Page images
PDF
EPUB

that the end and sides of the tongue, and a small space at the root of it, together with a small surface at the anterior and superior part of the roof of the palate, are the only portions of surface in the cavity of the mouth and throat, that can distinguish taste or sapidity from mere touch. A portion of the extract of aloes, placed on any other part, gives no sensation but that of touch, until the saliva carries a solution of the sapid matters to those parts of the cavity.

The Journal of Commerce has this paragraph:-The number of deaths in the city of New York last week, was one hun dred and eighty-seven; a number very unusual for this season of the year, and seldom equalled in the most sickly portion of the year. The greatest number in any one week, during the last five years, was 204. The average number through the year, is about 100. If we inquire for the cause of this uncommon mortality, it is to be found in the prevailing influenza. For though not a formidable disease in itself, it proves fatal in a great many cases where the constitution has been previously shattered, and will no doubt sow the seeds of consumption in hundreds of others. On looking at the inspector's returns, we find that an unusual portion of the deaths during the week, were occasioned by diseases of the lungs. Only 11 are put down to the credit of influenza; but then there are 43 by consumption, 17 by inflammation of the lungs, thirteen by croup, and others

by different diseases, generated or aggravated by influenza, sufficient to swell the number to 100.

Nashville, (Ten.) Dec. 15, 1831.-It is within the memory of some of the oldest citizens of the neighbourhood, that twice only since the settlement of this country, has the Cumberland river been so thickly frozen as it is at present. In the winters of 1787-8 and 1795-6 it was crossed by passengers, since which period, till now, the same circumstance has not happened. The snow of 10 or 12 inches which fell

early last week, has suffered little or no diminution. For no morning, within ten days, has the thermometer been above 10 degrees, but, on the contrary, has more

than once sunk below zero.

Singular Phenomenon.-The Ulster Plebeian states, that during the late severe snow storm, many of the inhabitants of Kingston, New York, witnessed vivid and repeated flashes of light, apparently not many feet from the earth. So brilliant were some of these corruscations, that in some instances the hand was applied to the eyes for a few seconds, to enable them to recover from their momentary blind

ness.

Mrs. Hannah Adams, one of the most remarkable literary personages of this country, died on Friday the 16th inst. at Brookline, in Massachusetts, having arrived at an advanced age.

Heligious Intelligence.

With the commencement of the present year, we cease to append to our Miscellany "The Missionary Reporter," and return to our original plan of communicating Religious Intelligence to our readers. This is done not from any dissatisfaction with the Missionary Reporter, to which we earnestly wish the patronage of the churches may be extensively given. But that publication is no longer connected with the Educational Register; and on the vastly interesting subject of education, as well as on that of missions, we feel it to be our duty to give information to our subscribers; and we cannot connect both the Reporter and a publication on the subject of education, which we understand is ere long to appear,

with the Christian Advocate. We think, moreover, that with the original number of our pages, fortyeight, we can give the substance of the intelligence relative both ́to education and to missions, in a condensed form, so as to be even more satisfactory to most of our readers than the whole of the details. This therefore we shall endeavour to do, although it will cost us some additional labour.

BOARD OF MISSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

The Secretary of the Board of Missions, in compliance with the direction of the Executive Committee, and in their name, has made

a very impressive address to the แ "PASTORS, ELDERS, CHURCHES, and CONGREGATIONS, "of the Presbyterian church. This address has been published at length in the Reporter, the Presbyterian, and perhaps in some other periodicals. It has, therefore, probably been seen and read by the most of our subscribers. But although this should have been the fact, we think it may be well for all to read a portion of it again; and for ministers of the gospel to read to their people, if not the whole, at least the concluding part of the address, which is as follows:

"It has long been the settled purpose of the Board of Missions, never to withhold a commission, from any duly qualified labourer who was willing to engage in their service, on account of their immediate want of the funds required for his support in a missionary field. And although their treasury has frequently been empty, and sometimes overdrawn to a large amount, yet they have never dared to turn away their ears from the cry of the needy, and stay the footsteps of a herald of the cross, who was ready to minister to their spiritual wants, because the churches whom they served had failed to furnish them with the necessary resources. They have had confidence both in the ability and disposition of those churches, to enable them ultimately to fulfil all the pecuniary engagements, into which they deemed it necessary and proper for them to enter, for the successful prosecution of the bencvolent enterprise in which they are engaged. From past experience, we are fully satisfied that this confidence has not been misplaced. The time was, brethren, and that time is no further distant than the year 1828, when the income of the Board of Missions, for twelve months,

amounted to no more than 2400 dollars. This fact was, indeed, humiliating, mournful, and discouraging; but the real and tried friends of the Board, were not even then utterly disheartened, their efforts were not suspended. They were troubled on every aide, yet not distressed; they were perplexed, but not in despair;-cast down, but not destroyed.' Out of darkness there arose light; from their very weakness they gathered strength. They were strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. They gathered up the mantles of the departed saints, who had laboured with them in the missionary enterprise in better days, they smote upon the deep and turbid stream which impeded their progress, they called upon the God of Elijah, and moved onCh. Adv.-VOL. X.

ward. The Board of Missions was reor-
ganized, its plan of operations was im-
proved, the sphere of its labours was
greatly enlarged, a spirited appeal was
made to the liberality of the churches; and
in the short space of only three years, they
had the unmingled satisfaction of reporting
to the General Assembly, that their Mis-
sionaries had been increased from 31 to
233; and their resources, from twenty-four
hundred dollars to nearly as many thou-
sands! Under the powerful influence of
these delightful recollections of the past,
you will not think it strange, beloved bre-
thren, when we seriously assure you, that,
although the treasury of the Board is at
the present moment overdrawn, to the
amount of 6000 dollars; and although this
amount, and at least ten thousand dollars
in addition, will be required at our hands
by the month of June next, we neverthe-
less entertain the most animating and con-
soling hopes for the future. Nor will you
be either surprised or offended, if, in view
of the statements we have now submitted,
with impassioned earnestness and strong
expectation, we repeat our supplications to
you, as patriots, as philanthropists, as
Presbyterians, as Christians-for imme-
diate, liberal, pecuniary assistance. We
ask your contributions-in the name of our
needy Missionaries and their dependent
families in the name of the many thou-
sands of the perishing poor whom they
serve in the gospel; in the name and as the
servants of the highest judicatory of the
Presbyterian Church in these United
States; and in the name which is above
every name, of the ever glorious Head of
the Church militant and triumphant-even
of Jehovah Jesus, who, for the encourage-
ment of pious liberality, said when upon
earth, whosoever shall give a cup of cold
water to a disciple in the name of a disci-
ple, shall not lose his reward' and who
will say, upon the throne of judgment,
when he places on the brow of the objects
of your charity the crown of eternal glory,
'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of
the least of these my brethren, ye have

،

done it unto me.'"

MISSIONARY CONVENTION AT CINCIN-
NATI, OHIO.

This convention took place in
consequence of the following act
of the General Assembly, in May
viz:-
last,

"In view of existing evils resulting from the separate action of the Board of Missions of the General Assembly, and the American Home Missionary Society, the General Assembly recommend to the Synods of Ohio, Cincinnati, Kentucky,

E

1

Tennessee, West Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois, and the Presbyteries connected with the same, to correspond with each other, and endeavour to agree upon some plan for conducting Domestic Missions, in the Western States, and report the result of their correspondence to the next General Assembly. It being understood that the brethren in the West, be left to their freedom, to form any organization, which in their judgment may best promote the cause of missions in these States:-and, also, that all the Synods and Presbyteries in the Valley of the Mississippi may be embraced in this correspondence provided they desire it."

There were delegates to the convention from the Synods of Pittsburgh, Ohio, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Indiana, and the Western Reserve. The Rev. James Blythe, D. D., was chosen moderator, and the Rev. Messrs. A. O. Patterson and S. Steel, clerks. The convention sat just one week; and although there was much earnest debate, it is stated that there was little or no acrimony, and that kind feelings were cherished amidst discordant views and wishes. The convention commenced its sittings on the 23d of November, and rose on the 30th. The following minute contains the result of the whole.

"Wednesday, nine o'clock, A. M. The Convention having been duly constituted, a motion was made by the Rev. Dr. Wil son, to postpone the whole business be fore the Convention, for the purpose of taking up a substitute, which was read. Two motions for amendment having been made and negatived, the motion for postponement was carried, and the substitute was adopted by a vote of 54 to 15, and is as follows:

"Whereas, it appears from the report of the committee to receive and report all written communications to the Convention, that of the Presbyteries in the Valley of the Mississippi, fifteen, entitled to forty two votes, have not been heard from. That one entitled to two votes, is in favour of both Boards as they now exist-that one entitled to four votes, is in favour of the American Home Missionary Societythat two entitled to eight votes, are in favour of an Independent Western Society -that one entitled to two votes, is in favour of an ecclesiastical supervision, and opposed to voluntary associations-and that seven entitled to twenty-two votes, are in favour of the General Assembly's

Board in its present organization; and whereas, twenty Presbyteries entitled to seventy votes, being actually present in the Convention, a plan for the establishment of a Western Board of Missions, under the care of the General Assembly, after a full discussion, has been rejected by a vote of forty-one to twenty-eight, and as it appears to the Convention from these facts, that no arrangement, into which we can possibly enter, is likely to reconcile conflicting views on this subject; that so far from healing divisions, or restoring peace to the churches by any new expedient, they would only tend to multiply the points of difference and increase the evil; therefore, resolved, that under these circumstances, they deem it inexpedient to propose any change in the General Assembly's mode of conducting Missions, as they fully approve of that now in such successful operation, and that the purity, peace, and prosperity of the Presbyterian church materially depend on the active and efficient aid, the sessions and Presbyteries under its care, may afford to the Assembly's Board."

The Reporter contains reports, for the month, of 12 or 13 missionaries, whose services have been rendered in the States of N. York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama.-A statement is given of the whole number of missionaries (except twenty or thirty voluntary agents) who have been employed by the Board of Missions, since their last annual report was laid before the General Assembly, in the different States and Territories. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia,

[ocr errors]

North Carolina,

40

[ocr errors]

34

3

14

15

[blocks in formation]

"From this statement it appears, that 126, out of the 212 Missionaries of the Board, are beated south of the Potomac river and vest of the Alleghany mountains; and the fields occupied by 105 of them, are imbraced in the Great Valley of the Mssissippi. We mention these facts to snow, that the Board have not been unnindful of the pledge given to the churches in the Valley in their last Annual Report. to "use their best endeavours, to supply in the course of five years, every vacant Presbyterian congregation and destitutedistrict, which may be disposed to receiveaid from this Board, with a faithful and devoted minister of the Gospel of Christ." If a sufficient number of duly qualified Missionaries can be secured, we do not entertain a doubt, that this pledge wil be fully redeemed, within the period specified-and from the animating prospicts which are now opening before the Assembly's Board of Education, whose beneficiaries are all expected to engage in

.he service of our Board, for at least one year, immediately after their licensure, we have strong confidence that the men will not be wanting.

We add the following notices, and hope they will receive due attention.

Special Notice to Agents, Auxiliaries, and Annual Contributors.

From the address of the Executive Committee, it will be perceived, that the Board of Missions are, at the present time, in great want of funds. We would, therefore, respectfully solicit, from all our Agents, from the Treasurers of Auxiliaries, and all others who may have funds in their hands, designed for the use of the Board, a prompt remittance of the same to our Treasurer, SOLOMON ALLEN, Esq. No. 117, Chesnut street, Philadelphia.

Annual Contributors to the Board, would confer a special favour, if they would forward, as speedily as may suit their convenience, the amount of their benefactions.

We would, respectfully, remind the Sessions, which are auxiliary to the Board, of the vast importance of diligence and punctuality, in making their annual collections, and in renewing their efforts to increase the number of members of Auxiliaries, and to obtain liberal subscriptions and donations, from wealthy and benevolent individuals. In accordance with the wishes of many of their friends, and with a view to the strictest economy, the Board have greatly diminished the number of their special agents, and having only three engaged in their service at the present time, they are under the necessity of depending almost entirely on the gratuitous

efforts of those Ministers and Elders, who take a lively interest in their operations, for a large proportion of the pecuniary resources, which are indispensable to the successful prosecution of their work.

It is the earnest desire of the Board, that a fair and extended experiment of the plan of raising funds by voluntary agencies, may now be made by Sessions and Presbyteries; in order that they may be enabled hereafter, if it should prove successful, to avoid the expense of all special Agencies.

Notice to Applicants for Missionary Aid.

Applications to the Board for Missionary appointments, and pecuniary aid; and ries, should always be made by the Elders also for the reappointment of Missionaof the Church, through the Corresponding Executive Committee of the Presbytery to which the Church applying for assistance belongs-accompanied with a recommend

ation from said committee of the Mission

ary to be appointed, and a specification of the amount of aid, deemed indispensably necessary.

If there be no Corresponding Executive Committee in the Presbytery, the application must be fully sanctioned by two neighbouring Ministers, connected with the Presbytery to which the Church belongs.

From the 1st to the 15th of December-a fortnight-there were made no less than 13 appointments and reappointments; 7 of the former and 6 of the latter.

From the 20th of November to the 14th of December, 1831, the treasurer received $379 84.

BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE GENE

RAL ASSEMBLY.

We expected to make a statement somewhat in detail, in our present number, of the transactions and prospects of this Board, since the present Corresponding Secretary and General Agent entered on the duties of his office. He, indeed, had promised to furnish us, if practicable, with the materials for such a statement; but his pressing engagements and present absence from the city have prevented. We can, therefore, at present, only say in general, that the state and prospects of our Board of Education are of the

most encouraging kind. In every part of the Presbyterian church the General Agent has not only been cordially received, but the countenance and co-operation of ecclesiastical bodies, of men of the greatest influence as individuals, and indeed of the people at large, have been afforded him. The Presbyterian church seems to be waking up, to the sacred duty of educating her own sons for the gospel ministry, under her own supervision by men appointed by herself, and by herself alone, for this purpose. For this happy result, the Presbyterian community are much indebted to the efficiency of the Executive Committee of the Board, and to the activity and prudence of the Corresponding Secretary and General Agent, who has travelled very extensively, and laboured with unwearied diligence, in the service in which he is employed. We state, for the information of the publick, that the Board is now in a condition to receive every well qualified and properly recommended beneficiary that may apply, and have resolved that none such shall be refused.

We extract from the WESTERN LUMINARY a part-we have not space for the whole-of a very animated address to the publick, of the Executive Committee of the Presbyterian Education Society of Kentucky. It is as follows

PRESBYTERIAN EDUCATION SOCIETY.

Address of the Executive Committee of the Presbyterian Education Society of the State of Kentucky.

Although the state of Kentucky was not so early in entering upon the work of Christian benevolence as some of the Atlantic states, yet the actual results which have followed efforts of but recent origin, show that our people are ready to appre ciate and sustain, enterprises designed to promote the interests of morality and religion.

For several years, the Bible, Tract, and Sabbath School causes have been sustained, and in many instances, with great liberality and corresponding success.

The importance of the miristerial office has been, at least in some places, appreciated-and occasional, and disconnected efforts have been made by churches and individuals, to increase the number of labourers for the field, which is wide, and whitening to the harvest.

It was not, however, till 188, that any regular and systematick plan vas adopted to call forth the resources of the churches to this object. In that year, through the instrumentality of a few friends of the cause in Danville, tae Presbyterian Education Society of Kentucky was formed, and a constitution acopted, explaining the design, and expressing the principles of the association. Since its organization the Society has aided 55 young men in the different stages of their study.

During the last session of Synod, the Society put itself under the care of Synod, and the Synod became auxiliary to the By this arrangement, while the general General Assembly's Board of Education. cause is strengthened by co-operation, the society has lost none of the privileges and advantages of a separate existence, and has obtained essential aid, as the agency is sustained by the Assembly's Board.

Through the length and breadth of the land, the Presbyterian church, so long sinfully negligent in this cause, seems to be now, with great unanimity and zeal, coming up to the work.

We trust that in our own state, this appeal will not be in vain, but that the churches through whose contributions we have heretofore been able to live, will answer it with redoubled effort and increased liberality. We ask them to enable us not only to live, but to MOVE FORWARD with a strength and efficiency proportioned to the

GREATNESS OF THE WORK AND THE GLORY OF THE CAUSE.

There are many destitute churches in our own state, where feeble and scattered flocks are praying for a pastor to gather them and feed them with the bread of life. And around our Zion there are many desolations, where moral darkness reigns, and thousands are going on unwarned, to the doom of the second death.

We cannot remain inactive without sin; nor in this day, when the world and the church are in motion, and so many signs are indicating the approach of the "latter day glory," can we act feebly and coldly, without guilt and shame resting upon us? There is a voice from the waste places of Zion, and a voice in the Providence of God, and a voice from his word, saying unto us" ARISE AND BUILD."

We cannot believe that those who are cherishing the hope of Heaven through the Redemption of Jesus Christ, and to whom God has given much of this world's goods, can even desire to be excused from this

« PreviousContinue »