ME
DAVID M'KINNE
Editor and Proprietor.
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REV. DAVID M'KINNEY,
PITTSI3IJRGH, PA
[Orlginal.]
Givo My Money."
Ono who had long in heathen land
The Gospel-trumpet blown,
And to benighted Hindustan
Had made the Saviour known:
Unto his native land returned,
Their sad, sad state to tell;
While fervid seal his bosom burned
To savo their souls from hell,
In thrilling accents he portrayed
Their lamentable case,
And urged that we the Gospel send
To that benighted race;
The hardest heart was melted down
In sympathy and love,
While each a willing offering gave,
Sincerity to prove.
One little child, a precious coin
Had kept with anxious care,
But now with longing heart desired
Her little all to share:
0 mother, I 'll my money give,"
She soon was heard to say,
4 ' To teach those children how to lye,
And read, and sing, and pray."
4 , And if I could that country reach,
Far, far across the sea,
I would myself those children teaoh
To say their A B C.
0 how it grieves my heart to think
They must to ruin go,
And to eternal torment sink, ,
Unless they Jesus know.",
Dear children now, who read these lines,
Does pity dawn within,
For those who dwell in heathen lands,
Immersed in vice and sin?
Would you your treasured pennies give,
To send the Bible there ;
To teach their souls in Christ to live,'
And thus for heaven prepare ?
Then bring your offerings, one and all,
With willing hearts and hands,
And on the God of Missions call,
To visit heathen lands;
And if, at any future time,
The oall should come to you
To labor in a distant clime,
Strength will be given too.
Emtcnton, December, 1868
Beading the Bible.
A minister in New-Jersey thus writes
o THE PATRONS OF THE PRESBYTERIAI
BANNER :
Respected Friends :—I have an impor
int question to ask, and it is this: Shall
, read every chapter in God's 'Holy Word
nring the year 1864 ? This may 'easily
done by reading three chapters each
aek•day, and five every Sabbath. Need
to say that the Bible is God's own book,
id the only one that he ever published in
ie language of men ; and farther, that
wry word " was written for. our learning
iat we through patience and comfort of
ie Scriptures might have hope" ? Would
not be a blessing if all the readers of the
tanner should unite and constitute one of
le largest of Bible-reading classes; prayer
illy seeking to know " the Holy Scrip.
Tres, which are able to make us wise untc
dvation, through faith which is in Christ
esus " ?
He then gives us a sample of the man.
ler in which the edifying service is con.
Meted in his own family; and intimate
Aat possibly we may have something simrn
liar on other daily lessons :
LESSON NO. 1.
'ront. Creation to the death of Sara,
January Ist to 7th.
GENESIS FIRST CHAPTER.
SuMstABY.
The characters of this chapter are GoC
to Creator, and our first parents, Adau
id Eve. The incidents are, Ist. Th(
:eation of the heavens and the earth. 2d
he firmament is called forth. 3d. The
rater is separated from the dry land, and
'igetation produced. 4th. The sun, moor
id stars are created. sth. Fishes, insect(
id fowls are brought into being And
:b. Creeping things, beasts, and man, arc
tiled into life.
OUTLINE!.
calory to God who formed the sky,
And all the shining worlds on high ;
who spread the firmament abroad
By his almighty, sovereign word.
He spoke ! the dawn of morning light
Took plane to darksome dreary night,
While earth and heaven obey his voice,
And in his sovereign will rejoice.
Next grass, and herb, and tree, and flower,
Came esob in its appointed hour;
While sun and moon and stare unite
To crown the whole with pleasant
Then fish, and bird, and beast, and man,
Came each according to his plan.
Order and love and harmony
Enstamped the works of Deity.
So God created man, and said,
Here have dominion in my stead;
Be fruitful, multiply, Increase,
And till the world with joy and peace;
Be happy here, from day to day,
My counsels keep, my will obey.
And thus complete, all nature stood,
And God pronounced it very good.
QUEST/OMS AND RENAMES.
Verse I.—When were the heavens and
the earth created ?
Remarks.—The moving of the Spirit of
God brings life and order out of darkness
and confusion. Read verse 2d.
Verse B.—What did God say ?
Remarks.—lt is only by the Divine
ord that light takes the place of darkness,
nd causes the beautiful to appear. Read
verses 4 and 5.
Verse 6.—What was made on the second
day?
Remarks.—The atmosphere surrounding
the earth is God's great reservoir of life
both for plants, animals and men. Read
verses 7 and 8. .
Verse 9.—What did God require?
Remarks.—For thousands of years the
earth has continued in faithful obedience
to God's first command. Read verse U.
Verse 14.—What was next called , for?
Remarks:—The earth is, and ever must
be, subject to the authority of ttenyen.
Read verse 16.
Verse 20.—NiThat were next called into,
life ?
Remarks.—Fishes and fowls contribute
largely to human prosperity and comfort.
Read verse 21.
T'erBe 26.—What is said of mait,y
Remarks.—The image of (led iinstamped
on man at first, consisted in authority, in
telligence and holiness. Read verse 27.
PRAYER
Our Father who tat in heaven, overlent-
VOL. XII. NO. 17.
ing praise be unto thee for thine image en
stamped on our first parents ; for the au
thority wherewith they were invested; for
the immutable laws of nature ; for the great
reservoir of life surrounding the earth ;
for thy Word, which scatters darkness and
causes light to shine, and for the life-giying
power of the Ho]y (Amt. 0 may thy lost
image be restored; may the light of life
chase darkness from the earth, and super
stition from every mind; and thy kingdom
come, and thy will be done on earth as it
is in heaven. Amen.
It is not every parent who is capable of
the poetic) presentation above; but that is
not essential. The reading, the question
ing, the expounding, the praying, are the
grand points.
From Geneva, Switzerland.
The following is from a student of the
ology at Geneva, Switzerland. He is a
French Canadian, a convert from Popery,
and hypes to return to, Canada and preach
Jesus Christ to the benighted of his kin
dred. He has a brother in an Academy in
Western Pennsylvania. Writing to one
of our ministers, he says :
" Dear sir, I long to return to Canada.
There la, much to do in my native laud;
many precious souls are starving for laok
of knowledge. God willing, one year from
next July. I will sail for America, and
there I will commence my labors among
the French Canadians. May Ibe faithful
to the Truth, and may my humble efforts
be useful to bring some souls to the feet of
Christ Dear brother, pray for me; I will
also pray for you and your Academy. I
have already prayed for you.
"The events taking place in the United
States interest me exceedingly, for I see
at the bottom of it a great question : Will
America be free entirely ? or will it keep
in its bosom a coal of fire ready to inflame
at the first wind that blows ? Dear sir, my
deep conviction is, that slavery has been
the cause of a great calamity to the United
States_; to the most generous, free and re
ligious people on earth. What the people
of the States have done lately for the
sufferers of England, is eloquent; it needs
no comment; they have accomplished what
the Lord said—Luke vi : 27-29 ; and I.
think it is not saying too much, to say that
it is the most religious, people on earth.
" I believe the destinies of the United
States are great; but as long as slavery will
exist in the Union, it will always be a
cause, and the only trae cause, of separa
tion. It would be a great misfortune to
the States to be divided. The same pau
perism that reigns in Europe, would soon
also reign in America; for it would• be
necessary to have permanent armies, as
they have in Europe, and all that follows
it. America divided, would be weak ; and
that accounts, I think, for the hostile feel
ings of the European governments toward
the North, and their desire to have two
Confederations instead of one. All my
sympathies are for the cause of the North;
for the. Union, and for the abolition of sla
very. I hope that before many years, us
Canadians will also be Americans. Un 7
doubtedly Canada must• jOin the States,
sooner or later. Please to excuse me for
my speaking politics a little; but I could
not help saying a few words about it, for I
love the States,,its inhabitants, and its in
stitutions.
OM
" Our Theological School has suffered
this year by the absence of our dear Pro
fessor, Mr. Merle D'Aubignd. Hie health
has improved, and we expect him in our
midst soon ; he has spent the Winter in
Italy. We are thirty students in the
Theological School, and there are, beside,
thirteen in preparatory school. We have
four hours of lessons everyday, from two
to 6 o'clock. We have the forenoon for
ourselves to study. Dear sir, perhaps it
would please you if I should send you the
list of the different theological sciences we
have, to study during bur three years of
theology. Next time I shall write to.Gol
bort, I will send it to you.
" Dear sir, in reading this letter over,
see how badly it is written; but please to
excuse me, for English is not my native
tongue, and beside I have forgotten it con
siderably since lan in Geneva. I hardly
ever speak English here.
And I remain, dear sir, yours truly, &c.
Bev. Dr. Pressly's Address on Close Com
munion.
No distinction between Church communion
and communion of saints—The Profes•
sor at variance with his Confession—The
inconsistencies in the theory and practice
of close communion.
The lecturer, to carry out the theory of
close communion, adopts the distinction
made by his secession fore-fathers, making
" communion of saints" one thing, and
"ecclesiastical or organic communion" an
other. There are at the beginning and the
end of the lecture, words, words, and words
about this distinction; but noprooffrom the
usus Zoguendi, the usage of the early Chris
tians, nor from the framers of the Confes
sion of Faith, that they employed the
phrase, " communion of saints," as " mere
ly communion in reading and in hearing
the Word ,of God, in prayer and in praise;
and in such-like devotional exereises '—no
proof, as the Dr. farther asserts, " that the
26th chapter of - our Confession treats of the
communion of saints not communion in the
participation of the Lord's Supper particu
larly." Besides theory and groundless
distinctions, we want evidence of their ao
curacy.
In opposition to the distinction, 1, _First,
state. a few historical faots. The phrase,
"communion, of eaints," was introduced
into the "Apostle's Creed" about the be
ginning of the fifth century, in consequence
of the schismatic Donatists refusing to hold
communion in the Lord's Supper with
churches out of their body. As a protest
against their sectarianism, and to teach the
duty of Christians, Augustine, and , the
Church generally, incorporated the clause in,
the Creed, so that it would read, "I believe
in the Holy Catholic Church, the cdmntu
farm of trainee, the forgiveness of . sins," Sto.
The time and circumstances of the use of
the phrase, show, that the intention was to
treat the duty of " Church communion ".as
identical , with " communion of saints."
Sir Peter. King, the "learned historian
and eommentatpr,'?. in his " 0 Weal Histo,
ry of the. Apostles' Creed," and in explan'a
tion of it, says, " Whosoever is received to
communion in one Church, is freely admit
tainto any other."
That Church communion was part of the
' c ''l34/.rot....'r+
ilor the Presbyterian Banner
PITTSBURGH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1864.
communion of saints, might be made to
appear by quotations from the Helvetic,
Strasburgh, and Bohoamic Confessions; by
the writings of Calvin, and many who were
expounders of the duty of communion.
Such a distinction was not made by the
Westminster Asse,inbli of Divines, as will
appear, if we consult the import of the
63d question of the "Larger Catechism."
That they did disapprove of close commun
ion, appears from the fact, that when the
English Anabaptists, in 16 1 14, published
their Confession; refusing communion to
all not dipped, it brought (according to
"Neal .") upon them" public resentments,"
and part of it was from members of the
Assembly, who also ' during the time of
theif sessions , saint b letters of conuratula•
tion to.the Belgic, French and Helvetian
Churches, which were noted for open com
munion. The inference from which, is,
that the Assembly were prepared for com
munion with them, as "beloved brethren."
.The fact is, that neither did the forty-sev
en translators of the Bible, nor the Church
es at Savoy in 1.658; nor the Church of
England, nor any other, until the secession
from the Established hurch of Scotland,
know any such distinction. Even the good
old 'John Brown, of Haddington, virtually
renounced the distinction, and so must our
American dis-United Presbyterians, theo
retically and practically. The fire of Mil
lennial, love 'will burn it up.
The second special inconsistency of the'
lecturer is, the assuming a position in ac
cordance with 'the "Testimony," but in op
position to his Confession of Faith. He
says "the Church cannot,. without betray
ing her trust, receive into her fellowship
those who are unwilling to unite with her
in her testimony for the truth, and refuse
to submit to her authority."
The 26th chapter of the Confessiotyon
"the" communion of saints, says: " Which
communion, as God offereth opportunity, Is
TO BE extended unto all thdse who in every
place 'call upon the name of the Lord Jesus."
That communion is explained, in part, to
be "a holy fellowship and communion' in
the worship of God" in the same section.
Now, let the Confession explain itself, as
to what the parts of worship are. In the
21st chapter, on " Religious Worship," it
is explained to consist, in part, in " the
due administration' and worthy receiving of
the. Sacraments instituted by Christ."
These quotations show an unhappy con
trast between the teachings of the lecturer'
and his Confession; and aught, forever, to
set the matter at rest, so far as our common
Standards are to be a rule of practice.
Third. Though the lecturer, admits that
the term, Churell, properly includes :all
true Christians, and that there are some
such out of his communion. Yet, to de
fend the theory of exclusive communion,
he appears practically to renounce his own
admission, and uses the term, " the Church,"
frequently, in such a sense as only can
mean his branch of it. So frequently does
lie speak of "the Church " in a sectarian
sense, that High Churchmen and the ad
herents of Rome, are equalled in their pre
tension to be "the Church." -
But the plan of prohibiting all persons
from communion in the ,Lord's Supper, ex
cept they join what is called '° the. Bliurch,",
leads to practical inconsistencies. It is
maintained that Christians of different de
nominations "can hold communion in read
ing and in hearing the Word of God, in
prayer, and in praise ' and in such-like de
votional exercises "; but you must not ven
ture to the Lord's tale; that is, " ecclesias
tical or organic Communion." In the
former services you may be acknowledged
as a Christian • in the latter, you must be
treated as an alien. In the ease of father
Sewall, of. New-England—a godly Congre
gational minister—we have a striking illus
tration. lie was employed by a Baptist
-congregation to preach for, them, for a time.
The season of communion came round.
The congregation assembled, and father Se
wall retired. It was decided, that their
preacher .could not commune, because he
was not immersed. He was called in, and
informed of the decision. " Well," he
meekly replied, "I must go and tell our
heavenly Father." This alarmed the secta
rians, and they reversed their decision.
If you are an evangelical minister, you
may preach for a United Presbyterian one
day—the naxt, you may be treated as an
outcast. A lady of the writer's acquaint
ance obtained her certificate,of good stand
ing, to join a- church not belonging to " the .
Church," on Saturday. On the next day,
she offered to sit down with her parents at,
the Lord's table, bat was hindered by the
Session. You may belong to an evangel
ical church one Sabbath, and be excluded
from the Sacrament; but if, without any
change of sentiment, you get a certificate of
good standing, you may sit down at the
Lord's table in " the Church," next Sab
bath. So, great would be the change, as to
make you worthy, if you only come into
" the Church." Such are some of the in
-consistencies and schismatical tendencies
of the system gravely inculcated upon those
who are to be future ministers.
The plea of " faithfulness" to " the
Church, and the " impracticability "of ex
tending communion " unto-all these who,
in every place, call upon the name of the
Lord Jesus," must be considered next, with
an examination of those' portions of the
Sacred Scripture, which are misapplied to
sustain the theory of " the. Church.'
Por the Presbyterian BAnxter.
Funeral Services,
4 Observator " is sadly perplexed about
funeral sermons. My first plunge as a
minister was into one of the wildest re
gions of the West, and for years 'I was
troubled whenever asked to preach a funeral
sermon. I have now obtained more light,
and have no trouble. When.. asked to
preach, I then snpposed that: I twist do
just at our 'Directory for Worship says:
1. Invocation. 2. Singing. 3. Reading
Scriptures. 4. Prayer. 5. Singing. 6.
Sermon. 7. Prayer. 8. Singing. 9.
Benediation.
I `found - customs at funerals different
and some' were to me odd'and - ciffenstye.
asked =the reason of them?' The answer
was, 4 4 his the custom amopg our folks. in
the East." This reason , waldeemed by all
sufficient for any odd custom. If, thought
I, it is, sufficient for the people to say such
is the custom suiting my people, will it not
be sufficient for the minister•.to say, such
is the custom in ounehurchl and instead
of following the Directory for worshirl on
Sabbath, follow its directions for funerals ?
I also found that the people left the
order of religion's' eiereises to the dis
cretion of the minister *from they in-
vited, and were satisfied with whatever
form he gave the service, only that it be
called preaching. I Also took notice that
any meeting conducted by one person, in
which there were any extemporaneous re
marks was called.preaching. --
After having made these observations, I
adopted for myself the following form of
funeral service, whiCh I use on all occa
sions, even when asked to preach a funeral
sermon : 1. Singing,. . 2. Reading the
Scriptures. 3. Re.marko by way, of im
proiement- and exhortntion. 4. Prayer.
5. Singing. I find' this gives universal
satisfaction. By our own people it is called
"conducting the fnperal service ;" -by oth
ers, it is termed " prephipg the funeral."
There is one set of,,remnrks that I always
make in a new neighborhood. I refer to
the exhaustion of the-inourners on audit&
of grief and watching: and that for their
sakes the service “ Jtst be short. It is
astonishing how few hink of their need in
this respect, especia Iy' in rural neighbor
hoods, where funera t , are few: '
Where friends wi z ! - am eulogy,. it,. is, easy
to say that the peopl ,: , - 413,0410(0.1pf
the deceased betterl:Jetrwhitt,
,
.
was good be cherish. -4.1 f there was ought
evil in his life, let i •e forgotten."
When unreasonab e requests are
i madet.r.
find there is nothi lost in the'g
end, if,
they are miurteousl ' declined. If at the
time they excite anger, it will soon did ont,
if the minister wilt meekly and silently
,
bear with it. P A. B. M.
EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENCR i ,
: I, . .
Grant's Victory—The M. impenstent as to Sla
very—The Pros and 'n.'B at a Dinner Table--
A New Church,of land Commentary--What
will be its Features The Congress, and Eng
lantra Refusal—Wh e.ct 2—A Duet at Com
peigne—Hr. Cobden' ibiske to the Times—A
Glimpse of the Intisor--The Council and the
" Leaders"—Bad ai Good about the Times--
--Coming Round to.; .Horth—l'oland and its
Atiserlea—Circaniant ea/at/ace—A Happy New
Year.
December 10, 1868.
THE NEWS of . important victory
I
achieved by Gene Grant, confirms the
high opinion s previ , sly entertained of the
great strategic abi ty of that officer, and
gives promise of further important suc
cesses for the Federal cause. It must have
been a sore trial to the.temper and patience
of the North to haig seen two fine armies
—those of Grant aria / Burniside—separated
and isolated, and disaster ihextrieible, ap
parently imminent.h The South has added
to the feeling agaiii4t her, by her inipeni- .
fence on the slaver*snestion—the last in
dication of which' is the pride in adver
sity, as well as the hatred of the negro.
" chattel," which causes them to refuse an
exchange of col o r d • soldiers for white
troops. As the ells Mercury remarks,
"It is therefore to e determination of the
Richmond 'authorities refusing to grant
soldiers with black liana the rights of-pris
oners of war, that the terrible sufferings
caused by the suspansion of the cartel are
to be attributed." :Who is there, sac joi.o•
conseientiasp who i t ean wish success to a
cause—which, .after--eiteh—heavy.L chattse
ment, makes slave-owners- and -their , mili
tary 'supporters still, Plmoah-like, refuse
to " let the people go ?" Still there are
those who persist in affirming that the
North is willing any Moment to condone
the rebellion, and to receive back the South
with open arms, and with " rights" to
slave property fully restored. And the
motive assigned for this willingness is, the
desire to be a great and gigantic Power,
able to dictate to Europe and the world.,
Under this impression above all others, the
explanation is giien of much _ that seemed
halting and hesitating among .the English
people; and, Providence helping, I, for
one, hope and pray that the North will
never, after all she has suffered and learnt
in the school of adversity, be tempted to
take hack to her .bosom that serpent-evil
which is now " scotched," and which, I
trust, ere long, will " killed " outright.
As to the apprehensions of a " big bully"
rising up in the West, I tell, my polite op
ponents in converse, that, hitherto the bul
lying has been done by _the Sontherns in
power. I point out to them how, as soon
as Floyd and his party were " out," and in
rebellion, and Lincoln " in," England had
the satisfaction of finding the right of ,
mutual search as to slave-cargoes conceded,
and that Congress aboliihed slavery in the
District of Columbia. .
But while this tells to a certain extent,
up comes the objection, 4 4 See, whenever
the North gains a victory, how su ddenly
springs. up the old spirit of abuse, and
threateningtoward England. And reeol
led
that it is not the best and the wisest
that have the power in America; they
show the impure paths that are needed 'in
order to reach place and power; .universal
suffrage gives the victory too often to those,
who have num6ers, without principle, and
who, at the best,'are subject to the hill]:
ence of agitators. The lust of a universal-'
Empire is, ever rising to the surface."...
Then it is asked by a grave, quiet, centime
Wesleyan minister,sitting opposite me at
a friend's• table " Would - it not be better
that the evils of , slavery should continue a
little longer—and. slavery. must,, ere Tong,
die at, all events----would, it not be a worse
evil to have a power directed not so touch
by native Americans, or the religions mid
dle class, as by those who havellooded the
land prom Ireland,. Germany, &c., and who
are more intense : in their hatred of : Eng-,
land and Enropean Powers, than Ameri
cans thereselvei ?" To all this, the best
reply is, let• justice be done, though ''the
heavens may fall. And besides, let ns be
sure that ultimately, fair play, and not.bul
lying, would preyail. May the righteous
Lord who loveth iighteousneas, direct to
that issue which shall best glorifY him and
advance his kingdom in the world! Were
the nations. of the earth ..under his direct
guidance, then . the golden rule would. be
come the mainspring of all international
relationshipi', and emphatically the Prince
of Peace would reign over a vast brother
hood, among whose members, ambition,
jealousy,-,hate, and covetous and aggressive
aspiratioqa would I ?PlAP,9 B §.ibler •
GYPItIAN
" Oh soeneassurympiag fatIVR/ yet
true
Soeries*Ot asoomplikiedhlias can
tell,
Though yet.in distant proapeot , and.not rani—
Ilia soul refreahedmith foretaste,of the -joy."
A CHIJROII Or ENGLABIi COMMENTARY."
on the Bible, is:about, - to' be entered'UPOn
by " leading theologians." The plan orig : *
boated with the Hon. E. Denison, brother
of the Bishop of Salisbury, and *Si:make - T.'
of the House of Commons. The Arch:
bishop of York, at his instance, Undertook
to organize, a plan for producing a Com
mentary should' " put the readerin -
full possession of whatever infbrinatiOn
may be, requisite to enable him to under
stand the Word of God, and supply him
with satisfactory answers to objections rest
ing upon misreptesentations of its con
tents.' The main editor is to be the Rev.
F. C. Cook; the work will be divided into
eight sections, the first of which will con
sist of the Pentateuch, and will be edited
by Professor Harold Brown, of Cambridge
University; four clergymen contributing.
The historical books—after the Pentateuch
—the poetical books, the four great proph
ets and the twelve minor prophets, will be
taken up in succession under distinct
editors and specially qualified contributors.
The Gospels and the Acts will form the
sixth section; the first three Gospels will
be edited by Professor Mansell; the Gospel
of John, by the Dean of Canterbury (Dr.
Alford) ; and the Acts, by Dr. Jacobson.
The editortgaip of St. Paul's Epistles is as
signed' to Bishop Ellicot and Dr. Jeremie,
with - four eminent contributors. To the
Archbishop-elect of Dublin, Dr. Trench, is
assigned the rest of the sacred canon.
" This " says one of our Monthlies,
" promises to be a,'wer* seeona onlyi in m
portance 'fo the_LXlC.c, or the ltiglish ver
son made by order 'Of - King Janies." One
or the proposed editors (of the Four' Great
Prophets), Dr. MeCaul, aueniinent Hebrew
‘ scholar, has died—greatly regretted. He
was one of the ablept of Colenso's oppo
nents. I have no doubt that Colenio's as
sault has been the occasion of this under
taking. It has been deliberately planned,
and doubtless will be earnestly executed.
It'will hive also "an-immense circulation.
Most of the clergy actively engaged are
semi-High Church, or something more;
but there are none of the 'Ultras, and there
are several Evangelicals of the higher type,
such as BiShop Ellieot, Bishop of Glouces
ter and Bristol, and Dr. Thompson, Arch
bishop of York. The Bishop of London
and Dean Alfred lean rather to the
"Broad" School. I expect a superior
work as to Biblical criticism; but a feeble
theological grasp of Pauline truths, and a
very diluted utterance, of them.
THE REFUSAL of England to endorse the
French Emperor's proposal for a Congress,
may have partly-arisen, from doubts as to
his sincerity, and suspicions that he only
wanted a good excuse to get rid of the Pol
ish question in a way that would save him
from reproach for non-interference -in the
contest' of the Poles withliassia. But far
more than this must have weighed the con
sideration that the Congress, ifentered
.on,
was likely to settle nothing, to unsettle ev
erything, and to make war inevitable. The
State Paper written by Earl Russell in re
ply, is a masterly document, and is not' to
be answered' as to its logic, even while the
Paris press has got up a storm of abuse. lt
is said that Lord Palmerston at first, was
favorable to the idea, but that came round
to Lord Russell's views. It iskalso affirmed
that rather than consent to -a Congress;
Lord Russell; with several other Cabinet
Ministers,. would have resigned. There is
also anepinion, that Napoleon is dealing with
some- smaller'"Powers to enter into his
cbetne withimt--Eingtan . • .
chief next year, it will be easy for so inge
nious a schemer to get up an excuse. But
to fight with England, seems out of the
question. He has studiously avoided it
hitherto. His commercial policy of free
trade would thereby be nullified; and his
finances, even with all the increased reve
nue from trade, are not equal to the - pres
ent expenditure. *
Meanwhile Mr. Punch gives us a hu
morous Vuei between the Emperor and Em
press about the refusal of England—John
Bull and -family—to join in a Congress-:
THE BULLS WON'T COME.
A Duet. Bung at .Compiegne.
How vexatious 'tie, my dear, when we've
asked all Buropehere,
And have everything got ready for a
grand set-out, •
Now we find our labor lost, and we've
thrown away the cost.
'T is excessively annoying, but, my love,
do n' t pout.
We've sent cards of invitation to our neigh
bors of each nation,
And the favor of an answer we've re
ceived from some;
To accept it they are glad, but the party
can't be had;
For, oh what a plagaY reason I that the
• Bulls won't. come. .
Of the others none decline; all have
droopp'd a Civil line,
They would have the greatest pleasure
to attend, they_say,
But, or ift itioase, unless ; hesitation they
I express
Only wording a.refusal in .a civil way,
They'd their compliments present with
unanimous consent,
But for those uncourteous Islanders so
•
gruff and glum.
Who their, company- deny; and they tell
the reason why. -
So our party is put off because the Bulls
won't come.
Who are they to overthrow our- plans, I
should like to know;?
Are they people of such consequence as
• that.coines
If they can't come let them stop ; stay at
home and mind their shop ;
I would never make so much of them if
I were you.
People think so much about 'em that we
• couldn't do without.'em,
And though surely they are sensible
and free from hum;
Grave excuses they advance, for not
joining in the dance.
So our party is: postponed because the Bulls
won't comet '
He.
She
rya
rm
- A Itmu - awn has-been administered to the
Eines newspaper.by Mr. Cobden, in conse
quence of a gross misrepresentation in one
of its leaders. The letter..of Mr. Cobden
was sent to:the Times, but heing refused
insertion it has been pUblished by the
Daily N ews. A part of it is as follows:
" In the present management of the
Times there Is, one established departure
from, the_ plan ,on which. it was condueted
twenty or thirty years ago, which
from all other journals. They
Who associate in the higher political circle's
of-the metropolis know that the chief edi
tor and the manager of the Times, while
still maintaining, a. strict il!,cognito toward
the pUhlte, drop the mask with very ERBi
oier4 reasons,in the, presence of thoss.ppw
erfut Claises Who are at once the dispensers,
of iociardistinctien and (on which : 1 might
k# 3ll llMltkitigo . t9. OeY).9f the rttrenege of
the ,Goverimeht," Ws,,all,.know the .man
Whose:foi:Prie is derived frem the TiMes.
We know its manager; 14 only avowed and,
Tospoßsil?le editor he of ~the semiofficial
sorritspe,idenoswith Sir Charles Napier, in.
the Baltic, 'through whose hands, though
he never pens &line himself,, every slander
in its leadersi must pass—ii as well'known
to us ffs the chief Official at the Hotkie,.offip..
.Now the questfon forced on us whe,thei
We who are Ireland the sktucti are nut bound
WHOLE NO. 588'
I in the interests of the uninitiated public,
and as the only certain mode of abating
such outrages as this, to lift the veil and
ispel the delusion by which the Times is
enabled to pursue this game of secresy to
the publio and servility to the Government
—a game (I purposely use the word) which
secures, for its connexions the corrupt ad
vantages, while denying to the
,publio its
own boasted benefits, of the" anonymous
system.
" It will be for publio men to deoide, ea.th
in his own case (for myself I have no doubt
on the subject), whether, in response to
such attacks as these, they will continue to
treat the Times as an impersonal myth, or
whether, on the contrary, they will in fu
ture summon the responsible editor, mana
ger, or proprietor, to the bar of public
opinion, and hold him up by name to the
obloquy which awaits the traducer and cal
umniator in every other walk of political
and social life."
Iti explanation of the personal allusions
made by Mr. Cobden, "The man who de
rives his fortune from the Times," is John
Walter lEsq‘ M. _,P whose_ father 'John
Walter, was.aAskntpf-ixti'aoidinary
ability
and energy, and-brow:4a up the Times to
that lofty standard—as to printing, as - to
literary power as to first-class aria 'largely
paid correspondence from all parts of the
world, as tocommercial accuracy and full
ness of information—which placed it at the
head' of all newspapers, past or, present.
His son is a landed proprietor, and 'in Par
liament—shows much zeal and intelligence
on country and social questions, and is not
Without Liberal tendencies, The " thief
Editor" is Mr. Delane, "whose semi-offi
cial correspondence" with Admiral israpier,
urging the latter, nolens vole:ns to attack
Cronstadt--the letter being published after
Napier's , death, to justify and"vindieate his
memory. He is said to keep up a strict
incognito" as to the world without, 'but as
accepting invitations 'to the fetes of the
West-End'nobility.
I do not agree with Mr. Cobden in wish
ing that the English press-leaders should
have, each, the name of the/contributor af
fixed; but Ido agree with him that noth
ing can be more base, than from behind the
"anonymous" mask the invisible " We " one
should write slanders, and ofttimes do foul
wrong and injustice—against which, as far
as the Times is concerned, there is no re
dress. I hope Mr. Cebden will fulfill his
purpose of bringing "the responsible edi
tor, manager, or proprietor to the bar of
public opinion."
The Staff of writers employed on the
Times is numerous and eclectic, and is ever
and anon receiving a fresh infusion of vig.
or and ability. It is understood that De
lane, with two or three others, bold a daily
cenocil as to the "leaders" to be written,
and send an outline of what ,is wanted to
the men best qualified, and the role to be
taken and the conclusion to be arrived at,
are pretty plainly indicated. These hints
coming to a first class man—accomplished
and master of " the pure well of English
Undefiled," as well as of classic lore—the
Worldliness rules the Times; it goes on
the principle of expediency, and not of
lofty principle. Evangelical religion is no
favorite with it; Traetarianism and its ec
clesiastical millinery it despises and ridi
cules. At times it does priceleis service
to a good cause; while it, above all other
papers can make the bad appear the bet
ter reason," and unscrupulously too. Ev
ery educated man reads the Ttmes, but does
not endorse its opinions on many Kubjects,
and it is not too much to say, that with all
its talent, the English people control it,
rather than does it control them. For a
time it may dazzle; but ere long they recoil,
and it,- expedient-ever, sees that it has gone
too far, and trims its sails accordingly.
It is only justice to the Times to state
that it admits nothing bordering on impu
rity into its columns, and that Mr. Cobden
himself has pronounced one number of it
to be a miracle as to fulness of information.
Lavish and generous expenditure of capi
tal, attracts and-rewards genius and talent,
and where no " crotchet" is to be indulged
and no selfish motive to be served, the wri
ting is very impressive and instructive.
In cholera or war times, I have seen far
better homilies suited to the season, than
honld be found in the quintessence of one
hundred ordinary sermons, either from
Churchmen or Nonconformists. The right
men are- selected for such writing.
Coming round, the Times seems to be,
on. American Affairs. It foresees. the over
throw of the South, and its present corres
pondent at New-York, without bitterness,
and in a fair spirit, admits, and I believe
in his heart approves of, the - gradual pass
ing away of slavery before the tread and
onward tramp of the Northern armies.
POLAND bleeds at every pore, and yet is
sternly resistant. The Times Correspond
ent has been sent away by the Russian au
thorities at 'Warsaw, to St. Petersburg.
None could have written more fairly, nor
more honestly have corrected the exagger
ations as to Rupsian outrages. What how
ever, are true, are shocking beyond express.
Nearly one third -of the whole people of
Warsaw have been carried away to exile.
Mouravieff continues atrocities of which
one would hope none but himself could be
guilty. But the Czar for the present en
dorses his deeds, and the educated Russians
that once abhorred him, now set him up as
an idolAand bec?..use his name is," Michael,"
blasphemously compare him to Michael the-
Arch Angel conquering.the Dragon
The hope of speedy repression stimu
lates all manner'ef, barbarities, arrests, dep
utations, confiscations, executions. But'
will it answer? The insurgents appear in
many places, with excellent Winter cloth
ing. If they can keep the field till Spring,
who knows but Nemesis on their cruel foe
may appear. At Pulstush, the Russian
commandant drove all the inhabitants into
the market place, ordered '°a crucifix to be
placed in their ,midst, and .compelled them
all, including the Jews, to swear
_loyalty
before it to the Czar.
The Czar, an "Austrian paper favorable
to Poland, hate been suppressed. This is
attributed ' to the presence of the Grand
Duke Constantine at Vienna. -
The Circassians hay.e-beaten-- and driven
beck Russian columns,advaneing into their
mountainous territory. But is the unfortu
nate Circassians ire stgerlng severely froM
want: of provisions, members• °Plantlike
being reduced to .living on the commonest
roots they can find, and the Russian Con
ant at Trebizond is using every effort to
prevent aid reaching them.'
A lIAPPit Niw YEAR I invoke for the
etlitsfre if this Bastrer and all its rustlers.
THE PRESBYTERIAN BANNER
Publication Office
GAZETTE BUILEtNGS, 84 Fills BT., PPETSBUDGS, PA.
PUTLADELPHEA, BOOTH-Waar COIL OP 71.11 AND CHESTNUT.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
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PROPRIETOR AND PUBLISHER.
A new year will have begun to run its
rapid course-, ere these lines shall be read.
Bad and sorrowful to many an Amelican
family must have been- the retrospects of a
New Year's day—the young, the brave aro
gone, and c‘ they return no more." Com
fort can come from only ONE source. May
it be abundantly vottcheavednu the mourn
ers, and may 1864 reveal, and th'at - early,
the halcyon morning of PEACE. J.W.
How Christ Modifies IN
There is nothing so pleasing in human.
friendship as the modifications of character
that are wrought by intimacy. Better than
martial victories are " the silent triumphs
of wisdom "; as souls are quietly turned off
from unseemly ways and led to a loftier
life. If, then, we 'become the intimate
friends of Christ, we may expect singular
modifications of character to arise from the
very variety and proportion of his charac
teristics.
If a man were inflated by wealth, Christ
would appear to him as haling no home to
retain.:: If on the other hand a man were
.eppressed by poverty and pinched by want,
Christ would appear cheering him with the
trope of heaven and the golden crown.
If one should bscome the friend of Christ
and retain a proud spirit,,Christ would ask
him to bear cups of 'cold water' and wash
the feet of his disciples. if, on the other
hand, the man was lowly and discouraged,
Christ would appear to him promising
thrones and dominions.
- Of a wasteful man Christ would demand
care in gatherinc , . up fragments. To a
hoarding man Christ would say, Labor not
for that meat which perisheth.
To those who are light and joyous Christ
appears weeping over the doom of the lost.
To those who are oppressed with grief,
Christ appears as in the solemn hours of
his last Supper with his disciples, in the si
lence of the midnight, singing the Hallel,
the great song of praise to God.
To those that engage in too much gayety,
Christ appears holding out his crown of
thorns to check unseemly mirth. But to a
man in great despondency he appears bid
ding him rejoice and be exceeding glad
though in the midst of persecutions.
We are of disproportionate life, and if
we fondly cling to new graves and refuse to
take up again he burden of life, Christ ap
pears roughly declaring, Let the dead bury
their dead; ,follow thou me. Or, if' we
straightway forget the dead and are cold
and unmoved by opening tombs, Christ ap
pears weeping at the grave of a friend, or
touching the bier of the only son of a
widow.
We are disproportionate, 21011>if our souls
are cold and turn away fromhuman friend
ships as of no use, Christ appears at the
house in Bethany, of it dying commends
his mother to the care of his beloved dis
ciple. But if our souls are tangled and too
much wedded to earthly friendships, he ap
pears demanding that we hate father and
mother and all relationships, and bids us
forsake all and follow him.
• ,r- die tro ortionate.
ex sits imse . 7 sni
our peculiar ease. If our souls are fearful
and trembling, he will quench no smoking
flax. If our souls are bold and fiery, he
appears scourging hypocrites from his tem
ple and denouncing the Sadducees and
Pharisees. If our souls love peace, Christ
is the Primed of Peace. But if our souls
are valiant for fight, he comes not to the
earth to bring peace, but a sword.
Is a man too dependent on others?
Christ appears treading the wine-press
alone. Is a man lonely in warfare with
evil powers ? Christ appears declaring that
twelve legions of angels are in waiting.
If a man is legal and clings to the old
Mosaic economy and the traditions of men,
Christ appears to him rejecting the letter of
the law and overturning old ceremonies.
But if a man is of a careless order of mind
and would riot in unholy liberty, Christ ap
pears to him declaring that not one jot or
one tittle of the law shall fail.
To those of timid, feeble mind, Christ
comes teaching the most invigorating and
terrible doctrines. To. those of uncompro
mising, severe, and cold intellects, Christ
comes showing how he can die for his ene
mies.
Thus the whole character is rounded to
perfection through the modifying friend
ship of Christ —Boston Recorder.
Ministers' Hours
I am often amused at those who seem to
think that sermon writing and preaching
is a clergyman's hardest work, while in
many, a. large parish it is in reality his
slightest toil; and yet it is a task which, of
all others, requires quiet preparation. But
how is that quiet preparation to be gained,
when one perpetual stream of interruptions
presses upon us. I have often sat down
with locked door to write or read, but as I
could not tell my servant to say " not at
home," when I was at home, almost as
surely as I got well into my subject some
interruption came. It was in vain 'my
poor. servant pleaded that master was very
much engaged, and could not be seen.
There are People who will not take excuses.
" I want to speak to him for one moment"
—one moment with such people always
meaning twenty minutes. "I cannot call
again, do ask him to see me," &0., &c.
This all went on while I was sitting with
only the thin walls of a small London house
between me and my tormentor; and at list
I was, often obliged, in order to get rid of
him or her, to have an interview. .It would
amuse many could I tell them of all the
tricks played by clergymen in London to
obtain quiet, while preparing for the pul
pit. One good, man invariably looks him.
self in his vestry; but then- he is away from
his books;.and another goes regularly to
the British Museum. But I was most,
pleased' with the device - of an eminent
canon, - the viCar of an immense London"
parish, who told me that, at last; he hadj
been driven to take a lodging, and remove
much of his library there; and Mck.ilkafht,
Inking, he retired to write, having let orijy
one person, his'eldest daughter, nto the
seeretraf his whereabout, in oid%iethati
positivelyineoessary, oho might knoWkwlieziew
to find him.—earson a
,e *pit
A goaffer once sevutnlby inks& 1 1-Witailo;N
advantage. hes a religious,man over an,R44lx
like myself ? Poen not the sun shine o pic ot _
as well' es on him, this day ?" 4 4 Yeti', )
replied hiel :otimPinfon, a pious labOrei:;
but‘the religions man has two'suns
ing on him at once—one on .his body, the
tether on his s'oul."—Rett. Jahn Graileas.,
Christ then