one time almost annihilated, through the jealousies of the Jews, which induced them to remove nearly all their boys. The same school now contains 19 Jewish boys and a greater number of Hindoo boys, mostly outcasts. Another school in Bombay contains nine Jewish boys, and another four-making 33 in all. The Jewish children in the schools on the coast are as follows: in the Rawadunda school 35, in the Allebag school 7, in Astama 7, in l'ane 15, and in Panwell 7-making in all the schools on the coast 71 Jewish boys. There are also 12 in one of the schools at Tannah;--so that in nine of our schools we have 116 Jewish boys. I have been very busily employed Mr. Nichols writes, in planning and getting into operation a new system of instruction and management for our schools. The principal point, which we are aiming to secare, is to pay the masters according to the progress, and not according to the number of their scholars, as we have done heretofore. There are some obstacles in the way of this plan, but its having been successfully adopted in Bengal leads us to hope that we may do the same. When this plan is in operation, I hope that we shall be able to increase the number of our schools with the same means; and should the Committee place more funds at our disposal for this object, we might, instead of 1,200, have 10 or 12,000 youth in a course of education. Our schools are a most interesting part of our missionary operations. Each school makes a little congregation, which we may address at all times. The Interest of the masters leads them to induce the boys to keep the books they receive from us, read them, commit them to memo ry, and in fact to treasure up all the instruction they receive from us. The success which is now attending a general system of education in Bengal, has led us recently to give new attention to the subject. Our mission has been foremost in this thing on this side of India, but still we are far behind the missionaries on the other side. OTAHEITE. A letter dated Otaheite, the 13th of May last, contains the following statement "The Isle of Otaheite is now so different from what it was in the time of Capt. Cook, in 1767, that it is impossible for me to give you a complete idea in so short a letter, written in all haste. The missionaries have totally changed the direction of the morals and customs of the inhabitants. Idolatry exists no longer; Christianity is generally adopted. The women now behave with extraordinary reserve; they no longer go on board the ships; and even on land it is impossible to form with them the least connexion, or the least attachment Marriages are contracted as in Europe.Even the King at present can have but one wife. The practice of destroying children and human sacrifices no longer exist. Almost all the inhabitants can write and read; they all have religious books written in their language, and printed in the island. Sixty-six magnificent churches have been built, and twice a week the people go in great devotion to bear the preacher. Individuals are often seen taking notes with pencil and paper of the most interesting passages of the sermon. The missionaries yearly convoke at Paparo the whole of the population, which amounts to 7000 souls. The assembly is at present holden. There is now a discussion going on respecting a new code of laws, and the principal chiefs of the nation ascend the tribune, and speak for whole hours with vehemence truly extraordinary. About two months ago the isle of Otaheite declared itself independent of England; it only recognizes its missionaries. A red flag with a white star in the upper corner, is now mounted on the point which Bougainville named Point Venus. LUTHERAN CHURCH. From a late Address of the General Synod to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the United States, we gather the following facts: The ancient and venerable Synod of Pennsylvania is rapidly increasing both in numbers and in ministers, and we trust that much gd is doing in the name of our blessed Saviour Jesus. From the minutes of the session of the present year, which was held at Lebanon, it appears that that body consists of 74 ministers, wha have the pastoral charge of upwards of 278 Churches; that between the session of 1822 and 23 they admitted to member ship by baptism 6445, admitted to sacramental communion by confirmation 2750, that the whole number of communicants is 24,794, and that there are under the su, perintendence of the different Churches 208 congregational schools From the minutes of the last session of the Synod of New-York, which was held at Livingston, Columbia Co. it appears that the ministry of that body consists of 20 members, that during the past year they admitted to church-membership by baptism 1179, admitted to sacramental com munion by confirmation 277, and that the whole number of their communicants is 3114. The General Synod cannot deny themselves the pleasure of expressing the gratification which they received from the perusal of the minutes of this Synod, which contains abundant evidence of the zeal and activity pervading that respectable body. The "Hartwick Seminary," an institution incorporated in 1816 and patronized by this Synod, the Principal of which must always be a Lutheran preach er, and the majority of the trustees, members of the Lutheran Church, is in the most flourishing condition This Synod have also taken measures to enlarge the theological department of this institution, and have appropriated a sum of money for the enlargement of the theological library, already containing about 1000 volumes. Several young men have been sent forth from this institution into the vineyard of the Lord, and the number now pursuing theological studies is 10; who promise at a tuture day, to be highly useful to the cause of Christ. The Synod of North Carolina and the adjoining States held their last meeting in Rowan County, and from the minutes of their proceedings it appears, that the ministry of that Synod contains 19 members, that during the current year they had admitted to church-membership by baptism 454 children and 13 adults, admitted to sacramenta. communion by confirmation 220, and that the aggregate number of their coinmunicants is upwards of 1358. The Synod of Ohio at present consists of about 26 ministers. Their parochial reports of baptism, &c. during the current year cannot be given, as their session naving but lately been held, we have not yet received their last minutes. From the former minutes of this Synod and other sources of information, it appears that they are actively engaged in doing the work of the Lord. Numerous applications are made to them by persons living remote from them, to have the word of eternal life preached unto them, and the Synod are making every possible exertion to meet these calls. The Synod of Maryland and Virginia at present contains 22 mmisters. During the last year they admitted to church-membership by baptism 1420, admitted to sacramental communion by confirmation 650, and the aggregate number of their communicants is 4935. The German Evangelical Lutheran Conference of Tennessee commenced their last meeting in Sinking Spring Church, in Green County, on the third Sunday of October but their minutes having not yet left the press, we have not seen their parochial reports of this year. From the minutes of the session of 1822 it appears that their body then consisted of 6 Pastors and 4 Deacons. Turning our eyes from our own country to continental Europe, which is the principal seat of Lutheranism, and in which the Lutheran Church is more numerous than all the other protestant churches to. gether; numerous circumstances of interest and utility present themselves to our view. But not wishing to prolong this address to an undue length; we shall limi' ourselves to some statistical and general views; and as the situation of Germany including Prussia Hungaria and France, is more generally known to our churches, we shall merely state that by a calculation made from the most au thentic sources, they contain considerably more than 17 millions of Lutherans. In Denmark, in which the Lutheran iş the established religion, in which the king must profess the Augsburg Confession and maintain it throughout the kingdom, the goverument of our Church, as is well known, is Episcopal. The Kingdom is divided into the following Diocesses; the diocess of Sealand, the bishop of which resides at Copenhagen; the diocess of Funen, the bishop's residence at Odensee; the diocess of Rypen, the bishop's residence at Rypen; the diocess ef Aarhus, the bish op's residence at Aarhus; the diocess of Wiborg, the residence of the bishop at Wiborg; and the diocess of Aalborg, the bishop of which resides in Aalborg. The government of ecclesiastical affairs is distributed among these 6 bishops; and there are in the whole 3272 parishes. In Sleswig and Holstein, there are no bishops; and the management of ecclesiastical affairs is committed to the care of General Superintendents. The members of our Courch in this king lom amount to upwards of 900.000. The Ferroe Islands, north of Scotland belong to Denmark and are Lutheran. They contain 1 superintendent, 7 pastors, 39 churches aud about 40,000 Lutherans. In Norway there are 4 diocesses, the bishops of which reside at Christiania (the capital of the country,) Christiansand, Bergen, and Drontheim, and have the management of the affairs of all the churches. The department of Aggeraus alone contains 111 parishes. Iceland has 46,000 Lutherans. Holum one of its principal towns, formerly was the seat of a bishop; but his diocess is merged in that of Reinkenrick or Skalholt, the jurisdiction of whose bishop extends over the whole island. There are in all Iceland 189 parish es; the pastors are all natives, and have studied principally at Copenhagen. Norway proper contains about 700,000 Lutherans. In Sweden, in which likewise, Lutheranism is the established religion, the ecclesiastical affairs are administered by the Archbishop of Upsala (which venerable station is at present filled by the Rev. Dr. Rosenstein,) together with the bishops of Linkiæping, Skara, Stren gnæs, Ibesteras, Iberia, Abo, Lund, Borgo, Gathaburg, Calmar, Karlstadt, Hernæsanst, Gothland, and Stockholm. The whole church is divided into 192 ecclesiastical circles (probsteyen) which contain about 2,800,000 members. Io Lapland there are numerous Lutheran Churches, the principal of which are at Asele; Lyksela; Jockmock; Gelliware, which is situated directly under the Arctic or North polar circle; at Jukasjerswi; at Enontekis, where the sun in summer is visible 49 days uninterruptedly; at Utsjoki, which is 69 degrees 51 min. 52 sec. north latitude; at Kamuso, and at Enara. The religion of Finland is Lutheran. The country is divided into two Diocesses which are under the jurisdiction of the bishops of Abo and of Borgo. The number of Lutherans in Russia has been estimated at upwards of 2,000,000, which is however perhaps overrated: 1,500,000 would be a moderate estimate. Relative to the state and number of our Churches in Africa, East India, Helvetia, & the Netherlands, the General Synod cannt, at present, communicate any definite information. It appears, however, upon a general survey, agreeably to the preceding estimates, which are certainly below the true ratio, that those followers of Christ, who bear also the name of the illustrious Luther, amount, throughout the world, to upwards of 20,000,000; their number has indeed been estimated by good authors at 28,000,000. In concluding this address, the General Synod would join their Churches, and their fellow Christians at large, in offering their sincere and heartfelt gratitude to the great Head of the Church, for those cheering scenes of evangelical and catholic exertions for the salvation of the human family, which the Christian world has of late years witnessed, in prayer for the rapid and general diffusion of the holy, heavenly, saving principles of the Gospel of Christ, and in commending the Church and all her interests, to the protection and the guidance and the blessing of Him, who promised that the gates of Hell should never prevail against her. Ordinations and Installations. April 10.-The Rev. RUFUS BAILY was installed Pastor of the Congregational Church and Society in Pittsfield, Mass. -Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Peters of Bennington. April 14.-The Rev. AMBROSE EDSON, over the First Trinitarian Church and Society in Brooklyn, Conn. April 20.-The Rev. SAMUEL H. CORNISH, was installed Pastor of the First African Presbyterian Church in New York. April 21.-The Rev. MOSES PARTRIDGE, over the Second Church in Plymouth, Mass.-Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Ide, of Medway. April 22.-The Rev. JOHN F. SCHROE DER, was admitted to the Holy order of Priests, by the Rt. Rev. Bp. Kemp. April 28.-The Rev. ALEXANDER PHENIX, over the Second Society in Spring field. Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Romeyn of New-York. May 6. The Rev. JOSEPH MCELROY, was installed Pastor of the Scotch Presbyterian Church in Cedar Street, New-York. -Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Snodgrass May 12.-The Rev.JoHN H. HOPKINS, was admitted to the Holy order of Priests, by the Rt. Rev. Bp. White. May 13.-The Rev. SEBASTIAN STREETER, was installed Pastor of the First Universalist Society in Boston. May 29.-The Rev. JACOB CUMMINGS, over the Society of Stratham, N. H.Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Dimmick, of Newburyport, Diew of Public Affairs. FOREIGN. Among the few items of foreign news received during the past month, the most interesting is a rumour that the Pacha of Egypt had declared himself independent of the Grand Seignior. It is certainly known, say the Paris papers, that he was in camp with 25,000 men, disciplined in the European manner, whom he had assembled under pretence of opposing the Arabs. It is also said that to prevent the suspicion of the Porte, he had reinforced the Turkish squadron in the Mediterranean. This report to which full credit seems to have been given at Constantinople, is rendered highly credible by the character and the uniform policy of the Vice Roy of Egypt. Every friend to Greek emancipation will devoutly pray that it may prove true, and that it may not only embarrass the operations of the Sultan against the Greeks, for which he is making active preparation, but that it may shake the fidelity of the Eastern provinces of the empire, and in its train of conse quences work out the complete and speedy overthrow of Turkish despotism. The Greeks continue to be represented as generally successful in their operations against the Turks, though none of their enterprises are of great magnitude. Very serious apprehensions exist at Hayti respecting the designs of France. The whole coast has been placed in a posture of defence, and President Boyer, in an address to the chamber of Deputies, says "if France should undertake the subjugation of the Island she will find the garrisons doubly fortified, the storehouses well supplied with provisions, and a different description of enemies from those she lately met in Spain." It was recommended to the inhabitants to provide for their families a place in the interior to which they might flee in case of an attack. The alarm was occasioned by the late arrivals of French ships from Brest. DOMESTIC. The Tariff Bill, celebrated for the protracted discussion it has undergone in Congress, and for the attention it has excited among those classes of our citizens whose interests were likely to be most affected by it, has at length, by a smail majority, become a law. This Bill like that which it supersedes allows Seminaries of learning and Societies incorporated for literary or philosophical purposes, or for the encouragement of the fine arts, the privilege of importing books, apparatus, statues, paintings, &c. &c. free of duty. Answers to Correspondents. L. and a Communication without a signature are received. We have not had an opportunity of reading the book of which V. has favoured us with a review, and must for that reason decline publishing his manuscript. Also, we should be unwilling to hazard upon o ir own responsibility, some of the opinions which V. advances, or to vouch for the correctness of some of the facts which he states, although supported by very respectable names. Whether the twelve hundred aboriginal languages of America have a common origin, and if so, whether that origin be the Hebrew, we are not aware that the subject has been sufficiently investigated to show. And whether the American Indians, as the author of the book believes, sud as his reviewer thinks 'not improbable,' or the Afghans of the East, as Sir William Jones supposes, be the descendants of the ten tribes, we confess ourselves not in possession of the evidence necessary to determine. Erratum, p. 296, col. 2, 1. 33, for idas read ixes. THE CHRISTIAN SPECTATOR. No. 7.j JULY 1, 1824. Keligious Communications. For the Christian Spectator. A Comparative Estimate of the Religion of the Bible with other Religious Systeins. THE following thoughts were suggested by reading, in a late number of the Christian Spectator, an interesting article on Swedenborgianism. There is no reason to fear that a system so visionary and absurd as that of the Swedish prophet will extensively prevail in this or any other enlightened country; yet the remark of the writer of that account, respecting the belief which it is possible to secure, from among some intelligent men, for the most extravagant opinions, is perfectly just. Even Swedenborgianism by being received into the heart, is probably destined to destroy some immortal souls. [VOL. VI. religion of the Bible, while they consistently reject every other. 1. On this subject we should do well to consider, that a revelation from God would be apt to have its counterfeits, or imitations. Every thing valuable on earth is liable to be counterfeited, and this among others. Indeed the more valuable the object, the greater is the danger of imitation. The circumstance, therefore, that there are several religious systems which lay claim to a divine original, should neither surprise nor embarrass us. This was to be expected; and though all of them cannot be true, we have every reason to believe that one of them must be. It needs only a little comparison-a slight examination of the merits of the several ge eral religions, to decide with certainty between them. They all Should it be thought by any, as point to some authenticated reveladoubtless the idea has been suggestion, and evidently to that of the Bited to some minds, that the same ble. We know of no other so anconsiderations by which we disprove this, and every scheme of fanaticism, are applicable to the system of Moses and of Jesus, we are prepared to show that the fact is otherwise. We are enabled to bring forward criteria which in a most satisfactory manner, distinguish the true religion from every false one. The field of the evidences of the Scriptural Revelation is not here to be explored. My object is, merely to compare it, in a few of its general features, with otherschemes of religion, pretending to a divine authority. Such a comparative estimate may shew to readers, their solemn obligations to receive the VOL. VI.-No. 7. 43 cient; and yet there is in it a freshness-a distinctness-an adaptation to the essential circumstances of human nature, which time does not diminish, and which the others do not possess. Some of the latter are strictly imitations, though awkwardly executed. Others, if not suggested by the Bible, may have had in a small degree, the advantage of ancient traditional discoveries, which were matter of revelation in its unrecorded state. So far as they copy they do well, but when they depart from their original, they shew their lameness. In Mahometanism, and the system of Swedenborg, we see |