six years preceding the last, the annual contributions amounted to $682,31; whereas, only $412,64 were received at the last anniversary; showing a decrease of $270. For the first four years, the average was $737,84. Now considering that the Association contains nearly one thousand members more than it did at the formation of the Education Society, it is difficult to account for this deficiency; and should there continue to be a proportionable decrease, instead of receiving more beneficiaries, the committee will be under the painful necessity of discharging a part of the present number. But it is confidently hoped that this statement, when read by the churches, will produce a speedy and efficient effort throughout the body, to revive the interest of this very important institution. If the members of the churches seriously reflect upon the value of an enlightened ministry, and contribute according to the ability which God has given them; it is believed that a sufficient sum may be raised without any one being burdened. The Association now contains about 3900 members. Deduct900 from this number, as too poor to contribute any thing, and there remain 3000. If each member contribute upon an average only one cent per week, the sum of $1560 would be annually raised. And cannot this be reasonably expected? Besides, there are many generous individuals who are not members of churches, that willingly assist in this object. God has given to some of his people an abundance of earthly goods. Others, whose estates are not large, have few, if any relatives who need their assistance. Such of the friends of Zion will do well, before entering that world where food and raiment are not needed, to think upon this useful institution, and bequeath such a portion of their property as piety and If then we would be promoters It will be gratifying and encouraging to every friend of this charity, to know that the occasional efforts of beneficiaries (who are allowed to preach one sabbath in a month,) have not only been acceptable, but in several instances successful in promoting revivals of religion and in turning sinners unto God. Your committee feel that they have occasion to express their devout and ardent gratitude to God, for the measure of encouragement and success which has vouchsafed to their efforts the past year, and for the pros he pects which invite to continued exertion, relying on the pastors churches to increase their and endeavours to replenish an exhausted treasury. The day of labor is fast spending, and as we know not how soon nor how suddenly it may close upon us, it becomes us to be faithful stewards, to be active and persevering while the day lasts, that we may finally give up our accounts with joy and not with grief. By order of the Committee, N. W. WILLIAMS, Secretary. Apr. 9. To Cash paid Dr. Shurtleff, for Leverett, 10,00 10. do. paid Josiah West, 29,17 do. paid Turney, 30,00 19. do. let to Erastus Willard, 10,00 29. do. do. Moses Gould, pr. note, 20,00 May 27. do. paid Agent at Waterville, 376,88 do. pd. Stephen Chapin, for board, 35,34 Treasurer's Account. Oct. II. 1823. Sept. 13. To balance due last year, 137,09 26,25 50.00 5,00 17. do, to the Secretary, stationary, 6,43 Nov. 17. do. paid Hayford, 4,00 do. to Isaac Goward, 13,00 do. to Moses Gould, pr. note, 50,00 24. do. to Gibbon Williams, 10,00 1824. Jan. 7. do. paid Leverett, 49,90 12. do. paid Josiah West, 41,66 17. do. let to Th. Fitch, pr. note, 75,00 21. do. paid Leverett, 30,95 21. do. paid for Chemical Apparatus, 100,00 Aug. 2. do. let to Eli Smith, 25,00 28. do. paid Waterville College, 179,00 16. do. Feb. 19. do. paid Ezra Fisher, 23,16 paid Agents at Wat. Coll. for 357,09 Mar. 30. do. paid Joel Hayford, 30,00 31. do. to F. G. Macomber, 3,33 do. loaned C. Cummings, pr. note, 15,00 paid Treas. of Ed. Fund, hav- By, amounts received at sundry dates, as pr. items published in previous numbers of the Mag. 2161,74 600,12 2761,86 E. LINCOLN, Treas. The undersigned has examined the foregoing account, and finds it correctly cast and duly vouched. Sept. 13. do. dolls. 2761,86 Moneys received by the Treasurer of the Education Society since the above settlement of his annual account. From Fe. Ed. Soc. Haverh, pr. Rev. Mr. Keely, 19,52 Sept. 15, From Charlestown Bap. Ch. and Soc. 12,55 Newburyport Male Bap. Benev. Society, 5,00 Friends in Woburn, 6,92 Collection at Newburyport, 3,90 Cambridge Bap Ch. and Soc. 68,48 Newburyport Fem. Bap. Benev. Soc. 3,45 Fem. Char. Soc. Salisbury and Amesbury, 2,00 Fem. Ed. Soc. of Newton and Vicinity, 21,03 Contribution at Salisbury, 2,65 Methuen Bap. Ch. and Soc. 5,00 Mission Box, by Mrs. Grafton, Newton, 2,00 51,14 Lynn Bap. Ch. and Soc. 4,00 Third do. do. 60,00 Salem Bap. Fem. Ed Soc. 48,00 Mr. Benj. Kent, 3,00 Salem Ch and Soc. 52,50 Boston Bap Fem. Ed. Soc. 30,00 Salem Juv. Fem. Ed. Society, 6,79 Rev. Mr. Chamberlain, 1,00 African Ch. Boston, 8,00 A friend, 2,00 Fem. Char. Soc. Littleton, 4,27 A Beneficiary, ,50 Ed. Soc. Littleton, 6,57 Wilton Fem. Ed. Soc. (N. H.) 2,75 Roxbury Ch. and Soc. 10,61 First Bap. Ch, and Soc. Haverhill, 6,00 dolls. 449,83 125,50 8,00 3,00 Moneys received by the Treasurer of the Bap. Miss. Society of Massachusetts. 1824 June 21. By Cash of Rev. L. Bolles, interest on Mr. Cornish's legacy, July 10. By interest at Loan Office, 12. By Cash of Mr. David Beal, E. LINCOLN, Treas. Amounts received for Foreign Missions, at the meeting of the Boston Baptist From Charlestown Fem. Bap. Miss. Soc. Children of Miss Wyman's School, Charles- Malden Fem Mite Soc. for Indian Miss. Friend, for eduation of females in Burmah, * Transmitted to the Treas. of the Boston Bap. For. Miss. Soc. † Transmitted to the Treas. of the Salem Bible Transl. and For. Miss. Soc. Moneys received by the Treasurer of the Evangelical Tract Society, Sept. 15, 1824. Account of the Treasurer of the Boston Baptist Foreign Mission Society. Nov. 15. To draft in favour of Mr. G. D. Board- EXPENDITURES. July 9. Commission paid for collecting cash of sub- 3,40 ,12 1,25 4,00 2,00 30,00 paid, 40,00 Apr. To cash paid Rev. Mr. Mc Coy, 149,25 Cash remitted to New York, to be for- 1100,00 Oct. 7. By balance in Treasurer's hands, on An- Oct. 8. 297,33 Baptist Female Soc. Hopkinton, N. H. 12,25 4,52 1,00 Female Mite Society, Sedgwick, 2,44 · 9,52 · 2,00 Thomas Berry, 3d. Pittsfield, N. H. 75 1,08 22,25 are LETTER TO ONE OF THE EDITORS. wish to have this child baptized ? They assent; and he asks, Do you enH (in Germany,) April 11, 1824. gage in its behalf that it shall sustain a christian character ?" &c. By this Rer. and dear Sir, time a boy has brought a pitcher of waThough the wide Atlantic is rolling ter, and it is poured warm and steaming between me and my dear christian into the font. The face of the little friends in the United States, they are one is uncovered, and receives the not forgotten; and the confidence that touch of the minister's wet hand three I am remembered in some of their times; “in the name of the Fatherprayers is precious to my heart. and of the Son--and of the Holy Perhaps a few sketches relative to Ghost," with the declaration that this the religious customs and state of the is baptism; and, what is still worse, people here, would not be wholly des- with the ruinous impression that the titute of interest. Imagine yourself child no longer needs to be born again. with me in St. Moritz' church, of which If the communion is to be administhe Lutheran minister with whom I tered, two prodigious candles reside is one of the pastors. It is the lighted, though the sun itself may be most ancient in the city. It has stood shining. One of the pastors appears while the generations of nearly eight at the altar, on which stands a small hundred years have passed away. We image of our Lord upon the cross, and admire its vast extent, its two inter- chaunts, (in the tone of old Dr. nal ranges of strong and lofty pillars, S.-) several prescribed forms of and its high arched roof, from prayer. His colleague also appears. which the light is admitted. We The communicants stand at a little are surprised at its pictures and carved distance. There are only four! a man representations of monks, saints, angels and his wife, with two other women. of all sorts and sizes, and a thousand Each now in succession approaches other decorations. An image of our one of the ministers at one end of the Lord upon the cross, large as life, at- altar, and, after making obeisance, tracts our attention. The sound of the receives bread directly into the mouth organ is heard. We look for the wor- from his hand; and then, passing shipping assembly. We see a hand- round to the other minister at the othful of people, scarcely forty or fifty, er end, receives wine in the same manand most of these manifestly of the ner with a benediction. poorer class. They have their hymn To-day is Palm Sunday. It is the books; and some now and then join in time when the children, who, in the the melody. At length the preacher preceding year, have completed their comes forth from near the altar, and catechetical instruction, are confirmascends the pulpit. He makes a very ed. Could you, my dear sir, have been short prayer, the people keeping their with me this morning, in St. Moritz seats. He commences his discourse; church, you would have seen that spaand when he introduces his text the cious edifice filled, which, on common people rise, and stand till the reading occasions, is so empty. In the centre of it is ended. He proceeds ; and, in are sixty one children, generally from the midst of the sermon, the collector fourteen to fifteen years of age, arof contributions comes around with his ranged in a hollow square, and an bag. Upon concluding his discourse, altar placed between them and the the preacher repeats the Lord's prayer, pulpit. The fathers, mothers, brothand after just naming a hymn, pro- ers, sisters, friends, and a multitude a benediction. He then besides, are present to witness the exleaves the pulpit, and the organ fin- hibition. Hymns with the melody of ishes the service. the organ, and prayers by one of the If an infant is to be christened, some pastors, commence the services. The of the people stay, and gather round other now ascends the pulpit, and dean enclosure on the outside of which livers a discourse on filial affection, is written, Suffer little children to come from John xix. 25—27. “ Woman, beunto me; and in the centre of which hold thy son." He touches the pasis fixed a basin sufficiently large for the sions with the hand of a master. Tears immersion of a child. The minister, roll down the cheeks of many a parent the parents, and the sponsors, with the and many a child. Along with much babe, enter the enclosure. He makes that was excellent, he skilfully assoan address, stating that they are about ciated the baptism of infants with the to receive this new born child into the dearest sympathies of our nature. And christian church. He repeats the how could he do otherwise, while it is Lord's prayer, and the Apostle's creed; regarded as regenerating, christening, Is it in this faith that you making them christians, receiving nounces and asks, |