1=
( .`tanntr -a0 *tint*tc.
PITTSBITRGII, JANUitIY 31, 1857.
TE Rms.... $l.BOl-ImadLvaneer.orin Dlubre
IRAS; or, delivered at residences of Snbscrie
bars, 111.f6. See Prisspeetusom Third Page.
RENEWAL $ should be prompt; a little
while before the year expires, that we may
make full arrangements for a steady supply.
THE ItIisti'WRAPPER indicates that we
desire a renewal. If, however, in the haste
litaillsigithis signal should be omitted, we
bops mir friends will still not forgetns.
REMI ES - Salad ' payment :bY` safe'
hands, when convenient. Or, send by' mail,
enclosingwith ordinary care, and troubling
nobody with a knowledge of what you are
doing. Per a large amount, send a Draft, er
large' Per one or two papirs, send Gold
or email notes.
TO EAKSI MANDE, Send postage stausaps,
or, bettor still, send ,for morp,papersisayNSl
for Sevpnty numbers, or $1 for Thirtycthree
numbers, • • '
DIRECT oU , Lottoro aad.Commtalcoitions
to REV. DAVID. MoKINSIGY. Plttiburgh,
PA.
.
EzmovAL.-4A.e , pepository of the.
American and Pennsylvania Bible Society,
has beenrremoved to the store of , Wm. S.
Renton' 'BOokieller 'No. 20 St Clair Sti'eet
Pittsburgh, t vihere a general assortment 'of
the Society's Bibles and Testaments, in
various languages, will be kept for , the sup—
ply of auxiliaries and others.
4 . . AIKEN, Sec. Bible Scieieti.
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AT COLUMBIA,
S. o.—The friends and patrons , of this in
stitution will be pleased to learn, that 'the
Rev. B. Adger will shortly enter upon
the duties of the Professorship to which
has been appointed :by'the Synods of South
Carolina ,and Georgia. The Faculty will
then be full• main, and this corps of proles..
sors will be very able ; bonsisting of the
Rev. Drs. Leland, Rowe, Thornwell, and
Adger.
Javenile Psalmodist.
We are pleased to learn that our Board of
Publication has just issued the 'Presbyterian'
Juvenile Psalniodist, for the' use . of the
young in Sabbath Schools and familids, and
adapted to the Sabbath Schoolllymn Book,
published by- the Board of Publication. It
is a sufficient recommendation to this work
to inform the public, that it is edited by
Thomas Hastings,, Esq. It is alio stated,
that the Abridged. Psalmodist, intended, for
social and family use, is noW in the hands of
the Stereotyper. These works have been'
long delaYed, but we hope they will now be
welcomed by-the
Rev. Scott.
Some time ago we published an account of
a meeting held by the members of the con
gregation to which Dr. Scott ministers in
San'Francisco, consequent upon, his resigna
tion of ; his charge. It will be remembered
that the meeting expressed the greatest eon
fidence in Dr. Scott, and earnestly entreated,
him to reconsider his determination, though
not a few of the speakers differed greatly
with him as to the proceedings of the." Vig
ilance Committee." The desired effect has
been produced, and Dr. Scott will' reinain.'
He has never
. been installed; but this event'
either has taken place, or will soon be ac
complished, by which time the whole debt
of the church will have been paid off At
a fair lately held by the ladies of this con
gregation for, the purchase of an Organ, the
gross receipts exceeded six thousand 'dol
lars. • •
Presbyterians 'will rejoice to learn that
Dr, Scott is, to remain at hie post, and that
such a proinise of usefulness now opens be
fore-him.
Young lien's Christian Association of
Pittsburgh.
, The'third Anniversary of this useful Insti:
tution, was held on Thursday evening, , 23d,
inst., in the New Metbodist Episcopal church,
CM Penis Street. . The services were intro
duced. by. the Choir singing the anthem,
"Now elevate the sign of Judah," and the'
reading of the 19th Psalm, and prayer by
the Rei. John CI. Broiu, of i the Associate
Refortned Church. The Annual Report was
read. by . Mr.-Wm. Frew, the retiring Pres
ident. Able andinteresting addresses were
then delivered to the large audience con
vened, by Rev. Wm. M. Paxton, of the
First Presbyterian church, and Rev. Alfred
Cookman, of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
These addresses were heard with great at
tention, and were such as to exhibit the_pe
outlier gifts of both• speakers in'a very favor
able light. 'The exereises were dosed with
the benediction, by the . ; Rev. Wm. Preston
of the Episcopal Church.
llnglk Miller.
Last week we announe,ed the sudden and
melancholy death of this distinguished man.
It was then supposed that his'death wail
- -
solely the result of accident. But the post
mortem examination;th'e following letter to
his wife, and the interviews had with his
,
physician a short time previous, give un
doubted evidence that he committed suicide,
and that this was the result of great mental
derangement, and thatthie latter was pro
duced`by over-tasking his energies.
A postmortem examination of the body of Mr.
Hugh Miller was made at his house in Portobello
on Friday, by Prof. Miller and other. medical gen.:
tlemen: The following is the conclusion to which
they have come: The cause, we found to
be a pistol-shot through the left side of the chest,
and this we are satisfied.was inflicted by his own
hand. From the diseased appearances found in
the brain, taken in connexion with the history of
the case, we have no doubt that the act.was sui
cidal, under the impulse of insanity." The fol
lowing few lines.to his wife, found written on a
folio sheet lying on the table beside his corpse,-
give painful evidence of the awful intensity of
the disease
44 Dearest Lydia:—My brain burns: I must
have walked ; and fearful dream ariaes upon roe.
I cannot bear the horrible thought. The God and
Father of.the Lord-Jesus Ohrist•haveMercy upon
me. Dearest Lydia, dear children, farewell.'My
brain hurns,as the recollection grows., lify dear,
dear wife, farewell. Huck hlintsn.'
For some months past his overtasked intellect
had given evidence of disorder. He becaine the
prey of false or exaggerated alarms. He fancied,
—if indeed, it-was a fancy,—that occasionally,
and for - brief intervals, his faculties quite , failed
him, that his mind broke,down. He was engaged
at this' time' with a treatise On the Testimony of
the Retch, upon' which he was putting out 'all 'his
strength, working at his topmost pitoh.ofintensity.
That volume will in a few waeOle In ..th!s,luida
Of Mani of qurruiders. •
I=
Religious Knowledge.
Too much cannot be studin praise ot'all
true knowledge literary - historical, seien.:
tile, philosophical, or religious. Anttit is
one of the distinguishing and favorable
characteristics of the, age in which-we-live,
that useful knowledge is so : widely and so
cheaply disseminated. But no knowledge
is so important as Bible knowledge—as that
knowledge which teaches us of God, of
his attributes, of his Word and works, of
the doctrines and precepts of the Gospel, of
the- way of Salvation. , This will be freely
acknowledged by all pious and seriously in :
* Clined minds; yet there is great reason to
fear that amid the multiplicity of subjects
presented for thought, "the cares of this
world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the
lust of 'other things," the various sources of
information opened, politieal excitement,
and a diluted Christianity, widely prevalent
in many of the - ,pnblications of, the 'day,
there is much less study of the Bible and
the great 'doctrines of grace, together with
a careful obiervation of the workinas of re
ligion in' the. Soul, than there should, he, ,or
than there .was among our fathers., Our ac
quaintance with Bible truth, with the dis
tinguishing doctrines of the Gospel, and
with deep and thorough experimental NH
,' gion in the, heart,and life, is not , equal to
theirs. ' If this:be true, and if this state of
things should continue, piety must de
teriorate; and clear and enlarged views of
the despel will cease to be entertained.
Allow us to • plead for a little in behalf of
a thorough, decided, and symmetrical Chris
tian knowledge, which brings God and the
whole plan of salvation befrire our itiinds;
which enthrones Christ in Our hearts, and
fills the soul with " joy unspeakable and full
of glory," through the indwelling power of
the Holy Ghost.
This knowledge is necessary.. The
Christian religion is not a system of merely
conventional arrangement. It rests on a
surer foundation than the consent of the
people, the wisest of men destitute of reve
lation, could place
,tbe rites and duties of
44
religion on no firmer basis than this. j= Even
Socrates, in Xenophon, praises the 'answer
of Apollo, Which directed that every man
should worship the gods according to the
rites,of his country, and the custom of his
city. The Christian religion makes known
only one God; and-directs to the worship of
Him who hall' his habitation in Mount
Zien. It only recognizes his law, and is
conveyed only through one medium, the
Gospel. There is only one true revelation
containing the communication of 'God's
will to man. The Gospel comes to all,
makes the same demands of all, and holds
Out the same motives to all: There 'is but
one religion for all lands and for every man.
There is but one Saviour, and the effectual
work of grace must be accomplished
every one that is to be saved from the wrath
to come.
2. The difficulties in, the way, make this
knowledge necessary. This is a dark world,
both intellectually and Morally. We come
into, it ignorant of our origin and destiny,
and not knowing the purposes of our crea
tion. The world is ignerant of 'God.
" The world by wisdom knew not God."
Neither do we know rightly our duty to
man. All men are naturally enemies- of
God, despisers of his law, and " dead in
trespasses and sins." Without the knowl
edge of true religion in its doctrines and
precepts, we, are without hope and without
God in the world. In this condition man.
is a helpless pilgrim in an alien land. His
pathway is rough, dark,
_and dangerous.
Huge rocks, high mountains, and startling
precipices are ever in his way. :He is
without compass or ehart, and has no
friendly star by which he may direct his
course, and which can cheer him with its ,
smiles. He is pursued by Satan, watched
closely by malicious foes; and in his own
bosom is his worst enemy, ,a. "heart de
ceitful above all things, and desperately.
Wicked." He has no true peace with God;
he knows nothing, by .eperience, of a kind,
sympathizing, and Ali:eighty; Swiiour ; be
fore him there is no bright, happy, and holy
future.'
3. We cire,required, by Divine auth,ority,
to obtain religious knowledge such as has,
been described. To neglect any kin& of
Useful knowledge within' reach, is highly
criminal; but in this particular matter, of
which We are now writing, . are not left
to,our own judgment or inclination, but it,
is positively obligatory. The neglect of this
knowledge was one of the sins for which
Israel was.punished. God said, " Because
thou hastrejected knowledge,'l will . reject
thee." For want of this , discerning and
saving knowledge, captivity with all its hor
rors- ensued.- "Ily people , are gone into
captivity because they have no knowledge;
and Ihekhonorable men are famished, and
their multitude dried - up With 'thirst."
The communication, of this knowledge was
a direct purpose in the coming of Christ.
"The Spirit 'of the .Lord shall rest: upon
him, the Spirit of wisdom and understand
i9g, the Spirit of counsel and might; the
Spirit or knowledge and of the:fear of the
Lord."
Paul rejoiced that such was the fact with
the early Christians of Rome. They were
"filled , with all knowledge,; able, also, to
admonish one another." He also prayed
that the Colossians might be "increasing in
the knowledge of God." Common gratitude
makes " the `same 'demand of us. If we
have been delivered . from .danger by a
friend, we wish to know the motives by
which this act vvas.prompted, the manner in
which the rescue' was effecied, the certainty
of, mi.:safety, and how we may hereafter
avoid the same extremity. So„should it be
in this case, that we may admire .and love
the God of our salvation more, aid honor
more highly the city' of Our solemnities.
Only in this way can we remain " steadfast,
immovable, always abounding in the work of
the Lord." :Unless the soul be fed with
the yure, vigorous, and strengthening doe
ttkieii of the Gospel; it will not,grow in
. I' "
1=1111=2110211;
9
THE PRESBYTEREVY-43AANER AND ADVOCATE.
spiritual beauty, symmetry and strength,
the Christian graces must withek,faiiy wilt
be weakened, and 4nergy will fail Satan,
the world, and theilesh will wide upei the
unwary Christian, and bumble him in' the
dust. Without constant attention „to..true
and practical Christian knowledge, the
young will grow up in ignorance, in a great
measure, of the fundamental and glorious
doctrines of grace, and be easily led away ,
from the faith of their fathers, and made
subjects, it may be, of grievous and soul
destroying error The spirit Hof ktuic Old
command must still be observed, if our own
souls would be infiChed, - taid our" children
saved. The obligation was : " These. words
which I command thee this day, Shalt be in
thine heart; and thou shalt to .ch' them
diligently unto thy children', and- shalt talk
of them when thou sittest, in thine knit*
and when thou walkest ,by the way; and
when thou hest down, and .when : thou risest
up. And thou shalt bind them for a•sign
upon thy hands,, and they shall be- as front
lets between thine' eyes." See also Ps.
12-14.
. .
A Jannt,•with Comforts and DissOmforts:
Editors, like other folks, must sometimes
• ,•
take a journey. , True, it is but seldom that
they ,flud, the , leisure; and rarely do they , at-,
tempt the enjoyment, unless when, pressed
by some stern 'necessity, or - urged by'iorne
strong impulse of benevolence, or an over
wbeinitieg sense. of duty.
it was our lot, cold as was the weather,
to feel that we must occupy .our seat in the -
Board of Trustees of Lafayette College, , at
meeting` in Philadelphia; on thuniday, the
22d; and no remonstrances - : could prevent
our setting out, although ,the prospect of
reaching our destination eichibited anbright
,
ness.
We. left <Pittsburgh on the 20th -,'and,
after some detentions from cold and snow,
reached Lancaster on the P.'3l. of the 21st.
Here we were in the region' affected by the
terrible -storm of the 18th and i9th. We,
however, pressed on, under the motive ferca
of a strong ; wiltand three powerful engines..
But whai, were these, even when aide:d)by a
hundred men; armed . with shovels, againSt
the snow banks We,' however, 'made-six
„.
miles, and back again to Lancaster,, by an
hour after midnight. On the 22d, we made
another start, but no progress. On the 23d,
there was no exit,'ly rail, in any direction.
The three roads were all impassable. On
the 24th we happily found the back track
passable ; and it being too late DOW to ac
complish the good end intended, we turned
our face homeward, via 'Bellefonte.
And now for some relleetionti; and,
First. It is a sweet consolation to know
and feel, that there is a wise and kind over- ,
ruling Providence. There was some reason,
some good 'reason, why we should not attend
that meeting. We may
, yet learn what it
was; but whether we discover it or net, we
'yet know assuredly that it existed. God
orders even the smallest events, and alWays
kindness to his children, and especially
to those who, believingly and
. heartily,'
look to him for guidance. ' •
Second. It is , a great consolation to knew,
that we have honestly endeavored to do
'what we considered to be right. There
need, then, be no regrets—no sorrowings
that we have spent 'our time and strength;
and wasted , our means, -for naught. The
duty seemed plain. We tried to serve God
in , it. He hindered us. Our conscience
reproaches us not. We yield and say, peaCe
fully and sweetly, " Thy willbe done:"
Third. It is instructive,
„and often amus
ing, to see,' in such trials, the: manifeilta
tions of human temperament: One' id 'calm
and silent; another finds occasion fel; pious
or philosiophic remark, another turns every
:thing into innocent pleasantry, and sweetens
i the cup of disappointment with the charms
of mirthfulness ;' and another grumbles,
grumbles, grumbles' /Who is the - wisest for
'himself?,. Who the moat useful to, his corn
pardons ?, Which shall we make the pattern
for the spirit we' shall• cultivate ?
Fourth. While we certainly did not join
, ,
the grumblers, we yet felt that we were
greatly imposed upon by officials who live
upon State patronage, and for whose `suste
nance we are taxed. The storm, we know,
had been terrifia, but it'was over for several
days. The weather was ,still ,excessively
cold, but not 80 bitter as to prevent the pos
sibility of effective labor. We Saw these
snow-drifts—or some of them—Live saw the
efforts made to open the read—We 'saw the
'practicability of immensely greater efforts,
and we came fully to the conclusion .that
there is a serious want of , enterprise•in the
managing 'of an important State Tmpreve
ment.
This remark we make, not for those who
just now happen• to be the appointees on this
Section of a particular' State interest, -but
for those who are the rightful rulers the
country—the voters-:--ilio; if they would
be well served, must choose to.oilme, men of
real worth. , _
F 074. There is, on such an. occasion, a
call for the exercise of . the compassionate
and sympathetic emotions. Here were six
hundred to'a thousand people storm-stayedl
Some of them for a whole week. How
Many anxious hearts at'home ! And what
, .
an amount of suffering among the detained.
Onelalf, possibly more, were' destitute of
funds; some having.not supplied themselves
for such an emergency; many because they
had no fountain whence to draw a supply;
There were here the• poor who, though in a
city,' found their only shelter in the car, and
their food such as they could buy at the
stalls for''a trifle; and the thermometer, a
large portion:of the time, below zero. The
benevolence of the better,supplied was, ten
dered to the needy, by loans and 'contribu
tions. -
Sixth. What a kind Providence was it,
that mingled great sweets wig). the .bitter.
We were in a city where fuel and food were
plenty, and where a large portion found-the
happiest accommodations, and nonutniffered
extremely;and the decagon compelfed seine
4 1.. ;' ,!-F ,-
tolling;milds: to Itak6o-est, beytnd anything
the ha, iinji.yed , fiii: many a •month.
eod
f
- _ ' -fi the Lard. ' His tender mercies
+I& 4 - / '•' , l ' ..,
am over* all his works. ''‘ Let men praise him.
=l=
It will be seen from our foreign, news,
that this city' has been attacked by the
British forces, owing to an alleged aggres
sion on theyart of the Chinese authorities;
and that owing to. an alleged insult of the
American flag, the United States force at
that hals destroyed one of the Chinese
forts. Our readers will also regret to learn
the - destruction Of the house mid hosPital of
Mr. French, while they will be at the, same
time gratified to perceive the high esteem
in which he,,is held and the efforts that
were about to be put forth to restore the
loss suffered by the fire; for his establish
ment was consumed, as it appears, by the
fires ,kindled the bombardment of the
city. What may be, the result of this out
break, n e know not. At present we know
not - whether .peace may quickly follow, or
whether still greater Inistilities' May take
place between Great Britain and China, or
whether insurrectionists that have , been
steadily advancing toward , the 'subver
sion' of the reigning dynasty; may 'now
seize 'upon this as a favorable moment
fore striking the final blow. Indeed, it
is. stated that their...leader was secretly in
Canton just after thiS event occurred. Our
preSent object .ia' to ask the -prayers and
sympathies of our readers forthe safety of
our missionaries at, that point, and that
nothing , may occur to hinder them in their
glorious work, `or , to destroy the efficacy of
what ' -they may have ,already done. The
Governor General, while expressing the
most friendly feelings toward the Americans,
states explicitly that in the excitement his
people may not distinguish narrowly be
tieen and Americans. But we
may rest satisfied that the United States
Com Missioner, Dr. Parker, and the United
States naval force at that point, will 430
everything possible for the safety of our
missionaries and missionary property. "The
Lard reigns." ,
Young Nert's Bible Society of Pittsburgh.
The thirty-ninth Anniversary of this So
ciety was 'held in the First" Presbyterian
church, on Monday evening last. Ad
dresses were delivered by:Rev. William
Reeves, of blew Brighton; and Rev. D. H.
Riddle, D D., of this city. The Reports
of the Corresponding Secretary and. Treas
urer showed an interesting and flourishing
condition of the Society. At the close
of the meeting, a new Board of Managers
for the ensuing year was elected. It is to
be hoped that the noble enterprise in
which the young men of Pittsburgh are
engaged, will receive a new stimulus from
its' late Anniversary, and will, be encour
aged by the liberal contributions, the active
co.operation,,and the fervent prayers of all
true friends of the Bible throughout the
country.
ANOTHER MINISTER, FALLEN.---The Rev.
JiMes Holmes, pastor of the Second Asso
ciate Reformed Church of Allegheny, after a
long, period of weakness and suffering, sweet
ly fell asleep in Jesus, on the 14th inst.,
at the house of Dr. Porter, in Ohio. Mr.
Holmes was an excellent preacher and a
faithful pastor, greatly beloved-by the peo
ple to, whom he ministered, and by all who
naade his acquaintance during his short pe
.
riod of labor 'in our midst.
BEir. WM. WILLsoN, of the Presbytery
of Erie ) Imn received a call from the united
congregations of Olive and. Bristol. These
churches together contain about two hundred
and sixty Members, and we learn 'that the
call is entirely ii.nanimous, as indicated not
only f . by their. vote, but also by. their un
usually: liberal subscriptions. .
ME. Etaron :--Taul frequently mentions the
kindness and liberality of the churches to which
he ministered in holy things as an example to
others. " " -
Let,me, through lour columns, acknowledge
the.very,great kindness of the beloved people of
my charge to me and mine. They have ceased
not ,during our stay to remember us in their gifts,
and, as I believe, in their prayers. On Christmas
day we welcomed to the parsonage some of "the
coinforte.' - of life. On New Year's morning a
pnrse of $55.00 was presented tome; by the la
dies. They. have also recently constituted me an
Honorary Member of the Board of Domestic Mis
sionS.
=ill
Ilpml*rdment of Canton.
For the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate
Acknowledgment
It is with emotions of no ordinary character
that ',attempt to make this acknowledgment of
my, appreciation of their affectionate regard ; and
know if I can be the means, in God's hand, of
the ealvittion of their children and &tellies, they
will feel they have been fully repaid for all
their kindness. That God , may thus use me as
an instrument of .good to them, is the fervent
prayer of their ; grateful pastor,
HENRY W. BIGGS.
Morgariloion, Vd., Jan. 5, 1857.
For the Presbyterlett Baniter and Advocate
Revival.
' The church 6f 'Groveland, in the Presby
.
tory of Genesee River, and Synod of Buffa
lo; has enjoyed a season of spiritual refresh
ing. God put it into the heart of the pastor
and people
,to hold a series of :religious
meetings, "commencing with Wednesday and
continuing, over the. Sabbath. For - many
years services of this description had been
wholly unknown in this church.
The extravagance and fanaticism which,
in the recollection of the older members,
had been connected with them, filled many
minds with misgivings. and apprehensions.
But it has been otherwise in the develop
ments of - a gracious Providence with us at
this time. There had been much coldness
and werldly-mindedness among our people
generally. A few, from the heart, be
wailed. our low estate, and longed to see the
church arise.
A large and interesting Bible Class had
been in attendance upon the instructions .of
the pastor. There seemed .to have been,
for a considerable time, earnest searehings,
after the truths of Scripture, and much
precious seed had fallen upon the young
hearts.
Our meetings commenced under favora
ble auspices. 'The elements, at times,
seemed against us, but there was a manifest
disposition to overcome ordinary difficulties.
The. people of the Lord laid aside their
worldly business, ancl came before the Lord
three times a day, with fastings, penitence
and prayers. The first day was one of great
solemnity and of deep searehings of heart
on the part of the church members. Many
hearts were melted and broken for the sins of
the past ; and they having turned unto the
Lord, he has era thously returned Un to them.
The sermons were all preached 1. 1 , the
pastor, and he was also enabled to preside
and give addresses at the prayer•rneetings,
of which there were tyro each day, one be
fore sermon in the morning, the .other be:
fore sermon in the afternoon. The plead
ings of the Lord's people at the throne of
grace, the agonies of soul manifested for
the dear ones without the covenant, the out
goings of love toward the Saviour, and the
sensible presence and power of the Spirit
diffusing holy awe over all hearts, were
such as the ,oldest communicants present
had not witnessed, and the pastor never but
once. The sermons at night were largely
attended by all classes in the community.
OEI kit Sabbath our hearts were cheered
with the addition of, ten to our communion,
four of whom had not received the seal of
baptism. There are many whose hearts have
been made tender and anxious,, and for
whom our agonizing prayer to the Lord is,
that he will lead to the Lamb, whose blood
taketh away the sins of the world.
During all the meetings for prayer, and
the delivery of the .sermons, a death-like
silence`pervaded our assemblies. And the
season:of privilege would have been length
ened,,but for want of physical` ability in the
paitor to continue it.
God - hits truly dealt mercifully with his
servants, for which we offer our hearty
thanks. That the churches may' all share
in the same blessings, only Much more
abundantly, is the fervent prayer of your
fellow-laborer in'the Gospel, J. 3. C.
Eedies - iastical.
Rev. R. H. BYERS has removed from Hen-
de,rson to New Dairville, Texas.
Rev. Er.ms IIowELL has become the Stated .
=Supply-of the churches of ' Marshall and
Darwin, Illinois.' His Post Office is Mar-.
Rev. M. G. KNIGIiT lies commenced labor-
lug as missionary among the colored peo
ple of Louisville, Ky.
Rev. WILLIAM PINKERTON bas been in-
stalled pastor of the Presbyterian church
of-Collierstown, Roekbridge County, Va.
Rev. J. L. How i, of. Dobb's Ferry, N:
Y., has received a call from the church of
,Port Byron, N.. 1.
Rev. WM. 3. ALEXAkDER has resigned the
pastoral charge of the churches of Con
cord and Deerfield, in the Presbytery of
Erie.
S. M. EAToN has resigned the pas
toral charge of Franklin Pa.
Rev. WM. G. TAYLOR was installed, on the
20th. instant, ,pastor of the Presbyterian
,chureh of Tarentam, Presbytery of Alle-
The sermon was preached by the
Rev. David Hall. The charges, to pastor
and < people were delivered by the Rev.,
R Ogden.
From our London Correspondent
Review of the Year—The War and its Stern Lessons
Histo4--Ch.urch and Dissent-Doc
tor :•Campbell; and the New Paper—Mr. Lynch;:
and Isis Senti-Purgatory--Christrnas and Litera- •
tare—Scene at the Tract ,Society House—The
" Waits," and, their Strange,-Sweet lfusic—Wit
and Waiti--Britta,nia and Jonathan—Canton l•
- Bombarded—Doctor Harris—His Character and-,f
Career—His "School" of Preachers—Death of
Hugh Biller—Dinner at Perth—Education and
.Agriculture--Postscript., • -;
LONDON, Dee. 30, 1856..
The year which is now closing over us,
has not been marked wish the awful calami
ties and disasters incident to a great war,
such as previously agitated Europe. Peace
came with the opening buds, and nascent
flowers of Spring. That, peace may prove
more durable than we fear; at all events, it
is better than war, "horrid war!" as it was
called on a dying bed by the late Lord Hill,
one- of Wellington's Peninsular Captains,
and Commander-in. Chief -at •:the Horse
Guards in his old age.
Russia has -betrayed her wonted clever
ness and cunning in diplomacy. But, to use
a common phrase,.her trick of allowing false
maps to be palmed off on the• unsuspecting
plenipotentiaries at.the Paris Congress, was
','.too nlever, by ; half." She has lost.thereby
credit for her professions of sincerity and
goad faith; and capitalists in this country—
usually so credulous and, eager—will have
nothing to ,do with. her railway scheme.
The new. Conference at Pa,ris will very soon
show her of what: -stuff Palmerston is made,
bicked, as he, will be, both by France and
Sardinia. Had he been in power, instead
of ; that well-meaning but incapable Lord.
Aberdeen,
Aberdeen, it is morally certain that our fleet
Would have been in the BosphorusalMost as
soon as Menshikeffi insult to Tnrkey proved.
what Nicholas desired.
But the war was permitted to come as.a
desolating scourge upon the nations. It was
doubtless attended with benefits to England;
but at what a cost did she learn 'the stern
lessons which it taught ! If military, re
form is almost an accomplished fact; if
no future assault can well take us by sur
prise ; if, also, merit, and not patronage, is
now, in almost all Our departments, destined
to win and wear the honors, and " the right
man" is to be put " in the right place"—all
this has been achieved at a tremendous and
awful sacrifice of blood and treasure, and not.
without national humiliation.
The terrible pressure of taxation, still
affects us. Even - in London, in' its. ; best
thoioughfares. many shop keepers and trades
men find themselves Scarcely able to clear
their expenses. A general agitation prevails
at this moment, against the "war nine
pence," that is to say, against the 9d. in the,
pound sterling beyond the tax of 7c1., pre
viously charged.
The farming interests are prosperous•
so is it also with the proprietors of iron
mines; and the manufacturing population gen
erally eat and drink with an abundance which
twenty years has not known. England,,
in spite of her wasteful expenditure on the
war, is strong and rich still; and I do hum
bly hope and believe, that her destiny is
glorious, and that God has said of this peo
ple, " Destroy it not, for a blessing is
in it, !"
During the year, the Church of Eng
land has made a great advance in moral
power. Evangelical Bishops, one after
another, have been appointed; and. Tracta
rianism is both discouraged and, disgraced.
A friend of mine, , who attended at St.
Barnabas, (the noted Tractarian Church at
Knight's Bridge,) on . Christmas day, de-
scribed the congregation as by no means so
large as ; in former times. Still, Popery
virtually reigns there. 'The Cross is an. the
"altar ; the communicants go up to it to
receive the consecrated bread and' cup , from .
'the "`priests," who mumble out the words
prescribed by the Rubric, in a voice's° low,
that they can scarcely be heard . 1 . The com
municants aforesaid walk, up the nave to the
altar, in separate bands—the males first, and
the fernales afterwards, each with arms
crossed penitentially over the breast Then
when all have partaken, and the priest has
put, the bread into the '
nwuth of eaelt, and
has given to, each a .0:p out of the cap all
, •
the while retaining the engin rais own,hand,
(all PoPish novelties,) they (the priests,)
administer the sacramentYseparately to one
another)
As to Evangelical Diaent in -England,
its history during the year has been marked
by the appearance of the New,.or Negative
Theology, to which I have so often referred
Doctor Campbell, of the British Banner, is
about to establish a new paper, The Stand
ard, in which, unfettered by the Congrega
tional Union, (whose organ the Banner, to
a certain, degree was,) he will uphold the
cause of orthodoxy. It is much to be re
gretted that, as a controversialist, he is more
like a warrior of the olden time, who, with
his battle axe, dashed out. the brains of his
adversary, than one of our modern swords
men, who, " cunning of fence," di=plays
less of ferocity than science, in the man
agement of his rapier. Still, he has the
right cause; and while in the metropolis he
will not find much support among rich Dis
senting laymen for The Standard, it will be
welcomed by a goodly number of sober and
godly people in the provinces.
Dr. Campbell has lately brought out some
fresh evidence as to Mr. Lynch's hetero
doxy. Certainly the latter. is a free thinking
" Evangelical !" In a sermon not long
since preached by him, he threw out a 44 sug
gestion," whether, as some men were of
that kind, that " they were not good enough
for,heaven, or bad enough
,for hell, there
might not be a middle state, (not a purga
tory,) in which, as a state of probation, they
might be gradually purified, and fitted for
an entrance into the presence of Gad 1"
Among. the pleasing INDICATIONS OF
CHRISTMAS TIMES given in my last, I
passed over several not unworthy of notice,.
Among these is the flourishing condition of
the booksellers and publishers, after a long
season .of depression on the trade. Litera
ture is , undoubtedly looking up. - The
Messrs: Longman, the great publishers of
Paternoster Row, are putting forth their
strength ,again, like giants refreshed; and
from all, the wholesale booksellers go out
works illustrated, or in plain, unadorned
print, which are in the form of Christmas
presents, Dow in the hands of multitudes of
the young all over the land.
I was greatly delighted last week, on the
day but one before Christmas, to watch the
current of trade, at our Tract and Book
Society Rouse, in " the Row." The front
part of the establishment, facing the North
ern door of St. Paul's Cathedral, is devoted
to the retail business. To sit there half an
hour and watch mothers with their elder
daughters come . in, and • select i from the
ample stock,, suitable presents ' for the
younger branches, was very pleasing. Over
that counter, would pass that _day .a large
sum; while in the back portion of the.'estab
lishinent, where the wholesale business. was
going on, every band was taxed, in supply
ing hawkers, and small booksellers, with
tracts, books, and serial publications.. And
then, what packing up of boxes and parcels,
containing the finished volumes for the year,
of the "Leisure Hours," and . "The Sun
day at Home," with very many publications
of great value besides, some of them to, go
to India and the Colonies l
The annual receipts for sales in the estab
lishment amount to about £90,000. The
expenditure is less than this; and out of the
profits of trade are paid rent taxes, editors,
writers, and employees of every description,
leaving a surplus to;be given away for the
benevolent operations of the Society, not
only in Great Britain and Ireland, but for
the aid of, the ; Evangelical cause on the Con
tinent, and throughout the missionary world:.
We haire in London; and I, presume
throughout other towns, a musical perform
ance called 4 WArrs," 'the origin of which
is to be found in the olden time. For three
or four weeks before Christmas it occurs.
You are buried in slumber at the dead of
night, when suddenly you wake up to the
consciousness, that the ear of the silent
night.is filled with strains of sweet and al
most unearthly melody. You hold your
breath, and still your beatitig heart, to
listen to the ravishing harmony. Two or
three airs sometimes known to you, y'et, even
they seeming 'new, strange, fresh, and
charming, are played on the street, or in the
square without. The spell thus is greater,
becanse of the peculiarity of the musical
sweetness, thus saluting you at an unex
pected hour, and from unseen` minstrels. At
last it ceases; and a voice is heard rising
through the darkness, wishing to all within
lledring "a happy Christmai 1"
The "Waits" take good care to show them
selves openly at your'door on "Boxing Day."
That is the day after Christmas. "Boiing
Day ?" " What does that mein ?" " Do'
the people box and fight on that day ?" NO;
they -drink, alas ! freely; license prevails
Widely ; and 'a fight may' close the scene, ere
the gin palace shag its 'door at midnight.
But it is not- boxing that is the business of
the day; but the giving and receiving of
Christmas boxes. The givers are the trades
men, who give to the cooks and servants Of
families whom they, as butchers, bakerS, &e.,
are in the habit of serving. - But they, (the
giverS,) are specially the householders. So
that I have at my door on "Boxing Day,"
the' postman, the dustman, the turneock, the
green-grocer's boy, and the prevision shop's
lad, all asking for a Christmas box., The
" Waits" come among the rest. They carry
a medal with theta, in token of their merit';
whether self-bestowed, " d gonent saith not."
They have part of their instruments with
them; they have left, item , days'before,
a caution against impostors, who are wont to
come •in their name, and steal away
from them the reward which; for the sweet
strains- that entertained us -in. our cozy
beds, while they phyed all shivering with
out,' we had destined =for them ! These
" Waits" 'seem quite a fraternity. ' I should
not wonder if it' has not been "in - the
family," from father to son, since Elizabeth's
time, or before it, although they cannot tell
themselves, how old the custom is.
Our witty Mr. Punch, has been pinning
on the " Waits," to seine practical parpoie ;
and among the "Waits," he says : Russia
waits with its duplicate Bolgrad, to "come
the double" over us. Louis Napoleon waits
for-the good time coming, when he hopes
to hold the Seissorship of the British press.
The Unprotected British public waits to be
guarranteecl af., , ainst garotting, (very fr,equent
of late.) And the Russian diplomatists
wait for the Spring, which may enable them
tri see which , way the Persian eat will
jump !
Punch is a warm friend to dose brother
i
hood with America. His Christmas llus
tration presents Brittania;with helmet, on,
entertaining Captain Hartstein at a magnifi
cent banquet In the centre of the tablejs
a huge plum *lading, on the top of Which'
sits the restored Resolute.' Brittania drinks
to the Captain, and says, "A. inerrY bhriSt-
Inas and a happy New-Year!" 'Behind her
stands Palmerston, smiling; while Punch.
claps the Captain on the back, and says to
the representative of the United States,
" That's a good boy:!'His heart's in the
right place." Underneath: is the scroll,
" 'BRUIT:kW-IA A 141) tr ObIATiEIOT:-L-motber and
child , are doing well!"
- '
were startled, i yesterday, by NEWS'
, :
FROM clitiNA, that in consequence of 0 r ,,,
rages upon British seamen, for whi
Governor of ,Canton had obstinately refu,it
to make reparation, our admiral had
baided Canton. The Chinese authoriti( s
had not given in, when the accounts left,
Commerce-was suspended. There has bee)!
a rise in the tea and silk markets here, i,,
consequence of this affair.
In the brief allusion made in my last
ter to the 'DEATH OF DR. HARRIS, the
President of the New College, London, I
hinted that I should afterwards give yo ur
readers a sketch of his character and hi,.
tory. I now proceed to fulfill my promise.
Doctor Harris, who, at the time of hi o
decease, as I learn from one of his intimat e
friends, was in his fifty-fourth year, and a
native of Devonshire. He afterwards
re
sided at Bristol, and there received
rudiments of a Christian education at a
bath School. He was, in connexion with
early promise and piety, brought under Li',
notice of the excellent Thomas Wils on ,
London, a man who devoted his wealth
the education of young men for the In&
pendent ministry, and to' the building cf
places of worship, particularly in London.
At Hoxton Academy, Dr. Harris gave no
evidence of,genius or special talent. TLi,
may have arisen from his modest nature,
and his lack of early instruction.
His first charge was a small church at
Epsom, in Surrey. There he became a
great student, devoting all his leisure
the production of his " GREAT TEAeuEn."
This -work was published anonymously; au i
although it only came into popular notice is
the blaze of light which surrounded " Mam
mon ;" yet by many critics it is considered
superior in matter to that remarkable book.
I speak of " Mammon " as a remarkalle
book for two reasons. First, from its
sonableness. It appeared at a time when
Missions were popular, and yet the standard
of Christian liberality was low. Secondly,
because of its intrinsic worth and power.
It must be well known in the United Stare,
and needs no analysis from me. Never Ira;
covetousness dissected so skillfully and nu.
sparingly. Never were the flimsy excuses .
the selfish heart more, or so thoroughly ex
posed. And then the elegance of the sty!e ;
and the newness of the thoughts, gave it a
a reputation on whose swelling wave Joh
Harris was lifted up into fame.
His other publications, such as " Br,:-
tania," an appeal for British seathc:,
and " The Great Commission," bearing ca
the wants of home as well as on world-wive
heathenism, were very powerful. There
no doubt that their effect was practical
very decided, and that every section cf
Christ's Church was stirred by theta to
fresh enterprise and zeal.
Docter'Harris was first tutor of Cheshuzz
College,• whence he sent forth some 41.;,,
preachers of his own school, and then, ,A
the amalgamation of several Colleges into
one "New College," he took up his re.t•
deuce at St. John's Wood, London, in the
President's official dwelling there.
Dector Harrs' "School,' to whichl hare
referred, is • somewhat peculiar. It deri:s,
like himself,' with matters sometimes r,„,
abstruse for the pulpit. It is studieu..:, -
intelleetaat" and consults the "diniry
of the pulpit," and sometimes a r";:.le
sermon, may—while working out a fz,.is
thoroughly—be almost destitute of ssi-,
a plain• statement of the way of salvath.z.
as would send a poor, ignorant or anxious sit,
ner away enlightened and comforted. Nadia:
Dr. Harris was not orthodox and evangelic:l:
But his was (and as it remains in hispuf
who are preachers, what, for want of a
ter term, I may call) " New School 0 , ..
dory." It wanted the fullness, rottn..7
and unction of the Puritan age, upon st . i.
I venture to think there may be engra!;sl
modern good taste and refinement. 'l'..
union among English Dissenters is net -
general as one could desire. Neverth6:,
there are splendid exceptions; such
James, Parsons, Baffles, and many mir
These preachers, as compared with
were not, and are not wanting in elegance .
but it was not studied. Their earno ,,, •
over-masters all. Harris' sermon was
elaborate, ele,ga,nt production ; clear, t ,
but rather cold. It made you admire at'
feel too, but not so intensely as this,
others to whom I - have alluded.
Nevertheleas we glorify God in En-
His piety was undoubted, and his acet4l
- great. He was, moreover, vigitafit
as , ,toerror. Some years ago, an investit(a
tion took . place as to heretical is
reference to the inspiration of the Scr . rf.-
tures,' in the New' College. Several were
found to entertain neological views in
that' vital point; and Dr. Hatris was earnest.
in common with the counsel, in pronouncing
for their expulsion. The pnfe it writer
first made the aequainlance of Dr. Harris,
in consequence of a leading article written
by 'him in'the Christian Times, in Menet
of the course adopted by that gentleman
toward the erring students, who had, bs a
plausible pamphlet, sought to exhibit him a' ,
having . dealt unjustly toward them.
Doctor Harris' last illness was brief. lie
yeas, attacked' by rheumatic fever, which
endingin a general break up of the system
terminated his valuable life within a fort.
`night.' His natural calmness marked i', ls
closing hours, and he has entered into that
rest,- of which the peace of God in 'Els
heart had long been the earnest in his son
You will excuse this lengthened notice of Pfi
individual minister, not only because he
was as head higher than most of his fellow. ,
butt rom the feet that his career is bent'
up with that of Evangelical Dissent for tic
last twenty years; and his death is a
vere blow to the cause of Evangelical truth la
England. -
11 . 49 u iViruivat, the eminent get , '
ogist, and editor of the Edinburgh lrinvo.
is dead. Thecircumstances are truly 0 1
ancholy 7 :He had been too unwell, frcl
excessive study in, preparing a new work
Qeuingy, to deliver a lecture which he b"
prepared for the previous evening, and
friend read it for him. His nerves b. , d
been much shaken by'au attempt to rob b°
Museum, and he had •provided for his sri
fence a revolver pistol. After consult:r:
his physician, be bad' taken a warm bate'
and retired to rest 'early. In the morauiS
he was found lying near the bath rotz ,,
shot through the heart. It was at first tit
lieved that,.rising during the night V l '
haPs,alartned, he had, in the dark, seized t'a
stol and . that hat it had been accidentally 4
C 1 14.04; :so as to kill bim immediate'y .
But it now appears that in the preparatit!'
nf a new work in Geology, he had taxed hl"
Wain till reason reeled, and that insanity
- drove him to suicide.
A dinner was recently given to the Rotor.'
ble A. Kinnaird, M. P. for Perth, at tf ltic':
Dr. Guthrie spoke on the subject of
FORMATORY AND RAGGED SCHOOLS, : 113 ' 1
of EDUCATION AND ATORALS gel ler3ll
Referring -to contrasts as to sobriety 0 . 4
drunkenness, he gave -the palm to Col':
nental nations. He ascribed the state 01
morals here to--Ist, the want of e ducation ,
and, 2d, to the - presence of temptation. I{2
- held that to 'be able to write a little, !
not to be-able to write at all. He desired
'national - system Of education as the tile