This letter was probably communicated to us for private inspection, but we venture to publish it, as an interesting document, which unfolds the circumstances that led to the formation of the Female Society in Boston. It was well adapted to its object, and some of its happy effects may be seen in what is to follow.

Constitution of the Female Society of Boston and the Vicinity, for promoting Christianity among the Jews. Instituted June 5, 1816.

Among the many predictions contained in the sure word of prophecy, which have enlivened the hearts and the prayers of Christians in every age, that portion which respects the ingathering of the Jews to the kingdom of the Messiah, bears an important part. These predictions remain yet to be accomplished, and the present signs of the times indicate that their fulfilment is nigh at hand. In consequence of the affecting representation of their situation, and the powerful motives for Christians to make some special exertions for their conversion, presented in a book written by Mr. Frey, entitled, "The Converted Jew, a number of ladies contributed, in July, 1815, the sum of $50, to be appropriated to this object. Finding these feeble exertions could do but little to effect this great design, and deeply anxious that some more efficient aid might be given to restore this once favoured people to the

knowledge of the true God and Saviour, it was agreed, in June, 1816, to form a society for this purpose; encouraged by the pleasing hope, that, while the branches grafted into the good olive-tree shall continue to flourish with increasing strength, and diffuse their healing fra grance throughout every realm, the great Husbandman of the vineyard will smile propitious on the efforts of his stewards, to restore the natural branches to their original stock.

With these impressions, a number of ladies met on the 5th of June, 1816; and, after supplicating the Throne of Grace for direction and a blessing, adopted the following

CONSTITUTION.

1. The name of this Association shall be, the Female Society of Boston and the Vicinity, for promoting Christianity among the Jews.

2. The officers of the society shall be a First and Second Directress, a Corresponding Secretary, a Recording Secretary, and a Treasurer; to which shall be added, one Collector to every 25 subscribers. These officers and collectors toge

ther shall constitute the Board of Directors: any two of the officers, with three collectors, shall form a quorum.

3. The annual meetings of the society shall be holden in Boston, the third Tuesday in May, at the hour and place the Directors shall appoint; at which time the Board of Directors shall be elected by ballot. Every meeting shall be opened with prayer.

4. The First Directress, or, in her absence, the Second Directress,

follows:

MRS. ELIZABETH B. WINTHROP, 1st Directress.

5. The Corresponding Secretary shall conduct the foreign correspondence of the society, and keep a record of the same. The Recording Secretary shall give notice of all meetings of the society and of the board, and record the doings of the same; and shall prepare the Report of the Directors for the annual meeting. The Treasurer shall keep the names of all the members of the society, and shall designate to each collector the subscriptions to be collected by her; and shall keep an account of all monies she may receive from the collectors, or from any other source, to be holden subject to the order of the First or Second Directress, which shall be drawn from the treasury only_by au hority from the board. Collectors shall severally keep an account with each member whose subscription is assigned for her collection, pay all monies so received, to the Treasurer, and take her receipt for the same.

The

6. The funds of the society shall be applied for the promotion of Christianity among the Jews, and shall be appropriated to this object, according to the discretion of

the board.

7. Any person who shall subscribe these articles, and pay ten dollars, shall be a member for life; and any person subscribing and paying annually a sum not less than 52 cents, shall be a member so long as such subscription is paid.

8. Any alteration in these articles may be made, by the vote of twothirds of the members present at an annual meeting.

MRS. MARGARET C. WELCH,

2d Directress. MISS HANNAH ADAMS,

Cor. Secretary.

MISS AUGUSTA T. WINTHROP,
Rec. Secretary.
MRS. SARAH DUNN,
Treasurer.

Collectors.

Mrs. Susan Eaton.
Mrs. Lucia G. Swett.
Mrs. Susan Dorr.
Mrs. Elizabeth Cummings.
Mrs. Mary Bowers.
Miss Harriet Moore.
Miss Elizabeth Codman.
Miss Catherine Scollay.
Miss Elizabeth Rogers.
Miss Sarah Dunn.
Miss Maria Parker.
Miss Charlotte Lane.
Miss Frances Erving.

The History of the Jews has been reviewed, with deserved approbation, in the Christian Observer.

In aid of the object of the Female Society, Miss Adams has recently published a well written tract, entitled, 66 A concise Account of the London Society for promoting Christianity amongst the Jews." This we recommend to the attention of our readers, as containing a more full account of the London Society than can at present be given in this work.

The Female Society, as we are authorized to state, already consists of a handsome number of subscribers; and they have already collected nearly one hun

dred pounds, to be sent to the London Society, besides funding the life subscriptions, which amount to $200. This surely is an auspicious beginning; and we cannot do less than to recommend the object of the society, as worthy of general attention.

That our readers may not view this object with indifference, we shall give some extracts from the Jewish Repository, of the speeches that were made at one of the meetings of the London Society. That the form of address may be understood, it will be proper to observe, that the Duke of Kent had become a patron of the society, and presided at the meeting. The names of the speakers will be given.

Mr. Stevens-" I shall next proceed to draw your Royal Highness's attention to that which is, in truth, the leading objection of the Jews, in every conversation which they have with Christians upon religious subjects; viz. That as there are so many sects and denominations amongst the professors of Christianity, they should first settle their own differences, and then they might expect, with some degree of confidence, to prevail upon the Jews to embrace their system. To obviate this objection, and to induce the Jews to regard the professors of Christianity in a different way from those who have hitherto attempted their conversion; to convince them, that the propagation of Christianity by fire and sword, by torture and deprivation of wealth, only exists in the Vol. IV. No. 8.

memorial of former ages, and is become a tale of other times; to convince them, that there was no longer danger of having their teeth extracted one by one, till they had disgorged their wealth; and to convince them, that they might embrace Christianity, without losing the whole, or a moiety of their goods, as in the reign of Edward I.—were among the important objects for which THE LONDON SOCIETY WAS ESTABLISHED.

“The heart, appalled with the cruel treatment inflicted upon the Jews in every preceding age, in every country of the world, England not excepted, turns from the sickening view, to the contemplation of the brighter prospects which dawn on our hemisphere. The Jews may now see disciples of Jesus Christ exhibiting the traits of their Master's character; they may now see princes, peers, privy counsellors, clergy and laity of the established Church, unite with the more excellent of all other denominations, in exhibiting to the Jews this main fact, that Jesus was and is the true Messiah-He of whom Moses and the prophets wrote. This, then, is our PALLADIUM! this is a fortress of impregnable strength! While we continue to act on this principle, no human power can assail us with effect. Whenever this principle is violated, the walls of our castle, yea, the very keep itself will crumble into ruins."

Rev. Gerard Noel.-" There are two considerations, which make me look with the deepest

interest upon this society. One is, the unspeakable blessings which we have received from the Jews. Every blessing we enjoy at this time, every prospect of eternal happiness which revelation opens upon our souls, we are debtors for to the Jews; and too long have we neglected that people. Another circumstance is, that, in my mindand I believe almost every one conversant with the Scriptures will agree with me in the opinion-we are not to look for very great progress in the introduction of Christianity into the world, until after the conversion of the Jews. In the proportion, therefore, that I value the Christian religion-in the proportion I feel it dear to me, as the only ground of hope and comfort-in that proportion I look with interest upon this society, which is the harbinger of that glorious period, when the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea. am sure we are met for an object, upon which Almighty God must look down with peculiar favour."

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Rev. Dr. Draper." The conversion of the Jews will assuredly promote the universal diffusion of the knowledge of God; it will accomplish those animating predictions, which have so long sustained the faith and hope of the Christian Church. The Son of GOD has ascended the chariot of salvation: we are his pioneers, his servants, to prepare his way. We are the auxiliaries-auxiliaries, did I say? Help me to a

more exalted term!-We are the most valuable and efficient alLIES of every other society, whose object is the advancement of the Gospel: our success must include theirs. Are we not attempting (and, with God's blessing, we shall succeed) to illustrate, by Jewish preachers, those Scriptures which the British and Foreign Bible Society, with unwearied zeal and activity, is dispersing among the nations? Are we not endeavouring, as humble instruments in God's hand, to silence, by means connected with the accomplishment of prophecy, all the clamours of the infidel against divine truth? Shall these efforts fall to the ground?-No; they cannot. It will ultimately be found, that, though the rising cloud is little, like a man's hand,' it will spread over the whole earth, it will descend in showers of blessing."

We might fill many pages from the excellent speeches of the members of the London Society-of members, too, of eminent talents and rank. We have selected such passages as were adapted to give a concise and impressive view of the objects of the society, and of the motives by which its members are animated.

By the Corresponding Secretary of the Female Society of Boston and vicinity, we have been favoured with the Seventh Report of the London Society; from which, farther intelligence may be expected, in a future number of this work.