tern Education Societies made appropri- Rev. Seth Bliss, Secretary ations, as follows: Former New Benefic. Benefic. Total. 64 Institutions, 298 26 324 Am. appro. $6,363 THE death of Rev. Dr. Wisner having occurred since the last meeting of the Board, the following preamble and resolutions were adopted. It having pleased the Sovereign Disposer of events to remove by death the Rev. Benjamin B. Wisner, D. D., who had been for many years a highly respected and efficient Director of the American Education Society, Resolved, That this Board of Directors recognize the hand of God in this afflictive dispensation, and while they bow with christian submission to his holy and righteous will, would also record their deep sense of the loss which this Board in common with the whole church of Christ and the world have suffered by the death of Dr. Wisner, VOL. VII. of the A. T. Soc. Boston. S TION. Boston, April 6, 1835. MY DEAR SIR,-Two tracts have been published by the American Tract Society, the one called, "Harvest Perishing for want of Laborers," written by Dr. Scudder, of Ceylon, the other, entitled, “ Call and Qualifications for the Ministry," written by Rev. Dr. Emerson, of Andover, which are calculated to have a most happy influence on the operations of the American Education Society. It is desirable, that all the ministers of the gospel, and all the beneficiaries now under the patronage of the Society, and all who may be received in time to come; and I may add, all the pious young men of the country, should be furnished with these tracts. It is desirable, too, that all the agents of our society should be furnished with them, that they may be assisted in giving advice to young men, and in making a selection of such as should receive aid from the society. As we have no funds 47 contributed for the purpose of purchasing | tracts for distribution, it will not be in the power of the Directors of the society to procure any for this object. It occurred to my mind that your executive committee might be disposed to make a donation for the above purpose. Will you please to lay before them this application, for their consideration? By doing it, you will oblige your friend and brother, WILLIAM COGSWELL, Sec. Am. Ed. Soc. Boston, April 7, 1835. heartily, and accompanied with the earnest prayer that the society which receives it, may receive thousands and thousands of similar sums, until not only its present debts are all paid, but all who need and who wish to become beneficiaries of it, and shall be found suitable, shall be encouraged by its patronage to prepare for the Christian ministry; and until the desolations of the whole land, and of the entire world, shall be repaired; and the lost race of man be brought back to its allegiance to God, through the appointed instrumentality of the living preacher of the word. Do not think, that while I have thus cancelled the debt which I legally owe you, my debt is fully discharged. I shall feel myself your debtor through life; and shall endeavor, year by year, to feel and act as a life-member of your highly favored, and very useful so At a meeting of the executive committee of the American Tract Society holden this day, a letter was read from Rev. Dr. Cogs-ciety." well, Secretary of Am. Ed. Society, requesting, in behalf of the society, a donation of some copies of the two tracts, entitled, "The Harvest Perishing for want of Laborers," and "Call and Qualifications for the Ministry." Whereupon, Voted, That fifteen hundred copies of each of the above named tracts be given to the Am. Ed. Society. SETH BLISS, Clerk of Ex. Com. THE following vote of thanks was passed by the Directors. Voted, That the thanks of this Board be presented to the executive committee of the American Tract Society, Boston, for their donation of tracts made yesterday to the Am. Ed. Society. "THE inclosed sum I send you. I was in hopes of cancelling my note, but am not able to do it at this time, but probably shall soon. "One or two facts respecting myself may not be uninteresting. In the four years of my ministry about ninety individuals have been added to the church under my care, and five or six individuals who became hopefully pious in that time, are pursuing a course of study, and will probably enter the ministry." "THE amount of my note to the Education Society at this date, I make My preparatory studies were completed at the beginning of I have now the pleasure to inclose which I suppose will cancel the pecuniary obligation; but I hope ever to be sensible that I owe another, higher obligation to the American Education Society, which can be cancelled only by VIEWS OF FORMer BeneficiaRIES ON unwearied effort in the Christian ministry." purity of doctrine, quenchless zeal, and REFUNDING. EXTRACTS of letters from former Ben- "I AM now and ever have been a warm friend of the American Education Society. I thank God for the great good he has already made it the instrument of effecting. I trust it is by him destined to be a most powerful engine in moving throughout the world the chariot of salvation. The wants of a world lying in wickedness are so great, that I exceedingly regret that the operations of your society should be, in the least, embarrassed with debt. Surely they who have been patronized by your society ought and will, as soon as they are able, pay back to your treasury what they have received. I feel this to be my duty, and I am not willing to believe that others do not feel the same." "THE aid which I received from your funds was of essential service to me, and I shall ever have occasion to love a society from which I derived, in time of great necessity, such liberal encouragement.' "I SHALL ever feel myself under great obligations to the American Education Society, and shall do all in my power to promote its interests, and endeavor, if it should ever be in my power, to refund what is now due from me." prayers of the churches on our behalf have not been in vain." "IN compliance with duty I now give you a brief account of the state of religion in this seminary.As to the general external religious character of the students, it is, so far as I know, unimpeached and irreproachable. No one of those at present connected with the seminary, has, to my knowledge, incurred the censure of the faculty. How many of us are indeed the followers of Christ, is known only to the heart searching God. That we have many imperfections, no one, I presume, will deny. Yes, we are far, very far from that course of holy living before God, which our coveA number, especially among the beneficinant vows, and our own happiness demand. aries, feel this to be the case. recent visit, there has been a waking up to collegesing is, that without a deeper tone of piety the subject of personal holiness. The feel EXTRACTS from letters to the Secretary of the American Education Society, written since the present year commenced, by the presiding members at the monthly concert of prayer of beneficiaries, at different and theological seminaries. Since your It is we can never be prepared to be co-workers "YOUR letter was received in time to be read at the monthly meeting. Circumstances were such that the faculty advised us not to meet as usual. "For two weeks there has been a religious meeting, I believe every evening, preaching at most of them. Last evening the meeting was appointed exclusively for professors of religion. Our meeting was accordingly given up. "A protracted season of illness and consequent pressure of business have caused my, otherwise, inexcusable delay in writing you. Our concerts since you visited us have been more fully attended, than at any previous period, since my connection with this institution. The last was unusually interesting-much feeling was manifested, not only in regard to the Education Society, and its operations, but on the subject of efforts for the salvation of our impenitent associates. There was a tenderness of sympathy on their behalf-an earnestness of exhortation to duty-a fervor in prayer, which gave a solemn warning to the cold and inactive, at the same time administering hope and consolation to the devoted and self-denying. It is a pleasing, a joyful fact that the same spirit seems to prevail among professing Christians, at the present time, throughout the institution. We do not begin to speak of the commencement of a revival, but we do feel as though God was here, and we cannot be insensible to the cheering fact, that the hearts of many of his children burn with love and zeal, that many "You manifested so much interest for the more seem to be waking from their worldly spiritual welfare of this institution when dreams, and sinful inactivity. There is a here, that I trust you will pardon me in not faithfulness in conversing with the impen- writing particularly in reference to the benitent, and with the brethren, a silent, unob-eficiaries. But I will give you a simple trusive christian activity, which, if it does not result in the conversion of souls, will, at least, commend itself to the mind of every lover of Jesus, and I doubt not, meet with His approving smile. The usual prayer meetings are crowded, small circles for prayer are daily collected, and arrangements are made by which we hope for faithful preaching on several evenings of the week; two meetings for this purpose have been held, and a third is expected. I need not say, that such a state of things is encouraging, and gives us reason to believe, that the "We shall probably meet soon, but I thought as you are expecting to hear from us at this time, that we would not disappoint you by delaying till we meet. statement of facts in regard to the religious state of things in the college generally. "You are aware of the peculiar state of feeling here when you came. Your visit was unexpected, but we think that no previous one has had so marked an effect upon the brethren in arousing them from slumber and in leading them to the discharge of their duty. We felt when you left that you came in the name and at the bidding of your Master, and we pray that he may reward you for all your untiring efforts in our behalf. "The feeling has continued to deepen both upon saints and sinners until the present time. Eight or nine think they have experienced the renewing influences of the Holy Spirit upon their hearts. A number more are deeply anxious. About twelve attend the inquiry meeting-some seem not far from the kingdom of heaven. "There seems to be no unpleasant excitement, and no apparent opposition. It is indeed the still small voice,' which is whispering in the ears both of professors and nonprofessors, operating almost silently but we think effectually upon the heart and conscience. Christians generally are awake in some good degree. There are some, notwithstanding what God has done before our eyes, still slumbering, and although they hear the cry from their own dear class mates, 'what shall I do to be saved,' are entirely unaffected, and will not even move out of the way that the chariot-wheels of the Almighty may roll on. Oh, when will the professed children of Gol be willing to do what God would have them do, when be willing to make some little sacrifice for Him who sacrificed life the most precious for their salvation. There has been, however, a melting down of Christians before Goda good deal of repenting and confessing of sin one to another, and a deep distress for souls. To-morrow is the annual fast-we hail its return. I feel that fasting, humiliation and prayer, is just what we need. We have set apart one day, since you left, for that purpose. The result was favorable. We hope and pray that it may be so now, that the work of the Lord may receive a new impulse and move on still more gloriously. You have doubtless heard of the revivals at Yale, Dartmouth, Marietta, and at many other colleges throughout the United States. Who doubts of the efficacy of prayer? I trust that the friends and patrons of this institution will not forget us now in their prayers. It is an awfully solemn and critical time with us. There are souls whose eternal destiny hangs without doubt on a very little point, perhaps that point is but a single moment. Eternal happiness or eternal wo balancing on a single point! Oh, that every Christian here would feel it." "As presiding member at the concert of the beneficiaries, it is made my duty to address you, on our present spiritual condition. The concert was observed last evening. The time usually occupied in the discussion of the questions attached to the constitution of the Monthly Concert Society, was taken up in reading the two letters which have been received from you since our last session. These were listened to with much interest. A number of the brethren have requested permission to read them at their rooms, and seem to think much of the sentiments con tained in them; particularly the last. There are some individuals who evince a strong desire to see the kingdom of the Redeemer advancing. These have revived the morning prayer meeting, and are endeavoring to lift their hearts to God for his blessing, daily. We have lately heard of revivals in Dartmouth and Yale. This news has excited strong hopes that the Lord was about to visit all the Colleges of our land with his saving mercy, and I trust that the faith of some of the brethren has been not a little strengthened. Oh, sir, will not you and all the Directors of the Society lift up your hearts to the most high for his blessing to rest upon this College, that we may again experience the salvation of our God. Unless this is the case soon, the present senior class will go out of college without having experienced a general revival during their course." "IT devolves upon me to act as the organ of communication between my brethren here and the Society whose patronage we enjoy. Since you were here, nothing of special interest has occurred which is confined within our own circle. The Monthly Concert, which was established when you were with us, was the thing which we needed in order to interest us more deeply in the Society, and in each other. The brethren have shown by their presence and remarks the interest which they feel in the meeting. Its influence upon ourselves is most happy, while we hope that our prayers may be answered, not only in behalf of our patrons, but in behalf of a world lying in wickedness. We were happy to receive your letter in time to read it at our first meeting, after you were with us. The contents of it, or the duties which it specified (aside from the time spent in prayer) occupied our attention during the meeting, and called forth appropriate and profitable remarks. But I must proceed to speak more particularly of the state of religion in the Institution with which we are connected. Before the annual concert of prayer for our literary Institutions, you are aware the state of religion in college was very low. Since that time a change for the better has, we trust, taken place. The concert was attended as usual. A sermon was preached in the forenoon,-in the afternoon several prayers were offered, and addresses made. The exercises were interesting and somewhat solemn though not peculiarly so. Since that time there has been a gradual advance in the tone of religious feeling in the church and increasing seriousness out of it. The church has manifested a gradually increasing interest in religious duties. The interest has shown itself particularly at our daily prayer meeting, both in the increase of numbers, and in the fervency with which prayers have been offered for the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the institution.-You see from what I have written, where we are-that we are in critical and solemn circumstances -things are brought to a fearful crisis. It is soon to be determined whether this interest shall be increased, or whether it shall subside. If it subside, there will be guilt somewhere, as God has given us some evidence of his willingness to bless, and save. I have been thus particular that you may know how to pray for us, and how to solicit the prayers of Christians on our behalf. We have for our encouragement in prayer the fact that God by his Spirit has already led, as we trust, five or six, and perhaps more, to give their hearts to the Saviour." "YOUR last pastoral letter came to hand a few weeks since. It would, no doubt, be highly gratifying to you as well as to us here, who long and pray for the prosperity of Zion, could I report that God was reviving his work in this Institution by the conversion of impenitent sinners. It is, however, a matter of devout thanks, that the children of God are generally enjoying much of his presence and Holy Spirit, and that they are much in prayer and living in a consistent and exemplary manner, as well as humbling themselves before God. Our Concerts are well attended and very interesting. There is at this time considerable attention to the subject of religion in the village. Some twenty-five or thirty are anxious, and a number are rejoicing in Christ. Meetings of some kind or other are held almost every night. We trust and believe that God will not pass us by while he is so near without a blessing." "I RECEIVED your letter last evening which contains much important instruction that ought to be reduced to practice by us all. The concert of prayer last week was well attended, and rendered interesting and delightful on account of the considerations which were brought before us, concerning our relations to the church and the obligations under which we are placed to render soul and body a living sacrifice to the Lord. The state of religion in the Seminary is much as it has been for months past. The members of the A. E. S. seem to possess a good degree of the Spirit of Christ, and are imbibing the missionary spirit-the spirit of Christian enterprise. But we need to be more watchful and prayerful and more diligent in our Master's cause.' FROM the foregoing extracts it appears that there has been for a considerable time a happy state of religious feeling in some of our institutions of learning, and it is highly gratifying to state, that in these institutions and some others, a revival of religion, to a greater or less extent, exists. REPORT OF REV. J. M. ELLIS. To the Secretary of the American Education Society. REV. AND DEAR SIR,-The largest portion of my time, since my last report, has been employed in Hartford county, Connecticut. The results are as follows, viz. Wintonbury, $104 47; Wethersfield, in part, $150 94; Farmington, $160 50; East Hartford, $111 08; Kensington, $86 18; West Hartford, $138 35, besides an annual temporary scholarship; Enfield, $166 68. The amount contributed, this year, in the city of Hartford, including the Collins' Scholarship, and $127 by the Ladies' association, fall but little short of $1,300. The details will be seen in the Hartford County Treasurer's Report. Several churches in New Hampshire and Massachusetts have also been visited-Dover, $108 02; North Church in Portsmouth, in part, $45. Accounts of the collections in Pepperell and Groton will be received from the pastors of the respective churches. The city of Hartford contains about 10,000 inhabitants. From August to February, their contributions to benevolent institutions, amounted to $17,537. Notwithstanding so many large donations had been given in rapid succession to other objects, the Education Society received $300 or $100 more than in any former year. I expressed to a gentleman of extensive business my agreeable surprise, at such a result in such circumstances. "There is no ground of surprise," said he, "no man who will give himself the trouble to observe, can fail to see that the most liberal men in our city are the most prosperous." Anxious to investigate so interesting a fact, I inquired of several other leading men of business, and found their testimony, without exception, the same. What is there in facts like these, to discourage the church in her onward course? What to countenance the infidel in his ill-natured sneers against a cause, the character and results of which he so little comprehends? 66 history of a thriving community, in New Another happy illustration is seen in the Hampshire, which, last fall, contributed liberally to the funds of your Society:— bers, was destitute of a pastor. They found In 1826, the church, consisting of 30 memit difficult to raise, for the support of preaching, and all other benevolent purposes, much over $100. Every man seemed to be sinking in his property." The people were alarmed at their prospects and resolved on having a minister. A revival that same year added 100 hopeful converts to the church. They entered at once into the great enterprises of benevolence. They paid the first year $300 for supporting the gospel among themselves. They have since repaired their meeting house, adding a fine bell-and all without diminishing from the sums usually contributed to public charities. From that time their prosperity commenced. They are not the poorer for giving. (To |