The American Presbyterian " AND GENESES EVANGELIST. umexons AND FAMILY FFEWSPAPER, IN TEX IXTBILBST OF TICE Constitutional Presbyterian Church. PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY, AT THE PBESBYTERIAN 1-19 USE, 1834 Chestnut Street, (2d Story,) Philadelphia. Rev. 7083 W. MEARS, Editor and Publisher. PRESBYTERIAN UNION. Our readers will be deeplyinterested in the communications which we pub lish from the pens of Rev. Dr. Cox and Dr. Tustin, in different parts of the paper, on Presbyterian Union. The letter of Dr. Tustin introduces the action of the Presbytery of Potomac (0. S.) on the subject. This action proposes a joint Committee of Conference, consist ing of one from each Synod of the two branches of the church—the most defi nite proposal on the subject, we think, which has been formally made. It is not, indeed, surprising that a body of ministers who allowed themselves to be influenced by a man of Dr. Tustin's fraternal spirit, should be far in advance of the general public on this subject. But we believe it is a fact that they are in advance; and that the prevalent disposition in both branches now is to acquiesee in the happily altered rela tions of the two bodies, and to maintain the correspondence just inaugurated, with every token of Christian courtesy and fraternal spirit, as, for the present, enough. " Most, even of those friendly to union as an Ultimate end, prefer to wait and watch the operation of the measure already inaugurated, expecting it to furnish that further light which their judgments require, before proceeding to any measures withactual union in view. We think their feelhi.g is : better let the plan of correspondence stand by itself 'for a time, unembarrassed' with any proposals or negotiations for union; let it appear, under this plan, unrestrainedly what we are, what dispositions we cherish, what hindrances exist, what adaptations are possible in us and be tween us. If indeed we love each other too truly, to live apart—if we have become so homogeneous, that the prin ciples which each body now holds pre cious, would be reverenced by the other, and protected by the united body—the correspondence now inaugurated will afford excellent opportunity for the facts to appear—or for the absence of them, if absent they are, to be demonstrated. That we are improving greatly in our mutual attitude and regard, is shown by the correspondence itself; long ago we were ready for that; long ago we mourned over the contrary state of things as a scandal to the Christian and Presbyterian name; and while we re joice and give hearty thanks for the change, we cannot regard an advance to the merest and simplest exercises of Christian courtesy, between denomina tions, as by any means demonstrating their readiness to unite. given the language of the resolutions just adopted by the Presbytery of Po tomac, at the suggestion of our vene rated correspondent, is such - as, if adopted by the entire body of the other branch, would necessarily be regarded by ours as unsatisfactory. We refer especially to the phrase'" that by-gones should be by-gones,"—language which iudeed•hat a captivating sound, and which is apt to be regarded, by unthinking and peace loving people, 'as covering all that is important in the basis of a reconciliation. N0W,130 f• as it refers to past ill-feeling„ and to the personal aspects of .Our difficulties, all of us, old and young, agree to the proposal most heartily. We are more than willing to biuy the,''' haliChet of at disputes and animosities forever. This is implied in the alacrity With which the offer of correspondence was . responded to on our part. And our prayer is, and our purpose, too, so far' as in us lies, - that the the fraternal and courteous and Christian spirit in whiCk the correspondence was inauga rated, ma.y never decline, but increase more and More; to the total oblivion of all pre-existent_contrary feeling among ns, and to the ,greater ° glinT. .of Ged while the church and the world,last. , B.ut- not to the oblivion of the -principles at , stake ;—NEVEIR-I A -union in which they shall be counted as "by-gones," is ' one into which men who -know and vane the ancient liberty of American Presbyterianism, as embodied in the Adopting Act of 17:49, and as re-enacted in the union basis 'of 1758, will never be drawn. Again, we say, we are ready to lay aside and have laid aside all rancour and wrong feeling in the mode of, maintaining those principles, or of combatting the'oppose of them, and all hard recollections, nilireaditions of the -manner in which we were met; in the controversy ; we thank God for that - ingritan clliestavvn,lll+ New Series, Vol. I, No. 17. breath of his Spirit which has swept the uncomely burden from our minds and the minds of our brethren of the other branch. But the principles them selves—the kindest, most courteous, most venerated of these brethren cannot induce us to disparage or sacrifice calling them " by-gones." Into what ever union of Presbyterians we go—and we have our view and hope of such a union as practicable—we shall not only expect to early our principles with us, but shall look for guarantees of ecclesi astical' security in enjoying them. Perhaps this is the kind of union really contemplated by our excellent friends of the Potomac Presbytery. We know assuredly, that the brother who suggested the action would seek only "the things which make for" a genuine, permanent " peace." With him and with such as share his own genial and comprehensive spirit,it would be simply, and only, sinful not to, be able to live hi entire ecclesiastical harmony. Never theless, the language of their proposal, as a basis of action between the two bodies, is—we are compelled to say— disappointing. And we say so frankly, as we believe they and all true friends of.union wish to know fully the facts in the case; just as the chemist acquaints himself with the exact degree of affinity between the bodies which he seeks to combine. A WISE MAN Or BUSINESS. We have lately heard of a leading bilsitteSs man, - a member of the church, 'who bas determined to resist the en grossing tendency of his business and give more-time to religious duties. This is a resolve not brought on by-failure, or by sickness, but. by the simple force of conviction. His business in fact was never better. It - is fully in the path of the war stimulus _which has given such an extraordinary impulse -to the pur suits of men. It was doubtless acquir ing that absorbing and exciting charac ter, which, in so many instances, swal loWs up as never before, the entire in terest of business men, and half-crazes them with the prOspect of great and, rapid gains. A current, which few have the courage to resist, is sweeping through our business community; and carrying along on its-tremendous tide, not a few of Christ's people with men of the. world. It is most cheering to meet, with an instance, appearing in the thickest of this turmoil, illustrating the vitality and 'power of Christian princi ple, proving the presence of God's Spirit among his people, and showing that there is A LIFE in the Church which all the worldly excitement of the times can not stifle. This merchant has acted wisely. Having found among " the goodly pearls" of the world, the "Pearl of Great Price," he virtually sells all, that ho may have that in secure possession, and may guide others to the same wise choice. It is the best bargain, he, with all his achievements as -a business man, has over made. It is putting the im -mortal interests of his soul, the claims of God and duty, and the spiritual in terests of his fellow men, just where the decisions of a truly sound and. en lightened judgmentpwould place them,— above all Worldly concernments --What ever. It is acting out the profcamd wis sdom contained in the inquiry—an in quiry which ought to be pressed at this time—What shall it profit A man, if he gain the whole world and lose .his•=dwn soul l? clt is obeying the command of the wise Teacher : "Seek ye first: the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added onto you. This la.st qUotation suggests the addi tional thought, that in all probability his business will bat flourish the more for his decision; It is. by no means :the . surest way of prosperity in business, to . allow it 'to become the sole tyrant ' of our time and our affections, and tb,:con vert Mir Minds into a mere calculating and speculating machine. No one, we think, now-a-days, believes it would. be any facility tO business, to throw open the Sabbath- to. 'unrestricted traffic. Clearness, accuracy, soundness of judg ment and physical strength would be sacrificed. There can be no doubt of the wholesomeness of a proper subordi nation of human and. worldly interests to duty and to God. By refusing to yield all to business, and' reserving,a proper place for God, we carry out a PHI it , Bal ' • ri I TB •= Y, APRIL 28, 1864. great business principle, become better busipess men, and are better able to manage the business that clamoured for all our time, and protested against even our meagre devotions as incompatible with our engagements. We get moral control of our business, instead of allow, ing it to rule and drive us with its god= less urgency. We have yet much to learn of this secret power of religious fidelity, which trusts in God and re ceives supplies of strength, and enjoys light and direction the world knows not of. Sir Wm. Havelock, the conqueror of Northern India, maintained his very full devotional arrangements- amid all the extraordinary hindrances of an active campaign, and was doubtless the better general and the surer to conquer for it. Luther was emphatically a man of prayer, yet what a full, intensely active, wondrously, efficient, all-conquering life was his I Prayer, he said, was the. Christian's business. "Yes," says one of the characters in the Schoenberg-Cotta Family, " it is the leisure he makes for prayer which gives him leisure for all besides. It is the hours passed with the life-giving Word which 'make sermons and correspondence and teaching of all kinds to him simply the outpouring of a full heart." • - We counsel no withdrawal from busi ness on the part of Christians ; we would have Christian men give example, rather, of the moderation, the self-control, the spirituality that can be maintained in the midst of a •great and successful business, by one who keeps the chief place in his heart and in his plans for God. MEETING OP HARRISBURG PRESBY TERY. The 'Presbytery of Harrisburg met, on the 12th inst., in the First Presbyte rian Church of Carlisle, and was opened with adiscourse by. Rev P. Robinson,. the junior pasteli - iiftlV - Oliurch of risburg. The text of this discourse was in Isaiah 11: 6 ; " And a little child shall lead them," and the design of the preacher was to show that Christianity inculcated and honored a child-like spirit, and that in the holiest and maturest period of the world, Children would be the leading object of interest in all de partments of society. It was refreshing to be reminded that the church espec ially, and our race generally, have some thing tenderer and deeper than intellec tual, and higher than material interests, and that our truest policy is to elevate 'our nature by educational training, as the best security for the greatest achiev ments and happiness. THE MINISTERS AND CHURCHES The meeting was not large,. for. the Presbytery itself is one of the' smallest in our American. Israel. It was origi nally composed of the fragments-of three; Presbytefiesr, -in a region where our. branch of the church found the fewest adherents. Only one of the ministers concerned in its organization remains. to take part in its deliberations—Rev:_ Dewitt, the senior pastor Of the Church in Harrisburg, the author of the pastoral letter it then sent forth to its churches, and whiph questioned " Whether the history of the church, even in the dark-- est ages, can furveish an example Of a more ruthless exercise of arbitrary pow er, in trampling Upon the dearest rights: l of man, in violating the essential princi ples of eternal justice, • than - the of:1 excision by the General Assembly. ..of. 1837. He not only still survives- to. minister among the people of his!:firet. and only charge, but to give the trumpet a certain sound, for the admonition,.of his brethren. But one other , of, :these. "fathers of the Presbytery" - new lives on earth to contemplate the ,vesults of his action, and be in _counection with the body. against which • he - ; - thenso warmly protested. Tracy--than aseigned to this body by the Synod, was. then, and is still an honored missionary._ among the but gladdens us sometimes with the report of his, success. In this, day of frequent changes in, the pastoral relation it is creditable to the ministers and, churches of this body that, of the nine preachers laboring on the field embraced by it, one has been a pastor to one of its churches 45 years; two others have been members of it 18 years; another 16 years ; three others -8 years, and three others four years. All ourchttrches are now supplied:with pastors ,or stated supplies, though last week the pastor of the Church in York Genesee Evangelist, No. 030. receive - a call to the North Church of New York, which he will probably ac cept, 'and thus leave one .of our most 'important. congregations vacant. CARLISLE CHURCH-REBEL MARKS The church in which Presbytery as sembled' was more than a hundred years old', and from the substantial way in which;it was built, it is not likely to fall down of itself until the earth itself is removed. It has, however, been often changed in its arrangement, and been recently much beautified within, so as to accord with-the style of art in this re gion. In two places it bears the marks of the rebels' missiles, during the bom bardment of the town last year; and there seems to be no disposition to in terrupt the silent appeal these wounds are continually sending up to heaven. The wants -of the congregation have suggested-the necessity of enlarging the building; but a commendable veneration for Li ally, as well as regard for its excellent propOrtions, has: hitherto pre _ ,ventedthe .execution of such a purpose. Re, James Dickson was chosen Mod erator and Rev. Wm. Sterling Clerk, for theofttinihg. year. J. E. Long, a licenti ate of the Third Presbytery of New York, who has been supplying two of our ehurelid3 in Centre county, for the hist eighteen:months, was received by letter and; on his own peoples applica tion.:Presbytery agreed to meet at Hublersburg on the first Friday of Sep- teniber next and, if the way be opened, ordain himtothe gospel ministry. Rev. A. D. -- Moore, of Dauphin, and Elder John A. ,- Weir,, of Harrisburg, were elected as primaries, and Rev. C. P. Wing and Elder Charles Ogilby, both of Carlisle, altdrnates, to be commission ers to,the,next General Assembly. On the second day of the meeting Presbytery-paid - a visit to the military barracks (only partially rebuilt,) in the neiflibcgh,QA of town ; and, though the tog44erogikvorable, and no‘ parade was flossitle, through the politeness of the chaplain—Mr. Ross—the hospitals were visited and their inmates were as sembled and addressed in a, very appro priate and impresdive manner by mem bers of -the Presbytery. The recent eatuninder 9f the post, Maj. A. H. Has .ting4rebeived uswith much courtesy, and it-Iv - as with much regret that we learned of his being.relieved that very dayof his command. No one who has had charge of this post' for many years Mks been more acceptable to the citizens generally, has maintained equal order 'amorigthe soldiers, and himself present ed a better example in every -respect. He - has .for many years been, with his 'family, punctual attendants, upon the Presbyterian. Church where we met, and &which ids lvife, a year since, became a :member. On their return, all the nieloiers 'of the • Presbytery present littby ellif`by a - unanimous and earnest -vote; thi4ollowing paper : viz., AtTION . ON THE REBELLION • ‘• . " Ogle once again, in the Providence of to convene while the civil war, caused by an. unholy rebellion, is still raging in our beloved country, this Presbytery deems it - to be eminently proper to renew the expres sion of its sentiments in regard to matters that vitally, affect the interests of govern ment, 'liberty and religion put in peril by the conspirators against our national Union. " And that we may not be misunderstood, nor our position be in any manner equivocal; we do.hereby solemnly reaffirm the testimo ny we have given on former occasions, so far as, it bears on the wickedness of the rebellion in its • inception, in its continuance, and in its object:- and upon the duty of our citizens to sustain the government of the land - by every means in their power till the rebellion be'utterly'suppressed. This duty of uncon ditional.,/unreserved loyalty to the constitu tionally elected government of the nation we desiroidistinctly to reaffirm as a prineiple of.otirtholy religion and a part of our allegi ance, to God. "We desire, further, to put upon record that thre4 - ..years of terrible strife and-suffer ing; in the destruction of property, the loss of life, the sorrows, the desolations and the sad moral ,influence of the war, have - in no degree altAred our conviction that our duty 1. , ,t0 our nowettry, to posterity, and to. God, den:lands ` %hit we count these sacrifices &64 to it& the great end of extermina tingl4.easoni preserving the supremacy of and Owing the country from anarchy but oh the Other hand have greatly deepened our abherrence of the principles, the, spirit and the conduct of. the leaders of the rebellion, and of all who, by word or deed, or by silence, show any sym pathy for them or for their object. "And, rising above the transient passions and political 'excitements of the hour to those larger interests of human liberty, we return thanksgiving to God that through his mighty Providence that system of human bondage which is the root of this whole in surreetionary movement, and whose per manence was the avowed object of its leaders, is melting away, that by the powerful hand of.war, by the action of disenthralled States and. of our- National Legislature, we hope soon to see the last vestige of the great ini . gutty removed from our country. "We would also exhort our brethren everywhere and all who love our common country to rebuke and oppose the spirit of disloyalty, to speak earnest words of truth and soberness, to discountenance all forms of sympathy with treason, to give a cordial support to all who are entrusted with civil or military authority, to pray for our rulers, and the officers and men of our army and navy, to be unremitting in kind atten tions and charities to those who toil or suffer for us in this war, to stand by the country, patient, unconquerable,hopefully waiting on God, till he gives to a isciplined, purified and re-cemented nation a peace based upon principles of everlasting righte ousness. " We would also express the gratification we have felt to-day in being permitted to visit the United States Barracks near this town, to receive the attentions of the com mandant and the worthy chaplain of the post, to speak words of sympathy to the soldiers, and to see the flag of our country waving over the ruins caused by the soldiers of treason." The conversation on the state of reli gion (an exercise which is always made very familiar and prominent among the exercises of each meeting of this Pres bytery,) brought out many facts showing the general prosperity of the churches, in spite of the depressing and demoral izing influences of war. In all our congregations more had been done than ever before for the usual benevolent enterprises of the church, and for the relief of suffering at home. The First Church of Harrisburg, especially, has raised during the year, for benevolent and home objects, more than $5OOO. Three churches reported an increase of members and an eminent advance in spirituality ; but more were obliged to mourn over a low state of religion, even in the midst of 'external prosperity. Only one church—.-Carlisle—had raised the salary of its minister in these times of extreme difficulty, and it was found that not ono of those ministers had been able to live, within the means afforded by-his salary during the past year, but that they had sacrificed.severally $5OO, $2OO, and $lOO from their private re sources. Whatever ability some of them might have to make this sacrifice, this . was regarded as a diSproportionate as sessment for, the public burdens, and a paper was drawn up and sent to the churches, setting forth the oppression thus inflicted. While such noble contri butions are pouring forth from every quarter of the land and every class, in society, to sustain our public servants in the camp and field, it seems a great oversight and a small -evidence of wis dom to neglect those who are laboring with equal fidelity and self-denial in the great conflict with evil in the world, and- in promoting the comfort and sal vation of our families at home. Adjourned to meet at Harrisburg on the 21st inst., at three o'clock, P. when the application of Rev. T. Street, for a dissolution of his pastoral relations to the Church and congregation of York. is , to be considered. • C: P. W. . Iltito of ike fltstdm.; FIVE MORE PERSONS were admitted to the Delaware Water Gap Church, under the care of Rev. RJ. Pierce, at the communion season in April, making in all, sixteen added to this little church since the first of the year. ENCOURAGEMENT FOR AGED LABORERS. —An aged correspondent in Wisconsin writes in a manner which will interest not only one of his coevals, but all who look forward with dread to the increas ing infirmities of old age : lam glad to learn you have enlisted Dr. Cox as a con.tributor to your columns—an old man 70 years of age. I am of that school; past 65—Yet I never wrote and preached so acceptably as since I passed GO years —my general health is good." " New Liours."—A correspondent in lowa writes, taking us to task for the use of this torm in regard to an edudca tional institution in that State, in some way connected with our denomination. We copied the item, utterly ignorant of its ecclesiastical reference, and are glad to be corrected by the correspondent whO writes as follows : Under the beading of " _MISCELLANE OUS," you say: " The religions denomin a tion,known as New Lights, contemplate building a State University at Marshall town, lowa, worth $.50,000. ;:3- Now what can you mean? Where did you cat such a fling, as I think it must be at your own friends ? Is it a random shot of some "vinegar faced" 0. S. Pres byterian, as Rev. Henry Ward Beecher would call us all ? Or is it a fling of the Lutheran press, a denomination that have made one flat failure in attempting a great college in lowa, at Des Moines, *and are now running an Institution built by others at Albion in the same county, and a small rival place to Mar- By mail, $2.00 per annum, in advance. "- 250 6' after 3 months. By carrier, 50 cents additional for delivery -CIAMEIB Ten or more papers sent by mail to one church or looality, or in the city to one address By mail, $1.50 per annum. By carriers, 2.00 " " To save trouble, club subscriptions must commence at the same date, be paid strictly in advance, in a single remittance, for which one receipt will be returned. Ministers and Ministers' Widows supplied at elub rates. Home missionaries at $1 per annum. PosTA.oz.—Five cents quarterly in advance, to be )aid by subscribers at the office of de livery. shalitown. For, a good and reliable minister of our church • informed me, that there was a movement at. Marshall town, in favor of a Central College of our own denomination!' Commissioszas.—Rev. C. E. Babb and Elder Saml. Long were elected from Hamilton, 0., Presbytery—Rev. 0. H. Newton and Elder D. Avery from Franklin, 0., Presbytery.—Rev. E Bal lantine and Elder E. H. Mann, from Salem, Ind., Presbytery.—Rev. A. T. Rankin and Elder Charles W. Moore, from Indianapolis Presbytery. CHANozs.--Rev. H. H. Garnet, for eight years the well-known and influen tial pastor of Shiloh Church, of N. Y. city, on the consent of his late charge has been duly dismissed by the Third Presbytery of New York, in order to accept the unanimous call of the Fif teenth Street Presbyterian Church, Washington, D. C.—Rev. J. Odell has accepted a call &math° Church of Corry, Pa., and has entered upon his labors.— At a late meeting of Coldwater (Mich.) Presbytery, Rev. W. Fuller was dis missed to the Presbytery of Kalamazoo, and Rev. W. Ellers to IA Presbytery of Alton. Rev. S. Ottoman was received from the Presbytery of Steuben.— Rev. E. S. Weaver, of the Miami Presby tery,„Curnberland Presbyterian church, has been invited, through the Hamilton Presbytery, to serve the churches of Mason and Blue Ball Warren Co., Ohio. The Herald says : " Mr. Weaver enters at once upon his labors with the church es and expects to connect himself with this Presbytery, at the earliest opportu nity. He receives a cordial welcome from the members of the Presbytery and from the Churches he is to labor with. We trust that the labors of Brother Weaver, who is a young man, with the prospect of a long life of usefulness be fore him, will be abundantly blessed to the churches to which he is to minister!' —Rev. Collins Smith was dismissed at the recent meeting of Franklin Pres bytery, 0., to unite with the Hartford Association. AxlerozNr.—At the meeting of Salem Presbytery according to the re port in the .Herald,. thirteen male members were present, and three female. " With reference to these sisters, it is proper to say, that their presence and mission was the most marked feature of the meeting. They came unattended, save by the Spirit of God, more than one hundred miles—from a vacant church and from vacant counties—with a sub scription paper of $6OO in their hands, to be paid monthly, begging for a minis ter. It is one of the signs of the milieu ium. See Isa. iv: 1-6." COMITSSIONERS TO GENERAL ASSNII BLT.—The Presbytery of Coldwater elected Rev. G L. Foster and Mr. John Ch an dler prin cip al s. WHAT FEEBLE CHURCHES HAVE DONE. —The Church of Manlius, N. Y., once strong, but now weakened by removals, deaths, and other causes, gave the Rev. A. A. Graley a call a year ago, and after a strenuous effort succeeded in raising a salary of $5OO. This they have secured and in addition have paid him a donation of $2.50; and are now about to purchase a parsonage, of which they have been ever destitute. "This thatehe bath done shall be spoken of as a memorial of her." The Church of Panama, N. Y., is small and not strong pecuniarly in proportion to its membership. It has suffered severely of late by removals. In addi tion to this there is an effort being made to remove the debt incurred by recent repairs on the Church edifice. Yet the late donation visit to the pastor reached $l7O. JAMESTOWN, N. Y.—the church apd congregation of Rev. S. W. Roe, James town, N. Y., made 'him a visit on the evening of the 18th inst., in which the social and material were exquisitely blended. Blithe hearts and happy face's and generous souls filled his home with light and gladness. It is his duty and pleasure to thank them for a doable hap piness—the happiness of seeing his peo ple so generally at his house and also for the generous sum of $245, placed in his hands as a testimonial of love for one of God's ministers. S. W. R. NOTHING can be so crude, foolish, or evidently erroneous, but it will subvert the temporary faith of some professors of the Gospel; for of all the numberless delusions which have been or may be invented, there is not one but is more congenial to the pride and lusts of men, than the simple truths of God's word.— Dr. Scott.' _
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