and by day, and teach me to pray, and tell me about the Lord Jesus Christ, and about heaven; and let me be your little daughter.

Mar. 14th. In the morning, on seeing Mr Wade go out for exercise, she urged her mistress to go also. No, replied her mistress, I had rather stay with my little sick daughter. "Do go," she said, "I should be very sorry, if you should get ill." Her mistress assured her that she felt quite well, and that if she went out, the sun I would be hot before she could return. The signs of dissolution now appeared. She felt the change, and inquired for Mr Judson and Mah Lah. Why do you inquire for them? asked her mistress. "I want to have them sit down here," she said, so that I can see them, for I am now going; I can stay no longer." When Mr Judson came in, she anticipated that he would wish to know the state of her mind, and therefore said, "I can't talk much now; but I am not afraid to die. The Lord Jesus Christ has taken away all my sins. But I am in great distress, it seems as if I could not breathe." This, said her mistress, is the pain of death; try to bear it patiently, my little daughter; it will soon be over. You can't say your prayers now; do you want us all to pray for you? She looked at us and said, "Yes, do pray for me." When she seemed a little easier, she said, "I can eat nothing more, Mahaa." No, replied her mistress, you can eat nothing more here ;— but would you like to go to-day, and eat in heaven, with Christ and the angels, and all the disciples of Christ, who have gone there? "Yes," she replied, "I want to go now." Her mistress said, Are you willing to leave me and go? She fixed her eyes on her most beloved earthly friend, and with looks full of gratitude and affection, hesitated a moment, and then said, "Yes, I want to go now; and you will not stay long, will you, Mah-aa."

About 7 o'clock, she requested Mah Lah to bring her a kind of rice cake from the market, of which she was very fond. Mah Lah asked her, whether she thought she could eat it. "Perhaps I can eat a little," she replied, "but I want to give some to Mah-aa." Mah Lah told her, she could not get the red kind so early in the morning; upon which, the poor little thing looked up, and asked her mistress, "Do you like the white kind, Mah-aa?" And being assured that she did, she seemed satisfied, and told Mah Lah to get the white kind. When it was brought, however, she took no notice of it. As she was lying quite stupid now, we went out to breakfast. Soon after, she inquired for the cake, and tried to eat a little with some tea, but could not swallow. She then requested Mah Lah to carry the remainder of it to the table, and divide it between the two teachers and her mistress. It was the last thing she had in the world to give away; and she gave it as the last token of her gratitude and love.

Soon after this, she was much distressed for breath, and said, "Oh, Mah-aa, I can't breathe; my breath will stop." Yes, replied her mistress, it will soon stop, my little daughter. This is death; do you know that you are dying." "Yes, Mah-aa, I know that I am dying." Well, this is the will of Christ, and you love Christ; therefore try to bear it patiently; it will soon be over. On hearing this, she looked up, and with emphasis replied, "I do love

the Lord Jesus Christ; and I will bear all the pain patiently." After she had lain some time, without speaking, her mistress said to her, do you know me, Meh Shway-ee? "Yes, Mah-aa, I know you, and love you very much." Her mistress said, I love you too, my little daughter; but I don't want to keep you in this evil world, where you suffer so much. I am willing to have you go to heaven. I shall follow you. There we shall meet again. "O how glad I shall be, when you come, Mah-aa. I want to be your own little daughter there too." After a short interval, her mistress again inquired, do you know that you are dying even now? "Yes, Mah-aa, I know it, and am not afraid. I want to go; I want very much to die even now." She continued looking upon her beloved mistress, for some time, but said no more; and in about half an hour, her redeemed spirit took its flight, in so peaceful and quiet a manner, that we could not for some time perceive that she was indeed gone.

Her funeral was attended, the evening of the day on which she died. She was followed to the grave, by the girls of the school, walking in procession, the members of the mission, the native Christians, and a number of inquirers and friends. Her grave was made in a retired spot, not far from the mission house, which we have selected for a burying place, and where we expect, that our own bodies will, one after another, ere long be laid.

Rest, little slave, thy work is done,
The cross is past, the crown is won;
Rest, suffering child, on Canaan's shore,
Where pain is felt and fear'd no more.

Thy story tell to saints on high,
And sound His praises through the sky,
Who rescued thee from tortures dread,
And pour'd salvation on thy head.

Rest, sainted seraph, on thy throne;
The bliss of heaven is now thine own;
Move in thy sphere, a beauteous star,
And shine on us thy friends afar.

For thou art not on earth forgot,

And when our bodies press this spot,

We hope, in heaven, again to see
The ransom'd slave girl, Meh Shway-ee.

HINTS CONCERNING THE PRESENT RELIGIOUS

CONDITION OF OUR

COLLEGES AND OTHER LITERARY INSTITUTIONS.

It is not without sufficient cause, that the state of religion in our public seminaries of learning, has, within a few years past, become a subject of attention in the Christian community. While the eye of compassion weeps over a world lying in iniquity, and still seeks to fix itself upon objects the most affecting, the condition of those, who are rising to perpetuate the scene, and to repeat the catastro

120

Religious State of the Colleges and Academies.

phe of the preceding generation, cannot fail to attract its observation. Hence have originated the various and multiplied efforts for the moral and religious instruction of youth in our own, and in foreign countries; and hence, the union of prayer for divine in-fluence upon these efforts.

If the heirs of obscurity and of remote heathen impiety and ignorance are not overlooked, it may be expected, that the thousands who are presented in our Colleges and other Seminaries, as destined to control the moral interests of multitudes of their fellow men, will inspire a solicitude, not to be denied an utterance in incessant prayer, and the most vigilant activity. Those Institutions which come under the denomination of Academies, should receive no ordinary share of interest, as they contain a numerous collection of youth; and in them is often decided, the momentous question involving the salvation of themselves and others. But amid the happy scenes of revivals, that have been exhibited in our country, we have been permitted to witness the holy influence descending upon our Colleges, and consecrating to the service of God many, who were ready to enter, with the greatest zeal and efficiency, into the service of the world. Similar scenes have been witnessed in our nurseries of literature, from the Primary school to the University, affording occasion of joy to all who highly appreciate the soul's redemption, and presenting prospects, the most animating to the church.

It is, however, a fact, well known to those who have regularly perused our religious journals, that revivals have become less frequent among our youth, who are undergoing a course of academic instruction. An Academy or College is not known, in which a revival now exists. Why this truly melancholy change? Shall not this question be discussed in the fear of God? and however much reproof may be conveyed by the answer, and wherever it may apply, shall we not faithfully investigate and declare it! The writer of these strictures, being himself connected with the Faculty of one of these Institutions, apprehends not, that he will be judged totally unqualified to undertake the task, nor that he will be censured for the selection of causes, which he will now propose, as operating in a suspension of the blessings so much desired.

1. The speculations that have been indulged by the friends of revivals, concerning their nature, and "the manner of conducting them," have been of unhappy tendency. They may have furnished the public with many true and even valuable remarks; but they have exhibited evangelical Christians in the unfavorable attitude of collision; they have had a tendency to diminish the reverence, which had previously prevailed in relation to the mysterious operations of the Holy Spirit; and they have apparently formed a partial denial of those operations, while they have been represented as capable of being controlled by human instrumentality. Many qualifying terms and statements have accompanied these discussions; and yet it must candidly be acknowledged, that a liability to the inference, has not been effectually prevented. Now these speculations have operated unfavorably to the general prevalence of

revivals; but especially to their existence among the more enlightened and reading classes of the community; and such is the character of those who are assembled at our literary Institutions.

2. Collegiate rivalships, and those enterprises that have engaged the attention of the governments of our Institutions, to raise the standard of American literature, and to give greater eligibility to their respective establishments, have probably contributed a share of influence to the aggregate cause under consideration. It is a source of congratulation, that the standard of our literature is rapidly advancing, and that there have been accessions to the means of facilitating this advancement, by appeals to public patronage, and by importations from the other side of the Atlantic. But similar are the causes of spiritual declension in individuals and in associations of individuals. External allurements are, in both cases, pernicious. The standard of Christian deportment will graduate the ardor of religious feeling; and the spirit that is indulged in the maintenance of public and private relations, is direct and invariable in its influence. The competition of our literary Institutions for public favor, forms a species of rivalship, which, far more than that of individuals, is to be deprecated.

3. The character of the intercourse of religious students, with each other, and with their other associates, claims here to be considered. It is a singular fact, that young men, who would have travelled many miles from their paternal homes, to spend a few hours only, with one, who cherished the same Christian hope, and who contemplated the same holy purposes, on becoming daily associated with many of a similar character, neglect, often to a great extent, the advantages of Christian intercourse. But it is more to be lamented, that by mutual confidence they often feel less the need of circumspection—that they prove snares to each other, and that they occasionally become mutually the subjects of suspicion, jealousy,envy, and even of secret or open abuse. Such a result does not necessarily flow from the intimate intercourse of Christians, nor are Christians, associated together for the purpose of study, more exposed to such evils, than if they were for the same time, and to the same degree, associated for any other purpose. On the contrary, the employments of Christian students may become very conducive to their advancement in true love to God, and love to man. The pious members of literary Institutions, are necessarily connected with others who make no pretensions to religion. Their failings, consequently may be observed, and may considerably hinder the effect of efforts for the religious welfare of their fellow students. May these evils be found less frequent, than it is feared they are. as it has been our design, to point out the causes of the late suspension of divine influence in our literary Institutions, it is suggested, that though the number of professors of religion in them has increased, yet a spirit of circumspection and sedulous concern for the promotion of piety may not have been cherished; and thus students, even professedly pious, may have afforded occasion for this species of relapse, and its deleterious consequences.

But

4. Our last topic of remark needs but to be named, as we are persuaded, that its application will be readily perceived and carefully investigated. It is proposed as a question, whether our instructers feel, and act under the impression, that the spiritual welfare of their students, claims their first, their constant, their unceasing regards? Is eminent personal piety constantly cultivated as a most desirable associate of their other various qualifications?

The preceding observations may appear deficient without some direct and appropriate suggestions, relative to a removal of the barrier to spiritual prosperity in our public Seminaries. These are, however, deemed unnecessary, as they may easily be supplied by every reader of this article. Let it suffice, that we call upon our brethren and fellow laborers in the interesting and responsible charge of instruction, to make a faithful examination of this subject; and that, while they strive with us to effect the removal of all causes of offence to the blessed Spirit, they will unite with us in seeking humbly and most importunately the renewal and more abundant blessings of his holy energies.

MARTYN.

Messrs Editors,

THE TITLE d. d.

I was peculiarly gratified to discover in the last number of the Magazine, a communication from our Missionary, the Rev. Adoniram Judson, declining the title, Doctor of Divinity. And I was not less pleased, at seeing previously in the Columbian Star, a request from the President of our General Convention, the Rev. Robert B. Semple, that his brethren would never attach the same title to his name.

As they have voluntarily relinquished the title, and prefer to be addressed in some other manner more consistent with their views of Christian humility, and ministerial equality, it is to be hoped that their wishes may be gratified.

It is very possible that several others, who have had this degree inflicted upon them without their desire or consent, may not think this an unfit opportunity for them to follow the example of two such men as Judson and Semple. Some, I am confident, would have so refused at first, had they not been fearful of displeasing their friends, or of incurring the imputation of a ' voluntary humility.'

It would be truly a delightful spectacle to see all those servants of Christ, in the United States, who have received this degree, come forward, like these brethren, and signify their wish that the title may never again, in any way, be prefixed or affixed to their Yours truly, MATTHEW Xxiii. 8.

names.