pacrican plotigtevino
GENESEE ETANIJELIST.
THURSDAY, APRIL 9, IS6&
JOHN W. MEARS,
TILE ITN/ON PRAYER-MEETING of our churches
will be held on Tuesday next at 4 o'clock P.M.,
in the Western church, Corner of 17th and Fil
bert Streets.
THE DAILY UNION PRAYERNE'ETTNII is held
from 12 to 1 o'clock, in the ball, No. 611 Chest
nut street, over the Commonwealth Insurance
Company.
THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY SERMON of It 0 1 7.
E. B. Adams, pastor of N. Broad st. Church has
has just been issued with a portrait of Mr. A.
A valuable way-mark in the history of an im
portant church enterprise.
We are gratified to fipd that Rev. A. T. Nor
ton has been encouraged to re-issue his " PRES
BYTERY REPORTER." • Several new denomina
tional periodicals having sprung up in the North
West, there wonid seem to be a demand for an
organ of our Church in that section. Mr. Norton
is at Alton, 111., where the Reporter is published.
Rev. H. H. Kellogg, of Chicago, cooperates
with him in the editorial work. It is issued
Monthly in pamphlet form. Price $l.OO.
THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN AND THEO
LOGICAL REVIEW for April has promptly ap
peared with an unusually rich table of contents,
which we shall notice more at length in our next.
The Publication Committee have just issued
several new tracts as : THE PRISONER, FREE.—
THEFAITHFUL MOTHER.—IS THE YOUNG MAN
SAVE ?—RENEWED DAY BY DAY. These are of
the second series. They have also published " A
Word to the Soldier" by a Lady; in 82 mo. size.
EXTRA DAILY ISSUE or THE AMERIOAN
PRESBYTERIAN.
During the approaching Sessions of the Gene
ral Assembly in this city, we propose to issue
from this office a daily paper,
containing PHONO
GRAPHIC REPORTS of all the proceedings, with
the Aots, Reports, Sermons, and other Docu
ments of the body, in as full and accurate a
manner as possible.
The DAILY AMERIOAN PRESBYTERIAN will
be nearly half the size of the weekly; it will be
printed on smaller but legible type, and on good
paper, furnishing a record valuable to every
minister, elder, and church-member, for imme
diate use, or for preservation for the fUture.
The price for a single copy will be FIVE
CENTS; all the numbers will be sent, post-paid,
to any address for 50 cents. To be paid in ad
vance.
As it is very desirable that Some approxima
tion to the number which will be required, be
reached at an early day, it is hoped that sub
scriptions will be sent at once to our office.
A limited space will be allotted to advertise
ments, •at fifty cents a line for the entire edition,
or $37.50 per column of fifteen inches ; $2O for
a half column, $l2 for a quarter column.
Address, AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, 1334
Chestnut street, Philadelphia.
THE BEST GREETING.
We all desire that the Assembly about to meet
in our ctiy should receive a cordial and pleasant
greeting. Hospitality they will have we know.
Loyalty to the Church and profound interest in
all its schemes for extending Christ's Kingdom
they will assuredly meet. Readiness to co-operate
in every wise plan to promote the prosperity of
our Zion, they may confidently expect. No one
will come to our city in any doubt of the thorough
loyalty to the Government of all its Evangelical
people and most of its non-evangelical. But the
best greeting we could give to a council of the
Church of Jesus Christ would be one coming
from churches quickened by the breath of his
Spirit. Nothing would make the true servants
of Christ feel more completely at home than to
find themselves just where the Master's work
was going on and where the evidences of his pre
sence were most numerous and powerful. We
are preparing for the meeting of the Assembly
in various ways, and it would seem froM indica
tions of the Spirit's presence in a number of our
churches, that God was intimating his willing
ness to give us this most important element of
preparation, if we will but seek it in faith and
earnestness. Shall we not cherish these most
happy indications and refuse to admit the•neces
sity for their withdrawal ? May we not come bold
ly before God and plead the interest of the whole
body as an uncommon and a cogent reason for a
continuance and multiplication of these gracious
though partial. influences ? Surely with this one
argument we may fill our mouths, and with this
one expectation we may open them wide for the
promised blessing. For a greater blessing upon
the whole church could. scarcely be wished than
to have its highest council meet and transact its
business in a thoroughly revived community.
Each member of the Assembly would carry back
to his home a soul aflame with holy zeal, and
hundreds of responsive fires would doubtless be
lit up all around the horizon of our beloved
Church. Liberal things would be devised and
all the wheels of Church enterprise that hung
lifeless or dragged along with a weary motion
would feel the impulse of a new and strong mo
tive power.
We ask brethren abroad to remember the
churches of this city in their prayers. Ask for
nothing less than that the Assembly shall meet
amid glorious and widespread outpourings of the
Spirit upon the churches of this community.
" BIBLE ILLUSTRATIONS, being a store house
of Similes, AllegOries and Anecdotes, selected
from 'Spencer's Things Now and Old ;' with an
introduction by Rev. Richard Newton D. D."
Ministers and teachers who are called on to ex
pound and enforce Scripture truth will find in
this volume a pleasing and valuable aid. The
passages are brief, the points made are just and
important, the allusions are fresh and simple yet
dignified in character. Perhaps its greatest ser
vice will be that of helping the student to ac
quire facility in turning his stores of knowledge
to use and in thus originating new and ever
fresh illustrations in the exact line of his own
thoughts—which are almost the only truly natu
ral ones. A copious Index puts the whole•store
of illustrations within the readers reach. 12 mo.
pp. 360. Published and for sale by Smith En
glish and Ct'. Philadelphia.
PROMPTITUDE INAPFAIR MORAL AND SPIRITUAL
.
IN worldly matters, the value of promptness
is universally recognized. It is an indispensable
quality to the business man. The success of
great ventures depends upon its exercise. It is
appreciating and seizing upon the opportunity
for success at the moment it is offered. It is
fulfilling duty the moment conscience recognizes
its practicability. It is the foe of sluggishness
and procrastination. It is the finer form of the
moral sense. It is the expression of fidelity and
devotion to his interests which the master re
joices to see in the employe. It is the proof of
that self-consecration which the Saviour appro
ves in his followers and the workers in his vine
yard.
The world is not so much in need of good in
tentions as it is of promptness in the execution
of them. Its condition is so imperfect, not be
cause good men are few, but because so many
good men fail in this high virtue of promptness;
fail in readiness to seize the occasion for good.
The righteous cause languishes, not because
fleets and armies and armaments and the sinews
of war and the disposition of the people are
wanting, but because men are in power who fail
to discern and to seize upon the fitting occasion
for their use; who use armies, in numbers, in .
spirit, and in perfection of equipments,-unpar
alleled in modern warfare, but who waver at the
critical moment and who suffer the providential
offer of victory to pass from their reach. The
outnumbered and panic-struck army is ruined,:
not because reinforcements are, unprovided, but
because the precious moment in which their
presence would turn the scale of victory is lost
by the supine and vacillating commander. The
. destiny of empires, the welfare of millions un
born, the very progress of, humanity depends
upon the existence and exercise of this quality
in the critical moments of history.
We are creatures of a day. The good we
do must be done — novr. Whatsoever our hands
find to do must be done with our might; for
there is no device nor work in the grave to which
we hasten. The night cometh when no man can
work. Soon the tongues that can warn and ad
monish and persuade will be speechless.. Socn the
hand that can dispense liberality will be laid
stiff at our sides, be coffined and consigned to
decay. Far-reaching plans ; deliberate and slow
ly developed schemes will be broken in upon by
death. We, passing creatures, must seize the
present occasion. For those, too, whom we
would benefit, are mortal. The child, whom we
expect bye and bye to see a true Christian, may
die to-morrow. The unconverted friend whom
we will seek to influence at a more convenient
season vanishes in a moment out of our. sight.•
Generations go down to the pit for want of the
gospel, while we are elaborating in seclusion our
splendid schemes of Reform. Religion lan
guishes, the community sinks in spiritual death,
while the professed friends of religion are ab
sorbed in the minor matters of doctrine, polity
and forms, and divided among themselves. The
enemy is diligent, decided, astute, while we
trifle. Rome promptly seizes upon the first
opening of the Celestial Empire, and interweaves
her diplomacy with that of the French Govern
ment; while Protestant England and America
leave their missionaries to any chance recogni
tion which may follow in the wake of commer
cial intercourse.
• Editor.
Life is full of opportunities for good; the
activity and readiness of the prompt Christian
creates them, or comes in as an important ele
ment in, hastening and ripening them. The
prompt man's discernment grows keen. He sees
the favorable combination of circumstances in
which to act upon the indiiidual sinner's mind,
or the state of affairs which demand special la
bors on the part, of the Church and the minis
try. He. feels the same stirrings of spirit as
the active business man does, in view of an op
portunity to secure an important transaction.
Knotting that the favorable moment is transient,
that hundreds of anxious - competitors are on the
look out, and that one transaction must be dis
posed of to prepare for another, he acts with de
cision and energy. We talk much of carrying
our religion into our business. It were well, in
deed, if we carried some of our commonest busi
ness•principles into our religion. . -
And why does the impenitent sinner perish?
Not so much from positive disbelief and opposi
tion to religion; not because he has no wish and
no purpose to be saved ; not because he steels
his bosom against all appeals. The hardened
spiser of God and religion is rare. Few in a
Christian land but have been awakened, and
have thought and felt deeply. Few but of them
it might at some point of their lives be truthfully
said : - Ye : are not far from the kingdom of
heaven. 'Opportunities of salvation have been
abundant. There has been with almost every
one a favorable combination of circuMstandea
when, with singular emphasis and agreement,
the conscience, the Holy Spirit and the Provi
dence of God said NOW. But the sinner, touch
ed, anxious, yearning for heavenly hopes and
peace of mind failed in promptitude of action.
He wavered, trifled, delayed. He treated his
soul's interest as no business-man would have
treated a passing opportunity to make a few
dollars.' He sought not the Lord while he might
be found, and called not upon him when he was
near. He heeded not the transient nature of
life and all life's opportunities for good.
Reader! are you passing through such oppor
tunities without appreciation of their briefness
and their value ? Is Christ knocking at the
door of your heart while you sluggishly refuse
to answer him ? Shall it be written of you that
you perished not from want of disposition or
opportunity, but from want of promptness ?
Fellow-servants of Christ'in the pastoral office
Are you on the alert to discern the aroused state
of your flock and to make immediate and effec
tive use of their quickened spiritual recep
tivity, to redouble your prayers and labors and
to pour in the truth, fresh and impassioned and
mighty, from your own quickened soul ? If not,
may not the fearful word in Ezekiel 3, 17: 18
become true of you ? Beware how with tne
best of intentions, you delay; the times, the
whole state of the case demands promptness, ere
death and, the world and the arch-enemy make
your best purposes unavailing.
FANNY AIKEN; OR, TEE VILLAGE HOME is
another of Carters' well selected " Fireside Li
brary." It is a simple and touching tale of
youthful trust, dutifulness and zeal under the
difficulties of poverty Bach as abound among the
rural population of England. A delightful story
for eight year old children. For sale at the
Trnbyterian Book Store.
N'trobtteriatt anti Otittort
A PEW WORDS MORE ON ROME MISSIONS.
The Home 'Mission Committee asked the last
General Assembly if they might expect from the
Churches during the year $55,000 for Home
Missionary operations. In reply the Assembly
promised to use its " best endeavors as Pastors
and Elders, to secure for the use of the Committee,
if need be, $75,000."
The following reasons show the urgent neces
sity for keeping the promise :
1. It is our duty to give the Gospel to all men..
Therefore every sentiment of piety and patriotism
requires that we should give it to the millions that
are, and that are to be, in our country.
2. Our feeble churches cannot be left unaided
without peril to their existence. Without the
preaching of the Gospel, public, worship will be
abandoned, Sabbath schools disbanded, foun
dations for good will be broken up forever.
3. Many of our feeble churches are in the Val
ley of the Mississippi, and dependent on that
river and its tributaries for pecuniary prosperity.
The war has crippled these churches very
much. .
4. These churches are mostly made up of young
and middle-aged persons. Elders, deacons, Sun
day school superintendents, and teachers, in great
numbers, have gone into the army, leaving .
scarcely any able-bodied or middle-aged persons to,
uphold religious institutions in, their absence.:
They need help from their brethren.
6. We, are sadly in debt to,our Missionaries:
Thel applications for aid crowd upon us to such
an extent that Prompt payment to our Mission
aries, on which their comfort, reputation, and
•
usefulness depend, is impossible. '
6. If one part of our citizens go, into the army,
is it not the duty of the remainder to bear their
share of the expenses, and furnish their brethren
every facility for success ? Ought not all our
churches then to•join in the support of Home.
Missionaries? And yet there. are Hundreds of
our churches that have given nothing tolhis
cause since the last - meeting of the Assembly.
The yearly receipts Will fall far'skort of $55,000,
unless these delinquent churches make a prompt
and resolute effort to, make up .the, deficiency.
But five weeks remain before the account will be
closed.
7. Will any of the Pastors or the -Elders be
content to let a whole year pass without having:
called for a collection for this great cause, while
feeble churches and•their suffering pastors are
calling to them for help ?
8. Besides, nothing prevents the rapid ex
tension of our work into new fields opening before
us ,continually in the new States and. Territories
but the lack of funds. Shall we confess that we
are unable to. do our share of the work of Home
Evangelization, or shall we confess that we are un
willing ? If neither, our delinquent pastors, el
ders; and churches must come to the rescue
speedily.
Contributions may be sent to Edward A.
Lambert, Esq., 119 William street, or to 160
Nassau street, New York.
H. KENDALL,
General. Secretary of Home Missions. ,
PHILADELPHIA EDUCATION SOCIETY.
The 28th Annual Meeting of this Society was
held at the Presbyterian House;on Wednesday,
March 25th.
The Chair was occupied by Mr. Ambrose
White, the President, and Rev. J. G. Butler,
was. appointed Clerk. The exercises were opened
with prayer.
The Annual Report from the Directors was
presented, and assigned to the Secretary and the
Rei. E. B. Bruen for publication. -
The report shows there were twenty-five can
didates for the ministry, connected with the So
e,iety during the last year; of whom, ten were in
Theological Seminaries,--ten in Colleges,—three
in Academies,—and two private-Students: -
This reduction in the number of students since
the last annual meeting, has not occurred from a
decline of interest on the subject of ministerial
education on the part °fits friends, but from the
fact that the Society now cdnfines its appropria
tions to those connected with the Churches on
its own financial field, and that some of its can
didates have suspended their studies, for the pre
sent, to serve in the .United States army.,
It should also be noticed, that the Society is
gradually arranging its affairs to accommodate
the Assembly's Permanent Committee on Educa
tion, whose policy; some suppose, will better ad
vance the educational interests of our denomina
tion than the plansleibtofore pursued.
Within about twenty months, nine candidates,
recently, under the care of the Society, were li
censed, or ordained, to preached the Gospel; all
whom; are usefully engaged:in important fields of
labor.
By the Treasurer's report we learn that the
receipts for the year, from all sources, amount
ed to $3513.24; the expenditures, for all pur
poses, $3049.14; in the treasury, for current ex
penses, $464.10; invested tunds, $3300.00.
The Rev. J. G. Butler, and Messrs. John A
Brown and Ambrose White, were appointed a
committee to prepare and issue an address to the
Churches, heretofore contributing to this Society,
urging upon them an increase of their contribu
tions for the coming year. •
The followinc , officers were elected for the en
suing year. : •
President—Mr. AMBROSE WHITE.
Tice Presidents--Mr. Joisul A. Bitowl, and
HON. WM. DARLING.
Corresponding Secretary —REV. CHARLES
BRow
Treasurer—Mr. WM. PURVES.
Auditor—Mr. CLEM. TINGLEY.
Directors:—Revs. Thos. Brainerd, D.D., Sohn
Jenkins, D.D., David Malin, D.D., Robt. Adair,
Thos. J. Shepherd, John PattOrk, D.D., J. Heif.
fenstein, D.D., Edward B. Bruen, E. E. Adams,
3. G. Butler, Samuel IL Perkins Esq., Messrs.
Joseph H. Dulles, B. D. Stewart, Archd., McEl
roy, A. S. Naudain, Alex. Whilldin, Henry j.
Williams, Esq. Messrs. James L. Earle, 3. C.
Chance, Hon. Joseph Allison, Samuel Work,
Benj. Kendall, John B. Stevenson, Isaac Ash
mead.
The American Sunday School Unien,has just
published a beautiful little library of six volumes
in handsome cloth binding, with illustrations,
and, in a neat -case, called THE CHILDREN OF
BLACKBERRY HOLLOW SERIES. The children
are represented under different aspects and cir
cumstances as the titles of the volumes show ;
New Bonnet, Little Lights, White Frock, Toni
Lane's Cent Litile Brown House, Red. Shoes.
Price for the Series $1..00. Very cheap indeed.
Depository' 1122, Chestnut St, ,
LETTER PROM CHICAGO.
As I read your paper from week to week, I
often feel moved to drop you a line or two, upon
some topic therein suggested; but I have been
for a long time this , purpose, by a cause
which I could not well disregard--having in
truth, no •surplus vitality to *expend on other
than imperative duties.-;A little less than a year
ago, God led me into deep water, and has been
taking me out of it by an upward slope, which,
though now nearly dry, is still at times a little
wet. But if we,never had any trials how would
we know whether we had, any patience, or any
faith, or in fact any, anything which we ought to
have? =Thosewho gothrough-trials, led - by God's
hand, know how geed God is ; and tliey notionly
know, but have the knoWledge stamped into their
being, so that they are not so ready to forget it.
It is a thing which our'
,carnal nature does not
love to realize, that uninterrupted prosperity is
not the best thing for us, in, a world like this,
with a being like ours. If such an one as Paul
was so often put under the harrow,-tribulunt,what
can, or ought smaller disciples to expect, other or
easier, in the way of experience Grid's felt good
in our trials is the best goodness we knoW . ,
,
and happy is he who so finds it.
Tth B9oks.
I have just been_reading two books—not a
strange thing perhaps:—but they have ,each so
decidedly, yet differently, impressed - me, that
cannot help speaking of it. Yet I promise brev
ity, for Iremember hoW tedious is reading upon
both Woks and pictures; and I always dread a
letter from a Beecher; 'for fear I shall be obliged
to go into a Tot of Stuff about some picture, hung
lip someihere, possibly in England or Rome.
But my, twobeeks-standinguow side by side on
my table, are, Aopkins' -.Moral Science, and Bish
op Colenso; Have you read, or tried, to read, or
begun to try to read, this latter tome? I have
sorrow for you, if you have. I can only get Ott a
few pages at a =time with him ; and I always feel
as if I were taking a walk with the Father of Lies
whenever I read 'even a short passage- Yet the
BishOp seems as honest as a cow on a Brussels
carpet, snufflna aboutith objurgatory lowinm
0 about" with 6,s
because she cannot get sustenance , from the
lose,coatings thereof.. It is nothing but Ration
alism taking to figures. The Bishop must cipher;
and he cannot cipher it out ! Alas, for him. He
stumbles over the brevity and incompleteness of
the Mosaic record as if in ten chapters it were
to be expected that a fully explained story would
be given, of all that happened in eighteen hun
dred years I, On his principles, every hook in
the Scriptures, new as well'as old, is to be discre
dited.- r. Who will believe, for instance, that a
star—an actual star--4ed the pagifrom the East,
while the record says the star was in the East,—
to Jerusalem ? and that then it turned.a corner at
right angles, and led them to Bethlehem I Is
this " an historical account" ?
And then, who can credit the veracity—
.
" as an actual occurrence "—of that flight into
Egypt? As if a young mother like Mary could
make such a journey, with so young a child, and
by night too, to so distant a country, across that
same " terrible wilderness " How 'did she go?
the account does not say. Did she ride or walk ?
•
*hat did she eat on the way_? - It is three hun
.
dred miles in a straight line, and would take her
three weeks Or a month to go. I look on the
map, and see it marked deserts of moving sand"
—for half or more Of the way. Now could one
beast carry food enoughfor two all that journey?
and what did' the beast eat ? Did he' carry his
own fodder ? Ali bishop you see the difficulties
multiply the more we cipher; you may believe
all this, but you must allow me to shake my
head, and look as wise as I can I We see the
use of the multiplication table now.
But it was not left to our day to discover that
a man cannot believe that which;he does not wish
to. A man onlyr wants enough of the dont-like
it to stumble over every pebble in the Bible. Mo
ses 'and Joshua, and David and Ezekiel, and
Matthew and Pauli,are all unreliable—" as his
torical accounts " I I cannot find there was ever
a time when all were believed.
But that other boOk—The Moral Science. I
do not know if others think as I do, but it is the
book of modern days, .for me.. 'lt goes to the
pivots—it concerns the binges—it takes the tree
by the butt. havelve hundred volumes or so
which I could well spare for this little volume
of 304 Pages--CoSt' one dollar. If accuracy is
peWer, have we any jiving Writer superior to the
author of this? But I promised to bUbrief.
The Extempore Question.
Are not the papers discussing the matter of
extempore preaching a little.,,-more`than usual?
Yon. pay your, respects to it with frequency, and•
the Evangelist pulls it, weekly, this way and that,
Mr. 'Adams says he has heard more good written
than extempore sermons. Good for Mr. Adams
So have L Who has not—that has sufficient
opportunity to' hear bah ? I have listened for
years to extempore preaching, , but I cannot re
collect more `than three or four good written ones.
I have volumes that - I .have riot heard. You
published the crudities of Dr. Begg on this mat
ter; why not give airing to the "Country. Pa
rson " on the same subject, in his introduction to
" Graver Thoughts" ? His testimony is fresh
at least, and shows the drift in Scotland now.
My belief is, that when you banish written
sermons, you sink the power of the pulpit ten
degrees, with educated minds. True,"for mis
sionary work, for schoolhouse preaching, for oc
eassional harrangues, for weeknight lectures,
for missionary information, for the platform, the
extempore method is best, and ought to be ad
hered to; coarse ears, undisciplined minds, chil
dren, are so best reached. It Milk can be fed
with a spoon, or .drank from a bowl standing, or
taken in more primitive ways still. But when
you come to the cooking of "strong meats," you
will do best to set the table, and put oa the table
cloth, and arrange plates, with knives ; and forks.
Don't you think so?.Then why need to be
bothered with this talk about the extempore
method, as if it were best in all' cases—in fact
the only right way, as Dr. Begg, et v'us, main
tains? The Methodists'have tried extemporism
to their hearts' content; but are. now 'using the
manuscript; at least with ;their educated men.
How comes it ?
Other Things
What's o'clock of the war? Here about we
feel that we have got them. It is our belief that
the rebellion is to be overcome—that it is getting
weak in the knees, and must come down. We
have only to hold on, squeeze them up a little
closer, keep
,them well in the smallest territory
possible, anii keep out supplies, and time will do
it. As for fighting in the field we riust expect a
various:fortune ; but we can hold them, and flesh
andllood cannot endure a continuous holding.
Our city grows as it never did before, and
business is unusually prosperous. The kingdom
of God makes progress also in various ways. We
have suffered somewhat from sickness, worse
than is usual during the winter, due as we sup
pose to the open mild season ; but the city is
now healthy, and as the high water has given
our river a good washing, and the continuous
North winds have kept the lake in salutary as
well as saltatory motion, we hope for a continu
ance of health.
As I write, a bevy of prisoners go past my
window=two thousand or so—towards Dixie ;
exchanged, as I suppose. They are many times
better clad and healthier than when they came
here. Their behavior is unexceptionable. I
feel sad for the poor fellows. Though they
go home, they go to conscription and starvation.
Well it is their look out. They had best be
quiet, and they will yet think so, God save the
old United Commonwealth I Yours,
PROM OUR ROCHESTER CORRESPONDENT.
A DAY AT "ITHACA.
Dear Editor. If I merely tell you that this is
a beautiful place, it is saying, but little. You
want to know much' more. It is a peculiar place
and exceedingly interesting in its history, in its
location, in its prospective future.
Ithaca was settled in 1789, by three families
from Kingston, on the North River ; and it was
by a journey of almoA, two months that they
removed themselves from that locality to this.
They built canoes and .traversed portions of two
rivers in the route ; and for the last thirty miles
cut their own road through the forest, which
accounts'for the time consumed. Ithaca was
once enibraced in the township Ulysses; and as
the island of Ithaca, in the lonian sea, was'once
the home of Ulysses of Homeric memory, so this
village, in the plassie conceit of Col. De Witt,
the founder, was called by that name.
But this is not an island. The village is lo
cated mostly on a low, levtl and almost: marshy
plain. It is surrounded on all sides; (except a
narrow opening both north and south); with high
and precipitous hills, from which several streams
come pouring down, through narrow and deeply
Shaded ravines, over ledges of rocks, forming
some of themost beautiful cascades upon which
the eye ever rested. Sallying, forth in almost
any direction from the village, one, comes almost
at once upon this wild and romantic scenery; all
beautiful even in its bare and wintry aspects. It
was easy to see how muuh more > beautiful, yea
even enchanting, much of this scenery must
be when clothed in its Summer grandeur.
What a place, we thought, for healthful recrea
tion ; for horseback rides, and evening rambles !
What a place for thef dwellers in great cities, to
come to in the long, weary months of summer !
We charge nothing for the suggestion.
It-may be known to some of the readers of
the Presbyterian that Ithaca was once a very
wicked place. Here the Rev. William Wisner
was settled in 1816, as Pastor of the Presbyte—
rian church, the first religious society formed.
How faithfully he labored ; what blessings at
tended his ministry; how a large church was
soon gathered,- and a surprising improvement in
the manners and morals of the place was mani
fest, is well known in all this region. Here he
spent the dew of his youth; and after some
changes, here he now lives in a green old age,
respected and beloved by all.
Ithaca now- claims a population of 6000; a
large, thriving busy village; indicating in the or
der of its streets, in the appearance of its pub
lie and private buildings, and the hum of its in
dustry, the presence of a people of much enter
prise and true cultivation. Fortunately, we
thought, that enterprise does not run to' extrav
agance in the erection of private dwellings.
The houses are neat, commodious, evidently
comfortable 5 but not built for show; not built
as though the owners were intent on putting all
their money into houses and, grounds, leaving
nothing to supply the daily wants of life. We
know some towns where this extravagance does
presail. We hardly know a greater folly.
The_ Public school and academy of Ithaca,
have a high reputation. About a thousand chil
dren and yeah are enjoying their privileges.
But we hurry on to mention another matter of
peculiar and prospective interest Your readers
will be surprised, perhaps, to learn that this en
terprising people Propose to make their village
a seaport town. Not that they ,intend exactly
to draw it up, out of its snug :little nest in the
valley, and , over the hills to old ocean's shore;
but something even better than that; a sea port,
and yet inland,.sheltered, safe, a rendezvous for
ships and gunbOats, a 'city of ship yards and
docks, of military stores and supplies, a regular
naval depot ,for our Lake defense. And if we
may trust the representations of some of its wor
thy citizens, the project is not chimerical.
The village'is situated at the head of Cayuga
Lake, which is forty miles long, and some two,
three or five miles wide, tying north and south.
The outlet of this lake is only some twenty miles
from Sodus Bay,. or, Lake Ontario, which fur
nishes one of the largest and finest harbors of all
the northern Lakes for commerce, or for the safe
anchorage of fleets and navies. The project is •
to build a ship canal from the outlet of this
Lake to Sodas Bay, and, then to make this quiet
little village a great busy city, where ships and
gunboats shall be built, where military stores
shall be accumulated and safely lodged, far away
from the reach of an enemy, and yet within easy
access, to the great northern chain of inland wa
ters. We understand, that the subject of char
tering a company for building such a canal is
now before the Legislature of this State.
In order to reach Lake Erie another canal
Must indeed be constructed around Niagara Fella ;
on the American side, or, what were far better
perhaps, the Erie Canal from near the outlet of
this Lake must be enlarged westward to Buffalo.
And all this is thought to be eminently practi
cable. Fora the twenty miles to &due Bay, the
channel is almost cut already by the hand of na
ture, though the outlet' of the Lake and the
marshes beyond. It is estimated that such a
canal may be constructed, capable of floating
vessels of a thousand tons burden, at, an expense
of one million of dollars.
• Let it be added, the Cayuga Lake is deep, but
quiet and placid, thoroughly walled in by the
surrounding hills.-; Ithaca is sixty miles from
Lake Ontario, and can be strongly-fortified and
defended, if necessary. It is even now connect
ed with the Erie, Canal and with Seneca Lake
by a branch canal frem its outlet. It is near the
great coal and iron depasits of Pennsyliania. It
has fine timber not far distant. Its boat ,:yards
loafs and Late
are already - furnishing canal
boats, which are found on all our waters, from
Cleveland to New York, and some of them have
done good service, as transports, On' the 'York
and James Rivers, during the war.
Who will dare to say that our Ithaca friends
are altogether wild and chimerical in their PrO f
jects ? Don't the reader see how safely a thou
sand gunboats, more or less, or small ships of
War, could here be' built; fitted, rigged, nannie
manceuvered, and held in xeadiness, in case of
war, with great Britain ?—arid •how, like an ea
gle from his' eyfy in the feel, they could sweep
down upon, our Northein'Lakes, at the-shortest
possible notice ?—and how they could sweep
back again- to'-their safe inland' retreat in ease of
necessity ?—and - how When some are knocked to
pieces, others can here be built and held in readi
ness for any emergency ? 7 --and how these ample
ship yards could furnish any number of Lake or
river crafts desired in any part of the land r—
and how a great many other things might come
to pass? •
AMBROSE,
It is true, that our Ithaca friends, "having an
eye to the main chance," would expect their
town thus to become one of great importance,
Its population would be rapidly increased. its
six thbusand would soon become sixty All'the
surrounding, hills would „be dotted over with
beautiful residences, and pretty villas. Its nu:
merous rapid, roaring .streams, would be made to
drive a thousand trip - hammers, .and
and lathes, and other instruments of mechanism:
Real estate would go up like a balloon. Land
holders and artilans would be rich: Merchants
and traders Would find a market for 'their - Silks
and satins. - and mantuamakerss , Would
do a smashing business,
But what other little town would not do the
same thing, if had' a chance. Nothing singe`
lar in these aspirailens of the quiet denizens of
this little valley at' the, head of 'Cayuga Lake.
We like their ambition. ~ We ,were, quite tonch,
ed by it, and felt much inclined to wish we ,had
a little share, in the project. Perhaps the Village
fathers will -be disposed .to 'vote us a water lot,
next time they get - together,. in consideration of
our wishing well to - their 'scheme's of houielrn;-
,
PlovEtment and national 'defense; to say nothing
of the pension we might also expect from the
general government, when some day our
sight and recommendation shalLbe found to have
saved the nation from being - . devoured by the
invading Lion of England.
We have one little slight misgiving about this
whole scheme, which after All may not be`worth
mentioning; but still ie give it. They tell some
marvelous stories about this little inland lake.
It evidently- has a'-eharacter and reputation of
its own. It Used to be said that it had no hot
torn, or was unfathomable; but it his been sound
ed, although very deep. A bottle may be'skink
some hundreds of feet, tightly corked. When
drawn up, the cork will be driven in, and the
bottle filled with very cold Water: And :yet this
narrow lake never freezes. Steamboats run upen
it all winter, as rapidly, and almost as comforta
bly as in the Summer. ,
Another peculiarity is raentimed. The bodies
of persons drowned in its deep waters ate never
recovered—they do not rise, do not float, and iie
not washed ashore. We give the - facts as 'stated;
we do not pretend to account for them
Another striking circumstance is.related, 'A
few years since its waters were seen suddenly
to swell and rise all along its shores some three
or four feet, and as suddenly to recede again.
We do not vouch for the fact, hut we had it
from reliable and truthful lips. This woad
seem to indicate volcanic action, or some subter
raucous disturbance. And we notice insome Of
the hill tops . regular bowls, in eirculai: depres,
32.0118 some eight or ten feet deep. We will 'not
say that they were craters of extinct: olcano*.
but there was some resemblance; Albeit the
surrounding slate rocks , would indicate an ague-,
cue origin. But it would be quite distressing
.for all the =people of this great prosperous city to
wake up some bright morning , and - Ind-them
selves buried like Pompeii and Herculaneum.
But we do not really anticipate any, such terri
ble (lisaster, • We ; prefer to look upon the bright
side, even though it may, be onlyA picture. -,
FROM a professor•in one of our Theolooi
cal Seminaries" in a note to the -editor::
" Though a stranger to you, personally, have
yet learned , to loye and esteem yon,through your
excellent- paper; whose. character, - spirit and
general conduct, I entirely and most cordially
approve- .The Lord increase increase your usefulneas
and success in that work, a thousandfold."
From a Minister in New York &ate.
"I am increasingly pleased 'with the paper—,.
loyal to our country and loyal to our church
Go on, my brother I"
From a Minister in Delaware.
°I am obliged to you for the admirable article
on the sphere of the pulpit in times of treason
and rebellion. It is wise, just, discriminating
and opportune."
From A Minister in, Wisconsin:
I am well pleased with 'the ' AMERICAN
PRESNFTERIAN. Yon know neither fear nor
favor. Go on in the maintenance of the right
—eternal, immutablc,right, which is bound to
prevail?'
From Another Delaware Pastor.
" Let me tell you how much I was gratified.with
your article lastweek on keeping the sin of re
bellion fully in view. It fell in with aline of
thought I had been preaching in the pulpit for
two Sabbaths before' arid: was' then writing out
for Sabbath." ' •
Prom a College Student.
"I have eucceeded in inducing several persons
in this place, in—, in--, and in the surrounding
regions to become subscribers. All of whom are
highly pleased with the .conduct of the Taper,
not only for
,its religious character and purity,
but for its hig,h stant upon the great questions
which now agitate_ our country. May God's
blessing attend it."
:From a Lady. in Illinois.
I did think I should be, compelled, to die
,
continue my, subscription,,, from the feet that
while T, receivuno higher salaty as teacher, than
last year, I am obliged to pay, double and often
treble,-for almostevery‘ article- that I "buy.—_l
Mean everything except my ilear old friend, the
Presbyterian. No'! I cannot give that up, yet.
ve
.From. ro a Minister in illinois: -, •
"1 am happy t to find that the American :Pres
byteriqn fairly and, fully expresses my own vws.
May it long live-to=battle for-the right A k ar;
rosily airAinst-the Wrong: liort..4oe Roles:Mop
KIND Wo.ED,% FROM` SITI3,SORIBERS:
to is Mine. He is from Kentucky and I from
Tendssee 11 .
Nal fubilicationo.
1111,-sTont or THE 'REFORMATION IN EUROPE
IN THE TIME or CALVIN. These two volumes
etirititin thfillikpart Of D'Aubioe's long pro_
mised continuatio . p, of his . History of the Refor
mation, and coverAhe period from 1513 to 1532
in France and Geneva. We have already noti
ced then' as 'fo'rtheoining from the press of
Messrs. R. .earteiv:& 'Bro., who make satisfac
tory return to the distinguished anther upon
their sales of the volumes.- The peculiar genius
I of-D'Aubigne appears' in these as in the previous
volumes. There is no show of philosophical
depth, • and no scientific method 'adopted like
that of ',the standard chinch histories
the facts, and tries, by his graphic,
picturesque style, to make the actors live 'again
before us:
The• narrative is 'towing and lively, the' evan
gelical fervor of the writer is in full sympathy
with the great characters and, events which he
describes; God is everywhere in the varied and
wonderful scene. No one pan read the' volume
without catching some of the Christian greatness
of the writer: the story breaks off
in the midst,vre„ are prepared for , thcAuthor's
announcement that. two..more= volumes are in
preparation, and by , leave of l rovidonde will ap..
pear in the ensuing year. The first volume con
tans k'firisteel 'engraved likeness of:; Calvin.
For sale in the Presbyterian House,lB34 Chest
nut street.' . -
A revised and, enlarged edition of Dr. Seiss'
LAST TIMES AND THE GHEAT CONSUMMATION
has. just .been issued by-Messrs.'Smith English
& Co of this It consists - of twelve dis
courses` r --
nu - the 'foowing l pies Subject pro_
pounded, Christ's Coining in relation to other
events, Restitution ~of; all things, Resurrection,
Messiah's Kingdom, Judgment, Administrations
of the,Judginerititestoration of the Jews, The
world to come .Testimony.of the Chureh, When
Christ will'neme, Recapttulation. To these are
kddectextensive notes, on such topics as.: Opin
ions of distinguished men, Meaniniof a.genera
tion" Matt. 24,34. Augustinian and Helvetic
Confessions, Is Louis , .NaPoleon Antichrist ? 'Scrip
ture Chronology. Besides this there.is a chapter
each on Authorities, Books-and Aeferenees, and
a general index. We rarely meet with a< volume
which exhibits somuccpains-taking 'onthe part
fhe Writer to &C ilia, whole' m t rork, and every
thing connected with it in easy reach of the
reader: f is: , an !attractive, sfervid, elo
quent writer ; whatever may he your opinion on
the subject of dismission you feel you are
with an earnest, conscientious man, who will not
wilfully lead you astray. The book may be re
garded as , as. standard lin its Rdepartmeut, ,and is
cordially commended to all who wish to acquaint
themselves with the present state of the millen
arian qnestion in the hands Of one of its safest
and most - evangelical-advocates, as well as.to get
a clue to the whole literature of the 'subject,
ancient and modern . . 12mo. pp 438. Price,
$1.25. For sale by SnliftiEnalish'& Co Phil
;':
Dr. Schaff has republished, through Henry
- •
Hoyt,' , Boston,. his CATECHISMS FOR SUNDAY
80400,LS AND FAMILIES , at the;request, he tells
us, of friends in New Englind,,,and with the
omission:ofToints :on: Which. evangelical' denomi
nations differ. Presbyterians are so admirably
-supplied with'catlieeiSms . that ais work of
auperogation,to present theta. with another. The
work of„Dr.":B„,,howeyer, is, adMirably done, the
Pan embracing iutroductory lessons en the True
End of Man,- Way of Salvation, and the Scrip
tures; Part 1.,: Tke ,Lord's, - ..P.xa.,,yerl; Part 11.,
The A'postlee' Creed ; eaVt Ten Com
mandments; Boston, Henry Hoyt.
- • MAGAZINES,' RiMPITIETS, ETC.
RUDER'S GIRDED OF GOD, a Thanksgivirig Dis
course delivered at Hyde. Park,_ 111. Muir* by
the'Pastor; Rev. Chas. R. beach:' `;
THE
).` ECLECTIC , MAGAZINE -10 r April, contains
,its fine Miscellany of -selected articles
andis : -adorned with ,a,-Aplendid engraved like
,ness of Macaulay. New:York, W. H. Bidwell,
5 13eeknean:St. -
M=l
April,
THE COiVITIVEXTAT,MoNTHLY for A eon
tains a 'score' and more of articles ,the usual
line of this , monthly .. :New York John F. Trow.
14.Port,T made to tho C,ommissioners of the
Manaynniciand ROxhorough Water Company, by
H. P:11: Birkinbine - Eniineer ;' contains 'mina
blestiggettlons' upon the water-supply of towns
and cities!' '; `"
-=
~,r pV,EII,T4SERSr-,I3UIi4ETIN.
Parents and others, seeking Goon Sono°Ls
for ohildren of both sexes - may safely avail them
selves of the :institutions advertised in our col
limns. We have good grounds either by personal
knowledge or through entirely competent sources
to- - recommend,-them:, d'olin W. Loch's adver
tisement of his school in Norristown, omitted by
oversight of the Compositor, appears in to-day's
coluntrii:' At Dr - Cornell's school we recently
witnessed an' exhibitieikin speaking in which
sons of Rev. Messrs. Adami,.Hood, Crowell and
Mears,- acquitted themselves ~w ith great credit.
The military drill has. been , introduced in this
school. It is also fpractised.in the excellent Ac
ademy of Mr. Wyers.. Hyatt's is a military
Academy in the 'strictest sense. Mr. Meigs at
Pottstown is 'well ktinwn as an accomplished
teacher; Rev.. Dr.' bliss: A.: Smith in this city,
and Thos. M. Cann in Wilniington, have an es
tablished" reputatien as educators' of young ladies.
• CARPE7es. 7 -,lt would be a misfortune to
housekeepers if.the.Old :Established Cheap Car
pet'Sterei long known as Eldridge's in Straw
berry St., should disappear: The name of the
firth' only ii"ohinged, but purchasers may rely
confidently on our friends MEss. LEwis A-ND
Iyiirs keeping up the eharacier of the establish-
Merit, in quality and price, of goods. See adver
tisement;
MEM KCAZRICS. AND Co. are manufacturing
'That goodAudges regard as the best crackers
and cakes in Our 'city. We can recommend thou
heaitily'on l ktiowiedge. Go to 1905 Market St.
t E 6E4 tel evety old subscriber of this paper,
and Of the. .Amertehlt Theological Review, at
z bieiyArtirk,Vho sends us the name of a new sub
scriber for the paper, and Six. DOLLARS IN AD
VANCE, reepipisin full for One year for each of
thethree.ohjects-- , -
APRIL 9,
NEW PREMIUMS.