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mouth." (Eccles. xxiv. 7.) Whatever men of the world may achieve by silence, from their sense of its necessity and its excellence, the Christian alone can turn this advantage to its best account. He who is silent upon principle, will be silent to some purpose: and, to advert to the highest possible consideration, whoever is desirous of obtaining judgment from above, as to the time, the place, and the occasion of being silent, will not fail of his object. It is indeed the true Christian only, who can habitually keep a due rein upon his tongue, because he alone implores the Divine aid in so doing. David prays, Keep thou the door of my lips."

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such anniversaries should not be a sufficient counter-balance for certain real or supposed evils incident to popular meetings. My affairs having conducted me to London during the month of last May, I had sufficient opportunities of attending some of those impressive meetings; and can therefore speak, in a considerable measure, from my own experience of their effects. The following remarks apply chiefly to the annual meetings of the Parent Institutions, though, in proportion as the Auxiliaries imitate their spirit, the same arguments will serve to defend both. It may be proper to remark, without intending any thing invidious towards other institutions, that circumstances happening to bring me more immediately in contact with the Church Missionary Society, the British and Foreign Bible Society, and the Naval and Military Bible Society, my observations refer chiefly to these institutions.

So much for the benefits of silence. I have, in conclusion, only to request that each of my readers will turn my remarks to the best possible account, by beginning to practise the duty; and especially by making their occasional abstinence, "even from good words," not "a pain and grief unto them," but an occasion for those holy meditations, those devout desires, those deep and earnest selfexaminations, which will best fit them afterwards to discharge the duties of speech, that their conversation may be as beneficial to others as their self-restraint is to themselves.

W.

To the Editor of the Christian Observer, To the Editor of the Christian Observer. HAVING frequently heard objections made, even from respectable quarters, to the usual mode of conducting the annual meetings of the various charitable and religious societies; and having myself formerly felt some degree of jealousy on the subject; I trust you will permit me to assign a few of those reasons which have at length satisfied my own mind, and which I trust may satisfy such of your readers as, like myself, have entertained occasional fears, lest the advantages of

As a general principle, it will be allowed that an anniversary meeting of a charitable society, to inspect the accounts and to choose officers for the ensuing year, &c. is absolutely requisite, in order to prevent abuses, and to satisfy the subscribers of the due appropriation of their bounty. The necessity, therefore, of a public meeting, is conceded. Still it is argued, that all this might be very well managed without that system of addresses which has now become so generally prevalent in such institutions. I doubt, however, whether the members of our charitable societies could ever be brought together merely to hear a report and attest proceedings which they can afterwards read over in printunless, which on every account is a far worse practice than that complained of, a dinner be provided to attract a full meeting. With regard to the evil effects so often attributed to the above-mentioned anniversaries, I must bear my sincere testimony, that in those which I have frequented there was much less

tendency to any thing of an excep- healthy action in the cause of God tionable kind than I could reason- and man; the social and benevolent ably have anticipated, and certainly feelings are excited; the impormuch less than I have been in the tance of eternal things becomes habit of witnessing at meetings more fixed upon the heart; a spirit merely secular. In particular, I of prayer is cherished and increasperceived little of that idle mutual ed; and from hearing what is our adulation, and still less of that se duty at a time when the mind is cond-rate species of humour, which particularly affected and impressed, I had been taught to regard as essen- a more permanent and active desire tial parts of almost every speech is often excited for its performance. delivered on such occasions. I was It is almost impossible for an indireally much delighted to find an vidual to plead the cause of these honest and manly cause so gene- societies, without feeling himself in rally advocated in an honest and some measure excited to be and to manly way; and if at any previous do what he describes; and I think period the above-mentioned faults, it cannot be doubted that many or others of a similar nature, may holy resolutions have been formed have in any measure prevailed (a on these occasions, which may have circumstance of which I know materially affected the future life. nothing but from the enemies of If it be said that vanity is often exthese meetings, and which I there- cited and gratified at those meetfore conclude to have been greatly ings, I would reply, that it is, or exaggerated), I can at least give ought to be, much oftener checked my testimony that they do not, as and repressed: for, to say nothing far as I have seen, prevail at pre- of the general spirit which such sent. At the late meetings of the assemblies are calculated to inspire societies above-mentioned, the spirit a spirit, it is to be hoped, of selfgenerally displayed, both by the abasement and humility---there are speakers and the members at large, at least fifty speakers that fail for appeared to me the very reverse of one who succeeds; so that, did not that of levity, of humour, of hosti- self-love usually blind the eyes of lity to opponents, or of vain com- men to their own failings, the platpliment to friends. It was, as it form of a public society would be ought to have been, sober, yet one of the best possible spheres for cheerful-animated, yet rational- acquiring the grace of self-difhgrateful for the past, and hopeful dence and humility. The proud for the future---in a word, as far as and the vain will feed their pride earth may approach to heaven, a and vanity in every other scene as spirit imitative of those celestial well as this; and it would therebeings whose matin song, on the fore be far too much to demand that day of the Nativity, was, "Glory what is obviously productive of to God in the highest; and on earth such great benefits should be relinpeace, good-will to men." quished, only because, like every thing else, it is susceptible of abuse. If there were no other advantage connected with the system, it would be an important one that the members, and especially the committee of a society, are animated to begin another year with diligence and hope. Few men can labour long and zealously in complete retirement and shade; the stimulus of social feeling is often necessary to animate the heart, and recruit the

The ground on which I would venture to defend the anniversary meetings of our charitable societies, is their tendency to benefit the members themselves—the objects of their bounty-and the world at large.

The particular benefits which appear to me to accrue to the members themselves, are of the following kind:-The mind becomes stimulated to new and more

exhausted powers. Subscribers, also, soon become uninterested, and gradually drop off without this occasional excitement; so that, as long as the excitement does not exceed the bounds of sobriety, and remains duly regulated by piety and discretion, it is doubtless rather to be encouraged than repressed.

With regard to the immediate objects for whose advantage such societies are intended, there can be no doubt of the utility of these public meetings; since whatever conduces to animate the members and to increase the funds of an institution, must necessarily operate to the advantage of those interested in its welfare. Besides, these benefits are not local; persons from different parts of the kingdom, and even foreigners, are oftentimes found at these anniversaries, and thus become acquainted with the value of institutions which would not otherwise have pressed upon their attention. Hence the efforts of enlightened charity become ramified and expanded wherever man and misery are to be found. Persons who entered indifferent or unconvinced, become interested; their minds are opened by argument, or their hearts warmed by collision; prejudice and oppositon are weakened or subdued: for I have almost always found the opponents of our leading religious charitable institutions among those persons who never read their reports or witnessed their anniversary meetings. I believe not a single anniversary, of those to which I allude, has passed by without bringing new labourers into the field.

Thus I have entrenched upon what, had my remarks been less desultory, would have been my third head of argument-namely, the advantages resulting to the world at large from these charitable meetings. It certainly appears to me no slight blessing to behold unity, peace, and concord, diffusing themselves, as they are

seen to do on these occasions, among the numerous and miscellaneous groups who are collected to celebrate the triumphs of Christian benevolence, and to animate each other to love and to goodworks. The spirit of amity thus excited soon spreads around; it benefits the domestic circle, and acts with no feeble energy on society at large. Politically, as well as morally, its benefits are very important: even foreigners learn to feel an interest in a land which so greatly contributes to promote the happiness of the whole world. I know, for instance, of nothing that has ever more interested my own feelings, or given me more auspicious forebodings for the ultimate peace and safety of society, than viewing, as I have done, prelates and statesmen, and even our princes, mingling with foreign ambassadors, and other strangers of rank and influence, to promote the moral and religious benefit of the world. Such proceedings are among the best pledges of peace and unity, aud appear to my mind as harbingers of that day when nations shall learn war no more. Indeed, the whole of the promises in Holy Writ, relative to the future happiness of the world and the triumphs of the Messiah's kingdom, seem to me to have received new confirmation from the scenes to which I allude; and I view it as not among the least of the benefits under consideration, that the world at large must begin to feel, from the temper and spirit exhibited on these occasions, that Christianity is really a revelation from God, and productive of the most happy effects to the human race. Men will begin again to exclaim, "Behold how these Christians love one another!" They will perceive the duties of active benevolence and zeal for the human soul assuming a more practical form. The attention excited by religious institutions will greatly excite (indeed it has already

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greatly excited) attention to religion itself. We see by means of these meetings what the Almighty is doing in the earth; and, for one, I must readily acknowledge, that if on any occasion I have been impressed more than usual with my own privileges as a Christian in a Christian land, and with the wants of those unhappy nations who still sit in darkness and the shadow of death; if ever I have recognized the duty and enjoyed the luxury of disinterested benevolence; if ever I have felt myself bound to my species by new and closer ties; if ever I have acknowledged an universal superintending Providence, and raised my heart in fervent gratitude and adoration to the throne of God; it has occurred while attending some of those meetings which have been exposed to so much severe and unmerited animadversion.

W.

that he may preserve the people whose minister he is, and as still bearing the authority of God; or, if the second prayer is preferred by the Reader, we beseech Almighty God to dispose and govern him, so committed to his charge in wealth, peace, and godliness. The question I would ask, therefore, is, Whether this language be not wholly inconsistent with itself; and if so, whether it might not be easily corrected, by those who occasionally direct alterations to be made in the service of the church? I know, and fully acknowledge, that by those who either direct or use these prayers no such inconsistency is intended, but that they are offered in a spirit suited to the real state of things, and that the incongruities are quite accidental: but still I would ask, Is there any advantage in thus trifling with the solemn words of prayer; in unnecessarily offending the minds of many sincere ministers; or in familiarizing the national conscience to such evasions as appear necessary to avoid the above-mentioned difficulties? I am sure, Mr. Editor, your readers will give me full credit for not intending to convey any reproach, either upon the church or its rulers, for what is obviously but an accidental blemish, which has arisen from the peculiar circumstances of the case, and which, I trust, needs only to be noticed to be corrected. C. C.

To the Editor of the Christian Observer.
I AM desirous, through the medium
of your publication, to put a ques-
tion to any of our ecclesiastical
governors whom it may reach, rela-
tive to the present anomalies in
our State Prayers. The Prayer for
the King's Recovery is not yet re-
voked by authority, though the
petitions contained in it can no
longer, I fear, be regarded as an
object of rational hope; and there-
fore it has been, in most churches,
gradually discontinued. But, wher-
ever it is still read, we pray every
Sunday, first, that the King may be
restored to the functions of sove-
reignty; next, that in the mean time
the Regent may discharge them pro
fitably in his room. So far all is
consistent. But we then pray, in
the Litany, for the King himself, and
that victory may be given him over
all his enemies; for which an equi-
valent prayer is substituted in the
evening; and, lastly, in the Commu-
nion Service we pray for the same
afflicted monarch, as knowing Cooled by the twilight dews,

For the Christian Observer.

AN EVENING SOLILOQUY.
FAR from the giddy maze of boisterous life,

With unambitious footsteps would I turn
To where yon flowerets bloom,
And shed unnoticed sweets.

Where, where is now the world? that world which late
Courted my love, and strove with bitter taunt
or soft seductive smile,

To tear me from my God?
Now would I taste the joy of paradise,

When man could wander tranquil, unobserved,
Amid the silent grove,

Nor felt a wish for more tumultuous joys
To break the evening's solitary gloom,
And rob his pensive soul

Of converse with her God.

E'en now I feel delights, which waft the thought
Beyond the world-beyond the bounds of time-
And angels might descend

To envy human joys.

Yet why thus falls unseen an o'er-fraught tear?
'Tis but the welcome drop that speaks a heart
Where gratitude would raise

An altar to her God.

Yon meads repay the weary peasant's toil;
Yon flower diffuses sweets to cheer the maid
Who reared its drooping head,

And watched its opening bud;

But man forgets the Hand whose fostering care
Sheds thousand sweets to cheer a bitter life;
Nor cheers this life alone,

But points to brighter days.

Oh, melt my heart! and thou, Celestial Power,
Expand this wayward breast with holiest flame,
And waft my ardent soul

Where love for ever dwells!

I feel thy power. From earth faith's tranquil eye
Averted, points me to the Eternal Throne;
Then hence, ye fading scenes
That damp my rising joys!

Full on my wondering eye yon brighter world
Bursts with eternal splendour, and sublimes
My heart's low, groveling powers,
And tunes my feeble lay.

Wide they expand! the etherial gates unfold;
And light which dazzles angels, light Divine,
That gleams to hell's dark caves,

Beams on a mortal eye!

Soon shall I rest where bliss for ever flows,
And angels strike their harps with sweetest chords
To tune their Maker's praise-

The praises of my God.

Yes, I shall join: and every solemo pause
Shall hear the blissful notes re-echo far,
And every harp shall sound
"Worthy the Lamb who died!"

But, ah! I turn my steps-yon distant spires
Recal my thoughts to meet a giddy world,
And bid this yielding heart

Glow with its wonted flames.

The vision fades!-Ah why, Celestial Power,
So short the moments when my wearied soul
Forgets a jarring world,

And dwells with Thee alone?

Return, ye pure delights!—Ah, no! they fly,
Fly from my grasp, and seek their native skies,
While passion's guilty train

And earth-born cares succeed!

Again shall wild ambition tear this heart!
Ambition! soul-disturbing, maddening power,
Who lives in busy crowds,

Nor breathes this lonely gale.

Again shall pride inflate my guilty breast;
Again shall writhing envy pierce this soul,
And passion weave false smiles
To tempt me to her arms!

Grief, too, shall claim her seat-I heed her not;
Long has she ruled this bosom, where her force
Has smoothed a rugged shore
With wave succeeding wave:

No more she wears her soul-appalling form;
Familiar converse smooths her haggard mien;
Unseen, unfelt, she reigns

An inmate in my breast.

But soon the strife shall cease!-the wayward traig
Of heedless passions shall forget to rage,

Nor earth shall boast a charm

To bind my parting soul.

Then welcome, Death! for thou alone canst free
A wounded soul from sorrow's stern controul,
And waft it to those climes

Where bliss for ever reigns.

W.

REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Review of BUXTON on Prisons.

(Concluded from p. 402).

triumphant Committee, and especially of the Lady who appears to take a leading part in all its pro

We sincerely wish that it was in ceedings. We think it right, how

our power to extract the whole ac-
count, which occurs next in this

ever, to present to our readers such an abridgment of this inte

admit.

We first give Mr. Buxton's account of the female side of Newgate, as it was.

little volume, of the proceedings of resting statement as our pages will
the Ladies' Committee in Newgate.
It cannot be read without the
deepest interest-without the sin-
cerest admiration of the individuals
concerned in it-and without the
most lively gratitude to Almighty
God, who has prompted the bene-
volence and supplied the perse-
verance of this meritorious and

induced to visit Newgate, by the repre"About four years ago, Mrs. Fry was sentation of its state, made by some persons of the Society of Friends.

"She found the female side in a

situation, which no language can de

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