FBOM OUR EOCEESTEB OOEEESPON- DEBT. OUR FEMALE SEMINARIES Wc believe that Western New York offers advantages for female education not surpassed in any other part of the country. We have before spoken of the Houghton Seminary at Clinton, tho El mira Female College, and more recently of the Ingham University at Le Eoy. All these aro large, flourishing and well appointed institutions; and in them largo numbers of young ladies, not only from Western Now York, but from other parts of the country, both East and West, aro enjoying from year to year, the finest ad , vantages for the highest and most com plete Christian education. The amount of good being accomplished by these institutions is beyond all finite calcula tion ; the influence yet to bo exerted by these young ladies upon the world’s wel fare aud destiny,beyoDd all computation. Some of them will “make history,” as well as our soldiers and our generals. Wo wrote two weeks ago more par ticularly of the commencement at Le Boy. Commencement occured in the same week at Elmira Female College, and at Houghton Seminary. Somehow, in spite of our utmost exertions, we found that wc could not be in all the throe places at tho same time; but wc have been kindly furnished with full accounts of the exercises in tho two latter, and can as sure our readers that they were of a high order, and must have been very gratifying to the numerous friends of the-respective institutions in attendance. At Houghton Seminary,ltev. Dr.Eield, of tho Evangelist, delivered the address before the Barrett Browning Literary Society. The Ladies acquitted them solvos well in their compositions and music; and tho social gathering at tho Institute, with which all was closed, is spoken of as a brilliant affair. This Seminary has been, we believe, but three years in operation, under .its present auspices, hut is very prosperous and truly excellent. There were six graduates. At Elmira College, Bev. Dr. Wyckoff, of Albany, and Pres. Fisher, of Hamilton College,'deliveredaddresses,in successive evenings. Of course they were good; and the examination and commencement exorcises are spoken of as excellent throughout., And all tho world knows that this institution is of tho highest or der in all respects. In both these the moral and religious tone is good, the pious instructors watching 'over the pu pils of their charge as a faithful pastor for his flock. But we have other Female Seminaries well established, strong and flourishing, such as the Buffalo Academy, of which Eev. Dr. Chester is tho experienced and’ accomplished Principal; the Canandai gua Female Seminary, under the care of Eev. Messrs Tyler and Bichards; and the Young Ladies' Institute, of Auburn, of which Mr. Mortimer L. Browne is the Principal. And wc have a very interest ing account of commencement exercises at this latter, of which we will give a brief summary. There were eleven iii the graduating class. The Salutatory was in Latin, by Miss Jennie H. Greene, of Westboro, Mass—Nothing ignoble in Labor,” by Frances M. Cherry, of Auburn—“ Pow er of Habit,” by Czarina S. Monroe, of Eldridge—“ Quid Fecisti,” by Anna G. Hall, of Chvego—these all are charac terized as excellent, in thought, expres sion, and reading. There was also a, Fronch Colloquy well sustained by the young ladies; and a statement of the argument of Butler’s Analogy, which showed how diligently that masterpiece of moral reasoning had been studied. The Annual address before the Insti tute was delivered by Eev. Edward Strong, of Now Haven. It was “ clear, compact, true and healthful;” his theme, “ The true Aristocracyand achievement especially in doing good, in knowledge, refinement, beneficence,and virtue, was made the only'ground of abiding and recognized pre-eminence. A brief address, with tho presentation of tho diplomas, to the graduating class, fell in graceful and weighty words from the lips of that largo hearted, Christian gentleman, Sylvester ‘Willard, M. D., the President of tho Board of Trustees. And thjs also is one of our Eemalc Seminaries, which we can cheerfully commend to the public, as worthy of highest confidence and liberal patronage Perhaps, indeed, there is not a similar institution in the State, or where tho stan dard of scholarship is higher, where the ■moral and family influences combine more happily in the education of our young ladies. Every member of the graduating class, it is supposed leaves the Institute a Christian. Of the eleven .graduates who have been in the family of the Principal, seven have been hope fully converted during the year. Surely the influences of such a family must be good upon all the young ladies who enter it. Indeed, we are told, it is a rare thing for one to leave this excellent family at the end of Her studies without a hope in Christ. THE BRICK CHURCH, AND ITS DEBT. We have bofore mentioned the suoscrip tion of $20,000, some two months ago in Dr. Shaws congregation, to pay off that amount of debt which was resting on them. That subscription was made payable on the first of July. It was supposed, of course, that the sums pledged would be forth-coming at the appointed time; and yet there was some solicitude on that subject. It was a large amount and these are “troublous times.” It was also known that some persons had pledged themselves for suras far be yond what they at first supposed they could give for the object., It is one thing to get subscriptions on paper, and sometimes quite another to collect them. The appointed day came. Those having the matter in charge had already been busy for some little time in gather ing up what they could; and we are happy to report that every thing has gone well. True to the bond, every dollar was paid on or before the first, and that big, black mortgage which had lain like an incubus upon the church .ever since their noble new edifice was erected— so, at least, we know it seemed to some of them, in spite of every outward mani festation of prosperity—was entirely cancelled. Wo had a brief visit from the pastor in our sanctum, just before night-fall on that memorable day, which we shall nover forget. His face absolutely shone with delight, as he told us that the debt was all paid, that the Brick Church was free. He evidently felt like reading the Declaration of Independence. And well he might rejoice. It is no mean accom plishment to carry a church successfully through such a transition; and that no blo structure in which the meetings of the American Board were held last fall, may he regarded as, in some sort, a mon ument to tho faithfulness, energy and enterprise of the earnest and successful pastor. As such, we trust it will stand for many generations. But ho had earnest and enterprising men to help him. Wo should be glad to name many of them, but fear to begin, for it would be hard to stop. One gave $2OO0 —he had before given three thou sand. Another gave two thousand— others one. And in some cases, the smaller gifts were the largest, costing more of self-denial, and springing from a truer liberality. But the debt is paid—and that, after all, is not the best of it; but it is a cbiu-ch well filled from Sabbath to Sab both. It is a great congregation. And there the gospel is preached, in simplicity, in earnestness, with tact, with interest, and with converting and sanctifying power. It is a successful church enter prise; and long may pastor and people be spared to labor and rejoice together. our ministers’ vacations. Dr. Shaw is to rusticate at Silver Creek. Mr. Ellinwood goes to the sea shore, somewhere near New York. He is to supply Mr. Cuyler’s church in Brooklyn, for two Sabbaths. Dr. Haw ley, of Auburn, as is his wont, will spend six weeks on the Catskill Mountains. Prof. Condit is to supply his pulpit du ring his absence. Dr. £ox and family are passing the summer at his Le Eoy home. Dr. Smith, of Buffalo, goes to snuff the mountain breeze in his native Yormont. Dr. Wisner, of Lockport, has been passing some time in Scotts ville, much improved in health. And the “ time would fail us to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jepthali.” A PLEASANT INCIDENT. About five hundred and fifty dollars were raised last Sabbath in the Sunday school of the Central church of this city, for the Christian Commission. No less than ninety-five dollars of the amount was realized from the sale of a silver quarter, which was found in the contri bution box, and which was given by one of the girls of the school. No one knew who the donor was but herself, and she sat and could scarccly suppress tho tears of her joy as the excitement of tho sale was going on. It was a valuable quar ter for the soldiers. A LIBERAL ADVANCE. The first church iu Auburn, always liberal in every good oause, doubles its subscription this year'for Foreign Mis sions. If all others had done the same, wc should not now hear the cry of 'dis tress from the Mission House at Bostou, published last week. We may add also, that the subscription for the Christian Commission in Auburn, before noticed, reached the sum of two thousand dollars. ALUMNI MEETING Hon. Chas. H. Kirkland, L.L. D., of New York, class of 1816, will deliver the oration before the Society of Alumni of Hamilton College, on Wednesday after- PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, JULY 14, 1864. noon of Commencement week, July 22d; and Prof. E. North, of Hamilton College, class of 1841, will deliver the Poem. An unusually interesting Commencement is anticipated. A fine class is to graduate. Genesee. Kochester, July 9, 1864. FBOM OTJB LONDON 00BBESP0NDENT. London, June 23, 1864. We have been on the qui vive for the last twenty-four hours to know whether we were going to have peace or war. The Conference which had adjourned, after a long and somewhat acrid discus sion, to meet yesterday, held what was expected to be its last sitting, and to be decisive of the future. But this morn ing from what has transpired, the sitting hardly assumed so critical a character. It is certain, however, that the plenipo tentaries separated without coining to any agreement, and it is asserted that the meeting on Saturday is only a for mal one to declare what the Conference has failed to do, and not to propose any further plans for settlement. Prussia it is said, presented her ultimatum. It cannot be concealed that much of the vacillating and ignoble policy of the government has been owing to an iaflu encc lyhich cannot slightly be disre garded. The queers sympathies, as I have before intimated, are so intensely German, that the government have hardly been able, from what is current opinion, to restrain the most unseemly and public expression of them. It is even said, that Her Majesty proposed to go to Berlin and negotiate with Prussia, some time ago. It is further reported, with what truth, I cannot say, that she has expressed her determina tion to sign no declaration of war against the German States, and threat ened to abdicate if war be insisted on. Of course, if the English people desire to assist Denmark, royalty cannot stand in their way. The many murmurs of discontent at the present condition of our court would burst into loud denun ciations, and as a friend told me last night, “would cause a revolution.” I do not, however, apprehend any such serious resistenco to the will of the English people. Her Majesty knows tho English constitution too well to overstep the limits of her prerogative. Meanwhile there is a strong belief that, should tho Conference break up on Saturday without arranging any plans for peace, and should hostilities recom mence on Sunday, our fleet will at once be ordered to blockade tho German ports. This the Paris papers assert has been communicated to the Emperor. Thai; wily statesman has still preserved a sphinx-like silence and holds himself back until further complications give him an opportunity of stepping in and running off with a bone. The French look calmly down upon tho fussy efforts of our cabinet to preserve peace and the grim determination of the Germans to continue the war, and, for the moment, are content to get np an excitement, and a great deal of enthusiasm for that scourge of the seas, the Alabama. Her destruction will give great satisfaction to your people. I am informed that iif suranee on American vessels declined! two per cent, immediately on the re ceipt of the news at Lloyd’s rooms. It is no wonder that the ministry have held back from interference in the Danish war, for if England commits herself to it, the prospect is appalling Sweden and Norway in the North, Italy, Hungary, Poland, in the South, and middle of Europe, all the revolt tionary elements stirred up and thunder ing at the doors of despotic government and religion. England will lead in Eu. rope a squadron of storm-clouds against the strong old-fashioned buttresses that have defended so long the decaying principles of absolutism in ecclesiastical and civil policy. Ve all shrink to con template the struggle: we all leel that we shall be striking into a melee, of whose constituents and possible extent we are quite in the dark; we all fear that such a conjunction of antagonistic interests and fierce hatreds will only end in some fearful unprecedented Arma geddon. And you, can no longer, as once, when in the Crimean war, I re member you did, look out from a serene and undisturbed station, upon the bat tles of the old world, but yourselves amid the direct horrors of civil war, are shut in to the perils and necessities of the moment, and the steering of your own vessel safely through the hurricane. God help us all! The purge is powerful may the healing be permanent. The Convention of the Established Church has been meeting for the last two days. The subject of greatest im portance was the “ Essays and Reviews.” The upper House, (of Bishops) agreed to the report of a committee of their members, recommending the condemna tion of the erroneous opinions and doc trins contained in that celebrated book. The acceptance was moved by the Bishop of Oxford and opposed by the Bishop of London. On the report being sent down for the approval of the Lower House a very excited discussion ensued. Archdeacon Denison and Dr. Jebb, moved the adoption of the Beport. Canon Blakesley and' Dean Stanley opposed it, and various amendments were proposed and lost. The first por tion of the report is as follows: “ The committee having examined tho book referred to thenYby the house, and the communication relating thereto made by the Lower to the Upper House, and being of opinion that the Synod cannot avoid pronouncing upon the doc trinal character of such a work,-written in great part by clergymen of the Uni ted Church of England and Ireland, when thus brought under its notice, re port —That the book contains false and dangerous statements, and reasonings *at variance with the teachings of the Church of England, and deserving the condemnation of the synod. The grounds of their judgment are as fol lows They consider that a tendency to unsettle belief in the Eevelation of the Gospel pervades the book,.especially in the following points: —(A.) They are of opinion that the arguments Rpd and assertions of the third es.^ a y deny, by necessary the super natural origin of Christianity, that they strike at the root of all revealed reli gion, and are irreconcilable with the very existence of the Church of Christ. (B) The possibility of miracles, as his tories! facts, and the purposes of mira cles as evidences of tbo truth of Eevo lation, appear to your committee to he absolutely denied. The committee re gret to add that the argument of the first essay (pages 24 and 25, Dr. Tem ple’s), t>y denying the probability of the recognition of the Divinity of our Lord in the more-matured age of the world, appears to them to involve a similar de nial of all miracles as historical facts, for it is asserted that “ the faculty of faith has turned inwards, and cannot now accept any outer manifestations of the truth of God.” (C.) In the second essay (Dr. Bowland William’s) the com mittee notice a prevailing attempt to explain away supernatural agency, even when its presence is directly asserted iu Holy Scripture. That which is ex plicitly declared therein to he the im mediate intervention of God is here at tributed to the mere action of the hu man mind. The fourth essay (the Eev. H. B. Wilson’s), contains the same false teaching in its suggestion that tho in stances of supernatural interference re corded in the Bible may bo safely re jected as facts, provided that we retain the ideas which would have been awa kened by the knowledge of such alledged facts if they had been real. Further it is suggested that this principle may be applied even to the historical record of the life of our blessed Lord, and that liberty must be left to all as to the ex tent in. which they may apply it. (D.) ; As respects the prophecies of tho Old Testament, it appears to the committee that prophecy, in the sense of ‘literal prognostication,’ or the direct prediction of future events, is greatly disparaged, if not denied in this volume.” It does not refer to the doctrine of imputation. What next? Last night a committee for prosecu ting the Westminster Assembly church was formed. One gentleman increased his subscription from £lOOO to £3OOO, ($15,000). Dr, Jenkins who is connect ed with tho undertaking, has had a citll to St. Columba’s church at Leeds, but the more important scheme will most likely detain him in London. CHAPLAIN STEW AST’S LETTEB. Battle-field, South of Petehsbubg, \ Va,, July 2,1564. ) FEELINGS BLUNTED BY SOLDIERING, Dear Brother Mears :—Such has been the almost universal accusation against military campaigning in the past; and this perhaps too truthfully urged. The soldier,'it is said, by a long continuance in camp, march and battle 'uSCOmes hardened in heart, and callous to all the finer senSibilitl&S Of hu, manity; nor troubles himself much about the well or ill-being of those ■arodfid him; provided his own bodily wants are met, and his personal safety attained. In a word, selfishness becomes the ruling principle of his being. When the veteran army of Napoleon, which invaded Egypt, was compelled to raise the siege of Acre, in Palestine, and march back to Alexandria, the plague, the scorching sun, the burning sand and drought sadly wasted the army on its retreat. The poor soldier, who was un able to start again from a halting-place, or compelled to fall out of ranks from exhaustion, was doomed, in a few min utes, to be overtaken and brutally murdered by the fierce Arabs. Yet does the historian assure us, all the sympathy the poor fellows were likely to receive from their hardened, infidel messmates was some such brutal remark as “ He's got his last furlough l” “ He’s taken np his final quarters !” Happy, however, are we in the belief, founded upon a somewhat lengthened and extensive acquaintance with present camp influences, to assert that in our Army of the Potomac no such tendency has yet been manifested. True is it that while the is in health he has his own special duties and individualities to meet, needing no special aid, nor craving any extra sympathy. But let hint become wounded, sick, disabled, or in any way afflicted, and I have never * ■ | ' seen manifested, in home circles, a more spontaneous and cordial sympathy nor more cheerful and ready assistance in every possible manner, than is shown by hjs messmates. The band bronaed and hardened on a score of battle-fields will lift as tenderly and soothe as gently as a woman’s. And these kindly manifes tations are not dying out, but on the increase. These sympathetic feelings manifest themselves in various ways. In one direction, specially noticed of late, and this a very interesting one to sorrowing friends at home we would mention: Beyond question, a much greate> j n . terest, attention and care are manifest, ed in this matter than ever, a t the opening of this terrible war. Wherever and whenever it is practicably tbo greatest respect is show- by his“gurvi ving messmates, even by strangerß also, to the and burial of the dead The gravej the winding-sheet, usually the only one possible, his own bloody garments entwined in his blan ket] the gentleness with which be is let down into his resting place] filling up the grave; having it the ordinary shape above ground; marking the board to be set at the head of the grave plainly, with name, regiment, company, State and day of death] the little evergreen planted at the head and foot ] and often, often the fast-falling tear; all proclaim that hardness of heart and bluntness of feeling have no place here. While at Coal Harbor, as written in a former letter, I was detailed for duty at our Division Hospital ] and among other things specially mentioned was to see to burying the dead in the most appro priate manner] having, as far as my judgment dictated, religious services in connection. An arrangement like this, so far as we know, was not thought of at the commencement of this war. Said service afforded me a more special op portunity for looking at this matter in detail. At Coal Harbor, for ten days together, wo had, out of our hospital, six to ten burials daily ] yet in all that multiplied and so oft-repeated service I did not witness in any one present the slightest indecorum. Hot only this; but a new and unwont ed attention was given by all concerned to every particular. Each grave, which were arranged in long parallel rows, was mounded in the, neatest possible manner, and made as smooth as the spade and labor could render them. A young man, well skilled in all manner of lettering, is in connection with the hospital. By him a board for each grave was prepared, all made similar, with name, regiment, company, State, and day of death all beautifully lettered thereon, in pencil. One poor fellow, who died without our being able to learn his name or any of his connections, had a beautiful wreath of flowers pen cilled on his head-board, with the words in largo letters—“ The Unknown.” Before leaving Coal Harbor a neat enclosure was made around the graves, and a row of young pine trees planted entirely around the, enclosure. The young artist who did the lettering took a hasty sketch of the place, before leaving, which I am sending to a friend in order to bo photographed. Adelphos. The same care and, attention has been manifested with respect to the dead wherever our hospital has been located, in connection with the battle fields before Petersbnrgh. The Rev. A. Or, MeAuley, of Philadelphia, connected With the Christian Commission, who has had perhaps as extensive opportunities of noticing this matter in the army as any otter person, on seeing one of our burying places a few days since, near Peter3burgh, expressed himself as great ly pleased with this evident increase of interest and attention to the burial of our soldier dead;, remarking also that the one looked at was the most inter esting, orderly and beautiful of the kind he had seen during the whole war. Such assurance may briDg a little comfort to those who have loved dead, buried far away, and by strangers, be side field hospitals and on the battle field. It may also afford a hope to those not thus afflicted, that when this cruel war is over, our soldiers then liv ing are not to return home a set of hardened, unfeeling men, wholly unfit ted then and thereafter for the duties and sympathies of a civilized life. AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. The venerable Dr. Spring, of New York, has resigned the place he so long occupied as Chairman of the Committee on versions of the American Bible So ciety. The Rev. Dr. McLeod, of New York, was- appointed to the place, at the last meeting of the Committee. «®"We are compelled to lay over considerable matter for the Banner and Presbyterian until next week. BURYING THE DEAD A. M. Stewart. §tms. FBESH APPEALS POE PAPF rh FOE THE ARMY. We have as yet receive d no response to onr recent appeal fr, r paperfJ for army, while at the a?. me time fresh calls for supplies have bee n made upon ns from different quarters. Rev. Enoo*j Hiller, Chaplain of the 25th Kegt } u. S. Colored Troops, known to manr 0 f our readers in Central and est ,ern Hew York, as well as in this c ’.\,y] a volunteer soldier who was shot through the body at Gettysburg, and who after his recovery received licen sure and ordination for the work in which he is now engaged, left with a portion of his regiment .for Ft. Pickens a few days ago. The officers of this re giment arc intelligent men, some of them pious j and Mr. Miller desires a supply for their use, as well as for such of the colored soldiers as may be or become able to read. He needs 25 copies at the lowest calculation. A chaplain in a U. S. Hospital in this city, containing over a thousand pa tients, now receiving six copies every week, is anxious for an increase of his supply; he could make good use of fifty copies. Another call haß reached ns from East Tennessee, where we are now sending fifty copies a week, in part paid for by contributions at the late General Assem bly. Some -in that rescued region are subscribing for the paper ] but maDy are too impoverished to be able to do so. Who will furnish the means that we may thus pour the literature of our church all over that important and needy field? THE EEBEL INVASION. We are astounded and ashamed that the Horth should be agitated by a more daring and destructive rebel invasion of its -territory than ever. What we know of it at this date, is reported by our sec ular news editor in another column. But there is enough to convince us that it is timo for tho Horth to stop playing at war while its real business is to boast fully pursue its prospering arts of peace. Had the militia laws of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware been such as even in times of peace they ought to be, these rebel movements would &8 impos sible. We shall, by God’s help, drive them back] perhaps greatly punish them, but not until they have damaged and shamed us beyond computation. Green Hiee Church.— Twenty-four persons have been received into the membership oC this church, Rev. F, L. Robins pastor, mostly on profession of their faith, at two recent communion seasons. The church is filling up with an excellent population, and cannot much longer withstand the pressure for en largement. INDIAN STBATEGY BEFOBE PETERS BUEG. A very enrious piece of strategy, which took place the other day, shows that the wonders of Cooper’s Indian heroes have not ceased. One of the New York Artillery—a Seneca Indian, from the western part of the State—undertook, on a wager, to bring in a live a rebel sharpshooter, who was perched in a tree in front of our line, considerably in advance of his own. His manner of accom plishing thiswas as ingenious as successful, and rivals Yhe “ deviltry” of any of the Leatherstocking redskins. • Procuring a quantity of pine boughs, he enveloped him self gitbathem from head to foot, attaching them sedwrely to a branch, which he lashed lengthwise of his body. When completed he was indistinguishable to a casual observer from the surrounding folliage, and resembled a tree as closely as it was possible for his really artistic efforts to render him. Thus prepared, and with musket in hand, conceal ed likewise, he stole by almost imperceptible movements to beneath the tree where the sharpshooter was lodged. Here he patiently waited until his prey had emptied his piece at one of our men, when he suddenly brought his musket to bear upon the “ reb,” giving him no time to reload. siirpSiCCttf was taken at a disadvantage. To the demand to come down he readily assented, when the Indian triumphantly marched him a prison er into camp and won his wager.—Correspon dent New York Herald. TWO OP THE WOHUDED. We cut the following from the Evening Bulletin of this city, June 30th: At the Union Yolunteer Refreshment Saloons are two soldiers, maimed in a terrible manner, who are yet more resigned and happy than many whole men blessed with riches and the gratification of every reason able desire. One of them, named Perie, lost both legs by a shot from a rebel battery at Charleston, and his brother, we believe, fell dead by his side. The other man, named Smith, lost both his arms by a shell at Gettysburg. They are life-guests at the hos pital in question. They will end their days together. No man and wife were ever more close companions. Tho legless man feeds, dresses and attends'upon the man without arms. The latter goes every Sunday to Dr. Bi-ai nerd’s church. The man without leg= cannot do so. His companion wishes to pur chase for him a velocipede, that they may go to church together. They have not the money. Neither has a home, or relatives able to do anything for him. Any one having any moneyto spare, and the time to visit them, will find two extremely interesting characters deeply grateful for any acts ot kindness. The poor fellows are cheerful, even merry,in their terrible misfortune. 1 <my never, at any time, have been known to re pine at their calamity.' With all their depii" vations the greatest extravagance they in dulge is a wish for a velocipede, that they may go out together. The armless man now carries the legless one, whenever they go out, upon his back. The distance from the hos pital to the church is too great for such » means of locomotion.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers