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my pupils to attend, and while I was speaking to them of the importance of "remembering their Creator in the days of their youth," I observed several in tears. This was truly animating, and I attended the prayer-meeting, with confident expectations that my covenant Redeemer would crown the meeting with his special presence. My pupils were generally present, and an unusual solemnity appeared to rest upon the little congregation. Towards the close of the meeting a youth of nineteen, and one of the number for whom I was so particularly interested, arose, and informed us in broken accents, interrupted by many tears, that last evening while at the party he became convinced of the necessity of religion;-that he had now made the solemn resolution to seek the Lord, and requested an interest in the prayers of God's people. The youth present were affected to tears, and never did my heart feel a more refreshing season. It seemed like a prelude to a Pentecostal shower, and if I ever prayed with fervor I was then enabled to do so for the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit. From this period my task of instructing was indeed delightful: not a day passed for a considerable time, but brought some new display of convicting mercy.

In a few days, some were brought to rejoice in a sin pardoning God; and Oh! how sweet to hear the high praises of Jehovah chanted by infant voices! The change was truly great.All amusement, in the intervals of school hours, was entirely Jaid aside, and the time wholly occupied in reading the Scriptures, singing hymns, and religious conversation. Even little children left their sports and listened with profound attention, while the starting tear frequently indicated the tenderness and sympathy of their hearts. Some, who at first ridiculed their serious companions, were made conspicuous examples of the powcr of regenerating grace. For three days, during the height of the attention, the usual business of the school was almost wholly interrupted. It was vain to attempt to call their attention to science, when so fully occupied with the "weightier matters" of eternity; but when the peace of God visited their hearts, their minds appeared to have attained new vigor, and their progress was rapid.

The adversary of souls stirred up some of his children, to oppose the work, on the ground that it was improper to attend to religion in a school; but the uncommon improvement of the serious scholars, soon put to silence the mouths of gainsayers, and

even the enemies of the cross were constrained to acknowledge that a most happy change had taken place in the school.

The most exact order and decorum were observed, and I seldom had occasion to notice the least impropriety of conduct.

Twelve, out of this little school, in the course of the quarter, publicly professed the religion of Jesus. Several others, in the judgment of charity, were the subjects of regenerating grace, and some remained under serious impressions when I left them.

The work was principally carried on in prayer-meetings, which were holden twice a week, and was remarkably free from extravagance and enthusiasm.

Sometimes the voice of praise, and the cries of mourning penitents were mingled; sometimes the redeemed of the Lord shouted for joy, and the convinced sinner cried aloud for mercy; but the passions seldom appeared to be much excited, and the Divine influence seemed to descend, more like the gentle fertilizing dew than like the resistless shower. The subjects of the work appeared to be deeply and rationally convinced; but in the pungency of their convictions, as well as in the length of time, before they obtained the witness of pardoning love, there was considerable diversity.

Some, like Saul, were suddenly and powerfully arrested, perhaps in the very act of persecution-others, by slow degrees, and gradual progress, were brought to discover their need of a Saviour. Anxious for advice, they appeared to look to me to direct their inquiries in religion as in literature-and never did I more feelingly realize my need of the "wisdom that cometh from above." But, thanks be to God, Jesus was my support, and his grace was sufficient. From time to time I was enabled to impart such advice and instruction, as were owned and blessed of him who "giveth the increase."

(To be concluded in the next.)

REVIVAL OF RELIGION.

Extract of a letter from the Rev. S. G. Roszel to the Editors. Baltimore, January 10, 1813.

THE following, if you think proper, you may insert in your Magazine, as religious intelligence is always acceptable to the pious. There has been an uncommon display of divine merVOL. I.

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cy and power in the conversion of souls to God in Stephensburg, Frederick County, Virginia. This place has long been blest with the gospel. A small society was, many years since, raised there; but for a length of time past it has been in a dead, barren, and unhappy state. It seemed that all labour was lost upon them. The Presiding Elder of the Potomac District, (brother Joseph Frye) appointed a quarterly meeting to hold four days in the place. In the course of this meeting the Lord visited the people in a most glorious manner. Such were the

displays of divine power, that they continued the meeting more than a week; and after many from the country, who had happily been converted to God, had returned to their homes, I think they received upwards of sixty converts into society in the town. I suppose the whole amount of the converts from that meeting would be more than one hundred. Their next quarterly, meeting was appointed in Winchester, to continue four days.This place was also in a lifeless state. The Lord owned the labours of his servants. The meeting continued above a week; and I have been lately informed that one hundred in that town have joined the society. The present revival at Fell's Point, in this city, exceeds description. The stationed preacher (Brother John Davis) shortly after the August camp-meeting, appointed each Friday for all who would fast, or abstain, to meet in their meeting-house, and join in prayer for a revival. Their number at first was small, but continued to increase; and God in mercy, in answer to their humble prayers, gave intimations of his gracious designs. About Christmas, the general display of his power became visible, and in three sabbaths, more than one hundred have been added to the church. The meeting house is crowded to overflowing, but scarcely an individual is found to oppose the work. This work has continued every day, and every night until eleven o'clock for more than ten days past. It is not uncommon for the altar to be crowded with mourners; and numbers in all parts of the congregation, young, middle aged, and old, are the subjects of divine influence; and many very respectable citi

zens.

Our prospects are very promising in the city, in all our houses; and we are looking for great displays of divine power. Our classes, generally, are unusually engaged for sanctification; continuing in holy struggling on their knees after the meeting is

closed, covenanting not to rest until God blesses them with the desire of their hearts. I have never felt more athirst for a revival of the work of God.-Surely we shall not be disappointed if we live and labour for it in faith and prayer.

NUMBER OF MEMBERS IN THE METHODIST Societies.

THE following is a general recapitulation of the number of members in the Wesleyan Methodist Societies throughout the world, according to the Minutes of the Conferences in Europe and America for the year 1817.

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The number of the Travelling, Supernumerary, and Superannuated Preachers, not being included in the above account, it will not be uninteresting to our readers to see the following

statement.

Number of travelling Preachers stationed in the American

Methodist Connexion

Number of travelling Preachers in the European Methodist Connexion. Stationed in Great Britain

Stationed in Ireland

Stationed on Foreign Missions

716

671

104

101

Total number of travelling Preachers throughout the world 1592

From the above it will appear obvious to every candid and impartial reader, that the Wesleyan Methodists have not been the least among the various religious denominations, in their missionary zeal and labour; and that the Africans have not been destitute of friends who could feel for their forlorn situation, and labour and suffer for their good.

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OBITUARY.

ACCOUNT OF THE DEATH OF THE REV. THOMAS TAYLOR.

DIED at Birch House, near Bolton, in Lancashire, England, on Tuesday morning, October 15, 1816, the Rev. THOMAS TAYLOR, aged almost eighty years. From the year 1761, when he was appointed by Mr. Wesley to a circuit, he continued his itinerant labours till the last conference. Then the pressure of age, with the effects of fifty-five years hard ministerial labour, obliged this holy, faithful, and resolute minister of Christ, to acknowledge that he was no longer able to fill the place of an effective man in the Connexion. But in ceasing to be an itinerant, he remitted no labour to which his strength was adequate; nay, about the close of his eminently useful life, he exerted himself beyond his strength. But his heart and soul were in the work of God, and hence, when labour

ing under that complaint which terminated in his death, he would ascend the pulpit, to preach "the unsearchable riches of Christ."

Having engaged to preach in the Bolton chapels, on Sunday the 13th of October, and the following day, he arrived at the house of his esteemed friend, Roger Holland, Esq. on the preceding Tuesday. The following account of the remaining days of his life, is taken from a letter written by Mrs. Holland to his son-in-law, Mr. Robert Miller.

On Tuesday evening, (October 8,) Mr. Taylor arrived at Birch House, in his usual state of health and cheerfulness. Wednesday morning, he observed that he did not think he had passed so comfortable a night for twelve months. He attended to his

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