(ft iginat entinintitatim. THE SPANISH-BROWN CHAIR. The following lines are from the Bev. Walter S. Itrysdale, now of Cairo, N. Y., and were occasioned by his reading an account of the "Spanish Chair" pre 'entation to the Rev. Charles Brown, in the Pastoral .kssociation of Phila., on the 9th of November. What is a Spanish chair,—what its substance, figure, hue? Is it cellar hewn from Lebanon-real Presbyterian blue? la it hollowed in the back to accommodate the spine; !las it arms on which the elbows, when wearied, may recline? Does it swing upon a pivot, or gently roll on castors; Is it a "lunar fardel's" nest, or a bachelor's and master's? has it rungs of genuine azure tint, with yellow bands of gold, And "pomegranates and little bells" that tinkle as it's rolled? Does it blush in crimson velvet, is it stuffed with springy hair? Must the priest have walked his Spanish, who sits upon ibis chair? Is it firm in its fouudations,— in the Apostolic line, And broad enough to seat both Schools, when the Old and New combine? We were with you in the spirit, on the ninth of this November, For the meetings of our, brethren still, , we cannot but remember; ' From east, and :west, and chilly north, like arrows on their track, , To the old quiver whence We, sped, we turned 'and fluttered baCk. Duffield was there from Michigan, Jenkins front Mon treal, And Neill came in from regions•wild, far westward from St. Paul; Darling was there from Albany, from Newark Wilson 'cartui Malin and 'Butler, 'Patton,.- Pierce, of Philadelphia fame. . - BUt ftoW 'they came we'll not inquire, though not in -body Slow, As streaks of ; lightning in the sky from west to east- Ward gloit; , go in the spirit flew they. all—but how we need not !snow. , • Congratulations' true and warm, like equinoctial • rain, Came down on our dear Brother Brown, with his elbow Chair from Spain; And the whisper ran from man to man—how little years had told In wrinkling our dear Brother Brown, and making • him look old; .end one b,y,one we shook his hand, and pray'd that God might give, -- With other blessings rich to him, still many years to live. And as in spirit there we met, and spake, and • breath'd our prayer, We crossed our palms in joy again with Dulles: and Adair; We utter'd deep . "God bless you all," as Shepherd and McLeod, • Culver and Bruen, tfotchkin, Barnes, were singled from the crowd. But .when arose dear Albert Barnes, and his silvery spencla began, The spirits of departed ones came circling round the man; , " • ' Their arms went twining round his neck, their • glory lit kis cheek, As of other days and the sainted dead, his lips es sayed to speak; As if they missed him from the skies, and could no longer spare, As if to - heav'n upon their arms-they must, the loved one bear. So close and closer still they crowd upon the aged Paul, And whisper low that eyes in heav'n are never (limited at all. Their faces Shone angelic bright; for heav'n came with them. too, And throbs of love and sympathy breath'd all that chamber through; They grasp'd with. unfelt touch the hands, that they in flesh had press'd, And drew the forms of brethren dear in transport to their breast. Ely was there, and Dickinson, and Chandler and Mc- Knight; ' - • And Renshaw and, good Anson Rood, were of those spirits bright. Ramsey was there; hiS vision clear of the millenial days, ,• _And Brainerd with his tongue of fire all eloquent with praise; (inert was there With" fanned crown and blood wash'd raiment white, And 'Wallace flaMi'd a burning star resplendent as the light; And where, these prophet's mantles there on other • shoulders lay, They hovered each above that chair—then vanish'd all away. -Veto—York, November 23d; 18138. REV. A. M. STEWART'S LETTERS.-XXIV. WHITE PINE DisTuic7, Nevo.da, Nov., 1868. PREACIIINQ IN TREASURE CITY. .!tr 11 Go preach the Gospel to every creaturd," is the last military order from the Comminder. and leader of the people to His officers and soldiers in the hosts of tho Lord. This order yet unfulfilled, presses as imperatively as when first issued. In attempted obedienOe to the Master's direction, and also in due compliance with church order, a visit of a few weeks hasleen made to. Treasure City I and its surroundings—not in company'with this eager crowd to make claims; not to burrow in the ground for hidden treasure; nor crave it of those who may chance to find—but here for the souls of men, here to .open the %•ay for regular Gospel ordinances; and so soon as practicable, the or ganization of,a Presbyterian Church. No minis ter of Jesus, solar as known, has ever before been within a hundred miles of this region with idea or intent to preach the gospel. DIFFICULTIES Never elsewhere, perhaps, on earth have these graphic declarations of Scripture had so literal and perfect fulfilment as among this strange, mix ed, eager nlass of money-seekers: "Be that is greedy of , gain troubleth his own house. An in heritance array be gotten hastily at the beginning, but the end thereof shall notte blessed. He that maketh haste to be rich shall not be unpunished. Ile that hasteth to be rich bath an evil eye— they fall into tem'ptation, and' a , snare and into many foolish.antt burtfaldustd which drown men in destruction and Perdition." Not a person here ho did not come, as well as the crowds which THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1868. still come, with the cherished hope and intense desire, speedily to amass wealth; and then go elsewhere in order to spend it. Even the stray professor, who chances to find his way hither, comes not for good; neither to get nor do good, but for money. The intensity manifested by this mass of humanity after a single worldly object is deeply interesting to the Christian, and a lesson of instruction to those who profess to follow after better things. In what way can one get the ear and attention of such a seething multitude in behalf of the Gospel? No printing press to give notice; no church, hall, school-house or room to invite an audience for religious service. Winter too near at hand to have comfort in the open air. PREACHING My arrival was late on ' Saturday night. On Sabbath at 2 P. M., without any previous notice, having secured two men and three women to sing, I got upon an'empty goods box in the street, near the centre and most bustling part of the new city and commenced service. Sabbath is the great trading day and the city was thronged. The trading, drinking, swearing, bustling throng evidently at first supposed me some political , ha ranguer; it boing immediately 'before the PreSi ,deatial, as well,as Nevada State, pleetion, and va t rious aspirants,for office,had lately. been here en lightening the people. ~,,There was soon a large audience gath9red • about me, and certainly a very attentive one dnring my 'preaching and prayer. The singing was as much a novelty; the' first ever heard in the public praise of God in all this grand mountain region. Not a few in the crowd joined their voices in the familiar tunes and hymns. Preaching was announced again in the same place at 7P. M. Our pulpit chanced to be in front of the largest store in the place—a com bined dry goods, grocery and ivhisky saloon. Be fore opening our evening service, the owner of the store came to me and remarked, "I want to say a word," at the same time mounting a box in his sf ore door; the store being crowded with perhaps a hundred men, he shouted; "Men,' 'my store ought not to be open on the Sabbath; bdt now it is going to be devoted for an hour to public worship, during which time there will be no trad ing. I want you all to stay and be quiet, and' if you cannot be quiet I want you to leave:" The Lord had touched his heart. My rostrum vas on his box in the store door, with an attentive 'congregation inside and another outside in the dark. What a position, under what strange cot ditions, yet what a 'privilege then and 'there to preach Jests? My theme was : "God.forbidlhat I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." Many of my' hearers I well know had not for years heard the Gospel' preached and all the while hardening in sin. That' day will' dis close what•good was accomplished this Sabbath evening. • A. M. STEWART. A NEW 'BOOK. The Being of Gad,' Moral Government, and' The ses in Theology.—Ba Miles' P. Algisier,.D.D. MR. EDITOR :—lt should awaken gratitude in every intelligent mind, that a work like That which I have placed at the head of these remarks should make its appearance just now. The advo cates of new theories in 'Philosophy, the origina tors of systems'in morals which ignore the past and make but little account of Revelation;'to gether with the matchkess 'Strides of those who solve all mysteries by saying " therefore," Wheth. er they know wherefore or not, have produced a scarcity of works of solid 'merit, and led many that wished for better things, and that, perbap's, were engaged in - preparing them, tO lay aside their pens in despair. It is I ecorded by some one (no matter who), that in a certain village there lived two physi. cians,—one a most intelligent, well-read, judi: cious man ;the other, a most profound quack. The man of science and skill was taken siek, and, to the surprise of all, he sent for his superficial neighbor, who promptly Called, and as promptly prescribed. The sick an listened to the direc tions and suggestions of the green branch of the healing art with as much patience as possible, till he had "got through," then shewed in a few words, that he neither knew what was his disease, nor had any correct idea of a remedy. "Very well'," said the quadk, "and. now- I - want to know why you sent for me ? You knew' . that I knew nothing about your disease, and but very little aboL ---- ui, an y -- body's. Now, why did you send for me ?" " Because," replied the intelligent man, " I wanted to ask you one question, How is - it that you, a most perfect ignorammi, accord ing to your own showing, haVe succeeded in get ting all the practice ?" (which w a s faCt that I should have mentioned sooner.) " Well, .re plied the quack, " if you are able to step here to the window, I will tell you. YoU see that group of men there ?" Yes." " How large a por tion do you think are men of intelligence ? men of sound, good sense, and a ripe and finished edu cation ?" " Possibly there May be one 'there 'of that description, but not more." "'And how many, think you, are there ?" "Proba,blY a doz en, or twenty." " Very 'well," replied the quack; "that one, if such is there, is years ; the rest, whether ten or twenty, are mine." . Now this .4 be a somewhat uncharitable es timath of the 'character of men, especially in re spect to the great questions that are discussed in the above-named work ; but certain it is, that few, very few, are deeply in love with works that go to the bottom of these subjects. If a man has written a commentary on the whole Bible, why he must, of course, be a learned man,—one who is to be trusted everywhere. If one has been a Professor in any one of our colleges, giving in structions upon the most profound subjects, whether he understood them or not, he must, of course, be a learned man. And if a minister of , the gospel , in his endpayors to toilet' off a very eloquent' passage, has quoted SamSori and his foxes, or Joshua stopping the 'sun and moon; why certainly he has looked out a path round. all the difficulties, with which these passages are attended, or he would-not quote them. This is' thought to be charitable, , reasonable, kind. , Let me now say, in ,respect to, the,. work I am. noticing, It will be read ,by only a small portion, of mankind; plainly, for the, reason that it, re quires thought—hard, deep thought. It is not enough to,say it must Alen study. 'a :reatmany,lessons, to see how St.. Augustine or k calvin,,or, Arminins thought ; and haying care fully seen , this, their task is ,done.. They are,not startled at the th,ought that, ,all these men. ar rived at the conclusion that we all sinned six' thousand years ago, :and that, in orde,r to ,be or thodoi,. ,must., believe, this, ,whether wonnd,er stand it , or, not. z F , • • , Thei reader Will not regard rue a,s reviewing the work, before •us f 4butr- only-suggesting that if , he is desiroxis of tiebinglarisysterrk Of Mini' Gov erriment,„which.doos pot,. in, some ,part, overlie' another part ; he may ; - AO here: l If he an, admirer of any4mowho , writes but to, repeat what others have written,..hO will pot,be,,much .este4 in the woTlf-- •Laii.Fir,itallers Ito see. a system, consistent with itself;, one,in, which it is demonstrated that God had no part!in.,the.intro auction of sin;.a system written, frqm first to last, witkan unworapen., let Ilita sit down to the,work we:haveinamed. He. will Ile .Aure . to see, Nthule forests of thought, that; he never saw before, ,of, a most deeply interesting andinstructivokind. - T. -LEE- , Paiteo 'Cal& Xter Publishers will confer a'favor by mentioning. the Trices of all books sent to this Departnient. • APPLETON's COmPTtEHENSiVE DICTIONARY OF THE 'BIBLE is still another - of the numerous American works based upon the famous Diction ary of Dn. WILLiaiM &milt of England. In this edition,' the effort has been to provide; one large volume, as complete, fresh, accurate and setisfactory a 'Nfork,' explanatory of Bible faCts, history, topogiaphy, and antiquities' as Could, in the present stage' Of inquiry, be‘Tuf nished, for popular use.' The whole is stated in language intelligible to"those who havn ionly 'an English education; and 'every intimation hostile to evangelical views is excluded or its ground lessness is argued. Great cafeis taken to rep resent accurately the'usage in pronunciation and orthography, whtinqiiverse - forms are not over looked ; in other - departments, much new mat ter has been added to the ground-work furnished by'Dr. Smith; nne•ithitkof the cuts and most of the maps are from other' sources; theology and church order, scarcely touched by Dr. Smith, are made prominent features, the purpose being to avoid sectarianism, and the whole Dictionary has been made, as far as possibly, without sup pressing any important opinion, to' harmonize with itseif. When we add that the editor, Rev. S. 11r. Barnum, was the principal coadjutor of Prof. Goodrich in 'revising Webster's Dictionary and putting it on its present honorable basis, and that he has 'had the aid Of the President and Librarian of Yale College, we have rendered any special commendation 'on our part unneces sary. The work is a large Svo. of 1219 pages hand somely printed and sold only by subscription, for $5 , , in , cloth: ' " NOitEIING BUT LEAVES." When leaves presume to usurp the place of fruit, and are , the whole product of the' vegeta ble forces, they are an impertinence, and: may well be used in a figure to rebuke a'mere fession of piety. But for the artist, leaves are among the most interesting and beautiful of materials. In' the,'voltime 'before Us; the accom:- PliShed artist, 'JEAN I;ns, daughter of a well- . known and venerated church dignitary, , exhibits the capacity' of leaves as orriam'ents, around thosechoice words of the poet, which contrast them in the moral world, with fruit. Each gage, as we understand, is patiently done by hand, after thetfainer the' medieval illumination, and the whole are then bound' together in a 4to volume.' BesideS 'a title page an'd a Finis, there are five page's; containing ;the opening wor'ds; and separate stanzas of the poem, each ornamen ted with its separate kind of leaf : the ivy, the oak, the "holly, the 'vine, and finally the -richly variegated leaves of autumn, 114 a particle of fruit appearing among them., The accuracy of draWina the 'artistic beauty, of arrancreinent and the richness of cbloring, which breaks out at the last in 'the gorgeoUs intermingling of greeri;'and gold, and scarlet, of - an American forest in Octo ber, make it altogether a most unique and St.: tractive volume, every way suitable to the Sea son of _gifts and r t imembrancers. For sale"bY Duffield - Ashinead; Philadelphia. Field do Osgood. THE UNCOMMERCIAL TRAVELLER :AND AD DITIONAL CHRISTMAS STORIES constitute the closing volume. of the, Charles Dickens Edition, of Dickens' works. The Uncommercial Travel ler is a very independent sort of person, whose life is spent in sight-seeing in various places, un connected in any way with each other in the narrative, save by the extraordinary powers of observation and description belonging to the au thor., These sketches. are among the most enter taining of- any of Dickens' shorter pieces. The -features of -this= edition, legibility and beauty of typography, &e., ,are understood. Cloth, $1.50; paper, 75,,cents. _Lippincott. AMONG THE , HILLS, and ; other poems,, by John Greenleaf Whittier will be welcomed by all lovers of- the freshness, the music .and the pearl:like 'purity.which always, pervade the• poe try of Whittier. Like the sunshine, his muse delights toglorify and transfigurethe •commonest •objects.,- Thosewlio, consider rgral;life common place•should read,9 Am,ong the and the ‘P Clear Vision.'?, 1.6nici.,.,pp.1100. -$1.50. For -sale as above. , • ••- • =avenues.' • , ,GLANcF e 0-AYLOIiD, the,autbor of pulnißock, And other prize : stories of high promise, whose real.,name was, yf. BRAD.wy, and for whom a bright career was. anticipated, : has, recently, de ceased at the age, of 21. In three or four years he. has issued thirteen volumes , " PATIENCE A - AT.IIAwA x ,-, j u st; issued,. is,hispo s th u mou san d ;only remaining work. It is original, .without being far. fetched; ~the characters, ,are .individn alized, and the story is well . , constructed and of ecelient tendenc,y. It,,must deeply, interest as well At profit all Neaders., 'book is strongly bound, well, printed and, .illustrated, and, with .370 , Pages, BOIS, for $ 1 . 5 9;. , Bostoii A. Graves. Mr. A: D. F. RawnoL - firt: whoser , excellent .taste and judgment, conscientiously L e.xereised, are a guarantee of the , character of his publica tions,. , has ..just, issued ; in. uniform style, three books, in large. :elegant ; type, fgr ,seven-year-old readers, under the quaint title, 'of " Rom - ,ANx, POLY." - - These heroines -of- the stoiy are two quite ynung sisters, 'WhoSe.icoriducycharacters and -experiences are, dra,wn . from real ,child 7 fife, which, as, every, one, knows, is about the most en tertaining of.. all the, periods of. life, to the .ob server. Beginning with E,oly and Poly THE NURSERY, the series takes us, to ABN.T, MaacArtri. .G,R4TAQAP's ;, and, in, the tbird•volume we find them at Pftin.v.u.. - 4E. Amid their.plays, and their mishapsi,and their child-follies, we, also read of 0101' touching childish ways of showing the spirit of the :,,avinur, who loved. and -welcomed the ifittle ones. -With a. number of, .illustrations ,and; beautifully printed, they make a charming gift to the younger class of readers.. ,Another captiv.ating, book_ for , ,the children has been is sued by Mr. •Rminpl. - Rft, ; entitled : LITTLE Roar's' TRAVELS.: or, Country.,Scenes in the South .of TFra-Pee!' Little. Rosy goes with fath enand,mother from:her English ,horne to, the Smith of Prange, and her journey and the many new sights, and incidents in, her foreigthhome furnish •matter. of ~constatit, and varied, i interest, to the reader. The moral and ; religious traits of the child's eharacter are brought out• in the same skilful, aod attractive manner as the rest ,of, the story. The externals of the ; book are both strong enough to, stand handling, and ,yet,,on a scale to make,tliD• children's eyes dance.. The: large hand some page, and the numerous. full-page illustra- tions, reproduced from „French, originals by, the N. Y. Lithographic companyhre,marked features. it is for sale, atthe Presbyterian book-store. I. M. W. Bopp is also to be reckoned•nmongthe publishers, whom the public can trust,. and. to wards whose'books:the 'critics , have no: needy of specihl watchfulness, unless it ,be against falling into conventional.iihrases of commendation. We have 'received of his late publieations through the Publication Committee::"GENEVA'S SHIELD" a story by 'Rev.: W. M..‘Blaekburn of the working of •the Reformation leaVen"in Geneva before the days of Calvin,'a period of the most thrilling interest;; a struggle: for liberty as arduous, as va ried, and as bitter as any almost on record ;, not on so' large a scale, but quite as worthy of, a place in history. 'ln this story. the truth of listory :is strictly adhered to, while only so much-of fiction we may even call it that--is introdueed•'as to make the historic facts seem more real and life-like Iv is a,' most instructive, profitable and readable book; one we ebould be glad to see in all. our S..S libraries. 16m0., - 325• pp.' $1.25. THE ORPHANS' TRIUMPHS (M. , W. Dodd) is a book thoroughly imbued , with a deep 'religious spirit; there is at times a trace of weakness in the feelings which: form so large 'a part of = the narrative, but a tender, moving' interest attaches the reader to the minister's orphan boy and girl, and draws hini. on to learn their fate., pp, :295: $1.25. " - PAUL'ANb 'MARGARET ;4 or, the Inebriates' Children," is one of' the best , of Temperance stories, brief but varied in incident and welt sus- Mined ,in narrative andlehaiacter. It is by "H. K. P.P also author of the Orphan's Triumphs. 1:78 pp. $1 00. ' : THE HERITA&E" 'CI' PEACE ; or, Christ our Life, is the title of a'verslindsoine square gilt little vdlUnie; by Rev T. S'. Childs, .1).D., in which the various elen9LAt'S of the ehristianlife i.r . o set " ` forth' tin °lion; and la rgelylin the language of Scripture, not without reference to uninspired authorities or to popu'ar and perni cious errors. Albeit the views a 4 the start arc colored with high Calvinism, the treatise, with its good selections of recent -sacred poetry, will prove profitable to the Christian reader. New York : Randolph. Phila.: Presbyterian Publi cation Committee. ' Dr. `Alfred Nevin's POPULAR '.COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE is pub lished byWm. Flint, No. 26 South Seventh St. We have already noticed the advande sheets of the work. The whole volume of 725 pages is now before us. It is written mostly for Bible classes, Sabbath-schools and for families, but it is hoped will not be without use to theologians and private Christians. A wide range of au thors has been consulted in the pre . paration, but the i tnargi&is overloaded With no Vetei'ebcei The results of the latest Biblical research have been embodied in the work, but the great praitfeal aim—the enforcement of Divine truth has been kept! steadily in view. The illustrations are of an unusually high character, and the questions appended to each section must be a valuable aid to the use of the book in'claiSes and' families. Price, $3.00. From Barnes & Co. of New York, through the Meiirs:Lippincoit, - of thidibity, we have Mr. James H. Woman's, ODMPLETEkGAAMMAE. OF THE GERMAN LANGUAGE. Like most. recent Grammars of the Modern LanguageS, j.t is con btrunteir on Herr 011ehdoxirs plan. The prin piples are impressed on the learner's memory not by simply committing rules to memory as in the classic` grammars, tatbynuiikeiOna examples and illustrations, which isundo.ubtedly,the best ,me thod when the simple acquisition of the lan guage and not'in'ent'al diaciPlinn.for it own sake, is the end in view. Mi. Worman's work is very full and explanatory, and can be recommended as a thorough treatise on its own subject. Pp. 576. Price $2. Th'eqeadets . of ALmosr NuN will not need much persuasion to induce. them to get another "volurn6 of Mrs: J. AFNair'''#rip,tht. Her new book - -THE oORNER , SALI; IS a Story of hum bletlife in New York, and is one which will add to the authcir's reptitation. The hero, Thomas TWi,gg, keeper of the corner-stall'; is brought into God's niarvellous light, chiefly through the efforts of a itudent in Union Theological Seminary, and beComes himself a gospel lamp through which the word shines into the hearts and minds of his neighbOrs and humble patrons. Many types of New York character appear in these pages, and are depicted 'racily and graphically, but all in subdrdination to the one great theme, " Unto the poor the Gospel is preached." -Published by Henry Hoyt of Boston. Pp. 287. Four illus trations. • THE UPWARD PATH (frpm the, same publish ers) by Mrs. Caroline E. Kelley Davis, is a spi rited picture of the struggles of the eldest son of a widOwed pother in the course of his pre paration, for t',119 work of i theministry, and of the influence for good ; which he, his wise mother and his loving sister were able to exert during dalys.of 'trial 44 4 patience.. Pp: 33Q. Prom the same, publisher, tJmngh the Publi cation Committee, we have..ll4zEr. FARM and WILLY MATTLA - rip,, two -very readable English tales for,young ieadArs, illustrating by two very different, types- of obartteter•thp powerful influ ence for good exerted by consistent Christian lives. The, Arst is tbe?story of an old Methodist farm-lah orer liviog among worldly,ehureh-keeping neighbors:and employers, and, living through unjust,accusations ,of wrong doing. The second tells, how a,little orphan boy ,(or a hop supposed to be,,an, orphan) found, ,Cll4, what the Lord's Prayer ought.to mean to, him, in, his intercourse with kis careless and(often) selflsh cousins and playmates. A., P. Skelly of this city sencls.us two :new volumes of his excellent ,series of S. S : boolF,s, G-RFTpagN's TROUBLES is a story of life among the laboring class. of Germans. The plot o f the story is alittle improbable in our eyes, and per haps the character 'ef, tlket heroine would be judged a little too sweet for this Revodution-ary age, when Patient Griseldas are, out of, date, but it is not improbable that in both ,these respects the story is only characteristically German. The tale is lively and readaNe; the f interest, well sus tained ; and the moral and religious teaching un exceptionable,, PATTY is a well-told story of life among the servant: elpss in England, and the moral enforced, is the, folly of self-will and worldly vanity. some few places, a fas tidious Republican eye might think the English theory of , ‘E duty tp, superiors" ,prominent to a fault, and the. denouement, impresses us as iT probahle. Pp, apa 1 ; 4, . • From the Presbyterian,Board have two, il lustratedhooks for the elkildren,,more alike in their titles than their Sabjects,--THE CHINA CUP and. THE .CHINAIHAN CALIFORNIA. The former is an English_steryArst : puhlised by the London Tract Society; and, turkks on, the fortunes of a cup will& makes the, voy4ge, to, California through the.deceit of:one:girl And the ; distress of another; but afterwards mimes 144 k The latter illustrates the condition..ofAur_CU t ep Ar esjdeuto in California,, :their: perfteAktim•Joy _the; isigked arid , thoughtlOss,,sid i tlist i tlfort h , w, 44 l:g oth era for,their viristwilotttlfgl9lv (Continued on.flroyez.4o2.) ;
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers