THE AIERICAN PRESBYTERIAN
AND
GENESEE EVANGELIST.
Bellgione and Family Newspaper,
IN THB INTICRICHT OF TES
Constitutional Presbyterian Church.
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY,
AT THE PRESBYTERIAN HOUSE,
1334 Obeetsut Street, (2d story.) Philadelphia.
Bev. John W. Mears, Editor and Publisher.
amstitait Urcsilightirin.
THURSDAY, MAY 17, 1866
DIVISION AND REUNION IN THE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
LESSONS OF HISTORY.
In considering measures for a reunion of
Presbyterians, the past experience of the
body should not be overlooked. We have
already tried both separation and reunion,
and we are not altogether in the dark as to
their nature and tendency. Indeed, it will be
our own fault, if, from the severe teachings
of the past, we have not gathered some
lessons of the deepest significance and
value. Let us attempt to put some of
these lessons on record :
1. Presbyterians do not place organiza
tion above principle. Visible unity is
their ecclesiastical ideal; but not their
idol. For truth's sake, they do not hesi
tate to risk all which is . merely external.
There are far greater calamities with them
than disruption of the mere outward body
of the Church. A greater calamity with
them is ecclesiastical oppression—is con
sent to false doctrine on essential points—
is silence upon great moral questions with
which the whole community is agitated.
A greater calamity than disruption would
it have been for Scotland, if the indepen
denoe of the Church had been tamely sur
rendered in 1843, and if the glorious quar
ter century of the Free Church had been
wanting in her annals. A greater calamity
by far than disruption is even now upon
the Church of Englund, whose evangelical
members remain in organic connection
with, and so practically endorse, the ram-
pant infidelity which they cannot disci
pline and control. A far greater calamity
would it have been in 1861, for the Asset&
bly of the other branch to withhold their
testimony and their moral support from
the National cause, than to suffer the eon-
sequences in the withdrawal of the South
ern churches
2. Organization is, next to a desire for
truth, a leading instinct, an essential fea
ture of Presbyterianism. Disrupted Pres
byterian bodies do not fly into fragments
or degenerate into independency. Isola
tion is abhorrent to their nature, as it is to
Christianity itself. When divisions are
effected, immediately the fragments, with
perfect ease, become complete wholes again.
And, sooner or later, tendencies to reunion
are almost certain to appear. The breach
of 1741-58, in this country, was filled up
through almost its entire length with nego
tiations tor reunion. And our branch of
the Church demonstrated its Presbyterian in
stincts by a reluctance, which it tpok twenty
years entirely to efface, to accept the situa
tion thrust upon it by Piovidenee, of lin in
dependent Church. Ten years more have
passed, and now we see the instincts of our
brethren of the other branch, sharpened
by some peculiar circumstances, .asserting
themselves in a similar manner, and calling'
quite emphatically fur a restoration of the
old ties. In Scotland and through all the
British colonies, the tendencies to reunion .
are universal and powerful, leading to union
movements on the greatest scale that has
been witnessed in Christendom since the
Reformation
3. In the course of these movements
there have been developed in this country,
two pretty clearly marked branches, or
schools of thought and habits of action, in
the Presbyterian Church. The one is rigid;
the other, free. The one lays stress upon
the particulars of a creed; the other, upon
the essential parts of a system. The one
makes human philosophy a test of ortho
doxy ; the other is unwilling to go beyond
a simple and unstrained interpretation of
Scripture, in which the great principles of
Calvinism are found. The one is more Cal
vinistic than Calvin ; the other, more Pau
line than Calvinistic. The one teaches litnit
ed atonement, absolute inability, and literal
responsibility for Adam's sin; the otr
lic
offers a free Gospel, teaches natural abilit ,
and denies authority to all mere theories of
the mode of our connection with Adam.
The one limit/Cale relations of the Church
to the world ; the other expands them so
as to bring the influence of the Church to
bear upon every moral and religious interest
of man. The one is austere, lofty, settling
upon precedents, satisfied with old things
and suspicious of new; the other is liberal,
genial, prepared for something better than
the past, which shall confirm and elucidate
God's word, and be an advance upon all
our present systems.
History teaches us that these two ten
dencies, have from the beginning, existed
in our American Church ; that though they
may be latent for a time, circumstances are
sure to bring them, sooner or later, into
New Series, Vol. 111, No. 20.
conscious antagonism, and ,thaf it is hard,
if not impossible, for theM to dwell
,together. under the roof of a single or
ganization. Twice the attempt has been
made. Once the union endured but twelve
years, with a period of• seventeen years of
disruption; the second time it lasted eighty
years, and now nearly thirty years of divi
sion have passed. And each of these ten
dencies is, in our day, strong enough to
rally about it numbers, influence, wealth,
and talent sufficient to constitute a vigor-
ous, independent, useful Church
4. The softening influences, which, at
different epochs, led men in both of these
schools to meditate union, are not perma
nent, do not affect the main tendencies
themselves, and cannot guarantee the sta
bility, the peace, the homogeneousness of
the united body. The truth is, the liberal
school has never schemed for disunion,
has never needed softening influences, bu ,
has always been the first to think of repair
ing the breach, when a rupture has occur
red. The New York brethren were inces
sant for reunion from 1741 and onwards;
and the "New School" of 1837-38 per-
gated in their reunion movements unti
their own sense of Christian manliness pro
tested. On the contrary, both in 1758 and
in 1866, outward circumstances of the most
powerful character have been required to
act upon the more rigid organization,' and
make them, for the time being, insensible
to the characteristic differences of the
bodies, and thus dispose them for union.
Let the truth be told : misfortune softened
them in both instances, and gave room for
an unwonted development of charity.
Gillett tells us (Hist. I.; chap. v.) that
almost from the consummation of the divi
sion in 1741, the New Brunswick, or libe
ral party, gained vastly upon the Philadel
phians. In the numbers and talents of its
ministry, and in the- extent of the field
opened to their labors, the advantage was
altogether with the New side. The Old
side lacked vigor and spirituality; the tide
of emigration from Ireland, so important to
them, began to ebb. The increase of mem
bership in the New side was to that of the
Old side, nearly as eight to one. The New
Brunswick party started with but eight or
ten ministers, including, licentiates; in the
seventeen years, they had so increased that
the Synod of New York numbered seventy
ministers at the Reunion. In 1742 the
Synod of Philadelphia, (the Old side,)
numbered twenty-six ministers. At the
time of the Reunion, they numbered twenty
two. No doubt some, at least, of the Old
aide, regarded reunion as a " corollary"
from these facts. Gillett says, "In these
circumstances, they became less and less
indisposed to reunion."
We would speak with the utmost kind
ness of our brethren of the other branch,
and would most cheerfully recognize a sub
stantial unity of spirit between 'many of
them and. ourselves ; but is it not true, and
ought it not to be declared, that the strength
of the reunion movement in their body, to
day, is due to like causes with thoSe which
we saw at work in the " Old Side" from
1741-58 ? Does any one suppose that, if
the Old School Church had maintained its
organization entire, and to-day numbered,
as it did in 1860, its three hundred thou
sand members and nearly 3700 churches,
with a General Assembly of over three
hundred Commissioners, we should hear of
any great pressure for reunion in its ranks ?
Has it not been candidly avowed, that the
corollary from the failure to reunite the
Northern and Southern fragments of the
Old School Church is reunion with the
New School ? Say we not truly, that the
rigor of the Old School has been softened
by extraordinary circumstances—the loss of
nearly one-third of her strength and the
rise of portentous elements of discord in
her thinned ranks ? Are not our brethren
passing through the same process which the
Old side experienced over a century ago,
in which, for the time, they forgot and ig
nored their characteristic tendencies, but
did not fail to bequeath them to "their
ecclesiastical posterity, to reappear after
eighty years? Surely the utmost friendli
ness of feeling should not hinder our
searching this matter to the foundation, and
pouring upon it all the light which God
has providentially given to us, in over a
century and a half of Presbyterian history
in America.
5. Our own deductions from the past
history, and present status of our branch of
the Church, render us decidedly adverse to
breaking up its outlines and destroyi ng i ts
identity. We reiterate our often expressed
Conviction of the unspeakable value, to the
Church and the world, of liberal Presbyte
rianism as represented in our body. To
any movements which will really strength
en those wholesome principles, we are fa
vorable, of course. But any attempt to
PHILADELPHIA, THU4SDAY, MAY 17, , 1866.
merge once more the two great tendencies
of Presbyterianism into one organization,
under the influence of mere kindly feeling,
or of a temporary suspension of the 'rigidity
of the Old side, it seems to us would be a
blind disregard of the teachings of history ;
it would be to walk in a treadmill; to return
upon our own track. Unity is desirable;
but attempts at unity in a line twice, re
buked of Providence, cannot easily be shown
to be the duty of Christian men and minis
ters.
The present relations of the two branches 1
as distinct ChUrches are harmonious, hon
orable, and to mutual edification. They
may be rendered still closer, doubtless,
with increase of benefit. Possibly the:
mass of the two bodies may, by further in ,
tereourse, find themselves alike upon the
platform of a wise, safe, scriptural, Liberal
Presbyterianism. They have not found it
so yet. Until they do, we shall go simply
for cultivating our present friendly and
courteous relations, and for presenting a
substantially even front to the enemies of
truth in the world. But we can never give
our consent to a union, which does not
honor that liberality, and blazon it as a star
upon the forehead of the new, Organization.
WHAT 'SHOULD CONE OF THE RE-
There are frequent expressions of inter
est, not to say of anxiety, beginning to be
heard as to the fruits and tests of the re4i
val which has been so generally enjoyed t6r
the churches during the past six months.
We do not add our voice to this inquiry
out of fear.; we see no reason to question,
the genuineness or preciousness of the
work. But we think it meet to express the
very reasonable expectation, that the Church
shall show a large increase of efficiency
and shall be a more decided power among
men than before.
1. We expect to see a nearer approxima
tion to that condition of permanent revival,
which we regard as the only normal condi
tion of the Church, and the one quite indis
pensable to her final triumph. In not a .
few instances reported in 'this revival, the
work has taken this steady, enduring char
Rater, going on for months, or even a, year,
without sensible abatement. Frequently
the means used have varied almost in no
thing from the regular exercises of the
Church. All, of, which seems to point to
the time, when religion will be recognized
as the highest concern of the Church at all
times; when a fresh and lively interest
will be taken by Christians in the work of
the Lord the year round; when conversions
will be looked for, as the result of the re
gular services of the Church. The week
of prayer, prolonged into nineteen weeks of
daily united prayer among Christians of
this city, is •an indication of like signifi
canoe. In proportion to the results of the
late revivals, we do not believe the press
ure upon pastors has been bxhaustive.
Hence, it will be natural for them to direct
their revived and strengthened flocks to
this view of the subject.
2. We look for a higher state of piety
and efficiency among the individual mem
bers of our churches. We expect Sabbath
schools to be reinforced with teachers; we
expect Mission-schools to spring up among
the destitute, and every form of effort for a
dying world, and especially for the neglect
ed and perishing masses, to be reinforced
with zealous, self-denying laborers. In
Boston, a cultivated layman, a man of lei
sure and of decided abilities, H. F. Durant,
Esq., has been moved to devote himself to
evangelical. abors. And so acceptable has
he proved himself in this capacity, that Rev.
Dr. Adams has shared his own pulpit with
him, thus wisely endorsing and encourag
ing one who, was so manifestly an instill
ment of God for this work. Men and
women will be found working for the sal
vation of souls, not as something out of
their line, but as the simple and natural
result of a humble, believing, earnest, pray
erful spirit. There are certainly neighbor
hoods, where the people of the world will
feel themselves in close quarters under the
zealous labors of their converted compan
ions, and amid the multiplied numbers and
the victorious spirit of the revived people
of God.
3. We look for a concentration of efforts
against prevailing social evils. A revived
Church will be followed by a raised moral
tone that will be felt in the community.
We expect a new and more vigorous assault
upon intemperance than has been made for
a dozen years. The recent powerful move ..
ments in defence of the Christian Sabbath
have been part of the revival. And a re
vived Christianity will appear in a bold
stand against mere partisanship in politics;
in the reinforcement of every effort to keep
the vile and
corrupt from places of power;
and in a strengthened public sentiment- in
VIVALS ?
favor of equal justice to all races, and of the
wholesome • execution of ' law upon those
guilty of the highest offences' known 'to
human government We have the utmost
confidence that thresulti of these revivals
will be counted in the , ballot boxes; and
they will strengthen the party described
Senater Wilson in his,speech in the United
States Senate, May 9
I believe it to be a• liberty-loving and pa
triotic organization, -to be composed of the
noblest, truest, and best men of our country;
that an overwhelming majority of the thought
ful, reflecting, conscientious, Bible reading,
God fearing men of the country are in its
ranks. Every breath that that organization has
breathed has been a breath for liberty, for
patriotism, for justice, for humanity, for the
elevation of every being that breathes God's air
and walks his earth.
We could not believe a revival genuine,
which did not add strength to the sound
political tendencies, elements, and organiza
tions of a free and intelligent people.
4. Once more, we look for an accession
of strength to the benevolent enterprises,
and to all the departments of labor in the
Church. Have Christians grown in grioe
is the Church active and Aroused ; has the
Holy Spirit — communicated himself, so that
her whole character is greatly elevated?
Then we may use the language of Paul, in
soliciting aid for the poor saints from the
Corinthians :—" Therefore, as ye abound
in everything, in faith, and utterance, and
knowledge, and in all diligence, and in
ypur love to us, see
,that ye abound in thin
grace also." It will ibe wrong, and we
think difficult, for any man to believe him
self converted unless his substanee is truly
consecrated to the Loid. At least a general
revival should lessen the proportion of
those inexplicable monsters, those lulus.
naturm (we cannot say gratne) in the
Church—penurious Christians. We expect
a wider circulation to Bibiles, to. pure liter's,
tare, and,religious newspapers by a revival.
The religious paper, representing all the
interests of the Church and of Christ's
kingdom, should follow every revival as a
supplementary instructor and' guide to en-
lightened aotion for Christ, and as an
apOlior to the position of the new converts.
We count, too,
.on reinforcements to the
ranks of candidayls for the . mlnistry., 'The
blessings upon our collegos lead us to look,
early for such results. rlf they do not fol
low, then may., we question the. Divine
origin of these movements: By their fruits
we shall know them.
5. We regard it as one-of the most'hope
ful signs of the Reiival, that no obe seems
disposed to view it as ended. 'For our
selves, we trust we see but' the beginning.
And we counsel churches and neighbor--
hoods that have not, been,visited, or that
have had, but n ;partial blessing, to hope on
and pray on, and- wait for the promise of
the Father,.and " ye shall be baptized with
the Holy Ghost not many days hence."
The prophetic expectations that have olung
about our year, make us look for far greater
things than the truly great already Vouch
safed. Why may not
. the latter half of the
year transcend unspeakably the former, in
spiritual glory and fruitfulness ?
REUNION 'A 'PRACTICAL FAILURE.
It will be remembered that at former
meetings of the Dayton (N. S.) and Miami
(0. S.) Presbyteries, a plan for harmonious
action upon the overlapping parts of their
field was adopted. Feeble churches on
either side were to unite, and the:resultant
churches to ally themselves in a fair pro
portion to the two Presbyteries. As usual
in such arrangements, the more liberal
party fulfilled so much of the arrangement
as depended upon themselves, and the conse
quence sraa the accession to the Miami Pres
bytery f one of these united churches. But
when it came to the turn of the other
branch a hitch took place, and the proposed
union failed. At the last meeting of the
Dayton Presbytery the Herald says:—
* Considerable time was spent at both the
regular and adjourned meetings in consider
ing the practical . working of the plan of
union agreed upon between the two Presby
teries of Dayton and Miami one year ago.
It was hoped • then that good would grow
out of the proposed union; but the past
year's experience has hardly' warranted the
expectation. A protest was read from our
members of the Second Church at Green
ville, against the union, and the commis
sioner heard from the nited . Church. A
conference was also had with a committee
from the Miami Presbytery, after which
Presbytery substantially resolved
1. To decline giving their sanction to
the union of our church at Greenville with
the 0. S. at that place ; and
2. Expressed the opinion that our sense
of selfrespeet, and the obligations we owe
to the N. S. Presbyterian Church that has,
under God, accomplished sp not-le a work
since the great rupture of suggest to
us the propriety of disci:manning any
further efforts in this direction, until we
have practical evidence that."our 0. S.
brethren are able and willing to cooperate
with us-on the general principle of equivii:.
Genesee Eva,±Lgelist, No. 1043.
lent' exchanges; or, which tlke Preshyteg
think still-better, until the two AsSerntlies
shall initiate: some just and feasible pla'p of
organic union.
A NEW VICTIM WANTED.
The slave spiritin Russia, perhaps encour
aged by the success of its expedient of assas
sination in this country, has prompted a
similar attempt upon the great leader of
emancipation in the Old World, the Czar of
Russia. Happily the same success did not fol
low the copy as was mysteriously allowed to the
original. Had the aim been as true, or had
watchful friends been, for the moment, as
remote as in the case of our lamented Lin
coln, the Czar would have perished within
two Jays of a year of the former—on the 16th
instead of the 14th of April. Is not slavery
the same everywhere ?' Can it be safe, or
wise, or just speedily to restore to power those
who fought a bloody civil war to perpetuate
it? Is the nation in haste to bring back to
our Congressional halls its plantation tone,
its bully and menace, its bowie knives and
pistols, and canes, its ungovernable passions;
its last resort in-brute force?
The temper of the country is well- repre
sented in the joint resolution which was
offered in the House by Mr. Stevens, and
passed by a unanimous vote :
Resolved, By the Senate and House of
Representatives in Congress assembled, That
the Congress of the United States of Ameri
ca has learned with deep regret the attempt
made upon the life of the Emperor of Russia
by an enemy of emancipation. The Congress
send their greetings to .His Imperial Majesty
and the Russian nation, and congratulates
the twenty millions of serfs upon the provi
dential escape from - danger of the Sovereign,
to whose bead and heart they owe the bless
ings of their freedom..
PUBLICATION COMMITTEE'S TRACTS.
The minor issues of our CoMmittee
should not be overlooked while Mr. e are in
terested by the adMirable quality and ap
pearance of the' greater ones. We , have
before us half a dozen tracts of ' their
second series, every one, of which has its
separate excellence and adaptedness. One
of •them, by Dr. Duffield, nylon the theme
"Every Christian a Home MiSsionaty," is
a very full and inspiring survey 'of= the
great field of lebor stretching before us
and within reach of every servant of Chriat
in the land. Another, on "The Family
Altar," by the Rev. M. R.. Vincent,; effec
tively urges the duty ,of family, wdrship,
and gives practical directions for most
,suc
cessfully discharging it. "Poor Little
Ellen" is a most toiching and powerful
temperance tract. " Poor yet Rich," shows
the power of Divine grace to sustain the
soul in extreme poverty, loneliness, and
old age. For catechetical instruction, three
little treatise§ have been provided : (1)
"What we are to Believe," the
,doctrinal
part of the Shorter. Catechism; with proof
texts. (2) Shorter. Catechism, mith proof
texts. (3) Four Catechisms for the Young,
with prayers and' Divine Songs; three of
them by Dr. Watts, and the fourth, the
Shorter Catechism, with analyses and proof
texts. We hope parents and Sabbath
schools will largely avail themselves of this
series.
TOO BAD.
The, guerilla who barbarously murdered
General McCook, whom he meanly shot as
he lay wounded and helpless in his ambu
lance, and whose barbarous act thrilled the
whole.people with intense indignation, has
been liberated on his parole by tbe'Presi
dent, and straightway elected sheriff of his
county in Alabama,, by supporters of the
President's policy.
There is a day of reckoning-coming yet,
both for the authors of such crimes and
for those who would conciliate, tolerate,
and applaud them.
TENNESSEE.
Andrew Johnson's own. State gives little
encouragement to her distinguished lon in
the course of extreme lenity to - rebels,
which he an rudely avows and persists in
attempting to enforce. The Senate of that
State, by a two-thirds vote, has passed a
stringent bill for the disfranchisement of
rebels, which Governor Brownlow endorses,
and pledges _himself to enforce by every
means in his power.
NINETEENTH WEEK OF PRAYER.
Wednesday, United Presb. Church, Race
near Sixteenth St.
Thursday, Salem Methodist, Lombard
St. below Broad.
Friday, West Spruce St. Presbyterian,
Seventeenth and Spruce Sta.
Saturday, Olivet Presbyterian, Twenty
second and Mount Vernon.
TABOR CHURCEL — This prosperous church
still gives proof that the blessing of God is
with its pastor and people. On last Sab
bath it received an accession of thirty
eight members, seventeen by letter, and
twenty-one by , profession.
TERMS.
Per annum, in advance:
BL NW Carrier, 8 74 50 -
Miss cents additional, after three months.
Clnlbst.—T en or more papers, sent to one address.
payabfistrictly in advance and in one remittance
B Mail, $2 50 per annum. By Carriers, $3 per. annn tr.
l[lnlstere and ElLinisters 9 Widows, $2 50 in
advance.
Home Missionaries, $2OO in advance.
Fifty cents additional after three months.
Remittanees by mail are at our risk.
Postage.—Five cents quarterly, in advance, pal
by subscribers at the office of delivery.
Advertisements.-123 3 4 cents per line for t
first, and 10 cents for the second insertion.
One square (one month)
$3
two months.. 5
• ..
three " 7
six . 12
one year........ - 18
The following discount on long advertisements, in
serted for three months and upwards, is allowed:—
Over 20 lines, 10 per cent off; ever 00 lines, 20 per
cent.; over 100 lines, 33% per cent pit.
LAFAYETTE AVENUE CHURCH.
THE F crsE LAW, ETC.
Baoosiyx, May 12, 1866
DEAR BROTHER : —Next Sabbath will
be our second communion-season since the
commencement of the revival; we expect
to receive one -hundred and eight into La
fayette Avenue Church. The whole num
ber received during the revival is two hun
dred and sixty. Our membership has now
gone beyond one thousand. God be praised
for such a band of workers as this young
church ! They are establishing a new mis
sion-chapel as a memorial of this precious
season of grace.
The new "Excise Law" shut up our
grog-shops in these twin cities last Sab
bath, and the new broom sweeps clean. If
the Christian community will only keep
hold of the broom-handle, we shall exorcise
some evil spirits therewith. Last Sunday
the Scripture scene was reversed. The
Lots remained in Sodom, while the "lewd
fellows of the baser sort" fled over to Ho
boken and Jersey. City, because Sodom was
quite too respectable and Sabbatical for
them.
The first anniversary of the new " Na
tional Temperance Society" was a superb
success. Three thousand persons were
present, including many leading clergy
men. Brother Beecher and Gen. Howard
(our Havelo'ck) spoke admirably.
Yours ever, THEO. L. CIIYIER.
ANOTHER PLAN.—The Northwestern
Presbyterian, despairing of any revoca
tion or modification of the recent acts of
the Old 'School General Assembly con
cerning' the South, now comes out with
a new, suggestion. The men who are to
compose_ the,4.ssembly are not likely to
be much impressed with suggestions
from- that *tarter. We copy them, not
because they , have any immediate inter
est for our readers generally, or because
they are any foreshadowing of the doings
of the Asseinbly concerned, but simply
to show the tact of the champions of re•
trogression in sliding frOm a position
which the Chriatiimity of the North will
overwhelniingly rtipnifiaie. The plan is
"All that is now asked is , that the Assembly
will take actibri in six:imam:it With the present
state of affairsi changed as it is since last
May. The ,` situation' is wholly altered.
Then the churches South were, a scbisi:natical
portion of our own Church : now, they are
a distinct and regularly organised body.
Then, the Church South was pledged to the
Southern Confederacy; now,, it acknowledges
the 'United States 'Goirernment and Constitu
tion as hiving 'rightful - authority.' ?hen,
there was 'in one of its public acts a declara
tion that its mission was the conservation of
slavery ; now, it publicly and unanimously re
pudiates the ,obnoxious sentiment. Changes
so important '0 these demand from us, not
annulling or repudiatinit:aets,. but a new act.
And what should that act be ,
" 1. Recognise the, chspge, with gratitude
to Him wlcio rules
"2.'Strike' from" our' rolls the Synods,
Presbyteiies; ' ministeA .. and churches, who
have nonstituted-thernselves a distinct Church
and thus becomaia,foreign body.
"Declare the sisterhood of the newhurch
as belonging' to 'the Evangelical family, and
that'mimstetif and members win be-received
from. her just: :ass from: the Ne . School, the
Method*, and qt.hers—that ' 'upolt•i
_per
icitileu
sonar examinationvto their e. faith
and'Ohtistian exOerience.' ..•''''-':
"Declare' thatly this recognifiork we do
not contract. , our limits, we beine4fill `The
Presbyterian Church in the United *cites of
America ;' and that we will, as h4rltofore,
send missionaries, organize churches, form
Presbyteries, and constitute Synods, in the
Southern and South-western States, as we do
elsewhere. ,:
" We throw out this thought very briefly;
we may recur to it to elucidate, defend, or
modify. We think that the substance of it
may be so put by.the next Assembly as to be
perfectly satisfactory, ,to a Synods named
above and to the great ,139 „of our ministers
and people, the land over.,
PHILADELPHIA SABitAOCIATION.
—The Twenty-fifth Anti `Report
this Society has been liiidilPlOhr table.
The field of operations of this,,society
is confined pretty much to the hOatmen
on our canals, the mission centres' being
Easton, Lewisburg, Pa., New Bruns
ivickotc. The work seems to be faith
fully thine by tract distribution, personal
conversation, and open-air services with
boatmen, with the manifest blessing of
God. The Corresponding Secretary,
Rev. Jeremiah Miller, has, however,
given a wider range to his labors, having
traveled considerably through the State
and addressed Sunday4chools, preached
on the Sabbath, and labored at Harris
burg, and in this city, with good results,
for the maintenance of our Sabbath laws.
The receipts and payments of the year
were $3300. John A. Brown is Presi
dent.
It seems to us that an enlargement of
the field of the Society's operations, so
as to include efforts to reach the neglect
ful and Sabbath-breaking masses of the
city, especially during the warmer part
of the year just commenced, would be a
good work.. The imperjlted% interests of
the Sabbath demand more general
rally and more comprehensive efforts
and steady reliance on the part of the
friends of the day: