We can we do unite in the common bonds of Christianity with the brethren of all evangelical churches in the family devotions, at the family table, in our social prayer meetings, in the Evangelical Alliance assemblies, in the Temperance Reform meetings, in the Foreign Mission enterprises of sending the Bible into every heathen land, and in the greatest movement of the day, the National Reform movement. But in officially preaching the word and dispensing the sacraments, there are organic bonds and obligations which we are solemnly bound by vows and covenant engagements to keep inviolate, and they not. That most all other evangelical churches should unite, we believe the chief differences being more imaginary than real, arising, perhaps, in many cases, from misunderstanding, prejudice and ambition, more than from principle. Most all have, at least practically, the same ideas on civil government, psalmody and secret and oath-bound associations. It is always in order to ascend in Christian attainments, but never right to descend. The divine injunction is, "Return thou not to them, but let them return to thee." We, as a church, profess to hold a higher platform, and cannot, without lowering our standards, unite with any church organization which uses anything else in the praises of God than the songs of inspiration. Our standards forbid "the worshipping of God in any other way not appointed in his word." "For in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Nor can we unite with any who fellowship with secret oathbound organizations, that purposely ignore the very name of Christ in their mock prayers, ritual, and profane quotations from the sacred Scriptures. Nor can we consistently unite with those church organizations whose members, preachers and all, identify and incorporate with any anti-Christian government, whose constitution ignores Christ's kingly authority over the nations, the Bible as our rule and paramount law in our civil as well as in our ecclesiastical relations, which also requires the successful candidate, before entering on the duties of his office to take a godless oath, in violation of the divine command, "Thou shalt fear the Lord, thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.' Therefore, unless they should come a step higher, or these difficulties be removed out of the way, we cannot consistently share with them our pulpits. Nor do those who understand our position expect it of us. Neither would they respect us the more were we to do so. Desirable as union would be, a true union can never be had at the expense of truth and purity. The divine order is, "first pure, then peaceable." There may be so-called union without unity. Truth alone unites and makes one, error separates and divides. The child truth is never to be divided, lest you destroy it in the process. But it may be asked, can we not better maintain our position as a church, and more effectively vindicate our principles inside the United Pan Church, than outside in the cold by ourselves? If so, may it not be asked, how are we to get there? Surely not by "doing evil that good may come, whose damnation is just." By so doing we would not only lose our identity, but also our chief characteristics as the witnessing church. Every church of Christ is a witnessing church in so far as she witnesses for truth and testifies against evil; but is not the special witnessing church, unless she contends for the whole truth, and testifies against every known evil, whether in church or state, whether popular or unpopular. One of the chief characteristics of a true witness is, he must in nowise be a partaker in the evil he testifies against, or his testimony will be of little account either in the sight of God or man. The same principle holds in civil courts as well. And if state organizations, and church organizations as well, are moral persons, as we profess to believe, then it logically follows that all those who identify themselves with such become partakers of all the evils they organically sanction, or officially practise in the sacred duties they omit, and the truths they ignore. Another character of the two witnesses is, they "torment the men that dwell on the earth," especially their erring brethren. But the question arises, how much would it torment them were they to join them in their organizations and invite them (their preachers) to their pulpits? Let us hold the fort a little longer, victory may be nearer than we think. See what reinforcements we are steadily gaining to the National Reform movement. This, once accomplished, one of the chief obstacles to the union of the churches will be removed. Then can we truly say we have a Christian republic. Then shall the promise spoken by the prophet be fulfilled: "When the power and authority shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, and they shall possess it under the whole heavens." Then shall the union of all the churches soon follow, the Jews not excepted, for they are beloved for their fathers' sakes, and will they not be led to say, this, after all, is our Anointed, and not only the King of the Jews, but the King of kings and Lord of lords, and will willingly join in the universal acclaim and "crown him Lord of all." Till this be accomplished let us obey the injunction given the faithful church of Philadelphia: "Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." For most assuredly were we to become faint-hearted, or prove unfaithful to the trust committed to our care, God is able to raise up other witnesses who will finish the testimony and take the crown. A DELEGATE. REPORTS OF PRESBYTERIES, PITTSBURGH PRESBYTERY. AT the time of Synod, Presbytery met in Central Allegheny Church. Rev. R. Reed's demission of the pastoral charge of Brookland congregation was taken from the table. Mr. Reed urged his request because of want of encouragement and of pecuniary support. There was the best of feeling between him and the congregation. The congregation, by commissioners, opposed the request. Both parties left the whole matter with Presbytery. His demission was not accepted. J. R. Wylie accepted the call from Springfield congregation. Dr. Sloane accepted the call from the Allegheny congregation, and the Committee of Supplies was directed to make arrangements for his installation. A. KILPATRICK, Clerk. OHIO PRESBYTERY. OHIO Presbytery held its spring meeting at Utica, O., on Wednesday, April 11th, commencing at 10 o'clock A. M. Ministerial members all present except A. McFarland, who is still laboring under affliction. He was not forgotten, however, in the prayers offered during the meeting of Presbytery. The congregations were all represented except two-Brownsville, and Muskingum and Tomika. The Presbytery transacted its business in two sessions. One of the most important things that claimed the attention of Presbytery was a petition from Mansfield, O., signed by sixteen persons, asking for preaching at that place. W. P. Clarke came as a commissioner to urge the claims of the people. He spoke very encouragingly in regard to the prospects for soon having an organization at that place. They have a subscription amounting to $275. This, with what the Central Board of Missions promises them, will secure for them preaching over half the time. Appointments to moderate in calls were as follows: H. P. McClurkin at Jonathan's Creek, and Muskingum and Tomika; S. R. McClurkin at Londonderry and North Salem. Presbytery adjourned, to meet at New Concord, O., on the third Wednesday of October, 1877, at 10 o'clock A. M. At 7 in the evening the moderator, H. P. McClurkin, preached a sermon from Luke 6: 38, on the subject of giving. S. R. MCCLURKIN, Clerk. ILLINOIS PRESBYTERY. THE Presbytery of Illinois met in Elkhorn church, April 25th, at 2 P. M., and was opened with a sermon by Rev. D. C. Martin. A full attendance, with the exception of Revs. D. J. Shaw and James Wallace, the latter of whom, since our meeting, has been called to higher service in the church of the first born above. Another standard-bearer has fallen in the battle; the grave has claimed its own, and in his death we recall David's lament over the grave of Abner: "Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?" "Help, Lord. because the godly man Doth daily fade away, And from among the sons of men We had a good attendance, a pleasant meeting, and harmonious action. A call from the St. Louis congregation on Rev. J. R. Hill was sustained as a regular gospel call, and ordered to be transmitted to the Presbytery of the Lakes for presentation. In case of its acceptance, Revs. W. F. George, P. P. Boyd, and Elder Patterson were appointed a committee to attend to his installation. Our mission stations are to be supplied. Revs. D. J. Shaw and D. C. Martin to supply Walnut Ridge, two days each; and Rev. W. F. George to supply Marissa. The congregation of Princeton has given their pastor, Rev. D. C. Martin, one-fourth of his time. The dispensation of the Lord's supper was granted to the St. Louis congregation, to be held on the second Sabbath of May. Rev. Isaiah Faris to preach on preparation Sabbath, the session having the privilege to obtain an assistant. Rev. D. J. Shaw and elders of Bloomington congregation were appointed a committee to assign J. R. Latimer a text as a specimen of improvement, and to hear the same. Presbytery adjourned, to meet in Sparta on Wednesday, October 3d, at 2 o'clock P. M. P. P. BOYD, Clerk. KANSAS PRESBYTERY. P. THE Presbytery of Kansas met in Clarinda church May 15th, 1877, at 7 m., and was opened with a discourse by Rev. J. S. T. Milligan, from Rev. 10: 1-7. Rev. J. A. Thompson was chosen moderator; W. W. McMillan was continued clerk, and D. McKee assistant clerk. The work of Presbytery occupied two sessions. The cultivating of our different mission stations engaged, as usual, a considerable part of Presbytery's time and attention. A call from Fremont and Wahoo congregation on Rev. J. A. Thompson. was sustained and presented, and by him accepted. Arrangements have since been made for a presbyterial communion, and the installation of Mr. Thompson at our fall meeting. The congregation of Fremont and Wahoo was recommended by Presbytery to the favorable consideration of the Central Board. The organization of Long Branch congregation was approved. Missionary work, it was found, had been done by Messrs. McKee, Milligan, Dodds and McMillan, as appointed. A call from Winchester on Rev. D. H. Coulter was sustained, and forwarded to Iowa Presbytery, and, we learn, by him accepted, and provision is now made for his settlement. Requests from Sylvania congregation for the dispensation of ordinances, and also from Sterling station for an organization and a communion, were referred to the Interim Committee. Presbytery resolved that stations and vacancies be required to pay for one-half the preaching they receive. Most of our congregations were found to have complied in full with the requirements of Synod and Presbytery as to the respective travelling funds; some of them only in part, and a few had wholly neglected it. Those delin-. quent on Synod's fund were directed to forward said amount to clerk of Presbytery; and it was resolved "That henceforth congregations and stations be required, as a condition of enjoying privileges in this Presbytery, to send their full quotas of travelling funds, both presbyterial and synodical, to each meeting of Presbytery." The presbyterial examination of Clarinda congregation was attended to during the sittings of the court. The session of the congregation was advised so to arrange that, as far as possible, there may be an elder in each society, and the deacons to bring the matter of the sustentation scheme clearly before the congregation, and urge its hearty support. Commissions were appointed to bring this scheme before all our congregations, and urge compliance with its conditions. Rev. J. S. T. Milligan was appointed the moderator's alternate to preach the opening sermon at the next meeting. Presbytery adjourned, to meet in Wahoo, Oct. 17th, 1877, at 7 P. M. At the late session of the Reformed Presbyterian Synod, in Nicholson Street Church, Glasgow, a conference on days of fasting was held. The Synod unanimously expressed the opinion that fast days should not be abolished." The Marquis of Lorne is writing a new metrical version of the Psalms of David. A meeting has been held in the St. Alban's Church, Holborn, London, at which it was agreed to form a church league for obtaining the separation of the Church from the State. A proposition to confine the league to an agitation for the repeal of the Public Worship Regulation act was voted down, More than 1,000 clergymen have given their adhesion to the league. This affords an apt illustration of the saying, extremes meet-Ritualists and Radicals both seeking disestablishment. About forty Roman Catholics have been converted to Protestantism under the labors of Father Chiniquy, at Waterville, Maine. The Stuart Brothers have given $25,000 to the Presbyterian Home Mission Board, which has enabled it to go to the Assembly without a debt. The Foreign Board is also relieved from debt by a gift of $50,000 from the John C. Green estate. The American Sunday School Union held its fifty-third anniversary May 16th, at St. Louis. The occasion attracted and entertained a numerous assembly. There are 425,246 Sabbath School teachers and 2,787,794 scholars in the country. Dr. John Hall's church, which cost about $1,300,000, has just cleared off its remaining debt of $175,000. Robert Bonner contributed toward it $25,000 over and above his previous subscription of $100,000. By a new law in Indiana, marriages between persons nearer of kin than second cousins are forbidden. Tuesday, the 29th of May, the Lutherans celebrated the three hundredth anniversary of the "Concordiæ Formula." HOME CIRCLE. WE publish the following by request: There was gladness in Sion, her standard was flying, There is mourning in Sion, her standard is lying, The good have been taken, their places forsaken, The martyrs of Scotland that now are away. For the faithful are perished, the good are away. On the mountains of heather, they slumber together, Their blessing shall hover their children to cover, SCRIPTURE RIDDLE. My family has a history, cruel, dread, Witness the blood of martyr Stephen shed; Yea, Stephen's Lord and Master shunned their power, They have a record, too, of varied good; Go seek them at God's altar, Jordan's flood, Peer through the deepening shadows of the night, They kept God's statutes on enduring page, But time would fail to tell the record given Of noted dead on earth, or living ones in heaven; 'Tis thus my kindred's future shall be fair, Seen in the light of heaven, in beauty rare; When the walls of New Jerusalem surprise the dazzled sight |