Vrtsimitriari a anittr.
PATSBDIGH, 'WEDNESDAY, TUNE 17, 186
Sabbath School Convention.—The late
Convention in Pittsburgh was large and
iniportaut. Tt occurred during the sessions
of our General Assembly, and absence pre
vented our noticing it as we should desire.
Pastors and elders should feel themselves
charged with these fountains of influence,
and make 'them to be real blessings.
THE CONTEMPLATED NEW HYMN-8008. •
Occasionally there is a great floury made
by our poets, poetesses, and critics, about
the.deficiency of our Hymnology, and the
indispensible necessity of improvement.
Our..late General Assembly lent a favoring,
ear so far that it appointed a large commit
tee on the subject, with instructions to re
port next. year. We dc, not wish to say
much on . the subject ; and shall, for the
present, merely quote our contemporary,
the Examiner, which is a Baptist journal,
conducted with much taste and judgment,
and inclined occasionally to a little pleas
antry.. It speaks thus :
"IMPENDING DISASTER.
" A, disaster is imminent over the relig
ious community, in the shape of a new
hymn and tune book. Happily, it is the
Presbyteriana only, or we at least hope so,
who - "are now threatened, and the Old
School at that. They are tolerably tough,
and can bear a good deal. It seems that
the. General Assembly of this branch, now
or lately in session at Peoria, Illinois, were
requested the Presbytery of Albany to
prepare a new selection of Psalmody. Ihe
request was rtferred to the Board of Pub
lication ; but as there is probably some pri
vate interest concerned, backed by some
' enterprising publisher's' money, there is
little doubt that it will prevail.
" Seriously, there is'no nuisan,ee promi
nent in religious matters, equal to new
hymn-books. Any disinterested Asaph,
celestial or human; who might be made
umpire, would decide, that out of some
dozen selections, now competing for use in
the sanctuary, there is no particular feature
in any that makes it worthy to oust its
'neighbor. Indeed, some of the later se
lections are far from being preferable to the
older. The simple fact is, that personal
interest gets up, or instigates the getting
up of most 'Of these books for mercantile
purposes. All this-is well enough, if ev
erybody understands it,; but to have the
churches set 'by the ears every two or three
years, and forced into an aggreg ate` expense
of from $3OO to $5OO each, under the im
pression that it is for the improvement of
the songs of Zion; is nonsense—that is,
speaking in the • 'abstract. Tf, however,
they do it with their eyes open, all the bet
ter for the publishers, who are a very wor
thy class of gentlemen, and all of them
our very good friends."
POLITICAL PREACHING;
We still hear many complaints made
about "political preaching!' We find
them more especially coming from sources
where there is not the most cordial susten
tation of our National Government in its
defence of the integrity, of the Union.
There may, however, be some reason for a
portion of the fault-finding. Happily,
where it is our privilege to worship we hear
nothing of wordly politics in -the Lord's
day sermons; and, we never.yet have heard
a sermon, from any pulpit, to which we
could take exception on' this score.
We allude to the subject now, in order
to advise our brothei ministers to the use
of much caution, both in ',the selection -of
texts and the treatment of their subjects" of
discussion, in the sacred desk. Be sure
that you speak for God, and speak nought
but God's truth. Noting,the signs of the,
times, and the needs of the people, you
cannot but speak of out national 'calamity,
the sins of the people, the.wickedness of
the rebellion, the justice of God's judg
ments, and the repentance and reformation
to which we are called.
And we would suggest to hearers the
importance of consulting the holy oracles,
and of forming their tastes and modifying
their criticisms by what they there read.
They . will find that the Scriptures speak
largely of social affairs—of government, of
rulers, of obedience to authority, of wars,
of public calamities, of Widows, orphans,
mastenr, , servants, &c., &c. They will
hence `see" that a, faithful minister cannot
possibly avoid these things, j and especially
cannot at such a time as this. ,
We Would have them alsonote that hearer's,
often judge of things wrongfully; `that is,
they often impute things to the minister of
which he himself has no thought; they,
bear him with the ears of party politicians,
and they call that politics which is really
the veritable teaching of treeeB and of Paul.
We ask them to think of this, and try
whether the , ; faith be not in, themselves;
and by all ',means to judge their pastor
charitably, and put the best possible con
stritition on what, he says. 'And if: he
shouldbe defective as to the amount of
pure Gospel, preaching, they will wisely
make the more diligent use of what they
get. No man is perfect. No man can
claim., however much he,may make the en
deavor, tha,t, he fully succeeds in rightty
dividing the: Word. - -*--
It iitlso - te be remenibered, in our
ing of the Word, thlt the minister - is
Christ's. ambriliaror, that'lls• studies his in,.
structicns, that he prayi -.- Ifir Divine grad: -
arme,
_cud that he speaks under solemn
responsibilities. When, then, he cornea to
us with a , meseage in Christ's name, it .be
hooves iiii:totear becerolently. The in:
ferenari,lbat the turd bath bidden him
so to speak; s a id while yrp
shuukkgo, to:the Scriptures to test .the - re
titudetoPhis teachings, we are to go with
humility t •,:W i th - a docile spirit, and with
`snuc'h'iind earnest prayer.
Waltman! that many times thoie severe
eensuiets bliiiat's ministers are influ
enoedt'4 AO, do
their nrj.selv 4 o a,xerzif i teatinjury.,,,
4,4 -
WHO MAY VOTE FOR A PASTOR?
Some two-years ago the Synod of Ken
tucky affirmed that all communicating
members of the Church, Who submitted to
discipline regularly administered, and who
contributed duly to the expenses of the
church, and none but such, had a right to
vote when a pastor was to be chosen.
From this decision Drs. BRECKINRIDGE,
HUMPHREY, and others dissented, and car
ried the matter, by complaint, to the Gen
eral Assembly. The late Assembly, after
a very full discussion of the question, sus
tained the complaint. But they gave no
answer to the question, Who may vote ?
They disapprove of the restricted interpreta
tion given to our Standards by the Synod
of Kentucky, but they give no definite ex
position. Congregations are left in the
same uncertainty, and to the same freedom,
in which they were before the Synod's and
the Assembly's action; and the subject is
equally open for discussion.
We believe that the Assembly did just
right, in the circamstances. Laws may be
too minute. The liberty of private judg
ment may be too much abridged. But still,
the more liberty there is enjoyed .the
more needful is it that the public mind,
shall be enlightened, and that the publf.c
conscience shall be right. The question
before ns is one of deep import. The peace
and spiritual edification of a people, are
intimately concerned in its decision. The
people should give it some attention.
It is'not those who are to be taught, who
are the best qualified judges of the teaehdr.
It is rather, those who are already taught, or
those whose the pupils are. Wise men se
lect the Professors for our schools and col
leges. Parents choose the institution, and
hence the teachers, 'to whom they will en
trust their sons and daughters. As the
minister is a teacher, the choice ought to
be in the hands of the wise—of the parents
or heads of families.
The 'Scriptures are neither definite in
instructions, nor Minute in their examples,
in relation to the choice and installation of
spiritual officers. They teach abundantly,
that the minister is called of God, quali
fied, sent.- He is the ambassador of Christ.
He is the gift of Christ to the Church, for
her edification. God's providence is con
cerned in the sending' and locating of the
minister, but what may be the people's
right in choosing, and in what manner they
shall exercise their right, are not detailed.
We hence infer that man's enlightened
reason' has much to do, in these things.
Our Church Standards also, are, wisely
we should say, somewhat indefinite on this
subject. When God is not' minute, we
should be neither exaetirig nor positive.
In our Form of Government, Chap. I, see.
6., it is said "The election of persons to
the exercise of authority, in any particular
Society, is in that Society." This is truth,
ful, but general. The office is of God.
The calLto office, and, the endowments, are'
of God. The investiture is by the Church.
But the choice of the individual officer to
the ,stated exercise of his pnetions in a
particular Society, is, in that Society. The
inference is, that the Society itself, is, on
proper principles, to determine the mode of
choosing. The principles are, Scripture,
right reason; and he order of 'the more
general Church to Which, the Society be
longs.
In Chap. XIIL, see. 2, we read: "Every
congregation shall elect persons to the
office of ruling elder, and to the-office of
deacon, or either of them, in the mode
most approved and in :use in that congrega-
Hon. But in all cases the persons elected
must be male members in full communicm,
in the church in which they are to 'exercise
their office." The iniplication here is, that
" modes" may vary, and that others than
" males" may vote; and also others than
znemheri in 4 ‘ full communion."
In Chap. XV. sec. 6 speaking of the
election of a, pastor, it is. provided : "-No
person shall be entitled to vote who refuses
to submit to the censures of the church
regularly administered, or who does not
contribute his just proportion, according to
his own engagements, or the rules of that
congregation, to all its necessary expenses."
Here it is 'to be observed that in the sec
tion from which we quote, and in all 'the
chapter, it is not, the church but the e(4 . 1-
grevtion, which is,named—" the membefig
of that:•congregation"; " a pastor for that
congregation "; the people of that congre
gation "; the electors of that Congregation."
For us then to substitute church, for " con-
gregation," and say that according to our
Standaids.none but members of the church
are duly qualified electors, in the choice of
a pastor, would be to do great iriolence to
common reason ; and _still more would it be
wrong for us, /unless clearly taught by
other parts of our Book, or by the Holy
Serißtures, to say that none but communi-
catinemembers of the' church should. be
entitled. to a vote
If we should take the word congregation
as a synonym of church, still we cannot
justly restrict its membership to those who
are actually communicants at the Taord's
table. ." The visible Chuieb," says the,
Confession off' Faith, in Chap. XXV.; see.
2, " consists of 'all those throughout the
world, that -profess the true religion, to
gether with their ehildren!! This era-
braces multitudes who. do not see : their way
clear to the Lord's-table. The language of
our Standards, however, in regard to the
body which seledts a pastor is, " society,"
and "congregation."' Now, the congrega= .
tion, according to the.. Scriptures, and to
facts,' is madunp of families; and as we =axi s `
'prebend the Scriptures, und'our Standards
also, the right to vote resides in the leads
'of families. Authority rests with the heed
of. the family.. Responsibility is there
Experience and. wisclout are there. The
bead of the family ham the right to aay; wha
shall enter his house as a pastor and teach-
er, and where his, household shall go for
instruction. Ho it is who, is: boand toxin- :
etruct, or to`provide -the teaching. And
~.4.,;i .;..,''. .i::: .Q4:l-,i3Ori '34 ii , ./'4-4 , 1:: -.
' t
PRESBYTERIA.N BANNER.---WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1863.
hence it is that he, when he properly dis
charges other duties, is the duly qualified
elector.
Of this right the head of the family
ought not to be deprived by any unscrip
-1 tural or arbitrary enactments. The man
who will refuse to do his part in sustaining
a pastor, is justly deprived of a vote. The
man also who refuses to yield to the dis
cipline of the eliureh, is properly disfran
ehiied. And the man who professes alle
giance to another society, has no right to
vote. Simply his paying money to the ex
penses there, does not give him a just claim
to the exercise of a . controlling power.
And the man who does not " profess, the
true religion," may not vote. He belongs
not to the Christian family, and cannot be
a member of the congregation.
A question here arises : Does the man
who fails to commune at the Lord's table,
fail to .‘ profess the true religion,," and so
deprive himself of a right to vote ? We
think not; on the supposition that he ,is
otherwise qualified. We. suppose him to-be
one horn in the Church, and henna a mem
ber of Christ's visible family. 'His birth
,
right has been sealed in baptism. He has,
been taught in the doctrines of Christian- -
ity, and has received. them and holds then 2.
He abides the family ;conforms to its
rules;'sustains the ordinances; attends'
worship; has never been subjected to.:dis
cipline; has never been. disowned. He is,
hence, still a member of the visible Church,
and a - member of that congregation.- He
is•so, as we think; by the. Scriptures and
certainly is so by our Standards.
In, these remarks we keep in mind that a ,
particular congregation is; in some respects,
a voluntary society and its such it may
have its special rules. It - may.. organ
ize; on the principle that' the exercise of
authority, as in voting for officers, - shall not
he confined to• the, heads . of families, nor
yet reside in the whole adult' people; but
that only communicating persons 'shall
vote, and that all these, may vote, whether
old or young, male ger female. Such mat
ters might well be subjects for considera
tion in the forming of a new society; but
now we are inquiring, not what ought to
,but what is, in theT'resbyterian Church,
as it is organized and as its principles, are
set forth in our Confession- of Faith, our
Catechisms, Form of GoVerninent;Book of
and Directory for Worship;
and,. according to these Standards, we
think that all heads of families; who are
members by birth and baptisin, who, hold
to our faith and order, who have never been
disowned, who are members of a congrega
tion, and who sustain their proper share of
all burdens, are qualified voters for a pastor.
And we regard all who have a rightto vote
for a pastor, as having equally a right to
vote for elders and deacons.
There are, we are aware, one or two ex
pressions in 'our Form of Government`
• which will bear the interpretation that only
communicants may vote for elders, but the
.general tenor of our Standards, as we
think, and of the
_Scriptures certainly,
make'no distinction in the qualifications of
electors for one office and for the .other.
The ruling elder is a
.spiritual offieer, and.
every person in the congregation who_ has,
a soul -to save, and a character. to, protect,
and•w household to visit, and" ehildito
controlled, edified, and admitted to 'church'
t)rivileges is Concerned in his qualifications
and character. But the question as to the
elders, we do not press.
lii choosing a pester, hewever, we are,
clear in our conviction that t4p, q ualified
electors are "the members, of the congrega- : '
lion." They are the heads of families; or
persons who'have attained to their majority
and personal respensihility. They'. haie
their rights by - being with us, and of ' us
constituent parts
.ef the holding,. to
our faith and order.: They, ihare •in the
•
burdens, but do no - Vl:lure:has& a right by
money._ Thq are members of the family; .
,and not outsiders." They are not in-:
• fidels, but Christians.
.They are not Meth
odists, nor Episcopalian& nor Baptiits, but
Presbyterians: And though - they'may not
yet lore attained to a definite hope
Christ, so as to confess , him at the Atm
munion table, still they, wish to attain, and,
they would worship God, and acquire
knowledge, and be guided heaienward -un
der the leadingof a Preabyterian minister ,
and in conjunction with their' town people.
Let all such, we say, choose for:their pastor,
whom theY will, from among, those , whom
our Church has educated and examined,
and set apart to preach the Gospel of sal
vation.
THE 'WAR WRONG.
This war is all wrong, say a tiortiqi , ot
the pointounity. The war sheuld never
have been , begun, a nd it shouu not ..be con
tinued. Very true, -say we:: But who
`began it ? Was. it not the Solith ? As
_actual war it began with the attack on yoit
SUmpter. The SOuth fired the firs( gun,
and shed the first blood.
And who continue the war? it hot
the South still'? We hear of no nekno,wl
edgment of *wig; no promise to become
obedient ,to, the laws; no .down of
arms; no proffers to return te duty._ ' • t '
On the side of tiie GovetnMent, the war
is partly defensive, -an d. partly an;., effortjo
execute thelawa. It is -4efensive,
it would imeserve-the'unitylofthore,ouritry,"
prevent the Border and-North - ern' States,
froin being subjUgated and plundered," and
would protect„ Union men of the South
kitietherm4ny few,) in;the Anjopnent. ,
of-their rights. And iLis exteutiiro;orlaw
in that it would brink . to justice - aid
punish,' :conspirators,, .rebels, murderers,
thieven, and robbers.
The South did a great wrong in waging
this war. They do a great wrongOVery
day they 'continue -it. The
them: We ni the:North Want .peiie. ", *re
tePder,,PeAM on righteous terms:, Peace
:and unity, feats- with laws;rand=to the
and'
iv A aDairr..,l .1
always in favor of peace, but, as we have
ever said, i 6 is a righteous peace which we
advocate; a peace which shall secure to us
a whole country, and a'faithful adminiatra 7
tion of law.
A WRITER in the Congregationalist fur
nishes an interesting article on the views
and practice of the Congregational Church
in regard to the participation by women in
the audible exercises of a worshipping as
semply. He mentions among other curious
facts, that John Cotton, when connecting
himself with the First church in Boston,
on his arrival in 1633, would not allow
Mrs. Cotton to make an open confession .of
her faith, because, he said, " it was against
the Apostles order, and not fit fora -wo
man's modesty;"' but he gaie his testimony
to her qualrfinations, and consented that the
elders should'examine,.her.,
With , regard to the usage of Congrega--
tionaliam iti 4ts later years‘,-be:qUotis Pun
chard an his view`of Congregationalism ,'`s
saying
"It is utterly inconsistent with estab
lished uqagefor females to take any part in,
hilliness.. transactions. Their vieWs, and
wishes are--.to be-.expressed privately to.
their Pieter:or - their .brethrea: we suffer,
not a.women to speak in ntheohurch, agree
able to apostolic injunction.. I would not
be understood to say thatmo Congregational
chureli ,pursues a different courae. I have
had occaaion to know of one,. at least, which
has foll Owed a different practice to, its own
detrithent. All deviations from the, wind
course are iipots upon, the w , fair..character of
our 'churches." .
DE: HUNTINGTON, of Boston, in a re
,eently published sermon on '" ; The Roman
Catholic Principle," reinerliffthat Ihnfirat
question put by. about nine New-England
ers' out of ten,,when they are urges:lto any
particular religious -duty, is, :not, Has God
said this'?:or; • DOei Christ enjoin it f but,
What good AO I get by it.? , May jot .a
person get.to heaven without
Dr. .H. , may-present ,the subject a - little
too. strongly, but the iirinciphr he condenina
is practically prevale" , nt to a-lamentable ek
tenrnot only in New-England, but,
; amon g
churches everywhere.
. ,
The following is' a 'summarrof the An
ring 'Report of the Boston Seamen!s Friend
"Society
" Hon. Alpheus Hardy, is.- President.
The ,entire ,receipts have been $9,060.77:
The. Society gwes .$lB,OOO, but, the debt
has, been reduced $3,000 , during ,the year.
`At the Semen's,House in Purchase Street,
1,700 seamen harlbeen received ashoarders.
during, the , past : ; year, of ; , whom , 77 were
shipwreekedand destitute... Capt. Bartlett,.
the seamen's missionary, _continues to labor.
assiduously at tbe Chelsea Marine Hospital.
The,Society has furnished several hundred
libraries. to .naval vessels. , The- total 're-'
eeipt,s,-of the parent Society, the American
Seamen'a , Friend- Soeiety at New-York,
were ,$29,539--including-the receipts of all
its auxiliaries $61•674. •
THE BoitOk-Rio9ll,Dtle says' that Bev.
Martini a fugitive Slave' and late
pastbr'of a Baptist' church in Boston, has
accepted ; a .cordial. and unanimous invita
iion „to becbme the pastor of the church at
present meeting for worship in, the lecture
hall,. Bromley,'near Bow London.
W 4 UNDZESTAND that the Life of Pres
ident-Lincoln-, published by Nalker, Wise
& Ca.,`Boaton, and `entitled'. The-Pionee' r
lloy and How he Be c ame Presideut, has
reached its ninth thousand in the short
time Wham been published.
T.At BOSTON TrtirisdnoT says' that Mr.
Wm Goff, Who died 'in . that city a few da-ys
since) ' was a' lineal descendant of the fa
mons _ William "'Golfe.. " one of the judges
who sentenced Charleo I to death: The
regieule, with .Generar Whalley, arrived it
Boston--in Jtily , 1660, and the late Mr.
Goff - often expressed the opinion , that he
was the last male 416;66'aq:hilt of the noted
ancestor, *home name' he 'bore. • '
TEM: Bosten Provident 44sociatimi,haye,,
during the pustlear, made 8530 visits, and
aided 2800, families, including
,8603 per-.
sous. Duringthe year they haye received
a legacy of $2606 from the late Benjathin
D. aree4` . . they haye
.expendett:for 'the
benefit of the podr 310 , 827 r
THERE were in:.Conneetieut •oIL tbe Ist
Of January, 49'sayings banks, with..d.epos
it's amounting to $23,146,936, tan increase
Over the.previous year of $3,162,977. -The
nuinber , of ,depositors- 104,727 average,
due each, depositor, nearly $323:
Mll. EDWARD HAB:11:113,` of' Woonseeket,
'has< given the Harriis'Vlock;"
gronedis appiirtinatit, 'valued at $70;000,
for ,the establishment in WoOneocket of a
free public library 'and public lectures . of a
scientific. and reformatory charac
ter. The will be sustained and
perpetuated 'by thwients,'ete.,-of the pro P -.
city. - It is to be called the 'Harris, Insti
tute.
Rxv..131-.llrrpnotsoK of, Amherst Col
lege, the eminent; geologist , is very ill,,and
not expected ,to live. 'He has been in fail
ing health fer;soine,years and the recent
his, wife greatly aeoelerided
his steps to, the grave. He will be a 3ight
gone out. No man connected with Am
herst College' has 'hist-such a Wide' Nine;
has, contributed Si)- much to seiiiiien,'"_and
brought , bask to' inatitution,SOnitieh
of renown`and"poweri.
' :
NEW -YORK.
lONE
. ,
TrrE , Observer' is giving, , 41:(rotigli=ltho,„
pen of a contributor, a Scrips df intereliting
4 "tli
articlk on'the .eiriiciit ebuiChes in Niii
york. qu94,,,a : favr,,itetns , ft9ip. 4)2
count duriiished trespeeting the-dteforined
Dutch;Chitrith
" the early daps - New Netherland'
the Sabbath was strictly
,observed, when
the people, diesed in their `best, attended ,
"gib chnreli services:' Theyir,prd
eicluelveri and strict in the
'performance Of their '
religionsreligions
The ‘9iCeek,'
. aid :r aexibn;
was a marked character of the gained 44.
'Having , ainniaried the congregation, by
the sound"lif the Cliiirch-gOins':boll x a wi - c ;
cession'himself `'and assistants was
foimedto'cayf from ''be - pity Hall to their
'church' pe* the ciabinns of the Inirgo:
masters and saftiii - aiiie - ',The schent;'iethit ,
same holir; IdWrounda, to see that the'
'streets were quiet during the time
'service z and to stop , theiiain . 4 Of the:l:Ain'
slaves and The *books
thirtwelf-to-coo matrons were eap~n:r ,
41j. ZIM Jzr
EASTERN SUMMARY.
NEW-ENGLAND.
sively bound, with silver edgings and
clasps, and sometimes gold; and these
were hung to the girdle by like costly
chains for Sunday use. Doctors and
dominies had libraries, the latter being
men of finished education.
" Unlike the plainly-attired Puritan, the
Dutch dominies always appeared in their
high, circular pulpits, with black silk
gowns, and large flowing sleeves. This
sacred robe seemed indispensable, and it is
related that, at the installation of an early
minister, who was not prepared with such
a garment, the presiding clergyman refused
to officiate. Fortunately for the candidate,
a kind clergyinan supplied his need, or the
ceremonies would have been postponed.
gi All the pulpits then had heavy sound
ing boards, and the Psalms of the day set
in moveable figures, either upon the sides
of the sacred desk or the church. The
clerk occupied a little pew or box. by him
self, in front of the pulpit, prefacing the
morning services by reading the Scrip
tures, and during the afternoon the Apos-.
this' ,'reed. He received from the sexton`
all thenotices to be reed, and then placing
them at the end of a long pole, they were
thus,passed up to the cloininie for, publica
tion. There were no church Clocks then,
and the &int.-glass supplied its place, which
'was placed Invariably, at the right hand of
the preacher. It:was the clerk's duty, too,
when the last grains of the, _sand had run
out, to, remind, him that the time to end
the sermon had come, by,three raps of his
cane. The discolirse finiShed, the deacons
rose int.their seats, went to the altar,
wlist
ened to a'brief- address from *omx the - preacher,
when they attended to • the public collet,.
tion."4
`'Trim inthlligencet has - the following ref
ekence to the reception by-the New Seboo
General Assembly of the Old School Com
missioner : ,
"The-late session of theGeneral-Asseni
bls (N. A.) at Philadelptia will bernentora=
ble in the liiStory of the great Trabyterian
family in this country. Atter divisions that
had lasted for morelhan a quarter of a cen
tury, the Old: School Asselbly sent . its
ComMiSsioners to the yery city in which
the 'disruption was consummated, to 'assure`
the sister Assembly in session there of its
hearty readiness and desire for returning
friendlineds. The Scene, 'as described' by
those who witnessed it, was most touoliing.
While the venerable -Commissioner, Rev.
• Dr. Pilaf n,wasdeseribing the gratitude th
which his aged eyesteheld such a dai, Other
venerable men -in his audience who 'had
1.-. been identified with the past discussions,
.responded With - their tears and-their
fabes. -The mere delight of the mai
den, :however, far- lesaimPortint - - than its
influence upon catholic charity throughout'
the' land. It is too soon' to' say what form
these restored relationd will ultiinately take.
Providence` will shape them. But no Man
that-loves Christ or his Church; can fait
to rejoice that' the restoration is begun."
'• THE :Examiner, in noticing the depar
ture of,,Rev. H. W. Beecher on his four
months' visit to Europe, remarks,„:
":We are of the number of those who
have had occasion to criticise some of Mr.
Beecher's prineiples, 'and may have to do
so ' again. But, we take pleasure in ac
knowledging that the demonstrations Of at:
tachment, respect,..and - love which attended
, hitn 'on'his departure were of such a char-,
peter as.te 'convince every one, who is net
thdroughly saturated with prejudice, of his
extraordinary ability and worth, and of the
high estimation in which he is held by
multitudes in the land. The Tuesday af
ternnon before be sailed, his Sunday Sbhool,
some 'eight hundred, strong, visited him it
his heuse, and while he stood at
„the door,'
nearly overwhelmed`him with flowers.. On
Saturday,,thousands of hid friends, went to
r. Montagne - wharf,..Brooklyn', -to bid him
, good-by, and, many
,of their travelled on.a
steamer down the Bay, to see off: ,
There is, 'Perhaps, sno other min ; in. the
country,,'and - certainly no other private cite-izen, who would hive been wafted ' on Isis
way by so great a numher of kind- wishes,
as were
• tient' after Mr. Beecher." ' n
THE LAST Evangelist contains a some
.
What racy ,letter &eta it the
Presbyterian General A.ssernbly , recently
convened- at Peoria. The writer, after al
• luding M..the,.telnmeo chewing and epitting i
the whittling
_and the heel-lifting Whibh,, -
he 4ndeAtanda,eharieteriand-theineetinie
of the Assembly in by-gone days,acktioivli•
edges `the n disappearance - W, these offences
against propriety, arid, Whether justly Or
not; ascribes the ConinseAdable:ehaßge*
the absence of the Southern brethren: He
thinks the -rebellion. hasiptrgedtherAleta r
bly of ",much InuFmantieisjrius
"bad temper andAfideenalfbadAleetnife./
He fuither writes:
" And while, I am about it,. I may say
that . these brethren for the moat part stick
to old ; prtbodox ways in :minor "tdatters.
!They with few exceptions, the
stovaplpelatand shave -their_ faces
as of-old.. There.a.re;:oecourse, o certain
..number . of full beards, well trimmed; , and
dow,.and then a moustache, Go rman . an d
adorns a reverend face. , The .Mod
','Oiator,, and one, or two others, indulge in
iu ladtr,immed awning, ,of „half a. cubit's
length or:so; which, some observers :think,.
od:6loo:king. whateyAr to beauty or dignity.
.onch things let everyman be,
ALPYPPPrAtlit4cdp if he,
-. , ,iwi i its . 'Aigatukr,..oazax.coGme cif . the
or i .tie r eio lieitiirtyy 131iVvre i l
.
- ‘strat,. rot . -ty proressorsytnd apstruotors .are
• VW"
engaged in its , varkousr.departmekto,, ,
eolectic seenisni to fully, Aoirried! out;
. young ined-Wing allowed. a tieleohoti - orthe
PtPdi4g i liVeb 4 4 4 o4,
eightiN,eiglitiitidenbt ,aitendantie a ,
this institution.;
~.,,
THE Bioko'
.*ClTABiliNAOrai'qiitiiiiii4
,in Nfiw-Yorkihas open dAtinot record
. for=thiVZ 3. 4.it.ii OougingatiOir whiCul7.
in the ie - ritifeii• f 'the 'l3otiritry . •
In this hix:4 are entered the na mes'
r ilifspiiiitive•
ireginAnts, pre* and tiirineor !sir..
, 'noe, honors indAheir
`Or&rili
to - the clife"and.'experianee ofath ' e'soldie :'
'The book' is. neatly and seriinigly lionnd; sod`
is labelled; "'.A:rm,y'ReFeicl of-the troll
no,pnortielhif:prepiration of thus oiiimee
Pie *info' r+efited-that it would bellepeeited
iA.,thei*Chivee .cif• the church as ilnernorial '
190 . alttgeneraticins. "" '
• -Boma. LADTZEI of the Rev. Dr. S terr',B
' , congregation, in Brooklyn, undertook to
- -raise 18 000 to pay colf !the '.aiiirtgagVon
ioilewt , Tlie 4e! ) Aiiii.diime . in B°*‘6'6ll
th
-at $l2lOOO Was sed; theiirholeFirf wino was lir& lents& to'ttinliietol.
its saidwilitretirelTrow".bnaindinentin n t do
iti l e00(10 '
eLq4vl
MEE
MIMMI
000. He commenced lice as a clerk at $2O
per month, and leaves off the largest iron
dealer in the country.
EMIGRANTS from Europe continue to
pour into this port at an astonishing rate.
For weeks past they have averaged a thou-
And a day. As yet, the greater part of
those who have arrived this year are from
Ireland, though a fair proportion are from
Germany, the other great European hive.
TEE price of Gold Coin experienced a
slight advance on Saturday, closing at 143
per cent. Exchange on London ,did not
respond to the advance in Gold. The quo
tation is 155} to 156 per cent. The whole
export demand, for Gold and Silver for the
week, amounted to only $255.000.
Superfine flour was quoted at, K 75 to
$5.10.
PHILADELPHIA.
A FIUMADELPRIA CORRESPONDENT Of
the Christian Intelligencer writes:
There are thousands in this city who
suppose the services of the Reformed Dutch
churches are conducted in the German lan
guage. A Dutchman by , name and church
connexions, and hearing a very strong af
fection. for my nationality and the title of
our. Church, I should feel very loth to have
the term designating its origin and bring
ing forward so many.glorious ussociations
at its mere mention, abolished; still I have
been strongly impressed, since residing
here, that if it were possible to drop the term
Dutch ' from our Church, title, it Would be.
for Ole, good, of the Master's cause. -Beyond
the, bounds, of New-York and. New-Jersey,
this is painfully evident. I know of but
two Holland,Dutch families in zny congre-
Setion. , I believe, there is but one in the , i
cond church, and , two or .three in the
Third!' - ,
EXTENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS are neing
made in Philadelphia, for the celebraiion
upon a grand scale, of the approaching an
niversary of IndepeedenCe.
On , afternoon of the third, says the
News ' there be a . grand publio 'recep
tion, of. the President of the United .Unite& States,
who ; is expected to arrive :the =city for
the purpose of taking' part in the= ceremo
• nies.. On the Fourth- there will be - firing
of salutes from different , points, ceremonies
at the Hall of Independence, ak,piocession
of the •Union Leagues, a .parade . - of the
Provost Guard, the Gray and Blue Be
serves, the Home Guard, &e; -a .fireman's
torchlight processimnat night, an illumina
tion of
.the buildings,.:arehes of ow
•ergreens at several ,points in the stride, a
'review of troops on parada-by the Presi
-dent,.a banquet, at the Academy of Music;
I s e addition to the..-President: and his
Cabinet, a number of prominent' . 'officials
and distinguished citizens are invited and
-`expected to be present: .Aniong,these will
be: the Governorvof loyal State; General
Cass, General• Halleck,;Greneral - Scott, Hon.
Edward Everett, and others. OHN .
.
Pima - maw, the rebel commander
at Vicksbarg, la - a native of the city of
Philadelphia, and by birth connected with
the Society (if - Fiiends: '
Taz Chief Engineer of the'Philadelphia
Water, Department declares that ,the _Deter
ware *river water „pumped into , the:. Ken
aingtoti basin is entirely : unfit
,fors domestic
purposes, swing to
_its impurity, and even;
dangerous to, the health and, lives =of Abe
eitizsus.
„ECCLESIASTICAL.
_
Mr. JOHN W. POTTEti licentiate of the
PresbYteg, of Allegheny 'City, has re-,
• ceNed a unanimous 'call to beconie the
.
pastor of the' Plains chinch,. inthe'
hounds -of the Allegheny Presbiteri,
Mi. P. has accepted this 'call, and been
disinissed to put himself under._ the care
of the Allegheny Presbytery. His Post
. OffiOe addiess is changed from Allegheny
City, - Pa: to Ogle P. 0., Butler Co. "Pa.
Rev. S. V.,MoBEVs,Post Office address•is
changed from ... Vincennes, Indianai to
Clermont, Marion County,. Ind.
Rev. G. N. jOHNSTOM” hes 'removed from
New Salem, Beaver 'Prenhyteii, to BIM-.
wood, I 11:, Where he has an iMpoitant
1 field of labor. - •
Rai. D. OWEN DAVIS has accepted a unan
imons call to the charchju garis Sy.
Mr. D. C. MauQuis, , late-of.Chicago Bern
;nary, has aceeptegjaptihnitWoo to sup
- ply, the churchat Decptur,
For the Banner.
ihristina Coznmzstzon in ,the, Polollilit
The following itctlie.report of-Rev s ßoss
Stevenson, of tkelPregbyteliin elinrely'of
:Ligonier, who has bee laboting 'at'a delet:
gate . of the .Christiisn ,: Genimitisibu, Inv thei.
Army.of , theiPototitaU:,: c$-
`• A i the- timerallotied-to hie b y my can
s 2 g . eglitichr has..;expired;-1 :give you an out.
hue of my labors. I arrived at Waililng
'April 7 b entered immediately ton t , and entere immedia ely on
the -duties: of- my commission, by visitingg
the large , hoisPitalsirethar oity, talking and'
with-the`praying *otiuded men'
ninny of. Whom • jnat beevPs haine ,
the Battle-field of blitineelloiv,illai' On the
12th of.Apfil was sent" to Gimp "gonVelea:'
cent l where. I renisiVed about r oue weak,
,aiding.in _currying on the daily meetings.
We had DivinerverviSeAhree tines crick. 'day.
,Daring (the; intervals we- visited the hos
tals,t. distributing- boolis;paribia and trietil
and ecuriersingprivately with =the soldiers ' .
,On; ththat2othllt left Washington for CheYfr6iii
•
,of the arinyiutid'after'a few - days label.- at
Aquia Oreekp was transferied'to4Filim'atitit
:Station. =lferathelwork is`at the = Station;
'among theoampty preaching and hoping
piuyerimeetinga and. distributing
readinga , The vatt,"; the Vorkv - gteat,'
and by the
~blessing of God on the labor,if t am:m(l4a 'harvest may bU" lathered:7
" While service of .the'
goo tweaty-fo* timesi-2Fortz
atointilrettyer-ineWska flittyribut..2
ed 150;000 'pages -oftiaots,'S..l4
41;a1)ser43;115430SItjunvliooks,:=301tP Testimielita
and parts-orf 13 .'eataments",. and' 41;4) 1 04101i=
conversed, on ;the •kieat sithjeoilitfi ;Sid=
:vatiow: •vcithqat'''leatit 500 nieril 'GIMP
Ltv,qttlit.isreriaireiongeil,but-the Itim"e given
bythay*tople impitid, l l
bhp:bldasing OftsGda
lopratlati*Nehristiall,oquithliffi ki n, , , eft
• ,
The- Reluctant ' Child ' " •
(^ 4 :
.373
mpg hhour for. ; ratimi:A .
g may have
wine, but the child; it ttlay bajthikatorested..,
iii4th e , eop t p,spyipz:asent,,isoehact an t
tii - retat. ikothority, and perhqta force may
be 'necessary t! induce .cotopliatlee on the?
spirt of the 4 chil4 iyith.what is manifestly ,
for its . i,t,ofton is.with Christ:l4mi
IGeti r.egnireso4, them certain thingi
awhich -
are for. their good. They J are -very,s4lle
taxit to do thoseethings r G od is oftwooto-,
tooa two_ to indneet..nompliaikft
with ikuf.,;MedireTenW6
eimatotrak.tolli golat NittnYchaiud on:
je4e. measures, ;were necessary-Ickiiridumati
him to. obey i rrod's command - Men are
sometimes called to the ministry. They
are unwilling to enter on the work. They
engage in other employments. God often
times thwarts their purposes and thus com
pels them to enter upon his work. The
fact that one may feel a reluctance to en
ter upon a service, is no proof that it is
not his duty to do so.
Mr. A. was a member of the Church—a
lawyer of good talents, and possessed of a
fortune which readdred it unnecessary for
him to task himself severely in the labors
of his profession. His partner performed
a large portion of the labors of the firm.
Mr. A.'s services were needed as super
iptendent of the Sunday School. He was
unwilling to undertake the work. He saw
that his services were needed—that there
was no other man in the church so well
qualified—he saw that there was a wide
field of usefulness open before him. He
hesitated. He was not fond of children.
He declined the work..
He had a beautiful and lovely child
about eight years of age. That child was
smitten with disease, and in a abort time
was consizned to the tomb.
Soon after, the father offered his services
as Superintendent of the school. It was
soon remarked, " What a deep and tender
interest Mr. A. feels in children !" He
was most useful in his work, and felt no
disposition to ask a relief from it, as old
age came on.
It is not for man to 84 what was God's
specific design in removing the child. We
know that an effect was to take away the
reluctance which the father felt toward the
perfonirdnee of a manifest duty.
Are not many of our disappointments
and afflictions designed to overcome oar re
luctance to perform our duty ?
- - ONE Pito WOULD LEARN.
Nor the Preebren'aa Banner
Ordination ant Installation.
On Tuesday ; tbe 9th of the present month,
the Presbytery of Allegheny City held
a very pleasant meeting at the church of
Pine Creek, formerly part of the same
charge with Sharpsburg. The principal
object of the meeting. was, the ordination
and installation 'Of Mr. Gilbert M. Potter
asthe pastor of the congregation ,of Pins
Creek. It was understood to be the first
meeting of Presbytery—certainly the first
of , ; the Presbytery- oft Allegheny City—
ever held in the church. 'Besides the in
terest occasioned by the fact that we were
assembled on the spot'hallowed bythe toils
and prayers and successful ministrations of
,such .• men as the late venerable Joseph
Skiektoni there" was much in the meeting
;itself to render it a plealiant one, and with
,the -Divine blessing it will prove of rich
promise for the cause of our common
Christianity. • - .
For a great number of years, Pine
:Creek has been without a pastor, its former
,associate, Sharpsburg, having grown to the
full stature- of a= separate pastorate. The
great want: thus occasioned was' of course
only partially supplied by such 'temporary
and-easual ministrations as the Presbytery
could afford. It was;.therefore, with feel
*
Jnge.of no ordinary satiSflaction we learned
that, in the kind providence of God, the
way was prepared for having a minister of
their own choice again= settled over that
people-; one to go: in-and out among: them,
and break to.them the bread. of life. For
this, object the Presbytery convened:
The ~meeting was.... especially delightful,
becanse,they met .on every side :the.pleas
ingsindicatione of the marked-appreciation
of the: nstitutionis and privileges of the Goa
pel.l, The reviving ::influences of the sea
sonctlieziory of Summer, the .balmy frag
yancobreathing from:the-rich clover fields,
and-the bright' promilie of abundant harvest
in •the .warang. beauty -;of . :the growing
wheat—theseXnd manylsimilar sources of
gratification:were in happy sympathy with
the neatness and elegance which, Oiri enter
ing, the,ehurch.edifice, were presented to our
view, and with the, gladnessreflected from
many bright countenances present. on• the
occasion. It would" afford us Mich pleasure
to speak at length of the Christian spirit
which haat . ..prompted thesehrethren to de
vote a portion of their i-time and their
;tasteful skill, ititWell as to give -liberally of
their money, for, the. adornment of their
house of,worship: With th&oewand quite
lianiis - omepulink.uecupied, with - costly
cushioned,: sofa, -sufficient for: three to be
seated P.A . fertablyr:-withithe Walled' the
church'slegalitly.paperethin - briflimit colors
and Aaileful...style, } and. the -floor spread with
carpetiogevery:wey suitable and Somforta
lile,tbelPresbytery were merely
gratifie4: they feltitharikfultolwitn ess such
:demonstrations; onthe , part' of the:people,
of a desire ~to himorthei institutions of re
ligion, .and thus. to testify their `grateful
- reverence ; and respect-dor its Divine - Au
there thetvery-..larger and in
terested assembly,, ufficient prohably-to fill
the house , , more,, than to its utmost
capacity, „gave stilitgreater, sestto the meet
.Ctf,,,the profuse abundance; for the
table, l furnished-, by. the fladies,.7.-thi-.. the
grateful" Shade of, thewneighboring: groire,
We will not speak partieularly—except to
say that of thetiarm„cronr,d,-ministers,
elders and, people, there, was more than
I Sufficient for all; anilliiinewho,were will
ing to partake, wereienreloptyliky. We
are not exactly prepared to: say . tliat ' "the
land " of Pine Creek - literally " flows 'with
milk and, honey," as was said of Oinaanuf
old, but . twe7eertainly hsd oenlarilemonstra.i.-
dna, :and .More, that it abounds with snianY
excellent things not less precious, and "even
more: snbstautiat,_ for strengthening -and
comforting ourinferfor math*.
t Pcitter-eminiehees ills *torsi la--
-bors witkmanyeneouraging.-eircumitanees.
Thoughtferia series of years - they hittresbeen
"as sheep,wi:th uta shepherd;Pl.the people
:have,, : with remarkable unanimity and car
.diality, rallied around theire .. .yormg - minis
ter. With the' blessing;of:God i which we
are greatlyientimraged elpect, there is
as protipeA a . .rieholproinio Of. usefulness
:and comfort. Fewrictel ks..thePir b ter • . • ea Y
have afforded thenrgreiter satisfaction than
c onsumniationuifiethiawalficiaL relation ;
and many ferveritiquayers; ;We idoubt not,
a a ce ncled.fronittite;heaxte....of both= minister
and people, ,that im ay be
long sand liappyliuGoki r mil. triist,._bis, put
.into the
- heartioandilipie of. both. , people - and
tpastor, theAsuititlfah tong "oi.
;inspiration
111 For-ie;‘, o l l f*Winte:rtis past: t . . The dowers
^s Pn ea rfitOrtthe - 2earth,:the.-4inie t etlire: sing
ing•of.riais come, and':the- voice rof the
•turtleciroheard : i n the How pure,
.exalted,-imperishable; are the
symputhies : . and „jeye, *hi& `Spring up all
-altheendge,
aiebritthmigrat pathrewee7an.wdzhesrecatierersligion
her
golden ; fruits..l;jtThe intellect of. neither
man nor angt3ll":oali fully comprehend the
TheYthat be wise (in
the , ntaitglpit leacher4 shall -shine - as the
imi g htn ermktnfithizinnament;‘. they that
turn -Many . to ; : tighteottsnessoas "athe stars
rforevertan&evar4 Fortye, - "..saitithe in-
Xpired.Paul; ‘kare'onr glory-44rd our 'crown
rejeining.even - .yet4x.thet:i.presenee of
Xtiar Lord. .T.enriasCirist-kithis corning."
t A.