lanner . anti P3borait. PITTSBURGH, NAY 2, 1857. TEILMS. In advance, or in Clubs 0.26; or, delivered at residences of Svabserlv bere t SI.TS. Iles Prospectus, on Third Page. R g NEWA I. 8 should be prompt; II little while before the year engird's, that we may make full arrangements for a steady totpply. THE ILED WILAPPEK indicates that we desire a renewal. If, however, in the Inuits of malting, this signal should be omitted, we hops oar friends will still not forget us. azdtuvrrAscirm,sima payment by safe hands, when convenient. Or, send by snail, enclosing with ordinary care, and troubling nobody with o knowledge of what 'you are doing. For a large amount, wend a Draft, or large notes. For one or two papers, send Gold or sissdi notes. TO MANE 011ANOMI, fend posts** stumps, or better still, owed for moors papers; say $ for Seventy numbers, or el for Thirty-three stouobera. DIRECT all'Lottsro and COIIIIIIIKMIIOIII,IO=I to REV. DAVID MoKINARY. Pittsburg% Ps. ' ,Oeneral Assembly. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Munk in the United States of America will hold its next meeting in the First Presbyterian Church, Lexington, Kentucky, at eleven o'clock, A. M., on Thursday, the 21st of Ma r y next, and will be opened " with a sermon by the Rev. Francis McFarland, ILL., Moderator of the lest As sembly. The' Committee of Commissions 'will meet in the Letiture:roont of the ahurch, on the Wednes day, evening preceding, at eight o'clock, to ', re:- deirti COnnniiiiioris, and on Thursday" morning, the lay of the meeting, at rime o'clock, for the semi purpose. ...Torn Lunn:mu t Stated Clerk. ALEXANDER T. MCGILL, Permanent Clerk. P. S. Stated Clerks of Presbyteries are re spectfully requested to make out their list of per sona entitled to the Minutes on.a separate sheet, and to send that, together with moneys for the Minutia, to G. H. Van Gelder, Esq., Philadel phia, Treasurer of the General Assembly. To the Members of the Assembly. LEXINGTON, Ky., April 20, 1857. Notice is hereby given to the members of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, that their lodgings will be assigned to them immediately after their arrival in the city of Lexington, Ky.; and that they are privileged to travel on the packets of " the Cincinnati and Louisville Mail Line," by Captain Shuley, President, from St. Lou is to ,Cincinnati or Louisville, "for half lam either way," and that the "'Covington and Lexington Railroads," by their Presi dent, allow members, paying the usual fare as they come, to return frecof charge, upon producing the certificate of the officers of the G. A., that they were members. JOHN. D. MATTHEWS, Chairman Committee Arrangements. AOKNOWLEDGMENT.—We have received, from a' Lady, five dollars toward procuring u bell for Mission at Little Traverse. PASTORAL ACKNOWLE.DGMENT.—We are permitted to sqy, that a part of the charge of Rev. R. S. Grier, of Carlisle Presbytery, have made their pastor a donation of $lOO in money, and of half that amount in valua ble articles. . Western Theological Seminary. The regular Semi-Annual Meeting of the Board ofTrustees of the Seminary, will be held on the Second Tkursday of May, (14th) at 10 o'clock, in the Lecture-Boom of` e Fiiet Presbyterian Church. F. G. BAILEY President • LETTERS OW BUSINESS.—Persons sending us lists of subscribers, and espeetally in making remittances, will please direct their letters, always, (as requested above) to REV. DAVID MCKINNEY, Pittsburgh, Pa. Seri ous losses have 'occurred, by a neglect of this request. MRS. JAI IlAupxn.:---The notice, in our obituary columns, of this excellent lady, the daughter' of the Western Patriarch, Rev. Dr. McMillan, will be read With interest; and especially by those who would be fa miliar. with the early history of Western Pennsylvania. The remarks about the first Log Cabin Academy may be. of importance to historical truth. THE CITY OF , GAIETY AND FASITION.--- We see it stated that in Paris, one of every three thousand persons commit suicide; that two-thirds of the population cannot afford the expense of burial ; that in every three `births one is illegitimate ; that thirty. thou sand persons,'besides those assisted by regu lar charities, arise every morning without knowing how they will get a dinner, and that seventeen thousand habitual drunk ards, of the roost, brutal character, dis grace the city. Western. Theological Scinin . ary. The l3oard of Directors of the Western Theological Seminary will meet in the Lec ture-Room of, the First Church, Pittsburgh, on the 13th day of May, at 1.0 o'clock A.M. The Examining Committee, eonsi4ing of Dr Marshall, Dr. Canipbell, Mr. Paxton, Dr. Carothers, and Mr. F. „G. Bailey, will meet on Thursday preceding, at 2 o'clock P. M., in the Seminary hall. W.'B. MohrvaDlF., See'y. Danville Theological Seminary, The Catalogue for 1856-7, is just received. the whole number of students is thirty-six. It is known that the system of instruction pitsied in this Seminary, is different from that adopted in the others. The Catalogue goes , into a pretty full explanation, and ar gues ite excellence. One year each is devcr tied to, these subjects : The knowledge of God OBJECT". v ELY considered; SUBJECTIVE , LY considered ; and RELATIVELY considered. This division and, method, is supposed to ex haust the. whole of Systematic, Didactic, and Polemic Theolou. Revivals. GaumEL, N. Y.—A number of hopeful conversions have recently occurred among the pupils in the Institute in this place. Faithful instruction in the Holy Seriptures Are owned of God. His word returns not void. UPPER MOUNT BETITET., PA.—For an ac count of a delightful reviving time in this place, see the letter of J. M. in another col . num. INDIANAPOLIS, IND.,--ThEi , church under thi:care of Rev. Mr. Cunningham; received twenty-persons on examination, and eight, on certificate at :1, late communion. Theatre•Going. Quite a strenuous effort seems to be making to revive the interest of the commu nity in the Theatre. This institution has always been an evil, wherever it has existed. Practically, it is the way to degradation and woe; but its respectability, in the common acceptation of that term, has varied. In some periods, scenic representations have been less immoral, and the adjuncts less se ductive to evil, than in others ; and there have been times when persons reputable for their moral standing, and when even some who had a name in the Church, attended and applauded ; but such has not been the case of late years; or, if there have been instances of such attendance and approba tion, they have been but sporadic. Evan gelical Christians have, for a long time, and with a remarkable unanimity, declined being present, and have restrained their house;• holds. And actors are ,considered, &oust universally, as not entitled to a place in repo• table society. Theatres, however, still 'exist, and are sources of gain. Some of our Solons con sider them a necessary evil—a means, of oc cupying the idle hours, and of giving exit to some of the baser excitabilities of that portion of the community who.cannot find their evenings" delight in the literary, scientific, family, moral and religions sources of enjoyment - which happily abotind, and which furnish gratification and improvement to all who possess good taste and a pure mind. There must be something, we admit, to exercise and gratify man's excitable nature, and it must be something social. And pos sibly there may be a deeply-rooted depravity in the heart, grown and strengthened by education and habit, and subsisting in so many minds, that if the Theatre was not tolerated for its gratifleation,:it would ex pend itself and seek its joys in something still worse for the individual, and more in jurious to society. But if any think that such is the case, they need not hence justify the evil. They need but barely tolerate its existence, while they warn against its allure ments, diminish by all righteous means the number of its visitors, and strive so to reform human society that the imagined necessity shall cease. Means of excitement are furnished abundantly in things which are rational and useful; in things which belong to man, in the body, and to the soul of inan as im mortal. Religion and benevolence open up immense sources; and the family presents an exhaustless fullness. It is, then, the part of wisdom, with all those who desire the welfare of their race, to turn the cur rents of social delight into the channels of innocent amusement, benevolent enterprise, and religious meetings. The secular press, strange to say, but a mournful truth, has been, and still is, very generally an ally of the Theatre. The ad vertising we look for as a part of the busi ness carried on in the land, but no one is influenced by an advertisement. The com mendatory nntiep_si „ A re not-so excuaableyhat, even these , are getting to be so well un derstood as to have little or no influence upon the ordinary mind. But the labored editorial articles (happily these are but rare in respectable papers,) are to be deeply de- plored. We have been much Astonished at seeing a few such, recently. But the latest and most astounding feature in the movements of the advocates, mana gers and actors in the theatrical line, is their enlisting the pulpit in- their, behalf. But, what pulpit The pulpit generally ? No. The Evangelical pulpit? No, not'even one orthodox or evangelical pulpit, 'so far as we have heard. The testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ is as strongly 'against the Theatre as ever. Recently, however, a minister, Mr. Bel lows, of All Souls church, New York,- preached a 'sermon in which, as is said, he . adVocated the institution as a means of pro meting morality; and urged that respectable people should attend, and raise its character. The gentlemen of the Stage, delighted with the advent ofsuch an advocate,tendered to Mr. Bel-, lows a service of plate, valued at one thousand dollars. This was declined. But Mr. Bel lows accepted,an invitation to a dinner with the Dramatic Fund Society,- where he . made a speech which was accepted with plaudit& Thus Mr. Bellows is claimed by the play actors as their friend and adjutor. He is now, engaged, as announced, to deliver be fore them an address "Upon the relation of the Theatie to the sober and sacred interests of Society." Mr. Bellows has the reputation of being a respectable minister to • a Unitarian Society in New York, but even amongst 'Unitarians he seems to be a stray one. Their standard of morality, we take it, is far, very far above the level of the modern Theatre. On the evil influences of the Theatre, we, give the folloiving from Harper's Weekly : ",What better proofcan, you have of the evil influence of the Theatre than. the rapid corruVion which ensues m a neighborhood, on the raising of one of, these temples. of vice ? No sooner is the flaming poster stuck upi the doors opened, and the gas lighted, than decency flies it as health would the plague spot. The erection, of, a new Theatre in a previously respectable quarter of, one of our cities, is well known to de stroy that quarter for any future deceliley of life: The private house is turned into the bagnio ; the shop of honest trade into the faro-saloon, or bar-room, 'and the play-house stands a' speciacle of vice, supported by its congenial aids of, rowdyism, gambling, drunkenness and prostitution. Verily, the national taste and morality do well in scorn ing the "Theatre and its Friends.". Rome and Foreign Record. The May numbor of the Recor'd is on our table, giving us information of the pro gress of our work, as a,Church organization, in, sustaining and extending the kingdom of our Lord. In this, our department of his laborers show about our wonted activity. To make great 'progress would be an occasion for joy; but even to hold fast,_ when _ unto we have already attained, is good. DOMESTIC MISSIONS: W t tool,.azox frora ;Fond du Lao THE P_RESBYTERIAN =BANNER AND ADVOCATE. Dobb's 'Ferry, Jersey City, Louisville, and . North Salem, from which readers will per ceive the beneficial workings of our system: That from Louisville is from Rev. Gk. Knight, missionary to the colored people. Mr. Knight says his Bible Class of colored preachers failed, owing to the multitude of meetings they held, and other reasons. His- Sabbath School was organized with twenty two scholars, and now, at the close of ten weeks, numbers two hundred and ten. IIW Bible Class of Sabbath School teachers con tains twelve to fifteen. The teachers excuse themselves for 'their small attendance by saying they have so many protracted meet ings requiring their presence. Of Mr. Knight's teachers in his Sabbath School, he says, 44 We have a valuable corps, all white, and about thirty in number, and most of them ladies." The scholars are regular in their attendance. Mr. K.'s congregaAns average, about two hundred. The efforts made by our Board toward' the instruction of the colored people are worthy of commendation, though they should be re garded but as the mere beginnings of an immense and efficient system just being in augurated. RECEIPTS itt March:• At Philadelphia, $8,227; at - Louisville, $1,222. EDVCATION., The ' Boird us some exeellent thoughts on preaching, and record instances of reviving influences upon some of our in stitutions of learning, in connexion withihe day of prayer. This cause we commend to the warmest Affections of the Church. If it shall decline, all our missionary enterprises must be enfeebled. Without laborers, there will be no harvest& Rzonirrs in Afaleh: At Philadelphia, $3,988; at Pittsburgh, $267 , ; at Louisville, $34. FOREIGN MISSIONS The Record gives information from our Indian Missions, from Africa, South Amer ica; India, China, and the Chinese Mission in California. Of most of these-Missions, we have lately spoken, and do not now en large. Our Church loves her Foreign work. DONATION'S in. March, $12,381. There were also contributed, in India, $5,745. PUBLICATION. _ The Board have added largely to their Colporteur corps—many of the appointees, probably, being students who desire to spend their Summer vacation in the good, work. Four small volumes were noticed , as being added to the catalogue of publications, and also two Tracts. DONATIONS,March 17th to April 16th, $2,623; sales in larch, $5,587. ' , CHURCH EXTENSION. The success of the fiscal year just closed, has been far in' advance-of any former year. We shall hope, soon, to have the report of the Committee,. and will then give an ab stract, embracing particulars. Let the con tributions be multiplied still. They are greatly needed. DONATIONS in March: At St. Louis, $2,190 ;, at Philadelphia, $3,034; at Pittsburgh, $117,• at Cincinnati, $36 ; at' Louisville, $234.' Total, $5,613. Western Theokral Semina.m,Closing envies. The Address before " the Society of In quiry" of the Western Theological Semi nary; will be delivered by the Rev. S. L Prime, of New York, in the First Presbyterian church of Pittsburgh, on Tues day evening, Mayl2th, at 7f o'clock. The Closing Exercises will be performed in the Seminary Chapel, , on Wednesday evening, 13th May, at the same hour. Discourses will be delivered by three members of the Senior Class. After which the Diplomas 1;411 be presented to the Graduating Mem- hers, by the Rev. Prof. Elliott. , The public are respectfully invited to attend.' "Do Yon'go to Church ?" We have a very sensible letter, responding to the remarks of cc J. F." on this question. It is . somewhat long, and we ire pressed for room. We, therefore,- but note the three points he'makes. 1. He would have minis-* ters visit the careless families. They do, to some extent. It should be done far more than it is, and still more\ good would result. 2. He would have the Board send out Col porteurs. They are "doing this, to, the full extent Of , their means ; and it is a good work. 3. He gives an instance of two Christians who, when no other social means of grace were enjoyed, invited :their, neighbors to their' houses, alternately on the Sabbath, for reading and prayer ; which good deed re sulted in the formation of aflourishingchurch. The zealous and wisely directed pensonal labor of ,Christians ; is one of the great wants in , our Church. Our ministers labor hard, and' with great self-denial; but most of our member's do very little, either personally or by contributions, to sustain those who are,: or who -woP.I.d be, wholly devoted to the work.- Christians must feel their consecration, and carry it' out consistently.' Then, will 'the cause prosper. Union Movements. It is known to our readers, that, efforts , have been in progress, 'for a keg 'time, toward a Union of the Associate and the Associate Ref6rmed ChUrehes. A paper has been'put forth, on the part 'of the for Mer termed The Basis of Union. .The.; follow ing is given relative to the action of the latter body, at late meetings of their Pres byteries "The Monongahela Presbytery, at their Meeting in East Liverpool, Ohio, took an informal vote on the Basis uf Union, which, so far as taken, was unanimously favorable to it. The Presbytery adjourned "to meet in Dr. Pressly's Church, Allegheny, on the lst Tuesday in May, when the vote on the subject' of Union will be closed. The Pres bytery of Lawrence adopted the following resolution unanimously : Resolved, That we are willing and desirous the proposed Union should be accomplished on the Bashi now overtired. The Second Presbytery, of Ohio adopted the Basis of Union by a wail of 18 to 1. The First. Presbytery of Ohio are unanimously opposed to the proposed Unioo. The Presbytery of Indiana adopted :the Basis, by a vote of Bto 1. The general Synod of the Associate Reformed Churoli , of Nortk America will hold its next meet ing in the city of New :York, on- the third Wednesday (the 201,19 of May, at laalf.paat; rieoloilk P. 141:" - - !=1 . , Decease of Rev. David Polk. The following letter informs us of the death of another of our fellow-laborers in the 40PP.1%., The, voiee is most emphatici "Be ye i)lsci ready ;" "Work while it is day, foi the bight cometh in which no man can work." The Lord give to his servants all needed grace: BRooRvILLE, Pa., April 22, 1857. DEAR BRo. :—Another member of our Presbytery,az fallen., Truly Ood is say, ing to these -left, " Work while it is day, for the night cometh in which no man, can work." Last month Rev. R. W. Orr died, and now Rev. David Polk. He had left home in the month of March, for the pur pose of ' , fishing his brother in St: Louis, but was seized'. with Pneumonia. After some what reaetvared, he made his' ,way ' home, where hek.lay for two weeks. He died on Saturday , Morning, the 18th inst. • suppoetti'oui• Presbytery, which will meet the last oft;Tune, will have prepared a no tice of him and his death, more at large. Please `request the Presbyterian to copy. • Respectfully yours, &c., • '' . O. P. Oirmarrws. 4 11 ott. - Western Bible Society. The Annual Meeting of the • South-West , ern Bible;Soeiety was held at New :Orleans, Jannary- 4 4, - 1857, The Report shows pro gress m the work , It says There, • haveiiyti.afrenibteheniispoledoasaitdodyons7Bt7ead Bibles sg and Testaniiiii, being an increase in number of 1,073, and in value of $2,250.26 upon the bag , ness of lasti^gear. During the six and a half years of the Society's existence tit has dispensed in one way, or other, to our South-Western population, more than 42,000 copies , of the Holy Scriptures. These have gone forth in about twenty different languages 4, The issues; of the past; year have bben in sitteen different tongues, viz.: 'German, Danish, kiench,, Spanish, Italian, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Portuguese; Dutch, Swedish, Polish, Chinese, Choctaw, Mohawk, and' Delaware. To these .maylbe added, from • this Depository, the Scriptures in Welsh, Irish,, Gaelic, Russian, BoheraianTurkish Hungarian, Syriac, .Arubie, Grebo, Alpo4lk, and Arrawack; making a total of' about: thirty different languages in. which the Word of God is furnighed by this' Society. Oorambsioners to the General Assembly; Faussirmass:' • idnuarmts. ' • • Emma. Ohio, -A. B. train), D.D., Benjamin' Wallin, Itichard.Lee, Foster. AlleihenyCity, R. 1.. Swift, D.D:, A. Cameron. Philadelphia, jJ. H. Jones, D.D.,' Judge Sharsweed, ' W. E. Schenck, James Russell. Fort Wayne, - Wm. Boner. Joseph floirell. Clarion,. • • James Montgomery; John Mafia: Schuyler, R. Matthews, J. D. Haynie. Saltsbrirg, - S. M. MOClung; Mr. Garden: Blairsville, R. Stevenson, Mr. Humes. Newcastle, • A: O. Morrison, Jno. M . Helton; .I.Thomas Love, Archibald Armstrong. -. Robert M. Wallace, D. W. Shryock. . 0.0. Jones„ D.D., • J. B. Mallard. J. C. Mitchell, J. Hope. • 5 '2L. W. Leland, D.D., A. Crawford, J.H.Thornwell,-DD., Dr. Townsend.- Cincinnati, Scott, D.D., JC. Clapper, Allegheny, .' ~ loyal Young,' John Breckinrldge. Huntindou, j James Woods, II.D, Dr. Wiley, ' l'A. B. Clark; Jno. Scott. J. Harrison; D.D., J. E. Woods. • "Jo.lah. Milligan,, Samuel Aiken. John Ustiak, ' M. Burns. ; John M; Dinsmore, • Robert Graham. T. 31 Ontwfard, David Mitchell. L: Mershon, 'J. B.:Wright. J. W. Drake, Thomas Brown. . W. S. 'Rogers, ' Dr.; 0 Falconer. • L Tenable; • Findlay' Paull. • • A. - C. McClelland, , Zebulon Sheets. S. Hirt, F. it: Morton: F. McFarland.. Robert Morrison. 11. Brown; H.D., Dr. Todd, . S...T.P.Anderson,D.D., C. D. Drake, 'Esq. W. J. McCormick.. A A illcliczmic. S. H. Hay, James Meenteheort, E. P. Palmer,": • L. Q. Barkley. ;D. Humphreys, • OM. Hamilton, /J. D. Adger; D.D.,. Dr. Archer. *John Watson, Wm. McLaughlin. 5 WEL G. March,: . D av id H anna, • John D. S. Mclntosh. Redstone, Georgia, Tuakaloosa, Charleston, lowa, Battenpie, Chicago. Richland, Donigal, Loug Oxford, Palestine, Loganspo N Albany, Lescington, Sangamon, St. Louis, Bethel, Harmony, B. Carolina, Steubenville, New.Llsborti Per the Presbyterian 13eliner alieetdvcieete Installation in NVisooniiu, Rev. Wm. Reid, was installed pester of the Rosedale Presbyterian aux.* on Thtlit day, April I.6th, by a. Committee of Winne bap Presbytery. The sermon was by Rev. George ; C. Heckman, of Portage City. Rev. Reuben -Smith, of Beaver Dam; Pre sided, -put thee questions, and gave the charge to the pastor, and. Rev. H. M. Rob ertson, of Horicon, the charge to the people. Resedale is'a country congregation, situa ted in ; the midst of one of the most beau tiful andlfertile prairie regions of Wiscon sin, about fifteen miles East of Portage City, and near the Milwankie and La Crosse Railroad.] A. church was organized here about a y,ear: ago, .and a very , neat and com fortable, house of worship completed and dedicate..a few months since. Presbyterian Banner and Advocate Commemorative: For 1 RESQVUT O i t ir NS .OF THE PRESBYTERY OF ' DON AL, ON THE DEATH OF THE R .' SAMUEL HUME SMITH. i t li'esolv 4, That it is with heart-felt serrow have heard of,and ' that'weare called upon to ecord, the death _ of our beloved brother; e Rev. Samuel Hume Smith. ~. „ ~ Resolv ilj That in the opinion of this Presbytera, it has lost a member wise in counsel, dibcreet in conduct, conciliatory in spirit, and ingenuous in dispo4tion, and the Church :faithful; zealons, conscientious, and' labo ous minister. R e 8 06,., ~ That we deeply and tenderly sympathi .1.. with .his bereaved flock, and by faith and prayer'commend his fatherless and motherle s 'Children to the care of that enpmg God 7 , 7 who has said Leave ,erless children to me • I will pre ) alive." covenant your fat serve th e ;cl, That the Presbyterian, and the r` - csn Banner and Advocate be to publish the above' resolutions, copy of the same be presented to the deceased: i ( Stated Clerk. , Resolv t Preskyte requests • and that, the' fanil , For , The Pr Meeting a thiir,fr, and dimid Coshosto Reid,' an two midi lin, 'were Assembly.) Theyon tiPiesttVteriiia Banner and Advocate 1 ibytery of SteubenTille. . :bytery of Steubenville, at its late Oak Ridge, received the , Rev. John , the Presbytery of. Allegheny City; ed Rev. Wm. 'D. McCartney, and Mr. i nt, , licentiate; to the Presbytery of 1 They licensed Mr. Alexander M. 'Mr...Tess& W. Hamilton;..and received : tea under their care. ll:Watson and Mr. William McLaugh lead& Watson, to the General • e'thei following aipoinimetith for .iiIIPPIDIS. .-41esars. Swaney and Agnew, one eh, at discretion. - and for, the remain time they have leave to supply them , Welled: Sabbath: deb. o selves' 2? oo b ay. 2.-J--Mr, Campbell; Third Kabbath in ifarl Richm4 April. Ktigo • `Ha r. Brngh, Third Sabbath in May. Galloway, last Sabbath in •`Reid, First Sabbath in June. • • Mr. Minx, ,Second Sabbath in May. ton, Third Sabbath:in Jane. • Patterson, Second Sabbath in By Sp May.i ND bath in Berland Mr. Hamilton; -Fourth Bab ay. beliesnynnian Ballast' and Advpcue Sumli .4ppeinted by Blairsville Pres bytery.' t;iii.-7Mr. Kennedy, gourth, Sabbath 'Mr. : Edgar, 'First S'abbath in May. alker'and Carothers, Third 'Sabbath in administer == the Lonrs4Sapper. Mr. Fifth Sabbath in May. AMr. .Shepley, bitaili in. Jane. . : "'' . t, Jo I n Apra assri May.' Ca o b • Second I Sale plies. Have : leave to procure ..thelr own sup -6 f 'his' Be, year, as Stated Supply. .JTarr, ime f 0 Eastern Smamtg. BOSTON. The Baptist Board of Foreign Missions reports contributions during the month of Mareh r to the amount of 540,000. This will make the whole ainount collected by this Society,'dnring the year, about $lOO,OOO, which will meet all expenses, and reduce the debt considerably. The: lite ANNUAL " FAST" DAY deelnOt seem to have been very strictly observed by the Legis lature of Massachusetts. A large delegation of thetmembers giade an excursion to :,Plymouth in the cars, famished gratiiitnualy by the Old Colony and Fall River Railroad -Company. -A bountiful dinner was furnished the excursionists by the people of Plymouth, at the Samoset House. It is but just, however, to state that the Speaker: of the House, and some of the mem bers, went to the Oongregational church there, and heard a'very able sermon from the Rev. Mr. Edwards, altogether devoid of sieular, matters. The next ANNUAL COMMBNCE`MENT of Williams College will beheld on the first Wednesday of August, on which occasion the Rev. Joseph P. Thompson, Of New York; will deliver the Address before the Mills Theological Society ; E P. Whipple, Esq., of . Boston, will deliver the Ad dress before the Adelphie 'Union; and the Rev. Willis Lord, D. D., the Address before the Society Of the Ahnini. On Thursday, the 9th of April, a new CON.. 'onswoiionsa, CHURCH was organized , in Roxbttry, near Boiton. This organization is the result of missiontiry. and Sabbath Schoid efforts, supported. in this district for some time past at,the expense of ' the Eliot church, from which . a colony ,of twenty seven has just gone out in aid of :this en"- terprise. On the week preceding that of the. Anniversa . ries, the HANDEL AND HAYDN SOCIETY will have a grand musical festival, which will last three days. A guarantee fund of $6,000 has already been subscribed toward defraying the heavy ex penses that will be incurred. The NEW ENGLAND CONFERENCE of the Metho dist Episcopal. Church" met on the 10th of- April, in -the oity of 'Lowell. This-'meeting-seems to have been unusually pleasant, and not marred by acrimonious discussions. In that city there are ten thousand unmarried.;?romen engaged, in the various manufacturing establishments: Pnor. CLAIM, of Amherst College, in making some eiperimenta with electrical light, injured his eyes so greatly, that although in a room per fectly dark'to others; the most intense brightness appears before him: Upon his return to Newburyport from Wash ington, the Bon. CALEB Ctraturru bad a very en thusiastic• reception from his friends and fellow citizens. The lion. Moses Davenport presided, and delivered a speech highly complimentary to Mr. Cushing; ,to ,which Mr. Cushing replied in an able speech, but a advocating the policy of in definite annexation :of 'territory •to the' United States, on the American Continent. Another daily paper, the Bonola TIMES, has ceased to exist; it has been purchased by the proprietor of the Boston herald , and will be merged into that paper. NEW"YORit Len complaints,daremade of imposition Loud „, still upon . passengers .. for California., -by venders of " bogus " tickets ; end it has been charged that the Companies themselves, are not free from blame in this matter, because they continue to dispose of tickets to irresponsible persons, who buy to sell again. , MAYOR". WOOD,CoittißtleS to resist - the• authority. of the new. Police Committee, - appointed - under the , new charter, and has .aiked for a :perpetual injunction. 1 - ' . , 1- - - . ' -- - •. - ' . -:The Seventy-First- Anniversary of the ST. GEORGE'S SOCIETY, was - -celebrated on the 25th . ult. The attendance was very large, owing, in part, - to the presence of the new British Minister . - to this .country, Lord : Napier. This: gentleman made a speech, in Which he spoke very kindly of the manner, in - . which he had-_ been received by' \e. Government-.and people .of this - country. -In th course of his; emarks he said, respecting the con xion . between this - country. and England: "Th only 'entangling. alliance' which I shall ventur to, recommend, to your -adoption, is the submarine cable between \this country and Eng land." Th\k was received with 'great Cheering. Since the Tat:Eu.l44qm \ i's, about to' be taken down; the religious- SocietAs have •'beeti 'com pelled to seek other, quarters for:the - approaching AnniverSaries.- 'The Bosid oi‘Bornign Missions 1 of our Church, and, the Sunday\ 501i.,01 Hnicin, will hold their . meetings in thaßrooltie 'Street ' Presbyterian church.' The sermon before' the Home Missionary Society will be Pr ached in'Dr- Adals' church,'On Madison Avenue. - The Amer loan and'Foreigh Christian Union, 1 a dSeareen's Friend Society, will occupy the attire of pr:. Asa , D. Smith. The Female Guardian .Sollety will have the use of Dr. Gillett's (Baptist church.: The Colored Girls' Institute Association, : \he Con-, gregatierial Union, the, Home • Mis'aiena‘y and Bible Societies, and the American- Board of For eign Missions, will assemble in Dr. Chee, er's church, on Union Square. . . . .._ 1 1 The Aztrx-H.t.aVsar meetings, - , and the Cong gational collation; will be held in the City Asse -. ply Ropms— .. . - .' . ,: - . .- Taal Mercer Street Presbyterian...church, on last Sabbath week,-made a contribution of $5,600 to the:American Board of :Foreign MissiOns. • Several Vessets have been seized on suspicion- of being fitted out for, the - horrible' slave trade, and a vigilant watch is kept over others; suspected of a - similar iniquitous designatioM . ' ': .- The public ministry'of the-Rev. ArrionErre %town. - does 'not seem to have been successful.' Her congregation decreased sadly: and the house: of -worship his , been closed. . It . reqUired but lit tle , penetration to discover, in . advance,- that this would bathe final result., . - -- .. In 1842,-.there were• forty-three ministers of the EPISCOPAI Cannon in the city andenvircess of New York ; now. there ' are eighty-six---an in crease of one hundred per cent. in fourteen years. The NIAGARA has sailed for the purpose of aid ing in laying the Suhmarine Telegraph froni New foundland to England, thus uniting' the Eastern and Western- Continents. In the'month of July, two steamers will meet in the midst of the Atlan tic, each having on board one-half of; the wire, connect the two plrts, and depart in epposite directions, keeping up a constant communication by means of the wire. ' The whole distance by the'nearest line is one thousand nine hundred miles, and the greatest depth sounded is= two and one-third miles. Soundings have been taken every twenty miles, when possible to do so. The whole length of the cable will be two thousand six huared miles; each mile . weighing some thing less than a ton. The whole cost is esti mated at $1,084,160. The first experiment with respect to the Submarine Telegraph, was made by Prof. Morse, on the 18th of _October, 1842, from Castle Garden to .Governoes Island. The Lutheran Observer says there are six Ger man Lutheran, and one English ; Lutheran, churci in the city of New York.- . The :Observer attributes this small increase of that denomination; in. this large city, to the exclusive use of the German language in the services of the sanctuary in time peat: We give an extract from an exchange; con taining a brief synopsis of- the NEW lawmen Law of New York, of which much has been said and-.written : • The, Legislature "of , , New York has passed a: new law for licensing the sale of intoxicating liquors.,. It oreate,s aaloard• of Arxise tin .eaeh. County t grani lidenses: NO storekeeper licensed is allowed to sell liquor to be drunk on thepremises. MEE TEEM No liquor toille sold to minors. nor to perions complained Ot„as habitual drunkards. No 'tales of liquors of O Sunday; and every petition for license must be signed by at least twenty respecta blefreek9ldersl.7 PHILADELPHIA. The North'ielAeiican says that the PERFUMERY manufactured every year in Philadelphia; amounts to the sum of $1,500,000; and that foreign im portations are sold in that city to an equal amount. So that the perfumery trade of Phila delphia amounts annually to $3,000,000. It is also said that the manufactory of perfumery in that city has diminished the foreign importation into -this country at" least 'one-third; in sftijen' years. The NEW &Boor. Presbyteries had appointed a simultaneous collection for the benefit of the Publication. Committee, which proved almost an entire failure. But John A. Brown, Esti:, offered $lO,OOO to the Committee, to complete the pay ment for the building; on condition that $lO,OOO more be raised by the friends of the ComMittee in the city. This last sum has been already se cored: The Pennsylvania'BlßLE Social:l sold and dis tributed, during the month of March, eight thou eind seven hundred and ninety bibles and mews, in the English, German, French, Spanish, Welsh, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Portnguese, Italian, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Irish lan guages. • The subject of the late Ravisroar, by, the American Bible Society. has been referred by the Pennsylvania branch, to an able Committee, con sisting of the . Bev. Bishop Potter, Rev. •Dr. Board man, Rev. Mr. Badmes, Rev. J. W. ,Smith, Rev. ,Dr. Durbin,: Rev DL' Mayer, Rev.. Dr. Rev. Dr. Bomberger, Joseph H. Dulles, Bsq., H. J. Williams, Esq. The Presbytery of .the District of Columbia (New School,) has appointed the Rev. - Dr. Ham ner delegate to the' General Assembly at Cleve land; to promote the interests of the Sonrimut An) Sectary before, that body. Tun Presbytery of Baltimore, at its late meet ing, had an earnest discussion concerning the lawfulness of a man's marrying his deceased wile's sister. The final vote in the case before Presbytery was—guilty of incest,:6; offence against edification, 19; neither, 2 Rev. JOSIAH MILLIGAN'S Post Office ad .. dress is changed from West Rushville, Ohio, to Triaclelphia, Va. The pastoral . , . relation between Mr._ Milligan and the churches of Rush Creek 'and Bethel, is dissolved. Mr. Soar* E. WOODS, late of' the Presbytery of Ohio, has accepted a call to Bentonsport, Rev. T. M. OMIT has accepted a cat to Burlington Second church; lowa. Rev. F. B. DINSMORE accepts the. call to Round Grove church, lowa, serthgLiniq church in connexion. Mr. J. C. Itticarr, of the Western' Theologi cal. Seminary, has been licensed' by the Presbytery of Richland. Rev. J. E. MARQUIS has been called, to the churches of Shelby, and Onta,rio„, Rev. I. N. SHANNON, of Terre Haute, has united with the Presbytery of Richland, and received a call tot he church of Mt. Vernon. Mr. J. W. M'GREGOR is called to the'chluch of Mansfield, Ohio. Rev. 0-. VAN ARTSD A TYN has cleclinedthe call to TJnion church, Donegal Presbytery.' Mr, GALVIN W. STEWAIVI' was lidensed by the Presbytery of Donegal, at their `late meeting. CHARLES STURGES M. D., lately set apart for the Omaha Mission, has been ordained as an Evangelist, by tilt Presbytery of Long Island. Rev. EVAN Evans was received, by the Presbytery of Marion, on the I.4th of April, from the New School'Presbyterian Church. Mr. H. M. SRACKLEY, of N. A. 'rhea, logical Seminary, has been licensed by the Presbytery of Oxford; and Mr. Jas N. ALLISON, orsame ,Seminary, by the Presbytery of Palestine and Messrs. JOON A. ANDERSON, NYEiTESTER F. SCOVEL,, A. J. YEATER, F. R. MORTON, and JOHN TnomAs; by the Presbytery of New Albany. ' • • , Rev. .ALT EN MCFARLAND has„-rem_ovod to Cambridge City, Ind. - Rev. THOMAS M. CHESTNUT; of Careiden Mills, 111., has removed to - Sioux - City, lowa. . Mr. RoBEIVI: C. WALSER hag been licenied by the Presbytexy of Lexhigton. Rev. - P. D. YOUNG has _resigned. at Chester, DI., and taken charge of the church: in Decatur. , • ... Rev'. A. V. 'Some:lqm has, resigned, - at St. Joseph's, 'Mo. Mr. A. S. M.A.ltsrrAtr, was ordained, :by the Presbytery of Cedar, pn - the 10th, , inst., and installed in ,the • church of \ Marion, lowa. ley. JOHN L. MARTIN has accepted a 'call' \ . to Upper Indiana church. RP '.. Wm. A. FLEMING has been released from his charge. at Farmington, 111., and \has accepted a unanimous call to. Lewis ( iown, in same. State. Correspondents will; pleage note the change. ~ .. . , icy. JOHN .R. "DuNDAs has reeeiineinid ' keepted a ' call . to the 'churcli.of Middle .ndy, °hip. . Rev a WM. REED has received and accepted r 1. to the church of elarison Ohio PR SBYTERIAN BOAR - Er OF FOREIGN' Mzssz s IN ICANR4S.--ThR Washington Star s A patent has:just been isstied . from tI t General 'Land Office to ' , Walter' Lowrie .Esq., attorneys of the Board , ‘:of Foreig . Missions •of the sPreshyterituc Church for. a reservation of land-on tha Missou river, adjoining the •to , :ini of liSwa Point; n Kansas Territory, ;containing . about on quarter section—being: onabf the reservati.. s granted to that Ilbard by the lowa - Lit'ans, in the 7th article 'of their treaty of 7th May, 1854. Thia is>the first patent las id by the = Govermnent for lands in the Territory of Kansas.."—Piesbyterian.' • Tonchint'Hilltorlear IneidazA. . t h A very touching incident occurred Auring e session sof Itedstope Presbytery, which, held its Spring, meeting at_:Greensbero', Green Gounty, 'last week. Early—in . the session, Rev. J. 11. Hughes exhibited . to Presbytery the identical' wateh- owned by . ~ , ~ , the slate Rev J. .11'111ilkin D;,V,- and used , by . hirn t , to regulate thi .husinesis . hours of preibytery, when be w Aloclorator of that ti l body at its organization, r-a l lyet, meeting was held at Pigeon Creek i Vur h September 19th, 1781 ' just one -ra th previonstoithe. surrender,ef Cornwallika, , Yorktown, The, line& ' Wasi 'dePosited..„„ou\ 'the Ale_der,atort,s , table, and Dr. Wilson ', moved that the Mdderator .use it to regulate the bows of EcolesiastiCaL == ==l meeting and adjournment of the Ee siu, ; , ile body at its present meeting, and record of the same be entered on Minutp. M'Millen was one of first pioneers of the Presbyterian in Western Pennsylvania, or West o f it :. Allegheny Mountains. He was pa,t r Chartiers church, in Washington frowthe year 1776 till 1830, and orioia t% and was mainly instrumental in establisi % the Institution which has grown into, flourishes still nobly, as Jefferson lege. He died Nov. 16th, 1833. 1. ! : watch, which is an old fashioned 173 2 ;;,", oEull's Eye," and said to be still a good tiL L . piece, is in possession of Captain Parke r , a grand son. of Dr. Dl'Millen.—Dispatch. For the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate. Narrative of the State of Religion in the Pretsbytery of Washington, for the Years 1856-3. Addressed to the General Assembly of the Pru!.„ rian Phurch in the United States of America. BELOVED BRETHREN :—The Presbyter, of Washington greets you in the Lord, I . ] offering to you our annual Narrative of th, State of Religion within our bounds. Iv, have walked about our Zion, counted her towers, marked her bulwarks, considered h ex palaces ; and we now come to report our pi,. servations to that venerable Assembly, whici, we revere and love as a wise, tender, faith. ful, and devoted mother. ORDER OF PRESBYTERY IN REGARD TO THE NARRATIVE. By a recent order of Presbytery, it is made the duty of our Sessions to send re ports of the State of—Religion in their re spective congregations, to the Chairman of the Committee on the Narrative, at least ten, days previous to the Spring tneeti. The Committee, in furtherance of this ae. sign, addressed a circular letter to the Fes. sions, suggesting topics on which it wenld be desirable to receive information. Ou r Presbytery embraces forty churches. The Sessions of thirty of them, comprehending rather- more -than five-sixths of our mem bers, have obeyed the injunction of Pre , bytery. The statements in the present Narrative are confined to the thirty conere gations from which reports have been re ceived, and have no reference to the ten nut reporting. ATTENDANCE ON SADDATEI SERVICES Despite the continual drain made upon our congregations, by the spirit of Werte:n emigration, it is cause for thankfulness that, while a few of our churches complain rf scanty assemblies and listless Wearers, the ma jority of thern report increased attendance on the services of, the .sanctuary, solemn ht tendon to the Word, and a seeming appetite for, the precious truths of the Goepl. Many appear to come to the house of God as gladly as Israel came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and seventy palm-trees. Even in the absence of special outpourings of, the Spirit, this is an encour aging token ; for God's Word, when faith fully preached, and attentively heard, shall not return unto him void. In five of the churches reporting, there is nather weekly lecture nor prayer meeting. In the other twenty-five, one or both ar- maintained. me of the churches report two, three, four, and two of them even six prayer-meetings per week. Some of these languish, but many are well attended, lively, and profitable. Several young converts, and young men's - prayer-meetings, are re ported; but only one female meeting of the kind. In fourteen churches, the month!s concert of prayer for the conversion of the world, is neglected; in the others,.it is kept Op . with'•more or less fidelity.; and in a few it mentioned as the best sustained and most interesting -cf all the meetings. Prayer-meetings are the pulse of a church. They are the little wheels which keep the great wheel in motion. Muck prayer, mucA grozath., is a maxim" equally true in individual and associated piety. How need ful, then, to the building up of our churches in holiness and comfort, that their members (not a few, .but all,) should meet in the as• semblies for social prayer! INFANT BAPTISM It is with pleasure that we report to you the sentiments Land practice of our churches in reference.to infant baptism. By nearly all believing. parents in oar bounds, it is esteemed _as, a precious ordinance; and their practice corresponds to this belief. Of the thirty' reporting churches, ten report this sacrament as universally observed; fifteen as almost,,or quite, universally oh servedl ,two as extensively neglected; and three make , no report on the subject, but they,.are churches which would belong, at least, to the second class. Taking the statistics on this' subject, as given in the Appendix_ lto the. Minutes of the General Assembly, for the' years 1850-4856, a period of seven years, we arrive at the following results : There has been, during those seven years, one baptism for every 10 9-members in. the ten churches of the first class; one for every 14 8 members in the eighteen churches at the second class; and_onefor•every forty members in the two churchei r of the •third -class. The general average for the whole thirty churches is one baptism for every 15 1 members; or, omit ting the' two delinquent churches, one for every 13,3 members. In regard to the causes, of_neglect, where the ordinance is neglected,,we have - the following explana- Om' to offer -based upon the reports re ceived a very, few cases, it arises from direct oppoSition to the baptism of infants; in :a larger, number of cases, from doubts as to-the pcopriety and validity of the ordi nance; but geuerally, from mere indiffer ence to J it,',-a. want of due appreciation of its importance n and preciousness, as a seal of covenant blessings; SABBATH) SCHOOL AND OATECHETICAL STRZOTION. 'Three of , thureporting churches have no Sabbath Schools. All the• rest gladden us with the'intelligence of =flourishing schools, varying from four hundred scholars to fay. • Fifteen are "rept up throughout the year. The'othersheing in rural districts, are suspended through the Winter. General rewards very limited use; but the plart•of reWarding, with the gift of a hand some Bible, eiery youth who makes a per feet - rental of the Shorter Catechism, is quiie - common. Much attention isgiven to the learning of verses of Scripture and hymns. But the most interesting feature in our Sabbath School instruction is the in creasing attention given to the Shorter Cat echism. The study of this unequalled compend of Scriptural truth is prosecuted with spirit by nearly all the children and youth of our Schools, who are old enougt to engage in it. Two hundred and fifty-to scholars, in seven schools, are reported as made a perfect recital of the whole Catechism, within the past' year, all of whoa , have received, or are to receive, as a reword , the. gift of a-Bible: The Session of another church reports two hundred children and adults ashaving, within the last few years• accomplished: the •serne labor, and received from the:instal. a Catechism containing a eer• tifteate.ot 4)re fiet. Other churches makes general report . of many having completed the work, without speeifying the number.