".EV. DAVID AtrKINNEY, Editor and Proprietor, REV. I. N. M'KINN EY, AAROCIATE EDITOR. TERMS IN ADVANCE. By Mem $1.50 DILUIRED IR MUIR Or TH.II OITIZO 2.00 For Two Amens, we will send by mall seventy numbers, *4 for ORe DOLLAR, thirty-three numbers, P Wore sending ye TIVICNTT subscribers and upwards, will thereby entitled to a paper without charge. Renewaleshould be prompt, a little before the year expires Bend payments by safe hands, or by mall. Direct all letters to REV. DAVID M'KINNEY, • Pittsburgh, Pa. ( Vrum the Christian I nteltigencer.] Nature and God, • BY THOMAS HASTINUS. I t The works of nature never appear so beautiful s when illuminated by the rays of' Gospel truth. is good while standing beneath these wide eavens, and upon this broad earth, to meditate pan the handiwork of Him who is the great rehitect of all. The God of nature is the God all grace and consolattigo. , Ile..is our Father, r Redeemer, our Sanctifier . With his word in r hands, we can think upoti all his wonderful rks—his worksi of, nature and mf grace—and m pleasing comparisons and associations. Wondrous are the works of nature, Springing from a band Divine ; Every object, every feature, Bids some bright perfection shine Lofty mountains tell his glory, Smiling valleys speak his prtiise, Brilliant clouds so transitory, Heavenly aspirations raise. Silent dews and ,whispering breezes Symbolize the Spirit's love: Every blooming plant that pleases Tells of blissful bowers above. Vernal suns and fruitful showers, Voeal woods and meadows gay, Starry lights and-moon-lit hours, Heaven's parental oars display. Whirlwinds in their anger swelling,. Dire volcanoekin their wrath,,. Scenes of judgment are revealing , In the haughty sinner's path. • Seasons in due ori,er ranging, Destined courses to fulfill, Show to us.a Mind unchanging, , Full of wisdom and good will. Beauteous thus the revelation By the hand of Nature given; But a brighter inspiration Marks the road that lead to heaven. Nature with her genial pleasures r Shows that man deserves to. die; ! Grace unfolds celestial treasures, Pardoninglove, and endless joy. . Nature is, indeed, no substitute for revels tiou. The sinner- condemned for his numberless delinquencies, needs something better than syni bole to assure him of the, possibility of pardon and acceptance, But , now that the way, of rec onciliation is made known, we may find in the physical universe pleaSant hints and suggestions in the way of illustration. For the Presbyterian Banner. What ls the: Baty of Sessions of Vacant Churches.? This inquiry is asked merely with refer to their duty in securing a pastor. Why do so many of our churches, when vacant, become so much divided, and in some eases hopelessly so ? Five, ten, fifteen;or twen ty candidates, and sometimes more, are in vited to preach, a day or two successively. Some of these have been wholly invited by the Session;,but others only formally so, because they were the friend-• or acquaint - twee of this one and that one in the eon gregation, and to gratify them, the Seseion yield end send a formal invitation; when , at the same-time perhaps they have heard enough candidates , from, whom to select a good pastor and• minister, or they may know that the one desired would not likely suit them; Thus we think Sessions often un intentionally ignore their own authority, allow their congregations to become hope lessly divided in consequence of having so many candidates before them. Some pre fer this one, some enabler, some another, some still another, and so on through the whole number of the ten or twenty candi dates. And then the,result-is,• that when they come to select o a pastor, they are un able to agree on any one.; thus -ex:o6ll6a men who are among the candidates are re jected. Why•do not Sessions use theirauthority, and carefully watch against this' very diffi culty. A prtident Session will of course carefully consider suggestions 'made by ju dicious members of the church, and even in some cases consult them ; but when they have done so, ,they carefully, weigh their suggestions, and only follow that which their maturer judgments, it; may be, dictate to be for the very best interests of their church and the glory of Gel Let a Session: find out, from the best in formation they can get, a fe so—and we would say in no ease more than three or five—and invite them imeandidates; and having heard them a few Sabbaths, and be mime as well acquainted with them as pos sible, out of the pulpit as well as in it; and the Session finding in their estimation one or more amonithis number who would suit them, let theta forthwith call the eon gregation together, to• select one for their pastor. Let candidating be stopped, no matter how many good men, and favorites, too, with some of the neople, have not been heard. If the' congregation cannot select from those already ,hearil, then let the Ses- : ` For the Presbyterian Banner. slim invite three or, five more, laying asid,e .. no Presbytery of Carlisle altogether the first three or five, or at least - Met in Middletown Pa. on the 14th of the -pest unlikelyof them, • If ' ern, a more . 7+} o'clock i . April, at 74 o'clo4 P. M. The opening careful and even more rigid course .*E46 pursued, in some cases at least, by Sessione, ;sermon was preached . by Rev. N. G. White, - from Jim xviii : 38 ; and John xvii i 17. in respect to the selection of a pastor, churches would be saved from division and. • There were twenty-seven ministers and twenty-one elders present. distraction, and, a Pastor, would much 4 sooner be secured. Let Sessions realize ',. Rev. James Kennedy was elected Mod their responsibility in this matter, and ask •; erator, and Rev. John 0-Proctor, Teinpo themselves if' they are not the regularly , l'arY Clerk. • Thos. X. Orr, alicentiate, was dismissed, constituted and ordained guardians of their • individual church, and the means of grace Ito , by ut himself under the care of the c ry Pre's of Allegheny City ; • in it, and solemnly obligated to guard against divisions and distractions in their Geo. T. Cain, licentiate, was' dismissed; to put himself under the care of the Pres church resulting frnin a loose, eangrega • bytery of Newton. . fiend mode of securing a pastor, when one is needed. It is muoh easier for a Session John C. Bliss, a licentiate, was received under thee car • ' , et this'Presbytery, from to prevent divisions, than to, heal •them` the Central Presbytery of Philadelphia. when once they have taken place. ' • W. C. Stitt, a licentiate, was received A Council •Mxtxura. • . ` under the - care of Presbytery, from the is 1 Presbytery of•Potomao• Tor the Presbyterian Banner. . Rev. Robert A. Brown was dismissed to Confession. i the _,Presbytery of .Donegal. .TAgss v: 16—A Confess your faults ; The pastoral relation existing between ! Bev. Chalfant and the chanimburg one to another."' Me • . Confession is a humbling` duty. It' re- Ohara, was dissolved, and Mr. Chalfant, quires no small degree of humility to con- lit-his own request, was permitted to labor, fess our faults when sensible , of them, and i 6i - chaplain, in the 84th Regiment oft the often a still greater degree of .;humility 0..4: Pennsylvania Volunteers. perceive our ereors,•• Human nature does .., The pastoral relation existing between not like to see its failings ; and:when it • l, Rei:itr: - T. Beatty "and the -Green Castle sees them, it does, not like to;ecknowledge, : and Waynesboro' churches, was dissolved; them, It is humiliating to feel that wel ~ and 31i. Beatty was dismissed to join-the have done wrong; it is still more humilia- l' Presbytery of gew'Brunswick. . . tin gto confess that we have done :wrong;; The following wm.adopted as'a standing when we feel it; it is most humiliating of:, , rule of the Presbytery of Carlisle, viz.: all to confess our faults, when, by so doing, , " Resolved , That hereafter this Presby- We Mint justify others and condemn,our- ' tery will not' ,entertain any request for the selves. Whatever view we take of the dispolution• of the pastoral relation, except duty duty. of - mutual confession, it is a'hitmilia; ing in Ruch eases where all the provisions fing It abases one in his own 'esti, and requirements of our Book .have been d oration; it causes him to lie Jow in the :fully and properly observed." ' ust before Gla d, crying, • l: l it' ' ' The next stated meeting of Presbytery n ean, unclean., , . , Yet confession is a Ckirjqian AtitY; ) , -- a ,is,tek be" hold in ,MtircersburuPa.i on the beneficial duty, and an enhogiiiiirdiity ;let rAiesday of •Oct,ober,'lit` 7,a-`6'clook'P:lts . , , C'ti ( 031 41 /' VOL. XL, NO. 33 What more ennobling than a magnanimous acknowledgment of our faults? What more ennobling than the possession of that charity which suffereth long and is kind, which envieth not, which vaunted) not . itself, is not puffed up, doth not . behaye itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, re joiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiced). in the truth, beareth, all things, believed),. all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things, which never faileth? It is a duty which, while it abases it exalts, while it humbles it ennobles, as it is written,- He that exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth•himself 'shall be 'exalted. It, is a mutual -duty. , There is usually wrong on both sides. Bence the direction- Conferas your faults one to another. Let us bring themiatter. home. Let us confess our faulti, and let us livel in peace and love. Then shall our souls prbsper, and, then shall Zion rejoice and they. Gospel have free course and be glorified: W. ,T.;M. Nor the Preabiterlan.Banner The Presbytery or 'Chicago, At its meeting at ; Rockford, pi:, April 14th, adopted the foll Owing minute in relation to the day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer, appointed by the President of the United , States": ' - WEIhREAS, The Tiesident of' the .United' States has issued his proclamation;&Sig tinting Thursday,- the- 30th- day of April next, as a. clay of, humiliation, fasting, and prayer; and has ,requested , all the people to abstain on that, day : from their ordinary, secular pursuitsi, and, to 'unite, at, their sev. eral places of public. worship, and their rer spective homes, in keeping the ..day holy, note .the Lord, and devoted to the humble discharge, of the religious . ±luties proper for .that solemn occasion : And whereas it is clearly the duty of na-. tions, as well as of , individuals, especially, when suffering, under severe arid desolating judgments, to humbly acknowledge .their responsibility to, tmd_their dependence up. on God; to confess .with , . humble sorrow their sins And transgressions, and with geri nine repentance to seek for - inercy and par don : And,whereas .it. iseiljoined in our Pi rectorl fbr Worship, 6111, 4 4 at any time the civil Fewer'should .think ,it proper to appoint a fast, it Is the duty of the muThis,, ters and people of our communion, as we live under a Christian, Government, to pay all due respect to the satue; therefore, Resptued„,That it be enjoined upon all our pastors and stata,supplies,.to..read the aforesaid proclamation of the President from their, respective ; pulpits...on the Sab bath immediately preceding the, said 30th day of 'April, or at Such other 'time as :may ,better accomplish the { object hereby intee ded;• and that they invite the people of the several congregations to lay aside their ordinary avocations; .to observe the day ac cording to the trite intent of its appoint ment; to assemble in their respective • places of public worship; and there to hureble themselves before God; to confess onr"national sins ; and to pray for- mercy' and pardon, if peradventure God, whom we have so deeply Offended, may be pro pitiated, and grant to us as a nation for-- , givaness, end 44 a restoration of our uow divided country' to its former , condition. of unity and peace." For the Presbyterian Banner. Action of threPreebyterY . of Brie in the Case, of W.'T. ilarnilton WHEREAS, W. T. Hamilton D.D., who was in the, year 1854' deposed from the the Gospef ministry, and suspended from' the.comn:funien of the phurch by the Pres bytery of §outh Alabanka, but subsequently restored, to the communion of the church by the same Presbytery, has appeare d be fore the Presbytery of Erie, in the,hounds of which he' now resides, asking that .0e remaining censure should be remove, ~and he restored to the 'Gospel rtiiniatry • and whereas. Presbytery feels satisfied as to,its competency,to take ,up and issue, the Aase;, and whereas we . have had ahnndatit evi dence of the reality and sincerity of, his penitence, and of his Chri.stian life and conduct for many years, and,tlae,very strong demonstration of feeling in his behalf among the people where he has dwelt; therefore, Resolved, Thsi Presbytery does ,hereby remove the remaining censure, and restore the said W. T. Hamiltoa, D.D. to' the GOs pel,Mihist;ry, and to the exercise of all its functiens. A true extraat . frem the nilifutes. S. J: M. RATorr, . 1 ptated Olerk, Preii.. Erie. '4 Franklin, Pa., April 16 , 1863. CSI PITTSBURGH, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1863. Rev. Wm. C. Cattell was appointed to preach the opening sermon, and Rev. Gor don his alternate. Rev. Coehren was ap pointed to preach the second day, and Rev. Sample his alternate. An interesting Narrative of the State of Religion was read, which will no, doubt be forwarded to you for publication. The church at Hagerstown presented a call for the services of Mr. Wm. C. Stitt. The call was found in order ; but as Mr. S. wctS not. at Presbytery, the call was.retained in the hands of Presbytery.for the present. The church at Carlisle presented a call for the ,;.services or*Mr: John C. Blhis. The call was• found in order, and it being presented to Mr. Nisi, 'he signified his:ao ceptauce of the same. Presbytery then proceeded to examine Mr. Bliss on Expeii mental Religion; the . Arts and Science 4 Hebrew and Greek languages, Ecclesiasti cal History, Theology, Church Govern ment, and the Sacraments. He • also preached a trial sermon , frorn : 9, as 'part of trial for 'Ordination-. All , of Which , were sustained. , . Presbytery resolved, when' it adjourned, to adjourn Wmeet in the Second , Presby terian church of Carlisle, on. Tuesday even ing, the 12th of May;- ' at-7#' o'clock, to at tend to the 'ordination and installation of Mr. John , 'o. Bliss, , S:t7. Niceollstwas ap- - 'pointed ~ , t o !Trench' silief sermon, 'and Mr. Beatty to be "hiii alternate=;;tri! preside, propose' >the constitutional ques-• dens, and ,Hake the ordaining Prayer, and Dr. harper his alternate; Mr. Hays to•de liver the'. charge •to 'the pester, , and Warner his alternate; Kr. Bells' to deliver the charge to the 'people, and Mr: CattelL his alternate. ‘• • Mr. Thos. EL 'Hench wee taken under the care of Presbytery, as a candidate for the Gospertninistry. Rey. Wm. C. Cater and Rev. 'Robert -McOachren t were elected clerical Corriiniv . sionere to the 'General Asee,mbly and,Rev. J. S. Gordon ,alternate.to Mr:.Cattell, and. Rev. R. J. Warner. alternate to- Mr. ge- Cachren. Mr."o-,eo. Ranch, ,of Centre church, and Mr.Jarnes Clark, were - elected lay Coin= tniasionera ; and Mr. J. M. Mains alternate of Mr. Ranch, and Mr., R. G. McCredrY alternate of Mr. Clark " ' • - - - - - • The chorales of Williamsport Big Spring, Green Castle, Mechanicsburg, Lan: , disburg„ and Centre and tinier, obtained leave to supply themselves for the next six months . and W. P. Cochien was appointed supply ,Mille,retown and Ickisburg churches for the next six Months. ' Rev. Coehren, and W. J. Jenes elder, were,appoiiited a committee to organize a Presbyterian church in Newport, Perry County, in, accordance with the wishes of certain persons there. . Rev : DaVid Grier requested Presbytery to dis Solve the pastoral relation existing Iletween and the Dickinson church; ,whereupon presbytery resolved to cite the Congregation to appear at the adjourned meeting, to be held ,in Carlisle on the 12th of- May, to,show cause why the request should -not he granted. A committee was appointed :to' return thanks to the officers of the Cumberland Valley Railroad for their kindness' in re turning the members of PresbYiery:Over their road free of expense. Dr. Creigh was, appointed committee to visit the Burnt' Cabins church, in, accord ance with the report of the Missionary Committee. • . Presbytery resolved to approve of the. Revised, Book of Discipline..: Preamble and, rceohAtious,-expressivU the, views of Presbytery ; on, the ,State Of the - country,. &c., were adopted. But I shall not send you a copy of themyas I un derstood the Stated Clerk, to say that he, would send, you a copy.for publication. The Presbytery of Allegheny Met.in Efarrisville on thel4th inst.. Rev. NV. W. McKinney was elected• Moderator, and Rev. S. Williams, _Clerk. Dr. L. Young and. Mr. John Boyd were appoint ed Oomnaissioners to 'the General Assem-_ bly, and Rev: E. Ogden and cMr,, John W. Stewart, alternate Comniissioliers. The following•minute was adopted in re gard to the. deith of Mr. H. H. H a ys.: Presbytery would here record the death of one of - their • candidates, Mr. Hugh Hen derson Hays, since their last meeting. Mr. Hays.yras a yonng man of great promise,, but the will of the master is best, and,,Presb,y4ry bow hurnhlY, to that will, A text r was assigned to Mr. James S. Boyd, on which is to _preach 'a trial ser mon' for ordination at ;the ; Fall meeting. Mr. George, W. Ja4son having ,'passed thrOugh.the usual trials lor Crdina.tion,,ar rangements were made to ordain., him, and instal him over thechurch of Bull Creelc, froin 'which he has received a call. Calls , from the churches of Mt." Nebo and Poreeieville,' each tor one . hitlf of the ministerial labors 'of Rev. Wm. P. Harvi son, were read,..anil retained- hy Presbytery till the next meeting, at Which time Mi. H. expects to be prepared to connect him self with this Presbytery. A report was received in - regard to the Witherspoon Institute, which is located in Ruder, midis under the care • of aim Jas. S. Boyd and lady, showing that this Insti tution has been in 'amore _prosperous con dition during the last year. than at any other time since 1854. A papef was adopted in regard to the State of the Country, in which it was rec ommended toy all the people under the care' of Presbytery, to lay aside all party predi lections, and, rally, for, the, support of the " powers that be," till tie 'rebellion be crushed,Und also-Ito, observe the day ap pointed. by the President as a day of fast ing„ humiliation, and, prayer. J. R. CoeimßE S. C. *aver Pies bytery. The, Presbytery of Beaver held a very, interesting meeting at 'Olarksville,,con the 14th and 15th of April. Mr. Cyrus.H. Dunlap mtas licensed to preach the Gospel. The state of religion in our bounds, not- , withstanding the distracted cOndition of our country, seemed-to be as encouraging,as in former years. Some of 'our churches 'have been visited with precious seasons of re frishing and ingathering, rejoicing the/ hearts cif God's 'people with 'the tokens of the Spirit's presence. Dr. Riggs was dismissed, at his , own -re quest, from -the church of Sharon. The people:of Sharon expressed great regret 'fghting With th‘ir pastor, and bearing ',dew For the Rreobiterbut panner. For the Treoliyterian Rannor tided testimony to his zeal and faithful ness as a minister, and only yielding to the earnest solicitation of Dr. Riggs, who thought that the providence , of God and the interest of the church indicated that he ought to devote the whole of his pas-- tore! labors to the church• of Clarksville, which was formerly but part of his charge. Dr. Riggs now devotes his whole time to the church of Clarksville. - . . Presbytery passed a resolution approving of the President's Proclamation in app.)int ing the 30th day of April u a day of last-- ing, humiliating and prayer, and recom-, mending its observance by our tehurches. - D. C. RiED, Statedi Clerk. EIIIIOIMIN CORRBSPOREPE. • . , . •, - Stoddares Lecture at Faisley4Analr:l73.7—Quo . lions Proposed.and Acinnerot--a:AviheMand, Anti-Slavevy- 7 ,-,The,ffnion an d Ent,, , tmciPati*? l, So cietxat Glasgow, and the Working - Nen—Piakei' amePiace:--In'w7nitiZnal Collitioniß'-: 2 The 147, - O0h" of Scbtland Visited—AberdeeKand ite'Univeririty —Thee Dais of Argyle en /6 * Afactztion;Par-it niched, the Sons of the Struggling rr ikbeilleerc and . Free Ohtani:ism—Disruption rigr — , --,Sabbath 'Services and a Sabbath Th.'''. 'A" Contratit= Dialict of Aberdeeniani 'and i datepawaiiiiil and Ofonueity-Thigh , Millar' einVkis Tootsteps An Early Spring Showers #4liritual Blessings; , : ' ' ' t Argi iso • : , . ~, , - , ~,- 4, • 3.. , "giaytitY Olt FREEDOM IX: AiiiitiOA, 'or the Issue of the-War " l iAlie'title - o f . it - ' lecture recently delliered ink fiaililif, by At- F. Stoddard*, Esq:, a gentlenitin resident in the neighborhood of that town. To a lee: tare on this theme, he wait invited by • ti; magistrates and citizens:'` Mr., aStoddart , proposes .to answer the three, questions, " What are the causes ? what thtjastifica-, tion ? and: what are likely te be the results, this terrible war ?" 'He 'thinks' it "ix trembliderilitfuli if 'ever there were-a , sub'' ject se imperfectly , understood .by the peo ple ,of• this ~ceuntry, as - the,,merits , or , de merits of the American war. So`,Much mist has been thrown around it bi'pliblie' Speakers, 'writers, and journalists, 'whose' sympathies or imaginary 'interests- arev9n the side of secession, that there is scarcely, one man.in a thousand, who has any idea 01 what the Ataericans are fighting or any { just notions of the ' great principles- - iii volved in thit contest." One asserti that' " slaver'y has nothingto do with the war •"' another, that " it is only a quarrel for free trade on the ' one - side, and tariff, on the other ;" a third insists that ` "the South are : fighting for freedom frem'gortheribppres mon." " Bet," he adds, "of all the won ,ders Which have been discovered, none are so mariellous as that which Mr. Aside:eta has stumbled on. ' All the trimiblei,' - he told his constituents, ' dame frerehilving no established religion." '' ' ' As, o the tariff questiOn„ he quotes pid. fessor Cairnea : " The Moat', liliefal ,tariff the Union ever enjoyed, witii that made fa' 1857, and it was while, this tariff, Was in force 'that the plot of secession w as ma tured. an consummated." : ' He also ' re minded the audience that for` the last fifty years the pro:slavery parts t tiliii the reins of power, and that 'in RI TO'' a intrils'-l' pissed, " with ataview to enediarage Smeri can manufacturers," which was mairkly stippOrted by-Calhoun and Lowndes, and` voted for by two- n fifths.of all Abe 'Southern . representatives in Congress. The oelehra-, ted Henry Clay was ,for more than , a quar ter of a century the recognized leader of protection. _ ~ As to " the real, causeof.the war," he quotes the Declaration of Independence by South Carolina, December 24,11860, stating the .'" increasing hostility of the.Nerthern , States to the institutions of slavery," and "'how they . have : denounced as , sinful, 41 t e institution ,of slavery. .* * * ,A :geographical line' has been . , drawn across 'the Union;•.and all ' the States North of that , line has . % .• united in the efec ;tori of a man as President,, . whose prin ciples and, opinions are hostile to sla very."' . Mr. Stadart also quotes •sebti meats of the 'saine'color`from the;ordinance , of secession, of Louisiana, January 1861, and also ,the. avowal, of Mr. Sprat who said ; " The veal contest, is between two , forms . of,socieQ : th; one embodying'the principle that equality is the right of man, expanding u p on the.horizontal plane of , . .., t ile , ppre Democracy ; the other that at is right;ef equals only, and , takine , ,to itself the ro unded form of a social ari stocracy ;",. and "'each being_ the nature of this con test, thetUnion his .been 'disrupted' in -the eloritof Slave society to emancipate itself.??l , Mr:, Stephens, ,the ; ,Southern, Vice T Presi r , , dent, and ,the , Richmond Examiner, are, quoted to the same . effect. What, then, asks Mr. Stoddart; becomes' . of the plea that the South are fighting for liberty ? " They are fighting for liberty, brit it is liberty to enslaye.,,their fellow beings, to buy and sell `them in the-slut:ra bies like cattle, teeart husband- 'and Wife, mother said child, brother and sisterthe,' liberty to reheat the slave trade, to makes; moral and physical' *Maness. 'of one half of the American Continent, and*, extend the .blighting effects' of slatery to : ' the end .. of time." , " What the framers of the Constitution thought," is alaci brought forward, and in' impresinve array, 'Madison, Jefferson,' and'' Monroe, are', Made "to pass before the' - audience. He contrasts with' their Eidtiti- ' merits the words` (abominable words, 'I take leave ; . to say they are,) of Dr. Palmer, preachitig at New-Orleans : "'The provi dential trust of the . Smith is to perpetuate the institution of dthoestie slavery as now existing, with free abope for its natural de velopnient. * * It is a duty we owe to Ourselves, to, war Slaves, to the world, to Almighty God, to preserve and transmit , our existing system of,domestic seriitede, with the right,unchallenged by man, to go and root itself wherever Providence and nature may carry it." Mr. Stoddart speaks to England as well as to America, wherk.he 'forcibly remarks : " There is a Retributive Justice, which deals with' nition, SW with individuals, and if - we depart from'the laws of God,>rsooner or later we, must.pay the penalty. . Thu:3 ; # is that both England and Anieriee are new suffering for their connivance at , and com plicity with,a huge system of wring Y and oppression." The aggressive character of slavery,: the Dred Scott decision,- the attack on Fort Sumpter, Southern chivalry,,(so 'palled, and eonspicuous for insisting on its own way in everything, and enforcing its opinions b f the' bowie-knife and pistol,)-are' all ably , handled by Mr. Stoddart in his lecture, 4.; As to the .Northerns , he• says: " !They: nozfer can, and , they never . mill,.ennsent to be deprived of two-thirds of their seaboard, and'. 'practieally to insulatetheinselirei,'' and 4 rthe hardye'sent of the' wilderness are fighting for liberty, progress, and civilise tion, for themselves and their posterity." " Such," he says," are some of the con siderations that necessitates the continuance of this war until, one party or the' other gain the political ascendancy, and is able hereafter to vindicate its right to control the destinies of the whole country, either for oraoninst liberty." One 45 . the most pleasing portiens of this Leeture is, " What the war has mom- plished "—slavery abolished in the District of Polinnbia; prohibitiOn of slavery in the territories of the: Union; a treaty with Great Britain to put, down, the slave trade,. -with mUtnal' right of 'search ; the public = execution of a slave trade , captain ; the . the,negto republies of tiHay.: tt and; Liberia ;, the protection - of all Slaves. escaping tn:the Federal lines, ~and the Fir- Anal repeal of the Fugitive Slave Law;'the offer" ,of t compensation to loyal .StateS abol ishing slavery; the, reierieflif" the . Dred Scot decision ;, the securing., Cfpermanent, freedgui to more than Two, hdrulted . thon =sand.slivesi the establishment, achpolS, and I=l,oiotii 9.f 49,iniiilingq+IIib91' crown :g rapd,, -ing r uct, e in the ,note YrUclamation'of ided on-the Idt`of'SaCUarY.; 18'64Y' , When I w a s j,l4oNcippk ixi G-lailg(77;l Oh , sery4f,en the;walla large ',Placardsheaded,, "Vni i on and' Ematir t ipation":`Society,!t in. which aPpenrs`nre l made't6 Ilcke`Uforlcm-, , :men of Gr,eil liiitaii'dhewing the issfies, above indicated,and elai ming, their syMljaz t thy fer the: Northern ,States. The Baptist Noel, has published 'a volume In ,el 4 position_ of' the, Same toPicii: S noted withsatistactioru'thefaverableahknge in : i pnblic sentim - eet, although slot* it(- I ,developini, will 1114m461Y briV aboutaMore cordial UndeistancliegletWeen, thetWo countries. THE, RpOED , F i rqDiSOUSSION n-Parliament. about the Atalanta, and. in reference ito ships being built for the Confederate States; `nee] . " pot be commented on by me. The 4feet - a it; will be to make the Gov arid‘iefiiirreliCfany "v'easels provia' on oath to be fittingiont , for the, South and ,war f ; purposes { is,• certain.. Tlip difficulty is to. appert i ain definitely snd, certainly what the destinations of ships are. The tie 4rtiOo . le argument Oethe 'Solicitor General ik` toslie weighed only= 144 4 a13. it applies to ascertained fees, but the'nation does not wish,to compromise mood feeling,, and no Ministry nor party ever dare to in velve us in war for the sake of ;the e South and slavery. Mr.' Stoddart asks •in the `conclusion of his Ileettire,if;slavery,'" the - nclitery"bone of eontention, is removed, What ,is hinder.the re-:Upton- of, the two goeltioils 7. 7 But the slave Rower, ,should Old the ',ascendency, LibertY mug, *ultilniteltwin` the day by the renewal '6f 'the 'contest again and' again. , ! She has-for - her motto-: • • lOnward, while a wrong remains To be eonsuered hy the right, Whilestn - irior clouds the reason, Or a 0614 ow gnamothe heart, - - - ,7 4 : 1r ‘•94f 4 MA1 1E144 4 11. -b-4 41:1, =*- 4, Action - is the good man's pert.'" The Lecture which I have - thus analyzed is being sold on Railway Bdolc-stalls, and , extensively read:' There istlio doubt it will produde its , resnita _on popular feel ing as funas the South and slavery are con- Oerned. The masses do not, see with .the same 'clearness, the question of",The.Un 7 ion',"•':as.: that ofiAiiti.:Slavery; but, by Gtlisidessing„ both may ere long be made 'Cleatilin-the way that:Northern patriots d& Prayer is, specially needed ,from all good 'min on both, sides of the AtUntie, for a spirit of .wisdinn and forbearance, from the 'perils with , Which.-the- cause of 'peace is once more. threatened. The Alabama, and its ravages„met by Admiral Wilkes!s nye of the Peteilsoi, and other ,facts fa niftier to us all; call loudly for supplication to,ther Father 'of Mercies and God-of Peace. Peacemakers thernare , at the press, as well as in the pulpit here, and.if a .prisis were 'imminent, unless war was forced on the na tion by a deolaratiOnaAt .t effeet on the other side (Whieh i -r : trast ' •'not : beg:he ease) the redress of wrongi if-real, and the explanation of what was _doubtful, monld.be demanded by a majority.,of the .nation., : TuE -NORTH OF •SCOTLAND is the> local ity from whence forward this letter. Last Lord's day I, was at Aberdeen, "the granite city" Here Learning long has had one-of'its chosen seats. It iii remark . - able that three oat'of :four recent ,S - enior Wranglers'atone of,the,English Univerei tica- had .beer students 1,4 Aberdeen, ,an very many its alumni are men econpy 7 very distinguished positions in 'the' Ministry of the in. the :Medical profession and in. the nivel, and mili tary services, both = at home ,ankabroad, The Duke of Argyle,,,nt, theirec,ent.ban quet given at Glasgow to Viscount Pal inerstoo, in contiaion his public inauguration and address' as ,Lord :Rector or the University of Glasgow, brogght,Out with great ability and clearness the invalu r able benefits aeoruing Sccitlaniffriim" her Universities; especially, frbin the low cost of of 6 . 4in:cation therein, coupled with the fact that many persons -in S humble life : made. marvellous,seerifices to personal comfort in. order to fiend their sons, thither., , Instances were` adduced by, the' bake of a very im prestiVe and touching ofiericter,illistrative of this. 'Aberdeen is distinguished- as being'a, stronghold of the Free Church of Sootland,, and from the memorable,,fact that all the Establishe4,,elergy " went out," to a man, at the 'Disruption of, - 180. There are three Free ch'u'rches, included in one fine'edifibe—yet each, the South; the East, and 'the West `Church, soseparated from one another that there is no interference as to voices or, the rushiiDworshipers entering or leaving,. with one another. I preached in two Of these Chnrches ,day. It is; a „mostjinpressive, spectacle look down Union Street, Aberdeen,. when the belle - are ringing. out in the'Sabbath° mem tlic,snmmone public worship,' and etilt, more, se; when . the are forenoon or ef- 1 ternoon, services are over. The, multitudes commingle iii , their homeward way-in vast streams as` far as the eye . can - !fee. Everting, ,aervice in - Scottish - rural dis•-• triets and in, towns, is the , exception, lind not the rule. ‘:‘ The gondtold family habit" of catechising 'around the,hearth is thus in measure preserved, and the contrast of the 44erted streets, with London crowds and, English . public heAsee , line anttiepaired.te after six _o'clock in the evening, is- very pleating. - The -Aberdeenians have a dialect and an ntrieeTtitation different from any other part of Scekland. It, if I must gay far from pleas- WHOLE NO. 553. ing. The mouth must be opened very wide, to utter the words as they, pronounce them, and the union of this with elegant . houses, good education, refined manners, &c., is a strange thing to one who habitu ally lives among the same class in the soft and sweetly-speaking South of Britain, and especially the Londoners. 'There is, on the other hand, a remarkable - difference is to elegance and refinement_ of speech and the use Of the English topple, among the• Richland, gentry, and even, in. ,the middle classes in and around Invernees, Elgin, and other Northern town's bordermg on the Xoray Frith and the 'Gerinan Ocean. I :observed this, years,ago, at. Inverness; but it has been, foreiblypresented to, me in my present place of writipg,the hcantifully situated and thriving town of rkair4; ;here am 'sit ti n 'in a miniater'ag'inaitse-stUdy, after-"having been sup. ierffthe•imorning early,". and got quite -familiar with . -the bar hor, the fishin&boats, and.the herrtng-fish, cry-smacks and the silver strand on which in music soft' and sweet which l never fUils to gladden any heart,' th'e 'rippling' tide flows in. - I , have:beeri full- of thouglifti this gpirigi:topt , abotz - txpgh; Miller anti n the 1011 Red' Sandstone for .do • I not see yondcr, the cntraiace . to the,q3axof,'Crotnar ,ty; and the.' hill' of Crecafarty, too; tight' prat 'Which is 'Croniarty• itself, *here , tile' illustrious -stone-mason begani•liis:' , eiperi- Siage ( of/cily Schools and School-masters 2 7 ! And all !don.' ,the s. coa,st arid bays .do: T I not the cliffs among riltieh, iliantiter anti—theTiellgodra skid ialtriown;lauf. ..tine'd' to' ;rink 'with- IMurchieobni , Lyall, .and` , itcheock- wai*on t .to .‘9711. der, enthusiasm burning.,. and throbbing under 6g:broad chest?' `p whole gOrthern. region (to t 'ona'S .sirpfise)'-irs irem' arkahlelor its early and; fine_ Stain.- and for a .beautiffil Winter clinaate also. •• The -pear-tree this, morn ing, is piitthig..forth its,blossonap ; other trees and shrubs' stejl retain fast , year's' leaVei,Sith l ough Seard,anaf faadl , egetatioi as fgr itdiftinCed . a mty awn hoilablin Kent" roore. than six hundred miles, south, and ,within sight, of the ; Crystal Palace, ; - ; at Syd euham I rejoins to odd that over this region clouds of blessing' have gai,Veind aid burst during theithefe* years=thei,.Fo t rulalism has giveliWaytti'SpiritualitY,.and Death to Life,. GingPetpligions awakenings aniong., the marinfficand.fishinepopulation, among the iding,:and . ai 1 classeS, have here re vealed themselves, and men Of God-•are -made glad= by [What God has wroughtt,; The minister, who4eaguest I ami, has lairtoble, andlOost, numerous ,band -of 4m-bearers and,oomntuninants, and ,otimmuninanis, and wide and' far the Highland's of Seotland are clothed with `a moral grandeur and beauty'iia . ftt tkeeping -with the. scenes of sublimity and "beauty, :which here . airest the traveller and the stranger: . ,el, ; W. For qte,Pr9spyteri!tn. pariner. ectatiLinnual Statement, of the, Upeeations BO :Receipts fif,„the limpilcat• Bible So ciety in - Eastern Oltiofor the rear Eliding March 'SI, 1865; ga m i n ., completed another fiscal' year in' labors of this - SoCiety, I take Pleasure in sulanittin,g , as is dfy usual-custom; w`state ment of the-operations•andreceipts of the year. And first of all; :I am constrained to record the goodnus of, that overrnling Providence which has given to the people of"God.a spirit' of Willing and liberal response to the claimi 'of his Word, not withstanding all.the calamitous influences . to which the long-continued, and distracted - state of the public _mind has given rise. The Claims of other charities have been urgent and numerous, but it affords a cheer ing evidence of the grOwing interest mani fested in the blessings.of common. Go spel, and in its free and wide diffasion,that Ciod's people have been Willing "to put to their" hands in this' day ((their national calituity and trial; for the' tiCeomplishment of even greater. and nobler: ends than' ever liefore. , In no, year since, the formation of the American :Bible Society has, that institu tion sent , forth so, large a number of vol umeauelhe Word - of Life—its issues ceetlingthirteen hundred thousand voluinea, while .-its receipts have:increased:. in a •cor- responding ratio and amount , totour, hun dred and, twenty-two thopsand five ,hundred , and eighty-eight dollars, being an excess of forty-ftmr thbusand'ibur hundred and fifty 'six dollars 'over those 'of the preceding year:A , The reoeipts.freiusOhioi during' the ; year, exceed those of any State in ,the Union, except 'New-York, and were fifty one thonsand Seven hundred and ,eixty-, ' three dollars; „being an excess of 'twenty-: three thousand three hundred ead:fort,Yrfive . dollars over those , of the.preeedint.year, or or a,gain, of .about, seventy per, cent. In the twenty-tvio counties of Eastern Ohio which comprise my own field of liher, `the net receipts of thelrealihrforkeen thou sand four hundred ;and Ifourteen ,dollars; being an increase of four thousand eight , hundred and forty-eight - dollars over those of the preeeding year, or' a gain of about fifty per cent, This amount,' it will also be borne in mind, is. the :actual cash re mitted to the parent Society, and is exeln sive; of all, moneys ,disbursed in the em 7 ployment.of county agents and diatributors of thii Word of God among the'destaute. The plan by which these gerke'rafresult& have been secured, hasheen the same , as de: lineated in. previous annual.statements, viz., through ,the-medium of t branchor township Societies, and local . (school.district) or ,un paid ' together with a few enter prtsince and active ciimity agents to super... intedand 'give 'effielency te"the machinery employed. Of these branch Societies in Eastern Ohio,.there., are now about three hundred in successful operatien, and con- . 'fleeted with, them ere about twenty-five hundred voluntary or`iiniiiid'agents: While seine, as is always th&•ease; have been less efficient than we ,could -desire, they. still constitue, as.a blidy, a noble hand of fellow,. laborers, tit! them the_: cense, is -greatly indebted tor itisuccess. In no year during the exh3terice'Of the Society, have the re from-thi& field been so large—a fact which in itself will, I think, abundantly commend the system to . the confidence of the friends of, the.,use. From - the•period ofthe introduction of it in 1856 ip to' the present time, the' yearly receipts have ex hibited a steady 'and healthful growth, whereas, prior too the period referred to, they AIeWITI, if ,eyer,. exceeded four thousand. dollars from the entire field,4md,more ire qientlyfell short of half of this amount. We 'haviMideaiered, during th,e year, to pay' special attention' toithe.l3i6tical of •theipqoplo,.,and.l.especially the soldiers THE PRESBYTERIAN ,BANNER Publication Office : GAZETTE BITIIMINOB, 84 Firm BT. ' PITTABORCiII, PA PIII:I4DELPHIA, SOUTH-WM 00E , 07718 fern OneTwei TERMS IN ADVA.NOE. A Square, (8 lines or less,) one imitation. BO rents; earli eubsequent insertion, 40 cents ; each lints beyond eight, 5 ef• A Square por quarter, 34.00 ; each line additional, 35 cents A liximortote made to advertisers by the year. = BUSINESS rurrießß of Tax lines or tees, SLOO .aob ad , litional lino, 10 cents. REV. DAVID .11VEINN'EY, • • PROPRIZTOU who have gone from among us. Several"' camps—in tact, all that have comeunder my knowledge—have been thoroughly sup..„ plied with Testaments, either through our auxiliary Societies, or by direct appropria tion from the parent Society for this pur : , pose. It has been our aim that not ones. should go from among us without:carrying with him the written Word of God. The supply of destitute- households hat not bee n overlooked. It is true that Abe' multiplication of depositories, through our network of branch Spcieties _has gradually diminished the work to be done in ,this de partment from year to, year,.;* continuous work 'to ~perform--ell'ariges', 6 4lo constantly occurring, books are 'wearingi:n out, families are.'removing and others, are : r, coming ; , in to, supply their places, and • new families Aire _being, formed, and thus new destitntions: are constantly rennin& Much of this supply has "been effected through tire' ordinary lainYis of dietie Boeielies and their focal agenCies, asiristedo” by the travelling agents, , Whileinrirome stances ~the denseness_- of, tho,pcpnlation,p . and other causeshev. cornip_ired to render it , e4petext.t. , ,te :employ, MgloFihat.,ttt ing,.agerit to insure pr