may do something towards ban-spect, and help them to maintain ishing poverty and its woes. For & just respect for themselves. this end, let him steadily exert We should enable them to apo his influence to discourage sloth. pear with decency in the streets intemperance, extravagance and and in the house of God, and by dissipation, and to promote in- furnishing a degree of greupa. dustry, sobriety, economy, hab- tion, should save them from The its of order and self-command, dangers of idleness, and from and that honorable independence the humiliating consciousness of of mind, which disdains to re- a wholly useless and dependeut ceive from bounty what it can life. obtain by its own exertions. Con- With respect to that class of tributions to this moral improve. poor, who are reduced to want ment of society are of more val. by vice, our duty is much more ve than contributions of wealth. difficult. Because guiliy, they By these, and these alone, we must not be abandoned; but remay carry confort, health and lief must be communicated with cheerfulness, into dwellings, a cautious and sparing hand, so as which now repel us by their to afford no encouragement to filth and misery.

improvidence; and it should selIt is not however possible dom or never be given in the form that by these or any efforts, of money, for this would furnish poverty will be wholly banished fuel to their worst vices. Chris. from ihe earth. Do what we tian benevolence should spare no will, some will be reduced by effort to awaken moral and retheir vices, and some by the hand ligious feeling, a fear of God, of God. To this last class, who a sense of their degradation are impoverished by events be- and danger, and a strong puryond their control, we owe a ten- pose of amendment and virtue der syınpathy and liberal aid. in the breasts of this most miser. If possible, we should place them able portion of our race. Alt of in a condition which will enable them are not hardened beyond them again to support themselves. hope. Some have fallen through Dependence is a wretched and inconsideration. Some have re. debasing state, and when a poor ceived early impressions of piety, man is disposed to rise above it, which vice has not wholly eras. we should, if possible, give him ed. Some have abandoned them. the means by one great act of selves to an evil course through bounty, instead of dispensing despondence; and tenderness and alms in trilling sums, which, encouragement may recal them hardly supporting him, accus- to an industrious, sober and uptom him to lean on charity. right life. Where this is impracticable, we One other mode of benefiting should relieve the virtuous poor the poorer classes of society re. in methods which tend least to mains to be mentioned. Attendegrade them. We should treat tion should be given to the eduthem with tenderness and re- gation of their children. The Vol. IV, No. 4.

16

the deeper

condition of the children of the instruction, wbich though it may vicious pour has been adverted seem limited, yet serves to quickto, in the course of this essay. en their minds, aids their future Helpless! beings what heart, occupations, and may be a fourwhich has buman feeling, does- dation of great future improvenot bleed for them! Living in ment. The mode of teaching filth, breathing an atmosphere introduced into England by Mr. which is loaded with the fumes Lancaster, and which is now exof intemperance, left to wander tended to many thousands of poor in the streets without restraint, children at a wonderfully small never perhaps hearing the name expense, might be very advanof God, but when it is profaned, tageously applied in this coun- . what misery awaits them! Even try. The more that we are conthe children of the virtuous poor

versant with the poor, are sometimes of necessity neg. will be our conviction, that their lected. Should not the disei. children deserve our first attenples of that Saviour, who took lit- tion. The parents, advanced in tle children into his arms and life, have formed a character, blessed them, be solicitous to which cannot easily be changed. provide some shelter and protec- But the child, untainted by bad tion for this exposed and tender babits, and open to new inipresage? One excellent method of sions, may be moulded, may be saving from destruction the ehil. improved. What better work dren of the poor, is to open can benevolence perform, than to schools for them, under the care rescue the neglected child from of prudent and well-principled degradation and misery, to train teachers. In this way they are it to a useful and holy life, and taken from the streets, are ac

thus to direct it to a blessed imcustomed to restraint, are taught mortality. the decencies of life, and receive

POETRY.

To the Editor of the Christian Disciple. Sir,

I believe there are sentiments in the following poem, not only congenial to your private feelings, but also coincident with the great object, to which, as a “ Friend of Peace," you have devoted your heart and pen. If the effusion c*n cooperate in the least degree with your laudable plans to diffuse a pacific spirit, I have no doubt the author will pardon the liberty which I take, in enclosing it for the Disciple. It should be previously observed, that the lines were written in October, 1813, when news had just arrived of some bloody success. es on our frontiers.

THE WARRIOR.
Oh, welcome the warrior, who proudly advances,
Victorious from battle, a lord o'er the foe!
As the sun o'er a darken'd creation he glances,
For the strong and the valiant his arm has laid low.

Oh! haste to the warrior, with bright laurel grace him,
For the mighty are vanquished, the timid have fled,
As a chief of the earth, as a savior address him,
And let haloes of glory encircle his head!
He has brav'd as a rock all the force of the battle,
And foes from his side fell like showery foam;
Around him has sounded war's Thundering rattle,
But he stood in the storm like the sky-threatening dome.
Men, raise your deep voices in praise of his glory!
And women, in reverence, bow at his name;
Children, in lisping's, reecho the story,
and nations, attend to the trump of his fame.
His praise shall extend over land and wide ocean,
And princes will listen in wonder and joy ;
In ages to come 'twill be heard with emotion,
And youth sieze the sword all his foes to destroy.
Already your shout heaven's concave is rending,
And the hero's great name is repeated around! -
But hark! as I listen, a wild shriek is blending!
Another! another! increases the sound.
Oh heaven! the moans of the wounded and dying,
Are mix'd with the plaudits that swell in the air;
Wife, children, and friends, mid the tumult are crying,
“Death, death, to the conq'ror, who makes our despair."
I listen--and fancy assists the faint mourning
Of an infant, whose parents are torn from the world,
Again-but now hoarser the sound is returning-
A sioner's dark soul from its mansion is hurl'd.
Again, a wild shriek! 'tis the grief of a lover,
Who, a maniac, wails for the youth of her heart,
In fancy she seems his cold body to cover
With the sear leaves of autumn that fluttering depart.
And is it for this that the laurel is given?
When man turns a murderer and foe to his kind?
For this does the shout of applause reach t) heaven?
From creatures for reason and virtue design'd?
Blush, hero, blush, while thou fancy'st before thee
The beings thy conquering arm has annoy'd,
Wbo frantic with want and affliction implore thee,
To give back the happiness thon hast destroy'd.
See fatherless infants that cling to their mothers,
While mothers stand shuddering and pale at thy name:
See groups o'er the embers their eagerness smothers,
Wbo wail at thy praises, and weep at thy fame.
And what is the glory resplendent around thee?

A glittering meteor that fades in its blaze:
op The light foam of waves whose bright sparkles surround thee,

Then dash on the shore, and disperse at thy gaze.
'Tis a rainbow, which brilliant near twilight appearing,
For a moment is form’d by the sun's friendly ray,

But the orb disappears with its brightness so cheering,
And darkness succeeds to the splendor of day.
Will the proud shout of triumph give joy to thy heart,
When misfortune or sickness has prey'd on thy frame!
The charm is but transient, its spell will depart,
And successors more honor'd arise to thy farne.
Be a patriot at home, and assist in those laws,
Which teach us religion, and virtue, and peace;
B: just to thy country, and warm in her cause,
But spill not her blood, and bid battle to cease.
Be a bero in virtue, and stars shall appear,
That will sparkle around thee in life's darkest day,
And though shouts of applause may not welcome thee here:
The praises of angels are sweeter than they,
Oh, conquer THYSELF, and a sun shall be given,
That will gild with its brightness thy life to its close,
Direct its full rays of devotion to heaven,

Till there they are kindled to know no repose.
Watertown, October 15th, 1813.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE,

A Circular Letter from the Massachusetts Peace Society, respectfully

addressed to the various associations, presbyteries, assemblies and

meetings of the ministers of religion in the United States. Respected fathers and brethren, of military ambition and revenge!

The Massachusetts Peace Society How have provinces been plundered now addresses you on a subject of the and depopulated-cities ļaid in ashes first importance to the interests of or sacked, unoffending men, women, Christianity and the happiness of the and children exposed by thousands to world

indiscriminate butchery, brutality and The crimes and desolations of war insult, to gratify the savage and licen. bave long been a subject of deep re- tious passions of conquering and ferogret and lamentation to reflecting cious armies! Can any intelligent Christians. The incessant havoc of Christian reflect on the immense human life and human happiness, pro- slaughter, desolation, opppression, and duced by the custom of settling con. distress occasioned by the wars of troversies by the sword, must shock Christendom, and not be compelled the mind that is nut dead to benevo- to exclaim, Does our benevolent reli. lent sympathies and deaf to the cries gion justify such scenes of wanton of suffering humanity, or bewildered barbarity! And "shalf the sword deby some deplorable delusion.

vour forever!” How great a portion of the history Whatever diversity of opinion may of Christendom is filled with narratives exist among Christians, as to the right of sanguinary dee is, at the thought of of self defence, must they not all ad. which benevolence recoils and reli- mit, that the spirit of war and revenge gion weeps! How have thousands af. is the reverse of the spirit enjoined by ter thousands, and millions after mil. the gospel? When the benevolent, lions, bearing the name of CHRIS. peaceful character of our Lord is com, TIANS, been sacrificed on the altars pared with the warring character of

the nations professing his religion, of the ministers of the Prince of peace! how awful is the contrast! Must it Does not his heavenly religion lay the not fill the mind with astonishment, axe directly at the root of that tree, anxiety, and alarm? Could a spirit whose fruit is war? Does it not remore hostile to the gospel have been ex quire of all his disciples a temper as hibited by these nations, had they been opposite to the spirit of war, as light avowedly Pagans or Mahometans? is to darkness, or as love to hatred?

By reflecting on the present state of May it not then be feared, that from the Christian world and the causes the influence of education, or some and effects of war, the members of the other cause, the ministers of religion Massachusetts Peace Society have in Christendom have failed of July been led to hope, that something may perceiving and exposing the odious be done to correct public opinion, and nature of war, and its contrariey to at least to diminish the evils of this the peaceful spirit of the gospel? scourge of nations and of humanity. It may indeed be true, that in every Encouraged by this hope, they have sermon which they have preached, been induced to unite their exertions something has been expressed or imin diffusing sentiments of "peace on plied in opposition to war But have earth and good will among men." In they been sufficiently careful to make this great work they need, and they it understood, that the spirit of war, earnestly invite, the aid of the minis. and the spirit of the gospel, are at vari. ters of religion of every denomination, ance? Have they indeed clearly un

The objects of the society and the derstood this themselves! And have means to be employed for their attain- not many of their hearers been left to ment, are stated in the Constitution, imbibe or retain the Mahometan docwhich will accompany this Letter. trine, that those who die in battle, If the following inquiries and obser. whatever their characters may have vations should seem to imply a fault been, are safe and happy? on the part of Christian ministers, still By doctrines and promises of this nothing of the nature of reproach is import, the Mahometan Priests and intended Many, who are represented military Chiefs have excited soldiers in this address, have known by expe. to the most bloody and desperate enrience the power of education and of terprises. And indeed it seems al. popular custom; and they can sympa- most impossible that rational beings, thize with others, who have been sub- who expect a future retribution, should jected to the sathe influence. Such be induced to hazard their lives and candor as they need, they are dispos. their eternal destiny in battle, except ed to exercise. If in any instance the under the influence of this or some language which may be adopted shall similar delusion? But have the cler. appear too strong, you are requested Sy of Christendom been sufficiently to impute it to an abhorrence of an careful to expose and to eradicate this unchristian custom, and not to disre. antichristian principle? Have due exspect towards Christian brethren. ertions been made to impress on the

From the history of mankind it is minds of soldiers, as well as others, clear, that whether a nation be pro- the danger of dying either in bed or fessedly Pagan, Mahometan, or Chris in battle, with a temper the reverse of tian, the acknowledged ministers of his who died for them? If the watchreligion have an extensive influence in men in Zion neglect to give warning, supporting or reforming popular cus- and the sword continue its bovoc, at toms. And may it not be said, that whose bands will the blood be required? according to their influence must be The friends of peace, who now ad. their responsibility?

dress you, are aware, that strong preThe Mahometan Priests may en- judices exist in the minds of many in courage war, and not be chargeable favor of war, as a necessary and justiwith violating the principles of their fiable mode of settling controversies; own religion; but can this be affirmed and that it must be a work of time to

The Constitution was published in the Number for February last.

a