But the orb disappears with its brightness so cheering, Will the proud shout of triumph give joy to thy heart, Be a hero in virtue, and stars shall appear, That will sparkle around thee in life's darkest day, And though shouts of applause may not welcome thee here, Oh, conquer THYSELF, and a sun shall be given, That will gild with its brightness thy life to its close, Till there they are kindled to know no repose. Watertown, October 15th, 1813. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. A Circular Letter from the Massachusetts Peace Society, respectfully addressed to the various associations, presbyteries, assemblies and meetings of the ministers of religion in the United States, Respected fathers and brethren, THE Massachusetts Peace Society now addresses you on a subject of the first importance to the interests of Christianity and the happiness of the world The crimes and desolations of war have long been a subject of deep regret and lamentation to reflecting Christians. The incessant havoc of human life and human happiness, produced by the custom of settling controversies by the sword, must shock the mind that is not dead to benevolent sympathies and deaf to the cries of suffering humanity, or bewildered by some deplorable delusion. How great a portion of the history of Christendom is filled with narratives of sanguinary dee is, at the thought of which benevolence recoils and religion weeps! How have thousands after thousands, and millions after millions. bearing the name of CHRISTIANS, been sacrificed on the altars of military ambition and revenge! How have provinces been plundered and depopulated-cities laid in ashes or sacked, unoffending men, women, and children exposed by thousands to indiscriminate butchery, brutality and insult, to gratify the savage and licen tious passions of conquering and ferocious armies! Can any intelligent Christian reflect on the immense slaughter, desolation, opppression, and distress occasioned by the wars of Christendom, and not be compelled to exclaim, Does our benevolent religion justify such scenes of wanton barbarity! And "shall the sword deyour forever!" Whatever diversity of opinion may exist among Christians, ás to the right of self defence, must they not all admit. that the spirit of war and revenge is the reverse of the spirit enjoined by the gospel? When the benevolent, peaceful character of our Lord is compared with the warring character of the nations professing his religion, how awful is the contrast! Must it not fill the mind with astonishment, anxiety, and alarm? Could a spirit more hostile to the gospel have been exhibited by these nations, had they been avowedly Pagans or Mahometans? By reflecting on the present state of the Christian world and the causes and effects of war, the members of the Massachusetts Peace Society have been led to hope, that something may be done to correct public opinion, and at least to diminish the evils of this Scourge of nations and of humanity. Encouraged by this hope, they have been induced to unite their exertions in diffusing sentiments of "peace on earth and good will among men In this great work they need, and they earnestly invite, the aid of the ministers of religion of every denomination. The objects of the society and the means to be employed for their attainment, are stated in the Constitution, which will accompany this Letter. If the following inquiries and observations should seem to imply a fault on the part of Christian ministers, still nothing of the nature of reproach is intended Many, who are represented in this address, have known by expe rience the power of education and of popular custom; and they can sympathize with others, who have been subjected to the same influence. Such candor as they need, they are dispos ed to exercise. If in any instance the language which may be adopted shall appear too strong, you are requested to impute it to an abhorrence of an unchristian custom, and not to disrespect towards Christian brethren. From the history of mankind it is clear, that whether a nation be professedly Pagan, Mahometan, or Christian, the acknowledged ministers of religion have an extensive influence in supporting or reforming popular customs. And may it not be said, that according to their influence must be their responsibility? The Mahometan Priests may encourage war, and not be chargeable with violating the principles of their own religion; but can this be affirmed of the ministers of the Prince of peace? Does not his heavenly religion lay the axe directly at the root of that tree, whose fruit is war? Does it not require of all his disciples a temper as opposite to the spirit of war, as light is to darkness, or as love to hatred? May it not then be feared, that from the influence of education, or some other cause, the ministers of religion in Christendom have failed of duly perceiving and exposing the odious nature of war, and its contrariety to the peaceful spirit of the gospel? It may indeed be true, that in every sermon which they have preached, something has been expressed or implied in opposition to war But have they been sufficiently careful to make it understood, that the spirit of war, and the spirit of the gospel, are at vari ance? Have they indeed clearly understood this themselves? And have not many of their hearers been left to imbibe or retain the Mahometan doc. trine, that those who die in battle, whatever their characters may have been, are safe and happy? By doctrines and promises of this import, the Mahometan Priests and military Chiefs have excited soldiers to the most bloody and desperate enterprises. And indeed it seems almost impossible that rational beings, who expect a future retribution, should be induced to hazard their lives and their eternal destiny in battle, except under the influence of this or some similar delusion? But have the clergy of Christendom been sufficiently careful to expose and to eradicate this antichristian principle? Have due exertions been made to impress on the minds of soldiers, as well as others, the danger of dying either in bed or in battle, with a temper the reverse of HIS who died for them? If the watchmen in Zion neglect to give warning, and the sword continue its hovoc, at whose hands will the blood be required? The friends of peace, who now address you, are aware, that strong prejudices exist in the minds of many in favor of war, as a necessary and justifiable mode of settling controversies; and that it must be a work of time to • The Constitution was published in the Number for February last, eradicate these prejudices, and to accomplish so great a work, as the pacification of a world. But they believe that the cause, in which they have engaged, is not desperate; that it is a cause which God will own and prosper; and that those who are for them are more than those who are against them. If all the ministers of religion, and all the friends of peace in our country, should cordially unite in one vigorous effort, the time may soon come, when the custom of deciding disputes by weapons of death, will be regarded as a savage custom, derived from ages of ignorance and barbarity. The necessity of the war spirit to the safety of a nation, is the great argument opposed to the friends of peace. But does not this spirit expose a nation to the anger of that God, on whom we are dependent for all our blessings? Can any thing be more offensive to a kind father, than to see his children disposed to murder one another? How abhorrent then must it be in the eyes of our heavenly Father, to behold this temper in nations, professing the peaceful religion of his Son! Nay, to witness in them a disposition to exalt the military profession, as one of the most honorable among men, and to give glory to a warrior in proportion to the slaughter and misery which he has caused among his brethren! In what light must God view the prayers of Christians of different nations in time of war? One class calling on him as the FATHER OF MERCIES, and in the name of his benevolent Son, the PRINCE OF PEACE, to grant success to this army; another class calling on the same Father, and in the same pacific name, to give success to that army, while each is aiming at the destruction of the other! Can any thing be more shocking, or more antichristian? If such practices in a people, professing a religion which breathes nothing but love, peace, long-suffering and forgiveness, be not offensive to God, in what possible way can they incur his displeasure? May it not also be said, that the spirit of war endangers the freedom and liberties of our nation, as it tends to increase the power and patronage of those in authority, and to place at their disposal a body of men, who have lost the character of the citizen in that of the soldier-as it tends to bewilder the minds of the multitude by the fascinating glare of military exploits, and by extravagant and inhuman exultations for victories, which have involved thousands of their brethren in death or wretchedness-and as it tends, in various ways, to deprave the hearts of men, to corrupt the morals of society, to encourage a blind, unreflecting, ferocious, and unfeeling character, by which men are prepar ed to become the dupes and the slaves of martial and unprincipled leaders? If we reflect on our local situation, the nature of our government, and the dissentions which exist in our land, will it not be evident that we have far less to fear from the rapacity and injustice of foreign nations, than from the spirit of party and of war among ourselves? But should there be due exertions to cultivate pacific principles, will they not tend to deprive the ambitious of every prospect of advantage from an attempt to involve the nation in warmake it both the honor and interest of our rulers to study the things which tend to peace, and thus contribute to the permanency of our Republican Institutions? Does not the very nature of our institutions afford peculiar encouragement to the friends of peace? Is not such the dependence of our rulers on their fellow citizens, and such their connexion and intimacy with them, that the general diffusion of pacific principles must naturally have an immediate and salutary influence on the government, on its general policy, and its foreign negotiations? May we not rationally hope, that this influence will result in the amicable adjustment of many controversies, and frequently prevent the sanguinary appeal to arms. And shall it be thought impossible or improbable, that pacific principles and a pacific spirit may be communicated from one government. to another, and thus produce a benign effect on the public sentiment of the civilized world? Can it be denied, that PEACE ON EARTH was one object of our Savior's mission, and of the institution of the Christian ministry? If not, shal! this object be any longer neglected by the messengers of the Prince of peace? But the temporal peace and welfare of mankind are not the only ob jects of the ministry; the true minis ters of the gospel propose a still nobler end-the everlasting felicity of their fellow beings. When this object is considered, in connexion with the temper and practice which is re quired of men, as preparatory to the joys of heaven, how infinitely important does it appear, that every minister should employ his influence to bring warring passions into disrepute, and to excite and cherish the spirit of meekness, love, and peace? Should it be asked, Why are Peace Societies recommended at this time, when there is so little prospect of another war in our country? The an swer is ready: The time of peace is believed to be more favorable to the proposed design, than a time of war. There is less danger that benevolent efforts will be regarded as of a party character, and the minds of men are more tranquil and open to receive the light which may be offered on the subject. There may be some in our country, who will reluctantly part with the delusive pleasure, which they have experienced, in rehearsing their sanguinary deeds of valor. But we should not despair of gaining even these. They are now influenced by opinions, derived from education and military habits. When they shall know that the morality of the spirit of war is called in question by many intelligent and virtuous men, and that multitudes are flocking to the STANDARD OF PEACE, they may be led to pause and reflect; and by reflection, they may become convinced, that the inhuman slaughter of brethren, as blameless as themselves, is not so glorious a thing, as they once imagined. They may also be led to doubt the safety of appearing at the bar of Christ with the spirit of war in their hearts and with hands defiled by blood. But however it may be with other classes of society, we cannot but indulge the hope, that there will be a general union of the ministers of the Prince of peace, for the abolition of War. Will not a moment's reflection convince them, that they cannot preach as Christ preached, without inculcating a temper directly opposed to the spirit with which men fight and kill one another? And that they cannot pray as he prayed, without a temper to love and forgive their enemies? Will not such considerations be more and more perceived and felt, the more the subject of war shall be examined? It certainly does not require extraordinary powers of mind, nor a learned education, to see that war is not made and carried on by that "love" which "worketh no ili to his neighbor;" nor by men's "doing unto others as they would that others should do unto them;" nor by the "wisdom that is from above, which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." Must it not then be evident to all, who duly reflect, that war originates in that wisdom, which is from beneath; and that it is usually conducted on maxims and with a spirit as hostile to the gospel, as they are fatal to the peace and the lives of mankind? The darkness, the sophistry and the delusion, by which men have been made to believe, that they could be "followers of the LAMB" in making war on each other, is, we trust, rapidly passing away. The time, we hope, is near, when not only ministers, but all classes of Christians, will be "of one heart and one soul" in ascribing praise to the "God of Peace," that they lived to see the day in which Peace societies were formed in our land. It is not the wish of the Massachusetts Peace Society, to prescribe the manner in which their respected brethren can best exert their influence in the glorious cause of humanity and peace. But a cooperation in some form is not only cordially desired, but strongly anticipated. The Constitution of our society was designed to embrace the friends of peace of every name. The society is accordingly composed of men of dif ferent sentiments, both as to politics and religion. It is wished that this amiable and conciliatory principle may be extended throughout Christendom; and that all, who love our Lord Jesus Christ, may become united in one grand and persevering effort to give peace to the world. Having frankly stated our views and our request, we have, brethren, only to add our fervent prayer, that the God of peace may be with you, and that the spirit of peace may guide ev ery measure which you may adopt in relation to the all important object, which has now been proposed. By order of the Board of the Massachusetts Peace Society, and with the advice of the Council of Correspondence. NOAH WORCESTER, Cor. Sec. Boston, March 5, 1816. Extracts from the Epistle of the Yearly Meeting, held in London, by adjournments, from the 24th of the fifth month, to the 2d of the sixth month, inclusive, 1815. To the Quarterly and Monthly Meet- Ix offering you the salutation of our love, we believe it right to acknowledge our thankfulness to the Author of all good, that we have been permitted to meet together. We have had again to rejoice in a sense of the goodness of him, who, by his presence, owned us in times past; and, though sensible of the loss of the labor and counsel of some who have recently been removed from the probations of time, we have felt the consoling assurance that the Divine Power is both ancient and new. It is from this holy f source, that every enjoyment, both spiritual and temporal, flows; it is to the Lord Almighty that we are indebted for the blessing of existence, for the means of redemption, and for that lively hope of immortality, which comes by Jesus Christ. To his ser vice, then, dear Friends, in obedience to the manifestation of his power, let us offer our talents; to the glory of his great and excellent name, let us devote our strength and the residue of our days, The state of our religious society, as transmitted from the several bodies which constitute this Yearly Meeting, has been again brought under our view. Accounts of the sufferings of our members, chiefly for tithes and other ecclesiastical demands, and for claims of a military nature to the amount of fifteen thousand seven hundred and twenty-seven pounds, have been reported; and we are informed that ten of our young men have been imprisoned since last year, for refusing to serve in the local mi |