The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1857-12-12
GENERAL NEWS.

I greSS assembled IN the CaplIOl JO-uay aU l.
o'clock.
Senafe.-In the absence of the Vice Pre-
sident, Mr.. Fitzpatrick, of Alabama, was
elected President pro tenn. Forty-nine Sc
majors appeared in their seats. The oath
was administered to new Senators.
After the organization, the Senate went
into short executive session, confirming the
nomination of George w. Bowman, as SUI
perintendant of Public Printing in place OF
( A. G.. Seaman.
House.--In the House, 22l members were
present. The Democrats nominated James
L. Orr, of South Carolina, for Speaker,
and the Republicans nominated Galusha A.
Grow, of Pennsylvania. On the first ballot,
Mr.. Orr was elected by 81 majority. The
Speaker addressed the House briefly, in ac-
acknowledgement of the honor conferred upon
him.
New delegates were then sworn in, after
which the following officers were elected,
being the regular Democratic nominees /:
Clerk, James c. Allen, of Illinois; Sergeant
alarms, A. J. Glosbrenner, of Pennsylva-
MIA; Door Keeper, H. B. Hackney, of Vir-
ginia; Postmaster, NJ. W. Cluskey, of
Georgia.
The house then adjourned.
Reircachacat IN Religious Society.---In
consequence of the expense attending the
maintenance of choir of professional sing
ers at Rev. Mr.. Coolidge's church, Boston,
the Society have voted to discharge the
choir and adopt the plan of congregational
singing. The quartette at this church was
one of the best in that city, but it was a
hireling, not a spiritual choir.
Lemon Stare Case.---Net0 York, Dec. -
The Lemon slave case has been decided
the Supreme Court affirming the decision Of
Judge Payne, declaring the slaves to be
free.
The First illumination Of the Ne,e Hall Of
observation-disclosures hall of the House
of Representatives, was lighted up for the
first time last evening, and numerous per-
sons, of both sexes ayailed themselves of
the opportunity thus afforded to witnes the
effect. 1t was certainly striking and beau
tiful, and was considered, We believe, by
every visitor, to be entirely successful.
The open square in the ceiling number
forty-fye, disposed in five rows, containing
nine each. Each square has concentric with
it smaller square, around which are dis
posed twenty-eight burners, making twelve
hundred and sixty burners in all. But be-
sides these, which, when a full head Of gas
is put on, supply most clear and brilliant
light, the curved CARRIERS which are used
for lighting the squares may be used, aug
menting the light from the square fifth or
a fourth. Several demonstrations Of the
facility with which the whole can be lighted
we're afforded last evening, and showed that
the entire round can be ignited in the as
tonishingly short time Of twenty seconds.
The whole number of Jets employed in the
lighting is forty-Rye thousand. The guam
tity of pipe used lin the skylight alone) is
nearly three quarters Of a mile in extent.
National Rteihgncer.
Candidates l1r the MiRiStJy.---The Home
and Foreign Record states that the number
of new candidates received by the Board
since May, is larger than during the same
months last year, and that the number re-
eeiyed during the month Of. November is
larger than in any single month for several
years. This fact is encouraging, and calls
for gratitude to the great Head of the
Church, who is thus giving evidence of his
love and faithfulness to his people, in per-
( petuating and increasing the living ministry,
But let it not be forgotten, that this in
crease in the number of candidates creates
a still further demand on our treasury.
The Religious Press.---For the support Of
| the Due West Telescope, the organ OF the
Associate Reformed Synod of the South,
that Synod, at its last session, resolved that
each minister in the body should contribute
/ $40 out of his own funds.
The Nelc Southern Uaira@y,---Sewanee
in Benton county, Tennessee, about seventy
five miles west of Nashville, has been Sc
lected as the site of the proposed Episcopal
university of the South
Columbia Theological Scmia0ry.---It gra-
titles us to learn that the Seminary at Co.
lumbia now numbers forty students, anC
that both Professors and Students are earn
estly engaged in the work of the session
Southern Presbyterian.
DR.. S. A. Ogier, a prominent physician
of Chester county, Pa, who was killed by
the cars last week, was a native of Charles
ton, S. c.
The Grasshoppers IN Teras.-The Browns
/ Vile, Texas, Flag gives disastrous accounts
of the work of the grasshoppers in that re
gion. 'Myriads invest the atmosphere be
tween Rome and Rio Grande City, almOs
literally stripping the corn fields Of ever,
thing that is green. Even grass in the field
does not escape their ravages.
Erport of Grain.-The number Of ship
which have loaded at New York, or Will sal
from that port during this month, with grain
lis 81, and the quantity of grain in them i
100000 bushels.
Minister'S Sons.-The So,oey says ether
are thirteen clergymen in the Reforme'
Dutch Church, each of whom has son i
the ministry; all in the same church, wit
three exceptions. One has two sons in tn
ministry, and two in the course of prepare
} ton. Several of our ministers are the son
of deceased ministers, and some the grand
sons Of such, and two the great grandson'
FOREIGN.
Missionaries Murdered IN hdia.-Th
following is list of the missionaries know
to have been killed since the commencement
of the mutiny in India: