The Treasurer of the American Home Missionary Society acknowledges the receipt of the following sums, from Feb. 15th to March 15th, 1832.

AMERICAN PASTOR'S JOURNAL,

OR,

ORIGINAL SKETCHES OF REAL CHARACTERS, CONVERSATIONS, AND STRIKING FACTS, FURNISHED CHIEFLY BY CLERGY MEN.

BY THE GRACE OF GOD I AM WHAT
I AM."

[Furnished by a Clergyman.]

caused him to think there was some reality in the work, for he had confidence in his friend.

On Sabbath morning, a friend, who roomed in the adjoining room called for to go to church. They went

He

In the fall of 1821 Mr.of the interior of Pa., entered the Sophomore Class in Dickinson College, Carlisle, Penn. He was a wild and thought-together. As they passed down, they less youth; much prone to dissipation.overtook a number of the serious Though religiously educated, he had young men, concerning whom they adopted as his code of morals, what are made some invidious remark. When sometimes called the laws of honour. the service commenced, he thought he At this time, there was very little piety would listen to the prayer; not with any in college. The next fall there was a intention to unite,-this he scorned. very considerable accession to the When the psalm was read, he took up number of students, but little or none a book and looked over it; he did the to the religious influence. Now wick- same when the chapter was read, and edness reigned predominant;-order also in the second prayer, and next could scarcely be maintained:-every psalm. When the preacher announced night more or less mischief was done. his text; which was John xi. 28. "The In the very height of this wickedness, J. Master is come, and calleth for thee;" M., who was graduated at the previous the question immediately presented -," does he commencement, and was engaged in itself to the mind of teaching the Grammar School, sick-inquire for me?" His trouble became ened and died. He was an amiable so great, that all who sat near him per. young man, beloved by all who knew ceived that he was awakened. him, yet not religious. He was taken supposed that the minister was describvery suddenly, and was deranged from ing his character, and that it was inthe commencement of his sickness till tended as a personal thing. He deterhis death. On Sabbath he was con- mined not to sit, and be abused before signed to his cold bed; an immense the congregation; and was on the point concourse of people paying the last of going out, during the whole course tribute of respect to his memory. All of the sermon; but seemed to lack the students walked as mourners. The power. As soon as the congregation Rev. Mr. M'C., of New York, made an was dismissed, he darted out, and went address of some length at the grave; as fast as he could to college. Two nearly every student was affected to of his friends came out after him, and tears; Mr. and one or two of hailed him in the campus; and asked bis companions were the only excep- him" if he was going to turn Methotions. As he has since said, he felt dist?" he answered with an oath, "No, disgusted with the preacher, and looked I am sick;" but did not stop. He went upon his fellow students with contempt, into his room, locked his door, and atfor being affected at what Mr. M.C. tempted to pray: his wicked heart rose had said. This commenced a work of in enmity to God; he felt a greater disgrace in college and in town. Mr. position to curse God, than to ask for mercy. He unlocked his door and sat down by the fire. His room mate came in and spoke to him; he made him no reply; he spoke again, and in a jesting manner asked him what was the matter.

was among the scoffing opposers, sometimes most shockingly blasphemous in his expressions concerning the revival. At length one of his companions in vice became affected; this

He gave him some surly answer, and not know his exercises. They comfelt very much disposed to get up and menced talking, and before he was vent his unholy feelings by personal aware he had communicated the state violence. He was in a bad humour of his mind. They continued walking with every thing. He went down to for a considerable time. This was the dinner, but could eat nothing. Coming first time the Saviour was presented to from the refectory, he fell in with his mind. Now another conflict ensome of his companions. He went sued. Satan suggested, that if he beinto one of their rooms, and there spent came pious he could not become a lawthe afternoon, laughing and talking, and yer; but must be, what he then most drinking brandy; (there was no Bible despised, a poor minister of the Gospel. Class that afternoon, the President be- He would, for a time, determine to go ing indisposed;) and his religious im- back to the world: then eternity would pressions now all left him. After sup- present itself to view in all its dread per, one of the inmates of the room horrors. Now was an awful struggle where he spent the afternoon, asked between the flesh and the spirit; somehim if he would not go to church that times the one seeming to prevail, and night, and hear Mr. M.C., he swore he then the other. At this time he conwould not; he did not want to hear him versed freely with several of the rerant. He insisted on his going, and ligious students, and was persuaded to went and got permission for him to go. attend a meeting of inquiry. He went; Mr. still refused, and was de-it was an awful place; every countermined not go. He was, however, tenance was solemn, and every heart prevailed on to walk by the church, and full. After the meeting the clergysee the people going in. Crowds of man walked up to the college with people were flocking from every direc- him, urging him to submit to the Sation. He went in. No sooner had he viour. Now it was that light began seated himself in the church, than all to break into the dark chaos of his his awful feelings returned. During mind. He soon entertained hope. All the whole of the service he was in an was now joy; he was enraptured; he agony, sometimes trying to sleep, and could think of nothing but Jesus, so again to go out of church, but all in much was his mind engaged, that he vain. Mr. M'C. said "the sinner's hilar- would walk through the streets, and ity was like the maniac's dancing to the not notice any thing that was transactmusic of his chains and imagining him-ing. He now thought that he could self free." This seemed to clank upon his soul. His distress was intense. He returned to college full of anguish. He was afraid to go to bed; he thought that if he fell asleep he should certainly awake in hell. On Monday a number of his wicked companions came to his room, to laugh him out of his seriousness; it was now too late for that. When accused of being serious, he still denied it, and would endeavour to shake off his seriousness, as he had done on Sabbath, but he could not succeed. His wicked companions now forsook him; and the religious students seemed to shun him. It was reported that he was only feigning seriousness, for the purpose of imposing upon the pious students. He was now left alone. On Wednesday evening he was taken by the arm by a pious student, who asked him to walk. He determined in his own mind that the student should

certainly persuade all his old companions to embrace the Lord Jesus, as he is offered in the Gospel; but soon found that it required a greater power than he possessed. From this time his room became the place where the pious and serious assembled every evening for worship.

Now the opposition to the revival reached its acme. One and another having left the ranks of rebellion, those who remained seemed determined that no more should be taken. Twelve young men were in town one night at an oyster supper, and were by a very wicked man of the town, who was in company with them, named after the twelve Apostles. One night these twelve young men assembled, and gave out a song and sung it. The chairs then moved, as though they were kneeling to pray-a voice was heard going; the others were groaning and shouting

and calling Amen! not one of these young men became subjects of the renewing grace of God at that time, nor, so far as I know, since; and I know the condition of several. It seemed as though they had grieved the Holy Spirit, and were given over to hard-attended the conferences and prayerness of heart and blindness of mind.

the convocation, and prayer-meetings were appointed for the church to meet and supplicate the God of heaven for his grace. When this meeting was first announced, this gentleman felt an unusual interest in it, and, I believe, he

P.

A FAMILY ALTAR ERECTED. [Furnished by a Clergyman.] The reader is doubtless aware of the great cross which some men take and bear for a season, when they first enter upon a religious life. I allude to their trial in erecting the family altar, and offering thereon the sacrifice of prayer and praise; especially, if they have been delinquents until they have reared up families to witness their incipient attempts at devotion. I will relate one scene, which occurred within the sphere of my own labours the last season, the particulars of which are derived from an undoubted source. The gentleman to whom I allude, is under sixty years of age, has devoted the greater part of his life to mercantile pursuits, and, having acquired an ample fortune, he, a few years since, relinquished trade, and was followed in business by his son, who still resides under the paternal roof. But his long established habits of industry, and his powers of discrimination on almost all subjects, did not permit him to repose on the bed of ease and indolence the remnant of life, but his own concerns, and the often repeated demands of the state and county for his services, seemed to require all his time and talents; and although he was moral in every department of life, yet the world was evidently first with him, and he was saying to the Spirit of all grace, "Go thy way for this time!"

He stood at the head of a numerous family of children, most of whom were adults, and who had received from him all the means to render them intelligent, useful and happy, which a fond parent could bestow; yet they did not inherit a parent's prayers, and but two of them cherished a hope in Christ. At this time a protracted meeting was talked of, and the time was fixed for

meetings, which were introductory to the protracted meeting, except when necessarily detained from them. It may suffice to say, that before the week had expired, he was rejoicing in hope of a better life through the merits of his Redeemer, and by the power of the Holy Ghost! Saturday's sun dawned upon him, a newly regenerated man, as he trusts, and he awoke to fellowship with his God and Saviour. It was now, for the first time in his life, the thought, that he had never consecrated his house to God; or taught his children, by his example, to lift their eyes, or their hearts, to Christ for salvation, arose in its true importance to his view! He at once resolved on the attempt to discharge this duty, whatever might be the sacrifice of feelings on his part. That he might divest himself of the embarrassment of introducing this subject to his children for the first time, at the moment when he was to lead them to the throne of grace, and that they might be prepared to derive benefit from a season so novel and affecting, he took a previous occasion, with his adult children, individually and privately, to communicate to them his views and feelings, and his resolutions in respect to his future life. "My son, I have taken much satisfaction in watching over your earthly interests, and in providing for your comfort, your usefulness and respectability; nor have I failed altogether to impress upon your mind the importance of morality to your peace and prosperity in this life; but, my child, I have learned at this late period, that I have failed, both in my example and instructions, in respect to the great essential, I mean-Religion! I have not felt so deep an interest for the eternal wellbeing of your soul, as I have for your temporal interest. This is my great sin in regard to my family, for which I seek the forgiveness of God, and of you, my son. Can you forgive me?