Newspaper Page Text
The prisoner* who had been confined at
the foot of the Pagoda, bad been released,
and returned to town early in the morning.
Mrs. W. was informed that I was among the
number; but how great the disappointment,
when she learned, that instead of being re
leased, no information could be given con
cerning me, or those with me; all that
they knew was, they had been separated
from us the night before ; and indeed Mrs.
“W. had no intelligence of me until I return
ed to the mission-house. I need not at
tempt to describe the feelings produced by
meeting again, after we had passed through
so many and so great dangers; but at
length we found ourselves again altogeth
er, well, and beyond the power of barbar
ous and unmerciful Burmans- For my own
part, I was rendered almost delirious by so
sudden a transition from the deepest distress
to the highest pitch of joy.—ln reflecting
upon those scenes of danger through which
we all passed, and the narrow escapes
which were afforded, when hope seemed
entirely gone, 1 cannot help thinking, that
our deliverance was almost miraculous.
More than once, the danger which threat
ened us was so near, that I could only say,
‘Lord, save now, or we perish.’ God was
my only hope, and this hope did not tail me,
even io (he greatest extremity. There
was a secret confidence that God would,
after all, in some way or other, effect our
deliverance, though every thing passing
before us militated against such a hope. O
how invaluable is the hope of the Gospel,
which, like an anchor to the soul, sure and
steadfast, enters into that which is within
the veil 1-And, standing upon the very bor
der of eternity, as we viewed ourselves,
how insignificant appeared all the objects
which so much attract us in this world ; how
vast the concerns of a never ending eter
nity ; and how invaluable a well grounded
hope in the merits of Him, whose name is
tin only one given under heaven & among
men wberebv.we must be saved.
A NARRATIVE
Os the State of Religion within the bounds
of ‘he Presbyterian Church, and its corres
ponding Churches in the United States.
In furnishing a summary of our ecclesias
tical history for another year, the General
Assembly affectionately greet the people of
the churches committed to their cure, wish
ing them grace, mercy and peace from God,
our father, and the Lord Jesus Christ thro 1
the eternal spirit; and they render unfeign
ed thanksgivings and praises to the King
of Zi'm, for the auspicious circumstances
under which they meet.
In the brief sketch which we are enabled
to give of the events of the year that has
closed, maDy details of interest are of ne
ce-’sjty omitted; and it is (frightful to re*
fleet that of the blessings of heaveu on the
church of Christ—the “half” is not only
“irnfrM,” but in our present conditon, and
world, unknown. The influences of the ho
ly spirit upon the heart are often “a the
dew -I Herrnon, as the dew that descended
upon the mountains of Zion,” silenf and un-
perceived, though refreshing and diffusive.
Th> p.wer which restrains the passions
and ‘he crimes of men, which convinces
them of sin, and converts them to the Sa
viour’s love, which comfort*, sanctifies and
nur ores the believer, is but dimly seen,
and imperfectly apprehended in nur efforts
at tracing the progress of the truth. These
effects vie shall only adequately know in
the reults which the morning of the resur
rectioo shall unfold.
But of that which is knowo, and can be
told ‘here is much in the state of our church
es which affords the occasion both to re
joice and to mourn.
A“ a people, we have been blessed with
a singular exemption from pestilence and
famine ; and the voice of war has not been
heard in our borders.
In the more immediate concerns of the
kingdom of Christ, the people of God among
ns, seern In have received increasing les
sons of instruction lately, on the importance
of union to any extensive, and very useful
efforts for the conversion of the world.
They have learned that consolidation is the
str ogth eveo of weakness itself; and while
they righteously refuse to ,l say a confede
racy to every one that saith a confedera-
cy,” they have, at the same time, combined
their numbers and labours, in adding new
and National Institutions to those which
they had upon the same principle, already
erected.
The American Bible Society , we regard
under God, as “the glory and defence of
our lapd.” We shape in its blessings, and
in our measure in its support. As will be
seen from the report of its operations for
the lat year, its sphere of influence has
been constantly enlarging.
The nature of the service in which it is
employed, and the multiplied testimonies
which are from day to day afforded of its
vast b.enefit to our country and our conti
nent, bespeak a presence in it, which no
created power can safely resist.
To. oppose this institution is to fight
against God, and yet we have seen infidels
and half reformed Protestants, uniting with
the Papal Hierarchy, in opposing the circu
lation of the word oflife, as though the vol
ume which Jehovah has adapted to the con
stitution of man, and seat down from above
for hi* u*e, and made efficient in his redemp
tion, and commanded to be given unto him,
could not with safety be committed to his
hands!
The United Foreign Missionary Society is
extending its influence among our Savage
tribes in the west, and from year to year as
its resources enlarge, and its plan of opera
tion improves, confirming the high hopes of
the church concerning it
We desire to see the cause of domestick
and foreign missions, ns being one cause ad
vancing in sacred sisterhood; and while we
rejoice io the gradual development of the
influence of thie above-named institotion,
we would mention with gratitude to God,
the early maturity and infant greatness of
the United Domestick Missionary Society.
It has sprung into life with such sudden and
wonderful power, with such peculiar adapt
edoess to its important field of enterprise,
end,has so successfully, upon a plan unprac
tised in the churches before, reared up the
multitude of feeble congregations, now by
its generous bounty supplied with the bread
of life, that it resembles the granary of Jo
seph, to the famishing population of the
land of Egypt.
The American Sunday School Union , rising
up in the bosom of the Christian Church in
our land, is also a blessed institution. In
this simple and noiseless service, the best
spirit and powers of the church, are brought
into the most delightful exercise. Gratni
tous instruction, by the first classes of soci
ety, of the poor and ignorant—a beginning
ol gospel impressions, and Bible knowledge,
with the beginning of life—a breaking away
of the connecting curse which binds ungod
ly parents and children together—its happy
tendency to meliorate the condition of the
slaves, and free people of colour in our
country—the direct influence which it ex
erts upon the salvation of souls, discover an
pxlraordiuary value in this institution, and
should recommend it to every church and
people in the nation.
The American Society for meliorating the
condition of the Jews, is still in active ope
ration. It ascends to the first and most pow
erful -elements of success, in the great work
of converting the world—when it attempts
the restoration of the lost tribes of’ Israel.
They are a peculiar people in peculiar cir
cumstances-—and call for peculiar methods
of doing (hem service. Among the methods
devised for their recovery, someone must
soon and mightily triumph. God speed
that day !
The American Colonization Society is de
servedly exciting increasing interest, and
assuming additional importance, from year
(o year. Their colony on the coast of Af
rica, has been prosperous beyond what is
usual with infant establishments of that kind,
and has lately been blessed with a cheering
revival of religion. While this society
must become a most important agent in giv
ing the Gospel to Africa, it promises to ex
ert a benignant influence, not only on the
condition of the free people of colour in this
country, but perhaps upon slavery itself;
that rno-u dreadful of national calamities.
The cause of Seamen excites, every day,
increasit.g interest iD the publick mind
The Beihel Flag, as a “banner of love,”
floats in every important seaport, on our
Atlantick coast; and pious sailors go forth
from these outlets of our country into all
the world, as the specimens of our Chris
tianity at home, aod as pledges to the
heathen nations of what the Gospel yet
will do for their redemption.
The Board of Missions, which is the or
gan of this body to the destitute regions of
our church and country, ha 9 been doing
much the last year for our frontier Terri
tory and Western settlements. It has em
ployed 52 Missionaries in different States.
In New York eight ; in New Jersey one;
in Pennsylvania fourteen; on the Peninsula
two ; in Virginia one ; in Ohio jive; in Ken
tucky one ; in Indiana four ; in Illinois
three ; in Michigan Territory one ; in Mis
souri four; in Mississippi and Louisiana
one; in Alabama three; in West Florida
one; in East Florida one ; in South Caroli
na one ; iu North Carolina one.
The all important cause of Education ap
pears from the report of the Presbyteries
to have received during the last year a
greater amoont of systematick and success
ful attention, than at any previous stage of
our Church’s history. In addition to the
institutions already established, colleges
have been planted in the South and West,
and are beginning to impart the blessings
of a liberal and Christian education, to the
crowds of youth committed to their care.
And with a special reference to the ser.
vice of the Church, Female Cent-Societies,
most of the Presbyteries, and especially
our board of Education have been engaged
with efficiency in training pious and intel
ligent young men for the Gospel Ministry.
Greater energies, however, are still to be
etuploypd in this important work. It is
yet but just begun. The whole Broad
frontier of our church, from Lake Michigan
to the extieme South West of Louisiana, is
yet'to be supplied with Gospel laborers.
The loud and melting cry for “help” has
reached os from a thousand desolate pla
ces in the land. It is time that Christians
should awake at the call of their perishing
fellow men, to new ardour of zeal and en
orgy of andj^gyjU
enterprize. tP iPP
The Theological Seminwywt Princeton
JV, J. which is ihe child and common pro
perty of the Presbyterian Church in the
United States, continues to meet, and even
to exceed in its extensive usefulness, the
most sanguine expectations of its friends
and patrons. By the distinguished liberal
ity of several important sections of the
Church, the foundations of its professor
ships begin to assume a stability, which
puts the permanent existence of the insii
lution beyond the reach of danger. The
praises of its worthy and valued professors,
are in all Ihe churches. It is entitled to
the unqualified approbation, patronage
and prayers of all our people.
In reference to the more personal labours
of the ministry, w e are happy to say, that
in the administration ol church ordinances,
the preaching of the word, in pastoral vis
itaticns, and catechetical and Bible-class
instructions, a pleasing fidelity and effect
have iu general been discernible during
the last year. Many of the presbyteries
have, in a greater or less degree, been visit
ed by the spirit of God. The presbyteries
of Buffaloe, Niagara, Cayuga, Onondaga,
Londonderry, Troy, Columbia, North Riv
er, Hudson, New Brunswick, Red Stone,
Grand River Portage, Abingdon, Lexing
ion, (Va.) New Yolk, and Albany, have,
in some of their congregations, shared the
special influences of the Holy Spirit. The
presbyteries of Si. Lawrence, Geneva,
Newark and Elizabethtown, have in whole
or in part, felt the mighty power of God,
put forth in an unusual measure : the day
spring from on high has visited the peo
ple, and redeemed sinners have returned!
in rejoicing throngs to their Farther’s
house.
We notice with pleasure the enlighten
ed attention which has been paid to the
religious instruction and. evangelizing of the
unhappy slaves and free people of colour ol
our country in some regions ol our church.
We would especially commend the pru
dence and zeal combined in this work cl
mercy by Ihe presbyteries of Charleston,
Union, Georgia, Concord, South Alabama
and Mississippi. The millions of this un
happy people in our country, from their
singular condition as brought to the Gos
pel by a peculiar providence, constitute
at home a mission field of infinite impor
tance, and of most inviting character. No
more honoured name can be conferred on a
minister of Jesus Christ, than that of Apos
tie to the American slaves, and no service
can be more pleasing Io the God ol heaven,
or more useful to our beloved country,
than that which this title designates.
Many particulars worthy of record and
full of interest, rise to our view as we pro
ceed ; but the general and brief nature of
this narrative compels us reluctantly lo
pass them by unnoticed.
We should be doing injustice to our own
feelings, as well as to an amiable and im
portant class of onr fellow labourers in the
cause of Christ, did we not here acknow
ledge how much our churches owe to the
piety and active benevolence of females,
in the Bible Society, Sunday School, Mis
sionary and Education Societies, and most
eminently in those associations which have
for their object the relief of poor and suf
fering females and children, the influence
of Christian women ha3 been sensibly felt
among us. In these appropriate and inter
esting fields, we rejoice to meet them, and
cordially bid them God speed.
The statistical table prepared by Ihe
order of this body for the churches, enrols
13 synods—B2 presbyteries —1021 minis
ters —173 licentiates— —193 candidates —
693 vacant congregations —946 congrega
tions supplied—l 639 congregations—B666
communicants added last year, and by 761
congregations which have reported— 103,-
531 communicants reported from 982 con
gregations.
Baptisms —1709 adults in 439 congrega
tions—973o infants in 818 congregations.
After this brief sketch of God’s mercies
towards us, we turn with pain, to a survey
of Ihe evils which are brought to view in
a history of the last year. We would first
uotice the fearful extent and unanswered
calls of our vacant territory in Ihe south and
west. “ A famine, not of bread, nor of wa
ter, but of the words of life,” presses them
down to eternal death.
As specimens of this wide and melancho
ly waste, the population of Missouri and
Illinois amounts to 160,000, and covers a
region of count ry 500 miles square. We
have within those limits already 18 church
es, and yet only seven ordained ministers
and one licentiate. In Mississippi and Lou
isiana. are 230,000 inhabitants, scattered
over 80,000 square miles. The great bo
dy of these belong to no church, aod enjoy
no ministrations of the gospel from any
Christian denomination ; and in all this vast
territory, we have only eleven ministers
ofthe gospel established.
[The remainder of the Narrative is necessarily
postponed.]
LATEST FROM LIBERIA.
The intelligence which has just reached
here from Liberia, by the* Hunter, says the
National Intelligencer, is of the same en
-1 couragiog character with that last received.
3||f!WlL &L and enterprise
pi-are ex
isls between the and the native?,
and among all the neighbouring tribe?.
The emigrants by the Hunter were visited
by the fever of the climate, but the disease
proved mild and altogether favourable.
The stone pier is completed, and the pub
lick worl{9 generally greatly advanced.
The Agent has transmitted a line specimen
of the mahogany of Africa, and also some
small bags of cnffep, which grows sponta
neous and abundant in the vicinity of tl-.e
colony. ’
The Aero Testament in Cherokee. —Our
readers will be pleased to learn that Davi I
Brown, the young Cherokee, of whom we
have had frequent occasion to speak, is now
engaged in translating the New Testament,
from the original Greek, into his native
tongue. He has already completed seven
chapters in Matthew, and expects to finish
the whole at no distant period.—A". Y. Qb.
Extract from the Report of the Missionary Socie
ty of the Methodist E. Church.
Tennessee Conference. —There are three
missionary stations within the bounds of
this conference, a-ll among the Cherokee
Indians.
Mississippi Conference. —A mission was
established by this conference at its last
session, among the Choctaw Indians. A
missionary was also appointed to New Or
leans, who writes that .there were about
thirty white arid sixty coloured members
in society io that place, and that they are
now erecting a meeting house. V
From the Pensacola mission the managers :
have received a very encouraging account
from the Kev. Mr. Cook, the missionary*
who it seems has extended his labours to
Mobile, and to several destitute neighbour
hoods along the Escambe river. St. Au
gustine, to which a missionary was contin
ued last year, is now in the list of regular
appointments attached to the South Caroli
na Conference.
South Carolina Conference , —Many of
those heretofore denominated missionary
stations in the bounds of this conference,!
are now numbered among the regular sta- *
lions of the conference ; so successful bate
been the labours of the missionaries in these,
newly formed societies in planting the gos
pel of Jesus Christ. Others, however,
have been added, and some of the old ones
retained.
These are all the missionary stations
which have come to the knowledge of the
board. And it is certainly no small cause
of encouragement that so many have been
struck from the list of missionary stations,
not as being abandoned to their former
wretchedness, but as having so well suc
ceeded as no longer to need the aid of mis
sionary funds for their support. .
The whole number of auxiliary & branch
societies connected with the parent institu
tion is ninety-four ; and the managers ex
press a hope that the additional calls for
missionary labours will tend greatly to mul
tiply their numbers.
Wise reply of a Pious Archbishop.
When Archbishop Leighton, was asked
why he did not preach on the political sen
timents of the times, as all the rest of his
brethren did, he answered, “ That if alf the
rest of his brethren preached on time, then
surely one poor brother might preach on
eternity.
“In Eternity there is nothing to gain;
nothing to lose. Ail is either gained or
lost for ever. In time, there is an Eterni
ty to gain, or an Eternity to lose. Not an
instant here, but tells in the account here
after. Life places you in that pregnant
crisis, between a world of mourning and a
world of joy.”
MOUNT ZION, MONDAY, JULY 18, 1325.
We are again under the necessity of of
fering un apology for the failure of The
Missionary. Its publication has been sus
pended for the very simple reason that we
could not get the material on which to pub
lish it, and the diminished size on which it
appears calls for further apology. If our
friends knew the mortification which such
a failure has cost us, aDd the circumstances
which produced it, they would surely with
hold their censure. We shall, as we have
heretofore done', furnish our patrons with
52 numbers for a year’s subscription—so
that the loss is ours, the disappointment
theirs.
An extra sheet accompanies this paper,
which contains such advertisements as have
been previously inserted.
The Season , eo far, in this section of the
state, has been highly encouraging to the
husbandman. The dry weather which pre
vailed a few weeks since, has been suc
ceeded by plentiful rains, and the crops,
both of Corn and Cotton, are generally
very promising.