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drink: not one of all that witnessed bis pains tamed the head aside, even in the last pang! yes, there was-ene—That glorious luminary, (pointing to the sun) veiled biairtight face sailed on in ten-fold nigbti We^I may such an apostle be held m venerated remembrance. The beauty the scene, every eye suffused m tears, every face veiled ip sorrow; the apt contrast between the feelings of men under the to-flnence of Christianity, and those who crucified its anthor, with the sublime recol Ipction, “yes there was one,” as if new light had beamed on his memory ; all bring him to the mind's eye as a great man with consecrated talents and devoted zeal, ef-fectually impressing powerful truths on the susceptible heart, as absent yet present, as one that being dead yet speaketh. This transaction took place many years past In 1811, the author of thilt; article was in Kdinbuigh Two young men were then sentenced to death for murder. The English law has thp motto—“ cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground ” It orders execution within twpnty-foar hours after the sentence is passed. The Scotch laws have imbibed more of a gospel spirit The criminal, after sentence is allowed six weeks, for repentance. Ou the day of execution, the author had been at Leith, and on walking back to the city, a distance of two miles, met multitudes of persons returning in crowds, from the speotacie. The strong muscular figure of many, evidently in humble condition of life, bespoke, as far as simple shape and features could indicate, bodies of iron and hearts of steel, but they walked in solemD pace, as if they had just been attending to the grave the last remains of a near felation They w ere silent as well as solemn, and many an hardy countenance evidently shewed the channels and traces of tears The effect of this unexpected meeting, left a lasting impression on the mind—for the execution took place in Edinburgh, and in walking from Leith, to which the crowds were returning, the writer had a full view of almost every person's countenance, and saw almost every face had recently been swelled with tears, and the feelings of his heart then responded to the Rentiment of Whitfield, in giving him a very high opinion of the Scotch nation, for those tears were precious, and will be held in remembrance The clergy and magistrates entered into consideration of what could have been the cause to originate an increase of crimes where they expected from past experieoce to hear as li'tle of murder as of canihahsm. The criminals were found to be m a state of ignorance, which was another prodigy among well educated Scotsmen They discovered that their population in Edinburgh had so increased beyond their regular education, that jguorance was making inroads upon their character and laying waste their morals, and they resolved as a corrective of the evil—to establish Lau-casterian Rchools—and the principal of their university, and Lord provost of the city, with the most eminent of their clergy and laity became active in promoting themeasure.■w..’ •55’. -5!£ ; .No-REV. WM. WARD.The following letter, from the Rev. W. Ward who recently visited the United States, full of ar dour and enthusiasm to establish Christian semi naries of learning in llindostan, may be perused with interest, on account of its local allusions.— The charifnblp spirit which it breathes, and the liberality of the national opinions of Mr. Ward, will conciliate those who disagree with him in point of faith. B. Rv. Gatr.To the Rev.George Barclay, Rilwinning. Scotland.the State of Connecticut, and of which I made a memorandum at the time; “That country must be a bappy ODe, in which the poor can obtain a respectable education for their children for nothing: where each man of good character, without regard to his sect, can become a legislator; where provisions are exceedingly cheap; where, except in particular towns, taxes are few; where there are no tythes, nor the galled feelings arising from the unwise elevation of one part of the people, on a religious account, over the other part, add where the people (as I had just seen them in Boston) meet in Convention to amend the constitution of the State, with the same good humour as men go to the annual meetrng of the Humane Society in London. I saw several Baptist Ministers in the above convention, as well as among the legislators of (he State of Maine. This may suffice for these subjects.“ Maoy places of ^worship in America, among different denominations, have wooden steeples , which, however, when painted, look nearly as well as stone. Among the Presbyterians and Congregationalists, the vesiry, or session house, is a separate, and sometimes a distinct building; the small vestries, as in England, opening into the chapel, where the minisler can retire, and see bis friends and deacons, are very rare in these states. The minister goes at once into the pulpit, and pulls off his great coat or cloak, and throws it over the side of the pulpit. In the winter a pan of coals in a box is ready for him to set hi9 feet upon The services are conducted nearly the same as in England—but I was very sorry to observe that our custom of lining out the hymn as sung, scarcely exists; and that singing, in many cases, was profanely abandoned to the choir, as though praise, at aoy rate, might be done by proxy ; or, as tho’ the object of Christian worship was partial to such and such tunes which the congregation could not acquire How any person can blame cathedral worship as popish, and admire tbe9e exhibitions m the front gallery, 1 know not—Notes entreating the prayers of the congregation for the sick,*c. are in many places seDt up into the pulpit; and, directed by these notes, the ministers visit the sick during the week. The resiling of the Holy Scriptures does not commonly, I regret to say it, make a part of the services of the sanctuary. Dr. Watts generally supplies the forms of praise to the American people. I have seen selections, the greater part, however, the compositions of Watts, by Dr. Dwight, Dr. Livingston, Dr Worcester, and Mr. Wmchell. American editions of Dr. Rippon's selection are not uncommon. The reading of their sermonq prevails, I apprehend to n considerable degree among the congregational ministers if not among others also. The services are, in many places, concluded m the evening at least, with a doxology, the congregation standing. Blacks are members of the churches of the whites; and sit down to the Lord’s table with the whites wherever I (ravelled.“ Elders, as the scripture name of ministers, is much used in some pa^ts. 'Black cloaks are generally worn by the ministers in the New England States; and I saw several ministers wearing queues.“ The number of religious institutions in America exceeds, if possible, those of England. Bible, Missionary, Tract, and Suo-dav School Societies, are very numerous The American Bible Society is a noble institution, doing great good. The Orphan Asylum at New York has been favoured with such remarkable instances of the Divine care, as to remind one very strongly of the institution of Professor Frank in Germany. The Deaf and Dumb Asylum, at Hartford, Connecticut, under the care of the Rev. Dr. Gallaudet, prospers exceedingly. I spent a few hours at the Asylum, eDjoying a flow of feelings so sacred and so refined, that I can never lose the recollections of this visit Regular prayer meet-gs confined to females, held at each oth-r’s houses, are very common in America.“ But there are some institutions existing in America, which I have not heard of in other countries: At Boston, aod in other places, a missionary for the town and neighbourhood is maintained and employed ; his work is to carry the gospej to the poor; to preach in cellars, in garrets, and amongst those who, by their poverty, peculiar circumstances, or their disinclination, are excluded from the publick means of grace.I met two or three of these interesting missionaries. Societies of ladies exist for assisting poor Christiad students by purchasing cloths and making them clothes. Other ladies are united to work together one day in a weekrfortnight or month, devQting the produce of their sewing, c. to some good object. One of the party reads-for (he edification of the rest. Societies of girls, and separate ones for boys, are numerous; these hare meetings, and devote a quarter, or a half, or a whole dollar a year eadb, to some Christian object. In the church under the care of the Rev. Mr. Paygon, of Portland, a nnmber of married females have associated^ under a solemn engagement, that the survivers will, as much as possible, seek the spiritual good of the children from whom any mother id thi9-as90ci-ation may be removed by death.From the Wathxnglon Theological Repertory.Of a)) the seductive amusements of the age, few present to the youthful mind attractions which it is less capable of resisting, and few are in their tendency more perverting to the principle?, oi more corrupting to the heart, than popular Nov. el reuding We are aware what sophistry has been employed, and what deep self deception practised in order to conceal this tendeney, and excuse the pernicious indulgence. Gladly would we before have exposed the insidious danger; but this is a subject on which conviction is too often overpowered by (he force of habit or of a prurient curiosity, to result in the correction of the praC' tice. We venture, however, to reiterate the appeal oo the subject, to our youthful readers m particular, in the following extract from a late anonymous writer, whose production, under the title of “ No Fiction,” has acquired a large and deserved share of the publick favour. The(pas sage copied is a part of a letter from the circum spect and pious Douglass, to his relapsing friend Le Fevre, whose perilous fall commenced in the very indulgence here so justly characterized.
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Mount Zion Missionary
Mount Zion, Georgia, US
Mon, Dec 10, 1821
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