amttr anb (I.bfbacate. PITTSBURGH, MARCH 14,1857. TERMS...III. I )O.' in advance; or in Clubs, 0144; or, delivered at residence. of Subtler!. bens! •1.73. See Prospectus. on Third Page. it Al hi row AAA S should be prompt; a little while borers' the year expires, that we may Make full arrangements for & steady supply. THE RED WRAPPER indicates that ws desire arenewal. If, however. in-the haste of this Areal should be omitted. we hops our friends will still not forget us. REMITTANCES.--Send payment by safe hands, when convenient. Or, send by Man, enclosing with ordinary care, and troubling nobody with a knowledge of what you are doing. Per a largo amount, send a Drafty or large notes. Porous or two paper., send Hold or small notes. TO MAKE CHAMOIS, Send posing* stamps, or blotter stilly mend for more paper's; sal 'fl for Soirontyntumbsroy or SI for Tldrtysthrso stitnibersy DIRECT aU Lotter* sad Communications to REV. DAVID MeIEINNEY. Pittabourghy ' ' CALIFORNIA:--RC I 7. Dr. Happersett left New York, on the sth lust , in the steamer Illinois, for San Francisco. He jvcs on behalf of the Board of Domestic Missions, on a tour of visitation and exploration. Rev. Mr. Fairbairn, of Texas, sailed in company with Dr. Happersett, and will probably'remain there. REFERENCE BIBLES.—A good Reference Bible should be a part of the'furnishing of every Christian's house: - Lee's work; - ad vertised in our columns by Mr. Renton', is vefy highly recommended. We have had one of them on our table for some weeks, and, as far as we hive had occasion to use it, We find it excellent. The Oeneeee Evaegelist. The . Rev. D. C. Hotighten has, taken, the editorial charge of this excellent journal. The Evangelist is !sustained mainly by the Western Synods (Nei! Sehool) of New York. Its support has' not been very ample. Its spirit hasheen fraternal, and the new editor encourages Ss to expect no deterioration. A Missionary Deceased. The Rev. Philip Condit, of the Presby tery of Oregon, +died'on the 29th of Novem ber, 1856, of typhoid fever. He was about fifty years of age, and bid been, a faithful and devoted missionary. Another is needed to occupy his placc; and many more to do the greet work demanded in that newly set tled but extensive country. Revivals. , WHITE CLAY CREEK, DEL —l-See letter of Mr. Vallandigham. AMONG "THE BLkOKS.—The Southern Presbyterian: tells of some forty colored per sons added to the Anson Street church, Charleston; and of fifteen or twenty appli cants for admission. Great care seems to be bestowed in giving instruction to these mem bers. To the Wsppetaw eongregation there are thirty-five or.forty applicants, of the same class of persons, for communion privileges. At Harris' Neck, 'Ga., twenty-twe were re ceived to the communion, in january. Hiitiq of the Presbyterian Chwoh. The work, on this subject by the late Rev. Richard Webster, is now nearly through the press. We have= received a few of the sheets printed. The Manuscript was in trusted to the care of an industrious and ac complished literary gentleman, and is being published with great accuracy... We anticipate a very extended sale; from thvalue. of the work h and the Anown fact that - the profits will accrue to the family of the deceased ; and also from the facilities to be afforded to the Aurelia for obtaining it, a number of Synods, if we remember right, having passed resolutions requesting the Board of. Publication to have it circutated by their Colporteum: The iiew President. Mr. Buchanan was duly inducted into offor r on the '4th. inst. An immense con course* of people were in the Capital, and festivities abounded. The new President enters office somewhat trammeled by party, and heir to some diffi culties; but he has also many things in his favor; and a righteous administration is the * subject of hope. His religious train , ing was in, the Presbyterian Church,' and. in it he his habitually attended on public wor ship ia, herce, well instructed in Chrm tian morality; and the seeds, early sown and long nurtured; may be expected to produce rich fruit in his advancing age. The 'lnaugural is an able paper. The President pledges himself to one term. He strongly advocates popular sovereignty. New States, he says, should be admitted, with or without slavery, as the people may choose. go, '4,11i upon every Union-loving man to 'e'iert; his influence to supprees the agitation of slavery, as a political question. He would regard disunion as a parent of terrific evils. The dOvernment he would preserve free from the taint, or even the suspicion of cor ruption. The increase of the . Navy and maritime defences is recommended; also, an .equitable tariff- of duties on imports. He faiOrs a. railroad to the Pacific coast: He says it is our glory that we have ac , quired territory, not by conquest, but by equitable purchase. The continuance of this policy he recommends. His invocation of. the Divine blessing is candid and rever _•,ential.., The Cabinet nailed by Mr. Buchanan has ;been .confirmed 'by the Senate. The pa pers mostly speak respectable, in tab*, and not ultra in .polities; but think there' ikpo danger of the Chief Magistrate being- . eclipsed by the members of his Council. The Nsident, Couneil,Congress, Judges, and all in authority, have the earnest Irwin of God's people :for the& guidance. 4 gllkased is that people r wboee 4041 is the Lord:" It is by bin: that princes aeign and tulers decree justice. ttaie ishO*Juut in an thwity should be the. SUbjacti of thnelt and earnest prayer. Baptism—The Princeton Review—Status of Infants—Duty to the Bcptized. The leading article in the January num ber of the Princeton Review, has elicited much attention, and has prompted to no little inquiry. What, the; Church asks, is the opinion of this truly excellent and extensive ly influential journal, on a subject so deeply vital as the condition and prospects of her offspring ? The difficulty occurs mainly in a feweentences, and relates to the status of the infants of believers, and the grounds of their being admitted to baptism. On page 22, we read : "2. Those incapable of such profession, (the intelligent profession of adults who are brought in from the world,) may be visibly members of the Church, by virtue of God's revealed covenant, or promise to be their God. This is precisely the case with infants and the ground of their baptism. But, in either arise, membership in the visible Church is founded on a.presumptive membership in the invisible, until its subjects, by acts incom patible * thereto : nth, prove the contrary, and thus, to the eye of man, forfeit titeir standing among God's visible people." And, again, on page 23 All this imports nothing less than a presump tion that the children of the Church are, and will prove to be, the real children - of Ged, until they dispel that presumption, by their misconduct." Now, the difficulty arises from the sense which the words "invisible Church" are used. Who compose the invisible. Church ? Commonly, l as we think, the phrase is un derstood to mean the regenerate—those now living and actually renewed in Christ. If such he the signification, the Review is wrong—deeply wrong. It teaches a per nicious error; an error which must be death bringing in its influence. And so our cor respondent "A. 8.," of last week, under stood the Reviewer. And so others, minis ters as well as laymen, have understood him. And his words, "are, and will prove to be, the real children of God," authorize such an understanding. And the expla. nation attempted in the Presbyterian, of February 7th, rather implies that HE so understood himself ; by his crit icism on. the word presume, and his al tering the connective AND as quoted above, into ,on.—"are, OR will prove to be the real children of God"—thus 'apparently wishing to change his ground. We were, therefore, pleased to receive the article of "A. B." It contends for precious truth, and is adapted to draw attention , to a subject which is much neglected, but which is of unspeakable im portance. It is a word in season. But the phrase, "invisible Church," has a meaning far more extended and compre hensive than that given above. We under stand it as meaning the elect of God—the iffnle family of the redeemed in Christ, in past ages, at the present time, and for the ages to come. So it is .used by the Old theologians, and it is so defined in our Standards " The catholic or universal Church, which is INVISIBLE, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one , under Christ, the head thereof."-Confession Faith. Chap. 25. See. 1. 4f Q. 64. What is the invisible Church 7" "A. The invisible Church is the whole number of the ELECT, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the head."— Larger Catechism. And thus we would think,that the writer in the Review, notwithstanding his failure to r atty so, and his seeming desire to shift his ground, used the expression—we judge thus because he had just quoted (on page 18) the definition above given from the Stand ards; because he admits that the children of believers are born in sin;,because he denies baptismal regeneration; because he does not use the word regenerate, nor any of its synonyms, in speaking of the state of believers' children by birth; and because he ,urges, on the part of parents and the Church, the use of those means which, by God's ap pointment and with his blessing, will be effectual 'in bringing the young under the power of the Gospel, and to a meetness for heaven. Taking, then, the " invisible Church" to mean "the whole number of the elect," may we not' most truthfully affirm, the presumptive membership of the infants of believers ? Is the presumption not very , strong, that they belong to the ,elect of God, who were given to Christ, and whom also he will bring? They are, con lessedly, in the visible Church. He has `gilen them their being 'as members of a Christian household, and under the cove nant of proufise. He has appointed for them, and gives to them, the seal of the covenant. He has secured to them a know ledge of the way of life, Gospel calls, and* the influence of the society of Christians. He has given, on their behalf, exceedingly precious promises. May we not then hope —confidently hope—that he designs yet more; that he purposes to bless to them the privileges already given, and make them really, individually, experimentally, par- 1 takers of hie saving grace ? 14lay we not, then, presume, without being chargeable with an unirarrantabte presumption, thatthe, children of •believers belong to the invisible Church, that is, are of the elect of God Y And may we not, regarding them as in the Covenant, affix the covenant seal, and train them, and teach them accordingly, in the full expectation that the benefits will be ap plied'and enjoyed in regeneration, edifica tion and glory? Against this view it is - objected, we know, that if parents are taught to regard ._their children'as belonging to the invisible Church, they will be tempted to think that their salvation is sure; that Christ will see to it, some how, that they shall be converted and fitted for heaven, even though their parents neglect their training; and objected 'also, that children will conclude that,, at some day, they will be brought into the right path, 'and that' hence, for the present, they may'defer faith and repentance, and may please themselves 14 sip. True; the doe. : trine is thus abused; the unsanotified-heart thus reasons. But the same objection lies against the doctrine's of God's decrees, and human helplessness, and the Divine sini- ereignty in grace—against all the distinctive doctrines of Calvinism—in objection which We need not now. discuss,. Presbyterians already know well that it is futile: But the objection, sweeping as it is,' does not lie THE PRESBYTERIAN BANNER AND ADVOCATE. even in appearance, against the statement in the Review; for it is there said, not that the children of believers are really members of the invisible Church, but, that the pre sumption is that they are such. And on this presumption, and the strong evidence which sustains it, they are baptized; just as we baptize au adult on the profession of his faith; not because we know certainly that he is one of Christ's elect, and hence an heir of what is signified, in, baptism; hut be cause we have the 'evidence which authorizes a charitable judgment that he is. A word on the comparative strength of the evidence which authorizes the charitable judgment, in behalf of the 'infant members of the Church, and of adults offering them selves from the world on profession may not be amiss. We regard the former as de cidedly the more hopeful. We have there, the covenant of promise, and much confi dence that the subjects of baptism will have their minds imbued, in their tenderest years, with God's truth. The seeds of pure know ledge will be implanted and nurtured. Christ and his Word will have the earliest access to the soul. They will be taught, prayed for, restrained, directed.. They will be, in, the family, the Sabbath School and the Church, the companions jof the saints. Their enlightened and quickened conscience, their earliest judgments,ana strongest will be all in ,favor of holiness, and against things sinful. They will spring sip as willows by ..the water eourse.s. _Whe.reas, in those who present themselves , from the world, we contemplate minds but little in structed, hearts hardened, a conscience blunted, but now impelled, hopefully we say, by the Spirit of grace, but possibly,, alio by sudden fear, or hy some earthly end, to con fess Christ. We rejoice in the slightest in dication that a sinner may be turning to God, and when the evideaces are many and strong, we exult in the wondrous grace ; but still, with far more confidence of hope do we regard the children of the. Church. And this confidence is not, with us, based on theory'alone. It has been our privilege to do pastoral , and our observation leads us to say, with much, more confidence respecting the children of the Churel, these hopefully ARE, AN]) WILL PROVE a'HEM SELVES TO BE the real children of God, than we could'say the same of those offering them selves from the world. The visible Church embraces the mem bers of the invisible who are on earth, and who are really regenerate at the time being. It embraced them all, or nearly all; for our Confession well says, "Out of it there is no ordinary possibility of salvation."—Chap. 25; Sec. 2. It, however, embraces more than these ; but it is the Church of Christ, BECAUSE it embraces these. These are his people. It embraces really three classes of persons, of whom, and to whom we can speak distinctively, ,but whom we cannot distinguish personally, so as to name them one by one with confidence. 1. There are the regenerate, already real Christians; embracing, as we trust, many of the adult and some of the infant members. 2.` There are the unregenerate, who belong also to the elect of God, the invisible Church, and are yet to• be converted. In this class we enu merate a multitude of the infants and youth ; with some of the adults born within her pale, and a few who may ,have professed without true conversion, ; but who will ; yet enjoy saving grace. iB. There are the un regenerate, who will continue unbelieving and perish in their, sin. These are 'the tares among" the wheat,; the bad fish caught in the Gospel .net : ; the seed in stony places. This class embraces hypocritical professord; adults who, like Esau, have sold their birth right, though they retain the name,`; and possibly some infant members, who will choose the world as their portion, and delay repentance, and resist the Spirit, and finally sink in woe. But all of these three elasses have membership in the visible Church . on. the presumption, before man, that they are really members of ' the Church invisible, either already regenerate, or to become so. They all have, before men, some claims ; some presumptive evidence in their favor. And as man cannot see the heart and din criminate unerringly, they are permitted to remain; all growing together, in the' visible Chinch, till the harvest. And this thought, that the children of the Church do, very likely, belong' to the number of the ELECT who shall be gathered in; does not.paralyze, nor render indifferent, either a living Church or a believing parent. It is rather one of the greatest incentives to activity. It.makes them feel a confidence that their labor will not be in vain, in the Lord. Tell the husbtiudman that he shall havethe rain from heaven and the fruitful season, And you will not thereby induce him to neglect. his' tillage: Ile will but the more diligently plow his ffelds, and'sew his - broad acres with the choicest seed. 'And shall the spiritual husbandman, the believing Church, and the godly parent, cease to teach and pray, to guide, guard and nurture, because God claims.the children as his heritage, and says, "I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring?" Surely not. .The clearer the premise and the brighter the hope, the more industriously will the true believer attend to those things which God has made to be the medium of the obtaining of what is desired. There are those who abuse God's prom ises, but shall we, therefore, ignore them ? Because some pervert the truth, shall we, therefore, suppress it? So did not. Paul. Let us, then, manfully stand up for the' whole of Christian doetrine, and rejoice in all the Gospel promiies, to ourselves and to our children. To conclude that children will be saved, simply because they are born of Christian parents, or that baptism is re generation, is a 'death-bringing error, but to value highly their birthright, and to have a strong contelence that they may of God's elect, Already regenerate or to be con verted, and to feel assured that'the faithful discharge of our duty toward themwilrbe bletimd to their ealiation,is soul-inspiring. We find in the promisee of him who is faithful, the strongest incentive to Christian activity. Our, renders will feel, their obligation to fc A. 8.," for his able and lucid article, be fore alluded to; refuting the Jewish, Ro manist, and Puseyite error of hereditary cav ing grace---and,,there may be really more of that mischievous doctrine in our own Church than we are aware of ; for how else than on such a, presumption can we account for the fatal neglect of parents, to seek the regen eration of their'children ; and how else ex plain the indifference of Church officers to the long-continued heedlessness of the young, in the 'matter of experimental re ligion ! We should be pleased to hear from our correspondent again. We all believe that our children (i. e., believers' children,) have their birthright membership in the visible Church; and we hope; under , God's promise and by his blessing, that they will, by a living faith in Christ, prove themselves to be members of the Church invisible. We acknowledge that they have not 'spiritual life by their natural birth; but' we seek it for them; and we teach, them to seek it. Verily they must be born again. Regeneration they need— they cannot see heaven without it. Shall they have it'? - How ? Of God, surely; and of God accordance with his promise ;.-that as; - through fa i th, prayer, in struction, government, and all fidelity, on the part of the parents and the Church. Parental duty is often made a subject of in , struction. It is discussed, and feelingly and earnestly urged, by both the pulpit and the press. ,We do, not dwell upon it now. .But we ask, what is the DUTY OF THE CHORCH toward her children, born in her pale, and having their rights recognized ,by her• in baptism ? And what are their rights ? Have they a right to all :her benefits ?—and here privileges ? Have they, among their franchises, a tight 'to baptism for their children; and to a seat at her table when she spreads . the Supper of her Lord ? If so, how do they, secure the enjoyment of these 7 If they may not have them on de mand, how have they forfeited their claim ? These are important questions. Correct and lucid answers are needed. And another question is pressingly im portant : Is the Church bound, in the dis charge of her whole duty toward these, her children, to do anything more for them than she does, for the children of unbelievers ? Common sense, as well as the Gospel, says, Yes; they have q claim upon her, and she is bound to a special attention. Does she, then, discharge her duty toward them specifi cally as hers—hers by birth and baptism ? Wherein does she discharge it? What does she more for them than others? Let the acts of her faithfulness be told; or let her sin be reproved. Is GOVEKNMENT a part of ate Chureles duty toward' the baptized ? It is an ac knowledged duty, on the part of the parents and also on the part of the Church, toward ,her communing members. But is it not equally so toward her baptized members ? Good government is a blessing, and the whole household should enjoy its benefits! And is not that part of government which is called discipline, a duty, also, when there is ,a willfully errini one -Is it-not enjoined? Is it not .made a very impOrtant means of graceY And does the Chinch , perform this duty toward her. baptized members? If so, how ? .and wherein ? • •• A correct idea-of the 'STATUS of our off spring, in the Church, we regard as highly important Xis worthy, our earnest inves tigations. FAA a wise and diligent use of ALL the means of God's appointment, for their regeneration and everlasting salvation, We regard:as still More valuable and to a Aim , fidelity therein, we would incite our selves and others. For the Presbyterlan Banner and Advocate. Revival in, Little Aughwiek, Pa. REV. DR. Ar KlNNEy—Dear sir : You will doubtless be interested to hear of a remarkable work of grace in Little Augh wick church, (Shade Gap, Pa.) Rev. Mr. Thompson preached, by appointment, on the 3d Sabbath of February. Mr. Woods, the Principal of the Milnwood Academy, think ing that there was some hope of good to the students, requested Mr. T. to remain and preach on Monday. That night the inter est was very deep--many were la tears. Fifteen students responded to an invitation to come out as inquirers. Rev. Mr. Shelf fer aided in the exercise from Thursday till the Sabbath; Dr. Woods on Sabbath and Monday. Mr. S. returned, and continued the meeting till Thursday night, Feb. 26. There were, in all, fifty-two inquirers. At -first, the interest was principally with the students; bueonthe finit Thursday night of the meeting, it began rapidly to spread among the people. Though a generous and interested congregation - made every reason able effort, by letter and messengers, to have more ministerial aid, yet, except three days, each one who served was alone ii conduct ing this great -work. The nearest brother was sick; others were so engaged at home, that they could -not come, and the pastor was away on a Visit to Ireland for his health. Ai the- meetings closed on the day appointed for prayer <for colleges ((dosed for want of any one to continue them longer;) and as the people had been without preaching. on the Sabbath, and have but little prospect that their beloved pastor will ever be-able to resume`his labors in their midst; 'is it not a solemn appeal for the prayers of God's ministers and people, to the Lord of- the harvest, for more ,laborers? But how en couraging I The Lord, in the field" where the lamented M'Grinnis once prayed, and wept, and labored, has anticipated the pray ers of the churches on last Thursday. Who can tell but- a new recruit may come to fill the vacant places, from those, whose hearts the Lord has touched ? Were ten, or even five, of these fifieen students to devote them selves to the work of preaching Christ, what a reward for the few nights of weeping, and th&few days of toil, of the people of Shade Gap, and the ministers who were with them! Bat, to save one soulis better •than to gain mountains 'of gold and silver. How, then, can pen of man describe the result of a, work where scores' are rejoicing in the par don of sin, and in the hopes of the Gospel UNITS. For the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate. Revival at White Clay Creek, NEIVAIIK, DEL., March 8, 1857 REV. AND DEAN BEOTBEIC:—.I have read, with much interest, the accounts, which, of late, have so frequently appeared in your paper, of revivals in various sections of our beloved Zion. Such ac counts are cheering and encouraging to God's ministers and people. It is with devout thank fulness I desire to record the goodness of God to my own charge, in again granting us a gracious visitation. On the 27th of November, we com menced a series of meetings in White Clay Creek church, which were continued for two weeks. Late numbers attended, and God graciously granted an outporing of the Spirit. Christians were revived; and many sinners were awakened, and, as we trust, converted unto God. Some sixty persons attended the inquiry meetings; more than fifty of whom are indulging a hope. Among them are the aged, the middle-aged, and the young ; the children of the church, and some who, until recently, were utterly indifferent to re ligious privileges, and seldom sought an oppor tunity to enjoy them. The meetings were distinguished for deep seriousness and solemnity; we could truly say with the patriarch, 4 , Verily God is here !" The people almost unanimously laid aside their world ly business, and day after day, for two weeks, came up to the house of God; they found it good •to be there. The interest extended to Newark; and daily services were held for a week in the town, which were attended with the Divine blessing. Quite a number were, as we believe; brought to a saving knowledge'of the truth; among them several very promising young men who are students in the College. To . several of the neighboring , brethren, more particularly, the Rev. Messrs. Rankin, Squie,r, and Marshall, I am indebted for aid kindly render ed in conducting the services of the interesting occasion. . L. VALLANDIGHAM. Eastern Correspondence. Naw*Yoa.K, March 7, 1857 Mn. Enron:—ln considering the preva lence of crime, we must take into the account the publicity given to, it by the Press. It is sought out with eagerness, and described in minute detail. HoWever revolting to delicacy or decency, however horrible .or trivial, it is set . forth without scruple or reserve, in re ports of trials, in racy editorials, in city 6 . items," or in simple narrative, until public attention is not only arrested, but often fixed and absorbed by its occurrence. During the fortnight, for.ex ample, in which the Coroner was, investigating the murder of Burdell, the daily papers of this city Were almost literally filled with details of the pro ceedings, with rumors about the parties impli cated, and theories as to its cause or commission. Some papers are devoted entirely to police reports or details of crime, while the staple of the news given by many others, consists mainly of the same material. It is no wonder therefore, that crime should seem to be fearfully prevalent when city and country are thus ransacked for fresh instan ces of its commission; and when every offence, real or imaginary, of Sufficient consequence to come be fore a court, 'or even to be talked of in a neigh! borhood, is seized by the press, and published to the world. The prominence it receives, probably contributes to its increase; at all events, reveals to the public its most threatening aspect. On the other hand, little is said in these saute papers about efforts for its suppression, or about the prevalence of religion; The sermons preach ed; the prayers offered, the Bibles distributed, the visits made to the ignorant or vicious are not of a _character to awaken interest, and are; therefore - , unsought for and unnoticed. When a new church is opened, or a liberal donation made, -when there is an'effort to relieve physical suffer ing, or to supply the peor with work, it may be briefly , commended as patriotic and charitable. But strictly religious enterprises and efforts are not ,appreciated. - They are often carictured. and despised, as untimely or needless, though in fact, they are most essential and effective. " The kingdom of God coineth not with observation." "It is not of this world," while its progress is silent and secret as the "little leaven that leaven eth the wholelump." ,- • These remarks -have been partly suggested by the - late Reports of the New York city Tract and New York: Bible Societies. ~Both of these are auxiliary to their respective parent Societies ; both are-sustained by the churches generally of different denominations; and both are doing a quiet,' but blessed_work, chiefly among thepodr, the vicious,..and the suffering. The City Tract is in effect a city Missionary Society, though it was organized to "promote Evangelical religion and sound morality by the circulation of religious tracts" in the city. During the past year, it em ployed twenty-six missionaries, whioh number is now increased to twenty-nine. Three of these labor for the`German population. Two for the newly arrived 'emigrants, whom they meet at Castle Garden, and pray 'and talk with, in their native languages. There is one each, tan, for sea men, for Jews, for Swedish, and for French resi dents. These missionaries are aided by a corps of visitors of all evangeliCal denominations, and averaging, the past year, one thousand and sixty seven in number. They may be regarded as among the most active, and devoted members of our Churchee who are . constrained to their self denying work by the love of Christ. Their tracts are supplied 'them 'by the 'missionaries froth the publications of the parent Society, and are left monthly, and as far as may be, at every houSe in the city. To the dwellings of the wealthier classes; the visitor does not usually have personal access ; the printed page must pay its monthly visit in silence. But in the 'Crowded dwellings of the poor, he often passes from room to room, and is sometimes permitted to speak words of comfort or warning to their inmates. Though numbers slight, perhaps resent or revile his message; he finds Others disposed to listen, and by repeated efforts and other agencies, rejoices Over a few, at least, who are led to repentance. Besides' the distribution of Tracts and Bibles, District prayer meetings, are held by the aid of the missionaries, who also visit the sick and officiate at funerals, where the family is attached, as often happens to no congregation. By their connexion with' the Association for the poor, which they serveas dis trict secretaries, sometimes elk) as almoners of the wealthy, they are often permitted to supply the temperal wants of the destitute.. In , the lower wards of the city; from which evangelical churches have removed, though the - population has increased, Mission Stations for, religious meetings and, Sabbath Schools are sustained. The prisons, hospitals, asylums and alms-houses are also -visited, and the inmates afforded the oppor tunity of religious conversation, and supplied with tracts and books In these latter institu tions; there is, a population estimated at . thirty thousand;, enough in itself to form a. goodly city; and affording: a wide field for Christian effort, Made up, as it is, chiefly of the ignorant, degraded and vicious, and'Who, without this and siiniiar ageacie s;' might safely say, "No man cares for our souls.' ,This rapid glance at the labors of the Society, shows.the.wide sego and as importance of its operations. It preachei Christ by , the printed page or living voice, to the various classes, and in the different languages that make up our heterogeneous population. It goes down to the dregs of society, to the criminal, as well as the unfortunate, to young and old, and offers to all the wards of eternal life. It stimulates the piety of the churobea through the personal labors of their members, enlarges their Sabbath Schools and congregations, and adds occasionally to their numbers " such as shall be •saved." It comforts the sorrowing, feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, and provides friends and homes for the fatherless and forsaken. And though some would say the Church should do all this without the in tervention of , a voluntary Society, how could it otherwise secure the cordial co-operation of-dif ferent denominations, or be accomplished in -so general and effective a manner ? 'Who will not say it is a "good'work," by whatever agency it is pertained, and contribute hie prayers and benefaction for its success ? The'City Bible Society occupies essentially the same field, and labors for the same clas.ses, though its chief aim is to supply the destitute with...the Scriptures. It employs two agents, one for the English and the other for the German and French. resident population, with' others for emigrants, seamen, &cc. A regular visitation from ward to ward, and house to house, is adopted. The whole city has in this way already been, canvassed, and a second' exploration is now in progress. Some interesting facts are stated in connexion with this work. Among the foreigners, for example, 9,594 families were visited, of , which I,7BB'were found destitute of the Scriptures ; 642 refused them, and 718 were supplied. A uniform decrease in the per tentage of refusalik of the Bible. is'reliort ed among the English-Speaking population, and an increase in the per tentage of destitution sup- plied. Among Romanists: generally, there is.- a growing !disposition to, possess the Scriptures, and among intelligent Germans, esieciaihr the righi'of the priesthood;,O prohildt-their cirettla-' troll, is seriously questioned. One of them”ii: marked, u If it was well for the priests to have the Bible, it was well for .the people likewise." They mark its influence on Protestants, and many gladly receive it for themselves ; some, it is hoped, become savingly interested in its truths. As evidence of the greater readiness of Roman ists to accept the Scriptures, it appears from a comparison of the two distributions in the same wards, that at the first, the-number who refused, was 2,454; at the second, the number was only 1,696 ; showing a decrease of 758. The receiple,of this Society for the past year, were $21,755.44, of which $3,160.84, were paid over to the parent Society, after defraying all ex penses, including $13.387.41 for the purchase of the 62,865 Bibles and Testaments distributed. Yours, &c. B. A Cuuncit BURNT.—The First Presby terian Church in Clevelaud (New School,) was burned on the 7th inst. It cost $60.- 000, and was a new building. Insured for $30,000. Ecclesiastical. Rev. SAMUEL FINLEY, of Antrim, Ohio, has been called to the Sixth Presbyterian church, in this city. Rev. JACOB WIN'TERS had been unanimously called .to the Presbyterian church of Union, (the late Rev. Dr. Hendron's,) in Augusta. Va. Rev. aHOMPSON Rownals Post Office ad dress is changed from St. Anthony's Falls, 'Minnesota, to Bloomington, Hennepin County, Minnesota. Rev. F. SEBUM has declined the call to Piqua, Ohio. Hence that church is still vacant. Rev. JAMES ADAMS, late of Monticello, N. Y., died in Jefferson County, Miss., on the 7th ult. Rev. J. G. SCOTT has accepted a call to the church at Westfield. His Post Office is Mt. Jackson, Pa. Mr. .HENRY R. AVERY was ordained on the 24th ult., by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, and installed at Squan Vil lage, N. J. From our London Correspondent. A Visit to the "Times" Office—lts Site—lts Of fices—Circulation—Printing Presses—Machinery —Second Edition— Editors -- Comspondetats— Reporters-- Compositors -- Proprietors—A pro posed Rival to the " Times"—The "Dial," and its Objects—" The Statidar.d," and " The Ban ner"—The Recent Meeting of the Congregational Union—Policy of Suppression--Presbyterianism and Independency—The British Quarierly on the Inspiration of the Scriptures—Opening of Portia ,meat—Charge against the Ministry—The Income Taz—The Hudson's Bay Company—Decrease of Crime—lmprisonment and Transportationßeer Shops, and Crime—State Aid to Reformatories. LONDON, February 13, 1857 A VISIT TO THE " TIMES " OFFICE has been recently paid by me, accompanied by a number of friends. Buried oat of sight, save to an eye glancing from the globe or gallery of the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral, and undis turbed by the roar and rush of London's mighty thoroughfare, though these are near at hand, Printing-House Yard=a, small square, with the Times' offices and build ings occupying its Western and Eastern fronts—seems to court seoresy and silence. Yet, from thence is discharged, each day, a park of political and intellectual artillery, the " thunder" of which wakes up the at tention of the whole civilized world. Leav ing Ludgate Hill, and turning down Pilgrim Street, (once, no doubt, the scene of processions and pilgrimages to Old St. Paul's, in the palmy days of Romanian in England,) we wend our way through nar row streets, and past the Apothecary's Hall, until we reach Printing-House Square. As you enter, you see one door to the left, on the Northern side, and another door •open, from which parties come out rither numer ously. The last mentioned is the adver tising office, whither servants out of place, and governesses wanting situations, as well as the clerks and agents of all kinds of mer chants, shippers, and tradesmen, flock daily. Except for servants, to whom the charge for the " Want Places" column is one shilling and six-pence, the cost of an advertisement is rather heavy. Keep under forty lines, and you pay four shillings (01.00) a line, and so on in proportion. But then, if it is worth while to advertise at all, do it in the Times, for with its circulation of from fifty thousand to sixty thousand copies every day, and theSe read by perhaps a million of people, you are sure to get publicity, in a sense known only to the Times. We enter the other door armed with an order. One of my flock is here, as an old compositor, steady and experienced. We are asked to turn aside to the right, and to wait for a gentleman, who will shot , us over the building. In this room, we see a series of very large and fine printing presses; but although still used for minor printing, yet somewhat out 'of date, by reason of modern improvements as we shall soon disc Over. A polite person comes to us, and becomes our conductor. The hour is at hand, when the second edition of the Times, containing, last evening's lg.tter from the Paris Cor respondent, and the most recent telegraphic news from all quarters of the globe, is about to be thrown off. And so we are taken into the printing rooms. These (two in number,) are large apartments, almost filled by_ma. chinery, which virtually consists of a series of cylinders, with blocks and types affixed, and separate tables in each recess. Here are wheels within wheels "A mighty maze, but not without a plan!" • Both these machines are driven by steam; and Mr. Applegarth gives his name to them. He was the first who' invented' machinery for printing detached pieces Of . cotton, of different colors. • But mark those men rush ing into the adjoining room, with vast bales of paper, as yet unstained,-on their shoul ders. ome with ua, and let us ascend these iron steps. We now stand on the top, and overlooking the whole of the machinery, .whicivin a few • minutes, is set in motion. Here are nine men at the top, and nine men at the tables below. Of those at the top, each man feeds, as it were, the cylinder nearest to him' with a sheet of 'the 'White paper; it is drawn in, disappears, and presto I see how it falls into the hands of the man at the table, fully printed ! • Here our attendant • tells us, that some times a coat has , been caught. and drawn in by the cylinder, instead of the sheet' " : 1 0n one occasion, a workman sitting at the table below, and expecting the usual-descending sheet from above, to his horror, found a coat coming out upon his outstretched hands.; and' expecting a man = in it, or after it, he fainted away! • =ln fifteen minutes, at most, the entire second :edition;" of several thousand copies, are thrown off, and the machinery is suddenlv arrested. But early this morning it was hard at work . , throwing off• its tens of thou sands, for town circulation and the early •Before: we leave; "let Ann. eye rest on that remarkable contrivance= of a vast ink • reservoir, which; frourthe' top and the centre of each m aehinerfinipplies the whole cylinders with' the i nk - ilotle:necessary for printing ! . '• • I shall net dwell onWhat we saw in other parts of the Times' buildings. We came into contact with the compositors, in their different apartments, "setting up" and prt.- paring for next day's paper. The nutnl e r of these is about one hundred and liftv Great care is taken of their health, especial• ]y in seasons of epidemics. They have, also, large pay, and many privileges. Let me now ask your readers to walk with me, in- imagination, through those large sub terranean apartments where the stock o f paper is kept, and where we see how, by a dip in a large cistern, the paper, quire by quire, is damped, and made ready for the press. I may mention, that the size of the paper is thirty-seven inches by forty-nine. The quires are passed through water at the rate of four thousand per hour; then they are parted and pressed, and kept ready for use. Last of all, we see the long desks, and the side rooms, into which—especially when Parliament is sitting—reporters rush at all hours of the night, to wiite out " copy." And now take a last glance. Do you see that narrow passage, and at the end of it, that wainscoted, yellow door ? Dare not to approach. - _ _ _ Proctil este profagli 1" Behind that door sits enthroned the Editor of the Times ! Prespme not to enter these " Penetralia Vestce," nor to invade this Olympus of the Thunderer. Mr. De Lane is the resident editor and manager, but he writes but little. Mr. Moseley, a clergyman and canoe of St. 'Paul's, a fine scholar, a caustic wit, writes most of the leaders on religious questions. It is said he is a large proprietor of the 01)- salver, a well-known kS'unday paper ! lie has no sympathy with Popery, but he de fends Maynooth; and as the brother-in-law of Dr. Newman, did his best to defend him, also, in the celebrated proseeution of that gentleman for libel, by Dr. Achiili, a few years ago.. As to Maynooth, he defends the status quo, and reviles Spooner, and the "Ultra-Protestants." When he likes, he can scathe the Pope and: his myrmidons; and, to his honor, he took up heartily the cause of the Madim. But, then, not lone after, he ridiculed Miss Cunningham, who was expelled in Tuscany for circulating tracts and Bibles. Earnest evangelism he thinks rather vulgar, and fair game for mirth and mockery., When he is on your side, you are in raptures at such eloquent utter ances of your deepest convictions; when against you, you are angry at the sophistry which makes " the bad appear the better reason " As to other editors and writers for the Times, they are numerous. Mr. Lowe, until he became Tice Presi dent of the Board of Trade, wrote first class artieles on the Colonies, especially on Aus. tralia, where be won his earliest laurels. Perhaps he writes occasionally still. Others deal with prisons and reformato ries ; and on these subjects, the Times has written nobly. A staff of waiters is main tained, of, the highest order, and at any cost_ Thus there are theatrical crities; thus there are " Times Correspondents," and " Com missioners!' in all the chief places of the Coptinent, as well as,in Australia, New York, and elsewhere. The Times is both a wonder and a power. It owes its culmination mainly to the energy of one man, the late Mr. John Walter— vast in his breadth of view, with immense energy, ready for any expenditure necessary to completeness ' The son of this strong willed man is a large, but not the only pro prietor. A fabulous capital must be invested: in the Tinier, and half a share would make a man 'easy for life. A NATIONAL NYVSPAPER LiBAGVE COM.- PANY has been formed. It proposes to establish a first-class daily jonrnal, as a rival to the Times. The teapital is to be pro gressively raised to 4500,000, and upwards, as may, be necessary, in shares of £lO each, deposit £2 per share.. The paper is not to be published until at least twenty thousand shareholders are obtained.. The proposal is startling, and the difficul ties in the way of success seem formidable. The originators, professing to be " a combi nation of earnest and truth-loving men," have resolved to issue a paper, " which shall be the organ, not of, intriguing expediency and temporizing policy, but of righteous principle; not of cabinets ane dynasties, but of the people and nationalities.' "It will estimate and discuss all ques tions, social', political and ecclesiastical, not in the spirit of class, party, or sect, but ac cording to truth and fact, in the light of equal justice, unswerving, honest, and Chris tian ethics." Its leading aims are to be the diffusion of sound education, the promotion of the arts and sciences, and the encouragement of a healthy literature, in connexion with popu lar liberty ; the fostering' of a high moral One in all public, questions, public retrench ment, administrative reform, and true par liamentary reform, growing out of a social and moral regeneration of the masses. Religious Equality, and the abolition of all unjust ecclesiastical restrictions and im positions are to be advocated. Besides these objects, amendment of the law, " Rational Temperance, Sanitary Improvement, an en lightened observance of the Weekly Day of Rest," together with a peace policy, as far as poesible—are also embraced. And ne ' man is to be without a tribunal of o ppca; from any newspaper abuse and condemna tion, and that formed by a vast constituency. But how is this vast constituency to be secured ? Whence are to come the funds for that first class staff of writers, at home and abroad, who are to give success to " Tr Dial r First, they will not start at al without, a large capital,. .and, with such n large body of shareholders widely diffused over the kingdom, none liable for more than their own shares, and none permitted CO take but a'few shares, a vast constituency by themselves, and then friends must be mea' ted. "Hundreds of thousands will, on the principle of sympathy, as well' as proprietor,: ship, be ready to hail its first appearance.'" Well ! is it likely to succeed ? Although Lagree with the main features of its pro gramme, and proposed teachings, yeti think the task almost impracticable. People now who differ from the ~Times, must see it, are read it, even c um gran salis, and oft times condemning. Then there is a east e/er gY . PoWer, which would be either actively hostile, or passively indifferent to the Pied-'!,,and its aims; and so would be a largO both '..—Church laymen, both Tractarian and sEvangelical, many of them wealthy. Moreovej the paper would:, not be fashion able. It would be sound on many em s ; tione—far sounder than the Times—an ° might have first talent to serve it as well' But whether the same practical adopiali° of that taent as ihe manages to cure, is is very doubtful. Times It smacks too truth of Dissent for a multitude. Still, the promoters are sanguine, and are enlisting a large constituency. They do DO' expect to be ready to publish for a year, ,Q T rather -two years. Time will test " Pl e .Dial," if it becomes " The Deal"‘" esse. Time will test the Times also. Ifly opinion is, that the Times will prove with the improvement of the age. and the advance of religion. Certainly tb Press needs to be thoroughly purified, sou
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers