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.