GERMAN EMIGRANTS.-At the late meeting in Germany, Dr. Schaff proposed the following measures for the benefit of German emigrants, which were referred to the Central Committee, with instructions to carry them out, as far as possible :

1. The introduction of a farewell service for emigrants, with suitable exhortations to virtue and piety, accompanied, if possible, with presents of the Bible and useful books.

2. The appointment of missionaries and book agents for emigrants in places of embarkation, especially Bremen, Hamburg, Havre, and Antwerp; also in the cities of landing, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, New Orleans.

3. The sending out of pious and well-educated ministers to the new German settlements and large cities of North America.

4. The special training of promising young men for the service of the German Church in America, either in particular theological schools, to be founded for the purpose in some seaport, like Bremen or Hamburg; or in connection with foreign missionary institutions, like those of Basle and Barmen; or finally, by endowing and supporting German professorships and scholarships in the American German Colleges and Seminaries.

5. Occasional collections in all the churches for the raising of the necessary

means.

6. A more intimate connection between the churches of Europe and their German and Anglo-German daughters in America, by correspondence and occasional exchange of delegates.

Statistics.

HAZARDS AND FLUCTUATIONS OF MERCANTILE LIFE.-From an article in Hunt's Magazine, we copy the following interesting statements. They afford a melancholy illustration of the hazards and fluctuations of mercantile life:

"It is asserted that but one eminent merchant (and his death is still recent and lamented) has ever continued in active business in the city of New York, to the close of a long life, without undergoing bankruptcy, or a suspension of payments, in some one of the various crises through which the country has necessarily passed. I have no means of determining the truth of this assertion, but it must have some foundation, and I think it would be difficult for either of us to add to

the number.

"It is also asserted, by reliable authority, from records kept during periods of twenty to forty years, that of every hundred persons who commence business in Boston, ninety-five, at least, die poor; that of the same number in New York, not two ultimately acquire wealth, after passing through the intermediate process of bankruptcy; while in Philadelphia the proportion is still smaller.

"By the statistics of bankruptcy, as collected under the uniform bankrupt law of 1841:

The number of applicants for relief under that law were

The number of creditors returned,

The amount of debts stated,

The valuation of property surrendered,

33,739 1,049,603 $440,934,615 $43,697,307

"If this valuation were correct, nearly ten cents would have been paid on every dollar due; but what was the fact?

"In the southern district of New York, one cent was paid, on an average, for each dollar due; in the northern district, 13 cents, being by far the largest dividend. In Connecticut, the average dividend was somewhat over half a cent on each dollar.

After making every possible allowance for the enhancement of this enormous amount of debt by inflation of values, speculative prices, &c., the proportion of the $400,000,000 lost by those of the 1,049,603 creditors who were engaged in proper and legitimate business, must still have been immense, and may justly be charged against the profits of our regular commerce.

EDUCATIONAL STATISTICS IN U. S.-To understand the amount of education in the United States, the better way will be to take the whole number of those in course of education in the several great divisions of the country. The result is as follows, viz. :—

Whole number
in education.

Population. Proportion.

Pennsylvania, Delaware, .

Southern States, viz.: Virginia, Maryland, N.

It is a singular fact, that the largest number of colleges and academies of the higher order are not found in New England, but in the Middle and Western States. I give the following as an example of colleges :

In Ohio, there is a much larger proportion of pupils receiving collegiate instruction than in Massachusetts or New York; and in Tennessee it is threefold that of Massachusetts. So much for number. I am aware that many persons in the East will claim that the courses of study in the West are not complete, and, in reality, that they are not colleges. The greatest difference is, that the Western Colleges have not large endowments, and have not age to give them reputation. Here, I may say, it is very questionable how far large endowments have been useful to any college. In wealthy colleges, the Professors generally realize what GIBBON said of his: "They remembered that they had salaries to receive, but forgot they had duties to perform."

Of academies and private schools, I give the following examples:

Here the largest proportion is in New York, and next in Kentucky and Tennessee. In New York there is a State provision for academies, which has done much to raise them up. In Ohio there is none. In the slave states, academies are precisely the kind of institution they require. It is very pleasant to see the academies in the country towns of Tennessee. They are mostly female academies, and are well supported.

From the great number of colleges in our country, it might be inferred that we are getting to be a learned people. But I fear not. There are very few of our collegiate institutions that teach either thoroughly or deeply. The class of really learned men are not honoured in this country. I do not know certainly that they are anywhere. The scholar is treated with cold respect. Like the humble-minded Christian, he must be contented to walk in the shade while pursuing higher and nobler objects. The wealth of the Republic is cast away upon its worthless fashions, and its honours upon empty politics.-N. Y. Times.

Miscellaneous Choughts.

THE BURNING OF THE RICHMOND THEATRE.

"I was but a boy, and lived in the city of Richmond, Virginia, when the theatre was destroyed by fire in December, 1811, and seventy-five persons perished. I had a brother older than myself, who resided there at the same time. During the day which preceded the fire he approached me, handing me a dollar, and saying he supposed I wanted to attend the theatre in the evening. On my leaving home to reside in the city, my mother had charged me not to go to the theatre; this I told him, adding, I can't disobey my mother. Upon this, he took back the dollar he had given me, expressing much contempt for my course. was willing, indeed, and even anxious to retain the dollar, but not as the means of violating my mother's command.

I

"Night came, and my brother attended the theatre, accompanied by a young lady of the city, to whom he was shortly to be married. I retired to bed at an early hour, and knew nothing of the fire until after sunrise. Then I learned that the young lady had perished in the flames, and that my brother, in his efforts to save her, had narrowly escaped death. This bereavement was to him a source of overwhelming grief, and he kept his room closely for nearly a month afterwards. He never subsequently said aught to me in reference to the theatre, or as to my course in refusing to attend."

The above was related to me by Dr. F, now an esteemed minister of the Gospel in North Carolina. Notice, 1. The theatre was new to him, and he might have made this a plea for going. 2. It would have cost him nothing, the price of admission being proffered him as a gift. 3. The example of an older brother was before him, and presented a strong inducement to go. 4. His mother was at some distance from the place, and it was very likely that she would never have heard of her son's disobedience. But the noble boy firmly adhered to his resolution," I can't disobey my mother." The voice of God seems to have blended with the mother's charge, thus restraining the footsteps of her son, and in all probability saving his soul as well as body from death.-Am. Messenger.

BREAK YOUR PIPE!

Do not, my dear sir, be offended with this plain and homely advice, till you hear what reasons I have to state for giving it. To say the very least, I will

endeavour to be courteous, and if you do not ask my counsel, you shall not be required to give a fee for it.

First, it is quite an offensive habit. No lady allows her parlour to be occupied with smokers; it is prohibited in railroad cars, and in the saloons and afterdecks of our steamboats; and some of our cities even enact laws against smoking tobacco in the public streets.

Secondly, it is an intemperate habit. It is an improper stimulant. As a stimulant only is its use ever attempted to be justified; and the man who uses it is so far under the influence of intoxication.

Thirdly, it is a wasteful expenditure of your property. More money is spent in many of our large cities in tobacco than in bread. The amount so expended is enormous and almost incredible. Your own expenditure, sir, would do much to relieve the poor and to educate the children of your neighbourhood.

Fourthly, smoking and-I am ashamed to write the word-chewing, — and again that other word-snuffing,-are scarcely consistent with your character as a Christian. Millions of Christians are daily proving to the world that they are not disposed to exercise self-denial,-not even in things injurious to themselves and to others,-not even though millions of the heathen might be blessed by the money thus wasted being expended in the support of missionaries to preach to them the Gospel of salvation.

I have much more I could say, but a word to the wise is enough.- Watchman & Reflector.

THE RELATION OF GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY TO

PREACHING.

WE are permitted by the author of the article in a late number of the Bibliotheca Sacra, entitled "The Certainty of Success in Preaching," to publish the following interesting extract from a letter received by him, suggested by the article alluded to.

Four winters ago, a protracted meeting was held in W. E., in which I was invited to preach. As the congregation was assembling one evening, a member of the church, whose zeal had been aroused by the occasion, went into the house and took a seat beside an unconverted man named R. Seeing his opportunity, he availed himself of the few moments before the services began, and turned to his impenitent friend and spoke to him of the neglected interests of his soul. R., being perhaps somewhat ill at ease before, was vexed at this appeal, and testily replied, "That is my own business." This answer cut off all further words. And besides, the preacher the next moment came in and commenced the exercises. The hymn before sermon being concluded, he arose and announced his text,-" If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it." His first remark was in these words, "There are some, but not many, who, when privately addressed on the subject of religion, make reply that 'this is their own business.' And in one respect, though in one very different from what they intend they speak most important truth." Had a thunderbolt struck the house, our unconverted friend would not have been more startled; and the effect on his Christian monitor was equally great. The latter, at the close of the service, came running to the preacher to tell what had taken place in private, and he observed that his friend could never be convinced but that there was some collusion between him and the preacher, had he not seen that this was plainly impossible. R. was found on the next day among the inquirers; and he has now for years been a consistent member of the church. The coincidence this story affords, I cannot but refer to the sovereignty of God. It would be profane to refer it to chance.—Congregationalist.

THE

PRESBYTERIAN MAGAZINE.

APRIL, 1855.

Miscellaneous Articles.

"FRIEND OF GOD," OR, THE EXCELLENCY OF FAITH AND A HOLY LIFE. No. IV.

(Continued from page 109.)

In our previous discussion, we have seen that Abraham became the friend of God by faith in Christ, and that his friendship was maintained and strengthened by a life of faith and obedience. As examples of the latter, we noticed those illustrious acts, which were only occasional and extraordinary, and those graces and virtues, which were daily and habitual, and which were manifested by the faithful performance of every social duty, and more especially his duty as the head of a family. It remains for us to consider two other fruits of his faith, not less interesting or important than the preceding, viz., the habit of devout and earnest prayer, and his spiritual and heavenly frame of mind. These two things are closely related, and yet sufficiently distinct to require a separate consideration.

THE DEVOTIONAL CHARACTER OF ABRAHAM'S FAITH.

That Abraham was a devout man, is evident, from the most cursory perusal of the Holy Scriptures. And, it is no less manifest, that his devotions were not the offspring of ignorance and superstition, like the senseless worship of idolaters; but of a rational and genuine faith in God. His understanding was enlightened and convinced. Yet we must look farther than this for the source of his devotional feelings. The faith he possessed, though agreeable to reason and founded partly upon it, consisted essentially in the communication to his soul of that divine life, which, proceeding from God, carried back his affections towards