c 'rtsbgttrin ct*lmer. 'PITTSBURGH, 'WEDNESDAY, JAI 37, 1864.. 6,The Executive Committee of the Board of Colportago will meet in the usual place on the First Tuesday of February, at 2 O'clock P. Di. ,JAMES CAROTHERS, 'WEL The Ladies' Aid Society of Philadelphia have published their FM Semi-Annual Report. ID shows a very large amount of beneficence, both in - gifts and personal ser vices. Our brave -soldiers bless the ladies. A 'Worthy Exampla,—A gentleman writes to a religious journal, inclosing a check for $lOO. lie requests receipts for payment of two papers, and adds : " Use the balance in paying for The _lndependent and the postage to such home missionaries sent out by the American Home Missionary Society as you may ,judge best after • consulting with one of the• secretaries." We should rejoice to have some such remittances to enable us to furnish our Presbyterian mis sionaries with the Banner." The Presbyterian and Theological Review for January, presents, in the January num ber, a list of excellent subjects, which seem to be treated with much ability. We have I. The Latin Patriarchate; 11. The Epis tle of Barnabas ; The Regula Fidei, or the Gospel by John ; IV. Educalion in the Presbyterian Church ; V. The Theory of preparation for Preaching ; VI. The Bohemian Reformation ;. VII. Renan's Life of Jesus; VIII. Criticisms on Books; IX. Theological and Literary Intelligence; X. Ecclesiastical Record. A Manual of Presbytery.—We have before us a Manual of the Central Presbytery of Philadelphia; and we take occasion, hence, to suggest to all our Presbyteries the thought that something of •the kind might be, to each of them,. both a convenience and.a benefit. It is a 24m0. pamphlet, and contains, I. A brief historical statement of the Palesbytery's organization ; 11. Standing Rules; embracing stated times of meeting; Order of Business; Standing Committees; Permanent Committees ; Reports to be made by Ministers, Licentiates, Churches, &c.; 111. List of Ministers, with date of their ordination ; and names of churches and when organized, and names of all the elders now officiating in each. Rev. henry Steele Clarke, RD.—This val ued minister of JEsus CHRIST was called home to his, rest above, on Sabbath morn ing, 17th inst. Dr. CLARKE was pastor of the Central Presbyterian church, Philadelphia, where he officiated most acceptably for sonic twelve years. lie was one of the most stu dious of men, and devoted to his charge. His sermons were carefully written and well delivered. The thought, the reason ing, styleppathos, were always admirable. The congregation flourished greatly under his ministry. He had one of the best Sab bath Schools we have ever known. He was at about the meridian of life,`as men usually' reckon. But his work was done. A wife and child survive, who will share the sympathies of .a most attached people. "Morgan Surrendered," In these days of / 4 raids," who feels se cure ? January 14th a company took pos session of our house, but we surrendered without any loss of life. Instead of an armed foe, we were greeted with the smil ing faces of familiar friends. They were the people of Elderton congregation. Soon a table was spread, covered with " good things.". After prayer and social inter course, the company dispersed, leaving many such articles as a family needs; also, a purse containing that which 44 answereth all things." For the valuable donation, to gether with the spirit which incited it; also for prompt payment at salary, the writer returns his sincere thanks. W. F. MORGAN, Pastor of Elderton church. For tbc Preabyterittii Banner. fl Donation Visit, MESSRS. EDITORS :—.9.110w me, through the medium of the Banner, to return my sincere thanks to the dear old friends of Currie's Run, and other Christian brethren and neighbors, who so kindly remembered their former pastor and family on New Year's. Their visit was one of kindness. Their social Christian intercourse was truly pleasant, reminding us of the lan guage of the Psalmist, Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. Nor did they come empty-handed. - A bountiful repast was gotten up by the ladies of the party, in a style not to be surpassed in richness and variety. But that was not all : the party left behind them many tokens of kindness, to the amount of one hundred dollars • for all which they have our thanks. That may God enrich them for it out of the glorious treasures of his providence and grace, sup plying their need according to his riches and glory, through Jesus Christ, is our earnest prayer. M. M. SHIRLEY. Shelocta, Jan. 21st, 1864. cknowledgment. " To everything there is a season," Solo mon says, " and a time to every purpose under the heaven." So there is a time for donation parties to visit the parsonage ; and a time for pastors to express their grateful appreciation of such visits. And truly this is the time for the pastor of Salem church to acknowledge with warmest gratitude the delightful visit recently made by the people of his congregation. It is unnecessary to speak of the sumptuous en tertainment prepared by the ladies, and the pleasant intercourse enjoyed; or to mention the numerous, excellent and ap propriate gifts, of money, flour, grain, bay, dke., received by the pastor, furnishing such seasonable and abundant supplies of food and fuel, and provisions for both man and beast. The remembrance of such kindness and love does much to cheer and encourage the heart; era that the benevolent donors may be richly rewarded both temporally and spiritually, is the = earnest prayer of their grateful paetor. J. P. FuvroN. For the Presbyterian Banner. For the Presbyterian Banner.. TUE YOUNG MINISTEL, The feelings and principles which get the ascendancy in the mind of a young minis .ter, have a vast, influence upon both his :personal comfort and his public usefulness. And there is often a strife, and sometimes a long-continued strife, in his mind, not only between the evil and the good, but also between emotions, purposes and desires, all of which are good, but which look dif ferent ways. The minister, like other men, has duties and interests which belong to earth and time; and he has other duties and interests which belong to heaven and eternity. If the earthly get the lead, he ranks with one class of disciples ; and if the heavenly take the reins, he is found in another grade of Christ's servants. The minister is entitled to a supply of his temporal wants. " Who goeth a war fare any time at his own charges ?" " Who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock ?" The young min ister becoming possessed of . this truthful idea, is liable to cherish it, and dwell upon it, making it a primary matter or thought, and a guiding principle in his movements. He will labor only where he is paid. He will settle only where he shall be comfort ably supported. If he cannot get a" good" congregation, he will not accept of any. Hence it is, in part, that there are so many unemployed ministers, and so many vacant congregations. Hence it is, that, when a wealthy congregation becomes vacant, there .are so many anxious eyes turned thither, and that such floods of nominations and recommendations inundate the Session. For, when the idea under notice has ob tained its lodgment in the young mind it mostly abides and grows; and hence the numbers just intimated,, embracing the young and the advanced in age. The idea of a- right to sustentation is, as we have intimated, correct. It -is both reasonable and Scriptural. And still, in relation to its Scripthralness, there is a practical mistake. The Apostle in his ninth chapter to the Corinthians, is teach ing and enforcing a principle which shall be practical with the people. He is urging upon them their duty, and it is utterly a . mistake for the minister hence to infer the rule of his conduct. He may, thence, le gitimately urge his claims, but may not in fer exemptions. His rule of conduct he must look for in another class of precepts. What says the law ? How does the Lord enjoin ? What are the Apostolic teach ings ? How did J.Esus ? And how did the Heaven-directed PAUL ? JESUS said, "Go, preach!' This is the injunction. Here is the duty. " Preach." This is your IDasiaess. PAUL says c " A dispensa tion of. the Gospel is committed unto me." "Necessity is laid upon me." " Woe is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel." PAUL must preach. Neither hunger, nor thirst, nor bonds, nor stripes, nor stonings, &c., could prevent him from preaching. And if men would not bear him in one place, he would go to another. And none were so rude nor so poverty-stricken that he would refuse to their hungry souls the bread of life and the messages of grace. He must preach; and, like his. Master, he despised not, and neglected not the poor. The matter of a good support, or even of any support, was no rule of duty with him. • The number of unemployed ministers in our Church, is a very great evil. Many of them are unable to do pastoral work, and wncomplain not ,of these. But others, in large numbers, are able; and we have con- ‘ gregations still more in number, which cry " Come and help us." "Come," "preach." And we think they should go; our younger brethren especially—not go, and starve— but, go, and preach. If the people of one congregation, from, poverty, or from igno rance of the Gospel's valtie, will not sup port you, take two, or three, or, four con gregations. Or, like PAUL, let your own hands supply your wants. Teach a school, farm, or . work. in a shop. Do something. Do enough to get your bread. But still, preach the Gospel: An evidence of the Messiahship of JESUS was : "_To the poor the Gospel is preached." And the same is still an evidence of true discipleship, and a 'true Church. One of the greatest hindrances to our Board -of Education, in their great and good aim, is the number of our ministers unemployed in an appropriate work. An ardent, friend of the Board, in -comment ing on some of our late remarks, asks: " What is, the reason why so many of our " , ministers are an apparent failure; as to "their personal growth in the appreciating " of their commission, and as to their de "velopment of the Church to the =gni " tude awl grandeur of its , mission among "men ? Is the difficulty in our present "plan of training; or should it be sought " in the men themselves?" It is in the men themselves; as is evi- - dent from the foregoing remarks. But that the men are, what they are, is owing, very much, to their training. We use the word "training," here, in a very comprehensive sense. If men were taught, in the nursery, Sabbath School, church, Academy, College, and Theological Seminary, that the minis ter of JESUS is a man devoted to preach ing, who must labor in his calling whatev er betide—if the pastor would inform the young aspirint, that this would be his duty imperatively—and if the Presbytery would reiterate the instruction, that this was the tenor of the vow, and this the only condi tion on which he could be ordained, our ministers, so far as they are able, 'would all be preachers—in the pulpit, in the school, or with the pen, or in all these ways.. However their bread might come, they' would preach the Gospel. Our young brethren will, we trust, ex cuse our plainness of speech. We seek the honor of religion and the enlargement of 'Zion. We aim also at the Advancement of their respectability and usefulness—at their present real comfort, and at their fu- PRESBYTERIAN BANNER.---WEDNESDA VT, JANUARY 27, 1864• ture glory, when " they who turn many to righteousness shall, shine as the stars." What are earth's treasures—wealth, fine raiment, and a rich table, in comparison with the saving of a soul, and a crown in heaven? The love of. JESUS CHRIST passeth knowledge. None can comprehend its greatness. It is well for us that we have such a Saviour—able, willing, anxious to save. It is his office to save sinners, and he will execute his trust. A young lady, drawn and cheered by the Saviour's' love, and wishing all to know and enjoy its excellence, transcribes for:our columns the following presentation of the willingness of JEstis to save the sinner. 44 I WILL IN NO WISE CAST OUT." "Why did Christ, a King in the midst of heaven's glory become a babe in the midst of earth's misery ? You say : To save sinners Why did he toil, and weep, and preach, and pray, and sorrow for months and years, among the worst and most hard hearted, with hardly any reward but that of contempt, hatred, and perseCution ? You say: To• save sinners !' Why, did he bow his head in wondrous submission when torn with the pains of deadly agony in. Gethse mane ? Why was he silent when led by blasphemous murderers to the.place of in sult, and crowned as the king of sorrows with shame, and thorns, and misery? You say It was to save sinners Why _did he yield his body to be smitten with the hand and rod, and torn with the lacerating scourge, and pierced with the nails and spear; oh ! why? You say: was to Save sinners Oh ! then, if the exalted JESUS has passed through valleys of deep est humiliation—through flames of hottest tribulation, and the black waters of death itself—oh ! if he hath sighed, and wept, and prayed, and preached, and lived, and labored, and suffered, and died to save_sin nere—to save sinners oh ! tell me, will he cast them out when they come to him ? when they come and say, • Thy blood can make the vilest clean; Oh! let that blood avail for me will he say, Depart thou guilty sinner'? will he say, 6 1 will have nothing to do with thee'? Nay, God forbid;.he will rather say, Welcome, 0. thou poor peni tent !. 'welcome to the cross, 0 thou return ing sinner ! welcome to