heathen, now in the various schools established in India."

The Rev. Epaphras Chapman, one of the missionaries of the United Foreign Missionary Society to the Osage Indians, died at Union on the 7th of January, of typhus fever, after an illness of a few days.

The Board of Managers of the American Society for meliorating the condition of the Jews, have purchased a tract of land embracing 400 acres, in Westchester county, about three miles from the Sawpit landing, bordering on Connecticut, where a settlement of the Jewish converts will immediately be formed.

The American Colonization Society has issued the first number of "The African Repository and Colonial Journal," which was proposed some time since. It contains 32 pages, 8vo. The cause to which this work is devoted, will, we hope, secure for it an extensive patronage.

DONATIONS TO RELIGIOUS AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

In the month of March.

To the American Bible Society $5,156. To the American Board of Commissioners, for Foreign Missions, $3,446.87. To the American Education Society, $568 59. To the U. F. M. Society, $1839.89.

FEB. 9.-The Rev. RICHARD S. CORNING, (installed) over the church in Otisco, N. Y. Sermon by the Rev.

John Keep, of Homer.

Feb. 23.-The Rev. EDWARD PALMER, (installed) over the Congregational Church at Dorchester, S. C.

Feb. 27.-The Rev. Dr. T.C.HENRY, (installed) over the Second Presbyteterian Church in Charleston, S. C.

March 9.-The Rev. ISRAEL GURLEY ROSE, over the Second Society of Canterbury, Conn. Sermon by the Rev. Orin Fowler, of Plainfield.

March 20.-The Rev. ENOCH HUN

TINGTON, was admitted to the Order of Priests, at Philadelphia, by the Rt. Rev. Bp. White.

March 20.-The Rev. ELEAZER LATHROP, and the Rev. JOHN DICKSON, as Evangelists, in the Circular Church, Charleston, S. C.

April 6.-The Rev. HARMAN L. VAILL, over the Congregational Society in Millington, Con. Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Beecher, of Litchfield.

The Rev. DANIEL C. HOPKINS, (installed) over the Church and Society in Sangerfield, N. Y.

Ar a late session of the legislature of Missouri, a bill to prevent duelling passed both houses, annexing to that offence the punishment of whipping.This bill the governor returned, with objections, but at the same time expressed, in the following terms, his opinion regarding the practice:

"I am happy, on this occasion, to record my utter detestation and abhorrence of duelling. My duty to my God, to my neighbours, and to myself, would compel me, in my private as in my public capacity, to discountenance and put down, if possible, so barbarous and so impious a practice."

The bill, thus returned, was reconsidered, and again passed in the Senate, by the requisite majority of two-thirds of that body; but failing to receive a like majority in the House of Representatives, it did not become a law. It is probably well that it did not. It proceeded far enough to effect all that it could have done had it finally passed. It occasioned a discussion which could not fail to throw ridicule and odium on the practice in question. Duelling is not to be put down by whipping, or by any corporal punishment. The evil can be remedied only by a correction of public opinion; here the secret of its strength lies, and here it must receive its death-blow. When there shall cease to be any respectable portion of the community who think it becoming in men to stand up and shoot each other, and especially when our men of influence and of office shall be brave enough to suffer an incivility, or read an offensive paragraph in a newspaper, without feeling themselves called upon to shed blood, then we may hope to hear no more of these "affairs of honour." That public opinion is rapidly

gaining strength against duelling, is very evident. Mr. Clay, in his late letter to his constituents, ventures to say that "no man holds in deeper abhorrence than he does, that pernicious practice." "It is condemned," he tells them, "by the judgment and philosophy, to say nothing about the religion, of every thinking man;" and yet he seems inclined, either to save appearances with such as are not yet ready to join in its proscription, or else to excuse "whatever heretofore he may have done, or by inevitable circumstances might be forced to do," by speaking of it as "an affair of feeling, about which we cannot, although we should, reason." Its unqualified reprobation would have gratified us more, but it is something gained to the cause of public virtue, that such a man as Mr. Clay confesses (and he has a right to know) that "reason" has nothing to do with so mad a practice. We are gratified also to see the attention of our naval officers directed to this subject. Commodore Rodgers, in a late general order, which does him honour, makes "the detestable practice of fighting duels” a subject of strict discipline. He mentions it in connexion with “quarrelling among the younger officers," "defaming each other," "indecorous animadversions, at tavern-tables, in stage-coaches," &c.-a list of practices which might be expected to grace men whose honour is ever ready to engage them in an "affair of feeling," from which their reason' is excluded. We do hope that the day is not far distant when all shall, as Mr. Clay says all ought to unite, in the unqualified proscription of this disgraceful practice.

No. 6.]

REMARKS ADDRESSED TO MINISTERS.

[THE following paper comes to us from a "Clergyman of Connecticut." It was read, he tells us, to a small circle of his brethren at a stated meeting

for their mutual benefit. That it was not designed for publication, will be evident from its tenor. It received some colouring, probably, from local circumstances which were present to the mind of the writer; for it is not applicable, we think, at least to the full extent of the impression it is fitted to make, to the community at large. Some of the topics of remark are peculiar to no "times" or country. They belong to the nature of the gospel and of man, and no "effervescence of change” in civil affairs can essentially affect them. We publish the article

with the belief that our clerical brethren, every where, will find in it some things applicable to their own circumstances, and that all who sympathize with them in the "responsibilities, trials, encouragements, an ddangers," of their sacred calling, may read it with advantage.]

DEAR BRETHREN,

I PROPOSE to suggest to you a few observations respecting the peculiar responsibilities, trials, encourage ments, and dangers, connected with the times in which we live. To every person of reflection, it must be obvious, that in this part of our VOL. VII-No. 6.

[VOL. VII.

country a material change in the habits and feelings of the community has taken place, since the time when the generation of ministers who have preceded us, were engaged in the Instead of the calm and peaceful active duties of their profession. state of ecclesiastical affairs which then existed, we are now in all the effervescence of change. If the foundations of many generations are not destroyed, they are, to say the least, shaken to their centre. We witness a boldness of thought, and of action in many, in relation to the truths and duties of religion, which, though faith assures us it will be short sight ominous of evil. Not a overruled for good, seems to our few, of whom we had hoped better and the institutions of Christ in less things, evidently hold the ministers respect than formerly, and are ready to avail themselves of the permission so fully granted by our laws, to withhold from them all support. Our religious societies are no longer kept in existence by the force of popular opinion. He who would traduce our character, and withdraw from us the means of subsistence, has not now cause to fear, that by so doing, he shall lose the respect, or incur the odium of the public. On the contrary, he not unfrequently thus secures to himself a passport to popularity and influence. Even from those who bear the best affection towards us as Christian ministers, we can hardly expect permission to serve them

in this capacity, and to depend on them for the supply of our wants, any longer than the course which we pursue is consistent with their views and feelings. We are sure that our endeavour to do this beyond the continuance of their kind regards, must be attended with the sacrifice not only of our personal comfort, but of the interests of our societies. So greatly has the state of things changed from what it once was. Formerly our parishes were held together, and closely compacted by the principles, the habits, and the prejudices of those who composed them. Now, so far as human influence is concerned, not only their prosperity, but their very existence, depends in a great measure on the character and influence of their ministers. Hence, whenever a serious misunderstanding arises between a pastor and his flock, the only alternative, in most cases, is, that one or the other must be sacrificed; that whatever to the pastor may be the consequences of separation, he must endure them, or witness the ruin of his charge.

I state not these things, brethren in the way of complaint, but that I may impress on your minds the weight of responsibility, which the state of public opinion now throws on us. And is it indeed so? Ifwe are wanting in any of the essential requisites of our high vocation, do we not only cease to profit those committed to our charge, but also endanger their very existence as a body formed for the most important purpose; do we thus expose them to perish for want of instruction? Well then may we tremble, to think how much is depending on us. In this view of the subject, how vast is our responsibility, and how pressing the demand for the utmost watchfulness over ourselves, and for unwearied diligence and perseverance in our holy calling! The inheritance which has come to us through the efforts, and privations, and prayers, of our fathers, is too rich to be

thrown away and lost by our negligence and folly. You will not deem me an enthusiast when I say, that under God it seems to depend on us, whether, after the excitement of the present times shall have subsided, this inheritance shall go down to posterity with augmented beauty and worth: whether in future days of increased purity and light, the walks of religious instruction which we now occupy, shall be filled by men more holy and more devoted, or shall become a moral desolation. Who of us can be willing, that among these hills and valleys where we labour and pray, and witness the operations of divine grace, the sound of peace on earth and good will to men shall in a little time cease to to be heard, and this through our deficiency? We ought to feel that we are responsible not only to our Creator and Judge, and to those who hang on our lips for instruction, but likewise to generations yet to be born; that through what we do, or refrain from doing, the beauty of our Zion may be marred, and breaches made in her, which in many years will not be repaired. Want of wisdom, or neglect of duty in the ministers of Christ, is always productive of evil; but in such times as ours, it is in a very special manner fraught with calamity. If there is now in them any essential defect, there is little, compared with what once existed, to counteract its influence.

Nearly connected with the responsibility, are the trials which in these days attend the Christian ministry. To see that cause which is most dear brought into jeopardy, and those interests with which are connected the glory of God, and the eternal welfare of men, despised and treated with contempt, cannot but inflict the deepest wounds in every bosom. To know that the more kind and faithful are our efforts for the highest good of our fellow-creatures, the more bitter is their opposition to us, and the more determin

ed their hostility against all the doings of benevolence itself, must fill our minds with most anxious concern. But these things do almost invariably accompany the tokens of success and of divine approbation which attend us. In times when the Most High has smiled on our labours, giving his Spirit for the conversion of sinners, we have witnessed malice and rage, the very bitterness of opposition against the truth, in those who had been accustomed to manifest only indifference respecting it. Often at such seasons, have our efforts for the good of souls been represented as the effect of enthusiasm, or of a mere spirit of proselytism and selfishness, and we have been said to be influenced by any feelings rather than those of love to God, and concern for the good of our fellow-men. Nor have representations of this kind been made, merely by the low and the vulgar, but in many instances, by those who hold the high places in society. Persons of this description we know there are among us, who would gladly destroy our influence, and frustrate our efforts in the service of our divine Master. The same spirit has indeed always existed in the world; but the attitude in which it now appears among us, is somewhat peculiar to our own times. To witness this spirit is not so great a trial from considerations of a personal nature, for the scriptures teach us that it is to be expected in men dead in trespasses and sins, and to be viewed as evidence that we and our services are owned of God; but it is to a high degree painful to behold our fellow-creatures thus dishonouring God and destroying themselves. It is distressing to know that the increased light of these interesting times has on many no omer effect than to increase the hardness of their hearts, and to augment their guilt in the sight of heaven. In days of the outpouring of the Spir

it, it is deeply afflicting to know that events which give joy to angels, will be cause of eternal pain to some of our hearers.

But not the least of our trials is to behold so many, for the sake of an inconsiderable gratification of their selfishness and love of the world, turning their backs on the worship of God,-merely that they may save a trifling pittance of money, robbing themselves of the means of salvation; literally shutting themselves out from God, and hope, and heaven. The truth is that many do not now enjoy the instructions which might make them wise for eternity, merely because "the Lord hath ordained, that they who preach the gospel, should live of the gospel." It is out of our power to minister to their spiritual good, because we cannot do it with out support. For a considerable time the number of such persons has been increasing. What can be more ungrateful to our feelings, than that we and our services are thus under

valued; that by the very individuals, for whom we would spend and be spent, we are regarded as a burden too heavy to be borne? from this source principally arises the fear with which our minds are distressed, that in this part of our country will be realized, at no very distant day, "a famine of hearing the words of the Lord." But whether greater or less evils shall hereafter result from this contracted love of the world, we know that it now opposes a formidable hindrance to the success of our ministry. So long as men are under the control of this narrow selfishness, so long as they value their property so much more than their souls, of what avail willbe our endeavours to turn them from sin to God? This love of earth, this covetousness which is idolatry, drives them from our instructions and in effect, makes them our enemies. This, which we may regard as one of our severest trials, is in a great