association shall be, in the use of all lawful and prudent means, to discountenance and suppress vice and wickedness generally, and to promote Christian virtue and morality; particularly shall it be their object to discountenance and suppress, especially in the youth, the prevailing vices of idleness, falsehood, disobedience to parents, gaming of every species, intemperance, profanity, dishonesty, and Sabbath-breaking, and the vices immediately connected with these; and to promote generally the opposite and corresponding virtues; and also to give aid and countenance to magistrates, in the execution of the good and wholesome laws of the land against vice and immorality. And we hereby engage by divine aid, individually to avoid these vices ourselves, to suppress and guard against them in our families, and to exert our inAuence, in union with the members of this association, for the like purpose, in reference to all others within the sphere of this association. 3. There shall be a meeting of this association, at such place as the Standing Committee shall appoint, on the third Wednesday of April annually, at which time the officers herein after named shall be chosen in such manner as the association shall direct; and an appropriate discourse connected with the immediate objects of the association delivered by a member previously designated by ballot for that service. All meetings of this asso. ciation and of the standing committee shall be opened with prayer. In all meetings of the association twenty, and in all meetings of the standing committee five, members present shall constitute a quorum to do business; except at the annual meeting for the choice of officers, when thirty members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. 4. The officers of this association shall be a Chairman, Clerk, Treasurer, and a Standing Committee of twenty-four members. The three first officers shall be, of course, members of the Standing Committee. 5. The Chairman shall preside in all meetings of the association, and of the standing committee, and with the concurrence of any five of the committee may call a special meeting of the association. In the absence of the Chairman, the senior member of the standing committee present shall take the chair; or, if he decline, such other member of the committee, as they shall appoint. 6. The Clerk shall keep a fair record of the doings of the association, and of the standing committee, and shall notify all meetings of the association and of the committee, in such manner as the committee shall direct. 7. The Standing Committee shall meet monthly, on the evening of the first Wednesday in every month. It shall be their business to execute such measures, as the association may from time to time adopt for the accomplishment of their objects; and to do all other things necessary in their judgment fully to effect the important design of the association; and they shall make report of their proceedings at every annual meeting, and oftener if required. 8. All expenses, which the association may think proper to incur, shall be defrayed by voluntary contribution of its members to be made at any general meeting. The sums contributed shall be deposited with the Treasurer, and expended by the standing committee. 9. Any person subscribing this constitution, shall be considered as a member of this association. 10. As much reliance is placed on the influence and exertions of the female part of this community to aid in the accomplishment of the objects of this association, with a view the more effectually to engage this influence, and to prompt and authorize these exertions, it is herein provided that all of this sex, who are desirous of uniting in the accomplishment of the objects of this association, shall be furnished with a copy of this constitution for their signature; and all who shall subscribe their names shall be considered as members of this association; without, how ever, implying any obligation on them to meet as members, except at the anniversary meetings for religious worship; and unless they shall choose to meet by themselves for the purpose of increasing their influence and stimulating their exertions. fourths of the members present, shall become a part of this con, stitution. A Discourse was delivered at the first annual meeting of the above association, by the Rev. Dr. Morse, from the Laws of this Common. which will be published with extracts wealth in the form of a tract for dis tribution. Dr. Morse was appointed Chairman, Dea. David Goodwin, Treasurer, and Mr. Charles Cleve? land, Clerk. ON FREQUENT COMMUNION. Sir, I have lately been reading the works of President Edwards in which I found the following passage, vol. i, p. 257. "The apostle Paul continued at Corinth, constantly laboring in word and doctrine for a long while together, no less than a year and six months; and, as we may well suppose, administering the Lord's supper among them every Lord's day; for the apostle speaks of it as the manner of that church to com municate at the Lord's table with such frequency. 1 Cor. xvi, 2, The communicants were ex pressly told at every communion, in every week, when the bread and the wine were deliver. 11. Any member of the asso-ed to them in the administration, ciation wishing an alteration or that the bread signified the body, amendment of this constitution, and that the wine signified the may propose the same in wri- blood of Christ." ting to the standing committee three months before any annual meeting; and if such alteration or amendment shall be approved by two thirds of the committee, it shall be laid before the asso ciation at the next annual meet ing; and, if approved by three VOL, V. New Series, In reflecting on the foregoing, I was induced to examine Haweis's Church History, in which he observes, vol. i, p. 150, "The supper of the Lord closed the devotions of his day; I think it was as constant as the return of that day, and every member as 69 constanly a participant." I then turned to Dr. Mosheim's History where I found the same opinion supported, vol. i, p. 123 and 125. Query. Is weekly communion supported by the Scriptures, and the most approved ecclesiastical authors? Is the prac tice of the Apostolic churches to be imitated by churches in the present generation? It is hoped some of your correspondents will satisfy the inquirer on the above. A SEARCHER AFTER TRUTH. CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS WHICH TOOK PLACE DURING THE YEAR 1812. A bill passed the House of Representatives, 94 to 34, to raise an army of 25,001 men, in addition to the present force. Valencia in Spain taken by the French under Suchet. surrendered with 17,000 Spaniards. Blake Annual estimates for the year 1812 laid before Congress by the Secretary of the Treasury. Mr. Monroe addressed a letter to Mr. Foster, in answer to a letter from him dated Dec. 28, 1811, in which the latter denies the existence of British agency in fomenting the Indian war. A revolution in the administration of Sicily. The coldest seven days in succession within the range of thermometrical observations in this country. At some time during this period, the mercury of Farenheit stood at 7 below cypher at Hartford, (Con.) 12 at Boston, 23/1-2 at Burlington, (Vi.) 28 at Brunswick, (Me.) 32 Hallowell (Me.) The American ship Asia and brig Gershom burnt on the high seas by French cruisers according to the express orders of Bonaparte. About this time a considerable number of other American vessels burnt in the same manner. Lord Wellington took Ciudad Rodrigo by storm, after an investment of 9 days. 1 A considerable earthquake was experienced in the western parts of the United States. In this month Col Skerrett with 1,800 men defends Tariffa in Spain against two assaults by the French with 10,000; and compels them to raise the siege. Five missionaries ordained at Salem with a view of preaching Christianity in Asia. These were the first missionaries destined to foreign parts from America. A great earthquake at New Madrid on the Mississippi. The Prince Regent of England wrote to Lords Grey and Grenville with a view to form a coalition ministry. The Committee of Ways and Means reported to Congress a system of direct and internal taxation The Massachusetts House of Representatives vacated the seats of the Rehoboth members, 208 to 191, on account of the riotous and illegal proceedings when they were elected. Two American missionaries and their wives sailed from Salem for Calcutta. A protest signed by 227 members of H. R. of Massachusetts against the law just enacted for districting the Commonwealth. Three American missionaries, and the wife of one, sailed from Philadelphia for Calcutta, A bill passed Congress authorizing government to borrow 11,000,000 dollars. The President U. S. transmitted to Congress a statement of the Henry Plot with all the papers and documents to support it. Bonaparte's minister makes a formal report, which recognizes the decrees of Berlin and Milan as still existing. The mission printing office at Serampore burnt, with founts of type in fourteen languages beside the English. The loss of prop. erty was about 50,000 dollars. The British minister at Washington disclaimed all knowledge of the Henry plot. Lord Wellington invests Badajoz. A great earthquake at Laguira and Caraccas in South Amer. ica. Of 40 churches in those two places 38 were demolished. A great number of lives were lost, estimated at 12,000. News of an intended embargo reached Boston by express in 76 hours from Washington. An embargo for 90 days passed both houses of Congress and was approved by the President. Many hundred vessels put to sea in anticipation of that event. 4 Lord Wellington takes Badajoz by storm. Four thousand prisoners surrendered, and 172 heavy brass cannon taken. British loss during the siege in killed and wounded 4,800./ Bonaparte made an overture of peace to the British govern Death of the Hon. George Clinton, Vice President U. S. The British government made a formal declaration that the Orders in Council will be revoked immediately on the revocation of the French decrees. The British government rejected Bonaparte's overture. The British ministers in both houses of parliament disclaimed all knowledge of the Henry plot, and all intention of tomenting disunion among the people of the US. In this month there was a great scarcity of bread in England and France, and riots on that account. Mr. Perceval, the British prime minister, assassinated in the lobby of the House of Commons by one Bellingham, who was executed on the 18th A meeting of 83 members of both houses of Congress nominated Mr. Madison as a candidate for the next Presidency of U. S. All the British ministers resign. Mr. Foster, the British minister at Washington, entered upon a long correspondence with our government, on the subject of the Orders in Council, &c. In the course of this month a state paper was published at Paris dated Ap. 23, 1811, purporting to be a revocation of the French decrees so far as they related to U. S. The President U. Š. transmitted a message to Congress recommending the declaration of war against Great Britain. The H. R. of Massachusetts adopted a memorial to Congress against the impending war, 406 to 240. Peace ratified between Russia and Turkey. War declared by the U. S. against Great Britain, 79 to 49 in H. R. and 19 to 13 in Senate. Bonaparte's first bulletin of the Russian campaign issued from Gumbinnen. The second French bulletin issued from Wilkowiski, a little south of the Niemen. It was accompanied by a proclamation, sign. ed by Napoleon himself, in which he speaks with the utmost arrogance of the result of the war. His armies in Prussia and Po. 23. 24. 29. July 12. 15. land amounted, according to his own account to 620,000 men; but First Russian bulletin issued from Wilkomar beyond the Niemen. Gen. Hull issued his proclamation at Sandwich in Upper Canada, having just effected a landing in that province. The French corps under Sebastiani defeated, by a sudden irruption of the Russians. 16-18. The Constitution frigate escaped from a British squadron by most vigorous and meritorious exertions. 17. 21. 22. 23. 25. The Russians evacuated their entrenched camp at Drissa on the Dwina, & retreated toward the heart of Russia. Battle of Polotsk. Algiers declared war against U. S. Gen. Brock issued his proclamation. Lord Wellington defeats Marmont in a great battle near Salamanca. The British and their allies lost nearly 5,000 in killed, wounded, and missing; the French more than twice that number. A fast in Massachusetts on account of the war. A hard fought battle for nine hours between the French under * A skirmish between the Indians and 4th U. S. regiment in Upper A battle between the French and Russians at Ostrovno. $3. Aug. 7. 8. 10. 11. 12. 13. Twenty four persons who remained in the above office were escorted to prison by the civil and military authorities of Baltimore At night the prison was left undefended, and attacked and broken open by the mob; Gen. Lingan, a revolutionary officer aged 65, was barbarously murdered, and nine other persons, among whom was Gen. Lee of Virginia, were bruised, mangled, and left for dead by the mob. The rest escaped, with more or less injury, by mingling with the crowd. Gen. Hull re-crossed from Sandwich to Detroit. Detached Col. Miller to open a passage for supplies. After a smart skirmish the attempt failed. Astorga capitulated to the Spaniards. Gen. Maitland landed at Alicant with 14,000 British troops. Lord Wellington entered Madrid. The US. frigate Essex captured the Alert sloop of war. 16. Gen. Hull capitulated at Detroit, and surrendered the Michigan Territory to the British under Gen. Brock. Prisoners nearly 2,500, with very considerable warlike stores m A treaty of peace signed between, Russia and England. Bonaparte entered Smolensk, nearly all of which was burnt. The British frigate Guerriere, 38 guns, Capt. Daores, taken by U. S. frigate Constitution, 44 guns, Capt. Hull, after 25 minutes close fighting. British loss 15 killed, and 64 wounded U. S. loss 7 killed and 7 wounded. The Guerriere was dismasted, and made a complete wreck, so that Capt. Hull was obliged to destroy her. A national fast in U. S. on account of the war. A terrible hurricane at New Orleans which ruined the houses |