who accompanied him; and to have liftened with respect and reverence to his religious inftructions. It will readily occur, that during Mr. Bullen's fhort refidence in the Indian country, viz. from the 20th of May, till the 4th of September, 1799, no great progrefs in the work of his miffion could reasonably be expected. The difference of language and of manners, the impoffibility of procuring proper interpreters, and the difficulty of procuring any worthy of confidence; the ftate of Indian fociety, and the jealoufy of the Indian temper, are obftacles which time, patience, and perfeverance are neceffary to remove. Yet, under all thefe difcouragements, added to the affliction of broken health, and the fevere fickness of his fon, Mr. Bullen appears to have laboured with fidelity, and not without effect. One of the Chickafaw chiefs has been prevailed upon to set up the worship of God in his family: Others are cheerful in promoting the introduction of the gospel into the nation; and the negroes, of whom it poffeffes confiderable numbers, have discovered much anxiety to learn the things which belong to their peace. Several of them came miles to hear Mr. Bullen preach and catechife, and fome of them feemed fo to embrace the word of life, that he thought himself warranted to adminifter baptifm to one family, viz. a father and four children. The Indian diet and mode of living in general difagreeing with his conftitution, fo as gradually to impair his health and ftrength, fo far as to incapacitate him for the comfortable difcharge of miffionary duties, and his fon having been brought, by difeafe, to the brink of the grave, Mr. Bullen thought it requifite to leave the country for a while and return home. He took his departure accordingly on the 4th of September, with the regrets of the chiefs and nation. He was escorted a confiderable diftance on his journey, and parted with them after receiving their carneft folicitations to come back as fpeedily as poffible. Two addreffes to the board of Directors, one from Wolf's friend, the head man of the nation, and another from General William Colbert, and Major George Colbert, both chiefs of influence, officially requested that Mr. Bullen might return without delay, and bring his family to fettle among them. They also requested that the board would fend fome other perfons who could teach them fome of the arts of civilized life, and promised lands during their continuance in the country, and fuch other fuccours as it should be in their power to give. In confequence of this application, the Directors thought it their duty, and of high importance to the objects of this Society, to attempt the formation of a fmall religious fettlement in the Chickafaw country. For this purpose they have connected in the miffion with Mr. Bullen, and his family, Deacon Ebenezer Rice, and his family. With Mr. Rice, both from refpectable information, and perfonal interview, they have every reason to be fatisfied, as a man of evangelical principles and experimental godlinefs, and one well qualified to affift Mr. Bullen as a catechift. Befides his usefulness in catechifing, Mr. Rice, from his mechanical fkill, will be able to affift the Indians in the construction of houses, mills and looms. From his family and that of Mr. Bullen's jointly, they will learn agriculture, and several of the domeftic arts. While the females will be of eminent fervice in inftructing the Indian women. A number of perfons of other occupations were willing to accompany the miffion. But the Directors having adopted, as a fundamental principle, the refolution of not employing any who fhould not be primarily devoted to the propagation of the glorious gofpel, and with whom improvements, merely civil, Thould not be a fecondary object, and having nothing to convince them that the applicants are of this defcription, were obliged to decline the offer. Mr. Bullen, therefore, and Mr. Rice, with their families, agreed to go, by themfelves, on the noble and generous enterprife. They fet off on the 13th inftant, and are now profecuting their journey. The number of perfons belonging to the miffion is as follows: Mr. Bullen, his wife, five children, and a young Making in the whole 8 9 17 The Directors were defirous of fending a blackfmith, but have not yet been able to obtain fuch a one as they would deem fuitable. As foon as they can accomplish this, the establishment will be fufficient, in their judgment, at leaft for fome time. They have alfo authorifed Mr. Bullen to employ as a teacher under him, for one year, a perfon of piety and foundness in the faith, and have voted a compenfation of 100 dollars. The expenses of the miffion are as follows: outfit and journey to the Chickasaws, Do. for advance on falary, 76 50 300 275 Do. Do. to Deacon Rice for outfit and removal, 200 100 1001 The annual expense of the miffion, exclufive of incidental charges, and including the cost of schoolmafter, 675 Making in the whole a fum of fix hundred and feventyfive dollars. The Directors enjoy particular fatisfaction in reprefenting to the Society, that their refources are fully adequate to this expense; The income of their productive capital is eftimated at The annual contributions amount to The monthly and annual collections on an average, to about The present state of their funds is fubjoined. 35 Infurance fhares coft Deduction for balance due the Treasurer, Probable amount due by members, Dis. '350 250 400 1000 Hitherto, it is evident, the Lord hath helped. And it would be ungrateful to omit, in the record of his mercies, the prompt and cheerful affiftance which has been afforded to the miffion by the government of the United States. After fo pleafing a commencement, it would be inexcufable in the Directors, not to contemplate the extenfion of their plans. In this delightful labour, they will gladly exert themfelves, and confidently expect the fupport, not only of the Society, but of thofe who pray for the peace of Jerufalem. JOHN M. MASON, Sec'ry. New-York, March 31, 1800. Officers and other Directors for the enfuing Year. John Rodgers, D. D. Prefident. John H. Livingston, D. D. Vice-Prefident. Rev. John M. Mafon, Secretary. Rev. Samuel Miller, Clerk. OTHER DIRECTORS. William Linn, D. D. John Broome, Efq. Mr. John Bingham, Donations to the Society will be thankfully received by Mr. DIVIE BETHUNE, Treasurer, or by any other of the Directors. The Conflitution of the Miffionary Society of Connecticut: with an Addrefs from the Board of Trustees to the People of the State; and a Narrative on the Subject of Miffions. To which is fubjoined, a Statement of the Funds of the Society. Conftitution of the Miffionary Society of Connecticut. T HE General Affociation of the State of Connecticut, impreffed with the. obligation on all the friends of Christianity to propagate a knowledge of its gracious and holy doctrines, alfo encouraged by the late zealous exertions for this end, in fundry Christian bodies, cannot but hope the time is near in which God will spread his truth through the earth. They alfo confider it a thing of great importance, that fome charitable affistance be extended to new Chriftian fettlements in various parts of the United States. The falvation of these fouls is precious. The happiness of the rifing generation, and the order and ftability of civil government are most effectually advanced by the diffufion of religious and moral fentiments, through the preaching of the gofpel. In deep feeling of thefe truths, having by prayer fought the direction of God, in the fear of his great name, they have adopted the following Conftitution of a Miffionary Society. |