Vi,anntr , att *ileo:**i'
PITTSBURGH, 3 - SHUARVIS, 1859.
$1. 1 509 1A &drawee; or la elides
Slab; or, delivered at residences of liabseri.
bare, $1.15f. Nee Proeyeetue. ois Thirdala4ye..,
K >tW AIWA& Si eirrald be prompt; a little
while before the year empires, that we awl
wake fedi arrangements for a steady uglily.
MEM RED, WILAJPPIAN Indies . %silken we.
desire a renewal. If, bewaring ii lbs baste
of wt ding, this atrial should be omitted, we
bone war friends -will Will net forget van
RIGNITTAIIICAS.—Matd paymemot by safe
kande. when goilvenient. Or send by wail.
e tiologists with ordbaary Wei site trembling
nolbedy will a knowledge of what yowl are
debts. Weir a large amount, gsad ' a Draft, or
large notes. Par onoortme papers.gend Gold
or small notes.
TO MAXIS CriAINGX, Oland postage Osumi§
or bettor stlll, mod for =ore paporal may VII
•r Sevoiaty asusabora. or S 1 for Tbarto
1.11111016111.
DIREO7 all Matters and Coniantalaitloaal
t* IIMIT• DAVID iIaIiGINDISIT. Vittiolourigate
Pas
Church 'Wants at Prairie City, DI.
We trust that the article headed, " An.
Earnest Appeal," will be read with some
thing of the feeling prompted by the direc
tion, "As ye would that others should do
unto you, do ye the same unto them." The .
generous but suffering individual spoken of,
is in our midst, asking for aid.. Give him a
dollars, at least. 'Contributions may be sent
to this office.
The Southern Presbyterian Review.
The January number, now on our table,
completes the eleventh volume of the South.
am It displays its usual ability. The
Articles are L The Astronomical argu
ment against Christianity; 11. The States
man; 111. The Fullness of Time;'lV.
Morality of the Legal Profession-; V. The
Support of Supperannuated Ministers, and
the Indigent Familiesuf Deceased Ministers;
VI. The Prophetic Period of 1260 years ;
VII. The Early Presbyterian Immigration
into Sou& Carolina; VIII. Critical No
tioes ; IX. Periodical Literature.
The Theological and Literary Journal.
The contents of the January number of
this Quarterly are : I. Dr. llickok's Ra
tional Cosmology; IL Notes on Scripture—
Matt. xiv—xvii ; Haven's Mental
Philosophy; IV. Religious Lessons of the
Deluge ; V. The Miracle, the Discourse,
and the Persecution, Acts and iv;
Formularies of
• .,the Church of Holland;
VII. Answers, to. Correspondents; VIII.
Literary and Critical Notices. This Journal ,
is always rich in thought, , and appropriately
finds its place on the table of ministers
who would be well read on the important
topics of current religious literature;
The Eclectic Magazine.
The January number of this Monthly is
rich in matter, and. is embellished with a
splendid engraving of Shakspeare - and his
contemporaries.
We recently give a long article on the.
British Reviews, wishing to keep our intel
ligent re,aders'well informed 'on the subject
of superior English Literature. Those Re
views, and _Blackwood, can bo.had, five
persons uniting in a club, at $2.00 each.
The Eclectic, being Monthly, is able to se
lect , and publish all their best articles,
together with selections from other periodi
cals. The price is $5.00 xyear. IL makes
three volumes a year, of six hundred pages
each, .large Bvo. Address W. IL Bidwell,
No. 5 Beekman Street, New York, or .sub
scribe through us.
Exemplary.
A brother minister sends to maws follows
The liberality of one gentleman, not a sub
scriber to your paper'himself, enables me to send
yon eight out of these eleven names. Tte ex
pressed a willingness to'devote a certain sum to
the, circulation of Presbyterian papers, among
those Wallies whose heads either could not, or
wouldnot take any; and left it' to ,my judgment
as to what papers should be sent for. I have
given you the largest list of beneficiary sub
scribers, except, perhaps, the Record.
This is 'doing good.‘ It' is not easy to
find out .a way in which a Christian, with
ten dollar - note to spare, can do more real
good and diffuse more pleasure, than by ob
taining the - Banner and Advocate for EIGHT
families, a whole year etteh.
Thcse whC cannot spare a ten, may possi
bly spare 'a Ave, and supply roux families;
or a less amount, , and supply one or two fam
ilies. If one half of our subscribers would
each obtain a paper for a neighbor, or a die-
tautfriend, we shoUld do well, and they
would do g00d.,...
Texas.
We invite the attention of our readers,
and especially of ministers seeking employ.
most, td the letter of Rev. 'R. g„Buntin g ,
f .
on Pur first page. -He tells tlient•Pf a most
inviting field, and presses' them to enter.
Why, hesitate? Are you not a called, sane
tified, devoted r and accepted tservant of 'tTe
ausChrist? 'Have , you, not =vowed to go - '7,
to carry the Gospel hence to the needy ?
Why then await any other call than to have
a hnowledge of the place of need, the place
where help is wanted ?, And why does God
leave you fort months, without an invitation
to an old and wealthy ehtir9h ? And why'
has he stirred'up your nest, that it has be
come uncomfortable , and you wish to leave
it ? Why, but that you may be at leisure,
and betmade willing to go far
,off,,and build
upon 'a new foundation 7 Go, then. Tarry
not in idleness. Beg not for place. Crowd
not upon your neighbors. But go, u did
Paul,' and make tents—teach the young,
cultivate the 'soil—do any thing that is hon
est to earn your bread, in part or entire y,
while youipreach the Gospel. , '
Texas ranks among onr most , important
fields. It is an extensive'country, has
much fine elithatn, is, vety fertile ;and easily
cultivated; and is rapidly filling up with an
enterprioing , people, who need the , Gospel,
and who desire the Gospel.
Read 'lp.,linnting's letter, yield yourself
willingly to` die Lord, to both do and en
dure, and then-prayerfully seek to know
your duty, heeding : the; still' small voice
which says, " This is the way, walk thou in
it."
~~.
4`~}f l
F-
•
The lorgt-WesternTheoltigioal Seminary.
It Was supposed, on the agreement of the
Synods to transfer this Institution to the
'Gaeta Akiembly, that there would be an'
entirely peaceful acquiescence, and an ener
getic co•operation on its behalf throughout
the churches of the region directly interested:
We are hence °locale:4lj , Sorry to see indi
cations of a still divided sentiment. The
point of difference now whether the work
shall progress at onne, or *hether there shall
be an indefinite delay.
Of the need, even just now, we have no
;doubt; that is, provided our Church is to
do her proper share in furnishing a ministry
for Christ and the world, and provided, also,
that the Seminary system is to be used, as it
:is at present', in their traininp . There are
now at Princeton one hundred and eighty.
one students. This number is quite tee
large to enjoy proper personal attention from
the professore. At Allegheny there are one
hundred and nineteen.. This number is
quite large'Snough—it is something larger
than we desire to see congregatlet at one
place. And these are the only Institutions,
at present, to which North-Western students
are likely to resort. The three ,hundred
students at these two Inatitutions, would
very well occupy three sets of Professors, in
three districts of country. Even those of
them from the North-West, would now make
a respectable Company; and the number
furnished from a growing region, -where
there are' ten Synods already, must rapidly
and greedy increase.
The. Seminary.we regard as being already
a matter of need. And we hope also that
it will be a growing want. We shall hence
greatly rejoice to see the churches, on truly
Christian and. Presbyterian.principles, devote
themselves to the providing of ministers, by
educating their own sons, for the speedy, and
full, and constant satisfying of the call for
laborers in the Lord's cause. The North- ,
West, as well as, the East, : the Middle, the
South, &a., should have its. Seminary; top.
ical, nf course, in its location, but not see=
time' in spirit. That country is a nation in
extent and numbers and it must have its
peculiarities. And while we, contend that
every Seminary of our Church should be
such in its character, that' its Alumni could
go, without' prejudice, into any' and every
part of our ecelesiaittical connexion, 'we at
the same time hold that the great body of
a country's ministry should =be somewhat
indigenous. There are habits, tastes, preju
dices, &a., peculiar to localitieti—al
ready there or soon to spring up—and to
possess these, as it were, by:nature and edu
-cation, is a 'requisite, ordinarily, to the high
est degree of usefulness.
The " times," we admit, are not favorable'
'to the collection of funds, but a very large
amount of funds is, by no means, a primary
'necessity. Splendid buildings may well be ,
dispensed with, for a long season. And a
full corps of Prefessors is not a first need.
And even a large Library may not be a sine
qua non,. at the beginning. Let there but
be peace, unity, and a wise and 'ardent co
operation, and then the Institution
begin well and =prosper well. Princeton
began without buildings, and with lAA one
Professor. So also did 'Allegheny. But
there was unity among the brethren, and a
persevering energy; and we now behold the
work done and still progressing.
Altering the Confeesion.
The Synod of Philadelphia, at its late
meeting, after much dismission, many of its
members voting nay, adopted an Overture
to the General Assembly, asking for the,
erasure, after due process, of that part of
our Confession of Faith which forbids a man
marrying the sister of his deceased wife. .A
correspondent, noticing the Overture, Sends
us the followittg
INCESE-A. Quzity;
Rua. Douron.:—Can you tell us where
the authority is for changing the Confession
of ; aith, as proposed by:the' Synod of Phil
adelphia ? The question is not mow regard
ing a change of the Biblemso as to allow the
incestuous marriages in question.; but Where
do we find provision for changing our Stan
dards? Shall we be tol4 that it is an in
herent. right of everyman and evely Church
to conform in their symbolX to- what, they
, believe taught by the infallible , Standards
Granted ::but is not this the right Crt...revoln
tion4? Is - it not just the right that has been
recently-exercised by the Seceder brethren ?
They have added to .the Articles of Faith,
and. thug erected a new denomination, se
that z they now haver three, instead of • two
separated Churches, as formerly.
The confidence *ith which 1 /14bmiis , r"
pionounces tbe'mairiages in; cinastion, i 122-
costume," harmphiz,es not well -with the
modesty implied in his signature., Meng of
sound' mind, much 'erudition, and undoubted
piety, take different" views of the Biblical
teaching; on the subject
,The question is
an open one, and it is legitimately brought
forward for:investigation:
The right to.alter the Confession of Faith'
is one which is primary, and is essential to
Church freedom. It is a Compilation made
by Man, and ie . taken as expresSiVi of the
faith Of those who "receive it. And if the
individual is free to read the Scriptures and
to modify his faith according to the light
which' he receives, the Church, which is an
which,
aggregation of individuals, andas
organized, is bound by the same rule of
faith, may and even should amend its Decla
ration of faith, •when it'shall find that that
Declaration needs enlargement, abridgment,
or any other modifuiation.
This right the ChUr:h hasEdWaysclaimed
and, exercised,. Oar own
,Church exercised
it on revising the Oonfot!sion, in 1788. ,It
also'provided a rule for its future exercise;
in these words :
"Be:solved,' That the true intent and meaning of
the • Wince. ratification by , thee Synod, is, that the
Fenn of Government mad Alsolpline, and the Con
fession of Faith, as now ratified,•is to continue to
be our, Constitutien, and the confession of Our
faith and practice' inalterabl e Wawa: two airder
of the Presbyteries,.-ander the care of •the General
Assembly, shall propoie ' - alterations •or amend
ments; and such alterations or,,,amendments
shall be agreed to and =enacted by the :General
Assembly.' Minates, /788; 646, quoted in
Baird's .Digarkp, 10,
And in the Plan of government, amended A
THE PRESBYTERIAN BANNER AND ADVOCATE.
and ratified in 1821 and 1833, the right is
still recognised. The general right is pro
tected in Form of Government, C. 12., S.
5; and the power of a majority to exercise
that right, so far as Constitutional Hulei
are concerned, is specifiedin 0. 12., S. 6.
The right to alter our Confession of Faith,
to make it, of course, more conformable to
Scripture, is thus manifest, from reason,
usage, and Constitutional provision. Hence
to 'amend or alter, 'in the iray'preposed
legitimate, and not revolutionary:
If, then, the words in question, which for
bid a man marrying any of his deceased
" wife's kindred nearer in blood.than he may
of his own," express a truth of Scripture,
let them abide in the Confession, and be en
forced in the exercise of discipline ; and if
they do not express a truth taught of God,
and by him made obligatory, let them be
expunged from the Statute.
An-Inquiry about Social Intercourse.
A corrrespondent writes as follows
Du. MolKiriNEY in , or any
other place where " King Alcohol" has
friends and foes, a preacher, an elder, and
private members .of a church meet at the
how of a...whiskey-seller, in pursuance of a
special invitation to partake of his hospital
ity, on Thanksgiving day, Christmas, or any
other day, what would such conduct indi
cate—friends or foes of the cause of praeti.
cal temperance ?
Watchmen on the walls of Zion are re
quired, when they blow the Gospel trumpet,
either in the pulpit or out of it, 'to give it a
• certain sound, so, that valiant soldiers may
know how, when, and;where to fight success
! folly. "For, if the trumpet give an sneer=
:
taro sound, who shall prepare himself to the
battle? ' '
If You publish this, and your sentiments
in relation thereto, of a practical character,
it may be of benefit to more than one friend
of TEMPERANOR.
Christians, and especially ministers and
t elders, should
.'be particularly exemplary.
They should avoid even the appearance of
evil, and deny themselves rather than. give
;offence. We ,can readily conceive of the
accepting of an invitation, such as specified,
which would be exceedingly wrong; and.we
can also conceive of an aceeptance which
would be justifiable and beneficial.
The answer must depend upon the con
. duct and conversation of the guests while
there, and upon the Ratings of their host,
and upon their host's general character, and
t the reputation of his house, and upon many
other circumstances: We decidedly, in
!principle and practiee, sustain teetotalism.
And we are utterly opposed to the traffic in
• intoxicating drinks. And we would use all
proper means to discourage, expose, and put
an end to. the traffic. And yet, where a
man's general conduct is good, and his house
otherwise reputable, we"would not utterly
shun his doors. Nor would we decline a
respectful tender of his hospitality, because
the sin alluded to was upon him.
An habitual intimacy with = those who
walk, contrary to righteousness is la be
avoided, but a judicious compliance with
the ,courtesies of humanity should not be ,
condemned. The Apostle, in 1. Car.
27, clearly permits'the 'accepting of an invi
tation to a feast, with even an unbeliever—
s heathen, in that day. And our Saviour
accepted an invitation to dine with a Publi
can, and also with a Pharisee. It is hence
evident that we may enjoy social intercourse
in the way, alluded to, and not be guilty.
We may even do good thereby, if we have
the wisdom and the spirit adequate to the
occasion.. But where there is the wisdom
and the spirit to do good, we cannot believe
that visits to the house of the "whiskey
seller" will be frequent, nor can a cordial
intimacy there, ever be cultivate&
We trust that our correspondent will not
charge our ." trumpet" with . giving an
"uncertain sound." We have stated princi
ples very distinctly, and we trust to wise
men to apply them; aird,, while judging
their brethren according to ,Christian char
ity, regulate their own conduct by Christian
strictness. •
The Synod of Nississippi and Domestic
It will be remembered that at the last
General Assembly,, a preposition was pre
sented, discussed, and referred to, the next
Assembly,. to' establish, 'ist New Orleans,-an
Executive Committee -cif the Board' of ,
Do
mestic Missions, for'the South West. The
Board lette,_at the same time, directed to in-,
vestigate the subject and report. The pro
position is one of much intSrest, not only to
the South West but to the whole Church, as
'a matter of .general polies/ ., and as affecting
the efficiency of our Domestic, operations.
The Synod et Mississippi , took it up, at
the meeting in •'lTicliliburg,last month, and
adopted the following
The Committee appointed to take into consider
ntion the subject of establishing . a branch of the .
Board of Domeatie Maidens at New Orleans, as
referred to the next General - Assenibly by the last,
report:. That regarding New. Orleans, es an:Lost
important point of influence for An the South
West, and all Committees of Presbyteries or of
Synods as inefficient viithout pecuniary means as
well as correct inforniation ; and believing that'
with‘the obligation to 'furnish the-means -there
would be efforts made to meet , the wants imme
diately seen and felt, we, hope. that the prayer to
the Assembly of the petitioneritn the overture
now in hand may be granted, and that no diffieul •
ti may arise with the Parent. Board. The fund.
I to be disbursed by this South' Western branch
'shall be a definite amount granted by the Parent
Board, increased by whatever sums may be coi
-1 lected within our own bounds,
QIJERIST.
From thisit appears that the desire is to
assess upon the other parts of the, Church,
through the Assembly, a specidusuin, which,
with all that can be collected in the district
itself, shall be a used' in that district, at the
discretion of the Committee to be consti
tuted.
This plan may .be a good one, but it
strikes us , not very faVorably. It looks too
much like a tax, to be levied for the benefit
of a section which will east nothing into the
,common stook; and it asks a fixed amount,
whether the 'contributions to the Treasury
shall be large or small, and whether the wants
of the contributing portions shall be many:or ,
few.
We fear that the tendenoy of things is, to
break 'up the unity of the Church in her
benevolent operations. If we are to have . a
Western section, and a South• Western sec-
Missions.
film, and Southern Presbyteries acting by
and for themselves ; then a Northern section,
and an Eastern section, and a Middle sec
tion, are likely soon to follow. And if this
great bond of union, the Domestic Board, is
to be separated into fragments, we are likely
to lament the day when we yielded to a sec
tional spirit. .
But we do not purpose, now, to enter
largely into the discussion of the question,
though it is most important and" should be
surly considered. We designed merely to
State a fact, and a thought or two, for the
information of, those' who are called upon
soon to take a step which may be decisive
of very great Church interests.
Temperance.
The call for the meeting to be held in
Masonic Hall, with respect to this subject,
on New Year's morning, met with a more
cordial response than was anticipated. A
large attendance of ministers and influen
tial laymen, was, present, and the proceed
ings were conducted with much spirit.
The Rev. john T. Pressley, D.D., presided,
assisted
. by a number- of Vice Presidents.
The necessity for pkornpt and vigerous ac
tion, wag admitted by=:all; while the state
ments made concerning the progress of
intemperance in thii vicinity, were startling.
An address on Temperance was reported *
and adopted. .
An invitation was extended.to P. Sinclair,
Esq., of Scotland, an able lecturer now in
Maine, to visit this city. •
A letter from Hon. "Neal Dow, Esq., was
read. Mr. Dow, under date, Portland,
December 27th, says:
lAMB. :---Your favor of the 23d is 'just re
ceived, and I hasten to reply.
Our present Maine Law, though imperfect In
many respects, works very well.: In many parts
of the State the traffic is extinguished, and in all
greatly diminished; • "
Take this city for a fair sample. In July last,
- when the law took effect„ there were more than
five hundred Open grog shops In the city, many of
them wholesale shopi. Of the latter, not one
exists—they shut up promptly. Of the retail
shops more than' half quit the traffic at once and
entirely, withoUt prosecution;; by. the moral force
of the law alone, and of the rest, not one , sells
openly. So far as liquor is sold.at all, it is with
seoresy and caution. „
Drunkenness bpi diminished moll than one
half, and pauperism more than one-third. The
return of .pauperism for • November, last, as com
pared with the . return for. November, 4857,
showed a diminution of thirty-seven per cent.,
.and out-of-doors'relief has • diminished in a
greater degree.
Rows and disorderly. scenes have ceased en
tirely ; the police say they have little to do, com
pared with their labors in days of license.
The Law is regarded here, by all parties, as
the fixed policy of the State, and as an assurance
of this, my name was proposed by our formefop
ponents, as. Representative from this city in our
Legislature, and Ilves elected, without opposition
—only fifty dissenting votes ! •I wished to .de
cline the nomination, but our friends thought I
should'yield, merely to mark the wonderful pro
gress which the cause' had made. -
The follfirving, offered by Dr. Baird, were
unanimously adapted
Raodyed, That while we labor for . the welfare
of the victims of intemperance, we 'should not
forget that they, are the victims of a legalized
traffic inintoxicating beverages.
• liesoNed, That as friends of temperance, we
recognize as the primary duty of temperance
men, earnest.effort to secure ,wise legislation in
restricting, in view of the final suppression of the
sale of intoxicating' beverages •
On motion of Mr. Bailey, the ministers of the
different churches in the county were requested
to call,. attention to the subject of temperance„
during the present month. - •
A County Convention, composed of two
delegates from each, election district, was
appointed to be held in the same place on
the fourth Tuesday of the present month,
at 10 o'clock A. M.
be ia
The North, American, publishes a letter.
from President Benson, of Liberia, which
shows that the French still persevere in' their
C 4 emigrant" system, alias the slave trade.
The friends of humanity will be glad to find
that the little Republic is determined to
oppose the oppressioli. Its strength, in
itself, is utterly inadequate, but its spirit
will be respected, and the force of` public
sentiment will do muCh. England extends
her influence. The 'United States, espe %
daily, should sympathize with, and sustain
the young Republic,' planted by emigration
from among ourselves, cherished by annual
contributions, and made the grand mis
sionary station, and point of Christian influ
ence for Africa.
The letter iehas follows :
•
dovramirr.wr RouiE, MbamovrA,
November 16, 1868. f
MY DEAR have now to say that the
United States steam frigate Niagara arrived in
this port on the Bth inst, after &passage of forty
nine days. She lost seventy of the recaptured Afri
cans from death, during the passage out. Many
of them were much reduce,d when landed, but
they are recovering, finely, and, seem much
cheered by every, thing.they see in .Liberia—soir,
climate, and productions, being similar to those
of their native country.
Chevelier, the French emigrant agent, is out
again in the Fhwnix, and,without touching at any
port of entry, went in the vicinity of Sugaree,
Manna Rock, and Gallons, and commenced buy
ing slaves—for it is nothing less. The day after
his arrival there, the authorities of Cape Mount
sent me a dispatch, apprising me of the fact. Rer
Majesty's steamer Alecto being in this port., her
commander promptly complied with my request
to take an officer on board from this government,
and go up in search, and, if, in the judgment of
such officer, she was found contravening our laws,
on the slave trade, to bring the ship down to this
part for trial, oil the responsibility of this govern
ment. •
Chevalier reported to them that the French com
modore sent him down, who` would himself be
down in three or four days to see about matters
connected with the Regina Cceli. Whether his
visit will be peaceable and respectful, or other
wise; remains to be seen. Y , However, our princi
ples are fixed. .We will not swerve a hair's
breadth in our opposition AO slavery, and, every
thing akin to. oppression, though our firmness
may result in_ our extermination. -
I have directed an armed land police of Amer
ico -Liberians to be stationed on shore at the'points
up the coast, beyond Cape Mount, from whence
the natives are shipped, in order ;to prevent any
more froth being sent off to Chevalier's, or other
French vessels, until the; commodore's arrival,
and this case can be disposed of. This armed
police will arrest all natives who may be found
.engaged in the matter. Ofievlier had alreadY
bought several, and had them on bOardtkelow
when the officer boarded the Phamix. It is the
=purpose of this government to send up a sufficient
force; in February or March, to chastise effectually
the native chiefs who have .been Illicitly co.ope,
_rating in the emigration system; I mean those
wholave co-operated in the illicit supply of the
Regina Mai, as 'well as Chevalier in this last
instance. It is true, it will be very expensive to
us, but we must do it. Dy our once having a
military campaign through , those sections of
country which haveheen so addicted to the slave
trade for ages, it will be the most effectual means
of checking , it,if not. putting' an entire end to it.
Chevalier expects. two more emigrant, ships to
join him in a week or ten' days.
I have the honor to be, most respectfttlly, your
Obedient servant, STEPHEN A. BENSON.
TEMPERANCE. --A Convention of the
friends of Temperance will be held in the
Presbyterian church of Saltsburg, Pa., on
Thursday, January•. 20th, at 10 , o'clock A.
M. Able addresses will be delivered on
the occasion.
Nebraska Calls for Help.
Well, what of it? Are you not glad—
glad to have a church planted in that far off
land This is just what we Want. Christ's
kingdom must be spread. But it cannot be
spread without preachers and churches.
The preacher is rthere, and the church is
builded. But the building is likely to be
taken ftom the Lord's, people, leaving them
without a place of worship, and despoiled
also of the funds there invested. Then
what will result ? Let not this question be
answered by a fact ; :Ind give the needed
aid. Give ten dollars, or five, or one.
Mr. Giltner, the worthy pastor, is now in
this region. Aid him. Give into his own
hand, on send to us for his aid.
The Late Rev. Dr. A. W. Black.
This brother, so lately cut down in the
midst of his years and usefulness, was owing
to Ins family connexions and ecclesiastical
standing, widely known ; while at the
same time he was greatly beloved on ac
count of his social virtues, earnest piety,
and abundant labors. We have before us a
number of the Reformed Presbyterian
Magazine, of Edinburgh, Scotland, in
`which there is a genial 'and appreciative
notice of his character and life; and also a
sermon to his memory, delivered in the First
Reformed Presbyterian church, New York,
by. John Niel MeLeod; D.E.; the companion
of his youth, the friend of his manhood, and
his colleague in the Theolegical Seminary,
at the time of his death. This sermon Is .a
good one, worthy of the subject and .of the
author.
Ecclesiastical Accessions.
It is not alwaye that an accession in num
bers is an increase in strength. The value
of the addition depends greatly upon the
material. Still, increase in nuMbers is one
of the, elements of the Church's growth.
Accession from other ',branches ,of Christ's
,family we do not note with any thing like
the joy with' . which we record conversions
from,the world, but, if we are more Scrip
tural than others, then for them :to unite
with us, marks progress. Hence we record
accessions of this kind. ,
Twenty Third Rtreet church, New York
city, of two . hundred and, fifty members,
with their , pastor,' Rev." F. G. Clark, has
been received from the New School Presby
terians:
BloominOurg Associate Reformed church,
Sullivan County, New York, with Mr. A.
It MoConbry, a . licentiate of the Associate
Reformed .Presbytery of Allegheny, its pas
tor elect,-has been received by the Presby
tery of Hudson, and Mr. McConbry has
been ordained and' installed. '
In Geneseo, N. 7, a church in our con
nexion has been 'recently organized, embrac•
ing upwards of one hundred members, with
fair prospects of comfort , and increase: The
material for the organization had belonged,
mostly, to *the New School.
An Earnest Appeal.
We copy the following Murk ,the Presby
ter, and would most earnestly solicit the
needed aid :
Prairie City is a village of Illinois, in the
bounds of Schuyler Presbytery. It is three
years old, and has fifteen hundred , inhabi
tants. - It is, on the Quincy Railroad, in a
fair, fertile, and healthy . region, and promises
to'hecome an important town. There is
Presbyterian church in this place ;: the only
one within, several miles. Their house of
worship, humble but sufficient, has been
finished and ; in use more than two years—a
matter of great importance in all new coun
tries. When, this building was undertaken
the church consisted of only nine members,
connected with six families, worth altogether
eio,ooo.
But there lived in the vicinity a pious
farmer, whose soul longed, yea, even fainted,
for the courts of the lord. He had a firm,
but he was not rioh. He was one of' the
nine members, his . family one of .the , six
families, and his substance a part of the
$lO,OOO above mentioned, and, he had eight
children. As these grew up around
his heart sickened at their spiritual pros
'peas tvorldliness, wiekedness,. Sabbath.
breaking, intemperance, and infidelity were
everywhere. , Must his children grow, up
amid such influences, strangers to, the sanc
tuary and to,the Saviour ? He devoted him
self to secure for them and for himself the.
means of grace. He rallied the pions and
devout among his neighbors. He. Made
earnest appeals to Presbytery ; ' for supplies.
The church was organized, and the house of
worship erected, but not paid for He sold
his farm, and advanced the money to pay
the church debt, taking their, notes and, look,
ing for God's blessing to enable,them to re.
pay him. The church has thriyen. They
have now a faster for one-half his time, and
they number fifty-seven members. But their
notes , are still unpaid. Their pecuniary
strength has not increased in proportion to
their numbers. This is not to be, expected
in the West. Their whole
any;
to
day is not worth much, if any; above %Or
000. Meanwhile the hard times oame upon
them ; first, in the matter of money and
business, and ` .-then in the more important
matter of, crops. The whole staff of bread
has been cut off. Our generous Ruling
Elder suffers with the rest, and more than
the rest. Ile is brought to the- verge of
ruin. .To save the church he has been °mai•
pelled to borrow, and - upon his loans he is
paying this day three per cent. per month.
This is, of course; ruinous. It can not'con--
tinue—a devoted servant of Christ must be
sacrificed by his . very devotednessall' for
the want of $2,000, which is the whole
amount of the debt.
This is my story. A Ruling Elder of
that Church, who lies volunteered an agency
on behalf n 4 this church, told it to me, and
I felt that it deserved to be repeated to your
readers. It appeals to our noblest qui-,
pathies—sympathy with our fellow-citizens
and fellow-Christians, who are making effort
and sacrifice to lay good foundations in the
West—sympathy with that large-hearted
man and liberal Christian, who has here
perilled his earthlyill for Christ's cause—
sympathy with that struggling church in
their affliction and jeopardy.
Who will help to raise this snoney Y Let
us all help. It is a privilege to contribute
in such a case.
You have any name, Messrs. Edie Ors, and
I have the papers which set forth all the
above particulars, and which can `be,-sub
stantiated by many of our ministers in this
city and in the West..
A FELLow-Lexonza.
EASTERN SUMMARY.
BOSTON AND NEW ENGLAND.
This city can now boast the commence•
meet of a Commercial Paper, ,that prom.
ises much. The Commercial Bulletin is
now published, every Saturday morning,
by Curtis Guild, 129 Washington Street.
The *aspects for a large circulation are
most encouraging.
Another of the notabilities of the Tri-
Mountain City, as Boston, is sometimes
called, has disappeared. John Hancock,
whose tall person and genial smiles have
been for so many years familiar to the fre
quenters of Beacon Street, has died at the
good old age of eighty.five. He was the
nephew of the celebrated John Hancock, of
revolutionary memory, the first signer of the
Declaration of Independence, and who,
notwithstanding his aristocratic associations,
risked all for the sake of the great csuse he
loved so much. His nephew, who has just
died, occupied the old Hancock mansion,
distinguished by its quaint gables and old
fashioned dignity, and where, in former
days, the most elegant hospitalities were
dispensed to visitors from all parts of the
Union. ' But the family is wellnigh extinct;
and probably another generation will witness
the disappearance of all who can claim" any
blood relationship with the illustrious Presi
dent of the first Congress.
Spiritualism has not altogether died out,
but ever and anott one victim after another
discovers his errors and recants, and`a series
of astounding revelations is the consequence.
A Mr. IT-.131,y, once a notoriously, successful
spiritualist, has been lately exposing many
of the tricks' of the operators, and - revealing
to Boston' admirers, a system of juggling
worthy of the Hindoos. To learn exactly
what their doctrines are; is almost impossible,
for the great effort seems to be to avoid any
declaration of sentiments to which appeal
can be made. And the whole" system is
well adapted to shake all convictions, and
prepare the way for -- the wildest abeurd
ities. But occasionally glimpses may be
caught, at least, of what they do not be
lieve. There are certain negations that'
seem to be held by all who have appeared as
its defenders or exponents.' It will be ad
miffed that " Spiritualism" his no abler
nor purer advocate than. Judge Edmonds,
nor one that has sacrificed more in its be
half. According to the Judge, it denies
the doctrines of vicarious atonement through
the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ, and
teaches the doctrine of salvation through
our OWit good works. He says, distinctly,
"It is 'no vicarious atonement Which is to
redeeni us, but, we, are to work out our own
salvation." So much for Judge. Edmonds.
One of the- editors of the _Spiritual , Age.
thus describes the results aimed at by this
system :
Shim a perfect system of Spiritual Philosophy
ever. be developed, it will' be found" to include
whatever of trith , tliere' is in Harmonialism,
in Pantheism, in Judaism, in Christianisto, and
every other ism ever taught. And it , will reect
the, errors of ail.
It is -'evident, then, that spiritualism,
according to this , - interpreter, denies the'
Bible to be an infallible rule of faith and
practice, and declares that it contains errors.
Another well kneWn‘ high priest of "Spir
itualism? John Hobart, advertises thlecture
upon twelve topies, among which sire the
two following : Ot Inspiratiof General," and,
Human Reason the 'Ultimate Authority in.
Matters of Faith and Practice." These, and
many other ' things of like character, show
the tendency Of the whole system, as
interpreted by its teachers. Human_ merit
is to take the place of salvation by grace,
and the Bible is to be , humbled before hu
man reason. From this, and many other
examinations, it is perfectly evident thit the
whole tendency is to destroy Christian faith,
and to prepare the way for the wildest vaga
ries of the human mind. Even the most
enthusiastic devotees rejoice in the nurser-
tainty in which they find themeelves'placed.
To depart from the old paths, is dangerous..
To attemptito build - on any other than. the
one foundation which God has laid, is to
make shipwreck of all true faith. '
One of the Oldest Religious Newspapers
is the land, is the Christian 3firrer,, pub.
lished at Portland, Maine, now in its thirty
seventh.volume. Its editorial and selected
articles are able, and breathe an excellent
spirit. The late Rev. Dr. Cummings, the
Well-known biographer of the seraphic Pay
son, was its editor for more than thirty
years.
The late Hon. Mr. Eltsworthof Hartford,
Conn., left the sum of $200,000, together
with' several annuities to individuals, and
donations to the Boston Ittinch of the ,
American Tract. Society, the American Bible
Society, the ,Amerioan =Board of Foreign
Missions, and the American Colonization
Society, and also `a 'large' bequest to Yale'
College. * The report that this latter sum
amounted to $700,000, was < altogether ex
agger.ated ; while the bequest is liberal, it
is far under this sum, and will not , be avail
able for fifteen or twenty years. Thp pro
ceeds:are 1 - to be devoted to :aiding indigent
and .deserging - ming men in obtaining a
liberal educktion, such as kale provides.
NEW 'YORK.
The Demon of, Orimj seems to be loose
in the streets, alleys, and lanes, of the great
metropolis. Every day we are startled by
the report of some new outrage. We cannot
look into:a paper without noticing murders,
quarrels, and. burglaries. Business is -dull,
and employment is not easily obtained; an
that men, for,the - want of something better
to do, give, loose reins to their passions, and
allow themselves every indulgence. It is
really frightful to gaze upon the amount -of
squallit poverty, 'degiadation, and.orimei re
vealed from time to time, in the midst of
00 - much enterprise, education, and splendor,
and where Christian charity has done so
much to relieve the woes of humanity.
.The Streets have been unusually muddy
for some time, and to get them cleaned
semis idipossible.' In addition,- the nights
have been dark, and intense fogs have ore
veiled. Indeed, the.. , ferry boats;• plying
between New York and Brooklyn, were
compelled to quit running for nearly an
entire day. And mud and fog in New York
are things to be remembered.
The Observatory Movement meets with
increasing favor. Professor Mitchell, of
Cincinnati, has agreed to deliver five of his
Lectures on Astronomy, for the purpose of
calling attention to the subject, and of hold
ing oat proper motives for its successful
accomplishment.
The passion for European Travel is
greatly on the increase. Indeed a trip to
Europe is beginning.to be regarded as one
of the indispensable consequences of the
nuptial ceremonies. Ten - newly married
couples sailed on the Arago, for Europe, a
few days ago.
Bishop Hughes•has often denied that the
Freeman's Journal was his organ, or that
he was in anyway responsible for its sen
timents, notwithstanding the Bishop has
generally bad the credit of controlling that
journal; and Mr. 'McMaster has • been re
garded as his great mouth-piece. However
this may be, it is reported that the. Bishop is
about to have an organ, published under his
speCial patronage and approval, and that it
Will be conducted by Mr. Mullaly, who re
tires from the staff of the-New York Herald
with this object in view. The Bishop bas
much work to do, and with, right good will
does he engage in it. • ,
The first Evening Service ever held in
Trinity church, was on, the evening of the
6th instant, it being the Feast of the Epiph
any. The decorations , of Christmas still re
mained, and a large concourse of people was
in attendance. More that a score of cler
gymen of Episcopal Church were pres
ent, in their , ecclesiastical robes.
It is said that an effort isun foot in the
Local Preachers' Association, of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church, 'to reunite the
Northern and Southern portions of that de
nomination. The task to be accomplished
is not easy; the originators will find their
path beset _with many difficulties.
After the Spring meeting of the American
Tract Society, it was supposed by many
that the receipts for the current year would
be greatly diminished. But these anticipa
tions bite thus far failed to be realized;
but on, the other hand, the receipts from
contributions and the sale of publications
exceed those of the same number of months
hat year, by
. $7,517.40. Certainly a most
unexpected result. Yet, in addition to the
aid needed by the Society for its work in
this country, $20,000 will be required. for
the foreign field before the first of April.
No doubt the amount asked will be obtained-
PHELADELPHIA.
When the French Army, under the first
Napoleon was • in ' Egypt, the celebrated
.Roietta: Stone "` was discovered by some
of its officersiihile making excavations near
Rosetta. On the retreat of that army,
,this stone came into posSession :of the Eng
lish, and was .taken by General Turner, to
England, where it is now forbid among the
treasures `'ol the British Museum. It is a
large titblet of black basalt, and on it is en
graved, in Small but distinct and clear let
ters, a reseript of the Egyptian Priesthood,
deoreeing divine honors to Ptolemy Epiph
anes, beciise of the favors coeferred by him
upon them; it was.made about one hundred
and ninety-six- years before Christ. The
decree is -inscribed three times—once in
each of the three languages then used in
Egypt, vg., the Hieroglyphic, or the lan
guage of :the priests;; the Demotic, or
the language of the people; and , the.
Greek, that had been introduced to some
extent by tlie Ptolemies. The discovery of
this stone Was hailed with great delight by
the enemie# pf Christianity, for it was sup
posed to contain information that would
overturn at once the historical foundations
of the Chiistian religion. But, unfortu
nately for them, the examination of this
stone not only, entirely disappointed their
hopes, but led to all those learned investiga
tions concerning the Hieroglyphic insorip
tions which have done so much to establish
the verity 'of the Old Testament history
within the last half century.
A fac simile of ,this tablet, in plaster, was
presented, some time ago, to the Philomi
thean Society of the University of Pa., by
the. Rev. Thomas 8. Conrad. The Society
appointed three of its members, then under
graduates, to prepare translations of the
three inscriptions, and to have them en
graven on stone. And now, after three
years, in which. there was much investiga
tion and hard study, they have published
the results of their labors in a neat volume
of one, hundred and fifty pages. The three
young gentlemen have mutually& aided each,
other; but the translation and explanations
of the Hieroglyphics are principally the
work - of Mr. Morton those of the Demotic
and Greek texts, of Mr. Hale; end the his
torical essays, of Mr. Jones. These versions
are laid - to compare most favorably with any
ever yet'' made, and to be craitable not
merely to the young men, but also to the
institution where they received their colle
giate training.
Mayor 'Henry is using the most commend
able efforts to secure, a better observance of
the Sabbath, for which he deserves and re
ceives the commendations of the pious and
the lovers of, good order.
- At a late meeting of the Young Nen's
Christian Association it was determined,
unanimously, to undertake the erection of
the contemplated Hall, in some desirable
locality on Chestnut Street. The difficulties
suggested' by some seem to have been ami
cably settled, and the form of the charter pre
sented was adopted. So that we may con
sider this great undertaking, whatever may
be its future, frilly initiated.