Rev. S. W. Leonard, Hastings and West Munroe N. Y. Rev. E. J. Chapman, Sullivan, N. Y. Rev. G. Cross, Richville and Hermon, N. Y. Rev. E. A. Carson, Savanna, Mo. Rev. P. W. Nichols, Prairie du Sac, Wis. Rev. W. Child, Sheldon and Varysburg, N. Y. Rev. S. Griswold, Covington Center, N. Y. Rev. Geo. Barnum, Leoni and Sylvan, Mich. The Treasurer of the American Home Missionary Society acknowledges the receipt of the following sums, from June 1st to July 1st, 1843. Foxboro', legacy of the late Miss Polly 100 00 50 00 West Springfield, in part of legacy of Rev. J. L. Pomeroy, by L. Strong, Ex'r., 370 00 Worcester, Maternal Assoc., for a Mis Madison, Young Ladies' Sew. Soc., to 30 00 64 00 30 00 105 37 41 43 261 177 41 30 00 36 00 const. Rev. S. N. Shepard L. M., by Capt. E. Hotchkiss, Middletown, Fem. H. M. S., by Miss Eliza Colton, to const. Rev. James Francis, of Westfield, and Rev. Wm. Woodworth, of Berlin, Life Members, Montville, a few ladies, by W. A. Dolbeare, New-Britain, South Cong. Ch. and Soc., of which $60 to const. Deac. Elijah Francis, and Deac. Chauncey Cornwell, Life Members, and $30 from Mrs. Orpha Hart, L. M., by Rev. S. Rockwell, New-Haven, students in Yale College, by M. B. Gelston, Youth's prayer meeting, by do. New-London, Ct., 24 Cong Ch., $147; a friend, $30, to const. Miss Fanny L. Cot a L. M., per R. Coit, E. Chappell, to const. Charles Boardman Whittlesey, of Berlin Ct., a L. M., Phineas Boll es L. M., by W. C. Crump, Norwalk Ct., First Cong. Ch., of which $200 66 to const. Deac. Launcelot Hyatt, and Deac. Charles Lockwood, Charles Mallory, Charles E. Kobins, Stiles Curtis, and Thomas Benedict, Life Members; $10 from B. Lockwood, is part to co ust. his daughter, Julia A. Lockwood, a L. M.; and $30 from Mrs. B. Lockwood, to const. her son Stonington, 2d. Cong. Ch. and Soc., of which $30 from Stiles Stanton, to const. Mrs. Abby W. Stanton a L. M., by S. Stanton, $135 76; J. D. Palmer. $5, Fein. Aux. So.. by Miss L. A. Sheffield, Weathersfield, Ladies' H. M. S.. by Miss Harriett Mitchell, Willington Church, by J. Turner, NEW-YORK Brooklyn, viz: First Presb. Ch., S. B. Chittenden, Catskill Presb. Cong., of which $15 is Chalmers and Pendleton, by Rev. R. Brooks, 140 67 16 00 50 00 10.00 167 00 15 68 68 57 250 00 30 51 Hamden, D. Colman, 2. 00 Middle Granville, Union Soc., by A. R. More, 17.00 New-Hackensack, Mrs. Phebe Platt, L. M., by her husband, Jeremiah Platt, New-York city, viz: 30 00 Central Ch., Sab. School, 2.67 Pearl St. Ch., an individual, by Mr. Bartholomew, 5.00 Spring St. Ch., by Mr. Stiles, $4 75; Horace Southmayd, $20, 24 75 Sabbath School No 34, 2 28 A Protestant, $5; D. O. Caulkins, $5; J. C. W., $5; Mrs. Snow, $5, 20 00 NEW-JERSEY $3,736 70 Pike Grove, Presb. Ch., 1485 Plattville, Mon. Con. coll., 1.97 Prairieville, bal., 75 $115 95 J. CORNING, Treasurer. Correction. The sum of $20, credited to W. Child of Henniker, N. H., in the last Home Missionary, should have been credited to Wm. C. Childs. Donations of clothing, &c. New-York, Mrs. George Griffin, a box. Chickopee, Mass., Ladies, box, forwarded Londonderry, N. H., Presb. Ch., box, forwarded by them in Oct. last, to Algonac, Mich., Receipts of the New-Hampshire Missionary Society for the quarter ending July 1, 1843. Rev. B. P. Stone, Secretary. 61 75 Enfield, Rev. Benjamin Burge, 50 00 53 00 Y., Receipts of the Western Agency, Geneva, N. from April 27th to June 21, 1843. Rev. J. 4. Murray, Secretary. Adams' Basin, Barre Center, $18 07; Ladies' Benev. Soc., $8.50 Batavia, Ladies, for expenses of box, Brighton, Canandaigua, Mrs. Antis, $10; W. Antis, Hollis, legacy of the late Miss Sally Jewett, Plymouth, John Rogers, $10; Cong. Ch., $6.75, Newport, Cong. Ch., $12 58; Deac. Wilcox, $5; A. Hatch, and wife, $5, Concord, South, Mrs. B. P. Stone Harrisville, Rev. O.C. Whiton, Jay, Ezekiel Rich, Claremont, Cong. Ch., Hookset, 60 Washington, " Chester, Cong. Ch., $23 07; -Mrs. Clara D. Noyes, $10; Mrs. Nancy Aiken, $5, Concord, West, Miss Susan D., 5.00 20.00 16 75 22 58 5.00 10.00 1 00 90 00 3.00 966 6. 00 Lacon, Ch. and Cong., by Rev. D. Jones, MICHIGAN Saginaw, Presb. Ch., by Rev. H. Hyde, WISCONSIN Oshkosh, Mrs. Electa Wright, by Rev. J. Porter, IOWA 8 00 Rev. S. Peet, Milwaukie, Wis., acknowledges the receipt of the following, previous to June 1st, 1843. 756 5 18 2 62 38 07 5.00 Canterbury, Mrs. Abigal Hough, 5.00 Fredonia, per Rev. S. M. Hopkins, 14 46 Friendship, 15.00 Merrimack, Conference of Churches, Pittsfield, Cent Soc., 39.00 10 14 Geneva, Sab. School, bal., 6 00 Eufield, Henrietta, 8.00 Lyons, by Rev. I. Ingraham, $50 81; La Dunbarton, dies' Miss. Soc., $28, 78 81 $2.35, 21 60 Millport, 10 00 North Wolfborough, Cent Soc., Newark Valley, Rev. Mr. Ford, in part to Hancock, const. Mrs. Clarissa Ford a L. M., $10; coll., $15 78; Ladies M. S., $16 30, Greenfield, 44 42 08 Plymouth, Nunda, by Rev. E. Marsh, in part to const. Franklin, 44 10.00 12 81 4.00 28 85 1547 a L. M., 5 00 Exeter, Oaks' Corner, 2 75 Greenfield, Evan. Ch., Phillipsville, 7 75 Hill, Pine Hill, 11 00 Plainfield, West, Portageville, 1 02 Meriden, " Prattsburgh, E. Bridges, to const. H. H. Brown of Detroit, Mich., a L. M., Bristol, 44 10. 34 7.06 30 00 Keene, Rochester, Brick Ch., J. M. Schermerhorn, Dublin, Esq., in part, $25; O. Hastings, Esq., in part. $25, Newport, 50 00 Cornish, Rushville, 11 00 Tamworth, Rutledge, 12 50 Danbury, Skaneateles, 7 02 Bennington, 14.34 South Dansville, 18 00 Langdon, 4.91 Wilton, Strykersville, 10 05 Fitzwilliam, 14.45 Victory, West Bloomfield, Fem, H. M. S., Mrs. Susan Dover, A. Hender, Sec., to const. Rev. Wm. S. Taylor of Trumansburgh, a L. M., Goshen, 30 00 Milford, 18 09 Concord, $491 44 Henniker, Page Eaton, 10.00 Important position of Home Missionary affairs. It is known to the christian public, and especially to those who are accustomed to read the details of missionary correspondence in this periodical, that the great claims of our own country, and particularly of the West, have of late assumed a most solemn and momentous character. Many providential circumstances combine to give impressiveness and urgency to this claim. THE NEW WORLD IN THE WEST, comprising more than 300,000,000 of acres, adapted to the wants of civilized man, has emerged, as it were from the great deep-so lately has it come into the notice of the nations. The tidings of its extent and fertility have gone abroad, and multitudes are hastening to dwell there. Foremost among these, are the enterprising sons of our eastern states, who, in 30 years, have crowded the frontiers of civilization 1000 miles onward toward the setting sun. But the movement toward this new empire is not simply a national movement of our own; it is a simultaneous rushing in of people from all lands. The rate at which the stream has flowed, is beyond all precedeut. In ten years time, the number of the people has doubled, and in some portions, has increased from seven to ten fold. Six millions, or a third part of all our population, are already there. The relations of these to the rest of our countrymen are becoming exceedingly momentous, from the fact, that the balance of political power is fast moving westward; and if the ratio of its progress shall continue unchecked, the next census may show, that the majority of votes in our national legislature will belong to the West. And what is the religious complexion of those myriads, who are soon to give laws to us all, we have heard from our fathers and brethren who have gone there to spread the Gospel of Christ. They have cried to us importunately for helpfor liberal and immediate help. They have told us, that with some of the good seed of the kingdom, scattered over that region, there is an abundance of tares. They admonish us that fanaticism is there, in its common, and also in new and peculiar forms; that infidelity has chosen that field to try again its old experiment of making the soul happy without religion, and having a world without a God. They tell us how false doctrines strike their roots deep in that fertile soil. They complain to us, that Romanism confronts them wherever they turn ; forestalls the possession of the land by deep laid plans; buys up their embarrassed churches; plants her schools; rears imposing structures for religion and learning, and sustains them by foreign funds, and surrounds them by large masses of devoted people; and that she allies herself with political demagogues, and thus wields an extensive influence over the civil welfare of the West. This testimony has been coming up for years, and with every year, it has become louder and more decided. Whatever changes have taken place in public opinions on other subjects, there has been no change in reference to the peril of the moral interests of the West, except the progress from one degree of conviction to another. From a thousand anxious hearts, but with only one voice, the cry is, "Men and brethren, help—or we perish, and you perish with us. Now is the time when the West can be saved; soon it will be too late!" Providential reasons for a present movement. The Executive Committee of the American Home Missionary Society hear this appeal with a deep and solemn conviction that this is, indeed, the day of their country's salvation. The West can be saved; the dangers that threaten it can be averted. To consecrate its vast territory, its resources and its population, need no longer be regarded as the fond, unattainable wish of philanthropy; the thing is practicable. It is a tangible good, within the reach of a willing, working church. Already the results of Home Missions are of inestimable value, far transcending the expectation of the earlier friends of the cause. Great success attends the recent missionary efforts in that region. The Spirit of the Lord is moving on the face of that great deep, and a new creation is begun. On the other hand, also, he is moving on the hearts of the ministry, awakening unusual solicitude for the West. A missionary spirit—a spirit of enterprise and self-denial-a willingness to encounter privation and toil, is poured upon our young men in the Theological Seminaries, and they come in unprecedented numbers, and with a noble devotedness, and solicit the privilege of going forth in the van of Immanuel's army. And never before, we are persuaded, was there so much prayer for our country. The public attention is aroused to her prospects; and the East as well as the West, expects this Society to arise, and meet the emergency, by sending forth these willing, waiting servants of Christ, to the field to which their Master calls them. What the Society undertakes. In these facts, the Executive Committee recognize the voice of God's Provi dence and Spirit, calling upon them to engage NOW, with greater earnestness than ever, in the prosecution of this work. Accordingly, since the last anuual meeting, they have held correspondence with a large number of ministers and theological students, desiring to be sent into the missionary field. After due inquiry as to their qualifications, THIRTY-EIGHT-a part only of those who ap plied-have been appointed to proceed to the West. This important step has not been taken without hesitation. As the Society had no present resources to meet so large an increase of responsibility, the Committee assumed it only after much careful deliberation, and in obedience, as it seemed to them, to the manifest indications of the Divine will. It now remains to be seen, whether the churches will ratify these engagementswhether the friends of Christ will, individually, assume their respective portions of the obligation, as a sacred pledge made in their behalf, and for the promotion of that cause which is dearer to them than all others-the salvation of souls and the honor of their Lord? The missionaries above referred to are principally from the late senior classes in six different Theological Seminaries. In one case, eleven classmates—and in another, six-have devoted themselves to this work. Some of those appointed have already entered on their missions; and with the leave of Providence, the rest will have done so by the 1st of October. Shall we go on? Thus far the Committee have gone, relying, under God, on the general interest expressed in this work. But must they stop here? Other approved candidates stand ready-negotiations for employing many more are in progress—and all that is now requisite, is the probability of an adequate income. Yonder is the WORK, and HERE ARE THE MEN; shall they be kept back from the fields where they are so much wanted, and to which they are so ready to go? Is it not the same Holy Spirit which moves the needy to cry, "Come over and help us," that also moves his servants to respond, "here are we, send us ?" If the Committee stop where they are, and make no further appointments, shall they not be disobedient to the will of Heaven? But stop they must, unless prompt, generous, continued contributions are made to this object. Must they pause, or shall they go on? Friends of our Country-followers of the Saviour-redeemed by his blood, and bound by covenant to his service-surely the TIME HAS COME-the cloud is taken up from over the tabernacle, and the camp of Israel must go forward to possess the land. The time has come when the evangelical churches must occupy the West, or the enemy will. At the best, the contest will be severe, and delay is but another name for defeat. The time has come when more encouragements combine to urge us on than ever before. The way is open--society in the West is in a plastic state, worldly enterprise is held in check, the people are ready to receive the Gospel, the Holy Ghost is given with the Word, the mission ary spirit is roused in the hearts of the ministry. The time has come when all the surplus laborers at the East, and all that can be raised up, whose qualifications and circumstances do not forbid, may be transferred to that wide, that needy field, if the church will only furnish the means to send and sustain them for a little time, until the West can take them off her hands. The time has come, when all other impediments being removed, the question is reduced to this simple point whether there be piety and patriotism enough to furnish the means. And can it be, that an issue of such incalculable moment, when made to turn on a point so completely within the control of God's people, will remain doubtfal? When the present generation of American Christians have it in their po ver, instrumentally, to determine not only their own destiny and that of their children, but also to direct the future course of their country's history, and her influence on all mankind, they must not be-we hope they will not be-false to their trust! |