tion affords, in order to facilitate the general plan, by consolidating in different parts of the union a combination of effort and interest sufficient to establish a lasting and uniform peace-which will, I believe, at no distant period be seen to tranquillize the world."

From a Merchant in the Province of New-Brunswick. Sept. 17, 1817.

"REV. SIR,

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"SOME months since a friend put into my hands some pamphlets entitled the Friend of Peace. In one of which, No. 4, is announeed the formation of a Peace Society in BosI take the liberty, though a stranger, to address myself to you as Corresponding Secretary.

ton.

"The writings of the Friend of Peace and the professed objeets of the Peace Society are entirely in unison with my feelings and my views; and I do most heartily wish that their labours in that best of causes,-for it is the cause of religion and of God-may be successful. Happy should I be were it in my power in any measure to aid in that good work.

"From the time I first felt the gracious influence of the gospel of peace upon my heart, which is upwards of twenty years past, I have considered wars and fightings as contrary to the genius and spirit of Christianity. It has been a subject of my daily prayers to God that Peace and Love might become universal and perpetual; and I have been looking forward with humble confidence and hope to that time when swords shall be beat into ploughshares and spears into pruning-hooks-and when men shall not learn war any more. I please myself with the delightful prospect, and hope that the day thus spoken of is now gloriously dawning upon the world. "The bearer of this will deliver to you, or to whomsoever you shall direct, 84 towards aiding the purposes of the Society. You can send me by him such end so many books as the nature of your rules will admit. The last upon the subject which I have seen is No. 6 of the Friend of Peace.

"A line from you giving a view of the present state and prospects of the Society would also be considered a very

great favour, as I always will feel a most lively interest in the cause of Peace and Love. Had I abilities for the work, most gladly would I employ them to encourage the Friends of Peace to double their diligence and to hope to the end for that larger measure of grace which is yet to be revealed, which shall slay the enmities and evil passions of the hearts of men and which shall bring every thing into subjection and obedience to the will of Christ. I am, Rev. Sir, respectfully yours.

It may be worthy of notice that the two letters, one from Virginia and the other from New-Brunswick, were written at more than a thousand miles distant from each other, on the same day, with apparently the same spirit and for the same object.

As the letter from New-Brunswick was from a respectable MERCHANT, we may hope that other merchants will examine the subject and follow his example. O how desirable that the peace between the United States and the British Provinces should never again be interrupted! How horrible that brethren thus situated and in the habits of friendship should be called upon by governments to murder one another!

From a gentleman in the District of Maine to one of the Trustees of the Massachusetts Peace Society.

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"I FEEL grateful that a Peace Society is established—1 feel grateful that its interests are in so good hands-And above all, I feel grateful for the assurances I have that the Prince of Peace, the glorious Emmanuel, is affording to such associations and efforts the smiles of benignity and the indications of his love.

"From the earliest notice of such a Society in Massachusetts, I have cherished the hope, that Christians in vast numbers, both clergy aad laity, would, as eircumstances and distances would allow, associate, organize and march under the banners of the great Captain of our salvation, to promote peace on earth and good will towards men. The christian world is wakeful and active in the cause of Zion. It cannot be indifferent to principles and interests so closely connected, and so manifestly incorporated with its welfare."

COMPLAINT OF POETICAL TALENTS MISAPPLIED.
"Long have the Muses seen their sacred lays
Debas'd-and mourn'd their prostituted praise,
Which lavish strews the bloody Hero's hearse
And paints the murderer in immortal verse :
While silent virtue's peaceful Hero dies,
The friend of man, the favourite of the skies,
With not a Bard the fatal blow to mourn
And not a Bay to shade his hallow'd Urn.
O would their true-born sons direct their art
To warm the soul, to fire the gen❜rous heart,
Present their incense at a worthy shrine,
And give to verse its dignity divine !
"False glory, fierce as lightning from the skies,
Darts from on high, and flashes on our eyes,
Kills while it shines, so furious is the blaze,
Trembling we wonder, and with terror gaze.
But peaceful virtue's ever gentle light,
Serene as Cynthia, and as Phœbus bright,
Diffuses round one calm unclouded day,
We feel the friendly warmth, and bless the ray.*

It is hoped that some humane poet will take up ment contained in these lines, and expose more fully the perthe sentinicious influence of war poetry. It is a scandal to Christians that so many professed disciples of the Prince of Peace have employed the charms of poetry to embellish war,

"And paint the murderer in immortal verse."

This was the policy of pagan bards, and its effects have been terrible. It is time that those who profess to be followers of Christ should either cease to be Pagans in practice, or renounce the name of Christians. If poets had taken as much pains to render war infamous and abhorrent, as they have to render it glorious and popular, they would probably have been instrumental in saving fifty millions of men from perishing by murderous hands.

Milton, in the following lines, represents Michael as predieting to Adam the madness of his posterity:

"In those days might only shall be admir'd

And valour and heroic virtue call'd:

To overcome in battles and subdue

Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite
Manslaughter, shall be held the highest pitch
Of human glory ;-and for glory done
Of triumph, to be styled conquerors,
Patrons of mankind, gods and sons of gods."

Such for ages has been the popular ereed respecting war, avlourand glory. To excite and cherish such sentiments have been the objects of war poetry; but all who thus prostitute their talents may justly be regarded as accessaries, if not principals in the murder of mankind.

From a Poem by H— M~, on the death of Dr. Doddridge.

HYMN-By N. Deering, Esq.

AWAKE the song that gave to earth
Salvation in Emanuel's birth;

Angelic tongues the strain began

'Twas Peace on Earth, good will to man.
Celestial Peace! and is it ours

To strike the harp on Salem's tow'rs?
To welcome back the Dove that brings
The balm of healing in her wings?

She comes! and lo the orphan's wail
No longer loads the passing gale;
Contentment sheds her sacred calm,
And Nature owns the sovereign charm.
She comes and banner, spear and plume
That led to conquest and—the tomb,
Wreath'd with the olive now adorn
The triumphs of the joyous morn.

She comes! and with attentive ear
The gospel's sound the heathen hear;
Round blood-stain'd altars throng no more,
But suppliant bow and God adore.

Father, if such the bliss that flows
Where PEACE delights to seek repose,
On earth may she forever rest
Each bosom with her presence blest.

*This Hymn was composed for the Meeting of the Peace Socie ty of Maine.

OBITUARY.

In this work we shall record the deaths of the Members of the M. P. S. so far as information shall be obtained...

Died at Hollis, N. H. Noah Worcester, Esq. aged 82.

At Salem, John Jenks, Esq.

The friends of peace have also been called to lament the loss of one of their ablest writers, though not of the M. P.S. We feel authorized to state that the Letters of PHILADELPHUS to "Caleb Strong, Esq." were written by the Rev. Samuel Whelpley, who recently died at New-York. These Letters will long remain a monument of strong mental powers employed in a good cause. The death of such a writer is a public calamity. There is, however, this source of consolation,-that he who formed the mind of Mr. Whelpley is able to prepare others to supply his place.

NOTICE.

THE Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Peace Society will have occasion to form a Report of their doings and of the state of the Society early in December. The several Agents and all who have names of new Subscribers are requested to forward them soon, either to the Treasurer or to the Corresponding Secretary.

THE

FRIEND OF PEACE.

No. XI.

ADDRESS

Of the Honourable Thomas Dawes to the Massachusetts Peace Society, at their Second Anniversary, December 25, 1817.

We are told by unbelievers that it is in the very nature of prophecy to fulfil itself: Meaning, I suppose, that as mankind are prone to admire the marvellous, so they are always inclined to verify the predictions of antiquity. But how can that impair the evidence of their divine origin? Their omniscient Author, foreknowing the natural disposition of his intelligent creatures, or having constructed them to promote the objects of his wisdom, might have directed their instrumentality in bringing to pass what He had ordained from the beginning of the world. By a comparison of profane with sacred writings it appears that some men are commissioned to execute the orders of Providence, without their own knowledge and contrary to their own intentions; whilst others are the conscious and obedient messengers of the Eternal Will.

In the fulness of military power, at the head of the vetéran legions of Rome, Titus had determined to spare the temple of the Jews, as an exception from the general ruin that awaited them, and as a lasting memorial of the victor's clemency. But his besieging cohorts commenced its destruction, and he was soon impelled, though