PROM OUR ROCHESTER OORRESPOJT DENT. ADDENDUM, •Although our letter about the com mencement at Hamilton was long enough, yet there ■were quite a number of things beside, about which wo should be glad to say a word. Tt is an interesting fact that all the members of the first class of Hamilton College, which graduated in 1814, are still living. The class was not large, however. Rev. George A. Calhoun, D. D., of Coventry, Ct., was one of them, and William Groves, Esq., formerly of Clarkson, in this county, and once our County Clerk, was the other. We pre sume the honors were equitably divided betweeh them. If Mr. Calhoun took the Valedictory, it is not difficult to suppose that Mr. Groves must have had the Salutatory. It certainly was a very re epectable class, though not large. The whole number of graduates of Hamilton, up to the present time, is something over eleven hundred; avera ging over twenty a year, which is not bad for the first half century of the ljfe of such an institution. But her gradu ates are not to be estimated by numbers alone. There are some single names: among her sons—such as Edwai’d Rob inson and Albert Barnes—-that will outweigh a whole catalogue of common men. And it is a little singular, and quite interesting, that while special efforts arc being made to introduce the systematic and thorough study of the Bible, as an integral portion of a college course in Hamilton, the names of Rob inson and Barnes should just he identi fied with two professorships; men who Rave done _so much to promote the scientific and thorough study of the Scriptures, not only in this country, but as we may almost say, in every other. But those are not the only names of sons of Hamiton welt known, at least in the land. We might mention that of GerritrSmith, the philanthropist, of the class of 1818 ; Dr. Parker, of Newark; Dr. Hague, of Boston; Judge Bacon, of Utica.; Judge Clinton, of Buffalo; Dr. Whedop, of tho University of Michigan, and Dr. Kendrick, of the University of Rochester. Among the missionaries wo .might name Sheldon Dibble and H. G. O. Dwight; and, among a younger class, conspicuous are the names of Professor Theodore W. D wight, in Ne wY ofk j'Dr. Kelson, in St. Lonis; the late Governor Willard, of Indiana; Prof. Upson, of Hamilton College; Rev. P. P. Ellin wood, of Rochester, and Rev. Thomas S. Has tings, of New York. Pennsylvania is also indebted to Hamilton for her Dr. Wing, and the late Dr. Henry Steele Clarke. At the same time, we doubt not, this college has some sons of whom she is not so proud. The names of Philip Barton Key, of Washington notoriety, and Luther C. Saxton, now an inmate of Auburn State Prison, occur to us in this connection ; hut those are only a dark background to a bright picture. The senior Professor, Charles Avery, LL. D., of the Chair of Chemistry and Natural Philsolophy, deserves honorable mention. lie has been for thirty years at his post, and has gone through with his accustom'ed course of lectures every year; having lost none by sickness or absence, an example of constancy and fidelity truly remarkable. We should love to speak of other professors. They are the right men in the right places. The mature writing, and the manly, natural, earnest speaking of Commencement plainly showed, at least that the Chair of Rhetoric and El ocution is well filled. ¥e regard Prof. Upson, indeed, as a man of rare gifts for his place—so lively, genial, witty, play ful and youthful in his own feelings, we know the young men must like him; and at the same time so simple, so nat ural, and yet so able; so manly, and yet so elegant in hig own style, we do not see how he can help being a good teach er, while he is necessarily a good model in his department. And as success in professional life so often depends solely upon good speaking, the importance of having in such an institution the right kind of a professor of Rhetoric cannot easily bo over-estimated. Hamilton is peculiarly fortunate in this respect. Another thing favors this college—it has a noble constiuency. It is conced ed, we believe, that every such institu tion,'while it should not he sectarian, yet must be closely allied to some reli gious denomiuation, to which it shall look for sympathy counsel'and support. This looks to the Presbyterian Church of our own branch; and this is the home of this branch. In no other part of our land is our church so strong, so compact, as here; and in no part, we ventfhre to say, more intelligent, or more enterpris ing. Let them see to it that their own college is well cared For and well pat ronized. It will be'their fault’alone if it is nbt, in the next fifty years, in all respects, one of the very first colleges of the land. Grateful for the generous assistance afforded by Philadelphia and New York, her more immediate friends patrons intend to make her so. PRESBYTERY OF ST. LAWRENCE, This body convened in its semi-annual meeting at the beautiful village of Wad dington, on the St. Lawrence River, on the 12th inst. The opening sermon was preached by Rev. Bliss Burnap, of Masoena. Rev. S. W. Pratt, of Brasher Palis, was elected Moderator, and preach ed a missionary sermon in the evening, and Eev. A. C. Riggs, of Potsdam, preached the communion sermon, next day. It wilf be remembered that this was the Presbytery which sent an overture to the General Assembly, praying that immediate and positive steps might be taken for a re-union of Old and New School Presbyterians. The Presbytery of Ogdensburgb,, (O. S.) in the same county, sent a similar overture —in the same words —to the Old School General Assembly. These 'Presbyteries are ripe for a re-union. As further proof of it, a proposition was presented to the Pres bytery of St. Lawrence, from the Pres bytery of Ogdensburgb, in their recent meeting, that the two bodies should O' unite in supporting a Home Missionary for the county. The proposal was re ceived with favor. The interests and wants of Foreign Missions also came under review, and the need of a special effort to aid the American Board, by special contribu tion, in this time of its great embarrass ment, was earnestly and judiciously presented by Rev. S. W. Pratt, the “ Presbyterial Agent for Missions.” It is hoped that the churches of St. Law rence will do all in their power in this direction before the close of August. The meeting of Presbytery passed off pleasantly, and with special interest attending most of its exercises. The semi-annual meeting of the St. Lawrence County Sunday School Teach ers’ Association was held on the 14th, at Brasher Falls, was well attended, and was a pleasant and profitable gathering. The friends of Sunday Schools from Ogdensburgb chartered a car, and went out in strong force, under the lead of Col. Redington, and with our good friend Rev. Mr. Miller as Chaplain. It was voted to employ a Sunday School Mis sionary for the county, with the deter mination that everything possible sW bo done to promote the thoroughness, completeness and efficiency of the Sun day School work in this county. PERSONAL. Rev. Jaimes W. Grusb, a graduate of Williams College, and of East Windsor Seminary, is now supplying the- pulpit at Potsdam Junction. He is a young man of fine promise, and is a valuable acquisition to the ministerial force <sf that region. He has previously been engaged for a time in the work of teaching, in Canton. We give him cor dial welcome to the more direct work of preaching the everlasting gospel. Rochester, July 30, 1864. CHAPLAIN STEWART’S LETTER. Washington, D. C., July 30,1864. LAWFUL TO BE TAUGHT BY AN ENEMY, Dear Bro. Hears : —This was a trite and sensible old maxim, and long centu ries since copied into Christian litera ture. The magnitude and difficulties connected with our present civil com motions, should render us as a people docile of teaching from all sources whence practical information -may he drawn. We are, however, such a proud and conceited folk, having such an evi dent consciousness of our own great ness, and so glorying in our superior shrewdness, wisdom and ability; that we are quite unwilling to assume the attitude of docility and become learners at any despised shrine of knowledge, becoming especially indignant when in vited to borrow from, and in certain matters become imitators of our rebel enemies, HOME LEAGUES. WOMAN’S SELF-DENIAL. Quite a stir bas been made in various places through the North, by the for mation of Home Leagues among the ladies, they pledging themselves, after speeches, essays nnd various patriotic deliverances, to eat nothing, wear noth ing, use nothing, buy nothing of'foreign manufacture and importation while our present war struggles .continue. This covonant is, perhaps;-modified in certain high places with the cautious proviso, “Unless the article desired cannot be purchased in the home market, nor of domestic, manufacture.” No one possessing any intelligent con ception of Northern society, with its present conditions, ever seriously imag ined that these Leagues were about to become general, or exert any visible or practical influence in stopping the enor- mous flow of'our'gold and silver to for eign countries, for their gewgaws and PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 1864. luxuries. The few ladies who arc in earnest in this matter, might as well clasp hands and wade into the Niagara River above the falls with a view to stop its current, as thus attempt to dam up the present broad aud deep flow of pride, extravagance and luxury. And wby confine these leagues to the ladies ? The gentlemen seem quite as fond of extras as they; wear about as many rich foreign fabrics; drink quite as much and varied foreign composts; and eat as many imported luxuries. Why not therefore have our lords of creation lead off in these patriotic Home Leagues? Not they indeed. Surely not out of place is it here to ask: “ How are the rebels acting in this matter ?” It may he readily an swered, “ They are of course all Home Leaguers, and this too from necessity.” ‘ Much truth no doubt there is in the as sertioiT; yet we apprehend not all the realities of the case. Everywhere during the late advance of our army through Yirginia to Petersburg* was evidence" among the inhabitants of new and hith erto untried efforts at home production —this, not only in the immense and flourishing corn-fields noticed in a pre vious letter, but in the production of a more than ordinary quantitf of wheat, rye and oats—an’ unusual quantity of Irish and sweet potatoes planted, also beans, squashes and pumpkins, with patches of flax and cotton. An increase in the amount of home mjanufactured cloth was evident on all tile prisoners taken, and on all of the enemy’s dead we buried. Surprising to all of was the fact, that nearly every farm of any pretension from the Rapid Ann to Petersburg, had its icehouse well-filled,"and although the cakes of ice were thin, yet clear and well preserved. These proved a godsend to our field hospitals in every advance made. Many of these ice houses are far away from any river, considerable stream, or natural pond. Although the water was frequently all dried up from whence theice had been taken, yet were the ingenious shifts fot its production still evident. A dam had been made in the fall season below or around each spring, or across every running brook. Large and deep holes had been dug in marshy places, and as the ice formed on these it had been collected and carefully housed. Several favorable occasions were af forded nie during the past season for: forming a somewhat earnest judgment with respect to the feelings and purpo ses of Southern women in connection with this war. Former convictions have thus been greatly strengthened, that tho South stands to-day quite as much indebted for a successful prolong ation of this struggle to her women, as to her generals and soldiers in the field. Fully, fiercely, terribly, malignantly have they entered into this conflict. In many localities I am fully persuaded that neither friend, relative, or neigh bor, capable of bearing arms, would be allowed to remaiu at homer The fe males in their zeal would find some means to scorctf him away into the military service. A number of these Confederate females have declared to me, that although their present sacrifi ces are a seeming necessity,.yet by tbe Loyal women of the South as they term them —and they are all thus terribly loyal —these sacrifices are most cheer fully borne; each of their former luxuries be now commanded all would cheerfully go the government and army; and that they have,a pride as well as principle in using a home produc tion both of food and apparel, however" coarse. Genesee, R ot long since, daring our numerous marchings and campings, I was called .to visit on pass and military duty, -4. family of F. F. V’s., from all appearance, previous to the war, the home of wealth, refinement and luxury, but now, owing to the marching over and camping thereon of our immense army, every thing is laid waste. Abled bodied slaves were all gone; a few, too old and too young for use, left as a burden ; fences, cattle, crops, outhouses all having dis appeared; the old homestead, with a small yard enclosed by palings, alone remaining. The family were a digni fied old gentleman, several daughters, and some female relatives, the son being in the Southern army. After the busi ness, in hand was arranged, a long and interesting conversation ensued. When speaking of the desolation of everything around, inquiry was made, as to how they expected to get through the coming season. “ The Lord only knows for I do not!” was the old gen tleman’s sad response. A daughter of some twenty summers, full of life, energy and bubbling over with South ern and Confederate sympathies, inter posed ; " Oh, never fear, we’ll get through somehow. We are now Kving, and ra ther comfortably too, on jrhat before the war we "carelessly‘t'hfCw away. Be fore this war commenced, the idea of ICE HOUSES. doing what is called work never once en tered my mind, now I am laboring hard every day from morn till eve, and feel the better for it. We’ll get along some way.” Thus it is that the Lord is strangely working a speedy and radical revolution in all the social feelings and habits of the South, lowering pride and vanity; leveling a self-constituted aristocracy to the ordinary grade of human sympa thies and duties; developing also in an unexpected andremarkable manner, the latent energies of what we have been want to look upon as an almost effete race. More than this also, God is un loosing those that were bound, elevating the lowly, removing stumbling-blocks, and placing before a long despised race, new hopes, new desoires, new prospects, with the addition of a field hitherto un seen for rewarded energy and industry. When this war has terminated with a restored union .and permanent peace, all the peoples of the South will he found in an entirely novel condition; full of energy, zeal and self-reliance, henceforth to become a vigorous, yet loving, com petitoifto the North in all the elements of national greatness, a population which in coming years will wonderfully devel ope the national resources of this glori ous Southern portion of our union, mak ing it, as it ought to be, a garden spot of earth. We . have evidently failed to look closely enough into the various elements of internal strength which have so unex pectedly enabled the South to carry on this war so long, and with such tremen dous energies. One chief source, beyond question, is a self-sacrifice among all classes, which we of the North, and in this the hour of our country’s need and trial, are called upon especially to imi tarc. Fas estet ab haste doceri. Our peo ple should not allow themselves to be wheedled into the belief, that the pre sent enormous prices for every necessary of life, together with the alarming re duction in the value of Greenbacks is owing to the tricks and cunning of stock jobbers, brokers and traffickers in gold and silver. The causes are natural and legitimate and lie far deeper than all these pretences. The self-sacrifice and patriotism of our people must come uni tedly to the rescue, else will this rise in our staples and fall in our money, con tinue, until a barrel of flour in our North ern market when paid for in Federal money/will command as high a rate as the srime article now in Richmond, tritded for in Cbicifcderate scrip. Let us not therefore reject wholesome lessons of instruction though coming from our enemies. A. M. Stewart. U- S. CHRISTIAN COMMISSION, Interesting Report from Rev. Geo. Duffield, Jr, Adrian, Mich., July 21, 1864. George H. Stuart, Esq. —My Very Lear Brother: In addition to various other things stolen by the l'ebels in their recent raid, I must hold them responsi ble for two very precious days, one of which I expected, according to promise, to spend with you at Philadelphia, in talking over the present operations and prospects of the Christian Commission. To use a favorite expression of the freed men, which is on their tongues from morning till night, it is indeed an “ in stitution,” and much as I loved it before, after the experience of the last four weeks I love it a thousand-fold more than ever. Count mo in for the war, to the last man and the last dollar, to put down this infamous rebellion; aud while the war lasts, heart and mind and soul and strength. Count me also in for the. Christian Commission. My recent experience at Bermuda Hundred and vicinity has been very different from that at Gettysburg a year ago. Then I saw suffering, but mainly in the particular form of gunshot wounds and dismembered limbs. Patience in suffering I saw on the part of the soldier, fortitude that could not he surpassed; hope in such extremities where hope seemed utterly impossible; resignation without a murmur to the loss of arms, and legs, and eyes; peace and triumph in death. To minister to these noble fellows part of the stores provided for them by our Commission was one of the most precious privileges in the way of service in which I have ever been per mitted to engage. The day that.l met the “ walking cases” on their way to the depot—scores of them falling faint and weary by the wayside—and found myself with a full carpet bag ready to relieve their more immediate wants, was one of the happiest days in all my life. For the Contents of that bag, if any one had offered me $5OOO in gold I would have laughed him to scorn. The “ blessing of many that are ready to perish,” of all earthly blessings goes the deepest and lasts the longest. Prom the way that I now write, you can see. that the savor of it has not entirely exhaled even to the present moment] , Wfiaf Phave' se'en at 'Beriniida Hun-' dred has given me a deeper sympathy with the soldier than ever. I have seen him in the camp, sometimes where he had bad water and worse air, but where the position had to he occupied at all hazards. I have seen him on picket, going and coming at the risk of his life, not knowing whether the sharpshooters would ever peiinit him to return. I have seen him in the rifle pits, at the battery, and in the trenches, and hard at work under a burning mid-day sun to complete fortifications that might be attacked the very next moment. I have seen him on the long and dusty march, carrying his shoes because.,his feet were swollen too much to be con tained in them any longer. I have seen him after a march, particularly Wilson’s and Kantz’s cavalry after their, terrible raids—man and horse alike exhausted, and dropping together side by side into the dust—sleep wanted more than water; rest more than food. I haVe seen them, as the result of such fatigue, by scores and hundreds in the hospital with typhoid fever, and in all those things 1 have seen such a commentary, on the words of Paul —“ to endure hardness as a good soldier” —as I have met no where else. Such as it is, therefore, and as far as it will go, I am ready to bear my testi mony as follows: 1. As to the field of Christian labor and benevolence embraced within the plan of our Commission. It is large; it is encouraging; it is “white unto the harvest;” I scarcely see any end to the number of voluntary laborers that might be profitably employed, or the amount of money that might be judi ciously expended upon it. At Bermuda Station, for example, there was great variety in our labor. # One day supplies were to be sent off to the Point of Bocks station. Another day some twenty different hospitals were to be visited, and the day following their wants sup plied. A. third day, Shaw’s Colored Regiment halted for some hours in otir vicinity and there was a fair chance to dis tribute reading matter. A fourth day the hot weather vmb upon us; the surgeon and assistant surgeon of a neighboring regiment were sick; so was the colonel, so were the officers. The soldiers came to the tent in scores, and converted it into a regular apothecary ’s shop. Ginger, laudanum and blackberry did wonders. Then a pickle and a couple of crackers; some dried fruit, or a lemon to bring up the appetite. The thanks of the sol diers knew no bounds. “ I tell you,” said one of them, just as I was leaving, “hut for the Christian Commission, I would be under the sod, and so would a good many more of us.” Said another man, a quartermaster, “ I have been watching you men in that tent, and I must say I think you are' doing the right sort of work. Yesterday I got a letter from my brother-in-law who is a preacher, telling me about his nice choir, fine congregation, pleasant settlement and all that. I told him to come down hereto Bermuda andhe could exemplify more Gospel in a week than he could at heme in a twelvemonth!” The quarter master (not a professor of religion) was about right. Another day a battle had taken place in -which the 18th Corps were engaged, Five of our delegates started by daylight, and helped to unload nearly fifty ambu lances, to bury the dead, to help the wounded, to write letters home, &c. I saw some hard days at that station, but the hardest day of all was the day I sat in my empty test, and was obliged to say, “No, we are entirely out; we can’t get any more until to-morrow, or the day after!” Hard as it would be to haul down the stars and stripes, I tell you my, dear would go just as much againsjb the grain to haul down the flag of the Christian Commission ! Let us nail it to the mast. 2. Another point in which I can bear most cordial and unequivocal testimony, is as to the co-operation of all the army authorities, with the Christian Commis sion, and without which co-operation the Commission of course would be a thing of naught. From the Secretary of War, who gave me a note to the Surgeon General, and through him a pass to all the wards of all thfe hospitals in and around Washington, down to the ambu lance driver, I met nothing in my work but the utmost courtesy and considera tion . If I wanted a tug, I got it from the captain of the port; a wagon, or an ambulance, or a horse, I got it from the quartermaster; a pass, it was never re fused by the provost marshal; a lot of hands to move our goods, 1 was always sype of them from the wharf-master. Everybody seemed to know that the Commission had the cordial approval of Gen. Grant and Gen. Butler, and to act accordingly. lam the more explicit on this point, because it is in itself an evi dence, than which I wish none'better, as to the estimate that is put upon our ser vices by the powers that be. 8. The last point on which I wish to ‘bear my testimony, and to do so' wdth even more pleasure and satisfaction than either of the others, is as.to the abundant opportupity that we have through this Commission of laboring for the spiritual good of the soldiers, and especially of preaching the Gospel. Of the three Sabbaths that I spent, each of them was more interesting than the other. The first Sabbath I preached to the army, our services were under a largo walnut tree, which suggested the text — ; ‘ Where art thou ?” 1. Under the tree of knowledge of good and evil ? 2. Under the “Fig tree?” 3. Under the “ Apple tree ?” or 4. (as I knew to be the case with many of the .100 days’ men) under the “Juniper tree?” concluding by hoping that all might be found at last under the Tree of Life. In the eve ning I preached in the tent. The next Sabbath I preached to the Navy, on board “the gun-boat Sassaeus, Capt, Roe, whose conflict with the rebel ram Albemarle,off North Carolina, takes its place in the same category with the battles of the Monitor and the Kear sarge. “Gentlemen,” saidl, “ honor will not satisfy! Here on this deck, if any where in the U. S., is the place to say it. Few have achieved equal—none can achieve greater honors than you, but do they satisfy the heart ? To do this must ye not 1 seek the honor that comes from God only ?’ ” Captain Roe is a hero, every inch of him! The next thing I hope to hear from him is, that he has fully en listed as a soldier of the Cross! The third Sabbath in some respects was the most interesting of all. . Agree ably to appointment, at 10 o’clock A. M., I found myself on the deck of the dou ble turreted monitor, Onondaga, Commo dore Melancthe Smith, of the Reformed Dutch Church. Half a mile back of us was a new battery of the enemy, 8 guns already mounted, four more mounting, and ready at any moment to' open fire upon us ! Rather interesting and sug gestive circumstances in which to preach! With the crew of the Onondaga, and part of the crew of the'- Saugus, Capt. Colhoun, of the Alexander ch., Philadel phia, we had a full deck. I preaJflhed of Christ as at the head of the kingdom of Providence as well as the kingdom of Grace—as the Saviour of Nations as well as individuals. The iron-clads had taught us the use of Providence in the original monitors, as nothing else had done during the entire war, &c. Solemn as it was to preach, howevor, in such circumstancos, it was still more solemn to pray, —the nearest congrega tion to Richmond of loyal worshippers of any in the Ignited States, and. that ser vice held for the first time! At the close of the service, at Capt. Smith’s re quest I organized a Sunday school. Testaments were distributed to some 20 of the hands who desired them; reli gious books were distributed. On a call by Capt. Smith for teachers, several officers volunteered their services; a regular time was appointed for the exZ ercises of the Onondaga Sunday school, and with the exception of the officers constantly on the look" out for the “ ram,” I suspect that the rest of us for the time being foi’got all about both the ram and the battery. In the afternoon we had a mass meet ing in the yard of the provost marshal, made up of soldiers, sailors, long-shore men, freedmen, male and female, and towards the last, of nearly one hundred rebel prisoners who had the benefit of our services. Lev. Messrs. Lester, of Penna., Fay, of N. H., Mcßay, of Brooklyn, L. 1., and your humble servant from Michigan, endeavored to preach Christ and him crucified, and we trust,not without hope, that some good was accomplished. At the close of the meeting an old slave, apparently over 70 years of age, came ujr and shook hands with us, as if his joy knew no bounds. “De fus time, yeSjdepus time I’s ever been to church!” God helping our brethren, we are sure it will not be the last. In the evening about 9 o’clock, we thought as we were all most thoroughly fatigued, we would have family worship and retire. But singing brought aeongre gation of freedmen around us, such as we dare not dismiss, and again we preached of him who came “to open the prison doors to those that were bound, and proclaim the acceptable year' of the Lord.” It was hard, very hard, to say good bye to such hearers, and the only thing that reconciled us,to it was that there would soon be other ministers to take our place. Sincerely yours in the best of bonds, George Dufpield, Jr. PEESB'H OHUBOH, BEVEBLY, B. J. This comparatively new church, now under the ministry of Rev. P. C. Headley, is again prospering. There is a good degree of unity, and the small sanctuary is filled. It is the only New School church in that region, and in a beautiful village, or rather city, with considerable wealth. It ought to be come a strong and grcatly useful church. The Sabbath school is flourishing under the eare of Mr. G. F. 'Work.
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