Presbyterian banner. (Pittsburgh, Pa.) 1860-1898, December 27, 1862, Image 2

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PITTSBURGH, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 4862.
W Havingpwrehasedlor our office the " Right" to use
Dick's Accountant and Dispatch Patent, all, or nearly all,
of our subsoribirs now have their papers addressed eo them
regularly by 4 singularly unique machine, which fastens
On the white margin a small colored "address stamp," or
Cuba, whereon apse era their name plaintyprintedjollowed
by the date up to which they have paid for e'een?. papers—this
being authorized by an Act of Congress. - The clhte will
always be advanced on the receipt of subscription money,
in enact 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
tect it and have it corrected—a boon alike valuable to the
publisher and subscriber, as it must terminate ail painful
misunderstandings between them respecting accounts, and
hus tend to perpetuate their important relationship.
sio Those is arrears will please rev. 7:t,
The True Presbyterian.—Thie organ or
our church, at Louisville, Ky., we are gl-d
to learn, is about to resume operations.
Its appearance may be expected about Jan
uary I.st.
The. Theological Seminary at Danville,
Ky., wasopened November 17th, according
to the notice given. Six students were
present. The Professors are all in attend
ance.. We hope that the number of stu
dents will soon be greatly increased. A.
Faculty so well adapted to the allotted
work,, a& are Drs. BRECKMUDGE, HUM-
P/11MS, YEEKES, and STANTON,' should
have large classes to educate. War has
greatly _devastated Kentucky, but it the
more needs the Gospel, that it may have a
happy, restoration.
I 'Good Tlme.—Tt is always a good time
to subscribe for a good religious newspaper,
if yon have none. Some persons, however,
have-quite a predilection for the beginning
of the year ; they can remember so well
when, they are' to renew. Now, then, is
THE TIME.
Christmas and New-Year are also the
season for presents. Now subscribe for
your married son, or daughter, or your
loved
po friend, or the disabled minister, or
. .
your or neighbor. They will think of
you, and bless you, every week the year
round.
But especially do not forget to provide
for yourself, and your own household. Re
new ; and induce friends and neighbors to
•
sub scribe.
PRESBYTERIANISM IN ENGLAND,
Presbyterianism, as a form of Church
government, never nourished much on
English soil. Dissenters, in flying from
Episcopacy, more commonly went to the
opposite extreme, Independency. There
has, however, foi some years, been a grad
ual reviving of Presbyterian sentiment
The Presbyterian Synod has been greatly
awaked, and recovered as to the purity of
its faith, which had sadly declined.
And not only among Presbyterians is
there an increasing love to their own sys
tem, Ibut with Nonconformists there is a
tendency to a complacent regard for the
Pauline order. Presbyters were the or
dained of , the apostles, and the ordainers
of fellow-laborers, feeders of the Church,
and successors in the ministry.
Among other indications of this grow
ing favor, we notice some remarks of Mr.
SPuliozoN, made at a social meeting in
London, in connexion with the opening of
a Presbyterian church. Mr. SPURGEON
said :
"He rejoiced that this was a Presbyte
rian Church; he was a Presbyterian him
self. (Hear, and laughter.) Seriously
and solemnly, he believed Presbyterianism
to be the government Scripture had or
dained. He was not an Independent, arid
he objected altog ether to be clashed with
Independents. te was Episcopalian, Pres
byterian, Independent, but rather more
Presbyterian than Judependent. It might
be well that Churohes should be separate
and distinct; but he believed that it' was
loss of power to the denomination to which
be belonged, which might have done great
er things if it had not been foolish enough
to bind itself to isolation, instead of work
ing by that , hearty cooperation which the
Presbyterian form of government would
have afforded."
URGE NEWSPAPERS.
Our contemporary, of Cincinnati, says :
" The Presbyter is the largest religious pa
per in the Presbyterian Church. * * *
It is more than a fourth larger than the
Presbyterian Banner." And on this a
claim is founded for " sympathy and coop
eration." People's tastes differ; and it is
well for them that a choice is tendered.
A very large newspaper is a thing to which
some Feeders greatly object. It is like a
very long sermon, which would be mightily
imprOtred if it were judiciously condensed.
Som4l/, writers will pat as much thought,
and as much fact too, on one page, as others
will on, three. And they will give it with
more vivacity and distinctness. We like
such writers; and We take pleasure in
preachers of that style; and we prefer
newspapers of such a character.
We greatly prefer a medium sized news
paper, to a large one. We did so in our
early days, and we do so still. We read it
far more. It is, usually, far more instruc
tive. The editorials are more carefully
prepared. The selections are more valua
ble; that is, under the operation of the
same amount of mind. And it saves much
precious time. And if we have leisure to
read much, we prefer to have two papers,
or three, or four, from different quarters.
If a large piper was the object, we could
produce "it with one-half the editorial labor
we bestow upon the Banner; and we would
need to pay no more for rents, clerks, press
work, foreman, &e. The only additional
cost would be the bills of the paper-maker
and the compositors.
With the size of the Banner we believe
our iMiders are well._pleased. Not one has
ever aaked an increase in size, while many
4 4- .2 -
have „saw, " D o 12 = i
t enlarge t..==
If ad
vertsing- shall again flourish •we will en
large oar sheet; but for reading matter we
think we'have room in abundance to grat
ify Most tastes and desires.
\MT IS TO BE BONE?
Tlic secon , l }e„r of rebellion is now far
advanced, and the contest still rages. The
time is long gone by when the war
was to have been ended, and might have
been ended, if the nation had wisely
put forth its power ; but, instead of 'a sub
dued foe, we are confronted by an enemy
full of vigor, and abounding in confidence.
What is to- be done ? We are evidently
unsuccessful. And it is manifest that the
Govermaierit must do better, or it will ut
terly fail. We ask again, What is to be
done
1. One thing is evident : The people
must become united. A platform broad
enough for all loyal people to stand upon,
must be adopted. The Radicals cannot
carry their principles through. It is utter
folly for them to think so. They have not
the numbers. The people will not go •with
them. And the Republicans cannot, as a
party, so wage the, -battles as to triumph.
They have the reins of Government, but
they have only half the people=lt power
quite too weak. Neither could the Demo
crats, on party: principlee, succeed. The
rebels cannot be coaxed,
.and the party
could not conquer - them in battle, and the
people would not submit to them as
,lords.
There must be union ;- and to liaVe union
we must adopt broad, noble, national prin 7
ciples.
The Border States -are. an indispensable
element to success. If these States go
with the South, then the South cannot pos
sibly, that .is humanly. , speaking, be con-.
quered ; or if there is a possibility, it must
be through the aid of the slaves. The
Border States people, the. Democrats, and
the Republicans must become Nationa.l.
We arc told that such a union is not: to be
expected. Then .2. restored,nationality may
be regarded az a, chimera; unless it, be ob
tained through the horrors of a servile war
But we do not yet despair of the desired
union ; the platform.- Fanatics of
any school we do not expect to conciliate.
These mustbe ignored in counsel ; but we
trust they are not numerous. We think
that there are only a few in the loyal States
whose patriotism cannot, under the stern
ness of necessity, triumph over partyism
and idiosyncracies. •
To effect such a union, it is evident that
many must give up something, and some
must give up things dearly cherished. And
all should be willing to give up a great
deal. Our own principle, as we have more
than once intiniated, is this : Where united
effort is needful, we will go with others, if
they will not come with us; conscience,
however, being duly respected. Hence,
strongly as we believe that universal eman
cipation, duly compensated, is the way to a
lasting, prosperous, and happy peace, we
would yet postpone that, and cooperate on a
different platform. Cannot our readers all
yield something—yield much ? Cannot
the Government, Congress, other patriots
and statesmen, agree upon something which
shall be honorable, righteous, and attain
able ? We trust that God will make them
wise, and not give the nation over to obsti
nacy, folly, and ruin.
These remarks we make, still mindful of
the inquiry we instituted, last week, rela
tive to the Divine will. That God designs
universal emancipation, we have not a
doubt. But this may not be his time. If
it is, be will make it known. He will
bring all other counsels to naught, and chas
ten us till he makes us a willing people.
2. We must obtain and sustain adequate
commanders.
A good General is as needful as a good
army. And good Generals are scarce.
One generation of mankind brought forth
two. But it is not every generation which
supplies a BONAPARTE and a WELLINGTON.
And one of these, with all his prowess,
was beaten, humiliated, captured, deprived
of his kingdom, and died in exile. It was
the one who, to bravery, courage, science,
strategy, added yet extreme caution, who
was the hero of a hundred battles, and
was never conquered.
Science, strategy, and caution are indis
pensable to us, where such qualities are
possessed by our foe. Men must "hasten
slowly," who would make real, speed. We,
had a General who combined in himself
many of the first qualities, but we did not
sustain him. We refused reinforcements
and then took from him his army, transfer
ring it to another. We hence suffered sad
reverses. En our straits we placed him
again in power and he gave us victories.
But he was too slow for our hasty notables,
too humane, too scientific, too strategic.
We superseded him, and again rushed upon
defeat. If we shall restore him, or get one
still better; one whom we will suitain, and
have patience with; he will, under the or
dinary favors of Providence, put mint° the
vital places of the enemy's power.. It may
take him till April or May next to ' 4 dig"
into Richmond; but he will do it. We will
have lost a whole year; but better succeed
then than not at all. It took the English
and French, not only three months, but eigh
teen months, with repeated reinforcements,
to plan works and "dig" into Sebastopol.
But science and strategy prevailed. We
employ, not a plowman, but a tailor, to
make'our garments; so let us employ the
adequate skill and science, to lead our
armies. God has connected cause and
effect. He has appointed means to the
accomplishing of ends. And the General
who will heed the Saviour's advice and
consider whether his army is able to meet
that which opposes him, is the man whom
the nation should employ and sustain.
Let it not be supposed that we have any
personal partiality for the General alluded
to. We never spoke to him; never saw
him; have no interest in him, more than in
BURNSIDE, BANKS, BUTIER, HOOKER, and
others. Our interest in him is on nation
al principles. He is, so far as our Gener
als have yet developed their powers, preem
inent. If there is a better, point to him.
We want the very best. We care not for
PRESBYTERIAN BANNER.---SATURDA Y, DECEMBER 27, 1862,
political partyism, except to abhor it, when
it interferes with the saving of the coun
try. We must obtain and sustain good
commanders.
3. We must keep up our courage. Re
verses are to be expected, as part of our
lot. We are not to become unfeeling.
We may well be sad, but there must be no
thought of yielding. We have a good
cause, and God will bless our arms. If he
thwarts our purposes, he intends to accom
plish some change in our feelings or our
aims. He would humble our pride, make
us more prayerful, punish our wickedness,
make us to abandon some cherished sin.
We may well ask why the affliction comes,
but we must not let treason triumph, nor
the nation perish.
TUB BANKRUPT BILL.
The laws of the. Most of the States are
exceedingly favorable to - debtors.' Impris
onment for' debt is no longer known in the
land. In Pennsylvania, debtors may, re
tain three hundred dollars worth of prop
erty, exempt from levy. This makes men
in ordinary life alniost entirely free from
pecuniary responsibility. State. laws, how ;
ever; generally, hold ; men responsible, for
a certain time and under certain forms, for
their debts, in case of acquiring new prop
ertY. ThiS responsibility is jinst,',but still,
it tends to depress enterprise and deprive
the country of the benefit of much business
talent and experience.
Congress has, ,by the Constitution, the
,power to grant relief. Some years ago a
Bankrupt Bill was passed, which relieVed
'many thousands. But it was very defect
ive. It opened the door to fraud, and be
cameso odious, that it was soon repealed.
Another bill is now before Congress.
Possibly it may prove to be better. - Rol
titudes demand its passage. There are
now, it is estimated; in the loyal States
fifty thousand American business firms,
making, if we reckon three partners to
each firm, a total of one hundred and fifty
thousand merchants of experience and in
fluence enough at one time, as their liabil
ities show, to obtain credit for one thou
sand millions of dollars, or more than our
present national debt:
To free these, would be a great benefit—
that is, to free those who are honest. But
to release rogues, puts them in a position to
enjoy the fruits of their iniquity, and en
courages them and others to again prey
upon the public. Some evils must be
borne, even in the exercise of mercy. But
the old Bankrupt law was too great an evil.
Its retrospective feature, however, was its
mainly objectionable characteristic. By
this it released its tens of thousands—some
of them to be useful citizens, others again
to practice deceit. Having done its evil, it
was repealed.
Our remembrance of the operation of
thatjaw makes us timid about recommend
ing another. If a law shall be passed, we
wish it may be but very slightly and very
guardedly retroactive. We heartily ap
prove of a law which may release honest
and disabled debtors from obligations in
curred after its passage; and hence incurred
with the creditors' knowledge of what may
be the results.
A CONTRAST.
The treatment received by persons hold
ing to Union sentiments in secessiondom,
contrasts disgracefully to the South, but
honorably to us, with that of men at the
North holding pro-Southern sentiments.
At the North there are thousands who at
least apologize for the -South daily, and
suffer no injury. While at the South no
man whois even suspected of Northern in
clinations, can be tolerated, or permitted
to escape unharmed. ,
The Presbyterian of December 13th,
adds the record of another particular case
of suffering, and vouches for 'its truthful
ness. It says:
" Some years since, a
. young man, born
in Pennsylvania, and a graduate of one of
our Colleges, took up his, abode in the
South, at first in Alabama and then in
Georgia. He became a minister of the
Gospel and a teacher of youth. He, was
industrious, prudent, and genial, and com
manded general confidence for his integ
rity, purity, and religious consistency.
His labors were abundant, and his influence
extended. He married an estimable and
intelligent lady. He accumulated some
property, a dwelling, .a garden, a library,
with other means of comfortable subsist
ence. 14'ive sweet children blessed his hap
py home. Then came the storm. While
the difficulties with the government were
brewing, true to the' princiPles of his
birth, training, and conscience, he Was
openly and strongly a Union man. When
secession was accomplished he became pru
dently silent, but steadfastly refused to
offer public prayer for the Confederate
President and Congrefis. This. was his
only shadow of offence ; but for this he
was set upon in the streets by a mob—.
stoned, kicked, dragged by the .hair, and
beaten. Bowie ,knives and pistols were
flourished around him and at him, and it
was even proposed to bang him to a tree
in the public square before the court-house
door. Some of his parishioners interposed,
and succeeded in bearing him, bleeding
and unconscious, to his house. Here he
kept his bed for two months before he was
recovered from his injuries, and here he
was confined, a virtual prisoner, ,for two
months more. Only by night, and by
stealth, could he leave his own door, even
to secure provisions for his family. Mean
while, one of his children sickened and
died. One had died previously. Another,
a son, was seized with typhoid fever, and
for weeks seemed doomed to follow, but
was spared. At length, by the advice of
his best friends, he made arrangements to
escape. His property was hastily disposed
of at a sacrifice, his 'library and his arrears
of salary (the latter amounting to $1000,)
were abandoned, and he contrived to get
away, bearing in his arms his sick boy, and
accompanied by his wife and two, babes, his
sister-in-law, and a faithful nurse. He
"went to Knoxville, to Richmond, and even
tually, after much difficulty, reached Phil
adelphia." •
What is slavery, when it can make even
professedly Christian men so fiendish I
Not so were Southern ministers treated,
who, were in the North when.socession was
enacted. Even though it was known that
they intended to
,join.a rebellion, they were
not hindered, nor injured in person or
property. Drs. J. LEIGITTON WILSON and
HOGE, of New-York, and LEYBUAN, of
Philadelphia, are samples of our general
treatment of men who chose to go over to
enemies. They departed without molesta
tion.
REV. DR. iRcPBETERS.
We are sorry to see, by a telegram
from St. Louis, Mo., dated Deceniber
19th, that this distinguished clergyman,
pastor of the Pine Street church, ' has
been ordered by the Provost Marshal Gen
eral to leave the State within ten days, for
encouraging, rebellion and sustaining dis
loyalty in his church. Three,.members of
the congregation have been appointed trus
tees, and directed to fill the pulpit with a
loyal man.
Dr. MCPRETERS, in his general eharae
,
ter, is an. amiable gentleman. In, the last
General Aisembly he took a decided stand
against the paper presented by Dr. BRECK
INRIDCiE on the State of 'the Country, but
still he so spoke as to, draw toward himself,
personally;a great amount of kind,feeling.
It is 6, matter , of deep regret that any of
our people, and eSpecially of. our ministers,
should sympathise with the rebellieU. it
is sympathy with lawlessness; robbery,
murder—with wickedness of the deepest
dye. We have no excuse to make, for such;
.no plea td offer on their behalf 'And in
times lilke t ihese a Man Should purge'
self from the Main of suspicion. Men,msy
differ in opinion as to the wisdom of Gov
ernmental measures, and may - seek, legiti
mately, for a change of adminisfration; but
to sympathize, with the rebellion is a sin,
and to show, that sympathy .by words or
deeds, is a misdemeanor to be punished by
those whom God and their country ham
clothed with power. Let not treason be
tolerated in our midst, while a powerful
and murderous foe threatens our navional
existence.
EASTERN SUMMARY.
NEW-ENGLAND.
WE LEARN from Zion's Herald the some
what singular fact that the different de
nominations of ,Boston, or at least members
represeiatin'g them, have united in the es
tablishment of a General Theological Li
brary. Of the two hundred and thirty-eight
shares purchased, sixty-six are owned by
the Trinitarian Congregationalists, and the
same number also by the Episcopalians.
the Unitarians own forty-nine; the Bap
tists twenty-two; the Swedenborgiaes, Uni
versalists, and Catholics, five each; the
Presbyterians and Methodists, three each;
the Christians two; and twelve are owned
by persons whose religious connexion is not
known.
Our Boston friends are better able than
we to judge of the eXpediericy of this corn:
mingling of heterogeneous elements, but
we must admit we' have our. misgivings on
the subject.
THE following statistics from the twen
ty-seventh Annual Report of the Boston
Society for the Prevention of Pauperism,
speak well in behalf of the operations of
this excellent charitable institution
" Two thousand four hundred and sev
enty-eight persons have had their names
recorded for employment. Of these, four
hundred and seventy-six were males, and
one thousand nine hundred and eighty-two
were fernales. Of the males, two hundred
and thirty-two were adults, and two hun
dred and forty-four were minors. Of the'
females, one hundred and nine were fifteen
years of age or under, and. three hundred
and thirty-six were between fifteen and
eighteen.
" Employment was permanently supplied
for one thousand one hundred and 'eighty
six of these applicants; namely, for one
hundred and thirty-six males,und one thou
sand and fifty females. Of the males, fifty
six were adults, and eighty were minors.
Of the fethales, thirty-six were fifteen years
of, age or under, and one hundred and fifty
nine were between' fifteen and eighteen.
Five hundred and forty-eight of the whole
number had work procured for them: in the
city, and six hundred and thirty-eight were
sent to places in the country?'
REV. SAMUEL OSGOOD, D.D., one of the
most , highly esteemed ministers of New
England, died on the Bth instant at Spring
field, in the 79th year of his age and the
63d of his ministry. He lived and died
among the people over whom he was first
placed, having, thus but one pastorate dur
ing his lengthy ministerial career. From
the funeral sermon preached by Dr.
Sprague, of Albany, an exchange furnishes
the following statements : ' Dr. Osgood
was born Mareh 3, 1784, in. Fryeburg, Me.
'When a boy he went .to school to Daniel
Webster, and remembered that that distin
guished statesman prayed' regularly in,
school. He graduated at Dartmouth, N.'
H.,
H., in . 1805; studied lair -.'in Roxbury,
Mass.; taught school in Dorchester, read
theology at Princeton, N. J.; was ordained
at Springfield, June 25, 1809, where he
was the 37th candidate after the death of
Dr. Howard, his predecessor. He received
the title of D.D. in 1827 ; witnessed five
revivals in his parish; and admitted to the
Church 974 persons?'
IN SOUTH NEWMARKET, N. H., over ,two
hundred and fifty bushels of apples have
been pared, cut, strung, and dried, and a
good portion sent off tuour soldiers in hos
pital,nncler the auspices of the Soldiers'
Aid Society. All classes and, professions
in the place, from the gray-haired of eighty
to children just old enough to use the nee
dle and hold the string, came together at
appointed times for the good work.
IT IS A CURIOUS FACT that the ship T.
B. Wales, burnt by the orders of the-pi
rate steamer Alabama, was offered by her
owners to a committee of the Boston Board
of Trade, to gratuitously convey a cargo of
provisions from this port to the Lancashire
sufferers. Instead of going on this errand
of charity to the starving operatives of
England, she has been wantonly destroyed
by a piratical craft, built in England with
means furnished by English merchants.
In this case, as in scores of others, English
sympathy with the Southern rebels has
been disalitrous to the unfortunate subjects
of British rule.
A PAPER MANUFACTURER on the Ken
nebec informs the Portland Press that there
is no lack of rags in Maine; that among
those upon whom he has heretofore depen
ded for supply, he found one with ten tons,
another with fifteen, another with five, and
so on, but .all bold back, refusing to sell,
thinking to get, by-and-by fifteen or twenty
cents a pound.
NEW-YORK.
THE OBSERVER furnishes a report of
the ministers in this city in 1790. It is
taken from Gaines' New-York Pocket Al
manac for the year mentioned, and is as
follows: Episcopal Church—Rev. Dr.
Samuel Provost, Bishop; Rev. Dr. Beaehe,
Rev. Dr. Moore. United Lutheran Church
—Rev. Dr. John Christopher Kunzie.
Methodist Church—Rev. Mr. Morrell and
Rev. Mr. Cloud.. St. Peter's Church—
Rev. John O'Brien. Presbyterian Church
—Rev. Dr. John Rodgers. Reformed
Dutch Church—Dr. 3. 11. Livingston,
Rev. Dr. William. Lynn. German Church.
—Rev. Dr. Gross., Scotch Presbyterian
Church—Rev. Dr. John Mason. Baptist
Church:---ReV. Mr. Foster. Jewish Syna
gogue—Rev. Gersham Seixas.
MOST of our readers are aware that- the
subject of lay representation has been con
siderably agitated in the Methodist Church,
and thata very large minority vote was
lately given in its favor., The. New-York
Arethodist•Beems confidentthat the proposed
change in the economy of the Church will
sooner or later be effected. It says : •
" The laymen• who voted for a represen
tation 'in the General Conference may as
slime that they represent a growing con
victioti"of the necessity of this measure.
The progresa'of the Church is in the direc
tion •of Lay Representation. Whatever
may be the`fact in relation to ;the present,
Lay Represeritationists can count confident
ly upon, the future- Every intelligent
Methodist concedes that the adoption of
the policy of admitting lay delegates to our
General Conference is merely a question of
time. rven its opponents confess that
something must be done. If proper effort
is made to keep the subject before the peo
ple, the hesitation of the timid will be
overcome, the inexpediency of perpetuating
a hierarchical system of government will
become plain to the understanding of every
Methodist, and then the consummation can
not be long delayed."
WE REGRET to learn that our Methodist
friends have been under- the necessity of
parting with their University in the city
of Troy. It has passed into the hands of
the Roman Catholics, the deeds having
already been signed, and the first instal
ment paid. Archbishop Hughes, in his
official statement on the subject, as pub
lished in the Metropolitan Record, uses
the following significant and characteristic
language
" Our intention is, that the new place
shall be the central, if not the only Theo
logical Seminary in the Ecclesiastical
Province of New-York. The only draw
back is, that the property is not in our Dio
cese of New-York. But, after all, this is
a trifling'consideration for one who, through
life, has ignored - civil or ecclesiastical
boundaries in the sense of impediments to
any good work that could promote the glory
of God, and the diffusion of his grace and
mercy, through the medium of the One;
Holy, Catholic, Apostolic, and. Roman
Church."
The Archbishop states also that he in
tends to invite the Priests of St. Sulpice
in Paris, to take charge of the new Semi
nary ; and expresses the hope that under
the training of the venerable Snlpitians,
American youth will attain to a high de
gree of ecclesiastical dignity of deport
ment, as well as great distinction in the
Church.
- A PASTORAL ASSOCIATION of the Re
forthed Dutch Church has recently been
organized in New-York. The objects of
the Association are to cultivate fraternal
feeling 'among the members, - to contribute
to their - intellectual and spiritual welfare,
and to- unite them in plans and efforts to
promote the interests of truth through
proper denominational and other agencies."
The meetings are to be held every Monday
morning; except during the months of July
and August."
The Episcopal clergy of New-York have
a somewhat similar organization, which is
spoken of as being a.ttended with beneficial
results.
THE NUMBER of Baptist churches in
New-York City, with its 'immediate envi
rons, is said to be fifty-six, comprising
membership of 15,202 communicants.
IN . CALLING attention to a meeting of the
City Tract Missionary Society, the Observer
speaks as follows of its effective labors
" This Society closes its thirty-six years
of operations under most favorable circum
stances. in the midst of the war and finan
cial embarrassments, its friends, by their
steady liberality, have sustained, the past
year, thirty missionaries, in their labors for
the temporal and spiritual good of our
large population, and the oversight of
about nine hundred volunteer visitors, in
the distribution of religious tracts. Great
interest 'has been given to their work by
constant visits to the encampments in, and
about our city, and to the sick and wound
ed in the hospitals."
REV. SAMUEL H. Cox, D.D., has re
moved from Le Roy to the City of New
.
York.
REV. GEORGE julkrrri,"D.D., father-in
law of the famous Stonewall Jackson, is at
present supplying the pulpit of Canal
Street church, in New-York.
THERE is a redundancy of money in the
market, notwithstanding an active demand;
and rates are easy at from 5-to 6 per cent.,
mostly at 6, and to outsiders the rate is 7,
invariably. •Business paper of high-grade
is scarce and much in demand The rates
are 5 to 6 per cent. for indorsed notes not
over. 90 days, and 6 to 7 from 90 days to
not over 4 months. Single names are taken
at 6 to 7 per cent., if first-class. The ten..
dency of the market is to higher rates, but
still not excessive. Although money is in
good demand, the supply is very ample.
The movement of gold is active. The
amount shipped last week was $874,290,
making a total of $60,989,810 since Jan. 1.
The premium on gold is up again to 133,
and the Custom-House demand notes to
126 i. ' The-rates of foreign exchange- are
therefore higher. We quote current rates
on London at 147@146i for 60 day bills,
and 147 for sight bills- In the correspond
ing period of 1861 the rate for sterling was
109 f, less than at present by 36i per cent.
The export demand for our Northern
productions continues active. Produce of
all kinds goes freely forward, stimulated
greatly by the .high rates of exchange.
The amount exported last week was $3,-
349,704, while our imports only amounted
to $1,530,429. For the year, since Jan. 1,
they are respectively :
1862. 1861.
Imports, $166,297,788 $121,340,553
Produce exports-- 145,633,469 127,929,227.
The imports for the year thus show a
greater increase than the exports.
PHILADELPIIIA.
THE GENEE,A,I, CONVENTION of the Ger
man Reformed Church will shortly be held
in this city, having in view the commemo
ration of the ter=centenary anniversary of
the formation of the Heidelberg Catechism.
The .19th of January is, we believe, the
day of the celebration, though the Conven
tion will be organized on the Saturday pre
ceding.
UPWARDS of $24,000 have already been
contributed to the Philadelphia relief fund
in behalf of the suffering poor in England.
THE EIGHT Sollp, Societies of this city
commence this week their work of distrib
uting soup to the needy. •
THERE are at present twenty-six soldiers'
hospitals in Philadelphia, providing accom
modations for eleven thousand four bun
dred and fifty-five sick and wounded sol
diers. These are usually filled to their
full capacity. Besides the - provisions made
by Government for their management,
many ladies voluntarily devote their time
to minister to the suffering.
For the Presbyterian Banner
lustallatioß 'Cerenlliiiy.;
On Friday, sth inst., Rev. S. G. Dun
lap, late of the. Central church, Baltimore,
was formally installed pastor of the Pres
byterian church, Monongahela City. Rev.
W. M. Paxton., D.D., and Rev. J. W.
Hazlett were appointed by Presbytery a
committee to install Mr. Dunlap. Mr.
Hazlett failing to appear,the installation
services were conducted y Dr. Paxton.
These services were unusually solemn
and impressive, and will not, soon be for
gotten by those who witnessed them.
Dr. Paxton remained with Mr. Dunlap
and assisted him at his communion on the
following Sabbath. The communion Was
one of deep solemnity, and gave unmistak
able evidence of the presence of the Spirit.
Twenty-five were added to the membership
of the church, fifteen of whom were "re
ceived upon profession of their faith.
Others are inquiring the way of life.
The Presbyterians of Monongahela City
have recently manifested a noble spirit of
effort and enterprise. They have liquida
ted a heavy debt, repaired their church to
the amount of six hundred dollars, and
contributed to various objects of benevo
lence.
Mr. Dunlap has much to encourage him,
both in the love of his people, and more
especially in the blessing with which it has
pleased the great Head of the Church to
crown his labors. OBSERVER.
For the Presbyterian Banner
Donation.
MESSRS. EDITORS :—Please allow me
through.your columns to express my sin
cere gratitude to the members of Blanchard
church, of Blanchard, for a very liberal do
nation made to us on last Tuesday. After
assembling and loading the table with a
bountiful dinner, which all enjoyed with
pleasure, and engaging for a time in social
conversation and the interchange of friend
ship, they retired, leaving many valuable
presents; not notions and fancyzoods, but
wheat, flour, corn, dried fruit, and other
matters of real value.
May they be blessed with spiritual bless
ings—blessed in their relations to their
pastor and to each other. And may others
imitate their example.
Dec. 15; 1862. WM. YouNG.
Church of Farmington, Illinois,
The Rev. John S. Beekman has received a
Unanimous call from the Presbyterian
church of Farmington, Fulton County, Il
linois, of Peoria Presbytery. Mr. Beek
man is of Tuscaloosa Presbytery, Alabama,
but having remained loyal to the Govern
ment of the United States, escaped not
long since from the South. He has ex
pressed a willingness to accept the call.
We trust his labors will be blessed in unit,
ing us, and in collecting together the scat
tered sheep of Christ's fold. We trust
also that a more, commodious and comfort
able house of worship wilt be soon erected,
of which we stand much in`need; when
we hope to see Presbyterianism, as former-,
ly, preeminent in this rich and most beau
tiful portion of the " Great West!!
By order of Session.
JOHN MARSHALL..
ECCLESIASTICAL.
Rev. W. MORRIS GRIMES, of NeConnels
vine, Ohio, has been appointed Chaplain
of the 92d Regiment Ohio Volunteers,
and having obtained leave of absence
from his church, will leave in a few days
for his new field of labor.
,
• PRESBYTERIAL NOTICE&
The PRESBYTERY OF. ST. CLAIRSVILLE
will meetin Morristown, on the Seoond Tuesday
of January, 1.868, at 11 o'olook A. M.
JOHN MOFFAT, Stated Clerk.
The PRESBYTERY OF 'ALLEGHENY 'CITY
will hold their next stated meeting in the First
church, Allegheny City,: on the Second Tuesday
of .Tanuary, 1863, commencing at 1g o'clock
A. M. WILLIAM ANNAN, Stated Clerk.
The PRESBYTERY OF SALTSBURG' stands
adjourned to meet at Jacksonville, on the First
Tuesday of January, at 2 o'clock P. M. Sub
je,ct for conference The preparation neces
sary for profitably waiting
.upon the ordinances
of religion, especially the preaching of the
Word.' - W. W. WOODEND, Stated Clerk:
. The I
REBYTRY OF OO will meet in the
Central P church S , Pit E tshurgh, o Hn
the last Tuesday
of December, at 2 o'clock P. M.
W. B. MoILVAINE, Stated Clerk.
The PRESBYTERY OF BEAVER will meet in
New Castle on the Second Tuesday of Januaz7,
at 6 o'clock P. M. D. C. REED,
Stated Clerk.
The PPESBYTERY OP BLAIRSVILLLIriII
meet, according to adjournment, at Bair' stifle,
on the Second Tuesday of January, at 2 o'clock
P. M. JAMES DAVIS, Stated Clerk.
Sword Presented by Ladies.
The ladies of St. Louis have presented General
Frank P. Blair with an elegant sword, enriched
with rub* and diamonds, as a testimony to tbe
man Who first in Missouri drew the sword for the
.•- • .
For the Preebyterlae Banner
Letter from Gen. Burnside.
HEADQUARTERS, ARMY Or TRU. POTOMAC, 1 .
December 19th, 1862. j
To Major-General IL W. Halted:, General-in-atm..'
U. S. Army, Washington:
GENERAL : I have the honor to offer the follow
ing reasons for moving the army of the Potomac
across the Rappahannock sooner than was anti
cipated, by the President, Secretary or-yourself,
and for crossing at a point different from the one
indicated to you at our last meeting at the Presi
dent's :
During my preparations for crossing at the
place I had first selected, I discovered that the
enemy had thrown a large portion of his force
down the river and elsewhere, thus weakening
his defences in front. I also thought I discover
ed that he did not anticipate the crossing of our
whole force at Fredericksburg, and I hoped by
rapidly throwing the whole command over at
that place to separate, by a vigorous attack, the
forces of the enemy on the river below from the
forces behind and on the crest and in the rear of
the town, in which case we could fight him with
great advantage in our favor. Row near we
came to, accomplishing our object future reports
will show. Rut for the fog, and unexpected and
unavoidable delay in building the bridges, which
gave the enemy twenty-four hours more to con
centrate his forces in his strong positions, 'we
would almost certainly hare succeeded, in which
case the battle would have been, in my opinion,,
far more decisive than if we had crossed at the
places first selected., As it was, we came very
near success.
To do this we had to gain ` s height on the ex
treme right of the creek, which height command
ed a newroad lately made by the enemy for the
purpose of a more rapid communication along
his lines, which. point gained, his.position along
the creek would have been scarcely tenable, and
he could have been driven from them easily by
an attack on his front in connection with a move
ment in the rear of the crest. •
The fact that I decided to move from Warren
ton on to this line, rather against the , opinion of
the President, the Secretary and yourself, and
that you have left the whole movement in my
'hands without giving me orders, makes me the
more responsible.
I will visit you very soon, and give you more
definite information, and, finally, will send you
my detailed report, in which a special acknowl
edgment will be made of the services of the dif
ferent grand division , corps, and my general and
personal staff departments of the' army of the
Potomac, to whom I am, so much indebted Or
their support and hearty cooperation.
Failing in accomplishing the main object, we
remained in order of battle two days, long enough
to decide that the enemy would not come out of
his strongholds to fight us with his infantry, af
ter which we re-crossed to this side of the river
unmolested, without the loss of men or property..
As, the day broke our ; long line of troops were
seen marching to their different positions as if
going on parade. Not 'the least demoralization
or disorganixation existed.
To the brave officers and soldiers who accom
plished the feat of thus re-crossing in the face of
the enemy I owe everything. For the failure in
the attack I am responsible, as the extreme gal
lantry, courage and endurance shown by them
was never excelled and would have carried the
point had, it. been possible. To the families and
friends of the dead I can only offer my heartfelt
sympathy, but for the wounded. I can offer my
earnest prayers for their eomfort and final recov
ery.
I will add here that the movement was made
earlier than you expected, and after the Presi
dent, Secretary and yourself requested me not
to be in haste, for the reason that we were sup
plied much sooner by the different staff depart
ments than was anticipated when I last saw you.
Our killed amounts to 1,152; our wounded to
about 9,000, and our prisoners , about 900, which
have been paroled and exchanged for about the
same number taken by us.
. . -
The wounded were all removed to this side of
the river before the evacuation, and are being
well cared for. The dead were all buried under
a flag of truce. The surgeons report a much
larger proportion than usual of slight wounds,
1,630 only being treated in the hospitals.
I am glad to represent the army at. the present
time in good condition.
Thanking the Government for that entire sup
port and confidence which -I have always received
from them, I remain, General, very respectfully
your obedient servant, A. E. BURNSIDE,
Maj. Gen. Comd'g the Army of the Potomac.
Important Decision
We learn that Judge Grier has rendered a de
cision uraza the rule for attachments against the
City Controller and City Treasurer, for contempt
in not'obeying the special fi. fru. issued out of
the United ' States Circuit Court, upon judgments
obtained by railroad bondholders.
Judge Grier refuses the attachments, and sets
aside the writs, because they were improvidently
issued against the Controller and. Treasurer.
This turns the revenue of the city into its ap
propriate channel; the remedy will now be
against the City Councils, to compel them, in the
language of the law, to "cause to be paid" the
judgments in question:
[Since we copied the above, from a• city paper,
we have seen Judge Grier's decision. We un
deratand it differently. It merely defers the
matter, at least in the case of the County, until
Spring.-. By that_ time the money Must he collec
ted, and the judgments paid.—Enel
Victory in Borth- Carolina.
The following has just` been received at the
Headiinarteri of the Army of the United States:
HEADQUARTERS, Dater NORTH CAROLINA,
Kingston, Dec. 14, 186/
.
Majoi-deneral H. W. Halleek, General-in-Vhief:
• I haie the honor to inform you that I kft New
barn for this place, on the 11th inst., but that,
owing to the bad roads and consequent delays to
the teams, etc., I did not reach Southwest Creek,
five Miles from this town, until the afternoon of
the 13th. The enemy were posted there,.butby
a heavy artillery fire in front, and by a vigorous
artillery fire in the rear I succeeded in - forcing a
passage without much foss: This morning I ad
vanced on this town and found the enemy strong
ly posted at a defile through a march bordering
on a creek. The position Was so well chosen
that very little of our artillery could be brought
into play, 'the main attack was therefore made by
infantry, assisted by a few guns posted formidN
bly on the rocks. We succeeded after five hours'
hard fighting in driving the enemy from his posi
tion. We followed rapidly to the river. The
bridge over the Neuse at this point was prepared
for firing, and was fired in six places, but we fol
lowed so closely behind them that we saved the
bridge. The enemy retreated Torecipitately by
the Goldsboro andllingston roads. Their force
was about 6,000 strong and 20 pieces of artillery..
The result is, we have taken Kingston and cap
tired 20 pieces of artillery ; we also captured
from 400 to 500 prisoners, together with a large
quantity of quartermaster and commissary stores.
Our loss will not exCeed 200 killed and wounded! .
I am, General, with great respect,
.
J: id: FOSTER,
Major-General 'Commanding.
Colony for Florida.
On .Dgcember 17th, a highly. influential dele
gation of znembers of both Houses of Congress,
with Vice President Hainlin at their head, wait
ed on the President with a request numerously
signed by lOyal , men of Florida, asking: for the
appointment of , Elon. Eli ThaYer as,Military Gov
ernor of,the.t State,with authority to raise 20,000
loyal emigrants. They also presented to the Pres
ident a paper signed by 134- members of the Sen
ate and: House, ear nestly - concurring in that re
quest of the loyal men of Florida, and a paper
from Major General ilunter„.erimmander of the
Department of the .South, to thesame effect.
The Gunboat. Cairo . Destroyed by a Torpedo.
Okrao, Dec. 18 .---Special to the New-York
Herald says: On Friday last the.gunboats Cairo,
&termer& and Signal were ascending the Yazoo
river, and. had reached a point one- mile below
Haynes' Bluff, when a torpedo 'eipleided under
the Cairo, shattering her bow. She sunk in fif
teen minute's. There is fort*, feet of water, and
she cannot be raised. No lives were lost. The
Cairo, was one of the first- seven ironclad boats
built for service on the Western waters, and par
ticipated in the captures of Fort Henry and Don
elson. '
Kansas Election.
The official canvas in Kansas has just been
concluded. Carney the Republican candidate
for Governor, has 9 ,BBB_votes—a majority of 4,
607 over his antagonist, Wagataff. Wilder,
the straight:Republican candidate for Congress}
received - 9,589-votes beating l'airott by
~.4,995.