Die American Presbyterian and .- GENESEE EVANGELIST. RELIGIOUS AND EASILY NEWSPAPER, « THE INTEREST CF TRE Constitutional Presbyterian Church, PtfBLtSHED EVERY THURSDAY, AT THn PKESBYTERIAN HOUSE, 1384 Chestnut Street (2d Story,) Philadelphia. Rev. JOHN W. MEABS, Editor and Publisher. . OOIfrENTS OF INSIDE PAGES. gtfldolity a Refuge 226 Jesus Lives.... 230 Betheada Home 226 Socks for John Randa11..,230 Letter from India 226 Pastor’s Diary ~230 Thomas Chalmers 220 Incurable Disease... 230 Presbyterian Organize* Amendment of the Con ation 226 stitntion 231 Editor’s Table 227 Missionary's Son... 231 Disabled Ministers’Fund227 A PINAL WORD ABOUT CONGREGA TIONALISM IN PHILADELPHIA. [concluded.] But- if this Second Congregational church, or rather the church from which . its members separated, was not origi nally Congregational, and if by the ex press terms of its charter, as interpreted by our highest court, it was precluded from becoming so, at least it is claimed that tho pastor, Dr. Smiley was “ both by thorough study of Scripture and of ecclesiastical history, an intelligent Con gregationalism” Those who are better acquainted than the correspondent, with Dr. Smiley's course since he came to this city, will smile incredulously at the statement. For thd credit of the Doc tor, we shall take the liberty of doubting that he' everauthorized such a statement to be made. , Dr. Smiley came to this city an .independent Methodist; he ac < cepted the call of a- Deformed Dutch church, with the honorable purpose, doubtless, of becoming a member of that communion: “B. H.” in referring to this part of the history, is guilty of another palpable quibble. He says “ the classis had never heard a state ment,” of Dr. Smiley’s doctrinal views. The purpose of this statement can be no otner'than to'convey the impression that Dr. S. had no formal communica tion with classis. The fact is, Dr. S., in carrying out his purpose of uni ting with the Reformed Dutch church, appeared before the Standing Committee of classis, and underwent an examination there’-with a view-to his reception. And the classis did hear a statement of his views, made to the committee, which represented them during the intervals of their session; and to them by the committee, when their meeting took Elace. At this meeting of the classis, 'r. Smiley ; failed to appear, having satisfied himself that the doctrinal dif ferences between him and the standards _,of thl church were too wide to admit of reconciliation. The classis,. in view of his rejection of certain doctrines of the church . before the committee, and his refusal to appear before the classis for examination; unanimously declared his election null'and void. In a word, not only is Dr. Smiley’s “intelligent” Con gregationalism inconsistent with his readiness to enter the Reformed Dutch church, but his doctrinal position as a Calvinist, is rendered more than doubt ful by the unanimous decision of the classis, —based upon the report of the committee which had examined him, — to reject him, and declare his election nuli atid void. The court of Common Pleas, as we have seen, sustained the action of classis, and enjoined Dr. S. from occupying the pulpit on the ground of ms Arminianism. iisequently to this examination and ecision of the Courts sustaining it, miley and his adherents, instead of oping the thorough and intelligent regationalism which this perspica correspondenfc has discovered in mtecedents of both, w'ere so to ; -at sea; like the waif of a ship r, without ecclesiastical chart or ass, prepared to receive offers of succor from almost any quarter, having only one settled point, namely, the Ar rhinianism of their chosen pastor. We should suppose it would bo left to the opponents of Congregationalism to find any traces of preference for that form of government in such a state of things. We have been informed that, during this interval, overtures were made by people or pastor, or both, to several de nominations in this city, without suc cess. The correspondent, “B. H.” has been assured that this is not so.-* We have no doubt it is very unpleasant for him to believe this of such intelligent and thorough Congregationalists as he has persuaded himself Dr. S. and his people long ago were. Whatever may be the fact as to other applications —and we have as good a right to our belief as “B. H.” has to the contrary, —there was one application coming both from the membership and from the pastor of this congregation, on which we are in disputably qualified to speak. The in telligent Congregationalism of Dr. S. and the traditionary Congregationalism of his people, did not hinder their ap proach to tho Hew School Presbyterian Church, months before the movement towards Congregationalism. Had their overtures to us been entertained, the word "Congregational would never have been mentioned in connection with their name. Only after it was found impossi ble to'receive into our body, consistently with tho most liberal construction of Calvinistic doctrine which we were able* to make; nay, only after the rise of this discussion, has such an ecclesiastical term been foisted into their history. We cannot truthfully characterize it as anything else than a pitiful shift of “ B. H ” to hide the irregularity and disorder which he and his associates encouraged in others, and were guilty of themselves, in their late proceedings. ■ ■ Ho allusion is mado m /the Indepen < dent, to the fact, as we .stated it, that : T)r Smiley had interviews with minis ters of our body in tins city, .with a. New Series, Vol. I, No. 39. view to ascertaining his doctrinal belief* and ultimately.to aunion with our body, if the result of the examination was satisfactory. Such an interview was held with Mr. Barnes and Dr. Brainerd., in which Dr. Smiley freely expressed his opinions. The discussion was cour teous, kind, and full, and the result was that these two brethren, whom no one will accuse of extreme views of doctrine, agreed that there was “ not a fibre of Calvinism” in Dr. Smiley and that the proposed union -of himself and his church with our body could not be entertained. We are moreover at lib erty to state that the president of the Congregational Council, which received Dr. Smiley, Dr. Bacon, was aware of this investigation and its results before taking his seat in that capacity. All that was elicited from him in the exami nation by the council falls so far short of proving him a Calvinist, that a re spectable Methodist contemporary, the Pittsburg Christian Advocate, claims Dr. S. as an Arminian upon the strength of the examination alone, and exults in the progress of Arminian doctrine, as shown in the proceedings of the council, to wards the conquest of the world! In truth, we confess to a certain feel ing of respect for Dr. Smiley who, for several years of uncommon trial, has unswervingly maintained his Arminian -faith. Doubtless, it would have proved on more than one occasion to his ad vantage, if lie could have gainsayed.or modified it; if he .could have trained himself into a different theological posi tion, He has resisted such temp tations, and has been compelled for years to suffer exclusion from such ecclesiastical connections as would have' been to his own interest and that of his. people. His fidelity to Arminianism has at length been rewarded strangely enough. He has fallen in with an “ ecclesiastical gatßering,” containing "men of good re putation hitherto, as orthodox Calvin ists and • Congregationalists, who, hav ing a special object in view in Philadel phia, to which a show of numbers and strength were of the*first impostanee, contented themselves with a few super ficial inquiries, in which reference was made to no standai’d of Calvinistic doc trine, and eagerly received him as he was. i Dr. Smiley may congratulate himself' that the sacrifice of doctrinal principle was not on his side. ' - But we must bring our remarks to a close. Our readers, will agree with us, that the entire proceedings are disrepu table, and damaging in a high degree, to the cause they were intended to ad vance. Many things' we have chosen to hold back which could not but deep en tflis impression, if disclosed. Bui it is enough. Hever- has the instinctive" disregard of the plainest principles of church order, in .Congregationalism* been more, clearly exhibited than iiL these boastful demonstrations in Phila-" delphia ; never the looseness and irre sponsibility df its councils in important matters of doctrine; never, the liability of perfectly sound men among -them to be involved in the endorsement of things utterly unworthy. Hever have the representatives of young Indepen dency been more rampant or more reck less than in these proceedings. They have taken the disorderly, the litigious and the schismatic among ns under their protection; they have given the right hand of fellowship where they should rather have searched into personal an tecedents; they have not hesitated boldly to question the-truth and justice of tff§ OI Pur highest courts; to make out a case for themselves; they have joined in receiving into their now organization a congregation and pastor whom our courts had enjoined from the enjoyment of a Calvinistic .charter, for their Arminianism, and whonrthey knew such liberal Calvinists as Barnes and Brainerd had been com pelled for the same reason to reject. And they have done all this ; they have sowed all these seeds of disorder, they have made themselves the champions of schism, and tho disturbers of solem-; judicial decisions, at a time.of all others when the very opposite is the duty of every citizen; when. the.yery existence of the nation is in peril from analogous disregard of obligation and throwing' off of responsibility where it was due. The whole course of the council was such as to encourage, what Judge Low rie, in his decision in the Smiley case, denounced as “ that rivalry of opinion and anarchy of principles that weakens the social bond and endangers the unity, of the State or Hation.” ■ A devotional singing meeting in ■ the leo-. ture room at the corner of Fourth- street and Lafayette Place in New York, is meeting with complete success. Tho object is to cultivate a taste for church-singing. It is not only designed for readers of music, but for aH who love to sing, and also for those who enjoy music. Such meetings, started under the right auspices, we have no doubt, might be made greatly useful and popular, both in country and city, in a. multitude of instances. Every Christian patriot will rejoice to hear of another naval commander who re cognizes the hand of God in .the present contest. The following striking statement, is made of the appropriate manner in which the sinking of the pirate Alabama was cele brated on board the Kearsarge: “ Our com mander, Capt. Winslow, after the action was over, an,d during the afternoon, (Sunday, June 19th,) had all hands mustered on the quarter deck, and there was offered solemn prayer-and thanksgiving to God, who had given us so signal a Victory.” PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1864. THE DEHAND FOE CAPABLE, HONEST, AND EFFICIENT RULERS. A defective piece of machinery may s tand very well until some unusual strain comes upon i.t. Ho one may suspect any thing wrong, until the very emergency, most necessary for it to-'meet, arises, when its weakness is revealed in a gene ral crash. It was always weak, but it was never thoroughly tested before. This country in all its political divi sions and departments has plenty of holiday rulers; plenty of legislators and governors and mayors of fair abilities, of the usual amount of force and honesty of character, whose mismanagement is not so great as in times of general peace, or when trouble is at a distance, to se riously disturb or incommode the pub lic. And as danger for the most part has been remote from the loyal States, during the rebellion, these holiday offi cials have not been much in circumstan ces to expose their inefficiency and corruptness. They have been very fair standard-bearers of their parties. They have discharged the routine duties rif their office, with ordinary diligence.- They have been guilty of no unusual amount offraud or outrageous rascality; many of them have been alfcogther' above suspicion. So long as.small duty was required of them, they exhibited no intolerable degree of inefficiency. ' 1 But the last rebel alarm has been a terrible ordeal to the third rate, incom petent or dishonest rulers in this State. They have broken down under the trial. Their utter unfitness has been revealed in the broad light of the danger that was : upon ns: it has shown that they have had neither forethought nor patri otic concern to provide for, nor skill, nor system, nor commanding influence to meet tire danger when it came. And * in the same light appears the astonish ing carelessness of th.c people in regard to the character of the men whom they clioose as their rulers in these extraordi nary and critical times. Hever, per haps, were so many self-reproaches uttered by our people at their 6wja caljfr ’ pable negligence in this respect, ad during the excitement of the first three days of last week. Especially were wV indignant and ashamed beyond measure, at the indifference of partisanship which had Buffeted such a corrupt and : imbecile body of men to represent, our State as, with a few noble exceptions, vyas the last Legislature which met at Har risburg. That body, which was notor iously under the control of a i“ ring” of purchasable members, and which passed some glaringly wrong measures, be cause “there was money in them;” after pretending to patch up our militia laws, left us, in a time 'of unparalleled strife with an enemy who had twice been within our borders, absolutely without any system of State defence: left our arms bearing population a mere mob, without plan or organization, throwing us back upon our own resour ces, or those of our civil rulers, when the moment of dangei ai rived ■ * -. Hor does it seem that we have had civil rulers, whose names whose call, whoso influence oi whose abilities could sway the excited elements could take prompt advant gc of the rise of the popular feeling; could speedily evoke order, strength, and efficiency from the seething elements in which such a vast power was chaotically heaving. Ho spectacle can bo more humiliating than'* that of a populous and powerful com munity which, on the sudden approach, of danger, from lack of wise precaution ary measures, or pf the proper, qualities in their leaders, can only sway to and fro in blind and helpless excitement> like a huge whale utterly at the mercy of a swift and dexterous little'sword fish. Such a spectacle, have the border and middle States but lately presented when a population of four millions, con taining. half a million \of arms-bearing men, was thrown into a panic by the ad vance of. 80,000 rebels; and the im perative necessity of greater care and conscientious regard for the interests of the State and city in the Selection .of oar: rulers henceforth, has been., burned into the popular consciousness by the shame and indignation we have suffered. We do not think there is room for a sane person to jdoubt, that with proper mili tary laws administered with ordinary efficiency in the States most nearly j concerned, no such advance would be : projected by the rebels, who are truly wise as military men. Their strength is to take advantage of our weakness and indifference ; not to rush in inferior numbers updrt disciplined legions. - Let ns resolve to put men in power who have practical views and patriotic aims; who at Harrisburg will despatch as a business, in the diligent spirit of the counting-room and the exchange, and not that of the tap-room or the gambling saloon, the affairs of State; who will have dignity and integrity of character, and energy of will, and range pf resour ces sufficient to command the Respect of the people, and to marshal them under their own competen fc and inspiring leadership in every time of emergency. Let us begin at the beginning. Let ns not suffer the very fountains of political power and influence to be muddied and poisoned by the' interference of the most corrupt classes in our whole population. God in his Providence will lash us out of our criminal and scandalous indiffer ence to this whole great responsibility of choosing our rulers, or he will, and surely he might as well, leave us to perish by the hands of the rebels. We 'shall gain nothing whatever, by casting off the slave-power, if we suffer the very same.class of persons who became their willing, tools in times past, to furnish oqff political rulers and candidates for the future. Better save all this lavish of blood and treasure, and leave things as they were, if we are not to have a decided improvement in this respiect. ’' MINISTERIAL RELIEF FURD. Our readers are aware that the last General Assembly inaugurated a plan for the relief of disabled ministers and the families of deceased ministers in our .connection.! ■ * jjp*. 1 • The plan which is inserted in another part of the paper, contemplates the se curing of a fund by annual collections in all our churches, and an equitable dis bursement of the fund by the Trustees of the Presbyterian House. We are glad to learn that the Trus tee§. of the House have promptly re sponded : to the action of the Assembly, and have committed the oversight and practical administration of this impor tant interest to an Executive Committee of their number, consisting of the Rev* Messrs. Shepherd and Eva, and of John C. Fair, John A. Brown and M. W. Baldwin, Esqrs. Of this Committee, Mr. Shepherd is chairman , and Mr. Farr treasurer. We also leatn that in accordance with the Assembly’s direc tion, the Trustees have appointed a secretary, the Rev. Charles Brown, of Philadelphia, whose zeal and energy and fidelity to church trusts are well known. \j It thus appeal’s that tho Assembly’s plan has taken form and now solicits coroperation of the ministers and ififembers of our churches.- We un derstand that the Executive Committee- 1 have already had abundant demons.tra 'tipn of demand for a ministerial re lief Tund, and that, had they means, they could, at once, extend to needy ones a help most grateful because most timely. !We bespeak for the Committee that im ’mediate material response from minis ters and church members which shall do honor not less to their own appre ciation of a noble charity, than to the generous spirit of’fiim who “though he was rich yet for our sakes became poor that we thought his poverty might he imado rich.” Contributions are to be sent to Rev. Charles Brown* Secretary, 1334 Chest nut street, or to John 0. Farr, Esq., Treasurer, 324 Chestnut street. SEORETAEY ZEND ALL IN OALI ; ' POBNIA. Dr. Kendall left for California directly after the meeting of the General Assem bly. Sis presence and personal con ference with brethren in the State will doubtless facilitate our, Home Missionary operations in that important field. Wo igtfe glad to' see the enterprise and energy | of the Secretary. Under such a leader, the church will not decline from her present noble position in the Home Mis sionary wOrk.' The prospect before us is one full of grand and inspiring oppor tunities :or labour in the service of - the ; Master. Our part as a church in leav j ening this nation with tho saving truths | and influencesbf the gospel is destined i apparently to be no trifling one. It is ■ a glorious but" a solemn responsibility. Genesee Evangelist, INo. 948. THE ALBERT BARNES PROFESSOR SHIP IN HAMILTON COLLEGE. The friends of Mr. Barnes and of Hamilton College will rejoice to learn that the subscription to the fund for establishing the Albert Barnes Profes sorship of Natural Science in Hamilton College, is now complete. It has been very nearly so for a considerable time, but we have preferred to withhold any announcement until we could say what we have just said. I)r. Goer trier’s work in this department is done, and—-we may pause to say-r-well done too,—and the professorship is a fixed fact. We are again called upon to perform the agreeable office so often exercised of late, of congratulating the liberal men tpf our church in this city, who never weary in devising and executing liberal and wise schemes for the various enter prises of our church. A suitable and worthy memorial have they erected of their beneficence,, in this' new professor’s chair in Hamilton College. They will set flowing a stream of healthful and much needed influence in this day, when natural science is so often pressed into the ser vice of infidelity by men of high stand ing in the scientific world. They will grave on the walls of a noble and grow ing institution, a name identified with the eafly struggles and trials of our church, an'd illustrative of its large and liberal but tlmroughly orthodox spirit, and of its staunch devotion to the cause of human liberty. They join hands with the friends and neighbors' of Albert Baines’ early feel tfiem selves honored in this grateful apprecia tion of his services among us. They have framed a new link between Phila delphia and that ■ dense and important population of our church in Western New York, which already sympathizes with us so happily in its wise and grow ing denominationalism. They have performed an act, which will doubtless awaken in their own minds a hew inter est in the great subject of Christian ed ucation of the higher sort. Perhaps haying begun by founding a ship, our liberal men will be led on until capable of seriously entertaining the idea of a whole college for our own section of the church. Half a million of mo.- ney for a Presbyterian University near Philadelphia—who is meditating such a noble disposition of his means ; who will-found such a lasting monument of his beneficence, to generations yet un born in _oiir State and Church ? THE PUBLICATION FUND. The generous responses made in many quarters, to the call for the $50,000 permanent Publication Fund, demand a special acknowledgement. It is most cheering to those who have labored in» the cause to have aid so hearty and so valuable. The church at Harrisburg, Pa., in addition to $lOO "for general dis tribution, sends through the Eev. T. H. Eobinson, a draft for $330 for. the Permanent Fund. The Church at West Town N. Y., remits, by Mr. Wm. H. Hart, $3OO for the Fund, and $4B for the soldiers. The First Church (Dr. Clarke’s) and North .Church (Dr. H, Smith) of Buffalo, give about $5OO each. The First and Second Churches of Chicago (Mr. Humphrey’s and Dr. Patterson’s) contribute $l,BOO. Dr. Specs’ Church, Dayton, Ohio, gives over $300; Williamsport, Pa., Eev. Mr. Ster ling $200; Dr. Torrey’s Church, Ithaca, N.Y.5450; Geneva, $215; Auburn, Jst and 2d Churches, $535; Poughkeepsie, Eev. Mr. Wheeler, $150: Clinton, N. J., Eev. J. G. Williamson, $100; Norristown. Pa., Eev. E. Adair, $100; Orange, N. Y. Frst Church,' Eev., Mr. Hoyt, $4OO. Others, if they give small sums, inay : not give less liberally. ' A note from Dr. Darling, of Albany, says: “I preaehedupon the'subject, and though some of my most able men were Away, the collection was more than $BOO, which has since then been made-up to $1000.” But, with no disparagement of other generous efforts, we must award the. palm to our noble Third Church of Pittsburgh, which, while building a new edifice to take the plaee of that which was recently burned, and giving most freely to all good objects, through; its pastor, the Eev. Her-rick Johnson, writes: “We shall probably send you Two Thousand Dollars, ($2000!) as our contribution to the igpdowment Fund. God bless you in-woifr. noble work!” • ■ ■*- Jw B TSEKR By mail, $2.00 per an nuai, :n “ “ 2-50 “ “ after 0 - By carrier, 50 cents additional f CLUBS. Ten or more papers sent by mai church or locality, or in the city to or Tsy mail, By carriers. To save trouble, eluo subscriptions commence at tbe same date, be paid strict! c ;r advance, in a single remittance, -fn- irhici:' ■-■•n • receipt will be returned. Ministers and Ministers’ Widows supp’i,-!: * clubrates. Home missionaries at $1 perannuu! Postage. —Five rents quarterly in advance, to be paid by subscribers 'at the office of de livery. THE DIFFERENCE. Our excellent correspondent in the Army of .the Potomac, Chaplain Stew art, on arriving at the North hank of the James River for the second time with his noble 102 d regiment, was over whelmed with a sense of the similarity of the position _ with that of two years ago, and commenced his letter, publish ed a fortnight ago, with the exclama tion that the world moves in a circle. A more hopeful, iust and profound view is that which compares human progress to a spiral. We come back seemingly to the same spot, after years of marching and fighting, yet in fact we. have reach ed a position above the old one, though resembling it in many particulars. The battles through which humanity, all bloody, must fbree its • onward way, though again and again on seemingly the same ground, are not the same. The invasion of Maryland, just ended, has proved decisively the difference be tween the position of this year and the year 1862. The rebel movement north ward, through the Shenandoah Valley, of that summer, formidable from the first, was made still more so by the repulse of our army from the north side of Bich mond. Having thrown off McClellan from their capital, the whole military power of the rebels could be turned to tbe invasion, and the remnants of the Army of the Potomac had to be hurried Northward to help save Washington while Richmond was entirely secure. The! invasion just ended is a mere raid in comparison with that vast and pow erful movement. Grant’s -great army is so posted that it cannot be dislodged, nor its communications interfered with, as were McClellan’s. In the presence of such a foe, it is impossible for the rebels to uncover their capital for the sake of seriously menacing our own. They can make disturbances, plunder peaceable communities like free-booters, cut tele graph wires and railroads and hurry off when threatened -with punishment, but they cannot frighten or dislodge an antagonist as earnest and as well posted as Grant. The smoke of the raid has blown over, and it reveals to us no mel ancholy picture of a shattered army of the Potomac broken by disease and dis aster, wending its backward way to contest the advance of the whole rebel host on our own soil. It shows us Grant and' his scarred veterans and brave colored brigades; still closing their deadly grasp around the doomed capital of rebellion; still sapping more closely its resources; still pushing forward their parallels and zig-zags, from which, one day, shall leap to the desperate and overwhelming charge, the hosts that now crouch expectant with their eyeß upon the lips of their leader. Meanwhile, the sluggish North has been rudely reminded of the danger and folly, of sinking down into peaceful and secure modes of life, as if the great mat ter in hand had been ; virtually solved. The delusion is dispelled ; and an army of fresh defenders of the soil have been brought to their feet, to guard against repetitions of such impudent demonstra tions, and to give the Government more freedom to devote its energies to the grand aim of the campaign, from which it has not in the slightest degree de parted. Is there not an encouraging difference? ■ ’ WHAT A HOME MISSIONARY THINKS. Our. very liberal offers to Home Mis sionaries procure many hearty responses. One from York State just received, says: Eev. and Dear Snt: — l took from the office the Amehican Presbyterian, sent to me by yourself probably. The paper is hTo. 22, June 2d. in which my name is placed with others among the Home Mission appointments, and to whom you very kindly send the paper for $l. Please find the enclosed as my subscription for one year. I have taken ho papers, either secular or religious, owing to a very small salary and yet harder times; but when I saw 1 .yours with the terms, I could withstand it no longer, and though the money could find immediate use in my family, ; we will try and squeeze along without, and have the reading of one religious paper once more, and that of pur own denomination. ‘ I like the appearance and tone of yonr paper, though prinei* pally occupied with the proceedings of the last Assembly. May the Lord prosper you. Truly find affectionately yours, $1.50 per ».Ti 2.00 “