literary aid of some of your Ameri- Newberry Nonthly Meeting is locacan Friends who are qualified by ted. It is composed of about 60 heart as well as head, to assist them. It would be very pleasant to see our idea of reciprocity carried out in the pages of the "Friends' Examiner," and to welcome the thoughtful contribution of any of your members. Should such be the case, I doubt not that we on this side can enlist a little of like support for the "American Friend" should you desire it.

families and parts of families, which are much scattered. We had two meetings amongst those living at a distaece, visited all the families, had two meetings in the meeting house, which were large and at which there was much public labor.

At this place is a boarding school, which was once large, but small at present. They were encouraged by I have already too much trespassed the labors of Joseph Moore, and the upon your space now to touch upon hope they have of receiving aid from other subjects of mutual interest, but the Baltimore Association, which on a future occasion, if circumstan- they much need, for like other ces permit, I may venture, in an unpretending way, to dispatch a friendly missal concerning men and things in the old land.

I am, very respectfully,

W. C. WESTLAKE.

Friends in the South, they suffered much loss of property during the war. Sill one cannot hear them tell of their trials and deliverance without feeling that the Lord preserved them, and made a way for them. While laboring amongst them, and as we left them we were forcibly reminded of the declaration "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few" let the faithful pray "the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth laborers into His harvest."

FRIENDS IN TENNESSEE. ALLEN JAY thus writes of the visit of Thomas Jay and himself to Friends in East Tenn: "As proposed in my former letter we left N. C. 1st mo. 8, by railroad and proceeded by the way of Lynchburg, Va., entering WE are informed that the Friends Tenn. by the Va. and E. Tenn. R. R. of Richmond, Va., are desirous of esto New Hope, where there are 15 tablishing a colored orphanage in families and parts of families, which that city. Our friends Anna Gibwe visited, and had a large public bons and daughter are already supermeeting the following day, and intending a small asylum, under the then visited the school taught patronage of the Freedmen's Bureau; by our dear friend, John Woodard. this, however, is not likely to be kept Many of the parents were present and up longer than the present year, and I trust the labor extended will not Friends are anxious to have theirs be lost. In the evening had a precious under way to take its place. A comopportunity with about 20 young mittee has been appointed by Richpeople, several of whose mouths were mond Monthly Meeting to solicit opened to speak of the goodness of contributions, and have charge of the Lord for the first time. the subject. Owing to the fact that Sixty miles further on upon the marriage was not legalized to the colsame road, and near the Holstein ored people under the slave code, river is Lost creek a small meeting there are very many helpless and of 12 families. The religious appears homeless little ones whom none are to have a little improved of late. We willing to own or care for. Pecunspent Seventh-day among the fami- iary aid from Friends and others, in ilies, and remained over First-day, the North and West, is hopefully attending their Bible class, and meet looked for. Further information ing, and had one appointed in the may be obtained by addressing John evening which was large and favored. B. Crenshaw, Richmond, Virginia, to Fifty miles on and 18 miles beyond whom, also, contributions may be Knoxville is Friendsville, where sent.

A SIMILE.

WATCHING WITH THE SICK.

Whilst watching thus the night away,
Beside the weary couch of pain,
And waiting for the lingering day

To greet my sleepless eyes again,
Fond memory brings, with magic art,
Each lively scene of former bliss,
And in my mind and in my heart,

Creates a brighter world than this.
I think of childhood's vanished joy,
Of youthful pulses throbbing high-
My first glad dreams without alloy,

And hopes that were but born to die.

Those peaceful days-how quick they fled,

Some listen to the sea-shell's roar
And think they hear a plaintive tone,
Like a lone creature cast ashore
Ever repeating o'er and o'er

Its parent Ocean's moan.

O might the soul from God flung forth
On earth its loyalty to prove,

Thus keep the tones from heaven it brought,
Thus homeward turn its constant thought,
Thus show its filial love!
M. J.

Their flowers which once bedecked my THE BIBLE ITS OWN COMMENTARY.

brow,

Their fragrance gone, are withered, dead,
What was I then? what am I now?

My years-my wisdom-which outran?
Has conscience o'er my pathway smiled?
How have I lived? And is the man

Or worse, or better than the child?
Oh! when, as now, I mark the strife
Of manhood struggling with disease,
I well may think that such is life,

And I must bear such pangs as these.
A few more days to laugh and weep-
A few bright scenes or dark ones more-
And I shall lay me down to sleep,"

With millions who have slept before.
May I but feel a pierced hand

Beneath me as my eye grows dim,
And when before the Judge I stand,
May Christ but plead, "I died for him.',
The dove, which from the ark was sent

To learn if yet the flood were gone,
Returned-nor found where'er she went,
A place to rest her foot upon.

Thus, thus my soul, when life shall bring
Its floods of sorrow o'er my breast,
Seek not on earth to fold thy wing,
But hie thee to the Ark of Rest.

D. C.

IN Daniel's vision of the four great Pagan despotisms, which he saw, as monstrous beasts, it is remarkable that they came up out of the great sea during a tempest.

"The four winds of heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea." Dan. 7:2, 3.

In John's vision of the last of these empires, it appeared in like form, and rose up from the same source. "And I stood upon the sand of the sea and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy." Rev. 13: 1. It is obvious that sea and great sea are here used as symbols.

The ancient city of Babylon is represented as dwelling upon many waters. "O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness. Jer. 51: 13. Although this city was situated on both We have received interesting com- sides of the Euphrates, it is far from munications from Friends in various probable that the text contains any Yearly Meetings, which are crowded allusion to this fact, or that it admits out of our present number, but we of any other than a strictly symbolihope to publish several in our next cal interpretation. The same power number. We have not room for is spoken of in very similar phrasevery long ones, but are glad to re- ology by another prophet: "Now, ceive all the items that friends can therefore, behold the Lord bringeth furnish us in regard to movements up upon them the waters of the river, of ministers, new meetings set up, &c. strong and many, even the King of T. H. Assyria and all his glory, and he

shall come up over all his channels, sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full and go over all his bank; and she of names of blasphemy, having seven shall pass through Judah: he shall heads and ten horns.' Rev. 17: 3. overflow and go over, he shall reach To meet the conditions of this vision, even to the neck, and the stretching the woman must have held a position out of his wings shall fill the breadth of overshadowing influence in a vast of thy land, O Immanuel. Isaiah empire, represented in its unity by a 8:7, 8. beast. This empire must, in the

To meet the

Here the waters of the river, strong course of events, have lost control and many, represent the military over its members, and fallen into ten forces of the King of Assyria, by independent kingdoms, represented which the kingdom of Israel and Syria by the ten horns of the beast, and it her ally, were soon to be conquered. is in this condition that he is seen In the preceding example, Babylon bearing the woman. may be considered as the symbol of statement of the angel touching the the regal power of the empire, while seat of the woman, she must have exthe many waters upon which she sat, ercised a baleful influence over all would represent her subjects, the mul- these kingdoms, and through them, titudes of peoples who, for ages min- or independently of them, upon the istered to her luxury, fought her bat- peoples, and multitudes, and nations tles, and suffered the crushing weight and tongues of which they were of her despotism. composed.

The mystical like the historic Bab- "And the serpent cast out of his ylon, is represented as scated upon mouth waters as a flood after the many waters,' ," "And there came one woman. that he might cause her to be of the seven angels which had the carried away of the flood." Rev. seven vials, and talked with me, say- 12:15. Here it is obvious the syming unto me, Come hither; I will bolic woman was subjected to great show unto thee the judgment of the danger by vast armies, (water as a great whore that sitteth upon many flood,) projected upon her by some waters." Rev. 17: 1. The literal hostile agency, capable of wielding meaning of waters, when used as a such forces, and represented under symbol, is given in these words: the symbol of a monstrous beast, "And he saith unto me, The waters sometimes called the serpent, somewhich thou sawest, where the whore times the dragon. sitteth, are peoples and multitudes, "And there was no more sea." and nations and tongues." Rev. Rev. 21: 1. Here, also, the word 17: 15. So far as appears, this sym- sea is undoubtedly used as a symbol, bol, waters, many waters, flood, sea, and foreshadows a condition to be great sea, &c., is applied to peoples, fully realized in the coming kingdom and multitudes, and nations, and of God on earth. In illustration of tongues, only in certain conditions, this subject we will cite a few of namely, when in military array many pertinent passages: "Then was when in that state of strife, commotion and warfare which attends the establishment of great despotic governments among men, and when in abject subjection to the imperious dominion of despotic power, civil or ecclesiastical.

the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver and the gold broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them; and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain aad filled the whole earth." Dan 2:35.

In this vision of the scarlet woman, the fact that she sat on many waters, is to be accepted on the statement of "And in the days of these kings the angel who lead the seer to the shall the God of Heaven set up a vision; to the eyes of the latter she kingdom which shall never be deevidently appeared very differently stroyed; and the kingdom shall not mounted. He says: "I saw a woman be left to other people, but it shall

break in pieces and consume all these bled to present kingdoms, and it shall stand forever." reference to the Dan, 2: Whitewater Mo.

"And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominious shall serve and obey him." Dan. 7: 27.

"And it shall come to pass that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord." Isaiah 66: 23.

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." Isaiah 2: 2-4.

The amazing glory of the coming Kingdom of God, foretold in literal words by Isaiah, unwittingly and obscurely seen by King Nebuchadnezzer, in terrible imagery in a dream that went from him; graciously revealed, with its interpretation, to a man of the captives of Judah, in a night vision, and made known to the King-portrayed, in incomprehensible symbols to Daniel, and interpreted by "one of them that stood by-appears to John's rapt vision, under the striking emblem of the whole earth without a sea. Thus we

some statistics in length of life in Meeting, Wayne county, Indiana. The records have not been well kept, though this circumstance probably does not materially affect the general average.

This Meeting was established early in the present century, and embraced a widely extended territory, within which many other Monthly Meetings have since been set up. As far as our investigations have gone, the records seem to contradict the prevailing opinion among "old settlers," that people, especially children, in the early periods of pioneer life, are more robust and healthy than after the introduction of the more refined arts. By calculating the average age, at death, for each decade of years from 1800 to 1860, we find a hopeful increase. The same was observed in the examination of the records of Northern Quarterly Meeting. (See No. 1 of this paper.)

These records of Whitewater contain the ages, at death, of 367 persons. Of these 49 were under 1 year; 122 under 5: 141 under 10; 181 under 20: 232 under 30; 43 were between 30 and 50; 93 were more than 50; 69 more than 60; 38 more than 70; 13 more than 80; 3 more than 90. The average age of the whole number is 26 years, 10 months and 13 days.

It may be interesting to our readers to compare this result with the average in other localities. The aveare fully assured that man has a glo- estimated at about 32 years. In Masrage length of life for the world is rious future history in store, wherein sachusetts, where statistics are pretty crushing despotisms, angry nations, accurately recorded, the average is and armies in battle array, constitute 26 years and 11 months. no part of the scenery. In that day

all "shall rejoice in the waters of Shi- In Kentucky, the average for whites loah that go softly." "They shall is 20 years and 8 months; for blacks, not hurt nor destroy in all my holy 18 years. mountain for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." Isaiah 11: 9.

LONGEVITY OF FRIENDS. THROUGH the investigations of our friend James Dickinson, we are cna

The average length of life in Charleston, S. C., is 30 years and 4 months; in Boston nearly 2314 years: in New York city, 21 years, 2 months; in Philadelphia, nearly 23 years. The average age of 944 Friends who died in Great Britain in 1855, '56, '57, is more than 52 years.

Our friends Jacob Hampton and

B. F. Morgan, have collected the fol- &c., can be obtained by addressing ing statistics for Chester Monthly R. B. Howland, proprietor, or CaroMeeting, Wayne county, Ind. This line A. Comstock, William J. Beal, Meeting was established by White- Daniel Satterthwait, or Z. Test, water Quarterly Meeting, in 1823. Teachers. The number of deaths, with ages recorded, up to the present year, is 81. Of these, 8 were under 1 year: 19 under 5:25 under 10; 37 under 20; 48 under 30; 21 reached 50; 15 reached 60; 6 reached 70; 2 reached 80; and 1 reached nearly 90. The average for the whole number is 29 years, 2 months and 23 days. W. B. M.

SCHOOL REPORTS.

YOUNG LADIES' COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE, at Union Springs, N. Y. This has been briefly noticed in a former number, but we have since been furnished with some additional items.

FRIEND'S ACADEMY, at Damascus, Mahoning county, Ohio, is now under the care of A. Y. Taylor and C. Dixon, as Principals, and Mary Penrose, teacher of Primary Department. The present term of 16 weeks will soon close. The number of students enrolled about 95; average attendance about 80. The average has been lowered on account of several students not commencing at the beginning of the term.

THE CITY ACADEMY, New York street, Indianapolis, was opened the 3d of Ninth mo., last, by Thomas A number of the teachers occupy Charles and William Mendenhall as rooms in the same building with the proprietors and principals. They are scholars, and by mutual association, now assisted by Pleasant Bond, Ďelia the institution is made more like a E. Newby and Helen A. Brown. Christian home than like a boarding The course of instruction includes school, Pupils prepare their lessons the branches taught in the different in their own private rooms. There are accommodations for forty pupils. For this limited number, there are eleven experienced teachers, seven of whom have no other occupation than teaching in this school. Opportunity is afforded for as thorough and extensive a course of instruction as can be obtained in most first class colleges. No pupils will be received who cannot pass a creditable examination in common school geography, arithmetic and English grammar.

Besides a library of new books valued at over $4,000, the proprietor is just now adding, for the benefit of the school, at a cost of $2,500, complete sets of maps and apparatus to illustrate physical and ancient Geography, Physiology, Chemistry, and other natural sciences. One hour a day is devoted to gymnastics, in a commodious hall, which is well warmed and supplied with apparatus. Much interest is manifested in religion by the members of the schools. All the pupils are in Bible classes once a week.

Full information respecting terms,

grades of the common schools, together with the Higher Mathematics, Natural Sciences, German and Latin The number of students enrolled is about 150.

BLOOMINGDALE ACADEMY Was briefly noticed in the first number of this paper. The present term began 1st mo. 1st, 76 students enrolled. The school is divided into three departments: Elementary, Intermediate and Academic. Ability to read in McGuffey's Fifth Reader, is taken as the basis of classification in the elementary department. John Chawner is principal, Edwin F. Hadley and Jane Hadley, assistants.

DOVER, IND.-The school at this place has, during the winter, been taught by William White. At the last account there were 42 students enrolled, with an average attendance of 35. Written examinations have been required of the pupils each month. Guyot's Primary Geogra phies have been introduced into this school.