lapse of their religious feelings, the world may come in and take hold of their hearts, pride and a contentious spirit may be stirred up, and in a word they may exhibit in this state, a melancholy and awful contrast with themselves as they were in the time of their zeal. Now it is a question that deserves serious consideration, has this excitement, or revival if you please, been of any real service to these Christians? And if the whole tenor of one's life be a series of excitements and col

lapses, does he really make any progress in true holiness? Surely a true revival of religion does not leave the child of God as weak, as worldly-minded, as far from God, and as unfit for heaven, as it found him. That which gives new life, ought not to leave us as though we were half dead; that which communicates new strength ought not to leave us weaker than before.

The situation of the minister of Christ is always a delicate one, and attended with difficulties and responsibilities, to which, with out aid from on high, he is never adequate.

But a minister of the Gospel is never placed in a situation of greater delicacy, of more formidable difficulty, of more appalling responsibility than when a powerful religious excitement takes place among his people. And what increases the difficulty, this is a season when he bas less opportunity for calm reflection, and for retirement to his closet, than in almost any other season of his life.

Truth is the true pabulum animi, the food of the mind, which affords nourishment and strength, and prevents that fearful collapse of feeling, that death-like apathy, which follows the mere excitement of the passions Hence, when in revivals of religion, the attention of the careless is awakened and directed to their

everlasting interest, it is in the highest degree important that their minds should be well fed with truth; and the minister of the Gospel, instead of adopting measures to strain up the feelings to a height, at which it is impossible to sustain them, ought to seize the opportunity of affording sound and wholesome doctrine, and shewing its connexion with all the duties of life, and all those mighty interests which have awakened a most reasonable solicitude. In this way, it seems to me that with the divine blessing, many of the dreadful consequences, which often follow a season of religious commotion, might be prevented; much reproach removed from the cause of revivals; and of course much benefit accrue to the church.

We concur entirely in the sentiments of the following passage; and we cannot but express the wish, that some powerful minds might be directed to the improvements, of which the present system of religious operations is admissible.

And here I cannot but say that it is strong. ly impressed on my mind, that great improvements are to be made in the manner of bringing the instrumentality of the church to operate on the world, and of carrying on the labors of love, by which the family of mankind is to be brought within the fold of the great Shepherd of Israel. I believe that the millennium will exhibit a scene of continued revival. There will however, be no suspension of the original laws of human nature. Of course such a revival will not be carried on in a way to ensure alternations of excitement and apathy, of the utmost intensity of feeling and of collapses that look like death.

which states, that the above named Society was on the point of sending two missionaries to Bengal and the coast of Coromandel, and three to Amboyna, to join others already in those parts of the world.

PALESTINE MISSIONARE ASSOCIATION.

TANNAH.

FROM a private letter of Mr. Nichols, dated June 3, 1822, we gather the following partic ulars.

On the 11th of May, Mr. N. and his wife were called to mourn the death of a promis. ing child. On this occasion, they experienced the kind and sympathizing attentious of the English families at Tannah.

In the mission family were 13 children, received as boarding scholars, whose education was provided for by their parents; and five poor children, who were received gratu

The plan of this Society, which is denominated the "Palestine Missionary Association," is briefly this:-The contemplated funds are to be raised by stated collections in those churches or meetings, members of which agree in the design. These collections are to be weekly, monthly, or quarterly, at the discretion of the contributors; and, before they are taken up, extracts respecting the Palestine mission, and notices of other missions, are to be read. The association for the transaction of business, is to consist of not more than six members of each church or meeting engaged in the object; who are to be considered the representatives of those who contribute. This association, thus constituted, appoints a Chairman, Treasurer, and Secretary, who are to be a Committee for Correspondence, and other necessary business in the intervals between the meetings of the association. The funds, after paying the annual stipend allowed to Messrs. Goodell and Bird, viz. $1,333,33, are to be appropriated to the benefit of the United Foreign Missionary Society. As many copies of the Missionary Herald and Missionary Register, as there are churches or meetings concurring in the plan, are to be provided gratuitously, for the use of the contributors. There is to be a correspondence with the missionaries; and, with a view to increase the spirit of missions in the city, the Association is to meet once a month, or as often as shall be practicable. The events which have led to the formation of this Society, are very observable. We trace its origin to the unexpected and providential embarkation of Messrs. Goodell and Bird at that city. ELEAZAR LORD, Chairman; MOSES ALLEN, Treas. and ELIJAH PEARSON, Sec.

risen to its present state, by which the expenses of the station were much diminished, and had been for some time entirely defray. ed. The parents were much gratified with the proficiency of the children. The more appropriate missionary labors were not much interrupted by this measure, as almost the whole charge of the family and school was assumed by Mrs. Nichols.

Much care is taken to instruct the children in religion. They act with great decorum at public worship on the Sabbath, and at family prayers; and form a very interesting choir of singers. Some of them have learnt 70 or 80 hymns.

After expressing much gratitude for the numerous favors, which Providence has bestowed upon the mission family, Mr. N. adds: "We

We are encouraged with regard to several of our children. They retire regularly and constantly for prayer every day; and are very serious and inquisitive on religious subjects."

Happy will it be, if the same divine influences should be experienced here, as in the boarding schools of Ceylon.

EDUCATION OF HEATHEN CHILDREN IN THE FAMILIES OF MISSIONARIES.

As we are frequently receiving letters of inquiry respecting children, for whose education benevolent individuals in this country have made provision; and as many readers of the Missionary Herald may feel an interest in knowing what is the present state of that subject; we propose to enter into some particular statements, which we shall endeavor to make as brief, as shall be consistent with perspicuity.

The missionaries at BOMBAY were the first, who brought this subject before the Christian public of this country. When they saw the

wretchedness of the people, among whom they had begun to labor, they supposed it would be easy to obtain orphans, and other destitute children, for education in their familes. They made a direct appeal, therefore, in behalf of the poor perishing children of India. In consequence of this appeal, and of the suggestion that $30 a year would support a child in a mission family, provision was made for a considerable number of children, at that rate. When the experiment came to be tried, however, the missionaries found unexpected difficulties in obtaining children. Considerable time elapsed, before the result could be clearly known here; and, after it became known, some benefactors transferred their bounty to Ceylon. Others applied it to charity schools, under the superintendence of the missionaries at Bombay; in which schools, although the children are not favored with the example of a Christian family, much is done to make them acquainted with Christianity. Others still were desirous of having their money kept, for a more favorable opportunity of appropriating it to the object, for which it was originally designed.

For some time past, a few poor children have been received into each of the families of the missionaries; and it is not improbable that this branch of charity may hereafter be greatly extended. It will be taken for granted, where benefactors have not already ex. pressed a wish on the subject, or shall not hereafter express such a wish, that they will be satisfied if their donations to this object be applied to the general purposes of education, under the direction of the missionaries.

From CEYLON a similar proposal was made to Christians in America, by the missionaries soon after their arrival. They supposed, that by the strictest economy, a child could be sup. ported, according to the custom of the country, at $12 a year. A considerable number of children were provided for, at this rate; and the missionaries found no difficulty in obtaining children, as fast as the means were furnished.

About two years ago, however, an unexpected trial arose. The expenses of the various missions was so great, particularly of the missions among the Indians of our country, and the receipts at the Treasury were so inadequate, that very great embarrassments were experienced in various branches of the missionary service. Among the rest, the resources of the Ceylon mission were diminish.

ed. Although the Board remitted to CeylonTM more money, by a considerable sum, than had been contributed for the education of children there; yet it could not do this, and remit enough for the support of the missionaries and their public charity schools also. As a matter of necessity, therefore, the money remitted was applied in the first instance to the support of the missionaries; and then, as far as it would go, to the support of children and the charity schools. None of the children, who had been received, were dismissed, and none of the schools were discontinued; but the missionaries were restrained from taking new children, till the funds of the Board should be in a more favorable state. It was the design of the missionaries, and of the Board, to take the children, whenever circumstances would permit, and to apply to their education as much money as had been contributed for that purpose. It should never escape the minds of contributors, that the various missionary operations, in order to be successful, must go on together; that it is in vain to think of supporting schools, unless missionaries are supported to superintend them; and that the Board has no independent resources for any of its operations; but relies entirely upon Providence to call forth the continued charities of the friends of missions. It may be expected, however, with that favor of Providence which has been hitherto kindly vouchsafed, that every good design will be carried forward, subject to such interruptions as the imperfection of human agency may lead every judicious man to anticipate.

After some years of experience, and on the suggestion of our much respected fellow laborers on the other side of the Atlantic, it was thought suitable to raise the annual payment to $20 a year, for each child, for whose education in the mission families at Ceylon, provision should be made after this determination should have been published. Notice of the change, with the reasons of it, appeared in the Herald for November, 1821.

Inquiries are often made respecting children, for whose education donations have been received. The common questions are, Have the children been selected? and, Are they now in the mission families? In many cases, the only reply, which we are able to give to these questions, is the following. Complete lists of children to be supported are sent to the missionaries; and, in case these lists should miscarry, the missionaries are requested to make out lists from the donations in the

Herald; copies of which are sent by several different vessels. Directions are given, that children shall be selected to be the recipients of this bounty, as fast as the circumstances of the mission will admit. From several of the families lists of children, in their respective boarding schools, have been received; from the other families no such lists have come to hand. We are not able, therefore, to mention the names of all the children, who are now in the mission families; though we hope to be able to do so, when answers shall have been received to letters, which were written some months ago. At the later periods, in the history of this business, names of children to be selected have poured in so fast, that the wishes of donors could not be complied with immediately. Some time must elapse to make provision for the accommodation of so many inmates of a family, as well as to make a proper selection of objects of this charity. It is in contemplation, whenever delays are unavoidable, to make a selection as soon afterwards as convenient, until all the children, for whose education donations have been given, shall have experienced the bounty of their distant benefactors. As the labors of the missionaries are various, none of which can be neglected, it is obvious that the number of children, over whom they are to exercise a constant personal care, cannot be unlimited. Till more precise information is received from Ceylon, we should not recommend that any further additions should be made to the children of the boarding schools. Those benevolent societies and individuals, who have begun to provide for these youthful beneficiaries, are doubtless aware, that very peculiar smiles of Providence have attended this branch of charity. They are reminded, that punctuality in their annual payments is important. Though children are not, in all cases, selected as soon as their benefactors would desire; yet, when selected, they will enjoy the benefits of education as many years, as there shall have been annual payments made on their account.

At BRAINERD, ELLIOT, MAYHEW, and other stations among the Indians, a considerable number of youths, of both sexes, are taken into the mission families, and receive English names, according to the wishes of the benefactors. The expense is $30 a year for each. There is room for others, at the plaoes above named. The missionaries think it best to be cautious in appropriating names, as

they are desirous of selecting such youths, as will be most likely to derive permanent benefit from the opportunities afforded them. Hence it happens, that a boy is often in the family a year, or more, before he is placed upon the foundation ultimately designed for him.

Some of the missionaries at the SANDWICH ISLANDS have written to their friends, that children may be taken into their families and educated, if clothing only be furnished by benevolent persons in this country. It is apprehended, that this was meant to apply to a small number of children only. In some instances, offers of this kind have been ac cepted; but the general rule is $30 a year, for each child, as at the stations among the Indians.

The FOREIGN MISSION SCHOOL at Cornwall, Con. affords great advantages for the education of heathen youths, who are providentially cast on our shores, or brought from the shades of the wilderness. The government of the United States has allowed $100 a year, for each of four youths, who spent four years at the school; and a benevolent individual supports a young Cherokee there, at the same or a greater expense. Other suitable young men will be received on the same terms. Almost all the pupils have hitherto received the benefits of the institution gratuitously.

At the close of these explanations, it is proper to observe, that though the wishes of benefactors, in regard to the preceding objects, and with the limitations there mentioned, may probably be carried into effect, yet there may be unforeseen interruptions and difficulties. Should this be the case, what is not accomplished in one year, may be accomplished the next; and, amid partial disappointments, a strong ground of hope and consolation remains in the fact, that the work of missions, in its various branches, is undeniably advancing. We are persuaded it will continue to advance, till its excellence and glory will be universally acknowledged. We also think it not at all improbable, that a future historian of the Church will have occasion to record the pious labors of some of these heathen youths, as an important means of 'extending the limits of the visible king. dom of Christ.,