aged. Enough of the last mentioned are taken, to encourage the hoary-headed sinwer to hope in the blood of a Saviour, without presuming on his goodness.

It would give me pleasure to state the number that are now hoping, if I had the means of knowing. I will with caution give, what I suppose to be the probable number, say one hundred; I do not give it as correct. I hope, Sir, a much greater number will be reported in the progress of the work, as it is still increasing.

Permit me to make one more observation before I close, which is, that it is observable the work has spread in a line with prayer. In West Bloomfield Christians were evidently stirred up first; the Revival began there first, and the divine flame has spread from that on the way towards Newark.

NEW-YORK SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION SOCIETY.

THE fifth annual Report of this Society has just been published, but we did not receive a copy in time to prepare a summary of its contents for this number. We shall therefore notice a few facts, and leave the remainder for another occasion.

We are sorry to find at the end of the fifth year of the Society's operations, that the number of schools is not much larger than it was at the close of the second year, and that the public attention has not been more alive to the interests of an institution, which promises such lasting benefits to the present and the rising generation. If the blessing of God on benevolent labours is to form any test of their utility, the most cold and hesitating friend to the cause of universal education will here find an ample stimulant to the greatest efforts in this work of charity.

The following extract will set this matter in a clearer light.

The schools under the immediate patronage of this Society, are thirty-eight in number, and comprise about 3800 learners, many of whom have been regular attendants from the first opening of the schools in 1816, while a considerable proportion are only occasionally present. Of the present superintendents and teachers also, many were among those who first came forward to establish and promote this system of instruction. To these, accessions have been made from some of the con-gregations, and in some instances teachers have been supplied from among the learners. The Committee are anxious to recognise, in the most public manner, the self-denial, perseverance, and zeal of the superintendents, teachers, and visiters, by which the operations of the Society have been sustained, and its object thus far accomplished.

But while they tender the warmest acknowledgments to those who, during five years, have persevered in the labours of this undertaking, they have again to regret the want of adequate co-operation in their exertions, on the part of ministers, and other friends of religion and humanity. It will perhaps be heard with surprise, that little or nothing has been added to the number of efficient friends and promoters of the schools of this Society since 1816, notwithstanding the progress of the system throughout the country, and the universal acknowledgment of its great utility and excellence. The Committee beg leave to state that there is the most urgent necessity for the active exertions of every one capable of aiding this cause, and particularly to call upon the ministers of the Gospel to confer upon it the benefit of their personal influence and attention. Those ministers who have taken an active interest in the schools connected with their congregations, have witnessed the most satisfactory and encouraging results. The schools have aided their pastoral labours, and proved rich nurseries to their Churches.

The Visiting Committee have been indefatigable in their attention to the schools, during the past year, and have rendered the most important services to the cause in which the Society is engaged. The usual course of instruction and discipline has been pursued by the superintendents and teachers; and in every part of the system the ordinary measures have been continued.

(To be continued.)

OBITUARY.

DIED, in Bridgehampton, L. I. April 2d, after a short illness of one week, the Rev. AARON WOOLWORTH, D. D. Pastor of the Church in that place, in the 58th year of his age, and the 35th of his ministry. In the death of this eminent servant of the Lord, his wife is called to mourn the loss of an affectionate husband, his children of a tender parent, the church of a faithful minister, and society of one of its most valuable members.

During the illness which terminated the life of this good man, he enjoyed his reason undisturbed nearly to the last hour; and manifested all that calmness and serenity of mind, all that confidence in God, and humble resignation to his will, which the religion of the gospel inspires.

Owing to the extreme debility of his lungs he was able to converse but little. His heart however was full, and breaking forth in whispering accents, he often assured his friends, who stood by his bed, that he now experienced the supporting power of that grace which he had so long preached to others. Death to him brought no terrors. He viewed it with a tranquil smile indicating that all within was peace, and that death to him was only "the gate to endless joy."

In this happy frame of mind, he closed his eyes on time and things, and sweetly fell asleep in Christ, without a struggle, and without a groan.

"Hear what the voice from heav'n proclaims

For all the pious dead!

Sweet is the savour of their names,

And soft their sleeping bed.

They die in Jesus, and are blest;

How kind their slumbers are!

From sufferings and from sins released,

And freed from every snare.

Far from this world of toil and strife,
They're present with the Lord;

The labours of their mortal life
End in a large reward."

To the people of his charge Doctor Woolworth bore the strongest affection. The welfare of his flock was near his heart, and lay with so much weight upon his mind in his last sickness, that he said to his Physician, "if I have any wish to live, it is because I may perhaps at this time be of some use to my dear people."

Doctor Woolworth possessed a strong and an improved mind, a feeling and benevolent heart.-He rejoiced with them that rejoiced, and wept with them that wept.-He was a kind neighbour, and a true friend. His house was the residence of hospitality; and the stranger when he entered his doors found himself at home.

To the poor he was charitable and attentive.-As a gospel Minister he was devoted to his work. He was instant in season and out of season; and was willing to spend and be spent in the service of his Master. To this neighbouring congregations as well as his own can bear witness. On the 25th of March he delivered two sermons and administered the Sacrament of the Lord's supper to his Church for the last time. While breaking the bread of life he spoke with unusual solemnity and feeling, and seemed deeply impressed with a sense of eternal things.-He was faithful unto death, and has gone to receive the Crown of Life.

The Seaman's Magazine.

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. They cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.-Psalms.

BETHEL UNION.

OUR excellent friend and correspondent, the Rev. G. C. Smith, of Penzance, England, has furnished us with a copy of the "First Report of the British and Foreign SEAMAN'S FRIEND SOCIETY AND BETHEL UNION," presented at their anniversary meeting in November last, from which we shall copy a few extracts, which will give a summary view of the rise and rapid progress of religion among Seamen in the ports of Great Britain.

In the year 1800, the moral and religious condition of the marine population of Great Britain was most deplorable; many officers and seamen now living, both of the naval and merchant service, can recollect, with the strongest emotions of regret, that, at that time, "Darkness covered our ships, and gross darkness our sailors." They were indeed "without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenant of promise; having no hope, and without God in the world." A man of war was proverbial for every kind of wickedness, and a sailor was but another name for a guilty lawless being, neglected by man, and apparently abandoned by God; "given up to his own heart's lusts, to work all uncleanness with greediness;" his places of resort on shore were, alas! infinitely more fatal "than winds, or seas, or storms;" where thousands and tens of thousands have made shipwreck of body and soul, and from whence they had been hurried, unprepared, to meet an angry God.

Exceedingly faint were the rays which relieved this melancholy gloom, and few, very few, were those who, "plucked as brands from the burning," lived to "glorify God in their bodies and spirits, which were his." A captain Torial Joss had indeed quitted the sea, and preached for Mr. Whitfield, at Tabernacle and Tottenham Court Chapels. A Samuel Medley had been rescued by Divine grace, after a long servitude in the Royal Navy, and established as a preacher of righteousness among the Baptists at Liverpool; and a John Newton had been graciously delivered from the slavery of Africa, and the iniquitous trade of Guinea, and had been raised by Divine Providence to the ministry of Salvation at St. Mary's Woolnoth Church, Lombard-street.

It was natural to suppose that the holy fires of Christian zeal, kindled in Great Britain, would extend to her fleets and armies, and that the tribe of Zebulon," THE MARINERS' TRIBE," as Isaiah predicted, "should see a great light." This is a fact sufficiently notorious to many pious and respectable families in this nation, and it was during the last war that a Minister of Jesus Christ discovered religious officers and seamen in nearly 80 ships of war; and, encouraged by several pious gentlemen, whose names are endeared with gratitude to the hearts of Christian Sailors, as the late Wm. H, Esq. of Fleet-street; the Rev. S. G. forVOL. VIII.

8

merly of Newport Pagnel; the late Rev. Andrew Fuller, of Kettering; an eminently useful Lady of Portsmouth; Dr. S. of Edinburgh, and other respectable Friends in Scotland, he maintained a regular correspondence with those ships in all parts of the world, and assisted them by various methods to promote religion, and frequently published their correspondence in different popular works. The labours also of the Rev. Mr. Griffin, of Portsea, with one or two chaplains in the navy, and the exertions of other Ministers in seaport towns, in connexion with Bible, Tract, and School Societies, had produced a wonderful reformation among officers and seamen, both in the naval and merchant service. To which may be added, the generous and persevering efforts of religious fathers, mothers, wives, daughters, brothers, sisters, and friends.

The frequent correspondence of such endeared relations and connexions was singularly blessed among captains and seamen, and while it strengthened them to repel the torrents of marine depravity, it encouraged them unhesitatingly to avow themselves on the Lord's side. The year 1815 arrived, and the blessings of peace were again restored.

Considerable progress had been made in the navy towards the principles of Christian faith, and many respectable persons from that profession became now eminently useful on shore. The increased labours of Ministers and Religious Societies in every seaport had also produced a visible change among our merchant seamen, and hopes were fervently excited that the peace would facilitate the access of ministerial labours, and open channels hitherto unknown for the introduction of the Gospel among them. Such hopes have been fully realized; officers and seamen scattered throughout the kingdom have been induced to attend an evangelical Ministry, both in the Establishment and among Dissenters; they have in consequence become decidedly religious. While others, who when at sea were only " babes" or young men" in the school of Christ, as the Apostle expresses it, have, with increased privileges and instruction, become "fathers in the Christian Church, counting all things loss for the excellency of the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

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From this rapid outline of the rise and progress of religion among British Seamen, sufficient ideas may be gathered to form a general opinion of the materials Jehovah had, in boundless mercy, been preparing for the present day of Christian exertion among this invaluable class of our countrymen.

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Still there was no Institution, with the exception of Bible Societies, that professed to regard the spiritual interests of Seamen, and conduct them to everlasting glory. But the time, yea, even the set time," to favour sailors, was now come, and the means by which the public attention was first awakened to this subject are too humble and too interesting not to deserve special notice in a Report of the Bethel Union. A very plain but promising beginning had been made to establish Prayermeetings in a few ships by an obscure individual at Rotherhithe, and this effort was abundantly encouraged and promoted by Samuel Jennings, Esq. a respectable merchant at Rotherhithe. This gentleman, who is a zealous member and local preacher of the Wesleyan connex ion, may be indeed regarded as a pattern of the religious exertions now making among seamen. His exemplary zeal-his independent spirithis early Sabbath meetings-his judicious classification of masters and

seamen and his paternal attention to their temporal and spiritual necessities can never be forgotten in an historical detail of Bethel exertions.

Nor can it be just to pass by the labours of several masters of vessels in the coasting trade from the North of England, who solemnly consecrated all their energies, in union with our friends at Rotherhithe, to establish Prayer-meetings from ship to ship, in the year 1817; and first hoisted a flag with the word Bethel in it, as a signal for Divine service on board.

In the month of May, the same year, a kind of providential circumstance brought a person, whose business is on the Thames, acquainted with the event, who embraced the earliest opportunity of communicating it to the Minister who corresponded with the Navy during the last

war.

Delighted with such lovely appearances of piety, those Christian friends united all their talents, influence, and exertions, to encourage ship preaching and devotional engagements of extemporaneous prayer. The Almighty condescended to bless their varied efforts to promote his glory among seamen. Ships were seen crowded with attentive hearers; the spirit of prayer mightily increased, and regular meetings were now established, in the Upper Pool, near London Bridge, under the Bethel Flag.

The subject of ship preaching was partially brought before the public, and general approbation succeeded. Very early in those proceedings the idea of a Ship Church, or Floating Chapel, had occurred; and, for three months successively, the Minister and his friends laboured to promote such a plan, and interest every one they possiby could in this important object. The smile of Heaven again crowned their exertions with success, and a kind and gracious Providence directed their steps to the highly-respected Treasurer of the Port of London Society; under whose auspices arose that valuable Institution, and, by whose kind attention, the British Ark now floats on the River Thames. "Peace," celestial" Peace, be within her walls," and the most abundant " prosperity within this palace" of the Lord Jesus. "Pray for peace; they shall prosper who love her. For our brethren and companions' sake, we will now say peace be within her; because of the House of the Lord our God, we will seek her good." In the summer of 1818 the Christian public hailed this sacred establishment, and every succeeding month has justified the measures adopted, and proved the vast importance of such a vessel for Divine worship on the River Thames.-(To be continued.)

NEW-YORK MARINE BIBLE SOCIETY.

Fifth Annual Report, read at the Anniversary Meeting, 11th April,

1821.

THE Managers of the New-York Marine Bible Society congratulate its members and friends, on the return of another anniversary. They rejoice to meet an assembly of seamen and friends of seamen, whom they can address as friends of the Bible. The Lord be praised for his preserving goodness to those who have traversed the seas; that he has delivered them from the fury of storms, and brought them to the port