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PITTABERGII, VEDNESIMY, SEPT,
The Meetings of Synods are favorable times
to subscribe, and to make payments for re
ligious newspapers.
Domestic ItlissiollS.--We see it stated that
the New School churches, embracing 135,-
,1 11 ' , 73-1. members, gave to their Domestic kli.s
jions $122,407.80, during the last year;
- '''that is en average of ninety cents; and that
the Old School churches, embracing 227,-
575 m embers, gave to their D9mestie Board
$77,210.78, or an average of a little over
thiety.one cents. Are the New School three
times as wealthy as we are; or do their
poorer congregations, and outlying fields
have three times the need ; or do they love
three times as much ; If no One of these
questions can be answered in the affirma
tive—and we think they cannot—then
what causes the difference in the contribu
tions ? The attention of ministers, elders,
and people is requested to this subject.
Since the above ,was written, we have
seen a' statement in theY. Evangelist,
which greatly alters the comparison be
tween the liberality to the Domestic Mis
sion cause, in, the Old and New School
churches. The amount given by each, as
stated above ,we took from the Presbyterian
of the 19th inst. The Euangelist, instead
of 8122,407.39, raised for Domestic Nis
, sinus during the past year," as the Presby
terian gave it, says "The receipts for the
past year, ending May Ist, 1863, were, with
the balance oil hand, over $46,000." This
would make the contributions of the church
es, per member, about equal.
But let us not bless ourselves in the
thought that our brethren's gifts to this
great cause arc as small as our own. Have
we done our duty ? Have we done what
we coithi? We again commencLthe.subject
to our ministers and people. The Domestic
Board has very great need. Our Church
suffers, and the country suffers, from our de
fective zeal in this most important work. '
GREAT DEMAND FOR HOSPITAL SUPPLIES
We state, in behalf of the Christian
Commission, that' the aivance of Gen.
ROSEORANS into the very heart of the ene
my's country, has caused an increased de
mand for Hospital stores for the sick and
wounded. The Christian Commission has
forwarded large quantities of needed stores,
but the supply has by no means equalled
the demand. As the Army of the Cum
berland is dependent on the Western cities
for such supplies as are' not furnished by
the Government, the Army Committee in
Pittsburgh earnestly requests all Soldiers'
Aid Societies, as well as churches, to send
in immedistely all such stores as can be
collected, and they will be forwarded by
express to the Army in Tennessee and Ala
bama. Stimulants and cordials, good home
made wines, and canned fruits, are greatly
needed. Corn starch, farina, condensed
milk, and other delicacies, are very grateful
to the sick and wounded.
• All articles entrusted to the Chris
tian ' Commission, are distributed by the
bands of its own delegates—are given to
the suffering with words of cheer and con
solation.
Send all stores to W. P. WEYMAN,
Christian Commission, No. 79 Smithfield
Street, Pittsburgh.
Contributions of money, for the pur
chase of stores, may be sent to JOSEPH
ALBREE, No. 71 Wood Street, Pittsburgh.
RELIGIOUS NEWSPAPERS FOR OUR SOL-
TERMS ON WHICH THE PRESAYTERIAN
BANNER CAN BE EURNIEMED
The Christian Commission sends to us
the following statement :
" The soldiers in the field and in the hos
pitals are eager for religions newspapers.
Their own familiar family denominational
papers are the most prized of all. They
are read from beginning to end, and passed
from band to hand, until quite worn out.
They revive home, church, and Sabbath
school associations; keep up the knowledge
of passing events, religious and secular; in
crease intelligence, prevent demoralization,
inspire cheerfulness, encourage pairiotism,
and strengthen heroic resolve; and above
all present Gospel truths in articles terse
and attractive, and illustrate thier benign
powers by narratives of conversions, revi
vals, and hallowed Christian examples of
holy living and happy dying.
"The Christian Commission would rejoice
to present by its delegates and chaplains the
best loved paper of each soldier to him
every week; but, even if its treasury could
bear the expenses, which it can not, the
Commission. could not devote means con
tributed for generaZ purposes, to -the pur
chase of denominational papers. It can be
done however, by special contributions for
the purpose, and to this end an appeal is
now made to the friends of each and all the
religious papers of the land. Let the
friends of each contribute to the paper it
self directly all they can afford for the
purpose, and the Commission will see that
the papers are placed in the hands of the
soldiers.
" The Commission has this special re
request to make of editors, in behalf of the
soldiers, that they will not permit the mat
ter to drop, but call attention to it from
week to week, until a supply is secured in
some measure commensurate with the vast
ness of our army and the eagernese of sol
diem."
OUR RESPONSE
The —PRESBYTERIAN BANNER is furnish
ed to the Christian Commission (and others
for the soldieis) at an average of about two
and a half cents for eaoh
,paper, in iota ;
that is, for five dollars we , furnish 16 copies
weekly, for three months•; for ten dollars,
80 copies weekly, for three 'months, &c.
We shall be happy to receive numerous
and large contributions for so noble and
- Christian a gurpose. Send directly to us;
ior send to JOSEPH ALI3REE, Treasurer of
Christian Commission, No. 71 Wood St.,
Pittsburgh.
We will promptly deliver the packages
of papers to the Christian Commission, to
be forwarded and distributed.
D ERS
CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE IN THE PRODUCTION
OF NATIONAL
JESUS CmusT is "The Prince of Peace."
The Gospel proclaims peace. Its spirit
causes _peace. Its true ministers are the
heralds and the promoters of peace. When
it shall prevail universally; the nations will
beat their swords into plowshares. They
will - learn .Tar no more.. Oppression also will
cease. Love and liberty. will then prevail.
Since this is - to be the result, men should
love the Gospel; and its ministers, who are
the sons of peace, should be at their work.,
making peace.
We were exceedingly delighted, last
week, with a new manifestation of minis
terial influence in the production of Na
tional amity. Rev. - Dr. 'MASSIE, whose
name we mention elsewhere, presented, in
the most earnest manner, the sympathy of
our Evangelieal brethren in England and
France, in our National _troubles, and their
deep desire that we might soon be blessed
with a righteous and happy peace. And
the desire of these brethren, and especially
of the English portion of them, has been
active far beyond their prayers in their
families and public.sanctuaries. Foreign
ignorance relative to our country, is Jam
entable ; these brethren used means to Mire
that ignorance. Efforts on the part of
rebel emissaries to excite prejudice - against
us, were incessant; these brethren were
equally diligent in counteracting those
efforts. To them we' owe, in a great
measure, English neutrality, and through
the English, French neutrality. They
preached. They gathered immense public
meetings, and made -speeches. They col
lected large funds. They published ad
dresses and circulated them far and wide.
They enlisted politicians in our cause.
They wrote in newspapers. They used all
the common justifiable means to enlighten
the public mind, and to produce t.l. public
sentiment in our favor. 'And they rejoice
in being greatly suecessful. A few of the
nobility are now our friends ; and some of
the influential politicians; and several of
the journals; and almost the entire mass of
the middle men, the substantial class in
England. Public sentiment is now so
strongly with the North, as Dr. MAssin
thinks, that, unless some unusual provoca
tion should be given by us, no Ministry
would dare to acknowledge the Southern
Confederacy, or in any way to interfere.
The London Times, which has shown
great sympathy for the South, Dr. MAssiE
affirms to be no criterion of public senti
ment in England. That sometimes it fails
as a leader, and that it is unreliable even
as an index, Dr. MASSIE showed most
clearly. Still; however, we in America
must believe that the Thun darer " is not
only a terrific noise, but is also an immense
power. It is the paper of England. Com
binations have been entered into to put it
down, to weaken it, to raise a rival, but all
in vain. It lives; and so lives as to over
whelm rivalry, and laugh at politicians, and
make Pr'inces quake. The, Times may not,
we believe it does not, express, on our
affairs, the sentiments of the majority of
the English people; but it is a power; and
it is sustained ; and it is an indicator of
the sentiment of those in England who
have power; and as soon as public opinion
shall become strong in our favor, the Times
will show it. It then will advocate our
cause; and one of the evidences of the
success of our brethren's labors is this, that
the Times now begins to cry out, "No
intervention."
It is a Christian duty for us in America
to conciliate England, as far as we can do
so, on righteous principles. A war with
that country would be an 'unspeakable ca
lamity. And it is a thing unnecessary.
The people of England wish to avoid
They can be brought to sanction it only by
some great provocation on our part. It be
comes American Christians to avoid giving
that provocation. It becomes us to held
back belligerent spirits; and if we cannot
restrain their utterances, we must counter
act the baleful influence. The Address of
our ministerial brethren abroad, is a fine
occasion for ministers at home to speak,
and to promote the things which make for
peace. We want a patriotic people, brave
soldiers, upright statesmen, and wise and
holy Christian teachers. Then shall we
have peace at home and peace abroad—
peace founded on righteousness, and blessed
of God.
DISABLIED MINISTERS, ;ic
The TrusteeS Report to the last General
Assembly, in relation to the Fund. for Dis
abled Ministers in Need, and the Needy
Widows and Orphans of Deceased Minis
ters, is now published. It is an able docu
ment on an important and very interesting
subject: It should be circulated and read.
We commend it to the Ruling Elders of
,the
Church. They have been in the Assem
bly the earnest advocates of this benevo
lence, and they but act consistently when
they have collections made, and forwarded.
The Report before us might, very properly,
be read from the pulpit in connexion with
the call for the annual contributions to the
fund. The Assembly. adopted the follow
ing Resolutions :
Resolved, 1. That th 9 Assembly have
heard, with deep interest, the Report of
the Trustees of
. the Fund for Disabled Min
isters in Need, and the Destitute Widows
and Orphans of Deceased Ministers.
Resolvd, 2. That they learn, with great
satisfaction the rapid progress of this good
cause, as evinced in the increasing number
and amount of the collections.
Res°hiccl, 3. That in view of the success;
and favourable acceptance of the plan rec
ommened by the Assembly of 1849, and
sanctioned by several subsequent Assem
blies, this Assembly reaffirm said action,
and recommend that annual collections be
solicited in all the churches for current ex
penditures; and also, that large donations
and bequests be solicited, to form gradually
a Permanent Fund; the interest of which
shall be pledged in aid of the objects indi
cated. •
Resolved, 4.. That the Report be appended
to the Minutes of this Assembly, and be
PRESBYTERIAN BANNER-WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1863,
printed by the Board of Publication, a
copy ..of which shall be sent to each pastor,
With a request that it be read' fohis
ta eon
oTeoution.
Resolved, 5. That should the sums con
-tributed by the churches in any year, ex
ceed the sum needed to meet the demands
upon it, the Trustees be authorized to invest
such surplus as a part of the Permanent
Fund, in such way as that it shall be safe
and productive.
Resolved, G. That the thanks of the As
sembly are due, and are hereby tendered, to,
those generous fribnds .of the cause, by
whose liberality a large , proportion of the
expenses of this important agencyds pro
vided for. . •
TIIE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN.*
A truthful and ably written history of
the Campaign in the Peninsula. of Virginia,
will be looked , for most anxiously. It will;
however, be years before the work can be
accomplished. As yet, the commaiiding
Geneyal's report, and, the other , extensive
official docunaents, indispensable . to a. cor
rect history, lie sealed from the public, in
the War Department. 'The investigating
Committee of Congress published a few
facts. Letter-writ'ers have given some facts.
And now Rev. Dr. MA.MICASi a Chaplain in
the army, has uttered things which he saw,
and heard, and'felt, and thought.: '
The work of Dr. MARKS is laid on our
table hut a few hours before we go to press;
with a request for a notice. We would not
venture much criticism on a glance• so
hasty; but, as we always look at a man's
face, and then cannot but form some opin
ion ; so we directed our eyes to the " PRE
PACE" of the book, and will give our -read-,
ers the first paragraph, and our first thought.
The author says :
" This work is given to the public with
many misgivings, for it' has been prepared
by camp-fires, in the midst of hospital la
bors and marches on the 'Rappahannock, in
the mountains of. Virginia, and under ,the
pressure of exhausting duties. The author
has had no time for retirement, forconsul
.
Wien of authorities, or trimming away ex
crescences and redundancies. He is, there
fore, . painfully conscious of a thousand
defects and blunders, which are the cense
quence of hasty preparation!'
This being read, we ,said to ourselves,
the book must then, necessarily, be 'utterly
unreliable. The statement quoted being
true, how could Dr. MARKS call upon the
thousands of his ministerial brethren, and
the-tens of thousands of the Christian pub
lic, to consume their precious time in read
ing his pages And how could he venture
to pronounce on character, and to give ut
terances affecting the reputation of the liv
ing and the dead 1 Readers cannot help
but think: This is a "hasty preparation;"
the author himself had tz many misgivings"
about it ; and he was painfally conscious
of .a thousand defects and blemishes." Dr.
MARKS owes it to himself, to take time,
and consult authorities, and to re.viseehis
book and make it 'worthy of his ministerial
standing, and of the noble Army of the
Potomac, and of the righteous cause in
which that army fought and bled.
*Tue. PENINS MAR CAMPAIGN IN V,IILGLNIA j Or,
Incidents and Scenes on, the Battle-fields and
in Richmond. By: Bev. J. - .7". Marks D.D.
12m0., pp. 444. Price, $1.50, Philadelphia:
T. B. Lippincott d. co. For_eale at thci Presbyte
rian Book Rooms, Pittsburgh. •
DI EMI VISIT AND'ADDRESS,
Rev. Dr. MiSm . , of London, visited
Pittsburgh on the 16th•inst., according to
the notice last week published. In the
evening he presented the Address of two
thousand English ministers and seven hun
dred Protestant French ministers, which
he bore to the ministers and Christian peo
ple of this country. -
Dr. MASSIE introduced the reading of,
his paper with some most interesting re - -
marks. He is a real Englishman. He
was, for some years of his earlier life, a
missionary in India. Sinze his return to
his native land he has, been laboring for
the cause of Evangelism, in the Dissenting
Churches. He is a good speaker--not at
tractive by the graces of his oratory, but,
impressive by his real earnestness.
He has visited New-York, Philadelphia,
Washington, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland,
and other places. He went hence to Buffa
lo, and will shortly return to Englan4
After Dr. MASSIE concluded, the meet
ing organized by calling Gen. ROBINSON to
the chair, and appointing tir. M9TINNtv . ,
Secretary; when, on motion of Rev. J. M.
&qua, a Committee was'nominated to pre
pare, and forward to Dr. MASSIE, a
Response to the Address which he had pre
sented. The Committee are, Dr. DOUGLAS,'
Messrs. EELLs and SMITH - , and Drs. JACO
BUS, M'KINNEY, and PRESTLEY. '
A gentleman who was present,makes the
following report of Dr. MA.ssm's remarks :
He did not know when he left England
that there was so much need for the inter-.
change of sympathies and confidential com
munication between the people of England
and America. He did. - not know how
deeply had entered into the heart of the
people of this land; the feeling of sorrow
and disappointment which he now found
to prevail, because of misapprehension and
misrepresentation concerning England in
America, and concerning America in Eng
land. The first object o#' his mission was
to seek to strengthen the hands of those
who were seeking to destroy the source of
the present war, the spring of the rebellion,
and the power of those Who are acting as
-rebels against the Government by'-which
they themselves bad previously enjoyed
the highest rights that man can enjoy. It
was from an anti-slavery conference that he
received his commission, but it was as the
friend of the Union and emancipation that
he appeared before them that eVening.
His mission was nominally to the min
istry of all Christian churches throughout
the States of America, and it was 'that he
might convey to them the judgment of
Christian men in England • that he had
come. And not to them alone had he
been called to speak, ' but to those, who
sympathize with the ministry; so that• the
pulpit has held something like a cor
respondence with the. pew, and the minis
ter's study has been invaded,by the earnest
and solicitous of those who are his 'loving
people.
We werninduced to move in the, matter
in England, he said, because we saw that
there were many who misrepresented the
state of things in England.. We had a
feeling of interest in reference to the peo
ple of America. We believed them to be
possessed of the best political constitution
that was ever possessed by any nation
under heaven—that they had the beet por
tion of liberty, and were subjected to the
least exaction by the• Government as
regard,s , .taxation,- or in •reference .to au
thority._
We - believed :that America, if, she, con
tinued to prosper, would ,proye a blessing
at, least to the trans-Atlantic world, and
that gradually her, institutions, her liberties
and her.religion would spread over the other
parts of the•continent..of America, and we
wished her God-speed in, such preva
lence—prevalence by reasen,,by righteous
ness by justice, by-law, and by an equita-,
ble,?Government.. •We ook .to the people`
of America as a kindred people,that had
sprung from our own ancestors. ,
There, are men in America wire were
born in ray own countrymen frOin Eng
land, Scotland and Ireland—men of my
kindred, who have grown to be Americans
in every sense of the word-men whose
blood has flowed .as . freely in the field of
battle in, behalf of your liberty as that of
your own countrymen. Can it be a matter
of :wonder, then, that men are looking from
those, countries across the Atlantic to the
vales of New-England, and the vast prai7
ries of the West, to see what their kindred
are. doing---feeling with' them when they
are wohnded,Mitrhaving' a -common inter
eit'with 'them, and With your existence,
and your liberty and prosperity? There
fore it was that we were concerned when we
were . misrepresented here, and when you
were misrepresented to, Us.
'There are two vast organs, professedly
that represent Publie Opitlioll 1' The New-
York'fferaid on the Western side of the
Atlantic, and the Times newspaper on the
Eastern side of theAtlantie ; both of them
mouthing great words, and having the
world to wonder after them, because they
are such mighty powers. But they are
not the oreans of truth. They are licit the
agencies'of liberty. They are not the in
struinents sustained by virtue and interna
tional integrity. They are the spawn- of
selfish enterprise;'the enterprise of men
who-trade in' polities,•and who hate truth
when it' annot be made to subserve titeir
pOposea. ;
If yOtt do not accept the - New -York
Herald and the political 'representations of
those who are of the elass'of the New-York
Iteridd as the rerireseniation of the feeling
of the American nation, let the Times go
for the same value. In the first place 'we
have no government organ in,England, any
more than you have in America. There is
no newspaper that speaks,under the control
of. the Cabinet ,of Great. Britain. What
ever may be known concerning the Opinions
of this,or, that statesman, there is not and
there cannot be in England any constitu
tional representation through the press, of
our Government. In the second, place the
Times is not the organ of the masses of the
people. It is the organ of an enterprising
commercial company, who have founded
their branches of correspondence and opera
tions,in divers parts of the world, for the
sake' of gain; and who take care to have
correct and primary information on com
mercial eubjects, and who, for the sake of
gain, will write up a Confederate loan when
that is to be written up, and will write
down Liberty and a government, when
bringing it down will add .In their pros
perity. The Times newspaper, has never
in all its existence been anything else than
the Times of to.day its sole object being
to servo the purposes of its managers. The
Times is ' in no instance, the recognized
Organ of the liberal party of England. It
never has consistently advocated liberty.
It, was the opponent of Wilberforce and
others. 'So long
,as gain could be gotten
from the , West Indies, and not until the
Government had taken up measures for the
emancipation' of our West India negroes,
did a sentence in favor of liberty find a
place in, its columns. The Times has been
the fittingnrgan of those that were the po
litical and absolute monopolists of every,
age. It not only• opposed. Wilberforce
Cobden, John Bright, and other champions
of liberty, but it opposed them throughout
with a resistance and, persistence which
showed that it felt the interests "(If its party
were at , stake, until it, was constrained to
see and acknowledge the league as a great
fact. Then they, turned as if they would
eat their own words, but they never yet ex
plained why they made the changes they
saw fit to make.
The speaker then referred to •the' taking
of the census for the purpose of ascertain
ing-the strength of the Established Church
and of the Nonconformists,:showing that
although the Nonconformists were in the
ascendency, yet-in the Times .no recogni
tion or them has ever been made, and al
though many conventions and meetings
have been held, no report has ever yet ap
peared in the columns of the Times.
Do you 'then wonder at it, he asked, that
they do not know you, especially as' your
institutions and principles recognized in
the administration of your Government go
directly in the teeth of all monopoly ? Es
pecially as you extend to every citizen the
`tight of suffrage That you give security
as far as , you can to him who exercises the
right of suffrage; and that the rail-splitting
laborer may occupy the highest seat in
your Republic, where enterprise and gen
erous •_ambition fire the soul of him that is
their possessor. These are things which
our Times hates, because it is the lick-spit
tle of those who are Called the aristocracy
of England. You must not therefore go to
that paper, or ,to papers of like kindred, in
order to know what are England's thoughts
concerning you.
He then touched on the great contest
now going on in this country, and said that
he looked upon the American struggle as
a struggle between the magistrate and the
rebel, and that God would not favor a
rebellion for the sake of cppression. , He
then referred 'to the Union Emancipation
Society of Manchester ' formed for the pur
pose of proclaiming the excellence and de
fending the rights : of the Union and of the
United States : it was fOrmed in the midst
of five landred thousand people--who-were
receiving their sustenance from the band
of charity, and who had been impoverished
by reason of what was called the " cotton
famine," which was produced by the policy
of your rebellion, the leaders of which de
sired-, by bringing King Cotton to bear on
the artisans of England, to constrain her to
recognise them - as an independent power.
Cotton was kept back, and then was seen
such a time of misery as we seldom meet
with.. These poor laboring people -of the
manufacturing districts were deprived of
their employment, and therefore their
bread; In their distress.. they, sold .their
furniture to the brokers, and parted ±with
their_ very clothing, to supply the neces
saries of life. The little shop-keepers, who
usedto supply the working classes around
them, had run. up such scores that their
capital was sunk, and the general ruin fell
on thim also. In the midst of all this, the
Confederate conspirators interposed and
said.: " Come up end help us, and recog
nize us' as an, independent Government,
and you shall have a return for your rec
ognition, not in :Mere bales of cotton, but
in actual gold." These working men and
these impoverished, honest laboring men,
who liKed by their toil and paid by their
labor for their bread, held up their sinewy
arms and skeleton hands in indignant pro,
test against the claims of the South, and
said : "No!" They saw that this was a
contest about the rights of the laborer.
The South hate to give wages. They
want work performed 'without reward, ex
cept it be such a stingy supply
,of food as
may support the laborer ; and they, would
have us to recognize them and join hands
with them, then we,, too, shall be slaves.
They saw this was the great object the
conspirators had in view, when they in
augurated' the 'great rebellion of the slave
States.
In continuing his remarks, the speaker
alluded, to the mass meeting which had
been held last Winter in Exeter Hall, which
was thronged, to its utmost capacity by, the
laboring and middle classes of London—a
hall which was capable of containing an
audience of five thousand people, and yet
such was .the interest which the people of
England felt in the cause of freedom. in
America that an-hour before the time of
meeting it was impossible to, gain admis
sion .even into the lobby and entrance of
the capacious building. There the assent,
bly unanimously endorsed an address which
had been prepared, and was afterward for
warded to the President of the United
States, expressive of the cordial sympathy
of the people of England with him, and
with' the people, of the United States, in
the great struggle .in which they wire en
gaged. At ono of these.meetings, held in
Manchester, among the artisans and work
ins'elasses of that, city, some' sympathizer
with .the South raised , a question against
the North, but the sturdy voice of an hon
est laborer in the audience demanded,
".Who began the war ?" The, answer was
unanimous that it was the South who had
been the aggressor; and thus was the sin
gle dissentient voice silenced.
We have seen from this that the lower
and the middle classes are entirely with
the loyal States, and as it is with you, so
it is with us. The Government derives its
power from the laboring classes. On theth
rests the main burden of taxation, and from
them must the real policy of the Govern
ment emanate. The great body of the
people are with the North, and no overn
mentGwould receive the suppoxt.of the peo
ple if they opposed the Northin this great
struggle.
Now there is another point to - which we
arrive, and that is the case of the pirates
Alabama and Florida. I say that this is
a disgrace to England, as slavery is a dis
grace to America. As those that run the
blockade sailing out from the port of New-
York are a disgrace to the -port. I say
that if the Alabama should be seized upon
the high seas, and every man of her crew
should be hung at the yard-arm it would
be nothing but strict justice. I say that
this will make more mischief between this
country and England than it will make
profit to the men who are engaged in it
But let me assure you that with the excep
tion of the officials at Liverpool and the
Custom Houses who are certainly charge
able with neglect of duty, our Government
from that day to this has done all that it
could do in order to prevent the sailing of
such ships. It has. done all that the' law
empowered it to do—yes, and more 'than
the law empowered it to do. But you ask,
" Why do'you not change the law, if it is
so imperfect, as we changed the law in this
country ?" I answer that we can't do it
there—that there are too many interested
in the matter to enable us to do it.
The speaker then enlarged on the pro
ceedings of the London EmanciPation So
ciety, and the Union and Emancipation. So.
ciety of Manchester, recounting at length
the history of each, and referring to the
address issued by the Emancipation Socie
ty to, the ministers and pastors of the Uni
ted States,. This address, he said, had
been delivered to the President, Abraham
Lincoln, When he, was in Washington he
had called on the President and asked him
if be had read it. The President replied
that 'he hid, but would read it again before
him—which he did, reading it aloud. It
is not my duty, the speaker said, to tell
you what passed, between us, but I will tell
you what, is My impression concerning him.
He is the enemy of slavery and wishes its
abolition. He is the friend of the slave
and wishes him liberty. He has issued his
proclamation of libeity and will not retract
one syllable of it He is us pure -a patriot
as probably ever sat in the Presidential
chair. He is a true Christian and a man to
be trusted as- honest and worthy of all
praise.
The speaker next specified his two prin
cipal objects in accepting the mission in
which he •was now employed. He desired
to strengthen the anti-slavery cause in the
United States, and. uphold the hands of
those who sought to profit from the pres
ent crisis, for , the speedy accomplishment
of the freedom of every slave within the
Republic.. He had been deputed by.the
committee: of an anti-slavery Conference
in Manchester. His second object was to,
diffuse in America, an assurance of a cor
dial and friendly sympathy among the
mass of English people—the middle and
working classes; who are the, back-bone and
sinews of England. He‘trusted no momen
tary irritation or hasty language by one or
other, would be suffered to create ,"a warlike
or belligerent tone in the intercourse of the
two nations, who were, .in fact, but one
people. Dark and fearful would be the,
day, which witnessed the first out-break of
strife between England and America.
Neither of them could gain anything ex
cept the gratification of a vindictive feel
ing. England could not conquer America,
and the Americans could not anticipate the
conquest of England. They might, in
deed, destroy each other's commerce, and
spoil the goods of each other at sea, and
thus individuals of both people would suf
fer and become the prey of war. , Thit
'what misery would follow the rending, of
family relations / the destruction of broth
erg and sous in the opposing ranks What
dishonors would be brought on their com
mon religion, and on, the name of Him
whom they loved ! How would the des
pots of Europe triumph I It would in
dulge the hatred of Napoleon and thuktit
ter attimosity of the priests of superstition,
and mar the religious and harmonious ac
tion of their missionary and philanthropic
institutions. .It would make hell rejoice
and , angels roman. He implored. all to use
their power to promote a peaeeful and for
bearing intercourse, a conciliatory, and lib
eral•policy. Englishmen deplore the ac
tion of the Alabamas and Ftoridas,nnd feel
that they, brino. diSgrace on the English
name and the reputation of. British enter
prise. But.they , are only , the proceePngs
of individual speculators, who sacrifice ev
erything for sordid gain.
The Bible in ltaly.--Rev. E. E. HALL,
writing to the Christian, World, speaks en
couragingly of the Bible cause in Italy.
The number of Bibles and New Testaments
sold the last year, was about twenty-seven
thousand; and that was smaller than the
sales of either of the two preceding years.
Still, it was even more encouraging than
the previous demand. When Italy was
first opened to the Bible, by the new polit
ical movements, curiosity prompted many
persons to purchase the long prohibited
Wok: Now, however, the sales are made
to those who wish to possess for the put.
pose of acquiring a knowledge of its precious
truths.
The British Bible Society has now
twenty-nine eolporteurs in Italy; and other
agencies have about twenty more.
EASTERN SUMMARY,
NEW-ENGLAND.
A CORRESPONDENT of the Evangelist,
in an article on the Baccalaureate dis
courses of the celebrated President Griffin,
makes a quotation which is interesting as
relating to the ~k. i story of one of our most
Useful. Colleges,, and as bearing testimony
to the power and importance of a- genuine
revival of religion. In the closing part of
one of his Baccalaureate sermons, Dr.
Griffin said.
"This College has evidently been seltret
ed by God to be the instrument of incalcu
lable good to the world. It was here that
American missions were born; and the re
peated revivals of religion which have been
enjoyed on this ground have sent forth
more ministers and missionaries, in pro
portion to the number of graduates, than
have proceeded, it is said, from .any other
college. When this institution, after a
struggle of thirteen years to remove it,
was expiring under the successful termina
tion of an effort to establish another, God
interposed by his Holy Spirit and produced
such a revival as had never been known
here• before. This reviverl saved the Col
lege. When the question of its permanent
existence or speedy death turned on the
raising of a fund which should place its
prosperity beyond a doubt, it was the in
fluence of that revival which gave success
to the undertaking. I have been in cir
cumstances to know the truth of what I
say; and I wish to record it for the grate
ful recollection of those who shall come
after me. I know that this College has
been Raved by the Holy Ghost; and to the
Holy Ghost let it be forever devoted, as a
scene of revivals of, religion, to raise up
ministers and missionaries for Christ and
his Church!'
IT um's that, in consequence of the
want of numerical strength among the
members. of any particular religious de
nomination, many of the smaller towns in
New-Hampshire are comparatively desti
tute of the public means of grace. In con
sideration of this destitution, the following
paper was adopted by the. General Associa
tion of the State, at their late meeting
it WlA,reas, The different denominations
of professed Christians in many of our
towns are unable to maintain their separate
institutions off' religion, and are living with
out them, therefore, we, the General-Asso
ciation of Congregational and Presbyterian
ministers and churches, in our associated
capacity; advise, where it can be consistent
ly-done, that these different denominations
unite in the 'support of an evangelical min
istry, and in sustaining Sabbath Schools for
the young and for all who can be induced
to share in their privileges.
"'Resolved, further, that we commend
this
.shbject to the consideration of the next
meeting of the Conference of the Metho
dist, Episcopal Church of this State, to the
next Baptist General Convention, and to
the next Free-Will Baptist Yearly Meet
ing, with the hope that these bodies will
think favorably_ of this recommendation,
and join in recommending it to the favor
able regard of the people of our destitute
towns.
THE FORTY-NINTH Annual .aeport of
American Tract. Society, Boston, bas just
been published. An exchange, in noticing
it, says
",The'report explains the policy of the
Society, and the reasons for its continued
existence as distinct from the Tract Society
in New-York. The Boston Society, it
seems, has given up colportage as a system,
and leaves the sales of its books to the
ordinary channels of the trade. It has a
business department, distinct from: the
charitable, which is conducted on strictly
business principles. Its sells its books at
a profit, and applies the profits of its sales
to the reduction of the expense of adrnin
• isterine• the charitable department. In a
short time, wd are assured, those profits
will ,be sufficient to meet the entire ex
penses of the Society. Then every dollar
paid into its treasury for its charitable work
will be expended in the circulation of a re
ligious literature."
THE BOSTON Recorder says:
"Four years ago last May, Rev. C. E.
Park was dismissed from his pastors
charge in West Boxford. After hearing
some seventy-five different ministers, to sev
eral of whom calls were extended, the
Church is. supplied by the ordination and
installation on the 2d inst. of Mr. Charles
N. Pierce, of formerly a tutor in
Williams eollege, and more recently a
Resident Licentiate at Andover."
A. church that, either from choice or
necessity, continues long supplied only
with the irregular preaching of rival can
didates for the pastoral office, seldom fails
to suffer, and to suffer much, from such a
condition' of affairs. We know not, how
ever, that this has been the case with the:
church above alluded to.
AN EASTERN paper notices, with deserv
ed commendation, the Christian courage
and consistency of the Captain of the Gen.
Berry, a steamboat which lately ran be
tween Boston and N.ahant, but is now em
ployed in the service of the Government.
Sabbath was, above all other days, favora
ble for running, so far as lucrative °Quid
erations were concerned, but the Captain
revered the Sabbath, and, in spite of solici
tationsand sneers, he persisted in his de
termination never to violate its sanctity by
running his boat on - that day. Would that
Chriatiari travellers were all as scrupulous
as the noble Captain in their observance of
the Sabbath as a day of }leered rest.
NEW-YORK.
THE NEW-YORK Methodist, in an mei
lent article headed Work," deplores the
change which seems to be taking place in the
character of Methodism. It thinks she le
ceasing to be what she so long was, " almost
a purely aggressive organization," and is
,now settling down as "one of the recog
nized powers of Christendom." It further
says
We Seek, as a denomination, to have
churches and orgais and music as fine as
the best of our neighbors, and are working
toward it; :our people are anxious for an elo
quent ministry, atvl are all the better pleased
if it be even floridly so. The movement
in this direction togeekher with the study
and discussion oiquestionsof polity, occupy
time and attention, and consume no little
of the denominational energy... But this
work, though it, may be naturally inciden
tal to the present stage of our life, is not
Church work in the highest sense. It is
labor devoted to mere implements, and.
there is danger that while these are exam
ined and tinkered, the proper labor of the
Church may be suspended."
We rejoice to know that in many parts
of our distant States and Territories, Meth
odism is still engaged in its aggressive pio
neer work, and that, through its instrumen
tality, thousands are reached who would
probably otherwise never hear the Gospel
message. In= regard to some Methodist
churches, however, the strictures of our
contempory arc applicable.
REV. DR. AsA D. Sminr, of New-York
city, has been unanimously elected Presi
dent of Dartmouth College.
MR. ISAAC SEYMCUR, for many years
President of the Bank of North America,
was taken suddenly ill while attending
worship lately in Trinity chur:h ; and, in a
quarter of an hour after his removal to the
vestry-room, he expired. A post =orient
examination 'showed that his sudden death
was caused by disease ar the heart. The
deceased was about seventy years of age;
had long been a vestryman of Trinity
church, and was extensively known and re
spected.
TEE Evening Post says of the iron-clad
Tecumseh, which was launched on the 14th
inst., at Jersey City, in the preience of
thousands of ladies and gentlemen
The Tecumseh is one of the most per
fect specimens of the monitors that has
been built. She very nearly resembles the
Canowicus, recently built at Boston. Her
length is 235 feet, width 46 feet, and depth
of hold 14 feet. Her tonnage is 1,400 tons;
draft of water 14 feet when in fighting trim.
The lines of the vessel are easier, with less
projeCting flat surfaces, and she is built
sharper forwa.rd than the other monitors.
Rivets are used in the turret, pilot-house
and armor generally, instead of bolts.; they
are fixed in such a manner that they can
not fly out when struck by projectiles.
The side armor is composed of nine-inch
plates, and a formidable ram projects in
front. The deek is, bomb-proof, composed
of three plates half-inch iron—an addition
of half an inch on the old. monitors. The
turret is revolving, twenty-one feet internal
diameter, and nine feet high; is is com
posed of iron plates an inch in thickness
and eleven in number." •
IN CONSEQUENCE of the uneasiness occa
sioned by the building 'of rebel rams in
Europe, the authorities in New-York are
manifesting some activity in providing for
the defence of their harbor. Several great
guns have been mounted, which, it is
thought, will be able to successfully oppose
the passage of any iron•clads that may be
built across the ocean. Some of the New-
York journals think, however, that much
more should be done by the authorities for
the protection of the city than has yetbeen
done.
PRLLAbELPIittA.,
THE Daily News of at) 15th inst., in
speaking of the Oeremonial Fast of Juda
ism, says
" During yesterday the faithful of the
descendants ofAbraham kept the rites pro
vided for in the Bible with rigorous exact
ness. The stores in Second and Third
streets and along Market street, were closed
durinc , the entire -day. Second street, be
low S c 9alnut, wore the appearance of the
Sabbath. But along South street and in
the localities where the> Hebrews, who are
less devout, congregate, business was trans
acted during all of yesterday, with clic
same zest and eagerness as if there was no
special call for the suspension of traf f ic and
the worship of Jehovah."
IF A CORRESPONDENT Of Zion's Herald,
writing from Philadelphia, is correctly in
formed, this -city, may be regarded as hav
ing a golden foundation. He says :
" Underneath the• city of Philadelphia
there is a deposit of clay measuring a um
ber of square miles, say ten. This stratum
has an average thickness of fifteen feet.
The chemist applied his tests to this clay
some time ago to see what it contained, and
the - result was that gold to the value of
three cents was found in every cubic foot-
Now in the.-above-bed of clay there are
four thousand one hundred and eighty
millions of cubic feet of clay, in which is
diffused one hundred and twenty-six mil
lions of dollars: Within the corporate
limits of the:city' there is eight times this
bulk of clay, in -which there is more gold
than has yet been brought from the mines
of California and Australia."
THE RECEIPTS from customs at Phila
delphia from the Ist to the 12th - of Sep
tember were $169,019.69.
Eiowr DEER and twenty gray squirrels
have been presented to New-York city, for
the Central Park, by the city of Philadel
phia. A similar present will be made to
Boston.
For the Presbyterian Banner
A Few of an Old saint's Thoughts.
The folloWing thoughts were given to
me, in ordinary conversation, by a good, old
lady of over four-score years, at the close of
a week-day . prayer-meeting. They did me
good, and hoping they may do others the
Same, I send them, through the Banner,
on . that mission. They are in her own
Words, nearly as I can recollect them
I pity ministers. Oh 1 the conflict that
is going on within. Few know the trials
of ministers. Hew hard it is for them
sometimes to pray! Then they are in
vited to go into company a great deal.
And how often 'they say some light thing
that gives them trouble afterward. There
is not enough of prayer among Christians
for their ministers. People are apt to
think that, because'ininisters are educated,
it is an easy matter for them to preach.
But something more than education is
needed to make preachers. They must
have•grace." T.