GREENWICH CENT SOCIETY. On the 6th day of April, 1818, was held the first Anniversary of the Female Cent Society of the Reformed Dutch Church at Greenwich, in the city of New-York. On this occasion the Secretary of the Board of Managers, agreeably to an article of the Constitution of the Society, presented a Report of their proceedings during the past year, which is as follows:

with, have we not the greatest encourage, ment to go forward in this labour of love?

We know that it will not be in vain in the Lord; and we, therefore, do most sincerely hope that those of the congregation who feel interested in this importaut object, and have not yet contributed, will come forward and give liberally towards its support; remembering that the Lord has commanded us to honour Him with our substance. We presume the majority are acquainted with the

The first annual Report of the Female Cent nature and design of the object under con

Society of Greenwich.

sideration; but, lest they should not, we shall barely mention that it is to aid in the

WITH heartfelt pleasure and satisfac-support of the Theological Seminary; and tion we hail the first Anniversary of the Fe-likewise to assist pious young men, who are male Cent Society. At its first formation desirous of devoting themselves to the miniswe were afraid to anticipate much success. try of reconciliation; but who have it not in Our number, compared with that of other their power to prosecute their studies uncongregations, was small; and we had many less the friends of Zion come forward and calls for money for our own congregational give them pecuniary aid. And can we withpurposes. On these accounts we expected hold our support towards an object so im to do little more than show our disposition portant in its nature, and so beneficial in its to aid the General Synod in carrying into results? Can we, who are exalted to Heaeffect their benevolent designs. But the re-ven in point of privileges, sit down, unconsult has proved otherwise-it has far ex-cerned, and know that our fellow-sinners ceeded our most sanguine expectations.

are perishing for lack of knowledge, while On the 14th of April, 1817, this Society we have it in our power to send the gospel was organized; and on the 21st of the same amongst them? We hope for better things. month, the Board of Managers held their There are many sections of our country first meeting, and appointed committees to where the name of Jesus and his salvation collect the money already subscribed, and are unknown and unenjoyed; and others in procure as many additional subscribers as which they were formerly enjoyed, are des possible. Their labours were crowned with titute of the stated ordinances of grace! so much success, that at our first quarterly Does not this consideration awaken our tenmeeting we had collected the sum of $111. derest sympathy, and constrain us to use This we paid into the hands of G. B. Vroom, every exertion in our power to send them Esq. special Treasurer of the General Sy- the glad tidings of salvation? Although nod, to aid in the support of the Theological we would not dare to limit the sovereignty Seminary belonging to the Reformed Dutch of Him who doeth his pleasure in Heaven Church. Since that time we have collected and on earth, neither would we be so prethe sum of $89, which we intend devoting sumptuous as to disregard the means which to the same purpose; so that the whole of He has appointed for the conversion and eur collections, after deducting the necessa-salvation of sinners; bat, in the diligent ry expenses of printing constitutions, and use of these means, and with the eye of faith purchasing books for the Treasurer and Se-directed to the great Head of the Church, cretary, amount to $200. Thus the Lord may we be encouraged to go on, hoping that has been pleased to bless our feeble exer- in due season we shall reap if we faint not. tions; and to his name be all the glory. Acting under these impressions, we have From the success we have already met cast our mite into God's treasury; and it

what we have done may encourage other strumentali, a single soul shall be saved, congregations to form similar associations; we have our reward.

if it may tend to bring a single labourer into the gospel vineyard; and if, through his in

By order of the Board of Managers,
PHOEBE ANN BURRILL, Sec'ry.

Literary and Scientific Intelligence, zc.

PAUPERISM.

do we conceive it possible to remove this A SOCIETY has lately been formed in load of distress, by all the alms-doings of this city for the prevention of pauperisin. which the city is capable, while the causes It has premised its labours, by presenting to remain in full and active operation. the public a report on "the prevailing "Effectually to relieve the poor, is therecauses of pauperism, with suggestions rela-fore a task far more comprehensive in its tive to the most suitable and efficient reme-nature, than simply to clothe the naked and dies." We recommend this interesting do- to feed the hungry. It is, to erect barriers cument to the scrious perusal of every against the encroachments of moral degenemember of the community. The causes of racy ;-it is to heal the diseases of the mind; poverty, which prevail in this city, are it is, to furnish that aliment to the intellec. enumerated under the following heads, viz.tual system which will tend to preserve it 1. Ignorance. 2. Idleness. 3. Intemper-in healthful operation. ance in drinking. 4. Want of economy. "But can a task of this nature come 5. Imprudent and hasty marriages. 6. within the reach of any public or any social Lotteries. 7. Pawnbrokers. 8. Houses of regulation? We answer, that to a certain, ill fame. 9. The numerous charitable in- and to a very valuable extent, we believe it stitutions of this city. 10. War. "Such," can. When any measure for the promo. adds the report," are the causes which are tion of the public good, or the prevention of considered as the more prominent and ope- public evil, founded upon equitable princi rative in producing that amount of indi-ples, is supported by a sufficient weight of gence and suffering, which awakens the social authority, it may gradually pass into charity of this city, and which has occa- full and complete operation, and become sioned the erection of Luildings for elce-established upon a basis as firm as a law of mosynary purposes, at an expense of half a million of dollars, and which calls for the annual distribution of 90,000 dollars more. But if the payment of this sum were the only inconvenience to be endured, trifling, indeed, in comparison would be the evils which claim our attention. Of the mass of affliction and wretchedness actually us tained, how small a portion is thus relieved! Of the quantity of misery and vice which the causes we have enumerated, with others we have not named, bring upon the city, how trifling the portion actually removed, visiters for each district, whose duty it shall by public or by private benevolence! Nor be to become acquainted with the inhabit

legislative enactment. And in matters of private practice, reformation which positive statute could never accomplish, social and moral influence may thoroughly effect.”

The report then proceeds to point out the means, best calculated to ameliorate the condition of the poorer classes, to strike at the root of those evils which go to the increase of poverty and its attendant missions. It proposes-“ 1st. To divide the city into very small districts, and to appoint from the members of the Society, two or three

ants of the district, to visit frequently the families of those who are in indigent circumstances, to advise them with respect to their business, the education of their children, the economy of their houses, to administer encouragement or admonition, as they may find occasion; and in general, by preserving an open, candid, and friendly intercourse with them, to gain their confidence by suitable and well-timed counsels, to excite them to such a course of conduct as will best promote their physical and moral welfare. The visiters to keep an accurate register of the names of all those who reside within their respective districts, to notice every change of residence, whether of single or married persons, and to annex such observations to the names of those who claim their particular attention as will enable them to give every needful information with respect to their character, reputation, habits, &c.

"2d. To encourage and assist the labouring classes to make the most of their earnings, by promoting the establishment of a Saving Bank, or of Benefit Societies, Life Ensurances, &c.

"3d. To prevent, by all legal means, the access of paupers who are not entitled to a residence in the city.

"4th. To unite with the corporate authorities in the entire inhibition of street begging.

"5th. To aid, if it shall be deemed expedient, in furnishing employment to those who cannot procure it either by the establishment of houses of industry, or by supplying materials for domestic labour.

"6th. To advise and promote the opening of places of worship in the outer wards of the city, especially in situations where licentiousness is the most prevalent.

"7th. To promote the advancement of Sunday School inspection, both of children

and adults.

"8th. To contrive a plan, if possible, by which all the spontaneous charities of the town may flow into one channel, and be distributed in conformity to a well-regulated

system, by which deception may be pre

vented, and other indirect evils, arising from numerous independent associations, be fairly obviated.

"9th. To obtain the abolition of the greater number of shops, in which spirituous liquors are sold by license! The number of retailers of liquors in this city is stated to be 1600, and the following calculation is made concerning them :-" If each of the 1600 retailers in the city sell, upon an average, to the amount of 250 cents per day, an estimate which we presume all will consider within the truth, the aggregate amount for the year, is $1,460,000. This enormous sum, extorted from the sweats of labour, and the tears and groans of suffering wives and children, would be sufficient to build annually 50 houses of worship, at $20,000 each, and leave a surplus that would be more than sufficient to erect schoolhouses, and amply provide for the education of every child in the city. When, with a single glance of the mind, we contrast the difference in moral effect, between the appropriation of this sum to the support of the buyers and sellers of strong drink, and its appropriation to the support of honest and industrious mechanics, employed in the erection of buildings, which would improve and ornament the city, and to the diffusion of religion and useful learning,-who will not rise and exert his strength against the encroachment of so mighty an evil?"

THE VIDYALAYA,

Or Hindoo College of Calcutta. It must be considered as one of the most surprising occurrences of the present times, that a College should have been established at Calcutta, which is said to have been projected, superintended and supported by the natives themselves. Among the rules which have been adopted for the regulation of this institution, are the following:

"The primary object of this institution is the tuition of the sons of respectable Hindoos, in the English and Indian languages, and in the literature and science of Europe and Asia.

and the Mercurio Lusitano, are daily news- D.D.; second American edition, with the papers; the Gazeta de Agricultura e Com-addition of one volume not before publishmercio, published once a week; the Tele-ed in this country.

Notice to Correspondents in our next.

THE FATHER OF THE FAITHFUL | ligion, amidst the general apOFFERING THE HEIR OF PRO-proaching dereliction of primitive MISE, AT THE COMMAND OF GOD. truth, called him from his native country into a strange land, that The design of this Essay is to il- he might establish among his delustrate the command to Abra-scendants a holy nation, wherein ham, Gen. xxii. 2.-"Take to preserve the purity of his now thy son, thine only son worship, and the knowledge of Isaac, whom thou lovest, and his law. Here he was destined get thee into the land of Moriah, to be the head and example of and offer him there for a burnt-all believers, who should, through offering upon one of the moun- him, receive the doctrine of the tains which I will tell thee of." unity and perfection of the divine nature, and be led to look for the appearance, in due time, of the THE illustration of this extra-future Saviour of the human race. ordinary command requires to be The name of his native city, Ur, introduced by some prefatory re- which, in the Chaldee, we are marks on the history of the world, told, signifies the city of fire, and the designs of Divine Provi- seems to indicate it to have been dence at the period in which this a celebrated seat of that idolatry holy patriarch lived. In that which at length became universal age the pious traditions of Noah, in the east, the worship of fire, the great progenitor of the post- as a symbol of the sun, which diluvian world, were beginning to was itself the symbol of the active pass into oblivion, or were great-and vivifying power of nature ly adulterated from the purity of which gives life to all things. their original fountain, by the ad- From this seducing worship, the mixture of idolatrous fables; and least absurd of all the forms of the nations were fast sliding into idolatry which have ever existed, that corruption of manners which this illustrious man retired, at the was the natural consequence of command of God.

their profound ignorance, and But, that he might be rendered their absurd polytheism. Al-worthy of the high honours desmighty God, that he might form tined for him in the purposes of in the family of this venerable heaven, of being the father of man a depository of the true re- the faithful, and the head of all VOL. II....No. 2.