tf-' .aq. Xiardur adiNotatt. PITTSBUR4II,„44Y 23„ Ilinhatli ; illidlralier; Or in Clubs 51.2111 or, delivered at residuum's of Suburb. berg, $1.15. Si. Prempeetus t on Third Papa N /MAI. fi"opould- pi( proemt, a ;Maki while beibra the roar ixplraa l that: WIN EMI asaks lull arrangenkonta far a steady supply. TEE RED WRAPPER, indicates that we AkinaPElgf„, iff,tigharsiiey, in the ha of thls sigharshould bo Oaiftted, ws holm our friends will still not forget us. REMITTANOICiend ',payment- - by safe handy when eanyenient. Or, send by mail, oneloldag with ordinary rare, and troubling nobody with a hnowledge of what, you are ,doing. For a large amount, send a Draft, or largo note. For one or two papers, lank Gold • or small notes. , TO RAKE MANGE, &Md postage staikply or bettor. still, send for more, papar , sl any $6 for devontynniabers, or ill 'for Thirtrihroo , . • Isluaberse DIRECT all IseitApriC Coliaarrunications to REV,. norinpoloopriti. inti,b"o„, LETTERS ON BirsiNEss.---Persons sending us lists of subscribers, and especially in xnakipg:remittances, will please llireet their letters; atways, (as requested above) to Ruv. DAVID MCKINNEY, Pittsburgh, Pa. Seri ous losses have occurred , by a neglect of thisrequest. Jimeries # ,,Trq,ct EloOety. The .Rev. IL S.. Clock, sO,leng,.connected with „this Society as one of its principal See rotaries, having resigned on account of ill health, the Rev. J. M. Stevenson, D. D., of New Albany, Indiana, was unanimously elected to ffil the vacancy. Dr. Stevenson is a minister in our branch of the Presbyte rian Church. Sabbath Schools of the Presbyterian Churches in Pittsburgh. These Schools met together in the First Presßyterian church, on the afternoon of last Sabbath. The spacious edifice was en - - tirely filled by children, teachers, parents, and interested spectators: The exercises were introduced by the reading of a hymn by the Rev. Samuel Fulton; after the singing of which, prayer was offered by the Rev. J. P. Carter, President of Ashmun Institute: The children were then addressed by the Rev. John Leighton Wilson, I). D., one of the Secretaries of our Board of Foreign Missions, - and for. nearly twenty years a mis sionary to Afric& He was followed in a short address by'the Rev. Dr. Howard. The whole services were concluded with prayer by Rev. Mr. = Findley, of the Sixth Presby terian church, and the ApOstolic benedic tion by Dr. Wilson. All the Services were appropriate, and a very happy impression was produced on the mind's of all present. Pittslkuigit and Allegheny Orphan Asylum. The annual meeting of the friends and patrons of this interesting and useful insti tution, was held in Excelsior Hall, Alleghe ny city, on Tuesday afternoon, the 12th inst. Gen. Wm. Robinson presided. The opening` religious services were conducted by the Rev. Wm. Preston, of the Episcopal Church. The receipts for the past year, in- the beginning, have been $3,502.94, and the expenses $3,592.29. So that the, treas ury has been overdrawn $89.35. The audi ence was addressed by the Rev. J. MoKen dree Reilly, of the Methodist Church; and the children wore addressed by the Rev. Dr. Plainer, of the Presbyterian Phurch. This institution has been, from -the beginning, well and economically managed, and been productive of great good -to many helpless orphans, whose physical, intelleetual, and moral welfare have been carefully sought. It has, from. the beginning, been "supported by the voluntary contributions of Christian and benevolent people to which it is well entitle& Owing to some legacies left the institu tion, some time ago, it is supposed by many that it is now able to take care (X itself. But, unfortunately, these legacies are not available at preaent, and some of:them prob ably never will be. Therefore, this Asylum will still continue to have a strong claim on the humane and benevolent. Danville Theological Seminary. The exercises at ; the clqie of the last_term of 'this 'institution of our Church, were of a very interesting character. They were in trmluced by a sermon to the graduating class, on Sabbath, the 3d instant, by the Rev. D. J. Brecldnridge, D.D., and a sermon for the Society of Inquiry, by the Rev. Stuart Robinson, D.D., The meeting of the Board otDireotors was opened with •a sermon by the Rev. W. W. Hill, D.D., editor of the Presbyterian Herald. The following Tues = day and Wednesday were occupied, four hours each day, iii the examination of the graduating class. The entire body of the students bad been examined ' on all the studies of the year during the_ previous week. On Thursday, public, addresses were • , delivered by nine members of the , gradu ating class. After :these addresses; the , ,, ustial testimonials were delivered to twelve graduates, by the Rev. Dr.,Edgar, of .Nash o: ville, with an appropriate and excellent dis- L L'iiourse. Two of these young then were from ;' three from Ohio ; two from Vir , ginia; and one each from Mississippi, South ; " - "Olrillitia, Illinois, and Kentucky. ~,Ttt e, c ash funds of this Seminary now ex teed $9,000. The real estate, and other unprodititibe property, amount to 812,000. In addition' to these amounts, a legacy of a 7.420,000 has been left the Seminary by the r late Judge-Broadnax. There are also some smaller bequests' that have not yet been It, la x expected that the , inauguration of Prof Robinson will take plate at Lexington, during, the.,Sessions of the General Assem bly. Prof. Reeser has resigned Ins' place in. the department of Biblical and Oriental Lit erature. He 'been connected with „the Institution fro4L , )3eginnitig, and now desires to return to the, regalar work of , ',their late, but. certain- effects—can.not. be tzthe •ministry It menualltobellie , oramon seen nor appreciated by politicians. But guLiofttlia Directors, that. the shouldfiblitistianikahould be ready-to know 'andJun:. u-littave ,be t asked,to.appoint a,Profewr, l ei the ftill orile d -th.em ,'and' 'with hruttans here, q. 0 .4 Lik Jostia J. 1401, IVi • asibij• r ettl y . s.qPILI I - duties, of the Pi lessorship now vacant. . mos apply, is still the control and direct- ==l =Z:HZ=M:I!MI Human Diteriotation—Fralice. It is well known that there are,; alterna tions in the races of men-L-an advance, a sunnnit of their, excellence, and, a deteriora tion. We might illustrate this in the his tory of the Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, &c. Frequent, however, as are the exemplifications of the fact, and few as are the instances of a declining race being in vigorated, we, do , iiot still believe that de `texiOratiOn after growth and an acme, is a , .• a necessary law of humanity. It may be the 'Certain result sealinsiVeneas and perPeCiial inter-marriages in limited circles, but not a necessity of that kind which cannot be avoided. Mode of living, mental and physi cal employments, and mixtures of races, might be so= managed, doubtless, as we think, as to avoid declension in either part of man's nature.' It is not our Purpose, however, to speculate on the lot of man, in this aspect, but' to speak of one modern and very distin guished branch of the'family of nations:" The Frmich - have, for years, filled a very high niche in.the -temple of fame. Of Eu ropean .nations, the Greeks declined .cen turi.es ago. The Italians, also, in genera tions long Pali, descended from their high. position, and have since occupied an inferior place in the setae of nations. And the Spaniards have been, for an age or more,' a. greatly qleteriorated people. 'The Russians are a elk, people, iin numbers , c#3,3. science. The Gerinens, also, though by no means a fresh people, are still advancing in population. And the British (enabmeing; English, Scotch, and Irish,) are growing in numbers. Notwithstanding the immense swarms of emigrants, from the. British Isles and the German States, still the rolls of the inhabitants are annually 'on the increase, (except that the famine a few years ago, and an altered social policy, and an immense emigration, have diminished the population. of Ireland.) But it is different with France. The number of inhabitants is said ' there to be merely stationary ; and the physical stature of the people has declined, •though•her rela lative social standing is yet high as ever.. The influence of France on the politics, literature and fashions of the world is still immense. Her martial prowess is as great. as in any past age.. She may be said, just. now, to give law to Europe. And yet, statistics show that for some seventy years she has been deteriorating ; while, in the same time, her neighbors have been ,ad 'yin:ming. How is this ? •Evidently she has been Putting forth exertions, and stilris, too great to be end-axed. Doing so, she: is consuming her vital energies; and a great. degree of relaxation, or an ultimate decay and degradation, must be her portion. The North. Arthrican, speaking of this deterioration, and of the statistics to widch we have alluded, says : We are told that before 1789 the minimum height for enlistment in the line was five feet nne inch, Frenchnteasfire. After a quarter of cen tury 'of war,' the minimum was reduced to less. than four feet ten inches ; and in 1880 to less. than four feet nine inches. This standard was still further reduced during the'reign of Louis. 1 11 zettA l B. c.C, nior . irthan would have ,to 'be dismissed;the service." Yet with tbelessened requirements, the rejections on account of. physical defects are in an, inordinate ratio to, the whole body of Conscripts. In six years, from 1881 to 1837, 504;000' youths were admitted, and' 59,000 rejected. The deteriora tion in six: years, from 1889 to 1845, had•iii creased —.only 486,000 men heing admitted, against 491,000 rejected.;; We note two influences producing this state of 'things. One is, the social habits of the' rench. The fainily tiewith its benig nant effects on population,'virtue, and physi cal 'development,' .is eschewed. Many live without marriage. Marriage is oft' deferred till advanced life; and when contracted, even, early in life, there is quite a desire that the .number of children shall be, few. All this operatek sadly against a nation's weal. Such things are infesting Britain. And even in our own large Cities they are not entire strangers. But in France they have their seat of ; empire. ..Marriage. and family 'involve expense, and curtail. gaiety and pleasure, 'and are hence avoided. The other deteriorating influence to which we Winded, is Far. This, from the Revolu- tion in 1792 till the fall of Bonaparte, in 1815, was the regular' business of the na tion. Men perished by the. myriad. The armies were recruited by conscription. This -plan of operation' called to• the battle-field, , and to death there, all the more vigorous 'young men fnam the masses. This not only diminished the numbers of the people, but it, left the smaller and more enfeebled part of the race to be the fathers of the next generations. _Hence, by a' stern law of na ture, the 'diminished size as Well as the' non . . increasing numbers' of the French. Since 1815, the destruction of life, by :war, has been comparatively:small. But the 'sources of a large .and vigorous aupidy were already cut off The Population has been barely-able since then to Maintain its num bers. ,To have supplied recruits to keep up such a war-waste, till this• day, would have been utterly impracticable. The effort would have destroyed the ; nation. Whether, :France' is to still deteriorate, or to recuperate, is a question for time to show. Louis Napo leon seems to aim at peace With some earnestness; and peace, provided the social habits of, the, people were ; in accordance with, God's. Wad, would soon exhibit large nu merical and physiCal developments: • But the Bible does,not rale in France. The so ' cial life which it enjoins, and especially its rAlany order; accords not with , French tastes. We hence think that , the pros pect of the long continuance of the domi nant influence of France, is far from, bril- liant. A very few generations are likely to exhibit her greatly deteriorated,, and rap idly assimilating herself to Italy and Spain. The religion, and therewith the morality of the Bible, is the - only thing which can recover the nation. • Siieh things.as these = eausas pradaamg HE, PRESEY. - TEi TIAN - r : A : 41 lIH!OaLLIT Or' N^" ing of moral habits. Let therfi, thin, main tain the family - in its moraliiuri4'and, Der , kf.r, feetness;a as s the great consefiativeineele:. vat,ing influence, in the land—the family as instituted by ,God and regulated by his re waled truth, written in the Ecclesiastical Cpaypopoiideride. The Correspondence which, for many years, happily subsisted between the Congre vtienal.churcheSAnd our terminate. A number of the District Asso ciations have so advised. A similar incline, tion has been manifested in some of our Presbyterie& A portion of the weekly press, in each denomination, inclines in the same direction. It is probable that most of the General Associations regard. a con tinuance of the intercourse with disfavor. And it is by no means likely that the Gen eral Assembly will, in the-slightest. degree, urge the matter against the unwilling. - And the New School General Assembly...occu pies very uearly a similar position with our own, relative to the Associations.' Renee it likely that the wonted Ecclesiastical 'Cour tesy, betwcen Conaremationalists and Pres byterians, is about te terminate ; so far, at least, as the Church Councils are concerned. We greatly regret that there should he a /necessity for this disruption. Why cannot these: 4. Membeis Chr is t'st' family treat e.ai 44444)3h .other with courtesy ? - They, recognize each other's good standing in the household. 'There is 'a "very great similarity in their faith and worship; their education and sympathies, and in their modes of sustaining the ordi nances and extending the common, cause, among the destitute at home and the heathen abroad. Why, then, not receive from each other'. a" representative guest ? The inter course .has, we know, been attended, lately with some little unplemantnesses. But can not the past be forgiven, and the future be guarded ? Cannot parties abstain from the disagreeable'? In the Polite intercourse; of life, between equals,. we never'introdnce an unpleasant subject--espocially do not intro duce it a second time---and an improper re mark being made, we pass it by as an inadyertence. Why cannot similar courtesy be obserred in our Ecclesiastical visits ? The correspondence betvieen the Congre gational• .Associations and the' General As sembly was, as. before intimated, a happy in terchange of visits by Belegates,, for,many yeaxs. Latterly, .however, there have been occasional• interruptions to' this harmony. Our brethren have undertaken to lecture us, reprovingly on the subject of - slavery. A courteous statement of ,their views would, of course, be courteously •received. But with a statement, once or twice, and that backed by argument, they were not satisfied. 'They must still reiterate. This must necessarily bring from us ,an intimation, that the sub ject having been considered, andAhe matter 'belonging to our own regulations; for which they were not responsible,' anti our'' position being taken after examining the case exten sively, it would be agreeable to us to let •it rest. They seem to regard it as their duty joravo-ous.r-. imutualor from the correspondence, and, hence' the in dications of non-intercourse, to whieh we have alluded. If they. claim' it as their right to reiterate 'without limit, their admo nitions, censures and rebukes;*they must resisted. Subh a right never is granted in social intercourse g4uals must regard each other as possessed of, good, sense and good feeling, and as capable of , managing their own business. On such principles, visits may, t be interchanged: to mutual edifcation and enjoyment; but if these fundamentals are:not accorded, intercourse must produce painful dissensions; ,nd,' in such cases, to keep the peace, it beciimes needful to' keep We trust that our own Assembly will not be in haste to rupture fraternal bonds; and also that it will do nothing beneath its proper dignity, nor unbecoming that Chris tian courtesy by which it has ever been char acterized. Theological Seminary—Closing Exercises The recent close of the Western Theo logical Seminarys year, was one of the most interesting events •it has been our priidlege to' witness. Last week we briefly. noted 'the very satisfai3tory examinations of the (gasses and the instructive 'address of Dr. Prithe,,', to the Society of Inquiry on Missions. ,The examinations •werenoatinued from Thursday till Tuesday; and on Tnes- 1 day evening the Society .of Inquiry was , addressed. The closing ' exercises of the ()denim were had, on Wednesday evening, in ,Dr. Swift's:,: chtirch, • Allegheny city. Dr. S. lead 'lathe opening' prayer.' Addresses, or sermons, were r deliiered byMessrs' 'John H. BdWard Heiden; and David 9.j C unningham,members of the graduating class. Dr. Elliott gave diplomas and certifi cates, and delivered the' `vatedictory of the Professors to' the deParting' pupils. Mr. James EL Burgett, on behalf of the class responded. Dr. Planter presented to each member of the class, a copy of the.Word l of God, as - their 'charter and directory, by which they, Were to be ever guided; and by Which they would at last be judged. Dr. Jacobus lead in the concludinwpr4er, and coinmended-thuyoung servants of Christ to the Divine care and guidance: The Seminary at 'Allegheny is . producing rich fruit, abundantly COriipensating the churches for their many years of, „toil, anxiety and self-denying contributions in rite erection and endowment thus far. Here go forth a class'of eighteen young Men some of whem at least if not , all of them, admi t) rably ~q ualified ,to minister in the Lord's Zion. Therspeakers on Wednesday evening exhibited al.knowledge, and a capability of communicating it,' and a soundness and metnrityof judgment t as well as a fervor of devotio% such As : promise high degrees of usefulness, ,„We congratulate Or Ministerial brethren on this accession' to their. Strength. The gentleician, who received 6 5qeadiet course, were Benjinun L. Agnew, Edward ft L. Belden', A' 'aVri Burrownßobert Carothers 44 ' jehri H. : Clark, David A.Cunningham, v • 'James Flanagan, 'Alfred W. Haines, 11-94k.Y.,5-enned.b..4 - 0P , ...4,-,PiPke..rtont James ,Sinclair, Albert E. Thomson, Peter . Ifeeder,; atiVilartin L Wortman ; and those who received Certificates, showing that they:were pupils in the Institution, but not having spent three years therein, were James B. Akey, James R. Burgett, Thomas it Eldift; a d Jo n I Wolcottl We cannot speak by authority, nor yet 'definitelrof - whit vardorie - by the - Board - of Directors, relative to a Fourth Professor. We have tradeistood,, hoivever, that they gen tly desire such an addition to the Facul ty. And no wonder that they should. The Western. Theological Seminary has an im pOrtaii'ne Which cannot be estimated. The number of young men produced by the churches in this region who are eminently adapted to ,the, work of, the ministry and disposedto enteLits - ranks, is beyond what is furnished , ' by any other portion of our Zion. Alriiit.net* then' these who loVe the cause, desire inte4ely, that the Seminary here shall .furnish faeilitiesof the first order, for qualifying these men' for their work r We trust that - a - kind Proiidenee will show the way to the obtaining of the Professor and the. endowment .of his Chair. Some coutributionsktoivard the endowment, have beim made ' , already. Others are tendered if the work shall be prosecuted With energy. Let the Church have faith in GOd, and' resti onward. The Ashmir Institute. On the Met' of December kit, as we no ted on the ()Condon, pretty fully, the Ash mun Institute was,dedicated to the purposes of its erection r and the Rev. J. P. Cater, A. of Maryland, was ~installed President, and' Professor of Theology The Addresies deliyered on the,e9casion• were, of a highly interesting charaoter, setting forth-„the ne cessity for snoh an Institution, its objectS, and the principles upon Which it is to be con ducted.; • , The Institute, as our readers are ,aware, is located at 'Oxford, Pa., and is under the care of the Presbytery of Newcastle. It has the recommendation of the General As sembly. The location is highly favorable. It was, opened on the Ist of January, 1857, and the exercises were continued until the close of the regular Session; when a public examination "was held of the Theological Class, which reflected,ai'we are' abundantly informed; the highast l Sredit upon the dili gence of the students, and upon the careful and judicious manner in which their in structions were imparted. Their English compositions were very creditable produc tions ; equal, in the estimatiohpf those who heard them read, to. similar .productions of students in the-- earlier stages, of a College Course. Their Scripture Analysis *ere ex; ceedingly good, manifesting more than an ordinary u degee of industry and disenmisa tion,..and- ,would{ be; sustained as Parts of Vial for Licensure,. in any of our Presby- We, are pleased with ` this,evidence that the result of the effort,thaq far, is highly encouraging to; he friends of, the enterprise, and that it :dor& such promise to become, blessing, an instrumentality of the greatesiiood to the A:frican l'ade, both here, and in the land of iheir fathers. Early , in the year, there; were circulars and other documents, relatiVe to the lima titian; Sent tofthe different Presbyteries; from inany of which in all sections of the Phnrch, responses have been received, ex pressing not merely,a generat i approbation of the enterprise; but a confidence in, its man agement, 'and a:lively intereakin its success. It .ean hardly de other Wise than prosper. It stands aloof from all controversy respect= ing the political and social position of the colored . .. population: 'of the country; while it occupies the ground of Christian benevo twice, affording, in= unobtrusive' manner, the Opportunity to God's peopleto improve the moral and religious condition of a race, for ;which novther adequate and unobjection able: provision :is made, -that they may be rescued frnm degradation, and prepared for usefulness wherever God in his' providence may cast their lot. The President of the Institute, and also Reii. J. M. Dickey, 'of Oxford, are now in our city; the former expecting to rennin for some weeks, to operate on behalf Of tile .cause. „Addresses in its favor were de livered, on • Sabbath' last, in-several of .the 'churches. •.• We - earnestly . Plead that' the' `friends of the 'Colored iiice will now show, themselves such, by their deeds of liberality.; Let the Institution be endowed , and sus-. linked. Let.the black-mates susceptibilities' sand ;powers be fully and fairly tested, under liffliienne",ef a 'good, \ Christian educit- , tion •:t " Tnda So clearly our duty; and the success which is anticipated will prevailim mensely to the4emoval of therprejudices by which he has been kept down, and to his elevation in the scale of humanity. The•'AinA'veiit'thes. The number of benevolent Religious In stitaticins, axid , their prosperity, is a, subject for iiiniti'thankfultiess; and 'notices of them are` st• duty'. Bit to give the Reports of all, „oi. f even an, abstract of the Reports would require much space. The, NeW York Her _aid- .thus sums np the annual receipts,*and expenditures 'of -the' religious, and philan- IhroPie whose officeivirelocated in • , that city:: 1 , • -'•• Total Reis. Total Rap. Atnirloan'Traot Societi, $320,5 85 39 $ 418 1 929 53 Presbyterian Board Foreign Missions, 200,768 00 218,020 17 American Board of . YRreign dilesiona (Sem& year eliding August 1,1866,) 307,318 00 323,000 49 American BaPtiat*Romeldia- sion 50cieb , 44,607 Oti 30,183 28 'AmericanAn 2 tl.Blavii6 Soda. 38,162 60 - 33,970 12 New York State Colonization Society; (including' tional Numd,) .36,913 40 . 35,696 95 'AMerican and Noreigii' ‘ Obria- Alan 'Union - 76,296 93 72,122 661 ;New York Bible , Societi, 21,756 14 21,755,14 American and Foreign Bible' Society, . 7 45,0130100 . , „00i000,;00. - . 3;334 73 . 3 , 340 7 3 FeMode iiMardiarolloolety, , 34 4 3 . 153 45 '' 8°9t93 #.1732191°-rk,:..#'l4l.Ylr 30 :13,57390' L6i614131 - i LAS; heathen's Friend 50ciety,27, 520 95 29,441.)76 W! T. al, si Totals, $1,278,328 88 $1,310,049 94 .1„ Waldenies Cominr.io Western Vi *-rginiVirginia:f ;- A communicatiooas beenvpublished in several of the" religious and secular newspa .pers,,,frem.,theilov.lir.„Loreumx,,,,.,who has, been for some time laboring for the spiritual benefit of the French PoinlatiOn i fif Boston, designed to awaken the sympathy and call I forth; the benevolence of the Ameriean peo ple in behalf of a large number of pions, frugal, and induatrious Waldenses, anxious to emigrate to this land of diVil:Cand reli gious liberty. The reasons given for this desire, Were the liinited feiritolito they are confined at home; the sterility of the soil; the prospect of continuous poverty to themselves 'and their descendants the' excessive taiations • the constant attacks upon, their holy religion; and the annoy ances to which they are exposed, from a Jesuitical and Inquisitorial priesthood. It is 'new stated, on reliable authority, that Mr.,' Lorriaux his secured three thousand acres of good land, to be occupied by las congregation, about to come to this Country —numbering some five hundred' sonls-.4n Monongalia COunty, Va., Within eight Miles of Morgantown, And orily twenty miles frem the Pennsylvania line, , at the lovr price of seventy-five cents per, acre: This 'gentleman supposes the report of this 'purohase will irk, duce:many theusands of French r PrOtest anis to,, seek new hems inc, the same, or sitnilarlocalities,, leaving their ,own country, where their dearest,rights - • are always in danger, and *here land' commands 'pike of front $3OO to' 4500 per acre Whilst,the Old world cannot well afford to lose sudh people, they will be welcomed to this. A blessing to any community will be those who profess the faith of the Huguenots, of the Jays of Neir York, 'and of the Marions of South Carolina. The history Of am' Tirot estantiim and piety of the devout French and, Swiss of former days, not now as generally known. as it should be, or as it Eldrd's Digest* We wish that this - important work were widely circulated „in every 'part of the Church, and that the Bolird of Publication would adopt effective means to secure this end. We are persuaded-. that: there are many Presbyteries in which a copy of it is not to be found 'and yet it is of• such a na ture that every, minister and, elder in our Church should be supplied with it. .All the Acts and Deliverances of the old Synod and of the General Assembly are here 'sys tematically arranged, and can be easily re ferred to. Mr. Baird has shown an equal amount of, judgment and zeal in the'eons- nilation of this large volume; and when we turn over its pages, we feel satisfied4hat the thanks of the Church are eminently due to the compiler for the years of patient toil and drudgery, as well as discrimination, which were devoted to its preparation. We could wish to see, the 'work offered at a lower price, but we 'dare say "that $3.50, $2.82 for Ministers, will not` be thought extravagant for a volume of '856 closely printed Bv,o. diligent efforts May be put forth by our Board to promote the 'spread of this great work. It is not our wont, (and in this we are like other editors,) unless it be something very peculiar, to re commend book, except 'when we are fa= vored . with a copy. This work, howeier, we noticed on its first appearsnee, buying our copy and paying for it,, and we again call attention to it because we think its eir, oulation should be extensive. - ' *A COLEEOTION OF THE ACTS, DELITEBANOE, AND Tserrmonns of the Supreme Judicatory of the TRESBYTEETAN CIFORON IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IO the present time. With Notes and D ocuments;Explanatory and Historical : Constituting a complete illustration of her Polity, Faith, and Hist.ry. Compiled for: the Board of Publication, by the Rev. Sainue,l Baird. 8v0,,, pp.: 856. _.Philadelphia: ?ru by-term' a Board or ,Publicaiion. 1856. ... I I. The Personof Jesus Christ. ' Tire reprint, by request, 0, description of , the person of our' Lord, when he had his tabernacle in the flesh, walking among men and, doing good. We do not vouch for the authenticity of the - document, nor Ithe ac curacy of the' portrait ;.• nor' do we wish either to avfake or . to gratify desires after knowledge of this kind. It is the moral likeness of Jesus, in which we -are inter ested: In his life , and kt us study hiin and strive after hill 'Conformity. The description is as follows Epistle written by Publius,Lentulus to the Boman Senate, in, the time of our Saviour. CONSCRIPT FATHERI3.—There:- hath ap peared in these our days, a man of great vir tue, `named Jesus &Aria, who is yet living _among, us, and of, the Gentiles 4 is:accepted as : a prophet of truth :.;but his own disciples call him , the Son of God.. He .raiseth: the dead,andnureth manlier ,ofdise.WB77!, menet' stature somewhat tall „and ; comely ; with a ,very levirend countenance, euch .as the beholders may both loye and fear; his ,hair the. colOr of afdbert plain his ears, whence downward it _is moreorient of, color; 'somewhat curled ; and waved About ,his•shonidens. Inthe midst of his bead is a seam or partition.of,hisliair, after the man ner, of the Nazarites ; his forehead plain and delicate; his face without spot or wrinkle, beautified with,a comely, red; his nose and month exactly. firmed ; his beard thick, the color of his hair,, not any great length, but forked ; his look innoeent, his eyes gray, clear, and quick, In reproving, ;terrible; in admonishing, ; oeurteous ; in speaking, very 'modest and wise In pro portion of body, well shaped. ,Nope have seen him laugh, but inan . y., have ,seen him weep. A man for his singular beauty sur passing the children of, men. .„ American' Tract Society.—Penncylvania The: Fourth AnniVersary was held in the Musical Fund Hall; Philadelphia, on the 7th inst., George R. Stuart, Esq., in the i chair. Rev. A. Nevin, D. D., D. A. Tyng, J. W. Smith, and'T. 'l3rainard, D. D., . de livered addresses. ' The followirigis - an ab stract of the ReiMit . Tbere have. been tbe,.;_pployment of EtWs Branch, during the_wliote,er„a par,k r of itheiyear, 15?OolpoNtsurs,i,n,000g,§§,stu. AtAttr,„durillgry,seatign, fpalnAirsnitigeTent Institutions. Of the whole number, 44used , 1 both Gentian and th nemh angages 4 2 exerusivelyshe Germa and one d3v4d his time to the Swedes Panes and Norio glans, in the Northern counties of this State. ---10841abored4arTennsylvanta,,28 in Ohio; _9 in Yirgini ,~6 'in, New Jersey, and 2 in Delaware The aggregate time of service is equal to 50 years, 3 months and 8 days. They visit ed 140,612 families, and conversed and i prayed with 77,431 families. They found 18,158 families who habitually neglected evangelical preaching; 5,717 were destitute of religious books except the Bible; 6,266, _.exclusive of Roman Catholics; of the Word of God; 9,937 families of Roman Catholics were visited. The Receipts during the past year, ,were, from sales made by C01p0rteur5;527,94327,4,'; in store, ineluding American Mesiengqr ` Child's Paper, $ 16,127.76.; donations, sis;- 14'5.90, making the entire receipts from the, field, $59 217.40. The circulation of Books and Tracts by thls Breech during the year, is equal to 213,- 959 voluMes of the average size; the read ing matter of the Americfp, Messenger and The;o4/4'5 . ./th"aper, the inenthly circulation of which from,the office, has now reached nearly 55,000 copies, equals, about 111,000 similar volumes, making the entire' cireula tior. from the 'Depository over eighty-ene million two 'hundred and eighty thousand pages. Of this ambunt, 9,885,780 pages, which at the Society's' prices, amount' to' $6,590.52, have been gratuitously dietrib nted Colporteui; Agents, and others, in chiding specific 'grants of 238;970 pages to Shipping; 174,570 to -Criiiiinal and Mane, Institutions 343,320 to . Missionaries' 459,920 t 6 MissiMi Sabbath Schools,` 174,-' 570 to emigrants: For the It tobyterian Banner and Advoutte Board of Publication. Mn. Brnroul,--:Allow me to- group together a few facts, gleaned from'a Somewhat careful exam ination of the last Annual Report of this'most exCellent agency of our Church, and to 'suggest some points .on which these reports' ought to be more explicit. The' Board is to be viewed in two aspects: "the one a bookselling and publishing concern, managed on strictly commercial principles ; the other' a charitable and missionary enterprise, conducted on benevolent principles."l My re marks will he arranged under the divisions here indicate& - Viewed in a business light, the reenlts of ,the year's operations are as follows: The aggregate of sales by colporteurs, branch.depositories, and central store, was 297,506 volumes, valued at $68,610.60.* The Report gives. no information as to the amount of stock on lhand. When= we; take into aecount that the Board has caskoSp ital, contributed• by the churches, as givenlin their - reports: from 1841 to 1850, ;of over - fifty, thousand dollars, ($50,000,) exclusive of.whatlrite contributed for' the building;,4that his the whole Presbyterian Church as easterners able the Associate Reformed and RefOrmed Weehyte= rian Churches in this conntrY; and'Aiie PreehyL' terian Church in Canada:, dispel:46d to palroniz* it; denoniinatiorial press ever ready and ant- ions to put . forward"its claims to tke patronage of the Church, 'and to recommend its prittlicitz tions- 7 take for example the erticles that appeef , from time totinie - on this subject,in ihe'Bannir and Advocat e —this is not such an aggregate suit as we have reason to look for. It is Only n little over ' five thousand dollars. ($5,000) Pei month. No business firm would be satisfied with such a summing up rof the year's operation& But when we coMparelhe last report with those, of former years, it appears still less satisfactory. T ..st-icpoir - grves my, um , r snits.. of'eTeven months' lousiness. If we increase its by the, average amount of the monthly sples,,,,ive, get $69,3 . 93.05, as the total for, a.year. Injtheyeei t 1858—three years ago-wetusdithe sales reported to he over' seventy thOusand dollars. In managing an agency like the Board, the Church has reason to look for progress. But here we have retro- gression. , The inlosioriary `anctcheritabla Operatiniks of thnßoard exhibit 17,182 Volumes, ai5i!1,168,09 peges of tracts; given away, 98,784 families visited by' the milperteura, lira 19;261 flunilien prayed with Of:the seed sown here,CMS.? approximate an estimate ; but, when we attempt to follow these silent messengers to their destina tion, distributed from Nova Scotia through the Canada; New England, the kiddle,'%lsutharn; South - We*rn, and Westere StateS, away . r to California and Oregon—all on the same errand,, and ~ bearing the ;same message, and remember, the, promise, my " Word shall net return , unto me void," how does the heart expand, and hope Jodi forward to the glorious results which, eternity alone can reveal.. The means of ,increasing .the efficiency of the Board, and the eanseathat retard are 14€4 8 deserving , the;:Wention ‘ot. the , Churehi , - Ara these causes organic; ,or functional2—Ara%they inherent in the principles on, which; the ;business of , the Board in conducted, or do , they arise from the - want of proper., energy and _enterprise in those who have the management thereof? We believe they'exist to, some extent inlioth.' The duty of the Church to supply' her Mem bership With an 'orthodoX,' devotional, theo 7 logical literati:re, was the grand:idea from which the Boarfilhad its origin.- In carrying this out, ti;' ' 'of theright kind it mnst not only pblish u books , but also use every available means to get the people to, buy,th.em. , Thaftrst withOutthe,second is comparatively useless. In getting „the books circulated,. the most, effectual applianecware pub ycity, and.havingthe books at accessibl e' points, so that pur people, can, with, coznpa r rativeli Amnia% get supplied with ...what, they ,want, lies nsea men krYkiv fall - wellthe a.o.7antMes,of judieions7advertising,-,pn it diVUot , payi it woulddnothec-so ,liiitchluL3o4l. In 'neglecting this, the Board 'Curtails, very littich its usefirdness., Last yew; the amount expended on sdvirti*,,and. translating' was $133,82. At the end of they year, that Boar& had< over seventeen tholiaand" dollars 417;033.96). in' the treionny. 'Now"; - this; i z donneXibri with the faci,that the gross'veceilits s ;fer { the" ;mil ending May, 185 a,, wire less than' thase . for the' gear'ending 1853, is exhibit that "ne Luiirchant wOuld 'be saihafied with, 'who had' the same amount" of capital'iti vestid as the Board has; and the sanieitineuntof buSinass done with . 'his atiatonnira, the membership of the Church, had iiihreitged over - fourteen thousand. Another means of giving the' btioks publicity, is by furnishing the editors of prominent news- Jtspers with copies of their, publications as soon as issued. Publishipg houses know the *hi of this, practice, and act on it.. But the oard dew?: not carry it out even with thepapere . of on r Ton denemina . tion 4, a case in point, the new Digest has never been noticed ender its proper head in your paper yet, alticoligh the bOok was stereo . typed in. 1855, 4 and althetigh` the 13iiiine7: — and Advocate has the largest cironiationAranyifiaper I in the Churah. lilt your fault l , - liitileira ? How how Many* 'tif the other journals were supplied with it, I' kifdarquiti Intl would like to know how many conies If work in question Have t a.been s old. , ":Thereiit,ittch a thing, i4A and loound' foolish eciii erVathuntap rl 'atellY degenerate 'hike 1 4!qa i,,71:-- Uttu Tite establislunent of.a ufficientifuritber of de ,nyi-ust4q.^.7-1 1.1-oswasil ':/• positones, easy of access %lion" of onr people, Ith a country an,extended as ours, is iropt. w ., For the present, the only way in *which .far communication with the central st erf. supplemented, is by a judicious and c u ,., 43;stem. oolportage. In a business view, the report of this department is do e , in riat, giving the cash realized from Flo„, have 125,790 as the number of volun ) , F These, ,valued at the average price of ti,,, , mini, would realize $27,673,80. The ..,2sl„. of selling this amount were $11,653.31—0 r „. forty-two per cent. No person, I think, ject to the amount expended in this depart,. But a question suggests itself here. Could ribibe more - wnik - done, or more liberal rp. for this expenditure ? The Board allows t 0... five per cent. discount on all cash sales am, ing to twelve dollars or upwards. Coull pastors, church Sessions, or some young m t , induced to undertake colportage in their re l . ive congregations, on business principles believe they could. A very simple plan was.. gested in your paper, some weeks ago, head. If the Board were to take the matt,„ and push it with energy, and deal with churches: :with becoming liberality, this could, by degrees, be introduced. By it a larger amount of religions literature eo u bi disseminated for the same outlay, than Er . resent plan. The , Board has excellent f: 1 61;. '''for communicating with our pastors and through the Visitor, and Home and Foreign Ear. whose combined circulation is nearly sixty t : sand. A fall list of the publications of Board, with the prices attached and the te. sale, could e easily be printed in each of flit EE riodicals twice a year, together with ut7 i. formation that might be necessary in regard - the principles upon which the Board deal- ~. its agents.. Our denominational press would A lingly aid; the. Board in, any effort to ext et o usefulness. -The scheme is worth a trial. These remarks are dictated, by no feeliaz hostility to the Board itself, or to those gu t . men, personally, who hive the management its operations_,,.No_ person in the Church L. higher idea of the capacity of the Board.: great usefulness, than I have. No one e4thr.v more highly than I, the amount of good dot: the annual sirculation of nearly 300,000 v0 . :7.: of a healthy,.orthodox, religious literature. T. high estimate which I have of the pm!. this leverage of the Church, makes me question,:le itti lull power brought out? Church contributed over $50,000 as a capita',_ dependent of the contributions for the taui The amount to which this has increased, we not, as the Board never gives any report of stock on hand. . Judging from the amount from year to year for paper, printing, and ing, compared with the sales, we OA .k we are 'far wrong „in 'estimating its present eaph one hundred and fifty - thousand dollars, ($150,' , If I am astray in this, I wish to be set right, have no desire to misrepresent. With such a c tal, ands building tree of rent,• with the faci".:. which the Board possesses for extending itF l- -. nesi, - viind , ,our , whole Church as its field of or lions, is the sum of $63,610.80, a satisfact result of the year's operations ? On $171: btorineis +principles, it is not. Most basil:- firms expect to sell, - annually, three times amount of their capital. We do not say that-. result can ever be realized by our Board. 1 wemwould..t.respectfully and earnestly sot ri . gentlemen who , have the management operations; we would ask the members e General Assembly ; we would ask our pastor: people`; if snOh.tneans and appliances as it. sesses, , , and such results as it exhibits, show an apathy somewhere, which should bP: clear of ? - • A FRizip 'Tii6 *The report gives $65.841.11. But $l, • was-for-books - trom - other establishmehts, bony to,fdl orders. ~E9clesiastinaL Afrj s ilLUGlC MCEWING MORRISON, of Columbia -Theological Seminary, has t. ,flice.risc4 to. preach the Gospel, by If.eTebytery of_ North Miss. JAS' Dumap s Post Office add: ;'is changed' Vain Scott, Ohio, to Cr Read 4 Madisbri County, Ohio. Rev J. H. Gix has received and near a_ eall.".te ~be.come pastor of the chure _ - Tr9Y;; 01 4 . 9- Mr:' . .lsAso'• B. MOORS, recently from t• 'Seminary of New Albany, and a lice: ate of- the-Piesbykny of Logansport.: `, located atißushnell, 111., where he des:: to bevaddressed. ReV. 'Lowniati" HA s has received r. accepted'a call to -the church of Big ington;lndiana. Mr..p. -YOUNG was ordained and stalled pinstor_of the Georgetown oho: , byithe Presbytery, of West Lexington.. rata late :meeting. The .Preabytery of Lae has refused to solve 'the' pastoral relation existing tvieen the -- Rev. A. McK'n and church of Franklin. Rev.-J.6114,A.: McCLITNG has accepted ,ottlte -Maysville church, ,will,,enter . upon his labors immedizitel 'Rev:; : l... l N: SHANNON has accepted a 'fibirrilie church in Mt. Vernon, Ohio Revue F. N. EWING has accepted the fp*. the . First Presbyterian church 00 u Tir mom. Mr. •Rirrus W. Sarvs, of the Cohn:: Theologieil Seminary, has been liar , -- to.preaoh tlie Gospel, by the Presb: of -Chickasaw. 4 - AES M. CROWELL was paster: of. the Seventh Preskst ehrirbli, Philadelphia, on the 10th it,: Is: RODGERS has declined the to Sterling, Illinois, and his Post OE' ichaage# to Springfield, Clarke Co- (1 YotrNG's Post Office addre frmn East Bethany, New V o l Ohailotte, Monroe County, New a pcm. , yr=rl3loLAß.E.N, of Princeton T' Anginal- Seminary, has accepted a eL :Amnia call from the Tennent c hure , Freehold, New Jersey. Rev. B D.D., has declined call to %lie , Central church of Baltic :Bor the Presbyterian Banner and Adreesa ,CeFi Acknowledgment. - • • ENON VALLEY, May , :—Dear Brother:—Pe' :tlirou 6 4ll:tbe Banner and Advocate, to esp,-: Ittolit'gratefal acknowledgments to the r my' Charge. On the 19th of March, tbc"i:: , Weather was very stormy, a number 0! called with us, bringi....g various articles of sion. The ladies prepared a sumptuous of which we all partook. After supper. dies presented me with a splendid Bible, ,i lll . tamed from Philadelphia for the purpose', invaluable gift was presented through ) ' l. " Logan, A. 8., who delivered an address Y rC : propriate to the occasion. Several v aluai ‘ ties, together with la certain amount 0 1 Were given to'my wife and to myself, all e:-. r „ were' very opportune, and for them we fee ' thankful. We especially appreciate the r e 7; apd , friendship,which was shown us on AtVingpp.ent a Portion of the "prayer and thanksgiving to God, our retired homes, followed by our sire ' Lind) prayer that they all may be , dpientaskflanaaven's richest gifts. Rossax Pawl ,