patronage. The remarks are applicable to these select young men of our land, each all the friends of Zion. one possessing a soul infinitely more valuable than ten thousand worlds, and destined to eternal weal or wo, are now crowding the way to eternal destruction. Human efforts alone are inadequate to save them. They must everlastingly perish, unless God interpose by his grace. And he will convert and save in answer to prayer. Who, then, will not pray for the conversion of these dear youth? Who will not wrestle with the angel of the covenant, and say in the language of prevailing Israel, "I will not let thee go, except thou bless them." THE special object of this communication, is to direct your attention to the Annual Concert of Prayer, in behalf of the American Colleges. This concert was established in 1823. The last Thursday of February in that year, was set apart by "a number of the friends of Zion, as a season of fasting, and spiritual and united prayer, that God would pour out his Spirit on the Colleges of our country." From that time to the present, this day has annually been observed by multitudes, who love Zion and pray for her 3. Our Colleges exert a mighty influence prosperity. The last Thursday of February upon the community. Here will be eduis rapidly approaching Permit us, then, cated our legislators, judges, lawyers, phyto "stir up your pure minds by way of re- sicians, and ministers. Every one who remembrance," to this vastly important sub-ceives the honors of College, will affect, by ject, and, if possible, secure your fervent, importunate, and united intercessions at the throne of grace, on that memorable day, that God would cause his Holy Spirit to descend upon our Colleges, like a mighty rushing wind. There are several motives for the performance of this duty. 1. God does hear and answer prayer. He has said "Ask, and it shall be given you; " and he has expressly promised the Holy Spirit to them that ask him. That God has answered prayer, offered for our seminaries of learning, is strikingly manifest. His declaration has been fulfilled, "Before they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." In some instances, revivals have commenced on the very day of the concert. The Lord has been there, by the special influences of his Spirit. In a single revival at one of our Colleges, sixty individuals were hopefully converted to God; and, in three successive revivals at another College, seventy students gave evidence of a change of heart. In the year 1831, there was a revival in fourteen different Colleges, and between three and four hundred young men in these institutions, were apparently brought to a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. Since the establishment of this concert of prayer, more than a thousand individuals in our public seminaries, it is believed, have been made the subjects of true vital godli ness. Through these effusions of the Holy Ghost, what amount of good has been accomplished! how much talent and influence have been consecrated to Christ and the Church, which otherwise might have been wasted-worse than wasted! What a powerful motive to prayer, is the consideration, that God heareth and answereth the supplications of his people! 2. A large number of beloved youth in our Colleges, are still in an unconverted state, "having no hope, and without God in the world." This probably is true of from two thirds to three quarters of the whole number of students. How many of his sentiments and example, at least a thousand souls around him. These institutions, therefore, will be fountains of corruption and death, or of purity and life. How important, then, that " holiness to the Lord" be inscribed upon all our halls of sciencethat these fountains be pure, sending forth healthful streams to make glad the city of God. But should the Holy Spirit be withheld from them, they would be like the mountains of Gilboa, having no dew nor rain. Prayer, therefore, should be made without ceasing, of the churches, unto God for them. 4. By revivals in these institutions of learning, a large number of our youth would be brought into the ministry. Between two and three thousands, now in a course of education, might thus be secured to Christ and the church. These thousands might preach the gospel to as many millions, and be instrumental in the salvation of multitudes. Let then, every one who has an interest at the throne of grace, pray particularly for revivals of religion in all our Colleges-"pray the Lord of the harvest that he would send forth laborers into his harvest," that the earth may be gathered. In view of the above remarks, beloved in the Lord, let your spirit be stirred in you. Think, converse, and pray much respecting it. When the day of deep and affecting interest shall come, spend the season in fasting, supplication, and other religious duties. Pray with the spirit of Jeremiah, when he pathetically exclaimed, "O that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!" Pray in faith and hopepray till the blessing come. "What things soever ye desire," (according to the will of God,) "when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." "And it shall be said in that day, Lo! this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us; this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation." 1 00 2 37 Rev. Chester Wright, Montpelier, Vt. by the Young Ladies Sewing Circle, Miss Rebecca P. Hunt, Sec. and Tr. 40 00 South Parish Sab. School, by do. From Mary and Henry Wenzell, by Rev. Wm. Rev. Jonathan C. Southmayd, of do. by do. do. Individuals in Rev. Dr. Eaton's Par- Byfield, fr. individuals in Rev. Mr. Barbour's Parish, by Rev. J. D. F. 26 77-29 14 Ipswich, fr. Fem. Ed. Soc. 1st Parish, by Mrs. New Rowley, fr. individuals, by Rev. J. D. Newburyport, fr. Aux. Ed. Soc. N. and Vicin- 100 00 4 50 60 00 263 85 7 508 50 10 00 2 00 12 00-20 50 AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. Hatfield, collection, by Rev. Mr. Pratt some time since, just remitted by the Co. Tr. Williamsburgh, fr. Miss Minerva Graves 5 00 One fifth of contribution at Ann. Pub. Meet- 24 25 20 75 27 25 32 25 18 07 100 From Rev. Joshua N. Danforth, Ag. for the From the disposable funds of the Co. Soc. by 100 00-200 66 750 From a lady, the Bequest of her Sister, deceas MIDDLESEX COUNTY. ed, to const. Rev. James Kimball, of Bos ton, a L. M. of A. E. S. 40 00 From W. by John Tappan, Esq. 2 00 From Tremont St. Sab. school 8 87 From Ezra Palmer, Ann. Sub. 5 00 From individuals in Rev. Mr. Fairchild's Con gregation, South Boston, viz. :— 20 04 54 96-75 00 From Rev. Mr. Blanchard's Church and Cong. 2d payment for Blanchard Temp. Schol. by Dea. Wm. Davidson, as follows, viz. a contribution From the Fem. Ed. Soc. by Mrs. Miran. da Dummer, Tr. for 1832 From the Fem. Ed. Soc. in Rev. Mr. Twining's Ch. and Cong. 2d pay't for Twining Temp. Schol. by Mrs. Jacob Haskell, Tr. Legacy of Mrs. Sarah Abbot, late of Andover, by Rev. Joseph Chickering, of Phillipston, Ex'r NORFOLK COUNTY. 75 00 50 00-282 00 From the Fem. Ed. Soc. by Mrs. Harriet Keene, fr. Gent. Asso. 15 00-15 25 From Rev. Z. S. Barstow "Ladies' Asso. 5 00 New Alstead, fr. a friend 13 12-18 12 1 006 00-39 37 Nelson, fr. Rev. Gad Newell, ann. sub. Grafton Co. Aux. Ed. So. From Rev. Robert Page, of Hanover, ann. sub. Hillsboro' Co. Aur. Ed. Soc. by Richard South Weymouth, fr. Mr. Hervey Reed, 5 00 and Mr. Thos. Blanchard By Rev. Mr. Farnsworth. RELIGIOUS CHAR. SOC. OF MIDDLESEX NORTH AND VICINITY. [Mr. Jonathan S. Adams, Groton, Tr.] Ashby, fr. individuals, by the Tr. Dunstable, fr. do. Antrim, fr. Rev. Mr. Whiton 1 00 do. 5 26 Greenfield, fr. Dea. Stephen Holt 1 00 Fitchburg, fr. the Fem. Ed. Soc. Miss Goffstown, fr. individuals, to const. Rev. Leon ard Stowell a L. M. of A. E. S. Sarah Wood, Tr. 26 36 41 00 From a lady, in remembrance of a de Hancock, fr. Rev. Mr. Burgess, to complete parted daughter, 7th Ann. Pay't 1 00-27 36 Groton, fr. individuals, by the Treasurer his L. Membership 12 00 39 65 3 50 Harvard, fr. do. do. 21 80 Leominster, fr. Fem. Aux. Ed. Soc. by Miss Susan Lincoln, Tr. 8 35 Pepperell, fr. individuals, by the Treasurer Shirley, fr. do. do. Townsend, fr. the gentlemen appointed to distribute the estate of the late Mr. Samuel Stone, by Rev. John Todd, of Groton From individuals, by the Treasurer A portion of the above donations to constitute the following gentlemen L. M. of A. E. S. viz. -Rev. James R. Cushing of Boxborough, Eldad W. Goodman of Dunstable, Hope Brown of Shirley, and William M. Rogers of Townsend. SOUTH MASSACHUSETTS. [Dea. Morton Eddy, Bridgewater, Tr.] Refunded by a former Beneficiary, thro' the Treasurer. WORCESTER SOUTH. [Hon. Abijah Bigelow, Worcester, Tr.] Grafton, fr. ladies, by Miss Sabra Leland Millbury, fr. 1st Congregational Soc. by Tyler March Northborough and Berlin Asso. by Mr. Henry Mills Lyndeboro', fr. individuals Wilton, fr. Ladies' Ed. Soc. to constitute Mrs. Merrimack Co. Aux. Ed. Soc. by Sam. Bradford, fr. Joseph Shattuck, ann. sub. 49 11-506 84 Henniker, fr. Hon. Joshua Darling, his sub. of Life Membership From do. his ann. sub. Rockingham Co. Aux. Ed. Soc. Kingston, fr. the Fem. Cent Soc. From the Fem. Working Soc. [$18 00 of the above is to complete the L. M. of Rev. O. Pearson of the A. E. S.] Strafford Co. Aux. Ed. Soc. By Mr. Wm. Woodman, Tr. Sullivan Co. Aux. Ed. Soc. by Dr. Alexander Boyd, Tr. 60 00 Oxford, fr. Peter Butler 4 00 From Mrs. Hannah D. Witt 5 00 1 00 -9 00 Contribution at the ann. meet. at Amherst 1 00 15 00 5 00-21 00 12 74 6 54-19 28 21 62 10 50 100-11 50 23 21 $301 17 Note. The sum of $44 inserted in the Journal of November, as received from Rindge, and thus reported by the Treasurer of Cheshire Co. Soc. should have been reported as from Fitzwilliam. NORTH WESTERN BRANCH. Bennington, fr. the Benev. Asso. by Dr. Noa-/ diah Swift, Tr. [$20 of which fr. the ladies, by Mrs. Emeline P. Ballard, and $30 fr. Dea. Stephen Hinsdill, to cons. him a L. M. of N. W. Br.] All by Rev. Wm. L. Mather, Sec. of the Br. Brookfield, fr. individuals, by Fred. Buel From Gent. Asso. by S. Hazeltine, Tr. Orange Co, Aux. Ed. So. 4.00 17 00 100 00 17 42-34 42-38 42 27 25 From Ladies' Asso. by do. do. 50 8 75 $180 92 Whole amount rec'd for present use Avails of gold beads Lyme, Ann. Subs. by Chester Colton Litchfield, fr. Ladies and Gents. Asso. by Dea. Litchfield So. Farms, fr. Ladies and Gents. From Henry S. Ward, a donation, by Rev. New Milford, fr. Laura A. Bostwick, Gratia M. Merwin, and María H. Merwin, to cons. their Pastor, the Rev. Heman Rood a L. M. of A. E. S. New Canaan, fr. the Lydian Soc. in part of 5th ann. pay't of T. Sch. by Mrs. Sarah Bonney, Tr. Norwalk, fr. Fairfield Co. Ed. Soc. thro' Geo. St. John, Tr. by Rev. Mr. Cogswell North Goshen, fr. Ladies and Gents. Asso. by Dea. Silas Humphrey North Canaan, fr. Ladies and Gents. Asso. by Dea. Peirce Avails of a silver buckle Norfolk, fr. Ladies Asso. by Mrs. Eldridge Avails of Jewelry North Cornwall, fr. Ladies and Gent. Asso. by Dea. Nathan Hart Kent, fr. Ladies and Gent. Asso. by Nathaniel P. Perry 14 25 3 77-17 92 2.00 40 37 11 36 Greenville, N. Y. fr. sundry persons, by Rev. Mr. Owen 16 25 Taylor, fr. L. A. Dagget 220 00-409 10 From the 2d Church, by J. T. McCoun, Tr. the 1st Church, by Jas. Raymond, Tr. Western Ed. Soc. rec'd fr. the Treasurer, J. S. Seymour, Esq. Agency acc. for sales saddle, &c. Maury Co. West Tennessee agency Bloomfield Ac'y proceeds sales, fr. H. Holden, Esq. 190 CO 300 00-510 10 520 00 7:00 20 34 $4,289 84 New Preston, fr. do. do. by Samuel Averill Sharon, Ellsworth Soc. fr. Ladies and Gent. South Canaan, fr. Ladies and Gents. Asso. by Lee From Gents. do. by Lot Norton South Cornwall, fr. Ladies Ed. Soc. by Miss Eliza Goodyear, Sec. From do. do. in small neighborhood, by Mrs. Sarah Swift, Tr. West Hartford, fr. the Cent Soc. by Mrs. E. Winchester, fr. Ladies and Gent. Asso. by Mrs. From Gents. do. by Dea. Jos. A. Tanner Brinsmade From Gents. do. by Mr. D. B. Brinsmade Scholarship Fund. Henry Stillman, balance of the Schol. by Dea. T. Stillman From S. Converse 111 00 10 00 68 10-78 10 Asahel Hooker, fr. individuals, by Wm. C. Gil man, on acco. [All these sums thro' Rev. Wm. Cogswell.] Clothing. South Cornwall, fr. Fem. Ed. Soc. by Electa Goodyear, Tr. 16 1-2 yds. flannel, valued at $8 25. Names of persons who have been made Life Members of the Fairfield Co. Aux. Ed. Soc. by the payment of $15:-Rev. Mr. Wilcox, of North Greenwich; Rev. Mr. Buffett, of Stanwick; Rev. Mr. Jones, of Munroe; Rev. Nathl. Freeman, of North Fairfield; Rev. Henry Fuller, of do.; Mr. David Banks, Jr., of Stanwick; Rev. Abner Brundage, of Brookfield; Rev. Mr. Burton, of Ridgebury.--Names of those who have been made Life Members of the Am. Ed. Soc. by the payment of $40:Rev. Daniel Smith, of Stunford; Rev. Henry Benedict, of Norwalk; Rev. Edwin Hall, of Norwalk. SUMMARY. Present Use. Sch. Fund. *5,138 15 Whole amo. 416 00 5,554 15 2.0 40 †301 17 †180 92 180 92 Connecticut do. †1,18: 56 Pres. Education Soc. 4, 89 84 409 10 1,591 66 4,289 84 $11,313 04 8:25 10 12,138 14 *Exclusive of the $105 72 from Con. Branch. In addition to these sums, there has been received into the Treasury of the Parent Society, and included in its receipts above, From New Hampshire 66 Vermont Connecticut 62 00 104.61 313 00-$479 61 Clothing rec'd at the Rooms of the Parent Society during the quarter ending Jan. 9, 1833. Berlin, fr. the Fem. Ed. Soc. Mrs. Sarah L. Goddard, Tr. 19 pair socks, 17 shirts, 2 sheets, 3 shirtees, 1 cravat, 16 collars, valued at $35 00. Braintree, fr. the Fem. Ed. Soc. by Mrs. H. Storrs, 4 cravats, 5 prs. socks, 6 shirts, valued at $7 00. Bath, N. H. fr. Mrs. William Hutchins, 2 shirts, 2 collars, and 2 cravats. Leominster, fr. the Fem. Aux. Ed. Soc. Miss Susan Lincoln, Tr. 9 shirts, 3 prs. cotton socks, 5 prs. woollen do. 5 collars, 4 quilts, I cravat, and 8 pillow cases, valued at $34 41. Spencer, fr. the Fein. Char. Soc. Miss Maria L. Bemis, Sec. 4 shirts, 4 collars, 2 prs. socks, 1 pair thin pantaloons, and 1 vest. 20 00 Sharon, fr. the Dorcas Soc. 2 comfortables, valued at $5. THERE is much in the state of education in this country, which is encouraging to the philanthropist and scholar. Its great object seems to be more and more distinctly apprehended. The harmonious cultivation of all the powers which belong to man, is regarded as of paramount importance. Hence the means which are devised to purify and interest the affections, to discipline and mature the understanding, and to render the body in the highest degree the coadjutor of the mind. The Bible is beginning to take that place in plans of study, which its great value as a storehouse of principles in morals, and literature, and religion, demand. Its merits as a text-book, are undergoing a thorough discussion. The results of inquiry and of experience on this subject, cannot be doubtful. From present appearances, we are inclined to think that it will soon be a part of the course of study at all our higher seminaries. The fact, furnished by experience, that a literary institution cannot flourish entirely disconnected from religious influence, is highly gratifying. It is felt that no motives, except those derived from religion, can, for any length of time, control a large body of ardent young men. Without some portion of a practical and efficient piety in a college, the tendency to universal skepticism is inevitable, and infidelity is a poor foundation on which to lay the literary prosperity of any institution. Periods of the enjoyment of a special divine influence so multiplied within a few years past, have, beyond a doubt, greatly promoted the progress of science and literature. An immediate temporary depression may have been sometimes occasioned, but the ultimate results have been most salutary. No candid man can look at the effects of a revival of religion in a college, without acknowledging their great importance. They promote sobriety of manners, purity and power of motive, cheerful obedience to law, fraternal affection, comprehensiveness of view, disinterestedness of purpose, and a conscientious employment of time, such as can be secured in no other circumstances. We have reason to believe that greater attention is paid to individual minds at our public institutions. The indiscriminate instruction of a class, |