SHIP IN THE UNITED STATES.-It may be the voluntary principle does in reference to worth while to bring together the various religion. For instance, provision is made estimates which we have made respecting in some denominations, by incorporated the sums raised by the evangelical church-associations or otherwise, for the maines for the sustentation of religion at home, tenance of the widows and children of and its extension abroad, and add to them ministers, and of superannuated preachers. the amounts raised by the non-evangelical The sums thus raised are to be considered denominations : a part of the sustentation which is given

It is not pretended that the voluntary principle raises as much money in America for the support of religion as do the legal provisions of some countries, where Christianity has created those opulent and time-honoured establishments which overshadow them. In many cases, alas! these 510,424 establishments were founded in the ages

5,500,000

of superstition, and owe their origin to the influence of a cunning and overreaching priesthood, exerted over an ignorant and debased people. But it is maintained that it cannot be said with truth that Christianity, left to its own resources in America, is likely to go down, or that it does not lead to efforts for its propagation which correspond in a good measure with the wants of the country. Whatever men may think on the subject of the best means of supporting the Gospel, it cannot be denied that the voluntary principle in America has demonstrated that it is not inefficient a fact which was well established in the first three centuries of the progress of Christi

1. If we include all that certain omitted to the institutions of the Gospel among us, local associations do, in addition to the and they all owe their origin directly or sums raised by the various religious socie-indirectly to the voluntary principle. ties mentioned in book iv., whose object is to promote religion at home, we shall have a total amount of about $1,000,000 2. The amount contributed by the various religious societies last year, according to the summary given in chap. xii. of book viii., is 3. The amount annually raised for the support of the evangelical ministry, as we have seen, may be estimated at 4. The amount annually raised for building and keeping in repair the church edifices, and for other expenses connected with the maintenance of public worship, may be given at 2,500,000 Making a total of $9,510,424 From this statement, it appears that the sums raised by the evangelical churches for the promotion of religion, in one way and another, at home and abroad, amount to more than nine millions and a half of dollars. If we add to this the sums given annually by Christians to build and endow academies, colleges, and theological seminaries, with a view to promote religion, and also the amount raised among the nonevangelical denominations for the same objects, we shall increase this sum to at least eleven millions of dollars, as the amount raised annually at present in the United States, on the voluntary principle,* for the sustentation and promotion of religion at home and abroad.†

Nor have I included in the statements which I have made on this subject all that

anity in the world.

IX. ALLEGED CHURCH DESTITUTION IN THE UNITED STATES. From the year 1837 to that of 1840 inclusive, for an annual increase of the population to the extent of about 450,000 souls, that of the evangelical much, if at all, short of 700 per annum. ministry of all denominations was not The number of church edifices erected in 1841 was fully 880. The nett annual increase of evangelical ministers of all denominations is about 750; while that of have stated elsewhere, is not less than church edifices, of all descriptions, as we 950. As the annual increase of the population is at present about 500,000, the increase of evangelical ministers bears the ratio of 1 to 660 of the whole, or of 1 to about 560 of those who are of an age to go to church; and the increase of church edifices is about as 1 to 525 souls. But it must have been seen from the tables in the summary of evangelical churches, ministers, communicants, and population, that partly from the very scatgle state of Massachusetts bestows little short of a million of dollars annually upon the education of tered condition of the inhabitants covering her youths in all classes of her literary institutions, so vast a territory, partly from the presthough her population falls short of 800,000 souls.ence of several denominations at one spot, So that the sum of at least twenty-two millions of dollars is annually raised in the United States for the promotion of Religion and Education-a sum about equal, at this time, to the whole revenue of the National Government!

* I say on the voluntary principle, for the sums raised from permanent endowments (which are themselves the fruit of the voluntary principle, and not of governmental gift or taxation) are not sufficiently great to deserve to be excepted.

t If we were to add to the above-mentioned sum of eleven millions of dollars to promote Religion in America, the amount which education costs in all its gradations, we must at least double it. The sin

often leading to a plurality of churches and ministers where one might suffice, this increase of ministers and churches is not so adequate to the wants of the country as

might at first sight appear; still, it is so inconsistent with what many of our readers may have heard of the "moral wastes" in the United States as to require some explanation.

two colleges and five theological schools, in which there is a goodly number of pious young men who are training up for the work of preaching Christ, under the instructions of right men.

It has been more difficult still for us to provide for the spiritual wants of the French who have come to our shores, or have fallen to us by the purchase of LouBut the increase of evangelical religion in France will, I doubt not, give us the labourers we need to look after their interests. As to the Spaniards, Poles, Norwegians, Italians, etc., who come to us, their number is not great; but the difficulty of preaching the Gospel to them has been almost insurmountable, owing to their not knowing the English tongue.

First, then, let it be remembered that, at the Revolution, the number of ministers of every name was only one for 2440 souls, or, at most, one for 2000; and that the war of independence itself, and many other cir-isiana. cumstances, concurred to prevent much from being done to overtake this great and accumulating arrear in the religious institutions of the country. This destitution continued to increase rather than diminish, it is believed, from 1775 till 1815; so that, notwithstanding the more recent extension of the churches, and of institutions for training of ministers for assisting In the fourth place, the representations feeble congregations, no wonder that a made on this subject by some of our sogreat deal has yet to be done in recov-cieties are often calculated, though undeering what may be called former moral

wastes.

signedly, to mislead a stranger. That there is much real destitution to warrant strong appeals is no doubt true; but one is apt to forget that there is much that is hypothetical in what is said of the danger that threatens, if this destitution be not supplied. This danger is imminent; still it is, as yet, but a contingency. If the required efforts be not made, error and irreligion will overspread the country; if the Protestants be not on the alert, Romanism will conquer it for itself. But it is to prevent such results that these appeals are made.

Second. Churches and ministers not being provided beforehand for new settlements, and a certain amount of population within a given district being required before means can well be taken for forming a church and obtaining a minister, some time must elapse during which "moral wastes" may be found in newly-settled districts. The same remark applies to the mountainous district embracing the Alleghany range and its skirts. From the interior of Pennsylvania, down through Virginia, the eastern parts of Kentucky, Lastly, it is not to be denied that the and North Carolina, there is a considera- agents and missionaries of our Domestic ble destitution of the regular ministrations Missionary Societies and Boards have unof the Gospel. The sandy, thinly-settled intentionally and unwittingly promoted erzone of country, covered with pines, stretch- | roneous impressions respecting the reliing along the seacoast, from New-Jersey gious destitution of the country. When to Louisiana, and embracing the whole these societies were formed, some fifteen peninsula of Florida, may be placed in the or twenty years ago, the first missionaries same category. From such regions the and agents sent into the West found many cry of the man of Macedonia, "Come districts, and even whole counties, deploraover and help us," is continually sounded bly destitute; and in their published rein the ears of the churches in more fa- ports and letters they gave most affecting voured districts; nor is it. heard in vain. accounts of the want of shepherds to colMuch has been done for them by the lect the sheep scattered over these moral Home Missionary Societies, and Mission- wildernesses. Sometimes they thought ary Boards of the different churches, and that, like Elijah of old, they were "left much, no doubt, will yet be done. alone;" not being aware, or if aware, not In the third place, there has been a large rightly estimating the fact, that men of immigration from Germany, Alsace, and other denominations were labouring in the Switzerland, for whose spiritual wants it same regions, as itinerating, if not as sethas not been easy to provide. The letters tled ministers. Such misrepresentations from these people to their friends in the led the Methodist and Baptist churches to Old World have in some cases given rise publish statements, proving that the alto the opinion that the moral destitution leged destitution had been greatly exagof the whole country is almost boundless.gerated. Hence, of late years, it has For a long time after the Revolution, the been usual to give the names of places augmentation of German ministers from requiring ministers and churches, of the an indigenous source was very slow, while but few of a proper stamp came from Europe. Blessed be God, the prospect for our German immigrants is becoming more cheering. There are no less than

denomination to which the writer belongs, acknowledging, at the same time, the services of ministers of other denominations, where they are to be found. Exaggerated statements may often be traced, also, to

the warm feelings of extempore speakers | Smith was born in 1800, of pious parents, at public meetings, leading them to com- and seems to have become decided in his mit themselves to expressions that have religious character at the age of twelve, not been duly weighed, and to these find- during a revival. He learned the trade of ing their way, often with additional exag- a saddler, and commenced business himgerations, into newspapers. Within the self at the age of twenty-two, on a small Tast fortnight, I have read in one of the capital lent him by his father. He was best religious newspapers in the United remarkably prosperous in business from States, the notes of a minister from the the first, so that he was soon able to repay 'East, as he passed through Pennsylvania this debt. But he did not allow his busito the "far West." The writer did not ness to engross his time and thoughts. He see a single church in any but a few of frequently visited the poor with the view the numerous towns and villages through of inquiring into and relieving their neceswhich he passed from Philadelphia to sities, was a constant Sabbath-school teachPittsburgh! Yet I, who have been along er, and for a long time was superintendent the same route no fewer than twelve of a Sabbath-school for Africans. In short, times, and who know every town and vil- he was the foremost to encourage and suplage upon it, having travelled it, not only port every good undertaking. But we as he did, in stages, but by railroad, in pri- must let the memoir* speak for itself. vate carriages, on horseback, and even on foot, hesitate not to say that there is no town, or even village of any considerable size, that has not at least one church belonging to some communion or other. These, however, are not the prominent churches, steeple-houses, as our Quaker friends might call them, to be seen in the Eastern States. Many are plain, humble buildings, standing in some retired street, and if visible at all to the writer as he whirled along, were hardly to be distinguished from a warehouse or respectable 'barn. And if such misstatements are honestly made at times by our own countrymen, how much more apt must foreigners be to form equally hasty and erroneous conclusions ?

"In the early part of 1829 he had great doubts whether it was not his duty to relinquish his business, in part at least, that he might have more time to do good. At that time he called to converse on this subject with the writer. He said that he found his business engrossed too much of his time and attention; he wished to be in a situation more favourable for the cultivation of personal religion and doing good to others; and, as he had acquired property enough for himself and family, he felt a desire to retire, that he might enjoy more quiet and leisure. In reply, it was said to him, 'The Lord has plainly indicated how you are to glorify him in the world. He has greatly prospered you in your business; the channels of wealth are open, and their streams are flowing in upon you, and it would be wrong for you to obstruct or diminish them. Let them rather flow wider and deeper. Only resolve that you will pursue your business from a sense of

X. INDIVIDUAL INSTANCES OF LIBERALITY IN SUPPORTING AND EXTENDING THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE GOSPEL.-It is one of the 'happy fruits of the voluntary principle that it cultivates a spirit of benevolence and self-reliance among Christians. It teach-duty, and use all that God may give you es men the true value and utility of wealth, for his glory and the good of your fellowin showing them that there are objects infi- men, and your business, like reading the nitely more worthy of living for than mere Bible, or worship on the Sabbath, will be self-gratification. Pious men of no coun- to you a means of grace; instead of hintry have an adequate conception of the dering, it will help you in the divine life, amount of good which they can do until and greatly increase your means of usethey have made the experiment. We sub-fulness.' The effect of the conversation join a few instances of individual liberali- was not known at the time, but from an ty, not because the authors of them were entry made in a journal which he began to rich* men, but because of the systematic keep about that period, it appears that the as well as delightful spirit which they dis-purpose was then formed to continue his played. In the course of this work many business, and to conduct it on the princiothers have been mentioned, which are ple recommended. well worthy of imitation.

One of the most remarkable instances of liberality in the middle walks of life is recorded in the memoirs of the late Normand Smith, of Hartford, Connecticut. Mr.

* Had I been disposed to speak of what some (I am sorry to say too few) of our rich men have done, I might mention one man-a merchant-who has in the course of 30 years given to religious and benevolent objects eight hundred thousand dollars, and of one who gives from forty to sixty thousand annually.

"From that time it was observable by all who knew him that he made rapid progress in religion. One subject seemed to engross his mind, that of doing good; and much good did God enable him to do. Besides many large donations in aid of various objects previous to his death, he bequeathed at his decease nearly 30,000 dol

* Written by his pastor, the Rev. Dr. Hawes, of the First Congregational Church, Hartford, Connecticut.

Christ is worth infinitely more than all pairing the loss sustained by the Baptist other things. The blood of Christ-the missionaries at Serampore. He regretted blood of Christ-none but Christ! O how that he had not been able to make the sum thankful I feel that God has provided a 500 dollars; consoled himself with the way that I, sinful as I am, may look for- thought that he might do it still, at some ward with joy to another world, through period not very far distant; and said that, if his dear Son." any of the bank-notes proved less valuable than specie, he would make up the deficiency.

But I know no instance of more systematic and long-continued benevolence, nor one that produced equal fruit from similar resources, than that of the late Mr. Solomon Goodell, of Vermont, who died when about seventy. Mr. Goodell was a farmer. The following notice of him, though long, will be read with interest. It is from a source worthy of all confidence.

"Mr. Goodell had made what he thought suitable provision for his children as he passed through life. After consulting his wife, he left her such portion of his estates as was satisfactory to her, gave several small legacies, and made the Board his residuary legatee. He supposed that the property left to the Board by will would not be less than 1000 dollars; but, as some

exact amount cannot be stated.*

"About the year 1809, the writer of these lines observed a donation of 100 dollars to the Connecticut Missionary Society, pub-part of it was, and still is unsaleable, the lished in the annual accounts as from Mr. Goodell. Such donations were, at that time, very uncommon in this country, and with regard to that society, nearly or quite unprecedented. The thought occurred, that doubtless some gentleman of independent fortune had thought proper to take up his residence in the interior of Vermont, and that he considered the society just named a good channel for his pious beneficence. This conclusion was strengthened by seeing a similar donation from the same source at the return of each successive year for a considerable period.

“On visiting Mr. Goodell at his house, you would find no gentleman with an inde pendent fortune, but a plain man in moderate circumstances, on one of the rudest spots in the neighbourhood of the Green Mountains, every dollar of whose property was either gained by severe personal labour, or saved by strict frugality, or received as interest on small sums lent to his neighbours. His house was comfortable, but, with the farm on which it stood, was worth only between 700 and 1000 dollars. His income was derived principally from a dairy.

"When the American Board of Foreign Missions began its operations, Mr. Goodell "Besides the donations above mentiondid not wait for an agent to visit him, but ed, Mr. Goodell made many smaller ones sent a message (or came himself) more to missionary societies formed to send the than fifty miles, to a member of the Board, Gospel to new settlements. He paid fifty saying that he wished to subscribe 500 dol- dollars or more, at one time, to a missionlars for immediate use, and a thousand for ary whom he employed to preach in the the permanent fund. He sent $50 as ear- destitute towns near him. He aided in the nest-money, and said he would forward the education of pious young men for the minremaining $450 as soon as he could raise istry, by furnishing them with money that sum; and would pay the interest an- for their necessary expenses. He discov nually upon the 1000 dollars until the prin-ered no ostentation, so far as we have been cipal should be paid. This engagement he punctually complied with, paying the interest, and just before his death transferring notes and bonds secured by mortgages, which (including the thousand dollars above mentioned) amounted to 1708 dollars, 37 cts.; that is, a new donation was made of 708 dollars, 37 cts., to which was afterward added another bond and mortgage of 350 dollars.

able to learn, in his religious charities. Certain it is that he always appeared to consider himself as the obliged party, and as obtaining a favour from societies which he made the almoners of his bounty. Farthest of all was he from supposing that his charitable exertions could make any atonement for sin, or authorize any claims upon the divine mercy. He held to the most entire self-renunciation, and to dependance upon Christ alone."

"Before this last transaction, he had made repeated intermediate donations. At A very lovely example of benevolence one time he brought to the Rev. Dr. Ly-is to be found in one of our large cities. man, of Hatfield (the member of the Board It is the case of a comparatively young above referred to), the sum of 465 dollars. man, who was born of parents belonging After the money was counted, Dr. Lyman to the Episcopal Church, and was taught said to him, 'I presume, sir, you wish this the Lord's Prayer and the Apostles' Creed sum endorsed upon your note of 1000 dol- by his pious mother; he was instructed in lars.' 'Oh, no,' was his reply; 'I believe that note is good yet. This is a separate matter.' He then expressed his wish that the money might be remitted towards re

in aid of missions to the heathen, we find that, from * In the summary view of Mr. Goodell's donations the 12th of February, 1812, to the 19th of November, 1816, they amounted to 3885 dollars, 16 cts.