Vrtsbgitrian eanutr.
41TTSBURGII, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1864.
VHSTERN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
This institution of our Church, which
has done's() much for our own country and
also for heathen lands, 'closed its term for
1863-1864, last week. The examinations
began on Monday morning, and were con
tinued until - the evening
.of. Tuesday,
These examinations were very thorough,
while there was . no evidence that any spe
cial preparations had been made for this
event, beyond the ordinary routine of "dose
study and cereal instruction. The sub
jects embraced the entire curriculum of
the studies pursued in the Seminary, and
were alike creditable to Professors and stu
dents. The answers indicated the entire
absence of the "cramming" system tend
" reading up " for the occasion, so common
in the great Universities of lurope.
Tuesday evening the address to the Society
of Inquiry was delivered by the Rev. Wm. P.
BREED, pastor of the West Spruce Street
church, Philadelphia, in the First church
of Allegheny. His theme was, " Earnest
mess," as presented in' the motto of Ram,
"This one thing I do." This was exhibit
e d in such an attractive manner and by
such various , and striking illustrations as to
enlist the attention of the audience at once,
and hold it to the end. Rarely has an ad
dress on a similar occasion, Mikthis place,
been honored with as close a hearing. On
Wednesday morning the address to the grad
uating Class was delivered by Rev. W. D.
HOWARD, D.D., pastor of the Second church
of Pittsburgh. Though but little time had
been given for-preparation, the effort was
most pertinent, forcible, and happy. His
subject was, "Some of the Celtics of Imper
fect Success in the Ministry." The three
causes presented and discussed, were, 1.
Want of entire consecration to the great
work of preaching the Gospel. 2. Neglect
of communion with God. 3. Inadequate
faith. The address was just what the cir
cumstances demanded, and was in the Dr.'s
best style of delivery. •
On.the evening - of the same day, the ex
ercises connected with the graduation - of
the Senior Class were held in the Second
church of Pittsburgh, the venerable Rev.
Dr. ELLion presiding. After prayer by
the Rev. JAMES M. PLATT, of Zanesville,
Ohio, addresses were delivered by the
following young gentlemen: LUTHER M.
BELDEN, Boston, Mass.—The Infallible
Word ; CYRUS H. DUNLAP, Newcastle,
Pa.—The Morning Cometh; Wm. C. FAL
CONER., Wellsville, 'Ohio—Preaching for
the Times; HENRY C. FOURE, Hagers
town, Md.—The Cromwell of the 15th
Century, John Zisca ; JAMES D. KERR,
Florence, Pa.—The Un,known Quantity;
JAMES H. LYON, s Woodstock, Conn.—
Child-like Spirit; SAMUEL W. MILLER,
Noblestown, Pa.--Tendency of Religious
Thought; JOSEPH H. STEVENSON, Belle
fontaine, Ohio—The Tendency of Calvin
ism,
Then, in accordance with a custom in
this Seminary, the whole class came in
front of the pultiti n. and th em e Vvirtd y
acts n eu u
yrnadAm M. WnITE, Allegheny City. At
this point, a neat copy of the Holy Scrip
tures.was presented to each member of the
class, with a short and appropriate address
by Frof. WILSON. When this had been
done, Mr. WHITE, in the name of the
class, bade an affectionate and touching
farewell-to the Faculty. The whole scene
was exceedingly impressive, and will not
soon be forgotten by those present.
We feel that we would fail in our duty
did we not make particular mention of the
matter and the delivery of:the addresses by
the,young men. The matter was rich, and
the , speaking was easy and forcible. Every
one in the audience must have been fully
convinced that this Seminary is not ex
celled in the preaching of its young men.
And this is a feature which cannot be too
highly eommended. Vast learning, with
out_ the capacity to speak, clearly, attrac
tively, and with force,
, can have but little
effect on the popular mind. What the
Church most needs just no* is good preach
ers ; and we are grehtly mistaken if the
class which last week left the halls of our
Seminary does not supply its full propor
tion. .
Diplomas were cortferred upon the fol
lowing young gentlemen,' in addition to
the speakers already mentioned : JoHN S.
ATKINSON, Kilbourne, Ohio ; CHARLES
M. CAMPBELL, Monrovia, Kansas;
T. CARR, BaltiMore, Md 4 Wm. T. HEN
DREN, Groveport, Ohio; josEPEr A. LEY
ENBERGER, Nashville, Ohio; EDWARD P.
LEwrs, Washington, Pa.; CORNELIDS V.
MONTFORT, Macomb, Ill.; EDWIN R. Nu-
OENT, Jackson, Mo.; R. THOMPSON PRICE,
New Hagerstown, Ohio; JAMES S. RAM
REF, Washington City, D. C.;, DAVID R.
RICHARDSON, Gilead, Ohio; B. S. SLOAN,
Elderton, Pa.; WM. S. VANOLEVE, Waynes
burg, Pa.
Others iu the class had pursued their
studies for a time under various approved
,instructors, but not having been connected
with the Seminary for the full course of
three terms, the rules of the Seminary, as
laid down by the General Assembly, did
not permit diplomas to be conferred on
them.
The Church and the friends of this
Seminary have great reason to he gratified
at its present state and future prospects.
The prayers of its • founders have been
heard, and it will continue to bless the
-Church and the world through many gen
erations.
The next term will begin on Monday,
the 12th of September.
TEE LUTE TO BE RICH.
It is, a melancholy, truth that, whilst
many of the noblest traits of our nature
have been strikingly displayed, during the
crisis through which we are passing, many
of its basest characteristics also have been
prominently developed. It would seem
that now, too, as in days past, we cannot
have the light without the corresponding
shade.
That the loye of money, whether for its
own sake, or, for the sake of the, selfish
gratifications its acquirer desires to procure,
is one of the lowest and most debasing
traits of our fallen humanity, our readers do_
not need to be reminded. Were the pages
of inspiration silent, our own observation
from day to day would abundantly establish
the fact.
'Bat it appears to have been reserved for
our own times to bring forth a race of men,
or of beings wearing the semblance of hu
manity, who find it in their hearts not only
to make a. profit of their country's misfor
tunes, but even to aggravate those calami
ties for the sake of gain.
Almost a year ago it was announced that
the frauds at that time' detected in the
Quartermaster's Department, amounted to
twenty-five millions of dollars ; and with
out vouching for the truth of the statement,
though, we have never seen a contradiction
of it, it is notorious that the frauds in ar
my-contracts have Peen...both frequent, in'
point of number, and enormous in the ag
gregate of their amount.
What means this_startling fact? Simply
that there are among our countrymen, in
dividuals mercenary enough to supply our
brave soldiers, (who are risking their lives
in behalf 'of these very miscreants,) with
unwholesome food, defective clothing, im
perfect equipments, and unreliable materi
als of war; or if there be no defect in-the
articles ptovided, are. willing even whilst
their Government is trembling under its
load of debt, to 'withdraw from the national
treasury,'by fraudulent means, many Ames
the value of the supplies furnished; and
all this, only that their own already swollen
purses may be more- largely distended with
ill-gotten gains.
Take another instance. A few days
since, gold was quoted at 190. That is,
one hundred and, ninety dollars in legal
tenders, for which the credit and resources
of the United States 'were pledged, were
worth on .Wall Street just one hundred
dollars in gold. In other words, one hun
dred dollars of the national currency were
worth not quite fifty-three dollars in gold.
A humiliating circumstance, and that, too,
when no military reverses had fallen upon
our arms at home, and - no cloud rested upon
our foreign relations.
What means this remarkable fact ? Sim
ply, that there is a class of gamblers in
stockt-and speculators in gold, who do not
hesitate, by a resort to a variety -of tricks,
.stratagems, and collusions, to depreciate the
faith and credit of our common country,
that, by opportune purchases and sales,
their own coffers may overflow: If they
can but expand their own bloated incomes,
what matters it to them that 'the financial
credit of their country be pushed to the
verge of bankruptcy.
The love of money—to what depths of
infamy will not this base passion sink its
miserable subject! . BUNYAN'S man with
the muck rake is but the repreSentative of
a numerous class, and vivid though all the
limnings are of this stern painter of the
heart, his portraiture here falls below - the
wretched reality. What multitudes there
are, who sedulOusly raking up the dross be
neath.their feet, cannot behold the golden
crown above them! •
Truly, they that will be rich, fall into
temptation and a snare, and into many fool-
Bah and hurtful lusts, which drown men in
MEE
Newark Daily Advertiser.—The editors of
the Newark (N. J.) Daily Advertiser, the
leading paper in that city, and indeed in
the State, have made ample arrangements
to furnish full, interesting and accurate
daily reports of the proceedings of the
General Assembly. Their enterprise and
liberality will no doubt be appreciated by
the Church, and receive a full recompense.
•
The high character of the A.dvertiser is a
sufficient recommendation to induce large
numbers of subscriptions.
Princeton ileview.—This ;raluable Quer
terly has the following articles in the Apri
number : I. The Works of PLATO. II
Latin" Christianity. 111. Man's Place in
Nature. IV. Thoughts of MARCUS AURE
LIUS ANTOIITRUS. V. The Superintend-
ence -of .Missions. VI. Governor WIN
THROP. VII. St. Jzitom. With the
~usual Short Notices, and Literary Intelli
gence. Price, 83 per annum.
The Christian :Commission.—This . week
we publish an appeal from the Pittsburgh
branch of the Christian Commission, which
we trust will meet the - response it merits
from churches and individual& We must
not permit the Comtaission to be hampered
for a moment, in its operations, for want of
means The highest motives impel to most
liberal contribution from all, in behalf of
this Christian and humane agency.
NEWS OP THE CHURCHES
AND MINISTERS.
PRESBYTERIAN.
Old School, - -A very preciods work" of
grace is in progress in the Presbyteiian
church of Wooster, 0. More than usual so
leninity pervaded the exercises during•the
week of prayer in January, and from a con
viction that there was more than ordinary
interest on
,the subject of religion in the
congregation, it was conclUded to have pro
tracted services previous to the communion.
For three weeks; nearly, the meetings were
continued. Twenty souls have been con
verted unto God, and have professed their
faith in Christ. This - makes thirty-one
who have united with this church on pro
fession of faith, from April, 1863 to. April,
1864.
Concerning this churob, a minister of
the New School Pre: byterian clinrch writes:
" Having recently spent a few days in
assisting the pastor of this venerable branch
of the Church, I hope you will indulge me
in a few words. This church was organ
ized early in the settlement of the town.,
and . has always embraced a large. share of
the wealth, intelligence, and moral force of
the community, numberlng about'six thou
sand. This church has been highly favored
in the ministerial qualities of its pastors,
and never more so than in their present
pastor, the Rev. James A. Reed, under
whose labors they have bad more or less
accessions, at nearly or quite every quarter
ly communion season for five years; and
the interest now enjoyed, has already re
sulted in the addition of more than twenty
members, giving them, now in communion
hundred and sixty. The congregation
has so increased as to render it needful to
enlarge their house of worship, which now
has sittings for six hundred. They will
soon eminence the work of enlarging; but
I question much whether the addition of
PRESBYTERIAN BANNER.---WEDNESDAY, APRIL '27, 1864.
thirty or forty feet to the length of their
house, will enable them long to defer the
organization of a second church, a work
for which the pastor and his able and lib
eral people will be found ready at the prop
er time.
The Rev. W. A. Hooper has resigned
the pastoral charge of Birmingham and
Tyrone, Pa., Presbyterian churches. Cor
respondents will please.address him at New
Brighton, Pa.
Rev. Dr. McPheeters, who was .recently
suspended from his pastoral charge in St.
Louis, by the Presbytery, preached last
Sunday in that city to a large congregation,.
as the Republican says, " a most eloquent
and animated discourse."
At its close he stated that when the last
Presbytery dissolved the relation of pastor
and people of Pine St. church he appealed
to the Synod, which appeal was regularly
received and placed on record, for the ac
tion of the Synod at its next meeting"; that
six of the seven elders of his church, with
a large majority of its members, requested
him to resume his pastoral duties, with
which request he reluctantly complied.
Although the action of the Presbytery,
at its recent meeting, was irregular and
contrary to the forms of the Church, he
should abstain from occupying his pulpit
until he laid the whole matter before the
highest Court of the Church, which is to
meet in a few weeks.
The Presbytery of Fort Wayne has elect
Rev. John M. Lowrie, P.D., and Mr. Jes
se L. Williams, delegates to the next Gen- .
eral Assembly.
Mr. J. E. Lapsley, of the last Senior
class in the Western Theological Seminary,
received a call 'to become pastor of the
church of Fairview, Presbytery of Ohio,
but has declined, that he -may take charge
of the Seamen's Bethel at Cleveland, Ohio.
The installation of Mr. Ewingi of the
same Class, as pastor of the church in Kit
tanning, so long served by the venerable
Dr. Painter, will take plaie on Tuesday, the
10th of May, at 10i O'clock It is expett
ed that the sermon will be preached by Dr.
Paxton ; charge to the pastor by Dr. Don
aldson; charge to the people by Rev. W.
W. Woodend. the afternoon of the
same day, a sermon will be.preached by the
Rev. Andrew M'llwaine, 'of Indiana, Pa.,
on Presbyterianism Defended.
At the late meeting of the Presbytery of
the Potomac, in Washington City, the fol
lowing resolution was adopted, with but
one dissenting voice
Resolved, That our earnest and devoted
attachment to the Federal Union heretofore
expressed, remains not only unabated, but
augmenting, and that our daily prayers
shall oontique to ascend to Ile Great Ruler
of nations for the present and future wel
fare of all who are engaged, whether in
high places or subordinate positions, by sea
or by land, in rescuing it from disintegra
tion and consequent ruin.
Dr. Tustin, the mover of the above reso
lution, was elected Commissioner to the
next General Assembly.
• Rev. T. D. Ewing's Post Office address
is changed from Allegheny City to Kittan
ning, Pa.
Rev. W. C. Falconpr's Post Office ad
dress is changed from Allegheny City to
New Wilthington, Pa. -
The church- of Danville, Pa., of which
the Rev. Dr. Yeomant3 was formerly pastor,
Tarenty-nine have already made a profes
sion of faith in Christ. The present pastor
is. Rev. P. IL Mowry, a native of Allegheny
City, Pa. ' •
Wo are pleased to learn - that a quiet
work of grace has been- for some time in
progress in Princeton College, and that an
encouraging number of students are seek
ing or have found Christ.
Additional ;members to the General As
sembly : Presbytery of Burlington—Rev.
Samuel Miller. Dubuque—Rev. A. Van
Vliet ; Elder, Thompson Bell. : Raritan--
Rev. Jacob Kirkpatrick,'D.D.; Elder, Hon.
William Wilson.
New School,—Rev. Drs. Adams and Pren
tiss and Rev. R. R. Booth of. Nevi-York
$
arid Rev. Mr. • Ellenwood, of Rochester,t
bade recently gone to labor temporarily in
the army, under the auspices *of the Chris
tian Commission.
Rev. Wm. T. Dickson, late of Coulters
ville, liUs accepted a call to the church at
'Wolf Creek, Mercer County, Pa.
The Reporter for April contains a letter
from Rolla, Mo. It is , an important mili•
tart' post, destitute of any Protestant
church. The population is estimated at
1500 to. 3000. A Sabbath School has been
organized with 135 members. Twelve per
sons are prepared to unite in organizing a
Presbyterian church, and quite a number
will aid in supporting a minister. Rev. T.
S, Reeve is on the ground.
We can hardly determine under what de
nominational heading to place'an account of a
wonderful revival which has been in pro
gress for some time in Newark, N. 3., un
der the labors of Mr. Hammond, a Congre
gationalist, which began in. one of the New
School churches, but which has extended
to the churches of all denominations in
the place. The editor of the Evangelist
says : - _
"The events of the week culminated in
an open air meeting on Sabbath, yesterday
P. M., at which there were present at some
time during the meeting, or went away be
cause they .could not -get within hearing
distance, full ten thousand persons. The
bulk of the audience were men who would
not enter a Protestant Church if they ever
entered any. _The. Mayor presided, and
ministers of several denominations sus
tained the effort by their presence. We
have lived opposite the Park for about
twenty years, and we never .saw so many at
any political mass meeting collected. there.
The crowd carried home many wholesome
truths fastened by striking and very.appro
priate illustrations in the peculiar- style of
Mr. Hammond."
Germin Reformer:—Reir. E. E. Higbee,
for several years pastor of the (ernian Re
formed church of this city, has resigned his
pastorate to accept a Professorship in the
Theological Seminary at Mercersburg. Mr.
Higbee is an able preacher and a fine
scholar.
There has been at Dartmouth College,
since the Day of. Prayer for Colleges ; an
unusual but quiet religious interest. Spe
cial prayer•meetings have been held in col
lege, and in the village. A number of con
versions have taken plane, and others are
inquiring.
Encouraging revivals are in progress in
New Boston, Goffstown, Bradford, and Mer
imack, N. H. Those in Derry, _London
derrY, and Windham i continue. with una
bated interest: About fifty persons on-a
'recent Sabbath were added to each of the
two Congregational churches in Blanches-
CONGREGATIONAL.
ter, as, the fruits of the revival in that city.
The small, and scattered community at
Thompson Station, on the Long Island
Railroad, about forty miles from New-York,
has been blessed with a revival. A few
veers ago only one praying family was found
there.
Extract from a letter dated Williatns
town, April 2d. * * * " The report
you heard about the revival here, was eor. 7
rect. You can imagine my surprise when
I attended the first prayer-meeting, to hear
those praising God, whom before I had
heard blaspheming him. * * It would
do your heart good to see what I have seen
within the past .two weeks. Tile very
worst fellows in College are now rejoicing
in Jesus Christ. All but twelve of our
class have come Out on the Lord's' side.
The last statement in our conference meet
ing was, that forty had expressed the hope
that they were the Lord's. Over two-thirds
of the students are now Christians."
People that pray for Colleges,. take eour
age.
LUTHERAN.
By a unanimous vote of the Board of
Trustees of St. John's Evangelical Luthe
ran &larch, Rev. Charles P. Krauth, D.D.,
has been invited to supply the vacancy
created by the temporary absence of Rev.
Joseph A. Seiss, D.D.
Rev. Dr. Seiss preached, on Sunday
morning, his last sermon previously to sail
ing for Europe. A large audience listened
with deep interest to his words, full as
they were of truth and of adaptation to'the
time. Fervent prayers', and earnest lOve,
will follow him - on his voyage and his
journey. May the Goa' of Coirenant have
him in his holy keeping and restore.him to
his great work in perfect strength.
BAPTIF.
On , Monday of last week a meeting was
held, in which the Rev. G. D. Boardman,.
of • Rochester, was unanimously ." called"
to the pastorate of theieolisettui church of
New Orleans, and he was immediately tele
graphed to that effect. The field to be oc
cupied there is of the first importance in
every aspect of it, and the North can well
afford, to give, as many:of its best preachers
as are needed, to fill great •centres of influ
ence in the redeemed South.
A Brantford (Canada) correspondent of
an exchange says, the Baptist church there
is considerably exercised about the propri
ety of receiving into the church two per
sons, one of whom was baptizvrd by a Meth
odist preacher, and the other by a Baptist
layman. The, parties Were not received, as
over half the church was not disposed to
recognize the baptism in -either case as
valid..
EPISCOPAL.
Bishop Wilvaine has recently written a
"Prayer for Congregations and Vestries
seeking a pastor," the sentiments of which
are worthy to be remembered by all church-
es without an under-shepherd : " Almighty
God, the fountain of all wisdom, who has
taught 1.28 to seek thy guidance and help in
all our doings, be thou our light and pro
tection in seeking a pastor and teacher for
this'congregation. Petrify our minds from
all worldly and- unholy desires. May
we seek only thy glory, thy truth, thy
service, the best interests of thy Church
and of our souls. Save us from divisions
and strife and every evil temper and dispo
sition. Unite us more and more in all
brotherly love and concord, and so guide
and, govern us that we may choose and ob
tain a faithful minister of Christ, under
whose teaching and other labors, by the
power of the Holy Ghost, we may grow in
the knowledge and obedience of thy Word,
in faith - and love, and every godly virtue to
the!praise and glory of Aliv_riara,ethi
.
Bor the Presbyterian Banner.
From a Delegate to the Army of the Potomac.
. BRANDY. STATION, April 18, 1864,
Dear Bannei :—Let me give you the
workings of •the Christian Commission, as
it is just here, before my eyes. There is
room for stores r for a few delegates to`sleep
in, several horses, hands enough to be kept
busy all the time, and everything is as con
venient and economical as possible. When
a delegate
• arrives he is at once welcomed
as a brother in the work; if he needs food
or rest, it is immediately bestowed. When
ready for action, thousands of soldiers and
teamsters are within a short distance, many
of whom are at leisure to converse, if the
delegate has tact enough to engage them.
He may go freely through all the camps.
Guards will not stop him, but will politely
direct hint to any paint or person accord
ing to their
,ability. And without yet
finding an exception, all speak in the high
est terms of the Christian Commission. It
meets their moral, intellectual, and spirit
ual wants, while it stands in such _astound
ing contrast with, the sutler, in supplying
little delicacies which , the home-sick sol
dier loves. •
The work of distribution is simple.
Chaplains and well,known persons come to
the tent, asking for papers, books, house
wives,
&c., for ;their men. The privates
are thus reached through those whom they
love; while pious Captains, Colonels, &e.,
exert:- an influence for good which they
themselves do not often know—:the men•
seeing that good conduct is pleasing to
those in command... Thousandsof papers
could be given away, and thousands of
books loaned, while the army is stationary.
Besides this work, the Commission furnish
large chaplain tents, which are A great con
venience to, delegates, chaplains, and -men
—open-air preaching being often impracti
cable. When the army moves, these tents
are sent to the Commission Station, where
they are put in the Wagons—hundreds of
willing soldiers being ready to assist—and
follow the rear. .
This is the field work. The camp and
general hospitals are supplied with dele
gates and delicacies. After all that Gov
ernment does ? there is room for every dol
lar and every good' delegate. Mere plea
sure hunters and ease-loving persons should
stay at home. A lady could go through
every camp
_unmolested, by night or day,
as safely as upon Fifth Street, but delleac3r
would forbid rambling. At the hospitals
she can he useful, and at regular stations,
if she has good common sense, is hard
working, and can dispense with extra
toilet labor. Mere display of any kind is
worse than useless here. In fact, minis
ters, without - knowing_ it, vex the agents
often by asking for blacking, razors, &e.;
they can be had; but always with secret, or
displayed displeasure.
The other night, after sermon, a young
man arose and said: "Comrades, in '57
three of us went to the Fulton Street
Prayer Meeting, and asked to be prayed
for. One of us was converted; butlwo of
us became worse, and used to curse our
former companion, though secretly respect
ing him. LEA storm at sea, I vowed, to
serve G-od if he would save me ; but be
came worse than ever. My ungodly com
panion was shot upon the Mississippi
River, at a gambling table. I was filled
with horror; but the Spirit had forsaken
me. I enlisted, not caring what became of
me. In our chapel tent, I yielded to God.
My sins are pardoned. I know it—l feel
it. My soul is full. Come to Jesus, com
rades, or the Spirit may forsake you. We'
are going to move—even this may be our
last meeting; if so,. let us meet in heaven."
One of -the delegates spoke as follows :
"The last time I left the army, a young
man said Will you see my father, at
home ?, Yes.' Then tell him I. have
found Jesus in the army—will write all
about it soon'"
They gamble and swear in• the army, but
far more in our saloons and streets at home.
Your pious sons may be sent here to assist
the chaplains. Your moral sons will here
be brought face to face with death—will
have holy influences around. Send your
theatre and saloon loafers here, away from
their ungodly companions, where they must
be industrious, &c.,- or be punished. You
may, in any tent, leave your watch upon
the table—your garments hanging around,
with valuables—no latch upon the door,
and arise in the morning, with nothing
touched. Could you do this in Pittsburgh ?
R. L.
The Presbytery of Blairsvi. lle,
At their , recent meeting at Congruity; ap
pointed the Rev. 3. C. Carson and Mr.
Robert Fulton, as Commissioners to the
General Assembly. They also licensed
Messrs. J. D. Moorhead, E. P. Lewis, and
D. L. Dickey, to preach the Gospel.
The following supplies were appointed
New Salem—Dr. Kirkpatrick, Fourth
Sabbath of May.. Mr. Edgar, Fifth Sab
bath of May. •
Livermore—Mr Fulton, one day at die
oration as to time.
Armagh—Mr. Walker First Sabbath of
May.
Centreville—Mr. Stevenson Fourth Sab
bath of April. -
Presbytery also dissolVed the pastoral
relation between the Rev. 0. H. Miller
and the con g regations of Armagh and Con
treVille, and dismissed Mr. Miller to the
Presbytery of Redstone.
Jamzs DAVIS Stated Clerk.
For the Presbyterian BMW?.
An Earnest Appeal to the _ Friends of tile
Chriitian Commission.
DEAR BRETHREN :—The. United , States
Christian Commission has now been in ac
tive operation-for more than two years. In
the army and in the navy we have had our
agents at work, zealously and untiringly
for the comfort of our soldiers, and in the
service of Jesus Christ. In the city hos
pital and the crowded barracks ; in the busy
camp and at the lonely bivouac; amid the
roar of: cannon on the battle ground, and
the sighs and groans of the field hospital, or
the prison-house,. they have been Aid:tag
ging in their labor of love and:mercy to our
brave boys. What good they, have accom
plished—what necessities they have re
lieved—what kind words they have dropped
of happiness and heaven—what peace and
comfort they have brought to many an hun
gered body and starving soul, is too well
known to require an exposition here. The
Delegates of our Commission have a two
fold object in their labors. They bear with
theta all the little luxuries which can min
ister to the bodily comfort of our sick and
wounded, and carry the Word of Life to:
their never-dying-souls. The Bible, tracts,
religious and secular newspapers, and other
good reading matter, sanitary supplies and
hospital delicacies are dispensed with a lib
eral hand to all who need, while the prom
ises of the Word,' and the love of the Lord
Jesus Christ are impressed upon their
minds with fervency and prayer. Many a
careless soul has been led to the gates of
heaven through their, instrumentality.
In this.great work we have been warmly
encouraged and supported—more so, per
haps, than had been anticipated.. And yet:
our labors are but begun, and. our_responsi
bilities are rapidly increasing. In the en
suing season- of active operations - against
the enemy, the wants of our suffering sol
diers will be many, and the evil and demor
alization of our vast armies will demand
ny i _our 0 2 rt. and an en
largement of our means of relief: -; . 5.4-tro
time:since the inception of the rebellion
have there been such bodies of men massed
together, and very soon the din of arms
will be resounding in our ears. Then, oh !
what suffering! Shall we falter now ?
Scarcely a family in our midst but has a
representative fighting for our happiness
and safety, and our sympathy and generos
ity should be for these brave defenders, and
the self-sacrificing then who labor amongst
theni.
We appeal to you; then, dear brethren,
for a continuance, of your support. The
generous hands that have heretofore' given
so much will not desert us in our hour of
grpatest need. In these troublons times,
when so many things are occupying our at
tendon, and so many objects arising for our
charity and liberality, the Christian Com
mission only asks not to be forgotten. May
we not hope that our work will commendto
you the necessity and the duty of upholding
us, and that, with the blessing of God, the
" word spoken in due season," and the
" cup of cold water," may become instru-.
mental in bringing much - goodout of great
evil, to the glory of - God:and the elevation
and comfort of our dear soldiers.
ExEctrTivi COMMITTEE.
Hon. Rolmrt M'Knight, Chairman ; Jo
seph Albree, Treasurer.; Wm. P. Weyman,
Receiver ;
• Robert, C. Tinton, John B. M'-
Cune, Joseph Horne.
•- GENERAL COMMITTEE,
Iter..W: D. Howard, D.D., ' Rev. J. D. Herr,
44 . S. J. Wilson, D.D., Hon. J. K. Moorhead,
44 Wm. Preston,Harvey Childs,
44 W. A. Snively, W. W. Mair,
' 6 Geo. S. Chaie, * B. Wolf,Jr.
46 I. C. Pershing, Joseph Moinight,
" E. E. Higbee, G. Follansbee,
66 S.. Stewart,..- • James McCandless,
4 6 E. E. Swift, C.,. Arbuthnot, - _
"_ C. E. Swope, J. G. Backofen,
" W. Jpßeid,. Robert H. Davis. . •
. .
"
REV, icIERRIOR JOHNSON, Pres%
Robert C Totten, Say.
Abstract - of Annual Report
0/ W. P. Wyman, Receiver, and Joseph
Albree, Treasnrer, .Christian commis
sion of West Pentutsylvania.
Nunber of boxes received front Soldiere
- Aid Societies of Pennsylvania, East-
- ern Ohio, and West Virginia 1,147
Number of boxes received from citizens
of Pittsburgh, Allegheny and vicinity, 1,500
Number of large cases and barrels • •
forwarded to the armies 1,820
Vslue of stores shipped $65,410.00
a a publications shipped - • 15,500.00
a a - stores donated 49,337,00
Cash received to April 13, 1864 28,084.86
AmOunt expended for store's 16,088.64
" " • religious publi
cations 8,556.58
Amount of expenses of delegates from•
our committee • 2,080.00
Amount from other committees, and
equipments 642 . 45
Office expenses, postage, stationery,
printing reports, rent of store-room,
wages of boy, etc., etc . • 876.40
Remittanbe to central office, Phila..— 1;808.55
Relief of soldiers in city, funeral ex
penses of Delegate died in service,
public meetings, and` counterfeit
money 806.72
Total cash expenditure $25,853.98
Add for outstanding accounts unsettled $1,000.00
Leaves balance on hand April 13, 1 864-1,680.88
Since December, 1863, the average expendi
ture for stores and religious publications has
been a trifle over three thousand dollars per
month. During the months of February and
March, our expenditures for the necessities as
Well as comforts of the soldiers at Camp Cnpe
land, have been about two thousand dollars.
We have given commissions to one hnndred
il .nnd thirty Delegates during the year, thirty of
whom are now laboring in the armies. The av
erage expenses of these delegates for a term of
Six weeks, have,been only sixteen dollar& Dele
gates receive no salary—their actual expenses
only being borne by the COMMiSSiOII.
In Seprember, 1863, a' station was established ,
at,Camp Howe; and continued in operation '
the troops were transferred to Camp Copeland.
For tho Preobitorian Bannor.
Bar the ?reshyterian Banner
In March a Station was opened at Camp Cope
land, in connection with a special Diet Kitchen,
in charge of the ladies of Swissvale. These are
both in successful operation.
The U. S. General Hospital has been visited
weekly, and, such stores as were needed have
been given by the ladies of the Pittsburgh Sub
sistence Committee. Through the exertions of
the ladies of the Subsistence Committee, 8,5 20
articles of hospital clothing have been cut out
and made up:
Religious services have been held every Sab
bath at the Soldiers' Home, by our returned del
egates.
This following is a list of stores distributed:
Shirts, muslin, 6,546 Driedfruit, lbs. 22,184
44 flannel, 4,984 Wine & whisky,
Drawers, 44 2.791 quarts 5,621
44 muslin, 4,278 Pickles. 115,845
Sheets 1,003 Butter, 1b5...... 6,802
Slippers, pm... 577 Corn starch; lbs. 440
Dress'g gowns, 484 Chocolate, lbs. • 285
Comforts, 471 Milk, 527
Blankets, 685 Sugar,, 1b5....... 2,494
Pillows 2;625 Crackers, lbs... 1,684
Pillow cases... • 1,748 Soap, be ~467
Socks, pairs... 6,259 Farina, 1b5..... 198
Handkerchiefs 4,914 Ginger, lbs 40
Towels,
2,921 Sage, lbs. 80
Mittens, pairs, 1,120 Hoarhound,lbs 48
Housewives.... 4,182 Gelatine, 1b5.... 15
Bandages • 7,277 Honey, lbs 40
Pads and rings 2,303 Cologne, qts... 350
Roll cemuslim 4,527 Bay Rum, qts.. 110
Arm slings-. 1,013 Vegetables, bus. 1,648
Mosquito bars, 71 Egg!, doz 1,105
Lint, lbs. 1,385 Chairs -- 65
Buttons, gross, - 260 Fans 8,206
Needles, . 4 4 486 Meat'in cans... 410
Thread, 1b5..... 14 Oranges, doz... 205
Papers & tracts, Lemons, doz... 168
pages.... ... . . 1,081,279 Writing paper,
Small sold's bks 94,511 reams 221
Large bks. for Pens doz 1.239
libraries__ 4,550 Leadpeneils,doz. 4,836
Hymn &Ps. bks, 11,800 Envelopes 37,710
Testaments,.... - 12,861 Ink, (Ito - 46
Magazines, &o. 37,710 Stoves..
Cans of fruit... 6,880 Tents.. 8
Also, 16,000 feet of lumber, nails, glass, &o.
The ainount now on hand is sufficient to meet
the, current expenses for only two weeks. We
make this statement, in the hope that the Chris
tian public may beinduced to make liberal and
immediate contributions:
Send stores to W. P. Weyman, No. 76 Smith
field Street, Pittsburgh. Money to Jos. Albree;
Treas., No. 71 Wood. Street, Pittsburgh.
For the kresbyierlan Benner.
Annual Report .
Of the Ladies' Aid Sodety of Mt. Pleas
ant, Westmoreland Cmznty,for the Chris
tiara Commission
By thanksgiving collections in the
N. S., and U. P. Presbyterian churches, in
the morning, and by a general. meeting in
the evening, $2OO. Proceeds of Fair by
Ladies' Aid. Society, $566.21.
Of the above money, s2oo , have been
sent to the Christian Commission , Agent at
Pittshurgh, and $366 are in.the Treasurer's
hands ' to be expended in material for hos
pital clothing. The following is a list of
articles made up and sent to - the Commis
sion during the past' year, including con
tributions of fruits vegetables, and liquors
2 comforts, $2, $4; 2 blankets,(donated,) $4 ;
1 coverlid, $2.50; 10 shades $lO.OO ; 5 do.,
$1.56, $7.80 ; 74 pillow cases, $l7 ; 174. towels,
$29 ; 10 pillows, 1210., $1.25; 8 do. 25e., $2 ;
60 pre. woolen socks, 50c., $3O; 33 do. do., 37c.,
$12.21; 78 muslin shirts, $122.85 ; 4 flannel
shirts, $9.80 ; 20 do. do., $2.50, $5O ;• 3 quilts,
$3 ; 3 prs woolen drawers, $5 ;-15 do. do., $25;
11 pre. cotton flannel drawers, $11;
$11.25 ;,.36 do. muslin drawers, $45; 9 blouses,
$ll ; 51 housewives, donated by the little girls,
$25 ; 16 lbs. lint, value not known; • 489 lbs.
dried fruit, donated In part, $48.90 2 gallons
elderberry wine, $2 ; 3 bottles currant do., 75e. ;
130 .cans fruit, donated, $2O ; 1,1). bushels onions,
$1.50;,175 handkerchiefs, donated in part, $2O;
12 pre.. slippets, $6,; 14 pads, donated; $1.40 ;
5 prg. mittens, $2.50 ; 1 keg old rye whiskY, do..
noted, $lO 1 barrel dried rusk, donated: to
Fair. Total, $546.76.
For the Presbyterian Banner
The Presbytery. of Huntingdon.
Met in Bellefonte on the 12th inst.- The
opening sermon was preached' by Rev. tT.
white,-Maderar :: --ite-v-TIVW.-Zah
niser was chosen. Moderator, Rev.. D. H.
Barron, Recording Clerk, and Rev. W. B.
McKee, Reading Clerk for the ensuing
'Mr. W. E. Ijains 'was receivedAtnderi the
care 'of this'Presbytery as a. candidate for
the Gospel thinistry.
Rev. S. T.-Lowrie was dismissed to con
nect with the.. Presbytery of Allegheny
City.
Rev. R. M. Wallace was received from
the Presbytery: of Redstone. A call. was
put into his hands from the church in Al
toona. It-was accepted, and arrangenkents
were made for his installation- on the 6th
of May.
Mr. W.-O. Wright, a licentiate of the
Presbytery of Newcastle, was received.
Calls were placed in his hands-from. the
churches of Phillipsburg and Morris. They
were accepted, and. Mr. Wright is...to be or
dained and installed pastor of those church
es, if the way be clear, on. the second Tues
day of June.
The pastoral relation - between the Rev.
W. A. :Hooper and the churches of Tyrone
and Birmingham was dissolved.
Rev. W. B. MeKee accepted 'a call from
the church .of Bald- Eagle.
The Commissioners to the General Aig
sertaily,- -are—Ministers, Orr Lawson and
R-. B. Moore. Elders, Judge Linn and
James Parker. Alternates, Revs-J. B.
Strain and W. A. _Hooper. Elders H.
Larimer and B. F. Bell.
Rev. Thomas McCauley, Astistant-Secre
tary.of the Board.-of Education, -made an
appeal in behalf of the school Of Rev.
Vanvliet, in Dubuque, and of the interests
of the cause in general. Rev: Dr. Knox
spoke in behalf 4 Domestic. Missions.
The following resolutions were adopted
" In view of, the statement of Rev. Dr.
Knox in regaid to .the owning and urgency
of the fields of Domestic Missions Presby
tery
"ltesolved, That we hereby renew and
express our• profound qense of the import
ance sad obligation of this great schinae of
beneficence as identified not only with the
progress and influence of our own Church,
but also .the righteousness and glory of our
land, believing tbat.the Gospel is not only
the salvation of the soul, but also the
strength of the State, -
"..liesoleed, That we 'cordially approve of
the plan of extended operations of the
Board .of Domestic Missions, as clearly
called for in the providence of God, by the
extraordinary circumstances of the times.
'Resolved, That we Will . do. - what in us
lies to increase our contributions to this
cause for the coming year."
The following preamble and resolutions,
passed at the October meeting, were unani
mously reaffirmed And ordered to be pub
lished :
•
" WHEREAS, This Presbytery has, never
expressed in any formal manner, its attach
ment to the Union and its sympathy with
the country in the conflict of loyalty with
an uncaused arid wicked rebellion; sup•
posing that the, action of the General As
sembly, the higheSt Court of our Church,
was sufficient evidence of our loyalty, as
for all this action of the Assembly our
Commissioners have uniformly voted; but
lest hereafter it should be snpposed froai
the, absence of any Presbyterial action on
this subject, that we as a Presbytery were
indifferent to'the cause of the country and
of doubtfulloyalty ; therefore, we deem it
proper to adopt the following resolutions:
Resolved, That we are unalterably at.
tachea to the .Union,; and instead of hav
ing iympathy with those in rebellion,against
the Government, .we ,unhesitatingly con-
deinni and denounce thelebellion as wicked
and uncaused.
" Resolved, That we approve of the Gov
ernment putting down the,rebellion,
4 ‘ Resolv e d, That we, aeyerthele.ds,will
hail the return of peace on just and honer-
Able terms, securing the ,unity of all' the
States, and promising security agai nst
similar rebellion in all time to come."
Presbytery having concluded its b usi.
ness, the venerable James Linn, D.D., arose
and with a few remarks of touching tender,
ness, which drew tears from many eyes
bade the brethren an affectionate farewell
as in all probability it was the last meeting
of the Presbytery which he would be p er ,
mitted to attend. He then offered pray er,
after which the large and interested audi,
ence withdrew. D. H. BARRON,
Recording Clerk.
Por the Presbyterian Bannsr.
/Supplies,
Appointed by the Presbytery of Saul's%
at Spring Meeting.
Pine Run.—Mr. Shirley, last Sabbath of
April. Third Sabbath of May, Mr. Ship.
ley';_administer the Lord's Supper. Fourth
Sabbath of June, - Mr. James IL Donaldso n .
War/Tn.—Mr. M'Curdy, first Sabbath of
May. Mr. Shirley, fourth Sabbath of 1% ;
administer the Lord's Supper. Mr. J. g .
Donaldson, third Sabbath of June.
Leechburg.—Mr. T. D. Ewing, tbird,
Sabbath of May. Mr. Shirley, fifth g a b.
bath of May. Mr. Woodend, second Sab.
bath of June.
Boiling Spring.—Mr. N Curdy, second
Sabbath of May. . Mr. Morgan, fourth Sat.
bath of May. Mr. Orr, first Sabbath of
June.
Plum Creek.—Mr. Woodend, second
Sabbath of May. Mr. Townsend, fourth
Sabbath of May. Mr. Ewing, second Sab
bath of June. Mr. Shirley, fourth Sab
bath of June.
Messrs. Spargrove, J. E. Caruthers, and
Elder Samuel G. Miller, were appointed to
serve Under the U. S. -Christian Commis_
Sion. .
• Messrs. M'Elwain and . M"Millan, Min
isters, and Messrs. Bayard and Gourley.
Elders, were elected Commissioners to the
General Assembly.
Missrs. J. Stewart Reed and Carson
Reed, were licensed.
Presbytery adjourned to meet at Kittan
ning on second Tuesday of May, at 10
o'clock A. M., to ordain Mr. Ewing.
- W. W. WOODXND, S. C.
Nor the l'reebyterian Banner.
supplies Appointed by Allegheny Presbytery.
Bull Creek, Leesburg, Rick Bill, and
Westminster, have - leave to obtain supplies
till the Fall meeting; except that 'lt. B.
* Walker is to administer the Lord's Supper
at Riche Hill, on the Third Sabbath of
June and Dr. Young at Westminster, on
the Second Sabbath of May.
Concord, Sunbury, and Pleasant Traupy,
have leave to obtain supplies till the June
meeting.
North, Butler—Jas. Coulter, Stated Sup
ply one-fourth of . the time, - till the June
meeting.
- Freeport—Fourth Sabbath of May, D.
Slate Lick—Fifth Sabbath of May, E
Ogden.
Presbyterial.
The PRESBYTERY. OP RICHLAND stands
adjourned to meet at Fredeticktown, Knox Co.,
0.„ on the First Tuesday (3d day) of May, at 7
o'clock P. M. JAS. ROWLAND, S. C.
The PRESBYTERY OF CHICAGO stands ap
journed to meet at Aurora,lll., on the First
Tuesday of May, (3d day,) at 2 o'clock P. M.
Two ordinations, an installation, together with
educational -matters of importance, will claim
the attention of the body.
W. W. HAMRA, Stated Clerk.
The PRESBYTERY OF ALLEGHENY stands
adjourned to meet at Tarentum, on the Second
Tuesday of May, at .11 o'clock A. M.
J. R. COULTER, Stated Clerk.
Cleriad Writimgs.
The clergy are both ready and able to
maintain the cause of Christianity, as their
many excellent writings in defence of it
sufficiently demonstrate. But as the gen
erality of mankind is more governed by
prejudice than by reason, their writings
are not so universally read or candidly re
ceived as they deserve, because they are
supposed to proceed, not from conscience
and conviction, but from interested views,
and the common cause of their profession.
4. supposition evidently as partial and inju
rious as that would be which should impute
the gallant behaviour of our soldiers to the
mean consideration of their pay and their
hopes of preferment, exclusive of all the
nobler motives of, gentlemen, namely, the
sense of honor,ind the love of country.—
When 'West.
Theological and. Literary.
Mr. Massie's "America, the Origin of her
present Conflict; "illustrated by Incidents
of Travel during a Tour in the Summer of
1863, throughout the United States," 53
sure to be reprinted in America, Mr. Mas
sie being at once a warm friend of the
Northern States, and a great admirer of
Federal institutions. Another book, giv
ing experiences of American life, is Dr.
Thomas Nichol's " Forty Years of ? Amer
ican 'Life." Though a Northerner by birth,
Dr. Nichol's proclivities are decidedly and
unmistakably Southern. Dr. Hunt's book
" On The Negro's Place in Nature," in so
far as it upholds slavery, also inclining to
the South, has been most roughly handled
by Professor Huxley, in his seventh lecture
at the Royal College of Surgeons.
From, the Paris correspondence of the
Gazette, we extract the following—the
date is Febritary 19th: "T do not remem
ber to -have seen the book trade here as dull
as. it is at present. The publishers and
booksellers tell me that nothing sells. The
atmosphere Li filled with war and rumors of
war, which disarrange trade; the fluctua
tions of the rates of interest disappoint ev
ery attempt to reckon profits and losses,
and the innumerable bankruptcies disheart
en the whole commercial world, everybody
is retrenching their expenditure of money
as much as poSsible."
By the list of public libraries in the Uni
ted States, published in the National Alma
nac for 1864, the library of Harvard Col
lege, still, maintains the first rank as the
largest. The next is the Astor Library;
the next - the Boston Ptiblic Library. The
Library of Congress is the fifth. In the
amount Of_ annual expenditure the BOston
Pullic Library outranks All,others.
The House of Messrs. Ticknor & Fields,
the Boston publishers, will be continued
under the same style of firm, so well known
during the last twenty years, the son of the, B
late Mr. Ticknor representing his father
interest in the business. Mr. James T.
Fields is now the senior member of the
establishment. •
The preparations for the tercentenary at
Geneva, Switzerland, of the death of Calvin,
are becoming more active as the time sr
prdaches. Five manuscripts have been
sent in for the prize offered by the Evan
gelical Alliance for a life of Calvin fitted
for the young.
• Says the French correspondent of Childs'
Gazette: "'We are expecting to receive a
new edition (which is said to be entirely
re-written) of Dr, David Strauss's work,
which will bear the new title : The Life
of Jesus for the German People."
The Committee of the Evangelical Alli
ance of Geneva'offey a prize of 500 francs
for a popular Life of Calvin, to commemo
rate the tercentenary of .his death, May