with delighted anticipations to the period which they see rapidly advancing, when the Shilboleths of party shall be merged in one common effort to send the gospel through the world.

The day too will soon arrive, when the traveller, as he crosses the ocean, will find in every vessel, a Bethel of prayer, an altar erected to our Lord and Redeemer; and as he takes his circuit over the globe, will hail the disciples of Jesus in every clime, inhabiting every city and village in his course; every where churches consecrated to the service of the one living and true God, Father Son and Holy Spirit, will meet his rejoicing eyes, and hymns of gratitude and praise will vibrate on his ear. Yes, and much is reserved for Christian Seamen in hastening on this happy jubilee. They will become Heralds of the cross, and carry the glad news of salvation to foreign lands and distant climes. To thousands who are now living without God, to whom "Heaven presents no hopes and Hell no fears," they will be the honoured instruments of repeating the anthem chanted from the skies to the shepherds of Bethlehem. "Unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord."

Pious Seamen are destined by the providence of God to act a distinguished part in that moral revolution of the world, which is to give unto the Re

deemer "the heathen for his inheritance, and the' uttermost parts of the earth for his possession," O, happy men! thus privileged to bear the blood-bought blessings of redemption to earth's remotest bounds.

A few more rolling years at most, will thus usher in the glories of the millennial Sabbath. Time in its eagle flight has brought us to the close of another year, and in its narrow compass, how many events interesting to seamen, and the friends of seamen, have crowded! How many of them have gone down to people the regions of despair! And many, we hope, of their immortal spirits, through the instrumentality of Bethel Union Societies, have ascended to shout unceasing hallelujahs to the Redeemer! In the review we have much to humble-much to gladden. We have seen the mighly system of means urging forward in a majestic and accelerated march the accomplishment of the divine purposes, publishing to all the world the forgiveness of sins. And whilst to us the Gospel clarion sounds in a louder and sweeter strain, urging us onward, does not this christian exertion commend itself to the best feelings and prayers of every renewed heart?

To-morrow, and a new year will dawn on this apostate world. Oh, may it prove a rich season of mercy to every benevolent enterprise that concerns the soul!

MISSION AMONG THE CHEROKEES.

In the course of the past year, the Mission among the Cherokees has been strengthened by the arrival of the Rev. William Potter, and Dr. Elizur Butler, Feb. 1822. 30

who have entered with zeal and activity into the labours of their brethren. Mr. Potter was ordained to the holy work of an evangelist, soon after the last annual meeting of the Board, by the association

of ministers in Windham County, Conn. under whose auspices he had been previously licensed to preach. Dr. Butler completed his medical education in Connecticut, not long before he entered upon the work, in which he is now employed. Both had been recently married to persons, who, as well as themselves, had for some time looked forward with pleasure to the commencement of these benevolent labours. They set out on their journey about the first of November, and reached Brainerd the 10th of January. Nothing of importance befel them, other than the ordinary occurrences of travelling at an unpleasant season of the year.

Station of Brainerd.

The various operations at Brainerd have been carried forward, as the health of the Missionaries, and the resources at their disposal, gave the ability. The school has continued, with as little variation in regard to numbers, as could reasonably be expected. In the beginning of last month, there were 87 Cherokee children, 57 boys and 30 girls, actually in the school, beside the children belonging to the mission families. There were also 15 Cherokee children belonging to the school who were then absent for various causes. The pupils had regularly proceeded in their studies, passed the stated examinations with credit, and were advancing to maturity with all those incitements to industry and virtue, which belong to a Christian and civilized country. More assistants to carry on the business of education, in its various branches, to the best advantage, were urgently needed; particularly a young person of each sex, possessing vigorous health, good judgment, and a love for the work, to be employed in the superintendence of the children, when out of school. This want, it is hoped, the Committee may hereafter be able to supply. These children, collected from the wilderness, and placed under the di

rection of Christian benevolence, are indeed a precious deposit. Every thing should be done for their improvement, which can possibly be effected. Soon they will be mingling with their countrymen, and imparting their acquired character to others, and they to others still, in a wider and still wider range. No time is to be lost. The principal difficulty lies in selecting the best agents, which our Christian community is able to supply, for this labour of love. But if the Board, and its friends in every part of the country, look to Him who has the resources of the universe at his disposal, there is reason to believe that He will provide such instruments as will be acknowledged and honoured by himself, in the communication of his mercy.

Among the events, which particularly concern the school, is to be noticed with gratitude, that several of the boys were uncommonly serious, at the date of the last intelligence; and that there was a general disposition to listen to religious instruction. A considerable number of boys and girls had been selected to be supported as beneficiaries, and had received names prescribed by their patrons.

In accomplishing the original design of the Committee, as well as with a view to relieve the brethren at the present exigency, two assistant Missionaries, one from Vermont and the other from Ohio, have been directed to join the Mission at Brainerd, and are now probably on their way thither. They have small families, and are strongly recommended as qualified to discharge the various duties, which will there devolve upon them. Should they arrive in safety, it is probable that one will assist Mr. Hall at Taloney.

During the year past, there has been much sickness among the members of the mission families. Few have escaped; the greater part have suffered severely. Yet it should be mentioned with gratitude, that no adult connected with the mission has been removed by

death, and that the children of the school have been remarkably healthy. The very arduous labours of all, but especially of the females, have doubtless produced much of the sickness which they have endured. The Committee sincerely regret that so heavy a burden has fallen upon those publicspirited and devoted females, who have addicted themselves to this service of the saints. They have well nigh sunk under the various and distressing weight of care, which has continually rested upon them. As hired assistance could not be obtained without difficulty, and when obtained was often worse than none, they determined to manage the domestic affairs, with the aid of the female pupils between the hours of school. Some estimate of the labour performed may be made, when it is stated, that one of the female assistants, who was far from enjoying good health, had, as her charge, to iron for 120 persons, and to mend the clothes of more than 50 boys; and that another, who had a weakly child to nurse, superintended the washing, beside teaching the school for the girls. A worthy matron, who gratuitously spent three months in the labours of the mission family, writes as follows concerning them; "When we take into consideration the attention which the sick required, the reception of company, cleaning of house, making of candles and soap, &c. I am astonished that so much could have been performed. It would be much for the cause, if some pious woman, a good manager, and in good health, could be sent to superintend the kitchen, and the mission table. O may no thoughtless, useless, inexperienced female ever add to the burden of the dear sisters at Brainerd."

Station of Taloney.

Mr. Hall has had the sole charge of the school and domestic concerns of this station, since his removal thither in May, 1820. During the winter

months, the average attendance of pupils was from 20 to 25. As the spring opened, the number increased; but the ill health of Mr. Hall and his wife was so frequent, and the difficulty of procuring hired labour so great, that the school suffered not a little embarrassment. It is greatly to be desired, that a faithful and laborious farmer should reside with the teacher at each station where a local school is established. The farmer should be qualified to take the place of the teacher, in case any exigency should require it. With ordinary industry, food could easily be obtained for two small families from the produce of the farm, and the pasturage of the neighbouring woods. Mr. Hall has four acres of cleared land, of which three are planted with corn. He keeps four cows, and has an excellent garden of culinary vegetables.

Many of the natives have been inclined to meet on the Sabbath for religious instruction, whenever Mr. Hall has been well enough to read the Scriptures, converse upon them, and lead in prayer. If ill health prevented these customary exercises, it appeared to excite deep regret in the minds of those who commonly attended. But perhaps by no circumstance was the introduction of Christianity into a heathen neighbourhood more marked in its effects, than by the change which it produced in the observation of Christmas. It may seem a solecism to speak of Christmas, as observed in a heathen neighbourhood; but though a solecism in words, it is not inconsistent with the fact. The American Aborigines extensively, even those of them who know not that there is such a thing as sin, or salvation, or that such a person as Jesus Christ ever appeared in the world, have learned by the pernicious examples of straggling whites, that there is a season, somewhere about the winter solstice, devoted to feasting, sports, brutal drunkenness, and quarrelling.

But to return from this short digression: Mr. Hall had given notice, that there would be a meeting for religious worship on Christmas, at the schoolhouse. More than a hundred Cherokees assembled, and many Africans. "The transactions of this season were more interesting to us," says Mr. Hall "because last Christmas every man in the neighbourhood was drunken; and many of them continued so for nearly a week. Now there was not one about our house, who did not conduct with propriety, except a white man. After meeting, about thirty Cherokees took supper with us. Although there is not a soul here, who gives evidence of being converted to God; yet I think there is a very visible improvement in the conduct of all classes, and I trust that God will ere long display his mighty power.

Station of Creekpath.

The very favourable prospects, with which a school was established at this place, and the glad sounds of the Gospel began to be proclaimed, still continue. A little church has been formed; the saving operations of the Divine Spirit appear to have been experienced, and several late accounts unite in declaring, that the hopeful converts walk together in love, and enjoy the favour of God. Among the most remarkable displays of Divine Grace, which the history of missions furnishes, is to be reckoned the hopeful conversion of Mr. John Brown and so many members of his family. Five years ago, not an individual of his family knew any thing of the Gospel. In the heart of a heathen country, most of them knew nothing of the language, in which alone it seemed possible that they should hear the Gospel and the father was obstinately bent on removing several hundred miles into the wilderness beyond the Mississippi. Yet, at this day, behold both parents, two sons, three daughters, and a son's wife,-eight in the whole,-apparently the children of God, and heirs of immortality. In the

first instance, Catharine, a favourite child in the bloom of youth, is sent to an infant school in an infant mission, at her own importunity, to acquire the ru diments of an education. While there, it pleased the Sovereign dispenser of spiritual favours to impress upon her mind the importance of religious truth, and to open her heart to the reception of the Gospel.

Two years afterwards a younger brother comes to the school, and is religiously affected in consequence of the faithful exhortations of the sister. They visit the paternal home together; and the worship of God is commenced where heathenism had reigned without a rival. The parents begin to awake and to inquire; salvation is proclaimed by the Missionaries; and the result has been stated. Well may it be said, "Salvation has come to this house." Well may we exclaim, if such are the triumphs of the cross, let its heralds be sent to every heathen neighbourhood upon the face of the globe.

In looking at the general results of the mission among the Cherokees, the Committee would gratefully advert to the progress which these people are now evidently making in civilization ; a progress which bears a true proportion to their knowledge of the Gospel. In the autumn of last year they resolved, in a national council, that if parents placed their children in the schools of the Mission, they should not be taken away, till they had obtained a good common education. The council also took measures to encourage the learning of mechanical trades, by promising a set of tools, at the public expense, to apprentices, who should have learned trades, and were ready to commence business for themselves. And what evinces a greater advance still, the country has lately been divided into eight districts, in each of which a court house is to be erected by the people, where justice is to be administered by persons designated to that office. One of these new court-houses is already

erected within eleven miles of Brainerd, and is now used for public worship.

MISSION AMONG THE CHOCTAWS.

Station of Elliot.

The school at Elliot has continued to flourish, though its indefatigable teacher, Mr. Williams, was obliged, by ill health to suspend his labours early in the spring. It is now in charge of Mr. Wood. When the Annual Report was furnished to the Department of War last December, the number of children in the school was 74, and six others were considered as belonging to it, being temporarily absent on a visit to their homes. Three quarters of the whole number were males. All board in the mission family, and are entirely under the control and superintendence of the Missionaries. Fifty of the children could speak no English, when they joined the school. Several can now speak our language fluently; and others can read it correctly, and will soon acquire the spoken language. Of the sixtyfive, who began with the alphabet, twenty-eight at the date of the Report, could read with facility in the New Testament. All write on slates; and thirtynine write a plain hand without a copy. Ten have made some progress in arithmetic; and two have commenced grammar and geography. The boys are employed, when out of school, in the business of the farm, or the family. The girls are in two divisions, and are occupied, alternately, in the more laborious or the more delicate branches of domestic economy, when not engaged in their studies. Miss Thatcher has the care of the girls in the school. The education of females is justly considered as very important, in reference to the advancing civilization of the natives.

About the last of June, Mr. Byington gave the following account of the progress of education. "In our schools we see many proofs of the goodness of God. The scholars are making good improvement in their studies. The

number of boys is 51, and of girls 14; several children having been recently sent for by their parents. The children are docile, obedient, and ready to perform any kind of labour. They are active and very useful. Every morning, by sunrise, or a little after, you might see a company of boys going to the cornfield with their hoes, and another to the woods with their axes."

As the reputation and influence of the schools increase, it may be expected that dissolute whites will practice upon the credulity of an ignoraut people, by circulating mischievous reports, with respect to the treatment of the children, and the designs of the Missionaries. This has already been done among the Choctaws, as well as among the Cherokees. In several instances, however, when parents have been disturbed by stories of this sort, and have repaired to the school for information, they have become perfectly satisfied. Nor is it known that a single individual, who has taken the pains to see for himself, is unfriendly to the school, or the Mission. In one of the cases related in the journal, three men and a woman, who had children in the school, came ninety miles to examine for themselves into the foundation of some unfavourable reports which had reached their ears. Though prejudiced at first, in consequence of what they had heard, they became entirely satisfied, after a free conversation with the Missionaries, and went away highly pleased. The woman herself anxiously sought the privilege of staying at the school, and of being instructed with the children. She declared herself willing to aid in the labours of the family, and wept when informed that she could not be received.

A more recent instance is mentioned in the journal, under the date of May 27th, as follows: "Sabbath: Our exercises were this day as usual. Several neighbours, and several of the parents of our scholars attended our meeting. The parents came to visit the school. They had heard many reports concern