much for the people of Warren County. The Congregations, over which your Missionary is placed, are doing more for the support of the Gospel than they have ever before done. The people of Johnsburgh have it in contemplation to erect a house of worship; and the Society of Warrensburgh are making ‘arrangements to erect a school-house sufficiently large to accommodate all the people that usually attend worship. In Athol they have a house of worship enclosed. In most of these towns there is an increased attention to the means of grace. Sectarian animosity is disappearing. The Christian character is respected, and we would fondly hope the leaven of the Gospel is secretly working in many a heart."

Mission to contiguous districts of Pennsylvania and New-York, bordering on the Delaware River.

In April the Board received, from the Rev. WILLIAM TIMLOW, the journal of the second month of his Mission, mentioned in the last Report, which he commenced on the 21st of February. A part of every day was spent in family visitation. He attended thirty-two meetings, in all of which he preached, except two. In relation to Forestburgh, a settlement in Sullivan County, where he preached several times, he gives the following interesting account, "The Lord is doing wonders in this place. A few families, for some months past, have been engaged in a prayer meeting. The Lord has heard them, and granted a blessing which exceeds their

most sanguine expectations. Hardly a family, numbered in this settlement, in which there is not a hopeful conversion to God, or some under pungent convictions. A family living one and a half miles from the public highway, and to which I could not get but on foot, exhibits a wonder of grace. The father, formerly a miserable creature, appears not only to have a heart, but a new face. He looks like a man walking with God indeed. need not say that meetings in this place

new

I

are crowded and solemn." The little Church in Cochecton, he found in a more flourishing state than when mentioned in the last Report. On the 4th of March, Mr. Timlow dispensed the Lord's Supper at this place. It was a solemn season. Four persons were added to the Church, and a number, particularly among the youth, were weeping. At the Fulton settlement the meetings were full and serious. In Lower Westfield there has been a special season of grace, which still continues. In April, the Board reappointed this valuable Missionary for another period of two months.

Mission to the County of Delaware.

In the month of March, Mr. DANIEL WATERBURY, a licentiate of the Presbyterian Church, was appointed on a Mission of two months and a half to the County of Delaware in this State, adjoining the scene of Mr. Timlow's labours. On the 27th of April, he arrived on the ground intended as the field of his operations. On Sabbath, 29th, he met a crowded audience in the town of Andes, preached twice on that day, and was gratified by the general and marked attention of the audience. A prayer meeting in the evening was attended. The first week of Mr. Waterbury's Mission was spent principally in visiting and distributing Tracts in this town. On the 3d of May, he attended a prayer meeting, at which he remarks, respectable ability and much fervour was manifested by the Church members who prayed. On the 9th, he preached at Popacton to a very attentive audience. "This," he says, "is the people mentioned by Mr. Timlow, and the same interesting excitement mentioned by him, is still manifested." He likewise visited the eastern part of the town of Delhi, where he also found an attentive audience. He next preached at Middletown, and also at Beach-hill, in which place only four Sermons had been preached in thirteen years, except on funeral occasions. On May 30th,

"I rode," says Mr. Waterbury, "to Deacon Halliday's; and though the labour of the husbandman is peculiarly urgent at this season, yet the number of hearers was considerable, and the attention manifested highly encouraging. Not a few of the people in this region, who have lately manifested a change in their conduct and conversation, mention Mr. Timlow, as peculiarly instrumental in the hand of God, in bringing them to serious reflection. The same solemnity seems to characterise this whole region. The inhabitants seem to have awaked to a sense of their destitute situation, and the Missionary is hailed in his true character, as one that bringeth glad tidings. Females sometimes come six or seven miles on foot to hear the gospel." Mr. Waterbury also preached to a large and solemn audience at Walton, where the Lord had, before his visit, poured out his Spirit, and about one hundred persons were rejoicing in hope. Conviction and anxious inquiry was still on the increase. On the 10th of June, he says, "I preached twice at Andes, and held a prayer meeting, as usual, in the evening. The assemblage was greater than ever before witnessed in the place on a similar occasion. A profound seriousness, and an anxious attention, seemed to pervade the whole assembly." The Lord's supper was administered at Andes on the 1st of July, when six persons, all adults and heads of families, who had been previously examined by the Church, came forward and publicly covenanted to be the Lord's. The house was filled to overflowing, and the season peculiarly solemn and interesting. In the afternoon Mr. Waterbury preached his last sermon to this people. They appeared generally tender and deeply impressed; and "I can truly say," he observes, "that my feelings have seldom been tried more than they were after the services of this day. There was hardly a Church member, with whom I parted this evening, that did not leave me in fears, and earnestly entreat that I would visit them again. They bemoaned their

desolate situation, hoped the Society would remember them, and declared their willingness to do all, in their power for assisting themselves." During the Mission Mr. Waterbury preached thirty-eight times, and attended fifteen "With what real prayer meetings. success," says he, " is known to Him with whom is the residue of the Spirit. I trust I shall not be thought too sanguine in stating, that considerable apparent good has already resulted from the Christian kindness of the Society to this destitute region. When I left the field of labour, considerable exertion was making, by the inhabitants of three Societies, in the adjoining towns of Andes and Middletown, to assist in the support of an ordained Missionary among themselves, for the term of three years, should the Society see fit to assist, and locate a Missionary among them."

The Board could not refuse to meet the wishes of the people of Andes and Middletown. They accordingly, in Au. gust, appointed Mr. Waterbury a Missionary to those places for three years. He was ordained an Evangelist, by the Presbytery of New-York, in the month of October, and immediately thereafter proceeded on his Mission.

Conclusion.

Such, brethren, is the history of the proceedings of your Board, and of the labours of your Missionaries, during the year that has elapsed; and such has been the recompense with which a bountiful Providence has rewarded your feeble efforts. During the greater part of the year, the Directors have been embarrassed for the want of means, and they have again been obliged, on that account, to decline offers of Missionary service. They, however, congratulate you upon the zeal manifested at your recent meetings; and on the exertions then made to augment your funds, and infuse new vigour into your operations. It is hoped that the results of these measures will place more abundant means at the disposal of your Directors.

Introduction.

Upwards of eighteen centuries have elapsed since on the mountains of Judea was first heard the angelic overture, "Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people," followed by the grand chorus, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men."

Ever since the first annunciation of the gospel of peace, has its mighty influence been exerted to meliorate the condition of human life-to bring many sons and daughters home to glory-and to prepare the way for the reign of universal righteousness.

Wherever the glorious Sun of Righteousness has shone, His enlightened and enlivening influence has been felt; and, although his beams have at times been intercepted by clouds of ignorance and superstition, he has continued to shed increasing brightness, in his glorious ascent towards the full splendour of meridian day.

It cannot be too often repeated, that the present age has been favoured with greater light and higher privileges than any which has preceded it; and it ought to be recorded with gratitude to the great Head of the Church, it has also witnessed an increased affection and fellowship among his members.

The Christian community have begun to feel their high responsibility, and to be actively, extensively, and unitedly engaged in their Master's service. It is no longer the cause of sect or party which animates the counsels, the exertions, and the prayers of Christians: in this great work they are "all one in Christ Jesus." "Thy kingdom come," is the prayer of all; and all who feel the spirit and imitate the example of their Master, are desirous openly and actively to engage in his cause-to put on his ar

mour, and to fight his battles. In this warfare there can be no neutrals; they who are not for him are against him.

Every day opens a new door to active usefulness and duty, and it becomes us to acknowledge with thankfulness and gratitude, that a new spirit is given to the humble efforts of pious men. The darkness of ages is rolling away, and scenes the most bright and splendid are introduced to our astonished view; scenes which unfold the triumphs of the cross and the victories of the Redeemer.

In this age of mercy to benevolent institutions, it becomes Christians often and earnestly to inquire what new projects can be devised, what new plans adopted, to fill up some remaining deficiency. To such an inquiry may, no doubt, be traced the recent efforts for the moral improvement of seamen, both in Europe and America.

Sketch of the Institutions for the moral improvement of Seamen.

The first institution having for its object the spiritual welfare of seamen, was a Bible Society for the British navy and army, which arose, under the patronage of the late benevolent John Thornton, in 1780. It declined after his death, but was revived again in 1804, under the name of the Naval and Military Bible Society. In 1806 it took a more systematic organization, and received for its President the Archbishop of Canterbury. Its labours have been greatly blessed, and as one of its fruits may be mentioned the conversion of many naval officers, some of whom are now successful ministers of the gospel.

Within three or four years past, seamen in England have been an object of much religious solicitude and attention. On the 30th December, 1817, a meeting was held in London for the purpose of devising means for their religious im

provement, which led the way to the formation, on the 29th of January, 1818, of the Merchant Seamen's Bible Society. On the 18th of March, succeeding, arose the Port of London Society.

These measures have been followed with the formation of Seamen's Friend and Bethel Union Societies, in all the principal ports in Great Britain.

In December, 1816, the first movements began in New-York, when a committee was appointed to receive donations for building a Mariners' Church. In March, 1817, the Marine Bible Society was formed; and in May, 1818, the Port of New-York Society for promoting the Gospel among Seamen was instituted, for the double object of erecting a church and supporting a preacher.

While these things were going on, seamen were still without the preaching of the gospel. A new society immediately rose up, under the name of the New-York Marine Missionary Society, whose particular object was to furnish preaching to seamen until the church should be completed; since which time they have been regularly provided with the means of grace.

Origin and object of the New-York Bethel

Union.

The intelligence of the increased exertions made in behalf of seamen on the other side of the Atlantic, had reached the ears and affected the hearts of Christians here.

Something, it is true, had been done for them, in furnishing them with Bibles, and in the erection of a house of worship, designed exclusively for their accommodation; but a class of people so long excluded from the sanctuary, seemed to require that the messages of mercy should be brought to their very cabin doors.

Christ himself frequently preached and prayed on board of vessels-and his first disciples were humble fishermen. On the shores of Tiberias he often wandered, to gather the straying seamen to his arms; the waves of Gennesaret often heard his voice; and from among the

watermen of the lake, he selected the chief ministers of his kingdom, to whom we are so deeply indebted for the extension of the Christian church, and for the completion of the canon of Scrip

ture.

Impressed with a solemn sense of our obligations to that valuable class of our fellow men, a number of merchants and other gentlemen, whose attention had been called up to the subject, met on the 4th of June last, and the New-York. Bethel Union was established to co-operate with the Port of New-York Society.

Discarding all sectarian jealousies, and meeting on the broad basis of Christian philanthropy, Associate Reformed, Baptist, Reformed Dutch, Episcopalian, Methodist and Presbyterian brethren, who compose the Bethel Union, have combined their influence, and advanced with one heart and one hand to the work.

The object of the society is to extend to seamen the instructions of the Gospel, to persuade them to become reconciled to God, and generally to promote their temporal and spiritual welfare.

Account of some of the Meetings held on

board of Vessels in port.

On Friday, the 22d June, 1821, for the first time in America, the Bethel Flag (a present from the London Bethel Union to the Port of New-York Society) was hoisted at the mast-head of the ship Cadmus, Capt. Whitlock, lying at the Pine-street wharf.

In the morning of the day, the committee were apprehensive that they would have no hearers. The experiment here was novel-the issue was by many considered doubtful. They were told by several, who are "wise in worldly matters," that a guard of constables would be necessary to preserve order. At first it was thought advisable to hold the meetings in the cabin to prevent the possibility of disturbance. On arriving at the vessel, the deck was found cleared, an awning stretched, and all necessary preparations for holding