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where the children of pagans are instructed, proves that they will admit any thing, provided their errours be not the direct objects of attack; and that, while the indolence and sensuality of their native habits bind them most to their superstitions, the hopes of their children's advancement are sufficient to make them consent to the method, which, more effectually than any other, tends to undermine the same superstitions in them. From the very limited experience I have myself acquired in this country, I can speak with confidence to the fact, that the scriptures, and other Christian books, even in places the most contradictory to the whole system of idolatry, may be read in heathen schools, where Brahmin pundits are the hearers and teachers, without exciting any alarm or offence whatsoever."

At the close of the abstract is presented a "general and brief view of the origin, constitution, past, present, and intended operations" of the society. On the subject of the North American colonies, the following observations show at once how much the society is effecting.

"Of late years the population in these colonies has increased to such an extent, that the society has deemed it necessary to enlarge the number of its missionaries far beyond what was required during the last war; and the table subjoined to the present document will show that the spiritual wants of those countries cannot be adequately supplied without such an addition to the ministers of religion as would almost double the number that was considered sufficient even

at so late a period as the year 1816. The actual number of missionaries now in the service of the society, is eighty-six, in addition to which a large body of schoolmasters is partially supported from its funds.

"Another source of expenditure has been opened to the society in the extended colonization of the southern parts of Africa, and in the interiour of New Holland, where it will form an object of great and important interest to carry forward the same plans of religious instruction and general education which have been found so effectual in the North American colonies."

In closing our brief abstract of this interesting document, we wish to notice an errour which we committed at the commencement, and which is rectified by the last extract. We stated the number of missionaries in the British provinces to be eighty-nine; it appears that there are but eighty-six.

The general account of the society, at the audit in January, 1822, stated the payments of the preceding year to be 223931. 17s. or $99194,89.

In addition to their other trusts, the society hold a fund for the relief of the Vaudois clergy, the remains of the Waldenses in Piedmont. Annual stipends are regularly paid to thirteen pastors of the valleys, independently of certain small allowances made to the widows of the deceased ministers.

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DOMESTICK.

MAINE CONVENTION.

Ar the second annual convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the state of Maine, holden at Gardiner, October 3, 1821.

The Rev. G. W Olney, Rector of Christ church, in Gardiner, was elected president.

Wm. T. Vaughan, Esq. of Portland, was chosen secretary, pro tem. Voted, That the Rev. Mr. Olney, Rev. Mr. Ten Broeck, Robert H. Gardiner, and Simon Greenleaf, Esqrs. be delegates to any general convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church, during the present year and until the next annual convention.

Voted. That the standing committee be appointed to prepare a tract, and cause the same to be published and distributed in the church

Voted, That this convention recommend to the clergy of this state to perform occasional missionary services, and that, if they deem it for the interest of the church, they should be absent two or three sabbaths in the course of the year on this duty.

Voted, That the gentlemen who composed the standing committee last year, be the standing committee this year.

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On motion, Resolved, That it is proposed to consider at the next annual convention of this church, and, if deemed expedient, then to alter, the first article of the constitution, by inserting the words, unless the time and place be altered by the standing committee:" and also to consider at the next annual convention, and, if deemed expedient, then to alter, the eighth article of the constitution, by inserting the words, "the standing committee shall have discretionary power to alter the time and place for the meeting of this convention, notice thereof shall be given to the wardens of the several churches, fourteen days before said meeting."

On motion, Resolved, That it is proposed to consider at the next annual convention of this church, and, if deemed expedient, then to add the following article to the constitution of this church.

"The standing committee shall have power to appoint persons to supply vacancies occasioned in the representation of this church, both in the diocesan and general convention, the persons chosen delegates declining to attend."

On motion, Resolved, That it is proposed to consider at the next annual convention of this church, and, if deemed expedient, to add the following canon to the canons of this church.

"It shall be the duty of each clerical deputy, to lay before the convention at its annual meetings, a particular statement of his church, including the number of communicants, and of marriages, deaths and baptisms in his church during the preceding year; and it shall likewise be the duty of missionaries, when there are any, to give an account of their labours at each meeting of the convention." Voted to adjourn this meeting without day, and adjourned accordingly..

Extract from the records, J. Merrill, Secretary.

At the third annual convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the state of Maine, bolden at Portland, October 2. 1822,

The Right Rev. Alexander V. Griswold was President, ex officio. Prayers were offered by the Rev. Mr. Olney, of Christ church. A most excellent sermon was then delivered by the Bishop from 2, Cor. iv. 1, 2, after which confirmation and the holy sacrament of the Lord's supper were administered by the Bishop, assisted by Rev. Mr. Olney.

After the religious services were over, the convention entered upon the business before them.

Doctor John Merrill was chosen secretary.

On motion of Rev. Mr. Olney, Voted, That a committee be chosen to wait on the Bishop, and request a copy of the excellent discourse delivered by him, before this convention, and request a copy for the

press.

Voted, That the Rev. Mr. Olney, the Rev. Mr. Ten Broeck, and Mr. Stephen Waite, be a committee for the above purpose.

Voted, That the standing committee consist of four. Rev. Mr. Olney, Rev. Mr. Ten Broeck, Robert H. Gardiner, and Simon Greenleaf, esquires, were chosen.

Rev. Gideon W. Olney and Rev. Petrus S. Ten Broeck were chosen clerical delegates; and Robert H. Gardiner, Esq., William Tristram Vaughan, Esq., Mr. M. Plant Sawyer, and Mr. William Jacob Quincy were chosen lay delegates, to the next general convention.

The Rev. Gideon W Olney was chosen trustee to the general theological seminary at New York.

"Voted, That the amendments proposed at the last convention, to first and eighth articles of the constitution be adopted.

Voted, That the article proposed at the last convention to be added to the constitution be adopted.

Voted, That the canon proposed at the last convention to be added to the canons of this church be adopted.

Voted, That this convention do approve of the account given of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the ecclesiastical sketches of this state, by the Rev. Jonathan Greenleaf.

Voted, That the secretary give notice of the proceedings of this convention to the different churches in the state.

Voted, That the next annual convention be holden at Gardiner. Voted, That the Rev. Gideon W. Olney be requested to preach before the next convention.

Voted, That the secretary send a copy of the proceedings of this convention to the publisher of the Gospel Advocate, for publication.

The committee appointed to wait on the Bishop, and request a copy of his sermon, delivered before this convention, for publication, report ed, that they had attended to that service, and that the Bishop declined complying with their request.

Voted to adjourn this convention without day, and adjourned accordingly. John Merrill, Secretary.

Extracted from the records,

GARDINER LYCEUM.

An institution, of a character somewhat novel in this country, has been recently established at Gardiner, in the state of Maine, by the name of the Gardiner Lyceum. Its object is to provide more extensive means of education than can be found in the common schools of our country, and such means as are better suited to the wants of farmers and mechanicks than are furnished by the higher schools, or even at our colleges. The manner in which this is to be accomplished is shown in the following extract from the address of the trustees of the institution. "With a view to furnish to farmers and mechanicks the education here represented as so useful, the Gardiner Lyceum has been established; and the course of study will be arranged with a particular reference to the wants of those classes, for, whose particuİar benefit it is designed. As soon as a suitable apparatus can be procured, lectures will be given upon the sciences there taught; and the application of those sciences to the arts will be illustrated as fully, as the nature of lectures will admit. As fast as the funds of the institution will allow, models will be procured of the best machines employed in the useful arts. Specimens will likewise be collected of the natural productions of the country, as opportunity offers; and they will be deposited in a cabinet in the Lyceum.

"Candidates for admission to the Lyceum will be required to produce certificates of good moral character, and will be examined in the four fundamental operations of arithmetick; addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, both upon simple and compound numbers, and in reduction. It is also very desirable, that English grammar should be understood by those entering the Lyceum; and although the trustees do not at present consider it as an indispensable requisite, yet they hope it will have been studied by persons, applying for admission. The studies at the Lyceum will be—

"For the first year. Arithmetick, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, the Mensuration of Surfaces and Solids, and Book-keeping. "In the second year. Surveying, Navigation, Mechanicks, Hydrostaticks, Pneumaticks, and Chemistry.

"No student will be required to attend to all the branches of instruction for the second year; but only those, which are best adapted to his future wants. He will likewise be instructed in the practical application of the knowledge thus acquired, to the particular art which he is to practise.

"Two years will complete what is deemed an essential course; but instructions will be afforded to those who wish to continue their studies another year.

"The studies for the third year will be

"Other branches of Natural Philosophy, the higher branches of Mathematicks, Natural History, and the first volume of Stewart's Philosophy of the Mind.

"There will be regular exercises in English composition; and each Monday morning all the classes will be instructed in the principles of natural and revealed religion. There will be three terms, and three vacations in each year, One vacation will be of five weeks from the

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first Wednesday in July, one of two weeks from the third Wednesday in December, and one of two weeks from the first Wednesday in April. The price of tuition will be eight dollars a term. Four students of good talents, but needy, will be admitted without charge."

On the first of January, of the present year, the Lyceum was organized, and the Rev. Benjamin Hale inducted into office, as Principal. We confidently trust that so excellent an institution as this is in its design, and, so far as we can judge, in its plan, will not be suffered to languish for want of patronage sufficient to ensure its success. Mr. Hale's inaugural address has been published; and we present our readers with the following extracts.

"The discoveries of modern science have opened to us more just views, and led to a more rational mode of investigation. The operations of nature are no longer regarded with a mysterious dread, or as the capricious movements of a doubtful agent, or under the control of stellar influence ;—but as subject to fixed and unvaried laws, established by a benevolent Deity, and accommodated to the wants and the highest happiness of his sentient creation.

"Philosophers too have thrown aside their veil of mystery, and have become the publick teachers of mankind. They disclose the secrets of nature, and the manner in which they may be made subservient to the uses of life. They have interpreted the written scroll, which shines in golden characters above our heads, not as a book of fate, which, like the hand writing upon the wall, is full of terrible but unintelligible import, but as a chart, which kindly serves to guide the wanderer upon the trackless ocean, or over the unknown desert, to his desired home.

"In consequence of this change in the character of science, in the dispositions of its votaries and the benefits it has laid at the door of every man, prejudice against it has nearly ceased. We would say quite. But there are still many who receive its benefits, without confessing their obligations,-who yet look upon it as something of a useless nature. And perhaps most men regard it as belonging to the closet, the laboratory, or the lecture room, rather than the work-shop, the manufactory, or the field.

"But though philosophers have hitherto been, for the most part, secluded from the common pursuits of life, and have made their attainments from the study of books, or from private experiments, they are not the only men of science. There are thousands, who call themselves practical men, in distinction from men of science, who in truth derive all their merit from the science, which they have unknowingly united with their practical skill. It is forgotten, that every operation in the arts is really an experiment in philosophy, and as truly illustrative of some law of nature, as any performed in the laboratory or the lecture room; and that every artist, who understands the reason of the operation is so far a man of science."

"Among the benefits, which result from a study of the physical and other sciences, in their relations to the useful arts, its moral influence should not be forgotten. What can more forcibly teach to man the true dignity of his nature, his superiority to the beasts which perish,

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