regions! From Pittsburgh to the mouth of the Ohio is 800 miles; and the Mississippi is navigated from its mouth to the Falls of St. Anthony, a distance of 2000 miles. From the Missouri also, the Arkansaw, and other large rivers, on which our brethren are fixing their habitations, behold the numerous people who will, in every succeeding age, receive inestimable benefits from the founding of a theologieal seminary in the West, and you will see that an institution there will be above all price."

While thus urged by the necessity of the case, to seek the establishment of an institution which should provide a supply of clergymen for the diocese of Ohio, an honourable anxiety is manifested on the part of that diocese to maintain the strictest union with all other portions of the church. On this subject, Bishop Chase

says

"To prevent the possibility, in any future generation, of the diversion of the funds (of the school to be established in Ohio) to things foreign from the original intention, and to secure the unity of the church to all intents of the constitution and canons of the general convention, it was and is our purpose to insert in the legal act of our incorporation a proviso, that, on evidence of a mal-application, the General Theological Institution, or the bishops, as a committee of that body, should be authorized by law to make inquiries, and to set things right."

There is one consideration which should plead powerfully with the inhabitants of this country, and which gives peculiar propriety and force to the appeal now made to them. Of a population of nearly six hundred thousand persons, who, by a census taken in 1820, were found to occupy the state and diocese of Ohio, numbers consist of our own countrymen or their families. Of those who are already brought under Bishop Chase's charge, nearly one third are emigrants and their families from England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. The journal of the third convention of the diocese, held in June 1819, contains a narrative on this subject of a nature so affecting, that it cannot fail to awaken the feelings of benevolent persons towards their destitute countrymen. It is extracted from Bishop Chase's report to the convention, of his proceedings on entering his diocese after his consecration to his office :

"In company with a Mr. Finley and a Mr. Henderson, I reached, that night, the neighbourhood where they lived. I had CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 265.

been told that old Mr. Finley was sick, that he desired the consolations of religion, and that the neighbourhood would be glad of my ministrations. I complied with the request; and the event proved that there was a particular providence in so doing.

"These people were principally from Ireland; and, in their own country, were what are called English Protestants-bred to a liberal and pious way of thinking, and to a more than ordinary courteousness of deportment. Emigrating from their own, and coming to this country in the early settlements of Ohio, they fixed themselves here in the woods; and underwent the many privations and hardships incident to a new establishment. Their children grew up, and their families increased.

"Ardently attached to the church, they could not but think of her and her pleasant things; though they had but little prospect of seeing her prosperity. The Rev. Dr. Doddridge, the nearest, and, for many years, the only Episcopal clergyman in the country, lives some twenty miles from them, on the Virginia side of the Ohio. Such were his avocations, that he had never been among them. Here they were isolated and alone, as sheep having no shepherd.

Finley the elder, the old man of whom I spake, was yet alive;' yet only so alive, as that they were obliged to raise him up to salute me, as I approached his bed. As I took his hand, trembling with age and weakness, he burst into tears, and sobbed aloud. The grateful effusions of his heart, at the sight of a minister of the blessed Jesus, were made intelligible by the most affecting ejaculations to God his Maker, Saviour, and Sanctifier. I see my spiritual father,' said he, my bishop, the shepherd of the flock of Christ, of which I have always considered myself, and the little lambs about me, the members; but too unworthy, I feared, to be sought and found in this manner. O, sir! do I live to see this happy day? Yes, 'tis even so: Blessed Lord! Holy Jesus! Thou, who once camest in great humility to seek and to save that which was lost, receive the tribute of my grateful heart. Now let thy servant depart in peace.'-As the venerable man spake forth the effusions of his mind, in words like these, he bowed his grey hairs, and begged the prayers and benedictions of the church. They were afforded-and cold must that heart be, which, under such circumstances, could refuse to be fervent. The Visitation Office was performed; in which the family, I

joined by the neighbours hastily assembled, participated.

"The branches of the family, and other persons in the vicinity, being, though at a late hour, sent for, I proceeded to the work of instruction. The nature and obligation of the Christian covenant in baptism, and as renewed in confirmation and the Lord's supper, were dwelt upon; and the little assembly were dismissed, with earnest exhortations to seek, in their prayers, the aid and direction of God's Holy Spirit, to guide them in the solemn duties to be performed in the morning.

"I went home with one of the sons of Mr. Finley; and, after a short time devoted to sleep, at dawn of day I returned to the sick man's bed. The family and friends came as quickly together; and the sun had scarcely begun to enliven the wcods, when I again addressed my interesting audience. With what heartfelt pleasure, with what grateful exultation, did I now read in the countenances of this little flock, the effects of Gospel truth! Every face beamed with holy fear and love -that blessed compound which speaks at once the modest, the believing, and the obedient Christian: and when I examined and called for the persons to be confirmed, eleven out of this little circle presented themselves. The office was begun, and they received the laying-on of hands; after which the holy supper of our Lord was administered to the like number, though not entirely the same persons; some having been confirmed before, and some, who were now confirmed, being not yet duly instructed for the sa

crament.

"In a cabin, with scarcely a pane of glass to let in the light of day, and on a floor of roughly-hewn planks, we knelt down together, and there the holy offices were performed. The patriarchal old man, having caused himself to be raised in his bed, gazed with unspeakable rapture on the scene before him. His tears only indicated what he felt. The symbols of his blessed Redeemer were given and received. They were pledges of eternal joys in that world whither he was so fast hastening. Giving him the episcopal blessing, I took my leave, and departed. My mind, however, did not, does not, soon leave them. I never shall forget the family and neighbourhood of the venerable Finley."

There is another consideration which will have great weight with the friends of Christianity, in the establishment and support of an efficient institution for training ministers for the service of these wide re

gions. The Rev. Dr. Morse, in a ، Report to the Secretary of War of the United States on Indian Affairs,' estimates the Aborigines now dwelling within the territories of the States at nearly five hundred thousand. Almost the whole body of these Indians lie west of the Alleghany Mountains. The increase, therefore, of devout and zealous ministers in the Western Territory, is the most direct step toward reclaiming these numerous tribes from the dominion of darkness and sin. “Whence In answer to the question, can we obtain funds to carry our designs, so beneficial to the church, especially that portion of it scattered in the woods of the West, into full effect?" Bishop Chase replies, in his letter to Bishop White:

"What has guided me and my dear brethren of Ohio in this matter, I beg leaye to state.

"The interesting attitude which the General Theological Institution had assumed in being so harmoniously established in New York, and the pressing and peculiar demands which she had for all the aid of Episcopalians in the Atlantic States, forbade us to apply to them. Generous as they had been to us, we could never think of soliciting their beneficence while their own institution languisheth. Whence then, thought we, can arise our hopes of relief? What part of the universal church is there, who will compassionate our forlorn and perishing state?

Under these circumstances and thus situated, were we to blame, Right Rev. and very dear sir, for turning our eyes to the land of our fathers;-to that land, whose enlightened inhabitants are spreading the glorious Gospel throughout a benighted world? Could men, who were suffering so many privations, who were worn with fatigue and dejected in spirit, who were strangers to all political considerations but such as they had learned from their Bibles, could they be censured for a measure which naturally arose from the truth, that all Christians are brethren, of whatever nation? To evidence that our motives were thus pure, and that we were thus unanimous, I will take the liberty of introducing in this place, a copy of a document the original of which I carry with me to England:

"We, the presbyters and deacons of the diocese of Ohio, North America, having, at our annual convention, in communion with our apostolic head, contemplated, with sorrow, the gloomy condition and more gloomy prospects of the church in the States west of the Alleghany Moun

lowing letter, addressed to Bishop Chase, and dated Sept. 8, 1823 :

"I received your note of communion and charity, dated the 29th July, with its enclosure, on the eye of my departure on a visit to this diocese; which gives me a good opportunity to comply with your pious request, to be remembered in the prayers of the church here, for which the necessary directions shall be given.

"The object of the distant, perilous, and fatiguing journey, which you are about to undertake, must call forth the good wishes and prayers of all who have any regard for the prosperity of the church, or feel any interest for the spread of pure and undefiled religion. I therefore trust that the good providence of Almighty God will prepare your way before you, give you favour in a strange land, open the hearts of the people to the wants of their brethren, and return you to your charge in health, with a prosperous issue to your zeal for the advancement of his glory. "To say that I approve the measure, would be a cold expression of the desire which I feel for its success; a fellowship in your wants being pressed upon me, by those under my own eye-by those calls for help which cannot be answered, even with partial relief; by the increasing necessity of withstanding the inroads of ignorance and fanaticism, while we are yet unfurnished with instruments for the work. For zeal, to be profitable, must be coupled with knowledge, applied with discretion, continued with patience, and exercised in meekness and charity; and these, though unquestioned fruits of the Spirit, are yet such, under our dispensation, by the discipline of laborious study, resolute selfdenial, firm faith, and unreserved self-dedication.

"So deep is the taint of false principles in religion, throughout our land, so disprotioned is the dross to the pure gold of the Gospel, so mighty the efforts which infidelity and heresy are making under the name of Christianity, that the moral sense of the community is not only in a diseased, but in a dying state. To withstand, and eventually to cure this moral distemper, the only remedy, under God, is a learned, pious, and devoted ministry; nourished up themselves in the words of faith and sound doctrine, who may be able to teach others also. But to do this with comfort and effect, in a country of such diversified population and dissimilar habits as this great continent contains, it is equally necessary that they be trained up, among those with whom they have to deal.

"To this your fatherly purpose points. May it, therefore, have good success, by His guidance and blessing, from whom only, all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed.. And may a star arise in the West, to bless that wilderness with its cheering light; ushering in that bright and glorious day, when the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ, whom he has sent, shall cover the earth, and all who profess and call themselves Christians shall, with one heart and one mouth, glorify the God of their salvation!

"To His holy keeping, safe direction, and wise disposal, I heartily commit you, and the cause which you have in hand, entreating His gracious protection of you, His fatherly care of all you leave behind, and a speedy and happy return to your family, your friends, and your flock."

When on the point of embarking at New York, Bishop Chase received advice of the death of one of his clergy, whom he had ordained deacon a few months before, the Rev. John M. Jones. Of this distressing bereavement, his widow thus writes to the Bishop :

"He was much distressed when he spoke of his congregations. I endeavoured to comfort him, as He, who was pleased to afflict his person, did not require his former services at his hands. But he had spent his last strength in the service of his Master. I ever thought it not my duty to expostulate with him; yet I do believe his exertions were much too great for his strength. Please to write me your opinion; for I am tempted to have hard thoughts of myself. Perhaps if I had controlled my dear husband, it had not been best; for he had the glory of God and the salvation of souls at heart."

On this painful communication, Bishop Chase remarks:

"To the anguish which I want words to express, occasioned by the above, in relation to our poor and destitute church in Ohio, I have to add that of the continued declining health of my dear son, the Rev. P. Chase, jun., who is now in this city on his way to Charleston, S. C., as the last effort, by way of journeying, and the use of the sea air, to save him from an untimely grave. On this dear son, and yet fellowlabourer in the vineyard of our adored Master, I had relied, under God, for help and comfort in the discharge of my duties in the wilderness. Endeared to me by the consideration that he had left all his prospects in the East, in conformity to my great desire of spreading and maintaining our primitive doctrines in the West, the

very small hopes entertained of his recovery and future usefulness in the church are doubly distressing. To keep myself from despair, I made every just and prudent effort, when passing through Geneva, the place of the Theological Branch School in this State, to prevail on those who were about entering into the ministry, or had recently done so, to go to Ohio if it were only for one year; and supply the parishes of even one or two of our clergy, that they, knowing best the condition and wants of our scattered people, might do the duty of missionaries for a time-but none could I obtain. The same efforts have been renewed in this city, and with no better effect." Thus cut off from all hope of obtaining what he had for years been entreating and pleading for, namely, some missionaries to save his sinking church, the Bishop turned his eyes to the land of his fathers!

The powerful appeal which these facts make to the benevolent heart, the friends of Bishop Chase are persuaded will not be made in vain. Adequate aid, furnished at this juncture, will consolidate and extend the efficiency of the American Episcopal Church, by contributing to supply with suitable ministers that vast mass of population which is continually emigrating westward; while, without such aid, the church itself, established by such a course of selfdenying and unwearied toil, will dwindle and perish, and the population be given up to the inevitable consequences of a famine of the Divine ordinances.

There are now twenty-eight parishes organized in the diocese of Ohio; besides very numerous places, where public worship is occasionally held, and where parishes might be formed, if ministers could be procured. The labours of the Bishop and his few clergy will be seen to be truly arduous, when it is stated, that they extend over a space of 30,000 square miles of newly-settled or still unsettled country.

A subscription has, therefore, been opened in furtherance of the object stated in this appeal. Henry Hoare, Esq., banker, of Fleet street, is treasurer of the fund; the proceeds of which will be vested in government securities, in the names of the Right Hon. Lord Gambier and Mr. Hoare, till drawn for by the proper authorities in the diocese of Ohio. Subscriptions will be received at the banking houses of Messss. Hoare, 37, Fleet street; and of Messrs. Hoare, Barnetts, Hoare, and Co., 62, Lombard street; and by Messrs. Hatchard and Son, 187, Piccadilly.

FEMALE EDUCATION IN INDIA.

On the 15th of March a society was formed at Serampore, for establishing native schools in that place and its vicinity. On their appointment, the Committee proceeded immediately to their work. It appeared that ten schools for females were already in existence; of these five are in Serampore, one in Nuva-gram, one in Tecapore, and three in Vyddiabatty. Two of those in Serampore had existed about twelve months; all the others had been formed within the past month. The aggregate number of children was about170. There are several other situations in which it was hoped that other schools would be established in a few days.-Among the regulations adopted, we find the following, for securing the diligence and good conduct of the masters:-When a schoolmaster has twelve children he shall receive five rupees monthly, and for every six children above this number he shall receive one rupee, and so on in proportion. If at the examination it shall appear that any schoolmaster has been particularly diligent, he shall receive an extra reward.

The schools will be diligently visited and superintended by the ladies in the vicinity, chiefly those connected with the Serampore Mission.