)
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
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rue all WWI , to
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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:
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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.