was
to be originated by hearing the gospel, for "faith comes by hearing."
All those efforts, therefore, in a community, which manifests the
greatest solicitude on the part of the people, that the gospel should be
_heard_, is credible evidence that the people who make these efforts,
are the friends of Christ, and well-wishers to his cause. Now, all those
_means_ which are most likely to secure the ear of the people, are left
by Christ to the _discretion_ of his friends. They may use the
market-place--the highways--the forests--or _any other place_, which in
their judgment is most likely to get the ear of the people when the
gospel is proclaimed. By common consent, however, within the limits of
Christian civilization, they have agreed that suitable houses, in which
the people can meet to hear the gospel, are the most suitable and proper
means for securing the audience of the people, and as a consequence, the
transforming power of the gospel upon the hearts and lives of those who
hear.

With these views to guide us in estimating the value of the facts to be
examined, we proceed to disclosures made by the census of 1850. We there
learn that the free population of New England is two million seven
hundred and twenty-eight thousand and sixteen; and that the free
population of these five slave States is two million seven hundred and
thirty thousand two hundred and fourteen; an excess of only two thousand
one hundred and ninety-eight. This fraction we will drop out, and speak
of them as equals. New England, then, with an equal population, has
erected four thousand six hundred and seven churches; these five slave
States have erected eight thousand and eighty-one churches. These New
England churches will accommodate one million eight hundred and
ninety-three thousand four hundred and fifty hearers; the churches of
the five slave States will accommodate two million eight hundred and
ninety-six thousand four hundred and seventy-two hearers. Thus we see
that these slave States, with an equal free population, have erected
nearly double the number of churches, and furnished accommodation for
upwards of a million more persons, to hear the gospel, than can be
accommodated in New England. In New England, nine hundred and
thirty-four thousand, five hundred and sixty-six of its population
(which is nearly one-third) are excluded from a seat in houses built for
the purpose of enabling people to hear the gospel; while in these five
Southern