The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-02-24

A Far-OR Presbytery Occideat of Sar
Francisco says:
''The Presbytery of Oregon held an unusually
interesting and pleasant meeting at Brownsville
on December oath, 25th and Goth. The ministers
were all present and the churches well represented
The usual routine of business was attended to with
harmony. Resolutions on reunion on the basis Of
the standards of the Church were unanimously
adopted The Committee on Education reported
encouragingly of the Albany Collegiate Institute.
The Rev. j, A. Hanna was appointed financial
agent for said Institute. But the most cheering
fact the sOlemny of its devotions 1t held four
special sessions of prayer; seven sermons were
preached on the occasion, including the Sabbath
also, the administration of the Lord Supper The
good seed sOwn at this meeting cannot fail to yield
fruit 10 Its time.
The Lexington, KY, papers contain call for a
meeting of the Presbyterian laymen of that State,
both assembly men and adherents of the Declare
tiOR and testimony for the purpose of considering
the feasibility of fraternal intercourse and coopera
ton, and even the reunion Of the two bodies.
Northern NJ E Church in the sOuth.-Bishop simp-
son-AS a specimen of the humiliating results of
the labors Of Northern Methodist missionaries in
the South-miSSionarieS thrust upon an unwilling
people, and supported by appropriations from the
Northern Missionary treasury amounting to hun
dreds of thousands of dollars, exhausting alike the
plethOrlc Golfers OF the treasury and the liberahty
Of deceived eOntrlbutors-we copy the following
from the secular press:
Bishop Simpson has been attending the Metho
dist Conference of Mississippi. Gen. Beauregard
gave the cOOred preachers half fare tickets on the
railroad of which he is President. So strong was
the social prejudice, however. that but two white
men were present during any part Of the Confer
enee services, and but one white woman-and she
teacher Of the negroes.
Rsz- Albert Hslfsnstsin died on the 3Oth ult, at
Shamokin, Pa, in the eighty6rst year Of bis age,
after an illness of twenty-four hours. Many years
ago he was pastor Of the Second Street Reformed
Church, Baltimore, Nd, where he labored with
great acceptance and usefulness.
THE EpiscOpalian" questions the propriety Of
establishing Sunday schools in Opera Houses
Our ownimpressiOn is that any hall at all fit ought
to be preferred to theatre. There is such thing
as confusing the minds of children by tho too close
association of things not only separate but antago
nistc. We are not sorry therefore that the recent
effort to make aconspicuous opera house in Eighth
Avenue do double duty as "a house of worship
on the Lords day, and as temple for the pomps
and vanities on week day evenings, has come to
an end. Our contemporary goes on to say:
The experiment has been so often tried in New
York before, with results so unsatisfactory, that
one cannot help being surprised that IL should now
be repeated OF course the Gospel is to be preached
anywhere and everywhere where men can be per
suaded to listen, and prayer is to be offered up
wherever the Holy Spirit shall move men thereto
without over rigid reference to place but if there
Is free choice between gaudy theatre, surround
ed with doubtful associations and less sho Wv
but morally better conditioned upper room, in the
same neighborhood, the latter certainly ought to
have the preference There are many such halls
to be obtained for Sunday school purposes, so we
are informed, in and about the Eighth avenue and
Twenty-third street; places where little children
may be taught to worship the Lord in the beauty
of holiness, without having their attention dis
traeted, if not their senses bewildered, BY the
gariSh ornamentation of fashionable place of
public amusement. Possibly they may not there
acquire a taste for the theatre ITSELF but it is GER
tainy throwing great temptation in their way.
Nel1 York Evangelist
Kansas City, MO.-A correspondent of the Ms
souri, Presbyterian says:
A most solemn scene was witnessed in the church
here on last Sabbath. Ii was that of four young
men making public profession of faith in Christ
One thing that invested the scene with peculiar
interest was they were yoang men.
Another was, they were gathered from the f,ur
quarters of the globe. One from Mississippi: one
from Scotland, or Of, Scotch ancestry one from
Richmond, Va, and one from Switzerland.
That which threw a solemnity around the scenes
was, they were publicly reROaRciRg the acOrld that
they might be FOLLOWERS Of Christ
Bro. Quarles of Lexington is with US, preaching
the word with power and he said he never saw
such an interesting scene as those four young men
standing before the pulpit in the presence of
large audience, and taking upon their souls the
solemn vow from heneeforth and forever to be
Gods children.
1t was peculiarly solemn moment to me, for
they were the first persons ever received into the
church, these four young men, and two of them
were the first persons | ever baptized.
We are having gracious meeting, the church
here is greatly refreshed we are encouraged to
pray, and we are confidently looking for quiet,
but blessed revival and ingathering.
One poor penitent, who had backsEded from
the path of duty, came forward to night and cast
ing himself on the mercy Of Jesus, requested the
church to take him under its protection.
On Sabbath afternoon at the children meeting,
there was maniteSty the presence Of the Holy
Spirit
The strong man burst into tears, aud the hearts
Of the children melted into weeping at the mere
mention Of the name of Jesus.
Many are anxious, and it seems the very heavens
are gathering black over US, not to burst upon US
in their fury, but to diStil their blessing gently
upon US like the early dew.
"Grant US, Lord, gracious rain,"
and bless those four young men and the poor peni
tent, for thy Name sake.