whom dissertations were presented on the following subjects:-The influence of circumstances on character: The preacher's political duties: Knowledge and virtue essential to the permanence of free governments: The frequency of revivals of religion, a motive to Christian exertion: Characteristics of true greatness: Peculiarities in the political and social state of Christian nations: The importance of aiming at a high standard of character and action: Claims of the religious state of the world upon young men.

This Seminary was instituted in 1815, and embraces a classical and a theological department. By the changes recently made, the studies of the theological department occupy

three years. It has two professors:--the Rev. John Smith, Professor of Systematic Theology and Pastoral Duties; and Mr. George E. Adams, Professor of Biblical Literature and Sacred Rhetoric.

CIRCULATION OF THE BIBLE IN THE UNITED STATES.

NOTHING, perhaps, more clearly indicates a growing interest in the cause of religion, than enterprise in devising new methods of doing good, and a readiness to imitate good examples. No one is a greater benefactor to mankind, than he who devises a simple, practicable plan, on which the churches may be persuaded to act, by which a more general co-operation of Christians may be secured, increased vigor be given to their exertions, and the truths of the Gospel be brought into contact with a greater number of minds. The man who can devise such a plan, cause it to be adopted, and show that the object is feasi ble, really does more for the salvation of men, though he is unable to give either money or labor, than the man who contributes thousands. The consequences of a single good hint are admirably exemplified in that zeal and method which are now witnessed in almost all parts of our country in circulating the Bible. About two years since a few individuals in the county of Monroe, N. Y. adopted the resolution, suggested by one of their number, that every family in that county should have a Bible within 60 days. The resolution was carried into effect; and within the time specified, the light of divine truth was shining in every house and every family. The task was easy; that piece of work was despatched at once; and they who projected it, and they who accomplished it, were at liberty to engage in some other enterprise, while they should witness with gratitude the sure and happy effects of their example. Not long after a similar resolution was adopted and carried into effect in the county of St. Lawrence, in the

same State. Since that time, one county after

:

another, admonished by this hint, and seeing how easy it is for the friends of religion in each county to supply all the families within its limits, and how certainly the whole country would be supplied, if this course should be adopted in every district, have imitated the example, until, from the latest notices, it appears that twelve counties, embracing a population of near 410,000, more than one quarter of the whole State, have determined that all their families shall have the Bible; and have either accomplished it already, or are now vigorously engaged in doing it.

The influence of this example is not limited to the State of New York; nor has it yet ceased to operate. A similar resolution has been adopted in respect to Newcastle co. Del., Fairfield co. Con., Franklin co. Mass., Iredell co. N. C., and the population within the limits of the Orange Presbytery in the same State.

It is not only extending to remote parts of our country, but it is also operating on a larger scale. Within the last four months, the resolution has been adopted by Bible Societies in three different States, that all the families in those States shall be supplied with the Word of God. The Nassau Hall Bible Society adopted it in respect to the State of New Jersey; and several county societies have promptly pledged their co-operation, by undertaking to supply the families within their own limits. The Bible Society of Philadelphia have adopted a similar resolution, in respect to the whole State of Pennsylvania. The Synod of Philadelphia and the Lutheran General Synod, have passed resolutions strongly approving of the measure, and promising their co-operation.

The following is the plan proposed by the Philadelphia Society.

In order to accomplish in a thorough manner the great work they have undertaken, the committee of the Bible Society of Philadelphia propose to endeavor, by agents, if they can be had, or by correspondence, to induce the friends of the cause to assemble at their several county-towns, and adopt measures, by means of an association formed for the express purpose, to ascertain the wants of the inhabitants of each county; and as the division of labor is important and useful, the committee wish that in each village and township, a similar association may be formed, to supply all the families in that village or township, who are destitute of the sacred Scriptures. Unity of design and action should exist between each county-town association, and all the other associations that may be formed in the same county. Each county association is expected to correspond with this committee, and to establish a Bible depository, which will be replenished from time to time, as circumstances may require, with copies of the holy volume, by the Philadelphia Bible Society.

Several counties in the State, seem to be striving which shall mot promptly adopt, and most vigorously prosecute a plan, so simple, so easy, and yet, in its results, so effectual. The Harrisburg Bible Society has pledged itself to supply Dauphin county. The Pittsburg Society has resolved to supply the families within its limits: the Susquehannah Society has undertaken for four counties: the Society of Cumberland county has undertaken for that county and Perry: the Gettysburg Society is to supply Adams county: and an effort is making to present the subject to all the congregations in the State. Agents have been appointed to ascertain the wants of particular districts, and every measure seems to be taken to carry the resolution into effect and bring about the desired result.

A similar resolution and similar measures have been adopted in respect to the State of Vermont, and will, undoubtedly, be met with the same promptness by the friends of the Bible there, and have the same happy issue. Thus it has been determined, that portions of our country, embracing a population of more than 2,000,000, shall be supplied with the Word of God, so soon as their wants can be ascertained, and a sufficient number of Bibles can be procured.

There is in this plan a division of labor. When the task of supplying the county with Bibles is looked at as a whole, the man has no definite conception of the extent of the work, or of the means of accomplishing, or of the progress made in it. It seems, however, too great to be undertaken; and the means of which he has any personal knowledge, seem altogether inadequate. But when the mind is fixed on a single county or town, it embraces something definite and tangible: the amount of the work to be done may be accurately estimated; and the existing means for its accomplishment may be compared with it, and be seen to be adequate and at command: the progress also may be traced, and all the encouragement felt which arises from a certainty of approaching a successful termination.

This plan lays the responsibility where it peculiarly belongs. It is exceedingly important that every collection of churches, that single churches, and individual Christians, should feel that a certain portion of the great work of bringing their fellow-men under the influence of the Gospel, belongs to them; that for this portion they are responsible, and ought to take the oversight of it, and see to its accomplishment. No portion surely is so peculiarly theirs,as that which falls within the sphere of their influence. This they should

undertake without any prompting, and feel responsible for as a task which God has assigned to them. This is the principle on which the allotment of labor was made, when the walls of Jerusalem were to be rebuilt; and on this simple principle might every religious enterprise in our land be carried forward equitably, certainly, and rapidly. Let every minister and every church in our land feel responsible for doing, and come forward spontaneously,and actually do, their full portion towards sending the Gospel to the destitute of this country and to the heathen, and how uniform and broad would be that river of life which should bear salvation to the ends of the earth.

This plan assigns to every body of Christians that portion of the work which they can do to the greatest advantage. Every one is supposed to know better what resources can be commanded, and what instruments can be brought into action in his own county or town, than in a distant portion of the country. He can act in his own vicinity with more confidence, energy, and despatch. He can act with less expense. There is no need of employing agents. If the friends of religion in every county, or if every church would undertake to ascertain the Bibles wanted within its own limits, and take the charge of supplying them, the work would be done with great ease, with little expense, and at the same time more thoroughly, than if an agent from a distant Bible Society were employed to do it. Every portion of the work is done by those who are most deeply interested in it. It is natural to be most affected by the wants of those around and to make the greatest exertions to supply them.

us,

This plan promotes despatch. The labor to be performed is definite: the means are obvious and may, at once, be put in operation. The county of Monroe was supplied with Bibles in sixty days. Perhaps with the similar zeal and promptness of action, almost any other county might be supplied as quickly. There is no necessity that the work should be deferred in one, until it is done in another. It may be going on in all at the same time under proper superintendents in each. If every county in our land should to day adopt the resolution which that county adopted, and immediately apply themselves to carrying it into effect, there is no reason, if there are Bibles enough to be procured, why every family in every county throughout our land, if not in two months, at most in six, might not have a Bible. But if our national Bible Society should undertake to supply all the families which are destitute, laboring at a distance and at disad

vantage, as such an institution always must, years might be consumed, great expense be incurred, and yet the wants of our population be but partially ascertained, and the progress towards supplying them be scarcely perceptible.

As was remarked at the beginning of this article, when a plan for doing good is adopted so readily, and carried into effect so promptly and so extensively, as the one now in our view has been, success in all our benevolent enterprises becomes almost certain. It is coming to be the fact that Christians need only to have methods of doing good pointed out to them. Wise and enterprising men, who can devise plans and guide the efforts of the community in executing them, are necessary to the accomplishment of objects of a religious as well as of a secular character. And when men confer together, and come to be as much interested, in devising plans for facilitating the progress of the Gospel, as they now are in devising plans for facilitating their worldly business, its march will be rapid and glorious.

American Board of Missions.

ADDRESS OF THE PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE.

FOR several years past, the number of individuals has been increasing, who have deeply felt, and strongly expressed, their sense of the obligation resting upon our Christian community to enter with great energy into the fields now open for missionary labor. The conviction that friends of missions in America are called upon to take a vigorous part in the glorious enterprise of sending the Gospel into all the world, is firmly established in the minds of many. Nor does the matter rest in a mere conviction of the understanding. A rapid advance has taken place in the willingness to make pecuniary sacrifices for this object. It can now be truly said, that persons of both sexes are to be found, in city and country, who esteem it a privilege to bring large contributions in aid of this work of the Lord.

A strong desire has been manifested within the last few months, that the operations of the Board of Foreign Missions should be immediately and greatly extended: and that, as a preparatory measure, a corresponding increase of pecuniary means should be secured. An enlarged liberality, disdaining the limits of previous examples, seemed ready to burst forth, whenever a distinct call should be made for it, with reference to specific plans of evangelical

effort. At the late annual meeting of the Board, such plans were proposed; and the immediate effect was an unparalleled subscription, the details of which appeared in our last number. When the intelligence of this spontaneous effort went abroad, it was heard with joy and thanksgiving by multitudes, and was made the signal for new and extraordinary exertions through the land.

Such have been the indications of Provi dence, in regard to this subject, that the Committee feel authorized to believe, that a new era has dawned upon the American churches; and that the time has arrived, when such a number of wealthy and prosperous disciples of Christ will come forward with their liberal offerings unsolicited, as shall attract the attention and gain the co-operation of their brethren in less affluent circumstances; and thus, unless the signs of the times are mistaken, there will hereafter be no delay for want of money to send into any inviting field such well qualified laborers, as God shall furnish, and endow with the requisite spirit and zeal.

This state of things imposes very solemn duties upon the Committee, both in regard to selecting new stations, and appointing missionaries and assistants to occupy them.

Among the most important and accessible fields are the coast of Western Africa in the vicinity of Liberia, and the north-west coast of America.

In regard to Western Africa, the informa tion contained in preceding pages of the present number will sufficiently show, that Chrisa tians in the United States are imperiously called upon to send the Gospel thither. The Committee have the satisfaction of stating, that they have resolved to establish a mission, near the colony of Liberia, as soon as possible; and that they have appointed one missionary, a descendant of Africa, who has been extensively known for several years as a faithful preacher of the Gospel. It is the design of the Committee to appoint others to this service, so far as the proper men shall be offered, and the demand for their labors shall continue. It may be hoped and expected, that from this colony, as a radiating point, religion and civilization will penetrate into the very heart of Africa.

As to the north-west coast of our own con tinent, the duty of sending a mission thither has been a subject of conversation and reflec⚫ tion from the origin of the Board. It is now time to act. By the testimony of numerous travellers it is ascertained, that various tribes of Indians inhabit the country west of the Rocky Mountains, from California north

ward to very high latitudes. Some of these tribes are stated to be peaceable and inoffensive, in their manners and habits; and though others have exhibited much of the savage character, it is universally acknowledged, that they have been provoked to deeds of cruelty by the aggressions of visiters from civilized lands.

When the late reinforcement sailed for the Sandwich Islands, one of the missionaries had it specially in charge to visit the coast of America, if practicable, and learn the state of the people, and propose to them the establishment of a mission for their benefit. Nothing can be plainer, than that a most persevering application should be made to the different tribes along the coast, till they shall consent to receive the Gospel.

It is by no means improbable, that the first mission which shall be fitted out for this region will be accompanied by a little colony; which, though distinct in its organization, and in some sense secular as to its object, will be formed and sent forth with the same views, and for the accomplishment of the same great end; viz. the planting of Christian institutions 'on the shores of the Pacific.

The tide of emigration is rolling westward so rapidly, that it must speedily surmount every barrier, till it reaches all the habitable parts of this continent. How desirable then that the natives of the wilderness should hear the Gospel, before they are prejudiced against it by the fraud, injustice, and dissolute lives of men, who give up the blessings of Christianity that they may not be troubled with its restraints. How noble an object is here; and how worthy of American enterprise;-to convey the inestimable treasure of divine truth to pagan tribes, scattered over a vast extent of territory, and to prepare the way for future settlers from the Atlantic coast and the valley of the Mississippi. In this manner, early provision will be made for the religious wants of the adventurous voyager and the fearless man of the woods, who shall meet in these remote regions; and thus will a foundation be laid for churches, schools and colleges, and all that bright array of moral influences, which accompany Christian institutions, and form a well organized civil community. In a word, thus may be sent forth another Plymouth Colony, which shall extend its beneficent influences over millions of intelligent, enlightened and happy men, through successive ages to the end of the world; another Plymouth Colony, with all the advantages, which two centuries of unexampled progress in arts and knowledge have put into the possession of the church, and with all the encouragements which can be

derived from the Providence of God, as displayed before our admiring eyes within the last thirty years.

Though such a colony, as has been briefly described, would be founded in religious principles and undertaken from religious motives, yet it would be a secular establishment, governed by its own constitution, and not under the direction, or at the expense, of any Missionary Society. The mission to the natives, closely united with the colony in affection and motive, would derive essential aid from it; and thus both enterprises would strengthen and encourage each other.

One field more is all that the Committee think it necessary to mention, in the present communication. It is embraced in the countries bordering on the Mediterranean. From information received within the last year, there is reason to believe, that many new stations might be selected and occupied, where the doctrines of the Gospel would be soon brought into contact with minds capable of estimating their value, and pressed home upon hearts capable of feeling their divine authority.

Looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, and considering the peculiar duties and obligations of the age, the Commit tee feel prepared to say, that no man, who pos sesses suitable qualifications to go forth as a preacher of the Gospel to the heathen, need hesitate a moment lest his services should not be needed. Every such man is bound solemnly to consider, in what place it is the pleasure of the Lord that he should live and labor; and, should he feel moved to offer himself for the missionary work, he will next make the matter a subject of prayer and of solemn consultation with judicious Christian friends, who are well acquainted with his character.

The Committee propose, in the next number of the Missionary Herald to address some thoughts to candidates for this high service, and to those who are called to write testimonials, or to give their advice respecting the fitness of the individuals offered.

In the mean time, it is proper to exhort the friends of missions throughout our land to be ware of making the increased liberality of some an occasion of relaxed exertions on the part of the rest. The voice of numbers, from different parts of the country, is, That the contributions of last year should be doubled, in all the Auxiliaries. In many cases, much more than this can easily be done, by the active exertions of a few men of influence. There is no good reason, why the conversion of the world should not engage the warm affections of all, and command the strenuous labors of