Newspaper Page Text
proposed by this bill, compelling them to
support literary institutions, which they
cannot conscientiously approve, cannot
fail to be regarded as an intolerable griev
ance. Boston Rec.
MISSIONS IN TiTe WEST INDIES.
isle khonde.— Wesleyan Missionaries.
There is scarcely a more gratifying sub
ject of contemplation, in the whole circle
of missionary operations, than the happy
effect of Christian instruction on the minds
of many slaves in several-of the West India
Islands. This effect is so undeniable, that
it has, in many instances, and to a great ex
tent, overcome the prejudices and violent
opposition of slaveholders. We lay before
our readers two instances of the beneficial
effects of missions, in different islands, from
a late number of the London Missionary
Register. — Miss. Her.
Os the Negroes at Isle Rhone, which is a
small island about a day’s sail to windward
of Grenada, the Wesleyan Missionaries at
Grenada write, in January 1820—
The slaves are 258 in number ; nearly
all creoles of Antigua. They were remo
ved from Antigua about thirty-two years
ago ; and many of them, previous to their
removal, were members of the Church of
the United Brethren. The good received
under their ministry they retain to this day ;
and although during the space of thirty
two years, they have very seldom heard a
sermon from a minister of any denomina
tion, they have kept up their religions
meetings: and from all that we can learn,
have been exemplary in their moral con
duct.
We feel it to be our duty to take these
sheep of Christ under our care ; and have,
accordingly, formed a-Societv of forty-eight
members.
The manager of the estate on this island
bears the following honourable testimony
to the influence of religion on these ne
groes :
In the years 1794 and 1795, a few year?
after the Lie Rhone slaves had been
brought from Antigua, the fatal insurrec
tion broke out in Grenada, which made the
whole island one scene of horrour, devasta
tion and blood. Isle Rhonde is distant from
the most windward part of Grenada only
about two leagues. Information was com
municated to the manager living in that
island, of the general rise of the slaves in
Grenada against their masters, and of the
aid afforded them by the French; in order
that he might make bis escape, as there
were not more than two white people on
the Isle Rhone to 250 slaves. The mana
ger, however, instead of flying, called all
the slaves together, and told them of what j
had happened to Grenada. He then asked j 1
them what they intended to do—whether j
they would rise too. They answered, j
“No.” “Will you then stand by me?”! 1
With one voice they replied, “ Yes, massa.” i
Accordingly they were entrusted with |
whatever could be found as weapons: and;
while one party of them attended to the
work, another party kept guard, and so far
as their knowledge went, supplied the place
of military for the defence of their master's 1
property. And, though the French never 1
came to that island es they did to Grenada, 1
with the tempting offer of freedom to the 1
slaves that would join them, there is every 1
reason to believe, from the spirit and con- 1
duct of the slaves, that such an offer would 1
have been rejected. When the insurrec
tion was over, they quietly laid down their
arms, and all cheerfully resumed their em
ployment.
This fact speaks volumes in favour of the
religious instruction of the negroes; and is
the more remarkable when contrasted with
the turbulent and disaffected spirit, which,
through the influence of the French, then
prevailed almost universally among the ne
groes of Grenada.
MISSIONARY SOCIETY AT ST. CHRISTOPHER’S.
The following extracts from the St.
Christopher's Advertiser will be read with
peculiar pleasure by all whro take an inter
est in the cause of missions, and more par
ticularly as connected with our West India
Islands.
At a meeting held at the court-house in
the town of Basseterre, on Friday last, the
14th of July, for the purpose of establish
ing an auxiliary missionary society in the
Island of St. Christopher’s—His Honour,
the Commander in Chief, having taken the
chair, opened the business of the day in an
appropriate speech, setting forth the ob
jects for which the meeting had been con
vened, and urging the claims that it had to
publick attention. After which, the follow
ing resolutions were put, and unanimously
adopted, viz.
I. That a society be now formed, to he
designated “The Christian Auxiliary Mis
sionary Society for the Island of St. Chris
topher’s,” to aid the missionary societies in
the kingdom of Great Britain in spreading
the light of Christianity to the ends of the
earth.
11. That the meeting acknowledges
with gratiude to Almighty God, the success
that has attended the labours of Christian
ministers and missionaries generally since
their ministerial labours in the heathen
world ; and views this success as an assur
ance from heaven that the time is fast ap
proaching when the Scripture shall be ful
filled, that the earth shall be filled ■with the
knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the
sea.
111. That the religions and moral state
of the heathen world, and the negro papu
lation in particular, calls aloud for the most
vigorous exertion's of Christians of every
denomination, to instruct them in the prin
ciples of the Christian religion.
The following gentlemen were appoint
ed the officers of the Society :
Hon. R. W. Pickwoud, Esq. Chief-justice,
President.
(Patrick Kelley, Esq. Treasurer.
Sidney Stephen, Esq, Secretary.
, AMERICAN EDUCATION SOCIETY.
Extracts of Corresfonuenck.
: Extract of a Letter from Prof. Smith, Colum
bia College, S. C. to the Rev. Dr. Porter
Jlndover.
Dear Sir,—Your favour of the 23d reach
ed me on Monday evening last, and Meet
disposed to pay to it all the attention
is due to its important subject. lh<?
’ scheme of the American Education Society,
1 is of such a magnificent and liberal nature,
that it is certainly entitled to the zealous
* aid of every friend both of religion and lit
erature, who may have it iu his power to
’ contribute even a mite towards its promo
tion.
Extract of a Letter from Hon. Charles C.
Pinckney, Charleston, S. C. to the Rev.
Dr. Porter.
“ Reverend Sir,—l have attentively pe
rused the constitution and address ot the
American Society for Educating Pious Youth
for the Gospel Ministry., and heard with
pleasure your manuscript account relative \
to the same institution. Asa member of the
Protestant Episcopal Church in the United
States, 1 am happy to find that the Ameri
can Society is not exclusive, or sectarian in
. its principles, as it declares, (page 121 that
no establishment is contemplated, and (page
17) that the subject of the constitution and
address calls on every human hfiag to con
tribute “ because Christ diedfor all.” Trus
ting in these declarations, I shall be proud
(o be enrolled as a member ot the Society,
and enclose a check for the first four years
contribution thereto. For which you will
have the goodness to give me credit. I
have the honour to be with profound res
pect, your most obedient servant,
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney.
It will he recollected that this letter was
written by one of the personal friends of
the great Washington, the father of his coun
try ; by one who signed the Declaration of
American Independence ; by one of the
few venerable sages of the Revolution, now
remaining on earth, to bless its inhabitants ;
who would not be proud to have their names
enrolled with his, as members of (he Amer
ican Education Society ? and what good
roan’s heart does not bound with gratitude
and exultation, that those venerable men,
who have been first in the field, and first in
the cabinet, are now placing themselves
first in the cause of benevolence, and of
God ; and who that knows the growing and
baleful jealousies of different sections of
that country whose union it was the great
object of Washington and his cotemporaries
to establish and confirm, does not think it
augurs well, when the great and good from
Portland to New Orleans and from Caroli
na to Michigan, can unite their prayers, and
their efforts, and their alms, to educate pi
ous indigent young men for the gospel min
istry. There are small geniuses who think
that ministers, like hops, will come into
market, as soon and as fast as they are wan
ted. So thought not the friend of Wash
ington, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney. It
would not surprise us, if the opinion and ex
ample of this single individual, should in
duce hundreds of the rich and the honour
able, from different denominations ofCbris
tians, and from different Stales in the Uni
on, who have before regarded the Ameri
can Education Society as sectarian or local,
or unimportant, or illiberal, to become life
members or annual subscribers.
Let this single fact then close these re
marks. Including ministers and laymen,
only thirty-nine were made life members
last year. Let then the sisters of that wo
man who anointed the body of Jesus unto
the burial, came forward at once, and make
their ministers life members.
CHEROKEE CORRESPONDENCE.
From, the New-Haven Intelligencer.
Letter from Catharine Brown to her brother
David Brown, at the Foreign Mission
School, at Cornwall, dated Creek Path,
Feb. 21.
My dear Brother, —I received your kind
letter some time since, and it gave me great
satisfaction to hear from you. 1 should
have written before this time, but did not
know how to send to Brainerd. lam truly
happy to hear that you feel so well content
ed with your situation in school, and that
you are well pleased with your dear in
structer. Our dear parents are in good
health. They have removed from the
place where they lived before, and are
now living with brother John. I think
they have truly passed from death unto
life ; they seem to be growing in grace and
in the knowledge of Him who has redeem
ed their souls from hell. Indeed you can
not imagine how different they seem from
what they did when you left us. All they
desire now is to do the will of our dear
Saviour. This work is the Lord’s, and no
doubt he will keep them and carry them
safe through this sinful world, until he re
ceives them to his heavenly kingdom. 0,
dear brother, truly the Lord has heard our
prayers for the souls of our parents. We
have great reason to rejoice. May we not
say, not unto us, but to thy name be all the
praise. You have doubtless heard that
brother J. has joined the church. Dear
brother D. my heart is full while I am
writing. How shall I express my gratitude
to God for bringing him to a knowledge of
the Saviour. He says sometimes he feels
happy , n praying to God, and feels willing
that he should do with him as seetneth good
in his sight.
My brother Df.vid, when we look back
and see wbat the Lord has done for our
iatnily in the course of a few years, O let
os call upon our souls and all that is within
us to praise our God for his great blessings
1 sometimes long to see your face once
more in this world, to converse and pray
with you before oar Saviour. I often think
ot the happy hours which we spent when
34
we were at Brinnerd, when
the sweetness of jciigion, and when rag
used to take eaMkr’s haml ,0 ““ lk nt,<r
sing our favourit^^Wn,
“ Come we that love the Lord.”
We then knew the saints, and
felt that religion was not designed to make
our pleasures less. But now our heavenly
Father has separates us for u time in this
world; 1 hope for his glory and for the
good of perishing touls around us. We
have much to do for our Saviour. As we
hope we are children *f the most high God,
let us he good soldiers, and not be weary
in well doing, for in due season we shall
reap if we faint not.
Father and mother send love to you, and
to the scholar? i-i Cornwall. I hope you
will write to ussoon, and let us know how
you do.
Adieu, der Brother, till we meet again.
David Rrom. Catharine Brown.
[The fallowing will be read with admiration,
from a little Indian girl, not 12 years old, who
Vhas been but two years at school.]
Dear Misi G —At the request of Mrs. P.
who thinks ;\ letter from a little Cherokee
girl will qpt be unacceptable, i lake the
liberty fff addressing you. Me received
with gratitude the presents which your
scholars sent us at Brainerd, and were
pleased to think that so many of onr little
white brothers nd sisters care so much
about us poor heatken ; but we hope that
very soon the poor Cherokee 9 will have
(be everlasting gospel preached unto them,
and may they not leglect to listen. We
know that all creation will become true
followers of Jesus, and all those that do
not believe shall be cast into utter darkness,
where there shall be weeping and gnashing
of tectii. May we not be found among the
wicked, hut may we rise glorious at the
awful day. omy <iear friend, I entreat
you tell your seholais to pray for us. IV e
have great reason tb be thankful do the
good people of the itorth for all they do
for us. Among other good things, they
have taken my brother to Cornwall, where
he has become pious, and we trust he will
be prepared to preach the gospel to his
Nation. You will mt expect a very long
or a very good letter from a little girl not
yet twelve years old, who has been but two
years at school. I write that you and your
little scholars will not think us ungrateful.
Your affectionate friend, Delilah Field.
RELIGIOUS CELEBRATION OF IN
DEPENDENCE.
The anniversary of the Declaration of our In
dependence was celebrated with religious solem
nities in the Baptist Meeting House in Hartford,
Con. on the 4th inst. The meeting was opened
by musick, and the reading of the Declaration of
Independence, which was followed by a very in
teresting and appropriate discourse by the Rev.
Mr. Cushman, and the services closed in the usu
al manner of religious worship. We present an
extract from Mr. Cushman’s sermon.— Times.
In reference to the proper method of
declaring the praise of the Lord for the
deliverance and protection of our country —
When have we a more favourable oppor
tunity to express our gratitude to God than
on the anniversary of our national Inde
pendence ? The scruples which have aris
en from the imperfect manner of celebrat
ing this important event, so far from excus
ing us, rather calls for more attention to
the subject. The annual ceremonies by
which the patriotism of our ancestors is
kept alive in the breasts of tbeir posterity,
though proper as far as it goes, does not
reach Ihe height of this interesting subject.
The Divine agency is not so emphatically
declared as it should be. The artificial
thunders which this morning roared thro’
the atmosphere, and shook us from our
beds, are but the memorial of those feeble
instruments by which our American Inde
pendence was secured. The inquisitive
mind, starting from its slumbers, learns
from this martial triumph, that our latheis
fought, and they conquered.—But it is ask
ed who gave success to the engine of war?
Who directed its force that it should smite
between the joints of the harness? Or
were a powerful host by accident suffocat
ed in its fulminations, or overcome by the
terronrs of its threatening voice ? By
whose miraculous interposition did it hap
pen, that those intrepid veterans were not
ignominionsly executed as traitors, instead
of being crowned with the laurels of a free
country ?—Questions of this kind, my breth
ren, can receive no satisfactory solution at
the cannon’s mouth. If then, we would
declare the whole matter, and recognize
the entire agency of this memorable prodi
gy, let the trumpet of the gospel be blown
in the solemn assemblies, and sound the
praises of the Lord most high, who by the
scales of righteousness weighs to nations
their respective destinies, and dispenses
them according to his sovereign pleasure.
But who shall declare this explicit intel
ligence which renders to Caesar the honour
that is his due, and to God the praise that
is God’s ? Shall it he learned at the banquet
of wine, from the incoherent and inarticu
late shouts of an enlbusiastick multitude ?
hut little of our God is heard there. Shall
it drop from the lips of (tie Orator ?****To
the honour of our country, we acknowledge
with gratitude, that here the name of God,
and his supreme guidance are not wholly
forgotten. But whenever statesmen intro
duce this subject in connexion with the
principles of political economy, they do but
touch upon a theme which it would be the
honour of every Christian to swell: they
do but elicit a spark which ‘every Christian
minister ought always to he ready to blow
into a llame. Let the sons of Zion catch,
and spread the sound ; Lei Jerusalem praise
the Lord.
Consider, my brethren, the sacrifices God
was pleased to make, to purchase our inde
pendence. h was not the wisdom and pa
triotism of our Congress alone, which pro
cured our freedom ; it was the valour of
those eminent citizens who exposed thejr
Tlfces RBCTOrtorfifaWe ‘
.blood which was given to purchase the soil
flpon which you subsist:—G ! Christians,
can you be idle? can you be unthankful,
while you reap the fruits of a soil manured 1
by your fathers’ blood ?
We would not prompt you to noisy clam- 1
our—we would not exhort you to sensual i
mirth and festivity ; but would point you to,
(he Almighty arm on which all civil and
religions enjoyments depend, and ask for.
the improvement of nil benefits to the glory j
of Him by w hom they were given. May
God himself enable us to elevate our songs
of praise to his throne, and bring us at last
to u state of more omphatical indepen
dence, not'with tlie blood of our fathers,
but with the blood of His beloved Son.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
j Os the Presbyterian Church, in the United ,
States ; Sessions , Philadelphia, May, 1821. j
From the compendious view of the stntis-j
tical reports presented to the Assembly, it
•appears, that there are at present under its
care, 12 synods, and 62 presbyteries. Fifi
ty of these presbyteries sent up reports to
this Assembly, but they were not all perfect.
Forty-eight only reported on the number of
communicants added the last year, nnd for
ty-nine on the whole number of communi
i cants. Forty-eight have reported on the
j number of baptisms. Os thirteen hundred
congregations, the whole number reported
by 50 presbyteries, five hundred nnd seven
ty-eight have reported the number of com
municants added to them during the last
year, to be 7,186; and 651 congregations
the total number, now in communion, to be
71,364. Three hundred and seventy-three
congregations have reported the instances
! of adult baptisms in them during the last
| year, which amount to 2,101; and 494 the
leases of infant baptisms, which amount to
i 8,105. The fifty presbyteries, which have
reported, contain 546 ministers of the gos
, pel who have pastoral charges, and 188
who have not; giving a total 0f734; and
have under their care 103 licentiates and
101 candidates. The congregations within
i the bounds of these 50 presbyteries, which
■ are statedly supplied, are 793 ; vacant and
able to support a pastor, 103; united, able,
, 20 ; and unable in their present condition,
318. It is to he regretted that 12 presby
teries should have made no returns; and
that other large presbyteries should have
reported little else than the names of (heir
ministers and churches. Not half of the
1,300 congregations reported, have stated
their increase during the last year; wc may
warrantably conclude therefore, since the
whole number of communicants in 651 con
gregations is upwards of 71,000, that the
whole number in all our congregations can
not be less than 142,000. The number of
ordained ministers in our connexion, we es
timate at 1000. [Presb. Alag.
EXTRACT
From President Nott's Address to the Candi
dates for the Baccalaureate , inUnion College.
I cannot sum up all 1 would wish to say
to you better than by placing the entire
character of Jesus Christ before you as a
perfect model, in the imitation of which
will alike consist your happiness and glory.
On every important question, in every try
ing situation, ask what would have been
his opinion ; what his conduct; and let the
answer regulate your own.
Methinks your parents, some of whom
I see in this assembly, add their sanction to
the counsel lam now delivering. Parents
whom I cannot but commend particularly
to your ingenuousness, and from their kind
ness and solicitude derive an argument to
enforce nil that I have said.
You will never know until the bitterness
of filial ingratitude shall teach you, the ex
tent of the duty you owe them. On you
their affections have been placed ; on you
their treasures expended. With what ten
derness they administered to your wants in
helpless infancy ; with what patierce they
bore ycur indiscretions in wayward child
hood ; and with what solicitude they watch
ed your steps in erring youth. No care
has been too severe ; no self-denials too
painful; no sacrifices too great which would
contribute to your felicity. To you the
meridian of life has constantly been devo
ted, and even its cheerless evening is ren
dered supportable, by the prospect of leav
ing you the heirs of their n>me and of their
fortune. For all this affection and kindness
the only reward they expect, the only re
quital they ask, is, that when you enter
upon the world, yon will act worthy of
yourselves and not dishonour them.
And shall this requital be denied them ?
Will you, by your follies, disturb even the
tranquillity of age ; rob declining life of its j
few remaining pleasures, and snatching
away from the palsied hand of your aged :
parents, the last cup of earthly consolation, j
bring their grey hairß with sorrow to the
grave.
It was a noble spectacle amidst the flames
that were consuming Troy, and while the
multitude were intent only on rescuing 1
their paltry treasure, to see the dutiful j
Eneas bearing on his shoulders the venera- :
hie Anchises, his aged father, to a place of
safety. But ah ! how rare such examples
of filial piety ? My God ! the blood freezes
in the veins at the thought of the ingrati
tude of children. Spirits of my sainted |
parents, could I recall the hours when it
was in my power to honour you. how dis- 1
fcront should he my conduct. Ah ! were |
not the dead unmindful of the reverence :
the living pay them, I would disturb the
silence of your tombs with nightly orisons, ■
and bedew the urn which contains your j
ashes with perpetual tears !
It is in your power to prevent the bitter
ness of such regrets. But 1 must arrest the J
current of my feeling. Your future use
fulness, your eternal salvation, constitute a ‘
motive so vast, so solemn, that were I to !
yield to its overwhelming influence, I 1
picßrnct (he hour of separation and
fillAip with counsel and admonition the de
clining day.
J shall add re °s you no more—l shall mec-t I
‘with you no until, having passed
the solemnities of death, l meet yon in eter- |
1 nity. So spend the intervening period 1
; adjure you,that that meeting be joyous, and
, ihe immortality which shall follow it splen- J
did as the grace of that God is free,to whom,
surrendering my charge,! now commit you. r i
( Leaving with you this counsel, I bid you an
affectionate and final farewell.
THE CONVERTED JEW.
;We heard the following affecting anecdote re . 1
luted at a religious meeting, a few days e i nce |
and have no doubt of its authenticity.
[Religious Intelligencer.
Travelling lately through the western ;
part of Virginia, 1 was much interested in ‘
j hearing an old and highly respectable cler
!gy man give a short account of a Jew with j
’ whom he had lately become acquainted, j|
I He was preaching to a large and attentive
i audience, w hen his attention was arrested
, by seeing a man enter having every mar/’
nf a Jew on the lineaments of his counte
nance. He was well dressed, his counte- H
nance was noble ; I thought it was evident I
his heart had lately been the habitation of B
sorrow. He took his seat and was all ot- I
tenticn, while an unconscious tear was often (
seen to wet his manly cheek. After service I
the clergyman fixed his eye steadily upon |
him, and the stranger reciprocated the stare, q
The good minister goes up lo him—“ Sir, 1
am 1 correct? am 1 not addressing one of
the children of Abraham “ You arc.” •
“ But how is it that I meet a Jew in a Chris
tian assembly ?” The substance of bis nar- |
rative was as follows.
He was a very respectable man, of a su- f
periour education, who had lately come 1
from London ; and with his books, his rkb- j
es and a lovely daughter of seventeen, hil jj
found a charming retreat on the fertile L
banks of the Ohio. He hail buried the
companion of his bosom before he left Eu- J
rope, and he now knew no pleasure but the i
company’ of his endeared child. She was, ;►
indeed, worthy of a parent’s love. She
was surrounded by beauty as a mantle ; but |
her cultivated mind, and her amiable dispo- |
sition, threw around her a charm superiour
to any of the tinselled decorations of the
body. No pains had bqpn spared on her
education. She could read and speak with
fluency several different languages; and
her manners charmed every beholder. No
wonder, then, that a doting father, whose
head had now become sprinkled with gray,
should place his whole affections on this
only child of his love, especially as he knew
no source of happiness beyond this world.
Being a strict Jew, he educated her in the
strictest principles of religion, and he
thought he had presented it with an orna
ment.
It was not long ago that this daughter
was taken sick. .The rose faded from her
cheek, her eye lost its fire, her strength
decayed, and it was soon apparent that the
worm of disease was rioting in the core of
! her vitals. The father hung over the bed
; of his daughter with a heart ready to burst
j with anguish. He often attempted to con- ,
| verse with her, but seldom spoke but by
i the language of tears. He spared no trou
ble or expense in procuring medical assis
tance, hut no human skill could extract the
sorrow of death now fixed in her heart.
The father was walking in a small grove
near his house, wetting his steps with his
tears, when he was sent for by the dying
daughter. With a heavy heart he enter
ed the door of the chamber, which be fear
ed would soon be the entrance of death.
He was now to take a last farewell of his
child, and his religion gave but a feeble
hope of meeting her hereafter.
The child grasped the hand of herjia
rent with a death-cold hand—“ My falJer,
do you love me?” “ My child, you know I
love you—that you are more dear to me
than the whole world beside !” “ But, fa
ther, do you love rne ?” ♦“ Why, my child,
w ill you give'me pain so exquisite ? have 1
never given you any proofs of my love ?”
“ But, my dearest father, do you love me ?”
The father could not answer; the child
added, “ I know, my dear father, you have
ever loved me—you have been the kindest
of parents, and I tenderly love you. Will
you grant me one request —O, my father,
it is the dying request of your daughter —
will you grant it ?” “ My dearest child, ask
what you will, though it lake every cent ot
my property, whatever it may be, it shall
!be granted : 1 will grant it.” “My dear
! father, I beg you never again to speak against
’ Jesus of Nazareth!” The father was dumb
| with astonishment. “ I know,” continue!
i the dying girl, “ I know but little about (his
I Jesus, for I was never taught. But 1 know
j that he is a Saviour, for he has manifested
himself to me since 1 have been sick, eVeu
for the salvation of my soul. I believe he
will save me, although 1 have never before
loved him. 1 feel that lam going to him—
that I shall ever be with him. And now,
my father, do not deny me; 1 beg that you
j will never again speak against this Jesus of
; Nazareth ! I entreat you to obtain a Testa
mcnl that tells of him ; and I pray you may
i know him ; and when I am no more, you
may bestow on him the love that was for
’ merly mine!”
The exerlion here overcame the weafr
-1 ness of her feeble body. She stopped ; and
1 the father’s heart was too full even for
| tears. He left the room in great borrow:
‘■ of mind, and ere he could again summon
; sufficient fortitude, the spirit of his accora
■ plished daughter had taken its flight, ns I
I trust, to that Saviour whom she loved and
I honoured, without seeing or knowing. The
first thing the parent did after committing
to the earth his last earthly joy, was to
procure n New Testament. This he read;
and, taught by the Spirit from above, is now
numbered among the meek and humble fe!
lowers of th” Lamb I
