The American Presbyterian. (Philadelphia) 1856-1869, September 24, 1863, Image 2

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—AND—
GENESEE EVANGELIST.
PHILADELPHIA, SEPT. 24, 1863
JOHN W. HEARS,
gggf“ Subscribers' who are in arrears find
liable to 50 cents additional charge on their
bills, are notified that this charge will be re
milted to such as pay an additional year, in ad
vance of Ike present.
THE CONVERSION OF LITTLE CHILDREN.
The sweetness, the appropriateness, and the
ornament of piety to the young at ail seasons
great, increase, up to certain limits, in inverse
proportion with the age. True piety in a very
little child is a most charming sight. It may
be attended with unnatural and artificial ad
juncts, but so far as piety alone influences the
child’s character, it must produce beautiful
fruits. Conversion, we are divinely informed,
is in great part, becoming as little children ;
then if little children themselves are converted |
the type and the anti-type meet in one. Each
illustrates tho other and a most sweet harmony
unites them both. All that is attractive in
child-nature merges in the higher attractions
of holiness. The simplicity, gentleness, trust
fulness and docility of the child, shine with a
new attractiveness as they are exercised towards
God and religious objects. “ In the beauty of
holiness, from the womb of the morning, thou
hast the dew of thy youth.”
There should be less incredulity and greater
readiness to welcome and admire the motions
of the Holy Spirit In the hearts of young
children. Instead of expecting and preparing
for such phenomena in the household, instead
of seeking them as the choicest adornments of
our homes, 1b it not to be feared that the reti
cence of many truly good Christian parents, to
say nothing of the utter worldliness of some and
the extravagant gayety of others, actually, dis
courages and represses the manifestations which
the child would otherwise make of interest in
religious matters ? Parents are to be found,
among church members we fear, who are anxious
to have their very young children appear well,
who thrust them forward with pride at a very
tender age in dancing cirelesand at fashionable
watering places; but who show not the least
concern to have them light up their homes with
the jewel of early piety. They are wilfully
ignorant or indifferent how great a degree of
real beauty, attractiveness and honor they might
win for their homes, should they secure, by the
divine blessing, the conversion of their children.
No Christian doubts that very young children
are and may be converted. If there are any
modem pharisees who refuse to believe it,
we may ask them in the language of Christ:
“ Have ye never read, out of the mouth of babes
and sucklings thou hast perfected praise ?”
Very remarkable has been the work of the
Spirit among little children, in connection with
the labors of the Evangelist, Rev. E ; P. Ham
mond. Thoroughly convinced of the’ propriety
and feasibility of the undertaking, and appre
hending and conceiving the truth of the Gospel
himself in the simplest manner, Mr. Hammond
with his engaging ways is eminently fitted for
the work. Our readers perhaps are aware that
he has issued a small volume on the subject,
entitled, “ Little ones on the Fold.”. It is
accompanied with an introduction from the pen
of Dr. Hatfield of New York. Dr. H., in this,
asks the question, “ Why should it be thought
a thing incredible that little children should be
made the subjects of renewing grace ?” and in
reply to a remark implying that there is some
thing extraordinary in the conviction and con
version of numbers of little children, says: “It
is not in the case of such conversions that the
mightiness of the Spirit’s operations is most
exhibited; but in the case of the full-grown
sinner, hardened against the truth by long
continuance in sin and rebellion.. How easy
comparatively to bring the simple-hearted child
to receive and embrace the Gospel!”
In the body of the volume, Mr. Hammond
gives a mass of facts of very peculiar and in
teresting character, principally from the field of
his own labors, in New England, Canada and
the British Islands. He allows the little ones
to speak, in letters of their own composing,
which he has invited them to address to him
self. He says: " In selecting these letters, I
have rejected, except in a few cases mentioned,
those of children over twelve years of age. I :
wished to have the experiences strictly confined
to children/ and as much as possible to little
children—six, seven and eight years of age. ” The
artless prattlings of these little ones, who pour
out their hearts without reserve to “ dear Mr.
Hammond," are frequently of the most touching :
character, and furnish uneontestible proof of :
the genuine workings of the Spirit upon the :
writers. In giving the letters of two sisters, '
eight and ten years of age, who refer to pre
vious convictions, Mr. H., remarks: “ In most
of the children’s meetings in Scotland and
America, I have found numbers who have long
been seeking Jesus.” The entire volume is
calculated to arrest the attention of the Church,
and to stimulate the hopeß and labors of all
who are particularly concerned with the train
ing of children to ways of godliness, and more
particularly to start the inquiry, whether the
ministry and other office-bearers in the Church,
as well as Christian parents, should delegate
their responsibility for the young of the flock
so largely, as at present is the fashion, to the
Sabbath School ? _
In a recent communication to the Sunday
School Times, Mr. Hammond says:
learn, that it was reported at the
State Sabbath-school Convention in Trov Npw
J'J5 hat t. 01 ? e, thousand and one, from the
Sabbath-schools m and around Rochester had
as the result of the recent outpouring of the
One^ofth? 1 ] Umted With the churuh Christ.
2S It ln Rochester wrote me
that some of the children were as \ oumr as
nine years of age.” •’ oun o as
Undoubtedly these children owe much to the*
wbc n “ T’’ b “ M “ »'• H-C
when m Rochester, addressed himself to them
specially, with the simple and affectionate
earnestness which characterise his efforts tee
ro “ a human point of view, strongly
doubt whe her such blessed and wonderM
results would have followed.
We would like the brethren to feel that their
ordinary efforts and prayers for the spread of
the gospel, may and ought to have more deci
ded reference to tho young—to those regarded
even as very young. The large proportion of
Christ’s discourses, which could have %een
understood by this class of hearers, is well
worthy of consideration by modern sermonizers,
who profess to be his followers. At this season
of the yedr specific efforts are usually made,
contemplating the revival of religion in the
Churches. Why might not these efforts have
some special reference, at this time, to the
conversion of the young ?-Possibly we are
approaching a period in the history of the
Church, when it will be highly expedient to give
our labors this direction. The heart of the
fathers must be turned to the children, and the
heart of the children to their fathers, lest the
earth be smitten with a curse. The marked
precocity of children—a fact so much noticed
in our age—should not be suffered to inure
only to the advantage of the Evil One. The
great and growing interest of the Sabbath
School, and the extraordinary success attending
the labors of Mr.]Hammond among children,
are facts which help to give peculiar appropri
ateness and importance to the whole 1 subject.
Editor.
THE ASSEMBLY’S COMMITTEE OF HOME
MISSIONS.
Few indications of progress on the part of
the church of Christ are more manifest and
cheering than those presented in the Second
Annual Report of this Committee recently
issued. If any thing in the way of practical
demonstration were needed to indicate the
wisdom of instituting the Committee and en
dowing it with plenary powers and of thus as
suming as a church, the prime work of Home
■Missions, it is furnished in the cheering facts
of this l report. The contributions have risen,
in spite of the burden of war, from $35,000, re
ported last year, tj> $52,000 in this. The
number of missionaries employed is 258 in
stead of 195. And the work of these laborers
has manifestly been blessed. More than thirty
church-edifices have been : ,built, repaired or re
lieved of debt. Many revivals of religion have
been enjoyed. Eight hundred and fifty one
hopeful conversions have occurred, 691 per
sons have united with the church on profes
sion, and 658 on certificate.
These are results which place the matter be
yond the limits of mere experiment, and es
tablish the Committee as among the accepted
instrumentalities for evangelizing this great
country.
The Committee are now specially engaged in
the effort to multiply efficient laborers in Cali
fornia. The happy exemption of this State
from the calamities of war have made it a de
sirable place of residence, and a great tide of
emigration is flowing to its ports. Notwith
standing constant drains to other gold regions,
the population of California is rapidly increas
ing. Churches planted there soon become
self-sustaining. The Wisdom of the Committee
in this movement is manifest. We therefore
hope it may meet a ready response. It is an
opportunity for doing good that should prove
attractive not merely to young and unsettled
ministers, or candidates, but to mature and ex
perienced men. And we hope the needed
funds will be promptly forthcoming. The
California department draws .heavily at first on
the treasury, but it is not a protracted drain
like some of the older fields in the East. We
commend the subject especially to the eight
hundred Churches that are reported as having
contributed nothing last year. Not a few of
them are in this immediate neighborhood.
One that we have just Ireard of, has nobly re
deemed its Christian name by a recent eontri
bntion of over $lOO. We hope the remaining
199 will make a proportionally good repara
tion for last year’s neglect.
AN ENCOURAGING SYMPTOM.
The conviction that good men, who have hi
therto felt it part of their duty to shun politics,
must now take an active interest in them, has
penetrated the public mind. It is felt that the
very beginnings of political action must he puri
fied by the presence and co-operation of the
pure. Business men, men of family and do
mestic habits, men not dependent upon politi
cal favoritism for the chances of a living, unam
bitious, ‘God-fearing men, ministers of tbe Gos
pel, have recently given practical evidence of a
new interest, not merely in the issue of an elec
tion, but in all the preliminary transactions
which have such a commanding influence on
the result. In this city, the late primary meet
ings and elections of the Union party, bearing
upon the choice of candidates, were attended
by unwonted numbers of respectable and non
political classes of the people. These meetings
were generally held in places untainted with
the corrupting influences of strong drink—in
public halls, &c., and good men felt no repug
nance to appearing in them. Hence the meet
ings were often crowded with the best citizens,
eager, in this to discharge the whole of
their civil duties; and, as a consequence,'few,
if any, ‘‘nominations not fit to be made ” can be
found among the Unipn candidates.
Whether the party that is laboring in our
State, with all its might, to weaken and embar
rass the government in this great conflict, ma
naged to bring any whom they would call good
men to their gatherings, we know not. We are
perfectly confident that they will .not sneceed
by the help of the good; and since the cheering
and abundant manifestations referred to above,
we are tolerably sure they will not succeed by
the apathy of the good. We would not like to.
share the responsibility of the loyal man who
contents himself with simply voting the right
ticket, and regards himself as precluded by the
peculiarities of bis position from throwing his
entire influence, unreservedly, and in the face of
the world against the supporters of the rebellion
among us, by whatever name they are-called.
For ourselves, we are resolved that no part of
the blame for the election of an intense pro
slavery and pro-rebel governor, over our State,
shall lie at our door. No “ prudential reasons ”
shall hinder our enlisting in a campaign, where
’ truth ’ rightcoushess, liberty, and public order
are so clearly involved—never! never!
Ivev. A- Barnes'is confined to his bed with
bilious affection which is ruthei 1 a source of dis
comfort than of fear to the sufferer and his
friends. Rev. Daniel March is still in Mas
sachusetts, weak, but recruiting.
. persons were received on profession
into Fine Street Church, Kov. Dr. Braiuerd’s,
on last Sabbath.
- JUtnitiui ftfSrfcgterian and (Smjsu iuaupliist
FROM SYRIA.
Important suggestions and corrections, for
which Revs. Dr. Coleman and Osborn have
been waiting before sending out tbeir great
and valuable map, have been received from
Syria and the map will how be rapidly put
through the press. Rev. Dr. Thomson in for
warding corrections, remarks that the wars,
massacres, &e., which desolated that country
several years ago, have so changed its soeial
condition in many places and scattered the
people, who still survive, that it is difficult
even to travel and make explorations in the
northern part of the land.
; Dr. Barclay has discovered, what he suppo
ses to be an ancient port a few miles south of
Joppa, and it is thought that the contemplated
rail-road, from the coast to Jerusalem, may
have its sea-coast terminus at this lately dis
covered port. It may not be known to many
that a line of telegraph has been established in
Syria with European connections, by means of
which a gentleman, lately returned from the
East, received the war news from the United
States, telegraphed from Boston to Jerusalem,
in fifteen days 1
ANOTHER APPEAL FROM THE ARMY.
Rev, Wm. J. Gibson, D. D., one of the most
•ictive and faithful chaplains in the army, acting
In that capacity in the 45th Regt., Pa. Yols.,
•vrites, that he is the only remaining chaplain in
r his brigade of four regiments, (Ist of the.lst div.
Oth corps,) and that he is without papers or
tracts for distribution. The religious papers he
has been accustomed to receive have been with
held for months past. He will be greatly obliged
to the conductors and, publishers of the Ameri
can Presbyterian and several other papers which
he names, if they will send to his address, as
many copies weekly of their respective papers
as they can afford.
We have no means to meet this appeal, which
is the third which has come to us from the army
in a few weeks past. We need fifteen dollars a
week to meet these three calls. Who will help ?
CORRESPONDENCE IN THE NORTHWEST.
Meeting of Presbytery of Chicago. — Non-attend
ance of Delegates.—A Hint to the Elders
which it is hoped ’ they will ponder. — The
Agent of the Christian Commission at Mem
phis.—His' remarks at Gen. Grant’s Dinner.
Northwest, Sept. 15, 1863.
Editor of Presbyterian :—The Presbytery of
Chicago held its semi-annual meeting last week
with Calvary Church in .the city of Chicago.
The meeting was one of no special importance.
The usual duties were completed with as much
dispatch as their importance would justify. The
brethren did nothing with unseemly haste.
The gathering was both pleasant and profitable.
There was one subject which claimed the at
tendance of the body which is worthy of more
than a passing notice. It was found that while
there was a fair representation of the ministers
within the bounds of the Presbytery, there
were present not to exceed two or three elders
of the churches. A committee was appointed
to present a report and recommend some action
to secure a larger attendance of delegates.
Doubtless the same difficulty has been expe
rienced iu other judicatories of the Church.
And it is believed, that there will not be any
change for the better, until the Sessions of the
Churches are l rought to look upon this matter
as a duty which they owe to God and His
Church. It is a common feeling that the busi
ness which calls the Presbyteries together is not
of sufficient importance to require the attention
of the delegates, even if the formality is ob
served of appointing them. They urge that the
ministers who comprise one of the constituent
elements of the Church judicatory, can do the
work alone. Here lies the great error. The
ministers do need the counsel and advice of the
elders. The work is of far-reaching importance.
It has to do with the spread of the gospel in the
world, and there is no work requiring greater
wisdom and foresight than this. The planting
of new churches, the fosteriug of Weak ones, —
there are connected with efforts of this char
acter great and pressing responsibilities. And
then, where do all the great educational plans,
the plans to build and endow Colleges, and fur
nish the Church with an educated ministry,
where are they first brought to light but in these
neglected meetings of God’s servants ? If I re
member correctly, Yale College had its ineipi
ency in a gathering of clergymen in a minis
ters’ study. Beloit College owes its existence
and perpetuation to plans devised at the annual
gathering of the ministers of Wisconsin. These
great enterprises that look to the moral and re
ligious welfare of generations to come demand
attention. The elders of the churches cannot
throw off the responsibility. They ought to be
unwilling to leave it upon the shoulders of
others. It should be a cause of gratitude that
they can take part in these noble endeavors that
have for their end the salvation of this lost
world. When they are brougt to look upon this
matter as a duty, and to esteem it as a privilege,
there- will be no' lack of delegates at the meet
ings of our Church judicatories.
The condition of the country was uppermost
in the hearts and thoughts of the brethren, as
was manifest in the prayers during the entire
session. Then we were reminded of it again
and again, when-the names of absent brethren
were called, some of whom were in the army. And
this reminds your correspondent of the position
that is held and the respect that is shown to
some of the agents of the Christian Commission,
to one instance of which I wish to call attention in
closing this letter. We were informed a few
days since ■ that a grand banquet was given to
gen. Grant, the hero of the West, at Memphis.
At this banquet there was a large gathering of
military men and civilians. Among the toasts
that were read on that occasion was one in honor
of the-Christian Commission in the followinsr
words: “The United States Christian Commis
sion, with its volunteer labor, and unpaid
agency, wc recognize it as strength to the loyal,
and dismay to the traitors.” Without stopping
to criticise the language here employed, or its
appropriateness, I wish to call attention to the
fact, that, on sugh an oecasiop, this agency to
minister to the spiritual needs of the army
should be recognized at all. It is something
new in the history of war as well as the exis
tence of the Commission itself. The toast was
happily responded to by Mr. K. A. Burnell, one
of the agents of the Commission. He spoke as
follows, I give a few words from his speech : “ I
am profoundly grateful to the God of Battles,
who rules the destioy of nations, and permits us
to gather on an occasion like this, and greet our
illustrious guest whom he has used in no small
sense as a deliverer to pur nation.
“The United States Christian Commission
are under obligation to Major-General Grant for
having afforded them every facility in reaching
the troops in his department, and they take a
true pleasure in expressing it on this occasion.
An incident will illustrate my personal feelings
towards our guest, and it is among the sunny
memories of the: past.
“In February last, at Young’s Point, I was
seeking the steamer occupied as bead-quarters.
I met a gentleman, unassuming and quiet, in
a plain blouse, with no insignia of office. Said
I can you direct me to General Grant’s head
quarters? Withjgreat modesty he replied, “That
is my name, what can I do for you, sir?” I
made known my errand and expressed deep in
terest in the spiritual welfare of the soldiers.
He gave me a rote to his Adjutant, who gave
transportation and other facilities.” No more
honorable testimony was uttered on this occasion
to the worth of their distinguished guest than
by the humble servant of the Christian Com
■mission. ■
But there was another passage in his speech
to which I wish' to call attention. After detail
ing the magnitude of the work which the Com
mission bad undertaken for Christ in distribut
ing reading, and in furnishing volunteer la
borers on the different battle-fields, he con
tinues : “ Such is the work of tbe Christian
Commsssion, and such by Divine grace, we shall
continue to do while there is an army to do in.
Sir, I am most solemnly convinced that out of
this fearful American struggle is to grow a
higher, a holier, a more intense and untiring
Christian American life. In moral and spiritual
things we have too few soldiers and far too many
civilians. We need an American Christian
independence, one that will * stand up for Jesus
always and everywhere, showing a bold front
against every sin.”
Noble sentiments truly, worthy of the oc
casion. And all this was said in the presence of
several hundred-bronzed warriors, Generals, and
Brigadiers, Colonels and Captains, who were
gathered there to pay a tribute of respect to the
most illustrious General the war has produced.
It is a thanksgiving, in which its
liberal-hearted President of your city may well
share, that the Christian Commission and its
worthy agents should be recognized as one of
the institutions connected with tbe army, and
that it should be.treated with so much considera
tion on an occasion like the above. And it is
refreshing to read such high-toned Christian
sentiments uttered with so much fidelity in the
face ot not a few of the nation’s great leaders
and Generals. Presbyterian.
FROM OUR ROCHESTER CORRESPONDENT
Bofehester, September 18th, 1863.
DEATH OF CALVIN PEASE, D. D.
Dear Editor: —
Again must I write you in sorrow—such a
sorrow as that which dictated my first letter to
your columns, which was upon the sudden and
sad decease of Rev. J. T. Coit, pastor of St.
Peter’s Church,, of this city. Again is our mi
nistry stricken; ‘another pulpit is vacant, ano
ther church is, in mourning “with a great and
very sore lamentation.”
Calvin Pease, D. D., pastor of the First
Presbyterian Church, of this city, died on Wed
nesday of this week, at Burlington, Yt, We
feared this when tee wrote you last week of his
sickness; and still we could not at all realize
that he could so soon be taken away from his
high position and great usefulness. Surely the
Master, for the sake of his own cause, will do
no such thing—so we reasoned, and hoped for
his early restoration to health and strength.
But the Master had his own plans and purpo
ses, into which we could not look, until He
was pleased to reveal them. What could we
do or.say of these matters if we did not know
that his way is perfect ?
Dr. Pease was bom in Connecticut, on the
12th of September, 1813, and was, therefore,
just past fifty years of age. While yet a'
boy, his father removed to Yermont, .arid there
he passed his childhood and youth. Gradua
ting in Yermont, he became a teacher at Mont
pelier, the eapital. of the State. He was, not
long afterward, elected a professor in his Alma
Mater ; and, after filling that position, with cre
dit, for many years, he was called to the Presi
dency of tbe same institution, upon the retire
ment of the late Dr. Wheeler. From that po
sition he was called to be pastor of tbe First
Presbyterian Church, of this city, in November,
1861.
We have heard two reasons assigned for Ms
leaving that position to accept the pastorate—
one is, that the duties of that office were over
taxing his health, never very robust; and ano
ther, that tbe salary of the presidency was not
sufficient to support his family. It is peculiar,
at least, that this was his first and only settle
ment as a pastor—that, after spending so many
years as a teaeher, and standing high in that
art, as his position showed he did, he should, at
his time "of life, begin the pastoral work. Of
course, it was new work to him. His training
and habits were all of the teaching order, and his
methods of thinking and address, seemed at
first, to some, at least, of his hearers, a little
too scholastic' and precise for the practical mate
ters .of every day life.
But all that was fast wearing off, and the
good man was taking hold of the pastoral work
and the preaching service, very much as though
he had never known anything else—scholarly
and yet simple, earnest, direct and manly in his
presentations of truth. He was, indeed, a man
of fine talents, though riot of the largest endow
ments; fine personal appearance, highly culti
vated and well furnished mind, very soeial, ap
proachable and agreeable in his disposition—■
all this, with decided piety, good judgment, and
his official position had already given him great
influence in this community. His decease is a
public calamity. The churches will all feel it,
and the expressions of deepest sorrow and re
gret are on all lips. The genial co-operation
and Christian course pursued by Dr. Pease in
the late revival in this place endeared him to
all, while his acceptable ministrations make
his loss seem to bis own churcb perfectly irre
parable.
It adds poignancy to their grief, that he died
so far away. Bat the letters written by his
wife had given to his beloved flock the most
comforting assurances of his affectionate re
membrance Of them, even when drawing near
to the grave, and of his triumphant faith in Je-
SUS Christ, our perfect Saviour. Iu a letter of
the 11th instant, four days before his death,
she says: “ His mind in the most delightful’
heavenly state, and his expressions of perfect
peace, happiness and trust in the Saviour, are
such as I never heard. They have alarmed me
more than anything else, he seems so near hea
yeu, just ready to enter.” Next day she
wrote: “As I took his hand this morning, he
said, ‘I was trying to pray for those young
people in Rochester, who are converted, each
by name, that God would give them graee to
hold out; and for those who are not converted,
that they may become God’s children. I did
not let any go by.’”
The First Church is to be closed and- silent
next Sabbath, in token of the great sorrow
which is on the congregation. The flock will
wander into other churches, or remain quiet in
their own dwellings and realize that they have
no shepherd. Terrible as, the blow is, there is
One, and One alone, who can make it work for
them “a far more exceeding-and eternal weight
of glory.” To His kind care they are affection
ately commended. Genesee.
LEGAL INOIDEITS OF SLAYEEY.
JUDGE STROUD’S OPINION.
The following brief and. modest paper ap
peared in a recent issue of the Mirth Ameri
can, of this city, with the heading: "Southern
Slavery and the Christian Religion.” In the
most summary and conclusive manner, it dispo
ses of the flimsy protection which even Northern
men are. eager to weave out of misconstrued
passages of Scripture for American slavery.
As the legal reputation of a distinguished “Phi
ladelphia lawyer” is pledged to the correctness
of the statement, it is worth preserving:
From several pamphlets’ recently published
and extensively circulated, it has become evi
dent that a new; issug in Pennsylvania party
politics has been inaugurated, viz: Whether
negro slavery, as it is maintained in the Sou
thern States, now in rebellion against the na
tional government, is consistent with the Chris
tian religion.
I deem it proper, therefore, in order that
every man may be enabled to judge for himself
on this important subject, to give a very brief
summary of the legal incidents of Southern sla
very. Every part and parcel of- this summary
may be authenticated by the statutes of one or
other-of those States, and the reported deci
sions of their highest courts of judicature.
It is a fundamental principle of negro sla
very that a slave is a thing —a chattel wholly
under the dominion of his master, subject to: be
bought and sold precisely as if he were a horse
or a mule. He may be fed and clothed much
or little as his master may prescribe—may be
compelled to labor as well one day as another,
and as hard and as long as his master may di
rect.
The slave has no legal right whatever—can
not own anything, may be forbidden all society
with his fellows; may be kept in the most abject
ignorance, is not allowed to be instructed to read,
is without any legal provision for acquiring a
knowledge of his religious duties, incapable of
a lawful marriage, denied, all authority over
those who are admitted to be his natural off
spring, liable to have them at any age torn from
him, without the slightest consultation or de
ference to his judgment or his feelings, and lia
ble himself to be torn from them and from their
mother, with whom' he has been permitted and
encouraged to cohabit as his wife. He may be
thus ruthlessly carried to a returnless distance,
not only from his children and their mother, but
from all else that he may hold dear.
The law also expressly sanctions his master
in beating him with a horsewhip or cowskin, in
chaining him, putting Mm in irons, compelling
him to wear pronged iron collars, confining him
in prison, hunting him with dogs, and when
outlawed, as he may be for running away, he
may be killed, by any one to whom he may re
fuse to surrender.
The whole of this summary I pledge myself
to maintain in its literal and lull extent, accord
ing to the laws of one or another of the southern
slaveholding States. Gfso. M. Stroud.
Philadelphia, Sept. 15,1833.
The Address of “ the Clergy, op the Con
federate States.”— The publication of this ela
borate defence of slavery and the rebellion by
the clergy of the rebel States, in various reli
gious journals of Great Britian, has called forth
numerous indignant protests from right-think
ing men in that country'. The “ Christian
Work,” which was one of the guilty journals, is
constrained to apologize, in the September is
sue, for its course. The apology needs-apolo
gizing for, quite as much as the original offence.
The Work says:
“It has been answered that scope must be
given to men to freely express their opinions,,
and that without this there would be no possi
bility even of having them controverted. The
advertisement of any opinion, or the giving of
it as intelligence, is entirely different from the
sanctioning of it. How could errors, it is ar
gued, be met, if the facts and statements were
not brought to light ?”
From such a preposterous position, it follows,
unavoidably, that religions journals are bound
to see to it that erroneous opinions are pub
lished to the world. Bad men, who may find
difficulty in bringing their views before the pub
lic, need only apply to some religious journal,
acting upon the above principles, and it will
consent to become their organ—and why ? For
the purpose of controverting their erroneous
views? 0 most pharisaical pretence 1 The
Christian Work published the entire eight pages
of this artful and malignant pro-slavery address
without a solitary word of comment 1 And it
does not now disavow a single principle it con
tains, unless you can find a disavowal in the
eight or ten lines above quoted.
Should the Christian Work adhere to its ex
traordinary principles, as above announced, we
expect nothing else than that the Prospectus of
Colenso’s next assault upon the credibility of the
Scriptures, will appear in its columns. If paid
for as an advertisement, it will in all probability
stand uncontroverted.
HOME MISSIONS.
On applications received from the churches
they serve, the following ministers were commis
sioned by the Presbyterian Committee of Home
Missions—nine of whom were under commission
last- year? t ,
Rev. TI. O. Howland, Girard, Pa.
,*> B. Emerson, Cedarville, N. J.
f - H. J. Crane, Wysox, Pa.
“ L. W. Dunlap, LaGrange, Mo.
« Hiram Baker, Harrisburg, Pa.
“ Josiuh Wood, Duquoine, Ills.
“ Joseph Vance, Belie Valley, Pa.
“ P. Griffin, Carlton, N. Y.
“ Norman Tucker, Springfield, Micb.
“ , ltobert Stewart, Cairo, Ills.
“ A. S. Dudley, Morrow, 0.
“ J. B. Parlin, Republic, 0.
S. H. Smith, Redwing, Minn.
u C- Smith, Grand Rapids, Mich.
“ W. M. Martin, Columbia, Cal.
TJ. S, OHEISTIAN COMMISSION IN THE
SYNOD OE ONONDAGA.
»In session Sept. 10th, 1863, at Syracuse, N.
Y., the Synod of Onondaga passed the follow
iing glowing commendation of the United
States Christian Commission:
Resolved, .That Synod have listened with
deep interest to the address of Rev. George J.
Mingins, of Philadelphia; that we recognize
with gratitude,to God the work of the Christ
ian Commission, one of the noblest Christian
enterprises of the age; that we give to it our
cordial approbation, and that we will continue
\ to commend it to the confidence and liberality
of our several congregations.
Charles Hawley, Moderator.
T. Dwight Walker, Temporary Clerk.
Request for Soldiers’ Papers. A friend
connected with- the army, writes from Wash
ington City very recently as follows :
“All unite in saying that your paper is one
of the best published. I wish we had a thou
sand copies to send out every week. Try and
get some of your benevolent people to send to
us five hundred copies of your paper for the
army.”
Who will contribute the $lO or $ll per week
necessary to respond to this appeal f
The Three Cripm.es. New York :R. Carter &
Brothers. Philadelphia: For Sale at the Presby
terian House, 1334 Chestnut Street. 18mo., pp.
This story, written by Rev. P. B. Power, an
thbr of “I Wills of Christ,” &c., is a sad tale of
life among the London poor, in which the . IDs
of poverty are represented as aggravated by
the intemperance of a principal character. It
is full of touching and painful interest, and
might well be reckoned a capital temperance
story for the young.
Memoir or Rev. Erskine J. Hawes, Pastor of the
Congregational Chnrch, Plymouth, Conn. By
his Mother. New York : R. Carter & Brothers.
For Sale at the Presbyterian Book. Store, 1334
Chestnut Street. 12mo„ pp., 275, —with Portrait.
This very handsome volume is the tribute of
maternal affection to the last of the six children
of the venerable Joel Hawes, D. D., of Hart
ford. The same motives which led the father
to write the memoir of his daughter, Mrs. Yan
Lennep, induced the mother to undertake the
present work. The bereaved parents find eom
fprt in elaborating their happy remniscences of
the lost; and the lives of the subjects furnish
not- a little matter, which, in the competent
hands of the writer, is adapted to interest, in
struct, and edify the reader. Young Hawes
was mortally injured by the kick of a horse,
and died at the age of 32, having apparently
just began a career of great usefulness.
Foreion Library. Yol. 11. Immen See—Grand
mother and Granddaughter—Two Tales from the
German. Philadelphia: Fred. Leypoldt.
Good taste characterizes this as all the rest
of Mr. Leypoldt’s contributions to the world of
literature. “Immen See” is a delicately out
lined yet powerful story. Mr. L. has erro
neously credited our notices of his former issues
to the columns of the Presbyterian of this city.
The Sergeant's Manual. By his Father. New
York: A. D. F. Randolph. 18mo, pp. 242. with
portrait. For sale by W. B. Evans, 1334 Chest
nut Street.
This is a tribute to one of the voluntary sac
rifices for the war, by one who shared deeply in
the sacrifice. The sergeant was the oldest
child %f Rev. J. P. Thompson, D. D., of Broad
way Tabernacle, N. Y., and the volume is a
most delicate blending of fatherly affection,
Christian resignation, and sympathy with the
patriotic impulse which led his son to danger
and to death. The son, who was no common
youth, is allowed to speak for himself in letters
and scraps of diary. The whole is a leaf of no
common fragrance and of mburnful beauty from
the history of our war.
The North British Review for August,
(L. Scott & Co., publishers, New York j W. B.
Zieber, 106 North Third St., Phila.,) contains:
Roger Collard; Wilson’s Pre-historic Man;
De Quincey; Henry St. John and the Reign of
Queen Anne; Education and Management of
the Imbecile; West Highlands of'Scotland;
Pretensions of Spiritualism; Mormonism; Cot
ton Famine; The National Defences.
The National Preacher for September
contains: Dr. Shedd’s Sermon on “ The Guilt
of the Pagan;” also one on Salvation by Grace.
American Publisher’s Circular, for Sep
tember 15th. G. W. Childs, Publisher, Phila
delphia. The amount and comprehensiveness
of the information concerning books, authors,
&e., gathered in this semi-monthly, are truly
surprising. The whole literary public is under
great obligations to the untiring and enterpri
sing publisher. Price $2 per annum, in ad
vance.
The Boston Review, for September .has a
very rich list of finely written articles. A mas
ter hand must be employed in delineating the
“Spoils from Distant Seas.and Shores. Few
.periodicals are so steadily sustained in the cha
racter of their contents as the Boston Review
has been from the commencement.
(The North British Review, for August,
(L. Scott & Co., New York; W. B. Zeiber,
Philadelphia,) contains : Roger Coliard J*re-
Historie Man—Thomas De Quincey—Grave
and Gay—Henry St. John and the Reign of
Queen Anne.—Education and Management of
Imbeciles—West Highlands of Scotland—Pre
tensions of Spiritualism—Mormonism, Past
and Present—The Cotton Famine and Lanca
shire Distress —The National Defences.
Littbl’s Living Age, for September 19 th,
contains: Pretensions of Spiritualism, and six
articles from leading English journals on Ame
rica and Mexico, with poetry and short articles,
as usual.
The Publisher of the Sketches of Illinois Of
ficers announces that he is preparing for ano
ther important work, to be called the “The
Martyrs and Heroes of Illinois,” illustrated
with numerous portraits, and is desirous that
the friends of the “ Fallen Brave” of both the
Army and Navy, (including all ranks and de
grees in the service,) who have died in defence
of our’ flag, should furnish him with the data
for authentic and impartial biographic noticea
We bespeak attention to this call. Write,
wiihout delay, to James Barnett, p. O. Box
2293, Chicago, or call upon him, at 189 Lake
Street. *
Qtm nf «tu (Shmtkts,
Presbyterian.
North Broad Street Church, Phila— The fine
edifice of this flourishing church is now rapidly ap
proaching completion. The roof is on, the basement
is in the hands of the plasterers, and the audience
chamber will soon be ready for. them. At a congre
gational meeting held last Friday evening, the state
ment of the building committee was read, from which
it appeared that every payment due the contractors
had been promptly met, to the , amount of nearly
$20,000. No difficulty had been found in collecting
the subscriptions, which were nearly all paid in.
About $lOOO, in addition to the sum in the hands of
the treasurer, were needed for the next payment
soon dne; whereupon a subscription list was opened
and $1,271 were subscribed on the spot, although
none of the wealthier members of the congregation
were present.
We are glad to notice that the pastor, Rev. E. E.
Adams, has much improved since his return. He
preaches regularly at the Hall, corner of 13th and
Spring Garden Sts.
The Fourth Church, Washington, B, 0 —On
Sunday last the Rev. John C. Smith, D. D., the pas
tor of the Fourth Presbyterian Church, preached a
sermon in review of its progress within the last twenty
four years, during which time it has been under his
pastoral charge, and touching also incidentally upon
the growth of the population and business of the na
tional metropolis within the same period. The ser
mon was, of course, listened to with profound atten
tion by the congregation, not only on account of its
statistics so interesting to themselves, but for the re
ligious instruction and patriotic sentiment which
pervaded it. This church, it will be remembered by
some of our elder citizens, was founded in the year
1827, the late Rev. J.N. I) an forth being its first
Pastor. In two or-three years be was called to
another field of labor, and was succeeded by the Rev.
Mason Noble, whoI’removed 1 ’removed to the city iff New
York in the summed of 1839, and on the 10th of
September following, Dr. Smith, who for. several
years previously had very acceptably filled one of
the pulpits in Georgetown, was called to the Fourth
Church, where Ms labors bare been continuously
crowned with great success, both to the people and
to the sacred cause In which they have been bestowed.
We learned from his annual discourse on Sabbath
last that up to the time when he was chosen Pastor
of the Fourth Church there had been enrolled upon
its records 337 communicants. Of this number only
32 have died during the last twenty-four - years, and
only 46 now remain on the roll of the church. But
within the same time 846 communicants have been
added to, the chnrch, and of these 88 have died,
making the whole number of deaths in twenty-four
years 120. WitMn the same time the Pastor has
married 452 couples and baptized into the church
607 persons, including infants and adults. —National
Intelligencer. '
Presidency of Dartmouth College —The New
York Observer of last week says:
“The Rev. Asa Smith, D. D., of this city, has been
unanimously elected President of Dartmouth' College,
in place of-the Rev. Dr. Lord, whose resignation we
have recently announced. Dr. Smith possesses re
markable, qualifications to fit 'him for this dis
tinguished and responsible position, and the College
and the State of New Hampshire are fortunate in
securing the. services of such a man to take the helm
of that Venerable Institution. With excellent
natural gifts and abilities Dr. Smith unites a Mghly
cultured and well blanced mind, good scholarship,
sound orthodox theology and evangelical piety, the
advantages of foreign travel and extensive inter
course with society, fine manners, bearing and ad
dress, that will make him popular with yonng men,
while Ms firmness, decision and practical talent will
give him commanding influence‘in the College and
the community. We presume that he will decide to
leave us, and if so he will carry with Mm the best
wishes of a large circle of friends, that his removal
may be a rich blessing to himself and the Institution.”
The Observer does not reckon among the qualifi
cations of RCv. Dr. Smith for the office, one which
every body knows-exercised a very decided influence
upon the minds of the electors; namely, his clear
and unquestionable position as an anti-slavery man
and a patriot- Dartmouth College could no longer
endure the obstinate “conservatism” of Dr. Lord;
she requires a-President whose sentiments on those
points require neither explanation nor defence. The
“ gifts and abilities " above enumerated, great as they
are, would not have sufficed by themselves, to secure
Dr. Smith’s election, at least in these days.
Western Presbyteries.— Scioto, 0., Presbytery,
met Sept.l. All the ministers but one were present,
while only two out of 11 churches were represented.
This delinquency is commented on by the stated
clerk, and seems too general by far. Palaskcda
Presbytery met August 25. Rev. D. E. Wells was
dismissed to the Presbytery of Steubenville, (0. S.)
and Rev. John Henderson, to the Free Church of
Scotland.i Arrangements were made for the ordi
nation of H. B. Scott, licentiate. Rev. Charles W.
Wallace was installed by the Presbytery pastor of
the 2d church of Coshocton, and the Ist church of
Roscoe, August 26th. The churches have been
much prospered under his ministrations hitherto.
Among the standing rules of the Presbytery are the
foliowingin regard to supplies : “1. Each minister,
who hasvnot under Ink care two congregations to
which he preaches on the Sabbth, shall supply some
destitute place between the regular meetings of Pres
bytery. 2. Each supply, unless there is a substantial
reason for its omission, shall take up a collection for
the Committee on Home Missions; or on Ministerial
Education, and report his action in the case to Pres
bytery.”—T7ie Presbytery of CrawfordsviUe pub
lish in the Christian Herald a circular letter admo
nishing the ruling elders of their duty to represent
the churches by their attendance in Presbytery.
Rev- Llewellyn J. Evans was duly installed Pro
fessor of Ecclesiastical History in Lane Seminary,
Sept. 10th.; Rev. Dr. Thompson, President of the
Board of . Trustees, 'conducted the exercises, pro
pounded the questions, and declared Mr. Evans duly
inducted into his place. Dr. T. then delivered a
charge to the Professor, which, the Herald says, was
“unwritten and warm from the heart.” The newly
inducted professor proceeded with hio inaugural, of
which the Herald says: “ Professor Evans reads very
rapidly, yet with grealdistinetness. He occupied an
hour and twenty minutes in the delivery of his ad
dress, but it did not seem long. It contained matter
enough for a course of lectures, and showed that the
speaker had a just appreciation of the work en
trusted to him, and high qualifications for success
in it.” ..
Reformed Presbyterian.
Correotihn.—ln a recent number of this paper
Rev. Dr. McLeod made a statement of moneys'
handfd over to the Treasurer on the 16th of May.
The money was not handed to the Treasurer, who
was absent from the city, but to one of his clerks,
who was, not familiar- with- the mode of making the
entries, and not receiving specific directions,- credited
the amount from the First Church, New York, to
the General Fnnd instead of to the Northern Pres
bytery. Such mistakes can always be avoided if
congregations will have their money forwarded sooner
than four days before the meeting of Synod, as the
Treasurer closes his account a week previous to the
meeting of Synod.
It will be seen by the acknowledgment that
the amounhcontributed for Foreign Missions by the
First Church, New York, was ..$158.24, and not as
stated §27.8.24, the difference (§120) bring the salary
of John McLeod, native teacher, for 1862.
SEPT. 24