hensive: "Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth, as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." The doctrine of the immediate presence of Christ with his church, whether assembled for the purpose of divine worship, or for the transaction of its disciplinary affairs, is the foundasion of all its authority. It was on this ground that George Fox so often exhorted his fellowbelievers to hold their meetings in the power of the Lord; all waiting and striving to know Christ Jesus brought into dominion in their own hearts, and his Spirit leading and guiding them in their services, that so his living presence might be felt to preside over their assemblies. In a church thus gathered, we cannot doubt, that the gracious Head condescends to be in the midst, qualifying the members to worship the Father of spirits, in spirit and in truth, or enduing them with wisdom rightly to manage the business which may engage their attention. Nor can we question that so far as they are careful to act in his wisdom and under his direction, their conclusions, being in conformity with his will, have his authority for their sanction and support. The discipline of the Society of Friends, established in conformity with these views, embraces four grades of meetings, connected with, and dependent upon, each other. First, the preparative meetings receive and prepare the business for the monthly meetings, which are composed of one or more preparative meetings, and rank next in order above them; in these the executive! department of the discipline is chiefly lodged. | The third grade includes quarterly meetings, which consist of several monthly meetings, and exercise a supervisory care over them, examine into their condition, and advise or assist them as occasion may require; and lastly, the yearly meeting, which includes the whole, possesses exclusively the legislative power, and annually investigates the state of the whole body, which is brought before it by answers to queries, addressed to the subordinate meetings. In each preparative meeting there are usually two or more Friends of each sex, appointed as overseers of the flock, whose duty it is to take cognizance of any improper conduct in the members, and endeavor by tender and affectionate labor to convince the offender, and bring him to such a sense of his fault as may lead to sincere repentance and amendment. Violations of the discipline by members are reported by the overseers to the preparative meetings; and from thence, if deemed necessary, to the monthly meeting, where a committee is usually appointed to endeavor to convince and reclaim the delin quent; and if this desirable result is not produced, a minute is made declaring the disunity of the meeting with his conduct and with him, until he is brought to a sense of his error, and condemns it in a satisfactory manner. From the decision of a monthly meeting, the disowned person has the right of appeal to the quarterly meeting, and if that gives judgment against him, he may carry his case to the yearly meeting also, where it is finally determined. The women have also overseers, appointed to extend Christian care and advice to their own sex; and likewise preparative, monthly, quarterly and yearly meetings, in which they transact such business as relates to the good order and preservation of their members; but they take no part in the legislative proceedings of the society; and in difficult cases, or those of more than ordinary importance, they generally obtain the judgment of the men's meeting. There are also distinct meetings for the care and help of the ministry, composed of ministers and elders, the latter being prudent and solid members, chosen specially to watch over the ministers for their good, and to admonish or advise them for their help. In these meetings the men and women meet together; they are called meetings of ministers and elders, and are divided into preparative, quarterly and yearly. There are at present in the society ten yearly meetings of Friends, viz., London and Dublin, in Great Britain and Ireland. New England, held at Newport, Rhode Island; New York, held in that city; Pennsylvania and New Jersey, held in Philadelphia; Maryland, held in Baltimore; Virginia, held in that State, at Cedar Creek and Summerton, alternately; North Carolina, held at New Garden, in that State; Ohio, held at Mount Pleasant; and Indiana, held at Richmond in Wayne County. These include an aggregate of from one hundred and twenty to one hundred and fifty thousand members. The doctrines of the society may be briefly stated as follows: They believe in one only wise, omnipotent, and everlasting God, the Creator and upholder of all things, visible and invisible; and in one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, the mediator between God and man; and in the Holy Spirit which proceedeth from the Father and the Son; one God blessed forever. In expressing their views relative to the awful and mysterious doctrine of "the Three that bear record in heaven," they have carefully avoided the use of unscriptural terms, invented to define Him who is undefinable, and have scrupulously adhered to the safe and simple language of holy scripture, as contained in Matt. xxviii. 18-19, &c. They own and believe in Jesus Christ, the beloved and only begotten Son of God, who was conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary. In him we have redemption, through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins; [To be continued.) THE FIRST DAY SCHOOL ASSISTANT. who is the express image of the invisible God, | known by any power inferior to that of the Holy the first born of every creature, by whom all Spirit. things were created that are in heaven or in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, dominions, principalities or powers. They also believe he was made a sacrifice for sin, who knew no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth; that he was crucified for mankind, in the flesh, without the gates of Jerusalem; that he was buried, and rose again the third day, by the power of the Father, for our justification, and that he ascended up into heaven, and now sitteth at the right hand of God, our holy mediator, advocate and intercessor. They believe that he alone is the redeemer and saviour of man, the captain of salvation, who saves from sin as well as from hell and the wrath to come, and destroys the works of the devil. He is the Seed of the woman that bruises the serpent's head, even Christ Jesus, the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. He is, as the scriptures of truth say of him, our wisdom, righteousness, justification and redemption; neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we may be saved. The Society of Friends have uniformly declared their belief in the divinity and manhood of the Lord Jesus; that he was both true God and perfect man, and that his sacrifice of himself upon the cross was a propitiation and atonement for the sins of the whole world, and that the remission of sins which any partake of, is only in, and by virtue of, that most satisfactory sacrifice, and no otherwise. A pamphlet of 24 pages, with the above title, published by the Tract Association of Friends of New York, has recently fallen into the hands of the Editor of the Review. This work is understood to have been prepared by a valued Friend, whose productions have occasionally enriched the columns of this periodical; and are always received with satisfaction by the Editor. The following extracts from the pamphlet in question are offered to the readers of the Review, with a hope that they may encourage some parents who have their children yet about them, and in their minority, to imitate the example here presented to them. The writer of these hints has never heard of any one, whether a rejoicing believer, or a despairing sinner, that on a dying bed, in full view of the approaching realities of eternity, regretted having spent too much time in reading or studying the Bible, or having too highly esteemed its contents. But many have bitterly lamented, that in the season of health they had permitted worldly pursuits to exclude too much from their minds the knowledge of its inestimable truths. The things of eternity are greater than those of time, as the ocean exceeds a single drop; surprising indeed it then becomes, that any should be so engrossed with worldly pursuits, as to feel unable to devote a few hours weekly to the encouragement of their children, in the reading of the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make them "wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus." Friends believe also in the Holy Spirit, or Comforter, the promise of the Father, whom Christ declared he would send in his name, to lead and guide his followers into all truth, to teach them all things, and to bring all things to their remembrance. A manifestation of this Spirit they believe is given to every man to profit withal; that it convicts for sin, and, as at- There is no teaching so powerful as example. tended to, gives power to the soul to overcome Nearly all children, as they grow up, become and forsake it; it opens to the mind the myste- deeply interested in what they see engages the ries of salvation, enables it savingly to under- close attention of their parents. If, then, the stand the truths recorded in the holy scriptures, parent is occupied from morning till night, through and gives it the living, practical, and heartfelt each successive week, from one year to another, experience of those things which pertain to its in bringing all the powers of his mind to amassing everlasting welfare. They believe that the saving property, while the Bible is scarcely opened once knowledge of God and Christ cannot be attained a day,-what child observing this, would not, as in any other way than by the revelation of this a very natural consequence, become strongly imspirit; for the apostle says, "What man knoweth pressed with the belief, that money-making is the the things of a man, save the spirit of man which most important object of life? And thus, He, is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth in whose power is every breath we draw, and who no man, but the spirit of God. Now we have can destroy in one hour every hope of earthly enreceived not the spirit of the world, but the spi-joyment,is almost wholly cast out of remembrance! rit which is of God, that we might know the things which are freely given to us of, God." If, therefore, the things which properly appertain to man cannot be discerned by any lower principle than the spirit of man; those things, which properly relate to God and Christ, cannot be But if, on the other hand, the parent often resorts to the Scriptures as to the most interesting of all books, and if he takes every opportunity to interest his child, the result will be different. Numerous instances have occurred where an abundant blessing, even after years have been very spent in sin and corruption, has rested on the early and faithful labors of parents. teacher, having previously examined the lesson very thoroughly, asks from it such questions as Some years' experience in First-day schools, may be adapted to the capacity of the several puenables the writer to bear witness of their use- pils, (embracing the meaning even of the more fulness as an assistance to parents. In many in- common words, if the children are quite young,) stances lasting benefit has resulted from them. avoiding all doubtful explanation,-the object But if parents wish their children to become in- being to see whether they have read understandterested in them, they must themselves partici-ingly and remembered the contents of the lesson. pate in the exercises of them. If they manifest Sometimes the teacher will call their attention to indifference, and by their conduct declare that such passages as have particular excellence, force, the study of the Scriptures is matter of little im- or practical bearing, and when it appears useful This exercise constitutes the whole portance, they cannot reasonably expect that their to do so. offspring will pursue a different course. lesson of the simplest schools. After the school is in successful operation, a few other simple and interesting exercises may be added, which are described in another part of this little work. The school is closed for the day by reading a psalm or other portion of scripture, followed by a short and solemn pause. The whole occupies about an For the children of the Society of Friends, First-day schools appear to be especially necessary; for, unlike those of other societies, they are not taught by public lectures, and unless the means for making an early impression upon their minds are diligently used, a blessing can hardly be expected. Management of First-Day Schools.-Some persons, desirous of introducing the benefits of First-day schools into their respective neighborhoods, are at a loss to know how to proceed they feel incompetent for the undertaking, become discouraged, and the whole matter is given up. This ought not to be. From many years' observation, the writer is satisfied that far more depends on a real heartfelt interest and steady perseverance, even with very moderate natural or acquired abilities, than on the most brilliant qualifications without these requisites. If difficulties occur at first, faithful labor and diligent attention will gradually effect their removal. With the hope that some assistance may be afforded to the inexperienced, the following simple and brief description of the management of these schools is given, which may be varied according to circumstances. Weekly Schools. -In neighborhoods where those who attend do not live more than a mile from the school-house, (and for which purpose a meeting-house frequently answers well, an hour may be devoted each First-day afternoon, when, as is usually the case in the country, there are no afternoon meetings. A chapter is selected a week before for the lesson.* This the pupils are expected to read over once a day during the week, to become familiar with its contents. When the school assembles, it is divided into classes of 6 to 8 pupils each, and the superintendent opens the school by reading the selected chapter in a clear and distinct voice to the whole. The teacher of each class then takes his seat in front of the pupils, and each reads a verse aloud in rotation, the teacher reading with them, until the whole chapter is read, the classes being separated from each other by some space in the room, to prevent confusion. They then close their books, and the If the school contains quite young children, the most simple and interesting historical parts should be chosen, as, the four Gospel histories, the Acts, the Book of Daniel, the History of Joseph, &c. hour. The following very simple examples will show the mode of questioning the pupils, the second chapter of Matthew constituting the lesson : For very young Children.-Where was Jesus born? Was Bethlehem a city or a country? What is a city? Did any of you ever see a city? Who was king at that time? What is a king? What was Jerusalem? Where did the wise men come from? Can you all point towards the East? For whom did they inquire? For more advanced Children.-The more simple of the preceding questions should be omitted, and such as the following may be added to the others :-Was the kingdom of Jesus to be an earthly kingdom, like that of other kings? (see John xviii. 56.) What is the meaning of Jesus? (see Mat. i. 21.) By what other name was Bethlehem called? (Luke ii. 4.) Who was born at Bethlehem before our Saviour? (Dan. xvi. 1.) What was the prophecy that the scribes referred to, relative to the birth-place of our Saviour? (Micah. v. 2.) To keep a school on this plan, it is not only needful that teachers should devote a considerable portion of time and thought to each lesson, in order to make it plain and interesting to the children, but that parents should co-operate by encouraging their children to study at home, and to attend regularly. Visits from the teachers to the parents may have an encouraging effect, and this labor will not seem too great to those who feel the importance of these early influences on the minds of children-serving, as they frequently do, to shape their course towards a useful and virtuous life. If a small library can be procured, it will serve as an additional attraction to the children, the books to be lent to the scholars for a week at a time. The books should be numbered, and when taken out, recorded, with the names of the persons taking them, in an account book or register, to prevent mistakes or loss. Monthly Schools.-These are quite different from weekly schools, and are well adapted to every meeting or neighborhood of Friends, where there are either few or many children or young people, who may live several miles distant from each other. The writer, having had many years' experience in connexion with monthly schools, has found the following mode of conducting them the most attractive and interesting, at the same time that they have proved eminently useful. The lessons and exercises are all learned or prepared at home, during the intervals between the schools; and hence the necessity of the hearty co-operation of parents in assisting and encouraging their children. Where parents have learned the lessons, and regularly attended and recited with their children, the interest of both has been kept up in a remarkable degree. The writer has witnessed an interesting example of the encouraging influence of parents in thus participating, in the mother of several children, who, under much difficulty, and in all kinds of weather, has for years attended without an omission, with her children, and taken part in the exercises. Others have done nearly the same. It is only when parents attempt to send their children, without taking the trouble to attend themselves, that a want of interest is manifested. Monthly schools are occupied with several exercises. The first is the recitation of the principal lesson, committed to memory. This lesson, which each pupil copies into a small blank book, is made up of Scripture passages on some subject, or in answer to some question, previously selected for the purpose; for example, "What passages exhort us to love one another?" or, "What is our duty to our enemies?" &c. Parents and others often assist the children in selecting passages in answer. The recitation of these is always interesting, and is made more so by the several grown persons connected with the class. If there are not more than twenty or twenty-five in the school, they need not be divided, but recite in the presence of the whole. If larger, division will be necessary. The answers given by different children present a very agreeable variety, and the lessons are long or short according to the capacity of the pupils. When this exercise is finished, each pupil in turn reads a written answer to a question, a suitable number of which had been distributed at the previous school, written on slips of paper, and containing a reference where to find the answer. These questions are prepared each month by the superintendent, or other persons appointed for the purpose, and the answers are usually some striking or memorable passage. The third exercise consists of verbal questions, selected promiscuously by any present, from all parts of the Bible, and asked without any regard to regular order, as each may choose. If no one present can answer, the answer is given by the person proposing the question. They are usually selected beforehand, and are of such a character as have short answers. If the school is large, the pupils rise on asking them. After the completion of this exercise, a new subject is given out for the next general lesson (to commit to memory)-questions on slips of paper for written answers are next distributed -a select portion of Scripture is read by the superintendent, and, after a short solemn pause, the school closes. KANE'S ARCTIC EXPEDITION. A letter from Dr. Kane, giving the experiences of the Arctic Expedition under his command, up to July 20, has kindly been communicated to us. It is the first letter received from him since the expedition sailed, and is written in a hopeful and encouraging spirit. The gallant commander describes a calm of twelve days' duration, which came over them, and they lay almost still, ancient mariner-like, like a painted ship upon a painted ocean. This calm began on the 30th of June. Then a stiff breeze set in from the South, hauling shorewards, and sending them on at the rate of eight knots an hour. During the calm, Commander Kane had sent into Sukkertoppen and laid in a good supply of reindeer-skins, filling at the same time his watercasks. At the rate he was going, he expected to make Liefly the night he was writing, and Proven in two days more. The north-westers, he thought, must have cleared the ice from Melville Bay, and if the wind hauled a little more to the eastward, the ice would not drive back again. The Commander then proceeds to describe his procedures for undertaking a sledge journey. It was his intention to remain in the brig as long as possible, seeking a harbor on the eastern side of Smith's Sound. The moment the vessel comes to anchor he will leave Olsen, a trustworthy man, in charge, to prepare for winter quarters, drop his whale-boat with himself, the Esquimaux and seven men, and take advantage of inshore tideleads to continue his journey to the north. The Commander describes particularly the amphibious qualities of the boat-for water or ice-together with her provisions for ninety days, exclusive of forty days for her crew. The object of this is to establish a depot in the autumn months, before the full setting in of winter, a matter which the Commander thinks perfectly practicable, though not yet undertaken by the English explorers. He anticipates that his return to the brig will probably be during the solemn darkness of the winter night; but apart from the novelty and excitement of such a journey, the moon in her high northern declination will come in at the very nick of time, becoming circumpolar on the 13th October and November, and giving twelve days of unbroken light. With the aid of lunars, and constantly recurring meridian observations of the stars, no dan ger of losing his way was apprehended. The Commander had been laboriously occupied in fitting out for this journey. Upon establishing the depot to serve as a provisioning centre for after operations, he hoped to return to the brig afoot, leaving the boat in case of finding the open water, by which he trusted to be able to follow the traces or direction of the missing ships. His next journey would not take place until the return of light, as a few weeks' rest would be essential. "I will try her again, said I, "this may be a chance shot," and remarked in reference to a field of ploughed ground we were passing, that it broke in great lumps, and could hardly be put in good tilth. "We have much clay land like this," she replied, "and formerly it was difficult to cultivate it in a tillage crop, but since the introduction of Croskill's Patent Clod Crusher, they will make the most beautiful tilth on these lands, and which are now regarded as among our best wheat lands." Dr. Kane had obtained, during the calm, sev- The conversation turned on cattle; she spoke eral observations as to the position of the coast of the best breeds of Cows for the pail, (the Ayrline of Greenland between Fishernaer and Suk- shires and Devons,) told me where the best kertoppen, a distance of 140 miles. These de- Cheese was made-Cheshire-the best butter terminations show that the coast line upon the -Ireland-where the best milk-maids were to Danish charts of Graah, as well as those of the be found-Wales-" Oh !" said I, "I was misEnglish and the late Expedition, is nearly an taken; this charming, intelligent woman, acting entire degree of longitude too much to the west-so natural and unaffected, dressed so neat and so ward. He removes it some 26 miles to the east- very plain, must be a farmer's wife, and what a ward-an important change in the axis of Baf-help-mate he has in her?-She is not an extravafin's Bay.-N. Y. Tribune. ENGLISH LADIES AND AGRICULTURE. As showing the interest English Ladies take in Agriculture, I cannot but relate a casual interview I chanced to have with an English lady, in going up in the express train from London to York. Her husband had bought a book at the stand as we were about starting, and remarked to her that "it was one of her favorite American Authors-Hawthorn." I casually observed, "I was pleased to see young American authors found admirers with English ladies," when the conversation turned on books and authors. But I said to myself pretty soon, "this is a literary lady-probably her husband is an Editor or Reviewer, and she handles the scissors' for him; at all events I must retreat from this discussion about authors, modern poets, and poetry. What should a farmer know critically of such things. If I was only in those fields-if the conversation could be made to turn on crops, or cattle, then I should feel quite at home." I finally pointed out a field of wheat, and remarked it was very fine. The lady carefully observing it, said: "Sir, I think it is too thin-a common fault this season, as the seeding was late;" "those drills," she added, turning to her husband for his confirmation, "cannot be more than ten inches apart, and you see, sir, the ground is not completely covered twelve, and even fifteen inches is now preferred for the width of drills, and two bushels of seed to the acre will then entirely cover the ground, on good land, so you can hardly distinguish the drills." If the Goddess of Ceres had appeared with her sheaf, or her cornucopia, I could not have been taken more by surprise. A lady descanting on the width of wheat drills, and the quantity of seed! gant wife either, not an ornament about heryes, a single bracelet clasps a fair rounded arm -that's all." The train stopped at York; no sooner had my travelling companions stepped upon the platform, than I noticed they were surmaids-the men in full livery. It turned out rounded by half a dozen servants-men and to be Sir John and Lady H. This gentleman I learned was one of the largest landed proprietors in Berkshire, and his lady the daughter of a Nobleman, a Peeress in her own right; but her title added nothing to her, she was a noble woman without it.-Holcomb's Address to the Md. State Ag. Society. MINERAL CANDLES. There is a quarry about twelve miles to the west of Edinburgh, in the immediate neighborhood of a picturesque group of trap-rocks, known as the Binney Crags. The quarry itself is of white sandstone, but there rests immediately above it a thick bed of dark-colored shale, over which the hot trap must of old have flowed, and which was subjected in consequence to a sort of natural distillation. The distilled substance, shut very closely up, found its way into the crevices of the white stone beneath, and in these crevices the quarriers now find it. It exists as a light, waxy matter, varying in color in the mass from that of gamboge to that of dark amber-melts at nearly the same temperature as bees-wax, which it equals in hardness--and burns with a bright flame; and many years ago the quarriers employed at the work, struck by its peculiar qualities, learned to convert it into very darkcolored candles, which, though rather smoky, gave not a bad light, and which were occasionally purchased from them as objects of curiosity, but much oftener consumed in their cottages. There, however, the thing rested; and in vain, for aught |