tians of every name, on every side, are alive in the work of the Lord, must argue a state of moral apathy equally unnatural and censurable. He who on Calvary shed his most precious blood, and is now sitting at the right hand of power, calls us to action! Alas! we have been negligent too long! Who has felt as he ought for the millions that remain ignorant, polluted, and miserable, under the dominion of the god of this world! Who may not derive from past lukewarmness, motives to renewed exertions! Every moment abbreviates the term of our glorifying Christ on the earth, and admonishes us to do with our might the work before us Who can think without rapture, on the possibility that the imperfect attempts of a solitary mission society, or even of a solitary individual, may, through the influences of the Spirit of the Lord, be rendered instrumental of saving many souls from eternal death, and of preparing the way for their admission into the paradise of God! Who, surveying the crowds that lie perishing in every quarter of the globe, is not ready, with the generous feeling of an apostle, to exclaim: we are "willing" to impart to you, "not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls?" By the phrase heaven and earth, the Jews expressed their idea of the universe. But to Jesus all power in heaven and earth is given; and to his loved and venerable name every knee shall bow, of things in heaven and of things in earth, and every tongue confess that He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Home Proceedings. UNITED FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Advices from each of our Missions have reached us since our last number was published. The Journal of the Union Mission, mentioned in our last, has not yet come to hand. Another letter has, however, been received from the Superintendent; and we have been favoured with a copy of a letter from Doctor Palmer, of the same Mission. tracts from both will be given. Ex Two letters have been received from Members of the Great Osage Mission, announcing that on the first of July, the family had proceeded fourteen miles up the Osage river, and that all were then in comfortable health. Extracts from these Letters, as well as the Journal promised in our last, will now be given. Our information from the Tuscarora Mission is highly interesting. Two of the young Indians have lately been admitted to the communion of the Church, four have requested to be taken under the special care of the Church Session for religious instruction, and several others appear to be visited with serious impressions. From the Seneca Mission, our communications are as late as the 8th of the present month. By a letter from Mr. Young, and a talk from several of the Indian Chiefs, we learn, that many of the Tribe are awaiting, with much solicitude, the arrival of a Mis sionary. It is a subject of regret, that the Board of Managers have not yet been able to procure a suitable person for that office. UNION MISSION. The Superintendent to the Domestic Secretary. Post of Arkansas, June 18, 1821. Dear Sir, By I expect to set out this Evening on my return to Union. I go by land, and expect to occupy about twelve days in passing through the wilderness. coming to this place, I have saved one hundred dollars in the freight of our supplies, and have made arrangements which will in future relieve our circumstances at that far distant Station. My passage here has cost me nothing; but on my return, I must be at some expense for a horse and a pilot, as it is not safe for a stranger to traverse the forests alone. The Missionary life is attended with labour, fatigue, and great concern of mind; but it is for Christ, and, therefore, it is pleasant. The Treasurer of the Female Missionary and Education Society of Georgetown, District of Columbia, has sent on to us Thirty Dollars to be appropriated to the education of an Osage boy, who is to be named Robert Monroe. The Society is pledged to pay this sum annually. Doctor Palmer to his Brother. Union, March 18, 1820. My Dear Brother, I have but a few moments to write. Six Indians are now here from the Indian town, and are going immediately down to Fort Smith; an opportunity that seldom offers, at present, on account of the hostilities existing between the two tribes. Through the mercy of God, we are all safely here at last. We arrived about the middle of February, and found some of the Brethren sick and unable to labour. We found only one cabin to accommodate us all. The other cabins which the Brethren had been building were not finished, on ac count of bad weather and ill health. In about two weeks after our arrival, we succeeded in finishing them, so far as to move into them. They are five in number. One of them we took for a warehouse, and the other four to live in. We are now tolerably well accommodated. It was with much pleasure I first set my feet on this shore. The soil I find superior perhaps to any I have before seen. The place chosen is a fine prairie, containing eight hundred or one thousand acres of land, fringed around by woods. On one side flows Grand river, a rapid stream, and navigable part of the year. In this country are to be found in considerable abundance wild horses, buffaloes, elk, bear, wolves, deer, panthers, swan, geese, ducks, turkies, and honey. About a mile distant, is a salt spring, which will be wrought this season. Soon after we arrived, some of the Indians came, as they said, to shake hands with us. We found them equal to our expectations in every respect, a noble race of people. In this introduction, we agreed, at their request, to hold a council with them at their town, within ten days. At the appointed time, I was one of the four, who went over to the council. In passing that distance, about 25 miles, we found the land a continued level, and rich prairie. When we came in sight of the town, we had one of the grandest prospects I ever beheld. To a great extent around the town, the land appears almost perfectly level. On one side runs the Vermillion river. Attwoor three miles distance from the town, there are several natural mounds, rising directly from a perfect plain to the height of about two hundred feet. All the mounds appear to rise just to the same height, and as level at the top as the adjacent plains. The one nearest the town has about three acres on the top, and is accessible only in one or two places. As we approached the town, the head Chief came out to meet us, and bid us welcome. In a short time we were surrounded by hundreds apparently happy to see us. The Chief took us to his lodge. In walking through the town we were continually annoyed by a host of surly, snarling dogs, who were not accustomed to the dress and appearance of the whites. The dress of the Indians consists of buckskin dressed, made into leggins, reaching to the hips; on their feet mockasins; and a buffaloe robe or blanket about their shoulders, They shave off their hair close to their heads, except a line, about half an inch wide, running round the head. hair thus left is cut about an inch long; within this line of hair, they fasten an ornament. Their ears are slit in several places, and filled with strings of beads. In addition to these, they have many other kinds of ornaments about their arms and legs. The Their houses are made of poles, arch, ed from fifteen to twenty feet covered by matting made of flaggs. At the sides they set up rived plank, lining the inside with neatly made flagg matting. They build several fires in the lodge, according to its size, or the number of wives the owner has. For a fire-place, they dig a hole about as large as a bushel-basket, leaving the smoke to ascend through a hole in the roof. Around the fire, they spread their mats to sit or eat. Having entered the lodge, and had our horses turned out, we took a hum ble seat around the fire. Presently there was brought to us a wooden bowl, filled with food made of corn. In a short time we were invited to eat at another lodge, and before we had finished at another, and another. In the same manner we were treated, during all the time we remained in the village. It is impossible to give you any idea of their cooking. It was so strange, as well as new, and withal they were so filthy, that I believe, if I were to live with them, I should have a dangerous seasoning. Hereafter I will give you some account of their religious exercises. In the morning the head Chief called his people together for a council, in which, with a poor interpreter, we explained, as well as we could, the several letters to them from the Government, the Society, and individuals. In as much as they understood us, they were much pleased. They answered us only in expressions of gladness-saying they would freely send their children as soon as they should be able to settle the war with the Cherokees. Alas! what thick darkness covers their minds! would to God, that the Son of Righteousness might rise in his glory, and dispel these clouds of night! We are now very busy. The weather is beginning to be warm, The grass and herbs are springing up. The health of the family is improving, though I should not be surprised, were we to have some sickness this spring, GREAT OSAGE MISSION. EXTRACTS OF LETTERS AND JOURNALS. Miss Comstock to one of her friends in New-York. Mission boats, Missouri river, My Dear Miss June 27, 1821. If you were at this moment looking on the map, you could fancy us at the confluence of the Gasconade and Missouri. Our passage up this river has been marked with evident tokens of divine favour. The health of the family, which, on the Mississippi, appeared in a decline, is now evidently improved, and with the improvement of health, we find returning cheerfulness. Dear Sister Weller, who was taken from the boats at St. Louis, is now con valescent. She was confined about two weeks with a hard cough and considerable fever. Doubtless you have heard of the afflictive dispensations of divine providence on our passage, and while at Shawneetown: but I trust they have had a salutary effect on the minds of the family. Severe trials frequently prove our choicest blessings. To a lively imagination, the scenery on the banks of these noble streams affords sufficient exercise. The bold shore of lime-stone rocks sometimes appear like ancient Castles in ruins. Their towering heights frequently raise the imagination to such a pitch, that nothing but infinity can bound the flight. How frequently do I wander along these banks, and under the deep shade of these primeval trees, which effectually seclude me from the mild radiance of the declining Sun, turn my eyes to my dear native land, and involuntarily sigh that I can no more, in this world, receive the cordial welcome, and the friendly interchange of thought. It is at such seasons, my dear friend, that the promises of God have their sweetest effect on my mind. When I reflect that it is for Jesus and immortal souls that I have made the sacrifice, I can most cheerfully submit to all these privations, and hail the arduous work with increasing ardour. Think not my dear Miss that because I occasionally shed a few tears of affliction, that I am unhappy far from it, I was never more happy in my life. The Master has pledged his faithfulness, and he has indeed verified his promises. He is a God near at hand; he invites me not to be careful or troubled, for he is at hand to support, at hand to over-rule, at hand to deliver, therefore I can always rejoice. Since we have been on these rivers, we have frequently been in immediate danger; yet Jehovah has been as a munition of rocks round about us. His Covenant love and faithfulness have never for a moment been withdrawn. Considering our numbers, the change of climate, and the dangers to which we have been exposed, we have indeed been wonderfully preserved; and I trust we can say with the liveliest emotions of gratitude, "Bless the Lord, O our souls, and forget not all his benefits." There is a sanctuary which the missionary is privileged to enter, and to learn the designs of providence, and of grace. Though we have an arduous work before us, yet we have an eternal spirit to guide and comfort us, and to give us the assurance of immortal Glory. In removing me from my dear earthly friends, my master has taught me, that my happiness must be derived more immediately from himself. I have been much animated with the hope of future usefulness, since I saw the natives at St. Louis. From their quick apprehension, I have almost fancied them civilized and christianized. Will it not be a delightful sight, should we be permitted to behold these wild children of the forest, at the feet of Jesus, praising redeeming love? But, it will be still more delightful, when, with them, our dear friends, and all the redeemed in glory, we shall surround the throne of God, to see more and more into what is infinite and eternal, where the wonder, the love, and the transport, shall increase, till we shall be entirely wrapt in the sublimity of praise. With gratitude I acknowledge the receipt of your kind letter while at Philadelphia; but at no place where we have stopped, have I had it in my power to answer it. I now take a midnight hour for the purpose. You will easily conceive how much we must have to do, when I inform you that we have sixty in the family, and nearly one half of the ladies are unable to take their turns in the kitchen at all, some having large families of their own, and others being indisposed. Since the first three weeks after I came on the water, I have enjoyed excellent health, and by the blessing of God have regularly taken my turn. The difficulty of ascending the rivers is very great. The boats are drawn against the rapid current by the strength of the men. The brethren perform this task with uncommon fortitude. We shall probably be at the mouth of the Osage to morrow, or the day after. I shall welcome the day that will give us entrance on the borders of Osage. We find a few inhabitants on the banks of these rivers. The soil appears to be excellent. We greatly need the prayers of the Christian public, and I trust we have them. Mr. Sprague to the Domestic Secretary. I find that our maps do not very nicely represent this river. Gov. Clark of St. Louis, has furnished us with one which is very exact, and will be of great assistance. There are forty three Islands from this to our station; and at each a ripple. The Osage has backwater up about 20 miles, and the current is so We now have easy that we can row. down the mast and all the rigging from deck, and slide along by the bushes which project over the river to a considerable distance. On Friday evening about dusk, we entered the Osage, after twenty days labour, an average of 6 or 7 miles per day, from St. Louis. We are now in hopes of making greater progress. Our Pilot having never navigated the Missouri, was not furnished with a suitable quantity of ropes. This circumstance occasioned considerable delay. I believe it best, in ascending the Missouri, either to have no sail at all, or to have more than we had; at least a top sail in addition. Should a family be sent to the council Bluffs, two good warps, one cordell, and two skiffs will be necessary for each boat. The boats, if more than one, should be entirely separate from each other. One should carry the family, and the other the stock of provisions and other property; for where two boats are obliged to be together at night or at mealtime, the one often has to wait for the other an hour or two, and sometimes much longer. Fifteen men are necessary, with the commander, for a boat of the size of ours. A warp, is a rope of eight or ten hundred yards, one end carried forward in a skiff, and tied to a tree or a rock, and by pulling at the other end which remains on board, the boat is drawn up. A cordell is also a rope, one end of which, is tied to the top of the mast, while the other is taken on shore and drawn forward by eight or ten men. We have one regular Blacksmith along, who will doubtless stay with us for sometime after our arrival. We had occasion to make a steering oar pin, while on the Mississippi. Being unable to get at our tools, we made use of the stove to heat the Iron; the head of one axe for an anvil, and that of an other for a hammer, and the edge of a third for a chisel. The Missouri river was, perhaps, never higher than it now is. It is hard to ascend-a The banks are bluff, heavy current. perhaps a third of the way, and timbered principally with cotton wood, oak, Hickory, Sickamore, and very little Sugar Maple. Cotton is here cultivated. I have seen several fields of it. Had I time, I would draw a map of the Osage River for you with the Islands, that you might be better judge of it. The family I believe has never been in a state of more general health than at present. JOURNAL OF THE MISSION, FROM SHAWNEETOWN TO ST. CHARLES. In our last, we brought up this Journal to the 6th of May. We shall now carry it forward from that date to the 13th of June. Monday, May 7, 1821.-We left Shawneetown at 9 o'clock this Morning; and having a fair wind part of the day, we passed down about 52 miles. Brother Dodge was quite indisposed through |