MU. HI DWELL AMT) THE ENGLISH
VICARS.
The Evawtjrlirt recently stated that a min
ister of the Third Presbytery of New York
had preached, by invitation of the vicars,
in four Episcopal Churches in England.
The curiosity of the New York Christian
Times led it to a correspondence on the sub
ject, the result of which was a letter, since
published in its columns, of which we give
the important paragraphs. Wc presume it
was the Turkish Missions Aid andnot the S.
P. G. for whioh Mr. Bidwell preached, as
he had recently been appointed one of the
Secretaries of the former Society. The
writer says of Mr. Bidwell:—
“ About the middle of November, some
two months since, he went from London
about a hundred miles into South Lincoln
shire, on Saturday, by invitation, to preach
in the English Church, on Sabbath, of
which the Rev. Mr. Franklin is Jhe vicar
—a son or graduate of Cambridge Univer
sity. Mr. Bidwell preached on Sunday
twice for Mr. Vicar Franklin in his church
on behalf of the Society for the Propaga
tion of the Gospel in foreign parts, the
oldest Missionary Society in England, under
the patronage of the English Episcopal
Church. Unexpectedly, Mr. Bidwell was
not only urged to remain and
preach the following Sabbath, to which,
with some reluctance he consented. In
the course of the week Mr. Bidwell was in
vited to preach by three different vicars in
their several churches, on any Gospel
theme he might choose. Accordingly he
did preach for the three vicars, in three
different pulpits of the Church of England
on the following Sabbath, and a number of
the clergy were present to heaT him. The
congregation in the evening was large and
crowded in the old church, as large as
Trinity Chuiyh, New York, built centuries
ago in the same style of architecture. The !
services were listened to with attention and
interest. Such are the simple facts, if
they are of any interest to you.
“ It is true the invitation to preach in an
English pulpit was unexpected to Mr. Bid
well and a matter of some surprise, but it
was very Gordially given and as cordially
aocepted; and after nearly the lapse ot a
month, Mr. Bidwell was invited to revisit
Lincolnshire and preach again by the Yioar,
Mr. Franklin, and for him; but could not
accept the invitation. The facts are grati
fying and interesting on several accounts.”
fUlijjiiiiKf |nMliputt.
F K£SBYTERI AN.
Minister Remembered, —December 20th,
a number of the citizens of Monmouth, 111.,
presented Rev. D. A. Wallace, D.D., Presi
dent of the young college in that place, with
the means of freeing his residence from a
mortgage amounting to over three thousand
dollars.
Ecclesiastical Union.—One of the West
ern U. P. Presbyteries spent a whole after
noon, recently, in a very interesting and
spirited conference, in which brethren of
other denominations took part, on the sub
ject of “Ecclesiastical union among evangeli
cal Christians in our country.” So impor
tant was the subject deemed, and so unwear
ied was the discussion, that- it was resolved
to continue the same at the next regular
meeting.
Foreign Missions. —We have already
referred to the deficiency in the receipts of
the American Board and of the Presbyterian
Board of Foreign Missions. The United
Presbyterians are doing no better, we are sorry
to say. The Christian Instructor says:—At the
last meeting of the General Assembly, $86,000
were appropriated to the carrying on of our
foreign missionary work during the ensuing
year. The receipts to the 21st of December
during the first entire eight months of our fi
nancial year of $30,907 20, only a little over
one-third of what was appropriated and will
probably be largely required.
United Presbyterians in England.— The
Queen’s Road Churoh, Liverpool, have held
a bazaar, which has proved wonderfully suc
cessful, the gross receipts being over $7OOO
(in gold), and a large stock of goods remaining
Cj bo disposed of. The mayor of ‘Liverpool
and his wife Were “the patrons” of the
bazaar.
English Pres. Chnrch. —There have beeii
two resignations of pastoral charges, from
sickness and age, in Newcastle Presbytery:
one of the John Knox Church, where £llO
per annum “retiring allowance” was voted
by the people; the other of Dr. J. C. Pater
son Sunderland, who received £lOO per an
num. These generous and thoughtful acts
are more a matter of custom in the. mother
country than with us. The English Pres
byterians, according to a correspondent of the
Weekly Review, have abandoned five posi
tions, where they had commenced laboring,
including Tiverton, and were in danger of
losing two others, one at Birmingham, and
one at G uernsey. These losses must cover a
considerable period.
Revivals. —Windham County, Mass., has
been during the past lew months, and still
is, to an extent and degree very unusual,
moved with revival influences, largely in con
nection with the labors of the evangelists,
(Congregationalists,) Rev. Messi*s. Parker
and Potter. In'too town of Woodstock and
the adjacent town of Eastford the conversions
reported cannot be much fewer than one
hundred and fifty, embracing some of the
most remarkable and indisputable instances of
the power of the Holy Spirit in conversion
that ever fell under my observations j strong
and influential men, some avowed infidels,
and very many interesting and promising
young men and young women. — Cor. Watch
man and Reflector.
In the church of Upper Path Valley, Pa.,
meetings were commenced, on the 20th oi
December. The pastor writes to the Pres.
Banner': —“God has been pleased to hear
the prayers of his people, and bless the labors
of his servants, by sending us a precious sea
son of refreshing. Saints have been revived,
backsliders have been reclaimed, and the im
penitent awakened and converted. A more
deeply solemn and impressive season I never
witnessed. As the result of this delighful
Reason, abont seventy are entertaining an ap
parently well-founded hope that they have
passed from death unto life, and others are
-till anxiously inquiring what they must do
to be saved."
A very quiet and pleasing work of. grace
hss been in progress lor some time in tbe
J’resb. churoh of Pisgnh, Pa. Twenty-three
have already been added to the churoh on
Profession of faith, three of whom were re
turned soldiers.
Six hundred cannon, captuied near Chat
isnooga, have been gathered from the eur-
r j uadmg him, and sent to Northern arsenals.
THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 1866.
WANDERING STARS.
A SERMON BY REV. E. E. ADAMS, D.D.,
PASTOR OF IS. ItIIOAO ST.'cHITRCK.
[correspondence.]
Philadelphia} January, 15th, 1866.
Rev. E. E. Adams—Dear Sir: —Many of
your people, desiring to see your sermon on
“ Wandering Stars” in a form which they may
retain for occasional reference, hereby respect
fully request it for the American Presbyte
rian. Yours truly,
M. Baird, Wm. W. Keefer,
Wm. E. Camp, E. H. Hazleton,
I E. D. Ashton, T. H. Wood,
A. Whillidn.
Philadelphia, Jan. 19, 1860,
Messrs. Baird, Camp, and others
Dear Sirs : — I submit to you the manuscript
of my sermon, preached on the morning of the
14th inst., in the hope that it may contribute to
the correction of the evils to which it refers.
If it be a severe, it is an honest utterance.
Affectionately yours, E, E. Adams.
“ Wandering Stars.’’—Jude, 13th verse.
This text was given me by a friend last Lord’s
day. What idea he had of it, what difficulty
about it, or what purpose in suggesting it, I
did not inquire. I shall use it —
I. By way of accommodation.
11. In ‘its textual relationship.
The apostle drew his figures from nature —
the clouds, the trees, the waves, the stars.
These are all skilfully and powerfully employ
ed to illustrate and impress his thoughts. One
would think that he had a hint at least of the
i true astronomy, for the Greek word which sig
nifies wandering is “ planetai,” whence we de
rive the word “planets.’’ And our earth, and
its kindred orbs, are called “planets” because
they are revolving, “wandering” —and so dis
tinguished from the “ fixed stars.”
Or, did the sacred writer have in mind the
comet which sweeps with fiery trail along the
heavens, to disappear for years, and ages, in
the unmeasured distance? Or, did he think ot
the meteor which flashes through the air, and
I expires in the deep darkness?
In the general application of onr text, _we
might embrace a large variety of luminaries,
constellations, nay, a whole “via laetea,"
where the moths of fashion fftitter in the “ star
dust” and the delicate creatures of sentiment
I float and swim.
1. There is the Wandering Star of the soiree—
a social star —“ a bright , particular star,”
“ coining forth out of his chamber rejoicing,”
not “as a strong man to run a race,” or fight
a battle, but.radiant with unguents and jew
elry, with immaculate panoply of dress, with a
head full of conceits as a comet is of electric
hairs; with a heart throbbing for admiration
and conquests. Light streams from his pre
sence as from a young Apollo ; all eyes gaze,
all hearts are still. He speaks! and they find
him opaque enough. The radiance is from the
covering, not from the man. There is the
flash of a polished surface, but not the central,
diamond glow. They turn from his false and
fickle rays. He loses his attraction. The
light leaves him. He seeks a more congenial
sphere, shoots from scene to scene to shine
a moment in each. He has no soul-life —no
sun-like gravitation. “He is a Wandering
Star. ’ ’ He has his compeer in the gay, rust
ling, shining, silken butterfly, that burns her
wings in the blaze of fashion, and drops dim
and cindered to be trampled and scorned by
those who yet enjoy their momentary triumph.
These are “ Wandering Stars,” having no cer
tain orbit, no centre of purpose and relations,
floating from place to place, where their cheap
or costly plumage attracts for an evening;
where they can rule the hour, as the chiefs
of fashion. And the blackness of darkness
comes on them; the blackness of their life’s
ashes; the darkness of that void which their
follies have made for them ; where the light of
other eyes comes not, nor the fellowship of other
hearts; then the darkness in which all. the
world’s light is quenched —of the tomb, and of
eternity. Among the crowd that gazed on them
first with wonder, then with pity, and finally
with disgust, there was a cold, clear, passion
less eye that marked them —that still marks
them for the shroud and the coffin l 0, what
is this airy life worth? What is it to sparkle
and blaze a moment here, then die, and be for
gotten !
2. There are Wandering Stars of commerce.
Merchants are moving beings. Their name
signifies “Marching” or “Marchers.” They
must be active. Even when their bodies are
stationary, their minds and heart? must be al
most übiquitous. They need to know what is
transpiring in all lands, for they have intimate
relations with all products and enterprise. But
there is another way in which the merchant,
the man of enterprise, is sometimes a Wander
ing Star. He entertains not only large and
lofty, but extravagant views of trade. He is in
a hurry to get rich, or ambitious to do more,
than his fellows. He rents the most expensive
store; fills it with rarest and costliest goods ;
issues flaming advertisements; gathers an
army of clerks; dazzles the world by his dar
ing, novel, and stupendous enterprise. His
light outshines the whole firmament of humbler
adventurers, and blazes across the land. Sud
denly the full beams grow tremulous and pale;
the golden hue fades to silver, to ashen pale
ness, and then expires, like the star which
Tycho saw dying in the deep spaces, fading into
ether, lost in the blackness of darkness ! O,
man 1 there is a nobler commerce —with hea
ven and immortality. There is richer merchan
dize—the pearls and the gold of God’s king
dom.
3. There are Wandering Stars of the sanc
tuary. 1 mean those men and women, of whom
there are vastly too many in the world, mem
bers of the church, rent by circumstances from
their original communion, and never finding
another in which to rest. Some are too indif
ferent to seek fellowship again yvith the people
of God. Others seem not to understand the
rules of the church in this matter ; others still
study the social position, the convenience, the
expense involved in a decided step. These are
the questions which they put to themselves:
“ Shall I unite here for the Social element, the
respectability that prevails ? Shall I cast in
my lot with a new and costly enterprise ? Shall
. Igo there and listen to dull sermons; or to the
other church where the preacher is brilliant ?
Shall I settle down* under this aged pastor, or
that fascinating young man? Can I become a
trustee, a deacon, or an elder in either of these
churches? Can I stand the benevolent con
tributions of this church, the poverty and_ de
pendence of that 7 Shall I settle down in a
church that is extravagantly loyal, and where I
' shall have to hear, occasionally, a sermon aboat
the country, and about the rights of all men ?
• Shall Igo where I can make the best display cf
my equipage, and myself, and have the least to
’ do and to give for theinterests of Christianity?”
There are providences which we cannot con
trol. There are social relations which render
it right to change our ecclesiastical ties, and
spheres of duty, and those who seek to know
their duty, and to perform it, will not be greatly
nuzzled about the particular church in which
the- shall cast their lot. But there are those
who never ask “ where can I do most good for
God, and for man? Where can I most rapidly
and vigorously grow in Christian life ?’ ’ Having
been tossed by some wave ol Providence, from
their original communion, they are now
“ Wandering Stars,” half-attracted, half re
pelled, when they think of another church, or
mingle, lor a season, with another people.
Thev imagine that their light is not appreciated;
that the minister speaks too plainly ; that there
is too great a demand on their purses ; that the
doctriues are not preached} or there is too
much doctrine} or there is* not sufficient so
ciality i or there is. Heaven knows what. b 0
they wander from place to pla«e j save their
pew rents ; evade all special obligations to the
church, gratify their morbidness, and consume
their lives with the fires of envy, of disappoint
ment, and of vain regrets, until the blackness
of darkness comes on them, and their light is
quenched forever 1 Here let me say a kind
word to those whom circumstances have brought
among us, but who have not yet taken letters of
dismission to our communion. We appreciate
your unwillingness, to dissolve your relations
with the churches where your early Christian
life was spent; we sympathize with you in the
hopes you cherish of returning thither ; but as |
you cannot*now be with and labor for those
churches, and as we are ready to welcome you
to our fellowship, is it not best, more fraternal,
more in harmony with the spirit of Chris
tianity, to identify your interests w'ith ours, to
give your labor, your example, and your prayers
for the edifying and efficiency of this particular
family of God, and leave all future changes in
his care ? Such a step will give you a horde
feeling with us, and increase the tenderness of
our Christian brotherhood.
11. There are other orders-of Wandering
Stars, more especially suggested by the text. If
you read the whole Epistle you will see that the
Apostle speaks of teachers, who utter false!
hoods, and are actuated by selfishness. Both
Peter and Jude refer to them in almost identical
terms. They are “ wells without water.” We
come to them weary and athirst, the heat
beating on us; we look down into their depths;
we drop the empty bucket, which goes down,
down, down into emptiness. Our hopes are
disappointed, and we feel more keenly than be
fore our weariness and thirst: so it is with
some teachers. They do net satisfy our long
ing, our hunger and thirst after truth, after
sacred knowledge. They are “wells without I
water.” “Clouds without rain.” The earth
is parched; the fields languish; all living
creatures pant for the shower; clouds gather
in the heavens; men look up to them with
anxious hearts; a few drops awaken expecta- |
tion, and enkindle grateful joy ; but the. rain I
comes not; the clouds pass by, the dry winds
sweep over the languishing earth, and all is
withered and dead as before 1 Thus do false
teachers disappoint and torture the heart that
yearns for truth. We look up in vain for the
promise they once gave, as the longing husband
man or dying traveler looks to the mocking
clouds ! “ Paging waves of the sea foaming
out their own shame.” Their first coming is
with power like the billows; but how soon do
all their proud pretensions terminate in foam 1
There is no thought, no honesty, no solid truth.
All their noise and eloquence are “rattling non
sense” —the swell of their cadences, and the
roll of their borrowed thoughts, “.resemble
ocean into tempest tossed to waft a feather or
to drown afly.”
“ Wandering stars,” lighting up the heavens
for a moment, awakening wonder and expect
ancy, andbehold —“ the blackness ofdarkness.”
Such were the teacherswhomPaul qnd Peter and
Jude met, and against whose destructive influ
ence they warned the churches. We have
them now, —ignorant teachers, idle, indifferent
teachers, false teachers—“ Wandering Stars”
among our churches and Christian communi
ties.
1. Of this class, there are Sabbath-schoo
Stars, who solicit the position for the honor of
it, and who have no spiritual knowledge of the
lessons they attempt to teach; who cannot hold
the mind and heart of the class because they
have not the bond of truth. They mock God,
and insult the pupils by attempting to give what
they have not; by presuming to teach what
they do not know. And having no interest in
their work, they are not prompt in it. Their
classes come together at the appointed time,
but the teachers are not there. They come the
next Sabbath, but the classes are not there.
The pupils have learned one lesson too sadly.
The teacher deserts the class, and then the
class deserts the teacher ; and this is the sum
and substance of what the one teaches, and the
other learns. You see, at once, how easy it is
for a few such teachers to break up and destroy
a school.
Such “ Wandering Stars ” must be made
fixed stars, and shed their light in the particu
lar sphere where Providence has placed them ;
(or where they have placed themselves,) —or
else they must be kindly told that their light
is not needed. 0, teacher, get your light from
the great Sun of the moral universe, and feel
thatit is as glorious for you to shed its radiance
on that little circle of immortals, as it is for a
stftr to help light up 11 the empire of night”—as
it is for the great central orb to pour his splen
dors over all the planets 1 Get your head and
your heart full of the lesson you are called to
teach, and pour its Divine light into those living
spirits which wait to receive it; and you will
be surprised and enraptured to find a new sym
pathy in your class, an electric pulsation that
keeps tune to the music of your own heart.
Touch their spirits with truth, and with the love
of Christ, and as the harp of Memnon thrilled to
the morning ray, so will their thoughts and
feelings vibrate to your eye and your speech.
2. There is still another class of Wandering
Stars in the Sabbath-school. I refer to certain
iken whose practice is to visit such institutions
for the purpose of addressing the schools. We
have among us men whose services our schools
would not be willing to surrender. They are
known, and appreciated, and loved. Their
words are always timely and profitable. They
greatly aid our superintendents and teachers;
and stimulate, interest and please the pupils.
But there are others, young and old, who run
where they are neither called nor sent. They
solicit the privilege of speaking; they have a
wonderful message, a new light. They are or
acles, which were better “dumb.” To accom
modate them the session is disturbed: the les
son suspended, the order of the school broken )
the teachers and the scholars are made to en
dure a series of dull, unmeaning, disjointed
statements, or disgusted with puerile and silly
&D6Cdot6S»
I am happy to know that this evil is so far
beginning to be felt, that superintendents and
teachers are setting their faces against it, as an
exhibition of vanity, as destitute of order, as
ruinous to the moral taste-> of the children, as a
violation of Sabbath sacri fness, and as tending
to degrade the high and holy sentiments ot
Christianity. It will be a happy day for our
Sabbath- schools, when such babblershave learn
ed that they are not needed. Whensuch “Wan
dering Stars” find their true orbits—nor attempt,
by their “ feeble rays,” to light up the mind of
a city or a State; The glow-worm should be
content to illumine its hand-breath m the
•meadow, and not attempt to rival the constella
tions. , . ,
The great need in our Sabbath-Bchools is de
votion to the lesson. The teachers should
have a solid half hour for instruction and
appeal. There is too much general talking.
1 venture to say that the pupils are neither in
terested nor profited by three fifths of the
speeches that are made to them. Much that is
said is truth exaggerated; much is not true at
all, but composed of anecdotes without facts tor
their foundation ; hence with much poor teach
ing, with a large amount of faction in the libra- I
ries, and nonsense in half the speeches that are
imposed on them, our children in the faab
bath-schools deserve great credit for the pro
gress they make in knowledge and in moral
character. , .
8. But the catalogue of Wandering Stars is
ar isrstt i ™ i h s >
litr Thev will have to answer to God
pu P " IpmnTv for their neglect of some of
most solemnly, io „i aa i too many
his best to be In some other
in the ministry, who e)se better
calling. They can therefore have mis
tban they can preach, * those who are
taken their mission. countryi oV er Bmali
mi willing to aettle ey imagine their talent* to
churches, because if for ° b spheres; be
be of an order l °° to do go od anywhere
cause they are not £ « w hich cir
and everywhere, to indicate
S 2 They wauderabout, disappointed.
soured, impressed with the idea that the people THE PUBLICATION CAUSE,
d 0 I ’ o ‘ l U l e l, S , tand them ; tba i ; Donations received by .he Treasurer of the Presby
ers and smaller men are more honored and terum Publication Committee, Irom October Ist to
better cared for ; and that the reason is, their December 31st, 1865
sterling worth is not comprehended. When in ; Kalamazoo, Michigan, Ist Pres, ch
fact, with all their worth and superior training • Southold. L. 1., Pres. ch
and discipline, they fail to adapt themselves ; to j Auburn, N. Y., 2d Pres, ch., additional
popularize their manner and their discourses; to* \ Fairton, N. J., Pres, ch
get down into the hearts of the people. And ; Nome, Ohio, Pres, ch
so they become u Wandering Stars, rotating j Bonneville. N. Y., Pres, ch v ..
on their own centres; hanging on the shirts of : Danville, 111., Pres, ch
their brethren i forgetting that they are in the j J&i'ihZrZZ:
vineyard of God; that they ought to create, it j Baltimore, Md.. Ist Const, ch
they cannot find places of labor; and show j Dexter, N. Y„ Pres, cb
their zeal, their manhood, their Christian great- §*l 0W “J i ! le *pl* Xj’ cil *"*
ness, by lifting the least hopeful cause into Cincinnati! Ohiof Philip HiQkie“!A!“"!""“!
prominence and power. If a man feels that it Crawfordsville, Ind., Centre ch
iis a glorious thing to preach the Gospel, he will I n jj~ £ res * c |j
preach somewhere, and he will make people feel Prank3in?lnd., r Pres. c1#.............
its power , and his power in it and by it! Im- Cincinnati, Ohio. 3d Pres, ch
agiue Paul, or Peter, or John, or Wesley, or Madison, 2d Pres.
, i,, . -L * j • A’, Wilmington, Del, Hanover btreet oh
Baxter, or Flavel, or Bunyan, wandering about Cincinnati, Ohio, 2d ch Sabbath-school
after a settlement! They were fixed stars ; and Medina, Mich., Ist Pres, ch
they shone in prison, in churches, everywhere,
Power could not stop them, JLhey had a mes- Panama, n. Y.. Pres, ch
sage from God, and men hdd to hear it, and New Albany, Jnd„ 2d Pres, ch,
feel it! They shook the world! They alarmed • J a p r B c f t c ° h nwood Stre .°. t ;;;;;;;;;
the kingdom of darkness ! . Watertown, if. Y., 2dPres. ch!.. 7.7....
4. There are Wandering Stars of the pulpit, Perry, N.Y., Pres. ch.
who have not to seek a sphere of action. They KibS-teoi::::::
are stationary m person, but errant enough m Windham Centre, N. Y., Wm. Brandon
principle. Some of these have given them- Syracuse, N. Y.. First Ward eh
selves up to a false philosophy and been wreck- Ig’J’iTi!'.' I] T 'i(‘ P p“p S o, ?.h
ed, morally, on its dark shores. Others have Centralia,Tll.,’ , Pres.'ch.7"77’77^
surrendered the sober paths of religion for the Omaha. Nebraska. 2d Pres, oh .................
flowery fields of literature, and lost themselves From Peter Douglass by John
in the fascinations of poetry, in the regalements Philadelphia. Pa.. Onv3tci7!7'77'.'!77'77!7!'''
of aesthetic culture. Others, still, have given Morenci, Mich., Pres, ch
up the simplicity of Divine truth for rituals, rnd.Tpr^s/eh.'r.:.:!!.'ii. i/.:!!!!!!
the products of minds antiquated and chulea Toronto, Ind., Pres, eh
by the study of old systems, by a veneration of Clinton, Ind., Pres, ch
the shadowy past. While others, too fallow
for philosophy, too ignorant tor literature, yet Y ps u a nti, Mich., Pres, ch
too “wise m their own conceits’* to accept the Lockport, N. Y., Ist Pres, ch., additional..
broad spirit of Christian philanthrophy, or ad- at b 0 oyoNn 0 y 0 N n Y N 'Pres lS oh PrCS ' ° h
mit the stern doctrines of God, lend their voices New Yi r k, n’.’Y., 7th Pre5.cii.77777777..!
to rebellion; find no c<j.use of thankfulness in Plum Creek. Pres, ch
the emancipation of four millions of immortal milliard ’n ’ J^Prea^’ch 1
beings from a lasting and cruel bondage ; no Newark, N. j’„ Mrs’. M'a'ryßogera77’77777
reason for joy in the survival of our Govern- Lyons Falls. R. Y., Pres, ch
ment over a treason that made the world trem
ble snd grow pale ! And still others who, see- York, N. Y., Pres, ch *
ing nothing Divine in Christianity, desecrate Romulus, N. Y„ Pres, ch
the pulpit, and insult the reason of men by at- §£*£“£.'.r"V.”™
tacking the institutions of God j by endeavor- Horse Heads, 111., Pres, ch
ing to sweep from the Bible the whole deca- Virden, 111., Pres, ch
logue, to join with infidels and rotten politi
eians in their war against the institutions Ot na- Petersburg, Mich., Pres, oh
ture, as well as the appointments of Jehovah — Middlefield Centre, N. Y., Pres, ch
for they can hardly be ignorant of the fact, Pres “oh* 1
that the original Sabbath existed previous to Auburn, N. y’., Ist Pre37ch7!77!!7!7!77!!7
the proclamation of law from Sinai, and that in Newark, N. J., 6th Pre*. oh
the Deealogu^men were not commanded to “
begin to keep lit, but to remember it as an msti- N e ' w York,' N.’ Y.',’ Mercer Street Pres, eh
tution already existing, and as incapable of Washingtonville, N. Y-, Pres, oh
being abrogated though the rest of the Deca
logue should be given up. It was a thing Harlem, N. Y„ Pres, ch
independent of the Decalogue. And do Batavia, N.Y., Pres, ch
they not know likewise, that there is not
a word in the New Testament which warrants Springfield, N. Y„ Ist Pres, oh,
the abrogation of a single commandment! Ann Arbor, Mich., Pres, ch
that a change of day is not a surrender Pittsfield. Pa., Pres, oh
of the precept? And do they not also knoy
that it was not the purpose of the apostle to
bring the first day of the week —the Lord’s day
—down to the level of secular days, bat to
bring the secular days up to the platform of the
sacred day ? And are they so ignorant of his-,
tory as not to have ascertained that the rejec
tion of the Sabbath results, as in France, for
example, in the ruin of all order and security?
And shall these “Wandering Stars” of the
pulpit, who 1 ‘ deny the Lord that bought them,' ’
think they are getting their light from the
“ Star of the Morning ,” from the “ Sun of
Righteousness;” that they are held in the right
hand of the Lord, when they enter the ranks of
those who openly defy human and Divine laws,
who would sweep away all legislation that they
may enjoy their pleasures and fill their pockets?
Rather, who would have legislators defend
them in rattling their cars and plying their en
gines by our sanctuaries, and thrusting their
Sunday issues into our dwellings, in the midst
of our devotions? Surely such teachers are
“wells without water,” “clouds without rain,”
“raging waves of the sea, foamjng out their
own shame,” “Wandering Stars,” for whom,
we fear, is reserved “the blackness of dark
ness ”
5. There is yet another order of “Wandering
Stars.” They are members of the Church, but
indifferent to its duties. They have but little
interest in prayer ; they are lax in their views
of the Sabbath; and, in fact, are claimed by
the world as very good. sinners. Let me take
my stand nowlat the very gateway of perdition,
and warn such wanderers back. Stop I O,
stop! The next step will be in “'the blackness
of darkness.”
But we close with an application of our text
to all who are living without God in the world.
Every soul of man is a star. It has the glory
of intellect, of conscience, of hope, of affec
tion. It is capable of superior lustre, even
amid the ruins of humanity; it may glow di
vinely in death, and shine immortal in the
kingdom of heaven. But if it breaks from the |
attraction of God, if its beams are shorn and
its light quenched-by sin, if it wanders from its
divine orbit —it will lose itself in a dark eter
nity. What if our earth should start off from
its orbit and wander away from the central sun I
How long ere its day would be quenched in
midnight, its summer be lost in winter, and its
distance from light and life be irrecoverable ?
Depart from- God, and your reason is rent from
the centre of thought, your conscience from the
bosom of eternal rectitude, your love from the
infinite benevolence, your life from the source
of happiness. You live without God, you will
did*without God. You will appear at the judg
ment without a Saviour, and through eternity
be “Wandering Stars in tbe blackness of-dark
ness.” The voice of love calls after you now.
The offer of salvation is repeated now. O,
listen and return. Trust no longer to your own
false and fading beams. Wander no farther
from the Sun, source of all happiness and
glory. Turn back from the Bhadow of death,
from the blackness of darkness, and seek the
smiling, life-giving Source of light. For —
I *' He eomcß in His erase. He comes in His beauty
To brighten your darkest and drearest abode,
Tc shine on the fields and tbe deserts of duty,
To light up the path-way that leads you to God.
“He will light yon through toil, Ho will light you
through sorrow,
Will beam on your journey, and smile on your
grave;
He will waken yonr eyes to an unsetting morrow,
For the ‘ light of the world’ is almighty to save.’
Apology of Lord Palmerston to Majors
Gen. Butler—When Gen. Butler issued bis
celebrated Order No. 28, in New Orleans, ]
known as tbe “ woman order,” he was de- j
nounced by the rebel chieftain Beauregard as !
a “ beast,” which epitbetwas not only echoed
all over tbe South,-but was adopted.in spirit
by Lord Palmerston, late prime minister of
Greatßritain. Shortly alterward, the Kane-
Palmerston scandal was set afloat, much to
the discredit of oar noble lord. Gen. Butler
took advantage of tbe fact, and addressed a
note to a distinguished gentleman on the
other side of the Atlantic, in which he allud
ed to the fact that Palmerston had repeated
the dirty scandal aboutTiis (Butler s) wo
man order,” that perhaps the learned pre
mier was not aware that the order, which, in
consequence of tbe beastly conduct of the
rebel women of New Orleans towards the
Federal troops, became a military necessity,
was copied verbatim from an order of the
citv council of London, established during
a time of peace. Gen. Butler, having just
heard of the gossip about Mrs. Kane and
Palmerston, remarked, in the letter referred
fo that probably his lordship had begun to
Iparn how good it was to be slandered. Upon
readlm' Gen. Butler’s letter, which embraced
the facts about tbe misconduct of women,
I tnffion Republican.
To the Special Fund, John Atwood, Alton,
Illinois
Total amount received $2837 32
WM. L* HILDEBURN. Treasurer,
1834 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.
PREMIUMS FOR 1866.
These premiums are desigued for the
persons procuring new subscribers; the sub
scribers must be such in the strictest sense, and
must pay regular rates, as named, strictly in
advance.
CASH PREMIUMS
For one subscriber, 75 cents; for four or
more, at one time, $1 25 each; for a club of
ten new names, $7 50 ; each single addition to
the club, 50 cents.
OTHER FKEMITJMS.
flgg- All orders for these premiums must en
close a postage ■stamp.
Hours at Home or Guthrie’s. Sunday
Magazine, (to those not already taking them),
for one new name and $3 50.
Lange’s Commentary, postage free, for Two
new names and $7.
Smith’s Condensed Bible Dictionary, post
age free, for Three new names and $9 75-
Smith’ s Unabridged Dictionary, 3 yols.,
postage free for Twelve new names and $37 60.
Huss and his Times, postage free, for Pour
new names and $l2.
WILLEOX 5. m Ml Bican
For Twenty new subscribers and $6O, we will
send one of these first-class, simple, durable,
noiseless, and exceedingly rapid machines;
boxing $1 50, and freight, extra.
jssg“ We have used one of these machines
in our family, and can add onr own assurance
to readers that they will find them admirable
machines, with marked points of superiority
over others.
OUR COMNITTEE’S PUBLICATIONS.
SOCIAIi IIYJIS AND TONE BOOK.
For every new subscriber paying full rates in
advance, we will give two copies of the Hymn
and Tune Book, bound in cloth, postage ten
cents each. For a new club of ten, paying
$25 in advance, we will send fifteen copies,
freight extra. We make this offer to any ex
tent.
MARRIAGES.
POWELL—JOHNSON. —On the 19th of November
1865, by Rev. D. (1. Mallery, Mr. George M. Powell, of
Philadelphia, to Miss Adeline Johnson, of Beverly,
STJMNBR—FORSTER—At Harrisburg, on thelBth
instant, by the Rev. Wm. R. De Witt, U. 1).. Brevet
Lieut.-Col. B. V. Sumner, U. S. Army, and Miss Mar
garet S. Forster, daughter ot the late Gen. Forster, of
Harrisburg.
•DEATHS.
PAUL—On the 18th instant Elizabeth D. Paul,
wife of Dr. John Rodman Paul, in the 57th year of
her age.
OIIITIIAKY.
Departed this life, in this oity, on the C*h instant, m
her 59th year, Akktbusa Clip, wife of Joseph Leeds,
at their residence. No. 1614 Summer Street. Gtmd
ness and excellence adorned her character, Christian
usefulness her home and social life, and an improv
ing mind and heart gained the respect, oonfldenoe
and affection of all who knew her. The following
lines ai e a tribute 1 to her memory :
The harp of mourning, strikes its tendcrest string.
And near and far are lelt vibrating tones;
The notes t" many, very many briDg,
Tbe touching accents, or in silent moans—
That reoently, a long and well-known friend.
Whose voioe, and hand, and heart, and greetings
Made'ooDfldence. respect and love to blend.
Has gone from scenes of earth, from mortal s.ghh
But leaves behind tbe eloquence of Christian life and
light.
Her household knew the star that kuided all.
Her handy works were constant, and ,“®
Some useful labor, the , a d
To bless or cheer to aid. or g
To shew a '‘j ll ’* cheerful, right,
A happy U winniSg eloquence of Christian life and light.
That household bless her memory and her name.
There, confidence, affection, union, love.
And hospitality that sought no fame.
A And song and musio wafting praise above,.
F Vr m S r mo Burning bright,
Hers the iivinff otcqueuoe of Christian life and
light.
The casket rest.* within its earthly *bru.e v
lhe treasure joins its treasures gone t^rc:
And high in in an&tons glorious, pure, di' ine.
They have a phce, to separate no nn-.rf.
But in the household hero, a void is made-
Her vacant chair and place impress each sig^':
Her works, mementos, Bible, books are spread :
They tell of one who? e presence made all bn :• h t,
Who leaves a silent eloquence of Christian h >• and
light.
Phu.adelphia, January 12, IS 0.
$3l 31
13 00
3 25
1 HO
5 36
5 0J
4 VQ
IS (-0
11 20
57 00
20 90
7 13
gpmal gfotas.
4S 5 " Wanted.— By an experienced Teacher, a
situation as DAILY GOVERNESS, in a private
family or School. Would have no objections to going
a short distance from the city. Best of references
given. Address TKAUii Ktt, at the office of the Ame
rican Presbyterian.
HAIL S VEGETABLE Mil'll,lAX
BENEWER has proved itself to be the inn?* rtcct
preparation for the hair ever offered to the public.
It is a vegitable compound, and contains no inju
rious properties whatever.
IT WILL RESTORE GRATTH AIR TO ITS ORIGI-
It will keep the hair from falling out.
It cleanses the scalp and makes hair soft, lustrous
and silken.
It is a splendid hair dressing.
No person, old or young, should fau to use it.
IT IS RECOMMENDED AND USED BY THB
FIRST MEDICAL AUTHORITY. w
«-Ask for Hairs Vegetable Sicilian Hair Renewer,
and take no other. R. P. HALL & CO,
Nashua, N. H., Proprietor.
For sale all druggists. 1006-6 m
1 00
25 63
9 50
20 00
8 00
24 50
PERRY DAVIS’ PAIN KILLER.
We have tested this medicine, and assure our
readers that it not only possesses ;ill the virtues
claimed for it, but in wary injuncts surpasses any
other remedy we have ever known. It should not be
classed with the nostrums of the cnv, got up for the
especial purpose of pecuniary profit, hut ho regarded
as one of the standard medicines tor ■ he public bene
fit—Herald of Gospel Liberty.
BEAUTY—V JOY FOREVER.
Pimples and ESotehes on tlie Face,
Freckles, Sallow Dess and all roughin'*.' of the Skin,
removed at once by the usu oi *' UPiiAM’S PIMPLE
BANISHER.” Price 50 cents. Mailed to any ad
dress for 75 cents, by §. C. UPHAM, 25 South Eighth
Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
AHouseliold. Necessity exists for theUseof
DFUJTO’S CATARRH SNUFF,
Which, in the first stages of a cold, acts like magie—
Headache, Hoarseness, Diptheria, and Bronchitis,
Sore Eyes, Deafness, Bad Taste and Smell, being the
result of Catarrh. This snuff removes and prevents
all these, and insures a healthy Head. Its effects are
pleasant and safe, even for infants who suffer from
Snuffles;
It has the highest professional testimonials. Sold
by all Druggists, or sent by Mail to all parts of U. S«,
for 30 cents for One Box, or $1 for four Boxes.
Address, ** JAS. DURNO, P. 0. Box 1235,
New York.
Wholesale, by D. BARNES & CO., 21 Parkßow, N. Y.
ALLCOCK’S POROUS PLASTERS. —A
Druggist said the other day, you have no need to ad
vertise your Porous Plasters, for every one sold cer
tainly oauses a dozen to he sold, and a dozen sells a
gross, at dso on. Yo\i will not be able to supply the
demand soon. But we can supply a thousand yards a
day.
$2812 32
AFFECTION OF THE SPINE CURED.
Hartford, Conn., Nov, 11,1861.
Messrs. Thoxos Allcock: A Co.—Please send with
despatch, twelve dozen Allcock’s Porous Plasters.
Our daily experience confirms their very superior ex
cellence. At this, moment of writing, a man applies
lor one, who, by entanglement in the shaft of ma
chinery, had both his legs broken, spine severely in
jured, and was lor nearly a year entirely helpless.
This man found relief very soon by the application of
a plaster to his spine. He was soon enabled to work,
and now he labors as well as ever. He would cheer
fully pay $5 for a single Plaster if they could not be
had at a lower rate. lam surprised that surgeons do
not make use of these perforated plasters, to the ex
clusion of all others, as their fiexibity and adhesive
ness are greatly in advance of all other plasters with
which lam acquainted; while the perforations pecu
liar to then, rendered them greatly superior to all
others for ordinary surgical uses. Knowing the Plas
ters to bo so useful, I have no scruples that my senti
ments should he known.
J. W. JOHNSON, M. D.
Principal Agency, Brandreth Heuse, New York.
Sold by all Dealers in Medicines.
A COUGH, COLD, OR SORE THROAT,
Requires immediate attention and should be
CHECKED. If allowed to continue,
Irritation of the a Permanent
Throat Affection, or an Incurable
Idling- Disease.
IS OFTEN THE RESULT.
BROWN’S BRONCHIAL TROCHES
HATING A DIRECT INFLUENCE ON THE PARTS, GIVE Tinim.
For Bronchitis, Asthma, Catarrah, Con
sumptive and Throat Diseases,
TROCHES ARE USED WITH ALWAYS GOOD SUCCESS.
SINGERS AND PUBLIC SPEAKERS
will find Troches useful in olearing the voice when
taken before Singing or Speaking, and relieving the
throat after an unusual exertion of the vocal organs
The Troches are recommended and prescribed by
Physicians, and have had testimonials from eminent
men throughout the country. Being an artiole of
true merit, and having proved their efficacy by a test
of many years, each year finds them in new localities
in various parts of the world, and the Troches are
universally pronounced better than other articles.
Obtain only ** Brown's Bronchial Troches,” and
do not take any of the Worthless Imitations that may
be offered.
Sold everywhere in the United States, and in For
eign Countries, at 35 cents per box.
HOLIDAY GIFTS.
SUPERLATIVE
CONFECTIONS,
IN NEAT BOXES
111 CHICS PRESIIT-SI
STEPHEN F, WHITMAN,!
No. 1210 Market Stree
SAMUEL W. HESS,
DEALER IN
THE, BEST QUALITIES OF
LEHIGH, SCHUYLKILL AND BITUMINOUS
COAL.
ATI consumers should try his GENUINE EAGLE
VEIN, as it is the very best Coal in the market.
Orders by despatch or otherwise promptly attended
to at tbe CONTINENTAL COAL DEPOT,
Nos. 203 and 205 North Broad Street.
GO ALT GOA LH
LEHI GH AND SCHUYLKILL C' AT, of the >63
quality, selected from the Approved Mines aide
cover.
Prepared Expressly for Store and Family Did.
Northeast corner of Passaynnk Hoad and Washington
Avenu6, Philadelphia.
albert rementkr,
1010-ly CALL AND EXAMINE.
NAL color.
DIATE RELIEF.
MANUFACTURER,
£»TIir,A UtIPHIA,