Could not discover that her opinions differed from those of the Quakers, except that she assumed for herself the honour of a divine appointment,-for what special purpose I heard not. Of the character of this woman I thought I had obtained sufficient knowledge, and this was my principal purpose in visiting her. Like most of the false pretenders to religious superiority, I believe she makes her claims to uncommon inspiration in sineerity. But I am satisfied she is neither impeccable nor immaculate. She is ambitious and selfish. She has not thought it unworthy of her character to amass a large for tune by the donations of her followers; and she is not ashamed to spend it in the indulgence of her pride and luxurious appe tites. She keeps her carriage among followers who can hardly earn their subsistence; she can see from her great palace no dwellings but log houses; and the food which supplies her table is such as I presume those around her seldom taste. Her natural disposition I believe to be passionate, tyrannical and overbearing; and her worst feelings have been nurtured by the foppery of the attentions she has received, and the eminence to which she has raised herself. Her mental powers are vigorous. She has acuteness and cunning, and must be skilled in human nature, to have gained such an ascendancy over so many minds, I was astonished at the dexterity with which she evaded our questions, and at the same time endeavoured to entrap us. The mixture of sincere regard to the forms and even in some degree to the realities of religion, and of assumed sanctity, which appeared in her deportment and conversation, tended to producé in my own mind some momentary doubts of the justice of my views of her character; and I do not wouder that such imposing manners, and such artfully supported pretensions, should produce upon those who are weak in intellect, and inclined to superstition, submission to her as a leader, and devotion to her as a religious guide. Her adherents, who have been drawn from various parts of the United States to this spot, that they might be united in society and neighbourhood, are, if I may trust to the information of those who live near them, of this character; and they are not estimable for their industry or attention to business. They do not at present exceed one hundred in number, and they are not increasing. Their enthusiasm was perhaps excited by the love of novelty, and the submission which they voluntarily made, will not probably be imitated by their children." THE EDITOR'S APOLOGY. WHILE Conducting the Christian Disciple, the Editor has received various intimations relating to the real or supposed ་ defects of the work-most of which have been made with ap parent friendship and candour. Some have suggested that there is a severity of remark indulged in the work which is inconsistent with "speaking the truth in love." Others complain that it is deficient in spirit, too cautious and forbearing. Others that it contains too much on the subject of Bible Societies too much against war and in favour of peace-too much on candour and benevolence. The Editor has not such an opinion of himself as to suppose that the work has been conducted in a faultless manner. He can only say that he has aimed to do good and not to do mischief. But if he might judge of the character of the work from the contrast in the objections which have come to his knowledge, there would be ground to hope that the objections might cancel each other and truth be found between them. He has long been aware of the impossibility of pleasing every body, and of the importance of aiming to please HIм who cannot judge amiss. It ought to be considered by all that the title of the work is theChristian Disciple" its motto, "Speaking the truth in love," and that the spirit of the work should accord with the title and motto. It should also be considered that, by the influence of education and other causes, the readers of the work are possessed of different tastes, prejudices and opinions, and that of course they will feel and judge very differently in regard to the same articles. Among the subscribers for the Disciple there are men of opposite opinions on several controverted subjects-men too, perhaps, of equal piety and goodness; and is it not better to endeavour to promote love and good will between these different classes of Christians, than to be perpetually wounding the feelings of the one to gratify the feelings of the other, and thus excite a spirit of hostility and alienation ? There are already too many people in our world to whom scarcely any thing is interesting but war of some kind or other. To many, a news-paper, however well it may be conducted, is uninteresting, except in a time of war, either between different nations or different parties. The paper may be filled with very useful articles, but if it has nothing of war in it, it will be pronounced dry, barren and dull. Would it be proper on this account to endeavour to keep alive a spirit of hostility among men, for the sake of rendering newspapers more interesting to readers, or more productive to Editors ? It is unquestionably true that in the present state of society the spirit of party and war will command more readers and more money, than the spirit of love and peace. But is not this a proof that things are not as they should be, that the public taste is depraved, and ought to be corrected? It is hoped that the time will come when the partizans and promoters of war and dissension among Christians, will not be regarded as their best friends and benefactors; and when it will be understood that the more there is of the spirit of party and uncharitableness in a periodical work, the more bewildering it is both to the writers and the readers; the more pernicious in its consequences, and the less entitled to the character of a religious or a Christian publication. 66 66 The Editor of the Disciple has no inclination to sacrifice truth to please men; nor can he consent to sacrifice Christian charity for the sake of rendering his work more popular pr more lucrative. While he views with astonishment the endless diversity of opinions among professing Christians, he sees, or thinks he sees, both good men and bad men in all the denominations with which he has had opportunity to be acquainted; shall he then adopt the practice of dealing in wholesale censure? The good, of all denominations, he would treat with respect, forbearing to reproach them on account of what he believes to be erroneous in their opinions, remembering that he also is in the flesh, and that he needs both the candour of men and the mercy of the It will perhaps be said, that, as others maintain a perpetual warfare, the Christian Disciple may at least fight in self defence. It may indeed "fight the good fight of faith;" it may bless them that curse," and try to overcome evil with good" but it should never be SO overcome of evil" as to "render evil for evil or reviling for reviling." If others will fight, and calumniate, to support or propagate their opinions, let them have the credit of fighting without an enemy. They will perhaps the sooner come to their senses, and be convinced that war and dissension, clamor and reviling, are not on the whole such honourable employments, or so accordant with the Christian temper, Lord. as they have imagined. HYMN TO PEACE. By the late RICHARD ALSOP, Esq. HAIL, thou bright celestial form, While as yet with guilt unstain'd Guardian of its blissful shade; Him the tempter lur'd astray, Angel guards their charge resign'd, Weeping, sped to heaven their way. Hail, &c. But when earth's wide regions o'er Far the deluge flood was hurl'd, While the ark the patriarch bore 'Midst the ruins of the world, Vol. V.-No. 9. Thou commission'd from on high, When amidst exulting heav'n Loud hosannah's hail'd the birth To redeem the sons of earth, Long has war's unsparing hand Strew'd the bloody fields with dead, BIBLE IN CHINESE. From the Religious Remembrancer. Extract of a letter from the Rev. Pob't. Morrison, to a gentleman in Philadelphia, dated CANTON, (CHINA,) Feb. 10, 1817. MY DEAR SIR, of sending you a few tracts in the French and Spanish languages, and also to inform you of my safe arrival at this place, and the kind reception I have met with from the President, who had expressed his intention of having Schools established as soon as possible in every part of his dominions. He also gives me reason to hope, that in a few months I shall have a school in this place of five hundred children, for which he will cause a house to be built for me without delay, when materials can be procured; the great want of which we 11,239 25 have to lament at present. As you and the friends of the Bible in America have subscribed so liberally towards the translating it into Chinese, printing and circulating it, I beg to submit to you the state of our finances. Public property possessed and received in 1816, Disbursements at the Canton station, Balance 9,622 50 $2,916 75 I am authorized to draw further On the B. & F. Bible So 500 £767:7:4 The President appeared much delighted with the object of my mission, as also with the present of 150 Bibles from the New-York Bible Society. At present, the Bible Society here, which was set on foot by Mr. Grellet, (of New-York,) and others, is in an 267:7:4 inactive state : but I hope before long it will be otherwise. Very few here can read, and a less number have the word of God in their possession. Ignorance and superstition are chains, by which Satan holds millions in captivity. In proportion as the cause of education advances, and prepares the mind for religious instruction, we may hope to see the Day-Star, arising in the hearts of the benighted children of men, and giving them a true knowledge of salvation by Jesus Christ. The Methodist Missionaries meet with no outward opposition; and the people flock to hear them preach. There appears to be a considerable anxiety in the natives for instruction, and many wish to have the Bible. I remember seeing an article in the Constitution of your Bible Society, providing for the supply of Bibles for vessels leaving the port of New-York; but am sorry to inform you, that in the vessel by which 1 came, we had not one among the sailors. Mr. Milne, at Malacca, is poorly in health, but he is progressing in his Missionary labours. The school is flourishing. The Press is employed, and he endeavours to preach the Gospel to the heathen. He is a man of a right spirit. O that his life may be long continued! The Chinese, who prints his Magazine in Malacca, has made a profession of faith and has been baptised. Yours, &c. ROB'T. MORRISON. EDUCATION IN HAYTI. Extract of a letter from Mr. Thomas Bosworth, to the Editor of the Christian Herald, dated PORT-AU-PRINCE, July 3, 1817. DEAR SIR, I EMBRACE the earliest opportunity WITH What success, under the divine blessing, Christian instruction may be given to African Slaves, is shown in the following anecdote. A gentleman walking one day among his plantations, perceived some peas growing between the canes, that were quite ripe. Knowing that the slaves were short of food, from the little time which they were allowed for the cultivation of their patches of land, he called to one of them who was near him, and asked him why he did not take those peas. "They are not mine," answered the black. "O, fellow," replied the master, in reference to the known propensity of these people, "every thing is yours that you can lay your hands on!" "O, Massa, (rejoined the slave) Negro dat pray, no thieve!" The planter was struck with astonishment. "What have I been about, (exclaimed he) not to let the Missionaries come upon my es tate!" He immediately sat down and wrote a note to a Missionary who resided in the neighbourhood, desiring him to come and preach to his Ne. groes whenever he pleased.-Chili. cothe Recorder. INDIAN COUNCIL. AT Fort Hawkins, in July, there was held a meeting of the Creeks to the amount of fourteen or fifteen hun dred. It is said that the United States' Agent had so much influence with the council as "to prevail on them to abrogate their ancient law of retaliation, which permitted a murder to be satisfied by taking the life of a relation of the murderer, if the principal could not be found; and have thus forbidden the practice of indiscriminate revenge. On this point they have passed a written law." Let Christian rulers now be so wise and condescending as to imitate the example of these savage chiefs-let them but abrogate all their own laws and usages which are as unjust as killing the innocent for the crimes of the guilty, and the attempt to abolish war will no longer be regarded as chimerical. For not a single instance of public war between Christian nations can be named, which has been conducted on any better principle than that which the Indians have agreed to relinquish. Shall it be said that the chiefs of Christian nations are more obstinate in their adherence to savage principles and customs, than savages themselves! PETZELIANS. "IN Austria a sect called Petzelians has started up to sacrifice men to purify others from sin. In Passion Week several men were thus murdered-and on Good Friday, a virgin, aged thirteen, was also butchered in a similar manner. Petzel, the found. er, and 86 of his followers have been arrested and will be tried.” This article "from a London paper of May 1st," has appeared in the N.. C. Repository, p. 162. It is indeed a shocking account, and will be so re garded by all our readers. But had this mode of offering human sacrifices been popular in Christendom for one thousand years, Christians would have submitted to it at this day as readily, and with as little reflection or re morse, as they now sacrifice men on the altar of military ambition; and had the latter custom been of as recent origin as the Petzelian sacrifices, it would probably and justly have been regarded with far greater hor THE Farmer's Cabinet has published from the Albany Gazette, the following cross readings collated from southern papers- Where liberty is, there is my country'-'Just landed and for sale 509 healthy negroes''Liberty, equality, and the rights of man' Upwards of 200 negroes for sale at auction'-'Cut off the ears of the black rascal and give him 50 lashes The sons of Columbia will never be slaves-To be sold on my plantation 10 or 15 families of blacks; they will be sold separately or together, as may best suit the purchasers-America is the only free country on earth' The slave trade in Europe has been entirely abolished.' Let the fathers and mothers in NewEngland seriously reflect on the facts alluded to in this article; let them consider that this traffic in human flesh is still carried on in this land of |