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.