3111fritalt ProstilstErialt.
THURSDAY, NOVENBER 11, 1E69
REV. JOHN W. MEARS, D. D., Editor.
No. 1334 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia,
TII I R EDITORIAL COMMITTEE.
Rev. Z. M Humphrey, D.D., Pastor of Calvary
Church.
Rev. Herrick Johnson, D. D„ Pastor or the
First Church.
Rev. Danl. march. D.D., Pastor or Clinton St.
Church.
Rev. Peter Stryker, D.D., Pastor of N. Broad
St. Church.
Rev. George F. Wiswell, D.D., Pastor of Green
Hill Church.
Rev. E. E. Adams, D. D., Prof. in Lincoln Eni-
versity.
Rev. Samuel TV. Duffield, Special Cor
respondent.
Mr. Robert E. Thompson will continue to act
as Editor of the News Department.
Correspondents in every Presbytery and
Synod will promptly furnish us with fresh items
of news from their respective fields.
1 Venice, by "B. B. C.," Presbyterianism
in Boston, DI, The City of Calvin, Narrative
of the Synod of Pennsylvania, page 2nd; Edi
tor's Table, Literary, Scientific and Missionary
Items, page 3d ; Memories of the Old Kitchen
(Poetry), Mr. Hammond's Letters, VI., It's the
only Rope, Two Faces, Bow Victoria Travels,
Non-interference, Liquor Selling, Night Air,
Budget of Anecdotes, page 6th ; Religious in-
telligence, Reformed Churches, Episcopalian,
Congregationalist, page.7th.
—Another of "B. B. C's." letters from Venice
will appear next week; also one from "S. C.
P.," continuing his Sabbaths on the Continent.
—A telegram from a Paris banker gives the
sad news that Rev. Dr. Henry, pastor of the
North Presbyterian church (Sixth street, above
Green), died October Bth, of the Syrian fever,
when about to start on his return from the Holy
Land. He was thirty-eight years of age, had
been pastor of the church for five years, and
leaves a widow.
—Our Boston correspondent, " Axtell," con
cludes his valuable series on Presbyterianism in
that city. Many facts of deep interest have been
industriously collected in these articles, showing
that like an exotic, Presbyterianism has had a
hard struggle for existence in that city, but like
the tough thing it is, it has managed to main
tain itself, and now begins to show signs of hav
ing become thoroughly acclimated.
—Elder Charles Godfrey, of North Broad
street church, gave an account of his recent
travels in Europe, to a large audience, in the
lecture-room of the church, on Wednesday even
ing of last week. The listeners 'were delighted
with the instructive matter and the animated
style of the speaker, and regretted that the late
ness of the hour compelled him to pause before
entering Paris.
The Pacific, (Congregationalist, San Francis
co,) thus closes an article in response to ours
upon the new relations of our church to the
American Board :
" It is pleasant to think that among any of our
brethren, who are separating from us, the sug
gestion of such a proposal should arise. It would
be strange, indeed, if our New School friends
could leave those with whom they have been so
closely co operating for sixty years in this oldest
and most endeared of all the American mission
ary societies at work in foreign lands—leave all
the tender and noble associations of its quicken
ing past, and be so happy in the new nuptials, as
not to drop a tear over the relations that are
about to be sundered. Therefore, we welcome
and heartily reciprocate this almost solitary ref
erence, as far as the newspapers are concerned,
to a class of feelings which must be waiting ex
pression of many hearts."
—The Committee of the 0. S. Assembly to
investigate the affairs of the Danville and Chica
go Theological Seminaries, seems to have been
made up of very moderate men. Dr. Landis
complains that at Danville they held no com
munication with him or Dr. Breckenridge, that
they stayed but one day in Kentucky, and that
they were composed entirely of men who dis
sented from him on sundry theological and ec
clesiastical issues. While he and others con
cerned were excluded from their councils, some
were admitted to them who had not earned that
privilege by their devotion to the Church or the
Union.
In regard to the Chicago Seminary, the Com
mittee publish the fact that they agree to re
commend a compromise. Dr. Lord is to retain
his professorship, but Mr. MiCormick is to be
released, the despatch says, " from paying the
$25,000 due the School," which means, we sup
pose, half of the last $50,000 installment now
due. Three directors are to resign and others
acceptable to each party will take their places.
This compromise has been•agreed to.
—lt will be remembered that a year ago Rev.
C. H. Malcom, and the second church of New
port, R. L, held a union communion to which
Pedobaptist churches of the city were invited,
and that it was thought necessary to notice the
fact at the meeting of the Warren Association to
which be and his church, belong. _Resolutions
were offered affirming that "this Association re
gards an invasion of the Scripture law in in
viting to the Lord's table those, who have not
been baptized, contrary to the universal custom
of Christendom, as an infringement of the divine
order and a violation of Christian propriety."
This resolution was finally referred to a com
THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1869
mittee of five, Mr. Malcom himself being one.
This committee, at the meeting of the Association
recently held, recommended the following as a
substitute: " That the Warren Association, while
recognizing the independence of the churches
and disclaiming the right to legislate for them,
does not sympathize with the principle of open
communion in Baptist churches." Mr. Malcom,
as a minority of one, reported a recommendation
of entire toleration on this matter. The majority
Report was adopted.
OUR ROCHESTER CORRESPONDENT.
INCIDENTS
Some incidents, connected with recent revi
vals, have lately come to our knowledge, which
remarkably illustrate the power of Divine grace.
Three persons were recently received to one of
our churches, who were over seventy years of
age; two, who were over eighty. In connection
with the same church, three neighborhood prayer
meetings were established and maintained by the
people. In one of them, where forty-five per-
SODS were present, forty-two took part in the
exercises of the evening, by remarks or prayer.
Twenty family altars were erected in connection
with that one congregation, which is not a large
One of the men who was converted after he
•
was eighty years of age, was soon called to test
the power of his new faith to sustain him in the
hour of greatest need. He passed down into the
valley of death, fearing no evil, but giving 'God
thanks that he had . not been cut off at an' earlier
day, with all his sins upon him. Christ" Was all
in all to him; and so he entered into rest.
In another revival not a thousand miles from
us, a young Romanist was converted, and came
out firmly on the Lord's side. Nothing but con
tempt and petsecation awaited him among his
own friends. Indeed, his father turned him
into the street in the dead of night, to seek shel
ter and rest where he could find them. He went
to his new Protestant friends. One of them
kindly received him under his own roof, and
kept him for two months, until a permanent
place and employment could be obtained for
him. He is now in good hands; doing well in
business, and holding firmly to his Christian
hopes.
In the same glorious revival, a young Jew was
converted. He, too, was made to know that " a
man's foes shall be they of his own household."
He, too, was turned out .of doors, but finally
taken back again. Indeed, his bigoted, Jewish
father was forced to confess, that his son bore
abuse so meekly that it was beyond his compre
hension. He thought there must, after all, be
something in this new faith. He felt almost
like becoming a Christian himself. The Jew
was less bigoted than the Papist.
ANNIVERSARY
The Sabbath-school of the First Presbyterian
church of Utica recently celebrated its fifty-third
anniversary. The scholars of the school filled a
large part of the church, and addresses were
made by Prof. M. M. Merrill, of Utica, and
Prof. N. T. Clarke, of Canandaigua. This school
has not labored in vain in the Lord. It has
something to show for its fifty-three years of ex
istence. On either side of the communion table,
there was a tablet headed, " Our Representatives."
On one, "Preachers of the Gospel:" Rev. Ezekiel
Williams, Geo. S. Wilson, Charles Stuart, Ed
ward Brigl - t, B. B. Hotchkin, John Morgan,
Oliver Bronson, Henry S. Clarke, J. H. Dwight,
L. S. Merrill, E. D. Morris, Wm. House, Anson
J. Upson, Charles Dunning, John R. Le*,
Adam Martin.
On the other, Missionaries to heathen, lands :
Maria S. Loomis, James Garrett, Mary B. Samp
son, H. G. 0. Dwight, A sahel Grant, S. Wells
Williams, W. Frederick Williams, Sarah Pond
Williams, Mary J. Carroll, Alfred North, Har
riet A. Sheldon, Sarah Dean, Theodore Pond.
This certainly is a fine record. Some of these
names have weight and influence. Among them
will be noticed especially those of Prof. Upson,
of Hamilton College; Dr. Morris, of Lane Semi
nary; the late Dr. Henry Steele Clarke, of Phila
delphia; Dr. Dwight, Missionary to Turkey; Dr.
Grant, of Persia; Hon. S. Wells Williams, of
China, and his brother, W. F. Williams, of Tur
key. That school certainly is well represented in
all the four quarters of the globe. It is fit they
should hold an anniversary, and cheer and en
courage themselves by looking over their honora
ble history.
The Superior Court at Buffalo recently sen
tenced eighteen prisoners to the Penitentiary at
Auburn, whose aggregate imprisonment embraces
a term of fortylour years and two months. That
will do for one batch. They could easily make
the next larger; however, by, licensing a few pore
grog shops. Effects naturally follow their causes.
The First church of Auburn have decided to
retain their old bell for the new and enlarged
house of worship. It is a good bell, and they are
already familiar with its pleasant sound.
The Second church have greatly improved
their house of worship. The interior is repainted,
and made much more pleasant; the entrance and
front so altered as to be much more convenient
and attractive.
Rev. William E. Knox, D.D., of Rome, akyou
noticed last week, has accepted a call of the
First Presbyterian church of Elmira, and is to
remove to his new field' of labor some time in
this month. His own church have passed very
complimentary resolutions upon his going, ex
pressing regret, and love, and best wishes.
Rev. Augustus C. Shaw, of Clayville, son of
Dr. Shaw of this city, has received a call, which
we trust he will accept, to the Presbyterian
church of Fulton.
One of our Rochester dailies, speaking of Dr.
Todd's new book, " The Sunset Land," says of
the author, " Dr. Todd will be remembered as a
somewhat eccentric Connecticut clergyman, of
more than usual briskness of expression and
pretty wide observation." So'much for a world
wide reputation. Pittsfield, where Dr. Todd has
been settled for about thirty years, used to be in
Massachusetts.
Re v . S. H. Howe, of Independence, Missouri,
has received and accepted a unanimous call to
the Presbyterian church of Cortland. He is to
commence labor in his new field on the first of
January: GENESEE.
Rochester, Nov. sth, 1869.
—Ten persons charged with murder were ar
raigned in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, in
our city, last week. One of the victims, a
boy of ten years, was killed probably in mistake
and without murderous intention. Two of the
prisoners are implicated in the same murder; so
that we have at least eight murder cases which
have accumulated for our courts since the 4th
of July last. One is a ease of wife murder; but
none of them are clear cases of deliberate purpose
to kill, though they may be proved to be such.
It would seem to be disagreeable evidence of the
want of proper police arrangements, that five
of these homicides occurred in the open streets,
and two others in public places—all in four
months. .Rum, as usual, figures prominently
among the causes or..the disturbances which led
to these sad results. One of the victims was
struck in . a tavern brawl, and died in half-an
hour. Another case, not yet in court, but occur
ring within the same four months, is that of a
German who died last week at the Pennsylvania
hospital, from wounds received in a quarrel be
gun in the tavern at Front and Pine streets. On
the same day in which this man died, a fight
took place in a tavern at Eighth and Shippen
streets, in which one of the parties was severely
stabbed in the side. Are we not ripe for a vig
orou. s and united movement, this winter, at least
for such leoislation as will enable us to suppress
these chief centres of depravity and crime ?
PRESBYTERY OF HARRISBURG.
The Presbytery of Harrisburg has just held
another meeting in the Borough of York, one of
its most favorite places of social and religious en
joyment. Its small cumber was reduced on the
present occasion by the absence of two of its most
punctual ministers, one on account of his own
long continued paralysis, and the other (Rev.
Wm. Sterling, of Williamsport) on account of
the sudden paralysis of his eminently useful and
beloved wife on the , preceding day, just as he
was about to attend upon the public services of.
Sabbath evening. - Two others of our number
were occupied in• distant, fields of labor, and were
dismissed at this meeting; the one (Rev. C. M.
Blake, late chaplain in the army) to unite with
the Presbytery of Oregon, and the other (Rev.
H. Baker, recently a Stated Supply to a colored
church in Harrisburg) to labor among the freed
men of North Carolina. Our meeting, however,
was not without its usual interest, especially as a
more than ordinary portion of time was given to,
religious exercises. Some signs of prosperity
were reported, which peculiarily cheered our,
hearts. The Church of Northumberland, which
has for a long time made no progress, has under
the administration of Rev. A. D. Moore, its new
and efficient pastor, awakened to new life; and
after a precious revival, rind an increase of num•
hers, has refitted and much beautified its house ,
of worship, and entered upon a new career of
congregational activity arid energy. The second
church in Williamsport, havina outgrown the
dimensions of their new and lfeautiful edifice,
have just colonized into a third church of nearly
sixty members, erected for the new colony a cha
pel at an expense of above sixteen thousand
dollars, and for several months have sustained in
it the regular preaehing of the Gospel. The
very building in which we were assembled, had
just been erected by the church at York, and
has become a model in this region for all similar
structures. It Was erected on the ample grounds
which surround their beautiful church edifice,
but fronting upon another street. It was divided
into a lecture room, a Sabbath-school room, an
infant school foom, a library room, and a session
or committee's room; and was fitted up in each
with every convenience and even luxury, which
the most advanCed art has devised. Although
this congregation has lately been called to mourn
the loss of a beloved and faithful elder (Dr. H.
M. McClellan, whose virtues and character
have been set forth by his pastor in a commemo
rative discourse, well worthy of general circula
tion,) its Sabbath school, under the instruction
ofan earnest corps of teachers, and its well-known
superintendent, its meetings for prayer, its
Christian association of young men, and its tem
perance organization, show no diminution of ac
tivity, and are annually bringing a rapid in
crease of members and spirituality to the
Church.
In compliance with, recommendations from the
General Aisembly, inquiries were made into the
reason of any ministers who had to any extent
withdrawn from the work of the ministry, and
we were gladdened with the evidence that`all
were diligent and attentive to their obligations.
It occurred, however, to some of us, that a simi
lar inquiry might be' extended with some pros
pect of usefulness, into the position of many in
the ruling eldership. Measures also were en
tered upon to secure the disSemination of regu-
tar intelligence concerning the various depart
ments of church work, by the general circula
tion of the Presbyterian Monthly, to obtain more
accurate statistics regarding the number of com
municants, to secure full and accurate histories
of each congregation connected with the Presby
tery, to have deposited in the libraries of semi
naries and the Presbyterian Historical Society
all copies of occasional publications by our
ministers and elders, and to secure a more syste
matic and enlarged contribution to the benevo
lent schemes of the Church.
The overture of the General Assembly on the
subject of re-union was carefully, and after a
season of special prayer, unanimously answered
in the affirmative. Members, however, found it
impossible to restrain some expression of their
feelings when they remembered the long and de.
lightful association and fellowship, which they
had enjoyed during the last quarter of a century.
The very ground on which we were then assem
bled had been the scene of the bitterest and most
painful'perhaps9f all the proceedings, which had
led to the great schism of 1838. In that very
church our beloved brother Barnes had been sus
pended from the ministry, amid excitements and
cruelties which the most Christian spirit found
it . hard to forget, and in that very borough have
taken place the civil proceedings which became
necessary to secure the peaceful possession of the
property of our Churches. There were not a
few yet alive who remembered: the turmoils and
terrors of that period, and who contrasted them
with the subsequent thirty years of a fellowship
under another regime, which has not known a
jar, but has 'each year increased- in intimacy and
profit. And yet we did not hesitate to cast in
our vote for the re union, because new circum
stances have induced us to confide in the vast ma
jority who have so cheerfully and nobly sustained
the banner of re-Union in the other branch. We
think we dis Cover even in the minority of that
body, an enlargement of views and a spirit suffi
ciently in harmony with the spirit of the age,
to make it impossible to revive the controversies
and jealousies of former times. At least, we hope
the great body of the Church at the present 'day
have a practical aim and an earnestness of purpose,
which will have no time or taste for such con
tentions.
The Commissioners to the General AsSembly
were directed to be present at the adjourned
meeting at Pittsburg; but it was Resolved,
" That in case the re-union of the two branches
of the Presbyterian Church shall be consum
mated on the basis agreed upon by the Assem
blies, it is the earnest conviction of this Presby
tery, that before any action shall be taken for
the readjustment of the boundaries of the in
ferior judicatories, ample time and opportunity
should be given to those judicatories to make
known their respective views and wishes in re
gard to a subject of such extreme delicacy."
The spirit which dictated such a resolution was
by no means factious or jealous of our brethren,
bnt one which was anxious only for future peace
and efficiency. The extraordinary circumstances
into which we, who reside in the interior of
Pennsylvania, will` be thrown, we do not suppose
will call for any new principles, of elective polity,
and yet we may be supposed to have decided
preferences regarding the geographical bounda
ries within which we are to dwell.
The next stated meeting was appointed to be
held on the first Sunday in May next, at half
past seven o'clock, P. M., in the church of
Spring Mills, in Centre county. C. P. W.
REV. A.M. STEWART'S LETTERS.-XLVIII.
LAKE TAHOE
Our world's Creator, while living in it for a
time, saw meet to change His abode and centre
of operations, from His native city to the shores
of Lake Gennesaret. This quiet retreat had, no
doubt, for the pensive Saviour, many attractions,
beside calling to discipleship -the simple fisher
men. Long and lovingly did He gaze at those
placid or troubled waters, together with the
grand scenery which surrounded them.
The sea of the Galilee I have not seen with
the natural eye. Only in imagination have I
followed the footsteps of Jesus, on and-around its
waters; and have read also the minute descrip
tions of various tourists. Conceptions thus
formed lead to the impression that this American
Lake, now called Tahoe—the old Indian name,
and pronounced,with the 5. in the first syllable
broad, and gentle accent on the last syllable—
formerly called Bigler, after an ex-Pennsylva
nian—in variety, beauty and grandeur of scenery
excels Tiberias. That Lake of Gennesaret nes
tles away down among the mountains, lower than
the level of the Mediterranean. Tahoe also nes
tles among mountains, but far up towards their
summits, a. mile above tha Patific. The Sea of
Galilee is said to be some nine miles long and three
to five wide. Tahoe is thirty long by ten to twelve
wide ; although, from the transparency of, the at
mosphere it appears much less. Its surroundings
are lofty ranges and peaks of the Sierras. Several
elevations on the west side are still covered with
snow, and on a few it does not all melt during the
summer. Groves of pine, fir, and cedar come
down nearly to the water's edge the entire cir
cumference, which is more than a hundred
miles, following the numerous bays and indenta
tions. Many of these sons of the forest are from
four to six feet in diameter, While walking
among these grand old trees, a peculiar aromatic
fragrance is constantly enjoyed; which sacred
writers celebrate as the " smell of Lebanon."
No island or shoal exists in this little highland
sea. The water seems almost as clear as our at
mosphere. Fish can be seen a hundred feet be•
low the surface..ln various places the Lake is very
deep, having been sounded to the depth of 1,500
feet. Although in so high a latitude it never
freezes over. On one side, near the water's edge,,
a large hot spring bubbles up. Fishermen who
have been here for years, are of opinion that
other hot springs rise in various places beneath
the water.
The waters are so light, owing to their , reat
elevation above the sea, that swimming, is quite a
difficult and laborious exercise; good swimmers
having hard work to keep their bodies long above
water. [But the bodies of the swimmers are
also light. The difficulty is probably in filling
the lungs with the thin air. --ED.]
But the boating is light, very romantic, exhila
rating especially when connected with fishing.
Much of these four days' sojourn is being s p ent
upon the water in little row and sail boats. One
day was spent coasting for ten miles, and landing
at various points of interest. In one of these
excursions, Mrs. Ste4art was fortunate enough
to catch a speckled trout wieghing over five
pounds. This was done with a line let down
from the boat a hundred and twenty feet. Were
Peter and his fellows here, they need hardly toil
all night and catch nothing.
Like as on Gennesaret, storms sometimes come
down quite suddenly from the mountains and
toss Tahoe into fury; and almost as suddenly
subside, leaving a great calm, with the water as
placid as a mirror.
The people of San Francisco are talking and
planning about making a new outlet for the Lake,
and conveying its waters between one and two
hundred miles down to the Capitol of the Pa
cific, and world's emporium in time to come.
The idea is not Utopian, but practical. When
accomplished, they ought to. have fountain jets
nearly a mile high, playing around the bay of
San Francisco, and water enough beside for a
city of ten millions.
A small, rude steamboat has been built, and
is running on the Lake, but principally in the
lumber business. This is said to be the highest
water in the world in which a steamboat runs.
But few houses have as yet been - built or settle
ments made around the shores. Tahoe City at
the north end, where we stop, consists of a hotel
and connected building kept by mine host Lyons.
For excellent accommodations abundance of
the finest trout included—visitors pay three dol
lars per day. Perhaps it should not be written
lest it become too much of a clerical resort; but,
being and because a minister, I pay nothing.
The number of those who make it a summer resort
has not as yet been large; but these must in
crease year by year. These natural attractions
for summer vacations must eventually draw mul
titudes to admire and enjoy. The little ponds
of Scotland; Geneva, Constance, Como, et id
onine genus, in grandeur and interest fall for be
low this water and these mountains.
—Notwithstanding the effort made a few years
since to consolidate the non-episcopal Methodist
Churches of this country into one organization,
and the apparent success of the movement, re
sulting in the dissolution of the Wesleyan con
nection and the Protestant Methodist Church,
ana the organization of the "Methodist" Church,
it appears that the dissolution was not complete.
The consolidation increased the divisions. The
several non-episcopal bodies retain their ex
istence, with the "Methodist" Church added to
the list. Recent efforts have been nude to
unite the Methodist and the Protestant Metho
dist Churches, but as yet without success. The
latest thing on the tapis is an attempt to unite
the Methodist Protestant Church and the Metho
dist EpiFcopal Church South. The prospect of
success is not , brilliant, .though The Episcopal
Methodist and The Methodist Protestant of Balti
more, are discussing the matter with apparent
earnestness.
LONDON, Nov. 4.—The Rome correspondent
of the Post sa3s, concerning the expected action
of;the (Ecumenical Council, " The dogmatic de
finition of the Assumption of the Virgin will en
counter no obstacle. The Pope earnestly desires
the consolidation of this dogma. The erection into
a dogma of the necessity of the Temporal Power
is not considered possible, except by its most ar
dent champions. The foundation and preserva
tion of that power do not afford elements of a
dogma, and a belief in its necessity is not even a
proxinia ficlei, but only of high importance. Pro
bably the protests of 1862 and 1867 will be re
vived. It is suggested that the liberal bishops
will advise that terms be made with the kingdom
of Italy, so that all appointments, even the Pope
dom, may be conferred without distinction of na
tionality, but such a change of policy, although
desirable, is improbable at present, and.must be
left to time and the force of events. The-Coun
cil does not have the initiative with respect to
the syllabus, and it is absurd to think that the
syllabus will be abrogated. It is more probable
that the Bishops will be asked to sanction it, by
open and unanimous adhesion, and to explain
such portions as are obscurely worded or errone
ously interpreted. Beyond these points the Coun
cil will only be occupied with questions of inter
nal discipline, such as reform measures, reunion
of schismatics and heretics with the Church,
modifications of religious orders, amelioration of
instructions of the clergy, and the adaptation of
the judicial powers of Bishops to the condition
of society. It is important to observe that the
initiative in everything belongs to the Pope alone,
and as the Roman Catolic Hierarchy is strongly
and judiciously constructed, it is improbable that
any serious opposition will be manifested."
LONDON, Nov. s.—Rev. Mr. Temple, recently
appointed Bishop of Exeter, in reply to an ad
dress, expressed a hope that as a Bishop he might
know nothing of parties in the Church, but co
operate with all.
DUBLIN, Nov. 2.—Archbishop Cullen, in a
pastoral just issued, exhorts all members of so
cieties similar to the Fenian organization to
abandon them. He adverts to the evils sustained
by Spain and Italy through the action of secret
societies, and says the members of such organiza
tions will incur the penalty of excommunication,
and cannot participate in the jubilee which has
just been published.
PARIS, Nov. 7.—The Archbishop of Paris, i n
a pastoral letter on the CEcumenical Council,
maintains that the French concordat •is opposed
to any decision of the infallibility of the Pope
without discussion.