"But in presenting this picture, enlivened as it is by the glowing features of zeal, benevolence and perseverance, a deep expression of regret cannot be suppressed, that there is still a vast mass of ignorant population in this city. The theatre of action is still wide, and the incitements to new and increasing efforts, are perpetually before our eyes. No expedients should be neglected to raise fresh and more powerful combinations, to carry forward the grand work of reform, that grows out of moral and religious instruction, and to spread knowledge throughout all the ranks of society. Here is the watch-tower of our strength-here is a wall of defence that never fails, unless its sentinels slumber on their posts." (To be concluded.) NEW-YORK SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION SOCIETY.. The Twentieth Quarterly Meeting was held in the Methodist Church in John-street, on Thursday evening the 28th of January. At 7 o'clock, Col. VARICK, President of the society, took the chair. Prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr. Spicer, and in pursuance of a rule of the society, the Constitution was read by the President. The number of schools under the care of this society is thirty-eight, but owing to the severity of the weather, many of the superintendents and teachers were prevented from attending, and only 19 reports were presented and read. Since the last quarterly meeting there has been considerable increase in the number of pupils, and the schools generally are in a prosperous condition. The number of passages of Scripture brought forward by the scholars, to prove the questions propounded to them by the Visiting Committee, have been almost innumerable, and exceedingly appropriate. This part of the exercises cannot be too highly commended, nor too much attended to. We consider it much more useful than committing to me. mory long lessons of Scripture, which the time of the teacher will barely allow him to hear recited, and the pupil will be dismissed without any catechetical instruction. Unless the pupil be questioned, and examined closely on what he commits, he may, indeed, repeat whole chapters without the book, and gain the premiums for such exercises, and attain to a high place in the school, but the other powers of his mind will not be exercised, and therefore not improved; and in a short time he will be unable to recollect scarcely a single passage which before he repeated so fluently. We conceive a great injury may thus be done to the pupil, while the memory only is called into action, and the other faculties of the mind remain dormant. We would by no means dissuade from the practice in our schools of committing the Holy Scriptures to memory; our only object is to guard it within proper limits, that it may "be done to edifying." After the reading of the reports, Divie Bethune, and James Eastburn, Esqrs. addressed the meeting. We have not room to notice the excellent and appropriate observations made by these gentlemen, and must conclude this article with a few short extracts from some of the reports. School No. XXII. Attached to the Mission Church in Banckerstreet. While some of our number appear to profit but little from the instructions they receive, we are pleased to observe in others a visible improvement, both in behaviour and in attention to their studies. The Testament class is divided into two sections, and consists of 17 boys. During the quarter this class has committed to memory 6047 verses of Scripture. A small library has been collected for the benefit of this and the female school attached to the same church; the effects of which we trust will prove beneficial. On a review of the past, we feel that we have not laboured entirely in vain. It is our duty to sow the seed, but we must look to the Lord of the harvest for the former and the latter rain: He alone can give complete success to our efforts. We acknowledge our obligations to those gentlemen of the Visiting Committee on whom the duty of visiting this school the past quarter has devolved.* We think their influence is sensibly felt both by teachers and scholars; and if our united efforts are accompanied with a feeling sense of our dependence on God, and with a spirit of earnest prayer for the out-pouring of His Spirit on our schools, we may confidently hope that many of these children will have abundant reason to bless God that they have enjoyed the privilege of attending a sabbath school. School No. XXIlI.-Baptist Church in Vandam-street.-We lament to record the following extract from our school journal "December 18.-The usual exercises of the school were remitted this afternoon, and the time occupied in prayer and an address from the superintendent, in consequence of the sudden death of a learner, in each school. We trust that this dispensation of a wise Providence will work together for our good; making us, one and all, more diligent in the performance of our whole duty." The youth who, as stated in our last report, was the first fruits of the labours in this department of the Sunday school, has since joined us as a teacher, and gives the most satisfactory and pleasing proofs of a change of heart. Our school is conducted by two superintendents, a secretary, and 14 teachers, all regular in their attendance. The average of attendance is 136 for the last quarter, and we have had at times, during that period, 158 present. There are about four or five on the sick list, including two lads under the care of the Eye Infirmary. * Expressions similar to this we are happy to find in almost every report. Referring to both the male and female schools, NEW-YORK RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY. The ninth anniversary of this society was celebrated on Wednesday evening, the 21st ult. in the Cedar-street Church. The meeting was opened with prayer by the Rev. John Knox, President of the society. After the Annual Report was read, the Rev. W. Patten delivered an address, and the exercises were concluded with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Romeyn. MISSION TO THE OSAGES OF THE Missouri. The religious exercises preparatory to the departure of this mission, consisting of about 30 persons, will take place on Monday evening next, at 7 o'clock, in the church in Murray-streeet, and on Tuesday evening in the Middle Dutch Church in Nassau street. It is expected the mission will leave this city on Wednesday or Thursday, and commence their journey of about 3000 miles, to proclaim the gospel of peace, and carry the arts of civilized life to the Heathen of our western wilderness. May the Lord succeed this noble enterprise, and bestow his choicest blessing on those who have engaged in the mission, and left all to follow Christ. GENERAL PRAYER MEETING. Christians of all denominations are informed that a general prayer meeting will be held in the Mariners' Church, on Tuesday next, at half past 3 o'clock in the afternoon, to offer united prayer and intercede at the Throne of Grace for an out-pouring of the Holy Spirit on this city. Ministers of the gospel particularly, and Christians generally, are invited to attend. THE REV. WILLIAM WARD Is expected to return from Washington in the course of a few days, and leave this city on the 10th of next month for England, from whence he will proceed to India, to resume his labours at the Serampore Mission. HYMN FOR SEAMEN, BY CHARLES WESLEY. Hope a sure Anchor.-Heb. vi. 19. Let the wind blow and billows roll, And moors me to my Father's throne! TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS. "An Excursion," "Z." and several other communications have been received. THE CHRISTIAN HERALD. VOL. VII.] Saturday, March 17, 1821. [No. XXII. Miscellany. For the Christian Herald. AN EXCURSION. I was always fond of travelling. This is owing in part to early impressions. Some years ago there was a book called The Pilgrim's Progress, very much in vogue; and when at school we used to make up little groups of children to go out under the hedges and read it. We had holiday always one afternoon in each week, and this was spent in the same way, whilst the other boys were in the habit of going to the woods adjoining the village to collect the spoils which they furnished. Alas! our little company is now broken up very considerably; but I have the pleasure to tell my readers, that all of them who are yet alive, seem to be making their way to the city "whose gates are beautifully set in pearls." The seclusion of a college did not take away this propensity to travel. It delighted me to ramble beyond its enclosures and lose myself in reflecting on the world at large. Frequently the twilight has found me at least a couple of miles from the college edifice, and on my return, the lamps were all lighted for study. Fronting the college was the great post road, over which numerous carriages used to pass, at a particular season, going to different watering places, and filled with fine gentlemen and ladies. Often did linger on the verdant lawn, even after the bell had rung for study, until they passed quite away. One would suppose from this narrative, that my mind would have turned very much on foreign travel; being now on classic ground, we heard of nothing from week to week, but Greece and Rome; and though the harp of Homer lay unstrung on his grave, its melody was still heard in the groves and meadows. We were also accustomed to converse considerably with the bards of England. The objects of nature, which her poets had wrought up into such beautiful imagery, became quite familiar, so that a pilgrim of foreign lands once told me, that I described some nooks on the Avon, with as much accuracy as if I had been on the spot. All this was very enchanting; but some things inclined me to keep nearer home. The assemblage of students was considerable; brought together from many parts of the country. Eac VOL. VII. 4 Q had his little prejudices, and strove to set forth the peculiar excellencies of the place whence he came. One dwelt on the elegant hospitality of his neighbourhood, another on its accomplished scenery; a third on the eloquence of the great men, who flourished near his father's abode. The first curiosity that ever drew my attention, was the junction of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers. I reached it on-a fine morning in August, and stood for an hour or two surveying this unrivalled display of Divine power. With the sublime at my feet, and the beautiful thrown off at a distance, I fell into a reverie. Oh, how many sojourners have been here from time to time, who have left the initials of their names engraven on these rocks. Where are they now? Have they carried hence a vivid remembrance of Almighty Power? Did they here borrow motives to the supreme love of that Being whose mercies so sweetly distil on the universe? With a multitude of such curious thoughts did I leave this scene of wonders. Mounting my horse, to whom I gave the name of Pilgrim, I rode on very briskly for half a dozen miles, without meeting any one. At last I spied a cabin, not far from the road, and an old man of colour at the door. He looked as though he could not be long in this world. I asked his age, and whether he were preparing for another world. He gave me to understand that he should soon be taken away from the land of the living-but he trusted in a Saviour's blood. Dropping my bridle on my horse's neck, I alighted, and spent an hour with him under the shade of a venerable oak. Looking back, at this distance of time, on the conference I held with this disciple of Christ, my heart glows with gratitude for such a signal mercy. "Did not our heart burn within us, whilst he talked with us by the way, and whilst he opened to us the Scriptures." It behooves me here to relate an incident. The old man brought out of his cabin a tract, which had been given by a lady passing on to the Springs. "She threw it out of the carriage," said he. Was not this a reproof to such as distribute tracts to those only who can read? for the old man knew all about it. The way in which this happened was, that every now and then he begged a passing traveller to read a section. Who can tell but that it benefited more people than the poor African. My readers will now readily believe that I was for hurrying on to the Springs, in hopes of there meeting with some kindred spirits, among the multitudes who frequent such places. Being in low health, I had little disposition to mix with the gay, who could neither rebuke my disorder nor refresh my spirits. Having reached the Springs, I must give some little account of a preacher who attended there that year. He was plain in his dress, and simple in his manners: there seemed to be a reverend |