Vol. VII, No. 35.—Whole No. 347.
Cortropudence.
OUR LONDON LETTER.
LONDON, March 28th, 1863.
TIM ROYAL MARRIAGE.
SINCE my last letter England has been in
a convulsion of pleasure and has recovered.
For a couple of weeks there was very little
thought of, apparently, but the Princess Alex
andra; immense were the preparations for
her reception,and enthusiastic the welcome
paid to the air young Dane. But the pa
geant was soon over, the cities flashed out in
illuminations one night, some souls were
hurried into.the presence of their Maker from
the midst of the feetivities—and now it is a
thing of the past, buried among the glories
that were, and scarce remembered in our
daily conversation. Still the influence is
not lost. The collection of a million and
more of persons to see a pretty lady because
she was the representative of future royalty,
might seem to the philosopher who applies
his microscope to. mine and takes no
wider view of heart and feeling, absurd to a
degree: yet one felt as he stood among the
surging masses and heard the jubilant chorus
of thousands of voices, that this was no mere
outhnrst of vulgar admiration or adulation,
but. the satisfaction of some ideal want of the
popular heart. The people must havosotae
general object of affection--some persona
tion of power. They cheer the worst king,
41.0 as a max, but as the representative of
national greatness and honor—as the king.
the sovereign, combine private virtue
with . public capacity—as does She whom all
the world loves as the true and noble Wo
man—the real, earnest affection of the peo
kleas hearts mingles with their reverence for
Majesty. Even in democracies they crave
some idol of national adoration—some Wash
ington or Clay, around whose names and per
eens they may weave ideal glories. It did
one good, the other day, to see that beauti
ful girl pass through, and become at once
the home friend of the nation. It shows the
power of an IDEA; it was DO more than that,
which made her differ from a hundred others.
This popular need cantiorbe forgotten in the
censtruction of a government. When the
hadof cleud had vanished and those who
had seen it were no more, when the glory of
of the Lord appeared not visibly to the mul
titudes of Israel. they cried out for a limn.
This desire of a regal impersonation is akin
to that other desire of divine and spiritual
impersonation which is manifested by the
heathen and some sects of Christendom.
We may question its rationality—but we
dare not ignore its power. A person styling
himself " Manhattan" who has written many
lively and foolish letters to one of our daily
papers, represents the awakening of some
each desire in America,
the looking forward
to a limited monarchy 1 Perhaps his repre
sentations are scarcely worth noticing.
Tip OAUFE OF TRF . NORM IN BIiGLAND.
There is a change coming over ithapublic
feeling in regard tothe civil war. The same ,
speeches, which have . opened. the eyes of 1
Southern sympathisers in the North, to the
real feeling of the leaders of the rebellion,
contain, such solemn and nauseous affirma
tions of slavery doCtrines—such cool-blood
ed and inhuman assertion of the moral and
Christian beauty of the " institution"—that
they are turning sympathy into repugnance.
I think the climax has been passed and that the
tide of English - feeling is now beginning to
turn against the Strath. A long article in
the " W eekly Revieir iievated to Mr. Barnes'
Thanksgiving sermon, notices this altera-
tion: "Meantime.the Confederates, by per
sisting in asserting their iniquitous princi
ples are alienating any sympathy which
their vigor and success may have awakened
in English minds." Many good men here
as Sir Calling Eardley,—entertained the hope
that the South would, if independent, take
measures to abolish slavery, but that hope is
now broken ; the monomania of the seceders
is the establishment and extension of African
bondage, and no prodigies of valour, no dia
guisement beneath abstract principles of
right, can assure to them the countenance of
any Christian or civilized nation. Even if
at this time the humanity of the North should
cut them loose and send' them adrift, as a
separate nation, the Confederates States will
carry away with them at once the great, blot
on the Federal escutcheon, and, the elements
of a vengeance that shall some day burst out
in flames of terrible and all-consuming fury.
NARCH 30. Since writing these words
the effects of Mr. Bright's advocacy of
the Northern cause at the meeting in St.
James! Hall, and of the debate on the Ala
bama. are evident, in a slight revulsion
towards the South. Except with a limited
class Mr. Bright's advocacy of any cause is
damning to, it—he wants ballast and sincer
ity. Some of his most intimate friends and
even connections, I was told the other night
accuse him of dishonesty of motive, if not
more. I thoroughly, believe that he, by
his injudicious advocacy of the Northern
cause, has done more toeinflame and foster
the ill feeling between the two nations, than
any other man in England. The peculiar fea
ture of our political growth has been the
gradual expansion of the democratic pow
er—giving stability and vigour to the trunk
without bursting the ornamental bark which
clothed it. Bright would have a revolution
—a sudden and convulsive swelling that would
involve general dissipation and decay.
JUSTICE TO TIM FIJIANS.
I now wish to proceed to a matter of
some importance, as it affects the national
honor and generosity of the American peo
ple. And I shall be happy, if by any rep
resentations I may make, I shall be in the
slightest way instrumental in removing from
the Federal name any stain of injustice. I
am• sure also that you will brink all the in
fluence of your paper to bear upon the great
Christian community, and urge the extension
to a weak but rising people of that forbear
ance and justice which the power and
spirit of the 'United States fit her so nobly
to exhibit. I am sorry to say that recent
private intelligence from Fiji of which I have
the benefit, informs me that the United
States Consul at Fiji, Dr. Brewer, has re
peated his demand for the satisfaction of the
iniquitous—l say this, advisedly—claim of
the Government on the Bau Chiefs. These
unfortunate men have shown their willing
ness to meet his repeat . by agreeing to,
make one hundred hogsheads of oil, to go ,
towards satisfying the claim. I hope that
will be the last and only payment exacted from
them, on this paltry demand.
The circumstances have before appeared
in print in America, without however enga
ging proper attention and sympathy. No
American who believed the evidence would
endorse the claim. Captain Dunn of the
14k. Dragon, Salem, gave a wiry straightfor l i
ward account of the whole affair in the New
York Herald of November 9th 1856, and
it is difficult after *reading it to imagine that
the Government would persist in asserting
the whole claim. Mr. John B.Williams, the.
American Consul residing at Nukulau, was
on the 4th of July 1849, celebrating the day
with noise and smoke, when his house took
fire and burned down. The natives acted
badly enough, for whatever they could save
they carried off and it never came back a
gain. Mr. Williams seems to have had
sharp eyes since he was so able to distinguish
between .what had been destroyed in the
flames, and what had, been abstracted, that
he footed up a bill of $5001.38 a rather
dubious particularity. •
Subsequently the town of , Levulsza, , where
the whites principally resided, was, in conse
quence of some reprisals made liy the whites
upon a native town, in danger of attack from
Viwa chief who had applied to Thakom
ban, the Presiding Chief at Viti to be per
mitted to destroy Levuka. Thakombau de
nies any collusion in what occurred ; at all
events, the whites being on their'guard no at
tack was made but the town was fired.by SQIIIO
ene and most of it reduced to, ashes. A nam
tive teacher of Viwa, being the only one of that.
Island in the town was suspected, but no ev
idence has ever been adduced to fix it on
him. He was killed 4? few days after by
the mountain tribes of Ovalau, and his inno
cence or guilt must forever remain a myste
ry. The whites on this slight suspicion—
which may have been utterly unfounded—,
accused Thakomhau Of an implication in the
act. He sent peaceful messages—declared
his innocence and his willingness to assist ,
in discovering and punishing the perpetrator
of the outrage.
These are the two matters in dispute.
Captain Magruder in the U. S. Ship "St.,
Mary's:,,' reached the Islands in 1851, and
Mr. Williams presenting 'a schedule with'the
above mentioned demand, asked him to re- 7
quire compensation of the Chiefs. Capt.
Magruder being obliged to leave, put the,
matter in the hands of, the Rev. James Cal
vert, the able and honored Wesleyan Mis r
sionary, and Mr. Whippy the U. S.
Consul, but as they declared the demand to
be somewhat unjost,,Mr. Williams suggested
to Mr. Calvert that he,eshould-mind his, own
business. Unfortunately in 1853' a man
every way suited to Mr. William's purposes
arrived, in - Commander Boutwell of the
" John Adams," the key to whose subse
quent conduct may perhaps be found in
the fact that he was' a' papist and naturally
opposed to the Wesleyan protestant influence.
A. few days after his arrival this worthy Com
mander sent a letter to the Chiefs making a
general demand of restitution, and without
waiting:for, a reply followed hyanother on
the next day; Sep. 27 1855,in which a startling
and monstrous swelling in the amount of the
claim. appeared. It was for $30.000! of
this fifteen thousand dollars was apportioned
to John B. Williams, whose claim had, thus
been soddenly multiplied by . three ! This
demand, was made prereraptorily and without
alternative of appeal, the letter closing with
a swagger more chdracteristic of Bontwell
than creditable to the Navy : "I must urge
the' authorities of Ban to act speedily and
not compel me to go after the so-called Tui
Viti ,(chief) or approach nearer Bau as
my powder is: quick and. my balls:' are
round." The chiefs replied that the . claim
was. unjust;. that they were not in any
way accessories to the injuries complained o€;
that the Islandsin which the outrages occurred
were not'in their dominions; and referred to
Commodore Wilkes to prove it. The reply of
Commander Boutwell was : " When I made
the demand on the chiefs, of Ban for indem
nity I expected an acknowledgment of your
indebtedness and= willingness. to pay and
not a letter of explanation. I am satis
fied of the guilt of Tui Viti as .the chief of
Bau." This is the style in which the
investigation (?) was carried qn. John B.
Williams made his own statement, trebled
his claims, trumped up a number of extra
charges and found in an officer of the'
Navy a tool for his purposes. Commander
-Bally arriving in October in the. United
States ship " St. Mary's' appears to have
been' disgusted with. his junior's conduct,
but on the Consul's request, did not inter
fere. He only warned Commander Boutwell
to afford the accused every opportunity to
be heard. The order was thus carried out;
I ,copy from paptaiivPUrin's letter. " He
sent a notice to Thakombau to appear on
board his ship, upon a certain day to answer
the chargespreferred against him. He also
notified the Rev. Jos. Waterhouse that he
would be permitted to act as counsel, and
appointed a board of arbitration consisting
of two of his own officers. On the day .Mr.
Waterhouse with Thakorabau, 'repaired on
board and was permitted to speak in his be
half; but was treated with insult and con
tempt and not permitted to call in any wit
nesses as evidence against the allegations of
John B. Williams. The board of arbitra
tion therefore decided that all the .claims
were just, and Commander. Boutwell ad
ded on fifteen thousand dollars more, on
account, as he informed Mr. Waterhouse, ' of
the interference of Commander Bailey and
:the representations of the Bev. Mr. Calvert!' "
This made the total $45,000, of which
$18,331 was put down to Mr. Williams.
Captain Magruder sent to the Navy Depart
ment from Valparaiso a letter, dated Sept.
28,1851, in which he stated that " he thought
Mr. Williams ;amain the wrong."
This then is the whole matter as reported
by an Antericain Captain, (Dunn) who had
himself some claims which were included in
Commander Boutwell's demand; but who
was disgusted with the illegality and harsh
ness of the whole proceeding. This is in
every particular corroborated by the Wesley
,an Missionaries, whose general character
the world over, setting aside the wonderful
work they have accomplished in Fiji, is a
sufficient guarantee of their statement. No
one can read these facts without feeling in
dignant that Commander Boutwell should
have put the nation in the position of
ingso questionable an exaction. Even were
there greater provocation, we can afford to
be magnanimous to' a people just struggling
" A 1 1 , THUISDAY, APRIL 30, 1863.
out of barbarism into the light of Christian
civilization ; and I am assured that the
Government will open their minds to a sin
cere justice and'noble generosity which will
be endorsed by every true hearted American,
and will remove from the fame of the Union
any shadow of suspicion.
Let me add ,that Col. Smythe,R. A. who
went to the Islands, on behalf o Her Ma
jesty's Government, states in a letter that,
"all the information obtained durinv my offi
cial visit to Fiji, went to confirm Captain
Dinin's statement te, the fullest extent"
And another letter'from a resident Alissien
arywhich I had the- privilege of reading the
ether day, deplores the effect which a per
sistence in the exaction may have oxv the
natives. I have. *endeavored to state the
matter as succinctly and accurately as pos
sible, and if called for, place my name
,at
your diSposal to assume the personal respon
sibility of the statement I am happy t,o
know that Dr. Brewer the present consul, is
shOwing a desire to act in a manner, alto
gether worthy of his office and Government
OOI.ENSO AND THE BISHOP OF OXFORD.
I have taken up so much space with this
affair and I trust not unprofitably—that I
can add but little more. Bishop Colenso,
who had for a little while disappeared be
neath the great.wave of public interest, has
come up again.. The Bishop of Oxford has
addresseda pastoral letter tolls .clergy, in
which, after saying that expostulation has fail,
ed to lead the bishop of Natal to reconsider his
views or re§ign, and it seems to him and the
great majority or his brethren their "plain
duty to guard their own diocese§ from the
ministry of one in their judgment disquali.
Red for the eicreise of any spiritual functiow
in the Church of England,"—he continues,,
'I therefore • forbid his being suffered to:
minister in the Word and Sacrament within
my ,diocese.' This is very well in its way
but the question is, "whether the injunction,
can be legally enforced. If the Bishop can-.
not be expelled and is still a minister in the
Church, what right has the Bishop of Oxford
or the whole bench of BishopS, to prohibit
any Colensoite incumbent from admitting
his master to. the pulpit ? The, position is
anomalous. The absurdities and incongruities
of the church are every day becbming greater
and more evident. When itcomes down from
its lofty . and worldly stilts to its' true place
as a fellow, and not a pretendedleader of the
other churches of Christ, then will it have
imbibed most of his spirit and its power will
increase as its follia disappear.
The "Essay and Review" cases have been
again appealed and will shortly be argued
fore the Privy Connell. ADELPHO S.
NORTHWEST CORRESPONDENCE.
1 1 14:REOENt ELEOTIO'NS-M:TOOURA.GESSENT.,
7 -THE STOF:Y: OF.A CAPTt3RED.CHAPLAINi
rSIGNS, IN DIXIE.THR INFLUENCE.. OF
TRATTOROT-1$ PRESS.ON map
REBELLION.
, April 16, 1.863.
To the Editor of the American Presbyterian:
A load was lifted from the hearts of loyal
men when it was announced last week that
Connecticut had gone for the-Lrnion. The
people of that State, or a large class.of them,
have not stood on the great question of hu
man rights where every. Yankee ought to be
found. They have been seduced by South
ern trade, by base leaders, and by the infia
ence of the Journal of Commerce and the
New York Observ-er to support the most: of
fensive. pretensions of the slave owners.
Moreover, Connecticut presents a marked con
trast with her sister State, Massachusetts,
in point of intellectual culture. Though;
blessed with a large fund for school pur
poses yet have the people failed to use it
well. Connecticut is• a quarter of a century
in tie rear of Massachusetts. But the
leaders of this base faction that hae con
trolled the State for many years had forgot
ten that war is, an educator. They have
been unable to drag the old commonwealth
in the dust at the behest of an office-hunting
crew who-would welcome the rule of Davis
to-day, could they obtain place and power.
The people are fast learning how wicked is
the deception that `has been practised upon
them. The recent election affords ground,
for hope, that Connecticut is forever redeem
ed from the hurtful control of her. Seymours
and. her Touceys. Sp in the West have the
elections 'presented encouragement to loyal
men. The majority of her people say " the
wart must go on until the rebellion is put
down."
That event, is not probably so far distant.
As many suppose. - I am led to this opinion
by the testimony, of chaplain, a friend of
mine, who has just returned from; are unwil
ling stay in Dixie of a few weeks. He was
captured in a skirmish in Tennessee, and
was sent back into our lines by way of -Vicks
burg.
General Forrest was the commander of
the rebel forces that captured them, My
friend surrendered in person to this noted
guerilla, - who was dressed in a plain garb
like a citizen He was very courteous, arid`
seemed disposed to make his position as com
fortable as possible. They allowed him to
keep his horse until they reached Tullahoma,.
At one point where they had dismounted to ,
rest, a rebel, captain rode up to his horse,
and exchanging saddles, was, about to ride
away. My friend told him that, it was not
exactly a fair. exchange ' • the rebel captain
replied that he would be honoralile and gave
him thirty dollars in Confederate money.
He says there is a large force at Tullahoma,,
that he passed through acres of soldiers' in
camp. At Chattanooga there was not appa
rently a large force.
His narrative throws much light upon the
condition of affairs in the South. His testi
mony is unequivocal in respect to the scarcity
of food. What contributes to this scarcity is
the lack of salt to properly cure their meat
provisions. To preserve their bacon they
are compelled to char it in the fire until a
large part of it is rendered unfit for use.
Flour is $l5O a barrel in Vicksburg. .
He confirms all that ha's been said in re
ference to the falsehoods which the rebel
leaders employ to deceive the soldiers. One
night, as he was lying at a camp fire, a rebel
guard approached him and :a in low tone of
voice inquired whether the North had ex
hausted the men that could be called into
the, army. My friend told him: the ,facts
He then stated that their officers informed
.
them that we had no more men left, that the
war "lust soon end l from this owe alone,
when the present forces that the North had
in the field Were, defeated.
He says, moreover, that the leading men
in the 'South regret that they , ever took up
arms against the government. On the, cars
he met, a planter fron; an intelli
gent man, who frankly told him that he Aid
not expect the Souttwould succeed, and he
added, he did not know but that it was best
th6r should not succeed. He was tired of
the war, and earnestly hoped' for peace.
Thereds unquestionably a strong peace party
in the South,, and it is-growing stronger
every day., 1,
The keen. sighted rebels are themselves pre
paring for the downfallof the rebellion. They
are endeavoring to, purchase' every dollar of
United States can he found which'
is carefully preserved, and
,they pay as unich
as five dollars for one !They 4iire, rasing con
fidence in themselves , sl, , ,the...government'so
Richmond..:Many (pair we,r6 inade'lo my,
friend for every dollar of greenbacks that:he
had in his posseqsins,., And it is no longer ,
a crime, to say, that ,the rebellion is, pretty,
much " played out."' A. Confederate officer
waited upon him to the hotel at Yicksburg,
and told ,the kee'Per entotain, my
friend;: charging the. bill to the account of
the Conkederate GeYerrhent. The hotel!
man replied that he , ciadiiii hundred- dollars
charged against the Confederate Govern
ment, : and ; snapping his fingers, said,. " It is
not worth that
He reports Vicksburg to be most strongly
fortified. He had Ample Opportunity to see
the fortificutions,, as he was allowed; to go
where he wished without restriction.
Very} few , celorel. then. ate to be seen on
the, plantatipns, ,except the old and. infirm.
The colored women do nearly the entire
work., ' He saw themholding the, plough in
the fields, arid Cultivating the crops., The
abie-hodied mainly in the, army or
at work on the:fortifihatiOna.
He says every blook man in the South can'
be relied , ution 7,as - a; :friend of the North.
They: kno* ,abont the Proclamation of
Emancipation, and.. 'they have a firm belief
that 'they will be free. They are secretly
hoping and praying for the success of the
Union cause, •lie says that the influence
Which is tending more powerfully than any
other to maintain the rebellion now is the
traitorous issues of the Northern press. Ile
states that the' Chicago Times, the Cincin
nati Inquirer, the New York World are the
main.props - of the , Confedera(y. The South- ,
ern .papera are filled with extracts;from these
publications, from which they show the North
is divided, that there will be war among us
in a brief space, and.that it, is only necessary
to hold on a few weeks or months longer,
when the South will obtain the' help -of
Northern Democrats: 'This is the impression
which these wicked 4tublicatious- have aimed
to produce, and it impression which'is
powerfully helping to, hold the Southern
armies, together to-gay. In, their present ex
4austion, there is reason to believe that the
rebelliOn Would not last three months if the
conviction was universal in the South that
the North were , united .and determined.
This information is so recent—my friend
returned home last Saturday, the, 11th—
that I thought it would prove of more inte
rest to your readers than current topics of
news. I have therefore occupied my letter
mainly in reporting it
Yours as. ever,
PRESBYTERIAN.
Ntlertiottio,
RELIGIOUS WORLD ABROAD.
GREAT BRITADT.The question whether an
infidel bishop. may be cast out, of an orthodox)
church, or whether he can defy all the
power Of '-the church 'while he persists
retaining the dignity and emolument of
his position, is as - far from settlement in Eng
land as-ever ;° or, "if anything leans in • favor'
of the perjured bishop. ',The second part of
Colenso's book against the historical verity
of the Pentateuch has appeared, but the novel
ty having worn off, it receives' comparatively
little •attention.--Special religious. 'services,
commonly known as revival meetings,- have
been frequent in Scotland
_during March.
Mr. Brownlow North, has held numerous
meetings in Glasgo*, one with the students
of the University. Col: Davidson and others
addressed a numerous meeting at Yetholm,
at the end' of last month, Chiefly of those in
terested inthe recent religious awakenings.
The work.at.Yetholm has stood the test of
time well, ands an interesting feature of the'
meeting was the presence of a band of shep
herds from the pheviots, some of whom used
to be, the chief competitors and victors at the
l
Border ames., ,
Several' of the gipseys were
also present..;' From Aberdeen,. Wick, and
Lerwick we still receive good news of the
progress of evangelistic work. The Shet
land Isles are now refreshed with a gracious
shower of heaventy blessing.--Endowment
Legacy. Dr. Candlish has received from the
executors of 'the late Professor J. F. W.
Johnston, of Durham, 5001., bequeathed by '
him in trust for theßermanent endowment of
the ministers of the Free. Church of Scotland.
This is the same gentleman who made over
to the New College his library and chemical
apparatus.--Chureh, Extension in Belfast--
It is gratifying, says the Banner of Ulster
to observe the efforts which the different'
Protestant denominations are making to
meet the increasing spiritual wants of the
town. The .Methodists, Episcopalians, and
Presbyterians, have all. churches in progress
of erection,; or in prospect of being erected.
The. Episcopalians have not only undertaken
the erection of, a cathedral,, but have bound
themselves,, we believe, to build five churches,
each of which, shall' be plaeed in a destitute
district of the town—the endowments being
provided by the laymen of ;the church. The
Presbyterians; as is 'known, have added
largely to their church accommodation during
"the last few years; but it haabeen found that,
to overtake the wants of the people, a still
greater effort must be made. It would re
quire twelve additional, churches to embrace
even a proportion , of the immense Presby
terian population congregated in Belfast.
Whether we 'shall attain;this desirable object
we cannot at present say,; but it is pleasing to
know that an attempt towards it is being
made, which we' ardently hope may be
crowned with success. Bpsides the Alfred
and Academy-street Churches, which will be
erected during the ' present year, we hope
to see, one in progress at Ballymacarret,
where a
.suitable site, has been obtained, and
another in the neighborhood of Cromac-St.,
where there are Presbyterian families more
than sufficient to fill a church. We are
aware that it is in contemplation to , erect
several missionary churches--a desideratum
which Belfast, has long needed ; and, we ; need
hardly, say,we wish the project every success.
Tlie
,Union Movement in Glavotp.-7
Another meeting of the elders and deacons
of,the Refoimed,United, and Free Churches,
favorable to a union of, these several com-,
munities, was held in Glasgo*; on 'Friday
March 20th: There was a full attendance:
After devotional exercises, a Report from a
Sub-committee , was re s ad and adopted, in,
which it was recommended that a public
'soiree : should be held- on Thursday, 16th
April next, for ,the promotion ,of , union It s
was further, agreeed that the ministers of the
asaous Churches in-41asgow, should, 'be In
vite& - to - attend the soiree, and the Reirs.
Drs. Robion, Buchanan, Eadie, with the'Revs.
Measers. Arnot, M'Dermid, and Symington,
should be-requested to take part iri the pro
ceed,inge. A number of gentlemen addressed
the meeting, and, the utmost harmony and
good feeling ,prevailed. A suggestion was
made that the united office-bearers should at
once engage in,some work of social reform,
such as the eitablishment of an orphanage
for the city of l Glasgoi on an extensive scale.
At the' conclusion, it was agreed to hold
another' meeting for prayer on 'Friday,
April 3d. -
AusTAALTA.—A New Magazine., This:year
has wituessed the publication in. Sidney, of a
Presbyterian Maga,zine, edited by the Rev.
Dr. Steel, and published by Messrs, Sherriff
Dewning. The Editor, in his introduc
tory address, says`:—"Australasian Presby
terians have a , claim , to be represented by the
Press, and to. possess a religious periodical
as 'a vehicle for the interchange of:thought and
the communication of ecclesiastical intelli
gence. It, is believed that throughout the
various cOlonies. of these Sonthern climes
there are nearly two hundred' organized'eon
gregations, and a population of upwards
one hundred and fifty thousand belonging to
our Zion. It will be the aim of= The Presby
terian, Magazine to harmonise and unite all
who hold the same faith, and who worship
according to .the same form; to make the in
dividual feel stronger in the corporate
church to whichhe belongs, and to give
,
greater success and security to corporate
action by the intelligent and hearty co-Opera
tion of individual members. The' past has
been weak in some of the ,colonies, through
disunion and discord ; but the future will be
strong in unity. The pia,st has had its con
flicts and troubles, separations and divisions.
The future will have its triumpbs, from the
corporate action, , of brethren pledged to a
common cause. Events have been rapidly
transpiring indicative of this happy change.
Already, in Victoria and New Zealand has
union been consumated. There, and in
other colonies, the desire is felt and ex
pressed for closer fellowship and more
brotherly action among Presbyterians."—
Emigration from lreland.—The Irish Pres
byterians are preparing to send out - a colo
ny of their brethren to Auckland, New Zea
land. The Colonial Committee held a meet
ing March TT, at which statements were
made showing that 'a reduction would be
made in the passage money- of the emigrants
and each individual of full age will receive
a grant of 40 acres of land in free and per
petual possession, with an additional allow
arm in case of children and situated in a
favorable locality. Upwards of 150 persons
have expressed a desire to unite in the
movement, and a minister and teacher, it is
expected will unite with them.
FRANCE.—Through the firmness of M,
Guizot who was in: the chair of a Committee
of the Protestant Bible Society of Paris, a
motion to authorize the distributions of the
rationalist (Geneva) version; of ;the, French
Scriptures was set aside on account of its
irregularity. This was March 10th. Two
years, ago, an attempt was made to alter the
headings'of the chapters to suit the ration
alist wing of the society, but they were de
feated and now the question of adding the
Genevan version is only deferred. The in
come of the Society has' din;tinished from 60.
000 francs in 1860, to 39.000 last year, on ac
count of these differences in its management.—
Britanny the work prospers. The Breton
Tehament is in the, press for the third time;
two editions, one large size, the other for
the pocket, are shortly to appear. The
colporteur sells more Breton Scriptures
among the Gaelic-speaking people than
French among those who speak French, about
the northern towns of the ancient province.
The Opposition formed by the Francois de
Sales. Association is strong thereabouts.
, Two priests wanted to purchase all the col
porteur's stock of Testaments, in order to
burn them; and a young girl bought one
. and tore out the to burn. The female
teachers steadily' go on in their humble work
'of giving reading lessons to, about 140 learn
`ers, almost all'Roman Catholic;;women, at
their various' houses.' We' have seen lately
a proposition in print, which we, hope, will be
taken up vigorously. It is, that simple read
ers should be set td work among rural popu
lations, the great mass of which either. do
not know their alphabet, or, frOm. want of
practice, find the effort of reading too me
chanically difficult to tempt them to' open a
book. If one good reader could be supplied
with suitable books in each village and en
couraged to use them for his neighbors'. good,
much benefit would accrue. It is a fact,
that in the rural districts of some of the de
partments, not more than 1 or 2 per cent.
can read. •
ITALY. Antoneiii, whOse , resignation was
broug . ht about by the intrigues of liowerful
and jealous rivals,,has withdrawn; his resig
•nation and returns to power, though his prin
cipal rival, De Merode, the minister of war,
retains ids place as before.-----Trequent ap
plications for the visit of a minister to preach
the Gospel are made by small towns and
lages in Tuscany and Lonabardy to the
Evangelical'leaders. The priests try in vain
to hinder these important beginnings ; one
or two 'Evangelists might `do great service in
this kind of labor.—Nearly a Mortara
Case. In Ferrara the other day a poor Jew.
ish woman with two of her
,children sought,
for some reason or another, a temporary re..
fuge in a convent of nuns. This coming,to
the archbishop's ears, he ordered her to be
detained, and all the efforts of her relatiinis
to get her set at liberty proved fruitless. Ap
plication was made to the Procuratore Begio,
but he (as too many of the magistrates under
the new regime are) was a creature of the
priests, a codino,and made various excuses for
not interfering. Thereupon a deputation of
two or three of the influential citizens start
ed by rail for. Turin,..laid the ease hefore,the
Ministers of. the Interior and WorShip, and
telegrama , was instantly despatched to the
Procuratore to have the woman and her chil
dren set free, which was done A few hours
later; and' the children would have 'been :on
their way to Rothe---th be treated like the
y,oung.Mortara. All honour to the ministers
for their conduct in. thiamatter
SWITZERLAND. In.the canton of Zuk the
Protestant inhabitants, numbering about 550,
have petitioned the government of the can
tnri' to allowiAliem
celebrate
themselves
into a parish; ma to celebrate their religi-,
ous worship.:'• The lizecutive Council, taking
into consideration thejustice of their request,,
has received it graciously, and granted their
demands. This act of tolerance and, at the
same time, of justice, is so much the more in
teresting, and. deserving of attention, as'the
Canton of Zug was, in the 16th century, one
of those which showed the most bitter hosti
lity to the introduction and spread of the De
formation.,
, GERMANY. Since the commencement of
the year there has been a very encouraging
movement in the important city of Frank
fort. An indiiidual, who is spoken of, in
the 'Mirk of the Christian Church as "
F. K." was led to mare special efforts for
the neglected classes of the city, •particularly
the workmen and , soldiers. All the diffi
culties were reinoved.in a most extraordina
ry, manner, and on the 13th of January he
was able to begin his mission. Let it, be
said here, in honour of the free town of Frank
fort, that not only did the authorities glad
ly give our brother the necessary permission
to hold his meetings, but also that they placed
at his disposal their employes to maintain
order. Freedom of worship and of conscience
really exists' in Frankfort. ,After having dis-.
tributed some thousands of notices among
the workmen and: soldiers, and after having
visited the officers and generals of the Feder
al army garrisoned. in this town, our friend
F. K. began his lectures. On the 13th of
January, long before the hour of five, the
hall was 'completely filled; almost excliisive
ly by soldiers. 'More than five hundred men,
natives of every country in the German Con
federation, and, more than tweethirds of whom
belonged to the. Romanist, communion, had
come there, not, from curiosity or want- of
something to do, but from a desire to hear
evangelical truth. They proved this by their
conduct. There was no disortler, and many
Of them. wept at 'hearing the-tone:hint"' '' appeals
of our friend. These meetings last from
five to six o'clock ; and then from half-past
eight to half-past nine there are meetings for
the workmen. These are no less interesting.
Among the men of this class there are some
who are almost entirely ignorant of the Gos
pel, and a simple and elementary explanation
of Christian principles is listened to by them
with much seriousness and attention.'--
The.movement now going on in various parts
of Germany, looking to the establishment of
a Presbyterian polity for the Evangelical
(united) church, has given opportunity for
the radical and rationalist elements to at
tempt to get' control of the Church organiza
tions. In Baden, this party has been -very
strong, and, under the able leadership of the
'Well-known theologian, Dr. Schenkel, has
confidently expected to obtain la controlling
influence in the church affairs. They held
a, conference last October in Darlach, in
:Which they expressed' themselves as opposed
to "the exclusive authorization of a particular
mode of theological opinion already in vogue
in the church,. and to the domination of a
system of doctrine regarded as pompleted ;
they desired, on the contrary, that the op
posing parties would meet and harmonize
upon some practical ground in the religious
life of the church, and SC* secure the peace
of the entire church." 'Yet their organ "The
South German• Evangelical Protestant Week
-IJy," is seeking to illuminate, the, people in
religious matters, by popularizing the very
_Worst results of German criticism of the
"ScriptUres; the destructive opinions of Baur
of the Tuebingen School. Schenkel and his
associates 'are very active. They are in
`close connection with the radicals in other
disturbe*d parts of Germany, and during the
•Catechism excitement in Hanover exchang
ed telegrams with the "liberal" party. A di
rector of the Theological Seminary this bold
,and gifted ,man makes his influence wide
ly felt.'
Yet Badep, is Tar from being demoralizea
through these efforts. A correspondent of
the New Evangelical Ifirehen-Zeitung says,
that the first Diocesan Synods since the new
,constitution were held in the summer of
1862, and he describes their action as very
encouraging to, the friends of church autono
my and Evangelicalreligion. The most im
portant work of these Provincial. Synods was
the' election of Deacons. Oat of 26 elected,
14 were of a character decidedly abhorrent
to the liberals, and 17 were deacons who had
held the office under the old government. Of
the committees, 16 were composed in whole
or impart of decidedly Christian men. The
greater part. of the. churches are at peace.
Little excitement was created by the new
right of electing Church officers, save in the
cities. The Congregations , have thus far
made ,good use of their privilege to select one
out of -three candidates as a pastor ; the
country churches, for the most part, regard
ing it more as a duty than a privilege. The
itiindards of the church are embraced in a
clear evangelical. sense, and from many pul:
TALl:the. pure Gospel is, powerfully preached
and joyfully received. The various,-methods of
Christian activity in which German Church
life is so ,rich, are pursued with vigour under
the new system.
A great loss was experienced by the Evan
gelicalAuich in the death of Dr. Henhcefer of
Speck, who died - at the elose ollast year.
Coming from'the - Itomish to the Evangelical
church in 1823, he was regarded as a patriarch
by all who' cherished positively evangelical
sentiments and for 30 years was, in a :measure,
.the father of the awaltened,church, el Baden.
Thongh preaching the doctrines of grace
like St. Taub he exhibited. especially in his
old.,age, the kindly harmonizing,snirit of the
apostle John in reconciling the minor differ
enceS of believers. Strict'High-church
GENESEE EVANGELIST.-;—W hole No. 884.
Lutherans, Methodists, and Free Catholics
have made some, stir in Baden, but the Evan
gelical church must aslettbe regarded as the,
prevailing religions Influence of the Grand
Duchy.
Weimar is the seat of John Walk's labors
for lost children andthe institution he founded
is still in operation. As it will only accomo
date 12 children and as little Weimar con
tains unfortunately many more children in
need of such Christian efforts,
the good
people are on the move to establish,,a,spcond
and'independent house.
EFFECTS "OF CHRISTIANITY ON PAVAN
MORALISTS:
The first philosopher who gives evidence
of having his doCtrines tinged by Christian
ideas, is Seneca. His system of morality,
drawft out at length, as it is by the author of
the Essay, furnishes the means of forming ,
a correct judgment on the disputed point
whether his opinions 'wereourely pagan ot
whether they, had been affected by Christian
ity. We have room for specifying only one
or two of his philosOphical opinions that
seem to betray a Christian origin. A human
being, he teaches is "a sacred thing," which
no one ought to despise, or has the right to
abuse. Men, having a common origin, and
being naturally equal, lave a spiritual rela
tionship, and are fellow citizens of "the
great state," not the, Roman state, but that
universal society, where all men are equal,
and are governed by those natural principles
which are.above written laws. "Nature has
made us Social beings: we are born for the
general good." Men are designed to love
and aid each other. Nature disposes us to
such love by our common relationship. Love
is not to be a barren sentiment, hitt an
active principle. By such beneficence, we
imitate the Deity who constantly pours his
bounties upon us, upon the evil and the good.
We ought to imitate him by bestowing bene
fits without regard to being benefited in turn.
The important thing in an act of beneficence
is not what is done but the intention with
which it is done. -
Ins views of forgiveness are no less re
markable. Ile said that revenge is in
human that it is better to suffer injury than
to inflict it; that we should be more ready to
forgive others if we consider how often we
need, to be forgiven by others. Such senti
ments, and many others which might be
mentioned—sentiments found nowhere in the
pagan world before the introduction of Chris
tianity—would be an enigma on any other
supposition than of their emanating in some
way from the latter. If as early as the time
of Nero, Christianity could begin to influence
the? thoughtsof reflective pagans, we should
expect much more to find evidences of such
infinence under the later emporers.
Pliny's great humanity, his provisions for
the poor, his sympathy for the slave, his
efforts—the earliest known among pagans—
to 'improve education by rendering it less
public and more domestic, seem to indicate
that some breath of Christian sentiment had
passed over his mind.
Plutarch entertained the most elevated
sentiments in respect to the unity and per
fection of God, his providential care for men,
the duty of loving him, and of loving and
forgiving our fellow-men. His idea of mar
riage and of the family are even more nearly
Christian than those of Seneca or Pliny.
On the. relations of husband and wife, their
duties to each other, and the duty of educa
ting their children with care, morally as well
as physically and intellectually, his language
sounds very much like that of some modern
Christian writer.
Still more Epictetus, the contemporary
.of Plutarch, shows that the atmosphere which
surrounded him was one upon which Chris
tianity had shed its infiances. Some have
even gone so far as to maintain that he was
a Christian; but it is enough to say, with
Pascal, that "he is one of the philosophers
of the world who best understood the duties
of man," it is true, as no doubt it is, that
his writings are edifying to Christians, and
yet that he was not a Christian himself, it is
not easy to draw any other conclusion than
that Christianity had cast a broad intellectual
light over his mind. From the days of Plato
we see no progress on moral subjects among
the, pagan writers,but rather degeneracy,
till after the age f Christ and the apostles.
We can discover no adequate cause for. this
rise in the tone of pagan philosophy aside
from Christianity; and this explanation is
more satisfactory from the• fact that the im
provement lies exactly in the direction of
Christian ideas and sentime.nts.—Ba. Sacra.
BIBLE ILLUSTR T iant .OF RELIGIOUS
ONcE r we are familiar with the Bible itself,
all our need for these doubtful forms of illus
tration, by mere story-telling, will vanish.
The best way to press truth into the mind
and. heart is to leave all the weight of God's
own power of inspiration still on it. Christ had.
just such men to meet as we have. And he
did two things to make them, feel what he
had to say. He quoted the 'Bible always,
when He was talking with those who knew
what He meant by the Bible. And then
He used all His divine wisdom in the inven
tion and application of illustrative parables
for our present uSe.
.Hence there is little need, in our present
full supply, for our searching after tales and.
stories for use in the, teaching of moral le's
sons. They are to be used only supplement
arily, if at alt And- this remark applies as
tell to Sabbath'schools as to the Bible-wo-
Imen. Our illustrations are ready to hand.
As to grounding our hope 'firmly, Matthew
vii.• 24 is better than anything we can say.
To encourage ama,n who fears ridicule, Mark
x. 48 is inimitable. Exodus ii. 1-10, is a far
better illustration of God's - care of children
than that's:tack"story of the little girl in a
cera:field." 'When our Lord himself has
dealt directly with a,need that we meet, our
wisest Course is-to take just what He had to
say, and say it again.—a S. B. in the
Evangelist.
As salt does not season salt; but only that
which is` unsalted, so the liVing energy of the
children of God should not be expended in con
tests among' ihenaselves, but devoted to the
'Walceiting of life in the world.--0/shausen.