Christ is far better.' Jesus says, 'I will cause that where I am, there shall ye be also.' The soul while in the body is a lamp covered by an earthen vessel; if suddenly the vessel is broken, its light shines out bright as the sun and the moon. Now say whether it is a cause for mourning or a cause for rejoicing? "While in this world, there is not one thing we can call our own; but having departed from the world, suddenly we become possessors of all things. Then which is better to be poor or to be rich? Ah! how blessed is it to go home!" of that I am happy. And in the dark night, when I lie here, and cannot sleep for pain, I think of my Saviour and heaven, and he seems to be saying, 'Suffer that little child to come up to me, and forbid her not.' I am soon going to be with him for ever." Thus that gift brought peace to the heart of the poor little sick girl-that peace which Jesus promised to his disciples when he said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you."Bible Society Record. A BIBLE IN A LOG CABIN. It was a dark and stormy night. The missionary's horse was tired, and he was wet and weary. For some time he had looked in vain for a cheering light in the lonely woods. At length he saw a faint glimmer through the trees. It came from a small log cottage. It did not promise much, but the missionary was glad of any shelter. But when he had fastened his horse, and gone into the cabin, he thought he had never seen so wretched a place. It was cold and dirty, and almost without furniture of any sort. In a corner of the room was a ragged bed, on which lay a pale little girl. The missionary pitied her, and drew near to the bed. He saw that the little girl's face was pale and her hands thin. She was ill, and a great sufferer, yet the poor little thing was not impatient. She smiled with a smile that showed peace was in her heart, while her body was suffering with disease. From under her pillow peeped a little book. It was the New Testament. Some agent from the Bible Society had dropped it in that desolate place. THE YOUNG CHINESE CHRISTIAN IN THE SANDWICH ISLANDS. OUR Hawaiian Board has engaged the services of Mr. S. P. Aheong, a young Chinese merchant, as a travelling agent among his countrymen at the Islands. On a recent Sabbath he preached to an overflowing house, in the Hawaiian tongue. In the afternoon he preached in two Chinese dialects, to all the Chinese in and around our town. He understands six of the Chinese dialects; he can speak English tolerably, and he is ready in the Hawaiian. He is lucid, eloquent, and impressive. His person is scrupulously neat, and in manners he is a Christian gentleman, acceptable in the best society, and respected by all. He says that his father was an officer in China; that he was well educated in Chinese literature and in business; that in the war his father was shot, and he shut out of a beleagured city, and under these circumstances he was enticed to ship as scribe, or overseer, in a coolie vessel. He states that he shipped for two years only, and that the captain told him that our years consisted of only eight months, and these months of only twenty days each, giving only a hundred and sixty days to the year! At these Islands he was sold or hired for a steward, but on his remonstrance, his services were changed, and at length he went free and independent, married, and established himself as a successful merchant. Thus the Lord led him.-Miss. Chron. CURRENT EVENTS OF NO1E. Changes in Italian Sentiment.-On the 16th of June the Pope commenced the twenty-fourth year of his reign. Three and twenty years ago he was regarded by many of his countrymen as the regenerator of his land, and the introducer of liberty and prosperity to the Italians. How wonderful the change in the opinion of the Italians concerning the character and intentions of this Pontiff! He is now spoken of as the obstructor of Italian unity and progress, as he is obliged to obtain the assistance of foreign troops to keep his subjects in subjection, and maintain himself on his throne. Few could have imagined on the day when Pius IX. ascended the Papal throne, that in less than a quarter of a century so much true liberty would be enjoyed in Italy; that the Gospel could be preached without hindrance in every city of Italy-except Rome-from Venice to the South of Sicily; that the Bible and religious books could be printed and circulated freely. The "Ecumenical Council” displeases many of the Priests. They do not like the proposition to discuss subjects of a civil and political character as well as those merely theological. Four hundred bishops have written to the Pope that unless they are absolutely obliged to attend the Council, they would prefer to remain in their sees. As he does not insist, it is not probable that the number present will exceed five hundred. The Priests are dissatisfied, too, with the result of the elections in France, and the stability of affairs connected with the Italian government. M. E. Church.-The question of Lay Delegation in our Church is virtually decided. This acceptance of Lay Delegation by the people, virtually makes it an accomplished fact. As far as the General Conference can pledge the ministry, the ministry are pledged to make the concession upon the clear exhibition of the desire of the people for it. What remains to be done, is the formal completion of the measure initiated in Chicago, May, 1868. We may, therefore, look forward to the admission of lay delegates into the Conference of 1872.-Methodist. Episcopal Conference at Chicago.-The following resolutions were adopted : Resolved, as the opinion of this Conference, that a careful revision of the "Book of Common Prayer," is needful to the best interests of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Resolved, That all words or phrases seeming to teach that the Christian ministry is a priesthood, or the Lord's Supper a sacrifice, or that regeneration is inseparable from Baptism, should be removed from the Prayer Book. Resolved, That in the opinion of this Conference, it is the duty of evangelical men in the different dioceses, to take measures to inform the laity of our Church, by means of the pulpit and the press, respecting the vital questions which now agitate the Church. Resolved, That in the opinion of this Conference, either the American Church Missionary Society should extend its work to foreign fields, or another association be formed, on the voluntary principle, to conduct that work. Resolved, That this Conference recommend the evangelical clergy of our Church to avail themselves of all such measures as they may deem best, to promote fraternal and Christian relations with the ministers of other Churches, especially by uniting with them in such great national institutions as the Am. Bible Society. International Convention of Y. M. C. A.-The fourteenth anniversary of the International Convention of Young Men's Christian Associations, met in Portland, Me., on the 15th July. Seven hundred and seventy-three delegates were in attendance, representing about four hundred associations. The Executive Committee states that "there are now known to be six hundred and fifty-nine associa tions in existence on this continent." Mr. Wm. E. Dodge, Jr., was elected President. The evangelical character of the associations was re-affirmed by the renewed adoption of the following paper :— Resolved, That, as these organizations bear the name of Christian, and profess to be engaged directly in the Saviour's service, it is clearly their duty to maintain the control and management of all their affairs, in the hands of those who profess to love and publicly avow their faith in Jesus, the Redeemer, as Divine, and who testify their faith by becoming and remaining members of churches held to be evangelical. "And we hold those churches to be evangelical, which, maintaining the Holy Scriptures to be the only infallible rule of faith and practice, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father, King of kings and Lord of lords, (in whom dwelleth the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and who was made sin for us, though knowing no sin, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree), as the only name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved from everlasting punishment. Two other resolutions of great importance, we are happy to record :— Resolved, That we consider it to be the bounden duty of the members of all Young Men's Christian Associations, calling themselves Christians, to hold their duties and obligations to their respective churches, and to the services of the same, as having a prior claim upon their sympathy and efforts. Resolved, That in the prosecution of the work for the Saviour among men, which they have assumed, they should heartily and zealously co-operate with the divinelyappointed ministry, and with all evangelical bodies of Christians. The Evangelical Alliance. -Letters have been received from Rev. Dr. Schaff, giving the most gratifying accounts of his progress in behalf of the Evangelical Alliance. In London, Edinburgh, and Paris, the most eminent and excellent men have expressed the deepest interest in the proposed Conference of Christians from all parts of the world, to be held in New York, in the autumn of 1870. A delegation of distinguished laymen and clergy, representing the whole Church, will attend from England, Scotland, and Ireland. From Holland and Germany, too, we hear similar favorable accounts. THE Rev. Dr. Cumming, of London, it is stated, has written a letter to Archbishop Manning, inquiring what freedom of speech or action would be accorded to him, if he should attend the Ecumenical Council. The Archbishop referred the questioner to the Pope himself. And so Dr. Cumming has written to Rome; and he declares that if free speech shall be granted, he will go. Germany.-A Protestant Conference has assembled at Worms, at which there are about one thousand delegates present. The following declaration has been adopted as the expression of its views and determined position : "The Conference rejects the supposition expressed in the Papal letter of the 13th of September, 1858, that Protestants would return to unity with the Catholic Church. It protests especially against the principles enunciated in the Encyclical letter and the syllabus, which are opposed to civilization, and pernicious in their bearing upon political institutions. The conference expects that all opponents of the common enemy of religious peace, national unity, and the free development of civilization, will closely unite at the present juncture. It declares hierarchical errors, and particularly the action of the Jesuits, to be the chief cause of the present deplorable religious differences. Only by the determined rejection of the hierarchical pretensions which have been renewed, and have been constantly on the increase since 1815 -only by a return to pure Scripture, and by the recognition of the conquests of civilization, can divided Christianity regain the peace which it has lost. Finally, the conference declares that all efforts made within the Protestant Church to found a hierarchical power, or the supremacy of dogma, are a flat denial of the principles of Protestantism, and are simply so many bridges to Rome. All co-religionists are, therefore, exhorted to oppose with energy every tendency that may be dangerous to the freedom of the mind or conscience.' LITERARY NOTICES. HYMNS OF THE CHURCH, WITH TUNES. 600 pp. With more than a thousand Hymns and Chants. A. S. Barnes & Co. New York. A new collection, prepared with careful and grateful labor, by clergymen of acknowledged judgment and taste in the Reformed (Dutch) Church. The volume is beautifully gotten up, with clear music and letter type. VIRGIL'S ENEID. First Six Books, with Notes, a Lexicon, Map, Questions, and a Metrical Index. Edited by Prof. Edward Searing. A. S. Barnes & Co. New York and Chicago. A pleasure to look upon so fair a page, with type so clear and bold. The plan suggested by the Editor's experience has the cordial endorsement of many distinguished instructors. The Notes, both in quality and quantity, are discriminating and judicious. SCOTTISH UNIVERSITY ADDRESSES. Mill, Froude, and Carlyle. (190 pp. In paper, 20c.) J. W. Schermerhorn & Co., 14 Bond St., N. Y. No. IV. of a designed series, under the title of "Library of Education," for teachers and all interested in this vital subject. Each little volume is complete, and contains matter selected from standard writers of all ages and countries. In this, as in his other publications, especially the Am. Ed. Monthly, Mr. Schermerhorn is wisely and efficiently prosecuting a work second in value to no other, as related to the true prosperity and progress of American Institutions. NEW ENGLANDER, for July-W. L. Kingsley, New Haven-opens with a timely and admirable article on the Religion of the Future, by Pres. Woolsey. Prof. Porter follows with a practical paper on American Colleges, and Dr. Har wood with a Lecture on Romanism. Then succeed two articles by Rev. L. W. Bacon -one on the authenticity of the "Secret Instructions," etc.; the other a reply to an attempt of the Catholic World to set aside the force of Mr. Seymour's damaging statistics respecting the morals of Roman Catholic peoples. This rejoinder, for which Mr. Seymour furnishes in part the material, will possibly disturb the complacency of Mr. Bacon's friendly reviewer in the Catholic World. It will certainly trouble him if he is bent on saying a "last word." As to the famous Secreta Monita, we can't help thinking it a pity that Mr. Bacon had not made this investigation before printing his sweeping assertions and unseemly epithets in Putnam; and a particular pity that he had not expended the industry of this summer's research a year ago. He would then have been able to furnish his fellow-Directors in the Christian Union with something more than Isaac Taylor's ambiguous statement in support of his own demand for summary execution upon the poor little book. However, as no great damage has been wrought by Mr. B.'s multiform communications with and courtesy to have been exhausted the public, which shew his gentleness upon his Romish opponents, as since he has now taken the natural and logical evidence, it is safe to infer that whatever course of seeking and setting forth his matter is here given will be fairly considered by the gentlemen of the Board. RECEIPTS In behalf of the American and Foreign Christian Union, for the Month ending 6th July, 1869. for L. M. of Rev. J. Whitchill, 15 20 66 2d. Cong. Ch. and Soc'y... 51 25 Waltham. 35 45 Cambridge. E. D. Goodrich, for Hungary by Mrs. D. P. Judson for Miss Rankin's field, and to make Miss Lizzy S Judson L M., the balance to constitute Rev. W. K. Hall and Miss Susan Beach L. M.'s. .....114 49 New Haven. 1st Cong. Ch............. 175 76 Hartford. Ladies of CentreCh. $350; Pearl st. Ch. $256; Park Ch. $154; Asylum Hill Ch. $105; Bouth Ch. $66; Fourth Ch. $55; North Bapt Ch. $7; Pres. Ch. $6; Miss C. C. Cone of East Haddam, $1,- by Miss Daniel Phillips for Miss Rankin's mission in Mexico, 1,000 00 Plantsville. Con. Ch.. 22 85 Bridgeport. North Cong. Ch...... 59 24 East Bridgeport. C. M. Minor 2. 00 Trumbull. Cong. Ch. and Soc'y.. ---- 17 00 New Haven. 1st Cong.Ch., add. Prof. E. E. Salisbury. Colebrook. J. C. Stillman -------- 5 00 2,165 92 Miss Rankin's Mission... ..... 38 70 13th st. Pres. Church.. .....136 31 "St. Paul's M. E. Ch, 4th Av.180 95 Jos. Ripley for L. M. $30; Jas. Talcott for L. M. $30; Wm. Walker $30; H. N. Terbell, to make Rev. E. 8. Murphy L. M. $50; Geo. 8. Coe, Esq, $50; A. 8. Hatch, to inake himself L. D., $100; Mrs. Caroline D. Roberts, to make herself L. D., $100; Jas. C. Holden, to make himself a L. M, $30; W. E. Dodge, Jr., for Rev. H. C. Riley's Mission in Mexico, $500 ------920 CO W. Sexton, Tr., quarterly collections Homer. J. M. Schermerhorn, in full of L. M. for son, $10; Mrs. S. Rood, M. S. Hobert, N. Hitchcock, J. T. Stebbins, P. Barber, $5 each; Albert Rice, $5 on son's L. M.; others, $61 29makes Laomi Kinney, W. T. Hickok and W. Brown, L. M.'s 101 29 Westfield. Pres. Ch, T. B. Brower, M. D., $10; E. A. Skinner, Mrs. M. Hungerford, $5 ea.; J. H. Hall, J. Cochrane, Mrs. T. 8. Burger, $3 ea; G. E. Burger, $4; others, $26 70... 59 70 Oswego. Pres. Church, to make Rev. J. A. Worden, L. M...129 70 N. Y. City. Ref'd Church, Wash'n 35 00 81 00 11th Pres. Ch., Rev. Dr. Kittredge -179 20 66 J. D. Vermilyea, Esq. 10 00 2,625 51 |