*anntr anb Abboritit. DAVID MoICINNEY,I JAMES ALLISON, tozoriatrogs. STEPHEN 1,111141, PITTSFOROK, OCrOBER 29, 1869, 7F.V.X11.•• $l.llO, La advaneei er in Glob* 'Lag' ors delivered at resident*, Of Illtbesrlo barn, *Lees Oso Prospestass an Irkird Page. IL X laW ILL X should be prompt; a little while before the year 4113Lpfreiri that we new sake Inn arrangeatento for a steady trapplyy WILL AND XTX.APPIan. indiestse that. we desire a renewal. If, however* in the haste of mailing, this signal should be omitted, we taps our friends eslll still not (ergot ma. ItiII*PIPRAXCF.S.--Send payinent by safe bands, when eonvealentk. Ors send by mails elielosing with ordinary ears, and trembling nobody with a knowledge or what yen are doing. For a Mtge ameniati send a Drafts or largo metes. Per one or two pipers, send 0014 or mon Norco. BIAMLB CELantills newt postage atensints Si better stilly send for Nearly papers" aay et Ile-fenty numbers, or 113 for irkirty•thrso ormalmor. IIigAZOW all Letters and Cenininaleatians to XXXII, & CO., Pittsburgh, Poi Synod of Northern Indiana on the Semi- nary of the North-West The following is the action of the Sytiod of Northern Indiana which pawed by a vote of 28 .to 18 : gi In reference to the action of the Gen. eral Assembly in organising the Theological Seminary of the North•Weet, as shown by the Minutes, we feel constrained to state, (lest our eilence should be misoonstrned,) that said action was not in mob consonance with our views and judgment on this subject, se to leave this Synod under any other obliga tions or relations to the Seminary at Chicago, than it sustains to any other Seminary under the oars of the Aesembly." Synod of Indiana. This Synod, at its late meeting, took the following action on the Seminary question : The Synod would express its high regard for the authority of the General Assembly to whose wisdom they had submitted the organization of a Seminary for the North- West but they feel constrained to dissent from its motion in the case. Ist. Because in that action the known wishes of this body were disregarded in the organization of that Seminary 2d. Because in this Synod although rep resenting one sixth of the Church member ship within the limits to be served by that Seminary, and notwithstanding it has borne the burden of theological education here for nearly thirty yearn, yet is represented by but one Director in a Board composed of forty members; and for these reasons this Synod declines to recommend that Seminary as now organized to the churches under our care, preferring to give our support to other Sem inaries for the present. Liabilities of. Pewholders. The obligations and responeibilities under which pews are held in churches, is a mat ter of practical importance. Judge Gal braith, of Erie, Pa., has recently decided the following points: let. Pewholders in a church are liable, under the established general rules and re gulations of the association, for increased pro rata assessments laid by the Trustees of the Association,, on the value, of the pews, to raise the necessary means of defraying the proper and current expenses of the as , sooiation, notwithstanding in the deeds ori ginally given to the pewholders for their pews, a specified lower rate per cent. was reserved. 2d. The Trustees of a religions association may adopt bylaws or resolutions to equalize the amount necessary for its support, and assess the proportionable amount on each pewbolder, though there is rio provision in the Constitution, or Articles of Association, authorizing them so to do. 3d. Property in a pew is a mere easement, being confined to the right to sit therein during public worship. Rev. Dr. Edgar. This good brother has been busy, for some days, instructing and delighting our people and churches. He is a gentleman of full medium size, and something over sixty years of age; strong, energetic, voioe powerful,. and a good deal Irish ; hae much action while speaking; and, when on the stand, has mush the appearance of a pretty rough Irishman. The attractions of hie oratory are, good sense, clearness, vivacity, earnest ness. A man must be very defective in intellect who can sit within the sound of his voice, and not be attracted. Last week he addressed the Synods of Wheeling, Ohio, and Pittsburgh. On Sab bath he preached in the ohurohee of Drs. Douglu, Rodgers, and Swift. On Monday he addressed the Theological students, And on Tuesday evening he spoke for near two hours, in City Hall, on Ireland as it was and is. Our citizens, well u they may have known Ireland, by residence, by reading, or by mingling with her sons, will know her much better still, by bearing Dr. Edgar. We wish the Doctor all success in his mission. Be Cautions iii Repeating Anecdotes. The _independent was induced to publish an anecdote to the effect, that at the Gen. eral Assembly at Indianapolis, the Modern• tor was detailed to preach, on Sabbath, to a colored congregation, and was refused the pulpit, because he was the holder of a slave. In publishing a correction of the mks state. ment, which we could do from oar own knowledge, we gave an anecdote of a ainsi• hr oharaoter, which, till this hour we had supposed was a veritable faot. It was, that the Moderator of the Assembly, at the meeting in Lexington, had attended at a church of the colored people with the in• tention of preaohing, but that his services were declined, because the pastor in charge bad appointed for that day, a particular subject, on which he himself wished to in• strut his congregation. The Presbyterian Magazine, for October, of which the Mod erator of the Lexington Assembly is the editor, informs its readers that this, like the Indianapolis statement, was all a mistake. Ile was most courteously received, and preached his sermon. This double admonition may make editors doubly cautious about giving either credit or currency to anecdotes wherein colored congregations and Moderators of General Assemblies are made to figure conspicuously. Oars we had from gentlemen seemingly the most trustworthy, on the very day succeed. ing the one on which the event should have occurred. But now the independent and ourselves having been deceived by what the Magazine calls ,4 two black orowe,'' we. ad. vise our contemporaries to regard such things with great circumspection, lest possi bly there may (some a third and lead some of them 'duty. Pimp; -on the Kstde of Going-to Worship on the Sabbath—A Symptom -of an Anti-Religious Inquisition. . We, last week, gave information relative to two , oases in whiokthe Mayor of o ur , clg imposed fines of $25, each, for driving car riages, with families, to church on the M.', bath. The Dispatch of October 21st, thinks we did not do the Mayor full justice. We quote our oontempiliary Whatever opinions may be entertained- of the Mayor's recent decision in the Sunday carriage eases, he is at least entitled to a fair bearing. The Banner and Advocate, in publishing his deci sion, acts candidly, but when it ,dednees the following conclusion, it does so in the face of the decision itself. It says : "If, then, the Mayor's views are to be acquiesced in as a ha exposition of the law. be evidently regarding the going to a place of worship on the lord's debits being a Trot idly employment,qi I) hired Demons may not drive carriages to meeting on the Sabbath-" Now, the question which was involved in the hearing and decision was not whether " going to a place of Worship on the Lord's day" be " world ly employment," but whether driving a carriage for hire, either'to church or * elsewhere, on Sun day, be such employment. The Mayor came to the conclusion, under the law and the facts, that the driving for hire was worldly employment; and so concluding, very properly exacted the penalty. The subject is one of vast importance. It is a beginning. It is, or may be, the entering wedge of interference on the part of the civil magistrate, in matters of religion. Mayor Weaver is an, excellent officer. We honor him, and would cheerfully vote for his re-election. Bat we think that, here, he made a mistake.: We, have a right to investigate the matter. The case was this. The .Mayor had two men arrested and brought before his tri bunal. He there proved that they had been to church on the previous Sabbath; that they were men hired by the month, to make garden, drive a carriage, &a.; and that, in going to church, they had driven' their em ployers' families in the carriage: We com mend the officer for his zeal. He is hound by his oath to enforce the laws. If the law was broken, he is justified in demanding the penalty; and even if he was mistaken, it may be.that he 'should be cOmmended for an honest effort to protect the Lord's day from desecration. But, is going to church in a carriage, an unlawful act ? if so, the Mayor did right to restrain it. If it is not an unlawful act, he had no right to interfere with it. It was not his offieial - prerogative to inquire whether one of the inmates' of the carriage was a poor mar, and received wages. He had no right .to look beyond the overt act. The law makes no officer an inquisitor, to look out bad motives for good deeds; or secular reasons for religious &dice. The use of a carriage and driver is, with many persons, a necessity. Their distahee from church, their age, infancy, widowhood, infirmity, make it impossible for them to use the " primitive " manner of traveling. They cannot reach the church on foot. Would the Mayor then forbid their pres ences ? Many men, also, are 'under the necessity of hiring themselves to make their living. The position in question one of ease, and respectability. Muitit be declared unlawful, and so be abolished, and 'the poor thus deprived of its benefit Y For it ie. a fact that in Christian families, oft times, the carriage and driver would not be kept, only , for the purpose of taking the family to church. If a man may not employ another to driVe his family to church, may he do the deed himself ? . . Surely he may,not do that which he may?not employ another to. do. Must, then, the whole community be deprived 'of their:means of conveyance, and he obliged to either walk to church or stay , at home ? And how is even walking to be protected' long? Is it not a secular employment--s, thing which one does every day in the week ? Is it not servile labor, in one sense? Or is the legal point this, that he who driver to other places on week dar, may not drive to church on the Sabbath. Or is it this, that in the laborer's contract for service and wages, it is un derstood that, as a part of his duty, be shall take the family to church on the Lord's day ? Mak he be punished for this ? If it shall be part of a Maa s s bargain, in hiring, that he Shall continue to plow, or, dig, or build, on the Sabbath, the law will punish him for the deed.; but if 'he shall bargain to feed his employer's cattle on the Sabbath, the same as on the weekday, the law will not touch him. Why this difference? He is, in each case, receiving his regular monthly`, hire, but in the latter, he is not transgress ing the law. The hired sexton, and hired ferryman, and hired cook, work, on the Sabbath, work for hire, but are not fined for their Sunday labor. It is not, then, the fact that a man is hired, which constitutes the offence. This plea will not justify the fine. The law takes not cognizance of, this feature of the transaction. The deed it self must be unlawful to bring it under the law's condemnatory sentenoe. The Mayor was hence wrongl—deoidedly wrong—in inflicting the fines. 'He has commenced an operation which, if sustained, would clothe the magistrate with inquisi torial powers. And whither would it lead ? It commences an anti.oburch inquisition; and to what extent it might progress, none can tell. • , We think that the !good sense of our worthy chief 'magistrate will perceive that be has nn right to inquire beyond the overt act. If the act is lawful, he will not meek to know whether the actor did it from the love of it, or from conscience, or for a comioin elation. And, going to church is lairfuL. We before admitted, and lamented too, that some men sin greatly, even in going to meeting.. Those who thereby keep their employees from worship, commit 'a great wrong. To keep a man engaged.all morn ing with the horses, and.then make him sit in the , carriage on the street during worship, is an outrage. The Church member who may be guilty of this, should be disci !Allied. The preacher's voice sheuld be loud against it. The employer who does so should be marked, and should be visited with the indignant frown of all Christians; and if there is any law which can reach him, let it be enforced. Such, however, was not the conduct of Mr. Logan and Judge Lowrie. Their drivers had perfect liberty to worship with them, if they chose. Mr. Logan, as we understand, has con cluded to carry up the case of his driver to the courts. We are glad of it. We want ti legal decision. If the Mayor is sustained, our people must build churches nearer hems. The expense to even _a very few families, of purchasing horses.and carriages, and of keeping up the establishment*, with the driver's chargea *died, would build , a neat church, and' win ably sisfain a pastor. Many poor men would thus lose their places; but fa; more would find the house of God brought near them, to their own and their families' joy. Religion would, as we thinit e be. ,, a greatlainer.-. This gain, bow ever, we would much rather have by the voluntary action df Christians, than by an assumption of unwarranted and dangerous power , on,, the':part of 'Elo" , hive , it, that aged widows and other feeble per• Rons who would still need a conveyance, might attemjchitrob without molestation.; flynodical-Meetings These are seasons of re union among brethren, and occasions for forming new acquaintancer, which are to be highly up preciated by ministers and elders. The large numbers assembled, of men of kindred spirit ; their object, the noblest of all ; the deep interest they feel ; ,the hospitality ex tended to them by God's good people—all contribute to make the meeting of Synod an anneal peiiod of delight. itecent meetings demand our attention. SYNOD OF ,PITTE3BITIMI. The members; of this Synod, in large numbers, 'met in the Second Presbyterian church, Pittsburgh, on Thursday, the 20th inst The opening sermon was preached by Rev. A. Donaldson, D. D., and commanded the attention Ws large audience. Rev. Samuel C. Jennings, D. D., was chosen Moderator. The Sessions continued till TuesdAy evening, and were manifestly the meetings of Christian, brethren. There was love to each other, and zeal in the. Master's Cline. The amount of business done was very large, and some of it was of vast importance. The Minutes, in full, are 'given to us for publication, and will 'appear, probably next week. The two items which elicited- most"die m . osien were, Sabbath Observance, and the action of the Board of Domestic Missions in appointing two. Secretaries in • the , office at Philadelphia. In both came the papers expressing the views of the House • were adopted, nem con. In the latter ease, that is, the Board's appointing two Secretaries, in existing circumstances, the digenssion drew from many members, expressions of the strongest disapprobation. The Synod, however, regarding the subject as heing in the hands of a Committee 'of the General Assembly, and hoping for a _remedy next year, and also, feeling, intensely for the min sionaries now toiling for the. Church and expecting their sustenance, earnestly recom mended to their churehes to make, this year, their usual contributions; adding, at the same -time, the amnion, that these con tributions were not to,be construed, in any wise, ai approning of the Board's useless `expenditure in thnappointing of two Secre taries to do one Mai', work. This. Synod is composed of the n3osCfirm friends of this Board. It wishes the Board to have: the, confidence of the churches; and to this end it asks that much work shall be well done, without a needless consumption -of sacred funds. Its ministers and elders teach the people that giving to the Lord, through this Board; is a duty, the exercise 'of a grace, au act of worship. They urge even the poorest.and the, Youngest to give; and wben they have induced, under this view of duty, grace, and worship,lheir widows and their laboring poor, to east, their dimes into the Lord's' treasury, they cannot bear to have more than twenty' thousand of these effer ings expended in the ittatentatiou of a use less office. They.ask that the Board shall be restored to the confidence of the churches, by such an arrangement as shall combine efficiency with economy. • • On the subject of Sabbath Observance, a matter, just now, of peculiar . interest, the Synod's action will. he issued, nor only in the Minutes, but also in a• small pamphlet. Persons who would have copies may obtain them at the Presbyterian Book Rooms, or at our office. Nice "$1.:00 per hundred— fifty copies, , potstage paid, for $l.OO, or ten copies, Postage paid, for twenty.five cents. SYNOD OF-WIIEELING. This Synod met in Steubenville, Ohio, on Tuesday, the 18th ipst. The opening ser mon was preached by Rev D. R. Cempbell, of. Wintersville, and evinced talent, judicious. ly called into requisition: A minister should always throw his *hole soul into his die• course, when be speaks for God; anti when he may anticipate such en . andience. as the meeting of a , Synod , affords, he may well consecrate much energy to the preparation. So did the preacher on this occasion, and with great success. The attendance of members ~was very large, and the, whole transactions were her minions. Devotional exercises, formed a leading feature in the 'assembling, of the SynOd. On tiie afternoon of Wednesday, a peculiar interest was given by the arrival of Dr. •Elliott, of the Western Theological Seminary, and Dr Edgar, of the Irish Mitt. Dion. Dr. 'Edgar Ywas - welcoined by the Moderator Rev. Dr. J. I Brownsen in a few pertinent remarks, and responded happily. On the forenoon of Thursday, he made a long, and 'quite interesting address. It war humorous, pathetic, „argumentative—just what an address ought to be from such a man and, in such a preemies. The affairs of Washington College re ceived 'due attention. The collectionef the endo aliment fund, both as to the interest and the princigal, unhappily languishes. In other aspects, the College fiourishes., , Rev. James +Black, of Connellsville, Pa., was elected to the Chair of languages, made vacant by the resignation of Dr. Wines. The choice is most judiCious. Mr. f Black is yet a yottng man, and is possessed of scholarship and an aptitude to teach. The choice was unanimous, and an acceptance is anticipate& ' The details of business will likely be furnished to us for publication. The Synod adjourned on Friday morning. THE SYNOD OF OHIO., This body met in Mansfield, Ohio, on the evening of the 20th inst., and was opened with &striking and appropriate sermon from Luke sill: ,50, ?‘ I haye a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished The preacher considered his eubject under three divisions : 1. What this baptism was. 2. Why ho was straitened untilVit was accomplished. 8. The liberty afterwards enjoyed ; : - The Rev. James M. Platt, pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Zanesville, was elected Moderator; and the Rev. Wm. E. Hunt, pastor of the Presbyterian church in Coshocton, 'and Rev R. C. Galbraith- Raqtor gt. ll l l AlM 1 :0 1 1 14 ngailtIrt were elected Clerks. This Synod consists of about one hundred ordained ministers, and one hundred and seventy three churches. & very large pro portion of the ministers are young men. Com paratively few of them are past middle life. We were struck and pleased with the vigor and ordei with which the Synod entered upon its business, and our only regret is, that we could remain only a short time to listen to its deliberations, and mingle 'with its excellent members. A full abstract of 'its propeedings .will be rnished to our readers in due time. The town of Mansfield consists of nearly seven thousand inhabitants, and is one of the most important points in the State. The Presbyterian church in this place has been greatly blessed within the last two years, and the pastor; Rev. Mr. Burgett, has much to encourage him with respect to the future. A new and attractive church edifice will soon be completed. The Ancient Chmroh.* To start from the right point, and to con duct our investigations upon true principles, are necessary,,to arrive at just conclusions. ,Because, of failures in ,these particulars, many learned researches and labored disgai sitions in science, history, and theology, are worthy of but little confidence, and produc. die of but little benefit, The early history of the _Christian Church is an attractive subject of study, and has received the attention` of men of great in. Oiled rand , great feapzling. But many of those who have entered most deeply into this rich and inviting mine, had been pre viously committed to . some particular sys. tem of the Church not based entirely on Soiipture, but pertly , on tradition, and part• 1y on expediency, .while. Athers 'have been enraptured, with seme- philosophieal scheme of their own. Not so with Dr. Killen, su. thor of ,the volume before us. He enters upon his subject with only the Scriptural view a the nature and Order of the Church, which is essentially Presbyterial,' 'and con sequently he Avoids' many perplexities and difficulties encountered by others; while he is in a pbaition to set forth the true idea of the Church as taught by ohris£ and his apostles, and to detect,the means by which error was introduced, and to note its sue oessive steps and'fatal results. Thus he is able to show that between the . . days of the apostles aid the times - of Con . , stantine the Christian Commonwealth changed its aspect how the Bishop. of Rome, a' personage unknown to the writers of the Nevi Testament; rose into prominence , and at length took precedence • how rites and ceremonies of. Which' neither Paul nor Peter ever heard, crept silently into use, and afterwards claimed to be'Divine institu tions`; and how officers , for whoth'the prim disciples could 'have found no platie and titles which they mould .not_ have under stood, began to challenge attention, and to be named apostolic. Our author, with great oandor, patient research, and abundant learning, lays bare the cause which produced these changes, and marks the stages ofthis 'ecclesiastical revolution. In doing this, he brings forward many retnarkable facts and testimonies which had escaped 'the notice of 'previous historians_ His exhibition of the spurious Aharacter, of the Igaatian Epis tles is a piece of masterly criticism. Alto gether the'ivork a='niost valuable and timely , contribution to eaclesiastical history, which we can heartily.commend for thor oughness, vigor, and , accuracy. In a It Prefatory. 'iota," the author pays a high compliment , to the enterprise and liberality of hi& Scribner, which' all who have the pleasure pf his acquaintance, will admit to be-well merited. Altopurr Clinton ; its History, Doctrine, Worship, and Constitution, traced for the first three hundred years. By Rev.W. D. Killen, D.D., Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Pastoral Theology.to the General Assembly of the Presby terian Church in Ireland. pp, 666. New York : Charles Scribner. Pitishirgh : John S. _Davison. 1859. Christian Armen:tents. We commend to the attention of our readers the following extracts from a late sermon by Dr. Heacock,, of Buffalo,. without regard to connexion. .Let Christian par ents ponder carefully the views with respect to' dancing, • presented .toward the close. Probably the late developments concerning the moral atmosphere, breathed at " hops" ,and "balls," in high places, may lead some ofthe apologists for this, so-called, amuse meat, to reconsider their former conclusions: Is it quite fair to represent the Church as acting on this subject of aimsements, toward her 'children ' the part of a morose anti sour stepmother? The Church is not omniscient; and she; may have in other days erred in this matter, for she' was not infallible. Yet, notwiihstanding her errors, she has shed the kindliest light that has ever been shed on to social life of the world, and there never will come a time when she can ean> go so far' as to set aside all self-denim ` In the cultivation , • of her ear nest religious life, shr6nay at times have gone' too far. But the 'Church - no more denies the' social life to her children be. cause she forbids its emesses, than she does a businesa life. And if she prohibits one form of. amusement , is the weak, querulous cry to be raised—the.Chureh is unfriendly to a cheerful social lire ?• 'Look' 'at facts. Does.the Church hold :this' frigid attitude toward her children, barren of all kindli ness, and only prolific of prohibitions ? Is this the reputation of the Protestant Clergy? No intelligent student of their lives will . say-it. -They are genial, cheerful men, and the friends of genial, cheerful, pure pleas. urea,: joys, and amusements? Go.ask ~the children of her - Sabbath 'Schools; led out each Bummer to their glad. festivals in the woods, and the recurring annual festivals of the Winter. The whole spirit of this Min istryhetrays the wish to impart pleasure, joy, amusement; only pure and simple ones. Whence too, came that finest and noblest of all' the annual domestic festivale, consecrated to home joys and pleasures, Thanksgiving ? It was the birth of the old Puritan Piety. We can forgive them much of their rigidity, since this indicated that the unsealed spring of human joys Wes bubbling and purling yet Within their hearts. • THE INNOCENTS. Even our little children tire pressed' on to the Beene, in all their guileless gayety, to disarm our opposition, and disguise to us the evil. But I submit if this last shift to cover the dance ' to sweeten and beautify that Ap ple of Sodom, which while "fair to the seeming," is ashes and bitterness to the eore—l submit, if this plea in defence of the dance be not a confession of weakness, it not too much like pleading the act for minors and infants, to shift real responsibil• ity for a wrong or doubtful action Y " It is wrong to dance," say we; and you say, " Ah I these are only children." Yes, they are, and we cannot blame them, becinse 'they know -not the vanity of the world. B rt tyorr do; and we do-blame that-:parental lAndnem, fondness, or vanity, which willin troduce children to amusements of which their innocence is tbe highest defence; a child would shield a murderer's life. If you wish to dance; dance; but to thrust your children on to doubtful ground, to de. fend or shield your doubtful act, is a coward. ly crime against your ohild and your own soul. * * * The Shaker Dance, both from its style, its fixed and unattractive character,. its spirit, and all its relations and etirroundinge, could never be, and never has been, pleaded as a justification for the World's Dance, in all its length and breadth; no one ever made` it a sober plea. But the Domestic Dance is and has been used for just such a plea. * * * If any man should, in a promenade, take those liberties with a lady's person, which some dances not only justify but demand—for I should like to know how they are to be gotten through without—it would make many a chaste cheek crimson to the deepest purple. * * If the prevailing tendency of this more pri vate form of 'the Dance, be to evils in the same direction, and of the same character, as in the case of that more public form, which we have all condemned; if there be also an incurable liability in this more pri ;rate form, to like or equivalent,abuses with the more public form'; and- moreover,, if the relations of this more private to the more public, be such as inevitably to compromise the one with, or justify and abet the one by the other—l cannot see how any one can _consistently or rationally consent to connte. nanoe -the one who admits the evils of the 'other. And much less, can I -see how the higher obligations resting upon a Christian, will permit him to.lend his countenance to such "a train of consequences. EASTERN SUMMARY. Bristotrand New England. The Atlantic Monthly that has been so. ably conducted, but thatehas,atthe same time, been made the medium of £lO .mil.ph dangerous error,, has at length been purchased by Messrs. Ticknor & Fields, for the , sum of $lO,OOO. This will be gratifying news to.mapy, who will expect a great change in the ,"temper and tone of this monthly with regard to "EvUngeliosl This will, require the dismissal of some former contributors, but if success is to be attained, no other course can be taken. - A new and enlarged =edition of the Poets and Poetry of 'Per Mont, by Sohn 0 Saxe, will soon be 'published by Brown, faggard, & Chase. Mr. Saxe is a defeated candidate for the office of Gov ernor of Vermont. As pliet, lecturer. 'satirist, and wit, he has few superiors. The ,sale of the HimMumma Library of the late Hon. Ruins Choate, was well attended ;, the bidding was spirited, and the prices obtained were good—in some , cases high. Sonic idea of the food upon which this great mind fed, may be,ob tained from the books put up to be his compan ions on his last voyage. They were, " Daily Bible," ~ Patrick and Lowth's Com mentaries," " Owen's Commentary. on Mark," "Lather on the' Pealm's,"'" Lewis' Six DaYs of Creation," Eleagstenberg on the Psalms," "Homer's Iliad,"," Greek ,Lexicon," Georgics of Virgil," " Bacon's Advancement of Learning," and "Shakespeare's Tempest." If such were the books used,for recreation, can it be any won der that his intellect ,was.manly, energetic,,and disoursive Zion', Herald and, Trealeyau Journal, the organ . I of the Methodists of New England, is-greatly opposed to the action of inany of the leading Methodists of. New York, with-respect to the ap proaching General Conference, an account of which we gave some time ago. In the number for last week, is a reply of the,New York men to the editor's strictures, and also some remarks by the editor, which indicate great opposition of r views between the two parties. The Synod of Albany, at its recent , meeting in this city, occupied its' attention Very , consider ably with the prospects of Presbyterianism in this locality. The Synod recommended the Com. mittee on Church Extension to 'appropriate three thousand dollars to aid the church of East Bos ton, of which Rev. Mr. Johnston ts pastor, and assumed the responsibility for,two thousand-dol lars more. As soon asthese sums are realised, this‘chfireh will free'froin ' debt. The' church formerly known by the name of Enoz, has be come the _First Presbyterian 'church of Boston. This congregation is now paying a rent of $l,OOO per annum, and giving its pastor, Rev. David Magill, formerly of Philadelphia, a salary of $2,000, and is ready to pay down $10,000,, to assist in building a house of worship. Dr. Backus, ' Schenectady, suggested that the church eltiad assume'the responsibility for $20,- 000; and that forty men could be found, of whom he would •be one, willing to-contribute $l,OOO each toward this work ; thus $60'040 would be secured for building 'a church edifice worthy of the Presbyterian Church in the metropolis of New England. At length, the congregation was recommended to mature its plans, and to report at some future day, how much money would be needed. The meetings of the Synod were attend ed by many persons with great interest; and the -Rev. Dr. Blagden, senior pastor - of the old South church, and other Congregational ministers, welcomed the Synod,with great cordiality. New Yoik. Business of all.. kinds,. though. the great sales are over, is - still quite active. The Money Men-ket is , enayi-solthat parties able to'give good securities; find not the least difficulty in obtaining bane. ' The daily Flour -and , Grain Receipts are quite large, and; as necessary consequence, there is no, upward tendency in the pri*. , The Stock Market is 'firmer than some time ago. Owing to , the Large linpotteitiont, a 'heavy amount of goods; are left over.:.,. This las led many of the jobbing houses to dispatch agents, with' eamples of their goods, to- almost -all the cities and large towns in the country, for the purpose of,effecting additional sales.- In this way, no.doubt inland purchasers will , be able to buy many articles'during Ahe Winter at their own doors,. on much more favorable terms than they could have done, some weeks ago,, in New York itself. These agents take their samples. to the cities and towns, and then order from the estab lishrnents with which they are connected, such goods as they 'may have sold. A considerable trade is carried on in this way every season, but it is probable that an unusual amount will be done during the o oming Winter. , An Adhas been passed 'foe the aliening of a good eked street, right through the quarter now known as the Fine Points, that will do muoh to rid, that place of many of the wretched creatures that have so long occupied it. The principal cause of delay arises'from the difficulty found in the way of the assessment of damages to certain properties. But the enterprise ha's been under taken, and before any great length of time has elapsed it will be consummated. The whole Number of 4"migrants that have ar rived at this portduring the , nine months of the present year, is sixty-two omi:wand five hundred and twenty ; a; large falling off from some former years. The Fire Department, at the late triennial Con vention, numbered one hundred and twenty nom- Panics, and six thousand men. Mayor Tiernan made a speech, in 'which* he gave a history of this department, back to the days of the Knick erbockers. The American Institute is known throughout the country; principally on account of its fine exhibi tions and annual fairs.. = But it has in it an element for practical and perManent good, in the shape of e, library of no less than ten thousand volumes, for the use of its members; and practical men of all callings in life. . The Roman Catholics of this city are doing , everything in.their power to retain the ` youth of their Church, and also - Jo' 'Aaron's° its member ship. For this purpose, every new convert of • ability and position is employed in some con s!) icuous way to protnote'the interests of &mon ism. On last Wednesday evening reek, Dr. J. T. Nichols, a recent convert, delivered the intro ductory lectare before the Cummings', Literary Union, a Society under Catholic influence, on the Duty and Destiny of Young American Catho lias.h Re took the position that Romanism must soon be the dominant form of religion in the United States, and that upon yonng Roman Catholics the duty of spreading its principles chiefly rested. Re considered the city of NOW York a most inviting field for active efforts in extending Popery. The Jews of • this,city are . rapidly increasing in, numbers and wealth, and naturally feel a dispo ',Rion to preserve their own distinctive religious features. „For this purpose" they are, advocating the formation of a oonsistory of delegates from each congregation in the United States. This body, after the manner of the British Jewish Board of Representatives, would attend to the advancement of Jewish interests by canvening and acting for the, mass, as occasion requires. The Mariners' Church, corner of Madison and Catharine Streets, has been blessed, more highly during the last year, than any other in, the •city. Over two hundred have been hopefully convertedr; some of these may be now found on board fifteen ships in the United States Navy, where in many instances they have established the daily prayer meeting. This enterprise has accompliehed an amount of good that only eternity will disclose. Here the Gospel has been preached forty years, by such men as Rev. 'Ward Stafford, Rev. Henry Chase, and now by Rev. Charles Jones, who spent more than ten years on the ocean, as an active sailor, thus having peculiar facilities for reaching the men who do business on greatwaters.. During three years of his ministry, at this point, he has conversed with men born in eighty-nine different countries, and •speaking thirty-eight different languages. The Synod of New York met last week, in Dr. McElroy's church, and was opened with a sermon by th&liev. S. Rumens Prime, D. D., from Ezekiel ii c 5. The concluding part consisted of a sketch of the life and character of the:late Rev. J. W. Alexander, RD., in illustration of the truth that a faithful minister of Christ could not fail to leave hislmpress for good upon the people among whom he had ministered. z The Rev. Wm Bonnard was elected Moderato& During the meetings, the Rev. Dr Krebs submitted an able and inter eating report on public wheels, which was re ceived with deep _interest, and ordered to be published. Thus it will be seen that thisEinodi occupying so important a position before the 'Church and the world, repudiates practically and entirely_ the whole Thitrarell theory ' of' the Church. And present indications lead us to believe that this will•belle significance, in various ways, of almost all the Synods of our Church at 'their recent meetings. One of the moat important subjects brought before the Synod , was the mat .ten of the Choctaw Mission, lately discontinued by the American Board. The Hon. Walter Lowrie, Secretary of, the Presbyterian Board of Missions, declared, that , the present and pros pective liablities of our own Roard, rendered -it impracticable to assume the ,reeponsibilities of this:Mission, even if the brethren composing it should wish to come under the care of our Board. At length, the Rev. Dr. Spring proposed the fol lowing resolution, which was unanimonely adopted Resoltied, That if the Executive. Committee deem it expedieat to : take , the mission to the Choctaw Indians tinder the:care of the Board, the Synod of New - York pledges itself to use its best efforts 'to increase its contributions to the Board as much as may be necessary to meet the resPonsibility. From this, those of our readers who are also readera of the Presbyterian, mill see that the so ' tion of the' Synod was quite different from that reported in the Presbyterian of last week. At this' oint it , may be "proper to hiate that it has been Suggested that probably the best thing that could be done for this mission, would be for its special friends among Congregationalists, New School Presbyterians, and others who have always contributed liberally toward it, to continue their benefactions, at least for the present In this way, the wants of the missions would be supplied, no additional burden would be l a id on any Missionary 'Society, and the be . . nevolence of former patrons could be continued. This ides is certainly worthy of consideration. Philadelphia. It has been decortained that the =Present itition of the consolidated city of Philadelphia is about 812 C hundred and eighty thousand inhabi tants; This includes what was fOrinerli' the city and county of Philadelphia. Ecclesiastical. Rev. W. H. VAN DOREN has declined the call to the ehttech at College Hill, Ohio. Rev: A. B. GILLELAND having removed from Venice to Millville, Butler County, Ohio, oorrZspondents are I.mi:tested to ad dress him at the latter place, instead of - Ross Poet Office, as heretofore. Rev. ALEXANDER SWANEY was installed pastor < of the congregation of New Ha gerstown, by a Committee of the Presby tery of Steubenville, on the 3d inst. Rev. A. L. KNOX, of the Muskingum An nual Conference, was received by the Presbytery of St. Clairsville, at its kte meeting. Mr: SAMUEL RAMSEY was licensed to preach the Gospel, by dip Presbytery of St. Ciairsville, at its late meeting. ',or the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate. Narrative of the State of Religion in the Boimds of Creek Presbytery. • This Presbytery includes the Creek, Seminole', and Cherokee Nations. In the Cherokee, Nation we have but one minister, and no churches as yet, the ground being occupied by sister denominations. In the Creek. Nation there are two churches or ganise& and form other places of preaching. In some other parts of the country, God's 'Word is occasionally proclaimed to the people. At , Tallahassee Mission, preaching has been conducted regularly , during the year. The abut& now numbers forty-seven members. This year five were added to , the church—four by certificate ,and one by profession of her faith. Here, also, is a Manual Labor School, of eighty pupils, (of both sexes,) which is doing a great and good work for the Creeks, in imparting knowledge to their sona and daughters, and training them for future usefulness. At Kowetah, preaching is also regularly held. This is the oldest mission station in the nation. The missionary has labored here, many years, and much good has been effected. A boarding school was kept up here many years, and God has blessed the labor of his servants in this de.. partment. Six who were once pupils in this school have gone to different parts of the Nation to teach school under the patronage of Govern'. went; another has just now been licensed to -preach the Gospel, and still another who has been preaching two years as a licensed 'preacher, is now an ordained minister of the Gospel, and is appointed by this Presbytery, to take charge of the church where he was once a pupil in the school. A day school is doing well here, taught by one of the old pupils. The Kowetah church now numbers thirty-nine members. Two Indian men united with thii during the past year, on profession of their faith. Some that have been gathered from the heathen here, as well as some of the missionaries who labored for them, have ceased from their labors, and gone, we believe, to their reward in heaven. Their-bodies sleep in jeans, near the Mission, waiting-the-resurrection morn, when the trump:of God shall call the dead to life, and then they will become immortal, glorified bodies. - Oak Ridge church, Seminole Nation, haslifty seven members. Six united' with the church this year. ' Two of the members -died. One was a young woman, one of the first pupils of the school. She made considerable progress in study, soon learned much of the English language, and was used by her friendsas an interpreter. She united in marriage with a young man, a. member of the church, and helped him much in learning to read in the Creek language. We hoped that she would be long spared to her friends, her husband, and the Church; but the Lord haft seen fit to take her froth us in early life. Our losti is her gain: She >- loved to sing God's praises on earth; now she can unite 'with the redeemed in glory, in singing the-wonders of redeeming love. 4. The other was. an.. old TEM, whose -heart the Idord.atirred: up to attend:to: the , salvition of hi's soul. His reformation was no hurried matter, but a gradual, thorough change, manifesting itself in many ways—in. the improvement of his home, hie dress, but most of all in his attendance at the house of God. tt He always came clean and neat, was very attentive to the instruotionn from God's Word, and seemed.willing to give up every thing that stood in the ,way of serving God. While living in .his heathen .state, he had two wives. But as soon as he became convinced that he ought not to live so, he gave up the one he had taken last. She afteriards was converted, and united with the church Soon after, he. and his ' wife east in their lot . with'God's people. To the last, he was .a serious, humble, consistent Chris tian. Just before he died, he said his only hope was in Jesus. Hie death was , sudden and unex pected ; but he seemed ready." All looked upon him as a good man, and felt that be was gone to be 4 foreverwith the Lord. Many tears were shed at his grave. The Temperance cause is still attended to, particularly-:at Tallahassee and' Sowetah. We hope it will spread its blessed' influence over the bounds, of the Presbytery, till all these tribes become sober and:godly. The Creek hymn r book has been revised and en larged, and is now in 'press. The translation of the Scriptures is atillin progress, sod we hope the time will soon wide. when all of God's Wort wily be given to thin people. JOHN LILLIT, H. M. LOUGHWIDON, Committee. W. S. ROBERTBOII6 for the Preehitestan Benner and Advocate. .Interesting Exercises. During the sittings of the Presbytery of the Creek Nation, at the Seminole Mission, on the 6th of September, two young Creek Indians, were set apart to the work of the ministry, both of whom were former pupils of the Presbyterian Ramis, and for several years acted as interpreters in preach ing. Mr. David s Winslett was ordained as an Evangelist, and Mr. Joseph Perryman was licensed to preaoh the Gospel. Mr. Wineilett was licensed about two years ago, by the Presbytery, to preach the Govel. Proving himself worthy of the sacred office, Presbytery determined to set him •apart to the full work of the ministry. Accordingly the 6th inst., was fixed upon as the time for this interesting exercise. Rev. R M. Loughridge preached the ser mon, from Jeremiah vin 16—" Ask for the old paths, where is the good way; and walk therein, and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Rev. I. It Runny presided, pro pounded the constitutional questions and of fered the ordaining • prayer, during "the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery." And Rev. John Lilley gave the charge to the newly "ordained minister. Immediately after the ordination of Mr. Winslett, Presbytery proceeded to the Been sure of Mr. Perryman, he having taken all the preparatory steps in the study of Theo logy, Church History, &o , required by Pres bytery. The Moderator ,propoonded the constitutional Auestions, and in. the ;name of the Presbytery gave the candidate his charge and license to.preach the Gospel. . Both of these, young men are of sprightly talents, pretty good education / and bid fair to do much good among their people. LOUGERIDGE, Stated Clerk. Tallahassee Mission, Creek. ITation,l September 28th, 1859. 5 74ir tie Presbyterian Banner, aad Advocate. - Letters OF THE . REV / .10EN EDICTS,' A. PRESET - TR. RUN MINISTER; TO HIS' BROTHER, THE DER . TIPPER ;€4DIITHJ 'A - METHODIST PREACHER... . , LETTER "S , DRAB. BROTHER . ZOIIIThea4i O O. of character in the Bible,,like. every thing else found there; is 'perfect. Only men of ge nius, or, inspired men, could have drawn those master-pieces: antiquity:had but one. Hemel, and. modern Christendom has not furnished :three writers able to sketch such fife-like characters as we have it the Scriptures. Memoirs by the ,dozen.are.an itually thrown before the .public, but, which of them delineate With perfect truth and impartiality, real men and real womenT Look at " Spragile's Annals of "the Ameri can • Pulpit,' , awork of merit; • the labor of more than one cultivated mind, the labor of years. Compare . ,now -with these the hie graphigal sketches of the Bible. Here ; the subjects did not sit for their likeness, prim, and stiff, and starched,, combed and dressed up" for the occalion they were taken just 'as they appeared in every day life. The deformities as well as the excellences, what was good and what was had,. the - etriking faults and the striking virtues, are all before us. -We 'blush to hear. Abraham ; we areshocied tone Noah drunk;-we stand confounded at, the .fiagrant adultery of .Da vid; Peter's fall, and the coward* of James and jcihn, take us by and we won der at ,Paul and Barnabae getting into a - Tierra ` Unlike modern character mongers, the Bible presents Ms with one, and but' one perfect portraie,-.and that portraitlia perfeet only, because `the Great Original. Was abso lutely perfect. Equally clear and correct ,the picture of human nature in general. The outlines are bold and distinct