Presbyterian banner & advocate., January 10, 1857, Image 2

Namur aAiatillocatt.
PITTSBURGH, JAWVARAO, 1867.
Twang... slaw, In advance' or In Clubs,
$1.25; erg delle t eredat'tNisidenees of Subset'.
bars. 111.75. See Ptospeotus, on Third Page.
11. Eis ZVI, A - I. S should be prompt' a Hula
while hafts the year expbuis, , ,that,ett may
sagearranigninentie OW a stimuli , inapplif.
TIM RED WRAPPER indicates that we
desire a renewal. If, however, In the haste
of =Whig, this signal ehouid be omitted, we
hopo , netr 'frieisda .- 011 still not forgpi
REEITTANCESS—Send peyneent by safe
hands,
.when convenient. ..,.Or, send byy, moil,
enclosing with ordinary care, and troubling
nobody with a knowledge of what you aro
doing. Per a lards araount, send a,Draft, or
large panto.. !or ens °et** parolee send Gold
air !Week notes.
TO MANIA CHANGE, Send pottage stamps /
or better stin g send for more papers,. say SS
for .I§Crtaty .1111U100144 Or .1 for Thirtikhree
'DIRECT au Llntrnits and Caspatutileations
to REV. DAVID MoKINNKV. Pittsburgh'
IC.EKAttiqrs".-=Tho 'lslipossi is "accepted
Dn. Joart ADGER'S nomination to the
Professor's ia , the Theological Semi
nary, at ~Coluinbia, S. C., vacated by Dr.
Palmer, haa been confirmed *the Synod of
Georgia by annanimous vote.
TIELTENSETTERIAL Or s THE WEST name
to us, last weei,:considerably enlarged; and
announcing an tirrtingement by which it
will• be'able to present news earlier than
usual. It also states that 4 f the services of
Rev. John M., Wampler, late of Monticello,
Indiana, have been secured as an Associate
in the Publishing and Editorial depart
ments:" We welcome Mr. Wampler to the
fraternity.
Co'portage.
It will be seen, by 'the `communication in
another column, that`funds to carry on the
work of Oolportage, are greatly needed.
The Board has not a collecting agent in the
field. The reliance is upon PAsTons to
bring the subject before the people, and ar.
range for'the ireception and transmission of
,their benefactions.. Shall the work be done?
Yon say, 0, there are so many calls."
Well, be it so. Work for God' in the 'way
in which you can do something for, him.
Let each regard himself as a steward. Be
diligent. Be economical in personal expen.
ditures. Divide your means wisely. You
can take nothing'ont of the world with you.
So use it that you , shall,be estimated a good
and faithful servant. Christians must learn
.to live for usefulness.
Danville Seminarynd ie* York Benev
°lenge.
Rev'. Drs. 'Humphrey and Hill having re
turned from a visit to New York -where
they were 'engaged in soliciting funds for
the Theological Setinary at Danville, pub
lish a report of their "success, with an
.expres
sion of thankfulness. They, were most
kindly received _ by, the ministers and people,
of the Presbyterian churches. The peen.
liar friends - of Princeton Seminary .were
among` he largest donors to Danville; three
of them 'give $5OO each. The amount sub
scribed was $7,615, with assurances of an
increase 10'68,50,. Of these subscriptions,
$6,236 were promptly paid.
Acts of kindness,,in this :line, should`lhe
numerous and reciprocal. Chritit's true peo
ple are one, and , should love, honor and aid
each ether. The Presbyterian Church hi a
union' , on principle and by recorded vows,
and all its parts and sections, as members of
the body, have a mutual interast, and should
co-operate and rejoice together.
The Projected University.
The Synods of Ohio and Cincinnati, at
their"late meeting at Columbus, as reported
on our first page, hive agreed to locate their
University" at West iiiherty. Of tie wis
dom of 'the decision we cannot judge ; 'but
it falls in with. an= early prejudice of ours,
that a College will thrive best in 'a small
town ; there are fewer teMptitions, and
there is hence likely to be a better morality
and more .Btudy. - '
The' majority which fixed the location was
very small, but the previous resolution,
pleti,girsg i a flordial and unanimous support,
genres is that there are to be no divisions;
and the very large 'attendance of milliliters
and elders, shows' the deep interest felt.
The renewal of the declaration, that $200,-
000 is, to be secured 'before commeztoing the
building; evinces a determination to found
the , University on'a proper pecnniery basis.
We trust that a noble . disinterestedness,
as regards self, and the, purest and deepest
interest on behalf of, the enterprise, will be
every, where manifested-in these two Urge
Synods; and that the richest blessings from
above Will be bestoWed. .
Are All Supplied.
A new year ;has commence& Have the
duties belonging to the season been 'per
formed ? It is a proper time for reckoning
Does anything remain *be .done ?
One of the questions which the-anxious
Paatoi.i and the faithful Elders,, and the'
benaiolent Deacons will ask, is, are all the
people of the charge supplied with all the
ade4uate means of instruction which are
praetinable ? Raw each household at least'
one Weskit: journal, which faithfully sus
tains' the doctrines; and order of their Chnrch?
If not, then . imporiant medium of ben
efit is wanting. And shall not the defieien
ey,,be , made ,np, at once? The supply is
pv1061148.. There are very feli in dream
?sfraitened, that they cannot , raise
at which are tendered to them
lAyipo well-filled sheets; and not many
are there, ;.claiming to be 'Christians; who
00,141,4 tubs induced, by a wise and kind
im.isl,,t
° o , give their, - names as byb
se'
o , • And if any are too poor really to
1 , ,v
spare : tmourit needed, there 'is probably.
nolmanner in which , a gratuity to the extent
of one hundred andtwenty-five cents Could be
rutted, which praduotive
ifinike '34 to a faMil - knowledge ,:
more ,e4ifieldien, _and ,mbre ',stimulants to
bethiiquaintend 4 .; „
God has not, bound himself to aify„pirtie
tiler place, nor to any ' 'Specific v day, "r season
of the year, when and where be will beStow
regenerating grace ; , and
. espepially, be has.
not named the place nor the time when he
may not be Rought .advantageously by the
sorrowing sinner. The only limitation is,
that, he, will not hear those who have sinned
away their day of grace. Previously to that
sad hour, men, at any time and in any place
andln any . need, may call upon the name of
the Lord and be Saved. Offering the prayer
-of faith, with true - repentance, they shall
certainly be accepted. And always the
*Ord of truth in Christ Jesus, whenever and
wherever duly preached, shall have its con
verting and sanctifying influenee. Never is
the Gospel proclaimed, we believe, by
Christ's herald, but that there is a soul in the
audience which is_to be saved and which re
ceives benefit from the message. This is a
delightful thought, cheering intensely to' the
devoted minister.
But still, is there not a time , slightly, inti
mated in Scripture, the thought strengthened
by the analogy of God's works in the natur
al world, and the season indicated to the
I Church by successive outpourings of God's
Spirit, which may be denominated the reviv
time-thee harvest time, coming in its
appointed order P inhere is, the Chnrch
should know it,,and shouldjmprove
.it and
thus be saved from the sad 'despairing cry,
"The harvest is past and the Summer is end
ed, and my people are not saved." The
subject. is worthy an, inquiry. Even if noth
ing can ,be determined with certainty, we
may-yet be led to the contemplation:of truths
which will strengthen 'our faith and stimu
late to activity.'
In'
the Old Testament Church there were
special seasons appointed for protracted re
ligious services: In these, God would meet
his people and Iless them as at the Pass
over, Pentecost; and the Feast of Taber
nacles. God speaks also •of a time when, he
may be found; a season when he is near, an
accepted time, a day -of salvation. • That
`there were, 'of' old, annual seasons for ''the
enjoying of the'DivinefaVor, in religious
ser
vices,, is manifest.; and that there is &season
'of grace, which, if not annual, occurs yet
once in' the period of human life, is equally
clear. 'And the thought that there may be,
to the Church, an annual season of a more
than ordinary, bestowment of reviving grace,
is. not at all Inconsistent with God's ways of
goodness. '
'God works much by seasons. go it has
pleased him. He has'appointed a seed time
and a harvest; a Summer and a Winter. It ,
is not always the one, nor always the other.
Men sow, and afterwards-they reap. They,
sow again, and patiently wait the appointed
time for gathering. There is the springing
forth of the earth's verdure, the harvest of
grain,and the Autumnal fruits. Men'do not
plant and gather,•nor'sow* and reap at the
same seasons. _
And the recurrence of the season for har-
vest and ingathering does not, of itself, se
cure the fruits. There must have been a
preyious sowing and planting. Human in
dustry," and, skill, and watching, must have
preceded: Without these, the harvest time,
though divinely ordained, would' come= and
depart unblest. There would still be empty
barns and a starving people. ' Thus it is in
the kingdom of nature.
Now, does not all this teach, by analogy,
that there way be a• harvest season in the
kingdom of Glace? It is the same God
Who .ordains Wand rules_ in each kingdoin.
And nothing is more'domnion in his teach
ings, and especially in the , instructions given
by Christ, than to illustrate the one kingdom
by the other.
•
We Ita.ve the husbandman, the vine-dress
•
er, the sower, the garden, •the fields, the
vineyard, the fig-tree, the harvest, the barn,'
the garner,"the early and the latter.rain, and,
the fruit in, its season. There is 41e sowing,
and the blade, and the ear, and the full corn,
in, the ear. There are the rains, - andqhe
winds, ..and. 'the heat, and the drought.
There is every vicissitude adapted to the
growth; the ..ripening, and the ingetherini.
'Hay we notthen be justifted copying out,
the analogy, and saying, modestly, but in
hope, there may be an annual harvest in the
Divine economy, for gathering the , fruits.
of the spiritual laborer's husbandry, in the
kingdom of grace--:-a season for the recur 7
renee of which we' Shall look in the strong,
exercise of faith and expectation; for which
we shall prepare . by a timely sowing of the
seed and a diligent attendance upon its pill
tare; and when we shall be prepared, and
shall actually set to work,- to 'gather in the.
harvest? Truly, if wuclo not expect har
vest' time we shall not. prepare for it; and if
we prepare not for it, there will be nothing
to gather. But if we sow we shall reap, and
reap in accordance with our sowing; good
fruit and bountifully, and the fritit in its '
season. •
~, < , ;
Surely, to expect a time, a favored , time,
a set time for her Lord to visit his Zion , in
his love, would be a great stimulatit to her
servants tomake the duepreparation. They
would strive to have all things ready. She
would awake and put on her beautiful gar
mentos. To have a ivise division of time and
rightly,apportioned iabor, is 'immensely im
portant to, the husbandman,' the vine -dresser,
and the steward. Thus we may reason `fo7
the importance of ,a due ,arrangement and
appropriation of , time and employment with'
the ministers, of Christ. They are Tightly
to divide the Word, and dispense its portions
in due 'season.
Now, is there anything in the history of
God's dispensations .of , mercy to his Church
—anything in the history of revivals, which
indicates a season of the 'year when the spir
itual husbandman, who has sown and planted,
and cultivated well, and watched and guard : -
edmith diligence and wisdom may expect
to reap
,and gather in his htirvest, ,:;Is the
Winter and especially the former part of the
Winter such a season,?. Is it the date of re
vivals 7,,,Qttr own pastoralexperience would
indicate it both ,
( A,
Aevivieg Time.
VIEE PRESBYTERLIN " 13A INNER AND ADVOCATE.
Bored season. And our observation cones
ponds with our experience. ;,:How is it with:,
others? We have never nude it ;ti matter:
of conference with brethreti, nor of inquiry,
nor have lye, noted our reading with this
view. The thought has but recently oc
curred 'to us; but now, in searching all our
reminiscences, the idea is vividly before us,
that the early part of : Winter has been the;
season of the year in which, in nearly if not
quite all instances, we have enjoyed, or wit
nessed in the charges - of others the enjoy
ment of, a reviving time.
And, in the orderings of Providence, there
is reason in this. Man is so conqituted,
that he can attend:earnestly to but one thing
at a time. And he is so circumstanced that
there are many things which claim,impera
tively, his diligent care. And a revival is
an event'whieh to enjoy and carry on ab
sorbs his whole soul. Hence it cannot, in
its deep power, continue very long. Neither
man's nature in its feebleness, nor his other
wants in their impetiortiness,could endure it.
We may look for a revival, then, when a
people enjoy comparative freedom from oth-
er pressing claims; and that time is the S'ea
son which we have indicated. It is the
season of leisure. In the Spring and through
the Summer, and in the early Autumn, hus
handry, and;trade, and buidness in its various
forms, and sometimes, politics' superadded,
demand' men's time and anxious care.
Scarcely can they find leisure to attend to
their daily devotions and their Sabbatb-day
worship, sufficient to keep alive, and in a
strengthening state, the plants of grace which
had previously taken a deep root. But early
Winter is the season of comparative rest
from worldly care. God 'has so ordered it in
his wise dispensations; .and be says to his
Church, How is the accepted' time; callupon
me, for lam near, and oft and untiringly
as he may have reiterated that cry, in, their
busy days that are past, yet now he says em
phatically, lam near. I may be found.
Seek , me now.
Suppose, then, that pastors and churches
shall , regard this particular season of the
year, as their favored' time of ingathering;
and shall adapt their, labors thereto—their
preaching, iisitatiens, catechizings, personal
addresses to the' young, their "busin'ess, their
leistire,, all their arrangements, Have a Pen
tecost, and expect a Pentecostal out Touring.
Are there not- intimations in God's' Word,
and indications in man's" nattire, wants and
circumstances : and, facts in the history of
God's gracious bestowments of reviving
grace, which would justify such au arrange
ment and 'such 'expectations'? And' would
it not be wise in ministers, elder* and people,
to cherish the hope ,?
We can see nothing wrongin-the thought.
we are laboring to present. It would not be
a limiting of the Ifoly One of Israel. He
would be regarded still as ready, at, all
times, to hear the -suppliant's cry, and able
to save. There would'be no encouragement
to' procrastinate. Every motive , from the
value'of the soul, the preciousneas of
reli
gion, the danger of delay, the freeness' of
the promises, the uncertainty of life, the
suddenness of an unexpected death, and
the certainty and awfulness of judgment,
could be still, and unabated' fora%
brought to bear upon, the sinner.
And while we can see nothing wrong,
there , are evidently great adiantages con
nented' with the suggestion we make. It
:corresponds with the analogy of God's work
ing in the kingdom of nature ; it accords
with - Scriptural illustrations ; it is adapted
to Marian capabilities'and the varied duties
of life •it Would be a rational di Jai f
tfine,that the ;spiritual;Workman might at
tend to each of his duties, or parts of labor,
in , season-'—instructing` and establishing the
young convert, nurturing the advancing
Christian, defeilditig the oniposti of Zion,
warning, the, persevering sinner, presenting
the invitations of the Gospel, and dwelling
on the evidences of regeneration.
Godiworks , by system. Look abroad, and
behold it. Eiamide minutely, and admire
it. Wise men Work by system. 'Scrutinize
the order of their plans, and mark their sue
cess. Pastors should „have system in their
labors, and :what we : suggest would lead to
it. May we not , then ask for the subjeot a
serious•thought P
We can readily anticipate an objection.
We have alluded to it. Men will say, why,
the Winter hasuome and gone all our-lives,
and
.we have seen no special revivals. True,
it may be so; and it would be just so with
the harvest time of Suminer, if no man ex 7
pectect ft T'.;.ere would be the 'season of
the'year, but no ingathering no replenish.
ed barns nor full.. garners. Why ?,. Be
cause the seed wonldnet be sown, the soil
would lie unlined; a i iid the fields would not
be hedged. No preParationyfoUld.be made.
God's appeinted time, would come and de
part, hut man would not be blessed. So is
it with , the spiritual husbandman.. if he is
uninformed or unbelieving, he' not' 'ex
poet the hariest; hence he, will not.duly
sow, nor cultivate, and ';God's, time to, favor
Zion, even the time _which he has .set, will
come and depart; but his heritage will abide
unblest.
Now, 'what the experience of our
churches 2 The few revivals which we
have, come, generally if not always, at the
,season named. But our people are unbeliev
ing;, ,
have no expectation; no pre-adanted
arrangement; no specific preparations nor.
labors. ; .The Winter—the proper if not the
appointed season- comes Men have
ure. Entertainment and excitement are
needed. The theatre opens:; the opera in
vites ; the ball-room.allures ; systems of lec
tures are gotten up ; the world tenders the
means of gratifying - the desire 'for excite,.
went, and it has the masses. ,
The poor
pastor goes on in his old way, laboringin
row; the elders lead their little : dwindling
prayer-meetings,: , and mourn ; Christians
wonder at the folly-of men; and sorrow' over
their straying children.' . But why is it
thus ? Why ?is because the pastors,
and
elders, and. Phristian l people not
SOlN.tra t-fori the: season i :Thejt. lave-Aid
measures adapted to its leishre, and to the
excitability of the' human-`mind, and the
wants of 'the rnultitude:• The means Of en
tertainment are unprovided by the Church,
and the devil steps into the empty and gar
nished house, taking with him his wicked
spirits, and he has things to hie liking !
Alas, for the pastors, and rulers, and people
of the Church/ They are thrown back in
those days—thrown back because they have
not wisely and .holdly put themselves for
ward. , '
Oh, .when will the children of the king
dutut be wise ! When will ministers and
elders,' and Christians young and old; but
especially ministers, who are theleaders of
the people, when will they be as consecrate
as their vow demands, and as judicious as
God would make them by his teachings, and
as is required by their high calling? It
will he a hip . Py day for Zion, when her,
watchmen shall be all wide awalie, and all
her children shall wisely discern the signs
of the times. 'They will then sow the seed,
and tend <it well, and gather in the fruit in
its season ; in some, thirty; in some, sixty;
and in some, ,an_hundred fold.
Hume and Foreign neeOrd.
The January number has been before ns
for several days. ' Its mostinteresting, though
not the Most pleasant contents,. have , been
already presented, by communications and
appeals from the Secretaries of the Boards.
It is, painful to be under the necessity of,
day and night as it were, importuning Chris
tians to be : mindful of Zion's wants and
prompt and liberal in their supply. To plead
the Lord's cause is a privilege • but to have
joy therein, is the result of success. The
preparation of a supply of ministers for the
ehurehes„.the sustentation of feeble congre
gations, the' distributing of religious books,
the 'erection-of chitrch edifices for the poor,
and -the support Foreign Missions, all
claim increased contributions. These things
are the appropriate work of the Church—
that is, of ministers and people.
DOMESTIC MISSIONS
We have reports from Kentucky, by
,Robert Morrison.; from Pennsylvania, by
D. Hull; from Missmi, by David C. Irwin;
and from. Texas; by IL F. B.
RECEIPTS for November: At Philadelphia, $4,444;
at Pittsburgh; $184; at Louisville, $1,075. ,
•
EDUCATION
Reports of visits of the ,Secretaries to the
Synods; evince that the, cause of Education
is dear to the repreisentatives of the churches.
May we not hope' that, speedily, the liberal
ity of the ,contributions, and the many con
secrations of young men to the work, will
show kgeneral desire for greatly multiply
ing the number of laborers in the ministry?
- Meting lit November : At Philad'elphia, for can
didates, $1,627; for Schools and Colleges,
$,1,150; at. Pittsburgh, s6l9`; at Louisville,
$162.
FOREIGN MISSIONS.,
From China, iSiam, India ; Africa, South
America, and the Indian tribes, we have
accounts of the progress of the work, with
out anythingot very, extraordinary interest.
The wants, however, are very great; the
facilities for successful operation' are in
creased.; the missions should be immensely
extended. the : Lord invites us 'to.be work
ers together.with him, in enlightening the
dark. places.of the earth. He would use us
in the converting.of the nations. He calls
us, one and all. Who can refuse'!
...66i<trictiv's' in November,
.$7,389.
PUBLICATION
The Corresponding. Secretary visited, last
Pall? the Synods Of Baltimore, Wheeling,
Pittsburgh, .SOutliO4olina, and North. 'Car
olina, and met,, aiwastkeeonaing, a cordial
reception. On the subject of. Colportage,
see the •Seeietarys litter,: in another
eolunni. -
Nxsv PUBLICATIONS.—The Board, with
Cominendable zeal, are addressing themselves
to the,work ; of lurnishing a Juvenile Liter
ature. Ten interesting little'. volumes are
named. Fer their,names and eharaeter, see
Litex:arytiotieo3, from wee,k to week.
Racrans : Donations, from. November 13th to
December 17th, $668; Wes from November
`lst to November 30th, $2,769.
CIIURCEI EXTENSION.
The Corresponding Secretary is one of
the persevering ; , tm of laborers ; -and all
his zeal is needed to awaken the churches.
But he laborsin "a cause which is worthy the
highest efforts of the Christian minister.
Chnrches are indispensable, and help to
build them,. in many places, is a sine qua
non. Presbyterians will soon 'come to un
derstand *this better:
,
RECEIPTS irrNoTexaber : St. Louie', 1r,p14 ; Phila
$337 ; Pittsburgh sBs.'
MEI
Sa4ath School Anniversary.
.The. Sabbath Schools connected with the
" Second Presbyterian church," in this
city, held their Anniversary on last Sabbath
afternoon. The meeting was deeply inter
esting. It was opened with singing by the
children. Rev. , Mr. = NClung offered
prayer.' Dr. Hoinrd made a brief state
ment` of the condition of the schools.
There are two connected with the church at
present one called , the First < School,
the other the Infant School.. The former
contains upwards 'of a hundred pupils; th,3
la:tter above eighty:. The Filet School has,
during the past year,, contributed upwards
of ;eighty dollars 'to :benevolent objects; the
latter about fifteen'. Besides these schools,
thernare two 'Bible Classes, one feraile and
the other mile Aniiected with the church.
These classes also have 'contributed a con
siderable amount to benevolentobjects, and
the 'Dr. stated that-there were quite a num
ber added' to the communion Vona., the fe
male class and ;that froth it, teachers were
furnished 'to the ,schools. Until recently
there wets a Miisionary School supported by
the Sabbath School Association of the
church, and supplied with teachers from it,
principally butit bgen Suspended on
account of the dilapidated, and unsafe condi
tion of the house in which it was held.
Dr. XI. Wasfolinwed hy Dr. Jacobus, who
addressed the.parents and teachers,' particu
larly ; the , :fortneiyA Ho ; urged , the -duty of
parental instruction ) as paramount' all
others, and as being, in the nature of things,
more effective th i an the teaching of any
other possibly could. No matter how igno
rant the, parent, or how gifted another in
structor, still, the parent's infineit`ce'was the
greatest, But this, he said,: did not relieve
the Church of its duty to its baptized chil
dren. Ile said that in these days, when
the good old custom of Catechetieal instruc
tion from house to house was not practiced,
Sabbath, Schools seemed ,to by Divinely or
dered to take its place in some degree; but
he urged. the duty of parents to prepare
their children for the Sabbath School, to
know what kind of teachers they had there,
and to attend as teachers thentselv when
practicable, and in ,no case to let anyin
struction they May receive there, supersede
the Sabbath evening and morning's instruc
tion around their. own fires..
The children . of the Infant School then
were examined by the:Superintendent for a
few moments, answering, in concert, and a
hymn was sung. They were then addressed
by Dr.- Plumer, whose plain and forcible
illustration; secured the attention of all, and
we doUbt not but that'even the;youngest
child there appreciated what was said. His
remarks will be remembered by some of
those dear children, we doubt not, when he
shall have gone to his reward in joy.
After a short prayer, and a collection to
aid in support of the schools, and another
sweet hymn, this interesting meeting closed.
Such Anniversaries ,
,have an immense in
fluence for good, upon the children, the
teachers, the parents the pastor and the con
gregation. We heartily commend them to
the churches.
ANOTHER 'OF THE" FATHERS GONE.--We
learn, by a letter from Rev. S. M. Temple
ton, that Rev. James Henry Dickey, of
Peoria Presbytery, died on the 24th , of De•
eember, aged seventy-six.,ryears and ' two
months. -Time hastens all onward. The
young become aged, and the aged leave this
field of action. But, whether called "early
or late, the e , ood and faithful servant is
appFoved.
yerthe Presbyteriert Banner and Advocate
Funds Needed for Colportage.:
COLPORTAGE DEPARTMENT
OF THE PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OP PUBLICATION, 1
,TaSttaty 1, 1867.
There is at this time an 'urgent need of
funds for Colportage. The good providence
of. God has furnished us, during the past six
months, with offers of Colportage service
more numerous than in - any previous and
equal portion , of the, Board's, history. ~.The
necessity for. Colportage labms, has, on the
other hand, been from every section of the
country urged on our, attention. Under
these circumstances the number of, Colpor
tears in the service of the Board has been
largely increased since last Spring. Owing
to thislact; the Colportage Fund is at this
time overdrawn fully $5000; and our only
hope for paying off these arrearages, and
sustaining our extended scale of operations,
is in the promptness and liberality .of the
churches. ' -, , ' •,
The Synods and Presbyteries are now
troughk their Fall session's. They have
vary generallY adopted resolutions, urging
this, along with the other 'schemes of the
General Assembly, upon the 'attention and
the liberality of the churches,. Will not
pastors and Sessions see tort that the Spirit
of these resolutions is carried out in behalf
of the Board of Publicatißby their respect
ive churches ? Will;, they not, wherever
nothing has yet been dope for this =Use,
during the current year, secure a contribu
tion, and forward it at'the earliest practica
ble day? And let' it'be remembered 'that
the current fiscal year of the-Board extends
only: .
Synodical and , Presbyterial , Colportage
Committees-are requested , to send us %Band
accurate reports of their proceedings up to
the - first of Mord, at, as early. a . day after
warde.as possible. .
. , WILLIAM E. SCHENCK, , . • -
_ . Corresponding Secretary.
For the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate
EncouragingAn Prospect:
Da. 1410 KINNEY was one of a Committee of
PeoriwPresbytery, who Met on the 29th , day of
NoveMber, to organize a Presbyterian church at
the.village of Dwight, in Livingston County;
The Committee were happy to find the way clear
to proceed with the organization, Which consiate
of eight members, one of whom by their choice;
was.set over them as a Ruling Elder. • -
This is a little flock in number, but theY lave
a very good prospect of rapid increase. Dwight
is a very promising Village, situated
,on the Chi
cago and 'Mississippi Railroad, abont Seventy
miles from Chicago, in a rather new but rapidly
populating region. of conntry.' The land is very
fertile, Mid• well adapted to farming.( Its remote
new from market has prevented its settlement
hitherto, but that obstacle is now removed.
Presbyterian families are invited to turn their at
tention,to Dwight. ' • • '
- Yours in Christian love; • /AMMER DODD.
Eastern'Correspondence.
Couhe of :For.
:gel—Strange Defenee---Dreaqul4 Dcpravity—A
-Pliyeician'a Testintony—'Aw Itiaorti* not' knoton
in : Law 7 ,-!‘ .11facineas'!.: frqnt .4 :Wicked `Heart-=
Rejlections---Legal Definition of ineayzity-.7 1 14-
.
mph of Law.. ' ,
Nzw. YORK January 3, 1857.
Mn. Boman, :---The trial of .Charles B.
Huntingdon for forgery, has been tbe topic
of conversation amongalls.lasses.during the
past week. It is pronounced, by the presi
ding Judge, as "the most„extraordinary
trial for forgery recorded down to this time
in the' criminal history Of our own country,
if not of, the'world." •,. Without money and
without credit, but with unparalleled bold
ness and self-confidence this, man has gone
into Wall - Street and by his 'wholesale for
geries has obtained not tens, , but hun
dreds of, thousandS of.,dollars from some, of
its sharpest and most successful,' money
lenders. He has secured credits at various
Banks, founded on these same forgeries, to
the amount of millions of .doilars. - Ile has'
livedin the most prodigal and extravagant
manner • in •houses,crowded with luxuries
and elegancies, attended by ten or ,a dozen
servants, with bands Of : music at ,his meals,
or at other times, and with horses and car
riages the most expensive kind, and
enough to furnish him with fresh " turn
out' almost every day of, the week . , ;
has ,
pursued this course, not- for days and'
weeks, lnit for months and years, without
any . extraordinary precaution, and with , the
knowledge, in some instances with the con
nivance, of the men from whom , his money
was,obtained. With such inaecuracy , were
some of the papersdrawn---with the names.
of parties misspelled,. for example, or'
misplaced --that the slightest inspection must
reveal :their character ;.while; they were ae-.
luallygonored
and
men: .who ,knew„ themAo
be' fergfiries, and . who tleclined;.to report.
them . 'to, anithoritiesl usualwHiusualineChlie semishex:been' to give his
note for the sum he borrowed, and deposit
his .forged papers al collateral security.
When his note became due, he borrowed,'
from other parties in 'the same way, paid it,
and took away his papers, without exposure,
though not alwaYs without suspicion, or de
tection. Yet by borrowing in this manner
alternately from three or four different
firms, or individuals, he has been permitted
to practice his villainies with impunity for
years, and might have continued them for
an indefinite period, had he not carelessly
suffered one of his papers to go out of his
hands, and to be presented for payment to
the firm in whose name it was drawn, and
by whom it was at once pronoimeecra
forgery.
But the most extraordinary feature of this
trial was the theory adopted- by the defeiree,
and the testimony in its favor of emineat
medical men, who were summoned as wit
nesses. Mills crime was so barefaced and
aggravated as to leave no doubt of its com
mission, it was impossible to dispute it, and
therefore it- was attempted to explain and
excuse it, on the plea of insanity. This
plea was as unexpected to the public as
it was preposterous in itself, and startled
them as though they had received 'an elec
tric Shock, or heard thunder' from a' clear
sky. It encountered immense difficulties,
and therefore most damaging and dangerous
methods were resortedto in its support. In
'stead of shielding the character of Hunting
don, the'utmost effort was made 'by his
counsel, to blacken and destroy it, and with
such Success as to leave no question in the
mind of most who heard the testimony, of
his utter recklessness and depravity. In
childhood he was'ungoverned on the ground
of ill health ; • in' boyhood he was wayward
and untrained to industry or self control;
while his manhood has been devoted to va
rious fraudulent but unsuccessful schemes for
obtaining other. men's money without labor
or recompense on his part: In other words,
he Was shown to bea most unprincipled and
shameless speculater in bogus banks, stocks,
cemeteries; etc. So. wild and persistent
were his schemes; so prodigal were his ex
penditures, and se reckless was he of con
sequences, that, his extreme criminality was
urged as conclusive proof of,his insanity. He
must - be mad, was the: argument, `or' he
Weird not have been so' daring,desperate
and persevering in his frauds and forgeries.
This was the theory of the defence. To
give it plausibility, and insure its 'success,
.two eminent physicians, Drs: Willard'Parker
and C. B. Gilman, were induced, by his
'counsel, to 'visit and examine him in prison;
it is' surmised, after he was secretly prepared
for the interview. They fotind him totally
'insensible to the turpitude of his Crime, and
to the disgrace attending his condition. No
allusion to, his wife and chiltifen, to his
fallen fortunes, or probable punishment,
could draw from him an expression of re- ,
gret or sign of fear. He quietly told thena
he knew it was a crime to "make paper,"
as he had done; thatle did it because "he
liked it ;" that he had done it before -and
escaped punishment, and was perfectly sure he
should escape , this time. He had no in
tention of injuring any one by it; and left
the impression on their minds that he would
repeat. the.offence should he 'be set at lib
erty. . He entertained them, too, with a
description of 'his headaches, 'sleeplessness,
% = noises like trip-hammers in his ears, and
sparks., as if , from a blacksmith's anvil in
his eyes. = These symptoms 'of' disease,- with
his callous appearance; his reckless career,
and Some cases of insanity 'that had pre
, viously occurred in- hisfanilly, brought the
physicians to the conclusion that he was, in
fact; mad. •He could mot feign tlae utter in
sensibility he exhibited; 'and could not= have
tberesistless tendency to crime heinanifested
on any other supposition.. His brain, the
ergan , through.whicle , his mind acted, was
diseased, and though he could discriminate
.right from wrong, he could' not 'help 'doing
ivroig; and ought not to be held accountable
for it. So firmly persuaded was Dr. Gilman
of his insanity, and of his consequent hind
cenee, that he declared he should not con
sider him responsible were' heto'rise up and
commit murder: in open court. This same
Witness, when. questioned' on the subject,
said,: too, " I know little of ,‘ depravity;':it,
is not a scientific word. I consider a de
praved mind a diseased mind I I"
But what sort of insanity is this - which
leaves the' intellect' unimpaired and only
blunts 'the moral sense or vitiates the moral
feelings r' It fortunately unknown in law,
if -it is recognized in medicine, while it is
set' forth in its true, light' in Scripture, and
one cannot help regretting that two' Doctors
of Divinity'had not been substituted.for the
.Dectoreof Medicine; in this trial; and" the
Bible been referred to as authority instead
of Ray!e - Medical Jurisprudence, because
much confusion could thus have been avoid
ed and much precious time saved. This in
nate and' inveterate tendency to evil, is no
novelty to those who have to do *with the
human heart; while the Bible boldly callsit
"madness'," though it holds men responsible
for its indulgence. What is, more common
than te see &confirmed criminal 'indifferent
to his crime; and to his condition; or positive
in asserting his innocence, and 'confident of
scouring his escape I What more coalmen
than to see the successful'criminal, prodigal
in his expenditures and .boastful of his nil--
quities, which he dignifies with the name of
virtues.or exploits, and which he'glorieign
repeating when there is a:prospent of obtain
ing booty' or 'a chance of encaping"Titinish
nient -Even :those ' Whiii4orrpotie reforms=
tion, 'often returnas "the-dog to'his voniit,aiid
the sow - that was - washed, •to her wallowing:
in the mire." And if this propensity and
purpose •to commit crime is- proof of "Mad
ness," it is that which the Bible declares to
proceed from a "heart full of evil." The
insensibility,-which'is one of its syimptorns,
comes from- " a conscience seared as with a
hot'" iron," the result - of its commission,'
though not the' apology for crime; while'
the infatuation under which the criminal'
labors respecting his good intentions or pros
peet of escape, is part of the " strong delu
sion "- which-inclines him "to believe a lie
that he may be 'damned," for the pleasure
he has had in the practice' of iniquity 1' Are
not the Scriptures full and frequent-in their
description's of " this form of moral insanity
under which term it was sought on this trial
to cloak the most heinous' crime ? :Where
is there indeed a, morestriking ex.ample of it
than in the Parable of the Prodigal Son,
whose reformation is described as "a coming
to:'himself," as though his previous career of
prodigality, vice, and suffering, had been a'
state of madness ? And then if this form
of insanity is the result -of a ' " diseased or
ganization, ' or " urthealthybrain;" in otheei
words, if it has its seat in the body, ite Was
contended,. and -nail). the mind, the greater'
the crime the less guilty the criminal;'-be,
cause the more :aggravated hist - offence 'the
more violent his disease, and , the itiore there
fore he is to be pitied rather than Condemned.
He is simply nnfortunatei tboligh' he has
committed: murder, and shonld — be handed
over te the -physician &vie - co - very as if he
were blind , or deaft , ---m4 t'O the - Sheriff for
execution .as if .he was 4 . :eriininal. Indeed
the commisiion of crime wiauld,on this theory-,
be- prima • facie • evidence Id disease; and
; therefore.inen =ay stealalie, cheat and com
mit all uncleanness and wolencei provided
they do' ; it with sufficient greediness and
atrocity,i‘without incurring the suspicion of
I.guilt or liability to punishment. It is only
slight offenders who could be counted erim,-
nal
lecanse there might be some room to
question the reality of their "diseased organ
ization !" Is it any .wonder that such a
doctrine should startle men, coming from the
source it did and fraueht with such destruc
tive consequences teethe morals and even the
existence of Society ! Yet its discovery is
claimed as one of the triumphs of modern
medical science, while the law is condemned
as old fogyish because it adheres to its "test
for insanity . ," which is at least two hundred
Years old., and which makes it to consist in
" the knowing right from wrong." This
view the Judge clearly insisted on in this
trial, defining insanity as the "being unsound
in mind, deran g ed , diseased or unnatural
in intellect." cirhile he declared the law
knew nothing of that moral insanity which
allowed "a person to steal your property,
barn your dwelling, or murder you, and
know that the deed is a criminal offence and
that be will,be punished, if tried and con
victed, and may be able to reason on the
subject, and yet be guiltless!" May the law
remain'old fogyish and never adopt so re
volting a sentirtient under any plea of pro
gress, if it desires to be sustained by the
common sense, the conscience and the reli
gion of the mass of mankind.
But it is, said the mind, the immortal part
of man, cannot be diseased, and therefore
this moral as well as intellectual insanity,
muse have its seat in the body; or, as the
mind acts through the brain, must be affec
ted by its condition. But how do we know
that the mind cannot be diseased ? Not
indeed as the body, but in : a manner cor
responding to its nature ? At all events,
we know that it is: depraved, darkened, and
alienated from the light and life of God, in
whose image it was created, while it is not
the mind or intellect at all, but the heart or
affections that are at fault in moral insanity.
Not to continue this train of remark,
however, let me add in a word, that the
conviction and ' sentence of Huntingdon,
brought sensible:relief to the whole commu-
Jay-,..,4,was shown; to_be possible to pun
ish a great and wealthy offender even in
New'York. The fearful consequences ap
prehended from his acquits], have been
averted. The novel and dangerous theory
of, his, defence, has received its quietus.
.COrnmon sense has triumphed over " science
falsely so called."
. I,aw and justice have
'in this instance,' united in their verdict.
FOr could question the righteousness of
the sentence, or doubt the sanity of a man
who could, by, his adroitness and address,
deceive for years, some of the shrewdest
financiersin the • money market. May this
case Infig prove a' warning to those "who
haste to be and thereby "fall into
Many loolishCand hurtful lusts, which drown
men in destruction and perdition."
Yours- &C B.
Eeclesia,sticaL
Mr. P....A. APKaarrnr was ordained, by the
Prvsbytery of West Jersey, on the 3d of
• December, and installed at. Cape Island.
Rev S. J. BAIRD has resigned his pastoral
charge at Keokuk, lowa.
Rev. Dr. BOWMAN has accepted- a call in
Brytca. _County, Ga.
'J'Asms D. REARDON. was ordained, by
the Presbytery of Northnnaberland, Dec.
I9th, and installed at Sunbury and North
_
timberland.
From our London Corr,espondent
Doctor Livingston, the African Missionary and
~.Trareler--The futura of ilfrica---Different
Ifis
a;ons there—The Re.solu,e' and, the United States
`,COU'grees-Z.A. "Welcome in Prepara L tion--Rusaian
Diplomacy and Trickery—The " nines' " anncer
—The "medal. men 7; from the Crimea--Thc
Cvnnaught Ranger and his. Stories—Sir R. Peel,
and the .Statesman's Resource in Trouble—Free
Church Missions to the. Jews in Germany and Tar
' ko , Y 2 —ffer losses by Death—The Scottish Enspi
tal Festival—The :Dinner, the 'Dish, and the
. Queen's Piper-General Williams and Judge
RallybUrton-Postsciipt. •
L'OND.ON, Dec. 16, 1856.
That missionaries;have done •more than
most men of scientific pretensions, for the
extension of civilization, is a truth which
even/now is reludantly • acknowledged by
the world. ,But that an'increasing convic
tion prevails that they have been and are the
best friends rind pioneers of Ethnological re
searches, as ,well afeof geographical discov
ery; and• that to them:Literature is indebted
for the xeduetion of the' unwri t ten and bar
barous dialects of many a' savage tribe and
race r to teuritten form', with the grammati
cal; construction of: each unraveled; and,
above the' Holy Scriptures,' or portions
thereof, translated into these tongues, and
read by,both young and =old;'I affirm,
is incoiatestablyr true; and the bitterest ene
mies of Missions, as such; dare not deny it.
We ,have : another illustrious example of
the indebtedness of. philanthropy and science
to this:;class of :men, in the Rev. Dr. Liv
ingston, the-;renowned African Traveler.
Hellas just returned: to England after an
absence of seventeen years. When he was
taken on board a British ship-of-war, on the
Mozambique coast, he found great difficulty
inrspeaking a sentence in English, having
disnaed it so long while traveling in Africa.
F He crossed the great African Continent,
almost:in.:the centre from East to West; has
been where no European ever was before,
and has made most: valuable discoveries.
He ,traveled in: the two-fold character of
missionary and physician; having obtained a
medical diploma. , ; . He thus sought to do good
both to the;bodies ..and souls of men; and
while he:healed the sick, he directed them
to the GreatlPhysicien.
Dr. •Livhigaton'is described as 'rather a
short man, with a;pleasing and serious court
tenaneef, and of most determined aspect,
He isUingularly modest, and-never spoke of
hii - trayels,• except when questions were ad
, &reseed to him. He has mine' home with
an arm- almost useless from' a wound in
-.
; ilieted-by a lion, whichonth others, had at
tacked his camp •-at , akight, and Which,
':having been shot and wounded, -after
wards sprang nrionlund wounded himself
and two natives;-before it fell down dead.
The wounded,!arni; was not set properly.
The Doctor:wilhbe received with all honor
by' the Geographical and other learned so
cieties And his name and achievements will
increase; the lustre which already is shed
aroundthe annals of the London Missionary
Bede.ty.'
The progress of the 'Gospel in Africa
hitherto' has been but' small. Let us hope
Illat a new era in its spiritual history is
nbaut to dawn. The Church Missionary
Society, and your own Liberian Coloniza
tion system,' together with the Missions of
the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland
at Old Calabar,. have '% done `much for the
Western Coast. It is plain, however,
that
the oliinate is . of thatcheracter, that Euro
peans:and , Amerieans .eatr, as in India and
elsewhere,.be but the pioneers of a native
ministry. Notlong . since, a fresh applica
tion was, made' to our Government to fit out
or Benefic:ea freehexpedition for tracing the
Niger, , with what results, I believe, is not
yet known./
The news that the Mann STATES CON-