'Our nub' *botatt.
PITTSBURGH, OCTOBER 4, 1856.
81.30, in advance; or in Gleibe,
•1.23; or, delivered at residences of Subscri
bars, SUM See Prospectus, on Third Page.
It E N EW AL S ghoul.] be prompt; a little
whit• before the year expires, that we may
make full arrangements for a steady supply.
THE RED WRAPPER Indicates that we
desire a renewal. if, however, in the haste
if Mating, this signal should be omitted, we
hope on, friends will still not forget us.
REMITTANCES.—Send payment by safe
bonds. when convenient. Or, send by mail,
enclosing with ordinary care, and troubling
nobody with a knowledge of what you are
doing. For a large amount, send a Draft, er
large notes. For one or two papers, send Gold
or mall notes.
TO MAKE 011,1N0W91 Send postage atamps,
or bettor sting send for more papers; my $
for Seventy number
we or $1 for Thirtyetbree
numbers.
DIRECT all Letters and Communications
to REV. DAVID 111cHINNEV. Pittsburgh,
Pa.
" SUBSCRTIIER." — The request made was
too late for this week. In our next issue we
shall give the information desired.
THE CORNER STONE of Westminster
Church, Philadelphia, was laid on Monday
of this week. We congratulate a zealous
pastor and a struggling .people.
Acknowledgment.
We have received from "Pilgrim," five
dollars toward the purchase of a " bell" for
the Indian congregation at Porter's village,
under the care of Mr. Guthrie, whose ap
peal was published in the Banter and Ad
vocate of September 6th. Will not others,
whom the Lord has blessed, add to the
amount? It is greatly needed.
Honorary Degree.
It will be remembered that Lafayette Col
lege, at the Commencement in July, con
ferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity on
the Rev John Wier, of River Terrace, Isl
ington, London. The Banner of Ulster, in
making the announcement, says :
"Mr. Wier, who has now been for up
wards of twenty years an ordained minister
of the Gospel, is intimately known and uni
versally respected by the ministers of the
Presbyterian Church in this country; and
in Newry, and our own town of Belfast es
pecially, where he labored with so much
acceptance, the announcement of the honor
conferred upon him will be received with
cordial satisfaction as a testimony at once
to his character as a Divine and his success
as a writer in the fields of religious literature.
Mr. Wier is well known as the author of the
'Lectures on Romanism,' the greater por
tion of which have been stereotyped by the
Religious Tract Society of London ; and as a
writer of a considerable number of papers
which have been adopted, and are now be
ing circulated by thousandq by the same ex
cellent institution. The honor is as amply
merited as it is considerately bestowed."
Reformed Presbyterians.
In our issue of August 2d, we noticed
the Minutes of the Reformed Presbyterian
Synod (Old Side). In giving the statistics
we followed copy. The number of Commu
nicants, as we found them reported, was
3710. We found, however, as we distinctly
stated, that quite` a number of congrega
tions had not reported their list of Commu
nicants." The monthly journal of the
Church, for September, took exceptions to
our statement, and affirmed "that the num
ber of Communicants was much larger, but
it did not tell us how many they were, nor
give us any means of definite knowledge.
Now, the editor of that journal, in a private
note, writes : " As nearly as can be ascer
tained and known, you are warranted to say
that the number of Communicants in the
Refoimed Presbyterian Church in the Uni
ted States exceeds ten thousand."
We are thankful for the information. We
are at a loss however to conceive - how the
respected synod ,-whoae-Minutoa We examine,
can be satisfied with reports from pastors, so
defective as to present only 3,710 when there
are over 10,000 in the body. Churches are
not permitted to boast of their work ; but
they are bound to encourage each other, and
to give God glory for what he does in bless
ing them.
The Higher Law.
In a letter from Dr. Scott, of San Fran
cisco, published in the Banner and Advo
cate of Sept. 20, occur the words : " She
(the Presbyterian Church) knows no North,
no South, no higher law '—she takes the
Constitution of the United States as it is,
and the States as they are." A correspond
ent takes exception, and desires to see the
matter corrected. The . words do appear
harsh and erroneous, when severed from the
context. But the very next sentence shows
that the writer did not mean to say that the
Presbyterian Church repudiates the Bible,
nor that she places any human enactment
above it, or in comparison with it. "She,"
he says, "makes THE BII3LE AS IT IS, with
out the traditions of elders, or priests, or
rabbis, the only rule of, faith. 'She teaches
that 4 God alone is Lord of the conscience,
and hath left it free from the doctrines and
commandments of men, which pre IN ANY
THING CONTRARY to his Word." This,
we had thought, was sufficiently explicit;
and especially as it was followed by refer
ences to the . Confession of Faith, and by
farther quotations from that excellent sum
mary of Scripture truth.
Take Dr. Scott's letter throughout, and
also the long extract which, on the previous
week, we gave from a sermon of his, on
"The San Francisco Troubles," and it will
be manifest that he is an order-keeping,
Gospel=loving, and Bible-honoring minister
of Christ; and that he acknowledges, main
tains, and" advocates a law higher, incom
paxably, than any thing which originates
from earth.
Truly, there is'a law:above all human en
actments—a higherlaw than was ever made
-by Pope, Parliament, or Congress—a law
which claims authority over rulers and
people, and which binds masses and indi
viduals 0 that men would learn this lalf,
drink in its spirit, and t6lic'l y its Pnieepts:
The . Synod of_lojgh.inly--4Keedmg at
Butlei, Pa:
The town of Butler, some thirty-two
miles North of Pittsburgh, is pleasantly
located, and surrounded by a fine agricul
tural district; it is the seat of justice for
the county of the same name. The number
of inhabitants is over fifteen hundred.
There is a Presbyterian, an Associate Re
formed, an English Lutheran, •a Methodist,
an Episcopal, and a Roman Catholic church.
In addition to the Common Schools, there
is a County Academy, under the care of the
Rev. Mr. White, of the Episcopal Church;
and also-the - 0 Witherspoun'lnstatute," un
der the,care of the Presbytery of Allegheny,
of which the Rev. John Smalley is now
Principal. This Institution is intended for
both males and females, though in separate
departments, and has bright prospects for
increasing usefulness.
The Synod of Allegheny met in this
place, on the evening of Thursday, the 24th
ult. ; and its members received a most cor
'dial welcome from 'the pastor of the Presby
terian church, and the people of the town.
The Synod was opened with a sermon, by
the Rev. Dr. Swift, the last Moderator—
Acts v : 25 : " We ought to obey God rather
than men." The next morning, the Rev.
Robert Dilworth, D. D., was elected Moder
ator, and B. R. Bradford, permanent Clerk.
Resolutions were passed unanimously, ex
pressive of confidence in the American and
Pennsylvania Bible Societies, and their aux
iliaries, and also commending the English
version now in common use, as being by far
preferable to any other English version ever
offered to the world.
In the afternoon, the members of Synod
were favored with addresses from the Rev.
Dr. Van Renselaer, the Rev. Dr }Tapper
sett, and the Rev. Dr. J. Leighton Wilson,
upon the claims of the different Boards of
the Church, of which they are the agents;
after which, a delightful season was spent
in devotional exercises.
On Friday evening, a sermon was preached
by the Rev. B. C. Critchlow, on Systematic
Benevolence, from Acts xx : 35; "It is
more blessed to give than to receive.
The Reports of the Executive Commit
tee, and of the Treasurer and Librarian of
the Board of Colportage, were read and re
ferred to a committee; from which a report
was afterwards presented and adopted, ap
proving of the conduct of the Board during
the past year, expressing the deep interest
of the Synod in the. objects of the Board,
and recommending Presbyteries in need of
Colporteurs within their bounds, to nomi
nate suitable persons f r that work.
Exception was taken to the Records of
the Presbytery of Allegheny City, because
that Presbytery had, in one instance, or
dained a minister with a view to a FOreign
Mission, who had not been previously li
tensed, and whose sermon appointed as a
trial for liceniure, had been received as a
sermon for ordination; and because that in
another instance a minister had been or
dained and installed without having preached
the trial sermon for ordination, which had
been previously assigned, on account of
great affliction and personal illness.
The Synod determined to meet next year
in the Park church, of the city of Erie, on
the 4th Thursday of September, at 7 , 1, o'-
clock P. M. The Rev. Henry R. Wilson,
D. D., was appointed to preach the annual
sermon before Synod. The subject assigned
was Forefgn Missions.
The attendance of members at the late
meeting, was unusually large for this Synod,
amounting to eighty-four—fortyfour minis
ters and forty elders. Many thanks are
due the people of Butler for their attention
and kindness to the members, which were
most heartily tendered by a vote of Synod.
Synod adjourned on Saturday evening.
__Epis_copacy Contemplath_w a Change..
The General Convention of the. Pro
testant Episcopal Church in the United
States, which holds its sessions triennially,
was to meet in St. Luke's church, Philadel
phia, on the let inst. This body is a bond
of union to the denomination in this coun
try ; bnt its powers are very limited. There
is here no Archbishop to rule the Church.
The Convention is a partial substitute, but
it comes a great way short of a Primate's
prerogative. It is an assemblage of bishops
and laymen, and is rather a Presbyterian
feature assumed by Episcopacy, in conform
ity with the uniform Protestant spirit in the
land, and with the civil institutions of the
country, and the popular sentiment. The
very limited powers: entrusted to this Con
vention, however, is found to leave the
Church, as a whole, subject to some great
evils. There is a defective discipline, and
a want of uniformity in some important
things, which prevent the depomination
from exhibiting a unity such as becomes an
orderly Church. To remedy the evil, in
part, it is proposed by some to give to the
General Convention an appellate jurisdic
tion. This would increase, still more, its
conformity to the General Assembly in our
own Church. The question has been much
and ardently discussed, and is a subject for
decision by the present Convention.
We give the views of the Episcopal Re
corder on this subject. The Recorder,
it will be observed, with all its Low
Churehism, and all its truly evangelical
spirit, is yet sadly frightened at this tenden
cy toward " parity." It cannot bear the
thought of any farther approximations
toward this distinctive feature of Presby
terianism. We give its editorial of Septem
ber 27th
CENTRAL USURPATION-THE NEW JUDI-
CIAL CODE
The monstrous plan for investing the
General Convention, by constitutional amend
ment, with a complete appellate jurisdiction
over the dioceses, is beginning, we are glad
to perceive, to attract that attention which
alone was necessary to insure its defeat.
Look at the proposition as it now peeps out
under the skirts of the voluminous, ju
dicial-codes which some of our more ambi
tious canonists have prepared, and at the
first sight, it passes almost unnoticed.
Nothing deems so widest as fo ask to• pro-
TH L E PRESBYTERIAN BANNER AND A
vide for an uniform method of trying Pres-
I)) ters. But when it is discovered that t'ais
is the foot of a gigantic system of Presby
terianism, which, by absorbing the Episco
pate in a General Assembly without an ex
ecutive head, will kick diocesan authority
down stairs, the Church may well draw back
iu surprise.
We propose this week to recapitulate the
objections to this most dangerous proposi
tion, which we have heretofore dealt on
only in detail. They are :
First. It destroys the Episcopate. The
executive government of the Church, on the
diocesan theory, is vested in the bishop
alone; its legislative, in the bishop, clergy,
and laity in the Convention assembled; its
judicial, in courts who are the bishop's ap
pointees. But adopt their centralizing sys
tem, of which this proposition is part, and
what have you then? "Presbyterianism,
cries the shade of that veteran opponent of
Episcopacy, Dr. MILLER, "is aguvernment
carried on by bishops, whom we call pres
byters, and laymen, in council assembled."
Put the judioial and then the executive
power of our Church in the General Conven
tion, and do you not have just this very
thing ? We retain, it is true, in what were
once dioceses, lieutenants to carry out the
decrees, of the central power; but even these
shrdows, like the bishops in the days of the
Long Parliament, it will be thought con
.venient soon to strike away. But even if
they remain, how do we distinguish ourselves
from Presbyterianism, if this centralizing
process is effected ? Parity governs Pres
byterianism: parity will govern us; for with
both of us the first estate of our supreme
-council will consist of a body of equals, with
no executive authority rising over them, and
differing in no respect, except rank, from
the co-ordinates, the laymen, who form an
order in the same assembly.
Secondly. By fusing dioceses so vast and
dissimilar as our own into, one Central mould
it destroys that individuality which is essen•
tial to our eeclesiastical.existence. Of this
we 'have an illustration in one of the pro
jects by which our Church has been bncer
twined by those respectable, but not very sa
gacious, gentlemen who have been engaged
in the work of making machines by which
the Church is to be hereafter worked entire
ly by rule, without the trouble of calling up
on such discretionary agents as bishops,
ministers, and laymen. A court of twelve
clergymen is to be assembled. It would
have been quite as sensible, so far as several
of our dioceses are coneernk.cl, if it was pro
vided that the court should consist of a
thousand. Where, including the accused
and his presenters, there are not twelve cler
gymen altogether, one impossible number is
as satishitory as another. Or, to rise to the
general proposition that lies behind ads,
where dioceses, such as ours, are co-exten
sive with sovereign States, each an empire by
itself, with distinct usuages, laws, degrees
of population and habits, each diocese, like
each State, should be left to establish local
laws most conducive to its own wants.
Nor are the subject-matters of trial less
important in such a view than the mode.
Take, for intsance, the question of slavery.
Arewe to have those delicate questions of
discipline which an enlightened diocesan
conscience can best settle, torn away from
its proper sovereignty and cast into the vor
tex of a Prebbyterian General Assembly, or
into a court which that assembly may ap
point? Will not a rupture of the Church
necessarily ensue?
Thirdly. It breaks up the adaptation of
the Church to the people of the United States.
By our civil constitution, the sovereignty is in
the States; by this new scheme, it will be in
a federal centre. Our only safe course is
to preserve the analogy originally intended,
and to give to the General Convention only
those reserved powers which the federal re
lations necessarily require. By this means
both the judicial and the executive power
will remain intactin the dioceses.
It is a little amusing to witness this' hor
ror of "Presbyterianism," and parity."
But our Episcopal friends may be assured
that the tendency is thither. There is' a
power in revealed truth, and, a spirit in man,
which, where there is light and liberty, will
result in this consummation. Even Popery,
with all its wiles and energies, cannot inter
pose an effectual barrier.
Bishop Doane is to preach the opening
sermon; this, however, occurs not by ap
pointment of the previous Convention. The
standing rule is, that the Bishops shall preach
inthe order of their consecration Land - 1, -Y
this rule the duty is now incumbent on the
Bishop of New Jersey.
For the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate
Board of Colportage.
At a meeting of the Board of Colportage, held
in the Presbyterian RoomS on the 24th of Septem
ber, the following resolutions were passed :
Resolved, That Rev. L. R. hicAboy and Rev.
James Allison be a Committee to visit the Synod
of Wheeling at their "neat meeting, and solicit
their co-operation with regard to the objects and'
aims of this Board.
Resolved, That Rev. A. D. Campbell, D. D., and
Rev. M. W. Jacobus, D. D., be a. Committee to
Solicit from any author such books as would be
desirable to be issued by this Board, and to re
port their action in relation to the same at the
next meeting.
S. M'CLUNG, President pro. tern
B. R. Bradford, Secretary pro. tem.
For the Presbyterian Benner and Advocate
Testimony of Respect.
At a meeting of the Washington Literary So
ciety of Lafayette College, on Wednesday, Sep
tember 17th, 1856, the fotlowing preamble and
resolutions were unanimously adopted :
Whereas, By an all-wise dispensation of Divine
Providence, the chilling hand of death, after the
lapse of but a few months, has again appeared in
our midst, and atricken down, in the bloom of
youth, our beloved friend and fellow-member,
Powhattan Harris, of Richmond, Va.; therefore,
Reeolved, That in his death the Washington
Literary Society has met with the irreparable loss
of one of her most faithful members, who, in all
her transactions, by his integrity of character,
desire for improvement, and determination to sus
tain the honor and reputation of his Society, ex
erted an influence for good in all her acts, which
will long continue to be felt, although his voice
be hushed in the unbroken silence of the tomb.
Resolved, That it is with saddened pleasure that
we, as friends and corn - anions, unite in paying
this last tribute of respect to our departed friend
who, by his amiability and sweetness of temper,
entwined himself around the affections of all with
whom he became acquainted, and concerning
whom, it may emphatically be said, "lione knew
him but to love him."
Resolved, That while we would most sincerely
• tender our heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved
family, we with them should not repine at the in
scrutable dealings of a just God, but be ever mind
ful that our loss is his gain. That we should
'treasure up this dispensation as a warning, that
we may so live that when we approach the hounds
of " that undiscovered country from who§e bourne
no traveler returns we too, may die in the hope
that our Redeemer liveth ; and that, when mem
ory recalls the scenes in which he performed a
part, we should not think at' him as cold and
breathless in the dreary tomb, but as a spirit of
glory in the blessed world of life and immortality,
beyond the grave.
Resolved, That, in token of our respect for him
who has been taken from us, every member of
this Society wear the usual badge of mourning for
the space of thirty days.
Revived, - That a copy of these. resolutions be
ithit o the family of the deceased, and that thiy
be published in the Presbyterian Banner and Ad
vocate, and bathe papers of Easton and this vicin
ity.
IV. KENNEDY
S. A. FREEMAN, Committee.
W. L. ALDEN. jjj
Fro* our London Correspondent.
Irvingism ii London described—Edward Irving and
his Career—Analysis of Principles of " Catholic
and Apostolic Church"—The Sacramental Basis
of the S stem—Apostles, so-called, andother
Qfficers—logicalArguments— Visit to the Irving
ite Cathedral—Morning Service—The Priest and
Deacon—The Pyz and the,Lamp—The Memorial
Chapel—Art, in its bearing on a sensuous religion
in Bogland,LThe Highlanders
. at Wick—t King
of Prussia—Hungary and the Jesuits--Miss
Nightingale.
LONDON, 'September 9, 1856.
I ha#, intended for some time to give
you a brief account of Ircingism, as it ex
ists in this metropolis, in connexion with a
visit paid by me, some months back, to
what may, without exaggeration, be called
the Irviugite Cathedral of Gordon Square.
The name of Edward. Irving;= his beginning,
as assistant to Chalmers, at St. John's,
Glasgow; his translation to Hatton Gar
den, Caledonian Church, London ; his
amazing popularity as a preacher; his pub
lished "Orations,"and his peculiar, half
sublime, half-mystic style of thought, speech,
and writing-'—these must be more or less fa
miliar to many of your readers. I rethem
ber reading, when a student, with a highly
excited imagination, and a not nnsolemn
ized spirit, his oration on "Judgment to
Come ; ' and when, some years after, Iheard
him preach—althoogh his mind was then
gradually darkening, and his heresy of the
peccability of Christ's human nature had
ben hroached, and his fire. and. force were
greatly abated—yet, what • with• his long,
black tresses, silvered with gray, on his
shoulders; his lofty, massive frame; his
fine forehead, and bold features, (and one
eye, like that of Whitfield, having a tuna, ,
which Could not be called . a squint, and a
which had, somehow, a fascination about it,) fc
his appearance made on me a most vivid fr
impression, which remains to this day. , a
Irving'si condemnation, by the Scottish a
Presbytery i of London, was followed .by
the extravagances of unknown tongues, in
Regent Square church; and. when• he died
(repeating tthe twenty-third. Psalm in. He
brew. as be was expiring,) Irvingism, as
it is pOpOlarly called, hut as its friends
style it, "The Catholic Apostolic Church,"
gradually assumed a definite form, and is
now an established system among us.
I have received—no doubt in common with
many others—a circular letter or address'
" From the angels ordained over the. church •
in England, by the Apostles of the Lot'
with the priests, deacons and people und ,
their , charge." This document, acco,
panied by a lithographed letter, inviti
special attention to the topics treated ,
and suggesting " a personal interview,"
addressed "To all who profess the fait
Christ, and especially to the bish , :,
priests and deacons, and as many as e r
cise rule or ministry in the Chum o
God." It begins by a reference to Ch t'
warning, that he would come again • a
hour when men think not, and that or
his appearance a time of terrible aria an
temptation awaited the Church. Th , ge]
sonal advent of Christ is "the.g . for
hope ;" and the Church, "the Elea n
God in Christ, gathered out of the st
the evil world and bidden to the rig
supper of the Lamb in the glory f the
cowing kingdom," was constituted ' ente
.cost for this high calling.. She e *me
all who believed and obeyed the Gos . 1; t
"to this Church" they " were ad ted
holy baptism, which, as the toke. =nd
strument of an adoption into the , Cc
nant, is tip indispcusab.e element be
stitution of the Christian Chure
so the pOmitive Christians thus iapti
" partaking in the holy Eucha t
,of
flesh and/ blood of Christ, were i ourif
unto eternal life." Here you w perc
the Sacramental system fully
,re
common with Oxford and Rom , Ac
ing to the circular, all baptized lersca
long to this church.
Next conies a lamentatio, over lost slowly away. All seemed or the better
unity, ( a anew sect generally -eta up an class, as such only could attend a morning
ululatus of this kind I) Wha 8 the grand service. Many of them had the bearing of
cause of divisions in the Oh h ? Why, ladies of rank; and such, no doubt, they
as " St. Paul has told us tha •od bath set were. [Mr. Drummond, - M. P., the banker,
some in the Church first A , ties;" as it is a specimen of rich Irvingites.]
Was " in the midst of Apost that Jesus After the church was emptied, I was in-
Christ prayed for this unity ; id, as "The troduced by the sexton to the deacon, an
Church under Apostles u , iifested this elderly, respectable gentleman, who was ex
unity," the plain reason of hisms in the tremely civil. He conducted me over, the
Body, must be a want of Ap les, of course! building. When I looked at its noble roof,
And, so, ask _my__ loat'ea.L orrespendepts, its _fine pillars,
_its Mosaic floor, ire veal. CISC
-T' If - Apostle — rare gone, if t it place in the tent, its Mai; apini lied caali by'steps, I spoke
body knows them no more, can we expect of the beauty of the building. "Yes, sir,"
that unity will be niaintai ?" Proban- he replied, "it is beautiful; and the house
dumesf ! And so, after f her lamentation of the Lord ought to be so." An elegant
over disunion, and a sow hat liberal ad- lamp, pendent from the roof, with seven
mission' that "not in an one exclusively, colors reflected through it, was burning, a
but: in fall the prominen divisions of the though it was broad daylight; and 1 was
Church] are baptized per is who are living told that these seven colors represented (if I
as true Christians, to be and ;" after the am not forgetful, for it is some time since,)
statement, also, that " ither Rome, nor the seven churches, or the completeness of
Constantinople, nor Ca erbury, has pre- the Church; and• the lamp itself indicated
veiled to embrace wit • its separate fold Christ's presence in the place; my attention
all the sheep of Jes ' we are gravely being then turned to a le.yx, or small box, ex
asked whether the true d Scriptural hope actly similar to what you see in a Rotnish
of the Church, " looki to be presented by church, and in which the consecrated host
Apostles as a chaste • gin to Christ, can is kept ! This last reminds me of what a
ever be accomplished ' . vith the present or- poor Irish woman said to a lady friend of
ganizatidn, the exi.stin( cans of ministry ?" mine in London, who asked her, " Wby is
No 1 The grand ca -of failure is, that there a light all night in the chapel?" " Ah,
"we have been conte to substitute for the then, sure," was the reply, " isn't it because
ministries of Apostle nd Prophets the in- HE is there !"
sufficient devices of i n," and " forsaking Next I was conducted into a Memorial
the ordinances of Gr• have walked in the Chapel, behind the altar, separated from the
devices of men I" epee, not only "fail- church by a screen, in which the most ex
ure," but the per if persisted in, of quisite carving in wood, stone work tracery,
" apostamy and re' " Hence, "society stained glass, Mosaic pavement, were all to
tends to dissolution hence, rich and poor be seen. This was built by two sisters, in
are alienated free one another; hence, memoriam, probably of a deceased friend,
fraud, poisoning, iatural mothers, brutal or of some mercy received, and dedicated as
husbands, juveuil, ime ! a private chapel.
All these "rip ling symptoms," from My "deacon" conductor was quite will
the want of Apos ;, or rather the contempt ing to converse about the system. He de
or neglect hittie. manifested toward the Died any idea of excluding all but his own
"Catholic Apost ,; Church." Therefore, party from the Catholic Church. After re
our friends plea with and warn us, and 'erring tothe Episcopal Church, (from which
they bring tidin: .4 44 better things." The he said several clergymen had come over,
good news is, th, o d has vouchsafed to re- among others, the "priest" of that morn
store Apostles an • Prophets; and "an ample ing's service,) and also to adherents of the
testimony" to this returning grace of Greek Church, Eastern Churches, and all
God" was bore nearly twenty years ago, baptized persons, he was asked, "What do
to the clergy a • civil rulers, in which docu- you say of the Presbyterians ?" "We re
ment '(had the but read it!) would have Bard them as Christians, also." Baptism
• been found 'a
Atha. n forth of "the true regenerates, and brings into the Covenant;
Constitution • theehurch." Now the that is the foundation of the system, as well
testimony, ho fiver, is repeated, that "no as of this apparently liberal concession.
lower ministr than that of Apostles, can There was neither time nor place for argu
prepare the C itch for Christ's second ad- meat; but, on the 44 Apostle " question, I
vent." Wh• strikes one who has studied suggested difficulties which he did not obvi
this system, its appropriation of terms in ate; and a personal presence in the Eucharist,
a sense ford: to their real Scriptural mean- which, arguing from Scripture and reason,
ing, and tb setting up of offices on the I pointed out was impossible ; and all he
strength of eso terms or names. So, be- could say was, (and what had Cardinal Wise
cause there , as an '" angel" over each of man himself to say on the point ?) "Our
the seven lurches,,' "angels" cannot be Lord says, This is my body,' and we be
ordinary m isters, bat a distinct order; so, lieve it is his body."
again, bee e there I were "some prophets There is a full Cathedral service every
in the earl age," these were not extraor- Sabbath morning, with chanting and organ,
' dinary offi rs, (as we hold and can prove; and with the apostles, angels,
Ste., all in
fur where the gift where its manifesta- their robes; and at six o'clock every Sab
tion 7) b• intended 'to be permanent, and i bath evening there is preaching. Once a
exist no , so the name 44 priest" re- I month there is a united participation of the
tamed, c ering the too manifest ideal of ; Eucharist here, by the members scattered
sacrifice, id a voluntaryconfessionand "the over London, and who worship in differ
.l grace df iniolutinn." Deanons" are edt 6nt &Ride; tied din* is 'a morning and
of the gifts and erings
and Brings
moreover as I aim of
they assist the tests in
s of worship." And as
ley preach the Go el of the
s, not only a co fusion of
•tical denial of t e destine,-
traordinary and o inary offi
eh, which is so tent in the
ostles, and in Pa 's writings.
wish anything m re effective
atoms
,this sys re of false
p, than to get a lect number
' and " Angels " n a platform,
vening, and afte hearing them
, let Doctors andlish,• Cum
ke (one or oth4) just get an
.f one hour's rep i lly ! Methinks
grand exposup, especially if
as clinched by the reading aloud,
orable passe eJ from Barrow's
irk on "The v prem cy of the
which he prow s, by irresistible
y
,t Apostolic S ecessionists of all
that the officef of an Apostle in
has ceased fo ever ! But these
Apostles" an "Angels" take
• not to alto themselves to be
.to public di ussion. 0, DO I
/
too sanctim ions for this; and
captive silly omen," and to im
he senses and ' agination, by archi
grandeur, b solemn chants and
organs, and. I' urgic intonings, and
sly to foster tlle idea that the temple
virtually remains, and that "the
is the int 'cessor with God—all
much more ongenial to them, just
to their co sins of Rome and, Ox
dro, " with 11 ted breath ; and whisper
(
umbleness," assume such , air's of su
sanctity in
‘ t ese days.
all I go on now to describe my visit to
athedral ? Why, as I like to do things
iugie., and when touching this phase of
rn error among us, to give to it, once
al, a clear and distinct prominence be
your reader's eyes, I shall add a few
ds on that point also, hoping that, with
eekly opportunity now granted me, I shall
edily make up for any, arrears which, in
. present letter, I cannot overtake.
On a week day morning, some months
o, I was passing through Gordon Square,
'ear the New Road,) when I approached
.e towering building of the Irvingites, al
eady alluded to. I had often looked at it
xternally ; but as I saw an open door, 1
esolved to ascertain whether I could effect
an entrance. Walking '
through a long
arched passage, called " The Cloisters," I
came to an inner door, which evidently
opened into the nave, and through which I
could distinctly hear the murmuring intona
tions of some one conducting a service. I
tried to turn the handle, but failed, and,
therefore, walked out again. In the area, I
I found a man, besom in hand, who was a kind
f of beadle, or sexton, but dressed in a peen
, liar black cap and costume. He civilly
:.- came up the stairs, led me back along the
f cloisters, and turning the handle for me, I
's found myself beneath the roof of a noble
Ln and spacious Gothic pile. I scarcely looked
re up or around, however, as in a kind of side
id- chapel, just opposite, a small congregation
:r- was assembled ; and so crossing the church,
us 'I sat down on one of the back benches, be
of hind this assembly, which was chiefly corn
of posed of women.
At a kind of altar, with a white surplice
, I on, and his back turned to the. people, stood
a- a "priest," reading, or rather intoning, from
:ed a prayer-book; while behind him, a little to
ind one side, knelt, surpliced also, a "deacon."
by After a little time, prayers were over; the
in- deacon rose from his knges, and approached
ove- the altar. The priest uncovered the " con
con secreted" bread, and the people went up to
And the altar, and kneeling, received from the
ized, priest, (the deacon attending him,) the bread
' the and wine in succession. This part of the
fished ceremony was ushered in by the priest turn
ceive ing his face to the people, and enunciating
:(I, in the text, "Christ, our passover, is sacrificed
;cord- for us," &e. After all had communicated,
is be- the benediction 'was given, with uplifted
hands, and the little congregation went
...
only the " trustei
of the people,"
the coogregatio
the Divine offs"
livangelists,"/
kingdom.
There is, t;
terms, but a pi
Lion between
cers in the Cl
Acts•of the /
One could Tc
to, smash t
Churchman
o sfmo
to f apirpi
n ' t
a : og A rwtthuo p
rein o n s i
et t ote :
it would hi
the whole/
of that a
immortal
Pope," i
logic aga
Churebel
the Cbu
modern
good c.
drawn
They
to "
pose or
tecturi
Pal
B t Pr ie h retd i lue s uli
ai
as it
ford
perk
OM
VOCA
evening service every Lord's day. Their
Liturgy comprises s selection from the Mis
sal, the Greek Ritual, and that of the
Church of England. 'The ministers are
supported by " tithes offered by a willing
people." As to Church Government,
..it
seems to be a union of Episcopacy and In
dependency, but preserving a kind of hier
archy. "In each particular church, the
angel, or bishop, is the chief pastor. Upon
him, under the apostles (!) rests the govern
ment of that Church; and with him, and
under him, the other ministers, whether of
•the priesthood or of the deaconship, dis
charge their several functions in the house
of - God."
Such is a carefully prepared account of
The Catholic and Apostolic Ohara," in
London, and which, it appears, is the full
development, both of the Church of the
past, and of the future. Thus only can
society be purified at its fountain, and vice
be rebuked, crime repressed, and visible
unity be restored to the conviction of an
unbelieving world I
" Ah, ye Apostles and Angels,
Leviathan is not so tamed," •
Neither can souls be arrested, wooed, nor
sanctified and justified by any system which
practically ignores what Paul said ; " Christ
sent me not to baptize, but to preach the
Gospel ;" which exalts sacraments above
Christ; which knows nothing of justifica
tion by faith without works, and by the
imputation of righteousness; and which
usurps, by its pretensions, not merely what
once exclusively belonged to them that had
"seen the Lord," and received their com
mission from his lips , "but also the functions
of him who is a Priest upon his throne,"
and will bear no rival near it
I should add to the foregoing, that the
Irvingites.professto " have received, through
the laying on of hands, the Holy Spirit of
promise.'
The bearing of art and architecture on
the questions involved in the controversies
of the day, is sufficiently suggested by the
foregoing sketch. But it stops not there.
It has influenced both Dissenting theology
and practice in England. Some of the Dis
senters are for a short liturgy, mingled with
free prayer. They chant in many new
chapels built on the Medieval style of
architecture; sometimes a psalm; at all
events, the " sanctus " before the sermon;
and so far, probably, they meet the Church of
England half way;, and, accompanying it
with evangelical preaching, they obtain
power .over the greater number for good.
But this taste for the sensuous in building
and in worship, is deteriorating the health of
the churches; and the theology from the
pulpit, erring rather by defect than misstate
went, is too often, to say the least, diluted;
at all events, it is not that vigorous, bold, Puri
tan-like putting forth of the grand verities of
the. Gospel, which once prevailed. Cathe
drals, or churches built• after their model,
are not suited for Protestant worship. In
themselves, cathedrals are grand—bow
grand, look at what Melrose Abbey, as judged
by those glorious ruins, was once; or what
the glorious old St. Magnus, of Glasgow,
recently so thoroughly restored, is now. If
Popery be the right, thing, cathedral service,
pillars, altars,
all are in beautiful accord
ance ; but if Popery, or any imitation of it,
be contrary to the sublime simplicity of the
New Testament model, then let us keep
away from Medievalism, while not ignoring
good taste in ecclesiastic buildings • and let
us never teach the people that they are to
be taught religion by aught that is spectacn,
lar ; but rathr by the full exhibition of
Jesus Christ set forth evidently crucified in
the midst of them, by men of each of whom
it can be said with truth,
" By him the violated law
Speaks out its thunders ; and by him,
In strains as sweet as angels use, _
The Gospel whispers peace."
Undoubtedly, judging from annual exhi
bitions of paintings, models, and ecclesiasti
cal architectural designs, (very beautiful,)
the tendency to a sensuous religion is shown
widely to exist, and by, them is widely fos
tered- I see, even in Glasgow, churches
erected in this style; and one Independent
chapel, (a close copy of some Popish chapel
of the middle ages,) has up its steeple and
spire, and around its walls, stone figures in
niches, apostles and "saints,", (I presume,)
with the " glory," in a gilt scroll, round the
head of each ! The barn-like structure
may surely be exchanged for a hanusome;
commodious edifice, without going to such
dangerous extremes as these.
I was not able, in my last . visit to the
North, to penetrate so far as Wick, in
-Cartheeee - Shire 3- but "on ce upon a time,"
in returning from a deputation tour - in Shet
land and Orkney, on behalf of the Free
Church of Scotland, I had an opportunity
of seeing the large fleets of fishing boats
there, and the processes of curing herrings,
caught at this season in such vast quantities,
going on, on shore. It is remarkable that
a large proportion of the people who flock
thither for this purpose; are Highlanders;
and truly gratifying it is to find, from the
following, that the Sabbath is so devoutly
observed:
THE HIGHLANDERS AT THE HERRING FISHING
Ix THE NORM—Never were thei're so many High
landers, male and female, congregated together
in Wick as on the two past Sabbaths, when they
assembled for public worship in the open air, un
der the ministrations of the Rev. Mr. Mackay, of
the Free Church, Inverness. Last Sabbath fore
noon, the park, where they meet, was densely
packed ; and on a moderate computation not few
er than five thousand people were gathered into
that spot. The appearance of this huge congre
gation was truly striking ; their grave, serious,
and worship-like deportment; the striking res
emblance in dress, features, &c.; the attention
to the various services, and the beautiful music,
which was heard at a great distance, all struck
the beholder with feelings akin to awe. And it
gives us pleasure to say that the conduct -of this
interesting people, when out of this natural sanc
tuary, is equally becoming. On. Saturday even
ing, thousands of them crowded the streets, and
during the four or five hours in which they con
gregated there, scarcely a pefson the least affec
ted'by drink was to be seen. The more men stu
dy the characterof the Highlander, the more they
will see the importance, in every point of view, of
giving them every encouragement, ana showing
them every kindness.—Northern Ensign. —The
John 0' Groat's Tournal states that of the vast num
ber present at these services, only about one
tenth are females, and that .nearly the whole as
sembly is composed of strangers brought to Wick,
to the herring fishing. Mr. Mackay appears to
take a deep interest in his congregation, who
fully reciprocate the attachment. Witness.
In the points of contrast draWn in my
last, between the N. , rth and the South of
Great Britain, I should have added that of
family prayer; in the former case largely
prevalent among all classes, even the pem,-
antry and fishermen; in the latter, greatly
neglected. I trust, however, that there is
an increase of domestic piety in - the South;
as compared with thirty years ago, and still
more with the last century.
Turning to the state and prospects of the
kingdom of Christ in Germany, I may men
tion, that much damage, has been done
to the Christian character and itTfltience of
the king of Prussia, by caricatures in Punch,
and all manner of witticism's; '(which even
the Times stooped to copy?) based on the
allegation that His Majesty was a man of
intemperate habits. Dr. Erummacher took
occasion, at the late meeting of the Evan
gelical Alliance at Glasgow, to give a posi
tive aontradiotion to the slandarons report.
Dr. Craig, of Hamburg, bore similar testi
mony, at the last meeting of the Irish G EL .
eral Assembly; and your own Doctor Baird,
I know, thinks highly of the king. It re
mains to be seen, whether the High Church
Lutheran and Court Divines may not set
succeed in preventing the proposed meeting
of the Alliance next year. If not, may I
be there, to see and report !
A deputation of Hungarian Protestants
have been, or are, in Berlin, and are receiv
ing contributions for the support of a gym
nasium, or public school, on the banks o f
the Danube. One result of the Concord at
between the Pope and Austria, is the dis
couragement and shutting up of ? these Pro
testant institutions, by the requirement of
larger endowments than, without foreign
aid, can be raised for their support. That
is the vile work of the vile Jesuits; hue - for
Hungary, the oldest Protestant and Pres
byterian Church in Eaqt Europe, there is
coming fast a day of jubilee—a glorious
resurrection from the grave in which tyran
ny has entombed them I
Miss Nightingale has come home ; and,
landing without ostentation, she sought rest
in a rural retreat, and amongloving relatives.
Thither an address from eighteen hundred
work-people at Newcastle, followed her;
and she returned a reply so touching and
beautiful, that I cannot help asking you to
print it, for the sake of its influence, espe
cially on female hearts and hands, in the
enterprises of Christian charity :
Miss Nigtingale has returned the following re
ply : "_4ugust 23.
"MT DEAR FRIENDS.—I wish it were in my
power to tell you what was in my heart when I
received your letter ; your welcome home, your
sympathy with what has been passing while I
have been absent, have touched me more than I
can tell in words. My dear friends, the things
that are deepest in our hearts, are, perhaps, what
it is most difficult for us to express.
"'She hatb done what she could.' Those words
I inscribe on the tomb of one of my beat helpers,
whom I left in the graveyard at Scutari. It has
been my endeavor, in the sight of God, to do as
she has done. I will not speak of reward,-when
permitted to do our country's work. It is what
we live for. But I may say that to receive sym
pathy from affectionate hearts like yours is the
greatest support, the greatest gratification, that
it is possible for me to receive from man. I
thank you all, the 1,800, 'with grateful, tender
affection; and I should have written before to do
so, were not the business, which my return has
not ended, almost more than I can manage.
Pray believe me, my dear friends, yours faithfully
and gratefully, FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE."
All the rumors about this true woman
being a Puseyite turned out false ; and
it comes out that she was the object of dis
like to the Tracturian Miss Stanley, (daugh
ter of the late Bishop of Norwich, and since
turned Papist,) who was at Scutari as a lady
nurse; and also to the Romish Sisters of
Charity. J. W.
P. S —The.Rev. R. S. Storrs Dickinsnn,
late colleague to Rev. A. Barnes, of Phila
delphia., after attending the Evangelical Al
liance at Glasgow, and about to repair to Paris
as minister of 'an American congre g ation
there, died bat week suddenly, of hemor
rhage, at Edinburgh. Dr. Guthrie, and
others, were with him and his family in this
hour of sorrow; and he was interred beside
Chalmers, in Morningaide Cemetery, greatly
lamented.
The Czar was crowned at noon, on the
7th, at Moscow. We had the news by tele
graph, next morning !
The American "difficulty" with the
British Cabinet is settled ; but the treaty is
not` yet published.
Harvest is good, and Corn market going
down.
Ecclesiastical.
Rev. Wm. T. ADAMS was installed at Deer
Creek, 111., on the 30th of June.
Mr. S. H. STEVENSON was ordained on the
16th of September, by the Presbytery of
Peoria, and installed in the church of
Clinton.
Rev. DAVID CARTER, late of the Pres
bytery of Donegal, was installed by the
Presbytery of Marion, at Liberty, Ind.,
on the . 2d of September.
Rev. S. HILL'S Post Office is changed from
Newry, to East Barree, Huntingdon
County, Pa.
Rev. J. P. COLWELL has removed from
Sharon, Ohio, to Fredericktown, Ohio,
and requests correspondents and editors
to address him accordingly.
rittrarp Rotitts.
BOOKS seat to us for a Notice, will be drily
attended to. Those froinpnbilehere In Phila.
dtlphiste New York, &e., may be left at our
Philadelphia 011 bee, 27 South 10th &t., below
Chestnut, in ears ofJOselth ffi. Wthlonolso./
FEAMPER'S STORY BOOKS. No. 23. The Alcove.
Here we have nineteen chapters of varied mat
ter, with forty-five engravings, illustrating the
letter press. The contents of the present number
carry forward the juvenile reader in the history
of the family referred to in the volume on Tim!,oo
and Joliba, and Timboo and Fanny.
WALTER BINNING, the Adopted Son ; or Illustra
tions of the Lord's Prayer. By A. L. 0 E.,
author of the "Claremont Tales," &c. 18wo.,
pp. 142. New York : Bobotre Carter 4. Brothers,
No. 530 Broadway.' 1856.
This title only refers to one-third of this Tol
ttme, as there are bound up in the same cover
another excellent production, by the same writer,
denominated True Heroirm, numbering 147 pages:
and still another called Wings and Stings, extet;
log to 130 pages. The finest Evangelical sOil
pervades these little works. They are admirabl
suited for the young.
Our Board of .Pub'Hoodoo have issued
Tao Dtrri" OF PRATING FOR OTHERS. By Rev
TV: Roinaine, A. M. 18mo., pp. 82.
FORGIVE._ 1:* ova. DEBTS. By John. Hall, D. D
18mo., pp_ 34.. •
Together with
Tract No. 190. THOVI3TB ON SECRET PRAYER-
By Rev. W. S. Plumer, D. ff.; and
Tract No. 191. Tile Pious /..nrircaa. Written
for the Board by a Retired Officer of the Army-
We are glad to see such excellent and suitable
tracts added to the stock already possessed by our
Board.
TAMES OF SWYDEN AND THE NORSEMEN. 18mo.,
pp. 864. . New York : Robert Carter 4- Brothers,
No. 5 3O, f i3roadway. 1856.
This 0 a capital boys' book. It contains sis
tales of Sweden, and five of the Norsemen.
They are illustrative of the scenery and the bie
tory of the North of Europe; and as the latter
part bears on the period when the hardy adven
turers of the shores of the Baltic sought out for
themselves more Southerly homes in Normandy
and Britain, the value of the book as an incen
tive to the study of history will be obvious. We
always have great pleasure in commending a well
written,and useful book, ouch as this one is.
TRADE AND LETTERS - Their Jonrneyings round
the world. Three discourses delivered before
the Mercantile Librar Association of San
Francisco, and published at the request of the
Association. By W. A. Scott. D. D. 18n10.1
pp. 1 68. New York: Robert Carter 4- Brothers.
3856.
It was prudent on the part of the Association 111.
San Frazniato to' aeaure the puthie'ation of itOie