aztritait lltrsttjttriaii.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 1865
lay' No subscriptions or payments
received for less than six months. Par
ties Wishing to discontinue, and having
failed to give notice until their new year
has commenced, though liable for the en
tire year, will be held for six months
only.
THE NEXT UNION PRAYER MEETING
of the churches of our denomination in
this city, will be held in the South
western Presbyterian church, (Rev.
John McLeod's) Twentieth and Fitz
water streets, on next Tuesday evening.
A YRENOH PASTOR FOR PIEILADEL
PHIA.—We see it stated that the French
Evangelical . Church in this city is about
securing the services of Rev. N. Cir,
who has spent the last thirteen years as
a missionary to the French population in
Canada.
PROMPT AND WELL-APPLIED j3ENEFI
oniqE.,--At the weekly lecture of 'one of
the -„lnost recently organized of our city
churches, the case of a needy and
worthy brother in the ministry, not far
from the city, was mentioned by the pas
tor,..and the hope was,expressed that one
hundred, dollars might be furnished by
the congregation, to supply his more
preng- , m404. On the Sabbath follow
that he had
received and forwarded TWO HUNDRED
Datans- the' gift of his people, to the
brOther _ln' question. This is the spirit
which; if carried out, would lead- to the
establishment of the much-needed Su„.%-
TENTATION FUND.
SABBATH-SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY.—The
anniversary exercises of the Sibbath
school of the Mantua 2d church, (Rev.
L. Pratt's) took place on Sabbath, ;the
15th, instant. The school, though like
the ., church comparatively , an infaht en
terprise, is in good prosperity, numbering
but little less than two, hundred scholars,
with an active corps of teachers, under
the' efficient superintendence of Mr. Ray.
Rev. Dr. Butler and Rev. J. W. Dulles
attended and took part with the pastor
in the anniversary exercises, which were
highly satisfactory throughout. The sing
ing by the 'children
,was very animated
and correct. By the way, we rejoice' to
know that this chtirch enterprise, under
tole adniirditration Of Mr. Pratt and a
good eldership, is fast . rising' in pros
perity, and making its influence felt in
thejteighborhood where it is located.
A DISLOYAL MINISTER IMPRISONED.—
Rev. ,Frederick A. Ross, D. D., whose name
is more widely than favorably known in our
chu'rCh, has been talking up rebellion in
the reclaimed parts of Tennessee, so much
so that Gen. Steadman has found it neces
sary to place him in prison in Nashville.
It will be remembered that Dr. Ross was
theltst man toJproclaim in our General
Assembly that the Southern. ministry•and
membership planted themselves on the doc
trine that slavery was to be nourished as a
social necessity, and a Divine institution of
such rank that its breaking up would, be an
outrage upon *God's own arrm)gements for
the social status of his creatures. It was
this utterance, persistently maintained,
which wrought up- the sentiment: of the
Church to the point of action taken in
Cleavelantl, in 1857, which was followed by
the secession of the Southern ,Synods and
the divi i sion of the Church.
;t7 ' , ANOTHER MINISTER GONE.—One of the
stfonaest theolerdiahrin our church—Rev.
Dr. Azariah a: Orton—has 'gone to hiS
rest. He died in Lisle, Broome County,
Nqw,Yoiit , qu„-the 28th lilt, at the ripe age
ofteventy- myears. If we may not speak
of him as one of our most distinguished
Ipp
th 0 4 ' ma, it is only because his great
in iltyl.:Vd the utter absence within him
ogieraintir aspirationsrarCumScribece the
1..4
442 4' oge of his real worth. Those who
were` brought into acquintance with him,
and listened to his discussions and expla,na-
tions of the doctrines tof the Bible loon
felt the presence of- a "Make; in - Israel."
,His mind was deeply interested in philoso
,=,phical and scientific investigations, and he
was familiar with almost every branch of
knowledge which aids in Viblical interpre
tation or:illustration, Dr, Orton was-More
over an earnest ChriStian,and'one who took
great delight inthe Work of a quiet country
pastorate. The New York Observer, from
which we glean the abca, particulars cor
..
roborate4 by our own Peisonal knowledge'
'of the deceased, gives the following inter
estingoye. account H je.g o r f eat hi d s e l e a i s el t h 7 ou as rs :-
- . 44 In his last hours th4eavens seemed to
be Opened to this faithful servant of Christ,
and,tbsus was unspeakably precious. He
had no interest below; his treasure wai
t
'to be free
obi sin and present with the Lord.'
ioughout . his whole life he could- never
sailkokugh.against self-righteousness. His
views Alial well : 4pressed by 11113 favorite
hymn. 4 Rock of Ages,' and by the homely
couplet:
i Pm a poor sinner ;Van nothing at all
Jesus, rn.3%Saiiout,:krtijinlill. ,-..'
As dies a wave-along the shore,' 'so died
this man•a God,—peacefully, trust
, Full of faith and
,hope, he fell asleep
eatts, , and is now satisfied with Hishice
ness and• with the glory and blessedness of
the promised iest,'
THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 1865•
FROM OUR CORRESPONDING EDITOR.
We, that is to say, the Corresponding
Editor and his faithful steel pen, have been
out again upon our travels; and this time,
if names indicate anything, we might say
that we have been in foreign lands, and yet
not very far from home, after all. We
passed through Palmyra, and yet saw no
ruins;_ found ourselves in Lyons, and yet
met no gay Frenchmen; glided quietly
through Savannah, but had no time to pay
our respects to the gallant Sherman; visited
Rome, and did not even try to look.upon
the gorgeous tinsel of the Pope's tiara;
and almost the next place we came to was
Philadelphia, but not the city of brotherly
love, and we could not find in it the great
editor-in-chief of the AMERICAN PRESBYTE
RIAN, and so we passed along. What a
curious conglomeration of names we have
in this part of our State! But as we are
abroad, let us see what we can see. a.
A DAY AT CLINTON
The College is flourishing—classes as full
as usual; professors in good health and hard
at work. Hamilton has made great advance
in the last five years, and is now ready to
rece*and use well a large increase to its
funds. lt is a good foundation upon which
a very large and noble institution may well
be built. In the next five years it ought
more than to double its present endowment
and its number of students. With good
judgment and good management we are sure
this may be done.
,ROITGETON SEMINARY
This school for young ladies is also in a
very flourishing condition. It has forty
three boarders and about .as many day
scholars. We learned " from the highest
authority" that the rooms for boarding
scholars were all full; .that but one vacancy
is -likely to occur at the close of ,the present
term, and that there six applicants for the
one place.. This indicates a high degree of
prosperity, which, in our estimation, is well
deserved by the faithful labors of the asso
ciate principals, Mr. and Mrs. Gallup.
THE CLINTON CHURCH.
This has recently become Presbyterian in
form, as for some time it has been Presby
terian the majority of its members and
in the. spirit of its administration. The
yoUng pastor, Rev. Albert Erdman, who
has been settled but a short time, seems to
be doing finely in his work, and has evi
dently won-a large place in the confidence
and affection of his people. Some of them
have recently testified their regard by the
pr'esentation to him of a beautiful album.
SABBATH-SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY
It was our happy privilege to attend the
anniversary of the Missionary Association
of the Sunday-school in Clinton. It was
an interesting occasion, and evidently gave
great pleasure to a; house full Of little peo
ple, to say nothing of the older ones, who
seemed to enjoy it no less. It took the
place of the afternoon service, in the body
of the. church, showing, that the anniver
sary was deemed worthy of a good place.
It appeared from the report of the super
intendent, Dr. J.. C. Gallup, that the school
•
had raised in the last year one hundred and
five dollars, to support two native preachers
among the mountain Koords, in connection
with the Nestorian Mission. One contri
bution was touching and sacred--" two dol
lars, for Clintie, from - his mOther." This is
the' second`' time such a contribution has
been made, iir:reMombrance Of a dear boy
3 1 it o ,s used-to-love the missionary
Anse - before he went to heaven, 'about a
.Yea t . tihd=a half ago.
A PRESENTATION.
"The Superintendent of the Sunday-school
at Clinton, Dr. Gallup, was recently made
the victim of one of those overwhelming
and yet agreeable surprises so .common in
these days. The teachars and scholazs,
highly appreciating his faithful services,
had prepared a splendid volume, the Gems
of British Art, which cost some twenty or
twenty-five dollars, and on Sunday noon
the pastor beggc4jhspyivilego of saying a
few words. His speech,. eomplimentary
and graceful, was to the superintendent,
with 'the presentation of said volume. It
was-a.;.handsome testimonial of real esteem,
gracefully given.
PRESBYTERY OF WATERTOWN
This body attempted to meet in annual
session at Adams, on the 10th instant. In
cOnsequeneketa great storm , then prevail
ing a quorum was not prese'n.ion the first
day, but on the 11th business commenced.
The opening sermon was preached by. Rev.
Calvin Yale. Rev. George D. Baker, the
7oun&pastor of the Second church of Wa
tertown, was elected Moderator. Rev.
George W. Naekle, of Adams, and Elder
George W. Knowlton, of Watertown, were
elected CoMmissioners to the GrLeral As
sembly. Rev. George W. Mackie was also
appointed Commissioner for three years to
Auburn Seminary:
Special action was taken by, thieTresby
,
tell, with evident intent-to ifiddhiplish
something, in.regard to the Ministerial re
lief fund. Committees were also appointed:
from amongthe ministers, to visit the vacant
churches within the bOu'rids of the Presby
tery, and preach to them, and counsel with
them, and try . toWilapm in finding pastors,
and•kkeefing' up the ordinances - of the
gospel.
On' Thursday morning, by invitation of
.B i ev o Mr. goughton, Principal of the Hun
gerford Collegiate Institute, the whole
• ,
Presbytery visited that school, and partici
pated in the opening exercises. It is an
institution well worth visiting, and the
members of the Presbytery were evidently
much gratified with the evidences of its
prosperity. After this, almost the entire
forenoon of Thursday was spent by the
Presbytery in conference and• prayer. It
was a delightful meeting. Two hours were
spent in this manner, and the time passed
so rapidly that they did not realize it until
it was•gone. I was, we should say, the best
part of the meeting, and all were greatly
refreshed by it.
THE CHURCHES OF-WATERTOIVN
The Second ehnrch of this place is a de,
cided success. The new house of worship'
completed since we were here last year,
was diliiicated but a few weeks since, and
already every pew is taken, and the house
is-well filled from Sabbath to Sabbath. It
is a very neat church edifice, of moderate
size, built of brick, nicely frescoed in the
interior, with lecture room upon the rear.
The preaching servicesof ~ t e Sabbath,
both in the First and Second Churches of
Watertown, are morning/ ari4 evening.
Without conference together, the two pas
tors, Mr. Porter and Mr. Baker, recently,
came to the sathe conclusion, to wit, to omit
the preaching on the first Sabbath evening
of each month, and substitute, or revive,
the too much neglected monthly concert of
prayer for the heathen, and, it is foundito
work well.
In another thing, also, the same minds
were found to be working in an undesi ed
coincidence: each pastor had engage in
preaching once a month, on a Sabbath ter
noon, a sermon to children. This alter ates
with the Lord's Supper, which is ad inis:
tered on the afternoon of the Sabbath e ery
other month, and also works exceedi ly
well. An elderly clergyman was rece tly
asked what changes he should wish to m e
in his ministry, if he had it to live o r
again. His reply was, " Care more for t e
children." Let younger ministers ve
heed to good counsel.
A LIBERAL CHURCH. • 't
The little church in Brasher Falls, with
only forty members, (thirty-three females
and twelve males,) is a noble example of
Christian liberality. Within the year past
they have given five hundred and forty-two
dollars to the different causes of benevo
lence, being an average of twelve dollars to
each member. The largest contributton
given at any one time, save one, has also
been but five dollars. The money has been
collected generally in small sums, and has
been freely given by a thriving little com
munity. Much credit is due to the liberal
views of the earnest young pastor, Rey.
Mr. Pratt. He is not afraid to urge his
people to give freely to every good cause.
They take all the better care of him for
that very reason.
A MUSICAL CONVENTION 'IN 110'I'SDAM
A five days' meeting of this, sort has
recently been held in this place. It was
the annual meeting of the Northern New
York Musical Association. There were some
four hundred active members in attendance,
under the training of Professor, Emerson,
of Boston. As closing exercises two con
certs were given, one on Thursday evening
and one on Friday evening; both crowded
as compactly as they could be, by interested
and happy auditors. The convention gave
great satisfaction to the active members,
and to outside attendants. It seemedqu s
them time well spent in sacred song.
AN INTERESTING LECTURE
In this place we had the pleasure of lis
tening'to vlecture, of decided interest and
value, from the lips of Hon. CALVIN T.
HIJLBTJRD, member of Congress from this
district. Being in the neighborhood , for a
few days, he took his place in the citizens';
course. The subject of the lecture was
Lady Hester Stanhope, and the speaker
succeeded in giving us a very vivid and
-in
teresting picture of the strange and eccen
trio career of that remarkable woman; fol
loWing her through the gay halls of aristo
cratic .society in -England, presenting her
troubles and trials, her, caprices and fan
tasies, until she left her native land in dis
gust. •
The --lecturer then followed ~her in her
self-exile in the East, her visit to Jerusalem,
toTsamascus, to Palmyra of the desert, and
,
to; her strange home where at last she died,
all alone, upon Mount Lebanon. It was a
lecture of real mer i t, and gave decided
satisfaction.
AN OUTRAGE
We learned in Rome, from very good
authority, that a strolling company of " old
•
folks" singers, not content with giving a
concert in that place on Saturday evening,
proposed also to give a sacred concert on
Sunday evening. On Sunday morning it
was found that their" handbills were 'scat
tered all through the Presbyterian Church,
advertising the concert of the evening.,
tAltrwhen the evenirteieame, , the old
folks appeared, as we-are told, in their
usual and ridiculous costume of the Alden
title, and went thioligh with their exercises
not very unlike the other times, for yhich
a fee was also charged at the door. To our
minds this looks very much like - breaking
God's holy day; and we do p.ot see what
claim such " old folks" haveufoli the good
will for` patronage of those people who re
gard the Sabbath as sacred to religious
purposes. Q„,x. B.
POTSDAM January 21 ,
4615 tly tijltrttgs.
LANSING, MICHIGAN. -Our Church at
this important point, the capital of Michigan,
recently vacated by the transfer of Rev. C.
S. Armstrong to a chaplaincy in the army,
hai secured the services of Rev. J. E. Weed,
late of Toledo, as his successor.
MICHIGAN.—We learn, with satisfaction,
th!at the united churches of Dover and. Clay
ton, Michigan, have ministered to the tem
poral comfort of their pastor, Rev. H. W.
Shaw, by a: donation of one hundred and
twenty seven dollars—money and its equi
valents.
THE BEST WAY. The congregation of
Rev. Epher Virliita4e, in Southold, Long
Island, have treated their pastor to the New
Year's gift of a permanent advance of fifty
.
per cent upon his salary, winch nearly
doubles the e.nm stiPulated at the time of
his settlement, fourteen years since.
WABAsH, INDIANA.—We learn, through
the Christian Herald, that eleven, were
added to the First; Presbyterian church in
this place, at its last Communion. The
.Sab
bath-school, the prayer meeting, and the
congregation are all increasing in numbers.
A• New Year's gift of one hundred dollars,
with the compliments of the ladies of the
congregation, was handed to the pastor,
Rev. W. J. Essick.
AN ENLARGEMENT.—The South Street
Church, Morristown, New Jersey, has found
the enlargement of its church edifice a
necessity for the accommodation of a grow
ing congregation. The supply of seats has
become wholly insufficient for the demand.
The work is to be undertaken at once, about
six thousand dollars having been raised - - to
meet the expense. Rev. Arthur Mitchell
is the pastor.
CHURCH TO BE' DEDIOATED.—The neat
and convenient edifice, recently erected by
the First Presbyterian Church, in Spring
field, Montgomery county, of which Rev.
A. J. Snyder is pastor, is to be dedicated
(le next Sabbath. The pastor expects the
,
aSsiStance of Rev. Messrs. R. Adair and J.
t. Mitchell on the occasion, so interesting
lao the young and improving enterprise. The
hurch is located in Flourtown, a short dis
nce above Chestnut Hill.
D.S. COX IN WASHINGTON.—The vene
6,ble Dr. S. H. Cox, whose bow abides in
strength, is supplying the First Church in
Washington, (late Dr. Sunderland's,) for a
ew weeks. A cotemporary says that his
reputation draws full houses. There was
considerable anxiety to hear „his views in
reference to the war and slavery, which, as
they came out incidentally, were found to
be in full sympathy with the Government
on the subject of , emancipation, as well as
,
Ihe prosecution of the war to the - perfect
estoration and pacification of the Union.
ON THE ADVANCE.—The Second Pres
('yterian Church in Orange, New Jersey,
Rev. James H. Taylor, pastor,) has ad
anced nobly in the work of outside bene
tence, contributing, during the last year,
nio lel than three thousand nine hundred
dtilllarp to objects foreign to its own expenses.
This (s an increase ; of nearly thiee hundred
nt,. over the past. We are happy
also record a corresponding liberality
toWar; the pastor, giving - him, free of all
travelg expenses, a summer vacation of
two moths, and a New Year's present of a
sUigh land bells, and i a cash gift of five
hundrisct'dollars.
h art and good works. They have just
I/InwATiori.—ln Tuscola, Illinois, we
ha e a small church of thirty members, two
th rds of whom are . females, but large in
ft
'l i r s:a d t
1
a t
h b r e e a e u thiufunldhr
hundred
house oaf
fifty wor worship
persons,
which
a( cost of about three thousaud dollars. It
.was solemnly dedicated to its ,holy use on
Sabbath the 15th inst. The sermon—a
rich and heartsome discourse—was preached
by IRevi ~ A. L. Brooks, of
_Chicago, to an
audiene which filled up all the sitting and
standing(mut of the house: At the close
of the se vice a resolute attack was made
upon an gly deb i t of one thousand dollars
remainin on the property, six hundred and
fifty doll
,rs of which was promptly cast
1
among th4i:‘ "things behind." -
KINGSTbN, IND.—Rev. A. Parker, just
returned fram assisting Rev. A. T. Rankin,
pastor, in a eries of meetings in the Sand
Creek Ohch, furnishes the Christian
Hcrald,witl\ the following interesting ac
count: " There had been a number of ac
cessions to tlie church some weeks ago, and
the week, of i.ayer was looked forward to
by the pastorp.nd church with hopeful feel
ings. They have not been disappointed.
The congregations were attentive and solemn
from the first; \and the solemnity increased
to the close oDthe meetings. The Spirit
was evidently at work. Eigli4 were added
to the church—five on profession of their
faith, and three by letter. Others have ex
pressed an interest, and it is hoped many
more will be gathered into the fold. The
most solemn meeting of the series was the
closing one on Tuesday night; when the
memherS of the church who were present,
and many non-professors, rose and solemnly
pledged themselves before God, that they
would seek to cherish the revival influences,
and pray for the deepening and extension
,
of the wcfk. It was a scene to be remem
,
beree 2he congregation was dismissed,
but all seemed to feel 'lt is good for us to
be here° ariddown they sang, 'Say,
. 4., sitting
..., 1 ' ," '' ^ . '*"' ' . I. - ` 1 ) . 7! and then .were
dismissed again. It is hoped that many
there resolved the grace of God we'll
meet you.' "
MINERAL - POINT, Wis.—Appended to a
business note, from Rev. E. B. Miner,
pastor at Mineral Point, is the following
refreshing paragraph :—" The Lord is with
us. Quite a number hope they have found
the blessed Jesus, and the inquiry meetings
are full. Last evening (the 10th inst.,)
there were about sixty in the lecture room
below, after sermon—sortie in the greatest
distress of mind."
ldigisuo tuttiligtin
For additional Religious Intelligence see page
31, of the inside.
PRESBYTERIAN.
PSALMODY. —The United Presbyterian
Church is experiencing much difficulty in its
effort to amend the psalmody in use—the old
Rouse's version to which, as the psalmody of
their fathers, the Scotch branches of the
Presbyterian Church cling with peculiar te
nacity. The General Assembly of the U. P.
Church have recently , secured a revision, and
sent it down to the Presbyteries for concur
rence. The following action of the Presby
tery of Philadelphia; carried by a vote of 13:
to 3, indicates little prospect of the proposed
change :--
" Resolved, That the Presbytery are not
prepared to adopt the version as thus amend
ed, but desire the present version to be re
tained as it is, except the slight verbal alter
ations which any judicious publisher might
make, until a new and more perfect and
varied version is prepared and flunished to
the Church, when both versions can be bound
up in one book, and allowed to be used."
REVIVAL—The Presbyterian Banner re
ports that the church at Sharpsburg, Presby
tery of Allegheny City, is enjoying a delightful
revival of religion. The services which began
during the week of prayer are still continued,
with very encouraging results. Quite a num
ber have already united with the church, and
the number of inquirers is increasing. A
good degree of religious interest prevails
throughout that entire community.
TENNESSEE.—The same paper says that
Rev. It. R. Moore has resigned the charge
of the church at Shelby, Ohio, to accept a
call from the church at Shelbyville, Tenn.
This 'church is in connection with the Pres
bytery of Nashville, and comprises a large
number of people who were always warm in
their attachment to the Union. Their former
'pastor, Rev. Mr. Allen, now of the Second
church, Nashville, was an unconditional Union
man. As the rebellion is subdued there will
be an earnest call from many Presbyterian
churches in the South for pastors from the
North. The Southern ministers who went
into the rebellion and encouraged their people
to do so, will find but little favor, even in
their former fields of labor.
THE ASSRWRLY'S CATECHISM IN A. SAB
BATH-SCHOOL.—At the late anniversary of
the Sabbath-school in Glendale_, Ohio, Bibles
were given to eighteen of the pupils for
havingjecited perfectly the Shorter Catechism
during the year 1864. This experiment has
'been a success in this school. This year the
number' receiving Bibles has been larger
than either of the two previous years. There
are now nearly.fifty of the pupils of the school
that have been thus .rewarded, and the pro
position has been made to continue the offer
for 1865. The Cincinnati Presbyter says, in
relation to what has been done :
"If our congregations ' by the Sabbath
school, in connection with pastoral and pa-
rental instruction, could all have , the same
success which is being attained in the church
of Glendale, the next generation of Presby
terians would •be greatly in advance of the
present in the knowledge of the Bible and
sound theology. • More of our youth would
be converted, and the converted would be
more intelligent, influential, and useful labor
ers in the vineyard of the Lord. During the
year 1864 the Glendale church enjoyed a pre
cious revival of religion, and about two-thuds
of the persons received to communion were
from the Sabbath-school. The instruction
received in the Sabbath-school, we doubt not,
had much to do in bringing them into the
church, and its influence in appreciating their
future usefulness in the church, we are confi
dent, will be very great."
PRESBYTERIANISM IN BOSTON. —The clerk
of the Presbytery of Boston, (United Presby
terian branch,) reporting to Christian In
structor the proceedings preliminary to the
installation of Rev. George M. Hail in east
Boston, appends the following statement :
" The Presbyterians resident in this city have
now ample means for growth in grace, having
in all six organized churches, four of these
having now settled pastors, viz, one Reformed
Presbyterian' (Old Side) two of the Old
School branch of the Presbyterian church,
and three of the U. P. Church. Nineteen
years ago the name Presbyterian was un
known in this city. Toil and self-denial have
been required to preserve this issue- in an ec
alesiastical atmosphere most ungenial to its
existence, and, under the blessing of God,
they have so far succeeded." •
BAPTIST
GOOD SlgNs.—Several interesting incidents
occurred at the regular weekly prayer meeting
of the Charles street church, Boston, last
Friday evening. A gentleman whose home
is out of the city, although his business office
is in it, (a stranger to most that were present
except the pastor,) arose and addressed the
meeting in a touching and earnest manner.
He had been awakened to a sense of need and
a personal interest in the sublect of religion
within a few months past. In this state of
mind he came to the Charles street church a
few weeks ago, and was greatly disappointed
to learn that the pastor was absent on an ex
change ofpulpit services. But the result was
good. "D'," said he, "Dr. E., who was in
the pulpit that afternoon,. had known all that
was in my mind and heart, he could not have
more thoroughly adapted his sermon to my
case." • This gentleman seemed truly happy,
and recently, on new year's day, in company
with his wife, joined the Baptist church near
his residence. After this interesting address,
a young man arose and expressed his hope in
Christ. At the close of a previous meeting
he had remained to converse with the pastor,
and had offered his first vocal prayer while
kneeling with him where "none other but
God could hear." Special prayer was offered
for a sick man- in the neighborhood, who,
daily drawing near the grave, has begun to
rejoice in Christ as his own Saviour. Are
not incidents like these adapted to encourage
hope for the manifestation of the Divine
Spirit?—Watchman and Reflector.
SPURGEON.—This celebrated preacher has
renounced the ministerial title of Reverend.
He wishes to be addressed without any title
other than his own name. , He has announced
his intention to publish a new monthly maga
zine with this odd title :—" The Sword and
the Trowel : or Record of Combat with Sin
and Labor for the Lord."
EPISCOPAL..
DEATH of BISHOP BROWNELL.—The -ven
erated presiding Bishop breathed his last at
his residence, in Hartford, on Friday morn
ing, in the eighty-sixth year of his age.. He
was a man greatly beloved—gentle and amia
ble, and endowed with beautifully harmo
nized gifts- of mind and heart, all elevated
and beautified by the peace-giving grace of
God. His last years have been marked by
great physical infirmity, but by tranquillity
and happmesS as well.
ROMAN" CATHOLIC.
TECE POPE'S LAST BULL.—Pius IX. has
just startled the civilized world with a new
manifesto, addressed to all concerned, but
especially to the Priesthood of his church.
It comes very opportunely for the use of the
tribe of non-catholics of our own country,
who maintainghat the- Roman Church can
liberalize itself with the times. In no pre
vious age has the Papacy made a broader claim
of control over the religion of the world, or
more fully insisted upon the duty of civil
rulers to inflict the penalties of the law upon
the violators of the Romish religion, than
in those extracts from this new bull, which
follow:
" The cause of the Catholic Church, the_
safety of the souls which have been confided
to us, and the well-being of -human society
itself, absolutely demand that we should again
exercise our pastoral solicitude to destroy new
opinions which spring out of these same
errors as from so many source These false
and perverse opinions are the mfe - detestable,
as they especially tend to shackle and turn
aside the salutary force that the Catholic
Church, by the example of her divine author
and his order, ought freely to exercise until
the end of time, not only in regard to each
individual man, but with regard to nations,
peoples, and their rulers, and to destroy that
agreement and concord between the priest
hood and the government which have
always existed for the happiness and security
of religious and civil society. For, as you
are aware, venerable brethren, there are a
great number of men in the present day who
applying to civil society the impious and ab!
surd principle of naturalism, as it is called,
dare to teach ' that the perfect right of public
society and civil progress absolutely require a
condition of human society constituted and
governed without regard to all considerations
of religion, as if it had no existence, or at
least, without making any distinction between
true religion and heresy.' And, contrary to
the teachings of the Holy Scriptures, of the
church, and of the fathers, they do not hesi
tate to affirm ' that the best- condition of
society is that in which the power of the
laity is not compelled to inflict the penalties
of law upon violators of the Catholic religion,
unless required by considerations of public
safety.' Actuated by an idea of social
government so absolutely false, they do not
hesitate further to propagate this erroneous
opinion, very hurtful to the safety of the
Catholic Church and of souls, and termed
delirium by our predecessor, Gregory XVI.,
of excellent memory, viz.: 'Liberty of con
science and of worship is the right of every
man—a right which ought to be proclaimed
and established by law in every well consti-.
tuted State ; and that citizens are entitled. to
make known and declare, with a liberty which
neither the ecclesiastical nor the civil autho
rity can limit, their convictions, of whatever
kind, either by word of mouth, or through
the press, or by other means.' But in
making thosei rash assertions they do not
reflect, they do not consider, that they preach
the liberty of perdition (St. Augustine,
Epistle 105, al. 166 3 ) and that `if it is always
free to human conviction to discuss, men will
never be wanting who dare to struggle against
the truth, and to rely upon the loquacity
of human wisdom, when we know by • the
example of our Lord Jesus Christ how faith
and Christian sagacity ought to avoid this
very culpable vanity.' " (St. Leon, Epistle
164, al. 133, s. 2, Bell. ed.)
" And do not omit to teach ' that the royal
power has been established not only to exer
cise the government of the world, but above
all for the protection of the Church, (St.
Lent. Epigt. 156, al. 125,) and that there is
nothing more profitable and glorious for the
sovereigns of states and kings, than to leave
the Catholic Church to exercise its laws, and
not to permit any to attack its liberty; as our
most wise and courageous predecessor, St.
Felix wrote to the Emperor Zenon. It is
certain that it is advantageous for the sove
reigns, when the cause of God is in question,
to submit their royal will, according to the
established, rules, to the priests of Jesus-
Christ, and not to impose their will upon
them.' (Pius VIL Epist. Engel. Diu satis.
May 15, L 800)."
TINE ARMY.
INTERESTING DEDICATION.—The Press
correspondent, writing from City Point, Jan
nary 16, says :—"The fine new chapel of the
Christian Commission was dedicated last
evening. The inside of the building was
neatly decorated with evergreens, in honor of
the occasion, and at the appointed time was
filled with blue uniforms and a sprinkling
here and there of civilian suits. The meet
ing" was graced by the presence of several
lathes, who are attached to the hospitals in
the vicinity, and an amateur choir was im
provised, which added to the solemnity of the
devotions the charm of music. The dedi
catory sermon was delivered by the Rev. Ed
ward Hawes, of Philadelphia.
ITEMS.
The Bishop of Treviso, Venetia, has pub;
fished .-a pastoral letter, strictly forbidding
Roman, Catholics to attend the funerals of
Jews. —Rev. Dr. Goodwin, Provost of the
University of Pennsylvania, has been elected to
the chair of Systematic Divinity in the Protes
tant Episcopal Theological Seminary in this
city.—The Christian Commission has more
than raised`the million dollars which it asked
for at the commencement of the last year. In
ptoportion to the openings for its work, two
millions are as much needed the present year,
as one million the last. —The Christian
Register, in an article entitled " The Contri.=
B
bution ox," in speaking of a certain class`
of churches who do nothing for the spread or
their faith beyond their own benrids,gs a
parish, adds, "Their prayer, if not expressed
in words, is in deeds after this fashion
' God bless us, and our town, and church;
and may the rest of . the world look out for
itself."' —Mrs. Winslow, wife of ,the mis
sionary 'whose decease at the Cape of Good
Hope has recently heenyeeorded,-has arrived
in this country.—The San Francisco Pacific
says that the congregations in the church of
Rev. Mr. Martin, of Virginia City, (late of
Woodbridge, New Tersey,) continue full, the
prayer meetings are well attended, and more
pews are rented.than 'ever before.—There
is a consideraWe religious interest at Oberlin,
Ohio, and thenonerable Mr. Finney is said
to he preaching with more than usual power:
Fifty-two students - united with the church at
its last communion.—A State Convention
has recently been' held in Sacramento, Cali
fornia to mature a plan and organize a society
for promoting a better observance of the Sab
bath.---The American Missionary Associa
tion-has sent Rev. S. W. Magill to Savannah,
to look after the wants of the slaves freed by
Sherman's march. He is also to furnish in
formation respecting the loyal whites.—The
Emperor Maximilian has declared. Tiernan
Catholicism to be the Stateaeligion- of Mexico ;
but has announced his _intention to give full
and free toleration to religious opinion. Does
this mean toleration to the expression, of re
ligious opinion?