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tribution of the scriptures in France, and we are more persuad. ed than ever, that a wiser appropriation could not have been made.

We are thus encouraged to proceed in the good work, which for many years we have assisted in advancing. It is true that amidst the numerous and vast contributions of christians to this design, our charity attracts little notice, just as, on the map of the earth, scanty streams find no place among mighty rivers and oceans. But the stream which winds in silence is a provision of that same Almighty Goodness which pours forth the seas and floods; its course is marked with approbation by the same All-seeing Eye; it is essential to the va riety and beauty of the beneficent system of God. Let us not discontinue our efforts, because we cannot do more; but be grateful, if in any degree we can communicate the uncorrupted records of Christianity to those, who, equally with ourselves, need its light and consolations.

By the Executive committee,

WILLIAM E. CHANNING, Chairman.

Officers of the Massachusetts Bible Society, elected June,

1818.

His Honour WILLIAM PHILLIPS, President.
Rev. JOHN T. KIRKLAND, D. D. Vice-President.
Rev. FRANCIS PARKMAN, Corresponding Secretary.
Rev. JOHN PIERCE, Recording Secretary.

Mr. JOHN TAPPAN, Treasurer.

Mr. JOHN GREW, Assistant Treasurer.

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Rev. William E. Channing. Edward Tuckerman, jun. Esq.

Rev. Henry Ware, jun,

Mendicity Society in London.-The following abstract of the late Report of this Society, may be found interesting in connexion with the second review in this number.

The Report mentions that the Society had been instituted in consequence of the great distress observable in the streets, at the coinmencement of 1818, in order to remove the shocking objects which presented themselves, by relief, and where imposture should be detected, by punishment. In March, the society opened an office, from which they issued printed tickets to be distributed to street beggars. The tickets referred them to the society's house, where they were immediately supplied with food, and a statement of each case was registered, the truth of which was afterward ascertained by personal investigation and inquiry. It appeared to the Board that the society had already done much good. Since the opening of the office on March 25th, 2676 cases have been referred to the society, during the investigation of which the applicants were supplied with food, as well as 677 children belonging to them, and in many cases with temporary lodging. The applicants were disposed of in different ways. A great number were permanently relieved; 564 impostors and desperate vagrants were detected and ordered to be prosecuted. Multitudes were sent to their parishes and provided with situations. Of those who applied, 1568 complained that they had been reduced on account of want of employment. The great difficulty in the way of entire success appears to be the conduct of the parishes, who oftentimes turn loose again, those, who are sent home to them; and the want of sufficient discretionary power in the magistrates.

Springfield, May 27, 1819.

On Thursday last, in presence of a large number of people, was laid the corner-stone of the Church erecting for the Second Congregational Society in the First Parish in this town, in which was deposited a plate, bearing the following inscription:

"MAY 20, A. D. MDCCCXIX. THIS CORNERSTONE WAS LAID, It being the foundation of a House to be erected the same year (Mr. SIMON SANBORN, being the Architect,) at the expense of JONATHAN DWIGHT, Esq. of this town, and by him given to "The Second Congregational Society in the First Parish in Springfield," in humble hope and expectation that it may long continue a place consecrated to the public worship of the true GOD: and that the Society will, from time to time, make choice of such pious and prudent men for their ministers as will not perplex their people with unprofitable speculations of men, but preach and exemplify the

plain practical doctrines and precepts, contained in the GOS. PEL OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST."

On this interesting occasion, a very appropriate and excellent prayer was made by the Rev. Mr. CHASE preacher at the United States Chapel in this town.

ORDINATIONS.

On the fifth day of May last, the Rev. Jared Sparks was ordained pastor of the First Independent Church in Baltimore. This church having been gathered for the purpose of maintaining Unitarian and Anti-calvinistic worship, the ordaining council was necessarily composed of churches from this part of the country. It consisted of representations from the following churches. In Boston, Federal Street, Rev. Mr. Channing; Brattle Square, Rev. Mr. Palfrey. Roxbury, Rev. Dr. Porter. Harvard University, Rev. Dr. Ware. Lancaster, Rev. Dr. Thayer. Portland, (Maine) Rev Mr. Nichols. Portsmouth, (N. H.) Rev. Mr. Parker. Providence, (R I.) Rev. Mr. Edes. The written services of the day have been published. And to those of our readers who have not yet seen it, we earnestly recommend the Sermon of Mr. Channing, as a clear, forcible, and eloquent state. ment of some of the most important truths of our religion.

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On the 23d day of June, the Rev. Convers Francis was ordained minister of the Church and Society in Watertown. Introductory prayer by Rev. Mr. Lowell of Boston. Sermon by Rev. Dr. Osgood of Medford, from 1 Tim. 1. xv. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.-Ordaining prayer by Rev. Pres. Kirkland. Charge, by Rev. Dr. Ripley of Concord. Right hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Mr. Palfrey of Boston. Concluding prayer, by Rev. Mr. Ripley of Waltham.

OBITUARY.

Died, in Salem, in May last, Col. Benjamin Pickman, senior, in the seventy-ninth year of his age.

Col. Pickman was born in Salem, in 1741, and was graduated at Cambridge University, 1759. This gentleman enjoyed through life a good portion of the " otium cum dignitate," so much desired and so little known. Descended from wealthy parents, educated in the best style of his time, possessing a constitution of soundness and vigour, a person of elegance and dignity, a mind of strength and elevation, a disposition mild and affectionate, and placing "the bliss in ease," and honour in virtue, he moved on, enjoying and doing good, as long as life had a charm, and, when nature was exhausted, by the regular decay of age, he sunk into the grave without any of the terrific agonies of dissolution, and fell as it were into a refreshing sleep. He pursued learning, not as a necessary requisite to a profession, not as a passion, nor merely as an ornament of life, but for the pleasure it ensures, for the grace it lends to manners, for the purity it gives to the affections, for the light it adds to moral philosophy, and the

aid it affords to religion. He was well acquainted with the common classics, with ancient and modern history, with British annals, and with many rare and curious works in the literature of every age. It might be said of him, however, that he read much, rather than many things, and oftener recurred to the old, than searched for the new but every subject was selected with great taste and judgment. He had no passion for the parade of company, but loved society and sought it. His house was the abode of hospitality, and at his table were constantly found men of intelligence of all ages, from the young, whose visions of life were fresh, and whose hopes were full of promise and transport, to those who had seen and felt enough of its vicissitudes and delusions, to place but little reliance on its realities and enjoyments. There they mingled feeling and opinions, and talked of the lights and shades of existence in freedom and harmony. He always, at such times, directed the conversation without engrossing it, and gave it a tone without seeming to have any particular control over it. He was truly the friend of peace, and evinced his principles by the prac tice of his life He was a philanthropist, and listened with delight to the most minute details of the happiness, or fame of his friends; but always discovered uneasiness at an amusing story told at the expense of any one, and turned with resentment from a tale of slander. He was sincerely attached to all our valuable institutions, but particularly to Harvard University; and no man in the community knew so much of the welfare and history of the Alumni of his ALMA MATER, as Col. Pickman. He obtained this information by frequent inquiry, and retained it by an extraordinary memory; but he had nothing about him of that meddling spirit which leads met to be over inquisitive for no good purpose. He inquired after their welfare from good wishes, and obtained their history as a matter of information, and for the general good.

He was a lover and patron of the clerical character, believing that much of the happiness of society depends on a wise and virtuous clergy ; but his doctrines were well established, and his views of God and his providence so full of benevolence and charity to man, that he escaped, whenever he could, from the unceasing polemic, and always evaded the incorrigible bigot. He was pious without sanctimony, liberal without ostentation, pleasant without exuberance of spirits, dignified without severity of manners, charitable to error, without countenancing what was wrong, and mild to opposition, but stedfast in the right. He saw and felt the failings of humanity, without believing in the total depravity of man. He smiled at pedantry, pitied ignorance, forgave the unmannerly, and pursued with philosophical and christian complacency," the even tenor of his way." Blessed with an uncommon share of health, and domestic enjoyment and prosperity, he retained his faculties and cheerfulness unto a good old age; and truly it may be said, few men ever enjoyed more or suffered less in this world; and no one ever lived more respected, by those who knew him, for his private virtues, or died, leaving sweeter recollections. His wintry sun shone as bright, if not so intensely, as in the summer of life, and went down without a cloud.

LITERARY NOTICE.

Messrs. Wells & Lilly propose to publish by subscription, THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BIBLE, or a description of all the beasts, birds and fishes, insects and reptiles, trees and plants, metals, precious stones, &c. mentioned in the Sacred Scriptures, collected from the best authorities and alphabetically arranged. By Thaddeus Mason Harris, D. D. A. A. S. and

S. H. S. minister of the first parish in Dorchester. A new edition, revised, improved, and enlarged. “He spake of Trees, from the Cedar tree that is in Lebanon, even unto the Hyssop that springeth out of the wall. He spake also of Beasts, and of Fowls, and of creeping things, and of Fishes." 1 Kings, iv. 33.

A small volume with this title was published in 1793, and has been long out of print. Its merit and its estimation have been indicated by its rapid sale, and by the commendations of some of the most learned biblical critics and eminent divines in this country and in Europe. The work has been since wholly transcribed and greatly enlarged; and the author's studies for more than twenty-five years have so contributed to its im provement, that he feels a confidence in now offering it to the public as the most perfect of the kind in any language; and is assured that it will be found to convey much useful information upon the subjects of which it treats, satisfactorily to explain the reasons for the distinction between clean and unclean animals in the Mosaic ritual, and to discover the propriety and beauty of the frequent allusion to natural objects in the sacred writings, in instances which have been wholly unperceived, or but indistinctly discerned.

NEW PUBLICATIONS.

A Dissertation on the Book of Revelation, dedicated to the author's friends in America. By James Gray, of the county of Longford, Ireland. Newburgh, 1818.

A Series of Lectures on the Doctrine of Universal Benevolence-delivered in the Universalist Church, Lombard Street, Philadelphia. By Abner Kneeland.

Second Annual Report of the American Society for colonizing the free people of colour of the United States. Washington, 1819.

Report of the Committee of Enquiry of the South Church in Weymouth, in which are stated their serious and solemn reasons for declining to request the assistance of the North Church, in the ordination of their Junior pastor, Rev. W. Tyler. Feb. 24th, 1819.

Sermons, preached in the Tron Church, Glasgow. By Thomas Chalmers, D. D. New York, reprinted. Kirk and Mercein.

Poems, by Jacob Porter. Hartford.

Hymns, for the nativity of our Saviour Jesus Christ. In four parts. By G. Carseer. Boston.

A Sermon, delivered at the Ordination of the Rev. Jared Sparks to the pastoral care of the first Independent Church in Baltimore, May 5, 1819. By William E. Channing, of Boston. 2d Edition. Baltimore and Boston. Sermon at the Ordination of the Rev. John Pierpont. By Henry Ware, D. D. Professor of divinity, Cambridge.

An humble attempt to ascertain the Scriptural Doctrine of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In three discourses. To which is added "The Awakener." By Jacob Norton, A. M., minister in Weymouth. Boston. 1819.

A Sermon, delivered at Newburyport, at the interment of Rev. Samuel Spring, D. D. by Rev. Leonard Woods, Professor of Theology, Andover. The Annual General Election Sermon. By Rev. Peter Eaton, of Boxford. Sermon before the Convention of Congregational Ministers. By Rev. Abiel Holmes, D. D. Cambridge.

Sermon at the Anniversary of the Ancient and Honourable Artillery Company. By Rev. Thomas Gray of Roxbury.

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