smtriran tirt,sbyttrian.
TIIURSDAY, DECEMI3ER 26,1867.
lair The sudden death of Dr. Wm. R. Dewitt,
the venerable senior pastor of the First church,
Harrisburg, is announced, It Keured early ,on
Monday morning, December 23d. It was the
close of a long, honored and useful life, in the
noblest of earthly . positions, the ministry of the
Gospel.
THE address of Rev. John M. Peebles, here,af,
ter is Decatur, Burt Co , Nebraska, a rapidly set
tling community, where he expects to organize a
church.
MISTAKES OP EDUCATED MEN.--The . Chris
tian Union quotes our account of the Union
meeting in Rochester, and credits into the . Evan
gelist. The Methodist credit's Dr. March's fine
contribution to our columns on the FRYEBURO
ORGADi t:6 ihkUnited Xtates .1141.aeti lifi4iew for
December. _
_ .
THE WEEK OF PEAYEIL
The EvangeliCal Alliance has issued its circu
lar, inviting attention to the Week of - Prayer.
and suggesting topics Euitable to, its ,successive
meetings.' The following are the topic's suggested:
Sunday, January ---
‘ 5. Sermons. SUbject
7he Person, Work, and Kingdom of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
. _ . . .
..416 nduy, January 6. Th , aillpgivirg for.special
and general mercies during; the past year, to Na
tions, Churches, and Families: and Confession of
Tuesddy,' JantiaiSr rayer for Hat
for Kings and in authority . : for the observance
of the. Lord's Day ;for the removal of obstacles
in the way of Moral and Religious Progress; and
for Internal and International Peace.
Wednesday, January B.—Proyer for Families:
for Schools, Colleges, and Universities: and for
Sons and Daughters io. Foreign Countries.
Thursday, January 9.—Prayer for Christian
Ministers, and all enuaged in Christ's Service: for
God'a ancient Israel ; and for the corning of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
Friday, January 10. Prayer for the, Sick . and
Afflicted: for Widows and Orphans: and for the
Persecuted for Righteousness"sake.
Saturday, J.aututryli;-, Prayer for the Chris
tian Church: for inorease of inginess and activity,
fidelity and love: and far grace equal to the du
ties and dangers of the times..
Sunday, January 12.—Sermons. Subject—
Christian Charity-1 Cor. xiii.
THE PHILADELPHIA TRACT AND lISSION
SOCIETY,
After having for nearly forty years labored, to
the best of its ability, in the cause of GIVE
EVANGLIZATION, finds itself at the close of the
year with an EMPTY TREASURY ; every dollar
that has been contributed to it: funds has been
expended, under the watchful care 'of its execu
five committee, in furthering the object "for
which it was intrusted to them.
The managers are now compelled to apply to
their fellow Christians for aid to enable them to
continue the operations of the Society, and con
fidently trust that their appeal will not be disre-garded.
Sad, indeed, would be the consequences to the
tens of thousands of perishing souls in our city,
who have little or no other religious instruction
if, even for a single month, this Society has to
withhold its distribution of 270,000 pages of
Evangelical tracts, suspend its twenty-nine week
ly prayer-meetings and its religious visitation,
dismiss its seven missionaries, and disband its
faithful and well organized corps of 800 tract
visitors with their .fifty-five superintendents, and
thus effectually put out the light which is shining
in the dark placei in our Midst, to cheer the
comfortless, warn the erring, and,guide inquiring
soul to its Savinur.. '
Wiil YOU, Christian friend, do what you can
to avert such a calamity? If you will, please
send your contribution promptly to the Treasurer
of ate Society, D. W. PRESCOTT, No. 218 North
Delaware Avenue, to either of the members of
the Executive Committee, or their agent JOSEPH
SCHREINER, - NO. 1334 Chestnut Street.
Signed by the Executhie Committee.
DR. TALMAGE'S. THANKSGIVING DISCOURSE.
Our townsman, Rev. T. De Witt Talmage, of
the Reformed Dutch Church, has a decidedly
Saxon way of "putting things:" - As appears'
from his Thanksiiiling sermon of Nov. 28th, he
does not think that, at any - time -- d - uring the last
forty years, our nation has been in danger of rust
ing from political tranquillity. We only wish
that his trust that we have entered-upon the new
era of a settled calm may prove as true as his'
pungent review of the past is. But hear him
" We are in•the last-days-of sectional controversy
since the causes of dispute are being taken away.
By a pleasant delusion 'we made ourselVea believe
that our nation was at peace, until six years ago.
But the majority of us have never seen peace be
tween the North and South. Look into the Con
gressional records of 1820, 1830, 1847, 1559, 1860;
was that peace? No! No I It has been perpetual
collision; it has been free labor against slave labor;
tariff men against free trade; Massaclitteitts against
South Carolina; Virginia Senators.:-against New
York Representatives. Men coming . to Washingt6o .
to make laws, have brought Bowie-kniVes to 'outs'
them—altercation, challenge, duel. Charleston
Mercury against Albany Journal. And yet, in the
very time that Brooks was cudgelling Sumner, and
Pottepwas thrphipOryorijandaltai rlB werestretch
ed around Billiton Csmrt House to prevent the res
cue of RigioWrottfthe hands ache tnarshali and
all our Northern cities were in riot and bloodshed
about the rendition of black -men /to their ilumers,
and John Brown was making his raid, we thought
we were at peace. .
‘• Pennsylvania tta bifi fi iii„;wasAlikkape„t
Printin g press of the Alton (Ammer thrown intb - fhe
river! Wfurthat?ipeace? - Was it.yeace in: 4820 r
when the Mr Was hilt with 'Sectional iinpreedtrozi`
THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1867.
about the admission of Missouri as a slave State ?
Was it peace, in 1835, when in- New Hampshire a
college was destroyed, because in it colored youth
were educated? Was it peace when South Carolina
uttered her nullification ? Was it peace when the
Presbyterian and Methodist Oharelles—because of
this very difference—were rent with a fracture that
shook all Christendom ? No ! On both sides all
vituperation, " irony, billingsgate, scorn, revenge,
falsehood and blasphemy have been exhausted.
And there is no man under fifty years of age who
has seen anything worthy of the name of peace. It
has been war of tongue,twar of pen, war of type,
war of trade, war, of church, w.ar.of Congressional
dispute, war of dirk and..pistol, war bitter fUrious, re
lentless and consuming. The nation was not more cer
tainl,y in _qpnflict at Shiloh . and ,Atlanta._than. it„,bas
bc'eti for thirtryetri,.:Now thoughthereis yet astrong
swell of tlieAtiolihred.settiiiie Shall ilodn "hava-noth
ing to fight about, and Congresses and Legislatures
will have tiine`to "Consider the..agrimil , ti,ral, mining,
in th a e ti c,ll4%t et e:* : 7g ,,l 4 : 4l : l . at 7 l : l ,
~7 11. !, nt4412. ,-.7; ts of
FROM OUR ROOHERTER GORRESPONDENT.
DS4,TA . #.34y.
" The fathers; tither& are Lthey ?" The grave
is new 'gathering =may. , of them itane . ttof the
best known and best beloved of our city, CM'S
TER DEWET,,P.D.,I4O):, at eighty three years of
age, -was gathered., to; hie -mit on. Sunday -last, :
and his, funeral, was 44..tendecl.cg Wednesday, at
the Plymouth church, by a' large concourse of
our best citizens.'' No oi;ielms passed from among
us for a long. time .more generally known, more
generally respected and beloved.
He graduated at Vann's . College in 1806 ;
studied theology with the celebrated Dr. Stephen
West, of,.S6:lolthria6, Iliasa_•,..NSOACO.Psed by
the Belk:shire, Asseeiaticin l in 1,8:0,74,na11ect te,
tutor "u _ Alma... Mater mAI 84
was years later made :Professor iof Mathen sties
and ":Natural Philosophy' -theamp
In 1827 Prof. Dewey resigned his position in
Williams College, and took charge of the 'Gym. ,
nasium," or IlicA Schoel, for .boys, Bitt.sfield,
Mass. I n 188'6 re'rbirOd to this cit y and be
came Principal Of a sithilar. iiistiantion 'here,
which position he occupied for fourteen years,
and then, in 1850, he became a Professor in the
new University" here established under the auspl2 -
ees of the Baptist denomination, and did faithful
and active service until some time in 1864, when
being 80 years of age, he honorably resigned his
position. But even then his activity did not
cease. He was constantly busy with his studies
and his investigations, keeping a careful record
of t.be weather, lecturing in schools, attending
examinations and public meetings, making ad
dresses, taking an interest in all public affairs;
and all apparently with the zest and sprightli
ness of a man of forty rather than eighty.
The great Plymouth Church was filed on the
occasion of his funeral. The Scriptures were
read by Rev Mr. Wines, of.the Pirst, Presby
terian church. An address was made by Rev.
Dr. Anderson. President of
_tbe University, in
which he pronounced a glowing eulogy upon the
character of the deceased. He said Rochester
had been highly favored in having such a teach—
er so long:time among us All had been taught :
by him; all had received benefit from him; we
felt his, power in the street ; his presence was an
inspiration and a benediction.
As a man of science and learning lie was
sound and wise in judgment, clear and exact in
statement ; kind and courteous to his associates ;
enthusiastic in his love of the truth, recognizing
God also everywhere and in everything ; patient
and sympathetic in his intercourse with the stu
dents, patient even with dullness and wayward
ness ' • always young in his own feelings, remark
ably fond of youth, seeking their acquaintance,
delighting in their sports as well as their studies,
and so " he never grew old."
A general scholar, his speciality was the natu
ral sciences, in which he was really one of the
pioneers. Natural , science
-maybe said to have
been created since lie began tO - teach: In Bota
ny especially he was high authority; on the sub
ject of grapes the highest in the country.
. W. P: Cogswell, Esq. ' one of our ablest law
yers, spoke in behalf of his former pupils of.thp
Rochester High School. His speech was beauti- ,
ful, and was a glowing-tribute of respect and af
fection. Dr. Dewey was an educator, in the
strictest and best sense,of the word; he did not
merely cram the mind, but he dre4- it out,
and taught it to do its own pr , ,per work. He
was also genial
r and pleasant with his scholars,
cheerful compaition 'and friend ; and alwaya
parting instruction, , The .calk by the river's
bank would be - turnedinto a j Padant lecture on
Geology ; the stroll through the fields would fur-
LAI delightful lesson on Botany; the visit to
the workshop of the artificer would be turned.into
instruction in mechanics. His pupils all loved
him, for they knew that he loved them. Mr.
Cogswell said he never knew one to do anything
intentionally to pain him, and his interest in
them did not cease when they left the school.
He r still frellowid theni; ea often sought to know
of - their welfare. • a -
-.Rev: Mr. Ha!flat, the- pastor of Plymouth
elliiieli';'NlOWM in afeW very 'tender and touch
ing remarks upon Dr. Dewey's religious character;
bat said little, as he gave notice that he should
preach a funeral sertialoli'itext Sabbath. •
His religious character - `was simple, pure, con
sistent, and always abounding in hope. He had
been in_ failing healih for Kinctmonths. He knew
the end was near and spoke ot it frety. <ltwas
all right, all glorious The grave had no terrors;
and so he was gathered as a shock of corn fully
ripe. He *ill be much missed in our streets, -iu
our meetings, in all public gatherings. He leaves
a wife and several. children. now grown and fill
ing places of honor and usefulness, to give
thanks that lirssrlife was one long, grandbenedic
tionfok„ ST
- -PR:EADYTERY OF NIAGARA.
The annUal eeting was on Tuesday and Wed
nesday of this week, in the 2d ward church of
Lockport; opening sermon by Rev. C. R. Wil
kins, of Medina. The Rrin.cipal matter of busi
ness was the endorsement after pleasant discus-
'sign, of. the recent action of our General Assem
bly, and of the Philadelphia Convention, on the
subjed of union. A, resolution approving of the
report of the joint Committee on re-union was
introduced by. Rev. - Dr. _Wisner, and unanimously
passed '^ Our-Preabyaries are satisfied with that
b as i s o f a pi o ,_ajisi w,ou.der that it is not accept
able to all: - '
Bev. Thomas Doggett, of Niagara Falls, and
Elder Charles H. West, were appointed Commis
sioners to the next General Assembly—W. C.
Wisner D. D., and Elder W. C. Boyce, alternates.
Rev. Thomas Dogget was also appointed Commis
sioner to Auburn Seminary. GENEEkEI
Rochester, Dec. 21, 1867
4fiuJ.lfru Cliti#Bo4.
GREENWICH ST. CHURCH.—The pastor, Rev.
W. Hutton, says :—We ha44 . our Ist Co.mmunion
Service on Sabbath evening, 15th inst. 8 joined :
7on profession, Iby letter. Our membership is
now 34. The beautiful new silver service for the
communion table was the gift of an uptown friend;.
Our attendance is gradually increasing. The
Sabbath School has nearly 400 in attendance,
and bolds its regular - Christmas - festival on next
• . • i*
Fridaj.evening.,? „„ =
CHESTER CITY.—The Sabbath School of the
ChesferViiifriestyteri6 church hekalCoticert,
on Thursday evening, Dec. 19th, at National
Hall, Cheater. The beer" faithfully
trained by theCliorister, 'l4Otegsor MAI, and ac
quitted themselves creditably. The hall was well
withitheoeciafidn. On
SpliffitlNrenite the AinifOS
was administered.. ~ Thlrteen ,persons were ad
mitted to church membership; five on profession
of faith, and eight by . certificate.
WEST,WILMINGTON, DEL., OLIVET MISSION..
BRO. MEARS : We are in the enjoyment of a,re
freshing season from the presence of the Lord.
• i•
'During the, month of - NOVeiriber, we leld,servi
ces in our 'Chapel nearly every night which, were
well sustained. Between thirty and forty per
sons rose fiir prayer in those meetings. We have
been holding prayer-meetings with our Sabbath
school children for several Sabbaths past, which
have been attended with very' happy results, do
veloping much religious interest. Including the
children, I ,presume tat at least,froiu.sixty to
seventy persons have asked ._a place in our pray
ers. Some of them have been hopefully convey=-
ted to God.
, Illany others are in a very hopeful
state of 'mind. In:some respects:iiiiii is a hard
fiebiltoAnltivate, yet the ;;Lord hath donet a geat,
things for us, whereof we are glad. We are
persuaded that the day is not far distant when
we shall be able to 'organize a Church in this
place. Our prOspects for building up a large and
flourishing congregation in this part of the city,
are, certainly nattering. Pray for us that the
word of God may be glorified in the salvation of
many souls. Youoi A. J. SNYDER.
December Bth, 1867,
Pligietto gttattritrt.
PRESBYTERIAN.
The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Synod
of the South.—ln Dr. Pressly's speech before the
Southern General Assembly he gave some interest
ing statements about-the present condition of their
church, and its various enterprises:
"Erskine College and the theological Seminary
at Due West, Abbeville District, South Carolina,
were before the late war the objects other fond regard,
and accomplished much good for the Church of
Christ and the world. The Synod has introduced
a plan by which we fondly hope that during the
present year these. institutions shall be re establish
ed upon a permanent and successful basis. The
welfare of the Church is inseparably connected with
the prosperity 'of these institutions. The Synod has
also a weekly religiouS periodical Under' her Care.
It is called the Associate .RefOrmedPresliyterian... Its.
name-indicates that it is the organ, the circulating
medium, the - pulse:of .the Associate Reformed Pres
byterian Church. It emanates
_from Due West,
South,Carolina,jits seat'Aber College . and
_Semi
nary, and is represented.aggiiaving a circulation suf
ficient to-sustain ,
"The Synod is making a Special effort to advance
the interests of - her Sabbath schools. For the ac
complishment - of.the. purpose, arrangements have
been made to secure a suitable library and to ..issue
a paper to meet the wants of the rising genera
tion.
"In endeavoring to faker her domestic Missionary
operations, the.S'yund liksxot neglected her duty to
the colored'peOpre en Indsee: In Melr former rela
tionship as servants, they, were. ,the objects of our
Christian sympathy, having in many instances ac
cess to our family altars; and occupying seats in our
churches and around our communion tables. In
their .present:condition:asTreedmen, our regard, for
their i4ligious interest has undergone no abatement.
We hope to see theittrealizing The blessings of li
berty, the riahts. of property and the meauaof edu
cation." '
• 'United Presbyterian.— Rev. Dr. R. D. Harper
has resigned thepastoral'charcre of the First United
Presbyterian Church of Xeiliti7Ohio. The resigns.:
tion has been accepted, Dr. HI having the use of
the parsonage and one year's salary.
New Reformed ,(Dutch) Church in Philadel
phia.—A COMmittee orthe Clhssis of Philadelphia,
organized Nov. 7th, in Bethune Hall, Twelfth street
and Mot' tgoni ett aVenue, Philadel ph ia, a neWorgan
ization to be called Bethune Memorial Church. This
enterprise; under theoministiy of the Rev. P. Stryk
er-Talmage, has, met with encouraging success.
Q. S. 'Presbyteries on Re uni,o4.--Thefollow :
ing'was - unanimoitsVadopted . :—" The Presbytery of
Frankville desires to see the Presbyterian churches
of tideland - united hisone -hcmogentous, body; The,
basis proposed‘by. the:joint:Com ipittee of the. Ge
neral Assembly does not seem sufficiently explicit.
We fear that union effected on this basis would
prove neither sound nor permanent. We therefore
wish thle_COMmitteesto securtka baals - More definite ,
and satisfactory v especially on the Matteis 'of'doc;
trine, and' the control of the Theological Semina
ries."_ The Presbytery of Raritan Resolved: That
we do not.approve the Basis of Union presented by
the Joint Committee of the two Assemblies;., but
much prefer that which was suggested by the late
National Convention,-because it is far more concise
and definite. That also we express -the hope that
as-far as practicable,,aßthe Seminaries of the pro
posed re-united Churches will be brought under the
control of the General Assembly ; and.. also ) that
there Will be a distinct understanding that Ilene-but
those ordained shall be allowed to sit as members
of Church courts.` - • - .
Religious World Abroad.
Oreat Britain.—The perils of the Established
Church seem rather to increase. Between ritual
ists and rationalists there is little hope of the
maintenance of Evangelical influences. Lord
Shaftesbury, at a recent meeting of the Church
Protection Society, said of the Church, that "heresies
had grown up in her own bosorn,, , ,vhich were rend
ing her very vital existence, from her, and which un
checked and prevented, Would leave' her a dpid
corpse upon the face of the earth.' The Evangli
cals,„ although strong within the bosom ofth e Church,
were not 'now so strong 'as theY MO been; either in
clergy or laity, as compared with the Neologians.
The growing indifference in the country to matters
of religion was one of the most alarming features
of the 'present time. They found it everywhere--in
small and in large populations. It was not-only in
Manchester, in LiverpOol, and in London. They
inight,go in to e smallest village, and every, clergy-
Man oC experience wield tell
,peni how his heart
Was rent by, the real indifferende„there Wae, if th ey
endeaVered •to fathom ' e :gteaf,” pioportioii . .iif ;the
people with respect to religion'"
• , TJM' High Churchinen: of all,shadea, alarmed at
the- , recent - report of the on Ritualism,
held a meeting in London,' Nov: I.9th;to ~protest,
whist any, legislati v e interference with their pact
twee. It was given out that it-was not to be ; '
a, gath
ering of Bitnalists, bot...,Of !l ipen . who, were, the
championtsOf liberty of within the
of the ;Establishment. the, liberty of conscience
,WaS'io alio* every eTer6mifti as he thought
,right. The principal speaker, Arch-deacon " Denni
eon;:planted himself on: the most aiirao High Church ,
ground. lie regarded the attack 'oir:Ritualistu' as
an attack Church- doctrine,-which it sym
bolized. The High Church he said, "hold; itaile
,elared by,,the Chuzch to_ bare l yealed in Holy. Scrip-,
ture, that- the life" of Chriek i nfthe l soul is begun ,
and by Holy Baptiairi.;, neurished t completed, and
, perfected in and by Hai C,ommimion. That these
are, therefore, the principnt` means or grace,
that all other means of grace flow out of Holy
,Baptiisia,.and converge !ta; and ;centre . : Holy
,Communion. The Low Church do. not .sJeny that
the Sacraments are to be observed reverently, but
Resign, to: . them Teo:such dietinet'prOtiininence,
gaining theni.rither ag sealsiipon the life'of Christ,
already begun and established in the by
than ,as mes.na ordained of Christ,iliimeel 1 Jot'
the beginning and. ,the; nourishing and . perfecting of
that life."--Vain , attempts have been matte.to bring
the Bishop, cl ,of Salisbaity to ,ageount, for a.charge de
livered- to bis,ergy,,in which. be taught the ro - pish
doctrine of the real ptesence. TM" Archbishop
,Canterbury declined doing anythitigonlessa formal
trial were instituted. .Fle says, hiviever, at the cloiie
of a letter addressed'to many clergy of the Diocese
of .Salisbuty, 'coin plaining of, !the Bishop: In con
clusion, I must express'a hope that
novel varia
tions from ,the ,eatahtisiked usage -of i our Church,
whigh you intimate have caused.the alienation ,of
many of its attached inembera iii the"dioeese Of Salis
- will notto - cobtinued atter the Report of Her
Majetity's Commissibnera; thatthe restraintiof all
such variations is, ex pedien with a. vim to , prom o te
the peace of the Church.—The Bishop of Down, of,
Ireland, in a recent,charge, said he believed ic,was ,
no longer possible,.in the fullest measure of that
charity which suffereth long, to,,allow the doctrinal
and msthetic aspect OPRitualism to pursue its'eonrse
unchecked by public remonstrance, sapping as a did
in its aubtle 'progress the teachings of ciriChurch,.•
and , removing the authorizedlandmarkS of our Re
formed Faith." He could not but regret that " the
Report of the Commissioners is so barren of any dis
tinctive principles i":nor did he conceive that`" if the
Commissioners resume their investigations, we
should be an iota nearer the settlement of the
vexed question." A large number of his clergy
have protested to the Bishop against, his views-on
church.matters,and his conduct both in the House
of Lords and the Social F.cience Congress. In his
reply he adheres firmly to his position.
Meantime, dissent is making marked progress.
The vitality of the London Baptist churches`is com
mented upon as one of the signs of the times.
During the last fifteen years, they have increased
their sittings 61 percent. The increase is still go
ing on. Canon McNiele declares that the truth can
be maintained in England only with the aid of the
dissenters, and urges; hat some plan for their return
to the National Church be devised. A Congress of
non-conformist churches is contemplated to consider
the matter.
Revilial is Scotland. , -At a recent meeting of
the Free Church Synod of Fife, ministers .were re
qUested to report on the state of religion, when six
in succession rose, and testified to having, with their,
own eyes, seen what they could .not but regard as ,
genuine religious awakenings. Two spoke of re
vivals among farm servants; two told of protburid
attention to religion among the fishermen of the,
East Neuk; and one reported the existence of a
movement that had heed' going on for months in .a
manufacturing village. •
aservance of the Sib7th" in the P. o.—At
recent meeting of Presbytery in Edinburgh, Dr:
Begg made a few remarks having reference to the
movement on the part of those engaged in the Post
office throughout the United Kingdom in favor of
the entire cessation cif work in the Post-office on the
Sabbath. It turned out. (he said) that. there were
21,000 persons employed every Lord's-day in con
nection with the Post-office. It was also a welh
known fact that there were no operations in the
Post-office of London on-the-Sabbath-day, and a
combination had been apparently entered into by
those more particularly aggrieved to get the rest
which-existed in the Post-office of London extended
throughout the whole -country. In a publication,
Called the Postman, organized by post-office. func
tionaries, that view was strongly urged.
France.—The Exposition. To the very last the
Kiosk for the distribution of Evangelical Publ•ca
Lions continued "aCehtte,of at - traction.' Thacorres pon
dent of Christian Worl says : The inultittides which
during the last open week poured around the Mis
sion buildings, the eagerness for entrance into the
Evangelical Hall 'the inconceivable rush for par. -
lions of the Bible-and tracts; defy all description.-
The noise was as that of many waters. In one day,
we think we do not miscalculate when we state that
one hundred thousand were literally snatched from
the hands. of - the:numerous distributors and volun
teers by a good-tempered, but boisterous crowd. The
hands put forth were so numerous, that, at times,
they concealed the . arins, faces, and persons - they
belonged to; and no little dexterity was requisite to
convey the-coveted treasures safe to each. _
The chising services were held in the'S'alle Evan
gelique'
October 31st, and were attended by believers
of all denominations, and from. -all . Protestant
countries. An audience was had with the French
Emperor, Nov. 17th, when an address of thanks was
read to him by the Fielch.R.qpresentatives of the
:work. Napoleon entered into conversation with the
deputation, and said that - lie 'knew the work, and
that they had to struggle (tutter);a.gaiest material
ism, evil doctrines, and religious indifference. He
had pleasant words for them all; but gave special
attention to M.Casalieplea for' the imperilled mis
sion among , the Basutos of S. Africa and imme
diately promised his aid. - '
The position of Napoleon-is said to be far from
im
proved,among,his own people by hialate intuyen
tion in Roman affairs. The correspondent of Evan
gelical Christendom sari : Never, since the commence
ment of his reign, has Napeleon FIE been placed in
a more critical:pdshicin, .'-':lle.catinot avoid offending
or irritating one or : other of the:two great parties:irk
France. If he assists Pius IX. with soldiers, he ex
cites the ardent •hostility of the democratic opposi.
tion, and, on the other hand, if he should refuse to
grant the Papacy the assistance of his arms, all the
bishops, curates, monks, nuns, and bigots would ac
cuse him of impiety, and imbue the ignorant classes
with an inextinguishable hatred against him. W,,
must await the future; but it is certain that the
crown totters upon the head of the Emperor."
The Rltionalist Pastors, of the National Re
formed Church,, are holding conferences and peti
tionipg the Government not to restore the Church
antonoky as the Orthodox desire.
Italy.—iN.o.nvvemen4B of importance in Evan
gelization are reported in . our December advices.
The defeat of Garibaldi, humiliation at the national
Subjection to France and indignation at the want of
decision in their own Government, absorb the minds
of the Italians.' Front the correspondence of ann.-
gefical Christendom, vfre gather some surprising facts
as to the indifference of, the Roman population to
the movements of t their liberator. It says:
Notwithetanding the prdclamations which the
Roman , Comihitae Continried4o issue of the prepar
atiotte that had been made, and of the readiness of
the Romahe to bleed .and die in order to deliver
"their country from the power of the Pope, yet dur
ing, this kit mcivement they did almost nothing.
Some alight, 'attempts'. at a revolution were made,
and:an underground . mine •was sprung ; but these
wttempte.werepoon put down, and the last month
has clearly shown, that if the emancipation of Rome
id eitei to be' aecomplished, it must -be effected by
, othei means thaw-the hravery of her inhabitants.
Centuries of oppression haul priesteraft have now
almost entirely .staniped. ont the spirit of indepen
aelice and bravery. - But although the Romans on
this occasion have not shown any deeds of daring,
vet it.must not be auppmied that they have been al
iewed to escape unscathed.. Between two and three
thonsanepersons have been arrested and thrown
into prisbn on suspicion of conspiracy- At present,
the Romanprisons, which 'areviaid to contain about
10,000 prisoners, are so full that it was found neces
sary to convey many of those who have been appre
'bedded to CiVita Vecchia.
Other Exu•opetin Conntries.— /rt Belgium there
are 15 free Prate`Stant churches made up principally
of converts from Romanisrn ; two of these, with
several outstations are in .Brussels; and six in and
near Liege, among the: iron workers and other
classes. 'ThereAre also four Flemish churches. All
but two of Ptese require aid, but, their own contri
butions araincreasing and a lay association for the
suppoit of, widows end orphans of poorly paid min
ister'silaB beet — formed. Theie is no inequal
ity 'whatever before the law between. Catholics and
Protestants, and there is no work'of evangelization
which cannot - be undeitaketv without fear of moles
'tatioo, amt indeedsiwithout certainty of protection.
Germany.—li: is at last settled that the churches
of the lately, annexed provinces shall not be com
pelled to subject - themselves to the.iligh Consistory
or-Priissia, but may retain their , organizations.
The -Ring, in , issuing the decree to this effect, ex
presses his hope that "the union of the. Protestant
churches may be. increasingly cemented by their
own free and willing Co-:operation - .'.'—,--The North
German . , Diet unaßimously accepted and intrusted to
the,Chancellor of the Confederation a petition set
on root, by Dr: . Wiehein;and signed by 37,000 per
cone, for the' Speedy extinction` of thOermae gam
bling'honses and . tables.--In 'Austria the loosen
ing of 'the ties between Church and . State makes
progress in 'Spite. OP the unrepealed Concordat with
Rome: . Von Beust, the ,chief, adviser of . the Em
peror, is. a Protestant. The lower House of the
11Ciclorteth , 4ae adopted the provisional. Marriage
Law; and - ordered the-Committee to draw up.a new
bill on the subject, based on the principle that the
Marriage ceremony shall be quite independent of
any Church regulations. The Chamber even short
enedzthe period proposed by the Committee before
the act shall come into operation, from three months
to forty-five days. The majority was very large.
This is the first breach in the Concordat. Mixed ,
unions between Christians of various-sects are tohe
allowed unreservedly. If a priest refuses to cele
brate a mixed marriage, .a marriage is made
valid. An order of the day, issued by the Command
er-in-Chief of the Austrian Arrny, dated November
6th, abolishes the obligation hitherto imposed on
the soldiers, when on duty, of rendering military
honors to the holy Sacrament.
XISSIONAICY ITEMS.
China.---The awakening at Lou-Leing, in-Shang
tung'province, is still progressing. In three villages
or communities, not more ,than fifteen or twenty
miles distant from . each other, there are now pro
bably more than one hundred baptized men, women,
and children. Two missionaries of the Methodist
New Connection have taken the movement under
their care. A perseCution of cOnsiderable magni
tude is threatened. A rich heathen has bribed the
local magistrate to try and drive away. the foreign
missionaries,, and make. the native Christians dis
own and reject the Saviour. A reward of fifty taels
is offered for the arrest of every active Christian.
To the present tiine, as far as we have learned,
none of the native Christians have proved unfaith
ful to the Saviour. Christian Work.—A missionary
tourist says;. The character and doings of foreign
ers and foreign nations were often unhappily con
founded with the religion of Jesus. In the forefront
of the class . alluded to stands the opium traffic.
During my e*perience in- preaching in niany parts,
it is almost invariably brought up as a charge quite
sufficient to dispose of the claims of the foreign re
ligion, that many of those who profess it (or are
supposed to do so) make their .gains by a trade
which at once impoverishes and demoralizes the
Chinese, and which brings such a train of evils—
physical, intellectual and moral—upon its victims
and their dependents. Surely those who engage in
this business haVe never' seriously thought of the
awful responsibility 'they incur by placing such a
stum blinghlock. between perishing millions and the
only name given under heaven among men whereby
we must be saved.
THE NORTH-WESTERN PRESBYTERIAN ap
pears this week in a new and handsome
dress, and in the quarto, double sheet form-
We mark no other chan - ge in the paper. Its
tone upon the subject of Union appears to
be substantially the same as before its Edi
tor attended the . great Philadelphia Con
vention.
HOLIDAY BOOKS.—We wish we had space to speak
fully . of the holiday books thatstill crowd our table.
['he exquisite illustrated catalOgne of our own Com
mittee is, we suppose in the hands of all our read
ers. 'We can give them no sounder advice than to
purchase what theY need for the family there. The
Board of the other Church ; has : sent us an illustra
ted catalogue, not quite equal in finish to our own,
but covering, a great collection of valuable books.
On our inside page,. we have found space bare'.y to
mention,:tho very liandsoine illustrated edition of
Dr. James Hamilton's "Prodigal. Son," which
gains new and sad_ interest from -the-, death of the
eminently good and-gifted author. - It is for sale at
Cla.xon's. Scribtrer & Co. advertiSed last week,
11113 - Ella's! Queens of -American Seciety, illustra
ted; and a holiday editicat :of that most charming