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like mes. Who could'yield to temptation, that believed he was subject to inspection like*ibt*?•->■ We. are not of tne faith of Swedenborg, not believe, that the intercourse between the departed and those who re main is We never see our de parted frieodfwitn the eyes of sense. 4We never, by any bther mode, receive comma mention*- from them. We de not adopt whaf we have here advanced, as,an article of our creed. We talk .only of what may be, and what we sometimes think is proft* ble* The use of such a belief, if we bad evidence on which to build it, could not > be very important, in addition to the ahund ant truths which are revealed, and the num erous helps in working out our salvation ij, with which we are favoured. Were we assured of the fact in question, the practical benefit could be little more than we could receive, by frequently recalling our friends to remembrance, meditating on their pre sent state, and supposing, aided by the light of the gospel, what they would say to us could they rise from the dead, or address ns from the world of spirits by an audible voice. We would here say one word on a ques tion, which was inserted in the Mirror, vol. ii. p. 140; “ Are departed spirits ever al lowed to revisit the earth, so as to become visible?”—lt is difficult to prove a univer sal negative. That they never become visible, we do not feel authorized to assert. But admitting a few cases, we must still be lieve that they are extremely rare. If they ever do make a visible appearance, we have 00 doubt (he occasion is always extraordinary; and that they come by spe cial command or permission, and to accom plish some special purpose in the divine plan We “ show our opinion” on these specn lative subjects, at the request of friends and ■ patrons. But if we should divert the atten tionof one reader from the great truths of revelation, we should exceedingly regret it. Many inquiries m'ght be made respecting another state of existence, and a thousand subjects relating to this life, concerning which it is not wrong to form an opinion ; but which cannot be fully solved before the time. But the great facts and doctrines, which God has seen fit to reveal in the Bi ble, demand our principal attention, our unwavering: faith, and our unreserved obe dience. Tnese are to guide us through life, and make us wise unto salvation by faith in Christ Jesus. These are to enlight en our minds, and form our characters, and shape our eternal destiny. LATEST FROM THE SANDWICH IS LANDS. the following letter addressed to one of the Editors of the N. Y. Observer, br Rev. Hiram Bingham, missionary to the Sandwich Islands,(dated Oahu, Oct. 2,1824) it will be perceived that after two battles, in which tile rebels were repulsed anddi* persed, George Tomoree was taken alive, and delivered to Krimokoo.— JY F 06. *• You will doubtless be interested to hear . what the great Lord of tbe harvest is doing i for I he. poor islanders, for whose salvation j 1 have been appointed with toy brethren to iah'Jor. VVe cannot but hope he has in deed begun to gather in a chosen precious seed, from IbisoDCe most unpromising Two aenfmg ihe highest chiefsKeopnolani, the mother of Rihoriho and Tamoree, (Tan rooarii,) tbe late lamented king of Atooi, (Tauai.) he has, we believe, taken to his everlasting rest, where their redeemed spirits, liberated by the power of the Gos pel, and washed in the blood of Jesus, re joice before his throne wilbObookiah their countryman, with Cornelius Ihe distinguish ed Ce.-areao, the Ethiopian eunuch, and other first fruits from among the heathen. —K--ona,the goveroour of Lahaina, Eeka, a chief of similiar rank, and the father of Thomas Hoopoo, with whom that youth diligently laboured and prayed, have left some evidence of having died in hope of a blessed resurrection and of eternal ealva tion. The diligent attention of several princi pal chiefs to the means of grace, which they enjoy, their delight and earnestness in the duties of publick and private devotion, their attachment to their Christian teachers, and their apparent conformity to Christian prin c.iples, greatly encourage ns to hope that they are happily preparing for heaven ; and a number of their people give equal evidence of seriously inquiring tbe way to Zion. At the time of Tamoree’s death, our schools were flourishing at the different Is lands, and more than 1000 pupils were un der instruction. Since that period their attention has been somewhat diverted by the unhappy insurrection at Atooi of George P. Tamoree, and several other chiefs of that island. I had been at Atooi three months when the attempt was made by the insurgents to take possession of the fort at Waimea. 1 had more than once visited young Tamoree at his residence, 8 miles from ihut place, aud once preached at his house the funeral sermoo of a foreigner who died there, and attempted to direct his restless mind to the Prince of peace—en treated him to remember the many earnest prajrers of his friends for him, and not to give over the salvation ol bis soul as a thing quite impossible or of no importance. His rniod appeared to be much oppressed. He was affected by the death of his father who had heeo to him a faithful counsellor, but no less by the unwelcome condition in which his father had placed him by be queathing.that isiland and all his property to Kntnooko, and Kaahomaou, for Rihori ho, leafing to George the subordinate pos session of vVahiava only, a small place, less than the hundredth part of Atooi. It would seem to have been the Jesigu of yotmg to stake what he bad in a bold pdvenlore to rise above this condition, and, of failure to throw himself on the clemency .of Krimokoo, whom he professed J to regard as his friend, and who he might - justly suppose would be much more dispos ed to spare his life than Kahnlaia, the nep hew of the late Tatnabnmaha, who had heen constituted govemonr of the island. The he allowed Kahatnia to have the fort a month unmolested arrival there of Krimokoo, and that he chose to strike the blow just as Krimokoo was on the point of sailing for Oahu, leads me to conclude be presumed much 00 the clemency of that noble chief. Nor was this confidence misplaced, as ap pears from the resait. Krimokoo has, in every attempt to suppress the insurrection, assidnously endeavoured to save the life of his young opponent; he has kindly en treated him to lay down his arms and ac cept of pardon, and when he perseveringly refused, be has given the strictest orders to his officers and soldiers to spare fairs life if he could possibly be taken alive. After two battles, in which the insurgents wer** repulsed & dispersed, Tamoree is at length taken alive, after concealing himself some weeks in tjje mountains, and conducted safe ly to Krimokoo. This is our latest intelli- gence from Atooi. Most of the principal chiefs of the islands are now there, with an army of about 1000 men. Anew distribution of the lands of Atooi, is to be made, in consequence of the commotion there. Tamoree and others will doubtless be removed to the windward, and windward chiefs and people left in tbeir stead. Though this conflict has diverted the attention of onr scholars from instruction, it has, we believe, been the means of con firming the attachment of many to the cause of the Gospel; who have not only been ob viously more engaged in prayer to the Christian’s God, but who piously ascribe tbeir protection and deliverance to his spe cial care aod gracious interposition. Laa nui, a young chief, who with his wife Opiia, two years ago spent a day with the mission family that they might enjoy our monthly prayer meeting, writes from Atooi to her at this place, “ I desire to return to you, that you and 1 may be strong together in the word of Gnd, who has himself shielded us from the balls that we might live. My love to the Missionaries.” Kaahumanu proclaimed a fast at Lahaina, before she went d"wn to the scene of war. Several honourable women who profess to love the Gospel have beguo’to hold female pray, er meeting*. The brethren at Lahaina have lately applied for anew supply of elementary bork*. and it is presumed that as soon as the affairs of Atooi shall be settled, there will be throughout the islands an increasing demand for books and instruction.” BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SO CIETY. From 291 Auxiliaries and 438 Branches, making a total of 729 in the year 1822, the number is now increased to 302 Auxiliaries and 622 Branches, forming a total of 924. ! The Continental European Societies are j 53 i those of Asia, 11 ; of Africa, 4; and of ! America, 24. Os Auxiliaries and Branche* I to the European Societies, there are, among other*, in Wu°rteroberg. 46, in Hanover 23. in Prussia 42. in Russia 289, in Sleswig- Holstetn 121, io the Netherlands 57, and in France 142. Os the American Societies, the National Bible Society has 396 Anxilia ries and Branches. Total issups of Scrip tore* in Great Britain from Sept. 27, 1805. to March 31, 1824,—Bibles, 1,544.352; Testaments, 1,897,980 —total, 3,342,332. Pnrchaed and issued for the Society on Ihe Continent of Europe, 178,899 Bibles, 631,134 Testaments—total 810,033. To tal i*sued on account of the Society, 1,723.251 Bibles; 2,529,114 Testaments; making a grand of 4,252,365 Bibles and Testaments by this noble ioslilu tion from September 1805, to March 1824 The Society has granted at various times 45,7501 for distributing, by Societies and confidential agents, in various parts of Eu rope, Bibles and Testaments in (he French, German, Swedish and Danish languages. The expenditures during the twenty years of its existence, amount to 1,164,9681. And the printing and translation qf (he Scrip tores, in 140 languages and dialects, has been promoted by this Society. These par ticulars, which are stated more at length in the Missionary Register, demonstrate that the Bible cause is advancing io the world. If difficulties have been thrown in the way by enemies, they have been surmounted; and the institution stands on an eminence too elevated to be injured by the malevo lent assaults of those whose crafts are in danger wherever the Bible finds its way. The three most conspicuous opponents of tbe Bible Society at present, are, the Pope, the Grand Sultan, and William Cobbeit— better known in this couniry as Peter Por cupine. Southern Intelligencer. From the Family Visitor. ATTEMPTS OF THE JEWS TO DES TROY CHRISTIANITY. The religion of Christ did not make prog ress without violent opposition. It was | hated both by Jews and Gentiles. The j Jews were, from the beginning, its bitterest enemies. Their power of persecution, however, did not continue long. For, ac cording to the prediction of Jesns Christ, about the year 70 the Romans, first under ; Vespasian and then under Titus, took Je i rusalem, and wholly destroyed the Jewish j commonwealth. Very great multitudes of thisnnhappy people were slain, and still . greater wet e sold and carried to all parts of the empire. Thus was Ihe ability of op | pressing the Cbarch taken from them. Nor did they attempt to recover their lost liber ty and power, ootil the year 115, that is, Ihe 18th year of tbffi&aiperour Trajan. At I that time they mainsurrection, and , committed horrible cruelties oo the Gen- II tiles in Egypt,Cyrenaiea, and Cyprus. But in a short time they were utterly defeated by the Romaos. About 19 %ears after wards, ’ in the 17th year of the Emperour Hadrian, and the’ ISfith of the Christian era, the Jew* again arose against their op prestors. The occasion was this: The Homans Usd planted s colony in Judea, and had buill, on the site of Jerusalem., city j which they* called JElia Capitotind: unit - io the place where the temple ol God for- j marly stood, they erected a temple of Jopi ter. This profanation roused the utmost fury of the Jews. Determined on war, they chose for their leader a man, who, in reference to the prophecy of Balaam, (Num. xxiv.-17.) called himself Barcoche ba9, i. e. the sou of a star. He had been ac custoosed to slaughter and rapine, and prac tised all sorts of cruelties both on Chris Hans and pagans. Such Christians a he could not, by torture, compel to apostatize, were slain without mercy. Hadrian sent several generals against him; and at length recalled Jelius Sevens from Britain. By him the Jews were defeated and almost ex terminated. After this, they became ranch more qui et; and were permitted to enjoy considera ble privileges among the Romans. They 9et over themselves patriarchs, under whom they led a quiet life; and established schools in Judea aod Babylon, where they cultivated (heir own peculiar sort of learn ing. During this period of repose, a part of the Talmud was compiled. This work con. tains all the religious traditions of the Jews. They pretend that after God had given to Moses on Mount Sinai, the law written on tables of 9tone, be g&ve an oral law also; which was handed down hy tradition from father to son, through each succeeding gpn eration, until Rabbi Juda the holy , about the year of Christ 190 reduced it to writing. The work of Rabbi Juda, i9 called the Mish na , sigiuiyiog iteration or duplication as though the written law, did not contain all that God intended the Jews should know and believe. There are two comments on this body of traditions, called Gemara ; of which one was made in Palestine, and the other in Babyloo. The Mishna and its comments, make the Talmud. Ii is a very large work contained in many folio volumes; and is mostly filled with the saying of the Rabbins, and the strangest fables that ever were in vented. Yet it is in high repute with the Jews, many of whom place it on an equality with the Bible. Although the power of the Jews to in flict injury, was destroyed by the overthrow last mentioned; yet the Christian writers frequently complain of their cavils and de traction. THE LORD’S DAY IN PHILADELPHIA. The American Sunday School Magazine states, that on th.e 15ih of March, a strong effort was made by a certain class of per sons, to have the Reading Rooms of the Atheneum in that city kept open a part of the Sabbath. The number requisite to call a meeting was obtained, for the trial of the question Several addresses were made : but one from a Mr. Duponceau, said to be a distinguished civilian, was the most power ful. Apart from ihe sacred obligations of religion, he took this ground. The strict observance of the sacred day was a peculiar and honourable trait in the character of the citizens of the United States. It distinguish es them from every country in Europe; and independently of other considerations, which in their place ought to have their weight, should be carefully cherished and strictly preserved. It would strike the traveller with solemnity in reflecting on the laud which he may have left, and it would endear the country of his nativity to every American on a foreign shore. On taking the vote, only 35 could be found to resolve on a pubiick violation of the Sabbath. The number on the other side was between 80 and 100. It was a triumph of good priuci pie, over the corrupt influence of irrehgion and foreign customs. So highly valable to our country, and to the common interests of refined society, is the sanctification of the one day in seven, that we can form no ade quate conception of the numberless bles sings which Heaven showers on those who thus reverence him. The stillness of a Sabbath morn, —the cessation from the din of busioess, —the closed door of the mer chant’s warehouse, and the deserted mart of trade, all speak a language of most unu sual interest. They unitedly testify that there is a God, and that it is the duty of his rational offspring to render him the homage of their affectionate worship. They preach with an oratory not to be misunderstood, that man io immortal; that be is destined to an existence beyond the grave; and that be is distinguished from all the variety of crea tures on our globe, in the capacity of con templating the glory of his Creator. The sacredness of the day leads to the consider ation of that volume from God, which be has communicated by the medium of bis prophets and apostles; and in this we find every direction for the orderly conducting of his worship. This opens heaven, and re veals that endless rest, of which the Sab bath on earth is but a figure.— Ch. Watch. The Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States is superintended by a Gener al Conference, which meets once in four years, and has underits control seventeen Annual Conferences,into which the Metho dist Church io the United States is divided —comprising 1350 itinerants, and upwards of seven thousand local preachers, and 350,000 members. The annual con ferences, are sub-divided into districts, each of which is superintended by a presiding Elder. The Baltimore Animal Conference held its session lately in Baltimore. It con tains 94 itinerant ministers,and 39,000 mem bers. The increase of member* Che last year, is stated at 1.070. The Philadelphia Annual Conference commenced its session in Philadelphia on the 14th ult.—Number of members 36,594—increase last year 785. Mmt/p Vis A communication from Indi.ana, portray-1 iog the spiritual wants of that state, and others of similar import from .Illinois and Missouri, have induced the Executive com mittee of ihe United Domestick Missionary j Society in New York, to puss a resolution i appropriating for the ensuing year two ! thousand dollars to aid Jhe destitute churches in the above-menlihned states. — This suut will enable the society to give 10 or 15 ministers to three times as many chucrhes, where it is believed some of them 1 at least will afterwards be supported by tbe people to whom they minister. A nation al Domestick Missionary Society, on the plan of this efficient institution, is recom-1 mended in some of the Northern papers, and would no doubt prove a great blessing to the Union, and particularly to the wes tern states. The writer of Ihe communication had visited 13 regularly organized Presbyte ruin congregations in the southeast part ol the stale, ten of which, consisting from of 2U to 50 members each were destitute of stated preachers. In all, there was a de sire manifested for the ninistratioos of the Gospel, and a willingness to contribute something to their support. The other three have- been recently supplied with pastors. The destitute churches are so situated that one minister might divide his labours among two or three contiguous ones. At the meeting of the committee mentioned above, information was commit nicated that five or six candidates for the ministry had it in contemplation to establish themselves tu the western states as soon as practicable. As an additional proof ol the spiritual desolations in that region we would mention the fact that Governoor Cass aod Mr. Schoolcraft, in their jouruey from lake Erie to the Ohio river iu 1821, saw only two houses of pubiick worship, and but a solitary copy of the scripture*. ibid. ‘ The Roman Catholick opposition to the free distribution of the Scriptures, appears to become more determined and systematick, as will appear from the following passages from the Annual Pas (oral Charge of the Irish Roman Catholick Pre lates : “lu this church, dearly beloved breth ren, you possess the fountain of all true knowledge and the tribunal where. God him self presides. He speaks to you by the mouths of all her pastors, whom when you hear, you hear him. Never deviate from her decis ions; they are decisions of the Holy ‘Ghost, who governs her, and always preserves the purity of her doctrine. Onr Holy Father recommends to the observance of the faith ful, a rule of the Index, which prohibits the perusal of the sacred Scriptures iu the vul gar tongue,without the sanction of the com peteut authorities. His Holiness wisely remark*, ‘that more evil than good is found to result from the indiscriminate perusal of them , on account of the malice or infirmity of men.’’ In ihis sentiment of our head and chief we fully concur. As to the books which are distributed by the Bible Society, uoder the names of Bibles or Testaments, or Tracts or whatsoever name may be giv en to them, as they treat of religioo, and are not sanctioned by us, or by any compe tent authority in the Catholick Church, the use, the perusal, the reading or retaining of them, is entirely and without any exception, prohibited to you. Such books have been, and ever will he. execrated by the Catholick Church ; and hence those salutary laws and ordinances, whereby she has at all times prohibited her children to read or retain them ; nay, why she has frequently order ed them to be committed to the fames.” From the Family Visitor. A WORD FITLY SPOKEN. “ A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Travelling in the stage a short time since, 1 was highly amused wkh the various char acters that came into contact. The pecu liarities of each were exhibited iu the clearest point of view by the contrast. Mv attention was particularly attracted, by the modesty, good sense, and Sound principles of a Quaker, who said little and that to the purpose—while the whole company was exceedingly annoyed by the incessant pra ting of a conceited coxcomb, who knew ev ery thing, except the very evident fact, that every person present was disgusted with his conduct. He wh9 by turns a farmer, a politician, a philosopher, and a divine. From him we learnt what Satan has preach ed from the beginning, that the wicked shall not surely die, and that the whole tenor of scripture, and the very nature of the Gos pel, teach, in the clearest and most forcible manner, the doctrine of Universal salvation ; and that any other system of doctrines was founded on ignorance of the Bible. In the course of bis preaching—for he was in fact as we afterwards learnt a Universalis) preacher of much renown—he repeatedly boasted of his knowledge of Scripture, and of his ability to quote more texts thau any other person present, or even in this coun try. After a while, the Quaker, who had hitherto said nothing on the subject, cast on him a countenance beaming with the law of kindness. ‘‘Friend,” said he, “1 think I heard thee say thou art very learned in the scriptures.” Yes, replied the preacher, aDd who disputes it ? I’ll bet a hat that I can j quote more passages than all of you (ogeth-1 er. “Well, friend, then thou dost doubt-j less recollect this one passage, 4 Sees! thou a man wise in his own c&nceit ? there is more hope of a fool than of him!’ ” The effect j of this reproof was instantaneous and aston- i isbing. It was a word filly spoken. The man appeared to lose at once all knowledge 1 of scripture, aod command of his tongue. He seemed to be deaf, aod he was almost literally dumb, the remainder of the jour ney. I wa9 no less surpri s ed, than delight ed to find that the words of the wise are in deed as goads, and that the fool’s mouth can be so easßy sealed up. Central America. Abolishment of Slavery. —The General Assembly of the United Provinces of Cen tral America, conceiving that the system of Government adopted by this Republick would differ in nothing from that he.tetofore imposed by Spain, were not the principles of liberty, equality, and justice, to be ex tended to every citizen of these states; and believing that it would be unjust in a free Government to suffer a portion of our fellow men to remain in slavery, and not to restore them to their natural condition, the posses sion of liberty, and wishing at the same time to indemnify tbe owners of slaves for ! their emancipation, has passed the following decree 1. From the publication of this law. all Slaves, of every age aod sex, io every v rt of the confederated stales of Central Am-r ----ica, shall be tree ; and, hereafter shaft no persons be born slaves. 2. No person born or naturalized iu these states, shall hold another in slavery uoder any pretext, nor trafikk in slaves, within, or out of three stales. In the fiivt case, the slaves shall become free; aqd in both, the trader shall lose the rights of cit izenship. . ■ v 3. No.foreigner, engaged in this traffics/ shall be admitted wiihiu these states. * 4. The regulations and orders of the Spauish Government, giving freedom to those slaves who shall escape to these states from others, to regain their liberty, shall be preserved in force; observing, however, the stipulations on this subject, by pubiick treaties. 5. Each province of the confederation, respectively, shall indemnify the owners oft the slaves, alter the following manner : “1. The owners of slaves under lit years, who may claim indemnity for the rents of their slaves, shall have no claim an account of their emancipation. If indemni ty be made for the father or mother, alone, of the said si ayes, they shall be paid for, at half tbeir just valuation. Persons, who may have liberated the parents of such slaves under 12 years, shall be indemnified lor them, at their full value. Those-who shall have acquired such slaves by purchase, shall receive indemnity for them, at their proper value, as for slaves above 12 years of age. “2. For slaves above tbe age of 12 years, indemnity shall be made as provided by reg ulations to be formed for this object. “3. No indemnity shall be allowed for slaves above fifty years of age.” 6. in every province, a fund shall he cre ated from duties to he imposed for the spe cial purpose of indemnifying tbe owners of slaves. The collection and management of these funds shall belong to the junta of indemnification , which shall be established in eacb province, uoder the regulations to be enacted. 7. Every owner of slaves, who, after the publication of this law, at Ihe place or town where they reside, shall compel them to any service, or shall prevent them from ap plying to the nearest municipality for their document of liberation, shall be tried and punished, as provided for io the case of those who couspire against personal liber ty ; and they shall, moreover, be subjected to the loss of the indemnity for the value of the 9lave, who shall be so treated.— Jour. HOME OF OUR FATHERS. Extract from Professor Everett's Oration , at the celebration of the landing of the Pil • grim Fathers , at Plymouth. “For myself, I can truly say, that after my native laud, 1 feel a tenderness and a reverence for that of my fathers. The pride I take in my own country makes me respect that from which we are sprung. In touching the soil of England, I seem to re turn as a descendant to the old family seat; ‘ —to come back to the abode of the aged, the tomb of a dpparted parent. 1 acknow ledge this great cousangomity of nations. The sound of my native language beyond the sea, is a musick to my ear, beyond tbe richest of Tuscan Softness, or Oastii lian majesty. lam not in a land of stran gers while surrounded by tbe manners, tbe habits, the forms in which I have been brought up. 1 wander delighted through a thousand scenes, which the -historians, the poets, have tr.ade.familiar to us, of which Ihe names are interwoven with our earliest associations. 1 tread with rever ence tbe spot, where i can retrace the footsteps of aursuffering fathers; the pleas ant land of their birth has a claim 00 my heart. It seems to me a classick, yea, a holy land, rich in the memories of tbe great and good ; the martyrs of liberty, the exil ed heralds of truth; and richer as the pa reut of this land of promise in the west. “ 1 am not, I need not say I am not, —the panegyrist of England. lam not dazzled hy her riches, nor awed by her power. The sceptre, the mitre, and the coronet, stars, garters, and blue ribbons seem to me poor things for great men to contend for. Nor is my admiration awakened hy her armies, mustered for the battles of Europe, her navies, overshadowing the ocean; nor her empire, grasping the farther*! east. It is these, and the price of guilt and blood by which they are maintained, which are the causes why no friend of liberty can sa i lute her with undivided affections. But it j is the refuge of free principles, though of- I ten persecuted ; the school of religious lib erty, the more precious for the struggles to which it has been called; the tomb of those who have reflected honour on all who speak the English tongue ; it is the birth place of our fathers, the home of the pil grims ; it is these which I love and vener ate in England. I should feel ashamed of an enthusiasm for Italy and Gieece, did l not also feel it for a land like this, loan, American it would seem to me degenerate and ungrateful, to hang with'pasßion upon