bringing over new settlers who have had, selves in what are called anti-slavery solittle proper moral culture, and not a few cieties, and have been endeavouring, for of whom are almost desperately depraved. Nor is it less gratifying to think that this occurs by a process in which brute force is superseded to such an extent in the repression of vice and crime by means essentially moral. CHAPTER XXV. SUNDRY OTHER ASSOCIATIONS. I SHALL now include in one chapter a notice of two or three other instances, in which the variety and energy of action possessed by the Voluntary Principle are remarkably illustrated. Societies for the Promotion of a better Observance of the Sabbath. Although the Sabbath is recognised, and its observance enjoined by the laws of every state in the Union, and although that sacred day is observed in the United States in a manner that strikingly contrasts with its neglect in Europe, and particularly on the Continent, yet in certain quarters, and especially in places that are in some sense thoroughfares, the violation of it is distressing, nay, alarming to a Christian mind. Hence the formation of societies for the better observance of that day. several years past, to awaken the public to a sense of the enormity and danger of slavery, and to the disgrace which it entails on the whole country. By means of the press, by tracts and books, and by the voice of living agents, they aim at the destruction of this-the greatest of all the evils that lie heavy on our institutions. I say nothing at present of the wisdom of their plans, or of the spirit in which these plans have been prosecuted. I only mention these societies as a farther proof of the wide application of the Voluntary Principle, and of the manner in which it leads to associated efforts for the correction of existing evils.* Peace Societies. And so in relation to the evils of war, and for the purpose of preserving good men especially, and all men, if possible, from thinking lightly of them, Peace Societies began to be formed as early as the year 1816, and a national society was organized in 1827.. The object must be admitted to be humane and Christian. By the diffusion of well-written tracts, by offering handsome premiums for essays on the subject, and their subsequent publication, and, above all, by short and pointed articles in the newspapers, a great deal has been done to cause the prayer to ascend with more fervency from the heart These are sometimes of a local and lim- of many a Christian, "Give peace in our ited nature; sometimes they embrace a time, O Lord," and to inspire a just dread wider sphere of operation. By publishing of the awful curse of war. To many, such and circulating well-written addresses and efforts may appear ridiculous, but not so tracts-still more by the powerful appeals to the man who can estimate the value of of the pulpit, they succeed in greatly di- even one just principle, when once estabminishing the evil, if not in removing it al-lished in the heart of any individual, howtogether. By such measures they strength-ever humble. Who can tell how much en the hands of the officers of justice, and such efforts in the United States, and other give a sounder tone and better direction to public opinion, greatly to the diminution, if not to the entire remedy, of the evil sought to be cured. What is best of all, this result is obtained most commonly by the moral influence of Truth-by kindly remonstrance, and arguments drawn from the Word of God and right reason. I may state that I have myself seen the happiest influence exerted by these associations. countries, may have contributed, in God's holy providence, which often avails itself of the humblest means for the accomplishment of the greatest purposes, to prolong that happy general peace which has held Europe, and all the civilized world, in its embrace during more than a quarter of a century? The American Peace Society employed four agents last year, and issued 5000 copof its periodical. Its receipts were 3000 dollars.† *The receipts of the American Anti-slavery Society for last year were about 10,000 dollars; those of the American and Foreign Anti-slavery Society were probably greater, but I have not seen the amount stated. A few years ago, before the division took place in the American Anti-slavery Society which led to the formation of the American and Foreign Anti-slavery Society, its income was 40,000 dollars, and the number of its agents was forty or fifty. Anti-slavery Societies. And so with re-ies spect to slavery, an evil which afflicted all the thirteen original colonies at the epoch of their declaration of independence, and which still exists in half of the twenty-six states, as well as in the District of Columbia and the Territory of Florida, though no longer to be found in the six New-England States, or in New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and the Territories of Wisconsin and The late William Ladd, Esq., of the State of Iowa. With a view to its extirpation in Maine, was the founder of the American Peace Sothe states to which it still adheres, many was an excellent Christian. His heart was absorbed ciety, and for many years its worthy president. He of the inhabitants of the Northern, or non-in the objects of the society over which he presided. slaveholding states, have associated them- Through his exertions a prize of 1000 dollars was CHAPTER XXVI. INFLUENCE OF THE VOLUNTARY PRINCIPLE ON COUNTRY. NOR is the voluntary principle less operative in the formation and support of beneficent institutions than of associations for attacking and vanquishing existing evils. But these present too wide a field to be fully gone over in this work; besides, they do not come properly within its scope. I shall therefore glance only at a few points, showing how the voluntary principle operates in this direction for the furtherance of the Gospel. sive, only because there is no extensive call for their being made. Created by circumstances, when these disappear, the associations also cease to exist. But where the sufferings to be relieved are perpetually recurring, as well as too extensive to be alleviated by individual effort, these benevolent associations become permanent. Their objects are accomplished, in most instances, by the unaided exertions of the benevolent, who voluntarily associate for the purpose; but if these prove insufficient, municipal or state assistance is sought, and never sought in vain. Accordingly, the stranger who visits the United States will find hospitals for the sick, In efforts to relieve the temporal wants almshouses for the poor, and dispensaries and sufferings of mankind, as well as in for furnishing the indigent with medicines all other good undertakings, Christians, gratuitously, in all the large cities where and those, too, with few exceptions, evan- they are required.* There is a legal progelical in their faith, almost invariably vision in all the states for the poor, not take the lead. Whenever there is a call such, however, as to do away with the nefor the vigorous exercise of benevolence, cessity of individual or associated effort proceeding from whatever cause, Chris- to meet extraordinary cases of want, estians immediately go to work, and endeav-pecially when it comes on suddenly, and our to meet the exigency by their own ex- in the train of disease. The rapid and ertions, if possible; but should the nature wide-spreading attacks of epidemics may and extent of the relief required properly demand co-operation on the part of municipal and state anthorities, they bring the case before these authorities, and invoke their aid. It naturally follows that, when this is given, it should be applied through the hands of those who were the first to stir in the matter; and this wisely, too, since who can be supposed so fit to administer the charities of the civil government as those who have first had the heart to make sacrifices for the same object themselves? Such alone are likely to have the experience that in such affairs is necessary. All this I might illustrate by adducing many instances, were it necessary. In this chapter, however, I shall notice a few, and take these collectively. There is not a city or large town, I may say, hardly a village, in all the country, which has not its voluntary associations of good men and women for the relief of poverty, especially where its sufferings are aggravated by disease. These efforts, in countless instances, may not be exten offered for the best essay on the subject of A Congress of Nations, for the termination of national disputes. Four or five excellent dissertations were presented, and the premium was divided among the authors by the judges appointed to make the award; one of whom was the Hon. John Quincy Adams, formerly President of the United States. The evils of war can hardly be exaggerated. "In peace," said Croesus to Cyrus, "children bury their fathers; but in war, fathers bury their children." "War makes thieves," says Machiavelli, " and peace brings them to the gallows." "May we never see another war," said Franklin, in a letter which he addressed to a friend, just after signing the treaty of peace at the close of the American Revolution, "for in my opinion there never was a good war or a bad peace.' M demand, and will assuredly find benevolent individuals ready to associate themselves for meeting such exigencies, before the measures provided by law can be brought to bear upon them.† It is with great pleasure that I have to state that the Gospel finds admittance into the establishments for the relief of pover The manner of providing for the poor differs greatly in different states. In the West, where there is but little extreme poverty, the inhabitants of each township generally look after their poor in such a way as best suits them. Money is raised, and by a commissioner of the poor," appropriated to the support of such as need it. Those who have families live in houses hired for them; single person's board with others who are willing to take them for the stipulated sum. In the Atlantic States, where there are more poor who need assistance, the same course is pursued in many cases. In others, "poorhouses" are erected in such counties as choose to send their quota of paupers, and pay for their board, have such establishments, and to these the townships clothing, &c. In the cities on the seaboard, the municipal authorities make abundant provision for the poor who need aid, a great proportion of whom are foreigners. nature of individual and associated charity during †There were many illustrations of the expansive the prevalence of the cholera. In all our large cities, associations, comprising the very best Christians in them, were formed with the utmost promptitude, and zealously sustained as long as needed I saw myself, and often attended their meetings, an association of Christian ladies formed in Philadelphia, as soon as the pestilence commenced its ravages in that city. They hired a house, converted it into a hospital, gathered into it all the children whom the plague had orphanized, both white and black, whom they could find, and day after day, and week after week, washed, dressed, and took care of those children with their own hands, and defrayed all the expenses of the establishment. Two of the children died of the cholera in their arms! These ladies belonged, many of them, to some of the first families in that city in point of respectability. Nor are the aged poor neglected. Asylums for widows are to be met with in all our large towns, where they are, in fact, most needed; and old and infirm men are also provided for. At the same time, that "charity which ty and disease, which have been created and maintained by the municipal and state authorities; and that I have never heard of any case in which the directors have opposed the endeavours of judicious Christians to make known to the inmates the blessings of religion. Prudent and zeal-seeketh not her own," but the good of all ous Christians, both ministers and laymen, are allowed to visit, and ministers to preach to the occupants of such establishments; and in several of our cities, one or more excellent ministers of the Gospel are employed to preach regularly in them as well as in the prisons. With rare exceptions, they are in the hands of Protestants, though Roman Catholic priests are nowhere forbidden to enter and teach all who desire their ministrations. Of all the beneficent institutions of our large cities, there are none more interesting than those intended for the benefit of children. Orphan asylums, well established and properly conducted, are to be found in every city of any consideration throughout the Union. Nor are these asylums for white children only; they are also for the coloured. Indeed, it cannot be said with truth that the poor and the sick of the African race, in our cities and large towns, are less cared for than those of the white race. Nor are those children only who have lost both parents thus provided for. In some of our cities, asylums are in the course of being provided for what are called half-orphans-that is, who have still one parent or both, but are not supported by them. I may state it, however, as a fact of which I am perfectly certain, that there is not a single Foundling pital in the United States. others, no matter what may have been their character or what their crimes, has not forgotten those unfortunate females who have been the victims of the faithlessness of men. Magdalen asylums have been founded in all our chief cities, especially on the seaboard, where they are most needed, and have been the means of doing much good. It is only to be regretted that this branch of Christian kindness and effort has not been far more extensively prosecuted. Nevertheless, there are many hearts that are interested in it, and in the institutions which they have erected the glorious Gospel of him who said to the penitent woman in Simon's house, “Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace," is not only preached, but also received into hearts which the Spirit of God has touched and broken. CHAPTER XXVII. INFLUENCE OF THE VOLUNTARY PRINCIPLE ON THE utmost attention is now paid in the United States to a class of the unfortunate which, of all others, presents the strongest claims on our sympathy-I alHos-lude to the insane. For these very much has been done in the course of the last In some of our cities we have admirable institutions, called Houses of Refuge, for neglected children, and such as are encouraged by their parents to live a vagabond life, or are disposed of themselves to lead such a life. In these establishments they not only receive the elements of a good English education, but are instructed also in the mechanical arts; and with these religious instruction is faithfully and successfully combined. All of these institutions were commenced, and are carried on by the voluntary efforts of Christians, though they have been greatly assisted by appropriations in their favour, in the shape of endowments or annuities from some of the state governments.* * One of the best conducted of these establishments is at Philadelphia. It stands at the distance of one mile from the city, occupies a beautiful site, and has a number of acres of ground attached to it. There are here usually between 100 and 200 youth of both sexes, who occupy different apartments, and are under the care of excellent teachers. The magistrates of the city have the power to send vagrant, idle, and neglected children to it. Very many youths have left this institution greatly benefited by their residence in it. It has fallen to the lot of the writer twenty years, by the establishment of suitable places for their reception, instead of confining them, as formerly, in the common prisons of the country. In this the Prison Discipline Society has exerted a most extensive and happy influence, never having ceased, in its Annual Reports, to the duty of providing proper receptacles, urge upon the governments of the states: to which persons discovered to be insane might be conveyed as promptly as possible, with a view to their proper treatment. The Society showed this to be an imperative duty on the part of the states, and its voice has not been heard in vain. There are now twelve asylums supported by the states, and some of these are on a large scale. That near Utica will conto preach often to its inmates, and never has he seen a more affecting sight. If a man wishes to learn the importance of the parental relation, and the blessings which flow from a faithful fulfilment of its duties, let him visit such an institution, and inquire into the history of each youth whom it contains. The Farm Schools" for orphans and for neglected children, in the neighbourhoods of Boston and NewYork, are excellent, and have been the means of do ing much good. sist, when completed, of four buildings, imperfections, if they will not admit their each 446 feet long by 48 wide, and placed delusions; and they feel the importance one on each side of a beautiful quadrilat- of good conduct to secure the confidence eral area, which assumes an octagonal and esteem of those whose good opinion form by the intersection of its corners, they value." with verandahs of open lattice-work. It is intended for the insane poor of the State of New-York, which state is at the sole expense of its erection, and the cost upon the completion of the whole will amount, it is supposed, to about $1,000,000. It is calculated to receive 1000 patients. Besides the twelve State Asylums, there are two belonging to cities, namely, those at Boston and New-York; six to incorporated bodies, and one is the property of an individual,* making in all twenty-one. One or more state asylums may possibly have been opened since the publication of the interesting work to which I am indebted for my information on the subject.† Nearly all of these asylums are constructed on the most approved plans. Almost all are beautifully situated, have a According to Dr. Earle's statements, the deaths in the European institutions for the insane vary from thirteen to forty per cent. ; while in the American asylums none exceed ten per cent.* While the State governments have been doing so much for the establishment of hospitals and asylums for the insane, much has also been done by individual munificence. Even some of the State institutions have been assisted by donations from private citizens. Thus two benevolent gentlemen in the State of Maine have given $10,000 each towards founding the asylum for that state. CHAPTER XXVIII. light and cheerful aspect, and are surround- INFLUENCE OF THE VOLUNTARY PRINCIPLE ON ed with ample grounds, tastefully laid out in fields and meadows, pleasant gardens, and delightful walks. After visiting many such institutions in Europe, I can truly say that I have seen none more pleasantly situated, or better kept, than the Massachusetts State Asylum, at Worcester, the Retreat at Hartford, in Connecticut, and the Asylum on Blackwell's Island, near New-York. I would particularly call attention to the fact that religious worship is kept up in all of these twenty-one institutions but four. Some have regular chaplains attached to them; in others, Divine worship is conducted for the inmates by clergymen or laymen in the neighbourhood, who vol. unteer their services in performing this important and interesting duty. In almost every case it is done by men of evangelical sentiments. Nor is their labour in vain, ample experience having demonstrated that such services, when performed by judicious, calm, and truly spiritual men, exert a highly beneficial influence on the insane. The Gospel, when presented in the spirit of its blessed Author, is admirably fitted to soothe the mental excitement of the poor deranged lunatic. THE BENEFICENT INSTITUTIONS OF THE OUR asylums for the deaf and dumb owe their existence to a series of efforts on the part of a few Christian friends. The late Dr. Cogswell, a pious and excellent physician in the city of Hartford, Connecticut, had a beloved daughter who was deaf and dumb. For her sake he proposed to a devoted young minister of the Gospel, the Rev. Mr. Gallaudet, to go to Europe, and there to learn, at the best institutions, the most approved methods of teaching this unfortunate class of people. The mission was cheerfully undertaken. Mr. Gallaudet returned in 1816, after having spent above a year in Paris, where he studied the methods of instruction pursued at the Royal Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb, under the Abbé Sicard, the pupil and friend of the Abbé l'Epée. Thereupon an effort was immediately made to found an institution at Hartford. An act of incorporation was obtained in 1816, a large sum was contributed by the people of Hartford for the erection of the requisite buildings, and ConRegular religious teaching," says Dr.gress granted a township from the national Woodward, the superintendent of the asy-lands, consisting of 23,040 acres, towards lum for the insane at Worcester, Massa- the endowment of the institution. It was chusetts, "is as necessary and beneficial to the insane as to the rational mind; in a large proportion of the cases it will have equal influence. They as well know their * Dr. White's, at Hudson, in the State of NewYork. "A Visit to thirteen Asylums for the Insane in Europe, &c., to which is subjoined a brief Notice of similar Institutions in the United States," by Pliny Earle, M.D. Published at Philadelphia in 1841. opened, ere long, for the reception of pupils, and from that time to this has been going on most prosperously. It is the oldest establishment for the purpose in the * The number of the insane in the asylums in the United States is about 2500; in 1840, the whole number of the insane in the country, of all ages and conditions, was, according to the census, 17,434, being about one to every 979 inhabitants. Of these 17,434 insane persons, 5162 were maintained at the public expense, and 12,272 at that of their friends. at the basis of an enlightened society, the whole of the confederated states will be found ready to make provision for conducting their deaf and dumb, by means of a suitable education, to usefulness and happiness. For this it is not requisite that each state should have an asylum for itself; it would be found enough that two or more should unite, as at present, in having one in common. United States, and is called "The Ameri- | and they shall have established those more can Asylum for the Education and Instruc- general and important institutions that lie tion of the Deaf and Dumb." So far, indeed, it is a national institution. It was endowed to a considerable amount by Congress; it is open to pupils from all the states, and it does, in fact, receive them from the South as well as from the North. It is peculiarly, however, the deaf and dumb institution of New-England, five of the states of which support within its walls, at the expense of their treasuries, a certain number of pupils every year. The number at the asylum is usually between 140 and 150. The course of study lasts four years. Mechanical arts are taught to the young men at certain hours daily, while the young women learn such things as become their sex and situation in life. Since 1816 five other institutions for the deaf and dumb have been established in the United States, all on the model of that at Hartford. They are as follows: 1. That at New-York. It has about 150 pupils, and is mainly supported by the State Legislature. 2. The Pennsylvania Institution, at Philadelphia. It has from 100 to 120 pupils, most of whom are maintained there at the expense of that and the neighbouring states. 3. The Ohio Asylum at Columbus, a prosperous institution, with about seventy pupils, and mainly supported by the Legislature of Ohio. 4. The Asylum for Kentucky, at Danville, which is chiefly, if not entirely, supported by funds arising from the sale of lands granted to it by the Congress of the United States. It has, perhaps, twentyfive or thirty pupils, but has not been very prosperous. 5. The Virginia Asylum, at Staunton, an institution of very recent date. It has about twenty-five pupils, and is mainly dependant upon that state for its support. These five, as well as that at Hartford, receive paying pupils from families which have the means of defraying the expense of educating their own children. But the number of such pupils probably does not exceed one sixth of the whole. The number of pupils in these six asylums ranges from 510 to 545, and as the fifteen or sixteen states by which they are supported have both the means and the disposition to do so, they will doubtless furnish instruction to the deaf and dumb of the other states, which have resolved to send them thither until they can have asylums of their own. There will, indeed, be but a partial provision for some time for the indigent deaf and dumb of the new states; yet the known enterprise and benevolence of their inhabitants warrant us to believe that as soon as their population shall have become sufficiently numerous, The number of deaf and dumb persons throughout the United States in 1840 was 7659, or about one to every 2227 of the entire population; but the proportion of proper age for being placed in an asylum, to receive the usual instruction there, is hardly above a fourth of the entire number. It is delightful to contemplate how much has been done for this interesting part of the community within the last few years, and especially delightful to the Christian, to know that all the six asylums above mentioned are under the direction of decidedly religious men, and that the course of instruction pursued in them is entirely evangelical. The Bible is made the textbook of their religious studies. Every morning and evening they are assembled for prayers, and then a portion of Scripture is written on a large slate, about ten feet by four. Some pertinent remarks are addressed to them, followed by prayer, both the remarks and the prayer being performed, by the principal or one of the professors of the institution, by signs. In the same way, upon the Sabbath, a sermon is preached and other religious services held. God has greatly blessed these instructions. Many of the pupils in these several asylums have become, from time to time, as their lives attest, truly pious persons; and in some instances these institutions have richly shared in the revivals that have occurred in the places where they are established. CHAPTER XXIX. INFLUENCE OF THE VOLUNTARY PRINCIPLE ON In the year 1832 the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts Asylum for the Blind was founded, as follows: Thomas H. Perkins, Esq., of the city of Boston, gave his valuable house and grounds, with out-buildings thereon, estimated to be worth 50,000 dollars, for an asylum for the blind, provided the sum required for founding one should be raised in New-England. Fifty thousand dollars having been speedily collected, and the Legislature of Massachusetts having voted |