Presbyterian banner & advocate. (Pittsburgh, Pa.) 1855-1860, November 14, 1857, Image 1
PRESBYTERIAN BAWER & ADVOCATE Prosbytortan Bannor. Vol. VI, No. S. prosbytorion Advocate, Vol. XX, 80. 3. I DAVID bIeKINNEY, Editor and Proprietor. rERNA-IN ADVANCE. From our London Correspondent. Opening of the Winter Session of the English Pres byterian College—Dr. Al Orie on Plenary Inspi ration—Dr. Davidson—Honesty and True Char ity—An American Student in Britain—lndia —Outram, Havelock, Luknow, and Delhi— Lord Canning—Sir Colin Campbell, Dr. Duff, and O f ficialism—The Propagation Society, the Bishop of Oxford, and Air. Gladstone—General Havelock and Presbytery—Monetary Crisis and lailures—A Visit to .Apsley House—The Great Duke—The Presbyterian " Open Sesame"— Statue of Napoleon Grand Staircase—The Waterloo Gallery—The Pictures—The Locked Frame and the Precious Gem—Emperors, Rings, and Statesmen—Death's Conquests—A Dutcheas's Wardrobe—Trophies and Presents—A Lady's Apartment—The Childless Dutchess—The Old Duke's Bedroom—Early Rising and a Hard Bed —The Author up Stairs, and his task—Oh, for another Wellington—The King of Prussia's ill ness—Great Crimes—The Mysterious Murder— Social Reform Congress at Birmingham— Postscript. LONDON, October 16, 1857 The Winter Session of the Ewaufs PRESBYTER/AN COLLEGE was opened last week. A very able lecture was delivered by Dr. Thomas M'Crie, our new Theological Professor, on the Plenary and Verbal In spiration of the Holy Scripture. The lec turer, in his introductory remarks, justly said that this might well be regarded in the geld of theology, as the question of the day. After a description of the perversions of the German rationalists, he addressed himself, with great vigor and earnestness, to the erroneous teachings of Doctor Davidson on the question, and dealt severely with that gentleman's contemptuous treatment of those who ventured to differ with one like himself, so thoroughly acquainted with the original Scriptures. Doctor M'Crie took the old, firm ground of a plenary inspira tion of the sacred writers, altogether op posed to the theories of "superintend ence" and " suggestion," advocated by Pye Smyth and others; and by a most elaborate and subtle argument, proved, I think, to the satisfaction of his au dience, (clerical, student, and lay,) that while the inspired writers expressed them selves naturally, and according to their sev eral idiosynoraoies, yet that their words were necessarily such as to express the very ideas of truths whioh were designed to be made known to the Church and the world by the Holy Ghost, I had the pleasure of introducing a young American, from North Carolina, to Doctor M'Crie, whose lectures, and those of Doctor Lorimer, he will be free to atttend without cost, until the Free Church College, for the benefit of whost Theological course he has come to Great Britain, shall have com menced its Winter Session. Doctor M'Crie might well say, as he did with honest satisfaction, that the Presbyte rian Church was the only body which he knew, which, as a body, recognized the plenary and verbal inspiration of the Bible, in common with the doctrines of Sovereign Glace, Eternal Election, and other distin guishing tenets of Apostolic theology. Though our Church be not a large one in England, yet we are all perfectly joined in one mind and one judgment. We know nothing of a New School dilution of the truth. It showed itself some years ago in the United Presbyterian Church of Scot land, but it was rebuked. And over the United Kingdom the Confession of West minster is subscribed ex anima, by Presby terians. Would that a like honesty pre vailed as to subscription to the Thirty- Nine Articles of the Church of England, or as to the nonosubsoribing, yet practical re cognition, by Independents, of the " Decla ration of Faith and Order by the Congrega tional Union of England and Wales!" The Christian Spectator, the organ of the Lynch school, shows unmistakable ten dencies to the false charity which indorses the safety of Sooinians, provided they are sincere in their desire to know the truth. It may be that a sincere " desire to know the truth" would cover and justify the as sertion, if in sincerity we could find an abasement of that carnal pride and preju dice which cannot away with the humbling doctrines of man's guilt and native pollution, and which, therefore, sees no need either for an Atoning Sacrifice, or for a Renovating Spirit. An Independent minister spoke somewhat angrily to me, the other day, when I deprecated the Spectator's teach ings, and talked of his Lord forbidding him to judge 1 He talked also about Channing, and men of pure character of the Unitarian school, but was at last compelled to admit that, for his own safety, an atonement, and personal faith in it, was necessary. We must keep, I submit, to the charity of the Bible in matters like this, stern though it may seem to be. Otherwise—as by the sentimentalism that crept into Scotch Col leges last century, and which flooded Utter with Arianism—we may find, when too late, the old, grand, gardinal truths hustled or bowed out of doors as intruders, and the souls of men left to perish. INDIA is still uppermost in the nation's, thoughts, and will doubtless continue so for many a day. We have further news, of rather a cheering character. The garrison of Lucknow had made a " second ' sortie, and had disabled the large guns of the mu tineers, had inflicted on them heavy loss, and secured a good stock of provisions. Gen. Outram was marching for Cawnpore with two thousand men, and thence with Havelock would move toward Lucknow, in order to relieve the garrison, who had been desired by him to hold out even to extremi.. ties. The Punjaub, us well as the Bombay and Madras Presidencies, were quiet, with some slight exceptions. General Nicholson had inflicted a heavy chastisement on the mutineers of Delhi, who tried to get to the rear of the British. He took twelve guns, and all their baggage. It is rumored that the King of Delhi was proposing terms, but they would not be listened to. The assault, I pre slime, has been made ere now. It is strongly rumored that Lord Canning bas proved unequal to the crisis, and either is, or will be, recalled. " Red-tapism," and officialism, have been interfering with Sir Colin Campbell at Calcutta. Dr. Duff writes that the Europeans there are " lit erally grooniny" under official mismanage ment. Neither this, nor yet the "tradi tional policy" of pampering caste, will this country long tolerate. The Times has given Colonel Sykes and his g , traditional" and godless party at the India House, a thor ough castigation. The Bishop (1 Oxford and Mr. Gladstone have been making mis sionary speeches for the Propagation Society at Liverpool, with a similar end. Glad stone's speech has a fine moral dignity about it. One feels, however, that his party in the Church are not the men to evangelize India. Of General Havelock's decided piety and evangelical sympathies, there is no question Some years ago I was at Bonn, in Germany, and found that he and his family constantly attended the Presbyterian Mission Church there, under the charge of the excellent and able Rev. W. Graham. Havelock is thus claimed in Ireland as a Presbyterian. He loves the pure Gospel, however, wher ever he finds it, hates, I doubt not, all rit ualism, is said to be an excellent expounder of Scripture, and fails not, in India, or else where, to unfurl his Great Captain's stand ard. He is a native of the County of Durham. We have had a MONEY CRISIS here, or nearly so, in connexion with the failure or stoppage of banks, &c., in America, and from the drain of specie to India. Very heavy losses are also entailed on merchants; and at Glasgow, as well as in London, there have been heavy failures. There has been, however, a considerable reaction. But with interest on money raised to the rate of seven per cent. by the Bank of England last week, trade is crippled very considerably, and much anxiety prevails. Yesterday, how ever, there was, a better feeling, as at the Bank of England's weekly meeting of Di rectors there was an increase made in the rate of discounts. I have lately paid a visit to APSLEY HOUSE, the residence of the present, and long the town-house of the late illustrious Duke of Wellington. It is a splendid man sion, built for him at the nation's cost, and one of the many proofs given him that his great services as a General and a con queror were gratefully appreciated. Nearly opposite is his equestrian statue, on the top of a marble arch opening to Green Park, Constitution Hill, and Buckingham Palace. The side and back windows of Apsley House look into Hyde Park, and upon the colossal iron statue of Achilles, erected by the subscription of the ladies of England, in the Duke's honor. The mansion was thrown open to the pub lic shortly after the Duke's decease in 1852. Since then, his son and successor in title and wealth, but not in fame, has made it his town residence, and has made great and ex pensive interior changes and improvements. Our Scotch Presbyterianism shows itself in a very honorable aspect in the fact that in the families and establishments of English nobles, Sootchmen are found occupying posts as confidential servants, gardeners, &0., and Sootchwomen as. housekeepers, invested with plenary authority down stairs, as well as ladies' chosen and personal attendants. So it is in many places, and also in Apsley House, to a considerable degree. The Duke is now throwing open the mansion to visitors coming by tickets, fifty at a time; but I had a private and preliminary view of its splendors, by reason of my Presbyte rianism. Passing through the front gate up the steps on which I had seen, ere now, the old Duke standing in full dress, on a Waterloo dinner-day, (18th June,) to receive Prince Albert and conduct him to the banquetting room, you- enter the hall and find yourself at the foot of the grand staircase, in presence of Canova's famous and magnificently con ceived statue of the Emperor Napoleon I. Many a Frenchman of the old empire has stood before this statue in the house of Bonaparte's great rival, his pride chafed, and his heart sad. It was the gift of the allied sovereigns to Wellington, after the occupation of Paris in 1815. In a side waiting-room, near the staircase, are a number of pictures, statues, and busts, all very interesting. But, ascend ing to the second floor, you enter a noble ante-room. Here are some pictures without a name attached, but others are duly au thenticated, such as those of Pitt, Warren Hastings, and Lord Nelson. But it is the Waterloo Gallery which forms the grand attraction. It was here that for more than thirty years Wellington feted his old Peninsular Generals and com-' panions in arms. The dinners were given up before his death, from an increasing friendliness and brotherhood between Eng land and France. The immediate cause or occasion was the visit of Marshal Soult, one of Wellington's ablest opponents, to Eng land. The gallery is gorgeous exceedingly. It was always so ; but now, by a new ar rangement of precious pictures, by fresh gildings and decorations, by those satin can. ered walls which form the back-ground to the works of art, it ii more splendid than ever. When lighted up at night by those gas jets lately inserted in the ceiling, and filled with a brilliant assemblage, it must be very imposing. At the lower end of the gallery, hangs the famous picture of Charles 1., on horse back. Facing it, at the other end, is a much smaller picture, but one even more prized and precious. It is Corregio's "Christ's Agony in the Garden, and an Angel comforting him." While the house was under recent repairs, I was assured the Duke kept this priceless cabinet gem in his own bedroom every night; and if you now look closely, you will see that it is actually secured by a lock in. its frame, as well as covered over with glass, to shelter it from being injured. In this gallery, you see some of the finest specimens of Murillo, Titian, and other old Masters. Some how, I feel sad in this room. I con trast the past and the present; I remember how Death, tie greatest of all conquerors, has laid low in the dust, Wellington and most of his great captains. So is it, too, when I enter the next •apartment, the family drawing-room, and look on pictures painted for Wellington, of Emperors and Kings. There is the fair-haired and ruddy Alexander I.; then Pope Pins VII , Napo leon's captive; then the J esuit•like Emperor of Austria; then the bluff Louis XVIII ; but all are gone. And so "I feel like one who treads alone, Some banquet hall deserted ; Whose lights are fled, whose garland's dead, And all but he departed." lollowing my Scottish attendant, I pass -through another room, full of pictures, and I find myself introduced into private apart ments, and could tell your lady readers about a Duchess's wardrobe, and give them a peep at the noble lady's dresses, suddenly revealed by the drawing back of a curtain. But let us rather go down stairs, and cross "ONE THING IS NEEDFUL:" "ONE THING HAVE I DESIRED OF THE LORD:" "THIS ONE THING I DO." PUBLICATION OFFICE, GAZETTE BUILDING, FIFTH STREET, ABOVE SMITHFIELD, PITTSBURGH, PA. FOR THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1857. the hall into the great room on the ground floor. Here are collected such a treasury of gifts and presents, and tokens of honor, such as the world could scarcely parallel. The vast collection of Sevres China, every piece having graven on it some warlike in cident in the Duke's career; the massive and beautifully-wrought plate, the gift of the Royal family •of Spain; the Achilles Shield, silver, with massive gilding, and covered with raised figures, presented by the city of London—all are here. Next, you enter a suite of rooms, lately prepared. Here is the 'boudoir, or recep tion-room ; next the drawing-room; and then a dining-room. Exquisite taste is dis played every where. See, there is a picture of a young girl--a stranger in blood, but over whom the beautiful but childless Duch ess yearns with almost maternal love. She is, it is said, not happy, because childless. The old Duke loved and cherished her as a daughter. Among her books are to be seen some of a religious character. After the Duke's death, the present owner of the mansion, and the Duchess, a daughter of the Scottish Marquis of Tweesdale, went to Exeter Hall, to hear a lecture on the great man's life and character and last hours, (not without hopeful tokens of grace sought, and we trust, found;) and then they began to repair to his church, holding a pew there, as I presume they still do But now the last object of interest, is the old Duke's bed-room. It is on the ground floor. It is comparatively small. It is full of lumber, or furniture put away for tempo rary convenience, at the time of my visit. Here, in harmony with the sublime simplici ty of his life, he lay in a camp-bed for long years, and slept not too long. He was wont to say, that as soon as a man wanted to turn in his bed, it was time for him to get up ! Doubtless he had a rare and iron pow er of endurance, such as was essential to the work which Providence assigned to him. Let me close this notice of Apsley House by a little literary news, and that of an ex clusive character. In the uppermost floor of the mansion, in an elegant suite of apart ments, resides, with his wife, and attended by the Duke's servants, Mr. Montgomery Martin, a well known author of many valua ble books on India and the Colonies. This gentleman, I learned, is engaged in the ar duous task of writing the Life of Welling ton, and of collating and examining papers innumerable, in different languages, bearing on this great work. I saw some of the iron• clasped boxes, one after another of which is brought up from the cellars of Apsley House, for examination. Colonel Garwood, the translating collec tor of Wellington's dispatches, was, by men tal overstrain, driven to suicide. It requires great vigor and endurance, on Mr. Martin's part, to go through a more trying ordeal. He relaxes occasionally, and goes down, in the shooting season, with the Duke, to his country quarters in Norfolk. The informa tion, as to Martin and the work in which he is engaged, which I have thus given, is quite exclusive. It has never been pub lished here. I question if it is known at all, except by a very few. Often, during the Crimean war, and now again in the Indian mutiny, has the heart of a Briton sighed for another Wellington. But it may not be, and God can save us, after punishing and purifying us, by his own chosen instruments. The cry of many hearts, emptied of all human confidence, is, "Give us help from trouble, for vain is the help of man. And thus we venture to hope, that " Through God we shall do val iantly, for he it is that shall tread down our enemies." The ALARMING ILLNESS of the King of Prussia, which set in eight days ago, was of an apoplectic character. His health has been delicate for some time. This, indeed, is a second attack of the same kind, and while he is now recovering, his• life is evi dently a bad one. His brother, the Prince of Prussia, is the heir apparent; after him, the young Prince, his eldest son, the hus band-elect of our Princess Royal. Cotemporaneous with our season of Na tional Humiliation, has been the perpetra tion of several Imam MURDERS. One was that of a son murdering his own father, in order to gain possession of a farm near Manchester. Another is that of a brother, Cain-like, imbruing his bands in a brother's blood. Another, that of wife-murder in London. But the greatest sensation has been produced by the discovery of part of the remains of some murdered victim, on one of the buttresses of. Waterloo Bridge, London. A little time since, a woman came, nearly at midnight, to the half-penny toll bar, at the bridge, carrying a large and heavy bag. The toll-keeper helped her to lift it over the narrow pass, and observed a parcel, also, in her hand. He thought she was making for a railway station in haste. It now appears that this was one of these tigresses who are found in infamous houses, and who are privy to the murder of entrap ped and dissolute men. The bag dropped over the bridge, and intended to fall into the deep and rapid Thames, but was stopped by a buttress. Thence it was taken by some young men who discovered it. It contained the remains of a human being, wanting the head. The parcel in the woman's hand, is supposed to have contained the head, and it seems to have been swept away by the tide. The bbcly was all gashed, and gory • the clothes, separate from it, were pierced by many wounds, showing that the victim per ished while dressed. The garments, also, had evidently belonged to a person of supe rior position ; and several portions of them indicated that he must have been a foreign er. A large reward has been offered by the Government. Every thing has been done that could be thought of, to lead to a dis covery. A letter, in the Times of to day, seems to identify the remains as those of a Scotch Australian emigrant, who lately re turned, and was seen with a large carpet bag, with £2,800 in sovereigns. Alas, bow true is it now, as it was in the days of Solomon, that "the adulteress will hunt for the precious life," and that "her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death." What hideous discov eries, in connexion with our great cities, will be made at the great Reckoning.day It is but recently, that old houses, noted for centuries as dens of infamy, were pulled down in Field Lane, in the City, (now the scene of Ragged School triumphs,) and behind the wainscots, and under the floors, were found the bones and skeletons ; of persons, long since foully made away with. Verily, wickedness is rampant on all sides, But still, the cause of God makes headway and progress, and our strong confidence is, that when the enemy comeJin like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. SOCIAL REFORM is now a recognized duty of Englishmen, and there Is urgent reason for it. The Rev. Charles Kingsley, author of cc Westward Ho !" and " Alton Locke," has been lecturing at Bristol'on this import ant topic. He stated that 'hvben a school boy, he had witnessed the Bristol riots, twenty-seven years ago, and thus received his first lesson in social sciince. He then saw what "the dangerous 1 classes " were. The poor were placed in great cities, in such a position as, if not crimital themselves, their children must becomeCleiiillifegis' was neglected, and, that helped to lead to moral pollution. As to 'idrankenness, so prevalent in great cities, tie main causes were bad air, bad food," - atl bad lodging. Confined work=shops and ed-rooms, had mach to do with it; the blohd was not prop erly oxygenated, and for temporary relief, the man went to the public house. Over crowding of dwellings, destroying all sense of decency, was another source of evil. His great remedies for drunkenness were, the bath, pure airi and good lodgings. Ragged Schools and reformatories treated only the symptoms, and not the cause of disease. We must touch the physical dendition of the mass. Mr. Kingsley, in his reference to Ragged Schools, forgets that cleanliness is an essen tial element of their opera* and success; and, moreover, that it is Lord Shaftsbury and his friends, who have been the main stay of sanatory reform, and of the move ment for improved dwelling's for the work ing classes. His (Mr. K.',a) opinions are called "Christian Socialism;;' but his Chris tianity has more of Rationalism in it, than of spirituality and sound :doctrine. Still, from whatever. source we :get the 'lesson, that " the wealth of the nation is the health of the masses," aecompanil with practieal suggestions, let us receive it, and act upon it, and follow it up by the leaven of a true Evangelism. A SOCIAL SCIENCE 001IGRESS has this week been in session, at Birmingham. Lords Brougham, Stanie, Shaftsbury, and Lord John Russell, have bOine a prominent part in it. Lord Brougham could justly congratulate the nation on the great social reforms which he had seen carried, and which he helped forward, in the, diffusion of cheap and useful literature,. and in the im provement of the law, and political freedom. The subjects under discussion, have been Jurisprudence, Law Amendhient, Education, Punishment and Reformation of Criminals, Public Health, and SocialZEconotny. The Early Closing - movementAad ire London representative present. J. W. P. S.—The Times, of today, speaks out afresh, and in telling words, against the past religious policy of the East India Company. It is rumored that a son of the celebrated missionary, Dr. Marshman, of Serampore, and long resident in the East, writes the principal leaders on the Mutiny. What a wondrous providence, that the son of one of the first despised missionaries from England, who were actually forbidden to land on An glo-Indian soil, should become the Nemesis of the criminal cowardice of the Company 1 For the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate. Synod of Ohio. This body opened its sessions in Wooster on the 16th ult., with a sermon by the Moderator, Rev. W. M. Robinson, from Matt. v: 13 ; "Ye are the salt of the earth." The Rev. John M. Faris was chosen Moderator for the ensuing year, and Revs. T. D. Smith and Silas Johnson were chosen Temporary Clerks. The following items of business transacted are deemed of public interest : WESTERN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. Winansas, The Western Theological Seminary was founded and located by the General Assem bly, and has, through a long series of years, been sustained in a career of increasing usefulness amid great difficulties, chiefly by the liberality of the churches in Its more immediate vicinity ; and whereas, a brighter day has dawned, in which this institution of our Church has, under the sig nal favor of Providence, had its debts paid, three Professorships fully endowed, a commodious Seminary building, and four professors' houses erected, and its Faculty completed by the elec tion of a fourth Professor, by the last General Assembly ; therefore, Resolved, That this Synod recognize the good hand of God in the past history of the Seminary, and do cordially recommend it to the prayers and sympathy of the churches within our bounds, and in the hope that such as have the ability will contribute liberally to the endowment of the Fourth Professorship. WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY. The Committee to whom was referred the Re ' port of the Trustees of West Liberty University, submit the following resolutions ; Resolved, That this Synod have heard with much satisfaction of the success of the Board during the past year, in securing subscriptions toward the endowment of the University, and af ter such a favorable beginning, are led to look forward with the more earnestness and confidence to the complete success of the enterprise. Resolved, That this Synod approve the Acts of the Board, and the By-laws which have been sub mitted in this Report. Resolved, That Synod do now proceed to elect six persons as members of the Board of Trustees; three ministers and three ruling elders, two of whom, a minister and elder, shall serve or three years ; two for two years. and two for one year from the present meeting of Synod. Resolved, That this Synod concur with the'Sy nod of Cincinnati in extending the time for com pleting the endowment to the Ist of Nov, 1858. The following persons were then chosen : Rev. James Hoge, P.D., and Dr. H. A. True, for three years ; Rev. H, Van Demon, and Thomas Moodie, Esq.; for two years; and Rev. John Robinson, and L. Flattery, Esq., for one year. BENEVOLENCE. WHEREAS, Synod learns with gratification that some progress has been made over former years, in the amount contributed for benevolent objects, in the increase in the number of churches con tributing, and in the decreased expenses of col lecting and transmitting funds ; but deplores the comparatively small amount contributed, and the failure of many churches to give anything for this object; therefore, Resolved, That Synod recommend the Presby teries that have not already done so, to appoint a Treasurer, through whom the churches shall transmit all their coatributions, and local agents, for each of the Boards, who shall see 'that the claims of the Boards shall be presented`annually to all the churches. Resolved, That the Presbyteries be again en joined to report to Synod annually their contribu tions for the Boards for the Synodical year, and to insist upon the churches making their centri butler's at the times prescribed by the Synod, un- less congregations have already fixed times for taking up their collections. Rea's , bed, That giving to the benevolent objects of the tihurch is an act of worship, and should be regularly observed as a means of grace, and an ordinance of God. BLAVEILY The Committee of Bins and Overtures having received a paper on the subject of slaveholding, overtired to the Synod from the Presbytery of Richland, proposed the following resolutions, which, being amended, were adopted: Resolved, That the decisions and declarations of the General Assembly of our Church respect ing slavery, have been uniform and consistent, when rightly understood, from the beginning until now. Resolved, That this Synod would refer those desiring information, to the action of the General Assembly of A. D. 1818, on the subject of slavery, as a comprehensive summary of their views. That4w,e, , f and all „quietism, ought to pray`, for the reileval of all bondage and oppres sion, and to emploY every right and practicable means of producing a result so desirable. The following action was taken in reference to the NEW SCHOOL SOUTHERN SECESSION WREICEAS, The ministers and elders who sece ded from the New School Assembly, at Cleveland, in May last, appointed a Convention, which was held at Richmond in the month of August, re solved to constitute a General Synod, to meet in Knoxville, Tenn., in May next; and instructed the Synod, thus constituted, to propose a union with the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church ; therefore, Resolved, By the Synod of Ohio, that the Gen eral Assembly be, and hereby is, earnestly re quested not to entertain or consider any such proposal from the Synod thus formed, for the fol lowing reasons : 1. It is doubtful whether the General Assembly has the Constitutional power to form such a union, unless authorized to perform such act by the Presbyteries. 2. In the aforesaid' Convention, leading men openly avowed their belief of those doctrines which were the reasons of the exclusion of the New School party; condemned the separation in 1838, as well as the Exseinding Acts of 1837 ; declared against the rule which requires the ex amination of members, on their admission to the Presbyteries; and avowed opinions. respeoting slavery, which are contrary to the, uniform testi mony of the General Assembly, as that it is mor ally right—is a Divine ordinance—and that it is not cognizable by the judicatories of the Church. Thus, throughout, directly opposing the doctrine and policy of this Church; and in all this they were not opposed by the Convention, or its mem bers. 3. If there are ministers, or churches, or pri vate members in that connexion, who accord and harmonize with ne, and desire admission to oar Church, the way is open through' ur judicatories, on the principle of conforming to our established rules. The American and Foreign Christian Union was commended by Synod; to the patronage of the churches under its care. Synod being informed of the existence and prosperity of the Delaware Female College; Un der the care of the Presbytery of Marion, com mended this institution to the prayers and pat ronage of our people. THE CONVENTION A proposition having been received to hold a Convention, to be composed of the members of this Synod, together with those of the Synods of Pittsburgh, Allegheny, and Wheeling, on the last Tuesday of November, in the City of Pittsburgh, with reference to the revival of religion in their churches, it was resolved to concur in the propo sition; and it was further recommended to those pastors and churches that may not be able to at tend, or be represented in this Convention, to hold meetings for special prayer and conference, on the evenings of its sittings, with reference to the revival of religion among themselves, and throughout the bounds of the Synod. Dr. Hoge, or in his absence, Rev. F. T. Brown, was appointed to preach at the opening of this Convention, it having been proposed by the other Synods, that this body should designate one of its members to perform this service. NARRATIVE OF THE STATE OP RELIGION "Watchman, what of the night ? The watch man said, the morning cometh, and also the night." God ordains that his children shall live in mingled fear and hope, under alternate sun— shine and shadow; that so they may.never despair because of discouragements, non tie elated by suc cess, and lulled to carnal security. As we pass from pier to year, our annual re view exhibits the usual aspect of good and evil upon our field ; calling for gratitude. to God for mercies received, and humiliation before him, be ca-use of sins committed and duties neglected by our •people. In many parts of our Synod, there have ap peared during the past year, some cheering to kens of Divine light and life—promises, as we hoped, of a new day. In . three or four of our churches, particularly in the Presbyteries of Richland and Zanesville, the light, broke forth gloriously, and, we trust, many souls were born into the kingdom of our Lord. Koreover, in nearly all our churches, the. GoB. pel has been regularly preached, and its ordi nances administered to good congregations. Promising Sabbath Schools are sustained, relig ious literature is circulated, and all the means of spiritual culture are employ ed. The spirit'of be nevolence is becoming more general, and its man ifestations somewhat systematized, though we have not yet approximated to our duty in this direction. We hope that the return of fruitful seasons,.such as the present, will call forth laiger thank-offerings, as soon as the derangement of the currency shall be corrected. Perhaps the mosthopeful feature of our Synod, is the, interest manifested in the establishment of 'first class educational'institutions. Our Presby terial Academies, though not largely endowed, are doing a good work for our youth. And our people are much interested in founding higher' in stitutions for the production of a. thoroughly ed ucated ministry, such as this age and the future demand. These are the hopeful indices which lead us to believe that, although we yet reap sparing. ly, seed is being sown from which future harvests shall be gathered. At the same time, we discern much that is dis couraging. In many places intemperance seems to be , increasing, and with it profanity, Sabbath desecration, and kindred vices. We believe that the instances are rare in which intemperance re ceives any positive countenance and support from church members. But there is general inactivity upon this subject, and all seem at a loss to know what methods to employ to stay the evil. We also mourn the abounding worldliness of the times, which seems to neutralize the efforts for evangelization, eating up the souls even of God's nominal people. And all pray that the present financial crash, may be the means of awakening, at least the Church, to the vanity of uncertain riches, and so check the infatuated "haste to be rich," which has made so many poor. Upon the whole, we believe that, as our Synod occupies, geographically, a medium position be tween the East and West, North and South, of our great country, so we occupy a fair medium position amongst the churches of our land. We have not the settled good habits and mature in stitutions of the East. Neither are we so 11E1- formed and unsettled as the strictly pioneer re ginns. Society with us, is in the second stage of formation, passing from the new to the old, and we think, in many respeots it is forming hope fully, and securing such habits and institutions as ',a mature Christianity should exhibit. We are comparatively little disturbed by the ultraisms and novelties of the age, though we feel the,general disturbance enough to induce anxiety and care, and lead us to seek protection and guidance from Him who alone can keep Israel in safety. If our churches, generally, can be brought to repentance, so as to secure even such a reviving over our whole field as a few small localities have enjoyed, then shall our every necessity be sup plied, and Zion sing aloud for joy, seeing her waste places built again. But, "if the Lord build not the house, the workmen labor in vain that build it." W. S. KENNEDY, Ch'n of Coto It was resolved, that the thanks of Synod be tendered to the Trustees of this Church, for the use of their house of worship, and to the citizens of Wooster for their hospitality, and to those Rail road Companies who have tendered their kindness to members of Synod, in carrying them at half fare. The next meeting of Synod will be held at Delaware, on the Third Thursday of October, 1858, at 7 .o:clook P. M. - By order of the Synod. M. A. Hoax, Stated Clerk. Zanesville, 0., Oct. 28, 1857. P. S.—A paper proposedby the Elders present, relating to an efficient Eldership. was adopted, and will be forwarded for publication. For the Presbyterian Banner and advocate. Synod of New Jersey—Narrative As the skillful artist, true to nature, throws upon the canvass a due proportion of the darker shades, so in-presenting to the Synod of New Jer sey a narrative of the state of religion within its bounds for the year past, fidelity demands the record of facts which are just cause of lamenta tion, as well as those of a cheering nature. Several of the Presbyteries "complain of world liness, spiritual declension, and the absence of the special tokens of the Divine presence. There exist cases of the entire, or partial, neglect of daily religious worship in the families of -our com munion; male members of the church do not attend, as they ought, the weekly prayer-meeting; the monthly concert of prayer does not, in some places, receive the attention it deserves ; and some are devoted to-the fashions and , pleasures of life to a degree incompatible with a close walk with God. The cause of temperance, in some sections, is stationary, in others on the decline. The social glass, on festive occasions, is beginning to circulate too freely; and it is feared that there are professors of religion and heads of families, who, in this matter, do not set an example that can be safely followed by our youth. There is need of urging on our congregations the apostolic injunc tion (originally addressed to bishops and deacons,) that they be "not given to wine.' As the grand specific for all moral and social evils is the truth of God's Word, and as the Church is the appropri ate agent to administer this remedy, it becomes her solemn duty, in her organized capacity as well as throngh her individual ministers and members, to employ , efficient measures thitt this hindrance to the work of the Lord in the midst of us may be taken out of the way. Though collections are made for all the Boards of our Church, yet contributions for benevolent objects have: not been brought up to a standard commensurate with our ability, with the wants of our own country and the Pagan world,, and with the high claims of the great Head of the Chnich. One of the Presbyteries, in its report, says: "We do not act as stewards of the means which God has given us . ; we do not act as men, who have professed to• consecrate ourselves, all that we have and are, to God, for the promotion °this glory and the salvation. of the perishing." Doubtless the same confession might be made by others. The Board of 'Publication is not receiving a due share of attention, and as yet the cause of Church Extension, and the Fund for Disabled Ministers, and the families of Deceased Ministers, are not regarded with a degree of interest proportioned to their respective claims. The unusual crisis in the-financial world, con curring with the. Sepay insurrection, which has cost the lives of missionaries, destroyed mission ary property, and put an' effectUalStop to thsEast India Missions, should awaken the inquiry whether God is not administering a rebuke to the Protes tant world and to us in particular, and whether the Christian Church should not evince her prac tical repentance of her sips, by a more liberal con tribution of men and means to the service of the ,Redeemer. During the past year God has been pleased to call up to their reward three of our number, two -whoin greeted us at our last meeting in their wonted health, namely: the Rev. William Graham, of Woodbury, in the'Presbytery of West Jersey ; the Rev. Symmes C. Henry, D. D., of Cranberry, in the Presbytery of New Brunswick; and a be loved father in the ministry, the Rev. Simeon R. Jones, of the Presbytery of Susquehanna. These events joyous to them, but mournful to us, furnish suitable materials for serious thought on this oc cession. There is much that is gratifying in our condi tion. Increasing numbers come up to our sanc tuaries on the Lord's day, and liiten with respect ful attention to the preaching of the Gospel. Feeble congregations have been strengthened, and have ceased to apply for aid to the Board of Do mestic Missions;:churches have been• organized, some of them self-supporting from the outset; new 'houses of worship, for the most part uneucum bered by debt, have been built and dedicated, or are in the process ... of erection; and a large BUM - her of vacant churches have been supplied with pastors.' In'the Presbytery of New Brunswick, ,eight new pastors have been settled. There has been an aggregate increase in the number of 'churches and ministers, and in the number of children baptized; and in all the Presbyteries there has been an increase in the number of com municants, Our ministers are generally exemplary, faithful and laborious in their proper work, giving their attention "in season and out of season," to the preaching of the Gospel as the Divinely ap pointed means of saving souls, and leaving philo sophical speculations, polities, and the agitating divisive topics of the day, with all' questions of merely secondary importance, to be discussed , and settled in their appropriate places. Consequently, the faith of the churches"stands not in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God," end the people generally are - not set at variance by bitter con flicts of opinion, nor borne away by a tide of fanaticism. There is a decided improvement in the provision made for.the support of the ministry, both as to the amount of salary and the blinding of parson age houses ; and the conviction is gaining ground, among both ministers and people, that the pa's torsi relation should be as permanent as possible. This conviction is producing its practical results in the greater stability and general prosperity of the churches. Our Synod presents some happy cases of the long continued union between the pastor and his flock. The Presbytery of West Jersey reports an instance in which a venerable father having served .the same people nearly fifty years, has now sought retirement from the active duties of the ministry. In eight out of nine of our Presbyteries there has been an increase in the amounts given for religions purposes: In , the Presbytery of Sus quehanna,• the sum total, though small, is double that of the last year, and the Presbytery of Lu cerne presents us the pleasing example of swelling her contributions to an • equivalent of , fourteen dollars for each church member. The. aggregate Contributions of the whole Synod, for religious purposes, show• an average of about ten dollars for each communicant; that is nearly two hundred thousand dollars for a little less than twenty then sand communicants. One of the members of this Synod, the Rev. Thomas Spence Ogden, of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, having devoted himself to the Work of Foreign Missions, sailed two weeks since, in company with his wife, for Ooriseo, IVestern Africa. By.the joint action of the Presbyteries of New Brtinswick, West Jersey, and Burlington, the region known as the " Pines of New JerseY," has been committed to the general, oversight of one of our number, the Rev. Allen H. Brown. Though this work, rom the' peculiar 'nature of the field, does not advance rapidly, yet his carried forward wisely, steadily and surely. At ,Tom's river, in OCeark County, it-is believed thatiane obstacle to the progress of the truth has been removed. In Philadelphia, 111 South Tenth Street, below Chestnut By Mail, or at the Office, $1.60 Per Year,t SEE PROSPECTUS. Delivered in the City, 1.75 " WHOLE NO. 268 that place, which has been the stronghold of Mar monism in New Jersey, public notice was given on Sabbath, September 27th, that religious worship would, from that time, cease to be held in that house. In our other 'missionary field which is in the "coal region" within the State of Pennsylvania, there is most encouraging progress ; but on ac count of its wide extent and the condition of a large part of its increasing population, it will, for some time to come, need the fostering care of the Church in a supply of men who can " endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ," and of funds for the support of missionaries, and the erection of church edifices. The Presbytery of Susquehanna, in particular, laments the want of laborers to take the charge of vacant churches and occupy her waste places. With regard to our youth, in many of the churches, Bible Classes are kept in successful oper ation ; and in nearly all of them the Sabbath Schools are flourishing, and the instruction of chil dren in the Westminster Assembly's Catechism is receiving. increased attention. The character of the public schools, especially in New Jersey, is greatly improving; which is to be ascribed in part to the indirect influence of the efforts made by our Board of Education, to estab lish denominational schools, and in part also to the happy operation of the State Normal School located at Trenton. In these schools the Bible is read daily, except in eases where there is culpable negligence on the part of puree ts or other patrons. A favorable report comes to us from the Newton Collegiate Institute, at Newton, and the Presby terial Academy at Blairetown, in the Presbytery of Newton. The Susquehanna Collegiate Institute at Towanda, in the Presbytery of Susquehanna; the Luzerne Presbyterial Institute at Wyoming, and the Wilkesbarre Female Institute at Wilkes qarre, in the Presbytery of Luzerne; and the West Jersey Academy at Bridgeton, in the Pres bytery of West Jersey, together with the several parochial schools within oar bounds, are doing successfully their appropriate work. There are, in addition to these, under the control of clerical members of this body: or communicants of our churches, literary institutions of a high character for each of the sexes, which are conducted on Christian principles, and are doing en important work for the right training of our youth. In the Theological Seminary at Princeton, there are one hundred and twenty students preparing for the ministey. The excellent men, who have in charge this institution, are proving, by the an nual results of their instructions, that they can prepare for the service of the Church, good Bib lical scholars, sound Theologians, and acceptable preachers of the Word; while, by their labors in the pulpit, and through the press, their " praise is throughout all the churches." The College of New Jersey, at Princeton has received an accession of more than one hundred students, the present season. In the able Faculty of this institution, we have ample ground for the assurance, that it will continue to grow in public favor, and that by making science the handmaid of religion, and this College in particular a foun tain of good to the Presbyterian Church, they will keep steadily in - view . the original design of its founders. In quite a number of our congregations there is, at this time, a hopeful seriousness and anxious inquiry; and during the year several have been blessed with the reviving influences of the Holy Spirit, the result of which has been a considera ble accession to the communion of the Church, by profession. Among these may be mentioned the churches of Pittston, in the Presbytery of Lu sarne ; Upper Mount Bethel, in the Presbytery of Newton.; Allentown, in the Presbytery of Bur lington ; and Springfield, in the Presbytery of Passaic. Precious seasons of grace have been enjoyed by the Second church, New Brunswick; the Second church, Trenton; and, by those of Titusville and Millstone, in the Presbytery of New Brunswick. Revivals of still greater power have been experienced by the churches of Manal span, Jamesburg, and First Cranberry, in the same Presbytery. With regard to the last, as it is now in progrtms, we quote from the Narrative furnished by the Presbytery of New Brunswick: t , In the providence of God, the First church of Cranberry was destitute of the regular ministra tions of the Word, but a short time after the death of Dr. Henry. Upon the whole congregation he had so long served, his death produced a deep impression, which was manifest in an unusually large and solemn attendance upon the means of grace. Additions were made to the church at each monthly meeting of the Session, until the first of' October, when forty-seven had been re ceived on a profession of faith. And at this time there are scarcely any individuals in the congre gation who are not unusually impressed on the subject of their soul's salvation. It is worthy of mention, that these results were secured, through the blessing of the Spirit of God, by the ordinary means of grace, and pastoral visitation from house to house." Having had such manifestations of the favor of oar covenant God, let us take courage. Notwith standing the many evils that are to be deplored, both within the Church and without its pale, there are yet more than seven thousand among us that have not bowed the knee to Baal, whose bright example, steady faith, unobtrusive labors, and mighty wrestlings with the Angel of the Covenant, will yet send up their report to our future annual Assemblies, in the record of multitudes that have been turned to righteousness. With humiliation for our sins, let us join thanksgivings for our mer cies; and let us, without ceasing, pray that God would stay his avenging arm,. and send down, more abundantly, his Holy Spirit upon us, "that his way may be known upon earth, his saving health among all nations." Sessions of Synod at Scranton, Pa., t October 21st, 1867. For the Preebyterlan Banner and Advocate Synod. of Southern lowa. The Synod of Southern lowa met at Fairfield, on the Bth of October, 1857—the place and time designated by the General Assembly—and was opened with a sermon by the Rev. S. Cowles, from ii : 4. The Rev. L. G. Bell was chosen Moderator; the Rev. D. V. Smock, Temporary Clerk, and Rev. S. C. McCune, Stated Clerk. The meeting was not large, but great unanim ity prevailed in all our counsels. The Rev. L. G. Bell and the Rev. S. Cowles, two of the oldest ministers of our order in lowa, and pioneers in the territory now occupied -by this Synod, were appointed to deliver, each, a historical discourse on the churches and ministers of this Synod, especially in their earlier periods. Through a Committee appointed for that pur pose, an appropriate notice was taken by Synod, of the distress and peril attending our mis sionary interest in India, end the brethren and sisters there ; expressing our heartfelt sympathy on their behalf, and realising that this is a special call, in Providence, to more united prayer, and to greater liberality in the great enterprise of mis . r ions. The Ashirmulnstitute was oorthally commended to the prayers and contributions of our churches. On the subject of the North-Western Seminary, UMW Resolved That this body cheerfully accede to the proposed co-operatihn in the supervision of said institution. ,Resobsd,, That the Rev. J . Harrison, D. D., the Rev. J: ;Misted. and Mr. William Patterson, be appainied Directors in said Seminary, on behalf of ,this Synod; that the. said Directors be in structed to attend the neat meeting of the Direc tors, in Chicago, and vote to transfer the Semi nary, with all its property and funds, to the entire control of the General Assembly; and that unless this is done, it is the deliberate opinion of this Synod, that said Institution cannot hope to enjoy the confidence and co-operation of the ministers and churches of Southern lowa. Synod adjourned, to meet at Oskaloosa on the 2d Thursday in October, 1858. at 7 o'clock P. M. 'Salary. C. McCown, B. C. Tis SIN or Corwrousustm.--We read in the. Bible of persons falling into gross sins, anal yet being restored and saved; but not of the recovery of one who .was guilty of the sin of covetousness. Balsam, Gehasi, Judas, and. Ananias are awful examples.