lated into that language which, with little variation of dialect, is diffused over many clusters of islands in the wide extent of the Pacific; and, in various places, public meetings are annually holden by the chieftains, to deliberate on the most effectual means of propagating that religion which they consider as a great blessing, communicated to them by the servants of God and the friends of mankind.

As the success of these labors, however, appeared to be partial and limited, it was found expedient to quicken, at intervals, the zeal of the public. It was therefore stated, in a late address from the Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowlege, that the great increase of population in those territories to which its operations had been more particularly directed, rendered a considerable augmentation of the number of missionaries and school-masters necessary for the useful prosecution of its career, although these now exceeded 200 in the American colonies alone; that, with a view to the formation of a body of native clergy for the service of the colonies, the society had contributed largely to the support of the King's College (at Windsor in Nova-Scotia), by an annual grant and by the endowment of divinity scholarships and exhibitions;' that the directors of its funds had also made frequent grants toward the erection of churches in the infant settlements, and had been greatly instrumental in diffusing the national system of education over every part of the Trans-Atlantic colonies; and that another source of expenditure had been opened by the extended colonisation of the southern parts of Africa and the interior of New-Holland. Thus religious instruction and elementary learning were happily combined.

2

The systematic addition of the duty of the schoolmaster to that of the missionary arose from the zeal of the Rev. Dr. Bell, who, wishing to render ordinary scholarship more general, introduced a system of elementary education more comprehensive with regard to the number of pupils, and more rapid in its progress, than the ordinary mode of instruction. The supporters of the scheme boasted that 500 boys and girls might be taught

to read and write, and to perform the common rules of arithmetic, sooner than fifty in the usual way. The plan chiefly consisted in simultaneous dictation to a large assemblage, and in the employment of a number of instructors gradually selected from the aggregate number of the pupils.

The scheme has an air of quackery; but it has been practised with such success,in the national schools of GreatBritain, and in various parts of the continent, that there are more readers and writers than at any former period. It is now a prevailing wish that all the inhabitants of this and every other country should receive instruction in reading and writing: but the proposal has been condemned by some prejudiced men of the higher class of society, who pretend that the plebeian learners would thus sooner imbibe ideas of reform and false doctrines of every kind, or, from the pride of learning, would contract ideas too high for the stations which they might eventually fill. In reply to these objections we may remark, that principles of pretended reform may be taught to individuals who cannot read, and whose illiteracy will render them less able to detect the fallacies of the artful teacher; and, in the next place, that the instruction derivable by the poor from this plan, though useful, will not be of so elevated a kind as to inspire them with overweening pride or vanity, or give them a disgust to the meanness of ordinary occupations.

༼

The labors of the missionaries in the West-Indies were exposed to a serious check by the commotions, which arose at Barbadoes in the year 1823. Apprehending that the parliament might be induced, to put an end to slavery, and knowing that measures had been taken to repress the shameful tyranny of the planters, the leading men in that island exclaimed against the villanous African Society,' calumniated the characters of Mr. Wilberforce and his friends, and denounced vengeance against the Methodist missionaries, whom they accused of instigating the negroes and mulattoes to disaffection and sedition. The charge was ill-founded; yet many persons of reputed respectability encouraged the white rabble of Bridge-town to insult and

を

९

harass the Methodists and their friends, and demolish their meeting-houses. Their chief preacher fled in consternation to the island of St. Vincent; those who remained at Barbadoes were not allowed to act as ministers, and no other missionaries were suffered to land. The parliament expressed its indignation at these outrages; but we do not find that any steps were taken for the punishment of the perpetrators. This forbearance excited strong animadversion, when contrasted with the cruel treatment of the slaves at Demerara, many of whom, for an unwillingness to work, and for some riotous acts, were sacrificed, under the forms of justice, to the vindictive rage of the planters.

The late appointment of several bishops for the WestIndies will, it is hoped, produce, by the influence of their examples and persuasions, a better spirit among the white population, and promote the conversion and enlightenment of the people of color and the negroes. But it is necessary, for the due accomplishment of these desirable purposes, that the new prelates should be more active and zealous than those of Europe.

In the United States of North-America, the episcopal appointments are still kept up, and the other religious communities and congregations are in that regular progress which proves that the nation is not ungodly, although the laws and government do not ordain or recognise, as in the European states, the superiority of a particular creed or mode of worship. Hence there is no occasion for the grant of toleration, as that term implies an allowance, by the ruling power, of such doctrines, ceremonies, and practices, as are not exactly consonant with the established system. As no community predominates over another, all are equal in the eye of the law; the Episcopalians and Presbyterians, the Jews and Roman-catholics, the Moravians and Quakers, are perfectly on a level. Those who are styled Congregationalists form, we believe, the most numerous class: they agree with the presbyterians in doctrinal points, but differ in their discipline and the regula tion of their meetings.

290129

Among the more recent religious communities beyond

the Atlantic, the Shakers seem to have excited the great est degree of attention. Having mentioned their origin and their doctrines on a former occasion, we now state some particulars respecting their manners and conduct. Even while they disallow marriage, and do not permit a man to touch a woman on any occasion or pretence, they are assembled in families. The males and females occupy different apartments in the same house, and have separate tables, but meet occasionally for society and labor, as well as for religious service. Children are sometimes seen among them; and, when the elders are questioned on that subject, they pretend that these young Shakers were born before their parents entered into the association. They exercise all the useful arts and manufactures among themselves, without being indebted to persons of other persuasions for the least assistance. As far as they conveniently can, they have every thing in common; and, when new members are admitted, they are required to assign their property to the directors of the society for the general benefit. They profess to follow the advice of the apostle," Let all things be done decently and in "order." In one respect they appear to be disorderly; for, in the midst of their public worship, they sing and dance like maniacs: yet they have "method in their "madness.” Upon the whole, they form a quiet, inoffensive, and apparently virtuous community.

Another sect (if indeed a religious party in a country which has no established national creed can properly be called a sect) has arisen in North-America; but it is little known, and not very prevalent. Mr. Rees, a Welsh clergyman, transported himself to America with the benevolent view of propagating Christianity in that form which he considered as the most pure and genuine, or rather in that way which would leave every one at liberty to follow his own opinion in points which were not essential, while he acknowleged Christ as his only head. He proposed that the society which should be instituted should be styled the Christian Church, and that no other guide than the New Testament should be allowed to its members; and a secondary part of his scheme was the pro

pagation of the Gospel among the heathen communities. While he labored to make religious converts, he endeavoured, with equal zeal, to put an end to the existence of slavery in the United States; but he did not, either in this or in his other pursuit, meet with that success which his good intentions deserved.

Writers who have treated of the religious associations in North-America have mentioned the Jerkers and the Barkers. We know that there are Jumpers in Wales, notwithstanding the vicinity of English illumination ;we know that great absurdities, on pretence of religion, are practised in various countries, where the inhabitants are more than civilised;-yet we doubt whether the accounts of the Jerkers and Barkers ought to be admitted among the authentic memorials of ecclesiastical history.

It is affirmed that a considerable number of zealots, in the state of Kentucky, seceded from the Presbyterian church, and, in concert with many Methodists, held meetings in which various exercises were performed, indicative (as they thought) of religious fervor and genuine devotion. At these meetings, the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered; but this solemnity was degraded and profaned by ludicrous frivolity. The devotees vindicated their dancing by the practice of David; but their sudden fallings, rollings, jerkings, and other movements, could not so easily be defended, and still less could their barkings be excused. Many of these votaries of superstition were ashamed of their folly, and returned to a sober religious course, while others entered into the fraternity of Shakers, or attached themselves to more rational congregations.

Thus we have taken a cursory survey of the state of Christianity, both in the eastern and western hemispheres, and of its progress during the first quarter of the present century. Some progress it has unquestionably made, although its increase has not been so great as its zealous friends wished or expected. Its movements, depending on human agency, are necessarily slow; and,

d General History of the Baptist Denomination in America and other parts of the world, by David Benedict, A. M.