Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1857-11-05
The PRESBYTERIAN synod on the Lessons of
the Times.

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comprising New York City, Long Island,
and the lower counties of the State up the
river to Poughkeepsie, and including no
less than one hundred and sixty ministers,
held its annual meeting last week. The
two subjects that particularly occupied its
attention were the recent calamities of the
Presbyterian missions in India, and the
present business revulsions that so deeply
affect the means of doing good at home
These subjects were referred to Commit
tee, consisting of the Rev. Drs. Potts,
Phillips, and Prime, and Elder L. B. Ward.
and this Committee reported Pastoral
Letter upon the matter to the different
churches. This Letter is couchod in such
torcible language and is so replete with
profitable admonition, that we cannot re-
FRAN from extracting that part of it which
relates to the moral causes of our financial
calamities and the lessons they should con-
vey.
In regard 10 the Sudden reverse which has
| oyertaken this community in the midst of
its prosperity, what lessons are we taught bv
it?
This arrest of the vast machinery Of Com
merce, has already crushed the fortunes of
many, crippled still more, and DESTROYED the
! prospect of subsistence to n vast multitude
VINO arc dependent on their daily labor for
their daily bread. All the purposes of the
Divine Wisdom in bringing about this crisis
ese r1aE Io t.o-a. 1 4
test the faith and patience of Gods peonle
who are called to share in the effects oron
though they may not have contributed IN
produce the storm. 1t will exhibit their love
Tor Christs cause which they have heretofore
sustained by their gifts, and which needs
their gifts more than ever. 1t will reveal the
extent Ut that Christian companion which
by giving 10 the poor, lendeth to the Lord
| 1t VIII promote the spirit of humble denen
dence upon God, confirm their reverence for
his Word as a true description of the uncer
tainty Of all things on earth, and lift many a
soul into the world of certainties and holy
peace. In these and other wavs, no doubt II
will bring forth the peaceable fruits of right
eonsness But we desire especially to remind
You that 1t Will also test the integrity of many.
LIZ Is period OF temptation to think and do
| wrongly, and thus give offence to God, and
sincerity which ought to characterize the
Christian life. And the apprehension of this
danger leads US to raise our voice in affection
ate warning to those who are considered hv
! the world rs the representatives Of the nature
ana value OF Christian principles, as then
/ affect Tie business Of tie porld.
We call upon you, therefore, to inquire
how far any of you have been led away by
/ the spirit of the world, and if YOU have. to
/ humble yourself undsr the mighty hand of
/ God reform whatever has been amss in YOUR
/ example, and thus bear testimony to the
inriolable character of the laws of Cod
which, sooner or later he will vndicate by
/ righteous severity.
We admonish you, in the name Of our
Master to set al example of scrupulous
/ probity in your business dealings, in all re-
/ spects. Make every necessary sacrifice in
this trying period, to give TO every man his
due. Owe no man anything you can pay
| Let your example shame those who seize the
! occasion of a general suspension of the course
Of business. to refuse the just claims of cred.
itors, even though they have the power to
meet them and especially those who defraud
the hirelng of his wages.
Permit US also to invite your solemn atten-
tion to the emphatic rebuke which this catas-
trophe gives to the spirit and practices which
have so lsng characterized modern traffic. and
which God hates because they are equally at
war with love and Justice This catastrophe
has come, not in the shape of confagration,
I or famine, or pest, or war. 1t has come in
the shape If a quick and violent overthrow of
the manufactures and trade of the land Is
there, then, anything in the principles on
which these have been conducted, which has
provoked such fearful reverse? Search and
7 halpvad III L., g
you have been partakers in other mems sins,
whether by your example, or your silent sub
mission to practices which will not bear the
inspection of Gods law.
One OF the crying sins of the age has been
an impetuous thirst of gain. 1t has become
an epidemic malady. This making haste TO
be rich is condemned by the word of God
not only because it is the token of covetous
heart, but because it spurns the laws of
| prudent moderation, and assumes risks which
are akin to the presumptuous ventures of
| gambling. While many are busy in asking
the proximate reasons for this vast distur-
bance of the course of business, is not this
the reason which explains all its mysteries
/ The business movements of the day have de-
rived large part of their vehemence from
principles with which reason and Providence
are at war. Men have been aiming to get
something for nothing; have speculated rash
| ly upon futurity always dubious have risk
ed more that they could lawfully risk, and
| built their schemes On treacherous uncertain
ties; showing in all this that they are dissat-
isfed with the Divine constitution by which
| God has ordained that the growth Of what is
valuable should be gradual.
| The testimony of even werldly-wise obser-
vers concurs in ascribing the present calami-
| ties to the pressure of an almost universal
indebtedness, and that again to what they
term unwarranted expansion of ever trading.
We believe this to be true, but only part of
| the truth. We seek for the prompter of this
over trading, and find it in cupidity which
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