brought to my recollection. At the time we were received with a mixture of wonder, curiosity, and joy; now, we were embraced as old friends and benefactors. Mrs. Shaw was hailed, "Mother," and myself, "Father," by many a Caffre tongue. At our former entrance, we saw nothing but filthy Caffre karosses; but now many saluted us, who were neatly dressed in European clothing. At the time all were heathens; but now not a few real disciples of our Lord gave us "the right hand of fellowship." When we first came hither, there was not a house in which we could lodge, but now a handsome village crowns the summit of the hill, flanked on the northeast in a commanding situation, by the and I was as a dumb man, that could not speak. Truly this people are prepared of the Lord. I promised to visit them as often as I could, with which they were much pleased, and were very kind to me. [Mr. Shaw, Jan. 6, 1832. DOMESTIC. AMERICAN HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY. rising walls of a new stone chapel, building THE Home Missionary for September contains under the direction of my excellent successor brother Young. There has been a remarkable revival of religion, especially amongst the young people, at Wesleyville, into the particulars of which I shall not enter, as brother Young has doubtless transmitted them to you. There is at present a large number of promising candidates for baptism; and while we were there, we witnessed the baptism of eight fine young women, most of whom have grown up on the station; two of them are daughters of chiefs. Cultivation of the land is receiving greatly increased attention at Wesleyville. Last year they obtained a most abundant harvest; and this year they have inclosed many acres of new land. Just as we were leaving, the chief Pato brought me seventy rix dollars, that I might therewith purchase a plough for him in the colony. This is, as far as I know, the first instance of the kind which has occurred in Caffreland. If the plough could be generally introduced amongst the natives, it would enable them to cultivate much more extensively, and be a great relief to the poor women, who at present dig their fields with wooden spades. At Graham's Town, the Lord is still with us. Our congregations continue very large and|| attentive. The new chapel is very much wanted; but, like all large buildings in this country, it progresses very slowly. In September, we held the auniversary of our Sunday school; brother Palmer preached an appropriate sermon on the occasion. The examination of children gave unbounded satisfaction. The present total number of scholars is 392, being an increase during the past year of 52. Such is the high opinion entertained by the public of this institution, that the subscriptions and collections in aid of its funds, have this year amounted to upwards of fifty pounds sterling. The officers and teachers of the schools, greatly commend themselves to the esteem of all who wish well to the rising generation, by their zeal and perseverance in the good work. [Mr. Shaw, Dec. 9, 1831. About six weeks ago, I visited the Corannas; they are about forty miles distant. In that neighborhood, including Bechuanas, I should think the population amounts to 2.000. They are very anxious to hear the gospel. They asked the reason why they could not get a mis sionary; they said, "Missionaries are going far beyond us, but they come not to us. We have been promised a missionary, but we can get none. God has given us plenty of corn. but we are perishing for want of instruction. Our people are dying every day: we have heard there is another life after death; but we know nothing of it." These remarks were most affecting to me, the following remarks of the Rev. R. S. Storrs, one of the secretaries of the A. H. M. S., respecting the aid to be expected by that society from the New England states. The moral strength of New England is by no means inconsiderable; but the surplus amount, that can be devoted to other states, I apprehend is often and greaily overrated. What though we have a larger proportion of organized churches and congregations than are found on an equal extent of territory, and amid an equal amount of population in other states-it should be remembered that a very large proportion of these are in a state of "living death,"-that they relied so long on the civil arm to sustain them, as to forget where their great strength lay; and became enervated, paralyzed even to the heart, before they were aware of danger. Five hundred missionaries are needed at this very hour in New England; and all of them could be most usefully employed, if they could be obtained, and the means of sustaining them secured. I will not, I cannot, plead for the comparative inaction of the New England churches. It is a fuct—and it shall be stated with tenderness—it must be stated with firmness too; that they are not doing so much in the cause of home missions as they are able to do; and bound to do, by every consideration of philanthropy, patriotism, and Christian love. There is less thought, and said, and felt, and done-I will not say, than heaven requires-but less than reason and selfinterest deinand; there is a holding back of sacrifice, and a cold questioning of duty, and a reluctance to effort, on this subject, that is more easily mourned over than accounted for. But after all, something has been done, more is doing, and still more will be done, before they will have any rest. I wish it may be distinctly understood, and deeply felt, that what Massachusetts, and her sister states in New England, are doing for themselves, has as powerful a bearing on the spiritual interests of the west, as what they are doing directly to plant the gospel beyond the Alleghanies. Every church that we plant, or save and build up east of the Hudson, forms a new fountain, whence will issue streams to make glad the western valleys, so long as the sun and moon shall endure. We need to be quickened, and stimulated to greater efforts; and we hope in God, that two years will not pass away, before New England will double the contributions of any former year, to the general cause of home missions. But let the moral strength of New England be fairly estimated first-and then let her be put up to the full point of her duty. THE following are extracts from an address to the Baptist churches in the United States by the Executive Committee of the society, in respect to the valley of the west. The Baptists, as a denomination, wield at this moment an immense amount of influence over this large and most important region. In this field their range of moral power equals, if it does not exceed, that committed to any other of the various divisions of the Christian host. Our churches class among their hearers, at least one sixth of the population of this far-spreading territory. Nominally or really, this vast number of immortal spirits is already, more or less, under the influence of those who are designated as Baptist preachers. From circumstances, to which it were needless to refer, ministers of our sentiments find less resistance from public opinion, and meet less the collision of inherited prejudices, than other evangelical denominations who may go thither, publishing the same message of salvation. That, for influence thus thrown upon us, we are not the less responsible; that we may not venture to cast it from us, or to use it wastefully or carelessly, is a truth no Christian can doubt. While we hail, with true delight, the preaching of the gospel by all of every name, that 'hold the Head,' though they follow not with us, we are yet bound not to bury the talent of influence or of illumination our Lord has granted us; and while the ignorant are perishing for lack of knowledge, we are not to turn away from their ery, and transfer to others the supply of that destitution which has directed to us its earliest appeal. We hold our place in the family of Christian effort but by contributing our share to its cares, its toils and its sacrifices. Even the truth of the gospel may become tarnished and powerless in our hands, if it remain unemployed: for truth itself may be made an idol, if dissevered from the love of the truth; and that love, which 'the truth as it is in Jesus' produces, will lead to the energetic and the diligent, the conscientious and the persevering dissemination of that eternal verity which affords at the same time its continual nutriment and its mightiest weapon. dent call addressing itself to the Baptists of the United States, to arise and build within the walls of their own Jerusalem. Not only are the cir cumstances of the field before them rich, in op. portunities of good, but those of the past year have been full of encouragement to hope. The spirit which has vouchsafed such a measure of success to the mission in Burmah, seems working also its reflex influence upon the domestic charities and zeal of those churches in America, whose labors and prayers have gone forth to the aid of the heathen. In the revivals of religion, wherewith God has favored our own and other churches of Christ, we read another most urgent incitement to larger exertions. In all that is thus said, of the wide and rich feld of missionary labor in the west, it is not intended to palliate or forget the fact, that in many of the older states there exists in portions of the country a similar destitution, the more hopeless, as it has been more lasting and less involuntary; The only bounds to our efforts in this cause must but which must be alike regarded and supplied. be the limits of our land and the cessation of its spiritual wants. We trust, that the indirect fruits of a zealous pursuit of this great object may prove many and priceless. To bring into the labors of love, which our foreign missions present, the prayers, the wealth, the influence and the hearts of our western brethren; to superadd to the ties of a common discipline, the more lasting union of common sentiments and harmonious feeling; to substitute, for an external uniformity of practice in Christian ordinances, the internal "unity of the spirit in the bond of peace;" to advance Christian truth and Christian holiness, by seeking the favor of that "God who is not the author of confusion, but of peace in all the churches of the saints;" to inherit the promise which assures those who "devise liberal things" that "by liberal things they shall stand;" to bring our own beloved country more under the dominion of Him, who alone can give wisdom to her counsels, create "upon all her glory a defence," and impart safety and durability to her prosperity, are objects of no mean moment. AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY. A gentleman in New York city has given two thousand dollars towards establishing a High try and of the Christian world, there is an evi- School in Liberia, for the benefit of the colony. In the circumstances, therefore, of our coun Miscellanies. ON BECOMING A MISSIONARY ΤΟ THE HEATHEN. THERE are among yon, brethren, some who have not yet decided whether it be their duty to go to the heathen or not. To such, I can say, beloved brethren, I know how to sympathise with you. Such, for a long time, was the anxious state of my own mind on the same subject. But now it astonishes me, to think that 1 so long hesitated on a subject so plain. It was no doubt my sin, though perhaps somewhat extenuated by circumstances which no longer exist. When my mind was first exercised on the subject, I knew of but one in the country, who thought of becoming a missionary to the heathen; and he has not as yet. to my knowledge, engaged in the work. Besides, through all my inqui ries, until I had decided on the subject, it was not known that any support could be obtained in our country. I bless God, that notwithstanding all that opposed. I was enabled to decide as did. I verily believe it will be matter of joy to me through eternity. Should you make the same decision, brethren, I have no doubt you will find the same satisfaction in it. But you are not decided. Each of you anxiously inquires. "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Shall I go to the heathen?" Here historical inquiries and geographical knowledge are of little avail. The decision must be made in view of one single command, and one single fact. Jesus Christ, the God of our salvation, has commanded his disciples to "go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." This is the command. But even at this day, there are six eighths of the population of the globe, to whom the gospel has not been preached. This is the fact. In view of this command and of this fact, how ought you to decide? Eighteen hundred years ago, Christ gave this perpetual command; and to quicken his disciples in the obedience of it, he gave them the most consoling assurances of assistance, and promises of unbounded reward. But from century to century, so remiss have been his disciples in obeying the command, so unwilling to go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature, that, may we not with propriety, consider the Holy Trinity as saying, "Whom shall we send, and who will go for us?" Is it your duty to reply, "Here am I, Lord, send me?" This is the inquiry, and how simple! What have protracted researches to do with such a decision? When the apostles first received their commission, was it an extensive knowledge of the population, religions, manners and customs of the various nations, to whom they were bid to go, which led them to obey the command? Was it a retrospective view of the former success of religion in this guilty world, or was it the prospect of an easy entrance unto the heathen, and a secure and comfortable residence among them, which made them so ready to go forth, at the command of their Redeemer? No: it was their love to Jesus, and their reverence for his authority, which forced them to exclaim, "Wo is unto me if I preach not the gospel," as I have been commanded. It is when missionaries form their decisions on the same ground, that they eminently glorify Christ, and build upon a foundation which no storms can shake. I have been led to these remarks, from an apprehension that there are young men, who are pursuing missionary inquiries in a too general way, with a kind of indefinite expectation, that by and by something may transpire, some further knowledge of countries or events may be acquired, or the subject may be presented in some new attitude, which will render their decision easy and safe. Any such expectation, it appears to me, tends only to darken the mind, and to confuse and enervate its operations. The subject is more plain and easy of decision at the present day, if possible, than at any former period. What has been found and acknowledged a truth in England, and in some of the other European states, is now found by experiment to be true in America. God has promised, that he that watereth, shall be watered also himself. This gracious promise he has verified, by uniformly causing religion to flourish among nations at home, in the same proportion in which they are active in promoting missions abroad. The whole subject, then, is brought into this narrow compass:-The great mass of mankind have not yet heard the gospel preached; the standing command of Christ to his disciples is, "go and evangelise all nations;" and to prompt them to a full compliance, he gives the assurance, both by his promise, and its fulfilment, that by their exertions for the salvation of the heathen, they do most effectually labor for the salvation of their own countrymen. In this simple form, let it come to the reason, the conscience, and the feelings of every one, who is looking forward to the gospel ministry. How can the conviction be resisted? How can the decision be doubtful? Dear brethren, bear with my freedom. Placed as I am, in the midst of so many millions of perishing heathen, and knowing from the promise of Jehovah, (Prov. xi. 25,) "The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watereth, shall be watered also himself," that your coming forth would tend to promote religion at home, surely I have a claim on your indulgence. Allow me, then, to speak freely. To me, it appears unaccountable, how so many young men, by covenant devoted to Christ, can delib erately and prayerfully inquire, whether it is their duty to become missionaries, and yet so few feel effectually persuaded that it is their duty to come forth to the heathen! It tends greatly to the discouragement of those who are already in the field. While so great a proportion of those, who examine this point of duty, deliberately decide that it is not their duty to engage in the missionary work, what are we to think? In general, those who excuse themselves from the work, must do it for general reasons, which would be as applicable to others as to themselves, and which would excuse those who have gone forth to the work, as well as themselves. Therefore, must not those men who thus excuse themselves, think either that those who engage in the missionary work do wrong, or that themselves who decline it, do wrong? Here it would ill become the solemnity of the subject, to cavil and quibble, and say: "What! shall we all go to the heathen? Then what will become of our own countrymen?" Let such quibblers beware how they mock the faithfulness of God. When thousands have gone forth to the beatben, and God has failed to fulfil his promise, that he that watereth, shall be watered also himself, or when he shall not have caused religion to flourish among the people at home, in proportion as they labor for the heathen abroad, then, and not till then, let the objection be heard. Some seem to speak as though a man must have some secret or special call, before he can decide in favor of being a missionary. If on rational grounds, he feels persuaded that he ought to be a minister any where, and if he feels disposed to go to the heathen. I should think that no other call than this, unless in extraordinary cases. can reasonably be required. I have doubted whether I ought to be a missionary; but it was for the same reasons for which I ought to doubt, whether it was right for me to be a minister any where. Brethren, you see that I think there are good reasons, why you should become missionaries to the heathen, and of course good reasons why I should desire it. Certainly I do. And I greatly long to see every one of you strennously exerting himself to diffuse the same sentiments among all the pious young men in the country. Form great plans, and execute them with great zeal and prayerfulness. Every thing that can be desired, might be done by exertion, with God's blessing. Seize every possible opportunity for impressing the subject upon the mind of every nious youth. [Gordon Hall, to the Society of Inquiry respecting Missions, Andover. So far as experience goes it proves, that the greater the number of men who stand pledged to go as missionaries to the heathen, the easier is it to obtain the means of sending them forth. The churches of this country have never yet detained any man at home, by refusing to bear the expenses of his mission. American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BOARD. THE twenty-third annual meeting of the Board will be held in New York city, on the third of the present month, at 10 o'clock, A. M. The Rev. Dr. Allen preaches the annual sermon before the Board, and three other clergymen have been requested to preach missionary sermons in different parts of the city, during the session. The Prudential Committee are of the opinion, after making particular inquiry, that the meeting may be attended with little or no personal risk from cholera in the city. Members and honorary members of the Board, are requested to call at the office of Mr. G. M. Tracy, agent of the Board, 143 Nassau-street, where they will learn what arrangements have been made for their accommodation during the session. SELECTIONS FROM THE WRITINGS OF GORDON HALL. THE REV. Horatio Bardwell, General Agent of the Board for New England, has been requested by the Prudential Committee, to make a selection from the writings of the late Gordon Hall, for publication, in a small duodecimo volume. It is believed that such a work will be highly useful; and individuals having letters or papers from the pen of Mr. Hall, are respectfully requested to forward them to the Missionary Rooms, Boston, by private conveyance if prac ticable, and as soon as convenient. GREECE. MR. King writes from Athens, under date of May 4th, that the bishop of Talanti had issued a proclamation, calling upon his people to keep the Sabbath day holy. This, together with an order from the municipal authorities at Athens, had caused the greater part of the shops to be closed on the Lord's day, and made that day no longer, as formerly, the principal market day. The constitutionalists are said to have triumphed, and Mavrocordato and Tricoupis to be again among the principal ministers of state. ORDINATION OF A MISSIONARY. On the 13th of September, Rev. BENJAMIN W. PARKER, of the Andover Seminary, was ordained at Reading, Mass. as a missionary to the heathen. Sermon by Professor Emerson of the seminary, consecrating prayer by Mr. Emerson of Salem, charge by Mr. Emerson of South Reading, fellowship of the churches by Mr. Read of Reading. Mr. Parker is expecting to embark for the Sandwich Islands during the present month, Total from the above Auxiliary Societies, $138 80 Amherst, Ma. Mon. con. in college, Bango, Me. l'em. so of inquiry, Dayton, O. Infant scholars, to pur. sch. Franklin, Ms. Miss V. P. av. of a sch. for ed. hea chil. Granville, O. Mon. con. Hartford, O. Fem miss. so. Middlesex, N. vic. Ms. Char so. Newark, O Mrs. W. 25c. a child, 19c. Newbury, Ms. Mon. con, in 2d chh. Worthington, O. Rev. J. Labaree, 12; Unknown, A friend, 18 37 16 00 15 37 12.00 50 00 12 75 25 70.00 70 00 1 00 4.00 12.55 5 26 40 00 23.79 10 00 168 40 1.00 10 00 44 6 60 12 00 125 28 25 700 23.71 31 17 15.00 3.00 New York city and Brooklyn, W. W. Chester, Tr. Oneida co. N. Y., A. Thomas, Tr. Caniden, Presb. so. Hamilton, Mon. con. in 1st cong. chh. Kingston, U. C., E. S. Ely, Richland, Mon. con. in presb. so. Russia, Miss M. A. Williams, dec'd, 7,38; M. Williams, 5; Sherburne, Fem. char. so, to constitute the Rev. ISAAC N. SPRAGUE an Honorary Meinber of the Roard, 50; J. Lathrop, 10; 8. S. 1; Taunton and vic. Ms. H. Reed, Tr. South Coventry, I. Boynton, Total from the above Auxiliary Societies, $1,396 18 II. VARIOUS COLLECTIONS AND DONA. TIONS. Albany, N. Y. 4th presb. chh. 100; la. of 2d ref. D. chh. 3d pay. for Sarah De Witt in Ceylon, 20; Upper Beverly, Ms. Females, for wes. miss. Uxbridge, Ms. A lady, av. of a bible, Vergenues, Vt. Gent. asso. 15,32; la. asso. 18,32; Westford, Vt. Gent. and la. asso. Worthington and Zanesville, O. Av. of jewelry, 1,12; Mrs. V. 1; 2 12 Whole amount of donations acknowledged in the preceding lists, $2,884 27. 120 00 12 00 50 00 Dorset, Vt. Gent. asso. 11; la. 12,72; Middlebury, O., A bridle, fr. an indiv. for Green Bay miss. 1.00 mon. con. 7; 30 72 East White Hall, N. Y. Miss. asso. 22 75 Monroe, O., A box, fr. fem. asso. for Mackinaw, 35.43 Flatbush, N. Y. Aux. so. 17 75 Fayetteville, Pa. A friend to Indians, 25.00 Newbury, 1st par. Ms. A cask, fr. fem. read, so. for Brainerd, 51 25 4.50 11 00 IV. DONATIONS IN CLOTHING, &c. Bedford, N. H., A cask, fr. ladies, for Mrs. Worcester, New Echota, Bristol, R. 1. Two quiits, fr. juv. members of fem. miss. so. Gustavus and Kingsville, O., A box, fr. Hamp. Chris. Depos. Ms. East Hampton, Kinsman, O. Flannel, fr. J. Andrews, 110 00 8.00 25 11 Georgia, Vt. Miss P. Blakeley, 3; Miss R. Blakeley, 1,50; Hookset, N. H. Mon. con. Howard, D. C. Mrs. I. L. Woart, 2d pay. for John Breckenridge in Ceylon, Jericho, Vt. Gent, and la. asso. in 1st chl. Marietta, O. Coll. Martinsburgh, Va. Mon. con. 20,38, juv. fem. cent. so. 9,78; Mrs. S. P. 3,65; Mrs. N. K. 1; fem. miss. so, 12 25; Masonsville, N. Y. Mon. con. in presb. chh. and cong. Milton, Vt. La. asso. Morganton, Va. Coll. Morristown, N. J. La. frag. so. Nantucket, Ms. Mon. con. in N. so. New London, Ct. Gent. asso. (of which fr. ROBERT COIT, which constitutes him an Honorary Member of the Board, 100; ded. ain't ackn. in Jan. 50;) New York city, A lady, av. of jewelry, by D. Niscaynna and Amity, N. Y. Mon. con. in ref. D. ckh Northbridge, Ms. J. Fletcher, Oxford, O Coll. 64,50; presbytery, 10,55; for Medit. miss. Philadelphia, Pa. Juv. sew. so. for fem. schools in Bombay, 60; fem. so. for ed. hea. youth, for the 2d Philadelphia chh. in Bombay, 100; Preble co, O. J. Boyce, for Medit. miss. Prince Edward co. Va. Mon. con. in sem. 3,50; S. B. 50c. Painesville, O. Sundries, fr. S. Pepoon and brother, 18, shoes, fr. J. H. Matthews, 1,75; rec'd at Statesburgh, Trenton Village, N. Y., A box, fr. la. sew. asso. for Choc. miss. Upper Beverly, Ms. A box, fr. females, for wes miss. 19 75 23 00 11.00 DONATIONS AT THE SANDWICH ISLANDS. THE following donations were received by the missionaries at the Sandwich Islands, from foreign residents and visitants, and from the natives, during the year ending April 30, 1831. The donations were in various articles for the use of the mission, and it is the valuation of those articles which appears in the list. J. Hunnewell, 11; S. S. Smith, 4; A. B. From the chiefs, and other natives, 156 95 692 34 |