9'lntritint l'lmbOtrialt. TETURSDAY, NOVENBER 4, IH9 REV. JOHN W. MEARS, D. D., Editor. No. 1334 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. THE EDITORIAL COMMITTEE. Rev. Z. Al Humphrey, D.D., Pastor of Calvary Church; Rev. Herrick Johnson, D. D., Pastor of the First Church. Rev. Danl. March. D.D., Pastor of Clinton St. Church. Rev. Peter Stryker, D.D., Pastor of N. Broad St. Church. Res. George F. Wiswell, D.D., Pastor of Green Hill Church. Bev. E. E. Adams, D. D., Prof. in Lincoln 'Uni versity. • Rev. Samuel W. 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 thiir respective fields. ger Letters from the Bills, by "On the Wing," . V., Presbyterianism in Boston, 11., Mission Schools and the Reform Movement in India,by Rev R G Wilder, Rev. A. M. Stewart's Letter's, .XLVIL, The Glory of Service, Rom ish Statistics page 2nd; Editor's Table, Lit erary Items:Missionary Items, What we Owe to the Arabs, page- 3rd ; Our Conversation in .Heaven, (Poetry) Mr. Hammond's Letter to Little Christians, Apprenticeship in the Penna. R. R. Who Knows Best 1' Pleasures of the Ministry, Budget of Anecdotes, page 6th; Re ligious World Abroad, page 7th. —Anotier of the welcome letters of " B. B C."—from Venice—will appear in our next. —At the communion in the First R. P. church (Rev. Dr. Wylie's) last Sabbath, twenty_ six persons were received to membership. Eleven of these were on certificate, and fifteeu—mostly young men—on examination. —The devoted Missionary of Kola poor, India, R v. H. G. Wilder, is now in this country, hav in g reached , New York city, in the Allemania, on Thursday last. His address is Care of Rev. A. E. Campbell, D.D , 27 Bible House, N. Y. His purpose is to return to Kolapoor, but not without an earnest effort to put the mission on a p ermanent footing, and to secure a reinforcement for the better prosecution of the work. We trust that he, may be successful in both respects, and that it may not be necessary to yield to the earnest solicitations of Bishop .Mihnan, and hand over the -Mission to the High Church Society for the Fropagation of the Gospel to insure its vigorous prosecution in years to come. --Fifty-eight Home Missionary appointments were made by the Presbyterian Committee in September. Receipts $4,702.22; for the Freed men : $1,571.79., Church Erection received in August and September $1,817.61; Education Committee $1,575.80. The Church Erection Committee's appropriations are, each month, from two to ten times as great as the receipts. —The school authorities of Cincinnati deci dedi on Monday last, by a vote of 22 to 15 to ex clude the Bible from the Public Schools. .Doubt less this is not the end, but the beginning of a struggle, which we hope the friends of a Bibli cal element in the Free School system in Cin cinnati, will carry on with courage and earnest ness, before the bar of public opinion. Or does Cincinnati, like New York, cease to reckon itself an American city, and with this action, surren der itself to the rule of Popish Celts, and infidel Teutons ? —The new Board, of Directors of the Phila delphia Tract and Mission Society met - on Tues day Evening, October 26th, at 8 o'clock. Samuel 11. Perkins, President, in the chair. Thomas A. Robinson, Secretary. The following gentlemen were elected the Executive Commit tee for one year:—William It. Scott, Winthrop Cunningham, Isaac S. Williams, William Purves, Alexander V. Murphy, Robert B. Davidson, Hymen L. Lipman. --:We notice, with great satisfaction; the ac tion of that respectable Temperance organiza tion, the . Good Templars, which was taken at its Quarterly Convention in this city, last week. It calls for united efforts, on the part of all Temper ance men, to procure from the State Legislature the passage of, a law calling upon each election district to vote upon and decide for themselves, the question of license or prohibition within, their boundaries. Such a la ,. it seems, was re- 1 ported by the Committee on Vice and Immorality of the 'Souse of Representati'ves, s last February, so that, in all probability, it, would not require a very protracted effort to carry it through. Poli ticians will doubtless-be very willing to get riffof a matter so threatening to their plans, on terms so easy WILSON,. FEMALE COLLEGE —The folloiving was the.unanimous action of the Synod of Bal timore 14 its Session in Chambersburg, Pa., Oct. 29, in + reference to Wilson Female College. WHEREAS, it is understood that on the Re union of the two branches of the Presbyterian Church, a general thank offering will be made by all the churches of this Synod, and whereas the Synod heartily approves such a measure, therefore , • • Resolved, That we earnestly recommend that the contributions thus made be t devoted to the 4noowment Fund of the Wilson Female College.. THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1869. MINISTERIAL RELIEF. MR. EDITOR :—ln the proceedings of the Sy nod of Pennsylvania as reported in your last number, it is stated, that the incollections for the Ministerial Relief Fund, " . outside of the Pres bytery of Harrisburg there had been almost no gain." This is true, but it is also true that there is less room for gain here than in some other Synods. So far as contributions from the churches are concerned, those in this Synod are in the habit of giving about ooe fourth of the amount which is contributed by the whole denomination. Oct. 29, 1869. C.. 8. RECENT PUBLICATIONS. Besides those noticed under the usual head ings, we have received : JUDAIC BAPTISM, by Dr. J. W. Dale ; LORD BACON'S THOUGHTS ON SCRIPTURE, from the N. Y. American Tract So ciety; JOHN PLOUGHMAN S TALK, by Spurgeon (afieldott and C 0.,) Abbott's Aistory of JOSEPH BONAPARTE, (llarpers,) ZLOSSY LEE (SKELLY & C 0.,) NORA'S LIFE AT DERNCLEUGH, (Am. S. 6. Union,) LOTTIE LANE (N. Y. Am. Tract So ciety.)• PERIODICALS The November number of the SUNDAY MAGA ZINE, issued by Lippincott & Co., is out. The same enterprising firm announce they have also commenced publishing G9OD WORDS FOR THE YOUNG, commencing with November, under the editorship of Geo. MacDonald ; also that in Jan uary they,will commence the issue of GOOD WORDS itself; the well known magazine of Dr. Norman Macleod. A NEW CHARITY. We have just paid a visit to the "Industrial Home for Blind women," at 3921 Locust St., the youngest, we believe of the varied charities of our goodly city. We are 'glad they call it a Rome instead of a Retreat, or an ; and gladder still that it has a genuine, home-like air. Its location is in one of the most attractive portions of that beautiful new city, rising so rapidly on the western banks of the Schuylkill. We found the superintendent sympathetic and earnest, deeply interested in her charge, and ready to introduce. us to the varied interests of the institution. We went to thework-room, S and watched the.Tlrocess of basket making and cane seating. We went to their pleasant chambers, so bright and sunny that we, longed for, the tenants to see and know how beautiful is the home the ladies have obtained for them. We saw them at the tea table, cheerful over their evening meal ; a touching group it was,— those ten blind women, between the ages of 25 and 55, so dependent, yet so tenderly cared for. There was thrilling melody in. their evening song, and as we bowed around that family altar, and listened to the earnest prayer, we thanked our Heavenly Father that the darkened life-path had, by his merciful guidance, led them to such a "Home." Shall we let the truthful shadow fall upon, the picture? The Home is almost entirely desti- Mite of furniture. A debt of over $lO,OOO weighs heavily upon the few ladies, whose piety for poor, dependent blind women, led them to found the institution ; and whose faith in a sym pathetic, generous community, prompted them to purchase this beautiful Home, when their treasury was well nigh empty. Why, it seems to me, if twenty of . the rich, benevolent men and: women of Philadelphia, whom I could rtame, would just go into that Home, and see and hear what I heard and saw, each, as he hurried to lay his offering of $5OO upon this altar of afflicted humanity, would feel that no "stocks " or "bonds " could equal this investment. We know that' their hearts would be 'moved with pity, and as a thank-offer . ing for the glorious visions of beauty that greet them, every conscious hour from earth and sky, they would lift the burden that now oppresses the Home. A VISITOR. SYNOD OF TENNESSEE.-MARYVTLLE COLLEGE. The Synod of Tennessee met in the church-of Maryville, on the 30th day of September, and was opened with a sermon by the Moderator, Rev. Nathan Bachman, of Knoxville. Sixteen' ministers and ',;nineteen t elders were present. Rev. David M. Wilson, of Athens, was chosen Moderator, and Elder J. M. - Mathes, of Jones boro, Temporary Clerk: Looking back over the records of Synod, we find that it met here, fifty years ago, in the Old' Stone church, stand ing then where The new church now stands ; a structure venerable an& inticlue - in its appear ; ante, almost as- wide as long, entered by four large doors, having six blo_cks of pews, three im mense galleries, and withal a very high pulpit, which was occupied for a time by the eloquent Dr. Gideon Blackburn, and after him for forty five years, by the Rev. Isaac. Anderson, D.D. At that time the Synod was only two years old; and there were present nine ministers and six elders. And it embraced in, its geograpllical limits, TenneSsee, Alabama, Mississippi, Mis souri, and parts of Georgia and North Caro lina. It was at that meeting, fifty yeari ago, that the plan and constitution of the Southern and Western Theological Seminary, row Maryville College, were adopted. In founding thii setui nary,-the grand object was to educate and' train a native ministry for this destitute and extensive field. Our Presbyterian fathers were deeply anxious in relation to the spiritual wants of the field allotted to them. flow to supply it with an adequate number of ministers, was to them a grave and perplexing question. Like sensible men, they went to work, and did the very best they could. Their school of the prophets. trough humble, poor, and secluded, sent 'forth into the field many living ministers, adapted by their habits and education to their work. At the late meeting of Synod, we felt it due to the past, to pause and allot a portion of our time to the celebration of the Semi-Centennial of Mary villle College. Fortunately, the venerable Thomas Brown was present, 'and, in a speech of thirty minutes, 'recalled readily and accurately, and narrated with thrilling interest, the history of his ALMA. MATER, for which no other man, living or dead, except Dr. Anderson, has done so much,than which no other object on earth is now dearer to his heart. Would that he might, even yet, before the brittle thread of his feeble life parts asunder, see it on an endurin,g basis. During the session of Synod, several sermons were preached to large and attentive congrega tions. From the report of the Committee on Home Missions we learn that, in East Tennessee there are thirty-two eounties, and of them, not more than nine have a Presbyterian 'Minister, of either branch in, them; and of the whole number of both branches combined, making about twenty one, as many as fourteen labor in four counties. The report urges upon both ministers and churches the dukt of annual collections for the cause of Home Missions ; and also urges and recommends an annual collection in behalf'of the Freedmen, to whom we are, debtors; and we can not. without guilt, excuse ourselies from all in terest and work, in their behalf. From the report of the Committee on Education, it ap pears that under the care of our three Presbyte ries are fourteen 'candidates, two in the Theolo logical, five in the Collegiate, and seven in the preparatory course. Three of them are colored young men. From the Statistical report of the Presbyteries, it appears that ,we have eighteen ministers and thirty seven churches. Four of our ministers are without charge. Since the meeting of Synod last year, the Rev. F. A. McCorkle, of Greenville, has passed away from earth, a brother beloved' and in high es teem in all the churches. We have not had,,for many years, a more t pleasant and harmoniou meeting of Synod. The proceedings, generally, ere characterized with great unanimity. The Synod adjourned to meet in the Second church of Rogersville, on the last Thursday of September, 1870, at 7 o'clock, P. M. T. J. LAMAR, S. C. • FROM OUR A ROC'RESTER CORRESPON DENT. FREE CHURCHES. We see that quite a stir is being made in some quarters in regard to the revival of the Free Church system. It seems as though some per sons ought to remember that this experiment has already been tried and found wanting. There was once a free church in this city,' indeed two of them, we believe; .but they have long been extinct. The experiment was even more fully tried in New York, originated in Dey street in 1828, or 9, under the ministry of Rev. Joel Parker. If we remember rightly, the Free churches of that city once nttnibered six or seven. But where are they now ? We believe it was found that the enwrimenp of depending on voluntary Sabbath conVibutions for the necessary expenses of a congregation was utterly unreliable. It may do for a little time, while the novelty lasts; but after a while the contributions run low. It then needs the steady estimate of pew rents to keep the income and the expenses of a church enter prise at an equilibrium. SYNOD OF ONONDAOA AGAIN At the recent meeting of the Synod of Onon daga, it was reported that not one of all its churches had taken collectiona in the past year' for all the causes recommended by the General Assembly—not one bad filled•all the blanks. We presume it willj not be so next year. A word of admiration, such as was contained in the report on the state of religion,will be likely, at least, to secure a better result. The average membership of the Synod - of Onon daga is, one hundred "and seventy-six; tip addi tions of the past year hardly more than their losses. In the five counties covered by the Sy nod, it is estimated that there are 175,000 error ists or neglecters of all religion. Fourteen per cent. of the whole population are reckoned as Evangelical ; two' and a half per cent. Presby : terian. We should think that only fourteen per cent..for the'Evakelicals is too low an estimate. Of air the' contributions of the churches of this Synod to benevolent causes, only- one twentieth part goes to Send the Gospel to, the heathen. But there are six hundred millions of heathen, and only thirty.six millions of people in this land, with 'fork* thousand Evangelical clergy to look after our oWn. Are we doing enough for the heathen ? , • , • • WHICH POEM? u,Howcan two walk- together: except .they be ligreetir'. This is well put by thewisest of men. We have often thought of it, as we have heard persons trying to repeat the Lord's prayer in con cert. How can they say a prayer together, ex cept they be agreed ? Shall we follow Christ, or the Prayer Book ? Some say," who art in Hea ven," but Matthew says, "which, art." Some say "thy will be done on earth ;" Matthew says," in earth." Some say " on earth as it is done in heaven," Matthew omits the word done—it is superfluous. But greater still is the discrepancy and confusion when some loud voices are repeating," forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us," while others with equal volume of sound are saying, after tire divine example, " for give us our debts as we forgive our debtors." Why should we not folio* . the very words of the Evangelist? how else can we secure uni formity ? 'How else repeat the prayer in real concert? - We have named only a part of the discrep ancies. Often persons are stopped, and become silent in the, midst of the service because they cannot follow the leader. The word .trespasses" is well enough, if we could be agreed upon - it. But it easier, we think - , to agree upon " debts," as in the very pattern. WHICH TO BELIEVE Years ago, a capital story was . told" of Dr. Lyman Beecher preaching to one hearer. It was characteristic, just like the,man, and no one doubted its truth. The particulars were given. It was when he was settled in Connecticut. He was to exchange with a brother minister in the dead of winter: But Sunday morning was, ushered in with a terrific snow-storm., By dint of almost superhuman exertion, however, the Doctor made his way over the Litchfield hills, and through the piling drifts, to the neighboring parish, only to find one hearer in the 'house of God. But, as he went there to preach, nOthino• daunted, he ascended the pulpit, gave out his hymn, read the,scriptures, preached his sermon to the one man, and pronounced the Benedic tion. But, to cut the story short, years after wards, it is said he met that man in Ohio, and found him a minister of the Gospel; and he said he was converted by that sermon, preached to him alone, on that wild wintry Sabbath,, twenty years before. For a time that story did good service. It was repeated on many a public occasion, giving point and emphasis to many a good speech. It is , published in full in Arvine's Cyclopedia of Religious Anecdotes. But unfortunately; one morning in a union prayer meeting in Boston, some one repeated it in the old doctor's hearing, and he spoiled the whole thing by declaring there was no truth in it, and so speechmitkers had to give the story up. But years passed' away, and another book of anecdotes or " Narratives of Remarkable .Con versions " is published, with an "Introduction" and endorsement by Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, supposed to be a near relative of the old Doctors; and lo! this same story Of the sermon to one hearer, is one of the most conspicuous and most noticeable in the book. Was it a true story, after all ? Surely the illustrious son ought to know. Or does he "introduce" a book without know ing anything of its'contents ? ' PERSONAL Rev. F. A. Spencer, late Secretary of the N. Y. State Temperance Society, and one of the best of temperance lecturers, has gone into the insurance business in Syracuse. We believe he is also still supplying the pulpit of the Presby terian Church of Liverpool., He is a good prea cher, and a most °thorough, competent, business man. Whatever he undertakes he does it with his, might, and is pr etty.sure of a reasonable suc cess. Ms friends will find him at 12, South Salina Street, and will receive a cordial welcome; especially if they want to get their lives in , sured. Rev. H. IT. Allen, after having faithfully served the Presbyterian Church of Cayuga for eight years, has left that and gOne to the Pres byterian Church of Oneonta. At a late meeting of the Presbytery of Cayuga, he was, at his own request, dismissed also to unite with the Pres bytery of Otsego, within whose bounds his lot is now cast. Rev. H. H. Waite, who has prea.ched for two years at Woodville, has accepted a,' call' to the Congregational Church of Sandy "Creek, and has entered upon his new field oflabor. We have received a line froth Rev. Dr. Miller, of Ogdensburg. He and hie' party bad a very pleasant and prosperous voyage in the steamer . Ville de ' Paris, arriving at Biest on the 12th in stant. He will be in good time for the great council at Rome, but we fear the Pope will not permit him 'to participate , in its :deliberations. He could give them some "good advice, however, if they would permit it, and tell them how a free gospel flourishes ima 'free country, much better than it does, under pontifical despotism: Would they could so, see it. , GENESEE. Rochester; Oct. 30, 1869. —We don't get Yankee compliments 'Often, so we quote what a Cambridgeport, Noss., pastor writes to The Congregationalist " City of orderly plan- and brotherly love, where horse cars 'and street numbers are most conveniently systematized, and (speaking 'ec clesiastically) the leopard lies down with the, kid, and the 'calf and the young lion, and the fading together. City of brick walls and sidewalks, with porches, steps and shutters of unvaryift_t white, of pure-hearted and sunny-fac e d Frien, of open-handed hospitality, and generou s Chri tian charity and work. Who that knows fair Philadelphia does not love her ?" —The London Weekly Register says : A Catholic priest of high standing, and well know n in the north of England, lately received a visit from an Anglican clergyman, who came to him as spokesman of a very large body of his col leagues in different parts o the country. The object of the visit was to consult as to the best means of sending to .Rome a petition to the Council of the Vatican. And the pith of the peti tion was, that should the decision come to by the Council be unfavorable (as the petitioners deemed it not improbable it will be) to the validity of Anglican orders, the petitioners and others of their body who have entered the ministry of the English Church through religious .motives, should be received into the Catholic Church, ordained as priests, employed as such, and allowed, if married, to continue so until the death of their present wives—those married not to be employed as confessors. • It is said that many of our Eng lish Catholic Bishops are favorable to the peti tion, and that they will urge its adoption by the Holy Father and the Council. No doubt it will bridge over a great difficulty, and bring over to the Church an immense body of the very best men among the Anglican clergy. For the pres ent we refrain from publishing any names con nected with the scheme, bat for the truth of what we have stated we can pledge ourselves. The signatures affixedeto the petition are already numerous, and are increasing every day." [The Maronite clergy, of Syria, united with the Romish church, shortly after the Reforma tion, on condition that celibacy be not imposed on them. They retain their priestly position and their domestic relations at the present time.] Synod of Peoria. — This Synod held its an nual meeting in the First Presbyterian church, Freeport; 111., Oct. 21st, 25th. .The opening sermon' was preached by the last Moderator, Rev. Samuel Wyckoff from Gal. vi. 14, " God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." The edifice is a beau- tiful .stone • structure, built two years ago at a cost of $50,000. The Second church, which is also in A flourishing condition is connected with _ _ the Old School., . Rev. D. R. Eddy was elected Moderator, and Rev. A. H. ,Avery, Temporary Clerk. The first, forenoon was given mostly to considering the establishment of a weekly re ligious newspaper in Chicago. In the afternoon reports were heard from the churches. Rev. S. J. Humphrey, Secretary of the American Board addressed the Synod on Foreign MiSsions and was followed by Rev. Dr. Patterson, on the same subject. In the. evening a sermon by . appoint ment was preached by Rev. L. H. Reid on Acts xiv. 1. " And so spake that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed"— Subject the end and method of 'preaching. At the prayer-meeting, Saturday morning, affecting reference was made to the death of Rev. Daniel Clark, who lost his life recently by drowning. In the business meeting, an important paper was submitted by the Rev. Dr. Patterson on the sub ject of the relation of our churches to the American Board. It is recommended that the churches continue to contribute to the funds of the American Board, until a satisfactory adjust mentof the matter can be effected. Rev. W. S. Curtis, D. D., reported on Literary and Theo logical Institutions at Lake Forest. A paper from the Presbytery of Bloomington, 0. S. was considered, recommending an Overture to the General Assembly, for a new division of the State into Presbyteries and Synods. The mat ter was left to the discretion of the Assembly's Committee. Saturday evening an interesting missionary meeting was held and addresses made by Rev. H. C Hovey, Rev. J. H. Trowbridge, lev. H. A. Wilder of Zulu mission, south Af rica, and Rev. A. Mitchell. Sabbath morning a prayer and conferenCe meeting was held at 9-3 a o'clock. Rev. D. R. Eddy preached in the First church in the morning, and Rev. A. Mitchell, in the evening. The children of the Sabbath-school were addressed at the close of the morning service. The communion service was held at 3. o'clock P. M. Addresses were made by Rev. Messrs. Wilder and Wyckoff. Other appointments were made as follows: In the Second Presbyterian church Rev. IL C. Hovey preached in the morning, and Rev. J. S. McConnell in the evening; First Methodist, 'Rev. A. Eddy, morning, Rev. A. McDougal, evening; Baptist Churc, Rev. G. H. Cort, morning; Mount Carroll and Oakville, Rev. M. OrmsbY ; Cedarville, Rev. D. C. Evans ; Nora, Rev. J. H. Burns. Synod adjourned on Mou day morning to meet next year in First church of Chicago, unless the place is changed by the General Assembly. PRESBYTERY OF WELLSBORO.-At a recent meeting of the Presbytery of Wellsboro, the vote upon the overture on re-union stood as fol lows: Ayes—ministers 4; elders-2. Total 6. Noes—ministers 1; elders 0. Total 1. The meeting. was very small. Seven (7) of our twelve (12) ministers being absent; and eleven (11) of our thirteen (13) churches not sending elders.' our ministers had been present, the ministerial vote 'would have stood 11 ayes to 1 no. On the Bth of October we had what, in these days of frequent changes in the pastoral relation, is a very rare occurrence, to wit : the commemo ration of. the 25th Anniversary of the pastorate and marriage of the Rev. J. F. Calkins, this double wedding of bride and groom to each other and of both of them to the church of Wellsboro, having taken place in the autumn of the year 1844. The . double silver-wedding was a grand success—proving that the. 25. years of labour in this one field. had gained for the pastor and his wife many warm-hearted and generous friends. The'congregation presented a very pretty tea service; and numerous friends at home and abroad, sent in articles of use and of beauty. Many congratulatory letters from friends at a distance were received, and some of them, as also two Poems; written for the occasion, were read; and the pleasant party broke up at a late hour, after an eveninc , of deliolitful social inter course, feeling that something had been done that night to strengthen the bonds which have been 'brining during the past tifenty-ftve years.
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