num; that of its 13th year was little more than 3,000l.; but the income of its 14th year is between 11,000. and 12,000

Cape of Good Hope.

By a Report of the Bible and school Commission at the Cape of Good Hope on the first of Jan. 1814, it appears that their receipts for the then last year had amounted to 35,000 dollars. A free school at Cape Town was then educating 87 boys and 63 girls, besides 22 grown-up persons and appren

tices, who attend the school in the evening. "The Lancasterian" mode of education appears to have been adopted. Of this the Committee say;"The new mode of education, manual, expeditious and full of life, seems of all other means, most likely to fix the mind, and interest the feelings of an active yet uncivilized people." Of this the Committee are fully aware, nor will they leave the interesting subject much longer a question.

"By means of teachers educated on the new system, and subject to the control of the Bible and school commission, they are encouraged to think that they may thus be able to extend the knowledge of christianity, of civilized language and of useful arts to the different and unenlightened tribes of Southern Africa. The Committee cannot but feel persuaded that the most promising and effectual method of converting a barbarous people to true religion, is by imparting to their minds a love and a susceptibility of knowledge, and by transforming their $ vagrant, plundering habits into those of order, honesty and industry."

"An account of the Massachusetts Society for promoting Christian Knowledge."

THIS interesting pamphlet was published the present year, "by order of the society for the use of its mem'bers." It contains an account of the origin of the society, its constitution, and its efforts for the diffusion of christian knowledge. It also exhibits some deplorable facts as to the state of religion in Rhode Island, and in

two

counties of New Hampshire, Rockingham and Strafford.

This society has printed and purchased for distribution, 30,350 Tracts and 8,224 bound volumes, at the expense of $3659,99. Four general distributions of books and pamphlets have been made. The first extended to every Congregational and Presbyterian society in Massachusetts Proper, except in the counties of Suffolk, Hampshire and Berkshire; Rhode Island, Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia also shared in this distribu

tion. This was made in 1804. The second was in 1806-the third in 1809 -the fourth in 1813.

The society has also employed missionaries in New York, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.

"The inhabitants of Rhode Island, who profess to believe Christianity, are divided into Baptists, Quakers, Episcopalians, Methodists, Congregationalists, Christyans or Smithites, The Baptists, the most numerous denomination, are subdivided into Calvinistic, Arminian, Separate, and Seventh Day Baptists." p. 32.

In the counties of Providence, Kent and Washington, there is a population of more than 55,000 and not one Congregational or Presbyterian Church, except in the town of Providence. "Nor does it appear that in the whole region west of Narragansett Bay, there ever was a Congregational or Presbyterian minister regularly settled, except a Mr. Noyes in the town of Westerly, who has been dead more than 100 years." pp. 31, 32.

The morals of the people in many places are represented as very deplorable. The divided state of the people, their indifference or aversion to public worship, were found great obstacles in the way of the missionary. Strong prejudices existed against Congregational ministers. "But what greatly added to the virulence of these prejudices, was the imprudence of some missionaries who had visited that region before those sent by our socie, ty-of one of whom it is stated; conversing with two persons under serious impressions, he asked them if they prayed. They said that every night

and morning, they kneeled by the bedside and implored the forgiveness of their sins. He replied, 'your prayers are selfish, and therefore they are an abomination to the Lord.' They have never attempted to pray since." p. 38.

A missionary journal states-"Visited four families; found they had been often disgusted with an indiscreet exhibition of the doctrine of predestina. tion; That God has made some for salvation and some for damnation, as the primary cause of their creation, making his own glory a secondary motive." One of those missionaries made the following observations to a young girl: "You commit sin sixty times a minute; every breath you draw-and you are rushing down to hell." To an elderly woman while spinning, "You sin against God every thread you spin. Where is your husband?" Answer; he is hoeing in the field; "Then he is sinning against God too." To a young married woman he said, while sitting to eat; "Do you love God with all your heart?" Answer, I do not suppose I do. "Then how dare you eat a mouthful? You are eating damnation to your soul." The woman left the table, and took such a disgust at congregational ministers, that to her dying day she would never converse with one." p. 38.

"In another family I found a desponding girl, who had been languishing under trouble of mind, more than a year. She had been under serious impressions, and anxiously inquiring what she must do to be saved. In

this state of mind a missionary conversed with her as follows. "Are you willing to be damned?' No, Sir. 'Do you feel as though you could praise God in hell?' I do not, Sir, These must be your feelings before you can ever be admitted to heaven.' It drove her almost to distraction-She was afraid to pray, because she was so great a sinner." p. 69.

"One of the vilest in the region complained of a missionary, 'that he did not preach enough hell and damnation to his poor wicked soul. Another who wished to be thought more knowing, asserted that we are not free agents in choosing to be religious, and that the grace of God must be shed

abroad in our hearts, without our doing any thing about the externals of religion." Many,' says the missionary, 'I find are afraid of morality, lest they should trust in it for salvation. If they commit wickedness, they think they are more open to conviction." p. 39."

We should hardly have given these extravagancies a place in our work, but from the hope that it may be the means of exciting in some preachers more caution, and of leading them to inquire whether they find any thing in our Savior's manner of preaching which will justify their own. If more respect should be paid to his example, and less to metaphysical and mysteri ous systems, preachers would appear more in character as the ambassadors of Christ, and they would have more reason to hope for success.

The society received applications to send missionaries into New Hamp. shire. At first they hesitated; then sent their president into the counties of Rockingham and Strafford to make inquiry. The result of this inquiry made the path of duty plain. The following paragraph from the report of the pres. ident Feb. 1813 gives an affecting picture of the state of those counties. "Without descending to particulars it may be stated generally, that in the counties of Rockingham and Strafford, containing (exclusively of Portsmouth and Exeter) seventy six towns, and according to the census 1810, eighty three thousand and forty seven inhab. itants, there are 45 towns-40,286 'souls, destitute of the stated means of grace. Of these 45 towns, some have been destitute 10, some 20, some 30, some 40 years; and in some the gos pel ministry has never been statedly enjoyed.-In some towns a christian church has not yet been formed-in some where churches exist, the Lord's supper has not for ten, twenty, or thirty years been administered. Most of these churches are also much reduced in number; one from 62 members to 2 females; several to but one male member-and in one town containing 1063 souls,the visible church of Christ, after a stated ministry of 20 years, has been many years totally extinct."

The report proceeds to represent the situation of these towns as deplorable not only as destitute of the stated means of grace, but as divided in opinions and exposed "to the errors of enthusiasm and sectaries of various name."-"It may be added, the calamity is still increasing, as every year diminishes the number of visible christians, and adds to that of destitute towns."

In consequence of this report missionaries have been employed, and by extracts from the letters and journals of the missionaries farther evidence is given of the melancholy situation of the people in those regions, and of the demand for persevering exertions.

Pleasing intelligence from the Christian Visitant. July 7.

EVERY foreign journal, every mail from the west and from the south

brings tidings of religious revivals and

of accessions to the cause of Christ. Virginia has awoke from her slumbers. Her Bible Societies, an institution almost divine, exceed in number and generous exertions any of her sis

ter states.

New Jersey, the Attica of America, displays her religious ægis-Praying societies are restored and crowded On Sunday evening June 18, three young gentlemen opened a Sunday evening school in the village of Elizabethtown for poor Africans-between 40 and 50 persons, of all ages and sexes, bond and free, offered themselves with a zeal and gratitude approaching to enthusiasm. In Newark above 300 persons are taught in a Sunday school weekly.

Georgia, where slavery and religious indifference seemed to have established their empire, begins now to awaken, and inquire for God, who alone gives the song of salvation. In the county of M'Intosh, where gospel ordinances have since its erection hardly been known, churches have recently been established under very favorable auspices. The most respectable members of the community,

Rev. William Whir.

some reaching fifty, sixty one matron, approaching her hundredth year, with the spirit of the ancient Grecians, who said, "we also would see Jesus, have, with uncommon desire, requested to be admitted among the disci. ples of Christ. With youthful ardor, they have joined the flock of the Redeemer.

These are the works of God, carried on by the labors, the zeal and the direction of a venerable, aged clergyman, whose piety and ardor in his Master's service, seem to revive and strengthen in proportion as the almond leaves grace and adorn his pious temples.

The exertions of this enlightened and philanthropic clergyman increase liberality of Missionary, Bible, and othwith his prospects.-The ardor and er societies for preaching the gospel and sending the scriptures among the most remote nations of the earth,

have equally surprised and delighted him. "Why," says he, "shail we Georgians exert ourselves so liberally in sending the word of eternal life among the heathen whom we never saw; and suffer the heathen negro slaves on our own plantations to remain more the slaves of ignorance and sin, than they are of inhumanity? Why pretend to send the lamp of religion to other quarters, when our own estates lie under more than Egyptian darkness and vassalage?"

This amiable and venerable servant of God and friend of man,* is an object truly interesting. In all his walks, and with whomsoever he meets, religious inquiry, religious discourse occupies his heart and conversation. The hospital and the prison, the stage coach and the steam boat, share in his useful and judicious exhortations.

Without partiality to persons, to sects, or to parties, he seems equally ready to preach to all, the unsearchable riches of Christ. The language of his conduct on all occasions, and in every place, seems to say, "I seek not yours, but you." He appears reso. lutely determined for himself, "to redeem the time," and to engage all, without exception, to join with him.

MRS. THOREAU, late of Concord, Massachusetts, was the youngest child of Deacon William Kettelle, late of Charlestown. Her childhood was distinguished from that of other very amiable, docile and dutiful children only by a manifest preference of sobriety to mirth, and of things virtuous to vanity and needless play. She discovered nothing like ill humor and perverseness of disposition. A serious regard to things of a religious nature evidently grew with her growth; and in the same proportion increased a disinclination to all childish amusements that savored of levity and thoughtlessness. At the age of about fourteen, she was so fond of religious conversation and reading, as to seek retirement, when her companions were pursuing their amusements; and yet her manners were so engaging, that some of her companions preferred her society, on seasons of relaxation from stated employment, to that of others, enjoying themselves in customary pleasures.

Vol. III.

As she advanced in youth, she gradually acquired an unusual share of influence in her family, not by vainly assuming it, but) by the superior wisdom and propriety of her conduct. Nature was bountiful to her in mental endowments, and she obtained wisdom to use her powers in such a manner as to command both approbation and respect. When she was about eighteen years of age, her mind was more than ordinarily impressed by religious subjects. The particular occasion appeared to be this, viz. She could not perceive in herself that moral change, or regeneration, which she believed every person must experience in order to salvation. In this state of mind her concern and distress were extreme. She was conscious that religion had been her choice, practice, and delight; but she could see no change that answered her views of the new birth. She was desirous of making a public profession of christianity and of joining the church of Christ, but supposing herself

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