the interests of Christ among the peo- | had a long conversation with her. I ple, and I can truly say that rational, The most unpromising fields for missionary king proselytes, is sure to result in a great fal- MICHIGAN. From a Report. Various missionary incidents. found her wandering in darkness, and distressed about her soul. I trust God has led her to the light, and she is rejoicing in his grace. An elderly lady in this village, has been what our Methodist brethren call a seeker of religion, for more than fifty years. I have no doubt she has been, most of that time, a Christian; but in has been almost in despair. She exconsequence of wrong instruction, she pected she should go down to the grave mourning, and lose her soul. Such was her state when I first visited her. when the truth was presented to her mind in its clearness and simplicity, though she still lingered awhile about her long-established habits of thinking, yet she now rejoices in God, and is connected with the church. But My labors have been much as usual during the last quarter, except that I preach more during the week. Last velled nearly 100 miles. But this is more than I usually do. I aim to preach three times on the Sabbath, and about twice during the week. I must do as much as this, in order to answer any thing like the calls upon my labors. I have continued my explorations, to some extent. I have thus far ascertained, in the county, 90 who have been members of Presbyterian or Congregational churches. A man died here who was a son of pious parents, but as he professed sub-week I preached seven times, and tramission to God only on his death-bed, he left comparatively slight evidence that his change was such as would fit him for heaven. God has made use of that affliction, as I trust, to the salvation of a brother. He is apparently a bright, growing Christian. When I first conversed with him, after the death of his brother, he was already deeply affected, but it was three weeks before he surrendered all, and found peace in believing. He thought he felt a willingness to give up every thing; but when I inquired if he had erected the family altar, "Ah!" said he, "I am afraid that is the difficulty." I told him God required a consecration of heart to do his will-to do every duty. It might be this was the great obstacle in the way of his salvation. He went home, attempted to perform the duty, and with this demolition of the last strong hold of sin, the light of God's countenance was manifested to him. He is now praying earnestly for the conversion of his companion. At, an intelligent, middle-aged lady, who has been a long time deeply affected, and has during the past summer and autumn had two deaths in her family. Her husband is orthodox, but holds the truth in unrighteousness. Some time in October, I visited and Anxiety for the youth. I sit down this morning to make out my quarterly report with trembling solicitude. I look upon my (appropriately called) youthful congregation with trembling and tears, and yet, with faith and hope. For more than a year past, I have felt more or less a burden of anxiety for their souls. I know not of another congregation at the West, or even at the East, which embraces such a proportion of impenitent youth; for the young people in all this region, though in many cases under unfavorable religious influences at home, have acquired the habit of attending meeting on the Sabbath. With the conduct of some I have been often deeply tried. But in all cases have found great consolation at the throne of grace. Why do we hear of so few Revivals? This inquiry is deeply solemn. Is God's hand shortened? Is his ear heavy? No. It must be from a different cause. Is the ministry faithfully laboring, and earnestly praying for the descent of the Holy Ghost among their people? Perhaps, in many cases their energies are exerted in guarding their churches against error. This may be very important. It is necessary to defend truth valiantly. But it is a great mistake in this work, to lose sight for a moment of the reviving influences of the Holy Ghost among the people. His operations in converting sinners, are the mightiest safeguard against error. Let such humility, and faith, and prayer, animate the ambassadors of Christ in the closet, and in the pulpit, that the Spirit of God shall seal the truth that they proclaim and defend, and you well know how error vanishes. We commend the thought suggested by these remarks, to the consideration of our missionary brethren who are surrounded by errorists. Is not their great hope for the conquest of Infidels, Mormons, Universalists and others, whom they feel it their duty to withstand, to be found rather in awakening their consciences, than in silencing their cavils by controversy? Doubtless, it is the minister's duty to "reason of righteousness, temperance and judgment," but, after all, his reliance must ever be on the convicting energy of the Holy Ghost. The most successful missiona ries are usually those whose hearts are set with an earnest purpose to abide at the mercy seat, and never to be satisfied with themselves or their ministry, except the work of conversion be going on among the souls committed to their charge. One case among many.. As we read, again and again, such proofs as the following of the steady advance of the Western churches under missionary culture, we feel it, more and more, to be a privilege, to have even the humblest instrumentality in such a work. When I commenced preaching here the church was composed of eighteen members, a majority were females, the congregation was small, and there being no other in the place, the congregation and the general seriousness increased gradually until about the 18th of Feb. 1841. I then thought the time had arrived to make a more special effort. Without any ministerial assistance, of importance, I commenced an evening protracted meeting, not having any ing house, where we met for prayer in house during the day except my dwellthe afternoon. The work of the Lord advanced solemnly, but slowly; there was an unusual calmness among the subjects of the work. There were about twenty hopeful conversions, many of them heads of families. At this time the Methodists commenced a quarterly protracted meeting, and we were obliged to close, to give the house, which they held for two weeks. After the Methodist meeting closed, there were a number of conversions among us. Our church now numbers fifty members, comprising an equal number of males and females. I trust the religious interest is again on the increase. We are praying for and expecting another revival; and that our young men will yet be brought into the kingdom of Christ. The Sabbath school is flourishing; almost our entire population are temperance men and women, and I believe there is not a permanent resident in the town who is a drunkard-the population about 750. We have a has not failed once since I commenced weekly prayer-meeting, which I believe preaching. A church and its Minister. I love this people—I love this field of labor. Although I have been invited to other fields less laborious, less self-denying, and more lucrative, I hope God will permit me, through your assistance, to remain here. We have trials and hindrances. I am poor, and dwell in a poor house, with but one room, a cellar and a garret-that room often the only place for the prayer, conference, and I business meetings of the church. have a family of little ones. The privations to which we are subject we regard not, when we think of perishing souls; but I need books and cannot buy. I have but 2 volumes on Theology, the Bible and Concordance. The want of others is a great hindrance to my usefulness. The great philanthropic and christian operations of the day are looked upon with deep interest by this church, but they are now not able to contribute much. I trust they will be soon. We have a meeting-house to build this year, and I presume we must ask your assistance next year. May God bless the aid we have already re ceived. From Rev. J. G. Kanouse, Saline, Mich. The personal friends of this missionary, and those who the last season contributed to aid in completing the church in Saline, will learn with pleasure, that the result of the attempt, has been highly satisfactory; and that both pastor and people return their hearty thanks to God, and to his children, for timely deliverance from the difficulties by which they were environed. Dedication of a church. Our house of worship was dedicated to God on the 16th of December, 1842. Sermon by Rev. I. M. Wead, of Ypsilan ti. The house was crowded to overflow ing-many were found, for the want of room, to stand without the doors. The congregation were attentive and solemn -and most of the old members of the church were affected to tears. This was natural. For twelve years, the ark had been kept by them in private dwellings, barns, mills, and small school houses, from which they had seen scores of sinners turn away, even weeping for the want of room, and even those who had obtained seats being uncomfortable; often nothing better than a rail served for a bench, while scores were crowded together erect upon their feet. Now, they were in the act of conveying the ark of the Lord to its final resting place, and engaged in the delightful employment of writing BETHEL on the walls of a neat commodious house of worship. My own soul has not forgot the blessedness of that day-tears gather in my eyes while I write to you. God is even now shining gloriously on a sinful worm, while he calls to remembrance the past history of his providence! Indebtedness. Our indebtedness to God is infinite, and we have nothing to pay. To the A. H. M. S., under God, we owe our very existence as a church, and we esteem it our duty and 'privilege to acknowledge it. May God bless our benefactors and enable them to go forward in the good work of clothing the naked, and feeding the hungry. In this way our brethren in the East are preparing a diadem for the Son of God in this far West. May they abound more and more in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as they know this work is not in vain in the Lord. We owe to our mechanics $200, for which we have no provision. But I know that God will help us out of this trouble. Attendance. We have never been more crowded than at present. Every seat is occupied. We have been compelled to fill the aisles with benches. I am surprised to witness such a congregation. Our house, which we supposed would anis already filled every Sabbath day. swer our purpose for four or five years, Truly God is in this place. Something must be done. The four adjoining counties, Genessee, Shiawassee, Saginaw and Lapeer, embrace a territory of seven thousand square miles, and contain a population of 13 or 14,000. In the four counties there are organized some twenty Presbyterian and Congregational churches, of which this is the largest, the remainder numbering from 10 to 30 members each, this, above 80. In these counties there are 8 or 9 ordained ministers, but four or five of whom make preaching the everlasting Gospel their whole, or even their prominent business. I believe that I am the only pastor in | be done? Something must be done, or the counties, the rest being stated sup- the field must be occupied by the enemy plies, so that they have very little per--at present it is mostly unoccupied. manency and hardly become acquainted with their field of labor, before they must find another, for the want of support. No one of the churches in these counties alone, without assistance, is able to support the ministry, particularly in these times. From these facts you will see something of the great and alarming destitution of this region. The question is, and it is one of solemn interest to the cause of the Redeemer, what can those churches sustain the ministers who are Obviously, the thing to be done, is to help on the ground, and to send them others. And the only practical difficulty is to get the means. All the facilities for enlarged Home Missionary work throughout the West, invite the friends of Christ to arise and possess the land. Can they withhold their contributions, in such circumstances? Notice to the Missionaries of the A. H. M. S. Dear Brethren.-The statistical returns of Missionaries furnish the data from which the Annual Report is drawn. In former years, many of these returns have failed to reach us in season to be used for this purpose; consequently we have never been able to present so full a report as we desired, and as the cause deserves. We therefore make early and earnest request, that each missionary will furnish the following list of particulars in a special communication, (unless his quarterly report should be made about that time,) by mail, as early as THE FIRST OF APRIL NEXT. 1. Name of the Church, with the township, county, and state; and also the post-office address of the missionary. 2. Number of hopeful conversions.* 3. Number added to the Church by profession.* 4. Number added to the Church by letter.* 5. Number of Sabbath School and Bible Class Scholars. 6. Number of Volumes in S. S. Library. 7. Number of Temperance Subscribers. 8. Number of Churches organized during the year. 9. Contributions to benevolent objects, such as 10. Other interesting facts, such as the erection and completion of church edifices, number of young men preparing for the ministry, Monthly Concerts, &c. By a prompt attention to this request, you will promote the objects of the Society, and oblige, Yours, &c., MILTON BADGER, Secretaries of the A. H. M. S. *To be reckoned from April to April, if you have been in commission the whole year; if not, for the portion of the year, between these dates, which your commission covers. Appointments by the Executive Committee of the A. H. M. S., from January 1st to February 1st, 1843. berian, O. Rev. J A. Davies, Rev. S. G. Wright, Rochester and vicinity, Ill. Rev. Geo. Gemmel, Buffalo Grove, Ill. Rev. Chas. Burnham, Brighton and vicinity, Iowa. Rev. A. L. Rankin, Keosauqua, Iowa. Bryn-Rev. J. A. Reed, Fairfield, Iowa. do. Oakhill, &c., O. Rev. J. N. Whipple, Bennington, O. Rev. W. H. Bay, Graham's station, O. Rev. L. Mills, Coldwater and Algansee, Mich. Rev. J. D. Wilson, New Salem and Oak Grove, Tenn. Not in commission last year. Rev. M. Huggins, Havana, N. Y. Rev. W. U. Benedict, to go to Vermontville, Mich. Rev. T. B. Hurlbut, Vermillion, Ill. Rev. H. G. Warner, Annsville and Kishwaukee, Rev. C. G. Selleck, Waverly, Ill. Rev. W. W. Thayer, Prairie du Lac, Wis. 40 00 The Treasurer of the American Home Missionary Society acknowledges the receipt of the following sums, from January 1st to February 1st, 1843. MAINE Portland, High-street Sewing Circle, of which $30 is to const. Wm. C. Mitchell a L. M., by Rev. J. W. Chickering, NEW-HAMPSHIRE Ackworth, Miss Hannah Ware, by A. 5.25 Antrim, Robert Duncan, by Rev. B. P. 3.00 Brentwood Cong. Soc. to const. Rev. Durand Soc., in part to const.Bing- 20 00 3.00 James Boutwell a L. M., by do., 30 00 Derry, Presb. Soc., by do., 100 00 Durham, Cong. Soc., by do., 5 79 VERMONT New-London, First Cong. Ch. Sew. Soc., 40.00 11 00 13 00 Mercer St. Ch., Augustin Averill, to Randolph, by Rev. E. Taylor, Sag Harbor, L. 1., Mrs. Clarissa Sleight, 40 00 37 50 7.00 1000 00 5 00 |