and has ever and every where bound the minds of its disciples in the chains of religious darkness and bigotry, and confined them in the prisons of superstition.

But we hope for better days. The operations of the Bible Societies of England, its National and Sunday School Institutions, the efforts of Missionaries, whom we hope to see engaged in this field, and the introduction of a better spirit into the administration of its concerns, which will sooner or later take place, will give to Ireland the opportunity of improvement; and we shall perhaps be permitted again to see it, as it is said to have been of old, the favoured land of learning, the solemn seat of religion, and the radiating place for the light and truth of the gospel of Christ, as well as a country filled with the comforts of life, and embellished with all the refinements of art.

DOMESTIC.

Since our last number, the only domestic occurrence we are enabled to notice is the meeting of Congress. After considerable difficulty in the choice of a Speaker in the House of Representatives, (for which, in these days of peace and harmony in national politics, we are somewhat perplexed to account,) the Congress was organized, and its session opened with the usual message from the President. It details the very happy situation, for which this people cannot be too thankful. At peace with all nations; settling all remaining difficulties by a submission to friendly powers; left at leisure for the promotion of internal improvement, and industry, and the extension of foreign commerce; bearing the expenses of government by exactions in the form of duties, not felt by the people, we present a picture at which we ought both to rejoice and feel humbled; we ought to rejoice for reasons the most obvious; to be humbled for the little which we are doing in return for these great blessings; for the scanty and limited exertions made for advancing the Redeemer's kingdom, or securing to our posterity the lights of the gospel and the institutions of religion, which we possess for our profanations of the Sabbath, and for the drunkenness which so alarmingly threatens our moral welfare as a people.

No subject of interest has yet been discussed in Congress. The subjects likely to occupy its deliberations at an early day seem to be, the establishment of a Bankrupt Law, a revision of the Tariff of duties, and an inquiry into the transactions at Pensacola, under Gen. Jackson, noticed in our October article.

A system of Bankruptcy is a thing of very general importance, and peculiarly deserving our notice, as Christian politicians. The extent of promise-breaking, of fraud, of perjury, under the present lax laws and more lax morals, in many parts of our country, is enough to cover us with shame, and strike the observer with loathing: nothing seems more lawful here than getting into debt, and the ability, or prospect of ability for payment, seldom enters into consideration; hence the violation of solemn promises, temptations to fraud, from the necessities of the debtor, as well as the sometimes unjust persecutions of the creditor, and at last the insolvent oaths. We hope that something which will arrest these evils may be done: whether a Bankrupt System will do it will depend much, if not wholly, upon the soundness of principles with which it is framed, and the particular objects which its framers shall propose to themselves. We hope these objects will be moral, more pecuHarly than commercial; for if the former are attained, there is no fear but that the latter will be added to them.

The subject of the Tariff seems to have lost much of its interest since the last year, and will probably be approached with a considerable devotion to the public good. Yet, with all the skill and experience of our statesmen, with all their facts and principles, and even with their most honest intentions, the issue of their deliberations and plans may be most reverse from their intentions. If we look to the plans of statesmen and legislators of former times, we shall be struck with the fact, that plans, apparently the wisest, have very often failed, from causes which can with difficulty be discovered; and that plans skillfully laid for the promotion of particular objects, have been over-ruled to effects equally important, perhaps, but entirely unexpected. And how striking is the fact, also, that the systems of political economy, written by men supposed to be of the greatest learning on such subjects, are seldom agreed in by those acknowledged to be equally learned; and that, even when so agreed in, practical statesmen reject them. How direct the reference to the over-ruling wisdom of God, and the importance of a national dependence upon him, even for matters in relation to which we seldom think of him as an agent at all.

As to the occurrences in Florida, our sincere wish is, that they may be found justifiable and praiseworthy; but if they are found the reverse, that they may be punished with that severity which the honour of our country, good faith towards foreign nations, and our duty to the God of Justice, so imperatively demand.

The Seaman's Magazine.

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. - They cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.-Psalms.

For the Seaman's Magazine.
NEW-YORK BETHEL UNION.

First Report, presented at the Public Meeting, Dec. 31, 1821. UPWARDS of eighteen centuries have elapsed since on the mountains of Judea was first heard the angelic overture, "Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people," followed by the grand chorus, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men."

Ever since the first annunciation of the gospel of peace, has its mighty influence been exerted to meliorate the condition of human life-to bring many sons and daughters home to glory and to prepare the way for the reign of universal righteousness.

Wherever the glorious Sun of Righteousness has shone, His enlightening and enlivening influence has been felt; and, although his beams have at times been intercepted by clouds of ignorance and superstition, he has continued to shed increasing brightness, in his glorious ascent towards the full splendour of meridian day.

It cannot be too often repeated, that the present age has been favoured with greater light and higher privileges than any which has preceded it; and it ought to be recorded with gratitude to the great Head of the Church, it has also witnessed an increased affection and fellowship among his members.

The christian community have begun to feel their high responsibility, and to be actively, extensively, and unitedly engaged in their Master's service. It is no longer the cause of sect or party which animates the counsels, the exertions and the prayers of Christians: in this great work they are "all one in Christ Jesus." "Thy kingdom come," is the prayer of all; and all who feel the spirit and imitate the example of their Master, are desirous openly and actively to engage in his cause-to put on his armour, and to fight his battles. In this warfare there can be no neutrals; they who are not for him are against him.

Every day opens a new door to active usefulness and duty, and it becomes us to acknowledge with thankfulness and gratitude, that a new spirit is given to the humble efforts of pious men. The darkness of ages is rolling away, and scenes the most bright and splendid are introduced to our astonished view; scenes which unfold the triumphs of the cross and the victories of the Redeemer.

In this age of mercy to benevolent institutions, it becomes Christians often and earnestly to inquire what new projects can be devised, what new plans adopted, to fill up some remaining deficiency. In answer to such an inquiry may no doubt be traced the recent efforts for the moral improvement of seamen, both in Europe and America.

The first institution having for its object the spiritual welfare of seamen, was a Bible Society for the British navy and army, which arose, under the patronage of the late benevolent John Thornton, in 1780. It declined after his death, but was revived again in 1804, under the name of the Naval and Military Bible Society. In 1806 it took a more systematic organization, and received for its President the Archbishop of Canterbury. Its labours have been greatly blessed, and as one of its fruits may be mentioned the conversion of many naval officers, some of whom are now successful ministers of the gospel.

Within three or four years past, seamen in England have been an object of much religious solicitude and attention. On the 30th December, 1817, a meeting was held in London for the purpose of devising means for their religious improvement, which led the way to the formation, on the 29th of January, 1818, of the Merchant Seamen's Bible Society. On the 18th of March succeeding, arose the Port of London Society.

These measures have been followed with the formation of Seamen's Friend and Bethel Union Societies, in all the principal ports in Great

Britain.

In December, 1816, the first movements began in New-York, when a committee was appointed to receive donations for building a Mariners' Church. In March, 1817, the Marine Bible Society was formed; and in May, 1818, the Port of New-York Society for promoting the Gospel among Seamen was instituted, for the double object of erecting a church and supporting a preacher.

While these things were going on, seamen were still without the preaching of the gospel. A new society immediately rose up, under the name of the New-York Marine Missionary Society, whose particular object was to furnish preaching to seamen until the church should be completed; since which time they have been regularly provided with the means of grace.

Laudable efforts of the same general character have been made in many of the cities of the United States.

This general view of the means in operation in behalf of seamen, has been given, to introduce to the christian public a brief history of the rise and progress ress of the "NEW-YORK BETHEL UNION."

The intelligence of the increased exertions made in behalf of seamen on the other side of the Atlantic, had reached the ears and affected the hearts of Christians here.

Something, it is true, had been done for them, in furnishing them with Bibles, and in the erection of a house of worship, designed exclusively for their accommodation; but a class of people so long excluded from the sanctuary, seemed to require that the messages of mercy should be brought to their very cabin doors.

Christ himself frequently preached and prayed on board of vesselsand his first disciples were humble fishermen. On the shores of Tibe rias he often wandered, to gather the straying seamen to his arms; the waves of Gennesaret often heard his voice; and from among the watermen of the lake, he selected the chief ministers of his kingdom, to whom

we are so deeply indebted for the extension of the christian church, and for the completion of the canon of Scripture.

Impressed with a solemn sense of our obligations to that valuable class of our fellow men, a number of merchants and other gentlemen, whose attention had been called up to the subject, met on the 4th of June last, and the New-York Bethel Union was established to co-operate with the Port of New-York Society.

Discarding all sectarian jealousies, and meeting on the broad basis of christian philanthropy, Associate Reformed, Baptist, Reformed Dutch, Episcopalian, Methodist and Presbyterian brethren, who compose the Bethel Union, have combined their influence, and advanced with one heart and one hand to the work.

The object of the society (as expressed in their circular, which is already before the public) is to extend to seamen the instructions of the Gospel, to persuade them to become reconciled to God, and generally to promote their temporal and spiritual welfare.

The means used are, first, the encouragement of secret and social prayer by a ship's company while at sea. 2dly. The establishment of prayer meetings on board vessels in port. 3dly. The distribution of Bibles, Reports of Societies, Tracts and other religious publications. 4thly. The encouragement of public worship on the Sabbath, and persuading seamen to attend. 5thly. A correspondence with the different ports in the U. S. and foreign nations, to promote similar institutions. 6thly. The circulation of the CHRISTIAN HERALD and SEAMAN'S MAGAZINE, published under the patronage of the Port Society, as a medium of religious intelligence relating particularly to the welfare of

seamen.

System in arranging and conducting the meetings was found to be of great importance: the members of the Union were therefore divided or classed into five committees, one for each evening in the week, except the Sabbath and Wednesday evenings, when service is attended in the Mariners' Church.

A standing committee was also appointed to provide vessels on board of which to hold the meetings. If a vessel was procured for Monday evening, notice thereof was given to the chairman of the Monday evening committee, whose duty then was to cause the Bethel Flag to be hoisted at mast-head during the day, the signal lantern at night, and to notify his co-members, who were at liberty to invite other friends to assist in conducting the exercises of the evening.

When a vessel was procured for any other evening, like notice was given to the chairman of the committee, whose duty it was to officiate for that particular day.

The meetings have been held on deck, and were from an hour to an hour and a quarter long. -Short prayers and short addresses, interspersed with the reading of a small portion of Scripture, and singing of a few verses have been found best calculated to do good.--Masters, mates and seamen have almost invariably taken a part in the exercises.

Having given this brief view of the specific objects of the society, and the manner of conducting the meetings, the Board will proceed to give a concise statement of the meetings themselves.

On Friday, the 22d June, 1821, for the first time in America, the Bethel Flag (a present from the London Bethel Union to the Port of VOL. VIII.

64

New-York Society) was hoisted at the mast-head of the ship Cadmus, Capt. Whitlock, lying at the Pine-street Wharf.

In the morning of the day, the committee were apprehensive that they would have no hearers. The experiment here was novel-the issue was by many considered doubtful. They were told by several, who are "wise in worldly matters," that a guard of constables would be necessary to preserve order. At first it was thought adviseable to hold the meetings in the cabin to prevent the possibility of disturbance. On arriving at the vessel, the deck was found cleared, an awning stretched, and all necessary preparations for holding the meeting there. At 8 o'clock the President opened the meeting, by stating the object and plans of the society, and inviting the co-operation of captains and their crews in promoting the benevolent designs of the society.

The Mariners' (107) Psalm was sung with great animation and feeling, and seamen were immediately seen pressing in from all quarters. After prayer by an aged sea captain, Dr. Spring addressed the seamen -other appropriate exercises followed. The vessel and wharf were crowded-order and solemnity prevailed throughout every ear was open, every eye was fixed. Tracts were distributed among the seamen, who received them with gratitude. Every circumstance was calculated to inspire the Board with courage and confidence to go forward.

These meetings have been held 3 and 4 of a week from ship to ship, whenever the weather permitted, until the evenings became so cold, as to render it adviseable to discontinue them until spring. In the mean time the committees have commenced holding meetings at Sailor boarding houses. In some instances they have been kindly and affectionately received, insomuch that the Board has been encouraged to adopt measures to have them regularly kept up during the winter season.

The Reports of the Bethel committees having already appeared in our work, we shall omit them here, and refer our readers to the Seaman's Magazine, Nos. 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 14.

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 should be held under the shades of night, 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 several denominations of christians, advanced heartily to the work; and while the Bethel flag rose and waved towards Heaven, each heart breathed with humble and unshaken confidence, "under this banner we advance to victory."-Events soon dissipated the apprehension of the most timid, and crowned our endeavours with a success far exceeding our expectations. Meetings have not only been