Page images
PDF
EPUB

MONTHLY RECORD.

Clerical Convention.-The attention of the religious community has for some months past been very generally directed to the late revivals in Troy and in Oneida County, New-York, some differences of sentiment having arisen among the friends of revivals respecting measures pursued in those places. These differences gave rise to a Convention of ministers, which was held at New Lebanon, New-York, in July, by special invitation from Dr. Beecher of Boston, and Mr. Beman of Troy.Of the brethren who were considered as duly invited, there were present, Rev. Asahel S. Norton, D. D. of Clinton, N. Y. Lyman Beecher, D. D. Boston, Mass. Moses Gillett, Rome, N. Y. Nathan S. S. Beman, Troy, N. Y. Dirck C. Lansing, D. D. Auburn, N. Y. Heman Humphrey, D. D. Amherst College, Mass. John Frost, Whitesborough, N. Y. Asahel Nettleton, Connecticut, William R. Weeks, Paris, N. Y. Justin Edwards, Andover, Mass. Henry Smith, Camden, N. Y. and Charles G. Finney, Oneida Co. N. Y. Absent, Rev. David Porter, D. D. Cattskill, N. Y. Alvin Hyde, D. D, Lee, Mass, Samuel Tomb, Salem, N. Y. Joel T. Benedict, Chatham, N. Y. Eliphalet Nott, D. D. Union College, N. Y. Thomas McAuley, D.D. New York, Gardiner Spring, D.D. New York, James Patterson, Philadelphia, Henry R. Weed, Albany, N. Y. Samuel C. Aikin, Utica, N. Y. Thomas H. Skinner, D. D. Philadelphia, and Edwin Dwight, Richmond, Mass.-The Rev. Caleb J. Tenny, of Wethersfield, and the Rev. Joel Hawes, of Hartford, Conn. being present by invitation from Dr. Beecher, the Rev. George W. Gale, of the Oneida Academy, N. Y. being present by invitation from Mr. Frost, and the Rev. Silas Churchill, Minister of the place,-it was voted that they be invited to take a seat as members of this Convention.

The object of the Convention, as appears from the minutes of the meeting, was "to see in what respects there is an agreement between brethren from different portions of the country, in regard to principles and measures

in conducting and promoting revivals of religion." The Convention was in session for more than a week, was conducted with a spirit of tenderness, and the discussions were interspersed with seasons of prayer. The propositions that came under discussion, and the votes taken on them, were as follows.

That revivals of true religion are the work of God's Spirit, by which in a comparatively short period of time, many persons are convinced of sin, and brought to the exercise of repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. That the preservation and extension of true religion in our land have been much promoted by these revivals. That, according to the Bible, and the indications of Providence, greater and more glorious revivals are to be expected, than have ever yet existed.That, though revivals of religion are the work of God's Spirit, they are produced by means of divine truth and human instrumentality, and are liable to be advanced or hindered by measures which are adopted in conducting them. The idea that God ordinarily works independently of human instrumentality, or without any reference to the adaptation of means to ends, is unscriptural. -There may be some variety in the mode of conducting revivals, according to local customs, and there may be relative imperfections attending them, which no doubt destroy the purity of the work and its permanent and general good influence upon the church and the world: and, in such cases, good men, while they lament these imperfections, may rejoice in the revival as the work of God.--There may be so much human infirmity, and indiscretion, and wickedness of man, in conducting a revival of religion, as to render the general evils which flow from this infirmity, indiscretiou, and wickedness of man, greater than the local and temporary advantages of the revival; that is, this infirmity, indiscretion, and wickedness of man, may be the means of preventing the con version of more souls than may have been converted during the revival. In view of these considerations, we re

gard it as eminently important, that there should be a general understanding among ministers and churches, in respect to those things which are of a dangerous tendency, and are not to be countenanced. The above propositions were voted unanimously.In social meetings of men and women, for religious worship, females are not to pray. Nine voted in favour of the proposition, and nine declined voting.

-There may be circumstances in which it may be proper for a female to pray in the presence of men. Eight voted in favour of the proposition, and ten declined voting.--It is improper for any person to appoint meetings in the congregations of acknowledged ministers of Christ, or to introduce any measures to promote or conduct revivals of religion, without first having obtained the approbation of said ministers. Thirteen voted in favour of the proposition, and five declined Voting. Those meetings for social religious worship. in which all speak according to their own inclinations, are improper; and all meetings for religious worship ought to be under the presiding influence of some person or persons. Voted unanimously.The calling of persons by name in public prayer ought to be carefully avoided. Ten voted in the affirmative, seven in the negative, and one declined to vote. The calling of persons by name in social prayer ought to be carefully avoided. Eight voted in favour of the proposition, and nine declined voting.Audible groaning in prayer, is, in all ordinary cases, to be discouraged; and violent gestures, and boisterous tones, in the same exercise, are improper. Fourteen voted in favour of the proposition, and three declined voting. Speaking against ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ, in regular standing, as cold, stupid, or dead, as unconverted, or enemies to revivals, as heretics, or enthusiasts, or disorganizers, as deranged or mad, is improper. Sixteen voted in favour of it, and one declined voting.—-The existence in the churches of evangelists, in such numbers as to constitute an influence in the community, separate from that of the settled pastors, and the introduction, by evangelists, of measures, without consulting the pastors, or

contrary to their judgment and wishes, by an excitement of popular feeling which may seem to render acquiescence unavoidable, is to be carefully guarded against, as an evil which is calculated, or at least liable, to destroy the institution of a settled ministry, and fill the churches with confu sion and disorder. Voted unanimous. ly.--Language adapted to irritate, on account of its manifest personality, such as describing the character, designating the place, or any thing which will point out an individual or individuals before the assembly, as the subjects of invidious remark, is, in public prayer and preaching, to be avoided. Twelve voted in favour of the proposition, and five declined voting.. All irreverent familiarity with God, such as men use towards their equals, or which would not be proper for an affectionate child to use towards a worthy parent, is to be avoided. Voted unanimously. From the temporary success of uneducated and ardent young men, to make invidious comparisons between them and settled pastors; to depreciate the value of education, or introduce young men as preachers without the usual qualifications, is incorrect and unsafe. Voted unanimously.To state things which are not true, or not supported by evidence, for the purpose of awakening sinners, or to represent their condition as more hopeless than it really is, is wrong. Voted unanimously.

Unkindness and disrespect to superiors in age or station, is to be carefully avoided. Voted unanimously.

-In promoting and conducting revivals of religion, it is unsafe, and of dangerous tendency, to connive at acknowledged errors, through fear that enemies will take advantage from our attempt to correct them. Voted unanimously.

-The immediate success of any measure, without regard to its scriptural character, or its future and permanent consequences, does not justify that measure, or prove it to be right. Voted unanimously.--Great care should be taken to discriminate between holy and unholy affections, and to exhibit with clearness the scriptural evidences of true religion. Voted unanimously.--No measures are to be adopted in promoting and conducting revivals of religion, which

those who adopt them are unwilling to have published, or which are not proper to be published to the world. Voted unanimously.--As human instrumentality must be employed in promo, ting revivals of religion, some things undesirable may be expected to accompany them; and as these things are often proclaimed abroad and magnified, great caution should be exercised in listening to unfavourable report. Eleven voted in favour of the propositton, and six declined voting. -Although revivals of religion may be so improperly conducted, as to be attended with disastrous consequences to the church and the souls of men; yet, it is also true, that the best conducted revivals are liable to be stigmatized and opposed by luke-warm professors and the enemies of evangelical truth. Eleven vote in favour of the proposition, and six declined voting. Attempts to remedy evils existing in revivals of religion, may, through the infirmity and indiscretion and wickedness of man, do more injury, and ruin more souls, than those evils which such attempts are intended to correct. Nine voted in favour of the proposition, and eight declined voting.In public meetings for religious worship, composed of men and women, females are not to pray. Nine voted in favour of the proposition, and eight declined voting.- -The wri

ting of letters to individuals in the congregations of acknowledged ministers, or circulating letters which have been written by others, complaining of measures which may have been employed in revivals of religion; or visiting the congregations of such ministers, and conferring with opposers, without conversing with the ministers of such places, and speaking against measures which have been adopted; or for ministers residing in the congregations of settled pastors to pursue the same course; thus strengthening the hands of the wicked, and weakening the hands of settled pastors, are breaches of Christian charity, and ought to be carefully avoided. Nine voted in favour of the proposition, and eight declined voting. In preaching the Gospel, language ought not to be employed with the intention of irrita ting or giving offence; but, that preaching is not the best adapted to do good and save souls, which the

seven

hearer does not perceive to be applicable to his own character. Ten voted in favour of the proposition, and declined voting.- -Evening meetings continued to an unreasonable hour, ought to be studiously avoided. Voted unanimously.---In accounts of revivals of religion, great care should be taken that they be not exaggerated. Voted unanimously.

The Bible in New-Jersey.-At a late meeting of the Nassau Hall Bible Society in the College Chapel, the following resolution, after an animated discussion was unanimously adopted: That this Society, in dependence on divine aid, and in co-operation with the several Bible Societies of the State, will if possible, within a year, cause every destitute family in this State to be supplied with a copy of the Bible. To carry this noble resolution into effect, a very liberal subscription was immediately commenced; volunteer agents, from the College and Seminary, to the number of thirty, have engaged, during the next vacation, to explore every corner of the State, to ascertain the number and places of the destitute; and agents have been appointed to visit all the local Bible Societies of the State, to rouse them to exertion in the great cause.

Religion in Louisiana.-In this State are only three Presbyterian churches: : one at New Orleans--one at Baton Rouge-and one at Jackson, a few miles from the southern boundary of Mississippi, where the gospel is preached statedly, but once a month. The Methodists have a few regular societies, and there are also a few Baptists; but the great majority of the people are either nominally Roman Catholics, or unbelievers. A few years since, it was rare to find among the wealthy and fashionable, one that professed to believe in the inspiration of the Scriptures; and in many parts of the country, the same spirit of infidelity still remains.

Burmah.-A letter from the Rev. Dr. Judson, brings the unwelcome intelligence of the failure of his late mission to the Burman empire. He had accompanied an English embassy to the government of Ava, as interpreter; and a principal object of the mission

was to obtain from the emperor, a free toleration of religion in his dominions. But he found it impossible to effect any thing favourable, on account of the reluctance which the government feel to enter into any stipulations with foreign powers.--Our mission to that country, however, need not be wholly discouraged; for the cessions of territory made to the British by a late treaty, will give them room for their operations, without embarrassment from the government, for a considerable time to come.

Marshal Von Bulow.--This Prussian general who brought up the army of reserve at Waterloo, and by whom the fate of that bloody day was decided, is now exciting considerable interest in the Christian community, by his zeal in the cause of Christ. He is said to have been converted to Christ in the year 1818, after several months of extreme anxiety and wretchedness. In 1819, he visited Norway, distributing Bibles, and imparting religious iustruction. In 1826 he visited the whole coast from Christiana to Drontheim, preached the gospel at sixty different places, distributed some hundreds of copies of the Scriptures, and six or seven thousand tracts. He was ordained in London in Feb last, and is now a missionary, under the patronage of the Continental Society in London, for the Propagation of the Gospel in Europe.

Donations,--To the American Board, for the month ending July 20th, $6,034,80.

To the American Colonization Society from July 25th, to Aug. 15th, $1,257,47.

POLITICAL.

Greece and Turkey.-Very late arrivals from Europe bring intelligence of a Treaty for effecting peace between the Ottoman Porte and Greece, signed at London by the plenipotentiaries of Great Britain, France, and Russia. This treaty is accompanied by an additional and secret article, determining the measures to be adopted, in case the parties do not, within one month, accept the mediation proposed.

The primary object of this treaty is, to put an end to the hostilities waging

between the two countries, and thereby to stop the effusion of human blood, and arrest the evils of all kinds which might arise from the continuance of the present state of things. Its next object is, to secure for Greece a government, which, if not actually independent of the Porte, shall possess many of the advantages of independence; and in the attainment of these objects the high contracting powers bind themselves not to seek any accessions of territory, any exclusive influence. or any commercial advantage for their subjects, which the subjects of any other nation may not equally obtain.

The secret article, which, as in most other treaties, is the most important, stipulates that it shall be announced to the Porte that the high contracting parties intend to send consular agents to Greece, and that if the Porte do not accept, in one month, the armistice proposed, or the Greeks refuse to sign it, the high contracting parties will conjointly employ all their means in the accomplishment of their object, without, however, taking any part in the hostilities between the two contending parties. And finally, if these measures should fail, the high powers will continue to prosecute the work of pacification, for which purpose they authorize their representatives in London to discuss and determine the ulterior measures to which it may become

necessary to resort.

What will be the result of this interference, it is perhaps, at present, idle to conjecture. The Porte has of late gained too many advantages not to be desirous to propose his own terms of pacification. Most of the provinces lost in his six years contest have been retaken; the Greeks have retired before him to the verge of their country, with scarcely sufficient courage to retain their last hold. If with these advantages he accept the armistice, we are inclined to believe that it will be only in obedience to the ulterior measures" of the interfering powers. And desperate as is the condition of the Greeks, they have little to hope from any interference which shall not contribute to the attainment of the independence for which they have so long struggled.

MISCELLANEOUS. Connecticut Retreat for the Insane.The treatment of patients in this Institution is somewhat peculiar, and, as appears from its recent report, is very successful. 66 During the last year," say the Committee, "there has been admitted twenty-three recent cases, of which twenty-one have recovered, a number equivalent to 91 3-10 per cent. The whole number of recent cases in the Institution during the year was twenty-eight, of which twenty-five have recovered-equal to 89 2-10 per

cent.

At two of the most ancient and celebrated Institutions of the same kind in Great Britain the percentage of recent cases, has been from thirty-four to fifty-four. In our own country at two highly respectable Institutions the recent cases cured have amounted to, from 25 to 51 per cent."

The following is the method of treatment.

"In respect to the moral and intellectual treatment, the first business of the Physician, on the admission of a patient, is, to gain his entire confidence. With this view, he is treated with the greatest kindness, however violent his conduct may be,--is allowed all the liberty which his case admits of, and is made to understand, if he is still capable of reflection, that so far from having arrived at a madhouse, where he is to be confined, he has come to a pleasant and peaceful residence, where all kindness and attention will be shown him, and where every means will be employed for the recovery of his health. In case coercion and confinement become necessary, it is impressed upon his mind, that this is not done for the purpose of punishment, but for his own safety, and that of his keepers. In no case is deception on the patient employed, or allowed.-On the coutrary the greatest frankness, as well as kindness forms a part of the moral treatment. His case is explained to him, and he is made to understand, as far as possible, the reasons why the treatment to which he is subjected has become necessary.

By this course, of intellectual management, it has been found, as a matter of experience at our Institution, that patients, who had always been raving when confined without being

told the reason, and refractory, when commanded instead of being intreated, soon became peaceable and docile.

In respect to the medical and dietetic treatment, it also varies essentially in the main, from the course adopted at other hospitals. Formerly patients labouring under mental diseases were largely medicated, chiefly by emetics, cathartics and bleeding. At the present time this mode of treatment has given place to intellectual and dietetic regimen, in most European hospitals. The Physician of our Institution has introduced a course of practice, differing from both these, but partaking more or less of each. He combines moral and medical treatment founded upon the principles of mental philosophy and physiology. In one class of cases moral, and in another medical treatment, become the paramount remedies, out in each class of cases, both are combined."

Christian Liberality.-Several gentlemen of Rochester, N. Y., says the Albany Christian Register, have offered 1000 dollars each, to aid the American Bible Society in publishing and circulating the Scriptures in the Spanish language in South America, on condition that 100 similar subscriptions can be obtained in the United States in the years 1827 and '28. Two or three others at the west, on hearing of this proposition, it is said, have offered the same; and we doubt not that the whole number may be obtained in less than six months. There is something animating and elevating in designs of this

sort.

The London Missionary Society have engaged Rev. W. Ellis, missionary from the Sandwich Island 3, and Rev. J. Edmonds from India, to visit Ireland, with a view of promoting the interests of the society in that country. For the same purpose they have sent to Scotland, Rev. Dr. Philip, from S. Africa, and Rev. H. Townley, from India.

Sales of Ladies' Work took place in London, May 17 and 18, for the India Female Education Fund, which amounted to $650. For the Newfoundland School Society, $348. For the Negro-Children Education Society, $533. April 21 and 27, for the

« PreviousContinue »