aztrican Victolntctian
-AND--
GENESEE EVANGELIST.
THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1863
JOHN W. NEARS,
EXTRA DAILY ISSUE OF 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 pr/oNo-
GRAPHIC, nErours of all the proceedings, with
the Acts, Reports, Sermons, and other 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
CENTS ; all the numbers will be sent, post-paid,
to any address for 60 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
merits, at fifty cents a line for the entire editiun,
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 RECENT REVIVALS:
Taws, the news of revivals in various parts of
our church which we have' been privileged' to
chronicle within the past two months, has been
peculiarly gratifying. We have perseveringly
maintained the ground that our present war-ex
citement was of such a character as in no way,
to hinder, but rather to promote revivals, among
the loyal people and churches. So much , that is
really noble and elevating has entered into this
excitement—there is so much akin to, or even
identical with, the beat forms of Christian philay
throphy and sincere unselfish devotion to the true
interests of humanity—there is such a mighty re
sponse to the highest call of duty upon the citizen
in his relations to outraged law and an imperilled
government, that we feel it would be moustrous
to expect a living Christianity to be damaged
rather than developed and invigorated by it.
This war, into which a reluctant government
was dragged, after most perilous delays, we have
always viewed' as undertaken in the interest of
Christian civilization, and as bringing forth
fruits, at almoit every step, of the highest promise
to that civilization, and therefore as closely con
nected with, and forming part of the movement
introducing the final triumph of Christ's kingdokn
on earth. Only narrow-minded men, only Chris
tians who have not added to their faith, " virtue,"
to say nothing of the disaffected and disloyal,
have shrunk from introducing the war into reli
gious connections, and from constituting it a
leading topics of prayer in every circle, private,
social and public.
We are grateful for the abundance of the
facto which may be cited to sustain our position.
The truth is, the very churches and denomina
tions which have most closely identified them
oelves with this grand movement of our time,
are the ones which, so far as our observation
goes, have enjoyed the most liberal manifes
tations of the Spirit. Decidedly the most pros
perous, active and liberal churches of the Synod
of Pennsylvania, are those whose Pastors and
people have given the heartiest support to the
government. Central and Western New York,
the scene of the most extraordinary work of
grace with which any Calvinistic Church in the
North has been visited since the war began, is
the very home of our own loyal and freedom
loving Zion. In our own Church, whose testi
monies for our 1301111 try and our cause have been
so hearty, explicit, and unanimous, and in the
densest part of our Church, it is, that the most
marked evidences of divine favor have been en
joyed. Is there not a significance in this fact, to
which mere stupidity alone will shut its eyes
In the early part of the season, the New
England Congregationalists felt the first drop
pings of the gracious shower. The churches of
the North-west were not entirely passed over at
that time. Then followed the great revival,
chiefly among the Baptists, at Fall River, and
soon converts in that communion began to be
reckoned by thousands all over the North. No
denomination, we think, has quite equalled the
Baptist in unqualified endorsement of the eman
cipation scheme. Vast numbers of Baptists in
the South were made free men by that act. The
Methodist protracted meetings now poured out
army after army of probationers, until it became
fatiguing to glance even, over the multitude of brief
but cheering announcements burdening the home
columns of their journals. Each paper kept the
others busy counting up the fresh thousands thus
reported, week by week, as pressing at least into
the outer courts of the tabernacle : And it is a
little remarkable that the very centres of the
hostile movements, the battle-field of Antietam,
the disputed territory of West Virginia, the ex
posed borders of Ohio, and the devastated plains
of Missouri were the theatres of the most power
ful and fruitful of these awakenings in the
Methodist Church. This, too, is a most warm
ly loyal body. And now come the latter rains
also upon us, second 4o none in the earnestness
and unreserve of our adhesion to the country's
cause.
Astonishing, too, beyond measure would be
the exhibition in brief of the works of unwonted
beneficence to which the Spirit of Christ in the
Church has prompted these same denomina
tions. Ilow to pay church debts and how to
give to good causes is a lesson we seem only to
be now learning. The millions which have been
gladly contributed for the comfort of our sol
:idlers, sick and well, on the march, in camp, or
languishing
. out their lives in hospitals; . for
their bodies, souls, intellects, fos their families
left behind, can never be more than approxima
ted. Church debts probably amounting to mil
lions have been wiped off with ease ; new enter
prises have been provided for by the liberality of
single individuals; pastors have been.astonished
by the magnitude of the gifts of their people to
themselves; missionary contributions, particu
larly in the IViethodist Church (we regret we
cannot say as much of our own) have in many
instances doubled, trebled or quadrupled in am
mount. We are not drawing upon funey—these
things, hopeful and delightful as they ate, are
true; and he who looks incredulously upcin them,
or fails, with a full heart, to give glory to God
for them, is guilty of gross unbelief and criminal
blindness. Let him read, as a warning, 2 Ki.
7 : 2, 17-20.
Yet far be it from us to conceal the fact that
as there were many hungry widows in Israel un
fed in the time of Elijah, and many lepers un
cleansed in Syria in the time of Elisha, and
many localities unmarked in the Saviour's time
by his mighty works ; so, there are Christian
communities by thousands unvisited by the
special influences of the Spirit at this time; there
are church debts still crushing the life out, of
important enterprises ;, there are important
branches of Christian effort inadequately bUS
tained ; there are Missionaries abroad and at
home, waiting, with hope deferred, fOr their
scanty, allowances ; there are fields of effort
whitening for the harvest and perishing for want
of laborers ; there are chaplains in the army
looking to Christians at hone for more encour
aging indications of sympathy in their prayers,
and provision for the spiritual wants of the hun
dreds of thousands of our soldiers.
Editor.
Christian brethren ! we are privileged to' live
in a most momentous period, when days of true,
manly effort for Christ count for years in ordi
nary times. Behold our work! Behold our en
couragement, too ! Happy is he who with un
wavering faith and spirituality of aim grasps
into the thick of things, and with life expanded
and powers enlarged, labors as he never before
did, for the Master.
THE ANTIQUITY OF THE HUMAN RACE.
A NEW DEMAND OF SCIENCE
WE thidk'the public are speedily settling into
a right estimate of such attacks on the credibility
of the Sacred Books, as that of Galena). They
are as empty against the fabric of Scripture as
blank cartridges against a fortification. We turn
from theni to consider the far more serious diffi
culty, now being raised by geologists, in regard
to the antiquity of the human race. Up to the
present time it seemed to be conceded ,by leading
geologists, that nothing had been evolved by their
science, calculated to unsettle the popular belief
in the received chronology of the Hebrew Sckp
tures. Recently, especially since the discovery
of flint hatchets and arrow heads in the valley of
the Somme, about three years ago, the whole
question has- been thrown open, and -investiga
tions have been ardently pursued, both in that
and several other localities where fosiilized hu
man remains had been found. The result is,
that scientific men are prepared now to take more
positivt , ground than formerly and begin to de
mand a very great extension of the received chro
nology. It is claimed that the remains of man
have been indubitably recognized in the two ge
ological periods preceding that in which we are
now living. Says Sir Charles Lyell : "It will
be convenient to divide these into two groups—
the Recent and the Post Pliocene. In the. Recent
we may comprehend those deposits in which not
'only all the shells, but all the fossil niammalia are
the living species; in the Post-pliocene, those
strata in which the shells being recent, a portion
and often a considerable one, of the accompany
ing fossil quadrupeds, belongs to extinct species."
The remains belonging to the Recent period are
found chiefly in the peat-bogs and shell-mounds
of Denmark, and in the Swiss lakes; those of
the earliest or Post-pliocene date, in the Valley
of the Somme and in certain caves near Liege
and Dusseldorf These remains are found in such
geological situations, or in connection with such
animal remains, that it is contended they must
have lain there during the lapse of ages upon
ages, compared with which the 'reputed age of
the race is but a fragment. One hundred thou
sand years is demanded as necessary to meet the
exigencies of the problem. '
Now believers in 'the inspiration of the Scrip
tures have scarcely recovered from the shock
which was experienced when geologists first be
gan to speak of the inconceivable, ages required
for those revolutions on the surface of our plan
et, which they contended had taken place before
the advent of man. Nor are the orthodox views
of the inspired account of creation by any means
harmonized i after many attempts, with the claims
of geologists on this point; although it is gene
rally conceded that the believer in the irgpira
tion of Moses, may, without inconsistency,.aceepf
the geological estimate of the age of the . pre-
Adamite earth. Yet .before we have , well settled
our views oa this extraordinary postulate of the
science, we are summoned to another concession,
which seems still more nearly to touch the vitals
of our faith. We are expected to admit that our:
race.has existed some sixteen or seventeen times
as long on earth as we suppose the Scriptures
plainly to teach. What answer shall we, as in
intelligent Christians, make to this demp.rid ?
Scarcely haying had time to gather up our
thoughts onithe subject, havng seen no other
attempt to meet the question, we throw our first:
thoughts upon paper; Ili a journalist is often com
pelled to•do, and shall rejoice to find anywhere a
more mature and well-considered reply than our
own, to the question.
We say then
1. The facts themselves are of too. recent dis
covery and too meagre to furnish ground for set
tled scientific conclusions of such
.a sweeping
character. Further investigations may lead geo
logists to modify or abandon their views of these
remains. Are they all really human? Were
they originally deposited in these geologically
ancient positions, or did some recent change
bring them into their present connections ? Do
the animals with whose remains they are associ
ated, really belong to what we regard as the pre-
Adamite period ? Geologists have often and
often, in the brief history of their science, been
compelled to change their views, and they are by
no means agreed together now, even as to the
great features of their science. They will not
expect us, to be in any great haste, then, to aban.
don our tried opinions at the first flourish of their
trumpets over a pretended new discovery. One
of the most eminent of their number, Professor
IL D. Rogers, argued, from personal inspection
of the locality in France Where the stone arrows
and 'hatchet heads were found, against the neces
sity of ascribing to them an age incompatible
with the received chronology: His article on
the subject was contained in the October number
of Blackwoodfor 1860. We do not hear that he
has receded from his position at that time taken,
that the remote pre-historic antiquity of the race
remained " not proven," so far as this discovery
was concerned. We might insist also upon more
unequivocal testimony to , the 'extraordinary age
of the remains found in eaves and peat-bogi; at
such shallow depths, in such meagre numbers,
:and in such an imperfect condition: The con
c/iitrticatt vi rr ob t trtiait and 6turiort )raitrittiot
elusions seem to us to have been hastily reached
and are liable to great corrections in the future.
2. These remarks may be transferred to the
whole science of geology, and especially to that
feature of it which draws so largely upon our
ideas of time. Is it necessary to suppose that
such vast ages were consumed in acedinplishing
the geological changes on the surface of the
earth, and in its inhabitants ? Is the earth itself
as old as geologists would teach ? Might not all
the phenomena have taken place in the six days
of creation and the deluge It is natural for
us to ask such questions when we find whither
an implicit reliance on geology is leading us.
We challenge our venturesome guide, ere we
take this new step with him. Who are you that
would conduct us to such extraordinary conclu
sions ? You may be an embodiment of truth or
you may be a conjurer in the service of the evil
one; as fair but as delusive and dangerous as
the Ice Maiden of the. Alps. Before we go with
you a step further, we demand unquestidnable
vouchers for your character as a science,---espe
cially so, since we find that ,according to the article
by Professor Rogers, before alluded to, the wi
dest differences on this very qUestion of the time
required for terrestrial revolutions, prevail among
reputable, geologists themselves. They are divi
ded, according to this writer, into Quietists and
Paroxyismists. The former class " interpret the
past changes in the earth's surface by the, natu
ral forces, . especially
. the gentler ones, now in
operation," and hence require enormous time for
these changes; the other' class " see only the
most vehement energies of nature—the earth
quake and the itrundation" and consequently
recognize in thetraces ofthese phenomena " the
expressions of violent and sudden mutations, only
compatible with altogether briefer periods!'
Both of these classes, according to Prof. R., are
" equally entitled to our respectful attention to
their different readings of the phenomena." We
may fairly require of the science to adjust this
important differende in her own chronology, be
fare she attempts to regulate the chronology
which has long been - accepted in other depart
ments of learning. 'lf the immense Pre-Adam
.
ite periods are liable to curtailment, why may
not this demand for a hundred thousand years
be discounted to reasonable dimensions ? The,
truth is, this is a question of time entirely, and
if upon this very point Geology has no standards;
if in, every " attempt to interrogate Geology upon
the subject of Time, her response in Sybilline";
if here she loses all the character of a science,
and is reduced to a strife between-rival guessings,
we protest against her recent attempt to override
all history, and stultify the common sense con
clusions of men as to the age of their race.
[To be continued.]
A CARD;
Mr. gives me_ great pleasure 'to be
able to state to my friends in Philadelphia and
elsewhere that the entire debt of the Central
Presbyterian church Norristown;Pa., is now can
celled. The debt was on the 15th of April 1863,
$4,473.09. I succeeded in raising, towards the
removal of this claim, among my friends outside
of Norristown Pa. $2,020.00. lam constrained
to make special mention of the generens contri
bution of $200.00 from friends' in Catasauqua
and Ifokendaqua, churches towards this object.
These churches till recently were aided by the
missionary society, and they have lately built a
neat and coinmodious parsonage. On the ground
of these home deinands, I feared they would not
be able to give a favorable response to my appeal,
but instead of excusing themselves, their pastor
Rev. Cor. Earle placed in my bands the above
amount. In behalf of my church and congreg,a
don I •-tender my unfeigned thanks to all who
have aided us in this good work, and to those
who did not feel able to contribute to this object,
I feel indebted for their kind treatment and en
couraging words. The . memberi of the church
and congregation too deserve great commenda
tion for the cheerful zeal they exhibited in rais
ing the balance—s2,4s3.o9. Above all I recog
nize the good hand, of the Lord in this success
ful movement, and I pray that the gratitude .of
pastor and people may be evinced by a fresh
consecration of themselves to the promotion of
God's glory, as it 'is unfolded in the edification
of believers, and the conversion of sinners. ,
April 28th 1863. ROBERT ADAIR.
,` Pastor of Central Presbyterian church, Norris:
town Pa.
LETTERS' FROM O.IIATLAINS.
DEAR. BROTHER—On my return to camp a day
or two ago, I found yours of the 4th" inst., also a
bundle of papm's, which you were so gond to send
us. I distributed them to the Officers.
We have two companies of our regiment here,
one at Fortress Monroe, and one at Norfolk. I
do, not know how many papers you can spare,
but I could distriblite 25 copies among officers,
and 100 copies among the men very profitably.
This,. I , suppose, would be asking too much.
Please send to my•addres,s here, as many as you
ean. • *.
FROM ANOTHER CHAPLAIN
John . W. Mears—Dear Sir—Many thanks for
a package of the AMERICAN PRESBYTER/A.N. I
shall be glad of them as you suggest, and believe
I' can make good use of them. I shall endeavor
to distribute them in a judicious manner, so that
they will be read, and perhaps sent home, and
thus I hope to extend the knowledge of the pa
per. You mayi.send a dozen copies if you please,
to my address as you now have it. *
ONE -OR TWO UNIONS ?
A MEETING will be held on Monday evening
next, 11th inst., at '8 o'clock, in the church, cor
ner of Broad and Sansom streets, "to consider
the propriety of having but one Session of the
denominaiional Sunday-Schools upon each Lord's
day throughout the year."
Pastors, Superintendents, Sunday-School Tea
chers and friends of the cause, are invited to be
present.
By order of the Philadelphia County Sabbath-
Sehbol Convention.
ALEX., KIRKPATRICK, Sec'y
EEESEVILLE CHURCH.
THE second communion was observed on Sab
bath morning, May 3rd. The little church was
filled with an attentive audience. Nine'mem
hers were added, mostly on profession of faith.
The pastor stated that the chaste and beautiful
communion service' was a present from a few
members of. Old Pine street church, to the Sab
bath Sehoel of which they were already indebted
for thegifi , of the handsome 'iulpit Bible and two
pulpit 'hymn books. .
WESTERN CORRESPONDENCE,
CINCINNATI, May 1, 1863
Tin this city,
was generally
offastingearally observed.
nd
3i prayer,osto the leadingf
business houses were closed, yet thete was not
that universal suspensiont l / 4 , f business and plea
sure which such a day Meld have secured.from
all classes. Most of the - churches were open,
some for apreaching service,, and others simply
for prayer and conference. The general impres
sion among ministers was, that the day would be
p m r o ay st er p . r ofiTthaehle
pastors, if
h . observed owev
er mainlyin- some of the as,a day of
churehes, , proached timely and patriotic sermons
which did good service for the,conutry, and in
creased the confidence of the people in the final
and complete triumph over this gigantic rebel
'
To the honor of the pulpit of Cincinnati, let it
be said that there is not NOW a single pastor, in
any denomination„ but who is thoroughly loyal
and outspoken against the rebellion, and in favor
of sustaining the Government in the, present con
flict. The only pastor who was in sympathy with
the South, who Would neither preach about the
war, nor pray for the success of our arms,' nor a
blessing on the civil authorities in their efforts to
crush the rebellion, ha beep compelled to rein
quish his pastorate aid to seek a more congenial
field of labor. * The thorough loyalty of the pul
pit of Cincinnati has athieved great and good
results for this city, and aided materially;in the
recent great political and moral victory in - the
municipal elections, which were so auspicious to
the country and so honorable to the loyalty of
the city r'
Pr. Thompson
Pastor of the Second Presbyterian church, has
had, this week, a , great,and sudden sorrow to fall
upon his heart and home in the death of his
wife. -
The 'following notice of the bereavement, and
life and character of his excellent wife, I take
from the . Christian _Herald. :
" Dun suddenly, of Congestion of the heart, on
Monday . , at '6 o'clock P.M., Mrs. SAaan H. Thome
son, wife of Rev. M. ',L. P. Thompson, D.D., pastor
of the. Second Presbyterian church, in this city, aged
51 years.,
" She was bornin HadlteY, Mass., October Bth, 1812,
and married to Di. ThddiPson, in August, 1832. Her
nearest surviving relatives are, Gen. Booker ; -now in
command of the Army Of the Potomac, and, two sisters,
In the midst of the family circle, engaged in conver
sation,. and without '
the' slightest premonition, she
passed away, leaving to her deeply afflicted husband and
his many sympathising friends, the blessed assurance
that she has gone to be with Jesus. During the whole
period of her residence in Cincinnati, she has been an
invalid, unable most of the' time to speak above a
whisper. Hence, although greatly beloved by all who
knew her, she was imperfectly known in this city, and,
even to most of her husband's congregation. This
was a great trial to her as well as to them, but she
bore it with unfailing fortitude and sweetness. Op
pressed by feebleness, in a state which, many would
have felt, relieved her from'special care for others, she
was not only a constant support to her husband, but a
centre of gladness and love to around her.
"she possessed great natural energy, and when in
health, was the life and , soul of the benevolent piens
which tell within her sphere. Even in her enfeebled sta e
no one could see her without being impressed by the
influence of her elastic mind, amiable and cheerful
disposition, and refined manners.- Her religion was
that of established principle, rather than of variable
emotion. At times shwatas distrustful of herself, but
all who. intimately knew her felt assured that her life
Was hid with in God."
Her funeral took pine in the church, on Wed
nesday afternoon,
,and was attended by a very
large and sympathizing audience. The services
were conducted with great appropriateness and
tenderness'by Rev. Dr. Storrs, pastor of the Con
gregational Church, and Dr. Allen and Professor
Day, of Lane Seminary. A single sentence, at
the close, from the afflicted pastor, filled with
emotion and tears every heart and eye. He
thanked them for their Christian sympathies,
and then asked them to pray for him as their
pastor. Not so mach that lie might be comfort
ed and supported, for this he was, but that his
great affliction and, sorrow might be so sanctified
that he would:be to them a more holy and useful
pastor in the future—and a better minister of
Christ. The scene; as he stood leaning on the
coffin of his departed wife and before the pulpit,
where he has so faithfully and ably preached the
gloriobs Gospel of Christ, and with tremulous
voice and deep emoticp uttered these words, was
one of melting tenderness and full of the power
and preciousness of the Gospel. The honored,
and now deeply afflicted minister and pastor has
not only the sympathy.: of his own congregation,
and of the Christian public in Cincinnati, but
will have that of Christians in all parts of the coun
try. The remains of his wife were conveyed to
Watertown, N. Y., to slumber with the dust of
her kindred till the. Morning of the resurrection,
when the mortal , shall put on immortality, and
her form Le like the glorious body of Christ
"Blessed are the ,dead that die in the Lord."
There has been an encouraging interest in reli
gion in. Dr. Thompson's church, a number hav
ing united, recently, by profession, and this deep
affliction may be se, sanctified as greatly to in
crease the work of grace.
May Day
Is ushered in with all the bloom and beauty of a
genial Spring. The hills round the city, so,
grand and romantic, are richly covered :with a
carpet of green, tht buds and Sowers are coming
out in all their freshness and fragrance, and the
trees which line the streets and crown the hills,
are being clothed with their new and splendid
ierdue, and all nature,' here, is vocal with glad
ness, and full of life and beauty. The " Queen
City of the West," in many respects, like your
" Quaker City" of the East, has at the present
writing, many points of attraction and interest.
Spring, is putting on the city a new crown of
glory. Business Was never better, nor so many
buildings going up, and what is better than all,
the city has a great majority of loyal eitizens,who
are resolved never to cease their labors for the
country till the rebels at the South and their sym
pathisers at the North, are effectually crushed;
Everybody here is hopeful for the final triumph
of the Government, and the utter destruction of
the wicked and - infamous rebellion. God hasten
the glorious result speedily. B. F. N.
FROM OUR ROCHESTER CORRESPONDENT.
R °MUSTER May Ist 1863
DEAR EDITOR-=You will not be weary of the
subject, I am sure, even if I give you one more
letter about the Revival in Rochester.
Mr. Hammond left us on Tuesday last. Rev.
"Dr. Heacock, of Buffalo, came in to supply his
place on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings,
preaching with his accustomed power and accep
tableness. The .Central Church was thronged
with those who were eager to hear the words of
truth and soberness which fell from his lips.
Theinquiry meetings have also bsen attended with
undiminished numbers and unabated interest.
Last night alsO, although Dr. Heaeoek too had
left, and there was no - distinguished stran-er to
do the preaching, yet the Central Church was
again crowded to its utmost capacity—throne ed,
even around the doors, and clear out into the
entry—to listen to the simple words of one not
at all known to fame; and after the preaching
was over, and the congregation were dismissed
and had passed out, except , those who chose to
remain at the inquiry meeting, the church still
seemed full; and after Christians had spent near
an hour in talking from seat to seat with their
impenitent friends, and those who had recently
found the Saviour, with, those who were prepared
then and there to consecrate themselves to Christ,
as :a closing prayer should be made, were called
forward, it seemed at first as though all were
coming. Hundreds did take that solemn attitude
there before God, kneeling in their places while
Rev. Dr. Shaw offered the closing prayer. Many
spoke of the meeting as the most solemn and
profitable of any yet held. So is God working
mightily among us—so is God making it inani
fest that it is not of man. " Not by night, nor'
by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord."
The large Lecture Room of the Ist Presby.
terian church was again filled this morning at the
daily Union prayer meeting and that gathering
too was tender and solemn, one •of the most en,
cQnraging meetings yet held, as, was observed by
many as. they slowly walked. away. Some eases
of remarkable conversions were related thrilling
and encouraging us. ` Some heart-broken confes
sions were made. One man had been a terribl
backslider for, several years. He was awakened
and brought back with bitter repentings, to the
feet of his Saviour, by the simple untaught
prayer of a little child. With tears and sobs >he
told the story of-his wanderings, and_gaVe us the
words of his prattler, "0 God, bless papa, and
make him a good: man," Heavier than thunder
peals those lispings of his infant child fell on his
hard heart, and broke it all in pieces. So is God
working among us even by the feeblest instru
mentalities.
An: open air prayer meeting was held on last
Sabbath afternoon, right in the heart of the city.
The number in attendance has been variously es
timated, but was not far from five thousand.
Mr Hammond appointed this meeting with a
view to reach those who do not go into any of
our Sanctuaries, and many undoubtedly heard
him, on that occasion for the first time. How
much good was really accomplished by this meet
ing, which could not have been done by the ordi
nary course, we cannot say. Some seem to think
it was the most important of all the gatherings
yet held; others do not so 'gee it. But thiS we
can say, the great throng were entirely orderly,
and many listened with apparent solemnity and
interest to the speaker, as Mr. Hammond
preached with his accustomed animation and
unction. And after the preaching closed, hun
dreds repaired to the first Presbyterian Church,
in front of which the great throng had stood for
an hour and a half, for an inquiry meeting.
Some special good may havebeeit done'by this out-
door convocation.; some soul may be saved forevei
that would not otherwise have received Christ.
Mr. Hammond was well aided in' this service
by the Rev. Mr. Steel, of the Methodist Church,
of Utica, a,preacher of most excellent spirit, fine
talents, burning zeal, and true eloquence. He
has preached several times very acceptably, and
on Sabbath last, both morning and evening, ad
dressed large cengrega tions in the Central church,
while in the evening Mr. Hammond was speak
ing to two thousand souls in the Brick church.
A similar jam was again witnessed at the Brick
church on Monday evening; and on Tuesday
afternoon, Mr. Hammond, gave his farewell
address to the children in the same place. Im
mediately upon the close of the service he took
the cars for Niagara Falls, to spend a few days
in rest. A great throng of children, and not
children alone, accompanied him to the great
Central depot in this city, where they sung quite
a number of their sweet hymns, and received a
few words of parting from Mr. H., as he stood
upon' the steps of the car ready to start. There
also; in ,that unwonted place, he offered a few
words of prayer, as the children stood with faces
covered, and heads. bowed with reverential awe.
Other trains were coming in at the time. Stran
aers asked what these things meant. Some
scoffed, and would have silenced the little ones,
is.the Jews of old, if it had been in their power.
But at the Union Prayer-meeting this morning,
it was reported that a business marl corning in
from, a distant village, was deeply impressed with
that strange scene. He went at night • to the
meeting, to hear Dr. Heacock preach—next
night the same—and the following morning in
the inquiry meeting, gave himself to Christ th •
Saviour, and has now gone back to his own home
rejoicing in something better than the purchase
of his goods,—" without money and without
price!' So out of the mouth of babes is God
ordaining strength.
The National Fast,' yesterday, was observed
with great solemnity. Business was generally
suspended ; stores and offices closed; and the
sanctuaries thronged. Sincere prayer went up
from broken and contrite hearts; and many
prayed as they never prayed before in any fast.
And will not God hear his chosen when - they
cry? May we not expect answers to our fervent
supplications in our country's, behalf ? Yes,Gocl.
will hear; and will answer, though it may not be
just when, or just as we should prefer. But
shall we not still wait on him ? What better can
we 'do? " One day is with the Lord as a thou
sand years; and a thousand years as one day."
The time may yet
,be long, but the end is sure,
if we, have fortitude and patience to labor and to
wait,
0 1 : AU fiettlo.
Presidency of Knox Callege.—We learn says
the Evangelist with great satisfaction that Prof.
Wm. S. Curtis, D.D., of Hamilton College, has
recently been elected to the presidency of Knox.•
College, at Galesburg, Illinois. Such a choice is
a promise of great good, and in view of it wo
may justly congratulate, the trustees and friends
of Knox College. They are fortunate in this
day when the demand for well-furnished men is
so great, in securing one whose experience and
special culture so admirably fit him for the post.
The work begun by his lamented predecessor, as
well as the honored name, will be perpetuated,
and the former carried forward, by the blessing
of God, with vigor and success. And may the
blessed influences which have of late pervaded
the beloved Institution which be leaves, attend
him to his new and enlarged responsibilities.
Western Preslyteries.—At the late meeting of
Crawfordsville Presbytery supplies were appoint
ed for the pulpits of the Commissioners to the
General Assembly. Rey. Dr. Tuttle, was
cc
ap
pointed to preach at the next meeting on Sub
jects and Mode of Baptism." Indianapolis
Presbytery at its last meeting gave special atten
tion to the subject of Home Missions within its
bounds. The following extracts, on this subject,
are taken from the narrative of the state of re
ligion : " Two years have now elapsed since the
Presbytery itself recognized the principle that
itself, .the next body above the Church Session
or congregation, was responsible for the feeble
Churches connected with it that are not able,
alone, to support the Gospel. From the day we
acted on that principle, and the Committee on
Hom 6 Missions, as authorized by the Presbytery,
assumed to employ and diretfhe labor of :a Pres
byterial Missionary, the cause, in that depart
ment of our labor, has gone steadily onward.
And now we are beginning to reap the fruits of
our eon tinned efforts, in the feelingof permanency
in some hitherto neglected neighborhoods and
congregations. And we are confident, if Presby
tery will adhere to the principle, and assure the,
congregations and communities, within our;
bounds, that may reasonably look to us for relig
ious instruction, that they shall be permanently
supplied with faithful preaching; we shall, in the
future, reap much greater reward. This is the
one point where we hive heretofore failed!'
The Presbytery of North River, met April 7th
at Poughkeepsie. Although the travelling was
excessively, bad, and - the weather very unfavor
able, yet there was a fuller attendance than has
been known at any meeting of the body in twenty
years. The Rev. Edgar W. Clarke was received
by letter from the Presbytery of Niagra ; the Rev.
John Ward from the 4th Presbytery of Philadel
phia; and Rev. Austin H. Wright, M. D., of the
Nestorian Mission. Rev. John P. Roe, also.was
ordained ; an addition of four; making the mem
bership twenty four; a larger number than were
before since the great schism. Rev.. James
Donaldson was dismissed from the Church of
Westminster; and one candidate was received.
COMMISSIONERS TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
PRESBRTERY. CLERICAL. LAY..
Champlain, Z. M. P. Luther.
Troy, SeldenEfaines,D.D., , B. Baker, M.D.
A. DeWitt, C. F, Dowd.
Albany,. Charles Doolittle, Hon.©. Allen.
polumtaa i W. S. Leavitt, ' J. W. Fairfield.
IL —UTICA.
WatertownW. H. Lockwood.'
Oswego, J. N. Hubbard, S.W. Brewster.
Utica, , P. H. Fowler, D.D. Spencer Kellogg.
W.B. Pa.rmlee.
St. Lawrence, Jelm Waugh.
111.—GENYVA. . •
Geneva, S. H. Gridley, D.D., D. D. Dayton;ll.D..
E.Woodwardßrown, Platt Crosby.
Chemung, C. C. Carr, D. B. Westlake.
F. S.-Howe, J. A. Redfield.
Ithaca, L. MeGlashen.
Penna. F. Rand.
Lyons, A. Blakely.
W.—ONONDAGA.
Onondaga, E. R. Davis, A. Ford, M.D.
Cayuga, Charles Anderson, Daniel Rawson,-
Amos Crocker, Daniel Bennett. r
Cortland A. McDougall, J. R. Dixon.
Tioga, T. Dwight Walker.
V.—SUSQUEHANNA.
Otsego, Andrew Parsons. `
Chertango, W. M. Hoyt, D. Green.
Delaware, George P. Everest. W. S. A.tehinson
Buffalo, Walter Clarke, D.D., Silas Kingsley,
Samuel W. Roe, S. H. Hungerford.
Ontario, A. L. Benton, . Johnston..
Rochester, Nathaniel Hurd.
Genesee, E. Whittlesey, J. H. Loomis.
Niagara, H. E. Niles. E. P. Healy.
Gen. Valley, John K. Baker.
N. Y. 3rd. Edward French. W. A. Booth.
T. H. Skinner, D:D., W. C. Harp. •
F. W. Graves, D. Gillmur.
N. Y. 4th. INTin. Adams, D D.,. Bartholomew
S. H. Cox, D.D., Lane.
Brooklyn, S. T. Spear,D.D. W. W...Hurlbut.
Montrose, Edward- A llen. Wm. Root.
Wilmington, George Foot, John B. Porter.
Phil' da 3rd, Henry Darling, D.D., B. D. Stewart,
' Charles Brown, W. E. Tenbrook.
Phil' da 4th, Albert Barnes, David Thomas,
Robert Adair, Ambrose White.
Harrisburg, Alex. D. Moore, J. W. Kerr, IL D
Erie, Ambrose Dann, George Keßog,
Meadville, John McMaster, James Clark,
Pittsburg, Herrick Johnson, R. P. Bakewell
•
Monroe, Samuel Fleming.
Marshall, C. S. Armstrong, Alvin Upson,
Washtenaw, Wm. R. Martin.
- Kalamazoo, Milton Bradley, Eli R. Miller.
Saginaw, E. J.Stewart, James Seymour.
Gd.Riv.Tal. D. M. Coopers Calvin H Chase
XL--WESTERN. RESKRITR,
Grand River,J. M. Gillett, 0. H. Fitch.
Portage, George E. Pierce, T. L'Hommedieu
Huron, J. E. Weed, - A. R. Marsh.
Trumbull, Henry B. Eldred.
Cleveland, J. B. Bittinger, S. H.,Mather, •
T. H. Hawks, Hon. J. A. Foot.
Maumee, G. A. Adams.
Pataskala, A. Duncan,
Franklin, Anson Smyth;
cioto, John M. Baal,
Cinneinnati, Prof. G. E. Day, E. P. Starr,
Joseph Chester, L. H. Sargent.
Dayton, S• G. Spees, D.D. G. L: Massey.
Ripley, D. M. Moore, T. N. Sniffin.
Madison, Alex. Parker, T. S. Paine.
Salem, Charles Hutchinson, J. Loughniiller.
Ind'napolis, L. P. Webber, P. H. Roota.
Greencastle, John Hawks, "T. J. Coffin:
Crawfordsville., S. B. King,
St. Josephs, John Sailor.,
Logansport, N. L. Lord.
Fort Wayne,Wm. J. Essiek,
XVI. — ILLINOIS.
Prof. R. Nutting, David A. 'Smith:
Wabash, E. Kingsbury, E. P. Palmer. .‘e
Alton, A. T. Norton, M. Yerkin.
Knox, 13. B. Parsons
Chicago, E. A. Pierce.
Belvidere, Isaac C. Carey, W. IL Avery, Jr.
Bloomington, Benj. E. Miles.
GENESES
Fox River, Charles F. Halsey, .
Columbus, B. G. C. W. Baldwin.
Riley,
Des Moines, Thompson Bird, W. D. Moore.
lowa City, G. D. A. 'Tabard, Sand. H. Rogers.
Chariton, Asa Martin.
Danotah, James Thompson
Minnesota, F. A. Noble,
St. Louis, John Mac Lean
THE DESERT PATHWAY, by Rev. Wm: Rob
ertson, of Hamilton, Scotland. The author of
this volume, who, we believe, has made a reputa
tion Is an eloquent preacher, describes himself
as having been withdrawn
,« into a path of si
lence and trial." Hence' he has been " led to
seek- to glean somewhat among the abundant
lessons and consolations in the great desert track
of , God's chosen people." His quest, not nn
fruitful to himself, will be found profitable to
those who are taking up their cross daily and in
1.-SYNOD OF ALBANY.
Vl.-GENESSEE,
-V11. , •••-7NEW YORK AND NEW JERMY
VIII.-PENNSYLV.ANIA.
IX. -W. PENNSYLVANIA
Xff.-Tort.to.
XIII.-CINCINNATI I
XJ . V.-INDLAiNA.
xv. WABAes.
~~. PEORIA.
xylir.viscoNslN
SIX• -lOWA
XX.7 - 31INNESOTA.
XXI. - MISSOURI
*nu e''ulilliattiono.
the desert pathway of trials, following their
Lord. Thirty separate topics are drawn from
the narrative of the journey of the Israelites,
which are handled with skill, and the spir
itual aspects of each clearly presented to the
mind. 12mo. pp. 404, large type. 8.. Carter
& Brothers. For sale at the Presbyterian
House.
FAMILY SEamoNs, by Iloratitts Boner, D.P.
This is a collection\of fiftytwo sermons on the
great evangelical themes of preaching, designed
for family reading. Generally they, are very
brief, from' six to ten pages of large type; they
are simple, close, persuasive and withal readable,
and well adapted to the , family .circle when de
tained from service on the Sabbath, or as an aid
to the benevolent in visiting the sick, or, indeed,
for devotional reading under almost any circum
stances. 12ino. pp. 464. Hansomely printed.
New York, R.. Carter & Brother& Philadelphia,
Presbyterian Book Store. Price, $1.50.
THE " I WALLS" OF THE PSALMS, by Rev.
P. B. Power. This is the second - of a couple ; of
volumes, the first of which was entitled : "The
'1 Wills' of Christ." These cannot be called
attractive or smooth sounding titles. Yet the
matter of the volumes is well described by them,
and is of a highly profitable character. In- the
latter volume, sundry determinations of the
Psalmist are made the basis of earnest and able
exhortations to the reader to come to similar
decisions. Such topics as the' "I Will" of
Trust, of Ministry and , Testimony, of Converse,
of Teaching, of Prayer, of Action and of Praise
are treated with fullness, with evident knowledge
by experience and observation of men and things,
and'with common sense views which must ren
der the book largely attractive and profitable,
12mo. pp. 404. R. Carttr & Brothers. Phila
delphia, For sale at the Presbyterian House.
THE FORMATION . CHRISTIAN BELIEF.
This little volume, by an anoymons author, is
addressed to a large class of persons in the high
er and more thoughtful circles of our• church
going population, and well does it merit their re
gard. After a preliminary chapter or two, in
which the grounds of doubt and the imperfection
of the usual method of meetingit are coosidered,
the author proceeds to address the: clam whom
he calls iiivoluntanj doubters; those who, wish
and try to believe, but cannot. reach fixed con
clu.sions.upon Scriptural truth. To these he gives
the very sound advice, to suspend their vain at
tempts after intellectual - ifitisfaction, and « to act
upon the basisof Scripture doctrine, exenif it ap
pear illogical so to do before the premises of belief
are settled . 1 ' Readers arereferred to the first page
of this paper for an extract from this part of the
book. , Proceeding towards the conclusion, the
writer argues that in -cues where fullness of con
viction is never attained, the course he has re
commended will build up a obrietian character,
and give great relief to the otherwise distracted
spirit. While the difficulties in tire *ay of
attaining belief are, to a healthy mental constitu
tion, much less than-here portrayed, and while
the writer seems disposed to undervalue meta
physical modes of -treating the. evidences, we
can neverthelUs - cordially raft-emend the book to
the class of "in Volorit,aryDoubters," and to Pastors
wha may often be puzzelid in dealing with such
eases. The 'book is a model of typograPhical
execution, as might be expected from the names
of the publishers Geo. W. Childs, Philadelphia
and the printer, Henry R- Ashamed. 12mo
PP. 125 . " •
THE INVASION. or T EE CRIMEA. b A. W
Ringlake. Vol. L This is the most intensely
interesting, historical work produced in Great
Britain since the brilliant mind of Macaulay
ceased its terrestrial activity. It is. written with
the.same fullness and the same regard for every
detail calculated to make the' picture more
graphic, which gave such a charm to Mammlay's
history, but with afar more searching analysis
of character. -Nearly half of the first volume is
devoted to the transactions which brought on
the war, and among these we find the most
complete and startling portraiture ofkrapoleon
and his 'asseCiates in the coup d' eta; which of
itself has been sufficient to make the.
.writer
famous, and to, whet to the keenest edge the appe
tite of the people for his entire history. Every
one will wish to read it who reads -at all. It is
accompanied with valuable plans of battles.
12mo pp 650. New York Harper* Brothers.
Philadelphia J. B. Lippincott & Co.
Harper & Brothers have added to , tieir` very
neat and elegant Latin texts, SALLUSTI CATA
LINA ET JUGFITETHA. This is the -.ele.venth
volume of the series, each of which will be sent
anywhere in the United States, under 3000
miles, postage pre-paid, for 50 cents. Philadel
phia, J. B. Lippincott & Co.
Samuel H. Lee.
Hon. C. N. Olds.
W.F. Wilson, MD.
-By the attention of S. C. Perkins Esq. we are
in receipt of the Publications of the Union
League in this city, amounting-to half a score of
pamphlets, all inculcating the duties of the loyal
citizen, defending the Government, and breath
ing the loftiest and most determined spirit of
patriotic devotion. The best utterances of some
of our public men, Democrats and others upon
such subjeets as "The Future of the Northwest,"
"adaptation of our constitution to a state of war
and Insurrection," "English Neutrality" are
thus puta shape for general distribution which is
gratitous. From the last named pamphlet, we have
take n an extract headed "America.n Neutrality,"
which will be found on our fourth page. We
take occasion to say that the League is composed
of persons of the highest respectability in our
city, whose union is of the closest and most cor
dial character, though many of the members
were previously separated from each other from
childhood, by party lines. The large mansion of
the late Hartman Kuhn, on Chestnut street,
opposite Girard Row, has been purchased by the
League, and fitted up in elegant style for the
accommodation of the members, and the recep
tion of distinguished loyal men from abroad.
THE ECLECTIC MAGAZINE, W. H. Bidwell,
New York, is embellished with a very beautiful
and interesting double picture, containing •me
dallion likenesses of the Prince of Wales-and his
bride, Alexandra. We were somewhat surprised
to see the on the " Antiquity of the Hu
manßace, " inserted in the Eclectic, without
comment, dissent or warning. Does the editor
endorse its doctrine without qualification .?
A. S. Jor es
John W. Shields
John L. Knight.
L. L. Day
D.W. Ingersoll
Russell Searrevt
THE CONTINENTAL MONTHLY for May, con
tains a full list of National and miscellaneous ar
ticles. The contrast between Rhode island and
Delaware is worthy of being pondered by the
people of the latter State, who would retain sla
very. ' • .
MAY 7,
PAMPHLETS, ETC.