LETTER PROM THE COUNTRY. BV REV. UANIAL MARCH, D. D. It is often said that the most enthusi astic praises of life in the country have been written by men who havo spent the most of their days in the crowded and noisy city. And many quote the saying to insinuate that the attractions of the country are due to the fancy of the poet or the finoporiods of the essay ist, rather than to nature. But I do not know who has a better right to praise tlic country, or who should have a higher susceptibility to its charms, than the hard-worked denizens of the city who gaze upon green fields and listen to tho bubble of running brooks only one month in tbo year. Paved streets and a corner house, and a South ern exposure, and a railway on both sides from September to August, are Quite enough to make a quiet rural re treat seem more charming than poets ever sung, while the dog-star rages. In such a calm nook embayed, with the rush and the roar of tho great world in the distance, I write. From tho open window I iook forth upon “a most liv ing landscape,” with no other human habitation in. view. A white cottage with green blinds and wide projecting roof looks down a grassy slope, at the loot of which a busy brook “ sings all night a quiet tune.” A little father down a hydraulic ram hammers night and day in a woodon box, and the pro duct of his ceaseless pounding is seen in the silvery spray of a fountain shoot ing its deliberate stream high in air in front of onr piazza. In tho silence of tho night the blows sound as if struck by a human hand, and many times at the moment of waking I have felt some thing like pity for the poor slave doomed to work day and night without rest to afford a trifling pleasure to others. The brook pursues a natural channel, and yet it turns in at the upper corner of the house-yard lawn, as if on purpose to bid us good morning and sing us a mer ry song at our front door out of mere good nature and the lovo of singing, and then returns to the longer stream, from which it separated only to leave a bless ing at our feet. Tho stone wall be tween us and the high road is grey with tho moss of years and more than half concealed with shrubbery and tho two together form an outline’ which rivals the course of the brook in the graceful irregularity of nature. Bock maples of a century’s growth, with shaggy trunks shooting out immense roots on tho sur face of the ground, supply natural set tees for a dozen afternoon congregations beneath their branches. The delicate •foliage of the locust and mountain ash mingled with tho tulip and sycamore, make a miniature forest of the whole enclosure admitting just enough of sun shine to keep the grass green and dry up the dews of the morning. To-day at noon with a cloudless sky I look up from my window through an opening in the thick foliage directly in tho face of the sun, without blinking, and the trees cast no shadow. The red raysean only struggle through tho smoky air and the whole landscape assumes a lurid and ominous aspect in the dim sepulchral light. Crickets and katy-dids, locusts and grass-hoppers and tho whole tribe of grating and sawing insects take their turn in keeping up their monotonous music day and night. I havo not yet learned to distinguish the murmur of tho brook and tho rustlo of the leaves swayed by the night wind, from the dropping rain, and many times in these hot and sultry nights have I waked with thanksgiving for tho-refreshing shower, When tho early morning showed that the^ thirsty grass had not even received the'baptism of the dew. And this sure ly is a good place for tho shattered nerves and tho jaded mind to recover natural tone and elasticity for a winter campaign of work in tho great city. In such a calm retreat as this might the Divine Teacher himself have retired to “ rest a while”, ,with his disciples, from his great and urgent mission. Neither mind nor body can work without learn ing. The secret of doing most in a life time, and bearing great responsibilities without sinking, is to knowhow to rest. Nothing is more fatal to all freshness and versatility in the writer or preacher, than a oontinual hammering upon the more familiar themes and tho perform ance of the same unvarying service through all the year. Nine months of a minister’s vigorous and cheerful work in the pulpit and parish are worth more to any congregation than twelve months of weary and faithful effort to sustain burdens too great for body or mind to bear. And no manismoroin need of en tire release for a time from all public re ‘ sponsibilities than the overworked city pastor who for ten months has been striv ing to answer demands-which his heart and conscience accept as duty, but which neither day nor night are ever long enough for hint to fulfill. Do not think, however, my dear Pres byterian, that this quiet valley is in all respects such a “ lodge” as tho gentle Oowper sighed to find. Every day the mail bag brings tho “ rumor of wrong and outrage” to our own cottage door. Six times a day tho rail road train thunders by within fifty rods of my window. Choosing my position and looking a little more careful from be neath the maples, I'can see farm houses strewn at brief intervals up and down tho valley. Just above us on the moun tain, tho Coast Survey has a station, and one of the party has been up there every day all summer making signals to another seventy miles north on the top of Mount Tom. Across the mead ows in another direction is a cave which served as a hiding place two hundred years ago for two of the judges who passed sentence of death upon Charles I, of England. A mile or two beyond in the same direction, is the house in which Bellamy, the great theologian andpreaeh er was born, —the house itself now dege nerated to the “ base use” of a cider mill and distillery. Northward three miles and still in sight, is the houso of the lamented and good Admiral Foote. And as paradise itself must have its serpent, so this quiet valley must have its copperhead. Our hay-maker found a live one in the grass the other day, and I myself saw tho body of tho venomous beast after his copper crown was re moved. Our whole family of seven teen were called out to examine the peculiar brown and wkity stripes on the back of tho reptile, that all might recognize and avoid such dangerous' company in our rural walks. lam still more sorry to admit that in this fearful valley havo been found specimens of that new and more dangerous species of copperheads by whose envenomous fangs the heart of our national Union is sorely wounded. How strange that disloyalty should find a hiding place . where tho very air breathes freedom, every day’s experience of domestic life inspires the love of country and shows the preciousness of the interests that arc staked upon the national cause. Brookß’ Tale, Con., Aug. 10, 1864. FROM THE DELAWARE WATER GAP. Think of Mamrhkaehunk as a railroad junction! At the base of tho mountain where, in our early morning horseback rides ten years ago, we used to hear only tho silvery notes of birds ringing out merrily along tho wooded slopes, we are now summoned to “ change ears for the Gapand while standing on a little platform almost bewildered by the strangeness of the once familiar spot, a roar is heard from the black depths of a yawning tunnel, and out thunders “ the train from New York,” from- Hades we should bo more inclined to say, did we not soon discover that the passengers, instead of being wot and dripping from the Styx, are sweltering from the fer vors of our own August sun, and thick ly powderod with tho unmistakable New Jersey dust. Wc cross the Delaware on a close railroad bridgo, and wo say shame-on human progress for such a dungeon-of a crossing! Where is the romantic little flat-boat that was wont to receive us in other days, carriage, horses and all, and bear us over with setting poles, while wo watched tho mirrored mountains as they quivered in the rippled stream? But yonder appears the Gap. Fortunate ly human enterprise has not changed that, and the ages havo not changed it. As wo sweep along the windings of the riVer through the narrow passage, and look up at tho confronting summits, tho old question always returns, How was the Gap produced ? Did the river as it wandered hither some pleasant day of a distant epoch, find the opening made beforehand for its purpose, or did it gather the proportions of a lake in the vallies above, and by sudden or gradual assailment demand and achieve this wonderful outlet ? The question is always left unanswerd, at least passed over for some gifted Pickwick to bolvc, while we fall to admiring the scenery, as by whatever theory, it evidently is in fact. • Hanging on the dark green front of the mountain, like the white brooch of an Indian girl, is the “ Kittatinny House,” now thronged with guests from Hew York and Philadelphia; and far up upon the very summit waves a bright national flag which a jolly com pany of ladies and gentlemen have, with much toilsome climbing and patriotic persistence, succeeded in unfurling to the breeze. This is an annual ceremony and forms an occasion around which clusters very much of fun and frolic, to say nothing of the splendid look-out, the mountain appetite, the renewed vigor and improved digestion. We con fess to a great fancy for the Gap and all its surroundings and belongings. It is PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 18,1864. rich in variety, as tho radiating centre of many romantic rides and walks and climbings and boatings and swimmings. Its rides arc far more to our mind than the dusty drives along the monotonous beach of sonic sea-sido bathing place Narrow, winding roads embowered with trees—and presenting constantly new views—now crossing a rich valley with clear streams and rustic bridges, and now looking down from the brink of a commanding bluffy these are our Ideal, and just now our pleasant reality as well. We arc very modest in expressing these preferences, for wo know how many good people there fare who love amazingly to stand in uncouth garb, clinging by scores and hundreds to a rope, and bobbing up and down in the ocean surf,- but bathing in true Paradi saical style in some secluded cove of the Delaware, beautiful as Calypso’s grotto, or floating with one’s cheek upon the limpid current whose temperature is just now so delightful, is, we think, vast ly better. J Our trio, which includes tho gifted and versatile Rev. Henry Osbourn, of Belvidere, and his genial young friend Coursen, is furnished with one rifle and two fish-hooks. The only trophies in our field sports thus fan are a crow which the subscriber shot at, (with what damaging results is not known since he flew ..immediately away,) and several trees pierced here and there around an uniniured target. In all this of course, there is added to tho pleasure of shooting, the happy reflection that the trees still Jive, and that (he crow’s health probably, continues good, and that his cheerful “ caw” will long echo among these grand old hills. A neat little church that stands on a lesser summit beyond, the Hotel, brings hack some bygone memories of mingled pleasure and sadness. Years ago we rode from Belvidere on horse-back upon a cold winter day, and assisted the late Rev. Mr. Howell, in canvassing the neighborhood and organizing the score or more of scattered sheep into a church. Months after, we had tho further plea sure of helping to dedicate the beautiful church edifice which had been reared through tho instrumentality of a noble Philadelphia lady, and others whom her enthusiasm had enkindled; built literally upon tho “ rock,” and destined long to abide, we hope, when the last survivor of those who .cherished its be ginnings shall have gone to his rest. Mon die, hut institutions live. The la mented Howell is not hero to greet us with cordial hand, a smiling face and truthful heart. August, 1864. There have been changes in the land of which we dreamt not in those former days. War clouds have gathered since then, and covered our fair heritage with gloom. Earnest hearts have every where been roused to unexpected duties and sacrifices. The faithful pastor of this mountain church is numbered among the martyr ed chaplains. 1 “Shot,” not ‘by the Eastern sea” nor yet “by the s ia in the West” like Laura Savio’s sons,<f whom Mrs. Browningsahg; but shots. Gettys burg at the door of a hospital,' he place of duty, the place of faithful ainistra tions. So sudden and so violen a death seems doubly shocking when wfc remem- ber his gentle spirit. But it \v&s the noble exit of a noble life—a part of the great sacrifice demanded for a nation’s regeneration. ' The little “ church of the mou: now enjoys the acceptable ministi of Rev. E. J. Pierce. On applications'received frojn the churches they serve, the following min isters were commissioned by the Pres byterian Committee of Home Missjons at their last regular meeting, eighteen of whom were under commission last year: , . Rev. B. Emerson, Fairfield, ; N. J. « O.M. Legate, Carthage, •/ N. Y. « J. TV. Raynor, Springville, - i Pa. “ EY Hendricks, Philadelphia, / Pa. “ A. Parker, Nth Madison, Monroe & Rea S. H-, Ind. « JB, D. Hoi t, Chattfield, / Minn. « J. G. Kanouse, Cottage Grove, ' Wis. « TV. E. Catlin, Camp Point, / lUs. « J. B. Shaw, Stephentown, ! N. Y. « Jacob Best, Waymart and Prompton. Pa. « E. Benedict, Jamesville, N. Y. « W. Smith. Collamer, N. Y. “ Chas. R. French, Clermont, lowa. “ J. Chanman, Irving, Barrette* Mills, vicinity,Kansas. u Joseph Wilson, Naofea, Ilia. « Jno. F. Read, • Union Mills, Pa <» H. Osborn, CircleHUe, N. Y. u Chas Wiener, Bloomfield, N. Y. “ Joseph Lowry, Rantonl, Ills. « W. 8. Taylor, Petersbnrgh, Mich. « J.Walker, Eckford, .Mich. u Chaa H. Theberath, Paterson, N. J. “ H. J. Crave, Wysox, u N. Tucker, White Lake, Mich. “ J. H. Johnston, Crawfordsville, lad* « J.L. Jones. New Berlin, g.Y. “ A. Nesbitt. Tremont, *. M A.G- Ruleffson, Synodical Missionary, « W.H. Megie, Jumua, Y. Rev. Hubbard "Winslow, D./R.j of New York, died at Williston, Yt., Aug. 13. He was thirty years ago, the very successful pastor of Bowdoin,St. ©hurch, Boston; afterwards pastor of tip Pres byterian church, Geneva, E e\v| York, and author of works on menial and moral philosophy and practical theo logy. | HOME MISSIONS. fkttfjmg §toflip«- Presbyterian. Shorter Catechism.— Rev. H. S. M’Kee, D. jD„ of the Presbyterian Church in Ire land, has translated 'the Shorter Catechism into the Hebrew and also the Syriac lan guages, and thus opened up this excellent form of sound words to the Jew, in those tongues which he considers the most sacred of all others. Death of a Divine of the United Pres byterian Church: Rev. Isaiah Niblock, D. D., having served bis own generation, by the will of God, “ fell on sleep,” in his residence, in the borough of Butler, Pa., on the 29th of June, 1864, at 2 o’clock, 45 minutes, P. M. Three score and ten years a pilgrim and stranger oq earth, he. has now entered as ,we trust, “ the rest that remaineth for the people of God.” His birth-place was County Monaghan, Ireland, 1764. He stu died Divinity under the care, of Rev. John Dick, D. D., Professor of Theology in the United Secession Church, in Glasgow, Scot land, and was licensed to preach the gospel in 1817. He sailed for America and landed in New York, in 1818, and during the months of October and November of that year, preached in Philadelphia. During a ministry of over 45 years in Butler county, he baptized about two thousand children and adults, and joined over two hundred couples in marriage.— The United Presbyterian. ■ The Board of Missiods of the United Presbyterian Church makes an earnest ap peal in behalf of their pressing wants. The stations are in Syria, India, Egypt, China, and Italy. Missionary Coming Home.— Rev. Henry M. Scudder, ]5. !>., of India, has been advised by the Mission to return to this country, in stead of going to the Cape of Good Hope, and he has embarked for the United States via England, with his family. Moderator for two Years. — The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland met in Belfast, July s*. Rev. John Rogers was re-elected Moderator, it being the first time in the history of the Irish Church that a man has been elected to the chair for two successive years. Mr. Rogers iij the rival of Dr. Cooke, and it is as such that he has succeeded. Congregational, Dimissed. — Rev. K. B. Thurston of Wal tham Mass., who has an excellent essay in the last number of the Presbyterian nd The ological Review, on the relation of the pulpit to the state, has just been dismissed from his charge in W . Anniversary at Andover Theological Seminary. —These services began on Sabbath after noon, July 31st, with the sermon before the graduating class, by Rev. J. P. Thompson, D. D. His text was from Rom. xvi: 25—27. His subject, the Divine origin of Christianity proved by its adaptation to the wants of man. The sermon was one of great interest and solid instruction, reviewing other theories and so-called philosophies with his sharp analysis, and showing their insufficiency for the wants which' God has created. In the evening' Rev. E. N. Kirk, D. D. addressed the Society of Inquiry, at the Seminary Chapel. His text was from Jer. xxiii: 29. His subject was “ The efficiency and subduing power of the Gospel when ap plied to the hearts of men.” The argument was that the preacher must use it in the confidence that it has such power in itself. After the usual services the parting hymn was sung by the class; prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Parker (Baptist) of Philadel phia, and the exercises were closed with the benediction, after which the invited guests repaired to the Mansion House for the an niversary dinner, as the last and not least agreeable* of the exercises, to experienced theologians. It is very gratifying to know that Prof. Park is to return early in September, with his health fully restored by his year of re creation, No man can recreate more suc cessfully, for himself or others, than Prof. Park, and no one, perhaps, enjoys more fully the childlike unreserve and sportive ness of German social life—few can so fully appreciate all its charms. Skill in recrea tion is not the least of the student’s neces sities, yet it is possessed by few. Prof. Thayer will return at the same time to enter upon his duties in the chair of : New Testament Greek and Exegesis, He has been associated with Prof. Park in some part of their travels. The prospects of the Seminary are very flattering, internally and externally. The endowments recently received will enable the trustees to erect two new buildings at once, one for a chapel, the other for the li brary, both of which are very much needed. It is hoped that funds may be obtained for the support of a pastor when the chapel is completed. Prof. Barrows has tendered his resignation to take effect one year hence. Prof Phelps has received leave of absence for one year, to regain and establish his health,. — Congregationalist. Death of a Young Author. —At Key West, Wm. Waldo Abbott, author of “ Our Sunday school and how we conduct it,” died of the yellow feyer recently. He was a lawyer of promise, and son of Rev. J. S. C. Abbott. Williams College. —Among the .’interest ing items in the Observer’s account of the late commencement, we find the following: Rev. Dr. James, of Albany, preached a discourse in Williamstown, Sabbath morn ing, July 31st, on the Sinfulness of Unbelief. It was so logical, convincing Jand'scriptural as to elicit the highest commendations of all the intelligent orthodox Christians who hear it. The correspondent of the Spring field Republican being present heard it with intense disgust. The text was, “He that believeth not shall be damned,” and he; thought the sermon was too much like the text. Missionaries Honored.— The Trustees con ferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity upon two of this class ; the Rev. Simeon Howard Calhoun, of Abeih, Syriah, and the' Rev. Lowell Smith, of Honolulu, Sandwich Islands. In announcing, these degrees, Pre sident Hopkins, designated the men as “ viros apostolicos, Christi et ecclesite inter gentes externas servos.” Methodist. The African Episcopal Church. —This is a body of colored Methodists who, some fifty years since, separated from the white church es, forming their own Conference. In it there are twenty-eight circuits. Of this number ten or eleven circuits belong exclu sively to New Jersey, numbering some forty five or forty-six churches. Three of these churches number one hundred or more members; four over sev.enty-five and nine or ten fifty or more members. Only five churches have twelve or less; and one in the Conference has twelve hundred members. Besides these there are colored churches connected still with the Methodist Episco pal church ; there are Independent Metho 'fc-si.s, Baptists, and Presbyterians, but of their numbers I have no means of knowing. It would be doubtless within the truth to say there are near or quite one hundred Af rican churches within the State, belonging tp the different denominations. —Boston Cong. Ministerial Exchanges with Unevangelical Clergymen. —lt was announced in the even ing papers of Boston, of Saturday, July 30, that JRev. Dr. Cook ( Methodist ) and Rev. W. 11. Oudworth (Unitarian), of East Button, would exchange pulpit services on therore noon of next day. If we are not misin formed, Rev. W. 11. Sludley, at present pastor of the Tremont St, Methodist Episcopal Church, has, within a few months, twice ex changed pulpits with well known Unitarian clergymen, of this city. While “Father Taylor,” who ranks as a Methodist, is in the habit—if we understand the facts—of ex changing freely with ministers of all de nominations who will exchange with him. We should be glad to be informed whether the great Methodist denomination is becom ing so far “ liberalized” as to enjoy and en dorse such exchanges on the part of its preachers. Certainly their “ Articles of Re ligion” are sufficiently decided on the points at issue.— lbid. Rev. John Lalheran, of Nova Scotia, was recently, waited on by a deputation from a Wesleyan congregation, of which he was the pastor, and presented with a purse con taining §420, to enable him to visit England for the benefit of his health.' Such an act will not go without its reward. i Rev. Laban Clark. —This venerable father in Israel, one of the founders of the Wes leyan University, and one of the originators of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, has lately entered upon his eighty-seventh year. Though his strength is impaired by old age, he still enjoys heartily the pleasures of social intercourse, and graces with his genial spirit the circle in which he moves. He entered the ministry in 1801, and retired a few years since with the superannuated relation, after a continu ed service of fifty years— Methodist. Rev. Orrin Gillmore, a local elder of the Methodist jipiscopal Church —an uncle to Major-General Q. A. Gillmore—died at Brooklyn Centre, Ohio, February 18th, 1864, aged seventy years. He was for nearly forty years a minister of Christ in the Methodist Episcopal Church. We take a few items from the North West-, ern Christian Advocate. Bex. Wm. H. Snively, lately pastor of Union Chapel, has become a successor of the Apos tles by uniting with the Protestant Episco pal Church. -i Rev. 0. B. Thayer, formerly of the Rock River Conference; having given adhesion to the PrctestaDt Episcopal Church, a day of humiliation and prayer was appointed in which he was to receive deacon’s orders. Morris — Murray. —Methodists have a right, to be hated by traitors. A church which has given over a hundred thousand men to the army, and which is true to the princi ples at stake in this war, has a right to her martyrs. The Central says: “ An aged local preacher, named Morris, was cruelly put to death by guerrillas in Platt county. They first put out his eyes and then Bhot him.” To the same paper G. M. Lane writes: “On July 3d, forty-first year of his age, about five miles from his farm in Bollinger county, Mo., Bennett Murray was shot by a gang of thieves and murderers. He was found by some of his friends shortly after he was shot, cold in death with a beautiful smile on bis countenance. He joined the Mgthpdist Episcopal Church and was con veTOßTin his seventeenth year, and lived a ennsistent Christian until the hour of his death. His death is a great loss to the com munity in which he lived, but a greater loss to the small society of which he was class leader. He leaves an aged mother and a large family, the eldest son in the army, to mourn the loss of a loving son, a kind hus band and an affectionate father.” Professor F. H. Newhall, of the Wesleyan University, has been drafted in Boston, where he had been enrolled previous to his removal to Middletown, Conn. Having been slso en rolled in Connecticut, it is a question whether the draft in Massachusetts can hold him. Baptist. Brown University. —At the approaching Commencement, the One Hundredth Anni versary of the founding of Brown Univer sity will be celebrated. It will be an occa sion of great interest, not only to the alumni, but to the whole body of the Baptist de nomination in America.— Examiner,. Death of a Divine. — Rev, Duncan Dunbar , a well known and highly esteemed Baptist minister, who was for many years pastor of the MacDougal Street Church, New York, died in that city, on Saturday morning the 30th ult., in the 73d year of his age. Episcopal. Resignation. —The Right Rev. Dr. Anderson, Bishop of Rupert's Land—a diocease which extends over 300,000 sqare miles—is on his way to England to resign his Episcopal office. Color in Philadelphia. —Something must be done to save the consistency of the “City of Brotherly Love.” Either the names or the customs ought to be changed. The Episcopal Recorder of this city contained, last week, a letter “To the Christian public ot Philadelphia,” signed by “ William John son Alston, Rector of St. Thomas's Episco pal Church," giving an account of the writer’s exclusion from the Lombard and South street cars, to which he applied for admission one hot day, with a sick and faint ing child in his arms. The writer says he was born and raised in the South, and hav ing travelled over most of the United States, must confess that he never before “ met with a barbarity so satanical and heathenish in its character.” After an appeal to the Christian feeliDg of the public, the sufferer more pertinently reminds his readers that black people own $lOO,OOO worth of pro perty on the line of this very road, over which they cannot , ride, though they pay like others. Some other things he says about the negroes fighting for the common cause in the army, and that he “ whose dying child was thrust out of a street car” has .in his congregation “ an ac tive auxiliary to the Women’s Sanitary Commission." We cannot read this with self-righteous complacency; but we rejoice that New York, though only yesterday, as it were, has shaken off the absurdity that made the white man's five cents so much better than the black man’s. It is a won der how the silly thing vanished at the first application of common sense, Vhen our peo ple, by God’s providence, had the scales dropped from their eyes. The same touch stone will accomplish the work in Philadel phia ; and yet it is but one and a very little thing, among the many that we must do in the way of justice to the black people, before we can hope for the blessing of God, and the restoration of peace and union. While the free negroes of Louisiana, rich, educated and loyal, are yet ostracised—and while the atrocities of Fort Pillow and a score of other murderous fields are yet unrecognized > and unpunished—we shall need more than fast ing and prayer to save us. “ Is not this the fast that I have chos"a?” asked a prophet in the u:den time, “ io loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke ?”— N. T. Examiner. Miscellaneous Religion in New Orleans. —Northern min isters dispense the gospel wherever it is dis pensed. Eight of the ten Presbyterian churches are closed. Rev. Mr. Chubluck, for merly of Pittsfield, Mass., supplies the only Episcopal church which is open regularly. Rev. Dr. Newman, formerly of New York ’supplies the Methodists, and has the larg est congregation in the city. Rev. Mr. Hor ton, oi Boston, supplies the Baptists. All these churches are largely dependent upon Northern liberality, and very few of the native population vital religion. The theaters, open reg ularly on Sunday, draw larger audiences even of N. E. men ; and-stars and shoulder straps, worn by men high in authority, crowd the seats of the playhouse, while churches and prayer meetings,are left un filled.—Correspondent of Oongregattonalist. Plagiarism— Say 4 the .Congregationalist: Dr. Richard Newton of "Philadelphia, can write too easily and too well himself to find it necessary to steal from, others, and we are surprised to find that “Hot Coals," the beautiful story published two yveeks since on our fourth page, and copied from the Doctor’s last book called “ The Safe Com pass,” never originated with his fertile brain. It was written above three years since; by our former contributor. “ Lynde Palmer,” (Mrs. M. A. Peebles of Lansingburg, N. Y.) and first published in the Tract Journal, and it may also be found in her delightful little volume for boys, called “ Helps over Hard Places.” Dr. Newton’s books, “Best Things,” “ King’s Highway,” etc., furnish some of the finest stories and illustra tions for children that we have ever seen. We wonder how many of them were taken verbatim from other authors without credit. [We do not think the excellent rector of the Epiphany ever intended it to be under stood that he claimed the authorship of any the illustrations he has used. Such in not our opinion. The Congregationalist is in an over-critical fit.— Ed. Am. Fresh.) What the Quakers say. —The Friends’ Review •takes up the subject of the draft, and we are forced to say that there are some things in the article that do not tend to increase our respect for the portion of the Quakers who refuse to bear a part in the burdens of our common country. There are, indeed, many of this persuasion who are helping the Government, both with military service and money ; for them there can be nothing bub praise. But we learn, from the Review, that there are others who refuse not only to be drafted, or to pay commutation, or war ■takes, but who will nbt even enter a hospi tal or tend a wounded soldier: “ It is understood," says the Review, “ that the Secretary of War, recognizing the scru ples of Friends against acting as surgeons or nurses in military hospitals, and know ing how earnestly they are engaged in pro moting the welfare of the freed people, will take care to assign them to positions which shall not interfere with their religious prin ciples.”—Examiner. Prof. Newman’s Apology. —Prof. Newman, once an eminent English Churchman, a man of excellent parts, eloquent and sin cere, but now a Roman Catholic, has made a great sensation lately, by an autobigraphi cal sketch, entitled, Apologia pro vita sera. It was occasioned by some remarks of Charles Kingsley, reflecting upon the vera city of Dr. Newman, and of Romanists gene rally; and, taken by . itself, is a brilliant illustration of the truth that “ there is a way that seemeth right to a man, but the end therof are the ways of death." All the in sincerity and superficiality that inheres to the English Church, neither makes Roman ism better or improves in the least. Profes sor Newman's position. “ Out of the frying pan into the fire,” is the plainest idiomatic account that one can give of his effort to better himself. But Mr. Kingsley was very unfortunate in attempting to fix upon Prof. Newman the charge of dishonesty. He ex posed not only himself, but the whole Church that he assumed to represent, and in whose interest he attacked the able and fanatical apostate. The English Church is too vulnerable, and Dr. Newman under stands the weak places too well. — Ibid. Bevivals. Camp Distribution, Va. —A correspondent of the Zion’s Herald says: The Revival. —A most interesting one is in progress here. Meetings are heldin the chapel three times each day, and from fifteen to twenty-five come to the anxious seat when ever invited; here they often break forth in audible prayer for themselves, and with a power and pathos which show how mighti ly the Spirit is working in their hearts. On some of these occasions the power of God is signally manifested in awakenings and conversions.- A large number of brethren in the army are full of the revival spirit, praying and exhorting with great point and power. Last evening, after a sermon by Bro. Morrill, a Delegate from' Maine, twen ty-six presented themselves for The Holy Spirit came in power upon the con gregation apd the scene was quite like a public meeting at one of our most success ful camp meetings. No ddy passes without conversions or .reclamations from a back slidden state. Upwards of a thousand souls have been converted at this camp within a year past. , The religious exercises of the soldiers are deeply interesting. One said, “ Lam an old man; this is the first time I have set out to serve the Lord. I have a praying wife and two praying children, and they are praying for me every day. 0 how glad they will be when I write them I have given my heart to God." Another lad of 17 years, with tears streaming down his face says, “ I have a mother in heaven, and on .her death-bed I promised her I would seek religion, bnt|l have neglected it up to this time, now I am determined to fulfill my promise.” An other: “ I was on Belle Island six months, and O <how Jesus supported me and com forted me there.” - Another: “Lord, I thank thee thee that thou hast got into my heart, though I locked it up- and put away the key.” Another: “ Lord bless the offi cers of the army, don’t giyethem up, though they be mighty wicked.” Such are some of the; .unmistakable signs of a great work of grace progressing in this camp. One evening we see the Boldier bow broken hearted at the altar of prayer, then rise with beaming eyes to tell what God has done for his soul, and the next morning we see him in the ranks hurried away for the front. Writes a correspondent of the Independent, Hep. E. P. Hammond is now at St.. Paul, Minn. On the first Sabbath six churches and their pastors united in a children’s meeting, held at a hall, which was packed. In a few days, sixty-five little girls and fifty boys were holding prayer meetings in differ ent rooms, only those being received to these meetings who expressed conviction that they had truly found the Saviour. * The fervor of their prayers is reported as delight ful. Surely revivals may be promoted in mid-summer. The Good Shepherd is fold ing many lambs in that northern clime.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers