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If one would determine whether a Mission. ary Society is likely to do much, two things must be known; first, whether the members of it take pains to disseminate missionary intelligence; and, secondly, whether they feel their dependance on God. Both of these tokens of permanent utility are to be seen among our brethren at Basle.

The united auxiliary societies are to appoint monthly prayer meetings for missionary objects, to be holden, if circumstances permit, on the first Monday of each month, or on some other fixed day, either publicly, or in a private house. At these meetings, the latest information from missionary journals shall be communicated, and this sacred work commended to the Lord in social prayer. They shall, likewise, for the good of the missionary cause, use their endeavors to promote the circulation of the Missionary Magazine.

Object of the Society.

try. The spread of the Bible, and the instructions of the Bible, and what is necessary to these, the previous instruction of the young; -these are the sacred ensigns, which, in the strength that comes from above, our missionaries, with courageous step, are to follow in the fields of darkness, and upon which stands inscribed the bright watchword of the ancient prophet, "Immanuel, God with us." Already we trusted we had found a tranquil place of operation, and, with a few messengers, should be able to enter a peaceful haven; when the wild storms, which have set those unfortunate lands in fearful commotion, rendered a speedy entrance unsafe, and admonished us calmly and patiently to wait the farther indications of the providence of our God, often inscrutable, but always wise and merciful. But, as raging hurricanes in the natural world, however frightful and destructive they may seem to the eye, are; nevertheless, always accompanied with beneficial effects, since they sweep away the superabundance of impure evaporations, and spread a refreshing atmosphere for the languid; so, by the determinations of Eternal Love, is it in the dark regions of trouble and affliction: the tempests of the agitated soul must yield to an ardent desire for the peace of God, and the darkness of the mind be dispelled by the bright sunbeams of the everlasting Gospel.

Mission on the shores of the Black Sea.

Before our Committee, owing to the great commotions, which of late have agitated the regions bordering on the Black Sea, thought best to proceed in the humane work of in struction and peace, which the Lord had com, mitted to their hands; they deemed it advis-` able to permit two of our beloved young men, Augustus Dittrich, and Felitzian Zarember, to make a tour thither, in order to acquire more perfectly the various languages of those countries, in which they have already made a beginning; and to ascertain the situation and general circumstances of the country, that they may be the better enabled to assist in enlightening the benighted and ignorant tribes, with the Gospel of the Son

Were it our object to gain followers to a particular form of outward ceremonies, we should not be able to conceal the difficulties, which might oppose us. For not only the fanatical superstition of Mohammedans, and heathens, but the ecclesiastical nobility of a dead Christianity, would rise against such proceedings And who of us, beloved brethren, that has consecrated himself to the ser. vice of the Gospel among the heathen, would find it worth his pains to forsake his native land, his paternal home, and the scenes of his youth; to break the tender cords of friendship, and risk oftentimes his life, merely for the sake of outward ceremonies? However much we might desire, that the venerable forms of the evangelical church, to which we feel attached, should prevail in all parts of the world, and among all nations, still, we trust, the Evangelical Missionary Society, has a higher, and, we may say with confidence, a more worthy object. It is the kingdom of God, to which the missionary cause exclusively appertains; and it is the extension of this kingdom of God and of Jesus Christ, to which she has consecrated all her vital powers, and her noblest energies. To this object, with a single, exalted aim, the great Bible Societies of our day, have directed themselves; and to this, likewise, there has been opened a living fountain of strength and confidence, which shall overflow the world. Let us, then, send the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the millions of benighted and wretched inhabitants of those distant lands; and with this palm of eternal peace in their hands, let us send, also, a little band of messengers, who shall teach inquiring souls how to read and understand the sacred Law-book of nations, and treasure it up in their hearts, and practi e it in their lives. This is the enterprise, which, in the strengthumph of the kingdom of God over the naof the Lord, this Society would achieve, as well in relation to those venerable relicts of the Church of Christ, which are near a sorrowful destruction, but which have been consecrated by their high antiquity, as to the wide regions of Mohammedanism, and blind idola

of God.

Concluding Reflections.

Has not the sacred seal of a work of God, who makes use of men merely as his instruments to accomplish the great and wise designs, which he has purposed respecting the nations of the earth, been stamped on the animating experience of all our brethren? And have we not every reason, in view of the victories, which the Gospel of Christ is achieving, to call the day, in which we live, great and merciful; and to congratulate ourselves that we are permitted to see the dawn of a better futurity, which, according to the promise of the Eternal, shall eventuate in the universal tri

tions of the earth? And as Jehovah lives, it shall be accomplished. Five and twenty years ago, how dark and dismal was the prospect! The Church of Christ, amid the fierce storms of infidelity, and the most abandoned profțigacy, which assailed her on every side, had

elad herself in mourning, and seemed on the very borders of destruction. The Bible, that heavenly foundation of the prosperity of every state, had become the object of contempt among the wise of this world, and the derision of thousands among the multitude. But He, who sitteth in the heavens, what a change hath He wrought! we have seen the fearful destruction of those, by whom millions of our brethren bled; we have beheld the awful footsteps of Providence, and in the history of nations have read the wonders of his might. Although this sun of the spiritual kingdom had almost sunk in the darkness of eternal night, yet it came forth agam in majesty and splendor, and has illumined even the dark horizon of the heathen world.

What the pious German missionaries, the immortal Ziegenbaig, Grundler, Schwartz, Gericke, and other departed servants of Christ, commenced, an hundred years ago, amid numberless difficulties; what the inspired souls of an Augustus Herman Franke, a Spe. ners, and a Zinzendorf, had in continual agitation, during the former part of the last century; what an hundred other German names, which the annals of history have not recorded, and of whom the world was not worthy, with hearts burning with love to Christ, have transported over the wide billows, into the ice-world of Greenland and Labrador, and into the sultry slave-world of the West Indies; that, in richer abundance, and greater extent, have our British brethren undertaken, and carried forward, and, with an ever new and increasing zeal, have extended to the wide and populous regions of heathen India, and to the most distant islands of the South Sea.

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Our American brethren, too, have not been backward in this noble contest of Christian love. Thousands of pious men, young and old, and ten thousands of generous females, have consecrated their hands and their mites to the spread of the Gospel among the nations of the earth; and have sent their messengers, with the palms of eternal salvation in their hands, not only to the wandering tribes of their own hemisphere, but to the islands of the South Sea, and to western Asia.

In the midst of these great phenomena of the tines, which announce the approach of the Lord of glory, our Swiss, and German, and French brethren and sisters, can no longer remain indifferent. The Star in the Easthas it not risen upon us? The voice of the anxious Shepherd arousing his sheep, calls upon us, What' will ye sleep on now and take your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand when the Son of man shall be glorified. This voice we have heard. Its friendly exhortation has penetrated our hearts.

This young Evangelical Missionary Society has arisen for the service of Christ in his Gospel, and rejoices in the prospect of extensive usefulness in his vineyard. With deep humility and moderation she seeks not her own things, but his. It depends alone on his benediction whether, as a young tree beside the fountains of living water, she shall rise and blossom, and bring forth fruit unto eternal life.

The heathen must surrender; the kingdoms must fall; the earth must yield; for God

hath spoken it. "The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge."

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY.

Sixth Anniversary.

THIS Society held its sixth anniversary in the city of New York, on the 9th of May. The Officers and Managers of the Society, and the delegates from Auxiliary Societies, met at nine o'clock at the New York Institution, where the meeting was opened with reading the cxxxiii, Psalm, by the Rev. Dr. Ripley, of Fairfield, Con. A procession was then formed, and moved to the City Hotel, in Broadway, where the Society was convened. Gen. MATTHEW CLARKSON, Vice President, in the ab. sence of the President, took the chair at 10 o'clock, supported by Col. Richard Varick and John Bolton, Esq. Vice Presidents. The meeting of the Society was opened with reading the lxth chapter of Isaiah, by the Rev. Benjamin Mortimer, of the Moravian Church in that city; after which an Address of the Hon. JOHN JAY, President, was read by his son, Peter A. Jay, Esq. In this address we see the eminent statesman turning his fine mind to the past and present history of the Church of God, and drawing forth conclusions of the most animating character.

WLLIAM W. WOOLSEY, Esq. Treasurer of the Society, then read the annual Report of the Department. The net receipts of the Treasurer, during the 6th year, were $38,682 34, of which 22,968 97, were remitted for Bibles, &c. from Auxiliary Societies. The Expenditures were $39,995 93.

The Rev. S. S. WOODHULL, of Brooklyn, L. I. Secretary for Domestic Correspond, ence, read the Annual Report. We will not anticipate the abstract, which we shall give of this Report, in a future number.

After the Report was read, a number of resolutions were proposed and seconded, and addresses delivered by the following gentlemen:-the Rev. Dr. BATES, President of Middlebury College, Vermont; the Rev. F. C. SCHAEFFER, of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in New York city; the Rev. Mr. How, of New Brunswick, N. J.; the Rev. ROBERT B. C. MCLEOD, of New York city; Rev. ELIJAH WATERMAN, of Bridgeport, Con.; H. KETCHUM, Esq. of New York city; WM. JAY, Esq. of Bedford, N. Y.; the Rev. THOMAS DE WITT, of Dutchess county, N. Y.; and the Rev. Mr. Somers, of New York city..

UNITED FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Fifth Anniversary.

THE fifth annual meeting of this Society was held in the City Hotel, New York, on the 8th of May, the Hon. STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAER, President of the Society, in the chair. The meeting was opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. PORTER, of Catskill, N. Y

The annual Report was read by Z. Lewis, Esq. the Secretary for Domestic Correspondence; aided by Dr. Milledoler, Secretary for Foreign Correspondence, after which the Society resolved to accept and print the Report; and to present their thanks to Auxiliary Societies and other patrons. The motions made on the occasion, were accompanied by appropriate addresses from the Rev. Dr. ALEXANDER PROUDFIT, of Salem, N. Y., the Rev. ELIHU W. BALDWIN, of New York city, the Rev. THOMAS DE WITT, of Dutchess county, N. Y, and the Rev. STEPHEN N. ROWAN of New York city.

We shall give an abstract of the Report, in a future number.

NEW ENGLAND TRACT SOCIETY.

Eighth Anniversary.

Cor. Sec. Rev. JUSTIN EDWARDS, Andover, Mass. Treasurer, AMOS BLANCHARD, Esq. Andover. THIS Society held its eighth annual meeting in Boston, on the 28th of May. In the evening, a sermon was delivered in the Old South church, by the Rev JOHN H. CHURCH, of Pelham, N. H., when a collection was taken up in behalf of the Society.

From the General Depository at Andover, there have been issued, during eight years, between two and three millions of Tracts. The whole number printed, up to April 22d, is 2,924,000.

The number of pages sent, the past year, to the several depositories,-of which the Soeiety has 80 in different parts of the country, -is 3,527,000. Six new tracts have been added since the last anniversary.

Of the Christian Almanac,-a Tract known to very many of our readers, and a source of revenue to the Society,-14,000 were sold for the year 1821, and 40,000 for the present year. The Society has made arrangements for printing this Tract for the next year, in different parts of the United States; with its Astronomical Diary, &c. so varied, as to answer the important purposes of an Almanac, in most, if not all sections of the country. It exhibits a condensed view of the present state of the preparations and efforts made by the Church, for the conversion of the world.

In compliance with the earnest solicitations of the missionaries, 50,000 pages of Tracts have been sent to Bombay.-We designed to have inserted some thoughts on the subject of supplying the heathen with religious tracts; but must content ourselves with simply reminding our readers,-that the world will never be converted to God, but by systematic efforts; and that, while it belongs appropri ately to Education Societies to raise up preachers, and to Missionary Societies to send them forth; and to Bible Societies to send Bibles with them,-it belongs to Tract Societies to furnish all the requisite Tracts. Qur Tract Societies should be more liberally patronized. Our English brethren are more enlightened in their efforts. The annual revenue of the London Religious Tract Society, exceeds 35,00 dollars; and the influence of that society is felt widely and powerfully

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Cor. Sec. Miss HANNAH ADAMS. Treasurer, Miss FRANCES ERVING. THE Female Society of Boston and Vicinity, for promoting Christianity among the Jews, held its sixth anniversary on the 22d of May. The Report presented at that time, has since been printed.

Receipts and Expenditures.-The receipts of the Treasurer, during the past year, as stated in her account, amount to $1,207 24; and a balance remains in the Treasury of $435. Though the name of the Society would seem to confine its resources to Boston and its vicinity, we observe, in the list of donations, that it has auxiliaries and patrons in several of the states. Among the expenditures are $200 paid into the Treasury of the American Board of Commissioners, the receipt of which is acknowledged in our list of donations for the present month. The objects of the donation are there specified. Fifty dollars were given to Mr. Jadownisky, the promising convert from Judaism, concerning whom we have inserted notices in former numbers of the Herald.

Prospects and intentions of the Society.Though there are other societies which have as fair prospects of success, there are none, probably, which have fairer prospects, than Societies instituted in behalf of the Jews. The present race of Jews are no worse, certainly, than their fathers were, who crucified the Lord of glory; though they may be more ignorant, and not so easily accessible to Christian instruction. But facilities are opening more rapidly than is generally supposed. Of these facilities the members of this Society are aware. In the Report before us, the principal of them are set forth; and the fixed purpose of the Society to continue patient and persevering exertion, is strongly intimated. At present, a portion of the Society's funds is left to accumulate, till the pleasure of divine providence, in regard to the manner of their appropriation, shall be more clearly perceived.

UNITED DOMESTIC MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

A SOCIETY with this name, was instituted in the City of New York, on the 10th of May. It was formed by a convention of delegates from various sections of the state, and is designed to spread the Gospel among the des titute, and to assist congregations that are unable to support the Gospel ministry. The "Young Men's Missionary Society of New York," and the "Evangelical Missionary Society of New York," have both acceded to the union. Their funds, resources, and mis

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We shall consider the colony, when once

Cor. Sec. ELEAZER LORD, No. 26, Wall-fairly established, as of great importance to Street, New York.

Treasurer, PETER HAWES, William, corner of John-Street, New York. The formation of this society should excite, in all the friends of Zion, devout thanksgivings to God for pouring out a spirit of union in the great work, which he has given his people to perform.

AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY.

Fifth Report.

THE fifth annual meeting of this Society, was held on Thursday, the 7th of March, at Dr. Laurie's church, in the city of Washington. We have lately received the Report presented on this occasion, and find the statements made in it quite satisfactory. We have considered the enterprise; in which the Society has embarked, as a great experiment, the result of which is not to be determined beforehand with full certainty, but to be regarded with raised expectations. We have never, indeed, admitted for a moment, the impracticability of establishing and maintaining a Nourishing colony of free colored people on the coast of Africa; nor have we doubted the zeal, discretion, and perseverance of the gentlemen engaged in the management of the Society: but we have had some apprehension, that sufficient interest could not be maintained in the community, to ensure patronage adequate to the greatness of the undertaking. The Report before us has diminished essentially, this apprehension of ours. The three principal difficulties seem to have been removed. We find them thus stated summarily, at the close of the Report.

"It was said the people of color would not consent to such an emigration.

"It is now proved that great numbers of them, far more than can be sent, earnestly desire it.

"It was said that the climate would destroy them.

"It is proved that the mortality, though under most unfavorable circumstances, has not 'been greater among them, than in many parts of our own country.

"It was said that the natives would not receive a settlement.

"The experiment has proved the contrary. All the obstacles appear to have been over

come.

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These being obviated, the remaining dif ficulty,-want of patronage, cannot well continue, in this age of benevolent enterprise.

The Society has succeeded in purchasing Cape Mesurado, which is about 250 miles south of Sierra Leone, to which place the colonists have been removed. The Cape is steep and elevated towards its extremity, with a gentle declivity towards the main land.

the spiritual, as well as to the temporal interests of Africa. From it pious men of color may proceed to all the neighboring tribes, and extend a salutary influence far into the interior.

We regret to learn, that the operations of the Society are embarrassed for want of funds; though we have confidence, that a good measure of success will attend the efforts, which, we understand, are about to be made in several of the northern states. Should funds be obtained, we are informed it is the intention of the Society to send out, early the next autumn, additional numbers of free colored people to the colony.

RICHMOND AFRICAN BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

THE annual meeting of this Society was held on the 8th of May, in the First Baptist church in Richmond. Probably two thousand colored people were present; and the orderly deportment and Christian zeal manifested on the occasion, were highly gratifying.

"This Society was formed in the Spring of 1815, with the sole object, of sending persons of color as missionaries to Africa, since which time they have collected nearly $1000. About two thirds of this sum has been expended in the outfit of Messrs. Lott Cary, and Colin Teague of this city, who are now on the coast of Africa. Whether the hopes of the friends of these persons, in regard to their success in Africa, are to be realized or not, remains for time and the purposes of Infinite wisdom to unfold But the promises, that in the Redeemer, "all the families of the earth shall be blessed,' "That Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God,' remain unalterably the same. And the period must at no distant date arrive, when neither the saltry heat of the climate, nor the barbarous manners of the people, will prevent the Word of life from spreading throughout the numerous tribes of the interior of Africa. O! for fervent prayer and united exertions for the accomplishment of such desirable objects."

NEW YORK MARINE BIBLE SOCIETY.

Sixth Anniversary.

THIS Society held its sixth annual meeting on the 10th of April. The annual Report was read by the Rev. Samuel Nott, jun. and several appropriate addresses were delivered.

"The Society has distributed 3,769 Bibles and 209 Testaments. The following facts, taken from the report, deserve to be exten sively known and long remembered, to encourage increased exertions of the kind. "As the Agent of the Board was, not long since, passing by a ship lately returned from the Baltic sea, he was accosted by the Cap

tain, who was desirous of communicating to him the history of the Bibles furnished to his ship at the commencement of her voyage. All on board but the second mate, were then exceedingly profane. Soon after leaving the Hook he distributed the Bibles. Before he arrived at Petersburgh, he did not hear a profane word uttered on board. A visible refor. mation continued during their stay in port, and on the passage home. When he was entering the port of New York, his crew all came aft and begged earnestly to be shipped for another voyage. When they were paid off, they took all the Bibles on board, and paid for them, which money the captain handed to your agent."

UNION OF CHURCHES.

THE union between the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church and the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Church, which was contemplated the last year, was completed at Philadelphia, in May last. This afforded matter of great rejoicing to the friends of Zion; and the General Assembly held, on the afternoon of the 22d, a special meeting of prayer and thanksgiving to Almighty God, in which their brethren of the Associate Reformed Church, who had become one with them, united.

LAST NOTICES.

EDUCATION OF HEATHEN CHILDREN.

In the number of the Missionary Herald for November last, p. 563, we made a statement relative to the expense of educating heathen children in Ceylon. As many of our present readers did not then take the Herald, and are of course ignorant of the purport of that statement, we think it proper to say-that it has been found necessary to fix the annual sum to be paid for the support of a heathen child in Ceylon, at $20. Those children, however, who were provided for, previous to November, at the rate of 12 annually, a e to be continued in the course of their educa. tion, without any increase of the annual pay.

ment.

Our limits forbid any thing more, than a brief recapitulation of the reasons for this change.

The sum of $12 annually, will furnish a child with food and clothing, but with nothing else, the food consisting of boiled rice, and the clothing of a piece of coarse cotton. The insufficiency of this sum to meet the other expenses, was known at the outset. But, as it was not then foreseen to what extent the domestic superintendence of children in mission families, may be carried in the east, it was thought the contingent expenses might be defrayed from the general funds of the Board. Since that time, however, the number of children provided, has become very considerable, and is annually increasing; and their incidental expenses are found to encroach on that part of the general funds of the Board, which should go to the support of the missionaries. Among these

expenses may be numbered, the charges of remittance, medicines, rooms for lodging, nursing in sickness, stationary, and schoolbooks. The yearly amount of these and others similar to them, can seldom fall much short of 8, and may frequently exceed that amount. These expenses, it seems right that the patrons of the children should defray, since it is certainly right that the general funds should be saved from charges, which properly belong to private endowments.

The Committee of the Church Missionary Society, have issued proposals for supporting heathen children in Ceylon, at five pounds sterling a year.

We shall only add, that we think the encouragement for supporting heathen children in Ceylon, is unusually great. This will appear quite obvious to those, who have carefully read Mr. Poor's journal, iu our last number. There it is seen, that several of the scholars, who have been longest in the school, have become hopefully pious; and bid fair, as well from their zeal in the service of Christ, as from their promising talents, to become successful ministers of the Gospel. Twenty dollars annually, for six years, may be sent to Ceylon, with a fair prospect of breaking the bands of an idolatrous superstition, from at least one youth, and perhaps from many.

MANNER OF PUBLISHING DONATIONS.

WE tender grateful acknowledgment to our patrons, who have caused the receipts for this month to exceed $8,000. But, at the same time, we feel it necessary to call their attention to the remarks, which we made, in our number for May, p. 159, on the best manner of publishing donations. We know the difficulty and delicacy of the case proposed very well; but something may often be done for the promotion of brevity.-We trust none will relax in their efforts. The calls are many and loud. The mission to the Sandwich Islands, which God has remarkably prospered hitherto, is not yet so provided for, that continued and active exertions, on the part of the friends of the missionary cause, can, with safety, be dispensed with.-New fields are opening to the Board, of great and increasing promise; and no reason can be assigned, why they should not be entered immediately, but that there is not sufficient missionary spirit in the churches, to warrant an extension of our plans. The Christian pub. lic should remember, that the territory, which the Board has taken possession of for the King of Zion, is small, very small, compared with that "which remaineth to be possessed."

PALESTINE MISSION.

JUST as this sheet was going to the press, we received letters from Messrs. Fisk and Temple, dated at Malta. Mr. Fisk, having re ceived intelligence, not many days after the death of Mr. Parsons, that Mr. Temple had arrived at Malta, thought it advisable to visit him for the purpose of consulting with respect to future operations. The reasons, which Mr. Fisk assigns somewhat at length, for this measure, are approved by the Committee. He arrived at Malta on the 13th of April.

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