c=;;
JAMES A lAAISON,
DDITOI34I
ROBE Ii T PATTERSON,
JAMES ALLISON & CO., Proprietor%
TERMS IN ADVANCE.
BY 6;63, (Singly or lo Clubs,)
DILIVISID 1111111111 oF THII Curie
Pastore endlog ne UN subecribers and upwards, will
oe thereby entitled to P. paper without obarge, and another
'Oa paper for t he second ten ;
Renewals should be prompt, a little before the year expires.
Direct all lettere to
JAMES ALLISON & CO.,
PITTSBURGH, PA.
Rev. Robert Johnston.
Seldom are we called to record a more
serious loss to. the Church, than in the
death of this lamented brother. He died
at his home—Peoria, Illinois—of dysen
tery, August 19th, 1 o'clock P. M.—a
eiekness which lacked but one day of being
a fortnight, which he bore with exemplary
patience, and which terminated in a most
peaceful death.
Brother Johnston was pastor of the First
Presbyterian church of Peoria—that in
which the Assembly of 1863 convened.
For nine years did he sustain this relation,
and between two and three hundred were
added during his pastorate. Twice before
had ho been settled—at Corinth, Ohio, and
at Gettysburg, Pa. He was the third of
four brothers—all sons of James'and Sarah
Johnston; the former of whom lived to he
eighty•seven, and the latter eighiy-fonr.
The mother's death preceded this son's only
four months. He was named for his uncle,
Rev. Robert Johnston, late of Newcastle,
Pa. He bad a younger brother in the
ministry, Rev. M. E. Johnston, late pastor
at Carlisle, Pa. This brother and he mar
ried sisters; they studied together ' and
were together, licensed by the 'Presbytery
of Steubenville, at Carrollton, Ohio.
Brother Johnston` leaves widow, and
five children between the ages of feur'ancl
fifteen. The widow was Miss Jane G.
Waters, daughter of the late Rev. John
Waters, of Galesburg, " 111. It is a fact
worthy of record, that ,four Old School
Presbyterian ministers married in that
family, settled West, and have since all
gone to their, heavenly home, save one,
Rev. Wm. F. Adams, of Washington, 111.
This esteemed minister of Jesus Clirist, the
present Moderator of the Synod• of Illinois,
was present at the melancholy decease we
here record, Brother Johnston himself
had been Moderator of that Synod, and was,
at the time' of his death, Stated Clerk, both
of Synod and Presbytery. He was an in
fluential and leading member of both - these
bodies, and the sad tidings which this pa
per conveys will spread heartfelt grief
throughout the Presbytery of Peoria and
the Synod of Illinois. He was a man of
attractive social qualities, which rendered
him popular in his congregation and city;
and always made him a odngenial compan
ion with his brethren.
He succeedcd Rev. Addison Coffey, at
Peoria, and it is believed that only one
Communion' season passed during his pas
torate of nine years, without some accession
to the church, either by letter or upon
trffemiori. It.was his custom to have now
members stand before the pulpit, and re
ceive special counsel and exhortation; in
which exercise, it is said, he was particu
larly happy.
As a preacher, Brother-Johnston was im
pressive and instructive. No one in the
Presbytery, or perhaps Synod, was oftener
called' abroad to assist in special services
or protraotad meetings. He usually carried
a manuscript into the pulpit, but was so
little confined to it, and, on the contrary,
preached with so much freedom and ani
mation, thai few would suspect he had any
part of hison paper.
Our (imaged friend made a profession
of religion at theage of seventeen, at Wells
ville, Ohio. He was a child of the Cove
nant, and bad its seal placed upon hie head
in infancy. He was a self-made man. Not
until tweirity.five years of age did he take
up the Latin Grammar; and he was sup
ported threat& his educational career from
the proceeds of a farm which he had bought
with his own latter. His personal address
was good, and rather commanding. Of full
medium size and stature, be Carried the air
and manners of a gentleman. His broad,
fair countenance was so instinct with in
tolligenCe and' benevolence, that he could
hardly fail to strike you, in any circle or
company. But after all, his humble l , earn
est, and-sincere piety, was - his crowning ex
cellence.- That was unquestioned, and
produced its fruits of a correspondingly
decided character, that gave him favor with
God and man, and that will render him
halltwedlo posterity.
The subject ,of this sketch was born in
Beaver C,ourity, Pa., Aug.' 2d, 1813. He
graduated at Washington College, Pa.,in
1944, .and studied Theology at Alleghny
Seminary. His- marriage occurred April
11th, 1948, between licensure and ordina
tion. He was buried in Springda'e Cem
etery, Sabbatha - fternoon, Aug. 21st, with
an immense attendance , at -his funeral.
Men of all classes in Peoria evinced the
greatest interest in his siektiese, and la- .
merited his death.
11ev. Robert Johnston was a man of,
mark. It will be 'difficult 'to supply hie
place at once, in his own particular ehureh,
and in the position he held in the Church,
generally, at the West. In these trying
times he was bold`and outspoken for patri
otism and freedom. Said a colored man in
his town, of him, " If I were as good a man
as he, I would give half the world."
As to his deathbed experience: he
talked faithfully, with his physicians; and,
when they had abandoned his case as hope
less'
it was his cheerful remark : " Jesus
will not forsake me." Previously, the
Doctor had intimated his danger and sought
to draw out his views with'respectto living
or dying; his ouly reply. was,
" Good is
the will of the Lord, To his wife he
quoted 'John iii : 16, repeating, over and
over, " Whosoever believeth—that means
me-4 do believe." "Him that oemeth, I
will in no' wise cast out"--" I do come."
At one time, be requested several brethren
to "go and pray, privately, for one hour,
that God would 'either raise me up,, or give
me an abundant entrance into glory." Wed
nesday night, when'he was supposed to b e .
dyiug, he calle all his immediate family
to his bed-side, 'kissed each one, and gave
each one his parting counsel and blessing.
To hie brother at a distance he sent the
message, " to be less worldly minded—to
think more of heaven and less of earth,
lest they should make shipwreck of the
faith." On one occasion'he said this: " I
seem to see Brothers Marven, Marquis, [fib
ben, and others, standing , at the side - of the
door, ready to welmie me; . but Jesus is
the principal attraction." Several came
and sent messages to beloved friends in
heaven. He nodded aysent, and answered,
"I will see them, and tell them all about
you." Said be would preach so different
ly if ho bad his world to do over again—
that faith seemed now so simple; that
there are but three great points in preach
ing—the atonement; the offer; the aocep
tan eel
To the writer of this tketoh, he said:
"I am a groat, great sinner ; but He will
not cast me. off, will he ?" lie requested
me to pray with him : said, "tell the'
Church it is awfully responsible work to
preach the Gospel : remember the words
I spake unto you while .I was yet with you,
and all meet me in heaven." Tell sinners
" they must have Christ, or perish." The
last night of his life, be broke forth thus:
" Lord Jesus, come take my spirit quickly;
I have a groat deal to live for, but I am
Toady to go." On the morning of his de
cease, he called for songs, and these hymns
were sung: 64 Rook Agel"; "'Come . , sing
Co me of heaven"; and "The ; sliming
shore.", His: . last request •for prayer was;
-42.00
2.50
For thit Presbyterian Banner
_14 16 1., Lti
rts
I trigel :n it 4.‘„
OL. XII. NO. 51.
that he might have an easy death. When,
to appearance, in the very article of death,
a minister of Christ whispered in his ear,
" Almost there." " Yes." " All bright
yet?" "Yes." Spectators agree that they
never witneased a more peaceful end.
Henry, let, Aug. 25, 1861. W.
Six Weeks in the Potomac Army ;
HOW THE DICK MAN GOT WELL.
No. X.
Leaving the Rapidan—Battle of the TM
derness—Hospital Retreat.
•" Our bosoms we'll bare to the glorious strife,
And our oath is recorded on high,
To prevail in the cause thatis dearer than life,
Or crushed in its ruins to die." -.
lip and be stirring, quickly I Do you
hear the orders ?
No; what are they ?
"Be ready to start in fifteen minutes."
Short notice, this; what time is it?
Two o'croek—and the fifteen minutes
will not allow us to prepare breakfast. We
can but take , some crackers and =eat as we
go; here, put these in your pocket.
Guess we might have made coffee. I
see the ambulance drivers are at it—L•and
Awe, a whole hour has passed since we
were waked, and no *sign of starting yet I
Mr. H. proposes that you ask those divers
for some of their coffee.
Do n't like to; think it probable that he
will, however, rather than go without.
You are right; here he comes, having
secured the beverage himself, and offers us
a part--take some.
Willingly, for I feel in need of it.
There, With a pint of hot toffee and two
crackers, we feel prepared for the,march.
Four o'clock but be patient, the ambu•
lances are "pulling out,' and we are off at
last. Bylind-by we will learn -that." be
ready" differs, from " forward march"
more widely than we had supposed.
Five o'clock—and listen ! With the
early morning the artillery opens—on 'our
right, and but a few miles eastward.
Eight o'clock—" Wilderness Tavern "
" Mine Run"—and there on that rise be
yond are Gen. Grant's headquarters ' indi
cated by that flag; farther on, the battle is
in progress.
We have then reached " the front " and
a battlefield at one and the same time.
There is work for us now, and use for our
stores. We must drive, up to the left hero,
take position by our hospital, and, under
direction of the surgeons, do all that we
oan for the relief of these brave wounded
as they are brought in from the field.
In, position are we?
Yes, and just where we .are needed
The hospital wagons have not come up ;
they probably got upon the wrong road two
nights ago, as we did, only much farther;
and the surgeons are in want of every thing.
:We must issue largely Trom our stores—
:must hand over • even a wall tent and camp
kettles. How happy that we brought two
of the former and so many of the latter.
Darkness brings reflection; and how sad
are these hospital scenes in which we have
to-day mingled I Early in the afternoon
the wounded are being brought 'in rapidly.
Among : the first is brave Col. Bartlett,.
previously mutilated by loss of his left leg
in battle, now severely injured in - the head,
and his hip joint badly wrenched, it seems,
in the fall. How quickly the attendants
relieve him of his- beautiful ".Palmer."
How gentlemanly his appearance as he
lies there upon the ground I How un
complainingly he sutlers—and his coun
tenance indicates that be does suffer.
Soon the tents rare all full, and the space
before them• is strewn with wounded men,
as with the leavea of Autumn. Many
wait, and wait long; before the busy surgeons
'can come to,their aid; and the while are
without the least protection from the direct
rays of the hot sun. One poor fellow has
his cap over his niturned face. But while
a few are nervously restless, none complain,
most suffer quietly, and 'some even cheer
fully. Torn fleet, unfilled bonis, pierced
lungvelothes saturated and stiffened with
blood, and pale faces begrimed with the
dust•and smoke of battle, constantly greet
our eyes. The 'ugliest looking case is that
of 'a little Frenchman—put up like a
bullet, and looking as if hucould be killed
only by the hardest knocks. There is• a
hole through his left cheek in the form of
a triangle, the two side's of which are'prob
ably each about one inch and a half long ;
the piece of flesh 'thus cat still hangs on
the outside by the base. His tongue is
nearly, severed, and protrudes from his
mouth. He is incapable of uttering artic
ulate sounda—can call attention only by a
pitiful moan, and by gestures , partially
makes known his wants. And there he
sits by the hour, without any attempt be
ing made for his relief. The surgeons
seem to consider his ease :hopeless. Late
in 'the evening, however, we saw him seated
O n_the operating table. One sUrgeon held
his tongue in position by a little hookinaert
, ed in the end, while another was fastening it
'together with stitches. They also fastened
the trianglein its place, and the little fellow
"looked likennother man." How he will
[ manage•to get enough nourishment down
to sustain life—or whether at all—remains
Ito be seen But if - thereise any one who
' can "live it through," in such case, it is
this little balite of a Frenchman.
One of your." feeding cups," which you
packed ,so carefully ate Washington, might
be useful to him.
JUst the thing, I should judge, and I
packed them carefully because they are
scarce. Our Oerarrission men have had a
busy, afternoon tif it, and the surgeons
scam to be not a little gratified with our
work—will make one exception, however.
Busily engaged washing wounds—our prin
cipal .work- 7 -while caring for the body, we
thought fit to drop a word for the soul,
when, by one whom we took for a surgeon,
we were promptly interrupted with, "We
tont introtuee any relitgus converzatshun."
If we had teased work in order to talk, at
such an hour, he might have plead at least
some show of reason for his repro.if. As it
was, it savored more of' German infidelity
than of the . Christian gentleman. This
was our only rebuff, however.
By dark, the wounded seemed to be gom
erally oared for, and placed under shelter
of some kind, did they not?
Yes; but on a turn taken among the
tents since nine o'clock, we found three,
With the, ground for their bed, and but the
sky for their covering. Returning to the
wagon we procured two comforts, one of
which we placed under, and the other over
two of' them, and we are now waiting the
return of a boy whom our Agent has sent
over to the surgeons' tent to see if we can't
get.something to make the other poor fel
- low more comfortable—but what does all
this mean I Agent suddenly orders aqui&
retreat—says our right wing is - falling
back, supposed to he pressed by Lee, that
our hospital is in danger of being shelled,
and that, gathering and packing our traps
quickly as possible, we must leave with
the van. Haste, boys
I" "Heiter,skalter Why
this mot' be a regular skedaddlel"
For the Presbyterian Banner
PITTSBURGH, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1864 WHOLE NO. 620.
But how will our poor wounded stand such
a bringing off as this ?
Near midnight—on the Chancellorsville
road—and now that wo are considered
"out of harm's way " for the balance of
the night, we are halted, and must " turn
in " just as we did last night, part in the
wagon and part on the, ground ; we have
lost so much rest fOr successive nights and
days, that we have been " tumbling over"
on the wagon seat every few minutes for
the last hour, and expect to sleep soundly
anywhere—the rebels notwithstanding—
and here we go under the wagon 'again !
" Pleasant dreams to you." C.
A Remarkable Session,
•Mxssxs. Eurrons the facts con
tained in the following extract from a ser
mon preached by the pastor of the O. S.
Preshyter.ian church in Meadville, on occa
sion of the death of a Ruling Elder—Mr.
Augustus Bradley—of said church, seem
to you worthy of heing so noted, will you
please insert them in the Banner 7 V.,
" It is a remarkable providence of God,
worthy of being here noticed, that the
death of -Mr. Bradley, who was a Ruling
lilder of this church for almost thirty
years, is' the..first that has occurred among
those who are; or have been, Ruling Elders
of it for period of notless than thirty
five years. , If I 'ani not -inikaken, the last
previous death, of one who was ever a
Ruling Elder of ,this church; was that ot
one of the brothers Cotton, which must
have - ocCurred nearly, if not quitei or more
than, forty years ago. ,
" It is now within thrte months of a
quarter of a. century since I was installed
over this church as its pastor. The death
of Mr. Bradley makes the first break, 'or
change, in its' seisdon--conaisting of six
Ruling Elders and the pastor—as it was at
that time organized. There had been not
a removal by death, nor by change of resi
t dence, nor by addition to its number, until
this lamented death has broken into our
little body. It may be doubted whether• a
parallel case can be found. It would be no
easy matter to find another case in any de
partment of life, where seven Aar sons have
remained associated together sWa'any years
without change by increase or diminution
of number, especially when, as in this ease,
at the beginning of that period the
youngest one of them was twenty-four, and
the eldest fifty-seven, years of age.
" Another thing may be mentioned as
making the whole matter more remarkable
still. Twenty-six, years ago, before the di
vision of this church, the . Session- num
bered eight Ruling Elders. Of these, two
united with those who organized the New
School Presbyterian church in this town,
and both are living, and are acting Ruling
Elders in that church.
" In the facts mentioned there is occa
sion for deep gratitude to God. There is
room, too, for solemn reflection. One
death, my brethren of the SesSion, has oc
curred in our little circle. How soon will
the next occur? and the next? and the
next ? It cannot be expected as probable
that it will be very long before one and
another will be summoned hence. 'The in
terval was long between the deaths of Mr.
Cotton and Mr. Bradley. According to
the usual course of nature, those who re
main may look that death atter death - will
, .
take , place among our number at com
paratively brief intervals. .
" Two weeks ago, the Rev. Mr. Van
Liew, who was pastor of this church forty
four veers ago, and by whom the present
pastor was baptized and for whom 'earned,
preached in this pulpit while on >a 'short
visit to this, his former place of residence.
His text- was, it And devout men carried
Stephen to his burial, and made great
lamentation over him."—Acts viii : 2.
How almost prophetic of the death we now
so greatly lament, was a portion of the
very solemn remarks made in that dis
course of the venerated and much loved
minister of Christ. Let us, my brethren,
strive so to live, that our deaths will be
such as to leave hope and comfort on our
account for surviving friends, and also will
be felt to be so severe a loss to •the church
that ' great lamentation ' will be made
over us."
For the Preibyterian Ranier.
Pastoral Visitation
MESSRS. EDITORS :—As the season of
the year - most suitable for pastoral visita
tion is again approaching, allow me,
through the columns of the Banner, to
Wet a few thotights upon this important
subject.
Do we, as `ministers, talk to our people
their own firesides, about eternal things,
we should?
Do we sufficiently realize the vast amount
of good Which might be accomplished in
this way 7 '
Do we even realize the benefit which we
ourselves would'derive 'from pastoral visita
tion, in tile impulse which would .be given
to our thoUghts in preparing for the pul
pit? ,
I am persuaded that oftentimes the diffi
culty we experience -in choosing a text
would vanish, if we would go out among
the people, and talk and pray with them
about their souls' salvarfon. lam also con
vinced, that the difficulty which we some
times feel in writing upon a subject, would
be overcome by coming in contact with our
people. Bat while we, as ministers, would
be benefited by pastoral visitation, the peo
ple of our various charges would be still
more benefited. Some errors- can be more
successfully combated at the fireside than
in the pulpit. Some troubled consciences
can be more easily brought into contact
with the truth in private than in public.
Doctrines can be better.explain , A to some
at home, than is the. sanctuary. Every
minister can find out the truth of these re
marks for himself, if he will faithfully at
tend a pastoral visitation. : He will, per-.
haps, meet with a man who believes that
the "end justifies the means "—that the
Christian, if he only means to do good -in
the end, has a very wide margin to go upon.
He thinks he may sell his rye to the distil
ler, provided, he 'intends to give the pro
ceeds to support the Gospel. Or, he may
raffia at the Fair of the Sanitary Commis
sion, provided he intends to give his ill
gotten gain for the comfort of our brave.
soldiers. Such an error the minister can
often rebuke better at the man's own house
than in the sanctuary; though it should be
rebuked in both places.
I Again, the minister needs to mingle
with those who aro in. distress of mind, in
order to give them proper counsel; yet,
some are so diffident that they, cannot be
brought to visit the minister—hence the
necessity for him to visit them. Once
more, some have difficulty in understand
ing certain doctrines of the Bible, and
yet have not anxiety enough about the
matter to lead them to the-minister's house
to inquire for themselves. Now such need
to be visited by the minister, and to be en
ccuraged to open their minds to him in or
der that their difficulties may be removed.
For the sake of the aged and infirm,
pastoral visitation should be kept up by
every, minister. - Such rejoice to see their
pastor'o face and to hear his propels.
For the Vrenbyterion !tanner.
For, the sake of the young, every pastor
should visit his flock. In no way can the
pastor win the affection of the youth of the
congregation better, than by treating them
with kindness at their father's house.
Their affection once gained, he wields a
power by which he, may lead them to
Christ.
Once more, there. are those in every
community who seldom or never enter the,
house of God, and yet who may be influ
enced to come to the 'sanctuary by a call
from the minister. How blessed, to, look
back and feel that a lend word spoken to
such, or, a prayer offered in the house of
such, has been the means of leading' them
to the sanctuary, and'Sultimatelyltito the
fold of Christ. Then -let it not be said of
us, my brethren in the.ministry, that while
we have " taught publicly," we, have .neg
lected to teach "from - house to house."
BEAU. CREEK.
.
plooted.)- .
•
Rest.
When shall I be at rest ? my.trembling hears
Grpws weary of its .purgien, sickening still
With hope deferred. -''Oliti that it were Thy
wilt
,
To loose my bonds, and tikledottemhere thenlarti 1 ,
• .1.., -* , A
When shall Ibe at rest ? ~eye gr dim
ow ,
With straining throng the gloom; Isoarce
can see
The way-maiks thati my Saviour made for
Would it were morn, and I were safe with him
When shall Ibe at rest? Hand over hand
I grasp, and climb an ever steeper hill,
A rougher path. Oh ! that it were thy will
My tired feet might tread the Promised Land.
Oh CAI I were at'rest l
,a thousand fears
Come thronging o'er me lest I failat lakt.
Would I were safe, all toil and dangers past,
And. thine Ovin hind might wipe away my -tears..
Oh ! that I were at rest,,like some I love,
Whose last, fond looks drew half my life
away,
Seeming to idea(' that either they might stay
With ne on earth, or I with them above.
But Why these murmurs? Thou didet never
shrink
• From any toil or-weariness for me,
Not even;from that litst deep_agony;
beneath my little;triali sink ?
No, Lord, for whom .l aria iladeed at rest,
One take of that - deep bliss will quite efface
The sternest memo' `s of my earthly race,
Save but to swell the senate of being blest.
Then lay on me whatever 'cross I need
To, bring me there. I know thou comet not
be
Unkind, unfaithful,`bt untrue to me I
Shall I not toil for thee, Wheu thou for me didst
bleed?
ememil
Far the Pretbytortan Banner
Prayer.
If Christians neglect one duty more than
another, it is to pray. Oh, how little do
we improve this our greatest privilege -I
Perhaps twice ti day we repeat our formal
round of Words, like a School-bOy's task,
never looking. for an -answer. bh, fellow
travelers to Eternity ! let ,us ever onward
pray as for the life of our souls; pray
without ceasing, and expect an answer;
Our privilege is very great, yet how lit
tle improved Christ prayed all, night on
, a mountain; but a inn in these days -Would
be considered a fanatjc, if not suspected of
insanity, who_wouldiilkasal
tain and spend a whole night, in prayer.
Christians should pray more and most
importunately, for the conversion of their
unregenerate friends. Pray for them indi
vidually, fervently, earnestly and continu
ally; then God will answer. If this were
universally done, how soon would the num
ber of Christians be doubled. Ho* soon
might the world be converted to God-I.
The - followers ' - elf Christ, should everre
member each • other at 'a, throne of grace.
I would rather have the prayers of- a single
Christian, than the richest legacy on earth.
Let those whose eyes meet these lines, pray
for me, their writer.
Are the people of God acting well - their
part in this our--great national struggle?
The fourth year witnesses the ravages of an
unparalleled war.• It has no equal on the
pages of history. Two millions of men
have already entered • the - field, 'and five
hundred thousand' 'more are called. But'
the =end is not yet. Onward !:and ever on
ward I whirls the desolating tornado of
civil war I the -sun of our political liber
ties, staggers and falls back, threatening to
set behind eternity ! Oh, Patriot Chris
tian ! is it not high time to PRAY for your
native land ! Ask the weeping millions of
the - North; calmly survey the last resting
place of five hundred thousand fallen brave;
and then ask yourself, Is it not high 'time
to put forth the poet's prayer,
Oh God! 'my bleeding country save."
Some may say we had a day of prayer
not long ago. One day I Why not have
a week? a month? The great trouble is,
that as a nation we are not yet prepared
for peace. If the rebellion this day was
utterly orusbed, God would not have the
glory; but it •would -be ascribed to our
great generals, our brave veterans:, and in
vulnerable ironclads. Then pray that we
may be humbled and suitably prepared for
a speedy, honorable and permanent peace.
I am fully persuaded, if all the Christiana
in America would make one united effort,
and most earnestly beseech the Father of
mercies to turn from us the scourge of war,
the rebellion would not last a single. month.
In thirty days the war would close, peace
would be restored, and our army friends
returning home. What a happy consum
mation What Patriot or Christian would
not hail it with joy ! Might not thus be
•
hastened that glorious and happy period,
when the nations shall learn war no more ?
That day may not be far distant. May it
come quickly.. , • A.
For the Presbyterian (tanner
Allegheny Seminary in the North-west
MESSRS. EDIT,ORS ; :—We had.. an unu
sually interesting, ordination service at a,
called meeting of the Presbytery of Win
nebago, at Neenah, Wis., on the 19th of
Auaus .
Mr. A. A. Dinsmore was ordained as an
Evaegelist. Rev. Joseph Vance presided
and proposed the , questions to the candi
date. Rev. Wm. M. Paxten;D.D., preach
ed the'sermon and 'made the ordaining
prayer, and Rev. -F. R. Wotring gave -the
charge to the Evangelist.
What gave peculiar interest to this neon-
sloe was- the relation all the persons ,en
gaged in the service, as well as the excel
lent young brother ordained, sustained to
the Theological Seminary at Allegheny:
One being a profoe: or, and all the others
recent Alumni of that institutini.
To those who are familiar a.eh t re
gioo, and the channels through wh ,:n we
have usually obained our supplies of young
ministers, there will be found something
more than ordinarily suggestive in this
statement. Allegheny is making a deciih.d
ly aggressive movement in this direction.
She has already gained a firm foot-hold in
Winnebago Presbytery, where we have now
five young men, recent gradu.,ts of that
institution, all filling important positions
and makinc , nearly one-half the active force
of cur Presbytery ; and the prospect is, if
things go on at this rfite a while longer we
shall be completely Alleghenyized in this
region. But it is surely some comfort to
know - that the invaders come from no worse
a region than Western Pennsylvania.
National Pride and Punishment.
If we should designate that peculiarity
of our nation which, in its proper workings
and under due restraints, has been the
source of her energy, her independence and
her progress, and which yet, in its exag
geration and abuse, has become the source of
rtzinens evils, and of ruin, we would say,
it is' her spirit of self reliance. True self
reliance, is, indeed, a noble trait, when it
rests On the divine promise, and feels
strong in, itself, because God, its refuge, is
strong,. ,its feet are beautiful upon the
monntains, beeauSe an the pathway marked,
out by. Jehovah it is' fearlessly treading.
A geneaal confidence in her own institu
tions and in her own strength; a noble
selgrespect which will not lower itself to
so base a thing as crime, however tempting
may be the lure; the movement of an'
ardent heart which throbs - for something
higher, better and. greater, these the
;life And ,glery.ef ti f youitg .State-i 1 • , r • lj
-- `a aPirikivAhellinridonr.-1
That Causes all tiq.el;bs and. tlows •of naticina t ,
Keeps mankiiietvige- 13y - •
13ut'there-is , it natural result, and in the.
present condition of human nature, if un-,
restrained, an, almost. inevitable ree li rlt—of,
continued, prosperity which may turn the
itopiabies of the - national 'heart, originally
so generous RD d eiralting, into 'sources 'of
crime and 'dee:ruction. • Into this condition
our, nation not only entered,-but had ad—
vanced to an alarming degree., We were
verging fast.toward a reckless and qr,rogant,
trust in ourselves; a sentiment,' practically,
that we were the source of our own bleas
ings, that we would prosper at any rate,
whether God favored us or not. No. land
may safely teach her sons to say, '5 Our
country, right or wrong." •This feeling
tiinds to au atheistical presumption, a rush
ing toward destiny, in which conscience
and humanity are trampled beneath the
All the annals of our race confirm the
`l3iblical teaching, that nations, as such,
are visited with the .chasteningS of Odd.
Many 'epitomes of Universal- history have
been written, but the 'records of all ble
dead nations were perfectly epitomized long
ago in a single sentence of the prophet:
" The nation and kingdom that will not
serve Thee, shall perish; yea, those 'nations
shall he utterly destroyed."
• There are , times in the life 'of a people
when all hearts bleed with " wounds int
medicable ;" when a whole land becomes a
Bethel, filled whit the weepings of Michels,
who refuse ta be comforted, for their chil
dren. There are times, when, as in Nin
eveh, the prince and the beggar are alike
in sack-eloth and ashes; there are times
when the hand upon the wall traces its
awful characters so vividly, that the athe
istical revellers themselves, in the midst
of their banquet, are frozen by fear into
ghastly muteness. God smiths the nations.
Reverently would. 16 speak of His judg
ments, for they are "a great 'deep." We
would not put forth our hand to unveil - His
secret counsel. But; as we would not
assume the revelation of what He hides,
- rettner uaLe Wemy 4U elide vilidu zit re
veals ; and it ; is His de.claratiort,. that, as
with individuals, so with nations, " will
reconipense them according to their deeds,
and according to the work of their loan
hands."
What mean these lurid clouds, which
hangover us; the defacing of the fairc.st
Works of nature and, of art, the letting
loose the infernal passions of the vilest men,
the unchaining of lust and murder to glut
themselves at will ; -over large: portions of
our land, theearth, lies neglected, : the
plough share rusts in, the furrow, and is
hidden by the weeds, the vines are un
pruned, the hedges overgrown, the villages
in ashes, the cattle, wantonly butchered,
lying about the fields,, loading the air with
noisome malaria? that mean, these widl
ings from the stricken %order of our own
State, where the hapless victims of atrool•
ous cruelty gather weeping around the
scarce extinguished embers of their own
once happy. homes ? These are but the at
tendants, upon the great central scenes of
horror, where the blood of thousands swells
the dread river of death which deluges the
battle-field. 'These tell us, that an awful
ouilt lies back of this awful sufierino.
These teach us, that, not in the counsels of
the wise nor the: strength of the brave, is
our hope. Nothing but the fervent prayer
or penitent hearts, forsaking sin, can avail,
for this will move the Almighty arm, which
alone can save us—Dr. O. P. Krauth.
Select Sentences.
See the .vanity of the world and the con ,
sunaptiort that is ripen all things; and love
nothing but Christ.-- Wilcox.
The world will be burnt up in the day
of Christ's aprarance. And why should
night-dreams, and day shadoWs, and water
froth, and May-flowers, run away with your
heart in the mean while? When we come
to the water side, and set our foot in the
boat and enter on, the river of death, we
shall wonder at'our past folly Rather/od.
Earth, earth, is what worldly men think
they never, have enough of until death
comes and stops their mouth .with a shov
elful of earth .diacred out of their own
grave Gurnall.
As Abraham dealt 'by his concubine's
children so cloth God by the Ishmaels of
the world; he gives them portions, and
sends them away ; but the inheritance le
reserves for his Isaacs ; to them he gives
all 'that he hath, yea, even himielf; and
what can-we have tame ?—'Cole.
Seeing men can not got the doctrine of
GOU I B justice blotted, , dut of the Bible, yet
it is suck an e.ye;soie to them that they
strive to blot it out of- their minds; and
they ruin themselves by presuming on his
mercy, %tale they arc not careful to get a
righteousness wherein they may, stand be
fore his justice; but say in their hearts;
the Lord will not do good, neither wit► he
do evil.
Often a horse on a journey has been so
affrighted at a heap of hay on the wayside
as with difficulty to proceed, but on being
brought up to it, flocs it, instead, of an ob
ject of terror, delicious and' nouriAing
food. ft is precisely so With fearful be
lievers, in respect of deagh.—Goodwin.
There is much sweet and efficacious
tereourse between Christ and his people in
little time. Mary was distressed, and wept.
Jesus said _Mary, and Mary said .Rabboni,
and all'W4S WL/1.--/6.
, Lysiroacbus, for extreme thirst, offered
his kingdom to the - Genet -to quench it.
His exclamation, when he had drunk; is
wonderfully striking Ah 1 wretched Ine;
who, for such a momentary gratification,
have lost so great a kingdom ! Row ap.
plicable this to the case of him, who, for
the momentary pleasures of sin, parta with
the kingdom of heaven: .Horne.
He who seldom'thinks of heaven, is not
likely to get thither; as the only way to
hit the mark, is to keep the eye fixed tip
on it.-16.
Bees never work "singly, but always in
companies, that they may assist each other.
An useful hint to scholar's and Christians.
Card Playing.
Gail Hamiltoirreiminniends card playing
as a wholesome amusement for young men.
A. Washington correspondent of the'Spring
field Republican, who writes like a man
knowing whereof he affirms, makes a viger-
OUEI iand earnest reply to Gail Hamilton,
from which we clip the following extracts:
"It' keeps them from dissipation." It
may be; but ir also narrows +limn their
capacity to due round of thought, and di
verts themJearfully.from elevating reflec-
tions and. tendencies. I put no stress upon
the inducement to gambling, from indul
gence in this game. ,ome i s crying evil
is its greedy eating up of the precions
hours which were given for worthier usage.
My observation, large taught; tells me that
.it is a deadly foe, amongst young men, to
all
,spiritual tendencies. It is singularly
absorbing in its' nature;, and there is no
lor&of - ainiaditinni tb *Mei' they'hfiatniie
sii. , .e - ilitttriti =firefly '114260i. TO. almost'
every recreatio' nature has set:reitionable
limits ~through weariness of;the flesh. Not
so With card-playing. ,Its devotees_never"
seem to growfired, never cry hold—enough.
I see piing men here whose brows are
broad enough.to work out for themselves a
noble destiny, playing' whist every ,niglat
with unwearied assiduity; -and when the.
Sab h ath comes, I see them lounging about
the hall' and piazza, yawning and listless
•as a child without'its' playthirigs, I 'do
not see that 'their 'observation;'.' or their
"memory," or, their '.' reason," is strength
ened by the process. On , the contrary; I
see in their vapid, conversation, in their
utter lack 0 reading, their indifference 'to
passing events, their thorough ignoring of
responsibility to. God, the dissipating and
belittling effect of their constant and urt
varied pastime. .- ,
I have all my days had a card playing
community open to my observation, and • I
ate yet to be' made to believe that a game
which is the universal resort of the starved
in soul • and intellect, which has never in
any way linked with itself tender, elevat
ing or beautiful associations, the terviducy
of which' is undoubtedly to absorb the at
tention frtim mere weighty matters, can,
iecommend itself Ito the favor of Christ's
disciples. The use of culture and genius
may embellish, bUt can never dignify it.
I have this moment ringing 'in my ears.
the dying injunction of my father'ii early
friend': " Keep - your , sons - from earls;
over them I've rrourdered time and lost
heaven."-- Watchman and Reflector.
Prayer.
Praye.r is the weary heart's desire,
inre relief of care: ,
It is to plead with God 'his Word,
And find deliverance there:
It is to whisper every wish
To him who'can fulfill :
A beggar coming to a King,
To ask whate er he with
The weakest saint may thus o'ercome
. -
He prays-41s God a wall of fire
Around the suppliant throws:
Re .prays-and all his enemies
Away - , like emoke are driven.:
He .praye, and to the 'tainting one
JEHOVAH:B strength is given.
Is sin:the burden that lie feels,
While struggling .to be free?
Helpless he prays, and grace divine
Gives "him the victory.
IS holiness the prize he seeks?
He can obtain it.there:
For nothing is impossible
To wrestling faith and prayer.
The'Spirit teaches him to plead
-The merits of the , Lamb :
And feeblest prayer acceptance gains,
When . perfumed with his name."
Prayer, ushered by that precious. One,
Eaters the court above,
Whence shining heats the answers bear,
Oa rapid wings of. love.
Believers Should Not Fear to -Die..
Death, being : the punishment of sin, and,
considered in its& if, a great calamity, is
naturally an object of terror to mankind,
and there are not a few who are all their
lives in bondage to this feeling. But be
lievets in ClariA, being justified through
his blood, and, sanctified to God by the
power of the Holy Ghost, should rise•above
this fear, and meekly resign themselvas to
a sentence which no oneis able to escape.
On this, subject Robert , Bolton, a good
practical writer of a former age, justly ob
served
1. That there is scarcely aurinam who
ha 3 not, at one time or another in the,
curse of his life, suffered more pain. than
14 ordinarily felt by people when they :die,
The pang of death, says the- excellent Mr.
Ward is often less than that of the tooth
oho. •
2. The covenant of God is of force With ,
his people when they lie in the dust of the
earth. Ages after the fathers of the .He-. 1
brew tribes were dead, the Almighty said,.l
" 1 am the God of Abraham, and the God';
of Isaac, and the God
.of Jacob."—Matt.,.
sail : 31, 32.
• 3. in death' their union with Christ is
continued; just as the personal union with
the Divine and the human naturesremained
in hird when his body lay in the grave.
When dead, they are ‘‘ the dead in Christ,"
(1. Thess. •iv : 16:) and still "live together
with him." (1. Thess. v : 10.)
• 4. To them death is but a " sleep ;" a
temporary state, and a state of rest. Ste.
phen " fell asleep," (Acts vi: 60,) and all
who like him, die in faith and love, "sleep
in Yens." (1. Thesis. iv 14.)
5.' Christ has taken away the •sting of
death, and thus deprived it, of its terror
to all believers. He assumed the human
nature, "that through death he might 4
destroy him that had the power of death,
that is,• the devil;* and deliver them 'who.
through fear of death were all their life
time subject , to , bondage." (Heb.
14, 15.)
6 Death is hut, a sturdy porter, open
ing the door of eternity and letting us into
heaven •,• a soinewhe,t , rough passage to eter
nal pleasures.
7. It is hut a departing out of this
world, unto the Father in heaven. (Jelin
xvi: 28 ) • • •
8. In the Old Te6tatnent it is called - a
gathering of the people to their fathers.
9. Jacob made . little of it. co And Is
rael said unto Joseph, Behold. I die!'
" And when Jacob had made an end of
commanding`his sons, he gathered' up his
feet unto the bekatid yielded up the ghoit,
and was gathered unto his people." (Gen.
xlviii : 21., xlix : 33.)
Let believers in Christ, then, as the:time
of their disselution draws near, put ou ,a
cheerful courage, end 'Meekly yield their
immortal spirits into the hands of their
Almighty and compassionate Saviour, -to
whom they may confidently say:
Me for,thine own thou lov'st to take
In time and in eternity ;
Thou never; never wilt forsake
A helpless worm that trusts in thee
THE PRESBYTERIAN BANNER.
Publication Office
SINGERLY'S BUILDINGS, 74 Timid) 9T.. Pirnuceari. PA
8311TH, BNGLIB,II 4 00, 23 Nowea-dra Sr., Emu., PA.
ADVERTISEMENTS :
r A rms.ar IN ADPANC.r.
TBANSIENT ADVBET.LSZSIENT3, ll) Omni A laNclfor
esohinaertion. A liberal reduction to those who adver
Use largely.
SPECIAL, NOTIOSIS, 13 Crams Ltsa.
EDITOREA.I. NOTICES, or C113D3, on second page. 23
Clara A LINZ.
OBITUARY- NOTICES; 15 , Own a Lia,. •
Peculiar Ministers.
" We want a,peouliar man at our place."
Yes, and in the next town the people want
a peculiar man, also. dThere is a growing
demand everywhere for peculiar ministers.
Even the older churches, that have h'ad
the reputation of being staid, and not car
ried about by every wind, have caught the
idea. They haye found out that they must
have a peculiar man for their young reo
ple. And the tastes of the people have be
come so various that it does require'a sin
gular man to meet them all.
But what is to be done with ministers
who are not peculiar • men of common
sense, sound judgment and sound learning;
sober, prudent, pious men ; men who are
able to teach others, and are suited to he
wise counsellors; whose character and in
fluence are unequivocal? We are aware
that an eccentric man, who is given to say
ing odd and strange things, is more amus
ing and attractive to the young; and that
common sense - and refined taste are not
commodities that, secure great eclat in the
world. But ought it not to be considered
whether the influence of the former is
equally salutary, and as_well suited to se
cure the salvation of souls ? Doubtless
:God ,1 has dltlled ninety-nine sober-minded
men to preach the Gospel where he has
called-:one peculiar man. If so, it is by
their instrumentality in the main that the
cause of Christ is to be carried on, and sin
ners saved, peculiar ministers being the ex
ception, and not the rule.
Did not good sense and eminent faeces
in ,things characterize our Saviour and the
religion he taught, rather than oddity and
eccentricity? Would not the churches of
Christ have more dignity, and exert a more
salutary and saving influence, by educating
the young to pay
_greater deference to tte
ordinary and divinely appointed means ( f
graec, than by attempting to gratify their
desire for novelty and entertainment ? a
des re which the more it is fed, the less is
it satisfied. Though the young might be
less highly pleased, would they not be more
contented ? Though few were attracted by
human means, would not more be drawn
by the Spirit's power? We 'do not object
to peculiar ministers in their places, but do
protest against a growing depreciation of,
and disconteiat with the ordinary ministry
of the WOrd as God has appointed it; a
depreciation and discontent which have
been' greatly fostered by the novel reading
and popular lecturing of- the day, and
which ,are stully 'affecting the stability and
spiritual usefulness of the churches.—
Watchman and Reflector.
Christian Humility.
If the Lord saw fit to place you in a po
sition most obscure, or to assign to you a
service the most menial, not calculated to
catch ' the eye or win the applause, but
rather the oversight and the slight of your
fellows, it would be one of the sweetest
tests of the reality of your love to Him.
When illortison—the Chinese missionary
—the man of God who first gave the Bible
tuChina in its verna.cular—offered himself.
to the direotors of the London Missionary
Society as a missionary to the heathen, his
appearance was so Uncultivated and un
promising, that, hesitating to accept him
as a candidate, they int uireW_e_were
w • • •i 4 - outwit in one
of the missionary Schools " Gentlemen,"
was ..young Alorrison's noble reply, " while
,the temple of Christ is building, I. am wil
ling to be a hewer of wood or a drawer of
water. In a moment they decided that a
man who so loved his Saviour, who was
willing , to undertake any service for Christ,
was the, fittest for the higher (Zee of a
missionary to the heathen. They accepted
*him as such, and the result proved that
they were not mistaken in their judgment.
If you love Christ, you will be willing to
undertake wiy service your Lord and Mas
ter may appoint you. Love will make
drudgery for Jesus pleasant and welcome
-Dr. 0. Winslow.
Dr Backus's Conversion.
In the life of Dr. Backus, of Somers,
Conn., the following account of his couver.
thou is given by himself. Having been for
some time under serious impressioni, he
says
As .I was mowing alone in the field, Aug.
24, 1741, all my past life was opened plain
ly before me, and I sa* clearly that it had
, been 'filled up with sin. I went and sat
down in the shade of a tree, where my
prayers and tears, my longing and striving
for a better heart, with all my doings, were
set before me in such a light that I per
ceived I could never make myself better,
should- " I
-live ever so long. Divine jusece
appeared clear as condemnation, and I saw
that God had ,a right to do with me as he
would. My soul yielded all to his hands,
fell at his feet, and was silent and calm be
fore -him. And while I sat there I was
elabled by Divine' light to see, the perfect
righteousness of Christ, and the freeness
and rietness of his grace, with such clear
noes th t my soul Ras drawn firth to trust
•in him for talvation, and I wondered that
others did not also come. to Him who lad
enough for all. The Word of God and the
promis.:s of his grace appeared firmer than
a rock, and .I was amtonished at my pre
vious Unbelief. My heavy burden was
gene, tormenting fears were fled, and my
joy was unspeakable.
Yet this change was so different from
my former ideas of conversion, that for
above two days I had no thought of hav
ing expericrteed it. Then I beard a ser
mon• read which gave the characters of the
children of God, and I had an inward wit
ness that those characters were wrought in
me; such as a spirit of prayer, a hatred of
sin, an overcoming of the world, love to
the brethren, and love to enemies; and I
conc'uded that. I then had the sealings of
the-Spirit of God, that I wasa child of his.
New ideate and dispositions were given me ;
the'wersbiiand service of God and obedi
ence to his will were the delight of my
sant.' I found such happiness therein as I
never had inall the vanities of the world.
Special Preycr
The Cumberland Presbyterian remarks
that some ministers fall into the singular
error that prayer on special occasions
should be long ; longer than usual, at leee,,
whilst in most instances the reverse is true,
the circumstances calling for prayer fora
specific object. The following illustration
is from .a well-known work on " Prayer,"
by. Dr. Samuel killer.:
""I once knew a inember of one of our
Presbyteries who, when called upon to
make the ordaining prayer at the solemni
ty of setting apart a minister to the sacred
office, went back to the beginnint of time,
traced the progress of civil and ecclesiasti
ear society, alluded to the various plans of
electing and ordaining the officers of the
Church:all along down through the patri
archal and ceremonial dispensations,.and at
last, after tiring out every worshipper with
the tediousness of his deduction, he came
to the New Testament dispensation, and
made about, one-quarter of his inordinately
long prayer really adapted to the occasion
on which he was called to officiate."