HARLAEM FEMALE MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

In the last Number we mentioned the recent formation of a Missionary Society at Harlaem, which we then understood to be auxiliary to the NewYork Junior Missionary Society. Our mistake with respect to its designation and connexion, has since been rectified by a gentleman from that place, who has obligingly furnished us with the following authentic account of its establishment.

At a meeting of a number of Females of Harlaem and its vicinity, held in the Town School House at Harlaem, Aug. 20, 1816; who, taking into consideration the condition of our fellow-sinners on the frontier parts of this state destitute of a preached gospel, and in order to aid any similar design of the citizens of this state to send a pastor "to seek that which is lost, and to gather the scattered sheep that wander through all the mountains and upon every hill, because there is none to search or seek after them"-It was resolved to form a Society, to be called The Harlaem Female Missionary Society, to raise a fund for the purpose of aiding any similar institution to send to the white inhabitants on the frontier of the state of New-York, who are destitute of a stated supply of Gospel Ministrations, as far as their means will admit. The meeting was opened with an appropriate prayer by the Rev. C. C. Vermeule, Pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church at Harlaem. The following persons were appointed Directors for the present year, and authorized to solicit subscriptions and donations--Mrs. Samson Benson, jr. Mrs. Benjamin Bailey, Mrs. John Bingham, Mrs. James Bogert, jr. Mrs. John P. Waldron, Mrs. Ephraim Pardee, Mrs. Dana Ingraham, Mrs. C. C. Vermeule, Miss Grace Berrien, Mrs. Isaac Harris, Mrs. Joseph Mott, Mrs. Wm. Kenyon, jr.

A Sunday School is established at Harlaem, attended by upwards of 50 Scholars, children and adults, who are conducted to Church every Sabbath-day twice by their Teachers.

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Connecticut Reserve Bible Society.

This Society held its Annual Meeting at Warren, Ohio, the 12th June, when the Trustees made their Second Report. The aggregate of the donations that have been made to the Society amounts to 1055 dollars: of which 732 dollars were contributed the last year. These donations have enabled the Trustees to procurc, in the whole, 1200 Bibles. The Society has received a donation of 350 copies of Stereotype Bibles from the New Hampshire Bible Society. One hundred of these Bibles are destined for Huron, and 259 for the Michigan Territory..

After mentioning the benefits of Bible Associations established elsewhere, the Report recommends their formation in aid of that Society.

The following Extract from the same Report adds another to the many testimonies which are daily received, of the favourable opinion which is very generally entertained throughout the United States concerning the National Institution.

"An object of high importance has for tention of Christians in the United States. by the New-Jersey Bible Society, to form

a considerable time engaged the at In the year 1814, it was proposed a National Association, for the pur

pose of uniting the efforts of the several existing Societies, in circulating the holy Scriptures. The subject has lately been resumed, and on the 11th of May last, an institution of this kind was established, styled the American Bible Society. If we form our judgment of its utility from the experience of that nation which have the honour of founding the first Bible Society, we shall readily perceive the great advantages of this institution. Should our Society place their surplus funds at the disposal of this National Bible Society, may we not cherish the pleasing expectation, that the beneficial influence of our donations will be the most effectually extended to the nations of the earth."

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The Petersburg (Va.) Auxiliary Bible Society, met on the 20th ult. and after hearing the report of the proceedings of the New-York Convention, from their Delegate, Mr. Rice, adopted the following as the 2d article of their Constitution.

"The sole object of this Society shall be, to encourage a wide circulation of the Holy Scriptures, in co-operation with the American Bible Society.”

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From the Religious Intelligencer.

On the evening of the 11th instant, a Meeting was held in New-Haven, of several hundred persons both clergy and laymen, for the purpose of promoting the objects of the American Bible Society.

His Excellency Governor Smith, one of the Vice-Presidents of the American Bible Society, being accidentally present, was appointed Chairman, and Professor Silliman, Secretary, and the meeting being organized, proceeded to business.

We have obtained from the Secretary, a copy of the Resolutions which were adopted, and, we now give them to the public.

Resolved, That this Meeting sincerely approve of the plan, and the objects of the American Bible Society, and earnestly recommend it to the fiberal patronage of Christians of every denomination.

The Reverend Clergy belonging to the State having retired, the following resolution was passed.

Resolved, That in order to aid in rendering the American Bible Society a great public blessing, it is respectfully recommended to Christians of every denomination in this state, in all cases, where circumstances will justify the step, that they raise funds for making their pastors or ministers, memters for life of the National Society. They will thus, at a small expense, procure for their spiritual guides, the honourable and merited distinction of being Directors or Managers for life, and materially augment the resources and means of usefulness of an Institution, of the greatest importance to our country and the world.

The above resolutions were passed unanimously.

The meeting was honoured not only by the presence of many respectable gentlemen, both clergy and laymen from various parts of Connecticut, but from other States.

Among the strangers, was the honourable Judge Bayard of New-Jersey, who, in a chaste and perspicuous narrative, gave the meeting an account of the reception which the proposition for the formation of an American Bi ble Society has met with in various parts of the states of New-York,NewHampshire and Massachusetts, where he had recently travelled. He stated that there was but one heart and one voice among those with whom he had communicated on the subject, (and he had in various instances communica tel with the most respectable meetings and committees in Boston and other towns) and this voice was uniformly in favour of the American Bible Society. He stated also, that the news of the project for the formation of a National American Bible Society was received in England with an expression of the most ive'y satisfaction; the committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society, immediately proposed to vote One Thousand Pounds to the project

ed Institution, but the execution of the proposition was deferred until intelligence should be received of the organization of the American National Society.

Judge Bayard also stated that a committee of the Massachusetts Bible Society, after mature deliberation, had given the most interesting and satisfactory proof of their approbation of the objects of the American Bible Society, by recommending that the State Society become auxiliary to the National Society.

Among the gentlemen who favoured the meeting with their remarks, Hon. Roger Minot Sherman was particularly interesting.

This gentlemen, in a speech, which had no other fault than its brevity, alluded to the dreadful moral convulsions which, for thirty years, had agitated and devastated the world, and, in a manner extremely impressive and beautiful, pointed out the commencement of a new and better Era, of which the general distribution of the Scriptures was the most remarkable feature.

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REVIVALS OF RELIGION.

From the Ithaca Gazette, a paper just commenced at Ithaca, Seneca Co. N. Y. We understand that joyful tidings of the prosperity of Zion within the bounds of the Presbytery of Geneva, were communicated to that body, during its late session. In the towns of Romulus and Lyons, during the past year, the work of grace has been very extensive, but now appears to be on the decline. In Phelps, Victor, Weston, and Riga, there is an unusual attention to the important concerns of religion. In Palmyra, a glorious work has lately commenced-many are already rejoicing in hope, while mul titudes are earnestly inquiring the way of salvation. In Mount-Morris the Lord is also manifesting his power and goodness. Middlesex and Gorham are likewise visited in a glorious manner. In the former place the work is new and rapidly increasing. Ffteen have united with the people of God.-In Gorham, more than eighty entertain hopes of having passed from death unto life. The good work is still progressing.

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We omitted to mention in our last Number the late arrival in this city of the Rev. Joseph Samuel C. F. Frey, with his family, from London.

Mr. F. is a convert from Judaism. He has for several years past been labouring to promote the faith which, in common with his blinded kinsmen according to the flesh, he once contemned, and was disposed to destroy. Since the establishment of the Society (in London) for the promotion of Christianity among the Jews, Mr. F. has been actively engaged, in connexion with that Institution, in advancing its important objects, as well by the exercise of the ministerial functions, as by divers other means.

Last Lord's day evening, at the invitation of the Rev. Dr. J. B. Romeyn, Mr. F. preached in the Presbyterian Church, in Cedar-Street, in this city.

To hear the unsearchable riches of Christ proclaimed by a converted Jew, was too interesting a circumstance not to excite a very extensive desire in Christians of all denominations among us to attend the worship. It according ly drew together many more than the Church could contain.

Mr. F. took his text in Job xix. 25. I know that my Redeemer liveth. The perspicuous, learned and evangelical manner in which that man of God elucidated the doctrinal part of this difficult passage of scripture, and the earnestness and unction with which he pressed upon the consciences of his hearers the importance of the privileges and duties connected with the truths exhibited, were calculated to fill the souls of believers in the living Redeemer with emotions which we should in vain attempt to describe.

It was a subject of much regret that very few Jews were present that evening, owing to its being the commencement of a great feast day among them, the first of the year.

THE

VOL. II.] Saturday, October 5, 1816.

[No. 2.

Address to Christian Females in favour of the Missionary Society, (of London.)

THE day in which we live is distinguished for Missionary exertions, proceeding upon a scriptural principle, and presenting a character no longer problematical. Already the effects produced, exceed the most sanguine expectations of the earliest friends of the Society, and afford a pledge of increasing and illimitable success. Children are spreading their garments in the way of the Messiah, and proclaiming his triumphs: from the mouths of babes and sucklings strength is ordained; the young are crying, "Hosannah to the Son of David;" and infancy and age hasten to lay their offerings at the feet of the Prince of Peace. Under circumstances so auspicious, females will not wonder that the friends of Missions should look to them for a zeal as fervent as their passions, for a love as tender as their affections, for assistance as prompt as their benevolence, and for a charity as graceful as their character. In making an appeal to their understandings and their hearts, the Missionary Society is aware that it has claims written in their constitutional temperament, their acknowledged habits from time immemorial, their peculiar obligations to Christianity, and their active services, tendered with a promptitude and earnestness which appear designed and calculated to repair the ruins of the fall.

It is from woman that we expect the charities of life, from the cradle to the tomb. She was made "an help meet for man;" and where can she exert the gracious power so honourably, so scripturally, so successfully, as when she "provokes him to love and to good works?" She has only to look around her upon the miseries of the unconverted world, in order to excite her zeal, and call forth all her benevolence. To what does the Missionary Society direct her attention? and what object is she called to secure? Is she a mother? The cries of ten thousand infants fill her ears, who are devoted by superstition or policy to a violent death. Is she a wife? The co-equality of rights, and the participation of endearments resulting from them, so essential to the security and the harmony of society, must be an object infinitely important-and these are unknown among the poor heathen, to whom the Missionary Society is teaching "a more excellent way." "When a Missionary in South America was reproving a married woman of good character for following the custom of destroying female infants, she answered with tears, I wish to God, father, I wish to God, that my mother had, by my death, prevented the distresses I endure, and have yet to endure, as long as I live. Consider, father, our deplorable condition. Our husbands go to hunt, and trouble themselves no further. We are dragged along, with one infant at the breast, and another in a basket. They return in the evening without any burden; we return with the burden of our children, and though tired with a long march, we are not permitted to sleep, but must labour the whole night in grinding maize to make chica for them. They get drunk, and in their drunkenness beat us, draw us by the hair of the

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head, and tread us under foot. And what have we to comfort us for slavery that has no end. A young wife is brought in upon us, who is permitted to abuse us and our children, because we are no longer regarded. Can human nature endure such tyranny? What kindness can we show to our female children equal to that of relieving them from such oppression, more bitter a thousand times than death? I say again, would to God my mother had put me under ground the moment I was born!" Observe, this was not a peculiar case, but a national custom*." But these are savage nations-and what can be expected from barbarians but barbarity? Turn your eyes, then, upon the East-upon India, whence Europe has derived her primitive elements of science, through the medium of Egypt and Phoenicia-the one the reservoir of the accumulated knowledge of Oriental nations; the other, under the character of the navigators of the globe, the transporters of those treasures to the isles of Greece, the empire of Rome, the remote shores of Britain, and every place which they touched in their adventurous voyages. The writer of this sheet would disdain to touch your hearts, unless he had possession of your understandings also; he therefore supplies you with facts, and leaves the inferences to your judgment and your feeling. Look then at India, where the devotee is crushed under the car of Juggernaut-where the clue to his temple is furnished by human bones, bleached by the meridian sun, and scattered on the road at the distance of fifty miles from the altar of this Oriental Moloch; where the wife expires upon the funeral pyre of her husband-is sometimes forced there by her own child, the son of her womb, of her vows, of her fondest solicitude; whom she has nourished at her breast, and reared upon her knees, but who has no pity for the parent who gave him life. Such instances have occurred, where the first-born has himself bound his mother, and cast her upon the flames.Christian women, awake! the voice of millions cries in your ears for succour: consult the hand-writing of heaven upon your hearts and refuse your benevolent interposition if you can! But in the day that you deny your assistance to the perishing heathen, renounce the constitutional temperament which distinguishes your sex, and gives you to act, while men deliberate.

Your acknowledged habits justify this appeal to your characteristic feelings. To whom has the traveller looked for relief? When Parke fainted under the shadow of the tree, in the evening which closed many days of hunger and toil, it was an African woman who brought him rice and milk, and bathed the feet swollen by travel, while she sung, to soothe the exhausted powers, a song which came home to his heart, because it arose out of his circumstances. It was the spontaneous eloquence of female sense and sensibility. And can it ever be forgotten, that the traveller, who had wandered from the frozen circles of the poles to the verti cal sun of the torrid zone,, recorded, as the result of his long and often painful experience, that he had found mankind as variable as the climes which he had visited, but woman ever tender and compassionate. To whom do we look for the gentle offices of life? To our mothers, our wives, our sisters, and our daughters. And shall the charities so liberally and constantly dispensed, be denied to a society which labours to diminish the calamities over which female sympathy weeps? Such an Institution has the strongest claim upon your active co-operation, because it presents the only sphere of action commensurate with your benevolence.

But what expectations must not be formed, when, in connexion with this native susceptibility, the obligations of females to Christianity are

Cecil's Sermon before the Society for Missions to Africa and the East.