Presbyterian banner & advocate., December 06, 1856, Image 2

Namur (lab Ilimatte.
iPITTSBURGH, DECEMBER 6, 1856.
TERNS.... $1.50, in advance; or in Clubs,
$1.25; or, delivered at residences of Subacri.
hers. $1.75. See Prospectus. on Third Page.
RTNEW A L S !should be prompt; a little
while before the year expire., that we t•ay
make full arrangement. for a steady supply.
THE RED WRAPPER indicates that we
desire a. renewal. Ifs however, in the halts
of mailing, this signal should be omitted, we
hops our friends will still not forget us.
REMITTANCES.—Send payment by oaf*
hand", when convenient. Ors mend by mails
enclosing with ordinary cares and troubling
nobody with a knowledge of what you are
doing. For a large amounts send a Drafts or
large notes. For one or two papers, send Gold
or small notes.
TO MAKE CHANGE, Send postage stamps.
or better still, send for more papers; say SS
for See entysnunbers, or $1 for Thirtyuthres
numbers.
DIRECT all Letters and Communications
to REV. DAVID IIeKINNEY. Pittsburgh,
Pat
REVIVAL.—Twenty-five young ladies, pu
pils in the Springfield Female Seminary, 0.,
have recently united in the communion of
the Church.
Rm .. . JEROME TWITOHELL.—The mem
ory of this brother, who was lost in the un
fortunate Nautilus, seems to be very pre.
cious to the people of his former charge in
New Orleans. On a late Sabbath afternoon
the Rev. N. S. North preached an appro
priate funeral discourse, when the house
could not contain the crowd that assembled.
Synod of Ohio.
In accordance with their own action, the
Synod of Ohio will meet with the Synod of
Cincinnati, in the city of Columbus, on the
4th Tuesday (the 23d) of December next,
at 7 o'clock P. M., to determine the loca
tion of the proposed Synodical College.
Wm. M. ROBINSON, Moderator.
Little Traverse Mission.
A letter dated Nov. 4th, speaks encour
agingly of that enterprise. Winter had set
in. The snow was falling fast. We would
again remind'our readers of a want there—
A BELL, to summon the poor Indians to
gether for worship. They are not favored
with time pieces as we are, and they are
forgetful. Let us have a little more funds,
and the needed article can be had.
Ordination and Installation.
The Presbytery of Redstone met on the
20th ult., in the First Presbyterian church,
M'Keesport, Pa. The way being clear, Mr.
R. F. Wilson was ordained to the holy office
of the Gospel ministry, and installed pastor
over the above-named church. Rev. James
R. Hughes preached the installation sermon.
Rev. Dr. Samuel Wilson presided, proposed
the constitutional questions, and gave the
charge to the pastor. Rev. Mr. M'Gaughey
clarged the people. All these discourses
are spoken of as having been excellent in
themselves, and happily delivered, and at
tentively listened to by a very large and
solemn audience. Communion was held on
the following Sabbath. Dr. Wilson remain
ing to assist in these services.
Rev. A. B. Brown, D. D.
It will be remembered that the Trustees
of Jefferson College, Pa., at the last Annual
Commencement, accepted the resignation of
this gentleman as President of that institu
tion. This was done because of his earnest
and repeated solicitations on account of im
paired health; though he will continue to
discharge the duties of President until a
successor is secured. From our last issue it
will be seen that he has been elected one of
the Professors in the new Seminary for the
North-West. Dr. Brown was, for several
years, a pastor in the State of Michigan, and
is well acquainted with the wants of the
West, and the kind of ministry demanded;
while his learning, talents, pulpit abilities,
and his long employment as a successful in
structor of youth and President of a large
and flourishing College, qualify him admira
bly for the post to which he has been called.
But we presume the friends of Jefferson
College will not permit his removal from
their midst without a strong effort to retain
his valuable services for that institution,
over which his father presided so long with
so much success, and of which he has been
for several years a most successful President.
Another Romish School
The " Glen Hotel," erected a few years
ago by a company of Pittsburgh gentlemen
for a place of Summer resort, on the bank
of the Monongahela, a short distance above
the city, has been lately purchased by
Bishop O'Connor. It is understood to be
the intention of the purchaser to establish
a boarding school for boys in that place.
The building contains some sixty rooms,
and with slight alterations will be well suited
for the purpose now proposed. This prelate
seems ever on the alert to advance the in
terests of Romanism, especially in the work
of educating the young.
It was reported last Summer that this
same Bishop offered a large sum for the
building erected some time ago at Cresson,
near the summit of the Allegheny Moun
tains, by Dr. Jackson, for ahotel and "San
atarium," that it might be devoted to Romish
education.
The efforts of the friends of Rome in
this direction, should stimulate all true Pro
testants to renewed exertions 'in establishing
and supporting schools and colleges such as
they can approve, all over the land. At the
same time none should suppose the Romish
system of education superior or equal to
ours; on the contrary, their text books,
their teachers and their discipline prove the
whole system sadly deficient, and not at all
equal to the demands of the age. Nor let
any one suppose Rome truly favorable to the
cause of general , education. Abundant
proof of the contrary may be seen in the ig
norance of Italy, Spain and Portugal, where
she has / held mudisputed sway for centuries.
Her present attempts in this direction are
intended an a blind to lior real deeigni.
An Encouraging Incident.
In the preaching of the Gospel and the
exercise of the pastoral care, there are many
things to discourage the heart of the faith
ful. It is painful to deliver the messages of
salvation from year to year to persons who
seem altogether unmoved by its gracious in
structions and kind promises.
But the anxiety is immeasurably in
creased when this indifference is found
among the children of the pious persons
dedicated to God in baptism, before whom a
holy example has been set, and who have
been the subjects of many and earnest
prayers. To neglect the Gospel does not
seem so strange on the part of those who
were not trained in Christian families, who
never breathed an atknosphere of piety, and
were never accustomed to anything higher
than a refined worldliness, or perhaps ex
posed to vulgarity, vileness and wickedness.
But to treat the Gospel with contempt, or to
regard its claims with dissatisfaction, or to
be unmoved by its doctrines, its warnings,
and its entreaties, on the part of those who
were taught to lisp the Saviour's name even
in tender infancy, around whom the re
straints of religion have been always thrown,
and all of whose early associations were
connected with piety and godlinrss, fills us
with surprise. It gives evidence of a sad
depravity of heart.
Therefore, ministers, elders and private
Christians, after they have labored and
prayed long for the spiritual benefit of such,
without any apparent success, are liable to
be altogether discouraged and to cease their
efforts, supposing their case hopeless. Yet,
to declare our conclusion that any one is
beyond the reach of the means of grace, is
a responsibility that none of us would like
to assume. Much more should we shrink
froth the thought of abandoning a child of
the Church—one solemnly dedicated to God.
Let us not despair of them, but redouble
our diligence and prayers.
An instance full of encouragement is now
before our mind. In a town in the State of
Ohio, where the church of our denomina
tion has always been blest with an able and
zealous ministry, a revival of religion was
in progress. The meetings had been con
tinued for several weeks with great power,
for the Spirit of the Lord was there. The
pastor, however, began to think that the ser
vices had been sufficiently protracted; and
upon a certain evening he stated the case to
the people, determined to abide by their de
cision. The Vote was taken by rising, when
it appeared that all were in favor of con
tinuing, with a single exception. This was
a spirited, gifted and amiable son of one of
the best mothers in that church. She had
early taught him the way of salvation ; his
mind was filled with Scriptural truth; he
was free from vice, mid a regular attendant
upon the preaching of the Word and the
meeting for prayer, but altogether unim
pressed with any personal concern on the
subject of religion. He had gladly accom
panied his honored mother, out of regard to
her feelings, to every meeting ; but while
multitudes had been awakened and convert
ed, he had been altogether unmoved, and
longed for the time when he would be freed
from the influences then at work around
him. A mother's prayers, a mother's tears,
I and the faithful pastor's exhortations, had
I seemed to be in vain. And this evening he
bad the boldness to stand up before the peo
ple alone, and declare his desire for the ces
sation of special efforts for the good of souls.
His evident sincerity shocked the feelings of
many, and not a few evidently looked upon him
as abandoned of God. But the meetings be
ing continued, on the next evening he accom
panied his mother as usual. That evening
the arrow of Divine truth smote him, the
enmity of his heart was subdued, his in
difference was gone, and he became a hope
ful convert. This was not all : he entered
upon a regular course of study, graduated
with distinction at one of our first colleges,
studied theology, has been a successful pro
fessor in a college of high repute, and is
now the beloved and useful pastor of a large
and flourishing congregation.
Pastors, elders, and private Christians,
there may be many such as he was in your
midst, who may become what he now is.
Be not discouraged at their long neglect
of personal religion,'their seeming indiffer
ence or opposition, or at the long delay in
the answer to your prayers. Sin, the world
and Satan may grasp them firmly, and
fallen nature may be all aversion to the
Gospel. But the grace of God is sufficient,
the provisions of the Gospel are abundant,
the arm of Jesus is able to rescue them.
Give them not over; entreat them; set be
fore them a proper example; pray for them.
You may save souls; you may add stars to
your Redeemer's crown of glory ; you may
cause joy in heaven. They are in danger;
leave them not; do not abandon them.
The world is a field difficult to be won for
I
Christ; but it can be won; it will be won.
Be not unfaithful.
Dr. Hodge's Essays and Reviews.*
The leading thinkers of the age, both in
the purely literary and scientific, as well as
in the theological world, have long been ac
customed to avail themselves of the medium
of Reviews for the promulgation of their
sentiments and the refutation of opponents.
The Newspaper, the Magazine, and the
Review has each its distinct and clearly de
fined position. Talented though the con
ductor of the Newspaper may be, and with
his mind abundantly stored with the facts of
science, still the productions of his pen
must be the result of great haste in prepa
ration. He aims at a certain result, and he
must reach his object as directly as possible,
and in sentences as few as may be, for he
has the transactions of the world demanding
an entry in his journal. Less varied and
less 'popular than the Newspaper, but still
more varied than the Review, the Magazine
occupies an intermediate position. Like the
*ESSAYS AND REVIEWS. By Charles Hodge,
D. D. Selected from the Princeton Review.
Svo., pp. 633. New York : Robert Carter
Broglie% 630 Breadwiy.
THE I liESBYTERIAN 1,1/ 1 / 2 a N Ji AND ADVOCATE.
Review proper, the Magazine may contain
lengthened disquisitions on philosophy, poli
tics, languages, and all departments of art
and science. Unlike the Magazine, which
as a vehicle of original poetry and fiction, in
this feature approaches to the Newspaper,
the Review in its dignified and solemn bear
ing, only touches a subject to criticise its
merits, or to point out its relation to the
cause of truth and the progress of human
knowledge. Appearing at longer intervals
than a Magazine, its articles are prepared
with abundant time for thoughtfulness.
The writer has leisure to examine all the
leading works, both in ancient and. modern
times, on the subject of his paper; and in
the hands of a talented and honest Review
er, where an historical resume is given pre
paratory to the critical examination of a mod
ern writer, there can be no more valuable
medium found for the dissemination of
knowledge than the pages of a well-conducted
Quarterly Review. Such an article gives
the substance of many volumes. It traces
the history of a science, points out the errors
of early explorers, and the achievements
of others, and supplies, in a condensed space,
an amount of information which ordinary
readers could only gain by much perseve
rance, and which many could never acquire
for want of the authors which a large libra
ry, either public or private, alone can sup
ply
When a gifted mind has been contrib
uting the' resources of his intellectual wealth
to a quarterly journal for a number of years,
it is obvious that a collection of such essays
must possess a peculiar excellence, inasmuch
as they are valuable, not only from the vari
ety of topics discussed, and the amount of
learning which they display, but also, from
the graces of style, the. felicities of expres
sion, and the critical acumen which their
author has brought to bear on the themes
which he has discussed. These truths have
been long recognized; and hence the literary
world has been supplied with the Essays of
Macaulay, Rodgers, Jeffrey and others in
the Edinburgh Review. In the same form
the matured opinions of Macintosh, Alison,
Sydney Smith and such men have been given
to the 'public. Aware as we have been of the
influence of such 'volumes on the mind of
the reading community, it was with feelings
of no ordinary kind that we learned that the
goodly sized volume now lying before us,
had been selected from the contributions of
Dr. Hodge to the Princeton Review, and
was about to be offered to the public. Even
subscribers to the Review we doubt not will,
many of them, rejoice at being able to pro
cure these Essays in this collected form.
On . the other hand there are many, very
many, both in and out of the Presbyterian
Church, in this Country and in Great Brit
ain, who will feel thankful that the author
and the publishers of this work have given
it to the world. We hope that this volume
is only an instalment, and that succeeding
issues of a similar kind will enable such
ministerial and general readers to enrich
their shelves with the masterly productions
of other eminent writers, whose Essays have
adorned and given character to the Prince
ton Review.
Our object is not to laud the Essays con
tained in this volume. The writings of Dr.
Hodge require no such suffrage to ensure their
circulation. We wish merely to express our
satisfaction at witnessing this publication;
and in order to give our country readers an
idea. of the general character of the volume,
we enumerate the titles of the different pa
pers. They are as follows, viz : Regenera
tion ; Stuart on the Romans; The Latest
Form of Infidelity ; Beman on the Atone
ment ; Ground of Faith in the Scriptures;
Theories of the Church ; Is the Church of
Rome a part of the Visible Church ? Fin
ney's Lectures on Theology; Support of the
Clergy; Bushnell on Christian Nurture;
Doctrine of the Reformed Church on the
Lord's Supper; Responsibilities of Boards
of Missions; God in Christ; Slavery;
Emancipation; together with three articles
on The Theology of the Intellect and that
of the Feelings. It will be seen by this
enumeration that the leading questions of
theology are discussed in this collection.
We trust that licentiates and the younger
ministers of our Church will speedily fur
nish themselves with this valuable volume.
Home' and Foreign Record for December
BOARD OF DOMESTIC MISSIONS
This Board re-publishes the notice given
in the September number, that after the Ist
-of January, 1857, the names appended to
all letters and reports, will be published
along with the communications, unless
specially requested by the authors to sup
press them. The circular issued on the
Ist of November, is also published, in which
an urgent appeal is made for prompt and
liberal contributions, on account of the
pressing wants of the Board. Interesting
letters concerning the missionary fields in
Wisconsin and Kansas, will be found in this
number.
CONTRIBUTIONS for October: At Philadelphia,
$5,626.12; at Pittsburgh, $1,638.45; at Lou
isville, $604.13.
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
The Corresponding Secretary gives an
account of his visit to the Western Synods,
and some of the institutions of the Church,
that . , like everything else coming from its
author, will be read with attention.
REOEIPTS for October: At Philadelphia, $l,-
017.27. The receipts at Pittsburgh and Louis
ville have been omitted, for want of room.
BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS.
With respect to the Indian missions, an
encouraging account is given of the church
and school at Grand Traverse. We regret
to learn, that Mr. Reid's health has become
so greatly enfeebled, as to compel him to
resign the care of Spencer Academy, and
confine himself to labors less exhausting.
But his place has been supplied, as all the
Mende of the. Institution will be pleased to
learn, by the Rev. Gaylord L. More, for
some years a pastor on Long Island. An
extract is given from an article in the
North. China Herald, by the Rev. W. A.
P. Martin, of the Ningpo Mission, addressed
to the II 'l. Caleb Cushing, Attorney Gen
eral of the United States, on the great rev
olution, present posture of affairs, and the
impropriety and inexpediency of foreign in
terference. There is also an obituary of
Mrs. Eliza Jamieson, wife of the Rev. Jesse
M. Jamieson, who died at Simla, on the
17th of July.
Corm - mm .I(ms for October: $11,080.82
BOARD OF PUBLICATION.
This Board states that there is an urgent
need, at this time, of funds for the work
of Colportage. Eleven new colporteurs
have been appointed, and nine new publica
tions have been added to the list.
DONATIONS for October: $1,051,83; amount of
sales, $3,054.15.
• CERIB.CH EXTENSION COMMITTEE.
We are gratified to notice a large increase
in the receipts of this Committee. It has
undertaken an important work ; let the
supply of means be abundant.
RECEIPTS for October: At St. Louis, $350.64;
at Philadelphia, $2,742.77; at Pittsburgh,
$220.27. '
Xistakes by Printers.
Our venerable preceptor, Dr. Miller, told
us, that when speaking in public, we should
never stop to correct a mistake in language,
unless it was such as might convey danger
ous error. He said that most men would
not observe the mistake; that those who
did, would know how to pardon it ; and that
by 'often noting even errors in language, we
would weaken the hearers' esteem for us,
and would hence diminish our capacity of
being useful. The advice was good. We
hive ever followed it in our preaching; and
we estimate it as valuable, also, in printing.
We always dislike to see a bill of "Errata."
It is well known, that to avoid mistakes
in printing, is impossible. Take the follow
ing statement in evidence :
A DIFFICULT MATTER. —A Glasgow publishing
house attempted to publish a work that should be
a perfect specimen of typographical accuracy. Af
ter having been carefully read by six experienced
proof-readers, it was posted up in the hall of a
University, and a reward of fifty pounds offered
to any one who should detect an error. Each
page remained two weeks in this place ; and yet,
when the work was issued, several errors were
discovered, one of which was in the first line of
the first page.
Such being the case, what is to be ex
pected in a newspaper, which must-necessa
rily be hurried through the press, while it is
news; and where the compensation will
hardly afford one ' , experienced proof-reader,"
let alone "six." The wonted accuracy of
the sheet is astonishing.
Permit us now, on behalf I:)f all newspaper
contributors, to request for them the most
favorable judgment. Always suppose that
they can write, and mostly do write, correctly;
though, in compassion for the printer, we
may quietly whisper that, in all this matter
of errors, he is sometimes more sinned against
than sinning. If he would print all articles
just as the manuscripts come to him, many
a writer would have a shamed face ; and if,
by writers, all the "signs of ideas" *ere
distinctly made,compositors would have a less
diEcult task than often now harrasses them
A FATHER IN ISHAEL DECEASED.—Froat
the Presbyterian of the West we learn that
Rev. James Coe, D. D., died at hir, resi
dence at Blue 'Ball, 0., on the 10th inst.,
in the 68th year of his age.
For the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate.
Dedication of the Church at Cherry-Tree.
This solemnity took place on Thursday, the
20th inst. The church edifice just completed is a
neat, convenient, and sufficiently spacious struc
ture, surmounted by a tasteful spire, warmed by
heaters, and lighted by a handsome suite of
lamps; the latter the gift, as the pastor stated, of
the ladies of the Presbyterian church of Holli
daysburg. In the religious services, the pastor,
the Rev. John Moore, began with invoking the .
presence of the God of the Covenant in this his
temple. Rev. Andrew Ill'Elwain, of Indiana,
Pa., read appropriate portions of Scripture, and
made the concluding prayer. Dr. Junkin, of
Hollidaysburg, briefly explained the nature of a
dedicatory service, showing that it was not a ghostly
consecration by priestly hands, but simply a set
ting the place apart " with the Word of. God and
with prayer," to the service of the only living
and true God, and beseeching him to make it
holy by his own presence, according to the prom
ise, "where two or three are gathered together
in my name there am .1 in the midst of them ;"
and after. this explanation, he led in the dedica
tory prayer. Dr. J. then preached a dedication
sermon, which was a succinct syllabus of the
name, doctrines, form of government, mode of wor-
ship, and historical position of the Presbyterian
Church, for the maintenance of which, that house
had beep erected.
Mr. M'Elwain and the pastor made addresses,
after the sermon, and the former preached at
night. The psalmody was well conducted by a
choir, led by Mr. E. B. Camp; and the whole
solemnity was appropriate and impressive.
After the dedicatory services were over, a
praiseworthy effort was made by the people to ex
tinguish the debt of the church, which was so
nearly successful as to warrant the assurance,
that with a little aid already promised from
abroad, the church will, by the time specified, be
freed frOm debt.
It will be gratifying to those at a distance who
have aided this feeble congregation in their en
terprise, to know that the work has beenidone,
and well done. How so spacious ' neat and well
appointed a structure, with its furniture, could
be placed there for so small an expenditure,
($3,000,) is a matter of agreeable surprise.. The
congregation and their beloved and indefatigable
pastor, deserve the congratulations of the friends
of Zion ; and we hope their faith, zeal and liber
ality will be imitated by all our congregations
who need places of worship. ALLEGHAN.
For the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate
Surprise Visit.
MR. EDITOR.—We would place thee.following
brief statement in your columns, for encourage
ment to others who may approv e the plan. The
members of the church of Shelby, and the citi
zens of the village, came to the house of the pas
tor, a feir evenings since, spread a table and laded
it richly with almost every thing good to the
taste—of which it is su: -, posed not less than two
hundred were participants.
The evening was spent pleasantly in social en
joyment. The amount left, (as a manifestation of
kindness,) in money, and that which answers
about the same purpose, was sixty-five or seventy
dollars. May others b
and do likewise. Such
manifestations cannot fail to be appreciated by
any minister. May Heaven's richest blessing rest
upon them, and we have strength to minister to
their spiritual wants. J. E. M.
For the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate
Acknowledgment.
The undersigned begs leave, through your
columns, to present his grateful acknowledg-'
ments to the highly esteemed, humane, benevo
lent, and Christian donor, who, by a liberal con
tribution toward the support of Missionary
Operations of the Presbyterian Church, consti
tuted him an lionorary Member of the "Board
of Foreign Missions" of the same,
Kittanning, Pa., Noe. 29.
Ix PRIVATE, we Must Watch our thoughts ; in
the family, our tempers; in company, our
tOnglies.
Eastern Correspondence.
NEW YORK, Nov. 29, 1856.
MR. EDITOR :- - Au impressive and in
teresting service was held last Sabbath even
ing, in connexion with the installation of the
Rev. Dr. M'Cartee, over the " Westminster
church," Twenty-second Street. A very
large audience crowded the spacious edifice,
many of them personal friends or former
parishioners of Dr. M'Cartee, who resumes
his ministry in this city, after an absence of
twenty-one years. Rev. Dr. Krebs preached
an able and timely sermon on "Church Ex
tension," which deserves to be published
and widely circulated ; while the " charges
to the pastor and the people," by Rev. Drs.
Phillips and Potts, respectively, were lucid
exhibitions of the duties they enforced.
The interest of the occasion, however, was
greatly heightened by the history and cir
cumstances of the church itself. It was
gathered, and the building it now occupies,
was erected; under the ministry of the late
Rev. John Little, whose early death seemed
an almost fatal blow to its prosperity. It
has been regarded with special interest, be
cause a church in which the " Old Psalm
ody," was exclusively used, and hence
thought to be specially fitted to that large
Presbyterian element among us, which is
decided in its preference for those " Songs
of Zion," and the forms of worship which
accompany them; though less successful
than was anticipated, owing to its unforeseen
and peculiar difficulties, it is encouraging to
know that it survives, and now enters on its
work with favorable prospects. It receives
a large accession to its numbers from the
Associate Reformed church, which was
compelled to disband by the sale of its
building in Twenty-fifth Street, and to
which Dr. M'Cartee ministered, for a few
months, while it is hoped its present in
debtedness will be lightened or removed by
the aid of other churches in the Presbytery.
The interest which is felt in it, may be
regarded as an indication of the interest
felt in the class of population it is designed
to benefit. Though this is not the only church
in our connexion, in this city, in which the
" Old Version" is exclusively used, but few
efforts have been made to attach those ac
customed to it to our body. They have been
left to unite with other churches, with which
they have no stronger affinities than with
our own, except on the matter of Psalmody;
while many of them have no doubt been
lost to the Church of Christ itself, when
they might have been saved through our in
fluence. A large proportion of the recent
immigrants are influenced by association,
rather than principle, in this matter, and
would soon become accustomed to our
usages, even through the medium of Old
Psalmody churches. The whole history of
our Church in this country shows that the
Scotch-Irish element is too valuable to be
disregarded. No one could look over the
intelligent audience in Westminster church
last Sabbath evening — a large proportion of
whom were of this class—or know the noble
sacrifices which some of its members have
already made for its prosperity, without op•
preciating the importance of their connexion
with us, as well as desiring to promote their
good. And why, then, should not churches
especially adapted to their tastes and pre
ferences be established and supported, if
they will thereby attach themselves to our
communion? The Old Version is no novelty
or innovation in our Church, used as it is
in many parts of the country, sanctioned by
the General Assembly, and liberal selections
from it now published in our book of Psalms
and Hymns. Besides, our Presbyterianism
in this city, at least, must look to this class
in a great measure for its extension and
prosperity. A few years, one or two gen
erations at most, work a great change in
their condition and prospects. Through
their thrift and industry many of them ac
quire influence and wealth • and when num
bers who are now pillars in our churches
have passed away, and their possessions
and families have also disappeared, as is
common in this changing community, this
newer and fresher generation will be re
quired to take their place and carry on their
work. But, if we now allow them to pass from
our influence, we cannot then rely upon
their support. We must expect to remain
stationary, or to make no greater progress in
the future than in the few past years, if we
fail to reach and to secure our share of this
large and growing class of our population.
There may be, indeed, objections to such
churches; but let them have a fair trial,
while they are sustained by the sympathy
and money of the stronger and more pros
pered. A necessity seems to exist for their
organization; and in the spirit of Paul, who
would " be all things to all men, that he
might by all means save some," let us win
them, if need be, to an adherence to the
truth, and to our own communion, by in
dulging their preference for the Old Psalm
ody and its usages.
The importance of this subject, and its
bearing on the interests of many ether por
tions of our Church where this class of pop
ulation abounds, must be the apology for
the space it occupies in this letter, as well
as for the following extract from. Dr. Krebs'
sermon, which presents one aspect of it in
a striking manner. In alluding to the West
minster church, and defending the, circum
stances and basis of its organization, he
says :
" It is not a Scotch church, nor an Irish church,
nor a Clanish church. But it meets a want of an
interesting and valuable portion of our immigrant,
as well as of some of our native population.
The ties of fellovi-countrymen are strong in a
new and strange land. They love to discern the
familiar lineaments, the familiar dialect, the fa
miliar ways'of their native country. While it is
our polMy, and even their own, not to foster na
tional cliques, nor to uphold national or eccle
siastical prejudices, nevertheless complete assim
ilation is the work of time. These strangers
naturally flow together. They are isolated and
chilled‘when first thrown among foreign associa
tions. But open a door for them where they can
recognize some resemblance to home ; where they
can bear the strains with which their childhood
was familiar, and they feel no more like strangers
and foreigners ; they discern more promptly the
household of faith, and that they are indeed
among brethren ; while they feel no more the
burdened spirit and chilled heart of a stranger.
I am glad that this church has been organized to
meet this want; that it does not stand alone in
our connexion, and that it is adapted to do a
work which will preserve many a Presbyterian
immigrant from wandering from the fold of his
fathers, and becoming at best an heir of preju
dices to which he was not born; while he under
goes a preparation here for becoming thoroughly
assimilated both in ecclesiastical and civil mat
ters to the habits, the principles, the duties and
the privileges of the people among whom God has
cast his lot, as truly, and as firmly as if to the
manor bcr.ru.' "
To turn to less serious matters, most of
your readers have heard of Sigismund Thal
berg, the renowned and unrivalled- pianist,
who is now performing in this city. Music
in him seems almost to equal its exploits in'
the hand of the fabled Orpheus. Not
that he causes rocks and forests to dance to
its lively measures, or savage beasts to forget
their wildness ; but he draws together, and
for weeks in succession, eight hundred to a
thousand people an evening, and holds them
in wrapt and delighted attntion in heated
and crowded rooms, though he demands
a dollar and a half for most of his tickets.
Nor is his success due to trickery or man
agement, but to the force of genius and
skill; siistained by his prep - oweigaing .appair
JOHN B. FINLAw
ance and modest manners. There is no
attempt at display, either in his person or
performance; but he carries all before him
by his mastery over his instrument and for
getfulness of himself. The piano under his
touch seems gifted with new powers, so rapid
are his movements, and soft, yet brilliant and
accurate, his execution. It was thought
that New Yorkers, who, like the Athenians,
delight in " new things," would be satisfied
with the first series of concerts which M.
Thalberg gave; but the enthusiasm in
creases with their continuance, until it has
reached a point which was exceeded only
by the performance of Jenny Lind. Free
concerts are also to be given to the Public
'School children of the city, so that young
as well as old are promised a share in the
enjoyment, while Thalberg himself wins
golden opinions from all classes. In the
midst of such excitement, the thought is
readily suggested, if music now, with all its
imperfections, has such power to stir and de
light the soul, what must be its charm and
joy in heaven, when its ceaseless strains shall
express the rapture of the spirits of the just
made perfect in holiness and love I
It may not be amiss to mention here that
a new musical instrument called the " Orgue
Alexandre," and intended to eupereede the
common organ in parlors and churches, has
lately been introduced to the public. It is
an instrument of great compass, variety and
sweetness of tone, resembling, in some
respects, both the organ and piano, and was
received with much enthusiasm by a large
audience, invited to listen to its perform
ance.
Three paintings, by John Martin, a de
ceased English artist, have been on exhi
bition for some time, in this city. They
are called respectively " The Great Day of
His Wrath," " The Last. Judgment," and
" The Plains of Heaven." They are large
and imposing in their appearance, and may
be finished works of art ; but they fail to
make the impression they were inteded to pro
duce. Is it not indeed impossible, from
their very nature,, for any uninspired mind
to grasp' the awful and sublime events which
they attempt to portray ! No grouping or
shading on the canvass can exhibit to the
eye what even the Scriptures themselves
have not underbaken to describe, except in
general terms. Who ever saw a painting
or representation of our Saviour, that
equalled his own conception of his appear
ance, and that did not seem to degrade the
subject it aimed to dignify? And paint
ings like these of Martin, which fail to im
press the mind with the real, tenor or gran
deur of their scenes, rather weaken than
confirm their power over the heart. May
we not see in these unsuccessful efforts to
heighten their effect, the wisdom of the
Scriptures in their silence, as , well as in
their disclosures? We must of necessity
now see some things "as through a glass
darkly, but then face to face."
Yours, &e., - B.
Ecclesiastical.
Rev. GEORGE BELL has been deposed from
the ministry, by the Presbytery of South
Alabama.
Rev. JAMES STRATTON, of Charleston Pres
bytery, has accepted a call to Carmel,
Miss. His address is Natchez.
Rev. J. T. Buss has removed from Auburn,
Ind., to Walnut Grove, Knox Co., 111.,
and desires to be addressed accordingly.
Rey. JOHN PRYSE, late of Springville, Wis.,
desires to be addressed at Voiney, lowa.
Mr. FRANCIS M. SYMMES was ordained, on
the 14th ult., by the Presbytery of Medi-
Son, and installed over the pleasant Town
ship Church, Indiana.
Rev. I. N. SHEPHERD, of Marion, 0., has
accepted a call to the Hamilton Church.
Rev. J. H. RuRNs accepts a call to the
Harmony Church, at Monroe, Butler
County, 0.
Rev. J. M. STONE has removed to his new
field as Professor in lowa University.
Correspondents will address him at lowa
City.
Mr. THOMAS J. TAYLOR was ordained, on
the 18th ult., by the Presbytery of Cedar.
He is to be installed in the Church of
Montezuma, lowa.
Rev. ALExANDHa S. MARSHALL, has been
called to the Church of Marion, lowa, and
has signifed his acceptance.
Rev. Dr. Palmer has accepted the call from
the Church in New Orleans, which was
formerly served by Dr. Scott. The call
was put into Dr. Palmer's ban& by the
Synod of South Carolina, to which the
subject had been referred, by a vote of
sixty-eight to thirty-three.
Rev. J. P. OALD WELL was installed pastor
of the church of Fredericktown, Ohio,
on November 12th, by a Committee of
Richland Presbytery. Rev. S. K. Hughes
preached the sermon. Rev. James An
derson presided and proposed the consti-
tutional questions, and delivered the
charges to pastor and people.
Mr. S. S. FRIERSON has been ordained, and
installed at Cathy's Creek, Tenn.
Froni our London Correspondent
European Polities—Restored Unity between France
and England—The Russian " Le Nord" and its
charges— The Christian's Confidence Russian
Railways rriected in England—Their Warlike
Design—The International Telegraph—England
and America—Two Glimpses—The Tablet and
Romanism—The Cardinal at Shrewsbury—The
Fraternities—The Hebrew Chronicle and the
Jews—The late Lord-Mayor—lsrael's Destiny—
Lois , DoN, Nov. 14, 1856.
Although I dispatched a letter only three
days ago, by the " Ericsson," yet as she
has but a poor reputation for fast sailing, I
have been afraid lest my letter should not
reach you at its usual time. I have, there
fore, resolved to send this by the swift
winged " Persia," and do not intend to write
again till the 25th inst , thus putting the
correspondence on its usual footing as to the
time of dispatch from London. Except in
one instance, I believe my letters have all
reached you in good time, and I am anxious
that there should be no disappointment now.
I shall not refer further to EL ROPEAN POLI
TICS, than generally to state that the differ
ence between France and England, on the
Turko-Russian question, has disappeared,
through the determined will of Lord Pal
merston not to hear of the reassembling of
the Congress at Paris, on the questions of
the frontier and of the Isle of Serpents.
Every effort has been made by Russia to
detach France from England on this point,
and appearances at one time indicated her
success. But Lord Palmerston's recent
speeches at Manchester and Liverpool, and
his bold language repeated at the Lord-
Mayor's Dinner, at Guildhall, on this week
—(cheered to the echo,)—insisting on the
carrying out of the Treaty to the letter,
have convinced Louis Napoleon that if his
underlings would not utterly undo the Eng
lish Alliance, which, while, a benefit to
England, has been his strength, be must
come into accordance with our views.
Le Herd, the Russian organ at Brussels,
in an article called " The Situation," at
tacks England and Austria kir. having Vin-'
lated the Treaty of Paris, complpihs
England has overthrown a Turkish .)linist r;
favorable to France; and with great c ur ;,
ning, by appeals to the goo d f a i t h of ti„
latter, her military pride, her tradition a l
policy, her political and religious retai n .
iscences 'of Eastern influences, seeks to
cause our present Ally to come to a tuptur e
with us. Before the war, tit? Itorna a
Catholic protectorate was fiercely disp ute d
against France by Russia and the priests r,t .
the Greek Church. That was indeed partly
made the pretence of the quarrels which
ended in so terrible a tragedy ; but now, as
the Times says, " the orthodox Church an d
the faithful Rayabs are to be abandoned to
the French embassy, and the Lazarist
sionaries, if Napoleon will only break with
the Governments which are intent on en.
forcing conditions unpalatable to the Czar."
To crown all, Le Nord says that the
English newspapers are calling out for a
Gibraltar or a Malta in the Black Sea! The
sum of the whole matter is, that Europe is
not in a settled condition; that Russian
propagandism is now being diffused over the
Continent, and her ancient influence being
re-asserted over the petty sovereigns of Ger
many; that if Napoleon were to die, France,
whether Republican or Orleanist, would
most likely be anti-English, and for war;
and that Christians, amid this agitation, can
only encourage their hearts by the remem.
brance that One sits on the throne, as Gov
ernor of Nations, whose wisdom and power
can control men's wills, and blast their plans,
if inimical to the interests of his Son's
kingdom.
As to the GIGANTIC RAILWAY SCHEME
put forth by Russia, it now comes to light
that it does not go down with Europe. " Eng
land won't touch it, and France is forced
to drop it." The guarantee of five per
cent. fails to give confidence in reference to
a country, where iron would cost from £l7
to £22 per ton ; where the labor of serfs
could not be calculated on, even under an
Emperor's ukase, when underpaid, and
therefore corrupt officials would need con
stant bribes, and even then would be guilty
of foul play; where there is no liberty of re
monstrance by tongue or pen, and no appeal
to legal tribunals. The guarantee, there
fore, has failed to attract our own specula
tive and ordinarily gullible public.
Then, it is not forgotten that the most of
the railway lines are projected with military
designs and abutting on the Black Sea
toward the South. When Nicolaieff is
about to send forth a large body of steam
vessels, which at any time could be used in
war; when Sebastopol will soon be rebuilt,
and when . Russian designs on Constantinople
are but postponed, people, even the mast
thoughtless, "think twice" before investing
money in Russian enterprise.
Very pleasant it is to turn away from
gloomy topics to such a cheering one as that
presented by the ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH
COMPANY, who have announced that " they
will have the cable completed in time to lay
it in the Summer of 1857, and in any cir
cumstance not later than the Spring of
1858."
How soon will the interval pass away, and
then let us hope that not only will merchan
dize flash beneath the waves its significant
inquiries and replies, bearing on public
funds and on cotton, corn and commerce,
but when religion will, by such an electric
transmission of its heaven-born love and
brotherhood now and then, wake up into
fresh life, in the hearts of God's people on
either side of the ocean, that pulsation of a
common Christianity which, after all, is the
true cement of nations, the best safe-guard
for common peace and prosperity, as well as
the pledge of the regeneration of the world!
In connecting the coast of Ireland with
Newfoundland, it has been discovered that
there is a submarine ridge, or plateau, " not
too deep for the cable to sink down and rest
upon, and yet not so shallow that currents or
icebergs, or any abrading force, can derange
the wire after it is once lodged upon it."
It appears that two steamships are to be em
ployed in the submersion of the line. They
are to meet half-way with half the cable, and
then to proceed in - opposite directions, pay
ing out the cable as they draw asunder.
Thus, each vessel, starting for Valentia, in
Ireland, on the one hand, and St. John's,
Newfoundland, on the other, would have
about eight hundred and twenty miles of
sea to cover in order to accomplish its task.
Let us cherish the hope that the expecta
tions of the projectors and the public will
not be disappointed.
Turning to matters at home, bearing on
THE INTERESTS OF " CHRIST'S KINGDOM,"
there are two topics on which I wish to give
some information to your readers. The
first is Romanism, and the other is Judaism
iu England.
As to the first, the Tablet, the last weekly
number of which lies before me, may be re
garded as one of its ablet.t exponents and
advocates. Its religious sympathies in for
eign politics are sufficiently indicated not
only in its desire for the dominance of
French influence in the East, but also in its
admiration and regard for the King of Na
ples, whom the Pope has so often blessed as
a dear son, and in its abuse of the Tim
and Morning Post, which have denounced
his wickedness and called for intervention.
The Tablet (which has emblazoned over
its leading column figures of the Virgin and
Child, the latter holding a string of beads
with its pendant crucifix I) exults, with a
Deo Gratias subjoined to the announcement,
in the INCREASE OF CATHOLIC CHURCH ES."
It states that in 1792 there were only 35
throughout England and Wales. In 'Lon
don alone there are now above 40. At that
period it is doubtful whether there were
more than three or. four monastic or con
ventual establishments; even so late as PAO
there were but 16 convents and 3 nionns- .
teries, whereas now there are some 70 con
vents and 20 monasteries. "In other words,
says the Tablet, ", . monasticism has increased
in England, in sixteen years, at the rate of
450 per cent."
The Tablet may well rejoice in such an
increase of monasticism, as a powerful
lever, with its adjuncts of schools, &c., for
propagating Rotnish principles. But greater
joy to it, should be the fact that Colleges in
English. Diocese§ conducted very much an
monastic principles, are now preparing the
way for Borne's further triumphs; ge
in its "further developments,"
has, among the newest -additions to Catho
lic practices, established. "The Hely Guild
of St. \ Albans," (an association denounced
by Blomfteld, late Bishop of London,)
the object of which is to insure "Christian
burial" to the poor. Several Puseyite cler
gymen have adopted this—among the rest a
notorious Tractarian in Margaret Street,
London, whose priestly performances have
been lately denounced and exposed in the
Record, by an Evangelical clergyman, and
who has placed a notice over his temporary
chapel, recommending, as a special subject
for intercessory prayer, "the conversion of
sinners, and especially those of the district
attached to this church."
The GRAND EVENT IN 'WAITS)" HISTORY)
last week, was the opening of "The Church
of our Lady of Help and St. Peter, of Al-