THE Committee of the Bristol Auxiliary Peace Society present to the Subscribers and to the Public the first Report of their proceedings. They have no striking proof to advance of the utility of the Institution; yet, if its infancy be recollected, and the state of our country during the past year be compared with the number of supporters the Society has received, there will appear sufficient evidence that the principles on which the Peace Society is founded, are widely extending. Its members are not confined to any particular sect or party;-their bond of union is peace on earth and good will to man;-their wish is to follow the example of the primitive Christians, and to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. It was not surprising that, at the formation of the Society, its object was mistaken by some, and misrepresented by others; but candid discussion, and an explicit avowal that neither political nor sectarian purposes were intended, have secured friends more numerous that the first promoters of the plan expected. Its progress may be slow, but it will be secure. It is It is built on the sure word of prophecy. The time will come when there shall be nothing that shall hurt or destroy; wars will cease to the ends of the earth, when the swords will be beaten into ploughshares, and the spears into pruning hooks. The

Gospel has declared, we are debtors both to the Greek, to the wise and to the unwise; it becomes then every disciple of Jesus to promote, as far as he can, the designs of Providence. Union gives increase to power. By means of this, exertion is concentrated, and a right direction given to benevolent feelings. Nor is it of small importance to convince the timid that united efforts will often effect what separate labours would never, or with great difficulty, accomplish. Of this a most remarkable proof is furnished in the British and Foreign Bible Society. Who does not see the kindness of our Heavenly Father in permitting human agents to be the instruments in promoting good? Who will not pray that the knowledge of the Lord may soon cover the whole earth? The prin ciples of peace ought to accompany the diffusion of that religion which teaches that we are all brethren in Christ. It has been said, the present is not a favourable period for esta blishing Peace Societies: the Continent is too much agitated to give opportunity for deliberate enquiry into their principles. But are the principles true in themselves? Are they gathered, not by inference, but from the positive command of our Saviour? Is it his command to bless, and curse not? The Peace Society is formed not to create dissension, but to promote love; not to excite animosity, but to induce us to lay aside all bitterness and wrath. Unless it be wrong to circulate the Scriptures themselves, it cannot be wrong to avow those truths which the Scriptures inculcate. Nor would it be deemed wise in common life, because a storm might be gathering, not to seek a retreat for safety; nor ought we, because evil may abound, to withhold publishing what is the good and acceptable will of God. Our own shores have not, through the blessing of the Almighty, been the seat of War. But because we have

only heard of the calamities that have befallen cities that have been burnt-towns that have been plundered-and plains that have been covered with slain, are we therefore not to consider the reality of the sufferings that have been endured; or to doubt our obligation to lessen, by every means in our power, the recurrence of these evils. Let the sincere Christian ask, what preparation a field of battle can furnish to an immortal spirit, that is to appear before the Judge of all the earth? The powerful are to recollect from whom all power cometh, as well as the lowly to remember their duty to serve each other in love. For these reasons, your Committee deem the present a period peculiarly fitted for spreading the principles of the Peace Society. They They congratulate the Parent Society on the information received respecting the spread of their cause, both in Europe and America. In America, the fullest evidence is given of its continued progress. With that country, England has the common ties of origin, language, and commercial intercourse. With America, then, let England run the race of Christian duty and brotherly affection. May every nation imitate their example; and the only contest in the East and in the West, in the North and in the South, be, who shall most excel in love and good works.

Your Committee have, during the past year, distributed to the Subscribers the following Tracts of the Parent Society:-No. 1. A solemn Review of the Custom of War: No. 2. War inconsistent with the Doctrine and Example of Jesus Christ: No. 3. The Doctrine and Practice of the early Christians, as they relate to War: No. 4. Extracts from Erasmus: No. 5. Horrors of War: No. 6. Extracts from Dr. Bogue's Sermon on Universal Peace. The total number of Tracts delivered is 3,996.

Your Committee cannot close their Report without warmly urging those

friends who are possessed of Tracts, not to suffer them to remain on their shelves. It is by their circulation, by awakening enquiry, and by appeals to the still voice of conscience, and to the Word of God, that Peace Societies must grow and flourish. In this labour of love, every friend to humanity may actively engage, For want of becoming zeal in its advocates, the remark has been madeThey have a name to live.

Before another Anniversary, your Committee hope that every present Member will have at least added one new name to the supporters of the Bristol Peace Society. It is by this plan, sympathy will be shewn with our brethren; and whilst we pray that Peace may be within our cities, and prosperity within our palaces, for our brethren and companions sake, we will add-Peace be to the world! Then, instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle-tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. (Isaiah lv.)

Third Report of the New York Peace Society.

The

THE Committee have to report, that their operations during the past year have been very much restricted for want of pecuniary means. demands against the Society have, however, been nearly extinguished, and its resources will hereafter be employed in active operations. Since the last anniversary the number of subscribers to the Society has been considerably increased, and its prospects are encouraging.

Of the various books and tracts on hand at the date of the last Report, the greater part has been distributed. The last Report also, and one hundred copies of the current numbers of" The Friend of Peace," taken on behalf of the Society, have been put in circulation.

Among the distributions to indivi

duals living at a distance, the Committee think it proper to mention that a copy of the several publications was conveyed to the Rev. Mr. Ward, of Serampore, before he embarked on his return to the mission in Bengal. Your Committee are free to say, that every successive year since the formation of the Society, has added to their regard for the object, and increased their confidence of its final success. The peace and good-will' inculcated in the Christian revelation, are indeed unknown to the world at large, and disrelished by many who possess that revelation. Many also who embrace the Christian faith, are slow to relax the grasp by which they held the implements of war. But it surely is not too much to hope, that all those whose hearts are brought into subjection to the Gospel, will, when their attention is called to the subject, cherish and exemplify the pacific spirit of Christianity. The charity and catholicism which has brought Christians of different denominations together in the enterprises of benevolence, may, without extravagance, be expected to advance, until the spirit of good-will and peace shall pervade their hearts and lives. The followers of Christ, in this age, like those of the first centuries, will, it may be hoped, discover that they cannot fight, because they are Christians. Along with their exertions for the salvation of the world, and their confidence in those promises which anticipate universal peace, with the universal spread of the Gospel, they may yet show to the world, by subduing those Justs and passions from which wars and fightings proceed, that their religion is of a nature to produce the effects which they teach the world to expect from it.

The Committee, in the language of the last Report of the London Peace Society, while they do not calculate on any very great effects immediately to result from their labours,

are more and more convinced

that an exposition of the evils and antichristian nature of war cannot fail to produce a considerable effect on the minds of reflecting men; and they are persuaded that the more it is investigated in its various characteristics, the more atrocious will it appear, and the more apparent will be the false colouring under which the deformity of its features is disguised, and its enormities palliated. To effect any material change in the public mind, must be the work of time and unceasing exertion, for it would be unreasonable to anticipate the speedy accomplishment of an object which aims at the destruction of some of the most deeply rooted passions and prejudices of the human mind. By a system of persevering exertion, a barrier may, however, be raised against this tremendous evil, and those obstacles which are opposed to the abolition of war may prove to be less formidable than is generally supposed. However visionary the idea may be deemed, the testimony of many great and powerful men may be adduced to sanction the opinion of its practicability, considered merely as a political measure. If, then, the prevention of general war be considered attainable by the politician, surely the Christian, relying on the fulfilment of the Divine prophecies, need not despair of the possibility! Let him rather use every lawful moral means to effect it; and let those meaus be commensurate to that light, which, powerfully aided by the Societies for extending the benefit of Education and the diffusion of the Holy Scriptures, is pervading every quarter of the globe."

The numerous Peace Societies in this country, now in operation, as well as those in Europe, are all pursuing their object with an unobtrusive but steady zeal, and with encouraging prospects.

The Massachusetts Society has fifteen Auxiliaries, and has distributed near twenty thousand tracts, and other publications. In the

course of the last year, that Society sent to foreign countries upwards of five hundred copies of the excellent periodical work under its patronage, "The Friend of Peace."

The Rhode Island Peace Society last year caused eight thousand copies of the "Address of the Glasgow Peace Society," to be printed and circulated with the Rhode Island Almanac. This mode of diffusing information on the subject of war has been found highly eligible.

Among the Peace Societies formed in the course of the last year, is one in Stanstead, Lower Canada, which also embraces the plan of a Reading Society.

The last intelligence from the Society in London is highly encouraging. That Society, since its formation, has published more than 150,000 Tracts, Reports, &c. The report of last year states, "that an edition of 5000 copies of the Solemn Review of the custom of War, had been printed at Pyrmont, in Germany; and had been circulated through the hands of the booksellers, in the principal towns in Germany and Switzerland, from the Grand Fair at Leipzig." Near three hundred subscribers were added to the Society in the course of the year, besides several new Auxiliaries in England and Scotland. An edition of 5000 copies of one of their Tracts has been published in the Dutch language; and the Society has granted one hundred pounds sterling to promote its objects in France.

The Society in Glasgow has circulated many thousands of Tracts, and other publications, and is advancing with energy in its operations.

Whoever regards the combined exertions of the Christian world, to instruct and benefit the human race, as one of the most remarkable signs of the times, will not esteem it an unimportant circumstance, that numerous individuals, in different countries, have united their endeavours to promote the pacific spirit of Christianity. The ages of darkness have

VOL. III.

been emphatically ages of barbarism and war. If a more benign period is dawning on the world, it cannot fail to insure the abrogation of savage and inhuman customs, and the renunciation of false maxims, and false notions of honour. No substantial evidence can be given of the approach of a better period, until the practice of human butchery, and the spirit of revenge and war, begin to be laid aside. The reign of the Prince of Peace cannot co-exist with the rage of carnal warfare. He will assuredly cause the temple of Janus to be shut; will restrain and compose the warring passions of mankind, in token of his approach to establish his kingdom in their hearts.

The object of Peace Societies is to turn the attention of the reflecting and the good, to the inconsistency of wars and fightings, with the Christian religion; to promote inquiry and research; to show that war is a barbarous custom, sustained by popular delusion, by evil passions, and unhallowed purposes; that it is unnecessary for human nature, even in its present state; that it is a work of darkness, by which mankind, under the deceivings of that enemy, who was a murderer from the beginning, scourge and destroy themselves. No object, surely, can be more humane or more Christian than this. It is worthy to be pursued in the face of every discouragement. It involves the highest hopes of the human family. It claims, and merits the support of every real friend to the species.

The Committee indulge the hope, that by pursuing with diligence and humility the measures contemplated by the Society, they may, by the divine blessing, and in connexion with their brethren of similar institutions, and those denominations of Christians who are friends and followers of peace, be instrumental in promoting pacific dispositions, and finally of discouraging and abolishing war. After the experience of nearly

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