was preceded.-No nation can be long safe without believing in a God, and rendering him suitable worship. 4. It may be asked, why is this subject introduced, when, if the evil mentioned does actually exist, it is not in the power of those who read to apply the these observations.-The hea- er. But as soon as the Epicu then knew the need of a popular rean Infidelity was disseminated, religion for the preservation of which denied the being and society. Being destitute of rev-providence of the gods, and the elation, their opinion of the gods fitness of worshipping them; the was formed by weak reason, un-empire shook on its base. Every der the influence of a corrupt horrible crime became common, mind; so that their gods might both in private and public life; fitly be called, vanity and a lie; justice was no longer known; yet they found a belief of such liberty fled; and even the introgods as these, with an appropri- duction of despotism was a blesate worship of them, absolutely sing, compared with the unconnecessary for the support of gov-troled reign of vice, by which it ernment. They were taught by experience, and every nation which makes the experiment will learn the same. I do not know that it is either irreverent or false, to suppose that the true God is more propitious to the heathen, who believe in false gods, and their control of men's affairs; than he is to such as re-remedy? I answer, there are ject the notion of Deity, and of a universal providence.-We have an instructive instance on this point, in the rise, maturity and decay of the Roman empire. That people, from very small beginnings, became the greatest power that ever existed in the world. Their government filled the earth. They were heathen who worshipped many gods, believed in their providence, propitiated them by a multitude of religious services, and implored from them success in all their great undertakings. Although a Christian is shocked by the folly, and in many inThere are some benefits to be stances by the cruelties of their expected from attending to this idolatry; they still believed in subject. Although individual Deity and a providence. So inflence is small, it is something, long as these were believed, the and we are all taught the duty moral virtues, according to their of using it in our several places, conceptions, were practised. Jus- to impress a reverent belief that tice was administered, civil lib- the Lord is God of the nations; erty was preserved, and the and that those who neglect to state rose to its summit of pow-confess him, after they have reasons enough to justify the introduction of the subject, although a remedy may be impossible to us. It is a testimony due to truth. It is a confession and a testimony due to the glory of God, who reigneth in the midst of the nations. It is one step towards vindicating that awful justice of his providence which hath now involved us in judgments, more threatening to our existence than many conceive, It shews there is reason for us to expect a portion in those plagues by which the nations are tormented. evidence of the truth, have no right to expect any great interposition in their favor. To determine how long our calamities will probably endure, we must first know how long the causes will remain, which they were designed to chastise. of the Society shall be chosen, by ballot, a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and five Directors, the Secretary being one. Art. V. The President, or in his absence, the Vice-President, shall preside in all meetings of the Sociey; and, in case of an equal division of the members, shall have a casting vote. Art. VI. The Secretary, who shall also be Secretary to the Directors, shall record the votes and proceedings of the Society, and of the Directors, in separate books;he shall also keep a book in which contributors are to subscribe their names to the Constitution of the Society, with the annual rates to be shall perform such other services as paid by them respectively; and he shall be prescribed by the Society or Directors. This subject, also, warns us carefully to maintain the institutions of religion, within our own local jurisdiction. Here we have an influence that will be felt, if exerted with prudence and firmness. There is no such difference of religious sentiment or practice between the several Christian denominations in this State, as ought to excite the least distrust of each other, on the subject we have considered. keep the monies and other property They all believe in the word, observe such regulations with rebelonging to the Society; and shall providence and worship of God; gard to receiving and paying moand it is only against disbeliev-ney, and to the management of the ers of the most sacred and eter-fund of the Society, as shall be prenal truths, they are called to unite. VERITAS. Art. VII, The Treasurer shall scribed by the Directors, accounting with the Society annually, or oftener, in such way as the Society or Directors shall prescribe. He shall also give bonds to the satisfaction of the Directors, for the faith [The following is inserted by par- ful discharge of his duty as Treas ticular desire.] Constitution and Plan of a Society for affording relief to the Families of deceased Ministers. Article I. The name of the Society shall be, The Ministers' Annuity Society. urer, and shall be allowed a reasonable compensation for his services; the sum to be fixed, from time to time, by the Society. Art. VIII. The Directors shall superintend the concerns of the So|ciety ;-prescribe regulations concerning the receipt and payment of money by the Treasurer, and concerning loaning money belonging to the fund ;-and, generally, adopt such measures as they shall think best adapted for carrying into ef Art. II. The object of the Society shall be to provide annuities for the widows and children of those who shall become members of the Society, by contributing to its fund, pur-fect the designs of the institution. suant to the regulations contained in this Constitution. Art. III. The Society shall meet once in each year, viz. on the second Thursday of May, at 4 o'clock P. M. at the State House in Hartford; and may adjourn from time to time. Art. IV. At the annual meeting They shall meet the day following the second Thursday of May annually, at 9 o'clock A. M. at the State House in Hartford, and may adjourn from time to time. At their annual meeting they shall choose a Chairman, by ballot, who shall preside in their meetings, and who, in case of an equal division, shall have a casting vote. The Directors shall be allowed pay for their necessary expenses, but no compensation for their time or services. Art. IX. A special meeting of the Society shall be called by the President, or in his absence from the State, by the Vice-President, whenever he shall think it expedient, or whenever he shall be thereto requested by three members of the Society; one month's notice of the meeting to be given in such news papers as he shall think most proper for communicating information to the members. Art. X. A special meeting of the Directors shall be called by the Chairman, whenever he shall think it expedient, or whenever he shall be thereto requested by two of the Directors; and in case of the absence of the Chairman from the State, any two Directors may call a meeting of the Board. Art. XI. In case any person, appointed to an office, shall decline accepting the same; and in case of the death, resignation, or removal out of the State, of any officer, the Directors shall elect some person to that office, who shall hold the same until the next meeting of the Society. Art. XII. The following shall be the regulations respecting membership, contributions to the Society, and the amount and payment of annuities, viz. | tion he is to specify the yearly rate to be paid by him, which rate is to be paid on or before the day following the second Thursday of May annually. 3. Any minister or candidate, as above, whose age exceeds twentyeight years, may become a member, upon paying one year's rate, and subscribing as aforesaid, and moreover paying, at the time of his subscribing, a sum of money equal to the amount of his annual rate, considered as an annuity in arrear, for a term of years equal to half the excess of his age above twentyeight years, computed at six per cent. per annum simple interest. 4. Any member shall have it at his option, either to pay a certain sum annually, or to deposit with the Treasurer a sum of money, the annual interest of which, computed at six per cent, shall be equal to the annual rate which he has chosen ; which sum of money shall be in lieu of his annual rate, and shall be returned to his legal representative after his decease. 5. If any protestant congregation, legally organized, shall at any time pay to the Treasurer a sum of money, the annual interest of which, computed at six per cent. is equal to one of the rates of the contributors, the widow or children of the minister of said congregation shall be entitled to the annuity corres ponding to that rate, if he shall die 1. The yearly rates of members, during the continuance of his pasor contributors to the fund, shall be toral relation to the said congregaeither Five Dollars; Ten Dollars; tion: Provided that the said minis Fifteen Dollars; Twenty Dollars; ter shall have been admissible as a or any sum more than Twenty Dol- member of the society; and prolars: and the annuities to be paid vided also, that the age of said minto the widows and children of contri-ister shall not have exceeded twenbutors shall be respectively five ty-eight years, at the time when the times the said yearly rates. payment was made; or in case his age shall have exceeded that number of years, the said minister, or the congregation on his behalf, shall have paid a further sum, in proportion to his age, according to the regulation contained in a preceding paragraph for contributors above twenty-eight years of age. shall the said minister forfeit his title to the annuity by removal from said congregation, provided he be dismissed in regular and good stand. 2. Any protestant minister of the gospel, or candidate for the ministry, who is not apparently in a declining state of health, and whose age does not exceed twenty-eight years, may become a contributor, and be a member of the Society, upon paying to the Treasurer one year's rate, and subscribing the Constitution of the Society, in a book to be kept by the Secretary for that purpose; in which subscrip Nor ing; and provided also that he paying, of any contributing congrega to the fund the same annual rate during his life, either by himself, or by another congregation which has made the same provision for the families of their ministers. tion, shall be considered as a member of this Society, and be entitled to vote in all their meetings; and in case there be no minister in such congregation, said congregation shall, if they see cause, choose some meet person to represent them in the meetings of the Society. 10. If any minister or congregation, which shall have made a contribution as aforesaid, shall at any time desire to increase it, he or they shall be at liberty so to do, on the terms and under the restrictions specified in the preceding paragraphs. 6. The payment of the principal sum, so made by any congregation, shall entitle every subsequent minister of said congregation, who shall be admissible as a contributor, to the same annuity for his family; provided that, in case the age of the minister, at the time of his settlement with said congregation, shall exceed twenty-eight years, the minister, or the congregation on his behalf, shall pay a further sum, according to his age, as mentioned in the preceding paragraph. And in case of a co-pastoral charge, both pastors shall be entitled to the annuity for their families, provided that, upon the demise of one of the pastors, the surviving pastor, or the Congregation on his behalf, shall pay a further sum, in proportion to the excess of his age above twenty-to eight years, as specified above. 7. If the additional sum, in proportion to the excess of the minister's age above twenty-eight years, mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, shall not be paid, either by the minister, or by the congregation on his behalf, or if the minister should be inadmissible as a contributor, on account of his apparently declining state of health, his family shall not be entitled to the annuity; but he shall be entitled during his incumbency in the said congregation, to the annual legal interest at six per cent. of said congregation's original contribution. 8. If a minister or candidate become a contributor to the fund, either by himself, or by a contributing congregation, and shall afterwards settle as a minister in a congregation which has made the aforesaid contribution, he shall not thereby lose his former title to the benefit of the fund, provided he continue to pay his annual rates during his life, that is to say, either his own rate, or the interest of the money deposited by his former congregation, or both, as the case may be. 9. The minister, for the time be-' 11. Annuitants shall be entitled to receive their respective annuities on the day following the second Thursday of May annually; on which day information, duly authenticated, is to be communicated to the Directors, of the death of any member, and a certificate is to be given by them that such a widow, child, or children, is or are entitled an annuity, payable on that day, corresponding to the rate of the deceased member. 12. If any member shall die before he has paid to the support of the fund, either by himself, or by a contributing congregation, a sum equal to three year's annuity, in that case there shall be deducted from the annuities due to his widow or children, such a sum, as, together with the rates already paid by him, and the interest of such rates, computed at six per cent. per annum, compound interest, shall make or be equal to three year's annuity Provided that such deduction shall be made by retaining only one half of the annuity, until such deficiency be made good to the fund. 13. If there be a widow, and no child of a deceased contributor, she shall be entitled to the annuity during her life. 14. If there be a child or children, and no widow, it or they shall be entitled to the annuity for fourteen years after the father's decease, and no longer. 15. If there be a widow, and a child or children, and the deceased contributor shall not have made by will any distribution of the annuity due to his family, the widow shall have one half, and the child or children the other half, for fourteen years, after which she shall have the whole: Provided, however, that if she marry before she is fourteen years a widow, she shall have only one third, and the child or children two thirds, for fourteen years to be counted from the death of her husband; but if all the children die before the fourteen years expire, or if the fourteen years aforesaid expire before the death of the widow, she shall have the whole annuity during her life. 21. And whereas it is of importance that a fund should be raised, as soon as may be, competent to pay the annuities contemplated by this institution, laymen, of any denomination of protestants, may be admitted as members, under the restrictions with regard to age and health, mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, until the number of members become one hundred; afterwards laymen are not to be admitted, provided there be ministers, or candidates, or congregations, offering to become contributors, sufficient to keep up that number at least. Provided always, that no minister, candidate, or congregation, qualified as above, shall ever be refused admission, upon his or their application and compliance with the foregoing stipulations; although there may be a hundred or more contributors at the time of such application. 16. If the interest of the fund, in any one year, shall be more than sufficient to pay the annuities due that year, then such a part of the surplussage, as the Directors shall think proper, shall be distributed among the annuitants, in proportion to the sums which shall have been paid for them: Provided, neverthe- Art. XIII. Any alteration may less, that no such distribution of sur- be made in this Constitution, by plussage interest shall be made un- the Society at their annual meeting, till at least six years after the es- provided the proposed alteration tablishment of the Society. shall have been laid before the Soci17. If the interest of the fund, to-ety, at the preceding annual meetgether with the rates of contribu- ing, and provided that two thirds of tors, for any two years successive- the members present shall concur ly, shall not be sufficient to pay the in the vote, for the said alteration. annuities due those years, such a deduction shall be made from the annuities due the second year, as the Society, at their annual meeting, shall direct. 18. If any member shall fail to pay his annual rate by the time it becomes due, he shall pay interest for the same, at six per cent, per annum; and if the payment be delayed more than one year, he shall pay compound interest at the same Pursuant to the preceding Conin May, 1811-the capital stock of stitution, a Soceiety was established which will be upwards of 800 dolthe present month. The Society will meet at the State house in Hartinstant, when any persons who are ford, the second Thursday of May so disposed may have an opportunity of becoming members. Or they may join the Society at any other time according to the regulations contained in the Constitution. Andrew Kingsbury, Esq. is Treasurer, and the Rev. Andrew Yates, Secretary of the Society. 1040 The following Letters from the Missionaries in India, are extracted from the Panoplist.. Extract of a letter written by Mr. Luther Rice, one of the American |