1!.: .4::1. 0 Aftb Altbatatt
DAVID Mo EIsINEY,
JAMES A LLD3dW,• PROPITITORI
STEPHEN LITTLE,
PITT 81111P411., OCTOBER 22, 1859.
gutitigo.... 01.50 1 to advaltall or hi Glaba
•/Ai; or, delivered at redeems's tlal•aert•
berm, 42.00. Bee Prospecting!, oak Whirl! Page•
ANNA Iff ALL A ehoalB be prompt' a little
while hadore the year espAreep that *s may
snake tall arrangements for a steady eapply
WAD. Rh IAYBAPPIIit ladleato■ that two
&wars a renewal. If, hoWessrg In the hosts
si aaelllng t this signal should ho omitted, we
hope out Wands Will still not forgot as.
RENVESPARCES.—Send payaaent by safe
hands, when enaValiketiL. Or, wend by mail,
onnlosing with ordinary mare, Ann troubling
nobody with a knowledge of what you are
doing:, For a large amount, Hind a Drift, or
large notes. For oneortwo yrtiotralsend Cloll
or small notes.
WO MANX CHAMOIS, Loud postaffe SUMP%
Sr bettor Binh mad for morn paperss sap 1111
or So warty iminaltoros or 11 for TAlrty•Viree
aamboro.
D/REECIP all Lotteris and Comassinaleatloni
to DAVID itarisamir & CO., Pittelburgho
Pa.
PRESBYTERIAL MBETINGS.—We have
been compelled, from want of room, to delay
accounts of several meetings until next week.
ATTENTION is asked to the " Irish Ap•
peal," in another column. The cause needs
no words of commendation from us. It is
the Lord's, and must awake Christian sym•
pithy,
A Chttrch Dedicated.
The new edifice of the First Presbyterian
congregation, in Baltimore, Rev. J. C.
Backus, D. D., pastor, was dedicated on
the 2d inst. The building is, externally,
one hundred and'thirty-one feet by eighty
feet. The audience room is seventy-one
and one-half feet by sixty-two feet. There
are four towers, one of which it, to be two
hundred and eixtyeight feet high when
finished. The cost is $150,000.
This congregation has, however, not been
spending ail its means -upon itself. It has
been one of the most liberal to our benevo
lent institutions, and liberal also of both
men and money, to the building up of other
churches.
Another New Quarterly.
Rev. David R. Kerr, D D., one of the edi
tors of the United Presbyterian, and a Pro
fessor in the United Presbyterian Theological
Seminary at Allegheny City, proposes to
publish a United Presbyterian Review,
of the form and style of the Prince
ton Review, or Lord's Theological and
Literary Journal. This Review is to
be under the control of the Faculty of
the Seminary with which Dr. Kerr is
connected, but will be open to compe
tent writers hi all parts of that Church.
The publication will be commenced as soon
as sufficient encouragement is offered by
those who are expected to support the en
terprise.
The. Princeton Review.
The October number of this journal, is
peculiarly rich. The contents are : I. Sir.
Wm. Hamilton ; IL A Nation's Right to
Worship God;, 111. The Old' Testament
Idea of a Prophet; IV. The Presbyterian
Church in Ireland; V. Sunday Laws.
Short Notices.
This bill of , fare is not quite so varied as
the Princeton usually presents. The pages,
however, are all full, and well filled. The
longest article is that on a Nation's right to
worship God. It is well worthy the space
it occupies. We may perhaps, at a future
time, present to our readers some of the au
thors thoughts. The article is, mainly, the
address of. Dr. Mollvaine, of Rochester,
N. Y., at the late Commencement in the
College of New Jersey. The Nation's
right is well maintained, though the author
yields too much to those who attribute infi
delity to our National compact. Presby
terians who have means to spare, and do not
furnish themselves with the Princeton, are
sadly defective in their providing of the best
means of information on subjects of‘peou
liar importance.
Thanksgiving
The Governors of New York and Penn
sylvania have issued their proclamations, ap-
pointing Thursday, the 24th day of Novem
ber, as a season of Thanksgiving. Our
civil magistrates do well thus to acknowledge,
and call upon the people, all who will, to
recognize the being and providence of God.
These annual ,givings of thanks, by the
States, great and small, to " Almighty
God," "praising him for his excellent great•
ness and loving kindness toward us—by
seeking his gracious forgiveness, and a con
tinuance of his goodness "—are among the
many invincible evidences that we are not a
nation of Atheists, or Deists, orMohamme
dans, or Pagans, but that we are a Orin's-
TIAN people.
The Proclamation of the Governor o
Pennsylvania reads thus :
Pennalvpalla t u..=
[L. 8. j IN THE N. AND BY TRH AUTHORITY
07 THE COMMONWEALTH 07 PENNSYLVANIA,, WIL
LIAM F. PACKER,- ODVERNOR OF THE SAID COM
MONWEALTH.
A.PROCLAMATION.
Fellow Citizens:—The blessings vouchsafed by
a kind Providence through the past year, demand
our grateful recognition, and again call for the
sacrthee of thanksgiviog and praise. Under the
protection of n government that secures to all
equal rights, we have pursued, unmolested, the
various avocations Of life, with more than usual
prosperity. The earth under the labors of the
husbandman, has yielded her increase, and our
barns and store houses are crowded with the
fruits of the harvest. We have not only been
preserved from the Tivagee of the pestilence,
but the past has been a year distinguished for
health in our large cities and throughout all our
enrol districts. Our country has been preserved
in peace. Our homes have been .the abodes of
tranquility, and blessings innumerable have
clustered around our domestic hearths. Our
various schools and Seminaries of learning are
diffusing throughout our community a higher in
telligence, and imparting to our youth noble as
pirations. The institutions of our holy religion
are well sustained ; and under its pure and genial
influence, the spirit of unity and love, the earnest
of yet better days, ie most happily developed.
fO GOD, THE GREAT AND THE GOOD, we
are indebted for all, and to him let praise be
rendered.
With these eentiments, and in accordance with
the known wishes of many of my fellow citizens,
I, WILLIAM F. PACKER, Governor of the Com
monwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby appoint
Thursday, the Twenty Fourth .Day of November
next, as a day of General Thanksgiving and Praise
to Almighty God, and recommend to all our peo
ple to lay aside, on that day, their customary
worldly business, assemble in their respective
Placed of worship, and unite in praising God for
his excellent greatness and loving kindness to
ward us—by seeking his gracious forgiveness,
and the continuance of his goodness.
Given under my Hand and the Great Seal of the
State, at Harrisburg, this fourteenth day of
October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand
eight hundred and fifty-nine, and of the Com
monwealth the eighty.fourth.
.8y the Governor
Wm. M. Refater, , ,
Hecietary're CommonweititA.
Civil Protection to
. the.:, Sabbath—Going
'to Meeting in , a.Caniage.
A Christian people associated for civil
purposes, should protect their religious as
well as their secular interests. It is their
privilege. It is a matter of duty to them
selves, to their children, and to God, who is
the Author of civil government.
.. A day of rest is a common benefit. All
men need it. The beasts of burden need
it. It is recuperative to exhausted nature.
It is entirely and universally a benefit, in
this aspect.
Asa day for mural instruction, in which
right conduct and social dutiee are inoulca•
ted, and in which the conscience is in
struoted and quickened, and in which we
may hold spiritual communion with each
other and with God, society has, prom a
rightly observed Sabbath, an immense ben
efit. Society, as a civil organization, has
not authority from God, to define, bound,
limit, and enforce attendance on this moral
instruction, or to enforce any system of be
lief or worship, but it both may and should
protect the essential means of their exist
ence and culture; that is, should protect
public worship, and protect the day which
the public conscience sanctions as the proper
time for worship, and for moral and spiritual
edification.
This matter is now deeply agitating the
ommunity, and it becomes the religions
press to take a large share in the discussions.
We are glad to have the aid of the secular
preen. We should rejoice exeeedingly in
that aid, were it not that the matter is thereby
likely to be entangled in the meshes of party
politics; a connexion .which. Boils, if it does
not blast and ruin, almost every thing wbioh
becomes so involved.
In our city of Pittsburgh the matter has
assumed, within the last two or three weeks;
a new aspect, and one of much importance.
A very large portion of the community
around us , and many families in our cities,
have been in the habit, as are people else
where, of going to meeting in carriages or
on saddles. . Some of our progressives,•
however, have conceived the idea that
this is wrong 7 or, at least, that it is contrary
to law. The religious community had stop.
ped the street 'Passenger Cara on the Sal);
bath, and they would stop the go.tomeeting
carriages on the Sabbath. How far it may.
be intended to carry the idea, and what may
be the principle underlying and prompting
the action, and what may be the end aimed
at, whether the sanctifying of the Sabbath,
or a retaliation for stopping Sunday Cars
and the Sundey liquor traffic, or whether
the parties may intend the stretching of the
law so far that it will become burdensome
beyond endurance, and so be repealed, is
not yet manifest. A disposition, however,
for some cause, to extend the application of
the law, is most obvious. A beginning was
made on Sabbath, the 2d inst., by a process
issued against the hired drivers of four
carriages, which conveyed families to , and
from church. Two of the eases were ar
gued by counsel, before the Mayor, and on .
Wednesday, the 12th inst., be gave his de
cision. This, with the official reasoning in
the premises, we copy from the Gazette:
SUNDAY OBSERVANCE —The case of Common
wealth vs. Jacob Oesterle came up for decision
on Wednesday at two o'clock. Following is the
decision of 'the Mayor upon the point raised :
The defendant was arrested on oath of officer,
James Reed, charged with performing worldly
business or employment on the 2d. of October,.
1859. This proceeding is under the Act of 1794,
in the following words :
" If any person shall do -or perform any
worldly employment or business whatever on the
Lord's day, commonly called Sunday, works
of necessity or charity only excepted, or shall
use or practice any unlawful game, hunting, shoot
ing, sport; or diversion whatsoever, on the same
day, and be convicted thereof, every such person
so offending, shall for every such offense, forfeit
and pay,four dollars, to be levied by
,distress; or
in case he or she shall .refuse or neglect to pay
the said sum, or goods and chattels cannot be
found whereon to levy the earns by distress, he
or she shall suffer six days imprisonment in the
house of correction of the proper county.
" Provided, always, That nothing herein con
tained shall be construed to prohibit the dressing
of victuals in private families, bake - houses,
lodging houses, inns, and other houses of enter
tainment, for the use of sojourners, travelers, or
strangers, or' to hinder watermen from landing
their passengers, or ferrymen from carrying their
passengers, or persons removing with their fami
liee on the Lord's day, commonly called Sunday,
nor the delivery of milk or the necessaries of
life before nine o'clock in the forenoon, nor after
five in the afternoon of the same day."
By the supplement of this Act, approved the
26th April, 1855, the penalty for a violation of
this law was increased to twenty-five dollars in
this county.
From the evidence, it appears that the defend
ant, Jacob Oesterle, was in the employ of Hon.
W. H. Lowrie, Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court, attending , to the garden, work about the
horses, and driving the carriage, and that he
drove the carriage of h;e employer to church on
Sunday, October 2d ; that after that he put the
horses in a livery stable, and had the privilege of
going to church hinielf, if he desired. It fur
ther appeared' that he was employed and paid by
the month. There is no dispute as to the feats.
Under the circumstances, is the defendant guilty
of a violation of the law ? have given to this
question the consideration its importance de•
mends, in order that I may consoientiously and,
understandingly discharge my duty as a magis
trate in the premiies. The Aot of Assembly is
clear and unambiguous, and forbids all worldly
employment.whatsoever, except the works of ne
cessity' or charity therein enumerated. Within
node of the exceptions mentioned does the de
' fendant fall. It appears from the testimony,
that the defendant was' engaged in his usual'
worldly avocation of driving on the Sabbath day
for hire and reward, receiving hie pay monthly
for the same. In the ease of Kepner vs. Keefer,
6 Watts, 233, it is laid dein by our Supreme
Court that the words of our Act of Assembly
embrace any species of worldly business not
therein specialty/ excepted; whether it appertain to
or be in the exercise of a person's ordinary call
ing or not.
It is very manifest, therefore, that carriage
driving is a forbidden business, unless it fall'
within the scope and meaning of a work of,
charity or necessity. It is impossible, as has
been well said, to lay down any general rule as
to what constitutes works of this kind. To con
strue necessity and charily to mean convenience,
would in the language of Judge Woodward, be
to emasculate the statute and sweep away the
guards which the Legislature has thrown around
the public morals. In the present case the
driving of a carriage does not appear to have
been any more than a work of convenience to en
able the occupants or owners resident at a short
distance from the city to reach a church equally
accessible by other and more primitive means,
while as far as the driver and the animals are
concerned, who were thus made to do work on the
Sabbath day, involved a violation of the express
command of the Decalogue.
Religious rest and the public worship of Al-
mighty God, are the objects for which the Sab
bath has been instituted, and -its holy. observance
is a. duty enjoined on all, rich and poor, high and
low without distinction. It is true, that Judge'
Woodward in the case of Johnston vs. Cominon
*ealth referred to, uses the following language:
" Hence, if, an invalid or a person immured for
six days within the close walls of a city, requires
a ride into the country as a means of recupera
tion, which is the , true idea of rest, there is
nothing in the Act of 1794 to forbid the employ
ment of a driver, horses and carriage on Sun.
day, to accomplish it."
This might exemplify the true idea, as far 'as
the invalid himself was concerned, but it wilt,
not be viewed in that alluring light by the
driver who drove the vehicle or the - horses
which, after the labors of the week, were thus
compelled to, minister to the enjoyment of the'
pampered, valetudinarian who rode within. In
the same case the Sppreme Court decided that
0 1 a contract Of hiring by the month does' not'in
general bind the hireling to work on Sunday ;
and if his work be such as the statute forbids,
an express agreement to, perform, it on Sunday
7 111 PAPNY91 1 4 1 a; fer.auchtaMiltrattis.ieoid2J:
On the whole, I am of the opinion that tlie de
WM. P. Priam.
1 1 • * 1 11 * ANNER AND ADVOCATE.-
fendant, not being engaged in any work of neces
sity or charity, as mentioned in the Act, is
answerable to the violated law, and--that he mast
pay the penalty it exacts.
Judgment will therefore be entered against the
defendant for the penalty of $26, and the ease
of the othei`defendant,'James Nesmith is disposed
of in the same manner as referred to.
'We understand that both parties ill paY the
penalty, and not appeal.
It is likely that the other two oases will
be disposed of similarly, and that there will
be no appeal carrying the matter to the
Courts: If then' the Mayor's views axe,
to be acquiesced i
'in s a fair exposition
of the law, be evidently regarding the go
ing to a place of worship on the Lord's day,
as being a "worldly employment" (I !)
hired persons may not drive carriages-to
meeting on the Sabbath.
That there has been a great deal of un
necessary Sunday travel, is most manifest.
But as there is need for some movement on
the Sabbath, and as an examination into
every particular case would be burdensome,
there has been tolerated a large amount of
that movement; also there has been toler
ated the keeping up of ferries, bridges, and
toll gates ; also the keeping open of livery
stables.- Much of this is very wrong, but
we -know not how to suggest a practical
remedy, other than the enlightening of
men's minds, by the circulating of Christian
knowledge. Our own opinion is, that no
man should prosecute his journey on the
Sabbath, by any conveyance, nor even on
foot ; and none should go out for recreation,
unless where considerations of health im
peratively demand it, and then they should
go in a manner as retired as practicable.
Jut there are many things religiously wrong,
which the law cannot remedy, and which it
should not attempt to touch ; and there are
many things morally wrong, which the law
might rightfully restrain, as being within its
proper province, but respecting which, it
cannot sufficiently discriminate. We there
fore plead that the law shall not be stretched
too far—that it shall not attempt things '
doubtful, and that its administration shall
incline to the side of leniency. Sunday
mails, sunday tipling houses, and Sunday
rail-cars, however, are not things of the
doubtful class. They are entirely secular,
" worldly employments," certainly, and there
need be no difficulty in rightly applying to
them the restrictive law.
The use of horses in going to church is some
times for show li and then ii is wrong,, but oft
times it is a necessity; made so by distance or
by ill health. The use of a hired driver is
sometimes from pride; and. sometimes the
man is made to attend the horses while the
employer is at-worship. In both these eases
there is a wrong. But sometimes the em
ploying of a driver is indispensable to the
family's or the invalid's getting to meeting;
then, if the employee has the opportunity
of worship, the thing is right—that is,
it is morally and religiously right; but
whether it May be legally right, the mag
istrates must determine.
The decision of the Mayor as above re
corded, seems to admit the legality of a
man's driving his own horses on the Sab
bath, to meeting. The law he regards as
having been broken by the hired man fol
lowing his daily occupation, for which he
received his monthly wages. The law, how.
ever, would doubtless tolerate the hired man's
riding to church on the Sabbath, and it could
note object to his riding with his employer,
or with his employer's family. Then,
whether the man or the employer, or whether
the man or the lady, or a son or a daughter,
shall guide the vehicle, we suppose the law
in its majesty would not care much to in
quire. And possibly it might not be great
ly offended if the man, thus brought to the
city, should go to a different church from
the family; and it might not even think
that its province extended to an inquiry
whether the man actually went to worship
M all, provided only that he was in the en
joyment of his liberty to do so, and provi
ded he behaved himself quietly. This mat
ter, so far:as yet developed, has somewhat
the appearance of hostility to religion, or of
anew born zeal which is not, according to
knowledge. We would not,.however, pro
nounce an opinion too suddenly. We shall
wait to see how these advocates of a full
and indiscriminate enforcing of: the Sunday
laws, treat the hiring done at livery stables,
and the drivers employed to take men out
on idle rides and' to places of dissipation,
and bow they endure eteamboating and other
matters transacted on the Lord's day,
which have no connexion with the worship
of and. Possibly also the decision of a
Court of law may clear away some obsouri
ties. It is possible that discriminating
Judges may not consider going to meeting, ,
for worship, •as being a " worldly employ
ment" in the meaning of the law.
But these recent transactions have given
intensity to certain thoughts which we have •
often cherished. It may be a question
.whether the Lord is not, in these proem
tions, chastising some of his people with a
view to a general reformation. It is greatly
the habit of wealthy Christians to associate
together, and feed vanity with their funds,
and neglect the poor. And this very thing
of horses and carriages is a means of en
abling them to gratify their taste for segre
gation. Our friends Mr. Logan and Chief
Justice Lowrie, whose drivers have just
been fined, are -two of the most excellent
and valued Christians in the community.'
They would do more' for principle and less
for show, by far, than would most men.
Bearing this emphatic testimony in their
favor, we may be permitted to use their
names in illustrating our thoughts. These
good brethren belong to a large and wealthy
congregation in Pittsburgh, which is now
expending
, some tens of thoneands in the
erection of a new and splendid church edi
fice. To attend at this edifice with their
families, carriages are indispensable, owing
to their distance from it. Now, friend Lo
gan, as is well known, cannot stay away
from church. His heart is there, and his
person and his household must be there.
To attend upon public, worship at some
place, and to havellis family with him, is a
sine gun non of his existence. Hence, if
he cannot get to the Second church in Pitts
burgh, he mutt have one nearer at hand.
This, with the help of a few of his wealthy
neighbors who, like himself, are Presby-
terians, he can have most readily, and, in
thus accommodating himaelf and them, ' he
will furnish facilitieg for scores of poor fam
ilies to also attend church; families who
cannot= walk the diatanoe to which he goes,
and who cannot pay for the Means of riding, ,
_and who, irtilay'triint; - ooiiid* nottfinir nicht'
and who are not able, of themselves, to
build a church and anpno i rt a pastor.
Similar remarks might l be made relative
to our friend Lowrie, who lives in another
direction, some two'or three miles from the
,city;,and like things might also be said
relative to a number of other good Chris
tians, in other surroundings of Pittsburgh.
We cannot but wish Mist a few scores of
those to whom, in addition to the pearl of
.t
great price, God has given far more than
an average share of theigood things of this
life, and who now . °Mae their miles to
church, in their carriages, would consider
these things. What destitute neighbor.
hoods they leave behind them I How 'a
feeble church near their residence might be
cheered by their presen t ee and aid I How a
new church might be made to arise ! How
many immortals, now neglected, might be
brought under. Gospel influences ! What
new energy they might, by their presence
and personal efforts, infuse into the com
munity 'in the midst of which God has
given them their peaceful and happy habi
tation.! Let no wan say that either him
self, or whatever he has, is his own. And
let not any think that they are innocent,
and that God will accept either their per
sons or their services, however splendid may
be the' temple they shall consecrate, when
all is done at the expense of neglecting
those whom he has made their neighbors.
None may say, aAm I my brother's
keeper ?" unless he is prepared to respond
in the affirmsitive;and' to make good his
response by suitable deeds. .
We would, by no means, so stretch \ the
civil law as to interfere with any man's
choice, either directly or indirectly, of his
place of worship, or his associates in wor
ship, or the amount he shall contribute to
sustain worship. Bat when others, worldly
men too, whether from motives good or bad,
interfere with the means of traveling long
distances in comfort, we may well suggest
to Christians the propriety of considering
whether He who overrules all things, may
not be teaching them a lesson ; and
whether the instruction he would give
may not lie in the line of the preceding
remarks.
Our suggestions are applicable to other
cities, besides Pittsburgh, and to the dwel
lers in and near some large towns, and also
to some country places. Let Christians
look out fields of labor, remembering that
one of the evidences of a true church is,
that the poor have the Gospel preaohedlo
them. This feature in Christ's personal
ministry, his care, for the poor, was an evi
deuce of his blessiahship ; and to this hour,
if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he
is none of his.
In the religious aspect of this matter,
then, let Christians, and all men, have a
mind well enlightened and a conscience void
of offence. In dpors and out of doors, at the
church and in their closets, let them reverence
God, and discharge all pious duties. And
in the social aspect of the case let all good men
help to maintain and enforce the Sunday
laws. Let those laws be construed, not so
rigorously as to prevent a proper attendance
at the sanctuary of God, for worship. Such
an attendance is a national right, and a most
powerful means'of conserving public morals,
which is the grand end of these laws
Neither permit them to be administered so
laxly as to favor the lager beer saloon, the
groggery, nor the dance. The suppression
of vice and immorality, and the protection
of a quiet Sabbath, for rest and worship, is
the object of, the community in the enact
ments of which we speak. To these ends
let the law be faithfully administered.
Christianity and the Civil Laws.
There are many fundamental and prac•
tioal questions, which need to be re-stated
and re-argued, in and by every generation
of men. This is needed for the information
of the rising race ; and needed also, to: re
fresh the memories, and to enlarge and li
beralize the views, and to confirm the senti
ments of those who enjoy riper years. One
of these questions,relates to the connexion
between Christianity and ,the civil laws. It
is very extensive, and radically important.
It embraces public morals, the protection of
worship s , the Bible in the School, the oath,
slavery and the slave trade, the suppression
of profanity on the :Sabbsth, &c., things
which lie at the- very foundation of social
order and good government:
Re iterated discussions of this subject are
needed, with us, for another reason besides
the information of the young. We are re
oeiving, annually, tens of thousands of for
eigners, who come to us from countries
where the relations between liberty, law, and
religion are vastly different from what they
are. in these happy States. Their senti
ments, habits, and tastes are all different
from ours, and not germain to our social in
stitutions. And they come here as citizens,
to make and unmake laws, and to transgress
laws which they do not love. For their
sakes, then, there must be discussions.
They must be taught what our institutions
,
are, and convinced that these are good.
We have before us, uoder the title at the
head of this article, a lecture, by Rev tiames
A. Lyon, D. .D., of Columbus, Miss., _in
which the author ably maintains the post
tion that, in this country, the Christian duty
of every citizen is, to reverence and obey
civil law.. Under this - principle he would
condemn the efforts to introduce Africans
as slaves, mobs, "Vigilance Committees,"
&o. He also takes occasion to vind,cate the
right of the pulpit toutter Bible truths on
all moral questions. His last paragraph is :
Let me say, in conclusion, that in this
" Great Repablic," this " Free Country,"
where public sentiment, constitutionally ex
pressed, is law, every good citizen should
reverence law„ and feel individually and
morally responsible for its faithful execution .
What can the officers of the law do in this
free country, where military force would be
a stigma upon our boasted freedom, unless
they are sustained by the people ? Let it
be a maxim written upon the mind, the
heart, the conscience of every Amerioan cit
izen, that each and every member of the
community is responsible for the welfare 'of.
the whole'! Consequently each One is bound
to think—is bound to have an opinion—is
bound to give utterance to his sentiments—
and is bound to use his influence, much or
little, in support of virtue and the suppres
sion of vice ! Timidity , in expressing our
opinions in relation' to moral conduct, is very
reprehensible. To be, silent in this land
where public sentiment is lanr, and the. only
law, is to be virtually a party in the trans
gression. We are all watchmen upon the
walls of public welfare—and are bound to
"cry aloud and spare not" when we see the
danger.., Ambrose an eminent lather,
of the ancient Church ) was accustomed to
say, "As we must give an account for our
idle words, so likewise must we for our idle
silence."
The Metropolitan Church.
A beautiful site for a• Presbyterian church,
in the City of Washington, to have free
seats, was purchased, a few years ago, with
funds collected for the purpose, ,at a cost of
nearly $30,000. Recently abont $BO,OOO
have been secured, through the agency of
Rev. R. A. De Lanaey, Of New Orleans, for
the erection of the church edifice, and for a
parsonage, on the%oondition that the amount
raised shstll be $lOO,OOO. Will not the
wealthy and the liberal contribute promptly
to the raising of the remaining $20,000;
and thus secure the noble end designed?
EASTERN SUMMARY.
Boston and New England.
According to a statement made by the Hon B.
F. Butler, Democratic candidate for Governor of
Massachusetts, at a public meeting in Boston,
one evening last week, the Massachusetts Alms
house is anything but a safe place to live in, if a
prolongation of life be desirable. It is more
dangerous to spend a year in this institution
than to have led the charge of the Zonaves at
Magenta. The whole number of paupers here
during the year Was something over two thou
sand seven hundred, of whom six hundred and
sixty six, or one in everylfour, died during the
same time, and three hundred and forty one
children died under the age of Sve years. But
it seems to be very unfair to charge this fearful
mortality entirely, or even principally, on the
Almshouse. For vast numbers of these paupers
enter the Almshouse suffering from virulent at
tacks of most fatal diseases , and` the diseases
With which the parente are affected, account in
great part for the prevalence of early deaths
among the children. Still, these facts remind
us of the sad effects of improvidence, misfortune,
vice, and crime s wherever found.
The Synod of Albany convened in this city on
the 11th instant. The opening sermon was
preached by the - Rev. Dr. Kennedy, of Albany.
The Rev. Mr. Bates, of Antrim, N. H., was elect
ed Moderator, and the Bev. Mr. Aullions, Clerk.
Mr. Bates was, at one time, a student of the
Western Theological Seminary, at Allegheny, Pa.
The Synod of Albany consists of one hundred
and one ministers, sixty five churches, and nine
thousand one hundred and twenty-six members.
Some of these ministers are pastors or stated
supplies of Congregatioual churches, which ex
plains, partly, the difference between the num
ber of ministers and churches. The meeting of
this body in the metropolis of. New England at
this time will, no doubt, do much to encourage
the Presbyterian churches already organized
there. '
At the Mission Roams in Boston, there are
now seven bells ordered and paid for by natives
of the Sandwich Islands, intended for the use of
seven churches on those islands, where, a few
years ago, some of the most bestial forms of
heathen religion prevailed.
The atruggle between Congregationalists and
New School, Presbyterians, in the matter of the
Home Missionary Society, are by no means end
ed. The Congregational Quarterly foi October,
has an article intended, evidently, to combat the
positions taken at the late 'meeting of the New
,Ildhool Assembly with, respect to this' subject.
The drift of this article is very clearly to show
that the_ spirit and purpose of the corporation of
the two denominations in this Society has de
parted, •and that the formal dissolution of the
union is only a question of time and manner. In
a note the writer says
This issue has been deplored and withstood by
the mass of New - England Congregationalists,
and by none more sincerely than by the writer of
these pages. But the course of events is against
us. Every meeting of the Generul Assembly,
and every Presbyterian movement outside of it—
even when originating among the Monde of co
operation and with a view to promote it—frays
away some thread, before unbroken, in the silken
cord that unites the two denominations in evan
gelical labors.
Again, he says:
The Congregationalists, plough the largest
contributors to its funds, are satisfied, as yet,
with the administration of its affairs. We are
glad that this fact is so fully recognized by_Pres
byterians ; though we regret to see a fact, so
harmless in itself, turned into a new accusation
against the Society. The writer of long articles
in the Evatigellat, already referred to, complain
ingly says, in that paper for July 20, " The Home
Missionary Society hae been so administered as
to have arrayed in its favor, on every question,
almost the whole Congreg ational 'denomination,
and against its procedure, in important respects,
every deoided Presbyterian in the land who is
fully acquainted with its doings." All this,
while it proves nothing against the Society, does
prove an irreconcilable variance of judgment be
tween these two' denominations, as to its policy.
It is impossible that they should work together
with advantage much longer, if this is indeed
the position in which they stand to each other
and to the 'Society in which they once co operated
so harnionionelY, and with such happy effect.
The Recorder intimates that the division would
not be delayed for an hour, were it not that each
dislikes to leave the other in possession of the
name and prestige of the Home Missionary
Society, and suggests that since the " Home
Missionary Society" of Massachusetts pays a
very considerable part of the :ivhole receipts of.
the Society, she can withdraw, do the workwithin
her own borders and beyond them, and thus act,
independently of the • National Society,. at once
settling the entire difficulty.
.The Rev. Ralph Emerson, D. 1)., formerly a
Professor In Andover Theological Seminary, but
latterly a resident of Newburyport, has removed
to Rockford, Illinois, for the purpose of spending
the evening of his days among several of his
children, residents of that place.
The Rev, l Samuel Willard, D. 1),, familiarly
known as the " blind preacher" of Massachu
setts, died recently at Deerfield, in the eighty.
third year of his age. Though blind for up
wards of forty years, he has been until within
a short time an active and successful preacher
of the glorious Gospel of the Son of God. He
graduated at Harvard College, and was a class
mate of Dr. Payson, of precious memory.
Some of the Maine Newspapers are highly in
dignant that any thought should be entertained
of sending the Great Eastern, on her first trip,
to China, with English troops. Preparations
for receiving the vessel at Portland, the passen
gers that' will come in her, and the crowds of
visitors expected from all parts of the Union, are
carried on so actively, that the Providence Journal
says that the State of Maine will be ready to
declare war against England, if the Great Eastern
is not sent according to promise. The crew of
this vessel will consist , of, sixty able bodied sea
men, ninety seamen riggers,two hundred engineers
and firemen, steward's staff, one hundred; making,
with officers, five hundred in all.
A proposition is BOW on : foot, under the
auspices of Prot John A. Porter, of Yale College,
for having a great Meeting of Agriculturalists,
sometime about mid-Winter, in one of the build
ings of that institution, when lectures will be
delivered by leading and reliable men, eminent
in the different departments of agriculture, hor
ticulture, stook raising, &o. The whole is to be
free, with the exception of ten dollars from each
one in attendance, to pay:the traveling expenses
of lecturers, and other incidental outlays.
A Congregational Pastor in Connecticut, makes
a hard hit at certain tendencies in more than
one Christian denomination, in saying that "when
a pulpit was vacant now-a-days, the church gen
erally appointed a Comthitteclo go and make in
quiry of some Theological Professor, or of some
other eminent Divine, forasuitable candidate.
The first question shout him usually, was, Is he
a popular man? '•The second-, Is he a good
speaker? Third, Is he social and easy In his'
manners? Fourth, Is he a max of decided
talents ? Fifth, Can he live on a small salary ?
Arid- then, as the Committee was about taking
leave, with hat in hand, and one foot, over the
door silt itis sometimes added, 4 be 4 0
a ram} of
piety, we suppose.' "
New York.
There is considerable movement in Breach tut;3,
but at moderate prices. It 4s now ani, admitted
foot that high prices are not to tie expected this
year, and therefore holders are willing to sell at
present rates. Importations have fallen off very
considerably, so that they are now below the
average of the same months for seven years. -
The general Ffsll Business , is pretty well over,
with results equal to what could reasonably have
been expected, notwithstanding the failure of the
West to purchase, as in some former . years.
Preparations are beginning to be made by the
various charitable Societies, for the Winter cam—
paign. People residing in the interior have no
idea of the amount of poverty and want found
clustering within and around our large Atlantic
cities, nor of the amount of benevolence put
forth every year by liberal and self denying men
and women, for the relief of the necessitous. If
a great city has great vices, it has also great vir
tues ; if vast some are expended in extravagance,
vast sums are :also expended upon the poor and
miserable. The contributions of many well , to-do
farmers, toward humane . and religious objects,
would not constitute a tithe of what is expected
of persons possessed of equal resources in large
cities.
The "Fancy" Men, viz., gamblers, horse
racers, and professional fighters, are becoming a
great nuisance. In numbers they. are by no
means inconsiderable, and they exert a most
baneful influence over some of the most danger
ous classes of society. Nor is the daily press
doing much to discourage them..: On the contrary,
much is done to give them notoriety. Reporters
are ambitions to give the minutest particulars of
the race, the billiard match, and the prize ring,
and in this way the deleterious- effects spread
throughout the land. The location, feats. and
blaclignardism of Morrissey, Heenan, and their
confederates and admirers, are sought with as
ranch care, and telegraphed as promptly, as the
movements of the President of the United States,
the Queen of England, or the Emperor of the
French. Respectable papers will do a kindness
to their readers, and, also much to discourage
these sentry, by refusing to defile their pages by
chronicling ;these outrageous acts.
Prof. Mitchell has been delivering a series of
four astronomical lectures at the Cooper Insti
tate, for the benefit of a Baptist church. The
people have not grown weary of him; great
crowds -were in attendance ; and big style was
lively, earnest, and instructive as ever. As an
original investigator, circumstances have pre
vented the Professor from taking the highest
rank among astronomers; but as a ,popular
turer upon the science of Astronomy, he has no
equal.
Among the establishments attracting the atten
tion of Visitors in this city at present, is the
piano factory of Messrs. Steinway .3. Sona, who
have become so celebrated for their grand pianos.
They have just taken out .a patent for this style of
piano, by, means of which the touch receives the
utmost degree of delicacy and elasticity. The
tone comprehends the extremes of loud and soft,
and is highly susceptible to all the intermediate
shadings. The exterior of their instruments is
elegant and highly finished, but chaste and not
overloaded. These gentlemen received the first
prize medal for their grand Pianos at the United
States Fair, lately held at Chicago, and also at
the New Jersey State Fair, lately held at Eliza
bethtown. These fine instruments are for sale
in the principal cities ; in Tittsbargh, by Messrs.
H. Bieber & Brother, Fifth Street.
At a meeting of the New England Ristorie' al
Society, held last week, the Rev. Dr. Waddington,
of London, made an able address on the early
Puritans, their persecutions, struggles, and ef
forts to colonize this country. This gentleman
highly commended the liberality of thirty per
sons in New York toward the memorial church to
bp erected at Southwark, London, for the use of
the original separate Puritan congregation. Bnt
upon the whole, his visit to this country has been
a failure so far as money is concerned. Not
more than three thousand dollars has been yet
received, though twenty- five thousand dollars
was expecte& •
Many of the Germans repudiate altogether the
sentiments concerning the Sabbath, expressed by
some of their countrymen at the meeting at the
Yolks Garden, and which hive been paraded for
some time fn the columns of the Herald. Some
of the best of the German ministers in. New York
and vicinity, along with Dr. Sohaff, of Mercers
burg, are - endeavoring to lead the German peopla
to adopt another course, and to become the advo
cates of our American and Scriptural Sabbath.
The receipts of the American. Tract Society for
six months of the Society's current year, ending
October 1, have been, for publications sold,
$103,506.34; 'and in donations and legacies,
$39,380.47; in all, $142,886.844 being $5,069,-
50 more than for the corresponding manilas of
the previous year.
The venerable Rev. Lyman Beecher, D. D.,
reached the age of ft 4 on the 12th inst. During
the Bummer he has visited six of his children re
siding in Massachusetts and Connecticut. .He
resides in Brooklyn, near Plymouth church, at
tending nearly all the services, and frequently
.taking part.
Union Theological Seminary has one hundred
and forty , students in attendance, seventytwo of
whom have just entered—Abe largest accession
the institution has ever received at one time.
Efforts are now in progress to secure a Large
Hall, in some central location on *Broadway,
where prayer meetings may be held every night
throughout the year. It is sitppOsed thit in this
way a large attendance of strangers visiting the
city. may be secured, and that healthful Witt
emcee maybe sent to distant places.
- The Irish Delegation still attracts much atten
tion, and the pulpits of . Presbyterians and the
Reformed Dutch are generally open to them to
present the claims of Ireland.
The venerable Rev; Dr. Leland, of the Presby
terian Theological Seminary at Columbia, S. C.,
has been making a - somewhat protracted visit to
this city, where he has attended many religions
meetings, and preached with great acceptance
in many of the churches. His departure for
home is regretted by many who would gladly de
tain him much longer.
Philadelphia. •
Flour and Grain have not been in great de-
mand, and prices are stationary.
The throng of the Fall Business is about over,
although large and frequent sales to purchasers,
not only from the immediate neighborhood, but
also from a distance, are still made.
Many enterprising men are , anxious to see the
Steamship Enterprise in successful.progreas at an
early day, but men of wealth are alai , in coming
forward with the necessary funds.
The Philadelphia Sabbath School Association,
under the presidency of George H. Stuart, is
pressing forward vigorously in its work. The
subject of the proper qualifications of teachers
has received much of 'the attention of the Ass°.
elation for some time. At a late meeting, the
following action was taken :
In view of what has already been accomplished
in some parts of England, by the organization of
normal classes for the training and preparatioa
of Sabbath School teachers, resolved that a Com
mittee of five be appointed to consider this sub
ject and report this night month.
In view of the fact that a number of Mission
houses for the accommodation of children and
parents have been erected by various churches,
therefore resolved, that it be reoominended to
all the congregations in our city; which have
the ability, to erect, in suitable locations, build
ings where the Elospal can be taught to children
and parents.
The Rev. Joseph , Z Cooper, for many
years pastor of a Seceder church in this city, but
now in connexion with the United Presbyterian
Church, has bnen elected Professor of Pastoral
Theology in the United Presbyterian . Theological
Seminary at Alleglieny City, Pi.' Thiti appoth
ment will -we suppose * effect any change in
his pastoral relation, since the annual session of
this Seminary extends only over four months.
The United Prestbytery of Philadelphia will hold
a meeting for prayer and conference, on next
Tuesday, at Oxford, Chester County, Pa. The
opening sermon will be preached by Dr. Cooper.
During the meeting, the following subjects will
be considered:
1. The Revival in - Ireland. •
2. The Signs of the-Times.
8. The prevailing defects of Christian profes
sore.
4. How may the people contribute mod to the
emceed of the gospel 7
5. How may this United Presbytery best pro
mote the cause of Christ S
It Is atse proposed to spend some time in the
discussion of the subjects of Foreign and Domestic
Missions.
The New School Presbyterian quarterly, for
October, has an article on the Princeton Review's
criticism of " Barnes' on the Atonement" The
writer does not entertain a very favorable opinion
of Old School Presbyterians in general, and he
endeavors to be especially severe on Princeton,
while his style is not infrequently below the
dignity of a high totted quarterly. But this is
not all; he raises the old cry of envy and perse
cution of Mr. Barnes. The fact is, that this ap
peal has done very much to advance.the popular
ity of Mr. Barnes- If there is amen in this coun
try that has reason to be thankful for alleged
persecutions, that man is Mr. Barnes. To it he
owes no small part of the prominence he has at
tained. But we do think it high time for the
friends of. Mr. Barnes' to cease this cry ; the
sound has become decidedly monotonous. Let
his claims be decided as in the case of others, w
ording to merit, and not by appealing to sym
pathy, from the fact that Mr. Barnes or hie
friend may suppose him to be a persecuted man.
Language such as this is simply ridiculous. We ,
quote from the 817th page
"It was surely not the fault of Albert Barnes
that the foremost Presbyterian church in America
Claimed him as her pastor, and separated itself
from that branch of the Church which Princeton
claims to be the only true successor of our com
mon mother ; it was not his fault that persecution
well nigh worthy of the Spanish Inquisition, only
pieced him on a higher pedestal before the Amer
ican people; it was not his fault that no g Old
School' Presbyterian has ever occupied so lofty
a position before the world; it is not his fault if
the ramparts of loving brethren have so defend
ed him that the attempted Vengeance of disap
pointed envy has died away into some such piti
ful howls of execration as still come at intervals
from the Princeton Review."
Then, if that does not demolish the Pr:negro
Bering), and at the same time sell "Barnes' on
the Atonement," we know not what will.
EccleeitudicaL
Rev. J. E • MmLna'svastoral relation to the
church of Stroudsburg, Pa., was dissolved
by the Presbytery of Newton, at its late
meeting
Mr. J. S. Banns has received and ao-
eepted s call from the church of Andover,
Presbytery of Newton. .
Rev. W. H. MATTHEWS has been instilled
pastor of the Olivet church, by the Pres
bytery of Roanoke.
Rev. JASPRR Mmiommss, of the. Reformed
Dutch church, Albany elassis, and Rev.
BRAXTON BERN, of the Methodist
.Pro
testant Church, were received by the
Presbytery of- Cedar,. at its late meeting.
Rev. J. D. MASON'S pastoral relation to the
church of Davenport, and Roy. J. S.
Firrammorr's to the chursh of Linn
Grove, were dissolved by the Presbytery
of Cedar, at its late meeting.
Dr. C. 0. WATERS, an elder in Muscatine
church, and'now acting as Superintendent
of Colportuge for ,the North-West, was
• licensed to preach the Gospel, by the
Presbytery of Cedar, at its late meeting.
Rev. H. P. S. Wrcras has received and ac
cepted a call from the churches of Mem
phis and Etna. Rev. E. B. SMITH from
the church of Louisiana, and Rev. Jolty'
LEIGHTON, from the First Tchurch, Han
eibal, all in the Presbytery of Palmyra,
hio.
Rev. E. ROMANOTTSKY, was, on examination,
received from .the German Evangelical
Church, by the Presbytery of st. Loney
at its late meeting.
Rev. 0. H. lktruzu, late of the Presbytery
of Ohio, hap received a call from the
church of Oakland, Wapdlo, lowa.
Mr. JAMES H. CLABIC was ordained by. the
_Presbytery of lowa, at its late meeting,
with a view to his being soon installed
pastor of the church of -Burlington, from
which he has received and accepted a
*all.•
Rev. T. 0. Rutz, of Brigittoo, has gone, to
Charleston, 8 C., to supply, for a time,
the pu/pit of the Circular church, made
vacant by the death of Rev. Dr. Poet.
Rev. Tnon R. WELCH, of Helena, Ark.,
has received a unanimous Call' to the
ohirch at Little. Rock, Ark.
Rev. Tnomns M. CARTER'S Poet Office ad
dress is changed from Bethel, Texas, to
Pinesstie, Henderson County, Texas.
Rev. 3. E. JENISON, of Phoenixville, Pa.,
has, received and accepted an invitation to
supply the church of V,ineennes, Ind.
Rev. REUBEN EfAxle was received from the
United Brethren Church, by the Prettily
tery of . Marion, at its late meeting.
Rev. C. H. PNRXINS' pastoral relation to
the church of Milford Centre. was dis
selved by the Presbytery of Marion, at
its late meeting and he has become stated
supply of the church at Mount Gilead„
Ohio, for the next six months.
■or the PreebYterftl3 BMW): sad Adm.St
Preibytery of Re3detotte
- At its recent sessions at Mount .Morish, the
Presbytery
,of Redstone, licensed Mr. B. B.
Moore to preach the Gospel, and ordained to the
whole work of the Gospel ministry, Mr. William
Ward Cappbell, who has accepted a call from the
church of Valmont, and who expects soon to be
installed pastor of said church, with encouraging
prospects of tumidness.
In the ordination services. Rev. R. M. Wallace
preached the sermon, and Rev. A. G. Fairchild,
D. D., presided, and delivered the charge to Mr.
Campbell.
The following resolutions were adopted; viz :
Resolved, That 'the attention of pastors, Ses
sions, and congregations within our bounds, be
earnestly called to the important duty of making
collections for the Board of Education, in order
to the suitable sustentation of candidates for the
ministry under their care. Preabytery would
cherish the hope, that during the current year,
all our Church members will have an opportunity
of contributing to this and other objects, em
braced within the General Assembly's plan of Sys
tematic Benevolence.
.Resolved, That all our ministers preach upon
the subject of Sabbath Observance, between this
and the time of our next stated meeting. -
Resolved, Teat the.members of Presbytery give
attention ai. the action of the General Aesembly,
recorded in the Minutes of that body, on pages
538 and 539, respecting the BOaidiof the Assam
,
bly.
Resolved, That Presbytery recommend to the
pastors, stated supplies,' and; churches under its
care, the observance as far as practicable, of the
first - week in January nest, as a season of prayer
to God for the conversion of the world, agreeably
to the suggestion oU oar missionaries in India.
Fltl PPLIES
Mt. Washington- and Brown's Church.—.T. B.
McKee, one Sabbath at discretion r W. F. Hamil
ton', one Sabbath , at discretion: James Martin, last
Sabbath in October
Peteratourgh--J. Stoneroad. one Sabbath at die
oration •
„H.• Barron, ono Sabbath at discretion.
By o;dii of Presbytery.
J. IdoCiarvroor., Stated Clerk.
int' the Presbyterian Benner and Advocate.
;Acknowledgment
46.
The followiwg contributions have been received
for the Board of Co!portage:
Ranierille church, Allegheny Pb'y,"Alle
gheily Synod,. $2 63
New Castle, Beaver Pb'y, Allegheny Synod, 6,77
Beaver.Pley, Allegheny Synod, 2.O()
l!dillerti_Bun,,,Ohie-Pb'y; Pittsburgh Synod, MOO
JOHN CIILBERTSON, Librarian.