1573 11 Namur Nintatti PITTSBURGH, FEBRUARY 28, 1857. $1.500n advanbo, or in Clubs, 01.25; or, donvorntat rooldence• of Subscrl. beim, $1.78• Siiirioopectug g on Third Page. R ENEW AY. it should be prompt; a little while before the year expires, that we may seeks full arrangeasente for Yi steady supply. 'nit WED WRAPPER indicates that we desire a renewal. If, however, in the haste of lIIIMUND this signal should be omitted, we hop, orir i friends wilLatill not forget us. REMITTANCES.—Send payment by safe hands, when convenient. Or, send by mall, Ansoloeing with ordinary care, and troubling nobody wide a knowledge of what you are doing. For a large amount, send a Draft, or large notes. Dor one or two Papers, send Gold or small notes. TO MARE %LANGE, Send postage stamps, or better still, Maid for more- papers; my IR per Seirenty mmabers. or $1 for Thlrtpathres numbers. `DIRECT sdl Lottery and Consunnaleallons to REV. DAVID iIeICINNEY.' Pittsburgh, Pa. Aciumwrxmantrxr...--We have received from a "A Subscriber," Oregon, Mo , $2.53 for Mission, at _Little Traverse, Michigan. FAMILY hrsTßucTioN.—See some excel lent• 'remarks on this subject, in the article onlabbath Schools, on first page. . , WESTERN THEOLOGICAL x SEMINARY.- Directors will please see "Notices," for time of meeting. BOARD OF EDUCATION.--We were sorry not to receive the Secretaries' communica tion, in time for last week's issue. We in vite to it the reader's attention, and liberal good will. ECCLESIASTICAL CORRESPONDENCE- - I%e IlemPshire East Association, ; by ,a vote of eight to five, .ott the 10th inst., resolied, that it was " inexpedient that the General Association should longer continue its cor respondence:with the General Assemblies of the Presbyterian Church." • Dr. Elisha Kent Kane. This enterprising explorer is no more on earth. He died at 'Havana, on the 10th inst. ' , His remains have arrived at New Orleans, on the way to Philadelphia. Death is, no respecter of, persons. Allegheny Bible ociety. Thl Anniversary of this. Society was held in Dr. .Rogers' Church, Allegheny City, on Tuesday evening of last week. Dr; Jacobus in the Chair. The 'Report stated : families visifeil, '2099 ; destitute, 224; supplied, 80; refused, 144; Bibles and Testaments sold, '559 • denated, 427 received , 81,797; ex pended, $1,681.. Addresses were, delivered - by Prof. Burrows of the Methodist Episcopal 'Church, and. Rev. John M'Millen, of the 'Associate Reforined Church. Revivals. IIiIiNDOTA ILL.—See letter of gg North- West. MONONGAHELA CITY, PA =The church in this place, under the pastoral care of Rev. John Kerr, isenjoying a precious refresh from the GREEinTELD , CHURCH. --This church, under the care' o f. Rev. David Monfort, has been mud' blessed of late. - Eighteen have lately been addellto it by examination. DurfcaNToN, ILL.—The church' under the pastoralcare , of Rev. J. G. Howell, has been:,the : recipient of revival blessings. Nineteen'inembers have been added on a profession'of their faith in the Redeemer. _HAbas.az, Mo.;—The church, in this place, served 'by Rev. Mr. Fdreman, has been 'enjoying'a precious revival. The pas tor to the St. Louis Presbyterian, "The interest begun aniong the members about the time of my return from Synod, last Fall , and has been gradually increasing ever since." TUSCARORA; PA.---We have an interest• ing.'statement of the revival in this church, which will aipear next week, VALPARAISO, 'IND.—We have just 're ; ceiVed informition of a precious work of grace in Lake. Presbytery., The letter will 'be given in our next. The Divine kindness, though entirely unmerited, is vouchsafed to -Zion, in answer to earnest prayer and faith ful service.' - Aspooiate Reformed Synod ofthe South. The movement toward, a Union of this or-, tbodox Fresbyterian body,, with the General 'Assembly, is not yet suspended. A leading inquiry is, to, ascertain precisely the point, or points, of dillnrence: It has been asked on our part, whether there is any thing be sides the Pub:wily question, which would be in the way of Union. This has been re ferred, bythe Synod, we believe, to the Pres byteriee' embraced in it for an answer. From some artielelf in the Due West .Telescope, we perceive : that the • Communion question is regarded. as also a difficulty. A writer says : " Do not out Old`School Brethren hold and -practice open ; Communion, and we close .or restricted, Communion? Is this a tri lling difference ? -Or is it known that one party will forbear with the other, touching thispoint ?" Forbearance is the 'custom al ready, in the,General Assembly. Some of the:churches practice what is called "close communion," while'. others invite to the Lord's' table; with them, any members of " Evangelical Churches," who may be provi . dentially present. On the part of the' As . 'nimbly, then, Ahere would be no difficulty. "Churches of the Asiociate Reformed Synod, after ; uniting with is could practice as they now do, undisturbed. ,But if the ,Synod should insist upon. thevadoptien of a rule which would abibfge the , liberty enjoyed by our churches at present, if would, doubtless, constitute an .effectual bar against itnien. But it seems to us that our, brethren might ,embrace us. with Ecclesiastical cordiality ; .continuing to us the liberty, on this • point, ,which we now enjoy, and we graiting to Abem,..freedom of conscience in:the mode which they prefer. Family Warship. A young man, in a literary institution, partly to enable him to maintain a profitable religious conversation, and convince gain sayers, and partly, we may suppose, to learn what may be his own duty on a future con tingency, addresses to us the following let ter : " Du. MCKINNEY :—ln conversing with a friend, some time since, on 4 the duties of a Christi .n,' the subject of family prayer was introduced, and reference was made to an elder of the Church, who 'lid not have a family altar, for the reason that he could never find a command in God's Word which strictly enjoined it as a duty. Now, for the benefit of such, as well as for the, gratifica tion of others who may receive such Gospel truths in their simplicity, I kindly request of you, or some other willing adviser, to give us the reasons why a Christian should pray'in his family; and be assured of the •grateful acknowledgments of one who de lights to subscribe himself, "AN INQUIRING LEARNER." The duty of prayer is clearly written in God's Word, and is deeply impressed on the human heart. Most, if not all men feel, in a day of need, that they should pray; and those who have been well instructed, have much difficulty in quieting conscienee, while they .are 'negligent. The limes and modes, and the companies which tilhould unite in this exercise are also very clearly indicated in Scripture and by common sense. We know that men, often task their ingenuity, and sometimes with eonsideraple success, to die-, cover reasons why they may be. excused. They would repelthe importunities of con science, urging them to the service. This is especially the case with young heads of families; . and sometimes it is so with 'even hoary.headed elders. Alas, that men should be so unwise. 'No justifying excuse can, be found: Family • worship comprises instruction, praise, and 'prayer. Instruction is given in the devout reading of God's Word. Praise is rendered in the singing of sacred melo dies.. Prayer is effered in addressing God on his- throne of grace. Where the musical powers granted to the household are not ad equate to render singing a profitable exer cise to the understanding, and a means of el evating the affections, praise is rendered by special earnestness in thanksgiving, mingled With pefitions'in prayer. The head of the family, whether male, or female, directs in the exercises, and• commonly is the leader in all the parts, being the one placed in au thority and held responsible by God, for the full and proper performance of the duty. The times at which family. warship is to be performed, are the morning and evening of ..ntch day. This is indicated by the ne cessities of the mind. To be kept in a right frame, and to increase in knowledge and de votion, it needs frequent communings with God.; and the morning and evening are the times best adapted to edification. Then the family are together and the feelings more calm and solemn. Then there is , the most leisure, and the brief period requisite for the service will then least interfere with other duties, which are also incumbent. These are the times, also, which were indica ted by Israel's God in the appointment of the daily sacrifice. It was to be, morning and evening. And these, also, are hours prescribed for special instruction in the things of God, where he engages covenant blessings from generation to generation,. " Thou shalt teach them' diligently unto thy Children * * * when thou lyest down and when thou risest up." See Deut. vi :."1-9 ; xi : 18-21. The benefits of family worship, when riAt ly performed, are greater than can be ex pressed. The knowledge of God, and• of moral and social' duties,' which is. thereby communicated, is immense. Two, chapters of God's own moM precious Word devoutly read,every day, cannot but enlighten the understanding in all which that Word con tains ; and it embraCes our duty to God and our duty to man. And such a presentation of truth must quicken the conscience as well as instruct the intellect. It is God, who made man, speaking to the soul which him self hath formed. And it must also have the happiest influence on the social rela tions., A common Lord is teaching his peo ple, bidding them regard each other as mem bers of one family, made of one blood. Ev eryman is a neighbor; each huntart being is a brother, By this daily reading of the Scrip tures, every child is taught ; taught with the opening and close of each day it lives, from the earliest buddings of intellect up to full manhood, and thence while life lasts; taught in all social and Christian duties, in faith and repentance, in love and good works. Family prayer is, a great benefit. It is often, we acknowledge, rather a dull matter. There is a languor, a:formality, a repetition which permits the minds of the participants to wander, or puts their eyes to sleep. Such is weak humanity, and so little do those who lead, endeavor to stir up the gift that is in them. And yet, with all draw backs, family prayer has an influence greatly for good. / The very fact of t.. setting apart the season, never to be neglected, and of the whole household' selemely bowing their knees before God, and uttering words to him, has its influence—an influence, deep and abiding. The family which shall do so will be more sober, more respectful of sacred things and human rights, more orderly in all of life's affairs, than therwould be if the altered service were utterly, neglected. And though often listless, yet, sometimes they will really feel and truly pray; and they will, as a result of the exercise, respect each other more, and love each:: other with greater purity. And there will be more of peace in that house.: The very thought that they are to engage in worship, or, the near approach of the. appointed hour when they must - go to gether before God, who demands peace and love and who cannot, be, mocked, will quell many an angry emotion, and bring re ientance for many an unkind word. It willrecall the erring to a kind embrace, and induce:to a re-union of :hearts, those bound by ,tht.deareat ,ties, but who were in danger: THE PRESBYTERIAN BANNER AND ADVOCATE. of falling into unholy strife and lasting alienations. Families have common wants to be sup plied from God's rich bounties, and they enjoy mercies in common for which to give thanks. There are sins common to all the members of a household, and their interests throughout are very extensively the same. They shout 1, therefore, go together to God in thanksgiving and prayer. Every father of a family, and mother, also, is charged with immortal souls; to be enlightened. and' saved; and 'ditty cannot possibly be -per formed, while instruction and prayer are neglected, God's sore displeasure will be upon the households which refuse to worship him. iHe will pour out his fury upon the heathen that know him not, and upon the families that call not 'upon his name. (Jer. x: 25.) Family worship is then the dictate of our better nature, and the law of revelation. The richest blessings are connected with its due performance, and awful curses result from its neglect. Let these all be regarded as reasons and motives urging to the dis charae of the duty. There'are many professors.of religion, we know, who have no family altar; and there are even spiritual officers in the Church who do not' guide their households in an offering of the merning and evening sacrifice. We would not pass upon all such, the sentence of exclusion. Some of them regard their condition as a painful•necessity, which they deeply deplore. They think they canna. They should try, and persevere, in. trying. Men's gifts differ; but let them reflect on the fact, that God's Word demands that even the one talent shall be used. He is righteous. He asks only in accordance with what he has given; - but so far he in sists peremptorily. ' He claims the honest, diligent, conscientious use of what: he has given.. Let him have that, and you will find a rich reward. If strict in his requisi tions, he is still no hard Master. The feeblest may serve him to a full acceptance. The Seelliar Press, and the Religious. The ability with which the daily press, in our country is conducted, is wonderful. It is an Encyclopedia of knowledge on Sei mace, Commerce, Agriculture, History, Gov ernment—on almost all subjects of living interest. And yet there is attached to it ) , very exteasively, a sad blemish—there is a want of the living principles of Gospel mo rality- 7 a virus of iniquity, poisoning the fountains of social purity, and corrupting minds which it is the effort of;the parent and the Church to imbue with the spirit'of Christianity. Orie of the things, to which exception may be, justly taken, is well presented by the American PreEibyterian. Our contempora ry remarks " What shall we say of our consistency in allowing the editors of newspapers in New York and Philadelphia, to print, and send, to our families the most disgusting details of crimes which we will not so much as men tion to them? , What shall we say of our morality when we not only allow it, butpay them for doing it. "It was once the derision of America abroad, her pride at home, that purity of thonght . and speech was carried to the, verge, if not within the limits of, prudery. But, if the daily press, is to pour into our houses a ceaseless flood of illustrations of _vice in all its details, , transcripts of every page that de files, the police reports .9f our cities, narra tives of every ,charge of bestial lust, true or untrue, that finds utterance in any part of the land, tberi,may we bid farewell to our ancient fame, and hope soon to boast of the morality of Paris without the refinement that gilds its deformity. It will not do to pass this matter over lightly. We are in danger of Suffering to a fearful extent from this source. Every good man should throw his influence against its incoming. "It has been said that since the Burdell murder, the circulation of the New York papers has increased two hundred thousand. Whether this be so, we know not—nor do we mean to say . that this is the worst reading that well-known papers in New York and Philadelphia have sent into our households—but we have here the secret 'of the thing. It pays to give the details of vice, and they are given. Some journals, too devoid of any moral character to be in jure,d by the practice, by pandering to the vicious tastes of htimanity, run up their sales. Respectable journals cannot be outdone; their subscribers must not be allowed to go to other pipers for the news, and they too join in, Until we now scarce know where to turn to find a secular paper that should be allosied to come within the doors of a Christian household. Both in the columns appropria ted to news, and in those sold to their ad vertisers,' are matters that breathe the spirit of Satan, and that are doing his work. The vapors of the pit exhale from them, and yet we make them the companions of our chil dren. "With shame do we acknowledge the justice of the following gentle rebuke from Canada, found in the columns of the Mon treal Witness " 'We deeply regret to see reports of trials and examinations, involving matters of the most indecent and revolting descrip tion, published at full length in several American papers—the New York Tribune being one of them. It makes one shudder for the future of society, to reflect that these abominable details are going into hundreds of thousands of families, where they will— unless the papers containing them are im media.tely put in the fire, as they deserve be read by the young of both sexes. Surely parents should be careful what papers they allow to come into their houses.' This fact makes it the more incumbent on parents to furnish their families with RELl mous journals'; and it urges upon the Christian press the importance of making the weekly sheet the vehicle of much general information. The young,, and the females in the household, should be furnished with information on all matters of living interest, and should have it 'conveyed to them in pure channels, and without any polluting as• sociatione. ;This is now done, to a great extent, by some our of religous papers. We ourselves aim at it. A Buffalo paper, discoursing on this subject, says : "There is no amount of reading so attrctive, so various, so rich, and so cheap, as that which is afforded in one of our first-clasi religious weekly newspapers. We have instances be fore us, either, of ,which will'make good our assertion. Take the New York Observer, Advocate and Journal, Evangelist, Intelle gencer, Examiner, the Western Advocate; and some others we might name. These papers contain a vast amount of reading matter, with variety enough to satisfy the most fastidious taste. In their departments may be found religious intelligence, literary articles, discussions on the arts and sciences, travels, biography, poetry, ; sketches of char acter, labored argument on the most ab struce subjects, departments for the youth and the aged, for parents and children, re view of the markets, the currency of the country, digests of national and state affairs, foreign correspondence, itgriculture, history, philosophy, general news, and, in fact, on ; all subjects which relate to man, the world, heaven, or hell. The variety of the reli gios newspaper is astonishing, and far be pond anything which appears in any other class of newspaper reading. No person can place a dozen of our leading journals before his eyes, and give theM anything like an intelligent exatnination, without being amaz ed at the prodigious amount of labor re quired to sustain the variety and intense in terest which they present. The religious press of this country admits of no parallel in the world." The journals here named, are all ably con ducted, and some of them are mammoth sheets; adapted to thase who have large means and much , Families in oth er circumstances will derive more benefit from a less amount of reading matter, provi ded it be of the right kind ; and to this end the patrons and conductors of the press should mutually strive ; the latter by an earnest consecration of their energies, and the former by giving .s.circulation adequate to sustain the labor - ,and expense. And whatever a man may think needful fOr his office or for the club room, he should per mit nothing but that wliich is free from mor al pollution to enter the sanctuary of his domicil, where he would have naught to abide and flourish hitt purity and love. - London. Heathenism. Under this heading the London Christian Times gives us some account of the City Mission . ; an admirable institution, we should infer from what is; told of its works. Under its influence there has been an in crease, in the last year, of three hundred and eighty-one in the number of Sabbath keeping cabs ; one thousand one hundred and fifty couples who had lived together un lawfully, were induced to marry; eleven thousand five hundred and sixty•four chil dren were sent to Sunday-and daily schools; and five thousand eight, hundred and sixty nine communicants were added to Christian Churches. In speaking of the enndition of the city, the Times says : • Experience is opening her '.eyes to the real state of the cane, and teaching us that millions of people on-the Continent absent themselves from the ordinances even of the spurious Christianity, wherein they have been schooled to ungodliness, and that in our own Protestant country, and specially ,in the heart of the wealthiest and proudest city in the world, there are myriads upon myriads of real heathens Not only are they thieves, drunkards, and-prostitutes, but they are 'born, and live, and die; in a state of utter separation from the elementary observances of Christianity. They have^ cohabitation without marriage-the London costermongers being an example, since hardly one, tenth of their couples have taken on them the, marriage tie. Their children are not bap ized, +nor does it ever enter into the thoughts of man or,woman, among them, to seek admission into the Christian Church by baptism. The sacred names which Christendom riveres are, with them, mere terms of blasphemy. Prayer they know not. _Churchee they never enter. The ministers of religion they look upon with a set antipathy, and. if 011 c such desires access or.toleration amohg - thein, he must, put, off his usual 'dress and assume the habit and style of a layman. In short, the worship, the ministers, the sacraments, of Christianity, are openly-re jected ; and sad and hu.nilating as is the con fession, consistency with .all that is taught in every denomination requires us, to confess that these are heathens, in the full and natural ac ceptation of the word. ' This is a sad picture, and likely not at all overdrawn. If we look at the ignorance, vice, degiadation,—the real heathenism— which may be found in our own city; at the greater amount and of an awfully deeper dye, which is to be found in the larger city of Philadelphia; and at the still . far worse state of things in New York, we cannot doubt the truthfulness of the statement made relative to London, where the people number some two and a =half millions. Large cities are the most awful sinks of pollution on earth ; and they offer the most needy missionary fields. While, then, we send the Gospel to the heathen afar off, we must not ignore Our home wants. Intercourse with Africa. Under this head, in, our news department, we give some facts, and our thoughts thereon. We there present the subject in its peen niary and social aspects. But it is also intimately connected with religion. It would tend greatly to the Christianizing of Africa. It is true, that trade, in its own operations, does not tend to the cherishing of a devotional spirit, but rather the con trary;;and yet trade is ever.found connected with' revealed religion. -It needs, for its sustentation, the morality of religion; and, in this case, it would give facilities to Christians to reach the African people, with their books and institutions. The light of Divine truth, and the labors of Christian teachers would be found side by side with commerce in its advances, and would be bleased of. God to the conversion of the nations. Africa would be made, to stretch forth her hands unto God. We shall hope to see Christian people insist upon it, that their, representatives shall favor the measure. Superior, Wisconsin. This is a town of three years old, and numbering one thousand five hundred in habitant& It is situated at the West end of Lake Superior, and on. the Southern shoies of the Bays. of Superior and AlLiles. The site is said to be beautiful, being a plot of five thousand acres, eleVated thirty-four feet above the water, and with a gradual rise. The prospect is delightful. The climate is favorable to health. The mines of copper, iron', and lead, the lumber, and the products of a rich agricultural and grazing country, and its being at the extreme Western point of Lake navigation, must render it a place of- great importance. Its growth must be rapid, and a rivalry in trade can hardly, from its situation, be anticipated. We are pleased,to see, aa noted in another column, that this place is a'ready occupied by our Church, and is enjoying Divine fa vors. Such a place well merits the atten tion of our Board of Missions. An early occupation of a country, and of, the places which must become centres of influence in that country, is the imperative duty of God's people ; and a duty to be discharged spe cially by those entrusted With the conduct ing of our aggressive operations, in extend ing Zion. Catalogue of Western Theological Semi- nary. The Triennial Catalogue, just issued, pre sents a succinct history of the instruction in this Institution--its officers and students. Rev. Jacob Janeway, D. D., was the first Professor. He was appointed in 1828; and resigned in 1829. Rev. Luther Halsey, D. D., was in the Seminary from 1829 till 1837; Rev. John W. Nevin, D. D., from 1829 till 1836, as Instructor, and thence till 1840, as Professor; Rev: Lewis Green, D. D., from 1840 till 1847.; and Rev. A. T. McGill, D. D., from 1841 till 1854. Of the present Professors, Dr. Elliott was ap pointed in 1836, Dr. Jacobus in 1851, and Dr. Planter in 1854. The whole number of Alumni is four hundred and forty-nine; of whom there have deceased seventy one. ' The present number of students is—Res* idents, five; Senior Class, nineteen; Middle Class, thirty two;' Junior Class, twenty-five; making a total of eighty.one.• The Institution enjoys largely the favors of a kind Providence, and has the confidence of the churches. The appropriate work of a Fourth Professor is divided among the three above named; they being aided by S. J. Wilson, A: M., as assistant in Hebrew and History. An endowment of another Professorship and the appointment of a Pro fessor would add still more to the efficiency of the Seminary. Amerim Tract Society. At the stated meeting of the Executive Committee on the 16th inst., the Rev. Knox iu the chair, the receipts for ten months had been equal, 'Within $6OO, to the same months of last year Correspondence had been had with our. Foreign Mission Boards, and , in view of the various applica tions received from foreign stations, $2,500 were appropriated for missions of different denominations in China; $1,300 for Siam, Assam, and Burmab ; $2,000 for Northern India; $2,700 for missions in Southern India; $3,900 for the Nestorians, Armenians, Syria, and Greece; $1,500 for . France; and $3,600 for Germany, Italy, and other countries of Europe; making in all $lB,OOO, which is to be remitted before April 1, when the Society's year ends. For the Presbyterian Banner and - Advocate. Board of Education. PRESBYTERIAN EDUCATION. ROOMS, Philadelphia, Feb. 17th 1857 • Some fifteen months ago, a special appeal was made to the churches in behalf of the Board'of,Education for funds—the first of the kind in nine years. That appeal was responded to with promptness and liberali ty. Tile pecuniary pressure' of the 'Board was relieved, and the year closed with a small balance in the treasury. We had hoped until now that we should be able to meet the demands of the current year, by the ordinary and spontaneous benevolence of our churches. But our year is so nearly closed, and so many of the churches have thus far withheld their collections, that we are constrained to make known our wants, and to request them earnestly' to take such action in the case as they may deem best 'Our treasury is overdrawn, and we shall need, within the next two months, not less than ten thousand dollars in order to meet our rq..ular appropriationa, to say nothing of several urgent applications for spepial 'aid, which we are desirous, -if possible, to grant. • • The concert of prayer for colleges on the last Thursday of February will afford a suitable occasion to remind our people of the duty of giving as well as praying for this object. We, therefore, respectfully re quest our brethren in the ministry, in churches where the'.annual collection for the Board of Education has not been taken up, to appoint the Sabbath succeeding the last Thursday of February, or as SOO7l after . as practicable, as the time for this collection. To the observance of that day of prayer the attention of the churches has already been called; and a higher call to the observance of this concert than the recommendation of any ecclesiastical court, is manifest in the repeated answers which have been given to the prayers of God's people in the conver sion of young men in our colleges and other schools. We hope this appointment will not be forgotten or neglected by any of our churches. What a glorious accession would be made to the "sacramental host," if the two hundred and fifty thousand young men in our colleges and academies, with the four millions in our common schools, should be made the Isubjects of Divine grace ! But in our prayers for their conversion, remember that several hundreds already converted in answer to your former prayers, are members of to, Institutions, and are called of God to devote themselves to the Gospel ministry, but without the requisite pecuniary ability to meet their current ex penses. Shall they suspend their studies, or suffer an intolerable pressure of personal want in their persevering and self-denying efforts to continue them,' or will you not, dear brethren, come to their relief, by con tributing what is necessary to enable the' Board Of Education to pay the small pit tance which has been promised for their benefit? A recurrence to the monthly reports of our treasurer in the Home and Foreign Re cord, discloses the fact that some large sec tions of the Church have contributed very little to the Board during, •the current year. One reason doubtless is, that they are rais ing funds on a large scale for educational purposes in their own localities. We rejoice in these efforts. The promotion< of the ob jects contemplated by them, constitutes a part of the work committed. by the General Assembly to the Board of Education. We regret that 'a much larger amount than is .now received, does not pass through our treasury for these objects. It would de light our hearts to have it-• in our power to aid, •by direct appropriations, as we are doing indirectly,to a considerable degree, our in stitutions of learning. But the aid ex tended to these was not designed by the Assembly to diminish- the resources of the Board for aiding candidates for the Gospel ministry. And we seriously submit the question to those brethren who are engaged in the' noble work of endowing Colleges) Academies, and Theological Seminaries, whether these efforts ought to interrupt the annual collections for the ministerial fund? They may form a -valid reason for contributing less, but not as we think, for omitting these collections altogether: If all the churches in our communion would contribute annually to this cause according to their ability, the Board would be relieved from embarrassment, and special appeals for funds would be no longer necessary. TRE SECRETARIES OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION For the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate. Clititch at T;6wisbzirg,Ta. A meeting of the Presbyterian congrega tion of Lewisburg, Pa., called for the pur pose of securing the concurrence of the con gregation in asking from •Presbytery, at the request of their pastor, Rev. James Clark, D. D.; a dissolution of the pastoral relation, wawbeld.on the 16th inst. On motion, the following Preamble and Resolutions were unanimously adopted: WIINREAS, Our pastor, the Rev. James Clark, D. D., having signified to this congregation, his sense of duty in the .circumstancea of himself and. family; and having expressed his wish to withdraw, for a year, from the labors of publicly preaching the Gospel, and having requested us to concur with him in asking' of Presbytery, ,a dissolution of the tender and sacred relations existing between him and 113, we deem it proper to express our views and feelings in reference to his request; therefore, Resolved, That we render thanks to our Creator and Redeemer for the harmony and kind affec tion, which, through the entire pastorate. of Dr. Clark, in this congregation, have characterized the relations we have sustained, and the inter course we have bad with one another. Resolvid, That we acknowledge, with gratitude, to the Lord of Zion, the favor with which, during the past year, as well as during former;years, he has crowned the labors of our befoved pastor, in the ingathering of a goodly number into the mem bership of the Church. , Resolved, That, as Dr. Clark has expressed to us, affectionately, his views of duty, and has sig nified to us his intention to ask leave of Presby tery to resign his pastoral charge, we would re gard, with unfeigned respect, his convictions of duty on this subject; and, while we would have Nsrilliugly and gladly retained our beloved pastor in the relation which he sustains to this church, and in his labors in the service of the Master among us, yet, in compliance with his request, we will throw no obstacle in his way ; but will join him in asking of Presbytery, a dissolution of the relation in which he stands to us, as pastor of this church. , . Resolved, That we commend our beloved . pastor and his family, to the mercies of a covenant keeping, and gracious God; and our prayer as cends for the continuance of his usefulness and comfort, wherever his lot may be cast. Resolved, That copies of these Resolutions be forwarded to Editors of the Presbyterian 'and Presbyterian Banner and Advocate, for publication. ROBERT H. LAIRD, Pres't. John Rando?ph, Sec'y. Tor the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate. Death of Rev. -John Brittain. MR. EDITOR :---I am directed by the Presbytery of Winnebago, to send you the following Minute adopted by them at their last stated meeting, at Fond du Lac, Jan. 31st, 1857 : ' Presbytery having received the mournful in telligence of the death of Rev. John Brittain, a member of this Presbytery, do adopt the follow ing resolutions Resolved,, That we regard the removal of this able and efficient laborer from the midst of this wide and destitute missionary field, as one of those mysterious dispensations of Divine Provi deuce which we cannot understand, and which we will not question. We - can only say, and we de sire to say, in a submissive spirit, " The will of the Lord be done." Resolved, That we - deem it appropriate to this occasion, to express our sense of the severe loss we have sustained, as a Presbytery and a Church, in the death of this brother, whom we regarded as a man of superior intellectual endowments, high moral culture, and a deep and earnest piety. Eminently successful as an instructor of youth, capable as a preacher, and possessing a self denying missionary spirit. He came into this North- Western field when our Church here was, in its infancy.. He was one of the origined members -of this Presbytery. Be made many sacrifices, and performed .much missionary labor in laying the foundations of our Churoh in Wisconsin: To us he seemed peculiar ly fitted for usefulness here. But "He who seeth not as man seeth;" hath called him away in the prime of life,'and in the midst of his labors, and permitted him to enter into his rest. Resolved, That while we thus mourn the loss of a brother, whom we loved, and a fellow-laborer, whose services vre so highly prized, we would, at the same time, rejoice that to him so happy a de liverence has been given. His calm and peaceful death bore a precious testimony to the power and faithfulness of that Saviour vrhom he preached, and in whom we believe ; and our prayer is, that this bereavement may be 'sanctified to our spiritual good. We would •recognise in it the voice of the Master, saying unto us, "Be ye also ready." Resolved, That we sympathise with the relatives and friends of Brother Brittain in the loss they have sustained, and commend them the con- soling truths and promises of God's Word. Resolved, That the Stated Clerk be directed to forward a copy of these resolutions to the re latives of Mr. Brittain, to Rev. B. Phillips, under whose hospitable roof our brother breathed his last, and to the religious press. • H. M. ROBERTSON, Stated Clerk.' EcelesiasticaL Rev. J. G..SCOTT has received and accepted a call to the church of Westfield, and de sires to be addressed, hereafter, at Mount Jackson, Lawrence County, Pa., instead of New Matarnoras, Ohio. Rev. JAMES L. RODGERS, late of Mt., Joy, Pa., has united with the Presbytery of Rock River, and received a call to Stirl ing, Illinois. Rev. J. W. STROWIIER„ of Searcy, Ark., has removed to Brownsville, Tenn. Cor respondents will please address hint ac cordingly. Rev. Gni). Bunnowr,s, D. D., has been called to the church at Newtown, Pa. Rev. THOMAS MeCottmrcx. has received a call to Runterstown, Pa. Eastern Correspondence. NEW Yoiuc, Feb. 21,1857. MR. EDITOR :—Tbe corporators of Trinity church must find themselves in an unenvia- ble position in administering the great trust committed to their Charge. If they, have souls, or t•ensibilities—of which, fortunately for them, corporations are thought to be-desti tute—they must be kept in a continual worry, from t l .e frequent attacks made upon their administration, or efforts to wrest the pro party from their control. These attacks and efforts indicate a jealousy of their growing wealth, and an opposition to their general policy, which is presumed to aim at an in crease of their power, by the. accumulation of their property, and by rendering the churches which they aid, dependent on their bounty. They may be partly explain ed, too, by the desire that is no doubt felt among those who hope to' share the spoils, that this great property may, by some pro cess:it: forfeited to the State, and on the part of others that it should be divided among all the Episcopal churches `'of this city. History shows'the danger, to society, as well as to the Church, of the increase of ecclesiastical wealth in the hands - of a few, with its consequent s pirituardespotism; while the fears of the people, on this . subject, have taken shape in the laws, passed two or three years ago, to prohibit .Romish Bishops from holding m their Valve; or exercising uncontrolled authority over the property or their Church, in their dioceses. The of our institutions, teo, is opposed to ne,n( P. olies in religion, as well as in 1.m.kt,,, while w( a]th and power are, in thernsel7r,, apt to excite envy and suspicion. It is not surprising, therefore, that Trinity should hi watched with a jealous eye, or her rides be coveted by the needy and grasping. This vigilance may, however, become excessi ve , if it does not read to positive injusti ce. There is, indeed, -a tendency in this matter, as in others, to extremes. We see it in the prejudice that prevails, not oLly against permanent investments, for religious uses, but against the bequeathing of property f or benevolent ends. It has become the rule to contest a man's will, whatever the circum stances under which it was made, if it is largely in favor of charitable, particulary of religious objects ; as though the fact o f such liberality, was, in itself, evidence of incompetency. And- while it is, no doubt, ,a 44 more excellent way," for the rich to disburse their gifts during their life, if pos sible, rather than at death, such an interfe .rence with their wishes is often unreasona ble and oppressive. The agitation in re gard to Trinity , church, has grown out of her good fortune, rather than any perversion of their trust, on the part of the corporators. Her original property was "the King's farm,' the gift of the ,English Crown to the Episcopalians of this city. No one, of course, dreamed that what was then mere "pasture and potato fields," would so soon be covered with " merchant palaces." It consisted, as appears from a report recently made to the New York Senate, of 2,068 lots, 318 of which have been given away, 1,059 sold, and the remainder, 691, continue in posses sion of the church. The present value of her productive property, according to Trini ty herself, is a little over a million of dollars; according•to the report referred to, it is over font millions ' while another million, it claims, should be added -on the score of her interest in St. John's Park, and her mort gages on the sixty six churches to which she has loaned money, but from:which„ however, she takes no interest. Prior to 1814, her property, it seems, was liberally applied for the benefit of all the Episcopal churches in this city, agreeable to the terms of the be quest. By an act of the Legislature, that, year r tlae title of her corporation ' and conse quently its power, was changed from " The Rector and Inhabitants," to " the Rector, Church. warden., and Vestry-men. of. Trinity church, in. the city of New York" This change was made with the understanding that she would continue to divide her corpo rators; build, set • off, and endow new chuches, so as to keep pace with the popu lation; and thus gradually " break•down" her vast estate, instead of suffering it to in crease. The report states that these expec tations have been disappointed. She has not divided her corporators. She has not set off, or endowed any chapel with a compe tent estate in land. She has built no free church since 1814, or, indeed, at any time, while she has expended, in aid of such churchei, only eleven hundred dollars' du ring the last five. years. She has abandoned her policy of giving away land, and now makes onlypeeuniary grants, in two forms, either an annual stipend to the Rector of a parish,. revocable at pleasure, or a grant to the par ish, secured by a mortgage, bearing interest, thotigh the interest is not collected, but suffer ed to accumulate She has founded no institu. tion of charity for the poor, though she has recently completed an up town chapel, at a cost of two hundred and thirty-seven 'thou sand dollars In reply to these charges, it is urged by " a member of the Episcopal Church," that Trinity is a striking example of a missionary and free church—indeed, has no parallel in this" respect among the churches of the land. While others hive removed from the lower to the upper part : of the city, she re mains, .with the two Chapels, St. Paul's and St. John's, in the midst of a population destitute of religious ordinances, and ninny of them in great poverty. Her doors are open from morning to night, in Summer and Winter, and 'throughout the whole year. Every proper effort is made to induce the attendance of the poor. Clergymen and Sextons are in readiness to answer their de mands. Their wants are provided for, and their children instructed. That Trinity, with her two Chapels, is essentially free, is. shown moreover from the statement, that the whole amount of their pew rents does not pay one-half the cost of their music; while their nine clergymen, with their lay assistants, are sustained by the funds of the Corporation. -As to her retaining, instead of selling or donating her real estate, this it is claimed, is a question of policy, to be de termined by those who are entrusted with its management. While her efforts to keep pace with the growth of the population, are probably exhausted by the new Chapel, with its vast expenditure and lavish appointments, Trinity has, unquestionably, contributed to "the improvement:" of the city by her splendid edifices She is also to be com mended for continuing her labors and worship in the lower part of the city, which has been almost abandoned _by other Churches, thOugh the population has in creased. but at what a ,great expense is- her .extensive establishment sustained, and how limited are the results, compared with what a different policy might produce ? How many of the poor actually worship in her cathedral, and what does she effect for the spread of religion, commensurate with her resources ? Her 'want of good faith, which the report to the Senate alleges, may be a misapprehension, for it has been recommitted, not discussed or adopted ; but her history illustrates the undesirable ness, if not the danger, of rich ecclesiastical corporations. A plethora of money in the Church, like a plethora of blood in the body, produces inactivity, if it does not tend to corruption. Jealousy and mistrust are more its natural fruits, than love and self-denial. The liberality Of many is restrained by knolledge of its ability, or by its parsi monious example; while individuals, or even the - state is tempted to covet its possessions, Or stumbled at its pokey. , At all events, Episcopacy has gained little in this city by the wealth of Trinity; for with all the preitige and power which it has given, it now numbers fewer , churches than belong to the Presbyterian body, which was planted in the midst of persecution, and has been dependenf'for its support on the voluntary contributions of its adherents. Rumanista has revealed something of its animus, in connexion with the Irish riot in Hudson City, N. J. Two priests were call ed upon to administer the rites of their Church to two of the wounded men, who were thought to be dying. When sum moned as witnesses by the authorities, and urged to disclose what they knew of the guilty parties, they refused to testify on the ground that the Confessional is sacred, and they ought not to be required to reveal its secrets. They profess the most unbounded allegiance to the State, but cannot belive it to be any part of their civil duty to use the knowledge'they thus acquire to aid it in the detection of crime. Such a perversion of the Confessional would convert it into a system of espionage, as a secret police, under the garb df religion; anti thereby destroy all
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