sity of character among them, as well as among their descendants. To speak without reserve, I cannot have a very high opinion of the light that prevailed at that period, on either side of the Atlantic; for it is my settled belief, that the principle and spirit of persecution in any sect, are not consistent with the prevalence of a great degree of either christian light or christian love.

B. I am aware that such a spirit did prevail in that age, and that there were some bloody effects of it among our forefathers in this country.

A. I will then ask, Do you find any thing worse than this, in those ministers whom you accuse of departing from the faith and purity of their ancestors? Would it increase your charity for them, should you see them so converted, as to embrace the Catechism by wholesale, and with it the principle and spirit of persecution, so far as to attempt the support of their doctrines by inflicting on dissenters imprisonment, scourging, banishment and death?

B. Perhaps I have been under a mistake in estimating characters. You have brought to view some things which I had not duly considered. I need some time for reflection. I will think of what you have said, and perhaps have another interview on the subject at a future time.

mandments of our Savior respecting brotherly love, long suffering and forbearance; and which disposes christians of the present time, to feel themselves justified in censorious judging, and authorized to establish criterions of a christian character and terms of communion, not so much as hinted at as such in the gospel; I feel in duty bound, to do what I can to correct the mistake, by a fair statement of facts. By an undue veneration for opinions, received by tradition from their fathers, the Scribes and Pharisees of our Savior's time, not only "made the word of God of no effect," and justified the most flagrant violations of the divine commands, but also rejected the Son of God, loaded him with reproach, and put him to death. We should take warning by their dreadful example, lest by a similar delusion we should be led to a violation of the commands of Jesus, and to condemn those who make it their aim to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God. We should remember that loving the speculative opinions of our ancestors, is a very different thing from loving the Lord Jesus, or loving one another as he loved us. So far as any of our ancestors possessed the christian spirit, they possessed the spirit of love and kindness-love to God and love to their fellow creatures; and the more there is in any sect or any person of LOVE TO ALL, the more there is of "PURE AND UNDEFILED RELIGION."

Can sympathy to life restore,
The vital pulse which beats no more?
Raise from the dust the faded form?
Again its icy functions warm?

The sleeping eye again illume?

The fire of intellect impart;
Call back to earth the palsied heart?
Bid it with sense, with ardor burn,
And dust from dust again return?

Blest Jesus! on thy sacred breast,
Thy loved disciple found his rest.
THY Sympathy alone, could heal
The woes, which others only feel.
For thine could bid with glistening eyes:

JOHN LATHROP, D. D. Pres.

His Hon. Wм. PHILLIPS, V. Pres. ELIPHALET PORTER, D. D. Treas. Rev. JOSEPH MCKEAN, LL. D. Sec.

Council.

His Hon. Wm. Phillips, Hon. George Cabot, Joseph Dana, D. D. David Osgood, D. D. Abiel Holmes, D. D. and Rev. William Shaw.

The Rev. President Appleton was elected member of the Society in the place of Rev. Dr. Barnard, deceased; and Hen. Benjamin Pickman, in the place of the Hon. Benjamin Goodhue.

Or Tuesday, 30 May, "The Episcopal Convention" met in Trinity Church; and the Rev. Asa Eaton preached from Isaiah lxii. 1. "For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest," &c.

AT 4 o'clock, P. M. the Rev. John Allyn of Duxborough delivered the eighth annual sermon before "The Society for promoting Christian knowledge, piety, and charity," in the First Church, Chauncey place, from Rev. iii. 2. "Be watchful, and strengthen the things, which remain, that are ready to die.” The officers chosen were Rev. Dr. LATHROP, Pres. Rev. Dr. PORTER, Vice Pres. Mr. ELISHA CLAP, Treas. Rev. SAMUEL RIPLEY, Sec.

Trustees.

Professor Sidney Willard,
Rev. Edward Richmond,
Rev. Charles Lowell,
Rev. John Pierce,
Rev. Ezra Ripley,
Hon. Daniel A. White,
Mr. Andrews Norton,

Rev. Francis Parkman. The preacher for the next year is the Rev. Charles Lowell of Boston; and for the following, the Rev. Edward Richmond of Stoughton.

In the evening of the same day, the Rev. Peter Sanborn of Reading preached the sixteenth annual sermon Vol. III.

before "The Massachusetts Missionary Society," ,"in the Old South Church, from Gen. xxii. 16, 17, 18, "By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord,' "&c. on the nature, extent, and perpetuity of the Abrahamic covenant, and the encouragement hence derived for missionary exertions. A collection was then tak

en.

AT the General Election, 31 May, the Rev. James Flint of Bridgewater preached, from Deut, iv. 9. "Only take heed to thyself," &c.

In the evening of the same day, the Rev. Nathaniel Thayer of Lancaster preached the first sermon in Boston, before "The Evangelical Missionary Society," in the Old South, from Mark xvi. 20. "And they went forth, and preached every where," &c. There was then a collection of $165, 73.

This Society was instituted at Lan. caster in 1807.

Officers chosen at the last yearly meeting in October.

Hon. ELIJAH BRIGHAM, Pres.
Rev. EZRA RIPLEY, Vice Pres.
Rev. N. THAYER, Cor. & Rec. Sec.
Hon. BENJAMIN HEYWOOD, Treas.

Trustees.

The President and Vice President, Rev. Aaron Bancroft, D. D. Joseph Allen, Esq. Dea. John White, Rev. Reuben Puffer, D. D. Dea. Moses Coolidge, Rev. Asa Packard, Thomas W. Ward, Esq. Rev. Richard R. Eliot, Isaac Fiske, Esq. Mr. Josiah Bridge, Rev. Jolin Foster, Rev. Isaac Allen.

The next annual meeting will be at Shrewsbury, 4 October, at which the Rev. Joseph Chickering is to preach. The second preacher is the Rev. Isaac Allen of Bolton.

This Society originated the plan of locating their missionaries; and from the experiment they already begin to find the happiest results. Any person may become a member, on paying two objects of the institution. dollars a year to aid the benevolent

"The Massachusetts Convention of Congregational Ministers" met on 31 May, and the 1 of June.

On Thursday the Rev. Charles Stearns, D. D. of Lincoln preached from John xiii. 13. "Ye call me Master and Lord; and ye say well; for so I am." The collection after sermon was $455 05.

The Rev. Charles Lowell of Boston is Treasurer of the Convention. The Rev. John Pierce of Brookline is Scribe.

Difficulties having often arisen in determining, what widows are the proper objects of the charity of this Convention, it was, this year, voted,

That a standing committee of thirty be appointed, five of whom shall be chosen centrally; and the remainder in different parts of the State. The five shall act, as a Reporting Committee, to receive from the other members of the Committee applications and statements of facts in behalf of persons, who may be subjects of the charity of the Convention, and having considered the same, shall judge of the persons to be relieved, and the proportion to be given to each, and make report to the Convention, on the first day of their meeting annually; further, that the names of said Committee shall be annually published in the Massachusetts Register.

Accordingly the following ministers

were chosen to constitute said Committees.

Standing Committee.

Rev. Dr. Kirkland,

Rev. Dr Holmes,

Reporting

Committee.

Rev. William E. Channing. Essex.

Rev. Dr. Spring,

Rev. Dr. Worcester.

Middlesex.

Rev. Ezra Ripley,
Rev. Asa Packard.
Worcester.
Rev. John Cushing,
Rev. Dr. Bancroft,
Rev. John Fiske.

Hampshire.

Rev. Dr. Lyman.

Rev. Eliphalet Gillet.
Hancock & Washington.
Rev. Jonathan Fisher
Rev. Peter Nurse.

On motion of Dr. Worcester of Salem, Voted,

That a Committee of five be appointed to consider, whether it is expedient for this Convention to adopt any measure, or measures, and if any, what, to correct the public mind on the subject of war. Referred to Dr. Worces ter, Mr. Channing, Dr. Kirkland, Mr. Foster of Brighton, and Dr. Osgood.

The Rev. William Ellery Channing of Boston is to preach the next year, and for the subsequent year, the Rev. Alvan Hyde, D. D. of Lee in Berk. shire County.

IN the afternoon, "The Board of Commissioners of the Society in Scot land for promoting christian knowledge," held their annual meeting, and chose Hon. OLIVER WENDELL, Pres. His Hon. WM. PHILLIPS, Vice Pres. JAMES WHITE, Esq. Treas.

JEDIDIAH MORSE, D. D. Sec.
Rev. JOHN CODMAN, Assistant Sec.

THE same afternoon, "The Society for propagating the gospel among the Indians and others in North America" met to transact their annual business, and elected

His Hon. Wм. PHILLIPS, Pres. JOHN LATHROP, D. D. Vice Pres. ABIEL HOLMES, D. D. Secretary, Rev. W. E. CHANNING, Assist. Sec. SAMUEL H. WALLEY, Esq. Treas. Mr. JOSIAH SALISBURY, Vice Treas.

Select Committee.

Samuel Salisbury, Esq. Jedidiah Morse, D. D. Eliphalet Porter, D. D. Alden Bradford, Esq. Mr. James White, with the President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Rev. Henry Ware, D. D. is chos. en to preach before this Society, the first Thursday in November. The Rev. William Greenough of Newton is second preacher.

In the evening of the same day, "The Society for promoting Christian Knowledge" met in the Old South Church, and the Rev. Daniel Chaplin of Groton preached from Acts xxvi. 18. "To open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan unto God."

The officers of the Society are, ELIPHALET PEARSON, LL. D. Pres. ABIEL HOLMES, D. D. Vice Pres. Dr. JAMES P. CHAPLIN, Treas. OLIVER BROWN, A. M. Clerk. JEDIDIAH MORSE, D. D. Sec. JACOB A. CUMMINGS, A. M. Lib'n. Directors.

The above with
Caleb Gannett, Esq.
Rev. William Greenough,
Rev. Daniel Chaplin,
Rev. Joshua Bates,

Rev. Joshua Huntington,
Rev. John Codman,
William Hilliard, Esq.

The next preacher is Rev. Daniel Dana, of Newbury Port.

"The Society for the suppression of intemperance" met on Friday, 2 June.

ON Thursday, 8 June, "The Bible Society of Massachusetts" held their sixth annual meeting. The Rev. Dr. Isaiah lv. 10, 11. "As the rain cometh Holmes of Cambridge preached from down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither; but watereth the earth," &c. on the design of the word of God, and the certainty of the accomplishment of that design.

There was a collection of $296 10 to promote the objects of the Society. Officers.

His. Hon. WM. PHILLIPS, President.
JOHN LATHROP, D. D. Vice Pres.
Rev. S. C. THACHER, Corres. Sec,
Rev. JOHN PIERCE, Rec. Sec.
Mr. JOHN TAPPAN, Treasurer.
Mr. JOHN GREW, Assist. Treas

Trustees.

Rev. Dr. Freeman,
Rev. Dr. Porter,
Rev. Dr. Holmes,

Rev Dr. Baldwin,
Rev. Charles Lowell,
Rev. Joshua Huntington,
Samuel Salisbury, Esq.
Hon. William Brown,
Hon. Isaac Parker,