Fascinating early Boston periodical. Later changing its name to The Christian Examiner, it was published and edited by Nathan Hale beginning in 1814, with responsibilities gradually shifting to his son, Edward Everett Hale. It was a major voice for New England religious progressives, publishing Ralph Waldo Emerson's very first ever printed work [1822]. It regularly featured content related to Revivalism, Missionary Work, Abolition and Slavery, the Needs of the Poor, and the Religious and Physical Wants of the Marginalized, as well as dose of "new" ideas, including vegetarianism, transcendentalist trends in theology, the spread of pacifist ideals among the Christians, theological generosity, etc.  

Contents in this volume include: The Complaint of Degeneracy Examined [Lengthy Series Assessing the Common Feeling that the then Present Time was Unusually Degenerate]; Failure of Attempts to Propagate the Gospel among the Heathen; The Constitution of the Massachusetts Peace Society; Anthony Benezet [Anti-Slavery, Abolition]; On Intemperance and Drunkenness; On the Present Defects of Sacred Music as Practiced in Most of the New England Churches [some things never change]; The Benevolence of Ancient Christians; Revival of Religion in Salisbury, New Hampshire; On Cruelty to Beasts; Thoughts on Poverty [Extensive]; A Letter from Anthony Benezet to the Queen of Great Britain; Arguments against Requiring Subscription to Human Creeds; An Indian’s Address to Americans; Notice of a Pamphlet “on the Terms of Communion” by Robert Hall; Report of the Executive Committee of the Boston Society for the Religious and Moral Improvement of Seamen; The Legal and Evangelical Dispensations Compared; Character of the Rev. Samuel Cary; Society for Promoting Christianity among the Jews; Constitution for the Female Society of Boston and the Vicinity for Promoting Christianity among the Jews; Extract from an Address Pronounced by a Hebrew; On the Formation of a Seminary for Educating Negroes for the Gospel Ministry [lengthy]; Living on Vegetables [Vegetarianism]; The Philadelphia Orphan Society; On Praying for One Another; etc. etc.

Hale, Nathan [Ed.] The Christian Disciple, Published Monthly. Vol. 4. Boston. Wells and Lilly. 1816. 338pp.

Fair only, with boards detached, spine cover lacking. Contents generally solidly bound, clean, and usable with a bit of care.