4. After the death of Eliot, the unin- || forts of one distinguished individual, whose structed Indians were left to themselves, with no man like minded who would naturally care for their state. The Society for propagating the Gospel among the Indians and others in NewEngland, was incorporated by act of Parliament 1649. In 1718 the churches in Boston contributed 1.483 towards the objects of Indian conversion and civilization. These contributions were annual, and they had besides in Boston a fund of 1.1000, the interest of which was devoted to the same purpose.* The Moravians with their characteristic benevolence have done much for the Indians, in the middle and western states. Their first Indian Mission was established at Shekomeko, about twenty-five miles A east of Poughkeepsie, New York. church was here gathered in the midst of the most appalling difficulties and discouragements, and in 1744 it contained sixtythree members. But the jealousy of the people of New York, forced the christian Indians and their devoted teachers to leave the State. The cruel selfishness of interested white men, and the disquiets occasioned by the revolutionary war, caused hardships, privations, and sufferings, almost unparalleled both to the missionaries and the Indian converts. They were expelled from one settlement after another, their property was violently wrested from them, they were left to perish by hunger and cold, and not unfrequently were they inhumanly and wantonly murdered. Notwithstanding all this, the Moravians between the years 1740 and 1787, had established 24 different christian villages among the Indians, they reckoned nearly 1000, who gave unequivocal evidence of piety, besides great numbers of nominal christians who adopted the arts of civilized life. For a particular and very interesting account of the labours and sufferings of these devoted men, I would refer your readers to Loskiel's History of the Moravian Missions in North America. KATAHDIN. After reading the foregoing communication, we are utterly confounded in reflecting upon the apathy that seems to pervade our churches in reference to the grand and momentous subjects connected with the conversion and salvation of a world that lieth in wickedness. When we see how much was accomplished soon after the settlement of our country, by the zealous and untiring ef *It may be thought perhaps that some account of the Tabors of the pious Brainerd ought to be given in this connection. But as his exertions, strenuous and self denying as they were, were confined to a few localities, they could hardly be noticed in so cursory a sketch. heart was deeply imbued with the love. of God, we are led to the inquiry, What might we not expect if the churches of our day would act in concert, and go forth in the greatness of their strength, with their contributions, exertions, and prayers, depending on the Lord of Hosts for success? Our opinion has long been, that on this subject "we are verily guilty concerning our brethren;" and could we present any motives or inducements that should call into vigorous action those latent ener gies which have too long been concealed, our wishes would be accomplished. The great object of the Saviour's mission on earth was to save fallen man from the influence and control of sin, and from the "wrath to come." He has declared that "the field is the world," and that his knowledge must cover it. The decree has gone forth! It is the mandate of Heaven,-Reform and christianize the world! The question then which presents itself to our view with all its vast importance, is, In what way can this mighty object be effected? We answer, By the timely and liberal contributions of Christians to support missionaries who are traversing the wilderness, and those also who are engaged in the arduous work of translating the Holy Scriptures into various languages. The period is approaching when all nations shall read in their own language the wonderful works of God. Another method to be adopted, and which we believe Heaven will approve, is, that some of our young men who have been called to the work of evangelizing the world, men of firm constitutions, united with vigorous and active minds, whose "feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace," and who can "endure hardness as good soldiers," should volunteer their services, and determine to live and to die in endeavouring to persuade the benighted heathen to be reconciled unto God. Men are required who will strive to imitate Brainerd and Eliot in preaching to the natives, and who will address to their hearts and consciences not only the terrors of the law, but the soothing and melting invitations of the gospel, and thus point these benighted souls to the Lamb of God, || ends of the world are come?" Let us who taketh away the sin of the world; cast our eyes abroad among the forests of men whose devotedness and indefatigable our western frontiers, and there see the labours will not shrink from a comparison thousands of our red brethren without God with the intrepidity and perseverance of and without hope in the world, destitute Egede and his coadjutors, who first plant- of a saving knowledge of that "Great ed the standard of the cross on the steril Spirit" whom they ignorantly worship. and snowy summits of Greenland. We are intrusted with the care of those souls that live in and around the Indian Missionary Stations that are under the su Another, and we believe most effectual means, is, fervent and persevering prayer. We are aware that without this, all oth-perintendence of the Baptist Board of Forer means will be unavailing. Here is indeed the anchor of our hope, both sure and steadfast, and here our hope is strengthened and our faith invigorated, because the Lord is on our side, and hath graciously promised the bestowment of those blessings which are connected with the salvation of the heathen, in answer to the prayers of his people. In this service every christian may unite, and every christian has a part to perform, and can plead no excuse for neglect that will justify him before God. We would again urge the importance of this great concern by every consideration in our power. Its consequences, who can estimate! It is connected with the eternal destinies of our fellow-beings, with the condition of their deathless souls, with the felicities of heaven, or the miseries of hell. We are overwhelmed with the magnitude of this grand subject, while its greatness is constantly increasing before us. "On such a theme, 'twere impious to be calm." We entreat our brethren to be up and do- Will not the labours and privations of apostles and saints of other days operate as a powerful stimulus upon us, " on whom the eign Missions. We, too, are pledged to sustain the Burman Mission. Millions of souls in that vast empire are now perishing for lack of vision, and may (with the blessing of God) be converted by our efforts. The silver and the gold are the Lord's, and missionary operations will not fail of success, "while men of property love the souls of their fellow-men," and while Christians pray fervently for their salvation. Arise, O sleeper, and call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that the heathen perish not. Look at the men of this world, and see the privations that they endure, and the zeal and industry with which they prosecute their plans, in pursuit of the pleasures, the honours, and the riches that soon perish with the using. How fearfully do they rebuke the supineness of those who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb! Did this subject impress Christians as it ought, "every quarter of the globe, the most solitary places not excepted," would soon be visited by the missionaries of the cross, who would impart "the pungent instructions of Paul, accompanied with the burning zeal of Peter." "Shall Eliot, Brainerd, and others of congenial souls, forever wear the sparkling crowns which they earned among the native tribes," and no more of the sons of the prophets go forth at the present day, and follow their example? Rather will not a great army of the heralds of salvation stand forth and say, Here are we, send us. We will not fail nor be discouraged, for while we are appalled in view of the indolence and impotency of man, we are cheered with the recollection that it is "not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.” MISSIONS. POWER OF RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLE. their own. Two instances have recently occurred to the knowledge of the writer, in which men, upon becoming experimentally acquainted with religion, have restored what they had before withheld from those to whom it was due, to the amount of several hundred dollars. In neither instance did their creditors know that they were defrauded, and consequently there was nothing to excite them to a surrender of their money, the common idol of the heart, but a sense of duty. This consideration was enough. They knew that in the sight of God they were debtors, and could not with impunity withhold what they had improperly accounted The contemplation of these deeds of justice, suggested the inquiry, whether there were not many christians who have defrauded the cause of God of what they owed to it, and who, if they had done the same to their fellow men, would have felt themselves bound to restore. We think there can be no doubt of this fact. God has an imperious claim upon us for a portion of our substance, even a generous share of it. We may have attempted to satisfy this demand, by inadequate appropriations. We may have given something for the support of the ministry among us, and something to send the gospel or the Bible to the destitute, but far less than we were able. The amount of the divine claim may be much greater than we have considered; and why have we been so insensible to it? Probably, for no other reason, than that our attention has not been fully awakened to the subject. Let the circumstance above recited lead us to inquiry. MR. JUSTICE. LETTER FROM REV. YATES THE CORRESPONDING SECRETARY. ΤΟ written it just as I preached it, as nearly as I could recollect, from the notes in my possession. I now leave it with you to make what use of it you think fit.* Our passage across the Atlantic was about three weeks; but the wind being contrary, we had to beat about the coasts of Ireland for a week. A month's passage, however, did not appear to me very long, after one of three months and a half. We had only six cabin passengers, three gentleman, one lady, and two boys, and they all, together with the Captain, were very agreeable. We had divine service on the Sabbath, and a few times we had worship in the evening, though I am sorry to say, something often happened to prevent us from having this regularly. I find when less is done for God, less is enjoyed in the soul; and that the more we do for Christ's honour, the more he will do for our happiness. I am now expecting, in the course of a few days, to see my beloved parents and friends again; a joy which when I left England, I did not expect to realize in this world. Believe me yours very affectionately, W. YATES. Pennsylvania Baptist Missionary Society, Auxiliary to the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions. The Annual Meeting of this Society was held, December 5, 1827, in the Baptist Meeting-house, Sansom-st. Philadelphia, and opened with prayer by brother Maylin, President of the Society. The list of Societies auxiliary to this was called, and the names of their Messengers enrolled, with the monies contributed, amounting to above 200 dollars. A Committee, consisting of brethren Maylin, Dagg, and Davis, was appointed, for the purpose of exciting more activity and energy among our churches in reference to missionary efforts. The following persons were chosed officers of the Society for the ensuing year. Rev. JOSEPH MAYLIN, President. JOHN L. DAGG, Vice President. An interesting sermon was delivered in the evening by brother E. Cushman, from Matt. xx. 22. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of? Bap. Tract Mag. DONATION FOR AFRICAN MISSION. A gentleman who read in the Christian Watchman of December, a notice of the * Extracts from this valuable Sermon will appear in the next No. of this work. wants of our Missions at Liberia as presented at the Monthly Concert of prayer in the Federal-Street Baptist meetinghouse, Boston, immediately forwarded to the Corresponding Secretary of the Board, an expression of his sympathy with suffering Africa, and placed fifty dollars at their disposal. Will not many others according to their ability imitate this generous example, and furnish the means for a vigorous prosecution of the christian enterprise in that land of darkness? Baptist Meeting-house opened. On Wednesday the 24th of Oct. last, a Baptist Meeting-house in Hinesburgh, Vermont, was opened for publick worship. The house was completely filled, and the services of the day commenced by the reading of select portions of Scripture. Pastor J. Dodge, of Ferrisburgh, made the first prayer, Pastor A. Sabin, of Georgia, preached an appropriate Sermon, from Psl. cxxii. 1, "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord." Pastor P. Chase, of Hinesburgh, then offered the dedicatory prayer, and the services closed with a suitable song of praise to God. The house has a basement story, and a good steeple, and on each side of the entrance is a room sufficient for the accommodation of candidates for baptism. The Baptist Church in Hinesburgh, was constituted with eighteen members, in the year 1810, in an extreme part of the town. Among its first members, were those who were wishing to be the decided and active followers of Christ, and who daily brought forth the works of faith, the labour of love, and the patience of hope. After about eight or nine years, a few individual members by making some extra pecuniary exertions, obtained a convenient place of worship in the village, or central part of the town, in which place, their meetings on the Sabbath were established. For all these exertions in maintaining publick worship there, they were richly rewarded with a precious revival of religion, in which the Church received an accession of strength. The Church have been distinguished for their harmony, and gradual increase in numbers and influence. In the autumn of 1825, they resolved to exert themselves to build a house for God. They commenced the work praying, "Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands, establish thou it." The Lord has answered their prayers, and since the commencement of the house, he has revived his work among them, and brought many of their children to be protake an active part with them in the occumising members of the Church, and to pleted and dedicated to God-To whom pancy of the house now so happily combe all the glory. CARD. The subscriber very gratefully acknowledges the receipt of ten dollars from the ladies of Brewster and Orleans, (Mass.) to constitute him a member for life of the Baptist Primary Missionary Society of the county of Barnstable. OTIS WING. Newton, Nov. 16, 1827. Subscriptions obtained by the Agent of the Newton Theological Institution for its general objects, viz. 2,00 Sturbridge. Edward Phillips, 1, Moses Fiske, David Taylor, A friend, by Rev. A. Samson, Nathan Streeter, 10,00 4, ,50 ,75 ,50 1, ,50 2, 1, 1, 4,24 |