THE COMMISSION AT BALLIBAY. THE Commission appointed by the Presbytery of New York to receive into the communion of the church certain persons belonging to the Missionary Station at Ballibay, met according to appointment, Sept. 30th. All the members were present, consisting of, ministers, D. M'Allister and J. B. Williams, with Elder Gilchrist, of Kortright. Before constituting, a sermon was preached by Rev. D. M'Allister, from Rom. 10: 9: "If thou confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." The Commission was constituted in the afternoon of the day. There were eight persons present, candidates for church privileges, besides several whose names appeared among the petitioners, but who were not yet prepared. Among the former was Robert Morrow, who appeared as the only surviving member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church at Wyalusing, many years ago disorganized by the defection of some and the death of others. After a careful examination, all the candidates were admitted to membership. There are two young men, belonging to the vicinity, and who were already members of the church, prosecuting their studies at Lafayette College. The whole number, therefore, of church members at this missionary station, is ten, with every reasonable prospect of rapid increase. In the evening a sermon was preached by Rev. J. B. Williams, from Mark 8: 34: "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me." After the usual vows and obligations the rite of baptism was administered, Rev. D. M'Allister officiating, to ten persons, and among these four adults. It may be mentioned that Mr. Francis Gailey, once a licentiate, has done much harm to the cause of Christ in Bradford county, as well as elsewhere, scattering the families of well-meaning Covenanters, and poisoning the minds of outsiders by a solemn mockery and caricature of true religion. The policy of treating that implacable fugitive from church discipline with silent contempt, has been called in question. For long years he has been brandishing his futile anathemas, and hurling his insane excommunications against ministers and people from whom he was separated, not an hour too soon, but the inscrutable providence of the Almighty has some purpose to accomplish in allowing our cause to bear reproach. The lamp, however, of this " accuser of the brethren," is fast expiring for want of oil, and the Scriptures are being fulfilled. "Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture, saith the Lord. And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and bring them again to their folds, and they shall be faithful and increase, and I will set up shepherds which shall feed them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord God." J. B. W. Obituaries. DIED, June 22d, 1868, in Huntsville, Logan county, Ohio, ANNA JANE, eldest daughter of Thomas and Catharine Logan, aged 7 years and 11 months. Her departure was triumphant peace. A DESCANT, AND ACROSTIC. Accept it, reader, if a father writes A Descant in memoriam of his child. True worth, in flower and fruit, should ever glow Fond hopes of earth, that moments crush, O why The grasping thought, the truthful, and the pure Lost to the tend'rest ties of home throughout! Through the long ages, till the "Great White Throne" Of th' Archangel's voice, shall yield her dead. Not lost indeed!-How vain it is to scan God's isolated act, alone! His way Is chastisement for profit to his child. As sin to death doth reign, so, GRACE to LIFE; opes to bliss: The glory thine, O Saviour, to unbar. Most loving soul !-thy love was for thy Lord; As best deserved;-and LovE, the spring, the flow, As on thy lisping tongue hung-"God is good"- ANNA, the savor of thy name is sweet: Jesus, who gifted thee with choicest grace, Eye hath now seen-and the unknown is known. RESOLUTIONS ON THE DEATH OF WILLIAM STEWART.-Copy of resolutions adopted by the Renwick Reformation Society at its meeting held in Philadelphia, August 14th, 1868: WHEREAS, It has seemed good to our Covenant God to remove from our midst by death, one of our most active and highly esteemed members, Mr. WILLIAM STEWART, (Ruling Elder of the Second Reformed Presbyterian Congregation, Rev. S. O. Wylie, Pastor ;) and desiring to express our appreciation of his worth and deep sense of his loss, it is, therefore, Resolved, That in the death of William Stewart, our Association has lost one of its most earnest, zealous and efficient members, and one whose example and co-operation cheered and sustained us in our good work of endeavoring to practically adorn and advance our Scripture Covenanted Testimony in all its entireness. He was one who had made an intelligent and honest profession of his faith, well acquainted with the history of our Church, and her contending for the truth; evidencing a great attachment to the house of God, and (when his health permitted) always in his place waiting upon God in the preached gospel, fellowship meeting, and all the ordinances of divine grace when administered in their purity (in our own ecclesiastical denomination); having no itchingear to hear strange doctrine, no gadding about to change his way, following no divisive courses, desirous in the strength of divine grace to hold fast the profession of his faith without wavering; opposed to all departure from the footsteps of the flock and scriptural attainments of our church in doctrine, worship, discipline, government and practice. Psalms 27: 4; 84: 4 and 5. Resolved, That while we mourn the loss we have sustained, we comfort ourselves in the assurance that our loss is his great gain, and we desire to bow with submission to His will, who maketh all things to work together for good. Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth, for the faithful fail from among the children of men." Psalm 12: 1. "The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart, and merciful men are taken away; none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come." Isaiah 57: 1. Resolved, That we tender to his family our most tender sympathy and condolence, and commit them to our Covenant God, who has said, "Commit thy fatherless children to me, and I will take care of them, and let thy widows trust in me." "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace." Psalm 37: 37. HENRY W. BROWN died in the Soldiers' Home, Pittsburgh, August 6th, 1868, in the 27th year of his age.. A few months before his death the deceased united with the Reformed Presbyterian congregation of Allegheny. Having served a term in the late war, and contracted in the army the disease of which he died, he was received as an inmate of the Home. That he might have an opportunity of joining the R. P. Church and partaking of the Lord's Supper, he left the Soldiers' Home in Dayton, Ohio, and came to Pittsburgh. He gave in his Christian conduct, evidence that he was truly pious. The last ten days before he died, owing to the disease determinin,g to his brain, he was in a good measure unconscious. His sufferings were severe, but he was supported under them. MRS. NANCY ELLIOTT, wife of Wm. Elliott, died, at New Concord, Ohio, August 2d, 1868, after a lingering illness, of a diseased liver. She was raised in the Associate Church and joined the Reformed Presbyterian Church under the pastoral care of the late Rev. Robert Wallace. She died as she lived. Many friends followed her mortal remains to their last resting place, reflecting on the words of the apostle. "Even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." Сом. DIED, on August 24th, 1868, at his residence in Philadelphia, JOHN FERGUSON, eldest son of William and Nancy Ferguson, in the 33d year of his age. The deceased was a member of Rev. S. Ö. Wylie's congregation, and was esteemed by all who knew him. He leaves a wife and one child, and a host of surviving friends, to mourn his early demise. He had been married but a little over two years when death made the separation. COM. DIED, in hope, at Robinson, Kansas, September, 1868, SAMUEL JOSEPH, third son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Crozier, formerly of Allegheny congregation. Notices, &c. EXPLANATION.-We have received from H. Crockett a statement in regard to the apparent discrepancy between the statistics of Sterling Congregation, as published in the Minutes of 1867, and those published in the Minutes of 1868. The number of members was handed to the clerk of Rochester Presbytery as in the statistics, and comprises all that now belong to the congregation. The number of dismissions, deaths, suspensions, and cut off, or as marked in statistics of several congregations, "decrease by purging the roll," fully accounts for the apparent discrepancy. This congregation, as is the case with some others, has provided for its pastor a manse. In the published minutes * should mark such as have manses, as usually this is not included in the pastor's salary; so that in no way do congregations get credit for their thoughtfulness in providing for their pastor a home. an We are glad to hear that this congregation is in a prosperous condition, and sincerely hope that "by the blessing of the Head of the church, a banner for the truth may long and successfully be displayed" there. OMISSION. The signature to the article in the last number entitled "The Compassion of Jesus," was entirely overlooked. It should have been "Abdiel." げ RECEIPTS FOR CHURCH EXTENSION. April 29, Baltimore Congregation, per Rev. W. P. Johnson,......$23 00 May 23, Pittsburgh June 30, Third Ref. Presb. Church, July 1, First Congregation, S. M. Orr, Treas..... 87 00 22, Allegheny Aug. 3, Tomica 8, Cincinnati .6 12, Utica 13, Sterling 13, Salt Creek 6. W. Stevenson......... 13 60 13, Staunton, Ill. Congregation, Rev. J. Middleton..... 13, New Alexandria and Greensburg Cong., per Rev. T. A. Rev. Thos. Sproull..... 39 00 6.00 ON account of the Presidential election falling on the 3d of November, the opening exercises of the Seminary have been postponed till Wednesday, November 4th, and the meeting of the Board, till 7 P. M., same day. THE Lecture on the "Position and Ground occupied by the Reformed Presbyterian Church," delivered by Rev. D. Scott, may be had of Mr. John Caldwell, 1,705 Filbert street, Philadelphia. Price 25 cants single copy. Five copies, $1.60. The last Thursday of November is the day of Thanksgiving. The collection on that day is for National Reform. The collection on the first Sabbath of December is for the Foreign Mission. The Central Board of Missions is in urgent need of funds to carry on the missionary operations under its care. |