VoL Tin. No. s.—whole No. 369.
THE HOMESTEAD,
BY LADY SPENCER.
It is not as it used to be,
When you and I were young:
When round -each elm and maple tree
The honeysuckles clung;
But still I love the cottage where
I passed my early years,
Though not a single face is there
That memory endears.
It is not es it used to be;
The moss is on the roof,
And from their nests beneath the eves
The swallows keep aloof.
The robins—how they used to sing
When you and I were young;
And how did flit the wild bee’s wing
The opening, flowers among 1
It is not as it used to be!
The voices loved of yore,
And the forms that we were wont to see,
We see and hear no more.
No niore ? Alas, we look in vain
For those to whom we clung,
And loved as we can love bnt once,
When you and I were young.
RELIGIOUS WORLD ABROAD.
MONTHLY SUMMARY.
Great Britain. — Statistics of Popery. —ln
England there are 1242 priests, in Scotland'
175, in Ireland 3058—being for Scotland and
England a thousand more than there were
eighty years ago. In England, there are fifty
five monasteries, and 162, convents; in Ireland,
117 monasteries, and 248 convents. In 1853,
Romish military chaplains received from the
state £2702; in 1863, they receive £8093. The
last Treasury Minute tells us, that grants have
been paid in Great Britain to schools purely
Roman Catholic, amounting to £35,195. The
Romish Reformatory Schools in Great Britain
received £15,154; the Irish Reformatory Schools
£5,000; chaplains and priests in the Colonies,
£40,000; and Maynooth, £26,000.
London City Mission —The Society has 380
agents, who, during the year have paid 2,012,169
visits. They distributed 9,971 copies of the
Scriptures, 2,970,527 tracts, held 46,123 meet
ings and Bible classes, induced 1483 persons to
become members of churches, and 619 families
to Jiegin family worship. They have been the
means of rescuing and saving from ruin 619
fallen ones. Through their influence 203 shops
have been closed and 8,726 children sent to
school. The income of the society was £36,761.
Progress of the T&mperance fleform. —From
the Report on Temperance presented to the
last Gengral Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church of Ireland we derive very encouraging
statements. Never, says the report, was the
cause so hopeful as now in our beloved Zion.
Above ohe-third of the ministers of the Gene
ral Assembly have signified their adherence to
the cause of total abstinence; very many more
are strictly abstaining from all intoxicating
drinks, and one.of ouijpflSt.distinguished min
isters lately stated at a public meeting “That
it is now as much as a minister’s character is
worth to have his breath stained with the
drunkard’s drink.” The Presbyterian Tempe
rance Association has had a clerical missionary
in the field from whose labors the happiest re
sults have been experienced. In the United
Church of Scotland more than 300 ministers
and missionaries are advocating total absti
nence. In the Free Church nearly the same
number are similarly engaged. A Church of
England Temperance Society has 500 members
from the clergy of that Church. Outside of
the churches also, the work is going forward.
There is an Irish Temperance League in Bel
fast with one of the merchant princes of the
city for its President and a monthly periodical
under its control. One agent of the. British
Leaggft reports that in the Port of London, 400
seamed have adopted the total abstinence cause,
and at the same.time, have received 300 Bibles
and 843 religious publications. Another agent
has labored so successfully in the army that in
two garrisons of England 1,700 soldiers have
become total abstainers during the past year.
Scotland still rejoices in the Mackenzie Act for
the closing of public houses on- the day of the
Lord, and well she may, for since that Act was
passed, licenses have been reduced 40 per
cent, With a reduction of 6,960,524 gallons of
spirits in five years. The following declaration
has been signed by 2,000 medical gentlemen:
“That total and universal abstinence from all
alcoholic liquors and intoxicating beverages
would greatly contribute to the health, the
prosperity, the morality, and the happiness of
the human race.”
The Policy of Great Britain on Foreign
Missions has lately come up for discussion.
The correspondence between the British minis
ter Brace at Pekin and Lord Russell, indicates
a disposition on the part of the Government to
discourage missionary efforts in China. In Cal
cutta, Judge Wells has remanded an unwilling
native youth who had come voluntarily under
the instruction of Dr. Duff, to the custody of
his heathen parents. It is not sty much the
rights of the missionaries that are encroached
upon by this decision as those of the native
youth desiring to rid themselves of the degrad
ing associations of heathenism. The youth in
question, being nearly 16 years old, may be
justly regarded as having attained to years of
discretion, at least in India, where it is very
common to see boys of twelve and girls of
eleven themselves heads of families. The
Times’ Calcutta correspondent says: “By our
government, our schools, and our very pres
ence in the country, we sap Hindooism,'and
teach Hindoo youth to scorn idolatry and in
quire into Christianity. Are we, then, to turn
round and say that no youth, however well-edu
cated, earnest, and intelligent, shall abandon it,
for himself or his children, till he is sixteen
years of age ?” What Great Britain has done
in other places for the cause of missions appears
in the following extract from a late letter of the
explorer Livingstone: “ You are probably
not fully aware of what Lord Palmerston has
done by his policy on the West Coast of Afri
ca. Were he not in power, I could say a great
deal more than, for fear of being set down as a
“toady,” I dare do now. Mr. Wilson, an
American missionary, who has written the best
book I have seen on the West Coast, says, a
had it not been for his policy Africa, as yet,
had scarcely been accessible to missionary la
bor. By means of the security which _ our
squadron imparted, over twenty missions have
been established, twenty dialects reduced to
writings, and twelve thousand communicants
have been received by the different churches.
Education is imparted to thousands of the
young, and good influences are spreading in-
FanA Lawful commerce has been mcreased
trom £20,000 annually to between £2,000,000
and £8,000,000, and more tonnage is employed
slave trade, even in its palmiest days.
Sydney, N. S. W., June 23d, a despatch was
laid on the table from the Duke of Newcastle,
stating that Her Majesty bad been pleased to
sanction the local act of last session, by which
public pants of money for religious purposes
were discontinued—leaving the present recipi
ents of state aid in the enjoyment of their sti
pends during life, but providing that no new
applications, should be entertained. This is
the last act in the drama of state aid to religion
in New South Wales.
France, Belgium, Switzerland. The mom
merits of the French in Mexico are more or less
in the interest of Popery. “It is the policy,”
says the Christian World “for the Iron Empe
ror to lay the Vatican under the highest obliga
tions.l But for him the Pope had been long
ago cast out as an unclean thing, and the Eter
nal City had become the seat of the Italian
Kingdom. . The Eldest Son of the Church is
not satisfied with this.. He must needs move
into fat distant latitudes to perform great feats
on behalf of the Man of Sin. The Mexican
Bishops and clergy, who were expelled by Ju
arez and took refuge in France, are all going to
embark for Mexico.” The organs of ultrainon
tainism are much inflated at the success of the
French arms, and the prospect of the, establish
ment of French and Austrian influences in that
country. At the same time the Jesuit journals
of France demand, with redoubled ardor, that
the Emperor should officially recognize the
Southern Confederacy. • Their hope doubtless
is, by a rupture of the United States into two
republics, to have an. open field for the en
croachments of Romanism. On the other
hand, it seems that Marshal Forey’s proclama
tion .announced, it, as Napoleon’s desire, that, if
(possible, entire liberty of conscience should ex
ist in Mexico. Should such a condition be in
terwoven in the new order of things in Mexico,
and sincerely upheld by France and Austria,
one half of the objection felt to their interfer
ence would be removed,
Penan and Golenso. —Yery lately, Dr. Cul
len charged against Protestantism the sin of
Dr. Colenso, and argued that a spectacle of
scepticism like his could not be found in the
Catholic Church. The ink with which he
pefined his pastoral was hardly dry, when
Renan, ope of the literary pillars of the Church
of Rome, published his “Life of Jesus,” a
thoroughly rationalistic work, subversive of
the Christian faith.
The Maline Congress. —file Popish Congress
at Maiine, Belgium, has just been held. Car
dinal Wiseman in his address urged upon his
people liberality towards Protestants. Mon
talembert also spoke on the subject of religions
liberty. Addressing the Catholic party, he
said, “ Catholics who listen to me, if you wish
liberty yourselves you must wish it .for others.
If you do not wish it for yourselv.es, it will
never be granted to you.* Give it where you
are masters, 'in order that it may be given to
you where you are slaves.”
Tri-centenary of Calvin’s death. —The com
pany of pastors of Geneva have just decided
that a solemn festival shall be held in the
Genevese church to celebrate the tri-centenary
anniversary of the death of Calvin (May 27,
1864). Nothing is-'yefr-decided as td the
nature of this festival; but it has long been
spoken of, and it is with pleasure that our
people see the pastors taking the lead in a
movement which for us is at once both national
and religious. The Reformed Churches of
France are also preparing to celebrate the
same anniversary; as at Geneva, this decision
was unanimously adopted.
Germany, Austria — The Inner Mission,
has entered upon a new phrase of activity
which promises the best results. It is nothing
else than the peculiar! feature of Home Mis
sions most familiar to; us—sending out itiner
ating laborers. Two„sueh, laborers, men of
tried experience, have been, at work since
Easter, one in Silesia, ‘where ah auxiliary
agency of the mission has resulted from his
labors, the other in the south-western district.
A remarkable conversion -has just taken
place in Berlin. The former Prince-Bishop of
Breslau, Mr. Sedlnizki, who has long resided
in the capital of Prussia, has lately been eon
verted to. Protestantism. Last Easter he
openly declared his belief by partaking of the
Sacrament in the cbiirch of Pastor Stahn. For
a long time Mr. Sedlnizki dissented from the
Church of Rome on several points of doctrine.
He had resigned his post in Breslau because he
rejected the Papal decree concerning mixed
marriages. More recently, he had openly con
demned the dogma of the immaculate con
ception.
The Austrian Government perseveres in its
liberal policy with respect to Protestantism.
The Protestant Churches of the empire had
solicited permission to have a general Synod.;
This authorisation has been graciously granted
them by Mr. de Sekmeriing, the Minister of
State. It is in. the capital itself that the
meeting of the Synod takes place, at the end
of August! Arrangements are in progress to
put Protestants on an entire equality with Ro
manists, in the troublesome question of mixed
marriages.-rAn old Roman Catholic Church
in Verona; has been restored and set apart for
the use of the Protestant soldiers in the Aus
trian army.—At the laying of the foundation
of a new Reformed Church in Bucharest,
May 15th, the wife of the reigning prince and
the Austrian Consul general, with all the dig
nitaries of the court were present. The prin
cess laid the corner-stone. Before retiring, she
offered her most gracious thanks to the repre
sentatives of the Reformed Church, expressing
a hope that'many weary and heavy laden souls
would find peace and consolation in this new
sanctuary.
Spain^ —How the treatment of Matamoros
is regarded by Papists in other countries —
The Christian World, says, “ Eugenie, Emp
ress of Prance, is known'to have said that the
Protestants of Prance were quite right in their
action in behalf of Matamoros, adding that She
was ‘sorry it was her country (Spain) which
was guilty of such intolerance.’ She openly
encouraged Count Pburtatis, husband to one of
her intimates, to take part in the deputation to
the Queen of Spain. Another fact is that the
English Papists now report that the sentence
of Matamoros, &c., was commuted at the sug
gestion of the Pope, who said that such into
lerance was disgraceful to the Romish Church.
These 'instances are only samples of Romish
feeling in many countries, which feeling cannot
but affect the future course of Spain.” The
same authority learns that Matamoros is to go
to Bayonne and labor as an Evangelist under
the a French pastor. 5 A
few weeks since he was in London, and had an
interview with the Earl of Shaftesbury. Prom
that interview it appears that there were
twenty-nine persons at Gibraltar in exile and
destitution, on account of their religion. After
a full examination of the matter, they were ad
vised to go to Oran, in Africa, about 200 miles
from Spain, under the French Government,
containing a large Spanish population, where
liberty of conscience and worship exist, and
there establish a Proteslant colony. A fund
PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1868.
was raised for that purpose, sufficient to send
them there and enable them to commence
gaining their livelihood.
Italy- —A cheering view of the work of evan
gelization in this country is taken by the Chris
tian World. It says: “In Italy, every thing
is on the advance. There is no hindrance to
the preaching of the Cospel from the Vaudois
Valleys to the Straits of Palermo ! Besides,
the schism that has occurred in the Romish
Church, and is still unhealed, promises to bear
fmportant fruit for the future of Italy. ” s
" Rev. E. E. Hall writes from Florence, July
20th, that he has sent out another colporteur.
Mi- Marchand, the missionary in Elba, writes
that the number of communicants, who recently
celebrated the Lord’s Supper, at Rio Marina,
was forty-five, double the number of last year.
A later letter spoke of six more communicants
just admitted. *fn spite of the opposition of
the -fifty .priests of Elba, Mr. Hall- is able to
write : “In all respects, there appears to be a
healthful and an .encouraging progress in ail
the stations on the island; and from these
small beginnings, we may, through the divine
blessing, confidently hope to see the most gra
fying results.” The most encouraging symp
tom, perhaps, is the very general opening of
schools by the government, in all parts of, the
empire. In Perugia and Umbria, as well as in
the Neapolitan provinces, the good work goes
on apace. This, says Mr. Hall, is an invasion
of the Pope’s late dominions which will forever
unfit them for the rule of Pius IX, or any of
his successors.
OIAPLAIir STEIART’S LETTER.
Oamp near White Sulphur Springs, Ya,, 7
: Septemberl6,lB63. $
Mr. Editor. —Four readers, after perusing
my two last letters, may perhaps be ready to con
clude, that between them there exists a seeming
contradiction—some moral discrepancy. In the
one, it was given as a settled conviction after
long and deliberate observation, that a healthy
moral influence, a religious feeling was closely
on the increase in our camps. In. the other, a
truthful, yet sad account of an evident growth of
drunkenness, especially among the officers. How
can these be made to harmonize ?
The world, it will not be forgotten, moves by
contraries. For many centuries it has been
jogged along by antagonism. Two opposing
forces, philosophers assure us; keep our earth
fairly balanced in its rapid course, and" thus pre
vent it from flying off at a tangent, and in con
sequence scattering confusion well confounded
among satellites and sister planets. The atmos
phere we breathe, when vitiated by unhealthy
gases, regains its purity by a conflict of elements
—thunder, lightning and storms. Wars, revo
lutions, tumults and bloodshed, came as sharp,
but necessary easers of corruption desperate
among men.
These same phenomena may, in like manner
be witnessed in the intellectual arid moral world 1
Friction produces brilliancy; contradiction ear
nestness; opposition boldness; and persecution
determination. ' Christian'graces exhale their
fragrance, like scented herbs, by pressure, heavy
often as a cart under sheaves. The holy seal of
God’s children becomes excited when enemies
threaten danger to their Master’s cause! The
whole armor of God is rarely assumed save when
principalities arid powers, with’the darkness of
this world, and spiritual wickedness in high
places are to he battled with. When error comes
in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord through
the agencies of His people, lifts up,a standard
against it.
Such have evidently been the tendencies and
results in the varied history of our camp life,
When any increase of iriembers or zeal becomes
manifest among Christ’s followers in the army,
that consummate old commander-in-chief'of evil
powers invariably stirs up-in opposition all the
elements of evil within his reach. Yet not un
frequently, as in the ease of that ancient arid
cominendably patient philosopher in the land of
Uz, the devil overshoots his mark—does the
thing too strong; showing too plainly the cloven
foot; and thus instead of destroying, as intended,
but adds to the zeal and faithfulness of his des
tined victims. Since the apparent overwhelming
tide of drunkenness, of which some account was
taken in my last letter, began -to swell aud be
come so disgusting; those officers; who have not
been swept into the vortex, have become more
decided and earnest against the fell destroyer of
their brethren. Among privates this has been
manifestly the case. Witnessing daily ho,w ugly,
how destructive, how degrading, drunkenness- is;
in high places, they seem in consequence to hate
and dread it more in humbler positions, asking,
and being influenced by the figurative suggestion
of Scripture,; -“If such things be done in the
green tree, what shall be done in the dry.” And
although your correspondent on account of his
plainness in exposing his shameless evil, might
perehanee receive intimation from high places
that he may be no longer chaplain; yet even in
such a case will he not regret what has been
written,, but be at liberty hence to go on a gene
ral crusade against this abomination and in a
thousand different places preach more fully and
distinctly than he has ventured to write.
A kindred abomination, one quite ae ruinous,
and which in its rapid strides in bringing rum
to many in our camps, has kept equal pace with
intemperance, will receive proper attention in due
timer— gambling.
EITERART CLASSES IN CAME.
Whether a new feature of camp life and ex
ercises or not, at least to myself both pleasing
and interesting has been the organization not
long since of a large class for the study of En
glish grammar, and also a smaller otfe for re
citations in Latin. Our class in grammar already
numbers about thirty, and still increasing.
Some experience has been mine in the capacity
of teacher, but never before in connexion with a
class so full of pleasing interest. At 1 P. M.,
each day, save the Sat bath, when not interfered
with by military duties, the class [assembles—all
stalwart men, officers and privates, veteran sol
diers from a dozen fiercely contested battle-fields
—all eager for the acquisition of knowledge—
squat themselves on the ground near my little
shelter tent and shaded by a clump of young,
chestnuts. Between one and two hours are spent
at a silting. All the sciences and branches of
knowledge having the most remote connexion or
bearing upon grammar, and some even without
any, are introduced as helps in pur mutual efforts
to give and receive instruction. By the time
this rebellion is settled, we promise the good
friends at home- an alumni of grammarians,;
competent to fill the position of County Superin
tendent of Public Schools; or any other position
where useful and accurate knowledge is requi
site. ■ ..
At 4 P. M-, we have a class 'of half-a dozen in
Latin —some of whom my hopejis will yet preach,
the gospel of Christ. Everyjhjjng which can in
terest and profitably, occupy spare time in camp
proves an unspeakable blessing;. True-yet as
when first written that ; J
. “ Satan finds some mischief still,
For idle hands- to do.”
1 '
As for books; we have an arrangement with our
friend W. Ballantyne : (bookseller) in Washing
ton, who generously furnishes' tbo -young men
any book desired at sales price, sending it" by
mail-and he paying the postage. The money is
enclosed to him by letter, with'directions, and in
two or three days the book is almost sure to reach
camp in safety. /
Tliuivdary, lVth, Culpepper County.
When this letter was aliiost ready' for the 1
mail, orders came to u pack up at once.” Soon
in motion, no time has since,'been given to finish'
tillfthis afternoon. We are on along day's march
and move nearer Richmond.;, But of these,again.
A.iM. Stewart.
LETTER FROM REV. J. SI WOODSIDE,
MISSIONARY OP THE REFORMED CHURCH. IN INDIA.
[The date.of the following letter, just received
by Rev. Mr. McAuley/of this pity, isKAEUß
thala, Purtjaub, N. India, (mfy IBih, 1863_
After acknowledging Mr. McAuley’s letter, of
February, 28th, and uttering a jwarm tribute to
the late Missionary Campbell, the founder of
the Mission, he continues,:] , •
I was very sorry to see, by a,late “Banner,",
that its worthy, young editor,-dur dear Brother
Mcßride, had rested from his labors. I remem
ber him but as a stripling, but Lskall never for
get his earnest, open, and-in|elligent counte
nance—so full of promise, of health, and of use
fulness at the time I left. I will thank you,to
convey to his widow, and other members of his,
bereaved, family ,my heartfeit|,syippathy with
themin this the time of’theiri trial. !: have not
seen any notice in the Banner, of the arrange
ments that have been made for its continuance;
but, I am sorry to say, several copies have
lately miscarried, and I may thus have missed:
it. The loss of;such a man as Mr;'Mcßride'is
not easily made up:- We mil ft pray all the
more earnesfly for a oif^od’g,
spirit, by which many young men may have it
put into their hearts to give themselves to the
service of Jesus in the work of the ministry.
We'were also deeply grieved to notice the
early decease' of Our dear' friend Mr. Stuart’s
eldest son.; Him; too, I remember, but as a
mere child, Fromall I have heard, he seems
to have followed closely in the footsteps of his
worthy father, and give promise of being, a
good and a just man. The loss of such as lie
to the church is one of the most mysterious
parts of God’s providence to his people. By
such visitations he teaches us that “ his ways
arenot as out ways.” He can dispense with
any of his servants he may see .fit to remove,-
and yet the work goes on. “It is not by might,
nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.”
These bereavements, however sad, are not so
distressing as many to which our people are
now subjected in all, ports qf ; the church. I
wish I could.reach every such feircle of, distress
this day, to tell its members how heartily!
sympathize with them, and how much I feel’
for them in the sacrifices they are thus compelled
to make in behalf of their country’s liberties.
From our silence regarding the war, I hope
you do not consider that we; in India, have lost
all interest in its results. Were you here, you
would find that no class of men in your coun
try takes more interest in' the progress of the
war than your foreign missionaries.
We read with painful intensity of feeling the
thrilling accounts that from time to time crowd
the newspapere regarding the progress of that
bloody .struggle; and we never cease to pray
that God may, in mercy, speedily send peace. ■
I for one, howerer, do not wish to see peace
upon the .basis of a compromise with slavery,
Twenty years of war would be preferable to
such a peaee as that. Hoi letius have no peace
till slavery is forever abolished, and the rights
of the poor negro finally and righteously vindi
cated. ' . , ’• y ■■
This is the one reason Why this war has been
permitted, and this should be constantly kept
in 'mind. It was not a tariff that drove the
South to arms. It was no fear of encroachment
on their territorial rights that urged them to
rebel against the best of governments. It was
their wild desire to extend their favorite insti
tution, and compel the North to homologate
their criminal aggression on the rights of tijeir
fellow men that drove them to the sad alterna
tive they are now working out..
Shall they be successful? ' Successful in the
extension of slavery they never can be. The
close of the nineteenth century is not the time
;to propagate the doctrine of human bondage )
and trample on the rights of man. “ The times
of this ignorance God winked at; but now
commandeth he all men to repent.” But is
the secession of the South to be finaily suc
cessful ? It can be so only by the destruction
of the nation’s vitality, and Americans are not
'the people I take them to be if they allow this.
A renewed Union, constituted upon righteous
principles, is worth far more than the, war has
yet cost. . Such a Union,. I believe,is yet prac
ticable, and, if your people are true r to the trust
God has committed to them, it will yet be se
cured. The enemies of American liberty are
gnashing their teeth with pain and impotent
malice at the magnitude of your efforts to pre
serve- your nationality,' and, above all, at the
persistency with which -they are carried for
ward. They, cannot understand that it is the
people —the national heart that wages war in
America—not the temporary admininistration
of the general government
. I think, however, you have much to be grate
ful for in having such a president as Mr. Lin
coln at, this crisis. His every act shows him
to be a man who feels and acknowledges his
tremendous’ responsibilities. His solemn re
cognition of God’s. universal providence, and
his humble reliance upon divine help, as set
forth in his letters, speeches, and proclamations,
are very gratifying. .They want but one ele
ment, and that is a very important one.i They,
as yet, make no public recognition' of tTesws as 1 '
mediator. When’ will our rulers learn that Je
sus rules, and that their power'is delegated. !
from him ? A general recognition of “ God Al-. -
mighty ” as the ruler of the world, is but Deism.,
Christianity teaches, something very different. 1
Ohr beloved Church has long'contended for the .;
“ crown rights ” and royal prerogatives of Kin g
Jesus. Will she notstill more distinctly, at
this important crisis, urge upon the national
government and its chief magistrate'the duty
and privilege of giving to Immanuel the place
that is due to him in your political system l
When this is done, and not till then, may we
look for his countenance and blessing.
But to turn from America to India, l am
happy to say that so far as known to me, all i
the members of our Mission are in. pretty good
health. Brother Herron’s family has this season •
suffered,more than usual, but by last accounts i
we are glad to learn thaUthey-are better. The .
Mission work does not present any new features
of importance at any of our stations; Politi,-. ;
eally, India, ,is ..pronouced, by, the leading '
newspaper of the day, ,“.<o be asleep! It is; i
certain that we never enjoyed, a more profound:
state of repose then fit present., How long this
is to last it would be folly, to attempt to predict.
India has; not however attained to her millenium
as yet.® Far from it, and pur government here
is well aware of this circumstance, The
renowned ruler of Cabul, a man whose public
career has extended over nearly three quarters
of a century, has at last succumbed to old age
and the fatigues of ,war, and after conquering >
the city of Herat has departed this, life, “leaving
his sword to his grandson,” a son of the celebra- ‘
ted Akbar Khan,, who slew, Sir William Hc-
Naughten,. and conducted the onslaught on the
British army that perished so ingloriously in
the winter of This man is said to-inherit
his father’s , ill will, to the British, and his
accession to power may give rise to troubles on
our;frontier. But itis hard to tell how long he 1
will-be able to hold the reins of government.
Ere this, time his, reign may be at a clbse, and
the power bequeathed by his grandfather may
be usttrped by some of his relations; ' On the
other hand he may noW be using that powervto.i
rid himself of formidable enemies'after the true;.
Asiatic system, and shouldhe succeed, hispower
may become consolidated. In any case the
people of Cabul are impotent to disturb the
prestige of British power in India,, but the
possibility of collisions in the frontier invariably
awaken anxiety all over this part in India. It
is said that at last the. notorious murderer
of women and children—the infamous Nana-
Sahib, has been caught. It is certakr that a
man is in custody who is supposed to Be the
Nana, but last year another man was caught
who after-a long imprisonment was found not
to :be the true man. Should the 'present
prisoner prove the right man, it will be a matter -
for much thankfulness; for the peace of the
country must continue in danger so long, as he
could remain at large. I see by to-day’s paper >
that the good King of Madagascar has fallen a
victim to the reactionary power of heathenism.
How sad that he should so soon have been cut
1 off. This may lead to French intervention;;
which would be more injurious to the progress
of the gospel than even 'the reign of the heathen
Queen. But we must not forget that Jesus -
reigns, and that all these events are under his
control, and will in due time be so regulated as
to subserve and promote the highest interests
of Ms blessed kingdom: 1 * 1
Our latest news from America by telegram •
announces that General Hooker had < recrossed y
the Rappahannock, and occupied Fredericks
burg. What may .be the state of matters by!
this time it is difficult to guess. •Our. good ;
Brother Stewart’s letters from -Camp, are to -
me very interesting. 1 He seems to-be the right •
man for such ail arduous position. How sad ’
to read of such wholesale slaughter among the
brave men to whom he has been ministering.
What a blessing to them to have a faithful
Minister of. Christ in their midst. May God'
be with this dear brother and spare his life, and
continue his usefulness in the very important
post-he holds. Kindly write me as frequently
as possible, and give me all the local news, and
in particular about all my old friends in Ken
sington- I ' can never forget the kindness !
received there on my first landing in- America,
and sb long as I live I shall never cease to feel
a deep''interest in the welfare of your -kind
hearted, Jiospitable and liberal minded people.
May God bless them all. 1
Ever yours in' Christ. J. S. Woodside.
A MODEL BIOGRAPHY.
All that the Holy G-host has, thought neeess
sary to tell us of a good preacher,,and. one of the
most excellent men of our race, as found in the
Old Testament, is comprised in the following
brief record:
“And Jared lived an hundred, sixty and .'two
years, arid he begat Enoch; and Jared lived after
he begat Enoch, eight hundred years. •‘Aid
Enoch lived sixty-fiveyears and begat: Methuse
lah ; arid Enoch walked with God after, he begat
Methuselah three hundred years, and begat song
and daughters; and all the days of Enoch were
three hundred, sixty arid five years; arid Enoch
walked with God; and he was not, for God took
him.” ,■ s
And the New Testament' adds ’ but a few
words: ’
“By faith Enoch was translated' that he should
not see - death, and; was not found, because God
had translated him; for, before his translation he
had this testimony, that he pleased God. ;
“And Enoch also, the seventh from,Adam,
prophesied of these, saying, behold the Lord
cometh with ten thousand of his saints; to eke-
cute judgment upon all, and to convince all that
are ungodly among them, of all their ungodly
deeds which.they have ungodly committed,' and
all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners
have spoken against him:” ■
GEORGE WHITFIELD Off THE ATLANTIC;
OR THE POWER OF CHRISTIAN KINDNESS AND
CONSISTENCY. ' ‘ ! :
! , - ... i
Thomas Chalmers used to speak of‘fhe ‘pros
perous management of human nature.' In his
closing years he exemplified his meaning in-this
remark, by his frankly, and freely mingling - ; w,itk
the inhabitants of the West Port of JSdinburghj
one of the most neglected portions of- the Scottish
metropolis, for the purpose of bringing to tear Cn
them the mighty forces Of : the Gospel 1 of Christ.
In the blessed amelioration wrought out tamong
occupants that; district, a practical; proof;
was giv.en.of the happy results of Christian kind
ness, even oh the most‘degraded and abandoned
sons and daughters of fallen Adam.
> The same 'is illustrated in the vast > success
ujhieh has atteuded the labors of i-Christian; mis
sionaries in, different, parts of the world. Perhaps
the most signal instance of this is the department
of‘Medical Missions” in which the assuaging of
bodily sufferings, by medical Skill; paVes the way
for the high'and' holy message of glad news Sn
the Gospel of Jesus Christ. to : ■ ?
, Hard indeed is that heart which pan sullenly
and obstinately resist the, power of .kindness.
Vice,'long J practised,' has indeed a : biigh'tmg’
effect' on 'the affections' and feelings; ahd i> inay
make'the'first appeals and. applications of this
law of loyo fall pointless. Yet where its influence
is used patiently and perseyeringly, the wearying
not in this'inode of well-doing issues in the hap
piest results: ‘May it'not greatly encouragefhe
hetalds of Salvation, in going forth’even on the
most, unpromising fields of labor,’ that they have,
not only,a; conscience in every one , to wfiieh they
may boldly appeal as God’s vicegerent in man’s
sbul, but a weapon in the power of kindness,
which they ’may confidently wield,-arid which 1
may ultimately prove the means of overthrowing
barriers of opposition; against which they have to
contend. ~, •: ,
Of the truili of our observations, a memorable,
instance was afforded-during the’ first Voyage of
George Whitfield'across the ‘Atlantic, W- the’
particulars of iwhieh we propose shortly to turn
the attention, of our readers. A voyage to, Amer
ica, during th,e,last century, was not the compara
tively easy thing which, through the onward
march of ’inOdem science, it has now become!
For -many long and'weary weeks; even m'onths,
the sailor ,to the Western Hemisphere might be
kept tossing on the deep by unfavorable, iV?indsj-or
lying in the deep (aim, as idle . ,
'As a: painted ship
Upon, a'painted ocean.’.
w The very length of the- voyage,:;however,
which tried their patience, increased the oppoy-,
tunities of lisefulhesktb those'Who watched for
every occasion l of' -doing 'good' tb ; others; dnd
blessed arerthey 'that ‘sow beside till waters/
The.noble wilip; >could say, ,‘I ~want’
more tongues, more bodies, more souls for the;
Lord Jesus. ' Had I ten thousand, He should
have them all;’and who’was going to America
to lay out his time and strength in preaching
Christ, found in the ship in which he sailed,
and which did not reach her haven for four
months, a wide door and effectual for the prose
cution of the work to which he had devoted
hiniself. ’ A more unpromising outset,-and yet a
more happy ;end of labour, perhaps no 1 watchman
in ,the -Lord’s vineyard ever, experienced. To
Whitfield the scene, was new. He ; was on board
a ship full of soldiers, proverbially a hardened
careless set of men. The naval and the military
officers were all determinedly, set against- religion,
and looked on the man of God as a hypocrite and
impostor. ‘ The .first. Lord’s day one of them
played on, the hautboy, and; nothing,, was to, be
seen but cards, and little heard but
blasphemy/ Mild reproof he made use of, when
he heard his Lord’s name 1 profaned; yet the
effects were at’first discouraging.; ‘1 could do no
more,’ he; says;/ 1 for a season, than, while I was
writing, now and, then turn, my head by way of
reproof to a.lieutehant of the soldiers, who. swore
as though he was borh Of’a swearing constitution.
Now and then he Would take the hint, return my
nod with: a, M Doctor;, I : ask; your pardon;” and
then to his cards and swearing again/ : ;
From the cabin occupants Whitfield turned to,
the steerage passengers, among whom he,moved
with So much gentleness and love, that he quite
won their hearts, disarmed their prejudices, and
was eventually gladdened by obtaining a hearing'
from, the goldiers; whom he styles his 1 red-coat
parishioners,’ and to whom he read and expoun
ded the Bible between decks, twiee a day.
No service was as yet allowed to be held in the
great cabin; but gradually a way was opened up
for, this also, The captain of the ship slept in' the
‘rqund house/ .On Whitfield’s solicitation, he
gave him permission to retire to it occasionally
for devotional purposes, along yith a few 1 com
panions. In the neighbourhood of 1 this, the
weather-beaten skipper might be seed standing;
and overhearing the words of prayer'sent; up to
the throne of God on high. Who can tell the
effect produced on him by listening, it may
be, to supplications on his own behalf, poured
forth by the very man whose 1 godly ways; on
his first embarking, he had so heartily disliked ?
'Some time afterwards; being invited by .the
military eaptain to take ,a cup of coffee with him,
Whitfield embraced the opportunity of telling
him ‘ that he thought it a little odd to pray and
preach to the servants, and not to the master,’
adding, ‘ that if he; thought proper, he would
make use of. a, short collect now and then, to him
and the other gentlemen, in the great cabin/ To
this an ominous shake of the head was given, fol
lowed up with the remark, ‘ I think'we
wlien we have nothing else to do/ It'was not,
however, tiff they' had experienced a; .month’s
detention, from cross winds off Heal that the evan
gelist’s hopes of .speaking a word, for his Master
in' the main cabin were gratified. A visible
change had coine over the ship’s . captain after'
his perusing a religious-book-which Whitfield
one day placed on his pillow, in exchange for one
on politics which he found lying there, and of
which he courteously begged, the sailor’s accep
tance,.when next morning, with a smile, he asked
if he knew whpjbad made the exchange, i About
the same time the military captain, met him one
day, as he came'from his wonted work among’ibe
common soldiers, and told him that he ‘might
have public service,and expounding twice a'd&y,.
in the great cabin/ , ~>i ,; t
The seene on bo.ard the ship yas now, greatly
changed. ■ The soldiers, who saw from Whitfield’s
daily efforts for their good, that he was [in earnest
in seeking their souls’ welfare, had been greatly
melted under the word faithfully proclaimed in
their hearing; and the" declaration of the Lord’s
message of mercy’ to- fallen sinners, wds now 1 re
verently and attentively listened, to on- the,part
of the, very ofljoers of the egbin; whq had atrfirst
so hotly opposed the preacher. . How true is ii
that, When a man’s ways 1 please the Lord, He
maketh even fiiseneniies to be atpeace withhinfj
and how often is.a consistent and holy walk the
instrument, of, recommending the Gospel to its
most inveterate opposers! A patient .continu
ance in well-doing on the part of Christian pi-oi
GK.NESKK KVASGELIST. —Whole 10. 906.
fessorsi attests the veuft# of that which is their
animating.principle, and prgves it to he indeed
a thing tangible, and not, as many suppose, ,tne
baseless 1 fabric of a vision/ - .
The ship touched at Gibraltar to take m .more
troops, and here Whitfield had an oportunity of
preaching oh shore, in a place ‘in which, being,
as it were, a public rendezvous of all nations, he
thought he saw the world in epitome/ His
preaching here was accompanied with a blessing
from above.' ‘ Samson’s riddle,’ says he, ‘ was ful
filled here:,out of the!strong came forth sweet
ness. . Who more unlikely to be wrought on than
[soldiers! And yet, among any set of people I
have hot been! where God has made His power
more 'known: 3 ' Many that were blind diave re
ceived! their sight, many that had fallen back
have -repented ;and . turned to the Lord again:
many that were ashamed to own Christ openly,
have waxen,,hold, and many saints had their
hearts filled with joy’unspeakable and full of
glory/ 1 '' -- 1 - 1 ' :;1 11 "/ - ' ’. .
; Once more afloat on* the mighty deep, Whit*;
field realized a blessed answer to his prayers. In
stead of having to preach,, as formerly, both in ,
the cabin and between decks, the drum was now
beat by Order of the' officers,' morning and even
ing, and all the'ship’s 'company assembled on the •
deck.' Hb nowipreached^supported by a captain ’
on each side,; while-the companies of other two *
ships sailing along them, being ' now in fhe ,
trade winds, drew near and j oined in the worship .
of’God 1 / 1 The great cabin was now become a"
Bethel’: both 1 captains were "daily more and nioVe
affected; and a crucified Saviour* and the things •
pertaining -to the kingdom of God, were the ;
usual topics of their conversation.’
; How altered .the whole aspect of the vessels!
‘ Cards' and profane books were thown overboard,
An oath became a strange thing. The soldiers
began !to learn to read and write, and the children
to repeat their prayers/regularly/ The good im
pressions made were deepened by the breaking out
of a fever on board, during which Whitfield was
unintermitting in his attention to the sick, —
-.crawling-On his knees between decks, adminis
tering medicines. or /cordials to them, and such
advice as sepmed suitable to their circumstances/ ,
At length they came in sight of their desired
haven/ AH' on' board were naturally joyful at
the close of so tedious a voyage; ‘but how 1 iofin- '
Itely more glad/ is the remark of Whitfield on ■
the occasion, ‘ will the children of God. be, when, :
haying passed.through the waves of this trouble-, ,
some world, thejr arrive at the haven of ever
lasting rest!/’ ['
We cannot! close this rapid sketch of the ef
fects produced by the; power of kindness, and' the
forks' of Christian consistency during a single yoy- s
age across the,great Atlantic, -without reminding
, our readers that in the circumstances now nar
rated, GeorgE Whitfielu displayed a higher
amount of m'dral' heroism than perhaps on any
other occasion of'his /eventful life. Those of the
Lorchs people reading.these Hues, who mayhave
had long sea voyages,, well know the peculiar
diificullies which have to.be encountered on board
ships irheti the''captain and officers are opposed
to 1 What 1 is good, and will readily appreciate the
taiet and courage by which the -noble evangelist ;
Of last century was distinguished in the first pas- ;
sage to America. -Of the months then spent on
the broad ocean, Whitfield, writing many years
after,, takes ' the follb'wing pleasing retrospect:•
—‘ Evfen 1 at this distance of time, the remem
brance of the happy:hours I enjoyed in religious
exercises on,deck, -is refreshing to my soul:.and -;
although nature sometimes relented at being, ,
taken from my friends, and I was little accus
tomed to the inconveniences of a sea-life, yet
a consciousness that I had the glory of God and
the good of souls in view, afforded me from time
to time; unspeakable satisfaction/..
The success of those labors, by God’s .blessing, ,
on which a floating hell was turned into a Bethel,
may well'stimulate’all who are working for'the
souls of others,-to persevere‘in spite-of every ‘
discouragement.; On,the question being put to
Judson, when laboring in Burmah, whether he ,
thought the prospects bright for the speedy con
version of the heathen, his answer was, ‘As bright
as the promises of God.’ Laborers in God’s vine
yard,in any sphere 1 ! it is on the strength of these '
very promises; that you are to cast your line as .
spiritual, fishers for mpn’s 'souls. Have you la
bored long without seeing much fruit,.and you ,
are sometimes ready to, yield to despair? Still./
let Gideon’s characteristic of did! he yours.-
Though ‘faint,’ be ‘ yet pursuing/ And.among *
the many means yon may employ, forget not to
make trial of the law of Christian kindness, and
your.ex.perience may be that of Henry Martyn.
on .India’s shores, ‘ The power of gentleness is ir
- resistible!’
“ Thoti must be true thyself,'
If thou the ti;nth would’st teach.
THE YQUffG COLOR SERGEANT.
The following is a'beautiful picture of a young -
Christian soldier* „>A.psrad position hisl—al ,
once a color-bearer in the army of his country .
and a s&hdard-bearer in the army of King
Jesus. He was General Kilpatrick’s color,
hearer and a mere boy. 1 His comrades all saie '
he was, a brave fellow. The main artery o- -
one of his legs had been cut off by a minie ball .
The .wound had bled several times while in the
hospital, and he was fast sinking. He whisperer
to a delegate of the Christian Commission who [
was bending over him, 1 ✓ •
“ Jesus has a home for me.”
‘‘How do you know?”
“ Because Go\l loves me. He loves Ms Son
Jesas| and he loves me too.”
These were almost his last words. A few
hours before his death his father catne, truly a
broken-hearted ’man; for he was his youngest
boy—his Benjamin—and how, could he spare
him. “I didn’t want him to.go, and how, hoto
shall I go home' without him? Oh! lam
afraid it wiU be 200 for his mother.” •
The boy was laid:ih ! his doffin, and the ladies 1
andlittle children of:Hagerstown.wereMmming
the body with flowers, though he was the
brightest flower of all, very soon to bloom in
the celestial garden. "
THE HPAPY SCOTCHMAN.
At one of the Hospitals in Hagerstown, Md.,
lay a Scotehnian. who .was wounded at Falling
Waters. 1 '
He was sufferihg greatly from pain, and 1 was
maimed for life, yet he was as cheerful and
happy as a man could he. .He had never mads
a profession of religion, but he believed that he
was a Christian.- -He told- one who came to
talk wjtbL :i him—-a.,member of . the Christian
Connnissibn—that although he; jhad been a very
grdat sinner and’Had' often despised the good
ness and mercy of God ; yet Hb Mmblv trusted
fhat ChrisHs precious blood had washed away
all his sins. .He would repeat long portions of
Scripture, and, toyed to. dwell on those
that reveal the grace of God jn the salvation of
me “-. He talked of‘“the land to be coveted”
and'“Which'can be gotten by asking for it ”
price has Already been .paid—and Oh
■what a, .price, to be paid for spoor wrbteh like
11101 •in r. > . V, ■
, i “ Freqtfently visit your Sabbath Schools, if it
O M rt ° walk though them”— Gems for
.'!••• %refjore, .tmtp yourselves, and
to aU the flock over which the. Holy Ghost hath
madeyou overseers; xx 20 ' ’