recated as an evil, a great evil, whether considered physically or politically, and an evil to be avoided by all possible means. Those who still advocate its lawfulness in extreme cases, are ready to acknowledge its inexpedience and undesirableness, and to lament its direful consequence in the sacrifice of money, morals and men.'

In this country, every one acknowledges the change, and wherever war is named, it is deprecated as a curse. The public press is almost universally open to the cause of peace. Frequent discussions are held in our colleges, theological seminaries and lyceums, on the question whether all war be not inconsistent with the spirit of the gospel. As was to have been expected, in our theological seminaries, where men are disposed to look at the subject in the light of the gospel, the high principle of total abstinence from war has generally prevailed. In our lyceums, where the doctrine of expediency too often takes the place of the principles of the gospel, defensive war has generally had the majority. Five years ago, such a question could hardly have been agitated any where in this country.

Preaching on the subject of peace. There are now more than a thousand ministers who have pledged themselves to preach, as often at least as once a year, on the subject of peace, and this number might have been increased indefinitely, were it not for the difficulty of supplying such ministers with our periodicals; but, while many ministers are willing to preach in favor of the principles of peace, too small a proportion of them take up contributions in aid of our funds.

Pledge from the Theological Seminary at Andover. The students at this seminary have set a noble example, which we should like to see all our theological seminaries imitate. They have frequently discussed the question of the lawfulness of war in any case, and have sent us the following pledge: "Under the conviction that the principles of peace are true, and that all wars are opposed to the principles of the Christian religion, we hereby pledge ourselves, to present the cause of peace, at least once a year, to the congregations over which we may be placed, should we, in the providence of God, be permitted to go forth as preachers of the everlasting gospel." This pledge is dated 11th of April last, and signed by forty-eight theological students; and many more would have subscribed to the principle, who were doubtful as to signing the pledge to preach in favor of peace, before they knew in what part of the country they should be located.

Prize dissertations on a Congress of Nations. The new committee of award, consisting of the Ex-president John Quincy Adams, Chancellor Kent, and the Hon. Daniel Webster, have been no more fortunate than their predecessors, as appears by the following result of their labors: "The referees to whom were submitted, by the Secretary of the American Peace Society, the several essays offered for the premium of one thousand dollars, are of opinion, that among the essays submitted there is not one so decidedly superior to all the rest, as not only to be worthy of the prize, but exclusively worthy; and, as the essays were submitted on that condition, the referees do not make any award in the case." This document is dated February, 1837, and signed by the parties above-named. Thus it appears, that these referees are as far removed from the desired result as the

first ones were. What further order the gentlemen who proposed the prize will take on the subject, we cannot say. The American Peace Society do not feel themselves pledged in this affair. They have only been the vehicle of communication between those who offered the prize, and those who contended for it; and it is wholly under the control of those who offered the prize, and not ours. One of the dissertations has been withdrawn, and published by the author.*

The Legislature of Massachusetts. The subject of a Congress of Nations has again been brought before the legislature of Massachusetts, by Thomas Thompson, Jr., of Boston, the same gentleman who has labored, with unwearied zeal and commendable perseverance, for many years, to make an impression favorable to our cause on this numerous and respectable body, in which he has once before partially succeeded. This year he was aided by the Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Peace Society, who presented a separate memorial. The legislature this year appointed a very respectable committee from each branch, who presented an extended report, with the following resolves annexed:

"Resolved, That the resort to war, to settle questions of national profit or honor is a practice derived from the barbarism of former ages, and inconsistent with the enlightened philanthropy of the present, still more adverse to the benign principles of Christianity, productive of extensive distractions, misery and corruption, and usually inefficient for the purposes for which it is commenced; and hence it is incumbent on all civilized communities to devise means for its suppression.

"Resolved, That the institution of a Congress or Court of Nations appears to be at present the best practical method, by which the disputes between nations can be adjusted, and the appeal to arms avoided.

*To be had of Ezra Collier, Nassau Street, New York, and Whipple & Darrell, No. 9 Cornhill, Boston.

"Resolved, That it be recommended to the Executive of the United States to open a negotiation with such other governments as in its wisdom it may deem proper, with a view to effect so important an arrangement.

"Resolved, That his Excellency, the Governor of this Commonwealth, be requested to transmit a copy of this report and the accompanying resolutions to the President of the United States, and to the Executive of each of the States, to be communicated to the Legislatures of the several States, inviting their expression of sentiment and coöperation in favor of the end in view."

On account of the late period of the session at which this subject was brought forward, it was referred to the next legislature, at which time we expect the public mind will be better prepared for it. In the mean time, we hope the friends of peace will not be deficient in bringing this subject often before the public, by newspaper discussions, and in every other way in which the public may be brought to think upon it, especially by petitions to the legislature not only of the State of Massachusetts, but to the legislatures of all the other States in the Union. The subject commends itself to the good sense and conscience of every individual in the community; and nothing but a fair understanding of it is necessary to make it popular, and consequently to recommend it to our legislators, who seldom indeed go ahead of public opinion. And we hope that Mr. Thompson will not be weary in well-doing, but that he will persevere, remembering the protracted exertions of Clarkson and Wilberforce, which were finally crowned with success.

Auxiliary societies. We have not of late years been anxious to form auxiliary societies, considering that every church ought to be a peace society, corresponding with the American Peace Society through its pastor. Nevertheless, six new peace societies have been formed in our colleges and theological seminaries. One Ladies' Peace Society was organized last summer in Hallowell, Me., from which we have received assistance in our pecuniary means, in the distribution of tracts, in procuring subscribers, and in other ways exciting an interest in our cause. A Ladies' Peace Society has lately been organized in Lynn, Mass., from which we expect much.

There are now eight ladies' peace societies in this country. The first was the Essex County Olive Branch Circle. From this society we have received more substantial aid than from any other auxiliary of either sex. They have lately held a peace fair in Salem, Mass., for the sale of useful articles. For an account of this event, we give the following extract of a letter from their amiable and highly talented secretary to the general agent:

"Peace fair. The most interesting measure in which this

society has been engaged, has been preparing for and conducting a public sale, the first, it is believed, ever held in the world for the benefit of the peace cause. This sale, which was regarded rather in the light of an experiment, was held in Salem, on the 26th of April, at the residence of one of our executive committee; and notwithstanding that it was in rather a remote part of the city, and preparations for it had been in progress only ten weeks, we realized the sum of one hundred dollars. The auction which was proposed to be held on the second evening was indefinitely postponed, as we had nothing but two little bunches of flowers to sell. Encouraged by our great success, we have voted to hold a public sale in this city annually. The experience of this society is decidedly in favor of the employment of the needle in the advancement of the peace reformation. However trifling this measure may seem to some minds, we think we have found it to possess at least the dignity of utility. True, when we consider the immense amount of funds requisite to carry on this great reformation, or even to eradicate from the Christian world those errors in sentiment and practice on the subject of war which now constitute its greatest obstacle, we are ready to allow, that the annual pecuniary results of one sewing-circle seem to be too unimportant to be counted an auxiliary in the great work, a mere dust in the mighty balance. And yet, if we regard the philosophy of the physical creation, we shall learn, that the most stupendous objects in nature are but the willing union of the most minute particles of matter; and by the obvious similitude between the laws of the physical and the laws of the moral world, we shall be encouraged in the belief, that no moral enterprise can be so great, that the smallest means may not contribute to its advancement."

Our respected sisters of the Essex County Olive Branch Circle have during the year constituted five clergymen life members of our society. Well may we say of them, "Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all."

Other ladies' peace societies. The Boston Ladies' Peace Society held their anniversary recently, at which a very able report was read by the secretary, which together with the report of the Essex County Olive Branch Circle, and the report of the Philadelphia Ladies' Peace Society, and other reports of similar societies, we expect to see shortly in the Advocate. After the reading of the report, the Boston Ladies' Peace Society was very ably addressed by the Rev. Mr. Parker, of Cambridgeport, and the general agent added a few

remarks.

Publications of the society. Our publications have been more numerous, and the issues of them very much greater than during_any previous year since the formation of the society. Some Friends in Philadelphia have made us a present of the stereotype plates of Dymond's Essays on War, and one thousand copies have been struck off from them. The sisters of our late lamented friend, Thomas S. Grimké, have made us a present of their estimable brother's book containing the abovenamed essay by Dymond, with Mr. Grimké's notes, and his orations and essays on peace and its kindred subjects. Of these, many have been distributed, but with a sparing hand, lest the treasure should be too soon exhausted. An edition of fifteen hundred copies of a pamphlet entitled "Obstacles and Objections to the Cause of Peace, considered by a Layman," an octavo pamphlet of seventy-six pages, has been published on the responsibility of the author. One thousand copies of the "Solemn Review of the Custom of War," being No. 1 of the society's stereotyped tracts, and three thousand copies of the "Solemn Appeal to Christians," being No. 2 of the same, have also been published. Twenty thousand copies of the society's smaller tracts, Nos. 1 and 2, have also been printed, and mostly distributed. Some valuable donations in peace tracts have been received from our brethren in England. The venerable Noah Worcester, the patriarch of the cause of peace, has also presented us with three hundred numbers of the Friend of Peace, which have also been distributed. The Boston Young Men's Peace Society have distributed some thousands. of a tract entitled "The Duty of Christians with respect to War," being No. 14 of the American Tract Society's occasional series. Our tract depositories are at this time almost empty; and so great has been the avidity of the public for peace tracts, that the general agent has been compelled, for want of something better, to distribute between three and four thousand of the back numbers of the Friend of Peace, Harbinger, and Calumet. Our distributions, including the Advocate of Peace, have been in all over forty thousand books and tracts, equal in amount to about one million of pages octavo. Yet we are sorry to say, that very few books or tracts have been paid for, men being unwilling to pay for tracts on subjects which they have not yet examined. Thus our treasury and our depositories have not been so nearly exhausted for some years. Formerly we had no readers for our tracts; now we have no tracts for our readers.

Newspaper essays. The religious newspapers have come