, c ommend their example to some others. Much may be done at such meetings to forward the in wrests of Christ's kingdom, if the members will prep trod to stay through, and attend t) busi -11393 while they stay. Routine matters may be li3patehed rapidly, and then much time may be w 3 ll split in discussing the great questions of interest now up, in regard both to Home and Foreign Missions. CONTINENTAL SABB4TEr A week ago last Sunday, we had in our quiet c ity, a slight illustration. of, the way in which they keep holy time in. France/ Italy, Spain and p a pal countries. It was trot,exaCtly a bull fight ; but. it was a great noise; , and attracted curious eyes even from the Sunday-schools, then in ses sion, to the streets to see what was going on. All were more or less disturbed by loud strains of m artial music. The explanation was a procession of Roman Catholics parading the streets, headeti by - a band, on their way to the depot. After, passing through various parts of the town,-making noise enough for any week day but the 4th of July, they took a special train of cars to a rieighbdring assist in laying the cornerstone of a'new Roniish church. The quiet of that peiceful village was even more disturbed than our own city. Three or four thousand persons were gatherod there, with the Tune strains of martial music, and many, doubt less, almost questioned the testimony of their own senses when they looked upon that strange parade on God's holy day. Such a thing could hardly have occurred in this part of . the country' twenty years ago. We doubt if the moat unscru pulous Romanist would, lia,vviared at that time so far to outrage public sentiment, and public decency. Surely it is time to take souudings and s ee whither we are drifting. A great Republic without a Sabbath will find its days soon num bered. COL. STAUNTON'S DEATH We made mention last July,of a scientifictx pedition to South America, of which Col Phineas Staunton, of Leßoy was one. And now the news comes back, that Mr. Staunton died at Qui to, on the sth of September, of dysentery. He was s eh before reaching that city, and survived but a few days after getting there. He was up and about, however, the day before he died, and expected soon to be well again; so suddenly were his own expectations and those of his friends-cut off. This is a heavy blow to Leßoy, and to Inghain University with which he has been long identi fied. Mr. Stanton was in every sense a iThristian gentleman, an elder in the Presbyterian Church, Vice Chancellor of the University, and an ar tist of acknowledged ability and high attainment. During the war he also gave himself to the service of his country ; was Lieut. Colonel of one of the New York Regiments, and cheerfully encountered all the hardships incident to that kind of life. As the best friend, dearest associate and counsel lor of Mrs. Staunton, at the head of that large Female Seminary, he will be peculiarly missed ; and all the more because Miss Marietta Ingham, the other original founder of the school is no longer with her. After a life of eminent service in the course of female education she died last summer. DR. DAGGETT DISMISSED At an ecclesiastical council, which met in Ca nandaigna on Wednesday last for the purpose, Rev. Dr. Daggett was d.smissed from his pastor al clutra, preparatory to leaving for. New Haven Ct. To-morrow he is to preach his farewell ser mon, and next week to take his departure from the beautiful' village with whose best interests he had been identified so long. Rev. Oliver Elsworth Daggett, son of the fa slow Judge Daggett of New Haven, honorably born and honorably named, was settled in Canan daigua, in January 184 b. , His ministry in . that place extends, over a period of almost twenty-two years. And now he goes back to the place of his birth and of his education, a respected and an honored man, to minister to one of the most pe culiar, most important, and most difficult congre gations to be found on this. Continent. May he meet with perfect success in his new.field of - la bor, is the united prayer and earnest desire of all Western New Yoik. - • A CALL. Rev. E. R. Davis of Avon Springs has re ceived anti accepted an invitation to Chilicotho, Illinois, and goes . at once to his new field of labor. GENES E. Rochester, Oct. 19th, 1867. A State Christian Convention of pastors and laymen, is called to meet at Peoria, on the 29th inst., for prayer and a free exchange of views upon the various questions of practical Christian effort. The following topics are suggested for consideration: I.—How can we best read' and influence those who habitually neglect public worship ? —Hew shall the whole church be interested and engaged in ef f orts tor those who neglect the ti'spel ? 111 .—What can the laity of our churches do for Christ 7 IV.—liuw can the unity of Christ's followers be better manifested to the world ? V.—Llow can the Gospel be carried to 'neigh borhooda remote from 'the churches? can our devotional meetings be made more interesting and profitable to the un converted 7 THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1861. The growing frequency of conventions of this kind indicates a general and happy awaking of Christians to the spiritual needs of the multi tudes living in negligence of religion, as well as to their own responsibilities as laborers, by virtue of their profession, in the vineyard of .Christ. FROM OUR CHICAGO CORRESPONDENT. DEAR AMERICAN : The Synod of Peoria convened in annual session on the evening of the 15th inst., at the Eighth Church in this city, and was opened by a sermon from the retiring moderator, Rev. Wm. S. Curtis, President of Knox College. The familiar theme—Christ cru cified, was unfolded in a discourse rich in thought and impressive in the delivery, and often rising to true eloquence. Next morning a good num ;bet' of ministers and delegates from the chuiches 'respended.to, the .callino• 0-the roll. .I. shall at tempt, to give you no more than a general outline of the - 'course of business. Rev. E. A. Pierce, of the. Calvary Church, Chicago, was . chOsen Moderator, and Rev: S. Kickoff, of Knoxville, Scribe. Rei„Mr. Dunn, of New York, Secretary of the National Temper ance Union, being present, was heard in exposi tion of the aims and mathods of that organiza tion. In closing he urged upon the menibere of Synod the duty of the 'church,. to enter ear neatly and unitedly into the work of arresting the evil of intemperance, desiring them to take such action in the matter as should be deemed best. A special committee appointed a year ago to devise a plan by which to render meetings of Synod more interesting and useful, reported the follohing, whieh was accepted and adopted : There shall be a prayer-meeting of one hour, in length, each morning, before opening the meeting. . . . The occasional sermon to be given in the evening of the second day, and to be the'theme of free - conversation after its deli very. The general meeting for popular ad dresses on the, benevolent enterprisies of the churah,to be held the third day. If possible, the Lord's Sapper to be celebrated at each annual meeting. Rev. Mr. Wheeler, missionary from Turkey, was heard with great interest, on the missionary work in that country. In contrast to the gene ral conception of a fOreign missionary and his work, he presented a vivid picture of the reality. In the evening of Wednesday, a public meet ing was attended at the Second Church, where addresses from Dr. Kendall, of New York, and several others, were listened to on the subjects of Home Missions, Church Erection,, and Educa tion. A large and intelligent audie,nOe greeted the speakers, and a highly favorable impression is believed to have been made in respect to these great kindred causes. • ' - The repots froth the churches were generally highly favorable, ;showing a. decided advance during the past year in pecuniary contributions, and, in some instances, a very prosperous spirit ual condition. As a whole, our denominational interests are steadily advancing, and our hotue missionary churches fast approximating .a condi tion of independence of pecuniary aid. A meet ing of elders far consultation, conference and prayer was decided Upon as a regular adjunct of the annual meetings of Synod. The Committee on Bills and Overtures . re ported : • • "That a paper has been put in our hands per taining, to the'sUbject of a denominational news paper, ()Vertu:l46g the Synod to iniugurate mea sures for the establishing of such a paper. Your committee are not 'prepared recommend to this Synod to take the - steps contemplated in this overture, yet wou'd recommend. the Synod to consider the expediency of such a move, with a view to its ultimate a,ccomplislimeirt." 'Report accepted arid adopted. A most excellent sermon on "Intercessory Prayer," from Rev C. A. Williams, of-Rockford, and the celebration Of the Lord's Saipper, filled up delightfully the evening of ThirisdaY. Nearly the whole of Friday was occupied with a tangled case of appeal from the Presbytery of Bloomington. Pia. J.1 1 ;T : Bailey; . of Bla:-Irburn Seminary, was heard concerning that institution, showing it to be in •a prosperous condition, and capable of being made of great efficiency to the interests of =the denomination.. It l.ossesses an available endowment of about $`200,000,. and is the property of the Synod of Illinois.. NARRATIVE Rev.' E: ll'Avery,.Chairman of the Committee on the Narrative, submitted the following, which was accepted and adopted: • ' • • In briefly reviewing the history of the pa-t year, we would first call attention to the mAterial prepa-. ration which has .been made for carrying on the work of the Lord. From all ,arts of the field em braced within the bounds of thii Synod, there come .reports of building for God. Some of our churches have been laid under the necessity of providing am ple accommodation for growing audiences. In some cases this has been done by the enlargement of ex isting houses of worship. In other cases the neces sity has been met by the erection of new edifices. Two of our churches—the First, of Freeport, and the Eighth, of Chicago--have shown their faith and zeal by rearing exceedingly commodious and elegant structures to-the honor and for the service of Jeho vah. - While we rejoice in these tokens of prosperity, we would still regard them as. nothing in them selves, but only as means to the great end of preach ing the Gospel for the salvation of souls. , • The great work of publishing the Gospethaa not ; been neglected. With few exceptions, the Churehes 'connected with us have hesu supplied during - the year with the stated ministration of the wordand Christian ordimilices. not oulritaxe: regular 'and. topnat (laden -.been discharge 4 brie in; many 'places vigorous efforts have been made to reach outlying and destitute neighborhoods with the means of grace. In this way seed has been sown, some or which we may hope will spring up and bear fruit to God's eternal glory. The interests of the young are receiving increased attention. This is manifest not only in the. ear nestness with which pastors and private Christians are laboring in the Sabbath School's belonging to the several churches, but also in the reports that come up of mission schools established or carried on with new zeal. These things indicate both that good is being done, and that our churches are pre paring themselves by actual Christian work for en,. larged usefulness in the years to come. • Our benevolent contributions, though not fully up to the Gospel standard, are nevertheless so& as to afford cheering evidence of a growing spirit of li berality. It is particularly gratifying to observe the almost universal expression of a purpose, to re member in the way of contribution all those causes which are recommended, by the General 4spetubly. We recognize in this purpose both a devotion to the work of the Divine Master and a loyalty to our own .branch of the Church, which must be' productive, of much C•ood.' • . But is: a 'special- privilege to. narrate -that 'God: has not left us to labor in our own strength or-by: otir , own Wisdom: He has- been' cnntioatly-mani festing Himself as the Lord of thelviiieyfird and. Shepherd ofTthe sheep. On. every .p01..0f. onr,field there haVe . been gentle distillations of `'Heavenly grace, while some places have rejoiced in the great rain of God's saving power., • On the whole we have every reason to be thank ful in View. Of the bleisings received,quid to be ear nest and-hopeful as, we, look forward, .However. great the work before.us, however violent, the oppo sition we , must encounter, yet in. th i f nanie of our God we may set up our, banners, an On God's pro mised aid we may rely with_ fill' assUraned . presson In- our glorious mission of winning' and saving jinn - Orb:id Soult: " • ' • • Synod adjourned at a late hotir Friday evening, after an unusually long slid good ses sion. The tone of feeling at tlis devotional meetings was . earnest and -elevated, and gave pro mise of a 'eat. of spiritual prosperity to emite. Adjournsd to meet next` year at sandwich CHICAGO, Oct. 19; 1867. NORTH-PEST. PRESBYTERIAN. The Other Branch . . The Vote on ite-union.=The ~P resb yt erian of last Week counts eleven Pres by teries as yoking for re-union on the basis of the Joint COMmittee, and thirty-nine against it. To this list there should 'be added one Presbytery.voting in the negative, one in the affirms= tive, and two—Miami and Coluntkansvirliicii.may be classed as rather favoring the planhut seeking some modifications. Miami wishes the phrase "as uhder stood by both bodies omitted from the article on doctrine, while ColuinbUs'respectfiilli suggeits to their Committee • of fifteen, that they endeavOr to secure, if possible, a more Clear and definite st,ite men t of the doctrinal basis. The Presbyterian recanns the Presbytery: of Cincinnati (to. which Dr. Monfort of the Presbyter belongs), as. in .the affirmative, al though they also ask for mOdificatiOnsof the Joint Committee's plan. Theirlaii,guage is in part as fol lows :—The re-union shall be effected on the doc trinal and ecclesiastical basia of our common stand. ards : the Confession of Faith shall continue to be sincerely_ received and adopted as containing the System of doctrine taught . in the Hold* Scriptures ;' and its fair historical sense, as exhibiting what's known as the Reformed or Calvinistic system Shall\be. regard d as the sense in which it is received on d adopted ; and, the GOvernment and. Discipline of the Presby terittn?.Church in . the United Slates sh I contifine to be approvedas,co citainimtb.e..witt • aEµ = of u itY; They also salt the - to t .onim fuse to amend the eleventh item of their report by strik ing out the words "within one year." If re-union is desirable and practicable, it should be accomplished. even though more than one year-be required ibr its consummation: The ,Preabiticiirin. remarks upon the vote as: fol lows:—While it.appears from the list we publish from week to week, that the - majority of Presbyte ries which have as yet reported, express opinions opposed to re-union on the proposed Basis, it must be - gratifying to observe that no objection is urged, against the desirableness of re-union, nor is there ex pression of any feeling of unfriendliness - towards our New School brethren ; but the contrary. It May; perhaps, be replied that suspicion is implied in this action,,thitt the brethren of the 'other branch are of questioned orthodoxy, and that such a suspi cion iS injurious. It is not so desia t' nedly. It will not„ be disputed, that difference of doctrinal state ment has existed, and this, in time past, has ,pro duced alienation and separation, and the simple with is to ascertain whether it now so,exists as, to prove a bar tore-anion It Would be most inauspi cious if under the influence of frfrndly,impulies, a precipitate step should be taken, which would 'be• productive of thture biekerings. Where so many interests are involved, the better plan would be to hasten slowly: The wise and , thoughtful on both hides ,will agree in this. Let there .be frank and honest interchange of opinion, that it may bel seen whether we can meet in a loving brotheihood, and live under the Same roof in peace. • More reCently we learn 'that the Synod, of more,". laid on the table,. by a 'vote of 4b to 20, a re -solution declaring that the Synod of Baltimore ex press its earnest desire that the - two branches of the 'Presbyterian -Church ; may he united in- a ,cordial and harmonion union. This, is the body which, last year,•arnid many fraternal dethonStrations,.cele brated a joint communion service witli"the Synod'of- Pennsylvanin, at • kdorre'spondeut of the New York Observer -and also of the Presbyterian writes in regard to the deci sion of the Synod of S , . Paul against re-union. He says, that the substance of, the paper adopted " is— after reciting the greatadvantages and desirableness of unimi—that whereas to many of the Members or Synod the doctrinal basis . proposed by the Joint Cdininitteeaeeths to be open to a double and doubt ful construction, we respectfully ask the Committee to have it stated more explicitly, so as to avoid mis 'understandingand strife in the future in the United ;church. And whereas the-terms co n cern ing the The ological Seminaries and Boards of PutdicAtion do, not seem to many to be quite just to the OldSchool' branch, we respectfully ask that they be changed, and made fair and equal." The Synod of Albany resolved, "That we desire a I:nlN:in .- of' the twoCren eral Assembliei, on the basis of our common stand ards of doctrine and discipline." . • . , Churches.—F om the Presbyterianwe gather -that the First 'U. P. Church of. Hobart, I.)lavvar,e .Co., New York,:was taken under the care . of the Second Presbytery of New York, at the late meeting of that Presbytery.—A new church is also reported as'ot , ganized in Missouri, one in Illinois, and onp at Gies- bore} N. J.. - Io• Louisville the