The American Presbyterian AND GENESEE EVANGELIST. RELIGIOUS AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER, IN THE INTEREST OF TEE Conatitutional Presbyterian Church, PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY, AT THE PRESBYTERIAN HOUSE, ' 1331 Chestnut Street, (2d Story,) Philadelphia. Bev, JOHN W. MEARS, Editor and Publisher. CONTENTS OF INSIDE PAGES. IlhaplainStewart'sLetterl94 Claribel's Prayer... 193 Among the Wounded 194 Chastening Rod 198' Rev. Josiah Partington..l94 Duty that Lies Nearest...l9B An Army_Hospital 194 Letters from a Lady . , 8-198 Parallel to Our Struggle 194 Extravagance of Our Editor's Table 195 People 198 ChiefJusticeHornhlowerl9s Advice to Housekeepersl9B Shakespeare's Defects-195 Religious Intelligence-199 Highways in England-195 I Free Church of Scotlandl99 Freaks of Caloric 1951 Diversity in Episcopal Chl99 THE ASSEMBLY THAT TOOK OAHE OF THE CHILDREN. The work of our last Assembly was mainly confined to carrying forward the enterprises of the Church already initiated and in progress. Among the few exceptions to this statement, is the very importantin fact we may say remarkable—action of the Assembly in reference to the Sabbath School, and the children of the Church generally. We once more present the resolutions reported by committee and passed by the Assembly on Friday, May 27th. 1. Resolved, That it belongs emphatically to the pastors and Elders of each congrega tion to direct and supervise the whole work of the spiritual training of the young, and that it is an important part of the functions - of their office bOth to encourage parents to fidelity in bringing up their children• in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and also to secure the co-operation of all _the competent members of the church in the religious education of all the children and youth to whom they can gain access.. 2. That great attention ought to be paid to the work of inculcating lessons from the sa cred Scriptures,-and of fixing in the memory the catechisms of our church, both as -to doctrine and polity ; and of combining all the schools of a congregation in united worship, as far as possible ; and especially of leading them to Jesus, in the exercise of a living faith and continued reliance on the Holy Spirit. 3. That to the above end we would further recommend to the pastors that they adapt, wherever practicable, the second discourse of every Sabbath particularly to the young of their flock; thus affording to this, the most susceptible and hopeful portion of their field, at least one-half of their time and labor, and giving their. children dis tinctly.to feel that thdy have a place no less in the sanctuary than in the Sabbath school, both for worship and instruction. 4. That Church Sessions be required to furnish, in their statistical reports, a full ticeoitnt of the number of Sunday school scholars and teachers in their respective congregations, to be embodied in the As sembly's minutes. 5. That a permanent Committee of the Asembly be appointed, whose duty it shall be to take charge of this great interest, and report whatever may quicken and stimulate the church in its duty of training the young according to the Word of God. 6. That this General Assembly recommend to the pastors of the churches within its bounds to present before their cointrega tions, in one Or more discourses. the relation' of baptized children to the church, and the reciprocal duties between parents and chil dren growing out of their relations, as de fined in the Wordof God and declared in, the doctrines of our church. 7, That it is exceedingly desirable that the entire congregation, young and old, be permanently connected with the Sunday , school, either as or teacher?, In -these resolutions the following policy is recommended : 1. The subordi nation of tbe..whole system of religious instruction of the young, including the - Sabbath school, to the Church Session. tf: Adapting one-half of the public ser vice of the church to the capacities of the young. 3. Establishing a new and -distinct bureau, or committee, of the Assembly, for gathering factS and or ganizing the interest and. activity of the whole church on this important field, Although the General Assembly on various occasions has taken action on this subject, the above resolutions are the fullest and the most carefully- drawn, .and the action the most mature and 'advanced of any upon record. Judging from the resolutions, the, last Assembly was more deeply impressed with the importance of the subject than any of its predecessors. The parties concerned are made to feel that the Assembly was in earnest, by the appointment of a Permanent... Committee, to which all are to be had responsible, at least as fully as to any of the leading committees of the church. On the whole, we regard the action with great favour. We consider the spirit which prompted it as among the best and most hopeful indications for our church. It is another of the cheer ing proofs lately given, of wise denomi national feeling, which looks to the retention of our children within the fold -of their fathers, and the - building into the structure of the church the strong .and tenacious material of domestic ties ; and ancestral associations. It also aims at a more complete fusion of the Sab bath school with the church, and faces the growing tendency to independence .and distinctness on the part of the .former institution—an unnatural con dition, which its.best friends deprecate, but intowhich it seems to be unavoidably :slipping. This action lays upon the individual churches their responsibility for the training of the young, and corn, , rich 1 + toln New Series, Vol. I, No. 2.5. mite the entire church to the duty of supervision, in the -collection of facts and general control of the machinery of instruction. It also seeks to subsidize to this object the great evangelical agent of instruction—the pulpit. Children must not only be taught as scholars, but preached to, as an important part of the congregation. They must be regarded as just as really belonging to the congregation, and as having rights in the administration of the ordinances of worship, as the adults. Whatever is done in carrying out the divine purpose and plan for evangelizing the world, must contemplate the children—espe cially the children of the Church. It is surprising, when we come to think of it, what an innovation upon our present modes of condUcting wor ship and presenting the truth, this latter suggestion contemplates. How few preachers,--how few reputed great— and especially, how few aiming at the reputation of great preachers, think at all of the children who are sure to comprise a considerable proportion of their audience, in the composition and preparation of their sermons! The ar gument, the learning, the - ornament, even the earnest appeal, are for the most part, composed and constructed with the mind upon some prominent adult, upon the matured and more cul tivated portions of the congregation. Sometimes, with evident constraint, a word or two is addressed to the young, say• to those of twelve years and up wards; but for the most part, the chil dren, who have- suffered veritable mar tyrdom under the rigid rules of silence and inaction laid upon their restless members, go home without the faintest idea that any thing • said and done in church had any reference to, or interest for themselves. All this, we say, is sur prising :—surprising that the course proposed by the Assembly would involve so great a change, so startling a novelty .• Surprising; since the phrase : The young are the hope of the church, is too trite for repetition ; since nothing is more apparent than the dangers arising from an early-acquired distaste for the ser vices of God's house ; and since the great examplar of preaching, the divine Teacher himself, pursued a course so different, so winning to the young, so adapted to the wants of , the weakest and youngest of his hearers. Surpris ing, too, when all aro ready to admit that the first virtue of all attempts at conveying truth is perspicuity ; and when it is seen that every wise effort to interest and instruct the young,is doubly interesting and instructive to the aged. We do not suppose this recommenda tion of the Assembly will be followed immediately to.any great extent. Pas tors will not j.)e willing at once to break in upon their established pulpit arrange ments. In most of our churches, too, the second service is held at night, a time quite unsuitable to the instruction of the very young. Many pastors, too, feel themselves quite ill-adapted to this work, and even many distinguished preachers are awkward and unprofitable in their addresses to children. Never theless, we are convinced that the re commendation will do good. It is one of those indications of the turning of the hearts of the fathers to the children which we scarcely need the prophet's inspiration to see, will help to avert God's curse from the earth. It will in crease the already encouraging degree of interest felt in the rel of tt.le young to the ordinances alid p: i 'lieges of the church. It will remind numbers of ministers of their very great neglect of the most hopeful portion of their flock. It will help to clear away Many cobwebs of theory from our sermon izing. It will penetrate, we trust, to the scholastic recesses of our Theological Seminaries, and remind professors and students of a whole vast class of mate rial, over which their usual course of training leads our ministers habitually to aim in their preaching. Let our theological students be taught to mould the tender mind of the young, as well as to contend with the stubbornness and unbelief of the old; let them be teach ers of Christ-like simplicity, as well as mighty logicians ; skilled in feeding with tender herbage the lambs, as well as in providing for the wants of the sheep. Let the reproach of not being able to adapt oneself to the young, be regarded as equally disreputable and disadvanta geous as inability to address the aged. PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 1864. Let congregations seeking a pastor, study and lay stress upon the candidate's qualifications as the teacher and guide of their children, at least as much as those which render him "popular" with the floating crowd, greedy for novelty and excitement. A great responsibility is laid upon the Permanent Committee, just appointed. Under God, they may make their office one of great value to the church and to the cause of Christ. We hope they will go to work boldly, and calculate, as they surely may, upon the cordial inter est of the church in this subject, for a response to any wise plan of effort and improvement, and to any call for the facts of :the case, which they may lay before us. ROME AND FOREIGN MISSIONS. Certainly no departmentof our church presents nearly so encouraging an as pect as the Home Missionary cause. The contributions to the Assembly's Committee were $70,000 daring the year just closed, while it is believed that, in the same period, not less than $30,- 000 went from our body into the treasury of the American Home Mis sionary Society, making $lOO,OOO in all. It is not very long since the Independent sneeringly declared $30,000 to be the utmost limit of our ability as a church in this sphere of effort; whereas we have this year spared that sum from the drippings of our bounty, to the treasury of its own partisan organization. It is worth while to place in connec tion with this- item, the fact that the Home Mission Board of the other branch reports but $82,684 as the ineomefor the year, and the Baptist Church about $70,00 0 —both numerically stronger than our own body. The latter church has, like ourselves, just resolved to aim at $150,000 for Home Missions during the current year. On the other hand, it appears that our brethren of the Newark Assembly report $222,397 as contributed to Foreign Missions during the past year, and hail'e resolved to aim at $300,000 in the .cur: rent your; while the contributions of our people to Foreign Missions fall below sloo,ooo—not much exceeding $BO,OOO according to the reports. Thus, though one branch raises nearly three times as much for Foreign Missions as for Home ; we raise no more for the our; object than for the other. The solution of this fact can scarcely be found in a theory of a temporary over-stimulus to our Home Missionary zeal ; for no one has been conspicuously ardent on the subject unless it be the Secretary, Dr. Kendall, who of course will magnify his office; nor has any church, that we can hear of; been very much incommoded by the liberality of its offerings to this cause. There is a widely-diffused, prac tical interest in the subject, which we think must be accounted for in the feeling that we are acting legitimately and normally, as a church, in this im portant and inviting field; that we are employing our own trusted and respon sible agents ; that our success consists in the extension of our own wise and scriptural order, and of our own organi zation with its sympathies, ties, com munity and interchange of prayers, and fraternal and official intercourse, with out the interposition of foreign agencies in the process. If any one can account for the disproportionately large measure of our success in Home Missions on any other ground, we should be happy to hear from him. OUR WORK APPREOIATED. The following kind opinions have recently been volunteered by two of the most eminent divines and theologi cal instructors in the church : " REY. S. W. MEARS—Dear Sir : A word from me in regard to your paper may be worth nothing to you, but I cannot forbear to express the gratifica tion with which I read it ; especially since it was enlarged. You are doing a noble work through the AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN.' Your 'Rochester Cor respondent' gives it interest to the people in this region; while it is full, from week to week, of rich, attractive matter. May God prosper you in this enterprise. " Yours truly, " Your paper is steadily attaining a high position. lam profited by reading it. Please send it to me, beginning with June 3d. "Yours very trul CM= Genesee Evangelist, No. 944. "THE CONGREGATIONALIST" ON CON GREGATIONALISM IN PHILAD A. The late hour in the week at which our Boston exchanges generally reach us, forbids a full reply to' the article in the last number of our excellent cotem porary, - under the above heading. We can just now simply say these things: (1) The Congregationalist, after a man ly protest against the extravagances and infelicities of the late develop ements of propagandism in this city, seems to have finally been dragged into acqui escence with, and endorsement, of the whole scheme. (3) The Congregationalist is profoundly ignorant of the facts in the case. (3) Mr. Barnes' presence at the coun cil was not designed an endorsement of Dr. Smiley's, or any one else's, ortho doxy. It was merely a friendly demon stration of a personal character. He knew too well the peculiar views of Dr. S. to be willing or able, as a true man, to give him any such:endorsement. He left the council long before Dr. Smiley's. case came up for examination. (4) As to what the Congregationalist is pleased to describe as " insinuations" in our article, we spoke out our mind frankly and plainly, and declared—not_ insinuated—what we thought of the movement. The Congregationalistthinks we have insinuated things unworthy of , our Christian candor, unjust, uncharita ble ; have turned the cold shoulder ; are under the influence of a " petty fear," &c. On the contrary, we said and we repeat it, that " we would .re joice at the prospect of a vigorous, working, Congregational church in this city, diffusing an evangelical influence around it, such as many noble churches of that order are doing both in and out of New' England." Where is the can dour of the Congregationalist in overlook ing this wish of the American _Presbyte rian ? Does it not share in the wish ? . aurpossible sort of en organi zation that can be persuaded to wear the. , : - Niame of Congregational, which it would have established in Philadelphia? If that is the case, the tone of its article is explained. (5) Do oar Congregational brethren abroad really know what they are about in thus provoking a full. expose of their late proceedings? Are they anxious for a controversy on this subject? If they. are wise they Will do as the Tpipperttlent of last liwk did assaihe that "our Presbyterian brethren of the new school have thus far made no allusion to the late council." We have no desire for any controversy. A general state ment of the facts we have felt it our duty to make; for the rest we are con tent to look on and wait for the issue of an undertaking so composite, so outre in its origin. But if more is demanded of us, we anticipate no drawback from, lack of maWial. • • WHY IS YOUR GROWTH IN GRACE SO SLOW ANSWER. (1.) Not from want of ap pliances, means of culture, favorable in fluences, or Divine aid. These things are provided in abundance. The world is our place of discipline, the Church our school; the Holy Spirit is ever present; we are living in His dispensation ; the throne of grace is ever open to our ap proach. (2.) Not from want of motives. The highest self-interest, regard for our spiritual character, true happiness here and an abundant entrance ministered hereafter, gratitude to our dear Saviour, the prospect of decided usefulness in our family, the church, and the world, strong ly draw us to the faithful use of the means by which our growth in grace May be promoted. But (1) We are not enough concerned ,at the slow rate of our progress. We have, perhaps, sunk down into a con tented mediodity. We experience no thrill of ambition for Godlike excellence, puritY, and. spirituality of character, or for large measures of usefulness. A certain discontent with ourselves is ne cessary to progress. (2.) We do not practice energy and perseverance. Our efforts are occasional and intermittent. We wait for revivals in the community, and during the inter vals of such seasons we are as stupid as hybernating animals in winter. We allow ourselves to be discouraged and beaten off by difficulties. We need to lay out our strength, to call into play the resources of our characters, to make a business of personal religion and Christian self-culture. We need to set before us, as the steady aim of our lives, a high degr'ee of Christian excellence ; to resolve with a pauline concentration of holy energy to do this one thing : for getting the things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God.' in Christ Sesus. This work of our grOwth in grace is one which cannot be taken up as a sort of recreation; left until every other concern, regarded as important, is at tended to ; thrust into a corner, as an irksome duty, to be discharged and done with. No it must be allowed a place of commanding importance 7 it must be suffered to press its claims for our earliest attention, for the exercise of our highest wisdom, the exertion of our greatest power, and the sacrifice of every other object that stands in its way. (3.) We cannot be aiming and striving for growth in grace without knowing it; but we may be actually making pro gress unconsciously. Our comforts may be small; the recognized answers to our prayers few; our seasons of inward clearness, joy and elevation of spirit rare ; our lapses and imperfections may, in our view, be alarming ; yet, if we are humbly and earnestly seeking God, watching over our hearts, lives and principles, and taking up our cross daily, we shall find that it has not been in vain. The growth of the true living plant may from day to day be impercep tible, yet it is none the less real. Do not fall into discouragement because you do not see that you are growing. Fidelity and perseverance under such circumstances, are themselves encourag ing proofs of progress. WHAT THE METHOISTS THINK OP IT. The Pittsburg Christian Advocate com menting upon the. Independent's report of' the proceedings of councilin the recep tion of Dr. Smiley says : Dr. Smiley's views of the divine fore knowledge are clearly Arminian,and yet were acceptable to this Council of Con gregationalists. On falling from grace, it says Dr. Smiley 's view is scriptural, reasonable, and nee,dcd as a Safeguard to devotion and pietY. 'We are glad that Congrega tionalism, with which we have been at war from time immemorial on the sub ject, has come-to a better mind, and is willing to place among its teachers one who is clearly an Arminian in his views. This, however, is in tholine of our con victions ; for we have long expected Arminanism to conquer and subdue the world." The conviction here expressed, of the Arminianism of Dr. Smiley's views, '4grees precisely with that reached by the brethren of our church, who have enjoyed the fullest opportunities of learning them. We repeat, that this characteristic of the Dr., was the reason why he is not now, with his church, connected with the "New School" Presbyterian body. FIFTEENTH STREET CHURCH, WASHING TON, D. C. This, says the Chronicle, has long been known here as the fashionable and popular colored church of the Pres byterian denomination in this city. During the last two and a half years, the Rev. W. B. Evans has been the pastor in charge. Mr. E. preached the first six months without any pecuniary compen sation and, more subsequently, took only $3OO per annum, instead of $700; which amount the church had formerly paid their minister. By this means the congregation have been enabled to pay off an old church debt, renovate and beautify their church edifice, and raise about $l,OOO in aid of the contrabands. Rev. Mr. Evans now retires from the charge, and the konaregation have called the Rev. Henry Highland Garnett, a colored clergyman from New York. Mr. Garnett having accepted the invita tion was duly installed into his new and sacred office on Sunday, June 5. Rev. Mr. Evans has returned to his former successful field of ministerial la bor at Ridgeville, Fredrick county, Maryland, and at the Granite Church, Baltimore county. FIRST CHURCH, WILEIAMSEURG.-011 Monday evening, the 16th ult., the yres bytery of Brooklyn installed Rev. Jos. Robinson pastor of the First Church in Williamsburgh, late the charge of Rev. Dr. McLane, deceased. The sermon was preached on invitation by Rev. R. S. Storrs, Sr., D. D., the Charge to the Pas- P.M ,MP By mail, $2.00 per annum, in advance. " 2.50 " " after 3 months. By carrier, 50 cents additional for delivery. 0M1T.138.. Ten or more papers sent by mail to' one church or locality, or in the city to one address By mail, $1.60 per annum. By carriers, 2.00 " " To save trouble, club subscriptions must commence at the same date, be paid strictly it advance, in a single remittance, for which out receipt will be returned. Ministers and Ministers' Widows supplied at club rates. Home missionaries at slper annum. PosrActz.—Five cents quarterly in advance, to be paid by subscribers at the office of de livery. tor was delivered by Rev. P. J. H. Myers, and the Charge to the People by the Rev. Theodore L. Cnyler. Rev. Chas. S. Robinson brother of the Rev. T. H., presided in the absence of the Modera tor. Mims" , Erts.—Rev. L. H. Blakeley, late of Lane Seminary, has become stated supply of the 2nd Church Piqua, o, Bev. W. W. Adams, formerly pastor of the First church in Beloit, Wis., has received an almost unanimous call from the First Congregational Church in Fall River, Mass., to which he has been preaching for several months. Salary sl,7so.—Rev. D. B. Beach late of Wal nut Hills, 0., was ordained and installed pastor of the church in Beloit, Wis., on, May sth, Rev. Alfred_Eddy preaching the sermon. Rev. B. King, has re signed the charge of the church of New ton, 0., on account of ill health..--Rev. .Thomas Street, late of York, Pa., was installed pastor of the North Presbyte rian Church of New York, May 24th. The services were conducted by a com mittee, consisting of Dr. S. H. Cox, Dr. S. D. Burehard, Dr. Bell, Dr. W. W. Newell, and the Rev. R. R. Booth.— . Bev. William K. Platt, late of Somers, N. Y., was installed pastor of the Church in Hector, Schuyler county. —Rev. Charles E. Knox, - brother of Rev. W. E. Knox, of Rome, N Y., was installed pastor of the Chin* at Bloomfield, N. J., June 18th. Re Messrs. Millard, Hastings, Hoyt, W. Knox, and Dr. Parker took part in ti services. Rev. William F. Doubleda y , for 21 years in the ministry of the Pres byterian Church, and late pastor at Delhi, N. Y., was installed, June Ist, pastor of the First - Congregationalist Church, Goshen, Conn. MR. SAMUEL P. WHITING was ordained. by the Third Presbytery of New York, June 12th, Rev. Drs. Newell, Bell, and Hatfield officiating. Mr. Whiting is under appointment by our Home Mis sion Committee, and.with his wife set sail on Monday, June 13th for California. REA'. S. TERMAIN PORTER, of Saint Louis, has accepted a call to the First Presbyterian Church of Watertown, N.Y. PLACERVILLE, CAL.—The Rev. Chas. C. Wallace late of Perth Amboy, N. J., who resigned his charge to take the pas torate ofthe Firs tPre sbyterian Church in Placerville, has entered upon his labors with encouraging prospects. The salary has been fixed at $2OOO a year, besides furnishing him a study, and insuring his library. The present house of worship has become too small to contain the in creased congregation, and arrangements are about completed for erecting a com modious and imposing edifice during the present Summer. DEATH IN THE MINISTIM—The EVa73- gelist announces the. death of Rev. Cal vin Bushnell, of Lisbon 111., May 15th, at the age of eighty,flve. He was a ' graduate and afterwards tutor of Wil ' hams College. He commenced his min istry, which was blessed with revivals, in New York, and went west in in 1835. His health, however, did not allow of protracted service; and for 25 years he has been a spectator of the great pre gross of the West He was a man. strong convictions, and of rare consecil tion to Christ. During the many year in which he was secluded from public life, and from y, his cheerful pied. and his pa - e - nk g on God's will, exerted a quiCkening influence that extended beyond the circle of his family. These qualities shone in him to the last, and irradiated the severe sufferings through which he passed. He died, as he had lived, trusting wholly in Christ. LANE SEMINARY.—LIBRARY HALL.— The foundation of the new Library Hall is being laid, and the work upon it is being pushed forward with energy. It is located north of north-west from the chapel.—Christian CALIFORNIA ITE MS.—Rev. I. N. Runt takes charge of the congregation at Red Bluff. Rev. David McClure, lately pastor at - Mendocino, has come to San Francisco, and is to be connected with Miss Aldrich's Seminary. NEW CHURCH EDIFICE.—The corner stone of a new edifice was laid at Bald winsville, N. Y., June 6th. The Pastor, Rev. John F. Kendall, Rev. L. If. Reid .and Rev. J. Erdman, with Mr. E. R Davis, a member of the Church, tool part in the services. It will be of brick with a lecture room in the rear.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers