Presbyterian banner & advocate. (Pittsburgh, Pa.) 1855-1860, July 11, 1857, Image 2
Nana Ahoratt, PITTSBURGH, JULY 11, 1857. TERNS.... $1.50, in advance, or in Club' $1.915; or, delivered at residences of Subscrl• hers, $1.75. See Prospectus, on Third Page. REN EWAL S should he prompt; a little while before the year expires, that we may nabs full arrangements for a steady supply. THE RED WRAPPER indicates that we desire a renewal. If, however, in the haste of mailing:, this signal should be omitted, we hope our friends will still not forget us. REMITTANCES.—Send payment by safe hands, when convenient. Or, send by mail, enclosing with ordinary care, and troubling nobody with a knowledge of what you are doing. For a large amount, send a Draft, or large note.. For oneor two papersoend Gold or small notes. TO MAKE CHANGE, Send postags staaispo i or loottiOr still, send for more , paper.; say SA for Serenity number', or 81-for Thirty-throe numbers. DIRECT all Latter. and Communication. to REV. DAVID McILIIINEY. Pittsburgh. Pilo RavivAT, —We are informed by the Presbyterian that thirty-four persons' were added, on examination, to the Octo'rara church ) Pa- , at a recent communion. Lafayette College. The annual commencement in this Insti tution, will take place at Easton, on the 29th instant. The Trustees meet on the day previous (Tuesday) at 9 o'clock. For ROMA year ha.csk- theoo oneozions, lavo-boon times of great interest; and we hope that an enlightened Christian public will find there, this year, the usual entertainment. Second Presbyteri a n Church, (N. S.) On- cizuiati Two week's ago, we copied the statement that this Church, by a vote of 25 to 16, dis approved of the proceedings of the Assembly at Cleveland, on Slavery. This church is served by Dr. Fisher, the Moderator of the Assembly. The elders, two of whom were of the 25, have since come'out with a state ment to the effect that, while there are dif ferences in individual opinion, the Church will stand by the Assembly, and is unani mous in its confidence in, and affection for its pastor. Acknowledgment. The gentleman who sent us money through the Post Office, for the "North American Indian Missions," will find its re ceipt acknowledged in our issue of June 13th, and in Mr. Child's Report for June. We are happy always to be the me dium of such acts of benevolence, and our agency, with the acknowledgment of the amount received, is ever gratuitous. A dollar since received from the same source, will be contributed to some charity. " The Fourth." The Anniversary of America's freedom passed off in our city very pleasantly. The day was peculiarly fine. There were mili tary parades, Sabbath School excursions, pic nics, fireworks, etc., etc. It was our lot to move about a little during the day, and in the evening to take a long walk, through some of the crowded parts of the city, and as far as the Ninth Ward. We met, or saw, multitudes of men, women, and children, old and young, colored and white, all well dressed, clean, orderly and happy. We saw not a drunken man, nor did we hear an angry or a profane word. Such a scene is, to us, delightful. Our exchanges speak of pleasant celebra tions in some parts, and of riots and blood shed in others. Of the latter class, New York seems to stand out prominent. Balti more had serious disturbances, resulting in deaths. Detroit bad a row, and injuries done. Philadelphia made not much demon stration. Jefferson College. + The annual catalogue of this Institution has just been published. It contains, as as we learn, the names of those only, who have been in attendance in course of the current year. The whole number is 294, viz.:— Seniors, 59; Juniors, 76; Sophomores, 53; Freshmen, 30; Irregulars, '33 ; Preparatory, 43. We understand the classes are now di vided into convenient sections, so that the recitations may be conducted with a thoroughness which would otherwise be im practicable in so large classes. The Prepara tory Department is also taught by members of the Faculty. We congratulate the friends of the College in view of the increasing prosperity of the Institution. And it may not be out of place here, to add, that the Honorary degree of L.L.D. was conferred on Rev. Joseph Alden, D.D., President of the College, by the Trustees of Columbia College, New York city, at the late Commencement. Advancing. Our New School brethren are progressing according to the orthodox pattern, in their ecclesiastical nomenclature, as well as in their Church action and their fraternal spirit. Their new organ, the American Presbyterian, of 2d instant, heads an article thus : " ASSEMBLY'S BOARDS AND COMMIT TEES." The word "Board" is expressive, and we cheerfully accord its common use to all who have the thing indicated. Our contemporary then proceeds : " The following were the changes made in the Boards and Committees of the Assembly at the recent meeting : " Church Erection.—Members re-elected. " Presbyterian Souse.—Mr. Barnes de clined re-election, and the time of Dr. Rid dle expired. In their places were elected Rev. John Patton and Rev. Thomas J. Shepherd. " Publication Committee:—Mr. Wallace declined . re-election. In his place was chosen Rev. J. G. Butler. 4( Church Extension Comnittee.--In place of Dr. Spear, whose time expired, waa chosen Dr. Fisher. " Education Conam,ittee.—ln place of Rev. George Duffield, Jr., resigned, Rev. William Hogarth. " Foreign Mission Conrynittee.—ln place of Rev. Henry Darling, resigned, Rev. J. D. Mitchell, of Lynchburg, Virginia. Added to the Committee, Lowell Holbrook, to make the number equal to theother Tomnuitees." Why do Presbyterian Churches include So Few of the Poor? This is a question of vast importance. It embraces both principle and practice. It concerns an immediate and pressing duty, and has, perhaps, reference to a sin which should be repented of. The fact implied, that there are comparatively few of THE room OF THE LAND in the Presbyterian Church, will hardly be controverted. Look at our country churches : they embrace mainly the wealthier families, and those who are well off to live—uot always the very rich, though but seldom the very poor. Take the average of any neighborhood, divided in two classes, as regards ease in worldly circumstances, and the Presbyterian Church will embrace large ly of the richer, and sparingly of the poorer. And while this feature is distinctly marked in the rural districts, it is yet far more prom inently manifest in our cities. Presbyte rian pity churches embrace, comparatively, very few of the poor. Now, why is this ? Was it not one of the evidences, and a prominent one also, of the Illessiahship of Jesus Christ, that he preach ed the Gospel to the poor ? And is it not hence, and throughout the Scriptures indi cated that the preaching of the Gospel to the poor, will be one of the leading and dis, tinetive characterisacs of the true Church ? That the Presbyterian Church does preach the Gospel to the poor, by her missionary op orntiono, hor %ffo'rto, kor portage system, her Bible efforts, &c., is most manifest; and shy hence has this evi dence of her relation to her Head. But the fact implied in our question, is nevertheless glaringly manifest--mE POOR do not make up any large portion, ordinarily, of her congregations, in either city or country. Why is it? Several answers may be given, partly fa vorable to her, and partly pointing out her sin, and calling for repentance and reforma tion. 1. Presbyterianism, in its entire character, cultivates the intellect, promotes morality, and favors economy, industry and thrift; its members hence know how to acquire prop erty, are likely to acquire it, and are dis posed to hold a sufficiency of it to elevate them above the straits of poverty. The pre mises here will hardly be disputed. Family education, training in schools, instruction in the Church, information in the ways of making a living, industry, independence of feeling, hostility to the habits of the spend thrift, a regard for the approbation of the good and virtuous, an avoidance of vice, and the cultivation of the best moral principles, be long to the order of every strictly Presbyte rian household. Presbyterians being thus educated, poverty is among them, an anom aly. Occasionally there is parental defect in carrying out the system, and thriftlessness results; and occasionally there are afflictive dispensations of Providence, reducing some to a very low position in this world's goods. • From these two causes we always have the poor among Its; but they are few in num ber, and always, when their heart is with us in faith and order, they find in our churches brothers and sisters truly, and a happy home. But to find springing from families of the Presbyterian stock, households that are among the extremely poor, is a thing ex ceedingly rare. Hence then, for this roost excellent, honorable and Christian reason, the poor are not numerous in our churches, whether in city or country. They are not propagated by us naturally; and they do not spring from us, unless by extraneous causes. 2. The Presbyterian system is, in a high degree, intellectual and spiritual. To com prehend it requires a cultivated mind, and to enjoy it, there must be a renovated soul. Our doctrinal Standards embody a large amount of heaven's truths, logically stated. To understand these, requires that the men tal powers shall be well developed and cultivated by much careful and superior in struction. The foundation for this develop ment needs to be laid in childhood, and to be perseveringly and wisely conducted up to manhood, and onward. Our system of wor ship has in it nothing sensuous—nothing to please the fancy—nothing to work upon a fondness for show or for bodily exercise. The feelings must be reached through the understanding. Our preaching addresses the thinking and reasoning soul; our prayers are the outpourings of intelligent spirits; our singing is from an enlightened heart, making melody to the Lord. The worshipper, in a Presbyterian church, must have an understanding—a mind cultivated— to enjoy the preaching, the prayers, or the. praises'. Now, this cultivation we do not often find in those who grow up in'the world, and especially among those who are of the more poor. Poverty, in this happy land, where free institutions open to all the way to pros perity and affluence, is produced very much by ignorance and vice. So far then as the poor are made poor and kept poo?, by want of education, by evil habits, and by depraved tastes, they will not be found in Presbyte rian chur i ches. Our worship would neither interest their intellects, nor gratify their hearts. They are hence absent from our places of sweet Sabbath resort. There are, however, many of the poor who are not so from immorality. Why are not a much larger portion of these among us, than are commonly found in our churches 7 Do we duly adapt our system to their wants ? There are quite a number of our own offspring who leave us. There are many families, in very moderate circum stances, who have minds religiously well cultivated, and who are found in Churches quite as intellectual as our own—found there as a matter of either necessity or preference. And there are many families of the poor who, morally, are well disposed, but whose opportunities of cultivation have .not been such as to fit them for the highest enjoy ment in our worship ; and even the most ig norant and most vicious of the world's oat -casts have undying souls. They need the Gospel; and the Gospel is adapted to their wants; .and it is' ent to them by us. Now, toward - all these have we done our rr - Rc PRESBYTERIAN BANNER AND ADVOCATE. duty ? Or are we endeavoring to know our duty, and perform it ? Why are not far more of these, our fellow-men, crowding our temple gates? The common people heard our Master gladly. They flocked to the places of his resort. They were inter ested and edified. And are not we sent to such ? Surely we should preach the Gospel to the poor—should so preach it that the simplest of them could receive it, and would love it, and be drawn by it, .and be saved by it. Why is it then, that, in such comparatively vast numbers, they decline our fellowship ? We reply 3. Our - worship is too costly for the poor. Ofttimes our church-buildings are too ex pensive. Meanness in the position, con struction, or decorations of a house for our God, is to be despised. A shame upon that people who would be guilty. A church should be in one of the prettiest and most easily accessible situations which can be selected. It should be duly large, and in every respect comfortable. And it should be neat and in good tase ; and even handsome compared with the ordinary style of building 'in the congregation. But beyond those es sentials, and this comparative becomingness, a church should not be made costly. But, whatever may be the cost of the site, and of the building, and in these we would allow much latitude for the wealthy and refined to gratify their taste,—whatever be the cost, tuere shoun TICiE In any - cage; a'dollar of it taxed upon the seats, either as principal or interest, nor in the shape of a pew rent. The house in its perfectness should be a gratuity to the congregation; made so by the voluntary contributions of the more wealthy, adequate 'to the defraying of the whole expense of site and erection. When the cost of the structure, some five, ten, twenty, fifty, or a hundred thousand dollars is assessed_on the seats, the poor can not purchase. They are effectually ex cluded. And when the annual interest of that cost is levied, the poor cannot occupy. The payment is beyond their means. When nought but a man's hard in dustry is to supply house, and food, and rai ment for himself, and wife, and children, and.to educate his offspring, he cannot pay a large annual interest for church sittings. He must, of necessity, go where seats can be had on mil terms. Pews should be taxed with nothing beyond the sustentation of the pastor; and the incidentals needful for worship; and in this there should be a judicious graduation. 4. The extravagance in dress, artificial tnan ners, and conventional refinement cherish ed in Presbyterian churches, is a hinder nine to the attendance of the poor—not merely of the very poor, but of those who are in moderate circumstances. This is one of the most effective obstacles which could be named—it might almost be denominated THE hindrance; and yet it is one of the most difficult to remove. A love of display, taste, pride, vanity, fashion, supercilliousness, etc., are so intangible, and are such tyrants, that we know not how to manage them; and the suspicion with which they are contemplated, and the counter pride and scorn which go out to meet them, are oft so unreasonable and so uncontrolable, in the minds of poor, erring mortals, that to attempt a retnedy, on either side, seems next to hopeless. The rich should leave their gaudy attire be hind, when they go to the house of God, and the fashionables should reserve their trappings for scenes more in consonance with them than are the exercises of devotion; and the poor should learn to value outward adornings at a lower rate, and should bid all envy and fell suspicion depart forever. Right views of God and his house, and ordinances—of the end aimed at in worship, and the account which is to be rendered, where God sees the soul as naked, would greatly correct this evil. How shall'such views be made prevalent? Our pastors may, in part, answer this question. But we may rest assured, that until there is a very great reformation in the matters here spoken of, the poor will not feel comfortable in our churches, and will not be found there in large numbers. We excuse them not for their absence. The reason is inadequate. But still we think there is great guilt in keeping, needlessly, a stumbling block in their way. 5. The rich, in cities especially, are too much in the habit of clustering, all in one, or in a few churches. This produces a splendid and expensive house, and a fashion able congregation. The poor are thus ex chided. It also leaves the great mass of the people unable to erect churches which are even becoming and comfortable. The rich and the poor should meet together; the Lord is equally the maker of them all. They. all need the same salvation, and their Judge is no respecter of persons. 6. The officers and members of Presbyte rian churches do not pay sufficient attention to the poor; to make their acquaintance, gain their confidence, and form friendly at tachments. This is owing very much to the, fact, that the great body of our people are diligent in business. They think they have not the leisure. They feel that the few hours of respite they have daily from the duties and anxieties of their occupations, are due to their own households. This may be very true ; and yet there may be a deep wrong lying before it. The , remedy for these evils, and many others, will be found in an entire consecra tion to God. When ministers and people shall have truly given themselves a " living sacrifice," then will be manifest an entire change. To produce that consecration let God's called and consecrated ones labor and pray. Ukavzusrry or Missrssirpr.-13y the annual catalogue of the University of Mis sissippi, it appears that the number of students in attendance is—Seniors, 37; Juniors, 50; Sophomores, 69; Freshmen, 62; Irregulars, 25; Law Students, 21. Total, 264. The College has a library of 4,000 volumes, which is to be largely in creased the present Summer. Home and Foreign Record. The July number of this periodical is very much occupied with the action of the late General Assembly, on the Boards ; and these matters have already been pretty fully pre sented to our readers. Still, there are some things to be noted. DOMESTIC MISSIONS A letter of Rev. M. A. Williams, written from Yreka, California, gives an account of a very interesting tour of exploration, which he had made at the suggestion of Drs. flapper sett, Scott, and Anderson. The attention being paid by the Church to that country, is great ; but it still falls very far short of what is required by the wants of the population, and the influence thence to proceed to other places. California is to be regarded as a Western centre. It should be thoroughly occupied. We have good men there, but they are few in number. Many are needed. The Board does much, and it should be enabled to do more; but it should not be ex pected to do all. There should be many devoted men to go, and cast in their lot with the people, and assist in their own sustenta tion, as did Paul and his companions in labor; living as they may be enabled, in providence, to acquire the means. This thought might be much dwelt upon, and applied to other places as well as California. It needs and deserves development. 't REompTO in May, at Philadelphia, (embracing those af — rittcsuurg6;)s3,22l ;• at Louisville, $867. EDUCATION The total number of candidates on the roll of the Board, for the last year, was 383 ; which is an increase of one on the list of the previous year. This is certainly a very small advance. Why is it ? The Board may well inquire, why? And the Church should ask the question. And each should help the other to answer; and especially should the Board discuss the subject, for the informa tion and awaking of the Church; and pos sibly for stirring themselves up and discov ering something which may tend to improve ment in the mode of conducting their great work. It is a momentous work, and we are utterly at a loss to account for the lack of in terest manifested therein, in a Church so sound in the faith as is our ow-n. RECEIPTS in May, at Philadelphia, $1,360; at Pittsburgh, $472; at Louisville, $lB6. FOREIGN MISSIONS. Lahor, there was, at recent dates, a growing disposition among the peo ple to listen to, the Word. At Agra, the mis sionaries enjoyed their usual health. From Futtehguhr, they state : "It is with great pleasure and thankfulness we are permitted to inform you, that at our last communion service, sin persons, all residents of the Chris tian native village, were admitted to the privileges of the church upon a profession of their faith in the merits of a crucified Re deemer. At this signal blessing upon our efforts in behalf of this people, we are greatly encouraged and strengthened, and feel as sured that although the work progresses but comparatively slowly, yet the Lord will in his own good time, convert this whole na tion." C HINA —At Macao, things were not much improved. There was quietness, but no tell ing what a day might bring forth. The English Admiral was awaiting vessels and troops. No decisive belligerent operations were likely to take place before Autumn. From Shanghai, Mr. Lowrie writes: "We may be on the eve of great things. China may be thrown wide open in a few years, though there may be hard times for foreign ers in the interval. At all events, the reli gious awakenings at Amoy and Ningpo show that the Lord is not disposed to wait for time and help, but can and will accomplish his own work when and how he pleases, building up the wall of Zion even in troublous times.- Humanly speaking, Shanghai is the safest port in China, but on human aid we are warned not to depend. As ambassadors of Christ, we are entitled to look higher for our protection, and the prayers of many pious people at home, will no doubt do more for our safety than the frigates and the guns of the English. Yet God may be pleased to use the latter as the means of answering the requests of his people both at home and here, not only for our temporal security, but for the opening of China for the general spread of Christianity." AFRICA. —At Corisco the missionaries were well and laboring, and their boarding schools were somewhat enlarged. At Mon rovia Mr Williams continued his work, though suffering from chills and fever. Mr. Wilson, who had hrought.his family to this country for their health, has left them in Pennsylvania, and returned. INDIAN MisstoNs.--The Board tell ,us that : " An interesting communion season had just been closed at Spencer, at which two elders were ordained over that church, three children were baptized, and one young woman had been received to the communion of the church upon a profession of faith. Mr. Templeton, in a letter dated 28th of April, mentions an intereting state of things at one of his stations among the Creeks. God is still blessing the Seminole mission. Mr. Ramsay remarks: 'Three weeks ago, I baptized six adults and five children. Next Sabbath I expect to baptize five adults and' two children. Among them are the chief's wife and her two children. All the chief's near relatives, nine in number, are now mem bers of our Church.' Rev. D. 11. Murdock, who has been appointed to the superintend ence of the Otoe mission, announces the safe arrival of himself and family at that place on the 9th of May. A letter has also been re• ceived from Dr. Sturges, of the 22d of May, announcing the safe arrival of himself and party at the Omaha mission." Un the subject of funds, the Board are urgent. Their indebtedness has been noted. It cripples their operations. The incurring of it was a necessity, for they could neither recall their laborers nor starve them ; but it should be wiped off at once, and the treasury be adequately replenished . An " Extra" gives the Board's report to the Assembly. It should be extensively read. RECEIPTS in May, $10,389. PUBLICATION This Board is advancing in its operations more rapidly than its fellows; and for this we praise it, though we cannot think that it has yet attained to what is practicable in supplying the wants of the Church. The Record quotes the remark of Dr. Moore, that " the operations of this Board are too much regarded as those or business merely." If it were not for the qualifying word . " merely," we should utterly dissent from this expression. We think that its affairs, being very much of a "business" character, should be conducted on the best business principles. The principle of thrift we do not now urge so much, since the Board has already accumulated a large capital; but the principles of economy and efficiency should be regarded as of the first importance, and especially the latter. A very great work is to be done. The Record gives us the names of five recent issues, all of which, we believe, have I been noticed in our columns. DommoNs from May 15th to Juno 18th, $2,714; SALES from May tat to May 30th, $4,225. CHURCH EXTENSION. The small space allotted in the Record to this younger sister in the family of agencies, will admit of the presentation of but a few items of intelligence. Can this be a rea son why the contributions are so small? Or do the Boards, ministers, churches and all, regard this cause as diminutive, and dispense their favors accordingly ? We trust that it will yet be looked, upon with different eyes, and be admitted to a higher place in the kind regards of the MASTER'S friends. RECEIPTS in May, at St. Louis, $531; at Phila delphia, $271; at Pittsburgh, $46 ; at Chicin nati, $29. Temperance We insert, on our Fourth Page, an excel lent article on this subject, headed, "Another Remedy Needed." We believe that the on ly effective remedy for intemperance, is the Gospel. Temperance associations, meet ings, lectures, songs, public houses, legal enactments, &c., &e., have their benefit, and should be used; but the Gospel is the grand means for the reformation of society; and the truly Evangelical minister is the real reformer. He is to preach with all fidel ity and love. The minister, as the public instructor for Christ, is to treat drunken ness as a heinous sin, and expose it as he does other sins. The means of drunkenness, the temptations to it, and the tempters, he is to point out with warnings and alarms. He is to treat the subject earnestly, rationally, and Scripturally. He is to preach by his example; and he is socially to put forth his influence, uniting with his fellow-men. And the Elders of the Church are bound to be his collaborators, and are to hold up his hands. The decline in the Temperance cause is owing very much to the withdrawing of the ministry from the work. The manner of conducting it became too noisy, too denun ciatory, too deeply infected with party poli tics—in short, too worldly—for them entire ly and pleasantly to partake in it; and they, to a great extent, withdrew. They, perhaps, were justifiable in this. Some thought the work could be done without them. Some regarded them as a hindrance. We think they withdrew too far. Their pulpits have been too silent. Events show very plainly that they, and the Gospel which they preach, are indispensable to the carrying on of any moral reformation. " Washingtonians, " "Sons" Societies, "Templars," &c., &c., can not carry far forward, nor long holdup a cause which is opposed by human appetite, and popular customs, and the love of gain. Let the ministers awake, and the elders with them, and all good men also, and the women too, and unitedly use every instrumentality which is sanctioned by God's Word, and the temperance cause must prosper. The Associate Church. This reputable branch of the Presbyterian family denominate their Chief Council, " The Associate Synod .of North America." Their fifty•sixth Annual Meeting was held - in Philadelphia, May 20th to 29th. The July number of the Evangelical Repository, 64 pages, is occupied entirely with the Min utes and statistical tables. The meeting was well attended, and the amount of business done was large. The editor of the Reposito) ry says of it : • ((Never, perhaps, since the Associate Syn od was organized in this country, has, there, been a more important meeting than the one, the proceedings of which will be found in this number. They will, therefore, be read throughout the Church with an interest nev er before felt by the members of the Asso ciate Presbyterian Church. The union of the Associate and. Associate Reformed Churches—a subject which has engaged no small share of the attention of Synod since the year 1841, when delegates were first ap pointed by the Synod—as at last been brought into such a shape as to afford ground for anticipating , with confidence, the organ ization, next pring, of these two Churches into one body. We look upon this event as one that certainly will take place." The statistical tables give a large amount of information, and indicate a flourishing con dition of, the body. We give a few of the numbers There are twenty-one Presbyteries, viz., N. Illinois, which has 7 ministers; Phila delphia, 10; New York, 10; Miami, 14; Allegheny, 9 ; Albany, 7 ; Chargers, 15; Cambridge, 12; lowa, 20; Stamford, 5; Vermont, 4; N. Indiana, 3; Muskingum, 14; .Monmouth, 5; Shenango, 20; Rich land, 6; Detroit, 5; Ohio, 10; S. Indiana, 3; Clarion, 8 ; Sialkote, 3—total, 190'; with 28 licentiates. The names of the Pres byteries indicate where the Church has its greatest strength. There are two Theologi cal Professors at Xenia, Ohio; four mission aries at Sialkote, in Northern India; and one missionary at Napa, California. The number of congregations is' 227; and of communicants, 21,606. The net increase of last year was 991, being very nearly five per cent. The baptisms were 1,279, or one to every 17 communicants—a little over six per cent. The contributions to Missions, Edu cation, Bible Fund, and Widows' and Or phan's Fund, amounted to $13,823, or 64 cents from each member. If the union of these brethren with the Associate Reformed, shall be consummated next Spring, and shall be entire and with a hearty earnestness, we shall anticipate there from quite an addition to the efficiency of orthodoxy and Evangelical influence in the country. They have the most cordial good wishes of Old School Presbyterians, for their personal and ecclesiastical enjoyment, and for eminent success in their labors in the cause of our common Lord. A Quarrel . Settled. A great controversy existing among the members of a Christian Church, some of the leaders went to , " brother Bulkley" to have his aid in settling the matter; his happy spirit and great wisdom giving him much influence in the community. In stat ing their case, they became greatly excited : "Well, well, never mind," said Mr. Bulk ley; "ye are all too much excited now; go home again and wait patiently; on Saturday evening next I will have prepared and sent to vou a written opinion of your case, with a fall and free avowal of most wholesome advice for preserving your church from desolation, and yourselves from despair." And the committee left to wait the issue. Now it chanced that Mr. Bulkley had a small farm, some distance from the town of Colchester, and found it necessary, the same day he wrote the opinion and advice to the brethren of the disaffected church, to drop a line to his farmer regarding the fixtures of said estate. Having written a long, and'of course elaborate " essay" to his brethren,‘he wound up the day's literary exertions with a dispatch to the farmer, and after a reverie td himself, he directs the two documents, and the next moment dispatches them to their several destinations. On Sunday evening a full and anxious synod of the belligerent churchmen took place in their tabernacle, and punctually, as promised, came the dispatch from the Plato of the time and place—Rev. John Bulkley. All was quiet and respectful attention. The Moderator took up the document and broke the seal open, and .a pause ensued, while dubious amazement seemed to spread over the features of the worthy president of the meeting. " Well, brother Temple, how is it—what does Mr. Bulkley say ?" and another pause followed. " Will the Moderator please to proceed ?" said another voice. The Moderator placed the paper upon the table, took off his spectacles, wiped the glasses, then his lips—replaced the specs on his nose, and with a very broad grin, said : "Brethren, this appears to me to be a very singular letter, to say the least of it !" "Well, read it—read it," responded the wondering hearers. " I will." The Moderator began. " You will see to the repair of thelences, that they be built high and strong, and you will take special care of the old black bull I" There wag a general pause; a silent mys tery overspread the community; the Moder ator dropped the paper to a " rest," and gazed over the top of his glasses for several minutes, nobody saying a word. " Repair the fences l" muttered the Mod erator, at length. "Build them strong and high I" echoed Deacon Potter. " Take special care of the old black bull!" growled half the meeting. Then another pause ensued, and each man eyed his neighbor in mute mystery. A tall and venerable man now arose from his seat : clearing his voice with an ahem, he spoke " Brethren you seem lost in the brief and eloquent words of our learned adviser. To me nothing could be more appropriate to our case. It is just such a profound and applicable reply to us, as we should have hoped and looked for from the learned and good man, John Bulkley. The direction to repair the fences is to take heed i❑ the admission and governmeyt of our members; we must guard the church by our Master's laws, and keep out stray and vicious cattle from the fold 1 And, above all things, set a trustworthy and vigilant watch over the old black bull who is the devil, and who has already broken into our enclosures, and sought to desolate and lay waste the grounds of our church !" The effect of this interpretation was elec trical. All saw and took, the force of Mr. Bulkley's cogent advice, and unanimously resolved to be governed by , it; hence the old black bull was put hors du combat, and the church preserved in union ! Per the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate. Organization of the Church of Nowt Washington It has been recently noticed in the Ban ner and Advocate, that the Presbytery of Ohio had appointed a committee to or ganize the above church. Rev. WilliaralL Paxton and Alexander Laughlin, Elder, met with the congregation on Tuesday, the ;;oth ult., and after sermon, proceeded with the usual organization exercises. Messrs. Sturley Cuthbert, James A. Fetzer, and W. Struther were elected ruling Elders, the two former had been Elders in other churches. Mr. Struther being now, for the first time, called to this office, was ordained; and the three were then duly installed. Is the coincidence worth noting that this new church, bearing the name trf the Father of his country, has enjoyed her first Sabbath as a church, cotemporaneously with the first Sabbath of the 82d year of our Repriblic May their future history be alike prosperous and equally glorious—the one, the embo diment of pure and undefiled religion; the other, the highest development of the largest liberty which may consist with peace and good morals. Ecclesiastical Rev. G. VAN ARTsDAL-EN'having declined the call of the church of Union, Lancaster county, Pa., at the late meeting of the Presbytery of Donegal, the church has again renewed their call for his services. Rev. JOHN B. GRAHAM . was inssalle.d at Mor ristown, Ohio, by the Presbytery of St. Clairsville, on the 16th June. Rev. JONATHAN EDwAnns,' D.D., ; Presi dent of Hanover College, Ind., has been called to West Arch street church; Phila delphia. Rev. MR. WADSWORTH. Philadelphia, is in vited to take pastoral charge of the Cen tral church, Baltimore. Rev. ALFRED NLVIN, D.D. Lancaster, Pa., is called to Lewisburg, ; Pa. Rev. ALEXANDER REF; late of Allegheny Seminary, has ,been ;called to Detorara church,-Pa. Eastern Summary. BOSTON AND NEW ENGLAND BISHOP EASTBITRX, of MaSSaChUSttt.9, well known, is moderate as to his views nature, claims, and authority of the A correspondent of the New York C l / 4 r,i,„:„ has undertaken the task of showing the fects of the peculiar views of the BiEbnp, latter only claims to be bishop of the Epi c Bans of that State, not pretending to any „,:, ual authority over other denominatio ns , the correspondent of the Churchman thinly altogether wrong, and that the Bishop altou:;. allow himself to be put " on the same level g , that of the Wesleyan functionary of the !„, name." To this cause he attributes the e. progress of the Episcopacy in the Bay A more ridiculous. claim cannot be well irn than that put forth, in this affair, by the C7,- man's correspondent. The GENERAI. ASSOCIATION OF MASSAen t ,.. assembled in Belchertown on the afternoon June 23. The Alum Ar. SERMON before the 11 tassachm1- . Home Missionary Society, was preached by Rev. Dr. Cleveland, from 1. Cor. ii : 4. i ; , sentiment deduced from this text was—the of the Home Missionary's preaching a.? dopendev the moral culture of the heart. Among the featn% connected with this Association, is one that mi,: be incorporated in other ecclesiastical k ir , with great profit. There is a person denominr.. " Statistical Secretary," whose business it gather up and arrange all the facts worth ]cart,„ ing or preserving, connected with the deaou.,, tion, or bearing on the general interest nf :) ligion, in the State, and to report at every Da,, ing of the General Association. In this vr..7: 1 valuable information is collected and preserv. concerning the churches and ministers, sch, colleges, and seminaries, the wants of the pn (ii : and the progress of the Gospel, from ye,,, year. The present Secretary of this departr.,-. 1 - is the Rev. Mr. Quint; and he seems tr , . performed his duties, for the last year, great diligence. His report only extends to L end of 1856, and we give its principal facts: During - the year 1856, our churches only stantially held their own. On the Ist of Jaen:- last, there were 472 churches in connexion this Body. Of this number, all but four made report, for which I desire to thank they;_:. ity of the District Association Scribes. , churches report a membership of 67,122, of 20,916 are males. Of this number, 10,284 art that unscriptural and hurtful class of d‘ weights—absentees. Daring the year, 1,847 sons united with our churches, by professi.,a faith ; to replace 1,170 who have gone from e.r. and, as -we trust. to the presence of that Ited€F-_. er, whom on earth they loved. In the same tin: 1,617 united by letter against 1,812, who dismissed.; and 155 cut off from our fellea - Air 796 adults have been baptized, and 1,369 chihk: A comparison with the preceding year wo,a_ show that our churches have made a slight g 1: but it is sad to know that the number of pr..f sions were thirty three per cent. less than in preceding year. The Infant Baptisms are slightly increased. During the year now ended, four cher:t haw) been organized. There are now 475 chute, of our faith and order in Massachusetts, (irte.r ing some not connected with this Body,) membership of 68,373, and 70,000 children re gathered into their Sabbath Schools ; 72 eloirele are vacant, and 61 more have stated supp!,i, while 146 ministers are in other or no purit':i, or laid aside by age. Since the first of last January, proofa. revivals have been enjoyed by many of the churches, so that there is reason to hope tin. the report for 1857 will be of a much more into able character. Many of the churches have "v.: greatly weakened by deaths, by removals to %- West, and by the absence of the outpouring the Holy Spirit. The present POPDTATION or ISIASSACHUSEM about 1,100,000. The REPORT OF TEE COMMITTEE, consisting President Pierce, Lords Agassiz, and others, examine as to the truth of the professed comm.:- nications by means of spirits, as pretended , . modern Spiritualism; is altogether averse to it , truth. While, at the same time, the COMMitY say, "that any connexion with the spiritualk. circles, so called, corrupts the morals, and d , grades the intellect." The Rev. GEORGE B. TDB, D. D., (Baptist,) In been appointed to the Professorship of Bib Theology, in the Fairmount Theological Semiw ry, Ohio. PrOfeSSOrS RIPLZY and ARNOLD have resign:: their Professorships in Newton Theological I:- statute. The CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, of Northanr, ton, has had before it twenty-nine different cle:. gymen since Dr. Cleveland left, in 1835, :ever teen of whom Were invited by the committee candidates Air the place. NEW YORK The decision of the Corral. OF APPEALS has length been given, with respect to the CODS.tit , :• tionality of the New Police law, and the law , sustained by six of the eight Judges. Map: Wood has dismissed his police, and submitted the decision. These men were greatly astoniiho when the order was read to them, and manye. l : plained bitterly that they had been desertel the Mayor. Whenever men allow themseirE s N be made the dupes of demagogues and design::: men, they may expect to be deserted by the yr men in whose favor they had committed IV selves. Demagogues are unable to manifeez power of gratitude even, in behalf of those v have risked all for them. We have another instance of the same kind the case of the followers of General Walker.: Central America. The invaders have beec' feated. But how different; the conditions of lea: 7 and followers! He lodges in the magnificentl . • tels and fares sumptuously every day ; they turn in rags, sick, diseased, and hopeless. Of: returned= Filibusters, in the Wabash, 50 taken at at once to the hospital! The EVIDENCE AND ARGUMENTS in the sprai' tion of Mrs. Cunningham, for letters of whaw tration on the estate of Dr. Burdell, have closed; bat it is not probable that the opinlet , the Surrogate will be given for some weeks. The Axstrar. COMMENCEMENT of the Unicer , i: of New York, took place at Niblo's on }Perin , theist inst. ' Fourteen young men receive ) 1 :•• degree of. A. B. On the same evening, five young ladies ri oted at the Brooklyn Heights Seminary. On the following" day`, the eighteenth Aur:. Commencement of Rutger's Female Institute I" , ' held in the Rutger 'el street church, (Dr. Nie l- The Rev. Dr. Krebs presided, and offered prqe On the same day Columbia College sent , thirty graduates. , : Plattber of MORMONS in New Tors: s-' Tioii 3 ity - ;isestimated at 500. Vigorous atwao, * are made toward proselytism in the s tijoini , = : parts of.Connectiout. The HOD. GEORGE BANCROFT is Mid to barer; alized some $50,000 from the sales of his die of the "United States. Great complaints have been for some time concerning the ADULTERATION OF Licmons, and the most fatal effects which resulted. But we were not prepared to see an exhibit as the following, wh i c h we take fr" the Scalpel, for June, concerning the manufacv . '' of Champagne, in a single city. In no other' s " , can, the comparatively small importation, - Wines be made to agree with the immense 0 . 121 , titles now used. Surely it is time for tb Err': friends of temperance to arouse themselves , ,hasten to rescue the fallen, and save the templ e " : At the present time, in this city, there Sr