1:-,nwriclu rcbDir intt New Series, Vol. Vl, No. 33. Strictly in Advance $2.50, Otherwise $3. Postage 20ets, to be paid where delivered. —The Rotatory Eldership question will prob ably be the first live issue before the United Church. History and reason are alike opposed to giving the eldership a permanency which the pastorate does not possess ; and the tendency of public opinion in the Churches, as exemplified in the M. E. Lay Delegation movement, demands that the people shall stand in a more direct and democratic relation to the government of the Church. The Presbyterian says : Even the old, staid, conservative United Pres byterians are disposed to investigate the merits of the proposed change. At least so we judge, from the fact that at the last meeting of the Presbytery of Monongahela a member , was ap pointed to preach before the Presbytery at its next meeting on the following subject, viz : " Should a ruling elder exercise his office in any particular congregation an indefinite time with out a re-election by the people?" —At one of the fellowship meetings of the R. P. church in this city—a sort of organized prayer-meetings held in private houses—an old standby of the meeting was discussing " the origin of evil." " There was" he said, " just three ways that sin could have come into the world. One was with God's wull (Anglice will.) Another was without His wull. The third was " . . . here be paused and tried to remember his third head, but to no purpose, and was passing on to , discu as " Firstly " and " Secondly " when another old standby came to his aid : " I reckon Jamie, you meant unknownst to His wull." There is a thought worthy of the attention of next writer on Theodicy, but it is not original with either Jamie or his friend. St. Augustine, hike most Platonists, held that sin is not an existence but a defect,—a want—a minus quantity. Eri gena, a few centuries later, claimed that as God's knowledge embraces all the things that did exist and those only, He could know nothing of sin, as that was a want or defect, not an existence. —The Cheney case in Chicago is causing great diversity of opinion, among the organs of the various Churches, as to the lawfulness of the defendant's appeal unto Caesar. Only The Pres byter of our 0. S. (*temporaries justifies the pro ceeding, while all the N. S. weeklies do so. The Low Church papers endorse him and Judge Jamieson, with the exception of The Christian Witness of Boston. The High Church papers are very emphatic in their condemnation. Mr. Cheney can plead illustrious _ precedent. Paul was a member of the. Jewish Church ac cording to the best expositors. lie attended on its distinctive festivals, and complied with its distinctive usages, in so far as these did not clash with his duty to the gospel. He circumcised one disciple because he was a Jew; he refused to circumcise another although the law of the Jew ish Church required it. He was put on trial by the authorities of this very Church, and that while on attendance at her greatest feast. He at once appealed, whe,n he saw no chance of fair play, to a heathen King's judgment seat. Where in is the parallel deficient ? —One of the concurrent declarations adopted by the two Assemblies in New 'York reads as follows : "No rule or precedent, which does not stand approved by both the bodies, shall be of any au thority until re-established in the united body." The Presbyterian has been going over the ground to see exactly what will be the effect of this provision in its bearing on the rulings of the 0. S. Assembly. It finds that the decisions affirming the illegality of marriage with a de ceased wife's sister, and the nullity of Romish bap tisms, will stand, as virtually common to the two Churches. But the decisions of the 0. S. Assembly as to the quorum of Presbytery, the participation of elders in ordination, and that condemning standing in prayer and reading of sermons, are probably rescinded by the declara tion, as never having passed the N. S. Assembly. The controversy as to the scriptural authority of Church Boards, and the later discussions and de cisions on slavery are dead, while the acts of 1861 to 1866 in regard to requiring profession of repentance from rebel ministers and elders, and dissolving Presbyteries which received to mem• bership the signers of " The Declaration and Testimony," are, by this declaration, repealed, as they " have no correspondent action in the pro ceedings of the New School Assembly," and "by large numbers of that body the theory of the Powers of the Assembly involved in these pro ceedings is distinctly repudiated." We are surprised to see that our cotemporary has passed by another series of " deliverances," which cei unti l " have no- correspondent action in the proceedings of the New School Assem bly." We mean the exscinding acts of 1837, "vexatious and divisive regulations" '(to use 1 sjuly 69 June XWeir The Presbyterian's words), which " are repealed by the act of union, or cease to have any force after the union. The precedents established by these proceedings are not likely to be re-estab lished in the United Church, and the question in regard to the powers'of the General Assembly will probably . arise in some novel shape, and be again discussed and settled." —We have recently been solicited to exchange with a Sunday paper. We must decline. We know what these, papers have to say for them selves. "All the work of editing, itemizing, com position, &c., for their columns, is done on week days, and they, are freer from the reproach of Sunday labor than nine -tenths of the papers, is sued on the secular days of the week." All of which is true. And yet the whole work of the Sunday paper is avowedly to culminate in a Sun day sale and a Sunday reading. The whole week's business is only a preparation for a Sunday traf fic, for a public desecration of the day. The very names, too, which they bear, prove them, as secular prints, to be in open defiance of the Fourth Commandment andAn contradiction of the sacred and divinely appointed purposes of the Sabbath. Their circulation is one of the clearest proofs of the laxity and hostility of sentiment on Sab bath observance in any community. We say no thing of their intrinsic character—some are bet ter, some are worse, particularly the latter; but ministers, Christian people, friends of public and social morality, and believers in the importance of a well-kept Sabbath to an orderly and prosper ous community, should give- them a wide berth,— as we propose to do, now and henceforth. THE LIPS OPENED. So rarely is the beauty of a living piety set forth in the daily life of the family and in the com mon talk of friends; so generally are spiritual things allowed to drop into the back-ground, ex cept at set times, and when veiled in form and ceremony, that we have come .to regard the suc cessful effort to introduce them among familiar topics with surprise. It can be done, we are prone to believe, only by gifted Christians While true piety proves its efficacy in a thou sand other ways in the household and in society and in businesi, while it burns a pure and liv ing but a retired flame, upon a thoUsand altars; while it pursues its leavening way hidden, as in the measures of meal, and passing, almost unob served, save in times of high religious' excite ment, from heart to heart, proving itself he salt of the earth and the light of the World' it too rarely reveals itself among the social interchanges of men, too rarely gives tone to conversation, too rarely is a recognized and a welcome source of mutual interest and ground of open and happy confidence between members of the same house hold. As the stiff and ungenial formalities of a pious, life in Puritan communities have been swept away, it is matter of deep regret that worldliness and fashion are to so great a degree allowed to furnish the topics and set the tone of social and domes tic intercourse, even in truly Christian circles. This is not the substitute that we want; we des pise ourselves for suffering it. If the recitation of speculative Catechisms with long proof texts is to be ruled out, we don't want Christ and His Word and His Truth to go with it. We want them all with us, nearer and dearer than ever ; we want them to mingle openly, familarly, geni ally with our daily life and conversation; without stiffness and awkwardness; without the instant chilling of social confidence and sympathy upon their mention. We want to see reserve between pa rents and children, between husband and wife, between brothers, sisters, friends dissipated. We want the salt of grace seasoning our conversation, and the charm of a sincerely spiritual atmosphere and the electric spark of a living spiritual sym pathy fitliug and quickening our whole social lives. Among the many rare excellencies of that sweet saint, the late Rev. Wm. Marsh of Eng land, was the spiritual freedom, elevation and beauty of his daily social and domestic life. En dowed with peculiar charms of person, natural disposition and manner, he was called "the St. John of the Church of our time," much rather from the refinement, the holiness, the love that breathed in all his words and looks and actions, both in public and in private life. Everywhere, in every society and conversation, in every letter, call or interview, his Lord and Master's name, uppermost in his own heart, found an entrance, and not a forced or injudicious entrance, "out of season." He had the faculty to convert it into, "in season." His domestic life, hallowed and beautified by religion., as drawn, by his daughter and biographer, PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 1869. is a charming picture. ..e rose every Sunday f morning with such a free spring of spirits, that his hallowed joy seemed to spread to every in habitant of the house, nor could visitors escape the contagion. And the Sunday evening with their parents, was the happiest time of all the week with the children. He met his childien every Easter morning with the customary saluta tion of the early Christians—illuminating his' face, as well as uttered by •ilis lips: " He is risen, HE Is RISEN l" To one of his daughters at school, lie writes on religious topics: "I am glad you have spoken your mind freely. In our fainily, where love is the rule and motive, I trust, there should never be any concealment in any matter." "Always speak your thind freely, dearest love; and tell me anything ini which I can promote your happiness, consistently' with your highest and your' future good." Married to a lady in high' standing in society, her large:family connection 'btought many influ ential perscins within the family circle, and many mingled with profit in the charming social evenings at his .home. "The chief interest` of those evenings," says Miss Marsh, " Was found in the play of animated conversation, , elevated. to the highest subjects with so much taste and grace,: that no strain was felt even by those to whom the turn it took was a new thing. . . " livould le impossible to put into words the peculiar charm of his. converSation. There mingled with • the stores derived filom his incessant rnading in al most every branch of literature, a certain flexi bility of thotight, which again would "relieve the strain of prolonged religious conversation by some ready illustration, pointed anecdote, and , touches of holy pla,yfulness, which his profOnndreVerence for sacred themes preserved from being ever out cf season. They sparkled like sunlight upon the the sea, relieving the. depths of feeling which lay below." • , , . Such powers of conversation, on any subject; are rare; but on religious subjects are an ac complishment worthy of the ambition of every Christian. Why should they not be cultivated with assiduous care? Why might not and should not appropriate religious topics be made to shine, in the conviiglion of the most litilliant social circles ? But even those not possessed of Dr. Marsh's gifts, may cherish his genial Christian spirit and beautify the home and social circle in which they move. 0 Lord open Thou our lips in daily life, and our mouths shall show forth Thy praise. THE GREAT SOLAR ECLIPSE. [The following graphic and edifying letter from the pastor of old Pine Street Church, to his flock, will be found of general interest. Dr. Allen, it will be seen, was within the area in which the sun was seen in total obscuration.] M DEAR PEOPLE hoped to have been with you to-night, but find I shall not, and there fore send these lines instead ; and with them would invoke, the blessing of God upon you all. Since - writing my last, I have witnessed a won derful scene in the heavens : I refer to the great astronomical phenonienon of the SOLAR ECLIPSE. It was grand and sublime beyond anything I had conceived. It would be utterly inipossibl eto de scribe to you my feelings, during the wondrou scene. The day was beautiful, cool and cloudless —it was a day that seemed made for the occasion. At the very moment announced by the astronomers the moon appeared like a dark and oval slide' slowly coming over the face of the sun. There was a solemn thought which impressed my mind, when I noticed how exactly to the very second of time, as predicted by science, the Eclipse commenced. And I thought how surely will God's word be fulfilled.. Years and centuries may intervene,but at the appointed time all will be fulfilled to the letter. When time began, God fixed the moment of that Eclipse, and after thousands of years it happened, and at the very' moment. When each of you were horn, dear hearers, the moment of your death was fixed, a n d surely and certainly that moment will come. We watched with increasing interest the slowly but surely increasing shadow of the moon, and the diminishing light of the sun. When half the sun's face was shut off, a pale, yellowish, un natural light fell over the earth. The air began to grow cold and damp. A few moments more and the shadow of the approaching darkness was perceptible on.everything around us. The breeze which had been blowing began to lull, and the air grew cooler, the trees of the surrounding for ests, and all vegetation, even the grass, assumed a weird appearance, and the sky looked unnatural. No wonder ! The glorious sunlight was being shut off. How dreadful the thought to me, that the light of the gospel and the cross should be shut off from any of you before you make your peace with God. Oh ! brethren and friends, f " walk while you have the light." Looking at the sun again I found it was nearly obscured. I looked on the faces of the dear ones around;me, and noticed how haggard and unnatural they looked beneath the waning light. A number of fowlihad.huddled together evidently alarmed at the strange; approaching darkness; four little canary birds which huug in a cage near us, sought their .perch. A number of little wild birds now 'flew wildly around eager to find a shelter; they seemed like frightened children caught from home by sudden night. Turning to the heavens we - saw the sun had now disappeared. The scene- at this moment was beyond description. The moon appeared distinctly in its spherical form, like a great ball in front of the sun.' All around it:was a brilliant crown of light, giving me. the only.correct.idea I ever had of a crown of glery.4 Ohl it was beautiful beyond the power of Mortabtongue to describe. The stars came out as . if .to look on the wondrous spectacle. Away to the South and Smith-west :lay a dark shadow in the skydik.e the, region of . death—to the. North and Ea.st the sky was lit up in purple and gold and greeniatr . colars, more brilliant than' the finest sunset I everiwitnessed, and well calcu lated to remind'one of:Emmanuel% Land. As I looked on the. dark shadow in . the South, and then on the golden sky..of the North, I could not but think of the .realms , of - endless night, con trasted,with the beautiful regions of'eternal day. This continued with‘ds but one minute and seven seconds ; when the light of the min burst forth—dot gradually as I sappoised• it would, but as a great ball of , light suddenly shot from' a cannon. .The..retarn. of light •was grand, and brought out ,only as God can do it., 'lst. The darkness led me to feel more than ever the worth of light. May we all learn more to love the light of the word: 2nd.. The return. of the light impressed me with the "goodness and love of "God. May we all feel It in the glorious light He has sent to us in His Son Jesus Christ who is indeed the light of the world. 3rd. 'And now my dear people, may each of you be at last crowned with a light brighter than that .which encircled the moon; even a crown. of glory that fadeth not away. If a moon crowned with sunlight called forth.the wonder of the world, what will millions of .'souls crowned with glory call forth ? "When thatillustriouS day shall rise, And all Thinaarmies shine In robes of victory through the skies, The glory shall be Thine." - " the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all," is the prayer of your pastor,. Ri 11. ALLEN Elizabethtown, Ind , August 9th, 1869. FINANCIAL PROSPECTS OF THE AMERI- CAN BOARD. There is reason to fear that the Pruden tial Committee will be obliged to report a con siderable- deficit to the 'nit Annual Meeting. During the eleven Months of the present year, Sept. 1, 1868 to August 1, 1869—the donations and legacies have fallen, $12,798 below those of the corresponding period last year. The loss in donations is $16,814, nearly all of which oc curred in July j The Committee are disappointed, but not de spondent. They have entire confidence in the ability, as also in the willingness, of the churches to save the Board from pecuniary embarrassment. Their only, fear is that the needful endeavors will not 'be put forth. They beg leave, there fore, to request all pastors, and others who look after the benevolence 'of the churches, (1) to obtain, if possible, a contribution equal to the one made last year; and (2) to forward it to the Treasurer by September 1, or at, the. latest. Sep tember 6. And they are constrained, to, ask such of their friends as the God of missions has especially qualified. to. devise !‘ liberal things" for the heathen, whether they are not called to a higher privilege in this regard. A serious indebtedness, at the close of the present year, will, be particu larly unfortunate and embarrassing. • S.'S. TREAT, Home Secretary Missionary House, Boston, Auaust , 12, 1R69. —A Southern Baptist paper publishes a lying report in regard to Mr. Geo. H. Stuart, charging him with presence at and participation in a dance at a ball given in Annapolis, Md., at the closing of the Naval Academy. It asks if this is not carrying loose communion forward to perfec tion." Mr. S. was in fact at home in Philadel phia on the occasion. We 'mention this rumor in order to fix the re sponsibility of it on the right shoulders. The Press of this.city was the first paper in which the slander appeared. It professed to give spe cial telegramsfrom Annapolis with full details Genesee Evangelist, No. 1.213. J Home & Foreign Miss. $2.00. I Address :-1334 Chestnut Street of the ball in question, mentioning that Mr. Stuart danced, and giving the name of his part ner. To this day we have never seen any cor rection of these this statements in its columns. We would fain believe that it acted in good faith and was deceived by some malicious or criminally careless reporter. REV. A. M. STEWART'S LETTERS. XL. TREASURE CITY, NEVADA, July, 1869. Far away here in - the central portion of that vast and-;generally uninhabited portion of our territory, which very modern Geographers call the Siate of Nevada, perched on a little spur or lopped off branch of a great mountain range, Treasure City is built, being two miles above the sea, high again' as Mount Washington in New Hampshire, on which our . New England kriends think themselves so elevated, Their here is so light that the lungs require to be expansive and expanded in order to inhale sufficient oxygen to . keep the body comfortably heated from its internal fires. So high up, that the pot over the fire boils at so. low a temperature that some diffi culty is experienced in thoroughly cooking meat and vegetables; and where even the fire does not burn with 'the facility it shows under the pressure of heavier air. Light, joyous sensations are en gendered—we are up in the world—perchance a little nearer heaven. This is the first place, off the Overland Rail road, designated for a visit in my mission of Church Extension west of the Rocky Mountains. It is in an important and lately discovered Mining section, called White Pine, of which something was written during my running visit last fall. 'The District is abbut ten miles square, though. with boundaries not well defined. As no surveys have been made' by Uncle Sam in all this boundless region, squatter sovereignty is left free to designate boundaries in the most capri cious *manner. Parallel ranges of mountains and valleys stretch faf Southward fromthe Humboldt River. Along one of these valleys runs the stage route from Itiko to Treasure City, a hundred and twenty five miles. In Making this journey, one gets, in modern style, a taste of thd grand old stage-coach riding, in which our fathers felt so much of pride, ease and dignity. We made the distance in six teen hours—speedy, rough, hot and most magni ficently dusty—not your common, tame, tasteless ; Eastern article, but fine, tasteful and penetrating as that sprinkled by Moses in the air of Egypt— an impalpable powder, from alkali, soda, borax, salt, limestone and quartz. As White Pine District has lately and suddenly become the great representative mining region of thel'acific side; my proposed stay here of two or - three months will afford time and occasion to write of many matters and things which may be of general interest. I see by late Eastern papers which have reach ed me, that our Chicago brethren, both of the Old and New SchoOl, propose the visit of a Presby terian delegation party, to be composed of a hun dred ministers, elders and laymen, in order to convert this entire Pacific side, by the dash and eclat of a large excursion pleasure party. By all means let the party be organized and the pleasure excursion made. Don't fail, Mr. Editor, to be one of the party. Your pleasure and renown will both be thereby enhanced. Won't it be grand ? Don't, moreover; fail to make the alkali dust ride from the railroad to White Pine. Being the only Protestant minis ter within' two hundred miles of this Treasure City, 'won't I shout, clap hands and sing on the arrival of Said delegation ? Won't all manner of wickedness, as ashamed, hide' themselves in dark corners ? ' My suspicions, however, are that Satan is too well entrenched this side of the Continent, and too old a Master of positions, to yield all his strong holds hereabouts to a single ministerial onset, though its dash be never so grand. To accom plish all this it will most likely require a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether, accom panied with prayer and prolongeefasting, which the excursion party might be unprepared to enter upon. Nevertheless, by every commendable per suasive, urge the coming of the party. A. M. STEWART. " THE CAPTURE OF 'DERRY."—What do our North of Ireland readers say to the stupidity of the Atlantic Cable agentin telegraphing of " thecele bration of the capture of 'Derry ?" None of our sec , ular dailies knew enough to correct his blunder. What was commemorated on Friday was the shut ting of the gates of the city by the 'prentice boys, in spite of the traitorous orders of a fainted-hearted governor, and in the faces of the emissaries of King James. That act began that heroic resis tance which Macaulay has so vividly described, a resistance which ended, not with the capture of the city, but with the retreat of its baffled as sailants. MINISTERIAL EXCURSION
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