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he was very laborious and faithful in his services, in attending conferences, In preaching lectures, in visiting families and schools, and that he received in contribution $18,50.

The journal of Rev. Enos Bliss has been received, from which it appears, that he has performed a mission of 12 weeks in the new settlements, on the Black River, that he travelled 722 miles, preached 94 sermons, made 100 family visits, attended 18 conferences, visited 7 schools, attended 4 funerals, administered the sacrament of the Lord's supper twice, and bap tism 3 times, and received in contribution $7,28.

Rev. Azel Washburn was appointed to perform a mission, of 4 weeks, in the north eastern part of the County of Berkshire. From his journal it appears that he preached 26 times, visited 2 schools, attended one religious conference, visited from 60 to 70 families, and received in contribution $18,61.

Rev. Mr. Ayer, by appointment, has performed a mission, of 20 weeks, in the western Counties in the state of New-York. On this mission he rode 1150 miles, preached 82 sermons, made 121 family visits, attended 4 funerals and 15 conferences, visited and catechised 3 schools, baptised 27 children, admitted 5 persons to the communion of churches, attended 3 church meetings, and received in contribution $52,94.

Mr. Ebenezer I. Leavenworth is engaged on another mission, of 12 weeks, in the Counties of Luzern and Wayne. He has sent to us a journal of 8 weeks of labour, as a part of this mission, accompanied by a letter, in which he gives assurance, that he

will perform the remainder, in a short time; he having suspended missionary services, with a view of supplying, for a few weeks, a vacant society, as a candidate. From his journal of that part of his mission, which he has performed, it appears that he attended 14 conferences, preached 36 sermons, visited 6 schools and 128 families, and received in contribution $5,68.

A missionary appointment has been sent to Rev. Jeremiah Osborn of Western, Tioga County, authorising him to labour in the service of the Society 4 or 5 weeks, at his discretion, in the vacant towns and settlements adjacent to him.

Rev. Samuel Shepard was requested to spend a few days as a missionary, in the north east part of the County of Berkshire. His journal of this mission states, that he laboured 9 days, rode more than 80 miles, preached 13 sermons, visited 10 families, 2 schools and a number of sick people. He received in contribution $3,63.

Since the last Report of the Trustees to the Society, returns of 91 weeks and 2 days of missionary service, actually performed, have been made to the Trustees.

The amount of contributions, in the new settlements, as stated by the journals received, is $155,48.

The amount of monies paid out, since the last Report, for missionary preaching is $458,58.

The Report of the Treasurer was also heard and accepted by the Society. The following is his Report at large, with a statement of his accounts continued to Feb. 4th, 1808, when they were audited.

▲ statement of the funds of the Congregational Missionary Society in the Counties of Berkshire and Columbia, and the expenditures of the same, from the 21st of November, 1806, to the 4th of February, 1808, inclusive.

Account of Monies received by the Treasurer.
Balance in the Treasury, Nov. 21st, 1806 -

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$466,40

1807, Jan. 9, Of Rev. Enos Bliss, collected on his mission to Black River 7,28 Feb. 6th, Of Rev. Alvan Sanderson, collected on his mission to the northern parts of the state of Vermont 12th, Of Rev. Azel Washburn, collected on a mission in the northern parts of the county of Berkshire

13th, Of Rev. Azel Washburn, a donation
Of a member for arrears of annuities

25th, Of the town of Pittsfield

March 6, Of P. a donation

Of R. E. a donation |

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18,50

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16,61

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Mar. 20, Of Mr. Levi Parsons, collected on a mission to the western counties of the state of New York

April 21, Of the town of Lee

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June 10, Of a member for arrears of annuities 17, Of Rev. S. Tracy, a donation

July 1st, Of deacon John Hall, a donation

Sept. 4th, Of a friend of missions in Williamstown

Of Rev. Alvan Hyde, being the profits arising from his
sale of the second volume of the Panoplist

15th, Of 27 members, their annual dues

Of 5 members, arrearage of annual dues

Of 6 members, their entrance money

Of Rev. Samuel Shepard, collected on a mission to the north

ern parts of the county of Berkshire

Of the town of Middlefield

Of the town of New Concord
Of the town of New Lebanon
Of a friend of gospel missions
Of Mr. Samuel Baldwin, jun.
Of Rev. Elisha Yale

Of Mr. Leicester

Of Mr. William Allen

- 12,76 20,11

1,00

1,75

2,00

10,00

- 37,00 - 27,00

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5,00

6,00

- 3,63

- 17,06

- 13,37

- 7,67

2,00

4,00

1,10

1,00

1,00

30th, Of a friend of missions in Dalton

1,00

Oct. 5th, Of Rev. Oliver Ayer, collected on a mission to the Western

parts of the state of New York

52,94

Of Mr. Ebenezer I. Leavenworth, collected on a mission to
the counties of Wayne and Luzern, Penn.

Dec. 4th, Of a female friend of missions

4,70 2,50

Of a friend of missions

. 2,00

16,53

1808, Feb. 4, Of the North Society in the town of New Marlborough
Of 9 members, arrearage of their annuities, received at sun-
dry times since Nov. 21st, 1806

- 9,00 $802,51

The number of Books received since Nov. 21st, 1806, viz.
Of the town of Pittsfield, 3 bibles, 7 testaments, 1 Spelling-
book, 1 Resurrection of Christ, 3 primers, and 1 Trial of
the Witnesses.

Of Mr. Fox of Boston, 9 vols. of "A compendium of Chris
tian Theology."

The number of Books delivered out to Missionaries to be dis-
tributed in the new settlements, since Nov. 21st, 1806, viz.
6 Bibles, 4 testaments, 6 Primers and 6 "Cheap Religious
Tracts."

The number of books now on hand, viz.
40 Bibles, 54 testaments, 9 vols. of "a Compendium of Chris-
tian Theology," 1 bible dictionary, 1 religious life, 1 spel-
lingbook, 1 resurrection of Christ, 1 Trial of the Witnesses,
3 Primers, and 36 dialogues, or " cheap religious tracts."
Monies paid by order of the Trustees since Nov. 21st, 1806.
Dec. 5, 1806, To Rev. Oliver Ayer, in advance of a mission to the coun-
ties of Otsego, Herkimer, Ontario, and Steuben in the state
of New York

1807, Jan. 9, To Rev. Enos Bliss for a mission to the settlements on Black River, in the State of New York.

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Jan. 12, To Mr. Ebenezer I. Leavenworth for a mission to the County of Luzern, Pennsylvania

• 64,00

35,00

Jan. 19th, To Mr. Ebenezer I. Leavenworth in advance of a misson - 38,50 To Mr. Levi Parsons for a mission to the County of Onondago, State of New York

Feb. 6, To Rev. Alvan Sanderson for a mission to the Northwesterly
parts of the State of Vermont

12th, To Rev. Azel Washburn for a mission to the northerly parts
of the County of Berkshire

March 20, To Mr. Levi Parsons, for missionary services in the western
Counties in the State of New York

28,75

- 80,00

28,00

- 31,25

July 1, To Mr. Ebenezer I. Leavenworth for missionary services in the Counties of Wayne and Luzern, Pennsylvania 20th, To Mr. Oliver Sergeant for missionary services Sep. 15, To Rev. Dr. West, expense of advertising the meeting of

the Trustees

To Rev. Thomas Allen, expense of transporting Books Oct. 5, To Rev. Oliver Ayer for a mission to the western parts of the State of New York

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To Mr. Ebenezer I. Leavenworth for missionary services in the Counties of Wayne and Luzern, Pennsylvania Dec. 30, To Rev. Aaron Kinne, for a mission to the northern parts of the County of Berkshire

1808, Feb. 4, The Balance of money in the Treasury

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23,00

5,00

1,00 0,50

90,00

9,82

21,00 -296,69

$802,51

WILLIAM WALKER, Treasurer.
SAMUEL SHEPARD, Auditor.

Hon. BARNABAS BIDWELL, Esq.

Rev. SAMUEL SHEPARD.
Rev. SAMUEL SHEPARD, Auditor
of accounts.

COMMITTEE OF TRUSTEES.
Rev. STEPHEN WEST, D. d.
Rev. ALVAN HYDE.

Rev. SAMUEL SHEPARD.

The next annual meeting of the Society will be holden at the meeting-house in Lanesborough the 3d Tuesday in Sept. 1808, at 2 o'clock P. M. Rev. Jonathan Nash of Middlefield is appointed to preach on the occasion, and in case of his failure, Rev. John Morse of Green River. ALVAN HYDE, Secretary.

INTERESTING.

INDIA.

RELIGIOUS AND LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

THE Secretary of the London Missionary Society has received a letter from the Rev. Mr. Ringeltaube, dated Palamcotta, Feb. 7, 1807. This Missionary has acquired the language of the country, so as to write it correctly, and speak it with but little hesitation.

Mr. Ringeltaube has also sent his journal, from Sept. 12, 1806, to Feb. 6, 1807. He mentions that Dr. Buchanan had requested the loan of his Bible in the Tamul language, as he was about to commence the Malaya

lam translation of the scriptures immediately, there being 200,000 Christians in Malayalam, who are ready to receive it. Even the Romish bishop, it is said, signified his consent to the circulation of the scriptures among his people. The Doctor observes in his letter to Mr. Ringeltaube, that he has had singular success in obtaining ancient manuscripts, in Hebrew, Syriac, &c. Mr. R. greatly rejoiced at this good news; and sent him his only copy of that Bible without delay.

Ecclesiastical Antiquities in India.

[We have been favoured by a respectable Correspondent in India, with a copy of a REPORT, presented by a pious clergyman, at the request of the Governor of Madras, concerning the state of the ancient Christians in Cochin and Travancore. This Report is so curious and so interesting, that we shall give the whole of it to our readers, assured that they will esteem it, as we do, a most valuable and important document. It is followed by an account of the Rev. Dr. Buchanan's Discoveries.]

REPORT

Of the Senior Chaplain of Fort St. George, to the Right Honourable Lord William Bentinck, governor of Madras, on the state of the Christians inhabiting the king. doms of Cochin and Travancore; with an article of interesting literary intelligence, containing an account of the discoveries made by the Rev. Dr. Buchanan, in the course of his investigations undertaken by order of the supreme government in Bengal.

"Public Department. To the Rev. Dr. Keer, Senior Chaplain of Fort St. George.

"REV. SIR,

"THE Rt. Hon. the Governor in Council, being desirous of availing himself of your vicinity to the Malabar coast, to obtain every possible information in regard to the establishment, &c. of the Christian Religion in that part of the peninsula, I am directed by his lordship in council, to desire that so soon as the state of your health and the season will perinit, you will proceed to the provinces on that coast; and you will forward to me, for the information of government, such accounts as you may be able to collect, of the first introduction of Christianity into India-of the arrival of the different sects who have been, or may be, in existence-of their general history, and of the persecutions to which they may have been exposed-of their success in making proselytes of their church establishment, and of the source from

which they are maintained, and with all other circumstances connected with this important subject.

I have the honour to be, Rev. Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant, (Signed) G. G. KEBLE,

Sec. to Government. Fort St. George, June 28, 1806.”

"To the Right Honourable Lord Wil liam C. Bentinck, Governor in Coun cil, Sc. c.

"MY LORD,

"WHEN at Mysore, I was honoured by the receipt of Mr. Secretary Keble's letter, dated the 28th June last; and finding my general health much improved, I resolved to preceed to the Malabar coast, in search of the information required by your lordship in council, regarding the Christians inhabiting that part of the peninsula :-an investigation which I have found as interesting as it is important, whether it regards humanity at large, or as it is connected, in a political view, with the British interests in this country.

"To view the extensive field pointed out for my inquiries minutely, would require much more of my time than could be well spared from my other public avocations; and as I learned that the Rev. Dr. Buchanan was nominated by the government of Bengal, to travel over the same ground, for purposes somewhat similar, I did not think it incumbent on me to take up more than a general view of the subject, and I directed my attention accordingly, not so much to details as to matters of compre hensive import.

"The first object to which the orders of government refer, is, to an account of the introduction of Christianity into this country.

"There can be no doubt whatever, that the St. Thome Christians settled on the Malabar coast at a very early period of the Christian church; from whence they, at one time, spread in various directions as far even as Mileapoor, and St. Thomas's Mount :but to derive authentic information as to the time of their arrival, is at present no easy task.

"From the confusion arising from the imperfection of Hindoo chronolo gy, from the desire which these Chris tians have to derive their origin from

the earliest possible times, (which may perhaps have introduced false traditions amongst them) and as all their authentic records are reported to have been destroyed during the persecutions of the church of Rome; from all these circumstances, whether we refer to the Hindoo accounts, to the St. Thome Christians themselves, or to their persecutors, the Roman Catholics, we are not likely to arrive at any certain conclusion as to the exact time of their establishment in Malabar. Some circumstances, however, may be collected from undoubted authority, by which it may be inferred, that they have been for nearly fifteen centuries established in India; for we find, in ecclesiastical history, that at the first council at Nice, in the year 325, a bishop from India was amongst the number composing that memorable synod; and, in the creeds and doctrines of the Christians of Malabar, internal evidence exists of their being a primitive church; for the supremacy of the pope is denied, and the doctrine of Transubstantiation never has been held by them; and they regarded, and still regard the worship of images as idolatrous, and the doctrine of purgatory to be fabulous-moreover, they never admitted as sacraments, extreme unction, marriage, or confirmation: all which facts may be substantiated on reference to the acts of the synod established by Don Alexis de Meneses, arch. bishop of Goa, at Udiamper, in the year 1599.

"The history of this council will be found most ably detailed in a work printed in French, and entitled, "The History of Christianity in India," published at the Hague, in the year 1724, by La Croze, the celebrated librarian to the king of Prussia.

"The object of this work was to deduce, from authentic materials, the rise, progress, and establishment of Christianity in the East; and to hold up to disgrace, and to merited indignation, the bigotted and unworthy conduct of the Roman Catholic church, in the persecution set on foot by her emissaries, under her avowed sanction, against the primitive Christians, who were found settled on the coast of Malabar; and La Croze seems to have discharged his duty to

the public in a most faithful, interesting, and able manner.

"When the Portuguese first arrive ed in this country, in the beginning of the sixteenth century, they found a Christian church using the SyrioChaldaic language, established in the neighbourhood of Cranganore; and, though it was published to the world many centuries before that period, that such a church existed, yet we find their ignorance expressed in the wonder which it excited.

"These Christians met the Portuguese as natural friends and allies, and rejoiced at their coming; but the Portuguese were much disappointed at finding the St. Thome Christians firmly fixed in the tenets of a primitive church; and soon adopted plans for drawing away from their pure faith this innocent, ingenuous, and respectable people: however, after using for nearly a century, all the customary arts and abominable persecutions of the church of Rome to no purpose, Don Alexis De Meneses, the archbishop of Goa, appeared amongst them; and, by his commanding influence, his zeal, and his learning, and on the authority of what he called the Council of Udiamper, forced the Syrian Metropolitan, his priests and people, into the Roman pale. The Archbishop, however, had not long quitted the scene of this triumph of bigotry, ere the people sighed for their old religion, and cherished it in private; but on the 22d of May, 1653, they held a congress at Alingatte, and great numbers, headed by their Metropolitan, revolted publicly from the Romish communion; nor has all the influence of the Roman Pontiff, and the kings of Portugal, been able to draw them away again from their old faith.

"Leaving the history of this interesting people, which is affectingly delineated in La Croze's Book, I shall, in this report, confine myself more particularly to the existing. state of Christianity in Malabar; and, in order that your Lordship may have the subject clearly before you, I shall consider each sect of Chris tians by itself, under the head of, 1st, St. Thome, or Jacobite Christians;-2dly, The Syrian Catholics, who have been forced from the Jac

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