graves there after a brief residence ; 1. Is it at all clear that the danger and another excellent Brother and his is not greatly over-rated? Many have wife, also of our Church, are there at died, but many live. Mr. and Mrs. present under the care of the same Wilson have been there several years; Board; they have made a good be-some of the Baptist and Methodist ginning; they deserve confidence and brethren have been there, we believe, support; but we seem to content our-a longer period. The Episcopal misselves with praising their devotedness! sionaries, after a year's experience, If more than these efforts have been send home favorable accounts. Some made by the Presbyterian Church for men, influenced only by secular mo. the establishment of the Gospel in tives, have resided here for years. Western Africa, we have failed to ob- Others live there year after year to serve it. make money by the accursed slave. And is this enough? Will this trade. Dr. Slaughter's journal men. satisfy our minds, looking as we must tions an Italian slave-agent, who reon the wants and woes of the African ceived his English education at one people, the ease with which we may go of our colleges, who has been thirteen and endeavor to supply them, and the years in Africa, and still has good peculiar providential connexion which health. we sustain to them through their de scendants? Shall we conclude that ly diminish the risk. we have done all our duty, and leave once nearly as dangerous a place of them to their fate, or at least to the residence as Liberia or Sierra Leone. warmer zeal of our brethren of the Some thirty missionaries died in that Baptist, Episcopal, and Methodist city within a few years. But now churches? We rejoice to know that they have learned better how to guard all these branches of the Church of against the evil effects of the climate, Christ have missions there-shall the and to take care of their health, and Presbyterian church alone be not re- there is no longer any unusual morpresented there by any of her sons and tality. So it may be in Western Afdaughters? rica.

2. Increasing experience may greatCalcutta was

But some one will say, it is easy to 3. The afflictive events of the past ask questions, but it is unwise to send may have been ordered in mercy not white persons to that coast; they will in displeasure, to purify not to con die as soon as they go there. We sume, to awaken attention, to call forth have even heard the remark made from prayer, to lead to the exercise of suit. a Presbyterian pulpit, that "the provi-able dependence on God for all our dence of God had shown, that white help.

persons should not be sent as mis- 4. It should further be considered sionaries to that part of Africa." Such that immortal souls are living there, is the interpretation put upon the mor- and the Gospel must be preached to tality, that has occurred amongst the them if possible. missionaries who have heretofore at. The measure of success that has attempted to labor in that field.

tended missionary efforts in both the The correctness of this opinion may English and the American colonies, be considered very doubtful. The pain. may be regarded as affording encou ful weight of the facts from which it is ragement to continue and to increase inferred must, indeed, be adınitted; yet those efforts; in few parts of the hea. still the following considerations con- then world have more persons been strain us to dissent from so sweeping a hopefully converted to God, in propor. conclusion. tion to the means employed, than at

some of those stations. It should be flection-whatever is to be done or atconsidered, also, that the Saviour has tempted, should be done without delay. promised to be with his servants, who The work will not become more easy are engaged in fulfilling his last commandment-a promise peculiarly precious to those, who are called by his providence to occupy posts of unusual difficulty or danger.

of execution, nor the greater part of the difficulties less, by waiting until some future day. If our Presbyterian church is ever to take a part in labors for the conversion of the people of Western Africa, let those efforts be

THE TRUE STATE OF THE CASE.

While these things appear to be true and important, there should, undoubt- made as soon as possible. edly, be a wise application of the means at the disposal of the church. Life must not be thrown away. Per- "Where there is no vision, the peosons liable to inflammatory, bilious, ple perish." "There is no other name and hepatic attacks, should probably under heaven given among men whereby consider themselves not called to labor we must be saved," but the name of Je. in that field, at least for the present, sus. Men cannot be saved by calling on and in ordinary circumstances. But Mohammed, Ram, Gaudama, or Conwhether persons of calm temperament fucius. All men are the degenerate of mind, and of good health, possessing plants of a strange vine, "by nature also experience from having been children of wrath;" of a race that is brought up, or having lived in the in ruins; and all men, without the resouthern parts of our country, should straining and renewing grace of God, not go, is a different and a fairly open live in the practice of many sins. question. They are thus unfit for the heavenly

Much may be done by preparing state; and they must give account suitable colored persons to go to that in the day of judgment for all the deeds great field of labor; probably the bur- done in the body. They must be conden of the work must eventually de-sidered, as theyfare" without God," so volve on them. The attention of our also "without hope in the world." ministers and other intelligent persons But there is a remedy, full, free, and should be directed to this subject. They precious, for the deadly malady which should be on the alert to find, and to sin has brought on our race. The salreport, and to encourage when discover- vation made known in the Gospel, ed, those colored individuals whom through the death and righteousness our Board of Foreign Missions might of the Lord Jesus Christ, is adequate safely send. This should be consider. in its infinite value to the redemption of ed a sacred duty. a thousand worlds; it is adapted to all But should not some of our white the wants and various cases of the brethren also engage in this labor of children of men; it is offered freely love? They would, at least for some both to the Jews and to the Gentiles; time, be far better qualified as to edu- it is the will of God that it shall be cation, and would receive greater con-made known "to every creature" "in fidence from the Christian community all nations."

us?

here, and greater respect from the We, as Christians, know and believe Africans. Why should not some of that the condition of all men, without them arise and say, here are we, send the Gospel, is hopeless and desperate; and also that the Gospel, under the blesThese remarks are submitted to the sing of God, can entirely change their judgment and prayers of the readers of character, condition, and prospects; we the Chronicle, with one additional re- believe these great truths, whether men

of the world, infidels, Mohammedans, many of our pastors. or pagans, believe them or not.

We should,

therefore, like to see the plan fairly We have, also, the means or the tried, and should be glad to publish in ability to extend the knowledge of this our pages, or to re-publish from the pages precious Gospel to multitudes of our of our contemporaries, any judicious race, who do not enjoy it. We are and satisfactory compilations which commanded by our Lord to employ might in this way be prepared. In. these means, and if we have his Spirit deed, a plan of this kind has been prowe will employ them. We may either posed, to be carried into effect through go ourselves and teach them, or if not, the Chronicle, which, with some other we may help to support those who can suggestions, is under consideration. go; and we can furnish them with the The recommendation of the Chroni. sacred Scriptures, and with other facle, which this article contains, we in. cilities to aid them in making known sert, because it may lead some of our the Gospel. No one in all the church readers to think of endeavoring to aid of Christ in this land is so poor, as to in extending its circulation. We are be not able to do something towards unacquainted with the writer, and his this object. And there is no one but kind recommendation will be received, can pray, often and fervently, for the blessing of God.

therefore, as an independent opinion, and worthy of the greater regard.

This is the true state of the case We desire to see the circulation of between us and the heathen. God this Magazine greatly extended for sewill judge between them and us. We veral reasons: 1. Thereby a greater shall meet them before the tribunal of interest will be felt in behalf of the God in the great day. Our time of perishing heathen. Sympathy for trying to save them will soon come to them to be valuable, must be intellian end. Their time of receiving sal-gent; and will be the stronger, as it is vation will also soon come to an end. more and more the result of enlightened They, like ourselves, shall live forever. Christian principle. 2. The ChroniHave we done all that we could to se-cle must be regarded as an Agent of cure their living in eternal blessedness the Board—it makes a monthly visit to -in other words, have we done all our ministers and people to tell them that we could to make known to them of the proceedings, wants, and plans the way of salvation?

of the Board. 3. It is the medium MONTHLY CONCERT-MISS. CHRONICLE. thren make known their proceedings at through which our Missionary bre The Watchman of the South, of Aug. their respective stations, and their 30th, contains an interesting commu- wants, fears, prospects and hopes. It nication from a correspondent over is a sacred duty to feel and pray for the signature of a Friend of Missions. them, and we should do so with a due We insert a considerable part of this knowledge of their circumstances. article below, and would commend the 4. We wish it to be in every family suggestion made in it to our clerical throughout our Church, for then our readers. If practicable, the plan would children will read it. The news it no doubt prove an advantageous one brings from month to month about dif. to the cause of Missions, and would be ferent countries, will enlarge their worthy of general adoption. The dif- views of the world in which they are ficulty of obtaing access to suitable soon to act so important a part; and it works of reference would in some in. will greatly aid in a work, which seems stances prove an obstacle, but this to be essentially important, that of would not be the case in regard to training up the rising generation to be

Missionary Christians. We trust that that many of the heathen have been conour ministers, elders, and 'church verted. But where the Missionaries are, members will take these remarks under what are the peculiarities of the people-of the climate of the soil-of the languageconsideration. They are well able to of the government-they know not. In judge of these things, and we must short, as to all definite knowledge, which is abide by their decision. We are anx-best calculated to excite the feelings and ious that all should feel that this is a move the heart, they are quite destitute. common cause, involving not only With such an audience, what is a frequent mode of procedure at our monthly concerts? great, but also general responsibility. The minister announces at such a time and Before giving the extracts promised place "we will observe the monthly concert above, we should say that the number of prayer for missions," and perhaps he adds, of the Watchman, from which they are the importance of the subject demands taken, appears in an entirely new and that all praying people should be there." beautiful dress, and in an enlarged At the appointed time he repairs to the form. It is edited by the Rev, W. S. place-perhaps one or two of his elders, and Plumer, Richmond, Va., and the sub. one fourth of his communing members are present. And then what? After singing scription price is three dollars per year. and prayer, he says, "I have a letter," in It has always, we believe, been consider the Herald, the Chronicle, the Baptist Maed one of our best and most attractive gazine, which I wish to read. "It is from religious papers, and it will no doubt be the Nestorian Mission, written from Oorregarded with continued and greater oomiah, or it is from the Karen, or Zulu mission, or from a Liberian missionary." interest. Our religious newspapers Where is that? Who is there? How long may exert a most important influence have they been laboring? What encouin promoting the cause of missions, as ragements and discouragements have they well as every other good work, by what had and many more such questions at once they publish. We have been much arise, without having answered which it is pleased to see so many of the columns impossible very successfully and permanentof the Watchman devoted to Mission. ly to interest the congregation. However, he goes on, and reads a journal of some ary intelligence. travel for half an hour, in which there are

men, that not one can understand. And the consequence is, that they go hence with little profit! And when the next periodical season for the concert arrives, they begin to say

Would it not be a good plan for some of twenty allusions to places and things and our pastors to take up the different missions in the world, one after another, and lay them in detail before their people at the monthly concert, and then through your paper to lay at least an abstract of the history before the publ.c? It is true, Sr, this would require some labor, more perhaps than some of our ministers have ever bestowed on the subject of miss ons.

Oh, our meetings are so dull, so poorly attended, that I do not care about going."

Have I not given a correct representation of this meeting, as it is observed in some places? And shall there be no alteration? [ But if some such plan were adopted, would ask all Christ's ministers, what think would it not tend to awaken the interest you of this work? Is it a glorious work, is both of the pastor and people? The man- it a work in which your very commission to ner in which our monthly concerts have preach, binds you to engage? And how hitherto been conducted, has given only an have you fulfilled that obligation? Have indefinite idea of the subject. It is known you treated the monthly concert as an imthat not one half (perhaps not one fourth) portant meeting? By neglecting to prepare of the Christian families of our country re- for it, have you not greatly retarded the ceive regularly any missionary publicat on. work? Suppose all the ministers and Of course their knowledge of the subject is churches take no more interest in this matvery limited. All they know is, that there ter than you, (and what right have you to are Missionary Societies, and that some suppose that any will,) when will the work men have gone to various parts of the world be done?

-that the Bible has been translated into Before concluding I wish to express my the languages of various pagan nations, and great satisfaction with "the Missionary

They contain accounts of Mrs. Wilson's and Mrs. Morrison's illness, but were written before the severe dispensation by which the latter was called hence.

Chronicle," the organ of our Board. can safely say, that I have never examined any missionary publication of the same size, which contained so much interesting and important matter as this periodical has, since the beginning of 1838. Will you not concur with me in saying that every friend of Mr. and Mrs. McEwen were at Missions, and more especially of Presbyle- Calcutta, on their way home, and gladrian Missions, will find himself delighted, ly received them; and assisted in makboth with its spirit and with the matter it ing arrangements for their accommocontains. It is certainly most desirable that every Presbyterian family should take this dation, until they should proceed to their stations. Our readers will be periodical. It is cheap, only $1 per annum. McEwen's It contains two sheets, and the twelve num-glad to learn that Mr. bers, when bound, will make a very hand-health had become rather stronger dur. some volume. If any one wishes to obtain ing the cold season; from the nature a concise and correct view of all that has of his illness, he cannot reside in a been done in the missionary world, I know climate of such severe and long-conof nothing which will aid more than the tinued heat, but we trust his life will numbers of this paper for the four first months of 1838. And to those who may wish to obtain this paper, I would say, I am informed that more than one thousand complete copies, from January 1838, can be furnished at the subscription price. Would it not be well if every pastor would become a voluntary agent, and labor to diffuse its spirit and information among his people Yours, &c.

A FRIEND OF MISSIONS.

be spared for many years of labor in in the Saviour's cause. The brethren newly arrived expected to proceed up the river as soon as the waters should begin to rise, about the 1st of June; and Mr. McEwen would embark for this country in four or five weeks.

The letters from the mission stations mention the entire restoration of INDIA MISSION.-Letters were re. Mr. Newton's health; Mrs. Jamieson's ceived per the George Gardner as the renewed illness, as had been anticipatChronicle was going to press-too late ed, and their consequent removal to the to admit the insertion of extracts in hills; Mr. J. Wilson's arrival with his the present number. They are of va-family at Allahabad; and the general rious dates, from Feb. 13th to April welfare of the Missionaries and pro16th, and mention the safe arrival of gress of their labors at the several stathe brethren who left this country last tions. We must reserve all extracts fall, with particulars as to their voyage. for our next number.