ing children by terror and sever ity, are not only unchristian and barbarous, but in the highest degree pernicious, to their tempers and morals.

There are many things which it is desirable that ministers of religion should forget; some of which perhaps are to be found in persons of every sect.

1st. Ministers should forget to think that the moral character of a man is to be estimated by his professing to believe, or to disbelieve propositions which are not to be found in the Bible, and which no man can understand.

2d. They should forget to think, that a belief of the peculiar tenets of any one sect is better evidence of a good heart, than "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance;" because these are the fruits of the spirit, by which the followers of Christ are to be known.

3d. They should forget to imagine, that a war spirit may be lawfully indulged in controversies, on religious subjects, or that gospel charity, and the wisdom which is from above, will produce the same bitter fruits, as hatred, and the wisdom which is from beneath.

4th. They should forget to imagine, that they ever truly plead the cause of Christ, any farther than they are influenced by a kind, forbearing temper; or that they ever truly preach the gospel, when they indulge against

their brethren the spirit of bitterness and sarcasm. Such things may justly be termed "traditional errors" and antichristian barbarisms; they discover a want of Christian feeling and good man

ners.

There are also many things which rulers and politicians should forget; a few only of which can now be mentioned.

1st. While they justly abhor the spirit of party as it is often displayed by the ministers of religion one towards another, they should forget to think that the vices of the clergy are virtues in them; or that what they would condemn in the clergy is commendable in legislators and magistrates. Party spirit, in all its forms, is subversive of virtue and happiness. The law of kindness is binding on all, whatever may be their rank or profession.

2d. Politicians and rulers should also forget to think that war is a christian mode of settling national disputes; or that they have a right to vote away the lives of innocent people, to gratify their own ambition, or to revenge the wrongs they receive. Such opinions and practices are gross "traditional errors,' ?? derived from a savage state of society, and unworthy to be named among a Christian people, except with abhorrence.

Happy will be the day, when all these "traditional errors" and barbarian vices shall be banished from our land!

In forming a society, which it is hoped may have an extensive influence, we, the subscribers,deem it proper to make a concise declaration of our motives and objects.

We have been strongly impressed, by considering the manifold crimes and tremendous calamities of public war, and the melancholy insensibility which has been induced by education and habit, in regard to this most bar. barous, destructive, and unchristian custom. Our earnest wish is, that men may be brought to view war in a just light, to see clearly its baleful influence on the political, moral, and religious condition of communities, and its opposition to the design and spirit of the gospel. Most earnestly do we desire that men may be brought to feel that a spirit of conquest is among the most atrocious of crimes; that the thirst for military glory is inhuman, delusive, and ruinous, and that the true dignity and happiness of a people result from impartial justice towards all nations, and the spirit and virtues of peace.

Various facts and considerations have conspired in exciting a hope, that a change may be effected in public sentiment, and a more happy state of society introduced. It is evidently the design and tendency of the gospel, to subdue the lusts and passions from which wars and fightings originate; and encouragement is given that a time will come when the nations will learn war no more. We believe that a great majority of the people in every civilized country, when free from the delusions of party passions and prejudices, have such an aversion to public hostilities that they would rejoice, if any plan could be devised, which would both secure their rights and absolve them from the burdens and sufferings of war. A late Treaty of Peace has suggested the practicability of such a plan, and given us an Vol. IV. No. 2.

8

admirable lesson on the subject. We now see, that when two governments are inclined to peace, they can make some friendly power the umpire and last resort, for settling points of controversy For this ray of pacific light we are grateful, and we hope that it will be like "the shining light which shineth more and more unto the perfect day." This hope is strengthened by reflecting on the animat ng fact, that the horrid custom of private wurs, which for ages desolated Europe, was finally abolished by a similar project.

Besides, it is clear that every popu lar custom must depend on public opinion; and we also know, from history, that many customs and usages which were formerly considered as honorable, useful, and even necessary, have since been abolished, as inhuman and barbarous, and are now regarded with detestation and horror.

To the list of encouraging facts we may add, that by their late dreadful sufferings, the attention of the European nations is unusually'excited to the guilt and miseries of war; and with joy we have learned that Peace Socie ties have been proposed, if not already established, the other side of the Atlantic. These things not only encourage our hearts and strengthen our hands, but preclude the objection which might arise, that it is dangerous to cultivate the spirit of peace in one nation, whilst others retain the spirit of war. A cooperation in different countries is joyfully anticipated, in this great work of promoting peace on earth and good will among

men.

But above all other sources of encouragement, we contemplate the benevolent character of our heavenly Father, as displayed in the gospel of his beloved Son. We there behold him as "the God of peace," and we have a cheering hope, that he will own

and prosper a society of peace-makers. It is well known that a diversity of sentiment has existed among christians on the question, whether war be not in all cases prohibited by the gospel. But we intend that this society shall be established on principles so broad, as to embrace the friends of peace who differ on this as well as on other subjects. We wish to promote the cause of peace by methods which all christians must approve,-by exhibiting with all clearness and distinctness the pacific nature of the gospel, and by turning the attention of the community to the nature, spirit, causes and effects of war. We hope that by the concurrence of the friends of peace in all nations, and by the gradual illumination of the Christian world, a pacific spirit may be communicated to governments, and that, in this way, the occasions of war, and the belief of its necessity, will be constantly diminishing, till it shall be regarded by all Christians with the same horror with which we now look back on the exploded and barbarous customs of former ages.

On these principles, and with these hopes, we adopt the following

ARTICLES.

I. The name of this society shall be THE MASSACHUSETTS PEACE SOCIETY.

II. The government of this society shall consist of a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer, a Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Assistant Secretaries, and six Trustees, who shall be annually chosen, three of whom shall constitute a quo

rum.

be recorded; and every donor of fifty dollars or upwards, shall be an honorary member of the society and of the Board of Trustees.

VII. Each member of the society may receive one half his annual subscription in such books or tracts the officers shall approve, and at the lowest prices of the society.

as

VIII. The annual meeting of the society shall be on the last Thursday in every year; at which time reports shall be made by the Trustees and the Treasurer.

IX. This society will encourage the forming of similar societies in this country and in foreign countries, by the dispersion of tracts, by correspondence, and by other suitable means. They will also encourage mutual aid and cooperation among all the friends of peace of every denomination.

X. Should any person become a member of this society whose residence is remote from Boston, it shall be regarded as honorable for him to encourage the establishment of a similar society in his own vicinity.

XI. No change in the objects of the society shall ever be made; but the articles may be amended, and new articles may be added, as occasion shall require; provided that no alteration be made except at the annual meeting, and by the consent of two thirds of the members who may then be present.

Facts relating to the Massachu

setts Peace Society.

IN consequence of an arrangement made by four individuals, who are now members of the Massachusetts Peace Society, a meeting of 17 persons took place in Boston, on the 18th of December last, to consult on the subject of forming a Peace Society. It was the wish of the projectors of the plan, to form a society on such principles as would embrace the real friends of peace, without any regard to difference of opinion on other subjects, whether religious or political. But it was not known how extensively the sentiments in favor of such a society had been embraced: and of course but

a few persons were requested to attend. At the first meeting a committee was chosen to form & constitution, and the meeting was adjourned to the 28th of the same month, to be held at Chauncey Place, immediately after the Thursday Lecture; at which time the committee reported a constitution. This was read, discussed, adopted and subscribed, by a considerable number of persons. The choice of officers was postponed to January 11, 1816, in the hope that the number of subscribers would be increased. The numbers of subscribers has indeed been increasing, and some of the officers have been chosen, but the list is not completed. We shall therefore defer giving the names of the officers to a future Num ber. But we have the pleasure of stating that in the list of subscribers may be seen the names of the Governor of Massachusetts, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the President and several of the Professors of Harvard University, twenty ministers of the gospel, and a considerable number of respectable laymen.

This may surely be considered as an auspicious beginning; it is the Lord's duings, and to him be all the praise.

"THE Friend of Peace, 3d No. came very opportunely, as leisure, and a state of mind favorable to its perusal combined; and it has been attentively and deliberately read. It must do good to hold up to view such a picture of the horrors, and of the miseries of war. Secret conviction, that war is unlawful for a Christian,' if not an open avowal of the doctrine, I hope will be the happy fruit of thy labors in many minds. But while we entertain such hope, let it be remembered, that we ought not to look for our reward in the fruit or effects of labor, but in the consciousness that we 'have done what we could' 'Paul may plant, and Apollos, water, but it is God who gives the increase'-and he may give that increase where Paul

and Apollo, may never see, or come to the knowledge of it.

"I was particularly pleased that an attempt was made to guard persons from hasty and rash judgments of the characters of men, without regard to the time in which they lived. There is room for further views on this subject, and views that inculcate the tenderest feeling and charity for one another, on every subject in which conscience is concerned. Indeed I should like to see in some of thy future Numbers a lucid explanation of conscience itself;without understanding what it is, I think Christians are liable to great error in judging of themselves or others.

"With respect to the subject thou hast delicately touched, ought we not to remember, that the full display of the gospel dispensation is not opened to any man at once?-Who can read of the simple and childlike obedience of the apostles, and the heavenly condescension of Christ Jesus, even to their prejudices, without believing ten. der compassion ought to be in our hearts toward all who have not seen as we see? Only consider his blessed condescension. 'I have many things to say to you, but ye cannot bear them now,' and surely our eyes would be opened to see, that many Christians may be faithful and sincere as far as

they have seen, who nevertheless have many things to learn in his school;yes, even to learn that they are not to resist evil. How senseless then, and how fraught with evil is that blind zeal that condemns all who differ from themselves upon doctrines!

"With these sentiments, thou canst believe, my friend, that I can sit down in my worship, in the persuasion, 'that what is to be known of God is manifest in man.' That Christ has come to teach his people himself, that he is with his disciples to the end of the world-that he is not far from every one of us, and that he is worshipped in spirit and in truth, without feeling any heart-burnings, or jealousy, or dispo sition to condemn those that have not the same understanding of his coming, his service, or his worship.

"Much of the difference in our com