The American Education Society is fundamental in the benevolent enterprises of the present day. It operates unseen but with immense power. Its success in carrying out its plans has surpassed the highest expectations of its founders. Though formed on broad and liberal principles, and in some respects under favorable auspices, yet such results could not have been anticipated. From the success of the past encouragement may be entertained in reference to the future. As the advancement of this cause is inseparable from the promotion of the interests of the church, the welfare of mankind, and the divine glory, it must be dear to the heart of Infinite Love. The justice of Sinai, the mercy of Zion, and the command of Christ to "preach the gospel to every creature," press all the friends of the Society to adopt as their motto-Energetic Perseverance, until it shall be announced "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever."

WANT OF MINISTERS.

In the New England States many vacant churches exist, and their call is, Send us Pastors, that we may be fed with knowledge and understanding. "But looking beyond the narrow limits of New England," we quote from the last Report of the American Education Society, "and embracing the country at large, for which our labors are needed, there is no longer any necessity for very minute inquiry, in order that we should be convinced of the extensive destitution which exists. If we speak only of the destitute churches, as recognized by the Congregational, Presbyterian, Dutch Reformed, German Reformed, and Evangelical Lutheran denominations, we find that these exceed the number of ministers by more than two thousand and three hundred. In almost every section of the west and south, numerous towns, counties, and sometimes larger districts, are found entirely destitute of any competent evangelical instruction. Of the numer ous proofs which might be adduced, a few only must suffice. A committee, appointed by a convention of ministers and elders belonging to the three eastern Presbyteries of Michigan, which assembled in 1844, " to concert measures to supply with the gos

pel the churches and regions destitute of it within the boundaries of those three Presbyteries," reported "twenty-six churches as destitute, and ten places where churches ought immediately to be formed." A short time since, there were in Missouri, about fifty counties in which no Presbyterian minister resided. In Kentucky, at the same time, there were from ten to fifteen counties without a Presbyterian minister. Not long ago, it was stated by a minister in Indiana, that in nine of the twenty-one counties embraced in the Presbytery to which he belonged, there was no minister of his own denomination living or preaching, except himself. Even in Southern Illinois, which was examined with reference to this point in 1844, at an expense of three months' labor, while there was found a minister of some sort to every three hundred souls, there was not found, of duly qualified ministers, so much as one to a county. In the State of Louisiana, it has been estimated that there are but about one hundred and thirty evangelical ministers among a population of more than 460,000 souls."

A letter from country must

A minister from Ohio, writes, "would to God you could hear the urgency of the requests for but one day's labor among many of the famishing neighborhoods in this section of our Valley. Our churches may be permanently established, if we can get timely assistance. But it is useless to organize more churches here until we have some prospect of supplying them." Wiskonsin, says, "The time has come when this be provided with the ministrations of the gospel. ties and desires of the people, like the accumulation of an obstructed stream, have been rising and increasing till the anxiety is very great, and the demand imperious. The people will do all they can, and all they ought, make any effort, any sacrifice, if they can only have a good minister. The cry every where is, Send us ministers-Send us good ministers-Send them now."

The necessi

The Lutherans have 1,400 churches, and yet but about 400

pastors. The German Reformed have 700 churches, and only about 190 pastors.

We only add, that the increase of the population of the United States is, probably, more than 1,350 every day, on an average. Allowing, then, one minister only to 1,000 souls, five hundred ministers annually are needed to supply the increase of the population of this country. And let it be remembered, that this estimate does not include the present destitution of ministers, which is very great, nor the vacancy made by the decease of ministers, to supply which would require about 500 annually. Such is our home condition.

But what shall be said of the foreign field? The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions are urgent in their demands for more laborers. In addition to the men they now have in service, and to the numbers requisite to supply the places of those who decease, or return to this country, on account of ill health, it is estimated by the Secretaries of the Society, after particular examination and mature reflection, that at least 230 missionaries more than they now have in the field, might easily and advantageously be employed immediately, could they be obtained. Such are now the openings in the providence of God for laborers in heathen lands. Other openings will annually occur, and, in a few years, there will probably be a greatly increased demand for missionaries of the cross. The Society has now been in existence 35 years, and before the same period of time shall have again elapsed, it is confidently believed, that the whole heathen world will be in readiness for the reception of ambassadors of Christ. Two thousand missionaries at least, the churches in the United States ought to send forth on this embassy of mercy. A great work is to be performed. There are now about six hundred millions of the human race in Pagan and Mohammedan lands, shrouded in moral darkness, in all its varied and horrid appearances. Twenty millions of souls, annually, pass to their everlasting destiny without the knowledge of the Savior of

sinners. For the conversion of this world to Christ, nothing, except the Holy Ghost, is wanted, so much as ministers of the gospel. And yet there are not so many by nearly one third, now preparing for the ministry, as there were eight years ago. O, that the pious young men of our country, would ponder this well, and then say Here, Lord, am I, send me.

EARLY HISTORY OF AMERICAN GEOGRAPHIES.

Before the Revolution, Europeans were the only writers of American Geography. The work last used to any considerable extent, before Geographies were prepared and published by Americans, was the one published by William Guthrie, Esq. of London, entitled " a Geographical, Historical and Commercial Grammar." This was imported from England, and was a standard work in our Colleges. Thirteen editions of it had been printed in 1792.

The Rev. Jedidiah Morse, D. D. of Charlestown, Ms. was the pioneer in the department of Geography in this country. The first edition of his work was printed at New Haven, Ct. October, 1784. He was, at that time, the teacher of a Young Ladies' School, and the manuscript was intended not for publication, but to be copied by his pupils. Soon, however, so many copies were wanted, that he was induced to publish it in an 18mo. volume of 214 pages. This was the first Geography ever printed on the Western Continent. Before 1784, no English or Foreign Geography had been re-printed in America. The first octavo edition of Dr. Morse's work was in one volume, and was published in March, 1789, and dedicated to His Excellency William Livingston, Esq. LL. D., at that time Governor of the State of New Jersey. Prior to publishing it, the Doctor spent four years in visiting the several States of the Union, corresponding with men of science, and consulting the most authentic sources of information. In this way he obtained the documents and materials for his account of the country. Having done this, he prepared the manuscript, and then submitted it to the inspection of gentlemen in various parts of the country, distinguished for their attainments in this department of knowledge. In this manner, the work was made as correct as could have been expected. What he said in his Geography respecting Europe, was taken from Zimmerman's Political

Survey and Guthrie's Grammar. In 1828, there had been published 28 › editions of Morse's Common School Geography 8vo.; 4 editions of his American and Universal Gazetteer, first published in 1797, and several editions of his elements of Geography, 18mo., and of the Abridgment of his Universal Geography, in one volume, 8vo. The whole number of copies of these works amounted to more than 300,000, of which about 30,000 or 40,000 were of the 8vo. size, and the remainder chiefly of the 12mo. size. The first edition of the 8vo. Abridgment was printed in 1811. The first edition of Morse's large work was re-printed in London, Edinburgh, and Dublin, and translations in French and German, were printed on the Continent. Dr. Morse died at New Haven, Ct. in 1826, aged 65 years.

About the time Dr. Morse published his Geography, Mr. Caleb Bingham of Boston, who was a graduate of Dartmouth College, published a Geographical Catechism. His work was enlarged and improved, and 22 editions of it, or 100,000 copies were printed.

Dr. Nathaniel Dwight of Connecticut, brother of President Dwight, published in 1790, a 12mo. School Geography in the form of question and answer, but it never had a very extended circulation.

In 1803, the Hon. John Hubbard, who was afterwards a professor in Dartmouth College, published a work of 240 pages, entitled "The Rudiments of Geography." At that time, he was Preceptor of an Academy at Deerfield, Ms. It was a good Geography for its day, and so acceptable, that it passed through seven editions.

Mrs. Susanna Rawson of Roxbury, Ms. who was for many years a teacher of a High School for Ladies-published in 1806, a work entitled "An Abridgment of Universal Geography, designed for the use of schools and Academies in the United States." The extent of its circulation is not known.

A work of this kind was published in 1810, by Rev. Dr. Elijah Parish of Newbury, Ms. entitled " A New System of Modern Geography." It had some interesting characteristics, and was popular for a time, and passed through several editions. Dr. Daniel Adams published in 1814, his Geography, and it has passed through about twenty editions, averaging about 6,000 copies to an edition. Since this was issued, a great number of works of the kind, good, bad and indifferent, have gone forth from the press. The most scientific, correct, useful, and, therefore, best of these are Joseph E. Worcester's and William C. Woodbridge's.

A School Geography, illustrated with Cerographic Maps, by Sidney E. Morse of New York, has recently been published. It is a highly valuable work, and adapted to general circulation.