strained for action. We are prepared to make an agony of effort, to pour the light of Heaven upon the darkness, in which our brethren are enveloped. And when we contemplate the churches of our Lord; when we see numbers of precious young men come to their communion tables, who have piety, enterprize, and talentwho feel themselves wholly devoted to the christian cause, and who would very gladly "spend and be spent" in exertions to promote it, if some kind hand were stretched out to aid them in preparing for the sacred office, our bosoms are agitated with intense desire, to draw them forth from their retirement, and consecrate them to the holy ministry. And when we look around upon the community to which we belong; when we mark their character and habits-their activity, energy and zeal in pushng forward to the highest results any favourite project, we feel constrained to urge home upon them with trumpet tongue the most powerful appeals and pressing motives, to lend our enterprize their prompt and cordial assistance. We cannot bear the thought, that they should stand aloof from an object, so attractive in its aspect, and so important in its bearing on the best interests of our country. We have resolved never to let them rest until this object is fastened strongly on their hearts-until they stand up to make those efforts, which its interests and magnitude demand.

ence.

The directors are unable to conceive how any friend of his country, who is acquainted with their object, can view it with indifferA slight examination of well authenticated facts is sufficient to fasten a painful conviction on every fair mind, that the religious necessities of our republick, arising from the want of christian institutions, are becoming every day more pressing and alarming.And these facts are urged on our attention in a great variety of forms and by a thousand agencies. There are multiplied communities, scattered over our own hills and valleys, which are well nigh destitute of efficient, well-directed means of religious information and moral improvement. The condition of the numerous emigrants, who break forth from the bosom of New-England, and bury themselves in the forests of the West and South-West, is still more frightful and distressing. They are fast losing the impressions, which in the golden days of their childhood and youth, were fastened on their minds, by the hand of a kind parent or faithful pastor. They are fast losing the distinctive marks of a christian people. If they are neglected by their fellow-citizens, who have juster views, and a deeper sense of the value of christian institutions; if no efforts are made to arouse them to the perils, which are thickening around them; if nothing is done to meet and remove their wants, what can prevent them from sinking into the deepest ignorance and wretchedness? Is this a subject, over which any friend of his country will sleep? Who will not lend his ap

proving smiles and cordial assistance to any agency, which may promise to remove an evil, so enormous and revolting? Has that man a spark of the hallowed fire in his bosom, which burnt with such intense ardour in the breasts of our pilgrim fathers; can he stand by the tomb of Washington, and claim kindred to the mighty dead, who refuses to pledge all, that is patriotick, all that is hu man in him, to sustain the pillars "of religion and morality," which Washington declared were "indispensable supports of political prosperity "to extend and perpetuate the influence of christian institutions, for the sake of which our pilgrim fathers braved the dangers of a wintry ocean, and the perils of a howling wilderness? Patriots and philanthropists, we invite to gather around our banner ;-to lend the object of this society their warm approbationtheir influence-a portion of their property.

As directors of an education society, we cannot but rejoice in the prosperity and strength of the churches, which Jesus Christ has multiplied around us. To these churches, we would speak a word on the authority of their gracious Saviour. You do well, brethren, to hold your religious privileges in high estimation. You do well to rejoice in the sweet shining of the sabbath's sun. You do well to go up to the house of prayer with joyful haste, and hear with deep emotion God's messages of mercy. But amid your rich and multiplied religious privileges, we beseech you, forget not the wants, and woes, and prospects of numerous communities in our own fair republick, who have no sabbaths, no churches, no christian pastors. Will you not pity them, and send them at least, some fragments of living bread? Let no idle surmises; no petulant objections; no selfish pleas of ignorance and poverty, hold you back from the enterprize, in which we offer you a fellowship.

The directors are deeply impressed with the encouragement and assistance, which education societies have received through the agency of christian females. From a rapid glance at the various papers, in which a record of their efforts may be found, it appears, that besides a considerable amount of bedding and clothing, which in different places and in various circumstances, they have contributed to such societies; besides their exertions to remove the wants and cheer the spirits, of the indigent student, when sick; and in some instances to smooth and lighten his descent to the "dark and narrow house;" besides many hundreds, perhaps some thousands of dollars, with which they have enriched the funds of education societies, more than ten thousand dollars they have contributed, in making their ministers permanent members of these precious insti tutions! And this we cannot but regard as a very happy method of aiding the design, which we are combined to accomplish. It not only promotes the grand object of the institution to the full

amount of the donation, but confers also in a delicate and touching manner, an obligation on the christian minister, who is thus honoured, which he will not be slow to feel and acknowledge.

Encouraged by facts like these, the directors venture to make a direct and specifick appeal to christian females. Will they not promote the object of this institution by their influence? We do not, indeed, expect, that they will stand up in the pulpit or popular assembly, and pour out their thoughts and feelings, as advocates of this precious cause. But let it not be thought, that because they may not exert the influence of the orator or preacher, their influence may not be powerful and happy.-At the domestic fire-side, and in the social circle; in little assemblies, where none but females are admitted, and in the course of epistolary correspondence, if they will put forth their powers, their influence shall be felt.In such circumstances, they need not-should not hesitate, to detail facts, offer arguments, and make appeals, such as are fitted to awaken a deep compassion in every bosom for those, who are deprived of "the means of grace," and to call forth vigorous efforts, to remove their wants, by multiplying for their benefit ministers of the Gospel. Let them describe, as a christian woman may describe, the condition of many of our new settlements and broken parishes; let them hold up to view the broken hearts of christian men and women, who never see a pastor's face, or hear his voice; Jet them point out the progress of the rising generation in such pla ces towards infamy in this world, and perdition in a future; let them describe the prostration of every valuable moral institution, and the proud triumph of vice and infidelity over every thing precious, and fair, and blessed; let their souls come forth, moved with compassion for the destitute and wretched communities, whose cause they are pleading, and they shall make a deep impression on many hearts: they shall arouse many a soul and enlist many an arm, which the preacher and the orator could never reach and affect. A christian woman, thus engaged, may awaken the sympathies of a father, brother, husband, or friend, and direct them into a channel, in which they shall greatly promote the design, which fills her eye and warms her heart. She may gather a circle of female friends around her, and transfuse her own thoughts and feelings into their minds, and send them away on an errard of mercy to their respective fire-sides. She may employ her pen to speak to those, whom she cannot address in a living voice; and in various ways, and by many agencies, she may plead with good hope of success, the cause of education societies. Nor is this the only way in which she may promote this cause by her influence. Within the circle of her acquaintance she may see a youth of piety, talents, and enterprize, who loves the church; who loves immortal souls; who would gladly "spend and be spent," as a christian preacher in

untiring efforts, to bring them to the feet of Jesus Christ. But this youth may be embarrassed by poverty. A fire is concealed within him, which if kindled to a flame might communicate warmth and light to thousands. But he needs counsel, encouragement, and aid. And these he may receive through female agency. A pious mother may lift r eyes to the holy office, and encourage him to aspire to its labours and rewards. That pious mother may have a friend, who may exert an influence in behalf of this precious youth, in one circle and another; and a train of means may be put in operation by female hands, which shall draw forth from his obscurity, and consecrate to the church, a Baxter, an Edwards, a Buchanan!

The fact, already presented, which furnished the occasion for this somewhat lengthened appeal, demonstrates, that christian women may promote this sacred cause by personal benefactions. Their personal benefactions, the directors would earnestly solicit. They have often seen the devotees of fashion expend gold and silver in gratifying vanity-in pampering a passion for shew and parade.Let the disciples of Jesus Christ be equally devoted; and they may lay their hands on the same means, and employ them for a higher and better purpose. In almost all our towns, moreover, individuals may be found, who would think it a privilege, to aid a youth of piety and promise, in his efforts to prepare for the sacred office, by making a donation of a few yards of cloth, or a fleece of wool. Let such donations be solicited, received and collected together Hands enough may be found, which would very cheerfully reduce them to a form, in which they would supply the wants of many a student, who is oppressed by poverty. And why should not this method of doing good, so easy and simple, so manifestly adapted to their sphere and occupation, be faithfully employed by female hands?

The directors cannot refrain from reminding the ministers of Christ, that the prosperity of this precious institution deeply depends on their influence and efforts. We long to hear the pulpit speak out on this subject in its most impressive tones-in its loudest thunder. We are eager to enjoy to the full extent of its powers the aid of so strong an ally. And while we are gratfeully mindful of the encouragement and assistance, which through this medium, we have hitherto received, we cannot withhold a publick expression of our belief, that if employed with a warmer zeal and a firmer purpose, much higher results might be realized.

The directors believe, that they express the sentiments of their friends and patrons, as well as their own, when they say: the cause in which we are engaged, forbids us to indulge a desponding thought. Despond we will not. The most valuable productions in nature are slow of growth. The most stupenduous and important events

in divine providence have not been the rapid movements of a day They have been brought about by years of anxiety and toil.The progress of the church from its commencement to its con. summation, our Saviour does not hesitate to illustrate by the growth of a spire of wheat; "first the blade; then the ear; after that the full corn in the ear." What if this be with us "the day of small things ?" It is, we believe the twilight of the rising sun.We indulge a strong and delightful confidence, that the day is hastening on, when all the friends of Jesus Christ in this vicinity, will gather around the banner, which in the "name of the Lord,” we have ventured to set up. They will cheerfully devote property, talents, and influence to the sublime object of multiplying the "heralds of salvation " But whoever may afford us their encouragement and aid, we cannot forget, that, "except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it." We, therefore, will not cease to lift up our eyes to Jesus Christ. We will lean upon His arm. The cause is all His own. Whatever of assistance, encouragement and resources, we may need, He can-we trust, He will afford us. He will inspire us with fresh resolution and increased vigour. He will enable us "to run without weariness;— to push our object forward to the happiest consummation with unsleeping assiduity, and untiring effort. Nor will He desert us, till a company of christian preachers shall go forth equal to the exigencies of a dying world! WILLIAM PAGE, Secretary.

1

Brandon, January 11, 1826.