Newspaper Page Text
J. F, DAGG, Editor,
NEW vSEIIES—YoI. XVIII.
TERMS.
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or $2 00 in advance.
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by the Editor, at his discretion, whenever more than one
year’s subscription is due.
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subscribers, may receive the paper for one year.
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four new subscribers, may receive tbr paper for one year.
5. Communications should be addressed, rosT paid, to the
Christian Index: those, which relate to advertisements, to Mr.
James T. B.’ain.
From the Missionary Magazine.
LETTER OF MR. MASON.
In the following paragraph Mr. Mason
has in mind an invitation sent to him some
months previous, to revisit this country for
the beneifit of his health.
To-day was the hottest in the season,
yet betvveeu ten in the morning and three
in the afternoon I walked down to the
printing ofllce on business, and back again,
two miles each way; and translated forty
verses.
There is not a well missionary in town
that would have been willing to take my
walk in the sun; and yet I did a well man’s
day’s work in the study besides. Does this
look like a man who must be called home
for his health ?
Sowing by the wayside.
March 4, ‘49.—ln passing down a back
street, I found a couple of Shynn traders
who spake Burmese seated beneath a clump
of bamboos. They listened with apparent
interest and then passed on with their
wares, (fancy boxes,) perhaps never again
to hear the truth till they are judged by it
at the last day. The next person I ad
dressed was an intelligent and respectable
looking Burman that I met in the street.
He confessed his ignorance of what would
be his state in the next world, but thought
no one could know anything of the future.
1 endeavored to show him the way by
which man may come to know to a moral
certainty of his future state; but while 1 was
discoursing with him on a now heart, he
turned away with an unbelieving smileand
bade me a civil good bye.
The first house I entered was such as
yet I met a mail there trying to sell two
gold necklaces set with precious stones.—
A single garnet os ruby in one of them he
valued at thirty-five rupees. The people
listened as they did at several other houses
which I entered, and raised no ohjeciion
but the very common one, that Budhism
xvas the religion of their ancestors.
In one house a sick man gave especial
attention; and in another an old man was
as remarkable for his opposition. lie said
there was no reason for his examining Chris
tianity whatever, lie was so confident that
Budhism was the parent of Christianity as
well as of all other religions. “There are
the paramats,” he said; “we know that
they, though they differ from Budhists, de
rive their law from Budhism; and it is pre
cisely the same with Jesus Christ's religion.
While conversing with this man and some
others in the same house,a young man who
had come in unnoticed, entered into the
conversation : and I was not a little sur
prised to hear him take up on my side and
go on to advance Christianity most ably
He proved in the end to he a member of
Dr. Judson’s church, on his way to meeting.
I felt encouraged thus to find “:he salt of
the earth” scattered about in the world
unnoticed, and the more especially that he
was so ready to encounter opposition and
ridicule for Christ’s sake.
Towards evening I walked out again,
and in a bamboo monastery on the siJe of
Pagoda hill I found a few persons assembled
around the body of a piiest, who had ex
pired a few hours previous to my arrival.
I endeavored to point the spectators to that
land where there is no more death, and
among them 1 found a son 3tid daughter-in
law of the deceased. The man had mani
festly heard much of Christianity, but said
he thought God had provided different reli
gions for different nations, just as he had
furnished them with different customs and
manners. “The Burman Religion would
not do for the English,” he said, “but it
does very well for the Burmese.” On in
quiry, I found the old man had but recently
become a priest, and his daughter-in-law
spoke up and said, “He became a priest
and died from a broken heart. He had no
children with him; and his heart broke.”
Tlie sorrows of men are the same, 1 thought,
everywhere, and the human heart is crush
ed by them alike; and all alike flee to reli
gion to sustain them. But how poor the
help heathenism has to offer!
“In season and out of season.”
17. —Several Toungthoos called on me to
day, to ask my advice in some matters
connected with the government; to whom
I addressed a few words of exhortation.
They bed called repeatedly before, and
always listened respectfully; but when oc
cupied with law business, I never found
the mind in a favorable state to attend to
religion. Still, the occasion is one which
falls within the command, “preach the
gospel in season and out of season.” This
people are not numerous, but I think one
man devoted to them would be well em
ployed.
IS. —I met with a very civil Burman
young man this morning, belonging to tin
police, who took a bound volume of tracts
; and promised to read them as he had leisure.
Another man, with whom 1 entered into
conversation in the street, said he had late
ly come from Rangoon, where he had often
seen Christian books and heard the gospel,
hut that he was too intently occupied with
f his worldly business to attend to the sub
ject of Christianity. Another man, that I
shopped by the way side, read a couple of
i pages of the Catechism with much apparent
satisfaction, expressed his approbation of
what he read, and then returned the hook,
saying that he had no time to read. In one
house that I entered I found a very intelli
gent man, who rent?from the tracts for half
an hour, asking for explanation of every
thing that was obscure to his mind. “It is
very true,” he said, ‘ there is only one
God;” but added, “different religions have
branched off from the worship of the one
true G. d.” He was called away, but took
a volume of bound tracts and promised to
read them.
Towards evening I went out again, and
1 met a man from Bula island, in the street,
about to return to his boat and home. Ho
gladly received a volume of ‘tacts, which
he promised to read and to lend his neigh
bors. Another man, who lived in a dis
tant part of the city, begged that I would
give him one; and I had other applicants,
after all the books and tracts 1 took with
me had been distributed.
“No God.’’
While I was conversing with a man in
! the street, quite a company of persons
gathered around me, and a woman began
to lift tip her voice above all others. On
turning to her for a few minutes, she ac
knowledged that Gaudama is dead and that
Areemataya, tim next god, has not yet be
come a god. “We have no god now,”
, she said, “but Arcemataya will come soon.”
On hearing this last remark, a Hindoo who
stood by, took up th observation, and ar
gued so well in defence of the existence of
an eternal God that I left her in lus hands;
and went on with the man that 1 was cou
i versing with, to point out to him salvation
; through Christ; which he seemed to com
i prebend so well, that lie said oil parting,
“I must think of it,” “I must think of it.”
I closed the labors of the day bv a visit
> to an old muij, \\Uo said, “I iwullike a mau.
that has lost the way; 1 know not wihthcr
! I am going.”
LETTER OF DR. JUDSON.
Aug. 20, -IS 19.—As you see from the
date, I am still at Maulmam. Before re
ceiving yours, of flic 20th of February last,
1 with the appropriation for the expenses of a
journey to Ava, the “small prospect in the
tiorrizon,” mentioned in mine of the Sep
j tember preceding had passed away; and
j since that, nothing encouraging has occur
red. Were it not however, for the follow
ing reason, I should prosecute my first in
tention; for so tar as a mere journey to Ava
is concerned, I know of no obstacle in the
way of any foreigner vho wishes to pro
ceed thither.
Just as 1 had finished die English and
Burmese part of the dictionary, at tlie close
of last year, and was about commencing the j
Burmese and English part, Providence sent
me, without my seeking, an excellent Bur
mese scholar, once a priest at Ava, and re- I
commended by a gentleman quite compc- i
tent to appreciate his qualifications, (since j
deceased,) as “the most profound scholar j
he had ever met with.” 1 took him at once |
into my employ, and hs aid, united w th ;
that of my two other assistants, proves to j
be invaluable, and in my opinion obviates j
i much ol the necessity ol going to Ava so \
far as the dictionary is concerned.
j Considering, therefore, the uncertainty of j
life, and tlie state of my manuscript, so es- ‘
faced by time or so erased or interlined as
to be illegible to any other person hut nty
| self, I have thought it was my duty to fore
go, for the present, what I cannot but re- 1
gard as an interesting expedition, in order
to drive forward the heavy work of the
dictionary in the most satisfactory manner,
and without incurring the hazard of any
serious interruption; —provided always, that
in the mean time nothing particularly en
couraging, in the direction of Ava, should
occur.
I hope, however, that the appropriation
! of the Executive Committee will not be
withdrawn, but that I may be allowed to
consider it available at the very earliest op
portunity.
From the I’ esc Writers of Germany.
CHARACTER OF MARTIN LUTHER.
Luther is represented as a man of low
1 stature but handsome person, with a “clear
brave countenance,” lively complexion, and
j falcon Antonio Variilas says, “Na
turegave him an Italian head upon a Ger
j man body; such was his vivacity and dili
gence, his cheerfulness and health.” Ilis
j voice was clear and penetrating, his elo
quence overpowering. Melnnchthon, on
beholding his | tu; e. exclaimed, “Fulmina
erarit singula verba tua.” Another cotem
porary said <>f him, that he was a man “to
stop the wrath of Go. Another calls him
i the third Elias. He was a husband and a
! father, fond of society, oi a free and jovial
nature, much given to music, himself a coin
j poser and on able performer on the flute.—
; A man of singular temperance and great
j industry. He throve beston hark word and
spare diet. An easy life made him sick.—
‘* *-"* v ‘*■ M
PcafleW, Georgia,'Ttrarsdan February 28, 1850.
As to his character, a man without guile,
open, sincere, generous, obliging, patient,
brave, devout. “He was not only the
greatest,” says Henry Heine, but the” most
! “German man of our history.” In his char
acter all the faults and all the virtues o! the
Germans are combined on the largest scale.
Then lie had qualities which are very sel
dom found united, which we are accustom
ed to regard as irreconcilable antagonisms.
He was, at the same time, a dreamy mystic
and a practical man of actiob. His thoughts
had not only wings but hands. He spoke
and he acted. He was not only the tongue
but the sword of his time. When he had
plagued himself all day long with his dug
; niatic distinctions, in the evening he took
his flute and gazed at the stars, dissolved in
melody end devotion, lie could scold like
, a fish wife, and lie could be as soft, too, as a
j tendter maiden. Sometimes lie was wild as
the storm that uproots the oak. and then
again, he was gentle as the zephyr, that dal
lies with the violet, lie was full of the
most awful reverence and self sacrifice in
honor tis the Holy Spirit. He could merge
himself entirely in pure spirituality. And
yet he was well acquainted with the glories
ot this world, and knew how to prize them.”
From the Watchman &. llellector.
SOMEBODY HAS BEEN PRAYING.
Several years since, in a town about one
hundred miles from Boston, the two church
es were in a very languid condition. None,
for a long time, had been converted ; none
were known to be concerned for their spir
itual welfare. As to religious matters,
there was a general apathy. But Christian
liie was not wholly extinct. A few wept
iu secret places. Among these were four
young men who were fitting for College,
as candidates for the ministry. They met
privately once a week, to pray for a revi
val. Their hearts wore drawn out espe
cially for a fellow student of great intellect
uul promise, whose opinions were scepti
cal, and whose influence upon the young
people was manifestly pernicious. Earn
estly did they wrestle at tlie throne of grace
on his behalf, and eagerly did they look for
i the answer, lie knew nothing of their so
licitude. None but themselves and God
’ were aware of their meeting for sucii a pur*
i pose.
A lief a few weeks. Tvnrr-pf Ttre fanrwv ns
invited by this very young friend to lake a’
j walk, and during that excursion, the disclo-
I sure was made that prayer had not been un
availing. The Spirit of’God had convinced
the sceptic of his etrors. and awakened a
desire to know and practise tlie truth. lie
i soon became truly broken in heart, and
found healing in the blood of Christ. A re
vival ensued, in which the churches were
quickened, and many sinners converted.
The information that tins young student,
apparently the most hopeless case, had be
come a convert to Christ, fell upon the ears
of the people with startling effect. L ; ke
thunder in a clear sky, it was an anomaly,
and took even Christians by surprise.—-
How could it be explained that a revival
had commenced, when there had been, ap
parently, none of the usual antecedents of
such an event?
An aged Christian, who witnessed many
seasons of gracious refreshing, spoke upon
tlie subject in a prayer meeting, and said,
“I have lived long, and seen many revivals,
and nevei knew such a blessing to come
but in answer to prayer. Brethren, lam
very certain that somebody has been pray
ing. 1 confess that I have been very de
linquent, and probably many of you can
make the same confession. But, when the
books shall be opened, you will find tiiat
what we now see was in answer to some
body's prayers.”
It was never known in that place who
bad offered these successful prayers. Three
of the little group are now in heaven. The
survivor is the pastor of a New England
church.
—O • <* •>-
WHAT A PASTOR MAY DO WITH lIIS PEN.
It has often filled us with surprise that so
few of the strong men of the pulpit employ
their pens for the press. A pastor some
times spends weeks iu elaborating thought
for a sermon which is delivered to a con
gregation of a few hundreds; and is then
thrown into the barrel ofold manuscripts.
The same thought condensed, and put into
| a popular form for a newspaper, might
reach and influence tens or hundreds of
thousands; and with as much hope of its
making abiding and saving impressions,per
haps, as when uttered from tlie pulpit, One
of our contributors, who is a veteran pastor
some time since formed tlie wise purpose
of devoting one day of the week to tlie
press; and he has become one of the most
widely known and useful of tho practical
essayists of the world.
| Take the illustration of this topic furnish*
, ed in the following facts respecting the cir
culation of the productions of the pen of
! another eminent pastor. Besides other
channels he has employed for reaching the
! public mind, eleven tracts and one small
volume by the Rev. Dr. have been is
i sued by the American Tract Society. Five
of these have had a circulation of 200,000
copies each, and one has reached 460,000
copies. Including the circulation of two
through the columns of the Messenger, the
aggregate number primed exceeds two
millions one hundred thousand copies, or
probably not far from 15,000,000 pages of
gospel truth, the product of a single mind,
THE TRUTH IX IiCVE.
But the biiiuence of that truth lias but com
menced,pud will only end with the confla
gration ol the world. Though useful and
belnvetMS a pastor, is it quite certain that
he has tipUione as much good to the race
by the press as by the pulpit? lias lie pro
bably doite any the less good in the pulpit
than ii he had, not preached through the
press? It s a glorious work to preach to a
thousand: mis; to write for millions of im
laoiiai-i/nkvtsis not a less glorious or less
responsible work.— .dm. Mss.
From tho Macnl nmn.
THE PRIZE FOUND AT LAST.
Some years ago, before the Karens had
any books, an intelligent Karen boy said
one day to his father, “Father* who made
this beautiful world, with its hills, moun
tains, valleys, brooks,rivers, plants, and all
the people and other animals that live on
this earth:’ Father, can you tell? I very
much want to know. He must be a very
powerful, wise and good being, 1 atn sure.
I don’t think the Idols which the Burmans
worship could do all this, for they never
move or steak any more than a dead
corpse.” “.\ly son,” said the father, “I
cannot answer your question. JNIy parents
used to say, Tah Iu k, s.ih, the t, tha, halt
malt t, tha, 0 Iu moo ko t, gait na, ta tah ko
ame tlch la it. God, who dwells in heaven,
and cannut ijie, made all things. But I can
not tell how they knew this, the Karens
have no books and are very ignorant. Per
haps tho BjJrmanscan toll yon more about
it, for they have books and priests, and
schools; bit the Karens are like the wild
deer in the forests, they know nothing but
just to get food. The Barmans know
much more than we do.”
A whj|o after this conversation, the lad,
being among some Burmans, and remem
bering tkat his father said they were wiser I
than th Karens, asked them the same
questioi which he had asked ins father.
1 he Bn mans, wit It the proud smile pecu
liar td’iAfidcls when they speak to those i
who at? inquiring after God, answered,
“Why! you little Karen fool! No one :
made tie world; it always existed and
every li iny upon it, except animals, are 1
naturalko jt just as leathers are to a bird, j
and tint to a lish. As to men and other ‘
jrniuujF.-'bey too hayc always existed kj
one ’slate, of transmigration or another, and
always will, till they get to be gods,—then
they \v II be annihilated and cense to exist.”
The boy was not satisfied with these an
swers, md lie asked the priests. They told
him th t the way to get knowledge is to do
merito ions deeds; he must worship the
pagod s. fast, make offerings to the priests,
repeat sentences of the bedagat, or sacred
books, and tlie like, and bis mind would
soon Income enlightened. Being a poor
Karcnilie hod little to give that would be
acceptable as offerings to the priests; hut,
thougit he, I can fast and worship the pa
godas] if that will do me any good. So he
went away to a retired pagoda, and after
worshi ping it, he climbed up into the niche
in the fide, which was made to place an
idol iu, and remained there a long time
wilhoti food, wishing that light would
come into his dark mind.
God who knows all hearts and is ever
gracious to those who seek hint, caused tho
missionary to pass that way and find him,
as he sit there half famished in tlie niche of
the pagoda. The missionary soon learned
who lui was. and why he was there. He
told hint about the Eternal God, and Jesus
Christ who died to save lost sinners. Tlie
lad listened with great attention. It was
just what lie wanted to hear. 110 soon
came down from the pagoda, and followed
the missionary home, and did not return to
his parents until he had obtained a hope in
Christ. Ilis name is Sctkyee. He long
since became a preacher of the gospel, and
delights to tell the Karens about die Eter
nal God, and how lie sent his Son into the
world to die on the cross for sinners.
Now, children, will you not help to leach
the dear Karen children wlmt you know
about the true God, so that they may meet
you in heaven. J. W.
4.
THE ILLITERATE ROBBER.
A gentleman passing late at night over
the Pont Neuf in Paris, was accosted by a
polite and seemingly suppliant stranger,
who asked him to read a paper which lie
had just picked up. The gentleman held up
liis lantern and complied. The following is
a translation of the lines :
Spc-ak riot a word v.-l.'-n tliis you’ve read,
Or ir, an instant you’ll be dead ;
Give np your money, watch and rings,
Or other valuable things;
Depart then quickly as you will,
Only remember silence still.
The gentleman thought it best to deliver
up his valuables ns required.
The robber was afterwards recognized
by the person robbed, and arrested, ilis
identity was positively sworn to, and the
following confession was made by the crim
inal : “My Lord, i confess that the evening
specified I met this gentleman on the Point
Neuf, and the transaction occurred as he
has related it, hut yet I am far from being
guilty. I cannot read ; I picked the paper
up ami thought it might be of consequeuce
Seeing that the gentleman had a lantern, I
begged him to do me the favor to read the
paper. lie complied, and then, to my sur
prise, he put his watch, rings and money
into my hand. I was so astonished that I
could not 3sk him what ho meant, and sup-
j posed the paper was of great value, and
that lie had given me Ids’ money, rings and
| watch to get rid of me. Thus, if any one
was wronged, it was I. and 1 hope justice
will be done me.” lie was acquitted.—
London Times.
—-
RYLWD AND THE INNKEEPER'! FAMILY.
The Rev. John Ryland, of Northampton
i being on a journey, was overtaken by a
violent storm, and compelled to take shelter
|in the first ion he came to. The people of
■ the house treated him with gloat kindnes
1 and hospitality. They would fain have
j showed him into the parlor, but being very
\ wet and cold, ho begged permission rather
to take a seat by the fireside with the fami
ly. The good old man was friendly, cheerful
and well stored with entertaining anec
dotes, and the family did their utmost to
make him comfortable: they all supped to
| gether, and both the residents and the
guests seemed mutually pleased with each
other. At length, when the house was
cleared, and the hour of rest approached,
the stranger appeared uneasy, and looked
tip every time the door opened, as if expect
ing the appearance of something essential
to his comfort. 11 is host informed him,
that his chamber was prepared whenever
he chose to retire. “But,” said he, “you
have not had your family together!” “Had
my family together! lor what purpose? I
don’t know what you mean;” said the I
landlord. “To read the Scriptures, and to i
pray with them,” replied the guest; “sure- !
iy you do not retire to rest in the omission j
of such duty.” The landlord confessed j
that be had never thought of such a thin cr . i
“Then, sir,” said Mr. R. “I must beg you j
to order my horse immediately.” The }
landlord and family entreated him not to |
expose himself to the inclemency of the j
weather at that late hour of the night; ob- j
serving that the storm was as violent as i
when he first came in. “May be so,” re- !
plied Mr. R. “but I bad rather brave the
storm than venture tosleep in a house where j
there is no prayer. Who can tell what 1
may befall 11s before morning? No, sir, I
dare not. slay.” The landlord still remon- ;
strated, and expressing great regret that he i
should oilend so agreeable a gentleman, at
last said, lie should have no objection to
“call his fatnilv together,” but lie should
Tliii inrov; wrnvji’CTvr *a.rr writur un. v
Mr. R. then proposd to conduct family j
worship, to which all readily consented.— j
The family was immediately assembled,
atid.tlien Mr. R. called for a Bible but no
such book could be produced. However
he was enabled to supply the deficiency, as i
he always carried a small B.blc or Testa- !
ment in his pocket. He read a portion of j
Scripture, and then prayed with much fer
vor, and solemnity, especially acknowledg
ing the preserving goodness of God, that j
none present had been struck dead by the j
storm, and imploring protection through
the night. He earnestly prayed that the
attention of all might be awakened to the
tilings belonging to their everlasting peace
and that the family might never again
meet in the morning, or separate at night
without prayer. When he arose from his
knees, almost every individual present was
bathed in tears, and the inquiry was awa
kened in several hearts—“ Sir, what must
we do to he saved?” Much interesting and
profitable conversation ensued. The fol
lowing morning, Mr. R. again conducted
family worship, and obtained from the land
lord a promise, that however feebly per
formed, it should not be in future omitted.
This day was indeed the beginning of days
to that family; most, if not all of them be
came decided and devoted followers of the
Lord Jesus Christ, and were the means of
diliusiug a knowledge of the gospel in a
neighborhood which had before been pro
verbially dark and.destitute.
A NOBLE CHARITY.
There cannot be found a belter example
than I have met with in reading some me
mories of the great and good Colston, the
founder of those excellent charities in Lon
don, Bristol, and elsewhere. I find this
passage in his life. It happened that one
of bis most richly laden vessels was so long
missing, and the violent storms having given
every reason to suppose she had perished,
that Colston gave her up for lost. Upon
this occasion, it is said, he did not lament
his unhappiness, as many are apt to do, and
perpetually count up the serious amount of
his losses; but, with dutiful submission, fell
upon his knees, and with thankfulness for
what Providence had been pleased to leave
him, and with the utmost resignation, relin
quished even the smallest hope of her re
covery. When, therefore, his people came
soon afterwards to tell him that his ship had
safely come to port, he did not show the
j signs of self-gratulation which his friends
j expected to sec. He was devoutly thank
i l'ul for the preservation of the lives of so
many seamen; hut as for the vessel and
I cargo, they were no longer his—he had re
! signed them—lie could not in conscience
take them back. lie looked upon all as
a gift of Providence to the poor; and as
! such, he sold the ship and merchandise—
j and most valuable they were—and, pray
, ing for a right guidance, distributed the
I proceeds to the poor. How beautiful is
such a charity ! Here is no false lustre
thrown upon the riches and goods oi this
world, that, rellecled, blind tho eyes that
| they see not aright. The conscience ofsucli
; a man as Colston was an arbiter even
J. T. BLAIN, Printer.
against himself, sat within a judgment to
put aside his worldly interest, and make a
steady light ;or il.selt to see by, where nat
urally was hither a glare or an obscurity,
that alike might bewilder less honest vision.
— Blackwood’s Magazine.
TIIE TRIAL OF WALDECK.
Benedict Francis Waldeck is perhaps
the most distinguished statesman now in the
north of Europe. He is among the Ger
mans what Mazzini was among the Ital
j lans; and Kossuth among the Hungarians.
He partakes ot all their liberalism, though
i less disposed than either to force things to
! revolutionary extremes. His patriotism is
a sentiment, bis love of constitutional liber
: *>; a passion, and his hope of reform in the
! dilapidated institutions of his father-land,
|
countrymen in the enjoyment of increased
civil, political and religious privileges, al
j most a conviction.
M aldeck has born at Munster, in West
phalia. He is now 47 years of age. Ho
! was educated at Gottingen, made the law
j iiis study, at the age of 26 received from
: the late King of Prussia an appointment to
an inferior judicial station in his native
j province. Thence, four years later, in 1532
| he was elevated to the post of Director of
i llie Provincial and City Court of Venlho,
iin the same province. In 1826, lie was,
i promoted to the more honorable position of
: Judge ot the Upper Tribunal, at Hamm,
! a | so I* l Westphalia. This station, after
| eight years service, lie exchanged for that
j of Assistant Judge in the Upper Tribunal,
in the capital, Berlin. In IS 46, he was ex
j cited to the highest judicial office in the
kingdom of Prussia—that of Judge of the
Supreme Tribunal.
His talents and well known incorrupti
ible integrity, led to bis nomination and
triumphant election to the National Assem
bly in 18 18. In that dignified body, his
liberal views placed him at once at the head
ol tlic“Lelt,” or Democratic party,and also
made him one of the Vice Presidents of the
Assembly. 01’tho labors of that Assem
bly, it is unnecessary to speak, as the reader
of this paper has been kept advised of the
most important of them from time to time
during the last twelve-months. It is. welt
KlWtf'rry rum win, WUJt 11 v(vl\HT tTfCllT rtlCtt
proved too liberal for the King and Minis
try, and that it was afterwards made the
basis of the one which is at this time un
dergoing revision in the Prussian Cham
bers.
In reference to Jacobi, whose voluntary
i surrender is mentioned by our correspon
dent, it may be statedthat he was acquited,
: the jury standing 9to 3, and that he lids,
j since been elected to the First Chamber of
j Prussia by one of the Rhine Districts.
The importance of these trials cannot be
overrated. They are like that of John
Hampden, in England,in their bearing upon
the cause of human progress throughout
Germany. The Liberal party is relieved
by a single stroke. The real wishes, de
signs and opinions of Waldeck and his
friends are spread abroad, attested by’ tho
solemn forms of a Court, and henceforth a
party creed, which is no other than the na
tional wishes, hopes and aspirations of eve
j ry lover of freedom, is emblazoned upon tho
banners oftlie Liberals. Surely the finger
!of God is to be seen in this.— Watch. <s• Ref.
CURIOUS CHURCH RELATION.
Hereford. —On Saturday evening, De
cember 1 Gill, Mr. White, the pastor oftlie
: Congregational church at Eigubrook Chap
el, announced, at a special meeting, his re
linquishment of the doctrine of Pedobap
: tisni. Mr. White attributes this result, not
to the perusal either of ancient or modern
works oftlie Baptist argument, but to an
: examination of the testimony ol'tltc early
Church on infant regeneration, and especi
ally to the study oftlie controversy between
Drs. Wnrdlaw and Halley, coinciding with
each of these writers in the opinion, that
J they have reciprocally destroyed eaqli oth
| er’s theory. Mr. White further professed
his willingness to resign his office, in con
; sequence of this alteration of his views,
if it seems good to the church. After de
! liberate consultation it was, at a subsequent
j meeting, proposed to the church by Mr.
Edmunds, Editor of the Hereford Times,
and seconded by Mr. Abloy, (Beacons,)
and resolved unanimously,—“That it is tho
opinion of this church, formed after prayer
and examination of the revealed will of
God, that the doctrine of infant baptism is
not a doctrine of vital importance to salva
tion, and, therefore, cannot properly be
made a test either of membership or minis
terial suitability; that belief in the funda
mental doctrines of the Gospel can alone
properly furnish such a test; that those
fundamental doctrines are the following :
Tho Deity .and sufficient atonement ot
Christ; the original and inherent depravity
of man; the justification of the sinner on
repentance through faith in the merits of
Christ alone; holiness of life, the only suf
ficient evidence of the genuineness of faith;
the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, and
their sufficiency as a rule of faith and prac
■ tice; and the Deity and work oftlie Holy
| Spirit as the producer of sanctification.”
The church compr ses one hundred and
twenty members, not half a dozen of whom
| are Baptists in sentiment.— Correspondence
’ of London Patriot.
Number 9.