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original plan of the Institution, and to prevent, if possible, an application of any of its funds to any object contrary to the object of the donors. It was therein stated, that Bibles and Testaments had been forwarded and deposited in most towns in the State, for distribution; and that strong reasons were entertained for believing, that the wants of the poor in every town had been in some good measure supplied, either from this, or other Societies, in the adjoining States. During the past year, the attention of the Board has been directed to the same object, with the hope of rendering it more effectual. Being deeply impressed with the conviction, that so long as both the exertions and pecuniary resources of the Institution were particularly devoted to the wants of our own citizens, no relaxation should be permitted, or expense spared, until with truth it might be said, the spiritual wants of the poor are suppliednone are known to inhabit the State who have not in their possession the word of life..

The Trustees have, since the last annual meeting, purchased 656 Bibles, and 361 Testaments, which, added to those heretofore purchased, make an aggregate of 3088 Bibles, and 771 Testaments, of which 276 Bibles and 114 Testaments remain undistributed.

Extract from the Fourth Annual Report of the Female Auxiliary Bible Society of Baltimore, read April 6th, 1818.

The Committee appointed to prepare a statement of the transactions of the Society during the past year, find, upon examining the records, that 105 large, and 130 small Bibles have been purchased and distributed in the city, and through the surrounding country.

At an early period of the year, a communication was received from the American Bible Society, soliciting aid towards purchasing several sets of types for their use. The Board were of opinion that the state of their funds would not at that time allow them to render any assistance. Since then, however, they have been enabled to remit them a donation of $250, the receipt of which has been acknowledged by their Secretary for Domestic Correspondence.

For a particular account of the expenses incident to this Society, we refer our subscribers and friends to the Treasurer's account. The amount received, during the year, for annual contributions, donations, &c. is $898 62

The amount expended, in the same time,

612 36

SABBATH SCHOOL SOCIETY. Extracts from the Annual Report of the Newburyport Sabbath School and Tract Society. August, 1818.

About ten months since, a few individuals, feeling an interest in the welfare of the rising generation, and a desire to promote their spiritual improvement; stimulated by the example of those pious and benevolent persons in other places whose exertions have been crowned with so much success; were induced to attempt something of the kind in this place.

Accordingly, a Society was formed, and on the 5th day of October last the school was opened.

The number of scholars who have attended the school has varied from three hundred and fifty, to six hundred and fifty. The average number in fair weather, has been upwards of four hundred. and fifty. The number of teachers usually employed, is not far from sixty.

In the operation of this system, your Committee are happy to observe a laudable spirit of emulation excited among the youth of both sexes, from which they anticipate an important result. They have beheld, with a degree of pleasure, the progress of a system which calls into exercise all the energies of these youthful minds; giving expansion to the intellect, and useful employment for all the noble faculties with which their Creator has endowed them. The holy Scriptures, which alone are able to make us wise unto salvation, are continually resorted to, as an inexhaustible fountain from whence to select their lessons; and from the same source, the teachers find the means of enforcing and explaining them. And it is with much satisfaction we have seen the dear youth bringing every resource of their minds into exercise, in committing their lessons to memory, and in producing Scriptural answers to the questions proposed by their teachers. In these exercises some have manifested a peculiar facility in committing their lessons, and a surprising aptitude in applying the most appropriate texts of Scripture in proof of their answers to questions; which have at once exhibited an uncommonly retentive memory, and an extraordinary maturity of understanding for children of their years. And here your Committee cannot forbear to remark, that the attention of parents and guardians, in many instances, in aiding their teachers, and endeavouring to lighten their burdens by a co-operation with them in their labours, and rendering suitable assistance at home, has entitled them to the respect and gratitude of the Society.

Among the numerous instances of peculiar improvement which have been noticed in their several reports, the Committee have selected a few for the information of the Society. Two of the scholars, aged 14 years, who have attended most of the time since the commencement of the school, had (as reported in June last) each of them committed to memory fifteen hundred and fifty-nine verses in the Bible, in addition to their other lessons, in which they were likewise distinguished. Another, aged 13, had committed in the same period, fifteen hundred and seventy-five verses. Another who did not commence so early by six weeks, nine hundred and fiftytwo verses. Another, aged 14, who had attended twelve Sabbaths only, had recited seven hundred and ninety-four verses. Another, aged 13, in the same period, five hundred and sixteen verses; and another, aged 11 years, who had attended but eleven Sabbaths, sic hundred and sixty-five verses. Many others have distinguished themselves as well by their facility in committing their lessons to memory, as by their ingenuity in finding appropriate Scripture

proofs of the particular doctrines and sentiments proposed for their consideration. The few which have been selected, your Committee presume will be sufficient to convey some correct idea of the attention of the scholars. It has, however, been an important trait in the system of the teachers, as a general rule, by no means to overburden the minds of the youth with long lessons, but on the contrary, to permit them to learn and recite no more than could be explained and enforced by the teachers, in such a manner as should tend to their real and spiritual improvement.

Though your Committee have to lament that so little fruit of their labours has as yet appeared, still they are not without encouragement. On this subject they forbear to be particular. Suffice it to say, that they have seen the young and tender mind brought to a solemn stand: awakened to some sense of the situation of a sinner unreconciled to God; and asking, with anxious solicitude, "what shall I do to be saved?" They have seen the thoughtless youth become attentive; and those that had known little of God, brought to feel (for the moment at least) that religion is the one thing needful. It is true that instances of this kind have been few but your Committee are encouraged to hope, that these are the precursors of greater things, and that God will yet own and bless the Institution; and open the hearts of the dear youth to receive the truth as it is in Jesus. And surely, the restoration of one soul from the thraldom of sin to the liberty of the Gospel, would amply repay the labours of a whole life of self-denial in the cause of Jesus.

As to the government of the school, it may be remarked, that the whole system is that of affection and love. The "uplifted rod, and angry voice," are never heard. Gentle persuasion and mild remonstrances alone are depended on as the means of restraint; and when these fail, the teacher's duty, as to the individual, seems to be at an end. He may indeed lament over his pupil, and commend him to God; and there he must leave him, subject to no other discipline than the reproaches of his own conscience, with the humble hope, that through the mercy of God, that bread which has been cast upon the waters, shall be found after many days..

RELIGIOUS TRACTS.

From a Person occupied on the River Thames.

London, June 30th, 1817. A FEW weeks ago I was informed by a friend, that there was much good going forward among the sailors on board the colliers in the river; that they had prayer meetings almost every evening in the week, which were very well attended; and that all who were disposed to attend were summoned by a blue flag, at the main top gallant mast head, on which was inscribed, in large letters, the significant motto, Bethel; that it was generally hoisted at twelve o'clock in the day, and, at the hour of meeting, (about seven in the evening,) it was very gratifying to see boats, with seamen from different ships proceeding to the "House of Prayer." It gave me much pleasure

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to hear the account; and, as my business lies among the Shipping, I determined, the first opportunity I had, to ascertain the truth of it. On Thursday afternoon I had occasion to go down the river, and, in the midst of a number of colliers, saw the signal, and rowed silently alongside. The quarter-deck was covered with an awning, and one of the sailors was engaged in prayer; on his concluding, another immediately began. Their expressions of gratitude for mercies received, and sorrow on account of the depravity of their hearts; their humble trust on a crucified Jesus for salvation, and prayer for each other that they might be kept from the evil of the world; and all the temptations to which they were exposed, evidently showed that they had set their faces Zion-ward. On the conclusion of the second prayer they sang a hymn; one gave the benediction, and they began to separate. I immediately went upon deck, and said to the captain, I hoped he would excuse the intrusion of a stranger, who had been alongside a short time, and was happy to hear them so well, and, I hoped, so profitably engaged. He replied, there was no occasion for any apology, as they were all rejoiced when any one came from the shore to their meeting, as it encouraged and helped on, and he begged I would come, the following evening, on board the H-;"And," said he, "if you could procure us some Tracts, we should be very much obliged-we are much in want of some, and they are the means of doing a deal of good." I asked him how long they had had these social meetings, and he said about eight months; he also told me, there were seven ships in the trade, in which there is regular family devotion, every morning and evening, at sea and in harbour, and he hoped much good would accrue from it. On leaving the ship, I promised, if possible, to be with them on Friday, and bring them some Tracts. I accordingly went, having got a supply from the Depository, and took Mrs. P. and my son with me. On delivering the parcel to Capt. W., he expressed his gratitude in such terms, that, if any of your Committee had been on board, I think it would have done their hearts good. He was not long before he set to work, in the distribution of a part to those honest tars who had by this time arrived, with a few spare ones to distribute among their shipmates, who could not, or perhaps had not inclination to come. The pleasure with which they were received will not soon be forgotten by me. The mate of the H- told me yesterday, that the people sat up on the half-deck till near midnight, reading them.

At a quarter past seven the people were all called on the quarterdeck, when the service began by singing a hymn, and then prayer; and so, alternately, till nine o'clock, when the meeting concluded. There were about thirty present; of whom about nine or ten engaged. Two or three were captains, the others mates and seamen ; and, I do assure you, it is very long since I enjoyed such a pleasant opportunity. Their fervent prayers at the throne of grace, for the strangers, whom nothing but Christian love could have induced to come and visit a parcel of poor sailors," was truly affecting. The place was truly a Bethel; and I think it could be said by all present, "It was good to be here." Before we left the ship we had

many more expressions of gratitude for the Tracts, and a unanimous wish that we should repeat our visits, and also bring some pious friends with us.

I think that these poor Sailors ought to be encouraged by us on shore, and that they will be very active and useful distributors of those silent preachers, Religious Tracts; and if the Committee would grant some, I should be happy in helping to" cast their bread upon the waters;" the good effects of which will, doubtless, be found after many days.

AGAINST DUELLING.

From the Lexington, (Ken.) Monitor.

The citizens of Lexington consider it a duty, imperiously required of them by recent events in this place, to express their sentiments relative to personal rencounters between citizens in a sanguinary manner; thereby to prevent similar occurrences; being unequivocally of opinion, that no circumstances can arise between our citizens, where their honour might not be better sustained by a reference to the deliberate opinion of a few judicious and pacific men, than by an appeal to deadly combat.

We hereby pledge ourselves to discountenance, by all means in our power, such meetings; and do hereby declare, that it is our mature and decided opinion, that it will evidence more magnanimity in thus submitting any difference that may arise between individuals, to such men to decide, as justice may require; and more completely preserve the honour of the individual, than a resort to arms, which makes no discrimination between innocence and guilt, and which is often occasioned by a want of correct understanding, between the parties, of the cause of complaint; angry passions hastening on to an issue, when explanations could reconcile.

[Signed by GEORGE TROTTER, and 84 others, the most respectable Citizens of Lexington.]

ANECDOTE OF WHITEFIELD.

I would give a hundred guineas, said the famous Garrick, on his return from hearing Whitefield preach, could I pronounce the interjection Oh! as I heard him pronounce it.

Whitefield, it appears, in his early youth, was much attached to the theatre, and had his attachment continued, his matchless powers of action and elocution without doubt would have rivalled even Garrick's fame: but in due time his mind received a different impulse, and his talents were devoted to the service of his Redeemer. Into his sermons, says one, he threw such a sublime and vehement eloquence that folly and wickedness were often alarmed as by the assault of a tempest; and the great cause of truth and religion, so languid in the hands of many of its advocates, assumed in his administrations an inimitable urgency. On being asked by a friend, why he was so opposed to the theatre, he replied, I have the best reason in the world for my opposition; the theatre had nearly ruined my soul.-Raleigh Star.

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