BETHEL FLAG.

On Sunday, the 3d inst. the anniversary of opening the Mariners' Church in this city was observed by appropriate religious services. The elegant "BETHEL FLAG," presented to the Society by the "British and Foreign Seamen's Friend Society and Bethel Union," was hoisted on the church for the first time, as a signal for Divine worship. A flagstaff about 30 feet high had been raised on the ridge-pole of the church at the end fronting on Roosevelt-street, and a convenient railing placed round it to insure safety to the person who goes up to hoist the flag.

The flag is made of blue bunting, 18 feet long and 9 1-2 feet wide, the word "BETHEL" in white letters occupies the middle ground, and below the letters is a Dove, with an OLIVE BRANCH in her beak, represented as directing her course to the staff; above the letters in the upper corner, is a small brilliant STAR.

In the morning the Rev. Mr. BALLANTINE, of the Baptist Church, preached, on 1 Tim. i. 15. Afternoon, the Rev. W. M'MURRAY, of the Dutch Reformed Church, preachd on Matthew xxiv. 14, and in the evening, the Rev. Dr. SPRING, of the Presbyterian Church, preached on Heb. iv. 9. The sermons on this occasion, were all exceedingly appropriate, and were heard by large and attentive audiences. In the afternoon the church was not full, but there was a considerable number of seamen present. Three collections were taken up for the benefit of the Society's funds, amounting to one hundred and fourteen dollars.

It was gratifying to the friends of the Society, to witness so large a number of captains and seamen present, who appeared to take great pleasure in coming to their own church.

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING THE GOSPEL AMONG

SEAMEN.

THE Anniversary of this institution was celebrated in Dr. Romeyn's Church on Wednesday last. JONATHAN LITTLE, Esq. President, took the chair at 4 o'clock, and the meeting was opened with prayer, by the Rev. Dr. ROMEYN. The Annual Report was then read by DIVIE BETHUNE, Esq. first Vice-President of the Society. A motion to accept the report, and that it be printed under the direction of the Board of Directors, was made by the Rev. THADDEUS OSGOOD, the indefatigable Missionary, who has long laboured among the destitute inhabitants of our frontier settlement, and in Canada, and seconded by the Rev. JOHN SOMMERFIELD, of London.

Each of these gentlemen addressed the meeting on the importance of the Institution, the Catholic principles on which it is founded, and the obligation of Christians, and especially merchants, to give liberally to its support. A collection amounting to one hundred and twenty-seven dollars was taken up, and the meeting closed with prayer, by the Rev. Mr. Sommerfield. The meeting was large and highly respectable, and we earnestly hope that this anniversary has tended to draw the public attention to a more favourable consideration of the high object of the Society.

NEW-YORK BETHEL UNION.

A NUMBER of merchants and other gentlemen, who feel deeply interested for the welfare of seamen, met on Monday afternoon, the 4th instant, at No. 216 Pearl-street, to devise measures for promoting the establishment of Prayer Meetings on board of ships and other vessels while lying in our harbour. JONATHAN LITTLE, Esq. was called to the chair, and Mr. HEMAN AVERILL was appointed Secretary. After a free conversation and mutual interchange of sentiments on the subject before them, it was thought most advisable to form a society to act independently of the Port Society, although it should at the same time cooperate with that institution in the great business of " promoting the Gospel among seamen."

It was therefore unanimously resolved to establish a Society to be called the "NEW-YORK BETHEL UNION." A constitution was adopted and a board of Managers appointed consisting of thirty-five gentlemen, many of whom are captains in our merchant service. Most of the gentlemen had been previously consulted on the subject, and it is hoped they will all take an active part in the pleasing duties assigned them. DIVIE BETHUNE, Esq. was appointed President, and HORACE HOLDEN, Esq. Secretary.

The Managers have had a meeting and taken measures for carrying into immediate effect the object of the Society.

We hope the benevolent ladies who feel a desire to aid in this work will prepare two or three Bethel Flags for the Society. The one presented by the Bethel Union of London can be seen as a pattern.

THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM.

ONCE on the raging seas I rode ;
The storm was loud, the night was dark;
The ocean yawn'd, and rudely blow'd
The wind, that toss'd my found'ring.
bark.

Deep horror then my vitals froze;
Death struck, I ceas'd the tide to stem;
When suddenly a star arose,

It was the star of Bethlehem!

It was my guide, my light, my all;
It bade my dark forebodings cease,
And thro' the storm's and danger's thrall,
It led me to the Port of Peace.

Now safely moor'd, my perils o'er,
I'll sing first in night's diadem,

For ever and for ever sing

The Star-The Star of Bethlehem!

TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS.

"PEREGRINUS's" other communication; "Z;"--" Lines on the death of a Lady;""MARINERS' CHURCH JOURNAL for May;" shall have a place in our next. We have been obliged to omit the letter of the Rev. Mr. Pilexy, of the Great Osage Mission, announcing the melancholy intelligence of the death of Mrs. Newton, her infant child, and Mr. Patterson, a boatman.

Intelligence has been received of the safe arrival at Sierra Leone of the Colonists, who sailed from Norfolk.

We would state, that the facts contained in the article, entiled "The Jew," p. 69, may be relied upon.

ERRATA.

It should have been mentioned in our last, that the article "Hints for the General Union of Christians for Prayer, &c." was published in London, in March last, without any knowledge of the fact, that similar meetings were already established in this city; also, that we are informed, on good authority, that that paper was drawn up by the Rev. W. WARD.

Page 39, near the top, for "paper," read "prayer."

The Christian Herald.

VOL. VIII.

SATURDAY, JULY 7, 1821.

No. IV.

Miscellany.

REMARKABLE CONVERSION OF MR. A.

To the Editor of the Christian Herald.

MR. EDITOR,-The following instance of hopeful conversion occurred, some time since, in this city. The writer having related the principal circumstances to some christian aquaintances, it was judged that they would prove interesting to the friends of true religion, if not instructive to some of its rejectors; and he was decidedly advised to give them to the public.

Your obedient servant,

VERUS.

MR. A. is a gentleman of respectable connexions, good natural judgment and disposition, and of more than ordinary taste for mental improvement. He enjoyed the advantages of a christian education, which he appeared highly to appreciate, until, in his search after books, he unhappily fell in with an insinuating French writer, from whom he imbibed the principles of infidelity. He now began to more than question the sacred character of the scriptures. He tried them by the principles which his unsanctified heart suggested, and pronounced them fraught with contradictions and absurdity. From respect, however, to the feelings of a beloved mother and sister, he did not avow his sentiments so openly, and with such frequent repetition, as do some unbelievers. It must also be mentioned to his credit, that he retained, in general, the moral and amiable habits to which he had been carefully bred.

How long he persevered in rejecting the obligations and divine origin of christianity, the writer is unable precisely to state. He was, however, gradually led to suspect, that he might have adopted his opinion of the sacred writings too hastily; at least, without having sufficiently considered the arguments, which may be adduced in their favour. Being naturally of a reflecting turn, and independent in his inquiries, he set himself to consider whether he had gained any thing by rushing into the night of infidelity. The result of his inquiries was, that there existed one modification of christianity, which promised him more quietness of mind, if it did not rest upon better evidence, than infidelity itself. He accordingly become inclined to the flattering hypothesis of the Universalists; and, after some months attendance at their place of worship, declared himself fully established in it. From this time, he exhibited the appearance of one decidedly settled in his religious opinions; and by no means ashamed to acknowledge and defend them. He even considered it his duty to disseminate them, as he had opportunity. As to the possibility of his being deceived or involved in destructive error, he manifested, and, as he afterwards informed me, experienced, no uneasiness. His confidence in his opinions was so great, that he uniformly beheld those who discarded them with minVOL. VIII.

13

gled regret and pity; and sometimes longed for the opportunity of evincing their supporting power on his death bed.

It was during this stage of his religious belief that the writer became acquainted with him, and was induced, by the particular request of his Christian mother, to attempt to shake his confidence in Universalism. The effort proved unsuccessful. He was easily drawn into a free discussion of several points remotely affecting the subject; but defended himself with much promptness, and exhibited a power of discrimination which really did honour to his understanding. I became more interested in him than ever, while the conversation had no perceptible effect to prejudice his feelings against me: on the contrary, he continued rather to seek than avoid my society. We several times renewed our friendly discussions, and as often closed them with no appearance of success on my part. He generally professed a sincere desire to follow truth, and a willingness, if wrong, to be convinced of his error; but never failed of intimating that his opinions continued the same.

The time was however near, which was to make severe trial not only of the reality, but also of the foundation of his confidence. A malignant fever, which dissipated his strength and threatened him with speedy dissolution, filled every heart with anxiety in his behalf. He only remained unmoved and fixed in the opinion, that he had nothing to apprehend from the approach of death. Nor was his confidence the effect of delirium, insensibility, or the secret expectation of recovery. His mind continued to be sound, and he appeared fully aware of the threatening symptoms of his disease. He had, at this time, no communication with persons of his religious creed; nor did he request it, but persevered in declaring that his opinions were still the same.

It was while he lay in this situation, that his pious sister hastily entered my house one evening, with the afflicting intelligence that her brother seemed to be dying, and urgently requested me to call and see him. I accordingly hastened to the house of affliction, and found the family, particularly the mother and sister, overwhelmed with the trying dispensation. The alarm, however, was premature. He awaked out of the deathlike swoon into which he had fallen, and appeared nearly as well as he had done for some hours before. I could not lose what threatened to be my last opportunity of suggesting a few thoughts to him on his exposure to death, and the immediate necessity of his being prepared for the event. I did not, however, think it expedient, in his present debilitated state, to dwell on the points of difference between us. When his attendants and friends had retired from his bedside, I observed to him, in a low tone, that there were some important truths which we held in common, as that it is our bounden duty and our privilege to repent of all our sins and believe in the Lord Jesus ;-that it is unquestionably prudent for us to perform faithfully whatever Jesus Christ has so evidently enjoined, although such obedience might not be held indispensable to our salvation; and that it is a serious thing to put the finishing hand to the work which God has allotted us in this world of trial ;— concluding with the inquiry, "do you think that you have given these subjects their proper attention ?" He in reply assented to the truth of what I had stated, and frankly acknowledged that he had been very deficient in the performance of these acknowledged duties. He manifested a willingness to make them the subject of his meditations; expressing,

at the same time, his apprehension that life was drawing to its close. He was asked if he wished me to pray with him; to which he coolly answered, that " he had no objection," but not without intimating, that we still differed in our views of religion." He has since assured me, that he felt, at that trying moment, no apprehension of his being exposed to the wrath of God, and no shuddering fears of death.

It would be impossible to describe the anxious feelings of his pious mother, at this dreadful hour. She had been, from the first of his sickness, even more concerned for the welfare of his soul, than desirous of his recovery; and had obtained a kind of assurance, that God would thus far grant her petitions in his behalf. The same impression had been more deeply made' on the mind of his praying sister. But his steady adherence to his religious principles, the increasingly weak state of his mind, and the apparently near approach of death, were beginning to undermine this pleasing confidence; and it now appeared to them but too probable that he would expire with only that hope of future happiness, which they regarded as being like the spider's web.

In this state of anxiety I left them, after being their mouth to God in a short prayer, to relate the situation of the sick man to my family, and unite our supplications for him around the social altar. Several pious individuals had, by this time, become acquainted with his circumstances, and, I have reason to believe, earnest in their requests to God for him.

I retired to rest with the painful expectation of hearing of his death in the morning. The morning arrived, and I received an early and surprising message from the family. The information was not that he had expired, but that he had experienced during the night a remarkable change in his religious feelings, and was anxiously waiting a visit from me. I lost no time in calling upon him, and found the information correct. He had, indeed, experienced a change in his opinion of himself and his condition, as a sinner before God, which was amazing. I could not have believed him capable of enduring the overwhelming views of his depravity and fearful circumstances which he now expressed.

"I wish to acknowledge to you," he said, with a countenance which spoke more forcibly than even his own words, "how proudly and ungratefully I treated your kind endeavours to convince me of my errors; and that I now perceive my mistake.”

"But have you at length discovered, that you were wrong in believing in universal salvation ?"

"Yes, I know that I was wrong in believing in it."

"Are you then convinced that you richly deserve to be condemned of God to an eternal hell; and that there is actually such a place reserved for impenitent sinners ?"

"Yes, I certainly know that there is such a place, and that I deserve to have my portion in it."

"It would appear that you have very different views of your character, in God's sight, from what you expressed the last evening."

"Yes, I am like one who has come to himself; and I now see, that I am a poor miserable sinner. O, what a proud heart I have got! It was my proud heart that made me an infidel and a universalist. I would not submit to understand the Bible as it actually reads. My pride led me to say to you, the last evening, that we still differed in our religious opinions. I believe that I have the proudest, blackest heart on the face