"some of the most obvious and important of these active principles." This plan is satisfactorily filled up; and the whole sermon is sensible, scriptural, and well suited to the occasion. It appears to be the effort of a mind much employed on the means of promoting the best interests of mankind. There are some inaccuracies of expression; but, on the whole, few occasional sermons contain so much that is excellent with so little alloy. Let our ministers, and our private Christians, be actuated by the principles here developed, and a bright day will rise upon the American churches. We have no room for extracts. RELIGIOUS AND MISCELLANEOUS REPORT ON THE INTEMPERATE USE OF SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS. Fifthly, What means have been found effectual in restraining the intemperate use of spirituous liquors. Sixthly, The quantity of ardent this country. spirits consumed in Jun THE Committee appointed by the General Association, ociation, in J June, 1811, to co-operate with other Committees "in devising measures which may have an influence in preventing some of the numerous and threatening mischiefs, that are experienced throughout our country from the excessive and intemperate use of spirituous liquors," ask leave to 2. That each member of this Committee express in writing at the next meeting a brief view of the best means of remedying the abuse of ardent spirits. 3. That it be made the subject of serious consideration by this Commit. tee, and that it be submitted to the Committees with whom we are to co-operate on this business, whether it is not desirable, that voluntary as. sociations should be formed for the purpose of aiding, and carrying into effect, the objects of this Committee. 4. That the chairman be requested to communicate the doings of this meeting to the Committees with whom we are to co-operate." At a meeting in December, the several members of the Committee exhibited their thoughts in writing on the subjects connected with the abuse of spirituous liquors, and the means of remedying the evils which result from it. The Committee also directed sub. committees to continue the correspondence with the committees in New-York and Connecticut, and to open a correspondence with the com. mittee in New Hampshire. They also appointed a sub-committee to prepare and lay before them an abstract of the laws of Massachusetts on the subject of drunkenness taverns, &c. A They also appointed a sub-commit tee to prepare a plan for a General, and for Auxiliary, voluntary Associations, to be formed for the purpose of discountenancing the intemperate use of spirituous liquors, and other prevalent vices. At a meeting in April, several letters from the Committees with whom your Committee were to co-operate, were read. Among them was a let. ter from the Committee in New York, the whole of which we beg leave to incorporate in our report, at this place. To the Chairman of the Committee appointed by the General Association of Massachusetts for the suppression of intemperance, &c. REVEREND SIR, THE Committee of the General As. sembly on the subject of intemperance have directed their Secretary to acknowledge the reception of three letters from your board, which afford the pleasing information that you are spir. itedly exerting yourselves to accomplish the object of your appointment. The Committee of the General Assembly have held two sessions, and have prepared a report in part to the As. sembly, mbly, to be convened in May next. Should any communications from corresponding committees kindly suggest any thing new, which might probably be useful, it will at some future session be incorporated into the report. The Resolutions to be reported to the General Assembly for adoption, are the following. 1. Resolved, That it be recommend. ed to all the ministers in the Presby. terian Church of the U. S. to pay particular attention in their public discourses, not only to actual intemper. ance in drinking, but to all those hab. its which may have a tendency to produce it. 2. Resolved, That it be enjoined on all the church sessions, that they exercise especial vigilance and care over the conduct of all persons in the communion of their respective churches, with regard to this sin; and that they sedulously endeavor, by private warning and remonstrance, and by public censure, suspensions, and excommunications, as different cases may require, to purge the Church, as far as possible, of a sin so enormous in its mischiefs, and so disgraceful to the Christian name. 3. Resolved, 'That it be recommended to the ministers and other officers, and to the members of the church in general, to exert themselves to diffuse among all our congregations, and the community at large, suitable Ad. dresses, Sermons, and Tracts on this subject, and particularly "An Inquiry into the effects of Ardent Spirits," by Dr. Rush of Philadelphia. 4. Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to all the ministers and elders in the Presbyterian church to abstain entirely from the use of ardent spirits themselves, and in their families; to refrain from offering them to their friends; and to exclude them from all their judicatories and ecclesiastical meetings; excepting always, however, from this recommendation, those cases in which ardent spirits may be necessary as a medicine. 5. Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the members of our churches to refrain from giving spirituous liquors to servants and other persons hired or employed by them; and that they give a marked preference to those laborers who entirely abstain from the use of spirits. 6. Resolved, That it be recommended to the officers and other members of the churches to encourage associa tions of persons who shall bind themselves to one another and the public to obey the 4th and 5th resolutions, and to prevent in other lawful ways the use of ardent spirits 7. Resolved, That it be recommended to the ministers and other members of the churches to take such measures as may have a tendency to reduce the number of small taverns, groceries, and tipplinghouses, in all those parts of our country, in which the excessive number, or the offensive character of such places, renders them a public nuisance. 8. Resolved, That in those states in which the laws against drunkenness may be defective, the members of the church exert themselves to procure the enaction of such as may promote the public welfare. 9. Resolved, That the Assembly publish a solemn and pointed address on this subject, to be accompanied with the above resolutions, and pub licly read in all the churches under the care of the General Assembly. The Committee in Massachusetts will please to accept of the salutations of their brethren in the Presbyterian church and be assured of their cheerful co-operation in any measures which may be deemed conducive to the object of their appointment. EZRA STILES ELY, Secretary of the Committee of the Gen. eral Assembly. Rev. Dr. Worcester. New York, Jan. 22nd, 1812. The letter from New Hampshire evinced, that that the Committee in that state had taken up the business seriously, and were disposed to pursue it effectually. At the same meeting it was voted, That, in the opinion of this Committee, it is highly desirable, that such a Society, as is above referred to, should be formed, if such a one can be formed under auspicious cir. cumstances. At a subsequent meeting, your Committee were able to state from actual inquiry, that several very respectable men, in different places, were willing to join a Society for the objects above specified. Your Committee have conferred much on the subject referred to them; particularly on the most effica cious means of restraining and preventing the abuse of spirituous liquors. Some of the results of their reflections will be stated below. The foregoing is a brief history of the course of their proceedings. Your commit. tee have been extremely harmonious in their deliberations, and it is not recollected that there has been a single difference of opinion on any point of importance. In the course of their investigations, your Committee have had a vast variety of facts laid before them, some of the principal of which are the following: It is undeniable, that the evil of intemperate drinking has been rapidly increasing in the United States, for a number of years past, and has now arrived to a magnitude, which may well alarm every friend to his country. It is also certain, that the free use VOL. V. New Series. of ardent spirits has already reduced several country places from a flourishing state to a state of extreme poverty; and the same cause is gradually impoverishing a great part of our country. A particular village has been pointed out, in which heads of families and children, (with the exception of two or three persons,) have all become drunkards together. It is also certain, that many reflecting persons, in all parts of the country, are greatly alarmed at the progress of the evil in question, and are apprehensive, that unless some check is applied, it will of itself, ruin the country. Physicians are of the opinion, that death is hastened in many instances by the abuse of spirits, and that the constitution is injured in many more. Experiments made by gentlemen in different parts of the country satisfactorily prove, that it is very practicable to hire laborers without giving them spirits. It is also beyond dispute, that many personsof good moral character, and many who sustain a fair religious character, incur great expense in the consumption of spirits, without any possible advantage, and thus exhibit an example which serves to lead others into a course of evil habits. It appears from the evidence collected by your Committee, that the use of strong drink diminishes the active and productive labor of the country. From the return of the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States it appears, that the quantity of spirituous liquors annually distilled in the U. S. is 15,000,000 gallons. And that the quantity imported is 9,750,000, making nearly 25,000,000 in the whole. From the Marshal's return, it appears that in Massachusetts alone, 2,472,000 gallons are distilled from molasses, 63,730 gallons from grain, and 316,480 gallons from cider, making in the whole 2,851,210 gallons, which at the wholesale price are valued at 1,632,326 dollars. It ought to be observed that only a small part of the spirits distilled in Massachusetts is consumed here; but it is probable that not less than 24 2,000,000 gallons of imported spirits are consumed in this Commonwealth, at an expense of more than 2,000,000 dollars. In some parts of the union imported spirits are almost exclusively consumed; in other parts, spirits distilled in this country. Massachusetts comes within the former class. We come to the melancholy result, from the foregoing statement, that the free citizens of this country, (for the slaves have this great advantage over the whites that they are not allowed the use of ardent spirits)the free citizens of this country consume annually not less than 20,000, 000 gallons of spirits; which, (considering that a large portion is consumed in taverns at a great addition al expense, and that a large portion is greatly diluted after it leaves the ship or distillery and before it is retailed,) can hardly cost the consumers less than 23,000,000, or 25,000,000 dollars; an enormous sum, which exceeds the expense of our national government in time of peace added to the expense of all the state governments, the support of schools, and of the clergy, and the interest of our national debt; a sum, in short, which exceeds all that is paid for the sup. port of government, the education of children, and the support of relig. ious instructors, by the people of this country. Your Committee cannot but state, that from the examination which they have given the subject, they are more and more deeply impressed with the opinion, that it is the duty of all good men to engage vigorously in the attempt to suppress this great evil. Every real friend to the com munity, to the present and future happiness of men, must see the necessity of making resistance to a set of evil habits and customs, which threaten to introduce poverty, igno. rance, vice, and barbarism. All Christians should unite in this cause with zeal and unanimity which cannot but have a salutary influence. So far as the opinion of your Committee can have any weight, we would earnestly urge a perseverance in the present course of investigation, Allowing about 5000 gallons to be * exported. which may at least lay before the public some of the evils which threaten them from this cause, and awaken all the considerate and reflecting to a sense of their danger. Among the means of remedying the evil, which your Committee have had under consideration, some have been recommended in the letter from New York which has been cited. We would, however, particularize a few of the most promising remedies which have occurred to our minds. 1. Great pains ought to be taken to exhibit the magnitude of this evil and the distressing consequences to which it leads. It should be displayed in all its hideous deformity, and traced from the needless use of spitits to drunkenness, and from drunkenness to ruin-ruin temporal and eternal. It should be represented as the door to poverty and disgrace, as the destruction of health and reason. The enormous expense which it occasions should be adequately described; and the beneficial purposes to which this expense might be applied fully detailed. Every person should aid in making this ex. posure, according to his ability. But, 2. Ministers of the Gospel are peculiarly engaged to take an active part in this work. It must depend upon the situation of each minister whether it is proper for him to pur. sue some particular measures; but, we should apprehend that it is the duty of every minister in the United States to give a thorough examination of this subject from the pulpit. 3. In the discipline of our churches especial and vigilant reference should be had to this national sin; and all Christians should beware of giving giving the least countenance to it, and should abstain even from the appearance of evil. In this view of the subject it is questionable whether spirits should be used at all, unless really and avowedly as a medicine. 4. Cheap tracts may be extensively circulated to advantage on this subject. Dr. Rush's "Inquiry into the effects of Ardent Spirits," is admirably adapted for this purpose, and can be afforded by the large quantity for four dollars, or perhaps three dollars and a half, a hundred. It would be attended with good conse. quences if two or three dozen of these could be circulated in every parish in the Commonwealth. 5. The laws of Massachusetts on the subject of drunkenness, tipplinghouses, &c. are admirably calculated to accomplish their end, if they can only be enforced; and they are perhaps as likely to be enforced as any laws which could be made on the subject. It is the duty, therefore, of every good citizen to exert himself to enforce these laws. 6. Voluntary associations formed for the purpose of communicating information, and exciting a proper zeal on this subject, would promise much good. If these measures, and others connected with them are adopted and pursued with reliance on the Divine aid and guidance, there is reason to hope that a general reformation might be the consequence. Your Committee are prevented, by agreat variety of unforeseen and in. evitable calls upon their time, from giving so full a discussion of this subject as it would otherwise have received. All which is respectfully submitted, SAMUEL WORCESTER, Chairman, CHARLESTON, (S. C.) BIBLE SO CIETY. THE following gentlemen were elected officers of this society, June 15th, 1812: Gen. C. C. PINCKNEY, President. Rev. Dr. KΕΙΤΗ, Rev. Dr. FURMAN, Rev. Dr. PERCY, and Rev. Dr. DEHON, Vice Presidents. N: RUSSELL, Esq. Treasurer. T. FORD, Esq. Rec. Secretary. Rev. Dr. FLINN, and Rev. Mr. GADSDEN, Cor. Secretaries. Rev. Mr. Simmons, Rev. Dr. Bu chan, Rev. Mr. Gervais, Maj. S. Rob ertson, Robert Dewar, William Inglesby, Thomas Lowndes, George Macaulay, John P. Martin, James Legure, Thomas Jones, John Ball, Dr. David Ramsay, Abraham Markley, and William Payne, Managers. MAINE MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The anniversary of this Society was held at Hallowell, on the fourth Wednesday of June last. It was a very pleasant season to the friends of Zion. The good hand of our God has been so evidently manifested in favor of the doings and success of this Society, that pleasing hopes are indulged that it may in due time vie with other Societies in advancing the interest of the dear Redeemer. The report of the Trustees was such as to give full evidence, not only that the labors of the Missionaries are very useful, and in a good degree successful, but highly acceptable to the people. The Rev. Edward Payson of Portland preached an excellent sermon on the occasion, from Luke xv, 10;-And the following Officers were chosen for the present year: Rev, SAMUEL EATON, Harpswell, Rev. ELIPHALET GILLET, Hallowell, Secretary. Hon. AMMI R. MITCHELL, North-Yarmouth, Treasurer. TRUSTEES. The President, ex officio. Rev. Kiah Bailey, New Castle, Rev. Asa Lyman, Portland, Rev. David Thurston, Winthrop, Rev. Edward Payson, Portland, Portland Rev. Francis Brown, North-Yarmouth. The next annual Meeting is to be holden at North Yarmouth, on the fourth Wednesday of June next, and the Rev. Kiah Bailey is to preach, |