gannet' null Ahocatt.
PITTSBITE(pI, AUGUST 8,1857.
TERMS.— $1.50, In advance; or in Clubs
I $1..231 or, dellveredne residences of Submit.
bens, 51.75. nee PrOepectue, on Third Page.
RENEWALS should be prompt; a little
vi c hilo ; before the year expires, that 'we stay
selaiifull'ariangemente for a itee.dy supply.
THE RED WRAPPER indicates that we
desire' it renewal. If, however, in the haste
of mailing, this signal should be omitted, we
hope our friends will still not forget us.
REINITTANCES.—Send payment by , ear*
bands. when convenient. Or. mend by mail.
•noloeing with ordinary rare. and troubling
nobody with a knowledge oir - what yen are
doing. For a large amount. wend a Draft. ar
large noise. For owe oriwo papers /I mnd Gold
or small notes.
TO MAAR CILIUNGE, send postago stamps,
or better 141111. *end for wore papers' lay 1111
for Merentyniumalbore, or $1 for Thirty.tbreo
onoktiore.
DIRECT all Lottorr and Comnottuateattotta
to REV. DAVID AIeKINNICY. Pittsburgh.
Pa.
ONE OUT WEST.—The "Explanation,"
in another colutrin is perfeotly satisfactory.
We love*Candor and magnanimity, connected
with ardor, in the advocacy of a great Anse.
MAQUOKETA. (.3Kunco . :—When we were
nearly ready for the press, we received an
additional letter from "J. H. P." gratefully
acknowledging effective aid to the enter
prise, from the Church Extension Committee;
and speaking of that Committee as a very
much needed, and very highly useful branch
of our benevolent operations.
Who Should Enforce the Laws ?
Judges, Aldermen, -Justices of the Peace,
Constables, Police Officers, Grand Jurors,&c.,
are, notwithstanding their solemn official
oaths, wont to say, that they will enforce the
laws,when information is laid, when a proie
outor appears, and evidence is tendered;
bat that on their own sight and hearing,
or on credible public fame, they will not
investigate and execute. This we regard
as a great dereliction of duty, and an
incurring, morally, of the guilt of per
jury. They are bound by their accept
ing of the call to office, to do all that in
them lies, to secure a full and faithful exe
cution of the law; that evil doers may be
be restrained and punished, and that peace
ful and orderly persons may be protected.
This opinion is confirmed by Judge Cap
ron, of New York, who being interrogated,.
says
"As to the question, 'By whom shall
prosecution be made ?' it is my own candid
opinion that it is not the business of private
individuals or associations of men, though it
may be their right to ferret out the guilty,
raise money, fee lawyers, go into courts and
conduct prosecutions, but it is the business
of the officers of State, appointed thereunto,
sworn to be faithful, and responsible in their
neglect. If the Legislature make laws, and
appoint men to attend to their execution,
and they fail in their duty, then the failure
is in the government and not in the law, or
the cause it would support. All public offi
cers should be upheld and encouraged to
the utmost in the discharge of their duty
and held up to the public contempt in its
neglect." -
Home and ?oreign Record.
The Record for August comes to us as
usual, bat owing to the demands upon our
columns, we shall devote to it but a small ex
tent of space.
DOMESTIC MISSIONS
We have here an extract from the annual
report, on church debts. These are very
unpleasant things, and often very injurious.
To some congregations they are really a
painful burthen from which the people
would gladly be relieved ; but, in a Jew
cases, we fear that they are very convenient
excuses. But whether voluntary or invol
untary, they operate badly. They often
unsettle a pastor; they usually diminish
the pastor's salary; they often tax the Board
of Missions to help sustain the pastor ; and
they always injuriously affect the collections
for benevolent objects.
Rscurrs at the Treasury in June; in Philadel
phia; $3,915; in Louisville pas.
EDUCATION.
No addition to the number of candidates
is reported. Prayer is urged. Some excel
lent " Hints" to candidates and ministers
given, and also some good remarks on in
struction.
, RECIBTPTB in June ; at Philadelphia for candidates
$2,680, for schools $1,026; at Pittsburghs2oB.
FOREIGN MISSIONS
The news from CHINA is ,to April 18th;
from SIAM to April 15th; from INDIA to
May sth; from AFRICA. to April Mix; from
Swill AMERICA to May 16th ; and from
the INDIAN MISSIONS to June 11th. It is
pleasant to east even a glance at our breth-
red in heathen lands, engaged in their self
, denying labors. The churches at home
should steadily supply their wants, and
never forget them at throne of grace.
EHOZIPTS in June, $10,757.
PUBLICATION.
Divie Bethune MoCartee, M. D., of our
China Mission, is now in this country and
gives a very interesting account of Tract
distribution. The Chinese, he says, are the
oldest tract distributers in the world. They
*have been at it for centuries. Their tracts
'are in the broad sheet, placarded on the walls,
and in the neat little volume, with orna men t.
al cuts; the products of emperors an d teach
ers.. Such works as are issued by the Amer.
roan Tract Society, would be highly prized.
Our Board have sent out a = number of
their's.
Sixteen new colporteure have been ap.
pointed, and ten new volumes issued. The
Books we notice in our Literary column.
DONATIONS from Juno MI/ to July 16:11 , $627 ;
Wes, $4,847.
CHURCH 'EXTENSION.
The one peke' of the Record allowed to
the (committee, is occupied with part of the;
Report to the Asserubly, , and tho Aosemhly's
loq aetioh thereon. The substance , of these we
locaferrerly gOrelo , our4eadeis.': l
RBornTs, in' , l3C"Vouis V36o7 t attPhiladelihiti;“
$274; at Pittsburgh $63
The American Bible Society—lts Efforts
to Secure a Correct Standard Edition
of the English Version.
The American Bible Society was instituted
in 1816. The declared object and constitu
tional pledge was, to print and circulate the
IScriptures of the Old and New Testaments;
lin the English translation as received in the
Churches, without note or comment. It got
along admirably with its work, using the
copy in best repute in our country, till 1847.
It then undertook a revision, with a view to
the currection of errors which had crept into
the text. A Committee of able men, of va
rious denominations, was intrusted with the
work. Six of the best editions, viz., the
Society's, the London, Oxford, Edinburgh,
Glasgow, and the original of 1611, were
selected for comparison and authority. A
sound Biblical Scholar was employed. Much
time was expended by the Committee, and
with great care, upon it. In 1851 the work
was completed, and an edition issued; and,
in 1852, a pamphlet report was published,
showing what had been done.
Very little notice was taken of all this, for
four years. The Churches seem to have
slept over it. Within the last year, how
ever, the work has been assailed., A Mr.
Coxe, of the Episcopal Church, in Baltimore,
led the way. Newspapers, Magazines, and
Church Courts, have since participated.
Our General Assembly, at Lexington, gave
the subject quite an extended discussion.
The prevailing feeling in the Assembly was
kind toward ,the Society; while there was
still a strong impression manifest, that pos
sibly things might have been carried too far.
Much was said about a fuller examination,
and about the Society retracing one or two
of its steps. The matter was then, wisely
as we think, laid over till next year. The
Assembly would, act cautiously.
The Society's usefulness has , been im
mense. Its capabilities of doing good are
beyond those of any other voluntary institu
tion in our land. It has been an almost
universal favorite. On its platform all good
men could meet. Into its treasury every be
neficent hand might bestow, approvingly.
For its prosperity every pious soul could
pray. The only exceptions of which we
know, are a few rigid Immersionists, and a
few High Church Episcopalians. If any
thing should occur which would embroil the
friends of this institution, and alienate from
its management the confidence of Evangelical
Christians, the infilry would be unspeak.
ably great.
A Society of such importance should be
perfect in its doings. This all admit. But
what is there perfect which is conducted by
man I And must we destroy a very great
good because of one failure ? Surely not :
especially if the error is of such a character
that it may be corrected. The Bible Soci
ety, in its zeal for the entire rectitude of its
issues, may have fallen into an error; 'but if
so, it is an error which it has not the slightest
intercst in perpetuating. The Society is not
to be regarded as a something separate from
Christians. It is the embodiment of Chris
tian power and beneficence, in a certain line.
It is the agent of Christians in disseminating
God's truth; the Word on which they all found
their faith, and by which they all try to
guide their lives, and through which they
all hold that the world is 'to be converted;
and which they are hence interested in pre
serving in its purity. And, in this, country,
as in Great Britain, they are mutually devoted
to the preserving of it in its entire integrity,
as it is presented in the common. English
translation, and received in the Protestant
Churches. Here then, the Society, as their
agent, finds its work. This Bible it ,is to
issue 'in its utmost practicable perfectness.
It is bound not to make the slightest altera
tion from standard correctness. Neither is
it, to perpetuate any error which may have
crept into the text.
Now, how shall it attain to this perfect
ness F Or how approximate most nearly to
such a standard? What copy sball it follow
in its reprints? There are multitudes of
editions at present extant, and no two of
them are perfectly alike. Each varies some
little from the first, and each also differs
slightly from 'the others. It is not within
the range of human practicability to print a
whole Bible with perfect accuracy. Shall,
then, the Society not use the best means in
its power to attain the nearest to a perfect
English standard ? Shall it not take the
edition which is' in' best repute and compare
it with other editions of high repute, and
trace, the reprints back through the purest
lines to the work of the translators; using
all the piety and learning and sound judg
ment of the Church, as exhibited upon the
precious volume from. 1611 to the present
day? Was not, and isnot, this the Society's
duty ? It is folly then, or more modestly
' we might say, it 'is a misuse of terms, to,
urge that the Society may publish, but not
'edit. Who then shall edit, and what is em
braced in editing ? unn, is "properly, to
publish; more usually, to superintend a
publication." An EDITOR. is, " A publisher;
particularly, a person who superintends an
impression of a book; the person who re
vises, and corrects, and prepares a book for
publication." ,So write the Lexicographers.
Here, then, was just the work which the
Society had to do. It had to publish the
Bible; to employ the printers, furnish the
I copy, revise the proofs, correct the errors,
• and prepare the Book, to the most accurate
degree practicable. It was to edit it, and
then issue it. This it has done, with much
zeal and great ability.
But in the Society's zeal to do its work
aright, it has slightly inclined to what might
become a very great error. It' has 'under
taken in some few cases where there was a
very great discrepancy in the best copies, to
decide, by consulting the original languages,
what the text should be; and has altered
it accordingly. Its right 'to do so is
doubted. By many, it is positively denied.
True, it has done this very' cautiously,
and where the most Orthodeierities will ad
mit,
that the alteration is an improvement.. •
'Bit'• • •
1 '
Ipt 441, light to. make ien
PAtl l .l4)?kj4 6 received English, teat, i4 3 .;queB--
tioned. It, as the agent and representa-
THE PRESBYTERIAN 13.A►NNER AND ADVOCATE.
Live of the different branches of the true
evangelical Church, was bound by its Consti
tution and compact, to publish the Bible as
those Churches had it, with its universally
recognized authority. Expositors may trans
late and criticise, but the Society is no ex
positor. Its very life-existence and whole
business is, to publish, and that without
note, comment or alteration.
Is it here asked, what? Is the Society
bound to perpetuate an error:? No, not an
error of either its 01071 r or of former publish
ers. But in regard to the TEXT, it is Dot Consti
tuted a judge. It may not look out for errors
there. Its duty, as a Society, is, as we be
fore intimated, to inquire what the text is,
and not what it should be. The alterations
in the sense, however, are but very few;
and the received reading can be very readily
restored. And we trust that this will be
done. Christians,•in large numbers, desire
it. • Many will not be satisfied without it.
The REVISION made, we regard as a very
great improvement. It was in the line of
the Society's duties, and deserves lasting
gratitude. To keep the text pure, requires
constant watchfulness and care. To keep it
really an English Bible, adapted to the end
of its bestowment upon man, demands occa
sional and careful revision. Our language
changes; slightly in the signification of
words, but rapidly in the spelling. The
Billie literally published now, as in 1611,
could not be read understandingly, by
vast multitudes; and could be read with
ease by but very few. When a change in
the spelling of words, in our language, has
become fixed and general, the Society is in
duty bound to adopt it. The change in the
signification of words, as used in our trans
lation, is, as yet, but small. The sense is
still obvious; or is very easily made apparent
by the expositor, whether by writing or in
the pulpit, the Sabbath School, or the family.
There is hence, as yet, no great need of ex
tended verbal alterations.
And still, we can anticipate a very great dif
ficulty a.pproa4hing ; and made the greater by
the very fact of our having an American
Bible Society, if it must abide by it stereo
type. This agent is doing almost the en
tire publishing of the English Bible in our
land; and if we do not allow it to alter a
word, how are we to keep the Book even with
the language in common use, so that it shall
be truly in the vernacular tongue ? The re
ply may be, ."Sufficient unto the day is the
evil thereof." Very well: for the present,
the words are adequate; and we may hope
that when need shall come, Christians will
be more of one mind than at present, and
denominations less suspicious of each other,
and more disposed to co-operate, on true
principles, in a work, of revision which may
embrace the leaving out of words which
have gone into desuetude, or have been
changed in signification, and the substituting
of those which shall belong to the living lan
guage of the day. The Bible must be so
kept that it shall speak in a known tongue;
and the American Bible Society, embracing
as it does, the orthodox denominations, may
yet, by God's grace, become the very Agen
cy for the work.
There is one part of the Society's work
which we are exceedingly sorry was attempt
ed; and yet it is a part which doubtless
seemed to the Managers most evidently with
in the sphere of their powers, if not directly
incumbent, on them as a duty—that is, the
alteration in the RE.6..DINGS of the CHAPTERS.
These headings are a table of contents.
They belong not to the text. And, as we
find them in our common Bibles, they are
really notes and comments. The Society, as
being bound to publish without note or com
ment, undertook to alter these, and to make
them simply a statement of contents. But
contents, in whose opinion ? Why, in the
reviser's' own:opinion, of course. But other
persons might think that the chapters treated
of something very different. Different men
would make the bill of contents, each accor
ding to his own understanding of the text.
Hence, this would be his intepretation, his
note, his comment. Thus it would be hard
ly practicable to place headings to the chap
ters, unless the most brief, bald, and general,
without making them to be " notes and com
ments." Those which the Society has sub
stituted, are much less of commentaries
than are the old ones, but still they are com
mentaries; and they are unauthorized.
Here is the point in which they fail. The
old headings were authorized. They were
prefixed by the translators, most of them at
least. They appear in the first standard Eng
lish Bible. They were accepted by the
Church. They are a truly orthodox, lucid,
brief, and valuable exposition. They are
Church property in common, and a treasure
of which the Church should not be deprived.
All Evangelical: denominations agree in their
correctness. - They belonged to the English
Bible when the Society was inaugurated.
They had, always been a part of the English
Bible. The Society, in faithfully publishing
the McGraw BIBLE, needed to publish
them. The book is not fully and fairly the
English Bible of our fathers, without them.
But the Church need not be deprived of
these valuable helps to the intelligent reading
of the Scriptures. She has only to asktheir
restoration. The Society has no interest out
side of the Church's benefit, and no desire
to do any thing either short of or beyond her
will. This is obvious to common reason, and
, has been distinctly signified by its agents.
The Princeton Review, 'for July, has a
long article on this: subject, in which, among
other points, those which we have here made
are most ably treated. We
. commend the
careful reading of the essay to all who
can find access to it. But we agree not
with the article' entirely; and especially do
we take exception to its spirit. It does not
exhibit the usual amiability of the Princeton,
where friends and co-laborers in Zion are
the parties spoken of. The Society we cannot
consent shall be placed antagonistic to the
Presbyterian Church; nor are we willing
that its Committee; and its employeesl shall
be reaarded as rivals dim linguists; nd
Theologians ;;Whee - the Bible is.tlie object,
of reverence, we are all of one family; and
those who are admitted to honestly honor it,
are themselves to be regarded with honor.
It is not the Bible Society against Presby
terians, nor Presbyterians against the
Bible Society. It is the friends of truth
caring for the purity of the text of the
Scriptures; and the attitude of hostility
should not be assumed, nor the spirit of op
ponents cherished.
Of the character of the Committee's work,
the Reviewer, with great fairness, says
"With regard to these changes, [the changes
in- words,] we would remark, that as they are
very few, and of minor importance, and all for
the better, the only grounds of objection to them
are, first, that changes of this kind were not em
braced in the commission granted to the Commit
tee. * * * * The Second ground of ob
jection to, these verbal changes is, that they en
tirely transcend the powers of the Society itself,"
pp. 626, 627.
4.nd again, in more general terms, and as
a summary of the alterations :
"In several cases,mentioned on pages 19 and 20
of the Report, they have altered the sense by al
tering the words; in five oases they haie altered
the sense by altering the punctuation; in several
other passages by a change in the italics ; and in
one case, 1. John ii: 33, they have introduced a
whole clause into the text, which in all previous
copies is marked as not belonging to it." [This
is done by removing the italics,] p. 531.
From all this, it. is manifest that the
changes are but very few, and that some, if
not all of them, are estimated as improve
ments. This should shield the Society from
censure, especially as the governing motive
is admitted to have been really good.
• The grand objeCtion is, that the Society,
on the principles of its organization, had no
right to make these changes; and if the
right may be assumed to make little changes,
we have no security but that it will soon be
held adequate to make great ones; and the
text of Scripture will then,• as an English
Bible, have become an uncertainty, and will
have lost its power over the mind.
As every thing that is written will have its
influence on the Christian public, and hence
its weight in determining the course of the
Society in regard to its standard Edition, we
have intimated our regret at the spirit mani
fested by the Princeton. What we allude
to is in such passages as these :
"In reference to all these changes, we main
tain, first, that the. Committee had no right to
make them ; that their introduction is a most
alarming assumption , of power, which ought to
be resisted by the whole Christian community;
and, secondly, that even if it had the right, it is
most extraordinary, lamentable, and unaccount
able, that evangelical headings, familiar and en
deared to all readers of the English Bible, should
be discarded, and others, such as Gesenius and
De Wette would have preferred, adopted in their
stead.
The Committee had no right to make:these
changes. They, were not appointed for the pur
pose. They were appointed to collate the stan
dard editions of the English Bible, with a view
to produce uniformity in matters of orthography,
capital letters, words in italics, and punctuation.
This was the e.xtent of their commission. What right
had theYto remodel the headings of the chapters,
from the beginning to the ending of the Bible?
If they bad so far reviewed them as to produce
uniformity in this as in other matters between
their own and the standard British editions, it
would have been a stretch of power under their
commission; but that they should undertake to
remodel them, to act in the premises as though
they were authorized, those seven men, (or two,)
to expound the Scriptures by these pregnant state
ments for the whole American community, is per
fectly imaccounttible;" pp. 586, 537.
It is good to be zealously affected in
a good cause, but still the more nearly on
principle great matters can be discussed, the
more likely are the parties concerned and the
public generally to be influenced to an
agreement. Displays of feeling add nothing
to the strength of an argument, in the esti
mation of considerate men.
But the great mistake of the Princeton,
and the point where, if we understand the
Reviewer correctly, we would- be ourselves
disposed to manifest some zeal, if we could
think it. - would 'do any good, is in a remark
toward the Close of the article. It is this
"We are entirely misinformed if our late Gener
al Assembly were not withheld, by, an imperfect
knowledge of the facts in the Can, and by the
hope that the Society would thus recede, from
adopting at once the overture presented by Dr. R.
J. Breckinridge ;" p. 541
Our information on the eubject is very
different from that of the Reviewer; and we
have it at first hands, having been on the
spot and listened to the whole discussion,
and• having participated in a large amount of
out-of-doors conversation, while the matter
was in progress. That "an imperfect
knowledge of the facts'in the case," should
be attributed to the Assembly, as a reason
for deferring definite action till next year,
after all the time occupied, and zeal dis
played by Drs. Breekinridge and Adger on
the one side, and McNeil on the other; and
after this same standard edition, and the
Report of the Society detailing the whole
transaction minutely, had been before the
Church since 1852, and several copies of
the Report present in the Assembly; and
one in the hands of each of the principal
speakers;.and this Report being the main
medium too of the. Reviewer's information—
that imperfect knowledge, in such circum
stances, shouldbe attributed to the Assembly
as the cause of its not at once adopting the
paper before it, after days of patient and
intense attention, is not •very complimentary
to either the members or the speakers.
Thai the Assembly was influenced very
much, by the “hope that the Society would
recede," we have not the slightest doubt.
It was distinctly intimated by the Society's
agent on the - floor, that its sole object was to
subserve the Church's interests in the
execution of her will, and that the manifes
tations of her desire should be carefully
noted and a recession be made wherever it
was her wish. On this expectation, doubt
less, in part, the Assembly voted. And
in this expectation we have no fear of a
disappointment. And to the ascertaining
of what are the desires of the Church, such
articles as that of the Princetarear of ines
timable importance. If well informed. Jour
nals in every branch of Zion, would discuss
the subject as intelligently, and express the
supposed desire of the denomination as clear
ly, as is dOne in the article of which we
speak, the Society and its Committee might
well excuse all exhibitions of feeling; ap
preciating, as it surely would, the light and
truth which would be developed.
There is one part of 'Dr. Breekinridge's
overture : to which we thinkkt ii , ,nporhakt, to
advert,, more particularly,/ ,since : the Prince
Eton seems to erObriteei the . entire= paper with
lerfor: '"'
"4. The Board of Publication of the Preaby-
terian Church, will consider and report to the
next General Assembly 'a plan for the preparation
and permanent publication by it of the common
English Bible, in a form suitable for pulpit use,
with the standard text unebanged, and the usual
accessories to the text commonly found in Pulpit'
English Bibles from 1611 to 1847."
Now, we do not think that the - Assembly
of 1857 could have been induced to pass
any such order. If it had been put singly
to the House we do not believe that it would
have had a tithe of the votes. It enjoins
an impossibility, for there is no such "stand
ard text;" or it enjoins just what the Bible
Society is censured for attempting; that is,
the ascertaining of what is, the "common
English Bible;" a thing which roust
be done by collations. It hence seems
like an effort to inaugurate a movement
which we know would be most deeply, and
we think also very extensively, deprecated.
The Assembly was disposed to do no such
thing.
That our Board should publish a Pulpit
Bible, and a Family Bible, and a Commen
tary, and all that, might be very proper.
But this formal order, at this juncture of
time, and in the circumstances, would look
like meaning something more than the bare
import of the words used. It would 100 k
like an effort to get up a Presbyterian Bible;
it would look like a withdrawing from the
Christian brotherhood--like' a, selfish, High
Church movement. There is already a Roman
Catholic Bible. There is an effort at a
Baptist Bible. Such a movement on our
part would be regarded as justifying these;
and it would be provocative of an Episcopal
Bible, a Methodist Bible, and we know not
how many Bibles; bat there would be so
many that there would be left no one of
commonly recognized authority. Such a
calamity the General Assembly of last May
could not have been induced to aid in bring
ing upon the world; and we trust that the
Presbyterians will ever be but few in num
ber who can allow themselves to utter a
favoring word toward its production. We
have talked to many, and they, to a man,
most earnestly repudiate the thought. We
do not say that the Princeton would favor
such a movement. We think it would not.
But, we note the subject because its general
remark, above quoted, approbatory of. Dr.
Breckinridge's paper, embraces the idea..
The movement of the Society has been
regarded partly with approbation, and partly
otherwise. The Pennsylvania Bible Society
has spoken very approvingly. Dr. Leland,
of the Columbia Seminary, writing to the
New York Observer, wishes emendations to
be carried still farther; even to the modern
izing of confessedly antiquated words and
phrases. Presbyterian journals have spoken
partly for and partly against the Society's
work; but, on the whole, not at all more
favorably than are our own remarks above.
The Methodist Conference at Baltimore ex
pressed a desire that some of the alterations
would be retracted. The Episcopal expres
sion of sentiment has been very strong
against what the Society has done. The late
Convention of Kentucky, as we see stated,
discussed at considerable length a resolution
which finally passed by a strong vote, con
demning the action of the American Bible
Society, in regard to the revision of the
standard version of the English Scriptures.
With very slight exceptions, the expression
of Christian sentiment; so' far. as we have
heard ikuttered, or have seen it exhibited in
the journals, demands a retraction, by the
Society, of such changes as alter the meaning
of the text, and also a restoration of the
headings to the chapters, which have had
the sanction of the. Church so long and so
uniformly, and with so much love and favor,
that they may be now regarded as properly
her heritage.wr.
And if we are correct in our 'idea that the
Church does desire such retraction and res
toration, we feel confident, as we said be=
fore, that she will be gratified. The Society
will delight to execute her will. This stand s
to reason. It was promised to our late As
sembly. And a recent letter of Dr. Spring,
of our own Church, who was and is a mem
ber of the Society's Committee on:Versions,
and who enjoys deeply the confidence of the
Christian public, clearly intimates that such
will be the case. The Doctor's letter is in
the. New York Observer, and is as follows :
TO THE FRIEVDB OF TILE BIBLE
" The undersigned has received various commu
nications on the subject of the last edition of the
Holy Scriptures, as published by the American
Bible Society, to which he has given no publicity
and made no reply. The reason for his silence is,
that,as a member of the "Committee on Versions,"
it has been his determination froth the beginning,
not to embarrass the Committee by any separate
action of his own. He still adheres to that de
cision. The Committee'are composed of five dif
ferent denominations; they have been and are a
band of brothers, and have performed a most ar
duous service with perfect unanimity. They honor
the jealousy for an unnintilated, unadulterated
Bible. If in any particulars they have erred,
they will be grateful to those who wilt point out
their errors, and will most cheerfully retrace their
steps. They will not be in haste to do this ; nor
until-the whole subject is better understood. It
is but right that they enjoy the full, opportunity
of instruction. from all the sources from which an
imadversion or encouragement may be looked for.
We wait for these in patience and in hope. The
Churches can have but one object in such an en
terprise ; it is to be hoped they will have but one
spirit.
" It is proper to state that the previous para
graph is written and published without the know
ledge of any of the Committee; the most of whom
are absent from the city. -
" GARDINER SPRING."
New York July 18, 18157.
With such evidences as are before • us, of
the integrity, ability, kind spirit and good in
tendons of the Society, its managers and
their Committee on Versions, we may, while
using the proper means of diffusing light,
and of manifesting the desires of God's true
people, enjoy the pleasure of a full convic
tion that the Holy Scriptures, as contained
in the English Bible, will be preserved entire
and uncorrupted.
Revival
The Central Presbyterian gives an ac
count of a late visit 'made by one of its edi
tors to Lewisburg, Virginia, where he partici
pated in services connected with a remarkable
revival of religion. - The Presbyterian church
is under the patitoral care of Rev. John
,TC.Elheuney, TD., wh,0 4 40 there .]
ina,rly fifty years. - The Methodist andßap
tist 'ministers and= churches ipartieipated in ,
the labors and the blessing. The unanimity
seems to have been very cordial, as becomes
the true saints of God; and the out-pouring
of the Spirit was very copious and rich. Great
is God's grace. After a long introduction
and much descriptive remark, the Central
says
"The meetings were continued for three
weeks, and during the hours of prayer and
preaching, all business was suspended,stores
and shops blase d, schools dismissed, and
large crowds attending at the church. All
classes of society were affected with it.
Old animosities were healed, and a spirit of
brotherly love seemed to prevail universally.
All question and ridicule seemed to be borne
down, and wicked men seemed rather to be
gratified in the conversion of their compan
ion and to aid in it.
"The dangers that usually attend such
union meetings did not show themselves
here, but were apparently thus far avoided,
owing in part we believe to the thorough in
struction that the young have received.
The result of the meetings was, that about
one hundred and seventy persons old and
young, in all the churches, made a profession of
religion. An observing friend took the trouble
to collect and arrange the ages of these
persons, and they present a curious and
suggestive table. He states that the ages
and the ratio of numbers compared with the
whole is as follows:
From 10 to 20 years old there were 79, or 47 per cent
" 20 to 30 "' " " 48, or 26 "
30 to 40 . " " 16, or 9 c;
" 40 to 50 " " " 15, or 9 "
" 50 to 60 " " " 7, or 4 "
" 60 to 10 . " " 4, or 21-3 "
" 70 to 80 " " " 1, or 6-10 "
Ic This is a very curious and significant
table, showing, in a - very striking manner,
the danger of delay, and how few are
brought to Christ late in life. Of this whole
number, upwards of forty united with the
Methodist church South, a large number
were either too young, or preferred to test
their feelings a little longer, whilst fifty
three united with the Presbyterian church
on the 18th alt, (June.) It was an im
pressive sight to see so large a number , thus
come out and confess Christ, and especially
so large a number of adults."- 1
Lewisburg is in Western Virginia, amid
the hills ; and located on what is called the
Big Levels of Greenbrier. It contains a
population of eleven hundred, and is a place
of some note.
Ecclesiastical
Rev. L. FE. VAN DORAN has received a
unanimous call to become the pastor of
the Presbyterian church at Paducah, Ky.,
where he has been acting as. Stated Sup
ply during.the past year.
Rev. J. A. ROSSEEL was installed pastor of
the Presbyterian church, Neenah, Wis
- cousin, by a Committee of the Presby
tery of Winnebago, on the 29th tilt.
Rev. R. A. BuowN has resigned the charge
of the - North Presbyterian church, Chi
cago, Illinois.
Rev. ALEXIL Martmes Post Office address
is changed from Old Church, Va., to
Pittsylvania C.. 11., Va. .
Rev. Dr. PLUMER, of the Western Theo
logical Seminary, has bad conferred on
him, by the University of Mississippi,
the degree of LL 1)
Rev. WARRZN Dwr!roN, of Charlestown,
Va. has had conferred on him, by Union
College, New York, the degree of D. D.
Rev. J'AMES Wallis' Post Office address is
changed from Gonzales to Concrete,
Texas.
Rev. Dr. J. N. WADDEL has resigned the
Professorship of. Greek and Ancient Lit
erature, in the University of Mississippi,
and accepted the appointment to the
chair of Ancient Literature, in the La
grange Syriodical College.
EASTERN SUMMARY.
BOSTON AND. NEW ENGLAND.
The early History of Newspapers in
country, on account of the influence they
have exercised, the extent to which their
circulation has been increased, and the
higher elevation in tone, sentiment, ability,
and morals, of which they are still capable,
cannot be devoid of interest to our readers.
In this as well as many other particulars;
Boston is worthy 'of' note. The first news
paper published in the American Colonies,
was commenced in Boston; and the first
number was , entitled "The Boston News
Letter, published by authority. From
Monday, April 17, to 'Monday April 24,
1704." it was printed on 'a half sheet'of
Pot, paper, with small pica type. The pro
prietor was John Campbell, a Scotehman
and bookseller; the printer was B. Green.
This paper was issued weekly, and every thing
appearing in it was previously submitted to
a Board of licensers for their approbation,
without which it was unlawful to print any
thing for general circulation.
The second newspaper in New England
was the Boston Gazette, published for Wm.
Brooker, who succeeded Campbell, publish
er of the first paper, as postmaster. The
first number appeared December 21, , 1719,
and Was printed by James Franklin, elder
brother to the celebrated Benjamin Frank
lin. This paper was continued on a half
sheet for several years, appearing at times
with some blank page or pages, owing to the
scrutinizing power of the "licensers."
For nothing could be issued except "by au
thority!' at that time of subjection, to the
ruling powers of the English Crown.
The third newspaper, denominated the
New England Courant, appeared August
21, 1721, printed and published by James
Franklin, on half sheet, crown size, print
ing paper, with small pica. This paper was
filled principally with original essays, in
which the officers of Government i and the
opinions of the clergy were criticised, writ
ten by a society of gentlemen termed, at
that day, "Free Thinkers.". At last the
attention of the. Government was awakened,'
and James Franklin was imprisoned for a
Month, and forbidden to print the paper af
,
terwards. It was continued' for a time by
Benjamin Franklin, author of Many of the
obnoxious . essays, in his own name. The
paper was published for six years, but Ben
jamin Franklin left the establiShment in
1723.
The 4th newspaper was called the New
England Journal, and came out March 20,
1727, on a half sheet of Foolscap, folio.
Pas irmsprinted by S. Kneeland, on Queen
Streer'' TheCoTol, l ts, of this , paper 'WAIT ,
~a tort,miscellairetp.s 'essays by •,a
iterary- Society.;: i Such was the humble. origin
of the newspaper enterprise in this land,
and it cannot fail to awaken a train r,f i n _
teresting reflections in every thoßghtful
with regard to the past, the present,
the future.
At the late Anniversary of Ea s t
sor Theological Institute, the reßination of
the Rev. Dr. Tyler, on account of increa,.
ing years and infirmities, was accepted.
The Dr is to hold his present plue u nit i
the appointment of a successor, after which
he will abide as Professor emeritus in (nr i ,
flexion with the Seminary, renderinz
ever aid health may permit. lie delivc,
a farewell address, reviewing the
that led to the founding of the
and giving a lucid statement of the ;!)(;:
trines held by himself and the p_-,
Union at that time. The venerable
still a vigorous defender and expounii , r
the Old School Theology of New
1 From the proceedings that took place
year ago, it was supposed by many that tki
Seminary would be removed to New flavea;
but it seems now to be the settled deter,;;_
nation to retain the present location. This
institution has done good service in its dp ;
to it Connecticut owes much. The elobit..2
address was delivered by President Woolsey.
His subject was, "The natural rights of 31dL,
and their confirmation in the Bible."
The next annual meeting of the Ampti
can Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions, will be held in Providence, Rhode
Island, commencing on Tuesday, September
Bth, at 4 o'clock P. M. During the month
of June, this Board received $22,000; and
from the first of August lest year, to the
close of June this year, $282,000. The
children's donations for the Missionary
Packet, for the South Sea Islands, already
amount to $28,417. Toward liquidating
the debt of $36,000, reported last year,
$22,600 have been already contributed.
It is said to be a remarkable fact, in this
country, that in Old Hadley, Mass., con.
taining two thousand inhabitants, there has
never been any but one denomination of
Christians—that of the Congregationalists.
Frequent attempts have been made to intro.
duce another denomination, but in vain.
Last week was commencement week at
Yale College, New Haven. Great numbers
of ;visitors, former graduates, and patrons,
were in attendance. Among these was the
Rev. Daniel Waldo, Chaplain to Congress,
95 years old, who graduated in the elm of
1788, and John McClellan, of Woodstock,
Conn., of the• class of 1785, now 91 years
old.' All the members of the classes pre•
vious to 1785 are dead; and of the gradu
ates previous - to 1800, but 46 remain. The
Baccalaureate was preached to the retiring
class, numbering 104, on Sabbath, by Prof.
Fisher, from John, v 44. The Phi Beta
Kappa Society,- - was addressed by Wendell
Phillips. The orator chosen for nest year
is Prof Felton, of Harvard College, and
the poet, Wm. A. Butler, of New York, the
reputed author of 41 Nothing to Wear."
The whole number of Academic graduates
froni Yale, from' its foundation in 1700, is
6,601. Of these 3,361 are dead. Of the
3,240 graduates now living, 750 are minis
ters of the Gospel.
NEW YORK.
The Pollee officers have been unusually
active, in ferreting . out instances of violation
of the laws, by the Sale of Liquors on the
Sabbath. During the week, one hundred
cases were reported. District Attorney Hall
Silent the whole of the Sabbath in walking
the streets for thee purpose of discovering
the extent to which the law was disregarded.
But, while one source of Sabbath desecra
tion,is, being shut off, another is opened.
Burton's' Theatre, on Broadway, is now open
every Sabbath evening for "Promenade
Concerts;" the pretext of its being a reliz
ions meeting, is not even urged.
The Mortality among children has be
come frightful. Out of four hundrei and
seventy-one, deaths, for week before 1a.4,
three hundred and eighty-five were children.
New York has been long famed for the
number, magnificence, and extent of its
Irote/a. Brit the St. Nicholas surpasses all
the others. .It has a Broadway marble and
stone front of two hundred and seventy-fire
feet, and on Prince street two hundred feet,
and can accommodate at one time twelve
hundred guests. The mirrors alone east
forty thousand dollars. The laundry de
partment, in addition to steam-power, em
ploys seventy-five women constantly, and it
capable of washing and ironing six thousand
pieces daily. Messrs. Trea.dweli, Acker,
and Whitcomb are proprietor's, and Mr
Haight is owner. Over two millions et
dollars are invested, in this Hotel. The
cost, fashion, and general 'dissipation of
hotel life, in this country, is becomisz
vice of no wall Magnitude.
On Tunsday morning of week before 155
a policeman, named Eugene Anderson, 'for
shot' dead, while attempting to arrest a
burglar who gave his name as Michael
Cangemi, an Italian by birth. Together
with:his confederates he had been engaged
in• robbing a shoe store; and when the owner ,
an aged man, was endeavoring to shut him
in, he was on the' point of shooting him and
his wife. At this juncture Anderson arrived
and met, instant death. The murderer fled ,
but was immediately arrested. Great indig'
nation- was' manifested. The funeral v z
postponed until the Sabbath, when tweaq
thousand persons were in Broadway, an ti
five, thousand, including four hundred regl:
lar policemen and two hundred special
policemen, were in the procession. age
funeral services were conducted by the Bet'
Jesse T. Peck, of the Methodist Episcopa l
Church.
In our large cities and towns the Sabb2e l
is greatly desecrated and public niorali:Y
greatly injured, by large funeral processie o
such as this. In many cases the day
selected for the -purpose of attracting
aIl
immense crowd, and for the purpose of
es
hibiting the regalia of the different Socie
ties and-Companies, of which the decease d
TakY-4 1 9e .been, a member. The mhole tee"
aency.of such a course is to change t ie
Lord's day from a day of rest to a were g.3l§