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Buffalo friends contributed the handsome "surprise." A very natural expression of countenance, under the circumstances, we must say!

The Portland Advertiser says, that while Dr. Carruthers and his wife were absent from home on Wednesday evening of last week, a large number of his parishioners took possession of his house. On the Doctor's return, W. W. Thomas, Esq., presented him, in the name of the numerous party, with a beautiful and costly testimonial, in the form of an elegant embossed silver pitcher, bearing the following inscription:-"Presented to J. J. Carruthers, D.D., by the Second Congregational Church and Society, in testimony of their esteem and Christian affection." The pitcher, however, was but one of many gifts to the Doctor and his household. To the whole was added a considerable sum of money.

On New Year's day a deputation from the Baptist Church in Kingston waited on the

Rev. Thomas Henderson, at the parsonage,' and presented him with a purse containing one hundred dollars, accompanied by an affectionate address.

Rev. L. L. Gage, of De Ruyter, acknowledges the receipt of one hundred and thirty dollars, and speaks of indications of a revival in his church. "The liberal soul shall be made fat."

Now while an air of the ludicrous rests upon the whole thing, it is so pervaded by the spirit of kindness and generosity, as to promote laughter and admiration. It is their way; they seem to enjoy it; and they are ready to pay for their pleasure. Would that they who may be disposed to jeer at “republican vulgarity" would but emulate republican benevolence!

The Lay Preachers' Corner.

REV. H. W. BEECHER.

FEW names in the New World are better known to Englishmen than that of Henry Ward Beecher, Congregational Minister, Brooklyn, State of New York. A few facts and opinions concerning him may not be without interest. The following sketch is from the pen of the correspondent of the London Record:

"I have often intended to devote at least one letter to the subject of preachers and preaching in our country, but the delicacy and difficulties of the task have hitherto deterred me. It is not easy to speak of living men in such a way as to do them strict justice, and yet give no offence. When such a man as Spurgeon appears, all manner of criticisms will be indulged in. By some he will be extolled beyond measure, while others will see nothing good either in manner or matter. Some will admire his blunt and pointed illustrations, others will regard them as coarse and vulgar. Some will see nothing but brilliancy and wit in his peculiarities, while others will look upon them as commonplace, if not out of place. It is, therefore, almost impossible to obtain a just estimate of such a man. Fortunately, perhaps, such men are very rare. In this country we have none. The only man who bears any resemblance to him is the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, of the city of Brooklyn.

"Mr. Beecher attracts much attention, and draws crowds to hear him. I doubt whether there is another preacher in America who can everywhere draw together so many people to hear him. But all sorts of feelings and motives operate to bring together these crowds, and consequently they are made up of all kinds and classes of men and women. The man who delights in wit and fun will be sure to go, and so will the man who admires a homely, vigorous, and driving style. And then there is

always much in Mr. Beecher's sermons and lectures to feed the mind. They are full of racy, vigorous, original thought, and abound in apt and striking illustrations.

"Nor is this all. Mr. Beecher has a large heart and a sympathetic nature, and his sermons partake largely of this spirit. His power lies not so much in logical argument as in the ability to put the thoughts and feelings of those who listen to him into words. Speaking what he himself feels, he meets a full response from all around him. At times, though not often, he rises into the region of the intellectual and spiritual. But he prefers to dwell upon the earth, to mingle with flesh and blood, to deal with men and things just as he finds them. He is not deficient in the elements of the poetical and the beautiful-not at all; but he loves to sit down with the merchant, the mechanic, the farmer, the day labourer, and hold free converse with him-to take him in his every-day life. The consequence is, everybody listens to him with pleasure, and I think with profit.

"Mr. Beecher is often charged with heterodoxy, and at times he gives occasion for something of the kind. He is naturally a liberal man, disposed to look upon the fairest side of everything, and hence he fraternizes with nearly everybody who professes any Christianity at all. In this many of his friends think he commits an error. But Congregationalism, with which he is associated, holds its doctrines very loosely. This is one of the reactions of Puritanism. Perhaps Mr. Beecher is more to be pitied than censured for these particular defects.

"In personal appearance Mr. Beecher is of medium height-thick set-with large grey eyes-open, jolly-looking countenance, indicating in all its features a genial nature and a great flow of spirits. His manner in the pulpit is so varied that it hardly admits of a de

scription. At times he is very grave, with but little action-then exceedingly animated, with constant gestures. His acting at times is inimitable. By an expression of countenance, a tone of voice, a shake of the head, or the movement of his hands and body, he gives wonderful effect to his words. He preaches with or without notes, just as it happens, but is never under constraint. He passes so rapidly from one thing to another-from the grave to the light-from the serious to the mirthful-from the sublime to almost the ridiculous, that he keeps his hearers in a state of constant excitement, ready to frown, laugh, or cry, at a moment's warning. Mr. Beecher is unquestionably a genius-a wonderful man, and I trust is doing much good. But we do not need but one such man.'

There is much truth in the foregoing. We know Mr. Beecher. Nine or ten years ago he was repeatedly our guest, and we also heard him address a large assembly. The Correspondent nevertheless bears false witness against his neighbours when he says, "Congregationalism holds its doctrines very loosely." The contrary is the fact, and the writer ought to know it. In the official character and proceedings of Mr. Beecher, however, notwithstanding his matchless power and brilliancy, there is a large amount of drawback. A minister of a Congregational Church in the States, whose communication shows him an attentive observer, writes as follows respecting the influence of Rev. H. W. Beecher:

"We have been quite admirers of Mr. Beecher. He has said some true and very brilliant things, but we have, of late, been astonished and pained at some things he has said and done, being a professing minister of Christ. We are almost forced to the conclusion that he is doing a vast preponderance of harm to the cause of pure Christianity. Every little while some new fact comes to light, going to show how loose and dangerous his course is.

If we

had but one or two such facts before our mind, we might be disposed, in charity, to overlook them, by ascribing them to his want of caution, or some other cause, consistent with soundness in the faith. But when a considerable number of facts of the same class are brought together, we have a right, according to the Baconian principle, to deduce a conclusion. A few of the facts we shall here notice.

"Awhile since we saw it stated in the Ambassador, a Universalist paper, that Mr. Beecher lectured in Dr. Chapin's meetinghouse, (Universalist,) in New York, for the purpose of raising funds to aid in endowing the Universalist Institution at Clinton, which we believe is the principal literary institution of the denomination in the State. If we have been correctly informed, there is a great deal of direct infidel control in that institution, even too much to suit some Universalists. Mr. Beecher, however, did not scruple to give the influence of his name, and to render his

service for the purpose of building up an institution that is most bitterly opposed to pure Christianity-that we may say, with truth, is a decisive bulwark of Satan. The enemies of the religion that Mr. Beecher professes to preach, cannot respect him for such an act, however much they may applaud him for doing it. The glaring inconsistency a child can see, and no one can truly respect an inconsistent minister. Such an act is a wound infiicted on the cause of Christ.

"A few weeks since, Mr. Beecher advised, from his pulpit, his people to go to hear a Unitarian preacher belonging to Philadelphia. Said he, I advise you to go and hear Dr. Furness, who may, by God's help, stir your souls to manly action.' Is it possible that a professing orthodox minister advises his people to attend the preaching of one who denies the Lord that bought him, who rejects Christ in His essential character? But such is the case. Dr. Furness belongs to the class of teachers that Peter speaks of when he says, 'But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them.' Any further comment on this act of Mr. Beecher may be expressed most forcibly in the language of the Apostle John in his second epistle, Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God-speed; for he that biddeth him God-speed is partaker of his evil deeds.'

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"Mr. Beecher recently delivered one of the course of fraternity lectures in Boston, which course is understood to have originated with Theodore Parker, and his sympathisers. Mr. Parker was himself to deliver four lectures of

the course. No one can reasonably doubt but that the great design of the projectors of this course was to spread infidelity. And at the same time Mr. Beecher identifies himself with it. He may excuse himself by saying that he embraced this opportunity to spread truth among those that needed it. But if this were his excuse, he should have been specially guarded in uttering anything that would naturally be construed against Gospel truth. But he uttered one sentiment in his lecture that gave great pleasure to the infidels in his audience-it was enough in their estimation to save the lecture from the charge of any special leaning towards orthodoxy. Mr. Beecher said, selfish men always believe in total depravity. This sentiment drew from the audience great applause. This, of course, was understood by his hearers as a rejection of that fundamental doctrine of the Gospel, expressed extensively in New England by the phrase total depravity; a doctrine to which infidels of various names are exceedingly opposed.

"Mr. Beecher awhile since gave an invitatation to persons in his congregation to commune, whether they were members of churches or not. About a year ago, a paragraph appeared quite extensively in the papers, stating that one of the Unitarian preachers in Portland, Me., had given an indiscriminate in

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for every good work. A mere theology without humanity is not worth much, and mere humanitarian effort, without a Christian theo

logy, is of little worth. We need a positive Christian theology that is to the soul a living reality, and has its corresponding manifestation in the life."

These facts may well excite solicitude among the judicious friends of Mr. Beecher. While himself thoroughly sound in the faith, a charity so reckless, and language so unguarded, may be attended with the most disastrous consequences.

Essays.

MINISTERS' FAMILIES THE SALT OF THE LAND.

THE families of Evangelical Ministers, no matter what the denomination, may be said to constitute the material of an experiment upon human nature. As a rule, their means are narrow, so much so that, with the severe and endless demands which are made on them from their position, they are in continual and frequently very great straits — straits endured by no other class of Christian society-straits, however, not incompatible with the realization of the chief objects of life-the culture of the mind, and the culture of the heart,-and the formation of superior moral habits. Sound intellectual training, and high moral discipline, founded on evangelical principles, parental prayer, and the Divine benediction, these constitute their all wherewith to begin the world: and it is enough. No more is required to desirable success in life, the acceptable service of their generation, usefulness and comfort. Were all families to be reared as is the pastor's family a new face would soon be put on society. We speak of the rule; we have nothing to do with the exception: nor do we forget the axiom, alike true here as everywhere, that the corruption of the best things renders them the worst.

We have been led to these observations by a very striking article, that has fallen in our way, from the pen of an eminent foreign writer, which we shall subjoin. The statements therein contained are certainly not a little remarkable, and of their general truth as to principle, and their general correctness as to statement, there can be no doubt. Were British society to be analysed, the

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result, we believe, would be found to be substantially the same. Everywhere it would be seen, that the family of the good minister of Jesus Christ," under suitable maternal superintendence, is the "salt of the earth." Let us, then, hasten on the day, when every family shall be as his family, and when all the families of the British Isles shall "shine in the beauties of holiness,"when the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, and all flesh shall see His salvation!

MINISTERS' SONS AND DAUGHTERS. THE salaries of the clergy of the United States do not average 500 dollars a year, and yet, as a class, they are the best educated, the most influential, the most active, refined, and elevated of the nation. With less culture, with less character, with less mental power, there are men, all over the land, who earn from one to 25,000 dollars a year. But look at the results. Taking them as they come, the biographies of 100 clergymen who had families show that, of their sons, 110 became ministers; and of the remainder of the sons, by far the larger number rose to eminence as professional men, merchants, and scholars.

As to the daughters, their names are merged into others; but there is a significant fact, which we do not remember to have seen noticed in that connexion, that not only here, but in England, where titles are so highly prized, and the possession of "gentle blood" is a passport to high places, it is very often referred to, as a matter of note, as indi

cating safety and respectability—“ His mother was the daughter of a clergyman." We will venture the opinion, that three-fourths of the great men of this nation are not over two degrees removed from clergymen's families, or from families strictly religious. When it can be said of a man or woman, that the father or grandfather was a clergyman, there is a feeling within us of a certain elevation of character, a kind of guarantee of respectability of blood, of purity and integrity.

We need not ask if the history of any other hundred families, taken as they come, of renowned generals, of great statesmen, of successful merchants, of splendid orators, or eminent physicians and lawyers, can give another 110 sons to occupy positions as respectable as their own never, nor is there any approach to it.

Half of our "successful" merchants die in poverty eventually, while their sons grow up in habits of idleness and early dissipation (as is also the case, more or less, with most of the children of prominent men); disease wastes their bodies, the disease which originates from demoralizing indulgences; while the mind itself, from the want of sufficient stimulus to energy, dwindles to a point below mediocrity. As to the daughters of the worldly eminent, what becomes of them? They devote themselves to fashion, and dress, and revelry, and a vain show; to be wooed and won by men who grow up without occupation, looking to their fathers' fortunes; or by adventurers, who live by their witsthe end being, that most incongruous of all combinations, poverty and pride, with that most bootless of all ambitions, to keep up appearances-than which a more hideous, painful, and unsatisfying struggle, no human being could ever encounter. In short, the rarest of all things in this country is to find a grandchild enjoying the fortune or position of the grandparents-if, indeed, there be any grandchild at all; for disappointment, fed by want of occupation, grinds out the life, and quite early, too, of the children of the world. A daughter of one of the richest men in America, ten years ago, herself the wife of a great man, bas an attendant, whose whole duty it is to keep her from intoxication. Another daughter drank ravenously her cologne water, for want of spirits of opium, and died in her infatuation. One of the most splendid women of our

time degrades herself, at varying intervals, by a regular drunken bout.

Thus it is that we regard the privation and the poverty of the clergy as means of perpetuating the mental vigour, the real thrift and position of our nation. They are literally the salt of the earth; not only its preserving principles of to-day, but for future time. Great reason, then, have clergymen and clergymen's wives to bear their present burdens of daily labour and daily stinting. Plain dwellings, plain clothing, plain food-and even that not overabundant, may be their portion here below; but beside the reward above, they will be honoured and affectionately remembered, when they are dead and gone, by the very people for whom they laboured, and who allowed them to live on scanty salaries. But there is another and higher reward than human appreciation-their influences for good are perpetuated in their children, bodily, mental, and moral, and this is the pith of this article. The straitened circumstances of minister's families give that kind of practical teaching, that suitableness and preparation for practical life in after years, which is so necessary to

success.

Having nothing to look for but the results of their own exertions, they early learn to be self-reliant and thoughtful, impressing the whole character with a manly dignity, which everywhere commands respect. In addition, knowing that they must depend on themselves, they at once begin those activities which insure health, while by stern necessity of extremely plain fare, and homely accommodations, with the impossibility of means to secure luxurious indulgences, or the opportunities of frivolous amusements and trifling recreations, their bodies grow up to a vigour and a healthfulness which give that power to mind which commands success in every department of human life. In addition to all these, there are those moral teachings, which fall as ceaselessly as the dews of the sky, and as gently, from the earliest infancy, moulding the character, and fixing those principles of action, which so well sustain their possessors in life's conflicts, and which elevate all with whom they come in contact.

Take courage, then, ye "ministers of the word." You may feel straitened, and at times greatly discouraged "because of the way" through which you

are called to pass; but look at the reward! The affectionate and respectful remembrance of those you once preached to, long after you are dead and gone, and forgotten, it may be, by the great world, but never by them-just as you now think with reverential gratitude of the men who were your early ministers, and will continue to think thus, until life's latest hour! And then what solid satisfaction is there in leaving sons and daughters behind you who shall perpetuate your influences, and live out your principles for generations to come! That compulsory ac- |

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tivity, and that compulsory plainness of living, and that dearth of amusement, and recreation, and "enjoyment," falsely so called, which your limited means entail on, your children, these are the things that would make them what you would really have them to be-true men and women. They do not, it is true, inherit from you millions of money, but you entail on them that necessity of industrious activity, and that rational temperance, which are at once the foundation of human happiness and human success.

Extracts from New Works.

ELOQUENCE OF THE PULPIT AND OF THE BAR.

1 AM not sure that my father's comparison can be fairly instituted. Between such forensic oratory as that to which he listened, and the genuine eloquence of the pulpit, there is no relation except that of positive contrast; whilst, on the other hand, some sermons, in clearness of arrangement, lucidity of statement, earnestness of spirit, and continuous aim at a well-defined object, are immeasurably inferior to the speeches which are heard daily in courts of justice. I speak not of petty wranglings in Criminal Courts, or at "Nisi Prius," but of the appeals addressed to juries on great occasions, and, especially, of those solemn argumentations with which astute lawyers, scholars, and logicians ply the quick but cautious intellects of judges on the bench. To me,

who have conversed much with each kind of eloquence, it has often seemed that those modern preachers who make it their study to tickle "itching ears," might gain much if they cultivated the simplicity of speech without which no man rises to high distinction at the English Bar. We perplex ourselves greatly with the question why the pulpit, with its long-established hold upon the superstition of the ignorant and upon the reverence of the good, and with its various range of momentous topics, makes an impression so comparatively small upon the masses with which it deals? Beardless sciolists and bold adventurers try to revive and increase the popular interest in preaching, by degrading its dignity, and by secularizing its sacred themes; whilst multitudes of well-meaning clergy, of all schools within the Establishinent, and of all sects out of it, by some conventional mannerism of style or of delivery, or by the constant effort to produce startling effects, or by vapid prettinesses of phrase and figure, expect to storm the consciences of sinful men, and to frighten or to cheat them into piety. None of these artifices will succeed. They are very ancient novelties. The common people have always distrusted them; and plain Sense nowa-days stares, and asks why an honest man should vulgarize the great thought of God, or search for thoughts more true and telling; or

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why, because the preacher stands some six feet higher than his usual level, he should assume unnatural attitudes, speak in a false voice, gesticulate in a manner which, if used at home, would scare his loving household; or, worse than all, attempt to woo dying sinners with the story of the dying Saviour, in the modes practised by a clever mountebank extemporizing at a country fair. A marked and constant simplicity,-the test of sincerity in the pulpit; the manifestation of the truth, with manifest truthfulness of purpose, this of itself would do much to excite the spirit of hearing. The advocate at the bar is intensely sincere. He means to gain the cause; and so, it is his prime business to be believed; and the wish breathes in every look and word. How would the cool-headed judge survey him, through the detecting eye-glass, if every gesture, tone, and sentence were altogether unlike the man who use i them! "Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown."-Life of Dr. Bunting.

THE LAWFULNESS OF BEARING
ARMS IN DEFENSIVE WARFARE.

1. THE arguments which were stated in the papers read at our last meeting will warrant the assertion that, in case of emergency, every man, who possibly can, ought to come forward in any way whatever, in which his services are most likely to be successful; trusting in the providence of God to keep him from those spiritual dangers which attend this painful but necessary duty, and to give grace according to the day.

2. At present, however, it would seem that the danger does not appear to Government to be of so imminent and pressing a nature as to call for an immediate and universal arming of the mass of the people. If this were the case, some plan would doubtless have been proposed, which would render such an universal arming practicable. Till the Executive Government of the country deem it necessary to require the adoption of some such plan, I think religious persons in general are not particu

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