"It is the practice of requiring the scholars to question each other. After reading a chapter the books are closed; and the scholar at the head of his class proposes to the next a question from the chapter read. He is not allowed to make use of the words of the text; but is obliged to give the sense in his own language. This induces each one to retain the sense of his lesson as much as possible. If the scholar, to whom the question is proposed, answers correctly, he proposes a question in turn; if not, it is put to the next, and along the class till it is answered, when the successful scholar takes his place above those, who have failed. Children are generally diffident at first; but, if they are encouraged, will soon overcome that difficulty. I think you would be surprised to witness the facility with which even children of five or six years will propose their questions, and the promptness of their answers. The plan has been approved by almost or quite every gentleman, who has visited my school." There can be no doubt, that the practice of teaching children to question each other tends to quicken their application and improve their minds. We have doubts, however, with respect to the appeal to emulation, or rivalry, as is commonly practised in our schools. On this subject the remarks of Babington on education are peculiarly worthy of perusal. DONATIONS то THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SOCIETY FOR FEBRUARY. A Friend, A charity box kept by Rev. L. Wright, in Barrington, R. I. Collected by the Rev Edward Payson, in the following places, viz. In Newbury, first parish, In Newburyport, First and south parishes, Ipswich, Avails of a gold ring, First parish in Rowley, In Wenham, $10 00 3.00 36 00 77 00 65 26 45 21.00 18 27 27 00 37 00 7.00 25 00 5 S2 50 OL 72 22 Marblehead, Rev. Dr. Morse's parish, Charlestown, after a sermon by the Rev. Mr. Payson, in the evening, In Charlestown, at a monthly concert of prayer, 40 26 80 48.20 S3 29 22.00 5 00 Female friend in do. William Ward, Esq. Medford, 30.00 Collected and remitted by the Rev. Richard S. Storrs, from the south, Collected in Park Street church, after an evening lecture by the Rev. Mr. Payson, From a person, formerly a member of that Rev. Gentleman's church, after hearing his sermon, 146 20 100 00 200 00 Mrs Seabrook, of Charlestown, S. C. who on her death bed requested her husband to appropriate this sum to a religious object, transmitted by the Rev. Benjamin M. Palmer, D. D. of that city, Hillsborough County Bible and Char. Soc. N. H. by R. Roylston, Treas. Female Benev Soc. Long Meadow, by Eunice Crosby, Treas. Individuals of Keene, N. H. avails of two monthly concerts of prayer, by Wm. Goodell, A young lady of Bridgewater, Mass. by the Rev. Daniel Huntington, A. Packard of do. by do. Grafton County, N. H. Char. Soc. by John B. Wheeler, Treas. A female friend in Chester, N. I. A female friend in Stratham, N. H. A female friend in Pelham, N. H. by the Rev. John H. Church, Life Subscriptions. $4.00 1.00 2. 00 50 $1,535 91 Daniel Atwood, Pelham, N. H. $100 00 100 00 280 00 36 00 $2,051 91 HEBREW TESTAMENT. From the tenth report of the London Society, for promoting Christianity among the Jews, we select the account of the late publication and distribution of the Hebrew New Testa ment, which has been recently translated and printed for the benefit of the dispersed children of Israel. This forms a new era in the exertions, which are making for this interesting people. YOUR Committee will now lay before you the proceedings of the past year relative to the Hebrew Translation of the New Testament. This important work was brought to a close, and the first entire edition of it published in September last. The whole of this edition, as far as complete copies remained, was immediately disposed of, 456 copies were sold to the British and Foreign Bible Society; 100 were placed at the disposal of the Rev. L. Way, on his visit of inquiry to the Continent; three were sent to America, five to Malta, tree to Madras. Twelve were presented to the Edinburgh Bible Society, and forty to some of our Archbishops and Bishops and sundry individuals in this country connected with the Society. A thousand copies of the Epistles and Apocalypse were disposed of to the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society; thus making complete the same number of copies of the four Gospels and Acts purchased by them last year. Five hundred copies of the General Epistles and the Apocalypse were likewise sold to the British and Foreign Bible Society, and nearly seven hundred and fifty copies of various portions of the New Testament were granted to Mr. Way previously to his going abroad. Your Committee humbly rejoice in the hope that, from the circulation thus given to even so comparatively small a number of copies of the New Testament in Hebrew, incalculable benefits may arise to the scattered descendants of Israel. For who can calculate the effects which it may please God to render even a single copy of his Sacred Word the instrument of producing; or estimate the amount of happiness and glory-happiness to the sinner and glory to the Savior-which ensues upon the conversion of a single soul, whether of Jew or Gentile, to God? Whilst, however, we thus indulge in the anticipation of benefits resulting from what God has already enabled us to do, we cannot be insensible that little has yet been done, when compared with the exigencies of those on whose behalf we are laboring. Nearly 8500 copies of the Hebrew New Testament have issued from the Society's press-but what are these among more than 4 000 000 of Jews, on the lowest computation of their numbers in different parts of the world? to say nothing of the probable opinion of some writers, that they exceed doubie that number. Influenced by this affecting consideration, your Committee, immediately on the completion of the first edition, resolved on commencing a second, on stereotype plates. They are happy to inform you, that this edition has already advanced as far as the Acts of the Apostles, and that it is expected to be finished in June or July. In the mean time, as it is important to render the Translation as free from imperfection as possible, your Committee have the satisfaction of stating, that the original translators of the work are engaged in preparing a Dictionary, in which the authorities for the use of the Hebrew words used in the Translation will be collected; and that they have engaged a learned Jewish convert, who lately came over to this country from the Continent, to undertake and submit to the translators and former correctors, a critical review of the Version already published, and are about to take steps for having a similar review prepared by some of the most learned Jews in Germany. The Committee thus hope that another edition may in a little time be published, which shall commend itself, by its purity of style, to the most refined Hebrew scholars in the Jewish nation, and shall prove an imperishable monument of the zeal and liberality of British Christians. Having this object in view, your Committee were careful to ascertain, before they resolved to stereotype a second edition, that any emendation which it may be thought proper hereafter to adopt,can, without any difficulty,be introduced into the plates. Anxious, at the same time, to facilitate by every means in their power, the dissemination of the Christian Scriptures among the Jewish brethren, your Committee resolved to print an edition of Luther's German New Testament, in the Rabbinical or German Hebrew character, for the benefit of such of the Jews, inhabiting Germany, Poland, and the neighboring countries, as do not understand the Biolical Hebrew. The necessary type has been procured from Holland, and the work will immediately proceed. To give effect, however, to these resolutions, it is evident that considerable pecuniary supplies will be needful; and the state of the Society's funds renders a renewed and urgent appeal to the liberality of the public indispensably necessary. Although the Hebrew Testament fund has received several handsome contributions during the past year, both from associations and individuals, (see the Appendix,) for which your warmest acknowledgements are due, it is still in arrears; the expenditures necessarily attendant on the first edition having, in every stage of its progress, been very great, and the copies which have been sold, those, namely, purchased by the British and Foreign Bible Society—having been disposed of at little more than half the cost price. Your Committee trust that by the prompt co-operation of all classes and denominations of Christians, who are zealous for the distribution of God's word, and for the salvation of Israel, they shall be enabled, not only to indemnify the fund appropriated to this object for the expenses already incurred, but likewise to proceed with confidence and dispatch in the execution of what still lies before them in this most important and extensive branch of the Society's undertakings. They are the more encouraged in this expectation, from having received, during the preceding year, several benefactions, accompanied with cordial assurances of concurrence, from individuals, especially belonging to the Society of Friends, whose religious principles hinder them from co-oporating with this Institution in other departments of its labors. MEMOIRS OF MISS ELIZA Harris. THIS amiable and excellent young woman died at Charlestown, Mass. on the first day of Aug. 1817, at the age of 31. The reason why no earlier notice of her worth has been taken in our pages, is not the want of respect for her memory, nor of topics by which to illustrate her character. Few persons have been more tenderly beloved by their friends and acquaintance, or had their memory more affectionately cherished by survivors. In this case, as in many others, a want of time to do justice to the subject has occasioned delay, which has been prolonged by ill health, and other unavoidable circumstances. All that can be done at present, is to delineate several traits of character, which belonged to the deceased to an extraordinary degree. Miss Harris was educated in affluence, and accustomed to look forward with sanguine hopes to the enjoyments of this world; but, in the period of early youth, she experienced some painful proofs of the transient and deceitful nature of temporal objects. How great an effect these disappointments had, in turning her mind to spiritual things, is not known to the writer; but in the year 1811, or 1812, she was the subject of an entire change in her religious views and feelings; and, soon after this change, she made a public profession of her faith, and joined the Congregational church in Charlestown, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Dr. Morse. As the system of doctrines which she embraced was thought by herself, and by others, to lie at the foundation of her whole religious character, it may not be improper to say, that she was thoroughly orthodox. She believed in the entire depravity of man, the necessity of a change of heart, the reality of this change, the perfect sovereignty of God in effecting it, the sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit, the divinity of Christ, the efficacy of his atonement, and the unchangeable allotments of the righteous and the wicked. Her faith was not inoperative. She acted under the influence of the realities of the world to come. Many professed Christians would hardly be supposed, if we look at their actions only, to be immortal beings. They profess to have souls; but scrutinize their conduct, and it seems to say, "These people are children of a day; their home is on earth; they pretend in vain to immortality." Such was not the attestation, which the conduct of Miss Harris bore to the reality of her profession. Her face was set toward heaven; her progress was marked and rapid; and those, who believe in any such thing as experimental religion, clearly recognized in her a pilgrim to the celestial city. Religion never makes any person gloomy. It often occasions deep sorrow and heart-felt commiseration for the melancholy condition of those, who are without hope and without God in the world. It often gives the subject of it such a view of his own sins, as to ove: whelm him, for a season, with shame and fearful apprehension. But its general influence is to produce a calm equable state of the feelings, and to give free and delightful employment to all the higher faculties of the soul. Miss Harris had great natural vivacity, and was interesting in her manners and conversation. These pleasing qualities were chastened and increased by the silent but powerful influence of piety. Relying upon her own industry, she was employed for the four or five last years of her life, in the instruction of children. In this good work she took delight, and was unwearied in her assiduities to secure the improvement of her pu pils She prayed with them regularly; and often gave them solemn admcnitions, and faithful exhortations. She was strongly attached to them; and, when she thought of leaving the school, a short time before her death, manifested her tender concern for them by writing them a letter filled with such reasons and motives as she hoped might make a lasting impression on their minds. Having dedicated herself to her Savior, her great aim was to glorify him by doing good. In this noble pursuit her personal activity was surprising. In visiting the sick, in relieving the wants of the poor, in prompting the charities of others, in making a cheerful offering of the avails of her own labor, she was a distinguished example. These things kept her busily employed, during the time, which was not absorbed by her school. She was always acti-e and industrious to the utmost of her strength. To ascertain her duty she addicted herself to the perusal of the Bible, and to prayer. When she had once ascertained it, her adherence to it was firm, resolute, and persevering Opposition made not the slightest impression on her mind, unless it were supported by reason and founded on Scripture. She had learned thoroughly to disregard the opinions of the world, as a rule of truth or duty. Faithful in holding fast her principles, she was boid and determined in avowing them. So uniform was her character in this respect, and so consistent was her conduct with her declared sentiments, that it may well be doubted whether a single person, who knew her, ever questioned the sincerity of her profession, or the purity of her motives. Not only the public worship of God on the Sabbath, but all other occasions of social prayer and religious improvement, were precious to her soul. The small conference, the secluded church-meeting, and the public assembly of churches united for special prayer, shared alike her animated and joyful attendance; but there was no religious privilege which she valued more highly, than the monthly concert of prayer for missionaries and for the general spread of religion. These privileges she continued to enjoy till just before her death; and may be said not to have been removed from lively communion with the children of God on earth, till she was summoned almost immediately to join the spirits of the just made perfect. To her religious friends she was strongly and inseparably attached; particularly to her beloved associate in the same school, and to her pastor, whom she regarded as her spiritual father. All the brethren and sisters of the church were dear to her; but especially those, who, in her judgment, most clearly evinced their friendship to Christ. With these she delighted to converse, and to hold familiar Christian intercourse; an intercourse, which she hoped would be interrupted for a short season only, and then renewed in the mansions of immortality. Her humility was remarkable. Though her life was a bright display of genuine and distinguished virtue, she not only disclaimed all merit in her works, as a ground of justification, but appeared to rank herself among the least of the followers of Christ. No fondness for human applause, no desire of self exaltation, was seen to deform the symmetry of her character. If good were done and God were glorified, she was willing to be forgotten. It seems implied in what has been already said, that she was not deficient in the grand Christian attainment, self denial. To supply the wants of the poor she had denied herself even necessaries; to provide against their future wants, and to patronize schemes of industrious charity, she had labored sedulously with her needle; and to aid in conveying the Gospel to the destitute, in our own country and abroad, she gave a large portion of her earnings. She gave to all charitable objects within her reach; and, according to her means, her offerings were extremely liberal. She belonged to four or five charitable societies, and has been known to give, from her slender income, four or five dollars at a time. Besides her donations in money, it is to be recollected, that she gave much time in carrying her benevolent plans into effect, and in stimulating the charities of others. She was diligent in obtaining missionary intelligence, and a steady subscriber to a religious publication; not only because she took pleasure in contemplating the religious exertions of the present day, but because she was aware that knowledge is necessary to all enlarged and intelligent activity in the Redeemer's cause. O how different was she in all these respects, from too many professors of religion, who have wealth, leisure, and influence, but no heart to engage in these enterprises of love; who are ignorant of nearly all that is going on, in the religious world, and who are unwilling to have their ignorance removed, lest their consciences should disturb their indolence and selfishness. It may be safely affirmed, that if all professors of religion would exercise one half the selfdenial, which was habitually practised by this retired female, the world would soon change its aspect. The work of a century would be achieved in a few years. Further, if we lay the rich entirely out of consideration, and if Christians in common circumstances, plain farmers, laborious mechanics, and thriving shop-keepers, were to practice the same self-denial, these glorious results would be witnessed. It must be evident, taking into view the circumstances which have been described, that Miss Harris must have lived in habits of rigid economy. Perfectly plain and simple, and perfectly neat, in her dress, she sought the ornaments of a meek and quiet spirit. Pleas were not wanting, had she been disposed to listen to them, in favor of many gratifications, which the world would have justified and applauded, even had she been obliged, in consequence, to leave all her works of charity untouched. But what is now her judgment in the matter? Does her perfect spirit now repent of any sacrifices, which she made for Christ? Does she now look back with regret on the decorations of her person, which she voluntarily relinquished? Or does she not more than ever count all such things mere dust and dross? In the domestic relations of life, she was distinguished for usefulness and all the amiable affections. But in nothing was her tender concern for her relatives more manifest, than in the pains which she took to give them admonitions on the subject of religion. This she did with great plainness and force, and followed up her exhortations with anxious prayer. Her death-bed was a scene of Christian triumph. By unremitted attention to the sick children of a brother, who were taken with an epidemic when their parents were absent, and two of whom died in her arms, she was so much fatigued and exhausted, that, when seized with the same disorder, she had not the slightest expectation of recovery. Her slender constitution speedily sunk under the power of disease. Enjoying the full possession of her reason, she conversed of death with the utmost tranquillity and joy. It did not appear, that a single cloudpassed over her mind; or that she had the least desire to live. She continued her exhortations and admonitions to the last; joined in prayer with great fervency |