has been so sudden, wide, and unparalleled. To those who have not consulted the reports of the British and Foreign Bible Society, the extent and zeal of the co-operation now existing and continually spreading in this benevolent and Christian enterprize, cannot easily be conceived. That this remarkable union of effort in Europe may have been aided by human policy, we admit; but it is too spontaneous, sincere and ardent, to be ascribed to that as its main cause; and it ought to be regarded as a proof that, amidst the corruptions of Christendom, a strong attachment to Christianity, much stronger than we had anticipated, is rooted in men's minds. The multiplication of Bible Societies in France, although their number and efforts bear little proportion to the resources and wants of that kingdom, is one of the promising events of the past year. In Russia, the Word of God has free course and is glorified' to an extent truly astonishing; Bible Societies being spread over that immense empire even to Siberia. Similar institutions have also been planted in Greece. The Rev. Dr. Pinkerton, the indefatigable missionary of the British and Foreign Bible Society, writes, "I have news to communicate, which will fill your hearts with joy. Athens also is become the seat of a Bible Society.' 6 "The duty of giving to the poor, and of spreading through the world, a divine revelation, which we believe to have been intended for the whole human race, is so plain and urgent, that we wonder that its obligation was not formerly more understood and felt. We should be grateful, that we live in an age, which, instead of sheltering itself under the example of past times, is labouring to repair their deficiencies, and which is distinguished by an earnest and enlarged philanthropy. To be inactive at such a period, when so good a spirit is circulating round us, when benevolent plans, which would once have been scoffed at for their wildness, are prosecuted with fervour and success, would expose us to just reproach. Every sincere and enlightened Christian considers the religion of his Master as the most important interest on earth, and he cannot, in such an age as this, withhold his prayers and efforts for its success." The American Bible Society held its annual meeting in New York on the 11th of May. We shall notice its report at some future time. The Evangelical Missionary Society of Massachusetts held their semi-annual meeting in the first parish of Dorchester on the 7th of June. The discourse was delivered by Rev. H. Ware of Boston, from Galatians vi. 10. It has been published. A collec tion was taken in aid of the objects of the Society, amounting to $95 23. The Treasurer of the Society acknowledges the receipt of the following sums from churches and individuals, since the last annual meeting, October 5, 1819. 1819. Hon. Benjamin Pickman, Salem, amount of two donations Contribution after the annual discourse, Oct. 7, in First 1820. P From Ladies in Brookline, through their pastor, Rev. From a Lady in West Church, through Rev. C. Lowell, Female Cent Society, in East-Parish, Bridgewater, through From a Lady in Roxbury, through Rev. Dr. Porter, From contribution after semi-annual discourse, June 7, in From a Parishoner, through Rev. F. Parkman, In these accounts annual and life subscriptions are not included. Other churches have made or are making collections, the amount of which, not being yet ascertained, will be given in a future number. We are very happy in noticing the increased attention and patronage, which appear to be excited to this interesting and useful Institution. The Convention of Congregational Ministers of Massachusetts, met in the new Court House, on Wednesday May 31, 5 o'clock P.M. Rev. Dr. Bancroft, moderator, opened the meeting with prayer. Rev. J. Pierce, who had been chosen scribe for ten years successively, was re-elected, but declined, and the Rev. J. Codman was chosen. Rev. F. Parkman was re-chosen treasurer. Rev. Dr. Worcester, of Salem, was chosen second preacher, The Convention attended to the usual business of the meeting, which was continued by adjournment through Thursday morning. At 12 o'clock they assembled for worship in the church in Brattle Square, when the annual discourse was delivered by Rev. Dr. Bancroft of Worcester, from Phil. i. 17., I am set for the defence of the gospel. The collection which was made for the widows and orphans of deceased ministers amounted to $406 00. The members of the Convention partook of a dinner, provided at the expense of the Congregational Churches in Boston. The Sermon has been printed. Meeting of the Liberal Clergy.-Agreeably to arrangements previously made, a large number of the ministers of the Commonwealth who are denominated liberal, met together on the evening preceding Election, at the vestry of the church in Federal Street. The Rev. James Flint, of Bridgewater, led the devotions of the evening, and the Rev. W. E. Channing delivered an address on the objects of the meeting. We expect to be able to lay this address before our readers in the next number of the Disciple. The meeting was adjourned to the next evening, when much interesting and profitable conversation was had on the state and prospects of religion. A similar meeting was appointed for the next year to be holden at the same place on the morning of election day, at eight o'clock. The following articles state the objects and rules of the meeting. At a Meeting of Ministers from different parts of the Commonwealth, May 31, 1820, the following rules were adopted :— 1. There shall be an annual meeting in election week for mutual improvement in pastoral duty, and for the promotion of Christian truth and holiness. 2. At each annual meeting a moderator and scribe shall be chosen by nomination. 3. One of the brethren shall offer a prayer, and another deliver an address suited to the objects of the meeting; it being understood, that these services shall be short, so as to leave time for the other exercises. 4. Each brother shall be requested to report the state and prospects of religion in his vicinity, and to suggest any measures for promoting truth and practical piety, which the circumstances. of the times may seem to require, or which his own experience or observation may have led him to approve. 5. Any brother shall be authorized to propose for discussion any plan for advancing ministerial usefulness, for uniting our efforts in the common cause, and in general for spreading the knowledge and spirit of Christianity. 6. At each meeting a committee of three shall be appointed to select the persons who shall officiate at the next meeting, to assign the subject for the address, to use such means as they shall deem expedient for ensuring a general attendance, and to report such measures as shall appear to them fitted to increase the usefulness of the meeting. The Moderator and Scribe shall, ex officio, be members of this Committee. The annual meeting of various Religious Societies was holden during Election week, which we have not room to notice particularly. St. Paul's Church, lately erected in this town, was on Friday, consecrated to the service and worship of GoD, according to the forms prescribed by the canons of the Episcopal Church. The religious services were performed by the Rev. Bishop GRISWOLD, and the Rev. Dr. GARDINER, and the sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. JARVIS, Pastor elect of the Society. We have just received a copy of "Letters on the ministry, ritual, and doctrines of the Protestant Episcopal Church, addressed to the Rev. Wm. E. Wyatt, D.D. Associate Minister of St. Paul's Parish, Baltimore, and Professor of Theology in the University of Maryland, in reply to a sermon exhibiting some of the principal doctrines of the protestant episcopal church in the United States,-by Jared Sparks, A.M. minister of the first independent church of Baltimore." The first letter is employed in combating the assumption (which it appears is still maintained in Baltimore) of the divine or apostolic institution of episcopal orders,—the second is on the church ritual,—the third on the asserted authority of the church in controversies of faith, the fourth on the Calvinistic import of the articles, and the fifth and sixth on the doctrine of the trinity. We are much gratified to announce such a work from such a hand. Mr. Sparks is in a situation to see Episcopacy, countenanced and emboldened by the yet more extravagant pretensions of the Romish Church, appearing in its least modest form; and for this, among other reasons, we look forward with much interest to the perusal of a volume which shall contain the observations of a scholar on a mistaken portion of ecclesiastical history, and the views which one, who can estimate the worth of religious liberty, has taken of a system, whose yoke our fathers of New England crossed the ocean, and planted a desert to shake off. A notice of it may be expected in our next number. We perceive by a notice in the Allgemeines Repertorium (General Repertory No. 18, Leipsick, 1819, that the History of the Jews by Miss H. Adams been translated into German from the London edition. After some account of the work, the author of the notice observes, that the translator has undertaken a useful labour, as there is no similar work in German proper for general use. He at the same time praises this valuable history for its simple, inartificial and unprejudiced style of narration. The late Thomas Cary, Esq. of Newburyport, has bequeathed to the Theological Institution at Cambridge, a large property, supposed to amount to ten or fifteen thousand dollars. Moses Brown, Esq. late of Beverly, has made a bequest to the same Institution of two thousand dollars. CHRISTIAN TRACTS Published by WELLS & LILLY. No. 1. William's Return, or Good News for Cottagers: by Mary Hughes. Price single, 17 cents, per dozen 1 doll. 62 cts., per hundred 10 dolls. No. 2. Village Dialogues. Parts 1 and 2. 12 1-2 cents single.-1 doll. 12 1-2 per dozen.-8 dolls. per 100. No. 3. No. 4. Village Dialogues. Part 3. 12 1-2 cents do. do. do. Part 4. No. 5. Village Dialogues. Part 5. No. 6. Village Dialogues. Part 6. No. 7. A Week in a Cottage. 12 1-2 cents No. 8. Price 17 ets. The History of Edward Allen, the patient man. single.-1 doll. 62 per dozen.-10 dolls. per 100. No. 9. The Widow. Price 18 1-2 cents. No. 10. The History of Eleanor Williams. Price 20 cents.-1 doll. 80 per dozen.-12 dolls. 50 per 100. They have collected 25 copies of the following valuable Tracts; which may be had together in neat boards, at the very low price of two dollars fifty cents. I. View of the Constitution and Associate Statutes of the Theological Seminary in Andover; from the Monthly Anthology of Nov. 1808. 2. "The Unity of God," a Sermon. By Rev. S. Thacher. 3. Channing's Letter to Thacher. 4. 5. 6. Remarks on Dr. Worcester's Letter. Remarks on Worcester's Second Letter. Review of the Improved Version, and of Griesbach's New Testament from the Eclectic Review. 7. Dr. Ware's Sermon before the Convention, 1818. 8. Price's Five Sermons on the Christian Doctrine. 9. Theological Tracts, No. 1. containing Zollikoffer's Seven Sermons on the Reformation. 10. Theological Tracts, No. 2. Bell on the Lord's Supper, complete, with the Appendix and all the Notes." 11. Theological Tracts, No. 3. Bishop Hare on the Difficulties and Discouragements which attend the Study of the Scriptures. 12. Foster's, James, Essay on Fundamentals, with a particular Regard to the Doctrine of the Trinity. 13. An Inquiry into the Right to Change the ECCLESIASTICAL CONSTITUTION of the Congregational Churches of Massachusetts, &c. &c. 14. Review of Professor Stuart's Letters to Mr. Channing; from the Christian Disciple. 15. Statement of Reasons for not believing the Doctrines of Trinitarians, &c. occasioned by Professor Stuart's Letters; from the Christian Disciple. TO CORRESPONDENTS AND READERS. We presume that the motto prefixed to JOHN's paper was intended as a hint to ourselves, and not for the edification of the public. An Essay on the Communion came too late for insertion in the present number. Several other favours have been received, to which we shall pay more particular attention hereafter. |