I:I
Nanntr an @oieratt
,RITTsBuRag4APAAT 3, /857,
Igunigg..... gran., in adenines, or in Clubs,
111.28; ors, delivered iat residences of Sl:boort.
beer, 11.75. Toe Prospectus, on Third PaWO.
EN METAL rhould Ise,promptt nubs
while befoin Dan year 'expires, thit -we sway
undte toll arrangenients for a steady supply,
THE RED WRAPPER indicate. that we
dedre. a renewals If, howevirr, in the: hoses:
of aud li ng, this signal should bi omitted, urn
hope our friends will still not forget us.
RINDUTTANCIIO.---Send payment• by-safe'
hands, when convenient: Cr, send by maid,
enclosing with ordinary cam., and troMblibg
nobody with..., knowledge of what you are
doing. - Per a laTgo amount, senifa Draft, Cr',
large notes. For one or two poporo, send Gold
mull motes.
TO MAK* eIIANOTIO Send postage stamps,
• sr better still. mond for MOroll ipaplia; Nay $.ll
err Seventy aumbersy or $1 tbrT hbetr.thrts
xnualbera.
DIRECT all Lotterm am! Cifintiranteatioias
to REV. DAVID DieIEINNEY. Ptitsboirighg.
PupfoFrow SEMINARY has one hundred
a la
and'foUrteen' tudents, as per Catalogue, for
present year.
• „ ,
Citt!item: EXTENSION.—The time fixed
by - the Synods of J.llinois and Chicago for
taking up the collection for the cause of
Church Extenaion, is. January.
Dosizanc Missioxs.—The Synod of
Ci. ti, the two Synods of Indiana, and,
the 6 . 4 Missouri, lowa, and Wiscon
sin have fixed upon the month of January
for the.annual collection, in their churches,
for the Board of Domestic Missions.
Answer to "A Request."
The directions given by " R. L." on our
first page, to a person in great distress of
mind, ,are truthful. Possibly they may
grate harshly, but let them not be rejected.
Let the wounded spirit energetically cast off
that lassitude, which complains and sorrows
and does nothing, and at once lay hold of
the hope set forth in the Gospel. Confide,
and press onward.
We have, from" A Layman," a communi
cation on the same subject. It reached us
after the other was in type, and our space,
for this week all engaged.
Notices of Religions Meetings and Move.
meats.
One great object of the religious press, is
• to present before the people information con
cerning the various ecclesiastical and benev
olent operations, in the centre from which
the newspapers emanate, and in the region
where they circulate. But to do this, as is
perfectly obvious, those mast directly en
gaged in the works undertaken by the vari
ous Societies and Churches, mast afford fa
cilities to the press for learning their move
ments, and being present at their meetings.
In regard to meetings of Presbyteries,
Synods, and general religions information,
we presume it will be .generally admitted
that our columns will coMpare favorably
with those of any journal in connexion with
our Church. But with regard to the
churches, the various Bible and Tract Soci
eties, the many benevolent. Societies, the
meetings of the different ecclesiastical bod
ies, and the Young Men's Christian Asso
ciation, is the cities of Pittsburgh and Al
legheny, complaint is sometimes made of
lack of information to the people on 'cur
part. We have only to say that we do all
in our power to obtain all the reliable news
of this kind, in our city and vicinity. BUt
the press, both secular and' religious, has a
right to complain that those whb have these
matters in charge are not sufficiently earefirl
in giving notice of the time and place of
meeting, and of extending invitations to ed
itors and reporters to bupresent.
Generally, 'but a day or twoof notice is giv
en, and that in such a way, in. some corner.
of a paper, or from a pulpit'or two,_that
our hurried. mode of life it is overlooked.
In New York, Boston, and Philadelphia,
special care is taken by the managers of
such meetings to extend invitations to those
connected with the public press . , and to pre
vide facilities for reporting; and the result
is seen in the full and interesting reports
given and sent all over the land. • Let the
hint thus given be acted on, and we prom
ise both for ourselves and the religious and
seenlar , press generally, of this city, all the
attention that can be justly demanded, and
we can also promise an awakened zeal among
the people with regard to such meetings.
Synod of the Pacific.
This Synod held its last year's meeting in
San Francisco. One of the members, as, he
had' intimated he would do, and as he now
writes to us he did, forwarded for the Ban
ner and Advocate, a statement of the prb
eeedings. We regret its non arrival: It
would have been a pleasure to put on record
the acts of 'our
.brethren in the trueafar
West." , :
We ind, by an exchange, that a Committee
appointed to confer with the delegates from
the Congregational Association and Presb,y
tory of San Francisco, reported, that they
met with these brethren, and after free con
versation, united with them in the following
views and suggestions, which were adopted :
First. That they consider that a mutual
understanding and cordial Christian sympathy
among the ministers and churches of these
bodies, is consistent with the relations which
they severally hold with the Great Head of
the Church.; and that a proper practical eit
preenion of this mutual understanding and
sympathy, would be promotive of the reli
gious interests of the community among
whom we labor. The CoMmittee suggests,
Second, That when the meetings of the
three bodies occur at the same time and
plase, that the religious exercises of Synod
be arranged in reference to similar exercises
in other bodies; with the exception of the
isimperative
by
sermon,. which made
by the constitution.
27tird, That the members of the Synod
unite with the members of the other bodies
in the celebration of the ordinance of the
Lord's 'supper- • ,
Aura, That Synod will at all times
freely and cordially enter upon the Consider.
atiott of any subject, which mutual op
operation is desirable, and 'in which united
Action will conduce to more efficient, praoti
cal results, for the glory of 'God, and the ,
advancement of the Church.
Tlie:New-Year.
A new year ha's opened upon us. We
hope it may prove a happy' one to all our
readers. Though
,personally i known tb but
few of them, yet we are conscious of feeling
a deep interest in their welfare. We boom to
ourselves to be almost an inmate of the fam
ilies to, which our sheet makes its weekly
visit. We would do what within us lies, to
make this a happy year to all the members
of those familiee.
Happiness is not capable of direct coin
-municatiou. 'lt is the result of the proper
action of our faculties, on their proper ob
jects. It depends net, upon thetondition of
external objects, but upon the condition and
action of the soul..
Man's scheme for securing happiness dif
fers from that of God. Man - would make
his, own happiness the object of direct pur
suit God tells him to make.` duty his great
.
object, and. to leave his • happiness to his
care.. God has made happiness to be the
result of duty. He has'pledged himself to
secure the happiness of those .who give
themselves wholly to the performance of his
will. He takes their happiness into his own
keeping. A man's happiness is much safer
in God's keeping than in his own. If, there
fore, we would have a happy year, let us
commit our happiness to God's keeping.
We can•do this, by:Making it cur business
to dO his will. We Shall be ; happy during
the year on whie,h we have entered, 'just
in proportion as we make his will the end
and guide of all our actions. When the
whole of life is reduced to an answer to this
daily.question, "Lord, what wilt thou have
me to do ? " our happiness will be secured.
.
We shall not only have a happy year, but a
happy eternity. We hope to promote the
happiness, of our readers during the present
year, by the statement of facts and sugges
tions which may give them clearer views of
duty, and stimulate them to its more dili
gent performance.
May this be a happy year to the Church.
To this end, she must be pure in doctrine,
have peace within, and strive to enlarge her
borders. These things can be the result
only of individual action. Bach individual
must eherial loie of the truth, each indi
vidual must study - the things which make
for peace, each individual must labor to pro
mote the interests of Christ's kingdom.
Christians sometimes excuse`themselves for
their inactivity, by complaining that the
Church is cold and negligent. 'They can do
nothing, they say, because the Church is so
inactive. Before any one can plead this ex
cuse, he must first satisfy himself that he
himself is not cold, and negligent, and in
active. Let each individual member thus
satisfy himself—thus give himself, as it
were, a right to complain of the Church;
and there will be no abstract being, termed
the Church, left, to be cold, and negligent,
and inactive. Right individual action
would take away every ground of gain-say
ing, not from Christians only, but from a sin
ful world.
Let us then, as individual members of the
Church, seek to promote her prosperity by
studying to know more of revealed truth,
and by cherishing a warmer love for. it. We
belong to a branch of the Church which du
ly estimates the value of correct doctrinal
knowledge, and of whose teachers it is char
acteristic, that ,they contend earnestly for the
faith once delivered to the saints. Let us
give ourselves to the devout study of the
Bible. - Let us resolve to acquire a greater
knowledge of the truth—the guide of duty,
and the instrument, of. sanctification..
Let;us study .to promote the peaee of the
Church. Let us resolve. that by the grace
of God assisting us, we 'will do greatly more
than ever to preserve and promote peace
and love amongthe membeis of the particular
church to which' we belong; and among
all the members of Christ's body.
And let us strive to do more good during
the present year, than we have done during
any previous year. There is call for all our
efforts. The Church.needs to be enlarged.
There is misery -enough' to be relieved.
There are'perishing souls to be saved. Christ
has a right to our services. We need not
wait for him.to put us under stronger obli
gations.. We are his, for he made us and
has bought us with his own precious
blood. -
I Nay this be a happy year to our country.
In our last issue, we mentioned some of the
favorable indications which 'appear. But
national, as well as individual happiness,
comes from God. It comes, in both cases,
as the consequence of right doing. The na
tion which oasts off the authority of God,
cannot prosper. Hence, the prosperity of
the nation is intimately connected with the
prosperity of the• Church. The 'greater the
number , of true :Christians, WO N greater the
truinter4 ci'ti'zens whose" influence
YOr the national recognition of God's author
ity. Besides, it is a recognized principle of
the Divine government, that God blesses in
dividuals and nations for the .sake of his
chosen ones. As he would have spared
Sodom, had there been ten righteous found
there, so he may spare a guilty nation for
the sake of the members of his Church.
Every new converted soul may thus furnish
an additional pledge for the perpetuity of
our institutions, and the happiness of our
land. Thus the man, who by prayer and
the presentation of truth, is the instrument
of a revival of. religion, may do more for the
salvation of his country than Some of its
ablest statesmen.
May this be a happy year for the world.
A large portion of its inhabitants sit in the
region of the shadoi of death. The pagan
idolater, the folloviere of 'the false prophet,
and the votaries of a false Christianity, all,
need deliverance from the bondage of sin.
The grasp of the temporal tyrant will never
be unloosed, so long as the iron , of error and
superstition 'enters the soul. The hope of
the world us" the Gospel of Jeans Christ.
"He, a 'freeman whom the ,inith makes
free." ,There is not one work for the'patriot
and-anotherifor Ilia' Christian.- " &Change
of masters will not relieve the suffering na.
THE PRESBYTERIAN. BANNER AND ADVOCATE.
tions. Revolution, the result of - violence,
will only increase their . woes. The spread
of the Gospel, 'the preparation which de
liverance from the slavery of sin' alone can
impart, must be had, before civil and po
litical freedom can be gained or preserved.
If, then, we would make the world hap
pier; if we would give freedom *to the op
pressed; we must . diffuse the Word of the
living God, and preach the Gospel to every
creature. In 'this work the patriot and .the
Christian can unite. It is the only ivay in
Which .hurnanity can be elevated to freedom
and happiness.
Let us then ply the enginery of benevo
lence, and accompany every effort - with
•
earnest prayer.
Perhaps we may not be ,spared to be , -
hold the close of the year on -which we
have entered. Perhaps the reader of these
lines will be called to 'render an aecount of
his stewardship before another new year's
sun shall arise. Perhaps the hand that
pens these lines will be Mouldering in the
tomb, when another new year shall call forth
new greetings. Our times are with God.
When our death-hour shall come, may each
one of us reverently, and by the Spirit, be
enabled to say, in the words of our adored.
Lord and Master, "I have finished the work
which thou gayest me to do."
181011
The' Oitineie Insurrection.
' The Intifirgents in China checked for some
time, have recently renewed' their progress.
We have paid some attention to:reports and
statements of their faith, but are linable to
form any very definite opinion of - them.
Some of the truths of the Bible, they main
tain,and idol worship they strongly reject;
but we are, not able to recognize•in them
any, of the distinctive features of Chris-
t .
anity, nor even anything that looks hope
fully thither.
We quote from. the China Jlfail a few
sentences,' written, as we suppose, by our ju
dicious missionary; Dr. .Happer, which may
be interesting:
It is now almost certainly ascertained that Tai •
ping. Wang was in the house of theitev. Mr. Rob
erts at Canton, for several months in 1847, study
ing the New Testament, and that hence he has
had, considerable 'advantages for becoming ac
quainted with the, history and doctrines of the
Bible. His writings show that he had' copies of
the Pentateuch and the New Testament in his
possession, and that he had 'obtained an extensive
acquaintance with their contents. But notwith
standing this knowledge of Christian doctrines,
and the more prominent historical facts of. Bible
History, hie writings exhibit very little evidence
that these doctrines had taken any hold upon his
heart. He mardfests no appreciation of, the
purity and holiness of Jehovah, nor does he man
ifest any feeling of awe and reverence for his
majesty and glory. There is no confession of his
own sinfulness, nor expression of 'his need of a
Saviour. There is no exhibitiOn of any of the
Christian exercises of ,humiliation, repentance,
or faith. There is no desire of holiness of heart
or life, nor any clear statement of the necessity
of relying on the righteousness of Christ alone
for justification in the sight of God. And I think
a careful reading of the translations justifies me
in saying that, in the whole of the books together,
there is not sufficient of Gospel truth to lead any
one to a knowledge of the only way of salvation
through our Lord Jesus Christ. This appeared
also to be the opinion of a Chinese Christian, to
whom a writer in the Hong-Kong Register, in
June last, submitted the books for perusal, for he
is represented as saying. as nearly as my memory
serves me, that " there was nothing of Christ in
them.'-' .
But while Tai-ping Wang manifests such a
want of apprehension of the internal 'and spirit
ual working of the Christian faith, his specula
tive knowledge of the scope and design of 'Chris•
tianity, forbid that his ignorance should be urged
as any apology for his false teaching and errors.
There is such evident design in his folly, and
such a consummate plan in his errors, as to force
the conviction upon all unbiassed minds that' the
'whole is a deep-laid plan to acquire power over
the minds of his followers, and fit them for car
rying out his purposes.
To acquire unlimited control over men's minds,
two things are requisite, viz.: let, that they
should regard the person as being diVinely com
missioned; and, 2d, that they should regard him
as having the power' o confer• present and future
happiness, or to consign to present, and' future
misery. To fit his followers tomarry out his ,be
heats, and place him on the throne of, China, it
was necessary that they should be delivered from
all fear of death, and be pervaded with the con
viction of, the certainty of complete success in
their undertaking. •
Now, if his books 'be examined, it will be found
that many of them are written manifestly, with
the design to produce these impression's OIL the
Minds of his followers, and the Scripture truths
incidentally taught, are - to further these designs.
In order to give effect to his' claim to a Divine
mission, there must be some adequate conception
of the power of the Divinity Sending him. Such
a conception is most readilyprodueed, by ascrib-
ing the creation of the universe to his power.
Then for its full effect upon their minds, there ,
ought to. be an example placed before' them of 1
some person having before received such a com
mission. The example of Moses is most admira
bly adapted to the purpose of. one who represents
himself as sent to deliver his countrymen from
the oppression and misrule of the Tartars. With
this object, I regard the . plot of the Trime
trical Classic as very skillfully' conceived and very
ably Carried out. 'And that this was his design,
is ail the more evident from the fact that his book
is so complete a departure from the' Trimenical
Classic in Chinese, by the Rev. Dr. Medhurst,
whioh contains a summary of the Gospel, and
from which he no doubt got the idea of this form
for his poem. Therein he teaches his followers
that he is 'the 'Son of God in the same sense as
Jesus Christ is; that.he was taken up into heaven
and instructed by the Heavenly Father himself;
that he was sent down to be the sovereign of
'China; that being aided and directed of` God,
nothing could'withstand his power; shd that the
awardsl bf heaven and hell are dliposed of 'by
hue. Y„
Tfany l .otteAmildthirik that it is not clear from
the Trisuetrical Classic, that he teaehesrothers to
regard himself as the son of God in the seine:Schee,
-as our Lord Jesus Christi's deelared to be, an ad
ditional pamphlet, brought back', by 'the French,
places that point beyond a doubt. The author of
it, who is Yang Siutsing, says, "For our celestial
Bider Brother is our Heavenly rather's firstborn
son, and the celestial King is our Heavenly Pa
ther's second son.”
A more profane and irreverent blasphemy it
has never been my misfortune to read in any lan
guage, than the "Book of Declarations of the
Divine will made during the Heavenly Father's
descent upon earth," which professes to give the
history of the discovery and punishment of an in
tending traitor in the camp. The 'Whole 'design
and. tendeney of the book is to produceupon igno
rant minds the deep conviction that he is aided
and guided by, the omnipotent And omniscient
God—and that any falseness to him would be at
tended with the certain temporal and eternal de
struction of himself and his family.
Mich Labor.
Whitfield is said to have preached, in
thirty-five years, eighteen thousand sermons.
He once put himself on what he called
short allowance, namely, three sermons' on
the Sabbath, and one on every week day.
This was zeal, and it may have been wis
dom. Every minister should do` all that-his
mental and physical powers are competent to
perform; and we are persuaded that, while
some, sinfully neglect their study, there are
many who would do much greater good by
beingiless in their study, and more on' 'the
stand or in the pulpit.
For the Presbyterian Banner axed Advocate.
Revival of Religion at Upper Ten Mile
Church.
WASHINGTON, Pa., Dec. 25
Bed. Mlimetv , :—The. church at Ten
Mile has again been visited with a precious sea
son of spiritual reviling. Such seasons are
fitly called in Holy Writ, " times of re
freshing." They refresh ministers, elders,
and private Christians; and to the young
converts they are life from the dead. When
many were converted in Samaria, under the
preaching of Philip,.there was great joy in
that city. So it was in Jerusalem on the
.day. of Pentecost. So in. Ephesus, Corinth,
Rome, and wherever the Word was attended
with saving results.- So it ever has been,
and ever roust be— 'lf the sight of fluni..
hers turning to Jesus:does not bring joy to
the heart of Christians, nothing this side of
heaven can do it It is refreshing and en
couraging even to heat of such scenes.
This is one reason why I ask a brief space in
your coluinns, to tell of God's gracious deal
ings toward the church.uf Upper Ten Mile.
But thereis another reason. 'This revival,
beyond a doubt, is,. under God, owing to
the late action of the - Synod of Wheeling;
and it is due to the brethren of that Synod
to inform them of any saving fruits result
ing therefrom. Public prayer was offered,
the sermon on the necessity and Scriptural
means of a revived state of piety was
preached, the Session convene& to deliber
ate, and the general 'meeting was held of
those who were conscious of special' desires
for the' revival of God's work of grace—all
in.accordance with the recommendation of
Syned ;und the ; ; result was, that:while God'3
people::-were: yet -speaking, he, heard their
cry, , and poured his Spirit upon their'waiting hearts, like gentle uponshowersa thirsty
soil. The general meeting was held in,cori
uexion with the services preparatory, to the
communion. The action of Synod was felt
by those who attended this meeting, as an
omen for godd. It was' particularly noticed
that no such recommendation had ever come
down from Synod, and no such meeting had
ever been, held in that church before. This
seemed to impart -a peculiar solemnity and
interest to the occasion. It quickened de-
sire, gave fervor to prayer, inspired hope,
andprompted to renewed and redoubled ef
fort to obtain the blessing. The sacramen
tal service on the following. Sabbath. was un
commonly tender and animating; and on
Mcinday, the usual day for cloaing the so
lemnity, the'wish had`become not only gen
eral but strong;that the meetine. b should be
still further protraCted. This desire was
complied with; and :for eighteen dayi3 in
succession, religious services were held in
the church, sometimes once, more commonly
twice, each day. These services differed in
no respect from the ordinary services of .the
Sabbath, except that an unusual stillness
reigned throughout. the congregation, and,
also, that they were preceded by a meeting
for social prayer, and followed by a meeting
of religious inquiry. Some fifteen persons,
or more; had professed hope in Christ before
'the meeting closed; a good proportion of
whom were heads of families ; but the great
er number, pupils in the Sabbath School.
Sabbath evening'prayer-meetings have been
formed at five different points in the congre
gation, and a sufficient number of professors
are pledged to
,attend.,and sustain them.
Many of the unconverted are seriously im
pressed : several are.intiously inquiring the
way of life; and some,-apparently, are not
far from the kingdom of heaven.. We have
strong hope that the work is just beginning.
Indeed, we feel sure that this will prove to
be the ease, God's
,people do not relax
their prayers and efforts. Brothers Mcliaig
and McCarrell rendered very, acceptable and
valuable service. The last named of these
brethren, is well knovtn and highly esteemed
in the congregation. - The other never vis
ited.that people before;, but his preaching,
his personal intercourse; and his various la
bors among ttem on : this, occasion, will long
be held in vivid and grateful remembrance.
May all our churches share, in the same
blessing, only much more abun.dantly, is the
fervent prayer, of
Your friend, and, fellow-laborer in the
Gospel,. E. C. WINES
For the Freabyterienßanner and Advocate
DbllBtlo2l'V it,
Mn. Emmen :--,-Permit me through your eel
emus; to notice a very Pleasant visit, on , Christ-
MRS day (the fist of the kind in this church,)
from many of the people of my congregation.
A dinner was prepared by the ladies, at which,
myself and family .were guests. After, this, a
purse was presented in the name of the company,
by Mr. Wm. 14IcGalliarcl,' Principal of the Acade
my of this place.. -To his very appropriate' ad
dress, a. response was !given, prompted by the
feelings of the heart at .the time. Near $6O in
money, or. things suitable for the wants of a fam
ily, were left, by the generous visitors. The sum
may seem small to many still it is - an important
addition to a sMall ' salary. The feelings, how
ever, which prompted the. kind donors, we prize
yet more than the, gifts themselves. We feel like
saying that we believe itmould be profitable and
pleasant, both to pastor and people, even where
the support is as ample as it should be in all
citses, that once a'year; in groups or in a single
Company, suited to the circumstances, of the
church, an able, to come should spend a few hours
in the pastor's house. They might, or might not;
as the case required, leave tokens of their regard
in' addition to their regular subscription. That
the people of my charge may be richly rewarded
by the Great Shepherd, and that all the churches
may' have continued streams of mercy from a
covenant God, will, ever ,be the
,prayer of the
writer Of this note. G. W. Snarsrel.
Skirleyaburg, Pa., Dee. 271 h., 1856.
Por the Presbyterian 8p.12118r and Advonate.
Report of J. D. Williams, Receivingnnd
Collecting Agent for the Pennsylvania
Colonization Society, from Noy'er 25th
until December .25th, 1.850. '
Wiealington
S. Wilson WjaYart M
Clmoillburg, Pa.
Wm. Atom*, Esia,
Pittsburgh Pa,
Eon.. Hopewell Repbnrn,
Hon. Gabriel Adams,
James Breading, Esq.,
Alex. Bradley, Esq.,
James W. Hallman, Esq.,
Wrn. M'Cuteheon, Esq.,
Miller & RielEetson,
Mrs. M. Borbridge,
Mrs. E. Lorenz;
$48.00
J. D. WILLIANS.
Piltehurgh, Deeember 25,'1356.
P. S. In'report from dattonsburg for Novem
ber, we published, BrDaniels and Black, each
' $6.00
Should be, lirDaniels & Black, and C. Ritchie,
Esq., each $3.00. •
Bev. William A. Graham.
This excellent brother, as we learn from
the Presbyterian, died .at his residence in
Woodbury, N..J., after s a very brief illness.
He was a zealous minister of the Gospel, and
alounded in good works.
MUSKINGUM COLLEGE is located at New
Coniord, Ohio, BeniPmin Waddle,
President. The Catalogne :for 1856, gives
the numbers in attendanoe-;—College Depart-
Ment, 18 ; PreParateiy, S 7 ;' Scientific, 18;
Female Department, 36 ; Total, 109.
Elllll
$2,09
5.00
$6.00
.00
.0
).00
5.00
5.00
6• 00
7 2...2
-- 41.00
Eastern Correspondence.
Christmas--Entertainment to Schools—Substantial
Tokens to Pastors—A Festal Day Needed—A
Novel Court Case, and Reflections Thereon—The
Brick Church .Property",-4New Church, and
Dr. Spring.
NEW YORK,' Dec. 27, 1856.
ME. EDITOR :—The present has been a
gala week, especially among the children of
the city. If " Christmas comd but once a
year," it brings pleasure and excitement
enough to "the little ones at home" for its
infrequent visits. To, many of them it, seems
'the most attractive day of the year, hardly
excepting " the Fourth of July.' It is her
alded 'in advertisements, foreshadowed in
shop windows, and talked of at home for weeks
before its 'arrival, while the anticipation of
Santa Claus' visit on Christmas Eve, or of a
Christmas tree, with its varied gifts, drives
sleep from many little eyes, or causes them
to open bright and early th,e doming day. A
stranger would, see from the rich display of
curiosities and valuables, as well as "of sea
-1 sortable and suitable" articles, and from the
crowds of eager purchasers 'that have for
days thronged the streets and stores, that it
was the harvest time of merchants, and the
season for giving and receiving gifts. To
such an extent is the custom carried, that
the poorest share in its benefactions, while
the rich sometimes display their extravn
game by the costliness rather than the beau:-
ty or, utility of, their'purchases. Any price
is demanded and paid, as though money
must be• spent at this season 'of the year as
freely as presents are bestowed. Of course
there is public worship in B,omish, _Prelatic,
and even in churches of some ,other denom
inations, ail tlitheran and Dutch Reformed;
inmost or "all of which there Vire .'also col
leetions for various ' bendiallent Objects.
But a feature of the day for, a few past
years'hils been the 'entertainment &inn to
the children Of' 'lndustrial, Mission and
other Sabbath Schools. With -some of the
latter it has come to take the pla.Ce of "Sum
mer eicursions," While in all there are ex
ercises and' gifts suited to the wants of the
children and character of the occasion.
Speaking and, singing are diversified in some
instances with exhibitions of magic lanterns
or dissolving views, and followed with the
distribution of books and garments, eonfee
tioaary and fink, as rewards of good beha
vior or expressions of Christian _kindness ;
generally, too, in the case of ' Industrial
Schools, with a substantial 'dinner of fowl
and vegetables, such as the poor children
that attend them never dreamed of in their
brightest days at home. Even those under
the care of the Almshouse and in other pub
lic Institutions share in the goodAhings of
the season, while toys, as well as provisions,
are often contributed for their enjoyment.
It is said, for example, that a number Of
ladies took the pains last week to procure
and to dress six or seven hundred dolls for
the girls on Randall's Island, while the boys
'were doubtless also provided with suitable toys
by kind-hearted benefactors. There are many, I
indeed, who delight to show their interest in
poor children—that have the same tastes as
others is this respect, but so few' opportuni
ties for their gratification—by the gift of
playthings for their amusement.
This is the season, too, for congregations
or individuals to remember their Pastors'by
substantial tokens of their interest in their
person and their work, as well as in the
wants of their families. An instance of
this kind, unsurpassed for its munificence
even in our cities, has occurred in the pre
sentation to Di. Boardman, of Philadelphia,
of a house valued at ten thousand dollars.
Another has come to my knowledge, in
which an Episcopal minister in this city has
received a silver tea service from his parish.
And;yet a third, where the ladies of a con
gregation, not remarkable for its strength or
numbers, presented their pastor with a purse
containing three hundred and fifty dollars,
" as an expression.of their respect and affec
tion," which must have increased its value
in his estimation a .thousand fold. Why
could not many other congregations do like
wise, and thus cheer theburdened, often
desponding - hearts of ministers,' who seek
"not theirs -but them," though they hardly
know whether their labors are appreciated,
and though they find the utmost difficulty in
supporting their families on their salary ?
It may not fall in' with our views to ob
serve the twenty-fifth of December• as the
'anniversary of our SaViour's birth; certainly
the masses and ceremonies with which the
Romish Church celebrate& it, and from
which its name, Christmas, is derived,
should be condemned but the kindness
and happiness which its gifts and arituse
ments awaken, may not easily be dispensed
with. We need such ,seasons and customs
in this sordid and selfish world. In 'a com
mercial community like - this, where time is
money, and money is "411 e one thing need
ful," what more healthful than its interrup
tion of care and business, for the purpose' of
cultivating the social feelings and dispensing
favors 'to the poor? Who would - not be
profited by interesting himself once more in
the joys of children, or in extending his
benefactions to ministers of the'Gospel
How pleasant it would be to associate these
temporal gifts with the unspeakable gift of
Christi for our redemption, might we suppose
the usages of this day had their origin in
that precious truth, rather than in the
heathen practice, as is thought, of
Northern
nations, who thus celebrated a festival in
honor of the birth of Soli'"
A somewhat novel case was, before the
Superior Court last week, involving the
question, " have
,colored
,people a right to
ride in city cars ?" The , Rev. br. Pen
nington, a well educated colored Pres
byterian minister; attempted - to take a seat
in a Sixth Avenue' Railroad car, from,tVhiWtt
he was, forcibly ejected ,by., order of ~t he
conduetor. The. Dr. knew, it.to be "contrary
te,,the riles of 'the Company to allow colored
people to ride in any ear they chose, though
they are permitted to ztand on the,, front
platforM, and to ride in cars specially
appropriated to their use. He declined,
however, to avail himself of either of these
privileges which were suggested to him by
the conductor, and insisted upon his legal
right to ride in any car he preferred, and
that the Company were bound, as public
carriers, to convey him notwithstanding
their regulations. His suit against them
was to test this question, rather than re
cover damages, though he seems from the
testimony to have been rather roughly han
dled, and to have been divested of his hat,
cane end spectacles in the melee. The
facts in the case were not disputed, but, the
Company pleaded in their defence that they
made ample provision for conveying colored
people, by running a car for their special use
every half hour, and allowing them to stand
on the platform of others; while they
claimed the same right to, regulate their
affairs in excluding them from other cars,
that hotel keepers have,.to refuse to admit
to their rooms or tables persons who would,
in their judgment, injure their business.
This principle was, admitted by the judge in
his charge to the jury, in which, also, he
calls this "a very grave question, in view
of 'the, great numbers of this class of the
population," amounting, according to one
:witness, to twenty-one thousand. He, said,
"a Common' carrier is not obliged to. carry a,
perion as, a passenger—though he may, so
far as Ids i general deportinent is concerned,
be unexceptionable, and he may tender his
fare—if the object and design of the person
is to interfere with and prejudice his inter
ests." * • * * " And, for the purpose of
determining the reasonabliness of the regu
lation in question, the probable effect upon
the capital, business and interests of the
Company; in admitting blacks into their cars
indiscriminately with whites, is a matter for
consideration.' After a three days' hear
int, of the ease, and an absence and delib
eration on the part of the jury of several
hours, they brought in a verdict for the
Company, on , the ground, it was understood,
that the indiscriminate admission of colored
persons to, their cars would tend to diminish
their profits.
This decision may be law, and the prin
ciple on which it is based, justice; but why
enforce it against respectable blacks, pater
than against drunken and filthy whites ?
Who would not prefer to ride beside a well
dressed and well-behaved colored man,
rather than beside a greasy, loathsome and
bloated white who has not sense or decency
enough to keep him from stnnabling against
your person, or polluting the air with his
breath and words. Yet the one is tolerated
in the cars; the other is forcibly ejected from
them by the authority of the law I. A Doctor
of Divinity who has been welcomed to the
houses, and associated in religious worship
with his white brethren in the ministry, is
not, thought worthy of a seat with the most
ignorant and dirty white that can pay five
cents for his fare ! Such is the force
of, prejudice against color in this commu 7
nity, ,where it has obtained a virulence un
paralleled in, any , other part of the country.
In Boston and at the East, it is common to
see blacks riding with whites in omnibusses,
cars, and all public conveyances; while the
feeling at the South is illustrated by recent
accounts.,. of the funeral of Andrew Mar
shall, a Baptist preacher, who was interred
in Savannah with a pomp seldom witnessed
in that city. Two Societies, fifty carriages,
and a long procession of citizens, white as
well as colored, followed his remains to the
grave. It is true that this prejudice does
not exist here among intelligent Christian
people; but it is sufficiently general to have
crowded colored persons out of almost all
employments, as' well as out of public con
veyanees ; while in compelling them to as
sociate exclusively with their own, color, or
with the lowest of the whites, it tends to;
their, degradation and. ruin. Their compe;
tition with foreigners is one cause, of this
evil, which has not certainly_ been diniinl
ished by their practical exclusion from our
churches, as well as schools, and consequent
abandonment in most cases to teachers arid
preachers of their own complexion, who are
too generally unfitted for their instruction
and elevation. Is it wonderful that they do
not, as 'a people, rise to a superior social
position, when they are depressed by so
many, adverse influences, as well as de
bilitated by our harsh, and to them trying
climate I
It has been rumored that the "Brick
Church Property" has been sold to the
government for $450,000, as a site for a
ew Post Office. The only difficulty in the
way was a doubt as to the title, which is
supposed to : haye been removed by the re
cent, action of the Common Council. ,The
Trustees disposed of their 'interest in . the
propert) some months:ago, and the congre
gation have since worshipped in a hired
house "- on Broadway. Meantime, ground
has been broken for a new "Brick . Church,"
in a commanding location on Fifth Avenue,
three miles, at least, from the old Bile. It
will probably be: years before the huildink is
completed; but if.
,Dr. Spring retains his
present health and vigor, he may be permit
ted to minister there to a large , and flour
ishing, congregation. He has recovered tha
sight of one eye,so as to be able to read.
the Scriptures an hymns in worship • but
he has abandoned the reading of his manu
script in preaching. His step is less firm
and stately than ,formerly; but his voice is
strong, his mind active, -and his natural
force seems otherwise unabated by his
affliction. The building in which he
preaehts is filled, each Sabbath with inter
ested hearers; and as the oldest Presby
terian pastor,in the, city,',it is the prayer of
his numerous friends and admirers that he
may long continue its ornament and blessing,
Yours, ,Sze B,
For tbe Preebyterlan Banner and Advocate
Notice.
In the dispensation of Providence, the messen
ger of death has called away our valued friend,
Mrs. Mary B. Anderson, (formerly Miss Barnes)
a member of the. Philolethean Literary Associa
tion, of . Olome Institute, Canonsburg Pa.
in memory of her worth, we as sister associ
.
ates, have deemed it appropriate to make this ex
pression of our regard for the deceased. There
fore,
Betsolced, Although we deeply feel and lament her early
departure, yet hope is blended with our sorrow. Hers was
&hope, sure and steadfast. To. liar death had no terrors,
and the grave no victory. And now we trust that her freed
spirit dwells' in glory, with . 4 them who have washed their
robes and Made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
PesSieed, To her bereaved parents and surviving comnan
ion, we tender our heartfelt sympathies for the irreparable
loss of an affectionate daughter, and beloved wife. •
Resoltied, That as a token of regard, we - wear our usual
badge or mourning, customary on such occasions.
Resalved, That a copy of the abdve statement and resolu
tions be sent to the friends of the' deceased. Also; that for
publication, tbey, he sent to the " Presbyterian Banner and
Advocate," and'"Washington COtmrionwealth."
AMANDA M. F. RA - ve -
Committee.
S. Amur. WeLstc,
. By order of the Society.
Ecclesiastical.
Rev. ANDREW MARSRALL, a colored minis
ter of Savannah, died recently, aged one
hundred years. Re was pastor of the First
African chnrchin that city.
R.ev..G. -W .-CARTER has resigned the Pres
idency of:. the ,Petersburc , Feinale Col-
Rev. J. M. iI.XNR.Y, of• Pittsylvania, Va.,
died on the 12th inst. A devoted laborer
is fallen.
Rev. E. HELLS' Post. Office address is
changed from Ben Franklin, to Paris, La
mar County ? Texas.
Rev. GEORGE. BROWN was installed at Ham
den, N. Y., on the Bth ult.
Rev. JAMES PETRIE was installed in the
Scotch Church, Jersey City, on the sth
ult.
Rev. DAVID, W. LYON' naS a„unatiimous
call from the Franklin church, lowa.
The congregation has been collected, in
this flourishing village,' by Mr. Lyon's
labors
Rev. J. R'. FINDLEY, of :Urbana, Ohio; has
received,actin to the Presbyterian; Church
in Mercer, Pa: The church has two hun
dred and sixteen members, and we-un
derstand that the calf was unanimous,
and that -Mr. Findley intends to ac
cept it.
Rev. Wni. A. SCOni D. D., asks to resign his
charge in San Francisco. Dr. 'Scott had
not been installed. He now tenders the
call to the congregation: They pass high
ly 'complimentary, resolutions and urge
him to become permanently their pastor.
He had not decided at last dates received 7
Rev. a/Luxe. HAluisorr, forinerly of Ohio,'
has accepted a: call to the PreabitP4ll:
Church at WiterloO; BlitOlt Hawk County,
lowa.
Rev. EL 31. ROBERTSON was in:A - a:led
pastor of the Presbyteria n church at
Horicon, Wisconsin, on Thursday, De
cember 18th, by a Committee of the
Presbytery of Winnebago. Rev. L. C.
Spofford, of Depere, presided, Rev. R.
Frame, of Fond du Lac, preached the
sermon and gave the charg e the people,
and Rev. Samuel Robertson, of Winne
connee'
the charge to the pastor. This
church recently dedicated a new house of
worship, every seat in which was ina ne _
diately rented.
MR. Jowl WHITE has been ordained by th e
Presbytery of Bedford, and installed, in
Salem, N. Y.
Rev. T. L. CUNNINGHAM, of the Associate
Reformed Church, has united with the
Presbytery of St. Louis. He has been
called to the First Presbyterian Church,
Indianapolis.
Rev. Dr. HOGE declines the Presidency of
Hampden Sidney College, Va.
Rev. DR. J. H. BOCOCK has removed from
Harrisonburgh, - Virginia, to Georgetown,
D. C.
DR. SMITH, Springfield, 111.,
has been re
leased from his pastoral charge, to act as
Secretary of Missions for the Sunday
School Union, in the, North-West.
Rev. E. B. CLAGHORN, Washington, D. C.,
has resigned his pastoral charge, with a
view to another field of labor.
Rev. W. W. AtoiSTAIR's Post-Office address
is changed from Portage City, to Eau
Claire, Chippewa County, Wisconsin.
Rev. WM. ANDREWS, has entered upon his
duties as chaplain ) at the Floating Bethel,
Cincinnati.
Rev: STEPHEN FRONTIS 7 Post-Office address
is changed from Mount Mourne to Spring
Grove, Tredell County, N. C.
From our London correspondent
The Enthronement of the Bishop of London—St.
Paul's Cathedral—The Spectacle—The Chcrad
Service—The Lord-Mayor and Corporation—The
Canons, Prebendaries, and Ecclesiastical Law,' s
—The Procession—The Dean and Chapter—The
"Cathedra " —Dr. Tait' a Appearance—The Ben
ediction—The Evangelical Party, and the new
Bishops---. The .Tractarians; and Dr. Wilberforce
—Professor Jowett, and the New Heresy-21,e
"Daily News," and a Free Press
~ Victorious—
Military Reforrh--Mr. Burns. Arrested in China—
' Alleged Plot against Palmerston—lnsurrection in
Sicily--Death of Dr t Bates, of Glasgoto—Lcu
don Ministers Overtaxed and Breaking .Down—
The Sunday League, ,4 Sacred Music," and the
Gin Palace—lrish and GArrnan Popery.
LONDON, Dec. 9, 1856.
Your readers have read, or heard, ere now,
of the " enthranization " of a :.Pope; how
cardinals carry the new-made pontiff to
the High Altar, and placing him thereon,
bow down and " adore" him, as the vice
gerent of Deity. But have they ever Been
the " enthroning" .of an English Bishop ?
I know that Americans do not like throws
of any kind very inueh, preferring the Repub
lican simplicity which their fathers wrested
from ebsthiate OldEnglind, at such a cost.
At all events, the mention of the "throne"
of a' minister' of religion, will not be very
pleasing in their ears. I have, however, wit
nessed a Bishop enthroned; and I must,
therefore tell you what took place.
On the morning of Thursday last, I re
paired to St. Paul's Cathedral. When I
entered the magnificent pile, I found that
portion of it called " The Choir," (which is
set, apart for,public service,) crowded. to the
doors., With some difficulty I found access
to the front
_of , the gallery, and a splendid
coup d' ma met my eye. I speak not now
of the beaitty of the architecture ; nor of the
rich, old carvings above the stalls of the
Choir; nor of the elegant Lectern, (Read
ing Desk) in. the centre, from whence the
" Lessons for the Day", were read. But
refer to the assembly - itself, such as could be•
seen. only in England; and that rarely.
Here was the Lord-Mayor,-in , his robes; the
Sheriffs, in their glittering uniforms; with
other officers of the Corporation. Near the
door, in a special raised seat, sat Dean Ma
ma.% a w, ell-known anther, and poet, and
Whose' fine, clear voice—even while hoar
hairs cover his head, and his fdim is almost
bent dmible—sodnded, in reading the fune
ral service, with t such 'power over the mighty
throng, on that memorable day, when I saw
hitn stand by the grave, (under the dome)
into which the coin of Wellington was
slowly letdown.
• On the steps of the Communion Table, or
".Altar," (no Popish symbols there—not
even'a cross or a candle-stick—) stand to the
left and right immediately behind ihe
a large body of the London clergy, in gown
and binds. In the front stalls, on each side
Of the centre, sit the members of the Choirs
of Westaninster Abbey and St. Paul's;
while before them are surplieed boys, with
voices so sweet, that one could almost
imagine, (when in a poetical mood, such as
Movedme when I heard two boys like them
sing, one Surniner day, lonking up to heaven,
in the Cathedral,bf tiologne,) that a seraph's
voice must be something like this, The
whole service was "choral" in its charac
ter. The Prayers were intoned; the psalms,
aocompariied by the organ, were chanted ;
and all was closed with the " Hallelujah"
chorus of the' great Handel. Never have
hdard a more exquisite combination of skill,
sweetness, and sonorousgrandeur of sound
--now soft at the evening breeze ; anon
e_Welling into the diapason thunder of Old
Ocean's Waves. There was great propriety
in the demeanor of the congregation. How
far this music and Singing was merely formal
and sensuous iin its character, it was not for
me to jtidge. English tastes and associa
tions are searcelyld be measured by a Scot
tish Preshyterian standard. For my part,
I hay s e no doubt that, through 'media, like
these, as centrasted'with our simpler attains,
genuine thanksgivings ascend from the
hearts' of thousands in this land to the
Throne on high. At all events,' the day
will surely come, when musk:and song, in
their loftiest and noblest utterances, will be
" Holiness to the Lord." '
- But Where is Doetor Tait; the new Bishop
of London? • The Canons and Prebendaries
are here, and the EiShop's Chaplains, too,
together with Cainutiisaries, Registrars, and
other EcclesiastidalLawyers and officers, as I
gather from ihese horse-hair Wigs which
cover their heads. But is there to be no
procession :?x No literal " enthroning ?"
The; procession has taken place already
4.f9rp,the service, and the Dean has con
diiefed. the Bishop into the Cathedral. Pre
-7.1011a to the service, also, 'there was a pre
,titation of the Bishop to the Chapter. The
Bishoptook the usual oaths. After the ser
vice, the Dean, Canons, made a prom
iac of "all eanonical.obedienee" to him.
Look now yonder to the central seat of
the stalls on the left, of the Choir. It is
. .
higher than the benches and stalls which
run on`each side of it under the gallery. it
is also by itself, and has a carved canopy
over it. That is the " THRoms," this the
.
feArlixD 8.A.;" and this day, in his own
,Cathedral 'Church, Dr. Archibald Tait, of
'Scottish hirth—first
,* 'student at Glasgow
University; then atOntnbridge; next, Head
Master atitngby School, (a successor of Doc
tor Arnold ;) next, irean of Carlisle—is ecde-