Narattr Nblicatt,
PITTSBURGH, JULY 25, 1857.
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DIRECT. all Litters and boiturrunleatiorus
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THE PRINCETON REVIE*, for July 1857,
has reached us, but not in time to examine
its articles. The contents, as presented in
the table, are, I. Moral Insanity; 11. New
Edition of Horne's Introduction to the Sdrip
tures ; 111. The Historical Epoch of Abra
ham ; IV. The Scope and Plan of the
Book of Ecclesiastes ; V. The General As
sembly of 1857; VI. The action of our
Church Courts in Judicial Cases ; VII.
The American Bible Society and its New
Standard Edition of the English Version.
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
some years back these occasions have been
times of great interest; and we hope that
an enlightened Christian public will find
there,this year, the usual entertainment.
Alumni meeting.
The Alumni and old members of the
Washington Literary. Society of Lafayette
College, are earnestly requested to confer
with the Society on business of importance,
in their Hall,• at 2 o'clock P. M., on the
Tuesday (July 28th) preceding the annual
Commencement of: the College.
E. W HATES,
J. W. CLINE, . COM
FRANK D. HETRICH,.
Appointment and Resignation.
Rev. Joseph Warren, D. D., has been
unanimously appointed an agent for the en
dowment of the Presbyterian Theological
Seminary of the North-West, and has deci
ded to accept. He has a large experience
and highly cultivated and well stored mind.
We have no doubt but that he is well fitted
also for the, practical work of an agency,
having superior gifts for the pulpit and for
the social circle.: Greensburg will be
again vacant. Dr. Warren's labors have
'been deservedly popular in that church.
We hope that they may be as well supplied
again.—Pres. of the West.
The Little Tin Pails.
The article under this head, which we
place on our fourth page, corresponds so en
tirely with our own feelings, that we rejoice
in the opportunity of giving it to our read
ers. It speaks of industry, contentment,
thrift, and domestic joys. Our Lady friends
will see the prppriety of our dedicating it to
them. They have more to do in all that
concerns the men's conduct and character,
as well 1113 their happiness, than nine tenths
of the sex areaware of. A sweet, pleasant
home, makes an industrious, cheerful, and
attentive husband.
Change of Place—Unanimity and the
Reverse.
A Card has been issued by six leading
members of the New School Church South
changing the place of the August Conven
tion, from Washington, D. C., to ,Rion
mom), VA. This they say is at the desire
of their ministerial brethren in Washington,
and for local reasons which they deem'satis
factory. And they add "To avoid mis
apprehension, it is proper to, state that we
have the assurance that the brethren in
Washington are 'unanimous in the send
ment to remain in their integrity as a Pres
bytery, and as members of the Synod of
Virginia, .and to have no connexion with
the (General'Assembly which lately met at
Cleveland , ! "
'The Winchester Presbytery have met and
approved of the doings, thus far, and .ap
.pointed Dr. Boyd and 3. Randolph Tucker,
Esq., their Commissioners to the Richmond
Convention. They also say, foretokening
the course they will pursue : "There is no
existing Presbyterian denominatiOn with,
it would be desirable for us to unite.
Those, having a large membership in the
North cannot but be liable to the agitations
from which we would escape. And besides,
we, as constitutional Presbyterians, have a
Work to do which we dare not forsake before
any thing less than insuperable obstacles."
The. Observer speaks of a great unanimi
ty, South. The American 'Presbyterian
thinks that many; South, will go very re
liiietantly into a new organization, and some
will not go at all. It says : "We learn,
on good authority, that the call for a Con
vention to organize a New Assembly, does
not meet with an unanimous response even
from ministers residing in the extreme
South: - One writes: 4 I am for its meeting
and making overt u res to the Old School.
I am totally opposed to the formation of
another Aisernbly,' &c., &c. Another says
1 am in favor of a Convention for united
'COnsultation,but am opposed to the proposed
organization of a New Assembly,' &c.
And more than one regard the proposition
for National (?) Church' as absurd."
The Presbyterian Witness, the New
School paper , published in Tennessee, says:
"A large majority of our Presbyteries
(Southern) will never again acknowledge
this present General Assembly—that is
clear; and unlesiour churches act together
•
in the proposed;COnvention at Washington,
our denomination in the South will be bro
ken into fragments—some 'will go to thcr
Old School, •some. to the °timberlands, and
others to Independency."
Spiritualism.
The desire to penetrate the invisible world,
explore its mysteries, and reveal sits wonders,
seems to have existed from an early peri
od, wherever men thought and felt about the
origin and end of all things. This desire
does not seem to have sprung, in all cases,
merely from the wish to receive and commu
nicate knowledge, but in many instances
from the power and respect that would
necessarily result to those in possession of
such gift, or the purposes to which it might
be applied for personal advancement or na
tional aggrandizement. Devout and mis
guided enthusiasts, and men having far
reaching and ambitious
, designs, could easily
perceive, that howevermen might be opposed
to the Deity in heart and life, utterances be
lieved to come from him could not fail to
fill them with apprehension and dread, if
disobeyed or disrega:rded. And God him
self, in infinite kindness and love, did make
known his will to men in various ways,
through means selected by himself, and dur
ing the course of long ages, until his whole
will, so far as was necessary that it should
be communicated to men, was revealed. This
revelation was abundantly confirmed "by
many infallible proofs ;" and all the unbelia
of men, all the hatred of Satan, and all the
activity of his many and various agencies,
have "not been able to"; shake the structure.
The rain has descended, the floods have
come, and the winds have blown, but the
house has not fallen, for it is founded up
on a Rock, and that rock is Christ
But owing to the depravity of the human
heart and, the perfersity of the human mind,
if there were true prophets, there were also
false; if these revelations were given, there -
were likewise false revelations made use of
by the visionary or. designing. Even in
Scripture we read of these pretended medi
ums, or revelators. We - read of those who
had familiar spirits, of soothsayers, and of
such as Simon, the Sorcerer. Indeed, the
Governments of ancient nations depended
for authority, and even existence, more upon
pretended revelations of the Divine will than
is generally admitted. The Assyrians, Egyp
tians, Greeks, and Romans, had their augurs
and oracles, which were regarded with the
greatest reverence, not only by the common
people, but also by scholars, warriors, and
statesmen. And after the Lord ceased' to
make known his will by direct revelation to
the early Christian Church, many arose,
from time to time, who professed themselves
in possession of the Divine afflatus. The
same claim was set up by some of the lead
ers of the Anabaptists; and even at a period
not far from our own times, the great and
ardent, but erratic Edward Irving advocated
the seeking, and taught the possibility c,f ob
taining the prophetical and miraculous pow
ers possessed by prophets and apostles in
former days.
In the 18th century appeared Emanuel
Swedenborg, who declared that he saw spir
its; that; he lived in theM; that thc myste
ries of the invisible world were unfolded
before him : and who gave -utterance to rev
elations and teachings, filling numerous vol
umes. These are widely distributed, and
are read by many. He has his followers in
Eur Ope and America; and even in our own
city, famed for the, correct doctrinal senti
ments of its Protestant Churches, clergy and
people, there is a regularly organized eon-
gregation of the followers of the Swedish
'Seer, some of whom were, at one time,
meMbers of orthodox and Evangelical
Churches, but now they have "erred from
the faith," and will discover at last that they
"have pierced themselves through with
many sorrows."
In times following Swedenborg, came the
doctrines of Mesmer, teaching important dis
coveries in human 'relations through the cir
culation of the nervous fluid and peculiarity
of organization. But while the general con
dition of mankind is advancing; . while great
changes for the better are taking place in
the physical, intellectual, and moral state of
men, there seems to be no cessation of the
vagaries of the human mind. Deceivers
and their dupes are still to be found. And
the more extraordinary •the deception; the
greater the absurdity, and the more contrary
to Divine revelation, reason, and common
sense, so much the more readily is it em
braced, and so much the more zealously is
it defended by many. For those who most
sturdily and sneeringly reject well-established
truth, are 'the ones who most quickly receive
and promulgate the merest hypothesis, or
the most destructive errors. Because the
state of mind, credulous to the greatest pos
sible extent, is almost identical with'the state
of mind that tolerates the baldest skepticism,
or rejects all beliefs.
The latest phase of credulity, accompanied'
with the rankestinfldelity on the part of many
of its adherents, Appropriates to itself the name
of Spiritualism: It professes to have in
tercourse with the invisible world, but prin
cipally with the spirits of the departed—to
know their state, and, to receive communica
tions from them. The origin of this heresy,
at least in modern times, only dates a few
years back. There was one Andrew Jackson
Davis, a shoemaker by trade, we believe, and
of very limited education, professed to have
received, suddenly, a wonderful mental
enlargement and elevation, whereby he was
able to read several languages he had never
studied—to discuss topics,of which he had
previously been altogether ignorant, and to
pry into mysteries beyond the region of
sense, and even far beyond the ordinary re
searches of reason; or the loftiest flights of
imagination. For a time he was the subject
of frequent discusaion by 'newspapers, and in
the social circle. But very little examina
tion was necessary to make apparent his su
perficial learning, his incapacity to reason,
and the general absurdity of all his preten
sions.
Davis was sueceded by the noted - Fox
girls, of Rochester, New York, whose method
of communication with spirits, was by spirit
rapping, spirit,writing, - and table-turning,
themselves, being the mediums: = Notiith
standing the utter ivant of proof that the spir
THE PRESBYTERIAN BANNER AND ADVOCATE.
its of the departed were permitted to com
municate with earth at all, and the improb
ability that if they did so, any such silly
means would be employed; notwithstanding
the utter worthlessness of every pretended
message received from the most gifted of
earth who had entered the spirit land, spirit
rapping, spririt-writing, and table-turning,
quickly became subjects of the greatest at
tention. Men talked of them; mediums were
found in- many, places; the Matter is dis
cussed in learned societies, and by the pub
lic journals, while believers in the delusion
are numbered by thousands. Soon they
have their places of assemblage, as a religious
sect; their forms of worship, their public
teachers, their newspapers, and a literature
of their own. Visionary men, men of no
settled religious convictions, confirmed skep
tics; men anxious for any thing rather than
submit to the Gospel; the ignorant and the
feeble minded, compose the greater part of
the votaries. But among these are some, of
whom better things might have been expect
ed ; shrewd men of the world; lawyers,
judges ; the man of science; the Divine; the
reputable member of the Church, and the
eons and daughters of pious elders. In all
of our large cities, and in many of our towns,
members of this sect can.be found; but their
principal seats of operation are New York and
Boston.
The " Spiritualists" are already divided
into two parties. One party professes to be
lieve in Revelation as contained in the Holy
Scriptures, and says that the " manifesta
tions" they receive from the land of spirits
only tend to strengthen their faith in Christ,
and to increase their love for the Bible. The
ether party rejects, altogether the Old and
New. Testaments, and declares that " Spirit
ualism" is a substitute for Christianity—its
higher development. This party speaks of
the Lord Jesus Christ only as a powerful and
well•developed medium. The " Christian
Spiritualist" is' the organ of the former
party, and one Mr.' Harris, who seems to. be
a sincere man, and honest in his convictions
—however mistaken—is its principal ad
vocate. In his addresses he professes
much love to Jesus Christ, faith in his Di
vinity and mission, and does not attack the
truths of the Bible ; nevertheless, at times,
he indulges in ranting and unmeaning rhap
sodies. The " Telegraph," a weekly paper,
is the organ of the other party, and such men
as Ambler; Davis, and Fishbough, are its
exponents.' At its meetings the pulpit is
abused, Christianity is falsely interpreted
and miserably caricatured; and the most
sacred things-are made the objects of wicked
jeers and contemptuous sneers. Here Athe
ists, Infidels, and blasphemers of every shade
of opinion and every degree of character,
find a genial home, and are at liberty to ex
press sentiments most abhorrent to truth and
righteousness. This party is greatly the
largest:' indeed the other, however respects
ble in the standing of its members, is rapidly
losing ground. The effects of the whole sys
tem have been most destructive in unsettling
religious convictions; in countenancing the
rankest infidelity; in destroying moral dis
tinctions; in dethroning reason, and in its
general consequences as exhibited in the life,
conduct, and opinions of its devotees. No
longer is any pace left for the Bible; for
repentance toward God and faith ~in the
Lord Jesus °Mist; for the work of the Holy
Spirit in regeneration and sanctification; for
appeals to Conscience and reason, or for the
culture of the graces and the cherishing of
the expectations of the enlightened Chris
tian heart::'
As for the pretended conversions from
skepticism to faith, and from Materialism to
a belief in the existence of spirit, but, little
evidence of their reality has been given. In
such cases, the most that has been done, is
to pass from one delusion to another.' What
Must be the elfectnf any'system that places
Paul and Seneca, Calvin and Hobbes, Wes
ley and Paine, in the same condition in the
invisible world, and that attaches equal im
portance to the utterances of each ? What
value is there in all the communications re
ceived, professedly, from the spirits of Ba
con, Locke, Washington, Webster, Calhoun,
and Clay ? Are they not the most trivial in
anities, such as were never expressed by their
pretended authors while in the flesh ? And
their whole literature is indistinct, meaning
less, and filled with the greatest crudities
and absurdities. Instances of loss of reason
on account of the attention given to "spirit
ual manifestations," have been common for
years, and are occurring continually. Sui
cides from the false views of morality and
the future state, generated by the same cause,
have not been unfrequent.
Nor is the belief in " Spiritualism" con
fined to this country. A certain man named.
Bort, has lately founded a religion in Geneva,
denominated the religion of " Speaking Ta
bles." Many have attached themselves to
the new doctrine. They assemble around
a table, where spirits of the highest order
speak to them by this table and the mouth
of their minister. Among these spirits are
the "Angel David," the "Angel oriel,'_
the "Angel Gabriel," the "Angel Luther,"
and the " Angel Michael." Nor does the'
blasphemy stop here, for our Lord himself is
often introduced among the spirits, making
known the Divine will. Already two vol
umes of these revelations have been given,
styled, "Divers and• Mysterious Revelations,
or Comunications between Heaven and Earth,
through the medium of a Table; Lausanne,
1854."
Not long since, the proprietors of one of
the Boston dailies offered a, reward of five
hundred dollars to any mediums that would
give " spiritual manifestations," such as
would satisfy a committee, of which Presi
dent Pierce, of Harvard University, and the
celebrated Naturalist, Louis Agassiz, were
members. This offer was made in conse
quence of a discussion that arose concerning
the expulsion, of. a Divinity student from
Harvard, for his belief in "spiritual rapping,"
and his attendance upon " Circles" and
" Mediums." The offer was accepted, and
week before last about a dozen mediums, in
eluding the notorious Fox girls, predented
themselves before the committee of Savans,
in a parlor, in Boston. Of success in satis
fying the committee, they seemed confident.
But the tables would not move, nor would the
pens write, nor were the raps heard, except
such as came froth the vicinity of the " medi
ums " themselves, and of which.no explana
tion could be given by them. The three
days allotted for the experiment, passed
without any of the pretended phenomena
occuring. Mid the committee has reported
against the truth and pretension of the whole
System. The committee has even gone far
ther, and declared its belief that attendance
upon these "Spiritualiatic Circles" has an un
favorable effect upon the mental powers, and
that it has a demoralizing tendency in a high
degree.
How long and to what extent this system
may continue to prevail, it is difficult to de
termine. No doubt some who have been de
ceived and led estray, will forsake it and re
turn to their forn3er modes of belief. The
skeptical and indifferent on the whole sub
ject of religion, who have for the time adopted
the new tenets, will become more skeptical
and indifferent—more inaccessible to the
truth. While others will be ready to seize
any new form of error; however wanting con
firmation, unreasonable, or destructive "to the
best interests of humanity, now and here
after.
Sound Biblical instruction, in families
where parental conduct corresponds'with the
truth taught, and in churches where pastors,
elders, and people let their light shine purely
and brilliantly before men, is a sure safe
guard against the destructive wiles of these,
and all other seducing spirits."
The New School South--Wonld their Ac
cession to the Old. School be Desirable?
The agitation of this question, just now,
seems to be rather delicate, unless it be to
extend an invitation; and almost out of place,
unless with the view, of avoiding a thmatened
evil. We would not venture to speak of it
at all, but that we see it often in our ex
changes as a matter of speculative discussion,
on both sides; and in such a way as to inti
mate that it may, very soon, become a practi
cal question. Now, it may be examined on
principle. And, happily, our Church has
an open door—a door which we would not
close against our,brethren before they shall
essay.to enter it ; and which, also, we would
not open any wider than the position it has
occupied ever since the Assembly of 1842,
however ardently we might be importuned.
Our Church papers have all had something
to say on the subject. The St. Louis Pres
byterian, and the Presbyterian. Herald, if
we understand it right, are rather opposed
to a union. The Southern Presbyterian
does not desire it. The Central Presbyte:
rian favors it very strongly. It professes
not to invite to our connexion those who are
arranging to leave their own body, but it
presents many powerful inducements by
which they might be influenced to such a
course. The question is one of vast import
ance to both them and us. It is worthy our
mutual, calm, and deep consideration; with
entire freedom, candor and courtesy. And
we feel the more disposed to present our views,
as they vary somewhat from those of our con
temporary at Richmond.
It is manifest that those only should at
tempt to walk together who are of one mind.
There should be cordial agreement in doc
trinal views ,and in the ends at which parties
aim by an ecclesiastical organization, and
also in the social means by which those ends
shall be attained: Unless there be sponta
neous concord—a concord unfeigned• and
unconstrained in these things, and that de
scending considerably down toward minutiae,
they had better be, ecclesiastically, separate.
Now, is there such concord between the par- ,
ties here contemplated? We fear that there
is not. The utterance of our thoughts, how
ever, may lead to the dissipating of our fears.
If discussion shall bring out the evidence
that our brethren and we are so much of one
heart and one mind, that we can dwell
together in unity, the path of duty may then
be open both to them and us. But if the
discussion shall still leave ground for reason
able doubt, it would be best for us to abide
even as we are.
1. There is a doctrinal difficulty. It ex
ists with only a portion of the New School,
but probably a large portion; and if so, it
would utterly prevent our pleasant associa
tion in the same Ecclesiastical body. We
mean not to discuss it, but to state it; and
that because we have already seen it stated
several times by them. .7 7 114,y diferfromus
on the subjects of the ATONEMENT, and of Iin
iTITATPON. These are vital doctrines. How
extended the difference may be, we cannot
tell; but a difference is unquestionable. If
it be really in sentiment, it would destroy
our peace and injure our efficiency. If it
be only a difference in the use of wordi and
the meaning of terms, it still might make
our Church a 4 g Babel"—a confusion—and
necessitate a speedy dispersion. This is a
matter on which we know that some of the
New School feel intensely—so much, it
seems to us, as to preclude a calm investiga
tion; and it forms a bar of separation which
it is impossible for Old School Presbyterians
to remove. The attempt to break it down
would be resisted uncompromisingly. There
are New School men, both North and South,
whom we could receive most cordially, and
who would find themselves most delightfully
at home in our midst; but there are others,
in each section, whom we could not willingly
receive, and who, if they were among us,
would annoy and be annoyed. Their pres
ence would be a powerfully disturbing ele
ment. We well remember the scenes of 1830
up to 1837, and would deprecate every ten
dency to their renewal. These brethren
may be much the better men. We judge
them not. But still, with the variant sen
timents to which we allude, they and we
`will be far more happy, and do, greatly more
for Zion, by abiding each in his present
companionship.
2. Thp great principle of a new organiza
tion, which the diEeentient, or "excinded"
Near - School men lay-down as a bas4—and
which they would imply most emphatically,
if not pointedly express it, in uniting with
us—is one which is not in God's Word, and
which is adverse to Protestantism, and spe
cifically alien from Presbyterianism. It is,.
that a certain great moral and social subject •
shall not be In-ought into the • Assembly for
consideration, nor in any wise - discussed.
Presbyterians of the true stamp could never
thus bind themselves, nor be bound. Moses
disc:us - See:Servitude and bondage: Paul dis
*cusses servitude and bondage. The Saviour
'apeaksOf masters and servants, and of What . .
1 the relation implies. The Moral Law, brief
I as - is that - summary of duties and rights,
speaks, in both its tables, (the Fourth Com
mandment and the Tenth,) of menservants
and maid-Servants. 'The Gospel, with all its
maintenance of human rights audits amelio
rating loire and heavenly sweetness, speaks of
this earthly relation. Now, to pledge the
the Church, either expressly or by implica-.
tion, never to discuss- a subject which - the
Spirit of ,God saw proper to speak of, and
iterate, and reiterate, under both dispensa
dons of mercy; which was in the Church
and under Divine regulation from Abraham
till the days of the Apostles; which the
providence of God has been concerned with
ever since the family of Noah was multiplied;
a subject which Gospel truth is made to-bear
upon directly, and which - affeets the, well
being, temporal and spiritual, of millions of
nur taw beings whom God has sentamonget
us—to pledge the Presbyterian ,Church, in
her;Supreme Judicatory, against all consid
eration.,of such a subject, would be a limi
tation' of her rights and a hinderance to the
diScharge of the work entrusted to her,
which should never have been thought of,
and which she never could Jolerate. No :
she must abide free—free as God has made
her—to consider all subjects on which he
has given her instructions, and to discharge
all, duties. which he has laid upon her as ob
ligatory. •
The - subject of Slavery she discussed freely
in 1818, and then .delivered i.herself wisely.
The paper of that date is worthy of her. In
1845 she again .deliberated upon the subject,
in new aspects then , presented, and solemnly
and Obediently to the Divine teachings, de
clare.d her principlesand prescribed the path
of duty. And possibly, ere another genera,
-tionTasses, those upon the stage of action
may feel that • new events call for renewed
discussiona. We would desire. that no such
necessity may occur in our day. Things are
Well arranged. - We-are pleased with their
position. We would reluctantly disturb
them. But still we are unwilling to pledge
ourselves to silence. We greatly prefer that
our brethren, whoever, ifany, may choose
to .come.to -us, shall have entire confidence in
our prudence, and good judgment, and fra
ternal kindness, and devotion to that which
is the' appropriate' work of the. Christian
ministry, as-..taught and. exemplified by
Christ and his Apostles.. - Questiows • which
do gender strVes we would aubid, with deep
solicitude.
3. The extreme pro-slaver,y views put
forth by Dr. Ross, and the Presbytery of
Lexington South, and a few others, argue
no happy results, to flow from their uni
ting with Old School Presbyterians. Their
sentiments find no favorable response in the
minds of the great body, if of any, of our
people, whether ministers or laity. The ut
terance of them in our Assembly, would
cause great pain, and could not be tolerated
with silence. And the publishing of them,
as from members of our Church, would be
exceedingly unpleasant and injurious. There
would be sorrow, replies, overtures, strifes,
alienations, separations, and possibly divi:
sion. The peaceful meetings of our Assem
blies would henceforth be among the things
gone by. Fanatics would obtain a weapon
of power against us, greatly to our damage.
The result we would be unwilling to predict.
That there is a very ardent desire to di
vide the Presbyterian Church entirely, is
most manifest. Extremists on both sides
desire it. Both parties had a lodgment
in the New School body; and they worked
in conjunction to this end, and are likely
to be successful. In the Old School Church
such are, as yet, but few in number. May
it be ever so. But there are men, out
.siders " though they be, who have their
deep designs upon us. May. the Lord frus
trate all evil counsels.
The New School South we regard as
abundantly able to provide for themselves;
and if the sentiments we have expressed
are well founded, it would be no charity in
us to invite them to our domicil. If, how
ever; any of them would prefer to unite
with us, we desire them to do so, they agree
ing with us heartily. We would have them
not harbor the remotest thought of reform
ing our doctrinal system ; or of amending
our exegesis; or of changing our Theologi
cal vocabulary; or of introducing the ele
ments of strife; or of bringing fetters to bind
us. Any who believe with us, and speak
with us, and feel with us, and approve of
our principles and conduct, and can act
with us from their inmost soul, know that
there is for them an open door, and a most
cordial welcome. Thus far a junction would
be beneficial; but, as regards the body, we
would anticipate much more of harmony
and efficiency of action, both on `their part
and ours, by their completing an Ecclesias
tical organization according to the , desire of
the Protesters at Cleveland. Dissentients
then would not be compelled to meet to
gether. Only those who could agree en
tirely, would be in the same connexion.
There would then be; 44 The Presbyterian
Church in the United States of America,"
on the true, broad and deep foundation of
the Prophets and Apostles, with Jesus Christ
as the chief corner stone, ready, willing,
and adapted to preach the Gospel to every
creature—every where, and to all conditions
of men—in, the North and the South, to the
bond and the free—and to embrace within
her bosom and nurture for immortality, the
rich and the poor, the ruler and the su'bjeot,
the master and his servant—a Church con
servative of the.whole of the ten command
ments, and of the; golden rule, and of all
Gospel principles; a Church devoted to the
spiritual and eternal well-being of men, as
her great high calling under her glorious
Lord, and after his pattern and that of his
Apostles. And there would be also the
'Preabiterian Church North, and the Pres
byterian Church South, affording homes of
peace and fields of usefulness (though in a
less degree, but still, fields of usefulness for
the time,) to all such as embrace our system
in the main, but who feel it to be their
right and duty to commingle nature's philos
ophy; abstract questions, politics, human
laws, State arrangements, and other tempo
ralitieS, with their clerical and Eccletiastical
affairs.
It should be a matter of earnest prayer to
God, by all who have access to his gracious
throne, and an interest there, that he would
guide his Churches to wise conclusions.
He manages the affairs of his kingdom.
He can bring good out of evil. Importu
nate supplication is, at this juncture, the
leading duty.
Union xviththeAlitkiate v ßeformed Synod
of thksSO#ll.
The arrangementisterAe consummation
of a Union between thesi:"Geneml Assembly
and the Associate Reformed Synod of the
South, progresses but slowly. We cannot
find that, either party has yet definitely pro
posed a basis. The papers of our Church,
however, have mostly given the opinion,
that as the main differencei-is in regard to
Psalmody, there is, on - orir part, no hinder
ance—that it being &principle with us, that
churches which preferthe use of Rouse's
version can exercise their_; iberty without
offence, our brethren eari,:'cOme into our
body without restriction.' It would seem,
however, that they are not willing to accord
to us the freedom we would accord to them.
They would deprive us of a portion of
our liberties. The basis of Union must be
a new version of the Book of Psalms, as
the Book of Praise for all the churches.
This is not authoritatively proposed; but it
is laid down in the Due West Telescope,
which is their organ. That paper, speaking
of the views presented in our Journals, says :
" A new version of the Psalms made to
form the basis of the book of Praise is the
only practicable union ground. And if our
Assembly brethren are not willing to give
up Watts for another and more literal ver
sion, we hope their Committee will say so
promptly.
" We said, on a former occasion, that the
plan proposed by our brethren would tend,
as we thought, to confusion and disorder.
We have another objection to it. The As
sociate Reformed Church has been all along
contending for a principle. She has be
lieved that the only authorised Psalmody
was that given by Inspiration. She still
believes that. She has felt constrained to
maintain a separate existence, not only that
she might enjoy her liberty in this matter,
but that she might hold up her testimony
before the world on the subject.
" To accept the terms of Union proposed,
would at once silence her voice, so far- as
testimony bearing is concerned. And very
FOOD her light would go out. Though al
lowed to use Rouse or any other version of
the Psalms, our churches would soon be
compelled to give way under the powerful
influences that would be brought to bear
upon them. The next generation in our
own families would scarcely know,that the
.Scripture Psalms were the only songs used
in the praise of God by their fathers,"
The Telescope, in this, doubtless speaks
the general , sentiment of the people among
whom, it circulates. Such being the,case,
all thoughts of a Union may be indefinitely
postponed. We have a very great fondness
for some portions of the Old Version of the
Psalms of. David, and we would rejoice
greatly to see a new version, still vastly stt
perior—rsally a version, and not a para
phrase. But we could not bind ourselves
to exelude from our "Book of Praise," all
that the Holy Ghost has taught by the
mouth of other prophets, and all the fin-
ished work of redemption, and all the great
and precious promises of the New Testa
ment, and all the sublime hopes and joyous
experiences of God's children, as taught by
Jesus and his Apostles. And in this we
think that we utter the common feeling in
the Presbyterian Church.
Hence the Union between us and our
brethren musi continue to be a union in
faith and love, while we meet, as heretofore,
in different Ecclesiastical councils ) and Sep
arately labor in our 'Master's vineyard.
Missionary Contributions in the Western
Field.
Last year there was a great falling off in
the contributions of the Western churches
to sustain the work of Domestic Missions,
and a great demand for increased appropri
ation. A necessity hence arose for the
Western Executive Committee to draw
largely on the Eastern treasury. We are
sorry to learn that a similar process has com
menced, with the current year. To miti
gate the difficulty thence arising, and to
urge the churches to a prompt discharge of
their duty, the Committee have issued a
Circular. In that document they say;
" Since the first of March, the beginning
of the present fiscal year of the Board, our
Treasurer, Andrew Davidson, reports the
receipt of only about Five 'Thousand Dol
lars, into the Treasury; whilst there have
been paid out to the Missionaries, under our
care, in the same time, about Ten:Tikusand
Seven Hundred and Fifty Doilit)*-- To
meet this great deficiency in (cur . l . eepipts,
we have been compelled to draw, 'upon. the
Eastern Treasury, In a letter, received a
few days since, from Dr. Musgrave, Corres
ponding Secretary, Philadelphia, he says:
I am sorry to tell you that our funds are
running very low. We are now about Eight
Thousand Dollars worse off than we were
this time last year. Unless your Committee
can collect more money, we shall soon be in
trouble. I begin to feel very anxious about
the future.' The General Assembly has
forbidden the use of paid Agents for the col
leotion of funds from the churches; all,
therefore, that our Committee can do to in
crease our funds, is to lay our wants before
the churches, and leave their Pastors and
Sessions to act in view of them, as their
own judgments and hearth' may dictate. If
they do not send in their contributions vot
untarity, the only, alte'rnative left us, is to
curtail our expenditures, by refusing to
grant further commissions."
And they add • - '
"We find that in the Synoda l under the
care of our Committee, there were reputed
last year, one thousand and sixty. s.eveo
churches. Of this number, the name s „ f
only four hundred and ninety are liven, in
the table appended to the Annual Report r j f
the Board presented to the Assembly at
Lexington, as having paid any thi ng i nto the
Treasury, during the twelve months en di o ,
on the first of March last. This leav es fi,,7,
hundred and seventy-seven, or mo re t h an
one-half of the churches in our field, whi c h
paid nothing into the Treasury during th e
year."
Surely, such things ought not to be. E.
ery church, as seems to us, rich or po c ,,
should give something to this branch of OUr
Redeemer's cause. Since Christ caused to
be put on record, for all ages, his approba.
Lion of the poor widow's two mites, whi c h
was all her living, appropriated to a s.a 7re i
service, we cannot think that he will b o la
as innocent even the poorest congreßati m
in the land, which shall decline a gift to hi s
treasury.
Commencement at Jefferson College
The exercises connected with the Com.
mencement at Jefferson College, are as follow :
On Sabbath, August 2d, a sermon will be
preached before the Religious Societies of
the College, by Rev. John Douglas, of Pitts.
burgh. On Tuesday evening, Aug- 4, the
Literary Societies will be addressed by Gov.
Pollock. The Commencement takes place on
Wednesday, Aug. 5; and there will be an ad.
dress, on that day, before the Alumni Associ
ation, by J. B. Penney, Esq., of Pittsburgh.
Ecclesiastical.
Mr. R. T. DBAIKE was ordained by the
Presbytery of Desmoines, and installed
pastor of the church of Desmoines, on
the 14th of June. Rev. P. H. Jacob
preached the sermon and charged the peo
ple ; Rev. J. M. McElroy presided, pro
posed the constitutional questions, and
charged the pastor; and Rev. James
Green offered the ordaining prayer.
MR. JOHN E. WooDs, late of Allegheny
Seminary, has accepted a call to Batons
port, lowa.
Rev. S. C. LOGAN was installed in the
Fifth church, Cincinnati, on the 10th of
July.
Rev. B. M'CuLLotion's Post Office addreE
is changed from Greenville, Darke Cu,
Ohio, to Wheeling, Delaware Co., la.
Rev. JAMES HooE, D. D., pastor of the
First Presbyterian church in Columbus,
on Sunday, June 28th, took leave of his
congregation, in a farewell sermon, after
having been their pastor for nearly fifty
years.
Rev. J. W. MILLER, of the Gray Hill
Seminary, has . been elected President of
Austin College, to fill the vacancy created
by the resignation of Rev. Dr. Baker.
Rev. R. LEWIS MCCUNE has accepted a
call from the church of Camden, Wilcox
County, Alabama, as Stated Supply, at
which place he esires to be addressed.
Mr. Wm. B. CRAIG was ordained on the
lith ult., at Bloomfield, by the Presby
tery of Carlisle, and installed pastor of
the united congregations of Bloomfield
and Petersburg.
Rev. JOHN MONTGOMERY has requested
the Presbytery of Transylvania to dis
solve his pastoral relation with the church
at Harrodsburg, with a view to removing
to Pettis County, Missouri. Presbytery
has been called to meet to consider the
matter.
Rev. P. B. HEROY '
of Bridgeton, ,New Jen
sey, has received a unanimous call to the
Presbyterian church of Bedford, New
York.
EASTERN SUMMARY.
BOSTON AND NEW ENGLAND.
Miss Beecher's "Common Sense Applied
to Religion," does not seem to meet with
much favor among the Orthodox of New
England. That valuable and reliable paper,
the Puritan Recorder, has a very severe
review of this work, in which it is said the
title would have been as truthful, if it had
been, " Beecher's Common Sense contrasted
with the Gospel of Christ." The whole af
fair is .described as - fg an outspoken renuncia
tion of some of thelundamental truths of
Evangelical religion." The editor con
demns, most pointedly; the flippancy with
which she describes her early religious train
ing and quasi conversion; the crudeness of
her maturer views, and her entire want of
frankness in remaining a member of an or•
thodox Church, and passing among orthodos
people as one of them, up to the
present
time, while she declares that she has held
the views contained in this book for a guar
ter of a century, while listening to the
prayers, hymns, and sermons of the Church
of her avowed choice with "feelings of dis•
gust and abhorrence." This book is, on the
whole, feeble, rambling, inconclusive, and
egotistical; and will fail entirely to make
the sensation in the theological world, pre
dieted by the Reviewer in Harper's Map
zine.
The Rev. Dr. Vintan has declined the
office of _Bishop of Texas, to which he was
elected some time ago.
The Annual Commencement of Tror
yard College, was held on Wednesday, the
15th inst. A large audience was Fresco,
and the customary exercises were equal to
those of former occasions. The graduatim:
class was large, and a number of honorary'
degrees were conferred. On the following
day the Triennial Festival of the Aluanii
took place, when addresses were delivered
by the Hon. R. C. Winthrop, Hon. Josiah
Quincy, President King, of Columbia Col
lege, New York; Lord Napier, the British
Minister at Washington, and the Hon. Ed
ward Everett—the orator of the day. The
address of Mr. Everett was one of his happi
est and most finished efforts. A character•
istic original poem was read by Oliver Wen'
dell Holmes, which was received with ec i.
dent delight. Ninety-five candidates have
applied already for admission at the begin'
ning of the next term.
The organ of the Old-Line Uniearianey
ig The Christian Examiner and Religious
Miscellany," continues to furnish new proofs
•
that the sect whieh it represents is wander
ing faTther and farther fram Scripture. The
July number fulty endorses the views of Pr.
Bellows on the Theatre, and theatre-goirig