Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-05-05

who were once ready to perish. Regarding
them as fountains whence, purified by the salt
of divine grace, streams must ultimately issue,
to fertilize and to enrich the wastes Of our be-
loved Zion, the Board, without emotions OF
the warmest gratitude and pleasure, cannot
contemplate even the little which they have
been the humble instruments of effecting.-
From these incipient efforts, they fondly anti
cipate the lucid streamlets of brighter day
approaching. day, when these efforts will
be the parents of others more energetic
more encouragingly efficient-when many OF
these STRIPPING immortals, who are now Just
beginning to lisp in our schools the alphabet
of heaven, shall in their turn be seen up and
doing, in the same hallowed work-testifying
to their former benefactors, that if it be bless
ed to receive, it is still more blessed to give:,
and when in one word, what must now be re-
garled as the day of small things, will then
be looked upon as the little bubbling fountain
which has sent forth its stream, widening and
accommodating as it rolled, until, in one mighty
and expanded current, it became mingled
with and lost, amid the waters Of the ocean.
More delightful, to the board, would have
been their present task, had they been priv
legged to have embraced in their report any
well authenticated instances of real conversion
unto God Looking forward to this, as the
contamination of their labors, as it was the
delightful theme oftheir every application to
a throne of Grace-the regret which is felt at
having no such cases to record, is sincere and
unfeigned, and will, it is presumed; be equal
ly participated in by every member ofthe So
ciety. Yet, there is no cause for dependency.
The seed has been scattered, tits believed, in
the exercise of unwavering confidence, in the
ful6lment of the Divine promise and, as in
years that are past, some ofour schools have
been visited by the saving grace of God, de-
scending as well upon the teachers as the
taught, the hope is still INDUCED, and it is
hope which can never make ashamed, that in
due season ve shaHreap il zoe faint not. Faith,
and hope, and patience may long be exercis-
ed vet the harvest is sure, and that harvest
must be glorious. For He who has issued the
command, to be al,0ays abounding IN the ,oor's
of the Lord, has at the same time appendedto
it, the animating assurance, that our ladour in
the Lord shall not be tn cain.
In the frequent meetings ofthe board for the
transaction of business, not an incident has &C.
CURED, either to interrupt the exercise of bro
therly affection, or to hazard for a moment the
precious interests or the institution committed
to its charge. Though composed Of differ
ent denominations of protesting Christians,
they were fully sensible that without any COM
promise, either of sentiment or feeling, they
could here meet together, on ground which
was common And having the same blessed
object in view, and the same uniform mode, |
sanctioned by long experiment, for the apPil-
cation of effort, the reflection is one of I'M
mingled pleasure, that the unity of the spirit
in the bonds of peace, has been preserved I'M
broken, to the present time. They have, it IS
believed, all felt, (and there is reason to hope |
that the feeling will long be cherished) how
good, and how pleasant thing it is, forbreth-
,en of the same faith to dwell together in uni
y.
They have now, to the best of their ability, |
discharged the important and
honorable trust which had been reposed in
hem. Experience has taught them some
things, of which, it is hoped, that those who
succeed them will be disposed to take advan-
tage. Not among the least of them is the ne
cessity of prompt and regular attendance,
Upon all the stated and occasional meetings of
the board On proper attention to this duty,
the conviction is deep and growing,) is in
volved the continued well-being at least, if not
he very existence of our Society; and while
We would by no means presume to dictate to
Dur successors in Office, we should consider
ourselves as defective in duty, did we not en-
,race this last opportunity presented, Of urg-
ng it upon them, as subject deserving
heir serious, and prayerfal attention.
To the public, who have so generously aid
ID us by their contributions, we would take
his public method before retiring from Office,
% recognize the obligation conferred. and to
express our unfeigned gratitude. With Ii
,erality for which they have long been distin-
,uished, they have furnished all the means
requisite to carry the benevolent objects of
his institution into complete and successful
operation. With Depository of Books well
selected and amply supplied, amounting to a
bout fifty-6ve dollars, and with forty dollars
surplus still in the hands Of the treasurer, they
have, it is believed, without great neglect on
our part, ensured stability and permanency
to the interests of Sunday Schools in this
place. And presuming them to have been in
fluenced by the same dlsinterested motives,
from which schools ofthis description had their
original existence, perily they shall not lose
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