3intritint E'rr,slnjtaiait.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1867
ilkir Westminster Abbey, Parliament and Bil
lingsgate Market, by our European Correspondent;
Mr. Rammonds last letter from Palestine, 'and
Kid-gloved Reform, page 2d; Rural Economy
and Scientific, page . 3d; Family 'Circle, page
tth; and the first installment of Prof. Smith's
Report to the Evangelical Alliance on America,
page 7th.
The offer of the American Ayriculturist
of " 3 months. for 0,". published in our advertis
ing columps, last Week.was intended for subscri
bers received in September; they now :offer to
rend "2 months for 0" to those who sutscribe
during October.
THE APPROACHING CONVENTION. OF PRES
ciiplAEs iixII I ET Noy. 6:11867.—;
Past Ors of the Various ChiirChcs in 'this city are
earnewly requested to send names of iiiends in
their respective congregations willing to enter
tain on6orl4iare:delegares; tifi the. COMmittee - on
Entertainment, .blo: 912 -ilarketn,street, 2d floor,
at the earliest moment.
KENDERTON Cauuen, on Monday, Oct. 14-,
unanimously elected Rev. Samuel W. Duffield
pastor. They offer him a salary' of $l2OO with
out any missionary aid, although formerly with
such aid they -gave but $6OO. Mr. Duffield
having accepted the call, is the first pastor since
the organization of the church. Under its pre
sent degree of prosperity and its encouraging
prospects for the, future, w,o cannot doubt that
the relation will be mutually profitable. The
building is neat; commodious, and clear of debt,
and the surroudning community look with favor
upon the enterprise.
PRESBYTERIAN NATIONAL UNION CONYEN-
This Convention to be composed of Min
isters and Elders from the various Presby
teries and kindred bodies, will meet in ac
co-rdance with the circular already issued on
Wednesday, the 6th day' of November next, at
11 o'clock, A. M., in the city of Philadel
phia, in the Ist ßeformed Presbyterian church
(Rev. .Dr: Wylie's,) Broad between Spruce
and Pine streets.
A General Union Prayer Meeting will be
held in the same church on Tuesday eve
ning preceding the Convention at 71 o'clock:
The churches of the Presbyterian order
throughout the country are irkirktedrlo hold
prayer-meetings on the day of the meeting
of the Convention or during its sessions to
invoke the blessing of God upon its deliber
ations. Pastors are also requested to re
member the Convention in prayer on Sab
bath, November 3d.
Delegates will please send their names at
once to George H. Stuart, chairman of the
Committee .of Arrange Tents, No. 13 Bank
street. _
Entertainment will be cheerfully provided
for those who may desire it, and such per
sons will please send their names to William
Getty, chairman of the Committee on En
tertainment, No. 912 Market street, so as to
reach him on Or before the 4th November.
The Committee on Entertainment will be in
session in the Lecture-room of the -church
2
on Tuesday, from 2 P.M. until after the
prayer-meeting, and again at 9 o'clock on
Wednesday morning, ready to assign dele
gates to their places of abode.
Rail Roads, whose terminus is in Philadel
phia, will Convey properly certified dele
gates on the following terms:
Pennsylvania R. R. and Philadelphia &
Erie R. R. will return free those who have
paid full_fare.
North Pennsylvania R. R. will issue ex
cursion tickets from their various ticket of
flees at half fare, good from the 4th to the
14th of November.
Philadelphia: & Reading R. R. will issue
excursion tickets at.single fare from s2' up-.
ward; less than $2, two-thirds of double
fare.
Camden & Amboy R. IL, covering all the,
lines between Philadelphia and New York,
will issue excursion tickets for the round
trip at $4, provided the Committee can take
fifty. Those who wish to avail themselves
of this should write immediately to Geo. H.
Stuart, Philadelphia, and if the requisite
number are applied for tickets can be mailed
to the applicants.
Rail Roads in other parts of the:country
will, on proper application, extend similar
facilities, which, in some of the leading cities,
our friends may announce in their local- re
ligious papers
GEO: H. MTUART
Chairman. - Committee of
• W. T. EvA, - :Arrangements:
Secreta'ry;
PHILADELPHIA,.OetvIS,..IB67. , -
Stir Several communications are =avoidably
deferred.
WM. GETTY, Chairman
•-• ,
THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1867.
SYNOD Or PENNSYLVANIA.
The annual meeting of this Synod was held in
the city of Williamsport, commencing on Tues
day evening, the 15th instant. The attendance
was very good, especially so in view of the fact
that Williamsport- is at the remotest point north
ward of the Synod. It is worthy of notice that,
with the exception of the Presbytery covering
that ground, the lardest proportional ` representa
tion was from that-of the District of Columbia,
lying at the opposite extreme.
The retiring Moderator, Rev. Wm. E. Moore,
preached the opening sermon from John ir. 34.
" My meat is to do the will of him that sent me,
and to finish his work." The discourse was in
the proper etymological sense of the word, edi
fying. Id:framing beyond the ppular interpreta
tion of the passage, the preacher regarded the
divine author of the text, asdeolaring that his
spiritual (human) nature was . built up under the
strengtheniog and maturing influence of an active
and suffering Obedience, just as the physical 'Syfif
tem is,invia•orated atikperfected by the nourish
ment of food: This. breught out the theine of
the diaconise : :A:?.difeaot - diaty-thVine'iias of
Christian growth: anal rierfeetitin. For a closing
felieitnus reter6riee was Made
own church—la the stagnation in the days of
the past when our e4ergtes were expendedin in
ternal strife and hunting of =heresies, as contras
ted with the g-owth an the wholesomenesspf
condition= of the-later years, while, at =peace with
one another, we have thrown ourselves with fresh;,
ened seal,into the service of extension, and send
ing the gospel to the wastes in our own country,
and the dark places in fthe ends of the.earth.
Rec. William Tracy, of the Presbytery of
Harrisburg, who, •after an absence of thirty
years as a missionary of the American Board in
India, is now on a visit to this country, was elec
ted Moderator, and Rev. Messrs. Charles D.
Shaw and Stephen W. Dana, Temporary Clerks.
On Wednesday Rev. Messrs, Robinson, and
Moore, the committee to attend the examination
in Union The 'logical .Seminary; reported that
they had fulfilled their appointment, and in com
mon with eonamittees fionAthii Synods they
cordially expressed their 'SAW:action as to the
manner in whicfla the students snitainedtheir ex
amination, and commend the Seminary to the con-
Hence and supportof the churches, and toyoung
men intending to study for the ministry. The com
ratttee concluded its report with a proposal that
Synod should express its wish that the Seminary
should be placed under the care of the General
Assembly, at keit so far as the election of Pro
fessors is concerned. The first part of report
was approved. But_the suggestion 'of the-com
mittee was laid over for future consideration.
Rev. Byron Sunderland, D.D , and Rev. Frank
L. Robbins were appointed to attend the next
examination.
FOREIGN. MISSIONS.
Rev. John McLeod, from 'the Synodical com
mittee on Foreign Missions reported the arnonht
of contributions from the churches individually
during the , year. Presbyterialiy aggregated the
amounts are as follows.
Presbytery of District of Columbia, pal 00
tc Wilmington, 740 00
Philadelphia, 3rd, 5250 00
" Philadelphia, 4th, 4743 00
4C Harrisburg, 2262 00
Synodical Total, '413,806
. 00
__
The, trgshyt* t
ery
" Ha.:r,rislipirt , was the only
one in 'Which. eontributiouai , were reported from
every chuich, but the pleasant fact was revealed
that thioughout the. Synod the exceptional cases
of non-reporting churches were few, much fewer
than in past years. In the Presbytery of the
District the average of contributions from each
member were 46 cents; in Wilmington, 40; in
Philadelphia, 3rd, 1.13; in Philadelphia, 4th,
71; in Harrisburg, 1.66. It was, however, only
too apparent that, in coming down .to individual
members, the number who give absolutely no
thing, is very large; and to this sad fact the at
tention of pastors and session's was earnestly di
rected. Reference was made to our Lord'a two
great commands—the first, " Do this in remem
brance of_me," and the next, "Go into all the
world and preach the gospel to every creature."
Our membership, with scarcely an exception,
obserie the first: why not 'the equally explicit
one. wh ?
Rev. Robert Adair, from the Synodical Com
mittee on Church Erection, reported that no
cases bad . arisen requiring . the action of the Sy
nod. •
The committee on the Minutes of the General
Assembly reported for the consideration,. of the
Synod, the Assembly's reeominendations in rela
tion to special seasons of prayer. It was there
upon resolved, that it be recommended to the
congregations, to observe the week commencing
with the first-Sabbath in January as a season of
special prayer and religious services; and also
that the laSt Thursday in February be set apart
for the concert for prayer, for the effusion of the
Holy S - pirit upon colleges and other seminaries of
learning.
PUBLICATION. .`
-The Standing Coininittee on-Pnblication re
ported agratifying-increase of the means and
efficiency - of this enterpriiie,—that of sales hav
iitg frtirq 13,7-00 1858, to more than
$50,000 in 1867. The establishment of local
'depositories secured-byrraising.:9lnall funds in the
locality, was recommended as a means Of getting
the publications of 4e Cominittee where they
can be seen and knovn by the people. Notice
was taken of the need of tracts and books re
flecting the doctrines ind ecclesiasticism of our
church, for gratuitoul distribution by missiona
ries. RPgret was expOssed that the liberality of
our churches and people, for promoting such gra-
tuitous distribution w
standing as follows :
District of Columb 1
tiug churches. Amo
mingtou, 3 out of 17 c i
Philadelphia . 3rd, 11
churChes, $665 ; Phi 1
contributing clinrche - I
9 contributing chine
The "(von closed
the Presbyterian Hon
not Aline for revenue,,
ing, the people face to
enterpri.ses,..and to sh
opportunities for usef
The. committee on 't e`ANTAICATITItESBY±E
RIAN reported, the fo owing resolutions which,
after earnest support f .m anumber of .memhers,t
was unanimously ado ed : ' • '
,
Resolved, That t i : ; Synod recognizes the
AMERICAN PRESBYT al - Al4- as an indispensable
aid in forwarding the'. etiorninational and spirit
ual interests of the r-: on which it occupies.
Resolved. ; That the :oundoess of its, general ec
clesiastical and doetr . al tone, its peculiar fideli
ty to: our denominat .nal interests, its favor to
ward the wider in • gists of Christianity 'which,
are the common care , f the church esthetic, its,
manly tr terances for zight, and holiness in all
those departments of action. wbere immorality
and wrong seek to esitablizli Iliteniselyeg, and its
seknOwledged, powerin forming a wholesome
rifpublic sentiment, inc ase our sense of the im
portance of sustainig it upon' a scale of liber
ality, which shall non Ii its vigor and enlarge its
usefulness. '
Resohmi, That th:
now be the care of 'S
To this end it is urge
trolls be at once incre
additiond subscribers
tions, and larger nu,
circumstances of case•
,
Rea4ved, That we 1
t i
to this end, by the g
an important improv,
list of the paper duri
J
Resolved, That Syn
Sessions as the °Mole
the work "here propO
the Seasions of. vaean
the upholding influen
ligious paper is never
ritual support, than
established pastoral
• ......
Resolved That Re .
G. F. Wiswell,
W. T. Eva, Rev. M..
S. Earle, B. Brenda .
Samuel C. Perkins:
conmnittee, to prosen*it, ninieasures which may
be, agreed upon by the proprietor and themselves
for securing the objects contemplated by these
resolutions.
HOME MISSIONS.
The Standing Committee on Home Missions
reported that the Thi and Fourth Presby
tery were cultivating thet fields with the usual
amount of diligence and success. The Presby
tery of Harrisburg has opened two or three new
mission stations, and hopes KO to organize one
or more churches. "WiltningOn. has resuscitated
three supposed extinct churches on the Peninsu
la, and is eugaged • in eiploring . that ground for
new fields. The District Presbytery has revived
action in some collapsed churches in Maryland.
No statistics respecting the , contributions' were
given, the committee referring Synod to the last
published report col the Aisembly's Permanent
Committee for information.
MINISTERIAL RELIES.
The- Standing Committee on the Ministerial
Relief-Fund reported that the contributions of
•
the year have been as follows
District Columbia, 3 hontributing churches, 3
cents per member, whole amount $57 ; .Wilming
ton, 3 contributing churches, 5 cents per mem
ber, whole amount, $9B; Philadelphia 3rd; 15
contributing eharches,Us cents per member,
whole amount $719 Philadelphia 4th, 15
,con
tributing churches, 14 *nt.'s per member, whole
amount $941; Harrisburg ; 5 contributing church'es,
43 cents per member; whole amount $589. Sy
nodical Total,. $2404.
The increase of contributions over those of
the last year was fifty ' per cent. The applications
for aid from the field ariarge have increased in
the same or a greater ratio,.and a still larger in
crease is expected. It was 'recommended, that
the Presbyteries continue in existence• efficient
committees to attend - tulthe interests of this en
terprise, that theyendeavor to secure the co op
eration of every church, that Pastors and Sessions
give to Ministerial Relief a - place - Xor periodical
and systematic contributions, and that the-cause
be remembered in' the prayers of the churches.
EripCATION
The Standing• Committee on Education stated
that only an imperfect account of contributiptis
had been secured. The-following were reported:
District Columbia, 7 contributing churches,
.amount $6O ; Wilmington, 8 contributing churches,
'amount $147, Philadelphia 3rd, 15 contributing
.
churches, amount $559 ;. Philadelphia 4th, 11
contributing churches, amount $1052; Harris
burg, 8 contriliding,::churchei," amount $782.
T 04142600. ,
, Twenty-five candidates .for the ministry are
-under the care'of the Presbyteries connected
so limited, the account
, 2 Out of 9 are contribu
at contributed, $6O; Wil
tributing church.es, $l9O ;
out. of 24 contributing
deiphia 4th, 9 out of 30
' 6 . 4:3; Harrisburg, 8 out
$1,518.
th -a recommendation of
. /y to increased patronage,
ut as a means of bring
ace with our noble church
w to them what immense
new , are before us.
tis 'mess
iiiiist'be done and it shall
nod to see that it is done.
1, that the number of pa
.to a minimum of six
in each' of our congrega- .
'hers in proportion` to the
re encouraged in an effort
.tifying announcement of
Merit in the subscription
the past year.
d , looks to it,3 Pastors and;
t agency for carrying out`
.d, and it especially urges
.churchesto consider that
e of a safe and earnest re
•,) ore essential to their spi
' bile they are without an
tchfulness,
. J. G Irland Hamner, Rev.
Rev. H., A. 410th, .Itev.
Jones, and Mesas.. Jas.
Samuel T. Bodine and
,p + appointed a Synodical,
with the Synod. Appropriate mention was
made of the great loss sustained in the death of
the originator of this enterprise as a distinct de
nominational one, and its efficient executive offi
cer to the last, Rev. Thornton A. Mills, D.D.
NARRATIVE
The concise report of the Committee on the
Narrative of the State of Religion, we insert in
'fall; as follows :
The Narratives of the Presbyteries all contain
evidences of material prosperity, and of spiritual
growth. Many of the church edifices have been
renovated and enlarged. Several new ones have
been built and some are now in progress. The
congregations are in. most instances large and at
tentive. Sabbath:schools are prosperous, good
order and harmony prevail. The vatious opera
tions connected with the extension of the Gospel
in our own and other , lands, ale sustained with
an increasing though yet greatly' in - Sufficient lib.'
erality.
But amidst all, thess,efidelice!tpf God's good ;
nees, there is ameurnfui,and surprising absence
of these mighty. Opeiations of the .Holy Spirit
which we need, and which God is ready to give.
The impenitent have not been converted in
numbers, the professed disCrPles of Christ have
not manifested faith, love and devotedness of life
on a scale commensurate either to the high stand
ard of the New Testament, the want's . of the
or the intense activities of, the age in
which we live. Instead of consuming time of
the Synod, with a protracted narrative your com
mittee would hold up to the view of all the evi
dent fat-•t that 'the great want of our churches
and the world is the fulfilment of the Saviour's
promise at the beginning of the Gospel : --,-Ye
shall receive the power. of , the Holy Ghost . coming
upon you, and yeihall - 4e .witnesses for me, unto
the, uttermost parts of the . earth.
DECEASED. ,MINISTERS.
In relation to deceased members the following
minute was adopted,:
The Synod regards ab, an appreipriate matter
for record the providence of God In:The removal
by death, durinir the'SynodiCat year, of two of
honored members, Rev:' George Foot, of the
Presbytery -of Wilmington, and Rev. Jaines
W. Davis, of the Presbytery of Harritburg:
Mr: Foot's membership in c this body las. been of'
long standing haa occupied theliositionlof its
presiding officer, quid' has been an active and able .
lifirtieipant in its deliberations.- Asa paistor- he
WAS active and faithful, persevering in his work
until disabled by those physical informitieswhieh'
terminated in his death. He was a solid -.theo
logian and a watchful= defender of the truth as
it is in Jesus. Mr. Davis was for several years
devoted to the spiritual welfare of our•soldiers,
though for many previous years he had been a
faithful pastor. He had reaohed a good old age,
and wss obliged to struggle with great infirmities
and trials. These he bore with peculiar fortitude
and a most unselfish devotion to his Master.
Both of these brethren died in heavenly peace
,and' under the supports of the faith which 'they
.so fang preached. While - ex,i'dming this reme,
'brance of the departed, we woxild accept the ad
monitions which these constantly recurring prov
idences afford. As said our Master of himself
in his humanity, so would we say, to ourselves,
"I must- work the worsa of him that sent me
while it is day : the night cometh when no man
can work."
Dr. Mears offered the following, which was
unanimously adopted :
Resolved, That the act 'of the last Legislature
of Pennsylvania, knuwn 'as the Sunday Liquor
Law, is, in the judgment of Synod, a most wise and
wholesome enactment, the Euithful enforcement
of which, especially in our large cities, will
prove a great defence against vice, a guarantee
for a well-kept Sabbath, and a promoter of habits
of Temperance among the people; "and Synod
regards it the bounden duty of the members of
its churches within the bounds of the State of
Pennsylvania, to give their E - ord ia I support to the
maintenance and enforcement of the law; and
that copies of this resolution be forwarded to
the Gimie nor Mid the beads of both branches of
the Legislature of this State." ,
•
The devotional exercises, formed a pe uliarly
pleaAant character of the meeting. Ai:cording
to a standing rule, the first and last half half
hours. of each morning session were given to
these services. They were uniformly solemn,
and at times the deep tenderness common to sea
son of spiritual revival, was visible in all parts
of the house.
This was especially the case on Thursday
morning when the feeling drifted into anxiety
and prayer for the conversion of the children of
the ministers of the Synod. In this connection
"the Moderator, who many years ago began the
experience of .that bitter neceisity of missionary
life, `the parting with his children that, in a
Christian land they may be out of sight of the
pollutions of heathen life, and be educated in
Christian schools, gave a touching view of the
heart of the missionary while making these most
painful parental sacrifices, and of the heart of
the children left behind, who, though nouristed
and loved by the friends around them, send back
to their parents the cry, " I want to feel a pa
rent's love; I want to say to somebody, Father!'
Mother P I want somebody to say to me,' My
son !'" In his tender manner, and at times broken
in his discourse by his. own tears, he related
cases of grief, such as that of the widowed mis
'sionary mother who, standing on the shore while
the vessel started off, bearing away to America
all her children while she remained alone in her
work, clasped her hands in anguish and raising
them to heaven, cried, " omy Jesus ! I make
this sacrifice for thee He appealed to the an
.dience to remember such, and . the appeal was
answered by' tears; in some case. ,by audible
weeping.
We do not recollect ever to have witnessed in
a meeting of the Synod, so large an attendance
of the people of the place on the hours assigned
to devotion. The Synodical prayer-meeting wa s
held on Wednesday afternoon, and the. Sacra
mental Supper, on the evening of the same day.
At the latter, the honored Moderator presided,
and the elements were administered by Rev.
Messrs. Adair and Dunning. The house was
full. A good numbbr from the Old School
Church accepted the cordial invitation to all
Evangelical Christians to participate in this fel
lowship, visible as well as real.
On Thursday evening, addresses were delv
ered in behalf of onr denominational enterprises.
Dr. Paul" (ituling Elder,) adVocated the cause of
Foreign Missions, ap9aking from 4 heart long in
sympathy, practical as well as emotional, with
our• Foreign Missionaries and -their work. Mr.
Adair spoke' for gime 111ksions, Secretary Ellin-
wood for. ChurehErection, Mr. Aikman for Ed
ucation, Mr. Brown for Ministerial Relief, and
Dr. Wiswell on a broad scale.for the evangeliza
tion' of our fast populating regions by any and
every means. All' spoke With power, and left
solemn impresSions—God grant
. that they may
not have the vice of transitoriness. Dr. Ellin
wood made a feeling allusion, afterwards affect
ingly'revived by Mr: Aikman, to the great loss
sustained by the Church in 'the death of Rev.
Thornton A. Mills, D.D.,—a strong, persistent,
moulding spirit, which had pease' on to, the land
of the holy.
After the usual complimentary ieSolntions, of
f red by Dr. Match, and followe'd in his happiest
vein with a parting address te the people of Wil
liamsport, who with so. nn.affected Christian hos
pitality, had given to the members a delightful
temporary home, and a feeling and beautiful re
sponse from the pastor Mr. Sterling, Synod ad
journed to meet in Reading on the third Tues
day in October, 1868, at 7i o!elock, P. M.
A. notice of this -meeting -ought not to be
closed without paying a tribute to the excellent
manner 'in Which the Moderator presided over
.
its Sessions. It was felt from the first, that, un
der.
the peculiar circumstances .of his long con
nection , with us, and his'being our only remain
ing representative in the Foreign Missionary
Work . , it 'was fit th!at at 'this, his first presence
with us for some thirty years, and perhaps his
last meeting.with us' upon earth, he should sit at
the lead , of the-assembly. But the Synod was
not prepared to find in a brother so long disused
to our forms and rules of 'Presbyterial proceed
ings,, so accomplished a presiding, officer as he
proved himself to be; We; have rarely seen the
chair filled by one Who better 'understood its du
ties, or fulfilled them with more grace or quiet
promptness. These qualities; united to an earn
est Christian tone will secure for his moderatorship
a pleasant remembrance.
FROM OUR ROCHESTER 'CORRESPONDENT
SYNOD OF UTICA
The annual meeting of thisbody was held in Clin
ton, commencing on Tuesday , evening, October
Bth, with an excellent sermon by Rev. A. H.
Corliss. Rev. J. Jermain Porter, D.D., was
elected Moderator, and Revs. Edward Lord and
B. F. Willoughby, Clerks.' On Wednesday al'•
tern-son the Communion sermon was preached by
Rev. John Reid. utter the celebration of the
Lord's Supper, Rev. A. McLean, of Band°, ap
peared as a delegate from the Synod of Buffalo,
(0. ) and presented, in a warm, earnest speech.
the fraternal salutations of that: be iy ; to which.
the Moderator made a very handsome reply.
Both earnestly favored re-union.
On Wednesday evening, by appointment
Dr. Fisher preached a most able and eloquent
discourse, on the signs of the times, and our du
ty as a Church 'to occupy the entire land with
the Gospel. Bio. Stowe had already placed his
big Map in the rear of the pulpit, to wh oh the
speaker frequently alluded, and that too was
pleading most eloquently all the time for the mule
object.
After singing, Rev. M. P. Parmelee, a returned
Missionary from Turkey, was heard for halt' an
hour on the interest of Missions in that dark
land. Although the evening was far spent, and
the congregation had already had a surfeit of
good things, they manifested no unseemly impa
tience to retire, but heard the missionary to the
close, evidently much interested in what he had
to say.
On Thursday forenoon Rev. Mr. Stowe was
heard for Home Missions, Rev. J. W. Dulles for
Publication, and Rev. J. B. Richardson for the
Bible Society. In the afternoon Rev. Dr. Fisher
was appointed delegate to the Synod of Buffalo,
(0. S.) for next year; Rev. W. B. Stewart was
heard for the Am. and For. Christian Union; and
there was some discussion on re union, some pre
senting the difficulties and others looking wore
favorably upon the project. The matter was left
to the Presbyteries.
On. Thursday evening, a popular meeting was
:held in behalf of Home Missions, Church Erec
tion and Education; with able and very interest
ing addresses by Dr. Porter, President Brom,
Dr. Ellinwood, Prof. Upson, and Rev. A. 31.
Stowe.
And so ended the,„ meeting of the Synod of
Utica. 'lt was well.sittended by: its members;
had much businestiLto do, and gave heed to it;
; staid until the business was through, holding oa
uhti Thursday evening, and then adjourned. We