gintrirait Uttsfristitiait. THURSDAY, JUNE, 24, 1869 REV. JOHN W. HEARS, D. D., Editor. No. 2334 Chestnut Street, lititadelphta. THE EDITORIAL COMMITTEE. Rev. Z. ltl liamphrey, 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 Still 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 Synod will promptly furnish us with fresh items of news from their respective fields. —The popular dissatisfaction with the French Emperor is shown, by the late elections, to have made great strides. All the leading cities and about three-sevenths of the entire number of vo ters are reckoned in the "opposition." The dreadful type of desperate revolutionary feeling —the barricade—has appeared krt Paris ; troops have been necessary and citizens have fallen in the attempt to restore order. Eight hundred ar rests have been made. Order has been restored, but .a feeling of security will return—when ? —Amid excitement so great as to quite eclipse the Alabama question, the House of Lords has yielded assent to the great reform measure of the Disestablishment of the Irish Church, and has voted the Commons' bill to a second reading, by the respectable majority of thirty-three. It is no free conviction of the justice or expediency-of the measure that has procured the assent of this conservative body to so great a revolution, how ever it may be with individuals, but mere sense of the impotence of the Lords against the popu lar will. THE UNION QUESTION IN THE FREE OH UR OE ASSEMBLY. We have just received from a kind friend co pies of the Edinburg Daily Review, giving an ac count of the proceedings of the Free Church As sembly. The union question excited the greatest interest, and the leading men on both sides par ticipated in the discussion. Principal Fairbairn, in behalf of the friends of Union offered the following resolution: "That the General Assembly receive the re port, approve of the diligence of the committee, and of the pains and labor they have bestowed upon the various and important heads of inquiry which it embraces ; appoint the report to lie on the table till the Assembly of next year, and meanwhile, and in order to ripen the mind of the Church for such further action as may he_called for in connection with the Union question, direct the report to be published for the information of all the office-bearers and members of the Church. That the Assembly reappoint the committee with the former instructions, and in particular with the instruction to watch over the whole subject; and in the event of receiving from any quarter suggestions or information tending to throw ad ditional light upon it, to bring up, if they shall see cause, a supplementary report to next Assem sembly. And, further that being deeply alive to the heavy responsibility which must lie upon the Church in connection with the ultimate dis posal of this Union question, and to the conse quent and urgent need she has of Divine light and guidance, the Assembly exhort all her faith ful people to abound in prayer to the Almighty God that he may be. pleased to bring all the courts and congregations of the Church to see eye to eye, and to be of one mind and of one heart regarding it; and, meanwhile, recommend them to cultivate fraternal intercourse, asmeans and opportunity may offer, with the office bearers, congregations, and members of the Churches con cerned in these Union negotiations, and with all others who love in sincerity the Lord Jesus Christ." Mr. Nixon representing the opposite side of fered the following: , " That the report now submitted to the Gene ral Assembly be received, and thanks recorded to the committee for their diligence and labor in 'connection with the matters therein embraced. That there are serious differences of opinion as to whether, and how far, the results arrived at, in the negotiations for union, conserve the doctrines of Scripture, and of the Church, to which we have all given our adherence, with reference to the duty of nations to Christ and to other vital matters of faith and prktice. That as these divisions of opinion are such as must turn the prosecution of the Union movement, on its present footing, into a means of rending this Church, it is indispensable to her peace and prosperity, and to the most pressing interests of that very union in truth and love whereto the movement was in tended to advance, that no further steps be taken in the said movement until negotiations can be renewed with due regard to the scriptural prin ciples and the peace of this Church." The vote was taken after a session protracted to twenty minutes before two o'clock in the morning, and it was decided that there were 429 for Dr. Fairbairn's motion, and 89 for Mr. Nixon's; majority for Union, 340. The announcement of the result was received with loud cheers from the galleries. Mr. Nixon then presented a dissent, in which Dr. Begg, Ho ratius Bonar, Prof ; Gibson, and .a number lf others united. The action of the Assembliap pears to have been taken with the caution and consideration for which oar Scotch brethret are THE AMERIOAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 1869. noted, and while it indicates a decided determi nation in favor of Union, it gives the minority further time for reflection, so that none can al lege that undue haste was used. But if not this year, yet we trust, next year the suggestion of the telegram sent to Scotland when the Old and the New School Assemblies resolved to become one body, may be adopted, and on both sides the Atlantic the same song rise to heaven : "Behold how good a thing it is, And bow becoming well, Together such as brethren are In unity to dwell." LETTER FROM THE BOSTON COLISEUM, DEAR PRESBYTERIAN :-It scarcely can be possible that among the 20,000, 30,000, or even 40,000, gathered in this immense parallelogram, there is to be found no other correspondent of our paper. But if there be, he must most likely be a visitor to Boston, hurried and dwell ing "mid scenes of confusion." Perhaps, too, if he write, his verdict will be the opposite of mine, and may be incorrect. He may tell you that one thirty-thousandth part of a song of Adelaide Phillips is a very small dividend, or he may wax wild over Hail Columbia with can non accompaniment. He is excusable in either case. For to, hear every note of a fine song beautifully sung, is not , all that one would wish. And there is an enthusiasm generated in the largest audience gathered in the United States, that is easier felt than described. Some enthu siastic admirers have asserted that a . ticket for a single admission was intrinsically worth $25. How much-has been given for one this (Friday) afternoon, you will probably find in to-morrow's papers. For myself, I find less noise and more music here than I expected. I knew it could not be of the highest order, for the laws of acoustics forbid that the simultaneous utterance of two voices; one of which is three hundred feet fur ther than the other, can reach the ear simul tanecusly. There must be nearly a third of a second's difference. But, in fact, it surprised me to see how little perceptible this was. Many of the pieces were such that the defect in time did not mar them, but in the quicker . notes of the " Hallelujah Chorus," any one who watched for this inevitable defect, could perceive it without difficulty. • The space required S vast amount of sound to fill it. It was probably a little more than half the size of Vespasian's amphitheatre, the Colos seum of Rome ; so called, not from its colossal size, but from a colossal statue of Nero, that stood in it. That was never intended to hear in. In this immense shanty, a voice like Whitefield's could probably be heard easily by all who could get into its auditory. The area is 500 feet by 300 ; more than three acres and a third. Consequently the fortis,simo passages were not heard so loud in the farther parts of the room as would have bce-n - desired - by the composers. This may be accounted for to-day, particularly, because many of the chorus who have kept their ground for three days, have at length yielded to the impor tunity of friends and their own fatigue, and lent tfieir tickets to persons who could not sing. There were many others, good singers, who were so exhausted as to make no attemlits, com ing absolutely without their music and solely to hear the orchestra. So the, chorus was as dilute as;. New' York milk. The singers complained that they were unconsciously drawn in to sing beyond their comfortable ability all through. But the immense audience went away satis fied, not the masses alone, but good judges of music. And the enterprise is in every way a success. In some respects it was (perhaps in evitably) badly managed. Could there, by miracle, have been found, near the centre of the peninsula, four acres for a structure of iron and glass, instead of a wooden building, 2,100 feet from the original shore, it would have been otherwise. The best thing possible would have been to take a part of the:public garden for a per manent structure, but such a project would have been fought most resolutely by old• Bostonians, who drove even the temporary ,structure off their sacred Common by threatened legislation. But enough of this. Let us turn to a more important topic. The temperance majority -in Massachusetts had a hard task to make a prohi bitory law. The best thing would have ; been to re-enact the old law verbatim. Then, if it needed mitigation, do that in ,a separate act. Unhappily that was not done. The majority (perhaps the majority of the real friends of temperance) thought that the sale of cider (in quantities— not by the glass) ought to be permitted. Many of the more limber would put,lager beer in the same category. After a long contest, the new law allows 'thee sale of cider but not of beer. Will it be executed ? That I think depends entirely on Gov. Claflin. He' is a Methodist Christian in good and regular standing, and a man who probably owes his elevation to his noble character as a friend to humanity and good morals. But the efforts to make him break his oath are inconceivable. And almost all Boston believes, that the heart of the Republican party in Massachusetts is opiosed to the execution of a prohibitory law. Many say that a repealing legislature will be elected this fall. But it is cer tain that the State Police 'can enforce the law in every acre of Massachusetts, and they will if the Governor pleases. • The aspect of this noblest of the States of the Union is to-day far from flattering. In moral worth, in intelligence, the best, perhaps long() in lervallo. But the corruption of its politics has dragged it down below its level, possibly as much as it has Pennsylvania or New York. And if it has not, like them, a legislature of thieves and blacklegs, its General Court is not above suspi cion. There are few towns in New England in which there is not a clique of selfish men who have the control of the political party that in cludes most of the moral men. I tremble for the nation from this cause alone. We have United States Senators of the very best.. Ido not think we could change either Wilson or Sumner for a better. They may both be re-elected as long as they live, but I fear, were either's place to be come vacant nest winter, a man immensely in ferior would be selected to fill the place. GROUNDS OF SUCCESS. The Weekly Illustrated Christian, a new West ern paper, discussing the reasons of Mr. Ham mond's success, answers as follows : First, Because Mr. Hammond has consecrated himself to the work of saving souls. We believe he has presented himself a lining sacrifice, and for this reason God owns him. Secondly, " Christ and His cross is all his theme." Every sermon presents two great truths: "Man is a sinner ; Christ the* only Saviour," and these he presses home by striking and touching illustrations, and with great tenderness. Thirdly, The meetings are conducted in accor dance with the laws of mind. Sanctified. common sense gives direction. The Gospel net is not only let down and drawn up a little, but lifted clear into the boat. The truths of the sermon, or per haps almost as frequently, the truths of the pre cious hymns sung from the "New Praises of Je sus," are followed up by special effort. A second meeting follows the prayer meeting of the morn ing and the preaching service of th evening, and then Christians go directly to the hundreds in waiting and present the claim of Christ. Scores can testify : I was first touchsd by a few words from Christians who came and spoke to me of Christ. • Fourth, The pastors and laymen of some fifteen or twenty Evangelical churches have forgotten all minor differences, and have come close together in prayer and labor for souls. They are "with one accord and in one place," and true to the promises, the Holy spirit comes in power. If time and space permitted, we would gladly give many incidents of this revival, the testi mony of young converts—some of them children, some of them young men and maidens, and some of aim men and women of middle life. Promi nent business men are among the young converts, and with a strength God only can give, tell the great congregation of their new found hope. Another and fifth characteristic of this won derful work is its freedom from animal excite ment. Scarcely an audible sob, nor a shout nor a groan has been heard. A deep solemnity settles down, and even skeptics are made to confess, "I never saw the like'of this before." We believe such scenes and such results may be witnessed in every place where Christians, forgetting their seotatianism, join together in prayer and commo - n'efrOrt for souls. God speed the day when men shall not marvel at the fulfillment of the promises, that shine forth from God's Word as the stars from the sky, in a eloudless night. PROM OUR ROCHESTER CORRESPONDENT. BUFFALO PRESBYTERY. The semi-annual meeting was held last week at Gowanda. Rev. Asher Wright, the veteran missionary to the Seneca Indians, was made Mo derator. In the absence of Dr. Clarke, the last Moderator, the opening sermon, a good one, was preached by Rev. Erskine N. White, the new pas tor of the Westminster church of Buffalo. There were two thiiigs of special interest in connection with the meeting. One was the tea drink at the house of the excellent pastor, Rev. Sylvester Cowles, in which all the Presbytery participated with marked interest and enjoyment. The other was the report or ,speeches of Drs. Chester and Heacock, commissioners to the Gene ral Assembly, both cordially endorsing the re union movement. We 'need hardly add, that the Presbytery voted unanimously for union. Who doubts but . every Presbytery in - our connection will do the smile ? • INGRAM UNIVERSITY. Commencement at this highly prosperous Fe male Seminary, occurred on Wednesday. The graduating class numbeie l d`'seven teen. The ex amination was well sustained, and the graduating exercises did the young ladies great credit. The address before the Concordia and Altonia Societies on " American Life,' was delivered by Rev. Prof. Upson of Hamilton College. It seemed to us one of the happiest efforts of this really fascinating speaker. It will be remembered that this institution be longs to the Synod of Genesee. It was commenced by the Misses Marietta and Emily E., Ingham, (the latter now Mrs. Staunton) in 1837, and has been built up to its present Collegiate proportions by their great. energy and wisdom. Mrs. Staun ton still has charge of its affairs. The number of pupils the past year has been about one hun dred and eighty. ' Mrs. Staunton intends to commence at once the erection of another building, to be of stone, 40 x 50 feet, fire proof, and two stories high; intended especially as a Museum and Art Gallery. It is to be located by itself, south of the cottage, so as to make the fine Cabinet and the larger collection of paintings connected with the institutions as safe as possible. ELMIRA FEMALE COLLEGE Commencement exercises occurred also•at this excellent institution this week. The graduating class numbers ten ; the whole number of students being one hundred and eleven; forty-nine in the collegiate department, and sixty-two in the Pre paratory. The institution is under the care of the Synod of Geneva, and was never more popu lar or prosperous than now. One of Hook's fine organs has been erected in the Chapel the past year, at an expense of $2OOO, and added much to the interest of commencement exercises. The address before the Literary Societies, which gave great satisfaction, was by Rev. Dr. Lord of Buffalo, on the connections of Science and Art. An alumnae dinner, and a Strawberry festival were among the enjoyable things of the week's entertainment. For their annual excur sion, for which this school is somewhat famous, we believe the pupils are to make a trip to Lake Superior, as they did last year to Fortress Mon roe, Richmond and Washington. They are at tended by one or more of the Professors. Ar rangements for their entertainment and comfort are made everywhere in advance. Excursion tickets are secured at low rates ; so that it is made an economical, as well as an enjoyable and instructive trip. SCHUYLER Rev. T. K. Beecher, pastor of the Congrega tional church of Elmira, has preached a most re markable sermon on Presbyterianism; distinctly, ably and earnestly advocating that system of church organization, as the most simple, natural, scriptural, and practicable of all the systems. This certainly is something remarkable, coming from such a source. He talks as his father would have talked, but not much as most people would have expected from the sons. PERSONAL.—Pres. Brown and Dr. Gaertner spent last Sabbath in Syracuse, preaching and talking for the College. We know not how suc cessful their visit. We hope they started a large amount of money. Hamilton needs it, and deserves it. Rev. Charles E. Stebbins of Ovid has received a unanimous and most earnest call to the pas torate of the Presbyterian church in Clinton. He is .a graduate of Hamilton, is well remembered in Clinton, and will receive a cordial welcome, if he sees his way clear to accept the invitation. Rochester, June 19th, 1869 We are having more evidence of Methodist affinities for Presbyterianism. The Christian Advocate of last week, discoursing on the subject, actually deems it worth while, as a preliminary, to put in a disclaimer against the organic union of the Methodists with any one of the many Pres. byterian bodies of the land ;—a disclaimer, in deed, yet not nearly so vehement as that of Dr. Porter in the Reformed (Dutch) Convention against Re-union with his own Presbyterian brethren. After which, the Advocate adds : Yet we are satisfied that with no other class of Christians have the Methodists, `as a religious body, so many things in common as with the Presbyterians, though hitherto they may have seemed to be most widely removed from each other. In church polity, it claims that there is sub stantial agreement, overlooking the element of lay representation which is essential to Pres byterianism, but which has just now been under taken by Methodists. The Advocate thus con tinues : "In matters of Christian doctrine it is often tacitly assumed that there is a strong and clearly marked antagonism betewen the two systems. Calvinism and Arminianism are considered anti podes to each other, the two poles of the .doz matic sphere. But a definition of terms would probably show that these differences are not al together so clearly marked as at first appeared. A Calvinist's definition of Calvinism includes nearly the entire creed of an evangelical Armin ianism; and an Arminian's confession of faith will, to a Calvinist, prove him to be not far from the faith of the "elect." Even the dogma of predestination, which Arminians totally reject, as explained and applied" by many Calvinists, will be readily accepted by intelligent Armin ians as identical with things approved by them selves, but called by other names, and set forth in more felicitous terms. Both Calvinists and Methodists believe alike in the sovereignty of God and the free agency of man. If the for mer .class err by overpressing the former idea, the latter need to be careful lest they so dis appropriately extend the idea of human freedom so as to exclude the divine efficiency from a most important department of his dominions. A broader logic, tempered with an' enlightened charity, would go very far toward harmonizing these appaiently antagonistic and irreconcilable , points of doctrine. The definition of " original sin" given in, the Methodist article on that subject is eminently and distinctly Augustinian, and agrees perfectly with the definitions given by the Reformers, and later, by the Remonstrants, and earnestly con tended for by Wesley and elaborated by Watson. The accepted notion of sin pretty certainly de termines that of atonement, and here again Calvinists and Arminians agree. The influence of sin in man to render him incapable' of re pentance and a holy life is most forcibly and happily declared in our article of religion en titled "Of Free Will." That article reads rather strangely if the Methodist doctrine of the " will" as taught by some is to be accepted. " The condition of man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turn and prepare himself, by his own natural strength and works, to faith and calling upon God." What the Advocate goes on to say of differ. ences on the Will is not-so quotable, or so clear. We cordially agree with the concluding sentence: Let each regard the ,other as feilow-workers in the same great calling, and let all labor on in harmony in the patience and faith of Christ. • The English correspondent of the Examiner and Chronicle discusses Senator Summer's speech, in a fair-minded and highly entertaining manner. Speaking of the great complaint the Senator makes, of want of, sympathy, the writer says: And while the Senator was about it, why did he not squeeze the hand of Manchester and SAUL AMONG THE PROPHETS OUR EXCHANGES. Birmingham ? There was a glorious ope n i n ., for sympathetic rhetoric. While engrossed with the moral aspect of England's attitude he skip s its most remarkable feature—the working classes of England going without bread, and yet hold ing on to their " sympathy !" This England— historic in its sublimity—has had as yet no suit able recognition in America. If the loss of aristocratic sympathy is to be bemoaned at the peril of our self-respect, the assurance of this sacrificial sympathy should be conspicuously treasured, lest we be accused of ingratitude. If the idle classes were against us, the industrious were with us. The Colonial Presbyterian, of St. John's, N. 8., the representative of the Presbyterian church of the Lower Provinces, whose leading members gave Mr. Barnes such an enthusiastic reception last fall, welcomes the proposed re union of the _church in America, as a step for ward. At the same time it agrees with a cotem porary in saying : That the Westminster standards, in the sense in which they were drawn up, and which they were intended to convey, cannot be intelligently and sincerely signed by any large number of minis ters or elders, and that these standards, however excellent, cannot remain the standards for all time. Bernardus non vidit omnia and we may say the same of Calvin. The doctrinal proposi tions in the standards are too extensive, too mi nute, and, in some cases, too metaphysical to stand the test of time. Even the same truths require, with the lapse of centuries, to be stated in different forms and to be looked at from differ ent points of view; and when they receive a metaphysical coloring, they frequently require to have modifications in doctrine, made corres pondent to the changes which are constantly ta king place in philosophy. The changes required may not be very important nor very numerous. If; however, permission were given to enter on the honest and intelligent revision of the stan dards, it would be found that these changes would deserve serious consideration. Creeds should be living'realities, if they are to be hon estly subscribed, and this they never can be if they remain expressed in forms of language or modes of thought that are more or less obsolete. Then again the propositions of a creed should be as few and as simple as possible, in order to com mand intelligent, hearty and general consent. We believe that great changes in this direction may soon be expected in all truly earnest Pres byterian churches which have any vitality about them. Nor do we believe that the auspicious union at out to be consummated will hinder this result. In union or out of it the result indica ted must come. GENESEE This may go as a companion piece to the arti cle we printed last week from the Herald, pro posing changes in the polity of the united church The Christian lntelligencer gives the sermon of the Moderator, Dr. E. S. Porter, at the open ing of the late Convention of the Reformed Dutch Church in this city, from which we quote some sentences revelling a very decided and singular reluctance to entertain the idea of or ganic union with other Presbyterian bodies. Dr. Porter says : "On the basis of the common unity that is in Christ, it is the duty of all evangelical denomi nations to combine in fraternalunion, and act together as one against. their common foes. This union of the denominations may be none the less real or valuable on account of some differences or variations in secondary matters. Yet, ardent as our desires are for united cooperating work, still nothing but a fatuous imagination, kindled as by the sparks of a will-o'-the-wisp, could dream of merging the Reformed Church of America into any other body, however excellent. Treason here or there may meditate so fatal an exploit, but loyalty to the interests of the kingdom at large, to inherited trusts, to consecrated treasures, to that grand future which awaits us, if we are faithful, will reject any such suicidal measure. " Suppose it were- possible for panic to rule the hour among us, or wild sentimentality to induce an intoxication of our sober thoughts, so that like a flock of frightened sheep, we should start on the jump for some other fold, for what could we go but to be shorn by those who light like our wool more than the bleatings of our sheep cotes ? " Our Church has its place assigned it and its work to do. It may not be large enough now to afford a fit scope for the exercise of these rare abilities which belong only to the very few who think themselves the appointed masters of man kind. But it is growing, and never with more of solid health and vigor than it now enjoys. Having the historic basis on which the evangelical churches all united in the (Ecumenical Council at Dort, the historic name , which ought not to be exchanged for any partial or sectarian title, and what is more, the catholic truth and spirit, where by it may commend itself, it must continue to uphold its own banner, in its own place or prove recreant to the bonds of obligation which Provi dence has imposed." To this, the Intelligencer gives a hearty ad hesion, thus: "In the views he has clearly and candidly set forth, Dr. Porter, we believe, truly represents the just convictions of the ministry, eldership and people of the Reformed Church, who, while they love union, have no desire for any uncertain amalgamations. They are too earnest and too loyal in their work to think of relinquishing it to the care of 'others." —Rev. Dr. Gray of Memphis introduced into his Presbytery (Memphis) a colored man, a mem ber of his church, and requested Presbytery to examine him. The Presbytery refused,- .Dr. Gray and others complained to the Synod of Memphis. The Synod refused to sustain the complaint, and assigned no reasons for it. The committee of the last Southern Assembly on the minutes of the Synod took exception to this'record; and the As sembly (64 to 16) refused to sustain the excep tion. So the action of the. Presbytery stands ap^ proved by the whole Southern Church.
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