17.,*:21,4mm,,,..;7.,tt50ty. 4 , ,, , TN T , . -Twits- t
Nang .ao **att.
PITTSBURGH, JULY "31M58.
TURRISI.vv 411.509 in advaneel or 111 L C hiba
9145; or, delivered at reeldwiees of Subset*■
bore. $1.75. See Protepustuft on Third Pails
R iii 11 iturAL S should be prompt, a little
while before the year expires, that we weir
make full arrangements for a steady , supply.
"no .RED,:waiWelin !stilettos that:•we
destre a resolved. If however. is the haste
of IlawlituoVlAkelipial should be osalttedi we
hops oar framed' will still not forget us.
RICINITTggewp.--send payment by safe
hands. when convenient. Or. mead by malls
saclostag•with ordlnaury wire, said troublhig
nebogyntssh a knowledge of what you are
doting. For a large amount. send a Draftier
1414(4 notes. Far one or twin paparefeend Soli
er small notes.
**ollllllloll MANGUM, Send postage stamps,
or better Wit, rood for awes papOril say $
or Sorootyourobortet or S 1 for ThArtrwthroo
alt11111 , 01"le
0111.1607 all Letters saill'essasatusleatlese
to Ravi,' DAVID IIIaKIANNIG Pittsburgh,
PS.
CHURCH EXTENSION IN ALLEGHENY.-
The Methodist Fdpistiopal ohttrohes in this city
contemplate the organizing of a Church Ex.
tension Association. It is Scriptural, , to pr 6,
yoke one another to love and good works.
REV. 8. HAM= DAVII3.—This worthy
young brother, is we learn from the Central
Presbyterian, died on Monday, the 19th
inst. He was pastor of the church in Ann
ha County, Va. It was his hot charge, and
he was permitted to feed the flock 'for but
little more than a year. The Central
speaks of him as a young man of great
promise. His labors are soon ended.
ghaiitablu Bequests.
It is right, in disposing of the property
with which God has blessed us, to give a
portion to his. cause. And especially is it
becoming, and, in many cases, a real duty
to give to his cause, after we shall have had
its use up to the close of life. That this
may be effectually done, in a bequest, we
place legal forms, as they are furnished in
the Minutes of the General Assembly, on
our fourth page. We shall keep them
standing, while our advertising columns are
not crowded.
lefferson College.
The Annual Commencement of this Thai.
tution, will take place on the Fourth of An
gust next The exercises connected with the
Anniversary, will be as follows c Sabbath /
August 1, a Sermon before the Religious
Societies, by Rev. Geo. • W., Thompson, of
Academia; and the Baccalaureate ,Sermon,
by the President.
On , l'uOday, August 3, the Alumni ARO. ,
oration will be addressed by Rev Di. Alfred
Nevin, of Philadelphia; and an Historical
Notice of the Class of 1828, will be read by
Rev. Loyal Young. Exercises to commence
at 2 P. M.
In the 'evening of the same day, Rev. Dr.
Hoge, of Richmond, Va., will deliver the
Address hefore the Literary Societies of the
College
Home and: Foreign, Record for August
' ' -DOMESTIC MISSIONS.
The following ,table shows the progress in
the nuinher of churehes contributing to this
Board, since the adoption of the Systemitic
Benevolence scheme :
Year. - No of 'aurae/ likfrease. Whole No. of
r' ' antra:ding. 'Churches.
.1854 1.,207 2,976
1855 1,256 8,07 9 . :-
185 Q '1,850 94 3,146
1857 1,508 158 8,251
1858 ; 1,702 ,199 3,824
Being lut, increase of four hundred ;; and
ninetyfive vontributing churches. in four
years. The increase in the whole number
of churches in that time'is three Inindrad
and fortpeight. There are still -one thou
sand six hundred and twenty-two churches
which do not contrihute. Why is this
Are there 'no pastors i' Are there no eiders ?
Therels a little money,in each, we;are sure.
There is the •widow's mite. Is the grace of
giving not developed ? Let an effort be
made.
itsestrre in June: at Philadelphia, $1,565 ; , at
Louisville, $558.
EDUCATION. , ,
A very earnest, appeal is put , fortli for aid
to Colleges and Academies in the great West.
It should be graited, liberally. The'
im
portanoe ivimmense. Our Church cannot
afford to be illiberal' in this line.
Itionevs in ;July.; Philadelphia,-, $2;172; at
Pittsburgh,. $186; at lonisville, $29.
FOREIGN MISSIONS.
Isrem--The latest'news is to May 10th.
Mr. Owen Was 'preaching at Allehabad, With
favorable prospects. The Record says, of
other places
Our letter - from Agra mentions that the tionntry
in that region is still unsettled, end a feeling of
insecurity,stMexists among many Of, the Europe-
ape,. ,One of the ,good effects of the recent die
turbaire is, that the services of natlie - Christians
is now much in demand,with the dill authorities,
which was not the cane previously. - The letter
from Saharanpur mentions the death of a valued
native laborer.
In relation to the work at Labor, Mr. Foreman
remarks: « Our , work here, I think, has never
been more encouraging than it is at present. Our
English school, „which fell off a good dial last
Summer, on account of the mutiny, has been fill
ing-up pretty rapidly of late, owing to' some of
oar pupils getting employment in government
offices.: The people of the , city seem to be more
kind, and to have more confidence in us than they
ever had,..bifire. At our preaching place we eel
dom wititees'the disorderly seines' which' ,two
years age'ireriso common. Mini' of the New .
Tenho - Onto *Molt I have been mending. to the
principal flotilla ,the cite have been , received
apparently in the kinillutt,spirivi
From China, Afiloa, South America, and
the Indian Missions, ptc,,re„ is nothing very.
ispeo*. Seed is being ;sown, come of which
indicates a .fruit-bearing.,
.Racirers in AM°, '57,097.'
, PIIBLWATION. ' •
34iRiymilbi are made for 'libruriesfor Sab
bath Solioolik in destitute and, needy ; , places,
beyond %he means of the 'Board to supply.
An earnest appeal is made for help,- espe
cially made to Sabbath Schools, in wealthy
•• • .
congcsgatkm, tn aid their needy brethren :
. D0311=93114 June , 18th to, ~/nly „IBA, z $1,045:
Sales in Juno; $4,198.
• 1)';
CHURCH PAM I 4 OI S. • • :
The action or•theoGeneral -Assembly on
, thiitirabject is given in' the Rea•rd„ highly
favorable.
Backers in June, $578.
Annotate SeoretaryshiP—Response to Dr.
Kroh.
On our first page we give the argument
of Dr. 4rebs, of New York, on the Asso
ciate Secretaryship in the Board of Domes
tic Missions. We are pleased to do so.
We wish to present the subject in the lan
guage of its friends. Let the churches have
the strongest arguments, on either aide, that
they may judge with knowledge. It is their
business r and not ours. We discharge our
duty in being the`medium of truth to
them. We have no personal interest-in the
ease—no pecuniary benefit at stake, no par
tizanship to maintain, no friend to reward,
no grief to avenge, no obligation to repay.
The conscientious discharge of duty is our
MI
The effort of Dr. Krebs, in his" introduc
tion and in his remarks aPperided, to make
the matter appear personal, as thongh it
were a warfare waged against the occupant
of the office, is unhappy. It prevented, in .
the Board, a calm investigation of the case,
and a judgment upon its rierits ;,,and
. it
must have, to some extent, the same per
niciousinfluence before this churches. It
presents a 4 false issue. It • excites an unjust
odium against •those who felt it to be their
duty, as members of the, Assembly, and. as:
members of the Board, to inquire for • the
general 'good. It prevents freedom of speech
and freedom in voting. It tends to make
all our Church agencies independent of the
Church herself. No one wishes to be tor
tured into a personal foe, to be maligned,
and to be put upon self defence ; and hence
no one will willingly suggest an , inquiry, an
improvement, or the remedying of an evil,
where a Seminary, a Board, a Committee, is
the subject—not where any perion is con-
corned, however indirectly . , Each one will
be disposed to say, why ahonld I bring up ,
the matter or speak or,vote on the matter?
I can accomplish nothing. .1 will be'charged
with personality, will incur hatred, lose east,
and be spotted henceforward. Others may
expose themselvea if they please, but I shall
not. We hence regret that. Dr. Krebs
should lend himself to such a'thing. - If the
Church will follow in this , lead, her liberties
are lost. Those who now 'Possess her posts
of honor, influence, and profit, have a lease
in perpetuity, for themselves and their nom
inCesi to hold on to their own ease'and ben
efit, doing or not doing, as they 'choose.
But few will dare suggest all . j and
fewer still will carry on an investigation.
Why should .4 having nothing to gain ,
worry, and suffer loss, and be reviled, and
surely be unsuccessful in the end ? And
then be an outcast for the residue of life?
Now, to take up the argument in the or.
der presented
L There was no portion of the Assembly
who wished, at once, to abolish the office.
The resolution. offered, exprened the calm
sentiment of thoae who moved in • the mat-
ter, and it passed the Assembly without
amendment.*.'The reference to the Board
was a matter of courtesy. If the Assembly
had created the office, it would have formally
abolished it But it was the Board which
created it, and it was the Board's place to
annul it. And the Assembly very clearly
indicates its wish. Like the 'firmest parent,
who is also wise and kind, it expresses its
will in the form of a proposition. And-here, ,
our inother is welcome to the thought, that
the " weight of character" in the Assembly
was " against the proposition?' True' heti
byterianisur estimates country, ,pastors, and
elders too, as equal, in Church , .courts, to
city pastors, Professors, and Secretaries.
But a metrepolitan may pesisibly weigh char
actor in a different scale.
2., The argument against the necessity of
an Associate, by no means militates against
that for'a Corresponding Secretary. There
in ay be work, in full, for one man, where
two are not required. True, a clerk at $BOO
a year might do the writing, and, if he had
brains, knowledge, and experience enough,
be might do the thinking also. The argil
merdis not affected by the name of the of
lice, nor by the amount of the salary. • It is
this : One man of talents, industry, and
adaptation, as a head, can do the work, the
indoor work ; and the outdoor too, so far as
the Church desires or will patiently bear a
traveling officer Then, to 'employ , another
in that capacity, is,u waste and an injury.
For an Agency we have always contended,
living, adequate, adapted, acceptable ; not,
an Episcopate, brit a service.. To make a
Bishop with Episcopal functions under the
, ,
name of a Secretary, the Church will not
tolerate. A Bishop Secretary to locate and
transfer ministers, to make moderators for
General Assemblies, to travel and oversee
missionaries, pastors, Presbyteries, and
Synods, to direct and reprove, or to, spy out
and report, Presbyterians will not, endure.
Our missionaries rand then pastors of the
poorest churches, are ministers of Christ,
and the Presbytery is Christ's ordained
Episcopate ; , and all attempts, open or co
vert, to introduce any other,. must 'be re
pelled. We repel the idea of a Secretary.
ship .whioh shall be, practically, an Episco.
We
-8.. Dr. Krebs advises "enlargement every
way." No : say we,' not in every- way--nos
in useless employees. Cut these off, if any
such are found. But, enlarge the contribu
tions, appoint more missionaries, assist more
feeble chnrehes, and better compensate the
toiling, self denying ministers of Christ.
The first enlargement the Doctor advises is
to " create the office of Ca-ordinate Secre
tary "—have two Secretaries, equals in office
—a thing with two heads—a monster !
No : never. Let no such folly be commit.
Our correspondent, having given no his
Argument in the Board, proceeds to address
himself to the " Editor , " and
4 He oominenta on some remarks of ours
upon' the part performed by Members then
Al This le literally eorreot. The.oianpliment to
the inownbant of the'affiee, however, was' not a
part of the 'resolution as paeseCthe
Thiliwoo,o_44.—tko ri° 2 o day,O.,tg9ltougdOo# o o of
secretary Lowrie, incepted by thedrafter iif the
paper, and agreed to nem. eon.
111110DMIUND611)* A A-'. A lA.lv. A E.
present, who do not usually
business meetings. (See col.
page.) In nearly all of what he
this subject, we agree with him
So far as principles are concerned,
tered' the same, long ago. (See Bun\
April 21st, 1855.) Distant members at
expected to attend often. They have, - U
ever, a full right to attend, arid speak,
vote. But it is possible for one man to t,
use his right as to bear exceedingly haa,
upon another. And here is just such a
case. The business Board say, we have no
use for this office—no proper work for the
occupant. Their brethren say, you must
have him. The working men say, why,
times have °banged. Three years ago, you
urged this office upon us. We yielded, and
found some work. But now, the Systematic
scheme has taken the work away. The first
reply, you 'must have the office. Other.
Boards have three Secretaries, and you must
have at least two ; and if there is not work,
you,must make it. Now, this is hard. It,
is compulsion against ,a judgment founded
on experience. •
And these local members have really to
bear the responsibility—the responsibility of
the business, the keepine up of the treasury,
and the disposing of the funds True, those
who voted to continue the office, are 'lvor:-
Bible for that But who knows who they
were? The majority do not order the vote
to be published. The Presbyterian sup.
presses the vital fact, that the conductors of
the business wished to dispense with the
office, and to save the expense, for active
missionary labor. The churches ate hence
kept in ignorance. And they blame the
Board. And by the Board they always
mean the residents who f have charge of its
affairs. The thing, we say again, is exceed
ingly bard.
2. Our friend says:
" After analyzing the vote on retaining the of
Bee of Assistant Secretary, you say
Thus the working men of the Board, who under
stand its business and its wants, say the office is
unnecessary. This is so. or otherwise, the *v
alency of the occupant is so glaring, and the difficulty of
removing him ieee great, that to get clear of the incum
bent they are willing to abolish the obfce I ' (The
italics are mine.)
This he construes into a personal attack
upon Dr. Happersett We say, no, by no
means, as from us. It is an argurnentum
ad hontinem. The business Board voted to
abolish the office. This could be only be
cause (a) they believed it to be no longer
needful; or because (b) they regarded the
incumbent as inefficient, and they would get
clear of him even at the expense of the
office._We argued for the former. We in
ferredfrom the votes of these experienced
men, that the office was needles& We ap
pealed to the good sense of our opponents.
Surely THEY would not say that their friend
was inefficient Then the office 'is, by the
vote, proved to he, needless—so needless
that the business Board will abolish it, even
ac the-ecat efiarting with a worthy incum
bent Our argiiin - ent—in— e .ind_ : And the
better the man, the stronger the :iirgument.
In all the discussion in the Assembly, in
the Board, and in our columns, we have pur
posely abstained from any remarks upon the
occupant " is the office needed, , is the first
question. If not, abolish it If it is need
ed,,then .we may inquire, as a second ques
tion, Is the late incumbent the man quali
fied duly to fill it? This would bring up
the subject of talents, industry, adaptation,
the new duties required, the bearing of the
past upore the hopes of the future. The
vote •in the Board for the continuance, of
the office opened, it is true, the way for die
°treeing this second question'; but, - it was a
late hour, an aturriment to a new day was
resisted, the recent occupant had most ear . 7
neatly, in writing, declined a re-election,
that writing was received and ordered on
record, he had also, in his speech, said that
if he bad been informed that the Executive
Committee thought his services not needed,
he would at once have resigned; that Com
mittee had now said so in his presence, by
their sOlemn vote. Hence, when be was
nominated by his friends for r&election, the
compliment might well be permitted, even
by -those who might have, thought that the
question of capacity neede& investigation;
they having evidence justifying a strong belief
that the nominee would not accept. Such
being the condition of things, to have then
insisted upon 'discussing the question of ca
pacity would have seemed like a gratuitous
wrong; and after the election, to take up
the subject, would have been evidently un
becoming.
But Dr. Krebs finds in our remarks, evi
dence strengthening his suspicion of some
thing still worse.. He does not tell us ex
actly what it is; nor does'he name the par
ties. He makes quite a flourish, asking
exclamatory question& We wish he had been
definite. We should have been pleased to
meet him. He. aeemsto intimate that there
is some deep plot, some " desperate strata
gem to get clear of Dr. Happersett "—" that
the whole Church must be moved to get rid
of him "—" that the Church must be moved
to mutilate and derange, the organization of
her Domestic Board to oust him." He also
intimates that this movement may "connect
itself with the business Board." Now what
evidence is there to authorize and sustain
all these insinuations.: Why; "there hive
been some whispers "!—" and, Dr. Snod
grass' speech at the annual meeting shrewdly
surmised it but your (our) paragraph
comes the nearest a public avowal of the
sc h eme , if such a scheme exists" Il!
Well, our dear brother, if our paragraph
is the best evidence you have, you may
cease to suspect your good brethren. You
could hardly believe that such men as they
confessedly are, would be capable, on. " mere
pretence," of concocting the "desperate
stratagem" which you allege, the "muti
lating," "deranging," "revolutionary tem
porizing." These would be terrible charges.
Even an intimation of them should be based
upon something more than "whispers" and
a " surmise." As for our paragraph, we
have 'shown Alit, legitimately, taken, there
is-in it no such thing.
Possibly, hoviever, in our argument, Dr.
, nd the
1, on let
aye on
artily.
o nt
t of
`lot
a
Krebs may have seen more than we itnag
ined. He had the benefit of " whispers,"
and of a "shrewd surmise!' These may
have been invented and put forth to cover,
or to justify, a very different plot from that
alleged. The Doctor is also a dweller in the
land of the barn-burners, and must hence
know, much better than , we can, the annoy
ance of an 'old hunker, and the difficulty or
the impraetica.bility of removing him. He
is in a situatioNto4judge, whether wise and
good men, 'if they should happen to be so
rftrieted, would adopt so extreme a measure
that of putting a torch to the building.
We are here tempted to reprint the closing
P, tof our correspondent's letter. After
\\
hair g spoken of the greatness of the work
so fa back as the time of Dr. INl'Dowell's
admi "stratipn, when even he pr. Krebs)
\
deelin -to become Associate Secretary, he
says : '
"Bur , it (the work) has not diminished since
then. . d are we now to retrace our steps, to
deny all ~r history and our progress, and to pro
claim to I the world that, after all the long
agony of i : youthful struggle for existence, and
all its Rai ement in strengthening the Church,
and all the tory and triumph of its free expan
sion, the gr• Board of Domestic 'Sessions of the
gres:t Presl3' rian Church. has reached its limit,
and now pre res itself to dwindle and to dwarf
ic
its 'dimension, and its enterprise, and doggedly
subside into aere ' one horse concern ?' "
How gra l What logic I Only apply
ik
it. Here are these thirty-two 'United States,
a great territer to be sure, and many pea
pie, hnd a nob e people, but they have only
one Presiden but one head. And thcre
is France—w at
o f
an army, what skill, enter
prise and pr ess i—but only one Emperor.
And all the lassies, too, with their seventy
millions of people and near a 'million of an
army—but !only one Czar. And Great
Britain, alnor with an empire on which the
/
sun never sets—but still—only one head.
,
Yea, and Aver' the Rutgers Street Church,
New York, has but one pastor—" one-horse
concerns," the whole of them I And now,
. I -
alas for or poor Board, if it, by the urgency
of nti
the o ues and the perversity of its
i ll
working !men, should be reduced to this
" one "-ill system I
In conclusion we would ,say, in our own
behalf, and we are justified in saying it in
behalf of, others also, wle did honestly and
firmly believe that in the cireurnstances, the
continuance of the Associateship wan not
only useless, but injurious ; not only wasteful,
absorbing the average appropriation to
eleven self denying missionaries, but really
hindering the income of the Board, tending
to diminish and dry up the thousand little
streams by which the treasury is supplied.
Who now wishes to see an itinerating Sec.
retary enter ids pulpit, at the rate of $4O a
Sabbath, to tell him and his people their
duty, and to take a colleetion the whole of
which, and perhaps more, is to be absorbed
in paying the stranger? Or what country
church, and most of our churches are such,
is > willing now to contribute missionary
money, when that people know that three or
Inrirrtireis as much, as the whole amount
their - awn pastor' salary is abstracted from
the Board's funds, to pay one man who oc
cupies a needless office ? Possibly the op
position to the Agency scheme may be car
ried too far. But really it has lost favor.
It is being supplanted. And to its linger
ing friends, , they. being Zion's friends, also,
wisdom says, yield. Throw your energies
into the'Systematic plan. Do this the more
ardently, as it will be the rendering promi
nent a most beautiful feature of true
Gospel Presbyterianism. Each pastor, with
,the elders and deacons, will thus do the
work, and the people will give, in the lively
exercise, of a Christian grace. At least, let
the noble, the beaven-ordained plan have a
fair trial. See what the. Presbyters and the
Presbyteries can be induced to do. The
current sets right; help its onward progress.
The Presbyterian and Ourselves.
We are sorry that the "hot weather,"
two weeks ago, should have so "irritated"
us as to make us disturb the peaceful spirit
of our contemporary. But we could not
prevent the heat. 'Neither could we avoid
calling, by its right name, disobedience, the
conditot of those who declined to execute
the requisition of the. General Assembly,
relative to the duplicated Hymn. The act
was flagrant, and just as we stated it. We
acknowledge the duty of journalists to pos
sess an unruffled temper, and a perfect equa
nimity, even in hot weather. We were not
aware that"the editor of the Banner and
Advocate," in penning the article alluded
to, had so "permitted`his feelings to over
master his judgment" as to impel him to
" an irritable, attack, on the integrity" of
two institutions, both of which , he dearly
loves. • We hope that those who think him
guilty will both 'pardon him, and avoid his
bad example.
But all do not disapProve of his course.
He has already received from his brethren
some quite cemplimentary indications of ap;
proval, both as to the matter and spirit of
his article. One pastor says: " Your last
editorial in relation to the Board of Publi
cation, is eminently
_judicious and season
able. It seems to me there are certain men,
especially on the Committee of Publication,
who need, a little salutary regulation. The
more they can be made feel that they are
but servants of the. Church, the better it
will be." That pastor seems to have heard
of some who say, loudly, we are " obedient
servants," but who execute' their master's
will just so far as, and just when, in their
superior judgment, it= seems proper. At
least, the order intimating the master's will
must be sent back, with
_opposing reasons,
for reconsideration and reversal, or a "man
date," before it can be . executed.
The Presbyterian says well, that "the
Boards need the confidence of the Church."
Truly they do. And they have it. And
we Wish them to retain it—to retain it
ley continuing worthy of it. We have
ever advocated ' the Boards, and shall &lie
,
cate`thexii, one and all. Oar contemporary
charges hard 'things upon us, but it quotes
us ,net. If it had quoted our ,artiele, it
would scarcely- have F . dared ; to' 'Tel* as it
does. But no : the Bamter's reed senti.
meats must not go before the Presbyterian's
readers. The Presbyterian has done us
a wrong. We hence call upon it, as a mat
tor of justice, to republish our article entire.
It is not long.
Our 'contemporary thus smoothes over the
disobedience in the case before us:
The reasons for the postponement were these: The alteration would throw into the Church two
classes of books, not identical, and should the
new hymn be given out, the worshipers having
different books would be thrown into confusion.
The nutither would indicate two totally different
hymns. - And then, again; in a busineas point of
view, the fulfilment of the order would require all
the stereotype plates of the various editions, With
indexes, to be altered, at no inconsiderable ex
pense. And still further, the Board have on hand
a large stock, a portion of it, to the amount of
many hundred dollars, bound in various fancy and
costly bindings, which, as soon as the alteration
is made, would be a dead stock and a total loss,
as the Board would be no longer authorized to sell
it as the authorized edition. Now it was thought
that the Assembly should be apprized of this, and
if then, in view of all the circumstances, they
should adhere to their order, the Board would
promptly obey, should it be at a cost to the
Church of thousands of dollars. Surely there
was more of prudence than rebellion against au
thority in all this. We re-assert that the Board
had not a thought of resistance in their decision,
and none but panic -makers could have imagined
it.
What a statement There is but one
short Hymn. Not " all the plates," but
only one page, in each edition, or two pages
at most, need be altered, and one line in the
Index. "Two classes of Books !" Yes :
but differing only in one Hymn, and that
Hymn could be readily marked by the pas
tor, in his pulpit Book, to be not given out
if the people had not similar books. " The
Board have on hand a large stock * * *
which would be a dead stock and a total loss,
as the Board would be no longer authorized
to sell it as the authorized version." Is this
true ? Can any man believe it? Did the
Assembly forbid the Board to sell the books
on hand ? When the Assembly adopted
the new book, some years ago, differing im
mensely, was the old stock a dead loss?
And when the Selections were . added, em
bracing fifty pieces instead of one, were the
books previously on band no longer sold ?
What a reckless statement the Presbyterian
has made I
We find Aso this sentence, speaking of
the Boards of the Church "They well
know their place as obedient servants of the
Cburch, and 'we defy the Editor of the
Banner to state a single Instance in which
they- have so far forgotten their position as
to resist the mandates of the General As
sembly." (The italics are ours.)
Now, what does this mean 7 We did
give an instance. We referred to the fol.
lowing act of the Assembly
Witesnas, Hynins 886 and 454 of our collection
are one and the same,
Resolved, That the Board of Publication be au
thorized and directed to replace hymn 386 with
some other hymn not now found in the book, of
the same typographical dimensions, and of evan
gelical sentiment and decided poetic merit.—
Minutes, p. 287.
If this is not an injunction we are at a
loss to understand our mother tonaue. But
perhaps the " direction was not a "man-
date." Is this the evasion ? And is it not'
-rur-a year, and to Usti
tute an effort through its journal Its induce
another Assembly to annul the direction ?
And did not the Board resist, for one, or
two, or more years, the wish of the Assem
bly to have a Confession of Faith in Ger
man ; and an edition of our Church Music
Book, in shaped notes; and to have a mho-
tion from the old version of the Psalms?
But the Assembly did not express the will
of the Church by a " mandate !" Ah
that is the point. And when finally the i
Assembly gave its mandate, (in the case of
_the Selections,) was there not an effort to
make deloy, by insisting that there must he .
fifty whole Psalms instead of fifty Scleo
tions ? Ask the Committee appointed to
make the Selections, bow this was.
The Church has a right to know what is
done, and, her journals should inform her. I
She looks to them. But, respecting some
important things, she is kept in great ig
norance. Here, in regard to the late im
portant transaction in the Domestic Board,
the Presbyterian, the reporter relied upon,
does not give the ayes and noes on the Ass
sodateship. It does not tell its readers that
the working men in the Board, the men who
know its needs and the utility of its offices, said
an Associate Secretary was not needed ; that
Secretary Jones,had said so, as a matter of
judgment and experience; and that Secre
tary Musgrave said so; and that the Execu-
tive Committee said so. It withholds these
vital facts. It suppresses truth important to
be known in order to a right decision. The
ohurehes should not be so treated.
Liberia and President Benson.
We, last week, said a few words respect.
ing the efforts of the French to obtain emi
grants from the native tribes in Liberia, of
the shipment of a number on the Regina
Cceli, and, of our fear that President Benson
was involved in, at least, a great indiscre
tion. We are happy to be able, so soon, to
state that our mind is much relieved. We
have a letter from Rev. D A Wilson, Prin
cipal of the Alexander High School in Li
beria, giving much important information
on the subject, and specially as to the laws
of Liberia. Mr. Wilson is a relation of
Rev. Dr. Wilson, of Sewickley, and is now
on a visit here. He sends us also -a letter
from H. W. Johnson, dated . Monrovia,
May 19th, giving important details.
These letters came too late for this week's
issue. They will appear in' our next. We
have been deeply interested in Liberia from
the origin of that Colony. We trust that
our readers will suspend judgment till they
can obtain 'facts. If the French 'are so
mean as to use the superior power to force
emigration, contrary to the :Liberian laws,
the ease is a very hard one.
MINUTES 07/ THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
—The Minutes of the Assembly of 1858,
are received. The execution is very neat,
and, as we suppose, very faithful. The se
count of the Institutions and Officers, the
Forms of. Beciitest, the various Indices, and
the Alphabetical List of Ministers and
Licentiates,- give great value to the volume.
The'Stated Clerk deserves the thanks of the
ministers and churetils for the perfeotnees
of this annual production.
Ecclesiastical.
Rev.
JAMES WILLIAMSOteS Post Office ad•
dress is changed from Belleville, Pa:; to
Reedsville, Pa.
Rev. A. SHALL was installed pastor of the
church of Tuskegee, Alabama, on the 9th
ult.
Rev. H. N. PHARR was installed pastor of
the church of Lafayette, Alabama, on
the 20th ult. His Post Office address is
Chambers C. H., Alabama.
Rev. H. M. SCUDDER was ordained and in
stalled pastor of the church in Elizaville,
.Ky., by the Presbytery of Ebenezer, on
the 9th ult.
Rev. R. R. NoouE's Post Office address is
changed from Utica, Ohio, to Shelby,
Richland. Co., Ohio.
EASTERN SUMMARY.
BOSTON AND NEW ENGLAND.
It is not generally known that the • Trade
of Boston with New Orleans is very large,
and greatly exceeds that of any other city
in the United States. New York is next,
but falls far short of this in the receipt of
many articles; while Philadelphia and Bal
timers have a very insignificant trade with
New Orleans or any other Southern city
The articles received here from New Or
leans, consist principally of cotton, sugar,
molasses, tobacco, pork, and flour. The
first two are the great staples of this trade
But business here is exceedingly dull at
present. And were it not for the political
excitement that bursts forth every few days,
it would be difficult to find topics of con
versation on 'Change. However, the polit
ical cauldron, on account of local issues and
the difficulty of satisfying the claims of
every party wing, boils without intermission.
The School Book Controversy is one that
has occupied much attention among those
entrusted with the care of the public schools,
and the result is that nearly all the books
formerly used have been ruled out. Almost
an entire ehangelas been made in the spel
ling books, geographies, arithmetics, histo
ries, &c. Worcester's Spelling Books, Hil
lard's Readers, Colburn's and Eaton's Arith
metics, Warren's Geographies, and Swan's
History of the United States, are the text
books to be used hereafter. Of the merits
of the selection we are unable to speak from
personal knowledge; but the adoption of
Worcester's Spelling Book is sufficient evi
dence that the Websterian method of spell
ing is not making any great headway in this
vicinity.
The Commencement at Harvard was held
on the 21st het , and excited the usual in
terest. The graduating class numbered
ninety, and the Junior. Class of next year is
the largest ever in connexion with this Col
lege. The examination of applicants for
admission to the Freshman Class is very
strict, and the determination to receive only
those properly qualified, is carried out most
rigidly. Of the applicants for admission
this year, eiehteen were rejected, and one
_hundred and five -admitted, but only. twenty
five of these unconditionally; the others
have one or more brancues of study to pur
sue during the vacation, and to undergo an
examination thereon at the beginning of the
next term. It is high time for the standard
of admission to the College Classes in all
our collegiate institutions, to be raised ; and
it is sad that an unworthy competition in
the way of inducement to secure students,
keeps this standard so low in many places of
whioh better things might be expected. At
the business meeting of. the Alumni, the
erection of a granite building for their anni
versaries, for commencements, inaugurations,
and other collegiate exercises, at an expense
of $60,000, was favorably considered. Mr.
Charles Saunders has already led off ,with
donation, of $5,000, one-twelfth of the whole
sum required. This is the way the sons of
Harvard manifest
, their affection for their
Alma, Hater. Would that we could chron
icle a similar spirit in the gradaates of some
of the colleges in the middle and Western
States. The three libraries connected with
the College now number about one hundred
and twenty thousand volumes; of which
two ;thousand nine hundred and - forty-four
volumes and three thousand six hundred
and eighty-three pamphlets have been added
since July, 1857 Among the recipients of
literary honors this year, were Lord Napier,
the British Minister at Washington, and
Gov. Banks, upon each of whom the degree
of .LL D. was conferred.
• The Divinity Sebool in connexion, with
this Institution, has dwindled to a very small
affair. The graduatin. class numbered only
three, and the attendance upon the exercises
was very small. The 'Annual Address be
fore the Mantra was by the Rev. Dr. Bartol,
on the supposed Unitarian return to Trin
itarianism.. The speaker contended that
the Unitarians bad not moved toward the
Trinitarians, so much as the Trinitarians of
New England bad moved toward them.
The Church of Dr. Gannett, owing to
the demands of trade, will be removed from
its present. to a more favorable location.
The history of this church is an eventful
one, and proves what , influence may be ex
erted over a large number, by one gifted and
plausible man. Toward the close of the last
century, it was suspected that the Old South
church had swerved from its ancient basis
somewhat, and was disposed to lean toward
Unitarianism, that was just , then beginning
to make its appearance. The consequence
was that a large number,' and among them
many
. Scotohmen, went off and built the
Federal Street church, for the more distinc
tive maintenance of - the ancient faith. But
in an evil hour, the Rev. Wm. Eller) , Chan.
ning,was called to be the pastor; and as his
sentiments changed, they were gradually and
imperceptibly communicated to his people.
So that when the division took place among
the Congregationalists of Massachusetts, with
respect to the doctrine of the Trinity, the
suaneoted.Old South became the leader of
the Trinitarian faith, and the church that
had been organized for its more distinctive
utterance, became the stronghold of Unita
rianiam, and has ever since continued to be
one of the wsalthitat and ablest Unitarian
chtirches in the country. But so close was
the vote, at that time, in the Old South
church, that it was saved to the Orthodox
cause only by the casting vote of the pre
siding officer, Lieut. Gov. Phillips, father of
Wendell Philips. And it is proper to state
that the son still professes to be an Orthodox
Congregationalist, as was his father.
NEW YORK
The Collins Steamers, notwithstanding the
elegance of their finish, the greatness of their
capacity, the rapidity of their voyages, and the
national pride with which they were regarded
have been peculiarly unfortunate. Disaster
after disaster has come upon the Compa ny.
And variOita reports have gone abroad as t 3
the disposition about to be made of them.
At one time it is reported that they have
been purchased by partiesi in France; and
at another that they are to be placed in the
California trade. But itlr Collins has at
length appeared in a statement denying that
they have been sold, conditionally or other
wise. ALI dit is now currently reported that
if the amount due from the Government
can be obtained, and' a satisfactory mail ar
rangement made, they will soon resum e
their European trips by way of Southampton.
The failure of the late attempts to lay the
Atlantic Telegraph, has occasioned much
disappointment in the public mind, although
scientific men have lately contended that it
was impossible to accomplish the undertakin g
in the way proposed. Yet 'human daring
has often outstripped scientific. While Dr.
Lardner was demonstrating to his own satis•
faction at least, the impossibility of success
ful steam navigation across the ocean, the
Great Western accomplished triumphantly
the feat. But this time the results have
been so far in favor of the speculations and
conclusions of those who predicted failure.
Three trials - were made, but with less sue
cees than when the effort was made last year,
with one vessel, from the coast of Ireland.
Another attempt is to be made, but the
most sanguine begin to doubt of success in
the present state of electrical science, and
with any machinery now in use; although
the daily papers are deluged with schemes
for accomplishing the work, each projector
being confident of success if his plan could
1- be adopted.
A crusade has been commenced against
the Ticket Swindlers and runners who have
so long infested the railroad stations and
the steamboat landings, and by whom so
many have been victimized. Police officers
have been stationed at all such places to
keep such intruders at a respectful distance,
silence their clamor, and give all needed in
formation to those requiring it. But so
many warnings have been given, that it is
really time for travelers to begin to open
their eyes to avoid imposition, and especially
to cease to trust every smooth-tongued and
well• dressed adventurer that may come in
their way.
The Churchman has again changed edi
tors. Dr. Henry has retired to make way
for Mr. Seaver, formerly editor of the Buf•
falo Courier. What his qualifications may
be for this situation has not yet transpired,
but we indulge the hope that he has not the
narrowness of spirit that has charatterized
his predecessors, and that he is in some
measure free from their ecclesiastical peril.
ities.
cc The Way of Life," a weekly paper
established some three months ago under
the auspices of the different Young Men's
Christian Associations, has been suspended.
The principal proprietor has made an assign
ment. Mr. Herries, formerly collected with
the Tribune, was the principal editor.
While the paper was well printed and edited,
still its success was always doubtful, from
the fact that so many religious papers were
already in existence to do the work it under
took, and which, in their aggregate capacity,
they had an opportunity for doing mach
better. Yet the twelve numbers issued con
tained many able sermons, and much valua
ble matter, especially for young men.
It had been expected that, owing to the
revival, Fewer Churches than usual would
be closed this year daring the Summer
weeks, but this hope has not been realized.
The Times saps: "Nearly all the leading
Episcopal churches, save Trinity, will be
shut in August for cleansing. The Rev. Dr.
Phillips' and the Rev. Dr. Alexander's
churches on Fifth Avenue will be closed,
and the congregations will meet in the Rev.
Dr. Potts' church. Bat alI the pastors will
be away. The Rev. Dr. Efutton's church on
Washington Square will be closed. The
Rev Dr. Porter's and the Rev. Mr. Wells'
in Brooklyn. The latter gentleman, by the
liberality of his parish, will take a ran to
Europe. The Rev. Mr. Stryker's church on
Broome, the Rev. Mr. Wood's, the Rev.
.Mr. Smith's, on Sixth Avenue, have but
one service a day in August, and that will
be conducted by strangers; and for about
five weeks all the regular worshipers in our
city churches will be away. Strange faces
will be seen in the pews, strange voices be
heard from the pulpit, and stranger& will
sing the praises of God in the choir."
Much has been done in this city for the
spiritual . Improvement of Seamen by phi
lanthropic Christians. A Society for their
benefit was organized in 1818, and a house
erected for a Bethel, the first for this pur
pose in the world, was dtdicatPd June 4th,
1820. The sermon was preached on that
occasion by the Rev. Dr. Matthews The
old church was closed, and the new one en
Madison Street opened on the 9th of Aril,
1854 The Society is supported by the
leading merchants from the various Evan
gelical denominations. The Rev. Charles
J. Jones, of the Old School Presbyterian
Churoh, who was at one time a sailor, is the
beloved, able, and faithful pastor, and within
the last twenty months three hundred and
eight persons have united with the church!
In addition to regular services, on the Sab
bath and during the week,
a Reading Room
and Library under the church, are gratin.
tously furnished to seamen, and no pains
are spina to add to their comfort, and