Newspaper Page Text
cieties Assemble io their several houses of
publick worship, that we may with one
▼oice “ speak of the mercies of the Lord,
and utter the memory of His great good
ness.” Let legislators and magistrates,
ministers and people assemble in Hi
Courts, aod “ praise the name of the Lord,
for His name alone is excellent, His glory
is above the heavens ” Let us remember
the mercies of the present year, the mer
cies of our whole lives, and M the mere}
which is from everlasting to everlasting
upon them that fear Him.” Let us praise
Him for a rational, social and immortal ex
isteuce; —for oor location in the most fa
voured portion of the earth; for the daily
■and annual bounties of His providence:—
for the light of His gospel, and redemption
by His Son. Let us remember the years of
’ our fathers’toils and sufferings, and “ the
years of the right hanJ of the Most High,”
when he brought them over the great wa
ters; when He nurtured them in the wil
derness; when He was their defence in
aavage warfare and under the unnatural
oppressions of their parent country; when
His peculiar blessing enabled tbem to lay
the foundation of our present unexampled
prosperity and happiness. Let us bless
Him for the institution of a government in
this State, and in these United States, to
which all other nations are strangers, aod
for which many of our fellow men have
this year been contending in vain. Let us
praise Him for the continued administra
tion of justice; the maintenance of peace ;
the general prevalence of health; a favour
able season, and an abundant hnrvest. Let
us be thankful that the pestilence which
has desolated some parts of our land has
not been suffered ta prevnil here; that we
have been preserved from extensive ca
lamities in an unusual,degree; that the la
bours of our citizens in their various enter
prises have beeo favoured with success; ihat
our seminaries of education have enjoyed
the smiles of providence: that so many ot
the people of this State have been favoured
with the ministration of the Gospel; that
some portions of this and other States have
been specially blessed with showers of di
vine grace: that many, while enjoying the
richest blessings, have pitied the oppressed
nod enslaved of other countries, and com
municated the Gospel to those who sat in
darkness : and that mercies past enumera
tion have fallen upon us, notwithstanding
our continued unworthiness.
In view of our peculiar blessings,our ini-
quities do indeed appear great, and our
traugrassion? infinite. Let our oblation of
gratitude be, therefore, attended with the
‘sacrifice of broken heartland contrite spir
it* Let u* lament oor abuse of the favours
of God, our disregard of His authority, out
unbelief and disobedience ot the Gospel,
and the too general prevalence ofimmor
ralitv and vice; and let us beseech Him,
for the sake of Hi* Son, to forgive our ini
quitiest, am! to draw all our hearts to Him
self, that a people so highly favoured may
no more trangress. .
And on this occasion, let ns commend
onrselves and all our social civil and reli
gious interests,to His favour and protection :
praying that our spared lives may be devo
ted to Hi- prai*e: that succeeding years
may be crowned with His goodness: that
Hi* wisdom and grace may be abundantly
bestowed on all in authority in our State
and Nation; that He would continue unim
paired bnr government, institutions and
privileges; that He would ne*>r suffer our
beloved country to be again involved in
war: that He would set up Immanuel’*
dominion in every heart, and dwell among
ns from generation to generation ; and that
He would soon extend the blessings of lib
erty, of science, of elective government, of
perpetual peace, and of Gospel light to all
that dwell upon the earth.
Given, <S*c. in Portland , the 4th of Oct.
1824.
Albion K. Parri3.
By the Govern our,
Amos Nichols, Scc'y of Slate.
IRREVERENT USE OF SCRIPTURE.
A writer in the Western Luminary, complains
of the irrtverenl use of scripture now become fre
quent. His ideas on this subject being in accor
dance with our own, we republish the article en
tire.
A THOUGHT ON THE IRREVERENT USE OF SCRIP
TURE.
It was a strange sort of compliment,
even at the court of a corrupt prince & in a
venal age, which a distinguished female
author paid to three members of the royal
family,. when she compared thern to the
Holy Trinity. But if the adulation of slaves
can offer, or the awful presumption of prin
ces receive such praise—let us, at least,
who in America pay no reluctant and ex
torted tribute to tyrants, keep ourselves
free from this irreverent and sinful use of
■the awful name ol Go.l, bis attributes, and
his word.
It was with emotions hot shoit of horror,
that wc read among the toasts drunk at a
patriotick festival in a neighbouring state,
the following sentiments.
“George Washington, John Hancock,
nod Benjamin Franklin— the trinity of our
Refubuck in ’83.”
“ Geo. La Fayette —me loved, him , because
he first loved us.”
“ The Constitution of the U. Stales—The
Cbernbim which protects the rights and
privileges of the American people.”
rfoiv, for these venerable names, and
incomparable Constitution, we bear, we
are persuaded, as much reverence as the
spirit which dictated these (shall we not
-ray) blasphemous expressions. But shall
we therefore insult Heaven, and Heaven's
God, by bringing down ao awful mystery
of hi-nature into the prostituted service of
illustrating our regard to man? Shall we
*o belittle the language in which our obli
gations to love and adore the Redeemer of
•jsoc-o are clothed, by applying it to any, to
even the highest obligations of man to
man?
The old Romans connected piety towards
God, with love of country Upon this stan
dard of admeasurement, they cannot truly
love their country, who, to laud their coun
try’s benefactors, blaspheme the name of
their country’s God—And truly it may be
questioned, whether many of those patriot-
ICK BACCHANALS, at which SUCH SENTIMENTS
are en* iged and proclaimed, do not more
rouse God’s wrath against the nation, than
all the praises of such anniversaries can
appease,
No plea of ignorance or of ioconsidera
tioo will avail to excuse,or even to palliate
this use of the name and word of God.
They might have known ; they might have
considered. He who will at last clothe
a guilty world in eternal confusion tor
“ what they did not,” will scarcely lend an
ear to such excuses for what men so
guilty did. If a view of such irreverence
did not make us too solemn we couM
amuse ourselves with the ignorance which
makes the one American Constitution two,
or perhaps a host of angles—cherubim.
VENERATOR.
Extract of a letter dated Franklin , Howard
Cos. Missouri, Sept■ 12.
Dear Sir,
One w'eek ago, I attended the Mount
Pleasant Associa’n,in this section of iheroun
try. The Baptists have increased, and the
settlements vastly exteuded, in this tract,
since my visit nearly ix year 9 since. Emi
graiion has produced a multitude of new
churches, and the revival two years since
greatly eularged the number.
Missions have been much opposed in this
quarter, by some of the Baptists, who emi
grated from Kentucky, but I believe a
death blow ha 9 been given to the opposi
tion. The revival has had a mot salutary
influence in that respect, and a spirit of in
quiry ha been excited od the subject.
I am preparing the wav, and on my re
turn expect to form Bible Societies in most
of the counties. Meetings are appointed
for the purpose. Sunday schools have
not found an asylum here except in one or
two attempts for a little time, but it is hop
ed by next season much may be done in
that way.
In the Missouri Associations the cause is
doiog exceedingly well. Nine mouths
missionary service has been profitably sup
plied. J.M Peck.
[Col. Star.
MISSIONARY.
Charleston, Dec. 4.
THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF THE
SYNOD OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND
GEORGIA.
The annual meeting of this Society was
held in Augusta on the 20th nit.
The report from, Monroe , (tbe establish
ment among the Chickasaw Indians,) was
read. The details of this report, which
will be published in due season, are favour
able to the hopes of the friends of Missions.
Some happy effects have already attended
the preaching of the Missionaries; and still
more extensive resuits have taken place
in the moral improvement, and the literary
advancement of the Indian Children. An
additional School has beeo establish
ed.
It i9 however, much to be regretted,
that, notwithstanding the increased expen
ses of the pat year from the increase of
the Mission family, and the enlargement of
their operations, the receipts into the
Treasury of the Society have been far
short of those in previous years. At this
time particularly, when the good effects of
this benevoleot establishment are beginning
to be visible, it is painful to discover a re
laxation of effort. In this exigency the fol
lowing resolution was adopted: “that the
Corresponding Secretary be directed to
write to the Pastors of Churches within the
bounds of this Synod,exhibiting to them the
pressing calls for pecuniary aid In our Mis
sion among the Chickasaws; and soliciting
assistance as soon as it can be forwarded to
the Treasury.” It is to be hoped that this
measure will relieve the Society from their
present embarrassments. An undertak
ing which has such high claims upon the
friends of humanity, as well as upon the
friends of religion, ought never to be suf
fered to languish for want of means.
In the Domestick department of the So
ciety, little seems to have been effected
during the past year ; arising from the dif
ficulty of procuring suitable Missionaries.
Several, however, have been engaged for
the ensuing year. The spiritual wastes io
several parts of South Carolina and Geor
gia, particularly in the latter, require early
and efficient assistance : and the attention
of the Society is now directed to them
with a strong expectation of furnishing re
lief.
The disappointment which has frequent
ly arisen from the short stay of the mission
aries in the field of their labour—and which
has been created even in healthy parts of
the States, by a needless apprehension of
(he climate, induced the Society to adopt
the following resolution:
“ That the Board of Managers be direct
ed, through their Corresponding Secretary,
to communicate the views of the Society,
to those concerned, on the necessity of a
more permanent engagement by the mis
sionaries employed; and that they may
not hereafter feel themselves authorized to
employ any missionary for a term lets than
one year.”
The following gentlemen were elected
officers of the Society :
Rev. Wm. H. Barr, D. D. President.
Rev. J. Brown, D. D. )
Rev. M. Waddel, D. D. } Vice Presidents
Rev. B. M. Palmer, D. D. y
Rev. T. Charlton Henry. D D. Cor. SePy.
Rev. Hugh Dickson, Rec’ g Secretary.
Charles O’Neale, Esq. Treasurer.
Managers.
Rv. Messrs. John Conear, Thos. Cunmahvg
S. S. Davis James Wardlaw
S. Howe James Nephew
H. G. Pratt Wm. H. Caldwell
Henry Reid Wm. Steven* Smith
R. B. Cater I ho*- M’Dowall
R. Chamberlain Rob’t Witherspoon
W. Moderwel Jos. Bryan, Esquires.
James Gamble Thos. Wells. M. D.
[6om<A Intelligencer.
MISSION TO HAYTI.
On the 11th of October, the Rev. William
G Pennington, a coloured man, was appoin
ted by the Managers of the Unfed Foreign
Missionary Society, as a Missionary to the
American Emigrants in the Island ot Hayti.
Mr. Pennington was educated at the African
School at Parsippany, N. J- under the pat
ronage of the Synods of New York and
New Jersey. He vva* licensed last year
by the Presbytery of New Jersey, and by
Ibe same Presbytery was ordained last
month, wilh a special view to this mission.
On the evening of the 12th of October,
a publick meeting was held in the African
church at the corner of Canal aod Elm
streets, a church was regularly formed,
comprising sucb emigrants as had been fur
nished with certificates of good standing in
other churches, two elders were selected
and ordained, and the requisite commission
and letter of instructions were delivered to
the missionary.
On the 13th, the Missionary, the Elders,
and Members of the Church, and their fel
low emigrants to the number of nearly two
hundred, embarked in the ship Concordia,
and sailed on the succeeding morning for
their destined residence.
[Jhner. Mis. Reg.
Osage Mission. —By a letter from Mr.
Samuel Newton, dated at Fort Osage-in
Jnly last, it appears that the Indians are
disposed to peace, and that the rumours on
the subject oflndian hostilities have exag
gerated the facts in the case. The Great
Osages have taken measures to bring wars
to a close,which have existed probably for
a century; and these measures have io
part been successful. The ludian School
contained 27 pupils, and the prospect of an
increase of the means of instruction wa9
flattering. Chris. Watch.
THE BETHEL BA PTIST ASSOCIATION
Met on the 2d of October last at the
Chesnut Ridge Church, Laurens District.
The Rev. Mr. Hit preached the introducto
ry sermon ; and the Rev. Mi. Rooker was
appointed moderator, and Jonathan Davis,
clerk.—On the Sabbath, more than 5000
persons attended; and the preaching
appeared to have a solemn effect
upon the congregation generally. The
Association dissolved itself as a m*9?sonary
society, leaving it to individuals to act in
dependently in promoting such objects; and
as there remained a small missionary fund,
it was agreeded to transmit the same to the
Valley Towns. Appointed Union meeetings
to be held at the following places : At Pe
terson’s meeting house, on the 28th Jan.
next; Head Cedar Shoals Church,Spartan
burgh District, on 27tb May; Catawba
Church, York Dist. 29th Jnly. Appointed
the Association to be held at Little
River Church io Fairfield District, to com
mence on Saturday before the first Lord’s
Day in Octobernext. There are 35 church
es in this Association, 22 ordained ministers,
and 5 licensed preachers. Baptized last
year 138, Received by letter 34, Dismissed
59, Restored 12, Excommunicated 33, Dead
44, Whole number 2147.— South Int.
MISCELLANEOUS. j
ILLUSTRATION OF ISAIAH, xxvii. 5. j
Let him take hold of my strength , that he .
may make peace with me-; and he shall make
peace with me.
The Rev. Robert Hall, io his interesting!
Memoir of the late Rev. T. N. Toller, of|
Kettering, recently published, speaking of
Toller’s character as a preacher, makes
the following observation:
“ His most affecting illustrations, (and
the power of illustrating a subject was bi 9
distinguishing faculty) were drawn from the
most familiar scenes of life; and after he
became a father, not unfrequently from
the incidents which attach to that relation.
An example of this will afford the reader
some idea of the manner in which he avail
ed himself of images drawn from the do
mestick circle. His text was Isaiah xxvii.
s—‘l think,’ said he, ‘lean convey the
meaning of this passage so that every one
may understand it, by what took place in
my own family within these few days.
One of my little children had committed a
fault for which I thooght it my duty to chas
tise him. I called him to me, explained to
bim the evil of what he had done, and told
him how grieved 1 was that I must punish
him for it. He heard me in silence, and
then rushed into my arms, and burst into
tears. I coaid sooner have cut of my arm
than have then struck bim for his fault;
he had taken hold of my strength , and he
bad made peace with me.”
PRIMITIVE AND MODERN CHRIS
TIANS.
In the tenth persecution under Roman
, Pagan, Dioclesian the emperour caused
i the churches of Christians to be destroyed,
• the Holy Scriptures to be burned, and the
r disciples to suffer exquisite torments, that
> they might be compelled to offer sacrifice
i to idols. On the promulgation of the edict,
a Christian of noble birth, in a publick
I maimer tore it io pieces; for which he suf
fered, with great constancy, a most excru
ciating death. The emperour began with
the army, commanding the Christians to
s lay down their weapons; whicu they read
ily did, without offering any resistance.
. At Tyre, because the wild beasts, (although
they were kept hungry for the purpose)
refused to devour the Christians who were
casl to them, the victims weire beheaded
and thrown into the sen.—Dioclesian s own
household did not escape tbe fury oi this
storm. His own children and favourites
were overwhelmed in the common ruin.
In Phrygia the inhabitants of a whole city
were consumed in the flames. Six thou
sand soldier*, under the command of Mauri
lius quartered at Thebes in Egypt, refus
ing to worship images, were pul to death,
continuing to tbe last, steadfast and immove
able in the fath. So sanguinary was the
persecution at Triers on tbe Mosselle, that
the river was discoloured with the blood
of the slain. Eusebius say's that the swords
of the executioners were blunted with fre
quent slaughter, and that they needed often
to repose themselves after their inhuman
labours. When we take a retrospective
view of tbe sufferings of the primitive
Christians; their intrepid zeal, holy cour
age and invincible patience, we at the pre
sent day have cause to be ashamed that we
are so unlike them. It becomes us to pray
earnestly to the God of all grace, that we
may not be left to undervalue our exceed
ing great and precious privileges, and to
trample upon our mercies. Sorely, the
great Lord of all expects of us, so highly
distinguished by his providence and grace,
an ample revenue, which shall redound to
his glory.
THE BIBLE.
At the meetinpof the American Bible Society
in May last, one of the. motion* was made by Maj.
General Gaines, of the U. S. army, accompanied
by a short address. At the request of a friend,
the General ha* furnished the following as the
substance of the remarks intended for that occa
sion. We record them wilh pleasure, as the tes
timony of one of our most distinguished military
officers, to the value of the Bible.
I gladly avail myself of the present occa
sion to tender to the Society, over which
you preside, my thanks for the timely and
liberal supply of Bibles and l Testaments
which they have had the kindness to fur
nish for the detached military posts.
The maxims of wisdom and piety com
prehended in these volumes, give strength
and usefulness to the soldier as well as the
citizen; they tend thus to strengthen the
ties of union, to elevate the national char
acter, and to add to o’,y means of protec
tion, security and prosperity.
Military prowess, guided by wisdom and
virtue, forms a safe and indispensable shield
to liberty and independence, and the surest
guarantee of the blessings of peace. Mili
tary prowess is dangerous to the country
possessing and cherishing it, only when it
cease 9 to be sustained by wisdom and virtue.
The highest earthly grade of courage, is
that which is inculcated by the maxims and
precepts contained in these volumes—it is
that exalted principle which prompts man
to brave dangers aod death, and fearlessly
to do that which he knows to be right with
out regard to consequences.
The possession of these books, it is hop
ed, will prompt the border sentinels of the
republick to learn the truths they contain;
which to know and to practise, is to be in
the highest degree useful and reputable in
this world, aod happy in the world to come.
1 tedder to tbe Society assurances of iny
best wishes for their uninterrupted success
in the accomplishment of tbe great objects
of their institution.
COLOURED ORPHANS.
Several benevolent females of this city
associated themselves together, two years
since, for the relief of destitute children of
colour, who having no parents, are a prey
to wretchedness and vice, of every species.
The name which they have adopted is
“ The Association for the care of Coloured
Orphans, instituted at Philadelphia, in the
year 1822,” and the establishment is cal
led “ The Shelter for Coloured Orphans.”
Their truly praiseworthy, design was pros
pered inasmuch as they now have 14 under
their care, forming a family, at the head of
which i9 a suitable matron; the whole is
superintended by a committee of the asso
ciation.
These children are taught the rudiments
of school learning. Attention is paid to
their morals, and pains are taken to impress
their minds with the necessity of acquiring
habits of industry, preparatory to going to
service.— Phil. Gazette.
AWFUL DEATH OF AN INFIDEL.
The Hod. Francis Newport was educa
ted by his parents iD a religious manner.
As he grew up to years of discretion, he fell
into the hands of infidels, lost all religion,
and commenced infidelity himself. Being
sometime after seized with sickness, his
serious convictions returned, he became
alarmed for the safety of his condition. Af
ter enduring the most horrid agonies of
miud posssible, in a very short time,
his bodily strength was exhausted ; with a
groan as loud as though it had been more
tbaD human, he cried out, Oh, the insuffer
able paogs of hell and damnation ! and ex
pired.
BARBARITY"2XPOSED.
FROM THE FEDERAL GAZETTE OI NOV. 22.
Imprisonment for Debt. —As this remnant
of barbarism and the dark ages is still per
mitted to remain a dark spot on the glory
of the free institutions of our country—it
may be well, occasionally, to devote a short
paragraph to the notice of the practical
result of tbis absurd principle.
Among the number of persons now confin
ed in the jail of this city, for debt, .there
are six, the whole amount of whose debts
added together, with the cost, is only sls
38—say an average of $2 56, against each
person. And three of these are females,
against whom the whole amount of debt
aod costs, is 65—or $2 20 for each fe
male.
Some of these persons have familes de
pending on them for support, and whilst the
parent is immured within the wall of a pris
on, wasting bis precious time, the children
are crying for bread od shivering with
cold.
It would be well if those persons who
cause the poor mao nod the helpless female
to be cast into prison, could be induced to
visit the jail—then, if their hearts were
not as hard as the walls of the prison, they
would speedily restore the captives to lib
erty.
Let fraud in every shape be punished—
but it is not in accordance with the princi
ples of either humanity or justice to associ
ate the idea of crime with misfortune , or to
place honest poverty on a lev.el with
thieves aud robers.
WILLIAM PENN.
It is contemplated to erect in London a
monument to the memory of the late Rev.
John Wesley, to consist of a spacious build
ing for missionary purposes, and in
which the great publick religu.o* anniversa
ries may be bold. This measure was orig
inated some months ago by several of the i
founders of Methodism.
Two Cardinals objected to Raphael, the
great master of the pencil, that, in one of
his pieces he had put too much red in the
countenances of St. Peter and St. Paul.
“ Be not astonished at that, my lords, I have
painted them as they are in heaven, blush
ing with shame at seeing the church so bad
hj governed
THEOLOGICAL GLEANINGS.
I have read of a great commander, who
beiDg extremely tortured with thirst, sold
himself and all his army into the enemy’s
hands for a draught of cold wafer, which >
when he had drank he said, “ O quantum %
ob quuntillam /” i. e. How little is that for
which I have parted with so much!— Ar
rowsmith.
Time was when Satan showed our Sa
viour all the kingdoms of this world and the
glorv of them. Oh, Christian ! if ever the
world appear to thee temptingly glorious,
suspect it for one of Satan’s discoveries. —
r lb.
Wealth is a necessary good, but no neces
sary blessing! A Christian may be com
pletely happy without it.— lb.
Os a small handful of outward things I am
ready to say, It is enough ; but that which
l long passionately for, is a large hr aril ul
of God in Christ.— lb.
Other bonks may render men learned un
to ostentation ; but the Bible only can make
them really wise unto salvatioo.— lb.
Nature can afford no bal*ara fit for the
cure of ouls. Healing from duties and
not from Christ, is the most desperate dis
ease.— Wilcox.
Welcome (be Cross of Christ, and bear
it triumphantly : but see if it be indeed
Christ’s Cross, not thy own.— lb.
The works of men, without the blood of
sprinkling, will be but as a withered leaf
amidst the ioextioguishable burning.—Htr
vey.
As the setting sun appears of greater
magnitude, and his beams of richer gold
than when he is in hi* meridian, so a dying
believer is usually richer in experience,
stronger in grace, and brighter in his evi
dence for heaven than a living one.— Anon.
Go to dying beds; there you will learn
the true worth of deliverance from condem
nation by the death of Christ. Ask some
agonizing friend ; he, and he alone can tell
you what a blessing it i to have the king of
terrors converted into a messenger of
peace. Heuvev.
When the tempter is forward to bruise
thy heel, it is a sure evidence that he takea
thee for one that will tread upon his head.
Self has two eyes which must be put out,
self atreogth and self righteousness.
ANECDOTE OF GEORGE HI.
An under gardener with whom the kin*-
was accustomed familiarly to converse,
missed one day by his majesty, who inquir*'’
of the head gardener where he wa9. ‘Please
your majesty,’ said the gardener, ‘ he is so
very troublesome with his religion, and is
always talking about it.’ ‘ls he dishonest V
said the king. ‘ Does he neglect his work ?’
‘ No, your majesty, he is very honest, I
have nothing to say against him for that.’
‘ Then send for him again,’ said the mon
arch, 1 why should he be turned off? Call
me Defender of the Faith ! Defender of the
faith! and turn away a man for hi* reli
gion!’
At the capture of Rangoon, - in India, by
the British, a part of the soldiers were lodg
ed in the celebrated temple of Sboedagan I
or Dagoung, and the manner of the habita- ‘
lion is thus described in a letter from an of
ficer :
“ On the 12tb, a party proceeded to take
possession of the grand Pagoda, about two
miles from the town, and found Mr. Boy,
Capt. Hill and others, confined in a dungeon
from which they were instantly released.
Two guns planted on the top of the steps
leading to the Pagoda, were repeatedly fir
ed at the party without effect—beiog poin
ted too high. This Pagoda, and the grounds
about it are now crowded with European
infantry and artillery, being one principal
point without the town, which i* garrisoned
chiefly by the Madras Sepoys. The scenes
that now occur at this extensive and gorge
ous Temple, are of a nature singularly odd,-
and amusing. For want of quarters, the
men and officers thrust themselves into eve
ry little shrioe and niche,some of these are
sufficiently spacious to admit a table aod
chair, or cot—others serve as receptacles
for bools and shoes, beef and boiscoit.
Roond the neck of one Divinity is suspend
ed a belt and bayonet, while aoother has
its lap full of knapsacks and cartridge box
es. Tbe ears of others, offer convenient
pegs for a hat or a tin pot, and their should