such but by few. Now it is known that here is a church, and who are its members, and what is the stand they have taken. And our enemies acknowledge the reform. History of a settlement which was begun without making provision for public worship. The first farm was opened or rather enclosed, for it was in the prairie-some 27 years ago. In 1816 a gentleman came from New-York city to explore; and in consequence of his report, several substantial sea-captains and seafaring men removed with their families, during the succeeding year, and settled down as husbandmen in the new and almost vacant prairie. A very few farms had now been commenced on its margin, but the whole undulating plain lay untouched. The enterprising and energetic men who had plowed the ocean many years, (one of them told me that he had crossed the equator 44 times, in eleven voyages to China,) now commenced in earnest to plow the rich soil of Illinois, and their farms soon spread over large portions of the prairie. Being joined in a few years by others from Philadelphia and New-York, the prairie began to assume the form and enjoy some of the advantages of regular society. children and children's children mingle with more recent inhabitants, from more extended and various regions, in forming the present community. It is to be regretted that, while there was some sense of the importance of the institutions of education and religion among the first settlers, so that schools were early opened, (but feebly sustained,) and a place of worship was erected, (but never finished, and long since disused,) there was too little vital, active piety to purify the social atmosphere, and keep up the worship of God and the observance of the Sabbath. This world seemed to bound the views of nearly all; so that, while a fair and even high reputation for good character was enjoyed, the claims of God were forgotten or neglected. For years, besides occasional and infrequent preaching, the only religious exercises of the neighborhood were in connection with a Sabbath school, which was sustained, amid the greatest discouragement, by two females, one of whom has years since gone to her reward. The Sabbath was spent in visits, and often in work, preparing for market, &c. About 12 years ago, a pious and able minister, of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, came to reside and teach a school among them. His influence was good, and would doubtless have been of great value, but he only remained a year, and then the ordinances of the Lord's house were, though somewhat regularly, far too seldom enjoyed. Soon after, it happened that by the visits of ministers residing round about the services of the sanctuary were more frequent, and about ten years ago, Rev. visit The inhabitants, being for the most part intelligent and enterprising persons, from the cities above named, or from Connecticut, Long Island, &c., and the leading men being extensively and favorably known, the neighbor-ed the place, I believe, twice a month. hood soon became a point of interest at In the autumn of 1833, a little church the East; and none, for many years, it was organized. A few souls were hopeis believed, attracted so much the at- fully born again at the meeting held on tention of intelligent people in that that occasion. quarter. Speculation, of course, was awakened, but the reverses of 1819-20, so similar to those under which we now labor, checked this spirit, and the improvements actually achieved are those of plodding industry, and of regular and gradual immigration aiding the natural increase. The leading men, who gave the impress of character to the settlement, are all, or nearly all gone, or laid aside by the infirmities of age, and their Removals of some of the most efficient members have, from time to time, weakened the church and its influence-and though regular preaching has been enjoyed some three or four years of the last eight, once a fortnight, and for one or two years, by the alternate labors of an Episcopalian and Presbyterian minister every Sabbath; yet it was only practicable to attend to the public ministrations, and no influence was or could be exerted by the daily walk, and occasional visits, || We can do something for his supportof a pastor or his family. The church we are willing to do all in our power." dwindled to a few females, and few came up to the solemn feasts. Such was the condition of the settlement-for no church of any other denomination exists here-when I came to the place 18 months ago. The above is an outline of the history of a community which commenced in the West, under the best auspices except that of religion. But all the mischief resulting from this single omission cannot be detailed. It will now cost many years of labor and much treasure, to gain for the Gospel a supremacy in that settlement, which, in the beginning, might have attained with the utmost ease. Alas, in how many such settlements on the beautiful plains of the West, is the same foolish experiment in the process of being made! MICHIGAN. Appeal for an able minister. Rev. E. Child, of Calhoun co., makes the following appeal in behalf of the destitute and feeble churches in that vicinity. Seeing no prospect of a suitable response to the call from the East, the Executive Committee are about making an arrangement to engage a pastor of one of the most important churches in the region referred to for this service. His place, which will thus be left vacant, ought to be filled without delay. The churches in Marshall Presbytery are, many of them, without a minister. A committee was appointed to procure, if possible, a suitable man to be commissioned by your Society to labor as a general missionary in these destitute and feeble churches. As a member of that committee, I ask, can you not send us a man of some experience, good and true, commissioned to receive that part of his salary which the churches fail to raise, from your Society? One at least is greatly needed-I leave my people occasionally, and spend a Sabbath with some one of them. The never-failing inquiry is, "Can't you send us a minister? There is a Presbyterian church 14 miles N. E. of me, consisting of about 24 members,-intelligent, enterprising and pious, who greatly desire a minister. They could probably raise $150 for his support. If a man could be sent out by your Society for that church, it would be very desirable. But if possible send us a general missionary to labor under the direction of our presbytery. From Rev. C. G. Clarke, Webster, Mich. Blessed results of a revival. The result of the revival has been most happy upon the Presbyterian church. It has healed the long breach existing there. Unhappy difficulties had existed, and a number had been suspended from the church. Hard feelings between them and the members of the church, distressed the usefulness of both. All of these individuals, who were in the place during the revival, have become reconciled, and are now connected with the church. Seven have united with us on profession, and a number by letter. Sixteen in all were received into the church at our communion two weeks since. The church is now nearly doubled, and I think it never was in a more happy and prosperous state. The strength of the church has increased an hundred fold. We feel that we have abundant occasion to praise the name of the Lord. I trust the way is prepared to move forward with zeal and success. God has visited a number of the churches in this region the past season, with the reviving influences of his Spirit. About 200 have united recently with connected with this the churches presbytery. From Rev. H. Root, Howell, Mich. A year of trial and of blessing. The past year, although a year of hard trial, has been one of great success. God has caused a mighty overturning in this place. While we still see much among us that should humble the people of God, and urge them to the prossecution of their labors, with untiring zeal, yet we see much that calls for devout thanksgiving to God, and that is calculated to inspire us with the greatest confidence for the future. With but one or two exceptions, the subjects of hopeful conversion appear well, and I trust will continue to adorn the doctrine of God their Savior. The converted inebriates continue firm. We have received into the church thirty-six; about thirty of them on profession of faith-as the fruits of the revival. Among them are some of the most important members of our community. Our congregation is much enlarged. Our house is getting quite strait for us. NEW-YORK. From a Missionary in Western N. York. A protracted season of united prayer. A conference of the Presbyterian and Congregational churches in this county, held at the close of September last, proposed that all the churches should commence a ten days prayer meeting the 26th of October. This church entered into the arrangement, and at that|| time commenced prayer meeting and continued it every evening for about two weeks, with encouraging results. Many of the church were revived, and we indulged the hope that some were converted to God. After this season of prayer, preaching commenced here, principally in the evening, sometimes in the afternoon, neighboring ministers helping. When we did not have preaching in the afternoon, we held meetings for conversation and prayer. The Spirit of God came down. After two or three weeks of this labor at the meetinghouse, preaching commenced in a school-house, near where a few members of this church resided, and in the families of whom there had been some interesting conversions. About 30 individuals in all have cherished hopes of eternal life, most of whom are youth, and some from the Sabbath school. An interesting class of young men and women have espoused the cause of the Redeemer, and some of them are very active in declaring what the Lord has done for them, from house to house, and warning sinners to flee from the' wrath to come. I have never seen more decision among young converts, and promises of usefulness to the church of God. Their consecration to the service of God seemed to arise from a calm and intelligent conviction of their obligations to be on the Lord's side, and the injustice and guilt of withholding their love and obedience to him, who purchased their redemption at such a price. It was found that many of them had been under deep conviction for months before the meeting, but had not expressed their feelings to any one. There has been generally but little animal excitement, and the work was very gradual. Infidelity shamed. I have informed you, I believe, that there are many infidels in this place (for its size) who reject the Bible; as well as many who profess a belief in it. As soon as our prayer meetings began,. they organized themselves into a club; with officers and bye-laws, meeting every night at a grocery. There were about 40 in number, principally young men, influenced by men of middle age who were avowed infidels. One of their rules was, that no one of their number should attend our prayer meetings. Two or three of the young men, connected with pious families, did attend, and were consequently rejected by the club. Some of the men leading in this matter had pious wives, by whom prayer unceasing was made, as also by the church, for them. When preaching began, they agreed that they would attend occasionally, without dissolving the club. In the progress of the meeting, two of them disturbed a prayer meeting, which had a good effect to shame them; and shortly after, during an evening meeting, they procured a small cannon and fired it at regular intervals before the meeting-house, during service. We had taken but little without ministers, permanently destitute. And the fact is, a church without a minister, is scarcely, at the best, more than no church, and in truth very notice of their movements in public, for we soon ascertained that they wished to gain attention-"We left them alone in their glory." They would have a hearing, however, and used the strong-soon ceases to be. Very many of est arguments they had against the truth. We took but little notice however of their powder logic. They have since confessed it was a mean business, and are exceedingly mortified. They have ceased to meet as a club, and some of them are very much softened. Some of the young men are very active converts. "The wrath of man shall praise thee, and the remainder of wrath thou wilt restrain." Infidelity has received a blow in this place, from which we think it will not entirely recover. It is also stated that the work of grace referred to in the foregoing report, was greatly promoted by a previous movement in the temperance cause. THE EAST. NEED OF HOME MISSIONARY EFFORTS. Never will Christians have the right spirit in reference to efforts for the conversion of souls, till they are as deeply affected with the condition of dying men in their own country as of those at a distance. That is the true philanthropy, which, while it does its duty to those who are afar off, does not leave undone that which it owes to the destitute at home. In former numbers of the Home Missionary, we have published accounts of the condition of neglected portions of the state of New-York. Below, we extract from their respective Missionary Reports, similar testimony concerning Vermont, New-Hampshire and Massachusetts. Vermont. "There are in Vermont not far from sixty towns in which are no Congregational churches, and, so far as our denomination is concerned, are without the institutions of the Gospel. In most of these towns the regular administration of these institutions is needed, and should be had. To these should be added sixty towns in which are churches those churches in Vermont which have been long destitute of the stated ministry, though they have a name to live, are dead. This calculation gives us one hundred and twenty towns. Probably it is a little within the truth. It is no doubt safe to throw into this field one-half the State. All of half the territory of Vermont is, so far as our denomination is concerned, destitute of the gospel ministry; and one-half of this destitution is without church organization, while in the remaining moiety a large proportion of the light that should be, is darkness. We wish to repeat the fact, that one-half the territory of Vermont is, so far as our denomination is concerned, destitute of gospel ordinances. The joyful sound does not, through this medium, reach the ears of those who dwell there." 66 New-Hampshire. Though the number of feeble churches has, of late, been considerably reduced, it is still true that the resources of the Society are insufficient to aid all that remain in sustaining the institutions of religion. There are about 15 churches of the more feeble class to which this Society does not, at of these churches are supplied with present, stand pledged. Six or seven preaching either the whole or a part of the time, and no one of them is able, without assistance, to raise the lowest sum adequate for the support of the ministry. And besides, there are not a few towns and places where no churches and no regular christian order exist, that present inviting fields of missionary labor. The obstacles to the success of the Gospel in these places, though peculiar and great, are not perceived to be more so, than those that have been encountered and overcome *The reader will, of course, it is supposed, observe that this is true of Vermont only geographically. Every one knows that more than half of the population of Verinont are within the sound of the gospel. They can, if they will, apply themselves to its institutions. in many other towns now comparatively [[ reclaimed from a state of moral darkness. With regard to the missionary territory of this State yet unoccupied by the Society, the question of duty to be settled by the friends of Home Missions, depends upon the question, whether the spiritual comfort of God's people, and the salvation of sinners, is an object of sufficient magnitude to justify the expenditure of their money? But is this debateable ground with the Christian who has given up himself and his all to the Lord that bought him? Is he to deliberate whether to withhold his charities at the eternal expense of the perishing around him, or to venture them on the promises of God that they may be made the means of their de liverance from death?" Massachusetts. regularly and as constantly on the Sabbath, as on any other day, from early dawn till evening, the sound of the axe and saw, the plane and hammer. I see men performing all manner of labor, both in the field, and on the highways. Some of our stores are regularly thrown open on the Sabbath, and men of reputed respectability visit them for traffic. Our congregation is irregular, varying from 25 to 150. My hearers could often be doubled by going into the barroom instead of the church-which stand on opposite sides of the street." "But such wastes as these do not comprise the largest part of the missionary field in this Commonwealth, nor create the strongest necessity for continued effort. During the last twentyfive years, the main object of this Society has been to revive and strengthen churches that have been crushed almost, in their conflicts with religious error; to restore the discarded principles of faith and practice on which the churches of New-England were founded; to rekindle the torch of truth in temples where its light has been put out-ob "Good men sometimes suggest a doubt whether there be much need of missionary work in the old State of Massachusetts. But what are the facts? One of your missionaries, located in the midst of a population of 1,400 souls,jects as important as truth itself. Twonot more than 200 of which regularly thirds of the whole field now occupied attend any place of worship, thus by your missionaries, answer to this writes:-"I have heard those who be- description. The operation is more lieve in the sanctity of the Sabbath, defensive than aggressive; and if suc-> publicly held up to ridicule, as persons cessful, will be not a new conquest to who were attempting to bring into use the cause of evangelical religion, but the obsolete institutions of the Jewish the recovery of what has been once ritual. It is a known fact that a man's possessed and lost. It is impossible to practice rarely rises above his belief; show a reason for propagating the regenerally it falls below it. The state-ligious faith of our fathers on any other ment will not, therefore, be deemed soil, without showing an equally forciincredible when I say, that I hear as ble reason for preserving it here." Missionary Appointments by the Executive Committee of the A. H. M. S., (those appointed by Auxiliaries not included,) from July 1st to August 1st, 1842. Rev. Isaac D. Cornwall, Vacancies in Delaware Rev. H. Hyde, Saginaw, Mich. Rev. Geo. Hall, Sydney Plains, N. Y. Re-appointed. Rev. Roswell Brooks, Chalmers and Pendleton, Rev. S. Griswold, Mumfordsville, N. Y. Rev. F. A. Deming, Rome, O. |