*mar anb• .bbotate,l
PITTSBURGH, NOVEMBER 15, 1856.
TERMS. 81.50 1 in advance; or in Clubs,
$1.215; or, delivered at residences of Subseris:
bars. 11.75. See Prospectus, on Third Page.
RE N Ew AY. 8 should be prompt; a little
while 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
of mailing, this signal should be omitted, we
hpine our friends will still not forget us.
REMITTANCES.—Send payment by latfe
hands, when convenient. Or, send by mall,
enclosing with ordinary care, and troubling
nobody with a knowledge of what you are
doing. For a large amount, send a Praft, or
large notes.. For one or two papers, send Gold
or small note-s.
TO MAKE CHANGE, Send postage stamps,
nr better still, send for more papers; say 88
for Seventy numbers, or for Thirty-three
numbers.
DIRECT all Letters and Communications:
to REV. DAVID MeNINNEY. Pittsburgh,
Pa.
DANCING.—See proceedings of Presby
tery of Northumberland.
ELDERSAIMGE AoADEmY.-- . -The catalogue
for 1855-6 shows this school, under its en
terprising management, to be in a flourishing
condition. Ninety-nine pupils have been in
attendance.
OLOME INSTITUTE.—The twelfth annual
Catalogue of this institution, located at Can
onsburg, Pa., gives us the names of the
Graduates in each year, and also a list of
103 pupils, who were in attendance during
the year lately closed. The Address of Rev.
J. B. Clark to the ladies, acoompanied the
Catalogue.
THE SYNOD OF CINCINNATI, is called to
meet at Dayton, on Tuesday 19th inst,
at
7 o'clock P. M., further to consider the sub
ject of the University contemplated by it
and the Synod of Ohio. The existing dif
ference between the two Synods, relates to
the Site ; the former having named West
Liberty, and the latter preferring Chilli
cothe.
Thanksgiving.
Thursday next will be the day appointed
by the Governors of Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, Maryland, Missouri, and some other
States, as a season of Thanksgiving. The
arrangements by the pastors of churches,
for public worship, will doubtless be com
plete. A full, attendance of the members of
the congregations would be, to them, highly
edifying. The giving of thanks is prompted
by nature, and enjoined in Scripture; and
it is one of those duties, the proper perfor
mance of which, is connected with the great
est benefits. A grateful heart is ever loved,
and its possessor is always farther favored.
Proposed Union.
At the recent meeting of Bethel Presby
tery, S. C., incipient arrangements were
made to receive a small body of " Indepen
dent " Presbyterians, who had seperated
from the General Assembly, near fifty years
ago, in connexion with the Rev. Wm. C.
Davis. Committees had been appointed
previously, which now presented articles of
union which were accepted by Presbytery,
by a vote 27 to 3; and were referred to the
next Assembly for approval. The Indepen
dents now profess not to hold to the form of
error promulgated by Mr Davis. Mr. Davis
had exhibited his views in a book, called
"The Gospel Plan," in 1807, and had been
deposed in 1811. His adherents were nev
er very numerous.
History of the Presbyterian Church, by
Rev. Richard. Webster.
We are pleased to learn that this work is
rapidly approaching to completion. The
manuscript was put into the hands of one of
our best scholars, who has been indefatiga
ble in his efforts to prepare it for the press,
and to present it with such accuracy as to
make its statements truly reliable.
The recommendations, by Synods and
Presbyteries, to the members of our congre
tions, to supply themselves with this work,
show their estimate of its value, their confi
dence in the author, and their kindness
toward the family of a brother &ceased.
It is being published by J. M. Wilson, 27
South-Tenth Street, Philadelphia. We
shall give early notice of its appearance.
Church Extension.
We have learned that the Synods of Cin
cinnati, Indiana, Northern Indiana, Wiscon
sin, lowa, Missouri, Ohio, and Pittsburgh,
appointed the month of November as the
season for taking up collections in the ,
churches for Church Extension. It is high
ly desirable that every congregation shall
participate in this important work. The
Committee is pledgbd for a number of
churches now in progress. Still more are
applicants for aid; and a thousand are actu
ally needed just now, which should be
erected next Summer. Let every adult and
every child cast something into the treasury..
Have at least one brick in the walls, or one
-shingle in the roof of a house of God, for
the use of his people. Three Sabbaths yet
remain in the month.
Rev. Dudley A. Tyng.
This popular clergyman is Rector of the
Church of the Epiphany, (Protestant Epis
*pal,) in the city of Philadelphia. A few
months ago, in his ministrations to his
charge, he thought it to be his duty to preach
on the exciting topic of the day—Kansas
and its implications. One of the officers of
the congregation rose at the time, and re
monstrated. The minister was firm in the
execution of his purpose, and afterwards
justified his course. Feeling ran high.
The vestry requested the pastor to resign.
This he refused to do, but referred the case
to the people, to be decided in the early part
of this month. The vote has been taken, and
the result is : For the vestry, 57 ; against
the vestry, 44;'blank, 1. This result in
volves the immediate resignation of Mr.
Misreprcser.tatiom--The aeformcd Prec-
byterian.
Ono of the great e oils connected with Party
isnz s nl i srep resent& ion. In political discus
sion, when you read an essay or letter on one
side, you can never Feel confident that you are
presented with a fair view of the case. It
is but seldom, or almost never, that the po
sition of the other side is either fully or even
fairly exhibited. It is hence always wise to
suspend your judgment, till you can make
farther inquiry. And the same is, unhap
pily, very much the case with religious de
nominations. It would appear to be almost
impossible for poor human nature to state
anything correctly, which is connected with
those who may be not of our party or sect.
This is one of the things which show, not
only the universal depravity of man; but
which prove that sanctification, even in the
best is, in this life, imperfect.
These reflections were awaked by our
reading . in the Reformed Presbyterian, for
November, a few remarks relative to our own
Church. Our Contemporary copies from
our issue Of Oct. 11th, a portion of the Min
utes of the General Assembly, on the subject
of Slavery. For this it has our thanks.
The position of the Presbyterian Church
is such, that she desires it shall be known to
all the world. She believes it to be so
Scriptural and so rational that it must com
mend itself fully to candid inquirers; and
so upright—so thoroughly based on sound
sense, and on the foundation of the prophets
and apostles—that those who would excite
odium against her will find it needful to re
sort to misrepresentation. Yea—that they
must misconceive her position, and contem
plate her through a distorting medium, in
order to satisfy even their own minds in
their opposition.
In all this she may possibly be mistaken;
but of the correctness of the view she takes,
we have an evidence in the Aiticle in the
Reformed Presbyterian, to which we have
above alluded. It says, p. 274 :
1. That the action of 1818 was inconsistent
with itself. It declares slavery to be "a gross
violation of the most precious and sacred rights
of human nature, utterly inconsistent with the
law of God, and totally irreconcilable with the
spirit and principles of the Gospel of Christ."
And then, in the sequel, in place of requiring
members of the Church immediately to repent
and turn from this sin, it directs how this
system, so atrocious, is to he managed by
church members participating in it, so as
to avoid cruelty in separating relations, by
selling a part of a family to be separated from
the rest. We have here an instance of a Church
Judicatory giving directions that imply a tolera
tion of continuance of what it declares to be a
"gross violation of the most precious rights of
human nature," &c. •
Here is a very serious misrepresentation,
and of such a character that, inasmuch as
our name is mentioned in the connection, it
may be our duty to notice it. We .do not
feel called upon to defend the Assembly's
views. All we mean is, to have these cor
rectly presented. Let men look at our
Church as she-is. Impute to her truthfully
the principles she holds. Discuss these,
and welcome; but do not charge her with
holding to what she never affirmed, and
then reproach her for inconsistencies and
contradictions.
Now, it is a fact that the Assembly made no
such declaration, as is charged in the quota
tion above. It did not say, "Slavery;" it
said, " THE VOLUNTARY ENSLAVING." ,
Why not quote correctly ? Why alter the
Assembly's language, and thus pervert the
sentiment ! Was the statement by the As
sembly so correct, that using its own words,
the Church could not be made odious ?
Our contemporary was certainly bound, in
all fairness, to give the Assembly's own
terms in stating a proposition so important.
It could not but know that the term which
it used was greatly different from that used
by the Assembly. It must surely be able to
perceive, that "Slavery" as it may be found
existing in a country, and the "voluntary
enslaving" of men, are two distinct things.
Common sense recognizes the difference,
when it accords the servant to his master,
but revolts at the idea of reducing an inno
cent freeman to a state of bondage. The
laws of our country , appreciate the distinc
tion, when they recognize " Slavery" as an
existing social relation and protect and reg
ulate it, but make the " voluntary enslaving"
of men a crime, to be severely and odiously
punished. And the Holy Scriptures make
the same distinction. Noses, by Divine au
thority, sanctioned the relation _of master
and servant as one of those which might ex
ist, when duly regulated, among God's own
chosen people, and he left the regulations on
record; while he, at the same time (Ex.
xxi :16,) made it a law, that "he that stealeth
a man, and aelleth him, or if he be found in his
band, he shall surely be put s to death."
These are facts, obvious to every investi;
gating mind. That our valued. contempora
ry should fail to see them, or seeing them,
should ignore them, and make the statement
it did, shows most strongly the blinding and
perverting influence of prejudice and party
ism, in religion, as really as in matters of
less moment.
The misstatement being thus exposed,
the " inconsistency " charged upon the ac
tion of the Assembly, vanishes. The former
and latter parts of the Assembly's action,
when viewed in the light of truth and
candor, are seen in perfect harmony.
Our contemporary proceeds, pp. 274, 275 :
2. The declaration of 1845 is a direct contra
diction of that of 1818. To the inquiry, "Do
the Scriptures teach that the holding of slaves,
without regard to circumstances, is a sin, the re
nunciation of which should be made a condition
of membership in the Church of Christ ?" it re
plies,"lt is impossible to answer this question
in th affirmative, without contradicting some of
the plainest - declarations of the Word of God."
Where did the Assembly of 1818 learn that
slavery is "utterly inconsistent with the law of
God, and totally irreconcilable with the spirit and
principles of the Gospel of Christ." Was it not
in the Bible? And did the Assembly of 1845
learn from the same source that those who com
mit this sin should not be required to forsake it
1 in order to membership in the Church of Christ ?
As they have not given- a single one of those
" plainest declarations of the Word of God,"
that forbid the exclusion of slaveholders from
communion, and as we cannot find them in our
, Bible, we might be almost tempted to think that
1 they had got a new revelation between 1818 and
1816.
If the writer of the paragraph here
quoted, had read aright the action of 1818,
he mould not have been guilty of affirming
1
" ESB YT EWAN' BAIL ER AND ADVOCATE.
that that of 1845 is a "elirect contradic-
Com" The former Assembly did not say
that " the holding of slaves, without any
regard to circumstances, is a sin." It
spoke of " the voluntary enslaving of one
portion of the human race by another."
The two statements are, as before noted,
vastly different. Common eense, and •hu
tuan laws, and Bible truth, all note the dis
tinction.
When, then, the Assembly, in 1845, was
asked, "Do the Scriptures teach that the
ho/ding of slaves, without regard to circum
stances, is a sin, the renunciation of which
should be made a condition of membership in
the Church of Christ ?" it would very proper
ly recur to those Scriptures, and revise their
teachings. What, then, say they ? Were
Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and Job,
and other pious worthies, who held men in
bondage, denied church membership? Were
Philemon, and the masters at Ephesus and
Colosse, and those to Whom Peter wrote,
and those who were under the instruction of
Timothy and Titus, excluded from the fam
ily of Christ ? Did Moses and the prophets,
or Christ and the apostles, say that all who
sustained this relation, were, "without re
gard to circumstances,". guilty of "a sin,
the renunciation of.. which should be made a
condition of members).* in the Church . of
Christ ?" 'Could tlni,'Assembly find ,one
precept, in all the Wbid of God; enjoining
it upon him who would be a member of the
Church, that, as an indispensable condition,
or even as an ordinary duty, he must set his
servants free? Presbyterians are men who
profess, in all their sentiments, and all their
conduct, to be guided by Goei Word; and
General Assembly Presbyterians, especially,
strive to conform their practice to their pro
fessed faith. If, then,lhe Assembly could
find nothing in the Sciiptures enjoining a
severance of the relation; but found, on the
contrary, many precepts recognizing its ex
istence, and regulating it, by prescribing the
duties of masters and servants toward each
other, how could there be an answer given
Ito the proposed question, the reverse of that
which is found in the Minutes, as quoted ?
" To the law and to the testimony; if they
speak not according to this word, it is be
cause there is no light in them."
The position of the General Assembly, as
appears from its action, embraces three
points. First, It strongly condemns the
voluntary enslaving of nten. Second, It
does not learn from the Scriptures, that the
holding of slaves excludes masters from
rightful membership in the Church' of Christ:
Third, It earnestly enjoins upon masters
and servants the faithful and kind' dis
charge, toward each , other, of all the duties
prescribed in God's Word.
On the first of these points, we presume
that there is a general agreement. Not only'
Our Southern brethren think with us, but
also Southern Legislators and Judges; for,
we believe that, in all the States of the
Union, there are laws on the statute books,
and enforced by the Courts, securing per
sonal freedom to every freeman born, unless
forfeited by crime.
On the third point, also, there is much
unanimity. Christians, at least, all acknowl
edge that the Word of God is the rule of
conduct for men in every relation of life.
On the second point, there is, unhappily,
much difference of sentiment. But we do
not mean to discuss it. Our brethren may
enjoy their own opinion. Infidels may :;pec
ulate ; but Christians must be bound by the
Scriptures. What says God's revealed will?
By its decisions we abide. The ministers
and churches which compose the General
Assembly are, happily, very much of one
mind. They have borne their testimony.
It is on record, and published to the world;
and they recur to it with confidence. They
think it not needful to have an annual dis
cussion; nor do our papers often deem it
needful to repel assaults, or correct misrep
resentations. Those among us who may
have variant shades of opinion, are mostly
agreed to dwell together in peace. A few,
of late years,
.who could not live so, have
left the body, and constituted the Free Pres
byterian Church, where they associate unmo
lested; and.with an open door for the admis
sion of any who choose, on. principle, to
enter,
If now our contemporary has found any
"new revelation," what , are its claims?
But if it still clings to the Old Bible, con
tained in the Scriptures of the Old and New
Testaments, as the only infallible rule of
faith and practice, let it then bring forth the
" Thus saith the Lord," and we shall aid in
re-publishing the precept. If it cannot find
such an injunction, it will kindly excuse our
future silence.
Overture on Judicial Proceedings.
The regulations of our Church Discipline
seem to be very simple and equitable in their
provisions for the trial of persons charged with
delinquencies; . and yet they are found, in
practice, to be very tedious and uncertain.
Whether the fault lies in the law, or in the
administrators, is a question of importance.
If in the latter, a remedy is to be found in
the cultivation of a better spirit; if in the
former, a wise revision of our rules would
be a great benefit. One Presbytery at least,
the mother Presbytery, thinks that good
would result from a revision, and adopts the
folloWing Overture
The Presbytery of Philadelphia respectfully re
present to the General Assembly, that in their
judgment there is imperative need of a revision
of that part of the Constitution of our Church
which relates to Judicial Proceedings. We will
refer, simply by way of illustration, to the obscu
rity of the Book in respect to the question ( in
cases of appeal,) "Who are the original parties ? "
—to the length of time needlessly consumed in
the calling of the roll—lp the unrestricted liberty
of discussion allowed to the whole aggregate of
members belonging to the "lower Judicatories"
—and, generally, to the prolixity and tediousness
which characterize the whole course of proceed
ure in the higher Courts of the Church. Owing
to this cause, as the Presbytery believe, there is
a constant disposition on the part of our judica
tories to evade the hearing of complaints and sp.;
peals ;
• and mere technical objections, it is to be
feared,' are sometimes insisted upon to a degree
which amounts, practically, to a denial of jus
tice to the parties concerned.
The forms now observed may have been quite
Suited to the Chinch when it consisted of enlyn
score or two of Presbyteries. But they have for
warty years past been a vexation and an hmuna
bratme.
We pray, therefore, that your venerable body
may take the requisite measures to secure an en
tire revision of that part of our Constitution here
in referred to.
This Overture may serve to bring the
matter before the Assembly, but it is alto
gether too indefinite to be of any avail in
leading to useful alterations. We trust that
some members of the Presbytery who have
thus brought the matter forward, will, timous
ly, present for the consideration of the
churches, distinct amendments lucidly ex
pressed, showing the necessity of a change,
and wherein the proposed change would be
a remedy.
Whatever amendments may be adopted,
should embrace, as seems to us, a limitation
as to the extent to which Appeals and Com
plaints may be carried ; and also a restric
tion as to the subjects which may be brought
before the Assembly, in either of these
ways. It is unreasonable to ask that two
hundred and fifty ministers and elders shall
be occupied a whole week hearing two or
three cases, local in their importance,
an i commingled with a litigious spirit, per
haps, and which could -be far better settled
by the Session, or the Presbytery who know
the bearings of the things agitated and the
parties concerned,?;.:.
For the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate.
Presbytery of Northumberland.
The Presbytery of Northumberland held its
stated meeting this Fall in the Washington church,
White Deer Valley. Besides transacting its usual
business, it dismissed the Rev. John Smalley to
the Presbytery of Allegheny, and received the
Rev. Edward Kennedy from the Presbytery of
Winchester,. and Mr. W. W. Howard, licentiate,
from the 2d Presbytery of New York. It put
into the hands of the Rev. Wm. Life, a call to the
pastorate of the church of Money, and received
from the churches of Northumberland and Sun
bury, calls for the pastoral services of Mr. James
D. Reardon, licentiate of the Presbytery of New
castle.
„ .
Presbytery earnestly commended the ” History
of the Presbyterian Church," by the late Rev.
Richard -Webster, to the attention and patronage
of the officer's and members of .our Church.
It resolved to hold its next stated meeting at
Williamsport, on the third Tuesday of April next,
at 3 o'clock P. M.
And it adopted, and ordered to he read in its
chorales, and sent to the Presbyterian, and to the
Presbyterian 8C727167' and Advocate, for publica
tion, the following
MEMORIAL ON DANCING.
Presbytery having heard, with regret, that
members of some of the churches under its care
have, within the past year, encouraged the highly
objectionable amusement of promiscuous dancing
—some by personally indulging in the exercise,
and others by being present on occasions of its
performance—takes this method of calling the
attention of the churches to the great impropri
ety of such conduct. Aud, in order that an
amusement so injurious to piety and morality,
may not come to be regarded as lawful for church
members, we do hereby announce, that we hold
the indulgence thereof as an offence against the
discipline of the Church. -
We would not deny our young members any
rational and innocent amusement. We wish them
to be happy, and to rejoice in the day of their
prosperity. But, having deeply at heart their
moral and spirituanvell-being, we do solemnly
caution them against in any way countenancing
the aftiresaid amusement, as being vicious in its
tendencies. Where it; is habitually indulged in,
it cannot fail to - crush -- .:the spirit of piety, to de
prss the standard of:Morality, to bring reproach
upon religion, and greatly to interfere with those
domestic habits whiclt.: constitute the charm of
the family - circle. Anctin order to show that the
sense of the Presbyterian Chnrch condemns this
amusement, we attach hereto the language of the
General 'Assembly, in its Pastoral Letter to the
churches,
in 1818. (See "Digest ," p. 162.)
"With respect to dancing, we think it neces
sary to observe, that, however plausible it may
appear to some, it is perhaps not the less danger
ous on account of its plausibility. It is not from
those things which the world acknowledges to be
most wrong, that the greatest danger is to be ap
prehended to religion, especially as it relates to
the young. When the practice is carried to the
highest extremes, all - admit the consequences to
be fatal ; and whynot,then, apprehend danger even
from its incipient stages? It is certainly, in all
ate stages, a fascinating and infatuating practice.
Let it once be introduced, and it is difficult to give it
limits. It steals away our precious time, dissi
pates religious impressions, and. hardens the
heart. To guard you, beloved brethren, against
its wiles and its faseinati6ns, we earnestly recom
mend, that you will consult that sobriety - which
the sacred pages require. We also trust that you
will attend, with the meekness and docility be
coming the Christian character, to the admoni
tions on this subject of those whom you have
chosen to watch for your souls. And now, be
loved brethren, that you may be guarded against
the dangers we have pointed out, and against all
other dangers which beset the path of life, and
obstruct our common salvation, and that the
great Head of the Church may have you is his
holy keeping, is our sincere and. affectionate
prayer. Amen."
Our ecclesiastical judicatories have repeatedly
expressed their strong disapprobation of this
amusement; and all the evangelical ecclesiastical
bodies in the land unite in pronouncing it wrong.
B. D. Y.
For the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate.
Western Theological Seminary
Records of Board of Directors of the
Western 'Theological Seminary, at their
meeting on the Ist day of October :
A communication was received from Dr.
Dickinson, signifying his declinature of the
Fourth Professorship in our Seminary, to
which be was elected by the last General
Assembly. The letter was read, and on
motion - directed to be forwarded to the next
General Assembly.
The following resolutions were then
adopted, viz
fieaolved, That tbis Board do hereby express
their high confidence in the Rev. R. W. Dickin
son, D. D., and their regret that the state of his
health is such as to forbid his acceptance of the
Professorship to which he was appointed by the
General Assembly, and for which he is so well
qualified.
Resolved, That inasmuch as it is highly im
portant to complete the endowment of this Pro
fessorship during the current year, this. Board
would respectfully request and authorise Dr.
Dickinson to prosecute this object as far as pos
sible among the churches in the Eastern cities.
Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to
communicate to Dr. Dickinson the foregoing ac
tion of the Board, and to assure him of our affec
tionate regards.
It was further
Resolved, That it is highly'desirable that the
General Assembly, at its neat meeting, shall
elect a Fourth Professor, if the funds can be
secured for his support.
Dr. Jacobus reported to the Board that
he bad received from sundry individuals in
New York and Philadelphia, the amount of
twenty-five hundred and' ten dollars for the
purpose of the Library; and'recommended
that the Board appoint a committee to con
fer with the Faculty as to the present ne
cessities of the Library, and to appropriate
the funds for the purpose whenever they
may deem it expedient.
On motion, Dr. Howard, Dr. Swift, and
Mr. McAboy were appointed the committee
suggested above.
Resolved, That the thanks of the Board be re
turned to Dr. Jacobus for his efforts in behalf of
the Library, and through him to the liberal do
nors for this object.
Resolved, That the thanks of this Board be re
turned to the Presbytery of Columbus, Ohio, for
the donation of the " Old Library" to the 'Western
Theological Seminari.
W.: B. McimeriE, Set'y.
For the Presbyterian Banner and Adsocute
Testimonial.
CENTRAL ACAD., Oct. $l, 1856. 1
At an adjourned meeting of the Platonian Lit
erary SOciely of Central Academy, Pa.,• the fol.
lowing persons were appointed a Committee to
draft resolutions expressive of the feeling of So
ciety in reference to the lamented and sudden
death of our brother William Kerlin:
WHEREAS, It has pleased Divine Providence in
this - sovereign dispensation to take from our
midst one whom we loved—loved as a zealous
promoter of Society's best interests, as a young
man, of extraordinary talent, energy and hope,
and as a truly unostentatious Christian; there
fore,
Resolved, That while we sorrow on account of
his absence as a brother Platonian and fellow
student, yet we sorrow not as those without hope,
believing that for him to die was gain.
Resolved,, That in his death we deeply sympa
thize with the bereaved family and relatives.
Resolved, That each of our members wear the
usual badge of mourning for the splice of thirty
days.
Resolved, That the foregoing be published in
the Banner, the Presbyterian, and the papers of
Juniata County. •
D. J. BEAL;
13. F. SMITH, COM.
1
J. D. W. Ilmanwasoa,
For the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate
Testimonial.
October 5, 1856, Session met. A letter was
read from the Rev. Mr. Blayney, of Iberia, Ohio,
conveying intelligence of the death, at that place,
on the 29th of September, of Robert Colmery,
Esq., in the 72d year of his age, a former member
of this Session; whercupon.it was
Resolved, That in the death of Mr. Cohnery,
the church has lost a Valuable member, who
adorned the doctrine of God our Saviour, by a
blameless walk and conversatidn.
Resolved, That this Session cherishes a lively
recorection of the faithful labors and prudent
counsels of our deceased brother, who, always
ready for every good word and work, magnified his
office by an unostentatious, yet active piety and
zeal for the house ofo the Lord.
Resolved, That whilst we mourn, "we sorrow
not as those who have no hope; for if Ire believe
that Jesus died and rase again, even so them also
which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."
Resolved, That the .Presbyterian Banner and Ad
vocate be requested to publish these resolutions.
, By order of the Session,
Josiru HENDEresom, Clerk.
For the Presbyterian Bannerand Advocate
Installation
The Rev. James M. Smith was, on the 6th
inet., installed pastor of the church of North
Branch, by a Committee of the Presbytery of
Ohio. The Rev. William Bunter presided,
preached, and put the constitutional questions.
Rev. S. C. Jennings gave a charge to the pastor,
and also one to the people. On the day follow
ing, Rev. James M. Smith was installed pastor of
the church of Bethlehem by the same Committee.
Rev. Robert S. Morton, of the Presbytery of
Washington, led in the opening prayer. Rev. S.
C. Jennings presided and preached, and the Rev.
William Hunter gave tbe charges to pastor and
people.
For the Presbyteripu Balmer and Advocate
Installation.
The Rev. J. Ustick was installed pastor of the
Eariville - congregation, September Gth, by a Com
mittee of the Presbytery of Chicago. Rev. Swan
presided, and charged the pastor. Rev. J. S.
Henderson preached the sermon, and charged the
congregation.
This is the first pastor enjoyed by this flock.
May the great 'Shepherd bless . pastor and people.
For the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate
MR. Enrron:—The Big Spring and New Cum
berland congregations are yet unsupplied, and we
are still inviting ministers into the field. We ate
anxious that the• vacancies be supplied. Foi
farther information, write to Mineral Point,.Tus
ca.rawas County, Ohio.
Eastern Correspondence.
The Election—Disorders—Returns—No -Reform in
Guy Affairs—Sad Proepects—The Clergy and
Politics—The Press—A combination without in
fluence—Liberal Expenditures—A Reflection.
NEW YORK, Novinaher 8, 1856.
New York breathes more freely, now that
the election is over; at least the external
irritation of this excitable city is dimin
ished. Other things will now be heard of
besides politics, which of late have engrossed
public attention, and superseded social amuse
ments, as well as business and religious en
gagements. Concerts, lectures, and the
theatres themselves, expect to profit by the
removal of the pressure under which pri
vate families and public bodies have been
burdened.
The election itself passed off with less
disturbance and violence than was antici
pated. There were fighting and bullying in
a few of the wards. A few policemen and
private citizens were roughly bandied;
several ticket boxes were overturned and de
molished; some persons were deterred or
restrained from voting; but no lives were
lost, and but two or three seriously injured.
The people turned out in immense numbers.
So great, indeed, was the rush, and inide
quate, in some cases, the accommodations,
that hours were spent in waiting for an op
portunity to vote, while thousands failed to
vote at all, because they could not reach the
ballot boles in season. There are loud
complaints of partiality and corruption;
bribery and ruffianism have, no doubt, been
freely put in requisition, and yet the body
of the people have, without fear or favor,
given their decision. The desire to know
this decision was intense. Committee rooms
and newspaper offices were besieged until
a late hour of the night. Crowds thronged
the streets 'in their vicinity, and clamored
for the returns, and exulted or groaned over
their results In the morning, the eager
ness for papers was insatiable. News de
pots were filled, and their stock speedily ex
hausted; while regular subscribers were not
supplied with their papers,' in some in
stances until twelve o'clock instead of
seven, the usual hour.
. And what, in reference to our - municipal
affairs, has been the result of this election?
Essentially the endorsement of our city
government, with all its inefficiency and
corruption. Former officers have been re
chosen,—including Mayor Wood—or men
of similar principles have been elected to
their places. No reform has been accom
plished; for the friends of reform seem
hopelessly divided about candidates and
parties, or incredulous and indifferent about
its achievement. Though the taxes of the
city have risen to seven millions this year,
with every prospect of their rapid increase
in future; though with this vast expendi
ture, the streets are uncleaned, the police
unreliable and unservicable, to such an ex
tent as to compel the employment of per
haps as large a body of private watchmen
for stores and dwellings, in all parts' of the
.city, as there are police employed by the, au
thorities; though crime increases and goes
unpunished, so that a resort to San Fran
cisco measures are sometimes talked of as
inevitable, no effectual remedy is adopted.
On the other hand, the evil bids fair to be
perpetuated, by the election of some of "'the
lowest of the people" to offices of trust and
influence. 013 C of our new Aldermen, e.g.,
is described as a "fighter and a bully,"
another as a "fast young man, who has
more than once been in the hands of the
police," and was recently before the Court
of Special Sessions for most disgraceful
conduct. Several of the new counbilmen
are said to be keepers', one of a-: " liquor
store," another of a " porter house, a
third of a " restaurant," a ferirth of " a
drinking Shari," while others a're. inn
WILLIAM DAVY, Clerk
whose habits and education utterly unfit
them for legislation, or for watching over
the interests of this great city. But, while
politics continue, as at present, a disgrace
ful trash, and men of property and in
fluence consent to be defrauded, rather than
give their personal attention to public
affairs, or unite their suffrages upon com
petent and honest men for office, things
among us will grow worse and worse.
" The wicked will bear rule," and as a con
sequence, " the people will mourn."
But what an illustration have we here of
the licentiousness and misrule which igno
rance and irreligion would substitute for
true liberty l What an evidence of the se
cret corruption which prevails, and which
must, one day, unless corrected, destroy
our inflated prosperity and vaunted great-
ness !
When masses of men glory in the per
version of their highest rights as freemen,
or are so easily made the tools or victims of
covetous and ambitious leaders, what reason
have we to tremble for the permanency of our
institutions! what necessity is there for prayer
to God, that he would deliver us from our
dangers! '
The day aftet the election, one of the
city papers issued the following bulletin:
To TELE CLERGY.—Fremont being dead and
buried, now let us have the " stated preaching of
the Gospel" once more—real Gospel---not accord
ing to Kansas, but according to those true
Apostles of real freedom, Matthew, Mark, Luke
and John. No more e,nmpoign documents in our
pews—give us the Bible, King James' version,
just for a novelty.
Now, if this is intended to apply to the
clergy generally in this city and vicinity, it
is little better than a libel. A few, but it
is believed a very, few, have been noisy and
active in this campaign ; while the great
body of them have ad ered rigidly to their
peculiar duties. In their prayers they have
commended the interests of their country to
God, but in their sermons they have aimed
to preach " Christ and him crucified."
These who have felt called upon to be
come political orators, have had crowds
of hearers; but, after all, little influence.
They have been all on one side, and most
zealous for their favorite candidate ;.
under their very eyes, be has been signally
out-voted. Politicians, indeed, do not hesi
tate to attribute,his defeat to the ill-advised
zeal of the clergy. Christian people, with
rare exceptions, do not wish their minis
ters to become party-leaders ; While others
instinctively feel that they degrade them
selves to their own level by becoming the
dupes of mere politicians. They may
preach politics with all good conscience;
but it is seen that they are out of their line
of duty, and depriving themselves of their
appropriate influence. Those whom they
address are, in most cases,. as competent as
themselves Jo* form an opinion upon such
subjects, which they cannot present with
out identifying themselves with one or
another pasty, - and -thereby exciting- preju
dice or opposition. Their authority and
usefulness, as ministers, are thus weakened,
while they add fuel to the excitement which
is already impairing the religious fervor of
their hearers, in diverting their -thoughts
from " the one thing needful." 'People
do not discriminate so nicely as ministers,
and While the latter say they are rebuking
'sin, the former will say they are working for
political ends, and will be reluctant to
have them employ , the Sabbath for that
purpose. Results, too, show its ineipe
diency ; in their limited success, for are not
most of than excelled in this department by
the • merest stump orators • in the distrac
tion of their churches, and often their
,own
betrayal into extravaganees or indiscretions
which will be remembered against them,
when the temporary excitement which oc
casioned than has been forgotten ! It
speaks well, therefore, for the sound judg
ment, as well as piety, of the clergy here,
that they have, as a body, kept themselves
aloof from the transient, though powerful
excitements of the occasion, and aimed to
keep the minds of their bearers upon the
unchanging and inestimable truths of the
Gospel.
The press of this city has been intensely
active throughout this political contest.
There has been a practical, if not designed
combination, on the part of five or six of
• the leading daily papers, for the election of
the same, candidate. Though differing on
other subjects, and often hitherto .at open
war with one another, they have labored to
gether the past few months, and brought all
their resources and influence to bear on the
same point. And what has been the result?
Instead of controlling public opinion, and
carrying their measures, in this community,
where they have the widest circulation, they
seem to have the least influence. Their
candidate has been outstripped by both the
others, and received much fewer votes than
in other portions of the State. What are
we to think
,now of - the Power of the. secu
lar Press Have intelligent men lost their
confidence in its statements, er is it im
potent in the presence of party drill and
tactics ? There is much to learn from the
scenes through which we have lately passed.
The men of this generation have shown
their wordly wisdom in the boldness and
energy with which they have labored for
success in their schemes. Twenty-five mil
lions of dollars is thought to be a low esti
mate of the voluntary offerings which have
been made for the legitimate uses of this
contest, while immense sums have been ex
acted from office-holders, and contributed
by candidates, for secret and often un
lawful purposes. When will Christians
labor, with anything like this ardor and self
denial, for the exaltation of 'Jesus Christ,
and the extension of his kingdom ?_ When
will they pursue, with equal wisdom, the
nobler ends to which they have consecrated
their lives and possessions? Yours, &c.,
Ecclesiastical.
Mr. B. N. SAIITTELLE bas been ordained by
the Presbytery of Arkansas, and installed
in the church at Batesville.
Rev. JosEPrt WARREN, D. D., has his
present residence in Pittsburgh, where he
desires to be addressed.
Mr. J. C. IlumPlinv,Y has been licensed,
by the Presbytery of Flint River, as a
probationer for the Gospel ministry. -
Mr. L. H PARSONS has been licensed by
'the Presbytery of East Alabama.
Rev. JANES M. SMITH. has been installed,
by the Presbytery of Ohio in the
churches of North Branch and Bethlehem.
Rev. F. H. L. L Aim) has removed to An
burn, Lincoln Co., Mo.
The Rev. J. A. LEFEVRE has been installed
pastor of the Fourth church, Baltimore.
Rev. THOMAS L. DEWING'S Post;Office ad
. dress is changed from Le Grand, lowa, to
Warrenham, 'Bradford Co., Pa.
Rev. J. F. FORD has resigned the pastoral
charge of the church at 'Shreveport, La.,
for the purpose of accepting the Presi
dency of the Ferriale College at Minden,
La., and also the pastoral care of the
eintra'a tlfat ghbe.
lacts altq 61(anings.
DiVINE LiGUT is ❑ot as the light of th c
moon to sleep by; but as the light of the
sun, to work by.
Two HUNDRED thousand dollars have
been contributed for the establishment, in
the South, of a Theological Seminary for
the Baptist denomination.
CENSORIOUSNESS —The most.censorious
are generally the least judicious, who, having
nothing to. recommend themselves, will
finding fault with others. No man envies
the merit of another, who• has enough of
his own.—Rule of _Life.
TEE TRIENNIAL CONVENTION Of the
German Reformed Church were not able t•-,
obtain a quorum. They sat Mitt days.
Committee, of which Dr. ShafF was Chair.
man, Tropoie to constitute a Ghtend Synod,
instead of a Convention.
ANOTHER ROMAN CA TIICLIdVONVERTLI , .
—The Presbytery of, New Yo4,llasreceivecl
and partially examined Mr. 4ntden, once a
member of Maynooth CollegelPoman Cath
olic)) Ireland, but now desirin becouw
a Presbyterian Minister of
.thdz.4ospel.
EPISCOPAL GENERAL CONVENTION.-r-On
Monday, Oct. 13th, an ameigiment to ar
ticle 2nd of the Church ivatiCadopted, per
mitting none but communicants to be mem
bersent, of the General Cony . " the Pro
testant Episcopal Church:Vt . C United
- ,
States.
DOCTOR MCCRIE has been definitely loosed
from his pastoral charge by,the Presby
tery of Edinburgh, amid warit'expressious
of esteem and affection, aliti . :iaot without
some complaints and reproaches:, that such a
man should not have beenAipointed to
Theological Chair in Scotlan_A. He will
commence his lectures in yanglish Pres
byterian College next month 74:
From our London Corrypendent.
• ~ ,
Popular Preacher: his appe isitFf and stile :
his power: his faults: sketch of ,a. r•mon by lon
Terrible Scene of Panic—Traci:bist ributeon nt thp
.East— The Soldier Sergeant-- The king of Nap , :
and the Allied Fleet—Weather and //aro: t
India House, and Indian EvangelOation—J. ...1, .
tire Audience and Sermon.: , : ::-. ,"
3,01,in0N44.: 2:1 1856.
I have, ere now, given yOUM::britf Ekettl'
of Mr. Spurgeon, the popular.
,preacher of
London at this hour. He ist* ,, not popu' , :
with the refined classes;'nor ii'he nionko:
at, all after the Melville - model.; nor is hi
aught but a violent coutra7K , h9,th in per,in
and manner, to the gentler ..."leglint, 3 , .z.
earnest Baptist, Noel. Spurgeon is not -,,,,
twenty-four years old. He began, like W ill:, , al
Jay, to preach when almost.n.',." boy." 1 - _,_
has not been at a College. His father i..
Baptist minister, and be has- a youre_tr
brother studying. in the Baptist, College, • t
Stepney, who, " they say," will be supei iur
fr.o . himself. Mr. Spurgeon is of the middle
size—thick set in figure r , vity • a deep cap
clone chest., - and a throaea*Vtongue, and li t ',
all formed for vehement oratory. His lit,.
is black, over a tolerably wide.forehead ; Id,:
eyes dark and deeply set. His manner ii.
the pulpit is energy from first to la,t—
physical energy, impelled
,by*n veheitett
purpose and,a determinatthil?:arouse fzel..
the begirinkiie," t ile reads the psalm abint:•
ly ; be pra,y,i - with startling rapidity, and }es
would .adyi . .llorrietittlea - . ;;;el,lLik. - inreveraee.
And yet thole is a power in it . „, , and a f•aelt
and fulness," too, whichigmantls bre.ab
less interest. ' Ego tism doff come up; atd
yet you say, he ; g s- irtfltaniig";and he ce11... ,
not speak or pray thus, asn t experienee.
Christian, and with petitions :55r every el,.
without some Divine teachiirg. t ,' T,ben Ctitt.t::
an exposition of the chapte r !„,What a tie.
rent of words ! What stri - .." remark:.
, e•
quaint and pithy ! And fie. • •fivell he knot-,
his Bible 1 It is nota - " - lectiir4;," The Er. „-
lish will not "stand * " that ' ,But, it i: 2
rapid, running cOmmenfary„
,Whieb, in u: -
mind, when well done, is the'perfectien t
an _Expository Reading befoif,„` and asp' ,
paratory to the sermon.
Next comes the sermon itself—say tif.:
delivered in my own church. The text f•
" There they crucified 1441 4 : Ist, "I'L:
Place; 2nd, The Victim ; r'd, The 1...
entioners ; 4th, The' Piini4ment. UV .
natural the division ! Whakyivid clearnt.:
of illustration and force .of :application ,-.
each head ! Some oddities appear. A st,,: -
half humorous, bearing on , wifigion, is t—
and the people smile—almb" . - au gh ! iliac
are shocked, but hear him,., , and Kay, --
not the e f f ect of the whole '".
.. .4--ext,
'.
dinary .? Listen, too, to. ,'' langu:.:.
How thoroughly English, ve - 4, ."alai : sea,
a Latinized or Greek bore, t,• i- rot. 1>
any wonder with this,' , ,it' . 1•110 . 'rich, la
old doctrine of the Puri - -'-',ge--Xleetien ,
fended, asserted, asserted, slave; ~ • n g r i a46: v i n diezi,
and glorified, Christ set felt as ciuci. ,
and slain, pictures; aneedot4that, in z-i: ,
of extravagances and lardell "Of sd,f, 1:'
common people hear him glaaly , .sl
.•
Look at him as he yrep*eito &sere
,
the crucifixion 1 Hear hitnef.his v •
and say, "If you bave' team. T repare
shed them, now 1" - Ah I Yon,: Say th“'
from Shakspeare, ?spa you arl l 47zo'ckf, l .'
was I ; but then Esaid, " IlalCittree-fei.
of this crowd don't leovoligtpd it ..
natural to them 1" Thatdo6:•fiet {4 ll 'J"'' -
isfy me, or justify him. He' goes ''
HOW thrilling the: painting of the ‘''
j•
the physical agony, of th• c:''' . ..;-!:•' : I ,.er
But see how he turn z' - ;,..;11 2 d• - ' e t:tt .
slider,, almost an air° ; 4 .ci re ei: , t
him afresh," he cries, in ':'
a , ;-,.:-,! hull' ,
and with flashing eye ! Then, p eir'•:'
ji
hand, closed as on a thick nail " ain,i!
back of the pulpit, and wit k eothte :-
t e
itating the action of a 211..;it .611.4
driving home the, spik - ' 4 ; 'o • p he i' ; '2 . ,
or feet, he charges ho , ;`'ou t 4.4.4baul''''''
r
his awful guilt, and tst,'e.:tlit, role te---
bly. It would be 4 . -. m
cici6:4 pith or'.
preachers. With/. ''''',* rural, c)4' t •
roost entirely so'. ' i • ' - eel-
~ e ;ibex::
feti
with his audience ; e eZe
._,..L too I
in stimulants; b , anifhinOtter t , -
these myriads • ' Le e d o m all' ' to F .LI--
=warned, an, anything 1)6;44 than 11- .
miserable negation of trattSwhiell L .
younger preachers are setting:46l;th a s a 1 , ._
and better Gospel. Spurgeoft,Peaebes
doctrines of grace v q , 'mare '"'
fulness; and, like Pt iitfieid , 5 ,
Berridge, and Romait r ilnitt' ' ,
to our Saviour. And 3 appeal,.
although tares mingh wheat.
~-'I new chapel is al lilt fts 3 '
Spurgeon, to hold 8 ; : I UT .
it will overtax his . mei:, •
, ;
break him down. 1- tapet ' s ' '
strait; Exeter Hall r ;::'ray ti :
its doors, after it is ci tin. W I::
is to he done ? The St .alGaret
has just had erected i niCalli:'
Thither goes Mr„ „ F. ~ Q,,bi
,
evening- Twelve thousand person.+ , f: ,
the building. The ityer is begun._
denly a cry of ” fire' is heard, ia.i.e:,n r •,.:
thieves, or enemies of' 3lr . Spurgeon, 1 - ‘;
bat such at the 'loess, and else:where. )