ORIGINAL ADDRESSES.

ADDRESS TO CHRISTIANS ON OBSERVING
THE CONCERT OF PRAYER INSTITUTED

FOR THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SOCIE-
TY, AND FOR THOSE UNDER ITS PA-
TRONAGE,

Friends of the Lord Jesus,

the enlightening and sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit. Other means are indeed necessary, but they cannot, combined, qualify one soul for the work of an ambassador of Christ, if this influence be withheld.

As important, then, as it is, that the millions who are destitute, should be furnished with the preaching of the gospel, so important is it, that Christians should be engaged in united and earnest prayer for those spiritual gifts and qualifications which are requisite to fit men for the sacred office. The

When you think of the vast multitudes who are yet to be supplied with the preaching of the gospel, we doubt not that your hearts are moved, Directors of the American Education and that you long to see the number Society would be deeply impressed of heralds increased who are to carry with this truth, themselves, and they to them the messages of heavenly would, Christian friends, labor to mercy. When you hear that socie- impress it indelibly upon your minds. ties have been formed to encourage However dependent other institutions young men of promise to seek an ed- may be upon the blessing of God for ucation for the ministry, you rejoice, success, and there is not one which and contribute freely of your proper- is not dependent, it is certain that ty to aid the design. But is it felt, this Society must utterly fail without as it should be, that the most impor- it. Without help from on high, it tant of all means for accomplishing will never furnish one herald of salthis object, is prayer? This was the vation, as he should be, for the high means which the Saviour directed duties of his station. We implore his disciples to use, when he spread before them the spiritual wants of Judea. "PRAY ye the Lord of the harvest, that HÈ will send forth laborers it will inflict on the world if he should into his harvest." not; by the endless happiness, or

you, therefore, by all the good which the Society may do if God should prosper it, and by all the evil which

The direction is as appropriate and wo, of the millions who are probaas necessary now, as it ever was. If bly to be saved or lost through its inministers of the gospel are to be pro-fluence, to pray for it when you lie vided, in sufficient numbers to meet down, and when you rise up; in the the wants of the world, there must be closet, and in the social circle; when fervent and effectual prayer for this you gather around the family altar, end. Christians must every where and when you mingle your devotions pray with more faith, and with more in the sanctuary. The conductors of importunity. Human effort alone is the Society would in this way seek a totally inadequate to the work of pre- daily remembrance in the supplicaparing men for the ministry. There tions of the Christian Church. But must be divine, as well as human while they do this, they would esteaching; an experimental acquain- pecially invite the friends of the Lord tance with the truths to be taught, as Jesus to bear in mind the season for well as a speculative knowledge of united prayer which has been recentthem. If God do not prepare men ly instituted, on the Tuesday afterfor this holy calling, they will never noon and evening immediately folbe prepared for it. Neither human lowing the first Monday of every learning, nor societies for patronizing month. This concert was begun by indigent young men, nor millions of the young men under the patronage money, wil avail any thing without of the society, and is now observed in all the colleges and seminaries er duties; or will the hour, which where they are pursuing their stu- you may spend in this manner, be an dies. Four leading topics of prayer unprofitable one to your own souls? are kept in view. The first, has ref- Is there not at least one praying feerence to the young men themselves, male in every church, who, if she that they may be holy and devoted should make the effort, might easily men, prepared for a life of active la- persuade six, or eight, or ten, or bor, and of usefulness; the second, more, of like spirit, to subscribe the refers to the Society, that it may constitution which is subjoined to this ever be kept under the guidance of address, and thus increase the cloud beaven, and be preserved from per- of incense which is to ascend from version; the third, respects those who this newly erected altar? should you, are destitute of the gospel in our own Christian female, whose eye may country and in other parts of the world, chance to meet this address, make that they may speedily be supplied the attempt, would you not succeed ?

with faithul pastors and missionaries; and are you satisfied to go and meet and the fourth topic relates to revi- your Saviour, without giving him this vals of religion in academies and col- small proof of your love to his cause? leges, that hundreds of young men in The time for prayer and effort is them may be converted to God, and short. In a little while those who become preachers of righteousness. need either, will be beyond our Each of these important subjects of reach; and eternity, with its amazing prayer is exhibited, at length, in a and unalterable scenes, will have printed constitution adopted by the opened upon them, and upon us. young men, and may be seen in the appendix to the Eleventh Annual Report.

In behalf of the Board,

E. CORNELIUS, Sec'ry.

And now, Christians of every name, we come to you, and ask, will you help us, by your prayers, while we go forward in this arduous, and difficult, but glorious enterprise, of raising up laborers for the wide spreading spir- of able and devoted ministers of the Gositual harvest ? Will you, as often as the season which has now been men- country and in other parts of the world,

Form of a Constitution suitable for a Praying Circle, agreeing to observe the Concert of Prayer, appointed in behalf of the American Education Society.

tioned returns, go into your closet and pour forth one fervent and effectual prayer in our behalf, and in behalf of the mighty object which we are striving to accomplish? Heads of fami

The undersigned, in view of the want

pel, to supply the destitute in our own

and believing that one of the most important means of increasing the number of such ministers is prayer, and being persuaded that the American Education Society and other similar institutions, are fitted to exert, with the blessing of God, a most auspicious influence in accomplish

lies, will you, as you draw around the ing this desirable end, do agree to associdomestic altar on the consecrated ate together for the purpose of observing evening, remember the topics which a monthly season of prayer with reference have been suggested, and endeavor to this object, with the following rules :1. There shall be a meeting for prayer to add new faith to your devotions? on the Tuesday afternoon, or evening, as

Christian females! we especially appeal to you. Some of you already meet, and pray together for the prosperity of Zion. Will you not, once in a month, assemble in circles suited to your convenience, and pray for the cause which now solicits a remem3. The officers shall consist of one to brance in your supplications? Will preside in the meetings, and of a Secretait add any serious burden to your oth-ry to keep the records, and to correspond,

may be convenient, immediately following the first Monday of every month, at such place as shall be agreed upon.

2. The topics recommended in the address of the Directors of the American Education Society, shall be particularly remembered, though not to the exclusion of other subjects which may be suggested.

when necessary, with the Secretary or Treasurer of the American Education Society.

4. A contribution shall be taken at the close of each meeting; and the members will endeavor in this, or in other ways, to raise a sum not less than five dollars, annually, to be paid into the Treasury of the American Education Society.

5. It shall be the duty of the Secretary, after the first meeting has been held, to address a line to the Secretary of the American Education Society, giving him notice of the formation of the concert, and directing him how to forward such copies of the publications of the Society, as the concert may be entitled to receive gratuitously. The same person shall act also as Treasurer, and transmit from time to time the contributions raised, to the Treasurer of the American Education Society. Communications of the above kind should be

post paid.

The Pastoral Association of Massachusetts recently passed the following resolution,

recommending the above concert.

"Considering the great and increasing want of ministers of the Gospel, to supply our own country and other parts of the world, and the important influence which the American Education Society is destined to exert in raising up ministers of the

than twelve, since the American Education Society was projected. Though this lapse of time is not great, it is sufficient to afford some test of the principles and designs which were then avowed, and of the practicability of accomplishing the great objects which were then contemplated. I have been an observer of the whole process, from the incipient measures to the present advanced state of the work; (and there are many others, who have been observers also ;) and I feel warranted in saying, that the cause of educating pious young men for the gospel ministry has gained a complete and absolute triumph. But let me not be understood as paying a tribute to human wisdom. All I mean by the triumph of the cause is, that those, who engaged in it, judged rightly as to the plain duty of sending laborers into the Lord's harvest. They saw the exigency of the case; they deliberated as to the means to be used, and the object to be gained; and, casting themselves upon Providence, they determined to do something toward providing faithful preachers for the destitute parts of our own land, and the perishing millions of heathen countries. They determined to do something, which should answer for a specimen of what should afterwards be accomplished,

on a more extensive scale and under more

favored auspices.

There were not wanting persons, who objected to the plan, on what they deem

Gospel, therefore, Resolved, That we cor- ed practical grounds; and among the sin

dially recommend the observance of the concert of Prayer which is appointed on

cere friends of Christ and of their country, there were some who hesitated to

Tuesday afternoon and evening following give their approbation, and were inclined the usual monthly concert, to pray for the Society, for those under its patronage, and of objection and hesitation were the three to predict a failure. The principal grounds generally for the great object of praying following. the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest."

1. The need of a great number of additional ministers of the Gospel was thought

The General Association of Connecticut at their to be much less urgent, than the foundlate meeting passed a similar resolution.

ADDRESS OF MR. EVARTS.

ers of our Education Societies had represented. The fact, however, that strong representations had been made, led to inquiry and thorough investigation; and it may be considered as conclusively proved, if it is not universally admitted, that there are millions of people in the United States who are not within the reach of the regular ministrations of the Gospel, and who unless the number of preachers be greatcannot receive religious teaching at all,

The following address was delivered by Jeremiah Evarts, Esq. Corresponding Secretary of the A. B. C. F. M. at the anniversary of the American Education Society, but was furnished too late for the Annual ly augmented; and who cannot be well Report. It well deserves to be put into a taught, unless vigorous and persevering permanent form, as expressing the views efforts are made to have thoroughly edu. cated men brought into the ministry. The of one who has been long and successful-founders of Education Societies were right ly engaged in promoting the cause of therefore on this point.

Christian benevolence.

MR. PRESIDENT,

It is less than thirteen years since the first Education Society, on an extensive plan, was formed in our country; and less

2. It was alleged, that these extraordinary efforts would not increase the num ber of educated ministers; for it was supposed, that all the young men, who were fit for the ministry, already obtained an education either at the expense of them