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GENESEE EVANGELIST.
PHILADELPHIA, JULY 30, 1863
JOHN W. HEARS,
'iSf” y?M tare receired from the State Clerk
of the OeWral Assembly, Rcr. Dr. Hadtfield,
the Minutes for 1863.
Rer. I. W. K. Handy, of Portsmouth, Va.,
formerly of Middletown, Del., being on a visit
to his wife’s family in that neighboi hood and
having given free utterance to Secession senti
ments, has been placed.in Fort Delaware by
the authorities.
OUR CITY IN THE DRAFT
Nearly every district of the city of Philadel
phia has now undergone the., ordeal of the
Draft. The perfect order, and even good hu
mor that have prevailed, under a, process from
which flesh and blood shrink, and which can so
readily be misrepresented and used to snr up
the basest passions of the mob, must ever re
fleet credit upon the temper of our citizens, and
the vigilance of our City, State and National au
thorlties. The summary manner in which the
New York mob was disposed of. doubtless, had
a salutary effect upon any among us who might
otherwise have felt .(disposed to engage m uch
desperate measures,; The d sloyalty and trea
son of resisting the draft iS perfectly clear. To
yield it at the call of the mob would be to ac
knowledge defeat in the very moment of vic
tory. Coming, as we may say, on top of the
recent crashing blows visited upon the rebel
lion, it must be felt at the South as a positively
overwhelming burden upon the weak remaining
structure of their hopes, With these drafted
men available to oar government, it may not
be necessary to strike another : serious blow
Without them, or with serious delay m obtain
ing them, the rebellion may tajee fresh cohrage
and gain a new"lease of life; and from combi
nation with Northern or with European allies,
may rise to formidable proportions again. -
The conscription is doujbtless the most hu
mane that could have been devised, consistently
with military efficiency. Many exemptions are
allowed on behalf of poor and dependent fami
lies, and nothing could be more unfair or wick
ed than to represent the $3OO exemption clause
as making a discrimination against the poor.
Without such a clause, the price of substitutes
would be double or treble that sum, and the
rich, indeed, would alone be able to purchase
exemption. It is, in fact, really designed to
protect those in moderate circumstances who
would otherwise be at the mercy of substitute
brokers and harpies of the most odious kind.
If any one, however, does not approve of the
conscription act now going into force among,
us, if ho thinks it severe and oppressive, let him
go South and try the one just proclaimed by
the rebel President, under which all able-bodied
whites, from 18 to 45 years of age, are sum
moned into the service of the rebellion upon
pain of death as deserters 1
THE. DEPUTATION FROM THE CLERGY OE
ENGLAND.
Old Pino St. Church was a scene of great in
terest on Thursday evening last. The deputa
tion from the four thousand clergymen of Eng
land, who hare signed an address of sympathy
with our nation in its present struggle with
slavery and rebellion, was received in that place
by a large audience of the clergy and laity of the
city. The deputation consists of Rev. J. W.
Massie D. D., LL. D., Congregationalist, and
Rev. Thomas Rylance, of the Established Church,
both from London. Although the opportunity
for notifying the people and making arrange
ments for the meeting was brief, the attendance
was large, the exercises came off well and the
reception was very enthusiastic. Rev. Dr- Cooper
read the Scriptures, Rev. Dr. Stockton led in
prayer, Rev. Dr. Brainerd introduced the depu
tation in words to the following effect:
“I take pleasure in introducing to this audience
the deputation from the clergy of England and
France—the delegates whom they have sent to
convey to us their sentiments. They are two
ministers hut five thousand other ministers stand
behind them. We welcome them as coming from
the Fatherland. Old England is connected with
us by ties of blood, by historical recollections,
by noble- names. We welcome these brethren as
men of eminent personal worth. I had the plea
sure of knowing Dr. Massie seventeen years agoj
I can vouch for him as a successful minister of
the Gospel, an able author and a sincere philan
thropist. If any good is accomplished by this
movement it is largely due to the intelligence
and philanthropy of Dr. M. Old England has a
heart if .we can reach it. . These men bring to us
what of sympathy is cherished for us.. Their
undertaking Is most disinterested in its object
and noble in its aims. They nourish the warm
est feelings of humanity for a down-trodden
Dr. Massie was then introduced to the audie
nce. His broad shoulders, his strongly marked
lineaments, his white hairs, the robust old age
indicated by his appearance, the slight peculiarity
of his speech as if he had struggled against some
brogue or defect in early life, the weight and
force and propriety of almost every word he ut
tered, the downright earnestness of his matter
and manner, the Christian nobleness of his senti
ments carried the people with him almost from
his opening sentence, and made them listed con
tentedly to his address of an hour and twenty
minutes long. After a few introductory words,
Dr. M. said:
“We have very definite objects. We long for
a right and fraternal understanding between the
people of Great Britain and the United States.
We believe that a misunderstanding that would
lead to strife would be not only a calamity to each,
but also to the world. It would give j oy to the ene
mies of freedom and to the enemies of a pure and
scriptural religion everywhere. The reare genial
and cordial sympathies with you in the minds
of the great masses of Great Britain. Anything
to the contrary has been the creation and product
of designing men, who for their own purposes
have picked up the garbage of the worst side of
your social life and retailed it before the people
of England. In England there are classes the
existence and nature of which can hardly he re
cognized here. Some of them may have a natu
ral tendenoy to misunderstand or misinterpret
the excellencies pf the American people. I eome
not to make war upon the aristocracy of my
country or to spoak to the dishonor of my govern
ment. I love my Queen. Yet Ido not conceal
the fact that many of the aristocracy are not
friendly to the American people. Amongst them
there is a large amount of ignorance concerning
the very Geography of your land. They are ig
norant of the relative positions of your great
States; they know not of the great rivers that
. s iveep their noble ourrents along your territories;
they know not of the vast cities you have reared
and Surrounded with fruitful fields in the wilder
ness. They remember that Maryland was set
tled under the direction of persons at court who
named it after the Queen, that the Carolines
were named by similar personsalterKingCharles,
and Georgia after King George. Hence, their
notion of tho chivalry of the South and of the
irreconcileable differences between the people of
the two sections. If they knew liow ignorant
they were they would be ashamed of themselves.
There are others who ape the aristocracy; but I
need not tell you that the monkey tribe are not
the most important or respectable. But lam
bold to say there' are multitudes in the higher:
ranks of tho middle class, that understand and
appreciate the excellencies of the United States.”
Dr. Massie here explained the attitude of the
Established Church of England. It holds itself
aloof from the other clergy in what may be called
the social and political movements of the people.
■•We have failed to obtain from them such eounte-
Editor.
nance as from the non-conformist clergy. Many
of the clergy, of the Established Church of Scot-; i
land have inscribed their names. The 750, 1
names of the clergy of France are; Protestant;
there may be eleven hundred Protestant clergy- ;
men in that country, and fifty thousand of the
Church of Rome. These latter.show little of
common sympathy with the people in matters of
freedom let not a few of the Roman Catholic
clergy of France have espoused your cause.
Some of the noblest sentiments uttered against
Secession have come from the Archbishops of
lours and of Orleans.
“ There is also a misunderstanding on tins side.
Again and again, from the lips of the most dis
tinguished sons .of America, have I heard the
question,: How do you account for it that Eng
land,-so anti-slavery, that has expended so much
for the suppression: of the slave trade and the
emancipation q 1 slavery, has now witlield its
sympathies from America at the hour when
slavery was approaching its downfall? How
could she so/ retrograde? I answer : England
never was, as a nation, anti-slavery. Her Estab
lished Church, her twenty thousand clergy of
the Church, nevetesympathized with the aboli
tion of slavery in America. There were a few
in the Church like Wilberforce. But in his
efforts for emancipation, he was deserted by his
church. He was outvoted by the Episcopate in
.the House of Lords. They were remote from it
in. 1830. The conduct of the planters and their,
myrmidons towards the missionaries who went
from England to the West Indies, constrained by
love to the poor blacks, was the occasion of eman
cipation. These* men, enraged at ; their teach
ings, pulled down, and set fire to their churches
and imprisoned and even condemned to death
the missionaries, until England in her religions
and her non-conformist circles rose in a whirlwind
of indignation to break the oppressor’s chain. . I
remember,” said the speaker, the words of Lord
Derby, who was Mr. Stanley then, during -the
debate on this subject. “Auti-slavery,” he said,
“has become a ieligious principle of the people
of England. It is not wise in a legislature to
resist the religious principles of the people.”
This was the dictum of Mr. Stanley; it should
be the dictum of the American people now. It
was not the majority of the English people that"
abolished slavery; The religious people are a very
small minority/ 1 * Journals not moved by religi
ous principles opposed it. The Times opposed it.
But after it was a fixed fact, with a sneaking
servility the Times subscribed to it. It acted in
the same manner towards the agitation for a re
peal of the Gorn Laws. It will do so again’ in
regard to your struggle, Let your great fact
from Vicksburg and Fort Hudson and Helena,
go forth and it will lick the dust, from your heels.”
The speaker here gave an account of the
efforts made by himself and associates to promote
ia healthy public opinion upon American affairs
in England. They set themselves to diffuse
such truths as’the people Would not get irom the
Herald or London Times. They "prepared and
sent bulletins of correct news, regularly, to three
hundred and sjxty papers. They gathered\meet
ings in halls-in London, Liverpooll, Manchester
and Glasgow, capable of accoihodating froth two
thousand to six thousand people.' These meet
ings were open-to every one. The halls were
crowded. “In one instance six thousand men
representing the united trades of London assem
bled. They prepared their own resolutions,
moved them, argued the points, and carried them,
without any interposition from us after the meet
ing was : convened. "With a heart that-beats
warmly in sympathy with the loyal north-'they
addressed your President. This is the feeling
of the working classes of England. They, have
declared their confidence in the patriotism and.
philanthropy o£ the north. - Nine out of ten of
them are the admirers and friends of the United
States. IT confess,” said the “ speaker, I have
been somewhat ashamed of my ministerial breth
ren., Not that they have any sympathy with
Secession, but because they suspeeted the north
to be not sincere in their purpose to abolish
slavery;—that their is a lurking design, so soon
as they recover from their present condition, to
perpetuate the curse. We desire them to have
confidence in you that you will not so dishonor
yourselves and put your friends abroad to shame.
“Our great fear and anxiety was lest.through
various alienations we should drift into-a war.
This we feel would be a calamity no one could
estimate, to both nations and to Christendom.-
Those who sent me were prompted by such con
siderations. We would like more in America
to have a kind feeling towards us. We wish
you to have full confidence in these brethren
that they will do all in their power to promote
such feelings in England.' We do not repre
sent the Times, Mr. Roebuck or Lord Cecil.
We represent four thousand ministers who would
consider it, the greatest calamity, that in this
nineteenth century, among a Christian people, a'
confederacy should bo established with slavery
as its chief corner stone, and that America
should be divided in power and resources.”
Dr. Massie then described the part he had
taken in suggesting to the Evangelical alliance
of France, the address to the clergy of England
which they adopted. He read the address of al
liance, which appealed mainly to the anti-slavery
sympathies of England. Commenting upon
§uini«n lujsligimait anfl Qtuttt
the term “equality” used 5° fhe address, of the
probable future condition of the negro in this
country, he said it was not to be understood as if
any one was to be taken out of his proper place
in the social relations of life, but that to the
negro be accorded an equality in the right to
freedom, to happiness,'to property. Dr. Massie
described the Union and Emancipation society
formed in Manchester, notwithstanding that
three hundred arifl fifty thousand operatives suffer
ing in consequence of the war were within fifteen
miles of the city ” These were the men to whom I
could appeal and ask if they were for the cause
of the Union, or of the Confederacy which, wars
against the rights of labor, white and black.
Althohgli there are men there that ran tho
blockade and fitted out privateeis, in a meeting
qf six thousand p’ersons but 450 could be found
opposing the overwhelming sentiments in favour
of your cause. These four hundred and fifty
were led by the notorious infidel Jos. Barker
who preaches that there is,neither God nor devil,
but wh.ose own actions are a demonstration of the
existence of the devil. While there are millions
of working people in England who share in the
feelings of the majority of -that meeting:”. ~
Dr. Massie concluded by reading, the , address
of the four thousand ministers to the. clergy of
America., The .document which is one, nf great
length almost exclusively refers to the condition
of the negro and the anti-slavery ; element :of the
struggle. There is a very ,marked| deficiency,
therefore in,the address, which was admirably,
made up by his associate Mr. Rylance. " Mr. R.
referred impartially to the other great element
of our struggle and said that England should
hold up our hands .because we are sustaining the
first principles of social.order. Principles are at
stake in this conflict, which if they fail to us,,
fell to all people. , “We are here to night” said
he, “to promote national good-will between the
best people here and the best people in England.”
Both the speakers were warmly applauded, but
thebrief address of Mr. R. was received with
more lively demonstrations of approval. ■ ~,
• .After,a motion by Rev J. Wheaton Smithy
seconded by liev. Dr. Nevin, recognizing the
value of the mission of these brethren and wel
coming them to our shores, it was announced
that a meeting of the clergy of our city would be
held m the Baptist Church, Spruce-near sth, on
Tuesday afternoon of this week to consult upon’
a suitable reply to the address. We-go to press’
at an hour too early to publish the the pro
ceedings of this meeting.-
DIVINE MANIFESTATIONS.
As the drop cannot comprehend the ocean,;
so the finite cannot comprehend the infinite.
God is infinite, therefore “ none by searching;
can find out God—can find out the Almighty
to perfection. ” God being infinite is necessarily
an infinite-mystery to us. Everything - about
him is a mystery—his independent- existence,
eternity, tri-unity, character, perfections, and
attributes. The more we try. to pry into them,
the more are we lost and' bewildered. We
, behold, infinity enstamped on eveiything con
nected with the Divinity.
, “ Our souls with all the powers we boast,
Are in the boundless prospect lost." ,
. God the good, satisfaction and happiness of
his intelligent creatures, has been pleased to
make manifestations orrevelations of’himself,
so that every intelligent being may know him
and adore him—-that every eye may be turned
to. him, and every heart be bound to his throne.
It is the gradual and. eternal unfolding of the
divinity, not for selfish motives, not merely for
his own interest or his own glory, but for the
bejst good of creation. In order that the finite
may be able fully to comprehend the infinite, it
will require an infinite duration of time—eter
nity. ' God must therefore eternally be revealing
himself—eternally making new manifestations
of his perfections, in order that holy intelligen
ces may be eternally learning of him, “finding
him out to perfectionthat their souls may be
filled with fresh wonder and love. > .
To othersworlds peopled with unfallen intelli
gences, God may already have made such‘mani-;
festations of himself as far exceed any, he has
ever made to this world. Perhaps as far as
Redemption exceeds Creation. The revelations
made to them; may eternally be as far in ad
vance of those made to ue, as -they themselves
are now in advance of us.
To the human family, God has maHe one
revelation after another. There has been a
continued advance from the foundations of the
world'to Calvary ;' and it will continue to be so
through the unending ages. .These revelations"
are to be found and studied in God’s word,
providence and works; In each of them we
learn something of his in patch oftbem
wp behold , a manifestation of the,. Godhead. ’
Thus “the invisible things of him from -.the,
creation, of the: world are clearly: seen, being
understood by the things that are made, ’ even
his eternal 1 power and Godhead.” But in his
Word do we more fully learn the glories of. the
Divinity. The most astonishing revelation
which God has yet given to the human family,
was in the manifestation of his Son.. But
though this revelation far eclipsed all former
ones, we have h 6: reason-4o suppose that it.is
the final one—that, no more will be made, or
that no greater will be made. He has given
us a few revelations, in some measure to our
comprehension, so that while we study him, as
he is revealed, our hearts may be. drawn out
toward himself, and our lives be assimilated to
his own. But when our minds shall be freed
from every clog, from every obstruction'to in
tellectual progress, by being united to spiritual
bodies; the vail being so completely removed,
or more properly rendered transparent, that we
shall “ see as we are seen, and know as we are
known,” then God, doubtless, will make new
add unceasingly greater and greater manifesta
tions of himself; and, when man’s capacities
shall exceed what Gabriel’s now are—when he
shall be able to learn- the divine lessons faster
than Gabriel now loams them, (for holy intel
ligences will be eternal learners—all studying
Theology,) God may then make manifestations
of himself to man, far exceeding any. which' he
has now made to any world, or to any intelli
gence-manifestations which may as far exceed
anything he has yet made to us, as the revela
tions of himself which he has already made to
Gabriel, may exceed those which he has made
to us. Man will eternally be a learner, God
the teacher and Divinity the subject. The
theme is infinite. IJence it will take eternity
to study it—eternity to find out God—to find
out the Holy One to perfection. It will'also
take eternity ifor the loftiest intelligence the
brightest mind to study and fully understand
the deep, the infinite things -of God. It is a
theme sufficient to engage the mighty powers
of Cherubs and Seraphs .W all eternity; and
yet there are vain men wbojstumble and cavil,
because there are mysteries in the Godhead
.which they cannot comprehend. When we
enroll "ourselves oh the side of Christ, we do it
as Disciples (learners,) £nd disciples we shall
eternally remain. We shall never get out of
our pupilage.
From the manifestations qf himself, which
God will make from time to time through
eternity, it will undoubtedly be found, that
comparatively little of God has yet been revealed
to any creature. We extol redemption. Will
we may. There is love revealed in that paS
seth knowledge—-that is infinite. It is infinitely
beyond the comprehension olj angels. There is
in redemption that which |s calculated to fill
every holy heart with wonder, rapture and love
and eternally to do so. Tlje love of redemp
tion may eternally pass knowledge. It stands
as the foundation of the'glories of eternity.
The Divinity in humanity ! /’The foundation is
divine—’tis infinite, and ai infinite weight of
glory will be built upon itJ It is a manifesta
tion which will eternally4ffaw all holy hearts
to the Throne, and bind thpm to' Him who sits
upon it. It is the manimstation, which, per
haps, above all others, thap ever have been/or
ever will be made, advances most tKe interests
of creation. There will bd no point in eternity,
at which holy throngs will cease to look hack
to the atonement, and t/o adore wonder and
love. It will ever be • full of interest to all
worlds—!of absorbing interest: .No-superstruc
ture is of much value without the solid foun
dations, yet there may; be that' which is
more glorious, more dazzling, more wonderful
in the superstructure than in the foundations.
God in ihe distant ages of eternity, may so un
fold the glories of his perfections, as to far out
shine the glories of redemption ; yes, as far as
redemption exceeds the ordinary revelations of
himself,.. ’ - *
Oh ; if God in a few tlousand years'has so
wonderfully disclosed hit glorious character,
what will eternity reveal 1, We have reason to
expect an eternal increase of the glory of the
manifestations. As the' minds of holy’ intelli
gences expand and eons iqucntly are' prepared
to receive and bear them, there will be increasing
revelations of his glory. (There will be an eternal
growth of holy intellects, and an eternal increase
of the glory of the manifestations of the God
head. Oh, what will those glories be ! What
;must the Godhead be, when it will take all
eternity to reveal it! It will take all eternity
for God to make himself known to the highest
created intelligences in the universe. As holy
beings eternally .learn more of the divine
I character, meditate upon it, they will becohie
more and more assimilated to God." There
will be an eternal increase of the knowledge of
God and of all his works, and an eternal
increase of happiness—an eternal increase of
all that makes blessing.
What an eternity must it be! All holy
beings searching into the perfections of the
Divinity—eternally lehming, and the more they
know of the divine, the more they will wonder
and love; and as their knowledge and love
increase, thoii? happiness will increase. Hence
all the numberless holy beings of creation, will
eternally increase in knowledge, love and hap
piness. Blessed - eternity! to be learning,
adoring, admiring, loving and being loved,
blessing and being blessed evermore.
OPENING OE THE MISSISSIPPI.
The din of battle has scarcely died away around
the ordinance-crowned bluffs and gorges of Vicks
burg and Fort Hudson, before the messenger of
peace and of commerce appears, almost as a
meteor dropped from Heaven, at the wharves of
New Orleans. The Steamer Imperial left St.
Louis on the Bth of July and. arrived at New
Orleans on the 17th, . the first; boat which practb
cally assured the inhabitants of that city and of
the whole land, that the, gi;eat Father of waters
was once more an open highway to thc commerce
of the interior of this continent. Wonder, joy and.
great enthusiasm greeted her arrival and depar
ture. The Postmaster General too, announces
his intention to resume the forwarding of the
New Orleans, mail by the river rout. Thus the
blessings of peace will once more be experienced
by the people of the South West, who we are
sure will not long hold out sullenly against them,-
now that their strongholds, have fallen and their
armies become demoralized. ,
■ The 17th of July should hereafterbe celebrated
as the festival of the opening of the Mississippi,
by the people of the West.
OUR COLUMNS.
We devote considerable space to such items of
Foreign Religious and Home Missionary intelli
gence as will doubtless interest all our readers, but
be found especially apprqpriate in view of the
monthly concert of prayer fob missions: the Bishop
of London’s grand scheme for pushing the Evan
gelization of London, his vast 1 and needy diocese,
noticed on our first page is an encouraging sign
"of the times. The letters of the Home Mission
aries in the West' will accquaint us with their
work and open our hearts to sympathize with
them in their trials, and encouragements. The
income of the American Board for June was
$24,220,85 ; of this amount over a thousand
dollars was from Foreign Lunds and missionary
Stations, four hundred and sixty five dollars
coming from the Zulu station. Pennsylvania
contributed $BlB, and the proceeds of a legacy
6f $lOOO (947,75) Massachhssette gives $9,585,
New York $5,450. The total income . from
September Ist, to June 31st, amounts to $305-
749.91. : ! •''
CHAPLAIN HOWELL.
Wilmington, July 22nd, 1863.
Brother Mears :—Let me thank you for
your kind and not undeserved
tribute to a departed brother: Chaplain, H. S.
Howell, late of the 90th Penna. Yol. You
speak of standing beside his grave; "marked by
a single paling inscribed with the name,, and
rank of the deceased only.” While it is an
honored and sacred resting place, that lying
among the dear company of noble forms that
died on that dreadful field, yet it will be of
interest to .Mr. Howell’s friends to know that
his remains were removed from Gettysburg, and
last Sabbath morning were taken from his own
home in Newark, N. J. and buriedin Greenwood
Cemetery in Brooklyn. A relative who was
with the sad company writes me, “the service
was at 9 A. M., Dr. Wilson conducting it,
speaking in high terms of Mr. Howell. He
read a selection of passages, and commented
on ‘ The spirits of just men made perfect .’
We rode all the way from the house to the
grave, returning late in the afternoon. Every
thing was as pleasant, peaceful, and quiet as it
could be.”
So one more of a glorious company is laid to
rest, one more miirdered victim of this wicked
rebellion. It may not be generally known that
Mr. Howell was deliberately shot by rebels,
who we are told halted while they fifed,' as he
was standing with two surgeon's on the st-epS
of a,hospital with its flag waving over them.
Gen. Lee, the commander of the rebel army,
stood directing the battle of Gettysburg from
the cupola of a hospital protected by its red
flag. I have from excel lent'authority, reason
to believe that this was the same hospital, on
the steps of which perhaps the day before
Brother iHowell was murdered. How terribly
harmonious 1 How in keeping with the crime
add treachery;, .the meanness' and cruelty of the
rebellion ! . v * [
:( 2tfr.,' HOwell was a graduate of the Union
Theological Seminary, and was settled for
years at East Pa. From there he
was called to the churches of Elkton and Pen
cador in Maryland." His ministry was prosper
ous in both these settlements; the latter growing .
until the one became two bands, the Pencador
Church assuming an independent position, and
calling its own: pastor. Mr, Howell’s health :
compelled him to remove from Elkton, ahd h'e *
took charge of a [Home Missionary post at the
.Delaware Water Gap. Here he remained
eight or nine years, and has left his, record for
many years,to come. His labors were greatly :
blessed in gathering a church which has been
active and (efficient, and' in the erection of a
pretty brick : church edifice, in one of the most
beautiful situationsin the land.*; Revivals were
of frequent occurrence in-Mr. Howell’s ministry,.
and though never a pastor of a large church, he
was the honored instrument of winning more
souls than many whose spheres of -labor have
been much more extensive. \ ; * j :
” A yekr or more ago, Mr. Howell' became
chaplain in the 90th Pennsylvania * Volunteers,
in which position he discharged bis duties in
such a way as to gain the esteem and honor ! of
his regiment; : and to leave behind him a fragrant
: He fell at his post; oh ‘thfe steps of
the hospital where the sick and-the dying were.
His death was a quick transition from work to
reward, an awakening suddenly “absent from
the body, present with the Lord.” He, was a
faithful minister and a patriotic man.
Mr. Howell was the second* personal friend '
whom ; yohr correspondent mourns as having :
laid down his life in the chaplain’s office. Geo.
W. Dunmore was the second. How often have
we in college and seminary days walked and
sat; how often have we sung and prayed togeth
er,! How often have we preached and worked
together, how often roamed the woods, climbed
the mountains, how often boated on the Dela
ware, and rode along its banks together. Un- ;
disturbed my brothers be your repose in' your
hallowed graves East and West.' May we have
by add by a good meeting yonder.
LETTER FROM DR. HcLEOD.
. DEATH OF CHAMiAIN WYATT.
; , Camp Paulding, near Baltimore, } .■
,Md., July 25th, 1863, J ;
Mr Editor: . ‘ , ' '
It is becoming that one army chaplain should
be the biographer of another. But what, a strange,
changeable world we live in', and hpw ‘ little we ‘
know what a day may bring forthu , One who
never expected to he an officer in a camp writes
of ahqther who has died in the service. The se
nior records the death of the junior, the instructor
of his : pupil. ' And yet God does all things well,
arid his arrangements are those not of sovereignty
merely, but 1 also of love. James, C. Wyatt is
dead. Tjie ordinary disease which slays so many ~
,iri‘ their beds at home has laid him low. He has
passed through the terrible battles of James!
Island, Aritietam, Frederieksburgh and other of
thesevere conflicts of the war, to lay down his
life in the Offieers’Hospital at Memphis, Ten
nessee. He was in the neighborhood of his fa
ther’s bouse, which he had the most earnest dc- \
site tb 'see, but the rebel enemy was between him \
arid it; and he has gone to his Father’s house ;
above, where all the good will be united at last
to part no more. While we are writing this a
letter is handed ns from the mail-bag of the
camp. It is’froin his instructor and frierid. It
pronouncris his eulogy in a few earnest words;
We need add ho more. It Says: “ How sad we
feel. Mr; Wyatt was a young imari of noble eha- ..
racter. His talents and acquirements were su
perior. He was truly good! His early death is
a' loss to bur army, and especially a loss to pur
church;” This is written by Eev. Dr. Wylie of
Philadelphia, who knew him well. At present
we cannot tell, for the material of biography is
wanting,' of the precise time or place of Mr.
Wyatt’s birth. We do know that be was of the
old Beformed Presbyterian stock of the Wyatts
arid the-Blairs, arid consequently had in him the ’
stuff of which martyrs are made. After gradu
ating in Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, he en
tered the Theological Seminary of the Beformed -
Presbytei-ian Church in Philadelphia. There hfc
was marked by his diligence, respectful demeanor, !
ability to take hold of large subjects, good taste,
strong attachment to his own Church, and ear
nest improvement in useful knowledge, as well ;
as by a humble devotional cast- of mind and
character. After pursuing his studies through' :
the prescribed course he was licensed to preach
the Gospel by the Northern Presbytery. His
course as a preacher Which was but brief, was
truly promising. He was serving with acceptance,
the church, when he was called to the chaplaincy
of the 79th Begiment New York Highland
Guards, then at the seat of war in South Carolina.
Mr. Wyatt’s patriotism was intelligent and, erir : :
nest. H,e accepted the appointment without hesi
tation,and immdiately repaired to the field as
signed him. ‘ Entering with zeal upon his work,
he preached, prayed and conversed with the '
soldiers,'provided for them the best religious
reading, and sympathized with them in all their ;
sorrows and joys. It was no wdnder that he was
beloved and respected, and is now deeply mourned i
by the officers and men of his own and other regi-’!
ments, especially of the 9th array corps before ■!
which he several times officiated. , It was the
habit of Mr. Wyatt to'go into acticin with his ;
; l : j .. |
men, and often lie received their last words, and
directed them to Jesus Christ, as they were de
parting for the present life.— ■>
At the battle of James’ Island, which was pe
culiarly fatal to the 79th, the sharp shooters of
the enemy tried perseveringly to take his life.
When the redoubt was assailed, Colonel Morris
son, who led the charge perceived the chaplain
very near him. “ Chaplain,” said he in terms of
affection, “your place is the rear.” .“I prefer,
to he with you, sir,” was his answer. His hour
was not yet pome,, and the deadly weapon of the
enemy could,not harm him though aimed imme
diately- at his life; He had in him the Christian
courage of Howell, and of Fuller, and of the
chaplain of the Cumberland who went down to
the ocean’s bottom on his knees, commending
sinners to Jesus Christ. Though very young,
Mr. Wyatt had secured the acquaintance of such
men' as Generals Sherman, Hunter, Burnside,
Colonel Morrison and others, and the latter has
pronounced him a good soldier, as well as a good
chaplain and minister of Jesus Christ. Mr.-
Wyatt’s report to the General Synod is a monu
ment of his seal, industry and success in the dis
charge of his duties, and will be read with
special .interest now that he is gone. We had
expected much from him; for the church of his
fathers, to whose principles he was' firmly at
tached. But God has ordered otherwise, and he
will - raise up others to . take the place of. .those
whom )ie is ealling. away from the evil to come.
We loved the man, for he was worthy, and we
'drop the tear of grateful memory upon his early
graved , Mr. Wyatt died on the ldth .of July, of
acorn plaint of the stomach and; bowels of very
speedy operation. ; His remains are; embalmed,
and await the orders of his relatives. If no di
rections are given to the contrary by them, they
will be biought to New fork and interred in
Greenwood Cemetery, according 'to a desire' ex
pressed iby himself, should he fall while in the
service of his country. . ; John N: McLeod; .
IT. S- CHRISTIAN COMMISSION.
To Ministers and Churches of all Denomina
tions throughout the Loyal States: ;
The TJ. S. Christian Commission respectfully
requests collections on National Thanksgiving
Day, August 6th, in aid of the work of relieving
and benefitting the men of our army and navy.
About one thousand delegates, ministers and lay
men, have been sent forth in all, and about
eight thousand bodies of stores and publications
distributed, by them, in the. various military de
partments and naval stations^,
At Gettysburg, not far from three hundred d&
legates labored, and about one thousand boxes of
stores were distributed by them personally to
the wounded.
The following noble, unsolicited letter from
the Surgeon-General, the highest medical au
thority in the army, will show the value of
the special work on the battle-field:
Surgeon Genebal’s Ofpice, T
Washington, D. 0., July, 20,1863. j
Dear Sir:— l beg that you will accept iny most
heartfelt thanks for the devotion to the servieq
of the sick and wounded soldiers, at Gettysburg,'
manifested by the Christian Commission 1 and
its agents. •' • • ; i: <'- ’ '■<
' Owing' to the military necessities of the occa
sion, the suffering,would haye been, greater than
it was but for the aid afforded the medical offi
cers by the benevolent individuals who came to
their assistance: c ! ;
1 I 'trust you will conveymy thanks to those
of your body who acted with the Medical De
partment at Gettysburg, and assure, them how
highly I value their labors. Begging you to
accept my warmest acknowledgments for your
otvn service -in the cause of humanity. Believe
mo, yours sincerely,
; William A. Hammond, Surgeon-General.'
: George H. Stuart, Esq., Chairman! IT. S.
Christian Commission, Philadelphia, Pa. !
Testimonials are not necessary to‘ prove the
well known efficiency of the general work of
the Commission. Comfort, relief, and instruc
tion have been given to hundreds of thousands,
multitudes of lives have been saved by the
timely. aid rendered, the ; gospel has been
preached to multitudes of eager listeners, the
Word of God and good religious reading mat
ter have been largely distributed, and thousands
of our. brave men have been hopefully converted
to God. '
Liberality on the day of rejoicing for. God’s
favor,and our national successes may enable ns
to extend this great work. / " ;
Contributions may be sent*to* JbsepblPatter
soh, Esq., Treasurer, at Western Bank, Phila
delphia, or to the treasurer of the nearest local
committee. ■ ■■: , »" •
George H. Stuart, Chairman.
The Leslie Stories— Tip the Ladder, or
Striving and Thriving, by Mrs. Madeline Les
lie, author of “ Tim, the Scissors-Grinder. ” Bos
ton: Graves & Young. 16m0., pp. 256,; illus
trated. '. 'Mrs'. Leslie’s' Stories are always,
skilfully, composed, and carry the, young reader
along with unabated Interest. Their lessons
are of the ihigbest character. In the one before
us to instructive and striking contrast is drawn
between the career of the poor but diligent and
conscientious lad and that of the spoiled child
of wealth. It cannot, but leave deep and
wholesome impressions upon the reader’s inind.
Por sale by Martifens, Philadelphia.
The Ajlebican Tract Society, Boston, has
issued in flexible coverS, 32m0.,
Hymns for Mothers, by Mrs.' H, K. Brown.
Soldiers and their Mothers, by Eev. J. G.
Means. ; ,j! • 1 : ■
Christian Loyalty, by S. H Tyng, D- D.
Thirty Hand-Bills, Words for Men at Arms.
MAGAZINES, PAMPHLETS, AC.
An Examination of the Latest Defences of
Dr. Hickok’s Rational Psychology, by Edwin
Hall, DD. Reprinted from the . American
Presbyterian and Theological Review, for July,
1863. Hew York: J. M. Sherwood. : , '
We design making a careful examination of
this pamphlet' and of the article to which'if is a
rejoinder at an early day. : ’
The, Little Ameßjc ; An.— This , adimrablb
little Semi-monthly paper/will soon enter upon
its second year. It is, ,in our judgment, the
choicest, purest, most instructive periodical for
the young that comes under our notice. Pub
lished by the blisses Warner, (authors of Wide
Wide World; Dollars and Cents;) of West
Point, N. T. Price $1.50 per annum,.
|pws fli'W illicit.
Presbyterian.
Home Missions.-- Who can estimate the good
influence of the unobtrusive, quiet, persevering
and self-denying missionaries at the West!
They toil on, through summer’s heat and win
ter’s cold —amidst; discouragements and encou
ragements, laying everlasting foundations and
leading the people, to patriotism, good order and
knowledge of the'true God, Without which we
can have neither peace in this world nor that
which is to come. ‘ ' ’V
In the midst of military demonstrations and
the excitemept of victories, we are apt to forget
the faithful missionary, and to forget the contri
bution which we promised ourselves to make to
the Home Missionary cause, which is essential
to his support. Let us not forget the “ poor
man that saved the-eity,” oftentimes he has been
a minister of Christ.
We give below some glimpses of the hopes,
labors and trials of these brethien, as specimens
of what all experience. They have in some in
stances steady growth, in others unexpected op
position and even afflictions, and then glorious
revivals.
The General Assembly.— Seccssionism. —
I was in hope that my field would soon be able
to yield me ; a support, as I intimated in a former
letter, and indeed it would very soon have been
able to do. so if all our: people had been true-to
the Union, the Administration or Government,
the*interests of humanity, and Jesus, our King.
I, with the brethren of my session, regarded it
absolutely our duty to let the church here and
the public know just where our N. S. Presbyte
rian Church stood, the doings ,of which have
given offence to those amongst us, both in the
church and. out of it, who have no sympathy
with our Government, and whose influence, as
far as they dare go, is with the enemies of our
republic; Their withholding their contributions
affects us to the amount of about $100; hut our
congregation isras largerifppt larger than; ever.
. I had almost forgotten to refer to our
late Assembly. ~ Words cannot express how
mu'eh I rejoiced when I read in the Evangelist,
which I borrowed from one of my elders, the-re
port of the proceedings of* that body. I feel
really- proud of onr church. The spirit that per
vaded r that Assembly was from above. And
when I read the: addresses delivered by the dep
utations from the O. SI I Assembly, and from the
many Christian'Associations'throughout New
England, my heart was rejoiced and made glad.
Surely I thought the Master’s prayer “That
they all may be one that the world may believe
that thou hast sent me,” is being fulfilled;
I reported much of the proceedings to my peo
ple last Skbbatb, especially the resolutions on
the state of the country.
These resolutions have given us much strength
here as Presbyterians, and loyal people, and will
tell onr future prosperity.
A Heavy Stroke and a Great Blessing. — From,
a Missionaryin :Wisconsin. —l rejoice that
we have something to say of God’s wonder
ful goodness -unto us. Souls are being bora
into. His kingdom. Many are rejoicing in
hope; others are yet inquiring, It is a blessed
Work, one which is not yet finished, and I trust
will not he till an abundant harvest; is gathered.
. The winter' was one of unusual effort and
prayer on the part of the-church, in spite of
many discouragements. I had made my arrange
ment to follow up the season of fasting and spe
cial prayer; which, we held with a series of meet
ings. But my dear wife who.,has been with me
on the field b.nt little more than two years, was
veiy. suddenly taken ill, and almost as suddenly
was taken from me,
.. Bro. B-, of Watertown, was prevailed upon to
assist me for a while. After this, Bro. Kellogg
was here a, couple of days, and then 8r0.,. ,
late of O—, ■, up to the present time. .We have
held these .meetings steadily during these seven
weeks. Bro. C leaves this A: M. We
have had twenty-five hopeful conversions, a few
who are not .clear, some who are still balancing
the tremendous question. ...
Union, of Churches.—-From a
Misswndiy m lowa.— This report was due on the
first insfc, 'but has been delayed with a hope that
I would he able to report to you the consumma
tion of a union between the two little Presbyte
rian chureheh of this place. ' . ' .
The Subject has been under advisement for
some time with'a prospect that it will be effected,
as all the .members of the 0. S. church express
a willingness to come into our church, provided
they/can-bring their property with them. At
present this cannot be done, as the tenure by
which they hold their -property is sneh that if
they disorganize or change their church relation
the property falls back to the 0. S. Assembly.
However, I hope this will be removed at no very
distant peyiod, and that the.two may become one
efficient church. This would remove one of the
greatest hindrances to the Presbyterian Church
ih th& ! place.'’ 3 ' "' v
Baring the last quarter ,I have been enabled
continue iny labors with hut -little interrup
tioh, preaching! one-half niy time. in this place,
one-fourth in Grand River Township, the other
fourth' at different points. We have received
four Additions —one by letter, three by profes
sion ‘have baptized two adults and five chil
dren. Attention to the public means of grace,
both. on the Sabbath and at our weekly prayei*-
ipeetings, has been better'than during the pre
vious quarter. ' Our Sabbath school is in a pros
perous state.. In short, wo report progress, if
not so rapidly as desirable, enough so to excite
gratitude and thanksgiving to the great Head of
(he Church. 1 - ! i- -
Bev. Edward Strong- who has been supplying
the church in Kalamazoo (Mich.) whfie at the West
has declined its call, and returned to New Haven*
Ct., with improved health. .- ' -
, ( The First Church of Alton, under the pastoral
care of Rev. 0. H. Taylor; has beein in a greatly
revived condition since the opening of. tbe year.
Nineteen united with the Church at the Communion
in March, and seventeen i&May. Of these, twenty
eight were on profession ; 0 f their faith. Our church
at Dubuque, undCr ; the pastoral, care of Rev. H. B.
Holmes, seems'to he in a flourishing condition. It
is now entirely self-supporting, and has lately re
moved $lOOO of the church debt One of its mem
bers lately forwarded to our Home Missionary Com
mittee a donation of $l7O. They likewise adopted a
regular system of contributing to the various objects
of benevolence. Our church in Weston, Mo. has
been reorganized. Rev. A. T. Norton says: Seven
new members were xeceived; three Elders and three
Trustees were elected; three children were baptized;
a communion service beid ; four sermons
and most of our families visited. A weekly prayer
meeting was established, and the Session resolved to
hold public service on each alternate Sabbath morn
nffig, until afminister can be obtained. '
' Dr. Hatfield’s Church, in the N. Y, Riots—The
Evangelist says: On Tuesday the rioters' appeared
inThirty-firstStreet; and planting their pickets near
the'rear of Rev. Dr. Hatfield’s Church, situated on
the corner of Thirty-first street and Ninth avenue,
they declared their intention of burning the building!
Rather Donnelly, whose church is nearly opposite,
.appeared ’ and harangued ..the crowd in the most
energetic terms, on the injustice and criminality bf
tiieir.proceedings, and they fi naUv desisted from their
wicked purpose.; ,
JULY 30.