EXAMINATION OF THE REVIEW OF THE

AMERICAN EDUCATION SOCIETY.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE BIBLICAL REPERTORY;

MESSRS. EDITORS,-IN the third number of the new series of your Work, dated July, 1829, I have met with a piece, on the General Assembly's Board of Education, and the American Education Society, which has deeply interested my feelings. Whoever the writer of that piece may be, I take the liberty to tender him my most sincere and hearty thanks for the very valuable considerations which, he has suggested, at the commencement of his Strictures, respecting the present aspect of the moral and religious world, and the duties and obligations of Christians which result from it. I do most entirely concur with all his remarks, respecting the past failure of the churches to perform their duty in regard to spreading the knowledge of the Gospel abroad; and in regard to their error in seeking, at any time, to sustain themselves by leaning on the arm of civil power. For one, I rejoice that God has taught them so instructive lessons on this subject; for we may now venture to hope, in this country at least, that she will not again seek for help from a quarter which will never afford it; and which, if at any time it condescends to put on the appearance of affording it, exacts more as a return for its favours, than conscience can allow, or the interests of religion permit without injury.

The picture of the religious wants of our country; the calls for pastoral labours, from thousands of places that are destitute of the word of life; the interest which Christians are taking in this subject; the importance of immediately furnishing our new settlements with faithful spiritual guides; the necessity of having these well instructed and disciplined for their great work; and the imperious duty of all Christians, who are praying the Lord of the harvest to

send forth more laborers, to be active in furnishing all the means of training up such laborers; are drawn, described, and urged in a manner which satisfies the most ardent feelings and wishes of my heart. I fully concur with the writer, also, in the directions which he gives, as to the manner in which our spiritual wants are to be supplied. It is true that our first duty is, to raise our humble and earnest cries to the Great Lord of the harvest, that he would multiply the number of laborers; and equally true, that the Christian church is under the highest obligations, while she prays for this, to do all in her power to promote it, by taking pious and indigent youth under her care, and providing for their education in an adequate manner.

With the writer I do also sympathize most entirely, on the subject of beneficed livings in the church. If a graceless ministry is to be raised up; if the church is to be thronged with aspirants after her favours, whose hearts are rankling with enmity at the strictness of her principles, and filled to overflowing with insatiable desires after worldly and sensual pleasures; then let her provide livings which will afford the means of ease and luxury. She will thus hold up a premium to men of secular views who are desirous of enjoying these; and will never fail to have at least as many ministers, as she has benefices to bestow upon them.

In view of the deadly evil which such a course has occasioned in other countries, it seems to be the plain duty of all sincere Christians in ours, to pray that the clergy may always continue to have very moderate incomes; to see to it that they never can become rich; at least never become so, by means of what the church bestows upon them in the way of salary. In respect to the usefulness of ministers of the Gospel, I can truly say, that their poverty appears to be great matter of congratulation. None but the most prejudiced and bigoted opposers of religion can now accuse them of selfish and pecuniary views, in choosing the ministry for a profession. There is scarcely a salary in this country, at least among the Presbyterian and Congregational churches, which could be the object of ambition to any man of a worldly spirit, and of talents above mediocrity.

It would give me much pleasure if I could proceed through the whole piece, on which I have commenced making remarks, and find nothing which I could not sincerely

commend, and with which I do not fully agree. But when the writer comes to make his remarks on the principles and proceedings of the A. E. Society, I am constrained to differ from him, and to cherish views materially diverse from those which he has disclosed.

I take it for granted, that a man of such an able mind and excellent spirit, as is developed in that part of the piece on which I have been remarking, will very readily concede to others the liberty which he has himself taken in the free remarks which he has made on the principles and proceedings of the A. E. Society. He will cheerfully grant me the privilege of examining the facts and principles which he has brought forward, by way of supporting his objections to the Society in question; first, because he himself wishes only to come at a correct view of the whole ground, and to know what can be said in its defence, as well as against it; and, secondly, because the public, who have now had one side of the question placed before them, are entitled to know what answer the friends of the A. E. Society have to make to the allegations there produced against their mea

sures.

I enter with much reluctance on this task. It is always unpleasant to entertain, or to express differences of opinion, when these differences have respect to men for whom we cherish a high and Christian regard. It is an unwelcome task, also, to come before the Christian public in a kind of polemic attitude. Many Christians shrink instinctively from every thing which looks like dispute. The world are very ready to speak with exultation, on what they are pleased to call the quarrels of the church. Distrust, unkind feeling, alienation, coldness, or suspicion, are very apt to creep in, while the professed disciples of Christ are engaged in discussion, (not to say dispute ;) and especially is this the case, when discussion grows animated, and the cause stands committed before the world.

On all these accounts, I advance to the task before me with undissembled reluctance; fearing lest the declaration of opposing sentiments, or the correction of mistaken facts, may possibly be understood by some as an exhibition of feelings which are unfriendly, or as a manifestation of party spirit, which, reckless of truth, or union, or peace, seeks to defend its own views at all adventures.

I cast myself, therefore, after these remarks, on the generosity of the writer in question, and that of his friends who sympathize with him; trusting, that while I endeavour strictly and faithfully to examine the allegations made respecting the A. E. Society, they will not do me the injustice to believe, that I have any personal motives in view, or am seeking the interests of any supposed party in that quarter of the country to which I belong.

I am indeed, a friend of the A. E. Society; and I have been so from its very rise. But it is not because I have been in any way connected with it, or have ever received, or expect to receive, any direct benefit from it; nor am I in any way responsible for its measures.

It is true, that having lived near the centre of the Society's operations, and having an intimate acquaintance with all who are actually concerned in the immediate and principal management of its interests, I have been, from the very first, acquainted with its principles, measures, and proceedings. From a sincere approbation of these, I can subscribe most heartily to the noble and generous concession, which the Reviewer of their proceedings makes, page 354, and which I beg permission here to quote.

"We admit, that there is something very magnanimous and captivating in the idea of a great Society, laying aside sectarian names, collecting and disbursing funds in educating pious indigent young men for the Gospel ministry, regardless of sect or party. We admit the energy and success of the A. E. Society, that it has done more in exploring the wants of our country, in enlightening public sentiment on this subject, in pressing home on the consciences of Christians, the indispensable duty of engaging heart and hand in this mighty work, than has been done by all others. With unqualified pleasure, we admit also, that the concerns of this Society are managed by men in whose intelligence, piety, and energy, we have the highest confidence."

Agreeing most fully with this writer, in his views of the men to whom the management of the A. E. Society is entrusted; and cherishing these views, after having for a score of years been intimately acquainted with almost all of them, and with the remainder ever since they have come upon the stage of action; I acknowledge that it is not without some degree of pain and reluctance, that I perceive the measures

they have taken are virtually called in question, and our country is warned against the dangers to which they are thought to be exposing it.

But it becomes their friends, and therefore myself among them, to examine the charges preferred against their principles and proceedings with impartiality, and to listen to every sober and friendly suggestion which may be made by any, who are disposed to call in question the wisdom or the correctness of their measures.

I have endeavoured to do this. The result I beg leave to communicate in the following order; viz.

I. I shall examine the facts alleged, in regard to the measures and principles of the A. E. Society.

II. I shall make some remarks on the fears which are expressed with respect to it. And,

III. I shall briefly consider the method which the Reviewer has chosen, in order to accomplish his object.

In examining the facts alleged by the Reviewer, I shall proceed in the order in which he has presented them. It is my design to leave no material circumstance out of view; for on a question of so great importance as the present, the public are entitled to information minute and circumstantial enough to lead them fully to make up their opinions.

The first allegation of the Reviewer is, that "the details of the expenses and receipts of clothing, of books, of donations from other societies and friends, of profits of teaching and labour, of debts contracted and paid, which young men under the patronage of the Society are required to make every quarter, are unnecessarily and painfully minute," p. 856. The chief grounds of this objection are, "that the plan holds out a powerful temptation to the beneficiary, to conceal the amount of receipts and expences, so as to form a stronger claim on the aid of the Society;" and that "it places him in the attitude of a common beggar, whose success depends on the dolefulness of his story." "Young men of delicate and ingenuous feelings," it is averred, "shrink from this public developement of private and personal circumstances," p. 356.

On this subject, I would remark, that the detail required of beneficiaries in Academies and Colleges, and which are in some respects more minute than those required of theological Students, may be summed up in general, under the