Correspondence of the American Home Missionary Society.

WISCONSIN.

From Rev. C. Nichols.

Revival at Gardner's Prairie, Wis.

such acknowledgment, admitted he had even taught it to his family.

Happy results.

I would state as some of the happy results of the above special effort, nine In the latter part of February, a pro- family altars, if I mistake not, were tracted meeting was commenced by our erected in that district, and in several Baptist brethren, in which I was invited of these families, we trust, both the husto partake. A Methodist brother, who band and wife are subjects of this repreaches there some, was also invited. After the meeting had continued seve- family altars in a tottering condition cent work of grace. Several other ral days, the solemnity, which had been were repaired. Christians were blessed increasing from the commencement, in their souls, and, for a season at least, became very great. Brethren and sis-lost sight of party names, and party inters were humbled before God. Confessions were spontaneous. Difficulties that were little known before were settled, and thus the stumbling blocks were removed. Sinners were converted unto God, and for several days we had seemingly little else to do than to stand still and see the salvation of God.

The snow melted away, causing much water and mud, and the nights were dark, yet teams came in loaded with anxious souls, in the day and evening, from all quarters. The meetings were the stillest I ever attended. The awful realities of eternity were manifestly present to every mind. Alarming truths, such as are calculated to excite fear of coming wrath, were scarcely presented during the season of special effort. No flaming appeals were made to the impenitent to bring them to the anxious seats, and singing was but little resorted to for this purpose. Kind invitations, and silent prayer, under the influence of the Holy Ghost, accomplished the object.

Our house was only nineteen feet square, and a considerable part of the time it was stuffed full from six to eight hours a day. Seats were chiefly composed of single slabs, thus being very uncomfortable. Several Universalists renounced their destructive error and embraced Christ. They said they never had believed the doctrine of universal salvation, though they had strenuously advocated it; and one man who made

terest, and a very considerable number of those before impenitent, are hoping Christ, and renewing their pledges for the mercy of God through Jesus every day to faithfulness in the discharge of duty, whatever becomes of them. It was signally the work of God, and to him be all the glory.

Revival.

From Rev. Jeremiah Porter, Green Bay.

At the date of my last report the Spirit of God had begun to awaken den death of our beloved sister Mitchell, sinners in my congregation. The sudwho was in church with us on the Sabbath, four days before her death, in apparent health, arrested the attention of many to the concerns of the soul, two had then made known their distress of emotion. Christians began to pray with soul and others were concealing deep the expectation that they should soon

see the salvation of God.

On the first Sabbath in January, at a solemn communion season, one young convert was added to the church. The next day we fasted and prayed for the conversion of the world, and for the conversion of sinners in the midst of us. It was with the church a melting season. From that time the solemnity deepened

dealer in alcohol, and the owner of the degrading grocery and bowling-alley, and the intemperate; and "of honorable women not a few." Those converted who were engaged in the spirit trade, of course have relinquished it; and the bowling-alley whose noise was previously almost perpetual, now no more annoys the peaceful citizens. Yet one, I regret to add, still continues its sickening roll from morning till night, and from night till morning.

Solemn Event.

On the last day of our meeting, a most awful fact was poured upon our astonished hearts. It came like the bursting of seven thunders from a cloudless sky. It was the awful murder of the Hon. Č. C. P. Arndt, in the council chamber of this territory by a fellow-member! Mr. A. was a son of one of the members of this church, who joined during the revival a year since; and his wife had taken a decided and delightful stand as a Christian a few days previous to his death. She had written him concerning the change in her feelings, and was most confidently anticipating that when he should return from the legislature, he would unite with her in the service of God. For this, she was most earnestly praying and looking forward to his return with great delight. No tongue can describe her agony, when the awful truth was brought to her, that her beloved husband-the father of her three dear children-was shot through the heart,and died without speaking a word, at noonday, in the presence of his own father!!

much in the church and through the town. A committee was soon after appointed to visit all the members of the church, to find out and remove all causes that might hinder a revival, if any were found in existence. This committee found many delightful tokens of the Spirit's presence. Our Methodist brethren, during the month of January, had a very interesting quarterly meeting, and prayer meetings every evening for weeks, in which there were interesting conversions. We had proposed having a protracted meeting, and had sent for aid from the southern part of the territory. To our great joy, Rev. O. F. Curtis, and Rev. S. Baker, came to our help, having travelled about 150 miles for the purpose, and having been hindered nearly a week by a severe storm. They arrived on the 28th of Jan. The Monday following we observed as a day of humiliation and prayer; hearts seemed broken, and God was evidently with his people; the work continued to deepen from that time, and sinners seemed to be daily converted. Our Methodist brethren were also receiving constant tokens of divine favor, so that it became a more general and thorough revival than this town had ever witnessed before. A very gratifying harmony existed between the different denominations, and the world were convinced that Christians were seeking to honor God and save souls, and not merely to build up a sect or party. We strengthened each other's hands and encouraged each other's hearts. Bishop Kemper, of the Episcopal church, arrived during meeting, and preached almost daily for a week. And the Catho- instead of coming to rejoice with her lic priest directed mass to be said for that she had found the Savior, in a few nine successive days. For once, at hours he would be brought to her a lifeleast, ours might be said to be a church-less corpse! But for her hope in the going people. The attention of every precious Savior, how could she have person was drawn by these circumstan- endured that awful blow! While my ces, and by the Spirit of God, to the sub- heart bled for her, as I saw her anguish ject of personal religion. Our meeting unutterable, as her dear children continued a fortnight with intense in-hung round her-themselves in terest, and a deep solemnity pervaded the tears-and asked, "Ma, what do you whole community. Some cases of con- cry for?" and when in the midst of version were most marked and wonder- her agonizing groans she answered, ful. They were from almost every class" My dear children, because you have of society. The high and the low; the no father,"-I did rejoice that I could moral and the most profligate; the pro- point her to Jesus as her Savior. fessed infidel and Universalist; the back- for this," she said, "I should sink." God slider and the Papist; the wholesale mercifully sustained her amidst all the

"But

intense and overwhelming emotions of meeting her murdered husband, who

INDIANA.

was brought to her house the day after From Rev. R. Hawley, Bloomington,

the report arrived, and of the funeral which took place the following day from our church. On that occasion I preached to the largest and most solemn audience, I think, ever assembled in Green! Bay. And I hope the event will be sanctified to the salvation of many souls. On the first Sabbath in March, this beloved christian sister I publicly baptized, with five other adults, and admitted to the church with twenty-five others, on profession of their faith. It was a delightful and most solemn Sabbath. Thirty-five have joined the Methodist church during the winter, and twelve were confirmed by the bishop the last Sabbath in February. There are several now indulging hope that have not made a public profession, and many are now convicted of sin. The tone of piety in the church, as well as in town generally, seems greatly deepened, and the converts of last year have; many of them grown delightfully in grace. Though there have been sixty

Indiana.

A season of refreshing.

The communion meeting commenced in Putnamville on the 11th instant, and was blessed with the influences of the Holy Spirit. We continued it seven days. We had inquiry meetings in the morning, followed by preaching, and again preaching at night. Our congregations were large and very solemn. The people of God were greatly revived. This was, and continues to be, a refreshing season. Some of those who expressed solicitude are now indulging hope, and others are still serious. One of this number is the head of a family, and has now erected the domestic altar. All the others are young persons, and, with this individual, also children of the covenant.

Boone Co., Ind.

Revival.

added to the church since the com- From Rev. Thompson Bird, Thorntown, mencement of my labors with it, yet it does not seem able at present to sustain its pastor without the continued aid of your benevolent Society. The hearts of many are trembling through fear of coming embarrassments, and many are now severely feeling it. But should the Lord spare us another year, we hope to require of you but half the amount appropriated to us this year. Indeed, we have in our poverty this year returned $70 to the A. B. C. F. M., and our Juvenile Missionary Society has raised $10 for the American Bible Society for foreign distribution. Near a dozen of the children of that Society have been hopefully converted; they are also members of the Sabbath school. A lad of this number, about 10 years old, apparently regenerated about a year since, seems to have been blessed as the means of converting his father and mother, the father having been a reading, thinking, and decided unbeliever for many years. The mother, in relating her feelings before the church, said: "My little son often asked me to pray with him during the year, but I always put him off until now."

The quarter now reported has been one of much interest to us, and cause of great gratitude to God. You have ere this, perhaps, learned that the Lord has, during the fall and winter, visited with the outpouring of his Spirit, many of our churches in the Wabash Vallev. Though the most undeserving of all, he has not passed us by without a blessing. We held our quarterly communion on the third Sabbath in December. We began the services on the Wednesday evening before, with a prayer-meeting appointed with special reference to imploring the blessing of God on our church, and to ask his forgiveness for our offences. It was a delightful season-preaching during each day, and also at night. The Lord gave us pleasing manifestations of his presence, in quickening his children, and in causing sinners to ask, with trembling anxiety, what they must do to be saved. There are now thirteen persons indulging hope, others still anxious.

MICHIGAN.

Almost all indulging hope are the children of our church-members. God has permitted them to see, that their From Rev. M. Harrison, Jackson, Mich. prayers have came up in remembrance before him.

My congregation continues large; Compared with large churches at the the church united and prosperous. The East, this may seem a day of small Sabbath school is unusually flourishing. things; but it is not so with us, and we I superintend a Bible class of adults at desire to humble ourselves for our un-intermission, and regularly preach a faithfulness, and at the same time to third sermon at evening to a full ascall on our souls to praise God for his sembly. wonderful goodness to us.

A few days since I returned from Somerset, twelve miles south of this, where I spent a few days, and received 16 on profession to the Presbyterian church in that place. A pleasing work of grace is still in progress there.

From Rev. P.S.Cleland, Greenwood, Ind. They have no pastor, but have had oc

The past year has been one of great mercy to my family and to my people. We can raise our Ebenezer and truly say, "hitherto hath the Lord helped us.' Though the earth has not yielded her wonted increase, and the silver and the gold have almost entirely disappeared, we have been more than compensated in spiritual favors. I am persuaded that

casional assistance.

The state of religion in this village and vicinity is pleasant and prosperous, and great harmony prevails. Our new church edifice of brick, 42 by 60 feet, is advancing, and we hope, on the first of May, to commence the use of it, although it will probably remain unfinished inside for a long time to come.

village is well nigh complete. I lecThe triumph of temperance in this tured repeatedly, giving a history of the cause as I witnessed its progress at the East. An interest was awakened which led to a request that I would send for reformed lecturers, which I did. The result has been glorious. The best scholar and lawyer in our village, who was well nigh lost to society, is now president of the Washingtonians, constant at church, and a devoted friend of ours. The number reclaimed is unknown to me. Our village is redeemed.

OHIO.

Ohio.

the cause of truth has made essential From Rev. E. Buckingham, Coshocton, progress. The principle of benevolence has been confirmed and enlarged in many minds. A considerable amount of funds has been pledged to aid one of our literary institutions. Contributions have been made in both of my churches, to the treasury of the A. H. M. S., through your Agency for the West. This church has recently made a good subscription to the Bible cause, to aid in supplying this county with the word of God.

It affords me great pleasure to relate the dealings of God with us. About the first of February, the Lord came down in power. Christians were humbled in view of their past sins, and burdened with a sense of the condition of the impenitent. They became fervent and importunate in prayer. In answer to their supplications the Lord blessed his truth, and the ordinances of his