anua' anli Atf,,Orait.
PITTSBURGH, JUNE 26,1858.
TEEMS... 1111.50, In advance; or In Clubs
VAS; or t elolivorod wt rviidossoos of Subserl.
bars. sl.7a. Se* PrOsportus, ou Third Page.
it RN EW AL fil should be prompt; a pith)
while before intik ism sYplres, that we May
teaks full arraugurassts for a steady supply.
Taw RED WI APISH indirates that we
dash*, a renewal. If. however, hs i theehuste
Of this signal should be 011111ifttod, we
hops - our friends will still not forget sus. •
RIAILITTANGEdr-Send payment by sate
hands§ when convenient. Ors wild by lulls
enclosing with ordinary ears, and troubling
nobody with a knowledge of what you are
,d sing. For a large amount,..end a Draft, or
large notes. For One or twO paper', send Gold
Olt small note s ,
TO MAKE CHANGE, Salad prrotago stamps,
or better 4111 9 road for stioro poitoril ray Issl
or Sorority nuarborsi or IP for Thirty-three
nasolloror
DIRT CT all Letters and Comaturdcatlon*
to REV* DAVID NaKIIINAV. Vittiburght
Val
AorioN of the congregation of Ilionaghan
will appear next week.
REV. -DR. HAMILTON, once . of Newark,
and afterwards of Mobile, who was deposed
from the ministry for immorality, has given
to his ‘Presb3rtery satisfactory evidence of
repentance: He has hence been restored to
the communion of the Church, but not to
the right of exercising the functions of a
minister. His position is that of a 'private
member:
Rev, James Oalbraith.
An obittiary notion of this aged minister
of the Gospel, who ceased from the toils and
cares of earth on the 28th-, of March last,
will be found in another column. The body
had been for some time too feeble an instru
ment for the putting forth of the soul's full
energies, and time's progress malting it unfit
for, even a residence, the spirit departed; as
we trust, to the building of God, the house
not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Pittsburgh Annual Conference.
The Minutes of the late .meeting of our
Methodist brethren, at Cambridge, 'Ohio,
give. evidence - of life and much energy,ln
. the body. We find the names of 179 min
isters, as belonging to the Conference. The
total number of churches is 532 and of
members 31,681, being a net , increase of
1,284 during the year. The number : of
probationers for ' membership is 1.0,466.
These are mainly fruits of the revival during
the Winter and
. Spring. The contribution
to their Missionary Society was $11,183.72,
and to the Bible Society,. $2,34.8.94.
The Fourth of July,
The day commemorative of the National .
Independence of the United States will,
this,year, be, the Sabbath. For the ordinary
purposes; of celebration, Saturday or Mon
day will - be observed. But Christians will
not forget the event, on , the Sabbath, in
their addresses to a throne of grace. Na
.
tional sins will be confessed with sorrow,
and pardon will be implored. The, favors
enjoyed by the Nation will come up largely
before the naind, and he gratefully acknowl.
edged. And the Divine' favor 'will be im•
plored, in perpetuating the government, in
blessing the land with peace, health and
plenty, and in making us a righteous people,
a nation of. Christians, benefiCiaries, tempo
rally and spiritually, to mankind.
Our General Assembly recommended to
the churches such a recognition of the 'day,
and doubtless pastors will lead their people
in their. pions thankßgiyings and ardent ,as
pirations for God's best blessings
,upon this
his most favored of the nations.
Temper*nce.
The Temperance Battle not Man's, -bat
God's,'! is the title of a Traet by Rev. John
Marsh, D. D., Correspondink Secretary - of
the Ameiicati Temperance Union, New
York. The subject is' treated with`great
ability, and we cOmmenclitho work to,an
tended circulation. The interest in the
cause of. Temperance has greatly:ftagged, of
late. Possibly it was tho inuch ,dissociated
from 'Teligion—made too much' inerelyr; a
matter of humanity—treated of too little
as connected with man's' prospects of
heaVen, 'and its advancement not enough-re
garded .as a 'duty, to God. The churches
have certainly been quite too little • engaged
in its promotion. Still we do not quite like
the title' of Dr. Marsh's Tract. 'We would
say, the Temperance Battle is both God's
and Man's. God enjoins it, man is to wage
it. Man must contend, God will give suc
cess. The glory will be God's, the benefit is
Man's.' Christians; one and all, 'should
qome up to the help of the .Lord, against
this mighty foe. God's cause, and the
drinking liquor traffic, are direct antagonists.
The triumph of the one is the prostration of
the other.
Inaugural Discourses.
At the proper time we noted the induction
of Professor Wilson into the Chair of His
tory, in the Western Theological Seminary.
We also „43poke of the Addresses .on the
oeoasion.ai being excellent and appropriate.
We recur ' to them now, because they have
just been laid' on'our table, in a neatly exe
cuted pamphlet, of forty pages.
The charge . , to the Professor was delivered
by Rev. Samuel bleFarren, D.D., of Con
gruity, Pa., and speaks of the dignity, duties
and responsibilities of the Office. The In
augural, by the Professor, Rev::. Samuel J.
Wilson, A.M, treats of " Thel History o f
Preaching." We do not attempt'-to
Wise, nor 'to give quotatioes. We'vish the
'Discourses to be extensively read: They
are worthy—liell worthy. .Every Christian
in the region•of the Seminary, but especially
every minister, elder, and intended candi
date should , form the acquaintance with the
new'Professor, and'irith, his department, in
the Seminary, which is to be attained by the
dreading of his Discourse..
The pamphlet was published, and is for
sale' by John S. Davison, '6l Market Street,
Pittsburgh:. It saill . ba sent to any addreas
poitago pid, for 15 cents remitted.
Church DebtL
There are in churches many evils which
are to be deplored. Of these, one of the
most serious and influential for mischief, is
a Church Debt. And yet, when the state
of many churches in our Presbyteries is
considered, it would almost seem that
our people are either fond of having
their ecclesiastical edifices involved, or
that they consider it neither a disgrace
nor an evil to labor for many years
under an incumbrance which is weighing
down their energies, and preventing them
from acting 'as they should do in the eaten.
sion of the Redeemer's kingdom.
Debts are often incurred in consequence
of foolish and sinful extravagance in the
expenditure of needless sums in the erec
tion of a building, in which pride and
vanity are displayed,, instead of an. enlight
ened desire to raise a temple for the service
of the Lord. In such a case they hope that
a costly building, with gorgeous architectu
ral decorations, may serve to attract those
who are caught by taste and fashion. Then,
in crder that things may be in character,
a minister who will drew a crowd -must be
sought out—ene who - will tell on the public
taste, and create a soiled 'of , his own. In
stead of searching, for,. a faithful : preacher
of the- Gospel, who will lead souls to:the
Savionr, , the ministrations of such an one
are considered old-fashioned and out "of
date. 'Something new, attraetive, emotional,
philosophical, profound, and poetical, must
be had ; and for such discourses as a preach
er of this class will furnish, a round sum
must be raised in the way of, salary. This
tells on the scale of the seat-rents; and thus,
if there were any use of the poor going-to
such a place, (where, in ""many cases, such
spiritual food as would truly, benefit the poor
Who seek after Gospel tidings, is seldom to
be found,) the - enormous seat-rents effectu
ally exclude them. Even in those churches
where the Gospel is preached, and where
s
such an evil system of temporal management
prevails, the poor are, as a general rule, shut
out, and the result - is, that failure overtakes
the establishment in the end. - The death
or removal of a few heads of the wealthy
`families that sustain the enterprise, produces
such, a vacuum in the treasury that the
sin
terest on the building debt, the expenses of
the choir, and the salary of the minister,
cannot be sustained. Ere long, the minis
ter has "a call, in Providence, to another
'field of
s usefuluess ;" but, those who under
stand the financial condition of the people
losing his , services, know at least one reason
why he was willing to leave. This system
is altogether evil.
Again, there are other oases where church
edifices are erected, and a heavy debt is left
an the building because the managers of the
new enterprise are satisfied with having got
the house opened, and the expectation is
formed that an energetic ' man may succeed
in removing, this obstacle out of his way in
a short time. No sooner is the pastor placed,
than it is discovered that it' will not do to
have the seat-rents pitehed too high. Other
churches have a moderate , rate, and the rate
here must be moderate, too. The result is,
that at the end of the year the interest of the
debt is found to have consumed a large part
of the income of the chnrch which really
should have gone to the support of.the Woo
lions pastor. lie has toiled all the year,
1 and brought into the treasury such a - sum as
would have formed a moderate pastoral sun
'
port, but he has to bear the mortification of
seeing the produce of his labors divided into
three shares—one goes to the account of in
terest on debt, anotherto sexton, gas,,insur
anise, coal, and incidental, expenses, and
the third is devoted to him whose toil
produced the whole. How often, in such
cedes, would the wealthy and well-to-do in-a
worldly-sense managers of these churches
involved in debt, feel, agrieved, if, when. the
produce of their business were divided into
shares, one share only was handed over
for , their support, while the others went
to liquidating'the cost of the store in which
their business was Aransaotedl The evil be
comes worse when, from year to year, no
extra effort is made to reduce the burden of
debt which is thus pressing on the church.
We know a church which, during the last
sixteen years, has paid for the interest of its
debt considerably more than the building is
worth, and yet there remains, of debton the
edifice, several .thousands* of "(Jenard more
than it would now . bring under the
sheriff's hammer. In this churoh, the
pastor's hands have been effectually tied and
manacled by the debL If the friends' of
,
the benevolent agencies of, the day -seek ad
.
mission to the church to plead their cause,
the, obstacle is "the debt of the church."'
"How can` we give away to other' schemes
that; which should go to the relief `of-our
own burdened edifice? And yet the
ten
dency here is to rest on the yearly .produce
of the seat-rents, because, if much is( said or
done in the way of extol, effort, the people,
it is expected, would not bear the pressure.
Hence injury is inflicted, on every side. On
the people who lave not such opportunities
of taking their place iu the promotion of the
great'beneiolent schemes of the day, as they
Would have, - were .the, apology of "church
debt" not constantly and obstructively be
fore them. On the pastor, who has to labor
from year to year under the consciousness
that, many will keep aloof ifecause
s of the
name of " church debt," and also that when
. .
he has toiled, and labored, and prayed, oiae
half, it may be, of all, that he : has brought
into the ,ohurch treasury will go into the
whirlpool in which it'will be absorbed,
, and
no beneficial result of an expansive pharacter
will flow from it in the end. On the people,.
~
.because they ,are kept familiar with au-apol
ogy for doing less than they could do, and
less than other churches do which are not
th#sencumbered; , and thus, 'i'n eVery'*ny)
`" the debt" is a "crying grievous evil - -
;,:We.believe that for several years past,
Bishop Potter, of Pennsylvania, noted stead=
featly on the principle dedicating: no
church edifice in hie dios;erie,that was not
free fran debt.. 'There . was
,greatutninprin
this course, and we could earnestly wish that •
[RE PRESBYTERIAN BANNER AND ADVOCATE.
our Presbyteries would take a hint from our
Episcopal neighbors on this subject. So
long as people in a new charge expect that
as soon as the roof may be on the walls of
an intended church edifice, and the building
got into a forward state of readiness, it will
be' recognized as a church edifice really be
longing to a Presbytery, the anxiety to do
all that really could be done by the people
will be slight indeed. It is easier tar to
put forth a vigorous effort before the edifice
is taken orit!Of the hands of contractors and
opened for public worship, than it is to
arouse the people when once they are seated
in the building, to it renewed struggle. They
feel that they are in ; and then they are
comparatively satisfied. They are aware
that all is not right yet, but they look to`the
minister, or to the aid from some quarter that
does not come, and they gradually get satis
fied with having the burden on their shoul
ders, Until they find that minister after min
ister has to leave them, and then at length,
but not until then, are they awakened to do
that .which should have been done at the
beginning. They form themselves into a
committee of the whole house—into agiving
and 'getting cornmittee—and they persevere
until the work is done.
Congregations are, often to blame for their
niggardlineqs, and a want of business energy
in the management of their temporal affairs,
but in nine oases , out of ten, where new
churches in lately-formed chilies aresover
whelmed with debt, the evil must be laid at
the door of the Presbytery. There has been
want of energetic superintendence, and of
that control which this Court should al
,
ways exercise over all the subordinate ju
risdictions.
_Many will no doubt read these observa
tions,-who are connected with churches in
volved in debt We'beeeeob. them to profit
by our hints; to use their influence in
awakening among their friends, and among
the members of their church, a proper sense
of duty; and to enter heartily into a well
arranged scheme, which, when adopted,
shall be carried on until the last dollar of
debt shall be, wiped out, and the church can
be really said to belong to the people who
have been accustomed to call'it their own.
United action and persevering co operation,
will soon, under the Divine blessing, effect
this desirable end.
The Mormons.
The power of fanaticism is wenderful.
The institutions of the Mormens their po
lygamy, &c., not•being consistent with the
ordinary laws of civilized society, they, rather
than be obedient, left their homes in Mis
souri, where first they settled, and went to
Illinois. Here, at NauVeu, they built aly
and a Temple, with great labor, and were
multiplying ;• but the laws of the State being
extended to them, they preferred to leave
all and migrate again. They then went to
the far•off wilderness of Utah, and located
at Salt Lake. Here again they built a city,
and arranged for a permanent habitation,
and gathered 'to them large multitudes of
converts, through the agency of emissaries
to Europe. • But, civilization dressed after
them, and reached beyond them. Soon
California becarne one of the United States,
and Utah is on the way thither. And New'
Mexico becomes an American Territory on ,
one side; and Oregon a Territory on the
other. And even Utah itself is soon made
a Territory, and the National Government
claims the right to regulate the people.
This they cannot bear. They repel the Gov
ernors, 'Judges, and other officers sent to
them. Another Governor sent, sustained
by a United States army, and now, resist
ance being vain, they again, though num
bering tens of thousands, leave their city,
towns, farms, •mills, factories—their all, ex
cept what they can carry in their s wagoni,
and drive before them 'and once more be
,
come voluntary exiles I
Here is certainly an incontrovertible evi
dence of strong attachments to their institu
tions. *Ucannot say, attachment to their
religion, for their , faith might be held and
professed to its utmost, and their rites of
worship might be,practised to:their fullest
extent, under the United. States Governmen t-
There would not be the slightest molesta
tion. But, Would their polygamy be safe ?
It would be, most likely, so .far as,law was
concerned, as long as they had the majority
of voters. But, would it be practically safe
Noe not at all. Only a few of .them could
keep their five, or ten, or'twenty wives faithful
to the marriage bond, if there were scores
and hundreds of men, not Mormons, and
not able .to have and sustain ; wives as Mor
mons do, living in their midst. Infidelity
to their lords 'Would be of frequent occur
rence, and there would be no power to make
the women submissive. ' Hence it is_that
Mormons need a country to themselves, and,
vainlj striving to have it, fly before the, ap
proaches of an immigration which they, can
not repel.
Whither they now tend, does not yet fully
appear; but they will be oiertaken, if they
stop in Sonora, or in any plaeo on the con
fines of the United States. An island in
mid-ooean is the only pines Which would
promise to, them an abode where they could
long live as they list.
The ihdversity of Virginia.
This institution was planned by Thomas
Jefferson, and brought into existence Under
his influence. It was adapted' to the fur-
Dishing of a very thorough education in lit
erature and science, excluding religions in
struction. The excluding plan, however;
was of bit short Ouration. 'Boon, there was
provision' made for this essential part of
youthful training. There are now over six
hundred students connected with the Uni
versity, and their opportunities are highly
favorable, though their attendance upon the
religious exercises is left entirely optional.
A writer in the New York Observer thus
speaks
"There has long been, and now is; a , de,
cided religiousAulluenee in the , University
rWithin three 'years lifter its
foundation, regnlarSabbath services. began'
'within its walls: Two 'years after, a Chap:
lain was chosen, and thus, ever since the
year 1830, the students have had the ser
vices of a pastor. For some years, about one
sixth of the students have been professors of
religion.
"On the Sabbath, there is preaching
twice in the 'chapel, and a prayer-meeting
held by the students; preaching for the col
ored people, also by the students, who also
conduct a meeting at the County Poor House;
a meeting and a Sunday School in the Rag
ged. Mountains, six miles' off; a Sunday
School in the chapel; and : one of, the Pro
fessors has a Sunday Schobtfor, Colored chil
dren, in which he is assisted by students. In
the.week there is daily morning prayer, and
just now a daily prayer-meeting also, and
there are usually several prayer-meetings,
one held by the chaplain, and the rest by
the students? and Ave Bible classes—three
taught by Professors, one by the chaplain,
and one by a neighboring minister."
This certainly speaks well for the wisdom
and liberality of the Board of Visitor& And
another feature is commendable. It is this :
" Ministers of the Gospel, and young men
preparing for the ministry, bringing proper
certificates',from their congregations as to
character and standing, may attend any of
the schools,of the University without pay
ment of fees to the Professors."
Sabbath Keeping.
The observance of the Lord's day, by the
minters and elders, on board the steamer
CttylY Afempkis, on their way to the Gen
eral Aseembly, was but in accordance with
the principles of their Church and the
practice of their brethern. Others observed
the
_Sabbath, also; and probably at as great
an expense to each, and at a greater incon
venience. In this case, the number in com
pany, nearly one hundred, enabled them to
raise the money needed to pay for the boat's
detention. Others paid their money in the
hotel where they stopped off. ,
Still, me are, pleased to see. thelnoident
noted. Amongst other papers which have
recorded the fact; and expressed an opinion,
is the Altai° Christian, Actsocate (Metho
dist.) It speaks thus
A MOST WORTHY , EXAMPLE.
" t One of the delegates to the Old School
Presbyterian Assembly at New Orleans,
says `that he,accompanied about one hundred
of the delegates from Cairo to,New Orleans,
and as .they did not think it proper, as Chris
tian ministers' and elders,. to travel on the.
Sabbath, they paid the officers of the steamer
$5OO to lay over during the day at Lake
Previderme La.'
" The above we find going the round of
the iaPers. We have no doubt of the cor
rectness of the statement. Such a circum
stance would be just like the conservative,
Sabbath-loving and God-fearing Old School
delegates to' the Assembly. Whatever else
they may do, or not do, or whatever may
be the peculiarity of their doctrinal views
when com Pared with our own free Arminian
notions, 'they never have been obnoxious to
any infringement of good old fashioned
Moral duty and respect The observance of
the Sabbath is incorporated in the very na
ture of Presbyterianism, and it has always
been a leader in those schemes which have
been 'projected for a due recognition of the
Divine law and command. The instance
quoted above, is an example. We wish to
use and - apply-it as such. We are glad, of
its occurrence, and it will have an influence
beYond those who were immediately con
cerned, in maintaining a most creditable
position. Chtistians, and Christian minis
ters, are not always as punctilious and dis
creet in their morals concerning the Lord's
day, pethaps, as they should be. We have
known some who; when traveling, instead
of laying by on the Sabbath, have hastened
on to their homes, though most of the day
has been 'consumed in so doing. Such may
learn a sound lesson from the circumstance
above quoted. In fact, the occurrence is '
salutary for general consideration, as to the
sacrifice religious persons are willing to make,
and the restraint they are ready to impose
upon themselves, in order that their exam•
ple`may bespeak to the world a sound and
consistent principle which leads to the glory
of God in all things. Oar Sabbath will
never be generally observed and respected
'so long as multitudes who believe in the Di
vinity of the commandments,, and who have
confessed to the world their readiness to
obey timm, permit themselves to be involved
in those schemes of worldly ambition which
can be considered in no other light than
down-right violation.
Quincy , T rnOis.
We, last week, gave a short article on the
population, prospects, business, &e., of this
place. =lt was condensed from%the letter of
a valued friend. We now present, in the
words of this writer, some statements re
speoting the Ecclesiastical affairs of that
thriving city. He says :
'There are in Quincy, two Congregational,
one New School Presbyterian, two Baptist,
two Methodist, one Episcopal, and one
German Methodist church, which are well
sustained, though none of them are over
grown. An Evangelical Lutheran, and a
Protestant Methodist church, are small.
Two or three' other German churches, of
different shades, are said to be not quite
Evangelical; though as to this I cannot at
firm with positive knowledge. Our own
little Old School church is young in years,
and not rich in the aggregate wealth of its
members; while its number of efficient male
communicants is very = few. This is the
strength of Evangelical Pretestantism in
this city of twenty thousand people. •
• The interests of our Church have been too
much neglected in this region. There is
one small Presbyterian church in 'the vicin
ity of the city, without a'house of worship,
meeting at two tichoolhouses, one five, and
the other ten miles from the city. I have
recently concluded an arrangement with this
church to supply them with preaching once
in two weeks, at the nearest schoolhouse;
after my afternoon service at' Quincy. Be
side this homeless congregation, there is no
other church of our order till we travel
about tweritylve miles in one direction, and
forty in smother. We talk about the great.
dem of our country, 'and there are`-many
pleasing illustrations of it; but the great
number of our churches and ministers, when
viewed along with the sparseness with which
they are •scattered over many.regiens, is a
most painful proof that the country is indeed
large.- I am in the bounds of a strong Pres
bytery; next year we shallprobably be en
titled to two ministers in the General As
sembly;. and yet my neighbor.minieters 'are
twenty-five, - forty, and eighty miles away.
The Nbw School and the. Congregationalists
have been supinely allowed to " plant
churches in udvance of all others," till they
have used up a great deal of material that
should have .been preserved to ourselVes.
Had our Church had the means to establish
itself .here ten years ago, we 'should new ,
.have ' occupied ' a position 'of poi* and me.; 1
fulness that it will take us a long time to
gain.
- But we are not discouraged. The church
in Quincy, though small, is spirited. I
think it exerts an influence very great, in
proportion to its numbers and externals.
Its Anemics• have been saying, for two years,
it will die ;it will soon be dissolved. But it
is alive. They have been telling new-com
ers that if we do live, we have a.terrible tax
to pay to support a minister, and have all
the. burdens of church-building in' prospect.
But now the liberality of a few willtsoon as
sume these burdens, and we ;hall have a
respectable house of our own before Fall,
and all paid for, unless God see fit to turn
from us some of the blessings, of which we
think we see an immediate prospect. The
building that we are at present using is in an
unpleasant place, and most unsightly; and
yet the Y attendance is highly encouraging.
When we get a new house, a little attractive,
irt a more pleasant spot, we hope to attract
the attention of the public more; and when
we have a house and no debt, we shall prob
ably draw some persons who now are shy of
us. It is sad to have to believe that any,
who love the Lord, and think our Church
the best, should be hindered from joining
us by such considerations as those that I
have,here alluded to. But probably some
such persons might be found in almost any
community; and it is our duty to look after
and cherish them, though they be compare
tively weak in faith and love.
I have said enough to show Old School
men, who wish to find a place where . they
may lat'or;as well as, live and prosper, that
Quincy is suck a place. Its population af
fords a most inviting missionary field. Let
any .one come, to whom the prospect of labor
is pleasant, and who would-like to hohi up
our standard in a difficult field, and we will
find him plenty to do.
Yours, &c.,
South-Western Bible Society.
The Depository of this • Institution is
called the Bible House. It is 197 Camp
Street, New Orleans. Rev. E. R Cleghorn
is the G-eneral Agent, and Dr. J. S. Copes
is the Corresponding Secretary. The issues
of books, during the last year, were to i the
value of $4,110.59. It has six auxiliaries
in Mississippi, and five in Louisiana. Its
business is carried on with spirit,.and it is
evidently destined to great usefulness.
BOARD or COLPORTAGE. —The Librarian
acknowledges the following as received: .
June 16—Contribution from Mrs.
Mary B. McCombs, per
hand of F. G. Bailey, $ 5.00
" —Cont. from Bethel con-
gregation, Ohio Presb., per
Rev. G. Marshall, pastor, 30.00
" 18—Cont. from Blairsville
eh., Blairsville Presb., per
Itev. G. Hill; pastor,
JOHN CULBERTSON, Librarian
Theological Professors.
At the late meeting of the General Synod
of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, (New,
Side Covenanter,) at Eden, Ill.; the Rev.
Dr. McLeod, of New York, was elected Pro
fessor of Systematic Theology, in the Theolo
gical Seminary of that denomination, located
at Philadelphia. And the Rev. Dr. Black,
Sormerly pastor of a church in Allegheny
City, but latterly a resident of Sewickley,
Pa., was appointed to the Chair of Biblical
Literature. The late Rei. Dr. Wylie was
for many years the Professor in this institu
tion ; afterwards Dr. Crawford, and for some
time past, the Rev. Theodore W. Wylie,
who resigned his position on account of ill
health.. Seeking the recovery of his health,
Mr. Wylie is now traveling in Europe.
Baptists and Methodists; South.
The Richmond Religious Herald con
denses the following comparative view from
. a volume on the Methodist Conferences at
the South. The Church (Methodist) South,
comprises 23 Conferences White members
404,430; colored 148,525—forming a total,
with Indians and ministers, of 593,079.
We have not included the probationers, as
they are not members, and many of them
will never be received into its membership.
The net increase is 12,069.
The Baptists in the Southern States DUM
ber 567,579; but this estimate includes
Maryland and a portion of Virginia, con
nected with the Methodist Church North.
Taking in the. Methodists in the same
bOunds, 'their number would be about 650,-
000.--Pres. Herald.
Ecclesiastical.
Mr. JAMES A. REID was licensed by the
Presbytery of Huntingdon, on the I.2th
Rev: JAmEs WILLIAMSON has accepted the
call of the congregation of West MAR
coquilles.
Rev. DANIEL WILLIAMS has received a
unanimous call from the church of Sobell
burg, Pa, where he has been laboring
for the past nine months.. We have not
yet learned whether he will accept or not. ;
Rev. JAMES GREENE'S Post Office address
is changed from Sigourney, lowa, to In- "
dianapolis, Mahaska County lONa.
Dr. DAVID ii.IRKPATRIOK'S Post
Office address is now Oakland Cross :
Roads, Westmoreland, go., Pa., and note
Poke Run, as heretofore, that office
having been discontinued, and the other
established, in its stead. Correspondents
will please note the change.
Rev. E. G. ,LITTLE'S Post Office address i t s
changed to North Middleborough, Ply
mouth County, Mass.
Rev. F. M. SYMMES has declined the call
to 4amesburg, J.
Rev. Dr. JANES- alines Post Office .ad.
dress is 1619 Green Street, Philadelphia,
Penna.
Bei . . J. M. - D&& 's pastoral relation to the
church. of Bethel, was dissolved by the
Presbytery of Cincinnati, on the 15th
inst.
Rev. R. H. BYERS was •installed pastor of
the church in Houston, Texas, by the
Presbytery of Brazos,
and Rev. M. C.
Conolly was released from the pastoral
charge of the church of Columbia, by the
same, at its sessions on the Bth of April.
Rev. H. M'ALLISTEIC has received and ac
cepted a call to the church in Shreveport,
Louisiana.
Rev. B. H. CHARLES has removed from
Litchfield' to Cheater, -and taken
charge of the church in the latter Own:
ittev:Mr: EBERT;'of Virginia, has received'
a eill:to the : church of Canto% Miss.
EASTERN SUMMARY.
BOSTON AND NEW ENGLAND.
The Storms and excessive rains of the South-
West and West, have not been wanting in the
neighborhood of Boston. High winds have pre
vailed, heavy rains have fallen, the streams have
been swollen, and much of the low lands has been
flooded.
The Low "Dance-Houses" of the city have be
come a great nuisance, the, scenes of many.dis
graceful orgies, and a terrible agency in the work
of human degradation. It is said that a move
ment is to be made for their entire suppression.
An attempt is to be made to have the - FOuith of
July celebrated patriotically, according to the
custom of former years, which we would like to
see revived throughout the entire country, if it
could be separated from the drunkenness and rev
elry which sometimes accompanies it. The Pec
laration of Independence will be read, after which •
an Oration will be delivered by Mr. Choate. A
rich treat is expected by many, although Mr.
Choate, notwithstanding his eminent abilities, is
not as remarkable for clearness of style, as for
the length of the words employed.
The .F'ollowors of Swedenborg have held the for
tieth Session of the New Church General Conven
tion, at their church'in Bowdoin Street. At the
opening, seventy-three delegates were present,
from the Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts,- Mary
land, Michigan, Northern Indiana, and Pennsyl
vania Assooiations, and the General Society of
Ohio.
The pretensions made by some of the denom
inations designating themselves as Liberal Chris
tiana, are most amusing. Take, for instance, the
late Unitarian Convention. The Moderator, Dr.
Lathrop. said, he " had the honor, to-day, to
preside over the' greatest religiou.s meeting that
has been held during the last half century."
Now, how this meeting could be called greats ex
cept in its assumptions and assertions, we are at
a loss to determine. It could not be " great" in its
numbers, for all the Unitarian clergy in the coun
try are not equal in number to one of our Synod
ical conventions for prayer. Nor do we see how
it could lay any claim to " greatness " in its works
of benevolence ; for, according to the report of the
Treasurer, the whole denomination contributed,
during the last year, to charitable purposes, only
$12,000, not equal to the amount contributed
each year by very many single Evangelical
churches. And at the same time it is to be borne
in mind that many of the Unitarian churches in
this quarter are very wealthy. Another of the
speakers, in the soarings of his imagination, for
it is' found no where else,. said : "They stood
among the sects like the Alps in the Continent of
Europe." But vauntinga like this will not do
much to diminish the size or hide the heads of
the Orthodox denominations. And yet another
speaker, not to be outdone by any who preceded
him, or any who might follow, said : "No other
body of Christians had exerted such a tremendous
transformatory influence upon the religions
thought of the world." However, let not any one
be alarmed, lest the names of Calvin, Edwards,
Fuller, Chalmers, Dwight, Emmons, Alexander,
and a host of others, whose writings are generally
supposed to have had an influence on the world,
should now be forgotten. For what system of the
ology, or what single volume of religious - thought
has Unitarian Christianity given to the world
that will survive fifty years ? 'Even now he would
be esteemed the merest soloist that would appeal
to the writings of their great master, Charming,
as an arithority in theological opinion.
A pamphlet has been published by the Rev.
Mr. Williams, of Providence, R. 1., one of the
patriarchs of Hopkinsian, or Etramonlie Theology,
and who, in his day, had few superiors as a
preacher, styled "The Catechism of the West
minster Assembly. The Standard of New Eng
land Theology, and the Doctrinal Foundation of
the Andoverian Seminary." In this, Mr. Wil
liams gives his "views touching the relations of
the leaders among the Hopkinsians to Calvkistk
He insists that Hopkinsianism, as taught by Dr.
Emmons, was an embodiment of the highest
points of Calvinism ; that the opponents of Cal
vinism maintained that Hopkinsianism was the
most offensive form of the system; and that the
opposition of Hopkinsians to what were styled
"moderate Calvinists," was from a fear of the
departure of the latter from some of the main
points of Calvinism. On these points,. Mr. Wil
liams is said to be high anthority, from his ad
vanced age and from his' intimate personal con
nexion with the leading men of the generation
now passed away. •
J.W
20.00
$55.00
NEW YORK.
The alarm caused by the British Aggrasioris in
the " Gulf," baS passed away, and with it many
of the leading articles which it called forth. And
since Congress has now, happily for the country,
adjourned, the Opportunities for "sensation" ar
ticles will be mrioli fewer for some time.
In the meantime the attention of thoughtful
New Yorkers has been called.to A Decrease in ,the
Population, a thing intimately connected With
their own city. Last year, up to December 31st,
there were in this city nine hundred and eighty
, five failures with liabilities to the amount of
$136,129,000, and there have been not a few
heavy failures since. Some of-those Who have
failed have resumed,.but the number thitt have
permanently vrithdrawn from business, added to
a great contraction on the part of those that did
not suspend, has caused a very sensible decrease
in-the permanent population, while in this way
considerable additions have been made to the
neighboring towns The depressed condition of
the shipping interest has .removed several thou
sands of active citizens. The Collins' Steamers
gave employment to some one thousand.two. hun
dred persons, who, since being thrown out of
their - usual employment, have been compelled
to go elsewhere in' search of work. The
ship yards furnished a ,place ,for thousarals of
mechanics, but they, are now , doing almost noth
ing, and for the first time, for many years, not a
single ship is building at any of the yards for the
European trade. And
_unless there is a speedy
revival of business, it, is to be feared that the
operatives have not, yet seen =the worst of the
" hard times." But, as if suggested by the con
trast between many of these persons and a single
individual, it is stated that the estate of William
B. Astor is now worth $60,000,000. An enormous
amount to be intrusted to a single one; and.greit
responsibility does it confer.
The seventy-second anniversary or the birth
day of the - veteran General Scott was ``celebrated
by the military companies last week' Company
from Boston. was in attendance.
Archbishop Hughes is a remarkably busy man'.
Not only does he claim, to have the care of all the
churches, but also that the interest of education
and universal humanity are entrusted to him.
He is always ready, to defend the Church, of
which he is one of thadignitaries, on the rostrum;
with the pen, or berm.° the Courts of law. The
Albany Statesman having published something
concerning a Society which, it says, is styled the
, 14 Circle of 'Jesus," which his highness considered
libellous, he hastened up to Albany to have the
offender.punished, bnt,the Grand Juzy refused to
find a bill of indictment on the ground that if the
article was 'libelous, suite should have been
brought in New York, the residence'of the Arch
bishop, and not in Albany at the expense of that
county. The Archbishop then offered to defray
the`oosts of the suits out of his own pocket, but
the Court still refused, Said he was compelled to
return without Wing enneeeded in his objeci.
Many Wholtaire seen Di. ilethisne in the pulpit
or on the Patio* and who have thought of hi,
many and ardrions duties as a pastor, antiversar7
and commencement orator, and a prolific literary
author, have wondered how he was able to retain
that rotund form, and fall and florid face. The
explanation is found in the fact that he is pa t .
sionately fond of the woods and streams, the
country and the wilderness. He has just re
turned from his annual visit to the forests of
Maine. During the last five years he has spent
two or three weeks there every Summer, to re.
emit health and strength. He carries his tent,
bed, and provisions, into the woods, away from
hurry and strifes of men, and leads the life of a
man of the backwoods, occupying no small por
tion of his time in pursuit of the fmney tribe,
with hook and line. His labors in the revival
have been very great, so that health and stren gt h
seemed seriously affected; but a fortnight in the
Woods has restored both. His example might be
followed with great advantage, by many of his
brethren, who now complain of failing strength,
exhausted spirits, and bad digestion. Soon
would the ruddy countenance, the cheerful smile,
the elastic step, and the vigorous thought return.
Strange to say, The ChurChman has a new trot:w e;
for one would naturally suppose that it had already
exhausted the whole catalogue. Bat it seems that
certain Episcopal clergymen have preaching in fa
vor of the better observance of the Sabbath. Now,
the Churchman does not condemn this in itself,
but it is alarmed lest by this course it might be
inferred that the Episcopal Church held the same
views with regard to the Sabbath as the Puri.
tans. The Churchman is alarmed if Episcopacy
should even deign to touch another denomination
with the hem of its garment. But, notwi
standing the cries of this journal, the old fash
ioned prayer -meetings held in the church of The
Ascension and other Episcopal churches, hero
beeh attended with most bappY results.
The Rev. Dr. Wayland has been publishing a
series of articles in the Examiner, on the ex
clusive " close communion" ground of the Bap
tists. This feature of that large and respectable
denomination, is certainly giving way both in
this country and Europe.
The Reformed Dutch Churches are now gather.
ing in large numbers as the fruits of the revival.
And concerning the general state of religion, the
Evangelist remarks:
"If the noon prayer-meetings are to be taken
as an index, there has been no diminution of the
religious interest in this city, since the early part
of May. And why is not the prayer -meeting an
index to the piety and zeal that sustain it? It
is certain that at no time before the establish-
ment of these noon-meetings would it have been
thought practicable to liave sustained them, but
the desire for them, and the disposition to attend
them, have been given to God's people, and the
fact of their continnence, signalizes the present
state of religion in the city as an advance on
any thing ever before known."
PHILADELPHIA.
This city is very largely engagedin the Mans
facturing Busineze, in great varietY; and the late
discussions with regard to an increase of the
tariff, have awakened much attention. A meet
was held last week at the call of the opera-
tives in several of the largest manufacturing
establishments, which Ina addressed by four
'United States Senators and several members of
the House of Representatives. At least fire
thousand people were present, and great enthu
siasm prevailed.
By some means the ieport went abroad, some
time since, that the Book Trade Sales, in this shy,
were discontinued.. But this has been contra
dicted, and the fiftyfirst sale will be held in Sep
tember by Thomas & Sons.
Philadelphia has lost another of its able law
yers in the Death of Charles 'Wheeler, Eq. Of
him the North American says:
" This gentleman, who was one of the oldest
members of the Philadelphia Bar, died at his res
idence in this city, at .the age of seventy-one
years. Mr. Wheeler graduated at dale College,
in 1808, having been the first Philadelphian who
received, the diploma of that institution, now just
half a century ago. After reading law with the
late Charles Chauneey, Mr. Wheeler was admitted
to practice in 1812, and has since continued to
pursue his profession in this - city. He was, up
to the closing period of his life, a diligent stu
dent, and'had made himself thorough master of
the abstruser branches of legal science. Daring
his-whole career, Mr Wheeler enjoyed the respect
of his fellow-citizens for his upright and honorable
charaeter, and he died a sincere and hopeful
'Chriatian." ,
Notwithstanding the triumph of the High
Church party in the. Election of Dr. Bowman, the
Episcopal Recorder contends that the Low Church
party has a majority in the diocese.
The whole nunitier of Sdbbath :Schools in this
city now is two hundred and sixty-eight; of pu
pils, forty-eight 'thousand one hundred and
seventy-five; of teachers, 'five thousand and
ninety-one. Among the pupils of these schools,
many conversions have taken
.place during the
yew'. Out of seventy-four of the schools, one
thousand five hundred and forty-six have been
added to different churches.
The Central Presbyterian. Church, of which the
Rev. Henry Steele Clarke, D.D., is pastor, re
.ceived at the late communion, thirty on profes
sion offaith, and some others are still under se
rious impressions. Daring the six years of Dr•
Clarke's pastorate, there have been added to this
church two hundred and eighty by certificate sod
upon examination: The church is free from
debt, and 'the income ekeeeds the expenses. As
to the state of religion in the city, the Americas
Priiibyteriein, says
We rejoice to be permitted to report a continued
religious interest in this city. The regular meet
ings for prayer are crowded, and a v ery deep
feeling prevails. New instances of awakening
and hopeful, conversions are daily occurring;
nit) missionary work outside of the chnrobee, 19
still progressing With unabated interest end
'gracious indications of permanent results. Per
sonal efforts of Chriatiani3 were never seemingly
More productive, nor the, incentives .to diligent
and faithful labors more encouraging. The noon
day prayer-tneetzing. at gansom Street c h u rch, is
daily attended With devout interest, and by num
bers that foibid all thought of their discon
tinuance.
Bor.fte Breabytellan Banner and Advocate
", South -Western Missonzi
GREENFIELD, Dade County, Mo., I
June 12th, 1858.
Ftsv. DA. MCKINNEY atu often asked
by persons at a distance to give some de
. .
empty:in of things as they exist here, in
South-Western Missouri. The time was
when immigrants to this country hailed al
most exclusively from Tennessee. These
will eon be outnumbered by those from
lowa, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Sc.
lowa has proved so very cold, and the Win
ter season so long for three years past, that
many ate about to emigrate to this region,
and farther South.
Our Winters are about five months, or we
feed about that length of time, from the
middle of November to the 10th of April.
This year cattle were living on the prairies
by the 29th of March. This too is a coun
try of fruit, which, except as to apples, is
not the case with the country North of us
three hundred miles- Grapes seem to be
indigenous. Last year's crop was mot near
all gathered. We could get them for do
mestic use, from the vines, till the close of
Decimber. Prof.' Swallow, our State Geol
ogist, supposes -Southern Missouri no less
suited to the cultivation of the grape than is
Prance. Rig also suitable for the aPPIe)
cherry, quince, pear, Le. Vegetables, as
sweet potatoei, turnips, eabbages,Ae., usual
ly grown in the Middle States, do well here.