: .■ ■■< . - i ■ ■ i ' 1
iN'ew Series, ‘Vol. Y, iNio. 22.
$S QO By Mail. $3 50 : ?y j Carrier., >,
50ct» Additional sifter, three MontUsi ili s i
THURSDAY;- MAY 028,1868. ;
the Bible ,j* text tfooK;
Considering its high, claims .as‘ ; the: only in,-<
spired-book apdas .the , only infallible,ruleof faith
and practice', authority upon’the,mbs tn
important q'uedtibnS Of man’s nature, destiny add
relations to "God, thfe Eibld .iS very little studied
by .people. - It . lsread, andi;eyered al
most udiyersaJly) but -in, comparison * with’. the:
amount ,df -study:gding > on, it ds ' studied almost 1
ndi^'il 1 'ill- ! A good‘‘deal"iS!'¥4id 'Of Sunday^- 1,
tfyis respect.. unquestiona
bly;-important ; but wW is hajf, an> hour a week
upon >the Bible, under i instructors who must
snatch time for preparation frdih the spare mo
ments of a busy life, in comparison with five, six;
eigjit, and morehoujs a day for five days of the’
week;, of the severest, mental application, under
teachers whose work is their profession,and their,
living? Wheire aineng real studies is the Bible ?
Only in professional schools. ''TbC-
Bible is studied, as Blacks tone in 1aw,,.0r Wood
iUj medicine. The training schools of ,the people,
know almost nothing of it. ■ • r
We have become so accustomed to this omis
sion that toe think very little qf it; yet it seems'to
us a, very great mistake. 'Mohammedans and
heathens with their Bibles , for their only text
books, each do better. And should the instruc
tion of our youth be strictly confined to the Bi
ble, with all that wiiuld' be' lost' by , excluding'
some of the modern, apd purely scientific elements,
of culture, what a mighty i instrument of educe-, ,
tion, In the-best sense ofrthe word; would rem4inl
It is nothing less tlhku God'S'dfvk for the 1 ;
ruorpl end spiritual ! tjhe iaeei' 'The' ;
study of,its original , langmtgeg.jsrpujd , give.,play;
for the philological element; to wiuoh the ,high r ,
est place in pedagogic slpparatui has soUorig bCen
conceded. Indtrtieti6n,'hi,niddy.branches' Wdpld-
be *sss i
anoient manners ) .ftnd
ern travel add discovery!; ia»ejent, history, i and 1
geography, ethnography; zoology l And bo6any ; in
studying the first
would be oalled to the entire circle pf jnaturai'
soience in its most-modern aspects., And-aside;
from matters incidental to-the explanation of the
text, the text itself oontains th'e only authentic l
primitive history of man'kihdatid have,
the precedence in all historical tre^ti^es f and pur
suits ; moreover, it gives, history of the
world from the only true point of vieiW—that of
Redemption. It gives the -key; to l the under
standing of all history lh the Prison , and work of
Christ, thus informing the student p.£ the most
important -facts, and,, twiningihis-/judgment,to,
proper views of the -essence 6f«alP history; View
ed as literature, not 1 only' ft the ‘English transla
tion of the Scriptures a model ,ofj pure Anglo-
Saxon style—the frequent perusal of, which,
Coleridge held, would preserve %»riter from vul
garity—but the illustrations of the highest forms
of rhetoric are so numerous and, so admirable .in
the Bible, that we. know not hoto any one’s'edu
cation in this branch oould.be considered in any
material point defective; who had bein trained in
literary matters exclusively under its influence.
Nowhere 1 in literature are examples to be
found of that effectiveness’of style which consists
in- honorably and self-designingly,subjecting it, : to
the purpose of conveying the writer’s idea intel
ligibly and forcibly to the simplest mind, and yet
nowhere are there loftier flights of imagination,
grander descriptions of nature, more vivid and
overwhelming appeals to the unsophisticated pas
sions of men. Nowhere such,a treasure of pro
verbs’, similitudes and parables. How should it
be otherwise, when the authors' lips were touched ’
with coalß from the heavenly altar, and their
iminds and hearts bathed, with the effulgence of an;
[inspiration- richer than earthly genius ? and.when,
among them was He who spake as never man 1
spake? i vi . ■
And if this 'Biblicijl school retained i't,s. pupils
to riper years, their expanding minds, would only
begin to be reader id l appreciate ,the ■ profounder
aspects bf their grekt ! text 'book the higher
protlenis of criticism, .fobchilig, the internal
structure and, authorship of the : various books,
the mutual relations of the members of a series
of writings over two thoiftand years,
that extradrdinary progress'amid unity of the
revelation; the establishment of, the
claims of the book against every . soft, opposi
tion; the ,divine truth and .universality of the
Christian' religion amid the conflicting narrow
creeds and inventions of men; the moral ruin of
man and his Redemption by- Jesus Christ; to
whatever,'length in the study qf Theology, the
student might have time .or: inclination, tO:go;<
these are problems worthy of his loftiest powers'
■ ■' ■ ■ ■' i- 'r F J I ■ I T'l: /.- tl I
ind fitted in the highest* measure,to, expand and
train them. We know ndt why: an education'
properly conducted ! on • such a basWinightndt;
with far greater 1 propriety, be called ''complete,
r... .1 li.a ifiti i,. :. w >,i li. »
than one whiph pas run the jroutjjis flf. ,
curriculum , o!ff classicali jheathenisn), ,and profane,
naturalism’ and .fleoulaiu/soiencej'which now-figure
in , bhr l -Colldge inf which'thestfid 1
'rfeligibnof CWistendbin aril unknown,
iL <l*sl aw ° U j. ) i r ' .** at‘ nr
but a passing, jifejis c|ear
that in- Buoh ,a ; . training \ all, thp foundation t ele-,
inehts iof ,a laterling :chafcaotei*’WOuld»he incul
cated; a'ud ’a : generation wduld be brotfght'fbr-’
waiird inore lilcClV to acquit .th'pmselves glo'ficfasjy
|1 ,i UJlj 61.11, *>. M tTne.'- ' ' | IVV 1
and honorably m the varippsb.ufjngss, po t c.ial{ do
mestic ahdj {political , iofj life, Ithan, : are
those no Wyoming underithe ofcher“methodv/So,'
our 'sobs should betas''plants ! ih their
ydufh, anldbtir daughters as ‘coVner-stones, polish
ed after the similitpdb of a palace, p..;
r jQf.course,..we »re npt, in indulging .this suppfc
' sition, : to her understood as asking' for. the over
throw of out 'presfernt I 'System of' edh'featidn', ahct '
for the substitution of the Bible Inplace of it all.
Bjut, just, nqw when ( |the lor,recon-,
structihgi our systerir is in, progress; ■ and - whenim-, ■
i to'gUtW control ftPout education- ■
al’ appafathsjHrlffcfc they hiVe 1 ihfbu^h 1 1
natural friensi of'a trjily, nght^a’,
’wholesome education should putina claim j for,, i
the recognition the ®ib\b as a distinct brandli
*of study, worthy 'of 1 a -pla'cO pafalleP with any l of |
the new studies Whfdh' hrb 1 nbw* 1 b%ing
into (Jistipot schools
worthy,tp,r,\in througlj, the'epfirp-Cpllpge; course j|,
worthy, of> /its separate; Professor; •• and ■ 'Lecturer!
, and 1 of its distitfct set 6f prizfes/honors 'and 1 titKaV 1
'lt is a pity we cSdnot 1 have enough agreement
amqpg deppminatjops ;to, fecure 1 nqf u qi}ly<,tb i q v
reading,,hu<()tihe study qfj tlj&Biblflinr.qqr Com, ,
mod Sdhoola.l *>We have-heardlof School l
Prihfcipal iu’this dity trifh a'''M” td ,J his nhine.^hji 0
■ ooiiiii'ed'hiih l seif. ! ex^ldsiv‘e!ly, ! in "his school rekd
; •'itnT.oui si.,mlKvjum ri.W’iiiimi-» oui uo'.iq j ■■
- pngs of the Bible, to Proyerbs r fs^jppi)kyqpnji^
, bqftkv..)W«>hquldrrUulyth»ttoo,igladi.to£ih»WaeWr
r -.A,aieijcBnJ>ydU#bi soundly inddctrrriatedintthqheav- 1
’ ediy tJ wlsd(M l of'ihoBe precbpto, ifin no other'part
.of the Bible. But, as we tlie'
■ present, have in the
Common School's', itUTh iohni'attention
to. qur rhigher ■ Institutions' f u tW-by should - not
some l of i out* wealthy mep, whose munificent) ■
nations to colleges id this country is.oneof ;the -
best signs of the times- give their* .jnexti twenty,)
or fifty, or one'hundred thousand-dollars towards
a professorship or-school of the sacred books of*
Christendom 1 ? If the.study be,not made'obliga
tory, to a? College, as itshould be,,then let
every. proper, -means 'be employed :to. lead, our
youth* to apply themselves to this branch, apd,to:.
create audidiffusesuch a sentiment !n the com
munity that it shall be consideredi a .necessary
part of-every * finished man's training l tphave a!
fair acquaintance with the'sources of the religion
of the civilized world and of the great, questions
growing out of them.. .The trifling attempts
which are now, being-made in this direction, are
scarcely to be named'in view df the new develop
ments of scientific unbelief breaking forth on
every hand.
EDITORIAL , CORRESPONDENCE.
! ! FtARRiSBURGj'May 21' 1868 . '
The members' of th’e Greheral Assembly are
rallying in force. Some 240 had replied to the
letters of the Chairman of the Committee of Ar
rangements' and had: places .assigned/ them, yes-:
terdayi Thb efforts of Mr.;Robinson to arrange
for the accommodation of the members, have
been indefatigable and eminen ly ; successful.
With a membership in his church of but 200,
he has undertaken, ah<f"has accomplished the
work of providing< r fdr dearly-300 gdests, and we
thiok .it is already felt that no Assembly has been
more'agreeably entertained th'au this ■ ■ ■
There is'cordiality minglod with a -seriousneßß
in l * the.' greetings of members; who seeui to-feel
th r at no couim'on matters are to'engage' their de
liberations'and'command their judgments. And'
men known to be every way competent, 'from'
rich and'long experience in the Church, from
breadth'df views, and high ability; to- reach, a
correct decision, are here in,such numbers as to
make it seem a providentially selected body for
the great business to come before it. ■ We. have,
already named some of these men —Drs. Skinner,
Prentiss, Spear, Stearns, Fisher, H. B. Smith,
John C. Smith, Hickok, Nelson, Pattersop, Swa
zey, Morris , Dufßeld, Noble, and such, elders as
Hons. W. B. Dodge, E. A. Lambert, Charles
Noble, Messrs. 0. E. Wood, Bodine, Stewart,
Miller, with many others giving such tone to the
body as, even if we had not long ago learned to,
confide in the wisdom of o,ur W.ojild,
assure us ofi the safety of- the interests that'come-
into'the hsiKds 1 of ’this : one of 1868./ *
1 ,. ' ■ i
Ji‘l , -*i V
PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, Mi
Among the 1 aged men of 1 the-'bStHrj'we notice
Dr .Skinner an A Father |
eighty,-yet- active and !vigorofflk!!l ®ifjlfiofc: iB
antong' the outside 'members, Ddffield,
Sr.,is expected tohpiorjcoiy. »go*W®. lbfs,
every .< Theological Seminary indHiN bodyufe rep* ■
resented in the'i&rsoii of its
gy, as Prof. , FLjR. Snuthv of ®.,A.
N’elSon of 11 Ddnfej alnd 1 Prof: fiall-tftf 1
Dr., Skinner,makes second! fj-Qm ;
Union, ■ and': Prof: [Morris, >ftonrndaaiieil! Esteryi
Seihft4ary'la J thd,dther
atAlbany behpye by ,
°l°gy- ,pi.i to pnntinw lon 9--[iul.“
There htaohg I'the'ftiH!‘tWo'bbhdi'e<f-4ele
j , . ...aial* « b'ivi ituu will odsilOOl l:;tl #/
gates in vf |f lt^e .; ioppflj.i®,yeyyrpany r pany
quite many ifromi, nitseibdary Aind
remote Pre'sbyteries j 1 a- fiill Tof title,
staunch 1 ' mdtf '> Contes ’ from fhr • 1 n’es&t/;
whjle the,• P,acific t k^ope, sendg; and.
teaching ElderS'inVunusuabnumbepbr,! :
the Committee; swarming iwitfrxoomtsisiioners,
and elW^h 1 olclodH, fjhds' the ’aihple? hh’d dlehadt
.t>jti ift tr»o Mif nr » siro -nv9‘.»
alienee 1 roo;n<, of ( aimreb. .welt t fiHed> y with)
members' 'ofbihC'-h'ody-'and ( Wfth, Dr.
( Nelson in the'pulpit, [Kansas; /
and Dri; &k>inner,of; New Ybrk*—
[West,- and 1 'the’ Centte4—the 'thibfceife'j'knd'fhe
1 .thcj jchprch.; ,The voice
add burly frsme of con , tnlStS"s ! troiigly
i with the 'delicate > dtlerpnees v Jigjit,’,frail,
[form of Dr: Skinner,:n'The^preliimpaey,‘services
are ■prOtnptly-'a'n'cl '.heartily dcrne,'dnd
! —'tut, lopg—rleayes, tbp.: codr/
gregatiob in'iitHe'.veryidncomtnonCenditidn of'
hpbger for tdo're. The dikttogfijjphihgfea
tureof jour,body as thdi advocate; of - SfcripturiJ
liberty "Within th'e’bO'dddS of a gennine 'Ualvip
[ ism P,T.« S
might-; . have been said liavthe way -of [warning,
. agkinst hllobltfg that ’ ]
yras.'Wely’li'vifedJ at. .Dufcijt^p'twnk'
1 of: the&rmer i klea l Wafctnbt''oisly due*
tobliritiltife, 1 bdl 'every ( dispositioh io pntj
our brethren.of|.tbc other branch id -full posses
sion of : the fsotß'ia regard to-the- doctrinal post:
tion and spirit of. pur body.. • ■-1 - ‘ i
The election l o£ moderator 1 'very -quietly
done.. I)r. ( Patterson,..of-, Chicago,, nominated
Dr. Stearns; Dr; Prentisswas nominated by an
other, and . Dr. Tuttle, of Wabash College, by
another. Dr. Prentiss promptly requested. the
Assembly to 1 excuse him, ’which was done, and
in a few minutes :the roll was called, and. the count
showed 127 votes Stearns, and 70 for
President Tuttle. Dr. Stearns is well known as
one of the most 'of 1 GKristian gentlemen
as ’well as most thoroughly athomein the word
ing and history of tile Presbyterian Church. Dr.
Stillman, of Buffalo, also -well- 1 d'riquainted with
the details'of Prfesbyterial ‘business, and Rfev. 1 '
T'. ,: Ralßton Smith^D.D‘|, l, of 'New Ycfrk were'elec 1 -
ted 1 'tdmjiorkTy : *<Sle'rks', ' without’ a division, arid
to'ok their places. ,l 1 ■ j 1
' From this point'the business of'the Assembly
proceeded rapidly. Three Permanent 1 Comuiit
tees: Publication, Home Missions, and Educa
tion,'presented reports, before' the Assembly ad
journed.' Mr. Dulles als' usual had a full abstract
of his report in pamphlet form, showing his ha
bitual and praiseworthy regard for the reading as
Well as the'hearing public. 1 The' other reports,'
lengthy* as'they were; ila¥ to be dbstrkcte<J hastily
-on the spot by the crowded reporters, j Hence
the great disproportion between the length of the
latter and the former in the printed report.
'lt is not, to be concealed tiiat thus fai- tbe de
pot,tsjshow little or no ; prpgress,jfi..nancially oyerj,
last-year; Home Missions received..oniy
more. Publication' received more from sales but
n6t : frond ' donations/ Education was iij such'
straits that the Committee was obliged to ggll se
yeral. scholarships,, (in , .order ,tp. jn get inn lediate.
necessities. ■ Happily a legacy of five or sik thou
sand' dollarb, received late : ih- the stored
thfe eqUilibrinm' 1 and enabled jfche Comini tell ttf*
some of the s6hplafshdps n so ji ear-.,
lier.i jthis legacy, tjhe receipts .ar ; oyer;
$523^000 >in all, or about $50.00 in advance bf last
year; f . 1 But these 'Committees ' all - represeit the;
work of the Church as inthesam line'
of progress which has so encouraged the 1 earts
of. the brethren,in recent years. The numjjer of
Home Missionaries is not far fr0m,50.0. Progress
is reported among ' the G-ermans: * Thef Commit
tee seem, prepared for dehnite* work, among the ,
Freedui.en, where the doorps wide open,and vhere
they seem, satisfied .the joint work of Education
and ‘Evangelisation can be effectively carriep on
under the Home Missionary'plansof the (ene
rah Assembly. 5 There is' Very great* incyeais in
the.number pf.candidates in pharge,of Ei uca
tipn.;CiOmmittee,“and.a;iprospect;of: a furth<r in
crease' in the year'jlist begun. : ‘ ; '
iI i i
[ V<\l\ .1
T 28, 18feS.
■ the. report 015 Jioreign Missiobsiß "very much
itithe tone of prbcedtng'docnmenfcs, ehbwfng no
j mtfricfecfprogress iii' co'btribiitipnß, 1 . while; thb field
Isjeyer u and the pleasing. ,of Grod- ,upon
■ 1 the'labors'ofmissionaries in 'the conversioriof
the of self-support anjd or
,,ganizlng tenfonpiesi among, the. churches is more
:fii&liifest'th£n’fevfer ! . * ■■■■. ■ 1 ■';■ /
: ,I3u(j a.yery. marked exception to. the .prevalent
: 1 financial-iaspectjiisithe report. of : Dr. Ellinwoody
the Chambah <Jf*, Ereetibn Committee!
It .i!UI If) OlMlli'3 Ih-Sl'-mTiiJK )H■•.:! , -H!W ~ .1 i
, A* grqat lpqrjease ip, receipts,amountiug'to nearly:
tjhfee .fold thosb’ of ! the previotls l ‘year ’was report-
ovpy l 'ss.o,p^9,;lu ß ,tl ea tl of the
less than 819,000 reported in 1867. This field has.
been"cuitrvate'd wilHe most cbihmendable energy
and. with..the-jinpst liberal.spirit, on the -part .of
Committee, 1 wHoiUot-ooly have increased the n'nift
ber df {churches ’aidjed, but have made the grants
,ayerages2Qo,more each, than.-in. last year,, their
>aim< tb'relieve'the churches ■ of all special 1
lappealpJsjr'.'th^e'xlJfent.o^,their, appropriations.,to
:needy enterprises.,! ni-.> m ■in,.i . ■ -.r,
6f Niw 1 York,"Secretary of
.the Permanent; tippimittee on.,EoEeign| Missions,;
jread; the I Report'of/ tfaat'ComiilUtee, 1 which' as'
havb jinSld.Vjis ~not up to, this 1 expectations
,excited ,byi; those-of- recent, years.;; The figures;
’have'dlifesid^appeare'd'in 1 our columns/ '
.report was concluded, the
: Assembly resettled itself for the' introduction 'of
'the, topic of, session, and , of, the
,theHeport qf,the,Joint, 'Committee on. Reunion.,
iPresented'’ and doubtless 1 ! written' by Rev. Wm:
) Adams ) ,l ’fl.]3{,‘ S'resident of the Committee,' it en
/joyed-such hjghadvanteges of form and-delivery
{as rapely fajl to the lot of a Cpmrpitted’s^epdrt.
, Wjth iqlearj .ringing, rqusjcal voicq ;, with;win
•liing modulation,;: with/ perfect-ease' and compos- 1
: vpre{' themelliriupus
iandi animated’with .the. highest .Christian: sentirl
'rpebts;,' fell' oti' tbfe loir aB 1 h"tai{e • litepai , y!an;d'’spir-'
,ituaV,yntt!rla¥nrnent jj al|>eii( l some felt - that; jjjjder'
this-glow: of the style;Berionsi defects in thei plan'
'were extenuated, and that the 1 almost entranced
Hearers would-, peed,,to be,. reduced, to a eooler
|-mobdibefoTe they could/'exercise-a proper degree
i of prudence in judging of its true worth and
expedieney. ■ ■ ■ : -
: As'the dignified, handsome, and gracefully
.venerable Chairman passed from, his, long,and,
eloquent /introductory argument,-which elicited
frequent subdued demonstration of applause, to
. the specific .terms of Reunion, there was a: gene
ral stir among the members as •if about to hear
the unfolding of a great secret, and. to reach the
core of theimatter. .Quite a lively though brief
burst of applause'grefeted the concluding senten
ces. of the doctrinal article. A similar, rather
more inten’se, 'but brief outburst was heard at the
reading of the last artiole. The closing argu-
ment,inexplanation and defense of the . terms,
was also well received y even - an apt quotation
from Scripture being warmly, a pplaudedj, and the
well elaborated peroration, full of the 'finest rhe
toric and *. the noblest Christian anticipations,
swept; over the Assembly like * a strong, sweet
zephyr over 1 a great, well-toued lyre.
After the applause subsided thp, Doxology was
sungiby the whole ibody. ■ ■
Dr. Patterson 1 then arose and came forward,
and with characteristic modesty, after unanimous
consent 'given; read his dissent from various
points of the action of the Committee. His com
paratively brief /but, weighty paper, prepared at
the disadvantage of not having seen the elabor
ate argumentative report of the. Joint Commit
tee until last evening, was heard; with profound
attention, and also received' with applause and
referred to the .Special. Committee., There was
ho attempt on Dr/ Patterson’s part to do more
than c'edrly to state his posifion and leading, ar
guments. ■ He reserved his fire for a later stage
in the discussion. -
There is very little doubt that the' movement
for a;more cautious policy than would be indica
ted'by the unqualified acceptatice of the majori
ty report of the Joint Committee is strong enough
in the persons’of its advocates and in numbers,
to make the Assembly pause and perhaps adjourn
final action for another year. At the conclusion
of the reading of Dr. Patterson'S paper the As
sembly adjourned.
’The American Presbyterian says that Horace Bush
nell is ; blind ; and walks on crutches. —Ambassador
( Unvoersalist.) -
The American Presbyterian says that the
Church Union must have, been blind when it
quoted our item (credited by us to.the Advance)
in regard to the Cincinnati City Missionary, and
then asked :if we meant Dr. Bushnell of Hart
ford:—the Horace Bushnell zaP j also
that the Ambassador had better walk on crutches
than lean, on-such a broken reed as the Church
Union, in the matter of.news items.
.1 '.li V ■>(" I !U I
' FeidX’F, May -22 d.
Genesee -Evangelist. ISTo. 1149.
| Ministers $2.50 H. Miss. $2.00.
1 Addressl334 Chestnut Street.
THE AMERICAN RAILWAY LITERARY
UNION.
; This new organization, composed of some
of the leading railroad and news-men of'the
' country—as Messrs. Wells & Fargo, Daniel Drew,
; fthd Edward P. Smith (the latter formerly of the
1 American News Co.) of New York, J. Y. Far
wefl.of ’Chicago, Rev, Yates Hickey and others,
has for its object the laudable purpose of sub
stituting pure and wholesome reading matter for
‘the trash mdwiso-widely peddled among travellers
Snd ! exposed [ wnews i&atids. v They design so far
>as prahtiodßlFtb 1 secuie“ the right'of selling news
papers, Sc.'J'on tlie bars, add to’ give the travel
ing public ‘ the opjoriunity of purchasing reli-
literature, newspapers, tracts and books if
,they, wish, thopgb by; pp.;gieans toexclude the
Tegular; issues of the respectable press. They also
propose to, establish news stands in, our cities,
.where similar literature ’ may be obtained. ’ We
•axe 'sincerely thankful that’this enterprise 1 is fidr
jly 'dnminen'ced and‘is m'Such dhle and experienced
ihahds. 4fte J f kll' the pest way fit keep chaff out of
tfiemeasureistofill it with grain. Laws
.against immoral publicatkmsare necessary, but
•good, effectively written, substitutes for the, trash,
‘properly distributed,-wijl. have more effect, than
laws;.: -It is hightime something of the kind
were: done,-rand'we are impatient to see the So
biety'S plane in actual operation.'Mr, J. A. Qar
•diner is the Superintendent' for Philadelphia.
!His office is'at 615 Chestnut St.
v.:-- :-:m '-r-il tU:. .
- CiTY STFNbIAY ScHO'oiis.—The Anniversary
'of the North Broad St. Sunday School, held on
.Tuesday evening of last. week, was. a .most bril
liant and successful affairs The: capacious edi- .
fice was thronged in every part." The floral deco
rations were' of the richest, and most lavish char
acter;/ «The children, under the direction of Mr.
T.'S.’ Rawrings, sang great, enthusiasm. and
There wcre admirable: addresses
■Ry Dr.. Ifiswtoni'tli^'paStbr, ! '(Dk Stlfylcbr,) Mos.
•Potter,, Esq, j jmd ,(jf em. Cfxegory j hut the peculiar
feature of the* evening was the presentation off
offering's. Each class, through one of its ,mem
-bers, came forward; .with a boquet of flowers, to
which the Chosen' name' of the class, the name of
ithe teacher, and the amount' contributed through
theyear was , attached j together with the name
Jof the person for whom the boquet was designed
!ak-ajgift by the class. •Many other gifts, books,
-photographs, wax flowers, even silver ware from
.the scholars to the teachers, to the former pas
tor; (Dr;; Adams,) to the present pastor, (Dr. Stry
'kerj) and' their families and 1 other persons were
•also,, presented., The services were prolonged ,
'toia'late hour. Seven teachersahcf scholars had
'died during the year. The, contribuiions which
dre above $4OO, -go mainly to the Sunday School
Union; A Syrian girl is supported at Beirut
Calvary School celebrated its 15th. Anniversary,
‘on last Sabbath afternoon. The membership’ is
,437. Average attendance, 318.. .. Contributions
for the year, $258; for the last quarter $l4O.
jTwo female scholara are supported in Bulgaria
and Syria by two of the classes. Nine , scholars .
! had- united with- the church. Addresses were *
( delivered by Drs. Humphrey and, March. —The
53d- Anniversary of the School of the Pirst,
' church, was celebrated at the same time. A his
tory.of, the school from, the commencement was „
read : Addresses were made .by Mr. Barnes, Df.i
Stryker, and' Dr. Johnson. ' .
The Methodist Generat, Conference, in
session at Chicago, has, voted to Admit Southern
Mission Conferences to equal rights in Confer
ence, ThV “ mission conference” was a device ,
invented by politic managers some years ago, in
order to extend the Church among our American
citizens of African descent, and organize their
preachers into annual conferences, but de
prive' them of all vote in National Conference,—
in a word to make them territories and not
States. The institution is by. this action abolished .
and the delegates from the South—white and
colored—have taken their seats, with the rest.
Conference also adopted a rule making the use
of tobacco an insurmountable, disqualification in
candidates for the ministry,' and decided to elect
no new bishops. In answer to a resolution of
the African M. K. Conference, in session at
Washington, a special committee of; fifteen was
appointed to discuss the propriety;and ppssibili- j
ty of the union of the two Chur,fehes-
The subject :of the establishment of a new
Presbyterian church in Wilmington, Del., was to
be brought before the people of the Central,
Church last Sabbath. A congregational meeting
will probably be held to take action. u There is
that scattereth and yet.inereaseth.’ , ,