The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-01-19

nal preaching in the midst of the exctements of
great revival. 1t is contained in a sketch of the
life of the late Rev. DR.. Thurston, pastor, for
twenty years. the Central Congregational church,
Fall River, Massachusetts, The writer says:
"There had never been revival of religion in
the church, and only ten additions on profession
since its organization. The effect of Dr. Thurstons
earnest pungent, powerful appeals to the under
standing and the conscience Of the impenitent
soon became manifest, and a revival of extraordi-
nary power was the result. Nearly seventy five
were received into the church, as its fruits. In
the height of the revival he preached from the
text, Thy people shall be willing in the day of
thy power, bringing out in the strong colors the
absolute sovereignty Of God in the salvation of sin
ners, and the utter mpotency of the sinner with.
out the aid OF the Spirit. One of his deacons,
though Calvinis of the stratest sect, was alarmed
at such an exhibition of the sinners total inability
to do any thing of himself and feared disastrous
consequences He went to his pastor and remon-
strated with him but he replied, You need not
fear the result of declaring the truth. The sinner
must know who and what God is. in order to an
intelligent and true submission to him. The re-
suit of that sermon showed the pastor was right,
and his too timid deacons wrong for it gave new
impulse to the work. and strong men bowed under
the humbng truth men who had before remained
undisturbed, trusting in their morality, and feeling
that they were so near the gate of heaven they
could, at their own option, and at any time, step
| in"
Prosperous Church.-The West Spruce street
| Presbyterian church, Philadelphia of which Rev.
Dr. William P. Breed is pastor, has come to be
one of the largest, most stable, and prosperous
churches in the city. The church building was
day, 1857. Thirty -four members formed the church
at the time of its organization, and since that time
six hundred and twenty-five others have been ad
ded, and four hundred and twenty-five now remain
in the membership. OF this number five have
been ordained to the gospel ministry, one of whom
is now laborlng as missionary in India.
Arrival of Missionaries in India-The Presbyter
says that letter, ust received by the Rev. H. A.
Tracy, of Cincinnati from his nephew, the Rev.
Thomas Tracy. announces his safe arrival at
Alahabad, India, on the 10th of November last
Mr.. Tracy sailed from New York on the 4th of
September, in company with the Rev. c. w. For
man, wife and three children; the Rev. A. p
Keso and Misses Thompson and Morrison-all un.
der appointment of the Presbyterian Board of For.
egn Missions Mr.. Tracy will be stationed at
Futtehgurh.
Rev. Richard Newton, D. D., of the Church OF the
Epiphany, Philadelphia, is about to leave for
visit to the old world, Palestine included. The
Doctor is sterling writer of books for juveniles,
and editor Of the periodicals Of the American Sun
day School Union.
Cumberland Presbyterian-The Jubilee Year
The last Cumberland Presbyterian of Alton, ILL.,,
has cheering intelligence from many quarters that
God is reviving his work, and exhorts, now that
the festivities of the holidays are past, let the
churches give themselves to prayer and earnest la
Dor for revival of religion"
"0ur Presbyterian brethren" it remarks "are
talking about making this jubilee year with them,
because God has united them again. after thirty
two years of separation. Should we not make it
year OF jubilee to US, because God has kept us
together? If our Presbyterian friends have mat
ter of such joy in the fact that they are brought
together, after long years of larrels and alieDa-
ton, why not our people raise an Ebenezer also,
and with greater reason? Why not acknowledge
Gods hand in thus preserving US, by making our
donations to missions this year one hundred hous-
and dOllars?"
The Rev. T. De Witt Talmags received into the
Central Presbyterian church of BROOKLYN, New
York, last Sabbath, forty-three new members,
making in all, one hundred and thirty-seven addi
tons during the five months of his pastorate, many
of them remarkable cases of conversion.
A Good Example.-At the recent renting of pews
in the Casson Avenue Presbyterian church, Brook
Ign, Rev. DR.. Duryea pastor. the rents were put
as low as possible, to enable all who desired, to
have permanent seat in the church.
The Answer to the Pope.-The Letter to the Pope
of Rome, which was ordered to be prepared by the
Northern General Assemblies, has been translated
into Latin, and transmitted to the authorities Of
the Roman Catholic Church. 1t has also been
translated into the French language in the hope
that it might be published in the French Jour-
nails and thus reach our fellow Protestants Cd the
continent Of Europe.
Last weeks Christian Iatelligencer, organ of the
denomination, states that at no time in the history
of the Reformed Dutch Church were its pros
poets OF growth and enlargement more encourag-
ing The record of the past year shows the organ
ization of nine new churches, but this number
, might easily have been quadrupled if the Board
Of Domestic Missions hal been in possession of
the necessary means.
Rev. DR.. Gillette, of the Baptist Church, now in
4 Europe, took part in the prayer meeting on Dec
2 22d, in London, which was held in behalf OF the
Pope's Council Similar prayer meetings are held
on the continent, and even in India. This is the
best form of opposition to the Roman Council
If it is Of man, it will surely come to naught-
/ Commit it unto God-Ne1o York Observer.
e The Joint Committee on the Reconstruction of
Synods, &C., OF the Reunited Church. meets at the
Mission House, No. 907 Arch street, Philadelphia,
on Wednesday, 10Th inst
Survey Of the Missions Of the Old School Board, in
2 the Foreign Mssionary staff of missionary
laborers at present is eighty-seyen missionaries,
three missionary physicians one missionary super
intendent and teacher, twenty female missionaries,
besides the wives OF missionaries; twenty two Or
] daned native ministers and icentiates, and many
! native assistants. There are in connection with
] the different missions fifty churches, with mem.
bership OF about two thousand
Rev. Dr. Hoacock of Buffalo New York. is in receipt
of beautiful reminder of his labors in San Fran
cisco, in addition to the handsome remuneration
yotedS him at the start. He has just received an
ebony cane. 1t has crooked handle of solid gold.
tipped with piece Of gold quartz and ornamented
with moss agate, 1t bears the inscription" Pre-.
E sented by the Howard Presbyterian church of San
, Francisco" and "Grosvenor w. Heacock, Nov.
60 1869"
, Suit Decided.-It iG reported that the Supreme
Court of Pennsylvania has decided that Washing
ton and Jefferson College may be established at
Washington Pa, according to the decision of the
e joint Board OF Trustees The citizens of Canons
. burg filed bill against the removal of the College
from that place. but the bill has been dismissed by
the Supreme Court, which fixes the site at Wash
ingtOn. Eighty students were in attendance upon
the College during the last term. The new term
: commenced the 18th of January
The Rev. DR.. Hooper, after an absence of several
. months, has returned to Wilson and resumed his
position as Professor in the Female Collegiate Sem
mary of that place.
r Large Contribution. Halls church, n Y,
: gave $40 900 TO Foreign Missions the lst Sabbath
in January.