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consort of Charles-le-Bel; and by Charles VI. in 1400, to Madame Maria of France, his daughter, professed in religion at Poissy.

AFRICAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.

Extract from the Minutes of the Synod of Philadelphia, lately convened at Baltimore.

"A communication from the board of directors of an African Theological Institution, under the care of the synods of New-York and New-Jersey, having been read, it was referred to a select committee, and Dr. Janeway, Mr. Mc Graw, Mr. Moody, Mr. Smith, Mr. Coulter, and Mr. Caldwell, were appointed that committee. The Committee submitted their report, which was read by paragraphs and adopted, and is as follows:

"Resolved, That this Synod highly approve of the object contemplated in the proposition of the board, and think that measures ought to be taken for raising and qualifying a ministry for the instruction of the Africans and their descendants in this country, and for spreading the gospel in Africa, when Divine Providence shall prepare the

way.

2 "That a committee of three ministers and three elders be appointed by this Synod, to meet the committee that may be appointed by other Synods at New-York, on the Tuesday that precedes the second Thursday in May next.

3 "That this committee be instructed to propose that the board shall consist of three ministers and three elders, instead of six ministers and six elders from each Synod.

4 "That they be instructed to propose that in relation to all persons to be employed in communicating theological instruction to the African pupils, they come under the promise and engagement presented to the Theological Professors in our Seminary, contained in article 3, section 3, of the plan of the Theological Seminary.

5 "That Dr. Neil, Mr. Duffield, and Mr. Harrison, ministers, and Mr. John Mc Mullin, Mr. Robert Mc Chord, and Mr. A. Henry, elders, were appointed the committee contemplated in the above resolutions."

PROCLAMATION FOR THANKSGIVING.

By his Excellency JONAS GALUSHA, Esq. Captain-General, Governor, and Commander-in-Chief, in and over the State of Vermont. A PROCLAMATION.

Sensible, as all intelligent creatures must be, that there is one eternal independent Being, who created all things, and who governs all events throughout the immensity of space, and whose power and wisdom are stamped on the whole face of nature; it therefore becomes all rational and subordinate beings to be humble and obedient; and it especially becomes the children of men, with deep humiliation, to confess their sins before the mighty

God; and under a sense of their entire dependance on him for life, for all temporal and spiritual blessings, as well as for a hope of more refined enjoyments in a future world; and with thanksgiving and praise unfeigned to acknowledge the same, especially at a time of prosperity like the present, when we enjoy peace with all foreign powers, and hail the return of harmony at home. And while our hands are employed in gathering in the fruits of the earth, and our eyes behold our barns and our storehouses replenished with necessaries for ourselves, our flocks, and our herds; our hearts ought to expand with gratitude to Him who so bountifully provides for the creatures he has made. At a season so propitious, it is reasonable and fit that we should, in a public and social manner, lift up our hearts to God with the voice of thanksgiving and praise for his beneficence, and beseech him to continue to us those inestimable and distinguishing favours. And while our hands are raised in prayer and in praise, we are under the strongest obligation, in an exalted strain, to express our thankfulness for the rich display of his renovating grace in our land, and for the benevolent disposition he has excited, in this and other countries, to aid the cause of human happiness, and to disseminate gospel truth throughout the habitable world.

I have therefore thought fit, by and with the advice of the Council, and at the special instance of the General Assembly, to appoint, and I do hereby appoint THURSDAY, the third day of December next, a day of public Thanksgiving, Prayer, and Praise, throughout this State; And I do earnestly invite all, both Ministers and People, of every religious order, to convene at their respective places of public worship, on said day, and with one accord, in a solemn and devout manner, render unto Almighty God, that adoration, praise, and religious worship, which are his due and our reasonable duty; and in the name of the Redeemer approach the Throne of Divine Grace, and with deep humiliation acknowledge the many distinguishing and unremitted favours received, while we render suitable praise to his holy name for the blessings of a free, liberal, and happy government, founded on the principles of civil and religious liberty, secured by wise institutions, and promoted by equal and salutary laws: And that under the auspices of an indulgent Providence we enjoy peace abroad and tranquillity at home-for the degree of good health that has prevailed the year past, and the rich rewards of the labour of our hands; but above all, for the unspeakable gift of his Son, for the restoration of a lost and ruined world, that whosoever believeth on him may be saved.Let acclamations of praise ascend to the throne of God for the rich displays of Divine Grace manifested in our land, in bringing many souls to bow to Prince Emanuel; and for the benevolent spirit that is manifested in spreading the gospel, not only in our own country, but in heathen lands, where idolatry, superstition, and darkness have reigned for ages. And while we bless and praise the Lord for present and past favours, let us, with a deep sense of our ingra

titude and abuse of mercies, humble ourselves, repent of our sins, and with sincerity of heart turn to the Lord, implore his forgiveness, and in the name of Christ beseech him to continue to us his favour, which is life, and his loving kindness, which is better than life. Let our prayers ascend to God and intreat that he would perpetuate the blessing of peace, and cause health still to gladden our habitations: that he would succeed and prosper the labours of the Agriculturist, the Mechanic, and Manufacturer; and cause every useful branch of industry to be richly rewarded: That he would bless the means of education, and grant that every degree of science and literature may be improved, to meliorate the condition and improve the happiness of man: That he would graciously regard the Ministers of the gospel, make them faithful and successful, and cause that their lives and conversation may exemplify the purity of the religion they preach; and that the hand of liberality may support them in the work whereunto they are called: That he would bless all associations formed for the spread of the gospel, or other laudable and useful purposes: That he would have in his holy keeping all those Missionaries who have left their native land to bear the tidings of salvation to the heathen, and make them instrumental of great good, in promoting the Redeemer's kingdom, and pulling down the strong holds of Satan: That he would bless the President of the United States, both houses of Congress, the State Legislatures, and all who are entrusted with the public concerns, either in the General or State Governments; and cause that each may possess the spirit of their station: And finally, that he would cause the rights of man, every where, to be regarded; tyranny and oppression to be done away; superstition and bigotry forever to cease; and that the peaceable kingdom of the Redeemer may prevail throughout the habitable world.

I do hereby request the people of this State to suspend all recreations and unnecessary labour on said day.

Given, &c. October 16, 1818. By his Ex'y's command, R. C. MALLARY, Sec'y.

FOR THE CHRISTIAN HERALD.

JONAS GALUSHA.

AN OCCASIONAL HYMN.
Beati pauperes Spiritu: quoniam ipsorum
est regnum coelorum. Matt. v. 3.

Exalted is thy name, O Lord;
Whom Sinai's thunders loud proclaim'd;
Whose all-creative, potent word

Hath suns and mighty systems fram'd.

Thy breath the elements control;

The raging sea thy Spirit hears;
In billowy mountains fiercely rolls,
Or hush'd its tranquil breast appears.

At thy command the lightnings burn,
And echoing thunders wildly roar,
That guilty man to thee may turn,

And frankly own JEHOVAH'S pow'r

At thy blest will, the genial earth
Its fruits in rich luxuriance pours,
And nature yields, in circling birth,
Autumnal skies, and vernal showers.

But now, at thy reproving frown,

The arid fields in sadness lie;
The landscape mourns in livid brown;
The enfeebled flocks grow faint and die.

And when thy judging eye beholds

Ungrateful nations sunk in sin,
Earth, from her centre to the poles,
Feels thy convulsive pow'r within.

Then mountains tremble, vallies groan;
Then quiv'ring nature shrinks aghast!
Then desolation mounts its throne,
And wings its all-devouring blast.

But not alone this narrow sphere

Of lands and seas thy Godhead owns;
Thy power we see, we feel, revere,
In realms unbounded, skies unknown.

Throughout unfathomable space,

Where suns unnumber'd freely shine,
There SYSTEMS run the perfect race,
Ordain'd by thine Omnicient mind.

Thy pow'r and glory who can tell?
Thy works transcendent, who declare?
And wilt thou condescend to dwell

With sinful man, or heed his pray'r?

Will he, whose greatness fills all bound,
The Lord of Heaven, and Lord of Earth,
Behold an insect of the ground,

Prone to rebellion from its birth.

Can this frail being, cloth'd with shame,
Presume thy sacred ear to move?
Exalted be thy gracious name,

Thy sweetest attribute is love.

Thy blessed promises are sure;
And by thy holy word 'tis giv'n,
That for the humble, meek, and poor,
Thou hast in store, the joys of Heaven.

The mourner in this vale of woe,

The heart contrited low and bare,
The pious suff'rer here below,

Are objects of thy tenderest care.

For these thou hast prepar'd a seat
In mansions of eternal joy;
Of bliss immortal, bliss complete ;
Where pleasures reign that never cloy.

Then may we at thy footstool bow,
And humbly our whole hearts resign
To thee prefer our daily vow,

Frail suppliants for thy Grace Divine.

AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY.

NOTICE.

As some Bible Institutions, having professedly other objects in addition to that of promoting the diffusion of the Sacred Scriptures, have recently declared themselves auxiliary to the American Bible Society, evidently under an incorrect impression of the principles upon which they could be admitted as such; and as others, in distant places, may, in like manner, be formed under the same mistaken views, the Board of Managers deem it advisable publicly to make known, that, by the first Article of the Constitution of the American Bible Society, it is declared, that its "sole object shall be to encourage a wider circulation of the Holy Scriptures, without note or comment;" and that, conformably to the third Article of the same Constitution, the privileges of an Auxiliary can be granted to such Societies only, as " agree to place their surplus revenue, after supplying their own districts with Bibles, at the disposal of this Society." These being fundamental principles, and considered of vital importance to the National Society; the Managers deem them essentially necessary to form the basis of that connexion by which other Bible Societies can be associated with it on the footing of auxiliares, and be entitled to the privileges arising from that connexion. The Managers therefore think it proper to state, that no Society shall be considered as having become an Auxiliary, until it shall have officially communicated to this Board, that its sole object is to promote the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, without note or comment, and that it will place its surplus revenue, after supplying its own district with the Scriptures, at the disposal of the American Bible Society, as long as it shall remain thus connected with it.

N. B. Bibles and Testaments are sold by the Society, to all Bible Societies not auxiliary, at the estimated cost prices and to Auxiliary Societies, at five per cent. discount from the said prices.

:

VOL. V.]

Saturday, December 5, 1818.

MORAL REFORMATION IN NEWGATE.

[No. 17.

The following account of the benevolent and heroic undertaking of Mrs. FRY, and her worthy associates, to meliorate the moral condition of the wretched female tenants of Newgate, appeared some time since in the American Daily Advertiser, as extracted from a work recently published in London. It should have found a place sooner in our Numbers, had not a press of other matter prevented it. It will doubtless be read with unusual interest at any time; but more especially so at a period when the attention of this community is alive to the importance of inculcating religious knowledge, and christian principles, as the means both of delivering from, and preventing that state of degradation and misery, among a certain class of people, which spring from the abounding depravity always more or less prevalent in large cities. While we admire the enterprising philanthropy of those venerated females to whom we are indebted for the successful experiment they have made in this instance in favour of humanity, we cannot but feel our attachment increased to that blessed gospel whose grace can inspire such selfdenial, courage, and perseverance in well doing, as are exhibited on the part of those who attempted this admirable beneficence, and which is capable, on the other hand, of softening and subduing the ferocity, and changing the habits of such hardened and abandoned wretches as are here described.

LADIES' COMMITTEE.

Proceedings of the Ladies' Committee at Newgate, London. About four years ago Mrs. Fry was induced to visit Newgate, by the representations of its state, made by some persons of the Society of Friends.

She found the female side in a situation which no language can describe. Nearly three hundred women, sent there for every gradation of crime; some untried, and some under a sentence of death, were crowded together in the two wards and two cells, which are now appropriated to the untried, and which are found quite inadequate to contain eyen this diminished number with any tolerable convenience. Here they saw their friends, and kept their multitudes of children, and they had no other place for cooking, washing, eating, and sleeping.

They slept on the floor, at times one hundred and twenty in one ward, without so much as a mat for bedding, and many of them were very near naked. She saw them openly drinking spirits, and her ears were offended by the most terrible imprecations. Every thing was filthy to excess, and the smell was quite disgusting. Every one, even the Governor, was reluctant to go among them. He persuaded her to leave her watch in the office, telling her that his

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