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Foreign Bible Society, has been new proof that

Magna est veritas et prevalebit.

The Bible cause has gained, and is
still gaining, in the good will and
confidence of the religious public.
Perhaps, however, it would not be
proper to dismiss this part of our
subject without stating that while the
opponents of the Bible Society were
thus unsuccessfully carrying on their
warfare in England and Ireland,
there was opposition made on the
continent of Europe which was more
efficient. It came from the court of
Rome. In 1816, the British and
Foreign Bible Society, acting up
its name, had taken measures to
form societies in Poland and in Aus-
tria. Intelligence of this reached
the Pope, and in June of that year
he issued a Bull, in which the de-
signs of Bible Societies are described
in language so much resembling that
of the Rev. Mr. Norris, some years
afterwards, that we think the popish
rescript must have made a strong im-
pression on the imagination of that
gentleman when he read it. It de-
clares the Pope to have been "truly
shocked at this most crafty inven-
tion, by which the very foundations
of religion are undermined, and ex-
horts the archbishop, to whom it is
directed, to use his efforts to detect
and oppose the impious machina-
tions of these innovations, and to
warn the people entrusted to his care
against falling into the snares prepar-
ed for their everlasting ruin." Re-
scripts of a like nature were sent to
several places where implicit sub-
mission to papal authority promised
them a favorable reception; and
though they failed to answer their
purpose in Poland, yet in Austria
they fully succeeded. The Austrian
Court was induced not only to reject
the proposal for a Bible Society pre-
sented by Mr. Pinkerton, but also to
take measures for the suppression of
the existing Bible Societies, both in
the imperial and hereditary domin-
ions of the house of Austria. The
VOL. VI.-No. 1.

7

declaration of the archbishops and bishops of Hungary on the subject, shows that they were not indebted to Rome alone for their views and apprehensions.

It begins by stating, "That the Bible Societies, not long ago formed among the English, and attempt. ed to be propagated through all the world, have departed from that good object which they pretend, the more clear sighted English (occulatiores Angli) themselves now perceive and openly proclaim. And, therefore, it becomes us to be grateful for the very provident care of our government, which has refused these societies an entrance into the dominious of the house of Austria."

Thus were the opponents of the Bible Society in England made to see that if they had failed to make an impression among their protestant brethren at home, they had done something among papists abroad; and their authority and views were quoted in an instrument that went to support the old and iniquitous principle of denying the scriptures to the laity. Surely it becomes every protestant most solemnly to pause, and strongly to suspect the rectitude and wisdom of a course which leads to such results.

The general observations which we intend to make from the controversy thus managed, we will reserve till we shall have given a short account of how it has been conducted in this country; and shal! have examined the publications which are now before us as the subject of review. The American Bible Society was not instituted until May, 1816. But in 1808 and in 1809, the Philadelphia, the Connecticut, and the Massachusetts and New York Bible Societies were established, and went on during several following years peacefully and successfully, operating in their respective spheres, and experiencing no opposition.

It was expected by many that the clamour and alarm which had been raised in England would not be re

peated in this country; and several circumstances occured which went to confirm this expectation. Among these was a Pastoral Letter from the House of Bishops, assembled at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church of North America in 1814; in which, after they had seen the operation of Bible Societies for years in our own country, and had been made acquainted with the history and progress of the British and Foreign Bible Society, at that time acting in all the four quarters of the globe, they use the following language:

"We avail ourselves of the opportunity of congratulating all the members of our church, on what we conceive to be eminently a cause of joy to the christian world in general. The wonderful efforts which have been made within these few years, being begun, principally, by members of the parent church, by a body known under the name of the British and Foreign Bible Society; imitated in various countries in the old world; and concurred in with alacrity and zeal throughout the extent of the American Union-to disperse the Bible in regions wherein it has hitherto been unknown, and in those wherein the religion of it is professed; to provide, that none shall have reason to complain of their being necessarily destitute of this instruction, this guide, and this source of the highest consolation; we should conceive ourselves as wanting on this occasion, to the high duties of our stations, were we to neglect to bear our testimony in favor of this energetic effort for the disappointment of the wicked designs of Infidelity, for the extending of the influence of pure and undefiled religion, and finally, for the carrying into effect those gracious promises of Heaven, which will not have been accomplished, until the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea."

This unequivocal and hearty approbation and commendation of Bible Societies expressed by the House of Bishops, then consisting of Bishops White, Hobart, Griswold, Dehon and Moore, all present at the time; and expressed, no doubt, with the full knowledge of what had been said against Bible Societies on the other side of the Atlantic, led to the belief that Episcopalians throughout our country, would be quite as unani.

mous on this great subject as any other denomination; and indeed such a persuasion seemed to be placed almost beyond uncertainty when it was recollected how much importance Episcopalians usually attach to ecclesiastical authority.

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But however well warranted such persuasion may have been, to the surprize of many, in April of the following year Bishop Hobart addressed "a pastoral Letter to the laity of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New-York, on the subject of Bible and Common Prayer Book Societies," in which he openly and avowedly endeavours to dissuade Episcopalians from associating with other denominations of Christians in Bible Societies. He had evidently caught the spirit of the alarmists beyond the Atlantic; and accordingly jeopardy our apostolical ministry and asks, "are we then prepared to put in primitive and evangelical worshipif not to put them in jeopardy, to run the risk of having our sense of their importance, and our attachment to them weakened ?" and goes on to say, "on the contrary, fidelity to our principles, and an earnest desire to preserve christian harmony, seem to justify us in the separate management of our religious concerns. "An Episcopalian" soon

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furnished "an answer" to this letter. ply" from "another Episcopalian," The answer was followed by "a rewhich refering to one of the points discussed in the answer, declares in so many words that "it is not the interest and duty of Episcopalians to unite with their fellow christians in spreading the knowledge of the word of God because, as I have proved, it is their interest and duty to associate with each other, in distributing the Liturgy jointly with the Scriptures." to follow up the attack which he had Bishop Hobart did not fail thus commenced; and in March 1816, he deliveredan address before the New York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society, in which, pursuing a course different from that taken by most of

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his presbyters on similar occasions, he condemns as unsound the principle on which Bible Societies are founded, and urges the distribution of the Bible and Common Prayer Book unitedly as "the method for evangelizing the world, which the Scriptures point out and to which common sense and the natural course of things lead us." Being in the vein, the Bishop soon found another opportunity of pursuing his object, and he did not fail to improve it.-In the following May the American Bible Society was instituted and immediately upon its organization; and before the constitution of the Society, and the address of the Convention explaining its nature and objects, had come from the press, he published an address in one of the New-York daily papers, to dissuade Episcopalians from joining the national Society.— We presume it is to be attributed to the Bishop's haste, that this address contains such palpable errors not only as to matters of opinion, but as to matters of fact. He unhesitatingly declares that" before any Bible so ciety was established in the United States, the New-York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society was organized in this city." Whereas in fact, the New-York Bible and Common Prayer Book Society had been preceded by three of the most distinguished Bible Societies then in the United States.-The Philadelphia, the Connecticut, and the Massachusetts. Equally unguarded were the declarations that there was no necessity for such an institution; that the idea of a National Bible Society was perfectly visionary, &c.

The entire misapprehension of the whole subject, which was betrayed by such statements, was soon displayed in an able pamphlet entitled "An appeal to the Christians of America, in behalf of the American Bible Society, &c."

From this time, little, deserving the

name of controversy, seems to have been said or written on the subject, until 1822, when Bishop Hobart renewed his hostilities in his address to the Convention of the Diocess of New-York.

In this official communication he warns Episcopalians against Bible Societies as both "erroneous in principle" and "injurious in their tendency;" but wishing to express his sentiments in a style of moderation and urbanity, he has involved himself in a most palpable inconsistency.

He expressly declares "it is a source of painful regret to find myself differing, on this subject, from many of the clergy and members of our own communion whom I greatly esteem and respect. I would wish to guard against the supposition of any design on my part to censure those Episcopalians who deem these societies worthy of their support, and the proper channels of their pious munificence." Now to have declared Bible Societies erroneous in principle, and injurious in tendency, and still to declare that he does not design to censure those Episcopalians who deem these societies worthy of their support and the proper channels of their pious munificence, is doing one thing-and designing to do another; for that such a declaration, made "ex cathedra" too, as to Bible Societies, does censure those Episcopalians who join and support them, is plain as words can make it. So the case was viewed by those most interested in it. Episcopalians who belonged to Bible Societies felt that they were censured by this address of the Bishop; and that they would be considered as wherever this address might be circulated. As might have been expected it produced a reply, and thus have arisen the pamphlets which are now before us.

(To be continued.).

censured

Literary and Philosophical Intelligence.

Theological Seminaries.-The Synod of South Carolina and Georgia, in a late address to their churches, urge upon them"the necessity of prompt and strenuous exertions" for the endowment of a Southern Professorship at Princeton which four years since, they, in connexion with the Synod of North Carolina pledged themselves to accomplish within five years. The Synod of Philadelphia are making similar efforts to redeem a similar pledge.

Agents are employed in Maine, in obtaining subscriptions for the endowment of a Professorship in the Theological Semin ary at Bangor.

It is stated by Mr. Ingersoll in his Philosophical Discourse, that "there are half a million of scholars at the public schools throughout the U. States: and more than three thousand students at the colleges which confer degrees.

There are twelve hundred students at the medical schools, five hundred at the theological seminaries, and more than a thousand students at law.

There are about ten thousand physicians and upwards of ten thousand lawyers. There are about nine thousand places of worship, and about five thousand clergy

men.

About four thousand and four hundred patents have been taken out for new and useful inventions, discoveries and improvements in the arts.

Between two and three millions of dollars' worth of Books are annually published in the U. States.

Six hundred newspapers are published.

Ladies' Magazine.-The first Number of a new work called the Ladies' Magazine, and edited by a Lady, has appeared in Providence R. I. It contains 32 neatly printed octavo pages; partly original and partly selected: $2 per annum, in advance.

Oliver Everett has just published an edition of M. Tullii Ciceronis de Republi

ca.

A motion in Congress, to repeal the duties now imposed on Books, Charts, Maps, Mathematical and Philosophical Instruments imported for individual use, has been rejected by a large majority.

Calmet's Dictionary of the Bible.-A fourth and greatly enlarged edition has lately been published in London. The subjects are illustrated by several hundred plates.-5 vols. 4 to.-$46.

A Society has recently been formed in Edinburgh for the purpose of collecting and preserving the Reports of Philanthropic Institutions, foreign and domestic, and

of providing accommodations for the reading of religious magazines and journals. Future historians will thank them.

Captain Parry's Expedition.-This enterprise, however honorable to the zeal of those by whom it was undertaken, has very little extended the bounds of human knowledge. The ships succeeded in the summer of 1822, in exploring the coast as far as long. 82° 50′, and lat. 69° 40', where they penetrated the mouth of a frozen strait which extended westward to an extent which they were unable to ascertain. After waiting a month in the vain hope of seeing the ice break up, they were forced to return Southward. But notwithstanding the expedition has added little to the future labors of the geographer or the naturalist, their long residence in the polar regions has made us more intimately ac quainted than we were with the human inhabitants of those ends of the earth, and will we hope bring them within the sphere of christian philanthropy.

The following account of a tribe of Esquimaux is given by an officer attached to the expedition.

"On the 1st of February, when all our tales had been at least twice told, and the time began to hang rather heavy upon our hands, a most seasonable relief appeared in a tribe of Esquimaux, who were approaching the ships. This appeared the more astonishing to us, as we had seen none of them since leaving Hudson's Straits, except one family that were fallen in with by our boats, at the top of the inlet, and some others that were heard on the shores to the westward, during the summer, although in every place we landed, we met with remains of their huts, and some of them wore the appearance of being lately occupied. They came towards the ships without hesitation, entirely unarmed, one of them carrying an old man on his back; on coming on board, they looked round either with the most stupid in difference, or were struck dumb with astonishment, as they had never seen a ship before, nor indeed a man, besides their own race. They exchanged any thing they had for whatever was offered them, and received presents with extreme delight, jumping and shouting in the most hideous manner when any thing was given them. They pointed to their huts, which were about three miles distant from the ships, on the S. W. face of a hill; and on some of us making signs, wishing to go, there were one or two of them who readily accompanied us. When we got near,

all that were at home came out to welcome us with shouting and jumping. Their huts were built entirely of snow,

arched over like a baker's oven, but high enough to stand upright in, with a piece of transparent ice on one side of the roof for a window; on each side was a bench of snow, covered with skins, which served as the seat and bed of a family; at each corner was a lamp, with a stone pot suspended over it. Each hut was about twelve feet in diameter, and contained from a dozen to eighteen inhabitants, most of the men being accommodated with two wives. The door was about eighteen inches high, and three or four of the huts communicated with a covered passage, having one common door. The total number of the horde amounted to about sixty. They had been driven down to the Point by necessity, to look for open water, that they

might kill seals, and they had encamped there the evening before. During the remainder of the winter months we lived in the greatest friendship with them, occasionally supplying them wilh a mess of bread-dust and oil, when the fishing failed them: they in return, lent us their sledges to ride on.

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We understand, says a London paper, that it is in the contemplation of the Ad. miralty to commission Discovery Ships for another voyage to the Polar seas, with this difference, that their route is now to be by Behring's Straits, whence they will sail eastward. Capt. Parry is again to take the command,

List of New Publications.

RELIGIOUS.

Evangelical Review of Modern Genius, or Truth and Error contrasted. By Mrs. Simon. The profits are to be given to the American Society for meliorating the condition of the Jews.-New-York, 1823.

The objection to the Inspirationof the Evangelists and Apostles from their manner of quoting texts from the Old Testament. Considered in a Lecture delivered Sept. 2, 1823, in the Theological Seminary, Andover. By Leonard Woods, D. D. Abbot Professor of Christian Theology. Published by the Students. -Andover, 1823.

"A Poetical Miscellany; being a collection of short poems, peculiarly adapted to impress on the youthful mind the most exalted sentiments of morality, religion and virtue." By a friend to Youth. -New-York, 1823.

An Ecclesiastical Memoir of Essexstreet, Religious Society, Boston, in a series of Letters, addressed to some gentle men of the city, and published by a Commitee of the Society.-50 cents.

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author of the 'Spy' and 'Pioneers.' 2 vols. 12 mo.-Philadelphia, Dec. 1823.

The Musical Cabinet, or New-Haven Collection of Sacred Music; containing a great variety of Psalm and Hymn tunes and Set Pieces, selected from the works of the most eminent European Authors, ancient and modern-together with a concise Introduction to Psalmody. Compil ed and arranged by Alling Brown.-A. H Maltby & Co. New-Haven, 1823.

Travels through part of the United States and Canada, in 1818 and 1819. By John M. Duncan, A.. B. 2 vols. 12 mo. pp. 384.-W. B. Gilley, New-York; Howe and Spaulding, New-Haven, Dec.

1823.

An Essay on Salt, containing notices of its Origin, Formation, Geological Position, and Principal Localities, embracing a particular description of the American Salines; with a view of its uses in the Arts, Manufactures, and Agriculture. Delivered as a Lecture before the New-York Lyceum of Natural History.-By Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, M. D. 8 vo. pp. 80. 50 cts.

Conversations on Arithmetic; by Leonard Pierce.-Worcester, 1823.

Keligious Intelligence.

PITCAIRN'S ISLAND.

A professional gentleman, who visited the island in December last, communicated to the Directors of the London Missionary Society the following particulars.

"At the above-mentioned period, there were residing on the island 54 persons, of

whom 49 were the offspring of the mutineers of the Bounty. Seven of the young men were married, and had in all 27 children, of whom 23 were under 10 years of age. John Adams presides as a patriarch over this interesting population. To the utmost of his power, he has endeavoured

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