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Vo 8 Vol. VII.] J’ rom the Recorder Sf Telegraph. A DEADLY EVIL. Messrs. Editors, —I have long intended to ask ihe liberty of making, through your widely circulated and useful paper, a few •'lggeMions to the moral and religious pub lick on the subject of Intemperance , that tre mendous evil which i” traversing our coun try and our world, diseasing more bodies St damning more souls, I verily believe, than any other. Christians weep over the de eolations it makes ! but are Christians ex erting themselves as they might and as they ought, to stay its merciless wast ing* ? When incontempluting the ravages of this destroyer, I have often asked myself, “Is there nothing that can be done to cheek its alarming progress ?—And I would ask the same question in the ear and before the the conscience of the thousands that pe ruse your publication. Are there no meas ures to counteract this deadly foe of God and man, that the uui'ed Christianity of our land might adopt with some prospect of success ? Is there no standard that might he lifted up against this enemy, to which the f hristians of the entire country would dock. I feel my incnmpetency to admonish and instruct ihe publick on this subject ; —yet 1 will venture to throw out. a few queries: and I will preface them, if it is agreeable to you, with the following extract from a Discourse delivered a few Sabbaths ago in a southern citv, the subject of which was, “The Prevailing Sms of the Times, and the Manner in which Christians may be Partakers in them.”—“ I commence, said the Preacher, with the capital sin of Intern perance—the sin that makes a chaos of the mind, of the heart, and of the body of ten i mass of loHlhflompnes? : the sin that destroys every thing which is valuable in individual existence, and em bitters every thing which is sweet in social life :—the sin of this age, for iu no former age do ( believe that it has spread to so ruinous an extent :—and I must add, the sin of this nation, the grand reproach of this KepuMick, the foulest spot upon its fair ( ice Where else among men does it take eO wide and wasteful a sweep? Where are there so many slaves to this fatal pro p u-'ty, as among our own free citizens ? it *v* tmi the other day that I read iu the obituary report of a -ister city, of seven deaths by intemperance in one week-. Dealt did f say ? I might have said seven damnations ,• (or so the Bible reports them. “Be not deceived, no drunkard shall in bent the kingdom of Gad” And among ourselves there is hardly a week, that one | or more are not reported as having died 1 this suicidal death—and a multitude of vic tims are in preparation tor Ihe sacrifice. I beheld the other day one of Ihe many affecting exhibitions which this sin makes. It was on a sacred day too. Ido uot mean the Sabbath, inji civilly sacred day ; a day that should t>e hallowed to the praise of the living G"d and to the memory of the hernick dead ; our country’s Jubilee now, bat destined to be toe world’s; the birth day of American freedom, but perhaps bv and by that restrictive qualification shall be taken av.ay, and it shall be celebrated wide as i- the Sabhatb of God. as the na> tal day of the liberties of mankind; a day therefore that no moral stain should rest upon. I saw an old man, of grey, hairs, staggering with intoxication until he fell to the earth ; and a step before him, in the t-arr.e’ dt,gosling slatp, wa one that ap peered to be his son, and he held by the hand a little girl that seemed to be his child (I wished she had been an orphan ratii-r) too ignorant to know what wa- the matter, yet ’looking sad, and seeming hurt bv the unkuulness she received ; anil they- were on their way, 1 suppose, to tear Ihe last scanty bandage from two broken hearts that were bleeding in secret at home. Oh, it ‘here be no soul iu man, and no eternity b-iore him—yet for the peace and bap. loess of this limited life it would be we’ worth all that the sober part of man kmii can do and sacrifice, to stop the pro gre-s of this spreading evil! Even on that supposition, I,- might well be required that every hand should be lifted for exertion, and every knee bent iu supplication to stay the ravages of this lawless scourge. But man lias a sot//, and (his is ps murderer.—— Toere is an immortality, and (hi* to many will be its haunting demon. For it is the sin which perhaps beyond ll others has the faculty of perpetuating itself. It i* mans most irremediable sin, almost a a cer tamly fatal to its victim as tfip fearful sin against the Holy Ghost ! Can nothing be done in opposition to this fell destroyer of the bodies and souls of men ? My hearers, what are you doing ? All that you can ? If not, you partake in Ihe sin. You mourn over it, and abhor it, but what good does that do? Dn you also deprecate it in your prayers? Do you discourage the use of in ioxicatmg liquor, where you have any rea soo to believe that it will be injurious ? Is it oot too much exposed in your bouses, especially on occasions of eniertaioment ? Have you oot contrived too many ways of making it palatable ? May not some of you be improperly engaged in ibis kn! t.f iraf ick ? Arc you, asciltz us and as < hi ( tian*, exerting the whole amount of your influ- THE MISSIONARY. ence to suppress tbe vice in question 1 If I were addressing the supreme legislature of the land, I would ask them, why, at the risk of their seats, they do not manfully lay bold of this destroyer, and encumber it with tbe fetter of a heavy taxation, if they can do no more ? The sinful sagacity of man (for sin ha* made him fruitful in inventions,) has devised anew mode of consuming the surplussage of a plentiful harvest. It is found (hat by a certain process, the intoxi cating principle, which exists no where in nature by itself, heaven bavins in kindness concealed it where men might least have expected to find it, may be extracted from the most nutritive productions of the earth. The discovery has beeu turned to the most destructive use. The purest blessing is thus converted into the direst curse—thai which was given for the bread that strength eneth man’s heart, into the poison that des troys his body and damns bis soul. It has coine to pas,, through this process of dis tillation, which, being morally defined, is the art of extracting a curse out of a bles sing, that a man may imbrute himself for a penny, and the earnings of a day may fix the habit of drunkenness on a whole family. God knows, and we all know, that this thing ought not so to he. The evil must be struck at in the root, and this can only lie done by enhancing Ihe price of this li quid principle of death, which uow flows almost as free and cheap as water. This alone would rescue thousands. I will only add that I am sure, the moral and religious publick are not doing their duty, doing all that they can do, in relation to this sin.” I fully concur, Messrs. Editors, in the closing sentiment of this extract, and 1 would respecilully suggest whether it is noi likely that a petition to Congress to lay a tax on spirituous liquors, accompanied wilh half a million - of names, (and more might easily be • blamed, for in every city and town and village of America there are those who would cheerfully circulate such a pe.ti'ion,) would make a favourable im pression on that honourable body ;—wheth er it is not the immediate duly of American Christians to unite in such a petition;— whether though in the main object it should he unsuccessful, it might no’ be the first iu a series of measures that will finally prevail; whether it is not the duty of Chirstians in Boston to lead in the proposed undertaking, and the duty of all who read these sugges tions to give them a few minutes serious consideration. M. S* LIBERAL FEELINGS. The London Christian Observer for May, contains a Review o! Dwight’* Theology, from the close of which the following paragraphs are extract ed. The difference of feeling evinced towards this country by the political works of Eng land and those of a Christian character, is stri kingly manifested. Whatever may ultimately be the publick decision on the theological importance of these volumes, they will at least tend to reduce to reason some person* who have indulged a spirit of scepticism, not so much on the moral, a* on (he menial excellence of their relations on the other side, of the Atlantick. It will, ive think, he at length conceded, that man in America, as well as in Europe, is a reading, writing, and even thinking animal. This, by many, will be deemed a liberal concession. There are those among.ns from whom it wili, howev er, and must ultimately, be extorted, in despite of what they have spoken and writ bn to the contrary Our Quarterly Re views and similar writers should be aware of the recoil ol their vituperation upon themselves; if in no other point, yet in this, that the people of the United States are “ bone of their hone, and flesh of tbeir flesh;” descendants from a common ance* try, and substantially British in their civ il and ecclesiastical institutions, literature, science, domestick habits; and entirely one with them in language. But thus it is that even-handed justice bestow* it* impartial decisions, and chastise- the abettors of fam ily quarrels, by causing them to expose their own shame. We wish that certain of our countrymen remembered, and im itated in the spirit of their conduct, the dig rofied consistency of his late Majesty, when he received the first ambassador of the new Republick with this address;—“ I was the last man, sir, to consent to the indepen Jence of America; and I shall now be the last man to violate it.” Those who recol lect the manner, and graceful elocution of George ihe Third, in the moments of royal etiquette, will imagine Ihe effect of these manly expression; and indeed it is, we believe, on record, that Ihe arobasador, on this occasion, was completely overpowered, and returned to his government, under the full conviction of the King’s determination to maintain tbe relations of peace and am ity. It America exhibits the vices of a young nation, she should not gratuitously retaliate upon the alleg-d deformities of her aged and still surviving parent; thongh,as Amer icans seem to think, under the pressure of years, and still suffering from various do mesi.ck troubles. One of these, so al least Hu.ppeared al rh ;,me, was the desertion of a favourite daughter on the 4th of July, . . Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.— Jesus Christ. oi all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports.— Washington. MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK COUNTY, GEORGIA,) MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1825. 1776. Greybeards perfectly well recollect the consternation of (he family at that try ing moment ; especially the shrieks and hystericks of the mother. They remem ber too, that for several tedious years the strongest measures were adopted to effect the child's return ; but all in vain ! A com promise at length took place in 1782: mid since that time, (with one unpleasant ex ception of recent date,) they have been tol erably quiet. Why then, not “ let well alone ?”—lf we conlioue to complain, in our quarterly reports, of the disorderly be haviour of backwoodsmen, squatters, row dies, gougers, and other persons designa ted by appellations of similar elegance, we must not be angry, if we are reminded in return, of Tfiurtells, Pruberts, Fauntleroye, radicals, agitators, St. Giles’s and VVapping, and of tbe thousands classed and described by Mr. Colqohoun, Mr. Pierce Egan—we beg pardon for coupling the names, —and by “the gentlemen of the press,” in their “reports of the ring,” and the Westmin ster pit; and in their elaborate details of “sporting and pugilism,” and the existing mo: als of (he theatres. Steering a middle course between adula tion and comtumely, we Cannot for a mo ment doubt that the United States are rap idly rising in the scale of civilization, sci ence, general literature, and moral vigour. In naval architecture, in steam navigation, m certain branches of engraving, id ampli fying the powers of machinery, in the con struclion and extent of canal-, in the ap pointments both of the military and mer cantile marine, and in various practical ap plications of art and science, they are al ready either our supertours or our rivals. Their diplomatist* have contrived to meet the practised statesmen of Europeon toler ably equal tern.s; while Mr. Washington Irving occupies a conspicuous ranlr,evenin our own cherished Island,among the elegant, refined, and polished writers of the day. They regularly republish all our popular works, and, among these,* the Edinburgh and Quarterly Reviews, and some other British periodical publications; our own, as we have stated, among the number. Some of their own periodical works also, especially of a scientifick kind, are in good repute. We have therefore only to give our cousins a little time ; and iu their turn, they will perhaps produce a Bacon and Newton, a Locke and Butler, a Milton and Shakespeare ; as they have already, in the emergency of the war of independence, shewn their Washington, and other chiefs of their armies, which, after a severe strng gle witfi tbe disciplined veterans of Europe, established anew empire. RELIGIOUS. ADDRESS - ~ OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY, Instituted at Ac'ju York, in 1825. to the Chris tiun Public. The Executive Committee of (lie Arne rican Tract Society, by this document, beg the privilege of addressing the Christian community upon one of the most interest ing subjects which have ever attracted the notice of those whose station®, or whose character, give them influence over the destiny of their fellow men. In the month of March last, incipient measures iveie adopted in the city of New York, with the view of forming a Society, to h denomina ted tbe American Tract Society ; the object of which should he, “ to diffuse a knowl edge of our Lord Jesus Christ as the Re deemer ot sinners, and to promote the in terest9 of vital godliness and sound morality, by the circulation of Religious Tracis, cal enisled to receive the approbation of all Evangelical Christians.” Deference to the numerous existing Societies in the different States, induced tbe original projector* of this design to invite a committee of delegates to be hidden on the Tuesday preceding the anniversary of the American Bible Society, for the mupose of maturing the enterprise and giving existence and form to the m-ti tution. At this consultation, there were present a respectable number of delegates from various religious denominations, who, with the advice and assistance of other gentlemen ot high consideration from dif ferent sections of the counlry, revised and agreed upon a constitution, to be submitted to a more public meeting on fbe following day, when the proceedings of the conven lion were considered and sanctioned with a most delightful unanimity. Since that period, measures have been pursued which have already secured the co-operation of several Tiact Societies, and particularly the aid of the most respectable and efficient institution in the Eastern States, the Ame rican X ract Society at Boston, who have, without a dissenting voice, resolved to be come a Branch of the National Society es tablished in New York. Under these aus pices, the citizens of New York have libe rally stipulated to furnish the Society a large and commodious pdifice for the seal of tbeir operations, and have already pro cured funds to the amount of upwards of twenty thousand dollars, and commenced the Society’s bouse in one of the most eli ff' bl * P ort i®w oHfie city. The indiv.duals alluded to have done tlii?, not oily with the express design that the Society shall have every accommodation, without ever taking any thing for this purpose from funds consecrated to the publishing and distribu tion of Tracts, but tbe expectation that it shall eventually receive, from rents on the building, a considerable amount an nually in augmentation of the funds. In making this early presentment of their object, to the friends of the Redeemer, in the United States, and in venturing most respectfully to urge the claims of this insti lution to general patronage, the Committee feel that it is Deediess to exhibit to any considerable extent, the superior advents* ges of that method of moral and teligions instruction, which is pursued by the distri bution of Tracts. Though men are fal len by their iniquity, and are to be recov cred from their apostacy and condemnation only through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, and by the renewing of tbe Holy Ghost, yet does this method of mercy most distinctly recognize tbe use of means in the business of tneir salvation. Next to the Bible and the living ministry one ol these means of light and salvation will he found to be short, plain, striking, entertaining, and instructive Tracts, exhib iting in writing some of the great and g'o nous truths of tbe Gospel. “ The \ford of truth is the great instrument of moral reno vation. He who scatters it scatters the seed of the kingdom, and may look for the harvest m God’s own good time, and way. A Tract may be pc used at leisure ; it may be consulted in the hour of retirement and solitude ; it can be read in a little time : and though it may contain instruction important and weighty enough for the consideration of the sage, and yet simple enough to be ac commodated to (he ta*te and intelligence ol a child, may be easily weighed arid deposi ted id the memory. This method of in struclion is peculiarly calculated f r the poor, and is especially demanded by the poor ol our extended population. It is a method by which the blessings ol a religious education may, to no inconsiderable degree be extended to the lower ranks of society with peculiar facility; and which, as a prac tical system, is already entitled tu the claims of successful experiment. It is a means of doing good which is level to every capnci ly, and adapted to eveay condition. The inan ol low attainment in science, the inn ther, the child, Hip obscure individual in the meanest condition, can give away a Tract, and perhaps accompany it with a word of advice or admonition, with a- much promise of success as a Missionaiv or au Apostle. A minister may distribute Tract, among his people, and thus impress and extend his public instructions where the impressions of his official duty would otherwise bo lost, or never extended ; anti in this way he u.av double his usefulness, and devote two lives to his Master’s glory instead of one. The teacher and the pupil, the parent and Ihe child, the muster and the servant, may be come to each oilier (he most effectual preachers by the distribution of Tracts.— The traveller may scatter them along the roads, and throughout the inns aud cottages, and m return ihe irn.s and cottages may spread them before the eye of the thought less traveller. Merchants may distribute them to ship masters, and ship masters to seamen: men of business may transmit them with every bale of goods to ihe re mote corners of the land and globe; and tho 9 the infinitely important troths of Ihe Gospel, truths by which it i ihe purpose of the God of heaven to make men “ wise unto salvation,” like ihe diffusive light, may be emitted trorn numberless sources and in every direction. All ibis may he done m the m*et inoffensive and inobtrusive way, with no magisterial authority—no claims of superior wisdom or goodness—and no alarm to human pride or forwardness. All this may be done too w ith no loss of lime, “ A Tract can be given away, and God’s bless ing asked upon it in a moment.” Aside from the influence of those institutions which involve no expense at all, m no way can so much probable good be effected, at so little expense, as by the distribution of Tracts. A 1 ract which contains ten pages. cau be published for a single cent! And when we recollect how long a single Tract may he preserved, by how many individuals and families it may he read, and when read by them, to how many others it may be sent; it is difficult to (Conceive of a way in which more good can he accomplished by a very small amount of means. As an aux iliary to other means of doing good, the dis* iribution of Tracts also hold a distinguished place. In how many sick chambers, m how many meetings of anxious inquirers, in bow many circles of wealth and prosperity, of fashion, folly and vice, may these faithful witnesses be left to testify what otherwise never would be told? The language of every Missionary Society, either Domestic or Foreign is, “ A Missionary without a supply of Tracis is unprovided for his work. Tbe press is the grand medium of commu nication in all parts of the missionary world.’ A missionary at Sumatra writes, “ I am of opinion, that among all nations not accos lotned to books, the distribution of Tracts, written in an easy style, or of single Goa pel6, is much more likely to do good, than • bat of larger works. Tht* opinion is strengthened by the experience and obser vation of every day.” Nor are ing suggestions founded in lh*S>J i y* warranted by facts. The arooun? of gdj[ already achieved by the distribution Tracts is incalculable. Much has been dt in this and other countries, to tiff rd tfi most satisfactory evidence of their M*f l cial efifect*. The most interesting areqwi;* accumulate upon us from every where Tracts are circulated either'itt rhnl tian or pagan lands, of their extended utilf ty. —It is imposible to recite them.—¥ nines might be profitably occupied With (*ht most interesting narratives of ibis sort.- There is not a week in which we have mb striking accounts of tbeir happy Some years ago, the author of ‘he litti Tract, called The Dairymen's Daughter , j said to have received information oi thri hundred conversions, by the ot that Tract. Os the labours of host mar ministers of the Gospel can thlw w even though they have extended f> advanced age? Many revivals off | this little I'ract is known lo have or ed. The Tract called The Swearer's has been at least, equally -n*s< —lu!.. i i ban twenty instance of conver'-i. ir. 1 instrumentality of Tracts, have be ml ported, w ith their attending r.irruifiiw to the Committee of one Society m thlu, ted States, during the past year, nw* several revivals of religion ocr*i<><fl greatly promoted by that Society’* pub# (ions. We ire not ignorant of the at->rifc& success which Voltaire and his infidel ss ( ciates, on the continent of Europe ano where, proved the efficacy ot this m*to of access to the common people, in pr:>j| ing one ol the most terrible moral c-'iS, sioiis which have ever shaken the wot* And we are not ignorant of the ticc men of a difiV rent spirit, in those wetl-k tod efforts in the cause of Tracts, hyf|fK the continent began to be enlightened. j, reformed in the days of the GreaMti’i mation. C GEORGIA EDUCATION SOCIETY if From Iht Athens Sentinel, ‘ Jit . - Extracts from the minutes of the (icorgid, ucatiou Society at their meeting on f.U .iitgust. 1825. Ihe Report of the Director* was re acm pied and ordered to he printed. Ti following resolutions were adopted: * Resolved , That from and after the • day of August, 1825, any person cunt rib. ing 10 the funds of this mstituiion, by at scription, dona ion, or otherwise, sh ill ha (be privilege ol specifying, if they ch o to do so, lo what religious society or d-r nomination, the beneficiary shall bplnng.’ whose support their contribution shall I • appropi lated. Rcsolvtd , That the thanks of this Soto ty re due lo the Rev. R. Chamberlar tor his generous and disinterested *-xerti>i to promote (lie welfare of the same, an that the Society feel themselves under p. \ culi tr obligations to him for hi* Ia hot \ love, in undertaking aud performing bis ]! gency for the coileclioif of funds Resolved , That the thanks of this Societ are due to all its generous friends -mil stq porters, and that, in a particular niannei the Society are under obligation* to tli benevolent inhabitants of the City of An gusta, of the tow nos Lexington, and of (h town ot Louisville, being the only town in which the Agent solicited donation*, foj.s that prompt and Christian aid which they sot cheerfully afiorded when informed of the’ wants of the Institution. Resolved , That the thanks of this Sncie'’ are due to the Rev. Dr. Waddel for hi- l.b. erality in hoarding one of our beneficiaries for twelve months without remuneration. The. following Officers were elected for the ensuing year. Maj. A Walker. Pre-ident, Rev. 1 bos. Gonlding, Corres’ng Sec’ry. Dr James Nisbet, Treasurer, M. W. Dobbins, Recording Sec’ry, Eice Presidents Rev. Wm. McWhirr, Liberty county, Francis Cummin*, D B. Greenshorough, John Brown. D. D Mount Zion, Moses Waddle. D D Athens. Rev. Wm. T. Brandy, Augusta, Abel Carter, Savannah, C. O. Screven, Sunbury, Lovick Pierce, Greenshorough, Wm. Moderwell. Augusta. Directors. James Nephew, E*q Mclntosh county, j! (.01. Joseph Law, Liberty county, Samuel Dowse, Esq. Burke, Thomas Cumming, Esq. Augusta, Joeph Gumming, Esq Savannah, A. G. Semmes, r.sq. Washington, Go. Joseph Bryan, E*q. Hancock county, Rev. Benj. Gildersleeve, do. do. John Nisbet, Esq. Athens, Dr. Wm. Baldwin, Lexington. Prof’r. A Church, Franklin College. Rev. T. Stanley, Atnens, Rev. R. Chamberlain, Morgan county, Rev. J. S. Wilson, Gwinnett county, Hugh Montgomery, Esq. Jackson, Dr. Anderson Watkins, Augusta. On motion resolved, That in future, the annual meeting of this Society, be opened by a sermon. The Society adjourned, tomes n the first Tuesday in Agiist next, at s, v, .j o’- clock, r. m. M. W. DOBBINS, Ste'ry.