"The American Tract Society is governed by Episcopalians, Methodists, Baptists, Congregationalists, Presbyterians, and members of the Reformed Dutch church, in nearly equal numbers from each section of the church of God to which they belong. Of course they publish no tract hostile to the views and interests of ANY ONE of the parties concerned in this grand Tract cause! The Baptists and Methodists, however, have their independent tract societies, which publish their respective, peculiar tenets. The Presbyterians have no Presbyterian Tract Society any where in operation, so far as I know, to disseminate those doctrines in which they differ from their Baptist, Methodist, and Episcopal brethren; and the reason is, that the Presbyterians are less SECTARIAN in their views, feelings, and EFFORTS, than any other denomination in our country!!!"

Now, I would enquire, is it not a little strange, that the Baptists and Methodists, having their own "independent tract societies" should still continue to govern, in "nearly equal" proportions, the American Tract Society?

And for a Presbyterian to say or publish, "that the Presbyterians are less sectarian in their views, feelings, and efforts, than any other denomination in our country," only excites my commiseration, to think that he is so blinded. There is so much perversity of truth, and, I fear, obliquity of intention indirectly set forth in the two foregoing extracts, that I am at a loss to know how I shall answer them, whether with severity, or by candid explanation. But it has just occured to me, that they carry with them their own refutation and condemnation. Notwithstanding Dr. Ely represents this society under color and profession of being a common interest, not sectarian, he is, himself, the projector and great godfather of it; and he knows, that it was set on foot for the express purpose of disseminating the "respective, peculiar tenets" of Calvinism. And, that much abused pack-horse, the people, cannot be deceived any longer. The mask is well nigh off.

At the first annual meeting of the American Tract Society, WILLIAM MCKENDREE and JOSHUA SOULE, two of the bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, were elected to the office of Vice-Presidents, without their knowledge or consent! And in this same way, many prominent Methodist ministers in different states in the Union, have been made officers and life members of this Institution; but in every case, they have written the society polite notes, requesting their. names to be stricken from the list of officers and members. Now all this has been done to form a kind of zest to the song

of union; and to enable the agents of the American Traet Society, to more effectually filch money from the pockets and purses of the members and friends of the Methodist church.

And so common was this practice, about the time of the formation of the American Tract Society, and for some time after that, that at a meeting of the board of managers of the New York Methodist Tract Society, the following resolutions were unanimously passed:—

"1. Resolved, That in the opinion of this board it is inexpedient for the Methodist Tract Society to unite in the proposed establishment of a National Tract Society; and that such an institution, with any other of a simi lar nature, is rather fraught with danger to the religious communities in this country, in which every advance toward any establishment of a national character, professedly connected with religion, ought to be promptly and decidedly discountenanced.

2. Resolved, That this board are of opinion that it will be improper to place the names of any official or other persons in the Methodist Episcopal Church on any committee, or in any official relation, connected with the proposed establishment, without their consent.

3. Resolved, That a copy of the above resolutions be transmitted by the clerk to the committee of the New York Tract Society, and to the agent of the American Tract Society.

The foregoing is a true copy from the minutes of the board of the New York Methodist Tract Society.

L. S. BURLING, CL'к."

Again: By examining the list of members for life, as well as the directors for life, as exhibited in the last annual report of this society, it will be seen, that there are FIVE Calvinists for ONE Arminian!!! And as "each subscriber of five dollars annually, shall be a director;" and as "the board of directors shall annually elect, by ballot, a publishing, a distributing, and a finance committee," I avow, that under the provisions of the constitution, Calvinists, Unitarians, Universalists, Deists, or any other sect, are competent to take charge of the Institution.. See the second and fifth articles of the constitution. And what security have we, that this whole concern will not ultimately be used, for the exclusive purpose of publishing the Catechisms, and Confession of Faith, of the Presbyterian church? Or what security have we, that the vast army of Infidels who reside in New York, will not in the end, take charge of the society, and use it to publish the original tracts of Voltaire? The constitution allows of this abuse.

Again: This society boasts of the cheapness of its publications; and its agents represent it as greatly underselling all other associations of the kind. But I find by examining "the

society's established price for its publications," that the Tract Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, sells its publications twenty per cent. cheaper!! However, had the Methodist Tract Society to support as many lazy agents, and half as many profligate little missionaries, as does the American Tract Society, its publications would not be so cheap.

As to the American Tract Society, however, it has already at its command about SIXTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS annually!!! In the year 1833, the receipts into the treasury of the American Tract Society, were, in one month, upwards of four thousand dollars! And the amount paid into the trea sury during the same month, for tracts sold, was upwards of three thousand dollars!

Should the Bank of the United States be put down, as it in all probability will, why, then, in money matters, the American Tract Society must stand without a rival!

Once more: It is said by the friends and agents of this society, that its publications are not only cheap, but entirely free from every thing like sectarianism.

First, many of its publications are light and fictitious, and consequently pernicious, which, so far from benefiting the mind, robs it of correct principle: next, others are decidedly Calvinistic; while others, I readily allow, are super-excellent; and the style in which they are written, though very elegant, is not more excellent than the subjects treated upon. But, upon the whole, we should teach our innocent and unsuspecting children to shun them, as they would the Samiel of the Desart! Should any doubt whether the publications of this Society are sectarian, or have a sectarian tendency, as specimens, I refer them to the Tracts No. 27, and No. 171, the one denominated "Parental Duties," and the other "Parental Faithfulness." In addition to the direct influence which this society exerts upon the public sentiment by the circulation of its tracts, some of which are no inconsiderable volumes, it exerts a mighty influence by the labors of its agents, every one of whom is a missionary to all intents and purposes; and nearly every one of them too, is a disciple of Calvin, Hopkins & co., though deriving his support from the funds of the American Tract Society. With these facts staring us in the face, it would seem very unwise for any Arminiun, to contribute to the support of the society in any way. My remarks, concerning this, and other National Societies, may, and doubtless will, appear to some, not only uncharitable, but unworthy a professor of Christianity, not to say a minister of the gospel. I frankly confess, that on this sub

ject I feel exquisitely; and I assure my readers, that the opinions herein expressed, have not been given without strict examination, and due reflection. I therefore, conscientiously, enter my most SOLEMN PROTEST against the American Tract Society.

In conclusion, fellow-countrymen, by the holy spirit of freedom which animated the breasts of our forefathers, which prompted them to resist the arbitrary laws of Great Britain, to pass the trying ordeal, and engage in deadly strife with that giant-like power, and nerved their arms in battle; by the blood which they poured forth as water, drenching the fields of death and carnage, and causing the streams to run red: by the spirits of Washington, of Warren, of Green, of Marion, of Franklin, of Jefferson, and that immortal band of patriots, whose lives, fortunes, and earthly all, were devoted to the best interests of man: by the surviving patriots of the revolution, and of that righteous struggle which taught Europe's despots that even war is a less evil than subjugation and slavery: by your own rights which you hold as sacred depositories for your children: by the happiness of generations yet to come: by the constitution and character of your country, assuming the proud pre-eminence of being the asylum for the oppressed of all nations: by the issue of the late and great "experiment" of self government in our country, which should ever teach us a salutary lesson: by the hopes and prospects of the universal brotherhood of mankind, and their final emancipation and enjoyment of high Heaven's best gift, FREEDOM, I adjure you to watch the movement of that ambitious, designing and pestilential phalanx, who aim at destroying our rights, and to meet with an uncompromising spirit of integrity and resistance their detestable machinations. Thus averting from our land the baneful influence of a union of church and state, and securing to those who come after us, the unimpaired prerogative of civil and religious liberty.

In conclusion, I cannot refrain from repeating a part of an old ode, written by a poet of New York, during the war of '96:

"For ever float that standard sheet!

Where breathes the foe that stands before us,

With freedom's soil beneath our feet,

And freedom's banner streaming o'er us!"

CHAPTER IX.

THE AMERICAN HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY-ITS ORIGIN-
ITS PRINCIPLES AND TENDENCY.

I AM not one of those fanatics who think that all the world of human beings, are to be made Christians and devotees at once, and that all duty is to be absorbed in the mere forms of religion,

Nor yet, am I one of those hair-brained fanatics who suppose. that no moral change can be effected in our world, but through the instrumentality of missionaries sent out by a national society.

No; but from what I have seen, and from what is daily taking place in our world, I believe that well regulated missionary societies-societies formed upon pure principles, and having pure ends in view, may effect great and glorious

purposes.

Of the benefits that will arise to the church in general, and which have already arisen to the heathens in particular, from the labors of pious missionaries, sent out by different associations, I believe, that it is impossible to form an exaggerated estimate. I fully believe, that the King of Glory, directed the energies of the first Protestant missionaries to the heathen world. And I likewise believe, that there is no cause more worthy of the support, and hearty co-operation of the Christian world, than the cause of missions. But at the same time, we should be fully assured of both the health and sanity of even a missionary society, before we contribute to its support. Man is mentally and corporeally enfeebled by sin, and his energies and exploits are immediately connected with his depraved state.

The American Home Missionary Society, it is well known, was first organized in the year 1826. The United Domestic Missionary Society of New-York, was organized in the year 1822; and at the time of the organization of the American Home, it had been in pretty successful operation for four years, and in 1826, reported one hundred and twenty-seven inissionaries, and one hundred and forty-eight churches and congregations, measurably under its control! From this local, though Calvinian Society, the American Home originated. But the American Home Missionary Society was planned in the city of Boston by the Congregationalists-at their request the United Domestic Missionary Society in the city of New York, adopted the constitution they had drawn