PARENTS, CHURCH MEMBERS, AND SABBATH SCHOOL TEACHERS.

EDITED BY

J. A. ALBRO AND ASA BULLARD.

DECEMBER, 1846.

TERMS FIFTY CENTS ON RECEIVING THE FIRST NUMBER.

BOSTON:

MASSACHUSETTS SABBATH SCHOOL SOCIETY.

C. C. DEAN, TREASURER, No. 13 CORNHILL.

By payment of $10 and upwards, from October 14 to November 14.

10.00

Bedford-Moses Josiah Fitch-a thank offering by his mother, Mrs. Susan Fitch, $10 00
Dedham.-Friend Tilden, by his class of young ladies in Mill Village S. S.,
North Dancers.-Mrs. E. P. Kettelle, by the S. S. in Rev. Mr. Braman's Soc.,
Wrentham.-Dea. Calvin_Blake, by the Centre S. S.,
West Springfield.-Dea. Boardman Hubbard, sup't, by the S. S.,

Do.

Ireland Parish.-Philo W. Street, by Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Smith,

10.00

10.00

10.00

10,00

DONATIONS TO THE SOCIETY, FOR ESTABLISHING AND SUSTAIN

ING SABBATH SCHOOLS.

From October 14 to November 14.

Attleboro'.-From Mrs. H. N. Babcock-money left by a deceased child,
Auburn.-Collected by a little girl six years old,

Albany, N. Y.-From the Missionary Society in the S. S. of Fourth Presbyterian
Church, per H. D. Crane, treas'r,

20 00

Brattleboro', Vt.--From the S. S. in Rev. A. H. Clapp's Soc., per Edward Kirkland, sup't,

10 00

4.00

Boston. From a Friend, for Illinois,

Cabotville.-From Rev. S. G Clapp's Soc., per George Merriam, Esq.,
Chester. Independence Offering" from the S. S., per George Merriam, Esq.,
East St. Johnsbury, Vt.-From the S. S. in Rev. Mr. Case's Soc.,
East Hartford, Ct.-From the S. S. in First Cong. Soc., per Mr. Pitkin,
East Windsor, Ct.-From the S. S., per Rev. Mr. Bartlett,

5 00 115

2 50

10 00

2. 00

Franklin.-"Independence Offering" from the S. S. in Rev Mr. Southworth's Soc., 200 Hamilton." Independence Offering" from the S. S, per D. Wallis, treas'r,

North Danvers-From the Juvenile Missionary Circle, per Miss Lydia A. Tapley, 12 35 Newton.-From the Eliot S. S., per Otis Trowbridge, sup❜t,

Also a parcel of second hand books.

Nashua, N. H.-From Seth Williams, Jr.,

North Wilbraham.-" Independence Offering" from the S. S. in Rev. Mr. Bowers'
Soc.,

Rowley. From Miss Sarah Hale's S. S. class,
Stoneham-From the Juvenile Sewing Circle in Rev. Mr. Haven's Soc.,
Slatersville, R. I.-From Rev. F. A. Taylor, 100 copies of "Zion," valued at $20.
From A. D. Lockwood's S. S. class, 50 copies of "Zion," valued
at $10.

South Dennis.-From Mrs. Collins and her children, per Rev. Mr. Pettingill,
South Brookfield.--From the S. S., per J. S. Montague,

Urbridge. Independence Offering" from the S. S., per Dea. W. C. Capion,
Windham, Vt.-From the S. S. in Rev. S. R. Arms' Soc.,

West field.--From children of the Maternal Association, per Rev. E. Davis,
Wenham.--From two S. S. scholars in Rev. Mr. Mansfield's Soc.,
Winchendon.--From the S. S., per E. Butler, sup't,

Total,

1861, Sept. 2.

THE

CONGREGATIONAL VISITER.

NO. 12....DECEMBER, 1846....VOL. III.

CONGREGATIONAL VISITER.

With this number the third volume of the CONGREGATIONAL VISITER closes; and the Committee avail themselves of this opportunity, to commend this work anew to the patronage of the churches and Sabbath schools for whose benefit it was established.

If it has been the means of promoting, in any degree, the Sabbath school cause, or of exerting a good influence upon the minds of its readers, let God be praised. If it has, for any reason, or in any measure, failed to realize the expectations of its patrons, the failure will be a subject of deep regret, and a stimulus to increased effort in future to remove all defects, and to make it, what from the outset it was designed to be, a valuable auxiliary to those who are directly engaged in Sabbath school instruction, and a profitable visiter to the firesides of all classes in our religious community.

It is obvious that the Visiter has to share the patronage of the public with many religious periodicals; and some persons may regard the times as demanding a reduction of the number. But the Committee feel an increasing conviction

VOL. III.

23

that this humble and unpretending publication is needed, and should be sustained. There is none that can occupy its place, or accomplish its great end. It is needed by the Society as an organ of frequent communication with the churches which it represents, and whose interests it is laboring to promote; and on account of the greater prominence and publicity which is thus given to its operations. It is needed by the community, on account of the good influence which it is obviously adapted to exert upon the Sabbath school cause among the churches of our denomination.

Under this impression, the Committee are disposed to continue the Visiter; and they earnestly invite Pastors, Superintendents, and Teachers of Sabbath schools, and members of the Congregational churches generally, to cooperate with them in sustaining this work, and in rendering it more extensively useful than it has heretofore been. The Visiter will be under the same editorial management as during the present year; and no pains will be spared, either by the Editors or the Committee, to meet the wishes, and realize the expectations of the friends of the Society.

While it will continue to be, as it has been, a prominent object to render as much assistance as possible to Pastors, Superintendents, and Teachers, in the work of Sabbath school instruction, the wants of others will not be neglected. Well written articles upon important practical subjects will here find a place; and while the FAITH once delivered to the saints will be zealously maintained, the ORDER delivered to us by our fathers, will be occasionally exhibited and defended. In a word, while this work is not designed to be controversial, it will be a CongregaTIONAL VISITER, which may be safely and profitably circulated among all who desire to perpetuate the institutions of the Puritans.

The cover, a matter of little consequence comparatively, but of sufficient importance to deserve a single remark, will

1846.]

Sabbath School Concert.

267

be rendered much more valuable both to the Society and to the subscribers. By a change which will sufficiently explain itself when it is seen, several pages can be added without increasing the expense. These additional pages will be filled with descriptive notices of the Society's Publications, and such other matter as the Editors may deem of interest to the subscribers.

With these remarks the Visiter is commended to the patrons of the Society, in the confident hope that they will welcome it as a necessary auxiliary, and use their exertions and their influence to give it a wide and a permanent circulation.

SABBATH SCHOOL CONCERT.

A TEACHER'S LETTER то HER CLASS.

MY BELOVED SEVEN-I feel it to be a peculiar privilege that I have just that number committed to my trust-that it was God's favorite number, who can doubt, that reads his Bible with attention-and I look upon my little flock every Sabbath, with a deeper feeling of love-a sense of the honor of being a teacher of souls, and a solemnity of the trust, enhanced by the thought-they are seven! And shall I be so blest above, as to gaze upon those dear faces radiant with angelic beauty, which are now turned to me with affection and confidence, for instruction in heavenly things?

I thank God, he has listened to the prayer of parental love, which was strengthened by those of many others. who felt a deep interest in your salvation, and has set his divine seal of acceptance on five of my little band-that we welcome from among you, new members to the church of Christ, at our next sacramental season.

Let us all fervently pray that our dear Marion and