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DAVID McKINNEY,
JAMES ALLISON, PROPILUTOM.
STEPHEN LITTLE,
PITTSBURGH, DECEMBER 31, 1859
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or small notes.
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to DAVID noILIIINNY 00.. Plitosburigke
LETTERS.—Our friends will pima direct
their Business Letters to DAVID M'KINNEY
dr, Co., and those which belong to our Edito
rial department, to the Editors.
Fivn thousand dollars have been sub
scribed by Mr. A. U Mo.T.lwaine, of Peters
burg; Va., toward an increased endowlnen ,
of Hampden Sydney College.
RENEWALS.—Let these be prompt and
fall. This paper completes the term of
many subscriptions. An engagement for
another year is earnestly solicited.
OPEN AGAIN.—The Third Presbyterian
church, Pittsburgh, (New School,) which
bad long been closed for repairs, is again
open. It has been beautifully repaired and
greatly improved. It was occupied last
Sabbath. We congratulate our brethren.
THE IRISH DELEGATION.—The dele
gates, Dr. Edgar and others, who visited
this country to seek aid in conducting Pres
byterian Missions in Ireland, received about
$30,000. They have sailed again for their
native land.
MELANCHOLY DEATH.—Rev. Mr. South
ard an Episcopal clergyman, eon of Hon S. L.
..Southard, of New Jersey, died in St. Louis,
last week, by the use of chloroform. He
. used it in the night, for neuralgia ; but
having taken it too largely, he was found in
his room in the morning, dead.
INCREASE THE Lurrs.—We are not able
'to offer premiums. We make no gains off
our subscribers, a part of which may be
given away to buy more. But those who aid
us, will, we are confident, do a great good.
Let this be the inducement. We appeal to
man's noblest principle.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
—This excellent Society, at a late meeting,
elected officers aft follows : W. H. Kincaid,
President; J. R. Reed and W. R Schmertz,
Vice Presidents; Andrew Long, Secretary;
H. A. Lavely, Corresponding Secretary; 0.
0. Phillips, Treasurer; and H. W. Strick
ler, Librarian.
THE ST. LOUIS ,PRESBYTERIAN has
changed Editors and Proprietors. Rev. J.
A. Paige has yielded his chair to Rev. J. H.
Vaneourt ; and Messrs. Keith & Woods
give up the publishing, to Messrs E. Abbott
..& Co. . The gentlemen who retire, showed
themselves well worthy of their position.
The intrants have our cordial welcome.
THE SOUTH•WEBTERN ADVISORY COM
MITTEE on Missions, has not obtained the
adhesion of all the Synods contemplated.
Those of Memphis and Arkansas declined
the connexion, and the Domestic Board has
so arranged matters, that Presbyteries in
them may choose whither they will send
their contributions, and whence they will
obtain missionary appointments.
UPPED. TEN MILE.—The plea of this
congregation for aid, in rebuilding their
church, is very strong. When a church is
burned, one of the first thoughts should be
its restoration, and brethren should most
cheerfully and extensively lend a helping
hand. The church which was burned,
was built, we understand, without any
foreign aid. This proves them to be a
willing people, and really deserving the
liberality of Christians now.
ItevivaJA.
WEST GREENWOOD, PA.—The , pastor of
this church, Rev. George Scott, writes to
us:
It gives me great pleasure to let you,
and all the dear brethren, and all who love
the Lord 'Jesus, know what the Lord has
done, and is doing for hie Church, and for
Erie Presbytery, and for his little Greenfield
church. It is with emotions of gratitude
and praise, to our common Lord and
Saviour, that I would record his love to us
as a people. " Truly, God is good to Israel,
even to each as are of a clean heart." God
has been pleased, in his infinite love and
wisdom, to visit this portion of his moral
heritage, and bless the little church of
Greenfield. We have just pawed through
a series of very interesting and solemn
meetings, which have been both profitable
to ourselves, and a blessing to the Church
of God. Daring these meetings, twenty.
one precious souls have been added to our
number, and as we trust, to the " Church of
the-first born, whose names are written in
heaven." Some others profess to have ob
tained a hope, but prefer uniting with an
other branch of Christ's. Church; while
others are seriously impressed with the im
portance of seeking an interest in Christ.
Brethren pray for us.
'ln this revival our Sabbath &Shoal has
been signally blessed, More than the one
half of this number were the dear youth of
our Sabbath School. Brethren, encourage
Sabbath Schools.
In these meetings we enjoyed the succes
sive labors of Brother Findley, of Mercer,
Shields, and Howey; to whom our thanks
aye due for their arduous and self•denying
labors in our behalf. But especially our
thanks are due to the great Head and
Bishop of the Church.
MT. BETHEL, TENN.—At a protracted
meeting in this place, fortylve persons pro
fessed to have obtained a hope in Christ.
Of these, twenty four united with the
Bethel church, and others intend to join
them. A few have connected themselves
with the Cumberland Presbyterians.
FULTON, MO.—Daring the last two
months, as Wa see it stated, fifty.one persons
united with the Presbyterian church, and
sixty• four with other churches.
UPPER TIISCARORA.—Noticte next week.
The Mature and Province of the Church
One of the leading questions now before
the Presbyterian people of these United
States is, What is the true Nature and
Province of the Church of God The ques
tion is important. It is well worthy of much
investigation. But still it is one to which
we do not expect to obtain a very definite
answer. A briefand comprehensive answer
must necessarily, be either very defective,
or very indefinite; and must, if made the
principle from:which men shall infer duties
and urge restrictions, be exceedingly inju
rious.
God has given ns no definition of the
Murcia,. What it is, its nature, powers,
and province, we are to gather from the
whole of the New Testament—the many
doctrinal teaohings, desoriptions of charac
ter, experiences, promises, commandments,
and reoords of the transactions of God's min
isters and people, when divinely enjoined or
spiritually guided. Haman terminology
does not afford ua any one word, nor any
half dozen words, sufficiently comprehensive
to embraoe the whole idea, and at the
same time so definite as to embrace nothing
more.
It has long been customary to speak of
the Church as a spiritual body, whose
power is spiritual, and whose province is to
preach the Gospel and guide men to heaven.
Speaking in ' a general way, this is
correct. It embraces the grand feature and
main province of the Church, with room also
to fill up—room for secondary and auxiliary
action in things which concern man's fleshly
nature, and his intellect, and which belong
to his well being in time—things which
ameliorate his condition, and increase his
comforts, and speed him onward, while
prosecuting his journey to his heavenly
home.
This general proposition; however, leaves
too much space for freedom of thought,
speech, and action, to suit every taste and
purpose. Hence, an effort is being made to
qualify the terms, so as immensely to cur
tail the prerogatives hitherto regarded as
belonging to the Church, and to authorize
inferences exceedingly restrictive. The
Church is now said to be "exclusively a
spiritual body," and to possess 4 g none but
spiritual power." Our Southern brethren
are forward in this movement, and they
seem very cordially to yield the leadership
to Dr. Thornwell. This gentleman was so
prominent, and so ultra in this matter, in
the last General Assembly, that some have
spoken of his dogma as new, and have given
it his name—the Thornwell theory.
In the Southern Presbyterian Review,
for October, 1859, a work which comes out
under the Doctor's own eye, Dr. Palmer,
in noticing the proceedings of the Assem
bly, gives much prominence to this new
theory, and advocates it strongly. He
represents Dr. Thornwell as saying :
The Church of God is exclusively a spiritual
organization, and possesses none but spiritual
power. It was her mission to promote the glory
of God and the salvation of men from the curse
of the law. She had nothing to do with the vol
untary associations of men for various civil and
social purposes, that were outside of her pale.
Ever since be had been a member of the Church
he had believed this, and contended for this, and
had steadily resisted associating this Church with
outside organizations. The Lord Jesus Christ
had never given - his Church a commission'to be
identified with them. • It was the Church's great
aim to deliver men from sin, and death, and hell.
She had no mission to care for the things, and to
become entangled with the kingdoms and the
policy of•this world. The question of coloniza
tion is a question of worldly policy. It is a ques
tion upon the merits of which he wished not to
speak. But no man will say that Jesus Christ has
given to his ministry a commission to attend to the
colonization of races, or• to attend to the arrest of
the slave trade; or to the mere physical comforts
of man. It is not the business of the Church to
build asylums for the insane and the blind. The
Church deals with men, as men, as fallen sinners
standing in need of salvation; not as citizens of
the commonwealth, or philanthropists, or mem
bers of society. Her mission is to bring men to
the Cross, to reconcile them to God through the
blood of the Lamb, to imbuelthem with the spirit
of the Divine Master, and thence send them forth
to perform their social duties, to manage society,
and to perform the functions that pertain to their
social and civil relations. The Church has no
right—no authority to leapie hereelf with any
of the institutions of the State, or such -as have
for their object mere secular enterprises. *
* * * * At this very General Assem
bly we have declined identifying ourselves even
with the American Presbyterian Historical
Society. We had voted it out; we had voted out
the Temperance Societies, and he would have the
Assembly vote out all the Societies of this world,
and keep to her proper sphere, and let the Socie
ties keep to theirs, and do good imPtheir own way ;
without asking the Chnrch'S co-operation. It is
this principle that be deemed absolutely indis
pensable to the Church's purity and success in
her peculiar mission.—Pp. 598, 594,
Rev. Dr. Thornwell said all he wished to do
was to set his opinions in a true light. He
thought it would hardly be denied that—let. The
Church is a kingdom not of this world. 2d. That
her authority is only ministerial and declarative.
Bd. That the power which is given to the Church
is to be exercised for spiritual ends only. * * -
Let the Church work on at the very foundation s
of moral and spiritual influences, which are the
foundations of society ; let her do her appropri
ate and appointed work, and she will sanctify the
world. But let her go out of her sphere, and
affect interference with the temporalities of men,
and she will fail. Whenever she forgets that her
mission is to bring men to the Cross, and to sal
vation, she comes down from her vantage ground.
Whenever the Church speaks at all, she must
speak in the name of the Lord ; and she must
speak what the Lord bide her. Show Fie, said
he, that the Lord Jesits Christ has commanded
the Church to engage in the business of transfer
ring men from one place 'to another, and I will
yield and unite in the effort. But until you con
vince me that this is the business that the Head
of the Church has committed ' to her, I must ear.
neatly resist any proposal to identify her with
such business.—Pp 696, 697.
Here, as in moat of what Dr. Palmer
himself says on the subject, there, are very
erroneous implications. We do not say that
they are made designedly, but they appear
very strange as coming from gentlemen who
claim a high degree of accuracy in the use
of language, and of fairnees, precision, and
conclusiveness, in their statements and rea
soning. There Was, surely, no proposition
to identii* the Church with outside organi
sations, nor to associate her with them. It
was not asked that she should attend to the
colonization of races; nor league -hersey
with any of the institutions of the Stare;
nor to engage in any mere secular enter•
prise ; nor to interfere with civil govern
ment, nor to , conduct mere temporalities;
For to engage in the business of transferring
men from one place to another.
The request was merely that, the Assem
bly recommend the Colonization Society
to the benevolent consideration of the
churohes, as being promotive of the interests
of humanity and religion. The Christian
'friends of Colonization, as is well known,
regard the enterprise as being "not merely
secular. They know that it is vastly bene
ficial for this world. It elevates a long de
graded portion of the human family. It is
planting a nation . of freemen, furnished with
the best civil institutions. It has sup
pressed the slave trade on some five hundred
miles of the coast of Africa. These 'things
alone would-Make it worthy the `Christ an's
love and admiration. But the - colony has a
still additional worth—a religious, s spiritual
C* a.Ar NNER AND ADVOCATE.
worth. It is a community of Christians,
with schools and churches. lt is : a seat of
religious inftaencs. Saving' truth', is there
published, and the herilds of 'truth are
thence going forth. It,is truly a light in a
dark place. It is both a missionary field,
and a missionary centre. Gospel beams
there shine and ,thende issue, tending and
helping to illumine the darkest portion of
the globe. The enterprise was originated
by religions men, to spread the blessings of
the Gospel and by 'religions:men; miinly,
it has been carried on, with the same high
and holy purpose. And it is accomplishing
the intended end. It is then no merely
secular institution. It was religious in its
design and inception. It is Christian in its
tendencies and results. And to help it on
we cannot but regard as a duty incumbent
for various reasons, upon God's people—his
Church—in this land.
Dr. Palmer quotes the Assembly's answer
to a request for a collection; by the Presbyte
rian Historical Society, as an evidence that
the "Church is gradually feeling her way
to a clear conviction of the purely spiritual
nature of her functions." This answer
was reported to the House, by the Com
mittee of Bills and Overtures, of which Dr.
Thornwell was a prominent member. It
is somewhat of a novelty and an , oddity, and
deserves notice. It is admirably adapted to
an end, or rather to two ends; first to pass
the Assembly without awaking suspicion;
and next to be used for au ulterior purpose.
It runs thus, the italics being ours :
"The Church of Jesus Christ as a spit%
*nal' body, commissioned only, to execute
the revealed will of God, can entertain no
direct relation to any voluntary associations,
however praiseworthy in their aims, , formed
for the purpose of promoting the interests
of art, literature, or secular morality."
The implications here are, that there are
things which, as a spiritual body, the
Church tmay not do, but which she may do
as a body of Christian men still resident on
earth; that she, is bound only by the will of
God revealed, which she may learn in the
Bible, or by the teachings of nature, or by
providenoes ; that while she may entertain
no direct relation to voluntary Societies, she
may yet either commend their object or is
sue her warnings ; and that it is only-those
voluntary associations, whose purpose it is to
promote art, literattire, and secular moral
ity, with which she may have no direct re
lation ; leaving her free to entertain such a
relation with any that are formed to .promote
religion. The paper is hence susceptible of
an interpretation sufficiently comprehensive
to suit the most liberal minded of Christian
men. Such tang its character, and . the
Assembly being 'full of Waimea, and there
being an antipathy to the enjoining of an.
other " collection " upon the churches, it is
no wonder that it passed nemine contradi•
cents.
The Reviewer, having quoted this action
of the Assembly, thus ingeniously worded,
remarks with emphasis : Why this senti
ment should pass - through the Assembly,
nem con.iiind be challenged so soon as it
was applied to the African Colonization So
ciety, the reader may exercise his wits in
divining." That - the paper, with the real
.aentiment " which it really expresses; and
in the circumstances mentioned, should pun,
requires not much " divining." That men:
timent, expansive and 'comprehensive, gives
to the Church, as a body of Christian men,
under Christ the Head, a large liberty. It
admits a field of action, broad as the wants
of humanity, and extensive as the exigen
cies of the Master's kingdom administered
on earth. It embraces the end aimed at,
and, under heavenly directions and restria
tions,.every thing subservient to the 'end.
But the sentiment which Drs. Thornwell
and Palmer endeavor to apply when the
Colonization of the African comes up, is
vaatly. different. It is then made restric
tive in the extreme. The Church is, then,
exclusively a spiritual organization,-and pon•
senses none but spiritual power, and, of
course, can touch'none but spiritual things.
The state of mind, the interests and associ-
ations which begat this new theory, and
which proMpt some men to swallow it greed
ily, we would wish not to be forced to
"exercise. our wits in divining." Impeach
mute of motives but seldom tend to edifica-
tion, unity, or love.
If we would learn the true nature of the
Church, we may find aid in the definition
given in our Standards :
11. The universal Church consists of all those
persons, in every nation, together with their
children, who' make profession of the holy re
ligion of Christ, and of submission to his laws.
111. As this immense multitude cannot meet
together, in one place, to hold communion, or to
worship God, it is reasonable, and warranted by
Scripture example, that they should be divided
into many partic ular churches—Po. Goy. 11.,
See. 12.
The full idea is, however, to be drawn
from the Scriptures by much and careful
study; and when obtained, it cannot be ad
equately expressed by any one word, or de
fined by one appellative. The Church is a
body;" but every body is not a church.
The Church. is a "spiritual " body, but
still, every , spiritual body is not the Church.
The word " sOritual" is used by men with
great latitude and -variety of signification.
To declare the true nature' of the Church,
we may use this word, as a part, but we
Must conjoin with it, many others. We are
satisfied, -for the present at least, with the
teachings of our Standards.
And as to the Province of the Church, we
may not infer this from our definition of her
iiiture. We may not assume that she
is exclusively spiritual, and then infer that
she can attend only to spiritual things.
She is composed of men in the body, and
she deals with men in the body—men, all
of them, yet in flesh and blood—men
having many wants, having children with,
wants, and neighbors with wants. All
these wants are to be oared for, while in
the body. Christians are connected relig
iously—spiritually, if any one pleases so
.to speak—with their fellow-men, in all
humane, social, and civil relations; all of
which infer duties. If, then, we would
know what the province of the Church is,
,we must search the Scriptures and see what
.God requires of his people in their relations
to him, in their relations to each other, and
in their condition on earth; and what his
people have done, in varying circumstances,
with his approbation.
According to this rule, we find that Chris
tians—that is, the people of God, or the
Church—are, by their teachers and rulers,
inithorizsd and required to preach the
Gospel to every ireature. The Church de
clares
,what doctrines God has revealed to
faith, and what duties be requires. She
also' exercises discipline.: We also find that
she has nothing to do, as a body, or through
her officers, with the forms or the actual ad
ministration of civil government. And in
enforcing discipline, we learn that she may
only reprove, rebuke, or separate the offender
from her communion. She may exact no
pecuniary fine, and inflict no bodily punish
ment.
The Province of the Church, then, even
after deducting the. very important restric
dons just noted, is still very extensive. It
embraces the inculcation, upon all her
members, children as well as adults, and
upon all the world, the whole of God's doe
trinal and preceptive teachings; and the
watch and care of all who belong to her
communion, causing them to learn and obey ;
and the separation and casting out from her
of all who depart from the faith, or who
become wicked persons. This comprehends
a great many things "secular," as well as
heavenly; things — which belong to man's
well-being while in the body, as , well as
things which belong to his joy when he shall
be a disembodied spirit.
To be confirmed in this view of the
province of the Church, just look at the ten
commandments. Most of them have refer-'
ence to things secular—to earthly relations,
to things to be - done or avoided in this
world, things visible and tangible. Look
over them attentively—use no images in
worship, do' o *ink on the Sabbath, honor
thy father and mother, do not kill, do not
commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear
false witness, do not covet thy neighbor's
goods. All these things are to be taught by
the Church, to airmen; and are to be en
forced upon her members, under the penal.
ties of discipline. The Church does deal;
she must deal with secular things. The
moral law enjoins and regulates secular
things.
Examine the Mosaic economy, and note
the duties, powers, and prerogatives of the
priests, the ministers of God in holy things,
and learn how extensively those holy things
were things secular—things belonging - to
human relations in this world.
Look also at the Author and Finisher of
.
our faith, how very,much he was engaged
in attending to the wants , of man, in the
body—healing the ajar, giving sight to the
blind, relieving the demoniaes; and how
much of his instructions were upon nodal
duties and human relations ; . .and how very
extensively his works were deeds of hu
manity. Secular things, the interests of
humanity, occupied: much of his attention.
They entered largely into his works and
teachings.
And mark the principles on which the
final judgment shall proceed. The award
will be, according to / the things done in the
body, things good and 'things bad. Inas
much as ye did It to one of the least of
these; or, inasmuch , as ye did , it not.
Surely, all these things are instructive as
to the Province of the Church. She is to
teach men, and prepare them for immortali
ty, and, their immortal destiny is to be
determined by the things done in the body,
very much by the things belonging to the
!loaal relations, and specially by the things
which promote .human well-being. The
Church must see to these.
And now, after &sending, in contempla
tion, to the judgment seat to learn wisdom,
it is well to come back to earth to prepare
fully , for the ' real solemnity. The apostle
Paul, as a minister of ' Christ and an officer
in the Church, taught de duties of magis
trates and people. He stated the princi
ples of civil goveriment, and gave precepts
to guide political action. He also laid down
the laws of servitude, giving injunctions to
masters, and precept. to servant.. Bach :
party has rights, and each is under obliga
tions. These the Church may and should
inculcate upon all men. These the Chun*
OUGHT to maintain in her communion, and
will, if she is faithful, enforce by discipline
on her membership, on both sides, impar
tially, kindly, and firmly. And this, wheth
er those servants be bond-men or hired men,
and whatever be the origin of the master's
rights. God is no respecter of persons.
He has placed men in varied relations; and
made them different in capacities and con
ditions; but to each he has given a rational
soul, and all souls are his. He cares for
all; and his Church . should seek, for all
human beings, present enjoyment an well as
eternal salvation.
Oar idea of the Province of the Church
then is, that sheiis to ameliorate man's con
dition during his life on earth, and teach
him the way and help him onward to the
life above. In order to this, she is to in
struct, rebuke, command, and- warn. And
in all these things she is to note the whole of
human conclucti TN TEAT ASPECT IN WHICH
IT IS TO COME BEFORE THE JUDGMENT
SEAT OE CRUST.
The Last Day of the Year.
We issue this paper near the closing hours
of 1859. (od has so disposed of things
earthly, as to give us days and years. Not
only may we mark the progress of time by
changes, which are unerring in their raga
larjty, but these changes are so ordered that
we are compelled to note them. Bummer
solid Winter cannot come and go unobserved.
By these, God admonishes of the greatest of
all duties—that of preparing for life's end.
It is appointed unto men once to die, and
after that is the judgment. Every change
of season tells us that these important events
are drawing nearer, and hence, urges upon
us the necessity of hasting,our preparation
to its perfectness.
In the world's social , history, the year
1859, has placed on reoord some events of
vast influence. We recur, briefly, to three
of them.
I. The Italian War, waged by France
and Sardinia, on the one side, and Austria
on the other. This was one of the briefest,
mightiest, and bloodiest conflicts of modern
times. In a few weeks of effort, nearly
one =hundred thousand men were slain in
battle. Double that number were wounded.
Teri many died of fatigue and disease, as
conneered with the strife. The war was,
waged in the sacred name of Liberty, on the
one hand, and of sacred rights on •the other.
Bat was not the whole contest, anti• es
ered ? And what has been gained ? Alas I
we see nothing yet which the freeman or the
Ohristian can calla gain.
• 2. The Irish 'Revival le an event worthy
of - special notice. In this, we have power
of a different hind, brought into activity.
The Italian war may result in good; but it
will be a bringing of good out of evil. In the
revival, on the contrary, all: is good. No
cause for sorrow is mingled therewith.
Good is done to the bodies of men, and the
souls of men;;good temporally, and good
eternally. Ireland is not yet regenerated;
but we trust, the renewing work has coin•
menoed—a work of God, which neither the
Pope nor Satan can suppress.
3. The Raid of John Brown and his
murderous band in Virginia, is an event of
less importance, as to the number of
persons engaged, or as to the measure of suc
cess. The fanatical band have already near
ly all paid the penalty in their own blood.
The attempt to raise a, servile rebellion,
which, when extensive, is one of the most
horrible things, in cruelty and slaughter,
with, which a land is cursed, was completely
unsuccessful. And yet this raid of a few
fanatics, unsuccessful as it was, and speedily
as the • mad assailants were either slain or
brought to the halter, seems destined to die.
turb a whole country, and may lead to con
sequences the most awful. The National.
Councils are fiercely agitated thereby, and a
third part of the country is so incited ante
threaten rebellion.
Still, though things look threatening, our
country enjoys peace. The Church has peace.
Church and country are greatly prosper
ous. Blessings abound, both spiritual and
temporal. Let then the people, while they
deprecate the . Rivinet wrath, all praise the
'Lord.
The closing of the year is , a time of reck
oning. Good stewards fear it not. Wise
men attend to the duty sedulously. How
stand affairs ? What changes mot be
made ? What reforms are needed ? Let
ns be wise. How do we stand with God ?
What is our indebtedness ? How would a
settlement result ? Can we, by having mu
braced the covenant of promise, 'plead an
entire cancelling of accounts—a full and
free forgiveness ? Let us then give thanks,
and, with the new year, devote ourselves
with new energies, to a new life.
Obituaries.
We, this week, devote considerable space
to obituaries, and have published all that
came to hand in time to be put in type.
According to the purpose expressed some
weeks ago, the rule hereafter will be An
nouncement gratis, and for all remarks ad
ditional, five cents a line. These insertions
will be under the common system of pre
payment; and• persons desirous of having
them made, can easily arrange the mat
ter, by noticing that nine words are estimated
a line. The Presbyter, as well as the Pres
byterian, has adopted this role. - The
Herald, of Louisville, has, we believe, some
thing similar. It is reasonable.
EASTERN SUMMARY.
Boston and New England.
A Good Dead of Alarm exists in Boston just
now, concerning the rapidity with which that ter
rible disease, Small Pox, is spreading in some
parts of the city. The oases are very numerous,
and quite a large number of them have already
proved fatal •
The Seventh Annual Report of , the Public Li
brary of Boston, shows this institution to be in a
most flourishing condition. The number of
names now on its register, amounts to 18,329.
During the last ten months, the circulation of
bookshaebeen 149,468. With this immense circu
lation, only 130 volumes are missing. The Libra
ry now contains 78,043 books, 'and 19,255 pam
phlets. During the year, 3,405 books, and 1,137
pamphlets were presented, and 8,787 books
bought. Among the . donations, are no less than
500 volumes on the history and art of music, that
were collected abroad, with no little care, by Mr.
A. W. Thayer. In this collection, are some rare
works of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
And no less than 847 Chinese books have been
presented:
In the December number of the Atlantic Month.
the Professor at the Breakfast Table;gave ut
terance to the following shallow and conceited
opinion :
•" The Narrow Church may be seen at the ship ' s
boat of humanity, in the long boat, in the jolly
boat, in the captain's gig, lying off the poor old
vessel, thanking God that they are safe,-and reck
oning how soon the hulk containing the mass of
their fellow creatures will go down. The Broad
Church is on board, working hard at the pumps,
and very slow to believe that the ship will be
swallowed - up with so many poor people in it,
fastened down under the batches ever since it
floated."
To this, a Boston journal gives this neat and
telling reply, worthy the consideration of the
readers of Dr. Holmes' labored witticisms, from
which the vivacity has long ago been exhausted:
"Of course, readers are expected to 'tinder.,
stand that this narrow Church—lying safely apart,
and busied, partly in congratulating itself that it
is out of danger, and partly in wondering bow
soon the rest are going to the bottom—without an
effort to save a man of them, is the great ortho
dox' body, while those benevolent Broad' fel
lows, who are pimping so hard onboard, are the
Liberal' Christians. Now, comparisons are
very fine • things, as we once heard a boy say,
• when they compare ;' and perhaps, the Profes,
sor can tell us how many'more missionaries the
Liberal' Christians are now sustaining, at home
and abroad, than their narrow' brethren, and
how much more real bard work, inigeneral, they
are doing to pump , out the old hulk, and save , it,
than their bigoted contemporaries. We should
like a careful statement of the'majority in , their
favor."
The sermon for this year in behalf of the
Citiddrea's Friend Society was preached by the Rev.
Dr. Kirk, at Park Street church, from Luke 1 :
66— ,, What manner , of child should this be ?"
The discourse was on the importance of extend
ing a proper protection and education to friend
less and poor children. There was also an inci
dental allusion to the benefits resulting from a
dissemination of sanitary science.
An Eceleciasiical Council has recommended the
dissolution of the putoral relation existing be
tvreen the Bev. E. H. Nevin, D.D, and the Ply
mouth Congregational church, of Chelsea. The
Council recommends Dr. Nevin as an able and
zealous preacher of the Gospel.
It is highly gratifying to know that the Aasem
bly'a Shortei Calechim, however studiously and
offensively disparaged in some quarters, is still
used as a text book in Williams' College. In the
latter part of the last century it was so used in
Yale, from which place the custom was transfer
red to Williams. The regular exercise of the
Senior Class for every Saturday forenoon, is the
Catechism. And the President, Dr. Hopkins, in
a sermon lately delivered at the dedication of the
new College chapel, said that no other recitation
in which he took part, was attended with equal
interest by the students: In this connexion it
may not be out of the way to inquire --In how
ninny of the Theological Seminaries of our
Church, is the Confession of Faith made a text
book, or even studied at all ? And if it has been
heretofore neglected in any such institutions, is it
not high time for the Standards of our Chnrchto
cease to receive such treatment 1
Considerable Excitement has been created in
several parts of the diocese of Massachusetts,
from the fact that Bishop Eastburn has forbidden
the Rev. A. D. Spatter, rector at Wilkinsonville, to
preach in the Episcopal church, on account of bay
ing exchanged pulpits with several Congregational
clergymen. This conduct of Mr. Spatter was by
permission and request of his parishioners, who,
hot April, passed a resolution authorising him
" to exchange with all evangelical clergymen at
his pleasure." Therefore, the conduct of the
bishop is severely condemned: by the people of
Mr. Spatter'e &large, and by a pert of the pubit'et
press. But we confess that we can see no gisat
reason for all , this outcry. Mr. Spatter mid his
people are Episcopalians, and as such they have
vowed to be subject to Episcopal usage; and
they well knew that acooidifig to - the ` rules of.
the Episcopal Church they bad no right to intro
duce to their pulpit any preacher not reoognized
as such by the constitution and canons -of
that Church. It is a well-known , fact ,that
none except those Episcopally ordained," - are '
recognised as ministers by that Church. There
fore, if Mr. Spatter and his people considered
the law onerous and unrighteous, they should
have left the Episcopal Church and united with
some other denomination, where greater liberty
may be . enjoyed. Nor do we see how the bishop,
if faithful to his ordination vows, could have
suited differently. The rule against which the
offence has been committed is an outrageous one,
and should be repealed, but as long as people re
main in a Church, let them be subject to its regu
lations, and when they can do so no longer, let
them unite with some other branch of the house
hold of faith.
One of the Finest Homesteads at Norwich,
Conn., bears upon it the reproachful stain of
having been the birth place and the , home, in
early youth, of the traitor Benedict Arnold.
Until within a few years, might have been seen
themery house in which he first saw the light.
And the well that supplied the Arnold family
with water, is still in use.
A remarkable instance of Longevity, and at
the same time, of ministerial efficiency, is found
in the case of the Rev. David Smith, of Durham,
Conn. Re is - now in the 98d year of
,his age,
and last Thanksgiving day he preached the ser.
mon prepared for the occasion at Fairhaven, from
a closely written manuscript.
New York.
The Frage in Read _Estate is becoming enor
mous; and generally every thing in this line is
now sold at public auction, where startling prices
are often given. The lands in the vicinity of the
Central Park, are the property most In demand
at tbe.present time;.and not a few of the opera
tors are realizing large fortunes; but somebody's
finger's will be burnt one of these days. When.
ever the extreme limit will have been reached,
the revulsion begins, and then suspensions and
failures will be inevitable.
The annual Importations of Dry Goods at this
port, are estimated at $180.000,000. The sales
in dry goods of A. T. Stewart & Co., for the year,
have been $7,000,000, giving a profit of no less
than $BOO,OOO.
The Discussions a Con s reaa have been most
successful advertisements for the work of Mr.
Helper. Heretofore the book had rather a
limited circulation; but since it was introduced
to the notice of Congress, at the beginning of the
present month, no less than sixty thousand copies
have been sold. The puhlisher, Mr. Burdick,
has eight presses running constantly, in order to
supply the demand, and just now he is about the
Widest man in New York.
The great event of last week was the Union
Misting at the Academy of Nude, at which from
eight thousand to ten thousand persons were
present. Mayor Tiernan presided, and made the
opening address, and a vast number of the " solid
men" and leading merchants were in attend
ance. The preamble and resolutions were read
by Mr. James Brooks, of the-Express, who spoke
briefly, defending the rectitude and purity _of
Northern sentiment, and exalting the value of the
Union. He was folloired by Mr. °Toner, who
eulogized the institution of slavery. After him' t
came Ex Governor Hunt, in a calm, forcible, and
conservative argument; and • Hon. John A. Dix,
who delivered a panegyric on the 'Union. Speeches
were also made by James Thayer, Prof. Mitchell,
and Dr. Bethune. It is generally admitted that
Dr. Bethnne's was the speeeh of the evening.
No other had so many telling points; no other
elicited such rounds of applause. Outside of the
Academy, addresses were made by several speak
ere. The resolutions passed were • strongly in
favor of supporting and defending the rights of
both the North and the South, and deprecated
most strongly all sectionalis m. The meeting. was
an immense one, and may do something toward
assuring people in the South that the North
standi firmly by its plighted faith. But as we
said before, we do not see any adequate cause
for such• demonstrations. No one in the North, a
dozen or so of crazy fanatics excepted, has any
design`of invading the South, or injuring it in any
The Republican National Committee met at the
Astor House last week, and selected Chicago as
the place, and the 18th of June as the time, for
holding the next National Republican Convention.
The Democratic National Committee has fixed on
the. 28d of April as the day for holding the Na
tional Democratic Convention at Charleston. The
resulta of these Conventions will be looked for
with great interest, and the tranquility of the
country for years to come depends greatly on the
wisdom and patriotism of these bodies, repre:
seating the two great parties of the American
people.
An attempt Secenion from the Medical &hook
of New York, on the part of the Southern stu
dents, was made; but better counsels prevailed,
and but feir, if any, are known to have left.
The loss by fire at the American Tract Society,
is much larger than was supposed at first; nor
will the insurance cover the loss. Nevertheless,
the American Messenger, and Child's Paper, will
be issued as before, and there will be but little
interruption- in , the general business of the
Society.
The City Traci Missionary Society has just held
its anniversary. The receipts for the year have
peen $17,378.15. This iipoiety has now thirty
missionaries, including one to seamen, one to
Jews, one to French residents, two to German
residents, and two to emigrants; the ethers are
ward missionaries and assistants. But thisie not
all, for the average number of voluntary visitors
during the year has been no less than one thou
sand and eighty-five.
On the day preceding the Departure'of the Irish
:Delegation, viz.: Rev. Dro. Edgar, Wilson, and
they were entertained by the Rev. Dr.
Prime, of the New York Observer, with'a dinner
at the St. Nicholas Hotel, in company with some
fifty or sixty guests, comprising clergymen,
lawyers, men of science, and several. leading
laymen from the different churches. Addresses
were made by the members of the delegation,
Drs. Prime, Murray, and' Cox, Prof, Mitchell,
and others. The entertainment was of the
sumptuous kind for which the St. Nicholas is
famous. The delegation took book $80;000, as
the results of some two months of solicitation.
Though the sum is not eg y nalk to what they ex
pected, yet it is much larger than many supposed
it would be ; and when the many calls now made
on our churches are taken into account, the dona
tion must be considered highly liberal.. •
Philadelphia.
The Departure., of Southern Students from the
Medical Colleges, was not so numerous as was
anticipated. It is said that the secessionists
scarcely amounted to one hundred and fifty, and
that no special train was necessary to carry them.
Many parents, some Members of Congress, and
leading men in the South, telegraphed and wrote
to many students, dissuating them from the
course propesed. This advice had the happy
effect of leading the majority to stay where they
were. The number of medical students in the
different Colleges in this city, at the present time,
is said to be over fonrteen hundred, of whom six
hundred are from the South. Drs. Duckett and
Maguire, who counselled the students to leave, are
both from Virginia, and have been for some time
examiners for the Jefferson School, and the former
had an appointment in one of the hospitals.
Those who profess to know, say that the appre
hension of some twenty five of these young gentle
men for being engaged, along with others, in raising
.
a disturbance at a lecture given by G. W. Curtis,
in which he strongly defended John. Brown, had
no little to do with this movement. The students
who left were received at Richmond by Gov.
Wise, a military display, and a public dinner.
But the whole proceeding was without any just
cause or provooation, ;and will be productive of
110 permattent injury to the medical schools of
the city. Students front all sections have the
same opportunities end privileges, and are treated_
with the sane respect'and politeness.
• •Vhe Am inatiOrt of the Provostship of the trni
varsity of Pennsylvania, by Prof. Yetbake, and
his election to the Chair of Higher Mathematics
in the Polytechnic College, is .a .prominent topic
of conversation in literary circles. He is by
birth and education a New Yorker, having •grad
nated with honor at Columbia College more than
thirty years ago. After graduation, he entered
upon the study of law in hie native city. Subse
quently, he was a Professor in Dickinson College,
at Carlisle, Pa., and for many years he has been
connected with the University of Pennsylvania.
The American Sunday School Union must be
doing a large business in the publishing line just
now, if the new books advertised by this institn.
tion in some of the newspapers, are to be taken
as a true index of the amount of their business.
The Sunday School Union rarely patronizes old
School Presbyterian papers to any extent in the
way of advertising, and very unfrequently do we
see any of its issues noticed by any of the papers
of our Church. ,
The Rev. Mr. Guinness, continues to preach to
large assemblages every night, in Pr. Wylie's
ohurch, on Broad Street. Daring the day he
generally preaches once in some of the other
chtirches. Whilst his sermons are not distin
guished for any great power of argument or
brilliancy of thought, they are pointed, Scrip
tural, and Calvinistic.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
Olin after another the light of the literary firm
ament, which shone over the youth of the gener
ation now maturing into active life, are passing
away. On Thursday, Dec. Bth, but :a little more
than a week after the sun of Irving set so calmly
among the hills of the Hudson, Thomas De
(Palmy, known to all who read our language as
the " English Opium• Eater," and to a selected
company of admiring students as one of the most
accomplished, subtle and vigorous masters of the
art of prose, died at Lasswade, near Edinburgh.
Jinossmsg.—Our Syrian correspondent says
that Jerusalem has been making rapid strides of
late toward a new born civilisation, and its pro
gress has been watched with interest the most in
tense on the part of those who associate with the
name of the Holy eity,ideas of the Millennium and
the speedy return of the Jews. Large buildings,
convents, hospitals, and , churches are rising in
every.directiOn, and thousands of inesian employ
ees and Jews are becoming residents of the place.
—Amer. Traveller.
As an nvinntion of the mild Winter in Florida,
the editor of the Tallahassee Flaridion has been
presented with ripe pears, plums, grapes, and
pomegranates, the. three former of the second
growth of this season. '
Tun young woman to whom general Tom
Thumb has pledged his heart and hand, is just
forty-two inches in height.
SMUT= HAMMOND of South Carolina, has
raised specimens of Eiyptian cotton this year on
his plantation, that are as fine and glossy as loss
silk, with fibres nearly two inches in length. The
plant grows from six to eight feet high, and will
produce a thousand pounds of clean lint to the
CONVERSION Or Rowlett PRIESTS IN
The conversion of two Boman Catholic Priests, I
have not mentioned in my former letters, as I
thought it might be undesirable to speak of it;
but now there is no longer any necessity for si
lence.-; One of them, a Sicilian by , birth, and
formerly called Father Felix, has come down to
Bishop's College. It is satisfactory to find that
nothing is alleged against them, and that the Bo
manists< themselves have to acknowledge their
unblemished character.—Cakutta Correspondence
of News of the Churches.
THE SCRIPTURES IN lima —The colporteurs
laboring in South India find a readiness on' the
part of the natives, both Mohammedan and hea
then, to examine the Word of God, with a view
to obtaining spiritual light. Many, conscious
that they are enveloped iu darkness, are giving
heed to the Scriptures, .1 as unto a light that
shineth in a dark place."
RICHARD RAXIKAPH'Et WILL, which dedicated
all his property, sanotmthig to $75,000, to pur
chasing the - freedom of the living RandolPh
slaves in Virginia, has been sustained. It 'liras
his own brother who labored to break theinstria
ment, upori- the ground that the testator wan
crazy.—Louirmlle Journal .
Tan Methodist Missionary Society of tic -Uni
ted States, has appropriated $104,000 to: foreign
and $160,000 to home missions , for 11360.
Tan ladies of the French &nut are in open re
bellion against the Empress. it is saiirthey. do
not at all like the " dethronement Of crinoline,"
or short del nine dresses.
ANCEIINT Jewxus.—The jewel box of the Egyp
tian Queen, which was found in one of King's
tombs in Egypt; is now greitly admired by the
Parisians. One of the journals says the most
elaborate workmanship of
,the present day cannot
surpass that of this jewelry, which is exquisite
n design and'execution. Especially fine is a lit
tle gold crown, thick gold chain, six feet long,
and a beautifally chiselled gold plate with a male
portrait, perhaps that of the Xing.
Presbyterial Makes.
Tice PRNSWITRRT OP OHIO will meet In, the Metes'
church, Pittibutgh, an the Third Tneaday of Tannery, at 2
o'clock P. - M. ' W. O. MOLGTAMIM Sticted Clerk.
The PRESBYTERY OP BLesitsvnaar will meet in
Blairsville, on the Pint Tuesday of January, at 2 o'clock
P. M. TO be opoined.witb a sermon by Mr. Hastings; /ab
ject, " The Witness of the . ipirit ;"'and dining the sessions
of Prtabytery,- Mr, Carman will preach on the subject of
" Christian Witnesses for Christ."
JAMES DAVIS, Stated Clerk.
. The PIUDIIBYTNRY' OF ALLEtiIIENY CITY will meet,
gareeably to edjourruitent, at 10 A.M. of the Find Tuesday
of January, 1880, In the "hat Presbyterian church, Alle
ghellY Oily ' W. ANNAN, Stated clerk.
The PRESBYTERY OP ST. OLAIRSVILLE will meet in
Morristown, on the Phut Tuesday of January neat, at 2
o'clock P. N. JOHN MOEPAT Stated Clerk.
The PRESBYTERY OF SALTSBURG meet at jack
eonoille, on the brat Tueeday of January, at 2 o'clock P M.
Subject'of opening sermoo, James I :lB.''Preacher, Bey.
A. MeMil!ain; alternate, Re.... Eaellaen•
W. W. WOODEND, Nested elect.
for the Praetor:Ulan Banner and Advocate.
Church Burned.
On the night of the 11th inst., the church
of Upper Ten . Mile, was entirely destroyed
by fire. The pastor was absent assisting in
a neighboring congregation, at a commun
ion ; there was a prayer meeting in his ab
sence,, (is is the custom) at the hour of 111
A. M. When the congregation separated
at 1 P. M., all seemed secure, and no fire
made its appearance, until some time be
tween nine and ten P. M.
- A family living a short distance froin the
church discovered the fire bursting out be
tween - ,the doors, and gave the alarm, but
it was too late to save the church, or any of
the property. The cause of this fire seems
to he wiapt up in mystery.
The following is the guidon of the congre
gation on• last = Sabbath (the 18th) after
public worship, held in the school house,
near the scene of desolation
We have met to day in sad and solemn
circumstances. The house. of worship which
we trusted the Lord our God had builded,
and where, if our hearts deceive us not, we
took delight to worship the God of our fa
thers, was "burned up, with fire," and our
sanctuary utterly laid waste; therefore,
Resolved, That we, as a congregation, feel
called upon to bear testimony to the truth of God's
word, namely, that ti His judgments are a great
deep," and we would now lift up , our voices with
one, accord, and say, ‘• how unsearchable are thy
judgments, and tby ways past Anding out," and
with deep humility, we wonld.say, *, we know thy
judgments are right."
Resolved, That we, as , sincere penitents, ac
knowledge that we are sinners, very great sinners
in the sight of God, and therefore we justly de
serve his displeasure, and we hereby declare, that
we feel that we are called upon by this severe
stroke of Divine providence, at this particular
time, to engage;afresh in the very important work
of soutsearching, self. examination; that we may
know all the,parts of holy /lying, and every cause
of controversy between us and our God ; and
that we submit ourselves entirely to his will
embed. That we feel this to be a weighty af
fliction, and hence a loud call from the Father of
mercies, to seek continually his preserving care,
and, to be more engaged in both social and ‘ secret
prayer.
Bolved, That we bow in submission to the
will of Jehovah, and that we hereby declare that
our confidence in God's mercy and goodness re
mains firm, and that we as his smitten and afflict
ed'ohlldren, would say, " though he slay me, yet
will I trust in him.
-This. congregation wishes, through the
Aatiner and Advocate, to appeal to the
charities and sympathi•is of their Christian
0