) 1, I,v j A ,ti SO N , rit.iross I'..II".VERSON, 3 JANIES ALLISON & CO., Proprietors. II TENNIS IN ADVANCE. 14 , t r o vgly or In ........ $2,00 i)ri ITURro tN EITHER OW TIM CITIRE 2.50 P us UN eutiscriliers and upwards, wilt ur tiii,6o,lltitlfd to it paper without charge, and another rtra l eper for t tie second ten; At. ii,IIPWI4IP 3110111111 m prompt, a tittle before the year expiry', rue all WWI , to JAMES ALLISON & CO., PITTSBURGIII, PA Letter From the Army. CAMP STOSRMAN, ARMY OF POTOMAC. 1 1 a. JOSEPH ALBREE, Treasurer of U. (11 ri'st lam Commission: Dear Sir :—My t ern of service as a delegate of the Chris ti;,;, Commission having expired, I wish, ih.otigh the medium of the press, to make root of my labors at Camp Stoneman. always consider it one of the greatest privileges of my life, that I have been per- Illitted to go out as a delegate of the Chris rou Commission, to labor and pray for the 'rave defenders of our country. My field of Iti'vr was Camp Stoneman. This. Camp i s near Washington City, and is among the nt e- , t important Stations in the Army of the ii, , toinae. It is a cavalry camp. New regi utotts are sent there to draw their horses, ;a t i drill a short time before leaving for the Bat perhaps it might be interesting to the readers of the .Banner,, to eye some :tatktics and facts connected with Camp t orienian, to show the magnitude of the work, and the great responsibility resting t yrou the delegates. In addition to the av- Li g o of fifteen thousand soldiers at the there is an average of ten thousand or fifteen thousand white men and " contra -I,,tatis," who are in the employ , of the Gov t mutat, and who are not soldiers. ' These Li eu are not reached with religious matter 1111 preaching apart "from the Christian c.2tumission, There are eleven forts under the supervision of this Camp. At the vimpel tent connected with the Station, tilde is preaching and prayer-meeting every It tOit; but there are at least twenty-five cuts where religious services are some t.uuts held. The Station was organized October 28d, hi:l, Since that time, (or at the date the writer loft, March 9th,) three hundred have 1 , 00, anxious; and it is supposed of that n'onber there have been one hundred and genuine conversions It was organized .n a Sibley Tent, but it has now given 16.,N to the gl Chapel Tent," much more and comfortable. At first they had r , ,ents ' but the soldiers came and stood, without fire, during Divine service. The nligious interest soon began at that camp, 51i3 still continues. Soon after its organi . ton, the soldiers moved to welcome the ,Pgates of the Christian Commission in :r midst. I arrived at the Station on Saturday hence my fait day in camp was •',e Holy Sabbath. But oh, how different m a Sabbath at home ! Instead of the hotness and stillness of the Sabbath ::ruing at home, you see men on the _,,yo, hear musical instruments calling the ',Jails to duty; also the axe, busily en :,1141 in getting wood ready to prepare ~(kfast. But before the hours of my Sabbath in camp closed, I enjoyed, 11(11 a few professed, followers of Christ, • :r, delightlul privilege of commemorating z•avieur's dying love. That Communion • ,un can never be forgotten by me. .. re, far from home, sitting down with :•diren from all parts of the land, to ob- re the dying command of Christ 1 I it was good to be there.". There ,re present three Methodist ministers, Congregational, one Baptis‘, Olle Pres ; but those little differ-nces, about ]lch many are so ilk home, re no annoYlinei.C) us . ' We reitll9,llrere Albers of the'Chilstisiii Cenamission, and ed to meet at last where there are no Aminational dafferences. lie writer Introduced the ordinance v extended an invitation to those who 7 Cll the Saviour, to commune; and whilst came forward to occupy certain seats , rred for communicants, that beautiful .sa was read and sung— `.l,t, Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want," gte. n, in that canvas tent—with no walls •Cy frescoed, no beautiful carpet, but for suktitute hay, for seats pine boards; e , oetounion vessels, not costly silver c. but tin cups—we, l 6bierved the Sa a'', dying command ".This do in re- Urance of me." • Isring this solemn. tie se on, I 'saw, the mart from the eoldier's eye, and And wa) down his care-worn cheek, When Communion service closed, an opportu• was afforded to any who might wish to Twelve soldiers spoke: Prom full .I() they wert, thankful for another priv oi•observing the command of Christ, the first they had enjoyed since they kft their homes—some of whom had ( May from them, and their churches, almost three years. Had you heard 0 then speak, they would have exploded idea, that a soldier must drop has roll :11(.4n he goes to the army. Soldiers with great readiness and originality. "rd meetings are enjoyed on earth, and refreshing, what must heaven be? ;, not uncommon for soldier's to arise rdizious meetings, .and acknoWredge they are very.great sinners, and ask to :%; , ed for, It is astonishing bow many army are backsliders—.had backslid they went to the army, To use r (ma language, "They had left their , • , %e, and bad awfully departed from r profession." But many of these are Lei by means of the Christian Commis- addition to preaching to the Soldiers, Lkonally conversing with them, and D~ in prayer.meetzogs; another im- At agency in reaching them is the die :%,,a of the printed page. Men in 'd!) , l in the hospitals are very anxious reading matter. They not only it thankfully and cheerfully, but in . .F Instances offer to pay for it. Say the soldiers told me, after having `' books and tracts given them, they to their families, to read, and to ' - ' c ryed• A soldier to whom I gave a and tract, (one lately enlisted ) ) told , he had been contributing to the o Commission, since its organiss ,,ut he then personally received its lefit-11 Cast thy bread upokt the . ke. Did our friends at home tth what gladness and delight our receive reading matter, the donors amply remunerated b 7 the ex- God bless the Christian Com- papers, books, and trade, remind (lays spent at home. Said a boy, I gave a paper, "This reminds Sabbath Sotiool at home; times rueeived papers in my Sabbath gune into tents and found Bol ' "ling their Testaments and Bibles. a young man, told me that since fle to the army he bad quit swear he, (pointing , to it,) • This Tes -I,frbids me to swear." Another, who erien cod religion, said : This re - !rive s all the weir out of me." A "'an whom I saw die, ff!fif minutes I .t‘ breathed his last, hearing anoth , I rotane language, said : " What is : t rffsgo sound?" Certainly a strange 79 fall upon the ears of a dying man s wight add, upon the ears of any one. :vviteenta appear to swear more than sho have been longer in the service. upon entering the army, seem to in order to be a good soldier, they 'wear. What a grand mistake! For the Preebyterlan Banner ( I) 104 t$ 4 t VOL. XII. NO. 33 I found the soldiers very approachable, and free to converse on the subject of re ligion. There is no way in which a sol dier can be touched so readily, as to speak to him of home, and of the absent loved ones—of the prayers offered for them by dear ones at home. Said a soldier to whom I gave a paper, with a piece headed, "My Mother is at home, Praying," " That is true,; my mother is at home, praying for me." I heard him use profane language, as .I entered the tent, but when he saw the piece, "My Mother," tfz,c.i it reminded him of home and its associations, and that his " mother was praying for, him:" Going Into another tent .where, there were four persons, among whom was a minister's eon, I asked them if they_wishcd some religious reading. The minister's son was the first to reply, "No, we do not want any." I then asked him if he 'was not a minister's son, and reminded him of the prayers which were daily offeied for him by pious parents at home. I gave him some good reading matter, and invited him to preaching. He attended, ras awakened and interested, and, soon took part in the religious exercises, and 'seemed to be quite active in his new duties. But it is not a wonder that so many are converted in the army, since so many prayers are offered at home for the soldier. God is the hearer of prayer. I preached several . titnes to the " Con trabands." One evening, at the close of the service, two were requested to lead in prayer. Both were very earnest, and prayed for ig de preacher, , for de President, de Governor, do white man and de black man, de white women and de black women." To show doubtless their appreciation of the Gospel, money was placed in our hands, when passing out, with heaity•thanks, "to come again," but thanks were sufficient re muneration without the money, and the money was returned. But I must forbear. In my next, I ei pect to give some incidents' which came under my own observation in the hospitals. WM. F. MORGAN. Rural Valley, Pa. Por the Presbyterian Banner Army Correspondence. BRANDY STATION, April 15, 1864. Dear Banner :—Some of your readers requested me to send, through your paper, details from the Army—incidents actually occurring, leaving them to make their own inferences. I know lot how to do this better, than by keeping a sort of diary, or running narrative of what strikes me as it occurs. Leaving Washington—the cars are under military care—you enter on one side only, at the other a bayonet guards the platform. A raw Irishman held this weapon, and -it greatly unused me to see him use his brief authority. Some shoulder-straps blustered, others entreated, one plead inability to walk to the Other side of the ears—all in' vain. Patrick obeyed orders, all the more rigidly, perhaps, because Gen. Grant was aboard. Happy world! if God's orders were as literally obeyed. We passed a number of battle-fields. Oh, the graves I—some in clusters, under --a grove of evergreens; some alone, where a comrade had marked the spot; and hun dreds from which all marks had disap peared, 3 11 ,4 - Ito.oUndo itself leireled... From- the records of an office at Waehink-- ton, 130,000 have'Sallen ; how many-more have perished in this cruel war, time will never reveal. ' THE LOST PIN A valuable breast-pin ? No 1 a real com mon pin. Nonsense, to chroniele such a trifle. Stop; a poor fellow; wounded at Gettysburg, was arranging bandage, with youthful, big hands, and dropped his pin—could not find it—no females in the ears—the males bad none. blyfirit ser vice lor the Christian Commission was to bind his wound, and supply him with pins. He saw my badge, and said, "0, I know that, and never saw a bad fellow behind it. We privates like to see it, in the hospital, or field." Immediately upon arriving, I was sent, on horseback, to the 6th Corps, to assist Cbap.ain James. A Lawrenceville boy recognized me---had the church-roil played —invited all to come. Thus aided, the chapel was full After preaching, a sol dier rose and spoke as follows : " Boys, take my venerable friend's advice. - You all know that two years ago I lead you into all kinds of devilment; now I. am march ing under Jesus. You took my example then; let me urge you now. Christ is a better leader than the Devil. I hate se cession, and the Devil', the first secession ist." Pre sat down; and while I was pon dering upon the fact that I must now be Called, henceforth, old, another arose, ex claiming, " O r comrades, enlist! the bounty is large I My Jesuill" Here he broke down;,he rallied, but tears came, his norn reacts' tears followed. I may as well con fess it—l never shad so many tears myself, never saw so great a proportion of a con- gregation weeping, as in that military chapel. The meeting was held until log after tattoo. We shall never meet again here; and how soon will many of them be in their graves Over thirty in one regi ment have made a profession of religion since they enlisted. It. L. ARMY OF POTOMAC!, April 21, 1864. Dear Banner :—Every description would fail to give you an adequate idea of camp life. Tents of every deseription, from the graceful Sibley to the rudest turf-base, black, tattered canvas cover, meet your eye—pitched on a hill for air and view—in a swamp for water—any where for wood, &o. Pets of all kind are cherished—even rats and mice grow fat and tame upon of fal and toleration. Dogs and eats are, however, the greatest favorites. - Enter the tents—the same 'variety meets your eye. Here is one with every conve nience which 'wealth, home and the sutler can furnish, down to squalor and hard tack. Let a stranger be lost,' and every one will politely give him all the information pos sible. Let him be hungry, and everyone is willing to share. The boys will sleep on the floor to accommodate the lodger in his bank. In your own tent you may gamble, 'or read, pray, or swear, sing or write, with out molestation. They expect a man with the Commission badge to talk with them upon the subject of religion; and so much time have they when in quarters, that you may use your own discretion. The chaplains are largely frem the Meth odist and Baptist persuasion _ ; and I have not found one yet unworthy of his office. Some °four workingtnen are here ' and stand in the army about as they did :in Presbytery, or among the churches at home. The men may go or not to hear them preach, and they will not go here, any more than at home, for nothing. Besides, here you miss the comforts of a place of worship, and the im portant aid of the ladies. I have never seen men anywhere pay a closer attention to a preacher, or comrade who was talking sense. I have been amused to see how some of our brethren,' who at , home would be shocked with a hymn or instrument, here tolerate, , 6 Jame i love thy charming name," - and cidettaftwally the aiocimpanirnent of a PITTSBURGH, WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 1864 whole band. The men themselves arise when he has done, and say let us sing so and so, and all chime in, whether the preacher'does or not. The men will Wier- I ate a good Chaplain's whim, if he dare not give out any thing but a psalm; but, then, he must not silenoe, : thern. 'lndeed, one of the grandest results of this war will be to annihilate sectarianism, I would pity the man who could go home and tamely submit his neck to the ecclesiastical collar which he broke to pieces himself, or saw others as good as himself and' as beloied of God and man as he could hope to be, drop as not only uselesi, but injurious. The great problem here as at home, is what to do with the contrabands? At pres ent they draw rations, are paid for their labor, hold their religious meetings, pray for de Union," and for " forgihness for de Marster." I have not heard a word of revenge breathed against their former op pressors, and instead of wishing to deluge the North, they bare intense longings for permission to go South, as soon as they can go as freemen. Yesterday 'I saw a waggon 'load of refu gees—one of the daily arrivals at' the quar ters of Gen. Patrick, where their claims are examined, and if all , is right, they en joy rest and medical attendance, draw ra tions and receive eicorts or passes for the North. Poor creatures, they . corne stripped of all things, from the God-fersaken confed eracy, to shun something of the plenty and freedom of 'the glorious North. If this war should continue for years, we could easily enlist refugees, negroes, and foreign emigrants to carry it on—the first class most dangerous opponente of their vile rob bers and oppressors. - R. L. [Original.] Linos to a Yoang Fritad. Th; bloom of youth is on your brow, No anxious cares distract you now ; The glow of health is in your veins, And mercy still your life sustains. Whose bounteous hand provides you food, And gives you every needful good ? Preserves you from each hurtful snare, And guards you with a watchful ease t And who his gracious Spirit sends; To make his enemies his friends— To take Our stony hearts away, And lead us in the heavenly, way Be calls you now, in early youth, To choose the pleasant way of truth ; To leave the world's alluring toys, And seek for more substantial joy& 0 will you not obey his call, And haste to seek in him your. all Your life, your soul, your being give To Him who died that you might live 1 Let your example others win From paths of folly and of sin; Till you, at length, in heaven appear, To join in higher service there. Emlenton, March, 1664. ; MARY. For the Presbyterian Mintier Something you tan do for our Soldiers. "Christian reader, you are deeply inter ested in the great struggle now going on in our country. Yon look forward to an active campaign, soon to open, with bright hope that it will be successful; gi And yet, and yet, you cannot forget • ...,That many brave boys must falV And you long for their immediate convex.. lion, lest some should die unprepared, end, though martyrs to a glorious cause, shOuld be lost forever. You have heard with joy and gratitude of the great tiiork God is doing in the awakening 'and conversion of soldiers—you can pray for the biave and noble detenders=of our country whose souls are in -such peril. The early Christians sympathizedso deeply with Peter; that prayer was made without ceasing; , of the Church, unto God for -him, (Acts air). And surely the tens of thousands of Satan's eaptivein our armies ought to awaken all our sympatbieo, ~ , God delivered Peter, - and will deliver these, if the, whole. Church unites its prayers for them. 0 for united, believing, importunate prayer I There is probably at least one in the army, with whom what you might say would have more weight than all that= could be uttered by his chaplain, or any one else. You know his history. Write him an earnest, affectionate letter, pleading with him to give God his. heart at once. Let it be steeped in prayer, and if it is blotted with tears, all the better. As you value these precious souls—as you desire to be pure from the blood of all men, I beg you do all you can, and do it now. The above is extracted from the Banner of the Covenant of March 17th, and I hope it may call the attentiantof those addressed, to these forgotten, yet doomed men of our army. In this city they &re never prayed for, that I hear. Except a petition on Bab 'bath morning, for the President and those in authority, our bleeding country and its defenders are entirelyignored. The ladies over all the land are endeavoring to meet the wants of the expected wounded; but those who fall on the battle-field cannot re ceive the - supplies furnished, and no man cares for their souls, so 'soon to be beyond the reach of hope. When the fever visited Norfolk and Portsmouth, our• churches were opened, again and again, to pray for its removal; and also in 1857, our ministers prayed for the triumph of British arms and the over throw of the , Sepoy rebellion—the protec tion of the missionaries and their converts, or their happy deaths; but for our unpre pared, devoted soldiers, gt there is no pub.: lie prayer made." Surely, as in Jeremiah x : 21, we are become brutish, or"we could not look so unconcernedly on the destruc tion of our' people ! 0 for an" Esther 'to arise in our land, to join with the Florence Nightingales of it, so that our prayers, with our alms, may come up for a memorial before God, that his anger maybe' turned away from us, that we perish not. H. Baltimore. Presbytery of . Carlisle. The Presbytery of Carlisle met in the Presbyterian church of Hagerstown, Md., on Tuesday, April 12th, at 7i— o'clock P. M. Rev. John C.. Bliss preached the opening sermon, from Matt. xxviii 20-- " Le, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.: Rev. Robert F. Sam ple Was elected Moderator. The Presbytery ,being impressed 'with the importance of seeking a baptism of the Holy Spirit, set apart more than the usual time for devotional exercises, at- the be ginning of each session. On the second day, Rev. Thomas Creigh, D.D., preached from Col. 28—" Whom we preach," &a. The Reports on the State of Religion revealed the pleasing fact that a feiv of the churches in. this Presbytery had enjoyed a rich blessing from the Lord daring the past year ; but most of the others, though having hopeful indications of better things, yet, greatly mourned over their' spifitctal. dearth. -Almost Amery church testified" the increase ,of intemperance and" other ontbreaking . sins. Many of our churches along the Sduthern border have Nen very " CHAPLAIN. 'or the Presbyterian Banner. destitute of the means of grace since the beginning of the war. They are now, how ever, being supplied with ministers ; and for ;he better protection of their houses of worship, Presbytery appointed a committee to confer with then military authorities at Washington, with a view to obtain a gen eral order against the occupation of the churches of this Presbytery for military purposes, except in the most extreme cases., The 'fallowing COmmissionere were ap pointed to the next General Assembly, viz.: Rev. John R. Warner, with Rev. 11. G. Finney, alternate; , .Rev. J. Smith Gor don, with Rev. Henry Reeves, alternate'; Elders :S. M. Gray,dini, with Mr. Mower, alternate; Mr. Bridges,,,with Bobert G. M'Creary, alternate. • ' The churches, with perhaps - a single ex ception, reported the payment of the, pas tors' salaries. Several had `attgrne'nted the same • to meet the greatly increased ex pensteof living; othere had relieved their ministers from embarrassment by 'liberal donations; and nearly all are in the habit of paying the expenses of the - ministers and elders to the meetings of Preibitery and Synod. InasinucVhowever, as many of the- pastors are destittite of an adequate: support, Presbytery adopted, the i following resolutions : Resolved, That thia ;Pr` eabYtery has heard with pleasure that `several of the congregations under their care have in creased the salary of their pastors. • We commend these examples to the careful at tention of the churches which have as yet taken no action upon this subject. The increased prices of living have seriously embarrassed many who in More favorable times had but: a moderate salary. While those who are .engaged in secular, op,cupa 7 dons • can remedy this' by demanding in creased remuneration, it is not so - with the minister. It is 'then nothing morn than. an act , of justice On the' part of the con gregations to make such , additions to the salary as shall support `to pastors, arid give them that support to Which they are morally entitled. Resolved, That 'the chirch Sessions be enjoined to have these. resolutions read from the pulpits, and to report at the next meeting of Presbytery,, whether or' not they attended to thie 'duty: Mr. Benjamin Merrill, a licentiate of the "Presbytery. of New-York, having been dis missed to put himself under the care of this. Presbytery, WWI received. Rev. Philip H. Mowry was' received from the Presby tery of Philadelphia, and' a call was put into his hands from the church of Big Spring, which he accepted. Rev. Samuel J. Donnelly was. received. from the Pres bytery of Newcastle, and': is laboring as a Stated Supply at' :Hancock, and other plaCes near by. Mr. J. D. Randolph, a .licentia.te of this• Presbytery, was dismissed to put himself under the care of the Pres- . bytery of Raritan. Special attention was given to the' sub ject of Missions , within our own bounds. Many places within this' Presbytery, pecu liarly adapted in their.population to the labors of Presbyterians, • hare: long been. overlooked, but are now beinedared for. The next regular meeting oPPreshytedr is to be held. at Shippenaburg i on the .first - Tuesday of Ootoher;oattzll Rev. J. W. Wightmaa 'was - appointed preach the opening sermon, and Rev. Wm. C. Stitt, alternate. Rev. Henry Reeves was also appointed to preach the second day, and Rev. John Warner, alternate. An adjourned meeting will be held at I4ewville, the first Tuesday'of June, at 10f, o'clock A. M. If the way be clear, Rev. Philip H. Mowry will then be installed pastor of the church in that place; and Mr. Benjamin. Merrill will be ordained as an Evangelist, to labor in part of our mission ary field. Having anent a' very pleasant, and we trust profitable season together, and having greatly enjoyed the Christian kindness and hospitality of the, good people 'of Hagers town, Presbytery closed with prayer and benediction. W. H. Drns.monz, Temporary Clerk. For the Presbyterian 'Ginner. The Presbytery of Fairfield Met at Ottumwa, on the' 15th inst., and had quite a full and pleasant session— spending the Sabbath together, and enjoy ing a precious season,. The church at this place, under the care of the Rev. 3. M. McElroy, is growing even in these times of public distraction, and, like their pastor, extended to Presbytery the-kind hospitali ties of their hearts and of their homes. During the course of business, Presby tery received Mr. Charles Magill, a li centiate of the Presbytery of Washington, and in response to a call from the .church of Birmingham, lowa, have made arrange ments to ordain and install him. Presby tery also licensed Mr. Alexander G. Wil son, now of the - Seminary of the North west, and recently under the care of the Presbytery of Mississippi. ' The following paper on the State of the' country was adopted unanimously : WHEREAS, This is a gloomy time; of great political excitement and civil war in our beloved nation ; and whereas, it is of the first importance- that, the Nortk should be united, and every man and every body of men should be ready and willing, to lend their <influence to crush out the rebellion now raging in our nation,-as also to testify against the cause of it; therefore, Resolved, lst. That we, as a Presbytery, stand pledged in all lawful ways, publicly and • privately, to give our whole influence toward sustaining the Government which God has given us, and subduing the rebel- lions men who have wickedly and cause lessly assailed it. I 2d. That we hereby, enter our united and solemn testimony against the system of slavery which is the - foundation of the' re bellion, believing as we do, that its "entire removal will be.. for the prosperity of the whole South—the good of the colored race together with the white population—the harmony of the entire Government, and the glory; of God. - A paper was, also . adopted on the subject of Domestic Missions, expressing our high appreciation of the plans , of the Board in reference to the Southwest and Northwest, and resolving that we will endeavor to in terest all our churches in sustaining more liberally an agency which is doing so great and good a work for the church and the land. The following resolution was adopted in regard to churches asking aid from the Board Resolved, That.it shall be,considered a pre-requisite in considering applications from churches for aid from the Board of Missions, especially in oases for renewal, that they have contributed to all the Boards during the previous year ; and _that all our Churches be required to, attend to this matter. S. 0. M. For the Presbyterian Banner Presbytery of Marion. The Presbytery 'a Marion met at Brown church, in the village of Eden, on the 12th inst. The attendance was limited. The Bev. Win. B. Paris was dismissed to the Presbytery of Peoria, and Rev. David M'Carter, to that of Columbus. Mr. John D. Stokes, of Marion, was received as a candidate under the care of Presbytery. The pastoral relation of Rev. J. J. Wol cott to the church of Bucyrus was dis 'solved. Mr. Milton McMillan was received as a licentiate from Beaver Presbytery, and will supply the church of Delaware. The subject of the Delaware Female College' was referred to the next meeting. Rev. A. E. Thomson' and Dr. J. M. Briggs were chosen Commissioners to the next General Assembly, and. Rev. George S. Rice and O. 'Porter, alternates. Each minister, not having more than two Churches under-his-charge,' was required to preach in some , vacant church, previoue be next stated - mfieting:of presbytery. The next statedigeting is io be holden at Marion, on the ..Third Third Tuesday of Octo ber next, at 7 o'clOisi , Presbytery adjburned to meet , at Buoy . rim on the Second Tuesday of. June next, (14th) at 2 o'clock P. M. - • 11 A. Taut Stated Clerk. TEM EUROPEAN, SUBIABI, I .[Plf3Pli , ,l9lD POD, THE, PRASBYTEItIAN : EANNER.) Ti MOVEMENT in support of hvangel ioal doctrine in ,the Established Church of England, still continues. The " Declaration" of Orthodox princi-• pies, drawn'up at Oxford, his been signed by bout one-half of the - clergy of the Es tablished Church. A very remarkable dis cussion has arisen upon the legality and loyalty of the ,movement, and the question is mooted whether it is ,not constructively treasonable; since the recent Judgment of the Privy Council, to join in a de.claration that the Church of. England is not Ortho dox, _.Evangelioal Church. 'Learned coun sel have been -consulted, and according, to the late number of the Chiristsan ork, they have actually decided, in effect,, that the signers ~of the " Declaration" are on the high road to rebellion, against,the Gov ernment of the Queen I The ei Declaration " says, in, regard to the Inspiration of the Scriptures : We '* * declare our firtri belief that the Church of. England and Ireland, in com mon with the whole Catholic Church, main -tains without reserve or ,qualification the Inspiration and Divine authority of the whole Canonical Scriptures, as not only containing but being the Word Of God." The " Judgment " declares on. this subject : "The__ proposition or assertion that every part of the Scriptures was written under the:inspiration of 'the HOly Spirit is not to be found either lit 'the Articles or in any of the formularies of -the Church." Again as to eternal punishment of the wicked, the " Declaration" sayS :" We * * de clave our firm belief that the Church * * teaches, in the, words of our blessed Lord, that the r punishment of the sed,' equally with the life'of the right: eons,' everlasting.' ". The " Judgment" contains the following : We do not find in the %Armistice to which this article re fers, any such distinct declaration of our Church . upon the'subject as to require 'us to condemn-as„pool, thea_expressin l3f*l4°P ° clergyman, that even the ultimate par don of the avieked, who are condemned in the Day of jUdgment, may be consistent with the will of Almighty God,” r In these and severaT other respects, these counsel regard the " Declaration" as au attempt to opp,ose the royal supremacy. In addition to this the Weekly. Review says " movement is beginning to make its elf visible for the revival Of Synodical goi , - ernment in the Church, and this appears to us to be the only method ' of effectually dealing with the, case. The Okarch. and State Review has, published an outline of the proposals to be.laid before Convocation in -reference to Synodical government. They are based upon two principles,ffrst, 4 that it is a primary, duty , of a Church to %provide—so far as It may—that its Bishops, clergy, and people be of sound religion ;' second, that the legal conditions on which a benefice is held in the Church are dis tinguishable from those which determine whether a clergyman is or is not sound in the faith. In a Church established by, law, the power of depriving of bend:co or (if isiarding Any lesser penalty, rests exclu sively with the courts of law—the power of ,declaring what is contrary to the, faith of the Church, excligively with the Synod.' "This: goes to the root of the evil. The Church of England, if she tnakes`these de mandiTwill ask her freedom from the State. That 'the demands are to Make, is. demon strative evidence that the Church has now no. freedom. And even , if the functions thfa described were granted, she would Only have the'power of saying what minis ter did not hold her faith, nor of saying wh& did not belong to her etontrattnion. Perhaps, it is intended' that a declaration by the Synod of the Church touching a clergyman heterodoxy, shoul4, ipso facto, cause him to cease being a minister of the Church, and should proclaim him a mere official of the State.!.. FuoM a Parliamentary return it appears that the total amount of interest credited to savings-banks on the capital sums in vested with the Commissioners in the year ending Nov. 20, 1863, was 41,039,719.115. 6d. The amount of interest actually paid during the same"period was A11,678.451d. THE Paris correspondent of the Times is assured that a very friendly understand-, ing, instead of the coldness which has pre vailed since the affair of the Congress, now exists between the governments of France and England. TILE accounts from the French agricul; tural districts of the growing crops are favorable. RE Tn Emptainv - iir AUSTRIA luts allowed the- formation of ta corps of 6,000 volun teers- and 800 sailors for ti►e erepire of Mexico. NOT blilar have the Italian Government abolished religious corporations, and, de-: clued illegal all bequests to religious com munities, except Specially authorized by royal decree, but tbe Parliament has re eently passed bill liberating ,lands and proVerty in parts, of Italy which was encumbered with, rents due, to - convents, monasteries, churches, and, religious estab lishments of all kinds. A-vast amount of property has been unsalable and unculti vated in consequence, :of the burden;;, of these annual ,and perpetssl rents,_amount ing to 5,000,000, francs annually.: The Ministry urged this measure as demanded by the civilization of, the age,by the pub lic and economical interests of the State, and as a tiecessary r means of removing serious obstacles to the:plc:wives of agricul ture and- the free transfer of property. Trim hill passed, after a thorough discus sion by - a vote of 1.76'1n 27. . . IN ONB of the fiat sessions ilia. year of the legislature of Portugal, a , new :member propoked bill': for "aberty of religion, and equal 'protection for all religions guar-' anteed." The Constitution only allows foreigners to have religious services in edifices not having the external form of WHOLE NO. 605 churches, while the Catholic religion is the only one acknowledged for Portuguese. It is a penal offence to propagate any doctrine opposed to Catholicism, or to leave or prose lyte from the Catholic religion. The higher class of the people are liberal and disposed to religious toleration, while the mass of the lower classes are under the in fluence of the priests ; so that while the motion of the young deputy may not now prevail, it is a hopeful sigia that it was pos sible to make such a motion. N. Melee ad ) Peace FOB'COMMUNION SABBATH. Show me a token for ifood.—Ps.lxxxvi: 17. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.---Join .xiv :27. Show me . a token, Lord, a gracious sign To cheer and animate my drooping heart; Make me to feel anew; that I am thine In bonds of union life nor death shall part: Here, at thy call, atthis thy feast of love; Among thy, people I havecome again' Look down with grace and blessing from above,. Let not thy servant seek thy face in vain. My old companions from my side are gone— Fond memory dwells on many an altered scene, And tells a tale, with sad, reproachful tone, Of all that is not—and that might have been! The morning lights of life have died away,. Silent and slow the evening shadows fall; 0 for — a sunset gleaut ere olose of day, To pierce the clouds, illuminating all! Thoti changest no 'tthe same thy fullness now Of love and mercy's unexhaneted store, As when, long since, I paid. my youthful vow, And sought the grace I still to-day implore. What shall I now desire Not raptures high, Unearthly visions of heavenly land— Give, if thou wilt, that dazzling cup of joy, I do not, dare not ask it from thy hand. But this I ask, deny me not, 0 Lord ! A fuller share than I have ever known Of the rich blessing promised in thy Word, Thy last, best gift, when parting from thine own. Peace, vvhieh earth never gave—a soothing balm To heal the wounds and griefs of former years, To raise my heart, in high,and holy calm Above all vain regrets, all anxious fears ; Peso% with its blessed sense of Buff forgiven, Of love unchanging, mercy full and free ; Peace, thine own peSce=the harbinger'of heaven, Of all thy people there enjoy with thee ! Grant me this token, Lord; and so again shall.pursue my journey, calmly blest,: O'er the rough hill, or through the lonely plain, On to the land of everlasting rest! r: r Ser the „tresbyterlan Banner The Presbytery of Vincennes Met at Evansville on Tuesday evening, April 14th. The opening sermon was preached' by Rev. H. Keigwin, from Isaiah lv :1. After which Rev. John 11..Aughey was elected Moderator, and H. W. Fisk, Temporary Clerk. The meeting' was a harmonious and in teresting one, but the following items only are thought to be of public interest. Rev. J. D. Paxton' ' D.D. was chosen Commissioner to the 0-eneral----A.....-4- 1 7; an - d' 6. — K. — Aliiliiiiiilerrhis-alternate. Lucius S. French, Ruling Elder, was al so chosen Commissioner, and Wm Helfen stein, his alternate. Rev. P. B. Cook asked leave to resign his pastoral charge over the church at Scaffold Prairie. The pastoral, relation between S. B. Tag gart and the Church at Sullivan, was dis solved. The following are extracts from the report to the General Assembly: ‘f The weaker churches in the missionary field lave had their strength and support greatly drawn away by the war, and are not in as prosperous a condition as could be wished." "The number of churches adopting the Assembly's plan of Systematic Beneficence, is constantly increasing." " Ministers 'all report their salaries promptly paid, and in some instances over paid. ' " Many of our Sabbath Schools are in a flourishing condition, evidencing efficient management, with a growing interest on the part-of both parents and children." S. B. TAGGART, S. C. Pit. the Predbytettan Banner. The Millie?) , of Wooster Met at Fredericksburg on Tuesday, April 19th, at 11 o'clock A. M., and was, opened, with a'sermon by the Rev. John E. Carson, from Ist John iii : 2. The Rev. P. M. Semple was chosen. Mod erator and Rev. J. C. Gillen', Clerk. Mr. J. C. Elliot, a graduate of the Wes tern Reserve College, and student of Prince ton.Theoloecal Seminary, was receivpd TM dey the care' of Presbytery as a candidate for the Gospel Ministry. Dalton was chosen as the place of the next stated meeting, and Rev. R. m W. Mar quis to open the meeting with a sermon. The pastoral relation between the Rev. John E. Carson and the church of Mar shallvilla, was dissolved. The Rev. A. Virtue, and Elder Z. Z Crane, of Jackson, were elected principal Commissioners to. the General Assembly; and Rev. James A. Reed, of Wooster, and Elder Robert Shaver, of Congress, alter nates. " The following resolutions ware ,unani mously adopted, viz.: • ' WHEREAS, The subject of rescinding the action of the General Assembly in re lation to the State of the Country, is being agitated by some of the religious papers; and whereas such an attempt may possibly be made at the next meeting of the Assem bly; 'therefore, Resolved, That this Presbytery fully ens tains the action of the 'General Aisenihly in all its deliverances hitherto with respect to the interests of our beloved country"; and that the Commissioners' elected-to rep-: resent this Presbytery at the ensuing meet-. ing of the Assembly., be instructed to op, pose any stieh rescinding action; and to encourage every expression of loyalty on the, part of that body, becoming its dignity and character, and the welfare of our com mon country, otherwise they be considered as acting on their own responsibility. Resolved, That a. copy of this be put in -thihands of each of our Conimissioners, and also be published with the synopsis of the minutes of this meeting. , Preshytery,resolved to hold an adjourned meeting at Congress, on the 4th TuesdaY of June, at 11 o'clock A. M.,' it which meeting. Presbytery . will proceed to ordain Messrs. J. A. Leyenberger and J. H. My era, as Foreign missionaries. Rev. V. IL Barr was appointed to preach the ordina tion sermon, and Rev. J. A.Re.ed to deliv er the charge to the missionaries. Adjourned, to meet in Congress tin the 4th Tuesday in Juneott.ll o'clock A.. 31. J. E. CARSON, S. C. If I've were - upon' the watch for improve ment, the,common news of the dayAlksld furnish the falling of the towet loam and , the slaughter of the Wlflips, were the am of the. day which (*Lord T' im.roved. There is not a single member of a single church, male or female, young or old, rich or, poor, but should be engaged in personal efforts for the conversion of souls. Our army may as rationally leave the battle to I be fought by officers alone, as the Church leave the conversion of the world to the ! ministers of the Gospel. Indeed, it is a 5 ' fundamental error to consider it a merely ministerial work. The work of saving souls is as truly as legitimately within the reach of the pious pauper in the workhouse, or the godly child in the Sabbath School, or the religious servant in a family, as , within the grasp of the most eminent : preacher. The Church in its entire mem bership, is the “royal prieithood," pro claiming salvation to a lost world, and win ning back souls to the bosom of redeeming I Love.— Wit. —Family Treasury THE PRESBYTERIAN BANNER. Publication Office: OAZICTEK tSIIII,DINO,,, bd KIVTII ST" PITTSBURGH, Ps, U 0„ N 011,211-0111 ST, PA. ADVERTISEMENTS: pAyiffii'zT2" IN 'Alf 7rAlAt CS. TRANSIENT ADVERTISEMENTS, 10 CENTS A Lute for each insertion. A liberal reduction to those Who adver tise largely. SPECIAL NOTICES, 15 Otrele A DM, EDITORIAL NOTICES, or CARDS, on monad page. 26 CENTS A LTA's. OBITUARY NOTICES, 6 Ostrrs A LIM Wear a Smile. Which will you do, smile and make oth ers happy, or be crabbed, and make every body round you miserable ? You can live among beautiful flowers and singing birds; or in the mire surrounded by fogs and frogs. The amount of happiness which you can produce is incalculable, if you will show a smiling face, a kind heart, and speak pleasant words. On the other hand, by sour lociks, cross words, and a fretful disposition, you can make hundreds un happy almost beyond endurance. Which wilt you do ? Wear a pleasant counte nance, let joy beam in your eye and love glow on your forehead. There is no joy so great as that which springs from a kind act or a pleasant deed, and you may feel it at night when you rest, and at morning when you rise, and through the day when about your daily business. For Ruh One. An Interview. Conversing with a man given to skepti cism, on the subject of religion, he admit ted that he had no religion, and said fur ther, that " he had made a resolution not to have any until all religions,denomi nations were agreed as to what religion was." We told him that they were already so agreed —that in all the grand, fundamental doc trines of the Bible, there was a remarkable unity and harmony of views among them. But; says he, " I am 'resolved to be of no religious belief, till all denominations are united on every point, fundamental or not fundamental" Well, said we, you had better make another resolution, and that— not to touch another morsel of food till all the clocks of the world strike twelve to gether. Then, he replied, " I should cer tainly starve to death." And said we, tak ing the other course you will as surely lose your soul. And thus closed our interview. How Every One May Preach All cannot preach from• the pulpit; but there is a kind of preaching that is per mitted to all men, and oftentimes this kind is most effectual. Offi6s of kindness to the bodies and souls of, those around us ; words of. encouraaemente to ..the weak ;. in strueti. . I - • ' " • • ness to al , hearty devotion to the services of religion, in our families and our closets, as well as in the sanctuary; in a word, earnest, active, self-denying love to our fel low beings, springing from ourlove to God. This will form a most impressive sermon ; a most convincing proof to the world around us, that we have been with Jesus. All Christians are called on in this way to preach the Gospel, and woe to them if they neglect the call.- BREVITIES. He that would be little in temptation, let him be much in prayer.—John Owen, A mall that is young in years may be old in hours,, if he have lost no time; but that happeneth rarely.—Lord Bacon. The proposition, which above all others should fill all intelligent creatures with transport, is this, there is a God. Christ has taken our nature into heaven to represent us; he his left us on earth .with his nature to represent.him. Let every minister, while he is preaching, remember that God makes one of his hear ers. A Christian should never plead spiritual. ity for being a sloven; if he be but a shoe. cleaner, he should be the y best in the parish. We do but rehearse here, what we shall utter above, when we call upon all things, silent or, vocal, to praise the name of the Lord. • Not more truly is the sun the organ and centre of all the light of the universe, than Jesus Christ is the organ and centre of all mercy for. man. 'T is B. sad thing when men have. neither heart enough to speak well, nor judgment enough to hold their tongues; this is the foandation of all impertinence. my principal method' of defeating heresy is by establishing truth. One proposes to fill a basket with tares • now if I can fill it first with wheat, I shall defy his attempts. 11 in all human knowledge, there is a truth which should transport us beyond ourselves, it is, that there is a God. With out it we are a fatherless brood, and our world Imi-orphan universe. is daylight can be seen through very small holes, so little things will illustrate a person's character. Indeed, character con sists in little acts, habitually and honorably performed; daily life being the quarry from which we build it up and roughhew the habits that form' it. The great 'wisdom and security of the soul in dealing'with indwelling sin is to put a violent stop unto its beginnings, its -first motions and aetings. Venture all on the first attempt. Die rather than yield one step unto it. John Owen. How to shake off Trouble,—Set about , do- ing good to somebody. Put on your hat, and go and visit the sick and the poor; in quire into their wants and minister to them. 1 have.often tried this method, and have always foimd it to be the. best medicine for a heavy heart. Studies.—Variety oil' studies, so far from weakening, the mind, is a powerful means of promoting its energy and growth., We Seldom meet with persons of vigoroua un derstanding, whose range of thought has been confined chiefly to one department. Something to. Love.-The human heart,of conrse, has.its pouting fits,"it determines to live alone; to flee into desert places ; to hive no employment—that isito love noth ilge-; tut to keep on sullenly beating, till Peittlylayslis•finger on the sulky thing, and all is' still. It flies away from the world, tend.• straightway, •shtit away from human company, it falls in love with a plant, or atone; yea, it is the - beantiful ne cessity of our nature to love something_ Byron could love no human being, so he took to loving a dog, and at its death h.
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