not to have known the way of righteousness, than after they have known it to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them." Let all who are seeking the welfare of Zion in these times of trouble, keep their eyes steadily fixed on the three cardinal points of union, peace and truth. Let each have its place in their labors and prayers. Let it be our aim to unite the church on the basis of truth, in order that she may enjoy permanent peace. In this way, and in no other, the long expected time will be hastened on when "the watchmen shall lift up the voice, and with the voice together shall they sing, for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion.'

THE MOVEMENT AGAINST SECRET SOCIETIES.

THE National Convention of Christians opposed to secret societies met, as per announcement, in Pittsburgh, on Tuesday, May 5th, at 7 P. M. The object of the meeting was stated and a permanent organization effected. Friends of the movement from different States and representing different denominations, were present. The attendance during the sessions, considering the inclement state of the weather, was good. Arrangements were made for publishing the proceedings of the Convention, tracts, &c., for a systematic organization throughout the land, and for the holding of the annual meeting in 1869.

The proceedings throughout were characterized by earnestness. The members appeared to realize the magnitude of the evil to be removed, the greatness of the opposition to be encountered, the little probability of speedy success, and the necessity of determined, systematic effort. The meeting recalled to mind the anti-slavery conventions of other days, in which many of the persons here present had taken a prominent part, and which became only the more influential as they became the more unpopular. This earnestness accounts for the remarkable, yet delightful, absence of mere declamation, so often mistaken for eloquence, and of violent invective, so often mistaken for argument. The speeches were made because felt. The facts presented warranted the statements made..

The opportunity afforded for seceding Masons to give their experience, and availed of, did much to make the meeting interesting. Mr. Baird, who had the experience of seventeen degrees of Masonry, addressed the convention for about an hour. He answered the assertion, that the Morgan abduction was an exception, and such acts are hot authorized, by the following instance, which came under his own obser

vation :

"Men have sometimes confidentially and quietly said that Morgan's book was true, and they have been dispatched on the pretense of a letter to another lodge, and drawn away like the charmed frog by the serpent, with their own death warrant in their hands, up to the executioner. I once knew a single man, a carpenter by trade, who was employed to build a shop and receive his money when the work was done. The work was finished on Friday evening, and his employer said

he would borrow the money on the next lodge night-Monday evening following. About ten o'clock brother Forgie came to me and said, I have a great offer. They offered to make me Knight Templar free of expense. I have just one hundred and thirteen dollars, besides I will get forty dollars from my employer, so I will have quite a little sum ahead. I want you to be there when I am initiated. I said I cannot be there, as I have not got that degree. When it comes to that degree the lodge will be closed and a new programme opened, of which I shall know nothing. When we came to exchange hands at parting brother Forgie was upon my left hand. I never saw him again. I asked a brother what had become of brother Forgie. He said he had stepped out. I said, what do you mean. Said he 'He has come to us. This money was appropriated to the lodge, and half given to Smith, his employer. I have seen this man afterward using Forgie's plane and hand-saw. These things are done under the cover of the law, because Masons are in office wherever they can get. They aim to get offices of trust and the highest places of the Republic."

Rev. Mr. Roberts, of Rochester, N. Y., related an incident which was told him by a lady on her death-bed, and sworn to before a magistrate in his presence. It was to the effect that she formerly resided in the village of Bristol, Pa., and occupied a portion of a house used as a lodge. One evening a stranger came to the house and was told by the Master Mason, that they would send for him when they wanted him. She took a place from a station where she could see into the ante-room, and saw him enter. After some conversation, during which the man said, "I never said it," and "I never did it," his throat was cut and his body taken to the river.

The willingness with which the members of different denominations acknowledged the influence these societies have in the church, was a good omen of success. An evil frankly admitted is half removed. A presiding elder, it was stated, acknowledged that Masonic influence had much to do with the making out of the appointments in the conference where he was. In a difficulty between a pastor and his people in a western State, a Masonic lodge supported the former against the latter. A pastor sued his congregation for his salary. Knowing the influence of the lodge to be all-powerful, he connected himself with it first and then gained his suit; what the church courts could not do, Masonry could. Such is the power these societies exert in the church, that but a very small proportion of ministers in the different churches in the country dare show any sympathy for the movement, even though they feel deeply interested in it. The unanimous opinion of the Convention was, that the church of Christ must first be purged and thus our country redeemed.

It seems strange that the persons who have grown gray in the antislavery movement, who have battled all their lives in the temperance cause, who to-day are earnest for the christianizing of this government, are the same persons who now in old age are inaugurating this movement. Their whole lives have been spent in opposing sin in different forms, and now, when other men cease from active labors, they are only preparing to labor the more. Such men should always be honored, respected and consulted.

CONTENDING FOR TRUTH.

A ZEAL for the propagation of truth will prove the desire of the Christian for its preservation. To disseminate the word of God is a duty binding upon the follower of Christ at all times, and under all circumstances. As our peculiar principles are embodied in the very heart of the divine word, it is obligatory upon us not only to receive them, but also to strive that others may acknowledge and embrace them as true. A studious concealment of despised and unpopular truth for fear of loss or disgrace, is dishonorable in the case of any one, much more in the case of us, who profess so much. What Christ has spoken to us in secret, we must publish openly. We must confess Him before men. Opposition will undoubtedly be the result, but it must be borne. All attempts that were ever made to obtain peace by suppressing peculiar principles, or concealing them, have been uniformly productive of harm. We must own truth, when it is opposed and trampled upon; we must choose "rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." Some of Christ's faithful followers may not be able to answer in words all the objections which the enemies of our position bring against it, but they can in a consistent life silence opposition. If they cannot say much for their Master, they can live for him, If we expect others to respect despised truths, we must first respect them ourselves. A timid, wavering, half-hearted attachment to principles, is worse than open opposition. The best evidence any genuine, true-hearted Covenanter can give to his belief in his profession to his brethren in the church and to "those without," will be its exemplication in a devout, holy and humble life. When a godly peace rules in the heart and in our congregations; when an unfeigned charity, which is first pure, then peaceable, links the members together, we have a noble defense of the faith, and an effectual means of its preservation. But when Covenanters conform to the fashions of the world, and "back-bite and devour each other;" when they are more concerned about a respectable congregation, than a pure, holy spiritual church, then the glory of Zion departs. The Gothic form and towering spires of many "churches" are no hopeful sign of the times. One may imagine a Jesuit will feel a secret satisfaction in observing these splendid structures, with their choirs, organs and operatic music. It will be well if there be no popish leanings within their walls. The true beauty of a "church" is found not in these things, but in the purity, firmness and fruits of the faith of her members.

We should "contend" for despised truth earnestly, not angrily, not with a proud, uncharitable, bitter, censorious spirit. If we are the true sons of our sires, who amid sufferings manifold, "witnessed a good confession," we will exemplify the same spirit they did. While we boast that their principles are ours, let us evidence to all gainsayers that we possess their spirit of love to Christ and the brethren and to all men, by a daily walk and conversation becoming the gospel. Hatred of brethren, or of those who differ from us, is not the fruit of gospel principles.

The truth of our peculiar principles cannot admit of silence regarding them on the part of those who know their value and importance. It is comparatively easy in our day to profess them, and to manifest apparent zeal in their behalf, but the case was entirely altered in the persecuting times. Then it required no small share of self-denial and moral daring to face the scaffold and the rack, and to brave the bold contempt and bitter scorn of the world. The pages of Scottish ecclesiastical history teem with the suffering and moral heroism of our fathers. The love they bore to the cause of "the faithful and true witness," enabled them to stand serene and unshaken when undergoing the dark examination-cheered them amid the gloom of the dungeon, from which the light of heaven was withdrawn, and deprived the rack of its torture, and the scaffold of its ignominy. The gracious principles which they exemplified, must be deeply rooted in our hearts, in order that "we may stand in the evil day.' Without them we are neither true Christians nor genuine Covenanters. He that possesses both their principles and their humble, unaffected piety, is alone worthy of their name.

The times demand that we should hold fast our principles. Let us, therefore, be steadfast, and fearless in our adherence to them. It is not for us to measure the amount of our influence, or to estimate its result. We are on the winning side, no matter whether as a party of religionists we fall or triumph. The work is the Lord's; if we desert his cause, he can raise others who will be more faithful. Let us be men of faith and men of prayer. We have the truth, and we can challenge the world to convict us of error from the pages of the Bible. Our principles have a glorious future before them. They alone, accompanied by the divine influence, can bless mankind, and heal the moral wounds of our sin-stained world.

In order that Reformed Presbyterians may perform their part right in contending for truth, it is indispensable that they be extensively and intimately acquainted with their peculiar principles as a church. Far am I from wishing that these principles should so receive such attention as to withdraw the mind from the more immédiate and momentous concerns of personal religion. What I desire is, not a zeal which lives and prospers in the region of ignorance, but a more accurate and more extensive acquaintance with truth and facts, the Bible and our peculiar principles being perused, the one in connection with the other; the Bible being the text-book in the one case, and our standards, with such books as throw light on them, being the other. Such a study cannot but have a favorable influence upon personal religion. It will bring the mind in contact with the sayings and doings of worthies who were distinguished by a pure and enlightened piety-men who lived lives of faith and of prayer, and who were not more remarkable for their public spirit than for their cultivation of communion with heaven, and their eminence in practical holiness. Such a study is absolutely necessary, in order that we as Covenanters may act well our part amid the movements in the world, that are now going on.

C. S. D.

COLOSSIANS 2:4.

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus, the Lord, so walk ye in him." To receive Christ the Lord, is to accept of him as he is offered to us in the gospel. The receiving of Christ puts the receiver in a new position. "As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God." From this standpoint we are to view all believers as the sons of God.

In the first place. The love of God stands uppermost; it is from everlasting, and is immutable. Man is changeable and does change, nevertheless his salvation is sure. For them who Christ loves he will love unto the end. The love of God is the very foundation of our salvation, for if he had not loved us, he never would have sent his Son to make an atonement for us.

"Unchangeable is love divine, time makes it not decay,

For those whom once the Lord doth love, he them doth love for aye." "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God."

This

In the second place. As a Father he provides and protects us. view of the subject opens up the whole plan of salvation, and it appears to me like the water the prophet saw, first to the ankles, then to the knees, then to the loins; and "afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over." We may stand on the banks of that river and look every way, and we can see nothing but the love of God. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him, should not perish, but have everlasting life." What wonderful love! It attracts the attention of the angels in heaven. "Which things the angels desire to look into." What wonderful provision God has made for his people! All they need, both as it respects time and eternity. The reading and the preaching of his word, the sacraments and the communion of saints, prayer and praise-in the enjoyment of these, we stand on the banks of life's river, and look with a longing desire to pass-over and enter the promised land. In the right enjoyment of the ordinance we have the first fruits, the foretaste of heaven begun on earth. Paul has well said, "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better;" having tasted of its sweetness, he longs for its more full enjoyment in heaven. The protection is ample. "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Amen. This was promised by our Lord to his apostles, but is good to all true believers. To those who trust in him, the principle is true, that all things work together for good to them who are the children of God. "But the Lord is my defense, and my God is the rock of my refuge." "If God be for us, who can be against us?" To the believer it is a matter of indifference who is against him.

Walking with God "Can two walk together

"So walk ye in him," is next to be considered. implies communion and fellowship with him.