to give freedom to the slaves of any State, and also, as to the necessity of such a measure at any time, or in any case. He reiterates his proposal of gradual compensated emancipation, as embodied in the reso lution adopted by both houses of Congress, and in strong and earnest to I , s thus appeals to the slave States :—" You can e , if you would, be blind to the signs of the times. I beg of you a calm and en larged consideration o them, ranging, if it may be, far above personal an. .artisan politics. This pro posal makes common : use for a common object, casting no reproach°pon any. It acts not the Pharisee. The than' it contemplates would come ;t gently as the dews of • eaven, not rending or wreck ing anything. Will u not embrace it? So much good has not been do • ; by one effort in all past time, as in the Providence e ,God it is now your high pri- vilege to do. May t: went that you have n this proposal of the t has been called to re in Jefferson City, Mo favorable to emancipa sent administration. New Orleans.—S leans, the vessels of wisely distributed al. having gone as far as. Memphis. Additional details have been received, Fort Barrancas and side a considerable and an amount of stores, the value of , The authorities of P: unwilling to part wit the National troops i of Fort Mcßae but_. Yardand every speb".i a combustible nature There were indi Mississippi, had been false. A despatil of, bardment had been hours. The rebels r casionally. Various as to the number of The most recent sta ness was said to be Beauregard is using prepare them for t I Halleek is gradually Thursday, the 22d, whole line. The reb: i Their loss was 40 kill'i the same the;evacuation of Pensacola A 1.44 which it will be seen that = lighthouse were saved, be ll . wit of other public property /bel ordnance ,and ordnance cla had not been estimated. sacola, .it appears, were not It eir rebel friends and receive it . eir stead. .Nothing is left ~,,,- . are walls, while the Navy ' ' f_Government propertY of .a heap of smoking ruins. • 'ns that Fort Wright on the vacuated. They provito be he 22d states that the born med 'and kept up for five !led with, their guns only ee -1 II I> ports coma in from the West ,- iiregard's forces at Corinth. It to be 130,000 men. Sick- atly prevalent among them. 'cry effort to. inspirit and to I expected contest. General ilproaching his, position. On ere was skirmishing along the 1 ,. were in every-ease repulsed. :1 and wounded. Ours about Congressional.- t. 4. of thanks to Captain: The Military Commi into the expediency o soldiers enlisted for t On Thursday, at 1 to organize itself in''' . meat for the trial 6 Vice President and render impartial just;, on the part of the Hell Mr. Bingham, said e §ENATE has passed a vote ariagat, his officers and men. •e was instructed to inquire 'iroviding suitable bounty for ee' months' and one year. • 'eloek, the'Senate proceeded a High Court of Impeach , j est H.. Humphreys. The a nators took a solemn oath to articles of impeachlnent against West H. Humph reys.", I 1 • 4 1 1, The managers then wing, Mr. Bingham read the ..1 articles of buneachm t made by the House against West H. Humphre for high crimes and misde meanors, and dema • ed in the name of all the people of the Unite !States, and of the House of Representatives, aka the said West H. Humphreys be called upon to an- er to the high crimes alleged against him. The Vice Preside, the Senate would, and due notice woul Court then adjourn: informed the managers that e the proper order in the case, be given to the House. The Defeat and Itetr VMS attacked on the rebel force of 15,000 Generals Ewell and ' less than four tho the left wing stood and the right did till gimeuts broke the The right wing fell draw, and the troop confusion. They we side and continued Martinsburg, where distance of 22 miles. i at of Banks.—General Banks morning of May, 25th, by a inv., under the command of i dmson. Our entire force wasl.'i, la His official despatch says ly, holding its ground well, same for a time, when two re •'s under the firs of the enemy. k and was ordered to with passed through the town in quickly reformed on the other heir march in good order to hey arrived at 2'40 P. M., a Another despatch the Potomae at Willi able. tes that he had safely crossed sport. Our loss is consider- In connection wit it is said to be the' two points, Harper' Defeat of our le Kenley's pommand driven from Front ' killed, wounded and ed and prisoners is C' was estimated at fro as having fallen back; is the county seat o hundred and forty and one mile east - o attack was made by several regiments of largely outnumbere'. o'clock until nightie. obliged to retreat. Victory in West' order issued brGen; municates the pleasi Lewisburg, in the M neral commanding victory in this dep. bravery of our soldie of the enemy. The Third Brigi , commanded by Colo day morning at Lew three thousand men,, the enemy were rou Crook captured four' arms and one huncini killed and forty wo tory will be importan -this movement of the rebels, purpose to enter Maryland at Ferry and Williamsport. °es at Front ItoyaL—Col. ,cavalty and infantry has been i lyal with considerable loss in I risoners. Among the wound , rlonel Kenley. The rebel force 1 , 5000 to 7000. It is reported on Front Royal; Front Roytd urea county, Virginia, one ." 1 northwest from Richmond,. ,;the Shenandoah river. The • shby's cavalry, supported by anay. f. Our forces, though fought obstinately from 12 !, when they were repulsed and rn Virginia.—The following Fremont May 24th, com !g intelligence of a victory at ntain Department. The Ge- Igiatulates the army;on a new Ail ant, won by the skill and against the superior numbers e. of General COX'S division, !=l, Crook, was attacked yester °:berw by General Heath, with [nd after a lively engagement, ct and &din confusion. Col nnon, two hundred stand of ; prisoners. Our loss was ten !. ed. The results of this vie- -- Items.—The rebel 'twiny around Richmond is greatly demoralized, ..according to reliable reports, and suffers much front the scarcity of provisions. —The expendittu* of the Government do not, now average a million per day. At an election held recently in Nashville, a Secessionist had the majority for a judgeship. Governor Johnson will give no commissions Secessionists.—Three re bel regiments were recently routed at Corinth by General Pope, of Halleck's army.—Captain Far ragut has reached Vicksburg with the U. S. fleet, and ordered the removal of the women and children. —A riot took place in Baltimore on Sabbath, the 25th, during which a number of prominent Sec,es sionista wore beaten ,by the Unionists, for their re joicings over the rebel victory at Front Royal. ana u;rtttote etangtliot. • vast future not have to la- Jected it" In response to esident, a mass Convention •oii the 16th of June next, to nominate State officers #n imd.the policy of the pre- ce the captive of New Or aptain Farragut have been „: the river, some of them ieksburg, Miss., en route to in the ease. The managers e were notified and.appeared. Mr. President, We are ap- ST NEWS. CIRRESPONDENCE IN THE ASSEMBLY. ,Htty 21. BROTHER MEARB:—In the Monday morning's de votional hour, Dr. Thompson gave an account of his spiritual labors among the sick and wounded in the military hospitals in this city. The Assembly was deeply moved by his narration of incidents showing the great willingness, and often eagerness, of the pa tients fol. Christian counsel' and sympathy. Out of hundreds of cases, be bad been repulsed in only three instances. While passing through one of the wards, a mere boy, pale and suffering, reached out his hand, and beckoned him to his bedside. In answer to in quiries, he said he was not a Christian, nobody ever taught him to be a Christian, his father and mother cared nothing about it, be could not read the Bible, nobody ever taught him to read, be had rievei prayed, would not the good minister teach him bow to pray? "Yes, my poor boy, I will teach, ou - how to pray." The Doctor then said the Lord's Prayer, causing him to - repeat the sentences slowly after This was done twice, but the boy said it was so long that he could not remember it and say is when he was alone. The Doctor then said the publican i s prayer, adding, "for Jesus Christ's sake." The boy repeated it se veral times, "God be merciful to me a sinner, for Je- sus Christ's sake." He said he would reinamber that; it suited him, for he was a sinner and wanted mercy. He then said, "If I get well, won't some kind person teach me to read, so that I can read the Bible?" " Yes," said the Dr., weeping with the boy while be"spoke, "yes, my child, I promise you that if you get well, you shall be taught to read the Bi ble," A week passed before the Di: was able to Iri sh-that-hospital again. He went to the Wardwhere the boy should have been found—the bed was empty. Thiee coffins lay in the ball, ready for burial. He prevailed upon the person in charge to open the smallest of them. There, as Ids quick heart bad feared, he found the lifeless remains of the poor boy. During the business session of Monday, the sub ject of our customary annual concerts of prayer came up. Desire was expressed in several quarters that the time for our denominational week of religious services, placed by the last Assembly in the early part of December, should be so changed as to con form to the world's week of prayer in January,'espe- Melly as it was found that a large number of our churches have heretofore made the• change for them selves. The whole subject of these annual concerts was finally committed to a special Committee. - The remainder of the busineis of Monday related chiefly to the work of our Permanent Comniittee, Fo reilgn correspondence, mileage matters, &a., &e., for which you will, of course, take what is interesting from the daily reports. THE 0: S. ASSEMBLY. The Daily Gazette contains the Mowing report of the utterance and reception of the remarks of the ve nerable Dr. Tustin, in the Assembly at' Columbus, after nominating Washington city for the place of meeting for the next (0. S.) Assembly: - "Dr. Dunkin interrupted by the query, Suppose Jeff. Davis has possession at that time? "Dr. Tustin—No danger; we will take the respon sibility of guarantying against that. And if any of the brethren wish to have their patriotism chastened., they can take the cars, and in an hour stand on the plains of Manassas; or:on the other hand, if they desire to add a little fuel to the fire of their patriot- ism, they can step on board a steamboat and go doWn to Mount Vernon, and look in upon the sarcophagus tbat contains all that is mortal of the father of his country; or they can go down on the Potomac and look upon the battle-field of the Merrimac and the Monitor, the success of whose proweis has placed us secure in self-defence against all creation; and if they choose to go farther, they can goon ; to Ricbmond and look upon the mausoleum of the rebellion; and: read this epitaph—Hic jacet Secesgia. [Sensation and restlessness.] While in Washington itself they may see the man to whom thousands of patriotic EearEs are iitady those bestowed upon him 'who was first in war,'first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.' [lncreased restlessness, and some muttering.] In his judgment, when this Administration came to be wound up, and all the acts of this illustrious Chief Magistrate were viewed calmly on the pages of his tory, he would be entitled to as high a place on the column of fame as e to e "Here mutterings of disapprobation and a positive but not generally heard hiss and sneer were uttered, mainly by a delegate from an Eastern State, and Dr. Christian, of Philadelphia, interrupted the speaker, so that I failed to hear the conclusion of the sentence. Dr. Christian did. not wish to be disrespectful, but if, the Moderator allowed such a course of remark to continue, there would be disorder and distraction in the counsels of the Assembly. "Dr. Tustin--I am done, sir. "Dr. Christian—l am glad of it. [And there seemed to be a general wish that he had not be gun."' All this, however, may not be decisive of retrogres sion. Small minorities may show off largely until some test-vote is had. I see by Monday's letter that Dr. Breckenridge has introduced a paper of charac teristic pertinence and unquestionable patriotism. We shall know better where to place these brethren .when that comes up for action. In our own Assembly, Tuesday morning brought us the 'first approach towards a smart debate which has enlivened our business hours. It grew out of the Report of the Special Committee raised last year, on the subject of Systematic Benevolence, read by Dr. Kendall, chairman of the Committee. The closing sentences of the report named our church enterprises of Foreign and Domestic Missions, Education and Publication, as our leading objects of benevolence, and then added, in language as nearly as I can now recollect "We would add the American Bible Soci ety, were it not that this institution is at present be yond the need of, pecuniary contributions." A mo tion was made, and very warmly supported, to strike out the words which I have quoted. After this was carried, another motion was made to name the Bible Society explicitly, along with the four committees mentioned above. On the one hand it was urged that the Bible Society stood out alone, in distinction from all other voluntary Societies, like the Tract Society and the Sunday School Union, a bond of union for, the whole church, and the work of, which pas not supplemented by any, denominational agency, and that we should do great violence to the feeling of the Christian world by, passing it over, in a cata logue of leading causes, coming within the provisions of a plan of systematic contributions. It was also said that the pecuniary flush of the Society is only for the present year, occasioned by the receipt of a very large legacy, and there is no reason to expect but that it will soon be left again Co its ordinary means for gratuitous distribution—individual and congregation al collections. On the other band, it was urged that our present great struggle is to get our churches to take hold of the work of our Committees with a denominational as well as Christian love; that the Bible Society has already an easy access to us, in many cases, taking the precedence over all other claims, and securing noble contributions in congregations whose figures count shamefully in our denominational work ; and farther that, as a voluntary society, it should take its place in [he category of other voluntary societies, such as the Tract, the American and Foreign Chris tians Union, &0., to enjoy the favor of our churches as an outside, though good enterprise, but not in corporated in the very life of our church. Before taking the question, the Report Was re ferred to a special committee, and it now awaits their deliberation. Another earnest debate arose while the report of the Committee on Church Erection was up. Mr. Hamilton of California had been before the Commit tee, urging such a modification of the plan of distri bution as would enable the Permanent' Committee to increase the loans for California to $1,500—5500 beingnow the maximum for a single church. Failing to obtain such a recommendation from the Commit tee, he acquiesced in the reasons which compelled' them to report no, change in the plan.. But a north western member took the matter up in the Assembly, and called for an enlargement of the loans, not only for California, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada, but fur, all the new States and Territories this side of ithe mountains. It was just the fear of this extending of the field for which special favor would be claimed which operated most strongly in deterring the Cum-, rnittee from listening to the proposition from Cali fornia. The point was pressed by many members from the more needy parts.of the church, and the management of the Fund underwent some rough handling—rougher than ought to be meted out to men who, after first themselves giving with great liberality, have, for eight years, without any pecuni ary compensation, watched over it, and used it only as, in their calm judgment, and with all the field and all the facts before them, would make it hest fulfil the purposes for which it was created. At length Wal ter S. Griffith, Esq., of Brooklyn, who,' though not a member, was present, and who has had an important part in the management of the Fund from the be ginning, was, by vote of the Assembly, called to the floor. His account of the creation and acts of the Committee was full and specific. He said that the great obstacle to be overcome in obtaining contribu tions for the'Fund was the fear of careful men—and our best givers are generally such—that it would only be raised to be squandered; that, indeed, it was found impossible to raise the last $40,000 ~until the Assembly had fully adopted the present plan with all its supposed rigid features; that it was on the implied pledge of the Assembly to sustain these fea tures in it,that the money was finally raised, and that the charter, obtained from the New York Legi slature, was such ttptt,it would become void by long material deviation from the plan, and the original donors would reclaim what they had given. He also argued, ;and specified cases in its illustration, that its working was, in the, main, really better fur the feeble churches, than the proposed innovation would make it. The discussion was arrested before reaching vote, and will come up again. The Select Committee on the matter of Concerts for Prayer reported in favor of making the week of prayer correspond in time with that observed by the Christian world generally ;% also ip favor of the usual days—the first Monday in January for the Conver sion of the world, and the last Thursday in February for students in seminaries of learning. To-day the Assembly does not sit until evening— the excursion to Oxford, of which I spoke in a form er letter, going on. The cars started off in a smart rain ; but at this hour, 9 o'clock, it looks as if they may yet have a fine time among the fair. May 23. ilao. MEARS : —Yesterday was another working day in the Assembly, and its proceedings were emi nently interesting and practill. The chief topics were the reports on Publication, Home Missions, and the state of the country.. . In the matter of Home Missions, the Permanent Committee had reported the pressing need of $55,000 to carry on the operations of the coming, year. The Standing Committee, to whom it bad been referred, (Dr. Shaw, Chairman,) responded that it must be $75,000 instead. The latter report strongly recom mended that the number of itinerating missionaries should be largely increased. This - was with reference to a prompt occupation of tbe immense new fields on both sides of the great ridge. The old slow coach system of waiting until a church is actcrallygathered, and then merely supplementing its own mans of supporting a Pastor, by an appropriation of one or two hundred dollars a year, will, on that field, keep us forever in the backgrounel. The whole interest of a rousing and harmonious discussion turned on this question of itinerancy. Rev. H. H. Kellogg, of Illinois, made a telling speech. As the Standing Committee bad recommended that the. Permanent Committee pursue this system as far as their means would allow, he would have the lan guage so, changed as to, read, "as fast as the right men could be found." Set such men at work, and there is no fear but the church will furnish the means. ...Previews ..,ta,...the...pmesentsifetr,.•,we...ahould..-haw--pro nounced it an impossibility that the liberality of the country could be brought up to the point of support ing the Government at the rate of more than one million a day; but when the people saw the men in the field, and what they were doing for us, the means came with no struggle and no murmurs. The Go vernment did not wait an hour for the means to be "raised; that would have been ruin. It threw itself upon the country, and went to work. This was its salvation. Such will be the dif f erence between wait ing fur a sufficient fund before proceeding to occupy these vast regions, on the one hand, and, on the other, plunging-at once into the work, and then show ing the church what we are doing while we tell them our need. But the great speech cane from Mr. Hamilton, of 'California. I shall make no attempt to reproduce its outlines. It was one of those performances which bears no trimming. He took us over his region of country, from city to city among the farming dis tricts, and to the cabins of the miners; until we rather saw than heard; we lifted our eyes to the perpetual desolations. I presume no previous General Assem bly ever sat an hour under so profound and solemn an impression of the immense importance of our home missionary work. One change was made in the organimtion of the Committee. The Secretary and Associate Secretary (now Drs. Kendall and Wallace,) were made ex officio corresponding members. A neiememher was then necessarily appointed in place of Dr. Wallace, who has so faithfully watched over its affairs from the beginning, and whose services are continued in the form above stated. The report on the state of the country came from Dr. Beman. The hour for its presentation was pre viously known, and the house was densely filled with listeners. It was read amidst profound stillness. The voice of the reader was feeble, but every word was distinctly beard. The letter to the President was read by Mr. Aikman, a member of the Com mittee, and probably came from hie pen. Immediately after the reading of the report, a North-western member arose and proposedto amend it by adding a resolution, which he drew from hie pocket and read, expressive of the Assembly's grati fication with the President's proposal to compensate emancipating States, anti the approval of the same by Congress. It was promptly voted down, without debate. It is not, however, to be supposd that the Assembly meant, for an instant, to withhold its ap probation from this measure; but members were evi dently in no mood for any tampering with such a paper as that before them. During its slow enuncia tion, there was time enough to perceive and feel that it was right, word by word; that it was . enough as it was, and not,a sentence could make it better. It was felt, alsoohat it Was perhaps the last work which its venerable author would ever perform on the &or of the Assembly, and this made it a solemn hour. The report was adopted by a rising vote. Permission Was then given to spectators to express, in the same way, their approbation of it, and in an instant the immense audience, probably without an exception, was on its feet. I have not spoken of the character of the paper; I suppose you will publish it in full. Dr. Parker, from the Committee on Bills and Over tures, reported yesterday on the overtures fur re union with the Old School, from St. Lawrence and other Presbyteries. The report was pacific and con ciliatory. but it proposed only to await farther open ings of Divine Providence. This, I suppose, means, to leave it fur the Old School to initiate proposals, which, under all the circumstances, is unquestion ably our proper course. The subject, we see in the .papers, has been up, and disposed of, at Columbus. The first proposition there made, according to the reports, was, that its consideration was inexpedient now, but that it be turned over to the next Assem bly, "with the assurance that the body will kindly consider any proposition for such re-union as may then he properly before them." This was, however, rejected on the ground that this Assembly had no power to speak for the next, and a resolution, finally adopted, that any definite action is , at this time, in expedient. That Assembly, at the last accounts, had before it a resolution, offered by Dr. Davidson, that steps should be taken to open a fraternal correspondence with us, as with various other foreign bodies. One reason assigned in the_preamble is, 'that "it is de sirable to cultivate amicable relations with our bre thren of the Presbyterian family,.even though a closer union may seem for the present inexpedient." Sub sequently, a motion was made that a delegate be at once appointed to pro Pose a correspondence, and that Dr. Davidson receive the appointment. Dr. Breckenridge opposed it as hasty action, and unbe coming the dignity , of the body. The subject was laid over , until to-day. Several leaser matters were yesterday disposed of in our Assembly—among them the appointinent of delegates to foreign bodies. One thing, however, I had rather graver interest for not a few of the mem bers. The Finance Committee reported themselves unable to pay claimants upon the Mileage Fund more than 75 per cent. of their expenses. This result was produced in part by the large sttendancet of mem bers, but in greater part by a fact which the Com mittee treated with scorching severity, that many Presbyteries within convenient distance of the place of meeting, and whose commissioners could come at only a trifling expense, had withheld entirely their quota of the Commissioners' Fund. The consequence is, that many distant commissioners, who brought more than enough for their own wants, will have in pay from their own pockets, 25 per cent, of their ex penses. The Third Presbytery of Philadelphia, for example, sent on. $175; its commissioners draw out only about $lOO, and must themselves pay $l2 or more each, for the honor of representing their Pres bytery. This morning, the report on Systematic Benevo knee came back to the Assembly, with a recommen dation that the Bible Society take its place among the'lcading objects, and was, in that shape, adopted. The remainder of the morning was spent over the report on Publication. The point of the debate was whether the Permanent Committee should spread it self into a general evangelical publication concern, or whether its issues should be confided to strictly denominational matter. Thus fir, the strength of the argument is largely in favor of the former. The subject lies over until after dinner, and what the afternoon may brindrorth, remains to be seen. PROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT. Ma. Eorroa:—l do not know how many corre spondents you have just now writing from the Gene ral Assembly in this Queen City; bat I cannot foreg the pleasure of a letter. I would give you a little account of the opening of the meeting, the Modera tor's sermon, the election of the new Moderator, Dr. Duffield; but the fact is, I_ was not there when those interesting matters occurred, and I have an objection to reporting what I did not see. But, undoubtedly, the one was good, and the other is acceptable. Of the Assembly we can speak with exultation and gratitude to Gud. On Saturday morning the Mode rator announced that there were two hundred and ten (210) members in attendance, all hut six of the ministers appointed being there, four of the absent be ing from California and lowa. The number of elders here is ninety-six, a larger number than ever before present, as the Assembly itself is the most numerous in the history of our church. We feel, and who will not, a profound sense of gratitude to God for this extrordinary state of things, that at each a time in the history of our afflicted and troubled land, we should come together in such numbers. Nor have we cause fur praise in numbers alone, but even more in the harmony and unity of our assembly. We assemble a compact body, without one discordant cle ment, a band of brethren knowing not a single mat ter on which we differ, where difference can for a moment disturb our perfect peace. Truly we may sing together unto the great God, over all his favor ing love. Is it too much to take this as the seal of his approbation upon our acts in the past? We stood for the right, when standing cost us treasure and men. We took our ground for freedom, refusing fanatic abolitionism on the one hand, and slavery on the other. We stood by the principles and the ut terances of the fathers of our church, neither fearing to re-affirm them, nor explaining them away. We did not crowd out and frown down discussion. We did not put a gag upon free speech; with a firm man liness we met the great questions as they were forced upon us, and to-day we reap the harvest of good. As a church we may bless our Lord, and be glad in our heritage. I look back with joy and satisfaction over the past, as lam glad in the present. It is good to know that we never cut off any of our membership; we have no dark acts of unconstitutional oppression to be ashamed of; the great rebellion did not find us with a host of traitors in the midst of us. l'irhen it came, it found us an American church. "The Presbyterian Church in the United' States," true to our name, true to our history. We were not compelled to pass some cold words of support to our Government, anal to be rent in twain because of even those; but with warm hearts, with feelings that lacked only words to ex press them we could, and we did pledge all we had of love and power to our dear country. We pledged them, not after days of debate, but with a grand lift ing up of forms, with swelling hearts and brimming eyes. We bless God that we did. As we look over the great congregation of to-day, it is not strange that tears of gratitude and satisfaction dim the sight. Truly pod is good; to Israel. Tinialar;the iiina.iiitheAssembly - hats - been oc cupied with hearing the reports of our permanent committees, and rather with preparation for business than its transaction. Every thing promises an ex ceedingly pleasant meeting. I would write you something of this pleasant, but dingy city, and the hospitality of our friends here, but time presses. Your correspondent is enjoying the good results of emigration, as he finds himself in the pleasant home of one of his flock, whom, with many a regret, he married away some years ago to one of these whole-souled western men. As he stepped out of the pulpit last night, another drawn away from her old home in the same way, warmly greeted him, How East and West, far and near, are linked together,.nnd howinany.ties,_hold us! The prayer-meetings which are held daring the first hour of the sessions of the Assembly, are of a deeply interesting character. This morning Dr. Thompson, in whose church the Assembly meets, narrated some thrilling incidents in relation to the sick and wounded soldiers. Among all the hundreds with whom he had come in contact, in no instance had he been re pulsed, but on the contrary had been always wel comed with the moat earnest and tearful interest. ' Every soldier whom you meet expresses his deep de sire to be led to Christ, if he is not already a Chris tian. Dr. Thotnpson . was asked how these sick and dying men regarded .their connection with the war. lie gave, in reply, an incident:—He stood beside a desperately - -wounded man, wrapped in his bloody sheet, which could not be removed lest the artery should spout forth his life, and said to him, "This is terrible, my dear fellow." "Yes," was the reply, "but it's in a good cause!" "Do you , regret your act?" "0, no, I would do it all again." t.fhe noble fellow died at night, and 'lie knew when he spoke that he would die. So they pass away, these heroes of to-day, and make this-to-day the brightest of our history. W. A. ffirecial Notices, The Presbytery: of Rochester will hold its stated meeting in Victor, on Tuesday, the 10th day of June next, at 2 o'clock, P. M. CHA.S. E. FURUAN, Stated Clerk. Rochester, May 21, 1862. Notiee.—The stated meeting of Buffalo Presby tery will be held at Panama on the third Tuesday (the seventeenth) day of June, commencing at four o'clock, P. M. TIM:Mu STILT MAN, • Stated Clerk. Dunkirk, May 20, 1862. The Fifty-fourth Anniversary of the Pennsylvania Bible Society, will be held in the First Independent Church, Broad Street, below Chestnut on Thursday evening, May 29th, at 8 o'cloek. The Presbytery of Ontario will hold their next Stated Meeting in Lakeville, on the first Tuesday of June (3rd), at 4 o'clock, P.M, J. RumAm), Stated Clerk. myls 3t Important Facts. --Constant -writing for six months done cheaper with our Gold Pens than with steel ; therefore, it is economy to use Gold Pens. The Gold Pen remains unchanged by years of con tinued use, while the Steel Pen is ever changing by corrosion and wear; therefore, perfect uniformity of writing is obtained only by the use of the Gold Pen. The Gold Pen is always ready and reliable, while the Steel Pen must be often condemned and a new one selected ; therefore, in the use of the Gold Pen there is great saving of , time. Gold is capable o receiving 'any degree of elasti city, so that - the Gold Pen is exactly adapted to the hand of the writer • therefore, the nerves of the hand and arm are not iitured„as is known to be the eltse by the use of Steel Pens. See "The Pen is mightier than the Sword," in another column. mar2o fim lipertiormentL THE CLOSER WALK, -OR-- The Believer's Sanctification. BY BEV. HENRY DARLING, D. D. PRICE SIXTY CENTS. JUST PUBLISHED. :J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., ray 22 2t Nos 22 and 24 North Fourth street. TLI R Cincinnati, May 19th, ISO
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers