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time without the true and saving knowledge of God in my heart, though I was what the world calls a believer; but the day-star then, (I trust,) began to arise in my soul, and the day-spring from on high to visit me; and I became deeply anxious to instruct my dear children in the great doctrines and momentous truths which relate to the salvation of my own soul, and the souls of those who were so very near and dear to me. I endeavoured to lead their young and tender hearts to a crucified Saviour, who died that we might live; and, enlarging much on eternity and the final day of judgment, I was happy to see them comprehend these sublime doctrines to a greater extent than I had believed possible, and to witness in their conduct some good effects resulting therefrom.

Our son seemed earnestly engaged on those subjects. His mind was in a most remarkable manner illuminated, and his communications were clear, connected, and fluent, to a degree that surprised us all. He addressed himself to old and young, to the servants as well as his companions, insisting usually on obedience to our heavenly Father, and love to his only begotten Son, as the foundation for happiness hereafter, and painting in the language of Scripture the dreadful state of those who were disobedient.

He seemed particularly interested for the blacks. On a visit to his uncle M- he conversed much with an old black woman belonging to him: she was pious, but could not read the Bible; he wished much to instruct her, but, finding it very difficult, he abandoned the idea, and said be could tell her what was in it.

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Our dear child's aunt, when she saw me, mentioned the great alteration which she had observed in his conversation, and their great surprise at his piety and fervor so uncommon at his age, and so consistent with the Scriptures; and acquainted me with the old woman's predictions, that my dear boy would not live long, he was already God's child." He endeavoured to instruct his sisters, and I have often wept over the precious aspirations of the Holy Spirit from such young hearts. At this time, he had not learned to read the Bible with ease, but it was almost constantly in his hand. Our dear son soon informed me of his wish to attend the Friend's Meeting. I consented that he should make a trial, and ever after he was a constant attendant at their usual house of worship. He now began to form an acquaintance with some of the members of that society. His first attendance and preference was entirely independent of any personal intimacy with any of them, and he became much attached to some of its ancient heads.

Their Wednesday Meetings now became an object of attention and desire, and I made an arrangement for his dismission from school at the proper hour. He attended their meetings for worship, previous to their meetings for business; and being desirous of sitting with them during the latter, it was proposed and acceded to by the members. I have noted with surprise, that my dear child returned from those meetings, which lasted usual ly from eleven till three, and oftener till four o'clock, without the least ap pearance of fatigue, disgust, or hunger.

The discipline of the Quaker Church was a matter of deep interest to him. He wished to dress in their manner, and to use their language, de siring me to excuse him from the usual forms of address and salutation which have obtained currency in the world. I acceded entirely to his wishes in this, as in all other particulars connected with his religion, believing I had no right to interfere in regulating a mind so manifestly taught by the Spirit of God.

The dear boy requested me to say grace in my heart before my meals, expressing his own intention and wish to give the Lord thanks always, wishing that I would prevail on his uncle and aunt to join us. His conversation

was now serious and pious. He began the Bible, and read for some time every evening in it, intending to read it through.

Our town was very sickly last winter, and the many deaths made a deep impression on his mind. He often remarked solemnly on our uncertain existence, and the great necessity there was of a due preparation for death. He was in the constant habit of drawing matter for the improvement of the heart and life, from any striking, or to him interesting occurrence, such as the one just mentioned, the deliverance of his friends from danger or misfortunes, or the public punishment of those who had transgressed the laws. The great and essential doctrines were made plain to his understanding, and he could give as good a reason for the faith within him, as most of those who had numbered thrice his years.

Almost every Sabbath it was his custom to take his sisters up stairs, arrange the chairs, &c. and hold a meeting. He was very much delighted if he could prevail on them to sit still. He would sometimes preach and pray, and then dismiss them in the Friends' manner. It was matter of great satisfaction to be able to induce his young friends to attend meeting with him; In this he often succeeded, and after the assembly returned home, he occasionally preached to them himself. I wished the morning and evening prayers of our dear son to be his own in thought and expression. His manner was devout, and his matter, that of a mind more exercised regarding the state of the soul after death, and the spirituality and glory of the heavenly existence, than most would have thought possible in one so young. I had often been told that Sarsuel would not live long-that he was not fit for this world. One good old lady, my aunt, to whom he was much attached, said, "I must dedicate him, as a second Samuel, to God from his birth." And now in the midst of all our hopes, spiritual and temporal, (for surely a child could scarcely promise more) God saw fit to remove him from us, to take him to himself! How irreparable the loss, none can understand but those who have suffered. I had fondly anticipated a youth not requiring restraint, not addicted to the levity and folly incident to that age, but full of peace and piety, who, instead of trying our hearts by his wanderings, should edify it by his exemplary conduct. I had looked forward to the time, and many who knew him indulged the same hope, of his being a teacher, and a pillar in the Church of our blessed Lord; and this hope I would not have exchanged to have encircled his brow with the first earthly diadem.

He was now nine years old-cight days of anguish and sickness severed him from our arms for ever! Now I knew something of the cross of Jesus Christ, that cross which crucifies to the world, and the world to me; and, by the destruction of this our fondest earthly hope, I was led to realize the way in which I was to follow a Saviour, who, for my sake, became “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief."

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SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

By a late letter from New-Jersey, we learn, that five Sunday Schools have been recently established in the vicinity of Pittstown, (Hanterdon county.) The Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Quakers-all unite in promoting the good work. The females are very much engaged in the cause. The greater part of the Sabbath was formerly spent in idleness by many, who now delight in employing a considerable portion of that holy time in learning to read the Sacred Oracles, which are able to make them wise unto salvation, or in instructing others so to do. Both young and old commit to memory Scripture lessons and hymns.

The formation of these Schools has been greatly promoted by the zealous and active exertions of a pious female, who has devoted much of her time in going from place to place for the purpose of stirring up her sex to the exercise of this blessed charity. She has been indefatigable in giving instruction respecting the best manner of conducting the schools, in reading animating accounts of what has been done and is doing in other places, and the happy results which have crowned these benevolent undertakings.

Extract of a letter dated Chambersburg, (Penn.) 27th October 1816.

"We have now a Sunday School established in this place. Yesterday one hundred and fifty scholars attended. We have three rooms-one appropriated to the females, one to the male whites, and another to the blacks. I had heard of the interest excited by seeing old people using spectacles, learning the alphabet. We can realize it here. We have such in our school who appear particularly anxious to read. I hope our attempt will be pursued with perseverance, and produce the happy effects which result from these institutions in other places.

The third Quarterly Meeting of the New-York Sunday School Union Society, was held in the Rev. Mr. Spring's Church, on Monday the 4th inst.

Reports were read from twenty-two schools connected with the society, comprehending about 2500 learners. From six schools no communications were received.

The above reports were replete with interesting details, highly calculated to encourage the friends of the Institution in their arduous labours. The schools, in general, were shown to be in a prosperous state, and to have produced very beneficial effects, not only upon children, but upon parents and neighbourhoods. Numerous instances of distinguished attainments in learning and good behaviour, and some of reformation from immoral habits, were referred to; nor were there wanting cases of teachers and scholars having become hopefully pious in the schools. Nothing seemed wanting, from the views expressed in the reports, to the progress and complete efficacy of the system, but an accession of suitable teachers. Those already engaged, for the most part, are too deeply interested in their undertaking, and too sensible of its importance, to think of remitting their exertions. The object is, with the utmost solicitude, commended to the public, in the hope that the schools will not be suffered to decline and languish while their prosperity requires only the prompt and faithful attention of a larger number of competent instructors.

By order of the Board,

E. LORD, Secretary.

New Auxiliaries to the American Bible Society.

At a convention held in the Episcopal Church, Lexington, Sept. 26, 1816, pursuant to public notice, for the purpose of forming a Bible Society, auxiliary to the American Bible Society; Col. Gabriel Slaughter was called to the chair, and Messrs. James Fishback and Ebenezer Sharpe, appointed Secretaries.

After imploring the divine direction, the convention went into a very free and harmonious discussion of the measures proper to be pursued on the occasion-and particularly as to the propriety of forming a society, auxiliary to the "American Bible Society." In this discussion, persons of different religious opinions, and different political creeds, cordially participated.

The following resolution was then moved and seconded, and after several explanatory remarks, unanimously adopted

Resolved, That it is expedient now to form a Bible Society, which shall be auxiliary to "The American Bible Society."

A committee appointed for the purpose reported on the next day a constitution, which having been deliberately considered was unanimously adopted. We extract therefrom the following articles.

1. This Society shall be known by the name of the "Bible Soeiety of Kentucky, auxiliary to the American Bible Society," of which the sole object shall be to encourage a wider circulation of the holy Scriptures, without note or comment. The only copies in the English language to be circulated by the society shall be of the version now in common use.

2. This society shall add its endeavours to those employed by other societies, for circulating the Scriptures throughout the United States and their Territories.

5. All the surplus revenue of this society, after supplying the needy within the state of Kentucky, shall be put at the disposal of the American Bible Society.

The society then proceeded to the election of their officers for the ensuing year, when on counting the ballots, the following persons were found duly elected :—

His Excellency, Governor George Madison, President-Lieutenant Governor Gabriel Slaughter, Vice-President, Major Alex. Parker, Lexington, Treasurer, Rev. Silas M. Noel, Frankfort, Corresponding Society, Ebenezer Sharpe, Recording Secretary.

The Female Auxiliary Bible Society of the city of Hudson, (N. Y.) recently instituted. Elizabeth Mansfield, Principal Directress; Martha B. Stanton, Secretary.

The Amity Female Bible Society, (in Orange county, (N. Y.) Mary Brown, Secretary.

The Union College Bible Society, (N. Y.)

The Red Hook and Rhinebeck Bible Society, (N. Y.)

These make the number of Auxiliaries now known-to be fifty-eight.

VOL. II.]

THE

CHRISTIAN HERALD.

Saturday, November 16, 1816.

[No. 8.

To our worthy correspondent at Bristol (England) we are indebted for a communication of the following letters, which, through the kindness of the Rev. gentleman to whom they are addressed, have been forwarded to us in manuscript, for publication here. We have also received other letters confirming the heart cheering intelligence of the remarkable progress of the Gospel among the inhabitants of the South Sea Islands, and furnishing details of the most interesting description in relation to that blessed work; which shall appear in our subsequent numbers.

REV. AND DEAR SIR,

Camberwell, 1 Sept. 1816.

Yesterday we received a letter from the Brethren at Eimeo, dated 6 Sept. 1815, giving a pleasing account of the state of their affairs, except that poor Scott is no more! He has left a widow and two children. They had received (in May) a packet from us, as also your letters of July 22d, 1813, and December, 1813. They had also received from Sydney 400 copies of their New Testament History, and 900 Catechisms, and 100 Hymn Books. Brother Crook has been of great service in correcting them.

The work of God among the natives has prospered greatly; congregations large, and attendance on the means of instruction constant and encouraging. The worshippers of Jehovah increased rapidly both in Eimeo and Taheite. The priest of Papetoai has joined them, publicly burned his god; and others have followed his example. Morais were destroyed, altars overthrown, and the wood used to dress common food, of which different classes and sexes partook together.

Pomarre has been travelling from place to place to exhort the Chiefs to receive the Gospel. This, together with the rapid increase of the Bure Atua," or praying people, excited the rage of some Idolatrous Chiefs, who procured others to join in a conspiracy entirely to cut off the converts; but through the goodness of God, the scheme miscarried, and the parties who united in it, quarrelled-fought, and many were killed. Old animosities were revived, and the question of religion quite forgotten. Pomarre and the Christians have kept aloof from the quarrel, unhurt; confusion prevailed, and the Brethren were not without some degree of alarm; yet were composed, trusting in Him who has hitherto preserved them. At the close of their last monthly Prayer Meeting 39 more natives joined them, their number is 362, besides a VOL. II.-No. 8.

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