antratint I.lrotlAttrian.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1869
REV. JOHN W. MEARS, D. D., Editor.
No. 1334 Chestnut Street, Phitadelphia.
THE EDITORIAL COM3IITTEE.
Bev. Z. 111 Humphrey, Dab., Pastor of Calvary
Church. '
Rev. Herrick Johnson, D. D., Pastor of the
First Church.
Rev. Danl. March. D.D., Pastor of Clinton Sit.
Church.
Bev. BlNter Stryker, D.D., Pastor of W. Broad
St Church.
Rev. George F. Wiewell, P.R., : Pastor of Green
Hill Church.
Bet. E. E. Adams, D. D., ProL in Lincoln rid
'Crafty.
Rev. Samuel W. Duffield, Special Cor
respondent.
Mr. _Robert E. Thompson will continue to sot
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.
*Letters from the Hills, by " On the Wing,"
Present Position of the Prohibitory Law in
Massachusetts, by a new Correspondent, On Sea
and Shore, by "B. B. H.," American Hoard
-oj7cial Statement, page 2d. Editors Table,
Literary Items, Curse of Laboring -Classes of
England, .Missionary items, - page 3rd. "At the
River," (poetry) by K. H. J., „Little Fa"nny's
Watch, Child's Apology, Helping' Mother, The
Wife, Budget of Anecdotes, Blind Man's Fire
side, (poetry), .Temperance Items, page 6th. Re
kgious intelligence: Reformed Churches, Con
gregational, Episcopal, Baptist, Anglican, Mis
cellaneous, page 7th.
—The Baltimore Catholic iliirror publishes
the statement that President Grant, when called
upon lately by Father Wilson of St. Dominic's
church, in that city, for a contribution, replied
that he " had no money to spare, and if he had,
none of it would be giien towards Catholic -ob
jects, as during the recent war the Cathblics as
a body were rebels, and had idetitified theinselves
with slavery and rebellion!'
PRIEST AND NUN.
We are very glad to welcome a new order ;of
popular story books on the Romish controversy.
Much that was highly objectionable and quite
unsuitable for general circulation,, even if true,
found its way, under various auspices, respecta
ble and otherwise, to public notice ; and many
sincere Protestants had become suspicious of the
whole class of literature, by which the evil and
dangerous influences of Romanisru upon social
and domestic life were professedly described.
The effect has been bad. One important means
of reaching the ear of the Protestant public was
neglected. There has been a wide opening, mueh
needing to be filled, for a perfectly pure, whole
some and truthful class of books, in which should
also be used every legitimate means of riveting
attention, arousing just fears, and • hastening
and energizing decision on the subject of the
social aspect of Popery. In other words, the re
ligious tale, founded on well-ascertained fact, and
exhibiting the workings of admitted. Romish
principles on the social life of our own . country,—
not attempting those depths of iniquity which
belong to the moral reform associations and the
criminal courts,—is loudly called for among the
five million Protestant families of our land.
MRS. JULIA MCNAIR WRIGHT is already fa
vorably known by her list of books issued by the
Presbyterian Publication Committee, one of which,
Almost a Nun, was quite a successful venture in
this department of writing. She has since un
dertaken a larger and more thorough work, in
the same line, under the title of PRIEST AND NUN,
which eminently answers the need above de
scribed, and is destined, we are confident, to do a
good work in spreading just views and in arousing
the honest fear and indignation of the American
people at the machinations of Rome, •and at the
easy indifference of our own people towards
them. The craft of a system which recognizes
no fixed code of morals, and which trains up a
whole powerful order, as secret as Free Masons
or a Liquor League, to every subtle art of policy
for the increase and advantage of the Church,
and its operations among a set orpeople, brought
np as nominal Protestants, who refuse to believe
the moral corruptness of Rome, and suffer their
families and especially their daughters, during
the period of their education, to fall into the
hands of the priests and the nuns, are vividly
portrayed. Almost every aspect in which Rome
can in these relations become formidable to the
peace, the health, the hopes, the personal safety
and the destiny for this world and, the next of
families and of individuals, is effectively described,
and wrought into a story of decided interest, of
rapid and dramatic movement and of high evan
gelical tone. And startling as some of its , state
ments are, the story of the imprisoned nun at
Cracow, comes- to hand, just after the comple
tion-a the volume, exceeding in its enormity the
worst representations of this book ) which may be
classed among fictions.
We are glad to see that the book is to be
pushed by agetits,-and that as the first issue of a
new firm, Messrs. CRITTENDEN & MCKINNEY,
it will be sureto be vigorously circulated. It is
gotten up in substantial and attractive style, with
nine full page engravings drawn and executed
with unusual skill. The publishers deserve a
large measure success in an undertaking
.which is not, only.well-devised ,as a matter of
business, .but which is as well adapted to do good
_as many a purely religious tract.
THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1869.
AN INTERESTING ANNIVERSARY.
The second Sabbath of September was a high
day in old Drawyer's church, near Odessa, Del.;
being at once the annual season of reunion among
the various congregations formerly connected
with it, and the day of prayer for the blessing of
God on the reunion of both branches of the
Presbyterian Church in the-United States.
Both these circumstances gave character to
the services of the occasion, and greatly in
creased the satisfaction of all who participated in
them. Old local associations renewed the life of the
past, while the , contemplation of great general in
terests lighted up the future with hope and joy.
The concourse of people vi as very great from
Odessa, Middletown, Port Penn and St. George's,
with not a few from much greater distances in
Delaware and adjacent States.
The old edifice was filled—pulpit, pews, gal
leries and aisles—with devout and attentive list
eners, In tlamorningthesermon was preachedby
Dr. Crowell, pastor of Drawyer's church,Odessa.
His 'theme WU, UNITY AMONG CHRISTIANS, as
tequired and produced by their common profes
sion of Christ as an indivisible Saviour by
their common obligation to Him ,as having been
crucified for them, and their common profession
of trust in Him and consecration to - Him.
In tIVe afternoon addresses Were •delivered by
Dr. Patton pastor of the Forest church, Middle
town, and Rev. Mr. Gaylord, now of Lincoln,
Deliwarb, who for twelve years had been ,pastor
of Drawyer's, Port , Penn and Delaware City
churches.
Dr. Patton gave a rapid and highly interesting
review of the growth of. the Presbyterian deno
mination in this country froin the beginning; of
the first separation between the Old - side and the
New, and' the subsequent 'reunion, which conti
,
nued eighty years; de, the second disruption be-,
tWeen, the Old School and, the New, with the
causes, in part, which had combined to produce
it, and the progress, especially during the last six
years, towards fraternal correspondence andor
,.
ganic reunion.
Mr. Gaylord dwelt particularly on the unity of
the whole(Ohurch as one army of the living God,
part of which "have crossed the flood." He re
ferred with great tenderness to many by name
whom, as their pastor, he bad been permitted to
accompany "to the margin," and to see crossing
over, in succession, alone, and entering 'within
"'the gates of pearl."
During both services, prayer, with special re
ference,to the day, was offered by the ministers
already enumerated, and by Rev. Mr. Beale; pas
tor of St. George's church.
The,music, vocal and instrumental, was abun
dant and , excellent.
Before the service—while the . people in
,car
riages and on foot " were gathering from near
and from far "-L-during the intermission and at
the close, there was much pleasant social inter
course and many happy "reunions " among fa
milies long scattered, among relatives and friends,
"young men and maidens, old .men and .chil
dren." •
At length, as the sun of that beautiful autumn'
Sabbath was descending in glory to the West,
one group after another disappeared, one carriage
after another rolled awe, until the old church,
which has stood on the hill alrnost a century, was
left alone amidst the sleeping bodies of the dead,
to be filled again, we hope, with a numerous,
happy and grateful throng on the 2d Sabbath of
September, 1870:
SUMMER RAMBLES.
The latter part of July we spent at Point
Pleasant in New Jersey, and in a former letter
we gave an account of our very pleasant sojourn
there. '
During August we were so constantly on . - the
wing that we could hardly find time for corres
.
pondepce. The early part of the month was
spent among dear friends and relatives, and we
may not lift the curtain of this private social life
to let the world gaze upon it. Our Sabbaths
,
were spent at Freehold, Raritan, N. J. and
Rhinebeck, N. Y. among our ReforMed, lately.
Dutch, friends. In the last two places we years
ago officiated as Pastor, and as -we stood in'our
old. pulpits the most tender and delightful mem
ories came to our mind.
But we turn from all these places, so full of
pleasant associations to us .to speak of others
of more general interest- A' dear young parish
ioner, the' daughter of one of our elders, and of
our Sabbath-school superintendent, left her home
in June to visit the green hills of Connecticut.
Disease is preying upon her. Consumption has
taken its grasp, and although the victim is fair
and young,"and full of life she cannot escape.
Fannie Camp, the sweet girl of sixteen, is dying.
We hasten to see her once again. How fair is
the spot where she is visiting, and where each
summer of her short life she has been accus
tomed to spend a few weeks. Meriden is a most
beautiful city of some ten thousand inhabitants,
situated Midway between Hartford and New
-Haven.
It looks as if it had commenced its existfince
in a valley or . hollow, which in form is 'like a
huge basin. The bills rising on every side are
very picturesque, and these are now well covered
with large factories, and . elegant private resi.
deuces. As we look at those hills we think of
the words of the Psalmist—" As' the mountains
are round about Jerusalem so the lord is round
about his people."
On one of these elevations, embowered in trees
and flowers, is the mansion where social life, and
hospitality, and intelligence and piety have their
home, and from a window in this mansion
Fannie looks out upon the lovely scene. But
blessed be God her eye of faith beholds a lovelier
city, built upon loftier and fairer hills. She
looks up to the Mount of God, to the city not
made with hands, to the Father's house of
many mansions, to the home of eternal blessed
ness. Fain would she stay with father and mother
and sisters and friends- Her young heart clings
fondly to the endearments of, earth. But God
calls. - Heaven has superior attractions. 0, bow
full of joy we are to find this beloved youth sit
ting at the feet of Jesus. Consecrated in 'in
fancy to God, early taught divine truth, habitu
ated to prayerand reading ,ef God's word,
al
though note professor of religion, she is a disci
of Christ. She declares her unqualified trust
in the dear Redeemer, anirquietly waits the sum
mons hence to glory. A few days after our visit
she gently breathed - ler last earthly sigh, and
went to her beautiful home in heaven. And
nOw , , w hil o we look in vain for her smiling face
in the home, in the SanctliarY,in,lhe Sabbath
schOol; her remains are quietly 'resting amid
the flowers, of Meyiden,, and her soul., we doubt
not is, joining with the ransomed spirits around
thethroneof God ,in singing the , new:and ever
lasting song. 'f *" '
Just before we, retUrned bome w.e made a
flying visit to Saratoaa. A friend is stopping at
Dr. Strong's, and we seek Whim there. In a
quiet part of the city of fountains, we fmlit
most desirable home.= Tsio physicians, father
and sore; have an Institution, which all' the - year
rouud is a resort for invalids but in summer
time is crowded „with Christian boarders. The
-house will accommodate about seventy-five people.
has no bar, no ball-room, no . opera , houise, but
it is a real Christian'lieme. The blessing of God
is invoked at every meal, ,and after breakfast
each morning the parlor is-filled with those who
join in singing praise to God, in hearing His
-word and calling upon His name. o.ir friend
Cuyler is here. He usually spends his sum
mere in this fairy spot,. and as he has preached
his eightieth sermon in Saratoga is a sort of
Bishop, presiding over not only Presbyterians,
but Congregationalists, Baptists and Methodists.
With' all ihe fashion and f craiety of this place
which, is very like -Bunyan's picture of Vanity
Fair—as an off set to the horse-race, the gam
bling and drinking saloon, and the ball-room, it
really refreshing to enter the Young Men's
Christian Association rooms. Every morning
from 10 toill o'clock these rooms are opened-for
,prayer. %he morning we were . there the , meet
ings were very largely attended and thrilling with
interest. 'We-'have never seen the Fulton street
prayer-141 ft carried on with greater power
than'ivere- theare-Trecious meetings at Saratoga.
The cloud of blessing came over us, and broke in
showers of divine love upon our heads and hearts.
We were
,glad just at the'close of our vacation,
and when returning home from our summer ram
bles to enjoy this " sweet hour of.prayer."
Home again! Work, toil, trial!—Yes, and
welcome. Blessed be God for the privilege ! 0
for grace to be faithful, and enduring that we
may at length receive a crown of life ! P. S.
CLEVELAND LETTER
crux CHURCHES
Dr. Eels returned to Cleveland, and com
menced his labors with his old church, on the
first Sabbath of September. On the following
Monday evening he had a very flattering recep
tion by his old city friends, and the members of
his church. He also had a very cordial greet
leg in Presbytery on' the'next day._
Dr. Lyman has been absent from the Euclid
street church for several weeics.• Daring his ab
sence extensive alterations and improirements
have been made on the inside of his church. He
returned and resumed his labors on the second
Sabbath of this inonth. ' •
Rev. Mr. Lewis, Pastor of the Westminster
church, 'after a somewhat protracted vacation,
has returned, iritproved in health, and resumed
his labore. " • -
Dr. Goodrich has not taken any vacation this
summer, but he has been absent a good deal on
account of the sickness and death of his mother.
On his return he preached a sermon -entitled—
"ReflectiOnS by a Mother's Death-bed!" The
sermon.has been printed, and is a very filial and
beautiful tribute to the memory of an excellent
Christian parent.
OTHER CHURCHES
The church in Newburg, under the pastoral
care of Rev. Elroy Curtis, commenced the erec
tion of' a new house of worship, about the first
of June. , The walls are now up, and the roof
on. It is hoped that the basement will be ready
for use in a few weeks. The church in Streets
boro are renovating their old house of worship,
and are giving other indications of a renewed
vitality. T4t,e church in Parma, which became
discouraged, have been • so revived by the labors
of a young brother, who has spent his seminary
vacation - among them, that they now think that
they can live, and want to settle a minister.
Some of the Congregational churches con
nected-with us, have been told that they •:must
become fully Presbyterian, or leave us, and they
are deliberating whit to do. The probability is
that the roll of our churches will be somewhat
less next year.
OUR ROCHESTER CORRESPONDENT.
SYNOD OF GENESEE.
This Synod held its annual meeting this week
at Jamestown, a beautiful and flourishing vil
lage, in Chautauqua county, far away in the
South-western corner of our great State, and the
attendance upon the meeting was not so large as
it would have been in some other locality. And
yet to those who had not before been in that re
gion, the trip and the visit were exceedingly in
teresting, especially the sail over Chautauqua
Lake, which: is a. clear sheet of water, some
twenty miles long and four or five miles wide,
said to be the highest water in the world navi
gated by steam. It is 726 feet above Lake Erie,
and 1,296 feet, above, the sea. It is almost a
lake on - top of a mountain y or a great spring, as
it receives no affluents except a few little brooks
Its waters seem to come from hidden fountains.
The outlet is at the south end, forming a beauti
ful and perennial stream, upon which the village
of,Jamestown is built.
Here is a fine water power, with various man
ufactories, furnishing employment for a consid
erable portion of the inhabitants. And, beside
this, a dairy business of some $750,000 a year
add.s to the population and wealth of the place.
And business or all sorts is rapidly increasing.
The town is growing. New houses are going up
pontinnally, , Many fine dwelling adorn the hill
side& The present population is estimated at
6,000 S'ome of the " oldest inhabitants" expect
to see those figurea doubled in the next few
years.
The Congregationalists recently , dedicated a
new church edifice; costing $28,000: It is of
brick; an imposing, substantial structure. The
Presbyterians have also a large and commodious
house of worship, though it has stood some years
and must ere long give place to a better and
more modern house. This is the church with
which the Synod met, over which Rev. Dr.
• ,
Thompson, formerly of Buffalo, IS settled, and
=
where he seems to be much beloved'and very
useful.
- Dr. Thompson was chosen Moderator, and
presided with great acceptableness to those in
attendance. The opening sermon was preached
by Rev. Dr. Campbell of Rochester, the retiring
Moderator. It was a rapid, interesting and sug
gestive sketch of the four great revival epochs
Of the last hundred and thirty years; character
izing each one as bringing out into special pro
minence one great central truth of the Christian
system, Regeneration, Sovereignty, Repentance,
Line. The central dates of 'these periods were
1740, 1800, 1831, and 1857. In the first
Whitefield was the chief actor, in. the second'
'Nettleton, in the third Finney; and the fourth
has no one central figure. It is the day of more
general activity, lay agency and -'the like, all
preaching, all laboring, man with man, to bring
sinners to Christ:
Dr. Shaw preached the communion sermon
from those 'marvellous words, "As thy day, so
shalt thy strength be." It was full of sympathy
and cheer for a weak or wounded spirit.
The various benevolent causes were well rep
resented, and - the-Synod gave them a patient
hearing. All were much stirred by Dr. Ellin-,
wood's representation of the condition and wants
of the far West,- as his eyes have recently loOked
upon them. By contrast, riot per contra, we had
Rev. Albert Bushnell, the veteran missionary
from Africa, to tell us, about the wants of the
`perishing millions of that .dark land. It was
very hopeful, however, to hear him say, that
already there are 17,000 members of Christian
churches on the west coast of Africa, and 20,090
children gathered in Christian schools. That is
something' done, and gives great encouragement
further effort in the same direction. The
whole coast is' partially illumined with the 'Gas-
One of the. chief matters considered by the
Synod was Systematic' Bene licence. A seriei of
pointed and emphatic resolutions was introduced
by Dr. Campbell, seconded by Dr. Waldo, ably
advocated by both r and by many others, and
unanimously passed, inviting and urging all the
churches within the bounds of the Synod to take
a collection every year for each Rone of the seven
causes commended to them by, he . General As-
sembly.
Further to urge and encourage this movement,
a committee was appointed, consisting of one - from
each of our six Presbyteries, to have this matter
in charge, and to see that:each pastor takes such
collection, or gives a reason for not doing so. It
is proposed to have the roll. of each Presbytery,
and the roll of the Synod, called each year, to
see who have, and who have not, complied with
this rule of, the Assembly. It is hoped in this
way to stir up some Ore minds by way of re
tnerubrance, and, if possible, secure in each
church a collection for each , one of our various
causes of benevolence.
A shameful ,deficiency still exists in regard to
some of them; for instance, on Ministerial Edu
cation. While so many of the appropriations
made last year to needy students could not be
paid in full, and some most worthy young men
were reduced to great - straits, and almost dis
couraged about trying, to enter the ministry, only
38 - of the 106 churches of the great Synod of
Genesee took collections for that cause at all,
they giving only $1,162; and of this amount or, :
church gave almost one third. The whole sum
is only eight cents from each church membe r i n
the Synod; or, leaving that one church out, it is
only five cents a member for the whole year; s o
much to supply the world with the ministry of
reconciliation. It is hoped that our contributions
may be better to all the causes another year.
It was, on the whole, an important and in.
teresting meeting of the Synod. All seemed to
enjoy it, and seemed to carry away much of it s
inspiration. GENESEE.
Rochester, ,Sept. 18, 1869.
PRIZE MANUSCRIPTS.—To writers who have
sent hi manuscripts competing for the different
prizes offered by the Presbyterian Publication
Committee, and who may think it is time for a
decision to be made, the Committee's Secretary
Would offer a word of explanation. One hundred
and fifteen manuscripts (in addition to our regular
supply of publications) have been sent in thus far.
Many of these are large, running to five hundred
or more written pages. • To examine them is a
work of very great - labor, as any one will find
WhO Undertakes the job, and the examination
his' been hindered by the absence from the city
during . the Summer of a number of the gen.
tlemen of the Committee. It has, however,
been Tressed as rapidly as pomible, and will be
pressed•to a conclusion.
It must be remembered by writers that
though a decision adverse to the acceptableness
Of a- book can .be had on any one manuscript
singly, as Cawarelof superiority.; can only be made
after all the competitors of a given class have
been read, and' those deemed best compared.
Then let our good writers exercise patience, and
believe that the Committee will decide as soon
as they can do so with fairness to all. The
Secretary cannot say this directly to the writers,
as their names are sealed and awaiting a de-
J. W. D.
lieWe call attention to the announcements
of _Messrs. C.-Scribner & Co., in our advertising
columns. They include LANGE ON ROMANS,
just issued, a new volume of ,the LIBRARY or
WONIIERS, Reminiscences of JAMES A. HAM
ILTON; and especially a new programme for their
sterling magazine: HOURS AT HOME, which
they offer at very low rates in clubbing with our
own and other first-class journals.
We will send HOURS AT HOME and our own
paper to new .subscribers to both for $3.50 per
annum in advance.
—The church at Sidney Plains, Chenango
Presbytery, N. Y., has been thoroughly repaired
and enlarged this summer, and was formally ded
icated to God, Sept. Bth. The sermon was
preached by Rev. Geo. J. Mingins, Superintendent
of City Missions in New York, from Luke i :
" For he loVeth our nation and he hath built us a
synagogue," and the dedicatory prayer was offered
by the Rev. S. Mandeville, of Masonville, N. Y.
'The services were interesting throughout, and
attended by'a large and attentive audience. The
society is not a strong one, nor have they a super
abundance of this world's goods, but they have
expended more than $6,000 in this work, and
they have now one of the most beautiful and
commodious houses of worship to be found in
this part of the Susquehanna Valley. Rev. A.
McMasters is now their pastor, having com
menced laboring about a year ago. The village,
situated at the junction of two railways, is grow
ing, and with it our church must grow. We
hope the successful completion of this (for them)
great enterprise, will open a new era in their
prosperity, and that the Lord will accept their
gift, and acknowledge it by opening the windows
of heaven and pouring them out a great blessing.
4rfuo rri fur enntrrijrs,
The Presbytery of Cleveland and Portage met
in Co!lamer on the 7th inst. In accordance with
the recommendation of the General- Assembly,
the first half day was spent in Sabbath School
exercises. The object was to exhibit some of
the most improlied modes of teaching. There
were also several questions discussed : such as
" the relation of Presbytery to the Churches and
of the Churches to Presbytery ;" and " the rela
tion of Church members to the prayer-meeting."
There were also two excellent sermons preached,
and a communion season. The moral impression
of the meeting was-very good, though the wea
ther was very unfavorable.
Re union received the early attention of Pres
bytery. The " Basis " was read; the "Concurrent
Declarations" of both Assemblies were also read;
the Commissioners to the Assembly were heard,
and others :made remarks. The roll was then
called,, and the vote, was unanimous approving
the Basis. J. S.
The Presbytery. of Onondaga at its semi.an
nual meeting in Cazenovia 14th inst., adopted
the overture on Re-union by a unanimous vote.
Rev. J. H. Burns is released from his pastoral
charge of the Church at Granville, 111., and goes
to' the Presbytery of Chicago to enter upon a
new enterprise of Home Mission labors.
The Presbytery of Ottawa, Ills., has approved
the Basis of Re-union.
The. Presbytery of Grand River, o.—The
minutes on Re-union read thus : The order of
the day was taken up, and Presbytery proceeded
to act on the Basis of Re-union submitted by the
General Assembly. The roll was called and each
member was afforded an opportunity of stating
the reasons of his vote. Every member voted in
the affirmative. A pray 4 'of thanksgiving wit
•
then offered.