The /merman Presbyterian AND GENESEE EVANGELIST. RELIGIOUS AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER, 1M TEM INTASSI OP TRZ Oenstitutional Presbyterian Church, PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY, AT THE PRESBYTERIAN HOUSE, 1834 Cbeetnut Street, (2d Story,) Philadelphia. • Rey. MEN W. NEARS, Editor and Publisher. CONTENTS CI( Mencius' Doctrine of Ho- Going Alone 190 man Nature 186 Word about Birthdays...l9o Letter from India 186 Letters from a Lady,vu,l9o Missions of the Early Ch. 186 Jemmy Dundan's First Union of Presbyterians at Lie 190 the South 186 To Was Silks. 196 Catastrophe ht Sheffield...lB6 Religious Intelligence...l9l From the Chaplain- of the U. S. S,yrkod of Scotlandl9l 61st P. V 187[English Pres. Synod 191 Editor's Table 187 I Assembly at Newark 191 New Atlantic Cable 187 THE VINDICATION OF FOREIGN MIS- SION& It is just seventy years- since (June 1.5, 1794) the celebrated English mis sionary, William Carey, preaehed his first • sermon in India. Ho had gone out withOUt the license required by the East :India Company, aware that any aplilieittion for one would have been met by a refusal. He had . .been allowed to remain only by sufferance. Amid ex treme destitution, and : with seare - ely a single friend to sympathize with or cheer him, he had been forced to retire to the Soonderbuns, and erect huts for himself and his family, depending for subsist ence on the cultivation of the ground and the game which he could procure with his -gun. In this region of jungle and tigers and miasma, apart frOin all civilized and Christian association, he planted the hopes ochis mission. It is scarcely surprising that such an enterprise as Dr. Carey's shottlid have been regarded by men like Pitt,. Fox and Daudas with _supreme contempt. Nearly twenty years later, Sidney Smith reserved some of his keenest ridicule for what he accounted the fanaticism of missions. In 1813, Charles Marsh, in the British Parliament, attempted to counteract the effect of Wilberforce's eloquence by holding up to scorn " in spired cobblers and fanatical tailors" who proposed to lay siege to Indian idolatries and superstitions. The East India Company treated the missionaries as poachers on their domain. They shipped off English and expelled Ameri can clergymen who proposed . to teach Christianity to the Hindoos. Dr. Ca rey's mission was saved repeatedly from annihilation'only by the protection of the British flag at Scrampore. • A strangely romantic interest centres around this mission, forced to contend for its existence against not only pecu niary difficulties and heathen perversity, but the hostile measures of the governors sent out from England. These men— with some honorable exceptions—took native superstitions under their patron age. .The arrival of a missionary was sometimes accounted scarcely less alarm ing than that of a hostile squadron. Warm debates in council were held as to the best method of disposing of those who arrived. Their teachings could— so it was held—only tend to provoke the natives to insurrection. A most un statesmanlike timidity refused to allow Any exposure of Ilindoo rites or cruel ties. The press was kept under sur veillance. The eyes of Englishmen were saluted by the smoke of funeral piles, and their ears greeted with the shrieks of the victims of the Suttee, yet no protest could be allowed. Even Hindoo temples were taken under offi cial patronage, and the tribute of the pilgrims was received and doled out by government agents for the support of the sacred shrines. For nearly half a century there was really a conflict between the schemes of the missionaries and the policy of the government. In the light of the present day the arguments of Dr. Carey and his compeers, urging the establishment of .schools, the toleration of a free press, the suppression of the cruel rites of Hinduism, agricultural improvements, and Other means of civilizing and Chris tianizing the natives, seem. simply to .elorce the conclusions of every intelli gent and reasonable observer. Yet they were often presentedto unwilling hearers, if not absolutely repelled by the ultra oonservative of the English rulers of India. Again and again, the Council of Directors, and even the ' British Parlia ment, becatne the arena whereon the ,battle was waged between a blindly .conservative prejudice that feared lest the Christianization of India would pro duce revolt, and the philanthropy and humanity which found noble champions in men like Wilberforce, the two Grants :and Sir James Mackintosh. It was indeed not unlike the conflict which was waged to secure the abolition of the slave-trade. Slowly 'but steadily the cause of truth adVanced. One fea ture after another of the old restrictive system was relaxed, till India was NSIDE PAGES. 4*- 7-0 b 1 1 .4* 111 rit 4 -) 'I L itt P7-.9 _ New Series, Vol. I, No. 24. assured of a free press and the Suttee was abolished. And now India has at last a Christian statesman for her go vernor—a man who is in full sympathy with the cause of missions, and under whose government we may hope that Christian institutions will receive that respect and encouragement to which they arc entitled. It is with such facts as these before u hat we are prepared to appreciate an article from the last Edinburgh Be view on the subject of "R"uman Sacrifices and Infanticide in The , facts there stated . seem almoSt incredible. The "Merin. Sacrifiee"--the cruel butche ry of living victims by a, fanatic mob, (hacking the flesh piecemeal from their bodies)—prevailed for ages ,among the Khonds of India, who professed to be lieve that only the sacrifice of a human being could allay the malignity of the " Earth Spirit." The victims were pur chased at prices varying trom $3O to $lOO, and as a general thing were stolen. by those who offered them for sale. Till 1837, the horrid sacrifice had con tinued among the Khonds almost with out any attempt to suppress it.. Female infanticide was also fearfully prevalent. In the principality 4f Catch it was, at the commencement of the present cen tury, almost universal among the fami lies highest in rank. "Every female infant born in the .Rajah's family of a lawful wife, or Rani, was drowned as soon as it was born, in a hole in the earth, filled with milk." In 1820, one Telook, of 400 Jadeja: farailivir was re ported, "in which there was not one female child in existence." It is gratifying to learn that the government, for the last few` years, has been employing energetic and successful measures for the suppression, of these heathen abominations. But who can fail to contrast the present activity in behalf of humanity, with the , bitter prejudices of the past,.conniving at hor rors which the missionaries were the first to expose, and which experience_ has shown were tolerated only through au ungrounded timidity. And who can fail to see that the old plea— once urged even in the English Par liament—of the purity and sublimity of the Hiadoo creed, only recoils against those that employed it? Heathenism seen in the light of truth, is the same everywhere. The "Meria" sacrifice and infanticide of India are but a parallel of what Captain Spoke discovered in East ern Africa, and what Burton to some extent had explored before him. Time is vindicating the wisdom as well as devotion of the Martyns and Careys, and scattering to the winds. the vain theories of those who dream of savage in noce nee . and heathen happiness. The world needs the Gospel, and they who in preaching it, like Carey, pioneer the path of enlightened statesmanship, and seem a full half century in advance of the age, are the men Who are justified like him in the regret which he ex pressed, that a missionary should shrink into an ambassador. ACTS OF THE LATE GENERAL ASHY . ELY, I. Opening correspondence with the Triennial Synod of the German Reformed Church. 11. Recommending the effort of the Presbyterian Historical Society to raise funds for erecting a Fire Proof Building. 111. Reiterating and urging past ac tion on meeting the expellses of the. General Assembly. IV. Accepting the invitation of the General AsseMbly in Newark, to join' in a concert of prayer and thanksgiving for the country. . V. The names of non-resident church members may not be stricken from the roll of the church. VI. A minister cannot demit his office and become a Ruling Elder. A commit tee of five was appointed to consider further and report to the next Assembly VII. Report and Resolutions on For eign Missions, earnestly requesting the attention of Presbyteries to the present financial condition of the American Board, and suggesting an increase of 40 per cent. in contributions, to meet the rates of exchange. VIII. Resolutions on the State of the Country, re-affirming previous declara tions; recognizing the divine goodness in past successes and dependence on the same for final victory; noting the wise providence by which defeats and delays PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 1864. have led to the overthrow of slavery ; acknowledging national and individual sins ; calling for prayer ; pledging .sup port to the Government, and rebuking those who would weaken its authority. A committee was appointed to convey them to the President. Pastors were requested to read the resolutions to their people. IX. The subject of aiding to evange lize the Freedmen was referred to the 'Home Missionary Committee. X. Report and Resolutions on Educa tion ; commending the Assembly's Plan and the Committee's management ; urging more energetic, cd-operation in giving it efficiency, and hi making the: Christian ministry a prominent topic of interest ; recommending - Care in the examination of candidates; commending the three, seminaries; authorizing an increase of not more than 20 per cent. in appropriations, and the investing of sniping funds in _ ,goed securities. Rev.. Messrs. Wilson, Booth; Robinson, Fisher Howe and Butler are-the new members. XI. Judicial casn,"No. 1, that of S. E. Todd against 'the Synod of Onondaga. The . Synod bad sustained the action of the church in suspending him, which the Presbytery of Cayuga reversed. The last Assembly referred the case back to the Synod, with instructions that it be remanded to Cayuga Presby tery. This Assembly rescinded that re quisition, thereby sustaining the Synod. XII. Recommending the appointment in each Presbytery, of Standing Com mittees 031 each 'of the Four Causes, With the view to secure annual warier butions - from every church; the reports of these committees 'to be embodied in the Narrative to the General Assembly. XIII. Expressing confidence in the , chaplaincy as a-body ; and gratitude for the services 'of our soldiers and sailors ; also recommending the Christian Com- Mission to the liberality of the people. XIV: Report and Resolutions on. Home Missions, stating the increase this year at GO per cent.; calling for a still larger increase; 'noting' our:deficiency in young ministers ; establishing honor arf memberships at $lOO each; and, electing as members of the committee Rev. Drs. Hatfield, Adams, Crosby, and Messrs. Lambert, Jay and Pinneo. $150,000 was named as the sum to be aimed at during the present year. X.V. Resohttions on Presbyterian Union; werConiing the increased ten dency to unroll ; noting the reasons for it in the present state of the church, the country and the world ; acknowledging it to be the special duty of cognate churches to cultivate union ; expressing a joyful readinasS on our part to follow the leadings of Providence in that direc tion ; waiving for the present, as inex pedient, the suggestion of St. Lawrence Presbytery, to appoint a Committee of Conference, and communicating this action to the Assembly at NeWark. XVI. Mileage Bills of Commissioners were paid infull. XVII. Report and Resolutions on Publication; urging the completion of the Endowment Fund, $20,000 out of $50,000 being still required ; appointing the fourth Sunday in June for a simul taneous collection ; calling for a Social Hymn Book, with 400 hymns; and making 'five members of the committee a quorum. The Committenwiis author ized to issue special certificates to donors of $lOO and $3O. Dr. Beman, Rev. Messrs. Barnes and Wiswell, and Messrs. F. L. Bodine and A. Whilldin were ap pointed upon the Publication Committee; Dr. Brainerd, Rev. Mr. Adams, Messrs. Brown, Baldwin and S. H. Perkins Trustees of the House; all legacies, to whatever cause, to be left to the Trustees of the Presbyterian House, Philadelphia. The revision of the Hymns in the Church Psalmist was also referred to the Bublication Committee. XVIII. A twenty-four page, Bvo., monthly periodical, to represent the work of the church and the liberality of the members, was determined upon, to be issued by the Publication-Commit tee, to be in charge of the Secretaries of the four different Committees. XIX. On the Tercentenary of John Calvin, a suitable paper was adopted; briefly but comprehensively characteri sing the Great Reformer; acknowledging his eminent services, and honoring his name ; expressing hope that this cele bration may lead to the imitation of his virtues, and may draw closer together the various branches of the Refolined Grenesee Evangelist, No. 943. church, and revive the use of the word " Refottined." The project of erecting a Contuiemorative Hall, in Geneva, was repolinnentted to the liberality of the chui6b.es. A suitable minute on the death of A. P. Halsey, Esq.. for 12 years Treasurer of the General Assembly, was adopted. Mr. William A. Booth was appointe'd imams place. XXII . RepOrt on Clattreh Erection. A proposal.; to - raise the amount loaned from 4600 •to $750, and the amount donated from $2OO to $4OO, received majoritpkif the votes, but:not the requi site tivir-,titirds.. It was referred to the. Church: Erection Committee, to ritature &plan iOldreport:to the next . Asseinbly. Messts. Berkediet44loodge and Griffith; and Rev.. Drs. FeWSinith, and Burehard were elected Tl , ustees: - ' XXIE , Nivrrative of the State of Re ligion adopted. Presbyteries were re quest 4 to embody statistics in their narraitves.. The names of Presbyteries neglecting to send narratives `shall'here after btidesignated in the Narrative of the AssenAiy. XXIII: Facts on manses 'are request ed from the churches. The Committee are Rev. Messrs. Day, Butler and. Hum phrey, and Messrs. Mansfield and Da vison. ' XXIV. On Sunday SchoolS it was resolved, that the religious training of the young:of the church belongs em phatically to the Pastors and Elders, and such competent members as they can secure to co-operate with them. Scripture and Catechism should be taught. Pastors should ad dress, if practicable, the second sermon . . of. every Sabbath to the Oung. Statis tics of: 'Sunday Schools should be fur nished to the General Assembly. The relation of baptized children to the church should be presented from the pulpit. The entire congregation should belong to the Sunday School. A Per :lna-tient Committee of the Assembly, on Sandy , Schools, was ordered. It con siSts of the rßiiv. Dr: Patterson; Rev. Humphrey and 0. H. Lee. XXV. The appeal of Mrs. Maria Hill, against the Synod of Albany, was not sustained. XXVI. Correspondence with foreign bodies was restricted, by excluding those bodies in correspondence with Synods in our connection covering the same ground with them. XXVII. The Statistical Tables were increased so as to include church mem bers resident five years; Sabbath School membership ; Ministerial Relief; Con gregational; Miscellaneous. XXVIII. Resolutions passed reaffirm ing the Total Abstinence policy. XXIX. The Permanent Committee on Foreign Missions shall be incorpor ated. NN - X. American Bible Society re commended. XXXI. American and Foreign Christ ian Union recommended. XXXII. A Committee appointed to report to next Assembly, on the rela tions and duty of the church to the Religious Press. Rev. Dr. Allen, Rev. Messrs. Babb, Field, Mears, and Elder Mansfield, Committee. XXXII". Dr. Duffield appointed to prepare a Tract on the aspects of the Home Missionary Cause. XXXIV. A Plan for the Establish ment of a Fund for Disabled Ministers, of not less than $lO,OOO to commence with ; to be located in Philadelphia, in the hands of the Trustees of the Publi cation House, and to be raised by annual collections. XXXV. Res"gnation of Rev. Dr. Dar ling and election of Rev. S. G. Butler in his place, as Permanent Clerk of the Assembly. MARCHANT'S PORTRAIT OF MR. LIN- OOLN. We have received from the artist, Mr. E. D. Marehant, of this city, a splendid engraved copy, by Sartain, of his noble portrait of Abraham Lincoln. We cor dially recommend it to the public favour. In this connection we may congratulate Mr. Marehant upon the news received a day or two since from his son, reported killed in the recent battles before Rich mond, but now known to be alive, though wounded and in the hands of the enemy. May both the brave son and patriotic father be long spared to do good service for God and for country. FROM OUR ROCHESTER OORREStON DENT. , • OUR TRAVELLING CompeAmoris.--We Meet with a great variety: . Recently we found ourselves in company with the troup of, Dan Rice's big show," and we regarded them much as we suppose Capt. Cook looked upon every one of the new specimens of the islanders of the Pacific, as an interesting subject of study. There were forty men and boys : In the same train there were three freight pars r loilded exclusively with their "traps," consist ing of dogs, „norikeyS, thousands .of feet : of _plank for seats, besides, lumber wagons, chariots for thetrainedanithals, tents and tent tackling,,,he#y team horses, ponies, &c., &p... We :said to i ourselves, surely it must take a considerable part of the profits of their daily exliibitions to pay the freight on such an amount of stuff. But we were mistaken We, asked the condue= tor how much he . pharged the troop for_ that immense amount of luggage..: We were a good deal surprised to hear; him say, "nothing!" We Said : lioW is that? They have three,entire freight ears to them Selves." We learned the the way of it. They paid forty full fares, and these cars were reckoned as their.baggage. They were passing by easy stages over the entire line of the road, passing one day in Rochester, next day in Canandaigua, next in Auburn; and so on. They load and unload their own cars. When loaded .they are 'at tached to the train, drawn to the next stopping place, ,switched off,, and , left until the next day, and then taken on to the next required point. And so. the three freight cars are kept and used ex clusively by the troup, until they pass over the length of the road.. They then have a series of engagements in like manner along the line of another rail way, and get another set of cars for their use; and so pass up and down the length and breadth of the land, paying full fare for the men, and having free tickets for horses, dogs, monkeys, lum ber and wagons. We could not help being somewhat amused with the jests, jibed, and rollicking good nature of many of the company around us, even while pained and shocked with the terrible blasphemies, and evident recklessnesS of many of their number. Surely, we thought, the life of a strolling player is not favorable to piety; and there is another spectacle coming, when this "Big show" is over, for which these men do not seem to be preparing. NORMAL MUSIC SCHOOL Arangements have been made for a Musical Convention, or "Nornaal Music School," as they seem to prefer to call it, of five weeks duration, at Ogdensburg]. It is to commence on the 29th of August; and to be conducted by S.'H. Perkins, of Ogdensburgli, and 0. W. Perkins, of Boston. This is designed to be some thing of a high order, and has evidently excited'a good degree of interest in that part of the country. A public meeting has been held in Ogdensburgh to pro mote the objects of the convention. A large Board of Directors has been ap pointed, Rev. L. M. Miller, of the Pres byterian Church, and Hon. John Fine, leading the list. Teachers and amateurs in music from all the region are to be gathered for thorough drill; all to close, we suppose, with a grand concert. We doubt not, it will be an interesting and profitable time to the lovers of sweet sounds. ONE OF THE WOMEN, It is not Grant, or Sherman; nor even the gallant Wadsworth, or the accom plished Col. Porter, from Western New York, who are the only heroes of this war. In one of our — recent trips in a country town; we met with a woman who seems to be bearing her part, at least, in the glorious struggle. She was married a little more than two years ago. Soon after, her husband felt it his duty to enlist in his country's service. At first the young wife could not con sent. Who can blame her for feeling that the trial was greater than she could bear ? But her husband said, "Our foreign population are enlisting—those from Ireland and from Germany—shall they go and fight for my country, and I, a native citizen, stay at hone at my ease? "No r said the little woman, with all the energy her nature could command ; " go, like a man, and do your duty." He went. Two of her brothers, and two brothers-in-law, are also in the union army. F 4 two lon years her husband r r.EP,I.ER.r'/;„; By mail, $2.00 per annum, 41 - 14 : itince. " 2.50 " " - after-3 months. By carrier, 50 cents additional for delivery c=, - o - 3311k. Ten or more papers sent by mail to' one church or locality, 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 club rates. Home missionaries at yerannrun. PosTActi.—Five cents quarteily in advance, to be paid by subscribers at the office of de livery. has been following the fortunes of the war. He is now with the Army of the Potomac, in the thickest of its dangers. A child was born to them, which the father did not see until it was eight months old. And yet the mother is bearing all the trial of this separation and anxiety, with a cheerfulness and a heroism truly noble. " She was glad she had a husband, and brothers, willing and ready to go to the defense of our country. She would not now have them at home if she 'Could." It would have cheered the heart of our noble President, like the enlistment of a regiment of men, to . have heard her brave words. Anil" ive are happy to be lieve that there are many women in Western New York, of just such noble impulses, and genuine patriotism. ONE OF THE MEN ALSO On the 'same trip we heard of a farm er of like spirit. One lot , quite so pat riotic was grumbling about the taxes imposed by the war. - "Let them tax my farm," said This stur4y, yeoman, " just as much as is necessary to sustain the government. Let them take it an, if necessary to that end. What is my property worth to me, or to my children, if this government goes to rule ?" That is the spirit of 76. If that pre vails, it will carry us through, and our country is safe. THE DEAD ALIVE A great joy has fallen this week upon some of our households in this city. Lieut. Henry Hamilton, of whom we spoke two weeks ago, is not dead, but only wounded, and in the hands of the enemy. His family had almost entirely giiren him up. It was therefore as life from the dead, to get a letter from him, as they did, a few days since, saying that he was at Lynchburg, doing well, and well cared. fora One or two others from this city, who were at first report ed slain, have been heard from at the same place, and friends hope to have the pleasure of seeing them once more. A CIENEE.OI3S GIFT One of our great causes of benevolence was recently presented to a large and flourishing church, and they made their contribution. How much each one gave we know not; but there was one plain, poor boy who manifestly gave " more than they All." After the service was over, he lingered upon the steps of the church until the entire congregation was gone ; and then modpstly stepping up to the minister as he passed out, he put into his hand a small package neatly and firmly tied, merely saying, " Put that in your pocket." On opening the package, it was found to contain a three dollar bill, and one dollar in silver, which sold for one dollar and fifty-six cents currency. If the rest of the congrega tion had given in the same proportion, instead of eighty dollars, they would have given at least eight hundred. THE LATE OEN. WADSWORTH We were much interested in hearing something of the noble and generous traits of the late Gen. James S. Wads worth. lie was always gentlemanly, courteous and kind toward his tenants. They speak of him with tender affection, and mourn for him as for a true friend. He was ever ready to sympathise with them, and help them, and share with them in their misfortunes. If frost or drought cut off their crops, and took away, their resources for the payment of their rent, he often freely forgave them all. We heard of one man who had thus suffered for two or three years, until he owed some seven hundred dol lars. lie went to Mr. Wadsworth, and told him he did not know-how to pay it, and the generous man turned to his book keeper, and told him to balance the account, and let the tenant begin anew. This, we were told at the fune ral, was but a sample of his ways toward those who were in a measure dependent on him. And it was these noble impul ses which enabled him to give himself so freely to his country. OUR SICK AND WOUNDED Nearly four hundred of the sick and wounded soldiers, belonging to regi ments enlisted in this region, were brought to this city on Wednesday last, and are now disposed of in our hospitals. It was a sad sight to see them-come in. It brought the horrors of war to our doors. But we are glad they are here among their own friends for cure and treatment ; glad also that our citizens. have the opportunity of doing some thing directly in this noble service. Gman. ROCIMITER, June 10,1564.