248 New Testament of Leander Van Ess. mourning over the failure of the harvest, and consequent famine, he gave us enough, and some to spare, from which many of our neighbours were fed, and many former wounds were healed. May all our countrymen feel this, take it to heart, be grateful, and praise the Lord, for the unspeakable blessing he has bestowed upon us, and may they more and more conform to the two great precepts of our Lord: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbour as thyself!" To Him, whom we are thus commanded to love, be praise, honour, thanksgiving, might, power, and majesty, for ever and ever. Amen. From a Catholic Parish Priest, in the Duchy of Westphalia, to his Colleague, concerning the New Testament of Leander Van Ess. (Extracted from a German paper.) Professor Van Ess, at Marburg, offers to the Parish Priests in the Duchy of Westphalia, several thousand copies of the third edition of his translation of the New Testament; he has likewise sent 4000 copies into Fulda, 3000 copies into Switzerland, 3000 into Paderborn, 5000 into Hildersheim, &c. He is enabled the more liberally to distribute this seed in every place in Germany, where the ground is prepared, since, by the British Bible Society alone, he has very lately been again assisted with the sum of 1000l. sterling, not to mention other contributions of benevolent persons. It may be inquired, What is our duty as pastors? Are we to accept the offer, or must we decline it? On this head, I, an old pastor of a village, have the following opinion, which, in all humility, I beg leave to express. The third edition of the New Testament, by Leander Van Ess, offered to us, has been examined by four Episcopal Authorities, and been approved and recommended by them. (Here follow the approbations.) It is, consequently, morally certain, that there is contained in the same nothing contrary to the doctrine of our Church, or to the rules of a Christian life. A more correct translation of the New Testament into German, than that of Leander Van Ess, is not to be met with in Catholic literature. The New Testament continues to this day to be, to the greater number of our parishioners, a book sealed with seven seals, never read. I will not, here, examine with whom the principal fault rests: but it is my opinion, that we owe it to the honour of our creed, and to the salvation of the souls intrusted to our care, to promote the reading of the Book of books by every possible means; and that we should be found guilty of the most unaccountable ingratitude to Providence, and of that indelible ignominy with which the hirelings are stigmatized in that Book, if we were to despise the offered gift of God. In acting up to these views, we may rely on the protection of the Prussian Government, and the more so, in proportion as the number among us is greater of those, who, by their own signature, attest their adherence to this general principle. [To be continued.] Elizabeth-Town Free School Association. EXTRACTS 249 From the Third Annual Report of the Elizabeth-Town Free School Association. The Board of Directors of the Elizabethtown Free School Association, beg leave to present the following as the report of their proceedings, and of the state of the Schools under their care, through the year past. Immediately after their election they met and appointed the following Directors Officers of the Board, and of the Associa tion, viz. Rev. John M'Dowell, President; Rev. John C. Rudd, Vice-President; Mr. David Meeker, Treasurer; Mr. Caleb O, Halsted, Secretary. The School for the people of colour has continued, and flourish. ed through the year. According to the last annual report, the number in this School was eighty. The number now is 92. The Scholars are divided into Seven classes. The First class consists of seven, four of whom have since the first of January last, gone entirely through the history of the Old and New Testament with the Bible Questions, and are now going through the second time. These Scholars deserve high commendation; their progress has been remarkably great, and must be highly gratifying to all the friends of the Institution. The Second class consists of twelve. Most of these have committed to memory the Westminster Shorter Catechism; and all of them a number of hymns, and a number of chapters in the Gospel by John. They read quite well. The Third class consists of sixteen, in two divisions. Some of them have learned the whole of the Mother's Catechism, and others part of the Westminster Shorter. All of them read in the Tes tament. The Fourth class consists of nine, who have just commenced reading in the Testament. Some of them have learned part of the Catechism. The Fifth class consists of nine. They are improving perhaps faster than any in the School, are spelling in three or four syllables, and are beginning to read. The Superintendent speaks well of the respectful deportment of the Scholars in general, and with a few exceptions, of their punctual attendance, their diligent application, and their desire to improve. The special blessings of heaven appear, thro' the year past, to have been bestowed on this School The Superintendent remarks, that he has seen at one time as many as twelve or fourteen anxiously inquiring what they shall do to be saved. More than this number have through the year made a public profession of religion. The School for white boys has continued thro' the year; but the Board are sorry to report that the number of Scholars has greatly diminished. This they are confident is owing not to any want of attention or diligence on the part of the Superintendent or Teach 250 Report of the Board of Directors ers, but to a criminal indifference, or pride, on the part of those parents and guardians for the benefit of whose children especially this Institution was commenced. There are doubtless many boys among the poor in this town, who are growing up in ignorance, to whom this School might be an invaluable blessing. They have a price put into their hands to get wisdom, but alas ! they neglect it. For this neglect such parents must answer; and dreadful will be their account. May they speedily see, and duly appreciate their privileges, that the children under their care may be put in the way of becoming useful and respectable members of society, and of escaping from endless ruin, and inheriting a blessed immortality. The last annual report stated, that this School then consisted of about 80. According to the report of the Superintendent, Mr. Caleb O. Halsted, the number of Scholars now registered in his book is sixty four, of which seldom more than about thitrty now attend; and but few of these are of the children of the poor. The Scholars in this School are divided into four classes. The first class consists of nineteen. The regular lessons are Bible History, the texts and divisions of Sermons which they hear, committing portions of Scripture, the Larger Catechism, and occasionally Hymns. The second class consists of sixteen, in two divisions. The studies attended to in both divisions are Bible History, Catechism, portions of Scripture, hymns, and the texts. The third class consists of seventeen, who regularly recite a portion of Scripture, and the Catechism or hymns, read in the Bible, and occasionally spell. The fourth class are divided into two parts. The first division consists of those who are either spelling or learning the alphabet, Most of this class are of those for whom this School was specially intended; and the Superintendent remarks, that several of them manifest a desire to learn, and have made considerable improvement. The Teachers of this School have recently divided the town into districts, for the purpose of seeking out Scholars, and procuring their attendance. The School for the instruction of white female children has also continued through the year; but the Board are sorry to make with respect to this School a statement similar to that just made with respect to the School for white boys-The number of Scholars has diminished. This declension is to be ascribed to the same cause the criminal indifference, to give it the softest name, of many parents. The Superintendent and Teachers appear to have been unwearied in their exertions to promote its prosperity. At the date of the last annual report, this School consisted of one hundred and thirty, whose names were registered, of which one hundred regularly attended. From the report of the Superintendent, Miss Maria Smith, the number of names now registered in her book is eighty two, and the average number of regular attendants is fifty six. of the Elizabeth-Town Free School Association. 251 This School is divided into six classes. The studies attended to have been, Bible Questions, the Psalms of David, Christ's Sermon on the Mount, the Gospel according to John, the Book of Revelation, the Westminster Larger and Shorter, the Episcopal, the Mother's and Brown's Catechisms, Watts's Psalms, Divine Songs, Prayers, reading and spelling. The Scholars generally have made encouraging progress, and some of them very great improvement, abundantly evincing the utility of the Institution. The Board can particularly notice the proficiency of only a few of the best Scholars. In the first class one of the Scholars has gone entirely thro' the Bible History with the Questions, and as far as Exodus the second time. In January last she had only studied to Deuteronomy. Within the last six months she has committed to memory all the book of John, the Psalms as far as the sixty-ninth, some of the book of Revelation, and forty-nine of Watts' Psalms. She has also recited twice thro' the Westminster Larger Catechism, and generally the texts, divisions, and most of the leading ideas of the sermons she had heard. Another Scholar of the same class has likewise studied through the History of the Bible with the Questions, and as far as Exodus the second time; and has committed to memory the first thirty Psalms, five chapters in John, and twenty-even of Watts' Hymns. Another who entered the School în June and lived at the distance of three miles, has recited as far as Acts with the Bible Questions, gone three times thro' the Westminster Larger Catechism, and committed the Psalms as far as the fifty-ninth. The best Scholar in the second class has recited as far as Esther in Bible History, Christ's Sermon on the Mount, the Gospel by John, and a number of Hymns and Psalms. Six of the Scholars in the third class have recited to Joshua with the Bible Questions, six chapters in John, through the Westminster Shorter Catechism, besides many Hymns and Texts-and one of them in addition, who is about eight years old, has progressed some pages in the Westminster Larger Catechism. In the first division of the fifth class, one Scholar, about seven years old, has recited twice through the Westminster Shorter Catechism, one hundred and twenty-six Questions in the Westminster Larger Catechism, Christ's Sermon on the Mount, ten chapters in John, and nineteen Psalms. From the Superintendent's report, the Board have, with pleasure, learned, that much special seriousness has been manifested in this School, both among Teachers and Scholars, especially during the last Spring. "A solemnity (she observes) prevailed both in Teachers and Scholars that is beyond description, and frequently the recital of lessons was entirely set aside, and the time devoted to conversation and direction in the way of salvation. It was not an uncommon sight to see whole classes bathed in tears— the little immortals acknowledging themselves sinners, and professing a desire to have their souls sprinkled with the blood of a 252 The Child's Monilor. Saviour. And though but three have professed themselves on the Lord's side, yet it is hoped and believed, that impressions have been made on many hearts that will be abiding, and have an important influence on their future lives." Four of the Teachers have, through the year, made a public profession of religion. Similar happy effects have been experienced among the Teachers of the other Schools. Thus, while they have been watering others, their own souls have, in return, been richly watered with spiritual blessings. All the aforementioned Schools are taught on the Lord's Day--the female in the morning before public worship, and in the in terval of worship, and the other two after the afternoon service. JUVENILE DEPARTMENT. THE CHILD'S MONITOR.NO. 1. "And the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, Samuel! Samuel! Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth." Samuel was a striking instance of early piety. In him was fulfilled that gracious promise, "Them that honour me I will honour." Jehovah blesses those that love him, and will not only cause them to be respected while living; but even after they are dead, their memory shall be " had in remembrance." This eminent man was born at Ramath in the tribe of Issachar, his parents were Elkanah and Hannah. When he was very young, his mother took him to Shiloh, a place about twelve miles off, and brought him into the house of the Lord, where he ministered before Eli the priest, and "was in favour both with the Lord and also with men."-How delightful to see young Samuel thus serving God! Those who would be in favour with men must be first in favour with God. One morning before Samuel arose from his bed, he heard a voice calling him by his name "Samuel! Samuel!" He instantly ran to Eli, the high priest, supposing that he had called him; Eli told him that the voice did not come from him, and desired him to lie down again. At length the Lord came and stood, and called him the fourth time. Then Samuel, as he had been instructed by Eli, said, "Speak, for thy servant heareth.” Samuel was greatly honoured as a prophet, served God faithfully, and died happily at the great age of ninety-eight, about 1057 years before our Lord Jesus Christ came into the world. Thus he not only served God in his youth, but continued an honourable servant all his days. He began well, went on well, and ended well. From this short account of Samuel, observe 1. That it is a great privilege for children to have pious pa rents. |