plete. I can only assure you that I shall at all times be ready to meet the wishes of the Committee, and beg you to accept my best wishes, and believe me to be Very truly and faithfully, &c. Jno. Bowring, Esq. DEAR SIR, London, 17th April, 1823. I HAVE great pleasure in acknowledging your favour of 17th January, and as there seems an opening of usefulness in your neighbourhood we send a larger supply of the Spanish Tract. Our means (at least our pecuniary means,) are rather narrow, or we should certainly have done something more in the way of translation for Peninsula and South American circulation, though unfortunately the present moment, clouded as it is with doubts and fears and anxieties, seems little calculated to lead to calm and sober reflection. Not but that the horrors of aggressive war are displayed in all their naked ferocity, yet even the sympathy which ranges itself along with the oppressed, is apt to take perhaps too high a tone of indignation and vehemence against the oppressors. We hope that wisdom will ere long grow out of folly, and truth from error, that even the wrath of man shall serve the purposes of Providence, and its excesses be restrained. The list of the Tracts sent, you will find at the foot. We shall be exceedingly glad to cooperate for the circulation of a Tract in Arabic. Could you easily obtain a translation from any of the Moors in Gibraltar? If so, we would manage the printing here. I am, my Dear Sir, Yours very truly, JOHN BOWRING, Hon. Foreign Secretary. By the Minstrel, Captain Hodges, 200 Tracts in Spanish, 50 sets in French, and 50 sets in English; Nos. 3, 4, and 5, of the New Series of the Herald of Peace, and two of the first volume of the New Series, in boards. AMERICA. From the American Daily Advertiser. MR. POULSON, December 18th, 1822. If you think the enclosed extract from the Appendix of the second edition of " Primitive Theology," worthy of a place in your Paper, by giving it an insertion, you will oblige MÁNY. The attentive reader of many of the preceding series, it is presumed, must have perceived that the Holy Scriptures, the character of our Lord Jesus Christ, the genius of his religion, and the graces of his genuine disciples, unitedly oppose all carnal war, and strongly tend to universal and permanent Peace: and as the Committee of the London Peace Society observe," the present moment, is one which brings home most emphatically to our bosom, the solemn inquiry, Whether, as the children of one Almighty Parent, the disciples of a common Master, the equal heirs of a divine inheritance, we have not been too long insensible to the lessons we should have learnt from the merciful character of our Heavenly Father, from the benevolent spirit of the Christian code, and from the circumstances of social communion in which we are placed? -We cannot refrain on this occasion from wafting across the Atlantic our sincere and warmest congratulations to our American brethren, with our prayers for their continued, their rapidly increasing success.' With the greatest cordiality we reciprocate these impressive congratulations and fervent prayers, and with pleasure announce to our brethren, the friends of peace, in the four sections of the world, "The Pennsylvania Peace Society," as the thirty-fifth of these benevolent Institutions in the United States of North America. " As it is the first of the kind in this large and wealthy State, though it abounds with pacific characters, we exhibit the following as an outline of its preamble, constitution, and board of managers : Constitution of the Pennsylvania Peace Society. This Society aspire at the honour of being consistent Christians. It has nothing to do with the politics of earthly governments. William Penn, the founder of this State, stands among the first of the lawgivers whose names and deeds are recorded in history. Shall we compare him with Lycurgus, Solon, Romulus, those founders of military commonwealths, who organized their citizens in dreadful array against the rest of their species, taught them to consider the rest of their fellow men as barbarians, and themselves as alone worthy to rule over the earth? Interrogate the shades of those who fell in the mighty contests between Athens and Lacedæmon, between Carthage and Rome, and between Rome and the rest of the universe. But see our William Penn, with weaponless hands, sitting down peaceably with his followers in the midst of savage nations, whose only occupation was shedding the blood of their fellow men, disarming them by his justice, and teaching them, for the first time, to view a stranger without distrust. See them bury their tomahawks in his presence, so deep that man shall never be able to find them again. See them under the shade of the thick groves of Coaquannock extend the bright chain of friendship, and solemnly promise to preserve it as long as the sun and moon shall endure. See him then with his companions establishing his commonwealth on the sole basis of religion, morality, and universal love; and adopting, as the fundamental maxims of his government, the rule handed down to us from heaven, "Glory to God on high, on earth peace, and good will to all men." Here was a spectacle for the potentates of the carth to look upon, an example for them to imitate. But the potentates of the earth did not see, or if they saw, turned away their eyes from the sight; they did not hear, or if they heard, they shut theirs ears against the voice which called out to them from the wilderness, Learn justice by admonition. The character of William Penn alone sheds a never-failing lustre on our history. No other State in the Union can boast of such an illustrious founder; none began their social career under auspices so honourable to humanity. Duponceau. William Penn is a real Lycurgus; and the former made Peace his principal aim, as the latter did War; yet they resemble one another in the singular way The Members of it profess to be subjects of a kingdom which is not of this world and confine the sphere of its operations to the genuinely Christian church, as composed of all those, and those only, who have the mind, or spirit, and principles of Jesus Christ. They feel, cherish, and beg leave publicly to avow, their cordial attachment to their country's civil institutions, and its rulers, as second to those of no earthly state, kingdom, or empire, on the globe: and by all means consistent with their allegiance to the " Prince of Peace," it will be their earnest endeavour to concur with their fellow-citizens in giving stability and efficiency to the general and state governments, and their administrations: and, happily, the constitution of the United States requires no more. The style of this Society, it will be as naturally as correctly inferred, is intended to show, that the Members of it are admirers of WILLIAM PENN, as nobly distinguished by the pacific temper and principles which pre-eminently adorned Christ and his apostles, and laid the foundation, and insured the ultimate triumphs of Christianity over all its enemies and the Society, as a small specimen of the historical facts which originated, or increased, their esteem and affection for the radically pacific principle of that truly great man, respectfully solicit candid attention to the following extracts and remarks : : "The question, Have Christians a right to engage in any species of carnal war? has, of late, excited much attention. Erasmus, as early as the days of the reformation, called the attention of Europe to this subject. It seems, however, not to have made much progress among the German reformers; but in England, a Society founded by George Fox, and others, dared to stem the torrent of popular opinion. They wholly disclaimed war as inconsistent with the laws of Christ; and accordingly assumed the noble appellation of Friends; but by the folly and madness of the times, they were called Quakers. In the United States the attention of many persons has been recently called to this important question. A careful examination of the precepts of the Gospel, and of the principles and practice of the apostolic church, has produced a full and unwavering conviction in many minds, that war is incompatible with the duty and obligation of Christiaus. "The consequences to be expected from pacific principles, fully appear in the history of the church during its first period. They abstained from war; they made no resistance; they offered no violence. "Under this passive and inoffensive character Christianity rapidly overspread the Roman provinces; and it was acknowledged by one of their Emperors, when he wielded the military force of forty legions, of living to which they reduced their people-in the astonishing ascendant they gained over free men; and in the strong passions they subdued.—Montesquieu. William Penn, as a legislator, deserves immortal thanks from the whole world. It is pleasing to do honour to those great men, whose virtues and generosity have contributed to the peopling of the earth, and to the freedom and happiness of mankind; and who have preferred the interest of a remote posterity, and times unknown, to their own fortune, and the quiet and security of their own lives.-Edmund Burke. that should the Christians resort to arms, their numbers were sufficient to overturn his empire. Yet, under the reign of Dioclesian, in a ge neral persecution of ten years, myriads of Christians were put to death without offering the least resistance. But Christianity still gained ground on heathenism, and uniting wealth, numbers and influence, at Tength ascended the throne of the Cæsars; and, if in the purest state of the church, when under disgrace and persecution, many false professors were found, it may be presumed, that as she rose to power and splendor, offered allurements to ambition, and changed her robes of humility for the imperial purple, her ranks were crowded by men who preferred the sword of violence to the cross of Christ; and were more ready to pursue false honour through blood and slaughter, than to lay 'down their lives as martyrs for religion. The change of the church from peace and non-resistance, to retaliation, war, and conquest, was gradual, and effected, not by her sufferings, but by her external prosperity. If adversity is justly styled the school of wisdom, prosperity in worldly things is like the harlot's lap, on which the mighty Hebrew slumbered, and was shorn of his strength. Christians cannot but know under what circumstances their religion rose and prospered; and if they examine with candour, they will perceive the causes and awful effects of the deplorable apostasy of the church, in the abandonment of her meek and humble character, and resort to war and bloodshed. Whether she can re-assume the white robes of innocence, meekness, and peace, which at first covered her with glory and beauty, without again tasting the bitter cup of affliction and persecution, remains to be determined by experiment. "Many persons in various parts of these States, have lately, as by a simultaneous influence, adopted the pacific system, under circumstances which seem to evince general and predisposing causes; as when you see flowers in one place you may expect to find them in another, because they indicate the arrival of the vernal season. In the state of the political world, there is a tendency to pacific principles. The demonstration of the folly of ambition, cannot well be carried higher than it recently has been; the mischief and misery attending the spirit of war, can hardly be more fully displayed than they now are, nor the blessings of peace be rendered more acceptable and grateful to the nations. "The state of the moral world, too, is no less conducive to pacific results. The progress of knowledge, civilization, and refinement, has dissipated errors coeval with the existence of society. The chains of slavery are broken, and liberty of conscience now prevails. Reason and philanthropy have softened even the savage features of war, and rendered the inverted ambition of conquerors odious. "And in the religious world, general expectation, founded on sacred prediction, and justified by events of an universal nature, is ready to seize on every indication of an approaching period of peace, prosperity, and glory, to the church of Christ." That such tendencies, for the last seven years, to pacific measures, have been in operation, inust be evident from the existence, and flourishing state, of the London, Bath, Bristol, Southampton, Plymouth, Stockton, Swansea, Perth and Glasgow, Transatlantic Peace Societies: and those of Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, Ohio, and North Carolina: not to notice a pacific society, of high respectability in the capital of France, nor similar institutions in the Canadies and Nova Scotia. That societies which have for their object the promotion of peace, on Scriptural principles, may be multiplied in their number, and enlarged. in their borders, until they fill the earth, must be the fervent prayer of every real disciple and consistent follower of Jesus Christ. Indeed sound policy, it is believed by this Society, would lead every rational creature, and especially the sovereigns, and other chief members of the human family, to combine their sincere endeavours, and employ a liberal portion of their resources, in rendering themselves and the common people secure and happy, by extending, without further delay, to the uttermost parts of the earth, the dominion of permanent Peace. Christians, consistently with their profession, can by no means remain inactive under a conviction of the unutterable evils of war; but must in all countries, zealously unite their talents, their influence, and their exertions, to disseminate pacific principles, and hasten the arrival of that glorious period, when the nations shall for ever abandon war; and whatever diversity of sentiments may prevail, in the community, respecting the lawfulness or expediency of war, in conceivable circumstances, they earnestly invite the co-operation of all who are friendly to their general design of promoting peace and good-will among men of all nations. It is believed by many, that the set time to favour Zion has arrived. "The flowers appear on the earth, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our world." Under these auspicious circumstances, in reliance for aid on their gracious Prince, the Pennsylvania Peace Society agree to co-operate with all pacific characters, in the promotion of peace, at home and abroad, on the principles of the following Constitution. Art. 1. This Society shall be named The Pennsylvania Peace Society. II. It shall consist of persons of both sexes, who believe that the Scriptures are the only rule of faith and practice, that Jesus Christ is the Head of the church, and Head over all things to the church-and that war is inconsistent with his precepts and examples. III. The officers of this Society to be chosen annually by a majority of the Members present, shall be a President; not less than three, nor more than seven, Vice Presidents; two Recording, and two Corresponding Secretaries; and a Treasurer; who, with fifteen other Members, to be chosen at the same time, shall form a Board of, not less than twenty-six, nor more than thirty Managers, seven of whom, including the President, or one of the Vice-Presidents, and either of the Recording Secretaries, shall be a quorum for business. For a correct statement of the number of Peace Societies in Great Britain, see the list of them prefixed to this Report, |