selves or their friends, or by means of ex- are applied for, over and over again, long traordinary exertions. On particular inquiry, however, it was found that very many youths of promising character as to piety and talents, could be brought into the service of the church, if the expense of their education, or a part of it, could be defrayed from charitable before they have completed their course of study. Where fifty are sent forth, five hundred are needed, and would be immediately employed; provided always that they are self-denying and devoted men, fond of their Master's work, and rejoicing in the progress of his cause. sources. And while this investigation was going on, the Spirit of the Lord was poured out, and many new converts were prepared for entering upon a course of education. And so it has continued till the present hour, when there are probably thousands of young men, between the ages of fifteen and twenty five, who might be trained for - the ministry, if every practicable exertion were made to bring them forth to the work. -The number now in a course of education is greatly increased by what has been already done. Probably at least twice as many are looking to the ministry, as Such men are demanded in our cities and old settlements, as well as in the wilderness; along the whole Atlantic frontier, as well as beyond the Alleganies and on the gulf of Mexico. Take any one of our populous cities, or great towns, as a centre, and draw around it a circle of dimensions, and you have a field which invites a considerable number of spiritual cultivators. It is not extravagant to say, that if fifty new evan. gelical laborers could this day assemble where we are, in the metropolis of NewEngland, they might within a week commence their work, some in this city, oth there would have been, if no extraordina-ers in the immediate neighborhood, and ry movement had been made; and the prospect at present is, that the advance will be still more rapid, so long as the _ wants of the world shall be unsupplied, and the disciples of Christ shall be willing to do their duty. 3. It was urged that, even if the destitution should be found as great as had been alleged, and if young men in great numbers could be educated by charitable efforts, still one formidable difficulty would remain. The people continuing destitute, it was said, would still continue so, for want of zeal and public spirit to settle a minister; so that, if ever so many young - men should be educated for preachers, it ❘ would still avail nothing for want of hearers. If the people wished for preachers, it was added, they would apply for them and secure them, in accordance with the commercial maxim, that the supply will keep pace with the demand. It was urged, by way of answer, that ministers could not be supplied to meet the demand till they were first educated; and that, although destitute people might not feel their wants so deeply, as to send a thou sand miles for a clergyman, and then wait several years for the completion of his preparatory studies; yet they might gladly settle a minister, who should present himself before them, in the full exersise of the clerical functions, and in the possession of all those attainments, which would promise a life of eminent usefulness. And, Mr. President, what do facts prove on this point? If there is any one feature, in the religious aspect of the present times more cheering and delightful than any other, it is the general eagerness for obtaining well educated ministers. All the young men of our theological seminaries none of them sixty miles distant, and might probably gather a harvest of almost unequalled richness and abundance, and with almost unparalleled ease and expedition. Dim indeed is the eye, that does not behold this field waving for the sickle; -callous the heart, that is not saddened at the thought of such a harvest being lost; and palsied the tongue, that is not often moved in prayer to the great Proprietor, that he would send forth laborers. These Nor is it necessary, that the laborers now wanted, either in the old or the new parts of our country, should possess other qualifications than may rationally be expected, with the use of proper means and the favor of heaven. They should possess piety, prudence, disciplined minds, a sound judgment, common sense, and operative love to the souls of men. qualifications have been possessed by a large proportion of the beneficiaries of Education Societies, and may with increased caution and diligence, be possessed by a still larger proportion. But this train of thought leads to mention another ground of objection, which, in the progress of the work, has been made to Education Societies. It is this: me That, among the persons charitably educated for the ministry, some have proved unsuitable and defective in their character, before they had completed the course of their education; and others have been found unsuccessful candidates for settlement, after they have entered upon prea ching. I say some; for I believe it has never been alleged by the most confident opposer of charitable education, that all beneficiaries have disappointed the hopes of their patrons. And here I do not feel Let it then be settled once for all, that beneficiaries of Education Societies, and those who superintend their course of pre-family of man. greatly concerned to admit, that there will be particular cases of disappointment in the prosecution of this work, as well as in all other human agencies. Were the patrons of Education Societies understood to offer a guaranty, that all the young men taken under their patronage would be preserved from error; that no mistake should occur, in regard to their capacity for improvement; or even that no cases of apostacy should exist? Such a guaranty can neither be given nor required. The fact is, that imperfection cleaves to the plans and doings of men universally in this state of trial. The city of Boston pays more than $50,000 annually for the support of its public schools, besides large additions occasionally for the erection of school-houses. Are the city authorities supposed to guaranty that no boy, who enters these schools, shall leave them without improvement, or ever after become a bad citizen? Is it not a sufficient justification of the school system, that it has been long proved to be favorable to public morals, intelligence, virtue, and happiness? And ought we not to be satisfied, when it is proved, that charitable efforts to educate young men for the ministry not only bring forward a greater number, for that sacred work, but manifestly tend to raise the tone of piety among the clergy, and in our churches? That this is the fact is beyond all rational controversy. Much more than this might be asserted; and with the pains now taken, in the formation of the character of the beneficiaries, we may hope they will acquire a firmness of purpose, a humble sense of their dependence on God, and a spirit of holy enterprise, which shall be followed by great blessings upon their labors. But our religious public must make up their minds to admit, what we are daily taught by observation and experience, as well as by the Scriptures, that human agents are always imperfect; and sometimes those, in whom great confidence has been placed, prove radically unsound and corrupt. Unless Christians have moral courage enough to look at these truths without dismay, they are not yet prepared for the arduous exertions of the present times. Are we to sit down with folded hands, and wait till a race of perfect men shall appear? or till the agency of men shall be superseded by the ministry of angels? We shall do so at our peril. We shall do so with the certain foreboding of hearing from our offended Judge the awful words, Ye wicked and slothful servants, addressed to ourselves. paration for the ministry;-that missionaries, and those who have the assignment of their fields of labor, are, like their fellow professors of Christianity, liable to err, encompassed with infirmities, and exposed to the multiplied dangers, temptations, and sins, of which the history of the church affords so many examples. And this humiliating fact, (for such it certainly is,) far from affording just occasion for cold and unfeeling censure and bittter reproach, should excite in the breasts of the faithful the deepest solicitude and the tenderest sympathy for all who are to become future teachers of divine things, and especially for those, who are called to take more responsible parts, in administering the religious charities of the day. And here, Sir, you will permit me to allude to a subject of great interest. Within a year past, a clergyman in the prime of life, occupying a desirable station, and one of great usefulness, has been removed from a beloved people, by the voice of the churches, and made the most important agent, in conducting the affairs of this Society. Motives of delicacy prevent my saying any thing of a personal nature, except that it fell to my lot to know, with what ardor this individual, in early youth, entered into the plans of those public exertions, which have respect to the spread of Christ's kingdom, and the salvation of men; and the public know, that after years of pastoral labor, and opportunities of becoming acquainted with the various claims of the church universal upon her sons, he has deliberately consecrated himself to this high ministration. It is now understood, and fully acknowledged, that the larger charitable institutions of our country require, and must receive, the undivided labors of competent functionaries, regularly set apart for the service of superintending their concerns. This general fact should lead the Chris. tian public at large to pray, that those, upon whom so heavy a responsibility rests, may be sustained in their arduous labors; -may be taught from above in regard to the wisest and most successful plans of operation; and may retain that confidence, which is indispensable to the discharge of the duties assigned them. The multitude of their brethren should feel a truly fraternal responsibility; and should cherish an ardent desire, that laborers in this cause may be eminently men of God; and that our successors may be highly honored instruments in bringing forward those days of millenial glory, which will assuredly arrive, and be hailed with joy and gratulation by the countless millions of the enlightened, renovated, sanctified NOTICES OF PUBLICATIONS. Address delivered before the Benevolent Society of "Perhaps it may tend to the definiteness of our views of a self made man, to fix the attention on an individual instance. I will mention Roger Sherman of Connecticut. He was the son of poor parents. The business marked out to him for life, was the sedentary and laborious employment of a shoemaker. But while his hands wrought in this humble, though useful ocThe specific object of the Society cupation, a providential occurrence led before which this Address was deliv him to aspire after a higher station in life. He was requested by a friend to seek for ered is "to assist indigent young men him legal advice at a neighboring town. of promising talents and of good moral The precision and accuracy, with which character in procuring an education he made known the case to the attorney at Bowdoin College." It does not consulted, excited surprise, and led to the intimation, that his mind was fitted to Even should he relax his daily toil, want and suffering were near to him, and to those he loved. Alone the oar he plied; the rapids nigh, like the American Education Society higher pursuits. But how could this hint confine its aid to young men who have be improved? The advantages of educathe ministry in view; but many of its tion were not within his reach. principles are the same, and admit of a similar illustration. The sentiments of the Address are moreover analogous to what Professor Newman exhibited with much force, at the late anniversary of the American Education Society, on moving the third resolution, which was expressed in the following words :"That since a large proportion of the most useful and distinguished men of every profession, and in every age, have sprung from humble life, the friends of the American Education Society have peculiar reason to expect that in consequence of their efforts, a great addition will be made to the piety, talent, and effective influence of the Christian ministry." Not having been able to obtain a copy of Professor Newman's remarks delivered in support of this resolution, we the more gladly avail ourselves of a few paragraphs from the Address to the Society in Bowdoin College. Neither, at that time, were there kind liberal patrons, or generous associations, to which he might look with the hope of assistance. He saw, that all his resources were in himself; and he resolved, that the power of these resources should be tried, and, in the strength of this resolution, he rose from the bench of the shoemaker, seated himself in the Halls of our Congress, and when there, he took his place with the first. For powers of discrimination, and for solidity of judgment, he had not his superior in that assembly of mighty men. Yes, this was the man, whoin Fisher Ames, when he had been prevented from hearing a debate, felt it safe to follow in his vote, for he always voted right. This is the man too, of whom the late illustrious Jefferson declared, that he never said a foolish thing in his life; and yet this same man, was a SELF MADE MAN." Mr. Newman, in adverting to the services which have been rendered Professor N. directs the attention to the country by this noble class of first to that peculiar and important men, exhibits their deeds with a just class of persons in our country whom and impressive eloquence. He rehe styles "self made men;" and in minds us that it was men of this harthe next place to those who, though dy, independent, and resolute charequally poor, instead of trusting "to acter, who acted with such prudence, their own unaided efforts for the at- and at the same time with such a detainment of knowledge and the disci- termined and invincible energy in the pline of the mind, have sought the aids of education." The following striking example is introduced for the purpose of illustrating the former class. revolutionary struggle. "There is something," he remarks, " in the discipline, to which the minds of these self made men were subjected, which well suited them to the exigencies of the times. habits, ready men, able to ineet ex Our country needed men of resolution and of the cross, and preach Christ and strength of purpose, of bold, enterprising him crucified, and contend against igencies of new conditions and unexpect- prevailing iniquity with a resolute ed events, men of independence of mind, courage, and endure hardships and who could and would think and act for privations without injury or discourthemselves; and it was among those, whose whole lives had been a course of agement. She needs this day a thou persevering resolution, and a succession of attempts and expedients, and whose opinions and mode of reasoning were their own, shackled by no system, and biassed by no prescriptive prejudice, that she found them." Speaking of his second class of indigent students, namely, those who, though they received the aids of ed sand such, to meet the wants of a rapidly extending population, and to arrest the fearful progress of moral desolation, which now so portentously threatens her political interests. Professor N. thus states and answers another objection, which may be made to the practice of affording pecuniary assistance to the indigent ucation, still had to struggle with pe- student preparing for the ministry, nury and depression in every stage of their preparation for usefulness, and who exhibited hardly less of bold adventure and determined resolution" than those whom he styles "self made men," Mr. N. asks, as well as to others. "But where are these men now to be found, in obscurity and penury still? No, they are on your benches of justice, in your departments of State, in your halls of legislation; they are the divines, and lawyers, and physicians, and instructers, whom you love and revere. Educated as in the objection. But the demands of the they were under all the disadvantages of indigent circumstances in life, in addition to the imperfection of the system of instruction, then found in our Seminaries of learning, still they have risen above all these disadvantages and made themselves conspicuous." "Our country needs such men. She will always need them; and if the citi zens of this republic preserve, as I hope they will, the purity of our free institutions, she will always have them." "It may be said: If the discipline, to which the indigent student is subjected, be thus advantageous, if to overcome the difficulties and hardships which poverty places in the way, conduce to the formation of a superior mind, why diminish the force of these favoring causes? Let the lion be met and conquered, if it is the struggle which will give strength to the victor.Carry us back to the simplicity of former times, and I will allow that there is force age have increased. More knowledge and further progress in literature and science are required in our educated men. To meet these demands, our course of instruction has been extended, and consequently the expenses of a public education increased. The changes also, which, in the progress of our country, have taken place in our modes of living, and which have extended themselves to our literary institutions, (though I rejoice to say, that a spirit of retrenchment has gone abroad,) have thrown new obstacles in the way of our indigent students. And in connexion with these causes of increased expenditure, consider also, that the effect of extending our course of education has been to increase the difficulties of competition. a rarely gifted mind He must indeed have Yes, our country needs such men. She needs men of a sturdy and enterprising character, who have been taught by the severities of early discipline to surmount obstacles, and to vanquish difficulties,-men who possess those determined and effective habits of soul which are peculiarly the result of the trying labors and conflicts, to which a hard penury of ten subjects the worthy student in the course of his preparations for useIn regard to this subject, the Difulness. She needs such men to go rectors of the American Education with the spirit and self denial of apos- Society believe that a middle path is tles to her Western and Southern the path of wisdom and of safety. borders, and there raise the standard They would grant so much assistance that a young man of proper disposi- | years in succession, and whose interion and endowments may obtain, ests were cherished by him with without serious embarrasment or loss of health, a thorough education for the ministry; and they would afford aid in such a manner, as to excite him to diligence and economy, and to leave unimpaired every desirable motive to personal effort. They have studjed to fix upon a course, which while it in a measure removes the excessive and disheartening pressure of want, is at the same time calculated " to en-ness: he is gracious, and full of com strong affection, has already recorded its deep sense of the obligations which it is under for so generous a benefactor, and so valuable a friend. In performing the duty assigned him, Mr. Wisner has selected for his text, the appropriate and beautiful description of the character and end of the upright man in Ps. 112: 4,5,6. Unto the upright there arisethlight in dark courage young men to do all they can for themselves, and to make them feel that they "are dependent, ultimately, upon themselves for an education." We close with one more quotation from this Address. "It may be said, that the calls on the benevolence of the public are numerous. passion, and righteous. A good man sheweth favor, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion. Surely he shall not be moved forever : the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance." The preacher first delineates the character, and then describes the blessedness, of a good man. The application to the case of his deceased and distinguished parishioner, follows. It is seldom that we find, in the records of benevolence, a more inter It is true, they are so. There are many objects, and noble objects, of Christian charity; and all that I ask is, that each may receive a share, and a just share, of Christian benevolence. I do not ask you to forget your fellow man, who sits in the region of moral darkness. O no. Do all esting history than Mr. Wisner has that you can, to pour upon these remote parts of the earth the light of Gospel truth. I do not ask you to be unmindful of the savage, who roams our western To their enlightened views, and given of Mr. Phillips, and of the family with which he was connected. wilds.-0 no. Do all that you can, to Take him feel the power of that religion, that can subdue the fierceness of the tiger, and change the lion to the lamb. I do cat ask you to forget the sons of affliction and want. O no. Go visit the cold hut of poverty, go stand by the thorny bed of disease, and be angels of mercy there. But I do ask you, that you would also remember the indigent scholar, in his discouragements and his struggles. I do ask you, that you would extend an arm for his support, when, worn down with mental toil, he is ready to sink beneath the burden of poverty, that presses heavy upon him." princely benefactions, the church and the community are indebted for some of the most useful and flourishing Institutions of learning. The late HON. WILLIAM PHILLIPS was born April 10, 1750, and died May 26, 1827. In presenting us with the prominent outlines of his character Mr. W. describes him as a man possessed of a strong and discriminating judgment; a decided friend of the liberties of his country in the times of the greatest peril; as deeply interested in the improvements of his native city, and in the progressive advancement of saciety. His natural disposition was generous, and affectionate, united with a strong sense of moral justice. But the predominent feature of his character was his piety. "Of the reality of this, none who knew him, and were qualified to judge, could entertain a doubt. His religious senti |