of justice, charity and peace, is "the only means of consolidating human institutions and remedying their imperfections." But alas for the nations, whose rulers have yet to learn these important lessons by further experience in the horrible school of war ! CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE MASSACHUSETTS PEACE SOCIETY AND THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA AND PRINCE GALITZIN. SIR, From the Corresponding Secretary to the Emperor. Brighton, (near Boston,) April 9, 1817. THE friendly disposition which you have manifested in favour of the christian religion and the peace of the world has encouraged this address. The very week in which the Holy League of the three sovereigns was officially announced in Russia, a society was formed in Boston, by the name of the Massachusetts Peace Society,-the object of which is to disseminate the very principles avowed in the wonderful alliance, and to do whatever may lawfully be done to prevent the recurrence of war, and to promote peace on earth and good will among men. I take the liberty to present a copy of all the publications which have been circulated by the society. From these you may obtain information of the state of the society, the number of its members at the close of the first year, and its prospects, The first Annual Report, and the list of officers and members, are contained in the seventh Number of the Friend of Peace. Many members have since been added a new society has been formed in the state of New-York. At least four Peace Societies have been organized in the United States-others are about forming. Besides these, we have in our country nearly one thousand congregations of Friends or Quakers, which we regard as so many Peace Societies by profession and practice. The pamphlets your Majesty will be pleased to accept, as a token of the veneration and esteem in which your character is held by the friends of peace in this country. In behalf of the Massachusetts Peace Society. NOAH WORCESTER, Corresponding Secry. His Majesty, Alexander, Emperor of all the Russias. SIR, The Emperor's Answer. YOUR letter in behalf of the Massachusetts Peace Society, with the books accompanying it, were received. The object which this Philanthropic Institution has in view, the dissemination of the principles of peace and amity among men, meets with my cordial approbation. My endeavours to promote peace and good will among the nations are already known; and the power and influence which Almighty God has committed to me, shall ever be employed, I trust, in striving to secure to the nations the blessings of that peace which they now enjoy. Considering the object of your Society, the promotion of peace among mankind, as one so eminently congenial to the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I have judged it proper to express these my sentiments respecting your labours, in answer to your communication to me on this subject. ALEXANDER.To the Rev. Noah Worcester, Sec. of the M. P. S. St. Petersburg, July 4, 1817. SIR, Letter to Prince Galitzin. Brighton, (near Boston,) April 9, 1817. YOUR name is known and revered in America as the President of the Russian Bible Society. The confidence which your excellent official letters have inspired, induces me to send for your perusal all the publications which have been circulated by the Massachusetts Peace Society. Similar copies will accompany these for your worthy Emperor. The noble ground which he has taken in the Holy League has greatly encouraged the hearts of the friends of peace in this country. As the pamphlets will give you information of the prospects of the Peace Society, I shall only express the hope which is entertained, that your name will be enrolled among the avowed friends of peace, and there shine with as great lustre as it has done among the Presidents of National Bible Societies. NOAH WORCESTER, Cor. Sec. Mass. Peace Society. His Excellency Prince Alexander Galitzin. SIR, Answer of Prince Galitzin. I RECEIVED your letter of the 9th April with the Numbers of the Friend of Peace accompanying it, by the hands of Mr. Parsons; for which I return you my hearty thanks. The object, which your society has in view, is of great importance to the well-being and happiness of the human race. Indeed, it seems to me to be almost the same as that of Bible Societies; for it is only in proportion as the divine and peaceable principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ prevail in the hearts of men, that lasting and universal peace can be expected. A blessed period is promised in the Word of God, when men shall learn the art of war no more. This period I understand to be the same as that in which, it is prophesied, that all men shall know the Lord, even from the least unto the greatest, and that the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord. These latter promises seem to be daily fulfilling, in every quarter of the world, by the exertion of Bible and other Christian Societies, to disseminate among men the saving and pacific principles of Jesus Christ. They are preparing the way for your society's gaining its object-peaceuniversal peace-when men shall learn the art of war no Most earnestly praying for every blessing to accompany your labour, in promoting peace on earth and good will among men, I shall reckon it a peculiar honour to be among the members of such a humane society. I remain, sir, your most obedient servant. PRINCE ALEXANDER GALITZIN. To the Rev. Noah Worcester, Sec, of the Mass. P. S.. LETTER FROM A PEACE SOCIETY IN LONDON TO THE CORRESPONDING SECRETARY OF THE PEACE SOCIETY. MASSACHUSETTS London, June 18, 1817. SIR, IT is with feelings of sincere pleasure that I address you on behalf of the Committee of the Peace Society established here, respecting the progress which has been made in this country in promoting the glorious object of that institution. For although hitherto their advance has been comparatively slow and silent, it has been uninterrupted, and the success which has crowned their endeavours, affords the delightful retrospection that they have not bestowed their labours in vain,-and, at the same time, acts as an incitement to continued and increasing exertion. From the short notice which I have had of the departure of the vessel which will convey this letter, it will be out of my power to do more than just to make you acquainted with some of the prominent features of our transactions, and thus to give a general view of the present state and future prospects of the Society. The sentiment of the entire incompatibility of war, under any circumstances, with the spirit of pure and undefiled Christianity, appears to be far more prevalent in this country than has been generally supposed; and the pres ent state of Europe, still bending under the accumulated miseries produced by the late protracted and destructive war, affords an opportunity the most favourable for the dissemination of that important principle. Four tracts have been already published, some of which have been through repeated editions, amounting altogether to 82,000 copies-besides 20,000 copies of an address explanatory of the views of the Society. It is most gratifying to add, that in several instances, the perusal of these publications has been followed by the full conviction of their truth and the avowed and unqualified adoption of similar sentiments. The disposition to assist in the circulation of the pacific principles of the gospel, has not been confined to the metropolis. A correspondence has been entered into with many individuals in different parts of the kingdom-whose communications have been expressive of their cordial approbation of the plan, and an anxious desire to contribute their active co-operation towards its advancement. Auxiliary Societies have consequently been projected or actually formed in several places. The translation of such of our tracts as shall be deemed most eligible, into the different European languages, is an object to which the Society look with peculiar interest; and preliminary steps have lately been taken by the Committee towards its speedy accomplishment. I cannot omit expressing to you the cordial interest and satisfaction with which the reports and other documents from the United States, on this delightful subject have been received, and our confident anticipation tha the simultane ous efforts of associations at so great a distance from each other-all tending to the same grand object, will be attend |