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witnessed in this country, was given by this gentleman on Tuesday last, on this very particular occasion, which, for a cottage entertainment, may justly be said to vie, in every comparative instance, with the late grand fete at Carlton House. Near one hundred select friends sat down to dinner: the table boasted of every delicacy and luxury of the

season.

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On the cloth being drawn, the health of the three young Christians (who with the nurses entered the room at the instant, and were placed at the head of the table) was given with an appropriate and beautifully sublime speech, by the Rev. Dr. Morgan, officiating minister on this occasion, the grandeur of which was heightened by the band behind a curtain playing up at the instant, God save the King,' which was sung by the whole company, and then changed to an appropriate and lively tune. The finer feelings of the ladies at the time, may be better conceived than expressed; they appeared more lovely still in tears.' About nine o'clock the ball commenced, which was kept up with great spirit and conviviality till eight o'clock next morning. Beauty and fashion, harmony and friendship, mirth and good humour, pervaded the whole of this select party, the greater part of whom partook of an excellent breakfast, and with regret withdrew.

"A temporary room was put up for this occasion, brilliantly illuminated with Grecian and variegated lamps. Too much praise cannot be given to the great skill and ingenuity of Messrs. Dowerings, of Knightsbridge, who, we understand, erected the room, which is portable, and completely weather proof, 60 feet by 18, and which we learnt was built about four years ago, for a grand rout of a nobleman, in Palace-yard, Westminster."

Now, Sir, being myself the parent of several children, at the period of

whose baptism it has been my wish and prayer, that my own mind might be suitably affected with serious thoughts, I could not but feel shocked at the levity with which the subject of baptism is treated in this narrative. Can we believe, that the persons who were the actors in this scene, or that the writer who described it, were duly impressed with the solemnity of that sacred rite, which is declared by our church to be the "outward and visible sign of a death unto sin and a new birth unto righteousness?" Can we believe, that the renunciation on the part of these infants, of the "pomps and vanities of this wicked world," was very sincerely made by those sponsors, who immediately afterwards were partakers in this unrestrained and untimely festivity? I am aware, Sir, that I may be charged with personality in putting these questions; but I solemnly declare, that, till I read the paragraph, the names of the parties concerned were entirely unknown to me. Neither, Sir, am I an enemy to cheerfulness at any time, nor to festivity on suitable occasions. Even the recreation of dancing I do not condenn, when restrained within reasonable hours, and practised in unexceptionable company. But "there is a time for all things," and in my humble judgment the dedication of one child, and a fortiori of three children, to the service of God, demands from a parent, from a minister of the Gospel, and from every Christian spectator, far other emotions than those which may prevail with propriety at a royal fête, or at an election dinner.

It is far from my wish to impute to the party at Teddington a worse motive for their conduct on this occasion, than that which on the face of the statement appears to have actuated them. I believe, that had it been proposed to them to spend a day and night in jollity, on the occasion of the confirmation of three young Christians, or of their first

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receiving the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, they would all have excused themselves; at least, I feel confident, that the Rev. Dr. Morgan would not have sanctioned such a meeting with his presence. But wherein consists the difference between the two cases, as to their solemnity, unless it be in the minds of the parties concerned?" Knew they not, that so many of us as are baptized into Jesus Christ, are baptized into his death? Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism unto death; that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even SO we also should walk in newness of life." Such is the solemn view of baptism which the great Apostle has given us; but is it not obvious that many professing Christians regard this sacred ordinance as a mere civil ceremony, whereby the names of their children are unalterably fixed, and the dates of their birth hereafter to be ascertained? I am persuaded, that if any of Mr. Bragg's numerous friends were to examine himself on this point, he would find, that his visit to Teddington was attended with the same emotions as those which any ancient heathen would have experienced on the naming day of his friend's child. Among the ancients, indeed, a numerous attendance on such occasions was not without its use, inasmuch as the birth and name of the child were enrolled in no other register than the memories of the company present. And why should not a heathen company be jovial on such an occasion? Their joy at the birth of a citizen was unmixed with anxiety about his spiritual and eternal happiness:

might this congratulation be accom panied with the most patriotic and lively airs," to which the ears of Romans were accustomed. But have Christians no higher or better wishes for their offspring, than that they should be serviceable to the country which gave them birth? Have they no greater fears for them than that they should be useless members of the commonwealth? Is there not an authority which says, "Wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life,and few there be that find it?"

Gratum est, quod patriæ civem, populoque

dedisti

Si facis ut patriæ sit idoneus, utilis agris, Utilis et bellorum, et pacis rebus agendis. Such would be the natural congratulation of any patriotic and virtuous Roman, when invited to the festivities of a lustric day, and well

Perhaps I may be thought by some of your readers, uncharitable, in supposing that such considerations were not present to the minds of the party at Teddington. Had they not taken care, it may be asked, of the spiritual interests of these three children, by praying, in the admirable words of our baptismal service, "O merciful God, grant that the old Adam in these children may be so buried, that the new man may be raised up in them. Grant that all carnal affections may die in them, and that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in them. Grant that they may have power and strength to have victory, and to triumph against the devil, the world, and the flesh?" Having said Amen to all these prayers, why, it may be asked, should they not rejoice afterwards? To this I answer, that their rejoicing should have been of a kind less dissonant from the tenor of their prayers: "Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say rejoice." "We yield thee hearty thanks, most merciful Father, that it hath pleased thee to regenerate these infants with thy Holy Spirit, to receive them for thine own children by adoption, and to incorporate them into thy holy church." Such are the words of rejoicing which our Liturgy provides for the parents of newly baptized infants, and for

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their friends. But how do these
words harmonise with "God save
the King, sung by the whole com-
pany, and then changed to an ap-
propriate and lively tune?" Is it not
plain, that, whatever might have
been the case whilst Dr. Morgan
was reading the baptismal service,
there was nothing very Christian
in the spirit of the meeting after-
wards? Had ten Christian friends
been invited by Mr. Bragg, instead
of "near one hundred select ones,"
the case might have been otherwise:
but then the entertainment would
not have been "one of the most spi- London, Nov. 14th, 1812.
rited and brilliant ever perhaps wit-
nessed in this country;" nor could it
"justly have been said to vie in
every comparative instance with the
late grand fête at Carlton House;"
nor, what were perhaps more disas-
trous than all; would the account of
it have occupied a space immedi-
ately preceding the London news in
the columns of the Morning Post.

bricator. I am compelled therefore,
for the present, to believe the ac-
count correct as to the leading facts
which it contains, and shall be truly
happy to learn, by an answer from
one of your correspondents (if such
you have) in the neighbourhood
of Teddington, that I ought to have
spent my animadversions on the
immorality of newspaper puffs, ip-
stead of directing them to the un-
christian nature of Baptismal Balls.
In the mean time,

There is, Mr. Editor, but one possible circumstance that in my sober judgment could render an animadversion on this Baptismal Fête superfluous, and this is, the possibility that the whole story may have been forged, for the purpose of trumpeting into fame the manufactory of "portable and completely weatherproof rooms" at Knightsbridge. It must be admitted, that there is a great air of a lottery puff in the last sentence of the paragraph; but still, I cannot believe that any respectable tradesmen (and other than such I have no reason to conceive Messrs. Dowerings to be) would wilfully fabricate a statement affecting the Christian reputation of a reverend divine, a father of a family, and his numerous friends, for a mere self-interested, money-getting purpose. Much less can I suppose it probable, that, if the statement could have been fabricated, Dr. Morgan at least, if not Mr. Bragg himself, would not within the week, at the expiration of which I write, have authorised the editor of the Morning Post to expose the faCHRIST, ORSERV. No. 132.

I remain, &c.

AN ANTICHORORAPTIST.

To the Editor of the Christian Observer.

My mind has lately been em ployed, as, I suppose, that of my countrymen has very generally been, on the supposed rights of the Papists. Of the political tendency of the concessions demanded, I am no judge. In a religious view, I am decidedly hostile to those concessions.

There is one consideration, Sir, which has arisen in my mind on the subject, which I have not seen brought forward by any writer on it ;-it is the inconsistency of these supposed rights with the oath commonly called the oath of abjuration. This oath is taken by clergy and laity, by churchmen and dissenters. The latter clause of it is as follows: "And I do declare, that no foreign prince, person, prelate, state, or potentate, hath, or ought to have, any jurisdiction, power, supremacy, preheminence, or authority, ecclesiastical or spiritual, within this realm. So help me God."

On this clause I beg leave to propose a few questions, and shall be obliged to any of your correspondents for answers to such of them as may require a solution.

Is not Ireland a part of "this realm ?" Is not the pope a foreign prince, prelate, or person?" Is not the appointment of bishops, &c. the direct or indirect exercise of "jurisdiction, power, preheminence, or äu

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thority?" Is not the pope himself the creature of Bonaparte? Can an act of Parliament alter the opinion of the mind? We have sworn solemnly that, in our opinion, no foreign, &c. ought to have, &c. Can we hereafter say that heought? Can any one who has taken this oath, conscientiously vote for admitting the Catholic claims?

I am, &c.

JAMES

To the Editor of the Christian Observer. If you or any of your correspond ents will return an answer to all or any of the following inquiries, you will confer a particular obligation on your most obedient servant,

PHILANDER,

THE CORPORATION FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL IN NEW ENGLAND.

In 1649, an ordinance was passed by the English Parliament, erecting a Corporation for the Propagation of the Gospel in New England and the adjacent Parts of America. During the latter half of the 17th century, this society acted with great vigour, and was of singular use in supporting Elliot, the Mayhews, and other distinguished missionaries, in their labours among the Indians. Since that period, however, it appears to have done little, and for half a century past we have scarcely ever heard of its name. If this society still exists, whether does it direct its operations to the instruction of the Indians, or of the white people in America? If to the latter, is not this a deviation from the original design of the institution, and from the intention of at least many of the donors?

If this society does not still exist, when was it dissolved? what has become of its funds, some part of which we have reason to think were so appropriated by the donors as to form a permanent fund for the propagation of the Gospel?

DR. WHEELOCK'S INDIAN SCHOOL.

In the year 1754, the Rev. Eleazer Wheelock, of Lebanon in Connecticut, established a charity school for the education of Indian children and of some English youths, with the view of qualifying them to act as missionaries, interpreters, and schoolmasters, among the various tribes of Indians. In consequence of the great expense attending this important undertaking, the Rev. Mr. Whitaker, and the Rev. Samson Occom, a nacated at the school, were sent over tive Indian preacher, who was eduto Great Britain in 1766, with the view of obtaining subscriptions and collections for the support of the institution. In November 1768, the money raised in England alone amounted to no less than 99117. 5s. Old. Of this sum, the Earl of Dartmouth, John Thornton, Esq. of Clapham, and several other gentlemen, who were appointed trustees, remitted a considerable part to Dr. Wheelock; but they also laid out 62371. 1s. 6d. in the purchase of 7000l. 3 per Cent. Reduced Bank Annuities, the principal and interest of which, together with all other sums that might be paid into their hands for the Indian charity-school, they obliged themselves, by a deed of trust, to employ for the advancement and support of that institution.

In Scotland, Messrs. Whitaker and Occom met with no less distinguished success, considering the extent and population of the country. In that part of the united kingdom, they collected the sum of 25291. 17s. lid. which was placed under the management of the Society at Edinburgh for propagating Christian Knowledge. A considerable portion of this sum is still in the hands of that society, and, until of late, no part of it was remitted to America for the support of the Indian school, for a great number of years, as doubts were entertained that the money transmitted was not applied to the original purposes of the institution, no youths of

any description, whether English or Indian, having been educated in it since 1785. Mr. Kirkland, indeed, one of the Society's missionaries, who was educated under Dr. Wheelock, received his salary from this fund; but the rest of it lay totally dormant, I believe, for upwards of twenty years. Such having been the state of the money collected in Scotland, I beg leave to inquire, what has become of the fund raised in England? Has the whole of it been remitted for the support of the Indian school? If it has not, to what has it been appropriated? or does any part of it remain dormant, applied to no purpose whatsoever? Should this be the case, it is certainly desirable, when the demands of the Christian world are so large and so urgent, that no funds collected for the propaga. tion of the Gospel among the heathen should be allowed to remain unemployed.

DANISH MISSION IN THE EAST INDIES.

Of the history of this mission to the year 1736, we have an ample account in Niecampii Historia Missionis Evangelicæ, &c. ; but since that period I have been able to procure little information respecting it, except what is to be found in our late periodical publications and in Dr. Buchanan's Christian Researches. In the preface to Niecamp's history, written by Dr. Franke of Halle, in 1746, we are informed that a member was then collecting materials for a continuation of that work, to be published first in German, and afterwards translated into Latin. Was this continuation ever published in German or Latin ?

Have accounts been regularly published in Germany of the progress of this mission since its commencement to the present time? To what extent may the whole of these now amount? Could access be had to them in this country?

Would it be possible to procure a set of the Reports of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge,par

ticularly since 1736; or even to obtain access to them?

A few years ago, materials were sent from India to Germany for a life of the venerable Mr. Swartz. Has this work been published on the continent? Is there no design of translating it into the English language?

To the Editor of the Christian Observer.

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THE following extract from the Travels of the celebrated Denon will probably suit your useful publication. It is taken from the first volume of Aikin's translation, p. 212, and is part of a description he is giving of "the different races of the individuals who compose the population of Rosetta." After speaking of the Copts, the Arabs, and the Turks, Next," he says, come the Jews, who are in Egypt what they are every where; hated, without being dreaded; despised and persecuted incessantly, without ever being expelled; plundering constantly, without being very rich; and rendering themselves useful to all the world, at the same time that their only incentive is self-interest. I do not know whether it is owing to their being nearer to their own country that their physical character is better preserved here than elsewhere it struck me, however, very forcibly. Those among them who are ugly, resemble our Jews; while the handsome ones, and more particularly those who are young, bear a strong resemblance, in point of character, to the head which painting has handed down to us of Jesus Christ. This seems to prove that the portrait is traditional, and that it is not to be dated from the 14th century and the revival of the arts. See the bead which I have drawn (fig. 3, plate 48.): it is that of a young Jerusalem Jew, and may be adduced in support of my observation."-Denon was a good judge of forms, and wrote these remarks at

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