100 PROM OUR ROCHESTER CORRESPON DENT. TRAGIC END OF THE ELMIRA FAIR, Of this event wo gave a brief statement last week. Since then particulars have come to hand, and they are sad indeed. Great preparations have been made for this fair. Contributions had been sent in from all the surrounding country, and great results were anticipated. No one could have dreamed that i.t was to end so disastrously. , , The! church building, Jui which the fair -was held, as would bo supposod. was not yet completed for church purposes. The walls were up and .enclosed, and at this stage temporary galleries, and booths were erected, and this offered the mbst commodious place in the town for such a purpdse; and here the fair opened most flatteringly on Monday, the 14lfy of March. All went on well until Friday evening. The attendance- was large; the gross receipts were over $12,000. On Friday evening, ,as ‘a young man. was lighting up the .building, the flame of one of the gaS burners, leaping nearly a fbot, Ah it was'saidi?from tlic orifice, caught one of the festoons of evergreens with which the church was, elaborately ornamented, and in a ,few .moments, in spite of -the utmost exertions,of those present, the whole building, was on fire. 'Fortunately, as it was just tea-time, but few persons were in-the . church. Jf.it "had"been crowded to suffocation, as on previous evenings, and .as it would have been an hour later, the - sacrifice of -life must have been too fearful to contem plate. As it was, one young man, Fred dy Hart, failed to make Ms escape, and his charred remains were afterward found amid .the smoking had escorted a youngclady, it is said, to a -place of safety, and with 'heroic daring Wont hack amidst the smoke and flame, to see if thero was any thing more for ; -him to do, and so offered up his life to his noble impulses. Mr. M; M. Converse iilso, a man of almost seventy years of age, was so burned, in his efforts, to aid others, that he died on the following Sabbath. Several others were some what injured, and many'had a very nar row escape from destruction. , The flames spread so rapidly that the utmost exertion of those who were pre sent, could ’save but a small portion of the goods of the Fair. It must have been a very sad spectacle to those who had worked so hard, for so many weeks, to gather such stores of saleable ai’ticles, and all for the benefit Of sick and wound ed soldiers, to see the flames consuming them. There waß their handicraft, there their generous contributions,which they intended for the relief of so much suffering, all turning to soot and cinders before iheir eyes. Wo do not' doubt some genuine tears were shed, and he roic exertions were known to be made; and yet the remorseless flames wrought on, hissing, spitting, crackling, until all was consumed. All the money, how ever, in the hands of the cashiers, and in the ticket-office, was saved. The con tractors of the building lose $15,000, and will bo crippled by it. The Trustoes had effected an insurance, for $lO,OOO, which permitted the holding of the fail’; but the First Church and Society will be sadly delayed in getting the new house of worship, for which they have already been waiting for some time. AN OLD MAN CELEBRATION. Wc. have near this city, at Adams Basin, a man still living, and in the enjoyment of excellent health, who is said to have been born on the 14th of March, 1760, and who is therefore over 104 years of age. His name is Alexander Milliner. He commenced lifo therefore in the year in which George 111, of En gland, began his reign. He was nearly sixty years of age when that monach died'. He has lived through the reigns also of George IV., William IV., and twenty-six years in the reign of Vic toria. Seven monarchs have in the meantime sat upon the throne of France. And what changes beside in the lifetime of this singe man! In his day our Independence has been achieved; Francc|has has three revolu tions ; England has acquired the most of her vast possessions-in the East; Po land has been partitioned out among tho greater powers; Greece has strug gled for her. liberties ; great men have lived and died; and all the modern dis coveries and inventions have had their rise—spinning machines, steamboats, railways, locomotives, safety-lamps, magnetic telegraphs, power looms, power presses, agricultural implements, and loco-foco matches. When he was ■one year old, potatoes were first planted in France. When he was eight, Cook was mfekang Inis first voyage of diseovery in tho Pacific. He was fourteen when the war of. the Revolution .commenced; fifty-five when Napoleon was banished to St. Helena; seventy, when Louis Philippe was placed upon the throne of France; and one hundred and one when the slaveholders inaugurated civil war in the United States of America. He hopes to be living still when tbe hopes of the rebels are all dead. And this is not impossible, for ho is still wonder fully active, still hears with compara tive ease, walks quite readily while leaning on the arm of another, and every way looks as though he might remain on earth a year or two longer. While but a boy he entered the army of the Eevolution as a drummer. He served more than five years in that ca pacity, on the body-guard of Gen. Washington, and Was what is. called drum-major. He was also fiye years in the navy ; ate bread in seven different kingdoms ; was six years a prisoner in the hands of the French. He married at thirty-nine years of age; lived sixty years with his wife, a. godly .praying woman ; had nine- children,-seven of whom are. still living. And what is, perhaps, more remarka ble than all the rest, he is thought to have become a Christian after he was one hundred years old. He was then in this city, and the supposod change excited much interest in the minds of some of our b.eßt men, who visited him, conversed with him; and gained what they regarded, as tolerably satisfactory evidence of this remarkable change. He is now regarded by his friends as a man of daily' prayer; and he expresses a hope in Christ. But still-the evidence is not always justfwhat the Christian could wish. How much allowance must be made for the intimities of his extreme age, and for the inveterate habits of so long,a life of impenitence, it is difficult for Us to say. But the ease is every way one Af pe culiar interest. And thus judging, his fellow-citizens, , especially the old men from the surrounding region, assembled on Tuesday, the 2§d oi March, for a celebratiohjin honor of his extreme age. Veterans of seventy and~ighty ybars were in attendance, and seemed almost like young men by the side’of this pat riarch. The exercises of the'ee'lebration consisted of an address, from which we gather the facts. above recorded of the oldman’s life, together with a sumptu ous dinner, and post-praudial speeches. The old man participated in them all, twice addressed the' assembly in a few words, thanking them for their atten tions, and hoped they would all prove true to their country. He is evidently a friend of the ,old flag, under which he served almost ninety years ago. CENTRAL CHURCH AND HOME MISSIONS. The contributions of the Central Church in this city, this year to Home Missions will amount to $lOOO. Over $7OO have already been raised, and the rest will be forth-coming before'tho year The church;i considered "itself pledged to that amount; and to a simi lar sum for Foreign Mss ons. For the, latter cause many have subscribed to pay so much a month, some of its lead ing men as high as ten dollars; or $l2O a year. And it is done on principle, done systematically, regularly, and effi ciently. And besides giving to these two great chief causes of benevolence, this church contributes liberally to every other. It is a model of generous giving. We know many more wealthy societies, that do not give half so much and are not therefore half so prosperous. Installation. —Rev. A. Erdman, was, on Wednesday, March 23d, installed as pastor of the Stone Church, in Clinton. Sermon by President Fisher, of Hamil ton College, “ a good one,” as we are told, “from Rom. xvi: 25- proving that there is no progress for the race, except through the aid and use of the Holy Scriptures;” installing prayer by Rev. Mr. Hubbard, of Whitesboro’, charge to pastor by Rev. J. W. Erdman, (a brother) of Fayetteville; and charge to the people by Rov. W. E. Knox; bf Rome. Rochester is said to be the foremost city of the State in furnishing volun teers for Uncle Sam’s Army; her quota, even under the last ball, being already made up with more than two hundred men to spare. We stand by the old flag. Our country, one and insepara ble to the end of time. So may it be. Rochester, March 25,1864. A OOITOERT OF PRAYER FOR THE NA TIOH. Messrs'Editors: — Permit us to call your attention to an article by the Rev. Rev. William Patton, on the first page of “The Independent,” of Jan. 28th, en titled “The Great National Baptism.” Wc think no Christian can read the appeal without feeling his heart stirred within him, and having his prayers stimu lated for the outpouring of the Spirit of God upon his beloved country. After vividly setting forth the de moralizing tendencies of camp life, and the grievous effects to be feared on the breaking up of the war from the return home of thousands of men polluted with every vice, the writer asks wherewith shall this threatened tide of corruption be counteracted; and a remedy for the PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1864. appalling evil is proposed, in a great “National Baptism of the Holy Spirit,’’ Then follows a list of Scriptural pas sages breathing delightful encourage ment to seek such a blessing, and a men tion of tokens for good already given ns. But the disheartening thought occurs that many will read and be affected at the time by these and similar views, -who yet, for lack of having them kept steadily before the mind, .will suffer them to fade away, and the efforts suggested by them to relax. We need united exertion, to support each other iu the great under taking proposing; that when the faith of one flags, or weariness comes overibis spirit, or it lapses into forgetfulness, the presence and voice of others may ajd, and arouse and stimulate him. Again, what is left to be done At any time is apt to be deferred, and often oipitted. Can we not then have a,spe cific day and hour appointed when Chris tians in each city and town may unite together to- mingle their prayer's for this object? Will not some one prepare a circular to be be sent to each pastor of a church of our branch, asking him to call to gether the praying ones of his charge 1,0 join with other churches in the Bast, ard West, and North, and even in the South, in sending up one mighty cry to God for a deliverance from the power of Sa tan and for the bestowal of his own good Spirit upon us? ' We desire to pee appointed a country’s concert of Prayer —to.be held once a week, or fortnight, or month,-: as may he thought best; and the hope; is enter tained that what may be begun by one portion of the church might by the power of sympathy spread to-others, till,every Christian, sect should be found’united in this service of love for the common Cause. Even from across tbe water our well wishers in England and France might be moved to join us in such an attempt to establish the reign of righteousness in our land. , But it may be said that it is inconve nient to multiply meetings, and that al ready there is a vast amount of private prayer offered. —Wo hope such is the case and yet would ask if it is at all com mensurate with the crisis before us? To observe business pursuing its ac customed course—to see the well-filled lecture room and the crowded places of amusement, and to feel the abundance of comfort enjoyed throughout the North, one, ignorant of the fact, could hardly imagine from any appearance of con cern on tbe faces of tbe people, the gi gantic and bloody struggle going on in the country. Ah, if the church were putting forth her strength in prayer it could not but be more felt. The very atmosphei’e would reveal it. No, we fear she has not assumed the position which she should at such a time. Said a clergyman, “I believe more in the power of prayer than of bullets to settle this controversy.” Do Christians generally believe thus ? Then why not put forth this power? Do we "believe that He who stilled the raging of the sea could speak peace to the nation ? Hoar what the Lord hath spoken, “ Oh that my people had hearkened unto me.” “I should soon have subdued their enemies and turned my hand against their adversaries,” and yet still further —“ The haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves unto him.” Here is the solution of the ques tion so often asked, “How, after we‘ have conquered our enemies’ country, are we to conquer their hearts ?” If w r e can move the arm that moves the world let us in earnest attempt it, and let the attempt be seen and known and felt. Let the ungodly take note of it, and he constrained to acknowledge that there is a reality and value in the religion we profess. Who will try to bring about this sub lime effort of Christian patriotism? Who will take the first step towards establishing A Country’s Concert of Prayer. PAPERS FOR THE ARMY We shall be compelled, next week, to cut off from our gratuitous army list a number of copies sent to chaplains; and the funds contributed for a number of other copies, disposed of in like manner, will then be very nearly exhausted. Persons interested in keeping up this supply should send on their contribu tions promptly; so that the necessary arrangements with the Post Office De partment can be made with the com mencement of the quarter. Genesee. The Receipts of the American Board for February, from all socrces, were $46,588. The legacies were 1arge— 510,906.38. We are pleased to note the liberality of the old First Church in this city to the Board, its contributions this month being over $2500.; a sum greater than the aggregate contribution of any State in Hew England, Massachusetts excepted; or of any State out of Hew England, Hew York excepted, during the same period. A BROTHER’S TRIBUTE ffO A BELOVED SISTER. Oh Monday afternoon, March 21, 1864, it pleased God to remove from the trials and conflicts of time to the fruit ion of the joys and triumphs of the Christian’s home in heaven, Mrs. Sarah J. Hotter Ryan, the beloved wife of John W. Ryan,. Esq., of this city, and youngest sister of the writer of this notice. Born at Allentown, in Lehigh County, Pa., October 29, 1826, she was permitted to sojourn here 3T years, 4 months and 21 days. In early infancy she was consecrated to the Lord in holy baptism, administered by the Rev. Con rad Yaeger of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Forming in the year 1843 a most happy marriage with her now be reaved husband, she soon after attached herself to to the church of his prefer ence. She was received by Rev. Dr. Brainerd into the communion of the old Pine Street Presbyterian Church, of which she continued a consistent mem ber to the period of her death, and by the faithful ministrations of whose be loved pastor her last conflicts were beau tifully lightened and cheered. Next to a mother’s love, and that of a wife, none is so, sacred as that of a sister. None on earth is, or can be, purer. Affection’s bias may incline us, in these relations to be blind to faults, and over-vigilant in the discovery of virtues. But none that knew her, over whose de parture we are now sorrowing, will dis pute the fidelity of our portraiture. In characters like her’s the skeptic might claim to have discovered, a confutation of the foundation-doctrine of the Gosr pel, which teaches the original and uni versal sinfulness of the human heart. She was made amiable, generous, guile less, kind, by the plastic hand of Nature herself. , And what nature did not, and could not accomplish in her behalf, was wrought by indwelling divine grace, viz: hrbiiual, heartfelt, sincere Christian hu mility. Neither by prosperity, nor by adversity, were the uniform meekness and simplicity of her character inter rupted. She was instinctively candid, confiding and sincere—loyal to God, conscience, to truth; to duty, and to all her human friendships. To the large circle that loved her, and whose love she so lavishly repaid, her doors were ever open —-her hearth and heart were always warm. These will never forget the cor dial welcome that ever greeted them— the genial cheerfulness which never failed to impress them, that in her house, and in her presence, they, were “ at home." None ever lej[t her doors, without regret —none ever returned to them, without delight. And never was there a ten derer wife, or a more devoted mother, for she knew how rightly to divide , the time, and assign to each duty its relative importance. And not alone did she ex cel in the charity of the hand, which dispenses ’liberally to the poor, hut she excelled, even more, in the rarer charity of the heart, which “suffereth long and is kiiid,” which “rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth,” which “ beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” She was never an evil speaker, never a harsh censor, but habitually believed of all tAe best, and when it was not possible to speak good of another, preferred to say nothing. She was especially marked by a deep and abiding sense of gratitude. Not the smallest favor rendered her was received indifferently, or forgotten. For benefits received, she had a tenacious memory—for benefits bestowed, she had no memory whatever. To crown it all, she was exemplary-in piety—an ardent lover of the Bible, the mercy-seat, the sanctuary, and all the appointed means of grace. Never had a pastor a more devoted friend. Oh, what delight it afforded her, always to speak of “ dear Dr. Brainerd”—to ex press sympathy in his behalf, when he was sick —regret, when he was absent— : delight on his return, and with ’ what reverential attention did she not listen to all his utterances, whether in the sanctuary, or iu her own home, ponder ing them in her mind, treasuring them, like Mary, in her heart—and seeking to exemplify them in, her life. And how grateful, too, for the least service rendered by her pastor—and how mod erate her expectations. Exactions she was too kind ever to make. Delightful recollection, too, her deep penitence in the last days of life, that she had not been a better , woman—had not been kinder to her many friends— had not done more for Jesus, who had done so much for her. How simple and how child-like, withal, her trust in Him. Then, as memory brought the past in swift review, she had no other confidence, expressed no other hope, trusted to no other foundation. Among her last, declarations were these: The writer said to her : “Sister is there any thing more we can do for you ?” “Oh yes,” was her prompt reply, “dearest brother, fold both your hands into mine -—so —-and then pray to Jesus to forgive my sins, and then take me to heaven.” Then again she said to one dear to the writer, and who has been to her both mother and sister: “ Oh, dearest Eliza beth, I am going to die, now pray to the Saviour to have mercy on me, and when I am gone, have an' eye on my dear little girl.” To her pastor’s in quiry, whether she had faith in Christ, she replied strongly in the affirmative. Her sickness, although not protracted, was yet attended with much suffering. But her pains were happily much allevi ated by the presence of husband, mother, child, sisters, brothers, pastor, physician, neighbors, friends. t HGreatys the void in the family and social circle, occasioned by the depar ture of our dear, sweet sister Sarah. Time alone and the consolations of our holy religion will be able to assuage our sorrow. What is our loss, God be thanked, is her unspeakable gain. Let it be our’s, by every effort, with fervent prayer, to follow her, as she followed Christ—that so, when it shall be our time to “lie down in the dust,” it may be our’s to be with Jesus, as she is. “Sister !. Thou wast mild and lovely, Gentle as the Summer breeze, Pleasant as the air of ev’ning, When it floats among the trees. Peaceful be thy silent slumber, — Peaceful in the grave so low, Thou no more wilt join our number, Thou no more our songs shalt know. Dearest Sister ! Thou hast left us ; Here thy loss we deeply feel! But ’tis God that hath bereft us; He can all our sorrows heal. Yet again we hope to meet thee, When the day of life is fled, Then in heaven with joy to greet thee, Where no farewell tear is shed.” E. W. H. Philadelphia, March 28,1864, Mitrnd §tas. ME. MURDOCH'S READINGS. The readings of this gentleman con tinue to draw remarkably good houses. There is a combination of circumstances which upholds public interest in them, partly personal, partly religious and patriotic, partly histrionic. Mr. Mur doch, if not a Christian man, is one who practices some of the highest virtues, regarded as Christian. He has for the time, abandoned a lucrative profession, and devoted himself unselfishly to the good of the soldiers, to whom he appro priates, through some channel, the en tire proceeds of his readings. He has given two sons to the army, one of whom has fallen, while the other has been per manently disabled in the service. He seeks to stir up the patriotic feelings of the people. He selects from the choicest treasures of literature, such pieces as embody or illustrate the manly senti ments which should animate his country mon in the struggle of to-day; and throwing his whole soul into them, with all the power of his art to aid, he com municates them to the crowd and rouses and inflames their patriotic sympathies. We go to hear as critics and admirers of good declamation; we come away better patriots and ennobled in every way. Mr. Murdoch reads us quite a lengthy discourse on “Providence and Love of Country.*’ We did not go to hear him as we went to hear Miss Dick inson, for our expectation was fixed not so much on what he should say, as upon his manner of saying it. Yet we quite forgot the declaimer in the patriot, and doubt not, the mass of the audience felt as we did. We do not know why Mr. Murdoch persists in reading Mr. Janvier’s “Gettysburg.” It is but a passable performance. The first line: “Two hostile hosts,” gave us an idea of its poetic merit which we did not find occasion to alter. Mr. Boker’s pieces are incom parably superior. His “On board the Cumberland” was given with the effect which its extraordinary merit deserved. We never experienced a more vivid sense of reality under any representation of the kind. The last shot from the pivot gun was almost reenacted before our eyes. “ Our Heroes,” a new piece was admirable; so was Bayard Taylor’s “ Scott and the Veteran.” Whittier’s “ Barbara Frietchie” is also among the best which Mr. Murdoch recites. He did not give us this at the Academy. We never heard Mr. Murdoch do bet ter than in these recitations given on Tuesday of last week; and we came to the conclusion that his popularity is based on more permanent grounds than those of many passing favorites of the pleasure loving public. Long may he continue by his pure and delightful readings, to supply a stimulus to the heroic and loyal sentiments of the coun try and at the same time, to aid in suc coring its suffering defenders. On Sabbath evening last, Mr. M. read selections from Scripture in Green Hill Church, by invitation of the pastor.— The exercises were opened and closed with prayer, and entire solemnity pre vailed. A large collection for soldiers’ families was taken up. UNDEVELOPED RELIGIOUS FEELING. That excellent preacher and pastor, Dr. Ichabod Spencer of Brooklyn, gives an interesting item of experience in re gard to what he terms the “ Spirit’s un conscious presence.” He entered with some reluctance, a gay home, and ad dressed the young ladies on personal religion. They began to weep, and said they had been anxious, and waiting for Christian counsel. This outburst of feeling was the beginning of a work of grace in the congregation. W® recollect a still more striking case. An earnest and highly cultivated minis ter,. had observed a serious tenderness among his people, but no decisive result. On one occasion, a brother who had been favored with considerable expe ricnce in revivals, suggested, that fol lowing a direct appeal, all interested in their own salvation, be invited to remain after service with Christian friends for conversation and prayer. To the pas tor’s surprise, before those who left had passed out, nearly thirty of the youth present, came together near the desk, some of them sobbing audibly with dis tressing conviction of guilt and peril. For several weeks’the harvest of souls was great. Is there not an unbelief and timidity often unconsciously present, which sadly hinders the Spirit’s working? And is it not jußt here where a true evan gelist succeeds frequently, when a pastor fails—by daring to move forward when the Holy Ghost goes before him ? To be in entire sympathy with Christ, and thus made “ wise to win souls,” instead of walking in the “ light of sparks of our own kindling,” hesitatingly and weakly, is surely the high and glorious work given us to do: REY. MR. HAMMOND IN NEWARK, N. J. A remarkable work of grace has be gun in connection with Mr. Hammond’s labors in the above named city. Rev. Dr. Parker writes as follows to the New York Observer , March 21st: Mr. Hammond came to Newark and held his first meeting in the Park Pres byterian Church on Sunday afternoon, the 13th inst. An immense audience of children was assembled, and a deep *and tender impression was produced. The next day, at 4 P. M., the meet ing was held in the First Baptist Church (Rev. Dr. Fish’s). It is the largest audience room in Newark, and was filled to repletion at an early hdur. At the close of Mr. Hammond’s address, a meeting of free conference was held ,in which not less than 600 children re mained for conversation and prayer. The feeling was deep and overwhelm ing. Ministers and Christian people engaged freely in these conversations. Each day from that time to this, simi lar meetings have been held in several churches. The Evangelical ministers in union have agreed upon a continuance of the children’s meeting daily at 4 o’clock through the week. The meetings, thus far, have grown in interest from the first, and the hands of the pastors are full of work in their separate congregations, for many chib dren, and adults too, are inquiring what they shall do to be saved. Scenes of great interest are every day occurring. We saw, in the side room of one of our churches, sixty boys on their knees, one after another praying with solemn, quiet earnestness, and with as much order as a Fulton street prayer meeting. Mr. Hammond says he has never seen a work of such power in this country. DUTIES TO THE FEEEDMEN. Eev. Dr. J. N. McLeod ofjNew York City, has an able and hopeful article on this vital subject in the last New York Observer, in which after referring to what the Reformed Presbyterian Church has done in this'field, he calls upon the R. D. Church and the two Presbyterian General Assemblies inquiring “ whether the lime has not come, when they may effectually use their power of social position, learning, piety, and numbers, to aid the freedmen of the country, to elevate and comfort a down-trodden race, and save immortaL souls.” The Reformed Presbyterian Church, through one of its most respected pas tors, has full warrant by its own zeal and forwardness in this great work, thus to" endeavor to stir up others —“to provoke unto love and good works For one of the Assemblies we can testify that a lively degree of interest prevails on this Bubject among the members which needs but to be organized to make it an, effectual working power. The General Assembly to meet at Day ton next May, will give the matter the attention it demands. SUDDEN DEATH. On Thursday the 10th inst., as the venerable father of Rey. G. Earle, pastor of the Presbyterian church in Catasauqua, took his seat in the chapel to attend the preparatory lecture, his'head dropped on his breast, he gasped and was gone., The son had just risen to announce the hymn. The good man was ripe for the “ temple not made with hands.” Hje had not passed his seventy-fifth, year. The remains were taken to Poughkeep sie, W. Y. Rev. Mr. Earle is very happy in his pastoral relations, having a tasteful sanc tuary, free from debt, a fine new parson age which soon will be, and a united people to frequent both. Rev. E. E. Adams, of North Broad St. Churbb, preached for, the first time since hiß recent illness, last Sabbath morning, on John xii: 23, “ the hour is come.” It is not expected that he will at once re sume his usual duties. In the course of the sermon he stated that during the past year, fifty-one additions had been made to the membership of the church and over $31,000, contributed to Various benevolent objects by the congregation.
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