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From the * Friend of Man.’
MANNERS OF SCOTLAND.
The eloquence of George Whitfield, wa
■always well adapted lo his auditory, and
■varied much in original feeling, a? well as
mental power; yet his words were as the
■arrow of a skilful archer, the arrow drawn
■o the head and sent home to the mark.
■One great faculty of his mind, consisted in
•eizmg the interesting events of the passing
■noinent —catching the manners living as
■hey rose before him and embodying them
■n his discourses, so that every vital feeling
■hnuid rally round the truth, which he de
ligned to inculcate, and impress them on
he bgp&rt with eloquence of soul.
When George Whitfield first visited
idinburgh, he was cordially received by
miltitudes of people. At that time an exe
utinn took place. Perhaps not disposed
o interfere with ministers under whose
are the criminal was, or to intrude on
lero in a land where he felt himself yet a
■ ranger, he only indulged his curiosity to
see the manners of the people by mixing in
the crowd. But his appearance drew the
eyes of many on him, and gave rise to al
most as many opinion®, and, perhaps as va
rious as the imaginations of a number of
individuals were likely to generate. The
lext day he preached to a large body of
lersons in a field near the city. We may
udge of the crowds attending his first ser
ious at Edinburgh, when in London, where
e was known, ten, twenty and thirty thous
id persons would often attend hi preach
g—at five o’clock in the morning.
On the subject of the execution he ad
ressed hi Edinburgh audience, nearly as
Hows: ‘ I know,’ said he, ‘ that many of
in will find it difficult to reconcile mv ap
earance yesterday, with my character;
any of you, I know will sav that my time
ould have been better employed in pray
g for the unhappy man. than in attending
im to the fatal tree, and that perhaps cu
osjty was (he only cause that converted
e into a spectator on the occasion ; but
lose who ascribe that uncharitable motive
•e under a mistake.—l witnessed the con
ict of almost every one present, on that
:casion with which I was highly pleased,
lid indeed it has left on my mind a very
ivourable impression of the Scottish na
on. Your sympathy was visible on your
juntenances, and reflected the greatest
•edit on your hearts ; particularly when
le moment arrived that your unhappy fel
iw creature was to close his eyes on this
odd forever, you, as if all with one im
ulse, turned your heads aside and wept.
‘hese tears were precious, and will be
pld in remembrance.—How different
|ben the Saviour of mankind was extend
ion the cross. The Jews, instead of
rmpathiskig, triumphed in bis sorrows,
[hey reviled him with bitter expressions,
Stb words even more bitter than the gall
id vinegar which they handed him to
THE MISSIONARY.
drink: not one of all that witnessed his
pains turned the head aside, even in the
last pang ! yes, there wa9 one—That glori
ous luminary, (pointing to the sun) veiled
his-bright face & sailed on in ten-fold night!”
Well may such an apostle be held in ven
erated remembrance. The beauty of
the scene, every eye suffused in tears, eve
ry face veiled in sorrow; the apt contrast
between the feelings of men under the in
fluence of Christianity, and those who cru
cified its author, with the sublime recol
lection, “yes there was one,” as if new
light had beamed on his memory ; all bring
him to the mind’s eye as a great man with
consecrated talents and devoted zeal, ef
fectually impressing powerful truths on the
susceptible heart, as absent yet present, as
one that being dead yet speaketh. This
transaction took place many years past.
In 1811, the author of this article was in
Edinburgh. Two young men were then
sentenced to death for murder. The Eng
lish law has the motto —“ cut it down, why
cumbereth it the ground.” It orders exe
cution within twenty-four hours after the
sentence is passed. The Scotch laws have
imbibed more of a gospel spirit. The
criminal, after sentence is allowed six
weeks, for repentance. On the day of ex
ecution, the author had been at Leith, and
on walking back to the city, a distance of
two miles, met multitudes of persons re
turning in crowds, from the speotacle.
The strong muscular figure of many, evi
dently in humble condition of life, bespoke,
as far as simple shape and features could
indicate, bodies of iron and hearts of steel;
but they walked in solemn pace, a9 if they
had just been attending to the grave the
last remains of a near relation. They
were silent as well as solemn, and many an
hardy counlenance evidently shewed the
channels and traces of tears. The effect
of thi9 unexpected meeting, left a lasting
impression on the mind—for the execution
took place in Edinburgh, and in walking
from Leith, to which the crowds were re
turning, the writer had a full view of al
most every person’s countenance, and saw
almost every face had recently been swel
led with tears, and the feelings of his heart
then responded to the sentiment of Whit
field, in giving him a very high opinion of
the Scotch nation, for those (ears were
preciou®, and will be held in remembrance.
The clergy and magistrates entered into
consideration of what could have been the
cause to originate an increase of crimes
where they expected from past experience
to hear as little of murder as of canihalism.
The criminals were found to be in a state
of ignorance, which was another prodigy
among well educated Scotsmen. They
discovered that their population in Edin
burgh had so increased beyond their regu
lar education, that jguorance was making
inroads upon their character and laying
waste their morals, and they resolved as a
corrective of the evil—to establish Lao
casteriar. schools—and the principal of
their university, and Lord provost of the
city, with the most eminent of their clergy
and laity became active in promoting the
measure.
REV. WM. WARD.
The following letter, from the Rev. W. Ward,
who recently visited the United States, full of ar
dour and enthusiasm to establish Christian semi
naries of learning in Hindostan, may be perused
with interest, on account of its local allusions.—
The charitable spirit which it breathes, and the
liberality of the national opinions of Mr. Ward,
will conciliate those who disagree with him in
point of faith. B. Ev. Gas.
To the Rev. George Barclay, Rilwinning ,
Scotland.
London, April 24, 1821.
“ My dear Brother. —l went to America
to be edified by its religious character and
institutions, and not as an economist, or pol
itician : you will not expect, therefore, from
me, any thing which has relation to these
subjects. Yet 1 may observe, once for all,
that the roads,the culture, the style of build
ing, the vehicles, the extent of every kind of
improvement; these come short of the
same things in England. And who ought
to wonder at this, when the age of the two
countries i9 considered ? The winters in
America are long and severe, and the sum
mers hot. On the seaboard the variable
ness of the climate is very great, and pul
monary cases are very numerous and fatal.
Yet, still it remains true, that most of the
deficiencies and faults of America are the
deficiencies and faults of youth. After visi
ting the States ofNew-York, Connecticut,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, &c.
and the cities of N. York, Boston, Philadel
phia. and Baltimore, I was quite amazed at
the progress of society in the U. States;
these colleges, these courts of justice, these
scienlifick and benevolent institutions, the
extent of country cultivated, these state
governments, this army, this navy, this
powerful general government! Why, my
dear brother, when 1 considered that the
other day this whole continent was a forest,
the exclusive abode of half naked savages,
and wild beasts, all this scenery appeared
before me absolutely as the effect of en
chantment. I may here give you impres
sions made on my mind in passing through
GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE.— Jesus Christ.
MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK CO. GA.) MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1821.
the State of Connecticut, and of which I
made a memorandum at the time ; “That
country must be a happy one, in which the
poor can obtain a respectable education for
their children for nothing: where each
man of good character, without regard to
his sect, can become a legislator; where
provisions are exceedingly cheap; where,
except in particular towns, taxes are few;
where there are no tythes, nor the galled
feelings arising from the unwise elevation
of one part of the people, oo a religious ac
count, over the other part, and where the
people (as I had just seen them in Boston)
meet in convention to amend the constitu
tion of the State, with the same good hu
mour as men go to the annual meeting of
the Humane Society in London. I saw
several Baptist Ministers in the above con
vention, as well as among the legislators of
the State of Maine. This may suffice for
these subjects.
“ Many places of worship in America,
among different denominations, have wood
en steeples ; which, however, when paint
ed, look nearly as well as stone. Among
the Presbyterians and Congregationalists,
the vestry, or session house, is a separate,
and sometimes a distinct building; the small
vestries, a9 in England, opening into the
chapel, where the minister can retire, and
see bis friends and deacons, are very rare
in these states. The minister goes at once
into the pulpit, and pulls off his great coat
or cloak, and throws it over the side of the
pulpit. In the winter a pan of coals in a
box is ready for him to set his feet upon.
The services are conducted nearly the
same as in England—but I was very sorry
to observe that our custom of lining out the
hymn as sung, scarcely exists; and that
singing, in many cases, was profanely aban
doned to the choir, as though praise, at any
rate, might be done by proxy ; or, as tho’
the object of Christian worship was partial
to such and such tunes which the congre
gation could not acquire. How any person
can blame cathedral worship as popish, and
admire these exhibitions in the front galle
ry, I know not—Notes entreating the pray
ers of the congregation for the sick, &c.
are in many places sent up into the pulpit;
and, directed by these notes, the ministers
visit the sick during the week. The read
ing of the Holy Scriptures does not com
monly, I regret to say it, make a part of
the services of the sanctuary. Dr. Watts
generally supplies the forms of praise to
the American people. I have seen selec
tions, the greater part, however, the com
positions of Watts, by Dr. Dwight, Dr. Liv
ingston, Dr. Worcester, and Mr. Winchell.
American editions of Dr. Rippon’s selection
are not uncommon. The reading of their
prevails, I apprehend to a consid
erable degree among the congregational
ministers if not among others also. The
services are, in many places, concluded in
the evening at least, with a doxology, the
congregation standing. Blacks are mem
bers of the churches of the whites; and
sit down to the Lord’s table with the whites
wherever I travelled.
“ Elders, as the scripture name of minis
ters, is much used in some parts. Black
cloaks are generally worn by the ministers
in the New England States; and I saw
several ministers wearing queues.
“ The number of religious institutions in
America exceeds, if possible, those of Eng
land. Bible, Missionary, Tract, and Sun
day School Societies, are very numerous.
The American Bible Society is a noble in
stitution, doing great good. The Orphan
Asylum at New York has been favoured
with such remarkable instances of the Di
vine care, as to remind one very strongly
of the institution of Professor Frank in Ger
many. The Deaf and Dumb Asylum,
at Hartford, Connecticut, under the care of
the Rev. Dr. Gallaudet, prospers exceed
ingly. I spent a few hours at the Asylum,
enjoying a flow of feelings so sacred and so
refined, that I can never lose the recollec
tions of this visit. Regular prayer meet
ings confined to females, held at each oth
er’s houses, are very common in America,
“ But there are some institutions existing
in America, which I have not heard of in
other countries : At Boston, and in other
places, a missionary for the town and neigh
bourhood is maintained and employed ; his
work is to carry the gospel to the poor; to
preach in cellars, in garrets, and amongst
those who, by their poverty, peculiar cir
cumstances, or their disinclination, are ex
cluded from the publick means of grace.
1 met two or three of these interesting mis
sionaries. Societies of ladies exist for as
sisting poor Christian students by purchas
ing cloths and making them clothes. Other
ladies are united to work together ODe day
in a week, fortnight or month, devoting the
produce of their sewing, &c. to some good
object. One of the party reads for the ed
ification of the rest. Societies of girls, and
separate ones for boys, are numerous;
these have meetings, and devote a quarter,
or a half, or a whole dollar a year each, to
some Christian object. In the church un
der the care of the Rev. Mr. Payson, of
Portland, a number of married females
have associated, under a solemn engage
ment, that the survivers will, as much as
possible, seek the spiritual good of the chil
dren from whom any mother in this associ
ation may he removed by death.
“ The different denominations in this
country come together in delightful harmo
ny, and co-operate, without being obstruct
ed by those impediments which exist in oth
er countries. The Sunday School Union,
in New York, exhibits a noble specimen of
true Christian feeling; and the Union flour
ishes accordingly.
In short, I found more places of worship
in the large towns in America, than in sim
ilar towns in Britain, and much genuine pi
ety among the Presbyterians, the Congre
gationalists, the Evangelical Episcopalians,
the Methodists and the Baptists, and as far
as my journeying extended, I observed a
cheering exhibition of Christian progress
As in England, all denominations of real
Christians are increasing; and are all grow
ing better. The revivals in different sec
tions of the Union, are greater than ever.
I have made special inquiry into the nature
of these revivals, and find, that the far
greater portion of those who commence a
religious profession, under these impres
sions, continue till death to adorn the doc
trine of Divine influence. Christian mis
sions, too, begin to be more popular, and
the duty of the church to identify them, as
an integral part of its institutions, begins to
he more generally felt and acknowledged
in this highly favoured country. What a
cheering sight it was to see, on (he 9th of
last month, coach and wagon loads of mis
sionaries coming into Princeton, on their
way to the Indians; ‘the wilderness and
the solitary place shall be glad for them.’
And how still more astonishing that these
Indians should be willing to devote to the
education of their children all the dollars
paid them by annual instalments, for lands,
by the government of the United States.
“ Blessed be God ! the appearances in all
Christian countries indicate, that w§ are
rapidly passing into anew order of things.
Indeed, all the great events of our own
times seem but the harbinger of his ap
pearance, who is the desire of all nations.”
NOVEL READING.
From the Washington Theological Repertory.
Os all the seductive amusements of the age, few
present to the youthful mind attractions which it
is less capable of resisting, and few are in their
tendency more perverting to the principles, or
more corrupting to the heart, than popular Nov
el reading. We are aware what sophistry has
been employed, and what deep self deception
practised in order to conceal this tendency, and
excuse the pernicious indulgence. Gladly would
we before have exposed the insidious danger ; but
this is a subject on which conviction is too often
overpowered hy the force of habit or of a prurient
curiosity, to result in the correction of the prac
tice. We venture, however, to reiterate the ap
peal on the subject, to our youthful readers in
particular, in the following Extract from a late
anonymous writer, whose production, under the
title of“ No Fiction,” has acquired a large and
deserved share of the publick favour. The pas
sage copied i9 a part of a letter from the circum
spect and pious Douglass, to his relapsing friend
Le Fevre, whose perilous fall commenced in the
very indulgence here so justly characterized.
“ My very dear Friend,
“ You wish that I would give the ques
tion of the tendency of Novel reading some
particular attention. This I will cheerful
ly do. Never was it a burden to me, to
meet the request of my fripnd.
“ Perhaps I ought to preface my remarks
by stating, that I by no means object to a
tale, or fictitious narrative, as such. Those
who do, appear to me to carry their objec
tions too far; and, by extending, invariably
weaken them. Such objections would ope
rate, not merely against some of our best
prose writings, but equally against the com
positions of our finest poets; yel, surely,
if there are those who would forbid our
perusal of the prose fictions of Johnson, De
Foe, and St. Pierre, there are none who
would interdict the poems of Cowper,
Montgomery, Scott, and Milton. More
over, I apprehend that such indiscriminate
censure would affect even the scriptures
themselves ; for I know not what we can
call the parabolical parts, except it be,
truth under the veil of fiction. Indeed,
we seem so constituted, as to receive in
struction through this medium, with pecu
liar delight; for every nation, whether re
fined or barbarous, serious or gay, has
abounded with fictitious combinations, from
the engagements of life and the forms of
nature, to illustrate moral truth.
“ While, however, so much should be
conceded, let it be observed, that it is a
eoncesiion, rather to what is possible , than
to what is fact. I can conceive of a taie
being so constructed, as to illustrate and
enforce the highest lessons of virtue and
religion ; but at the same time, it must be
confessed, that the body of existing novels
is directed to very different objects. There
have, indeed, recently been writers, who
have laudably endeavoured to wrest this
powerful engine from the enemy, and em
ploy it on the side of truth and goodness ;
but their number is far too few to redeem
the character of this species of composition.
They deserve our gratitude, and will, of
course, be an exception from the following
objections:—
“ First , then, I object to a course of nov
el reading, as it produces an undue excitement
on the mind. The design of the novel writ
er is to interest and inflame the passions ;
and this design is generally accomplished,
by giving that position to incidents and
Price, \ pr. ann. or,
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characters, which shall fill the imagina
tion, and excite the deepest feeling! of the
heart. This excitation, from being pleas
ing, becomes necessary; the appetite
grows with the gratification ; till, at length
the novel reader requires his tale, as the
drunkard does his polion.
“The evils of this excitement must be
apparent. Where it is indulged, the relish
for sober pleasures and rational pursuits,
is lost; —the understanding and the judg
ment are enslaved to an inflated imagina
tion ; and ennui, the inseparable compan
ion of violent emotion, sheds its destructive
mildew on all the soul. The habitual nov
el reader feeds on essences and liquors,
rather than on a temperate and wholesome
diet.
“ And, if the observation is to he applied
to youth, the case is aggravated. In youth,
the fancy wants restraint, and the under
standing, cultivation; a course of novel
reading, at this period (hen, must be as per
ilous as the administration of stimulants,
where there is every symptom of fever!
” Secondly, I object to general novel read
ing, because it gives false impressions and
views-of life. Although it is the boast of
the novelist, that he 1 draws from life,’ I
will venture to say, his descriptions are no
more a fair sample of life, than the gardens
ofltaly are a fair specimen of the world,
or the portraits in Somerset House a fair
representation of our species. It is rather
a selection from life, than a delineation of
it; and, though the copy should be cor
rect, (he impression will be erroneous.
There is too much bustle, and surprise, and
agitation ; the heart m9t thrill with fear
and hope, through every page of the story ;
while the days, the months, the years of
real life, which pn99 away in regular duty
and quiet happiness, receive neither de
scription nor encomium.
“ But it frequently happens that the
exhibitions of life, partial as they are, are
unjust. Characters are drawn with a mon
strous compound of vice and virtue. Pas
sions are described with necessary conse
quences, which are by no means conse
quent. Trifles are raised into importance;
events not likely to occur in a lifetime, are
made essential to life ; and others, common
to humanity, and which frequently bring
with them little pain or pleasure, cannot
be realized without sinking into an abyss
of endless misery, or rising to a paradise of
everlasting joy.
“ But, thirdly , my principal objection to
novel reading is, its immoral tendency.
This charge, though a most serious one, is,.
I fear, to be applied to nearly all the books
which pass under the name of novel. In
making this assertion, however, I am taking
the New Testament as the standard of
morality; and by this standard, although
there will be no comparison in the shades
of guilt, few wili escape, condemnation.
What are we to say of works which fritter
away the distinction® between right and
wrong; and deceive the unwary into the
paths of vice, by surroundiug them with
the waymarks of virtue ? What are we to
say of works, which treat with contempt
those admirable qualities, industry, frugali
ty, and prudence; while they squander
their praises on extravagance, carelessness,
and folly? What are we to say of works,
which alienate the heart from domestick
and retired duties—which convert every
quiet home into a prison-house—and make
the best of parents appear either rediculous
or tyrannical? What are we to say of
works, which are polluted by luscious de
scriptions of sensual pleasures, lascivious
innuendos, and infidel bon-mois ; and which
almost uniformly, make love a passion
wholly irresistible ? What are we to say
to works which justify emulation, pride,
vanity, revenge, ambition, and hatred ?
Os works which, in some cases, become
apologists of drunkenness, fornication, adul
tery, gambling, duelling, swearing, lying,
and suicide ?
“ To a person ignorant of the subject, it
would be thought that this is an aggravated
statement ; but (as you perhaps know) so
far from being such, it may be substantiated
without a reference to those works, which
are denounced as scandalous. I firmly be
lieve that this representation may be justi
fied by the writings of Swift, Smollet, Sterne,
and Fielding alone ; and yet their works
are the “ standard of novels,” and their
names are in highest reputation with the
world !
It is no atonement for these writers, that
they occasionally throw out some good mor
al sentiments—that they satirize certain vi
ces which are unfashionable ; and that they
sometimes make the catastrophe speak on
the side of virtue. When one vice is con
demned to patronize another; when a mo
ral maxim is pinned on to a licentious pic
ture ; when a fable is composed of intrigue
and wickedness, terminates in a cold allu
sion to virtue ; —virtue and morality are
only scandalized and betrayed—they are
only made a slight covering to the pitfalls
of vice !
“ Nor is it any apology that these writers
draw from life. This has been urged in
their favour, with a tone of great assump
tion ; but as Dr. Johnson has well observ
ed, there are characters and scenes in life
that ought never to be drawn. What is un
necessary-and improper for us to see, or
