Fitc.:..• . ::::,q.i,J..c4,•.•:..,. : ‘ . ...-,.74q4 - #l . rip - - . MissMarlitandeling 6ang67 \ v Series, i.ot IV, .No. 56. 83 00 By Mail. ffi3 50 By Carrier. 50cts Additional after three Kota& 3111 i rifa IT Irtintitio; THURSDAY, IJECEMBER'I2; 1861. TIIE PROVINCE OF ElliWllolo,l* RELIGION.. , „ The well-known pernicious ictiVity"O . fin in false forma of` rWgipn; aS'ivelf t h, c i yijaent melancholy instances.ofthe, ervec,iaii of this faculty in otiher,depatt-. rots thought, have disposed , Christians , vncnilly to regard it with StisiidiO , n'Etisoinei hest t secular if iuit"aottitill vta b.-. . • , , ; anit t ,, the in ward life of the C hristian.. I , l ,,. : i na tirin is the power .whink,enahrei ea lir represent to ou mattes thingadifferent; , the manner in witioh they 4icutiny. themselves to our series di' axnle~ It can make yiv r ittlTprepent; to, nn inward sense, that which is absent .from ~„r n lit want sense, and it ;can recombinetbe i ..iii , nts of reit' t3XiS tenons so tisittf &r ,, id inft- , . ~,,i indirely different oxiStenoes. Ual - of 1 , . iii . 1 .,..d, hints it can construct marysla of , v ,:it, )11; where knowledge , pf f l agts,, is utter ;• w,0 , ;114, it, can aid ,u.s.to _goncei4re what Hi .',t have been ; wherc l faits ,are mrt ~v,i :Lll 1 where sciencp, faintly PPAnlii i it . 1! . ivo,-, imagination sometinistr ibir fcOr'itird ) I 1, , )In.ore the , *al to tilsaiithdat and „:„1111) , t. or the facts of seleioe . ..'- Imafina ; , ,n can du inostitnabie seriiice b l ie4l:oniti- - .. 4 iii concrete form, in parable, fable, elle .:.ry, simile, the troth witicb otherwitis d I le a more cold, uninflnential abstrao. Phu evil and misuse of imaginatikyn is, !wing lig utterly away from the:real,, ;ions of more fancy without any :re-, the truths of actual life in time and' or in using. only) this'clasa •or , • a manner which inflames` the o,ions of men. Many works of fie , ludl poetry, many iilays are afford entertainment ior to feeds p:osion, or to startle and- gille —ll , ations by engaging the irnagin- Thu great objection to b ‘ hil ,7 I ruling or to Attencliiit f lAk,„ipArk arield ropresentations is that the-taind nu s almurbtql in unreality t unmop,r,o4, 1•:Let; not to say debased and de.martil .. I I,y Ow kind of images with which it' is !owtitoi. PLC tI 1O tip.o of imaginttiop is to iniiikE!, more vivid, more,, con4Prellonsible) - , rt• iittraotive; to relieve •rSallYajf of 'dal': and commonplace, and above. all, to 'aid fli..eive of something higher, better'. : , :1•1 , 1 . Ulan objects of mere sense ancinn "':imling. Neither,sound morals nor true CAR dispense witp the imagination. 1.1 . ti n ,, holiness, a perfect_ character-- '' aro Lhey wither tharange of iny mere !':.l , tion or personal • knowledge-? •We murk) conceive what the 'Gbd-Man upon earth, without the -aid of which enlarges, exalts and, 're our personal knowledge, than a iniin could conceive of the rainbow mere knowledge of mathematical . ;'irc , . And no book professing - to- teach -ur;tl, mid religion, makes, more gain:dant * , •O the imagination in order togive-vivid lltc than the 14141 e. And the' why the Christian system, •and the. et' Christ , are And sis4;ays ai~illw be : L, is just because they . exeraise the' of the reader : . in conveying-to dik,d ide as. The parables of Christure among the finest specimens tion, but ,they. are fatuous, divine adaptedness , to enforce and abstract truth by putting it into cop "' • Truth, in aliment Fiords, shall fail , When truth, embodied in .& tale, shit, cuter in at lowly doors." 'tie:is the exercise 'of imagination is , generically .and ,tetally : distinct i nliiration. And we icainely darn a power of inittginaticin watfneces=% t'i qualify any one to receive inspire- It would seem indnea' that only a iniaginatiOn;c:96lif 44tertain visions of tiaigh;:tontiiel . `, I. Bat there is .. ;tici -- doub 7 t4hat: Mee "t S anctified imagination is needed to red men to represent t6tbeM: vl.ilythe grand faCts -of revelation • qii!civ e the being and attribUtes orGOd; hay. „ 4; v i v i d sense of the reality of eter- ; to entertain suitable .tfiatiglitillir M3ll, an.t the judg'rnet#i to !ctn . Ole length and hreadth, thelltk , u'i.;';it of that love that . , The matters of Chthstian meditation were men, *lailike Baxter , att4...7l,eeseey, soared, away on ibewill'gs of l sadred faney, using ;.be most glorious and. iatfastin g . , earthly. images as stepping stones to - reach adequate eon deotinns: of t,tie beauties ihdg,lfiries of divine th i l9Si A 94, o,,i, l l4)fft , tivi.l . fd- . AA4lo:iy. r . vri,*t aim -....x, gilatfit; .PrP.4ol;ar/4,,i441(1413-9:0P,; Whitefiehl,-Jenathan , Edwarrlsilmore,lndebt, edfoti' tti' tiofh and and litiwierfffit InipresSicins• itlist ina e,:tliaa.tn then' . 'vise ' tie' 91 . inlitg , if n,t,,,,, ,, , ;,What- , .,r , , , , , ,,, ;fOnathan y Ecissirds', fattyrfaiVseialliMe LEKlrEllola c"§,jon,?, l : l l ill...ake` handbLvEarr tingey - 'God "-..'be, what were chalmerio4thirOnotrileat diseterseay without' a frose, bo.l,4l,,thOlgti-eirefitUnife'of-tliti bower iiiiiici o fialtiiiiil ' ) Wl4s%ivere nine-tenths of our.beetPhrist - lan . lyrics: 49 , e,k of Ages, Jeshs,LoVetoE ray Soul,.:Tbere is afoantais, withoht I pidaaltriaginatioaiin-tha iniAd of tlie*ritl3r? • ' r 'y' tioo, iniagination furnish material ibt ile•;rotion • 'it el4ate's'oiir every=' dar worliNand it li4s..nairo — rn, ti;eregion of common titaod. While thropgh:the senses.We' only,se&*hiPiminediate detail& lof our-work, imaginatWaide us 'to ate 'it. with! h 1 I the therifdrk done for the kitsfisr'"bbri4n poor worit':borrows„light , from each pf; tbe thousand Other deed& and dervicesithat Are being di3thziefor the settle eatee. It no Wager exists by .11 1 , 1 14 a mixt* loch'{` tindertak-` ing; but itittecoines part of a g e tt wliol,e ; it moves .00 ward with the, great stream, human progress:it beconies part of the,Etis t,ory' of, Reldemption every; sinner we - gradiee Lost, in every Chris tiaju,.jOurickexi cgs ; , haaveu ward, 8 progress, Vbee 'imagination, prox es arl. oient ally in the •aetive.duties, as wolLas t heconteMprolOi .life -of ;sligiqh l ., , b us at- onee`fo Arasp the in idea, and to realize I'aith indeed is the stance of %httigs, hbp.ed for and ,the evidence . of things not seen ;, but; sound imagination: takes the' hhit& of faith ant translates..thein into' clothes thein,ivith'the.:fo,l•Ms pkr.#l44 4 faft 044441 , Y, P 4 P9 - P l 9/9 4 .04. 4 1 m to the..ttudeistanding.and the will, and-gives-', thenva recognizeil .placnnf influence in: lit efature and the Pipe Art's:" THE RE-UNION CURRENT. We last week published ,a full account Of the discussion in the largest : Presay t tery of the+ Refortied Rresbyteilan Charch,,oni the recent 'float:hi - tit' the',Philadelphia Conven tiOn, Witich was, called by the . vote of that Church. The action of . o;4:large; and - re speetable Presbytery of,Pittsburgh was to, cordially and unanimously endorsetheßasis, adopted' by_ the Convention. This action is a refreshing proof of the progress of' Chris-'' Man liberality in one of tbe , lßsal,mSin . giiir„ and close-cOmmunion bodies. It is evidence, of A response in that ,body, to the truly no ble spirit exhibited in the eloquent address of pr. Wylie, who.represented the . Reformed Presbyteria;:t CherCh in the ~ ConVentiOii's, Committee on the Basis. We relpfe - el'o find that that able champion of better views is thus being sustained by his brethren. It is ,moreover exceedingly. appropriate that the Church *lxibh called the Convention:should ,be among the 'first to endorse its work: We have 'nothesitated to express our gra tification, at the spirit shown bylbe Convert': t,ion, and aCthe ,progress made in ,the direc tion*of an organic union. We have much. ! more confidence that a good t quadrangu/ar :Union can be forined, than one *sitiriply be tween the Old and New Sehodbi. ',Never theless, the greater movement has facilita ted theiless. Our Old School brethren are not only:beginning to i'epent of their' suspi cions of our Orthodoxy, but are learning' to appreciate our grand principle of the TOLE NANCE Or lINEssENTIAL 11114 . F.Eumprors 48 coal patible with orthodoxy. The Presbytery , of: Alleghany , (0. S.) at its last meeting, put itself fairly and squarely - on the ground al mays occupied by this paper, the 11 4e... 4:Ata52‘ riean Presbyterian principle. It says We desire no other basis of +reunion than our Common Standards.- They were good enough for our fathers: they are good enough' for us. In uniting on this basis we: parrendei no doctrine which p +our fathers pnld, Said no principle' of our holy religion irciald;••moreover, have it' fully-under stood that soine+ allowance shall 'be made for different modes of explanation, different phi slosophical theories, &c.' WA's it seems simply.absurd Ito ,insist Itrikir a basis of union aiPot 4 binding _ohliga;-. , piimv ta ttbe 'United Church; which ) if +Fen7 For c ed upon either branch of the Church4e 'parittely; would - xendit• to Tragiinents. • •(' I ..P.111,T4..A,P.,ELV111.4 .:TITIMS-Di4Y:;,PECEMIIIE.RI2,O6.7 We are ready for uniOri on, such terms. to.porrow., it ibis's° .worthy of, notiee that the tiro posect . iegotiationi for 'union ..between. the Church 'Stiutb ithdj'tlie'Cliinberland'Presbyl terians Have come to netinnti. . Were It not for the .e?EtraprdiAary,,tifeepol,„exiStitig. be ,tween,impenitent rebels; weAptio,ald ,prised that theie ever was , - believed , to• be say tirobabilitSrc Bath It itninfe irbe On ea's' berland Presbyterians are nqt Calvinists; -and do not claim to be. ".TheentiaiS . :the Westminster;CoefessieukuiV4Vm part r otcevery basis of Pres'byteriaralteLtenicin: ; cIIIJRCH IIIirROYEMENTS: iToREADINGO The edifice Ortiie .Pitit'Clinithrtleaatng, , v • J 11,1 P. WaS - re-00n,e4,,m4 - per a protracticlosnig ,for, inipovements, §abba c tiC t - 4 was ' an . Occasion of greitt,intetest. •The splendid ' andieneochhmb'sktergtiffilik in )every part to the Lid 0(4to o , of the, people. The entire 'Walls and ceiling and'all the wooe Work havei.bee i n repaintedk Nike pews have been vet Upholstered, new.dtirp.ets put•down °yet everr part of , the<4l.odr, the-pulpit had. b'ebn re nodelled and the - re.cei4ine ‘ W t lyfres-' toed:, But' tke mariced' irnpref enients are the ,Imemori,alA3tained: glads windows, furnished by individUar-liberality.- Of these Were are eight; each one of whi4h - bears two • . oi•-'mare emblems consecrated by Christian art,' as the pup, the font, the Myeitic triangle, theAgnus Dei, the,deseending dove, the sym bols of the fonr , •evangelists &c. These em blems are mostly upon' the upper' half of the WindoWs aboVe the gagerY; while bplow, the. initials of the person O be com memorated., appear in , ornainenial -, text Among these are names Tamil* ; , to the whole Church, as Darling, st;korfk and Bell - Other nanleS'equally esteenied in that part' of the ,country aro golcilsht, Reese and Milholland, All but. 4ne . of,whiph, aroor haveil;den elders of the Church. .Thia.hold, • ink up s 'Of merndrinits of the delimited , to the • • , `.l • tlight; c)f b ; e.tiven and beautifymag em,. wit h , •—•-• +the sunshine,. is far _preferable to - mural ta - blets and funeral urns, over the dark vaults and shrines of , the mouldering dead. • The opening services were atteiided by a large conoburse. The well-trained with adinirable voices, contributed much ,the interest of the occasion. The sermon 'in the morning was preached by Rev. Thom- IL-.Rebins - on Of-Harrisburg - on Habakkuk 3 : "0 Lbrd-, revive thy Work lin the Midst ofithe,years; inthe - midst of the years make known; 4h , wrath terneMber mercy"—a die course Vigorous• in thought, compact in ar gument, and pungent in appeal. 'ln the ievening, a discoursa'was 'preached by Rev. iDr. , Mears of Philadelphia, on John 10 : -11, "I am 'the . Good Shepherd." .The audience was igaiu and the First Church pre sented a hopeful and animated appeardace. :Something over six thousand - 'dollars , have been expended on theie iniprovementS,`the :greater part of which - ha's been secured. Reading is One 'of OWL-moat flourishing in ;land cities, numbering perhaps thirty eve :thousand souls. Its. manufactures, especial-. ily of iron, are.nn a edit - scale. The material - 1i- - 'on Which 'this paper is printed comes from Reading. Besides .a large business with Philadelphia, Pottsville, and the - coal regions, five trains each 'w -ay, pass to . and froin New York add the gieit West. - There are indeed many peculiar difficulties to Contend with, ;yet .we,caunOt6 douht that a, Nide door. is opened to..the First. Church, if it will only have courage to enter_in. _ HAWOVER. ST. C IRMO*, Wthibin.oon, Dd.—The congregation of Hanover Church (Rev. William' Alkmaa's) Wilmington, have been recently refit ting the-interior of their church, lecture and: in fent school-rooms. The ceiling of the church , has been refrescoed in an admirable manner, and'' very beautiful; the eptire floor 'll,s been re-'ear pcted, the seats rkewly and, completely upholstered, and an elegant chandelier hung from the centre of the -ceiling, so that the :andience-room, allays spacious and iinposing, presents a peculiarly hand some and attractive appearance. We are glad to know that this, one of our most .venerable ,een gregations, now nearly a hundred , years oldi was never larger or more proaperons than at the pre sent time. ,The Mission Chapel connected with•the church is enjoying, a season of refreshing. Mr. Snyder, who ,has been engaged the , church to labor there, has been holding special religions services,, for, several weeks, which have. . resulted,in the awakening and;;hopeful conversion of a7goodly mb, and .give hope that „Wore longpro7 wnu isin erg church will be organlsed on the 0.9,40: MEMO • A , • • CHIC MO CORRESPONDENCE. DEAR A MEAJOAN,:—The, spirit •of the _re cent greitri convention of-Presbyterians in , 'yokti'goedly tip)) . has spread , .far and wide, and is,bringln o: forth _fruits everywhere. A largpugathering representing six branches .of.the Presbyterian family,,and.twenty-five clitirchesofour city, aesembled on Wednes. .day' eveniVelist in the S6c6nd chttrehtb ratify Jinc , though in. form, edo t ings.„-,of,•the above.parned,,cOnvention, Rev. .D „, Willis Lord, .D., - .of -the North Western The-, °logical Seminary, {O. Sj.presiditig; ) The Rev. Pipet& 'explained'Ahat they were as-' senibred in pursuanee.iif a resOlution 'adopt ed by the, mini 01 1 9, f the,,digererit church-, es- r e t some weeks ago. in grateful recog-' , nition:of 'God's goodness to the Presbyte rian i ClArdhrittid Ofithe - prospect Ota, fitml union, between. the.different;diVisiona.of that' denomination, and the hope of doing something to • promote thatunion. The ~ o peningg devotional. exercises . were folloWed bY 'the reading of the reeidutions adopted at' the meeting of ministers above alluded to, which ,were As follows . Misuses, The National ;Union Convention, com-, posed of'representative men from various branches of, the Presbxterian 'Church of the UniteaStates, recently. hi seSsion in rhiladerphia, after a free full and prayerful discussion of the questions on which the various branches have differed; or have been sup posed to differ,has indicated that organic unimi be- , tween the different branches of-the Presbyterian family is not only'.desirable, but practicable; ; and, W HEREAS, Said convention, with a unanimity, as urateful as it is Surprisino• aareed upon a basis of union; therefore, Resolved, That we "recognize in said convention the guiding hand of "Him who gathered the dispersed of Israel into one,” and especially do we recognize His kind .Providence and guiding spiritin the Chris tian harmony and hrotherly love ;which character . - ized the convention during its sessions, and in the unanimity with Which'its conchisions 'were reached; Resolved, That We hail tbe concluSions of sa ' i'd convention" as an i . ndication that the day is near at hand when the different branch `es of the PresbYterian. family, - 89 long and, so unhaPiiilyliseparated, forgetful of minor differ ences, and agreeing in the great leading doctrines lof the gospel; sliall - b - efoulid•n;nrking together in vis ible union in,the cause,of our-common Lord, and showing an lindivided'frOnno the common enemy. Risolved, Thatvive approfA of the statement of dobtriba adoptecLbY the convention recently assein bled inPliiltidelphia, and Would 60146:11y accept it as a basis of union'so far as the doctrine and , polity are involved. „r • ; After ufe,wbrief remarks, expressive of his " ardent And intense desire" fora union , among those' so,uearly one in doctrine and polity, Doctor. Lerd called for remarks :from . Ruy. PR. ROEERT PATTERSON (0. S.;) • who dwelt at some length upon the remark able te.ndencies to union, in both Church and. State, se' largely characteristic of this age, and illustrated in recent'movementa in Eng • land, Gerrnany, Italy, and'the:United States.. Re, hailed thia meeting as a happy omen of the aPproachine realization of the 'prayer of the Saviour for the unity of his people. , REV. 1111 D.P (N, 5.,) believed that God had intended the exist ence of denomihational, differences and that good , :had resulted from them.. As indica tive- of a'tenacious holding to ,what they . believed , to .be-:God's revealed truth, ,they were honorable to: those: who 'uphold them. But , it "'was` possible to insist, too long and too strongly upon .differences notiessential, ,or fundamental. This tide of popular sen timent indicated , of-God in this ;matter.,' and that' tide' .was mow setting istrongly toward .uniOnt. ; He adverted Ito-the.platform adopted by the Philadelphia .Convention,r and believed its,provisions were such :as. we Could all; ac cept and adopt. . ' REV. Ma. Mut:ikon]) (U. ' A few years ago s,neli a meeting, he said, could ,not have been held. lie Was'gratified at the change of feeling which had made it possible. He, hoped to see the day when 't4e whole Presbyterian church should be one' organic body. Obiectietis would be raised, but they would be obviated. The Lord was conducting the train which would, yet carry, therAall into the.great, :Onion p Lord, , , now he see ; that day,he 'sho,tild say: now lettest hou thy servant`depart in peace. I L ION:171NOOIN CLARK, (0..8 ),, spoke 'Mk the laity. They were deeply in- . Wrested in the present tnoveinent and de sired its success:- -He did not believe there were any such" diliterences between the dif feeent bodies' as Otiklit to keep' them apart. 'All held the saMegreat doctrines; thOugh not"all in precisely' the same way. Allow-. 'anceEl must be Made for'different tarns 'or witein Old Seboolmtin;itrldptc!num ed beheld these minor doctrines as Old School Men do; but was 'not sure „'and did• not much care. - Union has strength,disunion weak • ness''' Let,the , Presbyterian family unite and' it' would, be a-great'power all over the world.' - ' - - • -• • REV. B. F. BURNS, MR, b mails Ch'itre , and Cdnadian. .hearers the se,ote all ated,'br_ nif which' charmedadvoe 4, an'addi-eas .1 0 00 , 6 e - ,i Re Bof *,very, • its tovid,a alt "'" • by6atipireee • rgaritie.ua Gre - nese e - Evangelist No. 1125. 1-• Ministers SS:SO H. Miss. $2,00. Address :-1334 Chestnut: Street. name. Although a young man, he - had lived long enough to witness some remarkable unions in. Scotland,, in Australia, in the Bri tish Provincee, and in the United' States, and' when - these bodies had 'come together: the only regret was that they hadiemained • so long apart. in view of theee things why o . 3ukknot - this, proposed union , be , effected? A:lthThigh not agreeing in every particular they hekl in'..eommon the theology and p01i. 7 kir of tie Bible and of the primitiv_e Church., A motion having been Made ihat this meeting Adopt the resolutions read at the opening of the meeting, Elliott An thony,Beq. foll Owed advocacy of the ifainte. The motionpassed with but'one diseenting and. the Ingetipg closed with, singing and the benediction not“reaching the height or en- . th'ils'ia§rn witnessed at Philadelphia, the mint- , ing wa,s, upon t'he ri , hole, a decided "success; and will help forward tlie great Movement _ . of which it is itself a part,-. Without, giving way to too sanguine anticipations; t is quite certain that since your - great gather ing, the 'sign's ai•e'rebre auspicious 'for th 4 coming toaether of Our dissevered That the laity are ready for this,,almost to a man, is beyond a doubt. They are be doming impatient of a delay for which they can. see no valid"reasons. Yet tbere aro those who will accept of notbieg dhort of an adherence:." to the _erinceto'n Confession of Faith, and who will insist• on the exanina tion of menspassing from one Presbytery to another, and, on the other band, there are those who can never subscribe to the one, nor submit to the other. ',Let ,1173 hope for the 'best, meanwhile straining every nerve in urging forward our great evangelistic and. - denoininational enterprises. The pastoral relation between - Rev. J. W. LAaimoa, and,the..Seventh'_Presbyterian Church, "of this city, was yesterday dissolved by the Presbytery,' of Chicago, at the jOirht, request of the Parties. , - The - North Star Mission are so enlarging their chapel a as to make very neat and . and tasty . They are, making aceom,- thedatinns or,and expect to have, aSun day schoor Of fifteen hundred. have, building will' be: completed - in about w two weeks, so that the schOol can occupy it. Dedicatory exercises will be held after its entire: coin . pletion. ' A revival has been in progress at the Illi nois Street ,Mission, and Lumbers have chosen.that "better part which shall not be taken `from them.", Seven on. Tuesday, thir teen on Wednesday,', seven on Thursday, and fifteen on Friday evening of week be fore last rose fcn- pray CT's. A Home" , has been opened for the news boys'and boot:blacks; and on Thanksgiving an abiliadance of good things' were served up to them,,which were unceremoniously disposed of: "It's the first square meal ever hi.;d" said one boy, whom the square ness of his meal had Made to loOk rather round and uncomfortable. The Home ha 4 in it twenty-one beds and all a"thern 'filled by boye'who hitherto have slept "nowhere' or " anywhere" or " all around.", The 'Presbyterian Chureh 'at. Litton ' has called to its pastorate;'Rev. E. H. Cu a- TIS. Mr. Curtis is a young,matOon of the late Rev. Harvey Curtis, Dr_Dt, and said to be a man of fine'promise. 'lle enters upon a pleasant and hopeful fie f ld of labor. Rev: A.. M. HBizia, of Wintered lowa goes from there to Montana, new but vigorens and highly - iniie'rtantPoint,. / on the C. & N. 'U. R. R. Rev...T. M. PEF ! 131.7.8, late of Montana, goes to. Decatur 4 and - Vicinity, in Nebraaka, on the Missouii ° The church at Janehille has invited Rev. JAKE'S Aormw, recently, from. the North of Ireland,' to supply them 'kir a year. Rev. B. B. PAnsoNs;D.D., is reported to have resigned his position as pastor of St. joseph, Mb. Noun" WEST. This is the"iiionth in, which the General Assembly Aannmends that collections for this lealajpor: ,we might, ,almost say su supreme object of ,Christian beneficence, be tliken Up. The , Nat Assembly, expressed it as their opinion that it is our duty as a Christian denomination to contribute one hundred thousand 4 dollars to this cause during Alio year. •It would be an insult to the ability, liberality,- and Christian en terprise-of our Church, to question the en tire practicability of raising this sum. We trust every church, even the weakest will do its part, and thus ensure the result. EnnArirm.--Ocir acute •‘! Travelling Cor respondent" says, the,WAt4 neells snore adelphinsi not ."Philadelphians ; ',' as; the - types Inake hi'm Bay:4 ITEMS CIIIIRCIL,ERECTION FUND.
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