The American Presbyterian. (Philadelphia) 1856-1869, April 16, 1863, Image 2

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    aztrican Nruitigittian
-AND-.
GENESEE EVANGELIST.
THURSDAY, APRIL. 16, 1863
JOHN W. MEARS.
Z UNION PRAYER-MEETING of Our churches
will be held on Tuesday next at 4 o'clock P.M.,
in the South St. church, between Eleventh and
Twelfth Streets.
TUE DAILY UNION PRAYER-MEETING is held
from 12 to 1 o'clock, in the hall, No. 611 Chest
nut street, over the Commonwealth Insurance
Company.
EXTRA DAILY ISSUE OP THE AMERICAN
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
unarm° REPORTS of all the proceedings,. with
the Acts, Reports, Sermons, and °that. Docu
ments of the body, in as full and accurate a
manner as possible.
The DAILY AMERICAN 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
CEng; 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
iptions 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,
ur $37.50 per column of fifteen inches; $2O for
half column ,
. $l2 for a quarter column.
Address, AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, 1334
Chestnut street, Philadelphia.
PROP, GREEN ON ooLENso.
GOOD service has been done to the cause of
lath by Prof. Green's little volume, " The Pen
atonal Vindicated from the Aspersions of Bishop
Jolenso." Its mot dimensions will encourage
he busiest to 100 into it, and the brevity and
lif
'erseness of the replies will easily lodge them in
he memery. It is not designed for scholars-,
hey need no serious assistance in detecting the
'hallowness of the Bishop's attack. Were the
writer anything almost but a Bishop, in a pro
essedly orthodox church—were he a professed
ufidel—the book would have attracted no marked
Mention. The position of the writer has given
mob currency to his opinions, that, notwithstand
ng their folly, triviality and dishonesty, it is ne
cessary to expose them to the unwary. The im
portance, in this connection, of the fact that Co
leus° is a bishop, appears in a remarkable manner
when we are informed that just twelve months
previously, a volume appeared in England from
the pen of the far more learned and able scepti
cal writer, Dr. Davidson, in which not a difficulty
or an objection worth naming urged by Colenso,
had not been.anticipated and pressed with an
array of learning which throws the Bishop's in
vestigations completely into the shade. Yet,
says a writer in the last North British Review,
Pr. Davidson's work produces no sensation; has
attracted no general notice
.; and nothing has 1
t ranspired to show whether or bow far it had the
effect of overthrowing the faith of its readers.
The lack of novelty or of any extraordinary char
acter in the material of the Bishop's book, ap
pears also from the fact that, the same field of
inquiry which it contemplates, has been traversed
for more than a generation by the keen sighted
craics and skeptical thinkers of Germany. They
have not only extracted from it a more extended
list of passages involving as they think question
able statements, but have also availed themselves
of much more varied resoarces in endeavoring to
establish their hostile positions.
Prof. Green, in his little volume, .does not
pause to ask why the simple fact of the Episco
pal dignity of the author should give notoriety
to a performance so unimportant in itself. The
reason is plain, and is well stated by the writer
in the North British Review : "It is ' as when
a standard bearer fainteth,' surrendering into the
enemy's hands the cause he has sworn to defend,
and turning the advantages of his position into
grounds of attack or aggravations of peril. . . .
What has told with such effect upon him, it is
but reasonable to infer, may be working in the
same direction upon others called to like sacred
functions, and prompting them, if they would
not belie their convictions, to swerve in like
manner, from the faith of God's _word. And
where then is the matter to end ?" The great
peril revealed by this book, and which gives it
an interest not its own, is - that of the pos
sible perversion of the Church of England from
an orthodox body, into one tolerant of the dead
liest forms of error in its bosom. It is a disclo;
sure of a pestilent leaven which may be more
widely extended than we imagine. Indeed, it
is charged upon Prof. Mahan in this country,
who has published .a small volume in reply. to
Culenso, that he has conceded the main points
of Colenso's argument, and has taken ground
equally subversive of the historical truth of the .
Pentateuch. This is the charge made by Dr.
Goodwin, of the University of Pennsylvania, in 1
the introduction to his article in the last Ameri
can Theological Review. Dr. G., howe'ver,. en
...tirely exonerates Prof. Mahan 'from .intending
suoh a result by his investigations. What they
may involve or lead to, remains to be seen.
'here is no concession to the demands of Co
lenso's criticism in Prof. Green's boa, although
Prof. Mahan, in a communication to the Church
dr(' rental, seeks to shelter himself behind an ap
parent admission of Prof. G. in regard to the
condensation of genealogies. The Prineetonian
pa-hes the Bishop remorselessly and uncompro
mi.ingly at every point, sustaining the full his
to] ical character of the record, as, from the re
cord itself, it appears that history and genealogy
, wvre then written and regarded. A genealogical
talie, Prof. Green clearly shows, may be defec
tive, without becoming unhiatorical or untrue.
It, may give all the links in the line of descent or
it may omit same, without becoming unworthy of
credence, unless it expressly claims to be com
plete. Colenso's imperative demand that the
rer.ealogies be taken as literal registers of so
many generations, thus bringing many embar
raN;,ments into the narrative is justly resisted by
Prof. Green. He says, page 122 :
It can scarcely , be necessary to adduce proof
to one who bas even a superficial acquaintance
with the genealogies of the Bible that these aro
frequently abbreviated by the omission of -unim
portant names. In fact, abridgement is the gen
eral rule, induced by the indisposition of the
writers to encumber their pages with more names
than were necessary for their immediate purpose.
This is so constantly the case and the reason for
it is so obvious, that the occurrence of it need
create no surprise anywhere, and, we are at
liberty to suppose it wherever anything in the
circumstances of the case favors that belief."
. . Editor.
Prof. G. then proceeds to give instances of
such omissions from the genealogy of our Lord,
from lists in Chrenicles, and from the genealogy
of Ezra, and others as given in the book of Ezra.
He quotes 1 Chron. 1 : 1 and '6 : 22-24, in which
the names of three brothers suddenly interrupt
the list of regular lineal descendants;" and 1 : 36
'where even the name of a concubine is interpo
sed, without a word of warning, before that of
her son; such cases admonish us that the sacred
writers, laying no claims to completeness, adopt
ed such concise methods in preserving the family
and national registers as Would: secure continu
ity and certainty in the view of posterity, while
they avoided encumbering the writings with
needless fullness and minuteness of detail. We
by no means accuse the registers of inaccuracy
when we admit them to be thus partial. 411
history is partial. Multitudes of, facts remain
untold. Omissions which any one, disposed to
credit the writer, could readily supply or conceive
of are habitually made. The common sense and
consideration of the reader are relied' upon to
supply such deficiencies. Nothing can satisfy
prejudiced critics except the most fall and lite
ral minuteness, such as a respectable writer
would deem, it an insult to his readers to crowd
into his pages.
Prof. Green undertakes (note; page 128,) to
apply this mode of interpreting the genealogies
to the solution of still more momentous problems
than any shggested Colenso.
If scientific research," he says, "should ever
demonstrate, what it cannot be said to have done
as yet, that the race of man has existed upon
the earth for a longer period than the Hebrew
chronology will allow, we would be disposed to
seek the solution in this frequent, if not per
vading characteristic .of the Scriptural genealo
gies.. . Who is to certify us that the ante-dila
vian and anti-Abrahamic genealogies have not
been condensed in the same manner as the pest-
Abrahamie P If these recently diepovered
indications of the antiquity of man shall demon
strate all that any have imagined they might
demonstrate, what then? They will simply show
that the popular chronology is based ttpon a
wrong interpretation, and that a select and pa!r
tial register of ante-Abrahamic names has been
mistaken for a complete one."
In this passage we presume Prof. Green does
not design to abate an iota from the claim of his
torical character and truthfulness as belonging
to the sacred writers. If we shall constrained
to regard those early genealogies as condensed,
we shall not therefore Conclude that the writer
erroneously believed them to be full, or wished
to make the impression that therwere full. He
gave them as sufficient indications of the line of
descent; that is all. Yet there is a plain arith
metical difficulty in the way of Prof. Green's
proposed application of the principle cf conden
sation to these early lists, which strikes us as
insuperable. In the Fifth Chapter' of Genesis,
the generations from Adam to Noah are closely
linked together by the direct, assertion not only
of the parental and filial relation subsisting be
tween each and every pair .of names, but by
the expliot statement 'of thb age of every
progenitor when' his successor on the list was
born to him: So, also in Chap. 11, where Abra
ham's descent is traced. How such a genealogy
could be regarded as incomplete without a serious
error on the part of the writer, we cannot see.
The lists on which Colenso has reared his objec
tions show no such features of chronological ex
actness, but are mere declarations of the fact of
descent from one to another. With these, Prof.
Green's mode of dealing is fair and warrantable.
The others must resist such a treatment inasmuch
as they assert their own exactness.
We have no intention to enter at length into
the objections raised by the arithmeticid Bishop
to the correctness of the Pentateuch. Bat
we cannot forbear : making farther use of an ap
paratus so complete and effective as that of
,prof.
Green in the volume before , us, for exhibiting
the unfairness and puerility of Colenso's criti
cisms. We shall therefore' give "ate least one
article more to pursuing the subject.
." Shall we confess," asks our Secretary of
Home Missions, "that we are unable to do ow
share of the Work of `Home Evant!elization or
shall we confess that we ire unwilling? "-Nd
ther !" is our response.—Neither are we unable
nor unwilling . to do our share, as a great body of
Presbyterians and Christians, in this good work,
or in any good work. Yet, the Secretary tells
us that hundreds of our-churches have given noth
ing to Rome Missions since the last. Assembly`
met, nearly a year ago, and other Secretaries
will tell us that hundreds of churches have given ,
nothing to Foreign Missions, nothing to our .
Publication Cause, nothing to our Education
Committee. Are those churches unable, or are
they unwilling to aid our movements for the
spread of the Gospel? Neither, we confidently
affirm.
Now we do not my that the Churches are rea
dy to do all that they should do; would that they
were ! Then God's blessings would make us all
to shout for joy, and the earth would be glad in
its remotest and darkest corners. But we .do
maintain that every one of these, delinquent
churches would do something for Home Missions,
something for Foreign Missions, something to
diffuse good books, and something to educate
men for the ministry, if they had the opportuni
ty. But, Sessions and Pastors will not give them
a chance to show what they are willing to do.
And why will not the officers of the churches
do what is so obviously and undeniably their'
duty ?
First, they are afraid. We are sorry to say so,
but it is the truth. Nor need our church mem
bers glory over their teachers and leaders because
of this their cowardice. If the church members
were what they ought to be in enlargedness of
soul, their Pastors would not be afraid to try them
with calls for good works. Pastors fear to
do their duty from apprehension that the people
" will not stand so many caljs." The.,people may
well blush that pastors should have any ground.*
for this fear.
NEITHER UNABLE NOR UNWILLING.
Amtrian , komoigttrian Ana Gentut (fratipliot.
And we have only one word to say to our.
Ministers and Elders in this matter, viz : Do not
be afraid to do your duty. It is your duty to
bring before your people the claims of our own
organs for evangelization once every year. If
they do not then give, the fault is theirs,—not
yours. At all events .do your duty, and give
your church a chance to do its duty.
Then, Sessions make the great mistake of sup
posing that, because their church is weak and
the contributions must be small, it may as well
be nothing. How absurd ! The rain might as
well stop watering the earth because each drop
is small!
But, most deadly and most incutkble of all,
half the churches,have no system in their,bene
volent operations.' For lack of a little system and
a decent degree of attention on the part of the
Session, contributions are overlooked and the
cause of Christ languishes.
We hold that our churches are able and wil
ling to give to each of our Committees and that
they will do it if they have an 'opportunity.
Lack, of system takes away the opportunity.
If some church member who reads this article
will order at once one or two dollars' worth of.the
Tract on " Systematic Beneficence" by Dr., ISen
dall, published by our, Publication Committesi
and will distribute them in his own congregation,
he may aid in a reform which will prove that
oar churches are both able and , `willing- to *give
for the spread of the truth.
(For the. American Presbyterian,)
APPEAL IN BEHALF OF NEGLECTED CHIL
DREN.
[Tim following eloquent and touching appeal
in behalf of a deserving enterprise, is commend
ed to the practical sympathies of ourliberal-miu•
ded readers. A little aid in such a work will
accomplish very great proportionate good`.]
"Inasmuch as ye have dope it unto one of the
least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto
Me."
And who ate these whom it is such a priv
ilege to aid ? The . young, the tender, the unprO
tected, the poor, ignorant, needy, and helpless
ones'. Such I would,present to the notice , of your
readers at this time;. and may He who graciously
permits us to labor for him, open up a channel
of sympathy for these destitute ones, in some ge
neroUs, loving, Christian hearts.
Some years ago, through the united efforts of
a few Chiistian women, some poor, neglected,
ragged children, exposed to the cruelty of debased
and drunken parents, were assembled every day
in a small room on Swanson street, and there
taught to lisp for the first time, the name of their.
Maker. The Association was called the Add
phian School. The funds procured:for its,main
tenance were, however, Soon exhausted, and the
good work ceased fora time; bit the untiring
zeal of those who loved. to feed Qhrist's lambs,
was unabated, and again the work : was renewed
with faith and prayer. Some new managers
were elected, and contributions made.
For alinost two years a room on Shippen street,
above Twelfth, has. been occupied for this pur
pose, and the School - has increased in numbers
and interest, under the instruction of a young
lady most admirably adapted to the work. The
number now in attendance is about one hundred;
every form is filled.
Little
,ragged, shivering, ignorant ones,—some
the offspring of parents sunken in every form of
vice—these find a temporary refuge, at least,
from brutal treatment, debasing scenes, and hor
rid oaths ; and listen with eagerness to the story
of the " Good Shepherd," repeat Verses of Scrip
ture, sing sweet infant hymns, and in fact obtain
a vast amount of information on many subjects.
Oh I it is touching to see those little emaciated
hands folded reverently, as, the voice of prayer as
,
°ends from many hungry lips, " Give us this day
our daily bread." Who knows how many a wretch
ed hovel may be vocal with their sweet simple
choruses; for children love to sing.
There are many there, too, children of those
who have gone forth to offer their life's blood for
their country, and who especially claim
. onr sym
pathy. Shall we neglect their little ones, when
they are periling their lives for us
But this blessed work must cease, and these
poor lambs starve spiritnally, as well as physi
cally, unless aid can be procured to carry on this
good cause. The funds of the , Society are almost
exhausted, andthe number of subscribers too few
to 'sustain the 'enterprise. Will not some give
out of their abundance, for the support of so
good a, cause ? If not, the work must cease,
and the child's prayer,and sacred song,wilr cease ,
too, to be.heard in those miserable cellars •which
,the little ones call home."
#ny contributions sent before the 20th Of May,
(the time of the Annual meeting of the Mana
gers) will be gratefully received„ and may be
pheed in the hands of Mr. John C. Farr, No.
,224
Chestnut street. A LADY MANAGER.
4ra 2d,
(for the American Presbyterian.)
HUNTS TO STATE]? ` OLEPIS OF PRESIITTE
BIES.
I.—The last General Assembly directed (Diin.
p. 48) thatiull statistical reports of the Sabbath
Schools under the, care of its churches, be inclu
ded in the Presbyterial Reports of the present
year. The particulars required are indicated in
the minutes.'
2.—A simple plan for the collection of Gene-
ral Assembly and Presbyterial Funds, which has
worked well for four years in one of our largest
Presbyteries, is herewith suggested to Stated
Clirks distressed by annual failure in this mat.
ter. Let the Stated Clerk and Treasurer be
„appointed a standing committee of assessments,
tokreport at every Fall meeting the amounts to be
assessed upon the-several churches for the ensu
ing year. Then, about three or four weeks, or
less, trefore the Spring meeting, let the Stated
Clerk send to each church one of the blank Ses
sional reports (prepared by our Publication Com
mittee, 1334 Chestnut street, Philadelphia) with
the sums assessed respectively for Assembly and.
A STATED CLERK:
Presbytery
FROM A SUBSCRIBER IN CENTRAI NRW L YORK,
—" We heartily rejoice in the apparent prosper
ity of your paper. It is to us ever a welcome
messenger, iiot only because of its associations,
but because of the wisdom and ability with which
it is conducted. I can say in all sincerity, that
I know of, no religious journal (we take the Evan
gelist and Independent) that I think more worthy
of support, or that gives a fairer equivalent for
its, price than the, AMERICAN FIL !AMMAN."
LETTER FROM HAMILTON OOLLEGE.
MARCH alst, 1863.
To the Editor of the American Presbyterian :
DEAR Sra :—During the past few weeks our
college has been blessed with a precious outpour
ing of the Holy ,Spi.rit.
About a mont,h-ago, a few Christian students
started a- noon-day prayer-meeting. This meet
ing was at first very-slimly attended. Some days
there wee not more than a dozen present. But
notwithstanding the coldness, and indifference
with which the efforts of these few Christians
were treated, both by the impenitent and many
professors of religion, they still assembled day
after day and invoked God's blessing upon their
unconverted clasi-inates and college -mates. God
heard their prayer, and in answer sent his Bpi- I
rit with great power.
The attendance daily increased until we could
count those. present not by the dozen, but by the
handred: Conviction and conversion followed
each other in rapid succession. The proudest
were humbled. The most obdurate were melted.
Forty-four students from among the various clas
ses have been influenced by the it, forty of
A
whom,'Vre havegOodreascni to e l ie 'aye foUnd
,===.
peace in believing,
_There are but few students
in collecre who still, remain impenitent and we
trust that beforg4many-days, there•will not be an
impenitent, student' in Hamilton College. This
revival has cheered the true Christian, reclaimed
the backslider, and converted the impenitent.
- What a wonde'rful change it has produced in
college morals I ) In passing along the various
college buildingikat almost any hour of :the even!
I
R
ing, where forgrly the profane oath shocked
the ear, now . sue saired, songs as "Jesus lover
of my Soul," l'Rock of Ages," " Jesus, I my
Cross have. tak n," etc.,_:.may be heard making
the very air voe I with their melody.
The effects of this revival upon the world can
not be eitimatO When we remember that with
in these same wills during, a revival in 1820,was
converted a student,.. whose' name is this day fam
iliarly -known erever Christianity has spread,
(Heir. Albert Barnes) what may we not hope
from many of these young converts, whohave
.
=already entered, nto the service of their Master
/
with an energy nd zeal truly inspiring.
s ir JUNIOR.
[We learn, also, that there has been a marvel
lons work of gitace in the Houghton Female
Seminary, in Clinton. Almost all the young
ladies--day' pupils and boarders--have, since
New Year's, beck converted to Chriat. "Nearly all
of the Sabbath School children are rejoicing
young Christians.—En.]
THE AMERICAN PREBBYTERIAN AND THE
OLOGIOAL REVIEW.
The April number of this Review contains
articles of greet:, value and direct bearing upon
themes of present interest. The veteran Dr.
Skinner - proves , greenness of his age and the ver
satility of powers by a vigorous and perspicuous
discussion of the proposition : Miracles the Proof
of Christianity. This is a, needed protest against
that shallow and defective view of Christianity
which ignores is ,really distinctive features and,
puts the vague ! remainder in the Apmain of Nat
ural Theology, for which only rational and not
miraculous proofs are necessary. We give the
gist of the article in an, extract on our first page.
" Philosophy and ,Theology in Conflict" is the
great theme of an article by Prof. Hickok, in
continuation of the debate upon the merits of his
system. " Freedom Betrayed by the Evangelical
Alliance of England," a severe but just rebuke
to the amazing unfaithfulness of English Chris
dams towards the prineigles of human liberty as
exhibited in their recent action upon our national
affairs.. " corner on the Sinless Perfection of
Jesus," is the third part . of this important essay.
" The Zoroastrian Religion," by. Dr. Hitchcock,
and "Lyman Beecher, D.D.," by President Tut
tle, are instructite andentertaining articles. Dr.
Goodwin's article"on Coleus° is particularly valu
able front' the expose it. Mikes of the spirit and
tendency of the Bishop's course; it also empha
sizes the necessity, for admitting miAculons in
terposition in the, jnurneythrough the wilderness
which some, iVaelr tpxiety to justify the natra
tire on natural gowni.4, - utighb overlook, or depre
ciate to an unwatrantabVdegree. Dr. G-oodwin's
independent solution of some. of the difficulties
may be compared profitably with those of Profess
'soy Green. The latter is much more terse, per
spiouous, and direct than the former. Dr. Ma
han, who is attacked 'in the introductory part of
the article, for conceding too much to Colenso,
and, for placing the grounds of belief in the
Scripture upon the teachings of the. Chure . h, has
replied with no little spirit, in the . c'hurch Jour
nal. The Theological and Literary Intelligence
and. Criticisms are full andvaluable. New York:
J. M. Sherwood. Philadelphia : Presbyterian
BoWStore.
We offer thii c truly valuable periodiCal to all
our own subscribers not yet taking it, for 32.50
per annum. A
I neir subscriber to the paper, and
to the Review. will receive both for the first year
for 04.00 in ad3once.‘ - -
THE PRESBYTERY OF WILMINGTON.
The Presbytery of Wilmington opened its semi
annual meeting on Tuesday evening of last week
at Middletown, with a Sermon by Rev. Wm.
Aikrnan. Rev. J. ,Garland Hamner of Milford
was elected Moderator, and Rev. Messrs. Riley
of Middletown and Mears of Philadelphia, were
elected clerks.. From the reports made by the
various delegates, the body is enjoying an excell
ent degree of prosperity. All its churches with
a single exception are supplied with regular and
stated preaching and pastoral care. Church
debts to the amount of $15,000 or $2O 000 have
I
been paid off during the year, or are now in pro
cess of liquidation.
There was no ecelesiastical , business of special,
importance before the body, but. its sessions
were made interesting by able discussions on
topics of :generaLinterest, such as " The rela
tion of Saptizedichildren to the Church," " The
relations of thetChurch to the interests of civil
society," and ."Church singing!' This inter
mingling of lively debate and discourses on sub
jects aside from the usual routine of church busi
ness, give these; neetings of the .Presbyterymore
than ordinary interest. •
Rev. George Foot, of Glasgow, as principal ,
and Rev. J. Garland Hamner as alternate, and
Mr. John B. Porter as principal, and Mr. Edw.
T. Taylor as alternate, were elected as. Commis
sioners to, the General Assembly to meet in
Philadelphia on the 21st of May next.
The Presbytciy adjourned to meet next Sept.
in the Piesbyterian Church, in Chesapealr City.
FROM OUR ROCHESTER CORRESPONDENT.
ROCHESTER, April 10, 1863.
The Revival in Rochester—E. P.' Hammond.
DEAR. EDITOR. —This city is considerably
stirred just now by the preaching and labors of
Rev. E. P. Hammond, the evangelist. Let not
the sensibilities of your more staid and venerable
readers be too much disturbed before they see
how conservative and cautious our judicious pas
tors and elders were, before they determined to
invite him to labor in this place. They sent one
of their own number down to 'Utica to hear the
evangelist there, and to make observation and
inquiry as to his way of doing things. The re
port was favorable ; the invitation was given,
and last Sabbath, April sth, MVir. Hammond com
menced by a sermon,- or talk, in the afternoon to
the children. In spite of a severe snow storm,
the large Brick Church, Rev. Dr. Shaw's, was
almost as full as it could well be of children and
adults, listening for more than an hour to the
earnest arid tender address of the preacher.
Your correspondent went there, not expecting
to be well pleased; he came away satisfied that
Mr. Hammond is a good man, and that God is
with him. Indeed, there was hardly anything,
in matter- or manner, to which it seemed neces
sary to take any, exception. And we know that
'many others went to the meeting with feelings
similar to our own, and came away - with alike
change. Manifestly Mr. Ilanimond is thorough
ly orthodox, and preaches continually the great
doctrines of grace and salvation. His only pe
culiarity in preaching really is, that he is antaxe
ingZy in, earnest in it all; speaking extempora
neously, out of a, full heart, with much gesticu
lation, and illustrating the truth with many tel
ling anecdotes of personal experience' and the
like. It seems as though we knew a thousand
ministers that could preach much better ser
mons than he, and could hold vast congregations
just. as attentive to the words of, their lips if
they were as much in, earnest.
His -Inquiry ' Meetings.
In these Mr. Hammond is somewhat peculiar.
During the closing hymn, after sermon (he is
now preaching every afternoon and evening), all
the congregation who wish 'to
.go are invited
quietly to retire, while all the impenitent are
affectionately invited to remain and be conversed
with in regard to their personal need of the great
salvation. Christians are also desired to remain
and converse and pray with their impenitent
friends. Some hundreds, will often linger at
this service, and then Mr. Hammond and
other ministers with elders and Christians,
men and women and children, will gather in
little knots conversing and praying with their
impenitent friends, all over the body of the
church; and half a dozen inquiry meetings
are virtually going on at the same time. It so
happens that individuals often stop at these
meetings from sheer curiosity; and it so hap
pens also that some of these same individuals
find themselves deeply impressed with divine
truth, when tenderly and faithfully addressed
by some earnest Christian friend. Many have
thus been awakened and led to Christ, with were
apparently unreached by the utmost pungency
of the public discourse.
True, some are thus made angry; and then
sometimes they begin to wondetwhy they were
disturbed, and sometimes they fortunately see
that it was, not so much because of the manner
in which they were addre4sed, asibecause their
harts are at emnfty with God. This very thing
sometimes opens their eyes to see- themselves.
Their madness is perhaps the only mirror in
which they would ever have seen their own de
pravity.
Whether or not this is the best way, to con
duct an inquiry meeting, it is not for us to
judge without further observation. One thing
seemed to be gained by this—it makes the im
pression that salvation is a matter of immediate
and transcendent importance, to see -the evange
list come down out of the pulpit and engage
with other ministers and Christian people, in
entreating impenitent friends personally to be
reconciled to God.
This city is peculiarly well prepared, perhaps
we may say, for Mr. Hammond's coming. Re
vival influences have already been, as we have
before told your readers, in some of the churches.
As the first fruits," the Central Church, Rev.
Mr. Ellinwood's, last Sunday reCeived about
twenty to its communion; and the Brick Church,
Rev. Dr. Shaw's, fifty; most of them by ptofes
sion, and most, of , them adults; many, heads of
families, husbands and wives standing together
and covenanting to be the Lord's. It was an
interesting spectacle; it was a solemn day in
these churches, and a good preparation for the
preaching by Mr. Hammond which commenced
the same afternoon and evening.
It is hoped and intended that all denomina
tions shall be embraced, as far as possible, in
these labors. All are invited to participate,
while it is thought best that the preaching ser
vice for convenience and concentration, should
be confined to one place; the Central church.
The daily Union Prayer-meeting is, however, to
be held in the lst Presbyterian church; that of
which Rev. Dr : Pease is pastor. How long these
meetingi will continue, or how long Mr. Ham
mond will remain here, must depend entirely
upon the good pleasure of our Heavenly Father.
We hope for a great blessing.
Mr. Hammond's Labors in. Utica.
In order to prepare the way for Mr. Hammond
in this city—in order to remove all prejudice, if
possible, and commend him to the fullest confi
dence at the very outset, Rev. Dr. FoWler, pastor
of the Ist Presbyterian church of Utica, a man
sufficiently known for his conservative leanings,
came down and addressed a large congregation
in this city last Monday evening, giving a some
what detailed and very
. interesting account of
Mr.- Hammond's labors, and of the great and
blessed revival now in progress in that city.
Dr. Fowler stated that Utica was apparently as
much moved now as in the great awakening of
1858; and that all classes were embraced in the
great ingathering, young men, skeptics and scof
fers. Mr. Hammond commenced his labors in
Utica, on Sunday, 15th of March, in Rev. Dr.
Fowler's church. He continued in that . city just
three weeks. He was a guest in. Dr. Fowler's
family. The Doctor said in substance, " I know
Mr. Hammond as thoroughly as one man can
know another, and I:believe him to be a sincerely
good and godly man." He is also tractable,—.
not headstrong or opinionated; but simple, lilo
- and child-like in all his deportment; al
ways ready to be advised and guided by those
with whom he labors. And if ever there was
a man who has but one object, one thought even . ;
in all his life, it .is Mr. H. Traly he can say,'
" This one thing I do;" he lives and labors sim
ply for the salvation of souls.
Dr. Fowler did not undertake to say how many
conversions have occurred in Utica. The Sab
bath Schools of his own church number one thou
sand or twelve hundred scholars. He thought
about one hundred and fifty of these were already
indulging hope, to say nothing of the adults in
his own congregation, and children and adults
in others... For all the churches, it could almost
be said, united in the effort, and Baptist, and
Presbyterian, and other ministers, and church
meinbers, labored together in the daily prayer
and inquiry meetings; denominational lines
seeming to be obliterated; love and joy melting
all into one. Truly they have had a good time
in Utica; and Dr. Fowler stated that the Sabbath
after Mr. ilammond left was even more solemn
and interesting than any that preceded it; and
attended, as the pastors generally . testified at
their meeting on Monday, with a large numbe
of conversions. Lung may the work continue in
that goodly city.
The Revival in Hamilton College,
Of which we have twice spoken before, has
continued with unabated power, until about fifty
students in all have indulged hope, and only
eight were left unconverted when the vacation
commenced yesterday. These young converts,
have now , ,scattered to their respective homes,
to tell in various churches or communities of the
wendrous work of God in their beloved institu
tions ; and thus, we trust, to spread the fire of
divine love and converting grace far and near.
The pious students felt very sorry to leave the
college—lorry to be broken up by their vacation.
- 7 -while a single student remained to be recon
ciled to God. They hoped that - absolutely all
would be brought in. But perhaps they may do
even more good while " nattered abroad—every
where preaching the Word."
Revival in Hannibal.
In this place, which is but a country.town, not
far from Oswego, a revival of great power has
been for some time in progress. All denomina
tions have shaied in its blessed effects,' and vari
ous places in the neighborhood have been alike
visited ; until, it is estimated, that within a radi
us of 5 or 6 miles, some six hundred conversions
have occurred. Rev. John N.tHubbard is pastor
of the Presbyterian church of Hannibal, whose
heart has been greatly cheered and encouraged
by these tokens of divine favor.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
Received:for the American Presbyterian in the
Army. _
M. W. Baldwin,
(Fifty copies for six months, postage
pre-paid, divided between four chaplains
of our denomination in the army.]
A. Whilldin,
ISixty-eight copies for three months
to the Christian Commission, and two
copies for six months, postage pre-paid
to individuals.]
Rz - v. Mn. BARNES, in a deeply, solem dis
course on Death-bed Repentance, preached' n&
last
Sabbath eveni, gave it as the result of lofty
years' observation in the pastoral office, that "lie
had notquet with a single instance of sick-bed
repentance which, upon the recovery of the 'mai
vidual, 'turned out to be genuine." That which
satisfies us,of the genuiness, of the dying thief's
repentance, he continued, " is not what he said,
bat the testimony of one who could penetrate be
neath the surface and could know what we never
can—the reality of man's professions!'
Satz fintuit puto,
ORDAINED by the Presbytery of lowa City, in
session at Wheatland, on the 15th of March,
1863, Mr. Samuel J. Mills, as an evangelist.
Reading of the Scriptures'and introdubtory pray
er by : the Rev. George' D. A. Hebard, of Towa
City; Sermon by the Rev. H. L. Stanley, of
Lyons; Constitutional questions by the Modem-.
tor, Rev.'lsaac W. Atherton, of Cedar Rapids,
who •presided; Ordaining prayer by the Rev.
Samuel Storrs Howe, of lowa City; Charge by
the Rev. James Knox, of Clinton; and the:Be
nediction by the 'candidate ordained.' Mr. Mills
comes from the legal profession ; and after two
years preaching as a Licentiate of the Presbytery,
and Stated Supply of the churehes of Wheatland
and Clarence, enters with much promile upon
the work of an evangelist. lowAN.
"ASTIRPRISE IN ERIE.—ReV. Mr. Lyon, pastor
of the First Ohm.. eh in Erie,- was recently the
recipient of a . most grateful surprise 'visit, from
members of his congregation. During - the ab.
sense of himself and family, his friends took
possession of his dwelling, and on his realm
greeted him with a bountifully spread, table, a
large company of smiling faces, and a purse of
s3oo,—Buffalo Advocate.
THE FOURTEENTHSTREET CHUM; N, Y.
The services of Sabbath before last in . the Four=
teenth street Church, Dr. Asa D. Smith's, were
marked with special solemnity and interest. It
was Communion Day, and a part of the subjects
of the work of gra& which bas for a considerable
time been in progress, were received into the
church. : . The whole number received was twenty
nine,—'twenty-tbree of them on profession offaith.
Of the last named, five were heads of families,
"the rest youth. A goodly number of others are
indulging hope. l'he Sabhath Schools and Bi
ble Classes have shared largely in the blessing.
The work is still going on, in a very quiet Juan
ner, and in connection, mainly, with, the ordinary
means of grace. The only- addition to the usual
preaching:services during the week, has been a
sermon on Friday evening.—N. Y. Observer.
LANE SEMINARY. --The Cineinati Correspon
dent of the N. Y. Observer says : The Christians
of our city are also opening -their purses. The
son and son-in-law of the late Judge Bunke% R.
W. Burnet, Esq., and W . S. Groesbeck,
,Esq,
have each. contributed $5,000 for the benefit of
" Lane (N. S. Presbyterian) Theological
nary," < bringing up the subscription for that In
stitution to nearly sixty thousand dollars, thus
gladdening the hearts of those who so'faithfully
manage its affairs, and enemaging nimierons
friends all over the land.
LIBERALITY IN STltA:Cusic.—A Corespondent
in the same pap6r writes : , " A few of the mein
hers of the First Presbyterian congregation of
Syracuse lately surprised their pastor by present
ing him eighteen hundred dollars ($1,800), all in
money. The, - value of this large gift was greatly
enhanced by the Ohecrful` and graceful manner
in which it bestowed.',;, •
•
ADDITIONS TO Dlt. ADAMS' CHURCH.. --011
Sabbath; before last, at the PresbYterian church
on Madison Square, (Rev. Dr. Wm. Adams',)
there was quite a large accession both by public
confession and by letter. Among those who rose
ttitenfe,ss - the Lord' Jesus, and for the first time
to' covenant with the visible Church, was George
B. McClellan, the distinguished Major General
Of tbe United States army, who has become a resi
dent of this city, and has now united with the
Presbyterian Church'; Mrs. McClellan with her
mother and sister were admitted on certificate.
A number of others ,were received - at the same
time, and the occasion is, spoken of by those who
were present us being . ^ unusually solemn and im
pressive.—N. Y. Observer,
Ray. ALBERT Bustomr.D.—This devoted mis
sionary, after a sojourn among us of about 'four
teen months, expects to sail on Saturday next in
the City of Washington for Liverpool, en route
for the Gaboon Mission, West Africa. Mrs.
Bushnell, and Miss Green, of Plainfield, N. Y.:
accompany him. - After spending a few weeks in
England, to attend the missionary meetings in
May, he will pursue his-journey to the scene of
his arduous but well-loved work. By letters
just at hand from his associate, Mr. Walker, it
appears that the mission was never more prosper
ous in spiritual things. Cases of religious inqui
ry were constantly multiplying. Mr. Bushnell
endeavored to return last Fall, but no Vessels has
been leaving for the Gabooii since Jinn last. . We
believe he goes now without 'expense to the
Board. His stay has been none too long 'for the
proper recruiting of his,health to bear again . the
enervatinc , heats of Africa
, 7 ..4find it has been as
grateful, and we believe as useful, to the Churches
as to himself. His public addresses have been
listened to with deep interest, and.• his social in
tercourse has left not only leelings of respect,
but of warm personal attachnient. The mission
ary and his wife now go forth' once more with re
newed strength to their work, amid the prayers of
the Churches, and .after receiving the earnest,
doubtless the final benediction of their aged par
ents.--Evangelist.
MINISTERIAL CHANGES.—Rev. Andrew Luce,
of Bellville, 111., has, accepted the Chaplaincy of
the 24th Mo Regiment V. I.—Rev. W. H.
Rogers has joined his regiment at Murfreesboro,
Tenn. His address is Chaplain of the 69th Regi
ment 0. V. 2nd Brigade, 2ndDiviSion.—Rev.
J. Monteith, Jr., has resigned at Jackson, and
accepted a call to Euclid Street chtirch at Cleve
land.
GENESEB.
RELIGtOITS INTRUEsT.--AsTaland ; 0 —We
learn sayi the Christian Herald from a private
letter that there is an interesting revival in pro
gress in this place, and some twentyhopeful eon
versions.—Sicond Church, Cincinnati.- -`There
has been some religions interest in Dr. Thomp
son's Church for several weeks past Twelve
were addiid on profession last Sabbath, and others
are hoping in Christ
$50.00'
t •
$25.09
COMMISSIONEVI TO 1 1±EN. .A.SSAMBLY.—Pres
bytery" of Pastakal a.—Rev. A. Duncan and
Samuel I. Lee, Elder; principals; and Rev. Elias
Thompson and Timothy M. Rose theiralternates.
--=47,lmingtO 'Geo. Foot and Elder
John B. Porter:
THE REVIVAL 111 UTICA continues, according
to a note, dated April 11th, with unabated'
power. Indeed, since , the close of Mr. Ham
,
mond's services it has extended much -more
widely, among adults. The meetings are largely
attended and pervaded by the Spirit, and convic
tions constantly occur. -
`Lim OF CHOPINr by F._Liszt; translated from
the French, by Martha Walker Cook. This is a
tribute of profnund regard and delicate apprecia.
tion lay one of the most accomplished musicians
of the day to .a brother artist, a native , of Poland.
The book is. a marvel of elegant and finished
writing; we 'forget in reading that it is "a transla
tion. The writer is profoundly absorbed in the
wstheties of his art, and those interested in the
higher meaning and mystery of tango; will find
much to attract and instruct them in its protract
ed but tasteful discussions, which are wreathed
around the central, but not very prominent,
object ofthe yolunr. Its whole tone intensely
secular, and., in some parts. it reveals tile utter
impotence of mere taste and culture to Preserve
parity' of character.- In this respect it belongs
to thq school of Gtethe, - whom' the author quotes
as a final authority. The externals of the book
are very elegant, being a .credit to the Philadel
phia:publisher,F.A.l4ypoldt,and printers, Messrs.
King & Bak&
MNSSRS. CARRIERS keep their presses and their
newspaper friends busy. This week, we have of
their recent issues, a anew . A: L. 0 E. Book,which
will %nib& our readers who . are still at their
school hooka with an uncommon amount of graft.
fication and, profit. It is the CROWN of SUCCESS
in, which the, career .of 'the student, his difficul
ties, tetuptations and success are , skilfully and
effectively told under the guise of a beautiful
allegory. pp. 276, with cuts; also,
MINISTERING CHILDREN, a newand complete
edition, in'two volumes; with handsornalife-like
engravings, and,with many captivating instances
of the power of children to do goocl, and to pro.
mote thehappiness of their fellows.
Theie books are for sate at the Presbyterian
House, 1334 Chestnut street.
THE U. S. TAX LAW, 4 ' Government Edition."
Mr. Carleton, of New York; has done the public
a real service in publishing this admirably ar
ranged little volume. Unlike all other editions
of the:Tax Law,x which are simply reprints of
the laws as paased by Congress, this work is
arranged in a tabular form—a method at once
concise and underatood by everyone. The work
comptises alphabetical schedules of Taxable arti
cles, listis of U. S. Assessors and Collectors, Rates
of License Duty, Legacy Duty, Income Tax, etc.,
etc., added to which is a complete Compendium
of Stamp Duties. Authentic informatien on every
topiemonnected with the new law is fully and
lucidly placed before the reader. The compiler
of this valuable little book is Mr. Edward H.
Hall, of , the Internal Revenue Department at
Washington.
THE-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OP THE CHRIS
TIAN COMMISSION, , gust` issued, is a document
worthy of being treasured up, as showing what
volunteer_
, Christian effort, with that strong ten
dency to organized and practical forms of labor,
so common in free America, can accomplish in a
time Of unwonted spiritual ememency. History
which.xecorda our war, will have a long space for
such: Operations as those of the Christian and
Saui*y Commissions.
APRIL 16,
L'itblitatiotto.