Presbyterian banner & advocate. (Pittsburgh, Pa.) 1855-1860, October 18, 1856, Image 2

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    Xianntr anb Attlotatt.
PITTSBURGH, MOM 18, 1856.
TERDIS. 01.50 9 in advance; or in Clubs,
PAS, or, delivered at residences of Subscri.
bars; 51.70. See Prospectus" on Third Page.
R RA EW A L A should be prompt; • little
while before the year expires, that we may
make full arrangements fora *toady supply..
THE RED WRAPPER indicates that vra
desire a renewal. If, however, in the haste
if mailing, this signal should be omitted, we
hope our friends will still not forget its.
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DIR ECT all Letters Ood C'ommunicatlons
to RRV. DAVID ItaKIIINRY. Pittsburgh,
-Pa.
NEW BRIGHTON NORMAL SEMINARY.-
The ,Catalogue of this Institution for 1855-
6, presents a list of 102 pupils. The next
session will commence on the first Monday
in November.
THE BIBLICAL REPERTORY AND PRINCE.
'TON REVIEW. 06tCtier, 1856.7 -The con_
tents are : The Bible, the Missal, and the
Breviary—the Sacred writings of the Parsis ;
Baird's Religion in America; Tbe Matter
of Preaching; The Church—lts Perpetuity)
Egyptology; and, Eli Smith's Arabic Bible.
This is a capital number of the Review.,
Dr. Baird receives some hard bits in conse
quence of his representations on the subject
of American Theology ; but due credit is
given to the Doctor for his great ability in
collecting and digesting facts and details.
Every minister in our Church should possess
this work. Our elders, also, would derive
great advantage from it. It is always good,
and would be good, for all.
The Bible Union.
The seventh anniversary of this Society
Was beld, lately, in New York. The policy
°t i the Board of Managers was, notwith
standing the exposures made by Dr. McClay,
its late President, fully sustained. Its past
policy is hence to be sustained, and its pres
ent corps of translators to be continued;
although the specimens. of 'the work, which
have been published, have subjected them
to the ridicule of literary men, and to' the
disapproving sentence of Christians. If,
however, an unfaithful and sectarian trans
lation is to be made, the evil will be the
less, the more manifest may be the incapa
city of the translators.
Ministerial Support.
It will be remembered that the General
Assembly, at its meeting in 1854, recom
mended to the elders, deacons and trustees of
the churches under its care, to meet together
every year, on some day before the 18th of
November, in each year, " to•institute the
inquiry whether the minister or stated sup
ply is properly and fully supported ; and if
they find he is not so supported, to take fin
mediate action to increase his support, and
report to their Presbytery at its next meet
ing. No doubt, many of the churches com
plied with this reeommendation the past two
years; but it cannot be disputed that many
have altogether failed to the great injury of
themselves • and their pastors. It is to be
hived that elders, deacons and trustees will
awake to the importance of this matter; if
they will take the lead energetically and
prudently;the people will follow. The cost
of living is high now, and with no prospect
of being lessened for at, least a year to
come ; while many pastors are attempting to
live on the same salaries received, when the
cost of many of the necessaries of life was not
more than half the present cost. It has been
intimated to ns that the average salaries of
the country pastors in the Synods of Pitts
burgh,- Allegheny, Wheeling and Ohio, are
lower than in any other four Synods of the
Church. • Can this be so ? Donation visits
and gifts are very good in their; place, but
they.cannot supply the place of a competent
aalary.
The Episcopal Convention.
The' meetings of this body, in Philadet
phia, seem to have been attended with pe
culiar, interest dignified, harmonious, Plea
sant. ;.,One 'of the great propositions of re
form or change , that of establishing a, uni
form Mode of, trial for 'delinquents, with the
privilege of appeal to the General Conven
tion;'' hasp been rejected. The vote in ,the
House of Bishops is understood to have been
tWelVii'for, and twenty-one against! :In the
House-of Delegates the vote , of the clergy
was eighteen ayes to thirteen noes; and that
of the laity thirteen ayes to fourteen noes
This we regard as a strong demonstration of
desire for the change of the Article alluded
to, and indicative of further effort; which
may be successful.
On the subject of Rubrical relaxation,
the feeling of the House of Bishops is re
garded as decidedly favorable. A Commit
tee has reported resolutions authorizing min
isters, to dispense, at certain times, with
parts of -the Service; also, authorizing the
bishops of thi several dioceses to provide
such special services as in their judgment
may, be most for edification.
Another change talked of, is the sub-di=
vision of dioceses, till they shall become
very small; and, of consequence, ti great in
crease in the number of bishops. This
would be an approxiMation toward primitive
simpiiiiity; when the bishop was strictly . a
pastor, and the Presbyters were his
tants in the care of the flock.
The Episcopal Church, in this country, is
evidently adapting itself to other social in
ititutions, and to the wants of the:masses.
It it shall grow in Evangelism, and yield to
the requirements of a, laospel order, it will
bean; increasing increasing blessing to the land, and
'Will enjoy, still more largely, the confidence
and `good will .of the oilier branehee of the
Christian family.
Sabbath Schools.
The Lord's Day, as distinguished from
the other days of the week, is to be conse
crated more directly to the things which
belong to his praise in the everlasting salva
tion of men. It is a day for worship, for
the acquisition of religious knowledge, and
for instruction. Where churches are regu
larly established, we would, if we had the
arranging of matters, have one general meet
ing of the congregation for the established
ordinances, and smaller meetings in conve
nient localities for prayer and praise. All
the residue of the day we would have de
voted to private and family religion, em
bracing a thorough instruction of the chil
dren.
But, as men are, they cannot be induced
to attend duly to private and family duties.
Hence, to keep them from spending much
of the Sabbath in idleness, or in dissipation,
and to afford some profit, a second meeting
for public worship is needful; and to have
children taught in the knowledge of God,
the Sabbath Saba becomes an auxiliary
with which 'we cannot dispense. It is true
that some families, devout and conscientious,
would employ the Sabbath in, the manner
we first suggested, greatly to their own
benefit; but if these should neglect the
second service and the Sabbath School,
others could not be 110 1 10,a,t0 attend , nd
in the Sabbath School' especially; the. Mem
bers of such families are needed—needed
for examples, and to give spirit and charac
ter to the institution, and for teachers. And
hence it is that we are decidedly,friendly to
the Sabbath School, and advise all Christian
people to encourage and sustain it. it may
be made a very great benefit to their own
children.. It is a field of usefulness of in
calculable worth; and in it myriads, 'or mil
lions, may be brought under Gospel influ
ences, who would otherwise be untaught and
perish.
An experienced and zealous minister sends
us the article which appears in another part
of our paper. The subject is , of such im
portance to our Church and our neighbors,
that We give, some • remarks of our own.
Much, very much depends upon system;
and to keep up system, some form'of record
is almost indispensable. The pastor who
sends us the article, has, in his practice, a
sheet ruled in, columns, with the following
headings,'in 'which the entries are made for
the various schools in his eharge : Name of
School --When Organized—By'whom—
Whole NUmber ,of Scholars—Males--Fe
males--Average Attendance—Number of
Teachers Male Female Number of
Scholars professing religion—Number do
ing'so since last report—Teachers professing
religion—Teachers died--Scholars died—
Number in Bible Classes—Verses of Scrip
ture committed—liymns committed—Num
ber learning Catechism—General Behavior—
Books purchased—Price paid for saine—
Whole number in Library—Sabbath School
papers taken—Money raised' for benevolent
objects:
This is the form of the report read at the
Anniversary. Records • are kept in each
school, from which the annual report is
made up..
Presbyteries might clo very "much toward
the cause, by having blanks printed in due
form for all their churches, and requiring
each church to report in full al the April
meeting..
The Board :of Publication, also, might do
much, by, baying a judicioni Form for the
Annual Report of Sabbath Schools and
Bible Classes in churches, printed for use.
This Form might, with much propriety
and great benefit, once or twice in the year,
occupy a page in the Home and Foreign
Record, or in the Sabbath School Visitor,
or in each of these journals. It would thus
reach every?resbyterr, Minister ; and; Sab - -
bath School; it wouldlrequently bring the
Matter before the .minds, of, those, who are in
duty bound to attend to
.it' a a blank form
would, be ever on hand when needed; and
even though the system might not be wholly
adopted, useful' hints would; be furnished,
which might be modified to tastes and cir
cumstance& •
If very many country pastors and Sessions
would send to the. city members of our
Board a statement' of Abell' experience and
their wants, .the results would be greatly
beneficial, in the dissemination of praetical
knowledge and the' furnishing of faeilities
for accomplishing a , great work.
Calvinism Wrongfully Reproached.
The Advocate and Journal, the leading
paper of , *the Methodist Church, quote's
from the Weatminiter CorifesSibi - 4
three brief sections'Willett ife
in part, the statement of the pecree of
God, in which is set forth his electing love;
whereby, "according to his eternal and im
mutable purpose, and the secret counsel and
good pleasure of his will, he hath CUOSEN IN
CHRIST unto everlasting glory, out of his
mere free grace and love," a portion of
human kind, to be brought to faith, repen
tance, holiness and heaven ; and in which is
declared his purpose " to the praise of his
glorious justice, " to " pass by" others who
are " ordained to wrath for their sins."
( See Confession of. Faith, chap. 111. )
Upon this precious truth; for it 'is only on
this purpose of, God to save' the lost, that
any sinner can hope for heaven, it being evi
dent in the Scriptures, that in the execution
of E this good purpose. Christ came into
the world, and the Atonement- was made,
and the Church established, and the Holy
Spirit given; upon this precious truth the
Journal remarks
The common sense and common moral feeling
of I...a,Listi tuvult e at this "horrziale decretum,"
as Calvin himself called it. In their higher criti
cal writings, their esoteric teachings, Calvinistic
clergymen stilt maintain it, but they cannot vett-
tare` With it frankly out before the popular eye.
The fact is a significant One ; it is fortunate for
Christianity itself but quite. ,unfortunate for
the Calvinistic'teacher ; he cannot be true to him
self ; and an habitual attempt to evade the res..
ponsibility of' religious opinions, deemed pro
foundly important, must be not only disastrousto
all noble independence; of thought, but also pro
foundly pernicious to the whole moral conscious
ness of the min. Unquestionably the Calvinistic
TEE PR ESBYTERIAN BANNER AND ADVOCATE.
ministry of our times feel and exhibit this ir
resolution, this self-distrust, this want of candor
to the popular conscience. A greater depression
to a body of public instructors can hardly be
conceived ; it is enough to unnerve them, to damp
all earnestness and energy, if not all self-respect.
If the old authoritative definitions of Calvinism
are accredited by them, they should be proclaim
ed manfully ; if not accredited, they should be
cast away bravely, not evasively. No theologi
cal question presents now before the popular
mind of Christendom it more equivocal and sus
picious aspect than Calvinism. The moral sense
and self-respect of our common Christianity de
mand that the system he more candidly defended
or denied.
Such reproaches, so ungenerous and so ut
terly groundless, froin a source where there
ought to be more information, and higher
intelligence, and a noble Christian liberality
of sentiment, were not expected. ,The doc
trines set forth in our Confession and Cate
chisms, we believe to be truly the teachings
of the Bible, and we glory in them, in
Christ 'Jesus. Our Standar& are printed
and spread abroad, far and, near. We pub
lish books and tracts by the •myriad, and cir
culate them with great zeal. Our newspa
pers and periodicals r printour doctrines, the
one here assailed'and all others, and defend
them from all assaults deemed worthy of
notice. Our ministers proclaim them from
their pulpits, and embrace them in their
prayers, on every Lord's day. We endeavor
to teach them to every child, in every family
n our- eunuezion. no-Inan ou
preach the ,Gospel without a distinct recogni
tion of each doctrine, and a pledge to preach
the whole; and the, man who would shun to
preach election and predestination, as taught
in the chapter partially, quoted, would
speedily lose his ecclesiastical standing, with
his ministerial brethren and in the churches.
We candidly defend the syStem, in all its
fulness, at all times, 'and in all places, when
and where defence is needed. , There is no'
concealment, no evasion, no irresolution, no
seltdietrust. The "old authoritative defi
nitions of Calvinism" are regarded still as
the proper statement of Christian doctrines,
and as such .are maintained and defended,
boldly and frankly.
It is true that we do not, in every sermon,
and in every tract, and every issue of our
paper 4; reiterate, and defend the doctrine to
which the Journal is so inimical, and which
it partially states. There are other precious
doctrines held by our Church, which are to
be inculcated; and we have also much to
do with Christian experience, in our minis
trations ; and r the • inculcation of social and
religious duties demand much of our time
and attention ; but the great, glorious,
cheering, soul dactrine of the
electing love of God in Christ Jesus, we
omit not. Often it is presented distinctly and
prominently in its revealed splendor; and
so intimately is it connected with our whole
system, and so deeply is it, with us, a life-
sustaining principle, , that the enlightened
and discriminating mind can discern it in all
our tedahings, and all our prayers. It be
longs to our life. It lies at the very founda
tion of our hope of heaven. • Without it,
all would be lost, for allure sinful; with it,
if one is " left," to use the language of our
Saviour, another is " taken." If a multi
tude will perish in their sin, yet " a rem
nant" will be saved, to the praise of. God's
abounding grace, in every age; and the sub
jects are: increasing and will increase, till
they shall become a company which no man
can number; gathered out Of every people
and tongue and nation. ,
Decline of Religion in New England.
The time was when New England was
looked to,religiously, as being the garden"of•
the country. Its churches, ministers,
schools, colleges, benevolent societies, or
derly habits—everything which indicates
the pervading influence of God's truth re
vealed in the Sacred Scriptures, were re
ferred to as transcendent. But that day is
now recorded with the things which were.
A sad change has come over the land.
Human wisdom—philbsophy, falsely so
•
called, is taking the place of faith and tree
religion rapidly declines. On this subject
we condense some remarks of the New
York Observer
We read of decreasing churches and increasing
ungodliness,•wheie we have been wont to expect
the brightest examples of virtue and religion.
We are aware of what some of our New England
States have suffered, by emigration., Their young
men, their, talent, their enterprise, their rare ma
terials of 'character, whether good Cr bad, have
been withdrawn to build up Western cities. But
that there should be a' deterioration' in the
tone of morals or piety'of those who remain, is
at once,painful and, startling. We wonder if the
garden of religion in this land is to be removed to
new regions, leaving it comparative wilderness
behind ; whether - the , , history of the Seven
Churches of the Apocalypse is s to be repeated in any
of our old religious societies. Most confidently
we. think not But there are facts lcrought out
from time to time which: are•NarthYtaf;seber
flection., • ,
These retharks,have'been suggested by the re
cent ieiorted the State, tif i rSligio t tr`in same of
41.ti0L17 .1.3m0ixiLia.2.1101—a4p,0441.64-
the number of church members is in- many,
places decreasing, while the number of persons who
neglect public Forship, and care nothing for reli
gious iti•stitutione; c constantly on the increase. The
young in large niimbers are growing up in igno
rance of the Bible. Of ninety thousand children
and youth in the State, not more than thirty
thousand are connected with all the evangelical
Sabbath Schools. These children and youth are
seldom seen in the sanctuary; and great multi
tudes of them areas'entirely destitute of reli
gious instruction as the nature of the ease ad
mits."
There is surely something appalling in ,facts
Eke these. They suggest the solemn question, to
What' degree of ungodlineis 'these things may
grow; unless a remedy is - applied. Who can bear
the thought that'New England piety should lose
its lustre on its own hills, while it is encircling
the earth with the light of its former benevo
lence,?
There are found on the outskirts of almost
every village and' township, rude settlements. of
neglected and ignorant people. These semi
heathen live on the slopes of the mountains;
upon roads seldom worked or traveled. Their
miserable houses are scattered amongst the
rocks and in the regions which produce whortle
berries and sassafras., These families cultivate
mountain farms, their daughters go 'out to ser-
Vice, and their sons grow up as wild as the scenery
which environs them. There is a set of names
which these settlements receive. Hardly a conn...
try village but has its " Hard-Scrabble," "White-
Oaks," "Poor Town," "Swamp," or "Shirk
shire," where may be found hundreds of souls
needing the Gospel as much as heathen.
The remedy" suggested is Sabbath.
Schools—plant Sabbath Schools on the hill
sides, and the outskirts of congregations.
These may be a means of good, but a previous
means are needful. There must be vitality
restored to the churches. Speculation must
be laid aside. Gospel 'truth must be is
ceived. The ministry must be regenerated.
Resolutions of Church Courts.
A stranger to Ecclesiastical Courts would
suppose, from the degree of earnestness often
manifested in favor of or against resolutions
proposed for adoption, that the simple pass
age of the resolutions was the great diffi
culty, and that after this was done, the ob•
ject proposed would be accomplished as a
matter of course. But unfortunately there
is a wide difference between the passage of
a resolution and the accomplishment of its
purposes. Indeed, not unfrequently the
resolutions of Sessions, Presbyteries, Synods,
and General Assemblies, are nothing more
than so much waste paper, and the labor
bestowed on them is lost. This ought not
to be so. To adopt a resolution in a Court
of Jesus Christ is a solemn thing; and it
ought not)to be adopted, unless there is a
determination to carry it out. To neglect it
is to trifle iwith a sacred obligation we have
assumed, and to •weaken the moral force of
Ecclesiastical acts, as well as to omit the
performance of, duty. •
A case Of this,kind is now present to our
mind, and, it is but a sample of many , such,
'of which every observant minister and elder
is cognizant.
Some time ago,, at a meeting, of one of
our Synods, the subject of contributions for
"the — rener - srf-loor and disabled ministers,
Was brought forward.
Considerable debate , was-elicited, much
interest was manifested by all the members,
and strong resolutions were adopted. The
Presbyteries were directed to take measures
for securing a contributCon to this object
from ail the churches during the year. The
resolutions were published. At the next
meeting of ' that Synod, it was found, upon
inquiry, that but a single Presbytery had
noticed the matter at all and that but a sin
gle church in that Presbytery had made the
contribution I Now, brethren of the minis
try and eldership,_ is not this very humilia
ting?" Let us bring the proper objeks of
benevolence before the people in a Seriptural
way, and the claims will be met. We throw
out these remarks, in view of the fact, that
the regular time for the meeting of many of
our Synods is approaching, to show that
resolutions, without corresponding action,
are useless.
-No member of an Ecclesiastical Court
should ever vote for a resolution, approving
of or enjoining , a duty, which he does not
fully purpose himself to perform. There is a
thoughtlessness in the vote, or a moral delin
quency afterwards, in the class of oases
referred to, which is deeply sinful. It will
not form a justifying excuse, to say, "I did
not vote," for it is a recorded principle with
us, that silent members are regarded as voting
with the majority.
Nan-Worship.
.
The disposition to, honor mortals, some
times, is wonderful. In monarchial coun
tries, where people depend so much on the
prince,
it may be : expected, on grounds of
policy; but in our own country, indepen
dent and the advocates of, equality as we
claim to be,, the same proclivity is also mani
fest. The minds of our readers will recur
to the visits of Lafayette and Kossuth, and
-
the tours of Clay, Webster, and others.
Such things, if not sinful in themselves, are
.
exceedingly wrong in their excesses. -
The most extraordinary instance of this
-
kind, of late,occurred at the Coronation of
the Czar, in Moscow. Our London Corres
pondent sends us a slip from the Times, giv
ing us a graphic account of that pageant.
We are charmed with the fine writing, but
sorry for the ' occasion which calls for the
record..
It was now a quarter-past .twelve, and just at
this moment, a little, bell tinkles once more, the
big bells begin to ring lender far and near; and
one hundred and one guns proclaim that the Em
'peror has received . the Sacrament, and has been
anointed with the holy chrism. • Shortly after-
Wards the Empress Mother and her suite, the
Grand Duke Constantine the Duke end Duchess
of the Imperial family, and their suites and at
tendants, issue from the South gate of the Ca
thedral; and proceed to enter the palace by the
perron rouge. They- are greeted, along thoir
march, by cheers and loud cries; but the Russian
ladies have not yet learned hair to impart anima
tion to such scenes by waving their handkerchiefs,
and, as they do not cheer, their share in the pro
ceedings is, to try to look pretty, and to look as
hard as they can. Meantime a splendid prones
sion is' defiling out of the North door of the Ca
thedral, and passing under the archway into the
outer court of the Kremlin, to go round •to the
Cathedral of the ArchangefMichael, on the left
hand side. Presently, forth stalks the Emperor.
But now he wears an "Imperial robe, and on his
head there is a crown of dazzling splendor. The
sun's rays seem to.seek congenial light in those
flashing diamonds. The eye cannot bear the
brilliancy, and the muliA, and the prostrate Rus
:sian may well be pardpned if, with his imagina
tion heated by all that he has seen and heard—the
chaunting of the 'chilirs, the carrilions of bells,
•the' strains of' music and the clamor of voices—
thinks . he .sees .a halo of heavenly: , glory around'
the 4mpiarial head. 4 1,101 X - nlnfiage7ra - man'emb'
only be pardoned D e the , ground, that "he le, the
e1..4i,.......i.- anointed' of the Lord; and, indeed,' had
- one come from the'skies with all the pole'. and
glory of'a celestial messenger, he could scarce
have excited more fervor of adoration than did
the Czar, as r with his figure .drawn up to the
highest, ,his eye liashdng and his cheek flushed ;
but, his tread as firm as a lion's; he ,came forth
from the church and stood, with globe and sceptre
in MS hands, in the blaze of the sun - before his
people- " In how many wild tongues, with what
frantic gesticulations, did they call on Heaven to
bless him! Many a tear rolled down. the ragged
cheeks of the rude Cossacks, and in many a strange
dialect did the descendants of distant races im
plore their common Father 'to polar down every
blessing 'on him whe represented their forgotten
conquest, bondage,and thraldom, and the influence
of whose name alone bound them up with the
Mini= people. What might not be.done with
suchsubjeCts; and with anch devotion, and such
faith ! The flourishing of trumpets, the crash of
bands, the noble swell of the noble National an
them, "God, preserve the Czar' which nearly
equals our own, the roll and tuck of drums, the
bells, the voices of the people—all these formed a
strange melange of 'sound; and stunned the ear;
but when the Czar, passing out by the archway
on our right, made his appearance to the larger
Crowd, there was a noise like a roar, of thunder,
or the waves of the sea, which swallowed up all
else. The people on ithe terraces below, on the,
banks of the river, and in the streets outside the
Kremlin, took up the au and shouted like the rest
and some, Late told,lwent on their , knees in the
dust and prayed forte Czar. Ina few minutes the
procession began to ind through the archway on
our left and to pass afore the Cathedral of Mi
chael. The priests golden stole and surplice,
are waiting at the gat s, and as the Emperor and
the &egress (whom e have quite forgotten in all
this wild triumph'of adulation and Czar-worship)
come up, sprinkle them with' holy water, and give
them the cross to kiss 'On entering, the Czar and
Czarina kiss the holm relics, and kneel' down to
pray before the tombs.of their ancestors,; after
which the .Domine, salmon foe is chanted, and the
Emperor and Empress continue their short march
for a feit' yards' to the Church of the "Annmicia
tion, where the same ritual is observed. ~. r
On their way the cheers, the noinie, theothelin,
''ntrr
the cannon, never cease. It is just one o'clock as
the procession begins toascend the perion rouge.
The enthusiasm is boundless, as his, Majesty
turns, and with nutraised arm seems to return
the blessings of his people. He bows to all
around as he reaches the landing, and, standing
forth from under the canopy, looks down upon the
scene below. In a few moments more he turns,
and is lost to sight in the interior of the magnifi
cent palace, through the walls of which, however,
those sounds must follow him. It is with the
greatest difficulty, of course, that the bands can
be got to stop playing "God preserve the Czar ;"
and with the usual infatuation of musicians, sev
eral times throughout the day,, they struck, up at
wrong times, and could not be got to leave off, or
would not go on when they were wanted. So far
as the vast proportion of spectators was con
cerned the ceremonial was now over.
Indian Mission at. Little Traverse.
Mr. Guthrie, under date of September
18th, speaks of a Communion season, at
which two Indians were received to the
Church on examination. Both had be
longed to the Roman Catholics. One is the
head of a large and interesting, household;
the other is a young, woman from a large
connexion of Romanists. An aged man
bad also been. restored, who once united
with the Protestant Mission at Mackinac,
but being long in Canada, under Romanist
influence, had been perverted. Now, in
coming into the society of Protestants again,
be professed deep sorrow for his declension,
and asked to be restored.
It was before remarked that the Roman
ists have long had a Missiou at Traverse.
They_bave.._baptized_ many of_the Indians,-
but their nominal converts need real conver
sion, and much instruction. Our churches
will rejoice in the early indications of the
Lord's favor toward, our missionary in his
labors among these aborigines. Shall not a
remnant be saved ?
For the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate
Supplies Appointed by the Blairsville
Presbytery.
Warren.—Mr. Carson, Second Sabbath in No
vember, to administer the Lord's Supper, and to
take a contribution for the Board of Foreign Mis
sions; and they have leave to procure other sup
plies till our next meeting.
Pine Run.—Mr. Bollman, First Sabbath in
November, to administer the, Lord's Supper, and
take a contribution for the Board of Foreign Mis
sions ; andihey have leave to procure other sup-
Harmony.—Have leave to employ Mr. John
Rice till , our next meeting ; and they are expected
to raise a contribution for the Board of Foreign
Missions.
Centre.—Mr. Donaldson, First Sabbath in No.
vember, to administer the Lord's Supper, and
take a contribution for the Board of Foreign Mis
sions • and they have leave to employ Mr. Rice
for the rest of the time till our next meeting.
Salem.-11r..Robert Carothers, Fourth Sabbath
in Octobet ; Mr. Elder, Fourth Sabbath in No
vember; Mr. Kennedy, Fourth Sabbath in De
cember„; and they , have leave to procure other
supplies till our next meeting; they are expected
to take a contribution for the Board of Foreign
Missions.
Boiling Spring.--Mr. Graves, Third Sabbath in
October;.Colledge, Third Sabbath in Novem
ber; Mr. Bider, Third Sabbath in December;
and they are expected to make a contribution to
the Board of Foreign MiSBl.OllB.
Livermore.—Mi. Hill, Second Sunday in Novem
ber, to take .a contribution for . the Board of For
eign Missions; and they have leave to procure
other supplies.
Cherry . Rua.—Mr.• Lesson, Fourth Sabbath in
October, to take a collection for the Board of
Foreign Missions'; and they hare leave to procure
other supplies.
Schnticksburg.—Have leave to procure their own
supplies till our next meeting; and they are ex
pected to make a contribution to the Board of
Foreign Missions.
Stewartson's Furnace.—Mr. Stark,' Fourth Sab
bath in October; Mr. Graves, Fourth Sabbath in
November ; Mr.: Morgan, Fourth Sabbath in De
cember. A. McEirrein, Slated Clerk.
Per the Presbyterian BUMS? and Advocate.
Supplies appointed by the Presbytery of
Ohio
Maple Creek.--Fourth Sabbath in October, Mr.
Caldwell ; Fourth Sabbath in November, Mr.
Braddock; Fourth Sabbath in December, Mr.
Rockwell, to present Abe cause of ,Domestic Mis
sions,and take up collections.
Mount Caratel.—Third Sabbath in October, Mr.
Workman; Second Sabbath in November, Mr. S.
J. Wilson; Second Sabbath in Decembei, Mr.
Hinter, and present the cause of Domestic Mis
sions, '&c. Second Sabbath in January, Mr.
Jennings.
Valley Church.—The supply on the Second Sab
bath in December, present the cause of Domestic
Missions, Sm.
The Installation of Rev. James M. Smith, at
North Branch, to take place on the First Thurs
day of Nthrember, and at Bethlehem the mitt day
at eleven o'clock A. M. ; Messrs. Jennings and
Hunter, %be cOmmittee.
Dr, Jacobus,Mr. Paxton and Mr. Laughlin
were appointd a Committee of Supplies, to act
during the interval of Presbytery:
The Presbytery of Ohio will meet on the Third
Tuesday of October, at ten o'clock A. M., in the
Second church at Pittsburgh.
W. B. MolLvants, Stated Clerk
For the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate
Presbytery of liew Cattle:
At the . late stated meeting, Mr. Jatnes D. Rear
don, licentiate, was dismissed to the Presbytery
of NOrthumberlancl. The pastoral relation be
tween the Rev. Thomas Love and one of the
churches of his ebarge, viz : Lower _Brandywine,
was dissolved, at the request of the pastor, con
curred-in by the congregation. The forthcoming
History of the Presbyterian Church,' by the late
Richard Webster, was recommended •to the
'patronage of the congregations under their care.
The Trustees of ;the Ashninn Institute ,reported
that.--tna,nuttontgs-were---itearly-eumpletedr-thut
they expected the Inktitute would be.opened
about the first orjantiary neat; that they had
elected the Rev. John P. Carter as President of the
•Vaculty ; and that Doctors Dickey and Spots Wood
had been appointed to prosecute a call for Mr.
Carter, before the Presbytery of Baltimore, of
which he is a member. These proceedings and
appointments of the Hciard were approved of and
confirmed by the Presbytery.
Various injunctions and recommendations of the
last Assembly were acted upon and ratified, in
reference to Church Extension, a fund for disabled
ministers, the American Bible Society, the ap
pointment of Deacons, Systematic Benevolence,
and the instalment of ruling elders previously or
dained. The matter which elicited most interest
and discussion, was in regard, to procuring the
services of two itinerant missionaries ; one for the
Northern, and one for the Southern, portions of
the Presbytery, to labor in places destitute of the
(Nape]. Measures were adopted with a view to
this end, which, it is hoped, may meet with suc
cess. The Presbytery will meet ',during the ses
sions of the Synod, to act, if the way be clear,
upon calls, Wbicb. it is expecthfi, will be made for
the Rev. Caspar W. Hodge, from the united con
gregations of Oxford and Upper West Notting
ham. , R. P. D.
Ecclesiastical.
Rev. A. L. HOGSHEAD has been -released
from his charge at Covington, Va.
Re-v. WILLIAM PINKEItTON's relation to the
church at High Bridge, Vti., has been
• dissolved at his request.
Rev. Jomx g. BROWN, D. D., has removed
from Jacksonville, 111. to Lexington Ky.
Rev. , WILLIAM L. GREVT of .Greenville,
Ky., has accepted,a call to Madison City,
Mr. j.7ILLMAN ITENDItICK has been -h
ceased by the Presbytery of Nashville.
Mr. ALlt ram W., PITZER has .
.been li
carded by tie Presbytery Of Mthatkoniery
From our LondmiCorrespondent.
A "Traveler's" Misrepresentations of the Free
Church of Scotland—Moderation and Missions
Sir James Graham and the False Prophecy—The
Real State of the Case—Transgressions against
the Law of Love—The Principles and Duties of
Presbyterians— The Record and the Free Church—
Retraction of Calumny—The Evangelicals. of
England—The North British and Quarterly on
Missions—False Charity—Free Church Missions
in India, and to the Jews—A Liberal Soul Evin-
Afied—Mr. Drummond. of Stirling—Perot - mums
—The New Bishops—China—The Times' Corres
pondent at Moscow—Domestic.
LONDON, September 23, 1856.
A letter from a " Traveler " has appeared
in the Times, the style and sentiments of
which bear unmistakeable evidence of the
pen of a Reverend Doctor, who represents
the Scottish Establishment in London, and
whose name is familiar to large numbers , on
both sides of the Atlantic, both as a writer
and a preacher. This gentleman has
"friends at Court;" in other words, he has
access, both for anonymous and other pro
ductions, to two columns of the leading
journal, enjoyed by few. Sometimes this
privilege is employed for excellent purposes,
and not the least for the chastisement of the
Cardinal and his Popish allies. This
" Traveler" professeti to give notes and im
pressions of a tour in Scotland. He tells of
the semi-Popish condition of the Scottish
Episcopal 'Church, and of its being the
highway to Rome. He speaks much, also,
about the recent restoration and repairs of
the Cathedral at Glasgow ; about the simple
beauty of the Scottish Church service as there
in performed ; and of the " venerable principal
Macfarlane," who preaches there. -As for
this ";venerable?'
_gentleman, am old
- enough to remember hearing from him
twenty-four years ago, a genuine, moderate
sermon, which the Scotch would call " fu
sionless screed," and as dry and cold as pos
sible. He himself has, for far more than
half a century, been a leader of- the Mode
rates,. and was ever true to that policy in
Church Courts, which, in the days of Prin
cipal Hill's leadership, and, later still, in Dr.
Cooke's (of St. Andrew's) reign, sternly
stood up for the rights of the patrons at all
hazards, and forced the worthless tutors and
nominees of worldly nobility and people, on
the flock of Christ. His recollections and
sympathies go back .to the days of bitter
opposition in the General Assembly, against
sending missions to the "virtuous heathen,"
when old. Doctor Erskine, the tower of
EVangelism in his day, cried 'out in answer
to the semi-infidel talk of his opponents,
looking at the Bible, as it lay before the
Moderator--the book telling of Missions in
Apostolic times, and by an ascending Savi
our's command—" Rax (Reach) "me that
Bible ;" and when, with this sword of the
spirit, the veteran smote his opponents to
the dust And yet for such a patron of
such a policy, and for the whole series of
oppressive measures of the Law Courts and
the Government combined, by which the i
Evangelical party was driven out in '1843,
and the "Free Protestant Church of Scot
land," (laying her yet unanswered tQ Claim
of Rights "• on the table,) started on her
glorious career—for such a policy and a p?ity
our London orator reserves all his praises,
and then turns round on the Free Church
with a bitterness, and an injustice which has
known no abatement ' since his laughable
prophecy to the credulous Sir James Graham
in the Spring of 1843, thatas to a secession,
if the Government refused the claims of
Chalmers and the Evangelical party, twelve,
might perhaps go out, but:certainly not more
than twenty! Now, we are told in the
Times that the Free Church is hastening to
dissolution, and that in a few years, one-half
of its adherents will- go over to the Estab
lishment, and the rest will unite themselves
with the other Presbyterian , Dissenters I
.Sach statements go down with John Bull,
who knows no better; but they need no ex
posure to those who have been in Scotland,
and opened their eyes and ears to the real
condition of things; nor even to those,
both your readers and yourself, who have
watched with such affectionate interest and
such hearty joy, the rise t progress and
prosperity ever culminating (yes, up, to this
very hour I) of the Free Church of Scotland,
with nearly the whole population of the
Highlands on her side; with the large cities,
giving her a decided predominance of wealth
and numbers over the Establishment itself;
with her noble band of missionaries in In
dia and the glorious work they are accom
plishing; with a Sustentation Fund, and
Manse scheme, giving her stability; with all
her enterprises prosperous, and no mark of
.lecaying vigor upon her—what, but the
" wish, which is, " father to, the• thought."
could prompt to such a prophecy as that now
alluded to ! Depend upon it, that such
statements, as these are as unjust and un
warranted, as they impede the cause of
brotherly love. And, by-the-bye,-it is worthy
of mention, that in the saine letter, the
Evangelical Alliance meeting at Glasgow is
sneered at as a dull affair. The writer once
was a member of the Allia.nce, and if not so
now, he beet knows "the reason why."
A moral certainty as to the authorship,
prompts these remarks, as well as my love
and veneration for Free Church principles,
which are knot to be abandoned, bat rather
° maintained against that radical , spirit,
which, some fourteen years ago, roused the
Scottish. Dissenters so furiously against the
acceptance, of aid .by the Free Church from
Americans; and a stand, also, must still be
made against that Erastianism, which,
_thrmall_dissulised .anA....nAtie.,asi_tolerapt 86
possible in its application, s still the stain of
the Established Church of Scotland. For
all that is evangelical, eirnest,loving, in or
out of that Estiblishinent, let us give thanks
to God ; but let us not the' less adhere to the
grand doctrines of the supremacy of Christ,
the spiritual'' ndependence of his Church,
and the indefeasible rights of his blood
bought people, as essential to the very Con
stitution, and as absolutely necessary to the
enlarged success of our beloved Presbyte
rianism.
The foregoing is not, the only recent MIS
REPRESENTATION OF THE FREE CHURCH.
The Evangelicals, the Missinnaries of the
English Establishment, as represented by
the Record, have always been rather jealous
of that body, which constitutes a standing
rebuke to the Erastianism, to which they
submit, and to the "
,Compromise," which
unites, by a State legation, the living and the
dead within , an Ecclesiastical pale. The
Record is a most valuable paper, but to the
Free Church party it does but.seant justice.
Thus there recently appeared an article in
the .11rorth Britighl Review, which was Much
akin to one on the same subject of Missioris
in the Unitarian and semi-infidel' Westritin
der. The Record thereupon expresses its
horror that •a Free Church organ shotda thus
write; and 'suggests, very uncharitably, that
the body must be tainted with' Ifet•esy. It
is quite. true that the North Irritisle Review
had . among its earliest supportels,l)n 3 . Chal
mers and Welsh; but the - willisConception"
of the Ricord receives a spiietus in the tOl
- letter from a Freiithur ' h ministerof
c
high standing
I assert positiiely t from ersonal knoild
edge, ,that not t only his - Ib'eltrorth p British Remit°
never been an organ of Vie FreeChureb, Vat that
its oonduotors ha,ife all relent Most deliberately,
systanatinally, and determinedly guarded it from
being the organ or exponent of nny CLurrl, ~.
party whatever. I believe that urith.
prospectus, nor in any authorized dy
whatever, can a word be found to ju-tit2, IL,
tion of its being a Free Church organ. ; 7 .],
its first projectors were leading menTher,
Church, and many Free Churchmen Lave t ,c r ,
deep interest in it; but few, if any, appro,
all that appears in it ; and the idea of n . v ,,
it as a Free Church organ would here be -lo
ridiculous."
The Record is "glad" at such a
claimer; but it would have done better ; 1 ,
it inquired first, before making a statu,
so calculated to damage a portion o f L
Church of Christ, which has hitherto, in.
Evangelism, been above suspicion. I
fault was all the greater, as the writer it
North British Review disputed the p.i : ,
that the heathen are in a guilty condit i ,,
and, therefore, exposed in proportion to
light against which they have sinned,'tol'.
penalties of a retributive justice, and
elusion from a heaven of purity. All
world knows that this is the position
which not only the Apostolic Mission;
founded, but those of the Church of
land, when ruled by an Evangelical maj.. r t
and especially by Duff and the whole L.
of Missionaries in India, who, to a man_
hered to the Free Church.
Touching the general question, thf,.o
- in the two Reviews are ALAE: , !.
SIGNS OF THE TIMES. They indicate •
stealthy spread of that false and sentinp
theology which ignores the justice and built
of God, and which is more charitable than
the Bible itself! May God deliver
Church from this Latitudinarian and m
"charity !" Paul was sent to the bend
"to turn them from darkness to light.
from the power of Satan unto God, that
might receive forgiveness of their sins,
an inheritance among those that are sa-,
fied," said the Saviour, who appearcol
him, and gave him his commission, "/ 17 :.
that is in 31E." That commission wear
the fact that the heather were in a lost
dition. I well remember the imprc-.
once made on me by the portrait in •
Evangelical Magazine, of one of the
ildissionaries of modern times, the I: ,
Richard Knill, especially by the
printed underneath—the words of p f :,
which had oft flowed from his :ips "1 : ,-
ren ! the heathen are perishing; ;liv,,
then sr' This is still to be the
alarm to be rung out in the ears of :
awakened Church, instead of the
,songs of a modern sentinietitbli, le ,
of a "negative theology," which
vogge, missions mainly on secular .
and would thus allow Satan to n,:4
undisputed sway over six hundrea
of a fallen and guilty race.
THE FREE CHURCH MISSIONS in Incii
giving fresh evidences of viurd• and Hie,
There has been an unwonted excite!
among the Parsis at Bombay ; agaiug, w:,
errors Dr. Wilson has iviicten with
learning and power, and while but one ti;
ly adhered out of four young men r
had asked for baptism, and Ltd stood is
for some days against the tears and entre>
of mothers and 'friends; still a guar Ir,
is begun amongst the Fire Worsliiipti,
India. In other , parts of India, lune:
preaching, by native converis, is vigo,l
carried on, and is received with weleune
many. . .
It is worthy of notice that the Tin
correspondent in India gives promineun
the Parsi • affair.. We bad a specimen c;
high intellectual qualities of this riwt.
Dhanjibhai, Who, some years ago ; e.t.a.(
to this country as (ne of the fruits 01
Mission, and a missionary himself, bur.-:.
with zeal toward God, and love for lei:.::
low-men. Another youth came out truml.
false religion, and was baptized at the
time, (1839) and ever since, a spirit
ligious inquiry bas been active aniecg
Parsee tribe. Associated with these l- -
been opposing influences, infidel tenk.
infidel and licentious
. publications, aid 7 '
lent attacks on missionary education.
quirers, not- far from the kingdom
God,"- but, under the fear of man, wi--
with_ cometb. a Snare, they have kept
from an open, profession. The doer opt_
by the British power in India, for the l -
pel, is wide indeed; the Bible in the
School is doing a great, though silent w'-
and the educational system to which I.:-
has chino ,
t through good and bad repo , . ?
proving itself a mighty leverage, in
nexion with Evangelistic effort, for the
throw of idolatry. Mr. White, a missimt
at Bombay, writing on this subject,
" The American Board of Coturnissip ,
for Foreign Missions have lately ahoh,
their missionary educational establishmet
but their experienced missionaries
feeling tint one of the worst blows
thereby been inflicted on the estr.e
the Gospel in India, so far as Attie):
Missions are concerned. It is truly
small matter to have every day a r 4.-
number of hearers for the Gospel, to be.
to count on the same souls to instruct, •
the same consciences to address." IHi
these words of, an independent and friet
witness as to the results of the abolitieh
the American Mission Schools, in the
that they may come under the eye of
Directors at home.
Here is a description of Evangel)-
work near Conjeveratn, under Mr. V:
and his native assistants; and the fervco
eloquent preacher Rajabgopaul is also sr
known to us in this country. In
English tongues be could thrill all
j" in`his native "Tamil" what c
have been hid power !
In, the eveninewe went to,Poolypaukuln,
standing within the court of an idol tin
united in singing the praises of the Grea!
vah: Men, women, and children came Tot
to us in all directions, and by the time Fz
sung eight lines, about three hundred ist: ,
_gerly waiting, to, hear 'what stvange
to be made known to them.
A ruffle, self-confident fellow came ti 4- !'
through the crowd in breathless haste. L' l '
tempted to interrupt our work by aebit
impudent questions, when the Rev. P. II
. . •
paul, with much tact and self-possessi,:
him to breathe a little first, ifs he was ett:'
exhausted. This well timed ' -:remark at ei
cured the' sympathy of all in favor of the spv:" .
and he went on at oncato address his deeply iv
eating audience, from the first line of the Kr.'
:The subject was, God, the author of all tki::
It were difficult' to describe the effect ::
withering eipOlinre of the sin, folly, and do :
of i delatrY, while standing within the Ter:
ducts of : tthe temple—and then unfohliq
glory atirgrace of him who is both the
ant Saviour of the world. The
countenances of the bearers, as the preacher '
.ceetred With bis impassionate and soul-stir''
discourse; the arresting of every passer-by ;
fill:Len their riveted attention, while some v ete;
tering under their varied loads, plainly told ;:f .
all u nderstood and felt its power; while the
:ing rage, and profanity of a few revealed
d es perate enmity of man's heart to God.
The Free Church has, from the e arlir'
period of her history, been tenderly
cerned for the "lost sheep of the boll
Israel." The Mission of Keith, Pao'
Foment and M'Clieyne before the disrupt' ,
(all afterwards ministers of the Free Chig' l :
save Weheyne, who, ardent for the liberre,
of the phnrch of his fathers, was calk,'
away ere the , crisis cameo must, in its lore
'ing incidents, be familiar to many.of yt- 6 ,
Ten,ders. Keith fatnded the MissionPei&2 it Thinga'r Yl by a large ingatherit?
or sows •
and success continued there tib