another good and great man, yet for selfish motives, three times denied Christ, and swore profanely that he did not know him! True, he repented. "Jesus looked upon him, and when he thought upon these things, he went out and wept bitterly." And are there not in the present day many professed, and we believe, and have no doubt in our minds, in most things sincere followers of Christ who yet in some things practically deny him? What is it but a practical denial of Christ to incorporate with a government whose written constitution ignores Christ and his lawthe Bible? For he says, "he that is not with me is against me." Nor will it do to say this is a political matter, for the command is, "in all thy ways [civil matters form no exception] acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths." Civil government is an ordinance of God, and being one of the all things put under Christ by the Father, all are under infinite obligations to acknowledge him as the "Governor of the nations ;" and not to do so is placing themselves in the attitude of rebels against his government and is a practical denial of himself, and his authority, practically saying, "we will not have this man to rule over us." How was it when slavery was dominant? Did they refrain from taking the constitutional oath which required them to return the panting fugitive slave to his cruel task master? Not they. Some excused themselves by saying that clause in the constitution did not mean slaves, but apprentices! Others, more candid, said it did mean slaves, but that slavery was right. And many of the most popular and able D. D.'s taxed their theological lore to its utmost, determined to justify slavery and to prove from the Bible that it was a divine institution! and strange to say, those churches that were the most strenuous advocates of slavery were the most zealous and efficient in the foreign mission cause. In all these examples of inconsistent conduct of all these good and great men, and many more might be added, in so far as their inconsistent conduct is concerned, and while engaged in wrong doing, they were serving-not Christ-but their own carnal appetites and worldly desires; or, as the apostle has it," their own bellies." Another criticism that W. P. J. makes is," that out of all the armory of Scripture, only two passages are adduced." If two passages are sufficient, what need of more? Jesus Christ himself used only one passage of Scripture on each temptation when contending with the devil: "When he had fasted forty days and forty nights the tempter came and said to him, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil takes him up into the holy city and sets him on the pinnacle of the temple and says to him, if thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down, [now the devil thought he would try quoting Scripture] for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee, and in their hands they shall bear thee up lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone." Psalm 91: 11, 12. But the devil does not quote the passage fairly; like many others He even preachers of whom we might expect better-he garbles it. here leaves out these words, "to keep thee in all thy ways' -a very important link in this passage. "Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. (Deut. 6: 16.) Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan, for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him," for he never could bear to have the Scriptures fairly quoted, though it be but a single text at a time. "You have quoted texts," says W. P. J., "to show that ministers of evangelical churches may not preach in Covenanting churches. Allow me," says he, "to quote Christ's authority, not given to the one hundred men of one church, but to tens and thousands whom we have never seen. 'Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.' Of course Covenanters and their pulpits forming no exception. But what says Christ immediately in connection? Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you."" See "See Mark 16: 15, Matt. 28: 20. In this case the path of duty is plain. If they observe the Divine injunction here given, admit them; if not, say no, and admonish them as (erring) brethren, "that they may be ashamed; but count them not as enemies." As it regards numbers. The Reformed Presbyterian or Covenanting Church never expected to be numerous; knowing that if she be the special witnessing church she need not calculate on great numbers in membership, neither on worldly honors and profits-not so long as the nations refuse to acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ as the "Governor among the nations." But she purposes, by the grace of God, who has promised to give strength to his few witnesses to finish their testimony, to continue to occupy the higher platform, till other sister churches take a step higher and occupy the same ground, and especially until this, our own nation and beloved country, shall acknowledge Christ's authority over this nation and the Bible as its higher law, by inserting such acknowledgment in its written constitution, and by so doing "crown him Lord of all." Then, instead of being few in number-a small, despised and misrepresented minority-they will be the ruling and overwhelming majority, to last not merely for one Presidential term, but to last at least one thousand years. Then those sycophants who always wish to ride on the topmost wave of popular opinion, will say, "Did I not tell you so!-I always did believe these principles!" Then voices shall be heard in (the political) heaven, saying, "Now is come salvation-now the kingdoms of this world are become (what they never have been yet) the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ." MEETINGS OF SYNOD. BY REV. ROBERT SHIELDS. THE question of the continuance or modification of the Travelling Fund, referred to a committee to report at the next meeting of Synod, and the discussions in Synod on the subject, make it evident that in some quarters the meetings of Synod are felt to be a burden from which many of our people would like to be relieved. The travelling expenses of Synod for the past ten years have been on an average more than $3,200 each year. And so great is the difficulty of caring for the wants of so many delegates, that only a few localities are able to grapple with it. I do not suppose that those who so generously entertain the members of Synod, count it a burden, but it costs a large sum, and in some cases perhaps involves inconvenience. Cannot this cost be reduced? Ought not many congregations to share the responsibility and enjoy the pleasure of administering to the assembled elders? I think this could be easily accomplished by reducing Synod to one-half its present number of members. There are grave objections to doing this by delegation from Presbyteries. I propose the following plan. If approved, well. If not, it may go with other plans that have failed to find acceptance. The Travelling Fund is apportioned to the congregations in proportion to numbers. That is the right way. Representation in Synod ought to follow the same rule. Let each Presbytery make a roll of its ministers in the order in which they became members of that Presbytery, and in case there are two or more ministers who were in the Presbytery at its organization, let the order among them be that of their ordination, and let each Presbytery send to Synod one minister for each 200 communicants under the care of that Presbytery (fractions greater than one-half to count one), beginning at the head of the roll and proceeding in regular order to the foot. Provided that if any minister fails to attend Synod when entitled so to do, he shall not again have the privilege until it comes his turn in regular order. Let those congregations which have on their roll 200 or more communicants, be each entitled to send an elder to each meeting of Synod. Let each congregation which has 100 members and less than 200, be entitled to send an elder whenever it had not one at the preceding meeting of Synod. And let each congregation which has less than 100 members, have the right to send an elder whenever it has not had an elder at Synod for the two meetings immediately preceding. the elders' certificate be required to state in the usual form that he has been appointed by session, and that the congregation is by the rule entitled to representation at that meeting, and also that it has contributed its full quota to the Travelling Fund. Let In addition to this, let those congregations not represented in Synod by minister or elder not be required to contribute to the Travelling Fund. And let all ministers without charge be required to pay $10 into the Fund to enable them to draw from it. The Moderator and Clerk of the preceding meeting should be ex officio members of Synod. And it might perhaps be well, if each Presbytery would choose its Moderator and Clerk from those who would for that year be entitled to be members of Synod. I think that in this way Synod could meet in almost any of the large congregations in the church, and that the business could be done more quickly than at present, and just as efficiently. And also that the discontent in regard to the unequal bearing of the travelling expenses would speedily come to an end. At the same time I do not think that the interest which the church takes in the meetings of Synod would diminish. And a part of the money that is now paid to railways might be employed in missionary effort. SELECTED. THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION. THE following proclamation for the observance of a day of Thanksgiving, the first issued by a President of the United States, will be read with interest: By the President of the United States of America. A PROCLAMATION. Whereas, it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, to obey his Will, to be grateful for his Benefits, and humbly to implore his Protection and Favor: And whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint Committee, requested me "To recommend to the People of the United States a Day of public Thanksgiving and Prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful Hearts the many and signal Favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an Opportunity peaceably to establish a Form of Government for their Safety and Happiness :" Now therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the twenty-sixth day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be: That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble Thanks for his kind Care and Protection of the People of this o ntry, previous to their becoming a Nation; for the signal and manifold Mercies, and the favorable Interpositions of his Providence in the Course and Conclusion of the late War; for the great Degree of Tranquility, Union and Plenty, which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational Manner in which we have been enabled to establish Constitutions of Government for our Safety and Happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious Liberty with which we are blessed, and the Means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful Knowledge; and in general, for all the great and various Favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us. And also, That we may there unite in most humbly offering our Prayers and Supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech him to pardon our national and other Transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private Stations, to perform our several and relative Duties properly and punctually; to render our national Government a Blessing to all the People, by constantly being a Government of wise, just and constitutional Laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us), and to bless them with good Government, Peace and Concord; to promote the Knowledge and Practice of true Religion and Virtue, and the Encrease of Science among them and us; and generally, to grant unto all mankind such a Degree of temporal Prosperity as he alone knows to be best. Given under my Hand, at the City of New York, in the Year of our Lord One MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE. SOUTHERN MISSION. REPORT OF G. M. ELLIOTT. BEING now seated in my own quiet home in the quiet city of Selma, I consider it my duty to return thanks to God and men for the success that has attended my travels and efforts during the summer. I left Selma for the city of Pittsburgh, on the 25th of June, at 5.40 a. m., arriving in Pittsburgh on the following day (Tuesday) at 8.00 p. m.-the quickest time I have ever made the trip. At the regular meeting of the Central Board of Missions, held July 17th, in the Seminary building in Allegheny, I was directed to solicit subscriptions for the purpose of procuring a house of worship for the R. P. congregation of Selma. On the following day I left for the west. I first visited Northwood, spending a few days there and in that vicinity-Belle Centre and Rushsylvania. The amount paid and subscribed was $127.50; of this amount $20.00 were paid cash to me by the following persons: Rev. J. McCracken........ Joseph Forsythe.. Mrs. Mary H. Patterson.... $10 00 Name Unknown...... 1.00 5. 00 2.00 From Northwood I went to Blocmington, Ind., and remained part of two days. As my time was limited, I did not go from house to house in taking subscriptions, but usually notified the pastor of the congregation what day I would be there, who called the people together, when I presented the claim of the south and Southern Mission. The amount subscribed at Bloomington, was $71.50-$51.50 of which was paid to me. Total...... $51 50 From Indiana I went to St. Louis, Mo. I did not, however, take any subscriptions in this place; for at that season of the year I found that all those who would be able to assist were out of the city: so the work was left in the hands of our friend Mr. Ingram, who will attend to receiving subscriptions and money in that congregation. I next visited the congregations in southern Illinois. At Elkhorn $125.75 were subscribed; at Coultersville $62.25; $2.75 of which was paid to me by the following persons: S. B. Owens. William Wisely. Thomas Moore........ .$ 1 00 A. K. McKelvey.... 25 J. H. Hissong.... Total....... The amount subscribed at Bethel congregation (Sparta) was $51.00 Bethel there were subscribed $127.00; $24.50 of which was paid to me. .$ 1 00 25 $275 At Old *Of Rushsylvania. |