<7lu' man ISTew Series, "Vol. IV, ISTo. 4. gmnitau Urssb-gtsiciaii. THURSDAY JANUARY 24,1867. THE CRESCENT AND THE CROSS. Commencing its career in the year 612, very near to that usually fixed for the be ginning of the temporal power of that of the Popes, Mohammedanism, the religion of the false prophet, seems to be keeping pace with the decline of the Papal power. Just as foreign bayonets and diplomatic interests and jealousies of rival powers have pro longed the duration of the Papal sovereign ty, so the continued existence of the Otto man Empire is due to the fears of Russian aggrandizement cherished by France and Great Britain. And now, when, in obedience to prophetic indications, the last external supports are withdrawn from Rome, fresh dangers, of the most serious character, me nace what yet remains of the once proud Mohammedan Empire, that loomed so omi nously upon the whole horizon of the Chris tian world, in the eighth, and afterwards in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Both these great foes of true religion have often before been in extreme peril, but it is our privilege to live in a time when their perils are simultaneous, and their condition alike desperate. This generation is almost certain to witness their disappearance from the list of human governments. It was in 1458 that the power of the Tur eo-Moslem or Osmauli Empire culminated in the conquest of the Christian city of the Constantines, and the church of St. Sophia was turned into a mosque. After all, the loss to Christianity was more in name than in reality. Churches dedicated to man-made saints, and church organizations corrupted to the core with formalism, with multiplied rites and. ceremonies and orders, and with : sheer idolatry, may pass under the power of ! anti-Christian conquerors without serious regrets. The simple and sincere monotheism of their oppressors put an aspect of designed retribution upon the transaction. There might almost bo a preference for the Allah worship of Islam over the picture-worship and gross Mariolatry of the Greek Church; „ for the puritanism of the Pagan over the ri tualism of the Christian. But the fierce fa naticism, the persecuting rage and intoler. ance of Mohammedanism has been one of the most serious barriers to the revival and spread of Christianity in modern times. Justly are the popes and Mohammed classed together as leading obstacles, in the appre hension of all evangelical Christians, pray ing and laboring for the extension of Christ’s Kingdom among the more civilized portions of the earth. It is -well, then, for the world, that the hour of the culmination of this semi-Pagan power in the conquest of Constantinople witnessed, also, the commencement of its decline. Already the island of Sicily had been wrested from the Turks when Constan tinople fell into their hands. In 1492 their last strongholds in Spain were captured. In the sixteenth century, Solyman the Mag lifieent extended the Turkish dominions on (very side, and even included the whole of lungary within its borders; and it was not in til 1688 that John Sobieslti, king of Po and, drove the Turks from the walls of Vienna, and rescued Hungary from their grasp. Nothing has since occurred to change the ebb tide which then set in for the affairs of Turkey, unless it be an accele ration of the rate of recession. Frequently renewed struggles with Aus tria and Russia during the 18th and the early part of the 19th century, were followed by constant losses of territory and prestige. In 1821 occurred the famous Greek Revolu tion, ending in the great naval catrastrophe of Navarino, and the establishment of an independent state formed from the most in teresting of all the territory which had been acquired by the Turks. This was in 1827. Dr. Cumming makes the year of the out break, 1821, an- important date in the fulfil ment of prophecy. He places the comple tion of the 2300 years of Daniel, chap. 8,14, at this point, when the power which has held Palestine; and has stood in the way of the “cleansing of the sanctuary,” expe riences the beginning of its heaviest blows and its greatest losses. From the time of the establishment of the kingdom of Greece, the Mohammedan power has maintained but an artificial existence. PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1867. Egypt would have been another indepen dent kingdom, carved out of Turkish territory, but for the gratuitous and unrighteous inter ference of the “Great Powers” in 1840. We have not forgotten at what a fearful cost the Sultan was rescued from the paws of the Russian bear in 1854. The Principalities on the borders of Austria, whose nominal depen dence on Turkey is the faint reminiscence of the conquests of Solyman the Magnificent in the heart of Europe three centuries ago, are in a state of chronic uneasiness, and of late are making decided progress towards complete independence. Now comes the revolt of Candia, the an cient Crete. This is but a continuation of the struggle of half a century ago. The kingdom of Greece, as then determined, did not include all of the islands which figure in ancient history as part of the same nationa lity. Crete was, at that time, handed over to Egypt, hut afterwards restored to the Sul tan. The people themselves have now deter mined, if possible, to correct the mistakes of that arrangement. They are struggling in desperation and blood to carry still further the work of dismemberment, which then was so nearly fatal to the Turkish Empire. They will, if possible, fully undo and re pair the centuries of w'rongs which nearly obliterated the Greek nation and name from the earth. Candia has as good a right to independence as the Peloponnesus; as Euboea, or any of the Cyclades. She has as good a right to be incorporated with the remaining part of, Greece, as Venice with thg rest of Italy. Greece has as good a right to unity under one government, from Mt. Olympus to Cape Matapan and Pair Havens, as Italy has to her nearly attained unity from the Alps to Cape Spartivento. This is the pow erful feeling which gives energy and hope to the revolt, and which expands the area of its sympathies beyond the. boundaries of a small island. And this is the perpetual con tingency which threatens the integrity of the Turkish Empire. The Turks have been able to conquer those whom they have not been able -to assimilate with themselves. The Empire is an unwieldy aggregate of races and of nations, each one of which has a consciousness of blood relationship far dif ferent from, and superior to, the merely ex ternal and compulsory tie which unites it to Turkey. But it is not merely the sentiment of race which, is roused in these struggles. The word “Greek” describes a spiritual as well as a carnal tie. Different races and different nationalities are hound together by the Greek religion. Every movement of this kind almost instantly takes on the religious character. It is a renewal of the old strug gle between Christianity and one of its most fanatical, and, at one time, most formidable foes. Shall the Crescent any longer domi nate the Cross? In this question not only the Hellenic race, not only the “ Orthodox Imperial Church,” as it is proudly called, with its sanctuaries in Athos and Sinai; but the Nestorians, the Armenians, the Syrians, the Copts, the Bulgarians and Servians, the Wallachians and Moldavians, comprising more than a third of the entire population of the Turkish Empire in Europe and Asia, are interested in the highest degree of which the human soul is capable. Three-fourths of the population of Turkey in Europe is no minally Christian, of the Greek persuasion. But outside of Turkey, and right on its bor ders, is the great empire, whose deep and intimate religious sympathy gives encourage ment and hope to all these rebellious tribes within. It is the vast and powerful Greek Church of Bussia, whose head is the Czar, and at whose command are all the resources of an empire of nearly seventy-five million inhabitants, that forms the conclusive ele ment in these calculations. Behind the eleven million Greek Christians of Turkey, stands their potent auxiliary, the Czar-Pa triarch of Bussia, with the fifteenth part of the human race, and the seventh part of the habitable globe under his control. This is the deep significance of a revolt upon the little island of Crete. It is the re vival of ar great historical struggle. It is the protest of the Cross against the Crescent. It is sensation in a remote and feeble mem ber of a huge and powerful system, knit to gether by religious sympathies, as in a mar sonic fraternity. It is a step forward in the fulfilment of prophecy. It is compelling the Christian nations, whose jealousies alone have kepit the Turkish Empire from dissolu- tion, to reconsider their policy, to arrange for the termination of the Mohammedan-rule of four centuries in the regions of the earth first won to Christianity. The time, of the catastrophe hastens onward. The Czar of Russia and his officials have plainly signified their interest in this Cretan revolt. The eleven years that are gone since Sebastopol fell, have wrought great changes in and out of Russia. Rot only have the boundaries of the empire been enlarged, and its resources developed, but an element of strength in twenty-two millions of .freemen has taken the place of the weakness of serfdom. Rus sia may not, indeed, become mistress of the Hellespont, but she is strong enough to make more serious demonstrations than ever in that direction. And it is the immediate duty of the powers that -should resist such demonstrations, to take away forever all oc casion for them, by some wise arrangement substantially restoring the supremacy of Christianity in the Levant. A PLEA THAT WILL NOT STAND. When pressed to engage in personal effort for the conversion of the impenitent, many Christians plead their own coldness and in adequate experience as an excuse for evading the duty. And not only individual Chris tians, but Churches frequently act on the assumption, that a protracted’and thorough preparation i s necessary, before they can pass from their ordinary state to a working con dition. Doubtless self-inquiry, searching of heart and penitent returning to God on the part of back-slidden Christians, are highly neces sary and will enhance every other qualifica tion for usefulness. Rut one of the very best means of preparing for workjjis to go to work. This part of the process should not be de ferred until the other more-formal prelimi naries are completed. We sh'all enlarge our views, enrich our experience, and strengthen our faith, and become betteri-Ghristians by the effort to make others such! Hie story-of the benumbed-traveller on the Alps perfectly illustrates this point. On the point of giving up to the chilling effects of the storm and the cold, the traveller!s half-closed eye rested, at the moment, upon a fellow-being who had entirely succumbed to the cold, and who must perish in a few moments without some friendly, interposi tion. Chilled and almost helpless as he was, he went to the relief of the dying man. The faint, uncertain efforts he first put forth, soon roused him; his energies were developed, his system was warmed, and by the time his fellow-traveller was fully restored, his own body was all aglow with vigorous and joyful health. In saving another, he had rescued himself. If he had excused himself from ef fort on the ground of his own coldness, both would have frozen together. THE AMERICAN P. AND T. REVIEW. The January number of this Quarterly contains articles on Extemporaneous Preach ing, by Prof. Shedd; The President and Con gress, by Dr. Spear; The Greetings of Paul, by J. B. Bittinger; Rev. Thomas Brainerd, D.D., by Rev. A. Barnes; Notes-on Difficult Passages of Scripture, by Rev. Frederic A. Adams, Orange, JST. J.; A Lecture on Parish Preaching, by Dr. Skinner; Origin and Growth of Episcopacy, by Prof. Hitchcock; New Testament Annotations, by Dr. Crosby; The Kuria in the Second Epistle of John; Notes on Recent Books. Prof. Shedd vindicates for extemporaneous preaching a place of equal honor with any other sort, and gives admirable advice as to the means of attaining facility in the prac tice. Dr. Spear’s article is very good, but it comes short of the necessities of the times and of the popular sentiment, in our opinion, by giving too much of the character of a finality or ultimatum to the proposed Consti tutional amendment. That measure is an ultimatum, only as it is the very least that the country can accept and not the most that, for safety, it will demand. Nor do we sym pathize in the least with the writer’s ex treme caution on the subject.of impeach ment. His argument is based almost wholly on the alleged inexpediency of the measure; whereas the true inquiry should be, whether a man capable of such monstrous abuse of executive power in such a critical period of national history, ought not to be impeached, let the consequences be what they may; and whether we do not owe it to posterity, just at this point, to make an example of the guilty party; not to speak of the interests of justice and humanity which are suffering by the obstruction instead of the execution of good laws by those now in power. Possibly we might persuade ourselves, as Dr. Spear has done, to wait, and to let the victims of official obstinacy and neglect wait, two years longer, if that were all. But the question, What is the 'present duty of Congress and the people? must be settled aside from all mere questions of expediency. Since Dr. Spear’s article was written, the other arm of the Government, the Judiciary, has*made some alarming demonstrations, rendering still more precarious the fruits of our vic tories in the field. Perhaps he would admit that, in his own language, “ the occasion ” has become “much more pressing and im perative,” since these decisions of the Su-. preme Court; and that, with both the other departments of the Government working with might and main to frustrate the pur poses of the loyal people, and to retain the deadly. virus of treason in our reconstructed system; even the Fortieth Congress will be powerless to establisli-a policy of justice in the land. A recreant President might be borne, but we believe a recreant Supreme Court on the top of that onerous burden, has exhausted the patience of this sorely-tried people. Mr. Barnes’ sermon on Dr. Brainerd, Dr. Skinner on Parish Preaching, Prof. Hitch cock on Episcopacy, with the shorter arti cles, are worthy of attention. The Review should have the general supportofthe Church. Price, $3 in advance. Home missionaries, $2.50. Mew York: Wm. Sherwood, 654 Broadway. Philadelphia: 1334 Chestnut street. OUR WASHINGTON LETTER. Congress has done its part tow*ards giving us two new States. The bills admitting Colorado and Nebraska were passed by good round majorities, which will carry them high and dry over the expected veto into the Union. Some objected to their admission, at first, on account of the small number of inhabitants. But years ago, when the inter ests of slavery could be served by it, politi cians never hesitated to carve our territories into States. Why should this objection be an insurmountable one now, when freedom demands their assistance against an unscru pulous Executive ? The great work of re construction is being thwarted by him, and we ought to have the assistance of as many true voices and votes in the Senate as can be had. We are continually informed that Presi dent “still sticks to his policy.” No one doubts it. Every passing event proves it. It is also certain that his policy sticks to him with the disagreeable adhesiveness of the shirt of Nessus. He will doubtless attempt to strangle these new States by the applica tion of his inevitable veto. But two-thirds of Congress are able to remove his grip. His counsels are no more-regarded by them than those of the most “umble individooal.” The legislatures of Colorado and Nebraska will doubtless immediately comply with the terms prescribed by Congress. These pro spective States-are thoroughly loyal, and proverbially rich in mineral wealth. As soon as spring opens, emigration will set in for their borders. Cities will spring up as if by magic, and the Pacific Railroad, several hun dred miles of which will lie within their ter ritory, will give them quick communication with the East. Like infant Nevada, their influence will soon be felt in the councils of the nation. A few years ago, the admission of two new States would have started up the question of removing the National Capitol further west. But now, much to the peace of mind of capi talists here, the subject is not thought of. Prof. Morse, when he invented the electric telegraph, settled that question forever.. This city is now but a few seconds removed from the farthest borders of our vast domain. The telegraphic operator in the ante-room of the Senate Chamber passes his fingers over the keys of his instrument, like a skilled pianist, and immediately his auditors in Portland and at the Golden Gate hear of the doings of that august body. So far as space is concerned, it is as if the Atlantic and Pa cific oceans washed either side of Capitol Hill. The argument that the Capitol of the country should be'in the centre of the Union now falls without force. Genesee Evangelist, 3STo. 1079. Soon after the British captured Washing ton in 1814, and destroyed important docu ments, Government authorized the building of a National Road, running up through Maryland and Ohio. In case of another in vasion, the public archives were to he run off over it to a place of safety in the interior. Its solid roadway, its granite bridges, and its easy ascent of the Alleghanies were wonders in their day. But the screaming engines of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad laugh to scorn this gigantic work of half a century ago. Time, “ which makes a calf an ox," has settled many questions for us, and no doubt will prove the panacea of many of our political evils. The most interesting day in Congress during the past week was Thursday. The bill restricting the appointing power of the President was under consideration. Senator Sumner, from his vantage ground of truth, Urged its passage, and let fly his Parthian arrows at the occupant of the White House. Besotted McDougal and recreant Doolittle immediately stepped forward as the cham pions pf the President. The former, who hal transgressed the proprieties of debate move times than all the rest of the Senate combined, raised the point of order, that the Senator from Massachusetts had no right to make use of such remarks about the Execu tive of the "United States. The Chair de cided that they were "within the general bounds of debate. Senator Sumner, continu ing his speech, repeated the remarks which bad been objected to: “There, sir, is the duty of the hour. There was no such duty on our fathers, there was no such duty on our recent predecessors in this chamber, be cause there was no President of the United States who had become the enemy of his country.” Doolittle then seized the weapon which the eccentric Californian was unable to wield, but it came back upon him like an Australian boomerang. Several points of order were raised in order to stop debate, andibv an hour the scene from the gallery Of the days when the crack of the 7 slave-driver’s whip was heard through those gilded halls. An adjournment closed the struggle. The next day Sumner, like Achilles after a night’s repose, renewed the contest, and came down upon his foes with all the force of Thor’s huge hammer. The freedom of debate never won a more signal triumph than when he uttered these words: “ For myself, I shall always insist upon the complete freedom of debate, and I shall ex ercise it. John Milton, in his glorious as pirations, said, ‘Give me the liberty to 1 know the truth, and toargue it freely, above all liberties.’ Thank God, now the slave ■ masters have been driven from this chamber, > such, at last, is the liberty of an American • citizen.” The bill, which is very restrictive in its character, then passed by a vote of twenty- nine to nine. MR. BARNES* LECTURES ON THE ELY FOUN- On last Monday evening, Rev. Albert Barnes commenced a course of lectures on the Evidences or Christianity, in the chapel of Mercer Street Church, New York. These lectures are delivered upon the Ely Foundation, ‘established at the same time with the Morse lectureship on Natural Science and Revealed Religion. The first course was delivered last winter, on the Morse Foundation, by the distinguished Prof. Guyot, of Princeton. The lectures by Mr. Barnes will be twelve in number, deliv ered at the rate of two a week, on Monday and Thursday evenings, until completed. We need not assure our readers that they will be of the highest value, being aimed at meeting the wants of the present, and com bining popular elements with the most thor ough scientific treatment of the important topic. The following are the subjects of the par ticular lectures in the course, the general theme being “ The Evidence of the Truth of Christianity pi the Nineteenth Century — I. The Limitations of the Human Mind on the Subject of Religion. 11. Historical Evidence as affected by Time. 111. Histori cal Evidence as affected by Science. IV. The Evidence of Christianity from its Pro pagation. V. Miracles: The Evidence in the Nineteenth Century that they were per formed in the First. VI- Prophecy, as that Evidence now exists. VII. The Inspiration of the Scriptures, with Reference to the Ob jections made to it at present. Will. lhe Personal Character of Christ and His Incar nation. IX. The Christian Religion as adapted to the Wants of Man, as illustrated in these eighteen hundred years. X. 1 b? Relation of Christianity to the Present Stage of the World’s Progress in Science, Civiliza tion and the arts. DATION.