P.

EVERY candidate for the charity of this Society, who wishes to be assisted in the first stage of education, or in his preparation for college, liv. ing within a hundred miles of Boston, shall apply in person, or by letter, (post paid) to one of the Directors, exhibiting at the same time unequivocal testimonials from three or more serious and respectable persons, best acquainted with him and his circumstances, (eg. his minister, instructor, a magistrate, or some other principal man in the vicinity) respecting his age, indigence, moral and religious character, talents, learning, and primary object in asking assistance of this Society: and every such candidate shall be examined by a committee of the Directors at Boston, on the day previous to a quarterly meeting of the Board; and if deemed a constitutional candidate, he may be placed on the foundation for support, in whole or in part, as the Directors shall judge expedient, and upon trial for three months; at the close of which period, he shall exhibit from his instructor or instructors, evidence satisfactory to the Board, that in point of genius, diligence, literary progress, morals, and piety, he is a proper character to receive this sacred charity.

Candidates in this stage, more than

a hundred miles from Boston, may apply to the nearest of the Committees of agency, appointed by the Directors, in different sections of the country, to receive applications, and the requisite testimonials, and likewise to examine and recommend candidates to this Board; the names and resi dence of which committees, when appointed, to be published.

Candidates for this charity, in the second stage of education, i. e. undergraduates in college, if within a hundred miles of Boston, shall apply, as above directed, to one of the Directors, producing like testimonials; and shall be examined by the aforesaid Committee of the Board, with refer ence to their literary and religious qualifications; and also with reference to their object in seeking a public education; in all which respects their answers, as well as testimonials, must be satisfactory to this board, in order to their admission as beneficiaries.

But if the candidate in the second stage live more than a hundred miles from Boston, he may be examined by the three senior officers in the College to which he belongs; whose certificate, that he possesses promising talents, a fair character, hopeful piety, and respectable scholarship, shall supersede an examination by this Board; and in

connexion with the first named testimonials, relative to his indigence, shall operate, according to its weight, in his favor.

to

Candidates for this assistance who have been graduated at any college, or commenced the third stage of preparatory education, if they live within a hundred miles of Boston, shall ap ply to one of the Directors, in the same manner as required of under-graduates, producing like testimonials; and shall be examined as above, relative their qualifications, and object in pursuing theological studies; which examination and testimonials must be satisfactory to this Board. But if a candidate in his third stage live more than a hundred miles from Boston, a certificate, as above, from three College Officers, or from the Bishop, the Episcopal Standing Committee, the Presbytery, or the Association, in whose vicinity he lives, testifying his literary and other requisite qualifications, shall take the place of an examination by the Directors; and, in connexion with the requisite testimonials of indigence, shall receive due consideration.

In applications for a share in this pious and sacred bounty, instances of gross fraud, or imposition, should they occur, shall be publicly exposed, at the discretion of the Directors.

The Directors shall hold stated quarterly meetings on the second Wednesdays of January, April, July, and October, at 10 o'clock, A. M.

Voted, That the three senior officers of the several colleges in New Eng. land be authorized and requested to examine, in behalf of the American Society, &c. candidates for the assis tance of said society; agreeably to the constitution, and the regulations of the Directors.

N. B. Applicants for the patronage of this Society are requested to call on the Rev. Asa Eaton, Clerk of the Directors, living in Sudbury-Street, Boston, who will give them information respecting the particular place where they may meet the examining Committee of the Board.

[Recorder.

Second annual Report of the Female Bible Society of Boston and its vicinity.

At the last annual meeting it appeared that there remained in the Treasury 31 Bibles and 4 Testaments. To these have been added 372 Bibles and 130 Testamants, making in the whole 403 of the former, and 140 of the lat

ter.

The abovementioned Bibles and Tes taments have been distributed in the towns of Gloucester, Williamsburg, Hopkinton, Framingham, Braintree, Malden, Cohasset, Worcester, Brookfield, Waterford, Montgomery, and Boston. Also in Fort William, up the Straights of Gibraltar, and the West-Indies.

An application having been made from the Rev. Messrs. Mills and Smith, for Bibles to be distributed in some of our Southern and Western States, particularly Louisiana, (which was justly described as being mournfully des titute of the Holy Scriptures) it was voted, that 100 Bibles should be given them for that purpose. The Board have likewise recently committed 50 more to the Rev. Mr. Kingsbury, (whose integrity and discretion are well known,) for distribution in Virginia and Tennessee. Though these last mentioned places may appear re mote, it is presumed their wants are as great, or greater, than would have been presented to our view from any other portion of our country. The number of Bibles and Testaments circulated by the Society the past year is 555. Over drawn 22 Duodecimo Bibles, and now remaining in the Treasury 10 Testaments and 26 Octavo Bibles.

Though it has pleased the great Head of the church, since our last Anniversary to call 4 of our subscribers from their labors of love in this to more perfect services, it is hoped in a better world; though 3 have removed and 5 withdrawn from the Society, it has notwithstanding received an increase of 20 members.

The present number of subscribers

is 100, whose annual subscriptions have amounted to 240 dollars.

Donations the past year have been 139 dollars 11 cents, for which sum the Board would respectfully acknowl. edge their obligations to the Cent Society of New Braintree for 39 dollars 61 Cents, the cent Society in the West Parish of Brookfield for 50 dollars, and the Charitable Society of New > Braintree and North Brookfield for 26. Life subscription 30.

The balance in the Treasury last year was 226 dollars 25 cents. And inter

est of the fund the present has been 9. Total 644 dollars 36 cents.

There are yet unpaid subscriptions to the amount of 14 dollars.

Two hundred dollars have been appropriated to the establishment of a permanent fund.

The Board have expended 439 dollars 97 cents for Bibles. Contingent expenses have amounted to 3,30 and there now remains in the Treasury 109 dollars.

The influence of Divine Truth is commonly like the "still small voice" spoken of by the Prophet. We are not therefore to expect immediate and splendid effects from our exertions. It is sufficient for us, that the Bible has always proved the most effectual barrier against vice in every form, that it has always softened the rugged, and reformed the vicious heart of man, when its influence has not been perverted by the most persevering obstinacy. But the Christian must feel, that the Bible is a blessing, whose magnitude can never be estimated in this world-he must feel, (viewing the subject in its awful connexions with eternity,) that the value of that word which brings life and immortality to light-which teaches immortal man the way to Heaven, is great beyond conception.

Who that has seen the preciousness of Divine Truth-that has experienced its consolations when human comforts have been desolated by affliction, or has heard its unerring voice cry, "this is the way," when bewildered in the labyrinths of doubt and errorwho that has discovered the sweetness of its promises, the safety of its rest,

and the purity of the motives and rewards which it presents to man; can view without strong emotions the progress it is making in the world. A few years since, and to the savage of our western wilderness, and the stranger in our southern borders were alike inaccessible those waters of life, which are for the healing of the nations-now to both is opened that living fountain, of which if a man taste he shall live for.

ever

Nor is the prospect less animating when we cast our eyes abroad, and contemplate the wonders which have been effected by our Christian brethren on the other side of the Atlantic. We there behold those vast but inauspicious regions of Europe and India, which have so long experienced the most deplorable moral, and intellectual degradation, now gradually receiving the impress of humanity and of heaven, under the secretly operating and transforming influence of the Bible. We behold the superstitious Persian, and the sensual Mahommedan, the cheerless inhabitant of Siberia, and the cruel native of Hindostan, stretching out their hands to receive this best gift of Heaven. And do we believe that "the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; that the commandment of the Lord is pure,enlightening the eyes;" " do we think that this law is " more to be desired than gold, yea than much fine gold;" and shall not our hearts glow with fervent desires, to contribute by our prayers, as well as in every other possible way, toward its universal diffusion and success?! Ah! can we forget to remember before him, who alone can make even his own word effectual to salvation; our brethren of the human family, who are groping in the hopeless, helpless darkness of heathenisin, annihilating the tenderest sympathies of our nature, and sacrificing even the babes of their bosoms to appease the anger of their imaginary deities? Forget them! where then is our zeal for human happiness! where our boasted compassion for the wretched! where our Christian sensibilities! But blessed be God! the spirit of su pineness, which has for centuries cruelly abandoned the heathen, in their

own and other countries, to their miserable destiny, is fast hastening away. The christian world has awakened from that strange slumber, which so long closed its eyes to the situation, and wants of those, who were sitting in the region of darkness and shadow of death, and is wondering that it slept so long. The work of the Lord is rapidly going on. Who would sit idle, when all nature seems as it were to be travailing in birth and waiting for the redemption of Zion? Who would not esteem it a privilege of no ordinary importance, to be permitted to lend his assistance in that cause which is dear to God, the cause of virtue, the cause of Christ.

And let us never be weary in well doing: let us never be discouraged at not so soon beholding the fruits of our efforts as we had expected-that Bible we bestowed, that prayer we offered, may, even in a future day, be made the instrument of saving a soul, nay, many souls from death; and of accumulating an additional weight of bles. sedness for ourselves in the heavenly world. "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever." [Recorder.

THE CHINESE DECALOGUE.

I. Beware of lasciviousness. Not having seen, you should not think of.

When seeing, there should be no irreg ularity.

Having seen, there should be no remembrance.

With respect to virgins and widows, be particularly guarded.

11. Beware of wicked thoughts. Do not harbor a dangerous thought, Do not put forth an irregular thought. Do not remember resentment unallayed.

Do not look on gain and covet it.
Do not see ability and envy it.

III. Beware of the errors of the
mouth.

Do not speak of women.

Do not meddle with clandestine affairs.

Do not publish people's defects.
Do not change what you have said.
Do not make loose songs.
Do not revile the sages.
Be most cautious with respect to su-
periors, relations, and the dead.

IV. Beware of sloth.

Do not go to sleep early and rise late. Do not neglect your own field and plow your neighbour's.

Do not run too fast after gain. Do not learn to do that from which there is no advantage.

Be most on your guard against having the body present but mind absent.

V. Beware of throwing away characters. Do not with old books roll up parcels, nor paste the windows.

Do not with useless papers boil tea, or rub the table. Do not blot good books.

Do not write at random against the

doors or walls.

Do not destroy a rough copy. Do not throw away writing on the road.

VI. Pay due respect to the relations subsisting amongst Men. Kindness is the principal duty of a father.

Respect is the principal duty between a prince and his minister. Brothers should mutually love. A friend should speak the truth. A husband and wife should mutually agree-They should be particularly careful to shew respect.

VII. Cleanse the ground of the heart. Consider the doctrines of the ancients

to regulate the heart.

Sit in a retired place and call home the heart.

Be sparing of wine or pleasure, and purify the heart.

Reject selfish desires and purify the heart. It is particularly requisite to understand the utmost reasons of things to illuminate the heart.

VIII. Establish a good manner. Be diligent in business, and attentive to your words.

Let your intentions be exalted, but your manners humble. (Literally, Let your mind be high, but your body low.')

UTILITY OF RELIGIOUS TRACTS.

The following Anecdotes are from the reports of the London Tract Society.

Stockholm, April 15, 1808.

My very dear Brother,

Last week the first Tract was printed, and between two and three thousand have already been dispersed and sent to different parts of the country. We thought it best to print the little Tract concerning James Covey first. It has made a very good impression on the minds of many already. I have just heard this morning that one of them has found its way to the Prince Royal; he was rather diverted with the first part of it; but when he came to Covey's conversion, he grew very serious, and at last burst into tears. Little did poor Covey think that his history would preach the gospel in king's houses!

Your's most respectfully,
J. P.

From a respectable Clergyman in the Isle of Man.

REV. SIR,

Kirk Lonan, Jan. 15, 1811.

I feel it a duty incumbent on me to inform you of an important change which a Tract, published by the religious Tract Society, has been instrumental in producing in one of my aged parishioners. The person in question has already numbered his three score years and ten, and is fast advancing to eternity. He has been through life a man of decent external deportment, "who trusted in himself that he was

stranger to real religion, and utterly insensible of his need of a Savior. I some time ago presented him with a few Religious Tracts, made up into small volume, and among the rest the Tract "to the aged." He appeared highly gratified, and promised to read them carefully. Having called on him