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first time. There are in this neighbourhood 20 persons from different and distant Churches, who in about a month will probably receive fellowship as a Church. I have never seen any region in my life that needs gospel labourers more than this."

nance was administered for the In Clarence, although but little is yet accomplished, there is a pleasing prospect of a revival, and of a number of valuable additions ; some by letter and some by baptism. Concerning Buffalo, he says, "I know not what to write. Our prospects have been scarcely two days alike. The first Saturday in February we spent in fasting and prayer. I believe we experienced the presence of God, and were blessed with a token for good. We have since enjoyed some refreshing from the presence of the Lord. More than 30 have obtained a hope in Christ; and others are still inquiring what they

On the 17th of August, Mr. Blake returned to Cold Spring, and assisted in the organization of a Church. From this place he proceeded to Conewongo, where he had the pleasure of baptizing another female on a profession of faith. It was the first time that any one had ever been buried in baptism there. Two more converts were expected soon to follow their Lord and Master in this blessed ordinance.

In a letter accompanying his journal, the brethren in that region state, that they had lived there from one, to three years, without any preaching, until in the providence of God the benevolence of this Society sent them Elder Blake. They express the most unfeigned thankfulness for the attention which has been paid to their case, and in pathetic terms beg, that we would remem ber them in their deep poverty, and send them Missionaries, or they will have no one to dispense to them the word of life.

must do.

Never have I felt so deeply my own insufficiency, or met with so many discouragements. For a considerable time, I feared that I was planting upon a rock. But of late I have hoped, that I was not labouring in vain. I have visited 17 towns; preached 70 times; attended 40 or 50 other meetings, and visited as much as my strength would admit. I have formed two tract Societies; and distributed several thousand pages || of tracts."

Rev. Whitman Metcalf, who accompanied the above named Missionary, and we are happy to say, is a brother of a kindred spirit, has also gone forth under the patronage of this Board for one year. In concurrence with Mr. G. he also formed an itinerant circuit, in which he has not preach

Rev. Ezra Going has been appointed to labour as a Missionary for one year in the western part of New-York. When he first arrived at the scene of his opera-ed in vain. He has been instrutions, he experienced much dis- mental in promoting a very pleascouragement. But he described ing revolution in one church in for himself a missionary circuit, particular. When breaches were and prosecuted with zeal the du- healed, harmony restored, and ties of his profession. After a spirit of humiliation and prayer mentioning the towns which he was visible, then it was the pleasalternately visited, he observes, ure of God to bestow the influen"While at Buffalo the Church ces of his gracious Spirit. In one appeared to revive, one was restor- neighbourhood in particular, where ed, 2 or 3 backsliders returned, aa few weeks before, a dozen perfew were serious, and meetings sons could not be persuaded to atincreased." tend a conference meeting, al

Pennsylvania.

most the whole neighbourhood || And it may be proper to add, that will now collect three evenings in in the course of my visits, I a week. Not unfrequently 20 or have distributed several thousand 30, and sometimes more, will pages of Tracts." speak in an evening of the goodness of God to them, while some will express their anxious desires Rev. Benjamin Oviatt has spent for the salvation of their souls. 3 months in the service of the "Our meetings," he says, "on Board. His labours were chiefly the Sabbath have been very large. confined to Alleghany and Potter Many have come and returned be- counties, Pa. He found a state cause they could not get in so as of feeling among the people pecuto hear. Baptismal and com- liarly interesting. In his mismunion seasons have been very sionary tour he promoted and took interesting. God has manifested a part in the constitution of two his presence and approbation. I Baptist Churches; he attended am not able to state the number one ordination, and gave the Right that have experienced a hope in hand of Fellowship to the candiChrist. Twenty-seven have unit- date; and having witnessed some ed with the Church. Nineteen remarkable instances of converby baptism and eight by letter. sion, he had the pleasure of bapSome came forward with letters tising 18 persons, and of seeing dated years since; and others them go on their way rejoicing. expressed a hope which they had But although this information is cherished years before, but had animating, he states one fact concealed it from their friends. which should excite our commiserA number more anticipate a Sab- ation. He says there is but one bath in two weeks, when they can Baptist minister within 60 miles manifest their publick attachment of the place from whence he adto Christ by obeying him in his dresses his letter. Who can lisordinances. The people here often to this statement without feelten express their gratitude to ing the importance of increased your Society for aiding them in exertions for the support of Dotheir destitute condition. In mestick Missions ? China there is nothing special; except that the Church enjoys a union which it has not had before for Rev. Squier Abbot has been years. In Freedom, a branch of employed by us as a Missionary the China Church, we have ex- for 3 months in Ohio. Having perienced many interesting sea- given a minute account of the va sons. Eight have united by bap-rious places which he visited, the tism, and six by letter, and reception that he met with, and there is encouragement to hope the various degrees of success that the Lord is still among them. which apparently followed his laIn closing my letter, I submit bours, he remarks I have rode with diffidence the following as a 711 miles; preached fifty-nine brief sketch of my feeble services. sermons; baptized 7 persons, and Since I engaged in the service of broke bread to one church. your Society, I have preached have enjoyed many precious sea117 sermons; attended nearly 70 sons; and have often heard the other meetings, and visited be- brethren express their gratitude to tween 170 and 180 families, be- God, and their thanks to your sides a number of schools. 1 Board of Missions, for sending have baptized 26 persons, and 15 them the blessed gospel. "Could others were received by letter. christians in Boston, (he writes,).

Ohio.

I

hear the pressing solicitations that || States and Territories far West. other ministers, as well as my- And if, after mature deliberation, self, receive, in which the Macedo- a system of means should be denian cry is repeated-Come over vised having this object in view, and help us-I am sure it would and duly authorized agents should affect their hearts. There are be appointed to receive aid from multitudes in this western region societies and individuals, it is who are perishing for lack of hoped that they will meet with knowledge. And although many due encouragement. are led away by erroneous doctrines, yet, blessed be God, there is reason to hope, that many do hunger and thirst for the bread and the water of life. greatly rejoice when they hear the tidings of salvation by Jesus Christ."

These

States bordering on the Missisippi

river.

The following persons have also been appointed Missionaries.

Rev. Asa Niles,
Isaac Kimball,
William Bentley,
Elisha Andrews,

M. W.

3:

6:

: 6

3:

Thomas Barret,

2:

6:

James M'Coy,

Hatch, 6:

Adoniram Judson, 3:

William Spencer, 3:

Clark Cornish,

6:

James Parsons, 3:
Eli B. Smith,

S:

Aid to Churches. During the past year the Board have appropriated one thousand

assisting poor and infant churches in maintaining the constant and regular ministry of the word. From the experience which the Trustees have had on this subject, they are convinced, that there is no way in which they can more

In this region Rev. John M. Peck has been employed 6 months as your Missionary. As most of his letters addressed to the Board have already been published, it will not be necessary in this Report to give a particular account of his excursions and labours. We would however express the gratify-and two dollars for the purpose of ing conviction that he has been an instrument in the hand of God of doing much good. His attempts to set in order the things that are wanting, in many of the churches; the zeal and industry with which he has established Bible Societies and Sabbath schools, and the in-effectually subserve the cause of terest which he has taken in the Christ. There are churches distribution of religious Tracts, now, in a flourishing condition, cannot fail of receiving the appro which owe their visibility to our bation of christians, and the spec- timely aid; and some are in posial blessing of the God of grace. session of commodious meeting Mr. Peck has expressed his houses that, without appropriations deep anxiety that a circuit system from this Board, would have been should be established in supplying obliged to meet in private houses, the West with preachers of the and probably they would have gospel, and that specific funds met no where. In a letter from should be raised in the different one Society of this kind, thanking States to meet the necessities of us for past and soliciting future this case. We are fully impress-aid, the following interesting stateed with the belief that his plan is ments are made. Until Nov. 1825, both wise and practicable. We there was no Baptist Church in can see no other way in which a this village. At that time, a suitable provision can be made for few scattered christians formed the religious instruction of the themselves into a church.

The

whole number was 15, of them, part of this State, for whose minonly four were men and two ofister the Trustees had appropriatthem lived at such a distance, thated 50 dollars, we have received they were of little use, and afforded us no pecuniary aid. In 1824 we applied to Mr. H. who continued to serve us until Sept. last. We met with unexpected difficulties: but we believed that our cause was good, and were determined to persevere. Three of us built a small vestry which cost us $650-in this we continue to meet to the present time. In July last it pleased the Lord to look on our low and feeble state; he visited the vestry, and revived his work among us. Since that time 45 have been added to this little church, and there are some more who will probably soon join

us.

the following information. "The church in this place have maintained stated preaching the year past; and not without a blessing. Twenty-seven have been received since March, 1825. Fourteen by baptism and thirteen by letter. There is a prospect that a number more will join. We feel grateful for the assistance we have received from your Society, and hope that your bounty has not been misapplied." Other cases might be mentioned; but these it is believed are sufficient to show the great importance of such appropriations.

Christian Watchman.

We now are encouraged to The Trustees have in an official hope that the Lord will continue manner extended their patronage to bless us. Our vestry has be- to the Christian Watchman, a recome too small for us, and we have ligious newspaper published in Boswithin a few days determined to ton. From the arrangements build a large and good meeting- which have been made, it is probhouse. We have purchased land, able the Society will derive some and are collecting materials for pecuniary aid from that publicabuilding. The house will cost tion. This consideration however us $4000. We have already been had not so much influence with indebted to your Society for $100, them as a belief that the piety and and before we concluded to build, ability with which that paper is we had determined to ask no more conducted, render it deserving of aid. We can indeed support our a more widely extended circulaminister, but we are not able to do tion. It will scarcely be less it, and to build at the same time. gratifying to the Board than to its Had we received no support from publisher, to learn hereafter that your Board, I have good reason this highly useful vehicle of relito believe, that we should not now gious intelligence, has greatly have been a Society. It encour-multiplied the number of its preaged us to hold on in the darkest sent subscribers. times until the Lord appeared for us.

American Baptist Magazine.

This work is still published under the direction of the Trustees. Although the number of subscribers for it is respectable, yet it is not so great as in former years. This is partly owing to the increase of other religious publications, and partly to the want of efficient agents whose duty it should be to devote themselves en

Another church that has received repeated aid from this Board, has been enabled to redeem their meeting-house, which had been alienated from them not in the most liberal and honorable manner. It is still however an important crisis with them, and they are now looking with great anxiety to this Society for help. From a Society in the westerntirely to its interests. We do JULY, 1826,

28

soon be in operation, which will secure to the American Baptist Magazine a much greater portion of readers.

trust, however, that means will must enter upon a wider field and more. extensive plans of usefulness. It is questionable, if amongst all the excellent institutions for the spread of the Gospel at home, with which our country The publishing Agent in this abounds, there is one with no greater city has not been able to prepare resources, that has been the instrument of his accounts so as to state what such extensive good as this Society. will be the profits for the last year. Much of the field over which its first misThe probability is, they will be sionaries travelled more than twenty much less than have been declared years since, is now overspread with large on former anniversary occasions. Associations, flourishing Churches, MisThe Board mention these facts, sionary Societies, Foreign and Domesnot as causes for discouragement, tick, Theological Schools, and now exbut from a conviction that the So-hibits the joyful prospect of a rich harvest ciety should have a full view of all its concerns. They are fully persuaded, that nothing more is wanted, than the countenance of Ministers and private christians to this valuable work, to increase its circulation four fold, and thus to make it instrumental, not only of diffusing much knowledge through every part of our country, but of annually enriching your treasury to an indefinite amount.

for succeeding ages. Fixing the mind on the exertions of this Society for the year recently closed, the results are in no ordinary degree gratifying. Twenty-two missionaries had received appointments in all to the amount of ninety-six months, or a period of eight years, the most of which has been performed, and this has cost the Society less than 2000 dollars. Sixteen feeble churches have received the aid that has enabled them to obtain the regular dispensation of the word and orAll which is respectfully sub-dinances at an expense of 1002 dollars. mitted. DANIEL SHARP.

And from the manifest fruits of the la

Sec'ry.bour of these missionaries, and the aid

RELIGIOUS WANTS OF THE
WEST.

We earnestly recommend to the serious attention of all our readers the following

CIRCULAR ADDRESS. Having been appointed Agent for the BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS, for a few months, to increase its funds and its Auxiliaries, that exertions upon a more extensive and systematic scale may be made in the States bordering upon the Mississippi, the undersigned legs leave to address the Baptist community and the friends of religion in general on these important objects.

Labours of the Society. THIS Society has steadfastly prosecuted its labours, and enlarged its benevolent efforts to promote the Gospel in our own Country from its infancy to the present time, and now the openings in the Providence of God plainly indicate that it

afforded to these churches, it is abundantly evident, that the blessing of God has followed in no ordinary degree.

The number of souls converted, the amount of spiritual consolation adminis tered to the flock of Christ scattered through the wilderness, the backsliders that have been reclaimed, the vice that has been lessened or prevented, the influence that has been exerted favorable to

morals and religion over a mass of population on the frontiers, the amount of good in Sabbath school instruction, the revivals of religion, and all the direct and indirect benefits that are the fruits of this one year's labour, is incalculable. Eternity alone can estimate its value.

Future exertions.

But there are decided indications in the opening events of Providence, that this Society ought to increase its efforts and multiply its resources more than two fold, the present year. A number of small

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