stitutions, express their united and deliberate conviction; men who are willing to devote a portion of their time and influence to the prevention of vice and misery and the promotion of virtue, piety, and hap. piness. The united opinions of such men, engaged in such a cause, are surely entitled to more than ordinary respect and attention. We read over the Articles of Associa

↑tion twice with a view to leave out such as would be less interesting to readers in general; but considering that societies of this kind will be formed, as it is earnestly hoped, in many other places, and it will be desirable that the public should have several complete mod. els before them, we have concluded to print the whole. The Address on the subject of visiting the Post Office on the Sabbath is worthy of particular consideration. Dur readers will do us the justice to remember, that we have repeatedly called their attention to the terrible inroad upon the sanctity of the Sabbath, which has been made by carrying the mails and keeping open post offices on that sacred day,

Unless the friends of virtue and

piety unite to uphold all our good institutions, and to stem the torrents of ungodliness, the public observation of the Lord's day by the mass of the people will cease in the course of a few years, and

Christian institutions will be hon ored by a small remnant only, in the midst of a nation of practical, if not avowed, infidels. Now is the time for union and exertion in the cause of God and man; if the truly wise and patriotic wait much longer in silence, all attempts at resisting vice and impiety will be vain and unavailing. ED. PAN.

The following is the Preamble to the Newburyport Society for suppressing Vice and Immorality..

A survey of the moral state of the community, and of the aspects of Providence, cannot fail to excite in the serious mind, the most painful emotions. On the one hand we perceive a rap

themselves.

Believing in the moral gov ernment of God, and in the truth of his word, we of course believe, that our sufferings and our sins have a connexion; and that all hope of relief from the one without an abandonment of the other, would be irrational and absurd. wa

At such a crisis, the Christian and the patriot have much to do. Whether we love God or our country, whether we regard the best interests of the present age, or of posterity, we must realize an imperious call to awake, and and our means, in opposing the to act; to employ our faculties progress of evils so alarmings in supporting the majesty of the laws and suppressing, as far as practicable, every species of im morality and licentiousness..

Influenced by these considerations, and anxious to promote these great objects, the undersigned have determined to form themselves into a "Society for suppressing Vice and Immorality;" a Society in which, as they fondly hope, the friends of order, of virtue, and religion, however distinguished in other respects, will delight to combine, as a band of brothers, in support of a cause dear to all their hearts and claiming all their exertions.

While we thus engage to reprove and discountenance the faults and vices of others, we

would be far from forgetting that we have much to lament, and to reform in ourselves. We hope ever to regard this association as a special bond to personal circumspection and virtue: and we explicitly engage, that if any of us shall be found offending in the modes hereafter pointed out, we will hold ourselves subject to the same rebukes and animadversions which are, in similar cases, to be administered to others.

Conscious that all human designs and efforts, without the smiles of Heaven, must prove abortive, we would commend our association, and request every friend of God and man to commend it, to the Divine protection and blessing.

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION.

1. The object of this society is the suppression of vice and immorality, together with the encouragement of reformation and virtue. The accom plishment of this design is to be sought by admonition and persuasion, and by promoting a faithful execution of the laws.

2. There shall be annually chosen, by ballot, a Chairman, Clerk, Treas urer, and twelve others, all of whom shall constitute a Committee to con duct the business of the society; who shall meet at least once in three months, and oftener if necessary. At any meeting duly notified, five shall form a quorum,

3. Each member shall hold himself bound to endeavor, by counsel, persuasion, and warning, or by other kind and prudent methods to reclaim the vicious, and call the attention of the careless and immoral, to their du ty. He shall likewise prudently endeavor, by his own example and advice, to discourage the improper use of ardent spirits, within the sphere of his influence.

4. When persuasion, reproof, and other measures of caution and lenity circumstances shall require it, we shall prove ineffectual, or when any will aid the tythingmen, and all other legal officers, in bringing the vicious and disorderly to justice.

5. It shall be the duty of those members of the society, who are youth, to keep them from such places, parents, or guardians of children and and such company, as might be in. strumental to the corruption of their minds and morals.

6. Each member shall deem it his duty to communicate to the committee, so far as may be needful and convenient, such violations of the Lord's day, and such instances of profane cursing, swearing, gambling, and excessive drinking, as shall come to his knowledge. He shall take particular notice of improper conduct in cellars, and of the venders of strong the keepers of victualling houses and drink; to the end that the means of intemperance may be withheld from the youth and from persons notoriously irregular. The members shall likewise actually concur with the committee and tythingmen, in suppressing irregularities on the Lord's day, and at other seasons of public worship; not only during divine ser vice, but before and after it.

7. The committee shall pay a compassionate attention to the case of those youth, of either sex, who from poverty, or other causes, may be growing up in habits of idleness and vice; and shall endeavor to rescue them from ruin, either by recom mending them to the care of the proper authorities, or hy appropriating to their relief, instruction, and reforma tion, such portions of the society's funds, as they shall judge expedient.

8. If a member or members, not exceeding five at a time, shall wish to attend the meetings of the committee, for the purpose of communicating information or advice, full liberty for the purpose shall be granted.

9. The committee shall have power to appoint such sub committees as may be necessary to effectuate the designs of the institution.

Should

they, for this purpose, appoint mem. bers of the society, not of their own body, such members shall, unless excused, discharge the duties thus assigned them.

10. The committee shall supply all vacancies which may happen, during the year, in their board, and in all sub-committees of their appointment.

11. There shall be a standing subcommittee, whose duty it shall be to solicit additions to the number of the society, from among the friends of virtue and order.

12. As idleness is an avenue to every vice, and industry a principal assistant and guard to virtue, t'ere shall be a standing sub committee for discovering and devising means to af. ford employment to the poor; particularly those of virtuous character, or in whom may appear auspicious symptoms of reformation from vice.

13. As the funds of the society may admit, the committee shall have power to procure and distribute such well written pamphlets, or small treatises, as may be peculiarly cal culated to promote the designs of the institution.

14. Any person disposed to aid in promoting the objects of the society, shall, on subscribing these articles,

become a member.

16. Any member, wishing to withdraw from the society, may do it at pleasure, provided he signify his intention to the clerk.

17. The officers of the society shall be chosen at the annual meet. ing, ou such day of the first week in July, as the chairman of the commit. tee for the time being, shall direct. Notice thereof shall be given by the Clerk, in the newspaper or newspa pers printed at Newburyport, seven days at least, previous to the meeting. Occasional meetings may be called by the Committee, or, on application of seven members of the so. Liety, by the Clerk; notice to be giv.

en as before mentioned.

18. The clerk shall register the names of the members of the society. He shall attend the meetings of the society, and of the committee, and keep a fair record of their respec tive proceedings.

19. The treasurer shall keep an accurate account of all monies received by him for the society, and of all monies paid by order of the com. mittee; and shall render an account of his dolngs, and of the state of the funds, whenever required by the So ciety, or the Committee.

20. The society shall have power, at any regular meeting, to dismiss any member, whose conduct is man. ifestly unfriendly to the design of the institution.

21. These articles shall be subject to revision and alteration. They may be altered at any annual meeting, by a vote embracing a majority of the members present.

Newburyport, Dec. 17, 1812.

ADDRESS

To the citizens of Newburyport and its vicinity; especially such as are parents or guardians of youth.

Fellow Citizens and Friends,

THE SOCIETY FOR THE SUP PRESSION OF VICE AND IMMO

* RALITY are constrained to notice, among the evils of the times, the prevalent practice of visiting or sending to the Post Office on the Sabbath. By many the practice has probably been adopted without a due consideration of its na

ture and tendency. For who, that seriously reflects, can doubt its opposition, both to the spiria and letter of the divine command? And who, that carefully peruses the Scriptures, can fail to observe the frequency and solemnity of their injunctions respecting the Sabbath?

The fact is, that under the wise constitution of heaven, the Sabbath is the principal support. and guard of all the best inters

ests of man. On its punctual and sacred observance, not only the piety and virtue of individuals, but the peace, the order and well being of communities, essentially depend. No sincere believer in the truth of the Bible, no careful observer of the ordinary causes of human events, can doubt, that wherever this day of holy rest is trampled on, there disorder and vice will triumph; there calamity and ruin are at the door.

It is time, then, to take the alarm. Well may we tremble for ourselves, for our children, for our land and nation; for the guilt of this sin lies heavy upon us. Can it be unnatural to apprehend that this sin, which has made such a rapid and unexampled progress among us within a few years, has had a special influence to bring down upon our country the distresses which it so deeply and extensively feels; distresses which, unless followed by a general repentance and reformation, may too probably be but a prelude to judg ments still more awful and desolating.

We intreat you, brethren, seriously to ponder these brief hints; and to suffer them to have that influence on your determinations and conduct, to which they are entitled. Every intention to interfere with the rights of individuals, or of families, we pointedly and solemnly disclaim. Nor do we, in the present instance, propose any sacrifices, either grievous in themselves, or of doubtful obligation. Occasions for visiting the post office on the Sabbath, such as are stamped with clear and pressing necessi

ty, if they occur at all, must be extremely rare. If such occasions arise, let them be considered as exempt cases; altogether distinct from those of ordinary occurrence. And let each individual pursue the dictates of an enlightened and faithful conscience, on the subject. But in respect to all other cases, let us unitedly determine, that we will neither go nor send to the post office on the Lord's day, nor encourage any one, over whom we have influence, to visit it. Thus will a speedy period be put to the spectacle, exhibited for months and years past, of crowds assembled, on every returning Sabbath, at this scene of business and amusement--a spectacle unworthy a Christian people, wounding to every pious heart, polluting to the minds and morals of the community, and destructive to the souls of the rising generation.

ADDRESS

To the venders of Spirituous-
Liquors.

The committee appointed by the "Society for the suppression of vice and immorality,” being anxious to use all means to effect the objects of the association, esteem it their duty to address you, as a vender of spirituous liquors, and to solicit your aid and co-operation with them, to carry into effect one of the most important articles of reform, contemplated by the society.

The committee therefore most earnestly request you to suspend, in future, the sale or supply of spirituous liquors, to all persons whom you may know, or are credibly informed, are in habits

of intemperance; and to all minors who may apply for them for their own use.

so nu

The evils which result from excessive drinking are merous, that a volume might be filled with them suffice it to say, the following are among the most prominent, which result from this practice: the mind and conscience become seared: religion and morals decline; reputation and respectability are lostand idleness, poverty, and disgrace follow in their train.

It frequently happens that even the food, fuel, and clothing, but sparingly provided for a family, or collected in charity from a benevolent public, are either sold or exchanged for ardent spirits, while the dependent and helpless are left to suffer hunger and cold.

For your information and direction, the laws of the Commonwealth are herewith published. Each member of the Society will feel it a duty incumbent on him to see these laws carried into full effect.

Should there be any person, or persons, among us, who disregard or abuse them, the committee request you to lend your aid in bringing them to justice. They likewise entreat you to guard against every, violation of these laws, not only as they regard excessive drinking, but gambling, keeping open house, on forbidden days, or at unseasonable hours, or entertaining the youth of the town and vicinity, who may resort to your house for the purpose of spending idle time with their associates: as this practice is often productive of the most unhappy effects on the morals of young men; and thus extends its bane

THE present state of morals in this town, especially among the youth, and the temptations to vice, which, from several causes, have been lately multiplied among us, obviously and loudly call for the peculiar and combined efforts of all good citizens, in the use of all prudent and proper means, to reform the morals of this community, and guard the rising generation against the dangers and vices which surround them.

Deeply impressed with these truths, and willing and desirous to contribute our individual and joint influence to effect these important objects, we, the subscribers, agree to associate for this purpose under the name hereafter mentioned; and for the guidance and regulation of our conduct to adopt the following

'CONSTITUTION.

Art. 1. The name of this association shall be The Charlestown Association for the Reformation of Morals.

2. The specific object of the