[Note D. p. 47.]

THE following Circular is here inserted as containing a brief account of the origin and progress of the Concert of Prayer for literary institutions, its happy effects, and the manner in which it should be observed.

To the young Men under patronage of the American Education Society.

MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS, The particular object of my present communication, is to call your attention to the Annual Concert of Prayer for colleges and other seminaries of learning. This Concert has ever been dear to the officers and patrons of the American Education Society. It was established indirectly through their instrumentality, and its observance has been promoted by them until it has come to be very generally regarded with deep interest by all evangelical denominations of Christians in this land. It has, too, awakened a deep interest in many of those who have gone forth as missionaries to the heathen. May the time soon arrive when this consecrated season shall be universally observed by all Christians, and be accompanied with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven on all literary institutions.

I invite your attention to some brief remarks in respect to the origin and progress of this Concert of Prayer; its happy effects; and the manner in which it should be observed.

In the Annual Reports of the American Education Society, from its commencement to the present time, there has been published much important statistical information respecting colleges and theological seminaries. This very early excited a spirit of supplication among Christians on their behalf, and a Concert of Prayer for the special blessing of Heaven on these institutions was established, to be observed every Sabbath morning. As the probable result of this, at least to some extent, there were frequent and powerful revivals of religion in our colleges. These cheered and stimulated the children of God to perseverance in their supplications. Encouraged by the signs of the times, and desirous of perpetuating the interest awakened, and the influences of the Holy Spirit which had been imparted, an Agent of the American Education Society, after consulting on the subject with the Special Committee of its Directors, addressed a Circular to presidents of colleges, to ministers, and others, inviting them to observe a day of special fasting and prayer for these institutions of learning. The following sentence is contained in the letter. "That this object" (revivals of religion in colleges) "may be more deeply and extensively felt, not only at the colleges, but among ministers and Christians generally, a number of the friends of Zion have agreed to set apart the twenty-seventh day of February, 1823, as a season of fasting and special and united prayer, that God will pour out his Spirit on the colleges of our country the present year more powerfully than ever before." The request was complied with to a considerable extent, and thus commenced this annual season, favored of Heaven by the gift of the Holy Ghost to the conversion of multitudes in our literary institutions.

The reasons why the last Thursday of February was selected as the day of this Annual Concert, were the following. The second term of study in the colleges has then commenced. The winter vacation has elapsed, and the members of the institutions have returned to their classical pursuits. At this time students are generally more regular in their habits than at any other season of the year. This was the time, too, when revivals of religion had usually taken place in colleges. This fact was considered an indication of the will of Heaven in relation to the time to be thus consecrated. Thursday was selected as being less occupied with religious engagements

than either of the other days of the week, and as being the day usually observed on other occasions as a season of fasting and prayer.

In the American Quarterly Register and the Reports of the American Education Society, this subject has annually been presented before the community. The religious newspapers of the country generally, have advocated the observance of this season of fasting and prayer. Resolutions recommending its observance, have been adopted by different Education Societies, and by many ecclesiastical and ministerial bodies.

The Annual Concert of Fasting and Prayer for Colleges and other Institutions of learning, is now therefore established, by the concurrent voice of the churches, throughout this land. It is also specially sanctified by the great Head of the church, as will appear by the blessed effects which have followed it.

Subsequent to the establishment of the Sabbath Morning Concert of Prayer for Colleges, the Spirit of God was poured out, and animating were the results. From 1820 to 1823 inclusive, there were revivals of religion in Dartmouth, Middlebury, Williams, Amherst, Yale, Union, Hamilton, Dickinson, Jefferson, (Pa.) Washington, (Pa.) and Hampden-Sydney Colleges, College of New Jersey, Brown University, and the University of Ohio. Some of these revivals extended into the year 1824. In the years 1824 and 1825, there was a revival of religion in five different colleges, besides more than usual seriousness in a number of others. In 1826, there was a revival of religion in six colleges; in 1827, in four; in 1828, in five. In 1829 and 1830, the Holy Spirit seems to have forsaken, in a very great degree, the institutions of learning. There were in them apparently but few conversions, and no revivals to any considerable extent. But the Lord had not withdrawn his Holy Spirit from them forever. He had mercy still in reserve. The year 1831 was emphatically a "year of the right hand of the Most High." Nineteen colleges, to a greater or less degree, were visited with the effusions of the Holy Ghost, and it was computed that between 350 and 400 of their students were hopefully converted to God. In one college, a revival commenced the very day of the Concert. In 1832, God poured out his Spirit on some of our institutions of learning, though the number thus favored was small. The Holy Spirit descended on a few colleges in 1833, and some souls were converted. A promising state of religious feeling existed at the time also in other institutions. In 1834, revivals were enjoyed in a number of colleges, and many students were brought to a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. During the last year, (1835,) eleven colleges were blessed with revivals, and between one and two hundred students were hopefully brought into the kingdom of Christ.

Since 1820, there have been revivals in the following institutions, viz. Bowdoin, Dartmouth, Middlebury, Williams, Amherst, Yale, Union, Hamilton, Geneva, Dickinson, Jefferson, (Pa.) Washington, (Pa.) HampdenSydney, Washington, (Va.) Columbian, Oakland, Centre, Western Reserve, Kenyon, Granville, Marietta, South Hanover, East Tennessee, Illinois, Wabash, and Randolph-Macon, Colleges, the College of New Jersey, Brown University, Hamilton Literary and Theological Institution, University of North Carolina, University of Vermont, University of Georgia, University of Ohio, Wesleyan University, and Miami University. During this period, not less, probably, than 1,500 young men in these institutions have hopefully experienced the renewing influences of the Holy Spirit. Within this same time a large number of youth at academies and the higher schools have also become hopefully pious. In view of such displays of divine grace, who can doubt the efficacy of prayer? Who can doubt that this season consecrated by the church for united supplications on behalf of seminaries of learning, has the approbation and seal of Heaven?

A few suggestions in relation to the manner of observing this Concert, will close.

The day should be spent as a season of special fasting and prayer. It is very desirable that a portion of the time should be occupied in retirement by self-examination, acknowledging the mercies of God, confessing sin, petitioning for ourselves, and interceding for others. By attending to these private offices of devotion, you will be better prepared to discharge the public services of the day.

A part of the day should be observed in a public manner in prayer and in listening to addresses and remarks which may be made on the occasion. Most of the time, however, should be appropriated to prayer. This is the great business of the day. If

"Prayer ardent opens heaven, lets down a stream

Of glory, on the consecrated hour

Of man in audience with the Deity,"

what might not be expected, were clouds of holy incense on this day of prayer, to ascend to heaven? Would not the Holy Ghost sanctify our institutions of learning, and consecrate our young men, now in a course of education, to Christ and the church? Verily he would. The revivals of religion which have been enjoyed in the colleges, are pledges of his love and earnests of his pleasure. You should pray for the officers of these institutions, that they may be faithful to the spiritual interests of their pupils. You should pray, too, for pious students, that they may be guided in all wisdom, and honor the religion they profess by a holy and consistent life, and that those especially, who are preparing for the ministry, may be filled with the Spirit of Christ, and exhibit it in all their deportment. In your intercessions you should remember, in a very particular manner, those students who are in an unconverted state. Let them be presented in faith before the throne of God; let the most fervent and importunate prayer be offered on their behalf. It is specially for their conversion that this day of Concert was established. In your supplications for literary institutions, confine not your requests to those of the United States, but offer prayers for those of other lands, that God would pour into these fountains the salt of grace, that streams may thence issue to make glad the city of God. Prayers are now offered by Christians dwelling in heathen lands with deep interest on behalf of our literary institutions at the time of this Annual Concert; and it is believed that the time is not far distant when this Concert of Prayer for colleges and other institutions of learning will be observed by all Protestant Christendom.

If you know of any interesting facts adapted to the occasion, these may be related. It is always proper to speak of the importance of colleges and revivals of religion in them; to tell how they have originated and continued; how they have multiplied, and how they have resulted in the conversion of precious souls. You can state the deficiency of laborers for the harvest, and the importance of praying the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth more laborers into the harvest. As a means of this, you can mention the necessity of the sanctification of literary institutions, that young men in suitable numbers may be furnished for the ministry.

And now, dear brethren, by a regard to the glory of God, the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom, and the salvation of undying souls, be entreated to spend the day of Annual Concert of Fasting and Prayer for Colleges in the most entire consecration to the glorious objects it has in view. Let the season be hallowed by the most devout spirit, and by the most holy services. Then will the Lord hear, then will the Lord forgive, then will the Lord hearken and do, and defer not for his own sake, and for the sake of the people called by his name; and then will be written on all our halls of science, "Holiness to the Lord of hosts."

In your quarterly communication to me for April, you will please to mention the state of religion in your institution, and if God has favored it with

the effusions of his Holy Spirit, give me a particular account of the revival. Let it be done to the praise of the glory of his grace.

With much affection, and with great solicitude for your spiritual interests and the religious state of our institutions of learning,

Yours,

WILLIAM COGS WELL, Sec'y Am. Ed. Society.

Education Rooms, Boston, Feb. 15, 1836.

To

COMMISSION TO MEMBERS OF EXAMINING COMMITTEES.

The Directors of the American Education Society are anxious to discharge with fidelity the responsible trust committed to them, of selecting and patronizing indigent young men of suitable character, to be educated for the ministry. To aid them in the performance of this duty, Examining Committees, composed of men of known character and standing, are appointed in different parts of the country, to examine and recommend candidates for patronage.

Reposing great confidence in your judgment and fidelity, the Board of Directors of the Society have thought proper to appoint, and they do hereby appoint you, Sir, a member of the Examining Committee of

The

duties to be performed may be learned from the extracts on a subsequent page, and from the publications which either now, or hereafter, may be forwarded for your information. The other members of the Committee, associated with you, are

Considering the connection which the object of this appointment has with the highest and best interests of mankind, it is hoped that you will allow it to claim, and to receive, a portion of your valuable services. By order of the Board of Directors,

Secretary.

P. S.-At a meeting of the Directors, the following vote was passed: Voted, That the members of the Examining Committees of this Society, at the different literary and theological institutions, be respectfully requested to exercise, in their official capacity, so far as they have opportunity, a watchful care over the beneficiaries who are under their instruction, as officers of institutions, and that the chairman be requested to consult, occasionally, with the other members of the Committee, in respect to recommending the beneficiaries for continued patronage.

FORM OF A BEQUEST.

ITEM. I do hereby give and bequeath to the American Education Society, the sum of dollars, to be paid within months after my decease, and to be applied to the uses and purposes of that Society.

DIRECTIONS

TO THOSE WHO APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE

FROM THE

AMERICAN EDUCATION SOCIETY.

1. Every applicant must have reached the age of fourteen years, and have been a professor of religion at least six months, and have studied the languages the same length of time.

2. Let him then apply to his minister, or the principal officer of the church, for a letter of recommendation. This letter should mention his piety, or describe his moral and religious character, his church membership, his native place, the place of his present residence, his age, his indigence, and in what employments he has been engaged. This letter should be signed by the minister, and by one or more other persons, either a deacon of the church, or some respectable individual who knows him. [If there be no minister in the parish, some principal man in the church may be applied to.] Then let him ask his instructor, or the gentleman with whom he has studied the languages, for a letter of recommendation, stating what his talents, and prospects for acquiring knowledge are. The more full these papers are, the better. The points which are indispensable are, piety, talents, and indigence. The recommendatory papers should, in all cases, be sealed, so that the entire character of the applicant may be given.

3. Then let him take these letters to the Chairman of the Examining Committee, who resides nearest to him. For the list of the Chairmen of the Examining Committee, see page 28, of this Report.

4. He should make application to the Chairman of the Committee as early as the second week in June, September, December, and March. The Boston Examining Committee meet on the afternoon of the Tuesday immediately preceding the second Wednesday of January, April, July, and October.

5. If the Committee are satisfied with the character and qualifications of the applicant, they will immediately present his case to the Board of Directors of the Parent Society, or of the Branch within whose bounds they are.

6. If the Board receive him, the Secretary, soon after the meeting, will write, informing him that he is admitted on trial, that the usual appropriation is voted to him, and will direct where the money can be obtained. At the same time a copy of the Rules will be sent to him.

7. When he receives the appropriation, he must give his note for the amount, and a note, likewise, must be given for every future appropriation, when he receives it. A blank form will be handed to him for the purpose, by the agent, or the person who pays him the grant.

8. In no case is it necessary to write to the Secretary of the Society, to ascertain whether aid can be furnished. If the individual in question, possesses the proper qualifications, his application will probably be successful.

9. After he has received the appropriation, let him procure a small blank book, and begin to keep an accurate account of his expenses, and pecuniary

concerns.