permitted, but often solicited by officers and seamen, on board of vessels lying in this port, who, by stretching awnings and furnishing seats, have endeavoured by every means to accommodate those who meet for worship. The meetings have been usually numerous, always attentive and solemn: and although the entire results of them will never be known till that day when the sea shall give up her dead, and 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 anxiously inquiring what they must do to be saved. The Board have merely given a specimen of the meetings-others have been held on board the following vessels, of the same interesting character. We omit the names of the vessels, as they are already published. Soon after the formation of the New-York Bethel Union, a flag was presented to the Board by a lady of this city, with a request that it might be transmitted by them to Bermuda, for the use of the shipping at that place. It was immediately forwarded, accompanied with several Reports of similar societies in England, and the Christian Herald and Seaman's Magazine. The Board are happy to state that they have received a letter from Messrs. R. M. Higgs and John J. Masters, to whom the flag was forwarded, under the date of the 18th July, acknowledging the receipt of it, and assuring the Board that they should use every effort to accomplish the design of the society. The Board was applied to early in the fall for information and advice on this subject from New-London. A correspondence was immediately opened, and the result has been the formation of a Bethel Union upon the plan recommended by this society. In a communication from Mr. Lyman Allyn, of that place, to the Secretary, it is stated, that a constitution was adopted-12 directors chosen, an equal number each, from the Episcopalian, Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian denominations, and that they had commenced their meetings under very favourable auspices. With great pleasure the Board announce the formation of a Bethel Union in Richmond, Va. The first meeting was held on the 4th October, on Board the Haxall, Capt. Holmes. See Magazine, p. 447. On the 6th October, a meeting was held on board the new ship Six Brothers, capt. Williams, lying at Saybrook, Conn. See Magazine, p. 447. In Philadelphia they commenced last summer, and have had several meetings, although they have not adopted the Bethel Flag. The work, under the care of the Rev. J. Eastburn, is going on with great success. This aged servant of Christ is indefatigable in his labours among the weather-beaten sons of the ocean, many of whose precious souls, as we have every reason to hope, will be jewels in his eternal crown of rejoicing. In Boston, also, there is a prospect of meeting with similar success. The Board lately forwarded to that place a Bethel flag, (which had been presented to them for that purpose,) and the Rev. Wm. Jenks, the stated preacher to seamen, in acknowledging the receipt of it, remarks, the season was so far advanced, that it was thought best not to attempt originating these meetings during the present autumn. See Letter, p. 446. L The operations of societies in England, in behalf of seamen, are progressing with wonderful success. It is extremely gratifying to see with what zeal this interesting subject is taken hold of by christians in almost every port in Great Britain, and what solicitude they manifest for its promotion in America. Every Report we receive from them contains the most cheering and animating intelligence. Christians there seem to make it the great business of their lives to do good. Would our limits permit, we might make extracts from their reports, but we shall content ourselves by observing, that the greatest efforts are making throughout the whole British empire to furnish seamen with the means of grace, accompanied, as we have no doubt, with many prayers, that these means may be blessed to the salvation of thousands of sea men, and bring in a rich revenue of glory to The general character of se The Board cannot forbear to remark, that it is by no means an unimportant circumstance that the six great denominations of Christians in our city, have most harmoniously combined their influence in this glorious work, and delight to gather round the mercy seat, and pour out their united supplications to our common Redeemer. In this the Board have began to realize the hopes of christians, who are looking forward with delighted anticipations to the period which they see rapidly advancing, when the Shiboleths of party shall be merged in one common effort to send the gospel through the world. The day too will soon arrive, when the traveller, as he crosses the ocean, will find in every vessel a Bethel of prayer, an altar erected to our Lord and Redeemer; and as he takes his circuit over the globe, will hail the disciples of Jesus in every clime, inhabiting every city and village in his course-every where churches consecrated to the service of the one living and true God, Father Son and Holy Spirit, will meet his rejoicing eyes, and hymns of gratitude and praise will vibrate on his ear. Yes, and much is reserved for Christian seamen in hastening on this happy day of sacred jubilee. They will become Heralds of the cross, and carry the glad news of salvation to foreign lands and distant climes. To thousands who are now living without God, to whom "Heaven presents no hopes and Hell no fears," they will be the honoured instruments of repeating the anthem chanted from the skies to the shepherds of Bethlehem. "Unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord." Pious seamen are destined by the providence of God to act a distinguished part in that moral revolution of the world, which is to give unto the Redeemer "the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession." O, happy men! thus privileged to bear the blood-bought blessings of redemption to earth's remotest bounds. A few more rolling years at most, will thus usher in the glories of the illennial Sabbath. Time in its eagle flight has brought us to the close another year, and in its narrow compass, how many events interesting eamen, and the friends of seamen, have crowded! How many of have gone down to people the regions of despair! And many, we of their immortal spirits, through the instrumentality of Bethel Societies, have ascended to shout unceasing hallelujahs to the mer! In the review we have much to humble-much to gladden. ve seen the mighty system of means urging forward in a maad accelerated march the accomplishment of the divine purposes, ng to all the world the forgiveness of sins. And whilst to us the larion sounds in a louder and sweeter strain, urging us onward, this christian exertion commend itself to the best feelings and every renewed heart? ow-and a new year will dawn on this apostate world. Oh, e a rich season of mercy to every benevolent enterprise that ally submitted to the Society by the Board of Directors. Secretary. માહીન અવે બીલ danny d GENERAL MEETING. THE first anniversary of the Bethel Union Society was held on the evening of the thirty-first of December, at the Brick Church in Beekman-street. A large audience, composed of the various denominations of Christians, and of the different classes of society in our city, assembled to witness the exercises. The 100th Psalm was sung in very solemn and appropriate music, which was followed with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Spring. In his address to the Throne of Grace, Dr. S. prayed that the assembly would bless and adore the Father of Mercies, for his great goodness to the church and the world, from age to age; that he had always preserved a seed to serve him on the earth, notwithstanding the apostacy of man; for the vast and astonishing displays of Almighty power and grace, now exhibiting to the world; for the establishment and preservation of the many institutions of charity, with which the Christian world abounds, and especially for the establishment of this Society, whose first anniversary the audience had assembled to celebrate. That the assembly would bless God, for extending the means of grace to the poor seamen, those outcasts from Israel and society; for the prayers and the charities of Christians, towards this forlorn class of men, and for the merciful indications the great Shepherd had given, that the means now using were such as he would own and bless. DIVIE BETHUNE, Esq. President, introduced the business of the meeting as follows: We introduce this evening, for the first time in a public manner, new objects of solicitude to your prayers, to your Christian sympathies. Your charities have beretofore been extended to the spiritual wants of our brethren on the frontier settlements; to the untutored Indians in the surrounding forests; to the Hindoos in Asia, and to the sable sons of Africa; whilst the seamen of our own port, went out from us, and returned to us, without awakening in us that concern for their eternal interests, to which their perilous warfare so eminently entitled them. Life at best is but a stormy sea; and the dwellers at home as well as they whose home is on the deep, must encounter storms, and piracies, and death. But the temporal life of the bardy mariner is peculiarly exposed to danger. How do we feel when the blustering snow storm rattles our casements, and whistles loudly in our ears, how do we feel for the bewildered crew, just driving on our coast. Ah! when we hear of the newly discovered wreck, the bodies frozen to death, some of them clasped in each other's arms, a scene not long since realized, how consoling would be the thought, that we had united in prayer with these men, and that they had committed themselves in faith to the care of Him, who is as able to save them in the hour of death, and to keep them safe through eternity, as to guide them in time. Why are not our floating ships become floating chapels? Why do not the family, shut up as it were in the ark, where only sea and sky are seen-why do they not erect the family altar there, and worship, morning and evening, Him who preserves them on the whelming wave, and gives them to see his wonders in the great deep? How precious at such seasons might be to them the sacred volume which speaks of Jesus' love? Blessed be the Lord, his season of mercy to seamen appears to be come. This evening we hope to satisfy you, from our report, and other sources of information, that our seafaring brethren not only accept, but invite the cordial co-operation of their brethren on the land, to promote their spiritual welfare. Brethren and sisters, we have a gracious prayer-hearing God; the throne of grace is accessible to all who humbly and sincerely draw near to it. We ask your fervent supplications for this class of men, and for all who are engaged in their behalf. I cannot conclude these introductory remarks more properly than in the words of the Christian Poet: "Prayer was appointed to convey The Report, which will be found in our present number, was then read by HORACE HOLDEN, Esq. Secretary; after which Capt. ТноMAS CARPENTER, of the Methodist church, made the following motion : Resolved, That the Report just read be accepted, and printed under the direction of the Board. Capt. CARPENTER, on offering this resolution, said, the condition of seamen had excited, and very justly excited, the sympathies and charities of Christians throughout the world; that the prayers of the pious, in Europe, in Asia and in America, were fervantly offered up on their behalf; that it was matter of surprise they had been so long neglected. They were a very deserving class of men: they increase our wealth; they fight our battles; they defend our country. Our farmers are under obligations to them; our merchants cannot do without their exertions, nor our liberties be secure without their valour and their power. He rejoiced at the successive and successful endeavours of the Christian eommunity to elevate their character and better their condition. With joy he saw Marine Bible Societies formed; with joy he saw, after many years discouragement, the Seamen's Church erected and supported; and with additional joy, he now saw this Society instituted and prosperous. He had attended the Mariner's Church, and heard sailors expressing their earnest desire to serve the Lord, asking for direction and encouragement, and expressing their determination to lead a new life. He knew no reason why ships may not become sanctuaries, and why the promises may not extend to include within their life-giving influence, those who go down into ships, as well as those who remain upon land. He had frequently known seamen to express a desire to find a place of worship, he had seen their sorrow and their misery, and he knew sailors might be preserved from profanity and debauchery. He had been a seaman himself; his own experience contradicted the assertion that profanity is necessary to insure obedience from seamen. Commanders should be exhorted; they might do much for the moral and religious benefit of their crews; if they would use their exertions, they would find the passions of seamen might be softened and mitigated by the mild, yet mighty influences of the grace of God. A captain of a British ship (said Mr. C.) told me that there were 1,500 vessels engaged in the coal trade-that the crews would average 10 men, and that, by the use of means, one third part of the whole number had become praying men. What a sight! To behold seamen pressing forward on Sabbath morning to church, eager to engage in prayer, singing, and other devotional exercises! They would then be better sailors, better soldiers, better men. "Let triflers say whate'er they can. We have great reason to rejoice in our prospects. Let us ask God for his bless ing on our efforts, and let us wait in faith our final reward. The resolution was then read and adopted. (To be concluded in our next.) TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS. We must leave to our next number the other speeches delivered on this occasion, to make a remark of our own, on a subject which, although forgotten until this moment, is really of some importance to us at least. It is so rare a thing for us to hear from our distant subscribers, that when a letter came, a few days ago, post-marked " Knoxville, Ten." we opened it with avidity; but, to our great surprise, found it was not from any of our old patrons, nor an order from new ones, as the following extract will evidently show: "Your predecessor in editing the Christian Herald, the pious CALDWELL," [werepeat his name with the deepest veneration,] "we presume was a Trinitarian. He loved his Saviour-God. Oh, if his departed spirit could mourn to see his Herald thus prostituted as to make a citation from a Unitarian Miscellany, it would have wept bitterly when your number of November 3d, 1821, appeared. When we read page 372, we began to suspect a defection from orthodoxy and truth, and determined no longer to support such a paper. As soon therefore as Tennessee money can be |