gmeritatt Jterttjlftm THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1867. D®* Our readers wdL find, on the second page, a valuable letter from our travelling correspondent in the South, F. H , a letter from “ The Country Parsonage,” with other readable articles; on the third page, Reminiscences of Dr. Braxnerd, by one of the Editors of the “Lutheran Observer on the sixth page, the usual miscellany for the children and family; and on the seventh page, Book Notices, and a full line of literary Intelli gence from England and France. Summary. —The Third Church, Pine st., of this city has called Rev. Dr. Allen of Nashville, Tennessee, to the pnlpit made vacant by the death of Dr. Brainerd, Dr. Allen is one of the loyal men of the other branch, who was compelled to fly Northward at the outbreak of the war. It is believed he will accept the call. There is a very great dearth of ministers for the churches of our branch in East Tennessee, and fears are expressed that the Southern disloy al churches will gain serious advantage in that' region before the deficiency is remedied. A spontaneous movement of native Chinese 100 miles from Tientsin, resulting in forty or fifty conversions and embracing many more per sons in its widening influences is described by Rev. J. Doolittle in the Hong Kong China Mail of last November. The converts have a deep sense of sin and keep the Sabbath The English Methodist Mission has taken supervis ions of the remarkable movement. . Rev. S. G. Spees, D. D., according to the N. Y. Observer, has accepted a call to the Second Church (0. S.) of Dubuque. The Second Church of Dubuque is on the Rolls of our body. A great Revival is reported as in progress in Wabash College, Indiana. A correspondent *• A'. 0. N.” says that Rev. D. H. Emerson at St. George’s. Del., received a visit January 24 from his parishoners bringing money, clothing and provisions to the value of *325. The estimated expenses of the American Board for the current year are *518,000. The total receipts of September and December are §98,- 836.63. . Olivet Church, one of the younger churche3 of Chicago, has just called a pastor at §4OOO salary. —The First Church in Milwaukee gives Rev. Hiram Eddy §3ooo.—Dr. Scudder’s, How ard street Church, San Francisco was dedicated January 6.—A New Church in Virginia City was dedicated December 30. Church Erection and Borne Missions are in pressing need of Funds, at present. Rev. J. Garland Hamner had a friendly call from his people of Wharton Street Church, Jan. 31, accompanied with gifts in money, &c., amounting to §3OO. A series of meetings kept up in this church for some weeks, has developed a great and growing interest, with a number of hopeful conversions. Rev. A. J. Snyder is en gaged to laber for three months as a Home Mis sionary on this field. Williamsport, Pa.—Dedication of the New Chnreh. On Sabbath week, January SWth, the beautiful and costly edifice o,f the 2d Church, Williamsport, was dedicated to the service of God. One of the striking in cidents of the dedication was the removal, by subscription on the spot, of the little bal ance of Thirty-five thousand dollars, then due on the building. The entire property, worth 870,000, is thus clear of all incum brance, and this vigorous, intelligent, well trained congregation, with its sterling pastor, is amply prepared for a new career of use fulness, which it is hoped may even exceed the past. A great revival was enjoyed by the congregation last year, while worship ping in the Court House. Among the ele ments of its prosperity may be reckoned the extensive circulation of the American Pres byterian among the people. A full and interesting statement is under stood to bo in preparation, which we shall have the pleasure of laying before our read ers at an early day. Church Erection.—A large number of congregations (says Dr. Ellinwood) have failed to respond to the call for contributions to this object, and of the thirty to thirty-five thousand dollars needed, and applied for only nine thousand dollars have as yet been received. But, the committee have reason to feel encouraged, as (1) enough has been received to pay for the issue of circulars is sued, which is a gain upon last year. (2) Many congregations, especially in New York, have given very liberally. But compara tively few have given any thing, while the entire amount,and perhaps more is expended. The Central Church, in Rochester, though forced to give liberally for other purposes this year, raised 81000- A revival is, and well may be, expeeted there. The Central Church in Pittsburgh are raising 8200,000 for church erection at home. As their own house is lying waste, but one parishioner handed Mr.. Johnson 81000 for the fund, and a sharp look-out for more will be kept up. Good for “sooty Pittsburgh.” A Minister is to be sent to Washington ly Tarkey, and the man said to have received the appointment is a miserable renegade Italian Catho lic, who has turned Turk. THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1867. FROM OUR ROCHESTER CORRESPONDENT. MONTREAL. This is*beyond our beat; and yet, being provi dentially here, what can we do hut look around and write ? Our first is, How unlike our American cities. It has a foreign look. W e feel like strangers here; and possibly look a little strange, to those who see us gazing at every thing as though it were new. Many of the streets are narrow. There is also a want of such uniformity in the stores and dwellings, as is often seen in American cities. Here, too, the old and the new are blended. There are log houses and old French cabins, as we should call them, and splendid palaces, all within the city limits. But the old French buildings, which were generally low and homely in appearance, are rapidly giving place to more modern structures. One thing strikes a stranger pleasantly. The better buildings are all substantial. Stores, public edifices and private houses, look as though they, were built to last for ages. They are also well protected against the cold, with double doors, double windows and powerful heating arrange ments. This, surely, is needed when the ther mometer ranges between twenty and forty below zero. The people dress, also, according to the weather; men, women and children often wrapped in furs, like the polar bear himself. Bat shovelling snow is a business that must be well followed up here. The law requires that the snow and ice shall not be allowed to remain more than five inches thick on the side walks. That law is not always obeyed; and yet the snow is often so piled up in the streets, that persons pass ing on one side-walk cannot see those passing on the other. The snow thus makes some streets impassable for days and weeks together. It must be carted off before travel by teams can be re sumed. Montreal has 120,000 inhabitants, two thirds of whom are Roman Catholics. Their churches and monasteries are among the most conspicuous objects in the city, of which the church of the .1 esuits is the most elaborate and beautiful. The frescoing of this, we were told, cost about §20,- 000. The seats, however, were all plain, hard, uncomfortable. In one corner, at the right of the altar, is an arbor with a wax baby, represent ing the infant Saviour, in a manger. In no less than four of the churches which we visited, we saw similar arrangements; and the wax baby'in each one seemed to be the object of special at traction to many of the poor deluded worshippers. What better are they, we thought, than those who worship a similar image of Budh in China? But there are Protestant churches here, also; and there are strong bands of Christian workers, doing what they can to turn back the mighty current of evil. The American Church, of which Rey. J. B. Bonar is the able and excellent pas tor, is conspicuous among these agencies for good. Their new church edifice, modelled, in size and arrangements, after Dr. Cuyler’s, in Brooklyn, is one of the pleasantest places of worship we have seen any where. We were specially delighted with the pulpit. The desk in front of the speaker is low, only thirty-three inches from the pulpit fioor. We wish buildersand Church committees would make a memorandum of that measurement. That will answer for a man of medium height, and gives, him the whole floor to stand upon. It avoids the inconvenience of having a platform, or having a breast-work in front of him so high that he can hardly see his congregation. This is excessively awkward. For a taller man, the desk itself can be raised to any desired height. This is the true way to fix a pulpit, to accommodate all. PRESBYTERY OF UTICA. This body met in Utica on Tuesday, the 29th of January, at 11 A. M. Rev. S. W. Fisher, D.D., of the Westminster Church, was elected Moderator, and Bevs. M. E. Dunham and G. L. Hamilton, Clerks. A sermon was preached in the afternoon by Rev. S. W. Franklin, the pre vious Moderator, after which Presbytery gave at tendance to the administration of the Lord’s Supper. Revs. A. Erdman, of Clinton, and B. F. Wil loughby, of Augusta, together with Elders Daniel Nolton, of Holland Patent, and E. D. Porter, of OrLkany, were appointed Commissioners to the General Assembly; Revs. W. S. Franklin, of Camden, and C. W. Haw'ey, of AVaterville, to gether with Elders Daniel Waterman, of Utica, and Thos. Williams, of Vernon, alternates. Rev. Dr. Goertner was appointed Commissioner to Au r burn Seminary. Rev. J. B. Hubbard, who has been for sixteen years pastor of the church at Whitesboro, having received and accepted a call to the Presbyterian church ot Joliet, 111., presented his resignation and asked to be dismissed from his charge. After due consideration, the Presbytery granted his request. Several members expressed their high appreciation of Mr. Hubbard’s services and their regret to lose him from their body. Rev. J. W. Whitefield, who is laboring in Oneida county in behalf of temperance, by re quest exhibited to the Presbytery a set of dia grams prepared with great care, to show the effect of intoxicating liquors upon the coats of the stomach. They were thought to be an improve ment on the old plates of this sort. They were made by Mr. Whitefield himself, who has the hand ot an artist, and excited great interest in the Presbytery. A resolution was adopted warmly commending Mr. Whitefield, and handsomely en dorsing the pictures as a valuable auxiliary to his work. The Presbytery adjourned to meet at Boone ville on the 13th of March for the installation of Rev. J. R. Lewis, as pastor of the Presbyterian church in that place. The summer meeting is to be held in Waterville. PRESBYTERY OF CHEMUNG. The annual meeting was held at Watkins on the 29th and 30th days of January. All the past-ors and stated supplies were present, except one, and nearly every church was represented by an eldeT. The opening sermon was preached by Rev. D. S. Johnson, of Waverly, from the words: “The Kingdom of God is within yon;’’ after which an hour was spent very profitably in ten minnte talks on the topic, “ The work of the Church, and how to do it” Rev. B. Russell, of Tyrone, was elected Mode rator, and Rev. Isaac Clark, of Elmira, Clerk. Rev. B. Russell, and Elder Cyrus Sebring, both of Tyrone, were chosen Commissioners to the General Assembly. Elder Orlando Ward, of Watkins, and Revs. C. C. Carr, of Horse-Heads, and F. S. Howe, of Watkins, were appointed Commissioners to Auburn Seminary. A good part of the forenoon of Wednesday was spent in hearing most cheering reports upon the state of religion within the bounds of the Presbytery. It has been a year of the right hand of the Most High. The churches were never before so much enlarged and strengthened in any twelve months. Rev. D. S. Johnson has resigned the charge of the Presbyterian church at Waverly, and re quested the Presbytery to dissolve the pastoral relation, which they reluctantly did, greatly re gretting to lose so valuable a man from one of their churches. Mr. Johnson wishes a little time, as we understand, for relaxation and rest, and then to enter, some, other field. His labors at Waverly were highly appreciated and handsomely commended by the Presbytery. Rev. William Atwood presented the call ex tended to him by the Presbyterian Church and Society of Big Flats, and .is to be installed over his new charge on the 7th of February, to which time the Presbytery stands adjourned. The sum mer meeting is to be held at Rock Stream. This meeting was one of unusual interest, was largely attended by the people of the place, and left a pleasant impression on the minds of the people. Rochester, Feb. 2,18671 Genesee. OUR CHICAGO CORRESPONDENT. POPULAR EXCITEMENTS. The popular excitements of the first month of the year have been neither few nor small, in the social circles of Chicago. First, came a divorce suit which involved persons high in society, and accordingly occasioned wide-spread remark, as the evidence, most of it unfit for any eye or ear, was daily spread before the public. Next came the drawing of the “ Opera House Art Association,” and next Ristori. The minor causes of excite ment need not be mentioned. It is hardly worth while to speak of carnivals on skating-parks and in Rinks, or of masquerade parties in private houses. These are as rush-lights compared with calcium splendors. The divorce suit has proved how eagerly all classes of people will drink in scandal; the success of the Opera House lottery, how readily people may be cajoled into foolish expenditures; and Ristori, s?hat a power there is in great acting to bring even good people into the theatre. Scarcely any one pretends that all the fine gilding spread over the Opera House affair entirely disguisedits real character; yet, hundreds of church members and moralists throughout the land have given a new impulse to the mania for gambling by purchasing its certificates. Yerily there does appear to be some inconsistency, not to say absurdity, in the objections made to Hon. John Morrissey’s character as a Congressman be cause he “ fights a tiger,” while those who object, risk their money in enterprises of a similar na ture, though bearing a milder name. It is said that some of our clergymen went to see Ristori, one of them affirming that duty to his people as a public speaker required that he should study her tragic acts. If the argument be good, it k difficult to see why the theatre should not be pat ronized by those who think they are benefited thereby, whatever may be the influence of its in decent exhibitions upon others. The prevalence of these excitements and their moral effect has been injurious to the spiritual interests of the community. The daily union prayer-meetings begun with the first week of the year have been continued with good results. The hopes of those who had been praying for revivals in our churches have not been fully realized. There is still an unusual degree of interest in some of them, and several report quite a number of hopeful conversions; but the prospect of a wide-spread revival has be come perceptibly dim. Several of our pastors have recently taken occasion to speak in strong terms of condemnation of the patronage of lotteries and theatres, under whatever guise. Rev. Mr. Larrimore, of the Seventh Presbyterian Church, preached a sermon last Sunday evening upon lottery-gambling, which was printed in full in one of the Monday morning papers, probably as an offset to the articles in favor of the Opera House scheme which had previously appeared in the same journal. CHICAGO NEWSPAPERS. These are curious affairs; in one column a re port of a prayer-meeting, dwelling in glowing terms upon the interest manifested and rehears ing the solemn words uttered; in another column giving all the details of a cock-fight;—in one col umn exposing immorality; in another publishing innuendos of thelowestsort; —in one place printing a sermon; in another an advertisement inviting acts of nameless shame. Possibly the newspapers of other cities are equally reprehensible. It is difficult to find journals superior to ours in enter prise and ability. The moral standard of some of them might certainly be elevated. One of the ablest of them publishes a Sunday edition which is devoted to gossip and scandal and flings at re- ligion; which, with sardonic grin, claims to be the poor man’s substitute for the sanctuary, and calls itself the great conservator of morals, some what as a man might style himself a health-agent while importing clothing left by the dead in yellow-fever hospitals, and distributing it among the people. It is well that the influence of such a press partially neutralizes itself, but no disin fectants will destroy all the virus of its wicked- NEWS FROM THE CHURCHES. lUinois. —The Olivet Church, Chicago, is to be dedicated on Thursday of this week, and the Seventh Church on Sunday. The Olivet Church has called to its pastorate Rev. Mr. Millend, of New Jersey. The conditions are an experimen tal term of six months, and a salary of $4OOO per annum. The church at Rock Island is supplied by Rev. W. W. Wetmore, of Desmoines, lowa. There is quite a revival at Lake .Forest. Rev. Solomon Cook, recently of the Presbytery of Western Reserve, has taken charge of the church at Salem, Marion Co. Dr. Patterson’s church — the Second—in this city, still show their good will, as by a recent gift of $lOOO sent by one or more in the congregation to his. estimable wife. Dr. Robert Patterson, who has recently connected himself-with the O. S. Presbytery of Chicago, gave as his reasons for leaving the Reformed Pres byterian Church, that he could no longer consis tently confine himself in psalmody to Rouse’s version—that he disbelieved in close communion, and in the narrow construction given by that Church to its doctrinal symbols. He has started a hopeful enterprise in the western division of the city (not southern. , as your types reported) under Old School auspices. He is a strong man. Many of the members of his former church go with him. Wisconsin. —Rev. Hiram Eddy, formerly of Winsted, Gt., and chaplain of wonderful experi ence at the hands of the enemy during our recent war, has been elected pastor of the First Presby terian Church in Milwaukee. A good choice. Salary, $3OOO. It is understood he will accept. The O. S. Synod of Wisconsin have held a Sy nodical Convention in Madison, for prayer and conference respecting the religious wants of its field. Rev. Mr. Potter and Rev. Mr. Avery, evangelists, are laboring in Wisconsin with con siderable success. Minnesota.. —Rev. Lyman Marshall, late of Harrisville, N. H., has accepted a call from the Presbyterian church in St. Peter. lowa. —Rev. Dr. Spees has been called to the pulpit of the Second Presbyterian Church in Du buque. He is laboring there with much success. His acceptance is conditioned upon his ability, on trial, to bear the climate. The Presbyterian church in Clinton have called Rev. J. B. Morse, of Moravia, N. Y. He has accepted. This is the church which one of the O. S. papers re--' cently declared to have deserted us. It will re main in its N. S. connection. The majority of its members have no desire to change. The Con gregational church in Clinton have called Rev. Mr. White, of Morrison, 111., and he has just en tered upon his labors with his new charge. Rev. O. D. W. White, former pastor of the Presbyte rian church in Clinton, has accepted an appoint ment as Professor of Natural Sciences in the Soldier’s College, Fulton, 111. Wabash. Chicago, Jan. 30, 1867. |lete »f fra ®|rarijt». New York. —The Eleventh Church received twenty-five at its communion on the 28th, the largest accession since Dr. Kittridge commenced his pastorate. The evening meetings in Allen Street Church are unabated in interest, and from fifty to seventy, or more, have been converted. There is more than ordinary religious inter est, and conversions are occurring in several other of our New York churches, and in the Third Avenue mission. Home Missions —ln answer to a correspon dent of the Evangelist , the Secretary of the Home Mission Board says:— “ No missionary aided by us whose papers are found correct and whose report is in, has been kept out of his pay from our treasury more than three months. “This is bad enough; of course, some of the missionaries have experienced great inconvenience in waiting so long.” To a proposal to borrow the funds needed, in the Church’s name, he says' “ We cannot borrow a dime from any bank in this city on 1 the Church’s ’ endorsement! We can only borrow on the individual responsibility of our members. They have carried $15,000 of the debt for months past. They are not willin'* to assume any more.” ° Pittsburgh, Pa. —For some time there has been a growing religious feeling in the 3d Church of this city. Last Sabbath week eleven were added on profession of faith—several of these were young men. The meetings were continued last week with encouraging indications. —Pres Ban ner. Ministerial.— Rev. W. H. Megie, formerly of Junius, N. Y., is now laboring in the church of West Fayette, Seneca county, N. Y. —Rev J. A. Carnahan, of Dayton, Ind., recently broke two ribs by falling over a chair sideways, but is as comfortable as might bo expected under the circumstances. Revs. T. S. Milligan and S. Ward are laboring in the towns around Vandalia Ind., to attentive congregations, and hope soon to organize two new churches imthat region. Brooklyn, L. I. —The Rev. Dr. T. L. Cuyler and familv. at the invitation of one of his trusty members 'drove off from his residence a few ev e . nin"S since, with the near prospect of attending a concert. The carriage drove slowly and withal so deviously as to attract attention, and the stern apostle of temperance inside was fain to suspect that his driver was not an abstainer from all that intoxicates. However, the driver meekly received the most explicit instructions, and promising to do better, the party inside comforted themselves for a time. But just when patience was getting exbausted, the man of the whip saved himself a second admonition by hauling up to the curbstone and stopping —just where he had started from! The officers of the church had taken this method with their pastor in order to give time to replace furniture and carpets, which had seen some ser vice, with entirely new. The movement was sug gested and wholly carried out by the few officers of the church, at an expense of about SI (Hi. Refreshments were served from the same source, and the occasion was averypleasant one. — Evan gelist. Kirkmik, Ind.—A powerful revival is in progress in the churches of both branches in this place, beginning in the week of prayer. Twenty ohe have been received on examination, and many more are inquiring. Sunny Side. —The pastor of Rob Roy anl Newton (Ind.) churches has received about $226 in donations from his joint charge. The pastor of Troy (Ks.) church got $5O by a New Year's l: raid.” Wabash College. —The prayers of nnny in. and connected with, this institution have been answered in an outpouring of the Spirit’s influ ences. During the fall term, unusual seriousness prevailed, and culminated in the week of prayer in daily prayer-meetings, which still continue. Rev. Dr. Little, on invitation, conducted the meetings. The young.men organized committees, and carried the Gospel distinctly to every one. Prayer-meetings were held every day, the Profes sors assigning shorter lessons. The interest in a few days became deeper, and at last overwhelm ing. On Friday night the Literary Societies Unanimously adjourned to attend meeting, ami after the regular services in the church, held three prayer-meetings in College, and not less than a hundred youDg men were present. Prayer, praise, confession, tears, distress, joy, were min gled in these meetings. Some old feuds were healed, the antagonists rushing into each other's arms, with tears, confessing their wrong, and ask ing forgiveness. Infidelity, suddenly brought to light where it was not suspected, was as suddenly torn up by the irresistible influences of the occa sion. One young skeptic exclaimed:—“ You need not tell me this is of man, for I know it is of God.” The whole building ib a Bethel, made dreadful by the felt presence of God. A large number already are rejoicing in hope, and the work still progresses.— Herald. ■ Superior, Wis.— Rev. W. R. Higgins, who preaches to a union congregation of eight deno minations, had fifty-two donation visits during the last year from his motley bat affectionate peo ple. They recently carpeted the entire parson age. Portsmouth, O.—The church in this place resumed the use of their enlarged church edifice on the 20th. Over thirty pews, a pastor’s study, and a Sunday-school room have been added, and the whole has been painted within and without, and the audience room frescoed by an “ artist from Philadelphia;” while the pulpit furniture, communion table and carpeting have been re newed, at a cost of §lO,OOO, of which the last §4OOO was raised in fifteen minutes. Missouri Churches.— A church of eleven members has been organized at Cuba, where Rev. S. B. Shaw preaches one-third of his time. The church in Weston had an accession of 21 during 1866; 8 by certificate; and has a Sab bath school which outnumbers five others in the place. The church in Palmyra have purchased a lot and are raising money to build a church edi fiee - A new church was organized at De Soto, December 16th, with a membership of nine, and a convenient place of worship. Rev. J. D. Jen kins labors here and elsewhere along the Iron Mountain Railroad. R e y. 8. G. Clark is laboring on the Missouri border, among the ruins left by bushwhackers, and has organized a church of ten members in Holden, Jackson county. The people of the place subscribed SHOO and a lot towards a church; and the members have raised §4OO and need at least §5OO more.' The nearest church edifice is 14 miles off and the people are impoverished by the war R ev . T S Reeve has taken charge of the church in Savannah Revs. J. A Darrahand Wilson have organized a new church in She’by county, nine miles south of Newark, with a membership of eleven : The church in Newark is building a parsonage; the pastor doing the carpentry. Clinton, lowA.-The church i„ this place has been in trying circumstances, but is not to ro overto branch as recently announced in the North Western Presbyterian. It needs an able pastor, and anticipates a bright future. Chr,st A ’ The ChurCh did not let Christmas pass without bestowing upon atd 1 o Pa hiS W!fe and appropriate proofs of their esteem An elegant silver water-pitcher, and goblets, and a beautiful silver butter-dish, together with various other valuable and acceptable gifts, were the fitly chosen tokens of their regard.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers