atevican fvuibgttrian
ANDS--
GENESEE EVANGELIST.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1862.
MI W. MEARS,
THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER.
ACCEPTABLE prayer to God may just as well
be joined with thanksgiving as with fast
iug. Indeed, the apostolic injunction to com
bine the two former exercises, seems`.; to be of
universal import : "In everything, by prayer
and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your re
quests be made known unto God " (Phil. 4 : 3).
It is an excellent and most profitable rule never
to come with a burden to the throne, without
remembrance of some past blessing. Our very
fasts should be relieved by such remembrance of
the divine goodness. If our nation needs to be
prayed for, let none hold back to-day, because
our rulers have seen fit to call for public prayer
in connection with a thanksgiving, rather than a
fast-day. As a cotemporary has fitly.remarked,
our President has not taken counsel of Jefferson
Davis, the last of whose fasts, was observed on
the day of the defeat of the rebels at Antietam,
but rather of the prophet Isaiah, where he says:
"Is not this the fast that 'I have chosen, to loose
the bands of wirikedness, to undo the heavy bur
dens, and to let the oppressed go free and that
ye break every yoke ?" Jefferson. Davis may
appoint as many fasts as he likes,; and yet he
and his people are likely to be found in the same
unhappy state as the rebellious Israelites, previ
ously described by the prophet, who sought the
Lord daily, yet cried out: "Wherefore have we
fasted and thou seest not ? Wherefore have we
afflicted our soul and thou takest no knowledge ?"
And if God la the- same hater of injustice ,and
violence to-day as he was then, shall •not the re-
Fro's° be the same ? "Behold in the , day of
your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your la
bors. Behold ye fast for strife and debate, and
to •smite with the fist of wickedness:; ye shall
not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to
be heard on high."
According to the divine explanation, we' have
fasted in the very way of the divine appointment.
farSo as his Providence gives us the power, we
have determined that the oppressed shall go free.
We may humbly claim and wait for the glorious
promise of succeeding verses : " Then shall thy
light break forth as the morning, and , thine health
hall spring forth speedily; and thy righteous
ness shall go forth before thee; the glory of God
khan be thy rear-ward!' Those who persist in
warring for oppression may indeed fast;'they
cannot find sackcloth too heavy; 'we have occa
sion for a day of thanksgiving that God has in
clined our rulers to an opposite policy, and has
thus, in a sense, pledged himself to us in some
of his most precious.and cheering promises.
It is highly appropriate, then, that we should
approach God in the manner of thanksgiving.
We have much to pray for, much to mourn over
and to , present for pardon.. But .ungrateful, ob
stinate, and blind must we be, if we do not per
ceive in the course of our nation during the past
year, such indications of the divine actings upon
our policy, such blossornings-out of high Chris
tian principle, such shining marks of progress as
to call for an overflow of rejoicing, and a eucha
rist of glad festivity, throwing all other senti
ments into the shade. We have indeed much to
acknowledge, much to seek from God as a peo
ple, but he who does it in a gloomy spirit pro
vokes God's anger, by seemin g to despise his
recent great mercies, without which all else that
we could entreat of him, victory, union, peace,
would be vain.
Thankfulness, leading to hope and faith in
God's promises, will be the best mood in which
to fulfill the closing charge of our Governor's ad
mirable Thanksgiving Proclamation :
" And most heartily entreating Him to bestow
upon our Civil Rulers, Wisdom and Earnestness
in Council, and upon our Military Leaders, Zeal
and Vigor in Action, ttat the fires of Rebellion
may be quenched,—that we being armed with
His defence, may be preserved from all perils,—
and that hereafter our people, living in peace
and quietness, may, from Generation to Genera
tion, reap the abundant fruits of His Mercy,
anti, with, joy and thankfulness, praise and mag
nify His holy name."
OLOTHING FOR THE FREEDMEN.
REV. L. C. Lockwood, late missionary to the
freedmen of Fortress Monroe, now under ap
pointment to Beaufort, S. C., authorizes us to
state that clothing for the freedmen around the
former place may be sent to the U. S. Quarter
master of this city, who will provide for its ship
ment free of charge. Mr. C. B. Wilder, the
superintendent, says
There are about a thousand in Hampton, quar
tered in tents, and a still larger number at Nor
folk-780 at Fort Norfolk, and 850 quartered in
a large storehouse and in barracks. Could the
benevolent look upon these pitiable objects of
charity, tattered and shoeless, destitute of decent
clothing, Mid 'compelled to sleep on hardboards,
bricks, or ground, without a pallet, or scarcely
a rag under them, their hearts would bleed,
" and eyes unused to weep o'erflow with tears."
There are many who would gladly contribute
to their comfort by at least furnishing their cast
off clothing.. We hope that in every community
there will, be a place of deposit selected, and
notice published in., churches, or through the
press, or bothj -and sufficient money be collected
to defray expense of transpoitatiOn. If any
please to contribute whole cloth, or garments cut,
but not made, they can be made by the " Freed
men" themselves, if trimmings, needles; thread,
thimbles, and buttons are furnished, as a number
can do plain sewing.
There are also probably a still larger number
of knitters. And yarn and knitting - needles
would be very acceptable. The furnishing of
work will also accomplish the very desirable ob
ject of teaching them industry. We hope that
shoes will not be forgotten. Some simple medi
cines are also greatly needed. In the case of
those for whom this appeal is made, it may be
said there is the more need of charity, as the
women have not opportunity to wash for soldiers,
as those women had who have been here for the
year past.
The want is immediate and pressing, and it is
hoped that the friends of humanity will not de
lay their charities.
Additional depositories:--Alexander Whilldin,
Esq., No. 18 North Front street; J. C. Chance,
Eq., 1518 Market street
,; John Gulliver, Esq.,
1419 Spruce street; Tyler, Stone & Co., Ship
pers for the Quartermaster,Walnut below Fourth.
A LIEFIRAL ComearroN.—The Church of the
Covenant, in New York, under under the care of
Rev. Geo. L. Prentiss, D.D., have just taken up
thug annual collection for Home Missions, which
reached the handsome sum_of
THE EFFICIENCY OF OUR. CHURCH.
THERE is, I am confident," says Dr. Skin
ner, in his sermon before the General 'Assembly
in St. Louis, " no extant church more capable
of solidly compacting and strengthening itself
than ours,—none that -. has the materials of a
mitre pure, dense,•solid denominationalism."
It is unquestionable that our Church has shown -
a remarkable power of persistence. Its very
standing still for years has in a certain sense
been a triumph of:efficiency. Like the, Pennsyl
vania and New Jersey brigades at the battle of
Williamsburg, it has stood when according to all
ordinary calculation, it ought to have fallen,
when it had no means of attack and scarcely of
self-defence, when it could do nothing mote than
refuse to yield. It has been assailed in •flank
and rear, and has many times been summoned to .
surrender; it was neafly decimated by a single
secession; guerrilla raids have carried off its
churches singly; its property has been appropri
ated and used against it, in almost military style.
Or, to change the figure, it has been between an
upper and a nether millstone, and has
,been sorely
pressed to yield up its organic existence. That
it could resist such a tremendous grinding as As
been applied to it by two eontigne* denomina.
tions, proves that it is net. of :the tilterable• class
of substances. It is yet . here, whele; its organic
character completed, vigorous, active, hopeful.
It makes up, somewhat slowly, but surely, the
extraordinary losses it suffers, and what is still
harder, amends the want of prestige resulting
from a seemingly recent origin and ejectment
from chartered rights. The continued existence
therefore of our Church, and more; its consolida
tion and inward development under so many ad
verse influences, are wonderful examples of effi
ciency. 'Yet it must be admitted, they by them
-selves will not satisfy our • wonder, or our judg
ment either, always. Standing firm may be a
noble. and heroic thing, under certain circum
stances, but mere standing will bye and bye raise
inquiry, and kindle impatience.
,It was a won
,derful thing for those brigades to stand firm and
behold their ranks thinning and ammunition ex
hausted, but the public naturally asks why it was
they could do no more ? Why were they not in
a condition to advance ? Their conduct was -no
ble, but it was not quelling the rebellion. .That
was only to be done by forward movements, by
Hancock's " superb" charge, which would have
been much more superb if it - had been early
enough to have dispensed with ,the need of this
dumb and obstinate heroism, this standing still
to be merely shot at all day long.. That heroic
behavior when kept up too long, ceases to attract
our wonder or to satisfy our judgment, because
we instinctively feel that something must be
wrong. Churches are not made merely to hold
their own, any more than armies; they are ex.:
pected to be moving, to be forgetting the things
which are behind in their eager, forward Terme
ment.' It may have been a credit to us once to
be able to say : We yet live, in spite of powerful
untoward influences; as once, during the first - six
months of the rebellion, it was a credit to the
Government to be able to say, " Waihingtan is
safe." Our Church can no longer claim 'efficien
cy on the ground of existence perpeteatedamid
extraordinary difficultie& No matter what those
difficulties are, we are destined to be written`
down ."inefficient," if we do not move. .We
have - merely succeeded in standing to be shot at
long enough ; dumb heroism will not suffice amid
the demands of the age upon the-Church. There
must be actual progress. ,
Ours may truly'' be' called a martyr Church.
It has borne emphatic and suffering testimony to
the •truth. Oar separate existence` results from
our unwillingness to sanction a highly unjust and
unconstitutional series of measures in the Church.
At the loss of our standing, and our chartered
privileges in the great Presbyterian Ohara of
this country, we refused to endorse an act of in
justice that struck at all the dearest rights of
church meinbers and ministers in that body.
Every one of us might have retained our places,
had we assented to the new tests, which required
the approval of those acts, but we preferred all
the toil, self-denial, and expense of providing
ourielves with a new Chiirch organization and
new machinery for church action; and every act,
every stone 'we laid upon the rising walls of the
structure, was a suffering testimony for 'justice,
and for the sacredness of constitutional rights and'
obligation& The Church and the Country need
ed such a testimony. It was , a timely warning
against the , reckless, anarchical spirit which scru
ples not, to sweep away the barriers of order and
the guards of personal - rights, when they stand in
the way of an intolerant majority. It was a
splendid example of fidelity to justice, in an age
when the bands of order were loosening and the
greatest and wiekedest of rebelliens against civil
government was preparing. The dumb heroism of
per Church in standing by the principles involved
in its -origin, has done its part in leavening the
public mind with a wholesome regard for law, in
resisting the prevalent disorganiiing tendencies,
and in preparing the people to receive the out-
break of the rebellion 'With 'such - a stern arid aw
ful outbreak of indignation. No body of men at
the North, no ecclesiastical assemblies, no papers
religious or secular, saw more keenly the moral
bearings of the struggle, or testified more prompt
ly to the vital importance of the prinsiples at
stake, or exerted a more positive • influence in
toning men's minds to the proper degree of feel
ing, to the deeds and sacrifices which were de
mended of them by an imperilled Constitution
and the outraged principles of order. The entire
Editor.
Presbyterian Church of America ought, by its,
most essential principles, promptly to have '
thrown the weight of its great influence in this
direction.. Providentially,, the ,severe training
of our Church had prepared it to save the Pres
byterian name from the intolerable disgrace of
giving a reluctant and 'halting testimony in the
critical hour. Our trials had renewed in our
breasts that keen regard for justice and for the
immutable principles of morality which are so
inseparable from the Calvinistic habit of thought;
our testimony for the Country was but an en
largement of the original testimony against
wrong which made, us a Church. It was an ap
propriate act which our Assembly did ten years
ago, when it put the. Presbyterian block. of 'mar
ble in the Washington monument.
WORK IN SARRA.TH ScifooLa.—Dr. Marsh, of
the American Temperance pnion, gratefully ac
knowledges contributions from Two Hundred
Sabbath Schools, to enable him to supply as many.
Regiments with a thousand of the Temperance
Tracts, prepared for 'soldiers. He Lopes foras
many more as it is .a blessed operatien, both for
the children and our Writ)* soldiers. '
aintritan *grtollttetia
IS PIETY ON THE DEOLINE ?
WE have "bears" in the Church, as well as
in the stock-market. Persons with whom it has
almost grown to be a fashion so speak despond
ingly of the state of religion; ministers,.editors,
and laymen, keen to detect signs,of , declension,
of heretical tendencies, of the increase of vice
and immorality ie. the community, but, who are,
incredulous as to any tokens of good. They in
terpret every occurrence unfavorably, and make
the most of everything. that is really unfavorable.
When revivals are vouChsafed, we speedily hear
their voice of warning against spurious excite
ments, their prediction that the effects will prove
transient, and their announcements, bye and bye,
that it has turned out as they. surmised. To
such persons the war is a great windfall. It
gives them the widest scope for their peculiar
vein of declamation. There is a plausibility in
their oft , repeated cry that the Church is in dan
ger of 'being ruined. "Worldly excitements will
swallow up all the interest of professors of relig
ion, and piety wilirdecline till it ceases to be a
power in, the Church and the community." The
proper and necessary degree of interest which
Christians, and ministers, and religious presses,
and -church-councils take in the war, is held up
*444 oßyiumph, as proof of the terrihle
declension-which has already taken place, and
the impression is communicated, that we cannot
escape a most disastrous period to the Church,
without an : entire change,—in short, without
ignoring the, solemn and pressing responsibilities
of our position as citizens. But - these clamors
have their day. Like those of the bears 'in the
stock-market, as the war continues and we be
come conscious of the bearings of our position,
they lose their power. The panic they have
created is Adle,. so far as relates to the present
state' of things. Our territory is net 'invaded ;
our civil, Social, and ecclesiastical arrangements
are not disturbed; business is active; the public
mind is not absolutely engroised
. by the war.
The great cause, the high principles, for which
we are contending; the solemn responsibilities
for humanity which are laid upon us; the grave
and perilous dirties demanded of us; thefrequent
and sudden entrance of death into the circles of
our friends,—do ranch to counteract the, tenden
cy of the war-feeling to dissipate serious thought,
and, in many cases, actually intensify, religious
feeling, and bring the foul of the patriot, the
Christian parent surrendering his son, and. the
Christian soldier himself, into unusually intimate
and 'tender communion with his God. •
Any one who will take the trouble to glance
over the proceedings of the Synods, and to read
the extracts from their narratives as they have
appeared in our columns, will see that if the - state
of our own Church be taken as a standard, we
are abundantly sustained in this view. There is
no cause indeed for self-complacency smug us;
far from it, but it would be unjust in 'a high
degree to say, that, in our religious condition,
there is cause for serious alarm. The . war has
wrought not a whit more disastrously npon us
than many a period of peace. ,tven Our contri
butions have not been seriously curtailed. Re
vivals have indeed been few; but they have by
no means been withheld. We have seen them
in our own Synod; the synods 'oflndiana. and'
Michigan .speak of cheering revivals,—the latter
of a goodly'number of, them. The Syinds of
All3any and of Wester 4 Reserve speak of the
positive good effects of the prevailing excitement
in many of the congregations, in solemnizing' he
minds of the people and in leading them : to more
earnest prayer. And we do not wonder that we
hear of a state of hopeful expectancy in other
quarters, as if God was preparing to bless , his
people in an unwonted degree ere long.
We do trot write these words to create content
with our present condition. Far from it. We
would rather show that there is ample ground
for laboring in hope. We would remove from
the mind of the reader any false notion that the
preient is nota time in which to expect revival.
The Lord is, we are persuaded, doing his
churches great good ill:training and disciplining
them to unwonted liberality, humanity, and-self
sacrifice.: He is clearing away great obstacles
to the progress of his kingdom in the world. He
must lie regarded by the believing eye as prepar
ing for Great Itevivals, by this his strange :work.
.Bitt the indications of his readiness to. ork now,
are numerous and encouraging.. If business and=
social interchanges are comparatively unimpeded
by the war, the great work of the Church • .can
go forward. Let Us abandon' foreverthe plea of
the war e as an excuse` for cold-heartedness and
inaction i God has shown us that the fault 9f
such a state . of thinas is our own , ' as much as in
ahno,st any other period. The reasons why we
cannothayia revival, if there be any at
_ail, are
pretty much such as obtain in a time,of'peace.
Let each. , one examine his own heart and see-to
it that there are none there. '
"SENSATION" PREACHING.
W* arelin favor`of sensation . Preaching—pro
vided, the sensations be of the right kind., " Sen
sation " always attends , the forcible presentation
of ,truth; • and who is not in.favor of that 2, In
regard to preaching in general, we are for the
sensation sort;lin preference to the stupid. We
want ixiten to be startled, roused, wakened, and
ketit awake under the preaching of the truth.
We want them interested and attracted—if pos-‘
sible, , rivetted—by the presentation 'of the trnth.
We , want their interestfor*OrldlY objects brOken
in upon and balanced by an interest awakened
in the truth. We Want the ,pulpit where truth
inset forth, to be a centre of powerful attraction
to their minds,; and the preacher who is privi
lege& to make •it such in thehighest degree, is a
public benefactor.
" Sensation''" "iss-a term'which has been sorely
abided in this connection. It has been made to
bear a terrible load of good and' bad meanings,
and has grown into, a hopeless disrepute. Pastor
Fisch of Porta, who' knew none of the current
prejudices against the word, expressed surprise
during his visit to this. country, that any, one
should object:to.sensation preaching;, it was the
only sort they believed in in Prance. He meant,
and we' mean 'by it, a lively presentation of truth
which makes itself felt amid the crowd of ever.
flowing' sensations' in `the mind ; which abounds
in forms of expression, turns of thought, - and
utterances of feeling which one 'after another
like vivid objects of sense, arrest the attention of
the hearer, and keep it in an aroused, condition.
The faultiness of the preaching described under
this term results not from the fact that such a;
state is induced in the hearer's mind, butbecause
illegitimate methods are employed to, bring'it to
paii,.incousistent with the dignity of the pulpit,
and incompatible with the presentation of the
truth, or e Cu nor*
truth itself. There al
make the mere sensatit
of the preaching; wi
caricature,—notoriety;
great results; of:whit
merely the means. 1., 1
made, they care littleA
They overlook the AO
gelical truth, .declared
most effective mover o
used.. ; They, not haw
themselves to be ,awar
to 'truths but remotel
they enter largely into'
errors and public immu
poetical;'biegraPhical, I
peas of scriptUre ; Ore
discussions beforehand
merits, and the people e.
novel and pleasing se.
to applaud sometimes . ;
sations" are . not the
would not wish I tilitav
a crowd Just as unmet()
tentive, just as sympath
in their places, in spite
some of these "sew
error is in the thin
'F
ing—which has ca ,
stir, caused, by, they truth
a sight delightful to an
of the truthi' bound to
his eomman for makin i ,
promised ai of the SPir
mike men , lazy, or indi
of .our bein4 which are
intercourse between Spe;
m O4 I P , 4 11 .1, to use al
make the truttt Attractive
tion in, expect l ng a divioi
for his neglee We ma
is no frequenter of stupi
places.. He t4es no de
not call meti"to that li ,
are capable of Preachin
dreary way. It' is by t
their felloW-reten , that sue
into the ministry. And
ties for impressively fires
sage to he 'unused flt
idleness, or from blind at
solete ' methOdS,` or who
refuse to avail themselve
lustrating truth foun i d i
ture,end science, and w.
their - sermons from the
rent interests of men,ard
of sermonizing ,destitute
full of the rattle of dry tr
congregation • aid then
they who with nolher .
dignity . ereate,a "nsati(
, by
a ,stiong Word r a Ito
aroused and quickened
hearei ?
We have been looks
our ministerial acquaint',
nations; - add *e are dii
the false sensational pre:
meral existence, 'thab r it(
a weary dying „life, and
part. waY, if > not:;quite, b
decline ; while the true
by God's gift or by dint )i
to their callidg; carry the
consciences of fften---holi
strongerand,stronger.
"INDUSTRIAL
FIVE years ago this
ladieS wore ledtto regard
of girls for whom they f(
ion in any of the institute,
girls between twelve and
without properthome or
older and you'lger, aryl
benevolent asso,clationi;
class, the onlyirelianee
individual easeg. The net
behalf.ef the& girls i
number of persons whfe
prise, and an Institution
wards chartered,. bearing
dlistrial Home for Girls.'
months a small house
Pinewas occupied • but
Home was removed to
Spruce, where it ha s beep
ent time. A variety of re:
the Managers toiinalre a
dence. The hope had
for the increasing d em ani
it was inconveniently arr
thnieby adding jn ue h to,
trans; and it warlith ou ght
to•be, 'if possible; in a less
of the city; further avaY
of the 'girls. The 31asagi
a house at the "Alorner
lumbia Ayenue,whielt
suited to their wants.
statements in 'referees
earnestly hepingithat,
claims • upon ..thepu i pati
public, their hutribl e elfi
be forgotten. The se gi
or many of •theik will ro
siu; and' their (Sad el
cared for their souls'. Tt
them 'now, tlian t o ael
women and theii try to
Since this Home Os
hundred and. forty g irl-,
tages. • Upon some, the
vionsly formed was too
under gentle influe n ces,
to old harlots and old ee
have been more nut*
have been cheered by
strumentality ba s reg ie
hoped to claint for bis
ceases they heartily' bl;
they are trying "to do. A
kind assistance 'gi v en 1 1
friends and co-operate
neW:hem e f and enable '
ment to meet the adtli!li
the change.
Contributions or s u • criptions may be' sent to
the Treasurer, Isi- s
J . W. Lewis, No. 1712
Spruce. Street; t o ji t. es T. Shinn, corner of
Broad and Spruce stre ts; or to the Institution.
The fifteenth, and Th rteeuth Street,.ears ;pass
-
the door of the .11 0 00. ind itis , open to visitors'
/'
every day,' except' Satinday Sunday.
Tax" cotton crop o f m ois is 20;000 bates
x . nd ileutott (6vittpliot
the , nterests of the
übtless preachers who
Imost the entire end
.eek popularity, or its
care too little for the
rffective preaching , is
satio may but 'set
at m eans it-be . dime.
t Godls truth, even,
m ,the heart, is the
0 heart that can be
it etimgh at heart
its poper, turn aside
tedtp the Gospel;
inciations of current
*es; they present the
ry, aid political as
ounce their 'intended
fablefortai advertise
and experience many
mightons-- be ready
in allthis the " seri
eworthy part.. Who.
lib% •on his , ministry
just as steadfastly at,-
g, just'as sure to be
+e weather, as follow
t.,
preachers ? The
. not call it preach
sensation. The same
the Gospel, would be
, and every preacher
all the appliances at
e truth stirring. The 1
as never intended to
ut to the great laws '
ught into play in the
r and' hearers. The
is natural powers to
guilty of presump
,ent to make amends
(sure the Holy Spirit
id dreary preaching
-1 tin them . . He did.
nd sacred:'office who
nly in a, stupid and
grievous mistake of
iersons find their way
ose who allow capaci,
ing the Gospel: mes
ir minds' either from
hment to old and sib-
Int narrow prejudice
f the materials for il
modern travel, litera
isolate themselves in
life and great cur
give birth to a style
salient points and
somniferous to the
quite as guilty as
3 than , a breach of
and plant, the truth
illustration in the
if the half-smiling
and the circle of
•
n various denomi
to conclude that
have`lnit an ephe
iational drag along.
a church .0r :Iw°
With them in., the
tional—thosewho,
tit, and ilevoii9n.
h tb the hearts - and
their way and grow
It GIRLS.
, a few Christian
ndition of a class
to anitable provis-
this eity,—viz.,
;hteea years old,
For those both
were provided by
the intermediate
ividual effort in
some united action
alised s a sufficient
3ted the enter
formed, and after
name of " The In-
about eighteen
fth Street below.
,nuary,-1859, the
th Street below
. until the pros-
Lave now iriduood
changii of resi
e too' contracted
the Institution;
for the, purpose,
.14bors of tho ma-
a;le for= the Home
tcinhabited part
the former
re therefore.taken
)ad Street and Go
every respect w,ell
.
=ire to make these
air"new movement,
',here are so many
charities of the
do good may not
, be provided for,
for themselves
be; that no one
/er to take Care of
item till tbfey'are
or ifenefitlheta.
:opened,-about one
ve shared its *lvan-,
sp of bad habits pre
(iArfni to be shaken off
nd they have returned
panions.' But the cases
us where the Managers
belief that thair
; those whom Satan had
n; and for these MC
iike Master whose work
hey hope that,the same
tem hitherto by their
will follow theta-to their
hem withouterobarrass
anal expenies incident to,
HOME MISSIONS.
gut following. Report from a Missionary; de
bribes many a place in the older missionary
States like Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio
In my previous reports, I have not stated as
fully as I might, and perhaps not as-fully as is
desirable, :the Obstacles which exist to: the work
of the. Gospel in this,place. , .
I. Many of the leading families are utterly in-
different, or openly opposed to Christianity. This
village was originally settled, principally by farm
,lies of that stamp. a Its foundations were laid by
land-hpldersead political adventurers, who cared
everything for the success of their worldly
khemes, and little or nothing -for Christianity;
vital-religion was ignored or scouted. The Pres
byterian Church was regarded with special
.dis
like. "We must not let PresbyterianisM get a
'start here, for if it does it can never be rooted
out." This was the feeling openly avowed.. The
character thus stamped upon this village has
been largely retained. The leading-families -are
against us, or care for none of these things."
The exaMple thus set is contagious. The popu
lar current is away from the sanctuary. New
corners, unless they have strong religious princi
ples, are carried away by it. This state of things
is hard to resist. It presents a serious .obstacle
to the progress of the Gospel. •
-2. The religious influence in the Churches is not
what might be expected. And yet this Church is
the principal breakwater against the tides of un
godliness that are sweeping through this comma-
8. There is a palpable increase of immorality
of late. The war, probably more than anything
else is the cause of this increase: Military move
ments, the rush for news, and other causes, tend
to break down the Sabbath. The. prevailing ex
citement and anxiety hurry men into intempe
ranee. Profanity, the• vice-of the camp, is beco
ming' the , vice of our , streets. Irreligion''is
manifestly on the increase. The ties of morality
are fearfully loosened. One would think the
Teh Commandments had been abrogoled. Drun
lienneis and other excesses threaten to destroy
, more men and more of the interests of the coun
try than this rebellipri
4. Our ranks are being thinned by dectth, and;
by - reinovals. One member' of this church haa
'been dismissed; and two haver died, since nly last
report. few days agO we dosed the eyes of
'one of the beloved elders' of the church; and'
'yesterday we buried another of the aged mem
beis • of 'our 'little -flock. They have been taken
way, Perhqs, frem the, evil that is to come
But we have encoUragements also; and of these
'I Will speak briefly:- The congregation is larger
and more stable than it was a year ago:. The
Sabbath school and Bible class are in a flourish
ing condition. The' whole number of teachers
and scholars is now about 140. The prayer
•
meetings, on' Sabbath, an ,Tuesday evenings, are
regularly sustained. The number in attendance
is not very large, but the prayers—sonie of them
so earnest, I am sure they " cozne up as a
remembrance before God." We look not only
for drops of mercy now, but for the time when
"the windows of heaven shall be opened." There
is'an under-current in the church, which I can
:dizititietlyleel; and which trust *ill, ere long,
appear upon the surface and make itself more
'pOwerfully felt There are cases of seriousness
and inquiry not unfrequently coming to my no
tice. Hopeful conversion's occasionally Make me
feel that. God has not t left, his truth, here without
a Witness. ,
On the whole, we have reason to thank. God
and take 'courage. It is-precious to remember
that it is not by niight, nor by power, but by the
Spirit of the Lord of Hosts !
[Such_persevering labor and earnest prayer as
the above extracts indicate, cannot fail to bring
the blessing of God.]
160 NASSAU STiEET;'Niw YORK
ON applications received from the churches
or Presbyteries they serve, the following minis
.
ters were commissioned by the Presbyterian
Committee of Home Missions, at their last regu
lar meetingof whom nineteen were in commis
sion last year
Rev. Georgea Pierce, Newton Falls, Ohio.
S. J. Mills, Clarence, lowa.
" Daniel Higbie, Washingtonville,
• Leznuel Clark, Lawrence, Ills._
" R. it. Dexter, Pavilion, N.Y.
4 John - McMasters, Pittsfield, Pa. -
" G. Hamner Milford Del.
". W. H., Adams 'Brooklyn Pa.
" H. L. Stanley, Lyons, lowa. ,
• J. B. Parlin, Scipio, Ohio.,
" D. M. Rankin, Pine Greve,
C. S. LeDuc, Hastings, Minn.
" F. M. Blinmiek, Omaha City, Nebraska.
" W. Hunter; SpringWate.r; N. Y.
" D. H. Taylor, Saginaw. City, Mich.
" J. B. Wilson;
Ararat, Pa.
cc J. Jerome Ward, Yellow Springs, Ohio..
" Walter. Mitchell, Ostrander, Ohio.
• Joseph Wilson, Neoga, Ills. '
" B. G. Riley, Lodi, Wis:
" C. W. Wallace, Coshocton, Ohio.. ,
" G. D. A. Ilebard,'lowa City, lowa.
• S. W. Ciittenden, Dm•by, Pa.
" F. Halsey, Wausau, Wis. •
• W. Lusk;•Piqua •Ohie t'' •
" F. E. Sheldon, 2"roy, Kansas.
" W. Elliott, Milwa.nkie, Wis•
" E. F. Tatmer,'Parcleeiille, Wisi s *
" Elijah Kuhns, :Baltimore, Ohio.
" Amon' Spencer, Williamson, N. Y. '
" C. H. Theberath,-Patterson, N. J,
George C. Wood, Jacksonville, Ills.
•
" THE IHTTtE AMERICAN"' is, the title of a
Child's Newspaper recently established and ed
ited by;l4lisses Susan and Anna Warner; authors
of " The Wick Wide World," "Queechy," "Dollars
and c'enfsr ite. The specimen numbers of the
paper which we have seen give the promise of much
interest to its juvenile readers. The objects of
the Paper, as the title implies, will be the pro
motion of,patriotism and
• piety. The editors
,are
too well' known, to need any commendation. They
have , 'already won for , themselves,* at home and
abroad, ,a most desirable reputatiory both as
writers and Christian moralists: ' And ,the sincere
piety; the'hearqurity, the Unaffected simplicity:
of - dornestic '•life_ which. they illustrate, are the'
safest and best models which can be fuinished
for the imitation - of "Young AMerica."
The - paper will he published semi-monthly, at
81.50 a year, in advanee.
.Orders and remittances; sent to Gorge
Prazy, Hudson, Columbia C0.,.N. Y. .A.ll,other
communications to be =sent to Miss.Warner,West
Point, N. Y.
REV. PRor. ROBINSON, of the Union Theo
logical Seminary of thiS city, has returned from
Ger Many. . He appears greatly improired,
health; and we trust:that a new lease of life is
given him for the prosdeution of his useful and
most valuable Y. 'Observer. •
(For the American Presbytenam)"
REPORT OP THE PRESBYTERIAN
HISTOB
ICA.L SOCIETY.
AT a meeting of the executive committee of
the. Presbyterian Historical Society„held, in the
Rooms of the Board of Publication, 821 Chestnut
Street, Tuesday afternoon, 18th inst., the follow
ine items of business with others , were trans
acted
"The'thanks of the Committee were voted to
Rev. Dr. Yeomans, of Danville, Pa., for his ar
ticle in the Biblical Repertory in relation to the.
Presbyterian Historical Society.
"The. Rev. Dr. Baird, Corr. Sec., reported
the gift, of the following from Judge L. Q. C.
Elmer, of Bridgeton, New Jersey :
1. The Confession .of Faith, the Larger and
Shorter Catechisms, with the 'scripture proofs at
large. Philadelphia. Printed and sold by B.
FAANKLIN, 1745.
2. A piowm.sn's c,omplaint, against a clergyman,
being a letter to the Baptist association of Phila
delphia, written by an silent Baptist Dissenter.
Philadelphia. Printed.for the author, 1167.
8. Genealogy and Biography of the Elmer
family. Compiled by Lucius Q. C. Elmer.
"'The thanks of the Committee were voted to
Judge Elmer.
The Rev. Dr. Nevin and Samuel Agnew,
Esq., Librarian, were appointed a committee to .
obtain the portraits of the ministers of the de
nominations represented in the society."
T. J. SHEPHERD,
Rec. Sec. pro tem:pore.
Nov, 19, 1862
OUR VOLUNTEER FUND.
RESVoNSES to our call for aid in sending co
pies of the AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, to the
soldiers continue to be received, though there is
room. for many more., We give below a, full
statement of the receipts thus far :
Ncl;th Broad street Church, $36; Alex. "
Whilldin, $10; Rev. E. 1E; Adams, $5-- - $5l
Rev. A. Barnes,. . . . . :28
Green Hill Church, . . . 20
Rev. Daniel March, . . . . .10
A City, Church, in part, ~ . 6
Dr., Wm. Ashmead, . . 3
Individuals 2
COUNTY SUNDAY-SCHOOL CONVENTION.
A 'CALL for a County 'Meeting of Repre,senta
tives of the Sunday-Schools of Philadelphia, has
just been issued by the Philadelphia Sabbath
Association. The Convention , will be opened on
Monday, December Bth, in the church on'Areh
'street, above Tenth, at 3 o'clock. P. M. The
Committee of Arrangements are John Weist, A.
Kirkpatrick, Wm. Armstrong, M.D.,. and A.
Martin. ' -
A GOOD WORV'rkom•MISSOURI:
A. subscriber sending us aremittaucefroui this
State,writes - as follows
OUR election in this State has exceeded our
expectations in 'the large majorities polled for
Emancipation. We breathe much , more' freely
here in Missouri than forznei* The atmosphere'
is much ratified . its miirkiness is wonderfully
dissipated. . Why, really, sir, we can now talk
about slavery, and write about. it, and the old
dog is so terror-stricken that he , is afraid to show
his teeth ; he barely . whines.
WE HAVE received a copy of Rev. Daniel
March's Serinon, " Steadfastness and Preparation
in the Day of 'Adversity." is one of the best
Sermons for the Times that has come under our
notice; and peculiarly appropriate to that, dark
period of invasion when it was preached. It will
be a memorial'of the fidelity of the pastor and
people of Clinton street church, (who requested
its publication) dun'ng those tryingttimes.
ft. o.
ELMIRA FEMALE COLLEGE, an excellent In
stitution, somewhat on the Mt. Holyoke plan, of
which Rev. A. W. Cowles, D.D., is President,
has been formally received:under the care of the
Synod of Geneva; at• the late meeting, Trustees
and a Board of Examiners were elected by the
Synod. A writer in the Evangelist says :
" This change of general co 01, it should be
understood,,implies no departure from the'origi
nalliberal intentions of the foUnders of the In
stitution. By the terms Of its charter the Board
of Trustees must include members from five dif
ferent religions denominations beside that re=
presented by the Synod.
"The.aim of the donor, Simeon •Benjamin,
Esq.,.in annexing the condition of its transfer to
his, munificent gift of twenty-five thousand dol
lam toward the, endowment, was not to impart
any denominatfonal bias, but rather to obtain an
assurance that into the Educational Course of
the College the positive influence of the Chris
tian religion should always enter."
THE SYNOD OE WESTERN RESERVE, in their
Narrative, report but one, revival of a marked
character, (at,Youngstown, resulting in,an addi
tion of 'B6 menibers,) but speak of Alingetteral
prevalence of a hopeful state of things, with
small • accessions and a g,ood attendance :upon
public service 'They say': When we remem
berhow many of ;our young men, and of the
usual attendants on the Worahip of God, have
beencallesi to the field of conflict, these state
ments are full of cheer."' They also speak of
" the prevalence of a spirit of„ humble prayer
among'our Churches. The Narrative from Trum
,
bull says, that while in many cases the , war may
have had the effect of drawing Off. the minds .of
the people, in an increased degree, from those
things which immediately concern the interests
of Christ's kingdom; in more instances the same
cause has tended to, increase the spirit of prayer,
and deepen the interest felt in our young men!
That of Huron says, that the excitement of our -
civil war, while it has a tendency on the one
hand to draw the attention from religions truth,
has on the other tended to solemnity, and a spirit
of prayer. Fervent supplications are, made for
our country, 'and for our kindred and fn:endaL•in
danger! The influence of the times,' Says the
report from Grand-River Presbytery, on many
Christians, is to bring them nearer to God, and
to ail/entire dependence, on •the help of his grace?
The Narrative from Maumee is to ~the same
effect, 4 that in a few of the:churches , the afflic
tions accompanying the war' semn to be sanctified
for the promotion of . the Spirit of prayer;' while
the Narrative frpm Elyria - is still more distinct,
saying, that the erec t of the war upon. our citi
zens is manifestly good, softening the feelinvs
humbling the:heart before. God, making old, and
yoUng thoughtful; kindling a spirit of prayer: for
the safety and salvation of•absent ones, and for
the favor and mercy of God in behalf of the
whole country.' These statements indicate a
comparatively healthy state of religious interest,
and interest in religion."
REV. DR. JOEL PARKER of this city, has
been',called to the-Park Presbyterian church of
Newark, N.J 7
, and we understand that it is
probable he will accept the invitation. We shall
regret the loss of a pastor so able and so useful
from among us, but we heartily - congratulate our
friends in Newark upon the accession to their
clergy of a man of Dr. Parker's stamp. Efficient
in every good work, he will be a rich acquisition
to the church and the city.--=N Y. Observer.
ORIIINATIPN.-Nr. Lewis Mead Dirge, a re
cent graduate of the New . York Union Theologi
cal Seminary, was ordained to the work of the
Gospel ministry, by the third Presbytery of New
York, on the sth inst. Rev. Roswell D. Hitch
cock, P.D., Rev. john Owen, MD LL.D., Bev.
.Charles P. Bush,nnd Rev. Thomis H. Skinner,
D.D., LL.D., took part in the services. Mr.
Birge is a son of the late Rev. Chester Birge, of
Hudson, Ohio,',And is under appointment as
chaplain of the Fourth Metropolitan regiment,
recently recruited in this city under the auspices
of the Police Department.—Thid.
REV. Dwitarr SCOVEL was installed over the
First Church-of Geneseo, on the 13th inst. The
public exercises were as follows c Reading of
the Scriptures and Prayer, by Rev. G. P. Folsom,
of Geneseo ; Sermon, by Dr. Condit, of Auburn;
the Constitutional Questions, by the Moderator,
Rev. - A. L. Benton, of, Lima ; .Charge to the
Pastor, by Rev. L. Parsons,' of •Mount Morris;
Address to the Church, - by Rev. A . . H. Parmelee,
of Livonia Centre.
This is one of the oldest churches in Western
New York, having been organized in 1795. Its
place of worship was first a barn, and then the
town-house. The subject of church government
was a good deal agitated at first, causing some
trouble. But the Congregational element with
drew in 1810, leaving the Presbyterian portion
buoyant in spirit and united, which blessing has
:been continued to the present day. Five years
ago the Society erected a beintiful snit commo
dious house of worship in the village-,of Lake
ville, a. short distance from the cad, site, and in
the town of Livonia,, but retaining its original
name, The First Presbyterian Church of Gene
seo.—Evangelist.
r , 'ltblitcatiotto.
MRS. MADELTW LESLIE, a very Fortier and
successful writer kir the young, has just given
to the public 'n new volume—THE ORGAN
GRINDER. It isia story of a poor Italian family
in - the New World; their various fortunes are
well told; the power of religion of individual
Chriitian example and effort -- to bless and
,to
elevate the degraded, is effectively portrayed;
the characters are carefully discriminated, 'and
the impresiions conveyed-are deep end beneficial.
Boston : Henry Hoyt. Philadelphia : .I 3 resby ,
terian , Bookstore, (W. B. Ilvans). ,16Mo. ; pp.
236 • illustrated;
From Mr. Hoyt; we have also an' exquisite
little book, called • SIiNBEAMS rat , HUMAN
HEARms, made up entirely 'of Scripture quota
tions, in which an nxclamation, prayer, .nr inquiry
of-:a . distressed soul is answered
,by a suitable
scriptural:response: We know of nothing, in so
small a coinpass, which amore'• clearly exhibits the
sympathizing tone and the correspondence "of the
Bible to every human necessity: Flexible coven.
Presbyterian Bookstore.
REV. JAMES AuGmsY, of Mississippi, an es
caped Union man and , thinistet in good standing
in the (O. S.) Presbyterian Church, is about to
issue a volume detailing his extraordinary expe
rie.nce under the rise and development of seces
sion, and in making ,
.his escape, which was only
by the most determined courage in the face of
dangers that would have utterly appalled an
ordinary man. We have heard part of. Mr. Au
ghey's statement, and can vouch for its thrilling
character. The book will soon be issued by
MArtiens in this city, under the title : Tgu
FuumezE,or'Slavery and Secession.
Messrs. Walker, Wise, & Co., Boston, an
nounce as in press the translation, by Miss Mary
L. :Booth, of 'a new French work, on the impor.
tant and timely theme: ' RESULTS OF Emswer
,PATION, by M. Augustin Cochin. It is 'based
entirely on official reports ; and its statements,
,vrbleh comirehend every form of the question,
are fully reliable. From the excellence- of the
style, the ardor, sagacity, and logical correctness
of the writer; it is confidently expected the book
will command general attention.
Igessrs. TiekNon & FTE.Lps announce as in
vanous stages' of preparation The Canoe and
the Saddle by Winthrop Poet's Journal, a po
etic autobiography, by Bayard Taylor; Richter's
Great. Rckmance--" Titan " , Miss Procter's Po
emsin Blue and Gold; Mrs. Fremont's Story of
the Guard; A Present Heaven, by the talented
authoress of the Patience of Hope, Ste.
THA BOSTON REV EN fer - Xovember closes
the 2d 'volume. We renew, i our 'commendations
of this. Boston," Institutioq,', which is not nu
worthy.Of a place among•theliterary enterprises
of the modern Athens.: ; Many•of its articles
liave.',lieen of a - high order ofimerit ; few in
stances of overweening dogma:4am. have appeared
amid many evidences of an 'tiniest purpose 'to
stand by the essentials in which all Calvinists
agree. , A liberal spirit the best sense of the
term—has appeared in theittention paid to xe
thetio matters by the writers. And the firm
loyalty and strenuous opposition to slavery, which
it has :maintained
.vigorous and able argu
ment, recommend it to all the- friends of the
Countr):',The noteworthy: articles in this num
her are Sirelionia ; The Southern Insurrection;
R. Satiyer's Reconstruction of Biblical Science.
THE WESTMINSTER Rsvtaw contains articles
on the "Essays and Review,s "—decision of Dr.
Lushington ;, l andAhe Religions Difficulties of
4tilia,--which betray its peculiar and unhappy
charaCteristica in that:' line of thought ; the
same also .appear in its extended book-notices .
It contains also articles on Fisheries; Gibraltar;
Railways ; Encyclopedia Britannica ; The See'
and French Empire; and, above all, The Sloe
Power, a clear, vigorous, manly article, in which ,
from Professor Cairn& volume as a text, the
writer, supposed to be john Stuart Mill, e spouses
and argues our cause with a warmth quite rare
as it is refreshing in'a Briton though not 11 110 "
footed in him. New York : L. Scott 4: Co•
Ailadelphia : W.
_B. Zieber.
. NOV. 27,