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THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 1867,
Look Ahead: —Dr. Breckenridge writes to
the Presbyter that while he has confidence in the
loyalty and firmness of the mass of the Church, he
yet, dreads lest the reactionary efforts of Drs. Jun
kin, Boardman, Baird and others, should lead to the
election by hook or crook of an Assembly of their
stripe, and so allow the Declaration and Testi
mony men to escape. He traces in the 0. S.
papers, “the signs of a general movement favo
rable,to the vast and intolerable mischiefs involved
in the success, nay even in the impunity, of those
who issued that monstrous paper, and those who
have affiliated with them/* The Presbyter wisely
advises him to see that matters at home in Ken
tuckygo right, and asssures him there is no danger
from other quarters. It hints that some of those
who joined in “de-facto-ing” the Border States
Church Courts did;so only in order to get a vote
in-the Dext Assembly against the' deliverances of
1860—6.
Dr. Breckenridge declares that the seceders of
the Kentucky Synod held a secret conference after
organizing apart from the loyalists, and that of
three proposals. (1,) to go South; (2,) to orga
nize a Border States Church and (3,) to hold on
by. their-Northern friends and “ wait for something
to tarn up”—the hist was adopted, and has been
every where carried out except in Baltimore.
Another cask ok’permitted. confession
"S. G. 0.” gives another instance of the way in
which Dr. Pusey and those like him tyrannize
Over the consciences of weak-minded and scrupu-
Joub persons. He shows also the essential hostility
of the whole policy to the family relation, as infe
rior in holiness, and their utter distrust of the
divine order of society and the family:—
A young lady, under the guidance of her con
fessor, took a vow of celibacy for two years un
known to her parents. An offer of marriage was
subsequently made to her, with their approval.
It was hot proposed that she should marry until
tfie period of her vow had expired; but she had
scruples in doing so even then; unless her director
would give his sanction. He was solicited by her
parents to grant it, but he refused, and the lady
died single. The confessor was Dr. Pusey himself.
"Now," says the Times, “ wc invite Dr. Pusey to
give a simple answer to the question whether this
Story be truly related or not. It would be
both superfluous and useless to enter further
upon the justification of such practices. We
want to know whether the- facts alleged in
this instance by our correspondent be true or not.
If they be, no one will dream, of impugning; Dr.
Pusey’s motives;,but we shasl ? _,p.ossess a decisive
illustration of the real' character of the system
which be advocates.” ...
“To-argue in faYour of habitual Confession in the
'English Church, is like argumg in favour of des
potism in the English Constitution. The practice
■is antagonistic to every English principle. The
plea that it is sanctioned by the Prayer-Book is
■utterly incredible, nor could any amount of special
pleading.convince an impartial judge that it can
ever be reconciled with our formularies.'
First Presbyterian Church, Kensing
ton. —Tho fifteenth anniversary of the Sab
bath School of this church, was held on the
first Sabbath of the yea™ The occasion was
one of great interest, being celebrated with
a--.warm and earnest jubilee spirit. In the
morning, the pastor preached on the subject
ofthe Usefulness of Sabbath Schools, and the
duty of professing Christians and of parents
in.reference thereto. In the afternoon there
was a great gathering. The exercises con
sisted of singing by the school, the reading
of a semi centennial repopt, embracing the
history of the origin and progress of the
school, by the secretary, addresses by Chas.
Godfrey, Dr. Van Buren, Rev. Mr. Paxson,
son of the veteran Sunday School mission
ary, and the pastor; and the presentation
of class contributions for the missionary
work of the American Sunday School
Union. Tho aggregate amount offered was
§640, besides $5O contributed during the
year to the Soldiers’ Orphans’ Home, at
‘Gettysburg. Three years ago the the offer
ings of the school were $200; and this jubi
lee anniversary closed with a pledge to raise
the next year $7OO. The school is under
the efficient, suporintendeney of Messrs.
George IJrwiler, add Timothy Matlack.
Altogether it was a most inspiring occasion,
and it was good to be there.
Penoador .Church. —Rev. Edward Webb
pastor of this church, reports many encour
aging indications among h’is people, spiritual
and otherwise. The attendance upsh pub
lic services is very much improved, and the
liberality of the people is enlarged. At the
Hew Year’s reception, given to Mr. Webb,
they supplemented his moderate salary by
a gift of $235. We hope 6Oon to hear from
Pencador, that news of spiritual awakening
which is so sure to follow movements of this
femd.
Pittsburg, Pa.— A few members of the
Third Church, presented their pastor, Rev.
Herrick Johnson, op Christmas taorning,
with; the handsome sum of $l2OO.
THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 1867.
OUR ROCHESTER CORRESPONDENT.
PRESBYTERY OP ROCHESTER.
The annual meeting of this Presbytery
was convened in the Brick Church of this
city, on Tuesday last, at 2P. M. Rev. Dr.
Shaw was elected Moderator, Rev. E. B!
Van Aulcen and Rev. Henry M. Morey,
Clerks. In the absence of the previous
Moderator, to preach the opening sermon,
the Presbytery held a prayer-meeting, in
connection with the Brick Church, on Tues
day evening, this being the week of prayer
for the conversion of the world.
1. Among the items of business, we may
mention, first, that the following persons
were appointed Commissioners to the next
General Assembly: S. M. Cambpell, D.D.,
and Rev. A. MeA. Thorburn, with Elders
Frederick Starr and T. A. Newton, princi
pals; and Revs. C. E. Furman and O. H.
Barnard, with Elders William Ailing and
E. T. Huntington, alternates.
2. Rev. Dr. Campbell was appointed Com
missioner to Auburn Seminary.
3. Notice was also taken of the appoint
ment of the new Secretary of the Church
Erection Fund, in which, under the circum
stances, this Presbytery would be expected
to take a particular interest; and the fol
lowing resolutions were heartily adopted:—:
Resolved, That we hail with peculiar in
terest and satisfaction the change in plan
adopted by the last General Assembly in
regard to the working of our Church Erec
tion Fund; and that we pledge to tho Gen
eral Assembly for this our hearty co-opera
tion and support. /
Resolved, That we greatly rejoice also in
the appointment of one of our owu Presby
tery, one so much esteemed and beloved
among us as Dr. Eliiuwood is, for Secretary
of this, Fund—a man whom we regard as
eminently qualified for the place, and wor
thy of all confidence' and support in his
great and important work.
4. Rev. Dr. Clark, the new Secretary of
the American Board, being providentially
present on the second day, by special invi
tation addressed the Presbytery in behalf
of Missions. He spoke particularly of the
want of men. He is now on a t-oiir, visiting
the theological seminaries in quest of them.
The Board now wants sixty-fivenew mission
aries; twenty to hold the ground already in
our possession, and forty-five for new and
opening fields of labor.
Dr. Clark presented these necessities very
vividly and earnestly before our minds. He
spoke substantially of the same things to
large meetings in the evening, both in the
Central churches. Hiß addresses
were brief, but pertinent and powerful, each
time making a deep impression upon, the
minds of his hearers. All seemed delighted
with the man and his remarks. Much, we
are sure, was accomplished for the cause of
Missions by his brief stay, of only twenty
four hours, among us.
5. Some changes should be noticed. Rev.
H. W. Brown, pastor elect -at Brockport,
was received from the Presbytery of Lyons.
Rev. W. W. Collins, now preaching at Pen
field, was received from the Presbytery of
Tioga; and Willis Clark Gaylord, a member
of the Central Church of this city, a student
of Theology, was received under care of the
Presbytery, with a view to licensure for the
ministry. The semi-annual meeting of the
Presbytery is to be held in Sweden. In
order to increase, if possible, the interest in
the summer session, it is proposed to have a
children’s meeting, in connection with the
-school in the place, in the afternoon;
also a social gathering in the evening ofthe
second day. This last is intended to be the
crowning glory of the feast. All are ex
pected to remain to this. And still further
to enhance the real pleasure and profit of
the occasion, the ministers and elders are
invited and expected to take their wives
with them—if they have any—that they
may see how the business of Presbytery is
done, and especially that they may “take
part” in the closing exercises. It is hoped
thus to hold every member of Presbytery in
attendance until the business is ended; and
also to make the meeting every Way one of
more interest and profit to the people where
we assemble.
DEATH OF REV. FREDERICK JR.
The news of this sad event, which occur
red in St. Louis on Wednesday last, came to
this city by telegraph while our Presbytery
was in session, and was received with pro
found sorrow and surprise. Tho Presbytery
paused in the midst of its business to offer
prayer for the afflicted father and his family.
Mr. Starr was a Dative of this place, son
of Frederick Starr, Esq., so well known in
all the enterprises of Christian activity, and
an honored elder in the Central Church in
this city. He was a graduate of Yale
College, and of Auburn Seminary, and had
been nearly eighteen years in the ministry.
He was first a pastor for five years in Wes
ton, Mo., until driven out by border ruffian
ism. He then came back to this State, and
became Secretary of the Western Education
Society, and Financial 1 Agentf for Auburn
Seminary, in which capacity he labored for
many years with untiring energy and
marked success. He raised large sums of
money for that school of the prophets, and
was the means of lifting it up from a state
of deep depression, or perhaps we may say
of complete prostration, into a new life and
real prosperity.
While so engaged, he received an urgent
call to settle as .a pastor at Penn Yan, where
he spent three years, and from which place
he went to St. Louis only two years .ago;
every where the same earnest, active, useful
man. He could do about as much work as
a half dozen common men. He seemed to
have the strength of two or three rolled into
one. Who would have thoughtof his dying
until he was nearly a hundred years old?
What an admonition to all who remain, to
work while the day lasts !
He was a most dutiful, affectionate and
beloved son and brother; and heavily the
blow falls upon all his family friends.
They have the sincere sympathy of this en
tire region of country, where the deceased
was so well and favorably known.
To his life some more fitting tribute will
doubtlesa<-be rendered by more competent
hands; and we should be glad even now to
write much more, if the limits of this com
munication did not forbid.
FASHIONABLE AMUSEMENTS.
■ On this subject, Rev. Dr. Campbell last
Sabbath read, in a most solemn and impres
sive manner, at the opening of his morning
service, the following paper, signed by every
member of his session, eleven in all. It was
introduced by most kind and considerate re
marks ; it is itself full of kindness: it is
expostulation, not threats, and produced a
profound sensation in the congregation. It
cannot fail to do good: —
“ The Session of the Central Presbyterian
Church in Rochester, to the members of
Christ’s flock, over which the Holy Ghost
■ ha,th made them overseers:
“Dearly-beloved brethren:
“At this season of the yearj when worldly
gayetyjs rife, and when it is the habit of
the Church to devote a week to special
prayer, we feel called upon to offer a sugges
tion upon the subject of unchristian amuse
ments. We desire particularly to give our
solemn testimony against such practices on
the part of professing Christians, as card
playing, theatre-going and dancing. We
regard these things as unedifying, as giving
offence to pious minds, as dissipating serious
thoughts, as leading to practices that are
very reprehensible, and as presenting an ex
ample unwholesome to the world.
“Therefore, in all kindness, charity and
forbearance, we do earnestly entreat of you,
onf all, t° abstain from these things,
andilpom others like them; and to*, conspire
together to maintain for our beloved Church
that good name which it has hitherto en
joyed!' Given under our hands this 2d day
of January, in the year of our Lord 1567."
A GOOD TIME AT HORNELLSVILLE.
■» It was Christmas evening. The new Pub
lic Hall, which graces the village, was nicely
decorated and .well filled with the children
and their friends for a Sunday-school festi
val. A big Christmas tree grew on the
platform; back of it hung the national
colors, not yet banished from our goodly
land; and in front, stretching down through
a good part of the hall, a long table groan
ing udder the weight of good things plead
ing to be eaten.
But time would fail us to give all the par
ticulars. Suffice it to say, that bright eyes
shone with unwonted lustre that evening,
and many hearts were stirred with peculiar
joy; teachers happy in seeing so much en
joyment among the scholars, and. the schol
ars happy in the love of their teachers.
Gifts, also, were the order of the evening,
among which we can only mention a silver
bell for the Sunday-school, from some of the
young ladies; a beautiful set of Ruskin’s
works, and one hundred and thirty dollars
in money for Rev. M. Waldo, the esteemed
and worthy pastor of the church. All this,
beside various pleasant addresses, with
singing and social intercourse, made it a
very perry Christmas that eyening in the
pleasant village of Hornellsville. Next
time may we be there.
Rochester, Jan. 12,1867
Milford, Del. —Rev. J. P. Severance, pas
tor of the church in this place, writes us as
follows: —“Last Sabbath was a blessed day
with us—l 7 united with us. There is an
unusual interest with us now. The lecture
room is well filled every night. God is evi
dently with us; and oh! that we might have
a great blessing.”
Youngstown, JT. Y.— The people of Mr.
Burdick’s- flock, during the holiday week,
supplied the parsonage with a number of
articles which will add greatly to family
comfort. A now bell has been purchased,
and an effort is being made to remove the
debt of the church, which promises to be en
tirely successful.
Bopi, Wis.—The Rev. Warren Mayo was
installed pastor of the Church in Lodi by
the Presbytery of Columbus, on the 2d inst.
Sermon by Rev. M. Fish ; charge to the pas
tor by Rev. J. K Lewis; and to the people
by Rev. M. Lawrie,
Daily services are held this week in ail
our churches. There is also a union prayer-,
meeting held every morning at a central
point, under the auspices of the Young
Men’s Christian Association. The regular
noon meeting of the Association is also held
as usual. At the union meeting this morn
ing, it was reported that yesterday the-noon
meeting was overflowing, and that a degree
of interest was manifested such as has not
been observed since the Pentecostal days of
1857. Several persons present requested
prayers for help in entering the “Strait
Gate.” The members of this Association
are unremitting in their efforts and un
daunted. They believe that, as one has ex
pressed it, salvation is to penetrate society
vertically, touching the highest point and
reaching to the lowest. Not a little success
ful effort has been made to reach even the
habitues of our saloons with the offers of
Gospel. Two or three recent and remarka
ble conversions tfre reported among those
who needed more than the waters of Abana
and Pharpar to cleanse even the surface of
their souls. The heathen at home are our
special charge in these great cities. The
leader of this morning’s meeting hit a truth
sententioiisly when he said, referring to the
Saviour’s great commission : “We. are to be
foreign missionaries in our prayers and
home missionaries in our work.” There is
an unusual degree of interest in nearly all
the churches at present, and it is hoped that
this will be a year fruitful in good.
I am sorry to observe so few rejforts of
the collections of the third Sunday in De
cember. It is true that was a day of storm
throughout the North, and it is to be pre
sumed that in most of our churches the col
lection was deferred, that the brightest sky
might favor the object. None of the churches
in Chicago took their collection on that day.
The First Church is now gathering its sub
scriptions. It has already obtained, I un
derstand, over §llOO, and is expecting to
increase the amount.. The pastor of the
Second Church waits for subscriptions from
some of the wealthier members of his church
in Europe as the basis of his collection. If
all would make this a cause to be pressed
in. this manner by personal and general so
licitation, a whole year of stormy Sundays
would not prevent a most noble;contribu
tion. It is surely needed, and if it is not
given, our Church will have wasted more
than one year, and have misled* <we. fof its
grandest opportunities.
The Second Church has recently demon
strated its appreciation of the long and use
ful services of its pastor by voting him an
eight months’ vacation, without diminution
of his salary; It,is understood that ample
provision has also been made for the ex
penses of a journey 11 outre mer,” if he de
sires to take it. No one deserves such a
compliment more richly than Dr. Patterson.
I have not yet heard whether he will avail
himself of the opportunity, thus offered.’
The new chapel of the vigorous Ninth
Church, the youngest of our sisterhood, is to
be dedicated next Sunday. It is a plain, but
tasteful structure, commodious enough for
the present, not too good to give place to a
larger and better one ere long. The new
Olivet Church is nearly ready {pr occupancy.
Rev. Mr. Rice, recently pastor of the Cir
cular Church, of historic memory, in Charles
ton, is still supplying its pulpit. Mr. Rice
was pastor of the-Circular Church through
all the years of the rebellion—himself one°of
the few loyal men in Chafleston, whose af
fection for our flag was only second to their
love for the Cross. He has a most interest
ing lecture on “An inside view of the Rebel
lion,” which he will soon deliver in Chicago.
It is endorsed by such men as Dr. Bacon.
No point was more favorable certainly for
an inside view than that of Mr. Rice, stand
ing as he did by the great arteries of treason.
The Seventh, and the Eighth Churches are
making fine progress with their sanctuaries,
and both have most flattering prospects.
Genesee.
Among the good things done by our com
gregations at their annual meetings, was a
vote by one of them to appropriate one hun
dred dollars per annum from the revenues
of the church, for the increase of a library,
already large, which ip devoted Bolely to the
use of the pastor. The library referred to
was founded a few years since by a munifi'
cent appropriation by one of the members
of the church. The selection was left to the
pastor, and was suited, of course, to his own
wants but as the books selected were of
standard value, they would be equally use
iul to any pastor into whose hands thev
m.ght M. On. dol I„,
Bmall fragment from the rer.nno it any of
oar more wealthy, eherchee, and no appro'
pnation could be made-which would prove
OUR CHICAGO CORRESPONDENT.
THE WEEK OF PRAYER
CHURCH ERECTION.
PAROCHIAL APPRECIATION.
DEDICATION OF CHURCHES.
PASTORAL LIBRARIES.
more remunerative to the church itself, than
such a one as this. Why should we spend
two or three thousand dollars every year
for sustaining our choirs, without some
thought of the mental supplies by which the
pulpit might be enriched? Good music is
of value, but a good sermon is better. No
tools are too expensive for a watch-factory.
Why should our ministers be expected to
work only with the blacksmith’s hammer
and pincers? Salaries are not generally
liberal enough to allow great expenditures
for book 3. And when they are, the extra
appropriation of a few dollars for a library
which will be a permanent possession of the
church, and which will enrich its pulpit for
all time, is most wise and thoughtful. The
church to which I refer is liberal in both di
rections, and does not think itself extrava
gant in either.
DR. MCMASTER.
The death of this eminent man is greatly
deplored by the friends of a sound theologi
education, in the North-west. A man of
great insight, no one could analyze and ap
ply the truths of the Bible more clearly than
he. A man of convictions deop-rooted as
the hills, no one could impress a student
more profoundly, with the thought that
God’s word can never pass away. He is
gone. Let us be grateful that the truth ho
loved remains, and is firmer than the gran
ite of a thousand centuries.
Chicago, Jan. 9,1867;
a! ftm
The Oil Region. —The pastor of a church
in the oil regions, sends us a list of new
names, and writes: “The oil excitement
which for two or three years threatened to
sweep away almost everything of a religious
nature, has abated. God is reviving his peo
ple here; sinners are being converted, and
I wish your paper to help me in the Master’s
work.”
Madison Square Church, N. Y. —The
members of this Church consecrated the
closing hours of 1866 to public worship, in
which Christians of other names took part.
Althoughthe weather was very unpropitious
a large number came together, and en
joyed a season of prayer that will long bo
remembered. The pastor of the church, Dr.
Adams,presided. Drs. Murray, Crosby, and
Ganse, made brief but very interesting ad
dresses; and prayers were offered by Drs.
Field, Rogers, and Prentiss. Toward tho
close, Dr. Cox, the oldest minister present,
made a few remarks, fall of tenderness, and
the closing prayer was offered by Dr. Hut
ton, in which two persons who were in deep
sorrow, and who had sent to the pastor of
the church requests for prayer, were fitly
remembered. -
Union Presbytertal Convention. —The
ministers and elders of the two Presbyteries
of Fort Wayne, Indiana, met for religious
conference and incitement in the city of Wa
bash, 18th Dec., alt. Appropriate topics
were discussed throughout three sessions.
Chicago, lII.—Dr. Patterson stated, in one
of his recent meetings, that there are now
thirteen of the original members of the
2d Church alive; and thirteen have gone
homo. Of the thirteen diving eleven are
still connected with, the church, and next
May will be the close of its first quarter of a
century. He has been its first and only
pastor.
Newark, N. J.—The South Park Church
during tly; past year, has pdid off its debt
and contributed for church purposes double
the amount of the previous year.
The Weak Churches oe our Denomina
tion. The Evangelist discusses our duty to
our less affluent brethren in an excellent
leading article, appealing to the very idea
of Presbyterianism, as uniting the churches
for mutual counsel and assistance. It sums
up the whole case thus:-”Our Western
Synods cover vast spaces, meet with for
midable opposition, and yet are weak in
numbers and munitions. A large proportion
of their churches are weak and feeble, and
they sustain the ordinances of religibn with
difficulty.' Theirministers are often brought
R P nrt Sre ? l t ,f ra,t8 ’ and kDOW not what to do.
Rendered desperate by want, in many cases
they partially or wholly turn aside to seen
which furnish a more certain
Kreat ° >an » cause suffers
fhe 7«? W U ° U t 0 sk °w that of
the 764 Western churches none have abov.
til offlviTi onl { 3 have between 500 a “ d
on?: h&ve between 300 and 500; and
694 pt* n CtWeeD 200 aDd 3m - 0f the
have We, °1 tbe otb<,r h “ i ' s
Eastern S V „ 0< 1, of jA' Ac ' TL " c 'S t:
tho state of Hew f “T" 111 ” “
one-ton+L 1 * ork > d ,° not occupy a field
90,487 memberf tern ' and havc
Synodkhave only 5? 351) tb "^ en Wcsterr ‘
481 wool t members, and havt*
Wabash.