Hungering for the Bread of Life. From Rev. O. Emerson, Fairview, My labors have been confined to the banks of the Mississippi and their immediate vicinity. From Davenport, where Brother Hitchcock is located, to Du Buque, where Brother Holbrook has recently accepted a call to settle-a distance, by the river, of more than 100 miles-I have found a most interesting field of labor. I have not been able to I have just returned from a preaching tour among my brethren in Clark county, Missouri. Last Tuesday I commenced publishing the good news at Waterloo, and continued till Sabbath evening. The Sabbath was a day of great delight, I trust, to many souls. Though the travelling was excessively bad, and the weather raw, still our place of worship was crowded to over-resist the numerous and pressing invitaflowing, and a considerable number crowded around the windows and door, for the sake of a few broken thoughts that could reach them. My heart was" much affected as I witnessed their eagerness to hear, and especially as the elders extended to them from the window the emblems of the broken body and shed blood of our Great High Priest and Almighty Redeemer. A Mormon Station. On my return, Monday evening, I preached to a little company at Montrose, 12 miles south of this place. By nature it is a beautiful spot. It was formerly occupied as a fort by U. S. dragoons. The soil of the adjacent country is equal to any in the rich valley, and its scenery is strikingly grand. Its numerous attractions some time since engaged the attention of-I wish in candor I could say the unfortunately deluded Joseph Smith and his miserable followers-a man, who in connection with his wicked coadjutors, I believe is doing as much to diminish the happiness of men, and towards blasting their best prospects for the future, as any other man living. But these "Latter day Saints," finding their arrogant and groundless claims boldly questioned, and promptly and steadfastly resisted by the the Gentiles," have at length, as I understand, according to their ecclesiastical term, resolved to "pull up their stake" there. This place now deserves attention, and when the title becomes settled, probably may grow to a place of considerable importance. The enterprising, intelligent character of some of its present inhabitants, and the surrounding country, I think fully justify such anticipations. tions for preaching that have met me on every hand. In view of the result, I have been led to fear that my health and usefulness have both been impaired by attempting to occupy a field too extensive. I have sometimes preached at three different places on the Sabbath, and at 4 or 5 during the week. The amount of my labors has varied with the state of the travelling, weather, health, &c. How the People regard the Gospel. It has not been mine to witness special outpourings of the Spirit of God, but I have found, every where, kind treatment, an attentive hearing, and, in some instances, anxiety for the welfare of the soul. Christians who have left the regular means of grace at the East, value the Gospel as they should; and multitudes favor it, under the impression of its importance to the civil and social interests of the community. This impression, I labor assiduously to strengthen. And here I may say, that every month's residence in the West tends to deepen my own impression, that all the funds expended by your Society would be well employed, if we regard only the temporal advantage conferred on these new and rising settlements. Efforts to promote Schools. In connexion with preaching the Gospel, I have lectured in several places on popular education, and have succeeded in rousing the people to the establishment of schools. Temperance has also been presented to the attention of the people and with results truly cheering. In several places, almost the entire community have come forward and enrolled their names under the pledge of total abstinence. Nothing is wanted but time to labor in this cause, to set public sentiment aright in these new settlements. At Union Grove, 10 miles from the river Illinois, is a small Congregational church of fifteen members. We organized a temperance society of 30 members. At Albany, a village of 25 families, on the river, a church has been recently organized by Mr. Hazard of Linden. They are in pressing need of a pastor. At the centre of Jackson county, Iowa, I attended a protracted meeting on the first of January, organized a church of 12 members, and administered the Lord's Supper. I expect to preach with them again next Sabbath and to receive several others into fellowship with the church. WISCONSIN. From Rev. L. Rogers, Geneva, Wis. God in mercy has been pleased to revive his own work, in some measure, in the hearts of his children, and we trust has heard their prayer. We have truly been refreshed. The truth has seemed to distil gently as dew upon the mown grass, and every season of made a profession of their faith in Christ; for as soon as the way of the Lord was prepared, the inquiry began to be heard among others, "what must I do to be saved?" And as a happy result, we trust 'the arm of the Lord was made bare, and a goodly number became the subjects of his special, saving grace, and to the name of the Lord be all the glory and praise! The particular number we are unable to state. Sixteen have come forward and united with the Presbyterian church, and a number more are expected, at our next communion season. What number have united with the Methodist and Baptist churches, we are unable to say-but some to both. Encouragement to give and pray for the destitute. Brethren at the East, take encouragement, "forasmuch as your labor is not in vain in the Lord." For while you are watering these destitute and thirsty fields, God is giving the increase. Are not your alms and prayers come up as a memorial before God, and as a token of his approbation, are we not already seeing this moral wilderness beginning to bud and blossom as the rose? prayer, of social and public worship, From Rev. N. Kingsbury, Prairieville, have made a deeper impression upon all; until, at length, it was thought advisable by the brethren to have a series of protracted effort. The power of divine truth now became still more manifest. Among the little flock that waited around the altar of God, there was deep searching of heart, a breaking up of the fountain of the soul. Many who had been absorbed in the things of the world, now felt their distance from God, and returned with weeping; and many more, who had been for years and months in the territory, without making themselves known as Christians, came out on the Lord's side. This seemed to be a common thing to all denominations, and it is one of the things most to be regretted and deplored in this far West, this land of speculation. But the interest was by no means confined to such as had before Wis. It has pleased God to increase greatly the spirit of prayer in this church since my last report. I have felt that it has done my soul good to hear the members confess their sins and pray for pardon. There is reason to think the Lord has accepted their confessions, and heard their prayers. The impression is general, that there is a degree of union and strength of attachment, which never existed before in this little branch of Zion. During the last 3 months, 15 or 16 have been hopefully renewed by the grace of God. Four males and two females have recently been added to the church by profession. And during my residence here, 5 males and 4 females, have been added by letter. This little church do not run so fast as many churches, nor make so much noise. But they appear to be aiming | refuse many pressing calls from the peo at soundness of doctrine and uniformity of christian practice. I cannot but feel a deep interest in their prosperity. ILLINOIS. ple to come over and help them. The whole field, in this vicinity, is white already to the harvest. In almost every place where I preach, there are more or less who are inquiring," what they shall do to be saved." People are ready to listen to the truth; and if the truth is not preached, are ready to listen From Rev. L. Hall, Virginia Settle- to error. The Campbellites are making ment, Ill. Protracted Meeting and Revival. great exertions in this neighborhood, and with considerable success, in some places. They rail at all other denominations, and represent immersion as the We commenced a meeting on the only thing necessary to prepare them for 19th of February, and continued ten heaven. They have immersed hundreds days, with the evident blessing of God in this vicinity within a few weeks past. attending our labors. Considering the If there could be a missionary, of the badness of the travelling, and the sparse-right stamp, sustained in this county to ness of the population, great success attended the effort. Although we could not exactly determine the number of hopeful conversions, yet probably not less than twelve give evidence of having passed from death unto life. Almost all the impenitent who regularly attended the meeting, gave evidence of conversion. Most of the cases were people somewhat advanced in life, and heads of families. One subject of the revival was a man aged fifty-nine: another, the high sheriff of the county, aged fifty-three. Five family altars were erected, where the morning and evening sacrifice had not previously been offered. Although the accession will be small, yet the benefit resulting from this gracious visitation will be invaluable. There were but few in the church who had previously witnessed a revival of religion; but they are very much quickened and appear to realize their responsibility. From Rev. John Ballard, Griggsville. Support-Calls for preaching-Camp bellites. I find that self-denial and strict economy are necessary; but these I am willing to practice. My health is still feeble, but I am able to perform my duties as a pastor. But it is impossible for me to preach in the neighborhood as much as I could wish. I have to preach to the destitute and gather A precious season of refreshing. You will recollect that I mentioned in my last letter that we had been blessed with a glorious refreshing from the presence of the Lord. Forty-six have offered themselves to our church, and I think about twenty have united with the Baptists, and there are probably as many as forty more, who will connect themselves with some church soon. There are a good many small children who have professed to indulge hopes, not included in this number. We hope some of them have been really converted. One thing which seems to be remarkable in this revival is, that a decided majority of those hopefully converted are males. There is certainly not more than one third, if there is more than one fourth, who are females. But, of between 30 and 40 heads of families, all are males but five or six. Among those converted are three Universalists and one Deist. There are also 20 or 30, who were members of our Sunday school who shared in this revival. Four who had From Rev. E. G. Howe, Mill Creek and Description of the Country. The western half of this county, beautifully alternates with groves, and prairie, and "bur-oak openings," and is thinly settled. Through the eastern half, runs the Des Plaines, which rises a few miles W. of Racine, Wisconsin. This N. E. head-branch of the Illinois river, after entering the county, approaches, and continues to run within about 4 miles of Lake Michigan, making a narrow strip, woodland and meadow, between the river and the lake, in this, and a part of Cook counties. But this narrow strip, of 3 to 5 miles wide, is itself divided in the middle, by the N. branch of Chicago River, which Des Plaines and the Lake! Rising 6 runs between, and parallel with, the been confirmed drunkards, have come | borers, at such a time as this, to thrust in out on the Lord's side and appear well. the sickle and gather the rich harvest! There are some cases of conversion which are peculiarly interesting. There is one lawyer who has been the representative of this county in the state legislature, and a large number are men of much influence in society. There was one case of peculiar interest. A gentleman from who had amassed a fortune, and whose mind was altogether engrossed with the world, purchased last season a beautiful situation near this village, and arrived here with his family in the fall. His wife was devotedly pious, and consented to remove to this new part of the country, in hopes that it might be the means of bringing her husband under the influence of the truth. When the protracted meeting commenced, he was unwilling to attend himself, but was willing his family should attend in the daytime. He expected to go to New-Orleans on business, and to start at the commencement of the meeting. But Providence hedged up his way; the weather, which had been very warm, changed and became very cold, and the river froze, so that it was impossible for him to commence his journey. He concluded to attend one day, out of curiosity. His mind became interested; he attended every meeting afterwards, and was one of the first who declared his determination to devote himself to the service of God. In view of what has been done, we can but exclaim, what has God wrought! It has been evidently his work; and the glory is all due to his great and holy name. There still appears to be much interest-and I cannot but hope the work will continue to go on. The brethren in our church have established prayer meetings in the neighborhood, in various directions, several miles distant, which seem to be blessed with the presence of the Lord. God's people are much encouraged and stirred up to diligence, and the enemies of religion tremble before the ark of God. There are also many interesting revivals of religion in this part of the state. It is truly a day of the right hand of the Most High. or 8 miles south of the line of Wiscon sin, it keeps its parallelism most of the way for 40 miles, into the heart of the south branch. From the farms of the city of Chicago, where it unites with the waters run, partly to the Gulf of settlers, within three miles of the Lake, Mexico, and partly to that of St. Law rence. The People-efforts to benefit them. On this narrow strip of land, which is rather wet, and inferior for this part of the state, there is a settlement of Dutch, who have a minister in the south part church and a priest, in the middle, and of the county, of Irish, who have a of Americans with Canadians and Polanders, among whom I minister at Little Fort, in the north. In the middle, among the Irish Catholics, I had for a year been very anxious to look up, and form into a congregation, if possible, a few Protestant families, chiefly Scotch: but could never find time, till another minister took off my hands part of my charge of last year. Now, since my last report, I have visited and preached among them, much What a loss to the church, and to immor- to my own, and I judge also their gratifital souls, must ensue from the want of la-cation and profit. Here they have lived for four or five years, with scarcely any Protestant worship. Some had never before heard a sermon in America. They had been cast down and desponding. Now they seem quite animated and grateful. Even two or three American Universalist families, the more that I have felt perfectly frank and free in declaring the whole gospel, have not been a whit behind in desiring a continuance of my services. These I shall render with the highest pleasure, without neglecting my other 3 or 4 congregations, as God shall give strength. Where the gospel truths are so attentively listened to, the time, travel, and labor in ministering those glorious truths, which I hope do first charm my own heart, carry with them their own reward. "To the poor the gospel is to be preached." These families are such. I sympathize with them in their poverty. I love to sit down in their humble, rude and unsightly sheds, and encourage them to hold on, under losses, and wrongs, and unskilfulness, believing that in three or four years, this soil will yield them an abundance. wards of forty years. He came to this country at an early day and when he was quite young, yet it appears that at that time he was a professor of religion. In 1823, he was elected and ordained an elder in the first Presbyterian church in Green county in this state, which county then covered a great territory. From that time to the time of his death he held the office of ruling elder. He outlived the church of which he was first an officer; and in 1839, a new church was organized at Whitehall, near where he lived, and he installed an elder. No man in the county possessed more influence, in church or state, than Brother Allen. From the year 1826, to the time of his death, he represented that county in the state legislature; and when he died, was the senator of the district in which he lived. Although he was conscious of his influence, yet I never knew a more meek, humble, and unassuming man. He seemed to be just the man we needed; yet the Lord needed him, and has taken him to himself. died very suddenly; he did not consider himself dangerous, neither did his family, until about three hours before his death. When informed by his physician of his danger, the first words that he uttered were, "Glory to God in the He From Rev. G. C. Wood, Manchester, Ill. highest !" He then gave his family MERCIES AND AFFLICTIONS. A few mercy drops have fallen upon us, and we have been encouraged to go forward and sow the precious seed; feeling assured that the reaping time would soon come if we continued to feel our entire dependence upon Him, who alone can give the increase. But the quarter that has just ended, has been signally marked, as a time of deep affiction, in my own family, and also in one of the churches under my care. Triumphant Death of an Etder. such instructions as he deemed necessary about his temporal affairs, and spent the rest of his precious time in telling of the goodness of God, and warning and entreating all around him to be faithful; and just before he died, he raised himself up, and said, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing!" There are many interesting incidents in the history of our departed brother,. which I have not room or time to mention. In vain do we look around for one to fill his place. Devices of the Adversary. The church at Whitehall a few weeks since, was called to mourn the loss of one of their most active and efficient members. One of the pillars in that church has fallen. Brother John Allen, the individul referred to, was one of the We are constantly coming in contact oldest Presbyterians in this section of with errorists. These men who have country, having been a member for up-been trained in active service, although |