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strongly their attachment to that volume, which deservedly ranks first, among all uninspired compositions. And, as members with you of that body of which Christ is the Head, they return you grateful acknowledgments for the favours they have received; they request the continuance of that interest, which you have uniformly manifested in the promotion of their prosperity; they testify their disposition to contribute according to their ability for the support of a preached gospel, by engaging your missionary to continue with them three months longer; and they trust you will allow them to express the wish, that you may not be weary in well doing,' but grant them further aid in retaining a minister and conforming to the primitive faith and practice.'

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"Justice requires me to add, that I have received many tokens of civility, and much personal attention, not only from the members of our communion, but also from the different religious societies in this vicinity. Many individuals amongst them are inquiring for the good old way,' and are solicitous to become acquainted with the principles we profess. One third of our congregation on the sabbath, is composed of individuals, who have not as yet, attached themselves to our society. And from present appearances there is reason to believe, that should the Episcopal parish succeed in erecting a church, which subject they have in contemplation, they would, at no distant period, be able to settle a minister."

"In addressing you again on the subject of the church in this place," he observes in his second letter, "I would not exhaust your patience, by entering minutely into the various occurrences that have transpired since my last communication; or by noticing insulated facts, where individuals only are concerned. Though it would be pleasing to allude to the religious experience and Christian walk of some with whom I have the happiness to be connected ;-to speak of individuals, who had been accustomed to neglect publick worship, but are now punctual in their attendance at church, and appear to be deeply impressed with the value of the hopes and consolations of the gospel : but the general state of the church and its future prospects demand attention.

"At no period since the organization of this society, have their prospects been more encouraging. The number of members is one fourth greater now, than it was on the first of October. The opinion is evidently gaining ground in this section of the country, that our church is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.' An increasing desire is manifested, to become acquainted with the fundamental principles of Episcopacy. And I need not here remark that some of our members defend them with singular ability.

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My engagement here will terminate on New year's day. The society have paid my board during the whole of my residence with them, and allowed me six dollars a sabbath for fifteen weeks. At a meeting of the society on the 22d inst. they engaged to pay the board

of a minister and to raise 150 dollars towards his support, if they could receive sufficient assistance to enable them to retain him a year, which year should commence on the first of January next. In addition to this, it may be proper for me to add, that they have unanimously agreed to erect a church. The spot for its location, which had been a source of some anxiety, has been determined, and nothing remains to prevent their proceeding with that unanimity, for which they have hitherto been distinguished. A large number of individuals, who do not nominally belong to them, have voluntarily offered to assist in building.

"The society firmly believe, that should the Missionary Society be induced to aid them in supporting publick worship until they have completed a church, they should then be able to settle a minister, and allow him a reasonable support by their own exertions."

In consequence of these letters a vote was passed January 7, 1824, to employ Mr. Jones as missionary at Ashfield, from the first of January to Easter Tuesday, 16 weeks, at 4 dollars, amounting to 64 dollars. An order was also passed to pay Mr. Jones for his services at Marblehead, previous to his removal to Ashfield, the sum of 100 dollars. The condition and prospects of the church at South Boston will best appear from the following letter addressed to the directors by the wardens and vestry :

South Boston, January 2, 1824. The Wardens and Vestry of St. Matthew's Church, in this place, respectfully beg leave to communicate to the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Episcopal Missionary Society, the situation of said Church, as it regards its internal concerns―

This church was consecrated on the 24th of June, 1818, and from this time to May, 1821, there were no assessments made for the support of publick worship, and although the service on the Lord's day was seldom omitted, yet it was gratuitously performed by lay-readers, (with the occasional aid of clergymen) During this period the contribution boxes were usually passed round every Lord's day, and the amount thus collected was barely sufficient to defray unavoidable expenses. In May, 1821, a box was placed in the entry of the church, in which the congregation was requested to deposit, according to their disposition and ability, for the support of publick worship; and the practice of using the contribution boxes in the church was discontinued; from which time to December, the amount deposited was about $35, and during this time Mr. Edson was paid about $30, he having gratuitously officiated as lay-reader for nearly two years previous.—In August, 1822, (at which time Mr. Edson graduated) a subscription paper was drawn up and offered to the congregation, in order to provide means for the support of publick worship during the ensuing year. and each individual was requested to give according to his means, The amount subscribed was about $140. At the same time assistance was requested of Episcopalians and others, in Boston, by which means $150 more was obtained.

Mr. Edson was immediately invited to take up his residence in this place, and to officiate as lay-reader in St. Matthew's church, the people agreeing to defray the expense of his board and to pay him the sum of $150 beside, to which he consented. His board has been duly paid up to the expiration of said year, viz. 1 September, 1823, and be has duly received the stipulated sum of $150 beside.

On the 1st of September, 1823, another subscription paper was drawn up and presented to the individuals who usually or frequently worship in this church, and the sum of $1865 is subscribed for the support of publick worship the ensuing year, commencing as above; and this will enable us to defray the expense of board and other unavoidable charges, presuming that occasional collections, &c. will bring the amount of income for said year to $200.

We would now respectfully solicit the aid of the Massachusetts Episcopal Missionary Society, in order that we may be enabled to compensate the Rev. Mr. Edson, or such other clergyman as may reside among us, to the amount of $150, for the year, commencing on the first of September, 1823, and ending first September, 1824, desiring, with due respect, that such a sum may be devoted to the benefit of this church as the state of your funds may allow, and which you may judge expedient.

We remain your brethren and friends,

ABRAHAM GOULD, Wardens.
R. P. WILLIAMS,

CHAS. F. KUPfer,

JACOB AMEE,

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In consequence of this letter, the directors resolved, that $100 should be appropriated for the support of a missionary at South Boston, from the 1st of September, 1823, to Easter Tuesday, the 20th of April, 1824. Of this sum, Mr. Edson received 50 dollars, for missionary services at South Boston, from 1st September, 1823, the date of his ordination, to the 1st of January, 1824.

As trustees of the Prayer Book and Tract Society, the directors have purchased of Mr. J. W. Ingraham 100 prayer books in 12mo, and 50 of the Philadelphia stereotype edition in 8vo. published in 1822, by authority of the general convention, as the standard edition of the Book of Common Prayer. They have since purchased 1000 copies in sheets, of a 12mo. edition, of Messrs. T. and J. Swords. The low price at which they are able to furnish these prayer books to churches, to auxiliary societies and to individual members of their own body, will lead, they trust, to a more speedy sale and more general circulation. The members of our church throughout the diocese will obtain prayer books from the society on better terms than they can obtain them from the booksellers, and at the same time will promote the welfare of their brethren and the increase of pure religion. With regard to tracts, the society have confined themselves to the purchase of devo.

tional treatises, and such as are recommended by the bishop for Sunday school instruction. They are now enabled to furnish the churches throughout the diocese with "the Catechism, broke into short questions and answers," "A familiar and easy guide to the understanding of the Church Catechism, with scripture proofs of the Creeds." An abridgment of Gastrel's Christian Institutes, and Bishop Wilson's Introduction to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. These are for sale by the society's agents, at very reduced prices, to churches, and to all persons who purchase by the dozen or larger quantity.

From the treasurer's account, which is herewith presented, it will be seen, that all the disposable funds of the society have been expended, excepting the small sum of eleven dollars and four cents. The directors could not appeal to the charity of their fellow Christians and fellow Churchmen, with any force, while the collections of the former year remained unexpended. But now that a door for usefulness is so widely opened; now that the number of churches and missionaries is increased and increasing; now that the past exertions of the society have been so evidently successful; they think that to all who love the holy cause in which they are engaged, nothing more need be said to induce every man to give according to his ability, than to set before them the simple statement which has now been exhibited. If the ten churches which have been enumerated shall be assisted for a few years, we have no reason to doubt that they will be able, at no very distant period, not only to support themselves, but to contribute to the maintenance and support of other churches.

FROM THE CHRISTIAN JOURNAL.

TO THE FRIENDS OF THE CHURCH.

New York, June, 1824. THE students of the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States having lately organized a " Society of Inquiry respecting the advancement of Christianity," it has been deemed advisable to present to the publick a brief view of the nature of the society, its objects, and its present prospects. Though the ultimate ends proposed are chiefly to be attained by an extensive and regular correspondence with the various associations and bodies connected with the church, still individual support may tend materially to the advancement of these ends. It is with this view that the present appeal is made, in the belief that a simple statement of the views and intended operations of the society will be sufficient to excite the attention and ensure the support of all who take an interest in the cause of our venerable church.

It is a truth evident to all who reflect upon the existing situation of the church, that the only effectual means of extending her influence through the interiour of our country, must be by missionary exertions. The advantages which might accrue from an accurate knowledge of her exigencies, where aid was most needed, and where it might most 37 COSPEL ADVOCATE, VOL. IV.

effectually be afforded, had for some time engaged the attention of the students. The seminary being at length permanently established, and having so successfully commenced its operations, it was imagined that a society of this nature, formed in an institution to which the attention of Episcopalians would naturally be directed, must without doubt be attended with peculiar advantages for acquiring all the information possible relative to the important ends proposed. Those facts which now lie scattered through the journals of the different con ventions, and through various periodical publications, (some of which are not generally circulated,) will here be concentrated, as it were, into one focus, and that too, where the knowledge of them will be attended with the greatest possible advantage-in the nursery of the church, where those who may be peculiarly styled her sons, are now labouring to fit themselves for their high vocation, and panting for the moment when they shall go forth as her champions, and repay in some degree the favours they are now receiving from the protecting hand of her who is at once their "præsidium et dulce decus"-their guardian and their pride.

The funds of the various missionary societies, though increasing, are yet inadequate to meet the actual demands, and of course the utmost caution is required in the distribution of them, so that one single cent may not be expended, except where it can be most ben. eficially applied. Our society, if once in successful operation, may contribute materially towards this end, by the intimate knowledge it will afford of the actual condition of the church. There are those too in the seminary who look forward with anxious eagerness to the time when they shall go forth to build up the waste places of Zion, to make straight in the desert the pathway of our GoD:-to such it may easily be imagined how valuable this information is likely to

prove.

With views such as these, a committee was appointed to report on the expediency of the measure. Their report spoke decidedly in its favour. The committee, however, took a much wider field than was at first proposed, not confining the objects of the society merely to the advancement of the missionary cause, nor limiting its inquiries to our own country alone. They conceived that the peculiar advantages we enjoyed might be applied to a more extended and perhaps more useful purpose. From the body of information which must almost necessarily be placed within reach of the society, it was seen how easily and how naturally they might extend its views to inquiries respecting the moral and religious improvement of mankind generally, and the most effectual means of advancing the Christian cause, not reasoning from crude and often visionary theories, but deducing from the facts continually presented to the society, sound and rational conclusions of immediate and practical utility.

Such is a faint outline of the objects of our society; and, should it prove successful, surely we may anticipate the most beneficial results to the seminary, to the church, and (may we not say) to the Christian world. In pursuance of these objects the society has alrea

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