ILO ■visit to an English Convention, into which he could not help carrying, an American heart, no further intercourse has been held between the officers here and the officers there. But do our British friends think that the honor lies on their side ?— lndependent. Jerrican ftertgtrtixx —AND— CtINISII EVANGELIST. THURSDAY, JULY 9, 1863. JOHN W. HEARS, THE JUST CAUSE UPON ITS FEET. At this hour of triumph, more exultant than any yet occasioned by the war in the list, we would turif from the mere enthusiasm of vic tory, the swelling consciousnes' of vindic ted prowess, the glory of heroic deeds and splendid feats of arms, to the more solid and elev teds tis factloa which arises from the spectacle of justice vindicated, and righteous principle rescued from jeopardy, by the decisive arbitrament of war. But a week ago, there were hours that seemed charged with such calamities to the cause of truth and justice, that good men walked our streets half-questioning whether there'was a God in heaven. So dark was the prospect, that it was Scarcely wonderful that even the good “faltered where they firmly trod," And falling with their weight of cares, Upon the world’s great altar stairs, That slope through darkness up to God; They stretch lame hands, of faith and call To what they feel is Lord of all, And faintly trußt the larger hope. Without having shared to the full in these despondent feelings, we were not beyond sym pathising in them to such a degree, ns to feel a profound relief in the victories just granted to our noble army. And while the war cannbt be considered as very near its end even yet, we be lieve the final issue is placed beyond doubt by the recent battles; we deem it impossible that the rebellion should recover from the blows it has just received in the providence of God. And what are victories, and what are brilliant feats of arms and consummate strategy, and what are charge and repulse and retreat and pursuit ? In one view murder, savage slaughter, the letting loose of all the devilish passions of men, a concentration of all earth's horrors, wo and darkness and doom upon thousands of happy households, devastated fields, taxed incomes,,a generation trained to martial tastes and ready for hostile measures at every national affront. In another view they ar< glory to our flag safety and respect for our nation at home and abroad,.in spiration to the. Muses and a stimulus to the heroic, qualities of our nature ; they are success in its highest; grandest form to the people’s un dertakings. But far above each of these one sided and imperfect views, is that which regards them as sublime j udgements pronounced by the supreme Arbiter 1 of events, written , in majestic characters upon the broad page of history, the chap ter headings of the ever unfolding Gospel of Providence. They are the hours, the moments, when great principles are enthroned, which shall henceforth control the world, when final verdicts are pronounced upon the great causes of time which have irreconcileably divided mankind. Such we believe is the significance.of the victories just achieved upon tho soil of mir common wealth. We regard them as partaking of this decisive oharaeter. They are a verdict won at the cannon’s mouth for human rights, for the simplest and most fessential principles of republi can government, for the right and the power of a free nation to maintain its own unify and na tionality, with its freedom; they are a verdict against the grasping insatiable lust of the slave power for unlimited dominion—the more con elusive as it has been the longer delayed—a ver dict for immediate and well-nigh universal eman cipation; a verdict for the supremacy of law and good government, the world over, against cause less and criminal rebellion. They rend the Veil of mist which had gathered over this na tion’s future and they point, not indistinctly, to a glorious career for this greatest of the free nations of the earth, when resplendent with new achievements, girt with new prowess, nn incumber ed with the besetment of slavery, she shall more than ever justify the application of the text:— “ In thee shall all the nations of the earth be bles sed.” ■ Most devoutly do we recognize the hand of God in these late terrible conflicts and hard won victories. ’ A comparatively unknown man was made the instrument of the long, and weari ly, and doubtfully expected consummation The pets of politicians, the Idols of the People and: of the Army, the men whose names had become rallying cries for both the enemies and the friends of the Administration and of the cause, were far from the scene when the decisive hour arrived. An unostentatious, God-fearing man, who made no boasts or promises beforehand, and whose bulletins since are the most singularly modest of any in the war, so that we instinctively expect more than they contain, has been the in strument of Providence in achieving the most ’mportant results of the war. Why was it, but to stain the pride of all glory, to rebuke the man worsbippers of our time, that God aloue should be exalted in that day, and that the result might appear exclusively to be his interposition in be half of the righteous cause. RELIGIOUS SERVICES OH THE FOURTH. The late anniversary of oar Independence was celebrated by the devout of our city in numerous assemblages for prayer. The services of the Noon-day prayer-meeting were especially inter esting. Many churches, in accordance with the suggestion of the Union League, were open from 8 to 9 o’clock’ in the morning, and were largely attended. Never has public prayer for our country and our cause been more frequent or more earnest than now. A number of churches are open for daily services with this object in view, and we cannot but notice the unpretending tone of piety that characterizes the public docu ments which have recently emanated from Gen eral Meade’s Headquarters and from Washing ton. These are encouraging and refreshing indications. ° VICKSBURG FALLEN. As we gd to press we have official intelligence of the surrender of Vicksburg on the Fourth of July to the United States forces. AID TO THE SUFFERING - SOLDIEES. MEETING OP THE CHRISTIAN COMMISSION. All the efficient agencies of onr city in behalf of our soldiers have been working at their maxi mum power since the battles on our own soil commenced. The news of Saturday, especially, stimulated theOhristian people to a degree of unwonted energy oh the following Sabbath. Every effort was made to obtain the necessary stores and laborers to distribute them upon the field and with immediate and great success. Two army meetings of the Christian Commission were held on Sabbath evening, one, at the Epi phany church, 15th an ! d Chestnut Streets, being improvised yet attended by an immense audience. Rev. Dr. Newton, the Rector,’Rev. Mr. Faires, Geo. H. Stuart, Joseph'Patterson, and Col. Bow man took part in the services. Mr. Faires after alluding to the momentous nature of the princi ples which had been decided in the recent bat tles, described bis,recent visit to Harrisburg and Carlisle as the agent of the Christian Commis sion. He arrived in Carlisle on Wednesday in time to witness the bombardment. It was a re markable coincidehce ’that the first of our sol diers wounded in the engagement, was the son of Joseph, Patterson, Treasurer of the Christian Commission, and the first persons to show him. attention were the agents of that Commission. Good deeds said Mr. F., are never lost. Mr. Patterson himself next spoke. He said we are here to-night probably at the cost of twenty thousand men. The soldier chiefly needs in his absence, and in his afflictions, the .gentle ministrations of home. The Christian Commis sion aims as far as practicable to supply them. It offers a sympathy that officials cannot fur nish. Christian men going without pay into these scenes—it is a work which John Howard might have engaged in. Mr. P., here referred with deep emotion to his son. In the street’s of Carlisle, he said,'there was one very near to me. in whom was invested large affections. When he was prostrated, these agents of the Christian Commission weTe the men who afforded him suc cor. Though lje has left his right handin the Cum berland Valley, God has mercifully spared his life. The only human ageney effectually used in his behalf was that of the Commission! I stand here publicly acknowledging myself a bene ficiary. Fathers and mothers in this Assembly it may be your ■ turn soon. It is your part at this timo to sustain the Commission by yonr generous contributions. > Editor Mr. Geo. H. Stuart described how strangely he.had spent the Sabbath. He had gone from place to place procuring the needed supplies, and had been hard at work packing, boxes all the latter part of the day. He urged upon the peo ple to go to the help of the men who had on the fourth of July again achieved our liberties. Mr. S., gave a rapid account of the • origin of the Christian Commission and said it was the child of Providence. The motto to be placed upon its monument, should he one he saw m Chester, England, upon an old monument erected by the only man in the town whose family had escaped •the.great plague: “ The Providence of God is mine Inheritance.” When organized, Nov. 16, 1861, it contemplated no such work, no such re sults, means, success, machinery as had been placed before it. Up to May 14,1863, it had distributed over $300,000 worth of stores and publications, and had sent nearly 700 delegates to the field. And the only reward they received was the soldiers’ “Godblessyou I” And says Mr. S., there is no SUeh coin in-our country as that. The speaker gave some thrilling incidents occur ing in the course of his own labors among the soldiers, illustrating most effectually the great utility of-the Commission to the bodies and souls of the men, and the profound gratitude with which they were received by the soldiers. He assured the audience that God is working by His Spirit in our armies. He never saw such prayer meetings as those in camp, even in the great gatherings at Jayne’s Hall of 1858, nor the re vival meetings at Belfast in the following year. 2000 soldiers would crowd into and around the tent. I never in all my life; said he, .saw un converted men so near the .cross of Christ,'as in the army of the Potomac. In the army of the Cumberland a distinguished General Officer, for merly very profane, said to a minister of the Gos pel: I have svorn my last oath, I have taken my last glass, I read my Bible. I have a pious, wife. If we are to succeed in this struggle we must look to -God. A Major-General in the same army was so desirous of the continuance of such influences in his Division, that he appointed an agent of the Christian Commission on his Staff. Mr. Stuart proceeded to show the activity of these agents and tho cheapness of the system.- — One of the most efficient of their laborers was a gentleman with a salary ot but $lOOO who on returning from an extensive and successful tour presented a bill of $5.32! He declared that this was the time for action. - Did we know what had been going on this Sabbath in ourcity l He mentioned churches which had turned their usual services into work-circles ' In a Baptist chuTch 200 ladies had been at work all day. Another church had held a prayer meeting in stead of the usual afternoon service and raised $lOOO on the spot, for the work of the Commis sion; another packed forty boxes. 30 or 40 delegates had gone or were preparing: Rev. Dr. Newton was one of them. The liberality ;showu in other places to the Commission was next spo ken of. The ladies of Buffalo had sent $2500, the proceeds of a fair. In one meeting in the West, 50 articles of jewelry were contributed. In Rochester the people even put their spectacles in the boxes. This, great hour of necessity has found our Treasury empty for the first time. On Friday I went out and collected $l5OO in ten minutes! 001. Bowman of the 84th Pennsylvania, made a few stirring remarks. He expressed his pro found sadness at the great sacrifice of life which had been necessitated in these struggles. He blamed severely those who hang around to read the news instead of going to the front to help make the news; He advised' all to drill. We were all too comfortable here. He highly com- : mended the Christian Commission j he had .wit nessed its great usefulness among 'his own men, and made tip his mind to give his testimony to that effect, at the first opportunity. Turning to the religious aspects of the work he said more had been done last winter than ever before to bring the minds of the. soldiers of the army of the Potomac to a Christian standard. < He be lieved thoroughly in the idea of Cromwell, that the praying soldier would fight the best. He referred to the 12th . N. H., Regiment,'which formed part of his brigade at Chancellorsville.—■ They were nearly ell pious aid the best fighters he ever saw; their behavior at Chancellorsville in detimje Ctongflifit. the face of superior numbers was most heroic. Their Lieutenant, a Baptist minister was one of the bravest men he ever saw; he preached to the men upon their duty before the action —he was desperately wounded but will recover. During the Colonel’s address the collection was taken up and the boxes were brought back literally cram med with green backs. . The amount contributed was ascertained to be $lO3O. The enthusiasm was carried to its height when the contents of a recent dispatch were announced describing the victories achieved over the rebel army; after which the audience dispersed. The Ladies’ Aid Society, vigorously at wprk at 12th and Walnut Sts. —Dr. Boardman’s ehurcli —sent away 15 boxes on Mondayto Mrs. Harris. That indefatigable lady, the Florence Nightingale of onr war, sent a dispatch on Mon day,[bogging especially for stimulants to support the wounded on the battle-field, as hundreds of lives depended on their being seasonably at hand. According to the Bulletin of Monday evening, 100 delegates of the Christian Commission have left for the field. The benevolence of our com munity is fully awake to the pressing emergen cies of the hour. and. every thing practicable will be done to abate'tho unavoidable hortors of the battle-field. The same event in one aspect seems almost to nullify our claims to Christian civiliza tion, while in another it developes and illustrates them in the most conclnsive manner. A SIGNAL REBUKE. It is but a week, as we write, since the rebel army of Virginia was master of a large and fer tile portion of our State ; dictating orders from Chambersburg and Carlisle ; appropriating in discriminately and with impunity the property of tlio citizens ; laying enormous tribute upon York and Carlisle as conquered cities; sweeping back our raw militia to the right and the left, and looking over from the western shore of the bright and sweetly flowing Susquehanna with exultant gaze in the direction of our own wealthy and defenceless city. Our city was the prize they coveted; and on that, day, Monday of last week, we imagined them already replacing with their pontoons the famous structure at Columbia which we destroyed the previous day to hinder their invading progress,, and knew not if they were not already on the hither side, striding on ward with their terrible cavalry and hourly lessen ing the spaee between us. Harrisburg was re ported taken ; or when that was found untrue, Was pronounced on military authority incapable: of defence. Our . very preparations in the city had an air of aimlessness, which seemed-but toiiti crease our sense of Helplessness. Multitudes left their work only to wander listlessly through the streets. Notwithstanding the excellent spirit of our authorities, there was wanting that firm ness, promptness and decisiveness in their acts, which would have at once communicated them selves to the people and turned their fears to im mediate practical use. For days earthworks were talked about, but not a spade was put in requisi tion,and if earthworks were constructed, where, askedinany, are the heavy guns to man them ; and if the utmost dispatch is employed with them, can they be completed in time to be of any. ser vice ? Multitudes lay down on Monday night to find no sleep to their eyes or slumber to their eyelids,- and multitudes saw no deliverance from the impending'fate save in the. manifest inter position of Providence. For ourselves, we re solved not to despond so long as the army of the Potomac existed to embarrass the enemy’s plans, and to form one of the instrumentalities which were likely to be used by Providence in our de liverance, but it is to be confessed the change of leaders that had just taken place, and the recent elevation of an unknown person to the command,, were calculated to weaken confidence and to withdraw almost entirely this great and splendid ly disciplined army from the elements of the question, as it lay in men’s minds. To many, there seemed to be really no serious obstacle to Gen. Lee’s triumphant advance to any part of the State. , , A Week has gone by and lo ! what a change I The presumption and recklessness of the enemy has proved his doom. Enough success has at tended his steps to lure him .more .deeply into the snare, to complete his entanglement, to deep en the disasters that have befallen him. • He now turns the wasted fragments of his invading horde to see if he can escape utter destruction. The proud and triumphant invader of a week ago, the robber of peaceful farmers, the terror of a mighty common wealth, whose progress had struck a powerful nation with awe, turns this; way and that, to find some obscure by path in . the mountains by which he may fly. His legions have been hurled with prodigal disregard If life againstan unwavering host of defenders, and heaps of corpses now strow the roads on which, but'a week before, they marched with the mien of conquerors. ’Whatever shall else become of this army, its prestige as an invading host is gone, like that of Sennacherib before Jerusalem. “ The stout-hearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep; and none of the men of fmight have found their hands. At thy rebuke,- Q God of Ja cob! both the chariot and horse aro cast into a dead sleep.” Terror has passed away, exulta tion takes its place. Nay, anxiety prevails now, lest the invader be able’to make good his escape j lest too aodn for us lie quit the soil which we were lately so profoundly grieved, and humbled to have him tread at all. Dearly has, the inva sion cost the army of the rebellion, bitterly and , and despondingly the foe balances'the week of domination and bountiful living upon loyal soil, against the rivers of blood, the thousands of slain, the tens of thousands wounded and captives, the shame of defeat which wc have exacted of him irf return, as the ministers of God, bearing not the sword of justice, against high and atrocious and persistent offenders, in vain. The First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia and the Christian Commission.— The intelligeneerfrom the seat of war in Penn sylvamahas excited the deepest interest through out our city, and has been felt nowhere more intensely than by the members of the First Re formed Presbyterian Church, which has sent about one hundred and fifty persons to the army. On the afternoon of last Sabbath, July, sth, the usual services were dispensed with, and; a prayer meeting was held on behalf of our soldiers. In connection with the devotional exercises, a sub scription; w as made to assist the Christian Com mission in supplying the wounded, whether of our own or the rebel army, with such relief as, their wants required. Although no notice, .had Ibeen givenj ’the spontaneous ■ effort resulted in obtaining the sum of $lO5O. A military com- for home defence,’ has also been formed, now numbering over fifty persons. ~ : ! FROM OUR ROCHESTER CORRESPONDENT. Rochester, July 3,1863. Dear Editor : —As I take my pen to address you, the news boys are crying the afternoon pa pers in the street*, jtith the welcome and inspir ing intelligence; Vicksburg has fallen. The rumor seems to cofte in an authentic shape, and creates great excitement.; It may prove to'- be premature; but we ean not doubt that the event is sure and near at hand. The same papers tell us that it is confidently believed that Gen. Dix has invested Richmond, and that that too may be ours before this day's sun goes down. If these two events should be announced to-morrow morning as certain, arid no falls in the mean time upon the army of the 'Potomac, we fear it will be almost too much of good news for one day. Certainly it will lend a marvellous eclat to the keeping of the glorious fourth of July. ; This city will go wild with excitement. But suppose these good things do not all come in one day—what then ? Suppose they arc long delayed—what then? Why, are there not twenty, millions of freemen still left? And; are they not sons of the Pilgrim, of'the Huguenot, and of the Heroes-of the Revolution ?’ Is there , not something ofijbfe old. blood left ? And Will, the sons of sue! pres. a?lpw the fair fabric which their fathers reared, to be pulled in pieces,- and; its fragments thrown to the winds, while 1 the nations of the earth look on and" laugh lis to scorn. Will they allow treason, rebellion and madness to, go unpunished, because it is great, arid defiant, and blasphemous, in its pretensions ? We believe not. Better a thirty years' war— better the sacrifice of a whole generation of men, on the altars of liberty, than that this wicked re bellion should triumph, or that this nation should be divided. This we believe to be the prevail ing sentiment of this part of the country —loyal, thoroughly loyal, and ready for any sacrifice which may be necessary to crush out- the rebel lion utterly. But what sacrifices have we as yet made ? It would be difficult to tell, by merely passing, through our streets, by entering our dwellings, or our places of'business. Here all looks like highest thrift, f|d 1 ' abounding prosperity. In deed, this city' worn a more cheerful and thriving aspect, \ye venture to assert, in twenty years. Improvements, public arid private, are going on all the time; and some of them almost on a scale of magnificence. Many business blocks and private dwellings are going up, while the city is reconstructing on a grand scale some of her sewers, and a chartered company are rapidly entire city, in all its prin cipal avenues, with street railways. Many miles oftraek ate already.laid, the.routes are daily extending, a very’-large ear house has been erec ted, and next week, we are told, the cars'are.to be running. ' .; . This has long been -a much needed ■ improver ment for this city. For, wisely, tho houses are not all huddled together. Very few people live in blocks of dwellings. Each house has its own ground, and garden and shade trees, which makes this peculiarly a rural city, and which gives it great breadth andl.amplitude. Many of the finest dwellings, and for. many more, are on the outskirts of th? city.. These horse cars will, make such locations imore accessible, and increasingly valuable. ; ■ .. And here We may mention, that the meeting of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, is to be held next fall in this city. Already the; committee, of arrangements are preparing for its coming. And we were thinking, as we wrote, how great a convenience this city railway will be, to many of our guests on .that interesting and important occasion. We; trust the cars wili .be running in every direction before that time.' An interesting gathering, being the “ Six teenth annual meeting of the Monroe County Senior Pioneers,” was recently held in this city. The old folks, men and women, (some of them not very bid, either,) got together, to talk, over the-olden times.' .The society embraces about sixty members; hnd most of.them were present on this spreading out'their reminifeences. Take the following as illustrating wha.t Rochester was forty years ago', remembering that all this oecurted in that which is now the very foart of the city. “ Mr. Edwin Scran tom'said he lived in a log house on the site of the Eagle Hotel lot. They had no hoards, but used blankets for doors and ' partitions, arid at night chased snakes from under their beds. r He had chased deer from Front street up Buffalo' street to a ledge of rocks. ‘ Af terwards his father built on the spot which is now No. 16 Buffalo street. There was plenty of game, and on one occasion te caught a rabbit in a box trap where Corinthian Hall stands. The best fresh meat he ever ate, was from a. deer his brother shot on the site of Barton’s building, in 1812. ' He afterwards shot .another on the island; where the jail is, A Mr. Wallace built a lime kiln on the site'pf the; Rochester Savings Bank, and the speaker went there one day to see it, and on returning was severely punished by his mo ther for going so, far away froin hoine. There were plenty of Ridiahs in those days, near the high vfalls Carthage. He had shared their sports invaliding down "Andrews street bridge' hill inthW winter, on-strips of bark peeled from the trees. ' They could ' ride down hill to perfection.” We have seen it announced' in' two or three newspaper paragraphs, as something nei6 t that a Baptist church has' recently been lighted in Philadelphia, hy placing argand burners in the panels of the ceiling,’ arid so getting the .light from above. We have two churches in; this’city,' the’Brick and the Central, (Rev. Bf. Shaw’s and Rev. Mf.’Ellinwpoii’s,) which are lighted, in part at least, in that manner. But we should advise any church to inquire very carefully into the working of that ,pethod before adopting it. We have not investigated the matter, but we should suppose it to be an expensive method. It is putting your lights a great way off. Would not half the amount' of gas consumed serve a better purpose when properly arranged upon the sides of the galleries f" ’ a parli’of 4 slie ’-fruit 65r the pleasant revival before mentioned, as'ln' progress at Brbckport, about twenty converts are to be received next . Sunday to the I’rteibyterian church in that vil lage." About one hundred were received into the three Presbyterian churches arid the Baptist church of Auburn- on the first Sabbath of June. And at the close of the succeeding week a friend writes: “At no time since this good work began have we had mpre satisfactory evidence that the Lord is with as than for the past week. Of course the demonstration is somewhat modified, but conversions* are continually occurring, and the meetings, if less frequent, maintained with much interest. The young converts arc decided, active, growing, arid the ; older’ Christians, who were interested in the work, maintain their zeal.” Let me also add that a delightful work of grace is in progress in the village of New Hart ford, near Utica. A young brother, Rev. 0. 0. Kimball, recently out of the Theological Semi nary at New York, went there some weeks ago, and began preaching, in earnest. . .The Master has kindly owned his labors,, and some thirty or forty are already indulging hope in Christ. Hmm m iltittte. Presbyterian. Another Corner-Stone Laid.—The corner stone of Tabor church, at the corner of 18th and Christian streets, was laid with appropriate cere monies, on Thursday last, the 2d of July. There was a large concourse in attendance The pecu liar circumstances arising from the presence of an immense invading force within our State, whose avowed object was the capture Of Phila delphia, and the possible desolation of its fair structures, and impoverishment ot its. liberal church members, lent a solemn interest to the scene. _ Rey. Brainerd, McLeod, Mears, and, the pastor, Mr. Van Beurs, took a part in: the services. The corner-stone was laid by Miss Cecilia Baldwin, daughter of Mr. M. W. BaldwiA, to whose gene rous liberality the congregation is indebted for the entire amount necessary for completing thestruc tufe.Oopies of the Bible,Confession of Faith,Xme-, rican Presbyterian, Public Ledger , Coins, Postage Currency, Photograph of Mr. Baldwin, with other objects of interest were deposited in tbe cavity. Miss Baldwin used a silver trowel/ ;on which .the following device was engrived:—•' “ Presented to Miss Cecilia Baldwin, as a token of grateful remembrance, by the people of Tabor, on the occasion of laying the corner-stone of said Church, S. W., corner of 18th. and Christian streets. Philadelphia, July 2d, 1863.”, The bnilding will be in Gothic style, 98 feet long and 78 feet wide in the transept, fronting ;on Christian street, with a chapel in the rear on ,18th street, 70 by SO feet; so that the entire structure will be 118 feet deep. The tower and spire will be 110 feet high. The walls will he 20 feet high to the square; to the peak of the roof, the height will be 35 feet. The material is Trenton brown stone. It will seat 700 on the audience floor and 200 more in the galleries; ilk-' timated coßt $20,000. To be done some time in the fall. S. Sloan, architect ; D. Cramer & Son, builders. We congratulate tbe Congregation on this happy inauguration of their new enterprise. Should the spiritual glory of the, latter house exceed that of theformer, in the proportion that the outward glory promises to do, the comuni ty will have ' great cause for rejoicing, and the kingdom of Christ will make large advances among the needy portions of • our population. The generous aiet of Mr. Baldwin in supplying the means necessary for the work should not only commend admiration, but secure imitators among our wealthy laymen. They surely can find no more satisfactory method of disposing of their surplus means than the one chosen by Mr. B. Let them exercise the same sagacity and let them join with him in dotting,' the waste places of our great cities with such commddious, < attractive,-; and not over costly houses of worship v ahd they will find the leaven of the Gospel effectually working to arrest the prevailing corruption, and ■crime of our crowded population. Such acts are public benefactions of the highest order. Reformed Presbyterian. Scottish Reformed Preshyterian Church. —The recent meeting of the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian church in Scotland was held in Glas gow, commencing May 4, and closing May 8, The Rev. Dr. Graham, of Liverpool, was chosen Moderator, and Rev. John Kay, was continued clerk. The reports presented showed that the various departments of the ; Savior’s service, in which this Synod is engaged were in a prosper ous condition. The number of students in the Theological Seminary is 20, a larger riumber than any tern before, although still not adequate ' to meet the united claims of the congregations; already existing and the Home and Foreign Mis sionary field.—The committee on Foreign Mis sions reported the completion of the translation of the New Testament into the language >of An-i cityum, one of the New Hebrides’ group, where ' the Scotch Reformed Presbyterian Church has' a very interesting mission. Mr. Inglis, who had’ visited Scotland'for the purpose of printing this translation, has returned to, Aneilyuin, along with William, the native convert who had ah- 1 ■eompanied him,- and whose health: we regret, to, say had. become seriously impaired. About 815,000 have been collected by one of the Mis sionaries for the construction of a small: vessel' designed to sail among the various islands of the group. It is expected that this mission schoo ner, to he built in .Nova Scotia, will be finished and ready to sail -in the Autumn, when several missionaries from Nova Scotia Will take passage) in her for the South Pacific. The amount contri buted; for Foreign Missions during 4he : Synodical year was somewhat over 80000.—The Committee on. Home Missions report that the operations of the Church in this department, are becoming more energetic and more productive: Interest ing details are given of stations in .Glasgow, Lau riestori, Dundee, Lorn, and Dunscore. Four con gregations, in addition to sustaining their own pastors, also support domestic missionaries. The Committee on, Ministerial Support report that their operations arc in a hopefully efficient arid : prosperous state. They propose to supplement ) the salaries of any ministers receiving -less than t 8600, until they reach that sum along with the 1 use of a manse. Their receipts were about 81400, payinents about 81000. —The statistical 1 tables show 45 organized congregations, and 6741 com municants. The contributions for various pur posed, including salaries of ministers are over ,£5OOO 0r'825,000. The most important discus sions referred to the exercise of the elective' franchise, a sfibject which has been agitating the Church for several years past. The following resolution was finally adopted: “ Syri’od' enacts that while recommending the members of the Church to abstain from the use of the and from taking the oath of allegiance, discipline _ to the effect of suspension and expulsion from the Church shall cease.” In favor of this motion there were 46 votes; opposed to it, 11; and not voting .7. Three ministerial; brethren withdrew in consequence, and we understand claim to bo considered and called the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Scotland. —-The next meeting of the' Synod is to be held in Edinburg, on the Monday after first Sabbath in May, 1864. Rev. Dr. McLeod, N. 7. —Stey mmisteis, if any, in our land have given a more cordial sup port to our Government in its struggle with rebellion, than the respected pastor of the First; Reformed Presbyterian church, New York. In addition to his services in the pulpit, Dr. McLeod has now accepted a position in the army as chap lain of the 84th N.Y. regiment, National Guards, and it is now on duty. Two of his sons are also in the army, and his congregation is very nume rously and honorably represented. Genesee. Rev. Mhn Bole}— We learn by a late number of th o Bahtier of Ulster, that the BeVl John Bole, formerly the faithful and, succeasfulpastdf of the Reformed Presbyterian church, Ryegate, Yer mont, who. had been obliged by the, delicate health of his wife, to return to Scotland, has been installed pastor of Reformed Presbyterian church, Liverpool street, Belfast, Ireland. We congra tulate the congregation which Fas so nobly maintained its integrity under circumstances of a very discouraging character, that it has at length obtained a pastor so'laborious, so talented, so ex emplary, as it has now secured. May we not hope that “ the time to favor it, yea the: set time has come,” and that it may enjoy again “ times of refreshing” and rejoicing. ’■ ] Death of firs: Catharine Clarke, of Aiiiherst, JVova Scotia. —It is with sorrow we announce the death of this estimable lady, the wife of Rev. Dr. Alexander Clarke. It occurred June 23rd, 1863. Mrs. Clarke was the daughter of Mp John MeMiUan, formerly of Belfast, Ireland, and afterwards of St. Johns,. N.B:ywelli known as a faithful, earnest, and godly Covenanter of the type of those who lived in times that tried mens’ souls. Mrs' C. having accompanied her husband to the then unsettled region where he has been laboring for more than thirty years, proved her self “ a helpmeet for him.” Her kindness, her, gentle modesty, her energy of character, her unaf fected piety, must have impressed all who had the pleasure of meeting! with her in:ber>hospita ble home. We sincerely condole with our re spected brother in his mournful loss. Ladies Visiting Association of First Reformed Presbyterian Church, PhUadeljtMa.—The Thud Anniversary of this Society was held on the af ternoon of Sabbath, 28th, initlm church on Broad street, below Spruce. After introductory services and an address thp pastor, the Annu al Report was read by James Grant, and addresses made by Rev. J. A. Crawford. Rev. WYE. Boardman, and GeorgeH. Stnart, -Esq., The exercises were deeply interesting. Mr. Crawfordjwlio had arrived in the city a few days before, gave an account of his escape through, the rebel pickets, in the vicinity his father's residence near Chambersburg, while he was car rying his mother, wifeand children to a place of safety, Mr. Crawford, it is hoped, will furnish an outline of Ms address, which will, show some thing of the character of our invaders, and the dangera to which we have been exposed by their invasions. J lii our next issue we propose to print the annual report of this Association.' Installation. —Rev. W. J. McDowell for merly Pastor of the First Lisbon Congregation, St. Lawrence Co. N. XI, having received a unan imous call to Ryegate congregation, State of Vermont, was, on the 17th day of Juiie, 1863, installed pastor of the last named congregation.; A commission, of the Northern Presbytery R. P. 0., met for this ,;purp6se, in the church, in South Ryegate. In the absence of the Rev. J. A. Crawford who was to have preached the ser mon, and presided, Rev. J. S. Scott, presided and put the constitutional questions; and gave, aecordingitb appointment, 1 a charge to the pastor. Rev. W. H. Reed, though very unwell, gave a charge to the people. After which the elders and congregation; greeted, with the right-hand of fellowship, their pastor. It is matter of congra tulation to the Northern Presbytery that though there is a change made, as is often the case, she has not lost in the: number of her pastors. Bro. McDowell enters upon his new field of labor, in fine spirits and with high hopes of success. There appears to be a' wide and, an effectual door of usefulness opened to him, by his Mas ter. It is proper to observe that the; congregation thus left vacant is in a flourishing condition. It consists of over a ! hundred'members and presents a fine field for the cultivation of the Christian hnsbandman. ; ■ S. July Ist. 1863. ' ‘ Progress of Presbyterial Organizations Ger many.: —An officfed document, detailing the. opera: tionsof the Synods formed according to royal order in the Evangelical church of Prussrn—which is the .State Church—has recently been issued in Konigs berg: These Synods are quite an experiment, the first meetings having, been held from July to De cember of, last year. . The document or report is mad§ the subject of a leading article in the Eoj Kirclien-Zmttmg (Berlin, March 28th) from which we gather the following facte: The first point discussed in tho. “Report ” is the demand made at these opening Synods by the lib eral—which is generally also the party, for more radical measures; such as a mate rial increase of the lay element; limitation ot the power of the presiding officer; complete publicity; voting with open ballots; limitation of disciplinary authority and the like. ; These desiderata were pressed only in some few of the Synods. ‘ The offi cial notice of these demands is accompanied with a remonstrance, in which the necessity of first testing the privileges of self-government, so far asalready accorded to the Church, is insisted upon. Two Sy nods urged the employment of the police to prevent Sabbath-breaking and the lessening of drinking places. Another represented the inexpediency of invoking the arm of the law for these objects, and maintained that tbe better and only true policy was to cure the evils by moral and spiritual means. Seven Synods voted addresses to their Synodical constituents exploring fully the new system of government, or Summoning them to co-operate in contending with the dominant social evils of the day, impuriiy and drunkenness. A question which engaged the earnest attention of a majority of (.ho Synods was how to elevate the character and ;qm6ken the activity of the Church sessions. The personal piety of the elders was declared to be a prime re quisite to such improvement; and great painswere ■taken te exhibit the mode in which the activity ot the Church session might be made to respond to the true wants of the people. The repugristece to any exercise of Chuych Discipline which' so widely prevails, was met by explanations) and by the attempted removal of misconceptions on the sub ject. Twelve Synods voted for a life-eldership • 34 for a limited term of office, mostly six years—half of the session to go out of office every thfee years, bu -If ellglb!e . to again. Besides these, ln ? n f,v^ ber Were' diteussed,‘inciuSin" the troublesome one of marriage and divorce. ‘ P* I ° Other Branches. The impression made by a perusal of the Report, says the writer? is that the newly-constituted organs of the church-life of Prussia in connection with the ecclesiastical authorities, are engaged in an earnest and zealous effort to encourage the beginnings of a richer development of the Church constitution which will be found immediately promotive of the eeclesi sstieal and moral life of the Church. The early convocation of the provincial Synod (General As sembly) W6uld, he thinks, be found the best secu rity for a thorough development of the church life through those subordinate synods. The Board bf FuhHcatiom—The changes re quired in the arrangement of this Board, according to the action of the late General Assembly at Peoria, were promptly eriacftS bf s thb Board at iS meeting June 9th. They are merging the duties and offices of Editor of Publications into those of the Secreta ry; merging the office of Treasurer into that of superintendent of Colportage: discontinuing the office and of Solicitor; placing the peri odical departihent under the control of an in dividual ; witip : a salary of $l3OO, he to fur nish hia cwn clerks;- discontinuing the ..pay ment of moqpy for Contritotions to the Sabbath School Viator until the memne warranto it; making tlie Rtme ahM Foreign Record a monthly pamphlet instead of quarto a& now. Rev. Dr- Boardman sent in his 1 resignation as a member of the Board; Mr. *J. B. Mitchelif Treasurer, and'Rev. Dr. Bnr gles, long Editor of Publications, also sent their resignations. * Ths The Eclectic MagAziNE of Foreign Literature, July,: New York. - The American Pubeis hers’ C iucular, June lst and 15th; Philada. SthLent and Schoolmate, for July, Boston. JULY 9,