our own congregations, and also our Indian missions. Though much has been done considering the means at our command, particularly in furnishing transla. tions of portions of the New Testament in the Mohawk language, and the supplying our Sabbath schools with Bibles and Testaments, yet the general efficiency of the Society became doubtful, as it tended to divide the attention of our people between it and the American Bible Society, and thereby in a great measure to paralyze their efforts. On this account some of the zealous friends of the cause considered it their duty to make an effort to amalgamate the two societies, that 'Judah might no longer vex Ephraim, nor Ephraim vex Judah.' This gave rise to the following correspondence, reports, and resolutions, which are published in the report, and that they may be reserved for future reference, in case of need, we republish them as the conclusion of our extracts :— . 'Baltimore, July 10, 1834. 'The committee to whom was referred the preamble and resolutions submitted to the board at its last meeting by the Rev. M. Easter, respectfully report :That they have had the subject under consideration, and as the result of their deliberations, unanimously recommended the adoption of the following resolutions: 1. Resolved, That a copy of the communications herewith enclosed be forwarded to the editors of the "Christian Advocate and Journal," at New-York, signed by a select number of ministers and influential laymen of the Methodist Episcopal Church in this city. 2. Resolved, That the Corresponding Secretary be instructed to address the American Bible Society, informing them of the anxious desire of this society to effect a union between the Bible Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church and our great National Institution, and of the effort we are making to enlist the aid of that influential branch of the Christian Church in this state; requesting to know the sentiments of the American Bible Society on the subject. 'All which is respectfully submitted. (Signed) JOHN COLEMAN, Secretary. SAMUEL BAKER, Chairman. 'At a meeting of the board of managers of the Maryland State Bible Society, held July 17, 1834, 'Resolved, That the corresponding secretary be instructed to address the Amer. ican Bible Society, informing them of the anxious desire of this society to effect a union of the Bible Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church with our great National Institution, and of the effort we are making to enlist the aid of that influential branch of the Christian Church in this state; requesting to know the sentiment of the American Bible Society on the subject. Extracted from the minutes. ELISHA N. BROWNE, Cor. Sec. of the Mar. Eib. Soc. 'To the Editors of the Christian Advocate and Journal. DEAR BRETHREN,-The undersigned, ministers and members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the city of Baltimore, beg leave to address you on a subject of no ordinary importance to the cause of God in general, or to us in particular as Methodists. A Bible convention was held in this city in May, 1833, composed of delegates from many parts of the state, to devise the means of exploring the state, and supplying with the word of truth such as should be found destitute of the sacred volume. A Bible Society was organized by the convention, which has since been occupied in raising auxiliaries in the counties, with branches in the several election districts, to awaken and to perpetuate the proper interest on this deeply interesting subject. In the prosecution of this holy effort, it would appear to be obviously the duty of the Methodists to co-operate, as none can be more concerned in distributing that holy volume which has God for its author, salvation for its end, and "truth without any mixture of error for its matter." Yet our effectual co-operation is greatly embarrassed by what we presume to be the same misunderstanding of the attitude which has been assumed by our Church in regard to this subject. It is believed by many that the forma. tion of a separate Bible Society by the Methodist Episcopal Church, for the purpose of acting independently of the American Bible Society, where a suita ble field of labor may present itself, forbids us to unite with the State Bible Søeiety in a work which we cannot do ourselves, and which, nevertheless, cannot be done without us. 'You are probably aware of the extensive influence which the Methodists possess in this state, and consequently of the high responsibility which rests upon them to use this influence to the glory of God. It is generally believed here, that without the cordial co-operation of our ministry and membership, the efforts of the Maryland State Bible Society will prove abortive, and who then shall roll this reproach from our door, and above all, how shall we answer it to God! 'Can you not help us to reprove the misapprehensions under which some of our preachers and many of our members labor; for we are assured that it is a misapprehension, from the resolutions passed both by our own and the Virginia annual conference, in favor of a similar effort of the Virginia State Bible Society. The Advocate is considered as the organ of the Church, and if our friends were earnestly exhorted through its columns to come up in this mattter to the help of the Lord, we are persuaded they would no longer hesitate, because they would no longer consider their exertions in the proposed movement as an act of hostility to the institutions of their own Church-an assurance which can no otherwise be given until the ensuing session of the Baltimore annual con. ference. Most earnestly soliciting your aid in this matter, we are yours in the fellowship of Christ. GEORGE G. COOKMAN, JAMES SEWELL, THOMAS E. BOND, Baltimore, September, 1834. W. HAMILTON, THOMAS C. THORNTON, FIELDER ISRAEL, JAMES BRUNdige. 'AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY HOUSE, New-York, September 18, 1834. At a meeting this morning of the committee appointed by the managers of the American Bible Society, to consider the subject communicated in a letter from the Maryland Bible Society, relating to a union of the American Bible Society and the Methodist Episcopal Bible Society, the following resolution was adopted : Resolved, That Dr. James L. Phelps, George Suckley, and Francis Hall, Esq., (managers of the American Bible Society,) be furnished with a copy of the above named letter, and that they be requested respectfully to present the same to the officers of the "Methodist Episcopal Bible Society," and the editors of the "Journal and Advocate," and after due conference with those gentlemen respecting this letter, to inform the committee, so far as may be deemed proper, as to the result of said conference. In behalf of the committee, J. C. BRIGHAM, Cor. Sec'y. "These documents having been submitted to the managers of the Bible and Tract Society and Sunday School Union of the Methodist Episcopal Church, they appointed a committee to consider and report thereon; and on the eleventh instant the following report was presented at an extra meeting of the board, which was concurred in, and a copy has been sent as directed to the managers of the American Bible Society, and also to the Maryland State Bible Society. The committee to whom was referred the communication of the Maryland State Bible Society to the American Bible Society, and the resolution of the board of managers of the latter institution, respectfully report : "That the Bible Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized, and is perpetuated on the recommendation of the General Conference, and that no cardinal alteration in its constitution is expedient, until such alteration be communicated to that body at its next session in 1836, even if such course were desirable, which, in the present case, they are happy in believing is not the fact. 'The specific object contemplated by the formation of our society and its aux iliaries, was the adequate supply of the wants of our numerous Sunday schools, for which there was no provision by any of the branches of the American Bible Society. This object is still of vast importance, and calls for much more of ex. ertion and liberality than it has as yet received, especially in some of the conferences. It is, therefore, incompatible with our duty and interests, either to dissolve our society, or assume an auxiliary relation to the American Bible Society. 'Toward that noble and popular institution, however, we can have no other feeling than veneration and respect; and in proof of this, if it were necessary, we might appeal to the fact, that several of our board are also acting managers of the national society, and find no incompatibility in their double relation. That great institution has deservedly acquired the confidence of the Christian public for their enterprise and usefulness, which is above all praise. And the Maryland State Society is one of their most efficient and successful auxiliaries, in which we have always rejoiced to hear that very many respectable ministers and mem. bers of our Church in Baltimore and elsewhere have been actively and zealously useful. And we unite with them in the expression of regret, that from any misapprehension the Methodist Episcopal Church in Maryland should hesitate in aiding the state society in their laudable exertions to supply every destitute family in their limits with a copy of the Bible, or should seem to be idle or indifferent in this cause. While we should rejoice in the multiplication of our own auxiliaries in that state, yet as we have thus far been denied this pleasure, we shall be perfectly satisfied if our brethren there, and in any state similarly situated, shall organize Bible societies auxiliary to the state and American societies, since both are engaged in the common cause of circulating the Bible "without note or comment." On this broad and catholic ground "we be brethren," and there need be no strife, and in the present case there can be no competition. With the view of meeting the present case, and any subsequent one of similar character, your committee recommend the adoption of the following resolutions, which they hope will remove any future misapprehensions on this subject, viz. 1. Resolved, That it is not expedient before the next session of the General Conference, either to dissolve this society or essentially modify its constitution. 2. Resolved, That as the American Bible Society has the full confidence and Christian affection of this board, we disclaim any design to oppose and hinder in the least the useful operations of that institution or any of its auxiliaries, and should sincerely deprecate such result. 3. Resolved, That the Maryland State Bible Society, being engaged in the praiseworthy effort to supply the destitute within their borders, and being conducted by a board of managers in whose integrity and piety we fully confide, is worthy of the patronage and liberality of the Christian public, and we affectionately commend it to the prayers and contributions of our brethren in that state. 4. Resolved, That the duty of promoting the circulation of the holy Scriptures is obligatory on all the friends of Christ, and we earnestly exhort our brethren to form Bible societies in every station and circuit throughout the land; and although we should prefer that they become auxiliary to our board, yet if any of them should see cause not to attach themselves to us, and discover that they can be more useful by uniting with state societies, or with the American Bible Society, they have our entire and hearty concurrence. 5. Resolved, That should any Bible Societies choose to purchase Bibles and Testaments from our depository, they may procure them on the same terms, whether auxiliary to the American Bible Society, or directly auxiliary to us. 6. Resolved, That a copy of this report be sent to the American Bible Society, to the Maryland State Bible Society, and that it be printed in the "Christian Advocate and Journal." Signed by order of the board, SAMUEL WILLIAMS, Rec. Sec'y. New-York, Nov. 11, 1834. N. BANGS, 6th Vice President. 476 Description of a Mound-The Nobleness of Humility. DESCRIPTION OF A MOUND, Recently discovered on the banks of the Genesee river. MR. TUCKER,-If the antiquities of the country are of interest to the agricul turist, I send you for publication in the Farmer the following description of an ancient mound, lately found on the banks of the Genesee river in clearing the land for a crop of wheat. The mound is about ninety feet in circumference, thirty feet diameter, and eight feet in height. It is in the centre of a flat piece of ground of about six rods square, bounded on the north by a ravine one hundred and fifty feet deep perpendicular banks, on the east by gently rising ground, on the south by another ravine, equal to the one on the north in depth; on the west the river banks descend precipitously to the river about three hundred feet. It is situate nearly opposite the late residence of Mary Jamieson, the white woman.' The site is truly romantic, and the prospect the most beautiful that can be imagined, commanding an extensive view up and down the Genesee river, and over the Gardow flats, with parts of the towns of Castile and Perry, and which would be much increased if the woods were more cleared away. On making an excavation into the mound a skeleton was discovered, with the head placed to the centre, lying on the back, the head resting on a flat stone, the arms folded across the breast, and the feet extending toward the circumference of the mound; large round stones of from forty to eighty pounds weight were placed on each side of the skeleton, and over these and the skeleton were placed flat stones. The bones were in a very decayed state, and would not preserve their form when exposed to the air. Parts of three skeletons were discovered in about one eighth of the whole nound, or the section in which the excavation was made. Over one of the skeletons was placed twenty-six arrow heads, one stone knife, and a stone cleaver; also a copper skewer of about six or seven inches in length, about the size of a pipe's tail, flattened a little at one end, and slightly twisted. The stone knife is of very fine hard stone, clouded green, three or four inches in breadth, and about seven in length, with a small hole in the middle, and about the thickness of a half quire of paper, sharpened edges. The cleaver of about the same dimensions as the knife, cut off square, and several notches made on one end; a hole in the middle. This is of soft slate stone. The pipe bowl was made of coarse sand stone, about an inch square, and rudely ornamented by rubbing notches on the upper edge of the bowls. All the articles are of the rudest workmanship. Even the arrow heads were the rudest that can be found, and seem to have been made when the skill of making arrow heads was yet in its infancy. Large trees were found standing on the mound. These relics may be seen at the store of D. and T. Aylsworth, on the river road, in Mount Morris. Respectfully yours, &c, Brook's Grove, Livingston co., N. Y., July 13, 1835. WILLIAM B. MUNSON. · THE NOBLENESS OF HUMILITY. On the day of Charlotte county election, in 1799, as soon as Patrick Henry appeared on the ground, says Mr. Wirt, he was surrounded by the admiring crowd, and wheresoever he moved, the concourse followed him. A preacher of the Baptist Church whose piety was wounded by this homage paid to a mortal, asked the people aloud, Why they thus followed Mr. Henry about?' 'Mr. Henry,' said he, is not a God! No,' said Mr. Henry, deeply affected both by the scene and the remark, no, indeed, my friend, I am but a poor worm of the dust-as fleeting and unsubstantial as the shadow of the cloud that flies over your field, and is remembered no more.' The tone with which this was uttered, and the look which accompanied it, affected every heart and silenced every voice. Envy and opposition were disarmed by his humility; the recollection of his past eervices rushed upon every memory, and he read his history,' in their swimming eyes-Western Methodist. DEC 9 1912 |