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lawman fmfcgtman
—AND—
GENESEE EVANGELIST.
PHILADELPHIA, AUG. 6, 1883.
JOHN W. MEANS,
PROCLAMATION OP THE PRESIDENT.
A SAT OP TtfAXKSOIYIJfG AITS PRATER,
Washington, July 15.—8 y the President of the Uni
ted States of America;
A PROCLAMATION.
It has pleased Almighty God to hearken to the sup
plications and prayers of an afflicted people, and to
vouchsafe to the Army and Navy of the United States
victories on land and on the sea so signal and so effec
tive as to fhrnish reasonable grounds for augmented
confidence that the union of these States will be sus
tained, their Constitution preserved, and peace and
prosperity permanently restored.
But these victories have been achieved not without
sacrifices of life, limb, health and liberty incurred by
brave, loyal and patriotic citizens. Domestic afflic
tions in every part of the counter follow in the train
of these fearful bereavements. It is meet and right
to recognize and confess thepresence of the Almighty
Father, and the power of His hand equally in these
triumphs and these sorrows.
Now, therefore, be it known, that I do set apart
Thursday, the Sixth day of August next, to be ob
served as a day for National Thanksgiving, Praise
and Prayer, and I invite the people of the United
States to assemble on that occasion in their customary
places of worship, and in the forms approved by their
own conscience, and render the homage due to the
Divine Majesty for the wonderful things he has done
in the nation’s behalf, and invoke the influence of His
Holy Spirit to subdue the anger which has produced
and so long maintained a needless and crnel rebellion;
to change the hearts of the insurgents; to guide the
counsels of the Government with wisdom adequate to
so great a national emergency, and to visit with ten
der care and consolation throughout the length and
breadth of our land, all those who through the vicis
situdes of marches, voyages, battles and sieges, have
been brought to suffer in mind, body, or estate; and
finally to lead the whole nation, through the paths of
repentance and submission to the Divine will, back to
the perfect enjoyment of union and fraternal peace.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto setmyhatid
and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this the 15th day
of July, in the. year of Our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and sixty-three, of the Independence of the
United States of America the eighty-seventh.
[l. s,] Abraham Lincoln.
Wm. H Seward, Secretary of State.
THE THANKSGIVING OF TO-DAY.
Above we give the excellent proclamation of
our Chief Magistrate, Mr. Lincoln, calling the
people to the delightful work of thanksgiving
for recent victories. As an aid to our medita
tions, we offer a few thoughts upon the victory
which has touched us most nearly, having been
achieved upon our own soil, and having cost
rivers of Pennsylvania blood.
THE VICTORY OP GETTYSBUBG.
The more the victory is contemplated, the
more Important to our cause and the East does
it appear. Some persons are to be found who
undervalue It as a victory. It was, indeed,An
one sense nothing more than a repulse of Lee’s
army from our well-chosen position. It was a
repulse which cost us many, many lives. It
came very near being a defeat and a terrible
disaster to our own arms. But when we learn
that the effective force of the Army of the Po
tomac was much less than that of Lee’s—ac
cording to an account we have just heard from
an intelligent army officer in the 12th Corps,
scarcely one-half of Lee’s army, and when we
contemplate the havoc made in the rebel ranks,
their precipitate retreat and abandonment of
loyal soil at the earliest possible moment, we
justly entitle it a victory, and a truly glorious
one. - We almost draw a short breath, as one
just escaped from imminent bodily peril, when
we think what would have been the consequen
ces of defeat to onr army at that point. If that
thin line of blue coats stretched along the hills
with its reserves all called into action, save a
single brigade, had gone down before the tor
nado sweep of the assaulting party, three lines
deep,.in what plight would Eastern Pennsyl
vania, would Philadelphia have been to day!
The fall of Vicksburg, even would have been
neutralized by the capture of a great Northern
city, and the investment of Baltimore and
Washington.
The profane boast of Gen. Hooker before the
battle of Chancellorsville, that he should capture
or destroy the rebel army in spite of Provi
dence, was followed by disaster, humiliation,
and retreat. Gen. Meade in accepting the com
mand of the army of the Potomac said, “Let
each man determine to do his duty, leaving to
an all-controling Providence the decision of the
contest.” Gen. Hooker’B army, though supe
rior to that of the rebels in numbers, was re
pulsed at Chancellorsville; Gen. Meade’s infe
rior army at Gettysburg terribly repulsed the
rebels. The rebels were doubtless inflated
with self-confidence by the ease with which
they had penetrated into Pennsylvania; their
pride doubtless culminated when on Wednesday
they defeated Reynolds and Hancock and drove
them out of Gettysburg. They were just in
the mood to hurl themselves upon a General,
who, by simply choosing his position and hold
it, was enabled to inflict upon the rebelion one
of the most damaging defeats of the war. Dis
appointed, discomfited, mortified, the proud
hosts, the picked men of the Southern army
were compelled to withdraw with .all rapidity
from the advances of the modest and reverent,
and may we not say, therefore, victorious Gen.
Meade,,who thus closes his Fourth of July or
der:
“It is right and proper that we should on
suitable occasions return our grateful thanks to
the Almighty Dispenser of Events, that in the
goodness of His providence He has thought fit
to give victory to the cause of the just.”
BRIEF ANALYSIS
Of the contents of a recent number of u weekly
Journal in New York, commonly regarded
as Religious:
Ist page—Poetry—“The Mississippi a co
lumn and three quarters on the discovery of
the river, its history during the rebellion, and
its recent opening. “The Evil Spirits of the
Bible” by Horace Greeley; arguing against a
personal devil, demoniacal possession and
eternal punishment. “ Concerning an Editor
in-Chief” Mr. Beecher in England. “Suffer
ings of the Negroes in the Riot. ” “ Washing
ton Correspondence. ”
4th page—Editorials: “The Northern Re
bellion,” “Defeat in Victory,” “The Allevia
tions of the Draft,” “Progress and Patriotism
in the Army,” “Cheating the Mob.” No refer
ence whatever to Mr. Greeley's infidelity on the
Ist page.
Pages 5 and 7—Advertisements. Half a
page additional advertisements elsewhere.—
Page 8 secular and commercial intelligence.
Page 2—Sermon, S columns. Book Notices,
a column. News of Western , Churches and
Colleges, a column; Religious Intelligence,
half a column.
Page 3.—Relig. Intelligence continued; a
column and a half. Secular news, a column.
Two columns of Price Current and Advertise
ments.
. • Editor.
Page 6.—“ Scriptural Novelettsa column,
a good religious article. “ Story of Captain
Cook,” in the regular Book-of-Travels style,
entirely secular. A column of religions and
moral selections, including the President’s
Thanksgiving Proclamation, thus unaccount
ably stuck away into a corner.
Out of 48 columns, of a “Religious ” weekly,
we have therefore, including the sermon, barely
8 columns that can be called religious, while
an important part of the remainder is not
merely secular, but positively Anti-Scriptural,
without a word of disclaimer or explanation
from the editor. Can Christian men continue
to receive this paper into their families as an
exponent of the religion they wish to have in
culcated upon them on the Sabbath ?
RESIGNATION OF PRESIDENT LORD.
Rev. Dr. Lord ha# resigned the presidency of
Dartmouth College. His successor has not
been named.
The above dispatch comprises all we know
of a fact which, however, we had anticipated.
We should be sorry to know that the trustees
of any New England College believed its future
prosperity* possible under the presidency of a
man who withholds his full support from the
authorities of the land in this hour of trial, and
who is so likely to poison the minds of students
by his example and teachings.
Now that there is a prospect of the speedy
suppression of the rebellion by force of arms,
and that the secret friends of the South among i Rev. Dr. Hitchcock, the well known geologist
us are renouncing their hopes of its triumph in j o f Amherst College, has published, in the cur
the field, we are called upon to make the very j rentnumberof the Bibliotheca- Sacra, an article of
concessions to defeated traitors which we re- ! the first importance on one of the leading topics
fused them in their most arrogant and defiant • 0 f dispute in our day. It is entitled “The Law
attitudes. The New York Herald prophesies lof Nature’s constancy subordinate to the Higher
that we shall give the rebels in making peace ( Law 0 f Change,” and it is aimed at that growing
all that they demanded of ns in making war., v tendency among scientific men, not restrained by
And its Orleans correspondent, under date \ Christian faith, to regard nature as an indepeu
of July ITth, says: t dent perfect whole, a Cosmos, uniform, constant
I feel satisfied that peace could be declared
in the present state of affairs, in twenty-four
hours after an armistice, if the rights of the
Southern people, under the Constitution of the
United States, would be acknowledged and re
spected by those of the North. * * *
We can find here any amount of old Union
sentiment, but none that desires reconstruction
on any other footing save and except the Con
stitution of the United States without alteration
or amendment.
All this is plain. The “Union sentiment”
here spoken of is "conditional,” just as it was
before the war broke out. It means, we are
for Union and peace if you will allow the Dred
Scott Decision to pass for law, if you will give
us slavery in the territories, turn over Western
Virginia to the sway of Richmond and abandon
the proclamation of freedom.
In answer to this kind of argument, which
will become very fashionable with those who
are in need of a semi-loyal mask to conceal
thehvtreasonous sympathies, allow us to give a
few reasons for standing by the proclamation
of January Ist, 1863:
1. Common honesty and consistency demand
it. The national repute for fairness, nobleness
and Christianity would be ruined by a different
course.
2. Faithfulness to the slaves demands it.
They were grievously and shamefully mocked
by that proclamation if we do not abide by it.
More than three millions of fellow-creatures
would be made the foot-ball of political sub ernes
by such shameful vacillation. Made freemen
once, they would be wickedly remanded to sla
vey. Political necessity will never justify such
wholesale kidnapping. The whole nation
would be guilty of a deeper complicity with
slaveholding than ever. Besides, the negro has
earned the right to his freedom. Such fighting
as has been done by the negro regiments, the
whole course of the war has n6t witnessed.
They have astonished and shamed many white
regiments who have fought by their side.
3. Whatever punishment was intended to be
visited upon incorrigible rebels by the procla
mation, will be remitted. Kentucky, Tennes
see, parts of Virginia and Louisiana, were ex
empted from the operation of the measure. But
how absurd to have made such a distinction in
those localities on the ground of their subjection
to the national authorities, if places which held
oat to the last are equally exempt from its pro
visions. On this supposition, the more stubborn
any state or city in its rebellion, the more valu
able lives spent in attempting its reduction, the
more secure it becomes from punishment.
Charleston or Richmond coming back to the
Union on this plan, before they had been re
duced by military operations, would be as well
off in regard to slave property as Louisville,
which never rebelled, or New Orleans, which
cost us less than a hundred lives. The eman
cipation measure, as a punitive arrangement,
in all fairness demands to be enforced.
4. There can be no permanent peace with
slavery. It must be rooted out—not pruned
or it will forever spring up in bitterness. Give
it a lodgment, show it tolerance and favor, and
it will thrive with all the rankness of a foul
weed, and will quickly wrap its poisonous
branches again around the columns of our poli
tical structure. It .will fill our legislative halls
with its noxious exhalations. Bullies and du
ellists, in connection with the imported mob of
the North, will again dictate our home and fo
reign policy, and the crack of the slavemaster’s
whip will again be heard in the debates of Con
gress and In the decisions of our courts. And
what vvill be the end, but that the long-patient
North, refusing some more arrogant demapd
than usual, will again have to take up arms to
save the very life of the nation ? Nay, let us
at least after such a tremendous war-experience
learn wisdom. Let us trample out every em
ber before we admit the lire to be extin
guished.
5. We have our feet upon the neck of sla
very, as perhaps never civilized or Christian
people had upon any great public evil. We can
crush it; we know we can.. Wliat a great,
what an unparalleled opportunity! Use it and
all posterity will applaud us, let it slip and we
shall curse ourselves 1
6. The sympathies of all people—not monar
STAND BY THE PROCLAMATION.
Ilmnifiitt gftf jslfglfuatt attfl diiMpliist
clues nor aristocracies, nor hierarchies, but peo
ples, are unalterably with us on our present
platform. How great an influence that procla
mation has exerted in forming and holding pub
lic opinion in our favor, and in deterring jea
lous classes, who now-a-days respect public
opinion, from interference, will never he told.
President Lincoln and the loyal North, by vir
tue of that proclamation, are now regarded all
Over the world as friends of the working man.
The abolition of slavery in America is felt as
elevating the working classes everywhere. It
opens a most important part of the world here
tofore'inaccessible, to thief competition. It de
feats a most formidable movement on t the part
of the rebels to injure and degrade the working
man.
Hence the profound interest and sympathy
of the Trades Unions of London; hence the calm
patience of the starving operatives of Lanca
shire, who heroically endure a present personal
evil for the good it promises to their
hence the enthusiastic sympathy of the intelli
gent people of France; hence the heariy ad
vances of more than four thousand of the Eng
lish clergy, and of seven hundred and fifty of
the French. Gan we afford to trifle with these
feelings? -to break the hearts of our only.true
friends abroad with disappointment, indigna
tion and shame ? to renounce the glorious lea
dership so enthusiastically accorded ns in the
cause of oppressed humanity all over the world ?
to break the last restraint which has held back
the haters of freedom from interfering in our
troubles? to have our policy on the most mo
mentous subject justly denounced as slippery,
unprincipled, bound by the narrowest, most
short-sighted views of present need ?
Let us stick to the proclamation; let us pray
to-day that the President may have grace to
keep it to the letter.
NATURE’S UNIFORMITY NOT UNINTER*
RUPTED.
j and unalterable in its movements, possessing in
itself the sources of its own existences and de
} vdopments. The sentence which Dr. H.'quotes
| from Professor Powell of England, expresses the
views of this class of thinkers : “ The enlarged
[ critical inductive study of the natural world
5 cannot but tend powerfully to evince the incon
i ceivableness of- imag hied 'interruptions of natural
| order or supposed suspensions of the laws of
| and of that vast series of dependent
| causation which constitutes the legitimate field
j for the investigations of science, whose constancy
! is the sole warrant for its generalizations, while
it forms the substantial basis for the grand con
clusions of natural theology.” According to
these philosophers, there is no possible place for
miracles, natural theology itself being based
upon principles which render them inadmissible.
Directly in the teeth of these assertions, Dr.
Hitchcock proceeds to evolve the indications
presented in nature of a law leading to change
and to catastrophes, from which only supernatu
ral and miraculous power can bring deliverance.
“ The law of miracles,” he defines as “ a force
: occasionally manifesting itself to counteract, i'n
: tensify, or diminish the power of natural law.—
This law also” he says, “ is invariable; that is,
in the same circumstance©, the same miracle will
3 occur. But in its action, it contravenes natural
law. Moreover, though a law, we cannot under
stand its nature.’* ,
Among the forces of nature tending to inter
fere with its uniformity and to bring ruin upon
the existing order of things, is the subtle resisting
medium believed to be diffused through space,
and already observed to be acting upon certain
j of the periodical comets, shortening: their time of
] revolution and threatening to land them finally
1 upon the sun. Admitting the existence of such
hi medium, aud the ultimate ruin of the solar, if
J not of the whole sidereal, system is unavoidable,
f unless a supernatural interference takes place.-
* We have evidence that the earth and the great
f bodies of the Cosmos have passed and are passing
through a series of chemical changes. From
various degrees of fluidity, perhaps even from a
, gaseous condition, some have become solid, some
are still undergoing transformation. Is the solid
state the last? The continual working of these
chemical changes may lead to the overthrow of
the whole system on which these uubelieving
philosophers raise their structure of uniformity.
But the grand examples of a law of change,
which overrides this pretended uniformity, are
found in the revelations made by geology in the
domain of organic life. Each of the great ge
ological formations has been characterized by
peculiar groups of animals and plants, found
neither in the rocks below nor above. Dr.
Hiteheock is satisfied that the earlier geological
formations are separated from each other by de
structive catastrophes, which ..almost entirely
swept away the orders of existence inhabiting
the earth’s surface at the time. The old faunas
(groups of animals) and floras (groups of plants)
suddenly disappeared, and those which succeed
ed must have been new. The alluvial period
docs not present proofs of such extensive up
heavals and dislocations; the surface has been
kept comparatively quiet ever since the Creta
ceous period. Hence, various groups as it were
run into each other during the different divi
sions of this epoch. But this is not true of the
earlier periods. At the close of these forma
tions, the uniformity of nature’s operations was
suddenly and universally interrupted ; and the
commencement of each of these new eras whs
marked by the ‘ introduction of new orders of
beings and new species. Even without those
great cosmieal interruptions, the introduction of
entirely new orders and species cannot be traced
to the uniform operation of natural law. There
is a chasm* between man for instance, and • all
other orders of beiDgs on earth,.which no natural
law could overpass. But the best geologists do
not doubt that these great interruptions took
place, and they recognize the consequent distinct
“life periods” as they are called, which have
succeeded ouch other on the surface of the
globe. Says Agassiz: “ One result stands now
unquestioned: the existence during each great
geological era of an assemblage of animals and
plants differing essentially for each* period. —
And by period, I mean those minor subdivisions
in the successive,, sets of beds of rocks which j
constitute the stratified erupt of our globe, the
number of which is daily increasing, as our in
vestigations become more extensive and more
precise.” It is agreed by those whom Dr.
Hitchcock regards as the best uthorities on the
subject, that the' systems of plants and animals
on our globe have be en obliter ted and
by others of distinct origiij as often as twenty
jive times. /
We pause here in our presentation of tbe views
of the very able author, n The bearing of his
views upon certain fashionable doctrines of sci
entific unbelievers and opponents of Scripture
truth is manifest. If the liniformity of nature’s
laws has been broken in upon as often as twenty
five times in tbe history qf the earth, that uni
formity,must cease to be icoepted as an unalter
able dogma. The fortrea that always frowned
at the entrance of the argument on miracles is
dismantled and razed. M the position for which
such high scientific anthOTity is quoted by our
author against Sir Cha|jes I<yel!, in regard to
great geological and universal catastrophes in
the earlier history of the earth’s crust, be cor
rect, then there is an end to the applicability of
the fashionable hypothesis of development as
explanatory of the appcarance of different species
on the earth. If the life-periods are distinct,
separated from, each other by catastrophes ut
terly destructive in theiii [character, supernatural,
creative, miraculous power is alone adequate to
their production. We/rnay conclude with Agas
siz that .*■ all these beings do not exist in conse
quence of the continied agency of physical
causes but have made], their successive appear
ance upon the earth by the immediate intervention
of the Creator.” If the earth has witnessed
such frequent qnd vast exhibitions of creative
power interposed for Ihe renewal of its living in
habitants, we may be prepared for the bold con
clusion of our author,, that change is the higher
and uniformity the subordinate law of the divine
operations, and that it is highly probable that
the subordinate law should give way on occa
sions so important as the revelation of the divine
will to intelligent creatures; in other words that
no presumption against miracles as evidences of
revealed religion can*; be drawn from the uni
formity of nature’s that the antecedent
probabilities are in facti-quite .in the opposite di
rection in view of the nodus vindice dignus.
TRIAD AND REMOVAL OE REV. CHARLES
BEECHER.
The Congregational Church of Georgetown
Mass., near Boston, has called a council for
the purpose of trying its pastor, Rev. Charles
Beecher, for heresy. The circular letter of the
church calling the council,' 1 says:
“It seems to us-that several doctrines
preached by our pastor, Rev. Mr. Beecher, are
not in accordance with the faith once delivered
to the saints, and held generally by the churches
in • New England, viz: The doctrine of for
existenee of the human soul—of the state of
soul—of the atonement- of the state of souls
after death, and of Divine sorrow.”
. It also appeared from the testimony, that Mr.
Beecher preached that the doctrine of the Di
vinity of Christ was .not essential; that the
happ'inesa of
world would be matters of choice, that neither
happiness or misery would be unalloyed in that
state; that God had greatly exaggerated future
punishment in the Scriptural statements; that
Lnucifer remained in heaven till Christ came,
and a batch of other frivolous and blasphemous
ideas that no sound head could ever have held.
Dr. Edward Beecher was present as a mem
ber of the council, and took part in the discus
sion. The Christian Herald says:
Mr. Beecher very early in his ministry, per
haps during his course of prepatory study was
noted for his speculations in regard to things
not revealed. He seemed ever to have some
theological nebula which he was trying to re
solve into stars. The propensity has grown
upon him sadly, <if the statements made before
the council are to be believed.
From the Boston BecOrder, we leam that the
couneil met, July 15th. The . Rev. T. W.
Dwight, D. D., of Portland, jvas chosen Modera
tor, and Rev. Mr. Barrdws, Scribe.
The first day was consumed mostly in hear
ing evidence for the petitioners, and the second
day for the defence. Tie 'defence was mostly
a written argument, prepared and read by Mr.
Beecher. At a private evening session the
following persons were appointed a Committee
to draw up the Tesult of the Council, viz., Rev
erends Barrows, Allen, Hooker and Campbell.
The Council then adjourned till the 22d, on
which day they again met and the following
result'unanimously presented by the Com
mittee, and, after patient consideration was
adopted by a vote of sixteen in favor to five
opposed. j
[We have space to give only the essential
parts of the paper.]
We are clear and decided that the objections
of the petitioners are well taken and well sus
tained, not only by their own witnesses, but by
Mr. Beecher’s declarations and concessions in
his defense; and that the petitioners ought, on
the principles of honot and of right, to be re
lieved ; and as a most pahrful duty that we owe
to Christ and his chnrcßjlge do hereby advise
the termination without delay/ of the pastoral
relation between this church and the Rev.
Charles Beecher.
Nor do we thus recommend merely that we
may relieve the petitioners. We would also
relieve Mr Beecher who is a member of this
church, from the necessity imposed by his
conscience of violating his covenant with the
church by preaching doctrines that in several
particulars are essentially vanant from the creed
of the church, We would also save the entire
ehurch, and the community/ from the utter in
difference, not to say contempt, that must be
engendered toward creeds and covenants, by
such an example as his course has offered.
.In our view it is a most sdrious evil, and one
having a wide sweep of lamentable consequen
ces, for a pastor thus to throw into the shade
and trample under foot the creed of the church,
that by virtue of his office be promises to adopt,
preach and defend. And; the case is .aggrava
ted when the pastor himself becomes a member
of the church to which he ministers, and then
neglects, denies, or slurs any part of its creed,
and which, by his entering the church, becomes
at the same time his own./jjf- such* an example
be copied by the laity, we do not see how a
ehurch can have and maintain a creed, or have
anv door of admission or excommunication in
matters of faith. Ifthe ministry may so in private
judgement and right disregard the creeds of
their churches, the pulpit is left open to any
faith and any ministerial fellowship however
erroneous and repulsive, and the church have
As it is a matter of right with them it should
be a matter of honor with the pastor, that he
preach the faith which, by his settlement, he
has contracted with them to preach, and is most
solemnly obligated to the Great Head of the
church to preach. And we advise a dismission
in this case, partly to relieve Mr. Beecher from
the necessity of violating a contract which his
conscience will not allow him to keep.
The Christian spirit of Mr. Beecher, shown
in this case, and his rare ability to present what
he believes, would have led the council to very
different results if we could be persuaded that
he simply holds certain notions about pre
existence as academic theses, scholastic ques
tions, or philosophical speculations, which he
could and would conscientiously keep in abey
ance while he preaches Christ and hint crucified.
But these notions are held by him as eternal
truths vitally related to his entire theological
system, so far as we have examined it.
This system he believes is destined to sup
plant the common theology of our church, and
is essential to conviction of sin, and the highest
type of Christian character. Therefore he feels
solemnly obligated to unfold and propagate it.
So we find that his peculiar views permeate,
and from his estimate of their importance must
of necessity permeate his public teachings, so
far as the witnesses on both sides, his own
lengthy and able defense, and his written and
printed sermons have exposed those teachings
to ns.
A protest against this result was handed in
by Bey. H. M. Dexter, and another by Rev.
Edward Beecher, D. D.; and the other three
members who voted in the negative may for
ward theirs. A committee was appointed to
answer these protest. .
LETTER FROM CHAPLAIN STEWART.
Warrenton, Va, July 28th, 1863.
During the past forty-fiv«| days, since finally
breaking up our old camp at Falmouth, it may
be literally and without figure of speech asser
ted, no time has been allowed for writing.
What of marchings and countermarchings—,
marches under burning suns and amid clouds
of dust—marches in the darkness of the night
with torrents of rain and continents of mud,
looking after the sick, the wounded, the dying
and the dead; more than the" moments of an
ordinary existence seem to have been occupied.
During air this time hardly ever two days or.
nights in one place or some position. If any
uncertain time was allowed for rest or sleep,
the weary body was thrown down on the road *
or beside it, in the open fields or woods, and
generally without any attempted shelter.
Concerning ns of late the poet could truthfully
sing,
“ War and chase,
Give little chance for resting place.”
Miscellaneously have we perambulated through
various counties in Virginia, thence across into
and here and there through much of Maryland;
then a short round into dear old Pennsylvania,
back again and round about through Maryland;
and now once more recrossed that Rubicon of a
Potomac; and after more than a week of wan
dering by night and by day through valleys
and over mountains, into gaps and gorges,
across fields and thrqugh the woods in search
of, or by endeavors to head, Gen. Lee in his
retreat, we are at length halted near Warren
ton.
That harvest of death and mutilation at
'Gettysburg, the gleanings of which the benevo
lent have been so industriously and kindly
gathering up, and binding, constitutes after
all but an episode in this late campaign. The
herculean labors and untold fatigues uncom
plainingly endured by the soldiers, are not
likely ever fully to be written. Those, having
never seen nor felt, could hardly he made to
understand these by any labored description.
An intelligent legal friend from Pennsylvania,
who added himself to our regiment, and spent
a week while lately in Maryland—marched, ate,
slept in camp—when leaving us at the Potomac
on recrossing into Virginia, declared, that h|s
week’s experience had been worth a lifetimes’
reading—otherwise, even by the most laborious
and accurate descriptions, he would have re
mained in almost total ignorance of the strange,
reality.
Without the desire or even thought of under
estimating the powers of endurance belonging
to others, we feel constrained to believe that
no army save that of the Potomac could have
undergone the physical endurance of the past
six weeks and be ndw in such a good condition.
Those, who have most carefully noted, esti
mate that during this time, besides the fighting,
together with other multiplied duties and toils,
our 6th.corps, and this is an average of others, has
marched three hundred and fifty miles. Marhced?
What is comprehended in the march of a great
army under the burning suns of July ? Will our
rugged farmers, who sweat in the harvest field,
or tradesmen who daily put forth strong muscu
lar effort at their ordinary business, believe me
when assuring them, that were the strongest
from among their number for the first time to
be arraye’d with what each soldier daily and for
long hours and many miles carries—knapsack,
haversack, gun, ammunition box, canteen, tin
cup, coffee boiler with various other et ceteras,
weighing in all about as much as a bushel of
wheat and he thus accoutred started at the
middle of a hot July day, on a dusty road, amid
a thick and smothering crowd of men, horses,
mules, and wagons; .in less than a mile he
would fall prostrate to the earth and perhaps
never be able to rise again. It has, however,
taken two years of terrible practice to inure
these iron men to undergo this wonderful physi
cal-endurance. Nor must it be forgotten, that
in the hardening process, two. out of three have
sunk under the toil and exposure, and have
disappeared from the army.
Our mode of marching for many days, during
the late campaign, has been after the following
fashion Stretched out in a single road and in
close marching order, the army of the Potomac
with its infantry, cavalty, artillery, ambulances,
and wagon trains, would extend a distance of
forty miles; so where the front may now be, it
would in ordinary marches take several days
for the rear to reach. In order to facilitate
matters, keep the army more compact, and be
able to act more speedily in concert as lately at
Gettysburg, several columns usually start
together on different roads leading in the same
•general direction. Not only this, hut of late it
has been usual for the artillery, ambulances and
wagons to take the road, aud if a turnpike or
wide throroughfare, wagons and artillery go
abreast, and the infantry column take a course
in the vicinity and parallel with the road—
through fields and woods, down into deep glens
and hollows, up steep bluffs aud over high hills,
through unbridged marshes, ponds and creeks.
Along such a course it is often quite as easy
for the footman as for us who are on horse
back.
The eye never wearies in its interest with
ever varying scenes constantly presenting them
selves on these marches. Long miles of artil
lery a cannon with its six horses followed by
its caisson and its six horses, and others and
others—strings of neat two horse ambulances
reaching out of sight, and army wagons with
out seeming number or end—with those on
foot; great streams of living men, which those
remaining stationary sometimes imagine will
never all pass. A strange fascination has it at
least to the writer, often on the march when
getting on some eminence and looking forward
for miles at that dark column four abreast,
winding down into valleys; up over hills, across
fields, orchards and meadows—away, away
and hiding itself in some dense woods far off.
Looking back, the same curious bewitching
vision meets the eye. A vast living moving
anaconda, encircling and seemingly about to
erush the earth within its folds. At a mile’s
distance the motion of the column cannot readily
be discerned; but fixing the eye on a stationary
object in close proximity, you at once discern
that it actually lives ani moves.
There being a multitude of matters about
which to write and that may prove of interest
to your readers, my effort will be hereafter as
far as practicable, to furnish them a weekly post
ing as -to things in camp. Wholly uncertain
about to-morrow, this •is the second day we
have been allowed to remain here; and like
jaded horses are endeavoring to rest and recruit
ourselves.
OUR FOREIGN MISSIONS.
The churches and friends of the American
Board are reminded that our financial year
closes with the 31st day of the present month,
August.
The churches which have not taken up their
collections for the year are earnestly requested
to give attention to the matter and send in
their contributions without delay. To .meet
the large advance in foreign exchange the
Board needs the help of all the churches and an
increase on former contributions if possible.—
It is gratifying to report that a number of
churches of this district have made this increase
the present year, in some cases the contribu
tions being doubled. J. McLeod,
Dist. Sec. A. B. C.' F. M.
1334 Chestnut street.
HOME MISSIONS.
On applications received from the churches
they serve the following ministers were com
missioned by the Presbyterian Committee of
Home Missions at their last regular meeting,
sixteen of whom were tinder commission last
year:
Rev. Aug. Cone, Newton Palls, O.
“ A. H. Gaston, Barry, Mich.
" J. D. Strong, San Francisco, Cal.
“ J. L. Swain, Ulysses, Pa.
“ P. R Knive, Virgil, N, Y.
“ J. G. Kanouse, Cottage Grove, Wis. .
“ Geo. M. Lifes, Nichols, N. Y.
“ W. B. Orvis, Murraysville, His.
“ J. A. Prime, Troy, N. Y.
“ Philander Camp, Andover, N. Y.
" Geo. Hansom, Bedford, N. Y.' v
“ J. L. Landis, Clarks Green, Pa.
“ J. Aspinwall, Prairie City, Kansas.
“ W. S. Taylor,.Petersburg, Mich.
“ Chas. H. Theberath. Paterson,-N. J.
“ G- W. Winnes, (Ist German), Cinn’L, O.
“ L. A. Aldrich, (6th St.), Cincinnati, O.
“ J. L. French, Batavia, O.
“ W. P. Teitsworth, Arkport, N. Y.
" C. J. Slack, Newtown, lowa.
“ Geo. 0. Little, Birmingham, Pa.
“ Timothy Morgan, North Western Mo.
“ J. L. Jones, Camp Point, Ills.
“ Joseph Gordon, Yandalia, His.
“ G. W. Goodale, Greenville, Ills.
A PLEA FOR THE NEGRO.
A sermon on the above named topic was de
livered Sunday night July sth, in the Olivet
church by the pastor Rev. W. W. Taylor,
The first part of the discourse was a brief
disquisition upon the mystery in which their
history is involved, including their transporta
tion to our shores mingling with our popula
tion and* policy. The second part was an
attack upon our bitter prejudices against the
negro, and an exposure of the false grounds on
which we treat them with unkindness and in
justice. The.third part was a statement of the
claims, that might be made in their behalf.—
The preacher insisted that they should not be
the objects of unjust prejudices, groundless
aversions and unmanly contempt Allow them
personal freedom, an opportunity to gain
knowledge, to labor for wages; relieve them
from the shame and sorrow of being bought
and sold; make them masters of themselves,
let their marriage contracts be as sacred as
God has made them, their homes inviolable,
their children left to their own instruction and
government. Give therii a chance to develop
the powers with which the Almighty has en
dowed them to show what they are, prove
whether they are inferior or the contrary, and
rise and* gain equality, if they can, by their own
efforts.
Then followed an argument, that they are
human beings, descended from the same ori
ginal pair, mortal and immortal, to shine with
the redeemed of the other races, like the sun,
in the kingdom of God. Examples were given
in conclusion of individuals of the race, ex
hibiting the highest cultivation, and sustaining
Blumenbach’s assertion: “ There is no savage
people who have distinguished themselves by
such examples of perfectibility and capacity
for scientific cultivation.”
Mr. Taylor has done good service in behalr
oi an oppressed and suffering race by this dis
course.. The removal of Northern prejudices
against the negro is as serious and perhaps as
difficult a work as the overthrow of Southern
slavery. Yet it must be done before we can
expect the blessing of God on ns as a people.
Dr. Sunderland’s Position. —Several of our
ministers; pays the Washington correspondent
of the Independent, who attended the crowded
meeting in Dr. Sunderland’s church last Sab
bath night to meet Rev. Dr. Massie of London,
refused to sign the reply to the address of the
clergymen because of anti-slavery sen
tences in it! Rr- Sunderland’s course is very
honorable to him. He is doing a noble work
here for the Government and for the cause of
Freedom. He has it in his power to do much
more than, such men as Channing, who have
been abolitionists all along—with a class of our
citizens, I mean. He reaches the pro-slavery
and the pon-eommittal classes.
Tercentenary Monument. In Commemoration of
the Three Hundredth Anniversary of the Heidel
berg Catechism. Chambersburg, Penn.: Kieffer
& Co.
This is indeed a literary monument of a most
interesting and valuable character. The Ger
man Reformed Church have manifested a re
markable degree of energy and zeal ip behalf
of the standard of their faith, the Heidelberg
Catechism. They have made its Tercentenary
anniversary an occasion for expounding, eluci
dating, historidsing and magnifying it and its
surroundings in an extraordinary degree. The
learning and science of two natipns and lan
guages have been invoked in this work. The
octavo of 650 pages before us faithfully records
the Tercentenary celebration, gives us what
may be called the transactions which led to the
convention, its proceedings, and copies of the
sermons and addresses delivered or read at that
time. After all, when we consider the honor
done to the catechetical form of instruction
by these labours,- which include an essay on
Catechetics and Catechetical Instruction, we do
not know that the impression of exaggeration
one gets at first sight is correct. Such a pow
erful educational instrument as the Heidelberg
Catechism deserves the great research bestowed
upon it by the conclare Of divines who inet
early this year in our city. There is a mass of
information between these two covers, some of
it furnished by the first scholars'of Germany,
which would enrich any theologies! library. For
sale by Lindsay & Blakiston. .
A. M. Stewart.
fg|». f BttaiWßS.
Magazines, Pamphlets &c,
The American Presbyterian and Theologi
cal Review contains, The Heidelberg Catechism
by Dr. Scbaff. The Aristotlian and modem
Plan of man in Zoology, by Prof. Dewey of
Rochester. Dorner on the Sinless perfection of
Jesus. Prayer and Mediation by Hon. Eleazer
Lord, Piermont, N. Y,
Colenso on the Pentateuch, by Dr. Good
win, of Phila. Examination of the latest de
fences of Dr. Hitchcock’s Rational Pseyeho
logy, by Prof. Hall. The General Assembly
at Philadelphia. Theological and Literary
Intelligence. Criticisms on Books; Theology;
Biblical Literature; History and Biography;
Philosophy; Practical Religion; Science ;
General Literature ; Political Writings. Ec
clesiastical Record, by Dr. Hatfield.
The, article on the General Assembly as a
permanent document might have been fuller.
The departments of intelligence and criticism
are as usual very full and valuable. The Re
view is unapproached in these departments.—
Hereafter it will be printed in solid type giv
ing a greater amount of reading matter in the
same space. Phila., Presbyterian Bookstore
1334 Chestnut street.
The Bibliotheca Sacra and Biblical Re
pository for July, 1863 contains: " Sin as re
lated to Htiman Nature and the Divine Pur
pose,” by Prof. Haven of Chicago; “The Law
of Nature’s constancy subofdinate to the higher
Law of Change,” by Dr. Hitchcock of Amherst
College ; an argument directly in the teeth of
the prevailing dogmas of the positive philoso
phy which rests upon the presumed unchange
ableness of nature’s laws. It is an invaluable
contribution to the argument for miracles. We
give an extract on our first page.. “Doctrines
of the New School Presbyterian Church,” by
Rev. George Duffield, D. D. a valuable article
for which our church owes the venerable writer
many thanks. Fuller notice hereafter. In the
meantime we cannot accept the disparaging
tone in which scientific theology is spoken of
as a correct representation of the prevalent
views of our church. “ The Fathers and
Founders of the Lutheran Church,” by Presi
dent Sears. “Egyptology, Oriental Archeolo
gy and Travel,” By Jos. P. Thompson, D. D.
Colenso on the Pentateuch,” by Prof. Bartlett,
of Chicago. “ The Tercentenary of the Heidel
berg Catechism,” by Prof. Schaff. “Latest
German Theological Works,” by Prof. Warren,
of Bremen.
The Biblical Repository and Princeton
Review for July, contains: The Inspired The
ory of Prayer ; Religious instruction in the
army, in which the proposal of the Christian
Commission to suspend Chaplains by voluntary
laborers is severely criticised; Faith a source
of knowledge; The True Tone in Preaching
and the True Temper in Hearing; The Gene
ral Assembly; Date of the Book of Chronicles
-—4ime of Ezra; Paul’s Thom in the Flesh—
defect of vision. Short Notices.
The Atlantic Monthly, for August, con
tains: An American in the House of Lord’s;
Debby’s Debut; Wetweather Work; The Geo
logical Middle Age; The Fleur-de-Lis in Flo
rida; Political Problems and conditions of
Peace, with a number of other articles. The
Poetry is scant and common place. The arti
cles we have named are perhaps equal to the
usually high standard of the Atlantic.
The Eclectic Magazine, for August, con
tains its usual full and varied selection of
Foreign articles with some original pieces.—
The engraving is exceedingly spirited and
beautiful representing Hildegarde. interposing
to save the life of Charlemagne in an enebunter
with a wild bull. It will be interesting to
many of our readers to learn that “ the late S.
G. Goodrich (Peter Parley) and the late Prof.
Goodrich of Yale College were the thirty-fourth
lineal descendents of Charlemagne and Hilde
garde.”
Subscribers who are in arrears and
liable to 50 cents additional charge on their
bills, are notified that this charge will be re
mitted, to such as pay an additional year, in
advance of the present.
gjtes mt iilurdtrn.
Presbyterian.
Rev. J. Parsons Hovey, D. D., the beloved
pastor of the Eleventh Church, New York, is
also the chaplain of one of our finest New York
regiments—the gallant 71st—and during their
late campaign in Pennsylvania he shared all
their privations and hardships, occasionally even,
setting a good example with the spade, and
always sleeping in the trenches or on the
green sward, with only the sky for a covering.
The good people of the Eleventh Church have 1
been prompt to manifest t'heir interest in a sub
stantial and most appropriate way. While Dr.
Hovey was home ou a brief furlough, they sur
prised him with the gift of a beautiful chap
ain’s sworrl, spurs, &c.— Evangelist.
AUG. 6