to give up his ship for lost. Of the increase of the missionary spirit in this country, there are many indications. The occurrences of every day, shew, that the all-important truth is more and more intelligently and practically embraced, that the church was constituted by its divine Head, and its individual members were redeemed by his precious blood,and renovated by the Spirit, and are preserved in faith and hope, and blessed in providence-not chiefly, that they may have the comforts of this life, and the consolations of piety, and he fitted for and ultimately received to heaven-but that they may be "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world"-the means of diffusing, as extensively and rapidly as possible, the knowledge and blessings of true religion, among all mankind.

But while I would pray, that great success may ever attend the praiseworthy efforts of all the Christian churches:and while I would eulogize the American Foreign Mission ary Society, for what it has done, I must be permitted, seriously, to object to both the principles and past conduct of the institution. This institution was organized in Boston, in 1809,-twenty-five years ago; and the society has ever been under the entire control of the Presbyterian and Congregational churches. In a "report on foreign missions, read to, and adopted by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church in the United States," in May, 1832, the following proposition is made, and various arguments are brought forward to sustain it:-"The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions is, in the opinion of the committee, properly a national institution."

One argument adduced in this report to prove that this society is truly national in its character is, because "the board sustains the same relation to the Congregational, Presbyterian, and Dutch Reformed churches, and fairly represents each of these religious denominations."

This report, it must be recollected, is the production of a joint committee of conference from the Presbyterian General Assembly, and the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and therefore, may be regarded as expressing the opinion of both these bodies in reference to this subject. It is further urged by this committee, in support of this proposition, that, from the time of this society's incorporation by the legislature of Massachusetts in 1821, it has embraced members of the above named three denominations! What, in the opinion of this committee, constitutes its nationality? Why, because the Presbyterian, Congregationalists, and Dutch Reformed churches are "fairly represented"

in it. This is the ground of the conclusion. But do these three denominations represent the American nation? From the language of this report, coolly, deliberately, and gravely adopted, it would seem as if they really thought there were no other denominations of Christians in America?

But what is more singular still, this report argues that there should be but ONE "society in this country for the management of foreign missions." Still, there is the Assembly's Board of Missions, the Western Foreign Missionary Society, and the Central and Southern Board of Missions, recently organized within the synods of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, all of which, are in successful operation, under the control of the Presbyterians, and by them, made to co-operate with this society! How very inconsistent they are who talk thus! But I will now allude, briefly, to some three or four of the most weighty objections, which, in my judgment, lie against this society. First, the board of managers for this institution, profess to employ all the means put within their control, for the benevolent purpose of both civilizing and christianizing the heathen. But, the missionaries whom they send out for this purpose, being Calvinists to a man, palm upon the poor heathen a most barbarous and ungodly system; and so far from improving their condition, they invariably make it worse. For I assert,

without any sort of disguise, that the whole world of mankind, had better remain in Pagan darkness, than to be brought under the influence of Calvinism; for they would then," "having not the written law," be "a law unto themselves."

Secondly, this society, in its operations, is entirely too expensive. The highest estimate of the present population of the world is 900,000,000. Now, 450 millions, or one half of the whole population, are Pagan; the Christian population at the highest calculation, is only 300 millions, and the rest are Jews and Mahometans. So that 600,000,000, or two thirds of the whole population, are yet to be converted to the Christian religion.

Well, look at the number of souls, reported by this society, as having been brought under the influence of christianity, during the time of its operations; next, look at the amount of money expended during that time, in order to effect the conversion of those souls; and it will be seen, in view of the millions who are still in darkness, that there is not enough of the precious metals in the bowels of the whole earth, to convert the world, in the hands of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions! If, I say, the demands of

this institution are to be complied with, the Spanish mines, the North Carolina and Georgia gold mines, and all other mines under the whole heavens, must be ransacked to their utmost extremity!

Hence, we should study to conduct both foreign and domestic missions, on a less expensive plan.

In secretary Cass's report to congress, for the year 1833, he states that in fulfilment of a stipulation on the part of the general government, $11,615 had been paid to this board, to enable them to complete their establishments among the Cherokees of Arkansas; and on the next page of this same document, the writer says:-"The Methodist Episcopal church has instituted missions among the Shawnees, Delawares, and Peorias, with her own resources unaided by the government." The secretary of war, it is very evident, intended the American Board to feel this rebuke. In travelling through the Indian nation, I have viewed with astonishment the superstructures and stately edifices, reared up by this board. To pass by and see their mills, shops, and other machinery in operation, one would think their desires to monopolize the wealth of the nation much stronger, than those of changing the hearts of the poor Indians from nature to grace. And it has more than once been the case, that after the missionaries belonging to this establishment have acquired a sufficiency of the mammon of unrighteousness, they have removed to more agreeable sections, leaving behind them, their costly buildings to moulder until the antiquarian shall deem them worthy of reparation. I do not wonder when such missionaries fail to benefit those among whom they labor. In their intercourse with the natives, they are not actuated by a desire to do them good, but merely to benefit themselves by traffic. Instead of being moved by those high, commanding,, and philanthropic views which dictate the conduct of holy and benevolent Christian missionaries, they are actuated by merely mercenary motives to enrich themselves on the spoils of the simple natives. These, therefore, are "wolves in sheep's clothing," who seek not the good of the flock scattered in the wilderness, but are eager only to fleece themselves with their wool. Many of my readers in East Tennessee, will doubtless long recollect the shameful whiskey, blanket, and fur-skin expeditions of the Rev. Gideon Blackburn. But the day of judgment alone, will explain the manner in which Mr. B. disposed of the five thousand dollars of Indian annuities, placed in his hands by the government.

This inconsistent conduct of Christian missionaries, debased

and corrupted as they are by these vices, most unequivocally condemned by that very religion which they professed, has always been one of the greatest barriers in the way of the sincere missionary. And could we present to the heathen no better example of the good effects of our religion, than has been and still is exemplified by such inconsistent missionaries, we might at once despair of exerting any salutary influence on the pagan world-as we should then have no sufficient argument to repel the objections of our enemies-at least no argument derived from the supreme excellence of christianity in its practical effects upon their hearts and lives. But, blessed be God! all are not thus inconsistent. There are those in heathen lands, in whom the Spirit of God dwells, whose tempers, words and actions proclaim the genuineness of their religion-whose whole deportment evinces that there is a reality in religion.

The last, though not the least objection I would bring forward against this society, is, it is a national society. Its object is, to have the same influence in the religious world, that their other societies have. The declared objects of these societies, are but secondary; their real objects lie beyond the view of superficial observation-they aim at religious supremacy! To carry on this scheme, the clergy have succeeded, by art and deception, in obtaining the countenance of some of the first men in our country, who, I doubt not, from their well known talents, honesty and integrity, would gladly rid themselves, by this time, of the cause they have been led by the clergy to approve; and would do it speedily, were it not for the fear of incurring their displeasure, and of exposing their political prosperity to be blasted by their sectarian anathe

mas.

The easier to effect, and the more certainly to ensure the success of their plans, they have invited people of all persuasions to join their institutions; and, in many instances, they have appointed ministers of other orders to important stations in their societies-thus trying to make it appear that their grand scheme is not a party concern. All this, they very well know, they can do, with the most perfect safety to their own plans and cause; for if there should be any who should presume at any time to oppose their measures, being by far the minority, it would be no difficult task to shuffle such off at will; while those who acquiesce in all things, they intend to promote.

Reader, a man must be stupid, indeed, not to see that all the schemes of the Presbyterians, which I have named, and many

others, which I intend to name, no matter what their declared objects may be, have for their scope and end one grand purpose, universal empire-religious supremacy-a union of church and state! If they should finally succeed in their grasp at supremacy, what may we rationally calculate will be the consequence? I tremble when I think of the more than probable results. Former scenes of cruelty, such as were experienced in the days of John Calvin, would doubtless be practised upon those who should dare to oppose any of their

unhallowed measures.

Do you believe, gentle reader, that they would permit those who differ with them in sentiment, quietly to meet to worship, agreeably to the dictates of their own consciences, the God of our fathers?-peaceably to possess and enjoy religious liberty, to publish their sentiments to the world, and to have and to hold meeting houses, in which to propagate and defend the same? No; our religious liberties, I awfully fear, would be limited to the bolts and bars of a prison! But, there is a chance yet left, to avert the impending ruin with which we are menaced. Let us then seize upon the present moment; delay not, lest by procrastination we loose our all.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE AMERICAN TEMPERANCE SOCIETY-ITS RISE AND PROGRESS ITS DESIGN, &c. &c.

THIS Society was instituted at Boston, Feb. 1826. Its object is to collect and publish facts respecting the amount and the cost of intoxicating liquors consumed; the number of intemperate persons, the effects of intemperance in destroying health, reason and life, and occasioning pauperism, crime, and wretchedness in the community; and to organize auxiliaries in towns and villages, whose members agree to abstain from the use of such liquors, except as a medicine. Seven reports of the society, and many other publications have been issued, abounding with such facts as show the evil of intemperance to be great and alarming. From the report of the annual meeting of the American Temperance Society, for 1834, it seems that there are 7,000 temperance societies in America, and 1,200,000 members of temperance societies; 3,000 distilleries. have ceased their operations; 7,000 drunkards have been reclaimed. There are said to be 100,000 members of tem