་ EDITOR'S TABLE. 66 Fashionable Life is not always the happi- of works of art, and their concomitants, yet est, nor its associations the most sincere.- in consequence of peculiar constitution, we There cometh with its wonderful appurte- being supposed to have affinity to Lazy St. nances sometimes a faint praise always equal Lawrence, we must defer the publications to censure, and then a tone of elevated ap- of Jemima to more profound and able critics preciation or depreciation, as if indeed Fash- and advisers, and with the ocean of libraries, ion was Lord of the Manor, and its dictates we may shipwreck our understanding and were to be regarded when not in accordance be left to grope with the inconveniences atwith propriety. There is an accompaniment tending it. 'Putting it on thick," is what of it, however, which the staid of manner do we of the Opal do not understand. We do not generally adopt, an adaptation of small mean what we say despite of fashion, when talk, table talk and infinite little pleasant says, we say that the Edinburgh or Quarterly and finishes of adaptation of manner and Review, or the Westminster or British Rethought to the scenes and events of life ex- view, or Sartain's, or Godey's, or Graham's, tremely agreeable, and which in ordinary are always in our heart of hearts. We mean affairs of prosaic wisdom is deemed too tri- what we say, that we are indebted to them fling to be noticed. Any thing and every for a myriad of thoughts and interests that thing in the realm of God is worthy of the inform the mind and better the heart. notice of a gentleman, "and as a sparrow falls not to the ground without the notice of our Heavenly Father," so it cannot be beneath the dignity of his children to bow with respect and love to the beautiful displays of his creation, or is exhibited in his own direct emanations or indirect, by means of his created. . Because we are favored with so many kindnesses, is no reason we should despise the "day of small things," or pass unnoticed the fact that Mr. Backus has received a legislative appropriation of three hundred dollars for the aid of his Radii, but we do not acknowledge the like sum from the great body, for the Opal, nor do we expect to have the pleasure. When we turn over the pages of the Reviews and books and papers, and see so much worth seeing, we would be Prefacing with these observations, we may proceed to remark that although it may be fashionable to descant on the literature of the age, of science and scientific institutions, in retirement and hide our heads in very shame, that we have so few original thoughts. "Our leanness, our leanness," to be a little Scriptural, but still we do not despair; of one thing we are not ashamed, we are never too old to learn, nor are we ever ashamed to learn or to be instructed. As usual, the intellectual contributions to our fountain from abroad are very acceptable, and with the London Lancet to bleed us, and let off our impurities, we have the healthful food from the South, and West, and East of "our own country," to supply its extra demands on our circulation, and as the Opal is destined to be original in its communications, we hope that it may live, and be itself an embodiment of the intelligence and information that loads down its table. Judicious perusal of works of taste and sense is ever an object of curious desire, and the enabling a person to do so, in circumstances of independence of mind, body, and estate, demands the sincerest gratitude. There is one thing we must mention—the Evening Prayer in the Chapel, by the Chaplain, and the music by the choir, which has a tendency to raise the souls toward Heaven. Not writing for writing sake, we will mention the visit to the Asylum, and to Dr. Beneeict and his aids, of some gentlemen superintendents of Insane Retreats, Dr. Greene, of Georgia, Dr. Smith, of Ohio, and Dr. Lopez, of Alabama, to whom our Superintendent and aids extended the usual civilities. The Convention of Superintendents met at New-York, but we have not seen the account of their visit, nor do we think our Metropolis shewed them the Bay and Dr. Morris's Establishment at the Island. We are ashamed that Boston, the good old town of Boston once, but now the city of refined hospitality, takes the lead generally in doing up such matters; and it is an undisputed fact, that instead of shewing the strangers of distinction the Bay of New-York, and its environs, they shew Blackwell's Island, a parcel of paupers, rag-tag and bob-tail, and our institutions, and then are Dickenized for their trouble. Now we were brought up in the city, we early learned its every way, and our hearts yearn toward the place of our early and happy days. "Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy Palaces," Oh beloved Island of Manhatto; and we will declare that none but a poor stoic can look at his bay or mountain strand, and not, in the language of Halleck, "feel prouder of his native land." A Great City is a great place, and has in it great men and women, and of course great institutions, and they are all changing, all passing away, a generation has passed with the hand that writes this brief hint, if God spares him who wields the pen, he may give some reminiscences of days lang syne, if the fecundity of age should not leave him entirely minus. By the way, Elder Bailey, of Utica, who is always ready in the cause of virtuous benevolence—with his good sense and candor to commend his friends and neighbors-and who came to this Humanity with the Blind Vocalists, and showed great interest in their welfare, will be pleased to accept an expression of our regards therefor, and a wish that prosperity may ever attend the path of só good a man. And in this connection, by association, we are reminded of our obligation to Dr. Valentine, some near relation to the Saint, and to the Major Valentine, of the Council of New-York, perhaps, but more related to himself as the very genius of wit, and soul of civil mirthfulness, whose truthful imitations of character rendered him at once the object of deep interest to the officers and their care, as a source of great diversion from the care and sorrow incident to some who happen to be here. Although Kossuth did not visit the Asylum, there were some who shook hands with him, and who felt quite honored thereat. This shaking of hands, is The Methodist Quarterly: Edited by the not superior to a telegraphic despatch of Reverend Dr. M'c Clintock. Whoever good-will, even tho' the late Hooper Cum-rises from the perusal of this truly valuming seemed to prize it very highly, who able periodical, must be deeply impressed declared he would rather shake hands with La Fayette than any man on Earth; they had fought side by side at Brandy-Wine. with respect for its most pious, able and accomplished Editor; and as he reflects on the several articles, particularly on those EDITOR'S TABLE. of Antigone, Hungary, Methodist Preaching, and Moses Stuart, he must feel an increased respect for the society, and a sense of the moral sublimity accompanying it, which, a few brief years since, was the plain and zealous friend of religion in the humblest and most retired arenas of the world, as well as in the outskirts of the nation; and teaching the principles and sustaining the system of John Wesley, far in the west, where the Multnomah flows, and the Knittenaue roams undisturbed in the Plains. Its men as plain as their coats, and the women as nice as their caps, and whose prayer meetings were of a cast to subdue the proud spirit unto "religion's ways of pleasantness, and unto her paths of peace. 189 of the polished diction of this period, and it is within the memory of the writer of this that the metropolis had so few learned men among the Methodists, that when he invited a friend to go to the St. John Street meeting to hear the early friends and founders of the now great book concern in New-York, Messieurs Soule and Bangs, he was scouted at as simple, for averring that there were men among Methodists sufficiently learned to quote Greek and Hebrew, it not being supposed possible for the Methodists to have men learned in “the dead languages." Behold now their sons in every quarter of the globe-erudite, enterprising, faithful and brave. The sketch of the lamented Moses Stuart In a Log Cabin, beyond the Mountains, is very honorable to the review and to the where a Methodist Circuit Preacher sat, denomination, and although it was said that who was a native of London, did we hear the question propounded-" Do you wish to escape from the wrath to come," and altho' from our metropolis, where a little Portuguese boy, a member of the John Street Meeting Class, had often urged us to join, yet we had never responded to the call before, nor ever before had such awakened feelings, as were induced by the prayers and singing of great numbers in the bright nights and pleasant days of a Summer Camp Meeting on the Prairies, now cultivated and settled by the friends of religion and science. The position assigned in the review to President Woolsey, is a just one, and he no doubt in scholarship, genius and refinement is one of the best scholars of the age, associated in the scholar's thought with Everett and Anthon, and the late lamented Hopkins, and perhaps no one can transcend him in the appreciation and elucidation of the euphonious Greek. Kossuth is an Ex-Governor of Hungary, a peculiar and suffering people, in number about 14,000,000, who comes over to the United States, on the invitation of Congress, in a public vessel, as an oppressed gallant gentleman, whose principles as developed in most eloquent speeches in his American travel exhibited him as a true, sensible and devoted friend of the rights of man. Beyond Wesley, Coke and Clarke, the Methodists at one period presented very few learned and glorious champion of religious literature and science had the warmest friends among the opposers of his interpretation, viz. the Unitarians; yet we believe for fair-mindedness and religious sympathies, this sweet little article about the good and great is as creditable as that of his subject, old neighbors, the Unitarians—or even some of his Orthodox friends. The fact is, there is a sort of character that looms above and beyond the panegyrics of mortals. It is composed of those elements that unite by their virtuous and intellectual affinities, and like the brazen Serpent, held up in the Wilderness to the Children of Israel, draws the people unto it, either to admire, respect or imitate. And so the Moses of the Church of New-England presents his monument in the varied learning, virtues and talents of a wonderful disciple, forming a pedestal of symmetry, surpassing conception, the topstone of which is consummated by hosts, with shouts of "grace, grace" unto it, and reflecting from its summit, as the sun of righteousness radiates and irradiates therefrom the glory of the Christian, the Cross of the blessed Jesus, in its unostentatious and essential emanations. Now that a good Bishop of the Methodists has gone to Heaven, we should be happy to see the learned Editor of this Methodist Review, occupying a place which devoted piety and talent has vacated, and by enlarg ing his sphere of active engagements, be a We wish them well, as imitators and exembright and shining light in the Church mili-plars of virtue, whose hue is born in heaven. tant, and reign forever in the Church trium- We would emulate their devotion to the inphant, as one of the precious number whose terests of society; "the year a change has robes are washed white in the blood of the brought to all" save our love for the apostles Lamb. of sincerity and truth; and white many have stumbled upon the dark mountains of death, being wearied, we rejoice that the King of Zion will uphold his children, even though no martial band may admire the adroitness of their movements, nor fashionable throng weep and tremble at their eloquence, yea, even though they may live in secret and die neglected, or pine away in the abodes of su There is a nobleness in the services of Spring, in its season "of sweet prospects, sweet birds, and sweet flowers," carries to the metropolis bands of christian people, whose delight is in the "law of the Lord in his law do they meditate day and night." Assembling in the fashionable places, there are read reports of varied interests-the Tract, Bible, and Missionary Societies; perstitious intolerance or idol-worhsipping Seamen's and Orphan's interests; Poor bigotry. Widows' and Small Children, and the Society for Respectable Aged and Indigent Christianity that stimulates to exalted purFemales. The chief interest, however, pose, and while the Societies meet, we centres in the two great Soceties, the hope will commune with the "still, small Tract and Bible, moral means and intellectual, addressing the understanding and through the heart. These form a multitude that have power with the arm that moves the universe, because they are men of prayer, and have power with God. The Tract Society was projected in the parlor of Mr. David L. Dodge, a rich importing merchant of New-York, and the Bible Society with Mr. E. Boudinott, who gave Ten thousand dollars for its formation, and was its first president. These are two great moral means; and the Missionary, in the language of Bishop Heber, carrying a better religion to superstition and bigotry, forms a third, among other wonderful means used by the great God to reform and to recall unto himself his fallen creatures, and to enlighten them. These interests have become wonderful! The Tract Society moves onward, with power and celerity and ability. The Bible Society exhibits operations and resources extensive and expanding. voice" that urges to virtue and its comforts. With the great religious Societies, the Association of Medical Superintendents of American Institutions for the Insane met likewise at the Astor House. This little band has continued another year, with no diminution of their numbers, though two have lost their Asylums by fire. Their reports, in general, exhibit unusual prosperity and success. We have a direct interest in wishing the blessing of the "Dweller in the bush " on their efforts. The women of the metropolis are doing wonders. The nucleus of depravity hath become the reservoir of virtue, and instruction for ignorance, cleanliness for impurity, elevation for degradation, religion for vice, hath opened up the way to glory,- all accomplished by women, who collected thousands of dollars, and expended them all in the amelioration of one spot of wickedness. The Savings' Banks of New-York, as a means of usefulness to mankind, are wonThe speeches at these Anniversaries are derful. The men who established them, good. The talented and pious persons who Dr. Pentard and others, are gone to reap greet each other, old friends and school- their reward. We look back to our call at mates, who have separated far in the jour- the Old Bank with delight; we went with ney of life, meeting at the metropolis as a two little nephews to make their deposits, sort of cross-road, where they pause to re- with each his Five dollars, and being unable fresh themselves with some awakening re-to write their names, grasping their hands miniscencs of departed and happy days. in this, we wrote the little fellows' names, EDITOR'S TABLE. handed their deposit to Mr. Campbell P. White, and wished well to the young bankers and the great cause. 191 ed in such deep darkness and silence that even no voice comes from it save that of revelation, speaking "I am the resurrection The Bible Society was instituted in the and the life," assuring us that in His own Court of Sessions Room, at the City Hall, good time the grave shall give up its dead, in 1816. Judge Platt, George Griffin, Dr. and its hushed stillness burst forth in fullNott, and Mr. P. A. Jay were the speakers, ness of speech. And shall we follow the and after torrents of eloquence. Mr. Jay unhallowed feet of vain fools, and intrude rose and spoke, seeming like a zephyr to a ourselves upon the sacred precincts of whirlwind, so gentle was he. Earthly death? We shall spare ourselves the la |