Nanntr oiltoratt
PITZSBUB,OI‘,22OII2I7ART 27, 1868
TIMMSoo SSA% la advarreal or is Chilton
IMAM at rooldoasiss of Subsoils
bons $1415. Ilse Proppoistioup ow Third Page.
RUN lidliraui ho id w pro P* a MU*
vitgla borers the year axpiras, that Iwo ay
woke full iirmiginstosits for it steady supply.
THE RED WRAPPER indicates that ws
dells* sriei liwal. If bewares. in the haste
f Isiditles this slipial should bs Omitted, WO
hops our frisads will still not forget us.
RlCllllrgAgeng.—Soad paysaant by wile
bandit when sonveniont. Ora send by mall,
onelembig with ordinary ears, and troubling
nobody with a "knowledge of what yon are
kikking. our a largo ankkanota sand a Draft,
'large amnia /Per con or two paperikanind Oold
or aaali notes.
TO *AXE CinANfrltillond postage stamps,
Dr lbetliar Still, send for =ors palm* say $S
or Sorority inituaborri or $1 for Thirtylbroo
lrantbor
mime! all Lotter. sad CommonMations
to DAV. DAVID narmirs. Pittsburgh,
. ,
LANE SEMINARY, CINOINNATI.—This
ditution (New School) has thirty students,
from eleven different States.
Onrrusarns so numerous and so long
have oro*ded on ur, that we are obliged, this
week, to Appropriate to them two columns of
our fourth page I
TEE SECOND PRESBYErertrAw CEIIIIOH,
GERMANTOWN, Ps..„ was organized, Dee.
Slat, consisting of twelve members. It will,
doubtless, increase rapidly.
AOKNOWLIODGMBNT.---We have received
a dollar horn litinister's Wife," and for
warded it as requested.
ALso, five 'dollars from "C. M. 8.," which
bps been forwarded.
A UNION CONVENT/ON of the Ministers,
and Eldere of the A. R. °him& and the
Presbyterians in B. Carolina, is proposed, to
be held at Columbia, March Nth. The nig
,
gestion extends to N. Carolina and Georgic
A NEW Wonw..—“ The Church of God,"
by Rev. Stuart Robinson, is in press, and to
be published by Joseph M. Wilson, 111
South• Tenth Street, Philadelphia. It is a
development of the Profeator's Lecture at
his inauguration. We shall look for it with
interest
Ray. D. A. TYNG, of Philadelphia, lee.
tared before the Young Men's Christian
Association of Allegheny, on Tuesday even
ing, greatly, to the gratification of a very
respectable audience. His subject, it Man
hood, True and False," was treated with
great ability.
Clergymen De4seneecL
Rev. W. McCurLotton, of Erie Presby
tery, died on the let inst.
Rev. ISAAC W. Pram, of Yeeat Panne,
New York, died on the 9th inst., aged sixty.
nine yearn.
We have not been put in possassion
particulars relative to either of these breth
ren.
Church Extension.
We repeat a special regard to the'paper
of the Committee on this subject, in another
column. It presents some cheering facts,
and much very importaornm
ourclumtimatels...confie
- with - the prosperity and mo
Zion, and every chureh member, and every
good citizen who believes in Presbyterianism,
should oo•operate.
.11afratives Wanted.
The attention of the Church Sessions, in
the Presbytery of Ohio, is called to the fol
lowing Minute; the object of . Presbytery
being to secure a report, to be read at the
meeting on the first Tuesday in April, pre
paratory to its being forwarded to the Gen
oral Assembly.
Resolved, That Pastors and Sessions be
requested to forward the Narrative of the;
State of Religion in their respective churches,
to David Witinniy, D.D., at least ten daYX
prior to the next meeting.
18. 31,'Pzensorr, Clerk..
Tke Convention at Cincinnati.
Last week we published the Address to
the Churches, of this very interesting Con.
vention, and also a letter from " W.,"
giving a very spirited and attractive account
of its proceedings. We had hoped for an
authentic copy of the Minutes for o ur issue
of this week, but no copy has arrived. We :
have editorial reports in the Cincinnati Gaz
ette and the Presbyteria: n of the West, but
they were not the " certified copy" which
we understand the. Convention, by resolu
tion, asked us 'to publish.
"Yon Stopped Xy Paper."
Well, dear friend, we are very sorry for
it. We would greatly prefer to continue, if
you would only givn us the due authoriza
tion. Just look at the value of our journal
to yourself and family; and then think of
the small amount of money we ask for ; it,
and.of the immense , expenditure we put upon
it; paying cash for every sheet of paper we
use, and for all labor performed, and for a
large amount of mental aid, andlfor all per
sonal and family expenses. Then estimate
the importance of promPtitude oe your,part,
and resolve that your paper shall start again,
and never p, while you live and move:
WithingtAlt College, Pa.
The * Semi4.nniuil ;Munination of the
student,
of vriehAnow, College, will com
mence on Wedneeday l . the 10th of March,
at 9 o'clock A. 31. 1 and continue until
Wednesday noon, of they ollowing week.
Act Board of ',rrneti3ea, will` meet on
Wednesday, the 17th of Altuth, at 2 o'elock
P.M.
The Committee of Examination for the
Board of Trustees are, Rev., Drs. Stockton
and Wilson, Rev. Mr. Brownson, Rev. Mr.
Comingo, and G. Baird, Esq.
The Committee of Etunhiatiton for the
Synod are, Rev. Ponut 4 ; Rev. W•
&Mtn% Rev. Samuel Boyd, and Rev. Rob.
art Herron. Memo MICENNAS,
Sea. Basra. Tr tees.
iindern Infidelity and the Westminster
Review.
Skeptics usually pride themselves on the
fact that all the articles of their belief have
been submitted to a severe test of ratiocina
tion ; that evidence has been demanded of
the most unimpeachable character; that it
has been submitted to the sternest process
of inexorable logic; and that only after con
clusions have been arrived at by irresistable
demonstration, have their minds assented to
the propositions which they believe. To
receive as true the facts of the Bible,
especially the facts connected with the birth,
life, and death of the Saviour, they esteem
as a mark of blind credulity, or drivelling
superstition. This is espeeially the case
with those parts of the narrative where the
manifestations of Divine power are recorded;
because it is felt that if these facts can be
sat aside, the doctrines with which they are
connected must be swept away with them,
and thus all that is humiliating and offen
sive to the natural mind in Christianity, will
be removed put of the way , . If the subject
Were not so solemn and momentous as it is—
seeing that it involves the trethfulness of
the Bible, as a revelation from God, and the
consequent misery of those who reject its
teachings and refuse the Saviour whom it
reveals—it would be amusing to witness the
daring presumption;'the forgetfulnese of
scientific truths, when convenience demands;
the misstatement and ignoring of facts ; the
avoidance of indubitable evidence at hand;
the silly dogmatism, and the unreasoning
credulity,* which characterize the writings
of nuidern infidelity.
For instance, one system et' unbelief, rep
resented in the " Vestiges of Creation,"
propounds the doctrine, that 'by a law of de
velopment which exists in athe universe, the
family of man came into, its present 'state
through a series of changes from lower forms
of organization. Now, this monstrous prop°.
sition is not based on experience, on pie evi-
Awe of fact, or on any evfdence that would
satisfy a skeptic, when lie is not assailing
Divine truth. If, however, the position of
" The Vestiges " were true; then our crea
tion in a state of purity in Adam, the fall,
and all the doctrines therewith connected,
would necessarily be rejected as untrue.
This the skeptic knows, and this result he
wishes to see accomplished.
Then, again, geological discovery heti been
adduced as affording incontestible evidence
of the errors of Moses in his record of
the formation of the world. When, how
ever, the.testimony of geology is fairly and
honestly received, it is found to establish
the fact beyond dispute that there was a
time in the history of the past, when it could
be said of the different tribes and 'chum of
beings that now exist, or have. lived on the
earth, that they were not; and that again
there was a time when they Were called into
being, either by the miracle of a direct
creation, or—what no philosopher will ad
mit—that they started into being without a
a cause. This very science, then, from
which so much was expected by the infidel,
and which conducts him down into the bowels
of the earth, points its finger to the evidence
which the rocks have held in store for centu
ries, and demonstrates the reality of mirac
ulous operations. And yetaacidmm_ airPntioal_
carerocen mice of science_b_efore
. • •. • eau— couventiinWTOrget its
teachings, and reason as calmly on the ab
sterdity of belief in miracles as if this light
of the'age had never shone. .
We have been led into this train of
thought, by an article in the Westminster
Review, on " The Religious Weakness of
Protestantisnt." It is by far the most un
blushing, insulting, and low speeithen of in
fidelity which we have ever seen in that
journal. Very often as bitter and as bold.
specimens of , unbelief' have appeared in its
notices of "Contemporary Literature "-the
first article in this section .of the present
number,; a notice of " Dr. Ewald's. 'His
tory of Christ," ef: this eharacter.
But These have been brief and fragmentary
in their nature, while the paper before tie is
a permanent essay, occupying upwards of
twenty-five columns in the 'body of the
Revievi.
As we have already hinted the great ob.
jeot of the writer is to attack those portiohs
of the Gollopels in which the inspired penmen
record the fast connected with the miracu
lous `conception, death and resurrection of
,Saviimr. Be avows that he, has not
given full utterance to all the licentious ri
baldry that was pent up within his breast.
We had thought that the days of low, &en
tices attacks on the Gospels had passed
away when the miserable inebriate Paine
ad gone to his award; bat the present
writer tells us that in consequence of the
influence of a friend, he consented to hold
back a portion of his argument, because it
would " shock-religious decorum;" and he
is " wsxned•that the tepicis too delloate !"
On the subject of the crucifixion and'the
resurrection of the Saviour, the Reviewer
dor little more than present a re-hash of the
silly dogmatism of Strauss, which we had
thought a writer in ea learned a quarterly
as the Westminster, might have known bad
been overwhelmingly assailed -by Volkmar.
According to this writer, and' those whom
he follows, Jesus did not die on' the cross,
although the credible witnesses Who record
the transaction tell us that he.ditl 7 -that, he
was actually dead, and that a Roman - soldier
pierced his side, from - which blood issued.
On what grounds do our readers think the
death of Jesus is denied ? Why on none
but the bare assertion of these men, made
in the 'middle of the - nineteenth `clentiziy
Pilate did not Wish him to be put to duath,
and he was only therefor permitted to hang
a short time, on the ors! They wick , to es
tablish the feet that he did not die; and
therefore they assert, that he did not die,
and then we are to expect that they have
demonstrated their position. Having, thus
settled - this point, the Reviewer strives to
set elide the evidence of John respecting
*o n this punt our readeta may commit with
profit,
,the„aelabiratad esaay r:" Rectioa
and Fes~li , by - S * • • -;
TUE "
k I 4 Itk tWAII3I I ICA
the issue of the blood in consequence of the
wound in the aide of the Saviour. How is
this attempted to be done ? Why, by refer
ring to certain passages in Origen and
Euthymius, who wrote when anatomy was
not understood as' it is at present, and who
endeavor, in an illogical manner, to found
an argument for - the Deity of the Saviour,
on' the fact that after death the blood did
exude from - his side, as John has recorded.
Now, had this infidel ,Reviewer been • really
anxious to samaritan the truth on the St&
j eat, he would have' found that immediately
after death, when a post mortem examination
is required, if the large vessels connected
with the heart are interfered with, they
must be tied to prevent the exudation of
blood. Even such a reference to medical
authority was not required, for this writer
distinctly admits that it was possible that the
"wound, apart from the crucifixion, was suffi
cient to deprive of life; and he does not
even attempt to prove that this, which he ad
mits was possible, was not actually realized.
In the same way he deals with the facts of
the Resurrection, dogmatically asserting,
without proof, or hinting that' certain sup
posable things may have taken place, and
then reasoning as if these imagined aim
stances had really occurred. •
As we have said, the article is one of the
most unblushing assaults on Christianity
which we have ever read. While perusing
it, we repeatedly thought of a statement
lately made in a Belfast paper, by the Rev.
Dr. MoCosh, (the author of the eelebruted
work on the Moral, Government of God,) in
a letter on the reforms required in Scot
tish Colleges. He argued that a change
was demanded in the religious training
of students in the. Scottish Universities,
for, which he contends that no adequate
provision is made, and that, inconsequence,
many young men are left to nurse the doubts
which arise in their minds when they are in
their undergraduate course. They continue
.to reason and doubt until they reject the
faith of their fathers; and then, abandoning
their views of the ministry and their country,
they remove to London, where, as mere lit
erary hacks, they manage to gain a subsist=
epee by writing skeptical essays, with all the
hard•headednese of their countrymen; • for
the Westminster Review.
Oar readers may perceive that the article.
-to which we- have referred is a misnomer,
and had the Reviewer been honest, he would
have headed his paper, " The - Weakness of
Christianity," He had an object, however,
in view. As Romanian' inside, that on the
subject of transubstantiation and other points
the faithful flail believe, and not reason, so
Romanism, as a whole, is not to be reasoned
with. Its puerilities, and absurdities, and
blasphemies, cannot be defended by reason,
nor by Scripture correctly, reasoned on; and
as Protestantiam appeals to the exercise of
men's minds, and the conclusions to which
men must come by an examination of the
Word of God, then the object of this op
poser is to ohm that that Word is so con
tradictory and unsafe, as an authority of
ultimate appeal, that any system must be
weak, which rests on its authority.
We think that the time is rapidly coming,
when all men who have command of-th
itolit - 3 - S -rev
relation from God, must be at pains to let the
reading community know the real c'haracter
of this Review. If infidels, and the lowest
class of Socinians—were Hutnanitarians---
r are trilling to pay for the, support of a Review,
why, let them do so. But there are many
who will agree with us, that it will not do
for the religious and moral journals, of this
, ,
count 7 ind of 'England, to commend this
Quarterly as worthy of general circulation,
even though it frequently displays great
talent 'in its articles, on polities, travel, an.
tiquities, and history.- No medical journal
would commend a hotel or a boarding house
in which the dishes presented three or four
nutritious articles of diet, bat in one a quan
tity of stryohnine, in another a portion •of
prussic acid, and in a third a deadly meas
ure of laudanum, were likely to be , found.
It may be said that this argument is an'
acknowledgment that Christianity -is really
weak, and that we must be conscious of that
weakness, if we are not willing to commend
to the attention& all readers of the, commu
nity the'diderent skeptical productions which
emulate from the press. Such is not the
case. We make no such admission. But
we know that the great mass of the people,
in every nation and in every age, are not,
have not been, and will not be profoundly
learned in anatomy, antiquities, history,
ethics,: metaphysics, languages,- logic, and
jurisprudence. 'The , great bustle and bus..
messof life falls on the masses of our people,
and it is only those who are popularly called
the learned, whether they are found in the
pulpit, st the bar, in the class-room, "or in
other professional avocations, who, generally ,
speaking, will be found qualified to disease
such questions. If infidels, glen, choose to
sustain their own periodicals, the educated,
-who wish to do battle for Christianity can'
easily see as much of them as may be re
quired for this end; and the time is, we
think at hand, When the mind of 'the Chris
tian community must be made up as , to , the
line of conduct to be adopted in patronizing
or rejecting this Review.
__.___e_ _I ~
Help Needed.
Mr. John Blamer, a Ruling Elder in the
Presbyterian congregation at Hagerstown,'
Ind., is mow in our city with the hope of
receiving aid toward the relieving of the
church edifice from debt A. church of
eleven members, in the midst of a. people'
who greatly need the Gospel, undertook to
provide a house of worship, whither to invite
and where to accommodate and instruct
their families and fellow men. The house
is built forty feet by sixty, at a cost of f 3,000.
Their means are exhausted, and they earn
estly ask relief, being involved still in a debt
of $6OO.
Mr. Shearer• is well' recommended, and
we hope he will find -a ready response from
the fa'ored ones in this world's goods ) who
are Willing to `bontribitte to a good oatute.'
AleHaan Saiince.*
There are various modes of admeasure
,
ment, by means of which the amazing growth
and progress of our country may, be dis
cerned. We have known a foreign visitor
to take his stand on the top of a lofty Penn
sylvania hill, and-looking out on the ex
panding valleys, and the numerous home
steads on either. side of him, allow his
mind to survey the past. In fancy he
endeavored to reoalVthe,appedranee of the
= =
hardy emigrant and his frugal household,
entering the wilderness in which he was to
find his future home. In fancy he saw
tree after tree yielding , to the strokes of the
woodmen; and Johns, from valley to valley,
and section to section, he mentally followed
the adventurous pioneers. Let the mind
expand, and take into the picture, a similar
process in adjoining States, until the aggre
gate is arrived at of tAat herculean toil, that
indomitable energy, and that wondrous thrift
which , have been displayed on, this Conti
nent, by the Anglo-Saxon race. •
A similar mode of calculation may be
adopted with our cities and our towns; and
astonishing results in this dipartment will
appear, when ours are „compared with
the stationary localities of the Old World,
which seem to have: reached an early and
stunted maturity, and then to have prepared
for assuming the garb of venerable age.
The restless activity of -otir people may be as
clearly demonstnited, if we pass out of,the
region of the physical into that of the arts
and sciences.
These thoughts have been suggested by
an examination of the beginning of a great
National Work, which the Messrs. Apple
ton, of New York; have commenced to sssuc,
the first volume of which is now. lying
before us. High as the name of this Pub
lishing House deservedly stands, "Thee New
American Cyclopedii" will iniest it with
additional fame. Efforts of a similar char-
acter have already been made by others
among, us, but with indifferent success. In
the first place, the outlay of capital which is
required to prepare such an enormous work,
and to send it forth to the public before any
returns can be
are,
is such that few
establishments are eq . * to the undertaking.
We remember having heard, when the cele
brated " Abbotsford Edition" of Sir Walter
Scott's works was in process of preparation,
that the publishers SPent, on engraving
alone, the sum of forty thousand pounds,
before a shilling had been laid out on paper,
printing, and binding. In an Encyclopedia,
where the volumes must be so munerons—
where maps and illustrative sections are to
be exhibited, and where the whole field of
knowledge is to be traveled over, the writ
ers to be employed, and. the expense to be
encountered, are such that success can only
be expected where resources, pecuniary and
intellectual, are profusely:abundant.
Then, again, if the - Messrs. Appleton had
merely wished to see -their names on the
title 7 page of an Encyclopedia, it would have
been an easy matter for them to have put
into the hands of a number of ready book
compilers, the Penny Cyclopedia, the Lon
don, the- metropolitan, and the Edin
burgh, and from tile r . f Bi o g rap h •
worx
pretentaens - inignitude might hive been fur
.
nished. We hope that this in ode of book
making has come to an end on both sides of
the Atlantic, for wet- regret to say that, on
both sides, it prevailed.
We are assured that in , the preparation of
this volume nearly one kundred writers have
taken part, including persons in almost every
quarter of the United States, in Great 13rit-.
ain, and on the Continent' Of Europe. They
have merely been directed to abstain' from
the expression of private dogmatic judg
ments, and from the introduction of sectari
an comments, which would be antagonistic
to the `impartial historical character which
such a work should bear. The materials
thus prepared, have all , passed under the
critical review of the editors, and a chaxacter
of unity has thus been secured for the entire
work. We are assured that similar dili
gent* will be used in the preparation of the
subsequent volumes; and that an unceasing
effort will be made to keep the publication
up to the level of the latest information in
every branch of knowledge. That this
pledge will be fully redeemed, we doubt not; •
and that this great work will take its place
in our libraries, as a. standard of reference :
we fully expect and desire.
Reviewers are supposed to delight as
much in displaying their keenness and abil
ity to detect shortcomings, as ,in pointing out
good qualities; and, therefore, in virtue of
our office, as we have honestly commended
this great store-house of learning as being
worthy'the liberal patronage of our country-
Men, we may be allowed to say that, in
some things, we should like to see an im
provement in the subsequent volumes. We
refer to maps, and> illuerative sections.
American books excel in this mat' of com
municating knowledge. The time *as, when
I , picture books " were considered to be Et
only for children. We' are wiser now on
this point than our fathers were, and itiow
ing more of the workingk of . the - human
mind,we, understand how much is learned
•
by the eye, and we make our books and
magazines accordingly. In the volume be
fore us, we have only one map—but it is a
good one—of the Anthracite region of Penn
sylvania, and a number of accompanying
;motions
On the vexed subject of the doctrinal
tenets "of the Albigenses, it .is unques
tionable that Romish writers, have endeav
ored to blacken their, character, and to de
pict them as vile heretics, because of their
Opposition to the ltomish Sec That the
Pardicians and their descendants in the
East were infected with several Maniobwan
tenets, is unquestionable; but we arc in
clined to think that in the' lapse of ages,
and in consequence of the new subject,
* THS N*w AXIS/011.11 CYCLOPRDIS S Popular
Dictionary of General Knowledge. Edited by
Gears,* ii'ip/ey and Charles A. Dank Vol. 1., Bvo.
A—ARABDAY., pp. 768. .New York: D. 4 1 P -
plitOn CO., Broadway. Londol6 Little Brit.
alp; 1858.
brought before the minds of theirulescend
ants in the South of, France, their theology
had mainly assumed the appearance - of a
pretest against the errors and abominations
of Rpme. Hence the hostility of, that per
scouting power. . - •
We bad marked other subjects for notice,
but our space is already folly occupied, and
we must close by again expressing our great
satisfaction at the appearance of this volume,
which, favorably , introduoes , . to, the reading
public, 'one Of the *greatest Works Which any
publishing House of our country or age has
attempted to issue.
Revivals.
HOLLY SPRINGS MISS., GRANDVEEW,
ILL., and GEORGETOWN, D. C. We learn
that the Presbyterian Church in each of
these places is enjoying a precious revival of
religion.
CLAzroN, MILL CREEK, and BETICESDA )
is Clarion Presbytery, Pc See letter of
Mr. Sutton.
STEIIDENVIIALE, Onro. A gentleman
wbo, with intense delight, enjoyed last Sab
bath in Steubeniille, and attended Commu
nion in the First Presbyterian church, Rev.
H. G. Comingo, pastor, informs us that
there• is , a delightful revival there in pro
gress. Upwards of 'fifty members were added
to the Communion; of whom forty-five were
on examination. Five adults were baptized,
one of them a colored woman. A large
proportion of the new communicants are
young men. There are nearly an equal
number of persons, to those received, who
are still regarded as serious inquirers, and
for whom hopes are entertained. Many of
the cases of awakening possessed a special
interest. We trust that the pastor will give
us an account of the work, from his own
pen.
Board of Education.
We received a printed slip from the
Board, with requests to the enriches, rela
tive to the Day of Prayer and, the following
Sabbath;_but' it arrived when our paper
was nearly through the press. The Board
had received much aid, in answer to their
previous call, but not yet - enough to meet
the fourth quarter's appropriations to can
didates. More gereral,•or more liberal con
tributiobs are indispensable to the carrying
on of the work. Every church should
take up a collection - for this good cause,
annually, and every member of the congre
gation should give. •
The native Christians of the Sandwich
Island set a noble example in this respect.
A missionary thence stated, recently, in a
public addreas, that they never attend the
monthly concert of prayer without an- offer
ing. If they have'no money, 'they carry
something. else, such as a fowl, a garden
vegetable, or a stick of wood. How truly
consistenk this with a. profession of Christi
anity 1
Creek Agency," AirkMISSAL
The work of the Lord progresses at Kow
etah and Tallahassee. •We learn, by a recent
letter, that since November let, five perms
have been added to the church on profession
have been baptized. These indications of
the Lord's favor, serve greatly to encourage
and cheer the missionaries.
•
A public discussion was held, some months
age, in the Creek Nation, on the subject of
Baptism, between Rev. H. F. Bucknel
and Rev. R. M. Long Midge.. The result is
spoken of as being highly beneficial to the
cause of truth. Much knowledge on the
nature of the ordinance, the proper subjects
of Baptism,- and the Seciptural mode of ad
ministering the ordinance,was communicated.
Attention was arrested; doubters were estab
lished in the true faith; the Baptist brethren
were taught to be more respectful and
peaceful, and the churches have been more
flourishing.
Ordinarilly, we greatly prefer written to
oral discussions on great religious questions;
bat when a people are not readers, either
from want of education or lack of interest,
the oral mode, conducted by propositions
and responses from day to day, has great ad-
vantages,
Responsibility of Railroad Companies.
These institutions should be held to a full
account for all injuries to person and , prop
city, resulting from any want of due care on
their part. But we have often thought that
individuals should be held equally obligated
to remunerate them, when by.the individ
ual's want of care, the Company was sub
jected to loss. If an animal, which should
be kept in an enclosure, is permitted to run
at large, and is killed on the Railroad, and
at the time throws the oars off the track,
doing great damage, the owner of the animal
is the guilty person, and should be so held
in law. If a man should carelessly ride, or
drive his carnage or. wagon on the track,
causing the destruction of his own property,
together with great damage to the road, the
train, and the passengers, be should be held
responsible - to the CoMpany, and not the
Company to him.
ItT has been thus decided in a late suit,
against the Philadelphia, Wilmington and
Baltimore Railroad Company— at leist
so far as to clear the Company.' A Mr.
O'Brian had driven his two-hoise wagon on
the Railroad, when the train was approach
ing, and being run down, he sued for dam
ekes. After a three days' trial, the Jury
broniht in a verdict for the defendant.
Judge Woodwird, charged the jury :, " let.
That a person about :to : cross a Railroad
track, is'in duty bound to stop and look in
both directions, and listen before noising.
2d. That if the plaintiff contributed' in the
slightest degree to the accident in question,
he could not recover, although the. Railroad
Company were negligent!'
This is common sense and even-banded
justice, and will do much to produce cannon,
and hence to yreserve property and life.
There is a mutual obligation, and parties,
should be equally held to the use of due
caution.
Western nadtentbmr.
The annual, report, for 1857, of this well
conducted Institution, presents some matters
of interest.
The Moral Instructor, Mr. Thomas Cramp
ton, has religiouis services, in different
wards, so arranged that every prisoner may
attend twice in three weeks. He also visits
the prisoners separately, instructing them,
and supplying them with books.
Mr. Crumpton regards neglect of educa
tion as a prevalent cause or occasion of
crime. Many of the convicts are unable to
read correctly. The want of a capacity to
read with ease and understanding, induces
men to seek enjoyment in carousals and in
toxication ; and these efpose and stimulate
to crime. Of all the prisoners, not more
than a dozen have been taught beyond the
rudiments of common school instruction.
There are at present incarcerated one hun
dred and eighty-seven persons; of whom
twenty are colored, two are females, but
eighteen were temperate, and one hundred
and four were never married. Of the whole
number, seventy-one are from Allegheny
County, eighteen from Blair, thirteen from
Washington, and twelve from Erie. All
the farmers of the district have supplied but
seven, and the professional ranks none. The
State of Pennsylvania has furnished, by
nativity, ninety-nine; the other States, thir
ty; Germany, twenty-six; Ireland, twenty
one; England, nine; Wales, one; and 'Scot
land, one.
Worth Noting.
The American Presbyterian says
"Contributors to our columns would con
fer a favor upon the Editors, and secure a
hearing, from our constituents, by making
their articles short. An article a half col
umn in length, is more apt to be read than
One a column long; and when, the matter in
hand runs through two or three or four
columns, unless possessed of uncommon in
terest, it will not be read. Justice to those
who take our paper, compels us to decline
such communications."
There is so much worth in this paragraph
that we transfer it to our columns, and re
quest to it the particular attention of con
tributors. 'Where an article possesses uncom
mon interest, two or three columns may be
read; but, in nearly all cases, the more a man
writes, the less information does he commu
nieate—he will be the less read—his piece
will be passed over, with the notice of only
two, or three sentences at the head of, two or
three paragraphs. Take an interesting sub
ject and treat it with point, perspicacity and
brevity, and you will be welcomed by editor
and reader.
Dedication at Pine Giove Mills, Pa.
On Sabbath, the 14th inst., an edifice
erected by the Presbyterian cOngregation at
this place, was solemnly dedicated to the
service of Clod. The editor of this paper,
assisted by the pastor, Rev. Thomas Steven
son, and by Rev. Mr. Mosher, of the Evan
gelical Lutheran Church, conducted the
services. The'ehurch is of brick, forty feet
byfifty substantial, comfortable, and neatly
finished, at a cost of $3,400.
The congregation is small, and not wealthy;
but willing minds and united etforts_can_ae-
colaptish much. — What was' regarded a
pretty liberal subscription, had raised but a
little more than half the cost. On the day
of dedication, however, the congregation,
desirous not to leave the laborer unpaid, nor
have the house built for God encumbered with
debt, and estimating how the Lord had
prospered them, consecrated to the object
before them $1,688, the amount needed.
This is worthy of being noted•for example's
sake. No church should abide in debt.
Debt is a serious drawback upon comfort,
usefulness, and liberality.
Colleges.
The ,New York Observer says
"We have received the annual statement
of the religionspondition of colleges, from
Which it appears that in 47 colleges there
are 8,640 students, of, whom 3,082 are pro
fesiors of religion. There were during the
last year 429 hopeful conversions. There
were 987 who intend to become ministers,
and 68 who intend to become missionaries.
The number reported the previous year as
intending to become ministers was 1,043."
For the; Fresb,yterian Banner and Advocate.
Acknowledgment
BARCLAT, lowa, Feb. 13,- 1858.
Ray. Dn. Molciamar—.Dear Sir :—Permit me
through your excellent paper, to acknowledge
the donation of $B5 'dollars, through the Rev.
Dr. M. W. Jacobus ; $25 from Henry Shelden,
Esq., and the balance from an unknown friend:
To all these friends I return my sincere and
heart-felt thanks. That these friends may find
preciousness in the promise of Christ, that he
that giveth even a cup of cold water to a disciple
in the name of a disciple, shall, by no means,
lose his Toward, is the earnest prayer of the,re
oipient of this valuable gift.
Ecclesiastical.
Rev. T. B. VAN EMAN desires correspond
ents to address him at Bentleysville,
Washington Co Pa.
Mr. T. W. Hoop, a licentiate =of Rano
ver Presbytery, has been called to the
churches of Pole Green• and Salem, in
Hanover. Co., Va. Oorrespondents will ,
please address him at Richmond, Va.
Rev. WM. BROWN'S Post Office address
°hanged from Cline's Mills to Mt. Sidney,
Augusta Co., Va.
Rev. biomes E. PECK has accepted a call
from the Central church of Baltimore,
and has entered upon his duties as pastor.
Rev. Joszpu. H. IVlmus, late of St. Au
gustine, Florida, has been installed pastor
of the First (thumb, -Plainfield,. New Jer
sey, by the Presbytery of Elizabethtown.
Rev. DANTSL McGturAitt, of the Synod of
North Carolina, is soon to go out as DIU-
Mainly of the Presbyterian Board, to
Siam.
Rov. Wit. YOUNG'S Post Office address is
changed from Huntsville, Logan County,
Ohio, to Findley Hancock County, Ohio.
Rev. JAM COULTER has resigned the pas
toral-oharge , of the churches of Ramona
- burg and Evansbnrg, in the Presbytery
of Erie.
Be,. ROBERT F. TAlrnon late of Dallas,
Texas, has accepted an invitation to sop
ply the church of Vernon, Ind„ and re
nioVedihither.
EASTERN SIIMMARy
BOSTON AND NEW ENGLAND.
The Bill to Admit Atheists to testify in
Courts of Justice, which passed the H ow
by a large majority, has been defeated in th e
Senate by a vote of twenty to fifteen. 'A,
friends of the measure made active a nd
strenuous efforts to secure a reconsideration,
but failed. The number of real Athei s t s i s
very small, but it would have been very di s .
reputable for the State of Massachusett 3 t o
have been the first of the American States
to ignore the necessity for an acknowledg.
ment of the Divine existence and accounts.
bility by those called to bear witnez
Atheists have rights that are to be esteemed
inviolable by State or Church; but the i n .
terests of a great commonwealth, avowal)
Christian, are not to be imperilled i 4 th e
way attempted by the bill that has been r e .
jested.
The amendment to the Constitutio n TN
(Inking an Additional Residence of t„,
years before' voting, from naturalized e i t i,
tens, has passed the lower Douse by a rote
ninetyseven to twenty; also a series of
lutions instructing the Senators, and reque z ,
ing the representatives in Congress to opiy,„
the Lecompton Constitution.
At a meeting of the Creditors of L a ,,
rence, Stone & Co., it was ascertained that
the claims against the firm amountedkto Sl.
100,000.
The Atlantic Monthly encounters a strong
opposition and the severest. criticism. F rom
all parts of the country, newspapers came
freighted with strictures and corrunte ts ,
However, most of these have reference only
to a few articles, which are commonly at.
tribnted to Ralph Waldo Emerson, aad
which contained some things highly objet•
tionable. It would be well for the editor to
avoid similar causes of offence in.the fatare.
It cannot be denied that some of th e
articles in, this new claimant for public favor,
nave possessed much substantial merit, and
give,evidence of great capabilities for widely
extended usefulness, if the proper cirection
betaken.
Tie Rev. Mr. Kalloch, notwithstandin g
the efforts of his people to induce him to
slier the determination expressed some time
ago, has preached his farewell sermon, and
retired from the ministry to the practice of
the law. He has done this from a envie
tion that his ministerial influence would be
lessened, and that the Church may be pro
tected from even the appearance of evil.
While successful attempts are being made
in New York for the better Observance of
the Lord's Day, there is an effort on the
part of some in this city to secularize it to a
still greater degree. The first public move
ment in this way is a series of "Fashionable
Readings" given by Mrs. Barrows, on Sab
bath, evening. The object is to relieve this
desecration of sacred time, as far as possible,
of some of ifs objectionable features, upon
the plea of imparting instruction, cultivating
a correct taste, and occupying the thoughts
of those who might be disposed to frequent
less reputable places, if this entertainment
was not provided. But the actual effect is
the setting aside of God's command, and to
teach men 'Leidisregard his authority.
The Congregationalist proposes to Split
the Difference between Calvinism and At
minianism, that the old controversy may be
settled. For this purpose the editor girno
in parallel columns what he supposes to be
the distinguishing points of Calvinism and
Arminianiam, and then proposes a system
to be educed from the two. But with re
spect to the Calvinistic system he not only
splits off from the phraseology, but as it
usual with most projects of the kind, from
the substance. The editor's labors in this
way will not, probably, be more successful
than the work of Dr. Edward Beecher, pub
lished some time ago, which was to establish
the true doctrine of original sin, in opposi
tion to all the different Evangelical creeds,
and to unite all.
An increased degree of Religious Feeling
has been manifested for some time in the
churches served by Drs. Adams and Kirk;
as well as in some of the other Orthodox
Congregational churches.
A Han of War is not a very probable
place to expect a revival of religion. Bin
"the Word' of God is not bound." Tar
conversions have recently occurred on board
the receiving ship Ohio, at the Charlestown
Navy Yard. These persons represent six
different nations, and some of them, until
recently, had never entered a house
of wet
ship or heard the voice of prayer. A num
ber inquirers are still found on board the
same vessel.
O The Rev. Henry Jessup and wife sniff'
this week, from this port, for Smyrna, to re•
enter upon their missionary work. Mr-
Jessup is a son of Judge Jessup, of Penn
sylvania, and• a graduate of Union Thelogi.
cal Seminary, New York. He has already
bad several, years' experience in the ads-
Bioniu'Y work, at his present destination.
NEW YORK.
J.D.CAIDMILL.
Cold Weather has come; the sleigh hells
'have been ringing merrily; and a plentiful
supply of ice has been secured. Thus one
.source of apprehension for the coming Sum
'mer has been removed.
The Arrives of Strangers at the hotels
continue to be numerous. Sales of the
plainer qualities of dry goods are increasing;
but some kinds of fancy goods are disposed
of with great rapidity. Fashion must be
'gratified at whatever expense, and however
great the results of extravagance. Economy
in dress and household is not one of our
national virtues. The habits of the metrop
olis have their imitators in every inland city
and town.
ne Real Estate Business is unusually
dull; although rents have not decreased to
any appreciable degree. Indeed the rents
are so high, and the expenses of housekeep
ing are so great, that there seems to be little
prospect at present, for a decrease of the
idle, gossiping, and ruinous system of hotel
boarding.
The Isetzlid hospital, erected Eton ten