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much concerned about the education of my three children who attend this school. May the God of heaven protect and prosper the individuals who are the promoters of such institutions; for my desires for the education of my children would never have been accomplished, had not Providence sent a free school to my very door."'

From D. B-, an Itinerant Reader. 1822.

"The schools I visited on my way to S-, are going on well. Mr. H-, of B—, has, as usual, a good school. I found his house crowded with pupils, who are truly instructed in the ways of God; and notwithstanding the many attempts made, in the commencement, by the enemies of truth, to put a total stop to the proceedings of this school, yet it stands as firm as a rock. Upwards of 90 pupils daily attend; the principal part of whom are Catho lics, whose improvement in know ledge manifests that the labours of the Society are not in vain. In this house I saw the poor distressed inhabit ants of the town, and its vicinity, re Heved. This is the storehouse for the poor; and the gentlemen of the neigh bourhood have appointed Mr. H- to distribute meal and potatoes. It was truly pleasing to behold the temporal wants of the adults relieved, and, at the same time, their little ones receiving spiritual food from the Word of God."

From J. B-, a Locul Reader. 1822. “On the 31st ultimo, I went to a place called G-, and read the Scriptures to many individuals who were assembled there. They were very attentive, and expressed their gratitude for the opportunity of hearing the Word of Life. One of them said, I am satisfied that the reading of the Scriptures inakes a great change in people for the better; two of my children, when I lived in B-, attended the free school: before they went, they were very disobedient and stubborn; but they had not been six months there, before a very great change was seen in their conduct. They each obtained a Testament, which they read to us of an evening while attending to their tasks; so that they were a blessing to us.""

From TM--, a Schoolmaster. 1822.

"In July 1818, I gave a Testament to a Roman Catholic, named J-S-, who promised me that he would read one chapter every day. He had not read long, before he found so much pleasure

in it, that he did not confine himself to one chapter, but read on, and conversed about Jesus Christ, and what he accomplished for sinners, as revealed in the Scriptures. I trust this man, and part of his family, have experienced a real change of character, and are delivered from the power of sin."

From W-C-, a Local Reader. 1822.

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"On the 16th instant, I set off early to a village called C-; and on my way. met with a man who invited me to his house, where a pilgrim had lodged the preceding night, on his way to L-. On my arrival, I found the pilgrim preparing for his journey. In the course of conversation, I asked him how he expected to get to heaven. He gave me a long account of his works; that he was to fast on one meal a day till he arrived at the holy Lough, and was then to punish his body by fasting and performing stations, and that this was the only way to everlasting life. answered, that if this was the only way of salvation, Christ in his word had uttered an untruth. He replied, that he was ignorant of the Scriptures, and he could not read Irish. I then read to him such portions of Scripture as were calculated to inform his judgment, which appeared to produce a good effect; for, on my closing the book, he, with tears in his eyes, inquired where he could purchase an English Testament; that he came from a remote part of the C-of M-, and never heard a word of the Testament before. I presented him with my English Testament; on which he lifted up his hands and eyes to heaven, and thanked God, the Society, and me, for the book, which he said he esteemed the greatest treasure in the world. He proceeded no further in his intended journey, but returned home rejoicing, with his Testament in his pocket."

From P. C. an Itinerant Reader. 1822.

"Sunday, the 16th of June, I travelled through the country, reading the Scriptures: I was warmly received by most of the people. The 30th, I entered into the next parish with my Bible. I travelled a great deal, and read to many. They are particularly fond of the Irish here. I was received very kindly by them, although they are supposed to be a cruel and wicked people. They gave me an invitation to come again to them. Superstition prevails very much among them, and the most evil practices are indulged in. Most of those now under

sentence of death in Sligo, are from this parish. I read to some of the aged parents of these unhappy individuals, who were very much affected; saying, if their children had followed the advice of my good Irish book, they never would have been brought to their present untimely end."

From P. K-. 1822.

"On the 15th, I visited the county jail, and heard the Testament classes in different wards read; in number, 54. It is gratifying to the Society to find, that through their meaus are diffused the blessed fruits of education among such a circle of adult peasantry, who come here from time to time, and who acquire such considerable improvement in their morals from reading the Scriptures, as to dispel the mist of discord and igno. rance, with their attendant train of vices and of crimes, and to elevate them to a moral practice of good order and harmony. There is, also, much reason to hope, that those criminals who are discharged from this place, instead of a curse, will prove a blessing to their families and neighbours, in reading their Testaments to them, which they are allowed to take with them on leaving prison."

From T-P-, a Local Reader. 1822. "When I take a view of this county, at the present period, and compare it with what it was when I first came to it, I am lost in astonishment at the progress which the word of God has made. Every day's experience affords fresh encouragement to continued exertions.

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"The present season of distress has convinced the poor of the effects of the Gospel. Surely,' they exclaim, good ministers round the country, who distribute the money sent from England, prove themselves to be good Christians, by their feeling for the poor.'”

PROPOSED BRITISH AND IRISH

LADIES' ASSOCIATION. The Ladies' Committee for contributing clothing towards the relief of the distressed Irish, have urged the formation of a permanent Society, under the title of "The British and Irish Ladies' Association," for improving the condition and promoting the industry of the Female Peasantry in Ireland. The following extracts from their circular address, will shew the nature of their proposed plans.

"The intercourse which has lately taken place between Great Britain and

Ireland, is of the greatest importance to both countries. It is to be hoped that the two parts of the empire are now bound together by the strongest and most affectionate ties-the pleasure of relieving, and the gratitude with which relief has been received. The acknowledgments of the Irish people have been as warm and as sincere as the British subscription has been liberal, Correspondence has been opened between the charitable and benevolent on both sides of the channel; the nations have been made better known to each other, prejudices have been forgotten, new sources of sympathy are opened, enlarged powers of usefulness are created. This kind spirit of benevolence will, it may be hoped, long survive the calamity which gave it birth; and Ireland may perhaps find, in her season of adversity, not only lessons of virtue, but the spring of permanent improvement. Indeed the present opportunity is one so peculiarly suited to the commencement of the great work of improving the condition of the Irish Poor, that it would be lamentable if it were to be lost. The hearts of the peasantry are now opened by kindness, and their minds are now softened to receive any impression made upon them by intelli. gence and experience. A moral impulse may now be given; advice and assistance may now be offered; and the be. neficial effects produced on the peasantry may be rendered both strong and permanent.

"English ladies are endeavouring, by providing supplies of clothing, to mitigate the misery which, to a peasantry forced to sacrifice clothes and bedding for food, the approaching winter can, not fail to produce. But they do not wish to confine their efforts to this temporary benefit. Without overstepping those bounds of reserve which duty and inclination prescribe to their sex, and without undertaking a task which belongs to the more powerful part of society, it has appeared to them, that if they can unite with the country women of the unhappy sufferers, they may assist in the great work of general improvement in Ireland. Among the female peasantry of Ireland is to be found the greatest anxiety for occupation, combined with almost a total want of employment; hundreds and thousands of hands are idle for want of means of working; poor females, who, if possessed of a spinning-wheel, would be ena

bled to clothe their children, and even to contribute to the maintenance of their families, are without the means of procuring the implements required for their domestic manufacture of linen. In some instances, spinning-wheels are hired by the poor to enable them to prosecute their industry, and wherever the experiment has been tried of assisting the female poor by instruction in useful labour,it appears to have been successful." The object of this Association will be, to open a correspondence with ladies in Ireland, and to invite them to form themselves into local committees. The means intended to be used for improving the condition of the Irish female peasantry, are, Visiting their families, and obtaining a knowledge of their si tuation; Exciting them to habits of in. dustry, cleanliness, and attention to domestic duty; Endeavouring to procure employment for poor women at their own dwellings; Visiting the sick, providing temporary assistance in the loan of linen, &c. and procuring medical advice where necessary; Encouraging them to send their children to schools; and assisting them in any other way which circumstances may require.

We copy the following remarks, on some of the means of permanently benefiting the Irish peasantry, from a letter from Archdeacon Jebb, to the Committee for the distressed Irish, dated Abington Glebe, Limerick, Sept. 2, 1822.

"I shall now endeavour to offer those suggestions which have occurred to me, respecting the principle, and mode of applying the balance in the hands of the London Committee, to the best advantage.

"The principle, I think, should be, to do at once the most permanent, and the most extended good in your power. Now that alone, in aiding the population of a country, is permanent good, which will encourage, and gradually enable them, by honest industry, to provide for themselves: and, on this principle, (except in cases of urgent calamity, like the occasion which called forth the unexampled liberality of England this year,) gifts of money, of food, of clothing, are, I conceive to be deprecated, especially where the Irish are concerned, in whom it should be our great object to elicit and cherish, what, from long mismanagement, is deplorably wanting among us—a spirit of independence. And again, that only can be extended good which is adminis

tered by those who can raise themselves above party interests, and feel for the welfare of a community, instead of giving themselves to a system of local petty jobbing. The attention of the county of Limerick Agricultural Society, I find, is particularly directed to encourage the growth of flax, the spinning of yarn, and the manufacture of linen: and they will, I presume, be the best instrumental agents for dif fusing the disposable bounty of the London Committee, in the manner best calculated to promote the increase of industry among our peasantry.

"But, with a view both to permanent and extended benefit, I have an additional plan to suggest. It does not seem to me enough, that aid towards the purchase of flax, flax-seeds, spinning and weaving implements, &c. should be distributed through the different parishes of this country. To introduce a new manufacture, which, to all intents and purposes, the linen manufacture here is, we want, in some one or more places of the county, an establishment, that shall be at once experimental and exemplary: experimental, to ascertain the best mode of manufacturing; exemplary, to exhibit the beneficial effects of that mode, and gradually to induce, and extend its adoption, throughout this county in particular, and the south of Ireland in general."

"The introduction of scutching mills, of spinning schools, and of weaving schools, is indispensable, in order to bring the south to the level of the north, in the article of the linen manufacture. And it seems most desirable, that, in some one or more places, an establish. ment embracing all these objects should be set on foot, by the way, at once, of experiment and of example."

It is pleasing to find the benevolent writer adding: “The people of this country are overflowing with gratitude to their English fellow-subjects. More, I trust, has been done in this single year than in past centuries, towards a real union of the countries. One little anecdote I will mention. My friend, Mr. Forster, in a ride the other morning, fell in with a party of our peasants. One man said, ' But for the English, the people would have perished in the ditches, and we should now have a plague in the country.' Another, a ve. nerable old man, then, calmly, but with profound emotion, said, 'God bless them for their goodness!' and, after a short

pause, added, "And He will bless them!' These are the very words, and this is but a fair specimen of the prevalent feeling."

AMERICAN PROTESTANT EPIS

COPAL CONVENTIONS. Many of our readers having expressed great interest in the state of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, it may be gratifying to them to be presented with a few passages from the minutes of the proceed. ings of some recent diocesan Conventions of that church. We have selected the following miscellaneous particulars from the reports of their proceedings contain edin the last twelve or fourteen Numbers of the "Gospel Advocate," an American Episcopal periodical publication noticed in our Literary Intelligence.

Pennsylvania Convention. Attached to the society for the advancement of Christianity in Pennsylvania, is a Female Tract Society, which continue their exertions in publications, small in size, but eminently instructive."

The Prayer-book Society. in consequence of gratuitous distributions beyond their means, are obliged to confine themselves to sell to subscribers at the least possible price; and by this economy hope to retrieve their affairs.

"The Sunday-school Society," the bishop observes, " are pursning the object for which they were associated. It should be understood, that the object is distinct from that of any Sonday-school society formed for giving instruction. It is merely for the cheaper supplying of societies of the latter description, with elementary and other necessary books; and in this work they are likely to be nseful."

The bishop recommends to the clergy to consider the importance of the fund of the society for the widows and children of deceased clergymen; and he very delicately brings to the view of the convention" the design of creating a fund for the support of a future bishop, so as to relieve him from the necessity of having a parochial cure."

On the subject of the Bible Society, the bishop thus remarks: "Although the Bible Society of this city is not peculiarly attached to our communion, yet, as their object is not only of supreme importance, but one in which all denominations of Christians agree, and as it contributes its share to the great design of publishing the glad tidings of salvation where they have been hitherto unknown,

and of depositing the record of them in the hands of the destitute in all countries, nominally Christian, it has been presented to the notice of the conventions for sundry years past; and, under continuance of the impression, there is now declared a deep conviction of the importance of the subject.”

Connecticut Convention.

، The convention was well attended, both by clergy and laity; and it must be gratifying to the friends of the church, to be informed, that the returns of contributions from the various parishes in the diocese, for the support of imissions, have much increased, and that a growing zeal for the general canse of religion, and for the particular interest of our Zion, was uniformly manifested on this

occasion."

Mussachusetts Contention.

The following representation respecting the Massachusetts Protestant Episcopal Missionary Society, and trustees of the Bible, Prayer-book, and Tract Society, was read.

"The Directors of the Massachusetts Episcopal Missionary Society ask leave respectfully to represent to the convention the objects, condition, and prospects of this society; and to solicit their countenance and co-operation.

"This Society was incorporated by an act of the legislature in 1815, by the name of the Massachusetts Episcopal Missionary Society, and trustees of the Massachusetts Episcopal Prayer-book and Tract Society.' It was soon after organized, and has since been continued in existence by an annual election of officers on EasterTuesday. But little else has been done until the present year. On the fourth of February last, a meeting of the friends of the church, called at the request of the society, was held in Boston, at which, and at an adjourned meeting, the subject was fully discussed; and measures were adopted to provide means to enable the society to go into operation. Subscriptions were opened, from which a considerable sum has already been obtained; and more, it is expected, will be received. The sum of 565 dollars has been already subscribed in this town, to be paid annually, and more than 300 dollars have been given in donations to the society.

. “At the same meeting, a committee was appointed to correspond with all the Episcopal Churches in the Commonwealth, for the purpose of procuring the establishment of an Auxiliary Society in

each church. A circular letter has accordingly been addressed to each church, stating the objects of the society, with a request for assistance. It is not yet time to expect a full return from all the churches; but very encouraging accounts have been received from several, of the exertions which are making in behalf of this society.

"The objects of the society are to assist the destitute churches in our own State, in providing themselves with the means of religion; and as we shall be able to extend the same assistance to other destitute portions of cur country, and hereafter, if sufficient funds should be provided, to other countries. It is also a prominent object, to provide Prayer-books for the poor, either to be sold to them at a very low rate, or, in some instances, to be distributed gratuitously. The funds now in hand will enable us to begin the prosecution of these objects, although ou a very limited scale.

The committee for missions have not -as yet been able to do more in the prosecution of the designs entrusted to them, than to collect some information as to the portions of our church which stand in the most urgent need of aid from the society. They have been prevented from doing more by the want of clergymen to act as missionaries."

South Carolina Convention.

The bishop, who is a strenuous advocate for Sunday schools, remarks: "I will detain you from the business of the convention no longer than until I have again expressed to my brethren of the clergy my earnest desire, that, wherever it is not found, as the result of much endeavour, utterly impracticable, Sunday schools should be instituted by them, having for their object, chiefly, the Christian instruction of the poor, and the lowly in condition, (whatever be their colour), and their children."

The rector of St. John's, Berkley, made the following interesting report on the instructionof the People of Colour. "I cannot forbear stating a fact, which, to every unprejudiced mind, must tend to recommend this labour of love. Among those whom I have instructed, and afterwards baptized, are two men, who from their frequent intoxication, (nay habitual drunkenness,) had become almost useless to their owners, but who, since they have joined the church, have completely reformed, and are valuable to their masters. One has been a communicant upwards of three years, and, within CHRIST, OBSERV, No. 521.

that period, has never been known to be intoxicated once, though intrusted with a responsible office on the plantation, where he would not fail to be observed, yet where opportunities for indulgence would not be wanting: he therefore has given sufficient proof of his reformation. The other became a member of the church, through baptism, last May; and, although he has not undergone the same length of trial, yet he lately gave a strong manifestation of the sincerity of his profession, by manfully resisting an inveterate habit, when opportunity threw femptation in his way he has likewise regained the good will and approbation of his master."

Maryland Convention.

On the occasion of administering priest's orders to the Reverend Mr. Judah, in his own church, the bishop observes;-" Such was the impression made by this solemn and sacred service, in a place where perhaps it had never before been performed, that a pious and judicious layman remarked to me, that it would be of great service to the church to ordain ministers as often as I could in their own churches. And I was so fully convinced of the correctness of this remark, that I have in every case, when circumstances would admit, and my own parochial duties would allow, yielded to such requests: and I mean to continue to yield to them whenever my obligations to my own people will authorize me."

New Jersey Convention.

We notice with pleasure the judicious practice, adopted in New Jersey, of appointing, at each convention, the parochial clergy to perform missionary duties in the vacant parishes. These duties are not so likely to be neglected, when to each clergyman is assigned his proper sphere of action, and he is required to report his proceedings at the stated annual meetings.

The Liturgy, constantly used, will preserve a church in the worst of times. This has been strikingly evinced in the State of New Jersey. Originally settled by the Swedes and Dutch, and, when it became an English province, inhabited chiefly by Quakers and Baptists, it was not till the year 1701, that any congregation existed there in communion with the Church of England. When the revolutionary war menced, a few scattered congregations had been formed under six or seven missionaries, sent over by the society 5 D

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