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PITiBBI7RGH, JANUARY 24,1857.
0/41Ipt advance ; or In Clubs
el .gli; daliriiredid residencies of lhalaserie
bora, 111.111. dee Prospectus, 011 Third Pages
RHi li SW AL II should be prompt; e little
111'1141, "prima tbe' glair isidway that we sway
soaks full arrangements for a steady supply.
MORA 143111.-WRAPPWL Indicates that Iwo
dudre a renewals tro however, In the baits,
ar attOthlt signal illosidlbs omitted* we
harm our Mends WU, sill' not forget aks.
REMITTANCEIL—ben
payment by safe
hands, when convenient.. Or s mood by
enclosing with ordinary care, and troubling
11 11101661* wtti a.:linivviedge of what you are
ein& Per is large amount, send a Drafts or
wisp Ko i n e. Par sensor two papersoend Gold
or, small notes.
TO MaKla CIIANO*I Bend postage itaropo,
or . ll4llei 'kith send for more papiras say $5l
Sorsaitylossaborog or $1 for Thlityothooo
AU-Lottoro outdDoausannicatiooo
to LIAM DAVID .11161MNAIre Pittsburgh.
A.OKNOWIaLDOMENT.—Received of " ; A
!Orient," aiid paid over twenty dollars for
Foieig t h ‘Missions.
THEOLOGHOAL SEBSINARY OF THE NORTH-
WgsT.—As may be 'omen in our "Notices,"
the-Directorit of this Institution are to Meet
in the North Presbyterian Church, Chicago
on tuasday the 3d day of Pebruary next.
!/13usiness of vital importance," Bays the
President of the Board, "demands the preE
ence of 'every member."
THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN of the
West, is the name of a new paper, pub•
lished at Monmouth, 111., DAVID MAODILL,
D. D., Editor;. the first , No. of which is
now'before us. It is a sheet of 'a.bout the
medium size of religious papers, and prom
ises fairly for usefulness. It will maintain
the sentiments of the Associate Reformed
Presbyterian church. It has our cordial
welcome.
CHANGE OF INAME.—The Legislature of
Pennsylvania, being duly requested, have
changed the name of the "Board of Mis
sions" of the G-eneral Assembly, to the
Board of Domestic _Missions. The former
was, until now, the carpiwate title. Tustom
has been fixing upon the institution the
latter title; and it Is, by proper authority,
henceforth legalized.
RE viv AL KERRY COUNTY, PA.-By
a letter from Rev. L. W. Williams, Landis
burg, Pa. we are pleased to learn, that there
is a most , precious and wonderful out-pour
, ,
ing of the Spirit of God upon two of the
,churches under his care. In one of them,
forty-four persons have been awakened and
hopefully brought to Christ, and twenty nine
in the" other. The Work was still in pro
gress, and communion occasions were con
templated shortly. • May the Lord's favor
continue, and be greatly extended.
Tireath of Dr. Harris.
Dr. John -Harris, 'President of New' Col
legei London, has`ceased froth his:labors.
His works remain, a monument to perpetu
ate his memory, and a means of benefit to
many generitions. He is best known to
American' Christians by his prize essay en
titled llianiiizOn; 'Work which has put forth
a decided'inftnentie: in favor of systematic
beneficence. Another excellent work of his,
is The Greta Teacher. A third iniportant
production is .
spokeuof as having been
. nearly
completed, of, which " Pre-Aciamite Earth,"
" Man PrimevaV and " Patriarchy " are
sections. He was. but in his 53a year at thii
time' of his death. •
A Sabbath for. Printers.
It is well known that, in offices of daily
morning papers, the compositors havebeen,
and mostly are still,-employed a large por
tion of the Sabbath. For this there is no
real necessity. Good managentent, with
proper diligence on weekday hare, r oan ac
song& ,all ;the work. We., are hence
pleased to we the following announcement
by the Philadelphia Daily Times :
"The office of the Times will be closed at
eleven o'clock this ( Saturday), evening, and
will not be opened till kalf-past twelve
o'clock A. M., Monday morning.
In making the abos arrangement, we
wish our friends and patrons to understand
that the Times will be issued and served at
the usual hair on Monday morning, contain
ing all the news by telegraph and otherwise,
preeisoly, tke same as if the office were.open
during the day. On the Londou Times,
and, other papers in that city, labor is sus
pended. on the Sabbath. We believe it can
be .done on the Morning Times, ,without
keeping from our readers the news which
they, have been 4tecustomed to have spread
*before them on Monday morning."
Extravagant language is , very Mitch ,the
habit cif `the timee. Newspapers are. great.
ly blamed for it; and they, are deepltguil
til ` But.) l eY, rt,te' nor yet
oheigiable` with :dereliction in this line;
neither in their editorials, nor in the pieces
whieh'they admit. Even this extravagances
thet utter in: their adveitising polumns, are
emcee n, in social' intercourse, and
by pepplemet censorious <the print
tea. , But' we do not excuse the, latter.
They are, or: should be, the F ' of
propriety. They jpeek to many, and it'is
theizi'dity to reprove. They , should henoe
be eiamplee.,,,li , accordance with this sai l
tin/out are pleased to see, quoted from
remarks by a member befor the Aisociated
Sea the, fellewing
uski e ry offensive feature of the journal=
ism, .of, the ; day is the system, of universal
sudindiemiminate 'puffing' of every, person
and thingfor which some ;slight equivalent
may have been given. The, public are fast
losing,ennfideneein editor's , notiees of 'exhi
bitione, booktyquaek medicines, charlatans,
and .humbugs; ; and,until the press shakes
off the habit, and abandons the idea that
everything,, good, bad, or indifferent, has to
be cominended;
,fori a' -notice of which they
have,bein .jightly, , eomplimented, the read.
ere;ef think the "Peeelikiweted
no, omen aptiees very pooriy , ...aboupied; , ,aini
ry prpperly give up paying Any Woe
.l4°A,,t9•.**.t!t
==llWWZ=l=6=2
Reference Bibles; Dr.tee'siofEdinburgh.*
In the study of the Sibla f iire are:to make
it, as ranch as possible, its own interpreter.
Passages in which it speaks of the same, or
, of similar%subjeete,. are •to be compared.
What it says of a subject ,ineidentally, is to
be interpreted by what it says, on the same
subject, directly.. What it says on a doc
trine or duty in one connexion, is to be col
lated with the manner in which the same is
set forth in 'other connexions. It is hence
manifest that to, get a proper knowledge of
the Scriptuxes,, an µ immense work.; and
that if each one is to commence the task of
himself, without any aid from those who
have "searched"' before him, his attain
ments must come far short of perfectness ,
so extensive is Revelation, so
,many things
does it embrace, so frequently and , ; in such. •
varied combinations and associations are
truths presented. Theßible, in all its parts.
possesses a The Author of:each
portien is one and, the same. But God
spoke at sundry times, and in divers man
ners—by prophets, evangelists, and apostles
—by direct utterances, by types; by para-
Mee,' and by providential teachings. All
these are to be read, stadied, compared,
and, made to interpret. and illustrate' etch
other. What a task ! Who has the mind !
Andlhe leisure Not one'in ten thou Sand,
if unaided.
But now, happily, it is not with us as it
was with men of old. Then, they were
obliged to receive truth and rebukes, almost
entirely from the herald's lips.. The Word
was written, but copies were few, and ac
cess to them was difficult. Now, they are
many, and in the hands of all. And God in
his good providence, is daily increasing the
facilities for the study of his Word. The
acquisitions of the wise, the learned and the
industrious, are recorded, and systematised,
and printed, and sent everywhere. Among
these works, of immense value, and the re
sult of great labor, and directly adapted to
render, it possible for every man of ordinary
power and culture of intellect to make
Revelation its own interpreter to him, are
REFERENCE BIBLES.
Reference Bibles are numerous, and of
very unequal value. In some, the parallel
passages noted are so very few, that they
aid the investigator but little ; while in
others they are so numerous as to deter-any
but the man of patient toil, from examining
them. To make a Reference Bible that shall
be really truthful, requires a very great deal
of honest impartiality, as well as knowledge
and perspicacity. The References are a
commentary on the text, and they may be
so selected asto mislead and pervert. The y
may be so made as to-favor Calvinism, Armin
ianism; Unitarianism, or any other peculi
arity of religious sentiment whose advocates
are wont to refer to Scripture as their sup
porter. Such will refer to passages which
seem to sustain their own views, and will
keep out of sight such as would present
truth in its , varied but • fuller aspects. We
may illustrate by an, example : Take jam
x: 30, "I and my Father are one." .The
Unitarian' will refer you to I Cor. iii : 8,,
"Now be that planteth 'and he that water
eth are one; ; " and Gal. iii: 28, 4 ' Ye are
all one in Christ Jeans." The Trinitarian
will refer you to • John xvii 11, "Holy
Father, keep through thine own name,
thbse whom thou hest given me, that they
may be ONE, AS WE ARE;" and v. 22,' "The
glory which thou bast given me, I have
given them; that they may , be ONE, EVEN
AS WE ARE ONE;" X : 38, " ; The Father is
in me,, "and :I ,in him ;" : 23, " That all
men should honor the Son; even as they
honor the Father ;" xtv 9, 10, " I are in
the Father and the Fathnr in ;me;" and he
!quid likely add, Matt , xi : 27 ; xxviii : .19;
John i : 1,2; xvi : 15; 1. Tim. iii: 10;
Titus ii: 13 ; 1 John v : 7;20'; and other
passages, proving the eqUality of the Son
with the Father, and . the unity of the
.godhead. We have. here presented a
strong case, in illustration; but it is barely
a sample of what may be done by triithful
collations, or by wrong, or partial, or mixed
references, putting the inquirer in the way
.of. error; by misleading him, confusing him,
or insinuating doubts, in regard to the di
'Tinily of Christ,' the -dootrines of redemp
tion, election, man's sinfulness, human
inability, or any other important Scriptural
truth.
These remarks have been suggested by a
communication, presented in another col
umn, from Cowa!l L Co., of Edinburgh,
the publishers of Lee's Reference Bible.
This communication was occasioned by a
paragraph in our London Correspondence,
in our issue of Nov. 29th, which is as
followi
The Witness has dealt very severely with • a
new Reference Bible, edited by Dr. Robert Lee,
,a clergyman of the Establishment in:Edinburgh,
Whose lindenolee are toward Germanism He
has thrust out the references usually` found' in our
Bible, and substituted other's, which are designed
to give another interpretation of'xnany important
texts from`thatf , ordinarily received. Some of'
these bear on the person of the Saviour. A note
ble instance ; is that in "I. know that my
Redeemer liveth," &e. in which:the
,only refer
given is 30' xiii :: .10-17, by which he
would have it: understood that only Job's tem
poral restoration was meant,, and not lhe doe
-trine'of his faith in one who would redeem him
from the grave: An apologist for Dr: Lee lets
out the secret, that the latter does not hold that
the resurrection of the dead is taught in the Old
Testament! There seem good reasons to suspect
that, as' to the evidence for Christ's Deity, and
work, front the Old, Testament, it is regarded as
naLwhere there are not express quotations in the
New! A semi-skeptical Scottish artist not long
since gave me some indicationsof the'very
tendencies of this'gentleman, which to a Certain
class of minds are very attractive: Thus'dangers
thicken on every, hand The very 'air seems
poisoned with heresy, and , ; numbers of professed
Christians suspect no danger, and are being
drawn into the Snare.
This is brief, but plain and severe • and
ifit is a mistake should be, promptly cor
reeled. We hence give the publishers a
place in our first issue After the reception of
We trust that' will be care-
fully read. It seems fair •We ,have also
before us documents signed by .numbers of
intelligent and highly respected clergymen
.of the Scottish Churchei commending ;the
iaTuailHovi:./31iaxs, with theidsraeinal Rderessee
Rersaed f an4—implroved. alguto. By Robert
'Zdatabuigh, Published by
cOtilift ipAttt#l l ,yo:, sold ty Wn!. l S.
io
ff=iE=l
fa!==ifi
I I D
s¢iv
OK AND ADVOCATE.
work—especially the plan - of the work.'
The Bible, in two sizes, is imputed:. A copy;
is before us, pocket size, and neatly execur-,
ted. It will doubtless be issued in large
numbersl and - the high testimonials in its',
favor will procure for it an extensive sale.
It then bedomes the Christian press to deal
with it uprightly and fearlessly. Its, adapts-,
tion to influence is great. If good, it should
be aided; if evil, it should be hindered, by
being exposed *
The inany duties and. cares which devolve
upon the . e,dllor of
,a weekly, journal, do ~not
permit him personally to give such a work
the full and minute examination' which >the
case demands. We hence refer the task to
our'ministerial brethren who may have more
leigure ; and especially to lip, Professor s of
Theology and of. Biblical Literature in our
Seminaries; who are not. only instructora, hitt
also watchmen placed on the highest towers
in OM. Zion.
The value of a good Reference Bible ,we
estimate more- highly than we can tell.
Every family should y have one, and every
minister More than we.
prefer, and have mainly used, is, Scott's.
Some object to Scott'aßeferences,thatt,hey .
are too numerous.. - They are not so, for our
taste. -. The linae:.exPended in examining
theta:o4'bn any passage,We regard`AS well
employed. And there 'is, safety_ in_ having
them numerous. The very matter of their
number brings before us the subject inves
tigated, in a variety of aspects, and helps to
as tire us that we have really the mind of
the Spirit. These references are found in
most of the editions. of the, author's
Comnientary, but there they are in volumes
so ninnerous'ind large that the use of them
is inconVenient. 'While a stUdent, we
found theiw .in an Octavo, (W..W. Wood
ward'a.) The edition is out of prink We
have often since sought for it, or something
similar to it, to present, to a friend, but
sought in vaiw, and have wondered why
such a treasure was not on the shelf of
every bookseller. if all were like ourselves,
our Board Might, with great benefit; furnish
the; work , but tastes differ.t
IP regard to Dr. Lee's work, we leave
for, the present, under the remarks of our
correspondent, and of the publishers. But
I.to our readers we recommend • a'diligent•pe
mai of the 'Scriptures.' TIN' Reference
I Bibles and consult Commentaries as aida—
as suggestiire of thought—but seek the
Spirit's illumination in a careful . reading
of the Word, chapter by chapter, and follow
his guidance in dOotrine . and duty.
*On the passage above quoted (John x.: 30,
Dr. Lee gives as references, Xohn xvii : 11, 22
4. : 8 ; Gal. iii: 28.
fWe 9hould be greatly obliged to our Board
of Publication, for a good Reference Bible.
The plan of Lee's we regard as excellent. The
References are not crowded. into the margin, but
follow each verse, in a smaller- type. If Scott's
are considerated too numerous, they might be're-
vised and abridged;.and if imperfect, the defi
ciencies might be supplied; 'but if abridged, it
should be done sparingly, as Well as judiciously.
We like copious references, that we may be satis
fied that the full exhibition of the Divine teach
ings,on the subject , examined, is before us.. And
there might be two classes of references, the one
to passages more nearly parallel, the other to
those"more remote and suggestive. The former
might-be placed, as are Lee's, immediately fol
lowing each verse, and serving for a more hurried
examination ; the latter in the margin, and to be
used When the subject could be fully investigated.
A good Reference Bible and a Commentary,
adapted to families and Sabbath Schools, are
desiderata in the Presbyterian Church, and should
be promptly supplied .by our Board. It is to
meet the demands and supply the wants of the
Church, as would not be met by the trade gener
ally, that the Board was organized, and' endowed
with such,liberality: We know that the duty 'we
here suggest is exceedingly difficult, but it in
volves no impossibility ; and, we urge it ou behalf
of the myriads ,of, our retired families, who are
in moderate circumstances and of the tens of
myriads of our rising race. , '
Death of .Hugh
This distinguished Scottish Geologist and
defender of the Bible and its' precioui truths,
is now no rriore a dweller on , earth. He com
menced life in what are called its lower walks.
His first training, along with common family
and Christian instruction, was in the school
of hard industry, but soon, from working
in a quarry and dressing stone, be became
one of the most distinguished in the walks
of science. He early and ably espoused the
cause of the Free Church, and was made
Editor of its leading piper, the Witness.
He is 'now gone; and, the circumstances of
his, death add greatly to the sadness felt at
his loss. He evidently died by his own
hand, and there is not a witness to tell us
how, or why. But the absenoe of all mo
tive and of all predisposition to such an act,
and the excellence of his Christian charac
ter, afford to us the 'assurance that it was
not of design. .
The`London Christian Times thus speaks
of ,the event:
We regret to annonnee the sudden death of - Mr.
,Hrigh the, , well-known•writer on geology
and editor, of the Witness newspaper. Mr. Mil
ler wife found lying dead on the floor of his bed
room, on, Wednesday morning, shot' through the
heart with 'a pistol bullet.: 'That he died .by his
own hand there seems to:be no:doubt,hut the oh
,eumstances, under which the ; melancholy event
:happened do xiot lead to the supposition that his
death was an act of intentional suicide. Yor
some time past Mr. Miller had been in a seine
what indifferent state of healtty brought on by
over study in the preparation of a new work, on
geology. He suffered considerably froin nervous
•excitement,: and, though at all times a man of ec
centric manners, an unusual strangeness Was re-,
marked by his acquaintancei3. The evening before
his death he was to have delivered a lecture on "The
Mosaic Creation" to "an audience' at Portobello, a
bathing-place in the neighborhood of Edinburgh,
where he resided. Re had prepared the lecture,
but the state of his health prevented his deliVering
it, and it was read in his absence by a friend.
In the course of the day; Mr. Miller saw his med
ical adviser ' to whom he complained of headache,
brought on by the want of refreshing sleep. Fol
lowing the direction's he received, he took a *arm
bath and retired to rest at an early hour. He had
for some time been in the habit of keeping a
loaded revolver in his bed-room, having, it is said,
a strong apprehension of danger from, house
breakers, for which, in reality, there was some
reason, as an attempt was made not' very long
ago to break into his valuable museum. No' ex
plosion was heard during the night, and it was
not till the morning that the ,body was 'found;,ly
ing
,near the bath-room. These circumstances
seem to proVe" that 'the melancholy event was
purely accidental, while the state of Mr. Miller's'
mind, as well as his general character and posi
tion, preclude the idea or preme4itixtid or inten
tional self-destruction. , ' '
The keeping of deadly" weapons in a bed
rocou may, sometimes, beAznectessity. Bat
it% is a dangerous oneid The thing shoidd
never be done by those eubjeof to night
ar The `danger toy
therneelves, and to such Ns' may occupy the
semi apartment with tkem,
,or may enter
t.heir room to bring, friendly relief, is immi
nent.
We bow'submisaiNiely, and would learn to
release the - mind, in due season, from in
tense study, to keep dangerous weapons at a
distance in our sleeping hours, and, above
all; to be prepared to meet our God . !at
his summons, however sudden.
The 'Presidency of Jefferson College.
Last, week we announced the fact, that.
REV. Dr. Alden kid been unanimously
elected President of Jefferson College. The
friends of the College will be pleased to
learn that he, has 'concluded to accept the
iippointment; and will enter, upon the dis
charge of the duties of the office as soon as
his relations to Lafayette College can be ter
minated, without detriment to that Institu
tion. At fartheii, it, is expected he will
enter upon his work at Jefferson, at the com
mencement of the term, in May ,next.
We learn" that the retirement of Dr. Brown
from the Presidency will not separate him
from tie Institution which owes so much to
,
his services, and to those of his venerated
father. He will remain connected with the
Institution; and will perform, as a Professor,
such services as his health may allow.
Dr. 'Alden has, for more than, four years,
held, in the College of the Synod of Phila
delphia, . a Professorship, to which he' was
appointed by a unanimous vote of the Synod,
and of the Trustees` f the College. Though
Dr. Alden had served the cause of education
for many years ,without the bounds of .the
Presbyterian Church, in one of the best
Eastern Colleges, yet the Synod were satis
fied of his, continued attachment to the doc
trines, government, and usages of the Pres
byterian Church, in which he was educated,
both as to his Collegiate and Theological
Course, and hence did not hesitate to
commit, to his hands. the -Professorship
most intimately connected with the forma
tion of, opinion—that of .Mental and Moral
Philosophy. He, has also carefUlly inst. noted
each Senior Class in. Lafayette, in the Con
fession of Faith, with the Commentary pub
lished by the Board of Publication; and
we have learned that the young men have
been quite as much ; interested in that study
as in any .part of the College Course.,
Dr. Alden had his Collegiate Course in
Union College, and his Theological at
Princeton and it is well known that
he has been steadily oppose& to all
those' measures' and Isms which are disap
prove& of, by , the various Presbyterian
bodies who have been accustomed to patron
ize. the College ozor.,,which`ho is called to
preside. We trust that they will give
him a cordial wele,ome, and an efficient
support. - •;
New-Yesi's Donations.
Not a few of the pastors in city churches
seem, to haye been very kindly reinembered
by their people at,.the beginning of the
year. The Rev. Dr. Budington, pastor of
a Congregational church in Brooklyn, was
,
presented with $500,,as an evidence of the
,
lively interest felt,by his people in his min
istry and himself. , •
The Rev. Dr. Cheever received a purse
containing $4OO, and his wife one contain
ing $2OO, together with an elegant piece of
furniture. The hev. T. L. Onyler, pastor of
a Reformed .Dutch Church, in. New York,
has politely informed the public that " his
congregation, without consulting af word
with the paster,had taken the gross liberty
of raising his salary." Dr. Boardman of
our own Church, , about the same time, re
ceived a present $lO,OOO from his people
to aid him' in the purchase of a suitable
dwelling. And the .New York. Tipxes re
ports that the Rev. Dr "klagie, pastor of the
First church in Elizabethtown, . N. J., re
ceived'a purse of - $2,500. No doubt there
were many other instances of equal liberali
ty which we have not noticed. But we are
afraid that inany,learned, worthy and devo
ted pastors in country and village churehts,
eking out a living from very small salariesi
have not fared e,orrespondingly. well. In
some of these places the people have mani
fested their regard for him who breaks unto
them the bread of life, by donations some
what liberal.; but in many places nothing
has been done. But it is not too late yet;
"material aid" of this kind is always in
season. Let something be done in this way
.
now; and as soon as possible let the salaries
of pastors be raised, that they may have an
adequate support, and many blessings will
rest upon the pepple.
The Board of Publication—An Easy and
Simple Method , of Oolportage.
The. following 'letter is from a layman,
who - is a decided friend of Church efficiency;
and advocate for the Circulation of religions
knowledge : . .Our; Board of Publication is
making commendable efforts, by CWportage,
to circulate their books. But Colportage
cannot be expected to do a tithe of the
work which is needed. We do not ask it to
attempt the whole work-of distribution. We
do not regard it as at all in the, line of ,ditty,
nor the best for edification, that the Board
should send ce:lporteurs into regularly or
.
ganized and well established churches'. We
are, just, es lunch opposed to sending paid ,
colporteurs there as we are' to sending paid.
colleoting'agents. In either, case, a distant
Board is sending, at a great expense,' abor;
ers to do what the 'Pastor, and. Elders, and
Deacons, and Female helpers should do,. as
a. matter of official and wield duty,' and
of Christian love; and which they could do
incomparably better than can a stranger.
The-Oan.sngested by our correspondent
is excellent. , But - there may be 'other good
plans. We, would urge no special form of
doing the thing ; but let it be done, and
done' thorinighly. - 0 for Wise, zealous, de
voted, working Church officers, and labor
ing praying and libeisl Christians !
EDITORTitI3 m i of our
Boar4of , -
Publication, as a lever of great moi. 7
al power requires no proof. But our` people
shmild,liear in Mind that its measure f use
fulness just cornmeri-
surate with the extent to whiebits books are
circulated. The Board, therefore, may issue
a list of as excellent publieations_ as ever
went forth from the press : hut if the peo
ple have no means of easy access to the cen
tral depository, the books Will groan on the
shelves, : and our people not be benefitted.
It is wise, therefore, in the Board, to organ
ize a system of Colportage, by means of
which its publications are brought home to
every family.within the colporteur's field of
operation. But let any one think for a mo
ment of the numbers of our ,churches, and
the extent of territory over 'which they are
spread, and he will easily see that a great
numbereour people can - never be supplied
by these agents of the Board.. 'For these,
some other plan must be devised. The fol
lowing is suggested
During the Winter months our rural
population' have very little work to do.
How easy would it be for two young men in
each of our country congregations to put a
horse to a: light wagon, and visit. every
family in the congregation, and supply them
with reading for the Winter, with books se
lected from the catalogue published by our
Board ! The pastor, from his acquaintance
with the people, their tastes, wants, and de
gree of intelligence, could make out a list
of such books as he thought might be . de
sirable. One of each might be ordered at
first, and could be' carried around as sam
ples; then, after the whole congregation had
been canvassed, an order could be sent on to
the nearest depository to be filled. On the ar
rival of the books ' they could be all distrib
uted on the first Sabbath, after service, at
the' church.
• This plant is simple, and very easy of
execution, and can be easily repeated every
year; and 'thus can till of our families be
kept constantly supplied with religious read
ing of the most profitable character. The
only possible objection that can be urged
against it, is the trouble of canvassing the
congregation. But when we look at the
amount of labor performed by our politi
cians in the late Presidential canvass, thin
sinks into insignificance. I was- told by a
prominent member of one of the political
parties, that they had, by a sub-divisiou of
labor, canvassed every tozonskip in the coun
try, and every block in the' cities, in the
large State of Pennsylvania, so thoroughly
that they could tell to within a few hundred
votes how many each party could poll, be
fore the election took place. Now, "they
do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we
an incorruptible." If this can be done by
the adherents of a political party, whose
main inducement is place and power, surely
there can be found'in every congregation s
two persons, at least, who will undertake
like labor to supply their brethren in the
Lord with the " bread of life." '
Western Missouri
The following letter gives information from
a region, of which we are pleased: to hear.
True, we heard much of it during the last
year, but it was in a line quite unfavorable.
Let us now learn something of the good
,
which is being do,ne ; and of the prospects,
of things still better; and of the :wants,
the desires, and the facilities.
GREENFIELD, Dade Co., Mo., Jan. 5.
REV. Da. M.'KINNEY :—I am some
times,
led to think ,that less is said in the re
ligious newspapers, ,of Western Missonri,
than almost any other portion of our coun
try. feel tempted to say a few, things of
what the Lord has done for, the land 'where
'he has placed my home, at least for a time.
We are probably not advancing as are other
Western states, in the cause, of correct re
ligious sentiment. . In . 1843 or 1844, the
Synod of Missouri set off four. or five min
isters, and a 'few churches, on their Western
border, as the Presbytery of Upper Mis
souri. As late as 1849 there were not
more than nine ministers and perhaps six
teen churches. Last September our num
bers were twenty ministers, (excluding two
missionaries among the Indiana) living in.
Missouri, and above forty churches. At
the request of Presbytery, Synod, in. Octo
ber, divided it, making tbe Missouri river
the line. The, North side retains the name
'of Upper Missouri, and South is called
the Presbytery of Lafayette. Ministers,
churches and members are, nearly equal in
each. Of the last, in the, two Presbyteries,
there are about tielve hundred. We hope,
ere long together with a Presbytery in
Kansas, to be organized into a Synod. The
Presbytery authorized by the last General
Assembly in Kansas is said to be not yet
organized. But there are - there now, in
cluding the missionaries to, the Indians,
four or five ministers; who might, be eon
.
strtuted a Presbytery by proper authority.
IS it ,the work of the General Assembly, or
rather of the Synod of Missouri ?
Our Free List."
" Tbrough•the kindness of a few liberal and
enlightenediriends;•we have been enabled to cir
culate weekly, during,the past year, nearly three
hundred copies of The Missionary to worthy but
struggling ministers, missionaries and willows,
and to colleges, seminaries, reading-rooms and
charitable institutions of our own and other
churches. No list has given us greater pleasure
or yielded more abundantly than this. We Lave
received letter after letter of thanks, while in
many instances its perusal has been instrumental
in'doing much good by awakening an interest for
the suffering, strengthening the hands of the mis
sionary, and making the widow's heart to sing
for joy." . .
Thus discourses our neighbor the Mis
sionary We - wish that we could use siini
lar language: And why should we not be
so enabled The Presbyterian , Ohurchhas
many members , who possess wealth, and
many , widows, enfeebled; members, and min
isters who are , poor, and'to whom, with their
Nannies, the weedy visits 'of the Banner
and Advocate would be -a great consolation,
and. the means of invaluable instruction.
In what way, then, ektld a few dollars be
more' beneficially disties'ed, of than through
the medium we offer Y
The Witness Newspaper, Bainburgh, and
Dr, Lee's Reference Bible.
. , EDINBURGH, Dec. 24, 1856.
TO THE EDITOR. OR THE BANNER AND AD
VOCATE NEWSPAPER, PITTSBURGH, PA.
Sir:—Oar attention has been directed
to a;notice in , your paper of the 29th Novem
ber, of, an attack by the Witßess upon an
edition of the Bible, lately published by.us,
with References. Collated and , Revised by
Dr. R. Lee, lirofessor , of Criticism
in the University , of Edinburgh. As , the
tone of your remarks. is calculated to throw
diseredit upon the work, and 'imputes un
sound views 'of Christian doctrine to the
editor, we beg to lay the facts of the case
before you.
About three years itgo we purposed inh
lishing a new edition of <the Bible,. with
References and being aware that numer
ous errors have froin time to time crept into
our ordinary editions, we arranged: with for.
taat`io them, pia4ing bia haids,
for that purpose the , 'Lova - I:Quarto Bibl
published at Oxford, with Riferencei by
Dr. Blaney. On publiCation, we submitted
the work to .;a numerouS body of clergymen,
of all denominations, in';this country. From
one hundred and twenty-five of them we
had letters of commendation. Five ob
jected to the new method adopted in print
ing the References—one objected to the
reference at Job xis: 25; and from another
we had the substance of the articles in the
Witness, to which you refer--containing,
however, several loose charges not appearing
there; for instance, under 1. John v: 20,
Dr. Lee refers to. Isaiah xliv : 6; to suit his
purpose, the reviewer quoted the first para
graph, of Isa. xliv : 5 ; applying that in
illustration of Jude iv. " Again—to illus
trate Col. i : 16, be applied references given
Under 1. Cor vii : 6. In another place, he
accuses , Dr. Lee of suppressing the refer
ences in Canue's Bible, (an old work not
consulted,) at the latter clause of the verse,
John x , : 15. On turning to Canne's Bible,
we found no reference to exist there. Fur
ther, we found the great bulk of the refer
ences objected to, to be those existing in our
ordinary Bibles. Such as it was, we sub
mitted the paper to two clergymen of the
Free Church, who obliged us by a careful
revision of the Bible. We were aasuredby
both, that the allegations of the writer were
unfounded. The %dead= assumed greater
gravity, upon the appearance of the articles
in the Witness We had no reason to doubt
Dr. Lee's faithfulness in the discharge of
his task, and were well aware of the great
labor and pains he had taken; but we had
no disposition to trifle with, or treat lightly,
charges of such serious import, and again
solicited the opinions of a number of our
most eminent Divines; one of whom, a
member of the Free Chureh, got several of
his brethren to assist him in collating and
comparing the References. We were grati
fied to'receive from all an assurance, that the
insinuations in the Witness were unfounded.
But as it appeared to some that unfavorable
inferences might be drawn from the Refer
ence at Job xix : 25, we represented that to
Dr. Lee, who at once assented to a change,
and has furnished us with an additional
'body of References to verses 25, 26, and 27,
amongst which it may be sufficient to par
ticularize 1. Cor..xv : 49-57. The neces
sary alterations are being made at press;
and our intention is, to print cancels, and
insert in what remains of the edition; It is
a fact, however singular, that amongst those
who appeared swayed by the articles in the
Witness,
we did not find one who had exam
ined the Bible for himself. -
We have in such cases invariably supplied
copies, with a request that faults might he
*Anted out to us, receiving promises of
compliance in return. Although the work
has been thus in the hands of its opponents for
:some time, we'are yet without 'a single note
or comment upon it from any one of their
number. Surely that heresy must be more
than hidden which escapes would-be willing
detection. The Witness spoke of the easy
mindedness which had led 'so many of our
clergy, upon what' he presumed slight ex
amination, to express a favorable opinion of
the work. We can only say that not one 'of
them has desired to retract what he said;
but several of the most eminent have as
sured us that they have regularly used the.
Bible in their study, with a' growing con- -
vietion of its appropriateness and value.
`But for the delicacy of mixing up gentle
men in' an unpleasant controversy, we could
exhibit names that would stagger credence in
any anonymous writer. Without presuming
that the References are bit - Maculate, we be
lieve that by their publication we have added
something of valuelo our common stock of
Biblical lore. They carry with them no
ordinary amount of approval. We have
faith in the discernment of a candid public
to let the matter rest there ;. if error can be
pointed out to us, we are ready to' correct,
and will thankfully acknowledge the atten
tion.
J. F. G
Respecting. Dr. Lee personally, we submit
that it requires more than the opinion of
any semi-skeptical. Scottish artist to attach
heresy to any clergyman appointed to •a
charge in Edinburgh, and subsequently
nominated, solely on account of his talents
and learning, to fill the Chair of Professor
of Biblical Criticism and Biblical Antiqui
ties in our University. It were strange, in
deed, even in, a more lax state of religions
opinion than *e trust exists in this country,
could any man retain such , a position, and
either hold or teach the opinion insinuated
by the writer in the Witness. There are
few able men without detractors, and Dr.
Lee may be no exception ; but whatever
his opinions , may be, we are fully assured
that he has edited the Bible in question
with care and, good judgment; framing the
References so as to be a real ,benefit - to the
reader. We hope, on a careful inspection
of the work, you will come to the same con
clusion as one of our most eminent Divines
here, (not of the Established Church,) who,
after the controversy, Wrote us : " You may
be sure I set to work very religiously to
compare the pa&sages adduced by the critic
in, support of his very serious charges.
What, was my relief to find that the whole
affair was a mere briatumfteinten, the result
of some good man's over-hasty zeal to get a
hit at an ecclesiastical adversary." 'The
• References are framed with a strict regard
to the original Scriptures—a principle the
value of which will be apparent to every
student; but a fact that must be kept - in
mind in any article of criticism ; disregard
Of it has led the writer in the Witness
astray on points at
,variance with the
,opinion of correct and competent scholars:
We remain sir, your obedient sry ts
e ,
Cow - ,56 Co
per D. Nichol.
For the Pregibyterlas Banner and'Advocato.
Acknowledginent.
CARILICRAELS, Jan, 16,,1857.
Ray. Da. APKINNHY :—lf in the view of the
Divine Redeemer, a kind office done to himself by
Mary of Bethany was worthy of permanent
record 'as a memorial of her affectionate devotion
to him; and if, in the judgment of the Apostle of
.the Gentiles, the ministering , of the Philippian
Church seasonably to his temporal necessities,
was worthy of honorable mention in the Epistle
addressed to them; the undersigned, through the
medium of your columns, may be • allowed to
mention a recent very seasonable gift of about
, ninety, dollars from the people of his charge,
This he does, merely as expressive of has grati
tude to them, and to the great Giver of every
geed and perfect gift. Such instances of kind
ness not only evince a generous people's appre
ciation of the religion of Christ, but, in the
Apostle's view, are an odor of a sweet, smell, a
sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.
'for the Preebyterten Benner. end Advocate.
• HoLunaysncren, Jan. 15, 1857. ,
Du. Wirassity :—A, series of religious exer
cises, extending over a week, has just closed in
Phis, yOur former pastbral charge. We thinkiti,-
, ided good has resulted, not only to somewhOltaie
tot professed Christ, but more especially atitongst
he people of God--in reviving their.greees, and
timmating them to more devotedness and indus
lrY in Christ's work. Certainly if the• Gospel, as
preached during , this week, " behid; jeis hid to
hem that are lost ;" for it, was most lucidly and
iithfully preached. The pastorl ,- Was aided by
orethren AfLean,•Clark, Hughes, `and Elliott, and
„Welly by Rev. A. P. Ilapper,i4l. D.,. of Canton.
This beloved brot4r,,Preached eight solemn ? lucid and impressive' sermons to us,
l ith'ark earnestness and, iffeetion of manner that
t/ill make him long andlenderly remembered.
t,, The Lord's. Suppermai4 administered on Sob
nath, with set addition to the communida of six.
A handsome collection for the Board of Fore;; r.
Missions SILB made, and on Monday the Aunivi-i
-eery of the Female Missionary Society celebrut ,
Dr. Happer delivering an address. It is a w Ln .'
der to me, and to many, how our foreign
sionaries, without opportunities of cultivating thr,
art and practice of preaching, and who mostly g n
out at so early a period of their ministry, so F . O ,
become effective preachers in their own language,
to home congregations. Busied for years in the
study of foreign language, preaching mostly in a
foreign language, and rarely in their own, a n d
then to small gatherings of people, it would be
unreasonable to expect much readiness and Ml
pressiveness of elocution; and yet with a very
few months' practice, most of them can hold
their place beside our best preachers. Why is it!
It is because their whole heart is in the work ; god
earnestness in the work controls and stimulates
all their powers. Let home preachers take a
hint and learn a lesson from this.
Brother flapper gave s lecture .on China and
the Chinese, the evening before hid departure, a;
the request of a number of our citizens; and it
was truly a treat. For an hour and a half he
held a large audience in fixed and unflagging et .
tention; and whilst as a literary, political and
statistical discourse it abounded with interest
and information; it was a telling argument for
Christian Missions. It elicited a spontaneous v ale
of thanks from the auditory, and, in addition, two
resolutions, unanimously passed, expressive, lit,
of increased interest in China as a field of Chris
tian enterprise, and 2d, of disapprobation of tie
iniquitr us noun ahead opipm trade, as carried etc
by nominally Christian nations, and in violation
of the laws of China. It is our opinion that
British philanthropists can with a bad grace talk
of our curse, whilst they make no resistance to
that dreadful iniquity, the Bast India opium
trade. ALIQCIS.
Rev. H. H. WELLES' Pcßt. Office a4liim.s is
changed fromlliingston to Forty Fort, Pa.
Mr. G. W. MECHLIN,
licentiate of Alle
gheny Presbytery, has received and ac
cepted calls from the united churches of
Glade Run and Concord, Presbytery of
Saltsburg. His Post Office is Dayton, Pa.
Mr. JAMES SINCLAIR and Mr. PETER
VEEDER, members ~f the Senior Class :n
the Western Theoltrzical Seminary, w€ re
licensed by the Prt ,bytery of Ohio, at its
late meeting.
Mr. I. N. McKincEy, licentiate of the Prss_
bytery of East Alabama, has been reefored
by the Presbytery . of Ohio. and bss
cepted a call to M. , etGur's church. His
ordination is to take place at the Rtsted
meeting of Presbyter) in April.
Rev. C. B. KING . S address is Savant
Rev. DAVID MAGLIE, who bas served 11. e
Union Church, Philadelphia, for s. n,,
time, was installed on the 13th inst.
Rev. GEORGE C HICKMAN ; of Port 11..1,
N. Y.; has removed to Portage 4.
Wisconsin,' to take charge of the du . eb
there. ';
Eastern Corref pondenee
NEW YORK Jan. 17, IS. - .7
MR. EDITOR Y;ung ro's•
dam Association in , titis .rt
some stirring meetings lately, and uti -;.e
are still in : prospect. A series of
lutions,:: embodying essentially the -,:,ws
held by the Republican party in the
late, election„ were.. sometime since, 'me,
duced, and though opposed by nay of
the ablest and wisest of the members, 5' ILE
of, vrltom concur in the sentiments theyex
press,, thee effort to lay them on the z.Lie
was, unsuccessful. There was a spirited
bate on the occasion, but the friends of the
resolutions prevailed, and next week is 4-
pointed for their discussion. Some appre
hension is felt lest the ,subject of coutenti
thud introduced should not only distract Ile
harmony, but destroy the usefulness of Ztt.
Association. The impropriety of this Oit
went is so obvious,that the eyes of Bowe
its advocates may e opened, if their zePi
not moderated,, previous to the discues,i:.
As a Society , for mutual improvement. .11
embracing men of different political pat t.es,
as well as of different religious opinioti;l it
cannot be wise to force on a contest which
can hardly fail to result in strife and ale-na
tion. Though slavery be " the sum of all
villanies," does it opine within the province
of the Association to pronounce its et..n
detanation Cannot its members maintain
a good conscience without committing it to
the, views of one or anether of the prettil
ing political parties? Why not. allow it to put•
smelts legitimate ,ends in peace, and free. if
possible, from that spirit of partizanship
which is so baneful in its tendency, though
so rife in our country ? Surely there isel:l
be some relati ns of life
-and of society which
it cannot disturb. But if it has air, ciy
separated Churches, it will not be surprising
if it should divide this Society. Its pl:-
cal effects have been
_already felt in u•
eluding one of the daily papers from the
reading.room, on the ground of its immor
ality ; really, no doubt, on account Of itS
political sentiments. If it is to sit in jack
went on the Press; and to banish all paper`
which are obnoxious to any of its member ,
probably few of any description will be left
for their perusal, Certainly, in the view le
_many, the paper excluded is far less innivra ,
or objectionable than others which have Eli 't
been assailed. The Directors, indeed, leva
ordered it be restored; but its mere eselu ,
sion, and the pertinacity with which this
step was defended, shows the hold whleb
party spirit has upon some of its members,
and augurs unfavorably for its future tar.
inony.
The question suggests itself whether ,
after all, these Associations are called foe by
,the exigencies of society, or as fruitful I
good as they are liable to evil ? The to
ligious instruction and Social elevation ut
the young men of our oitie's are most de
sirable objects. But can they not be a ,
effectually secured : through existing x . -
tions as through these Associations ? Ti
rapid . .
and geperal formation throttelx:
the.couniry, seems to imply their necesci:
but novelties are always taking, and it vex'
net be wonderful if ; they should decline
,rapidly as they have risen. There is a tv'o
,iieucy to multiply Societies for every voi'e.rY
of object, while they sometimes conflict wit"
each other, or, are so nearly allied in I-Ei r
_aims, as to be, needlessly numerous and es
pensive. They sometimes, too, assume t h e
inefficiency of the, Church of Christ to ac
complish the same ends, if they co nal ab
solutely ignorn,its existence.
.... N a y ' , to apply these remarks to young
°l.°Oo Christian Associations, without an
view of disparaging their usefulness, but
rattiqrju, the way of inquiry, would not the.
W: 1 . 1 4 : time, energy and • money expendo d
aponthem, yield more pleasing and peru°"
,neat results, if employed in existing insetu
[
'times ? Every city, for example, has Libra
ries and societies which would furnish
is
men with equal, generally with
perior literary advantages, to any they L' 3
Le
enjoy through their agency; while
several churches are capable of inet",u,' ,- :
their social and religious wants as e ffect
without, as with their assistance. And the
objection to them is that they in a niesi.o e ..
.ignore these churches and cripple
l a-e 2;
energies, by withdrawing from them abs
and influence r which might be more profic,i;
I bly expended through their agency: ...
'.Church of. Christ, is not only a Divine
stitution, ;and therefore imperative in
claims upon us, bat it is' susceptible et
J. M'Clawrocr.
Ecclesiastical.