Or iginal tommunitatitoto. VENICE. We had been rolling leisurely along the almost level plains from Milan towards the sea, for even the express trains in Italy are not what we call "lightning trains," and were beginning to long for the end of the tedious journey, when we noticed the odor of salt air; and soon the more level marshes - approached, and presently, while eagerly on the lookout for the first glimpse of the city, by a slight turn in the road we saw Venice, the Queen of the Adriatic, sitting in the very lap of the sea. It was a sight not soon to be forgotten; but we had not long to dwell upon it, for the train soon passed on to the long and splendid bridge which connects the city with the mainland, and we were at &he station. Here new scenes awaited us. Instead of the usual crowd of cab men and omnibusses, assailing tired passengers with their loud cries, and almost threatening whips, we passed through the doors of the really fine sta. tion, and stood on the quay of the Grand Canal. Calling a two-oared gondola, in a few moments we were gliding through the Grand Canal, passing by palaces numerous, grand and beautiful, in their day, and imposing even now. On the way we were hailed by a man in a shabby-looking boat, which he was paddling alone —and asked for alms. It was a little bit odd to find a beggar in a boat—but the poor fellow had lost a leg—and after all, those most likely to give alms in Venice would be found in gondolas. We were fortunate to be in Venice on moon light nights; in fact it was part of our plan to be. The first night of our arrival, there was a proces sion of gondolas, illuminated, with a large coin pany of serenaders. The procession started from the front of the ainieli Hotel, passed along the Grand Canal, singing as they went, as far as the Rialto bridge, where the boats, (a hundred pro bably,) paused, and were tied to each other under that wide bridge of a single arch, while an ad- dfess was made to the gondoliers, to which they responded by the utterance of a few single words expressiv?of satisfaction; and then several pieces of music were performed, very creditably, indeed. Then the procession moved slowly back again to the place of starting, the people crowding the shores and the fronts of the palaces on both sides of the Grand Canal, burning the most brilliant colored lights. These, added to the many colored Chinese lanterns on the gondolas, and the light of the moon, only a little past, the full, made a • scene picturesque in the extreme. We hear so much of the canals of Venice, that we hardly think of streets in the they at all. Yet, there are more streets tl4n canals. In fact there are so many bridges (367) that one can pass any where about the• city without putting foot in a gondola. All the better class of houses •have a canal front and a street front; very few have any thing like a yard. On the canal side, all the houses have one or more'doors, with stone stairs running down to, and under, the water. Here the gondolas are fa,stened. The houses. ,spring directly from the water, generally, without an inch of footway, and the appearance to one who sees it for the first time, is that of a city suddenly inundated. But this inundation occurs twice • every day, for the sea water flows in and out and through these canals as the tide rises and falls. As no garbage or refuse from the dwellings is allowed to be thrown into the canals, they are kept pure by the flow and ebb of salt water, for these canals, of course, have no locks, but are simply channels for the sea. There are four thousand gondolas, and these are to Venice what our street cars and cabs are to Philadelphia. But of all means of locomotion the gondola is nearest perfection. Some . One has said that it combines progress and repos e, as no other conveyance does. The boats are fifteen'to twenty feet long, resting on the water, not in it, (they have no keel) with both ends high up on the surface. They can be turned short around, therefore, like a tub, with a sweep of the oar. The gondolier, if but one, stands on a sort of deck or poop, near the stern, on the starboard side, as we should say, and his long i oar is thrust out on the opposite side, resting in one of the hollows or scooped-out places, of a curiously-constructed oar lock. The motion of the oar through the water more nearly resembles that of the fin of a fish, than anything else ; and force is given by the gondolier, resting mainly on his left leg, with the right advanced some 20 inches, drawing the han dle of the oar towards him in an upright position, and then throwing the whole weight of his. body upon it. It is, therefore, a combination of weight and muscle, and more of the former than the latter. There is no jar or shock, whatever, to the boat or the passengers, only , a slight rolling from side to side, to which one is soon accustomed. The position, and movements of ,the gondolier are exceedingly graceful, and seen at a distance, with the sharp outlines of his form against the sky, somewhat resemble the classic figure of Mer cury. If another oar is required, it is used by a gondolier standing in the forward part of the boat, on the floor, (no deck), and using his oar as his companion , does. The middle part of the boat is furnished with seats, generally, for four persons, although two are more comfortable. These are under a canopy painted black, (as all the gondolas are by law), and capable of being closed as tight as a carriage. The citizens pre fer this kind, but instead of this, a linen awning is used on many boats, and these are most em ployed by strangers, who wish to look about them. It is odd to see these boats flitting about with persons under the dark canopies, reclining on the cushions and reading their newspapers. The gondolas, from their color, have a very hearse like appearance, but the stranger soon gets ac customed to it, and ceases to observe jt. The fu nerals, of course, must all be in these boats, but as, in the ten days I spent in Venice, I saw no funeral, I can't tell what appearance one would present. The streets are very narrow. Many of them are not more than six feet wide. From the win dow of my room I reached with my umbrella the eaves of the house on the opposite side of the street. There are no horses nor cattle of any des cription in the city, and no wheel has ever rolled over its streets. The pavements are very smooth, and. generally clean. Shops line the streets everywhere, among which those devoted to jew elry are most prominent, as is the case in all Eu ropean cities; These are very gay and attractive, as all the ladies admit. The lower windows of the dwellings are always secured by iron gratings, which give them the appearance of prisons, and in those of the better classes, the inside windows open on a court or paved yard. The old palaces areiremarkable for their grand and spacious stair ways, and the beautiful floors are made of a com position, in which the marbles of Italy and the East, polished to the last degree of art, are cu riously embedded. It makes a surface as hard and smooth and cool as stone, in the appearance of which, luxury and taste are blended tn - equal proportions. I was told that there is but one new house i n Venice, (which was our Hotel Victoria*), and the floors and stairways are finished precisely as are the old palaces. The city was built and finished centuries ago, and as the population is one third less now than when the city was in her prime no new houses are needed. Some of the grand old palaces have fallen into the hands of curiosity-shop keepers, and some are used for warehouses, &c., and others are.used for churches, (Protestant.) The people are very indolent. They are late appearing at business, opening their shops, or even going to the cafés,—and although there are more than half a dozen daily papers, not one is published before 12 o'clock, M. They retire early, and at 11 P. M., there are few people abroad... A policeman is never seen in the day time, and 'at night they patrol the Streetstwo and two, in full uniform. There are only 100 for a population of 130,000, .and their services seem not to be required. During my stay in Venice, although I - saw thousands of people in the square of St. Mark, and on the Mole every evening, I never saw an arrest, never saw a drunken man or woman, nor the least disorder or tumult; and this, too, at a time when there was as unusually large number of persons drawn there on account of the visit of the Empress of the French, and Victor Emanuel, who came to pay hipespects to her. il.ll. C. PRESBYTERIANISM IN BOSTON.-111. /The Presbyterian church next to this in the succession, was formed in 1730. This church, like so many of the other Presbyterian churches that have had an existence in New. England, was founded by emigrants from the North of Ireland. These emigrants, when they first came to Boston, were not received with that hospitality which had formerly been extended to the French refugees. They were looked upon as intruders, and treated as inferiors. A hard and bitter prejudice sprang up against them, but their lives and characters were such, that in a few years it died out. They proved a valuable accession to the population, adding both to the material and the spiritual prosperity of the city. They felt the coldness and rudeness with which they were treated; their sit uation affected them, and they called themselves " a church of Presbyterian strangers." Their first house of worship Was a tarn on Long Lane, now Federal St., which they fitted up for their use. This humble building served their purpose until 1746; and, during the few years in which they occupied it, was twice enlarged to meet the wants of their increasing congregation. In 1746 they were enabled to enter a-better and a more commodious sanOtuary, built-in the then preva lent style of New. England meeting houses. There is ample evidence that this was a very zealous and efficient church. It had, in its test days, the goodly number of twelve ruling elders, men who not only held the office, but performed its duties. The church was divided into twelve districts; to each elder was assigned a number orfamilies over which he was expected to exercise a watch and care. The communion was administered only twice in the year,-after the manner of the Church of Scotland, and was always a season of solemn and serious interest. During these services, it would often happen that the house could not con tain the congregation. It would be thronged to its utmost capacity, aisles, doorways and windows all crowded. The first pastor of this church was Rev. John Moorehead, a native of Newton, Ireland, a'town in the vicinity of Belfast. He became the pastor on the 31st of March, 1730, the year of the , or ganization of the church. His pastorate continued forty-four years, and was terminated by hisikath on the 2d of December, 1773. -His ministry *Hotel Victoria—decidedly the best and the cheap est in Venice—and this after trying the Daniell. PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1869. seems to have been eminently successful. In six years after the founding of the church, the num ber of communicants was two hundred and fifty. The ability of Mr. Moorehead was sufficient to hold his congregation together during his long pastorate, and to retain their affectionate regard at a time when Boston had as gifted a ministry as it ever had. His piety was earnest and sin cere. He entered with all his heart into the re vivals which, during his ministry, extended over New England. He sympathized with Whitefield, and always gave him a cordial welcome whenever he visited Boston. He was strenuous for Pres byterianism, and so loud in its defence that he went by the name of "Presbyter John." He was one of the three Presbyterian pastors, who, with three elders of their respective churches, on the 16th of April, 1745, organized the Presbytery of Boston. This was the first Presbytery formed in New England, unless that shadow flitting across the pages of a few old manuscripts called the " Irish Presbytery," hid a local habitation with in its boundaries. If the "Irish Presbytery " had a real existence in New England, then the Bos ton Presbytery must have the second place. Mr. Moorehead was a man of great eccentricity, and like all such men was the subjeet of a good many jokes. The wits of Boston made free use of " Presbyter John's" peculiarities, and did not suffer many opportunities for the use of their sa tire to pass unimproved. That he deserved the ridicule he received in certain quarters, cannot be admitted for a moment. There may have been, and without doubt there was, an opposition to him on account of his fervid piety, on account of his endorsement of White - field, and on account of the double misfortune he labored under, of being, a Scotchman and a Presbyterian ;_and ridicule was one of the forms in which this opposition found expression. After his death, the church...was without a pas tor for ten years, from 1773 to 1783, and was supplied at irregular intervals by different per sons.,. This was in consequence of the, unsettled state of the country just, before and during the war for 'lndependence. In 1783, Rev. Robert Annan became the pastor, and . continued such for thkee:years. After his dismission in 1786, the church having become greatly reduced in num bers, changed, hylt unanimous vote, their form of government, from the .T'resbyterian to the Con gregational. And in the beginning of the pre sent century, this church, along with the great majority of the, CongregatiOnal churches in Bos-, ton and vicinity, embraced the Unitarian doctrine. This was the church over which. Dr. Phanning was installed, and of which he °Ai:tanned the pas tor until his death, and-orwhich-Dr. Gannet, the colleague and sucee4or ,of Dr:Channing, is the present pastor, an4 k is now known as. the Arling ton St. church. A few years since, Dr. Blaikie's church laid claim to the property of this church, then wor shiping in their house on Federal, St., and com menced a suit for the recovery of it, on the ground that it belonged to them as the First . Presbyte rian church of Boston. The property was worth about one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. „ The Federal St. church offered to compromiife, the matter by the payment of ten thousand dol lars, which was the full value of the property. when it came into their poisession. But" this it proposal was, very unwisely, rejedV. l t Blaikie's church endeavored to show the identity of, their branch of tlie t Pre.sbyterian church, with the church of Scotland: ; and by that means their identity, as a church, with Rev. Mr. Moorehead's church. But this little scheme of plunder, which, to many , persons i ,Who had no sympathy with the Federal St. church in their doctrinal views, seemed iniquitous, was very.justly defeated in the courts. A.ccording to the law of Massachusetts, a church which has no historical connection with another, cannot Claim to .be its legal successor, merely on the ground of similarity in doctrine. Dr. Blaikie's church, organized as late as 1846, and composed wholly of emigrants, had no claim in law or jus tice to this property, even if his church could have proved an exact agreement in all points with Mr. Moorehead's church, which it is ,more than probable they could not have done. The Presbyterian church next in order, dates its existence from the year 1823. It was organ ized at first,,as a Congregational church, on the 27th of January, 1819, and . Rev. James Sabine, who had been instrumental in gathering it, was recognized as its pastor.. The church immediately took measures, to build a house of worship on Essex St., worshiping,; in . the meantime, in Boylston Hall. Their house was completed, and entered on December of 1819. This Aurch was known as the. Essex St. church. In , the course of two years, a difficulty arose between Mr. Sa bine and a minority of the church. This minor ity was composed of the most influential and wealthy, members of the church, who had been the principal contributors towards building their house of worship, and who owned so largely in it. The majority of ,the church sympathizing with their pastor, and finding that they could not re fain the house of worship, accordingly met to gether on the 6th of March, 1822, and, in their capacity as a church, voted to leave their house of worship, and resume their meetings for reli gious service in Boylston Hall. They still re mained a Congregational church, and retained their old name of the Essex St. church. Not re ceiving, however, the countenance and sympathy which they expected,from the other Congrega tional churches of the city, they, in a short time, applied to the Presbytery of Londonderry, and were received into it on the 26th of November, 1823, and they were afterwards known as the First Presbyterian church of Boston. They con tinued still to hold religious services in Boylston Hall, until the 29th of January, 1829, when they dedicated a house of worship at Piedmont Square. The church had never been wealthy, and the lo cation which they had chosen for a house of wor ship was unfavorable for their growth. Becoming discouraged, and thinking it a fruitless task to sustain a Presbyterian church, they made an ap plication to the State convention of the Episco pal church, at its meeting in June, 1829, for ad mission to that body. Their application was granted, and they were organized as an Episcopal church under the name of Grace church. As an Episcopal church they still occupied their house on Piedmont Square, and Mr. Sabine taking or ders in the Episcopal church, remained with them as their pastor. The next movement for a Presbyterian church was that begun- by Dr. Blaikie in 1846, a sketch of which was given in a former letter. THE CITY OF CALVIN. BY AN AMERICAN CLERGYMAN. MESSRS. EDITORS : The junction, but not union of the Rhone and Arve still continues, continuing also the same standard illustration to essayists, editors and European correspondents. Nearly opposite my lodgings the Rhone leaps bright and buoyant from the embrace of Lake Leman, eager to return to his mountaineer habits. I followed him but at no such racing speed, down his left bank the other morning, and in spite of all forewarning, experienced a surprise. I was wondering, after a twenty minutes walk where the other rifer might be, when suddenly I found myself on a wee bit of promontory just wide enough for a foot-path, and the two streams hur rying to each other close by my side. It seemed as if I need only stoop to dip my hands at the same instant into both waters. Looking a little to the right, every pebble was as discernible through the Rhone's azure depths asthough only 'a current of air were over-passing it. Turn slightly to the left and .you could see nothing but the surface of the dirty Arve, a ri val to his neighbor only in the breadth and speed of his flow. And on they swept neck and neck in swiftness, but refusing all intercourse across that line of yellow and- blue that divides them as far as the eye can see. You can hardly look anywhere in Geneva without seeing the same thing—two streams, in fact three, running side by side yet ever apart. them if ',oil please in the order of their rise and the length of their flow, Rornanism, Reformationism and Rationalism. On the side of the town where I was, stands the lofty tower of the Papal Notre Dame ; on the other side look down upon us the loftier walls of the Protes tant cathedral, where Calvin oncethundered.'ln a street near by, you can easily find the site of the house where Calvin lived and prepared the sermons he preached in St. Pierre. You can as easily find, in a • neighboring street parallel to ;Calvin's, the building where the skeptical Roils , abau was born. Take an omnibus and ride for ,three quarters of an honr.along the west bank of the lake, and you will "come to Ferney or . Fernex, Voltaire's old residence, and the place where he gave form and force to his infidel opinions, as Europe yet disastrously testifies after the lapse of a century. A ten. minutes walk on the east .side of the lake brings you to the chateau of Merle D'Au bigne, the historian of the Reformation, who yet lives in a green old age, and whose, influence will live long after him, but, with a difference from the other as, great as if the two authors had in habited different worlds. If, it were asked which of the three currents has the widest and strongest sweep herein Gene va,.l am afraid the answer would not be satisfac tory to the. Presbyterian reader. As to the spirit of the Reformation, if you regard every variety of its manifestation in: literature, politics and general progress, it cannot be said to be con fined to a narrow channel. But when youinquire after its strictly religious and evangelical charac ter. it dwindles to, something like a silver thread in the landscape., Reformationism in the gross has gdt a good deal mixed with the- neighboring streams, Rationlism and Romanism. The forms of religion in each may be diverse,, but the "de nying of its power : " is too nearly identical. The Protestant churches may have larger congrega tions at the morning service than the Romish, but the remainder of the Sabbath is given up to pleasure-seeking after the fashion which Roman ism. and Rationalism have made so popular on the continent. In, truth, Geneva has not a very Calvinistic as pect on the first day, of the week. Business scarce closes its doors, and pleasure certainly throws its own wider open. am sure, however, that sound doctrine has':able and earnest advo eates here. At the French service in St. Peter's, the Sabbath I spent in Geneva, 'there was a vast congregation I am told, and the burden of the preacher's message was a warning to his flock agaiast some heretical intruder who had been publicly seducing the people , from their faith in the. Holy ,Scriptures. And at the same cathe dral, at a later, hour, I was presentin a eompany of about a hundred devout worshipers, and heard a discourse not unworthy Calvin's pulpit, from the Rev. Mr. McLeod of the Scotch Church. I said Calvin's pulpit, but though the cathe dral of St. Pierre is the same building that, heard the great Reformer's voice, the pulpit is another. It had become perhaps too old-fashioned, and has given place to a later, but not to the eyes of sensible travelers, better edition. Its furniture, however, remains the same, and is limited to a single chair. I meant to have attended the eve ning service at the " Auditoire," where the same clergyman was to officiate, and where the yerita. ble pulpit in which John Knox ministered while in Geneva still remains; but I missed my way, and was conducted by a Swiss matron who meant it in kindness, to another parish church, wherea worthy and venerable pastor was holding forth in the French language to a small audience. Al though the Rotnish population is rather gaining upon the Protestant by immigration, I have full faith that the solid walls of St. Peter are ever to re-echo the testimony which was her joy and glory in much severer and darker times. " Reformation Hall " built in part with American and English money, is a comely edifice, and a token of the interest`that the church„iall lands, feels in the maintaining of the truth oWconfes sors and martyrs on this spit, made Sacred by their memories. AXTELL. NARRATIVE OF THE SYNOrrOF PENN SYLVANIA. air The report that comes to us from the different Presbyteries of this Synod, is one of great hopeful ness and encouragement. In the majority of churches, the year has been one of great pros perity, and there is a feeling of profound grati tude to God for His goodness and mercy. There is every evidence of material prosperity from the fact that new church edifices have been built, debts have been paid,- congregations have increased, and the financial affairs of the churches are in a good condition. But more than . all this and above all this comes the glad intelligence, that God's Spirit has been moving upon the hearts of the people. There has been a deeper consecration on the part of many, a more hearty cooperation of the laity, a quick and manifest answer to prayer, and larger numbers have been added to the Church of God than for many years previous. The different instrumentalities- for Church work have been more -thoroughly-used and with more gratifying results than ordinarily. In some cases the elders are.ready to bear their part in assisting the pastor; the Sunday-school still claims the best thought and attention of the laity; "Young People's Associations" are in many cases efficient- and activei while many of our best women have found their mission in de voted work for Christ. While all this is true, we cannot close without speaking of other facts equally true. Though congregations have increased, and the finances of the churches are in a good condition, it ought to be remembered that our whole country is rapidly gaining both in wealth and numbers. With all that there is to encourage, it is a seri ous question whether we are more than keeping pace with the population, whether we are doing any aggressive work for Christ on our home field. While many of the laity alsO are devoted to the work of the Master, it is a sad fact that worldliness is on the increase in many of our churches, there is too little of the spirit of sacri fice written on the hearts of the people, too little willingness to f give up time, money, all for Christ. It becomes us then, while renewing our vows and consecration to God, to unite in earn est entreaty that He will inspire within us all, pastors and people, the missionary spirit of the early disciples. It becomes our sad duty to announce to the Synod, the following deaths of elders during the past year: Rev. Halsey Dunning, pastor of the First Constitutional Presbyterian church, Baltimore, died January 11th, 1869. He was a faithful, devoted minister of the Gospel. He occupied a most lirominent awl important position in the church in that city. He wrought a great work in the name of the Lord Jesus. Has a ripe scholar, a progressive man, genial and' kind in all bis relations to the brethren. last (rays were full of light divine. Tho Ugh greatly mourned by his friends on earth, theA can only rejoice in his happy exchange. Carlisle.—Jacob Shrom ; aged 72, died April 25th, 1869. Oldest member of the session. York. H. X. McClellan, M: V., aged 60; died August 7th, 1369, after a service of thirty years as elder in York church. ,West Chester.—Lambert Clark, aged 72; died May 16th, 1869. Drawyers.—Jesse Higgins, aged 38 ; died August 21st, 1869. Clinton Street, Phdada.-- 7 Clem. Tingley, aged 75; died-February 13th, 1869. St. Georgs.—John C. Clark, aged 71; died July, 1869. Lincoln.—David R. Stuart, aged 59; died October 3d, 1869. .Baltimore.—Wm. S. Hopkins, aged 54; died February 15th, 1869. Greenwich Street, Philada.--Randolph Sailer, aged 36 ; died January, 1869. ELDERS DECEASED.
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