<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supports are withdrawn from Rome, fresh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.