Newspaper Page Text
2. Let femnljß adopt more extensively,
the plan of cowßituting their pastors mem
bers for life. In (hi* way, so easy is itself,
and pleasant to/all concerned, more than
$5,000 have already been received into the
treasury. /
Were all tie ministers of the Presbyte
rian and Colgregational churches in this
country made life-members, the sums would
amount to j|BO,OQO, more than all the soci
ety has est r received, and, of course, more
than enotigh to do what the society has al
ready done. If we consider the number of
ministers this sum would educate, and the
number of souls they would be probably in
strumental in saving from eternal death,
how great is the object!
3. Let every person, who is able, en
gage to support one beneficiary.
The circumstances of a pious youth,
whose parents were unable to assist him,
and who was fearful of entirely failing in
his efforts to obtain an education, were sta
ted by one of our.agents, to a gentleman,
who immediately sent him the following
letter.
“Dear Sir, —I am ready to commence. k.
I trust in God, for future ability, to furnish
the means to educate , the son of ,
in a manner, suitable to qualify him, in the
hand of our great High Priest, to preach
the unsearchable riches of Christ, to a per
ishing world. I accept with gratitude,
your kind offer to make this resolution
known to him and his friends, and your
agency in forwarding the arrangement, for
me, which, I trust, is dictated by the Spirit
of our common Lord. You are hereby au
thorized to make the arrangement for me,
and the enclosed draft will be duly honour
ed, to commence it. And may our heaven
ly Father make the youth a rich and last
ing blessing to the World, and to Ihe church
of our blessed Redeemer.”
The circumstances of a charity student
were stated to another gentleman; how the
young man had left his father’s house and
travelled many hundred miles on foot, to
seek assistance in prosecuting hi3 studies,
till his heart almost failed him; on which
the gentleman wrote the following letter.
“Dear Sir, —The situation of , in
——- college, calls upon my feelings to as
sist him. If you approve of my purpose,
you may authorize him to expect from me,
upon the first day of June in each year, the
sum ofsso, in all S2OO. 1 wish him to un
derstand that 1 discontinue his assistance, in
case he should within the above period, re
linquish his literary studies, or cease, in
your opinion, to give evidence of vital pie
ty. I trust in God, that I shall not fail of
the will and the ability to fulfil this prom
ise.”
These examples are strongly recommend
ed tfi the imitation of the wealthy. How can
they better invest a portion of their abun
dance, than by thus lending it to the Lord?
In this way, how easily might many hun
dreds of pious youth, whose hearts throb
with desire to preach the Gospel, but who
are cramped under the pressure of poverty,
be raised up to bless their benefactors and
the church f
4. Efforts should be made to increase the
number of annual subscribers.
’ 5 Let men of different occupations de
vote a specifick proportion of their income
to the object of the Education Society.
Ministers might devote their marriage
fees for one or two months in a year to this
sacred charity. Merchants might return
a certain proportion of their gain to him,
who own 9 the silver and the gold, and holds |
the winds and waves in his hand. This 1
would be the best insurance of their prop
erty.
Let the trader consider how entirely his
loss or his gain is at toe disposal of divine
providence, and ask how he can find the
best security.
Let mechanicksset apart one or two days
in each month, to labour for the Education
Society, remembering from whom they re
ceive their strength to labour, and all their
success in business.
This plan if generally adopted, would
greatly enrich the treasury of the Lord,
without impoverishing the donors.
6. Let education fields ha set apart in all
our farming towns.
Let every good man give each of his
sons a small piece of ground to cultivate,
and encourage a generous emulation to pro
duce the Amount for the Education Society.
The young men of every town, with
scarcely any sacrifice, might combine to
cultivate a large field for this object.
Though little has yet been done in this
way, a great revenue might thus be easily
obtained.
Let the charity students in every acade
my and in every college be furnished with
a field to cultivate for their own benefit.
While they would thus do something for
themselves, they would remove some oftbe
. common objections to Education Societies;
—-that beneficiaries are too idle ; that they
are too proud to work with their hands:
that they are in danger of losing their health
fer want of exercise.
7. The design of the society might be
greatly aided by donations in clothing. Ar
ticles of clothing are much needed. Dona
tions of this sort, are to the society equiva
lent to their worth in money. Those who
have made exertions to procure boxes of
clothing, will accept the grateful acknowl
edgment* of the directors.
8. Important aid may be afforded by sub
scriptions for boarding beneficiaries, in the
1 eighhourhood of academies and colleges.
9. Let booksellers and other gentlemen
be i luced to make life-subscriptions in
Looks.
TREASURER’S REPORT.
Bal.mcu Current Fund from last year, $2129 64
“ Permanent Fund, 48 50
Amount received for Perm. Fund, 750 00
Uidi Subscriptions, 1620 00
AunuaJ do. 684 00
Donations, 9087 43
luterest, 967 54
Amount brought up, $15,887 11
. ■—
Amt. pd. beneficiaries $9093
Incidental expenses 985 72
Bal. on hand for current
use, 4469 89
Permanent Fund. 798 50
j 15,887 11
Permanent Fund.
Thirty-five shares of U. R. bank stock, $3500 00
Seven per cent. U, S. Stock, 4080 00
Real estate, 6000 00
Loans to individuals, at 6 per cent. 2500 00
Cash on hand, 798 50
$16,877 50
Officers of the Society.
Hon. William Phillips, President.
Aaron P. Cleveland, Esq. Treasurer.
Rev. Asa Eaton, Clerk.
Directors. —Wm. Bartlett, Esq. Rev. Abi
el Holmes, D. D. Rev. Ebenezer Porter,
D. D. Rev. Leonard Woods, D.D. Rev. Asa
Eaton, Rev, S. E. Dwight, Rev. Warren
Fay, Rev. R. S. Storrs.
AMERICAN” MISSIONS.*
MISSIOX AT BOMBAY.
From the Christian Watchman.
The Missionary Herald for December
i contains a detail of particulars respecting
. this interesting mission which are well wor
t thy of attention. It is true no very re
i markable success has attended the preach
• ing of the Gospel at Bombay ; but ‘from a
sense of absolute dependence on God for
a blessing on the means which is religiously
acknowledged and appears to be deeply felt
by the missionaries, there is good reason Jo
believe that a precious seed is sowing which
will hereafter spring up anil furnish a glo
rious harvest in the salvation of many sin
ners. The Prudential Committee in their
report, observe that
“ The Missionaries at Bombay do not
forget that, however important and neces
sary their other objects ofattention may be,
preaching the Gospel is their highest em
plovment, as it is the divinely appointed
method, by which sinners are usually
brought to the knowledge and obedience of
the truth. In the most discouraging cir
cumstances, a confidence in the superiour
efficacy of the means which God himself
has established, should never be shaken, as
it will never ultimately be disappointed.
Whatever human philos-ophy may imagine,
if is by the foolishness of preaching that men
are induced to believe, whether they live
in Christian countries, or amid the darkness
of paganism. Where this divine institution
is honoured and maintained with humble re
liance on its Author; where the great
truths of revelation are proclaimed, in the
form of a plain, solemn, earnest testimony ;
though the effect may not, for a long time,
be apparent, God will at length vindicate
his own word, and prove the wisdom of his
own plan.
At Bombay and the vicinity, no material
alteration has taken place, as to the times
and manner of communicating the Gospel
by preaching. The missionaries, in their ‘
several spheres, and at many places more
or less frequented, were in the constant
habit of publishing salvation to the deluded j
thousands, by whom they were surroun
ded.
The missionaries relate an interesting
fact respecting the condition of lapsed
Catholicks in Salsette and the northern
coast opposite to that island. It appears
that “ the Portuguese, a few generations
ago, by the use of means not to be commen
ded, brought a great number of the Hindoo
inhabitants of Bombay, Salsette, and the
adjacent coast, into a nominal subjection to
the Roman Catholick church ; but the zeal
of the Catholicks,for the conversion of the
heathen appears long ago to have subsi
ded,” and the time-serving priests seem
contented to retain the descendants only of
those, whom their predecessors brought,
in some instances by violence, within the
pale of their church.
“But these people are held in subjection
to the priests, by very precarious tenure.
During the prevalence of the cholera mor
bus , about two years since, great numbers of
these native Catholicks joined in the idola
trous rites, that were practised by the Hin
doo* to arrest the vengeance of heaven;
for which cause, they were, no doubt very
properly, excommunicated by the priests.
There are probably two thousand people,
in this vicinity, now in this condition. All
hope of their reconciliation to the church is
given up; and they seem bent on turning
back to the idolatry of their forefathers.
The change is indeed easy and natural. It
is only to change the names and images of
Romish saints for those of heathen deities.
The Hindoos are well pleased with this de
fection of the Catholicks, though they still
look upon them as outcasts, and would not,
on any account, intermarry with them.”
For the conversion of these lapsed Cath
olicks to real'Christianity, the Missionaries
are making judicious exertions; and they
solicit the prayers of the people of God,
that he would bring them to the knowledge
of himself. Their labours do not yet ap
pear to be crowned with success; but they
very piously remark, that if “ the want of
immediate success should discourage or
damp the zeal, either of ourselves or our
patrons, it will doubtless be very sinful in
us, and provoking to Him, who loves Zion
and the souls of men infinitely better than
we do, and knows infinitely better than we
do, how to advance their highest interest.
The dispensations of Providence, most mys
terious to us, but no way doubtful as to their
result, offer a very salutary exercise to our
faith and humility, and a most interesting,
solemn, and sublime theme to our contem
plation.”
Numbers oftbe Hindoos have no confi
dence in their idolatrous religion, and par
tially perceive and acknowledge the supe
riority of Christiani'y. But their heart*
are opposed to that holiness which the gos
pef requires, and destitute of Christian res
olution “to come out from the multitude
and be singular.’J
But as the liininoua points, in the Bor
ders of the kingdem of darkness, are contin
ually increasing i> oumber and brilliancy,
the Egyptian gloim of thirty centuries will
at length be dispilled. In the war against
Satan’s empire, w- only need courage, per
severance and confidence in the great Cap
tain, whom we poles* to follow. •’
MISSION IX CEYLON.
Messrs. Richards, Meigs and Poor, are
restored to mor* comfortable health. The
schools are in successful operation. Mr.
Poor superintends nine common schools, in
which “ the names of 426 boys are Enroll
ed as pupils, of whom two thirds or three
fourths are actually in school from day to
day.”
“ The process of making these multi
tudes of heathen childien acquainted with
the rudiments of human learning, and the
simple but most sublime truths of our holy
religion, las regularly advanced. Useful
knowledge has been communicated; the
conscience has been formed by the aid ot a
perfect standard : the dormant powers of
the soul have been called into exercise ;
and the seed of the word has been sown,
which, it is no presumption to say, has
sprouted, and is now in blossom.”
“ Publiek worship is regularly attended
on the Sabbath, at all the stations. The
mission families, domesticks, school boys,
and other natives attended. The whole
number at Tdlipally varies from 200 to
400, the usual number being about 300;
the greater part of whom are children.
Prayers are off red in lie church, accom-
panied by the reading of the Scriptures,
morning and evening through the week
The boys at the station, and -time other na
■ lives, are present at these seasons. During
several months that Dr. Sc udder and Mr.
Spaulding- resided at Tillipatly, they fre
quently made krown the glorious truths ol
the Gospel in die neighbouring villages,
wherever acce :s could be gained to the
people, in the bouse, by the way, or in the
field. And since they have removed to
other station®, Mr. Woodward has followed
the same course. At first they were oblig
ed to preach by an interpreter; but their
’ assiduous attention to the language so far
conquered it, that two of the newly arrived
missionaries, Messrs. Winslow and Wood
ward, preached in Tamili early in Novem
ber, only eigiit months after they became
settled on mission ground.
Preaching has also been regularly atten
ded at a rest house , in the neighbourhood of
Tillipally, on Sabbath afternoon, for more
than three years. Several of the head men
are usually present, and many others, who
are unwilling to meet at the church. A
strikmg effect of the preaching at this place
has been, that a school-master, strongly ad
dicted to heathenism, has been induced to
bring his boys with him to this place of
worship ; and, after a long conflict \v>tb his
old prejudices and feelings, has at last pla
ced his school under the care of the mis
sionaries. Evangelical labours have been
continued, at all the stations, in the neigh
bouring villages, and among the people
as the health of the missionaries,
and other circumstances, would permit.”
WILL of the Hon. Elias Boudinot, L.L.D.
From the New Jersey 1 imes.
It is generally known that this distin
guished Philanthropist has appropriated a
large proportion of his estate to religious
and charitable uses, and as it must be ac
ceptable to all, & particularly advantageous
to those concerned, to be correctly inform
ed on this subject, the following summary
has been obtained, and may be relied on as
autheritick. The testator gives
1. The sum of S2OO, to be distributed
by his daughter among ten pool widows.
2. He gives his daughter 15 shares in
the Aqueduct Company of Burlington, the
yearly produce of which she is to distrib
ute among the “Friendly Society of Fe
males in Burlington.”
3. He gives S2OO to the N. Jersey Bihle
Society, to be laid out in spectacles for the
ue of indigent old persons, to enable them
to read the Scriptures.
• 4. A devise of 4000 acres of land, in the
county of Warren, Pa. to “ the Society es
tablished in New York for meliorating the
condition of the Jews,” under certain con
ditions, for the purpose of supplying Jew
ish settlers with farms of 50 acres each, or
at the option of the said society the sum of
SIOOO within two years.
5. The sum of S2OOO dollars is given
to the United Brethren of Moravians at
Bethlehem, to enable them to civilize and
gospelize the Indians.
6. To the Magdalen Societies of N. Y.
and Philadelphia, and to the institution es
tablished in Cornwall, Ct. for educating the
Heathen, respectively, the sum of SSOO.
7. To the Trustees of the General As
sembly of the Presbyterian Church, three
houses in the city of Philadelphia, the rents
of which are to be laid out io the purchase
of books for pastors of congregations—the
first year’s rent to be divided equally be
tween the Presbyterian Church at Eliza
bethtown, and the Episcopal church at Bur
lington.
8. The testator’s library is left, after his
daughter’s decease, to the Theological
Seminary at Princeton, N. J.
9. 4080 acres of land in Luzerne co. Pa.
to the General Assembly of the Presbyteri
an Church, the proceeds of which to be ap
propriated to the education of such stu
dents of divinity in the Theological Semina
ry of Princeton, as are not able to support
thepiselves—each student not to receive
more than S2OO annually.
10. 4000 acres of land in the same co.
to the trustees of the college in New Jer
*ey —from the profits of which are to be ap
propriated SIOOO in the first instance, ‘for
the improvement of the cabinet of natural
history, and the residue for the establish
ment of fellowships in said college, so that
no incumbent, Bow e ver, be allowed more
than $250 per annum.
11. 4512 acre* of luitd, in Lycoming co.
Pa, to the American Board of Commission
ers for Foreign Missions, in Ms. lor the pur
pose of sending the Gospel to the heathen,
and particularly to the Indians ol this con
tinent
12. 3270 acres of land in the county of
Bradford, and state of Pa. to the managers
of the hospital in Philadelphia, for the use
of poor and destitute foreigners, and per
sons from other states than Pennsylvania,
to enable them to guin admittance when ne
cessary, into this institution.
13. To Messrs. Matthew Clarkson, Wm.
W. Woolsey, Samuel Boyd and John Pin
lard, of New York, in trust for the Ameri
can Bible Society , 4589 acres of land in the
county of Northumberland, Pa. the profits
of which are to be applied to the general
purposes of the institution, but especially to
the sending the Gospel to the heathen.
14. To the Mayor and Corporation of
Philadelphia, 13,000 acres of land in Cen
tre county Pa. for the purpose of forming
a fund for supplying the poor of that city
with wood on the lowest terms —from this
fund a medal worth $lO is to he given to
any person who will undertake the pur
chase and distribution of the wood gratui
tously.
15. The sum of SSOOO to the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian church, one
half of the interest of which sum is to be ap
propriated to the support of a missionary or
catechist, who is to instruct the poor in the
hospitals, prisons, &o. in Philadelphia, and
the other halffor a like purpose in the city
of N e w York.
10. The residue of his estate the Testa
iorgives aud devises to his trustees —and
among the trusts are the following of a pub
lick nature, to Ije carried into effect after
his daughter’s death.
1. To the trustees of Ihe college of N.
Jersey the sum of SIO,OOO, half for the use
of said college, and half for that of the
Theological Seminary, as directed in the
devise of real estate above mentioned.
2. To the American Board of Commis
sioners for Foreign Missions the sum of
SSOOO, for like objects as stated in the de
vise of real estate.
Finally, after providing very liberally for
his nearest family friends and connexions,
by a codicil, he gives the residue of his
estate, after the death of his daughter, and
after satisfying his specifick appropriations
to the use of the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church towards the support
of such of the members as are of the Synod
of New Jersey, and whose salaries are in
sufficient for their support —or, this fund
may, at the discretion of the General As
sembly, be applied in whole or part to mis
sionary purposes, or to the use of the two
Education Societies under the superinten
dance of the said Assembly.
The Trustees and Executors are—
Mrs. Susan Bradford, of Burlington.
R Stockton, Esq.and Samuel Bayard,Esq.
of Princeton.
L. H. Stockton, Esq. Trenton.
Elias E. Boudinot, Esq. Newark, N. J.
The amount of the above bequests is 23,-
400 dollars in money, and 37403 acres of
land, which, valuing the land at a low rate,
will make a total amount of at least Sixty
Thousand Dollars.
DIED,
At Elliot, in the Choctaw nation, on the
13tb of October, Mrs. Judith C. Williams,
an assistant missionary
Mr. Kingsbury, in the last letter receiv
ed from him. thus describes her character.
“ Like our muc h lamented brother Fisk,
she was an instance of uncommon devoted
ness to the cause, and of indefatigable la
bours. She literally wore herself out, in
the discharge of the most fatiguing duties;
and, we trust has gone to receive the re
ward of the faithful. Her memory will be
precious to all who knew her.”
THE MISSIONARY.
MOUNT ZION, MONDAY, DECEMBER 31.
We have given this week the substance of the
last Report of the American Education Society,
and we are unwilling that the opportunity should
pass without urging once more upon the Christian
publick, the claims of an institution which is sec
ond to few, if any, in vital importance to the
cause of religion. Like all other great and prom
inent plans for promoting the welfare and happi
ness of the human family, it is doomed to encoun
ter the opposition of open enemies, and what is
scarcely less an obstacle, the luke warmness of
professed friends. But notwithstanding these dis
couragements it has already been productive of i
many gratifying results, and its benefactors have j
much reason for thankfulness, that so much good
has been accomplished by its means,, Its future
prospects are indeed sufficiently discouraging, but
we trust there is yet no ground for despairing of a
success in some measure commensurate with the
warmest hopes of those who have so liberally
contributed of their substance, and whose prayers
’ and whose exertions have been unceasingly em-
I ployed in its behalf. In due lime !hey will reap
if they faint not.
We are compelled to limit our observations on
this subject from a desire to lay before our read- I
ers the subjoined remarks from the “ Boston Re
corder,” to which we respectfully beg leave to
call their attention. The Report of the Directors
in our opiriion fully establishes the just demands
of the Society upon the liberality of the friends of
i Christ, and in the following observations, we feel
; equally assured, the unprejudiced and reflecting
! reader will 6nd one of the most popular objec
tions to the institution clearly and ably answered
I and refuted.
j Objections to the American Education Society
considered.
It has been intimated, in very friendly
terms, that while we urge the claims of the
“ Eddcjilioo Siciety” cnpuhlicli patronage,
we neglect IQ answer jhe various ohjec
4ions that are urged against those claim®.
If we must plead guilty lo the charge j n
any messure, it is certainly true that the
neglect has not been intentional ; we have
no reluctance to meqt any objection from
any quarter, nor to allow to it all. tha
weight which it deserves. Nor is it tf Ue
that the most formidable objections have
been overlooked, either by us or by much
more able friends of the Institution. They
have been fairly met, and we should think
nearly silenced—at least satisfactorily an
swered. But it is to be confessed, that we
have considered the arguments in favour
of Education Societies, as so clearly sound,
that no objections hitherto brought forward,
have seemed capable of invalidating them.
The existing deficiency of educated Minis
ters, and the certain increase of llial defi
ciency, according to the ratio in which the
population of the country increases, are
facts which admit of no denial, and prove
the nrcess tty of sQme measures to remedy
the evil. If Education Societies will not
do it, let some other plan he devised that
will do it. A palpable evil exists. It is be
coming every day more inveterate. Noth
ing hitherto done, has removed it, nor di
minished it ; nothing has arrpsted its pro
gress, except ,the incipient efforts of Edu*
cation Societies. And if there can be any
system of measures proposed that promises
better results, we shall cheerfully accord
to it our best wishes, and give it our most
vigorous support. But, system we must
have. Individual and insulated exertiohs
will never effect the purpose.
The most common objections to the sys
tem at present adopted for Ihe increase of
evangelical ministers, arise from mistaking
incidental for essential defects in that sys
tem. It is a defect in all our Colleges , that
they furnish opportunities and temptations
(o various raal-practices; and youth who ,
are removed at an early age beyond the
reach of parental restraint, and associated
with others of their own age, corrupt in j
principle, are liable to the formation of hab
its which may destroy them forever; but
this incidental defect of collegiate institu
tions, affords no solid ground of objection to
their general utility—no reason why they
should be denied the favour of the publiek,
or denounced as engines of mischief. The
adopted system of common school instruc
tion, is liable to serious objections;—but
until a better system can be devised, it
would be folly to abandon it, and allow eve
ry child in the country,or a large proportion
of children, to grow up in ignorance. De
fects belong to every thing human. No
individual character is exempt from them —
nor any body of individuals—nor any be
nevolent enterprise devised and prosecuted
on a larger or smaller scale. 1® therefore
nothing to be done? Are we to make no
efforts for the alleviation of human wretch
edness, because those efforts must partake
of the infirmities of the individuals or as
sociations that make them? Are we to
abandon all hope of improvement, because
we have seen no perfection under the
sun ?
We are persuaded that so far a3 the
Christian community distinguish between
the essential and incidental defects of Edu
cation Societies, they will not regard the
popular objections to those Institutions a*
having much weight. We are not disposed
however to dismiss the subject with this
general remark, but to improve the oppor
tunity to reply briefly to a short list of
objections forwarded to us by a friend.
Ist Objection. “The money is often
bestowed on those who are not worth edu
cating.”
If this be a fact, it is an impeachment of
the fidelity or good judgment of the Direc
tors and their Agents, not of (hp system
which they undertake to execute. Accor
ding to the sixth article of the Constitution,
“ no applicant shall be assisted—who shall
not produce from serious and respectable
characters, unequivocal testimonials of—\
promising talents;” and satisfactory
dence is to be had by the Directors annu
ally, that, “in point of genius, diligence and
literary progress,the applicant is a pro
per character to be continued on the foun
dation of this sacred charity. Among the
standing rules of the Board of Directors,
it is made necessary that “ three or more
serious and respectable persons, best ac
quainted with the candidate (e. g. his minis
ter, instructer, a magistrate, or some other
principal man in the vicinity,) furnish une
quivocal testimonials respecting—his tal
ents,” &c. or if he be advanced to the sec
ond stage of education—i. e. if he be a
member of College, and more than 100
miles from Boston, he must have like testi
monials to his “ promising talents” from
! the three Senior Officers; or if in the third
: stage, i. e. a Graduate, he must have like,
| testimonials from “ the Bishop, Episcopal!
1 standing committee, the Presbytery or As
j sociation in whose vicinity he lives.”
These are as strong safeguards against the
misapplication of the Society’s funds, as the
nature of the case will admit, and it would
j seem, must be to every mind.
If these regulations are ever dispensed
with, it is only ia very special cases, of rare
i occurrence. The Constitution evidently
contemplates possible circumstances in
1 which it may be proper to rest satisfied
j with less formal testimonials, and of course
! vests the Board Directors with some discre'-
tionary power, as it ought to do—making
’ them at the same time responsible for the
: use of it.
It is presumed, and fairly we believe,
j that three or more of the most “ serious and
respectable inhabitants of a town, are able
to testify, with regard to the talents of a
young man of their acquaintance, and that
their testimony may be relied upon. They
could have ho inducement to recommend
j him without knowing him ; ndr will their
I station in society permit ys to doubt their
1 veracity. Instances may occur in which
