Newspaper Page Text
strong hold and their protector. When a
Jew at Jerusalem was oppressed bv a Turk
he applied to Farkhi, who procured for him
immediate satisfaction. ’
“ Poor Wolf entering Damascus was
obliged to get off his ass, and to run after it
on foot, whilst the conductor, who shewed
him the way to the convent, rode. The
man was a Mussulman, and it should seem
the fanalicka of Damascus are now much
incensed against both Christians snd Jews.
The great body of pilgrims is just returned
from Mecca with the Pasha at their bead.
I suppose I shall likewise be obliged to dis
mount at the gate of Damascus. What an
indignity it will be, not to the Christian
merely, but to the Englishman ; almost too
much you will say, for the old man to put up
with. However, I hope as a Christian, to
feel content in whatever state I am placed,
and to esteem the reproach of Christ great
er riches than all the treasures in Damas
cus or Egypt. 1 long, indeed, to join my
friend Wolf, not only to bear witness to the
name and power of Christ in that wicked
•city, but also with him to face any danger
he may be exposed to. We go in the
strength of the Lord, in the strength of the
God of Israel. But it is most distressing to
see the children of Israel suffering, nod they
themselves ignorant of a Saviour, and ot
one who is mighty to save. They suffer at
the same time from both the beast and the
false prophet. O that they might return
to seek the Lord their God and David, the
true David, their king, whom their forefa
thers crucified, saying, His blood be upou
us and our children. If these be the latter
days, the predicted days, when the children
of Israel are to begin to fear the Lord and
love his goodness,let the Christian world go
on in humble confidence, and give the Lord
no rest until he pours out upon the house
of David and upon the inhabitants of Jeru
salem the spirit of grace and of supplica
tion, until they shall look upon Him whom
they have pierced, and mourn for him as
one mourns for his only son.”
South Carolina Conference.
Extracts from the Report of the Missionary Soc'y.
AT ASBURY in the Creek Nation, the
pleasing intimations, which at an early pe
riod encouraged us to hope that our School
establishment would become a nursery of
pious feeling, as well as of moral principle
anJ civilized habits, hare not disappointed
us. Under the management of the samp
zealous piety which would seek by other
means to profit the soul, we have realized
that our -chool is no less instrumental in
ehrisliaoi-mg the childreo, than towards
their civilization. And, indeed, lbu< tar in
our progress, it has been remarkable that
those children who are more improved in
the one respect, are so in the other; and |
that a child usually discovers a veneration )
f,-r our piety, and concern to he interested j
in the benefits of religion, before he wili;
be much impressed by the more common :
distinctions between civilized and savage
men.
tn giving direction to the early convic
lions of these tender, untutored mind*, we
•are gUd to say that our Missionaries have
never encouraged strong and sudden ebulli
tions of feeling. They have wisely discri
minated between those children, whose
sensibilities, not yet blunted by a cherished
infidelity, nor cauterized by crime, are alive
to the importance of doctrine which they
may not distinctly understand —and the gen
eral mass of impemtents, who are instruct
ed beyond their will, and are more careful i
to avoid the sense of duty than to perform j
what is commanded them. They have as- 1
siduously instructed their pupils in the prin j
ciples of religion; and have been watchful
to ascertain how far they might be able to
associate the doctrine of divine influence in
repentance and regeneration, with that of
obedience,in the appropriate acts of reform
ation & devotion.
We would not be understood here to
mean that no indications of extraordinary
religious feeling have appeared at Asbnry.
finite otherwise. Many, very many strong
cries and tears, have marked the power of
. gracious work in some of the children.
Thi, in some who were older, may have
operated sympathetically upon others; so
that almost the whole family of children
have been bathed in tears, and prostrate
togethei in prayer; but in these instances,
our Missionaries have employed no alarm
ing denunciations, no violent play upon the
pas-ions, to begin or to promote Ibe work ;
and afterwards they have carefully cate
chised the subjects of it. We rejoice to
add, that after sufficient trial—in which the
importance of sealing the Christian profes
sion of young converts was scrupulously
guarded—two girls of about fifteen years
otd, and two other adult persons who were
employed in the service of the mission—all
~f whom profess and evidence that they are
“ born from above”—-have been baptized ;
and several others of our children, are
earnestly seeking the salvation of their
souls. We have now a small class at Abu
rv ; and our brethren are no longer exiled
from the Church of God.
AT ST. AUGUSTINE, in East-Florida,
the Missionary was well received ; and has
maintained a more numerous congregation,
npd ha preached with better success, than
lOight have been expected. A small Church
of “persons having the form, and seeking
the power of godliness,” has been coosiiiu
ted there.
For several years past our indefatigable
hrethien on the Salilla Circuit, have carri
ed their labours beyond its former bounda
ry, into Florida: but the appointment of a
Missionary lo St. Augustine operated with
much additional force in favour of the la
bpurs of the last year; and the circuit is
now so extended, a* to include seven
preachinsr places in that territory, with the
,t,lesaed fruits of thirty nine members of the
Church.
The CHATTAHOOCHEE MISSION,
which originally was appointed for the
sooth-western extremity of Georgia, lias
been largely extended into Florida. It will
be recollected that this Mission was institu
ted two years ago; and that withio the first
year of its progress, there were two bun
dred and forty one persons admitted into
the Church. “During the last year, the
mission was strengthened with an additional
Missionary; and has realized a* increase of
one hundred and ten members.
The Board cannot take leave of the
work in Florida, without expressing their
ardent desire, that a separate Missionary
District could be formed, which should em
brace the present Chattahoochee Mission,
in one or two circuits—a Mission to be
formed at and above St. Marks, including
the newly designated seat of government —
another above St. Andrew’s Bay, probably
along the Chippola river—and another at
Pensacola. These points describe, as we
are informed, the roost valuable parts of
the territory; and will probably attract a
numerous population. We express our
hearty wish to follow the first influx of em
igration into this interesting country, but
we cannot be confident that it will be so.
Extended as our Conference District in
from the Cape Fear river in the north-east,
to the Chattahoochee in the south-west;
and from the French Broad in the north
west, to the St. John’s in the south-east—
with probably more than one thousand
Churches, and thirty-six thousand mem
ber*—no possible zeal in the preachers, or
wisdom of the Bishops, could make such a
disposition of one hundred men as would
meet every demand. “ The harvest truly
is great , but the labourers are few let us,
therefore, with greater importunity, “pray
the Lord of the harvest that he would send
forth labourers into his harvest.”
THE MONROE MISSION, embracing
Monroe, Bibb, Crawford, and parts of Pike
and Houston counties in the west of Geor
gia—has experienced much of the blessing
of God opon Missionary labours. From
this Mission, there were returned to the
last Conference seventy-five members of
the Church. The present return brings up
the number to three hundred and twenty
six. There have been seven meeting-hou
ses built, and the whole number of preach
ing places is twenty-five.
From the YELLOW RIVER MISSION
—including the county of Henry, and
parts of Newton, Fayette and Pike—you
hear for the first time. The first year of
this Mission, returns three hundred and for
ty-seven member* of the Church. Ten
meeting-houe have been built; and our
Missionary staledlv preaches, every four
week* at twenty-six different places.
THE GWINNETT MlSSlON—embra
cing the counties of Gwinneit and Walton,
and touching on those of Newton, De Kalb,
and Hall—returned a year ago eighty-two
members of the Church. The present re
turn amount* to four hundred and sixty-two.
This Mission occupies nineteen preaching
places; and has the benefit of eight meet
ing houses.
The success of these Mission*—the joy
and the praise of the South Carolina Con
ference—cannot be contemplated without
strong emotion. Three years have scarce
ly passed away, since the treaty was con
cluded, which transferred from the Indians
to the state of Georgia, all that beautiful
country whither our Missionaries went.
Attracted by the lure of its fertile soil, the
laborious citizen eagerly succeeded I he re
tiring savage; and before the forest could
be converted into fields, or the adventu
rous emigrant might feel himself at home,
our Missionaries had arrived. Through
forests which never knew an eye ; and of
ten without a path to guide them—they
sought, and they have found, the souls of
men. How delightful to many a pious wife
and child, who bud followed a husband ora
father, to this distance from the Church to
greet so early these Messengers of grace!
And how reviving to him who had gone
thither, not because he loved to wander,
but only to provide fora beloved family!
That in the numbers returned from these
Missions, there are many such, we deem a
peculiar enhancement of the value of the
Missions. And that this tract of Country is
one of the finest within our limits, and must
soon become immensely populous—will op
erate with great force to increase our la
bours. Two other Mission* are immedi
ately wanted ; and each of those which are
already begun, requires an additional Mis
sionary.
One other subject—sacred to the cause
of Christian chanty—may not be omitted in
this review of our Southern Missions.
That we hold in the membership of the
Church within our Conference, thirteen
thousand negroes, will be admitted as evi
dence that they are not forgotten among
the multitudes whom we serve. But we
may not pretend that this number is pro
portionate; nor that our labours are so.
We lament the fact; and we deprecate its
causes. Alas, that Charity should ever
I have been so unwise, as not to know by
! what means—to what ends—and in what
proportions, her efforts might be useful!
Alas, that over she should have forgotten
that the body may be served to the ruin of
the soul; —and that the Almighty Himself,
hath not preferred to redeem mankind from
all liability to evil, but only has provided
that temporal evils may subserve eternal
interests. Grieved that evil should exist in
au evil world—some present, manifested
outrage, has drawn from her a voice of pity
and condolence, which, unthinkingly ex
pressed, has been perverted into the hor
iid doctrine, that religion may do murder.
With us, and with you, Charity weeps, and
long has wept, f.r another cause. We
know no evil to which the slave is subject,
that may compare with his so frequent, to
tal destitution of the means of grace. We
; honestly believe that all the circumstances
I of his condition taken together, as they are
I known to u*, the negro in the Carolina! and
Georgia might pn ’
vyThe*peasant or some
countries. Yea, more : we that
many thousands of them are Doth better
fed and clothed—and labour less—and are
better amended to in sickness, than many
the whfe population of this, happiest ot all
countres. We long after a free, unsus
pected, universal access to them. We
long It realize the rich returns of a sepa
rate dipartment, which should exclusively
be directed towards their spiritual welfare.
In the present economy of our labours —
although we preach daily—it is usually but
one day in seven that they can share the
benefit"; and even on this seventh day, we
can preach to but a few ot them. In the
formation of our circuits, we have been
led—perhaps too much —by the white
population ; and it might seem that the
negroes, where |hey have our ministry, are
served rather accidently than by primary
inteution. Ought not this to be corrected ?
Might it not be pleß9ing to God that we be
gin to do something separately in this work,
even although it coaid not be done without
subtracting from our accustomed duty to the
circuits ?
Metk. Mag.
The Treasurer of the Missionary So
ciety of the Synod of South Carolina and
Georgia, acknowledges the receipt of the
following sums for the Chickasaw Mission :
From a friend to the Mission, $lO 00
From New Providence Congregation.Mech
leuburgh, N. C.-by H. Foster, Esq. $34 75
From Mrs. Harriet A. Elbert, second pay
inent for educating Horace S. Pratt, S3O 00
South Int.
MISCELLANY.
UNION OF THE STATES.
No statesman, of enlarged views and pa
triotick feelings, can look with indifference
upon the situation of the Western Country,
and the relation it hears to this Union. It
is an old maxim, that rivers unite nations,
but mountains separate them. And why is
it so? Because rivprs facilitate intercourse
and mountains prevent it. 1 lrut I shall
not be misunderstood in what I sav of the
Western States, on this delicate subject.
There is of this Union (I make
no exception) more justly distinguished for
lofty and patriotick feeling* than the Wes
tern States. Nor is there any portion of
the Union at this time, more ardent and de
voted in its attachment to the general gov
ernment. But what produces this attach
ment? The ties of consanguinity, and the
power of youthful associations. Few of
the citizens, who constitute the governing
power in those states, can look around
them for the tombs of their fathers. These
depositories of the dead,and many living oh
jects of their affectionate remembrance,
are, yet awhile, on this side of the moun
tains. But time is gradually weakening
these ties of naturp, and wheo a few gener
atioos more shall have passed away, the
bond of affection which now unites them
to us will be entirely dissolved. With these
impressive facts before us, we should be
unworthy of the high trust confided to us,
if we did not endeavour, by a provident
forecast, to substitute new principles of at
tachment for those which must so soon cease
to operate.
Let ui, then, provide for the substantial
lies of commercial interest.—lt is my delib
erate opinion, that if the entire commercial
supplies of the Western states should be
permaoe|tly derived through the port of
New-Orleans, and no commercial inter
course should subsist between them and the
Atlantick States, it would be impossible for
all the power of parchmeot aod political
organization to hold this union together for
half a century, lo this view of the subject,
I have ofteD reflected that the difficulties
incident to the navigation of the Gulf of
Mexico, and of the river Mississippi, were
kindly intended by Providence to promote
our union aod greatness. I rejoice that
those difficulties do exist; and, 1 trust, we
shall be wise enough to improve them to
our advantage. Let us, theD, cut down and
level the mountains, not like the Persian
tyrant, to subjugate nations, but in order to
achieve a more glorious conquest—the sub
jugation of our own mutual prejudices. Sir,
in whatever light we view these improve
ments, whether in reference to the diffusion
of intelligence, the increase of the defen
sive power of the country, or the perpetu
ation of the union, they are as essential to
our existence and prosperity as a nation, as
the veins which give circulation to the
principle of animal life are to the health
and vigour of the animal system.
M'Duffie'i Speech in Congress.
WEST INDIA SLAVERY.
From the English papers received by the
late arrivals, it appears, says the New
York Observer, that the plan of the British
government for the improvement of the
condition of the slaves, preparatory to their
eventual emancipation, has been presented
to the bouse of Commons by the ministry.
The outline is as follows; —the punishment
of females by the whip is wholly abolished
—and in respect to males, the whip is no
longer to be used by drivers as a stimulus
to labour in the fields, but only in punish
i meut of misbehaviour, proved and recorded.
Provision is to be made for the religious in
; struction of the slaves, by the establishment
of two Bishopricks, with an additional num
-1 her of clergy.—Provision is to be made for
I regular and legal marriages.—ln the sale
of slaves, families are not to be separated,
| aod the property of the slave is to be pro
tected by law.—Saving baoks are to be es
tablished, to receive the deposits of the
slave, and proper guards for their safely.
The testimony of slaves, who have certifi
cates of tbeir religious instruction from a
| minister, is to be received in all civil cases,
Wcoiiceiw, in
except were the life of a while pi-r-ons|*
involved.—The slave is lo be allowed to
purchase hi* own manumission or that of
his wife and children.—This plan is n-f to
be introduced at once into all the rot n.
but an experiment is to be made in the first
instaoce with those which have lately fal
len under the dominion of Great Britain,
beginning with Trinidad, and it is to be
left to the Legislative Assemblies of the
others to tread in the same path upon their
own convictions.
Discoveries in the Moon.— Accounts from
Augsburg lo March 12, state that Proses
sor Gruiihuisen in Munich, whose selenog
no-tick researches are known to the learn
ed from Bode’s Astronomical Calendar, aod
other writings, has spoken in that Calendar,
and in one of his works, of the discovery
which his extremely quick sight, aided by
a good telescope of Frauenbofer’s making,
has been, enabled to make, of a collossal
building, situated near the equator of the
Moon, resembling a fortress, with strait
ramparts, which are arranged like the lat
teral fibres of an alder leaf. We now learn
that be ha* discovered a great many regu
larly made roads, alterations evidently made
by art, in natural walk*, the clearest trace
of cultivation on the surlace of the Moon,
(which Schroeber affirmed to exist,) and
several other indications of rational being*
in that planet.
LETTER 11.
Addressed to the Clergy of every Denomina
tion in the upper parts of Georgia.
Reverend ami dear Brethren—
The period has arrived when it becomes
my duty to address you again on the impor
tant interests of Christ’s kingdom. And in
making this my secorid appeal to you and
the friends of the Redeemer generally, 1
trust 1 shall not be accused of arrogance.
If it were not for the profound importance
of the subject, a deep sense of duty, and
an ever-biding and fervent desire for the
peace, the welfare and prosperity of the
Zion of our God, which I tru9t I feel, con
fident I am that I never would present my
self before an enlightened pnblick in my
present capacity. Nay, had some elder
brother, more experienced in wisdom’s
ways, and belter acquainted with the ave
nues to the human heart, taken upon him
the task, I would have been one of those
who would have rejoiced at the effort, and
aided by my influence, every exertion.
But I know that the kingdom of Christ is
not builded by might, nor by power, but by
his Spirit, and that he chooses the weak
thiDgs of the world to confound those throgs
that are mighty. Therefore, hear me not
for my own sake, but for the sake of the
cause I plead.
Various opinions have no doubt been
entertained as to the practicableoess of ttie
union among the different sections of the
Church, proposed in our letter of last De
cember. Some, we are confident, have pro
nounced such an amalgamation impossi
ble, however desirable. To such we
would reply in the words of our Divine
Lord and Master, that with God nothing is
impossible which is agreeable to his holy
will; and all things are agreeable to bis
will and purpose, which tend to promote
his glory and the happiness of his people.
That such ends would be effected by this
mutual union of kindred souls, requires not
the aid of logical deductions to demonstrate.
It is tbis principle that the word of God
throughout inculcates —Let us love one an
other, for God is love. Let brotherly love
continue. It was the command of the Sa
viour, that we love one another, even as ht
loved us. That such divisions as now ex
ist, did not prevail in the primitive days of
Christianity, is very evident, Loth from sa
cred and profane history. Nay, they were
all of one heart and one mind, and bad ail
things common. Each disciple looked on
the other as his brother, as a member of
the same family, as a child of the same Al
mighty Parent, and entitled to the same
privileges and enjoyments. Such a perfect
equality of condition cannot exist in the
present age of the Church, as to temporal
things; but the same heavenly-mindedness,
the same brotherly regard, the same reci
procity of good feeling, may and ought to
; exist. By such mutual and tender affec
j tion God is glorified. Wherever souls
i thus knit together in love, meet, God will
; vouchsafe bis presence aDd loving-kindness.
! The most sure attestation of any thing
; being agreeable to the will of God, is his
l blessing the means used to accomplish it.
j That which is from the Lord will succeed,
I though the heathen rage and the people im
agine a vain thing. The first meeting that
: has ever been held for the avowed pur
! pose of promoting this desirable union, com-
I menced on the 29th of April, at New-Hope
Church, in Madison county, Georgia, and
continued until the 3d of May. The meet
ing was not so generally attended as had
1 been anticipated. Many, we are confident,
both of our Ministering Brethren, and ot
j the region round about, were prevented
™om meeting nnd associating with ns, from
publication in the Missionary of
the 19th of April This meeting was an
nounced in the Missionary. in December
last, to eommenre on Thursday, the 29t|j
of April; hut in the last notice, to begin 0 q
Thursday, the 6th of May How such an
unfortunate mistake was made, we are at a
loss to determine. We have heeo charged
as the author of this error, and many things
have been circulated through the commii
nity, which have no foundation in truth.
We were not the author of that uotiffca
tioo, nor could we assent to it without the
charge of inconsistency. About the first
of April we requested Dr Brown to gj V e
notice in the Missionary that the meeting
would be held at the time nnd place which
had been named !a*t December. Nothing
farther is known by us on the subject at
present.*
At this meeting many families were en
camped on the ground. Eleven sermons
were delivered during the meeting so
lentive, and at many times, deeply affected
audiences, besides many impressive exhor
tations. Five persons professed faith in
Christ, and were received into the Church.
On the Sabhath the ordinance of the Lord’s
Supper was administered,when above eighty
of the professed disciples of the Saviour
surrounded his holy board, and obeyed his
dying command —Do this in remembrance of
me. It was a solemn, a precious season.
The banner of his love seemed to oversha
dow us. Christians tasted that the Lord was
gracious. Sinners were constrained to ab
sent that there is reality in the religion of
Jesus. Few souls, we think, were careless
at that time. All was harmony, all was
brotherly love. No discordant note, no
jarring sentiment disturbed our praise, or
embittered our enjoyment. Such was our
communion and fellowship.
For what occurred after this period in
the meeting, we give an extract from a
note addressed to us by the Rev. John B.
Chapel and Elder William Hodge.
“May 3, 1824.
“After you left the encampment, at about
4 o’clock, a sermon was delivered by John
B. Chapel, and at candle-light another by
McCarty Oliver. Afterwards an exhorta
tion was given by Mr. Chapel. Brotherly
love nnd union were great at that time.
We have good reason to believe that much
good ha* been done, aod will hereafter ap
pear. We believe there were three pro
fessed corvcr-ionß, mid many atiiers were
greatly affected. Two were reclaimed.
We met this morning at six o’clock Two
short exhortations were given, and we
parted with brotherly love.
“ Yours in the Lord,
“WILLIAM HODGE.
“JOHN B. CHAPEL.”
Such, dear brethren, is the mercy we
have experienced at the hand of our Heav
enly Father, on the first effort to produce
a coalescence among the children of God.
Our hearts, have, we trust, been dilated
with love to the Saviour, and to the chil
dren of God. We have been refreshed —
we have been comforted—the Lord has
been with us.
Owing to tbederaogement occasioned by a
cause to which we have already alluded, by
which many of our brethren were prevent
ed meeting us, we thought it adviseable to
make an appointment before we separated,
for another meeting having for its avowed
object, the onion of the children of God of
every name. This meeting, if it is
will of our Heavenly Father, will com
mence on Saturday the 11th September
next, at New Hope, Madison county, Geor
gia, all other notifications to the contrary
notwithstanding. This meeting will proba
bly continue, uotil Wednesday morning the
15th September. And now, brethren in
Christ, shall we entreat you to meet us?
Nay, we forbear, being confident of this
very thing, that you have the interests
of the Redeemer’s kingdom too near at
heart, to require an entreaty —a bare in
timation will be sufficient.
In a few days we hope to address you
again, when we shall endeavour to lay be-|
fore you, how far, and in what respects this
union is practicable and desirable; in the
mean time may peace be with you all,Amea.
JOHN S. WILSON.
Ruckprsville, 10th May, 1824.
* We published this notice as we received it,
and cannot be responsible for mistakes of this na
ture.
The General Conference of the Metho
dist E. Church in the United States com
menced its session in Baltimore oo the Ist
inst. Three bishops of the church and two
delegate* from the English Conferences,
besides those from the various annual con
ferences of the United States attend. Three
Indian Chiefs attached to the Wyandot Mis
sion School are also present.
Mr. Joseph Lancaster, the author of she School
System which bears bis name, has sailed for Sout*
America.