NEWS FROM THE CHURCHES.

PENNSYLVANIA CO-OPERATION MEETING.

THE Northern Christian Co-operation Meeting met at Smithfield, Bradford county, Pa., April 20th, 1850. Opened by prayer. Brother L. B. Hyatt, appointed moderator, and Brother E. E. Orvis, clerk. The following preamble and resolutions were then unanimously adopted: WHEREAS, the cause of the gospel and of Original Christianity, is of vast importance to man, in his compound relations to time and eternity; and whereas, the success of that cause demands the united experience, knowledge and labors of all its friends; therefore,

Resolved, That the representatives of the different congregations embraced within the Northern District of Pennsylvania, be requested to report to this meeting their past and present condition, and future prospects.

Resolved, That this meeting recommend to the congregations the propriety of putting forth more efficient efforts for the advancement of the cause in this section of the State.

Resolved, That this meeting recommend the propriety of holding quarterly co-operation meetings through Bradford and Tioga counties, in order to concentrate our efforts, and promote love and union in the congregations. [Appointments were made for such meetings.]

Resolved, That we recommend to the churches the establishment of Sunday Schools in their respective congregations; and that, in order to their success, we recommend the adoption of the publications of the "American Tract Society," established at Cincinnati.

Resolved, That we recommend to the churches to become auxiliary to the American Christian Bible Society and the American Christian Missionary Society.

Resolved, That we approve of the call of a State Convention, to meet in Somerset, Pa., on the 1st May; and that, therefore, we appoint delegates to unite with them in deliberations in reference to the interests of the cause within the boundaries of our own State.

Whereupon, the following brethren were appointed said delegates: Bros. T. Miller, L. B. Hyatt and E. E. Orvis.

The following reports were made out from the information furnished by their delegates:

Total,

We report their probable

There was no report from the Leroy church. number. This report does not fairly represent our strength in this section of the State, because there are brethren in several neighborhoods not duly organized, and not reported here. There have been about sixty additions to these different congregations during the past year.

Our meeting went off with the greatest degree of unanimity and good feeling. There were 10 additions, by immersion, with favorable prospects. E. E. ORVIS, Clerk. L. B. HYATT, Chairman.

DANVILLE, Ia., April 9, 1850. Brother Campbell: The brethren closed a meeting at this place on the 13th of March, with 9 additions-4 immersions. Brother Lockhart was the laborer. Yours in the one hope, JOHN BLACK.

RICHLAND, Ill., April 26, 1850. Brother Campbell: The Reformation is advancing in this region. More than 50 additions, from the world, to this congregation, within the last eighteen months; 30 in Clarie's Grove, last fall, twelve miles from here; about 30 at Athens, same distance, a few weeks ago; 17 at Clear Lake, eight miles from Springfield, and several in Springfield and Island Grove. Yours, in gospel love, JOHN W. TAYLOR.

MT. VERNON, Ohio, April 27, 1850. Brother Campbell: It gives me great pleasure to add to the item of "News from the Churches," intelligence of the success of the ancient gospel in this place. During a residence here of six years, I have stood entirely alone, and, of course, have been deprived the privileges and blessings of the Christian church, save as I could meet with a distant congregation. The change is a happy one; it rejoices my heart; and in my soul do I magnify the Lord and bless his holy name.

During the past winter we have had repeated visits from Brethren Jonas Hartzel (Marion) and J. H. Jones, (Wooster.) Theirs were, so far as known to me, the first pleadings in this place for a revival of Primitive Christianity. They had mountains of prejudice to overcome. After a number of introductory discourses from Bro Hartzel, in the early part of the winter, Bro. Jones commenced a series of meetings the 25th of January, which continued one week. On the 31st of same month, we organized a congregation of Disciples on "the Bible alone." We commenced with 21 members. Of these, 6 were from the Baptists, the oldest members of their communion, and persons of intelligence and piety; 2 from the Christians; 2 from the Congregationalists; 4 were received by immersion, and the balance from Disciple congregations in the country. We have since received, by letter, 10-now numbering, in all, 31, including 5 who are here, temporarily, in attendance on my schools.

We organized by the ordination of one overseer and one deacon. We meet every Lord's day at 2 o'clock P. M., to break the symbolic loaf, as also to edify and admonish one another in the duties of our holy religion. By the Christian courtesy and kindness of our Methodist Protestant friends, we are privileged with the occupancy of their house at that hour. We have no regular preaching. We will, therefore, be glad to receive aid from those of our traveling evangelists who, omitting a crusade upon the sects, will preach the ancient gospel in its primitive purity and spirit.

In the consolation and hope of the gospel, yours truly,

R. R. SLOAN. EAST SMITHFIELD, Pa., May 5, 1850. Brother Campbell: There have been 21 additions, by immersion, to this congregation, since I wrote to you last. Bros. Miller and Hyatt have also succeeded in adding upwards of 20 at Covington, Tioga county.

Yours, in the love of the truth,

E. E. ORVIS. MILTON, O., April 28, 1850. Brother Campbell: I left home seven weeks ago, for the purpose of preaching through Crawford and Wyandotte counties. I first visited the village of Osceola, Crawford county, and preached six days-8 made the "good confession;" 1 received from the Baptists; 2 by letter. This congregation was organized on the 3d day of May, 1849. When I first visited that place, at the time above mentioned, I found seven members. I remained a week, baptized 9, and organized according to the "gospel order."

Since which time, I have visited them on five occasions. They now number 39, and are wielding a good influence. All I wish to say of them, is, they are decidedly pious. From that place I returned to Bucyrus, the county seat, and preached four days. At first there seemed to be but little attention; but on the evening previous to my leaving, 4 came forward for baptism. Next morning, after preaching, 2 more made the "good confession," and were buried by baptism, in the Sandusky river, amidst crowds of interested spectators. I then proceeded to Whetstone, six miles east of that place, preached three days, but no baptisms.

I then turned my face westward again, to meet Bro. Jonas Hartzel at Wyandotte. Spent two days in Bucyrus, and baptized 2 more, making 8 in all. Proceeded to Wyandotte, where I met Bro. Hartzel. We continued together for six days, without any other effect than to turn the attention of the people to the word of the Lord, to inquire whether these things were so or not. We shared the hospitalities of Mr. Isaac Bryant and his excellent lady, during our stay. I formed an acquaintance with Bro. Jos. Bryant and Dr. Grafton, from Big Island. Was highly delighted with Bro. Hartzel, and his manner of teaching. May heaven's best blessings rest upon the heads of these dear brethren!

After some days more delay, I turned my face homeward, where I arrived in safety, and found my family in health, thankful and happy. To the Lord be all the praise! "A BROTHER."

SOLON, O., May 16, 1850.

Brother Campbell: We have just closed a very interesting meeting of thirteen days in this place, conducted by Bro. J. H. Jones, of Wooster, which resulted in obtaining 75 confessions, as follows: 8 from the Presbyterians, 8 from the Baptists, 5 from the Methodists, 3 reclaimed, and the balance from the world-total, 75. Among the above was my beloved and aged mother, of 75 years, who had been a member of the Presbyterian church for about 40 years; also my youngest brother and his wife, who were members of the same church. Have we not reason to rejoice? But we give God all the glory, as it was by his word that we accomplished such a wonderful victory over sectarianism in this place.

Yours, in the hope of Heaven,

Total number reported since last month, 307.

L. S. BULL.

MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Ar a meeting of preachers and teaching brethren, held in Hiram, Portage county, Ohio, on the 7th May, 1850, it was unanimously

Resolved, To take the preparatory steps towards the organization of a missionary society, to include the Western Reserve and its borders.

Resolved, That we call a convention of messengers from the churches, to meet in Wadsworth, Medina county, on Thursday, the 5th of September next, at 1 o'clock P. M, to organize such a society.

Resolved, That where they prefer it, two or more churches may send one messenger.

Resolved, That the chairman of this meeting, with two others whom he may select, be a committee to prepare a constitution, and any other matter, in their judgment, necessary to submit to that meeting.

Resolved, That we request one insertion of this notice in the Millennial Harbinger, the Christian Age, and the Proclamation and Reformer. A. S. HAYDEN, Secretary.

BE HOLY.

BY WILLIAM BAXTER.

BE HOLY! let thy life proclaim
Thy Master's character divine;
Let all thy words and actions prove,
The virtues which he taught are thine;
Be holy humble all thy pride,

And choose the Saviour for thy guide.

Be holy! let each thought to him,
In sweet subjection gently bow;
Let passion bend at his command,
And all thy life his praises show;
Show that to man, on earth, is given,
An earnest of the joys of heaven.

Be holy! 'tis the passport through
The radiant portals of the sky;
'Tis thus the soul must be prepared
For purer, holier joys on high;
Be holy without holiness,

The smile of God would fail to bless.

Be holy let the soul assume

The perfect likeness of its sire,
Cast off its dross, and join the songs
Which flow from the celestial choir;
Be holy and exultant spring

To heaven, on hope's untiring wing.

Be holy and the dying strife
Will lose its terror, and the eye
Of faith, will gaze undazzled on
Thy great reward above the sky.
Be holy be forever blest,

Thus seek-thus find-eternal rest.

LEXINGTON CONVENTION.

THE Convention at Lexington, Kentucky, met according to appointment. We had the pleasure of being in attendance. The meeting was, we thought, well attended, well conducted, in good spirit and in good style; passed several very important resolutions, which I have not, as yet, the means to report, but hope to receive them for next month. Such meetings, so conducted, have much to commend them to the favorable regard and support of all the brotherhood who seek and labor for the prosperity of Zion. A. C.

INTERPRETATION OF THE SCRIPTURES-No. XIV. To the principles of interpretation already considered, we have yet to add those which are deduced from the nature of language as literal or tropical; emphatic or unemphatic; antithetical, and abstract or concrete. All these circumstances affect the sense of words, and alter or augment their meaning, and must, therefore, be duly taken into consideration in forming correct rules and applying them in practice. Upon these subjects we shall here present some further extracts from the authors already quoted:

Words proper and tropical. The first important division or distinction of words, in respect to their meaning, is into proper and tropical, i. e. literal and figurative, or (better still) primary and secondary.

A proper word is a definite name given to a certain thing; and as such, may be explained by adverting to the proper names of persons. A tropical word is one used out of its proper, i. e. original sense; e. g. rosy face, snowy skin, where rosy and snowy cannot be literally or properly predicated of the skin. The names trope and tropical come from the Greek word peños, inversio, conversio.

Tropes arise (1) From similitude, real or supposed. E. g. the vine creeps. This is called metaphor. (2.) From conjunction; which is either physical or intellectual, i. e. supposed, believed. Physical or real, where a part of a house is put to signify the whole; or the container for the thing contained, as to offer the cup, viz: to offer what is contained in it, i. e. the wine. The conjunction is intellectual or supposed, when the cause is put for the effect, and visa versa, e. g. blushing for modesty; the sign for the thing signified; or the subject for the attribute. From conjunction arises that species of trope, which is called metonymy.

Tropical words sometimes become proper ones.-But there are several different points of light, in which tropical words are to be viewed. For, first, the primitive or proper signification, strictly understood, often becomes obsolete, and ceases for a long period to be used. In this case, the secondary sense, which originally would have been the SERIES III.-VOL. VII.

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