Vol. VII, No. 27.---Whole No. 339.
Tottr4.
(Par the American Presbyterian.)
On the Death of a Friend.
SEEM has gone from our midst, she has passed on
before
To the land whore the weary find rest evermore.
Though short was the summons, her Saviour was
nigh
To guide through the valley to mansions on high.
That voice once so merry, no more shall we hear,
We listen in vain for the suund sweet and clear.
The form we loved well, we have laid in the
torah;
Her sorrows are over, she rests safe at home.
In the morning of life, so blooming and bright;
Cut down in a moment, she passed from our
sight;
Her place was prepared in those mansions of rest,
Her Saviour has called her, she dwells with the
blest.
Oh I loved one in Heaven, thine own happy
sphere,
Dost thou think of the dear ones left sorrowing
here,
Of the hearts which in sorrow_thy love had made
glad,
Of thy, home here below now so lonely and sad ?
We know that our loss is thine infinite gain,
'Tis Jesus that calls thee from sickness and pain.
We hope soon to meet thee in glory above,
To join with the ransomed in praising His love.
Cortropoudietta.
PREACHINO.-NO. 9.
By Bev. B. B. Adame.
E - ARNESTNESS AND PIETY.
LORD BAcoN has said that every man owes
a debt to his profession. There is doubtless
some one calling, for which a man possesses,
either by natural talent and taste, or by cul
ture special fitness. If he has entered on a
profession for which he is not, neither can
be fitted, he is under obligations to leave it
for another. If he has fitness, if he can
" advance his profession " can be success
ful, he owes to it all his energes—or at least
whatever is needful to success. It becomes
a man first to learn, if possible, -far what he
is best fitted. He may have powers of such
variety and manifoldness, as to excel in any
calling. Or he may be able to meet the
demands only of a special course of enter
prise. Let him know what that is. It is
'that which he can do best. If it be to mend
shoes, that is his calling. Whatever thing
he can do 'better than any other, that is his
duty. It is the intimation of Providence
regarding him, and of divine appointment,
though most humble and lowly. If I can
cultivate the earth, if I can write or speak,
,or teach better than I can do any other work,
that is my specialty. If I can preach the
Gospel better than I can do any other thing,
that is my work. Having ascertained what,
on the whole in this light, is my appropriate
sphere of action, I owe to it my best ener
gies, my most constant, earnest devotiOn,
We have already mentioted some qualifica
tions which contribute to the fitness •of the
preacher for his work, but that on which we
would lay greater stress is earnestness—the
ardor of piety. One cannot succeed in any
calling without appropriate zeal, His heart
must be in his work. A man cannot culti
vate the soil if he be not in earnest ; if he
'feel not that his work is worthy of his pow
ers, that it is right, profitable, honorable. To
succeed one must feel that his life is identi
fied with his profession. The painter would
only daub the canvass were his heart not in
his work. He must glow over it. His taste
must revel in it. He must be in love with
the beautiful and fair, with harmony of form,
and attitude, and feel himself to be a crea
'tor. A costly church was erected on the
banks of the seine, in Normandy by stone
masons whom the architect had abused.
They therefore wrought without heart, with
out enthusiasm, and although the plan was
artistic, the eilifice is stiff, and bald, and
without harmony, so that a sight of it excites
pain in the tasteful 'beholders. Cold intellect
is not enough, neither with it, the labor of
the hand. The soul must be in the work.
Plato said that the greatest fault of the Rhe
-toricians was their studying the art of per
suasion before they hid learned from the
principles of true philosophy what those
things were of which they ought to persuade
men. Doubtless it is a great fault to know
better how to speak than what to speak; but
an equal defect in the art of persuasion is,
speakingivithout heart. Facts are essential,
but they ail:) not sufficient without soul, they
must be kindled by emotion, heated in earn
est feeling, and sent forth on their mission
hot from the fervors of the inner fire. The'
statue of Prometheus is stately and grand
before life throbs through the silent stone ;
but sublime in its look, and warmth, and mo
tion when the god makes it his habitation.
The polished steel glitters, in the sun; so
does the glacier in the- morning air, but
theirs is not the tremulous glory of the
diamond whose light wells out from its clear
heart.
If we would persuade, we must BE persua
ded. The hearer is won by feeling as well
as by logic. It is related of Isocrates that
he devoted fifteen years to the polishing and
proprieties of an oration, and then appeared
before his tasteful audience to receive their
applause for his prettinesses ; while Demos
thenes, who spoke for his country against
the Intrigues of a tyrant, informed himself
of facts, kindled theminto flame by his patri
otism, and overwhelmed his listeners with
a tide of simple, sublime eloquence. And
surely in the pulpit, God looking on, and
souls in the scale ; with the noblest fbrms of
truth; with sentiments most tender; with an
object so high, grand and absorbing; with
themes pathetic as life, love, death, eternity
can make themc the speaker should be alive
with divine feelin. There is a false emotion
that affects only the animal sensations of the
hearers, because it comes only from the sur
face of the soul in the speaker. The influ
ence will go as deep into other hearts, as the
spring whence it issues in our own. If the
preacher does not feel, the hearer does not.
If there is anything that the preacher loves
better than his, work, he will so far fail in it.
Let him feel, as did the worthy Mr. Adam,
" that a poor country parson fighting
against the devil in his parish, has nobler
thoughts than Alexander had when fighting
for the conquest of the world ;" or like the
excellent John Brown, of Haddington, who
said,—" Now, after forty years preaching of
Christ and his great and sweet salvation 4
think I would rather beg my bread all the
laboring days of the week, for the opportu
nity of publishing the Gospel on the Sabbath
to an assembly of sinful men, than without
such a privilege to enjoy the richest posses
sion on earth. By the Gospel do men live,
and it is the life of my soul."
Bourdalone felt, that great as men deemed
him as an orator, he was still greater as a
Christian and a minister of God. Masillon
rose to the highest point of vocal power ;
infusing into his cultivated voice,—which
sometimes swelled into a terrible cry, and
anon sank to a low, mysterious, searching
whisper that all could hear, the fervor of
deep conviction and concern,—he swept away
every prejudice, kindled the hearts of the
assembly to a urning emotion, and melted
them to tears.
Now, to do this, there must be a desire on
the part of the preacher to render men hap
py, to exalt God, to make known the truth
and the mercy of Christ. He must have
piety. One cannot inspire love if it is not
felt in his own breast. Said Ganganelli, who
added solid judgment,to deep knowledge, and
great modesty. "As to the style of sermons
it offends against all rules, if it be not pathe
tic, nervous and sublime. The path has been
pointed out by St. Chrysostom. He who
was always with God, always fed by the
milk of the word, and perfectly acquainted
with the human heart, speaks, thunders,
shakes, and leaves to sinners no other an
swer but cries and remorse." Says Oster
wald, " With respect to preaching, the whole
of it depends on piety.. It is that which
makes you seek edifying subjects, and con
fine yourself to such as are useful and neces
sary. That gives force and unction to your
discourse, and makes. you say affecting
things. Piety is the source of true eloquence,
which is natural, simple and sublime.'
Add then to natural mental powers all the
culture available for the voice, the tones, the
gestures, and emphatically for thought and
.the use of language ; add modesty with au
thority, and finally add a deep earnestness
arising from the love of God—from the glory
of the Gospel, and the worth of human hap
piness, and you may become—any .of us may
become eminent in the sublime and holy work
of preaching. But " unto the wicked God
saith, What hast thou to do to declare my
statutes." The delight that sparkles in the
eye of him whose joy in God abounds; the
tears which suffuse the eye that looks with
sorrow on dying men are eloquent. They
open the way for truth. They win the heart
over in. spite of its, prejudice. In the famil
iar words of Cowper, the true preacher is
"Much impressed
Himself, as conscious of his awful charge,
And anxious mainly that the flock he feeds,
May feel it, too ; affectionate in look,
And tender in address, as well becomes
A messenger of grace to guilty men."
A MISSION BOX ACKNOWLEDGED.
[lt will do our readers good to enjoy with
those specially addressed, the following letter
of acknowledgement for a "missionary box,"
from a hard working laborer in lowa, with a
large family and very small salary. The
senders of the box felt themselves amply re
paid for their labor of love by this evidence
of the appropriateness and worth to the re
cipients of their kind gifts.]—Jan. 1, 1863.
With grateful emotions, and heart-felt
thanks, I write to acknowledge the receipt
of the box sent by the kind ladies of the
First Presbyterian Church, Northern Liber
ties. The gifts of those Christian ladies
were most cordially welcomed by my family.
Since the cold weather commenced we have
been exercised to know what we should do
to provide for our, large family, for we were
without money, and were in need of clothing
and shoes to make us comfortable, and pro
tect us from the piercing prairie winds.
Sometimes we asked each other, " What .
shall we do?" Sometimes my wife said, "Let
us live by faith." Then, again, we would 4
say, " Perhaps a box may come yet from
some quarter." At last we concluded it had
got so late in the season, "It won't come
now." So we gave up hope, saying, if we
suffer that's no strange• thing, for many
others suffer too.
But just when hope had fled, we received
your letter, saying that a box was on the
way to us. So the good providence of our
God made us heartily ashamed of our want
of faith. We felt that God was still good.
I thought of the question, " When I sent you
without purse and scrip, and shoes, lacked
ye anything ?" and they said, " Nothing."
We found the box well filled with valuable
articles, and well adapted to our wants.
Most of the clothes made up, fitted as if the
tailor and milliner had taken our measures.
Though we are so many, yet there was some
thing nice and good for every one. But,
special thanks must be given to the lady who
sent the five dollars in cash, for that is a
scarce article here, at present. Then, too,
clothing and groceries are so dear that we
must estimate the gifts double value, com
pared with times in the past.
I must mention, though it may appear a
small thing, the excitement of the little ones
as they watched each article coming out of
the box ; standing in a group, with faces
brightened and eyes radiant with joy. One
said,." 0 that's so nice," and another, " Ma
that will jest fit me ;" another, ".Now I can
go to Sunday-school ;" and the youngest,
about four years old, said, " Won't those
ladies go to heaven, ma ;" and the next to
the youngest, on retiring to bed, was heard
saying her prayers with hands clasped,
" Lord bless the ladies ;" it may be that the
little petition was accepted. For we read
that the Master has praise out of the mouths
of babes and sucklings. The books which
were sent were thankfully received by me,
as my library is small.
We wish to say that, while feeling truly
grateful to those Christian ladies, we would
also lift up our hearts in thanks to the God
of providence. flow rich his sovereign
grace, how wonderful that wise, benevolent
and ever-watchful providence, which circuits
the utmost verge of all our wants, yea, the
wants of every living creature ! True, he
may try us, as his people of old, to prove us
and to know what is in our hearts, whether
we .will trust him or not. It may require
just such discipline to qualify us, not only
PHILADELPHIA, TOU.RSDAY, MARCH 5, 1863.
for the positions assigned in his kingdom on
earth, but also for those prepared for us in
heaven. Let us sing of mercy, yes, and of
judgment too, for, " Behind a frowning pro
vidence he hides a smiling face."
We feel impelled anew to greater activity
and zeal in the best of all services, and in
the employ of the Best of masters. We
sincerely tender our thanks to the ladies, we
send our kind respects to your beloved
Pastor—we thank you, dear brother, for
your co-operation in this work of benevo
lence and Christian kindness, and if we can
never repay it, we are glad that it is written,
" God is not unrighteous to forget the work
of faith and labor of love." We pray that
the donors may receive a fullness of spiritual
blessings out of the unsearchable riches of
Christ, and finally be crowned with glory
everlasting.
I will say: in addition, I have labored in
this place nearly three years, and have had
some evidences of divine favor, have added
forty-two members to this little church, the
most of them the fruits of a very precious
revival. The subjects of sovereign grace
were mostly heads of families, who continue
striving to walk worthy of the glorious gos
pel. *
THE NINTH ARMY CORPS: LETTER
FROM A CHAPLAIN.
NEWPORT NEWS,
, Feb. 12th, 1863
SINCE I saw you last at the Synod, I have
had new and varied experience 'of the war
in Virginia. I joined my regiment, (which
I had left on the battle-field of Antietam)
in Pleasant Valley, near Harper's Ferry,
wandered with it down through Virginia to
the neighborhood of Fredericksburg, where,
before and since the battle there, we have
been lying, and of late, one might almost
say, wallowing in the mud.
Much to our joy, about a week ago, we
were ordered to be ready for removal to re
port in _Hampton Roads ; and on Monday
last we waded through the mud to Falmouth
Station, took the cars for Acquia Creek,
and embarked on the Louisiana, with two
other regiments of the. Second Brigade, 2nd
Division, 9th Army Corps. We arrived op
posite Fort Monroe before daylight on Wed
nesday morning, and early in the forenoon
went into camp at Newport News, in sight
of the ground occupied by us- early last sum
mer, when on our way from North Carolina
to join the Army of the Potomac.
We are encamped here on a very level
plateau which begins on a not very lofty
bluff on the river, and extend, I know not
how far, back of our camps. Immediately
in front of us in the river, lie two Monitors,
and the ugly looking iron -clad, called the
Galena ; all three waiting apparently and
patiently for the advent of Merrimac No. 2.
One of the Monitors is said to be the Nahant,
carrying two enormous rifled guns, of eleven
and fifteen inch calibre, with 90 rounds of
munition and 100 men • each gun can be
fired once in ninety secods.
Steamers and other vessels are busily ply
ing between the Fortress and this place,
bringing men and army stores.
There is but one feeling among officers
and men, and ,that a feeling of delight at es..
- caping from the Army of the Potomac, and
the mud of the Rappahanock. The satis
faction is visible on all faces,
and the men
have never seemed so light-hearted as now.
We have but one more think to ask, and that
is that our beloved commander, Burnside, may
take command of us again, and he free from
the jealousies and trickery, (and traitorous
- sympathies ?) of the boastful and useless
Potomac Army. One thing that army needs
to learn ; that God is not always on the side
of the heaviest battalions—that His drops of
rain and His flakes of snow may further or
defeat the wisest plans of the greatest gen
erals, or the onward movement of the great
est armies. "He giveth snow like wool
He scattereth the hoar frost like ashes. He
casteth forth His ice like morsels ; who can
stand before His cold ? He sendeth out
His word and melteth them ; He caused'
His winds to blow, and the waters flow."
"Fire and hail • snow and vapors ; stormy
wind fulfilling His word." And God seems
to be teaching them this.
We . hear that General Hooker is weeding
out from his army all officers who will not
act heartily under him, and reducing the
force again to Army Corps.. Very wise in
deed in him; for what can any general-in
chief do with three rivals at the head of
grand divisions—made rivals by the neces
sity of their position. And what can he do
when sure that his plans will be purposely
defeated by his own generals, by Fitz-John-
Porter-like disobedience—men afflicted with
what Washington called. the "rascally vir
tue" of prudence, at the critical moment
when unflinching bravery is essential.
It is said that Hooker went to Washington
to remonstrate against the withdrawal of the
9th Corps ; and well he might, for this corps
has learned from its first commander, Burn
side, and. from its second commander, Reno,
to obey; and it would obey orders whoever
might be at the head of the Army. It was
enough for " our Reno" at Bull Run to know
that Pope was in command, without asking
what military clique he belonged to ; it will
always be enough for his corps to know who
is in command, whatever their preferences ;
and they have very decided preferences.
The 2nd Brigade, to which my regiment
'belongs, comprises the 51st Pa., 51st N. Y.,
21st Mass., 35th Mass., and 11th N. H. ; of
which the first three composed the original
Brigade of General Reno in North Carolina.
This is the brigade which stormed the earth
works on the enemy's- right at Newborn,
over their terrible abattis, was the rear guard
at Manassas doing, the last fighting on that
Saturday night, and which took the Antie
tam Bridge and held the opposite heights,
lying without amunition under the fire of the
enemies batteries; as you may see in the
Continental Monthly for February.
General Ferrero, having, to mporarily,
command of the Division, the Brigade is un
der the command of Col. John. F. Hartranft
of the 51st Pa., and that regiment is com
manded by Lt. Col. Edwin Schell, who suc
ceeds our lamented Lt. Col. Thos. S. Bell of
West Chester, who was killed just after
crossing the Antietam Bridge, in that des
perate charge. The 51st N. Y., is com
manded by Col. Robert Potter, a son of the
P, E. Bishop of Pennsylvania; the 21st
Mass., by Col. Clark, Prof. of Chemistry in
Amherst College,; the 35th Mass., by Capt.
Pratt, the Colonel, Lt. Colonel, Major, and
Senior Captain, having been either killed or
wounded, in the order of their rank, as they
succeeded to l the command; the 11th N. H.,
by Col. IlarAiman.
We are tis' have new wedge tents for the
whole comMand in place of the shelter tents
which we hive used since we left Fredericks
burgr last A ' st. This looks either like
permanency ere, or a movement by water
where we ca have easy transportation for
this great addition to our luggage.
As for myself, I have a new, chapel tent
on the way,
,a .{,gift from the people in Nor
ristown, for *Olll am more thankful, than
I can tell, as i,
i will make me somewhat in
dependent of the weather, and I can have
preaching and; social meetings far oftener
than ever before. • D. G. M.
ESCAPIN9 PROIt_SWEAL
How does thq4ast tietined Oar own Gait
ernment compai-ofiith thd-iirinpiples and
spirit of the Bibles?,
Oar fathers, in ,framing the Constitution
which perfected t the Union of these States,
left the whole question of domestic servitude
subject to the jurisdiction of the State gov
ernments, within their respective boundaries.
It was, however, agreed that no person liv
ing in one State'should be released from his
obligations under its laws, by escaping into
another State. A provision to this effect.
concerning " persons held to service or labor,"
was inserted in the Constitution : for our
fathers were singularly careful not to admit
into that sacred instrument the word slave or
slavery, or any language which, conveys the
idea of property in man.
The actual provision of the Constitution
was evidently intended to secure to each
State its appropriate jurisdiction over all
classes of its popidation, •leaving upon each
State the corresponding responsibility for the
just and ,benevolent exercise of its autho
rity.
The care of our fathers, while forming the
"more perfect'Union " not to break down
local,
the proper authority of the States, is
an admirable proof of their political wisdom,
and of their love of political liberty. Their
forbearance (it `vas only forbearance) toward
an evil institution, which they regarded as
surely about to pass away without violence,
is by no means to be censured.
But, in the progress of our country, con
trary to the expectation of our fathers, that
institution came to possess a powerful influ
ence over the entire gOVernmental policy of
the nation. Under that influence, the legis
lation, and the administration of the laws, in
pursuance of that provision in the Constitu
tion, became exceedingly rigid and harsh.
There is no law of our government, for the
punishment of any ,. crime, the provisions of
which are so stringent, or so unfavorable to
the accused as those of the Fugitive Slave
Bill of 1850.
That law has been enforced with singular
rigor. Towards tie class of criminals has the
Government been - 46`unrelenting - in its en
forcement of the law, to its- utmost , letter, as
towards - fugitives from slavery. The law in
respect to them, had !no provision for-,lenity.
Any criblinal might become an object of ex
ecutive clemency, and be pardoned: but the
President-had no power to remit, or to.mo
dify, - the doom of the fugitive from slavery.
No earthly tribunal could take cognizance of
severities, and wrongs, and base indignities,
which may have goaded the manhood or the
womanhood of the slave to the desperate
attempt to escape. No plea could be heard
in mitigation of the offence of seeking to be
free. If shown to be a slave, according to
the laws of any State, and to have.fled from
that State, the victim must be delivered up,
without any reference to wrongs which may
have provoked his flight, or cruelties that
waited to revenge it.
Let us not speak harshly of the Govern
ment of our country, nor of its laws, nor of
its administration. Let us recognize the
difficulties which statesmanship has encoun
tered in dealing with the questions of per
sonal rights, and of State and National juris
dictions, which have come up so perplexingly
out of this subject. Let us sympathise with
the citizens whom the suffrages of their coun
trymen have called to the positions of re
sponsibility, in which, they have been obliged
to act upon these difficult and complicated
questions. But when we have compared the
spirit of our country's past legislation to
wards these feeblest, poorest, most pitiable
of all its subjects, with the spirit of the Mo
saic legislation, and of the whole Bible,
towards every weak and dependent class of
persons,. our heart has been filled, with shame,
and sorrow, and dread of Jehovah's anger.
When, from time to time, unhappy vic
tims of that cruel law have been arrested, on
their way to that liberty for which they had
risked all ; or have been dragged from homes
which they had ventured to make for them
selves, among neighbors who would be wil
ling to let them be free, as long as they
would be harmless ; and have been given up
to their pursuers in chains ; led away dumb
and unresisting ; ,feqing themselves hope
lessly grasped in the hand of a mighty
nation, whose whole power was pledged
against them, and which Was bound, by its
fundamental law, never once to open its ear
to their piteous cry—at such times, we have
seemed to hear the plaintive voice of the in
spired Preacher.—" So I returned, and con
sidered all the oppressions that are done
under the sun ; and behold the tears of such
as were oppressed, and they had no comfort
er ; and on the side of their oppressors there
was power ; but they had no comforter."
VENTILATION AND SERMONS.
I HAVE been interested and instructed by
the series of articles on " Preaching," now
appearing from week to week, in the welcome
AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN.
It is a good thing for all clergymen to
know how to prepare good sermons, and to
preach them well. But I have been thinking
of the very close connection between venti
lation and preaching. lam almost too mo
dest to venture far in the way of instruction
on this matter. So much has been written
and spoken of late years, on the whole sub
ject of ventilation, by scientific and learned
men, that, perhaps it is temerity for any
humbler person, who pretends to no scientific
attainments, to say or write more.
It may not, however be wrong, to stir up
the "pure minds" of all building commit-
tees, sextons, and - those interested in the
construction of church edifices,, by assuring
them that the relation which good ventilation
holds.to good preaching is by no means no
minal, but highly real and practical. One
of the most formidable difficulties with which
the preacher has to contend, especially through
the winter season, is a vitiated atmosphere.
His most impressive passages may be wasted
upon his auditory, if the ventilator remains
closed ten minutes too long. His most fer
vent appeals fall lifeless upon stupified hear
ers, if the fumes of anthracite fill the rooms.
He prepares his weekly lecture with great
for edification. He walks through the fresh,
crispy, •inspiriting air, 'enters his lecture
room, where 'he is glad to see a goodly com
pany gathered for instruction. They look
bright-eyed and receptive. He commences
,hope, but presently his hearers give signs
of ,flagging - interest, and at length many
eyes are closed and others seem ileavy,list
less and unappreeialive. He feelS as he
oleses, that he has failed to edify, and that
he himself has been dull and tedious. The
trouble is, the " modern improvements" did
not work well. There were at least ten de
grees of heat too much, and the ventilation
was against him. Several persons took cold
last Sabbath in church. The reason was,
there were differences of opinion between
the scientific ones and the sexton, as to
whether certain ventilating registers were to
be open or closed. Hence some very un
pleasant currents of cold air, in thinking of
which, many persons lost some of the best
parts of the sermon. Perhaps the sexton,
(scarcely excepting the elders) bears the
most important relation to the minister. He
has much to do with making the preaching
effective. He ought to be a man of the
strongest practical common sense and firmest
decision, of all the congregation. He, of all
concerned, ought to know the value of pure
air, and its relation to good preaching and
successful hearing.
We ought to know that with all the "mod
ern improvements " in ventilation, there is
still much wanting to secure comfort and
good hearing in our houses of worship. The
moral of all this is, that
. if the preaching
seems dull and common-place, do not be too
ready to condemn the preacher, but ,find the
secret in bad ventilation against which no
preaching is proof. PASTOR.
PRESBYTERIAN UNION IN AUSTRALIA.
TILE union movement among Presbyterian
bodies in the British Colonies, continues.
In 1859, the various Presbyterian organiza
tions in. Victoria—a province in the S. E.
corner of the continent—united, and they
have since enjoyed great prosperity. At
the time of the union they numbered fifty
ministers and twenty elders. In three years
and a half they have grown to one hundred
ministers ,and thirty elders. The General
Assembly of this church met at Melbourne,
Nov. 6. The voluntary contributions for
the support of the Gospel during the year,
amounted to £40,000. Missions are sus
tained among the Chinese at Ballarat, and
among the aborigines in Gipps Land. A
mission for the South Sea Islands was pro
jected by the Assembly. Between two and
three thousand pounds sterling have been
collected, with which to employ twenty ad
ditional ministers, in Australia, we presume.
The church shows decided activity, and a
determination to lie "in advance of all
others in its field. A committee was ap
pointed to mature a scheme for a Theologi
cal Hall.
In New South Wales, the province north
of. Victoria, overtures for union have been
made by the Synod of the Established
Church of Scotland, to the Synod of the
Free Presbyterian Church of N. S. Wales,
and the result is that the two bodies have
agreed to unite on a basis similar to that
adopted by the United Church of Victoria,
and ,only the details remain to be settled.
It is proposed to constitute ultimately a
united Church throughout the Australian
Colonies. The church of Victoria numbers
nearly 100' ministers, that of Sydney about
50, that of New Zealand about 30. The de
nominations, when united, cannot fail to grow
in influence and; importance. In New South
Wales there are 35,000 Presbyterians, with
church accommodation for 13,000, and
church attendance not more than 7,500.
The Roman Catholics number 100,000, of
whom about 24,000 attend church. The
Episcopal Church has 160,000 people,
with
about 25,000 church-goers. The Methodists,
on the other land, claim only 24,000 people,
but their church attendance is 22,000—they
supply many more than their own people.
The Congregationalists have 5,000 people,
yet their church attendance is 6;000.
THE PROCLAMATION OF FREEDOAL
The religious press of the North to its
honor be it said, has been- almost unanimous
in approving the Proclamation of Jan. Ist.
A few papers have maintained silence, but
none have opposed a measure so humane
and so necessary. Among the Quarterlies, the.
Princeton Review substantially endorses it,
while the .Dartville eschews all national me
thods of emancipation, as Kentucky editors
and public men seem in duty bound to do.
The Christianintelligencer, organ of the staid
conservative Dutch Church, thus expresses
itself, in a recent issue :
" For ourselves, believing that any act
within the acknowledged usages of. civi
lized warfare is proper to be done against
the hideous rebellion which, has cover-.
ed the land with mourning, we cannot
see how the President could, with a safe con
science, have held back from a measure
which, to say the least, promised to effect a
diversion in the enemy's rear, equal to a
new army of a hundred thousand men. Even
should it turn out ineffectual, it is not, there
fore, shown to be wrong or even unwise.
When such a precious thing as the life of
the nation is at stake, every means not posi
tively sinful is to be used. It is painful to
go against the stern convictions of such loy
alists as Dr. Breckinridge, but even that sa
crifice is to be made, if the maintenance of
the national unity requires it. The one thing
to be done, before all, others, is the suppres
sion of the rebellion, the annihilation of its
military force. This accomplished, all else
can be left to time, reason, and the boat&
cent loadings of Providence."
11. A. N.
Attortiono.
EFFECTS OF THE PROCLAMATION ON
FOREIGN OPINION.
TrrE expediency of the Proclamation of
Freedom as connected with our foreign poli
cy, is triumphantly vindicated by recent
events in England and France. Such de
monstration of popular sympathy with the
national cause have not occurred in the
whole course of the war, as have been wit
nessed, since the news of the, first of Janua
ry reached the Old World. They are well
calculated to arrest the tendency to inter
meddling and, recognition of the rebels, which
the ruling classes have hitherto exhibited.
Some views of the Proclanaation taken by
the liberal press of England and France,
are worthy , of repetitionhere • ' as meeting
various classes of objectors at home.. The
London _Daily Hew, speaking of the sup
posed danger of servile insurrection, says
"Nothing of .the kind -is-likely to happen
now. The Federal GovernMent has not on
ly pledged itself to consider' the slaves, but
has actually interfered on their behalf.
They have, therefore, less reason than ever,
to rise against their masters. Having -a le
eal claim to freedom, they know that their
ultimate redemption is assured, and can
therefore afford to wait until their deliverers
appear. It is undoubtedly this hope of ul
timate relief that has prevented them from
attempting any armed revolt hitherto. They
were contented to wait, knowing that an
active party in the North had undertaken
their cause. They were confirmed in this
attitude when a Government, pledged to the
gradual extinction of slavery had been placed
in power. And now that a decree of eman
cipation has gone forth, they have still less
cause than ever to attempt securing their
freedom by forcible revolt and general mas
sacre. Strictly speaking, a servile war has
in fact become impossible. The slaves are
now represented by a responsible Govern
ment. If in seeking that freedom when it
is fairly within their reach they should be
driven to employ force, this would be simply
an act of self-defence."
Dr. McClintock, writing, from Paris to the
Methodist; says that the French liberal
journals are jubilant over the Proclamation.
As a specimen, take the Opinion Nationale :
"President Lincoln's Proclamation is one
of the great events of the present age. It
has struck a final blow at the accursed insti
tution of slavery. Even Cuba and Brazil
will feel the shock. The influence of the
Proclamation upon the conduct of the war
cannot but be very great. The secession
journals, both in England and 'France, are
making strong efforts just now to prove that
the resources of the. South will allow it to
prolong the struggle. To us it appears clear
that those resources are disappearing with
each day of the continuance of the war. The
South has brought nearly its last man into
the field ; the North can, if it choose, doable
the number of its present army."
Even the Nation,. the'-new Imperialist
journal, which has heretofore strongly sup
poked the rebel cause, and has demanded
loudly that the blockade should be broken by
force of arms, has been compelled to recog
nize the grandeur and the vast import of the
President's Proclamation of freedom. It
pronounces the Proclamation a " final blow
at the scourge and shame of slavery ; a blow
which, if it does not at once destroy the im
pious system, will prevent its ever rising its
head again in strength."
The last number of the Economiste con
tains an able article by M. Cochin, reviewing
the " triumphs over the system of slavery
achieved by the American Government du
ring the,year 1862." The other Imperialist
journals have greatly improved in tone since
the first of January. If they do not write
in our favor, they avoid entirely the furious
and violent attacks upon us which formerly
abounded in their columns.
A QUADRUPLE MEETING AT EXETER HALL.
Perhaps the most significant of these
,de
monstrations is the monster meeting held in
Exeter Hall, London, Jan. 29th. It is said
to have been the largest and most enthusias
tic meeting held there since the Corn Law
excitements. The principal audience-room
was filled to overflowing, when a second
meeting was organized in the lower hall,
and finally, to meet the wishes of the dense
throngs who could not gain admission, intO
the building, two additional meetings were
held in. the street. •
This great meeting, with others held the same
evening in other parts of England, was under
the auspices of the British Emancipation So
ciety, which numbers among its chief suppor
ters such men as J. Stuart Mill, John Bright,
Professor Cairnes, Mr. Scott, (Chamberlain
of London,) Baptist Noel, Newman Hall,
Mr. Hughes Dr. Massey,. John Brock, etc.
The principal. speakers were the Hon. and
Rev. Baptist Noel. Mr. Hughes (the author
of " Tom Brown's School-days"), Mr. P. A.
Taylor, M. P. for Leicester, and the Rev.
Newman Hall.
The notable features of the addresses de
livered is, that while the speakers tried to
limit themselves to the single topic of eman
cipation, pure and simple, the fervor of their
feelings and the connection now established
between emancipation and the Union neces
sitated the heairtiest expression of sympathy
for our cause. The Rev. Baptist Noel con
cluded. an eloquent address in these words
" No aid to, the tyranny of the slave-owner
of the South. (Hear, hear.) Na alliance
with the murderous policy of Mr. Jefferson
Davis. (Hear, hear.) No Alabamas to prey
upon American commerce, for their George
Griswold sent out to feed our starving opera
tives. (Hear, hear.) No war with the Uni
ted States for the slaveholder. No prema
ture recognition. No hostile mediation which
leads to both. No recognition at all until
they emancipate. (Cheers.) No jealous and
spiteful wish to see the United States dis
membered, impoverished, and ruined. Eman
cipation and reunion. (Protracted cheering,
and waving of hats and handkerchiefs.)
Honor to Mr. Lincoln--(cheerb)--his Cabi
net, his Congress, the Republican party, and
all anti-slavery men of whatever party who
are for emancipation and the Uni6n.
(Cheers.) Speedy peace true emancipation,
and reunion. (Renewed Cheers.) The media
tion of France, England, and Europe to pro ;
mote emancipation and reunion on the basis
of compensation to the slave-owners for the
loss of their slaves. (Hear, hear.) My l as t
principle is--England and`the United States
forever friends and allies in promoting re
ligion and liberty throughout all the world.
(Cheers.)"
GENESEE EVANGELIST.--4 hole No. 876.
But as if to" show how sympathy with the
policy of Emancipation carried forward all
present to hearty support of the Union, Mr.
Taylor, a member of ,Parliament, offered the
following resolution:
That in the election of President Lincoln,
and in the principal acts of his administration,
the abolition of slavery in the District of
Columbia, the prohibition of slavery in the
Territories, the recognition of the Republics
of Hayti and Liberia, the concession of the
right of search for the suppression of the slave
trade,.the scheme of compensated emancipa
tion, and the proclamation which inaugurated
the new year; this meeting recognizes suc
cessive triumphs of anti-slavery sentiment in
the United States ; rejoices in the prospect
thus, afforded of friendship between England
and America, as well as of liberation to the
enslaved ; offers to the Gevernment :and to
the people of the loyal States the assurance
of`fraternal sympathy in their noble struggle,
and requests the chairman to communicate
this resolution to his Excellency the Ameri
can Minister."
This resolution was, adopted with great
enthusiasm.
These events may be connected with
others, sueh for example as Mr. Spurgeon's
prayers, which now, he says, he can offer
heartily for the success of the North, anal
which are followed by the warm responses of
his great Congregation. These things go to
vindicate the Proclamation as a measure of
vast importance and high wisdom in its bear
ing on our foreign relations.
SOUND SENTIMENTS.
[Rev. Wm. Aikman of Hanover St. Church
Wilmington has just concluded a course of
sermons on the Psalms, the last one of which
has been noticed at length and emphatically
approved by the Delaware Republican of than
city. From the known character of thy;
preacher, we could not have expected hi 3
pulp:. utterances to be other than we n,
them , we are glad they have been uttere,
in our neighbor city and have found such a
hearty response from the local press. We
give a brief extract from the discourse, at)
published.]
When this wicked rebellion first broke out,
when the first attacks were made upon the
government and the first attempts were made
to destroy it, a thrill of horror passed through
the whole land ; but now after two years of
successful rebellion, how familiar have we
grown with the crime, so familiar that its
virus threatens to go through the whole coun
try, and its enormity as a great sin and crime
seems to have almost faded out of the appre
hension of men. Men have allowed them
selves to palliate and excuse, have called soft
names, till Rebellion is stripped of all its
hideousness and the plunging of a once hap
py people in the horrors of civil war is as
nothing in their sight. Nay, the same
process goes on here as in regard to
the murderer, he is sympathized with
and pitied while his victim is forgot
ten. . . . These men have, I believe,
been guilty of a crime the like o which has
almost never been committed in this world be
fore. To attempt to destroy such a govern
ment which had never done them anything
but good, and pluck ruin down upon millions,
was enough in itself of guilt, but when you
count the new made graves by the hundred
thousand, graves of the young and strong
who have perished in their early manhood,
when you think of all the sufferings, of the
millions of widows and orphans" of all the un
knownwoes' the tears and the groans that
make the land like Egypt op the night when
there was not a house in which there was not
one dead—when the guilt grows simply un
speakable, no words can describe or even
characterize .it. Thinking of all this, and
then remembering the claims of law, the un
utterable desirableness that crime should not
escape, you and every right minded man can
not but desire that punishment such as shall
illustrate and establish the majesty of law,
and vindicate the justice of God, should come
upon these men. In deepest sympathy with
the teachings of God's word which we have
been dwelling upon, so you cannot but desire.
With such solemn and clear convictions, I
gave utterance months ago to the desire that
punishment adequate and to the full; might
be theirs, and so with the same feelings I re
peat it to-day, and I know that every think
ing right-hearted man will echo the desire.
1 trust that I shall not be misunderstood or
falsely interpreted. lam laying before you.
principles and truths which I believe to be
more important than anything else that I
could exhibit, and which as a minister of
Christ, I am under a solemn responsibility. to
God, not to man,
to hold forth. No, no, my
w
dear friends, e have reached a time which
calls for thoUght and care, the most anxious.
We are in danger of being swept away from
all morality and law. The great crime of
this century, indeed, of these eighteen centu
ries, is upon us, and we have grown familiar
with it. Wemust not think it less a crime, we
must not allow ourselves to be deceived y it,
if we do, then woe be to us. But if we as a
people awake anew to regard it with the
horror it deserves, and if, in the All-wise
Providence of God, all men are made to see
that he has not permitted the guilty to es
cape, then even these dark hours will bear
fruit of good for all the coming time, and God
will be glorified; as the Psalmist says, "Verily
'there is a God that judgeth in the earth. The
Lord is known by'the judgment he executeth.
The wicked are snared by the work of their
- own hands."
OUR popular notions respecting death, and
the prevailing disposition to connect the
soul's perfection with its separation from the
body, seem based upon an unconscious Mani
cheism, which, supposing an inherency of
evil in matter, places it as the antagonist of
God. We seem to forget that Christ is
"the Saviour of the body," as well as the
Redeemer of the soul, the Preserver and
Sanctifier of the whole Nature, body, soul
and , spitit, which, in being made man, he
took upon himself forever.
THE visible temple, to God's praise and
glory, the system of which our earth forms
part, - rose like an exhalation out of the sea
of his fullness silently, or to'such music as
the morning stars, God's eldest-born made,
when they sang and shouted together for
joy.