Aitutiralt Dno4tftialt.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 1866
CONTENTS OF INSIDE PAGES.
SECOND PAGE—FAMILY CIRCLE:
Our Father—The German Family in London—The
Little Stranger—Summer Vacations—Was it In
stinct or Providence 7—Chicken in the Hat.
THIRD PAGE—MISCELLANEOUS :
Music in the Home—The Surgeon at Work.
SIXTH PAGE—CORRESPONDENCE:
Letter from Syria—From the Country.
EDITOR'S TABLE: GIHOtt'S 'England Two Hun
dred Years Ago"—Melville's "Battle Pieces and
Aspects of the War"—Whitney's "Asiatic Cholera:
A Treatise on its Origin, Pathology. Treatment and
Cure"—"The Hidden Sin"—Periodicals and Pam
phlets—Literary Intelligence.
SEVENTH PAGE—RURAL. ECONOMY :
Old Fruit Trees Renovated — Fancy Hens—New
Grape Bug—Weeding Potatoes witli Sheep—Dwarf
Apple Trees—Mixing Potatoes.
OIENTIFIC: National Academy of Sciences, Con
tinued.
THE FUNERAL OF DR. BRAINERD.
The services of this saddest of all
occasions to a vast multitude of the
Christian people and ministry of the
city, took place on Saturday afternoon
at four o'clock, in the Old Pine Street
Church, and were managed with great
propriety and solemn effect. The church
had been heavily draped, the pulpit with
its fixtures, Bible and hymn book being
completely veiled in mourning for its
now ever.to-be absent pastor. The win
dows were darkened and a subdued
artificial light shone upon the sad scene.
The bell of St. Peter's [P. E.] .Church
was tolling, and the organ was playing
a low dirge, when precisely at four
o'clock the clergy of all denominations,,
and the elders and trustees of the church
entered the building, followed by the
corpse and the bereaved family. The
organ played the Dead Nara in Saul
while the preliminary arrangements were
being made. All the invited persons
having found seats, the public generally
were admitted, and in a moment, almost,
the building was crammed to its utmost
capacity. Many had already been wait
ing for hOurs in the gallery. The pre
sence •of policemen was necessary, not
to quell disturbance, but to enforce
arrangements necessary for comfort.
Among the ministers present, besides
those of our own denomination, were
Drs. Bomberger, Cooper, Dale, Church,
Crawford, and many others in this city;
Rev. Dr. De Witt of the Reformed
Dutch Church, New York ; Dr. Backus
of Baltimore, and President Cattell of
Easton. Notwithstanding• the season,
one of the largest gatherings of clergy
men that has been seen for some time in
our city assembled to do honor to a
member of their body so widely rever
enced and esteemed.
The choir intreduced the services by
singing with very great taste, skill and
feeling, " Vital spark of heavenly
flame." The concluding passages, com
mencing, "Lend, lend your wings,"
were grandly done, and were full of in
spiration to the sorrowing but hopeful
friends of the departed. P e rayers,
hymns and reading of Scripture fol
lowed, in which Messrs. Dulles, Butler,
Crowell, McLeod, Adair, Mears, and
Taylor took part, when Rev. Albert
Barnes, upon whom a tender interest
was concentrated as the most intimate
friend of the deceased, and as made
most lone and solitary by the bereave.:
ment, commenced
THE FUNERAL ADDRESS
Having read the passage, Daniel xii. 2,3,
he dwelt up the words of the last verse.
They that be wise shall shine as the bright
ness of the firmament. He said :—The star
that has shone here below is removed to a
higher sphere to give splendor there. To us,
it is hidden, as if a constellation had with
drawn and left nothing but dimness and dark
ness behind. But it is still shining beyond.
As one star differeth from another star in
glory, so there are different degrees of glory
above. They who have shone brightest`here
will shime brightest there. The Apostle
Paul shone brighter and brigYter here, and
turned `many to rigiiteciusiiess as a preacher
of the Gospel. In another position, as a
true Christain even, though taking a high
place in militarrlife, though, learned in the
law, though famous for scientific pursuits,
as he might have been in any or all of these,
yet the splendor of his fame as a successful
preacher of the Gospel, must have exceeded
them all. •' He would not disparage other
callings, yet it is they who turn many to right
eousness that shall shine as the stars forever
and ever.
It is a great calamity, when a man of ma
ture years, ripe experience, large observation,
extensiveinfluences and power is taken away.
It produoes a void which is not easy to fill.
Great influence proceeds partly from origi
nal endowments, partly from cultivated in
tellect, partly from position in society, largely
from piety. But a capital element of influ
ence is the power of appropriately conveying
one's own sentiments to others. Influence
is of slow growth. It is the result often of
many conflicts and struggles. Hence, when
such a character is withdrawn, we feel it. It
Padden'darkness and great vacancy.
Mr. Barnes in tracing the formative in
fluences on Dr. Brainerd's character, gave the
facts of his, birth in the northernmost parts
, of New York State, more, than sixty years
ago. We are not familiar with his early
training. The remarkable statement in his
Life 'of John Brainerd on early Puritan'train
.
ing bears the impress of having been obtained
in his own father's hamlet, and thus the
foundations were laid in that region of his
future character. He was of some of the
best of the Puritan stock, being descended'
of the celebrated Brainerdfamily of Haddam,
Conn. He removed to Rome, Oneida
county, the town of Mr. Barnes' nativity
and residence, sometime from 1823 to 1825,,
taught in' the Academy and was a student of
law. While thus engaged, he was brought
to know Christ. He was converted by the in
strumentality of that wonderful man of God--
Charles G. Finney. The astonishing work
of grace under this man's preaching began
in Rome. Alniost every lawyer, almost
every merch s ant, every prominent man in
Rome was, brought to' make a profession of
religion at, that time. Dr. Brainerd under
went a chapge. He gave u the study of
law aria went tc.A
.ndovei. l Leaving Andi
over, he came .fbr a short i time to Philadel
phia, and was associated with Rev. James
Patterson in his great revival work. He
then went West, and was engaged very sue
THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 1866.
cessfully in editorial and pastoral labors in
Cincinnati, in which he was closely associated
with Dr. Lyman Beecher, and returned to
this city to accept the call of Pine Street
Church in 1836.
Dr. Brainerd was a man of uncommon
power of mind. He would have stood among
the first of his profession if he had adhered
to the law. Few were so admirably adapted
for its peculiar duties by his eloquence, the
power of getting at once to the pith and mar
row of a subject, by his condensed arguments,
directly aimed at the difficulties of the sub
ject, by his readiness of response, his fund
of illustrations. These things qualified him
for the highest work in his profession. The'
high positions of statesmanship were not
beyond his reach. All these were given up
that he might preach the Gospel.
The foundation of the man's character, the
type of his piety and the aim of his labors
are not to be found in the theological semi
nary; that which entered most deeply into it
was derived from three men :—Finney, Pat
terson, and Lyman Beecher, three men as
well fitted to train an aspiring young man as
could well Ise found. Finney himself, that
man of amazing power, of vast influence and
success, penetrating fallacies and reaching
the conscience of men, and especially mov
ing those in more elevated 'conditions of life,
had given up the bar for the privilege of
.preaching Christ. Patterson—that man of
fragrant memory, known, loved and emi
nently useful; who loved and lived for re
vivals, who labored for the conversion of men
in the pulpit, by the wayside, on the Sab
bath or the week day, and blessed in his
labors in this city quite as eminently as any
man who has labored here for its foundation.
And Lyman Beecher, one of the most promi
nent friends of revivals, and eminently blessed
of God in this respect, wherever his lot was
cast ; that most acute man, seeing thought
so clearly, and brightly, showing men their
own thoughts and feelings, and moving their
conscience so deeply. We find the evident
marks of influence of these men upon Dr.
Brainerd's character. His whole activity, or
his entire mode of presenting truth, bear
witness to the power of these remarkable
men. Most faithful was Dr. Brainerd in the
pulpit. This simple truth of the Gospel was
the burden of his preaching. He had un
common command of the English language.
He chose the right words for the right place.
He well understood the power of the English
tongue, especially in its terse Anglo-Saxon
elements. In this, he resembled Lyman
Beecher and Daniel Webster both. His
preaching was such as secured respect and
attention. He was orthodpx; he was liberal,
yet tenacious of truth, never shrinking from
so presenting the truth as to act on the con
science of the hearer.
He lived and labored for revivals. He had
a peculiarity which some might not profitably
imitate; but for himself it was eminently
successful. He concentrated his powers upon
the last weeks of winter, and acpected a revi
val at the time. Nor were these labors ever
without marked effect. He was a most effi
cient pastor. In the house of mourning he
was a most sympathising, judicious visitor.
But Dr. Brainerd was too large a man for
one church only. He could not but go abroad,
could not but affect other men. He would
never have been satisfied if he had not acted
on a large sphere. Philadelphia owes this
man of marvellous activity much. Our de
nomination owes him much more than we are
aware.
The conception and establishment of Green
Hill Church, the securing of Clinton Street
Church to our denomination, the existence of
Calvary Church were mentioned as due larelr
to the personal influence and exertions of Dr.
Brainerd. In the latter case especially the
great influence which Dr. Brainerd had over
our moneyed men was conspicuous. German
Street Church owes its present prosperous,
condition to his influence over his own people.
The Greenwich Mission Chapel was comple
ted by his people but a short time before his
death, and he Was contemplating another el- -
terprise of similar character to accommodate
the Robert Raike.s School, when he died.
And never has a well accredited enterprise
from any quarter failed to find a ready re
sponse from his hand and heart.
Jayne's Hall Prayer-meeting owed its in
fluence and efficiency not primarily but mainly
to Dr. Brainerd and Dr. Kennard. We have
all marked, especially, how when things,
heavy and irrelavant were said there, a few
remarks by Dr. Brainerd pungently and ap
propriately put, gavq.a new turn to the meet
ing. And in all our prayer-meetings, we have
seen and admired the wonderful tact, sagacity
and power of the man in-giving a right and
profitable direction to the devotion.
Dr. Brainerd was an early steadfast and
thorough advocate and laborer in the Tem
perance Reform.
Wider still in the sphere of action, he was
a true patriot. It was a family trait. It
came from reyolutionary times. Most, re
markably was Dr. Brainerd excited, quick
ened and clothed with power by the remarka
ble events of the conflict. Never man threw
his heart into affairs as he. He saw the
struggle coming. He felt the value of union
and the evils to result in a divided empire.
With all his heart and soal he threw himself
into the struggle. He used no ambiguous
terms, nc doubtful language, no cold ex
pressions towards the government. I think
I marsay he exerted more influence than
any other man among us daring the struggle.
He was the soldier's and seaman's friend;
he was always at the refreshment saloons if
his presence could cheer and comfort the de
parting or returning regiments,: In the hos
pitals he iyaa..ever -ready-inirkister - to the
sick and wounded. His labors "were not only
up to, but beyond the measure of his abilities.
He passed the' four years of the war under
attar excitement - as I have never seen, with
out intermission, his nerves strung up to a
marvellous tension. He had no sympathy
with treason, and he did not hesitate to let
his sentiments be known.
Dr. Brainerd's large sympathies were freely
bestowed in every'effort to spread the gospel.
The circumstances of. his ".death= were or
dered.'in great mercy and kindness With all`
the immediate members of his family, around
him. The lastsermon he preached from this
pulpit was on the Bth of July, when;he said
he did not feel like preaching a sermon, but
would give his peOple ."re talk." He'said he.
left them every year with more pensiveness.
He took for a text: Abide with iss ;,for it is,
toWard evenin#,. and the day is far spent.
Luke, xxiv, 29. If he had known it was
to' be his last sermon, he could not have said
more. He said: His work in Pine Street
was nearly done." He appealed earnestly to
those who had listened to- him for thirty
years without feeling that his, message Was
worth attention. He asked the Lord Jesus
Christ to abide with them if he could not,
'and said he could not leave them in better
hands.
He always said he had two requests to
make for himself. First, that he might not
be laid aside helpless, and second, that being
of the Brainerd stock, which was godly but
sad and pensive, his. own father, though a
good man, having been left to gloom and,
despondency, he might escape that fate.'
And both these requests were granted.
He was in his ,usual health on Tuesday,
and had walked a mile: -He. retired to rest
calmly, surrounded , by his family; and a little
after midnight; with a few heavy apoplectic,
breathings / he _passes away. Very much in
this way died Chalmers; and about the same
time of life in the - early watches of the morn
ing. And who would not thus wish to die?
As for myself, I cannot express my own
feelings on this occasion. I have lived as a
near neighbor with him from the commence
ment of his ministry here. In our domestic
and church affairs, we have been as intimate
as brothers; we have prayed, traveled,
spoken, and taken counsel together. There
was no envy in him, and none in me. There
was no jarring, no repulsion, no room for un
kind feelings. We labored together in our
Presbytery, Synod and. General Assembly, in
our denominational papers and Quarterly
Review. I have had other friends, valuable,
wise and greatly beloved, but none like Dr.
Brainerd. I feel, my friends, if I may use
the expression, that half of myself is in that
coflin. I cannot express to you my loneliness
now that this man is taken.
Here Mr. Barnes went over the long list of
his ministerial associates in Philadelphia,
who had been removed by death, and now,
he said, to this must be added the name of
Brainerd.
_
To the Church, to this church, his death
speaks. Dr. Brainerd has told you what the
Gospel is—that religion is not an abstraction,
or dogma, but life, power, energy, action;
that it prompts men to effort; that it is to
live for Christ, to sympathize with the op
pressed, the wronged, the suffering every
where, and without respect to complexion..
The men of another color never had a .
warmer, truer friend than Dr. Brainerd, and
those of them in this neighborhood know it
well.
Another class is addressed by this event
—those whom he, in vain, persuaded to be
reconciled to Christ—some perhaps for nearly:
thirty years, they who do not seem to apprsk
ciate his efforts, for their salvation. Will
they not lay them to heart now?
His death speaks peculiarly to us in the
ministry. It is a great thing for us to have
had the example, prayers, counsel, co-opera
tion of such a man for thirty years. Great as
were his services, he has gone with no ex
ultation, or self-complacency to his account.
We remember how, in the Pastor's Associa
tion, but a few weeks before he left us, he
feelingly spoke of himself as an unprofitable
servant. As in his case, so with us all—a
deep feeling will come over us that,• our best
services are but mean, that the efficiency,
and the merit of all is in the blood of Christ.
Yet poor as was his estimate of himself,
happy, indeed, shall we be, if we can have
so fair a record as this man of God, whose
remains we now go to commit to the tomb.
The above is an imperfect report of
Mr. Barnes' deeply interesting remarks,
which were delivered without notes,
and which were received with the motilt
rapt attention by the immense congre
gation. All felt it a fitting tribute from
the most distinguished minister of our
Church, himself on the borders of three-,
score and ten, to one so near to himself
in age, in true worth, in eminence, in
personal relations and official ties—
one so worthy of the best eulogy of
Albert Barnes. And how inexpressibly
lonely did this DAVID, celebrating the
praises of his JONATHAN, appear I How
like a sculptured monolith—tall, simple,
majestic, serene and—alone I How
much more dear to his brethren, now
since his and their Brainerd is gone 1
Many a fervent prayer was doubtless
breathed as he stood there pouring 4nt
his sympathies in affluent, chaste
discriminating language s that SCEITaiA
least of the years denied to Brainerd
might be added to his own, and that his
counsels and examples might yet be long
spared to his brethren prepared now,
more than ever, to appreciate them,
After prayer and singing the coffin
was opened, and the vast congregation
moved in slow procession to take a last
look of the beloved clay. The body
was dressed in a plain suit of black. A
superb bouquet and wreath of natural
flowers lay at its feet. The features
were natural, and wore that placid ex
pression which it is so pleasant to carry
as a last remembrance of a beloved
form. Some of the congregation touched
the brow or cheek with their handS; ,
some stooped to kiss the now sealed
lips. It took three-quarters of an hour
for the performance of this last act of
respect, and then they closed up the
face forever from mortal sight and laid
the body in its earthly resting place in
the - cemetery adjoining the church by
the side of the dust of his two children,
Mr. Barnes performing the closing ser
vices at his grave.
Upon whom shall his mantle fall ?
Who shall fill his place in the Church
and community ?
OUR ROCHESTER CORRESPONDENT.
THE STATE SUNDAY-SCHOOL TEACHERS'
ASSOCIATION
This is now one of the "institutions
of our land, embodying an, aruoifrit .of
Christian consecration and - energy whose
influence is telling more and more evety
year upon the welfare of our State and
nation. It was organized by a little
band of devoted friends of Sunday
schools, gathered from different parts of
the State, in the city of Albany, in
1856. The Eleventh Annual Conven
tion of this Association commenced its
sessions in the city of Utica, on Tues.-
day, 21st inst, at' 2 P. M., in the First
Presbyterian Church, and closed on
Thursday evening.. The, crowd of dele
gates was not quite , so large as, at Syra
cuse the year before, but.,large,enougp
for convenience or comfort. It was,
indeed, supposed, that as many
,'ss•
thousaud strangers were in the "citY; l
and for a time, the Committee of Ar
rangements were at a loss what to do
with them ; but, sifting down
,a little
it was found there was room enough'
and to spare. The hospitality of the
Uticans was both graceful and abund;
ant.
Among those present who are particu
larly active in the Sunday-school work,
and who participated largely in the de
liberations of this meeting, we may
name R. G. Pardee and Ralph Wells,
of New 'York; Albe.rt Woodruff, of
Brooklyn ; George W. Parsons, E. T.
Huntington, and Louis -Cbapin, of
Rochester; A. L. Van Buren, of Alba
ny ; H. Kellogg, of, Troy; E. C.
Wilder, of Chicago, etc., etc.
The meeting was called to order by
E. T. Huntington, State Secretary.
The opening prayer was offered by Rev.
Dr. Fowler, of Utica. A committee of
nine were appointed to nominate the
officers of the Convention, J. F. Sey
mour, of Utica, Chairman ; also a Busi
ness Committee, of which J. Mason
Rice, of Syracuse, was Chairman.
While these committees were out de
liberating, short and stirring speeches
were made by E. D. Jones and Rev. S.
Wells,. of St. Louis ; E. C. Wilder, of
Chicago ; Rev.. H. Fowler, of Auburn ;
and A.. L. Van Buren, of Albany. Mr.
Fowler gay.e a good account of the Sun
day-school work in Cayuga county, of
which be had a peculiar right to speak,
as be, with Rev. Mr. Steele, of the
Methodist church, and Rev. Mr. Bishop,
of the Baptist church, in Auburn, had
canvassed that county and held con
ventions in every one of its forty towns.
E. C: Wilder, of Chicago, also made an
excellent and suggestive speech, telling
us how. the work is done in' that fast
city and in the growing Prairie State.
The officers of the Convention were
George W. Parsons, Esq., of Rochester,
President ; Hon. W. J. Bacon, of 'Utica ;
Rev. James M. Harris, of Rome, and
half a dozen beside as Vice-Presidents;
E. T. Huntington, of Rochester ; J. N.
Baker, of Philadelphia ; Rev. J. E.
Gilbert, of Buffalo, and several others
as Secretarieg. Mr. Parsons acquitted
himself with great credit as the presid
ing officer of the meeting.
In the evening of the first day a great
crowd assembled to hear several ad
dresses. The first was one of kindly
welcome from the lips of Hon. W. J.
Bacon. We can give only the closing
sentences :—" Our doors are open to re
ceive yon, and our hands to grasp yours
in fraternal welcome. Our households,
while you remain, will be vocal with
prayer and praise. A blessing, we trust,
will abide with us, like that upon the
house of Obededom when the ark rested
in his tabernacle ; and when you go
forth to your homes, may an influence
go with you that shall tell-upon the•des
tinies of immortal souls through the Rit
counted ages of eternity."
To this cordial welcome the President
responded very happily in behalf of the
grE?at assemblies ; and earnest, telling
speeches were , also made by Rev. J.
Mc. C. Holmes, of Hudson; Rev. R. F.
Burns, D.D., of Canada; J. F. Sey-,
mour, Esq., of . Utica; H. D. Loomis,
Esq., and Hon. 0. J. Harman, of Os:
wego.
This was all on the first day, and this
a sample of the way in which things
were done. Of the rest we must speak
more briefly. On each of the two re
maining days, an hour in the morning,
from eight to nine o'clock, was given to
devotional exercises -conducted -on
Wednesday by A. L. Van Buren, of
Albany; Thursday, by E. T. Hunting
ton, of Rochester. And beside this,
prayer and singing were interspersed all
through the exercises of each day. It
was all one grand devotional meeting,
tender and solemn from beginning to
end. We have never attended one of
these conventions where the devotional
and spirithal elements were higher, or
more completely pervaded all the de
liberations.
What contributed in great part to
this, was the fact that so many of the
Sunday-schools of the State have been
so largely blessed in the past year with
revivals of religion. Many of the dele
gates were full to overflowing with grati
tude and praise for that which their
eyes had seen of God's doings amongst
them. "' Every one wanted to tell some
touching story of the triumphs of the
Cross.
The reason for this will be more fully
seen 'when we give the statistics for the
year, as embodied in the Annual Re
port of the State Secretary, presented on
Wednesday morning:—Whole number
of schools in the State, 4913; teachers,
69,795 ; scholars, 494,677 ; and 17,646
conversions. Let it be noticed that this
is, an average of fifty conversions a day,
for the entire year, in connection with
the Sunday-schools of the Empire State.
What wonder that we gave thanks with
" great joy" for this blessing. And the
increase over last year was 117 schoola;
4337 teachers; 63,458 scholars, and
10,719 conversions. Truly, the Lord is
good to Israel ; good to such as love to
work in His vineyard.
Of course, Mr. Wells and Mr. Pardee
contributed Very much to the interest
and ' profit of the meeting, answering
questions, giving illustrations of various
method's of teaching, and the like. Dr.
Burns, of Canada, is also a most into
resting' and admirable speaker on such
occasions. " Uncle. John;" (Vassar,) of
the American Tract Society, thrilled and
convulsed, us by turns, with his charac
teriaticaddresies, about his work among
the freedmen in Virginia.. He law host
on such occasions:
But time and room both fail us; to
speak of many others who deserve hon
orable mention. It was a meeting' of
inarked interest and power. All who
were present should ,do more good ail
the rest of life for having felt its
blessed impulses. May we have such
another, only more also, nest year.
Among the questions discussed, was
one in respect to temperance efforts
among the children of the Sunday
•schools, upon which Rev. F. A. Spe ll
cer, Secretary of the State Temperance
Society, and Benjamin Joy, of Pennsyl
vania, made good speeches. This sub
ject -was also earnestly commended by
resolution 'to :the attention of .'Superin
tendents and teachers, to do what they
can to guard the young against the use
of the intoxicating cap.
DEATH OP REV• JOHN TOMPKINS
Of this sadden and afflictive event we
made brief mention last week. It was
so sudden that many came to the church,
where he was to have delivered his an
niversary address, before they learned
that his lips were silent in death. In
stead of the festive occasion whisk was
contemplated, and for which the church
was handsomely decorated, his people
came together at the appointed hour to
mourn over their sudden bereavement.
At this*neeting, so changed in its pur
pose, remarks were made by Revs. S.
W. 'Brace, of Utica ; A. K. Strong, of
Syracuse; I. F. Kendall, of Baldwins
ville ; and Levi Parsons, of Mt. Morris.
Suitable resolutions were also passed by
the congregations, expressing a deep
sense of their loss in being called to
part so suddenly with their so good pas
tor; their high appreciation of his char
acter as a man and a minister; and
their tender sympathy with his family.
Mr. Tompkins was a graduate of
Hamilton College (1831) and Auburn
Seminary, a man of sound good sense
and true piety Soon after leaving the
Seminary he settled at Marcellus, and
there remained, respected and beloved
to the time of his death. 'His funeral
was attended by a large concourse of
people on Friday, 17th instant—sermon
by his life-long friend, Rev. W. S. Frank
lin, formerly of Genoa, now of Camden ;
and other parts of the service by Rev.
Dr. Condit and Revs. Henry Fowler,
Levi Parsons, and S. W. Brace, with
remarks at the grave by Rev. Dr. Hop
kins.
Last Sunday morning Rev. Mr. Frank
lin read to his people the address which
Mr. Tompkins had prepared for that fes
tive day, and which will soon be pub
lished with the funeral sermon. On
Monday evening the people were to pre
sent Mrs. Tompkins with the silver and
other gifts which they had intended to
bestow on the previous Wednesday.
And so a good man has gone to his
reward. He leaves a wife and four chil
dren to mourn for him. His age was
fifty-six. GENESZE.
ROCHESTER, Aug. 25, 1866.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT.—There has been
received at this office, for the Kolapoor
Mission, from Mrs. M. K. Wetherill,
$5O.
REV. JOHN PIERpONT, well known
as a poet, "reformer," and divine in the
Unitarian Church, and much respected,
died suddenly in Medford, Mass., on
the 26th inst., aged 81 years.
THE REUGIOIIB WORD IBROR
GREAT BRITAIN.
OPEN-AIR PREACHING.—In England, and
perhaps we may add Scotland, this form of
Christian labor may now be regarded as hav
ing passed the experimental stage, and be
come a permanent feature in the enterprise
of evangelization. At the recent annual
meeting of the Open Air Mission, it was
stated that the Society availed itself of every
opportunity of open-air preaching, and during
the year 48 races, 52 fairs, 9 executions, and
10 other special meetings had been attended.
The committee express their regret that Sun
day bands are still permitted in the parks,
while open-air preaching there is strictly pro
hibited, and this they consider a manifest
injustice,
calling for the strongest protest
from that society.
Meetings were recently held at the Cum
berland Market, where many thousands lis
tened to the word, and there were marked
cases of - the power of the Holy Spirit. Ar
rangements were made for similar meetings
at the Brighton races.
BOLDNESS OF SKEPTICISM IN Tub ESTAB-
LisNmENT.--Oui readers have already been
informed that the case of Dr. Colenso oCcu
pied much of the attention of the late meet
ing of the Convocation. In the Lower House,
Dean Stanley wound up a speech of four
hours denouncin the excommunication, by
challenging the House to proceed to a ssail
those nearer home. " I might mention," he
said,' " several prelates, I might mention
many obscure clergymen, I might mention
one whom you all know, who certainly on
'seine of these matters, if not on all has open
ly expressed the same opinions—l mean in
principle—as the Bishop of Natal. I might
mention one who, although on some of these
awful and misterious questions he has ex
pressed no direct opinion, yet has ventured
to say that the Pentateuch is not the work of
Moses; who has ventured to say that there
are parts of the Sacred Scriptures which are
poetical, and not historical ; who has ventured
to say that the Holy Scriptures themselves
rise infinitely by our being able to acknowl
edge both that poetical character, and also
the historical incidents, in their true histori
cal reality ; who has ventured to say that the
narratives of these historical incidents arc
colored not unfrequently b'y the necessary in
firmities which belong to the human instru
ments by which they were conveyed—and
that individual is the one trilt,o now addresses
you. At least deal out the same measure to
me as you deal to him ; at least judge for all
a righteous judgment ! Deal out the same
measure to those who are welllbefriended and
present, as to those who are nn-befriended
• and absent.' '
ABSTAINING MINI-STEM—According - to
statistics collected, by the National Temper
ance League of London, there are now pledged
total abstainers among the clergymen of Eng
land in the folloWing numbers:-Church'of
England, 600; Con'gregationalist, 525; Bap
tist,'26o ; Wesleyan, 199; Welsh Calvinistic
Methodists, 339 ;.Primitive Methodist, 424 ;
United Methodist Free Church. 146; Bible
Christian, 145 ; Presbyterians, Methodist
New Connexion, Wesleyan:Reformers, 110;
total, 2,748.
A CONSIDERATE Cmsurrv.—There exists
in London, an active association for the aid
of young women who live by their labor. It
provides cheap and respectable lodgings for
those changing situations or in search of em
ployment, .provides a Sabbath home with
Scriptural instruction %for those who do not
remain with their employers over that day,
and forms a centre of Christian influence for
those-who are rena.ved from: parental guid
ance, and are in need of friendly sympathy
and counsel. Recently it established a sup
plemental fund. ; which the committee
to send invalid'imedlewonten and shopwomen
in connection with this and similar homes to
the seaside, where, by entire rest and nour
isbing food, their over-tasked strength might
be recruited, and many a life preserved.
During the year, 36 young women had been
thus benefited ; making the total, from the
commencement of the fund, 58. All of these
had recovered their health, except eight, two
of whom had died. But for lads friendly
help, several of those sent to Brighton would
have completely broken down under the
strain put upon them.
MORTALITY AMONG THE SCOTCH CLERGY.
—During the month of July the deaths of an
unusual number of well-known Scottish min
isters have been recorded. Among them are
Rev. George Middleton, United Presbyterian,
of Glasgow, Rev. George Blythe, of the same
Church, a veteran in the mission field, and
Rev. "William Anderson, of the Reformed
Presbyterian Church, whose name is associ
ated with many public enterprises.
AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL COMMENCE,
—No greater:or healthier religious change has
come over Scotland, than the relaxing of de ,
nominational exclusivism. Just now we
have a pleasant illustration of this in a call
for a conference in Perth, signed by minis
ters of the Free Established and United Pres
byterian, the Mist and the Independent
churches, of that city. The call says :—"The
Annual Conference of Christians will, God
willing, be held as usual at Perth, on the
fourth, fifth, and sixth days of September.
Christians from a distance are cordially invit
ed to come amongst us, and receive of the
blessinKs which we humbly but faithfully ex
pect. It is within our own knowledge that
many ministers and others have returned from
our meetings refreshed in spirit and strength
ened in faith.
IRELAND.—The Presbyterian churches ok
Ireland have recently held special religions
services in token of the preservation of the
Island from pestilence, and the kingdom from
war ; and to supplicate a continuance of His
infinite goodness. An additional Presbyte
rian minister has been settled in Dublin to
represent the United Presbyterian Church of
Scotland, who have members of their com
munion in the city, and purpose connecting
mission work with their congregation. The
Romish prelate, Dr. Denver, Bishop ofDown,
has been removed by death. Several of the
Protestant clergy, including leading ministers ;
manifested their respect for him personally,
by attending his funeral.
FRANCE.
WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.—In France
we hear of spots where the Lord is awaken
ing Christians to active work and increased
prayer ; and others where, without any new
agency from without, except perhaps the
prayerful distribution of a few tracts, souls
apparently dead in sinful carelessness are
awakening to the consciousness of their dan
ger, and to the all-importance of securing
their eternal welfare. - In the G-ard and the
Lozere, we hear of a person here and there
having found peace, and, in the joy of pos
session, reading aloud a tract to fellow-travel
lers in a coach or elsewhere, and then in
villages around, until little meetings of three
or four become crowded, and sixty or seventy
persons join the prayers with an earnestness
never before manifested. In the Ariege
striking little tract has also been remarkably
blessed in connection with a small meeting of
four persons, who met two months ago in
their pastor's parlor ; the :number increased
successively to eight, twelve, twenty, forty.
and at last overflowed the apartment, and
adjourned to the church, where the happy
pastor welcomes between three and four hun
dred souls every ,evening, anxious, as they
never yet had been, to hear the words of
eternal life.. We must not forget that behind
the noise of party skirmishing in the churches,
and the deadly warfare of contending elements
from without, there are thousands of simple
souls going their regular round of duties, more
or less sleepily, more or less intelligently, not
in the least affected by the clamor of the
combatants they probably have never heard
of.
THE CONFLICT.—The principal religious
interest in France, settles more and more in
the Protestant churches, particularly in the
strife within the National Reformed Church
between the orthodox faith and the skepti
cism which disguises itself under the name of
liberal Christianity. We notice that, in
Paris, a new association has been formed with
the name of the "Fraternal Society for the
Pariihional Evangelization of the Reformed
Church of Paris." Auxiliary pastors, schools,
conferences, and religious publications are
among some of the means to be employed to
strengthen failing faith, and make known
the fundamental truths of Revelation. We
notice also, that at Strasbourg, about, one
hundred pastors of Aisle and I.Jorraine met
in evangelical and devotional conference. The
efficacy of prayer was the subject, and was
treated in an orthodox point of view, without
opposition. All this is encouraging. Not so
is the account of a conference at Nimes, held
in June, where an assembly of sixty-two pas
tors and elders, with only three negative votes,
accepted with sympathy a report upon a res
surrection of Jesus Christ, the conclusions of
which were that the fact was neither of cer
tain history, nor of religious importance !
Onr readers willremember the suspension, by
the Consistory, of M Paschond from the
pulpit of the Reformed Church of Paris, a
position which his rank looseness had ren
dered him utterly unfit to fill. As s one of
the conditions of the ill starred connection of
this church with the government, the act of
the Consistory is inoperative until it shall
receive the sanction of the Minister of Jus
tice and Public Worship. Deeply sympathiz
ing with the suspended pastor, and yet
reluctant to thwart the unanimous vote of the
Consistory, that functionary has continued
month after month, to withold a decision.
Meanwhile, M. Pasehoud continues to preach,
and has recently committed a fresh outrage
upon the evangelical cause, by a sermon de
nouncing the doctrine of our Lord's divinity
and atoning sacrifice.
ROMANISNRUMBLED. —The Roman Catho
lics of France, particularly the Ultramontanes,
are deeply chagrined by the recent events in
Europe. It isnot alone the defeatof a Catho
lic - prince, ,involving the loss of all hope of
re-revolutionizing Italy, that brings them
to grief, but they are stung by the cause
to which the public sentiment traces these
results. The fact is constantly brought for
ward that, for the last three centuries,
Romanism has proved an element of weak
ness and decline in all the States which have
surrendered themselves to its influence, and
that, on the other hand, countries which have
embraced the doctrines of the Reformation,
have grown in strength and prosperity. Spain
is compared with England, Sicily with Scot
land,-Portugal with Holland, etc. When in
4eply, the case of France is cited, the history'
of that nation. from the time of Francis L is
appealed to to show that whenever France
has been in alliance with Protestants, she has
concluded advantageous treaties of peace;
but whenever she has taken up arms to sup;
port the Papacy, she has been conquered ann
humiliated. It is further said that if France
occupies an elevated rank among the European
Powers, and if her soldiers have gamed
memorable victories, it is because for eighty
years, notwithstanding that they were noll4 -
nally Roman Catholics, they have, by then
• laws, their ideas, their tendencies, and their_
actions, ceased to be so. It is also said o
Italy, that she began to he great and strong
,
only when separating her institutions and
interests from those of the Vatican. The