MINISTERS FOR THE WEST. A correspondent of the Christian Mirror, over the signature of C. F., suspects the conductors of the Home Missionary of exaggeration, in stating the qualifications necessary for missionaries for the West. The writer shows a heart so truly in sympathy with the Home Missionary work, that we are unwilling to believe that any positions held by us, when rightly stated, differ from his own. We subjoin a few extracts. I would inquire if some mischief is not done by statements about the wants of the West, and about the kind of ministers needed there. The Home Missionary, a very excellent periodical, calls for the first rate ministers in the West. They must be active, hardy, shrewd, persevering, economical, learned, &c. They must be apt, ready, off-hand speakers. They must be able to cope with all sorts of errorists; and they must understand all sorts of characters, and must know how to act and speak in all companies. How any minister in New-England, middle-aged or young, can think of going to the West, unless he is a first-rate man, or greatly conceited, I do not see. lies. Let them not emigrate as Jacob to Paran, single-handed; but as Abraham emigrated to Canaan, with a whole family. A minister who has collected a little library, and who has a family around him, may find the best room for himself and family in the Great West. And if there should be an emigration from one part of the East to the same neighborhood in the West, it might make emigration more convenient, and useful. Indeed this is now in a degree the progress of emigration; for emigrants from New-England are flowing along the northern route, and are settling Wisconsin and Iowa; and Congregational churches are forming there in far greater numbers than in a more southern latitude along the Ohio river. The ministers that go into our new settlements have not the sympathies, the prayers and the support of the churches as they ought to have. The Foreign Missionary sets out with many expressions of interest and affection; he receives instructions in a large public meeting; prayers are put up for him; friends attend him to his ship, and he is commended to the divine blessing there; and presents are made to him for the future wants of his family. The But then if a minister goes to the Home Missionary goes forth, perhaps West, thinking that he comes up to the with a single trunk and travelling bag, standard set for ministers there, he and leaves refinement and literature, must be in great danger of spiritual and good christian society and chrispride. I have thought that there was tian temples far behind; and his immethis danger in the case of foreign mis-diate friends, perhaps with tears, bid sionaries; since, being selected as su-him "good bye;" but few disciples of perior men, and therefore considering themselves such, and receiving special attentions when they return home, they are greatly exposed to the "snare of the devil.' I think that there are many situations in the West, where a man of ordinary abilities and piety might be very useful in the ministry, where he might have the ordinary comforts of life; and there are many other places, where after considerable hardships for some years, a minister's family might be much better situated for usefulness than in NewEngland, and have as good a prospect of the common conveniencies of life. It is God's will that his people should emigrate, for the purpose of propagating religion in the world; and this emigration should, if possible, be that of fami Christ, say to him, "God bless you." Yet never, never was there a greater enterprise on foot than this, to push christian institutions among the advancing settlers of the Great West. C. F. We may not be good judges in our own case, and therefore we submit for the decision of intelligent persons-ministers of the Gospel, legislators and physicians, as well as more private citizens, whose residence at the West qualifies them to speak-whether the standard of qualifications held up by the A. H. M. S. is too high? And we would ask C. F. if he can point to any statement of the Society, in which all the qualifications enumerated by him, are required as essential for all western ministers; and whether he has not, in the ardor of composition, unwittingly ex aggerated the statements of the Home Missionary on this subject; while he does, in the close of this very article, himself draw a picture of the condition of the Home Missionary, which would seem to require him to be a man of no common ability to do and to endure much for his Master. On the foregoing extract the Boston Recorder remarks: We feel confident that our fellow Christians and fellow sinners there need just the same gospel that we do here; and a man who can preach the Gospel acceptably here, can do so there. He may, moreover, find so great a variety in the field itself, as to be able to choose one adapted to his own qualifications. What is needed is, a good education, good sound common sense, and the ability to adapt himself to circumstances, and a disposition to labor diligently and perseveringly in overcoming obstacles, and so to bring forth fruit with patience." These qualities are both more common and more desirable than brilliant parts; and any man possessing these qualities, who will thrust himself into that wide field, where the harvest is perishing, may, with God's blessing, reap a bountiful and joyful harvest. 64 elevated in their zeal and so full of faith that they can leave behind them "refinement and literature, and good christian society and christian temples ;" and yet be strong and useful missionaries—give us men of the positive character mentioned in the last of the above extracts, and we will say nothing about "first-rate men," or men of brilliant parts. The truth on this whole subject is very obvious. The West is, in general, in a forming state, and on ministers is devolved a greater work than merely to sustain in regular action a state of society already formed. They need, then, the ability to do this work. Let any minister in New-England, look over his own town, and imagine all its organizations, civil, literary and religious, blotted out, and the community, newly arrived from various parts of the world, just emerging from a state of social chaos; and then let him ask himself, What qualifications the man should have, who would impress on this various community a character of enlightened piety, and that too, whilst others were earnestly endeavoring to give it a different character. At present, this is the state of large sections of the West-not of the whole. Where christian colonies are planted, agreeably to the suggestions of C. F., and the original design is not abandoned in the chase after wealth, the minister may be a man of less aggressive Now, we waive all our own views of the character, and yet be perfectly at home. qualifications of ministers, and cheerfully After a few years, the emigration to Wisconadopt the catalogue of our brethren as exsin and Northern Illinois will have been so pressed or implied in the foregoing. Give us largely from the East, that the same style of plenty of missionaries, so economical and qualifications that is required in New-Engsimple in their habits that they can go forth || land, will be equally appropriate in those with "a single trunk and travelling bag;" so states. Appointments by the Executive Committee of the A. H. M. S., from November 1st to December 1st, 1842. Not in commission last year. Rev. Darius Williams, Addison, N.Y. Rev. Isaac Chichester, Bennington, N. Y. Rev. H. W. Smuller, Alexander, N. Y. Rev. M. Robinson, to go to Ohio. Rev. Henry Righter, South Middletown, N. Y. Rev. Orris Frazer, Bath, N. Y. Rev. L. Rogers, Geneva, do. Rev. A. B. Hitchcock, Davenport, Iowa. Rev. J. A. Hawley, Bounds of Illinois Association. Rev. H. Bergen, Sugar Grove, Ill. Rev. E. Raymond, Cong. Ch., Sheridan, N. Y. Rev. R. H. Snoddy, New Prospect, Ten. 25 00 2.00 The Treasurer of the American Home Missionary Society acknowledges the receipt of Waterford, legacy of the late Abiel Cheeney, by S. G. Brinckett, Ex'r., 5 00 Keene, in part of legacy of the late Eli Metcalf, $600; do. Mrs. Metcalf, $400; by E. Parker, Ex'r., 1000 00 VERMONT 100 00 5.00 5 00 Edgarton, Miss C. Coffin, by O. R. Kingsbury, Greenfield, Mrs. H. A. Tucker in part to const. James T. Langstroth a L. M., Millbury, West Ch., in part to const. Rev. Sidney Holman a L. M., by W. C. Capron, Newburyport, Ladies' Indiana Society, by Rev. S. Kittredge, RHODE ISLAND Hopkinton, Miss Sarah Thurston, by T. P. Wells, Kingston, Fem. Miss. Soc., $18 83; Sab. school, per do., $1 17, CONNECTICUT 15 00 100 00 500 20 00 Missionary Soc., by F. Parsons, Treas., 1000 00 Darien, Cong. Soc., by Rev. E. D. Kin Mercer St. Ch., coll. by N. White, $199 10; E. Wainwright to const. Miss Helen W. Wainwright a L. M., $30; Norman White a L. M., $30; J. W. Tucker, $5; J. W. Benedict, $5; W. Brown, $5; G. D. Phelps, $25; A. De Forest, $50; J. Boorman, $100; R. T. Haines, $50; J. B. Murray, $20; F. Markoe, $10; J. E. Earle, $5; T. Denney, $25; E. H. Blatchford a L. M., $30; 82 Southstreet, $25; J. L. Mason, $20; J. Wiley, $10; T. Ensign, $5, Pearl St. Ch., coll. per R. Aikman, Second Avenue Ch., W. E. Dodge, $25; Mrs. Dodge, $3, Spring St. Ch., a lady, C. J. C., left at the office, $15; D. Hadley, $5; E.S.W., $1; a lady, saved by retrenchment in dress, $4 85, by Mrs. Lathrop, Friend, Poughkeepsie, Presb. Ch., by A. Lathrop, Rensselaerville, a friend of missions, Rochester, First Presb. Ch., Erastus Cook a L. D., in part, Salem, Presb. Ch., by Mr. Freeman, Sand Lake, Presb. Ch., by Rev. J. W. Davis, Scriba, Oswego co., N.Y., Ladies' Benev. Soc., by J. Leonard, NEW-JERSEY 649 10 64 06 28 00 1 00 26 85 1 00 50 00 3 00 50 00 16 00 5 00 567 Wilcox, Treas., 29 00 Middletown, Estate of Deac. Samuel Galpin, by H. S. Ward, 5 00 Hamden, East Plains, New-Haven, West Cons., per A. Town send, Treas., viz.: Hamden, Mount Carmel, Wm. Tuttle, 20 00 Humphreysville, 27 75 Waterbury, $4; Sally Charles Estate, $10, const. Rev. Elias Riggs of the Smyrua Springfield, N. J., Presb. Ch., for freight, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 30 00 4.00 West Haven, $19; Fem. Benev. Soc., $22 03, Friend, New-Haven, College Ch. in part, Prof. C. A. Goodrich, L. D. in full, $70; Prof. Shepard, $10; R. Aikman, jr., $1; Prof. Thatcher, $3; Rev. S. Merwin, $3; Prof. Larned, $5; Prof. Fitch, $5, OHIO Legacy of the late Dyer White, to const. Henry White a L. D., Norfolk, legacy of the late Joseph Battell, by J. Battell, Ex'r., Norwich, Mrs. Anna Coit and Mrs. Nancy Hampshire, Christian Depository, box, 64 22 C. Reynolds, 14 half reams of paper, valued at $49 50. Miller's Place, La J., box. Springfield, N. J., box. Millington, Cong. Ch., by Rev. N. Miner, Orange, anonymous, 8 00 Middlefield, Mass., box. Potapaug, Fem. Rel. Soc., by T. Bull, Stonington, Fem. Aux., by Miss L. A. Sheffield, NEW-YORK Troy, N. Y., First Presb. Ch., barrel. Albany, Mrs. D. Clark, 22 03 20 00 Babylon, L. I., coll. a gold ring, $11 83; Colchester, Miss Sarah Downs, of which $30 is to const. Miss Frances Downs Lansing of Greenbush, N.Y., a L. M., Montgomery, T. L. Jackson, by A. Mer win, New-York city, viz: Bleecker St. Ch., B. T. Eastman, $1; 1 00 Higganaum, Ladies' Sew. Soc., a box. Boxes received by Rev. F. Bascom, Chicago, Ill. Jamestown, N. Y., Mrs. Amelia S. L. Foote, Secretary, 102 33 Home Missions, an Economical means of doing Good. THE principal inquiry in reference to any form of doing good ought not to be, What will it cost?—but, Has it the divine approval? Those means, which, in addition to their apparent usefulness, can also claim to have been expressly instituted by the Head of the church, deserve a pre-eminence above all human inventions or combinations of means. Such a pre-eminence among the ways of doing good, belongs to the living ministry. It is the unquestioned institution of the Savior himself. Embodied in it there are elements of power that can be found in no other moral engine; and which show a divine philosophy as well as sovereignty in the selection. If, then, it were an established point, that the ministry costs, in the first instance, more money than any other means of doing good, still it should be sacredly sustained, because, of its divine origin; while the pledge of Heaven's blessing upon it, and consequently its superior usefulness, would make it, in the end, the most economical agency that could be employed. But is it true, that there is any cheaper way of doing good than through the agency of ministers of the gospel? We ask this question, especially with reference to our own country, and with a firm conviction that the cheapest, in a pecuniary point of view, as well as the most direct and efficient, is the establishment of intelligent and pious ministers all over the destitute portions of our land. All other means of saving men, may cluster around the minister-may aid and extend his usefulness; but they are no substitutes for his labors. They are in struments, he is the life and soul by which they are informed and moved. They are the weapons, but he is the soldier who wields them. No one conversant with the new states, can hesitate a moment to attribute to the agency of clergymen a large share of all that is done by the denominations to which they belong, for the best interests of the community. If a plan of edu cation is to be originated and carried into effect, in the hearts of the ministry the project is first born and nurtured; and by their sagacity and pains-taking labor, it is wrought out into a complete result. If Sunday-schools are to live, year after VOL. XV. 19 year, it needs the assiduous care of the minister to cherish them. Who have most extensively-nay, almost exclusively-accomplished the work of supplying, again and again, the Holy Scriptures to every family? How far beyond the limits of ministerial influence, would this or any benevolent operation be extended? How long could it be sustained, where that influence is not present to co-operate? Temperance and Sunday School Unions, Bible and Tract Societies, all acknowledge the ministers, scattered through the field, to be their efficient, their indispensable agents. Now how much does this species of agency cost? As, on the plan now pursued, a large portion of their support comes from the people among whom they are stationed, it is proper in our estimate to take into account only that portion of their support which comes from the great brotherhood of the benevolent through public channels. The American Home Missionary Society employed, the last year, 791 ministers of the Gospel, on an average appropriation of $106; and these actually completed nearly 600 whole years of labor. These men were distributed in various parts of the country, and engaged in all the ways in which men of intelligence and philanthrophy seek to bless the people where they dwell. Withdraw this missionary aid, and a large part of them will be dislodged from their positions-the people being unable to sustain them without assistance. The $106 each, which is paid out of the public charities of the church, through the A. H. M. S., is therefore the sum which decides that they shall keep their stations and perform their work. Home Missions may, therefore, plead for support on the ground of their economy. Let this be considered by those who are solicitous to know how the country may be most extensively benefitted. Let holy enterprise put forth its efforts in all the ways which christian ingenuity can devise; but, whatever it may do to promote other forms of usefulness,―(and much needs to be done, much must be done)— let no one think for a moment that there is any substitute for the living ministry, which can equal it in efficiency, or excel it in cheapness. The Leopold Foundation at Vienna, FOR AIDING CATHOLIC MISSIONS IN AMERICA. It is not for the purpose of exciting alarm, || special design to extend the sway of Robut to diffuse information, that the Home Missionary so often contains accounts of the operations of Romanists in the U. States. And although there are some who regard publications of this kind as needless, we are persuaded that the American churches cannot have n just view of their whole duty, unless they are apprized of the efforts of the Papacy in our country. Among the organizations for promoting Catholic Missions, that which is named at the head of this article is particularly worthy of note, from the fact that it had its origin in a manism over this country. This Society went into operation May 13th, 1829. The immediate occasion of its origin appears to have been the visit of FREDERICK RESE, "Vicar General" of the Diocese of Cincinnati, who published a pamphlet setting forth the exceeding wants of the missions in America, as well as the great progress they had made in the conversion of the Indians, &c. The Society was immediately taken under royal protection and sanctioned by the Pope. We subjoin the Constitution as published in the Reports of the Society. |