reverence.

bly of the Church of Scotland, rendered more strict and vigilant than they might otherwise have been, in the observance of the Presbyterian code. But beside this, Dickinson, Pemberton, and Burr-men of most estimable character and of superior talents, but from education and principle of strong Congregational leanings-were, at the time of the union, no longer to be consulted, by those with whom they had been associated, and by whom they were deservedly regarded with President Dickinson, the champion of Congregationalism, died in less than two years and a half after the formation of the Synod of New York; Mr. Pemberton had been removed to Boston several years before the union of the Synods, and Mr. Burr deceased a few months before it was consummated. Several of the violent partizans on both sides had also been removed by death; and as is stated in the articles of union, a large majority of both Synods had come into the ministry since the lamented division had taken place. It is pleasant, however, to find that amidst the ravages of death, the two leaders of the opposite parties, Gilbert Tennent and Francis Allison, had been preserved, not only to lay aside their personal animosities, but each to use his whole influence in the Synod to which he belonged, to promote the union, and to effect a cordial, as well as a formal reconciliation. They both preached on the occasion, and seemed to vie with each other in recommending peace and fraternal concord. In regard to Presbyterianism, however, they had no differences to adjust as their attachment to it had been always strong and unqualified.

Three articles of the plan of union on which the Synods came together and agreed to act in future, are inserted in the General Assembly's Digest. We think it

may be gratifying and useful to many of our readers to see the whole plan. We insert it, therefore, with only one remark; namely, that the ambiguity and obscurity of "the adopting act" is totally excluded; and an unqualified declaration of adherence to the Westminster Confession, Catechisms, Form of Government, and Directory for Worship, is made indispensable to all candidates for the gospel ministry, at the time of their licensure.

"The Plan of Union agreed upon between the Synods of New York and Philadelphia, at their Meeting at Philadelphia, May 29th, 1758.

"The Synods of New York and Philadelphia, taking into serious consideration the present divided state of the Presbyterian Church in this land, and being deeply sensible, that the division of the Church tends to weaken its interests, to dishonour religion, and consequently its glorious author; to render government and discipline ineffectual, and finally to dissolve its very frame; and being desirous to pursue such measures as may most tend to the glory of God, and the establishment and edification of his people, do judge it to be our indispensable duty to study the things that make for peace, and to endeavour the healing of that breach, which has for some time subsisted among us, that so its hurtful consequences may not extend to posterity; that all occasion of reproach upon our society may be removed; and of religion to better advantage, than we that we may carry on the great designs

can do in a divided state: and since both Synods continue to profess the same principles of faith, and adhere to the same form of worship, government, and discideavour the compromising those diffepline, there is the greater reason to enrences which were agitated, many years ago, with too great warmth and animosity, and unite in one body.

"For which end, and that no jealousies or grounds of alienation, may remain, and also to prevent future breaches of like nature, we agree to unite and do unite in one body under the name of the Synod of New York and Philadelphia, on the following plan:

"1. Both Synods having always approved and received the Westminster Confession of Faith, larger and shorter catechisms, as an orthodox and excellent system of Christian doctrine, founded on

the word of God, we do still receive the same as the confession of our faith, and

also adhere to the plan of worship, government, and discipline, contained in the Westminster Directory; strictly enjoining it on all our members and probationers for the ministry, that they preach and teach according to the form of sound words in said confession and catechisms, and avoid and oppose errors contrary thereto.

"2. That when any matter is determined by a major vote, every member shall either actively concur with, or passively submit to, such determination; or, if his conscience permit him to do neither, he shall, after sufficient liberty modestly to reason and remonstrate, peaceably withdraw from our communion, without attempting to make any schism: Provided always, that this shall be understood to extend only to such determinations, as the body shall judge indispensable in doctrine or Presbyterian government.

"3. That any member or members, for the exoneration of his or their conscience before God, have a right to protest against any act or procedure of our highest judicature, because there is no further appeal to another for redress; and to require that such protestation be recorded in their minutes. And as such a protest is a solemn appeal from the bar of said judicature, no member is liable to prosecution on the account of his protesting: Provided always, that it shall be deemed irregular and unlawful to enter a protestation against any member or members, or to protest facts or accusations, instead of proving them, unless a fair trial be refused, even by the highest judicature. And it is agreed, that protestations are only to be entered against the publick acts, judgments, or determi nations of the judicature with which the protestor's conscience is offended.

"4. As the protestation, entered in the Synod of Philadelphia, A. D. 1741, has been apprehended to have been approved and received by an act of said Synod, and on that account was judged a sufficient obstacle to an union, the said Synod declare, that they never judicially adopted the said protestation, nor do account it a Synodical act; but that it is to be considered as the act of those only who subscribed it, and therefore cannot in its nature be a valid objection to the union of the two Synods; especially considering that a very great majority of both Synods have become members since the said protestation was entered.

"5. That it shall be esteemed and treated as a censurable evil, to accuse any member of heterodoxy, insufficiency, or immorality, in a calumniating manner, or otherwise, than by private brotherly admonition, or by a regular process, according to our known rules of judicial trial in cases of scandal. And it shall be consi

dered in the same view, if any presbytery

appoint supplies within the bounds of another presbytery, without their concurrence; or if any member officiate in another's congregation, without asking and obtaining his consent, or the session's, in case the minister be absent. Yet it shall be esteemed unbrotherly for any one, in ordinary circumstances, to refuse his consent to a regular member, when it is requested.

"6. That no presbytery shall license or ordain to the work of the ministry, any candidate, until he give them competent satisfaction as to his learning, and experimental acquaintance with religion, and skill in divinity and cases of conscience; and declare his acceptance of the Westminster Confession and Catechisms, as the confession of his faith, and promise subjection to the Presbyterian plan of government in the Westminster Directory.

"7. The Synods declare it is their earnest desire, that a complete union may be obtained as soon as possible, and agree that the united Synod shall model the several presbyteries in such manner as shall appear to them most expedient: Provided nevertheless, that presbyteries, where an alteration does not appear to be for edification, continue in their present form. As to divided congregations, it is agreed, that such as have settled ministers on both sides, be allowed to continue as they are; that where those of one side have a settled minister, the other being vacant, may join with the settled minister, if a majority choose so to do: that when both sides are vacant, they shall be at liberty to unite together.

"S. As the late religious appearances occasioned much speculation and debate, the members of the New York Synod, in order to prevent any misapprehensions, declare their adherence to their former sentiments in favour of them, that a blessed work of God's holy Spirit in the conversion of numbers, was then carried on: and for the satisfaction of all concerned, this united Synod agree in declaring, that as all mankind are naturally dead in trespasses and sins, an entire change of heart and life is necessary to make them meet for the service and enjoyment of God; that such a change can be only effected by the powerful operations of the divine Spirit; that when sinners are made sensible of their lost condition, and absolute inability to recover themselves; are enlightened in the knowledge of Christ and convinced of his ability and willingness to save; and upon gospel encouragements do choose him for their Saviour; and renouncing their own righteousness in point of merit, depend upon his imputed righteousness for their justification before God, and on his wisdom and strength for guidance and support: when upon these

apprehensions and exercises, their souls are comforted, notwithstanding all their past guilt, and rejoice in God, through Jesus Christ; when they hate and bewail their sins of heart and life; delight in the laws of God without exception; reverent ly and diligently attend his ordinances; become humble and self-denied; and make it the business of their lives to please and glorify God, and to do good to their fellow-men: this is to be acknowledged as a gracious work of God, even though it should be attended with unusual bodily commotions, or some more exceptionable circumstances, by means of infirmity, temptations, or remaining corruptions: and wherever religious appearances are attended with the good effects abovementioned, we desire to rejoice in and thank God for them.

"But on the other hand, when persons seeming to be under a religious concern, imagine that they have visions of the humane nature of Jesus Christ; or hear voices, or see external lights, or have fainting and convulsion-like fits, and on the account of these, judge themselves to be truly converted, though they have not the scriptural characters of a work of God above described, we believe such persons are under a dangerous delusion. And we testify our utter disapprobation of such a delusion, wherever it attends any religious appearances, in any church or time.

"Now as both Synods are agreed in their sentiments concerning the nature of a work of grace, and declare their desire and purpose to promote it, different judgments respecting particular matters of fact, ought not to prevent their union; especially as many of the present members have entered into the ministry, since the time of the aforesaid religious appear

ances.

"Upon the whole, as the design of our union is the advancement of the Mediator's kingdom; and as the wise and faithful discharge of the ministerial function is the principal appointed mean for that glorious end, we judge that this is a proper occasion to manifest our sincere intention, unitedly to exert ourselves to fulfil the ministry we have received of the Lord Jesus: accordingly, we unanimously declare our serious and fixed resolution, by divine aid, to take heed to ourselves, that our hearts be upright, our discourse edifying, and our lives exemplary for purity and godliness-to take heed to our doctrine, that it be not only orthodox, but evangelical and spiritual, tending to awaken the secure to a suitable concern for their salvation, and to instruct and encourage sincere Christians; thus commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God; to cultivate peace and harmony among ourselves, and strengthen each other's hands in promoting the knowledge of divine truth, and diffusing the savour of piety among our people.

"Finally, we earnestly recommend it to all under our care, that instead of indulging a contentious disposition, they would love each other with a pure heart fervently, as brethren who profess subjection to the same Lord, adhere to the same faith, worship, and government, and entertain the same hope of glory; and we desire that they would improve the present union for their mutual edification; combine to strengthen the common interests of religion; and go hand in hand in the path of life; which we pray the God of all grace would please to effect, for Christ's sake. Amen."

(To be continued.)

On the Metals known to the Aborigines of North America. By Jacob Green, M.D. Professor of Chemistry in Jefferson Medical College.

The following particulars, respecting certain metallic substances discovered in the ancient graves of our aborigines, have been collected together, with a hope that they may throw an additional ray of light on the dark history of that mysterious race, which once inhabited along the banks of our great western rivers.

It is commonly supposed that those nations who obtained their sustenance by agriculture, were the first to devote much Ch. Adv.-VOL. XI.

attention to the mechanick arts, and that they were therefore the first to discover wander from place to place and live by the processes of metallurgy. Those who hunting and fishing, might readily substitute for metals, sharpened flints and shells, thorns, and the bones of fish and other animals. Whether the people who constructed the fortifications and mounds of the west, had already passed, in the usual order of civilization, from the hunting to the pastoral state of society, or were just abandoning the pursuits of the chase for the employments of agriculture, are points foreign to this communication; its object, as just stated, being merely to show that 3 H

they were acquainted with some rude processes of metallurgy.

According to all antiquity, sacred and profane, gold, silver, and copper, were the first metals used by man. These facts are exactly what our present knowledge of mineralogy would lead us to expect for we even now find these metals so pure in nature, that there is no necessity of resorting to melting and refining furnaces in order to render them malleable. We know nothing with certainty of the methods resorted to by the ancient metallurgists, but we have always supposed that the metals used in the first ages of the world were derived from the native substance, accidentally discovered near the surface of the ground, and not by extraction from the ores.

There are several instances mentioned in which small ornaments of gold have been found in our ancient tombs. The following fact will be sufficient for our purpose. Dr. Hildreth, in the Archæologia Americana, informs us that in a mound in Ross county, near Chillicothe, a piece of gold was discovered lying in the palm of a skeleton's hand.

The quantity of native gold now obtain ed from several districts of the United States, renders it highly probable that this metal was not uncommon among the aborigines. Plates of native gold, beaten out into thin foil, are frequently attached to the mummies in the tombs of the ancient inhabitants of Mexico. These plates are a native alloy of gold and silver, the silver being in such excess as to obscure the lustre of the gold altogether. On analyzing one of these plates, now in the Philadelphia Museum, I found it about fifteen carets fine-no copper could be detected in the alloy. This is the kind of gold, I suppose, known to the ancient North Americans.

The next metal to be noticed is silver. Near the mouth of the Muskingum, there are a number of old fortifications. Among the many curious articles found on dig: ging in that place, there were several pieces of silver. This silver had been hammered out into thin plates, one of which was six inches long and two inches broad. It weighed one ounce. I might notice several other instances in which silver has been discovered in our tumuli. In all these cases the metal was no doubt in its native state. Large masses of silver are now met with in Mexico, and smaller portions frequently occur in some of the northern states.

Our third substance is copper. It is known to almost every one, that no metal was more common in ancient times than copper. It often occurs in loose, insulated masses. Not far from Lake Superior there is a large mass of this kind, weigh

ing more than 2000 pounds, from which I have seen some rude utensils and ornaments fabricated by our present race of Indians. Near Somerville, in New Jersey, a lump of native copper, of about 100 pounds weight, was ploughed up a few years since, and I have some specimens obtained from that rich locality, weighing nearly two pounds. From these and other instances which could be specified, it might be expected that copper would often occur in our ancient mounds. Two or three examples, however, will be suffi cient.

Dr. Drake, in his picture of Cincinnati, while noticing the articles dug from the ancient works in the Miami country, enumerates among them "a handful of copper beads, a small oval piece of sheet copper with two perforations, a large oblong piece of the same metal, with longitudinal grooves and ridges. Several copper articles, each consisting of two sets of circular concavo-convex plates." Dr. Hildreth, of Marietta, has given us an account of some curious ornaments of copper, taken from the ancient works near that place. The skeleton with which the copper was found, had entirely mouldered away, except a portion of the forehead and skull, which were in contact with the copper: "These bones were deeply tinged with green, and appear to have been preserved by the salts of copper." In the Philadelphia Museum, I have examined a rod of copper, dug out of a mound on the St. John's river, by Mr. Peale and others; it is about twelve inches in length, is pointed at the ends, and seems much harder than pure copper. When copper supplied the place of iron, the Egyptians had a process of rendering it exceedingly hard. It is also well known that the Peruvians and Mexicans tempered their axes and instruments of war, which were all of this metal, so as to make them a good substitute for iron; and from the appearance of the copper rod found by Mr. Peale, I have no doubt that our aborigines were acquainted with the same art. That they possessed considerable skill in moulding and working copper is evident, not only from their beads, rings, arrow-heads, and pipes, some of which are said to have been soldered, but ornaments of this metal have been found overlaid or plated with silver. These operations certainly imply very considerable advancement in the art of metallurgy. See Atwater's Antiquities, &c. p. 158.

one

Besides gold, silver and copper, our Aborigines were also acquainted, in some degree, with iron and lead. Every on knows that the art of working iron is more difficult, and of a later date, than that of the other metals just mentioned. It was, however, of very remote antiquity, though it was confined to particular places. Even