Potter's Electric News

LAYS OF THE JUDGES. NO. I.-OTHNIEL. 1. Why wakes the cry in Canaan's land ? Why starts the rising tear? Why nerveless hangs the palsied hand When Israel's foes are near? Dare they not 6ght as erst they fought On (!) banks of Arnon's stream? Or sleeps their courage half forgot, Like music in a dream ? II. The (2) heathen king has proudly come, With vaunting heathen horde, Forth from his (3) river-bordered home, Unsheathed his Svrian sword. Shall heathen hands, ah! weary sisht! Pluck Hebron'* (4) tiuitof gold? For them shall Cartel's wooded height Her upland glades enfold? HI. For them shall grapes of purple hue Kisstbesoftstopinghills, Like mermaid's locks when pearled with dew Of ocean's thousand rills? Shall Lebanon's deep wadies wake With ring of stranger steel ? Or Hermon's pasture music make For stranger hearts to feel? IV. Fainthearted, Judah's chieftains cower, And Ephraim's check is wan Dulled is (5) Benoni's sword of power, Fruitless the (6) wiles of Dan For this had they Jehovah spurned, Forgot their plighted troth! ■ For this the perfumed incense burned To pale-faced Astaroth V. The stranger king, eight weary years, Ruled them with iron rod. Once more they prayed Jehovah hears And Israel's Lord i< God. Now for an arm like (7) his of yore \hu iinore till; bitiivicd king; Or (8) his who saw Jehovah pour The swollen torrent's springs! VI. Yet lives there one where Hebron lies By Mamre's fertile vale: God bids the son of Kenaz rise: God bids! Shall Othiiiel fail" Sprung from the royal Judah's seed, He yearned o'er Jud ih's land, Who erst in youth had dared the deed And won fair (9) Achsah's hand. vi r. Ul, 1 Israel, up! For God and Right! Jehovah bare" the swor i." And foernen tremble at ha might Of Othniel and the Lord. Back to their home between the stream* Are hurled the stranger hosts: Gone, a< the phantom forms of dreams, Are all their godless bonsts. VIIT. Xo longer Israel bows the knee To Biai's Golden Light: Or lands Astarte's majesty, The silver Q'leen of Night. And forty yen> the kind was glad And Othniel lived to tell How Israel's heart was sore and sad Before the stranger fell. IX. And forty years the land had rest, Judged by stout Kenaz's son And vineyards nestled in the breast Of grey-haired Lebanon. And Israel's shepherds fed their flocks, From spoiler's hand secure; And Israel's maidens bathed their locks In peaceful streamlets pure. X, For forty years! And Othniel slept. His soul had winged her flight, And Judah's bearded warriors wept The loss of Judah's Light. Mourning they laid him in the tomb Hewn from the living rock Whose name outlives his nation's doom, Judge of Jehovah's flock! Xl. And now the lowly (10) hyssop springs From Othniel's rocky bed: Emblem of purity, wh:ch sings That Othniel is not dead. Hard by the (11) Refuge City stands Where reigned the (12) King whose word Is chanted now in Christian lands: Purge me with hyssop," Lord -London Christian Times. W. B. R.

1 See Numbers, xxi. 24. 2 Chushan Riskathaim. 3 Mesopotamia; or the land between the rivers;" lying be- tween the Tigris and Euphrates. 4 The pomegranate, whose flower is of beautiful orange or crimson. See "The Land and the Book," pp. 583-4. 5 The name given by Rachel, when dying, to Benjamin. Genesis: xxxv. IS. It was a warlike tribe—Genesis: xlix. 27. 6 Dan was to be a "serpent in the path." Genesis: xlix. 17. 7 Abraham. Genesis: xiv. i5. 8 Moses. Numbers: xxi. 14. 9 See Judges: i. 13. 10 "Returning to Hebron we visited the tomb of Otlunel,a sepulchre cut in the rock, with nine niches. We plucked hyssop from the crevices of the outer wall." See" Narrative. of a Mission to the Jews" p. 182. Compare 1 Kings iv. 33. 11 Hebron, the name of which before was Kirjah-Arba, was one of the six cities of refuge. For an account of this institution see Numbers xxxv. and Deut. xix., and for the appointment of Hebron in particular see Joshua xxi, 13. 12 David reigned seven years in Hebron. See 2 Samuel ii. 11.

JOKE OR EARNF.ST?— The Rev. Dr. Alexander, in a speech delivered at Hamilton, related a story of a half- witted man who was in the habit of saying his prayers in a field behind a turf-dike. One day this individual was followed to his retirement by some evil-disposed persons, who, secreting themselves on the opposite side, prepared to listen to what he should say. Jock commenced his devotions, and among other things, expressed his con- viction that he was a very great sinner, and that even were the turf-dike at that moment to fall upon him, it would be no more than be deserved. No sooner had he said this than the persons on the opposite side pushed the dike over upon him. Scrambling out from amongst the debris, Jock was heard saying, I Hech, sirs! it's an awfu* world this; a body canna say a thing in joke, but it's ta,en in earnest.' A SAn STORY !-At the Lambeth Police Court, in Lon- don, on Saturday, a respectable-looking woman made application to the Hon. G. C. Norton for a protection -order, under the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, to protect her property from her husband. The applicant stated that about three years ago, being then a widow, she married a widower, and that soon after the mairiage she came into the possession of £ 1,000 by the will of her mother. Her husband, by representing that he was about to receive j6800 in property left to his former wife, and that he was about to take a public-house in London, un- fortunately prevailed upon her to sign a joint document to enable him to take the £ l,0';0 out of the London and Westminster Bank. As soon us be received it he ab- sconded, leaving her without a shilling. Some time after she learned that be was at Liverpool, and on going there she found him in possession of a public-house, and living with a woman with whom he had lived before her mar- riage. She insisted on his doing something for her or handing to her a portion of the £1,000, and he promised to do so, bat his object was evidently to gain time to dis- pose of his business, which he did. He disappeared without doing anything whatever for her. She after- wards heard of his being in business in Bristol, and there she went in search of him, but was unsuccessful. She next heard of his being at Douglas, in the Isle of Man, and on going there she found him with the same woman. Seeing her, he said that he had spent all his money, and was obliged to work by driving a cart at eight shillings a week, and that of course he could not allow her anything out of that. She then returned to London and made a livelihood by keeping a school, but latterly her sister had offered to give her £ 100, the remainder of her mother's property, and to receive this she sent to her husband for his authority in writing. This he refused unless well paid for doing so, and her sister, under the eircumstancee, was abont to get the money out by other means, and give it to her. Her fear, however, was that the moment she got it her husband would come and claim it unless it was secured to her. Mr Norton thought the case a very dis- tressing one, and granted the certificate as required.

THE TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE AT MORFA. NOBLE GENEROSITY OF MESSRS. VIVIAN AND TALBOT. A contemporary states: The noble and generous spirit exhibited by Messrs Vivian and Sons cannot fail to strike admiration into every breast. We have great pleasure in announcing that the lessees and lessor of the Morfa Colliery have undertaken, in a heartfelt and sympathising manner, to support and maintain the twenty-seven sur- viving wives and families of the much to be pitied victims of this terrible catastrophe. Let us think by making this instance of loss of life applicatory to ourselves, bow awful it would he to see our fathers or husbands leave home in the morning in good health and spirits to return at night a senseless corpse. What an awful feeling would be that of finding ourselves, within the space of a few hours, thrown upon the werld, alone, penniless, and unprotected. Can we, then, wonder that such heartrending circum- stances have touched the philanthropic souls of these truly generous men? We trust that the good example it Messrs Vivian will not be lost upon other masters of collieries. The money in our hands which has beei already collected we shall be most happy to make use of in any way suggested by the subscribers. We have great pleasure in inserting the following letter received from Messrs Vivian and Sons:- '24th October, 1863. 'SIR,—We tender to you our hearty thanks for the active sympathy you have manifested towards the sufferers of the late fearful accident at our Morfa Colliery. We feel that the primary duty of providing for the widows and orphans of those who have perished devolves upon us, and that we ought not to accept extraneous aid in the fulfilment of this, our bounden duty. Upon communicating our determination in this respect to Mr Talbot, who, as lessor of the Morfa Colliery, was next to ourselves most interested in this sad everit, be, in the most handsome manner, declared his intention of sharing the burden with us whatever it might be. We feel it incumbent on us to lose no time in making this communication to you, and we again sincerely thank you for the warm interest you have taken in alleviating the position of those who suffer from this sad event.—Your obedient servants, VIVIAN AND SONS.'

AMERICA. ADVANCE OF GENERAL LEE AND RETREAT OF GENERAL MEADE. NEW YORK, OCT. 13 (AFTERNOON).—General Lee's whole army crossed the Rapidan on the 8th inst., moving towards Madison Court House to turn General Meade's right. The Confederates hold all gaps in the Bull Run Mountain. A sharp engagement occurred on the 10th inet., between a Federal reconnoitering party and Stuart's cavalry near Robertson's River, resulting in a defeat of the Federals. who were pushed back to Culpepper. General Meade has since then abandoned Culpepper, and fallen back to the north bank of the Rappahannock. Washington despatches assert that a combined land and naval attack against Charleston will shortly take place. NEW YORK, OCT. 13 (EVENING).—Chattanooga advices to the 7th inst., report the Confederates to be concen- trating artil;ery on Mission Ridge, and to be sending a large cavalry force to harass Rosecrans's rear. Advices from Charleston are to the 9th inst. During the night of the 6th the Confederates exploded a torpedo under the bows of the Ironsides, extinguishing all her fires, killing and wounding two men, but not damaging the vessel. General Burnside has been successfully skirmishing on the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad. The repulse of the Federals above Port Hudson is con- firmed. They lost 480 prisoners. General Dana has since advanced against the Confederates, who retreated. The Federals, advancing into the Teche country, are still occupied in considerable skirmishing. General Blunt has started in pursuit of the Confederates who captured his body-guard. Guerillas are still active in Missouri, and along the Pacific Railroad. Generals Price and Kirby Smith are reported moving on Little Rock in force. A very sharp correspondence has passed between the British consul of Savannah and the Governor of Georgia respecting the enlistment of British subjects. The Richmond Whig strongly urges the dismissal of British consuls, because they are only accredited to President Lincoln's Government. The Richmond Despatch is incensed at the detention of the Confederate ran*, and observes: -If England would stop I rish emigration, the war would end in three months.' The Tammany and Mozart democratic parties have united. At a citizen's banquet, given to the Russians last night at Astor House, the Russian admiral accepted an invita- tion to Baltimore. Another Russian steamer has arrived at New York. Admirals Milne and Renan, with the officers of the English and French fleets, have visited the public insti- tutions of New York. The absence of the Russian admiral and officers, who were invited, was the subject of much remark. The Captain of the ship Robert Peel has protested, through Lord Lyons, against her seizure. The steamer Robert Lee, from Wellington, has arrived at Halifax. The steamer Sumpter is reported to be in Wilmington Harbour. The steamer Bocomansville, from Quebec for Havana, calling here in distress, has been seized upon suspicion of being a blockade runner. NEW YanK, OCT. 15 (MORNING.)—The retreat of General Alcsde's main army to the Rappahannock was conducted in good order, with little loss. General Buford's and Kilpatrick's cavalry, which covered the rear, had several severe engagements with the enemy, experiencing considerable losses in officers and men. Gregg's cavalry was surrounded while reconnoitering, and lost 50() men. The New York Times correspondent reports last night that since the 13th General Meade has fallen back from the Rappahannock to the neighbourhood of Manassas Plains, and General Lee's whole force having crossed, the Rappahannock, was pressing his rear. A battle in the neighbourhood of Bull Run is considered imminent. NEW YORK, OCT. 15 (EVENING).—The New York. Times despatch, concerning General Meade's position, is generally credited, but no official information has heen furnished. An engagement occurred yesterday between a large force of Lee's army and General Meade's second corps, Bristow's Station. The result is reported as a decided Union victory, the Confederates losing one battery and 100 prisoners. Further information concerning the situation in Virginia is anxiously awaited. General Bragg's cavalry is still operating on Nashville, Chattanooga, and the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, to prevent reinforcements or supplies reaching Rosecrans It is reported that no Western reinforcements have yet reached Chattanooga. The Confederates are entrenching themselves in force on Burnside's left, and Bragg has thrown a force across the Kiawashee river upon Burnside's right, compelling him to fall back to beyond Athens, which the Confederates occupy, thus isolating Burnside from Rosecrans. Shelby's guerillas have been defeated in Missouri, losing all their artillery, baggage, and numerous prisoners. The Federal general Saxton has placed a lien upon the North Carolina cotton crop, until all the claims of the plantation labourers are paid. Advices from Charleston to the 11th state that the pre- parations for attack are completed. A vessel carrying a torpedo had struck the Ironsides amidships. The ex- plosion caused a severe shock, breaking the bulk-' eads. Official despatches say she is not materially injured. The torpedo vessel was sunk, and her captain captured. He asserts that the Ironsides was driven under, so that the water ran into her smoke-stack. Three Monitors have been injured by the Confederate batteries, and are repairing at Hilton Head. One, struck in the side, leaks. Mr Curtin, the Republican candidate, has been elected Governor of Pennsylvania. Mr Vallandigham has been defeated in the Ohio election by a large majority. President Davis is making a tour of inspection in the South. Earl Russell's Blairgowrie speech has been favourably received. The press attributes his confirmation or Eng- land's neutrality to the great display of the Federal resources. It is reported that six more Russian vessels are ex- pected at New York. The French frigate Guerriere is repairing in dry dock. The steamer Africa put into St John's in distress, having struck near Cape Race. She was half an hour on the rocks. Both ship and cargo are badly damaged, and the ship was making much water. NEW YORK, OCT. 16.—General Meade officially reports that on the 14th the enemy attacked his rear-guard, con- sisting of the second corps, whilst menacing him on the flank. After a spirited contest, the enemy was repulsed, losing a battery, 5 guns, 2 colours, and 450 prisoners. This engagement was stated in the despatch of the 15th (evening) as occurring at Bristow's station. Upon the evening of the 14th Lee attempted to flank Meade by way of Chantilly, and get in his rear through Fairfax Court House. Lee's attempt was frustrated by Meade falling back to Fairfax. The object of Lee's advance, and the reason for Meade's refusal to accept battle, form the subjects of much conjecture. Charleston harbour is reported to be effectually closed against the entrance of the ironclads. The steamer Spaulding has been captured. NEW YORK, OCT. 17 (MORNING).—So general engage- ment is reported from Virginia. Both armies are still confronting each other. Hill's corps moved yesterday from Meade's front, in the direction of Leesburg. A Federal reconnaissance was sent to that quarter. NEW YORK, 14, MoRNiNG.—Omcial despatches from General Meade generally confirmed the reports of the recent engagements on the line of the Rapidan. General Lee lies encamped in strong force half a mile from the southern bank of the Rappahannock and directly in Meade's front, and a general engagement was daily expected. It is rumoured that the Confederate cavalry were con- centrating at Dumfries to operate upon Meade's left flank and rear. The loss in the cavalry divisions of Generals Gregg and Beaufort is said to be very severe. None of the Federal infantry were engaged. Washington despatches state that General Meade has checkmated General Lee, and has placed his army in a position where the Confederates must attack him to disadvantage. Batteries have been planted by Bragg in front of Chattanooga, which completely command that place. The Herald's Baltimore correspondent asserts that the whole strength of the Southern Confederacy will be concentrated before Chattanooga to overwhelm Rose- cranz. Richmond papers regard the suspension of Generals Polk and Hindenan by Bragg, as bad policy at the present moment. Affairs at Charleston are unchanged. The combined Federal land and naval attack was postponed in consequence of the late torpedo's injury to the Ironsides and monitors. A large steamer deeply laden with cotton bad run the Wilmington blockade on the night of the 29th ultimo. A Confederate privateer was receiving her armament there, and would soon run out. o THE CHURCH AND THE BAPTISTS IN WALES. The Bishop of Llandaff, in his recent charge to the- Clergy which has just been published, says in reference to Dissent in Wales—'Before my Confirmation took place last year, I was surprised by the number of applications that reached me on behalf of persons of riper years, who had been nominally attached to Baptist Congregations and were desirous of being baptized that they might be- come members of the Church. In one of our parishes in which the average of Infant Baptisms for the decade from 1850 to 1860 had not exceeded 10.1 per annum, no fewer than 177 were baptised in the twelve months from July, 1852 to July, 1863. From both these circumstances we may fairly infer an improved state of feeling with regard to the Ordinances of the Church. TLe Confirma- tions also themselves gave signs of progress, the numbers having increased, notwithstanding the greater care that is now taken to confine the rate to those who have come to years of discretion,' and wh') may be supposed on that account to present themselves with an intelligent and serious ce.-ire to confirm tbeir Baptismal vows. In one of our rural parishes, from which not a single- Catechumen had been presented on the preceding occa- sion, 50 pasons were confirmed, of whom all but one belonged to that parish alone. And here again I must call the attention of those of you whose lot is cast amongst a crowded population, to benefit that has practically re- sulted from Evening Confirmations designed for the ex- clusive benefit of the working classes. At Merthyr the number confirmed was no less than 485. At Neath it amounted to 330. At Aberdare 177 presented them- selves. These signs of progress should be noted not with feelings of vainglory and self-satisfaction, but thank- fulness to the Giver of all good, and as an encouragement to us not to be weary in well doing they are the sure signs that our Church has a hidden strength which some remember not,' and that in due season we shall reap if we faint not. It was observed that many persons nominally connec- ted with the Baptists had sought admission into the Church before the late Confirmation. If our Churches generally were provided with Baptisteries, in which such persons could be immersed, many more would in all probability, follow their example. The cases are nume- rous of those who, having no objection,lto the Church as respects its Orders, its Liturgy, or its Discipline, do yet entertain a strong feeling that Baptism ought to be ad- ministered by immersion, and that it should only be ad- ministered to those who are of an age to understand the obligations it entails. Could their feelings be met on these two points they would willingly conform. There is no reason why suchl persons as these should be compelled by a rigid adherence to our existing practice,, to continue in the ranks of dissent. By meeting their scruple in the matter of immersion, we should not sacrifice our own liberty with regard to sprinkling where no such scruple exists, any more than by the fact of our baptising these particular persons after the attainment of riper years, we renounce our own conviction that 'the Baptism of young children is by all means to be retained as most agreeable with the institution of Christ.' That immersion was contemplated in old time at least as a possibility in tthe case of Infant Baptism, is testified by the side of our ancient fonts. The Office, introduced at the last Revision, for the Baptism of those of Riper Years, shows that in the seventeenth century the Church had begun to feel the necessity of making provision for differences of opinion on the point of age. Unfortunately,, however, while she did what was requisite in reference to age, she made no provision to meet the scruple in respect to the mode of administration. Under these circumstances I am glad to be able to say that in two of our old Parish Churches, and in the beautiful new church of Ebbw Vale, built at the sole ex- pense of the Ebbw Vale Company, Baptisteries have been constructed in which immersion may take place. Most probably they will be seldom used. But there at least they are; to gratify the desire where it is felt and ex- pressed, and to testify to the Catholic spirit of our Church, by showing that in the theory she does not object to, and in practice is willing to allow, what the weaker brother considers essential to the rite, at the same'time that she imposes no such necessity on those who rejoice in the liberty where with Christ has made them free. My reason for alluding to this subject is, that I feel strong not only upon the expediency, but also upon the duty of healing, as far as we can, the divisions that exist in the Church. If we have this object at heart, we shall not be indifferent to the feelings of others, nor rigidly en- force one uniform practice, where the feeling is not an irreligious one and might be indulged without any sacri- fice on our part of substantial principle. Though no consideration could induce St Paul to circumcise Titus because inasmuch as he was a Greek, his doing so would have favoured the opinion that observance of the law of Moses was essential to justification, be did not hesitate to circumcise Timothy in compliance with Jewish preju- dice. To myself, I confess, it does not appear at all sur- prising that to an educated mind, incapable of drawing the distinctions and inferences which readily suggest themselves to others, the letter of Holy Scripture should appear to demand immersion as essential to Baptism or that such persons, in the absence of any express declara- tion of Scripture on the subject, should not see the cogency of the arguments upon which we confidently rely for the admission of infants by Baptism into the Church. I think, therefore, we should deal tenderly with such feelings, and show such persons that if they cannot accept what we deem a Christian privilege, there is no reason deducible from our practice why they should separate from us. In the Report of the Census of 1851 the whole number of places of worship in South Wales belonging to the Church of England was stated to be 615 that of the Baptist Chapels alone to be 297. Assuming the case to accurately stated, is it not worthy of consideration whether we ourselves, by our mode of celebrating the rite Infant Baptism, and by the infrequency with which we refer in our discourses to the privileges of Baptism r may not be in some degree responsible for this wide- spread schism ? If the people in general have no oppor- tunity of witnessing the celebration of Baptism in our churches, can we be surprised if they come to the con- clusion that we think little about it, and that something more must be requisite to come up to the full meaning of our Lord's parting injunction, than anything which the Church, so far as they have the means of knowing, can supply ?' A WORKING LORD.-Lord Brougham, in addressing the workingmen's meeting at the Social Science Congress, said :—' FeUow-workmen, I have been a workman like you all my life, and even when old age has come upon me, the habit is so strong that I cannot give over work" ingnow; and really it must be admitted that there is not only great profit and great usefulness, bat grea' pleasure and comfort in work. All well-regulated minds must feel what has been very well said several occasions, that the worst of all is to have no W°r to do.' Printed and Published, on behalf of the Proprietors, JOSKPH POTTER, at the Office in High-street, in Parish of Saint Mary, in the Coflnty of the Town Haverfordweat Wednesday, October 28, 1863.