Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub

commandments. Finally, religion will prepare you for separating. For, remember death will enter your houses. This spoiler of our earthly comforts will soon break the ties which bind together the family circle. By and by you will have to take leave of those children whom God has given you to bring up for him. How painful will it be, in that parting hour, to reflect that you have neglected their souls! But, on the other hand, if you have prayed with, and for them; if you have faithfully instructed them in the principles, and walked before them, in obedience to the precepts of that gospel in which life and immortality are brought to light-you can leave them, when you die, in the care of a gracious Providence, indulging the fond hope, that you shall meet them in heaven, and join them in the ceaseless praises of redeeming love.

Statistics.

Census of Delaware.

W. N.

By the census of 1820 the state of Delaware contains 72,749 inhabitants; which gives an increase of only 75 souls for the last ten years. This is undoubtedly owing to the continual emigration from the two lower counties of this little republic to the western states.

Census of Missouri. The population of Missouri, of every class, amounts to 66,607.

Census of Indiana.

In 1810 Indiana contained 24,000 inhabitants; and in 1820 the census gives 147,000: making an increase in ten years of six hundred per cent.

Debt of England.

Official returns to orders of the House of Commons, state the total amount of funded unredeemed debt of England, as it stood on the 5th

Jan. 1821, at 775,844,463l. 15s. 10ąd. Ireland, do. 25,720,8451. 16s. 64d. Total do. of the united kingdom, 801,564,310l.12s. 54d. Annual interest thereon, 28,064,7211. 17s. 7d.

British Taxes.

The window tax produced, in 1820, 2,366,1397. 12s. 114d. The stamps issued were 24,820,317.

Keligious Intelligence.

ON PRAYER MEETINGS.

At a meeting of the presbytery of Philadelphia held in the city of Philadelphia, by adjournments from the 17th day of April to the 20th inclusive, A. D. 1821, a minute was made of which the following is a true extract:

"The committee appointed to consider and report on the contents of two papers respecting prayer meetings, presented their report, which was accepted, amended and adopted-and is as follows:

1. In answer to the paper signed by Messrs. Alexander Henry, William Nassau, Joseph Montgomery and William Sheepshanks, requesting some advice in regard to the manner of conducting prayer meetings, they recommend the adoption of the following resolutions:

1. Resolved, that according to the word of God, and the form of government of the Presbyterian church, the preaching of the gospel belongs to ministers regularly ordained; and to such other persons as, after due examination of their qualifications, have been licensed by a presbytery to preach.

2. Resolved, that presbytery deem it for the elders of a proper church, in the absence of their pastor, and the elders of a vacant church, to preside in conducting the worship of God, in the usual place, by reading the scriptures, and sermons of approved and orthodox divines, by singing psalms and

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

rience.

5. Resolved, that presbytery highly approve of the practice of the Evangelical Society,' in establishing prayer meetings in the lanes and alleys, and suburbs of this city for the benefit of persons who are not in the habit of attending public worship in our churches; and they think it ought not to be deemed improper at these meetings held in such circumstances, when pious and discreet, experienced and well informed Christians subjoin to the usual exercises, such as prayer, singing psalms and hymns, reading portions of the sacred scriptures, or a sermon of some approved orthodox divine, or a religious tract, or a piece of religious intelligence, some brief remarks in the way of exhortation, (but not delivered in an authoritative manner, as by a minister of the gospel) for the purpose of showing the importance of religion, urging the necessity of repentance and faith, and pressing duties of this kind.

[ocr errors][merged small]
[ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

3. That since the presbytery have learned that Mr. the habit of preaching the gospel at

with the benevolent design of evangelizing the destitute, the presbytery would express their opinion, that every one judging himself qualified for this good work, and willing to enter upon it within the bounds of the presbytery of Philadelphia, ought not to do so, until he has been regularly licensed as a probationer for the gospel ministry.'

THOMAS J. BIGGS.
Stated Clerk.”

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

"Amidst these unfavourable circumstances in which your missionary has been called to labour, there have been others which have cheered and encouraged him. The means of grace have been punctually attended, and the assemblies usually solemn. The youth have pretty uniformly attended public worship on the Sabbath, and the evening society which was instituted chiefly for their benefit.

"A Sabbath school society has been formed in this congregation, which has two schools under its Juperintendence, each consisting of about thirty scholars, and both in a prosperous state. A Bible society has also been formed for this county, the first anniversary of which was held in this village in the month of October." The Board are grieved to learn that. among the opposers of the Sabbath school and Bible societies, should be ranged the members of a religious denomination; and still more grieved to be informed that they have adopted a system of doctrine little less dangerous than downright infidelity. The Board lament that the want of health compels Mr. J. to leave a field of labour so destitute of cultivation.

The Assembly will indulge the Board with their attention, while a paragraph or two are read from Mr. Judd's communication.

"Here your missionary begs leave to make a few remarks in regard to Waterford and Union, though neither of them properly speaking, has any thing to do with this report. This, he is led to do from the hope, that some knowledge of them may be useful to the Board in sending other missionaries into this region. At Waterford there has been a uniformly decent and punctual attention to the means of grace. The blessed fruits of the revival mentioned in this journal of the last year are still apparent. The monthly concert for prayer, and other meetings for religious improvement have been held in the society. A Sabbath school has been formed, consisting of about forty scholars, whose improvement has exceeded the most sanguine expectations of the friends of the school.

Some

additions have been made to the church during the year, and Christians appear to be walking together in love.

"Your missionary found at Union a small Dutch church in a declining state, belonging to the classis of Montgomery. For four or five years they had been destitute of preaching, and the ordinances of the gospel had been rarely administered among them. He found the place considerably populous and wealthy, but great prejudices existed among them against the Dutch church. The Sabbath was most dreadfully profaned, the children and youth uninstructed in the first principles of the Christian religion, and great ignorance prevailed among all ages on religious subjects. Though your missionary dare not hope that many saving conversions have taken place among this people, there has been

great external reformation, which is indicative of future good. The assemblies have probably varied in number from three hundred and fifty to five hundred, have been uniformly attentive, and sometimes unusually solemu. Considerable inquiry on religious subjects has been excited. A Presbyterian society has been incorporated, and the Dutch church design at the next meeting of their classis to ask a dismission to join the presbytery of Cayuga. A subscription has also been raised sufficient for the erection of a good meetinghouse, which will probably be completed the ensuing summer. Could a suitable person be obtained for this place, by the next winter, the congrega tion will probably be able to give him a competent support.

"The work of your missionary at Montrose during the past year, has been nearly the same as that of the year preceding. He has usually preached twice on the Sabbath, and attended a third exercise at five o'clock in the summer, and in the evening during the winter; and as frequently as he could, he has lectured on week days in different parts of the congregation, and attended meetings for prayer and religious improvement. The typhus fever which prevailed here when he made his former report, continued to rage through the summer and autumnal months, and proved very mortal. His time has necessarily been much occupied in visiting the sick and attending funerals. In the apartments of sickness and mourning, he has found fair opportunities for the exercise of missionary zeal. He has endeavoured to improve these and other favourable seasons for religious conversation, and has made family visits as frequently as his numerous engagements would permit. But he has been called abroad so frequently, and had so little time to prepare for public la

bour, that he has been able to visit this congregation comparatively speaking but little, and for the same reasons he was under the painful necessity of dismissing his Bible classes.

"It has pleased the Great Head of the church to crown the labours of your missionary, during the last year, with no signal success. This society is so unfavourably situated for a rapid growth, that without a special divine interposition, little could be expected but an uninterrupted call for "the work of faith, the labour of love, and the patience of hope." But notwithstanding the many discouragements he has met, there are some things which call for the exercise of gratitude. As he ardently hopes, the Board will make this place and its vicinity the field of future operations, he deems it important to state the difficulties he has met in his work, and the favourable events which have cheered him in his labours during the last year."

THE REV. JOHN MONTEITH, Who was appointed a missionary for three months, at the military stations in the Michigan territory, was prevented by sickness from spending in the service more than one month. In that term he preached eighteen times, visited two schools, and thirty-four families, ordained three elders and three deacons, administered the Lord's supper twice, and baptized three adults and eight infants. A member of the Board will read a paragraph in Mr. M's. letter.

"An epidemic with which I was seized last summer, and which disabled me from preaching more than two months after I returned home, has prevented me in a great measure from fulfilling the mission to which I was appointed. Though "the military stations" were the object specified; as I could labour but little in them after the season was advanced, and had other urgent calls in the territory, my limited exertions were divided. I preached several times in the garrison at this place, where I spent a part of the day, as more did not suit the convenience of the officer, viz. on the 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22d of August, when the troops with some of the officers assembled and were attentive. Baptized an infant for a soldier and his wife on their profession of religion, having belonged to the Episcopal church, Ireland. Since that time, sickness and other causes have prevented me from preaching in the garrison. I have occa

sionally visited the troops, and have found several of them attentive to their Bibles. A fresh detachment from New York last fall, brought with them some Prayer books from a society in that place. The want of a chaplain at every post, I think, is an incalculable defect. The intemperance and vice which prevail in the army, are foul stains on our nation; and these evils might easily be checked by proper measures. Soldiers should be restrained from spirituous liquors, and should be instructed in religion. The general aspect of manners amongst the troops at present, gives us an idea of infernal spirits rather than of human beings. 'Tis a pity that any decent man should be so unfortunate as to become one of the number."

MR. MOSES HUNTER

Performed a mission of six months, at Fort Meigs, on the River Raisin, and in other destitute settlements in that region. Besides the long journies he made in going and returning, he preached ninety-seven times. The places where he itinerated he represents as important and growing; and he remarks that missionaries from the Presbyterian church might be successfully employed in Upper Canada, where the population in some of the settlements would naturally be inclined to favour our missionaries. Mr. H. has been requested by the people at Fort Meigs, and on the River Raisin, to return and settle among them. It was expected that this people would have supported the mission; but owing to the scarcity of money, Mr. H. received but a small contribution. Of the result of his labours, a judgment may be formed from the following passage selected from his communication.

"There was a special seriousness on the minds of a few during the latter part of the time I was among them; a good and respectful attention was general. Ten or twelve more, who have not yet joined the church, would in my estimation make worthy members.

"Errors of every grade are common; but the light of gospel if it shown steadily upon them, would soon dissipate this darkness.

“Fort Meigs, near the northern boun

dary of Ohio, is of later growth than River Raisin; it will be important as a commercial place, and as a fishery. The purchase of most of its lands by speculators at a high price, has been an obstacle in its growth. The population are mostly from New England, via New York state; some from other parts of Ohio and Kentucky.

"The church when first organized, consisted only of twelve. A cluster of Baptists are in the upper part of the settlement, and a small class of Methodists have lately been formed. There are three Sabbath schools in this place in different parts. I attempted a Bible class here, but found I could not attend to it. The Boston Recorder circulates here too. The people forsake not the assembling themselves together, though they have no preacher, as is the case at the River Raisin. A prayer meeting is attended once a week, and a female religious society was organized to meet weekly before I departed.

"I had been rather discouraged at first among these people, not seeing any special fruit of my labours; but for the last three weeks I was greatly encouraged. A merciful God, whose mercy is sovereign, was pleased to make the wrath of man the occasion of his own praise. Some offensive things had been thrown out by the and a degree

of feeling excited among the uninformed part of the people, on the subject of doctrine, which aroused the church members to an unusual activity, not in proselyting, but in the affairs of religion. When I returned, I found several anxiously inquiring the way to Zion. The number increased, and all my week time was occupied in visiting and conversing with them. Some in the judgment of charity have become truly pious; others, on coming away, I commended to God and the word of his grace. I regretted much that I was obliged to leave them."

THE REV. ROBERT GLENN Laboured three month in East Tennessee. The region in which he preached is represented as particularly destitute. The new purchase from the Cherokees, south of the Tennessee, which is filling up very rapidly with population, he recommends as important missionary ground, not only on account of the hundreds who are flocking there and need instruction, but on account of the influence which their moral habits will have on the neighVOL. I.

bouring savages, either in raising them from, or confirming them in, a state of heathenism.

I have preached, observes your missionary, in churches and in private houses, by night and by day, as often as I could assemble the people to hear. Hitherto I may say the Lord hath helped me. Frequently in trying to water others I myself have been watered of the Lord. The promise made to his primitive disciples, “Lo, I am with you alway," has, I think, been fulfilled to me. Surely could the perishing thousands among whom I have been labouring, many of whom would rejoice to be more abundantly supplied by the Board, see the beauty of the Lord, they would trust him too.

MR. GEORGE M. ERSKINE,

A man of colour, has performed his mission of four months, on a route prescribed by the missionary society of East Tennessee. His au. diences, generally composed of whites and blacks, were attentive and sometimes solemn. M. E. has received compensation for half of his time from the missionary society.

THE REV. ROBERT WILSON

Was commissioned to itinerate three months, in the counties of Bracken, Mason, Lewis, and Greenup, Kentucky. The duties of his mission he appears to have performed with zeal and diligence. His labours, it is hoped, will be followed with beneficial results. He travelled one thousand miles, preached ninety times, addressed assemblies amounting to seven thousand hearers, administered the Lord's supper ten times, received forty-four members to the communion, baptized thirty persons, six adults and twenty-four infants, ordained seven elders, and assisted in ordaining one minister and licensing one candidate.

2 G

« PoprzedniaDalej »