communion-table furnishes a retreat, where you may cherish your infidelity under the milder name of rational Christianity?'—Will our learned Judge avail himself of an expedient, so ingenious, appropriate, and safe?

My dear friend, will a new name change the qualities of a confirmed character? Let us remember, that we have to do with a holy God, one who cannot be deceived, and will not be mocked. Whatever it may cost us, let us ascertain his will, and secure his favor.

Yours, &c.

REVIEWS.

1. PUBLICATIONS OF THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SOCIETY. 2. PUBLICATIONS OF PRESBYTERIAN, BAPTIST, AND EPISCOPAL EDUCATION SOCIETIES in the United States.

3. EXAMINATION OF THE REVIEW OF THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SOCIETY: Published in the Biblical Repertory at Princeton, N. J. With a Postscript. By MOSES STUART.

THE interest which Education societies-such as those to which reference is made at the head of this article-are now exciting in the church, connected with the extended influence which they are destined to exert, justly claims for them the particular attention of a religious periodical. And the reason why this great theme, so rich in materials and so interesting in detail, has not found a place on our pages before, is not because we have paid no attention to it, or have deemed it of secondary importance. The present position and aspects of this cause, now especially urge it upon our attention, and seem to threaten us with rebuke, if we continue silent.

We begin with presenting a brief Historical notice of the origin and progress of Education Societies.

A society of this description was established in Bristol, England, in 1686, by the donation of Mr. Edward Terrill of that city. Before 1700, it seems that the students, who received its patronage, were placed under the care of ministers in different places. About twenty-five years ago, another Baptist Education Society was formed in England, called "the Northern Baptist Education Society." The Society at Bristol, in 1824, had assisted 120 men in their preparation for the ministry. We are not informed of the existence of any other societies in England, or on the continent,

especially for this object, unless it be the Moravian Church, which is indeed an Education Society, but altogether of a different structure, and for more general purposes, than those institutions, the history of which it is our design to trace. It should not be overlooked, however, that there are sundry provisions and foundations for the support of indigent candidates for the ministry, in the Universities of Great Britain, and the continent. The several Dissenting Academies in England are also, to a very considerable extent, Education Societies. Distinguished individuals, in that country, like the Thorntons, have done much in this way for the promotion of truth.

"In the United States, for a long period, pious and indigent young men have been assisted at the different Colleges and Seminaries of learning. In 1807, the Theological Seminary at Andover was founded. Very valuable pecuniary assistance, in many ways, has been furnished by the founders and patrons of this Seminary, in preparing young men to be preachers of the Gospel. The same is true of the Princeton, Auburn, and other Theological Institutions. The first Education Society in the United States, which has come to our knowledge, was formed in the vicinity of Dorset, Vt., in 1807. The Religious Charitable Society of Worcester County, which operated in part as an Education Society, was instituted in 1811. In 1813, a society was formed, embracing the counties of Plymouth, Bristol, and Barnstable, Mass., called the Benevolent Education Society. This society, within a few months, has become Auxiliary to the American Education Society.

"The Massachusetts Baptist Education Society was formed in 1814. In 1818, a Protestant Episcopal Education Society went into operation at Washington, D. C. In 1820, the Connecticut Baptist Education Society was organized. The Baptist Education Society of New York has been in existence twelve years." The above named societies have done well in the cause they have undertaken, and we believe are constantly increasing in resources and efficiency..

In 1805, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, took special order on this subject, and enjoined it upon the particular attention of their numerous Presbyteries. And we have reason to believe, that the Presbyteries have not been unmindful of their duty. In 1819, the General Assembly organized a standing committee, or Board of Education, which, besides their immediate influence between the Assembly and Presbyteries, reported twenty-four beneficiaries under their care in 1825; nineteen in 1826; eighteen in 1827; nineteen in 1828; and eighteen in 1829. This Board was re-organized in 1829, and has now become an important institution. It publishes a Monthly Register, is at present assisting more than forty young men, and promises great efficiency in the common cause.

The Presbyterian Education Society, organized in 1818, and now Auxiliary to the American Education Society, consists chiefly of individual members of the Presbyterian Church, living in the states of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The number of young men, patronized by this society, has recently exceeded one hundred a year. It includes the Western Education Society of the state of New York, which is another very important institution.

There are numerous minor auxiliary associations, scattered over the country, on which the great cause very much depends. There are, we believe, some important associations for charitable Education in the Western States, the names and dates of which are not at our hand. So far as the Presbyterian Church extends, the Presbyteries are generally the medium of fulfilling this duty. Every Presbytery in the United States, of which there are ninety two-is virtually an Education Society for its own limits. And there are very few Presbyteries which have not more or less young men in a course of education.

The acknowledged magnitude of this subject-the great disadvantage of scattered, unconcentrated effort-and the necessity of an organized and systematic operation, with one centre and one soul, not only for the general purposes of economy, but for the greater perfection of the whole plan, and for greater efficiency in accomplishing it-gave rise to the American Education Society, in 1815. The principles, on which this Society was organized-its enlarged and liberal policy-its wise provisions against abuse and perversion -together with its bold and efficient occupation of the field of its enterprise-have greatly commended it to the public confidence.

As the American Education Society is the largest and most important institution of this class, that has sprung up in our country, and, so far as we know, in the present age;-as it has fairly taken the lead in this great enterprize, formed a system peculiarly its own, and gone into efficient operation upon a very extended plan-thus challenging public scrutiny, and depending upon the public patronage; it is due to such an undertaking, to examine its principles, and to weigh in the balance of truth and justice the results it has attained.

The results of the operations of the American Education Society may be divided into two classes,-direct and indirect. Its direct results comprehend the number of young men patronized, the number of additional ministers brought into the field, and the amount of their usefulness. The number of men patronized by the American Education Society, since its organization in 1815, we believe exceeds one thousand;-the number actually introduced into the ministry about three hundred, including some forty or fifty who are now on the eve of engaging publicly in the great

work. Between four and five hundred are in the different stages of their education, and a large portion of these far advanced.

It would be very difficult, nay impossible, to ascertain with any exactness, how many of these young men would have been forever debarred from the Christian ministry, independent of the A. E. Society and its auxiliaries. Perhaps one fifth-or one third-or more. Whichsoever of these numbers we assume as the supposition, and even though it be much less than either of them, it is still sufficiently great in itself, and in its immediate and probable results, to constitute a subject of the deepest interest to a benevolent mind. To calculate the probable fruits of these extra labors, (in the present sense extra) both here and hereafter, in the temporal and eternal train of their consequences, is indeed grateful, cheering, congratulatory. If there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth;-let the Christian sit down and make a calculation on the following history:

"During the last year," say the A. E. Society, in August, 1829-" nearly one tenth of all the ordinations and installations in the United States which we could find mentioned in the public prints, were of former beneficiaries of this Society. From communications recently received, it is safe to conclude, that several thousands have professed religion within a few years under the ministry of men of this description. Many of them, if we may credit their own declarations, would not have been educated at all, or very imperfectly so, for the sacred office, had not this Society taken them by the hand, and assisted them on their way. One such minister, who was instrumental of several revivals of religion while in his course of education, and who has had the rare felicity of seeing fire hundred members added to his church in two years, once said to the Secretary of the A. E. Society: Had it not been for the appeals which the Directors of your Society sent abroad, and the encouragement which they gave to indigent and pious young men, I know not that I should ever have been a minister."

6

It should be recollected, also, that several of the ordained missionaries of the American Board have been aided in their preparatory studies by the A. E. Society. Is it not fair to conclude, then, that converts are daily multiplying in Christian and pagan lands, and souls almost daily ascending to heaven, as a direct result of the operations of this Institution? And then to calculate the multiplication of these results into themselves, through the coming ages of this world, and through eternity-what an interesting and sublime spectacle! And then to look back, and view the actual and uninterrupted increase of this same original power, uttering upon the world continually the commencements of these selfaccumulating results, this again is no less grateful and cheering.

The A. E. Society, then, has actually brought into the field not a few laborers, who would otherwise never have entered on the sacred work; many such it now has under its patronage, in a course of preparation; and by its special inducements, it is perpetually operating upon the great community of pious and promising young men in the land, summoning them from that destination to which their indigence had consigned them, and bidding them, in the

name of Jesus Christ, "Go, work in my vineyard." And they rise, and go.

Such are some of the direct results of the institution and operations of the A. E. Society. Its indirect results are more numerous, more complicated, more difficult to be made palpable and to be appreciated; but not, perhaps, less important ;-in many respects,

more so.

The example of the A. E. Society has operated on other sections of the church, and on other denominations of Christians, to excite them to engage, in earnest, in the same great and glorious enterprise. This single result is perhaps already, in all its branches, equal to the inherent power of the original Institution. We hope it will soon be vastly greater.

The general influence of this society, in awakening a missionary spirit, and in challenging the attention of the Christian public to the spiritual wants of our land and world, coustitutes no inconsiderable part of the good which it has been the means, indirectly, of accomplishing.

Owing to the purifying influence it has been able to throw into the public Literary Institutions scattered over the land by means of its young men in a course of education, and by furnishing the more eligible candidates for the offices of instruction; a very manifest change for the better has already taken place in many of our academies and colleges.

The reciprocal action of the hallowed spirit of such an Institution, and of such an enterprise, upon its own immediate agents, upon its patrons, upon those whom it educates, upon its numerous branches and auxiliaries, and through them upon the Christian public generally, must necessarily be great and salutary.

The indirect influence of the A. E. Society in forming a public opinion, which will demand exemplary and devoted piety in the ministers of religion, is no inconsiderable item in this account. It has forced this subject upon the minds and hearts of Christians, till they cannot but see and feel its importance.

Among all the results of this Institution, that of introducing order and system into this important branch of Christian enterprise is, perhaps, one of the most valuable. Indeed, there is a strong probability, that the cause itself would have gone to wreck, without a redeeming influence of this kind. Every one who is even slightly acquainted with the history of this enterprise must know, that the forms under which it existed, soon after its importance began to be appreciated, and its appropriate spirit began to move, were in many respects very infelicitous, and extremely liable to disaster. Indeed, public confidence towards these efforts had already begun to decline, when the A. E. Society sprang into being, laid its hand upon the disconnected and dissolving materials, reduced them to order, and established a regular system of operation.

VOL. III.NO. IV.

39