United Labors of Christian Love. such examples as may be good for my country, and for those youth who are training up for usefulness by the missionaries at the school. The above* mentioned books you will please get them on the lowest terms you can. The payment I will forward to you by Rev. C. Kingsbury. Please to forward them to the care of Mr. Kingsbury, and have them insured. I would like to get some more good books from the country, but what is already mentioned, will be as much as I will be able to pay for. For my services among my people, I get no pay; but I hope I labor among my people for glory of God. Present my best respects to the friends of the Choctaws in your town and in your country. Receive this as coming from your unworthy Choctaw brother. DAVID FOLSOLM. Accounts from New-Bedford, state that there is an extensive revival in the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Baptist societies in that town. The books referred to, are the following, which he wished to obtain at his own expense:-"Encyclopedia, bound in calf, last American edition; if on American edition has been published within six or eight years. then the last Edinburg edi. tion; Scout's Family Bible (quarto,) with tle marginal references, and the maps de signed to accompany it; Morse's or Worcester's Universal Gazetteer; Jenk's De. votion, Doddridge's Rise and Progress; Baxter's Saint's Rest, and Call to the Unconverted; Dwight's Theology; Watts on the Mind; Mason on Self-Knowledge; Bur der's Village Sermons, 3 vol; J. Burder's Sermons for Children: Scougal's Life of God in the Soul; Babington on Education; Life of Brainerd, by Rev S. E Dwight of Boston; Life of Obookiah; Brown's Winslow's History of Missions; and Milner's Church History." or Mr. EDITOR, 119 Among the manuscripts of the late Rev. JAMES PRINGLE, of Steelcreek and Bethany, North Carolina, the following address has been thought worthy of a place in the Presbyterian ders in this place, where the author Magazine. But as few of your rea passed a considerable part of his life, and where he received his College education, are subscribers to that valuable publication, it is presumed that the insertion of the address in your Miscellany would be gratifying to many. And were the proposals which it embraces, generally adopted and acted upon, important beneficial consequences might confidently be expected. To the Beneficent Society to meet at the Associate Church of Bethany, January 19th, 1819. The committee of inquiry respectfully report, that they have taken the subject, upon which they were instructed, into consideration, and now beg leave to submit certain views and considerations, as the result of their inquiries, which they recommend to the attention of the society. They regard as the most prominent and most important features in the constitution of the society, that liberal spirit, and that extent of object which characterize it. It recognises no limits but those which ability and opportunity prescribe, and is ready to apply its resources to every department of beneficence in proportion to its relative claim to attention. It consecrates to the service of philanthropy, that diversity of opinion and those prejudices which tend to alienate the affections of Christians, and conciliates and harmonizes conflicting interests and discordant views. 120 United Labors of Christian Love. Under this impression, the committee would not voluntarily and systematically exclude any object, or any means, calculated to promote the great design of the society--the glory of God in the happiness of man. It is not, therefore, because other objects, besides those which they have specified, have escaped their attention, or are considered unworthy of regard, that they have not extended their enumeration and entered more into detail, but because they regard these as presenting primary and paramount claims to their attention, and sufficient to occupy the attention and employ the resources of the society in its present infantile state. In future reports they shall avail themselves of emergent circumstances, to suggest such ulterior measures as the existing state of things, and the actual means at the disposal of the society, shall warrant and require. Christian charity, like the pebble dropped in the lake, should send forth circle after circle, emanating from a common centre, but spreading wider and wider till they reach the remotest shore. The committee, while they recognize Jehovah as the moral Governor of the world, presiding over the destinies of man, and by his holy providence regulating and directing all human interests, are solicitous to engage his propitious regard, and his efficient patronage in the support and promotion of their designs; well assured, that if he be for them, none can be against them. With this view they recommend, as a suitable object of benevolence, not only the performance of public prayers in the society itself, but also, 1. The establishment of associations for prayer and religious conference, wherever it shall be found practicable and expedient. Associations of this kind, independently of the great scriptural principle, that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much, are calculated to excite and diffuse the Christian spirit, and invigorate and multiply the Christian virtues. They advise that the society prescribe a few simple and general rules for conducting them, leaving it to each association to adopt those detailed regulations for their own government, which local circumstances and their respective views and dispositions may dictate. The committee do not presume to propose any constitutional rules for this purpose, nor even to suggest the particular provisions which they might deem proper to introduce. They would, however, submit it to the consideration of the society, whether, in addition to the exercises usual in such societies, it might not be proper to furnish each with some periodical religious publications, and make the reading of them a part of the services. An intelligent and permanently operative zeal is to be produced only by an enlarged acquaintance with the state of the Christian world, and with the operations and tendencies of Divine Providence. II. The next step is to ascertain the necessities, temporal and spiritual, that actually exist. For this purpose it is recommended that special committees be appointed in every neighborhood; wherever particular inquiry has been instituted the result has been the discovery of wants to an extent far beyond what had been supposed; and though it is our happiness to live in a place where poverty, and ignorance, and vice, have not made those melancholy inroads which are elsewhere to be deplored, yet it is not to be doubted that they prevail to an extent of which few are fully aware. Nothing but "domiciliary visits" will ascertain the sad reality, and probe the wound to the bottom, that the necessary remedies may be applied with confidence and skill. Let this phrase--once the language of tyrants and the terror of the op United Labors of Christian Love. pressed-be henceforth associated with the ideas of Christian philanthropy. Nor need we be apprehensive that these visits will be regarded as officious intrusions. Experience has decided that, when conducted with piety and prudence, they are received with gratitude, and produce the most salutary effects. And even if in some cases the event should be otherwise, the benefit will, upon the whole, far outweigh the disadvantages. It is superfluous to add, that such visits, while they ascertain the actual wants, afford a convenient opportunity of supplying them, by the administration of pecuniary relief, of pious counsel, and of edifying tract or other books. III. Having ascertained the necessities, the next step is to relieve them. They will be of two kinds; those of the body, and those of the mind. Each requires its appropriate remedy, although they may often be combined with advantage. With respect to the former, there are three general cases which may occur, and which must be met by correspondent applications. 121 means of subsistance, relief should be extended in such a way as most effectually to remove the evil, either by occasional supplies, or, which is much preferable, if the cause be permitted, by regular annuities. 3. Occasional misfortunes may occur in the providence of God, which will render assistance peculiarly necessary and desirable for a short time, and require immediate attention; or pass through it, who need assistance, and whose want should be promptly relieved. In all; liberality should be united with economy, and such measures be adopted as to confer the greatest benefit with the most tender delicacy. IV. The committee regard the diffusion of knowledge among the poor, as calculated to promote their best interests, and to augment the general happiness and prosperity of the community. They therefore recommend, as a proper object of benevolence, the education of poor children. There are three principal ways in which this may be done:-By the permanent establishment of free schools-the erection of circulating schools-and the support, gratuitous 1. When an individual or family isly, of scholarships, in schools that are in indigent circumstances, but enjoys good health, it must arise from some visitation of God, or from want of economy and discretion, or from indolence. In either case it would be improper to grant pecuniary assistance, without at the same time giving them suitable employment; but a moderate aid, either wholly vested in, or at least accompanied with the means and implements of industry, may be of essential utility. And a just discrimination should always be made, so as to discountenance the vicious and indolent, and encourage the meritorious. 2. Where indisposition, or other providential affliction, has deprived a family or individual of the necessary or may be established by others. The first method is best adapted to cities and places where the population is crowded and very poor: the second, to places where the mass of the community is illiterate: the last, for obvious reasons, is best calculated for our situation: and, as such, the committee recommend it to the attention of the society. It might be proper also, even where a scholarship is not placed wholly upon a charitable foundation, to deminish, by the aid of the society, the expense of education to necessitous individuals, and thus to afford greater facilities to the instruction of children whose parents, though not indigent, are yet incompetent to their education without great inconvenience. Nor would it be improper 122 United Labors of Christian Love. to assist men of good moral characters and talents, in acquiring that higher and more extensive erudition which is necessary to qualify them for public usefulness, especially in the gospel ministry. V. For the instruction of illiterate adults, whether bond or free, whose situation and duties prevent their attendance upon other days, the committee recommend the establishment of Sunday schools, upon such principles, and to such an extent, as the circumstances of the case shall require. These institutions form a distinguishing characteristic of the present age, and are among the most interesting monuments of Christian charity. Experience has abundantly established what, indeed, was presumable from abstract considerations, that adults are more capable of learning, and make more rapid progress in the acquisition of knowledge than children whose immaturity of mind, and levity of disposition, create the greatest obstacles. In these schools religious instruction should always constitute the be employed in the suppression of vice and immorality, and while the members redeem the pledge given in their subscription, to discountenance by their example, their counsel, &c. every thing immoral in its nature and tendency, or injurious to the interests of society, the committee recommend further, that special measures be adopted for this purpose, by aiding the magistrates in the execution of the laws, and by other prudent means. It is only where the tone of morals is sufficiently elevated, and the current of public sentiment is in conformity to the salutary provisions of the statute-book, that much good can be effected, and it is of the utmost consequence to the credit and influence of the society, that they act with a cautious and temperate zeal. Yet the committee are persuaded that something may be attempted even now, and they indulge confident hopes that the state of things will be gradually meliorated, and afford them more and greater facilities to promote the general good. VII. The very restricted opportu-. nities which a large proportion of the grand and paramount object, and oth-society enjoy, of acquainting themer learning be held in a just and obvious subordination to it. Without venturing to propose a particular plan the committee only remark, that experience has decided in favor of gratuitous instruction; and has shown the advantage, and almost the necessity, of a considerable number of teachers under the direction of a general superintendant in each school; and they recommend as well on account of the efficacy of the system, as its economy, the use of the series of Jessons published by the Female Sunday School Union of New-York, and the catechisms and scripture selections employed in the schools under their direction. VI. From the character and contation of the society, it is important he whole weight of its influence selves with the operations of the Christian world, and with the many excellent institutions which have been established for doing good, while they deter the committee from inviting their attention to a variety of objects well meriting attention, but which would yet be premature, induce them to recommend also, the establishment of a library, in order to enlarge their knowledge of the most suitable objects of benevolence, and the most expedient means of accomplishing them. Individuals and societies are constantly communicating the results of their inquiries, and of their experience; an acquaintance with which, could not fail to be of advantage to the society in conducting their opera tions. In addition to these occasional and Baptism of a Jew. periodical publications, with which the society should furnish themselves, the committee advise that a selection of the most useful books on religion and morals, and domestic economy, be provided for gratuitous distribution or circulation, and even if it were thought expedient that there should be combined with these, upon such principles as may be deemed most beneficial, a general library for the use of the vicinity. The extension of knowledge is directly calculated to promote the ulterior designs of the society; and the multiplication of valuable books in public or in private libraries, is the most convenient and effectual method of extending it. VIII. Finally, if the funds of the society will authorize it, after supplying these wants of the vicinity, there are public institutions of charity, and of religion, which will gratefully receive the surplus, and employ it in the promoting of objects of indisputable importance. The field is boundless, and can never be more than partially explored. Those minute portions which have been recommended to the atten tion of the society, it is hoped, will meet with their approbation, and be cultivated with zeal and effect. While the committee pledge themselves faithfully to devote their labors to duties of such high and holy interest, they would provoke their brethren to love and to do good works: "Let us not be weary in well-doing in due time we shall reap if we faint not." In behalf of the Committee, A gentleman at the Hague informs us that two young Jews, educated at the University of Leyden, have lately embraced Christianity. One of them refused an enormous sum offered him by a rich uncle on condition that he would defer his baptism till after his uncle's death. MISSION AMONG THE JEWS. 123 From the London Jewish Expositor, for December, 1822. BAPTISM OF A COMVERTED JEW IN ST. PETERSBURG. Extract from the Journal of Mr• M'Caul-On Thursday, 5th September, I attended in company with Mr. Becker, at the church of the Knights of Malta, to witness the baptism of a young Israelite, by birth a Swede, and by profession a portrait painter. He had been persuaded some months be fore, to go to hear the Rev. Mr. Gosner preach. The latter is a gentleman whom the persecution of his brethren in the church of Rome, had forced to seek an asylum in a foreign, land; he found one in St. Petersburgh, and protected by his imperial majesty, preaches in German the pure un adulterated word of the Gospel to immense congregations of all denominations, Greek, Roman, Lutheran and Jew. Curiosity had induced the young Israelite to hear the gentleman, but curiosity which leads a sinner to hear the gospel, is not to be despised. Mr. Gosner's simple preaching soon convinced him of sin, and the want of a Saviour. He then applied to Mr. G. who pointed out Him that is mighty to save. After some months probation and instruction, he desired to be baptised, and as to all human appearance he had faith in the Lord Jesus, his desire was complied with. The church was quite full, and very many Jews were present. Mr. G. delivered a very impressive exhortation, in which he told the young convert not to make professing Christians his example, but to go to the word of God, to consider Jesus Christ as his only pattern, and his pure word as the only standard of Christian doctrine; when the act of baptism was performing, there was scarcely a dry eye in the whole assembly. To see one of the children of Abraham brought back to the fold from which they have |