In view of such an amazing increase as this, what overwhelming responsibilities rest upon the present church! Fifty years hence, and where there is now one person there will be five, and a hundred years hence, sixteen. Sixteen times as many souls must pass their probation on our soil-will be exposed to eternal peril-and will require a propostional amount of effort for their salvation. In fifty years from this time, if the influence of religion be no greater in proportion to the number of the people than it is now, our children now around our tables and in schools, will behold in our land nearly five times as many agencies of evil as at present "Where one theatre, with its purlieus of vice and lafamy, now allures to destruction," five "of those noxious seminaries will then edu cate their hundreds and their thousands for a life of profligacy and a hopeless end; where one jall now raises its horrid and cheerless front," five "will vex the eyes of the political economist, and chill the beart of every friend of man. Where a penitentiary now admits a regiment of disarmed malefactors, and confines them in degrading servitude and chains, its walls must be so extended as to receive a little army of felous, who will be prevented by physical force alone from seizing the property, or attacking the lives of peaceable inhabitants. For one printed vehicle of slander and falsehood, of ribaldry and blasphemy, which now dishonors the press," five "of these pestiferous agents will pervade the community; and all sorts of mischievous influence will be increased in the same proportion." J. Evarts.

The declaration of American independence is, to our old men, but as an event of yes terday. Looking forward no farther than the period that has elapsed since that event, and we behold a hundred millions of souls living under the institutions, and inheriting the character bequeathed to them by us. The fathers, mothers, and preachers, and schoolmasters, who are to mould that generation, are now in our arms and at our fire-sides; and what we make them, they will make the millions of the next century.

What a privilege ought we to count it, to live here, in the very infancy of this nation, and to be permitted to give the starting impulse to causes whose action will not cease till such vast multitudes have felt their influence in shaping their destiny for the life that now is and for that which is to come! How can we answer it to our own consciences-how can we answer it to our God-how can we meet in judgment myriads of the unsaved from among our fellow-countrymer, if we do not with our might for them now, what our hands find to do? The time for planting those institutions which are indispensable for perpetuating the prosperity of our country, and securing to her vast population, in all coming time, the light of everlasting life, will soon be past The work of the present generation cannot be handed over to the next.

THE DUTCH HISTORY.

"HOLLAND is the land of chivalry of the middle classes. Here they may say in honest pride to the hereditary Lords and Nobles of the earth in the other countries of Europe, 'See what we grocers, fish-curers, and ship owners have done in days of yore in this little country!' But, alas! this glory is faded. In the deserted streets of Delft, and Leyden, and Harlem the grass is growing through the seams of the brick pavements, the ragged petticoat flutters in the wind out of the drawing-room casement of a palace; the echo of the wooden shoes, slattering through the empty saloons, tells of past magnificence-of actual indigence. This has been a land of warlike deeds. of high and independent feeling; the home of patriots, of heroes, of scholars, philosophers, of men of science, of artists, of the persecuted for righteous and political opinions from every country, and of the generous spirits who patronized them. Why is the Holland of our minds no longer that old Holland of the 16th and 17th centuries? Why are her streets silent, ber canals green with undisturbed slime?

"The greatness of Holland was founded on commercial prosperity and capital, not upon productive industry. Her capital and industry were not employed in producing what ministers to human wants and gratifications; but in transmitting what other countries produced, or manufac tured, from one country to another. She was their broker. When their capitals, applied at first more beneficially to productive industry, had grown large enough to enter also into the business of circulation, as well as into that of production-into commerce, properly so called, the

prosperity of Holland founded upon commerce alone, unsupported by a basis of productive industry within herself, among the mass of her own population, fell to the ground. This is the history of Holland. It speaks an important lesson to nations."

News from the Churches.

Louisiana, Missouri, July 14, 1842.

Within the last few days we have received thirty-six of the principal citizens of this County: and since my return from St. Louis fifty persons have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of favor and peace. The harvest is truly plenteous here, but very few laborers,

J. CREATH, J.

Centreville, Bourbon county, Kentucky, July 22, 1842. I have intelligence still more pleasing than the good news in my last. The meeting at Republican, in Fayette county, which closed on the 16th ultimo, after seven days Jabors, ultimated, as you would have anticipated, from brother J. Curd's excellent letter, in gaining 90 for the Lord, wearly all from the world. On Friday before the first Lord's day In this month, we began a meeting at New Union, in Woodford county, and continued six days. Sixty volunteers (none of course pulled) rallied to the standard of our glorious Captain. On the next Saturday (9th) we commenced a meeting at Old Union, in Fayette county, and gained 56 additions. Those old and experienced soldiers of the cross, Thomas and John Smith, were with us at the latter place, to the great joy and edification of all. Our meeting here lasted seven days. On the following day I set out for Macedo. mia, in Fayette county, where I remained five days. With the assistance of brother J. Rogers we gained 21 noble souls to Christ. The whole country seems to be aroused, And hundreds are turning to the Lord. May Heaven grant that they may brightly dis play in life the religion. they profess. Thus in five or six weeks we have witnessed the surrender of 227 persons to the Lord. Praised be his holy namel The cause of the Bible, Christian union, liberty, and love will prevail.

JOHN ALLEN GANO.

Millersburg, Callaway county, Missouri, June 21, 1842. The gospel has been gloriously triumphing in our neighborhood. I have lately bap tized twenty-three, and have witnessed the confession of six others, some of whom have since been baptized by brother Rice; the rest will be baptized shortly. The cause is also progressing at other places. Brethren Marcus P Wills and Thomas M. Allen have latterly baptized a great many. May the Lord continue his blessings with all the holy JOSEPH COONS.

brethren!

Laporte, Indiana, July 13, 1842.

The good cause which you plead is progressing slowly in this part of the country. We concluded a meeting yesterday, on Stillwell Prairie, in the south part of this county, which caused us to rejoice greatly. On Lord's day we constituted a church of fifteen merubers The meeting continued until Monday evening, when eleven more united. Ten during the meeting put on the Lord Jesus by confession and immersion, and pros pects are good for more. Our congregations were large, and very attentive most part of the time. Preaching brethren present, Sargent, Comer, and myself. Of how I long for the ignal advancement of the good cause in Northern Indiana!

G. W. TURNER.

Mifflin, Richland county, Ohio, July 13, 1842.

I take my pen to inform yon of the happy result of our meeting on last Lord's day.Through the labors of our beloved brother J. Reed, our evangelist, eleven joyful convers were added to our number by haptism; also, four others four weeks previous, and pros. pects good for the future; for which we thank our heavenly Father and take courage. DAVID NEWMYER.

Richmond, Virginia, July 14, 1842. Again I feel it my duty to make you glad at the prospect of better times in the metropeJis of this Old Dominion. Since I wrote last we have immersed thirteen, eight men and five women-all good respectable citizens. The First Baptist Church cut off a member who asked a letter or certificate; but for some cause or other thought better of it, and gare him a certificate. We trust the old asperities will rub off in time; and when they see f they can see) that we are bent upon serving God more devoutly, and not upon building up a sect, they will take us by the hand and help us to exalt the Saviour to that place in the hoarts of the people which has been usurped by Popes, Priests, creeds and human dogmas. JAMES HENKHALL.

Minerva, Ohio, July 26, 1842.

I have closed my meeting in Lisbon The result is, thirteen more obeyed the gospel The week before, in East Fairfield, we had eighteen, making thirty oue in three weeks. JH JONES. Newark, Liching county, Ohio, August 10, 1842. Just closed a meeting at Elizabethtown-12 obeyed. Also, at the Brushy Fork of Licking, 4 submitted, and 6 elsewhere-in all, 22.

WM. HAYES.

Albion, Illinois, August 5, 1842.

We have now five churches in this small county, containing about 200 membersBrothers Mathes and Edmondson, from Indiana, with brother Goodwin, preached here on Saturday, Lord's day, and Monday. Two additions to the church at Albion; five at brother Mills'; and one at Bompus. The brethren intend constituting another church at Grayville, 7 miles from me, Monday week. Brother Goodwin is not only very successful as a builder up of churches, but very zealous in enforcing practical holiness, that Christians may so let their light shine before ma, that others seeing their good works, may glorify their Father who is in heaven. May the good cause spread far and wide, and to God be ali the glory!

DANIEL ORANGE Richmond, Virginia, August 10, 1842. Since I last wrote I have been a trip to the lower country. I continued to baptize up to the morning of my departure from our city. On the morning I left, I baptized a respectable lady by half after 4 o clock, and was on the Norfolk boat at sun rise. I preachod four times at Grafton in York county, three times in Hampton, once at the Grove, once at Williamsburg, and twice at Hickory Necy in James City County. Nine respectable additions were made to the good cause of original Christianity. This was performed in seven days. Several have been baptized here since my last account.

JAMES HENSHALL. Fayette, Mi, August 3, 1842.

The cause of Jesus is advancing a little here. We have immersed twelve or fifteen persons this year, some of them influential persons. The church here numbers 44Prospects somewhat flattering There was one immersed a few weeks since the same hour of the night in which he confessed.

D. M. DARDEN.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The next Annual Meeting of the brethren in Upper Missouri will be held at Barry, in Clay county, on the Friday before the second Lord's day in October

Ir becomes our painful duty to announce the departure of two sisters from our society, with whom we oft communed, and for whom we entertained no ordinary esteem. They have gone over to the majority, and left us only the remembrance of their virtues. But we of the minority will soon follow them, and renew our acquaintance in happier climes. PITTSBURG, July 28, 1842.

Dear brother Campbell-It becomes my painful duty to inform you that our beloved sister CATHARINE MVAY, wife of brother J T MVAY, this day, at 2 o'clock P M, departed this life, after an illness of near six weeks She bore her sickness with Christian fortitude, and before her death expressed her confidence in God, and gave evidence of possessing a glorious hope of immortality. Her loss is deeply felt by her husband and by afi her friends; but they sorrow not as those who have no hope. Her death was tranquil as her life had been exemplary and useful. May the Lord help us all to live the life of the righteous, that our last days may be like theirs! Yours in Christ,

WARRICK MARTIN.

Fell asleep in the hope of eternal life, on the 9th of July last, in her 75th year, sister JANE GARRET, wife of James Garret, of Guernsey county, Ohio. Sister Garret was one of the first disciples of the apostolic faith as taught in the present reformation. She bea been an intimate acquaintance of mine for some thirty years; and if a pious and ex. emplary attachment to the Lord's cause and people can authorize us to say that such are blessed, then hath she entered into the rest that remains for the people of God.

A C.

NEVER has the necessity or importance of a scriptural organization of churches appeared to me in a more interesting attitude, nor as demanding a more candid and concentrated application of mind, than at the present moment. Church order has long been regarded by me, as well as by many intelligent and devoted Christians, as a subject of vital importance to the interest and honor of the Christian institution. But to contemplate myriads of zealous disciples of Christ essaying to restore the original order of things-to walk after the divinely approved models of the apostolic communities and yet so defective in both the theory and practice of Christian organization, is a subject not merely of deep regret, but of the most serious inquiry and research. Our daily discoveries, during a recent tour of seven weeks, in which we have conversed with many Elders of churches, and seen many thousand Christians, superadded to all our former reflections and experiences, have again arrested our attention and commanded our thoughts to this all engrossing subject. And to call forth all our energies on this topic, our more intelligent brethren and our friends amongst the various denominations are every where obtruding it upon our consideration, and demanding a full discussion of the entire subject of church organization.

So earnest and so urgent are these demands, so numerous and so zealous the inquiries for light, and so vital the subject to the harmonious and vigorous action of the whole Christian community, that we are prompted-nay, impelled to look into the whole matter with all possible discrimination. A learned and intelligent brother in one of the most respectable branches of the Chr stian profession, has very opportunely invited a discussion on so much of the subject as concerns the Christian ministry; and this involves the whole question 37

VOL VI-N S

of constitutional organization. I am therefore providentially constrained to investigate this subject with candor, assiduity, and all possible despatch.

True, indeed, that the Christian facts, the Christian doctrine, and the Christian character, standing as they do in the most intimate relation to our individual and personal salvation from sin and ruin, are always first in order, as they are first in importance in whatever concerns the honor and happiness of man. The organization and government of the Christian church are indeed very intimately connected with all the precepts and the promises of the Christian gospel, and whatever essentially affects the one must more or less involve the other. Still the question of organization and administration is not first, but second, both in the order of time and of importance. The first being amongst the senior departments of the current reformation, much canvassed and pretty well understood, the second now calls for an impartial and full development.

Regarding the latter rather as the politics of Christianity than as of its essence or of its soul-redeeming power, I fear nothing from any apparent or real division of views or theories on the subject amongst our brethren. We are not disposed to schism, division, or even strife on any theoretical views of church organization or church government. The strong amongst us do not despise the weak, nor do the weak condemn the strong; but the strong wait on the weak, and bear with the weak, and do not seek to please themselves, but to maintain unity of spirit in the bonds of peace.

The three great denominations of Protestants so unreasonably and so ardently differed on the politics of Christianity as to inflame each other to a paroxysm of discord, insomuch that each of them left the arena of conflict under the banners of his own theory of Christian politics. Hence the names Episcopalian, Presbyterian, and Independent, or Congregationalist, are severally inscribed on the partizan flags of these three great schisms of Protestants, and regarded as ensigns armorial of their respective families. We doubtless have learned neither to love nor to hate each other on account of the mere politics of the Protestant families, and to discuss any question with modera tion, Christian affection, and zeal.

Without farther ceremony I here introduce to the attention of our readers the following essays from a correspondent of high standing and respectability; and though not of us, is to be heard with all respect; indeed, with more attention than if he were one of us, inasmuch as his views are not biassed by any predilections for our peculiarities, nor are they, perhaps, at all tinctured with any special antipathy toward our