in many places invited to do) this important work. Mr. Latrobe uses the expressions: "Without their aid, they are whey unable at present to support it." "To liquidate so large a "debt, they feel to be utterly impossible." And what is their great object? "That they may still be enabled to make the saving name of Jesus known to the Heathen world." Can such an appeal be made in this country, any more than in Great-Britain, in vain? IN THIS COUNTRY, where the Churches of Christ so generally flourish, and which, more than any other, is abundantly blessed by a kind and indulgent Providence? Subscriptions and donations towards the support of the missions of the United Brethren, will be thankfully received by the ministers of their congregations; particularly by the Rev. Charles G. Reichel, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; the Rev. Jacob Van Vleck, Salem, Stokes' county, NorthCarolina; the Rev. George G. Miller, No. 74 Race-street, Philadelphia; and by BENJAMIN MORTIMER, No. 104 Fulton-street, New-York. New-York, 2d June, 1817. Advice to a Traveller on the Observance of Sunday. From Marriott's Hints to a Traveller. As an essential measure of preparation, take care that a Bible and Prayer Book form a part of your travelling stores. You must yet have to learn their value, if you can think yourself completely equipped without them. In sketching out your plan of travelling, mark Sunday decidedly as a day of rest. To dispense with such a rule on this occasion, because you want to see and do a great deal in a short space of time, is to act upon the principle, that when our duty to God, and our personal convenience clash, the former is, of course, to give way. As if his sceptre of righteousness were that of a mimic king, and to be exercised only at our discretion. Burns, in speaking of profane wit, says, with his characteristic point, ? An Atheist's laugh 's a poor exchange And surely a few additional towns in our journal, or the sight of one mountain, or a waterfall the more, purchas ed at the same price, will prove an equally improvident bargain. The length of your intended expedition, instead of operating against my advice, ought strongly to enforce it, since the continued habit would more effectually deaden all conscientious feelings in this respect than occasional indulgences of the same kind. What has been said applies equally to the devoting the day to seeing the objects of curiosity which the place you are in may afford. In any town where you spend the Sunday, make a point of ascertaining whether it affords you an opportunity of attending the service of the Protestant Church; and, if it does, thankfully avail yourself of it. If not, do not let this circumstance deprive you entirely of the enjoyment of social worship. If you are the head of a family, or one of a party of friends, you can always assemble a little congregation to join in the use of our admirable Liturgy; and may rejoice in the recollection of the gracious promise made to 'two or three gathered together,' in that name, which is set as a seal and passport to nearly every one of its prayers. Even if you should be alone, the same form of prayer is much of it applicable to private use, and will enable you to join in spirit with the thousands who, on that day, are offering up its petitions in your native land. Its use would, from the mere force of association, assist in bringing your mind to the tone and habits appropriate to the day. Where you be negligent in this respect, the Roman Catholics themselves, whose churches are thronged from six in the morning till mid-day, might put you to the blush; though they are not to be followed in their defective and superstitious mode of worship, nor in their way of spending the remainder of the Sabbath. In these points I would say, with a full conviction, that he who used the words first would approve of their applica tion, Come out from among them, and be separate.' It is indeed a day of joy and gladness, but the source of that joy strongly marks that, though truly a feast, it ought to be kept in a very different manner from the gay, trifling, and sensual FESTA of an Italian city, or its counterpart in France, or elsewhere. Drinking and gaming, dancing and singing, and theatrical entertainments among the lower orders, and similar amusements, though in a more refined shape, in the higher, do not very aptly characterize the joy to be derived from that resurrection, in which those only have reason to rejoice, who die to sin and rise again unto righteousness.' This, however, as I believe all travellers will confess, is no exaggerated description of the objects to which every Sunday is devoted throughout a considerable portion of the Continent. From this vortex it will become you to steer at a cautious distance, for it is hard to struggle against it, if carried by the current within the sphere of its attraction. When once we are committed to a certain extent in society, unfore seen occurrences, unintentional, or, perhaps, wilful misapprehensions, the fear of giving offence, the silence of hesitation construed into that of assent, and many similar causes draw us, even without the aid of inclination, far beyond our intended limits of concession. I do not speak this merely from general observation, but from a case precisely in point. I happen to know that a person, who is in the habit of avoiding public society on a Sunday, from conscientious motives, having, when abroad, yielded this point once, on a particular occasion, was, in the end, so entangled by a train of unforeseen circumstances, as to find himself at the theatre in the evening, with the rest of the party, to his own surprise and sorrow. I would say, therefore, not only avoid the places of public amusement, but all parties, in themselves unsuited to the day, and likely to expose you to trials, to which your resolution may not be equal. It is far easier to be conscientiously singular upon deliberation and by system, than in the exigency of the moment, when the eyes of a company are upon you; and the temptation would have much advantage of you, in consequence of your being already on slippery ground. The exact line of distinction, however, in this case, must be left to your own judgment; but public amusements are more clearly defined, and admit no question of degrees. They are altogether forbidden ground to you on Sunday, if there be the least force in any of the arguments which have now been brought forward. It is true, that you will be tempted by placards announcing the performance of the best actors, and the finest musicians, on that evening, expressly because it is Sunday; but if you would not think yourself authorized to break the eighth commandment by a strong temptation, do not listen to those, who reason differently about the fourth. Only imagine yourself pleading such an excuse at the bar, where the question must at last be decided, and its absurdity will strike you with the force of irresistible conviction. ATHENS. FROM HOLLAND'S TRAVELS. Those who expect to see at Athens only the more splendid and obvious testimonies of its former state, will find themselves agreeal mistaken in the reality of the scene. It may be acknowledged that the Parthenon, the Theseum, the Propyloa, the temple of Minerva Polias, &c. are individually the most striking of the objects occurring here; yet it may perhaps be added that they have been less interesting singly, than in their combined relation to that wonderful grouping together of nature and art, which gives its peculiarity to Athens, and renders the scenery of this spot something which is ever unique to the eye and recollection. Here, if any where, there is a certain genius of the place which unites and gives a character and colouring to the whole; and it is further worthy of remark, that this genius loci is one which most strikingly connects the modern Athens with the city of former days. of former days. Every part of the surrounding landscape may be recog nized as harmonious and beautiful in itself; and, at the same time, as furnishing those features which are consecrated by ancient description, by the history of heroic actions; and still more as the scene of those celebrated schools of philosophy, which have transmitted their influence to every succeeding age. The stranger, who may be unable to appreciate all the architectural beauties of the temples of Athens, yet can admire the splendid assemblage they form in their position, outline, and colouring; can trace out the pictures of the poets in the vale of Cephissus, the hill of Colonos, and the ridge of Hymettus; can look on one side upon the sea of Salamis, on the other upon the heights of Phyle; and can tread upon the spots which have acquired sanctity from the genius and philosophy of which they were once the seats. The hill of the Areopagus, the Academy, the Lycæ. um, the Portico, the Pnyx, if not all equally distinct in their situation, yet can admit of little error in this respect; and the traveller may safely venture to assert to himself, that he is standing where Demosthenes spoke to the Athenians, and where Plato and Aristotle addressed themselves to their scholars. No where is antiquity so well substantiated as at Athens, or its outline more completely filled up both to the eye and imagination. The impressions of this nature, which the traveller obtains, derive much vividness from the number of minute vestiges surrounding him; and these are often even more striking to the fancy than the greater memorials of ancient art. Every point in and around Athens abounds with such vestiges; the fragments of columns, sculptured marbles, and Greek inscriptions. Scarcely a single house but affords some of these remains, more or less mutilated; yet all with some interest annexed to them, as the representatives of a past age. This familiarity and frequency with which classic names and images are brought before the eye cannot fail of interesting the attention; and it forms one of the most striking circumstances to the stranger in Athens: The character of the landscape around the city is very peculiar, even without reference to any of the features that have been described. There is a certain simplicity of outline and colouring, combined with the magnificence of form and extent, which contributes much to this particular effect. It cannot be called a rich scenery, for the dry soil of Attica refuses any lux'uriance of vegetation; and, excepting the great olive-grove of the plain, little wood enters into the landscape. Yet one of its most striking features is a sort of repose, which may be derived from the form of the hills, from their slopes of the plain, and from the termination of this plain in the placid surface of the gulf of Salamis; above all, perhaps, from the resting point which the eye finds in the height of the Acropolis, and in the splendid groupe of ruins covering its summits. In this latter object there is a majestic tranquillity, the effect of time and of its present state, which may not easily be described, so as to convey an idea of the reality of the spot. The stranger will find himself perplexed in fixing on the point of view whence the aspect of these ruins is most im posing, or their combination most perfect with the other groups which sur round them, Grace before Meat.-An Extract, If, indeed, there be any moment in ordinary life more suitable than another for our expressing thankfulness to the Supreme Being, it must be that in which we receive sensible gratification. An acknowledgment is surely the least we can offer, when any boon is con ferred upon us. And even quadrupeds are observed to feel this as an impulse of Nature, when presented with food. Among rational beings, it has been nearly an universal practice, to acknowledge, in some form, or reverential address, the blessing of food they were on the point of being refreshed and supported by. And in all Christian, (as a more polished or better conducted society,) the habit of thanksgiving on breaking bread, at the season of their meals, was held a sacred duty. But at every period, good manners and good morals have been considered as bearing a strong affinity to each other. The best breeding, conveying an impressive idea of the best principles; and we may add, that they are only then complete, when they appear allied to Religion. Thus blended, they constitute the accomplished GENTLEMAN! But how inconsistent with such a pre-eminent distinction would it appear, if the individual was observed to sit down, and to rise up from a gratifying entertainment, where good company, and good provisions were placed before him, without the least expression of notice or civility towards the bountiful Master of the feast! We are led to this remark by the strange neglect observable among those who ought to know better, in not complying with, I may say, an edifying practice of all our forefathers, that of audibly and reverently saying grace before and after meals. Whoever considers the custom of returning thanks after meals, and of fering up a prayer for benediction when we sit down to them, on its own merits, will perceive nothing can be urged against it, beyond the silly affectation of more refined habits, than those of ordinary life; and an idie mimicking of the negligence, not to say the profaneness of certain individuals. But those whose thoughts and manners are influenced by discretion and sound judgment, will readily acquiesce in the propriety of offering at our meals acknowledgments of God's providence, and our dependence on him for all we have, or wish to enjoy. Grace said, with an unaffected solemnity, is edifying and impressive; especially on such as have sense enough to believe that they can enjoy no blessing, or relish any one comfort, but what is communicated to them by the hand of God. And if there be no disposition of the heart to be devoutly thankful, when we meet to enjoy the gratifying continuation of God's daily blessings upon us and our friends, that heart will seldom be truly thankful on any other occasion. When thou hast eaten, and art full, and thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, and thy heart be lifted up, and thou say, in thine heart, my power, and the might of my hand hath gotten me this! Ceremonies in the Greek Church on the Eve of Easter. From James's Travels in Russia, &c. A representation of the sacred tomb is exposed to the people during the whole of the evening, and at night the resurrection is announced formally in all the churches. We entered the Casan church at a late hour; the nave, the aisles, in short, every part was crowded to suffocation with an host of devotees; thousands of lighted tapers (for each bore one in his hand) glitted over the whole area, spreading an illumination as bright as noon. As the hour of twelve approached, all eyes were earnestly bent on the sanctuary; at length it opened, when there issued forth a long train of banners, crosses, &c. with archimandrites, protopopes, and priests of all ranks, dressed in their sumptuous robes of embroidered silk, covered with gold and silver, and jewels; they moved slowly through the crowd, and went out from the doors of the church as if to search for the body of our Lord. In a few minutes the insignia were seen again, on their return, floating above the heads of the mob, along the nave; and when the Archbishop had regained the altar, he pronounced, with a loud voice, Christos volseress, "Christ is risen." " At that instant the hymn of praise commenced, and a peal of ordnance from the fortress re-echoed the joyful tidings throughout the city. The world of Mongiks now saluted and congratulated one another in turn; the days of fasting were at an end; tables spread with provisions in a short time made their appearance in the church; the forbidden meats were tasted with eager appetite, and a feast of gluttony that annually proves fatal to some of the followers of this religion, took place of penance and prayer. A second carnival of one week succeeded this day, and afforded, though in a different way, an equally gratify ing spectacle. The Isaac Platz was filled with people, drinking quass and kislitchi, visiting puppet-shows or rope dancers, enjoying themselves in the tcherkeli or round-about, and following each other in succession, down the slope of the summer-hills. This last is one of the most favourite amusements; the apparatus consists of a seaffold between thirty and forty feet high, with an inclined plane in front, constructed in imitation of the icehills, the ordinary diversion of the winter season. It is tastefully adorned with flowers and boughs of trees, amidst which an amateur of the sport is hurried in a small narrow cart with four wheels; descending the steep, and traversing with the impulse a level stage below, of some hundred feet in length, though not quite so securely as in the case before mentioned. The infinite variety of gay colour and costume exhibited by a Russian mob adds to the pleasure of the scene, and, besides the novelty of the aspect in this point, it is the most extraordinary sight to a foreigner to behold these stout majestic men, with solemn beards and placid countenances, sliding down these hills in go-carts, or whirled round one after another in the light round-about, or (as permission is universally given in this week) jingling the church bells as an act of serious devotion. But still more singular is the charm produced by the sight of so vast a concourse of people all still and quiet. An universal face of merriment and good humour unceasingly prevails, but it is every where accompanied with the same noiseless appearance. A sight that forms a strong contrast with the loud mirth of an Italian, or the joyous boisterousness of an English mob. But with the forced and artificial Russian, even their quantum of gladness is regulated by the strict order of the police. The presentation of an egg in sign of the termination of the fast, is the usual compliment of the season among the people of all ranks, high or low; the handsomest are made of porcelain, and it is a gift generally made to the fair sex. The lady in complaisance grants the donor permission to kiss her hand, which, on his rising, is returned according to the graceful mode of Russian salutation, on the gentleman's cheek. By old established custom, no lady of any rank whatsoever can refuse the salute to the meanest person in the streets that does but make her the offer of an egg. For the Christian Journal. I look'd on the earth, but, behold! The leaves that so lovely once shone. Without e'en a glimmer of light. I look'd on the mountains that rose Of man in the regions around; Mid the horrible darkness a sound! The birds from the heavens were gone, In the glorious blaze of the sky! Was a wild and a desolate waste, Their glory and majesty quell'd, His anger had darken'd the sky; HYMN, E. Composed for the Dedication of St. John's Church, Washington City, December 27th, 1816. By B. H. Latrobe. God of power, God of love, Earth thy footstool, heaven thy throne! From thy seat of bliss above Bow thine ear in mercy down! Thou who dwell'st in endless space Fill the house we now prepare With thy presence and thy grace; Hear, oh hear thy people's prayer! Vainly human power essays, Vainly toils the artist's skill, Worthily a shrine to raise Which thy Majesty may fill |