I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, The flame shall not hurt thee, I only design

ened, the effect would generally be, to render it a dry, barren essay, or a mere narrative of uninteresting details. But we must close this paragraph, lest, from its length, such persons may find it too tedious; and we will try for once not to task their unaccustomed minds to such an unwarrantable extent.

And now as to the other ground of complaintthat too many of our articles are continued-it is partially answered in the foregoing paragraph. We are

duly alarmed, whenever, in looking over the pages of a periodical, they see, at the close of an essay, that formidable triverbial phrase, “to be continued." They immediately form a resolution not to read such an essay till the whole series are concluded. Now there is, in many instances, no just reason whatever for this determination. In such continued articles as "The Church, or a Stage-coach Colloquy," "Sketches from a Clergyman's Diary," "Characteristics of Poets," "What is Poetry?" and others which have appeared in the Evergreen, there is not sufficient connection between one chapter and another, (though headed with the same general title,) to prevent any one from reading, with full satisfaction, each number separately.

AUGUST 24.-This festival, sometimes called, by way of abbreviation, St. Bart's day, was appointed {aware that many persons suffer themselves to be unfor the commemoration of St. Bartholomew, one of the twelve Apostles. His name is mentioned in the list of the Apostles which is recorded in each of the three Gospels of St. Matthew, St. Mark, and St. Luke, but St. John does not mention him. Several things, however, are recorded by St. John, of another disciple, whom he calls Nathaniel, and who is not named by the other Evangelists, especially his being mentioned as one of the Apostles, (John xxi. 2,) which have led to the general belief that Bartholomew was that same "Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile," whom Philip called to come and see our Lord. St. Bartholomew is recorded by the ancients to have preached the Gospel in the greater Armenia, and to have converted the Lycaonians to Christianity. It is related that he suffered martyrdom by being flayed alive, at the order of the governor of Abanople, in Armenia, where St. Bartholomew was endeavoring to reclaim the people from idolatry.

EDITOR'S TABLE.

The hints we have received on these points have been very few, yet we have thought it best thus to notice them.

Before any of our subscribers find any fault with the Evergreen, we wish them to think of one thing-its cheapness. (Some of them should think of another thing also they have not yet paid for it.) A distinguished clergyman, in conversation with one of our agents, not long since, made the following just remarks: "I am confident that I get far more than an

We are happy to add to our list of contributors an-equivalent for my money, in subscribing for the Everother writer, by no means unknown in Church-litera-green, for the four steel engravings of the American ture. His "New England Priest," which commences Bishops, which are to appear during the year, would in the present number, will afford much pleasure and cost me, if procured in any other way, more than the instruction to our Church readers. The spirit of Pu- price of the periodical, including postage also: so that ritanism, as well as that of a time-serving Church- I consider myself as getting the other eight engravings manship, will, we have every reason to believe, be and all the printed matter gratuitously." Those of well developed. It is indeed full time that both were our readers who know any thing about the cost of encompletely unmasked. gravings, will appreciate the justness of these remarks.

We have received a few gentle hints to the effect that most of our articles are too long, and also that CONGREGATIONALIST METHOD OF detecting PusEYtoo many of them are continued. Now, our own ISM. We take the liberty of inserting, verbatim et opinion is, that, as a general thing, our articles are en-literatim, the following letter which we received from tirely too short. We dislike verbosity and prolixity in the "Pastor of the first Congregational church in —,” writing, as much as any one, (albeit we are addicted merely suppressing the name of the person and place. to both faults ourselves,) yet it must be remembered We think he can find no fault with us for making this that these faults are not at all to be confounded use of such a unique specimen of epistolography. with copiousness, which term, in its rhetorical sense, means a proper and sufficient diffusiveness of style. It is often impossible to do full justice to a subject, or even to approach it, in the narrow limits which In December last I saw a copy of the prospectus of the "Evergreen, or Offering for all Seasons," and I rejoiced that Episcosuch complainants would be disposed to allow. And palians were about to be blessed (as I thought) with a "Reposieven in the cases where an article might be so short-tory of Religious, Literary, and Entertaining Knowledge for the

To the Editor of the Evergreen.

June 26, 1844.

Christian Family." With the object of encouraging a work which promised to be so good, I sent my name to your agent in as far as it went, in favor of the Episcopal form of religion, (for though I am a Congregationalist, and a true follower of Calvin, I am free from bigotry,) (1) but I did not expect it would be full of Puseyism. But the very first number, before I read it, (2) convinced me that its design was to hold up the views of the

as a subscriber. I had expected that the work would be,

Puseyites, for I saw that instead of calling it, as you had in

how soon Puseyism will betray itself! Here we were
plodding along in our accustomed course, not suppos-
ing that any person dreamed (not even dreaming it
ourselves) that we were a Puseyite, when, lo, the
"Pastor of the first Congregational church in
makes the wonderful discovery, and that, too, from the
undeniable fact and irresistible proof that we write
certain words with capital letters! Surely, these of-
fending consonants, like Burns' vowels, should be
brought forthwith to the bar of justice, to be tried for

such a misdemeanor.

"Upon a time, Sir Abece the great,

In all his pedagogic powers elate,

your prospectus, an “offering for all seasons," it was now styled a “church offering," &c.; (3) and besides 1 noticed that, in accordance with the invariable practice of Puseyites, you make use of a capital C in the words church, catholic, and even in cross, (4) a capital B in bishop, &c., and explanations of saints' days. And then to read your loose opinions about the gracious work of conversion, in your April number, (5) was really heartsickening, especially to think what influence such opinions may have in misleading others. Surely the Devil (6) could wish no better agents than the Puseyites. Pardon me for so expressing myself, for I candidly believe it. I can never in the least countenance the Episcopal church, till she places herself on an equal footing with other church sects; (7) and your Evergreen teaches no such humble views as that. I think it almost a stigma upon the orthodoxy of the New Haven Theology (8) that such a mag-ply to this charge. He can, however, find our “loose

azine as yours should be published there.

But my object in addressing you is to inquire if you will permit me to stop my number of the Evergreen now. (9) Your agent in says that he [has received] instructions from you not to receive subscriptions for less than a year, and told me to apply to you. Yours, &c.

Pastor of the first Cong. church in

COMMENTS.

(1) There appears to be some omission here, for the writer certainly does not wish to be understood to say that "a Congregationalist and true follower of Calvin" is not, like himself, "free from bigotry;" and yet, from his words, this would be a fair, if not the only inference. However, if there is no omission, and he fully meant what he has written, he might have been much farther from the truth.

(2) The writer of the above letter is not the first one of his sect who has detected all manner of supposed evil in books before he has read them. Here, in fact, is one great difficulty with sectarians; they will not read Church books, but they see a host of bug-bears in them without reading them.

His awful chair of state resolves to mount,
And call the trembling vowels to account."

(5) We have examined our " April number," but we are unable to find those "loose opinions concerning the gracious work of conversion," to which the writer alludes, and we are therefore unable to make any re

conver

opinions" on the subject of what he calls “
sion," in our "BUDS, BLOSSOMS, AND FRUIT OF THE
CHURCH,”— -a little work which was first published
some months ago, and a copy of which we will order
our agent in
"" to present the writer, if he will

promise to read it.
(6) The writer here uses a capital D in Devil.
What are we to infer from this? Wonder of what
class of religionists this is "in accordance with the
invariable practice?" How very consistent and char-
itable too! An editor is proved to be a Puseyite, (and
if a Puseyite, an agent of the devil,) because he
writes Church, Catholic, &c. with a capital C, and
yet the "Pastor of the first Congregational church
in can with impunity write devil with a capi-

tal D.

99

(7) "Church sects!" What an incongruity! To speak of white black-birds, or red-hot snow-balls, would not be more contradictory. It forcibly reminds us of old Lorenzo Dow's "all-part men," as he was accustomed to call those who held the doctrine of un

(3) This change from "offering" to " Church-of-conditional election. fering," was thus occasioned. Several of our friends (8) "The orthodoxy of the New Haven Theology"!!!! wished us to adopt some other title than the EVER- But we will spare the rest of our exclamation marks GREEN for our periodical, as there was nothing in the till the gentleman informs us what " orthodoxy" means term which disclosed its Church character. But the in his vocabulary, and how he reconciles his sympaunchanging verdure and unfading beauty of the Ev-thy for these modern developments, with his profession ergreen appeared to us so fittingly emblematical of of true Calvinism.

the perpetuity and glory of the Church, especially (9) We shall be glad to continue to send the Everwhen contrasted with the ever-shifting and newly-green to the writer, without charge, for we are in the forming sects, that we were unwilling to resign the name; so we altered another portion of our title to "Church-offering," &c., that there might be something in it indicative of its Church character.

habit of furnishing our contributors a copy gratuitously, and his letter, with the accompanying comments, has contributed to fill more than a page.

In conclusion, we utter no complaint against the (4) We trust we have not committed an unpardona- "Pastor of the first Congregational church in —,” ble sin in using a "capital C in the words Church, for his unchristianly letter. If he thereby expected to Catholic, and even in Cross," [he might have added, have annihilated us, we can assure him that we still also, in the words CHRIST and Christian.] But, alas," live, and move, and have our being." So far from

a

"true

value of the "Churchman's Library," let them subscribe for it. We wish to see a Church-literature prevail, and shall gladly do all in our power towards pro

cherishing the least unkind feeling towards him, we make the request, that if he should ever come to our city to inhale a little of the "orthodoxy of the New Haven Theology," he will not fail to make us a visit.moting this most desirable result, and shall therefore We assure him that we should be pleased to see him, especially since he so boldly professes to be follower of Calvin," (a race which we had supposed to be extinct long ago.) It would be a sight that never as yet has greeted our eyes, to see a genuine, unflinching, supralapsarian, live Calvinist, or (perhaps he would prefer not to have the word written with a capital C, so we will gratify him) calvinist.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

always be happy to recommend Church-publications, even though they may occasionally contain a few expressions of opinion with which we cannot fully agree. Massingberd's History of the English Reformation; Gresley's Church-Clavering, or the School-Master; Sewell's Christian Morals, have already appeared in this series of republications, and now Southey's Book of the Church is commenced. This last work is, we think, the most interesting history of the English Church (especially for the general reader) that has ever been issued from the press. Some allowance must however be made for the author's predilections for the state connexion. This "Book of the Church" is alone worth far more than the price of the Churchman's Library for a whole year.

BLACKWOOD'S EDINBURGH MAGAZINE, for July. American Edition. New York: Leonard Scott & Co.

MUSIC FOR THE CHURCH; containing sixty-two Psalm and Hymn Tunes, in four parts; together with Chants, Doxologies, and Responses, for Morning and Evening Prayer and Holy Communion. Composed for the use of the Choir of St. Paul's Church, Baltimore, by C. Meineke, Organist. Bal-New Haven: T. H. Pease.-We have been much timore: J. Cole. New Haven: Croswell & Jewett.— This work, which has been recently published, contains appropriate and original tunes for all the varieties of metre to be found in our psalms and hymns. The music has had the test of ten years' trial, in manuscript, in the choir for which it was composed. We greet several of the tunes as old acquaintances, which we heard some years ago, when it was our privilege for a few months to worship with the congregation of St. Paul's. We heartily recommend the work to all who prefer good Church-music to the light, unseemly, fashionable "sacred songs" of the present day.

It may be mentioned that the choir for which this "Music for the Church" was originally composed, has been in operation about forty years, and during nearly the whole of this period under the same precentor and organist! Many of its present members have been regular in their attendance more than twenty-five years. This case, we presume, is almost, if not quite, unprecedented in the history of Church-choirs in our country.

gratified in reading several articles of this number of Blackwood, especially the one on Portugal," and the Ballad entitled The Heart of the Bruce." All lovers of genuine ballads will heartily appreciate this. Its style is by no means unlike that of the beautiful "Ballad of Sir Lionel," which appeared in the February number of the Evergreen, under the sobriquet of "Ulric Horn."

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER'S COMPANION: Containing Extracts from various Authors, arranged under appropriate Heads, affording useful Hints to those who are employed in the religious Instruction of the Young. New York: A. V. Blake.—This work, prepared for the press by the Rev. A. Ten Broeck, has been before the public for some time, and has received ample recommendations. It is designed more especially for Churchmen, and should be in the hands of every teacher in our Sunday Schools. It is bound in a convenient size and in a handsome style, suitable for presents.

The article in this number, to which we have given A DISCOURSE delivered before the Pastoral Assothe title of " Choir-singing, and Church-music," is ciation of Congregational Ministers in Massachutaken from the preface of a collection of Church-mu-setts, May 28th, 1844, by Edwards A. Park, Bartsic, formerly prepared for the press by the same pub-let Professor in Andover Theological Seminary.— lisher. We have received from some unknown friend a copy of this "discourse," and we have read it with feelings

THE CHURCHMAN'S LIBRARY, No. 7, for June; con-of deep regret that men will continue so wilfully ignotaining the conclusion of Christian Morals, by the rant about the doctrines, order, and usages of the Rev. William Sewell, M. A., and The Book of the Church of Christ. A sectarian minister can hardly Church, by Robert Southey, Esq., Poet Laureate, prepare a sermon, in these days, without interlarding &c. Flemington, N. J.: J. R. Dunham. New Ha-it with misrepresentations of, and attacks upon, our ven: Croswell & Jewett, Agents. If our readers Church-system. We may possibly say more of this would be convinced of the cheapness as well as of the discourse in our next number.

VOL. I.

THE EVERGREEN.

For the Evergreen.

SEPTEMBER, 1844.

THE CALLING OF SAMUEL.

[SEE ENGRAVING.]

SAMUEL was the son of Elkanah and Hannah, of

the tribe of Levi. His mother, in fulfillment of the

vow which she had made, devoted him to God from his infancy, and assigned him to Eli, the High Priest, for the service of the Tabernacle. "And Samuel

NO. IX.

Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.

And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I ; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.

Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go lie down, and

it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

And the Lord came, and stood and called as at ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. Moreover his mother made him a lit-other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, tle coat and brought it to him from year to year, when Speak, for thy servant heareth.” she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice."*

Samuel now heard from the Lord the denunciations against Eli and his house, and in the morning he told

The Israelites, being encouraged at the appearance

rid themselves of their Philistine enemies and con

When Eli had become very old, he was sinfully in-Eli "every whit, and hid nothing from him." And dulgent towards his sons Hophni and Phinehas, whose Samuel was soon acknowledged, throughout all Israel, abuse of the privileges of the priestly office, and other as a prophet of the Lord. deeds of glaring wickedness, had hitherto been unrestrained by their father. The extraordinary charac-of a prophet like Samuel among them, determined to ter of Samuel soon began to be developed in a commission which he received immediately from God, to querors; but in the battle which ensued, they were denounce His displeasure against Eli for his criminal defeated by the Philistines, with the loss of four thou remissness, in scarcely reproving, much less restrain-sand men. Thinking that the absence of the "ark ing, his sons by the exercise of parental authority.of the covenant of the Lord" was the cause of this This calling of Samuel and the revealing of the word of the Lord to him, is thus narrated in the Holy Scrip

tures.t

"And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was lain down in his place, and his eye began to wax dim,

that he could not see;

And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;

That the Lord called Samuel; and he answered,

Here am I.

And he ran unto Eli and said, Here am I: for thou

calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.

defeat, the Israelites brought it, amidst great exultabut a second overthrow was their lot, and "there fell tions, into the camp, and again prepared for battle; of Israel thirty thousand footmen, and the ark of the Lord was taken, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain." When the intelligence of these calamities were suddenly communicated to Eli, he was so affected, especially at the mention of the capture of the ark of God, " that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died." So many calamities befel the Philistines during the time that they kept the ark of the Lord, that they afterward gladly restored it, with commemorative offerings, to the Israelites.

After the death of Eli, Samuel became judge of Israel, and under his judicial authority, there was effected a reformation in divine worship. The Philis

And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. And Sam-tines were soon completely discomfited, and were kept uel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for under during the remainder of his judicature, which thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, was noted for the internal prosperity and happiness of my son; lie down again.

the nation of Israel.

Samuel was the fifteenth and last judge of the Israelites. By divine direction he converted the Hebrew commonwealth into a kingdom, and anointed