Vitjorlia lefano. PITTSBDROB,SATDRDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1862' Jar Raving purchased for our office the " Right" to use Dick's Accountant and Dispatch Patent, cat, or nearly all, of our subscribers now have their papers addressed to them regularly by a singularty unique machine, which fastens on the white margin a small colored "address stamp," or Zabel, whereon appears their name plainly printed,follawed by the date up to which they have paid for their papers—this being authorised by an Act of Cbmgress. The date will always be advanced on the receipt of subscription money, In exact accordance with the amount so received, and thus be an ever-ready and valid receipt; securing to every one, and at all times, a perfect knowledge of his newspaper ac count, so that if any error is made he can immediately de feat it and have it corrected—a boon alike valuable to the publisher and subscriber, as it must terminate all painted thissinderstatutinge Wyman them respecting accounts, and hus tend Those ip n ertte their imortant relationship. *arrears wilt Plea p se remit. The Committee of the Christian Commts sion, for the District of Maryland, are do ing a good work. Their attention is ape oially devoted, to the sick and wounded in the military hospitals. Tbey have great need of aid, by contributions of clothing, Bibles, Tracts, and other religious reading. Theological Seminary of the United Pre"- byterian Church, Allegheny City, Pa.—The Catalogue of this institution, for 1862-3, is published. It contains the names of sixty-five itudents;:twelve of whom . are in the army. The Professors are Rev. JOHN T. PRESSLY, D. D., Rev. A. D. CLARK, D.D.; and Rev. DAVID R. KERR, D. D. The studenti are divided into four Classes, and the curriculium of study requires four years, occupying five mouths in each year. The institution was founded in 1825. The Seminary building was erected but a few years ago. It is neat and commodious. D. Junkin, D. D.—This highly es teemed minister, and well-known corres pondent of the religious press, has sailed for parts unknown. He embarked at Ports mouth, N. H., last week, on the U. S. steam frigate Colorado, Capt. Jour? R. GOLDSBOROVGH, as Chaplain, on a cruise. The Colorado is one of the largest ehips in our navy. Sbe is three hundred and ten feet long, and fifty-four feet beam, and o arries forty-six heavy guns. Her officers and crew furnish a large congregation. T bC confinement on shipboard must be un pleasant, but the opportunity for maul ness is one of the best. SOLDIER'S LETTER • TO Ills MUHL-- UMP-LIFE.—GOOD OWE. We are permitted to give to our readers the following excellent letter, from a young soldier to his eister. It will be read not only with interest, but profit. We would direct special attention to the fact, that let ters from home have a powerful influence hoth in cheering the spirits and sustaining the virtue of our sons and brothers. The letter is as follows: " NsstiviLLE L Dec. 6, 1862. " Mar DEAR SISTER :—Yesterday's mai brought me your very kind letter of the 22dNovember ' enclosed with one from father a week later. Perhaps I make a mistake in the dates; but whether old or new, "was glad to see it, as indeed I al ways MD. You don't know bow much of our happiness comes by mail. Camp-life is, lonely—like the loveliness of a strange city. And yet we feel the want of solitude and quiet. We need a quiet hour to look inward and observe the progress of the "inner work"--to see if, perchance, the "martial virtues" growing there be not too nearly akin to those - vindictive passions so prominent in our half sanctified hearts. Even Sunday in a tent, with twelve or fif teen 'men and a garrulous darkie, is not very quiet. We have opportunity to at tend church on Sundays in the city— preaching by the chaplains of different hos pitals.. Of course I attend whenever lam off- duty. Then we have prayer-meetings on Wednesday evenings at different church es. These privileges are good for us, cut off as we are from the holy influences of home. The camp tests a man's religion. The true article comes out brighter, purer, stronger; the spurious is dissolved. We have some examples of both in our regi ment, [the 78th Pennsylvania]. I trust I may be able to stand the test. " I think this kind of life is not unfavor able to the development of a true, manly chartieter r provided the principles of action are right at the outcet. It may lack the smooth polish of a character found. amid the refining scenes of home life; but the want of the gentler traits•will be more than made up in the solidity acquired by con stant resistance to adverse influences. We get a higher appreciation of honor, justice, and self-sacrificing generosity, and a deeper detestation of meanness .in every form, whether showing itself in the officer who holds on to a position for sake of the al mighty dollar,• or the private who steals a poor nigger's pies or his comrade's tobacco. So if I come home with some apparently erratic notions, and perhaps a rather un charitable way of expressing them,you will please remember that I have had more ex perience of poor human nature since I en listed than- in all my life before. I have seen things done here by men who stood high at home, which almost made me ashamed that I• was a man. Such poor, pitiful, cowardly, meanness you have no conception of. My fliith in unrenewed hu manity is gone. David was net far wrong when he said, "All men are liars." I infer from the tone of your letter that you are well contented in your situation as .'teacher. I am truly glad that you are. You have abundant opportunity to study human nature under different circum stances. Now I think the study of the va rious characters with which we come in contact,- one of the . most interesting and profitable in which we can engage. In no other way can we so well learn to know ourselves, -as by.comparing the good- and bad traits of our " surrounders' " characters with what we feel working in ourselves. You are just at an age to receives " bent" whieli may determine the future of your life. • So, be vigilant. Endeavor to form your character in some natural model—not after the "Fanny Fern" style, or any other eccentric, oosmetie pattern, but imitate the solid,, pra ctical virtues of some good lady of, your 'acquaintance, and the good traits of the women of the Bible: Mary, who sat at 4 esiusi feet, earth's safest spot ; good Dorcas, ,patient Hannah, faithtul Ruth—all models for moderns to imitate. But above all, study the character of the great Exem plar, and so be changed into the same image. I am glad to heir" of ---'a probable re turn, .If he comes, don't let your affection get the better of your patriotism. * * * " Your brother, A.. 0:" IVIIIT IS GOB'S WILL IN MIRO TO TERMS AND 11LANS OF Whenever we can ascertain what God would have us do, we should perform it. We are bis servants. Through us he ex ecutes many of his purposes. We pray daily, " Thy will be done." This implies not only acquiescence in his dispensations, but an acknowledged duty to execute his behests. God has four milieus of human beings in our land, who are held in bondage by their brethren ; oppressed, deprived of some of the dearest rights of man, en slaved, their children enslaved, they are groaning in their bondage, they are cry ing for deliverance. What would God do fur these people 7 We learn his will by his Word, his Spirit, and his Providences. He makes us willing by instruction, and chastisements. He controls us by thwart ing our plans which may be contrary to his, and by closing up all ways against us, but the one in which he would have us go. And when any are perseveringly obstinate, whether individuals or nations, be gives them over to ruin. Those who will not have Him reign over them, be de- stroys. God has a controversy with this nation. He is chaStising us severely, by civil war. We have tried to humble our selves'; have fasted and prayed ; we pray always in our closets, our families, our churches; but his wrath is poured out still. Why does not his anger subside ? Why does be not give us peace ? Peace is one of his favorite bestowments. The herald Angels proclaimed, "Peace on earth." Why does not this praying land have peace ? Our President says it is because of the negro, held in slavery. This is the sentiment of millions; the utterance of the national conscience. Now, what is to be done? We spoke,' last week, of Universal Emancipation as a means of peace. We then endeavored to show that, though the letter of the . Na tional compact, the bonds and articles which made the nation,.gave the General Govern ment no right to interfere with slavery in the States; yet circumstances, indicate the act to be a social and military necessity, and that it would be humane and in ac cordande with religion, and that hence, the loyal masters being fairly compensated, `it would be as constitutional and righteous to take the slaves and make freemen of them, that is, to destroy slavery, as •it is to destroy a house to stop a fire, or remove a factory to stay a plague, or to take any pri vate property for a public benefit. From all this, God's will may be inferred. He would approve of emancipation, having in his providence made it Et national necessity. But we must pursue the subject farther. God sometimes, so leads men,'and so hedg es up their way, as to make his will most plain—so plain that their refusal to do it he regards as unpardonable obstinacy, which he beats with many stripes, if he does not avenge it with unquenchable anger Let us now take a retrospect of God's providences relative to our national ca lamity. 'We shall look back only to the Autumn and Winter of 1860-61, when secession was in its cradle. At that time. Gen. SCOTT, then commander of our army, wished to man all the Southern forts. President BUCHANAN forbade it. If it had been done, the rebellion would have been strangled, and slavery been still domi nant. In that same Winter the CRITTEN DEN compromise, though ably advoeated, failed. And the Peace Convention, held by our wisest men, failed. And the pro posed amendment to the Constitution, which was adopted by Congress as a peace measure, was spurned by the'seeessionists, and was hence an, abortion. Any of these measures would hive secured slavery, but God made them perish. The parties would listen to no terms of compromise. God's counsel was in it. Ile intended that the wrath of man should praise him. Then the attack on Sumpter having be gun the war and awakened the nation, and the repulse at Bull Run having determined its energies, plans wise, deep, and extend ed were laid. Large armies were being collected, drilled and equipped in the most effective manner. Artillery such as the world bad not seen, was provided, with military stores, transportation, &c , &o. Preparations were undertaken, and far ad vanced, such tie, in human probability,,in one campaign, would have crushed the re bellion. This again' would, have conserved slavery. But God blasted these wise coun sels. Jealousies rose between the poli ticians and the military; and rivalries among the officers. Recruiting was stop ped ; the wise plans were broken up ; the army was separated into independent parts, each incapable of effective operations. De lays resulted ; and defeats; and the close of Summer found the army greatly wasted, but little advance made, and the enemy in creased in power. We then set to with new energy, and raised an army larger than before. And to make the work sure, the President issued his September Proclamation, pledging the whole power of the army and navy, that all slaves in all States and parts of States continuing in rebellion till the Ist of Jan uary, 1863, should be then and forever free. Here was a tremendous admonition. A hundred days were granted to consider it, to lay down arms and save slavery. And doubtless this'would have, been effec tive if sustained by a united North and a vigorous use of the military and naval power. But, 10, political dissentions arise. The oppesition carry many of the States at the election& The iron clad vessels are not ready. The, army, through want of supplies, delays its movement. When it does move, there is a change of command ers, and a derangement of plans, and still longer delay ; and stern Winter approaches. The rebels thus encouraged, decline the proffered peace; the President's proclama tion has not produced subtilise*, and PhESBYTERIAN BANNER.---SATURDA IT, DECEMBER 20, 1862. very is still on trial. God's hand is in all tir s. tie makes our great power inopera tive; our wise counsels, foolish; our bright hopes, disappointments. He is unwilling to give us union, peace, and slavery com bined. He makes them incongruous, in compatible. Is it not so? Does he not say to us: These my children, made of the same blood with yourselves, are no longer to be your slaves. They have served you many generations. They have now at tained to their majority—to estate of man hood. I demand their freedom ? We are aware that there are those who say that slavery is not the cause of the war; and that God does not mean its extermina tion. It is true, alas, that we have many other sins, and most provoking; but still, our history for the last forty years and the main circumstances of the rebellion point so directly to slavery as the cause of the war, and as the reason of its continuance, that, as we said, the national conscience fixes upon it as the guilty thing. Arad why will not God give us unity, peace, and' slavery. together He loves union, cer tainly. ‘‘ Behold how good and how pleas ant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!' And he loves peace. How he en joins and commends peace! How his word, of precept,' and promise, and bless ing, dwells upon love, concord, fellowship ! No: it is not union and peace which God would deny. It is slavery that ha declines to rivet upon the 'land. It is slavery which he would compel us to extirpate.:, He hates oppression. It is true, as some poli ticians tell us, that we might free the slaves and make their condition worse; but it is also true that we can free them and greatly .improve their lot And this accords with God's Word and character. This he de mands of us. Is it so that we are striving against God ? The President, the Cabinet, Congress, our statesmen mostly, the army and nary, the loyal people of the whole na tion, have been striving for the preserve- tion of the country, and for peace, on the pri ei pl eof conserving slavery; yea, and the Church has been adding her prayers; with confessions, tears and &stings ; not forslav ery, but for peace on such terros as would pre serve slavery ; but, thus far, God has turn ed a deaf ear, has withheld a blessing. He still smites. 'Wafrages. God means some thing. We should try to discover it. We are to note the signs of the times, his Prov idential disperisations, and through these, enlightened by his Word and 'taught by his Spirit, we are to learn his will. TREASURING UP SCRIPTURE. The Bible should not only be read and meditated upon, but much of it should be treasured up in the memory. The advan tages resulting from an intimate acquaint ance with the very words of Scripture, are many ant; important. One of the chief of these advantages is, the increased security of the believer against the inroads of error. Few Chris tians escape a more or less severe trial of their faith in the fundamental doctrines of the Bible. Satan is ever busy in suggest ing difficulties and harassing the mind with doubts. False teachers abound on every side who leave no opportunity unim proved of, instilling into the minds of others the pestilent heresy with which their own are poisoned. To him, however, who' is fortified with the clear, unmistak able language of Scripture repecting the points .at issue, the insidious suggesions or open assaults of evil spirits and wicked or deluded men are compatatively harm less. He is armed with the "sword of the spirit!' With his." Thus saith the Lord," he meets the foe and gains a speedy vie- Another advantage of familiarity with the precise words of Scripture, is its quali fying the. Christian for a readier, easier and more,perfect discharge of duty. He is not only made cognizant thereby.of the will of God, but he is stimulated to a prompt and energetic compliance with this wilt, by the simultaneous occurrence to, his mind, of Scripture promises and warnings. Aial the Christian is not only enabled by his ready command of Scripture to ren der to God .a better serviee, but he finds this acquisition of incalculable advantage in preserving him from actual transgres sion. Temptation may come in a thousand forms. The tempter may wear an angel's garb, and with specious words may seek to entrap him in his toils. But , God's Word is at hand, and the Christian, is enabled to distinguish the right from the wrong ; • and to escape unhurt from the moral conflict: The storing of the mind with Bible truth will also be found an unfailing source of comfort in the hour of spiritual despon dency. Does a. doubt arise in the Chris tian's mind as to his acceptance with God? His anxiety in regard to this may be speedily dispelled. He is familiar with those passages of SCripture which make known the requisites to thee enjoyment of the Divine favor. These may at once be brought to mind, and relief will be afforded. " Believe on the. Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." " God so loved the world that he gas his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." "The Lord is nigh unto them that ..ure of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." " Him that mmol unto me, I will in no wise cast out." Let these and such like passages be familiar and ever present when the Christian is tempted to despond, and the clouds of gloom will soon, vanish under their genial influence. A further benefit enjoyed by 'those who are well versed ,in the language of God's Word is, a high degree of support and consolation in the varied trials incident to human life. Many and severe may 'be their sufferings of body and troubles of mind, but the cheering words of. Scripture ever at command• alleviate their grief: yea, they often enable Christians •to rejoice in their serthit'triale ) assured as= they -are' that their afflictions work for them far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Upon the bed of languishing, and in the prospect of approaching dissolution espe cially, will appropriate passages of Scrip ture previously committed to memory be found precious to the soul. How delight ful then to the languishing Christian is the meditation of God's Word as it occurs spontaneously, verse after verse, to his en feebled mind. We shall never forget the earnest words of a dying friend, in regard to this very matter. a How much would I now give," said she, " if, when I was well, I had stored my mind with texts of Scrip ture. How pleasant it would be as I lie here so weak, if, without any labor, I could recall the many passages which have so often afforded me comfort and delight. I believe in Christ as my Saviour, and can look forward to heaven as my eternal por tion, but 0 how much happier would I be here if I could - bring constantly to mind the very language of the Bible•" Let Christians one and all give to this subject the consideration it deserves. Let parents and Sabbath. School teachers espe cially, see that the young ,treasure up in their mind that Word which will be to them incomparably more valuable than stores of earthly riches. FEEDING THE POOL Kindness to the needy was one of the striking ,characteristics of Jesus Christ, while he labernaeled with men. Compas sion is what we all, want, at the bands of our Lord; and compassion should be pre dominant in the emotions °Lour own soul; specially in those emotions which impel and guide life's activities. One of the allevia tions to the Sorrow which would depress the; sensitive mind, in • contemplating the• horrors of our civil war, is the extensive manifestation of kindness which we witness toward the' suffering. Men and women, but- especially -the women, are busied in alleviating the sorrows of the sick, the wounded and,the 'bereaved. But in taking up Our pen, we thought of sorrows more distant than our own shores.. Our sufferings here are, in many eases, in tense. Some are agonizing. But we all have bread to eat. Food: is abundant, and is accesible to the ptiorest. In England it is not so. It is true that in that country there is no general famine. There is food there, and superabounding wealth to buy food. But there is poverty there; deep poverty, dire distress, starving multitudes. About two Millions of the people of Eng land derived their living from the manu facturing of cotton. In. " good times," though they wrought hard, they lived well --lived however on their weekly earnings; every week's work being needed to supply the next week's bread. The war in this country deprives the mill owners of the raw material; hence deprives the opera tives of employment; and hence the want and starvation. Contemplating this misery, the benevo lent of t our land have been incited to afford relief. To concentrate and make effective this good feeling, the New-York Chamber of Comrnerce,_at a late Meeting, resolved as follows: " That a committee of fifteen be appoint ed by the Chair, to devise tbe most effec tual mode of afording the relief required; that they proceed at once to collect , sub scriptions, both in money and food, from all parts of the country, and especially from the great food-producing States; and for that purpose .to correspond with any committees to be there appointed; that such subscriptions be invested in food as fast as •received, and forwarded without de lay to such agents in England as the com mittee may select." To forward the work the committee was thus'addressed by a benevolent house: ""As au earnest of our deSire to" further this, cause, in behalf of ourselves and others, owners of a new ship now at Boston, we lender her entire capacity, 1,800 tons, for the . conveyance of the supplies, and our services, if needed, to forward them free of charge for freight, the ship to be delivered to us at Liverpool. With great respeot, your obedient ser- ValltS, N. L. & GEO. GRISWOLD." This was a donation, equal to $20,000. An individual gave one 'thousand barrels of flour, to be branded "UNION," and added $5,000 in money. Others gave their thousands, and smaller .sums. The work progresses. ,Let the noble ship be speedily filled with food, and dispatched; and let cargo after cargo follow, if the need shall continue. Subscriptions are going in from •other cities. The benevolent ef fort will spread, if the cry of want shall continue. This good cause, as every other, finds objectors. The English lords,are wealthy, it is said. They have made large sums off the toiling poor. True. And many of them abound in beneficence; also. But still there is 'want; and the call comes across the ocean, to the land which God has blessed, with bread. The English are our enemies, say others. ,, They incited, or helped to incite; and they still aid and cherish the rebellion. Some of them'so did, and so do, we admit. But, we hear Jesus say "If thine enemy hun ger, feed him." And besides, these starv ing poor are not the individuals;alluded to. These are more Ourfriends than our foes. Our benefaction will be attributed to pride ; to a desire to boast, that we have rendered good for evil, say others. Well, we are not . to be thus deterred. Bad men are mostly able to suggest a bad motive. If they do so, we can reply, that we fur nished food to the starving Irish ; and to the Greeks. And we can point to Norfolk, and other places, where suffering called our compassion into activity. To feed the poor is, happily, a propensity with us. It belongs to our history. We have not alwaya done what we might have done; but God, with his rich bounties to the land, has given the people ,something, also, of the "liberal soul." We bless.him for it, 1 and pray for more, and urge thatit shall•.be cherished: ONSTITIITIONAL POWERS OF THE PRES IDENT. The suddenness and extent of the rebel lion has called upon the President for an unusual exercise of power. None of his predecessors had needed to act in similar circumstances. Public opinion, hence, was not settled as to what he might lawfully do. The demands upon him were impe rious, and to save the country those de mands must be met promptly. He may hence have made mistakes. Some think he has, honestly and patriotically as to mo tive, but yet really, transcended, in some cases, his legitimate power. Party politi cians harp much on this subject, but we give very little heed to what they say. But there are eminent statesmen and lawyers who have expressed doubts; as Judges TANEY and CURTIS, and others. But the President has been sustained by men of equal ability, and far more in num bers ; as Attorney General BATES, the members of the Cabinet, Congress„ and many distinguished lawyers. The public, also, so far, has :sustained the President - ; and•the public are competent to judge of the main and grand principles of the Con stitution. It was made for the people, and belongs to the people. We take from the Congregationalist, a brief summary of the powers and duties of the President, as provided in' 'the Consti tution : ' .‘ -, "'First, the - President is to be ina.ugurat ed by taking any oath differing most signifi cantly from that which is prescribed for all other officers of the Government. Senators and representatives in Congress, members of any State Legislature, and all executive and judicial officers both of the United States and of the several States, must swear to suPport this Constitution,' (Art. VI), bat the President must swear not, 'I will faithfully execute the laws,' but---' I' will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States! Next, it' invests him with the entire mili tary power of the Government; the army and the navy, and the 'Militia when called into the actual service of the Union, are placed at his command. Thirdly, it au thorizes him to require from the principal officer in each of the executive depart ments, a written opinion on any subject re lating, to the duties of their respective of fices. Fourthly, it gives him power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States, (in other words, to stay and forbid the execution of the laws,) except in cases of impeachment. Fifthly, it gives him power to make treaties, which, when ratified by the Senate, (two thirdsof the' Senators present con cu rri n 17 '0 are a part of the Supreme •law of the lai7d. Sixthly, it authorizes him to nominate, and with• the consent of the Senate' to appoint, ambassadors, consuls, judges, and almost all other officers of the United States, and when the Senate is not in session, this power of appointment, (including the pow er of removal from office,) is made absolute for . the time being. Seventhly, having al ready, in its' definition of the legislative power, made his approval necessary (under certain limitations) to -the validity of an act of Congress, it imposes upon him the duty of giving information to Congress con cerning the state of the - Union, and of re& ommending to their' 'consideration' such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient, and. it authorizes him, on extra ordinary occasions, to convene both houses, or either of them, and to adjourn them at his own discretion, in case of disagreement between them with respect to the, time of adjournment. Eighthly,, it invests him With the dignity of receiving .ambassadors and other public ministers, and so requires that they:shall be _accredited to. him.. And last of all, irsays, He shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission all the officers of the United States.' , These powers are immense but they are not a partiole beyond what are really need ed. Thia is made, fully manifest by the - ex igences of thurebellion. The chief officer rather needs more, than less. ...The people have their safety in the due 'exercise, on their, part, of their constitutional prerega- . tiVes: They choose . the President, end may and' should :choose a Wise,„ and . _good man and a patriot:. He bolds his office but for ‘a, -brief Period. requires an=-act' of Congresa to raise and equip armiee, and to build and man ships of war. we cannot raise money,, nor even, use it, though it ba in the treasury, without an-act of Congrms, both .houieaugreeing.. And he :is subject to impeachment by.' Cotigresa;, and.. thus May; at any time, be removed and made in-. capable,. ever after,. of holding : any office. These..restrictions give the nation all. the security which be expected' in a:vigoroue administration of hunian fairs. And as the 'power of a President must necessarily, ,for nation's safety, be 'Very 'great, the people should be , exceed , ingl3r: wise in Making the selection. The American Presbyterian and Theolog ical nevicw,This is to be, after January lit, the title of the Quarterly Journal, of our New School brethren. It.results from a-union ,of their two Reviews, the .Presby terian Quarterly, and• the American Theo logical. It will be edited by Rev. J. M. SHERWOOD and Prot HENRY B. Slums., aided by the old eorps of assist ants of the..two Reviews. We thus have the promise of a work of very great ability. It will be issued simultaneously in New- York and Philadelphia. EASTERN SUMMARY. NEW-ENGLAND., s THE BOSTON CORRESPONDENT of till) New-York Observer thus .writes respecting the churches of the former:city : "The churches of Boston seem always to be in a transition. state. Some twenty to thirty years ago, the. orthodox churches of the city were growing rapidly. Then came a time when the suburban villages began •to increaee~• and- multiply, and emi gration to them built up their churches and diminished those -of the city. And now, it is said, that filling up the salt meadow.lapds, and the growth. of South Boston, and the consequenk cheapening of city rents, is-building up or -strengthening; chuttihes inthnelatter direction and weak ening not'a few of those in the surround:- inglcountry villages. * * " It is said by those who ought to know, that very few of the churches of the city are supported by their pew rents, but that in most of them, resort is had to existing funds, or to occasional subscriptions to pay off accrued indebtedness. However this may be, it certainly looks oddly to New- York eyes, to see the basements of churches rented for storehouses, or occupied as gro ceries ; to behold what was the Pine street, having its audience room over a block of stores, and the side of old Park street, la belled in one place with a doctor's sign, and in another, in staring letters, " Pita, AD.ELPsiA TOE CREAM. !" It is to be hoped that the pastor is not so hot a preacher as to need such cooling, nor so unedifying that his people need such refreshment THE MINUTES of the General Associa tion of New-Hampshire give the following statistics : Churches, 191; vacant, 38. Ministers, 192 ; without charge, 40 ; pas tors, 98. Sabbath Schools, 54. Church members, exclusive of absentees, 19,940 ; additions for the year, 608 ; dismissions, 645. Infant baptisms, 202. AT A LATE MEETING of the New-Eng land Historic -Genealogical Society, a copy of a letter from General Charles Lee, to Hon liobert Morris , dated July 3d, 1778, was read, in which Lee vindicates his con duct at the battle of Monmouth, and Maintains that he twice saved Washington and his army from destruction; and that all that was left for the ,Commander-in-Chief -to 'do was to , strip the bodies of the dead. At another meeting of the Historical Society, attention Was direated to the dart , ger of large quantities" of valuable histor ical matter being lost, in consequence of the-- unshelving and disposing for paper material, of old papers; pamphlets, and manuscripts. Plans were devised for ob viating the evil as far as practicable. The Society promises to pay for articles of, his torical interest more than their commercial value as paper material. • EDWARD P. WEsrox, ,State Superin tendent of SChools in Maine, has addressed a letter to Gov. Coburn and the . Legislature elect, calling their attention to the act passed. at the last session, of Congress, pro viding for agricultural and scientific edu cation in the several States of, the I.Tnion, by which Maine receives 210,000 acres of public lands, the nominal value of which .11 is $262,500, in case she accepts the grant With the conditions itimpses. Mr. Wes o . ton urges upon them to secure the benefits of this munificent appropriation,, and to establish an , agricultural college, !‘,by which the masses of our population may acquire the scientific and practieal educa tion so essential to our highest progress as a great people." YALE COLLEGE presents this session :.a total of 617 students, 460 in. the academ ical department, and 157 •in the depart ments of theology, law, medicine,-philoso phy, and the arts. The senior- class is the largest, consisting of 422 pupils. The faculty and. staff of instruction comprises 38 members, including the president, pro fessors, librarian, and special teachers. . THE JURIES on the case of the late 'ac cident on the Boston and Maine 'Railroad, have returned their verdie6. They ,find the cause of the accident in the negligence of certain persons employed upon the road, and in the lack `of sufficiently definite in structions on the part of the Superin tendent. By this accident eighteen chil dren are said to be left fatherless. It' is said that the Railroad are disposed arerset, tie at once with the families that have been so suddenly and so greatly afflicted. ,:IN TWO adjoining towns in Vermont, are now residing four brothers and one sister, the amount of whose ages is. four hundred, and twenty-one years, viz..: liam Short, 92 last July ; Abel Short, 89 last July ; Mrs. Buck, 86 ; John Short, 78 in April; and Simeon Short, 76 in, De, cember. The brothers are all farmers, ex cept Simeon, who is :a lawyer, but has been nearly blind the last three years. William, though 92, occasionally walks, six miles to °buret', from choice.,, The other two brothers, Abel and, John, labor daily on their farms. ; THE PACIFIC MILLS at Lawrence now employ 1,800 hands; the Atlantic, 325; the Washington, 1;800; the Pemberton, 550; the Duck, 130 ; and the Everett, 375 ; in all, 4,930. NE W-YORK. REV. Da., G. W. Woon and Rev,arn . uel Jessup and wife sailed on, the 6th inst., for Liverpool ; Dr. Wood on his way to Constantinople, where he purposes spend ing some time in the interest of the . Amer ican Board of Missions; and Mr. Jessup and wife having in view the Syrian iission as their future field of labor. TELE EXAMINER speaks of the Marin . Baptist church of New-York AS one of the most efficient and useful organizations in •this country. "It is preeminently a missionary ebureh, and its representatives are in all lands. It has had a - cOntinuous revival for the last four years, and thou,. sands will arise in the Great Day to call it blessed." Tin Mends of the Bible :cause will read with pleasure the following testimonial from a New-York 'paper in. regard to the Hon. Luther Bradish, who was recently chosen President of the American Bible Society, in the place of the late lamented Frelinghuysen " Ile has long been distinguished for' his administrative and executive talent, and as presiding officer' at public"meetings he has no superior. Thoroughly acquainted with parliamentary rules, having a com manding presence anddi. b nifted courteous manner, he discharges the duties of a Pres-1 ident with great ability and propriety. " Gov. Bradish is a meniber of-the Epis. copal Church, a man of warm Christian sympathies, and beloved in every relation of life." . , A MATING of clergymen representing nearly all the‘ leading religions denomina tions of. New-York; .wau‘held in the Cooper Institute on the evening of the Bth inst., with a view to the "preparation efan ad dress to President Lincoln, expressive of their hearty apArovil of his Emancipation- Proclamation. 'Chancellor Ferris, ot the New-York University, presided. Rex eral stirring speeches were made in .favor of the measure;; and a Committee was chosen to prepare the ,address. .1143 v. Drsi', Yer. rally*); Spring, Williams, T•tig, and' Thmi p pot; Were included in.the:Ooninlitteec. • .:10 ',1.4 THE N. 1. CORRFaiPONDENT of the L'os ton recorder communitates the following cheering intelligence iu regard to the Sab bath reform: " It is not easy to exaggerate the extent or the importance of the reform in the ob servance of the Sabbath in this city. A short memory will recall the period when our streets seemed to resound with the sounds of pandimoninm : when the holy day was appropriated without remonstrance to news-boys, grog-shops, theatres, concert saloons, and wickedness of every descrip tion. Now for the most part, it is as or derly and quiet as a country village, and the numberless sources of temptation or disturbance are shut up altogether or with drawn from public view. The influence on morals is so obvious as to be the the - me of frequent remark and of general gratulation —the more that the reform has been so effected and regarded as to promise perma nent and lasting fruits." Tut following, from the Independent, wilt be interesting to the many among our readers who are strangers to the New-Eng land custom of " breaking ground" for new churches: "On Monday afternoon, the Si the Elm-place Congregational chninh of Brooklyn witnessed the ceremony of " breaking ground . "- for.a new edifice " Preparatory to breaking the ground, the pastor, Rev. William A. Bartlett, gave a brief history' of the Society, and then sol emnized the ceremony in these words g And now in the name of God the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and ;.n behalf of, this church of Christ, and the Society, with, it associated, I do rever ently break the ground,' [here taking up a spade of earth,] s and pray that God's fa vor may be with us in this our beginning, and world without end. Amen.' " A Christian congregation in mid-Win ter, with snow all around them, called to min 4 those early Con g regationalists who in a bleak December broke the frozen ground of Plymouth to lay the foundation of those institutions , of liberty and religion which even a civil war shall not be able to shake down." , THE METuopisT gives, some interesting-, items respecting the. Sands. Street. church, Brooklyn, whose 'foundation dates' back to the year 1794%. " The church building is capable of seat ing from 1,200 to 1,300 people. It ie neatly finished ana- - fiernished. On the High Street frontage is the parsonage and the lecture-room; the latter ie-two stories. Extending from the lectures room, to! the church is. another two-story building; in which are eight class-rooms.• :The! rest. of the ground, save a stone walk between the church and parsonage, is occupied by the graves of ,the o.ood,who.have in other days sung the prtuses, of God on this sacred spot---these graves are, green, and marked only,* simple lieWstones, on which are merely-names dates, and modest *epitaphs. Beneath the Pulpit lie the remains of the sainted Summerfield, and, here and there the walls bear commemorative tablets. You feel that yon tread , historic. ground,. and realize, that the. NewWorldis growing old. Here the customs of early Method ism are still preserved; the seats are free; congreoational singing and; the, kneeling attitude in, prayer arenot entirely disused. Class-meetings are,wekattended, and the spirit of brotherhood, of Christian !fellow ship, is _cultivated. The :congregation large, filling, both the,bedy of,,the &owe and galleries. The .membership,• is larger than it should be,,pay fioo, altbengh the church has sent ;fr very many .colonies,"TUE Rev. S.J.'lWilson, D. D, has re signed the charge of the 'Grand -Street Presbyterian church of New--York: Tircux is a tendency to cloieness. in the money market; owing to the Unsettled state of affairs here and in Europe.: 'The Bank of England has already advanced - its rate of discount, and a further rise is, expected weekly, of which the. immediate cause is an enormous drain of silVer to p the East Indies, for the payment Of Cotten purchases to take the place of the Southern staple. The market rates for money _ on call range from 6 to '7 per cent, and the estab lished stock commission Tirnis are supplied ats'tO 6 per cent Prime iii#iiness paper • is scarce and in demand 'at : previous rates. The ;Eastern banks are in the market for geed business notes endorsed at less than the rates current with New-York banks and capitalists. The piotations fOr prime en dorsednotes maturing within ninety, 'days, are',s to 6 pereent,within four montbs,6 to per, cent., and longer dates are irregular. 'Mist class single signatures range from 6 to 8 per cent., and other good names froin 8 to 10 per cent. On, Tuesday of last week, gold ranged about 132 per cent, and cus tom honae demand notes at 127 to 127/. Bankers' 60-days sterling . bills 'ranged fr,un 1-15 f -to 146, The stock market , is dull and heavy. The weekly hank statement shows steady contraction. PHILADELPHIA. AT A SABBATH SblioOL COirVENTION held. Jut week in this.city, and presided over by ex -Governor Pollock, the following resolution was , adopted : L Resolved, That we recognize thz position of a ,Sabbath School' Superintemient as next in importance and responsibility to that of a minister of the Gospel that the Sabbath School teacher's love of his work is an indisPensable requisite to hiS labor; that, while it is eminently desirable to have, teachers who are ,professing Christians and members of Church yet, where Stich cinnot be obtained in sufftei,nt numbers, persona of good utoral character who feel inclined to engage in the work, may do so. • WE LEARN that 'Bei , . =Dr. Plumer is at . , precient preaching • ' the Arch Street chureh of Philadelphia THE PENNSYLVANIA BIBLE SOCIETY, whose of f ice. is at -.Seventh and Walnut Streets, 'issued during the month of Oc tober, eight thousand,. nine hundred a nd eighty-two Bibles awl-. Testaments ' in the following languages :. English, French, German., Welsh ; Portuguese, Italian, Syriac, and also in , raised,. letters .for .the blind. Many of these were sent. to the hospitals andarmy. Gratifyinganswers have been received in referencez<toc, theuuse made of them. 4 In connexion with the, above, the report received through.thesame Society i° referenee to the, circulation of the Scrip tures, rea44..0,48 4 „ . The BritialCatilf Foreign Bible Societe' issued during 'the past year, 2,687,071 Bibles and '`T,estaments, or 224,015 per month,' 7,36'7 ‘per day, 807' per hour, every- minute night and day: If -laid , in a line they would reach from Philadelphia #o Bosten; a -distance of 31. miles; or ~ they.:would; make a path three feet wide frona Philadelphia' to Harrisburg , a distance of 81 miles:' "`
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers