been accomplished compared with what remains to be done! ters in the Lord-let me entreat you— give not only your money, but your sons Give, then, my dear brethren and sis-or YOURSELVES to this cause! MISSOURI. Reports. that they may yet be extricated from this maelstrom of error, and brought From Rev. David Weir, Morgan Co., under the influence of gospel light and instruction. Searching for the scattered sheep. In the eastern part of Pettis, and thewestern part of Morgan counties, I found several Presbyterian families, whom I have organized into a church, which we call New-Providence, consisting of sixteen members, principally heads of families. On next Saturday our church session is to meet, when we expect several others to be added. The two settlements embracing this church, are separated by a prairie from. four to five miles wide. We have divided the preaching between them. In: the one, we have a comfortable house for preaching; in the other, we have had to preach in private houses; but have now the logs ready to build a meeting-house. We have in this church formed a temperance society of 27 members, embracing the most intelli-. gent and influential part of the popula tion. In my commission, Morgan county was assigned as the field of my ministerial labor; but for the cause of truth in this region of country, I found it necessary to make several tours through the adjoining counties. Brother Jones and I held a four days' meeting, in a church which he had organized last spring, in Henry county, distant 40 miles. The meeting was interesting, and attended with many deep, and, I hope, lasting impressions. We were, from the then existing prospects and the solicitation of the people, encouraged to make an appointment for a campmeeting to embrace the second Sabbath in October. According to appointment, brothers Jones, Dodge and I attended. The people had erected a comfortable encampment, and remained on the ground during the occasion. The congregation was large, and the meeting was characterized with the most perfect order, deep solemnity and profound silence, except the voice of the individual addressing them, or leading in prayer-a singular fact in the camp-meeting system in this western country. There were several hopeful conversions during the meeting, and a general impression sufficient to encou-ized into a church. rage the hearts of Christians to attempt more in the cause of their Master. In the eastern part of Morgan, distant 30 miles, I found several Presbyterian families, who feel deeply interested in having the means of grace among them. In my first visit I remained with them four days, inquiring into their situation and preaching to them. They expressed a great anxiety to be organ The attention of the people to preaching was encouraging. We had a In G. and its immediate vicinity, crowded assembly by day and by night.. many are under the influence of Camp-On my next visit we intend to organize bellism, and entirely uninformed with the church, and form a temperance soregard to our doctrines; yet their close ciety. and apparently solemn attention, when I preached on the subjects of human depravity, the mediation of Christ, and the new birth, afforded a gleam of hope Through my labors, by the blessing of God, Presbyterians and many pious of other denominations have acknowledged themselves instructed, fed andı encouraged; the attention of many has been arrested, and a few have professed conversion. ARKANSAS. From a Missionary Report. What church shall we join? My congregations are increasing in number at each of my preaching places, and the attention is uniformly good. It is more and more manifest that prejudices are yielding. Several, who have professed religion this fall, have attributed their hopeful conversion to my ministry, but have been influenced by their relatives to unite with other churches. I have studiously and conscientiously avoided trying to influence any individual to unite with my church. When individuals have sought counsel of me, as to what church they should join, (and this has been done repeatedly) I have uniformly advised them to make it a subject of much deliberation and prayer, and then to act in accordance with the following rules: 1st. To join that church in which they conscientiously believe they will be the most useful to the cause of Christ. 2d. To prepare them for the greatest usefulness, they should join that church in which a preacher's talents and piety by the strength of his lungs, and his ability to get up a noisy excitement in the congregation. Now good sense and gospel instruction are required in those who preach, and the man who is able only to rant and make a noise is lightly esteemed. IOWA. It is a trying time for the ministers and churches in Iowa. This arises, partly, from the fact that, notwithstanding their appeals for help, very little addition has been made to the numerical strength of the ministry within the last year, compared with the demand; and partly from the paralysis of all departments of business, which represses enterprise, and throws an aspect of discouragement over the affairs of the churches. Hence, it is the more necessary that assistance be afforded at this critical juncture. Immediately on the opening of the Spring, some additional laborers will be sent on; and we trust, that those already on the ground will be at least as well sustained as they now are, by the eastern churches. WISCONSIN. I mentioned in my last that a subscription was raised for the erection of a house of worship. Circumstances beyond the control of our trustees, prevented them from commencing the building as early as they desired. It has progressed however, very well of late, and is nearly ready for plastering, but winter is upon us in good earnest. Still we hope for a few warm days, and our house will soon be ready to be dedicated to the worship of God. I regard the prospects of this church and society as encour aging. they will be best instructed and most From Rev. Hiram Foote, Racine, W. T. faithfully watched over. 3d. As the result of the two former, to join that church where they would enjoy the greatest amount of christian happiness. I think it probable if I had used the same exertion which others have, to induce individuals to join my church, I should be able to report a much larger number of members, but I cannot consent to a course which I think to be wrong in itself, and very impolitic in practice. If I can be sustained in the course I have hitherto pursued, I have reason to believe I shall be useful, and probably shall be permitted to gather a church, respectable for numbers, and one which I hope will be useful. A very decided change is already obvious in the estimate which the people put upon preaching. When I first came here, a very large portion of the people judged Light struggling with darkness. A few have joined the church by letter, and some who have long stood aloof from us, have expressed regret that they have not joined. Our congregation is rather on the increase, and it is always attentive and solemn. A bible class during intermission, excites considerable interest, and promises much good. There are still many here who attend Some hunt, no religious meetings. many visit, and many travel upon the Sabbath; though Sabbath-breaking is not near as common as it was when we first came here; and those who are guilty of it are not as open in it as formerly. While we have great cause of humility in view of the sins of the community, we also have occasion to bless God, for the wonderful change effected, and to God be all the glory. Hard times. While we have had some additions to our little church, our pecuniary ability is diminished-produce is so low, and the market is so far distant. It is true, store goods have fallen somewhat in proportion; but were it not for emigration, it would be very difficult for the people to get what are here considered the necessaries of life. Emigrants bring some money into the country, and frequently church certificates, and little or no form of religion. The cause of Christ suffers more from this source than from all others put together. We feel thankful to God for our comfortable school-house, in which we are suffered to worship. It is true the seats are not very good. Some of our christian friends recently from the East, make complaint of "hard seats," &c. Had they attended meetings during ten or twelve years as we have, where for the most part, single slabs formed nearly all the seats, they would be prepared to thank God for present blessings. Christians at the East do not know the value of their privileges. When comfortably seated in their commodious temples, let them think of their brethren crowded into cold log-cabins for worship, and they will, at least, offer thanksgiving for their own distinguished blessings; and it will be strange if they do not ask God to bless the means in use to provide their destitute neighbors with similar privileges. ILLINOIS. From a Missionary in Illinois. A time of darkness and trial. The more I ponder upon the subject of Home Missions, and listen to the almost daily recital of new and interesting facts, bearing upon it, the more I feel the imperious necessity of the sacramental host's of God's elect coming up now to his help against the mighty. Delay here will not only ruin thousands of souls, but greatly retard the glorious latter day of the Redeemer's triumphant reign on earth. And I regret extremely that the mite contributed by my people for this object this year is so small; yet I do sincerely believe, that in view of their deep poverty, and pressing calls this year-one of which is the preparation for the erection of a house of worship-they have done what they could; for this $8 50 cost them nearly twice the amount. I speak of their deep poverty, and for the obvious reason that I have been so much impressed with its reality in the destitution, in many instances, of the necessaries of life, as to relinquish voluntarily a sixth part of what they proposed to raise for me the present year-not in money, but such as they had. Besides this, much, I presume, at the close of the year, it will be All of which impossible to collect. greatly embarrasses and tempts me at times to look for a field of more ability to sustain the Gospel. But then I am reminded that here is a church, and a praying people, who need the Gospel none the less, because they are poor in the things of this world. There are nevertheless some little rills that flow even in a dry time. Hence I have to acknowledge another small sum, viz. $6 83, put into my hands by a friend of missions, to be applied to your Society. Thus, dear brother, the Lord will raise up those who will care for Zion, and provide for her wants, though there be "upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth." But poverty is not the only thing with which we have to contend. Many have been and others are still prostrated upon | beds of sickness; while death has num. bered two of our most interesting and promising young men as his victims. They were brethren in Christ, and bade fair to be great and lasting blessings to the church. But their work is done, and from their exemplary lives, and peaceful and happy deaths, we doubt not, that our loss is their eternal gain. From a Report. End of a Backslider. There has been more than usual seriousness on the minds of some of the impenitent of late, occasioned, perhaps, by the sudden and fearful death of one of our inhabitants. Mr. was in the prime of life, a foreigner by birth, who emigrated to this country some four or five years since, and settled soon after in this village, being one of the oldest inhabitants. He had a wife and children, to whom he was tenderly attached. But the world was his idol. He literally labored for it night and day. His application to business was intense. He sought with avidity the unrighteous mammon; and only took, as by stealth, a miserable pittance of his time for rest and repose-not devoting so much as a single hour, during a whole year, to religious worship. During all the meetings of our revival, last Winter, I do not remember of seeing his face in meeting; though once, while in his native land, he was a professor. But in changing countries, he seemed to act as if he had entirely hidden away from the Lord; and thus, as might be supposed, he made final shipwreck of his former fancied faith, and only lived to show forth God's long suffering patience, while he gradually filled up his cup of indifference and sin. He had commenced, and well nigh completed, a large four-story brick building; a part of which he designed to convert into a brewery, to the no small grief of the better part of this community, and thus a little more politely aid our youth and others into a drunkard's grave. A few days before his death, he was accosted by a professor of religion, and urged to give his attention to his soul's salvation. He at once acknowledged the necessity of securing an interest in Christ, and seemed once more to feel the Spirit's gentle operations. But, like Felix of old, he stifled his convictions by making a solemn promise to his neighbor and to his God, that he would attend to the subject so soon as his house was finished. Poor man! little did he think that his house would so soon "be left desolate," or to be finished by other hands than his, (and, God grant, for other purposes than he designed!) Alas! he had trifled with the Savior's blood too long. Too long had he done despite to the spirit of grace. Late in the evening, he retired from his labor to his dwelling. His family were in bed. He kissed his babe and lay down, and soon fell into a slumber from which he never awoke. A single groan and a death-struggle were put forth-and all was still. His wife cried for help, but help never came. One man in his employ has since become alarmed at his own condition, and promised speedy amendment. And one young lady has recently indulged hope that she has "chosen the better part." Every friend of Zion, and every watchman on her walls, should awake to unceasing prayer and untiring efforts, to see this whole field, so beautified with the walls of salvation, and so defended by the arms of truth, that the Beast can come and walk around our towers and in vain hope for success, when he finds that God is in the midst of us. I have no doubt of the fact, that the eye of that anti-christian power is fixed with a steady and longing gaze upon this beautiful valley. I have long thought that here the great battle is to be fought. This thought mainly impelled me, years ago, to come and suffer in doing what I could, under God, to meet the final struggle. And I am now looking forward to a time when, (if I mistake not,) Popery and Mormonism and Universalism, and all other anti-christian interests, will be leagued in one common brotherhood to persecute the saints. "These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for they that are with him are called and chosen and faithful." This is glorious consolation! And yet it is no consolation to those who can slumber carelessly on their posts, when signs of the approaching storm are seen from every direction. Sickness. From a Missionary on the Mississippi. This has indeed been to us a season of deep affliction. The number of deaths in our village has not been far from thirty-five. Many families have lost their beloved children; and others have been called to mourn over departed wives, husbands, brothers or sisters. This, whilst it has torn the bosom with sorrow, has given me an opportunity to preach the gospel to many, who have not been in the habit of attending the stated means of grace. In this country, no family thinks of burying even an infant without a funeral discourse. I have been called three and four times a week thus to attend funerals. I have talked plainly, yet affectionately, to these assemblies-urging upon thein repentance, and a preparation for death and judgment. The seed thus sown will, I trust, yet bring some fruit unto everlasting life. I have myself been called to stand by the dying bed of a beloved brother 23 years of age, and a precious sister 25 years of age, who has gone to rest in the bosom of her Savior. I trust that these afflictions have prepared my own mind for making more solemn appeals to the sinner. Progress against Difficulties. I trust that good has been done here, and the principles of the Gospel are shooting their roots firmer and deeper in this comparatively barren soil. I need not repeat, that opposing influences are strong; that the confederated forces of the world, the flesh, and the devil, are in constant and vigilant action; and the Gospel has to push its way amid these contending powers and difficulties. Yet we believe the true principles of Christianity are on the advance. This point must not be given up. It is unquestionably one of the best points in a commercial and natural point of view above St. Louis, and destined eventually to be a large town. Now is the time to lay perAnd manently Gospel institutions. though present difficulties may environ us, it is our duty not to give over to the dominion of wickedness and infidelity. Another missionary writes: God has seen fit sorely to afflict the people of my charge. During the months of July, August and September, the greatest part of my time has been occupied in visiting the sick. Whole families have been prostrated at one time, depending upon the kindness of neighbors, for weeks, to assist them. The sickness has been almost entirely confined to families who have made a profession of religion. It may be viewed as a chastisement. Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." Some have felt that the chastisement was greatly needed, and we charitably hope that in some instances it has led the backslider to repentance, and the lukewarm to their first love. But The sickness among us has affected our congregations considerably upon the Sabbath, rendering them less interesting than they otherwise would have been. But the number of people who attend worship has, notwithstanding, been regularly increasing. we have felt more injury in our Sabbath school than any where else. That class of persons upon whom the Sabbath school depended, were so much occupied with attending upon the sick, that the school at L. was suspended. But we have now substituted a general Bible class during the interval of worship, the charge of which I have assumed myself. Since the sickness has subsided, the minds of the people appear to be more tender, and the weekly stated prayer meetings are becoming more interesting. The impenitent are more susceptible of approach, and are quite willing to converse upon the subject of the soul's |