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the great number, was truly astonishing. The friends of this institution, and every christian and every patriot, must be of the number, will rejoice in the prospects of this excellecnt institution, and give it renewed support.

The Annual Meeting of the Society, was held in the Methodist Episcopal Church in John-street, at 6 o'clock; the venerable President, Col. RICHARD VARICK, in the chair. The Annual Report was read, and the officers and committee were elected for the ensuing year.

The Report stated, that there are now under the patronage of the Society, fortytwo schools in this city, conducted by 540 superintendents, teachers and visiters, and comprising 4055 learners, mostly boys under fourteen years of age. The Committee strongly recommend the plan of visiting, called the local system, to be adopted by the conductors of each school, and urge the necessity of each church and congregation taking the schools connected with them, under their own special superintendence and care.

EDUCATION SOCIETY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The Annual meeting of this society was held on Monday the 6th inst. and the Sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Cox, on the preceding evening, in Dr. Romeyn's Church.

METHODIST AUXILIARY MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

On Monday, 21st April, the Young Men's Missionary Society in New-York, Auxiliary to the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, celebrated its third anniversary in the John-street Church. The Rev. JOHN SUMMERFIELD, President, in the Chair. After singing and prayer, the Annual Report was read by the Rev. Henry Chase. The usual resolutions were offered and adopted, and the Rev. W. Ross, and Messrs. W. M. Willet, W. C. Mead, and E. F. Moore, addressed the meeting: the president also, made some remarks. The collection amounted to $87 25.

UNION PRAYER MEETINGS.

These meetings, which are held for the express purpose of praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our Churches and congregations, continue to be interesting and well attended. On Monday evening the 21st April, the Union Prayer Meeting was held in the Dutch Reformed Church, in Market-street. The Monday following, it was held in the Murray-street Church. Rev. Robert McCartee, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Orange-street, presided. The Rev. Messrs. R. B. E. McLeod, H. Chase, Somers and Knox, engaged in prayer, and the Rev. Dr. Romeyn delivered an address.

The 17th monthly Union Prayer Meeting, was held in the Mariner's Church, on the first Monday in this month, in the afternoon. The Rev. Mr. Somers, of the South Baptist Church, presided, and read the 104 Psalm. The Rev. Messrs. Barnes of this city and Fay of Charlstown, Mass, addressed the meeting. Mr. Fay stated that Union Prayer Meetings had been established within a few weeks at Salem, Boston and Beverly, Mass. At the former place, the first meeting was held by a few persons in a private house; the next meeting, two rooms were filled; the third was removed to the school house; the fourth met in a large vestry room, and the fifth a large church was full and crowded. In Newburyport, six Churches have united, and in Portland, large meetings have been held and a revival of religion commenced. The meeting was well attended, although not by as many persons as usual. Last Monday a meeting was held in the South Baptist Church, Rev. Mr. Frey presided, and several ministers of different denominations from the country, took a part in the exercises. We hope the important object of these meetings will more and more engage the attention of Christians throughout our country, and throughout the world: God will give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him.

NEW-YORK AUXILIARY FEMALE BIBLE SOCIETY.

The sixth auniversary of this Society, was celebrated on the 25th of April, at the City Hotel. Gen. M. Clarkson, Vice President of the American Bible Society presided, VOL. IX.

and the Rev. S. S. Woodhull, read the 72d Psalm. The Rev. Dr. Milnor read the Annual Report, and also the report of the "Juvenile Female Bible Association," which united in the celebration. The report stated that seven associations had been formed during the last year, on the plan of those in Liverpool; that 180 Ladies have been engaged in visiting the districts allotted to them; that 780 Bibles and 100 Testaments had been distributed; and that the receipts had been $893 62 being $200 more than the receipts of last year: of this sum $63 was paid by the Juvenile Association. Upwards of $700 had been paid to the American Bible Society. The Appendix contained extracts from correspondence, and reports of the visiters, which were of a highly interesting character.

The Rev. William McMurray delivered an appropriate address, after which, Dr. M. read the names of the proposed Managers, and the gentlemen retired. There was present a large number of Ladies, whose suceessful labours will afford them every encouragement to proceed in their good work with renewed zeal and activity.

FREE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

At the monthly concert of prayer, held in the Lecture Room of St. George's Church, on the first Monday in this month, the plan of a free Episcopal Church, to be erected at Corlaer's Hook, was laid before the meeting for their consideration. And the gentlemen offered some remarks on the importance of doing something for the Spiritual necessities of a large population in that quarter of the city, who are not provided with church room, and the meeting concurred fully in the proposed plan,* which has received the approbation of the Bishop, and Clergy of the city. Books being provided for procuring subscriptions, some of the persons present engaged to solicit donations. We trust others will be found ready to engage in the same good work; and that an object so desirable and so important as sending the Gospel to the destitute of our own city, will not want friends to give it an immediate accomplish

ment.

UNITED DOMESTIC MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

A Society bearing the above designation has just been formed, under circumstances the most auspicuous for the cause of home missions. It is not our design at present to enter into particulars, as a committee of the Board have it in charge to prepare some suitable communications on the subject, which will be ready for our next number.

Delegates from most of the Missionary Societies in the State, convened on Friday afternoon the 10th inst. in the Session Room of the Brick Church, the Rev. Dr. PROUDFIT, of Salem, N. Y. was elected President, and JOHN D. KEESE, Esq. was appointed Secretary.

DEDICATION.

The Central Presbyterian Church in Broome-street, was solemnly dedicated to the service of Almighty God, on Sunday the 5th inst. The Rev. Dr. Romeyn preached in the morning, from Ps. lxxxi. 1. 2. the Rev. Mr. Rowan in the afternoon, from Eccl. v. 1. and in the evening, the Rev. Dr. Spring, from Matt. v. 16.

This Church, is a plain neat edifice, built of brick, 75 feet long by 60 feet wide. On Tuesday evening the Rev. Presbytery of New-York met at the above Church, pursuant to adjournment, and installed the Rev. Willian Patton, Pastor. The Rev. Mr. Cox preached the sermon, the Rev. Mr. delivered the charge to the Pastor, and the Rev. Mr. Baldwin, the charge to the people.

The Rev. THOMAS MACAULEY, L. L. D. Professor in the Union College, has been invited to the pastoral charge of the Presbyterian Church in Rutgers-street, and has accepted the call.

The Trustees of Princeton College, met on the 10th of April, and conferred the degree of Doctor in Divinity, on the Rev. WILLIAM WARD, of Serampore, E. 1.

* See "Plan of a Free Church," in No. 198, and No. 199, Christian Herald.

Seaman's Magazine,

He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.-Then are they [sailors] glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Psalms.

NEW-YORK MARINE BIBLE SOCIETY,

TO THE MERCHANTS OF THE CITY OF NEW-YORK.

GENTLEMEN-IT is with a heart feeling for the good of mankind, and particularly for seamen, who from time to time have in charge a vast portion of your property, that this appeal is made to you in behalf of the seamen of this port. It is a melancholy fact, that many seamen go from the port of New-York, blessed as it is with the light of religion, without the Bible to cheer them when far from home, and far from land, or to restrain them from vice, and guard them from temptation in a foreign land. Seamen are men as well as merchants. Seamen are immortal as well as kings. Seamen are as capable of being reclaimed by the Gospel, as are those who have long lived under its light, without having felt its power. Seamen are as capable of improvement, rational and moral, as are other men; and they are, in many things, susceptible of sensibilities which ought to make many ashamed who have despised them. Facts also exist, which show, beyond the power of contradiction, that the Bible alone is capable of being, and that it has been, in many instances, the wisdom of God, and the power of God to the salvation of seamen. The Bible has reclaimed the wandererit has restrained the licentious-it has caused the drunkard to leave his cups, and to become a praying man, instead of profaning God's holy name-it has brought thieves and swindlers to be honest men, and has led them to regard that which was given to them in trust, as their own property-it has raised the abject outcast, who was well nigh fitted for destruction, to be an heir of God, and a child of heaven. These effects it would still have on thousands more, if it were only put into their hands.

You will then, perhaps, ask, why the Marine Bible Society do not put a Bible into the hands of every seaman, who, there can be ground to hope, will be disposed to improve that book to the peace of his soul, and the correction of his habits? It is, gentlemen, the simple design of this letter to tell you why the society do not do it. It is because they have not the means, and therefore, they cannot do it. Their hearts have often been pained, when they have been obliged, not only not to offer Bibles to seamen who they knew wanted them, but also to refuse them when they have been solicited, for the simple reason that they had none to give, and no funds with which they could purchase any for that purpose. Connected as your interest is, aside from the common interests of society, with the morality and christianity of seamen; the Marine Bible Society have thought that nothing more would be wanting than simply to lay these facts before the merchants of New-York.

An amplitude of funds for this object, would be but a mere mite for each of the merchants, traders, and venders in this city, which they would never feel. Say that there are in number only six thousand of them, and that they should give so as to average only fifty cents each in a year, this little pittance alone would give to the Marine Bible Society three thousand dollars annnally for the distribution of Bibles among seamen; and would in all probability put ten times the sum into the hands of the giver, by putting a trusty, careful and honest heart into the men to whom his property is intrusted.

But there is an appeal, which to the good man, is more powerful than the consideration above suggested. It is the blessedness of doing good; of reclaiming a wanderer from God; and of bringing back to their allegiance the rebels who have revolted from his government. Ah! gentlemen, it is for thousands who are almost outcasts in human society; who are rational and immortal as yourselves; and who are to be saved by the blood of the same cross that must save you; or to sink to perdition for rejecting the Gospel which you so richly enjoy: It is for these immortal concerns that we plead the little assistance, so necessary for the seamen to possess, and so easy for you to give, and which we are confident will not long be wanting, when once you are apprised of the fact, that many seamen who wish a Bible, are forced to go to sea without one, because they have not the means to buy with, and the Society are not able to supply them. We need not say to you in the language of God's word; "Give and it shall be given to you. He that giveth to the poor," even if he be a seaman, "lendeth to the Lord; and that which he giveth will he repay him again." Many have indeed done virtuously; and if you will go and do likewise, as Christ commands you, you shall have treasure in heaven, the reward of him who gives in the name of the Lord.

JOHN TRUAIR, Cor. Secretary N. Y. M. B. S.

ANECDOTE.

Related at a meeting of the Marine Bible Society.

On board the flag-ship of a celebrated commander, a complaint was made by the captain against a number of the crew, if I recollect right, nearly two hundred, for disturbing the ship's company by frequent noises. The admiral ordered an inquiry to be made, and appointed a day for a hearing. The accusation was, that these men were methodists, and that when their watch was below, they were in the constant habit of reading the Bible to each other aloud; of frequently joining in social prayer, and singing of psalms and hymns. After the statement had been made and proved, the admiral asked; "What is the general conduct of these men on deck-orderly or disobedient, cleanly or the contrary?" "Always orderly, obedient, and cleanly," was the reply. "When the watch is called, do they linger, or are they ready?" "Always ready at the first call." "You have seen these men in battle, sir; do they stand to their guns, or shrink?" "They are the most intrepid men in the ship, my lord, and will die at their post." "Let them alone then," was the decisive answer of this magnanimous commander; "if methodists are such men, I wish that all my crew were methodists."

From the Religious Remembrancer.

BETHEL FLAG.

The Rev. Mr. Eastburn, stated preacher to the Seamen in this Port, has received a BETHEL FLAG, presented by the Seamen's Friend Society and Bethel Union, of London. This is a grateful token of their respect for a venerable "fisher of men." As an expression of the congeniality of feeling of our transatlantic brethren with those in our city who are interested for the spiritual welfare of Mariners, it is creditable to the Society by whom it was presented. The following letter from the Secretary of the London institution accompanied the Flag.

London, January, 3, 1822.

My much respected and venerable Father-It has given me much pleasure to hear, by letters from my esteemed friend Robert Ralston, Esq. of your Port, that you are endeavouring to bring Sailors to a sense of their lost state by nature, and pointing them to the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world. May the Lord spare your life for many years of increasing usefulnes, and give you souls for your hire. And when in his wisdom he shall call you to himself may you partake of the joys of the Angels, when they rejoice over poor prodigal Sailors who are returning to their Father.

I send herewith, to the care of Mr. Ralston, a Bethel Flag, from the "British and Foreign Seamen's Friend Society and Bethel Union," in this city, as a testimony of their esteem, to their friends in Philadelphia. I hope it will be the means of inviting many to the social meetings for prayer in your port.

I have written fully to our friend Mr. R., with some Tracts lately published, which may be interesting to you, also some reports, and the later number of the Sailor's Magazine, which he will give you. It will give the Society much pleasure to hear from you, with any account of good being done on the other side of the Atlantic.

Adieu, my dear friend,-may the Lord abundantly bless you, and in the closing scene of life, may you experience His Everlasting arms around you, and hear him say, "Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you." &c.

I remain your's most affectionately.

The Rev. Joseph Eastburn.

T. PHILIPS, Sec'y.

The new Bethel Flag was first hoisted, at the Mariners' Church, on Sabbath 24th ult. On Monday the 25th, it was displayed at the mast head of the brig Junius, Capt. Dunton, and in the evening a meeting was held on board the brig. The religious exercises were conducted by the Rev. Mess'rs Eastburn and Van Vleck. Dr. Janeway, and a Welch Sailor. The cabin was occupied by females and the deck and wharfs filled with sailors. They were solemn and attentive.

On Friday evening, 29th, the Flag having been flying during the day at the mast head of the brig Levant, Capt. Sandborn, a meeting was held on board the brig. The services were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Eastburn, Drs. Ely and Brodhead, and Capt. Foster. The attention was similar to that at the former meeting. The numbers who attend

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