JAMES ALLISON,
nDITOILI
Bi) BERT PATTERSON,
JAMES ALLISON & CO., Proprietor*.
TERMS IN ADVANCE.
By vait, (8007 or in Clubs t ) 09.00
NoviJun) It mans os nu Orme- 9.50
News .ending ter este enbaorlbere and Upward; win
De thereby entitled to a paper without charge, and another'
rim peter fur the second ten ;
Renewals should be prompt, a little before the year expires. ,
Direct all lettere to
JAMES ALLISON Sz CO., •
PITTSBITROR, PA.
Six Weeks in the Potomac Army;
OR,
now TEE HOE MAN GOT WELL
No. IX.
To the Rapidan.
if We are marching along."
Half-past four o'clock--and at last we
are moving I
And your patience is being relieved.
!Mang, ever-and anon I- - -•-
But do you not see that there is a neces
sity for it Y A wagon forward breaks down,
or gets feat in the mud. This stops the
next, and this the next, and so on ,to the
eud of the train, no matter if it were five
miles long.
And here at length we have fallen in
with the division to which Gen. Burnside
assigned us—the first of hie corps.
And henceforward you will feel more at
home—provided you can keep in your
place.
Do n't see how we can well get out of it,
with this immense train of wagons both
before and behind us. The eye cannot
reach the end in either direction. .I, have
not seen anything that so much impressed
me with the vaainess of army movements.
Then remember that " large bodies move
slowly."
And this is Brandy Station I bare, bald,
and desolate—the troops all gone! Of the
city of white tents that covered this plain
during the past Winter, and but a few days
siace, not one remains.
Forward march I" makes wonderful
changes in army life. But who are these
civilians coming up on Lot?
Sure enough ! here come our five who
were forwarded by rail last evening. They
have missed the train somewhere, and so
catch up by Wallter i e line." But they
are tired no doubt, and as it is high noon,
we all, need dinner. Let some one go for
water, and another put on a fire, while we
open up the mess chest and get out pro
visions.
What is that man blacking bis boots
for—just in the midst of things4—when he
cant take a
. dozen steps before they will
be covered with
,dust, or, by amiss step,
with mud ?
0, "habit is everything," you know.
But come, sit down to dinner. The relics
of this station allow us a rarity in this
kind of life—a table , and seats—sit down.
But here comes Mr. (3 , one of the business
agents of the Commission—in a' harry,
too. What's wanted, Mr. C
"I want that table, quickly. It belongs
to the Commission, and must be sent back
on this train which is just leaving."
Well, " There is many a . slip 'twist the
oup and the lip." Clear the table, boys,
and let him have it. It is well he don't
want the dinner, also, for it, too, ,belongs
to' the Commission I
What are you marking on that camp•
kettle lid ?
Marking! we are writing a letter. "it
is no shift td want," and if you can't have
a table, use a piece of sheet iron instead,
if you can get it. We have . just reed - Ted
a letter from home via Annapolis, Md., and
must answer. •
Why, . I thought we were going to camp
here for the night l
But we have just received orders to
move on, and at live o'clock , must pack up
and leavet—to camp no one knows when or
where. It's a great nuisanoe to have this
great bale of hay to roll out, and especially
in, every time we atop. A change- in oar
company occurs perceive. Three
have been "“relieved,", and a new man
added. " Changes are lightsOme,” at-times.
Our number was too large.
What's the matter with your bpot
Matter why , you: know one of ourl.egu
'Miens -reads ) , "Delegates accompanying
the wagon should always keep in- sight
on the march;" endeavoring to gem ply,
this . 4 sacred soil" deceived us, the cru§t
of a mud-hole yielded, and' down went our
boot, deep—" that ?a what,* the mattq."
This marching in the dark is not eo
agreeable.
I guess our new man will so conclude
before long. You know we arc required to
keep well as closed up" with wagons before
us in the train. This, a mile or so back,
made it necessary for our team to start off
on a double-quick; and to " keep it in
sight" required the same of 'us who were
then on foot; but, on trial, he declared he
couldn't stand it. We told him he would
have to "fall out," then, and are begin
ning to fear that he really did, for we
hay et seen Mai since.
But here be Cowes, tired enough.
"Regulations" are trying. •
Two o'clock in the morning, and halting
at bet I Du let believe we would have
stopped to-night, however, -if it had not
been discovered that, we were. two, miles OD
a wrong road—heading for ..Ely's instead of
Germania Ford, on the Rapidan, which is
now but a short distanee before us.
Rather a novel scene this : wagons
parked in the road—large fire surrounded
by Commission men asleep in their blan
kets—while you alone are leisurely tout
ing dried beef on a spit.
Yes; we are hungry, and are going to
have supper, if it is three o'clock in the
morning. This bread and beef tells of our
intentions.
Five o'clock—and we are retrieving our
error of two miles. How much.sleep did
you get this morning ?
About thirty, minutes, we should think.
The bread and beef disposed of, we out
some pine
,tutts, made a bed , of them, and
lay down by the fire. But one and another
belonging to the train, coming up, to see
what they °Quid see about our camp, talked
us out of most of what little time was Left
for sleep. •
What thousands of .cavalry are filing
Past us in haste, toward our,rear I They
appear to be coming from Germania.. Ford
and going. to Ety'S.. " There is something
in the wind,"
And here, _right before us, runs the
Rapidan. A pontoon Ipidge spans it,
which was fired ,upon by Lee no longer
ago than yesterday. And .why his troops
could not have held the -ford from, those
opposite heights, we aann.ok well see. B ut
.
they are all gone now, and we may M 9
SS
eafety.
By the way, Aisle the first pontoon bridge
we have seen, and is rather a nice.thing ; a
number of small flats'" anchored a few
yards apart, parallel with each other and
with the stream; upon these, at right
angles with them and reaching from one
to another, are " stringers ;" and upoi
these again , are laid narrow planks, forming
thus a solid bridge from bank to bank—
the whole capable of 'being taken up and
carried upon wagons from river to river.
Eight o'clock in the morningr—parked
upon the southern blink of the Rapidan,
ocoupying the late camping ground of the
rebels, and with the prospect of some"hOurs
rest
-,'And now that we' ave had time' to re'.
+yer a little from our .fatigue, suppose 'wit
go dowry to the rider and bathe.
h very wholaierat propositiai r provided
Por the Presbyterian Banner
r * :
/LI t . oLit, •
r a
41 'V
VOL. XII. NO. 50
the banks are not infested with sharp
shooters ; for this (lust of travel has en
tered deeper than our outer garments. Let
us go.
O ! this water is cold ! But dip quiok
and you can stand it.
Hark ! Boom ! Boom I Boom I At a
distance, but " the ball is opened" in some
form. There again !
We have had a good wash, at any rate,
come what may, and with clean clothes,
feel almost asi much `refreshed 'as if we had
had a few hours sleep.
Three o'clock P. M., and the cannonading
increases ! besides, some of our party say
that from the hill beyond, musketry can be
heard distinctly.
Your Agent, armed with canteen, crack
ers and sardines, has gone forward on
horseback to see what is up. You will see
blood spilt before long, I fear, and find sad
work for the Commission.
It is now dark—We have no orders to
move on—we need sleep, and must try to
get some. But we cannot pitch our tent,
not, knowing at what hour of the night, nor
bow suddenly, we may be called to march.
You may creep in among the stores I
will take my blankets and lie down on the
ground here under the wagon. The rest
are disposing of themselves in like manner,
feeling as well as we their want of the
"sweet restorer; " and yet I feel as
though, if need be, I could go to work
without it. But you will think that " the
sick man" is getting better fast, if we keep
on—so, good-night I C.
For the Presbyterian Banner
The Freedmen.
To all our Presbyterian Brethren West of
the Atteyhenies:
The last General Assembly appointed
the undersigned its Webtern Committee on
the instruction of the Freedmen. We abk
you, dear Brethren, to enable •us to enter
immediately upon this work. God has
opened before us a new field for Christian
enterprise. Nearly half a million of Col
ored people ' lately in servitude, have been
thrown within the lines of the National
forces, and their number is constantlyin
creasing. They come as fugitives hunted
by their enemies. They are almost with
out clothing, and without shelter. What
they' suffer, and what multitudes perish,
none can tell.
We cannot state, at present, even the ap
proximate numbers gathered in the various
localities of the territory assigned to this
Committee. Vrom forty to fifty thousand
are along the Mississippi alone from Co
lumbus to Natchez ; and there are thou
sands at Nashville, Corinth, and upon the
plantations of Louisiana. They are suf
ferers from a condition. of things for which
they cannot be held responsible. Their;
cry is that of perishing humanity. Shall
it not reach the heart of the followers of
Jesus ?
Rations are served, in many places, for
the deptitute; but Government provides no
clothing for the women and 'helpless chil
dren. Much has been done by benevolent
associations, but more remains to he done.
But their physical wants, pressing as they
are, are small when we think of rheir mor
al and spiritual condition.
They must be taught to read the Word
of God.
They must have a preached Gospel—
God's appointed means of saving souls.
They must be instructed in the duties,
involved in their new condition, as masters
of their own persons, time and families.
They Must have the liberty wherewith
Christ makes free, or perish utterly.
They are a people singular for the relig
ions element fuuud among them. They
are intensely earnest in their desire to
learn to read. Thousands attend Prayer
meetings conducted by themselves. Surely
it is Ethiopia stretching forth her hands to
God.
Now, Brethren, what shall we do f The
door is open—ministers and teachers are
ready to enter upon the work. -Ohrietian's
of other denominations welcome us to a
hearty cotiperation--the Committee waits
your bidding. We cannot take a step
without money. We appeal in the name
of the Master ; who became a servant to
those whom he has made free.
We ask, in the name of the General As
sembly, for contributions from the church
es and benevolent individuals of our de.
nomination West of the Alleghenies We
unite w,th the Eastern Committee in say--
ing " please be prompt. While we hesi
tate, they die. Be liberal, for the work is
great." Take nothing from the other
branches of the Churches' work; but oh !
please give something to this, and surely,
the bleeeing of Rim that was ready to per
ish will come upon.ui.
N. tf.—Send your contributions to James
M. Ray, Treasurer of the. Western Com
mittee, at Indianapolis, Indiana. • Ladies
may do much by providing clothing for the
women and children, who have -little to
protect them from the coining Winter.
Ray. J. H. NIXON . ,
JAMES M Ray, Indianapolis.
CHARLES N, TODD,
REV. 8. C. LOGAN, Valparaiso,
JESErn L. WILLIAMS, Fe. Wayne, lnd.
General Assembly's Western Committee of
the Religious Instruction of Freedmen.
VALPARAISO, Ind., Aug. 19, 1864.
• The General Assembly's Western Com
mittee for the Religious• Instruction of
Freedmen, was organized on the 21st of
July, by the appointment of the following
officers, viz :
J•. EL NIXON ) Cluarn
S C LOGAN, Seeretary,
JAS. M. RAY, treasurer
They received a number of applications
from ministers and teacherswlfO are willing
to enter upon the, work. All applicants
will please bear in mind the order of the
General Assembly requiring the endorse
ment of Presbyteries before they can be
employed, by the . Committee. The Com
mittee wait for Wads in order to a vigor
ous prosecution of their work. They have
issued the above Circular to the church
es. May it meet with that hearty, response
which the cause demands. By order of
the Committee,. S. C LOGAN, Sec'y.
• For:the Preebyterlan Banner
A Preacher Wanted.
zrt SPRINGS ) .INN COUNTY, KANSAS,
' August. 18, 1864. f
EDITORS BANNPIt this'neighbor
hood, flir nearly a year, we have been laL
boring to obtain a minister of the Old
Sohool Presbyterian church, but unsuccess
fully, although we have applied to Presby
tery, to the Corresponding Secretary of the
Board of Home .Missions, and to a Profes
sor in one of our Theological Schools.
Several of our members - much preferred
application to the latter,
as his intimate ao
quaintance with the theological students,
prOminently qualified him to know the
talents, acquirements, and adaptability of
'individuals to our wants. This place for
merly constitited a part of a minister's
charge which received a stipulated amount
from the Board of Domestic Missions, and
which, if a suitable man could be obtained
—a mien, as a letter from's:Rev. D.D. slue,
"of .piety„ talents, and industry; whom
PITTSBURGH, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 1864 WHOLE NO. 619.
the Presbytery would recommend—l am
in rormed by the member of the Board of
Domestic Missions in our Presbytery,
would receive about 88r10 from that source
Also, we. have now 61 '.O signed for a min
ister in our neighborhood for the half of
his time, which will be spent in two dis;
tinct places, about four miles apart—the
other half to be spent at Mound City about
sixteen miles from here, with two places
about three or four miles apart. 1 was in
fer Med NO; Fall, that . at that place about
$l2O or $l5O could be raised. -
There are but,afew,MeMbers of the Old
School Presbyterian . Church in our neigh
borhood. Some three families of the U.
P. Church are anxious to obtain a minister'
of the Old School. Presbyterian Church,•
and will heartily co . Operate with us in,
order to have a minister of the Presbyte
rian order.. 'Our efforta, have heretofore
been fruitless, although at onetime we'had
strong helms of a young man from Ohio,'
and it was with much regret that his ser,
vices were , not obtained. Between. the two
farthest places, of preaching is only about,.
sixteen wiles, and the two places for even
ing service are nearly between these two,
and are not distant from each other more
than about ten or twelve miles.
With what aid can be secured from the
Board of Domestic Missions, I think a W
ei); of $5OO or $550 can easily be raised.
We have several in our neioborbood who
formerly belonged to the Cougregational-
We, who alSo cooperate with us in, our, ef
forts to obt-lin a minister.
This is almost entirely a prairie country.
Timber is principally confined to the
streams and water tiourses. The land is
moderately undulating, and the declivities
of the hills are frequently rocky. The
soil is rich, and is easily farmed. Though
the drunth this year has been severe, yet
farmers have raised an ample supply of
wheat, and there is a prospect of more
than an average, half crop of-corn. Some
think they will iaave from silty to seventy
bushels per acre; but in other: localities
there will be an abund int crop.
As to the morals of :our country, they
are nut very high, or rather they are very
low. Hence our need of a minister who
may be instrumental in elevating the mor
als of our cutuninnity, and establishing a
permanent organikation - of the Presbyterian
church in our midst. He will have to con
tend with nearly the' whole cats! .gue of
sins mentioned in 2. Pet. iii : 2-5, which
are the precursors and producers of hard
and perilous times, and he should therefore
be pan 'plied with armor for the - spiritual
warfare.
Our country is very healthy, and has
been since 1859, when the chills, and fever
prevailed; which was_ generally supposed
to arise from so much prairie having been
broken up that year, as there is no appa
rent local oauee for disease, the country be
ing entirely free from marshes and pools of
stagnant water.
I consider there is as much, personal
safety here as any, where else in our coun
t* There as yet has been no raid into it
by. Bushwhackers; nor have we had any
stealing except , in a few isolated eases; nqt
so much as sometimes happens is the old
settled States.
It is earnestly desired that some minis
ter' of the. Presbyterian society may hear
this Macedonian cry from Kansas, and
41 come over and, help us."
Address either to me or William Snook
Esq , at Twin Springs, Linn County, Kan
sas, who will give any further information
that we can to favor our obtaining a settled
minister. ALLEN DUNN,
Twin Spring.s, Linn County, Kansas
Fur the Preebyteitan Banner
Building the Ark
MESSRS. EDITORS :—May not the ques
tion proposed by BIBLE CLASS in the Ban
ner of August 17th, viz , " How long a
time was ocoupied'hy Noah in building the
Ark P'—be answered by comparint Gen
vi :3, with• I. Pet. iii :20 ? In the pas
sage first referred to, we have these words :
And the Lord said, My
. Spirit shall not
always strive with man, for that he also is
flesh ; yet his days shall be an hundred
and twenty years." In the latter there is
this declaration "When once the long
suffering of God waited in the days of No
ah, while the ark Was a preparing," &c.
Does it not appear from this comparison,
that the period of tbe brig suffering of
God," which continued "while the ark was
preparing, and•the days of respite, which
are expressly said * to be " an hundred and
twenty years," were coextensive? Were
not. the revelatittn of God's purpose "to
bring a flood of water upon the earth,"
and the command to Noah -to build "an
ark to the saving of his"house," given
simultaneously ? And can we suppose that
Noah " moved with fear-(filial tear, which
is inseparably'connected with love,) failed
to render a prompt obedience—thus mak
ing the time occupied in building the ark
less than "an hundred and twenty , years?"
That some adept in 13ibileal Chronology
will set this "Matter inits true light before
your readers, is the wish, of
For the'Preobyterian Banner
- :Wayside Meditations.
XV.—THE GREAT WORK,
To us who dwell in: clay; it is a blessed
assurance that the work of our regeneration
belongs to God's Spirit. We know, and
are persuaded, that he is able to do all
things. We know that the mime Almighty
power that created us at the first, is able
to new-create us in Christ Jesus. !Our own
works fail, and vanish away.: They are but
vanity and folly ; but the work of God is
enduring. Our bodies are of the earth, and
must return to' dust again.- All that is
mortal must vanish away, like the n3orning
mist before the ascending sun; but our
spiritual nature, God's second Creation in
Christ, will never perish. " All flesh is as
grass, - and all the glory: of man, like the
flower of grass. The grass withereth, and
the flower thereof falleth away, but the
word of the Lord endureth forever." 'The
soul that has been born of God, and sealed
with his 11 , ,1y Spirit, is sure of that fade
less inheritanee that is-reserved in heaven
for the faithfol. There are:no erasures in
the Book of Life.: " I will not' blot his
name out of the Book of tife,"43aith the
Lord, whose word abideth forever.
Believers-are all kept by the power of
God, through faith unto foliation.. Not
by their own strength, not= by their own
worthiness, but through the strength and
worthiness of him that has loVed them, and
washed them from tlieir sinf in his own
blood: Whom be loves, he loves unto the
end. The fold of the Good Shepherd can
never be invaded by the lion, because the
sheep of that fold have all been ransomed
by the Shepherd himself. They have been
' bought with , his own blood, consequently
they Can never perish, neithii can any
pluck them out of his hand-
XVI.---TUE COLD ? , MEP BLOOD
The river of death; it is very cold and
deep, and shrouded- in darkness: We all
shrink back; instinctively, as we appri a h
it. It is lull .of terrors. And yet we are
all ,approaohing.it. We will soolube trof-,
feting its billows. For nearly three thou
sand years not one of all the children of
Adam has escaped its devouring waves.
Elijah was the last, as Enoch.had been the
first, to pass to the City of Life l without
coming in contact with it.
Is there any way of overcoming its cold
ness and terrors ? I look back to-day, over
the track of time, and see one approaching
he swelling flood. He" comes from Edon),
with dyed garments from Boira " He "is
glorious in his apparel, traveling in the
greatness of his strength'." But even the
mighty. One falters for a moment on the
borders of the flood. Yet he enters -its
waves, and from the midst of its darkness,
and above the dashing of its billows, . l heir
a shout of triumph—" It' is finishe"; and
froln a myriad of pilgrimti who follow after,
I hear continued cries .ef, exultation and
victory—" 0 death, where is thy sting l 0
grave, where is thy victorYl"
Since Christ has (Bea and risen again,
"the terrors are but shidowe, , that haunt=
the vale of death." s ' ETA.
- FOR olia LONDON CDROBOONDENT.
"-cum MoWN-."
Avitsutat; July 29, 1864..
I write you, seated in the large bow win
dow of a gentleman'e drawing-rootn. •The
view from it is rich in interest and beauty.
To the south my eye rests on the tem] of
Ayr, with its spires andgia' "twirtrige 4
and beyond these lie„glow - ing in the soft
" the banks and braes of bonnie
DOon," the mettiors.bletirk-yard ' where
Tam O'Sbanter saw the "Imo sight" of
the witches' dance, ant the "glowering'
tike" Satan himself seiited in the recess
of the old window, blowi t ng the pipes that
" give life and mettle to'their heels." Last,
year I was over all that classic ground, and
at Barns' cottage, too, with its "bret" arid
its " ben," and the little farm which his
worthy father cultivated; and lost, not
least, I stood on the 'vety . " keystone of the
brig" over the Debn, 'Where Tim's grey
mare lost her tail front the. revengeful pur
suer. lam sorely tempted to go over all
that region again, ere cleave this neigh
horhood—not forgettine to call on the'
Misses Begg, Bares'• nieces, who lost their:
mother (his siete-r) a levr years ago, and
whose relationship to the bard is only me
ognized by their names being entered on
the Royal Literary Pentliont ist.
Looking - to the South-west is the sea
coast, whose silver din , almost -laves the ;
house where I sit, and, in whose translucent
waters, children and othersfrom Glase-ow's
dust and hustle, joyfully` disport themselves
Far out on 'the horiznii rises the held and
solitary rock of Ailsa Craig, midwayto the
Northern. Irish coast; and then, as we turn
round to the West, yonder are the glorious.
hills of Arran—an island on which any
American minister would find such invig
oration and health 'as - Would brace him up
afresh for the noble wfirk which he has to
do, and to the holy way in which he fights,
under the banners of the Great Captain.,
But scenes even more glorious have met
my eyes since last I Wrote, as your cones
pondent " out of town." I have been in
the Highlands, steaming away on the Apia,
constructed after the American fashion,
with a dcck saloon, (every one rejoicing in
the change of structure, and 'Wondering
why this kind of thing was not adopted
I mg ago.) revealing on each side the shores:
of the beautiful Clyde, with the towns of.
Helensburg, Kilerennan, G-ourock, -Juella.n,
Dunoon, filled with Glasgow citizens and
their families—passiygon through-the glo
rious Kyles of Bab,- you come to Ardes
raig, a little harbor and town, where you
feel yourgelves on the threshold of the
Highlands, and of Ossian's Celtic and ro
mantic home. Here. the Gallic form and
features strike you, in their contrast with
the Lowlanderi; here you hear' the Gallic
shouted by the men who assist at the land-'
ing-place, or more softly spoken - by-the on
looking women and children.
Entering the Crinan. Canal, (the work` of
the last century, and one of a series of
means adopted' to join, as haS been thus
done, the Atlantic and German Oceans,) you.
are towed very pleasantly in the Sunbeam,
with your fellow-tourists, the horses, ridden
by scarlet-coated boys, running_ along the
right bank, a Highiand read on the other
side, with mountain lake, and on either
hand wild flowers, (the honeysuckle in great
profusion, and . the ferns very tempting in
their variety of verdant beauty.) Little
children, scarcely knowing a word of Eng
lish, bring milk for sale, and gooseberries
too.
By-and-by all the locks of the canal are
past, and you pass on board the•Mountitirt
cer, a tine steamer which runs direct and
daily (except on the Lord's day) for °ban.
One continued treat is furnished tor the
rest of the day, in passing through a 'se
ries of bays arms of the sea), and mark
ing, as one after another looms nearer, 'the
great headAands and rocky shores of Mull,
with thP knot's of Jura and other islets geria
ming the deep. At length we enter tl
harbor of Oban—land-locked and sheltered
at all seasons, with noble hills rising behind
it, with Loch Elwe and the ancient and
once Royal fortress of Dustaffriago, and
Dtmolly Castle, where Edward the Unice
was wont to sojourn- - ---all near at hand, and
rich in historic interest.
E NQIIIRER
I shall not dwell, as I am strongly tempt=
ed to do, on the incidents 'of my voyage tu
the famed islands of Staffs and lona, far
out in the ocean—the Atlantic wave an
broken washing their shores, and thunder
ing up , their caverns in majesty and might.
lona, once visited, can never be forgotten...
The holy" or " blessed Isle,"
it ononwas;
and from it went forth in the sixth and
two succeeding centuries an influence po
tent to destroy the Druidical superstition
which there had found shelter; and also
had won the Northern Picts, as well minor
dons of Northern England, and sotwCon
tinental countries also, to the pure faith of
Columba and the Culdtes.
The architectural ruins of lona are not
at all impressive, as compared with the
magnificent and ruined abbeys of England.'
and the South. The Cathedral, the Nun
nery (so-called), and the burial place of
Scottish and Irish Kings, derive their fas
csuation from Columba, and the twelve evan
gelists .who, with him, 'came from Ireland,
(then, indeed, "•the island of saints,". with
a faith. apostolic and pure) and crossing
from Lough Foyle, in: a small wicker-boat
lined with hid* in the, year-563, began ;a
work whose results eternity alone can re-
There is nothing picturesque or extraor
dinary in the shores of lona ~save in , . the
Spouting, Cave—the water forced in via
tently finding an_ upward vent and egress.
Bat yet when we remember that here a lit
tle band of Presbyters began the work
*rich issued in the _founding of, one hun
dred monasteries and three hundred and
sixty•five churches,
and in the ordination
of three thousand Culdee eviingelists; and
that similar evangelistic institutions 'Were
founded at Govan,• Darkeld, Abernethy,
Dundee, Kilormanty, (St. Andrewa,) , and
many other planed; and •that the Picts,
the Middle Anglians, the WlerciUns,.East
Saxons, -portions of Germany, of Rahway,
of Greece, and of Austria, received the true
G4spelluind that • the littiverditi4s of , Paris
and Pavia were founded by natives of lona
—we cannot but recognize how the true
sublime can be identified with scenery in
ittelf, not grand, and how also God chooses
" weak things" to be his instruments in
order that the glory may be all his own.
Nay it is after a visit to lona that one's
heart is stirred to its depths by that noble
and immortal passage from the pen of Dr.
Johnston, 'when, accompanied by Boswell,
he visited the Hebrides and stood on
the shores, and amid the ruined fanes of
Staffs
" We were now treading that illustrious
''island which was once the luminary of the
"Caledonian`regions, whence savage clans
and roving bpirbarians derived the benefits
of knowledge,and the'blessiogs of religion..
To abstract the mind'from all local emotion'
would'lie ire possible, and would be foolish i r
it were possible: Whatever withdraws us
from the power of, our senses—whatever
makes the past, the distant, or the future,
predominate over the iaresent--advances us,
in the dignity of thinking beings. •
" Far from Me and 'my friends' be such'
frigid philosophy as: may. conduct Zug in-
differeut:and unmoved over ABS:ground
which has been dignified, by wisdom,.
bravery, or Otrtue. That man is little to
be envied, whose patriotism would not gain'
ii.,rce upon the plains or Marathon, or
whose;piety would not grow,,Warmr among.
t4: l Airt3 , 4.- trft i zial”
w bong after thecpaidee purity,(;f doctrine s
was overrun ty.t'h e invasion of - error, arid'
ever' since the Reformation age, the spirit - -
ual interests of lona were-Aieglected.
Among the multiform labors r -of Legh
Richmond was a series, of evangelistic ad
dresses to the islanders, and .his account of
his visit to, them forms one of the' most
ioterestin prod notions' of his - 'pen. A e
present tare'are tWo.churches, one Estab
lished, the other. Free, with schools an
nexed, and manses likewise =The majority,
of the ineple, like the flighlanders;_and-
Islanders'generally,, gave in , theiradheiion
to the Free Churelimovenient, - Mid /Mine=
diately after the disruption. -
.Staffi is :a grassy - island with swelling
uplands. glory 'l6 its Fingal's. Cave--
" the beaudrill symmetry of this wondrous
pile, 'the regtilar arrarigem'ent of its
eql ena us, thii -- riehn'es and - Variety - variety; tints
which' adorn them, Mere'lyri iiiatA than the
painted paves of a Girtifc church shower
on its clustered pillars, the sombre grim
deur of the ponderous roof, and the smooth
pavement' - which the sea, When tranquil,
supplies to this stately ten3ple " On the
day of ray visit, no boat could enter the
Cave, from the fierce rush' of the' Atlantic
on its shores, and the foalning billewsrush
lug perilously into.ita-recesses. But from
above, 'cliinbing first along a causeway pre
cisely like the *Giant's Ckuseway on the
opposite coast of Ireland, we 'found our way
to the upper_ledge of the rocks, and thence
you can pass along, into the ekicirapbscuro
of that glorious Cave—whose length is,
two hundred and twenty-Seven fee,t.
tc Here, as to shame the temples deck'd
.13y skill of earthly arohitect,
Nature herself, it seemed, would raise
A spinster to her*Mtiker's Praise!"
Not for a meaner lige ascend - ,
Her columns,. or her arches bend, ,
Nor of a theme more solemn tells
That mighty surge that ebbs - mid
One charm of' this scene is found , in,the
variety.of• tints formed. by white,' crimson,
or yellow stalactites, or petrifactions, which
occupy the vacancies - between •the r base, of
the broken pillars which form`tile roof;
and intersect, with a rich; curious, and vs.-
riegated chasing, the eorreaponding variety
below, water, Where the. ocean rolls over a
dark red, or violet colored rock, from which,
Et from a base, the basaltic. oolutrins rise—
the tremendous noise, of the swelling tide,
Mingled with: the.deep-toned echoes of the
swelling, - Vault—are circumstances else-
Where unparalleled.
The Highlands arebeing invaded with
• -
an ever•inereastna • body of tourists of
many nations. I German gentle
man, who, was a walking tourist, and .he
contrasted, ,to the advantage of 'Scotland
and its mountains, the scenery of Switzer
land itself, as bein 4 :far mere aceessible.
In Lie weather, nothing can be more ex
hilarating, healthful and delightful than
the lakes and hills of
.Caledotria, stern and wild,
Meet muse'for a poetic child'; • '
Land of brown heath and nodding wood,
Land of the mountain. and the flood."
DR.. DUFF has: been journeying in Caffre
land on his way h'Ome 'firein . India.' At,
Capkowo, before tile departure, he was en
tertained at a. public breakfast, by a com•
pany comprising the representatives of all
Evangelical denominations. -Bishop, To
zer, who succeeded the lamented Blshop
Mackenzie, and who like hiin has failed to
establish a missionary'eettlement in the re
gions indiaated ,by Dr.' Givingstone, was
one of those who spoke:at - the breakfast.
Di. Duff himself worn and weary, was yet
full of fire and enthusiasm, and delivered
a retuatkable speech. ' s
LtvINGsToNE, after a visit,to Bom
bay, where his ship—foqnd to be, unstilted
to river navigation to Africa, was SOl---lias
arrived in 'London: Was one of
,Lord
- and Lady Pahneraton's gnestS at'a grand
reception laseSaturday , evening. vHe pro-
Epescs to go out, in, a , few months,,tn Africa
once more, with new pips' to abolish the
slittre trade in those,regiens Which, will Id
wayi: be associated` with his bathe. - Sir
Roderick Mitrolilson, the -- President of the'
'Royal; Soniehn&c , and his , fellow savane,
have received and welcomed Livingstone
with unabated uttiltrdasoi Certainly the
African expl?rer o tt, tenacious of:his pur- :
pose in the face of trentendCus Obstacles,
PARLIAMENT. ,was prorogued this day—a
fortnight earlier than, usual. Lord Palmer
itini retains hia, position in spite of an om
inous 'junction between D'lsraeli and' the
Irish Illtramontanistia . in -the vote of ,"•no
confidence." The Conservative orty ruins
its prospects by ; a foreign policy with re-,
gird to ttaly, which is hateful to the noun
.
try, and most- offensive to some of Its own
adlArents, whose absenne, or positive,vptes,
against - him 'exPliiiti the defeat ,of D Israeli
in the recent 'grand encounter of parties.
Mil GLADSTONE has been oh a visit to
thO Queen, at Windsor Glade. Ile seems
de - stilled - to be the future Premier of Fang
land-aild= leader, of the Liberal party not
only in the House of Commons,, but in tho
country_. He, is, earnest, sincere,-
and con
scientious. ,
,that he truly, fears
Grog; and takei his word. - as . his li,ghtuand
tandard.'
THE 13181116 P or OXFOR:D and his party
have beeti-dteated in an attenipiqo
duce 'into .public schools a semi-monastic
discipline and-authority.- —lt-was-proposed
to give every elergyinan presiding over a
public schoO4 k aarthcrity to hsfe 4,place of
worship within,• the., wails. " consecrated-"
for, service, so that the pupilsshould never
go to the parish, church. The gvangelical
Churchmen as well as the friends of, the
children of Dissenters, strenuously resisted
- and opposed the Bill in tli6 Oommo,ns. It
h a d come down -from the 'iords, who, in
,spite'. Pcird Chancellor's .expose : of
its. real character, had sanctioned' thc mean
.urea tisa now been withdrawn.
TRAATAILIANISM is rampaut ip
several churches in the metropolis. Pri
vate confession is encouraged; priestly ab
solution is given to the professed penitents.
At St. Alban's and Colborn (London) the
Rev. A. Machonoebie has issued a pastoral
in which he teaches 'the special Sacra
mental Presence of the heavenly King."
He desires that " the men first by them
selves, should draw near as soon as the ,
celebrating priest has communicated," and,
specially urges " early communion before
breaking a
„filet." This is thoroughly
Romish and Rc , meward. •
Tan R>•:v. . WM". BROOK, an English
Rekor and author of In fidelity in nigh'
Place:s., lately wrote thus to Dean Stanley :
"If you have ever committed to the press'
any sermon or statement in which you, have.
taught, the doctrine of. Christ's sacrifice and,
satisfaction as set forth in the Homilies, I
shall publish it with pleasure." No answer
was given, even though the Beau had pre- ,
viously published something like a chal
lenge to Mr. Brock. Thus " the enemy
comps in like a flood." J.W.
The Imprecatory Psalms
We.doubt not that many have been led,
by, recent events to read the imprecatory . ,
psalms in. a new light,,and to feel that one
may pray for stern retiti2tilans'to l overtakd
the ''guilty,' of t
Ofitiatiannspiwit. t ! ilyai.: able writekoimithez
Bratisk QitutferAVA4ctirPOl to PrMI 9lat)
a desire; for punishment to transgressors
breathes through the. New Testainent as
well ae the Old: ' lie says
• " Bat the grand plea in this matter is,
that the Christian spirit is a forgiving,
spirit—that, the language, ' Love your.ene
lilies,' is characteristic of it, and so on.
Nov it is not denied that lessons of this
nature have a beautiful prominence "in the
New Testament, and that private, personal,:
petty, selfish revenges are . disapproved;
But lessons of another , kind also are there,
and such as are in
,full accordance even
with these imprecatory Psalms. Did Peter
sin when he indignantly exclaimed, " Thy
money perish with thee ;' or Paul, 'whew
he `said, If any man love not the Lord.
'Jesus Christ, let him" be anathema mara-,
nattia ;' or, yet again, when he cries out,
Thou child of ; the deyil,' how shalt thou
escape ihe danirgition'of we not
all• remember the 'language in which the
Saviour detects and foreshadows :the awful
doom of the Pharisees—a, doom; which, as
in the ease, ajso of the woes denounced'
against Chorazin and' Bethsiida 'Colildhave
been none other in reality than his own
judgment? So, too; in the last day, qe
make no mention of the,faet that some of
the severest utterances_ of the, so-called
Nessianic Psalms are regarded as his, it
will be recolleelecl that it is from his.month
that are to proceed those terrible words,
' Depart, ye cursed,' etc.
"Now it is in vain for men iwho profess
to believe in the Bible at all to attempt to
ignore these aspects of its teaching. The
Christian revelation is not revela;
tion of mercy ; it is
,also -a - revelation of
Viatica. Its character of God- discloses
his compassion as .a Father, but along with
it his moral grandeur. as a. moral ruler.
Whether to our likina or not, this revela=
tion has its heaven and its hell, is designed
for men who can beliete notottly that there
is 'a God, but that-there is A ; that sin
is a terrible reality, and visits upon its
victims a doom as terrible as, just. But
itay not that whiehis this evidently right
as an object of God's also right as
an object of prayer, on the part of natures
made-to partake in Aspe.cial degree, of his
mind ? The philosophy of the present
paper may be briefly,,tated thus : :What it
must be right - in - the - Divine, Being to
do, it may be right in inspired men to
pray him to do; and conceptions of:law and
retribution which certainly have their
place in providence, may have_ their place
also in revelotioa.;" •
Characteristics of the Gospei.
,The Bishop of Bristol. and Gloucester,
in the introductory lecture of his course on
the " Life of Christ," gives in a Mite the
following condensed summary of the'prin
eipal points in which the four evangelical
narratives are distinguished -from each
other :
I. In regard to their external features
and ,oharacteristios -
.
i -
The pont of view 'of the first. Gospel is
mainly Igraelitie ; of the second, -Gentile;
of the third, _universal; of' A the fourth,
Christian. , - , , , ...
The.. general aspect, and •SO to speak,
physiogtiomy Of the first, mainly; is Orien
tal; of the second, Itornan ; of the third,
Greek ; of the fourth ; spiritual. •
The style of the first is stately ;and, rhyth
m ical ; of the second, terse and. precise; _of
the third, calm and copious;
. of the fourth,
artless and colloquial.
The most striking chs.racteristie of the
first is symmetry - i 4 of the - second, compres
sion; of the.. thirif,,Urder ;: of the fourth,
system. -
The thought and language of the first
are both Hebraistic; of the third; both
Hellenistic, while in the second tbe
thought is often Occidental, though the
language is liebraistio; and in, the fourth
the language is Hellenistic, but the thought
Rebraiatic.
2. In respect to their subject-matter and
contents': -
In the first Gospel we have: narrative.;
in the second, memoirs ; in the third; his
tory,; in the fourth, dramatic portraiture.
In the first we have Often the record of
events in their accomplishment; in the
seoond,- events in 'their detail; in the
third, events in their connection; •in the
fourth, events in relation to the teaching
springing from them.
Thus in the first we more often meet
with the DO - ice' of impressions; in the See
ond, Anti; in' the third, of , motives; in
.the fourth, of words spoken.
And, lastly, the _record of the first is
'mainly collective, and'often antithetical; of
the second, graphic and circumstantial; of
the third, didactie arid reflective;" of the
fourth, selective and supplementaL :
3. In respect o to their. portraiture of ; our
Lord'.
The first Gospa presents 'slit to is nun
ly as the Messiah-; the' Second, mainly as
the God-man the third, as the Iledeemer;
the fourth, .as., the• only-begotten-'Son., of
Faith,
" Lord; I believe; help thou mine un
belief."_
•
- ,
It is 'hardly necessary to remark, as
,the
Cibiimia, that the Spirit of these
words conititutes aLgOod in the •iitti
tilde and experiences .of a soul in -view of
its relations, to God, nd imniortahty. Artd
the hopeful indication lies in the admira
,ble andleuching,humility they are, meant
th - breatilie: — The great in"d` iiotaideoflthis
werld'ha.Ve, 'now amirthen,'strangely taken
to - this iielf.renottneing formula.: ',Mr. Web
ster,
the great statesman, in his -;hearesin
,43l4 ning_to, these words, .directed
,hey
e la,gnv#3.l'on sfone. the app.-
of his'bout g juagnie`nt i and .
'Johir-Ritudolpb; kitipsite'd Viteisti And,
THE lIESBYTERIAN BANNER,
Publicatioa Office :
a4a6prrarBIRLDING3, Si"Firt&l32., Pressatrsea, Pk:
&HITS, ENGLISH & 00., 25 NOWNIA3TEI tir, e JUL.,
ADVERTISEMENTS:.
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TRANSIENT ADVEATISEMINTS, 10 MIMI A LIRA for
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Ng, largely.
SPEOIAL NOTICES, 15 Cywrg A Laws.
BouromAr, brarzona, Ciao 3, on locoed page. 2 5
Cans e. Linz.
OBITUAIIT NOTICES, IS OMITS a Lyn,
afterwards, as he hoped, a Christian, found
in these words that form and argument of
prayer: by which possibly. he prevailed.
"It pleased God," he said, " that, after
lengths of impiety, my pride should be
mortified ; that by death and desertion I
should lose my 'friends, till there should
not run, except in the veins of a maniac,
one drop of my father's blood in any living
creature but myself. I tried all things but,
the refuge of Christ; and to that, with
scourging stripes, was Ldriven ; and I
.came with the wretched father's cry for his
son, oft repeating it, Lord, I believe;
help thou my unbelief." " And," he
he adds, " the Lord's gracious mercy to his
wavering faith, to one staggering under the
force of 'the hard heart of unbelief, I hum
bly hoped would be extended to me also."
--Independent.
Working Ckriatians
Learn to be working Christians. "Be
ye doers of ; the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves." It is very
striking to see the usefulness of many
Christians. Are there none of you who
'know wliat'it is to be selftili in your Chris
tianity?,' You have seen a selfish child go
into a secret place to enjoy some delicious'
morsel Undisturbed by his:oompanionii. So!
itja Wi.AL some Christians. They feed:Av. : ,
on, ;Cllirtst madjorgivpness;.but,it, is alone,
and' 'fei:thentselveiL 4re. .there not
sihid l oPy"c'i who Mitt eiljbr lAing a Chris , '
tian; while your dearest friend is not, and'
yet you will not speak to him ? See here;
you have got work to do. When Chlist,-
found you. he said : " Go work in my vine
yard !" What were you hired foi, if
was riot to spread salvation ? What irles
ae.d for ? Oh, my Christian friends, how.
little you live as though you were the ser
vants
vents, of Christ! How much idle time
andidle talk you have! This is not like
d good servant: How many things ytu
have to do for yourself; how few for Christ'
and his peoPle ! This is not like a servant.
eiteyne . •
Religions Trifling.
How,willing are we to engage in specu-:
lative discussions ; to talk and, argue and.
reason about sem° of the mysterious doe
tjrll3 CO of the Gospel, and to persuade our:
selves, because we are interested in those
things, that all is right with us. Men will'
argue about the state of the soul between
the,time of death and the time of judg i
ment ; will discuss the probability of our,
having the same bodies in a glorious state
to which our souls are united in this world ;
will agitate' their,minds about the condition
of the lost angels; and a thousand such
things:mil; draw away their, thoughts from
the• ode-great question, whether the prom
ise of the Father be yet come upon them,
whether the Spirit of the Most High bath'
yet renewed their souls, and given them
power over the defilement of their hearts;
over the temptations of the world, over the
lusts of the flesh, over the devices of - the
devil—Rev. W. Cogswe4.
Elevation of the Working Classes.
"I. have no sympathy whatever with
those ' who would grudge our work
men and our common people, the very
highest acquisition which their taste, or
their time, or their inclinations, would lead
them to realize; for, next to the salvation
of their souls, I certainly say that the ob
ject, of my fondest aspirations is the moral
and.intelleatual, and, as a sure consequence
of this the economical, advancement IA the
working classes—the one object which,
of others in the wide range of political
Elpeculation,,is the one which should be the
dearpst to the -heart of every philanthro
pist and every true patriot."—Chalmers.
Seeds Growing Smelly,
If-this world's friends might see but once
What some poor man may often feel,
Glory and gold, and crowns and thorns,
They soon would quit, and learn to kneel
What needs a conscience calm and bright
•Within itself, an outward test?
Who breaks his glass to make more light
Makes way for storms into his rest.
: Then,blese•iby sacred growth, nor catch
At npise, but thrive unseen and dumb ;
Keep . alean, bear fruit, earn life, and watch
Till the white-winged reapers come.
—Henry Vaughan.
Judge Not by Appearances.
An old than, named Guyot, lived and
died in the town of Marseilles, in France.
He amassed a large fortune by. the most
laborious industry, and by habits of the
severest abstinence and privation. His
niighbors considered him a miser, and
thought that he 'was hoarding up money
from ii2eart and avaricious motives. The
populace, whenever he appeared, pursued
him_with hooting and execrations, and the
boys,scnetimes threw stones at him. At
length he died, and in his will were found
the following words:—" Having observed
'from my infaney that the poor of Marseilles
are ill-supplied with water, which they can
.onlypurchase at a great price, I have cheer
fully, labored the whole of my life'to pro
for them this great blessing, and I
diret that the - whole of my property be
laid out in building an aqueduct for theie
use." This was accordingly done.
Jesus Understands.
No matter how unlovely by nature, or
peculiarly organized, or little understood
we may regard ourselves, Jesus under
stands us fully. " Yes, be knoweth our
frame; he remembereth that we are dust,"
and, " like as a father pitieth his chidren,
so he pitieth them that fear him." Are
we desponding? he is able to give us hope.
Are we sensitive; none but loving words
from Jesus ever reached a quivering heart.
Whatever sorrow affitcts, there is no time
when we may not fly to his side and lay our
weary heads upon his bosom of infinite
love, and. bear him speak to our sadness
those . comforting wor ls,- "Let not your
heart be troubled, neither let it be artaid."
Are, we wayward and repulsive, ever re
turning from wandering with penitent
heart? maifeel his pitying eyes upon
us,' and we may' hear- his assurance that
though Satan hath desired to have its, that
he may sift us , -as wheat, Jesus our Al
mighty Friend will pray for us that our
faith fail not.
Crosses.
If loving hearts were never lonely,
If all , they -wished ?night always be,
Accepting what they looked for only,
Thby'roight be glad, but not in Thee.
i..We need .0 nual the cross we bear
Alf wifbreathe, as light we see,
It draws us to thy side in prayer ;
• , •It binda,us, .to onrstrength in Them
111 families well ordered there is always
oae firm and-sweet temper, *CA controls
Witbilit'seeming to dictate. The essence
of fine breeding is in the gift of con-
Thoge who are .Chrtattans make the word
of 'God their'ride, and are ruled hp it; and
the glortif 'God their midi and aim at it,