auttion truitrgitrins
GENESEE EVANGELIST.
TITURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 1863
JOHN W. MEARSI
THE PRESBYTERIAN RELIGIOUS AND LIT
MARY ASSOCIATION.
lima body held its Annual meeting on'Ttics
day, January 6th. Rev. Dr. Brainerd was ap
pointed 'Chairman, and Mr. John Sparhawk,
Secretary.
The following persons constitute the Execu
tive committee,:—Samuel . :T. Bodine, Rev. Al
bert Barnes, Rev. T. Brainerd, D.D., Rev. John
Jenkins, D.D., John Sparhawk, James Billings,
B. D. Stewart, M. W. Baldwin, Wm. Strong.
The Annual. Statement was presented and
adopted, after which, the Meeting adjourned:
PRAYING AND WO/ICING.
To pray is to work. Fervent prayers are ef
fectual. True praying is the most effectual
work that can be done. It is ' to secure the
aid of the Almighty. It is to complete the
chain of Providence necessary to .intiodnen the
fullness of time. The prayers of Jeremiah, of
Daniel, and of Nehemiah were moving, causes of
the restoration of the Jews; the prayers of Si
meon, of Anna, and of them that waited for the
consolation of Israel, and looked for redemption
injerusalem, were necessary to Christ's advent at
that time; the prayers of the hundred and twen
ty, in the upper room, led to the glorious effusion
of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Prayers
have been the grand instrumentalities of the
progress of Christ's kingdom in the world. The
great Reformation was an answer to the prayers
of centuries; the existence of this free country
is the result of prayer; and the present convul
sions rocking it to the centre,—may they not be
the answer of those prayers to which the ear of
the just God is more especially open,--may not
the feeble and despised slaves of the South have
set in motion all this fierce and bloody 'agitation
by the mere breath of' their cries for deliverance?
" For the oppression of the pour, for the sighing
of the needy now will I arise, saith the Lord."
And there are accepted prayers on register in
the secret archives of Providence, which shall
exert as marked an influence in shaping the fu
ture and in controlling the destiny of nations,
as these. There are souls of martyrs crying
from beneath the altar : " How long 0 Lord,
holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge
our blood on them that dwell on the earth?"
The world is under the sway of this powerful in
strument of prayer.
But praying neither enables nor disposes us
to dispense with working, no more than faith
can or does exist without works. Truly praying
men are sure to bb efficient working men. They
have no disposition to rely on prayer alone, un
less there is no other resource. The true pray
ing man sets no false or fanatical example befere
Hs fellow-men. He cannot. He would .cease
truly to pray, if be ceased to work. True pray
er flows from a ruling desire which presses every
available instrument into its service, and which
prompts the subject of it to every effort for its
accomplishment. The prayer flows out not only
in speech to God, but in work in the , world. The
praying man recognizes himself as God's instru
ment for the accomplishing of the ends he asks.
He simply takes care not to confound the instru
ment, with the power which employs it. He
works prayerfully, that is in constant dependence
in God for • strength ; he works earnestly and
energetically, for he feels God's strength within
him ; he works unselfishly, for the moment self
comes in, prayer goes out; he is willing to en
dure sacrifices, to bear crosses, to be and do any
thing which be sees needful for carrying out the
will of God on earth. He is content to do noth
ing, only when Providence hedges him up and
makes it plainly impossible to work; he is con
tent with simple belief, only when human means
are plainly superceded. Sometimes indeed he
will appear to be doing very little when he might
be doing more. George Mueller did very little,
apparently, to secur e the necessary funds for
his orphan house at Bristol. He prayed inces
santly for help; and made special supplication
for special times .of need; he prayed far more
than he did anything else for this object. He
plead the promises. Nay, he undertook his en
terprise with the express object, as he tells us,
" that God might be magnified by the fact that
the orphans under my care are provided with all
they need, only by prayer and faith, without any
one being asked by me or my fellow-laborers."
He seems to think that be actually did nothing
but pray for assistance in his work. The truth
is, he did seemingly little; yet with so much
wisdom and timeliness, that it was equivalent
to a great deal. He made no formal applications
for aid, but he stated the facts of his proposed
institution in his own simple, earnest style, to
his own congregation in Bristol, and by means
of printed eireulars, to Christians abroad ; he
kept up these printed issues; he began his work
in the most humble manner, and toiled at it
with the most entire self-denial; the care of or
phans was an object which: - commended itself to
every charitable heart, and was itself an appeal
of the strongest kind to public sympathy ; so
that Mr. Mueller, instead of simply asking God,
as he believes he did, took the best human means
besides, of accomplishing his end. The very
attitude of making no appeal, but rather of con
fiding in the Christian public, may itself be re
garded as an appeal. Overcoming a dead weight,
though it may require more effort, is not more
truly working, than is raising the same weight
with less strain and friction by skillful appli
ances. The question with the praying man is,
how shall I best promote the end I have in view?
And while he may be mistaken as to the means,
be is sure to use those which appear to him best.
Idleness is utterly incompatible with true prayer.
Whatever Mr. Mueller may have done in regard
to raising funds, he did not act as if he believed
God would feed and clothe and train the orphans
without using means. Ho gave himself to the
work of superintending and directing the insti
tution, lie was and is a most industrious worker
for their good. Such too is Wiehern in Ham
burg. Ilia life is one crowded with every sort
of work for the Gospel in the department of the
Inner Mission. He is the animating centre of all
movements in his country for the evangelization
of the masses. His fervor and his faith are great,
but they are exhibited in his toils no less than in
his prayers. The amount of work'which lie does
and which he prompts others to do is indeed ama
zing. True prayer energizes the whole man. It
exalts almost to superhuman heights of power and
of endurance. It brings out secret reserves of
power in the man. _Holy and humble zeal for
God is but another name for the spirit of prayer,
and as surely as 'it finds expression toward God
in prayer, so surely will it flow out in earnest la
bors towards.man. Praying men; it is true, have
sometimes erred in suppesing that the most ef
ficient means of acting Oen the wicked world,
was to withdraw from it,,and offer their prayers
in entire and ,life:lono , seclusion.
...They have re
lied upon the silent protest of their withdrawal
as more effective than remonstrance and active
effort. It was an error Of jtidgement only, in
many. That error has been dissipated. The
avenues of active effort are wide open'; true
prayer is no more monkish than was Paul, whose
first prayer was, " Lord what wilt 'thou have me
to do ? " and whose whole life was an illustration
of the natural and necessary union of praying
and working.
Editor
ITS DIGNITY AND' POWER.
IF the statements in our first paper on - this
Subject-be true, preaching the wOrd of God is
the work of highest dignity and plimise. Mn'
never has to do with themes so grand, so mo
mentous as when he speaks intelligently, and
seriously of` the Creator, and his Claims on the
mind and heart of our species. '"The pulpit is
the loftiest throne of human intellect. The seat
of the Judge, the chair of PhilotiopitY; the plead
,er at the bar, has not such a place in human of
&diens, such opportunity to sway reason, such
a sphere for influencing the deepest sentiments
and life of the soul. It- is liot time alone, nor
human society, that limits the work; and the
power of the genuine preacher. They run into
the invisible life, into the immortal world. They
strike at the centre of evil, and vibrate through
.
the ages of good. They go up to heaven and
through the empire of holy mind. They min
gle with the ,current of thought, feeling,;oy and
song in all the happy kingdom of the Lord.
Where Christ is, they are; where He reigns,
they „triumph.,, They, are, in, his thoniat . and
plan, and never separate from his agency, his
spirit, his grand sphere of rule and of operation.
Preaching the word therefore is not only 'honor
able in the highest view, but equally surdlin its
results. The Head of the Church rules;* ab
solutely, in the mental and moral worlikas in
the material. The law of agency in the former
is as certain as in the latter. - Therekin . the
preaching of the word, being'appointed of,God,
and in the conscious ; plan of. Christ, reaches the
mind, moves the will, awakens muscle*, and
reforms the life, by laws of influence as inevita
ble, where they act freely and directly on the rea
lona.ble, religious being, as those of electricity of
motion or of light.. The order of sequence in
reasoning, the relation between cause and ih effect
in agency, in matter, in dynamics, is the elXpres
sion of the Divine will.. So is it in the vreOing
of religioui truth. The will of God islm it.
Truth is the power of God. It presses to.its re
sults in the life of souls, as does the law Of grav
itation in the life of worlds; but with sUbliiner
majesty and power. - Waking can effeettally re
sist-it. Coming-from the mind of the Almighty,
it goes forth with his Omnipotence to fulfil:his
decree. This law is asserted, as in a sense par
allel with natural law, in the language of Isaiah
(55th ch.) "For as the rain cometh down, and': ,
the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, ':
but watereththe earth, and maketh it bring forth
and bud, that it'may give seed to the sower, and
bread to the eater : so shall my word be that go
eth forth out of my mouth : it shall not return
unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which
I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto
I sent it." • If, then the earth is watered 'and
made fruitful by a changeless law, if we, are never
disappointed when Ave look for dawn after the
night; if the succession of seasons is not inter
rupted, if the harvest ripens to bless .a faith
ful husbandry, if light fails not to flood the
earth and 'glitter in every open eye; we may
entertain unshaken faith, that the earnest preach
er shall realize, by a-law higher than any in tla.-
ture, results ample, foretold, and determined by
the great Governor of all minds. It behoves us I
then to exalt this grand agency before men ; to
feel its dignity, and glory in our own hearts. It
behoves the ministers of God to glory in their
work, and bear ever the,conviction that they are
with God in the greatest of all purposes and in
strumentalities. Speaking of the power of the
pulpit; 3. W. Alexander remarks, in his excel
lent “ Thoughts on preaching," "I fear none
of us apprehend as we ought-to - do the value of
the preacher's office. Our young men do not
gird themselves for it with the spirit of theie
who are on the eve - of a greateenflict; nor do
they prepare aslhose who are to lay their hands .;.
upon the springs of the mightiest passions, and
stir up to their depths the ocean of :human feel : -
ings. Where this estimate of the work prevailea,
men even of inferior training accomplish intiest
such as Surnmerfield:Thhe pulpit win Ictri macs;
main the grand means of affecting the mass of
men. It is God's own method and he will honor
it. The work done by Wesley, and by Whit
field, and by Christmas Evans in Wales, could not
have been accomplished by any other human
agency—the press for hotance. In every age
great reformers have been great preachers, and
even in the corrupt Roman Church the most,
wonderful effects have been produced by preach-';
in." .
DEATH OF REV. LYMAN BEECHER, D.D.
AT 5 o'clock P.M., of Saturday, January 10th,
this venerable servant of God ceased to breathe.
For nearly two years previously he may almost
be said to have ceased to live, he was so feeble
in body and in intellect. He died at his resi
dence in Brooklyn at the age of eighty-seven.
His son, Henry Ward, announced his death in
the Plymouth Church, Sabbath Evening.
Coxtstrrrev, having in charge the affairs
of German Street Church, Mr. Samuel Work,
Chairman, are laboring zealously and not unsue
cessfully to save the church from passing iuto
other hands. They have issued an appeal which
we will endeavor to notice more at length next
week.
OUR INTERESTING FOREIGN LETTER, on the
first page contains a New Year's wish for the
readers o f the BANNER OF TUE. COVENANT.
•['his is explained from the fact, that the letter,
originally written for that excellent paper, is by
special arrangement, placed at our disposal and
appears in advance in our eolutuns.
PREAOHrIiG,--liCt,
BY KEY. E. E. ADAMS
mnion vtrolittertan and 6,cittott (6raitgriieot.
TILT PROCLAMATION.
The N. P. Methodist (Conservative) says:
WE do not hesitate to say, that we seeded to
do precisely what has now been done by the
President. Recognizing, in slavery not only the
real cause of the revolt, but its strength, its
very inspiration, it was necessary to uproot it
wherever the rebellion extended.
The N. Y. Evangelist:
WE believe devoutly that the Measure is wise
and just, and that its effect will be to hasten the
close of the war. And we counAt a righteous
judgment of God, that as slavery "brought t ‘ he
war upon us, as it , brought forth the monster
Treason, now at the last Slavery and Rebellion
should be buried in the same grave.
N. Y Obserber ; nothing.
Oongregationalist, Boston :
Whatever may be the practical results of this
Proelarnation, its moral effect is 'incalculable.
ft places the nation indisputably upon, the side
of justice and of right. It not only declares the
freedom of the slave, but, by inviting him to
enter the army and navy ofd-the-United States,
it recognizes his manhood and his citizenship.
The clock has struck the hour of liberty for four,
millions of men. Tt will be hard to force back
the hand upon its dial.
Boston Recorder, (Conservative 9
ginningthehi 7 , of the rebellion, it has
been the opinion of thousands of good men, not
reputed to be extreme in their views, that God
was working in this great and• dreadful' derinno
tion' for the overthrow slavery. We have
,
been of this opinion, and we look upon this act
of the President as a link in the chain of
provi
dential causes which are to work the extinction
of the present system of oppression in the South
ern States. As a means to this great, and as we
believe, heaven-appointed end, we therefore wel
come the Proclamation, and say, let our Govern
ment do its utmost to sustain and 'carry it out.
Christian Advocate :
Our friends abroad will now see the great dif
ference between the contending parties, and be
tween the issues presented for' the war. The
North fights for liberty, the South for slavery.
The victory of the one is emancipation, the vic
tory of the other is the indefinite perpetuation
and extension or *slavery on our soil. Had*the
measure been adopted earlier it would have been
better. •
The independent:
We unite, with every true and devout man
who sees in our national affairs an overruling
Divine Providence, in solemn thanksgiving to
God that He has raised up '`a man to perform the
crowning deed of Moral Duty ! When Mr. Lin
coln, by the simple words of his Military Procla
mation, decreed the liberty of three millions of
men, and pledged the whole power of the United
States to maintain it, he silently and unconsciously
was lifted 'by Divine overwatching power to the
place of God's greatest men.
He knew'not himself how greatly he acted.
This is the law of the, highest moral achieve;'
ments. . . . Could we have a record of the
troubled thoughts and exceeding anxieties that
for a year have brooded upon Mr. Lincoln, we
should see-that this ‘ Great Deed of Emancipation
was born of sorrow and anguish of spirit To no
other man of this hemispheie, , and to one only of
this age—the Czar, has it been permitted such a
glorious opportunity. Since nothing is immortal ,
but moral truth, and Mr. Lincoln has intrusted
his name and fame to the keeping ofJustice and
Humanity, he will be known to the end of time,
among the Great and Good of this world
Examiner (Baptist) :
Such a step has been taken in the issue of
,the President's edict of emancipation. It said to
wrong of ages : " Thus far bast thou gone, but
;thou shalt go no farther 1" It said to one of the
families of mankind, for centuries degraded to
the level of toiling brutes; "Be free, be Men."
It in substance if not in form, the Magna
ellarta to them of that highest right--incompati
bi4`.with the mildest type of slavery, and so cruelly
tkdden under foot by the system of African ser
val Die—the right of living in accordance with
the will of God. In this act of its chosen Exe
cutive, the nation has risen up in the face of the
,world, and shaken from its regal skirts the foul
dishonor of human bondage. * * * *
" What our Puritan fathers sought for when they
crossed the wintry sea; to build upon these Wes
tern 'shores a righteous and godly nation; what
thensands of pious hearts in each succeeding gen
,
eration have cried for to the ear of mercy, that
he would make this land, as the missionary of re
-
vealed truth and of Christian civilization, the
light and glory of all lands, has now become of
possible fulfillment. Only so could it have been
effected. Truly, God has wrought a great re
demption for Israel.
The freskyter,Cincinnati :
This act of President Lincoln, if God shall
bless` him in conquering the.'Confederales, will
embalm his memory in the hearts of the - humane
and just, and his name shall be a sweet sayi:r un
tilitime is no more. As soon as we read the
froelatnaticm of Sept. 22, 1862, we were prepar
ed to sustain it, and to rejoice in it as light from
on - high. We are full of hope, but our hope is
in God." We fully expect the proclamation to be
a success-
ADDRESS OP THE OONGREGATIONALUNION
OE ENGLAND.
The committee appointed by the Congregational
Union to conduct correspondence in America on
slavery, haVe , ismed an address to their fellow.
Christians inEngland, to which are attached the
names of many leading Independent and Baptist
ministers. It sets forth that, as slavery is a
flagrant offence against humanity, we are placed
under weighty religious obligations to do what we
can, by moral means, to bring the crime and
curse to an end.Vhe war it is contended, origi
nated in the detexpination of the South to main
tain and extend sla4ery. " The election of Presi
t
dent Lincoln, fairlytnterpreted, really involved
the gradual and cons4tutional abolition of slavery :
the real issue of thk war as now carried on—a
war into'which the Free States were led, without
expectation, and without preparation, is that this
abolition shall be effected." The duties urged
upon Christians are prayer for such a disposal-of
events as may result ifreedom for the slaves,
peace, and prosperity.; Adeavours to fix public
attention upon slavery TS the real cause of existing
evils, and-to awaken seinpathy in favour of its
absolute and immediat6removal ; support of the
policy of non-intervention ; unparalleled efforts to
mitigate distress; exertions to procure a supply
of tree la.bout cotton.; antjealousy lest the peril
to which free institutio& are exposedabroad
should be made the occatm of arresting the pro
gress of constitutional lib4ty at home.
DEDIOATION AT REESEVILLE,
l ecgpaLoshoeud:ri
Idaey_'. .
,
Dee.
TIIF. Dedication of the pretty church at Reese
vile, which has been built through , the efforts
wasoaßl f ltos
tto o ho
a u bo,
nky r s
:apnn g ,
idnolanaocanrwde
occasion
brother,:os,in :nitifteedelegationninadnfe ttndehhrennoionofßottnfeervroione.nrst
friends
ty ,y dTs:ai : i
I:end:soda : pa y ,
gathCring of the people of the neighborhood but
EverytlAng went off admirably.
( we )pay it •for the benefit, of e on _
ille,
tributors and friends who were not present) is
del it pla nn ia ne . v
a " villa " of may be ten houses more or less,
and a station on the Pennsylvania Central Rail-
Eoad in 'Cheste'r County, seventeen miles west
it be
of this Civ ; but, if' not a' greati
. town t
is in a magnificent farming region and among a
population needing a Church and a Pastor.
They now have.a Chnich and a Pastor. The
Church, just completed, it quite a gem--built of
stone, in old Gothic style, with slate -roof and a
fine bell swinging in its tower, neat and tasteful
within, pewed and carpeted, with stained glass
windows and recessed pulpit, with lamps and
stoves, the whole enclosed by a picket fence—
and all , for three thousand dollars. It is an
achievement most creditable to the good people
of the neighborhood and, o the brother to whose
1 perseverance, - sea& and good taste, the church
upon the hill sta#,s as a ipermanent monument.
The company IN'Prie'sday; was first bountiful
ly feasted, and `then Went to the church, which
was crowded with the attentive and happy audi
ence. A sermon, pithy, suggestive and thought
ful, was preached by Dr. Brainerd,--Mr. McLe
od's former pastor,—the Rev. Messrs. Robbins,
Jenkins, Brown, Butler,. Moore, Drysdale and
Scott, assisted in the services. An address by.
Mr. McLeod, thanking the friends of the enter
prise for their servides, and narrating its history,
its hopes and its aiins, wash very happy.
The sweet-toned church-going bell, which sa
luted with welcome the Philadelphia friends as
the ears approaehnd the station, was a present
from four , gentleman of , lontreal, belonging, to.
Mr. McLeod's former paish, whose names were
mentioned in grateful
acknowledgement.
The Biker alsw state' that the beauty and
finish of the ornamental p astering of the edifice
were due verYlargiily to he personal attention,
taste and liberality 'of. M Praiser an Elder, in
old Pine Street.
One "point hOwever y, t needed attention—
after a.second effort by th - Reeseville Congrega
tion, several hundred doll rs were still• needed to
complete the payments. it was determined to
make an effort and wipe • ; this indebtedness on
the spot. The handsomeum of about $700.00
was assumed
. by thOnini E ters or subscribed by
t
the good layien presenic• leaving but a small
sum yet, to be received, which the pastor took
upon himself to secure atlonce from friends not
present. Thus the - churili was dedicated, not
encumbered by debt, but-freely and fully to the
service of God. . 1 1
The company then patted with glad hearts,
the people with their church dedicated and out
of debt, and the friends from the city pleased to
.
have had a share in :.a truly good work.
If any one wishes to know what energy and
good taste can do with $3OOO in church building,
let him go to Reemille, and he will get some
good ideas oiCtlierinhjeCt.
OPEN OOMMUNIOL .&,HONG THE ENGLISH
BAPTISTS.
Two cases have recently been in court, in
England, involving the qusstion whether the
Baptists are to"be regarded in law as holding to
close communion Principles, or as having no
fixed - views ,on the subject. In each case, the
decision hai affirmed , the latter alternative to be
the true one, and liberal Baptists can receive
and, hold money in ,England without : fear of for
The last case was decided in Chancery
during December. The following report which
we find in the Weekly Review, will be interesting
to our readers :
"The.suit relates to Cavendish Chapel, Rams
gate, and is by information and bill at the relation
of a lady named Spencer, who contributed up
wards of £3200 towards the chapel, and who as
sociates with her certain persons as plaintiffs,
holding the views of Particular or Calvinistic
Baptists.. The defendants are the minister and
some of the trustees, the others being plaintiffs,
the Cause of suit being that the defendant, Mr.
Etheridge, s minister of the chapel, had admitted
to the Communion of the Lord's Supper persons
who were not of the class of Baptists represented
by the plaintiff&—that is, who had not received
the rite of baptism when adult, upon a full con
fession of faith, and by total immersion. The
plaintiffs' contention was that, by the terms of
the deed under which . the chapel was held, no
person not holding Particular or Calvinistic Bap
tist views or tenets could partake of the Com
munion in the chapel, which was not of an open,
free, or Mixed coinniunion character, but strictly
confined, to Particular Baptists, although all per
sons were free io worship there in a general
sense. The,plaintiffs' case is nearly identical
in principle with that relating to St. IVlary's Bap
tist Chapel — Kiiiith which created so much
discussion a short (time back. The works of
Robert Hall,liord Macaulay's and Offor's "Life
of Bunyan Ivimey's and Dr. Wall's works, and
other books of a like nature, besides the Confes:-
alone of Faith ; were likewise constantly made use
of. The.Vice-Claancellor, in giving judgment,
said he did not think it necessary to t hear the
counsel for the defendant& He, reviewed at great
length the historical evidence submitted to the
court as to the *edict of strict or open com
munion amongst Particular Baptiats, from which
it appeared that,' from the earliest period in the
history of that denomination, the question whe
ther non-Baptist&should be admitted to partake
of the Lord's Supper had been a subject .of con
troversy, and the practice had been constantly
changing from strict to open communion, and
from open to strict communion, even in the same
congregation. The necessary consequence was
that the exclusion from the Lord's table of per
sons not baptized in the Baptist form, was not an
essential doctrine of Particular Baptists. With
regard to the coats, the Master of the. Rolls had
taken the indulgent course of giving none to
either side, and-if this had been the first, ease on
the point, it might have been a question;
inasmuch as the case lignally failed, and the par
ties knew of the previous decision, he should dis=
miss it with costs
REV . A. T. Wurrg.—The brick walls of the
Nevi churgi in Carson, Nevada Territory, are
nearly completed. By the energetic efforts of
Mr. White, who is the Stated Supply of the
church, and Rev. W. W. Brier, Agept of the
PrusbYterian HonM Ilissionary Society, funds
nearly enough to complete it, free of debt, have
been raided. ', •
THE OPENING OF ' THE BOX.
THE following familiar and touching descrip
tion of one of the brighter incidents of Home
Missionary Life, is worthy of perusal, both as
showing that our most loyal congregations have
the largest room in their hearts-for the interests
of Zion, and as reminding our ladies of the great
amount of happiness and good they may accom
plish by a moderate degree of exertion and out
lay.
ILLlxa s , Dl o. 18, 1862.
To TILE LADIES OF THE CENTRAL PRERBYTEIAN
CHURCH, WILMINGTON, DELAWARE:
Beloved Sisters in . Christ
You have , doubtless ere this expected to bear
from us of the joy your munificent present has oc
casioned in this far off Missionary home. Butyou
will, I know, pardon the delay of two weeks, when
I tell you that it was occasioned by the absence
of my wife, spending thanksgiving with her
friends. We could not do without her to super
intend the " opening" of the box and share in
our rejoicing.
The beautiful pocket book with contents came
safe by mail, also the letter with $5.25 enclosed.
I cannot tell you whether I was most surprised
or pleased when, turning over leaf after leaf, the,
" Green-backs" still presented the welcome,face
of our worthy President, apparently saying
"-Still we come." The: small: change' was a desi
deratum in this cOuntiy; as but verylittle has as
yet found its way out among us, and the numer
ous Postage Stamps always ."
in order" We
have now instead, receipt for a good instalnient
on our annual rent, a good cow in the yard, pro
visions for the winter, and some left for such
exigencies as unforseen circumstances may re
quire after paying four dollars freight, on the
This morning our otherwise happy family was
made happier by examining the contents-of the
box, the only one we have ever received , through
four years of Missionary work. Our curiosity has
been on tip-toe since it came to hand, wondering
what could be in it. The yankee birthright of
guessing has been fairly indulged, but each new
discovery, as article after article came to light,
proved how farAhort of the mark it is possible
to come, even after considerable practice, when
the subject is one of your Missionary boxes..
"This is just what I have wanted so long,"
was more than once the reply to the question
" What is it ?" and long before the bottom was
reached, every want was amply supplied. Little
Georgy was forthwith installed in his new suit
" Just a fit!' Among its Merits, not the least was
the pocket containing additional treasurelin4he
shape of belt, gloves and handkerchief. After
discussing its merits, it was. carefully folded
away anxiously inquiring " how long before
Sunday comes" expecting then more fully to
test it virtues. Laura's wrapper was a luxury
little expected, while the box with the net and
other articles for the Missionary's daughter af
forded more real satisfaction than a casket of
jewels.
The bonnet for Mrs.---ie truly beautiful, and
the, numerous other articles evidently falling to
the share of my wife elicited 'no little admiration
and gratitude. The abundance of nice warm
under clothing and " lots " of material to make
more, dress goods, socks and hose effectually
quiet our anxiety about the high prices that now
" rule With a rod of iron." ' .
As for myself, what shall I 'say? Mrs.—
says : "Papa you never had such a rig in your
life." Georgy says "Now Papa you are rich,
you are rich," bounding about the room with
bright, though indefinite anticipations. Laura
wishes somebody would come in and catch me
with the study coat and eap on, " wouldn't they
laugh." The warm over-coat and shawl will de
fy the prairie winds when filling country ap
pointments and the new suit will " shine " at
the meeting of Presbytery or anywhere else.
Ladies, we are permitting you to come behind
the curtain and hear some of the talk in the sa
cred seclusion of the family. Your generous
gifts have assured us that you are our friends,
and we can believe you will overlook our follies.
I would go further into particulars but will not
be tedious. Our first surprise is that you have
sent us articles of snob intrinsic value; nest that
they supply our wants so well,-and then that they
so well fit the several members of the family.
I have shown you something though faulty,
of our more evident emotions, but your giftedo
more than supply bodily wants. We feel that
we have your sympathy and your prayers. The
burden of discouragement is lifted off when we
have such assurance that you remember us; and
we go forward with higher resolves cultivating
the waste places," for the glory of our common
Lord. We have already had a season of thanks
giving to God for these undeserved mercies, and
we shall never I trust, cease to have you in
grateful remembrance as the almoners of his
bounty.
That God may bless you more and more, keep
you-in the most Holy faith, and return a hun.
dred fold for the bread you thus cast :upon the
waters, is our earnest prayer.
Your Brother and Sister in Christ. *
PHILADELPHIA. RELIGIOUS lixaf.s.—The Cen
tral Presbytery of Philadelphia (0. R) met in
the Penn Presbyterian Church,Aenth St, below
Girard Avenue, on Sabbath evening 11th inst.,
and installed the Rev. G. W. Musgrave, D.D.,
LL. D., Pastor of said Church. The Sabbath
School of Wharton Street Methodist Church has
furnished forty-two volunteers, two of whom,
Lieut. G. W. Kenney and Joseph Logan, were
killed.---Nearly all the youngmen of the Scotch
M. E. Church who took an active part in the
Sabbath-school at the commencement of the war,
have enlisted .—Rev. C. E. Hill, the former pas
tor of Union M. E. Church, Camden, late Chap
lain of the Corn Exchange Regiment, from Phila-
delphia, has returned home sick and disabled
from the exposure incident to severe service.
He was said, while in the service, to have been
one of the most efficient chaplains in the army.
THE ANDERSON TROOP.
ALL honor to. the brave and patriotic three
hundred of this troop, who, in spite of the pe
culiar discouragements of their position, deter
mined to act a patriotic, self-denying, and peril
ous part, and-join in the-battle of Murfreesboro'.
The names of Rosengarten and Ward among the
killed, and of Ramsey, Patteson, Kimber and
many others, among the wounded, will be cher
ished with admiration and gratitude by their
fellow-citizens. The friends of the gallant dead
and the wounded survivors have our sympathies
and prayers. May the latter be restored again
to do good service for their country, and to act a
man's and a Christian's part in every relation-of
life.
EMANOIPATION IN MISSOURI.
THE effort of the Chief Executive to •secure
the Border Slave States to the cause of the widen
and freedom, may ydt prove to have been one of
the most sagacious measures of the crisis.
,lii
the shaineful halting of the stay-at-home majori
ties of some Northern States, the , emphatic
decision or such States as Missouri and West
Virginia for freedom is likely to be of
incalculable importance .th the cause. The
salvation of the country from a new ca-'
reer -of subserviency to the slave-power may yet
turn upon their attitude. The position and pros
pects of the Entancipation cause in Missouri are
as fit subjects of rejoicing and thankfulness as a
decisive national victory. The State legislature
is largely for emancipation, and has moved with
the, utmost proinptitude towards that object. With
equal promptness, the House of Representatives,
at the suggestion of the IVlissottri delegation, and
to the great mortification and surprise of the op
position, passed a bill on Tuesday, the 6th, ap
propriating ten millions to compensate loyal mas
ters for the emancipation of their slaves. There
is no reason 'to doubt that the measure'will re
ceive the, sanction of the Senate and the Presi;
dent, and bp accepted hy Miisckuri, and thus'this
great' State, which has played so" promninent a
part in the history of the aggressions of the slave
power in:our-eogntry will take:her Tilate as one
of the most influential and prosperous of the
siaterhood . of free States. Our Church Should
be preparing already to enter largely upon a field
•
so appropriate to her labors; to strengthen the
surviving centres of her influence there, and-to
cast the gospel leaven into the new communities
which must pPring UP. in a,• State, so fevered; by
nature, and now at-length rid of,the - great'draw-:
1 back to her prosperity.
That will be a white day`in our annals when' ,
we can hail MissOuri as the rising Star of-the`
new Constellation of free States, beginning
ready' to break 'forth from the dim
_nebula of the
Border. And no small amount of praise will be
due-Mr. Lincoln for this, result, which grows
ft:cm his own suggestions,
_and which could
scarcely have been reached but for the patience,
persistence and wisdom which he - has shown, in
all his transactions with this delicate section of
oar country. .
BURIAL OF A ORRISTIAB . SOLDIER.
REMARKS OE REV. DR. BRAINERD.
ON n` recent Sabbath afternoon, the body of
Lieutenant Montgomery, of the, 116th Pennsy
vault' Volunteers, was interred at Maepelah ce
metery, in this 'city. He - died in tbe Patent
Office 'Hospital,: Washington City, December 14,
of wounds received at Fredericksburg. ,We are
indebted to the Inquirer, for, the following re-
"Dr...Brainerd, of whose church he , was
formerly a member, officiated. His remarks over
the grave of the deceased soldier were very imp
pressive.
Of the evils of War in general, the Doctor
said :—They are legion, and only to be tolerated -
now to avoid the worse evils of universal anarchy
and international strife and bloodshed likely to.
follow the breaking up of a great nation. We
a4ffer-Irr. as , . a choice; of great _Mar cannot`
last always, and the„majoritypf the :wounded be
come better. Xis not .so; 'with the victims of
vice amongst us. Hundrids of :our young men
Would be safer opposite Fredericksburg, than in
Philadelphia. Three hundred thousand of oar
fellow mortals in this country ate drnpkards, and
of these thirty thousand die annually. , At the
graves of such we are silent. What can we saY?,
But over the graves of our country's marqrs we
can say that the cause ennobles the victim. A.
life sold, not lost.
" Of thehattle of FredericksbUrg Dr. Brainerd
said It, was a fearful time and . disastrous to
thousands. Other generations will shudder at its
bloody details. It unfolds to us the strength of
that treason which we have to combat. It de
_
velopes a love of country seldomsurpassed. It
has disciplined a great army to appalling dangers,
and linked thousands of bleeding hearts more
closely to the cause of freedom. It has created
in all Christian lands, among true men, a deeper
loathing of the treason which has shedth* blood;
and a deeper abborrenCe of the Northern semi..
traitors who aid the Rebellion. It will, terano
lift from high places,the mean,' the mercenary
and the craveri-hearted, and give, prominence in
the cabinet and 'field. to men willing to auger and
die for their country'
" Of Lieutenant Montgomery the Doctor said
He was a young man of excellent character and
noble impulses. A native of Virginia, with his
property and all- his relatives there, he was, 'like.
Abdiel, ' faithful among the faithless found.'
He preferred his *hole country to the State of
Ids birth. On the battle-field he fought bravely,
and fell wounded. He was a true:man a citizen
and a fiftriot."
BUD UN. BUTLER TO. NEW YORK OITY,
IT is to the, praise of Gen. Butler that he has
been marked as Uspecial object by rebel vindic
tiveness and 'rage. We could wish that 'others'
of our generals had equally deserved proclama
tions from Jeff. Davis. No doubl, the faithful
servant of the government <and stern executive
of its latvs is a most distakeful object to rebels;
and if ever executive officer bad a troublesome
and serious task assigned him; ?en; Butler had
it when appointed to the chief command in New
Orleans; and if ever such a task wasiboroughly
and, impressively done, he did it. As we write
this, the morning paper brings a , marked confir
mation of justice of what was regarded as
one of the most strenuous acts Of t Gen. Butler's
Administration, and which in fact;was reversed by
the President at the suggestion of Hon. Pteverdy
Johnson. We refer - , to the General's treatment
of the French Consul at New' Orleans, as a per
son in league with'the rebels, and his seizure - Of
a large sum . ef money in the Camera hands as
rebel property, which was returned to bun after
the examination of the case by Mr. JOht18011:
The news to-day is that
"111. Mercier, the French Minister, apon exam:'
mina the records of the French Consul at New
Orleans, became satisfied of his complicity With
the rebels against the Government of the United
States, and yesterday dismissed lin), and
ap
pointed another in his place."
Perhaps the Government foresaw the teed of
i
Gen. Butler's services n a northern city, which,
since the enlistment of so many of its loyal citi
.
tens in the army, is almost as much at the mercy
of the disloyal mob, as was New Orleans: We
believe loyal New. Yorkers would be as glad to
see him there, as. were the loYalpeople of, New.
Orleans to have him among them. Appearances
are new quite favoreble to a faction obtaining
entire• control of the metropolis, precisely simi
lar in character to that headed by the notorious
Mumford of New Orleans. Let the Government
put the defences of Ne.w Yerk . Harbor under the.
control of Gen. Butler; let it be prepared to re
spond' to any serious manifestations of disloyalty
on the part of Seymour and Wood with, a,decla- .
ration of martial law. Let it act as it would if
Gen. Butler or Gen. Jackson were President, and
its very enemies will applaud while they submit.
THE EVANGELICAL NESTORIAN CHURCH.
A correspondent of the Evangelist, describes
the formation of this*Chnrch by the:dctien of the
native helpers of the Mission,of :the American
Board, at a very full meeting , which took place
in Oroomiah, October 2161. "-Platform or
Confession , of faith" had been_ prepared, in the
Congregational way 'of getting up such docu
ments, by the misaien, partly from the Presbyte
rian Confession, of Faith, and. partly from the
Rules and Regulations of the Reformed Armeni
an Churches. The plan embracing a " Synod
or Council?' was adopted with .some' little oppo
sition, particularly upon the, article requiring
the parents of children , presented for baptism to
be believers. It is consequently the Standard of
the whole body of helpers;_ who are for the first
time, constituted a distinct Church ,of Christ.
Some action, the nature of. .:which, is not very
clear, was taken with a view to promote national
unity, at the same meeting.
THE New York Observer-exhibits more signs
of gratification at General Banks? order, allowing
the disloyal clergymen o r New Orleans to omit
the prayer for the President, and more sympathy
with them in their present circumstances, than
we think we have for a long time seen displayed
in its columns, towards any: good object. The
liberty to act in accordance with the prescrip
tions of Bishop Pelk and MS rebel associates, in
this matter, is as-precious in the eyes of the Ob
server, as that Sot. which the martyr Church of
Scotland Contended and suffered I
thud Puto•
WE are pleased to learn•that Olivet. church,
under the pastoral care of Rev. W. W: Taylor,
received some twelve persons into Membership,
at a recent communion Sabbath, most of them on
profession. -
MR. EDWARD CLARENCE SMITN, was licensed
to preach the gospel,''at a'-'recent meeting of
the Third Presbytery of Philadelphia.
G. ,SPEES, bpi recently been promo.
ted by Miami Univerekty, Oxford, 0., to the
rank of D.D.
ORDINATION or REv. Mn. HAMMONI).--The
Thirteenth t street Presbyterian Church was filled
on Friday evening last by a very intelligent and
gratified 'audience attracted both by the fame of
the honored'grea.cher Of the sermon, President
Ilopkins of Williams'College, - and the interest
felt in the young Evangelist who was , to be set
apart to his sacred calling. The Moderator of
the Third Presbytery, Rev. C. P. Bush, presided;
ALev- S. al., 002r4 -'l)M.,'.nreadi the' ' Scriptures and
offereVhe opening prayer. After the able ser
mon setting forth the Scriptural. warrant for the
ordination of Evangelists, and the propounding
of the •nsual Constitutional Questions by the
Moderator, the Ordaining Prayer was offered by
Rev. A. D. Smith, and. ,an admirable
Charge given by Bev. Prof. Hitchcock. Mr.
Hatranond,preaehes - every evening at Dr. Hat..
field's Ohl:rich; corner of Mai avenue and Thir
ty-first street.-- - -. Evangelist.
THE NEW ;church , building at Cedar Palls,
lowa, was dedicated Nov. 9th. It cost comple.
ted, about $5500. It is of brick, 42 by 61, and
is out of debt.
MINISTERIAL CHANGEB.—Rev. L. 0. Seelyt,.
of Albany,who has'accepted a call to the pastor,c,
of the North Charch, Springfield. Mass., is
graduate of Union College, and has been pur-ii,
ing his theological studiesfor several years in Ger
miviy.-7---Rev. Lewis Heinilton of Pike's Peak,
Oelorado,lerritory, has become the chaplain of
the Second Colorado Cavalry, Col. Leavenworth,
formerly efAKinsai, Commander. Rev. J. A.
Priest, who`has been traveling and residing for
swim time in Germany, recently returned to this
country, and is preaching to the church at Cou
perstown..--,---Rev. BALI:, a returned
missionary from Turkey, has engaged to labor is
the Presbyterian Church at Oconto, Wis.
Nuw YEAR,-brought with it some kind aal
substantial tokens of regard from not a few
our churChes to their pastors. Many of these ar••
so-worthy of imitation, go unrecorded. We 11 -
dee thatß, ev.l. Allen Maxwell, of South Orat,! , -.
N. J., Rev. E. S. Wright, D.D., of Fredotil“
N.Y.; the pastor of the church at Lima, N.Y.,
Rev. S. G. Specs, D.D. of Dayton Ohio
Rev. W. H., Goodrich, of Cleveland, 011; .
received such attentions from their people as IL'
season suggested. I Mr. Goodrich's New Year.
gift was Treasury note for 41000 i his w
received $lOO. -
fcw
:1410,44ti0nL
MEMOIRS OP MRS. BETHIINP„, by her
Rev. G. W. Bethune, I).D. We are sure
evangelical public will cordially welcome
memoir of of one of the. most devoted and a-t
Cnristian women of America. Such a fit,
cannot well afford to have forgotten or lid
only by casual report. Mrs. Bethune W“ -
daughter , of the well-known and revered
la Graham i and gave abundant proof of
mother's Moulding influence in her life ate ,::.
finis. Sunday 'Schools in America, and oil
ehildreft in New York City owe her a gr , : t-:
debt than they do to any other individual.
latter paxt, of the volume consists of exu" .=
from - her:own writings. 12mo. pp. 250.
per &:Bros., New Yolk - , For sale by J. 1- Li*
pincott & Co.
THE NORTH BRITISH REVIEW for Novetiil . ..r.
contains articles`on Christian Individuality, V'
Austrian Empire in 1862, Clough's Potui , .
si*lation Of La*, France and Scutlaud.l l, l 4- ' t
Prliihetieal Literature, Syria and the E,l-',cu
Question, SL Clements Ere, The Atueric.iti t
filet The last article may be called velpqn ,l :o . .
New York; •L. Scott & Co., Philada.
Zieber,lo6 South Third. Street.
THE ATON RI NI ,W for January 1-
and interesting combining sub,taori:,l
- matter, theology with Belies
Nataral. Science with life, manners and hi,: •
a - traly attractive and profitable manna.
tau; John M. Whittemore & Co
JAN. 15,