mercy; to whom belongs glory in heaven, and dominion and power over all things. We remain, with the greatest respect, your ever devoted servants, }Officers, ship L. DOUGHTY, and Rev. JOSEPH EASTBURN, Mr. Eastburn has also received a letter subscribed by each individual of the crew, requesting a continued remembrance in the prayers offered in the Mariners' Church. Also an affectionate letter from the captain, remarking on the orderly conduct of his crew, and soliciting an interest in the prayers of his Christian brethren. NEW-YORK BETHEL UNION. Correspondence of the Board. It will be seen by a reference to a late number (No. 181, p. 157,) of the Seaman's Magazine, that a Bethel Flag was presented to the merchants at the island of Bermuda, for the use of the shipping of that place: we now have the pleasure of inserting the acknowledgment of the receipt of it. DEAR SIR, Bermuda, St. Georges, July 18, 1821. It is with much pleasure we acknowledge the receipt of your kind present of a Bethel Flag, and beg to assure you that we shall use every effort, as far as circumstances will admit, to accomplish the design of your Society. We feel deeply sensible of the need there is for something to be done for the improvement of seamen, and should we be able in any way to promote such an object, we shall not fail to communicate the same to you. We would recommend you to the particular care of our good Lord, and pray that your every effort to promote His glory, and the good of your fellow men, may be crowned with abundant success. We remain, Sir, your obedient servants, R. M. HIGGS, JOURNAL OF THE BETHEL FLAG. OWING to indisposition, we were unable to procure an account of the Bethel Prayer Meetings in their regular order. We are now furnished with an account of the meetings which were held subsequent to the 30th of June, a brief sketch of which we shall now lay before our readers. We would barely remark, that the expectations of the friends of the Bethel Union have been fully met by the extraordinary success which has attended their efforts. Captains and owners are not only far more willing to give the use of their vessels than we anticipated, but many of them appear to be deeply sensible of the honour God is thus conferring upon them, and are unwilling to lose any time after the arrival of their vessels, before thanksgiving is offered up to the God of the seas, for their protection and safe arrival; and are unwilling they should depart, without imploring the Divine favour on the intended voyage. Tuesday, July 3. - The Bethel Society had a meeting on board the brig Ohio, Captain Carman, at the North River. The meeting was not as well attended by seamen as those we have had on the East River, but the meeting was a good one, and by some called a very interesting meeting. The Rev. Mr. Fraser, who had often crossed the Atlantic, took a part in our exercises; and his address to seamen was so appropriate and solemn, it made a very serious impression on two that were present. Thursday, July 5.-A meeting was held on board the ship Empress, Captain Sutton. The meeting was well attended by seamen. The Rev. Mr. Matthews took a part in the exercises. The audience was solemn, silent, and affected. Friday, July 6.-A Bethel meeting on board the ship Magnet, Captain Ogden, was held this evening. The same in substance and usefulness, through the goodness of God, as those we have had before. Tuesday, July 10.-Our meeting was held this evening on board the brig Laura Ann, Captain Bassett. The captain spared no pains to accommodate us with awnings and lights; and a delightful meeting it was-many tears were shed. The prayers and addresses were uncommonly fervent. Friday, July 13.-This evening we had a Bethel meeting on board the English brig Cambria, Captain Jenkins. I cannot describe the blessed effects this meeting had on all present. After many hundreds were collected, it seemed the Lord enclosed us in on every side; he made a hedge around us, so that Satan could not come near us. The captain of the brig led in prayer, and made a beautiful exhortation. The exercises were performed principally by shipmasters. Many who were present, when leaving the wharf, said to each other, "it was good to be there." Thursday, July 19. -The Bethel meeting was held on board the ship Ann Maria, Captain Watkinson. This meeting may be numbered with the rest as a good meeting. It was not so well attended as some others had been. The journal of the meetings held on board the brig Hope and sloop Haxall, are inserted at pp. 190, 191. Friday, July 27.- The Bethel meeting was held this evening on board the sloop Ann and Sarah, Captain Howard. About one hundred were present. The exercises were solemn and fervent. Captain Howard addressed all present in a language that could not be resisted. More order and silence could not be in any church in this city. Tuesday, August 7.- The Bethel Society met on board the brig Belvidere, Captain Richards. It was well attended. The prayers and exhortations were many, and short, which made the meeting very interesting. Reading the tract in the "Christian Herald and Seaman's Magazine," of the Sailor Boy, Bов, excited such a feeling among the seamen that it could not pass unnoticed by any present. Friday, August 10.-Our meeting on board the ship Comet, Captain Hall, this evening, was delightful beyond description. An address from one of the members of the Society to seamen exceeded any that has been made in all our meetings. I am sure this meeting will be blessed to some precious souls. Tuesday, Aug. 14. Prayer Meeting was this evening held on board the ship Mary, Capt. West, lying at Pine-street wharf, and ready to sail for Liverpool. The attendance, the exercises, and the solemnity, were highly interesting; and on this, as on former occasions, we can of a truth say, "the good hand of our God was with us."-To be permitted to hold meetings on board of vessels, for the purpose of calling upon God, the common Father of us all, and to implore Him, for the sake of his Son, to remember in mercy that hitherto neglected, but useful portion of our brethren, the seamen, and to arouse their attention to the concerns of eternity, was a subject of anxious solicitude to the members of the Bethel Union. That these meetings should be undisturbed, was all that the most sanguine ventured to predict. When it was considered that seamen, notwithstanding their characteristic frankness and generosity, were from that very source frequently rash and inconsiderate; that these meetings would be held under the shades of night, and within the borders of that empire which Satan had for ages claimed as his own, the timid Christian might well be pardoned, if he felt some anxious forebodings. But it was no time to take counsel from fear. The association, consisting of Episcopalians, Methodists, Reformed Dutch, Baptists and Presbyterians, with one heart advanced to the work, and while the "Bethel Flag" rose, and waved toward Heaven, each heart breathed with humble but unshaken confidence, "under this Banner we advance to victory!" Events soon dissipated the apprehensions of the most timid, and crowned our endeavours with a success exceeding the most sanguine expectation. Meetings have not only been permitted, but often solicited, by the officers and seamen on board of vessels lying in this port; who, by stretching awnings and furnishing seats, &c. have endeavoured to accommodate those who meet for worship. The meetings have been usually numerous, and always attentive and solemn. Masters, mates, and seamen, have frequently led in the exercises of the evening. Although the entire results of these meetings will never be known, till that day when the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed, yet God has not left us altogether without a witness of his gracious presence, to encourage our hearts, and animate us in duty. Social worship has been commenced, and as far as we can learn, been continued morning and evening on board of several vessels. Vice and immorality, and particularly profane swearing, have been discountenanced and checked; and some have been seen anxiously inquiring what they must do to be saved. "Not unto us, not unto us, Oh Lord! but to thy great name, be all the glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake." P. H. Monday, August 20.-At 8 o'clock this evening we commenced our prayer meeting on board the brig Speedy Peace, Capt. White. It was opened by singing a hymn, after which a very affectionate address was delivered by the Rev. J. Eastburn, from Philadelphia, the seaman's friend. The decks and wharf were filled with seamen and others. Much may be said in favour of this delightful meeting. One seaman, in particular, could not leave the brig without making known his feelings to Mr. Eastburn, which was a pungent conviction of sin. Tuesday, Aug. 21. This evening the Bethel Meeting was held on board the United States 74 gun ship FRANKLIN, Commodore Stewart, lying off the Battery. A committee of the "Society for promoting the Gospel among Seamen," united with a committee of the Bethel Union, in an application to Com. S. for the use of the ship, which was cheerfully granted, and barges were provided to convey to the ship the committees, several clergymen and citizens, who, with the officers, marines and seamen attached to the Franklin, composed a congregation of nearly eight hundred persons. The Rev. Dr. Spring opened the meeting with prayer. The Rev. Joseph Eastburn, who preaches to the seamen in Philadelphia, delivered a short, but most appropriate discourse; and the Rev. Dr. Stoughton, of Philadelphia, closed the exercises with prayer and the benediction. The utmost decorum and solemnity prevailed throughout the exercises. Many of the seamen came up to Mr. Eastburn before he left the ship, and thanked him in affectionate terms for the "many good things he had told them." For the Seaman's Magasine. [The following Hymn was prepared to be sung after the Sermou preached on the evening of the 21st August, by the Rev. JOSEPH EASTBURN, on board the U. S. ship Franklin, Commodore STEWART. Owing, however, to the length of the other services, singing was dispensed with.] FROM decks of the ships of the free, Too long we have rested in Man, AS FRANKLIN drew lightning from Heaven, May the Thunder Columbia pours, But chief may our hearts be subdu'd * Hebrews, viii. 8-11. Ezekiel, xvi. 62, 63. Jeremiah, xxxi. 31-37. Psalm, lxxxix. 31-34. xiv. 27, to the end. Psalm xi. Ezekiel, xxxvi. 25, to the end. O BLESS'D be the Lord of the skies, A scheme to save Sailors from death, He hushes the storm to a calm, When bound in sin's prison we lay, Come, brother Jack Tars, let us love May He tow our hulks to a harbour, Philadelphia. D. M. TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS. "HOMO RICTus;" and several other communications, which we have not time to notice, have been received. We have been unavoidably obliged to delay the "Journal of the Mariners' Church," and much interesting intelligence, prepared for this number. Complaints are frequently made, that we do not insert notices of the meetings of societies, &c. We devote a portion of the cover of our work to this object, and if the meetings of Societies are not advertised, it is because we are not furnished with the notices in due time.-(See Cover.) UNITED GENERAL PRAYER MEETING. THE United General Prayer Meeting will be held in the MARINERS' CHURCH, in Roosevelt-street, on TUESDAY Afternoon, the 4th of September, at 4 o'clock. The object of this meeting is, to unite Christians of all denominations in supplicating the Throne of Grace for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on this city. Ministers of the Gospel particularly, and Christians generally, are invited to at tend. |