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it has afforded us much satisfaction to believe, that the Christian practice of daily reading in families a portion of Holy Scripture, with a subsequent pause for retirement and reflection, is increasing amongst us. We conceive that it is both the duty and the interest of those who believe in the doctrines of the gospel, and who possess the invaluable treasure of the sa cred records, frequently to recur to them for instruction and consolation. We are desirous that this wholesome domestic regulation may be adopted every where. Heads of families, who have themselves experienced the ben. efit of religious instruction, will do well to consider whether in this respect, they have not a duty to dis charge to their servants and others of their household. Parents, looking sincerely for help to him of whom these scriptures testify, may not unfrequently, on such occasions, feel themselves enabled and engaged to open to the minds of their interesting charge, the great truths of Christian duty and Christian redemption.

the Lord, and upholding our various
testimonies, was the care of some of
our dear friends, of whose decease we
have been at this time informed.
They were concerned in early life to
evince their love to the truth; they
served the Lord in uprightness and
fear in their generation, and, in their
closing moments, were permitted to
feel an humble trust, that through the
mediation of our Redeemer, they
should become heirs of a kingdom
that shall never have an end.
their example encourage you to offer
all your natural powers, and every in-
tellectual attainment, to the service of
the same Lord, and patiently to per-
severe in a course of unremitting abe-
dience to the divine will.

Let

Now, dear friends, of every age and of every class, we bid you affectionately farewell in the Lord Jesus. Let us ever bear in mind, whether we attempt, under the influence of Christian love, to maintain our testimonies to the spiritual and peaceable kingdom of the Lamb; whether we attempt to promote the present and future welfare of our fellow-members and fellow-men; -let us ever remember, that if we obey the divine commandments, we shall do all to the glory of God; we shall always acknowledge that it is of his mercy, if we ever become partakers of the unspeakable privilege of the true disciples of him, who "died for all, that they that live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him who died for them, and rose again."

Signed in and on behalf of the Meeting, by W. D. CREWDSON,

Clerk to the Meeting this year.*

In considering this subject, our younger friends have been brought to our remembrance with warm and tender solicitude. We hope that many of you, dear youth, are no strangers to this practice, and to some, we trust, it has already been blessed. Hesitate not, (we beseech all of this class,) to aliot a portion of each day to read and meditate upon the sacred volume in private: steadily direct your minds to him who alone can open and apply the scriptures to our spiritual benefit. In these seasons of retirement, seek for ability to enter into a close examination of the state of your own hearts; and as you may be enabled, secretly pray to the Almighty for preservation from the temptations, with which you are encompassed. Your advancement in a life of humility, dedication, and dependence upon divine aid, is a subject of our most tender concern. That you might adorn our holy profession, by walking watchfully before • Three paragraphs have been omitted merely for want of room. E». Vol. IV. No. 4.

17

Imperial Peace Society.

THE following extraordinary article was "translated for the Boston Daily Advertiser," and inserted "March 27, 1816," and corrected in the Weekly Messenger, March 28th.

"IN the name of the Holy and Indivisible Trinity.

"Their Majesties, the Emperor of

Austria, the King of Prussia, and the Emperor of Russia, in consequence of the great events which have distinguished, in Europe, the course of the three last years, and especially of the blessings which it has pleased Divine Providence to shed upon those states, whose governments have placed their confidence and their hope in it alone, having acquired the thorough conviction, that it is necessary for ensuring the continuance of these blessings, that the several powers, in their mutual relations, adopt the sublime truths which are pointed out to us by the eternal religion of the Savior God;

"Declare solemnly, that the present act has no other object than to show in the face of the universe their unwavering determination to adopt for the only rule of their conduct, both in the administration of their respective states, and in their political relations with every other government, the precepts of this holy religion, the precepts of justice, of charity and of peace, which, far from being solely applica ble to private life, ought, on the con. trary, directly to influence the resolutions of princes, and to guide all their undertakings, as being the only means of giving stability to human institutions, and of remedying their imperfections. "Their majesties have therefore agreed to the following articles:

"ART. I. In conformity with the words of the Holy Scriptures, which command all men to regard one another as brethren, the three contracting monarchs will remain united by the bonds of a true and indissoluble fraternity, and considering each other as copatriots, they will lend one another on every occasion, and in every place, assistance, aid, and support; and conduct towards their subjects and ar mies, as fathers towards their families; they will govern them in the spirit of fraternity, with which they are animat ed, for the protection of religion, peace and justice.

"ART. II. Therefore the only ruling principle between the above mentioned governments and their subjects, shall be that of rendering reciprocal services; of testifying by an unalterable beneficence the mutual affection

with which they ought to be animated' of considering all as only the members of one Christian nation, the three allied princes looking upon themselves as delegated by Providence to govern three branches of the same family, to wit, Austria, Prussia, and Russia; confessing likewise, that the Chris tian nation, of which they and their people form a part, have really no other sovereign than him, to whom alone power belongs of right, because in him alone are found all the treasures of love, of science, and of wisdom; that is to say, God, our divine Savior Jesus Christ, the word of the Most High, the word of life. Their majesties therefore recommend, with the most tender solicitude, to their people, as the only means of enjoying that peace which springs from a good conscience and which alone is durable, to fortify themselves every day more and more in the principles and exercise of the duties which the divine Savior has pointed out to us.

"ART. III. All powers, which wish solemnly to profess the sacred principles which have dictated this act, and who shall acknowledge how important it is to the happiness of nations, too long disturbed, that these truths shall henceforth exercise upon human destinies, all the influence which belongs to them, shall be received with as much readiness as affection, into this holy alliance.

"Made, tripartite, and signed at Paris, in the year of our Lord 1815, on the 14th (26) of September.

"FRANCIS,

"FREDERIC WILLIAM, "ALEXANDER.

"A true copy of the original, "ALEXANDER. "St. Petersburgh, the day of the birth of our Savior, the 25th of December 1815."

Remarks.

Of all the compacts made by the rulers of nations in any age, the one now exhibited has perhaps the highest claims to the title of a TREATY OF PEACE. Those instruments, which have usually borne this pacific name— notwithstanding all the solemn protes tations and promises contained in

them, seem to have been regarded by the parties, as nothing more than a customary form of suspending hostilities, to take breath and recruit, without any sincere desire of preventing future collisions, or any thought of adopting gospel principles for the avoidance of war. But the treaty now before us was formed by sovereigns who had experienced the evils of war, and who, previous to the treaty, were on terms of amity and friendship. The apparent design of their solemn covenant is, to render their peace with each other permanent; and to extend the blessings of peace, if possible, throughout the world.

Whether these sovereigns are fully aware of the extent of gospel principles and precepts, as they relate to war, may perhaps be questionable. But they appear to be convinced, that war is a dreadful evil, which they should study to avoid;-that it is time for them, as responsible rulers of nations, to adopt a different policy from that, which has for ages filled the world with war and misery-and that gospel principles afford a basis on which they may hope to enjoy more durable tranquillity.

This treaty may do unspeakable good by exciting the attention of people in general to the contrast between the principles and duties enjoined by the gospel, and the savage maxims and crimes of war. In this way it may be an important link in that chain of events, which shall finally result in the permanent peace of the Christian world.

It must be gratifying to the friends of peace in this country, to remark the coincidence of events in favor of their

beloved object. The SAME WEEK in which the MASSACHUSETTS PEACE SOCIETY was formed in Boston, the IMPERIAL PEACE SOCIETY was announced in Russia.-"Whoso is wise and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord."

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the 20th inst. one of the chiefs of the Alleganies, well known through this country as the Indian Prophet.

Those who have been acquainted with the influence which this man's preaching has had upon the conduct of the Six Nations, (the Oneidas excepted) cannot but look upon his death as a severe dispensation of divine Providence. We think that a short bio

graphical sketch of this extraordinary man cannot be unacceptable to the public.

During the first fifty years of his life he was remarkable only for his stupidity and beastly drunkenness. About thirteen years ago, while lighting his pipe, he suddenly fell back upon his bunk, upon which he was then sitting, and continued in a state of insensibility for six or eight hours; his family supposing him dead, had made preparations for laying him out, and while in the act of removing him from his bunk, he revived. His first words were, "don't be alarmed, I have seen heaven; call the nation together that I may tell them what I have seen and heard " The nation having assembled at his house, he informed them that he had seen four beautiful young men, who had been sent from heaven by the Great Spirit and who thus addressed him "The Great Spirit is angry with you, and all the red men, and unless you immediately refrain from drunkenness, lying, stealing, &c. you shall never enter that beautiful place which we will now show you." He stated that he was then conducted by these young men to the gate of heaven, which was opened, but he was not allowed to enter; that it was more beautiful than any thing they could conceive of or he describe; and that the inhabitants appeared to be perfectly happy; that he was suffered to remain there three or four hours, and was then reconducted by the same young men, who, on taking their leave, promised they would visit him yearly, and commanded him to inform all other Indians what he had seen and heard. He immediately visited the different tribes of Indians in the wes-tern part of the state, the Oneidas excepted. They all put the most im

plicit faith in what he told them, and revered him as a prophet -The consequence has been, that from a filthy, lazy, drunken, wretched set of beings, they have become a cleanly, industrious, sober and happy people. The prophet has continued, as he says, to receive regular annual visits from these heavenly messengers, immediately af ter which, he, in his turn, visited the different tribes. He was on one of these annual visits at the time of his decease.

It will be proper to observe, that he was called the peace Prophet, in contra-distinction to the brother of Tecumseh, who was called the war Prophet. Amer. Mag.

Obituary.

DIED at Wendell Feb. 27, the Reverend and amiable Joseph Kilburn, in the 61st year of his age, and the 33d of his ministry; a gentleman highly esteemed through life, and greatly lamented at his death. On every account he was solicitous to maintain the honor of the Christian character, was sound in the faith of the gospel, and whilst he maintained the free and sovereign grace of God in our salvation, he was zealous of good works, and set against an ineffectual faith; for knowing that faith without works is dead, he applied himself diligently to the various duties of Christianity, and magnified the ministerial office by his works, as well as with his lips-In his private life, the gentleman and the Christian appeared to great advan tage; he was in his constitution active, and from principle, disposed to do good and communicate-was of an affable, condescending and obliging disposition; kind, gentle, and friendly to all-he was in the highest degree

tender and affectionate to his consorts, children and other connexions. By the death of this venerable servant of Christ, religion and humanity have sustained a heavy loss.

At London, Sir George Prevost, late governor general of the British provinces in America.

At Georgia, Rev. George Franklin, aged 55.

At Spartansburg county, South Carolina, Rev.,Avery Williams, late pastor of the church in Lexington, Mass.

At Halifax, N. S. Charles Inglis D.D. bishop of that diocese, and the first protestant bishop, appointed in a British colony-aged 81.

At Oneida Castle, Schenandoh, an Indian Chief, aged 113. Many years ago it was agreed that he should be buried by the side of Rev. Mr. Kirkland. Before his death he called the tribe together and enjoined on them a fulfilment of that agreement. He was accordingly buried by the side of that venerable missionary, who in his life

was the FRIEND OF MAN.

At Greenwich, N. Y Rev. Benjamin Moore D. D. bishop of the protestant episcopal church in that state.

At Washington, Hon. Elijah Brigham, aged 65, member of Congress from Massachusetts, and President of the Evangelical Missionary Society.

It is presumed that some member of that society will furnish a sketch of his character for the next Number.

Editorial Note.

In this Number we have furnished our readers with four pages more than usual, and we believe it will be found that they are filled with important articles. It may be necessary to deduct as many pages from some future Number, but we nope it will not.

Candidates for the ministry in Cambridge and its vicinity.

Mr. Ed. W. Andrews, Newburyport.
Mr. Francis Jackson, Cambridge.

Mr. Thomas Prentiss, Cambridge.

Mr. Hiram Weston, Duxbury.

Mr. Samuel Clarke, Cambridge.
Mr. Henry Ware, jun.

Mr. David Reed,

do.

Mr Joseph Allen,'

de.

Mr. Jonathan P. Dabney, do,

Mr. Rufus Hurlbut,

Mr. Samuel Gilman,

do.

do.

do.

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THE last number of this inquiry brought down, the history of our ancestors to 1307, the time when Edward II. ascended the throne. In his reign a most sanguinary war occurred between the English and the Scotch. In addition to this, intrigues, insurrections, rebellions, murders and robberies without number, stand recorded in history, as proofs of the barbarity of the people of that age. The queen and her favorites conspired against the king, filled the land with confusion, dethroned the monarch, and caused him to be murdered in a manner shocking to humanity. The disor ders of the times from foreign wars and intestine dissentions, but above all, the cruel famine which occasioned the nobility to dismiss many retainers, increased the number of robbers in the kingdom; and no place was secure from their incursions. They met in troops like armies, and overran the country.

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sy had conspired with the Saracens to poison all the springs and fountains; and men being glad of any pretence to get rid of those who were a burden, many of those unhappy people were burnt alive on this chimerical imputation."

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Edward III. commenced his reign 1327. He was a military character, and reigned 50 years. A great portion of this half century he spent in spreading havoc, death, and misery among his brethren, by needless and unjust wars with Scotland and France. But being successful, he was sure of renown ;-for then, as well as in later ages, honor was given to military men in proportion to their success in doing mischief, The ravages and desolations, made in France' by Edward, were dreadful, and the savage custom of giving no quarter was adopted by him. It ought however to be observed that his wife and his son, the prince of Wales, were more humane, and some instances are recorded of their conduct, which probably had considerable influence in mitigat

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