31,7171.M.5x..: -,-7=•
Is there Danger?
Xiallita 1111 Apoptam,,,, w; r
Tge faithful sentinel, evef'malieful, and
wisely cautious, gives timely wanking. He
liithritOt wait tilerdestruction is'- imminent? ,
before be sounds the trdmpet., rather
'awakes attention while the ' evil " , is distant,
and even when it may bebut probable. On
this principle we may suppose it is, that our
Philadelphia contemporary, whose clarion in
olden times Rim no uncertain sound, in
now noticing:a...resignation, and the abollski
ing of an °Mee in one of our Church Agencies,
says:
With all the respect we have ,for the preserit
Correspending Seoretary„ our conviction is deal- ,
ded„and especially from the temper of present
Agitation, that the control of so„ important an in
stitution as the Board of Dottiest:to MissiOns
should not lie in the hands of one man. Its pow
er of ,influence and pitronage needs effectual
checks. The Church will not have forgotten the
,dominantpower of Dr. Absalom Peters of the
American Home Miseioniry Society, and , how near
the,brink of ruin we were brought by his influ
ence in that institution. It certainly is well that
no snob power should again loe entrpsted to one
man. Besidei, if our-Board of 'Missions ig to be
aggressive ; it.is not to languish and become
retrograde, it must have more executive Power.
We doubt not the Assembly, in its Wisdom, will
see all this, and to it we remit the question.
How great this danger of " ruin." to the
Church may be, wn , cennot'tell ;' but ire - are
disposed to heed the ,warning..would
not treat it as coming front a croaker , or an
alarmift, but as a callito a rational , consid-'
erathin: Our respect'" for the Corres
pending Secilitiay,is:;verigreat ; but still,
our sense 'of
. safety is- not so much in .
'eonfessed honesty ',and, deletion to the
Church, as it is ink, his want of , power.
What can he;do as "one " man"? He has
now: no traveling Associate, and no Agents
.
to solicit favor abroad' dr to make collections
for him. Under the Spitemotic geheme,
he is utterly dependent upon the :spontano
ono 'Morality of pastor s , elders,' people,
in our widely mattered churches; for every
dollethe can receive., Then hp is 'depend-
mit , upon: the Executive CoMmittee , of the
Board': for 'every da'lar ,direpay : frat.
Then he and the Connitittee both, ,are de-
Pendent upon the Presliyteries for every
missionary, (except, a,. very:few,) that they ,
0111 appoint,
_and for thi :naming of the ,
iiinount. they shall
,giye. And those mission- '
aries are not stipendiaries of- thaSeeretary.
They depend not upon him for the renewal
of their commissions-1 They are responsible
each to hm own Presbytery, 'and depend
.upon a vote there, to be annually Teconsid=
ered, for a re-appointment. This is'one of
the heeirtieri of , onr'fOhurch ichemej that
;,our missionaries. are„rniiiei no , special ~ohlig
ationtuto the Secretary. He has very,little
PITTSBURGH , ;IMPEDER 20 1858.
TEENS.'" I/gni in advemses brine Chiba
91.41 b; orLdeallyerbd at reeidenif
beta, 01.1'6'• See fireelluetidos Third .1) 4 6
IR, El a, SW AL amide be pessary a Illttie
while borate tho yaar asplions that "wo - may
make full arrivagonienie for inktutdroipylgt
WWI indiabOei "WO
antra a renawab If, however, &the bast!
Of mailing, th saidliwsshoalaba.oaaittedi ygo
hope our friend' will slitl natforget as.
• ILEMITTASI:I I : Mlim—liand payment, b 7 safe
bands. lobes: aitaiitanient: 014 mod by utall.
onoioniiag With ordinary caret and troubling
itabodY with a knowledge of what yen SZS
dolma Far a limes summit, toad a Draiit
lards, Meta& For onoortwo yaggersosentifille
ft
Or. saultaistsa. , - •
IPO 11/I.Xjtainallron, send partaigiCsitaiipa,
a *ilia Wile amid for atom Papers; may $lll
;or -liaventynantborai ese sl feu ithirtirelieros
it - malaria • "
DIILIW3II O all Letter/ nit." Clongatitnicaliont
11111 V. DAY/D, elFßOTPle•Frittitl i i iii ir li o
PPI"
NlBRAtiKA.—kor.kuite an interesting ar.,
tioleton=the state of Adis in this Territory,
see our fourth page.
WirrOLINGi VA.—Daily -medlar 'for
prayer are held in this city; by Eiringelioal
*Christians, on the same principles 'ail in
SYNODOB NSW JERSEY. — The VitristiVe
on the State of Religion arrived after ; our
space was all appropriated. It will appear
next Week.'
Tzut PRESBYTEBILII WITNISS:—This
organ of the New School South;fortnorly
published at Knoxville, Tenn. n ww,,issues
'from Bristoliin the:same State. ',lt is
'what ditninis'hed in
,size, but is, in 'viers'
other respect, fully jequal to its foriner self.
it
The, Union Prayer Meeting;
• This meeting was .opened, on • Monday,
the 15th inst., for a long season we would,
`desire, Masonic.'Hall in this- city.,
The Hall is icentral, easy of access 'large
and commodious. Rev E. P. Swift ? If., D.,
presided. About three hundred ; persons
were present The seats were furnished with
neat littie books, in which the Psilini , "(Old
Version) and the Union Hying are bound
together. • ~ • ,„ , .
In, consequence of r . thie meet4ng,.the after-
noon meetings heretofore held at the: rooms
of - the tdring'Men's Christian Asiloei4ion,,
are ilis4eitinnil l but the morning " meetings
there, are,atilllept
.` • Activity of Elders.
The ' Eldership, in -the - -Presbyterian
•
Church, is of vast impor tance,lhose
trio are called to the 'service should*ignify
their effuse—magnify it as Paul magnified his
office, or, middling to the spirit of the Say
ion's precept, "Whosoever will be chief
among you; let him ,he your servant!!
There is a vast amount of worito be' done
in a 'congregation far beyond what it is
possible fors pastor to perform. The Elder's
are not only rul ers, , they are "helpers.'
The action of the Elders, in the BY* of
Ohio, reported in another column; is Werthy,
of special notice. It may: prove both an
example and an incitement.
toorthy of kotfoo.
, At the late-meeting of the Nash, tery of
Cherokee, G-a , there were ,present twelve ,
• 'lniniiterwand - twenty-one elders. -.lt le the
largest ,proportional' number' of elders pres
ent which we notice: - These representatives:
of the churches ars, sometimes, sadly defeo
tive in their attendance upon the Church
Jitdioatories. Every congregation should
have elder at both Prisbytery and Syn
, ; and , every Presbytery ehotild be repre
anted by as many elders as ministers, in,
'the , Gee' aeral Assembly. The vote of the,
elder'avails just the same as that of the min
ister • and his Pu m mel, if if not so hiertied'on'
some subjects, is more wise on, others. The
- , elders are of the .people. , They live r with
them, think with them, - and Teel withrthem;
and their Wive presence is'essential-to the
presertiation of the people's fall rights, and
the advancement of their hest intereets.
Retreat for the Intemperate.
A COMpany has been ()bartered, iirPhils=
del ilia to ,provide a n Asy lum ' foifnebriates.
P ) P
The drunkard s is voinntitilya tranagressa;
and is hence deeply criminal. But, he
still' the objeCt of pity. • He possesses hu
multi, and should be oared for: eels also
injured one tier4ted; sidneed;
, by.the, conitivsnee of the annul:amity: He
is hence entitled to relief at.the, hands of
that immunity. .t) t
The second article of the charter reads
thus': ' '
‘! The, sole objeotof tbe Philade)phia Re
treat for the Intemperate, sheet; tofUrnisi
me d iesLand, other aid, either gtiinitonsly,or
;for cpmpoolOitioot to such ineb riates. es the
execitive power shall deem proPeirecipients,
, under,anidi - regulations and ,hy•laire'es may
be from time, to time ado ted
further information can •be had by ad.
• -.dressing O. O. Lathrop, 409 1 'Walnut Street,
Philadelphia.
Associate' Reformed Synod' of the Bonilo
This bOdy met at Due West, p. p„, on the
• 18th of. October... Reports from :Presbyte.
rise spoke of a large meows of reviving in
times enjoyed: ' ' . - `" '"
_
The `subject of uniOn — rith the'Peneral
-
Amiably, came up on majoAty "and ,minor
ity, - reports_ from the Committee appointed
last year. A substitute was = offered, pro
f , posing intereommunion, but - after &sins ,.
elan, the whole were laid on the table.
"This terminates; harmoniously, howetei,4e
Mitts'''. for a time. A
° ;:Dr. It. 0. Grier resiried "his position as
Fri ,Theologioal Professor, but was afteriegslp
r,r)- 42uhaniinously elected Profesior pro tem 4.)rq,
"' John was cholen President'
of rifidan, ( e .College; , and intiznited his
iiiigniss to accept.
T4e,orstituent Presbyteries are—First,
l3emindi.Ge9rgia, Alabanut,,,Kentucky,' Tsui
_names, Memphis,and Virginia.
power.,
But we are told, ," Thik Church will not
have ;forgotten the dominant power of Dr.
- Absalom Petors,. of !t the AMerican Rome,
Missionary Moiety, and how near the brink
of ruin we were broight.by his influence in ,
that Institition." - Now, :this is something
new to us We lived in the times alluded" '
to, and , took an active part in the conflict.
We knew lir. Peters, And witnessed his ac
tivity. And,wa read, diligently, the Pres.
byterian„ which vas then, our great organ.
But we never heard that the impending
rain was panned by Dr. PetPtse 111 the lone.
Secretary" of missionary' nstitution. If
that had been the cause, the remedy would
have been the appointing of an Associate.'
But who Over 'spoke' of stick a remedy, of
thought of. it ? :..the evils which, at
that time we Buffeted, were not from Dr.
Peters alone, but from hundreds combined;
and they, had then means of injury which, ..
now, are happily and utterly removed.
The' grand cause of .our nearness to the
brink:of ruin, was , not Secretary Peters,. It
was 'the "Plan of Union" with. the Con
giegationalista. This, opened a door for the
:influx of the studenta of Yalepand-of Ando
ver, and of all kinds of men, who could
get themselves ordained by an Association—
all to be re:Belied by our Presbyteries and
churches, 'without 'trials; or exiilaniration.
These ministers, coming io ,us in indAnite
'numbers, were namely educated in ,another
Chriliih' and hence disposed' to remodel our ,
system, but some of them were, it wis said
= . .•
under bonds of *let to a foreign Institution t
.tht American Edpcation Society ;=and many
- of them received missionary-appointments,
and were directly leper:dent itiorr the
Roine Missionary; Seekti., There was no
Presbyterial action _ intervening. t Thus were'
manylof our ministers, not only not ,of ; us as,
ito birth and - edioation,'but they were depeit
deni• much for their inccimer''and "thin
churehos were equally dependent 'for their
pastors, not , on, ;their own,: Presbyteries,
.but -.oaf foreign institutiontg; Thee* thinge
'combined,, and long were Wh4
brought our Churesh'so near 'tti'`ittlie brink
Of rnixe."
And what was the 'remedy Itiwas not
the ••appointing iof one;, or'two, or a, dozen
Associate 'Secretaries. It the aro,
gating of the rkii s and the
Or4pring that every minister coming among '
us should be received only. on, an approved
examination-; 'and the resolution that we
would educate ministers'. for 'ourselves, and
sustain our own missionaries; and the "ar-;
ranging that every young man to receive
aid„shonld have , it freely, and must , be ex:-
recommended; and kept under care
ihy a Presbytery ; and the ' determining that
'reissieneries (except in a few eases,)" should
be e „appcintcd, , and , continued, only on the
reeommendation.of Presbyteries.: This was
theixemedy. These were the means of our
dellierabeit; Andithieis, under God, the
rock, still, of our safety We returned to
true Presbiterienism. 'We:received to our
, Presbyteries only, approved num.. Oar sin
didates were henceforth nuder obligation to
no Board, either Voluntary or'Eeeletdastia
Our missionaries were no longer titiPendiaries,
nor our churches the beneficiaries of any
Secretary whatever: Presbyteries under
took the Acting of their own work • and
they, did it, well and they are going ont to
do it' still better. This is our safety.- Keep
the power in' the Presbyteries, and lit these
be wisely working, indefatigable bodies, and
zesloualy conservative of their own righls.
Never, as we ,believe, since Sresbyterian :
urn bad a being in this land, was it more
I ,
secure against the "one man" power, be he
Secretairy„lrofessop, Editor, ..or what not.
In the tilt(' alluded. to, there was another
„ttone,man-" fat utore Ilangerens, to ue than
Secretary Peters-7n shrewd, managing man,
thOediblz: of inir then lending journal} and the'
Stated clerk of our General Assembly—the
Assembly,.as claimed, ad interim. He had
almoit effected the ssle of one of our Beards
to a Voluntary Society, and was forming
Presbyteries to shelter J!eterdelt -iptronte:
r ,
Bat his power was e ff ective mainly through.
the Plan of Union, and the defective-Pres
byteriaLaction, and the broken-down hedges.
No man now . has such, means of working.
The breaches have. been repaired, and the
inelosure is well guarded.
Is there, then, any danger to our Church ?
We have heard some, very slight intimations
that way; but a etigue was always the object
of fear. We never before heard the
intimation against .any one .of our Cor
responding Secretaries. And we cannot be
!love that, any of them has now the power
to endanger the C'hurch, nor that they would
do it if they 'could.
Howeirer, we are unwilling to run = even
the slightest risk. We would, therefore,
'Midst upon our respected Corresponding
Secretary doing his work; , with as little help
-as possible Let him have ,no. leisure to
scheme and 'plot, and no agents .to traverse
the land for funds or friends. If we give
him an Animate 'who ` will 'be n spy or
is check " upon laim„ we produce ~strife and
weaken the "executive ,power."- ,If me
give him one who ,will be consentaneons
with him, 'we but strengthen the' hands of
the." one man.".
:The
The General Assembly,will, we , rejoice.to
know, judge; of all -such matters. ~But it
will not judge as `a hody ab extra, receiving
suggestions and sending 'down dicta. 'lt
will be a hody'ab intra the iiiiitientitives
of, the snlightened people, who have thotight
of, and' discussed, and. considered their
wants. It will be the Church, einbodiedon
Scripturei, principles, and Consulting for .her
own proper welfare.
duly
expressed ,
the mind of the Church 'thus dril
expressed, we.shall not, only bow float cheer
fully, but -devoted ourselves as the helping
es:miters of her Will: She, riiay have one
Secretary, or tMO or More as she may esti
mate her needs. We will 'still loveher and
- .
serve her
In conelusion,‘we wonla' thank our con
temporary for being the occasion of these
reminiscences, and fat calling out a state.
ment of these principles; . and the more
especially as, in the' good-old times of that
journal, we saw most of what we have here
said, substantialty in its oven columns.
Board of Domestic Missions. ,
The work of the Roard oft Domestic
sions ikone whichis ever growing. Many
of the churches which it nourishes grow
strong, become seltsustaining, and also help
era. Others, in older sections of the coun
try, is they increase by new converts, de- .
crease by emigration, ,Their members leave'
to found Or to build tip new churches iu the
West They are fruitful hives sending-off:
new swards, and, must be continuously sue.
tained. These, with the opening fields,
West and South, demand a perpetually
increasing amount of the means of aid.
Otirs is an increasing Church, 'growing in
, •
numbers, wealth. and wants • and should be
advancing still more in,beneficence.
The Board sends;outt to the churches the
folloiving Circular. They are , like the hug;
bondman, whose extended fields bring forth
so plentifully ihat'he must raise the means
of employing inorejaborers to gather his
,barvests. •
•
We regret to be obliged, as we have been
every Autamn for 'drivers]. years past; to make
a speeial appeal to the churches for peen
nary aid, to enable.irs to carry on the great.
work of Domestic Missions. While the ap
proprrations to our nnssronarres, up to No
vember Ist, were more than* two thotisand
dollars in advance. of last year, the receipts,
up ta the - same period, had !fallen off between
five and cis thousand dollars The balance
on hand is being rapidly reduced, and unless
the receipts , are appedili augthented,' the
treasury of the. Board, will ,soon .be. entirely:
.exhausted. We have no doubt that the TOM.
iributiena have been diminished by thelongr
'contintied,prostration of business, and the
"failurad the crops in` various : sections of the
country ; but it should be. remembered :that
these causes render it the'more necessary to
provide for the - wants of the missionaries,
because Weir congregations are theleseable'
to paylheni . vilest they have promised. We
trust tf that the friends of the,' canoe will
promptly and generously forward their con
ao that the pressing wants of the
Missionaries May be' r sipplied. As We
Board Of Domestic Missions, in ,aceordance
with the general wish .of, the Ohurch,.hatre
dispensed with collecting agents, and, in
common with the other 'Boards, are relying
upon the pastors and Sessions to take up .
collections on their behalf, we trnst that the
officers of the churches will present the cause ~ '
to their respective congregations at the ear
liest'convenient season. The plan - of SYS
tented° Benevolence, inaugurated by the
Cteneral Assembly, and so. repeatedly arid:
earnestly recommended to the churches, hes
worked admirably wherever it'has been cor
diallY adopted .; and we hope that it will
edhitea by all, not only theoretically, bit
practically. • ,
GEORGE W.: MUSGRAVE COr• SfeC.
IMEI
Sixth Stria Sabbath ' Soho?, Ifoiw.
This is an enterprise similar -to many
othem in our "cities, where,,a frr c devoted
friends of the Redeemer, and of, their- fellow
,men, are endeavoring to reclaim a portion of
the rising race, from ignorance and sin.
The existing epidemic has afflicted them, in
common with , others but the disease oar-
Tied to the grave only one of, their 'testate*
Dlr. Campbell T. Jamison.
-
We, "give, from tho True" Fribeessi a bnef
extract from-remarks made to the So400l:by
Mr: Henry `(}order; on the next Sabbath
after Mr. Jameition'A,faneral :
Thedealings 'of Providence are.mysteri
ons./ 'lle“brought Our friend into the world
on ihe e bosom of the sacred Ganges; :be
,closed•his,career on Ahe ,banics of the great
Mississippi. He was born far away in the
NEED OF FUNDS.
llipsiom Rooms, 910 ABom - STREST,
Philadelphia, Nov. 10th, 1858.
Orleans.
.Old World, and in a heathen land; he died
in the New World, where, Christianity sheds
its brightest light. :_The same GO, who
was ever his protector and guide, gave him
a fair form, a gentle •spirik glorionsintel,
hot, education,. friends, and a' home; and
thi3n - eduldenly, in the 'very beginning of'a
career, he called him from
us, and his soul returned to God who gave it.
By this, visitation, his friends _have; been,
sorely afflicted ; the family, in whose bosom
he dwelt, who were to him father, mother,
and sisters,.mourn,over -hire aalver ¢ 2 Jost,
child•ind brother. 4 But 'my dear children,;
they
_mourn not as, those who have no hope;
tbey,rejoice and are exceeding glad, that
they ,have the prospect of meeting him again
in that, better world Where there will be no
more siekness and• no more parting. Oh,
how I wish I could Make . you understand
and feel what a blessed 'thing it is to be a
Christian ; to bave a perfect and childlike
faithin Jesus Christ ; , to put your, trust in
hiin, and believe that' he will, after death,
take you to heaven and 'make, you happy
there. But, beloved childien;if you desire
that God should care for you arid comfort
you in sickness and in death, you must, seek
'him now, while -you are well , and strong.
Reineniber now your Creator in the days of
your youth, before the evil days come.
The Presbyterian Quarterly Review.
The contents of the October number, are
'The Characteristic!! of -lhe Eloquence
of; the Pulpit ; 2. Sit' William Hamilton's
Theory of Perceptiori;'3. The ; Life and
Works of, John Gerson; 4.,,Chronological
Arrangement of Chapters 18-28 of the.
Acts of the Apostles 5. The Modern Pil
grimagelb Rome; and, 6. , Notices of New
Books
.The .literature of this number is of a high=
order: We . bave .been partiCularly pleased
with`the second article in which the theory
of Sr W. .Hamilton en Perception, is ably
discuused. We have alwaye repudiated his
views on.this important subject, as well as
on tie 'question of the Infinite.
Presbytery of Lake, Snperior.
The am* of this Presbytery, publisbed
on :our first page, -gives' Meet :gratifying
evidence that in this newlysettled and far
off there are nien,,of the right stamp .
Their action on the Boards, the, Sepretary 7
ship, and. SysOmatio,Benevolence, show the
right spirit Nyhile'Presbyteries which, in
our Ecclesiastical Sytem, are the seat of
power, and, the fountains of energy, are
sound mid o lotive, Zion, will „rejoice. Let
no efforts, from either high places or low,
prevail to'silence, or to' int4nidate:them.
EASTERN. SUMMARY
BOSTON AND NEW EN4LAND
Our readers will be interested by giving atten
tion to some of the faets connected with •former
thee, as we way be able to gather theni
The History of Printing, Education, and Churches,,
first.
is always worthy of preservation. The t
printing press in the New England colonies was
set up at Harvard, in 1689,.in the house of the
President of. Harvard College, Rev. Henry Dun
stan,- The first publication was the Friiemah's
Oath; this was followed by. an Almanac. The .
next _publication . was the. old Bay Psalm Book,
'the first book of any consequence printed in this
country. The - translators say, in the ,preface:
"'lf, therefore, the verses are not always, so
smooth and elegant:as some may desire or expect,
let them consider that Godta altar needs not our
polishing. Neither let any think, that for metre
sake we haie taken liberty or poetical license to
depart •from the, true and proper minis of David's
words in the Hebrew verse, Noe." •
ut the *ohurches did not confine themselves
exclusively to this collection of Psalmody. For
in the next edition of this same book, we find a
few spiritual songs' added.
In 1698, thefirst American edition of Bternhold
& Hopkins was issued at Cambridge. The Hymns
of Dr. Wolfs, were first published in England in
1.707, and his Psidnis in 1719. The author for
warded specimens to Dr. Cotton Mather. Dr.
Franklin was the first to publish his Hymns, in
this country. This was done lb 1741 ; and the
same-year, tbe Psalms were issued from a press
in Boston.
The collection which furnished the greater part
of the Material from which the Pealmody now
used by the Episcopal Church was principally
formed, was published in England near the close
of the seventeenth century, and repuplished in
America in 1741. s This is known as the version
of,Tate . :
The first ,Dittßrate conferred, by
Harvard, was' upon Rev., Increase Mather, .then
President of the' University, in 1692. And , the
first regular pastor of the church. in Boston, was
the,Rev. , John Wilson. . •
Public Lecturing is now a regular profession in
Boston, and many parts of New England. The
Tribune, of New York, lately published a list of
one' hundred and fifty persons, ready for applies :
tioni to leeture during the coming Winteri Of
these no lose: than thirty are from Boston, and
:sixty jrem litassaohneetts. The business is not`
ticipriditi* as it was a few years ago, except in
tie im4iie a few individifils.. And it is no Won
der, that the public) have become somewhat wea
riful, and not a little disgusted. For too many of
*the public performances elide kiiid have 2onsist
ed'of miserable platitudes and feeble attempts at
wit, without any discussion of great social and po-
litioal truths, or any thorough elucidation of great
historical problems. While in the case of some.
the, occasion has been seized .to make covert at
tacks upon the sacred trathitof Evangelical relig
ion, and to bring into.disrepute all earnestness of
;Christian * ? experience and religious character.
The sharpest . and most poisoned , arrows have been
directed, against the Church and ministry. If
Lecture committees wish the e v otintenanee and sup.
port of people of good judgment and correct taste,
let themte careful to employ able lecturers, who
will handle soientific, historical, and moral sub
jeots,with ability; , and 'who will not offend .their
audiences by abuse of the' Church, • , its ministers,
or its members. There are muff such, who will
interest and profit their hearers ; let them be o
tamed, and it good patronage will be forthcoming
.of Longfellow's Courtship of Miles Standish,,
during the first thirteen days afterits publication,
*twenty-six thousand copies were sold.
The last number of the Bib/lot/gas Sacra , has an
article entitled,' " Meshakah on Skepticism," ex
cellent, both on account of its authorship and its
intrinsic yorth'. He who reads it,' will be oon
vinced that it is a great error to suppose that any
one is capable of doing Foreign fdissionary, work,
while'the ablest and most learned shoubfbe kept
at home. Th e amount, sauteness, and Vigor of
Intellect, together with the extent of learning
here displayed, give evidence to, all that tiler? is
much mind, even where ignorance and' supersti
tion have long reigned. The author of the article
in question, Dr. Meshakith, was born stir,l bred in
the • Greek Catholic Church. • Hie fine education
find, diicriMinating mind enabled him to 'detect
the working! of priestcraft and'enporatition. This .
Jed i lihn to bepome a skeptic.. ,But in 11.8?.1 Ike met
Dr. King, the well known American missio6sry
of Athens, in his father's house, and was strongly
impressed with the great difference in spirit bd. - -
tween him and the priests,., with whom he was
acquainted. Shortly afterwards, while practis
ing medicine in Damascus, " Keith on the Proph
esies " fell in his way. At first he 'read it as a
matter, orcuriosity, - for he Was strongly inclined
to ridicule the idea of any man undertaking the
defence of the truth of the Christian religion.
%Resding,that work, however; led hiin to tie Bible,
which he read through three times, in a single
month. The consequence was, that he became
`siqereheliover andfirmdefender of theftruthofi
the Bible: Hi thenirepara t aireatiSe, addreaiiul )
to his countryman, giving his reasons for specs ! ,
sion, which was published at Beirut in 1843. In
1852 he,published a reply to the animadversions
on his former work. The article to which we
have called attention, was originally a letter to
his brother, but has since been revised , and pub
lished. As aspeeimen of his style and spirit,
take the following extract. Speaking of obtain
ing the true knowledge of God, through the
Scriptures alone, he says
•
Just as the most distant stars mock at our
powers etvision so tong as we do not look at them
through the tube of the astronomer, so the, com
prehension of the judgments of. God and the glory
of heaven, as they are in themselves, mock atthe
powers of ourrintellect, so long as we do tat look
at them,through the Word of God, which is not
made by :Herschel or any other man, but hy the
.hand of God, who gave it to us as the only instru
ment through which we can look wp.on hitgeelf.
NEW YORK
The supply of money is in advance of the de
mand, so that the Rates of interne continue on
.
usually low. Some ofthe Beaks have attempted'
'to raise the rate to five per cent. 'the most
of the regular Banks, the Trust Companies, ,and
private' honking' houses, loin at lour per•cent.
The Booth has removed specie to the - amoiint of
, $4,000,000, and may, extend the sum $5,-
.000,000. ,
The pry goods Trade 18 over for the.peason,
and some of the houses are already beginning to
make preparations for the; Spring trade, of 1869.
The orders given to agents in Enrope, and the se
lections' made there, are o be • arge and
varied, sa. that an active and extensive'Spring
iradaseems to be anticipated. - ,
The Pricesof Produce are very low, and farmers
able tcileep their grain do not.seem disposed to
.bring Mato market, at the present ,rates. , . Many
andlotrennous effortihavabeen made, in various
isys,''arl4o6 'the iriae of stocks, but in Valli:
-,-Thelrospects of the,Rdilroad Reedits for the
Winter are by no means encouraging.. This re-
`moves the temptation to buy stocks of this kind,
even at,low figures, and when money is abundint;
• For many years New Yorkers gloried in :their
Lin& of Packets to' Liverpool. All attempts at
competition' by other :nroved entire' fail
urea. .But now the English steamers have driven
them from the ocean, and their memory will soon
Only live in history. • • • • "
The improvements , in the Central PaA:ntire:ko
greasing rapidly. A- force of two thous/LI ; six
hundred men, `with "a great ininbetir for - horses,
Mules, and oxen Is constantly emPleYed. An ins,-
inense.amount of blasting is found necessary, so
that the daily consumption of powder averages
from thirty to fifty-barrels, The average expen
diture is atiout $l,OOO a 'day. The greatest
amount of work yet lone is the preparation, of
:the grand Promenade or Cathedral-walk. There
are to be double rows. of elms on mesh. side, and
f'orty-'five trees havealready been set oat. These
trees are mostly brought from West , dikter
r
County, on six -wheeled wagons, and mein -of
them are allowed td be' less than nine inches in
diameter The contractor id to plant one kin
dred and fifty this Pall, receiving thirty dollars
apiece for the trees'. that live, three years„ and
nothing for the failures. In the arrangement of
this Park, particular attention is given to' the
grouping of the trees, in order to a proper Com
bination of the.tints of, the. inflow). •In addition
to this, twelve hundred men are employed on the
new ReserVoir." Bo" that within the - enalosure,
four thousand' men are daily at work; and yet
most admirable 'order preiseds throughout the
grounds.
The poet, William Cullen Itryant, has returned
from - Europe in most excellent health and spirits,
and has set himself to work in the details of a
daily Journal, with all the ardor. of a: youth who
has still fortune - and reputation to acquire, though
he is now stricken in years, and a poet of world
wide fame.
Much interest is now taken in the estatolish
ment of a Frei Library for Women, and also in
securing suitable employment for a large class of
this sex, who have none to provide for them.
Mr Everett's Oration on Washington never
grows stale; it is not injured by frequent repeti
tion. It was delivered again on the afternoon of
Friday of last week; at the request , of the ; Local
Committee of the Ladies' Mount Vernon Fund
'Association; before one of the largest and most
brilliant anSemblages ever convened •in .Niblo's
Theatre. Among the audience were General
Winfield Scott, George Bancroft, Benson J.
Loring, and John Van Boren. The Ladies' Mount
Vernon Association has already paid into the
treasury $BO,OOO of 'the money necessary to
pnrShase Mt. Vernon, the home of Washington,
for hie country. '
The religions services at the Cooper Institute,
on Sabbath evening, under the, ministrations of
the Rev. T. L. Cuyler, of the Reformed Dutch
Church, have met with the most encouraging
snceess. This fact has led several gentlemen,
ddsirous of promoting...the moral and religious
welfare of the vast multitudes around them, to
lease, at great expense; „the Academy of Music;
sapable of seating several thousand persons, for
a series of religious services,. on,Sabbath even
ings, to be conducted by the costore of various
Evangelical denominations. Arrangements have
been made for. preaching every Sabbath .evening,
in this place during the Winter. •The (Timing
sermon 'will be preached to -morrow.• (Sabbath)
evening, by Rev. Dr. James W. Alexander, who
will be followed on successive evenings• by the
Rev. Drs. Tyng, Adams, Joseph P. Thompson,
and others. •' - - • . -
A meeting was held teat vreelt, for the purpose
of obtaining additional aid for; tbe.,:American•
Chapel at Paris,• and also to give. expression of
disapprobation against the oppressive 'action of
the 'Swedish Government toward seceders from
the National, or Lutheran Church. The ,proe
pects of the American.qhapel for usefulness were
represented as highly encouraging, and resolu
tions were passed condemning strongly the course
of the Swedish goiernment; but at the' same
time expressing the hope that the rimier:Viol&
soon be relaxed. Addressee were , made by
Baird, Thompson, and Joel Parker, anititiThi,Z
via Lord, Esq.
The Union Theological Seminary has on ititOatita
logne the names of one hundred and tworiti-tour
students. Twenty-nine of these are bolo the.
New England States, and forty:six ,of 'them ate
from places in the State of New Tait.'
number of them are from, the cities of N ew Yo*
and Brooklyn. This Seminary hi 4 a Broady fifti
scholarships, each yielding $l2O per a nn um.
PHILADELPHIA.
The estimated cost• of the. Poor. Department of
this city, for 1859, is $260;195. This to provide
for a supposed prolir population averaging two .
thousand 'three hundred. iThe 'salary •of the
Physician in chief; is $2,000 per annum, and of
the Clerk, $1,000.. -'' - I
44L., •
Amonethelidougjilliires, of this city, thitt of
=
articles from raw silk imported' from China, is.
beginning to be an important item. Several foe
tories are now in operatiani making-sewing silk,
and preparing`the materiel; for ornamental fab
,rics of pure
,silk ittied,, !hi& are now
produced so 'largely here. * Indeed, iris not gen
evilly known, that half :of tint.raw silk received
into the country is imported directly from China•
Childs 4- Peterson, announce the publication of
Alibone's Critical Dictionary, of English Litera
ture, and British and American authors, before
the close of the present year. It will consist of
two octavo volumes, each of one thousand pages,
and will include from thirty thousand to forty
.thousand biographies _ of British and American
authors, living and dead, from the earliest so
nonnts,to the middle of the 19th century.
On the Second Sabbath of this month, the Bev.
Dr. Boardman, preached a sermon commenters
tive of the ,close of the twenty-fifth year ofhis
pastorate of the Tenth Presbyterian church:
The discourse occupied the services of both
morning and afternoon. The corner stone of this
church, was laid August Bth, 1828, and - the church
was dedicated in December, 1.829.: Dr. Thomas
Macauley, of New York, was the .first pastor.
Soon after his resignation, 'Dr. Boardman was in
iited te preach, and called to be the pastor, and
installed on the Bth of November, 1833. Of the
two hundred and ninety-two members then in.
the church, only thirty-seven are now living.
All the original founders and elders are; gone.
Only six families of the original congregatirn re
main. There have been, during Dr 'Boardman's
pastorate, one thousand and sixty-eight , additions;'
four hundred and ninety-three by, cerfificatt; and
five hundred , and seventy.five. by prtfession of
faith. The largest number ever added at one time,
Was forty..one, in June last. The number of mem
bers, now belonging to the church, is four hundred
and fifty.. This churolthae beenactiveund
in every good work. • It has sent out two Jarge
oolcMies, has oontributed largely to the. Boards of
our Church, and to 'the several objects of Chris
t4mbeneyolence. It loves its'pasdr, anifits'Pas
- tor loves it.
For the Preebyteiian Banner and Advocate
YOung Itexes Bible Society...
The Executive Committee of the ming
Men's Bible Society:of , Pittsbirgh, in pen-7!
junction with the ?residentof-the Board,
have furnished= vs with the folloVving !brief
or their ! , ,practical= operations; in the
city and - sairirons„ this year
From. Februaryl.i.to September 1, the city
• :Agent, = Mr: J. P. Smith,. was laboring in
Pittsburgli f : TemPerenceiille, West Pitts
; bitziti, South Pitteliurgh Bireringhiim,, and
l.awrenoeville, seeking those deatitate of
, the . Word of 14fe...; While thus engaged,
nine thousand six bundredand thirty-seven
families were_ visited ; twelve_ hundred - :and
Were ; -five -him 7
fired and:: thirty=riine were supplied-four,
-. ..hnridred and sixty by donation, and seitenty
,: nine .by .sale, ;twenty-seven. volumes having
been , sold to those previously supplied.
'SeVeri : hundred and thirty nine refused, to
receive the seered. criptures
The Agent has begun making the annual
eidleothing the city - congregations, ; and
reports that those called upon have` gener
ally responded 'cordially; and Withi-='that
.spirit, of , liberality heretofore manifested
and it is purposed -that he shall continue,
lilt all have opportunity to . earitribitte.
And it; is net deeMed either necessary or
Offer any Conaideratimil to the
r , ifriendo..of the tilde cause tz;inflireue`C .them
in a . matter of duty,' other ~ tbau,simply,,tir
say, that it 'semis' to be evident Wall, that
'the imititiitiOn.ii(One, fraught with useful
ness, and has been eminently 'bles6d ;of
In addition to the labors of the city, Agent,.
the Rev. J. K. Miller is actively engaged'
in the Country, supplying destitutions and
making collections,; and by the united la
hors of the two Agents, the Society expects
to accomplish. mute good this -year, and to
have a favorable report to offer at the next
Anniiersary.
Pittsburgh Nos 15 1858.
.
Fox the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate.
.The American Sunday School Union.
In arranging the missionary work of oar
Society for the current. year, it was assumed
by the Committee having this matter speci
ally in charge, that our receipts, in the ford
of donations and collections, would amount,,
at least, to the sum left at our disposal last
year, atter paying the salaries and expenses
of collecting, agents; and, therefore, it was°
considered safe to conduct this much-needed
pioneer work Upon the scale` adopted, in
former yeari;'
'The commissions of a number of our col.
electing agents did not expire until August
let, so that but three months have passed
since the full adoption of our ` new systeM„,
daring which time our receipts have not
materially fallen off. . 'The most epriclusiver
evidence has been -received, .showing that
the position recently assumed by our -Board'
in regard to the collection of funds, has met"
with general favor, and we, have tici,deubt of.
ultimate SUOUSBB. - gut-as it is_abeolutely,
necessary that our *rent receipts Should
equal our expendituillyand •as we .cannot'
think of dismissing`our estimable corps of
missionaries now in the 'field or of turning
a deaf ear to the daily calls forthe gratnitoue
supply of books, and. as our fiscal yearAdosee"
February 28th, less than four monthefrod
the present" date, and 'it is possible'that, in
some instances, the 6laims of our Instiintion
• may he overlooked or pushed aside by the
multiplicity of causes, importunately asking
assistaneo, it islhought proper thus.publiely
to remind : our friends of our wants and ex
. invite
pectations, and most earnestly to their.
Prorept and liberal co operation.' The or
- -genization , of about two thousand. new Sun
day 'Scheas a year, in:places a majority of
' which have no church organizations or other
means of religiois instruction, and the grata
'taus supplying of 'several thousands of.poor
and •needy Schools with libraries and other
Sunday School requisites, is - a work =which
commends itself to all Christians and-patri
ots, and should not be arrested for the want
of. money.to sustain it.
Will nut PASTORS, in view of these hots, ,
take t 'et matter in hand, and forward .to; Er
Presbytery, i nto rn
s late eetang,lor supplying
i T e he following appt . ltiments yere made by the
our Tr asurer 4hatever their congregations the vaunt eiturskesin their hounds with preach
. May ithntribute in aid of tine cause?' mg:
Will not Sunday School Sapeiriiiiiii'dents imins,and,Sugar.,,Grove--Rev..T. W. Dickey.
burn and Fairliew—Rev. W. M. 'Slack
and .Teachers interest their Sehooliir:in this -
blessed mission to neglected Children, and 7 s'iu:r g ' eon. t, W . ; and ' gar' • ''ard;--.ltev. G. W. Zahniser.
turn their contributions into this highly ap- , , Earmonsburg and Rvansburg—Rev. X. V. Rey ,
propriste channel ? ' ' nolds, D. D. , - '
.
Will not indiv . icluakwho have not made Sandy Lake
. and Mount Pleasant—Revs. 3. R.
their donations this . year ,'- forward ; them ,: _ Ti l d W a ' l24 ' l). aiier- al D Revs M.Eaten,
.whether large or small, without- delay, by iiiid/ 1 7li d .
'ldC,douneeetfie.l7 'B' J •
. mail or otherwise ? :. Allatedg , Mill Creek, and Sugar Creek—Revs.
Let all who read ` this paper, reinember
Coulter Sid Shields -
that their present decision and future con- , Greenfi4d—Rev. J. M. Shields
duet;.
duet, in, regard' to this call lei voluntar y Ii war recommended; that the brethren filling
. thesein ,
appointmentS; preach at least one week
contribittione r inay have a most senous.influ- each place, visit the families, take up the assesF
,
mice in settling two great questions : meat for the Commissioners' fund, Bm.; and, a 5
L flow Much shall be done in: the hitnie j fee- as possiblerremain over the Sabbath, arta
by the Abierican Sunday ,School Union , : in .
As administer thelLord's Supper.
, ~. . lsussmaswevonComossiomsee Ftesn.—Mead•
providing religious instruction for" three -or tirille , $12.004.- Greenfield, $4.00; Cool Spring ,
four millions of neglected children and youthl.s9.o4; Franklin, $B.OO ;',West Greenville, $12.00;
in our Own country, now ready to perish for I Oenneautyillie $5 00,; Gravel Ran i , $7.00; Wash"
laeli of ;knowledge _ ? 2 Shall the' first ofl Tington. .sB.oo;etown, $11.00; Fairfield ,
our National Union Societies , that has fe-- sB.oop, Mercer, $1.5.00: • Sturgeonville, PA;
Georg
solved upon' the-abandonment of an expert .,
Fairview,.s2.oo.: Girard, $1.00; Harmonsburg ,
1 $5-005 Mvanaburg, $3lOO.
Wife, and in' many ether objection-
respects f ..41' ,, - S. I. M. PATON, Clerk.
•
bl.e, system of collections, be sustained, and
the wbole subject of Christian benevolenee
bo put upon a proper bReiP; or shall the old
and justly odious collecting agency system
be practically admitted t be a heeessity?
"Wliilie:Nig most earneitly_ appeal to our
friendsrfor , prompt and liberal pecuniary aid,
we unless :earnestly ask arf: interest in the
prayers of the pious of ev. ry name, that
God's blessing may rest upon our institu
tion in all its beneficent operitions, and af
fectionately invite all .lovers of the Sunday
School minse to join with us in most devout
thanksuivious for recent blessings, and for
our present enlarged prospective usefulness.
. order of the Committee on Missions.
It. B WESTBROOK,
SPc'y of Missions.
H BrJRTIS, "Assoricae Sedi.
Philadelphia, Nov. 10,4858
N 13.—A1l moneys should be directed to
W. J. CITEYNEY, Treasurer, American Sun
da y ' School Union, Philadelphia.
Ecclesiastical.
Rev. R. M. "ROBFRTSCIN, who has b-en sup.
plying the ;muted churches of Horicon
and Dodge Centre, Wis., has received and
accepted a call to become pastor of the
Dodge Centre church. alone, and his pas•
total relation.to. tlte, church at Hannon
has been ,dissolved by, the Presbytery of
Winnebago. His P. Office addreEs is
changed from Horicon, Wis , to Juneau,
Dodge County,Vis
Mn. WATSON Russn was ordained to the
work of the 4o!pel Ministry, to labor as
au blvaagetibt in Clarksburg and vicinity,
by the Presbytery of Redstone,, on the
DA WA. Rev H. 0. Rosborough
preached the sermon ; Rev. Dr. Fair
culla prraidod and proposed, the Constitu
tional questions; , Rev. Reuben Lewis
offered toe ordaining.prayer ; and Rev. J.
McClintrick delivered the charge to the
•
Tilvangelist.
.
Rey. Ross Sixreesores Peet Office address
is changed from . Armagh`, Indiana Co.,
Pa , to New gloreine, Westmoreland
Coonty,'Pa.
Rev. T. R .ENGLISII'S pastoral relation to
the chureh of Pine Tree, was • dissolved
by the Presbytery of Efaraiotry, at its late
Meeting, that he Mght. ondertake the
wok of an Evangelist - within the bounds
of the Presbytery.
Mr. DA.Trxr FAuti.Erwas licensed to preach
the Gospel by:-.the Presbytery of Har
monyi at its late meeting.:
Rev GAR n .O'N'S Osteral relation to
the charelt 08hr:doe:So, Iowa; was die
solvFd by.the Presbytery, of pea Moines,
at its late' meeting.
Rev. J G.. Itionartns, has received a call
from the, church .of Liberty; ,Hill, Har
mony Presbytery.. ;
Rev. ORARLES RAT'S Rost, Office address is
Genes6o,. Ltvioggton l County, New York,
and not,
~Geneva,..Cfntiriu County, as be
fore stated
Rev. E R GAART-'S Pose „Office address is
obanged front. Corvallis, Benton County,
Oregen,- - tellitapeoye,liiiiti%Oonnty, Ore
gon. . '
Rev. J: IL ROGERS 'bas accepted a Call to
the pastoral charge of the 'Central church
of Atlan t a (eorgia
Rev Cl. A. Musrx has received's call from
''lhrollifidie Trinkfortrlitiliana.
Ref Dr. vanqulNGELA:att'S Post Office
address is .changed from Charlotte, N. C.,
•to 'Charleston, S.r.C. - .
Rev. R. S. HITaiIOOPK7B , inspenSion wag
removed,- by the Presbytemotßaltimore,
at its late session. - =
Rev. T. MoRToN, of Princeton, Ind.,
has.accepted an.,invitation, to supply the
°burr& of Newton, Jasper County, 111.,
and removed' thither. — Correspondents
will note .the Change in his Tost - Office ad
dles& - "- .
_
Rev. inoRGE' Loma :was received by the
Preshyteiy of Muneie, at:
,its late session,
from,the- German ,Reformed Classis, and
has become the stated supply of the
chnrcheaof .Clermont and Prospect.
'R
. ,
ev::F. X. 'I:COPF was received •am a licenti
ate. from the Metho4isiEpiseepal Church,
by the Presbytery of New. Albany, at a
• late meeting, and has taken;charge of the
GermanGernian> Presbyterian church. New Al
bani,Tediani.
Rev.' JOHN 'STABLE, 'Of South Bend, Ted.,
has removed`to Newton, lowa, and taken
charge orthe churcli there, made vacant
by Alm resignation 'cog, Rev. Lyman B.
Crittenden.
Rev. Jews FLE Gof Eariville 111. has
,become : the stated supply..of ,the Wyoming
'churela, Chicago Presbyt,ery.
Rev, ,84tirisr. CALDwiii; of 'Pittsbrtrgh,
Pa., has accepted .a z call to supply the
churches of Lynn and , Hebron, in the
Chicago Presbytery.
Rev A: A. MATHES was installed pastor of
the lirazeau church; by the Presbytery of
Potoiil on the - 20th of June.
Rev.-J/u3. B. ARM'S Post Office address is
ohafigid from Plainfield, Ohio, to Mt.
Eaton, Wayne Co `Ohio.
Reir. 'F. - W. Blutimis, of *Le Ontario Asso•
tiOn 'and Rev. GEO "W KENNEDY , of
Presbytety of Wilmiagton, (New
School,) were received Alrthe Presbytry
of Baltimore, at its late meeting. ,
14, -
Rev. Dr, 3. R. Enw - A • res ' pastoral' relation
to the Second church, Washington, D. C.,
"was dissolved by the Presbytery of Balti
more, at its late meeting.
Mr.: ISAAC was , licensed to
preach the ,Glospel, by the Presbytery of
'Mohawk, ,at its tate, meeting.
4. :Tor the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate.
Pee' Presbytery-.43upplies and Assess•
ntenti.
II