PASSAGLIA.
by ret. daniel march, d.d.
Next to Pio Nono himself, the most
influential person in the religions ftffairt
of Cajtholic Italy.-at the
Carlo Fassaglia':’ He belongs to ah-dld
and reputable family, in a country where
lineages are traced back to the Csesars
and the Scipios. His • father held the
rank of general in the military establish
ment of the Grand Duke Leopold, and
he enjoyed the income of landed estates
in Lucca, ample enough to enable him
to live respectably in one of the many
prison-like palaces of Florence. Carlo
was an only son, and heir to property
valued at two hundred thousand dollars.
By the laws of Tuscany, his choice of
the priesthood and his subsequent union
with the fraternity of Loyola, involved
the renunciation of his inheritance,‘as
well as the honors of his ancestral name
and family. It is characteristic of the man
ners of Italy, that disappointment in an
affair of the heart, at the age of thirteen,
should be assigned as the reason why
the passionate and premature boy took
upon himself the vow* of celibacy, add
enrolled. r his name as a. novice in the
College of the Jesuits. He gave him-
self so severely and successfully to the
■study of .patristic lore, as to receive great
applause as a public lecturer at the age of
seventeen. After thirty years of patient
and unwearied discipline in the duties of
his Order, he had . risen to the Highest
eminence the blind meter
physics’ an«rthe theology of the
Romish -t**-*®^
Wlfdn , 'jih^ / -t ■to establish
the adgma- Cbn
ceptibh'byipioofsydrawu from the-musty
tomes? .of y»ediBe,tskl?;4<}re, r ;hen turned/to
Passaglia for help,jmd. the vvyork .was
done*/ ThiSjgreat/ feat of ecclesiastical
made of nothing, was regarded by Pio
Nono wifh'prdfauncL'gratitude a,nd~adini
ration. Theric6fdraft#beneverlie wished
to-’h¥rdSt thb'prbgfess ’bf the worldtn?
ward light and "liberty 1 , or to set back
the index 6nfthe' f &ill-jjlate time, Paßsa
gfftfiwaS‘;the;nrahf;tp''w; homhelo()kedfor
the~accoinplishmenlr,of the impossible.
At lehgth'j in'' afte vil for the
of the 'Fathers and Student of the School
men, to negotiate with -Count Cavour for
the adjustmen%’ ) %’f !: difficulties between
Iflsdiftpfti;VOnd thp P.apal see. The’ great
soul and the enlightened- patriotism of the
Sardinian statesman were a new revela
tion to" the man , whose strong .intellect
had been disciplined ‘And darkened by
the f durinirig qSsuiStry and false expedi
ences of the Jesuits’ College., It was
proof of great original strength and no
blepes%,M &t inijtd, that he could , still, to
some degrqe t and adopt the
views of.. CaVour,'after thirty years.of
discipline in the-dark school of studied
igdOfandeikhd-sanctified falsehood..'
Prom tpCTjHajaßKftfffogiMto see dimly
that<patriotism. might be a virtue, and
that ,even. a priest may. owe sonvething
to his cptinjfy as' well as to the Holy
See.- He had attained a position so high
in the service of., his order, that the gen
eralship of the Jesuits might at any time
devolve on him, and the triple crown
itself reasonably ( 'come‘ within the
range: pf; his Vambition. He turned his;
badk'updn' all-such heipes, he gavp np all
th’at He' hd,d’ gained in the service of the
Papacy, when he went back to Rome
add declared himself in' favor of ab'rbgat?
irrg“the; ternnoral -power of tW Pope;
The patrtbtiele&Afiig>with wbi'SShe had
aHbstah.fta i t4d‘ I #t H l i: Gbhcep
tion, he. now- began*to use as a tworedged
swotd ?ta> prove from," the same source
that the head of-the Church had no war
rant for himself up as a fcivil
ruler. ’ " ', v
'The potyer? that' praised aniWioribrSd
him before, were now combined for his
detraction. of the Jesuits
fcnd of the Holyliather knew ho bounds.
An'Hnglisli, Catholic. lady undertook to
conqeaJ 3 hiin- for: a; few days, until he
houldvfind afa OjipGrtumty 'to escape from 1
the city, . and' .whiter doing so, she was,
warned 'by ••friendly priestß, that his only
.gainst'vphison, 'even 1 ! in‘ her
Own house, wouldj' be to eat nothing but
-eggs. . The vast'Dalazzo Spada. in which
the, lady lived,-was,im&idly .:searched by
th'e RomiSH ritflic'e while Passaglia was
hidden in pne, of-its cp.untiess, apartments:.
But hostess contrived fo di
vert their attention' from the place of his
concealment. , The r nexjy :( night,.a large
party wiiA 'given 1 at’the palace; and al
though' the- whola .structure was sur T
rounded by polico, hr the multitude
eomiDg, an.dj ;goingythe hunted fugitive
walked out in.i the borrowed dress of a
prince, with-,a lady upon .his arm,, en
tered a and drove away with
out being suspected: The, 1 next dayyat
ehrly dawn, he passed through the P6rta
del Popoio-in*the,djBguise .of -a,,servant
A little" Way "oht"'6n' the*
beyond , the Milvian Bridge, he found
tffirep. men arrival, . with
horse's Saddled and f ready to run. J ‘All
metuntedscand. galloped toward, the -fr,on
tier with a to which the dread of
/
*"' l The next "morning;: exhanstedr. with
want of slee P. Pas
saglia saw 'upon ile'balls'of the houses
in
crossing '"’the“Welds'- ahd J -travelling all
nightori f6o’tf,i-=-“- Viva,' il He?' -'V-ittorio
Emmanuele” andb’e ’knew that he was
safe. .■ HA whs MlcfomedSwith
asm by the Gpyernment t apd the people
of'.emancipgted' Italy fj<)l<rojm - thajfc -time
THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28. .1865
he became the leader of a movement to
secure a voluntary resignation of temporal
power by the Pope. In the course of
one year, nine thousand and eight hun
dred Italian ecclesiastics signed a peti
tion to that effect. • The .Holy Father
answered their request by suspending
this great body of priests from all their
spiritual functions,-subjecting-them - -to
countless, vexations, and, to: the extent
of his 'power,* teking 'awdy their ineans
of support.. The Government ofTictor Em
manuel acknowledges that these priests
are only “ asserting the intdienable-rights
of humanity, and do not deserve starva
tion,” and.y.et ignoring their character as
priests, ft only guarantees to them the
common protection due to every law
abiding subject of (the; kingdom. The
Italian ministry and parliament seem to.
think that the Papacy can be most effect
ually weakfenedand pat to shame before
the world, by leaving it alone to wreak
its vengeance upon all its own adherents
who venture to ask for - reform . in the
Papacy itself r : "
Meanwhile Passaglia is unwearied in
his’efforts to sdcurethe him of his peti
tion. Deprived of all clerical functions,
he writes, lectures, and talks without
ceasing. Ho,holds a seat in tho Italian;.
Parliament, but be has little influence as
a legislator, generally votes with a very
small minority, and with all his zeal an(P
scholastic eloquence, effects 'nothing in."
obtaining relief for the ten thousand
signers of his petition, many of whom
are living upon a franc a day. -In agi
tating for reform in the Papacy in one
respect, he is exerting a. mighty influ
ence for the destruction of its whole
power. And yet Passaglia himself is
nothing else than a Papist. HuaSks for
no change of doctrine, no deviation from;
the fundamental, constitution of the
Church. He does not even question’'the
djivine 'authority ror infallibility ofcthe :
Pope. He only desires the Holy Father
t 6 resign his temporal, as a stroke * of
policy to increase and perpetuate his
spiritual power. In -person,’ Passaglia
is tall and handsome, dignified and aris
-t f pcra,tic,in.manners, yet with,an inquisi
tive ah'd ej"b, an r d' an 1 - expres
sion of facjS deeply tinged with that dark
afnd
accompanies the look of a leader in his
chosen Order. Though a native of
he speaks the language of Flor
ence with such -Homan.; perfection, that
'■ tnhim ;might be’ applied the 'proverb by
whicli tbe Italians ;describe- the
of-beauty and melody in speech—“ Lin
gua Toscana;iri bpccaSomarta.” : ’
: j OUR DOCTRINES Alto PRINCIPLES.
■ [The following lucid statement of
some of the doctrines and principles of
6ur Church; is from a Sermon on the
Ptjbitoattojv Cause, -preac bed by Rev.
G. D. A. Hebard, pastor of tEe’TFmsF
Presbyterian Church, lowa. City.]., ,
I. u 'of the Church.
, -. "..TV ,1-.’?;...
We do not. claim as a denomination
that we are the' only properly -’Consti
tuted Church,.. ~We ; admit' that any'
body f oft Envangelical Christians organi
cally associating " together
for spiritual.Sgodd and; for the Admin-
of the, proper ,oi;djn|npes, are a
Church of JesUs 1 Christ, ! "faithoUt' any re
spect to Apostolic succession, or-to'the
form of ordination ot of administering the
ordmdffijes of* baptism and th&j'LorilV
Supper. Ours is strictly a representar
tive or republican ‘ohurch tj&vemment,
COntra-distinguished from lndependency
prs-Demooraey,i on :the' -one hand;-, and'
lromPreJaey or. Aristopracy,pn the Othpr.'
jWe prefer thus, as "more ini accordance;
with the genius of our National Govern
;me®, adapted’to admfnister dis
; ciplipe—to ’ preserve order,'’, harmony
and u nited. - strength and to; conserve the
•great doctrines of Protestant religion
I*- * * * We, therefore,-. say less
•of ther Divine: liighttoi Church govern
'mdflt' thab SOMe-'Others 5 , that
: ot^.jp|nn^iifefi f o < ';^^ , _'r^gyyd, should be
proved by. their fmits; and believing
tbsftthe spirit; is above sthb mare letter;
or form.: IB ?
-'V'
* i
11. Of Man's Nature.
Here too we. hold a middle grbiind
between the extremes [of Calvinisird and
of Arininianißm. 'There'are'three'gene-
ral points of doctrine which will include'
the essentials of all.
Ist. That which refers to man’s re
lation to ’Adam, as a guilty being.
- 2d. To God, as an accountable being.
3d. To Christ, as a redeemable being.
[We b'rliit for the present the discussion
on the third topic:J
i IsfcOur relation with Adam, like sin
itself, is a subject of mysterious charac
ter. There* is a "difference between us
and some:, other denominations as to
what relation the race sustains to Adam.
By-some* it is T affirmed. is in
stcA tf sdnse the head' of tlite 4aeeiwthat
eVery'. one 'of' his posterity is guilty'of
the .sin.vyhich Adaih cpmmitted.,, It is
affirmed by them that God covenanted
with Adam.; and that Adam, standing,
for the, race, 'violated "that covenant by
sinning.; and therefore,;, God:‘imputes
Adam’s sin'to ea’ch One pf his .ppsterity,
and they are> liable to the. same' penal
consequences and desert of punishment.
But there: are others who go. to the
Other extreme,--and affirm that we have
no connection whatever with Adam, any
more than with -any (Other,-Individual
who" has sinned. ;
( 1.) ; Qur}dehpmiuation,|howeyer, jdoes
wot regard man as- thus an isolated
beiDg; nor that he is in' any sense so
related to Adam as to be guilty or liable
to punishment for Adam’s sin. .
£2.)- Thpy do believe'that; asia--fact;,
ali inengare; depraved,-and do commit
sin, without any exception, and that this
fact results from our connection as a
race with Adam.
We do not attempt to explain by
covenant or otherwise, nor do we think
that the Scripture reveals the intrinsic
nature or cause, or mode of the relation
of the race to our first Parent. We hold'
* that sin comes as a certain result, so
that on account of this relation all are
sinners, have sinned and will sin if left
to themselves. We cannot see that this
arrangement is unjust, for it is a fact,
that all are sinful and commit sin. - In
this law of association there are advan
tages showing a wise design. The race
ndight have been of individuals- each 1 in
dependent of the other, each one’s con
duct affecting only himself. But God
hes so constituted man that the conduct
of one, even now; may involve .the
misery of others.. Those who thus suf
fer, may not be guilty of his sin. The
union, the grouping together, the mutual,
relationships of society; ari not less the
source of blessings than of misery; Man
weeps not alone, neither does he rejoice
alone Thus, while we can see reason,
and wisdom, that- men should be . in
timately related to each other and to
Adam, we cannot, see- how men are in
any sense guilty for'the sin ofi tuiotber,-
commited six thousand years befoj-ethey.
were born. r 'f .
2d. The second doctrine 'refers 'to
inan’s relation to God as an I accountable
being. High Calvinists believ| (we.
quote from a learned Professor in ‘one of
these Schools to his pupils) that “there
is no ability, in .the proper, sense of the
term, in man, truly to repent.and be
lieve, while in his natural condition,"
and that “ there is an entire absence of
any Scripture authority for," the assump
tion, that a man can withopt. Divine in n
fluence repent and believe;” that “there
is no intimation in Scripture, that man
can by his own Strength tiirri ‘ himself
unto God, that the Bible does not teach,
n-or any where assert, the- ability of-man
to turn, repent and believe- the Gospel,”
ajn'd that “ this inability is far more than
an indispositi6n,.er7disihclihatiqn”—and
therefore—“to tell men that they can do
a thing when, in fact; theycabndt, is
merely to delude, them.” They hold in
substance that, , when it is; said,; 1 that
'i man is dead in sin,” that,?/the,jharnal
mind: cannot be subject to the law, of
God,” there is just aB truly an absolute
inability; for man to exercise|hpiritp;al
pojyets for moralfigood, as theje, is in
ability in his physical nature to lift a
■world ; and that though physical, intel
, lectual and moral -ability are different’ in
kind, in the cases above, they are never
theless premselyi; the same degree.
They affirm, therefore, that there - is no
valid. t . distinction; between mutual and
moral ability as these terms are Used by'
others,- and were unfolded by Edwards..
The Arminian, though4h& gresrtr-oppo
nent of .-the high Calvinist, holds, never
theless, the same view in regard to the
alleged fact of'man’s total inability,to
dp any ,good thing in bis natural, state.
But while thus far agreeing, they differ
most widely invthe practical inferences.
The extreme Galvinist .-affirms .that this
total “ inability does not remove man’s
obligation in this directionor, in gene
ral terms, that 1 “ this inability (to use
the language of the one quoted above)
is perfectly consistent with moral obliga
tion, sand that man ’a obligation in-regard
to God, is not to be v measured ,by his
ability ;” that God- r r?quires men by the
greatest obligation to repent and believe,
which they have not the '-ability to do.
Bhr the' Arminian ,denies that* niah,';in
hisirnatUral state,- is,under' obligation to
repent and be holy; -he holds, therefore,
that God communicates to, eyefy one a
gracious ability,’( which renders him
responsible.; that God.jnakes no .distffiC
,tipns in bestowipgr hiS'Shiritt ;>-t-h'at Man* s
salvation depends exclusively upon his
htyn.will, and that there can be no such,
thing as the electing graee of; God
! " Ohe' of these - viewk’mak&s’everyt.Hjti'g
; depend- upon-the absolute 'decree of G^jd r
; the other, upon the self-uetermihina'-wBl
of man ' 111 " 3
Bat we cannot see that either of these
views, agrees with the: legitimate import
of--Scripture vvhen -carefully compared,-
QUbfparf fwith ahotfift! ' ’ j »
(I-,): We hold that man’s obligation
cmi be np greater than ■ his ability, both
id physical, intellectual; and moral things'
alike ; consequently: that ‘ mdn,' in' bis
normal state as a.sinner, is not deprived'
of ,a. true and genuine abjj,ity, and that
it is this ability that renders him respon
sible to repent and exercise faith.
(2.) But we also hold that man is so
wilfully sinful, - so; - guiltily selfish, that
he never does, or. will truly repent, ex
cept by the : especial operation of the
Holy In this; view We have
human freedom bn the one side,. and
electing grace on the other. We do not
affirm-, .thak -thisnexplains, everything, in
regard, to the mysterious, subject' of
Divine Sovereignty andihuman freedom;
but that it accords -with reason,! Chris
tian consciousness, and with the Holy
Scriptures so far as these are;applicable;
to the case.. - >:o ...
It has the following advantages: •' •
(1.) It casts, logically f all the respon
sibility upon the sinner,;ayriidihg:';the
contradiction of demanding of him, that
vyhich ‘‘ he has np, propey j ability j ”.to, do.
; , (2.) Wealso avoid,- the- Arminian.
fallacy—that man islrresponsible 'until:
he has received “ gracious ability” of the
Spirit—for if man must have communi
cated to him, this “ gracious ability” be
fore he is responsible, then he cannot be,
in liis natural state, an accountable being
at all; arid' it is, impossible to conceive,
can be'called “gracious” which:
isynecessary to man’s -becoming account-
able, and without which- he is not sub
ject to law or punishment. While,
therefore, avoiding these errors on either
side, we secure the great and scriptural
doctrine of unmerited grace to all those
who are saved, so, that they will say, in
view of their guilt, which rendered them
naturally sensible to the Divine perfec
tions, “ Not unto us, but unto Thy namp
give glory for Thy mercy and for Thy
triithjs', sake.” “Not by works of
righteousness which we have dond, but
by his mercy he saved us through the
washing of regeneration and the renew
ing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed
on us„ abundantly throflgh Jesus Christ
our Saviour.”
LILT S ,
[We pu dished, some weeks ago, a let
ter from the; bereaved mother of this
sainted e lild to Rev. E. P. Hammond.
•Allowed the - privilege of perusing .fcjjrp;
other letters from s this intelligent Chris
tian lady (to Mr. Hammond, and contem
plating tile calm, mature face of the de
parted ascaught by the photographer,
we'are impelled to share at least part of
,opr gratification, in giving these interest
ing letters in part to our readers ] j
LEXTER’ ACCOMPANYING THE LIKENESS.
' : Kev. Mr. Hamnond—My Dear Sir
—I thank you for your kind reply to my
letter, and also for the paper andpicture
of your Self. I take; pleasure in sending
youa-likeness of my precions, Lily, and
cannot help\ wishing that she could: have,
possessed before her'departure.'' I
had been' unable to obtain one' here,
vjhichf w'as a steripus, : idisappointment- to
her, so i lovingly did -she cherish your
memory.- "-This shall'now be framed and
hung in--her l own pretty room, Where I
am writih'g, and where I take greafjc'pm
fprt in spending large portions oftiihe.
. Here! I often think of Mrs. Browning’s
lin'es, 5 written' by a child’s grave:
i “ Well doneofGod, .to halvethelot, -
i ’ ■- And give her.all'the sweetness;
." To ns,-me empty room and cot, —
To her,; the .Heaven’s completeness.'
, “Eorjier, .to'gladden in God’s view,—
_:Eor ns to hope and bear on I-•
~ Lily, in thy garden pew, .
, Beside the rose of Shatfon.”' ;
This' of Lily was taken
she, was nine andA-balf years old, and !
amsureyou .will: admit bears,, the marki
-of maturity beyond her age. Her; skin
was almost' Silvery in its whiteness, with,
very red. lips, and a constantly varying
•expression., . :
■ The picture conveys no idea of beauty;
but when the soul spoke out in her face,
i,t..mas. trulybeautiful. Gentle, woman
ly, Christ her constant pattern, and her.
heart fall of His love, do you wonder
ttT&t hOT mobticr*H—ll To—eoomo most
blighted by such a loss !
; [Aisecorid-’ letter contains many tender
and deeply o f' the
closing scenes of, her life. She ‘was
nearly, ten years old.]
f i Revi Mb. Hammond — My Bear Sir
—On' the'morning after her firstviolent
attack,, jshe /turned, to, me as I sat' he'sjrW 1
her,f and'said, “ if I have my
wish,lit shall never getwelll’ Startled,
I asked, "Dp you think you should !g,o
io j-heaven,' Lily, .jfyob died!’’ "Cer-
she replied. • •, " Why, my. dear ?”
“ OK, Mamina,’?'Bhe answered, almosfcfe
proachfully, “you knowwhy I think so.
perfectly well.” , .This referred to the re
peated conyersationswe had had regard
ing heruassurance of Jesus’ love for,her;
ahd ‘ her -equal‘Confidence that He was
the 1 ; dearest, object‘of her love.' She at
remedies ‘offered* 1
saying, *< 1 would .rather. after
ezplainingjto .her -the; Ghristiah-duty of
making every proper effort for life,, she-
I Cbdld : sbe ; ' always’
’ She,
iof,distress, cryo.ut, “Pray, MaWma, priay,?/;
jHeriihrothfer being/ilPiafcthe ~ same t time
! with herself, she' one dfty sent * for him,
land idaid,.," jChadie, ZiH^vphe'JafUr‘ tq
'ask of you, and it is the.last: Will you
!go to< Sabbath/school?” • After obtaining!
!his.J>rorhise, ! sh'e said, 11 Now you can go,
Igpodj-gye.” As . the ,door dosed, her
,facdlighted /UP) -and ~ she, cried., out,
"‘ When Charlie. comes, too, Maifima, ; we
will be bright’ little'.angels together,
;won’t we?” .: After a while, she' added,
“i promised my teacher I would get
Charlie’to go to ‘ Sabbath-schooh” ■. She;
ha'd-tried to peirsu'ade hirn many times’
j befdih 1“ i it a \ n i but fcquld/not bear, to die
until, that .^promise. -was effectuallyc.Eep
’deemed. Lily named the class -'she;
■wishcdhim to- enter, and greats was my ;
‘Uuiazement. in taking 'him to, it after
wards, to see the good judgment evinced
in' the’ selection. 'Not another one
| seemed so suitable, showing plainly how
| mnCh thought, and probably, prayer,, she
l had i • bestowed on the matter. She pos
sessed that faith which made her prayers
'prevailing, for she assured mb : that shp
could, not, remember one instance in. her
- life, i where she had asked God for any-,
thing and been denied. Ten days ‘be
fore her death, instilling me this, she
.added,;, “I cannot' pray in .icor-ds any
. longer, now, but I lift up ’ my heart to
i God, and L.'knpio he ,hears me.’! -
’ The next 'day she told her physician
'the greater, her sufferings, the nearer
herjSgyio.ur seemed to her. (On Sabbath,
she asked, for her Sabbath-school hymn
books. Looking them deliberately over-;
she selected “ Jesus loves me,” and
asked me to sing it softly to her. In’ my
grief ,'j'jdid not begin, the. right tune - ,,add
she. commenced itforme in an exultant
voice;! evidently appropriating it to "her
qvsi |,itdation.- ‘As I 'finished, l shq ; ;said^
“ That’s enough,” and had the books laid
aside foreVerto her. She noticed my
uncontrollable tears, and restrained as
much as possible the appearance of
suffering, saying, “If onty m y bead
ached, or some one place in my body, I
could bear it better.” Once, in her ago
nies, she begged to be lashed to the bed
for fear she should injure some one, and
cried out: “ O God, tike me- to heaven
quick, if I am going,” and “'kneel down
and pray for me, pray for me on your
knees,” to every one in the room. One' 1
evening'her’face seemed to beam with
■delight. She said to me, “ I teel very
happy-to-night;” This I learned was
the- result of'“peace in believing.” Once:
I came into her room after a short ab
sence, and she. called meinear to say,
“ Mamma, did you-ever pray and have
your pain all taken away; I- did a little
while .since, when my head- ached so*
hard; I prayed, and the pain all left me:??:
When asked to forgive/all -that had. ever
been done or said to her in past that
was she « I have
nothing to ; I never remember
such things afterwards.. How could I
have said the Lord’s .Prayer every night
if I had?” She loved very little, children
devotedly/ and' seemed" most: pleased: at
the thought of seeing* the .“little : angels’?
in heaven. After asking me: some; ques
tion* regardingpheir growth, to .which I
Twas obliged to say “ I dti not :know,
dear,” she burst out with,l.shall know
more of heavSh in five minutes than all
the Bible - tells.” I said “When you
reach that blessed place you: .will tell
your dear Saviour how , much you love
him, and:thank him, for ; dying ; for you.”
“Ido that here,”(She? replied. During
the night preceding.her. death, she ejacu
lated frequently, “ Aft/Eatherinheaven!”
“ o,God! Father,” etc. _ .....
She herself calmly announced the
immediate approach of death, saying, “I
am going, to..idie/^Mp?®,”,and. calling for
absent members; of the,,family, added,
it will be a happy release.”. . •
I have thus ..at. the risk.qflsome repe
tition of,the contents of my former let
ter> given ,you afew additional ;particu-.
dark regarding, dear..Lily’psickness and
peaceful ,-.. !KW(i ... ■ ,
THE.SPIitLTUAL USE QF ; ECCLEBIAS-
■T-ICAL MEETINGS,..
The time for the: autumnal meetings
of-Presby tefiesahd Synods
near. Pastors • refreshed rby. vacation,
rest, and'rambling, are looking SfeFward
to,new labors and increase of.gohd,*. The
people thinking,, of the approaching
winter, with , its .filled churcjhes, with
its lengthened evenings, its opportuni
ties for effective work., in , .the.i re-assem
bled,, congregations,, and,, it may be, of
the renewal of blessed winder experiences
in.years .gpne by. The
-utir- ncclemaabioal court's, stan d fittingly
as the prelude,-—as th|> war , councils, in
which to plan .new campaigns , and re
new the .vigor add spiritual force of those
whom. CfoThau appointed leaders of the
host. ■’'These'meetings 'shouldTie;the be-'
ginnings of revivals. *' ‘
Consider the amount of 1 spiritual force
concentrated at such a tiine; a dozen or
serve Gpd;
zeal to 'tEeir owh ! hearts, dnd for an
awakehingin'the'ir'ownnhurchesrThey
peet, maiily;j^}r4]iu^iesf,j(!corisider
ing blisineW chiefly ih itS'fortefnal' rela
lations,) and even their business is best
done when it'tfake^^hold 1 - of.the heart
most firmly.’Herfe are men‘whbseliyes
in their widest bounds/whose’ '. ail, 1 ,'m
every relation,.has, beonl consecrated to
God ; ’men, whose daily prayer is that
God’s work may bp’ revived; men o$
experience, who
been: blessed; inthe days .of ;Qld,:who
have studfod'the daws' oT ; theyrXingdom'
of HSavenmen'Wh’o* Wish' tbatthfif ule
pT.theirlives increasingly ; that
;o£activityiimsedsbnund!Qut.ofsBeaBon,;the.
jzeal for ! th'e ! ‘Master’s sake which shall by
.ail means save souls. Here are men who
nap; : mbre,
c .dh kindle a, flame ; not simply :'foiling
where :the dry -sticks •: cani be] found; or
how bestito heap them’ to catch the full
est draft; but can bring the live coals;
a,nd blpw the fire, and fan a : nxf feed’ till
jthfr,lo.yei;pi^e a jvorid'tphall- be burned up,
and-pastor and.people with .whom: they
meet shall fairly blaze. If one’ earnest
minister, of elder, or praying niembpr,
can do great things in‘a* church, what
shall not, be iooked for from a Presby
tery ?■• It is wonderful to think of .the
possibilities' l in the reach of such a con- 1
ceiiiS.atiph of force..,, ' : "
’‘“.Consider, ‘ .too, T the .-attitude :'ot > a
churchbfeceivihg Such a meeting, .: They,
know that every man professes, to have
no thought before the glory of Gbd inthe
good, of men. They kno w th*t they are
: praying men ; that. they are to be i scat
tered through the congregation, arid are
to have many and many
to. build or.rebuild;- or nowfy anoint .the
i family altar, ,to speak words- of encour
i agement; and comfort and'tfae-iChristian
fellowship ; • at the very least, to shine
: *ltb the light of a' godly. and .devout
example. , They know that ; often ; such
'meetings:have been the beginnings of
'great;things, intlie Ghurchi ’’‘They know
! th^g.od’p,‘blessing,goes witj^theip'. ,! l
These: things are true in geh'erai. Buir
the meeting of this fall, .come;
a'pephMMyin^ortanttanifcji -<nh»yedg ;
vene, f mbny pf'the m ,'fbrthe first time for
in * Peace. The stir .-of,
thfm' hC Reties, and
titrdl of ; -war will not disturb them.
Thanksgiving w!U be the language, most
fitting, whep men speak pf their country
Andnow: the.-deep- wrought .feeUnas-tha
expectancy, -the fear, the
est determination which the great strug
gle engendered, may be turned to 'the
only greater and holier for which
we can work—nay, it can go on without
turning, and work for a revival of reli
gion ' Men can work with the same
motiVes, only intensified, with which
they resisted political wrong and estab
lished right. ,
There are many hearts throughout our
land that have been taught by , their
hopes and the dealings Of God in the
■past/to expect great things to follow tto
war in the way ‘ of' most thorough ana
extensive works of graise. _
But there is no need of multiplying
reasons. : ' Camiot the d uties . which the
subject suggests be most' fifthfully dis
charged ?
Ministers should all be at the meOT
ings if it be possible, and should take
their elders. They should be present to
catch the first feelings of ’inspiration,
'should watcb for every opportunity of
giving and receiving, and ' should"-.not
cast contempt'on the good work by seek
ing a hasty adjournment, or an! early de l
parturo for themselves. They should
go with a definite determination to make
the gathering an immediate and; palpable
blessing to Abe church which'ihey -visit,
and do, so i fars as is possible, •pastors’
work with those whom they can* reach.
They should in; all things do revived'
work on revival principles with the most
.revived expectations; remembering that
jwork for Christ and his Church, is work
best done when souls are saved and help-:
ed far on towards, the fulness of sancti
fication. ~ I. R:
PLYMOUTH REVISITED.,
Winslow Housb, September 9, 1866.
Dear Brother Mears :-J-The need
Of rest and relaxation drove me to; this
“ wild New England Shore,” for a
dayB.- ■ ':L
The “ Winslow House” isoneofthe 1
ancient dwellings, of the Old Colony.
It was brought from England a century
since, in pieces, put together on-'the
highland overloo’king Forefather’s Rock,
and occupied by a branch,of the Wibs
low family. It- is. a remarkable, struc
ture, two stories high in front, and three
behind ; ‘giving suits of rooms.: twelve
feet in.hieght, and others'abput half,
high fTpm iloor to wall. The, , doors are
twice the size of modern ones, and .thei
window in my room has forty panes of
glass.' The stairways . and immense
panels, each from a single board, re
minds ns of the olden times. The.mag
nificent .Linden trees which shade the
building, .were set out When it., was
erected. ‘ .
THE ATLANTIC BATH.
Stepping into the “ Dove” sis the tide
was coming in, this morning, 1 rowed
across the harbor a mile, to the beach,
against which the open sea ripples |p
nature’s : repose and beata in the.storrn.
The view of the harbor under the
blue shy,' fringed , with'fleecy clouds, was .
fine, ‘ There, before me, rose' the' ’
bhrlalplace of the fathers, beneath its';
shado w the quiet village ; on the right,
two miles away, was, “ Captain’s Hill,”
and separated' from me by a narrow belt
oOmnd.heayedthe blue main.
! Soon, Lwas luxuriating in the surf,
Which the easterly wind swept in
grandly to the stretch, of "hard, shinmg
beach. How it seiit the 'bloou, leaping
through my veins! Magnificent bath,
in itself ap'd all its surroundings.! '. -
; :THE. ; EAITH fU THE FOB.EFATHEBS.
; The talk with enthusiasm ,
about .the gfeat,,Congregational gather-;
ing. from the . National Council, and. the
declaraitjon of. faith..on. “ Burial Hill.” ’
May it,-be the assurance*of .afearlessly
pgßngelical proclamation doctrines ;
pf grace, whjch inspired ;the
storms
1620, '
i .wptthy I^e.cprdl .thaii J jy]ie ! great,
i§s4sss?rj*t whose'; begnyiing ,
Mj : ; .assisted, has,
of the. most
forg, abiding in its power* ih ri
bf the*Churches. Though of peqa-.
liar drcumstances y/ Jiaye occasioned »'
decline in interest, s the, morning,- prayer
meeting, and three or four other evenmg
services during the week. are
tained, and living witnesses bif itstffraab
origin; stand up for Jesus.'' ,
BUSn MEETING. ’ " '
Such was the notice, I sa# on the'
iWagons in the street, and upon inquiry,
found it megnt that the colored people
are holding a camp-meeting in the woods'
,twp\, miles .‘distant, beside a beautiful
pond or lake."" . ‘J.’ 1
‘ , Upon; reaching the ground, ’lW'seein- 1 r
Eion and beauty, by thp. '
sheet’ of purest water, reminded me of
the advantage attending a, sterile sriil J
the preservation of its and other
Attractive retreats near, the’ business
:eentres. . ■ mni njjy
' . The did not' diffei
ftom. ordinary capp-meetings,excp|;tihg
'JtMfMr 9?Jih,e, largest ndmh^f a fe|
people Tn atteffdaßße,
“efely,y>ip. n 2 C character?'*Ehe !
o?Sing f , always Animated amOpg the
negroes,, rang, out, with, stirring potver
upon the quiet air. of the green woods
V-.r,.:vV- ’"V ?: c.'h: ,
j ■ - i - •■MvV. . L
■<l ./l ;
i4 ' n ° ed « to have,
r hs 5 an ' .and hearth
fplt Sabbath sheds out |ts fragrance and
radiance upon all the other
works of,the w:eek. J '
There is nor hour in.the'day,
m which our Lord Jesus Is not present
and his ministers: if
nWlnh' das s’
i ’ '* - -v. u. '- J