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EST A B LISHED 1799. (S„ E S- FROM ATLANTA. Retrenchment—A Bill to Kednce the Governor’s Salary to s3,ooo—The Railroad Bill—Appointments. Atlanta, Ga., January 13,1877. The campaign of Retrenchment is fairly opened. Fry, of Fulton, introduced a bill reg ulating salaries and reducing all offi cers pay from the Governor down. The Governor’s is put at 53,000. The pay of members is reduced to §5 per day. Mr. James introduced a bill provid ing for the issuance of a series of six per cent, bonds to take the place of all maturing loads. Thft interest is now 8 and 7 per cent. Senator Reese introduced a bill mak ing the stoppage of trains by the strik ing employes of Railroad Companies a misdemeanor. Avery and Warren were appointed the Governor’s secretaries. No other appointments made yet. H. W. G. BY TELEGRAPH —TO THE— CONSTITUTIONALIST. Associated Press Dlepatohcß. FROM WASHINGTON. CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. What the Committees are Doing— Barnes in Limbo. Washington, January 13.—The joint Electoral Committee was in session until three o’clock. The report of the Senate proposition, telegraphed at noon, is credited in some quarters, with much speculation as to the leaky members. Barnes is comfortably quartered in the room of the Committee on Territo ries. Wm. A. Wheeler is here. David Dudley Field and Judge Law rence, of Ohio, has been added to the Committee on Privileges and Powers of the House. The New York Dispatch a Wild Specu lation—lnvestigating Mississippi and the Oregon Check. Washington, January 13.—1 tis as yet impossible legitimately or illegiti mately to obtain confirmation of the New York dispatch quoting the Washington special in reference to the Seuate Committee’s proposition for counting the electoral vote. It may be accepted as a shrewd approximation. Mr. Orton will appear before the bar of the House Monday. His present in tention appears to be to resist to the extent of ascertaining positively the rights of customers of the Western Union Telegraph Company to privacy of their dispatches. The Committee on Privileges and Powers of the House in counting the electoral vote have examined Secretary Chandler and Congressman Purman, of Florida. Late information warrants the state ment that the proposition of the .Sen ate Committee is a wild speculation. The Privileges and Elections Com mittee opened the investigation re garding the Mississippi election. Maj. Howard, of Jackson, knew of at least 200 colored persons, mostly Republi cans, who could not reach the polls on account of the crowd. Cashier Jordon, of the Third Nation al Bank, testified that he drew an £B,OOO check for transmission to Ore gon, at the instance of Wm. T. Pelton, Secretary of the National Democratic Committee. It is supposed the check was for political purposes, but only knows that the check was returned unused. Samuel J. Tilden is a director of the bank, and owns £OB,OOO worth of its stock. The witness protested against giving further information regarding persons interested in the bank. He gave infor mation regarding Mr. Tilden’s interest by leave of the officers of the bank. Committee Work—Secretary Chandler Testilies before the Committee on Elections aud Privileges. Washington, January 13.—Conflict ing statements having recently been published in regard to the action of the Senate committee on counting the electoral votes, inquiry was made to day in authoritative quarters, and it was positively ascertained that al though some of these publications con tain detached portions of several of the many propositions which have been discussed, noue of them embrace any complete plan that has been agreed to, or is likely to be agreed to, by either the Senate committee or the House committee. A member of the joiut committee, besides authorizing the foregoing state ment, says ; Various published propo sitions have been discussed freely by the committees, and portions of them may perhaps be agreed to, but only in connection with other and much more important propositions, which as yet have uot been hinted at in the public press.” He added: “AH publications up to the present time purporting to give the results of the Committee’s de liberations, are unauthorized, and may mislead the p iblic in regard to what is being done, or is likely to be done. Nei ther Committee has formally agreed upon any plan. Their joint sessions are being held for the pupose of freely interchanging opinions, with a view to arriving, if possible, at some agree ment, and tin re is hope that some sat isfactory agreement will be reached.” The Committees were in joint Bession to-day for about seven hours continu ously, except when the two branches separated once or twice for a brief con sultation. It has transpired that Secretary Chandler is before the Committee of the House on privileges, powers and duties of the House in secret session. Secretary Chandler testified that he had sent no dispatches in regard to the use of money, but had with regard to the use of troops. He declined to answer whether he.had sent this or these dispatches at his own instance, but de clined to answer on the ground that he was a Cabinet officer. He was given until Wednesday to consider whether he would answer. The power of the committee has been enlarged and the drift of present inquiry is into alleged conspiracy to count Hayes in. Detective Miller was examined to day, aud corroborates Major Richards and Detective McDavitt in regard to the conspiracy against Congressman Whitthorne. He implicates Murtaugh in an attempt to bribe a jury in the McGarraghan libel suit. MeGurraghau has a national reputation for his per sistent fight against the New Idria Quicksilver Company. The evidence bears sharply against Major Richards, his detectives and police for tolerance of gambling and social evil. THE ELECTORAL VOTE. HOW IT MAY BE COUNTED. The Latest Proposition for a Settle ment. New York, January 13. -A Wash ington special says the proposition of the Senate Electoral Committee, which was under consideration at a joint meeting of the Senate and House Com mittees yesterday, provides that the Senate shall on the day for the count ing of the vote meet with the House in the hall of the latter body. The Vice-President shall open all certifi cates and tellers appointed for the pur pose shall as usual read the record and sum up votes, but there are to be counted in the first place only returns to which no objection is made. Where there is one return only from a State, and that is objected to, the two Houses will determine whether it shall be counted, but the concurrence of both Houses will be required to reject any vote. Where two returns are made from one State, the dispute is to be referred to a commission or tribu nal, composed of nine members of the House and Senate and the four jus tices of the Supreme Court longest in the service. The niue members of the House and Senate are to be selected by the appointment of five Senators and five Representatives, and the dropping of one of the ten by drawing lots. The Justices who would become members of the Commission by the terms of the proposition, would be Nathan Clifford, of Maine; Noah A. Swayne, of Ohio; Samuel F. Miller, or Louisiana, and David Davis, of Illinois. This Com mission is to be authorized to deter mine all questions of dispute, their de cision to be fiual. Disputed votes hav ing been counted in the presenco of the House and Senate, in accordance with the decision of the Commission, and tha whole number of electoral votes having been summed up by tellers, the President of the Senate will announce the result iu the usual form, which will determine who is to be President of the United States. Justice Clifford is a Democratic Justice, Swayne and Mil ler Republicans. Justice Davis was also appointed by Presi dent Lincoln. He has been known for several years as a liberal Republican. The bill has not the unani mous approval of the Senate commit tee. If reports may be believed, Sen ators Morton and Freliughuysen gave very icserved and reluctant consent to the proposition. It has become clear, however, that no arrangement could be made between the two Houses which would determine positively, ia advance of the count, who would be elected. There is no middle ground of compro mise on which the two Houses cau come together. There can be no agree ment, in fact, unless the determination of the questions in dispute is submtt tod to some fair and able tribunal outside of Congress, whose ac tion cannot be absolutely fore told. The Senate proposition is based on the bill passe:l by the Senate iu year 1800, when all disputes con cerning tho Presidential oleotions were yet mere abstractions. The biil au thorized the appointment of six mem bers of the Senate and six from the House to act with the Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court or, in case of his absence, the Justice of the longest ser vice who might be in Washington. This was to constitute the grand com mittee to hear aud settle all disputes. The bill was lost by disagreement be tween the two Houses. The House Committee are said to look upon the proposition with some favor, though the prospects for a final agreement can’t be now estimated. tm 9 JfiS W ORLEANS. Packard Seeking Aid from the Bayo net. New Orleans, January 13. —Packard has laid before Gen. Auger, Badger’s failure, by defiance of Pinehback and the presence of Nicholls’ militia, to ar rest members of the Republican Sen ate who remain absent from that body. What Gen. Auger Says Packard’s Legislature Falling to Pieces. New Orleans, Jauuary 13.— G9n. Auger says there is no change iu the situation or in his orders relative to rival parties. Senator Breaux, who left the Repub lican Senate, was stvorn into the Dem ocratic Senate. Representative Brown, of Vernon, also left the Republican House and wrote a letter to the Demo cratic House. Although he was re turned as elected by the Returning Board, he did not believe hejwas elect ed and would not ask for a seat. The Democratic Legislature had an other battle for United States Senator, but without a choice. The Senatorial Question—Republican and Democratic Caucusses— Re porter* Combination. New Orleans, January 13. — Judge Shaw has opened the Superior Civil Court in the State House building. Ho has the seal aud minute book of the Court, while the Nieholls Government hold the former Court roc m. The Times extra, referring to the Democratic Legislature, says the United States Senatorial question per plexes the members not a little, and it seems to be generally understood that a daily joint baliot is but a mock form to conform to existing laws. Some of the members seem to think that in stead of electing a Democrat, they would gain more now by selecting a Liberal Republican. Iu connection with this subject, it is alleged that combinations are being effected whero by James F. Casey, or some prominent Republican with influence at Washing ton, will be selected. Caucusses of Republican and Demo cratic members are reported, at which the matter has been freely discussed, and it is expected that in a few days all arrangements necessary will have beeu effected. FROM MINNESOTA* Another Shafiy Elector. St. Paul, January 12.—1n the Senate to-day, Mr. Wilkinson (Dem.) offered the following resolution: That the Committee on Judiciary be instructed to investigate into the eligibility of the several Presidential electors, and that said committee shall have power to send for persons and papers. The facts which give rise to this resolution are that A. K. Tinsett, one of the Presidential electors, it is claimed, is not legally a citizen of the United States. GOVERNOR COLQUITT. HIS INAUGURAL. A Wise and Patriotic Address. The House was called to order by Speaker Bacon at half-past eleven o’clock, and it continued in session without transacting any business until noon, when the Senate appeared at the door and was admitted. After the Senate was seated, Gov. Smith and Gen. Colquitt entered the hall followed by the Judge of the Su preme Court, Senator Norwood, Gen. Toombs, Gov. Brown, Dr. Miller, Judge Lochrane, Judge Herschel Y. Johnson, Judge Peeples, Judge Schley, Judge Underwood, Judge Martin Crawford, Judge Bartlett and the Stat? officers. As this procession of distin guished citizens moved up the aisle the large crowd gave vent to its en thusiasm in long and continued ap plause. President Lester presented Gen. Colquitt as the Governor elect, when he arose amid cheers and spoke as follows : THE INAUGURAL. Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives : In accordance with the Constitution and laws of the State, 1 appear before you to take the oath of office as Gov ernor of Georgia for the next four years. No edict of an autocrat con venes us in this hall to-day; no coer cion—whether it comes from a master, or the exigencies of a faction, or the peril of the State—has forced us to assemble for this ceremony. But self marshalled, we are here to witness the peaceful obange of public administra tion; the dutiful aud dignified surren der of power by one public servant, and the assumption of official respon sibility by another. The custom of my predecessors, as as well as my deep sense of gratitude to the people, demand from me a few words expressive or that gratitude, and indicating, in general terms, the policy which the times seem to de maud. The unprecedented majority which called me here overwhelms me with thankfulness. Language fails me in the attempt to give it adequate ex pression. It shall bo my effort to prove the depth of my gratitude by a com plete devotion to the public interests committed to me, and by an unremit ting care that neither the honor nor the welfare of this beloved Common wealth shall suffer by the confidence you have reposed iu me as the servant of the State. The Executive Govern ment of a free, great and prosperous Commonwealth like Georgia, with its million aud a quarter of intelligent in habitants, affords for the exercise of patriotic Statesmanship, a sphere of honorable public service as exalted aud comprehensive as the ambition of any man could desire. Diffident of my ability, and distrust ing my own capacity for this high aud holy service, whilst I solicit your coun sels and co-operation, I shall reverent ly invoke the aid of Divine Providence to enable mo to fulfill tho solemn obli gations wich I am now to assume. The allusion to the large majority by which I was elected—tho largest ever before given ia the State on a similar occasion—has been made, not in any vain spirit of personal triumph, but to deduce from the magnitude of that majority two important public lessons. It exhibited the intense and universal interest felt by tho masses of our peo ple in this State, in securing at the bal lot box the victory of those who are contending for the liberty and rights of the citizen and the limitations of the Constitution. Never before in Georgia has there been a more profound con ception of the true principles of Con stitutional Government, a more wide spread sensibility to the dangers threat ening our free institutions, or a more ardent and conscientious sympathy with the friends of tfie Constitutional Union. This noble devotion of our people to a true Republic of liberty and law, has pervaded all sections of the State and animated all classes of our population. It has given such an ex pression of sincere confidence in the legitimate methods of lawful election, as leaves no doubt of our fidelity to our constitutional convictions aud the constitutional modes of giving thwn utterance and effect. In the grand popular majority of the recent Gubernatorial election is to be read the overwhelming inter est that Georgians feel in the great issues now convulsing the country, and their determined purpose to keep in alignment with the patriotic millions of our Northern friends, who are seeking by the peaceful instrumentality of lawful suffrage to re-establish good government under the undisputed su premacy of the Federal Constitution. I but speak my own deep-felt senti ment, and echo the public voice of Georgia, when I say that in all the complications of national politics, now so replete with fevered interest, we stand in immovable sympathy with the elected exponent of constitutional lib erty, retrenchment and reform. We will adhere to him and his co-laborers with the fidelity due to the champion of a righteous cause in every patriotic endeavor they may make to secure the honest aud unmistakable will of a large majority of the American people, con stitutionally expressed at the polls. I refer with especial pleasure to the second lesson of our gratifyiugand un precedented majority in the Guberna torial contest, repeated no less decis ively in the Presidential election in our State. As the benefits of local self-govern ment have been experienced, and the baleful influence of malicious interfer ence has been withdrawn, the colored people have recognized that our home roiks are their true friends, and hence they have fraternized and acted with us politically. Large numbers voted with us, and swelled the Gubernatorial and Presidential majorities beyond all precedent. They have witnessed in all their material interests the effects of a good home government, adminis tered by people wedded with them to the same soil, and whose interests are all interwoven with their own. Of no right has the humblest of them been deprived. The advancement of the race in knowledge and in civilization has been, and shall continue to be, a special trust and solemn duty. Hence cordial relations, so natural and neces sary both to them and to the whites, are being rapidly and permanently es tablished, and quiet and peace and sympathy between the races pervade the tntire State. Ihe people of this entire country have but to look, and they cannot fail to see how the more powerful race, AUGUSTA, GA., SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 1817. when left to its own sense of right and policy, will treat the colored citizen, and how, when thus free to act, tho races feel for each other a mutual in terest, pursue a common course, and enjoy a reciprocal prosperity. How wise were the fathers when they rested the Constitution upon the solid pillars of local self-government in the States ! Georgia, gentlemen, is the home of all Georgians, of every race, color and condition; her local government is the government of us all; her future for weal or woe awaits us and our fami lies, and the nobler feeling of our nature, as well as the hard common sense of the self-interest of all, demand the united political action of all. But to pass to other matters of do mestic policy wherein all Georgians have a common and vital interest. Not only were constitutional and pdiitical liberty talismanic words of power in the late great contest, but retrench ment and reform shone conspicuously on all the banners that heralded the victory of the friends of constitutional liberty at the polls. The eyes of ail Americans look with confidence to the great reformer just elected Pres ident, to reform tbe National Admin istration. Let us, gentlemen, look at home, and whilst my own immediate prede cessor and your individual predecess ors, have not been unmindful of their duty, let us remember that times have changed, aud values of all kinds have sunk and are still sinking. We must further retrench, we must reform yet more. It is our imperative duty to lighten the public burdens. Twenty years ago the taxable property iu Geor gia was over five hundred millions of dollars. To-day it is only two hundred and fifty millions. Then the taxation was only a half a million—to-day it is a miilion and a quarter. With less than half the property, we have nearly three times the taxation. With prop erty thus depreciated, and continuing to depreciate as it has done for the last two or three years, it is clear that our revenues will diminish in the same proportion, and our income will not meet our obligations. These obliga tions, gentlemon, are sacred. The interest on our debt, now I about eleven millions, must and ' will be paid, and our credit at any and | every sacrifice must be maintained. ■ The current expenses of the State gov ernment must be promptly met. Our charitable institutions must be kept up. In this exigency, we are driven to the alternatives—retrenchment or increas ed taxation. The latter must be avoid ed, if possible. I invite your earnest i attention to the former, and now en- ] gage that in all methods which your experience and wisdom may devise for J saving the people from increased bur dens, I will most cordially co-operate with you. Let us not wait for grand j occasions or for instances of prodigious | waste in which to begin our reforming ' economy. If we cannot save large ! sums, let us see to it that the smallest ! leaks, which are wasting the public treasure, if there he such, shall be, stopped. In such an industrial death and financial pressure as we are uow experiencing, a system embracing small, economies is not to be dispised or neg j iected. Rigidly honest expenditure t tho public administration, State policy! demands. But, besides this, a moral effort will be secured by it, which will be of incalculable benefit. While we give the whole financial world tho fullest guarantee of our sol vency by such a policy, we, at the same time, place before every house hold in the State an example worthy of all imitation. We rebuke, by this ex- j ample, a wasteful aud ostentations ex penditure among our people, which as surely wrecks the substance and pros perity of the homo as it destroys the more imposing structure called the public credit. The counties and muni cipalities of the State will catch the inspiration, and we will again see the day when official probity will be the universal rule, and taxation never draw another dollar from the produ cers’ pocket to be wasted or misap propriated. Our work is before us, gentlemen, and a grand achievement is within our grasp. That work is tho restoration of a vast heritage, which a sad fortune has sorely wasted and damaged. It is to evoke a thousand splendid re sources now unutilized. It is to main tain the proudest and noblest tradi tions—an honor unsullied—-the status of as worthy and respectable a con stituency as exists, and its position by the side of the most advanced of Com monwealths. This labor, vast as it is, exacts no impossible thing at our hands. With the blessing of Heaven and tho agencies of clear beads and pure hearts, it may be accomplished. Again solemnly invoking tno Divine aid upon our efforts to serve our be loved State, I now take the oath of office. At the conclusion of these remarks Gen. Colquitt took the oath of office, aud was declared by President Lester the lawful Governor of Georgia for the next four years. After the inauguration the Senate re tired to its chamber, and both Houses adjourned. Governor Colquitt was immediately congratulated by a largo number of friends. The large crowd slowly dis persed.. and the imposing occasion thus passed, with nothing to mar its inter est or beauty. CASUALTIES, Snow Blockake Conflagrations -loe Gorges Smashing- Steamboats. SanEMECXADy, January 13.—N0 trains either way since ten o’clock. * Snow plows are clearing the track. St. Catharine, Ont., January 13. The Willard Yale Manufacturing Com pany’s works burned. Loss ,8125,000, Scranton, Pa., January 13.—Rx change block burned. Loss 8100,000, including the Young Men’s Christian Association library, valued at 85,000, Cincinnati, January 13. —The ioe in the river started again about midnight, but soon gorged again. The steamer Andes was sunk. No other boats were inj ured. The weather has turned colder, and if it continues no further move ment of "be ice is expeoted. The Andes was; valued at 821,000. Cincinnati, January 13.—Cold and cloudy. No further indications of a breaking of the gorge here. It is thought the steamer Andes sunk last night, but can be raised if there is no further movement in the ioe. fcjhe has only a quarter cargo aboard, which can be saved. The damaged stern wheel steamer, Mary Miller, was forced aground, but the position of the Andes protects her from the ice. The G lien City had a nrrrow escape, tne ice forcing her hard against the steamer Telegraph, crushing the fan tail of Gold City, and pushing her hard aground. The Ludlow, ferry boat, was carried away from her moorings and swept down to the bend south of the city by moving ice at midnight. It is that the damage to shipping will kp over 8100,000, A FINE SERMON. We take great pleasure iu piesenting to our many readers the following ab!e sermon, delivered by Rev. C. A. Evans, of this city, at the dedication of Trinity (Methodist) Church, Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday,3lst ult. It breathes a pure, generous, Christian spirit, and cannot fail to do mueh to advance the cause of that Great King whose zealous servant the author is, and who, with a godly life and eloquent I tongue, serves well the Master : THE DEDICATION SERMON was preached by Rev. G. A. Evans, of Augusta. Texl-I speak concerning Christ and the Church. Eph 5; 23. Christ and the church which even the archangel might covet. His arch i angelic intellect could be charged with no greater theme, nor could his celest ial heart be freighted with a richer joy than the ministry to man of the mys teries of redemption. I suppose that there is no spot of earth so distant or so drear as to preclude his mission to its lonely inhabitants to tell them of “Christ aud his church.’’ I suppose that there is ho human creature so fallen or forlorn as to be below or beyond the attempt of this angelic ministry to reach. No difficulties would baffle him ; no dangers dismay him ; nothing j would divert him ffbm executing the , grand commission, “Go preach the gospel to every creature!” Taking foi j his text tho announcement to the i shepherds he would make the world | ring with the tiding, “Uuto you is born ! a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” } Such would be the glory of an angel in ; the privilege which “a man of like j passions with yourselves” possesses to day. 1 am here, commissioned to speak concerning Christ and His church. It is a spectacle both singular and sublime which an assembly of human beings presents when men meet to give audience to one who shall speak on this great question. The spokesman speaks on behalf of Christ, as if He ueeded man’s defense 1 He justifies the ways of God to man, as if suspicion of quiet or folly beclouded the Al mignty’s dazzling throne! Ho must display the glories of the Church and plead with the sinning human subject as if all tho condesceulion in the scheme of salvation came from man, and all its bliss and glory accrued to God ! Thus the spectacle is singular, because no other assemblies discuss such subjects iu such a manner, and it is sublime be cause these discussions are of such trauscendant moment. Indeed, the general subject matter presented by tae text is of all-absorbing interest. The world is constrained to take notice of the existence of the Church of Christ, of its vast designs and far reachiug influence. It cannot be ig nored. Its institutions rise in every land; its ministers are scattered abroad throughout the world; its doetriues demand and obtain universal audience. Hence the Church and the religion which it expounds are the subjects of both the wisest and wildest specula tions of the human mind. They eugage the intensest thought of this" present age. Noon-tide light begins to pour upon their pages, aud anxious, earnest men are gazing eagerly into their de veloping glories. This absorbed interest in this mo mentous question is not peculiar, how ever, to this age. Other ages have felt somewhat the same attractions. It seems that even the prophets did not fully see the great import of their own predictions, and grew intensely anxious to search “the miud of the spirit” concerning Christ and His church. They were oouscious of the siirriug within themselves of the prophetic fire. Moved by that they uttered deep sayings concerning the sufferings of Christ, the glory that should follow, and the grace of God to the gentile world. But their own say ings seems dark to themselves, and “they inquired and searched dilli gently” to know their vast significance. Behoid Isaiah pondering as he writes the mysterious words, “He was a mau of sorrow,” etc—over which words the minister of Queen Candaoe subse quently pored uutil Phillip “preached uuto him Jesus.” See Daniel by the bank of the great river Hiddehel, lis tening to the revelations erf the angel concerning tho church and the world to come, aud wondering what it aii signified. So the inspired seers themselves wero .anxious Inquirers concerning Christ and His Church. But is this interest confined alone to man and time? Have we any basis tor belief that other audiences than those like this assembled here to-day meet to speak and hear concerning Christ and His church ? I can answer that question. I am authorized by Holy Writ to di rect your attention to yonder group of angels engaged in earnest thought and talk. They are part of that host of the sons of Qbd who shouted for joy when they saw the earliest worlds fly ol!f from His Angers and wheel oq in their courses with rhythmical motion. They have studied with devout atteotiou the pro cesses of providence in those creative Currents, whjoh, flowing through eternal space, constantly throw off upon their shores some new work of God. In this subflme research they haye ascended step by step the brilliant heights of su pernatural kuowledge, until their vast angelic intellects blaze with the beams that come even from God Almighty’s throne. Their insatiate thirst for in formation has been fostered and fed in the universe of created things. What ever could gratify or expand their mighty minds; whatever could en trance or uplift their celestial imagina tions they had enioyed through oycles of ages, they have their dwelling place amidst exalted mysteries, and there, on such fields, in such employ ments, they have lived for a terra of existence that would seem to our finite conception an eternity | Can it be that anything pertaining to man could ex cite the attention of those angels ? They bend with the weight of thought. Observe tbeir kindling eyes flashing quick successive gleams of intelligence as fact after fact un folds. Hear their words of testimony, their reasoning and their deep con? jectures. What is it that thus eorapts angelic attention ? It is our theme to day ; It is Christ and His church. It is the mystery of redemption ! The sweet and wondrous scheme of God in Christ reconciling the world untQ Him self ! “Which things the angels desire to look into." They ponder the plans of God concerning Christ and His church. With swift add tireless tfley ascepd ’"the heights -of this great argument.” IJp, up higher, higher! and yet beyond them stretched the lofty height of wisdom and goodness of God ib redemption. They dea<||ad deep, deep into the solemn and silent iepihs of the great mystery, and gaze awe-struck on yet profounder depths. They take the morning’s wings and fly to fiud the verge of redeeming love; but oh, there are no limits, no bounda ries to this amazing mystery “concern ing Christ aud His Church.” They do uot “comprehend with all saints what is the 4 height of love Divine,” and yet they wonder and worship where short sighted man turns skeptic and wrecks his soul on the rock of infidelity. The text permits very considerable I range of reflection. Even as it is lim ited by the context we find the field of observation ample and varied. It is introduced by St. Paul in his argument on the near and tender relation of hus band and wife, in which he finds many vivid and beautiful illustrations of the mystical union that is between Christ and his church. These views of the apostle concerning tho relation of the Divine Twain—intimate, tender, Indis soluble, eternal—provokes the inquiry which shall be made to-day, into what the church was and is, and shall be through Christ, her living head. There is a first question concerning Christ and the church which the words and structure of the text itself suggests: A leading inquiry pushes itself fore most of all othors and presses its claim on the attention. The question is concerning tho source of the church or all ages itself. Whence is it ? Is it from heaven, or from men ? There is only one auswer that can bo given to this question. The answer would seem arrogaut were it not for the evidence bj which it is supported; it may sound dog- matic to tho disciple of material philos ophy; but it is certainly sublime—“ God founded the church.” It exists by Di viue right! It is of heavenly origin ! From the throne of the Highest burst this light ! From the mount of God sprang the crystal river of salvation. Everything connected with the church seems to have come down from heaven. Its laws, its forms, its powers are all from above. The tables of the law, written by the finger of God, were delivered into onr hands from on high. The furniture of tho tabernacle was made according to form. Angels brought tbe tidings to the shepherds. A heavenly light led the Chaldeau sages to the infant Christ. And above all its living head came in an eternal Sonship from the bosom of the Father, and the Holy Ghost was sent down from heaven to be its inspi ration, comfort and joy forever. There are those who see in certain words of Jesus to Peter the building of the church upon a human basis. But I cannot think that tho Christian church is founded upon a man, even if that man be Simon Peter himself. My own humanity protests against a basis so frail, so finite, so insecure. I kuow 'of no quality strictly human on which such a superstructure might be raised. I know of no platform of merely hu man traits sufficiently broaJ, firm, and self-sustaining to be made the proper basis of a religion for the race. It is reasonable that an institution which pertains to time and mateiial thiners might rise into existence and be sus tained by human agencies alone. But for the basis of an institution that per tains to eternity aud to spiritual in terests, tfiut embraces in its scheme the beings and the affairs of three distiuct worlds, that looks to a perpetuity that parallels tho ondless current of eternity—for the corner stone, the foundation rock of such ao institution, give me something better than a man whose breath is in his nos trils, whose infirmities are his shame, who is crushed before tua soft tread of the moth! The original glory of our manhood had Adam for its corner stone, and we know the result. Not only revelators testify, but we ourselves 1 also are witnesses of the fall of that first temple. Its ruins rot in all hu man nature, yet othor religions have been founded in fancy, or policy, or su perstition, and in their turns have passed away. Even the Jewish theoc racy, though given to man from God,! having Moses and the prophets as its i groundwork, gave way before that de struction that sooner or later wastes ' all temporal institutions. But the Christian Church is indeed founded upon a Rock, and the Rock is Jesus, “the Christ, tho Son of the living God.” Thus the eburh, whether of yester day, or of to-day, or or tho future, owes its existence unto Him who loved it and gave Himself for it. He is its lire, its power, its hope. Let me next speak concerning the three phases of that church, which is like its divine author of yesterday, to-day and forovor. Tho church in ali time is one churob. But it has a Trin ity of manifestations. It was; it is; it is to be, It is yesterday, to-day. for ever. • L The church of the past—lts hal lowed form appears amidst the antede luvian haze, indistinctly outlined by its siugle rite—the woman's seed, by its three great names, Abol. Enoch, Noah. Drawing nearer out or the dimmest of those far off days, behold this same divino form appearing in patriarchal traditions, transmitted from sire to son, and in altars of sacrifice. In one land a man of Uz, named Job, illustrates that church. In another land a man named Abram was of that faith. In another land there was | a prince titled Meichiaeflek. who was ' also a priest of the Most High God. I And so abroad over the world there were many then who feared Qod and worked righteousness, and were accept ed of Him. Another stage or two of progress made by this advancing church brought it into clear historic light, and we can look now upon its form and spirit as they were moulded by the ‘flaw that came by Moses.” Emerging from pre historic obscurity and casting off its ancient austerity, the church put on splendid ritualistic attire, at robed it self anew behind the cloud of Sinai with dazzling glories received direct from heaven. There was committed to Jt the or.ides of (fad in trust. Thence it flashed afar across the untravelled leagues of time to come, the pledges and prophecies of a newer and higher evolution of itself. It become a Zion beautiful for situation and the joy of the whole earth. But it was a glory that must pass away. Why could not the Mosaic church remain ? I. Because it was legalistic. It demanded obedience to the letter of the law as the ground of salvation, and Uehce saved no one, but condemned all. 2. Because It was ritualistic. Ry sign and ceremony it spited the child hood of the world, but no other age. Its types taught tfle untutored, but they perished when the spiritual truth appeared in tho fullness of times; these all belong to the past. Ritualism is, therefore, out of date. It is an ojd bottle tflg,t cannot contain the new Wine. It is an old style that cannot be restored without killiug those who adopt it. Paul’s argument aod il fllustration from the case of tho bpnd son and the free son of Abraham set this question. Bays he, the Jem salem of the past, like Agar, was in bondage with her children. Both church and members were slaves to dead forms. But Jerusalem is above (which is now), is free ; it is the church of grace, not of iaw, and is the mother of us all. 3. This Mosaic church passed also, because it was not cosmopolitan, and could not be come so. It was given to one na tion, for example. It had no elasticity, was not missionary and yielded to the church that is adapted to the race. 4. It was not intended to be perma nent. Transient itself, it was designed to usher in a better hope, and lead a groping world to find its light and life in Jesus Christ. And so its taber nacles dissolved—its unsubstantial pageant faded, and in its place ap peared another brighter and more beautiful form of that same church our dear Redeemer bought with his own precious blood. The church of to-day! 2. The church of to-day. It is called for distinction sake the Christian church. But the church of yesterday is as much the church of Christ. The words to-day, as often used in Scrip ture, apply to the Christian dispensa tion. Thus, “to-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts as in the day of the provocation in the wilder ness.” And so also Jesus said to the pardoned malefactor, “to-day, thou shalt be with me in Paradise that is, in this very period of my kingdom wh will be together in glory. So the church of Christ in this entire age is tho church of to-day. The night is 1 spent, shadow aud symbol are gone, the day of grace and truth is come. I will pass by the earlier hours of i this church in order that wo may at once consider questions that now confront the people of God and demand attention. There are great questions concerning Christ and the church which, in this present day, particularly press upon our consideration. They aro issues that must aud will be fully met. And if the conflicts over these questions are the pattering skirmish Are of the great intellectual and spiritual battle or Armagedon, we may nevertheless deploy and face the foe aud enter the fight without fear. For, when the smoko of the great fight shall have rolled away, the field will show that the great victory is won, and that the kingdom of our Lord is come. Arnoug these questions is that of Christian unity. We are taunted for our diversity. Our enemies say we cannot agree. Doos not Christianity, in its external arrangements for tho world’s conquest, really seem like the legions of a grand army in broken or der rather than like tho same legions in marshal array ? When the prophet of Midian, Ba laam, the son of Beor, bent his gaze from the heights of Moab and beheld the Lord’s people camped upon its plains, he was entranced by his vision of order, unity and beauty. And he said, how goodly are thy tents, O, Jacob, aud thy tabernacles, O, Israel] as tho valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river, us the trees of aloes which tho Lord hath planted, and as cedars beside the waters.” What generous Chris:iau heart does not open like the heart of this old prophet to the beams of Christian biotherhood . J Who does not respond with joy to the hope that all the churches shall beoome one ? This question of unity arises in many forms. It is suggested bv many things. There is a lessening of differences and distances in our day. Rapidity of tran sit by means of steam and the flash of oommunion by the eleotrio agent shrink the intervening oceans and shrivel the mountains that have kept peoples apart. Languages begin to di minish in number, dialects to disappear and great tongues to blend. The very flash of our old controversial fire as we gave and took tbeologioal blows and knocks in the dark has revealed to us that friend was fighting with friend, and the ory of the wounded made known a brother’s voice and showed that fraternal blood had been drawn in our eeolesiastical battles. Besides there is work for the church to do that awaits the necessary unification to ac complish it. There is a world wide call for an effective unity of Christian consecrativo powers; not Tor uniformity, but for unity; not for the shadow or the form, but for the subsiance and tho power. And, for on“, I bplieve that the church will have grace to meet this question and solve it in the faoo of the world. For kin dred to this question of unity, and very dependent on its proper settlement, is i another of transcendent Importance. It is the union of tho Christian ohurcb in the work of converting all the world to Christ. It is tho imposing work of world-wide evangelism. This is thought to be the century when the church shall fully put on the old apostolic spirit. The twain wings of the prophetio ser aphim with which “he did fly’’ begin to expand and the feathers nestle with tfle missionary desire. Again; What influence should the church exert on national life? Must it pretermit all effort to mould the man ners or shape the civilization or guide the legislation of the country, and yield all right to foster the education of Children ? In our recoil from the old error of binding church and state together, shall we shrink from ali duties which the church,as such, owes to society? By its very principles it guarantees liberty, justfae and peace. It professes to be a powerful lever in this human mass. Ought not the peo ple of God to make themselves felt in national affaire ? May not they and their pulpits speak, not as partisans, but as patriots; not to stir up strife, but to show the way to peace ? There is another living question that is now on many tongues. What shall be done with tho conflict between the church and science? It is a marvel lous thing that this question bas ever been raised at all 1 (Xu what authority baa any assumed that there is a con flict between tho truths of revelauou and the truths of science. Not on the authority of revelation, for it affirms that the heavens declare the glory of God, and oafis on natural things to adore His name. N°t on the authority of nature’s eloquent tongue and varied testimony, for its discovered laws are in haimoqy with all revelation, and as It unfolds its dainty secrets, to the quest of man they, too, become wit nesses of the sacred truth. The ohurch is the relentless foe of sophism, but it is the unchangeable friend of science. It is the trustee of all truth. Not one glorious fact in nature, not one golden truth in science belongs tc skepticism. They are all the crown jewels that be long to the flings and priests of thb di vine household. AH disoovery in the broad field of nature will develop the treasure hidden in the pages of God’s written word. Ry natural things we shall from age to age interpret spirit ual truths more clearf,-. The church is in no conflict with science and can never he. But must | speak of ffie church of SIX DOLLARS A YEAR to-day as if it were the inhabitant of ear.haloue; ustruggicr in the storm of tune; a debater of great earthly questions; striving only for temporal masteries? The church of to-day is not altogether of the earth. The earth is not the boundary of the inheritance of the people of God. They form a family amidst the masses of mankind but there is a part of the housetiold of faith in another home. The greater and the better part of the church is to-day in the kingdom of heaven. There in harmony meet. Their Savior and brethren transported to They came and are coming still from earths four quarters to sit down in the kingdom of God. An entrance is ministered unto them abundantly The crowns have displaced the crosses, and the pallid hue of care, disease and death has been succeeded by the sweet blush of surprise, aud then by heaven’s perpetual bloom I hear a voice from heaven saying: Blessed are the dead who die In the Lord ! \nc who are those that are thus ar rayed in all the glory of heaven ? Thev are members of tho bodv of Christ which is His church. Some of them you knew well on earth, and did most dearly love. Some of them went from the service of this church and from tho homes of this congregation to their re wards in glory. They are what you call “your beloved dead.” Your kin dred close to you by earthly ties closer still in this eternal bond. Your children given, taken to be of God s family in heaven. Your fathers, your mothers, who uwuit your comiug. Oh eternity! Oh, heaven! So far, near, so full 0 f those we love! 1 look up, aud cau almost f-ee! Would that the blue veil could part sometimes and give mo just a glimpse of the great company of heaven! I put forth my trembling hand to push the goideu gates again and seem sometimes to feel them yielding to my pressure as if they were about to awing apart and show me the very “glory of the Lord.” I can almost hear, sometimes, the an thems of rapture which unceasingly roll, and see “the smile of my Lord which is the feast of the soul.” Some times my heart almost breaks with its longing to be there. Jerusalem, my happy home Name ever dear to me; o lien shall my labors have an end m hoaveu and ueace and thee! There happier bowers than Eden's bloom Nor siu nor sorrow know ’ f thro ’ lude aiul stormy seas I onward press to thee! Dailv Constitutionalist, st> per year. FOREIGN DISPATCHES. A TOUGH TURKEY. Probable Failure of the Conference - Cuban Piracy. i London, January 13.-All the corros pondeuts of London papers consider i the failure of the Conference probable. I The attitude of tlie Turks is unyie a nd mg. J u i Washinotok, Jauuaiy 13.—A telegram from Havana, dated the 12tb, and re ceived in this city, says that tho for ruer bpaaish merchant steamer, Mon tezuina, captured by Cubau insurgents near 1 orto Rico, and converted into a pirate vessel, called the “Cespedes ” 1 has been burned by the Cuban pirates at the near approach of the Spanish war steamer, Jorge Juan, that was giviug her chase. Before the Jorge Juan reached the burning vessel the pirates bad fled in boats to the nearest coast, which is believed to be that of \ enezuela. The Jorge Juan picked up and took on board twenty-four of tho former crew of the Montezuma, cap tured aud kept as prisoners by the Oubcins a Russia Girding Up Her Loins. Sx. Pelkusbcbo, January 13.—Tho Czar has written to the Grand Duke ; Nicholas, the Minister of War and va rious Generals thanking them for tho I successful exertions to promptly mo j bilize and concentrate the army. | St. Petersbcbu, January 13.—The Oolos says it is believed the Porto Is simply playing with the further concessions by the Powers will 1 only increase Turkish arrogance. Russia s self respect demands that ne gotiations be prolonged no further, | but energetic measures, such as Gen! IgnatkfT recalled, be adopted. The more determined Russia’s attitude, tho , sooner peaco will be secured. Burning of the Steamer Montezuma. Havana, January 13.—The steamer Montezuma, captured on the 27th of November by tho Cuban insurgents, has been burned on the Honduras coast by her captors, who escaped. The Spaniards on board were saved by a Spanish man-of-war, and have ar rived at Cienf uegog. Daily Constitutionalist, $6 per yea r. FROM BOSTON. Bulldozing a Steamship. Boston, January 13.—1n the U. S. District Court libel was plead by coun sel for John Maguire, of New York, owner of the steamer Montgomery, against the steamer Seminole. Dama ges were laid at from £58,000 to 300,- 000. Libel is to recover for loss of vessel by collision with the Seminole off Cape May. The charge is that the accident was caused by negligence on the part of the commsuder of the Sem inole. An attachment was placed on the Semffiole, which is still at this port. Daily Constitutionalist. §0 per year. The Russian Fleet. Noufolk, January 13.—The Russian frigate Soetiaud, arrived here this morning and anchored near Fort Nor folk. Upon her arrival she gave a salute, which was returned by the United States steamer Powhattan. The Soetland is commanded by the Grand Duke Alexis and is the flag ship of the Russian squadron, Ad miral Boutakoff commanding. During the afternoon, the Grand Duke came ashore and paid a visit to Baron Shishkin. The Russian Minister, it is understood, will not take up quar ters on shore, but will remain on board the ship most of the time. The Grand Duke Constantine is also on the Soetland. He is about eighteen years old, and is the second son of the Emperor’s brother Constantine, and brother-in-law of the King of Greece. The other vessels belonging to the fleet have not yet arrived. Daily Constitutionalist, SC per year. Quite a number of the rump states men are“foolin v ‘round C’lumby. TheUf purpose cannot be divined.