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.