sintritalt probytnian,
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1866
110 — BILLS have now been sent to
all subscribers who have not paid in ad
vance for the current year. Most of
these will, at the first glance, appear to
call for 50 cents more than the published
rates. But
tar' LOOK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BILLS,
and you will find the explanation
in the sentence which reads "Less 50
cents, if paid within three months from
date." Look then at the date of the
bill and you will find how much time
you have in which to pay at the reduced
rate.
IW" No subscriptions received, and
no accounts closed, for less than six
months. No attention will be paid to
requests for discontinuances, unless the
settlements are made in accordance with
this regulation.
THE NEXT UNITED PRAYER MEETING
will be held on Tuesday evening, 21st
instant, in the First Presbyterian Church,
Manayunk, Rev. A. Culver pastor. The
last cars , reaching the place in time leave
the depot, at Ninth and Green, at 6.15
P. M.; leave Manayunk at 9.30 P. M.,
arriving at Ninth and Green at 10 o'clock.
Horse cars, via Ridge avenue, run every
twenty minutes. Pastors will please
announce the above to their congrega
tions.
Liz " EVENING BULLETIN."—This old
established, reliable, sound, and loyal
evening paper, one of " the instiOtions "
of our city, has recently been sold to a.
portion of the former owners, for the sum
of $90,000, within a fraction. Its pre
sent owners are Gibson Peacock, Ferdi
nand L. Featlterston, Casper Souder, Jr.,
Ernest C. Wallace and Thomas J. Wil
liamson. An entire new font of type, of
the most tasteful character, has been
procured of L. Johnson & Co., by, the
vp.t LLI/l -vrati-GTE'.
a. handsome appearance. It has our
best wishes for its success. .
PHILADELPHIA BENEVOLENCE. The
report of the work of the Union Benevo
lent Society among the poor of this city,
for 1864, foots up as follows :—The visi
tors made 11,425 visits; distributed re
lief to 3,445 families; 54 of those under
their care were sent to school, and 560
sick provided for; 4,889 orders for coal
were given out. The total cash distribu
tion amounted to $7,884 90 ; of which
$2,182 42 were paid to sewing women,
forty in number, and $4,929 49 in coal.
This Society, though among the first in
efficiency, is only one of several active
and well-sustained organizations of the
kind in the city.
AN IGNORANT ASSERTION.—One of the
pleasant religious aspects of the times, is
the care which the secular press gene
rally takes to keep itself informed of the
state of things in the churches, and the
respectful tone in which it speaks of
whatever concerns the interests of re
ligion. We have, however, one secular
cotemporary which, on one occasion at
least, has forgotten to - use candor. The
Daily Evening Telegraph of this city,
in a recent number, after speaking, not
improperly, of the disgracefulness of de
nominational quarrels, and their hindrance
to the progress of true religion, goes on
to say :
" The best evidence, perhaps, that no
such progress is taking place, is' that
pastors and people are still waging, with
but slightly abated fierceness, the secta - -
rian controversies that are making a thou
sand infidels for every convert to the
truths that are common to the whole
divided and belligerent brotherhood of
Christians, under whatever variety of
name they are distinguished ; and the
best assurance that could be given that
living principles had become triumphant
over dead forms, that essential and saving
tenets of faith had taken the place of
pretentious and inavailing vanities of
doctrine, would be a cordial reunion of
the members of all communities of true
Christians for the cause of religion, and a
fraternal intercourse and co-operation in
all plans and enterprises to build up, ex
tend, and establish its power throughout
the earth."
The stupidity of the assertion con
tained in the commencement of the above
extract is the more inexcusable because
cordiality between different evangelical
denominations is one of the known and
recognized principal religious features of
the times, diffused throughout all Chris
tian lands, and nowhere more obvious
than in this locality where the above
utterance was made. And with it has
come, and is daily coining, a good mea
sure of the spiritual progress, of which
this writer affects to see no signs. Where
have been his eyes and ears during the
past quarter of a century—the last ten
years especially ? They have been
years all glowing with the brotherly
charity which he reckons among the lost
virtues. Witneis the movements of the
evangelical alliance, the union of churches
in services connected with the week of
prayer, the rallying around catholic bene
volent organizations, the spirit of the
pulpit and the religious press, or what
ever else betrays the temper of the church.
We know nothing of the animus of the
writer of the article referred to, but it
vilely misrepresents the church, and its
tendency is antagon4stical to religion.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDING EDITOR.
QUARTER CENTURY SERMON
Rev. A. G. Hall, D.D., of the Third
Presbyterian Church, of Rochester, has
been indulging in this felicity,—for such
it may be regarded for a clergyman, in
these times of change, to retain his posi
tion and continue his usefulness, in one
place, for so long a time.
And- this furnishes us a pleasant op
portunity to say a word in regard to this
church, for which we have had a right
to indulge some special affections, ever
since we stood, with about ninety others,
gathered in its aisles and areas, to take
upon ourselves; for the first time, the
solemn vows of church fellowship.
EARLY HISTORY
The early history of thiS church was
striking and somewhat chequered. It
was the scene of the first, and we had
almost said the brightest, ministerial
labors of Rev. Joel Parker. His success
here for three years was enough to
satisfy any ordifiary ambition, and was
filled with highest promise for the future.
It is still remembered with' what an
agony of sorrow his church were finally
constrained to give him up, that he might
go to New York, and inaugurate the
Free Church system.
We have sometimes wondered if his
life might not have been quite as useful,
though far less varied, if he had remained
here to this day, and had never been
anything else than pastor of the Third
Church.
THE CHURCH ORGANIZED
Preaching was commenced with a view
to the formation of this church in De
cember, 1826. Mr. Parker was then a
mere licentiate, but a short time out of
the. Theological Seminary ; ; but his preach
ing was with power.
The church was organized February
28, 1827. In 1828 it reported one
hundred and fifty members ; in 1832,
four hundred and two ; but in 1837, only
two hundred and fifty, a large *number
laving been dismissed, in the meantime,
to form the First Free Church, of Ro
‘chester.
THE EARLY LABORERS
the early - days of this_e_ntwrise,.
the fanir — ms — Joilark Bissell, a man of re
markable energy and enterprise was the
moving. spirit. In was in this church
also, that Rev. Charles G.. Finney, the
evangelist, did most of his preaching, in
his first visit to Rochester in 1830-31.
Here he labored for six months, and it
was estimated at the time, that tthere
were as many as eight hundred conver
sions in and around Rochester, growing
out of that revival ; and many of the
strongest men of the place were included
among the number. It was that glori
ous revival, beyond question, which did
much to give shape to the religious char
acter of our delightful city of churches
and revivals.
"But who shall come after the king ?"
After Mr. Parker and Mr. Finney left ;
after preaching of such a high order, and
revival scenes of such marvellous in
terest, which had lasted almost without
interruption for five years, the pulpit of
the Third Church was not a desirable
place for any ordinary man. Roast beef,
plum pudding, and Worcester sauce were
the lowest diet the congregation could
then bear.
Rev. Luke Lyons was called, installed,
and dissmisscd—all in less than seven
months. Rev. Willian C. Wisner, then
a young man, just beginning to preach,
and without the fine reputation for intel
lect and power, which he hos since so
well earned, was the regularly ordained
and installed pastor, for about eight
months.
Of course, the ship was already in a
storm, with breakers ahead. Their fine
stone house of worship was sold for their
debts, arid they were driven by stress of
weather into a little shelter near by. The
house was bought, and long occupied by
the Second Baptist Society, whose late ac
complished pastor, Rev. Gee. D. Board
man, the good city of Philadelphia was
pleased to -get
. away from us last year.
We suppose the First Baptist Church of
the city of Brotherly Love did not take
him because he was successor to Mr.
Parker, and Mr. Finney.
After Mr. Wisner left, the church was
two years without a settled minister, and
came near utter dissolution. Indeed, the
question of disbanding, we are told, was
seriously contemplated, and probably
would have prevailed, except for a letter
received by one of its members in the
spring of 1834, while Mr. Parker was
preaching at New Orleans, saying that
he was soon coming North, and would
spend the summer in Rochester.
This gave cheer to their counsels.
The plan was to get their old, first minister
to supply them for a time, and give them
a new start. IV. Parker, however, did
not come; but the mere hope of his coin
ing enabled them to turn the current, and
in November of that year, Rev. William
Mack, then a licentiate, (and since a
minister at Knoxville, Tennessee,) came
among them, and commenced preaching.
Under his ministry, the church gradually
revived, and built a new house of wor
ship. After a successful pastorate of five
years, Mr. Mack was compelled to leave,
on account of ill-health.
Rev. Albert G. Hall was installed No
vember 10, 1840, and still continues in
the pastoral relation. In the mean time,
the house of worship built during Mr.
Mack's ministry has been burned down,
rebuilt, and finally torn down, to give
place to business blocks ; and two years
ago the society completed another k and
much more disirable church edifice, in a
better locality; where the quarter century
sermon was preached, to a large, and
THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1865.
attentive, and gratified audience on Sun
day, 29th of January, 1865, reviewing
the past, and prospecting for the future.
TILE REUNION
And on Thursday evening of this
week, the congregation, "in expression
of their esteem for Rev. A. G. Hall,
D.D., and in grateful appreciation of his
devotion in a ministry of twenty-five
years as their pastor," held " a reunion
of the present and former members of
the congregation in social assembly with
their pastor," at the new house of E. H.
Hollister, Esq., on Plymouth Avenue.
About four hundred persons were present.
Speeches, of course, were made ; and a
" surprise" presentation of about $l6OO
was indulged in. Dr. Hall replied very
handsomely, and gratefully received the
gift. And what with the social reunion,
and the sumptuous' entertainment, the
evening passed off most pleasantly. It
must have done much to cheer and en
courage the heart of the pastor.
BUT Ny'HAT CHANGES
have transpired in this city. When we
returned here but two years ago Mr.
Coit was pastor at St. Peters', now Dr.
Yeomans; Dr. Pease was in the First
Church, now Mr. Beadle ; Jonathan
Edwards had just left "the Plymouth,
now WV. D. K. Bartlett is its pastor ;
and while Mr. Ellinw - ood, of the Central
Church, is far away seeking health, Rev.
Dr. Chester, of Baffalo, supplies his
place. Drs. Shaw and Hall remain ;
Dr. Shaw having already - entered upon
his twenty-fifth year, and Dr. Hall just
having completed his. We hope their
churches may yet celebrate the golden
wedding for them both. They both look
well enough for another twenty-five
years.
THE PRESBYTERY HE -UTICA
This body held its annual meeting at
Vernon, commencing on Tuesday, Jan.
81. Rev. S. W. Bruce was elected
Moderator ; Messrs. Dunham and Manly,
Clerks.
0 HAESB QUESTION
A question of great interest, which
came up at this meeting of Presbytery,
was the subject of Cheese-making on the
Sabbath. This is giving, sstimArouble
In some of our churches. Church mem
bers are seduced into, and are , patronizing
the cheese fa:ctories, -With all the noise
and work incident to those extensive
operations.
The subject was introduced by an able
report from the pen of Rev. Dr. Fowler,
condemning the practice, declaring it
"unnecessary, unscriptural, and detri
mental to the best interests of, society."
The subject was ably discussed, and the
practice freely conderaned, by the mem
bers of Presbyteh - generally.
ORDINATION
On the afternoon of Wednesday,-Feb
ruary Ist, Mr. G L. Hamilton, who was
a licentiate ofißochester. Presbytery, and
a graduate of Auburn Seminary, was or
dallied and installed as pastor of the
Church of Vernon. In the absence of
Dr. Darling, of Albany, the sermon was
preached by Revi. John Lyle, of, Utica;
ordaining prayer- by Rev. W. E. Knox,
of Rome ; charge , to the ,pastor. by Rev.
Dr. Fowler ; charge to the people by
President Fisher.
Rev. Dr. Fisher and,Rev. M. E. Dun
ham, with Elders 3. E. Warner .and J.
C. Gallup, were elected ComMiesioners
to the next General Assembly. Elder
James Cook was elected Commissioner
to Auburn Seminary.
Rev. J. N. McGiffert, the " Presbyte-.
rial agent " for Foreign Missions, made
a full and elaborate report,• such as the
General Assembly wants from all- the
Presbyterial agents, showing that the
contributions to this cause had increased
within the bounds of Presbytery, within
the past year, nearly nine hundred dol
lars. This is partly owing, we knovi, to
Mr. McGiffert's faithfulness.
REVIVALS
A very interesting revival of religion
is now in progress in the Presbyterian
Church of Attica, under the faithful
labors of Rev. John Wickes, their pastor.
In Brasher Falls, also, St Lawrence
county, the Lord is doing great things
for the little church there, such as they
have never before known. Twelve per
sons were received into the fold last
Sabbath, nine of them heads of families,
and among the most prominent citizens
of the place. It was for those we saw
that the heart of the pastor, Rev. S. W.
Pratt, was yearning but a few weeks
ago, when we were there, and now he
has his reward,
We cannot speak of any revival in
this city, and yet twelve were received
into the Brick Church last Sabbath, and
seven into the Central. C. P. B.
ROCHESTER, Feb. 11, 1865.
TABOR CHURCH-INTERESTING COM
MIINION.-A very precious communion
season was enjoyed on the last Sabbath
in the Tabor Presbyterian Church in this
city, Rev. George Van Deurs pastor.
It was the first sacramental service in
the new church, the dedication of which
we recently announced. In the face of
the terrible storm, which thinned some of
our best congregations almost to nothing
ness, more that one hundred and fifty
people assembled. An.addition of twenty
one persons was made to the church,
seventeen of whom for the first time
made public profession of their Christian
faith. Among the latter was a case of
extraordinary interest, a woman of the
great age of eighty-nine years, who, for
the first time in her long life, was present
at the administration of the Lord's
Supper. Through the drifts, and in the
face of a perfect tempest of falling snow,
she walked some three squares to the
church, with a step, which, but for the
lines of almost ninety years, on her face,
might have spoken of the sprightliness of
youth. It was a moving and joyful
eight—this late but happy folding of one
so long astray upon the mountains.
Precious and safe be her rest where the
Great Shepherd keeps guard !
CHEERING NEWS FROM THE ARMY.
Every Christian who has a son, bro
ther, or friend in our army, will peruse,
with earnest thanksgiving to God, the
subjoined letter from Rev. Wm. Sterrett,
pastor of the Third Reformed Prebyte
rian Church of this city, and well-known
as one of the mosfjudicious, earnest, and
successful of our city pastors, confirma
tory of the numerous reports of the pro
gress of tbe revival in the army, which
reach us from every quarter, but which
want of space prevents us from publish
ing:—
During my term of service I have
visited all the stations of the Christian
Commission but two in the Army of the
Potomac and of the James.' In the Army
of the Potomac the base of operations is
City Point At this place the base hos
pital for the Army of the Potomac is
located. The number of patients varies
from time to time ; at present there are
about six thousand. There are four
other stations at different points in the
Army of the Potomac, namely, Meade,
Parke, Warren, and Patrick. In the
Army of the James the base of opera
tions is Point - of Rocks, on the Appo
mattox. In addition to this there are
four other stations in the field.
THE REVIVAL
At all these stations there are buildings
and tents in which meetings are held
with the soldiers. The attendance upon
these meetings is always good ; usually
the chapels are crowded. I have never
.seen more attentive hearers than in these
meetings. After a sermon has been
preached the .meeting is thrown open for
prayer and exhortation. It is quite _com
mon for twenty or thirty to stand up or
hold up their hands, asking those who
are Christians to pray for them. Fre
quently soldiers rise and testify that they
have experienced a change of heart in
these meetings. There is reason to be
lieve that even the chief of sinners are
subdued by the power'of Divine grace.
A. PIRATE CONVERTED
On one occasion a man rose and said,
"I have lived a very wicked life, having
been engaged as a pirate in the slave
trade. Pray for me, if you think it will
be of any use to pray for such a wicked
man as I am." This man afterwards
professed to have experienced a change
of heart, and continued to attend the
meetiugs.
Often haye I heard the soldiers giving
thinks to God in their prayers, that the
Qhristian .Commission had established
tAse chapels for, worship. On one occa
sion, after meeting, some of them said,
"We can't keep away from these meet
ings."- • •
CAN'T LEAVE PRAYER-MEETING
The night before I left to return home,
I held a meeting at Warren Station. Our
chapel was a fly- tent, without any fire ;
no - floor but the cold, damp ground: For
seats we had pine logs. Although.the
night was very dark and damp, the tent
was well filled. I. never preached to
such eager listeners. Having spent two
hours in preaching, singing, and prayer,
it was announced that those who felt it
; necessary to leave the meeting might do
so. Butonot a man moved. The blessed
work was• kept up for another how, and
even then the menparted with reluctance.
Some said, "We -could stay here all
night. Oh, it is good to beliere."
At City Point and Point of Rocks two
meetings are held daily, one, in the after
noon, another in the evening, and the in
terest continues unabated. ' -
PRAYER-MEETING BEFORE THE REBEL
PICKETS
I spent one day visiting the men'along
the picket line—a day of great interest.
Distributed papers, books, &c., among
the soldiers; conversed with them, and,
at one point we had prayer in full view
of the rebel picket line. Met with a, cor
dial reception from the soldiers, and trust
that some good was done under the bless
ing of God. The harvest truly is great,
and oh, how inviting, but the laborers
are few. My visit to the army has been
to myself one of unusual interest. My
soul has been refreshed. Gladly would
I have remained all winter, had it been
in my power. May the Lord continue
to revive his work. W. STERRETT.
THIRTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF
THE PHILADELPHIA CITY TRACT AND
MISSION SOCIETY.—From this document,
just issued, we learn tbat 563 distribu
tors have been at work under the direc
tion of this excellent Society during the
year. The monthly circulation of tracts
has been 40,000 in English, 7000 in
German, and a few in French. Weekly
meetings in aid of the society have been
held, generally on Sabbath evenings, in
, the different evangelical churches, du
ring the year. The number of families
visited, children brought into the Sab
bath-school, total of receipts and expen
tdi ures, do not appear in the report.
-• We call attention to the com
munication on our. first page, in regard
to the school in the Hospital for Colored
Soldiers. It is in excellent, hands, and
is a worthy object of beneficence. Con
tributions received at this office.
*tug our Out*.
CANNONSVILLE, N. Y., is astir in the
labors of Christian love. Our church
there has just comforted its pastor, Rev.
J. J. Hough, with an increase of salary,
and also donations to the amount of be
tween $l5O and $2OO.
NEW HARTFORD, N. Y.—Rev. Mr.
Furbish, late chaplain in the• army, has
accepted a call to the church in this
place, and arrangements for his installa
tion were made at the meeting of the
Presbytery of Utica, on the Ist inst.
MONTGOMERY, N. Y.—The pastor, Rev.
J. M. McNulty, has recently been pre
sented with a purse of $4OO, as a token
of the affection of - his people. The con
gregatiop Tecently raised $1,400 to cancel
a debt of $7OO. We judge that debt to
be finished.
ONWARD WITH THE GOOD W0R,11.-
The High Street Presbyterian, Church,
Newark, N. J., (Rev. Dr. Pop'e's,) has
taken its place among thoSe which re
joice in freedom from debt. late -gene
rous rally to the figure of $B,OOO is what
has done it. Another act of generous
justice (there is such a quality as that)
has been performed by a handsome and
permanent addition to the pastor's salary.
ITHACA, N. Y.= The First Presbyterian
Church in this place is about to suffer
the loss of a valued pastor, Rev. Dr.
D. L. Torrey, whose state of health com
pels him to offer his resignation. We
have few finer churches -in Western New
York than this, showing, after the lapse
of a generation, the foot-prints of the re
markable pastorate of the venerable
Wisner.
DRYDEN, N. Y.—Since the week of
prayer, some thirty or more appear to
have experienced conversion. Among
them are Sabbath-school scholars, stu
dents .in the Academy, and heads of
families. The_ pastor writes :—" We
hold services afternoon and evening.
The work of grace is free from excite
ment, and in the inquiry meeting we find
many who are led there by the Holy
Spirit, and are asking, what must I do
to be saved ?"
MOUNT VERNON, N. Y.—The pastorate
in this place_ is again filled. Mr. G. C.
Hamilton was ordained and installed over
this church, on the Ist inst., by the Pres
bytery of Utica. The sermon was
preached by Rev. J. Lyle„ the city miS
gonary in Utica, a new max on the field,
who is making his influence felt as a
man of earnest Christian effort, and
adaptedness to the peculiar work which
he has assumed. Dr. Fowler, of Utica,
charged the pastor, and President Fisher,
of. Hamilton College, the congregation.
FROM RICO - VILLE, ILL., we hear,
through a letter from Rev. T. S. Reeve
to the Christian Herald, of a protracted
meeting, with the following among other
results:—" Over one hundred persons,
from thirteen to fifty years of age, have
professed to have found peace and pardon
through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
A divided church has been harmonized—
a scattered Rock has been re-gathered,
and God is now adding, nearly, if not
quite or more, one-third to their member
ship." Among these converts are five
young men just about to enter the army.
LANE THEOLOGICAL SEMINART.—We
[earn through an exchange, that Rev.
Wm. Van Vleck, one of the graduates of
this institution, has recently presented to
the Trustees the sum of ten thousand dol
lars for the imnudiate purchase of the
best of the recent theological books of
Great Britain and the continent. This,
with the large and valuable collection
purchased in Europe several years since
by Dr. Stowe, and the additions since
made, will form one of the most impor
tant theological libraries in the country,
and be an inestimable boon to the West.
The new library building, erected at the
expense of. Preserved Smith, Esq., of Day
ton, is nearly finished, and promises to be,
in respect to, light,. convenience, simplicity,
and elegance, all that its projectors de
signed. It will be open several hours
each day, and every facility be afforded
of access to kite literary treasures on its
shelves.
OxFoun, Onro.--Rev. Mr. Kunaler's
church, in this place, is enjoying [the
special effusion of the Holy Spirit. The
work:is especially powerful in the West
ern -Female Seminary there located. A
writer in the : Christian Herald says of
it seemed to, begin with the year.
About a fortnight since . it broke forth in
its full power and. suddenly. Christians
were not prepared for it. Prayer had
been offered and means had been dili
gently employed ; but the coming of the
Lord to his temple was, after all, a sur
prise, so overwhelming was it. Every
thing yielded to it. Last week, Thurs
day, the stated exercises of the school
were omitted, so intense was the desire
to attend wholly to eternal things. And
now, out of one hundred and sixty pupils,
there is scarcely a single one who does
not appear- to haie given up her will to
God. On every occasion the eagerness
to be taught the way of life is very touch-
ing. The hushed air, the ear inclined,
the eye filled, the face radiant, the soul
speaking out its hunger and thirst, all
make it most delightful to dispense the ~
gospel. It is really impossible to close
a religious service, so quick, and earnest ;
and pertinent are the questions that fol
low each other about the duties and the
difficulties of the Christian. Of course,
those who had been serving the Lord
before are now greatly quickened. This
part of the work is hardly less marked or
important than the ,conversion of the im
penitent. A new and far better life has
begun in all."
STURGIS, Mica—Our thrifty church
in this place has just disencumbered itself
of a debt of $1,200, and complimented
its pastor, Rev. W. C. Clark, with a visit,
which left in his hands upwards of $2OO.
KEESEVELLE, N. Y.—We recently no
ticed the ordination of Rev. Mr. Butler
atthis place. The congregation has since
placed in his hand a donation of
,$3.28,
cleared off the church debt, and, as we
learn from The Evangelist, is redeiving
tokens of a spiritual blessing.
ORDINATION.-Mr. A. McMasters, a
licentiate laboring as Stated' Supply with
the churches of Fly Creek and Exeter,
N. Y., was, on the 17th ult., ordained,
without installation, to the full work of
the gospel ministry, by the Presbytery
of Otsego, in session at Cooperstown,
N. Y. Rev. S. J. White, of Gilbertsville,
preached the sermon, and Rev. Charles
Gillette, of Milford, gave the charge. .
CAlusxso, N. business note from'a
gentleman connected with our church in this
place, to one of the editors, says :—" For the
past three weeks we have had meetings'eVey
evening. Twelve whom we think substantial,
have passed from the world'to Christ--per
haps more. The members have been much
blessed by the reviving of their spiritual
strength."
DECEASE OF MRS. HAMMOND. —A. no te froxa
;Vernon, Connecticut, conveys the intelligence
that the aged mother of Rev. E. P. Ham
inoaclp had a joyful and triumphant transla
tion on the 7th inst. She died at her resi
dence in that place. •
Mr. Hammond goes to Detroit this week.
VICTORY OF THE ORTHODOX IN
FRANCE.
Our readers may remember the agitation
caused last year, among the Protestants or
Paris, about the , refusal on the part of the
Presbyteral Council to re-engage the Rev. A.
Coquerel, Jr., as pastor. This clergaman is
the son of the Rev. Athanase Coquerel, who
has been for many years, one of the leaders,
of the. Rationalistic party in France, and the
son seems to be no more orthodox than the
father. After he had supplied the pulpit as
a seragant (a kind of a vicar) for a certain
time, the Presbyteral . Council voted not to
renew his appointment, on the ground Of
his sympathies with Renan. This act
caused quite a sensation in France, and
even the political papers to6k part in the
controversy. Whatever could be said by
the adversaries of the Council, the act was
an accomplished fact, and no one could alter
it. The Rationalists had to submit and con
sole themselves by declaiming against the
" bigotry" and " intolerance" of the Evan—
gelicals. This year, they have been at work
very actively in electioneering, as the Presby
teral council had to be renewed, so as to se
cure, if possible, a majority in that body.
The Orthodox, on the other hand, have pre
pared for the contest, arid we hear from a
late French correspondence that the five.
members who have been elected are all
of the Evangelical party, a. fact of great
importance at the present juncture of affairs.
Mons. Guizot, the great historian and states
man, was the leader of the orthodox, and,
no doubt has done much in securing this suc
cess, which is gained, however, at the cost of '
elimnation from the council.. His prominent.
position and activity in this matter prevented.
his being re-elected ; but if he is personally
beaten, he has had the satisfaction of Seeing
the good cause triumph. Another member
of the Presbyterae Council is to be elected
soon; it may be expected that this election
will also cause a stir in the Protestant world.
of Paris.
THE CONFLAGRATION OF LAST WEER
A calamity of unusual severity befel the
southern section of our city on Tuesday night
and Wednesday morning of last week. Near
ly two thousand barrels of petroleum, stored
above ground on Ninth and. Washington,
streets, took fire and poured their burning,
contents in a perfect torrent two feet deep
along the gutters, and covering half the width:
of Ninth street, for three blocks. The flames
rose to the heighth of the eaves of the houses,
and the inhabitants, while their houses-Were ,
burning over -their, heads, were hemmed in
by a torrent of flame flowing; in some locali
ties, all - around them. A hundred families
were burned out. In one 'house, a whole
family wished, without being able to
make a perceptible attempts to escape.
In another, the mother and five daugh
ters perished, the. husband and two
sons having escaped, severely injured.
This family, the WARES, were connected
with the Wharton St. Congregation, the mo
ther and one daughter being members, and
the other children connected with the Sab
bath-schOol. Mrs. Ware had only on the
Saturday preceding, become a subscriber to
this paper. Mrs. Ware had already passed
through the awful torrent, with her boys,
comparatively unharmed, and was returning
to look for her husband, who delayed a mo
ment in the house, when she fell, a sacrifice
to her 16:manly affection and solicitude.
Another husband succeeded in saving nothing
from his house but the corpse of his wife,.
prepared for burial.
Large contributions for the sufferers are
being made, and prompt action has been ta
ken by the judicial and legislative authori--
ties against the storing of petroleum in the=
city limits.
FREE LABOR FOR THE FREE SOUTH.
The following information- has lately
been communicated by the Hon. J. C. Un
derwood, of Alexandria, Va., U. S. Judge
of the District of Eastern Vir g inia, in reply
to inquiries by Prof. W. R. Woodbury, of
Norfolk, Va. : " The first sale of land and
city property, in Norfolk, Portsmouth, and
vicinity, will begin on the 30th of January
next. This property, formerly owned by
rebels, has been confiscated for their disloyal
ty and for non-payment of the taxes imposed
by Congress ; and I think we shall sell three
or four millions' worth during the monthsof
January and February, and I trust it will be
purchased, as the property here has been, by
truly loyal men, and that the effect will be
the came with you as with us, to wit : the
making that desirable portion of the State as
loyal as New England.''
CANADA. —The Canada courts have finally
and decisively settled the point that there
shall be no protection for rebel raiders in that
province. Burley, one the rascals so sum
' marily released by Judge Coursal - and re
arrested, after going through the whole round
of legal resorts, is at length doomed to be
delivered up to our authorities for partici
pation in the St. Alban's raid. Others who,
have been re-arrested, must of course fbllow
suit. The Canadian Parliament opened at
Quebec, January 19. The Governor-Gene
ral, in his opening speech, strongly urged the
point, that Canada cannot be an asylum for
persons committing unlawful outrages within
the territory of the United States. Coursal
has been suspended for his atrocious decision,
and will probably be removed.