~`~i h ' . . c§anittr+ BUROII 3 VEPNESDAY, SEPT. 16, 1863. ,• , 4:1 Reading Seraions.--For somo good thoughts on this object note a paragraph in the letter of our European Correspondent. Dr. Dalf.—We reg . ;,et the necessity which compels this dovottil missionary to leave the foreign field. .He returns to recruit impaired health. •The Western Theological Seminary is now open, and students are arriving. The In- troductory Lecture was delivered by Prof. Wrt,soN, on Tuesday morning. The pros -1 peat is faiefor large ao6essions of students. Rev. Br: Munk, bearer of the address of four thousand seven hundred English and. French pastors to this country, proposes to present the address t 9 the Christian people of Pittsburgh, on Wednesday evening at "ff o'clock, in the First Presbyterian church, Wood Street. All are invited to attend. N. B.diSeveral pastors in Pittsburgh have been consulted, and they advise that the above be substituted for the usual • Wednesday evening meeting. DECEASE OF REV. C. C. JONES, D.D. The Pregbyterian gives some particulars relative to the death of Rev. C. C. JONES, D.D., a former Secretary of the Board of Domestic Minions. He died at his resi dence in Georgia, on the 16th of Maroh last. We knew him well and meet plan antly. He was one of the most amiable of men, and of the most 'devoted of ministers. For the temporal comfort and eternal sal- vation of the colored people, he labored with intense desire and great efficiency. We of the North thought him mistaken in some of his views in regard to what would be of the highest benefit to the black race, but he claimed that living among them from his . youth, he knew their character, wants and capabilities far better than it was possible for us to know them. Hence our opinions he set down as mere theories ; his own he regarded as truths founded on knowledge. Dr. JONES' health had been delicate for several years. It was on this account that he resigned his Secretaryship in the Board of Nigliiioll.S. For some two or three weeks before his death he was quite feeble, but not confined to his bed; and until the day on which he died, was wont to ride on horseback. On the• morning of that day he attended worship in his parlor and took breakfast with his family. The forenoon he spent in his study. In the afternoon be lay down, and died so peacefully that the moment of life's departure could not be dis tinctly observed. Thus we pass away. Why be deeply troubled with life's cares ? Why suffer alieuations to arise, or to be protracted ? Our Lord bids us cherish his spirit, and love one another, and be ready for a bliss ful union above. DECEASE OF REV. A. B. BROWN, Rev. ALEXANDER B. Baowx, D.D., =- President of Jefferson College, died at his residence near Canonsburg, Pa., on the Bth inst., aged fiftyfive years. A good man has finished his labors and gone to his rest. Dr. BROWN entered the ministry early, and though not very aged at the time of his decease, he accomplished a vast amount of labor, both as a pastor and teacher. In the Presidency of Jefferson College, he succeeded his venerated father, Rev. MATTHEW BROWN, D.D., a chair which he filled admirably. • - The following is from an intimate friend .of the deceased:. DIED-At his residence, near Canons burg, on the Bth inst,, Bev. A. B. BROWN, D.D., ex-President of Jefferson College, aged 55 years. The announcement of 'Dr. Brtowles death, though not unexpected, will be re ceived with sadness by a large circle of the friends and former pupils of the deceased. Pew ever depart from among us more truly beloved or more deeply regretted. The char acter of Dr. BROWN was one of singular beau ty and excellence, most appreciated by those who knew him most intimately. Diffident and unobtrusive, he shrank from all exhibi tion, and yet manifested firmness, conscien tiousness and courage in the discharge of duty. As a pastor, he was loved and re vered by the people to whom he successive ly ministered. In - his preaching, there was a remarkable combination of sound in struction and exquisite taste—qualities which would have adorned the highest spheres of pulpit influence. In his friend ships, he was genial, affectionate, constant, and unselfish. His life was especially iden tified, as,a Professor and President, with Jefferson College, which, underohisadmin istration, reached a high degree of prosper ity. Increasing bodily infirmity made the resignation of his office indispensable. His latter years were passed on a farm, and in ministering to the church at centre, which is but a few miles from Canonsburg. In his religious experience,Dr. BROWN was constitutionally predisposd to despond ing views, and never enjoyed the comfort of full assurance, nor shared in the raptures which some possess. But his whole life attested the reality of his piety. In his last days he rested in a peaceful trust and _ hope, and 'departed tranquilly, retaining, till a few hours before his death, the clear and vigorous aotinga of his mind, and giv ing characteristic utterances in regard to his family, the College, the country, and .the Church which_ are embalmed in the memory of his friends. It is, a melancholy satisfaction to his surviving relitives to know that his disease proved, by exam ination, to be beyond the reach of medical ail', and that all was done to alleviate what could not be cured. His remains rest in the secluded grave yard of Centre. He has left a stainless reputation and,tipautiful examp l e, as a pre cious legacy. to his household and friends. The memory will long be fragrant as Lab anon, to a wide circle," by when' he was loved in life and mourned in death. ; D. H. It ; [We furnished slips containing the above to the ; daily papeVe in time for ,:tbeir issue on Tuesday morning.] TEE NEW COMMANDMENT. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another.—Jzsus CHRIST. A new commandment I write unto you, lie that loveth hie brother abideth in the light.— THE APOSTLE JOAN. The commandment which enjoins mutual love, is, we should think, an old command ment. Men had it from the beginning. It belongs to (‘ the law and the prophets." " Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself," is a written precept since the time of MOSES. What then is there new in the command ment as given by JESUS. CHRIST, and as written by JOHN ? It is not new in that it enjoins love to the brethren; for the term neighbor embraces all the human family. The newness lies in this, that the com mandment enjoins a higher love. The old commandment bade us love our neighbor as ourselves; the new commandment re quires us, that is, it requires Christians, to love each other better than ourselves. Is the thought strange to our readers? It ought not to be strange, either in language or emotion The unregenerate may think it strange. They may reply : " This is a hard saying. It is enough to love others as ourselves ; but never can it be required of us to love others better than ourselves." Here then we join issue with the objec tor; and our appeal is to the revealed Word. The quotation from JESUS CHRIST, at the head of this article, is imperfect. Many mistakes are made, and some of them are sad ones, by taking only part of a writ er's or speaker's words. The whole sen tence reads thus : " A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." The point of newness is present ed in the words which we have italicised— "as I have loved you." Now, how did Jesus love his disciples—we among the number, if we are truly his ? Did he not love them better than himself? Was he not rich; and did he not, for their sakes be come poor, that they through his poverty might be rich ? Did he not humble him= self for them, and endure hardships, shame, and reproach ? Did he not make himself a servant for them ? Did he not become sin for them; bearing their sins in his own' body ? Did he not lay down his life for them? And was not this loving them bettor than himself? The new command meni\ then, enjoining love as Christ loved us, is clearly this, that we shall love our Christian brethren better than ourselves; or, with a higher love than that which the old commandment requires to our neigh bor. And this, strange as it,may seem, is eon sonent with reason. God is infinite, and is to be loved, not only better than self, but supremely—with the whole heart, soul, strength, and mind. Our neighbor is our equal, and is therefore to be loved as our self. The Christian is a regenerated person,. renewed in the image of God, a temple of the Holy Ghost, a partaker of the Divine nature; a higher love is there fore due to him. JEsus CHRIST also owns him as a friend, & brother, a joint-heir; and hence, for Cmun's sake, he is to be regarded with a-superior love. And this all corresponds with the tenor of New Testament instruction. This was the lesson given by our Lord, when he taught his disciples to wish one artother's feet. And this is the import of such Apostolic injunctions as these: "Be kind ly affectioned one to another with. brotherly love, in honor preferring one another." " Let each esteem the other better than himself." " All of you be subject one to another." By love serve one another," And it was this spirit, this new command ment, which induced the converts of the day of• Pentecost, "as many, as were pos sessors of lands or houses," to sell them, and with the price received to sustain the brethren who were then there as strangers, "as every one had need." In the actual manifestation of this love— this preference of the brethren to ourselves —we will be guided by the circumstances in which God may place them and us. If we are diligent and honest students of God's Word, if we cherish the spirit of CFIRIST, if the same mind is in 'us which was in him, we are not likely to be in any distres sing straits, to know what is our duty; but if, at any time, there should a doubt' arise, let it be solved by inclining to the side of liberality in thought, word, and deed. We are.in very great danger of being deficient in love; while there is but very little like lihood that we will ever love too tench. I NEW EMPIRE.----LOIJIS NAPOLEON. LOWS NAPOLEON, Emperor of Prance, is regarded as the most astute politician of the day—able to keep his own counsels and divine those of others; competent to scheme and under-scheme; ever ready to pronaise, decree, and bargain, and then wise to` ex plain, interpret, vary, or raise difficulties so as to have a reason to modify or retract, and thus get out of unanticipated difficulties. It may be possible,- some times, to know what he wishes to- do, and even what he means to do just at the -moment; but what he will do, is not easy to foretell. NAPOLEON 111.11 . 98 made it very clear that he wishes to divide the United States: It is also,pretty Ranifest that he meant 'to set up an empire on the Gulf, whose centre should be - Mexico. But what he will, seri ously strive to execute, is not yetdeveloped; and whether he will prosecute his,purpose, depends on circumstances. Se has already conquered. a large part of Mexico, and an nounced as Emperor, MAXIMILIAN, the brother of the Austrian Emperor. But the acceptance on the part of irtfiXIMILIAN is made to depend on guarantees; on the ap probation of other Powers; on tho consent of the' United States ; on the acquiescence of his family in Austria, &c., &62, so that NAPOLEON has . abundant room to execute his policy, or to vary'il,, or to abandon the project, just' as circumstances may impede or favor. - - PRESBYTERIAN BANNER.---WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1863. If England can be induced to cooperate and Russia to, be neutral, the way then is clear. The Southern Confederacy will then be established, with MASON and DIXON'S line for its Northern border; and the Mex ican Empire, under MAXIMILIAN, or some one else, will be made a verity; and other things will be arranged as best they may. Or if England and Russia will both agree to neutrality, and if Spain will cooperate, the programme, slightly modified, will still be executed. (We of course speak on the supposition that the Southern people can be still led by the conspirators—a thing which .becomes more and more doubtful, as our armies make advances and gain victo ries.) The contemplated Empire is meant to have the City of Mexico as its Capital, and to embrace all of the present Mexico, and all of Central America, and all of Texas as far as the Sabine river. It would thus be bounded on the South by the Isthmus of Darien, on the West by the Pacific, on. the North by , and on the East by the Confederate States. It would possess rich gold and silver mines, and one of the finest cotton regions. And it would have the Confederate States in alliance, and separating it, by a long distance, from the United States. • Such is part of a grand scheme, partially developed. Can it be made a reality? That, of course, depends upon an overrul ing and all-controlling Providence. But God works by means. He uses man to control man. Selfishness meets and com bats selfishness. Ambition interferes with ambition. Jealousy often defeats combi nations, and breaks up cunningly laid plans, and prevents the accomplishing of evil purposes. As the plot would work immense evil for the United States, we are deeply interested in looking for means of relief; and we ex pect it, by the Divine favor, from three sources. Ist. Russia has a longing eye upon Turkey, and the French becoming deeply involved in .a war with the United States would be her opportunity formoving her fleets and armies, and possessing her self of Constantinople and the Dardanelles, and then of all of. European Turkey. NA POLEON knows this, and will feel the re straining influence; and may thus be in duced not to prosecute his plans. 2d. England, however cordial PALMER STON and NAPOLEON may be, is exceed ingly jealous of France, and could hardly, by any price, be induced to acquiesce in a scheme of French aggrandisement so im-. mense as that to which we have alluded. She may, and probably will, restrain NAPO LEON. 3d. The masses of the Southern people have yet a lingering love for the old Union. They glory in the flag and the Constitu tion. The productions of the North and South have a inutile' adaptation to each other. Mountains, valleys, rivers, rail roads, Bse., designate us as one country. The ties of blood, and personal friendships, are many and strong. The Confederate power is rapidly collapsing, and the North is becoming more united. A North cordially united and enthusias tic for the Union ; proved such at the Oc taber and November elections, and proved also by the prompt addition of three hundred thousand men to our armies; and, added to all this, a few more decided victories, would make Russia still more our friend than she is; and would open the eyes of England to see the entire justice of our cause, and the monstrous iniquity of all combinations to disrupt a friendly country; and would en able NAPOLEON speedily to discover that generosity, magnanimity, and-all the nohle ness of his nature require him, having. freed. Mexico from the domination of a faction, to withdraw his armies, and leave her to regu late her own affairs with perfect freedom. It is for us—and we think God has given us the ,power—to put down the rebellion,- and conciliate the South. Then will the• new Empire become an abortion, the Pow ers of Europe will discover the justice of our cause, and the Western world will have, ENDLAND AND AMERICA A. LETTER TO AN ENGLISH FRIEND OR the American War, is the title, of an anon ymous painphlet of 24 pages. It is respect , ful and well written. It ably advocates the National cause, and puts some well pointed home-arguments to the English, especially when it compares Ireland and Romanismf' to 't the South and slavery!' Note a few of the writer's remarks. He says " We have the South and Slavery: You have Ireland and Rornanism. The Korean ist priests correspond closely to our slave= holders in one respect,,in their power over the ignorant masses of their people. They also have an intense di,slike of the govern ment of their country: Now suppose Ire land to be in rebellion---southern Ireland. Ostensibly it is for deliverance from Eng lish oppression—for independence; too long has Ireland borne the hated yoke 'of the Saxon ;' but really it is a rebellion in the interest of &maniere, and it enjoyit the sympathies of bigoted Romanists in other lands, even as our southern aristocrats are honored in certain European cireles of so ciety. The Irish rebellion is countenanced by priests and bishops, and it enrols the 43- norant masses in its ranks, led by snail,- tious leaders after the type'of O'CONNRLi; like our poor white trash' in the South; who are followers of JEFFERSON It: is a rebellion without adequate cause; it strikes deadly blows against the ,Queen's good government, and yet it demands to be let alone ! All it wants is separation from England, and independence—that - is all And it wants this for no other earthly reit= son than because the spirit of Rornanisni is hostile to the enlightened_ policy of the British nation. In this case what would you do ? Would you counsel the Queen,to let Ireland go ? Would, you come: to terms with the bishops at the head.of their armies ? Would you yield up to de struction. the property, and to, death or banishment the persons, of loyal people in! Ireland? Could you thus< counsel your Sovereign ? Never? You would call forth the military powertOf the. Kingdom to put, down the. - - rebellion: You would not put money or life in the scale against the integ rity of the nation. Your public men would not express their sympathy with the reb els, nor your Timessneer at the efforts made to put them down. Your religions news papers would not feel unable to see any thing to be gained by such a conflict,' nor would they look on both parties as equally to be pitied,' or perchance to be rebuked with a self-righteous severity. The com mon voice of England and Scotland, and of all that was loyal in Ireland, would require the rebellion to be put down at any and at every cost. " You would not. wage , the war against the Roman Catholic religion, however, though you might feel assured that it was at the bottom of all • the trouble, the real cause of all the calamities. You would not destroy the Romanist churches, nor over throw by military force the superstitious ideas of the bigoted people; but you would at the same time rejoice that the war against the rebellion tended greatly to weaken the attachment of the Irish people to a religion that brings upon them such evils, and de stroys in their hearts the feeling of loyalty to-your admirable Queen. In honest truth, you would do very much what we are trying to do. You would stand for your. Queen and country. "And yet, you might counsel Her Maj esty to let the . Irish go, to recognize the kingdom-of Ireland, with almost infinitely less of sacrifice and of the 'risk of terrible evils, than we should suffer in consenting to a Southern Confederacy. Ireland lies across an arm of the sea, from England ; you could be separated. But there cannot be two Governments in this land. We must be one nation, whether its policy. be anti-slavery or pro-slavery. No peace be tween the Union and.the. Confederacy could stand long." • TRUE- PATRIOTISM. GERRIT SMITE, Esq., of Peterboroi, N. Y., was, in his earlier life, an ardent advo cate Of Colonization. For many of his later• years, - he was a devoted Abolitionist. Now he is an uncompromising friend of the Union. His country occupies the first place in all his earthly loves. In a speech at Albany, in August last, quoted with hearty approbation by the N. Y. Observer, 31r. SMITH said: r" To go for our country is to go for all her domain—to be unseetional—and to love her with that Jewish love for Icrusalem, which took pleasure even in her stones, and favored the dust thereof. He who is a true patriot will never giverup any portion of his country, even to secure the abolition of slavery. To go for our country is to go for her chosen form of government—for her Constitution—not to prate for it, for the very purpose of aiding the enemy, but to favor it for its great principles of justice, liberality, and equality. But •the most effective way to go for our country is to go against her. enemies. We must stand by the Government. Not to stand by the Government is not to stand by the coun try!' In illustrating his position, he proceeds I have said we must insist on the un conditional submission of the rebels. Our opposition to the rebels must also be un conditional. We must make no. conditions on behalf of the Republican, Democratic, or _Abolition parties—must make no condi tions. If the rebellion, triumphs, let all else die ' for all=-family,' wealth, party—all would be worthless without a Gauntry. The rebellion must be put down at whatev er cost, or at whatever sacrifice. The Re publican or Demoorat who is intent only on helping his party; is in league with the rob; els. Are there abolitionists who will not go for crushing treason unless Government Shall pledge itself to prosente the war until slavery is abolished? Let me say to them, I have no sympathy with you. I know you only as enemies of my country. The true doctrine is—let come what may of Temperance, of Abolitionism, of Republi canism, of Democracy — the rebellion must and shall be put down. It is not now put down, only because we have not been as earnest in putting it down as the rebels have been in putting it up. We are, in this war, to be brethers. We are to know no man by his party name, but only as anti rebellion. men. In the course of my long life I have bad something to do against in temperance and: *slavery ; but since the bombardment of Sumpter, I have been ready to work with all against rebellion— to work, if you please, with the greatest drunkard on my right and the greatest.pro slavery man on my left. If abolitionists refuse to work with me, without some pledge for the abolition of slavery, it is little to their credit that they allow the sin of slavery to blind their eyes to the greater sin of rebellion. If, as some say, slavery and rebellion are one, then put down rebel lion', and slivery falls with it." This is tine patriotism • entire Unionism. Mr. SMITIE occupies the" broad platform." of vrhich WO have often , spoken. It is a platform which all Christians should oecn py:, It puts country above party. It makes the maintenance of law, the paramount so cial duty. Whatever else, of an earthly nature, maybe, or may not be, the rebellion radii be put down ; and union for its stip- pression must ,beunder the Government WASHINGTON COLLEGE; PAS It has been our privilege, several times, to be presen . oat Commencenient exercises', at Washington. This year we could not attend We are, however,. furnished', by ono who = was: there,. with the following notice The Annual Comniencement of this in atitutiou Was held on the 2d inst. The Baccalaureate Sermort of the President, Dr. John W. Scott, was preached on Sab bath Morning, the 3.oth ult., from 'Ps. cxliv 16—` . Happy is that people whose God is the Lord" It was an able exposition of national prosperity, and its dependence on Divine fa,vor. ' In the evening of the same day, the liev. D.' W. FiSher, by limitation, delivered the annual sermon to 'the Society of *Religious Inquiry, talking as hislext 1. Thes. v : 21-- " Prove all things hold fast that which is good" To a neat style iiiid graceful de tivery, the preacher ttdded a logical analysis of 'the text and much weighty thought, bearing upon the right use of reason in matters-of'religion s with a highly salutary application to the case. of educated hung Owing to the failure of the Literary So-. defies ts:seeure a speaker, Tuesday-even ing was occupied with the valedictories of representative members of the graduating elicis to their respective Societies ) and. resporises> on behalf of the Societies.' Messrs. P. J. Curnmings and J. H. Sharpe; both of Ohio represented the class . ): the former- of the Washington and the latter, of. thet-Union :Society; and Messrs. F. M. Woods ' of Missouri, and S. J. M. McCar ron, of Pennsylvania, under-graduates, responded. The performances were highly creditable, and the audience manifested great pleasure. The audience on Commencement day was large, and the performances were marked with more than the usual average ability. The order of exercise was as. fol lows, viz : English Salutatory, by M. S. C. Kinkaid, of Morgantown, Va.; Latin and Greek do., by R. D. Wylie, Washington; Philosophical Oration, (Intellectual,) by H. M. Aikin, Washington; Do, do., (Nat ural,) by S. A. M'Clung, New Texas, Pa.; Eloquence, by J. Henry Sharpe, Steuben ville, Ohio; Firmness, by, P. H. Pitkin, Milfordton, Ohio; The Promise of Prog ress, by T. R. Ewing, Kent, Pa.. ' The Brightest the most Fleeting, by J. F. Jones, Valley. Grove, West Virginia.; Ty ranny of Fashion, by A. E. Smith, West Carlisle, Ohio; Actors in, the Theaire of Life, by C. P. Dunaway, Merrittstown, Pa.; Time, Faith and Energy, by P. J. Cum mings, Woldhonding, Ohio; and the Vale dictory by H. S. Walker, Clarksburg, West Virginia. The honors of the class were given in the following order, from first to fifth, viz.: Messrs. Walker, Kin kaid, Aikin,.M'Clung, and Wylie. Messrs. Kinkaid, Ewing and Cummings were ex cused from delivering the performanceS as signed to. them. In addition to those named as speakers, the ,degree of A. B. was conferred on Messrs. J. B. Ewing, Allan A. Hough, J. A. Patterson and D. S. Smith. The class was greatly reduced in size by enlistments in the army, fifteen of its members having thus devoted themselves to the country's service. Of these last, two have died of disease, and two have fallen in battle, the last of whom was the gallant Captain David Acheson, son of A. W. Acheson, Esq., of Washington, while at the head of his com pany, on July 2d, 1863, at Gettysburg. The Trustees of the Ccillege conferred the degree of A. M. on the members of the class of 1860, and also on Robert Sherrard, Esq., of Steubenville,. Ohio, and J. D. Bar rett, of Washington ' D. C. The degree of D. D. was conferred on the Rev. J. H. Morrison, late Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyteriiia Church, and that of LL.D. on the Hon. Humphrey H . :Leavitt, of Cincinnati, 0. The College maintains its high character, and withstands nobly the trials of these times of war. -* ALUMNUS. CHRISTIAN 'OFFICERS. Religion can live even amidst the strifes and destructions of the battle-field; and give the sweetest of consolations in times the most -trying. A writer from Gettys burg gives the following incident, after the battle. Thousands were there, dead and dying; and friends sought friends to ad , minister kind attentions, but before much could be done, a movement was ordered. In the press of the occasion, it is stated, " Major General ifowAnD, in command of the Eleventh Army .Corps, hastened to the bedside of Capt. 0-afiFETH, of his staff, between whom and the General a strong personal attachment existed, to take his last farewell. He closed the door, and after a brief interchange of sympathies, the General took his New Testament and read to him the fourteenth chapter of John.. He then knelt in prayer and commended his wounded friend to his covenant-keeping God; and rising from his - knees, clasped him in one long, fond, Weeping embrace. Thus the heroes parted. One went to seek the rebels against his Government; the other died in a few days in perfect peace; cordially..= acquiescing in God's will, and firmly relying on.the merits of his. Saviour." EASTERN SUMMARY. NEW-ENGLAND. THE AMERICAN. BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS, which has its headquarters in Boston, is the oldest Foreign Missionary Society in the United States. Its total re recipts for the financial year ending Sep tember Ist, are stated at $380;500. The closing of the accounts may vary the amount slightly. It is thought that the year terminates with the tregury free from debt. The Annual Meeting of, the Board is to be held at Rochester, N. Y., October fith. THE &wry-BEomm Anniversary.of the New-Hampshire Missionary Society was celebrated at the close. .of last month. Ainong other, items of interest reported, we notice that nearly one-fourth of the re ceipts of the. Society during the, past =year was from 'Female Cent Societies. It was stated also that, since their orFanization in 1805, ,these auxiliary Associations have paid into the treasury of the. parent State Society the sum of $60,000. How much might even children accomplish toWard the evangelization of the world, were they to give eacha cent, a Week to missionary and other religious purposes. AT THE LATE meeting, of the fleneral Asiociation -of New-Hampshire, quite an earnest discuision took place on' the ques tion, Ought persons to be licensed to preach, who do not intend to devote their lives to the work of, the, ndnistry, but intend to give- the main part" of their energies to' sonie'other calling. The Verniont Chretti cte'portS,- - re that the discussion this , question, it was asked ; Where is,there any, authority for such action of ministerial bodies ? How can licensure be given consistently with the re quirement of the Scriptures that the min ister shall have one main purpose How can it.be done without degrading `the pro fession of the ministry ? On the other side it was asked, if You take ,men already in : the ministry, for Professors and Presi: dents in Colleges, because .thu , have - ob tained a fitness for these positions in their eperience there, will you out off ~the pos sibiliv of a .young man's obtaining this fitness by 'refusing him the opportunity fo improvement ,as well as usefulness, which even occasional preacking _of the GosPel, would give hinP! A. RnormParrAr. (JECURCITI has been or ganized by the Connecticut 28th regiment., in service under Gen. -Banks,. and has adopted a constitution according to which the administrative council consists of the pastor and five lay. members; and the' Bible, is taken as the only : rule of faith imii prac , time:. Forty-eight individuals united in the outset, .belongingto six'differentileuomina tions, the Methodist Episeopal,.. Methodist Protestant, Baptisty:Presbyterlari, EpiscoT pal, and Cougregational. TILE LAST independent contains an inter esting article on Daniel Webster as an orator. The writer, Rev. T. L. Cuyler, disputes Mr. Greeley's denial to Webster of a place among the greatest orators of America; and well shows, what we think very few have ever doubted, that the Great Expounder possessed to a degree surpassed by no other, the essential elements of true oratory. The following incident is related by Mr. C., showing Webster's own estimate of his speeches, as compared with that of others. Having been once asked by afriend of the writer, "Mr. Webster, which of your own productions do you place first r" he replied, " My friend Mr. Everett prefers my speech on Gen. Jaeksorf's protest. The mass of my countrymen probably prefer my reply to Col. Hayne. But I prefer the first speech I ever made at Plymouth Rock." NEAP-YORK. THE ANNUAL CONVENTION of Sabbath Scheel Teachers of the State of New-York was held lately at Troy. No less than five hundred delegates, clerical and lay, were present. Three days were occupied in the deliberations of the Convention. Much enthusiasm was manifested, and a new im petus was given to the Sabbath School cause. There was reported, from over 500 towns, an aggregate of 3,118 schools, 49,- 730 teachers, and 346,451 scholars. Much destitution, however, remained to be de plored. The number of children in the State who cannot or will not enjoy the priv ileges of the Sabbath School, was estimated at half a million! IT IS SAID that Dr, Shedd has concluded to resign his pastoral charge of the Brick Presbyterian church, and to accept the Professorship which was lately tendered him in. the New-York Union Theological Seminary. REV. HAILVEY NEweoitin died in Brook lyn on the 30th nit., aged sixty years. He was well known as a contributor to the re ligious press and as a writer of, books for the young; and was especially distinguished as the author of the valuable " Cyclopmdia of Missions!' THE FOLLOWING is a list of the distin guished diplomates who recently made an excursion in company to the lakes and riv ers of New-York : Mr. Seward, Secretary of State; Baron Gerolt, the Minister of Prussia ; Mr. Mo lina) the Minister of Nicaragua M. Tag sa.ra' the Minister of Spain; Lord Lyons, the British Minister • Baron Stoeckl, the Russian Minister ; M. Mercier, the French Minister; M. Schleiden, the Hanseatic) Minister; M. Bernatti, the Italian Minis 'ter ; Count Piper, the Swedish Minister; M. Astaburaga, the Milian Minister. THE WHOLE NUMBER of Visitors. at Sara toga during the present season is estimated at upwards of thirty thousand. IT SEEMS that the President has deter mined to fill the cadetships at West. Point that are left vacant by the operation of the rebellion, by the appointment of deserving young men from the army. Gen. Grant has received orders from Washington to send in the names of soldiers in his army who are of the proper age and qualified for the position; and examination of candi dates are being made by Gen. Sherman. JOSEPH P. THomPsoN, JR., son of Rev. Dr. Thompson, of New-York city, has been commissioned a first lieutenant in the Sec ond Regiment United States colored troops, under Col. William Birney, son of the late James G. Birney. EMIGRANTS numbering one hundred and seven thousand have arrived at New-York since January—just double the number who came during the same time last year. THE PRICE of Gold on Saturday last was quoted at 129. Superfine State and West ern Flour sold at $3.95®4.45 per bbl. PHILADELPHIA. ACCORDING to the decision of Judge Cadwallader in the recent habeas corpus cases of drafted men, " the right of Con gress to pass the conscription act is legally and constitutionally derived from that clause of the •constitution giving Congress the power to raise armies, &c., which is distinct control over the militia." ADMIR,AL DiT_PONT having been offered a public dinner some time since by distin guished citizens of Philadelphia, respect fatly declined the honor proposed. In- his letter of reply, he alluded in the most com plimentary forms to the officers and men under his command, iho " won in battle a foothold on, the. coast whence the rebellion had expelled every vestige of the national authority, and held-that coast for four hun dred miles with a grasi of iron, which the enemy strove in vain to break, and which foreign nations were compelled to respect!' And for himself, he says " Even if pass ing events. have not already vindicated me, I can await the verdict of history, and in the meantime shall bear with me the grate ful recollection of your kindness!' - - UPwAittis of six million tons of coal have- been received at Philadelphia since the beginning of the present year.. This is a net increase of one and a quarter million tons-over the tonnage of the corresponding period of last 'year. -Sir= the first of the year, about four million gallons of petroleum ; :valued at one million dollars, have been - shipped =from Philadelphia. This is claimed' to be an ex . cess,over the combined shipments of New Boston and Baltimore. For the Presbyterian Banner. Plains.Chnrch, Pa.---Ordination and Installa- t on. On Tuesday Sept. Bth, Mr. John W. Potter was ordained, and installed pastor'of the Presbyterian church of Plains, by the - Presbytery of Allegheny. The ordination sermon was preached by Rev. W. W. Mc- Kinney, son of Rev. Dr. McKinney, editor of '""'the" Presbyterian Bantzer: . .Rov. Mr. Kean, of Freeport, presided `proposed the constitutional questions, and made the or daining prayer. .P b ev. J. H. Potter, of Baltimore, Md., brother of the newly cre ated pastor, delivered the charge to the pastor; 11,ev. Loyal Young, D.D.,'of Butler, delivered the charge to the people. Mr. Boyd ? Principal of the " Wither.: spoon Institute," at Butler, was ordained as an Evangelist, at the name time, Dr. Young making the ordaining prayer. Mr. Potter takes charge of Plains church under very encouraging circumstances. The congregation were not only unanimous in entering into their part of the engage ment, but hearty and earnest. They seem much devoted to their young pastor. The attendance at church has increased about one-third since he came among them. Ten new pews have been put in, and they are all about taken. The attendance at the evening prayer-meetings is remarkably good. The meetings are solemn, and some sinners are inquiring for the way of salva tion. We hope the Lord has a great bless ing for them. - This ehureh seems to be renewing its age. The ladies of the congregation have encouraged the pastor by raising fund to paper the walls of the church . , and carpe the aisles, so that Presbytery was gratified at the improved appearance of the sanctuary. Dinner was also furnished in the church- - yard, by the ladies, for the Presbytery and all the large assembly present, estimated by some to be near one thousand. The church was crowded to overflowing, and quite a congregation was still on the out side. After the wants of all were supplied, more than twelve baskets full remained untouched. A most excellent spirit prevades the congregation—a willingness to do anything that will help forward the good cause. It is cheering to the friends of this old Zion to witness her present prospects. All that seems needed now is an outpouring of the Spirit from on Sigh, till this field not only shall blossom as the rose, but bring forth fruit abundantly, to the praise of God's grace. For this we hope both pastor and people will earnestly, believingly, humbly, determinedly and perseveringly pray to the Hearer of prayer. ONE Wilo WAS PRESENT For the Presbyterian Banner. In Memoriam. Extract from the minutes of the Union Literary Society, on the death of Henry M. Graham, of Young's Battery, who died at Fort Delaware, July 22, 1863: WHEREAS, God, in the mysterious dis pensations of his providence, has seen fit to remove flora this to another world our for mer friend and 1 -fellow-member, Henry M. Graham; therefore, Resolved, That in the death of Mr. Gra ham, our Society has added to her list of losses _another of her, noblest spirits; one whose aspirations were ever after the pure, the noble , and the good. Resolved, That while we mourn the loss of one whose rising star of manhood pointed unerringly to a bright and promising life of usefulness and honor, yet, this offering being required, we rejoice in the fact that it was laid upon the holy altar of our free dom; and we would bow in humble sub 'mission to the all-wise will of Him demand ing such a sacrifice. Resolved, That we tender to the bereaved relatives of, our deceased friend our heart felt sympathy and also ask them to rejoice with us in the consoling hope that he, hav ing left us here, now enjoys a life of im mortal vigor and unending bliss in that world where death and sorrow never enter. Resolved, That copies of these resolutions be forwarded to the family of the deceased; and for publioation,_ to the Reporter and Tribune, and the Presbyterian Banner. A. A. Surm a S. T. M. MeOARRELL, GEO. Dal v rat, Comnittee. TVaslaivon College, Aug., 1863.. For rho Freelgtoriau Stamm Ordination. At an adjourned meeting of the Presby tery of Washington held at Frankfort, June 76th, Mr. D. H. Laverty was ordained to the office of the Gospel ministry and in stalled pastor of the church of Frankfort. In these services, Rev. W. B. Keeling preached the sermon; the Moderator, Rev. R. S. Morton, presided and made the or daining prayer ; Rev. S. P. Grier Pave_tbe_.._ charge to the pastor, and Rev. J. E;gleson 7 D.D., to the people. At the same meeting Rev. - J. T. Freder icks and Rev. R. S. Morton were appointed a committee to install Mr. Laverty at the churCh of " Three Springs," the other part of his pastoral charge, which "was done on the following Monday. For the Presbyterian Banner. In Memoriam Extract from the minutes of the Union Literary Society, on the death of Capt. David Acheson - , 140th Penna. Vols., who , fell JUly 2d, 1863, while gallantly leading his men in the terrific battle of Gettys burg nnusAs, God; who reigneth, Lath called upon us to recognise the mysteriola ir dispensations of his providence, in that Blify siddenly • summoned from the sanguinary battle-field of 'Gettysburg to the eternal world our former fellow-member and bro , ther Capt. David Acheson; and; W'HEILEAS, it is but fitting that we, as a Society, tender some tribute of respect to the memory of the honored and the brave whO have gone out from our midst, and who have battled and fallen in defence of Freedom's holy cause; therefore, Resolved, That in the_ death of Captain Aeheson, we recognise the blood-sealed pledge of that uncompromising fidelity which prompted him to • abandon those peaceful pursuits that bid fair to wreath his brow with . : the highest of literary hon ors; to bid adieu to that home hallowed in its endearments, and to those friends and . relatives .who regarded him as their model of true nobility, that he might draw his' sword in defence of all that renders home sacred, and affords security to friends —good government. Resolved, That in his death, the Union Literary Society has lost one of her most gifted and highly-honored members; Wash ington College one of her noblest sons; his native town one of its most promising youth's; and from ample testimony we may add, his noble regiment one 'of its bravest and most' idolized captains: Resolved, That, although we would not alloy the 'sanctity 'et , deznestie grief bf the intermingling'Of onr sorrow, yet we ?would humbly ask the privilege of moistening the green lough of remembrance with the tear of heartfelt synipatby. Resedvect, That while we mourn our loss, are rejoice in the' hope, that =his was but a' transfer; fromrthe armies' cirthe Union to' , the armies of heaven; and hencii his ins calculable gain Resolved, That copies of these resolu tips be forivarded_to' the tinnily of the de='' ceased ; to Regiment' Headquarters, 140th Penns Vols.;` , and' for publiation,-to the '` Report& aitd Mbune, ofi Waskiagteie- Pa.;'and to the VreskVteritin'Atnner. - _ , A.lifodinfra, H. M. " le.o6,lkaittee' II I= II