juirri Mu prtsll.l3firialt. THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1869 REV. JOHN W. HEARS, D. D., Editor. No. 1334 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. THE EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Bev. Z. M. Humphrey, D.D., Pastor of Calvary Church. Rev. Herrick Johnson, D.D., Pastor of the First Church. Rev. Danl. March, D.D., Pastor of Clinton St. Church. Rev. Peter Stryker, D.D., Pastor of N. Broad St. Church. Rev. George F. Wiswell, D.D., Pastor of Green Hill Church. Rev. E. E. Adams, D. D., Prof.] in Lincoln Uni versity. Rev. Samuel IV. Duffield, Special Cor respondent. Mr. Robert E. Thompson will continue to act as Editor of the News Department. Correspondents in every Presbytery and Sy nod will promptly furnish us with fresh items of news from their respective fields. Dar How we went to Switzerland, 11, by G. W. M., Our Secular Press and Murder, Tem perance Items, News of our Churches, page 2nd; Editor's Table, Literary Intelligence, Musical Mention, page 3rd; I am waiting (Poetry), Tales for the family circle, Lessons on Paul, .XI V., Lightning (2 articles), Color Blindness, The Aurora Borealis, page 6th; Religious World Abroad, page 7th. In the advertisement of Hours at Home last week, the types made the proprietiirs offer for one new subscriber and renewal for one year ($5) a certain premium. It should have read ($6). Mir Out of fifty.eight Presbyteries tilts far reported, three vote for the Basis of 1868, un amended ; three others do the same, but express a willingness to unite on the standards, if three fourths of the Presbyterians in both branches are agreed. One, without expressing its own preference, requests the Assembly to cease nego tiations if the present plan fails; two vote for Reunion on the Standards, and seem desirous of its accomplishment at once. The remaining forty-nine vote for the proposed amendments of our Reunion Committee. Of these, thirty-four vote for• the amendments, with little or no comment; two emphasise the Commit tee's preamble : "It must be understood," &e.; five are willing to take "the Standards pure and simple" as an alternative; two others express a preference for "the Standards ;" three will unite on any plan which the Assembly may approve as an alternative; one prefers " the Standards," re serving the right to deal with Congregational churches on the roll; another, adhering to the Committee's amendments, agrees with the last Presbytery in regard to Congregational churches ; another, adhering to the amendments, gives its Commissioners discretionary power. air We observe by our 0. S. exchanges; that the following Presbyteries of that church vote for Reiinion on the Basis of our common Stan- dards : Central Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Chicago, Cincinnati, Huntingdon, (Pa.), Donegal (Pa.), Burlington, (N. J.), Miami, (0.), Chillicothe, (0.), Indianapolis, (Ind.), Muncie, (Ind.), New Albany, (Ind.), Ottawa, (Ill.), Palmyra, (Mo.), Upper Missouri, and S. W. Missouri; 16 in all. The following vote for Reiinion on the Basis of the Assemblies . as amended by our branch of the Joint Committee: Chicago, Nashville, Cincinnati,'and Allegheny City; four in all. The following (in addition to, or instead of other action) demand that the Basis of Reunion approved by the Assemblies at their next meet ing be submitted in overture to the vote of the Presbyteries: Philadelphia Central, Philadelphia, N. Bruns wick, Potomac, (D. C.,) Huntingdon, W. Lex ington, Donegal, Burlington, Transylvania, Louis ville and Upper Missouri; 10 in all. In the Presbytery of New Brunswick, Ex- Chancellor Green voted with the majority in de-. manding resubmission by overture to the Pres. byteries. The following resolution of the Pres. bytery of Huntingdon illustrates the sort of mu. tual confidence which underlies the "Standards, pure and simple " movement: ".Resolved, That the right of examination, in all cases, is inherent in the Presbyteries, and' that it shall be left to their own judgment when to exercise that right. Resolved, That whilst we earnestly hope and pray that organic union may be brought about, whenever God shall open the way, yet such have been the recent develop. ments upon the subject; that we have very grave doubts whether that time has yet come." Utica, N. Y—The recent revival in Dr. Fish er's church began in the Sabbath-school. More than twenty scholars arose for prayers at the first opportunity offered, and it was then thought best to inaugurate a series of children's meetings. More than forty children and youth of the Sabbath school and Bible classes have, during this time given their hearts to Christ. Nor has this inter est been confined wholly to the Sabbath-school. Commencing here, and seconded :by the earnest ministrations of the pulpit, it seems gradually to have spread through the church, until the entire congregation were brought, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, and • veiy many among the young and old were found inquiring the way of et ;nal life. THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1869. gut xttrangt,s. The Catholic Telegraph of Cincinnati is try ing to bolster up the good repute of the convent system, and in that connection takes occasion to speak of us as follows : "It is but this week that we read in the Anzeriean Presbyterian, of Philadelphia, a most shamelet•sly untruthful and slanderous article on convents and convent life, the writer of which was very criminally ignorant or malicious—or vicious." Since the days of Daniel O'Connell, no Celtic Irishman has known the difference between logic and abuse, or has taken time to consider whether his blows will not come back on his own or his party's head. The substance of the article so recklessly referred to above, is testimony given by "good Catholics," in regard, to the working of their own convent system, at the late trial in England. If the Telegraph does not like it, the fault is not ours. One of our: Methodist cotemporaries summa rizes the articles in the last number of the Afetho dist Quarterly. It says : " Article fifth, by Jesse .T. Peck, D.D., on Methodism ; its Method and Mission, asks atten tention to the fact that the religious faith of mankind is not, first, and . chiefly, a, logical con viction, and that the method of Methodism ac cepts this fact." The writer's conclusion is' - that "the method of Methodism, is inspiration in distinction from logic." If our brethren mean by inspiration "enthusiasm," we suppose there are few that will differ from them. But "'inspiration" in-"the ology is a technical and an important word, which should not be put to general uses. The London correspondent of a New York secular paper gives the following account of Spurgeon, which may be considered the -last word' on'this preacher, so much written 'of "His piety is both deep and fervent. His words take hold upon - and cling to you and can: not be shaken off. He preaches only Christ, and as nine) as Wilberforce did or -Jethn Bunyan would. He made no middle work or compro-. muses, but insisted on The rigged faith and pious life of the Reformers, and was as strict and ex acting as John Wesley, denouncing with tremen dous sarcasm amusements, and especially the: theatre. There can be no- dotibt of either his heart or :his head. He is large-hearted; catho lic and true, free from the bigotry which cramps many of the divisions of his school, and his in fluence on London, England, and the world, can not fail to be both great and good:" The Congregationalist and Recorder got off the following on dancing some weeks'ago : "If young ladies knew what is thought of their dancing by the men who solicit their favors; if they should hear such conversation as I heard last Summer in the corridor of a hotel, among young men preparing to participate in the dancing which was going on in the parlors ; 'I am sure no virtuous lady would'consent to dance in public, at least until the present styles are abandoned." This, and much more which we cannot repeat, a gentlenian said to us - some time since. He was a man who knows the world well, and has no squeamishness or prudery about these matters, but takes wide and cheerful views of popular recreations. It is not to record his judgment, however, that we introduce this subject, but our attention has been called to it by finding, in an unexpected quarter, a statement which we sup pose to be that of an expert, and whieli is more damaging to the votaries of this most fascinating amusement, than anything we have heard from professed moralists. The Universalist of April 17th discusses a published sermon of Dr. Bellows on " the Un pardonable sin." "It shows, by apt and fair quotation from this discourse, that Dr. Bellows, in three different places in the sermon, decidedly• expresses the view that there is a sin against the Holy Ghost a sin which cannot be fotiven ;' that in four different places, he as decidedly, lays down the opposite view—that''ln the end all may accept the conditions of salvation;' that he finally' plants himself on the neutral ground of saying : do not believe the Seriptures, give us de cisive and direct information on this class of sub jects;' and that 'once more, finally, and to conclude,' he winds up by the 'opinion that ' Jesus could not have meant in the case under consideration, to devote one class to. endless misery' It says of this: 'it is such a series of affirmations and retractions, of vibrations be tween Universalism . and Orthodoiy, as can be found nowhere in all the world, outside Unitarian literature.'" The Congregationalist, in noticing the above, says it is high time - something was done, if Universalism even .is getting anxious about .the spiritual status of Unitarians. ' The Episcopalian' has' gone a little into poli tics. Its New York correspondent' writes as follows : ' " The Roman Catholic brethren we are sorry to see, are betraying much unnecessary emotion with reference to the supersedure Of, General Rosecrans, as our minister to Mexico, by a Mr. Nelson, of Indiana. They tell us that proceed ing is the result of a puritanical intrigue, and that the new minister is of a very pronounced type of Presbyterianism. The allegation, certainly, is a very grave one, and the Senate ought to in quire into it, before confirming the nomination.. Here in New York, the good people who believe' in the Pope are so accustomed to having things their own way that when a poor Presbyterian` chances to be in favor, he is looked upon as a poacher on their domain. it :ht., fortunate for the rest of us, however, that New York city is not the whole country, and that the City Hall in the Park is not the Capitol at Washington," The Morning Star has 'a leader on " Fill up your Church." We give a few sentences: "The injunction to fill up the church, is not designed for the minister alone. Too much is expected of him, especially in this direction. Societies stand back and look on to see whether the minister is'going to fill the church. If he does, all right ; if be does not, why, he is not the man for the place. 'We want a man to fill the church, and then it will be easy supporting the meeting.' To be sure, the church ought to be filled, not because it will relieve burdens, but be cause it will bring more under the influence of the gospel, and more good may be accomplished. But the question is, how is it to be done. Sup pose the minister does it by his talents, his ec centricities or some other attraction which he may possess, nill it be a healthy growth which will really, increase the strength and efficiency of the church, or wil it be the minister's hangers on, who will leave the moment he dies ? This is not the right I , ay:to fill the church, and it will fail of the highest utility.. Christians, when called into the service of Christ, were called as laborers, each one bidden to work, and of course each one having something to do. They are all bound bylthe most solemn obligations to use all their influence in accomplishing this work, whether it be 'the influence of wealth, le'arnin ,, , position or w at not, all should be coi.secrated to God and is cause. All these shOuld be brouoht to bear so as to bring the stranger to the house -etam him there." 1 • . FROM OUR 111/CHESTER CORRESPONDENT, TEM GROWTH OF OUR CITY. It was .nev more striking than at the present time. Large nd substantiaLbusiness blocks are going ,up. .1\ w manufacturing establishments i are springing ito existence, furnishing employ ment fora rapidly increasing population. Every thing indicateshe highest prosperity. But it is pre y much the same thing - all over Western New York. Syracuse, Auburn, and Lockport, espe lengthening th r cords andstrengthening their lally, are as busy as they can be stakes. More oom for business, more - dwellings for the people, is the cry in all these towns. All sorts of enterises seem to be almost alike pros perous. Weal is pouring in upon our people like a flood. ii:L Whither do ed by a sensuo content with fu ._it tend? Are, we to be swamp s materialism? Are we to be ,e hOuses here, and let go the eve? Are we to ake haste to sleet the greater work given us by "mansions" a be rich, and ne our Master ? pirit of benevolence is not keep the. prosperity of the Church. hristians are ' . nobly advancing, - We - fear the ing pace with While some I :alth has advanced a hundred fold ittle,if any more than they gave so much less. They do not give rospered them," and they thereby ouls of, that greater blessedness of 'eiving. We do not fear this Ma , if the spirit of benevolence in onlyenlarge with it. others whose w are giving but where they ha "as God hath rob their own (i giving than re terial prosperit the church wil, OUB COMMITTEE'S BOOKS Last week 4. gave the testimony of two of' our pastors as to tie value of the books of our Publi cation Cornm4ee. -It was testimony voluntarily and cordially iiven. We should like to call an other witness.,' We know a small boy, now seven years of age. ,For the last three years, by others' help, he has ben a great reader.. He has de voured, most of the smaller publications of our Committee, ani has manifested a deep interest in them. But his favcrite is "Dutch Tiles." This has been read all, through to him three times; and having learned l to read he has now. commenced it again on his ovfn account. He never tires of its charming pagds. In spirit, we doubt not, he has many times blist the fair author for putting such interesting truths in such sweet words, so beauti fully adapted') his Capacity. He would like to commend the ook most earnestly to other little boys, who want to be instructed and entertained. lONTHW - CONCERT It used to 132 came to be th4l congregations I , This worked A held on Monday evening, but it ought more advantageous in many ;to have it on Sunday evening. for the time. But as churches !afternoon preaching to Sunday my cases the monthly concert has hed. Pastors have said, "We r it." e still devote one Sabbath even /0 iiith to this service. The pastor ilpare for it. It takes the place of ,;and is made interesting and profi le of the best of all the it meetings. Ipeople will do this, is well. It est forms into which to put the t. lank they can not do this. The i, perhaps, to trust himself to make or it is thought that the general le church require the-yreaching: changed the evening, in ma been relinqui have no place And yet so ing of the mol and others pre, the preaching,; table. It ia•ot If pastors andl is one of the 1 monthly conce But many tj pastor is afrai it interesting interests of th Where, then, Answer—Let /y Lecture or , month. Thii churches of. ti ;hall we put the monthly concert? 't take the place of the first Week rst weekly Prayer-Meeting of the plan is adopted in many of the is region with great success. It rid works well, a, , gives satisfactlon. Grant that {it does not secure perfect concert in prayer. 'hat is impossible any way. They I always began his monthly concert an hour ear lier in Bosto than they did in. Chicago, and four hours e rlier in London, that being the difference in me.l A good missionary meeting, as often as o ce a month, with stirring intelli gence of mi sionary operations and fervent prayer for Go 's•blessing on these labors, is the main thing. And no church can afford to be without thesel for the sake of its own spiritual prosperity. .church without a monthly concert is not in its bbst estate. HAMILTON COLLEGE The catalogue of this institution has been out for some timei but somehow escaped our special notice. It indicates nearly the usual number of students, 171--not 'quite so many as last year. It shows two new professorships, not yet filled.. Where are the :best men for them ? Do not all speak at once,. ...And ,none need apply who are not perfectly qualified. But we are specially interested to see what aid is offered, to those who tyre preparing for the ministry, and who need assistance. There are fifteen scholarships, of $l.OOO each, beside a special fund of $lO,OOO, to be used for this pur pose. What with the education societies, and these funds, no young man of high promise, who feels that Christ calls hiw to preach the Gospel, need despair of getting an education fur such service. He need not want for friends. The college is his friend. It is also constantly add• ing to these funds, and invites the best young men to use them. Beside this, there are no less than ten prize funds, for which the best students may compete, and from which something beside honor is often realized. Board may be had in Clinton, costing from three to five dollars a week. Other expen• ses are as reasonable as at any college. The beauty and healthfulness of the place, the reli gious and high literary character of the college, the splendid library and, observatory, the high standing of the President and Professors among successful scholars and teachers—all combine to make it one of the finest educational institutions of, the land. GENESEE. Rochester, April 25, 1869. AMERICAN AND FOREIGN CHRISTIAN IINION• THE SABBATH SCHOOL WORK promises to become one of - the strong. agencies employed by the UNION for enlightening. and evangelizing Komish countries. The latest reports from its Chiller' mission speak of the prosperity of Mr. Merwin's congregation in Valparaiso, and espe cially of the active condition of two Sabbath schools connected therewith, numbering together more than one hundred and forty scholars. The schools are also becoming a feature of the work in Santiago, and the more recently established congregation in. Talca. In Greece, Mr. Constan tine, who has for several years been in the field, has, from the first, devoted himself iambi to this form of effort, and now reckons hundreds — Of children, thoroughly taught by Divine truth the necessity of " the Spirit and the Life" as a pre paration for heaven. But nowhere, at the pres ekit moment, is the interest more exciting than in Spain. , In Seville, where, at the latest ac counts, Mr. Alonzo is nightly preaching, to audi ences averaging one thousand, a chapel for the use of the UNION was dedicated on the seventh of March, and a, Sabbath school immediately or ganized—the first thing of the kind ever known in that nation, where so lately it would have been an offence, exposing one to the dungeon, to open the Bible to a child. Seventy scholars at , . tended the first Sabbath, and though the next was stormy; a still greater number was present. The scholars were delighted with the instruction, and learned with facility the hymns of our American schools, such as " Happy Day" and " Come to Jesus." They afterwards sung them in procession along the street, singing, as Mr. Hall writes, " as Spanish children never before sang on Spanish soil, and delighting all who saw or heard them." It may be mentioned as a circumstance of pecu liar interest that Spaniards from cities hundreds of miles, distant have visited this school in Seville to learn its plan and modes, and ask for instruc tion and singing books, to enable them to start Sabbath schools at home. Mr. Hall writes to the UNION, "The enduring strength of Christ's work in Spain depends largely on the proper instruc tion of this generation of children. If we had a supply of books, we could organize twenty more Sabbath schools in as many days. This opening of the first Sabbath school in Spain, under the auspices of your Society, more than satisfies my anticipations." We expect this work of training the children of these countries to become the bearers of gospel influence among people where the glorious light has so long been purposely hidden, will form an interesting bond of sympathy between the UNION and the Sabbath schools of this land. Quite re cently a donation of fifty dollars was forwarded by a Philadelphia school—that of Mantua First Presbyterian church. PERMANENT COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION A large number of churches to which the Education Committee look for support, have not yet made, or have not sent forward their collec tions. But a very short time now remains be fore, the accounts of the year must be closed for the General Assembly. There has been a decided advance thus far in the present year, both in the amount of contribu tions and in the number of contributing churches. Bat the enlargement reached is not equalto the emergency of the work. At this date the treasury is only recovered from the payment of the third quarterly ap• propriation. The final appropriation is immedi ately impending, being due the Ist of May. The means for this are yet to be provided.. We are entirely dependent on the offerings of the friends of our, precious cause. We trust that some one, whose eye this notice shall meet, will promptly render aid to the Com mittee in meeting their engagements with the more than two hundred candidates for the sacred ministry, who are looking to them for their most urgent wants. They are worthy for whom we m ake the appeal. As a class they are, perhaps, as noble a body of youth as can be found in the land. They are preparing to do Christ's work, and we think, wiih a good measure of His Spirit. They need all the aid promised them, and they deserve it. " Verily, I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." JOHN ATTERBURY, General Sec'y. Rooms, 30 Vesey St., N. Y. The Central Congregational church, Mr. Hawes' received fourteen additions in March. A vigorous and hopeful effort is on foot to put up their main building this summer. Plyniouth church had nine additions in March. It is the youngest Congregational enterprise here, and has a total membership of less - .thin sixty ; but its Sabbath-school has grown to 350 members. It is just inaugurating temperance meCtings, to be held every two weeks—which, it proposes to make a prominent and regular part of its work as a church:—:- Congregationalist. • trifitTs of nur Cijurtlits. Presbyteries Presbytery of the District of Columbia.—A. ministerial member of this Presbytery informs us that the third resolution reported as adopted by this Presbytery in regard to Reunion was really rejected. Presbytery votes for the Basis as amended by our branch of the Committee, and rejects a resolution for Union on the Basis of the Standards. .Aremark Presbytery met in Orange, April 20th. At the opening session a sermon of unusual ex cellence on the subject of Christian Union was delivered by the retiring Moderator, Rev. Eld ridge Mix, pastor of the First church of Orange. After a delightful season at the Lord's Table, the organization was effected by the election of Rev. Edward G. Read, pastor of the Third church, Elizabeth, as Moderator, and of Rev. Alex. A. M'Connell and Rev. Clarence Eddy as Tem porary Clerks. A meeting was held on the even ing of the first day in te interest of Sunday schools, with special reference to the training of teachers, at which addresses were made by Elder J. B. Pinneo, Revs.. De Veuve, Aikman and Maxwell. A Foreign Missionary meeting on Wednesday evening was addressed by Dr. Treat, Dr. C. A. Smith, and Rev. J. 0. Bliss. Among the most important Presbyterial acts were the following: The dissolution of the pastoral rela tions between Rev. J. J. F. Brunow and the Se cond German church, Newark, between Rev. Sandford IL Smith and the church at Mendham, and between Rev. Albert Mandel and the church at Madison. Two brethren, Rev. E. J. Adams, pastor of the (colored) church at Charleston, S. C., and J. D Robertson were disaliSsed to join a new Presbytery about to. be formed—that of South' Carolina. Rev,,Albert Erdman was, re ceived and arrangements made for his installatieh as pastor of the South St.'church, of Morristairn, on the 10th of May. Similar action was had in the case of Rev. Chas. T. Berry to become pas tor at Caldwell on the sth of May. The Presbytery by a unanimous vote approved of the Basis of Reunion overtured by the As sembly-of 1868, and consented to the amending of the Basis by the omission, Ist, of that part of the First Article that begins with the words, "It being understood," &c., and ends with the words "in the.separate chUrches." And 2nd, Of the whole of the Tenth Article of the Basis. Presbytery adjourned at a late hour on Thurs day evening, after the - exercises connected with the installation of Rei. Dr. Henry F. Hickok as pastor of the church (Scond) in which Presby tery had for three days been holding its sessions. Rev. Mr. Mix presided; the sermon was preached by Rev. J. P. Wilson, D.D., the pastor was charged by Rev. D. W. Poor, and the people by Rev. Robert Aikman. Newark Presbytery holds an adjourned meeting in the High St. church, Newark, on the 4th of May at 9 o'clock, A. M., for the transac tion of very important business, and the mem bers are expected to be generally present. J. ALLEN MAXWELL, S. C. The Presbytery of Pittsburg on Reunion Re solved, That while we adhere to our former ac tion in approving the basis of Reunion overtured to us from our General Assembly, and hereby re affirm our willingness to unite on that basis, we are not prepared to accede to the recommenda tion of our branch of the Joint Committee to change the basis by striking out the explaining clause known as the Smith and Gurley amend ment. Resolved, That any action taken by our body heretofore inconsistent with. the foregoing resolution be repealed. Resolved, That we utter our protest against any union of the two branches until the basis has been sent down and approved by the Presbyteries of the two Churches. Re solved, That our delegate to the General Assem bly be instructed to carry out the spirit of these resolutions. It was also Resolved, That the Rome Mission Committee at New York be requested to take in to the most serious consideration the question of appointing a Special Secretary to attend to the Chinese on the Pacific slope. Resolved, That the condition of the Chinese in California claims the attention of the Christian Church in the most remarkable manner—and especially of our branch of the Church. Resolved, That our Commissioner to the General Assembly use his utmost efforts to bring this class of our population distinctly be fore the Assembly, with special reference to the conversion of China. On the Freedmen, it was Resolved, That the Presbytery of Pittsburg recognize with gratitude the earnest spirit with which the Freedmen's branch of the Home Mission Committee has en tered on its work, and hail with joy the informa tion that within the few months of their organi zation some seventy-five teachers have been placed on the field. Resolved, That this effort of the Committee should be met by the members of our Church throughout the land with such liberal contributions as shall unmistakably mark their approbation of the course of the Committee and encourage them to go forward in their work with the utmost zeal. Commissioners to the General Assembly.— Rev. W. T. Wylie; alternate, J. S. Travelli, elder, W. C. Aughenbaugh, alternate, George Albree. The . Presbytery of Wellsboro, Pa., met recent ly at Farmington. It adopted the recommenda tion of our Re-union committee as to the amend ment of the Basis; elected as Commissioners to the General Assembly, primaries : J. D. Mitch ell, D.D., and Elder H. W. Williams; alter nates, Rev. Frederick Graves, and Elder John B. Van Name ; had three sermons preached and united with the church in Farmington in the celebration of the Lord's Supper; received and accepted an invitation to visit Sugarbush and partake of hot maple sugar; found the sugar in accordance with the 'standards', and adjourned to meet at Raymond's Corners the second Tuesday in September next, at 2. o'clock, P. M. J. F. C. Stated Clerk. Presbytery of Erie met at Corry, Pa., April 13. Rev. George W. Cleaveland and Elder A. M. Carson were elected Commissioners to the General Assembly. In the evening Presbytery listened to a discourse from Rev. Chas. C. Kim ball of Erie, on Ezekiel 47 : 9, " Everything shall live whither-the river cometh." In accor dance with the suggestion- of the Committee on Re-union, Presbytery veted to amend the basis of re-union by omitting the explanatory part of the
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