the Romanizing clergy of the Protestant Episcopal Church dislike her Protestant faith and practice, but must bring Popish doctrines to her pulpits, and Popish practices to her altars, they should quit her communion, and take themselves to Rome. But such tendencies, it is well known, meet with far less rebuke than the liberal spirit which acknowledges a minister of Christ in such a man as the late Dr. Alexander, or John Summerfield.

The truth is, that the Episcopal Church, sometimes facetiously called "The American Church," needs to be reformed out of the bigotry which Bishop Potter, with the law in his favor, seeks to maintain; and we heartily hope that the men aimed at, in this pastoral letter, will keep the ground they have taken, until the reformation is complete enough to justify her claim to be called "The Protestant Episcopal Church.". -The Methodist.

PROPOSED PROTESTANT LEAGUE.

At a Convention of Young Men's Christian Associations held in Philadelphia last week, over three hundred delegates were present, representing fourteen States. Cephas Brainerd of New York presided, assisted by several Vice Presidents, among whom were Ĝen. Fiske of St. Louis, and Moses W. Pond of Boston. A paper was adopted expressing the view that no necessity longer remains for the existence of the Christian Commission, which was originated by these Associations. Rev. Rufus W. Clark, chairman of a special committee to whom was referred the paper relative to the formation of an American Protestant Assembly, made the following report, which was discussed at length and finally adopted:

Among the favorable indications of the times are the tendencies towards union of feeling in effort among the members of the various evangelical denominations throughout the country.

The readiness of a great majority of Christians to co-operate in general philanthropic benevolent movements; the increased disposition to exchange pulpits on the part of the clergy; the desire extensively felt among Presbyterians to see the two branches of the church again united, the growing feeling that the present condition of our country demands renewed effort to strengthen and extend Protestant ism-all the providential indications that claim the attention of the friends of the Kingdom of Christ.

In view of these facts, we suggest the organization of an assembly, or an association, to meet annually, and to be composed of clerical and lay delegates from every evangelical denomination that is willing to enter into the movement, and from any Protestant bodies in foreign countries, the delegates to be appointed by the highest ecclesiastical body representing the denomination.

The proposed objects of the assembly are the following:

First. The official and public recognition of the unity of the Prot estant church.

Second. The cultivation of fraternal feeling and Christian co-operation throughout all evangelical denominations.

Third. The extension of Protestant education and religion throughout the destitute portions of our land.

Fourth. The publication of an annual report, that will present an accurate statement of the numerical strength of each denomination of our land, the condition and strength of Protestantism in Great Britain, France, and other European countries, and a view of all Protestant missions throughout the world.

Other objects may be added to these, as Divine Providence may indicate. Such an association or assembly will not interfere with the ecclesiastical order or benevolent operations of any branch of the church, but through the blessing of God, may stimulate them all. The expense attending it would be but trifling, unless it should become an efficient power for promoting educatian in the West, and in the Southern fields now opening for philanthropic and Christian exertion. The primary object of the body would be the cultivation of Christian fellowship throughout the true Church, and the consolidation of the ideas and principles upon which the extension of the Kingdom of our Lord and the spiritual regeneration of the world depends. The details of the organization could be arranged by a committee for the various denominations.

BISHOP POTTER AND THE EPISCOPAL CLERGY.

The New York correspondent of the Philadelphia Ledger gives the following account of the troubles among the Episcopalians:

"The Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg, of the Church of the Holy Communion, having taken part in the proceedings of the Christian Union Association, at the Broadway Tabernacle, on Sunday evening (affiliating with the Presbyterians, Congregationalists, &c.), notwithstanding the recent admonition of Bishop Potter, against such practices by the clergy of the Episcopal Church, it is reported, to-day, that the Bishop has instituted the requisite preliminary proceedings to bring the offending minister to trial.

There are other clergy, it seems, in the same category with the Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg; but it has been deemed expedient to make his the test case. In close sympathy with him are the Rev. John Cotton Smith of the Church of the Ascension, the Rev. Dr. Tyng of St. George's, the Rev. Dr. Taylor of Grace, the Rev. Dr. Canfield of Brooklyn, the Rev. Alvah Guion of Williamsburgh, and the Rev. B. F. De Costa, editor of The Christian Times—all eminent churchmen of the Low Church or Evangelical persuasion. The trial will create an immense sensation in the Episcopal Church, and it is feared, lead to a serious disruption."

"Everything in life has two handles," says one of the ancients; but it must be a bad disposition indeed which will ever be seizing the wrong one.-Cecil.

"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment."-JOHN 7: 24.

Christian Life.

FAMILY WORSHIP.

It is a law of Divine economy, that when the father of a household becomes a Christian, the whole family become Christians also. Joshua said: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Paul said to the jailor at Philippi : "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, and thy house," not thyself alone, but thy household also. Lydia was baptized and her household.

Family worship is a fitting consecration of the family to God. The family is an ordinance of God. It is the oldest of all institutions existing among men. It dates its origin in the Garden of Eden, with the commencement of the human race. It continues to survive amid all the changes of human affairs. If our present National Government should be dissolved, yet the hallowed institution of the family would continue in every part of the land. A people may be carried away captive to foreign lands, as were the Hebrews of old; they would still group themselves together, and be found in families. Surely an institution which thus lives, bears the mark of its Divine origin; and well may we admire the wise and benevolent purpose of our Creator, which did not destine us to live in isolation as individuals, but united us in families, and gave us houses to dwell in.

But how fitting it is, that an institution thus divinely appointed and preserved, should be consecrated to him who established it; and that all who form its membership should pay their united tribute to the Author of their being, the Preserver of their life, the bountiful Giver of all their blessings. Every relation of life should be consecrated to God, but a relation so pre-eminently of Divine appointment, and so pre-eminently beneficial in its influences as that of the family, should be especially sanctified by the Word of God and prayer.

Family worship unites the members of a household in the closest intimacy of friendship and love. Various influences serve to unite the members of a family together. But there is no influence so deep, so strong and so abiding as that of religion. Other influences are temporary, and are ever liable to be weakened by conflicting interests of selfishness. But this is an influence which is invincible and indestructible. Mutual attachments can be made strong and continue to increase in strength, only when those who are thus united, have an object of interest and affection that is common to them both, and is also higher than both. That object is given them in the sublime reality of Christian faith, the everliving God and Savior. They who bow together around his altar, and unite their hearts in his worship, know that they are united by a tie which no earthly change, misfortune, or misunderstanding can disturb. United in Christ, they are united forever.

Family worship is an important means of Christian education. The daily reading of a portion of the Scriptures would soon bring before the mind a large amount of religious truth, and go far towards diminishing that ignorance of the Scriptures which is now so general and deplorable. The Bible is fitted to be a household book, the family Bible. Let its open page bless the family every day. And where there are children in the house, it is hardly possible for them to be educated in a Christian manner without the practice of family worship. How can parents teach their children to pray, unless they pray with and for them? The great rule of all successful paternal instruction is: Be thou thyself what thou wouldst have thy children to be. If you would have your children pray, pray yourself. If you would have them read the Bible and love to read it, let them see

your own interest in it. All pastors and teachers know how much easier and more hopeful it is to converse on the subject of religion with children who have the advantages of Christian instruction and of Christian worship at home, than with those who have them not. Other means of religious education often fail through lack of this.

In respect to family government, family worship is of prime importance. How can parents expect their children to obey them, when they themselves are disobedient to the Father in heaven? And yet this is not an uncommon expectation. Our Savior tells of a man who built his house upon the sand Quickly and easily rose the building, but when the rains descended, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, it fell; and great was the fall of it. There are many houses, built not of earth and stone, but of souls of immortal youth, that also fall, and great is the fall of them. They grow up quickly to the years of manhood, but they are reckless and lawless, disobedient both to God and man, as unfit to be citizens of the State as of the Kingdom of God. And this is because at home there was no Christian influence to mould and govern their youthful wills, and guide them in the way of righteousness and peace.

Family prayer strengthens family government, because it clothes the parent with the sanctions of divine authority. The first religion of a child is to obey its father and mother. By the habit of obedience to its earthly parents it is to be taught obedience to the Heavenly Father. But how much more naturally and easily will this habit be formed when the child sees that the father and the mother are themselves obedient to the unseen Father in heaven, and the power of a child to see this is wonderfully quick. It will associate the authority of pious parents with the authority of God, and will fear to transgress their commands as though uttered from heaven.

Family worship strengthens family government because it brings the influence of parents into connection with the fountain source of all blessing. In all our efforts to do good, the source of blessing is not in ourselves, but in God. Parents who pray with and for their children may know that in their efforts to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, they are working not in their own strength, but in the strength of God. The Author of all good is on their side. If they should look to themselves alone, to their own

words, or works, or manner of life, they might lose all courage or hope; but as they kneel with their children around the family altar, they may be well assured that it is God who by them is educating their children; and that he will see to it that the Divine influence which bringeth salvation shall not be absent from their hearts.Christian Mirror.

EVERY-DAY PIETY.

An occasional and valued correspondent (J. S. R.) furnishes us the following extract from "Manoah," a volume recently published by Geo. W. Childs of Philadelphia. The work is an earnest effort

of the gifted author to enforce on her own mind and those of her readers, the lessons of practical piety suggested by the brief and fragmentary history of Manoah, the father of a well-known and famous hero and deliverer of Israel:

Take at random one of the days which have made up his life, and what is the account which it would be likely to furnish, particularly in regard to Christian knowledge and peace? How to the faithful

liver is each day filled with trials called petty, because they are familiar, with discouragements which would be insignificant in description, but which sicken the soul, and palsy every effort. A chance word, a thoughtless interference, an unwelcome claim, a child, a servant, a visitor, may disturb the composure of your mind as well as the order of your plans. A light touch destroys the balance that you had adjusted with such pains. The calmness and mental elevation, to which, in the morning you had attained with such effort of self-examination, contemplation and prayer, and which you thought would be preserved through the day, have yielded to a feeble, seemingly impotent assault. You have lost your just gained foothold on the rock, and are tossed about on the sea of your undisciplined feelings and unsound judgment. Or, like a stray child, you look around you bewildered and helpless in the world's wilderness. And you are a stray child! Confident in your knowledge of the way, you have withdrawn from the Father's presence, wandered from the path in which you were set, and the thick darkness of absence from the light of life now closes around you.

The first lesson in Christian service is humility; faith, dependence, zeal and activity are the second, and we may not invert the order, or we destroy the character and end of Christian performance. Pre-eminently do the sins of the tongue oppose' our progress, and heap up occasion for shame and discouragement. You began a discussion in the love of truth and spirit of peace, but pride of opinion and impatience of opposition, mixed themselves with the zealous affection for a good thing, and gendered a strife of words, in which you dishonored the cause you meant to recommend. You proposed to elevate your adversary to your own or a higher level, and you have descended below his. Often in your private and public discourse, the pleasant sound of your voice lulls your Christian caution, literary or religious vanity comes in like a torrent on your fluent periods, and