aituritait..,l.TE4ttriait
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1866
CONTENTS OF INSIDE PAGES.
SECOND PAGE—FAMILY CIRCLE :
The Mountain Top—Elsie Frasier's Work, (Con
tinued)—Gentleness and its Reward—A Remarkable
Answer to Prayer—lllustration of Faith—Kitty and
the Horsehair—Yon must be in Earnest—The Noble
Negro Boy—A Little Word.
THIRD PAGE—MISCELLANEOIIS
Beecher and Spurgeon—TurkeY—How to Treat
Ritualism—Rome and the Freedmen.
SIXTH PAGE----CORRESPONDENCE:
Rev. Mr. Hammond's Letter from Italy—Home Evan
gelization in Boston—Letter froth Dr. Tustin—Sun
day Travel—Negative Religionists.
EDITOR'S TABLE: Annan's " Vindication of the
' Letters en Psalmody' from the Strictures of John
T. Pressley D.D.P—Whittier's "Maud Muller"-
Bott's "Great Rebellion, its Secret Hi:tory Rise,
Progress. and Disastrous Failure" Smith and
Drisler's " Principle. Latina. IL"—Carleton's 'Our
Artist in Peru"—Tomlins , m's " Improved Sabbath
school Library Record"—Books Received—Periodi
cals and Pamphlets.
SEVENTH PAGE—GENERAL ASSEMBLY :
Dr. HUmtirey's Address on Church Erection.
Rtmai ECONOMY: Wintering Farm Horses—Keep
ing Sweet Potatoes—Heavy Shoes for the Ladies—
Rancid Butter for Cooking.
SERMON ON THE DEATH OF DR. BRAIN
ERD.—We are informed that a sermon in
memorial of the late eminent pastor of
the " Old Pine Street Church" will be
preached, D. V., in that church on the
ensuing Sabbath, (25th inst.,) by Rev.
A. Barnes, in compliance with the re
quest of the session. For the purpose
of giving opportunity for the attendance
of pastors, 3 o'clock P. M. has been
fixed upon as the hour for this special
service. Many of our city' ministers
will be grateful to the session for this
consideration.
A GOOD MAN IN THE SEAT OF LE
OISLATION.-Our Christian readers who
retain vivid rerriembrances of the Sena
tor Frelinghuysen of old, will read with
interest the notice; in our secular news
department, of the appointment of his
son to the same high seat, by the Gov
ernor of New Jersey. They will be
still more. rejoiced to know that the pre
sent Senator inherits, along with, the
ability, the religious, character of the
father, and that he will, in all probabili
ty, secure an honored place in the roll,
now none too long, of the Christian
statesmen of the Republic. The ap
pointment of Mr. F. is a temporary one,
to fill, until the 'action of the 'legisla
ture, the vacancy created by the death
of Senator Wright; but it is earnestly
to be hoped that the legislative action
will mite it a permanent one.
DR. VAN DYKE, DECLINES.—Rev. H.
J. Van Dyke, D D., has declined the
appointment tendered to him of the va
cant chair of Didactic and Polemic
Theology in the Theological Seminally
at Columbia, S. C. In his letter of de
clination he takes special care to forestall
the inference that he has any objection
to a Southern ecclesiastical relation. He
says:—
" It seems appropriate, however, for me
to say that my decision is not based upon any
aversion to the position in which you desire
to place,.. me. The pastoral letter of your
General Assembly, issued at Macon, Decem
ber, 1565, is, in my judgment, not only admi
rable as an expression of the true spirit of
the Gospel, but impregnable as an exposition
of the word of God and of our Presbyterian
standards in regard to the province and work
of the Church. I should esteem it a high
privilege to be connected with an ecclesiasti
cal body pledged to the maintenance of such
views."
A PURGATORIAL SPECULATION.—The
following advertisement appears in the
Catholic Standard of this city, marked
for a six months' insertion. The senti
ment of the old Popish countries used to
sustain this pattern of priestly craft
which turns purgatorial superstition
into coin. The game is here : played with
a bolder hand than has hitherto been
ventured in this country; but we sup
pose it is thought we are about ripe for
it. • Perhaps we are.
" ccFOUNDATION OF A DAILY MASS FOR
ttr....Y ONE HUNDRED YEARS.
" With the approbaticin of our Blahop.lßight Rev.
T. B. MI ege. we have founded a Mass to be said
every dap for one, hundred years, from the 21st of
March,.lB6d, the Feast. of St. Benedict. to the 214 of
March. 1966, in favor of all those who pay one hun
dred dollars toward the erection of our new Church,
in honor of St. Benedict
_ .
"The names of all subscribers will be engraved on
two marble slabs, on each side of the High Altar.
t-übscribers can have the names of their relations,
either living or dead, put ou the list. of benefactors,
by paying only once. the above saw. Those who are
not able to pay alt at once, may pay by instalments,
within two or three years.
" Subscriptions may be sent by draft,'payable to
the undersigned, or to the Editor of this paper, and
subscribers will receive receipts by mail.
"Very Rev. AUGUSTINE WIRTH. 0;5.8..
We suppose that a daily mass of one
hundred years in favor of any one,
means a hundred years' effort for the
repose of his soul—in other words, his
transportition from purgatory to para
dise. If we are not mistaken, from
fifteen to twenty-five dollars is about the
price of a Mass, in the case of people of
ordinary means, for their deliverance
from purgatorial fires, and, except in
aggriyated cases, three or four such
masses', stretching over a year: or two at
most, are expected, to accomplish the
work. The above scheme presents no
special advantage in the matter of tariff,
and in point of time, the disadvantages
greatly preponderate. A hundrettyears
is a slow yield ; and if Romanists had
any sense upon this subject, we should
expect them to give the proposal of the
Very Rev. Augustine Wirth, 0. S. B.
the cold shoulder, and•take the old short
way.
APPOINTMENT. President Johnson
has appointed Rev. John Seys, a Meth
odist clergyman, of the Tennessee Con
ference, as Resident Minister and Con
,
sul Gene'ral to the Republic of Liberia.
This we suppose is the Mr. Seys who,
as a leading= missionary, Was long: iden
tified with the religions intere,tp, especi
ally those of his own church, in the
pioneer republic of Africa.
Prior of St. Bonedict'd,
" At chisoia, 'Kansas."
AN APPEAIL.
Front the Synod of Tennessee to the Chur
ches connected •with the General Assem
bly, last met in the First Presbyterian
Church atSt. Lords,
DEAR BRETHREN :—The
,Synod of
Tennessee, at its recent meeting in Knox
ville, directed the undersigned to address
you in behalf of our educational inter
ests. These interests embrace
I. MARYVILLE COLLEGE.
This institution is under the care of
the Synod. For more than forty years
the churches of East Tennessee have
looked to it for their ministers. To it
Presbyterianism in this section of the
country is indebted for its growth, solidi
ty and extension. We feel that oar
interests, as a denomination, now, as
heretofore, are indissolubly linked with
it.
The grand motive of its founder, Rev.
Isaac Anderson, D.D., may be best
stated in his own words
directors and managers of this sacred
institution propose the glory of God and
the advancement of that kingdom pur
chased by the blood of His only begotten
Son, as their sole object." It has educat
ed and sent forth over one hundred and
twenty ministers of the Gospel. Its
influence has been felt in the constant
maintenance and diffusion of.a healthy'
anti-slavery sentiment which has given
East Tennessee so glorious a history in
the late contest for the life of the nation.
The venerable President of the institu
tion always taught that slavery was "a
great moral, •social and political
and in relation to the traffic in slaves, as
practised in the slave States, he often
declared from the pulpit, "Any man
who will thus chain together his fellow
men, and drive them like cattle to the
market, would kidnap the angels of hea
ven, and sell the Lord of Glory for filthy
lucre." .Through his whole life he was
distinguished for his patriotism and de
votion to the Union. In 1849, he wrote
to a friend in Kentucky The Union
is the only safeguard these States have
against anarchy and civil discord with
all its horrors. The Union is the hope
of the world, and, under God, promises
to break down civil and religious tyranny.
/ used to say, as far, back as 1832, the
man who silently thought of dissolving
the Union ought to be hung, and if he
spoke it, deserves . some severer fate.
The Union, one and indivisible,' ought
to be the motto of every . American and
every' philanthropist."
The effect of this positive teaching
upon the minds committed to his care
may readily be perceived. It was marked
and controlling. Rarely has,, an insti
tution so humble in its pretensions and
circumstances, done so much to shape
the destiny of a people, as Maryville
College has done to shape the destiny of
the people of East Tennessee. For
from, it have emanated religions, liberty
loving and patriotic influences, which
have moulded their opinions on the mo
mentous questions that have for many
years agitated the nation, and thus pre
pared them to espouse, in the late con
flict, with unfaltering devotion, the cause
of the Union and freedom against trea
son and slavery. It is the only college
in all the revolting States which has
stood firmly and unequivocally on this
loyal and liberty-loving basis.
The question now presents itself
Shall Maryville College, be sustained?
It is not only the deliberate judgment of
the Synod of Tennessee, that it should
be sustained, but 'that the prosperity, if
not the very existence of our loyal
Churches in East Tennessee, is vitally
connected with it.
Desolations produced by the war, the
rallying of rebel elements to man schools
and colleges within our bounds, the
limited means of many of our young
men, which make it impossible for them
to go far from home to acquire an educe
tion, the past and present loyalty. of our
churches, and.of the great mass , of, our
people, make a loud and pressing call on
the benevolent to sustain this Alma
Mater of East Tennessee loyalty and
patriotism.
To strengthen this appeal, we 'subjoin
the following testimonials:—
LProm the Professors in'Union Theo. Sem.;N. Y.]
We think the claim of MAurviLLE
G t o-
LEGE to our sympathy is special. It has
suffered extensively from the rebellion of the
Southern States, but has been throughout
the war loyal to the nation. It has been, ac
cording to its means, emMently useful, and
seeks to strengthen itself for future labors
it ought not to be forsaken by the friends of
religion and learning, and we earnestly hope
that an application to them for assistance will
Lt cordially entertained and largely successful.
REV. THOMAS R. SKINNER, D.D.,
REv. HENRY B. SMITH, D.D.,
REV. ROSWELL D. liacacocK, D D.,
REV. Witt. G: T. SHEDD,. D.D.,
REV. C. V. A. VAN DYKE, D.D..
We heartily concur - in the aoove recom
_
mendation.
V. MARK HOPKINS,
Williams College,
REV. THOMAS BRAINERD, D.D., Philada.
RON. WILLIAM E. DODGE, New York City,
It !is very desirable that the institution
shbuld be sustained. _ •
REP. ALBERT BARNES, Philada
[From REV. THEODORA D. WOOLSEY, D.D.I
The stand which the Synod of Tennessee
took on the New School side in 1837, and the
noble struggle for universal freedom in East
Tennessee, may be traced to the influence of
Maryville College more than to any other in
fluence whatever. This College and School
of the Prophets is exceedingly straitened
and crippled, and eminently needs an addi
tion to its funds. Such addition can come
only from the benevolent and religious men
of the. North. I most cordially commend its
appeal to any whom my opinion may have
weight with.
THEODORE D. WOOLSEY, D. D.,
President of Yale College:
" We heartily concur with the above state
ments and recomMendations' of ;.tresident
Woolsey."
REV. EDWINF..III..ThEIID D.l). N. Y. City,
REV. GEORGE L. PRENTISS, D.D., 44
REV. WIJATAIf ADAM, D.D., - 44
"Let the
These, dear brethren, are the two
objects for which the Synod of Tennessee
makes an earnest appeal for help. For
the purpose of presenting and pressing
this appeal, the Synod has appointed the
Rev. Samuel Sawyer, a man long and
well acquainted with this field, as its,
only authorized agent. We take plea::
sure. in 'cordially commending - Brother
Sawyer, and, the cause which he repre
qents, to your favor; and we do pray
and trust that, he may meet with a wel
come. reception, and that his efforts may
be crowned with eminent success.
THOMAS J. LAMAR,
THOMAS BROWN,
JAMES A. GRUM
THE CRISIS. OP AMERICAN EPISCOPA
CY.—In connection with the Episcopal
anniversaries, held in New York week
before last; a public meeting of the Cleri
cal Association was held on Friday
evening, in the - church of Rev. 'Stepl.n
H. Tyng, Jr. This Association is, we be
lieve, composed of evangelical ministers,
who are deeply alarmed by the spread
of ritualism and the increase of Popish
ceremonies in the worship of their
Church, and who make the defence of
'an evangelical faith and worship their
anxious care. The meeting was ad
dressed by Bishops Johns, of Virginia,
Lee, of Delaware, and Payne, of
Africa; and Rev. Drs. Cheney, of Chica
go, Newton, of this city, and John
Cotton Smith, of New York. The lat
ter said :
" I look upon the present as the brink of
a crisis in the history of the Church. We
have been approached by the seductive in
fluences of the enemies to the city of our
God, who have taken possession of the strong
places ; they have occupied the leading posi
tions, and threaten to hold them 'to the
breaking down of the strongholds .of truth.
We (the Fivangelical party) have been
charged withteing alarmists, but our appre
hensions are justified. The presiding Bishop
of the Church has published a book, in
which he advocates the ritualism of the Jew
ish economy; and the rector of a church in
this city has introduced prayers for the dead,
and- in the convention of this diocese has
charged, that the beginning of the reforma
tion was the beginning of the age of dark--
ness. I charge the ritualists with treason
against the Church, its interests and its
mission to the souls of lost mankind. They
have intieduced vestments of 'a character
unknown to the Church ; they have trans-'
formed the communion into a forbidden sac
rament ; and they deny to the people those
blessings which are freely offered in the,
Gospel. They bury in oblivion the spiritual
relation between Christ and the sinner, and
give genuflexions and attitudes as the offices
to be performed by the people t instead of
work of love according to the living Gospel
of Jesus Christ."
PERSECUTIONS OF THE PAPACY.-
Under this head, the Catholic Standard
of this city, enumerates thirty-four
Popes who have, in one way or another,
been the subject of what it calls perse
cution, i. e., who suffered more or less
trouble from political disturbances and
civil tumults, generally arising out of
their administration' as temporal rulers.
We suggest to the Standard to look up
the number of instances ill which the
Popes, either directly, or by instigating
civil rollers, have persecuted harmless
Christians even unto death, and only
for the sake of their religion.
D.D., 13,
dot of
GONE HOME.—Rev. John Wallace,
late pastor of the Presbyterian Church in'
Pequea, Lancater county, in this State,
died on the 30th ult., at the ripe age of
seventy-four. The Pequea Church is
among the oldest Presbyterian organi
zations in the country, and has ,
_an Old,
School relation. Its venerable pastor
now deceased, has, until recently,
given his ministerial life to it. He
was the patriarch of the Presbytery of
Donnegal. We speak from personal
knowledge, when we
and'
him
as a plain, sensible and faithfalpreacher,
and a Christian of pure life.
" To occupy the distinguished position of
having fearlessly advocated the cause of our
beloved country, is an honor anywhere, and
particularly so in the South. My heart beats
in full sympathy with you, who fear God
rather than man, and who never flinch, cost
what it may. May many Christian patriots
and our blessed Master help you.
" 0. 0. HOWARD, Major-General."
11. A FREEDMAN'S INSTITITTE:
In the judgment of the Synod, an
institution for the education of colored
young men for the university is im
peratively demanded. Without educa
tion, ttiese people can never reach their
proper position in Church and : State.
State.
They are eager to receive instruction,
anxious to •elevate themselves, but help
they must have.
As a Church, we do not shrink from
oiir duty to them. We feel a profound
conviction of the importance of promot
ing, by` every proper method, the moral,
educational and religious improvement
of oar emancipated countrymen
So far as our observation and expe
rience go, they seem moat strongly
attached to that Church, which most
interested itself in their education. They
look upon their educators as. their best
friends. Already we have four colored
Presbyterian Church organizations, and
fifteen or twenty more could be formed
if we had ministers .of their- own race
to take charge 'of them. We feel our
obligations to do what we can to meet
this demand.
There is ni) more attractive or appro
priate spot or locality for such a school
in all the seceding States, than East
Tennessee. The salubrity of its climate,
the cheapness of living, and a favorable
public sentiment, will make it inviting to
young men Nom all the States South.
And with an institution here adequate
to meet their educational wants, we can,
as a Synod, exert a potent influence for
the good of this people throughout the
country.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1866.
OUR ROCHESTER CORRESPONDENT.
OUR LECTURES
The ,Athenxurn and Mechanics' As
sociation of this city always maintains
a fine course of lectuyes. They make
their arrangements in season, and
secure a good share of the very best
lecturers, advertise freely, and find their
lett/Ird " in• getting large and apprecia
tive audieneds.
Xh,f3ir course was opened on Friday
evening, of this week, by JoHN B.
GOUGH, on " Curiosity." The lecture
was 'in.. Gough's usual style—perhaps
not the, best of all his performances;
bat, it evidently gaVe great satisfaction
to those who heard it ; not so mtich,
hOWever, to the large number who got
as far as the door of our great Corin
thian Hall, and could not get inside for
want of room. The hall was packed
clear up to the platform, and all over
the platform, and out into the entries.
It is one of the marvels of the age, that
Mr. Gough, after being heard so many
times,' should , still retain his hold upon
the most intelligent audiences that can
be gathered. He is greeted with just
such throngs wherever he goes, in all
this region;
We know that it is common with
some to speak slightingly of the matter
of his Jectares, and ascribe all his suc
cess to his fine oratory, and more espe
cially:to his comic powers. But while
he doubtless owes mach to these, and
would' not be Gough without them, we
haie sometimes thought that for noble
sentiments, well put, for keen satire, for
fine descriptions of character . and of
scenery,• his lectures, after all, would
compare well with almost any others ;
and those who like to laugh get a good
lecture; and a good deal of fun, at the
same time.
His lecture occupied •an hour and a
half, and yet all in that great and
crowded assembly seemed to listen with
unfailing interest . to the end ; and no
one with just sensibility could have
gone away without a deep impression
of the value of truth and goodness.
That lecture was a good, sermon, well
preached, and attentively heard to its
close. Long may the preacher be spared
to do the work which he is doing so'
well.
Before the . same Association, Hon.
Schuyler Colfax has also delivered his
admirable and instructive lecture,
"Across the Contineut." Among those
who are•to fill the course we find other
eminent' names, such as Bishop Clarke,
of Rhode Island, Geo. William Custis,
E.' H. Chapin, Prof. 'Upson, and others.
Bat we have alluded to these lectures
partly for the sake of noticing the fact,
that most, if not all the lecturers, are
the friends and advocates of liberty i
justice and good government. Not one,
we, believe, is the friend of treason. We
shall have much truth from their lips,
directly or indirectly, on the issues of
the dap, It is a hopeful thing that our
lecturers are thus educating the people
up to the true ideas of liberty and im
partial citizenship. Literature is not
generally the friend of despotism or out
rage and wrong.
Da. CAMPBELL'S BIBLE-CLASS.
Dr. Campbell, of the Central Church
in our city, is meeting with great success
in conducting a Bible-class, on Tuesday
evening of each week: The attendance
is large, rivalling the numbers ordinarily
present at the weekly lecture on Wednes
day evening. He began with the Arti
dies of Faith, comparing these with the
Scripiures of truth; intending, we be
lieve, to go on from these to a more
direct examination of some portions of
the divine word.
Dr. 'Campbell is particularly happy in
giving instructions on these occasions.
All is Ohne in the most simple and easy
manner, inviting the utmost freedom in
those' who attend, to ask and answer
questions. Young persons and recent
converts are deeply interested in these
exercises, and are manifestly deriving
incalculable advantage from them. They
are getting a more perfect understand
ing' of the doctrines and duties of the
Chritian life than they would ever get
from mere sermons. ' They are here
brought face to face with the truth.
They see its bearings. They bring up
their own difficulties and doubts, which.
-:: clearly - and cheerfully answered.
They go away from each 'meeting of the
class much gratified and glad to go
again.
REMODELING AT VERONA
A great change is in progress on the
church edifice of the Presbyterian con
gregation at Verona. In fact, they are
almost making their house of worship
anew. The inside is remodeled, the
seats turned around, the pulpit pat in
the rear, the walls frescoed, the windows
supplied with stained glass, all repainted
and refurnished. It has been for some
months in the hands of the workmen, the
congregation without Sabbath services,
and it will still require 'some weeks, we
are told, to get all ready. 'lt will be a
great improvement on the old house,
and we trust, will soon be Ailed with
the Spirit's presence, as weil as with a
large and happy congregation. The
pulpit is' in charge of Rev. A. S. Wood,
a graduate of the last class of Auburn
Seminary.
BECOME PRESBYTERIAN
The large church of Augusta, which
has been Congregational in form, but
independent', connected with no Associa,
Aim!, has recently taken the Presbyte.
Han form,elected a Board of Elders, and
joined itself to the Presbytery; of Utica.
This, we are told, his 'been qtdetly and
peacefully done, as most of its members
have long preferred the Presbyterian
way. General J. J. Knox, father of
Rev. Wm. E. Knox, of Rome, and Rev.
Charles E. Knox, of Bloomfield, N. J.,
is a leading spirit in this church, and
has doubtless had much influence in
bringing 'about result.
PARSONAGE AT ONEIDA.
The Presbyterian Church, (O. S.) of
the large and growing village of Oneida,
are building a nice parsonage for their
esteemed pastor, Rev:Charles E. Robin
son. He has been a boarder among
them for nearly, two years, but expects
next week to im a 'housekeeper. His
people promised him a parsonage by
January next. They are redeeming
their pledge and a littlemore, Anticipat
ing the time -by a few weeks. The
church is also growing rapidly; and must
ere long require a new house of worship
to meet the demands of the congrega
tion. It is a pleasant houie ; has been
enlarged once, and will seat, we should
judge, about aim hundred; but already
needs room for more. •
AOCHESTIR, Nov. 17, 1866
THIRD CHURCH, PITTSBURGH.
On Sabbath, November 10th, Rev. Herrick
Johnson delivered , his fourth anniversary
discourse, , in the -hall now occupied by -the
Third Chireh. The text was taken from the
Acts, xxiii. 15: ." Whom when, Paul saw,
he thanked God, and took courage." After
gibing the interesting historical'nexus of the.
passage, explainging those relations of the'
Apostle to the Church he was now for the
first time visiting, but-to which from Corinth
he had written of hisAongings to see them
face to face, the preacher remarked that it
was not his purpose to' give
. play to his
ingenuity in discovering or forcing analogies
between the circumstances into the midst of
which the text introduces us, and those in
which he and his people found themselves in
crossing the threshold of the fifth year of the
present pastorate. He should introduce the
incidents of that scene of affectionate saluta
tion, devout thanksgiving, and renewed
heroic ,purp . ose, only, as they might, suggest
themselves in the way of illustrating and em
phasizing the duty of the present hour--:-
solemn praise to Crod and 'fresh courage in
the future. - -
During my first year of labor among you,
said the preacher, we were visited with a
calamity in the destruction of our church
building by fire. It was a staggering blow.
Our counsels were divided. Some advised
to reroof the blackened walls still standing,
and save all that:was venerable and sacred in
their old associations. ~ But we resolve& to
build anew: Meanwhile, - this 'hall was
secured. Whatever may be said of it as a
resort in such an emergency, it is not to be
denied that its occupancy has been attended
with great inconveniences, bearing with
special weight upon the aged and infirm,
some of whom have been utterly debarred
from , meeting with us by reason of its inac
cessibility. And had it been foreknown that
such would have been the mechanical and
other difficulties in the way of our building
enterprise, that, this fourth anniversary ser
mon would be preached in this hall, had we
known" what we were undertaking when we
made that resolve, doubtless we should have
forborne the effort. And there were those
among us who, as these difficulties developed
themselves, shook their heads and pronounced
the undertaking a great mistake. So, per
haps, did Paul's friends regard his appeal to
Cmsar, yet it gave him passage, stormy in
deed and perilous, to the imperial city,
where, as elsewhere, he could display to
perishing men the cross of Christ wherein he
gloried. But you can easily satisfy yourselves
now that we make no mistake. Of the one
hundred and twenty-five additions made to
our church during my pastorate, ninety-four
are dated within the period of our tenancy
here. Dispite all its inconveniences, it has
been attended with an average yearly acces
sion of thirty to our members.
In further illustration of their urged,
and of the demands of the hon thanks
giving, the
_preacher presented array of
figures from the financial statistics of the
church, truly remarkable and suggestive.
He had been remonstrated with, three years
ago, when, in full view of all the burdens of
the work to do at home, he had deprecated
the slightest abatement in the contributions
of the church for the great general interests
of Evangelical Christianity. It was asking
too much, was the plea. rile people will not
tolerate such a pressure. But see the result.
The sum of the paid subscriptions of the
church, said he, for the first year of my pas
torate was $10,7864 ;of the second, just after
being turned out of our sanctuary home,
$19,250; of the third, $53,600; of-the fourth,
$54,319. In a word, a comparison between
the contributions for eitclusively congrega
tional objects made, severally, in the first
year of my pastorate and the one now closing,
shows an advance of two hundred:and fifty
per pent., while if the:total amount assessed
upon themselves by the people of this church,
as a body, for all the purposes of religion, be
taken into account, the per centage rises to
five hundred. May we not feel that we have
passed the crisis in the history of our Church,
and that nothing but the forfeiture of the
Divine favor, so abundantly bestowed here
tofore, can forbid a most triumphant future?
The present status of the church was then
referred to; the advanced progress of the
handsome and capacious chapel building,
and the number and especially the quality of
its membership, never before so large-400
names, known, resident, usable. Special
mention was made of the incalculable value
to the church of the unusually large propor
tion of young Christians on the roll.
In discussing the future of his course, the
preacher spoke guardedly, both as respects
the general uncertainty of what is before us,
and the special danger of giving way to the
spirit of Pharisaic self-gratulation. He re
minded his 'hearers that their work was far
from being done. Yet what has been accom-*
pushed, in the past may be safely regarded as
significant for the future. As respected the
building enterprise, the raising of $llOO3OO
durihg the last two years gave hopeful pro
mise. Reference was again made to the
working iquality of the membership. Yet
were they to be satisfied—to repeat the folly
of Laodicea ? Was Paul satisfied with what
was already accomplised in Rome, when he
was cordially met on its environs? We have
not done what we might, urged the preacher.
Far be it from me to assline to myself the
meed of duty adequately performed, or to
accord it to my people, But what is it to
take courage, in view of all that is hopeful
is our progress thus far? What sort of 'a
spirit was it that Paul felt to .be reinforced
within him, when he was welcomed to the
saintly brotherhood in Rome All this let
our thanksgiving mean and be, as we enter
upon another year. of mutual labor. .
The conclusion, in which was presented the
thought that all the appropriate appliances of
church advancement and Christian usefulness
are vain without the blessing • of God, was
specially effective. You see, said the pseaker,
an army ,seated before the granite walls of a
fort. They tell you they mean to batter it
down, and point you the iron ball that is to
be the instrument. But, you say, this is
scarce a hundred weight of metal, and if the
sinews of the thousand right arms of all this
host could concentrate their force in hurling
that ball it would fall harmless from those
battlements. They point you, again, to a
cannon. But, you say, 'what is that but a
mass of dead matter? They show you the
powder that is to charge it. Yes, you say,
but what are these little grains? A child
may spill them, and a dove may pick them
up. Then they show you the one spark of
fire that makes those grains a, lightning
charge, and that ball a bolt terrible as if shot
from a thunder cloud. And, 0! what are
sermons, !layer-meetings'
Sabbath-schools,
spacious aisles or fretted roofs, the largest
free-will offerings, and of what avail all these,
if they are all lifeless in the absence of the
quickening_ Spirit of God? Let earnest
prayer to Him who answereth by fire call the
blessings down.
We are happy to learn that the congrega
tion will probably be able to assemble in one
part of their fine edifice as early as January
next. ,
BRITISH EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE
SYMPATHY WITH AMERICAN BRETHREN.
Irenmus," of the N. Y. Observer,
writes from Bath, England, some ac
count of the meeting of the British
Evangelical Alliance in that city, last
month. He says that on Thursday
morning, after the 'hour of prayer, the
Rev: Dr. M'Cosh, who lately visited
America, gave a history of his tour
in the United Staies, exhil3iting the
physical, moral and political condition
of the country . _ It was a production of
an intelligent, ,candid philosopher, who
comprehended great things,
.aid did not
overlook little: things, , and who, in a few
weeks' travel, found more correct,
complete and satisfactory idea of the
country, than many small= men would
have done in years. Dr. li'Cosh re
ported the formation of the American
Evangelical Alliance, and no one event
of the year was hailed with so much
satisfaction and joy as this. When the
delivery of this account was concluded,
the liveliest demonstrations of joy were
made ; resolutions of thanks and con
gratulation were adopted by • rising,
speeches were made in which the
warmest expressions of affection for
America were repeated in the strongest
terms, and the entire session was given
to this one aubject, which was evident.
ly the most pleasingly exciting theme
that came before the ...Alliance_
GENESEE.
TIEIE METEORIO SHOWER.—The astro
nomers missed a figure somewhere.
City and country vr- re all on the qui
vine on the nights of the 13th and 14th
of November. A meteor or two was
seen in this city, and may commonly
be seen on a clear November night, but
there was nothing which paid for, the
sitting • up. Some sh.ort-fellow took the
disappointment in humorous as well as
good temper, and sent the following,
under the heading of " Letter from a
Milkman," to the N. Y. Christian.
Intelli
gencer
The midnight hour was coining fast,
When a tall youth beside me passed,
And toward Weehawken's height did cast
A starlit eye.
His white slouched hat and his coat-tail
Looked like a meteor in a gale,
As up the heights he kept his trail,
With starlit eye.
This morning at the break of day,,.
As I was coming down that way,
A lifeless form on Weehawk lay
With starless eye.
A. meteor-shot had pierceif his brow,
His heart was cold as winter's snow,
His soul had fled to find Leo—
Up in the sky.
Milky Way Dairy, Hoboken, Nov. 14th
CLERGYMEN IN CIVIL OFFICES.-At a
public, meeting held last Sabbath. even
ing in the Church of- the Epiphany in
this-city, by the Liberian Church Com
mittee, (Episcopal) the Liberian Bishop
Payne stated the somewhat singular
fact, that the President, Vice President,
Secretary of State and Attorney General
of the republic of Liberia are all Presby
terian ministers. The reason given is
that the great want of educated men
seems to compel, ministers to take part
in the government. For the same reason
a considerable portion of the same class
are obliged to lend their services to the
mercantile enterprises of the country.
The Bishop justly represented this state
of things as a very undesirable one, and
urged the adoption of a plan which
might free the clergy of his own Church
from the entanglements of civil and secu
lar vocations.
A DISTINGUISHED CLERGYMAN Ds-
OEASED.—Boston papers announce the
death of Rev. William Jenks, P.D., of
Boston. He died in that city on the
13th inst, in the 88th year of his age..
The great work of Dr. Jenks was his
comprehensive commentary on the Bible,
which attained such, a popularity that
over twenty thousand copies were sub
scribed for—an unprecedented sneems,
which involved the printing of one hun
dred and twenty thousand • imperial
octavo volumes. Dr. Jenks was a gradu
ate of Harvard, of the class of 179'1.
The venerable Horace Binney, of this
city, was his classmate, and is now the
only, survivor of the class.
Church Surned.—The house of worship
of the U. P. church at King's Creek, KY.,
was burned on the night of October 27th.
.The United Presbyterian, with particular ill
formation of the circumstances, presumes it
to laaye been the work of an incendiary. The
principles of civil and religious liberty have
been faithfullyproclaimed from the pull)*
and the'border State ruffians have the c ustom
of practicing this form of retaliation in such
eases. The building is in ruins, but a new
edifice is to be commenced at onee. The
church is limited in means, but it Is a case
that will secure outside sympathy.