PHILADELPHIA Home Missionary Society. We learn from the researches of the Secretary, Rev. E. R. FAIRCHILD, as stated in the last Report, that "The territory covered by this Society includes an area of not less than 65,000 square miles, whose population exceeds two and a half millions; and while much has been effected in supplying its destitutions, and such success has attended the efforts, as greatly to encourage the friends of this kind of benevolent labor, there remains much to be done. More churches, more missionaries, and more liberal support to those now in the service of the Society are urgently need ed. In New-Jersey are many feeble and waste places, into which laborers ought to be sent, but which, for want of them, remain uncultivated, and are worse than lost to the cause of morality and religion. In Delaware the proportion of evangelical ministers, to the entire population, is about as one to two thousand. Many in the state are, therefore, destitute of the regular instructions of the living ministry. Maryland is the strong hold of the Romish church. Large portions of the population are connected with, and burdened by, the false and destructive system of religion taught by her priests, though condemned by the word of God. So far as is known to the Committee, there is not a Presbyterian or Congregational minister in one half of the counties of the state. In Pennsylvania are many destitute places, both east and west of the Alleghany mountains-in the old as well as newly settled districts. In the northern portion of the state, all the settlements are comparatively new. In some of its districts the population is quite sparse and widely scattered, and in others it is more dense and compact; yet the ordinary hindrances to the support of the Gospel, usually found connected with the new settlements, in other portions of our country, exist in these places. In many instances, therefore, the people are but partially supplied with the stated service of the ministry. More than double the number of evangelical ministers now laboring in the northern counties of the state, and in those immediately adjoining, are needed to meet the wants of these interesting districts." In supplying these destitutions, the Philadelphia Home Missionary Society has gone forward with increasing enterprise and success from year to year. Among the difficulties which it meets, is specified the following : Popular ignorance. field is painfully large. From statistics believed to be correct, it appears that lation, scattered over it, and upwards more than 56,000 of the white popuof twenty years of age, (a number nearly as large as the entire amount of the white population of the state of Delaware,) can neither read nor write. The number of the unlearned in this As disclosing the necessities of this field, this is an item of affecting interest. Proportionably as such a state of society obtains, the success of destroyers seems morally certain; especially where there are not counteracting influences from evangelical teachers. The friends of moral improvement on the field of this Society, are appealed to by the Secretary in the following Comparative view. The state of New-York comprises a which is an area of about 20,000 square territory of about 45,000 square miles, miles less than that covered by the Philadelphia Home Missionary Society; north of the counties of Delaware and yet in that part of the state which lies Green, there were employed, under the direction of the central and western agencies of the American Home Missionary Society, during the year preceding the one now closing, one hundred and thirty-seven missionaries, which is more than double the number employed by the Philadelphia Home Missionary Society over a territory of nearly twice the extent, and containing nearly or quite double the number of inhabit ants. about 6,000 square miles. Within its Massachusetts contains an area of the year preceding the one now closterritory, there were employed, during ing, by the missionary society of that state, eighty-three missionaries, which is twenty-two more than has been em veneration. His exhortations to virtue and piety could scarcely fail of effect; because self. No standard of christian or priestly exhe recommended only what he practised him ployed the past year by the Philadelphia Home Missionary Society, on a territory of more than ten times the extent, and containing nearly four times the num-cellence to which he pointed, could appear ber of inhabitants. too high; since he was himself a living inOf the wisdom of the policy that seeks stance of its attainment. If forgetful of this to erect an altar, and establish an evan-heaven, he also led the way. His piety was earth, he always pointed and allured to gelical minister, wherever a congrega- most tender and affectionate; and he showed tion can be gathered and sustained, clearly by his example what it is to love God, there can be no doubt. The interests with one's whole heart and whole soul, and of the people for the life that "now is," with all the powers of one's mind. In all and also for that which "is to come," direction. His hours of sleep were few, and things he was a model to those subject to his are promoted by it. long before the morning's dawn he arose to converse with his God and give to him the first fruits of the day. Labors of a Jesuit. In the places referred to, where the work of Home Missions has been so His time was all divided between prayer vigorously prosecuted, churches have and labor. He loved so well "the beauty of sprung up within a few years with un- the house of the Lord, and the place where exampled rapidity, revivals have been his glory dwelleth," that he would spend of frequent occurrence, and vast multi-whole hours kneeling before the blessed satudes of the population have been con- whenever it was practicable, to recite the crament; and eventually he made it a rule, verted to God. The wealth of the divine office in its holy presence. Thither people has not been diminished, but deci- he would repair on returning from a long jourdedly increased: and it is believed that ney during the rigors of winter, and, until larger amounts of funds for supporting could induce him to attend to his personal he had satisfied this devotion, no persuasions the Gospel at home and abroad, for comforts; at other times, unless he was meliorating the condition of the human engaged in active duties, you would find him race, and promoting its welfare, have in the midst of his splendid library, surroundbeen annually furnished by them, than ed by the writings of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church, and whatever besides, is most by any other places of equal extent in rare and valuable in science and literature, the United States. pursuing his devoted studies with intense application and wonderful activity of mind, or committing to paper, for the benefit of others, the results of his profound investigations. His recreatlon was but variety of labor. When his wearied mind demanded its turn of relaxation, the most arduous bodily toil succeeded: and this round of exertions, mental and corrits and activity of mind truly surprising. Afporeal, was kept up with an elasticity of spiter a journey of fifty miles, performed on foot in a single day, book in hand, praying and reading by turns, and scarcely stopping to take the simple refection that nature required, he would meet his friends in the evening with a freshness of spirits and gayety of conversation which could not be surpassed. If as a pastor he had made an appointment, no obsta cle could hinder him from keeping it. The mountain torrent, swollen with wintry rains and overflowing its banks, could not stop him. If other means of crossing it were not at hand, he plunged into its freezing tide, and amid masses of floating ice swam to the opposite shore. No sacrifice of comfort or necessary repose, neither hunger nor thirst, nor sum mer's heats nor winter's colds, could check his enthusiastic zeal, or cause him to fail in rity towards the poor was, perhaps, the most punctuality to his engagement. But his chaedifying trait in his character. It did not consist in merely pitying their miseries and exborting others to relieve them. He was in the habit of visiting them in person, and in his own hands he bore the assistance which they needed and he was able to procure them We extract the following from a panegyric on the life and labors of a Roman Catholic Bishop of one of the Western States. We have no means of knowing how just are the encomiums bestowed on his spirit and efforts; but taking it for granted that there is no exaggeration, the picture may form an instructive study for those who go forth as the heralds of a purer faith. If such talents and learning, are devoted with so great forgetfulness of self and such abundant toil, to propagate a system of delusion; what should we not expect in those whom God has emancipated from the bondage of superstition, and who are sustained by the consciousness that they bear with them the unadulterated message of heaven, and that the Savior himself is with them "even to the end of the world?" His cheerful piety, amiable manners, and lively interest in the welfare of his pupils, were sure to win their hearts: his eminent holiness of life secured not only respect, but thus literally "feeding the hungry and clothing the naked." His benevolence was ingenious in obtaining means for its exercise. Many a time he stripped himself of garments necessary to his own comfort, to bestow them on some shivering victim of poverty. But he seemed to delight in suffering himself, that he might alleviate the sufferings of others. Ingratitude on their part but inflamed his charity the more. The bigot, who drove him from his door by day, could not prevent him from bringing clothes and provisions to his needy family by night. However careful he might be to conceal his extraordinary good works, the general tenor and spirit of his conduct could not be hidden from the young ecclesiastics whom he taught by word and example. **** The whole neighborhood around will attest the happy effects of his missionary toils, his instructions, his prayers, his unquenchable charity. Where is the poor man's cottage that he has not entered as a messenger of peace and mercy? Who was sick, and he did not visit and comfort him? Who was in want, and he did not afford him, poor though he was himself and always wish ed to be some charitable relief? What road was there so rough, what weather so inclement, what night so dark, that he would not fly on foot and alone, to minister the sweet consolations of religion? Did scandals arise? How his soul burned within him, until the scandal was extinguished and the evil remedied! Were neighbors at enmity? He was seen cowering under the fury of a winter storm, and pelted with driving sleet and snow, as he returned a considerable distance from the blessed work of reconciliation. It was the anniversary of that day on which our Savior died to make our peace with God. But who can recount the innumerable instances of his disinterested zeal, his burning charity, his heroic self denial? How many of his virtuous deeds-how many acts of benevolence, now known to none but God, will be brought to light before the assembled universe on the great day, where every one shall receive his proper retribution! ing abroad, he beheld indeed an immense field for labor; but the ground was almost unbroken. Every thing was to be commenced, and all was to be effected by himself. Destitute as he was of every human means of success, he applied with courage to his allotted task, and while he freely exposed himself to "the heat and burthen of the day," he prayed with fervor and confidence to the "Lord of the harvest, that he would send laborers into his harvest." In less than eight months he had travelled more than a thousand miles on horseback, over roads almost impracticable; had visited every part of his extensive diocess, and was as familiar with the minutest circumstance regarding its missions and those of the West in general, as if the whole of his valuable life had been devoted to them exclusively. In a short time he had opened a college, established at his own expense a free school, which is attended by from seventy to eighty pupils, and founded another for girls together with an orphan asylum, under the superintendence of the sisters of charity. In order to carry on these various schemes of beneficence, and actuated by a spirit of humility and self-denial, he submitted to many privations, which his declining health could ill sustain. The bishop, clergy, seminarians and scholars of the college occupied the same house, took their meals in the same refectory, and in every respect constituted but one family. He reserved no privileges to himself: he would have no advantages or comforts which he could not share with all. His labors were so multifarious and burthensome, that they would scarcely be credible to those who did not know his wonderful activity of mind and powers of endurance. In addition to the occupations I have already mentioned, he taught theology in his seminary, gave lessons in French in one of his academies, furnished a large amount of historical and antiquarian information to the literary societies of Vincennes, wrote twice a month to every priest in his diocess and maintained an extensive correspondence with almost every part of Europe and America. Missionaries to Iowa. He was appointed Bishop of Vincennes. He would gladly have avoided this appointment. He would have preferred an humble retirement to any post of honor, not to add of emolument, for that he ever disdained as unworthy of a priest. A splendid episcopacy he Our readers will be gratified to learn that would undoubtedly have declined. But to nine of the eleven missionaries to Iowa, make new sacrifices-to take up his lot in po- (two being detained by sickness,) whom we verty and privation among entire strangers-mentioned in our last, as having received to go far from whatever was dear to him on earth-to be an instrument in the hands of their instructions in the South Church in Providence for spreading the glad tidings of Andover, Mass., Sept. 3d-met, by agreesalvation, and causing God's name to be honored in the rising West, and to use his influ- ment, in Buffalo, on Saturday, the 7th of Ocence in his mother country to procure mis- tober, on their way to their destined field sionaries and other means, for carrying on the of labor, and were received with great work of redemption in the land of his adop- hospitality and kindness. On Sabbath af tion, this his spirit of self-denial, his zeal, his charity would not permit him to refuse. ternoon, they had the privilege of sitting At Vincennes he found himself in the most down together at the communion table, with trying circumstances. He was a stranger, the members of the first Presbyterian Church poor and alone. He saw around him little more than the wrecks of the Catholic faith in that city. In the evening, a public meeting and discipline of the original settlers. Look- of great interost was held, addressed by Rev. Messrs SALTER, ROBBINS, E. ADAMS, HUTCHINSON, and LANE, and also by Rev. PROF. POST of Illinois College, who, with the Iowa band and four other missionaries destined for Michigan and Wisconsin, left Buffalo for Chicago the next evening, in the Missouri. We have heard, at the time of our going to press, of their safe arrival at the Manitou Isles in Lake Michigan, and hope, in our next, to record their welcome reception in the Territory, which is to be the field of their future labor. The Buffalo Gazette of the 10th of Oct., after making mention of their arrival and of|| the public meeting which they addressed, remarks: "We are glad to see Protestant New England alive to the necessity of scattering religious and scientific light and knowledge in the valley of the Mississippi. For in the forcible language of Professor Post, A plea for the West, is a plea for the East. If the West sins, the East will sin with her. If the West falls, she will drag down the East with her. The chain of great lakes on the North, and the Mississippi and her arms on the West, whose navigable waters would in a straight line, surround the globe, bind the East and the West so indissolubly together, that the fate of one, must be the fate of the other.' "We cannot refrain from saying that we have seldom seen so many men banded together in an enterprise, who seemed to possess such sterling good sense, and humble quiet characters, coupled with firmness and decision, as did these young men." Appointments by the Executive Committee of the A. H. M. S. from Sept. 1st to Oct. 1st, 1843. Re appointed. Rev. D. Beers, Orient, L. I. Rev. S. G. Lowry, Rockville, Ind. Rev. W. P. Hotchkiss, Centreville, Mich. Rev. F. H. Case, White-water, Wis. Rev. Asa Turner, half the time, in destitute places in Iowa. Rev. S. P. Dunham, Logan, O. Not in commission last year. Rev. Luther Farnham, to go to Western Michigan. The Treasurer of the American Home Missionary Society acknowledges the receipt of the following sums, from Sept. 1st to Oct. 1st, 1843. MAINE Miss. Soc., $26; by Rev. G. W. Per- Belfast, John S. Caldwell, by H. David 114 89 1 00 Waldo, Henry Davidson, 2.00 New London, Eumenean Soc., to const. 135 00 NEW HAMPSHIRE Claremont, bequest of Miss Lucy Ann New Haven, First Cong. Ch., to const. 30 00 Whittlesey, by N. Whittlesey, 20 00 Portsmouth, North Church, by D. Knight, 50 00 North Church and Soc., coll., by A. H. 251 36 VERMONT Townsend, Cong. Ch. and Soc., to const. Church St. Ch., Sab. School, by A. C. 10 00 30 00 MASSACHUSETTS North Fairfield, Weston Cong. Ch., by Missionary Society, of which $60 is to coust. Rev. Alexander J. Sessions, and Mrs Mary H. Lord, Life Members, East Hampton, Hon. S. Williston, L. D., and Mrs. S. Williston, L. M., 1200 00 150 00 Edgarton, Miss C. Coffin, Hadley, Miss Dorothy Williams, 5.00 10 00 Miss Sarah Fletcher, by E. W. Fletcher, 147 50 7.00 M. Smedley, West Springfield, in part of legacy of the late Rev. J. L. Pomeroy, by L. Strong, Williamstown, Fem. Char. Soc., by Mrs. CONNECTICUT Norwalk, First Ch., bal., 50 cts.; Sab. Stonington, Ladies' Aux., by Miss L A. Brooklyn, First Presb. Ch., John Rankin, Branford, James F. Linsley, L. M., $30; Catskill, avails of Juvenile Fair, by Rev. 38 00 G. N. Judd, 26.00 76 75 Malden, Ladies, for freight, by Rev. J. 5.00 Greenwich, Ladies' Stilson Benev. Soc., New Rochelle, Mrs. Hannah Brewster, 4.00 Miss Sarah Lewis, Tr., 350 00 New-York city, viz Allen St. Ch., Dr. T. Ritter, "first 12.00 Duane St. Ch., W. M. Halsted, Spring St. Ch., M. H. Newman, NEW JERSEY Newark, David Hayes, to const. Mrs. Esther H. Tichenor, Richmoud, Va., a L. M., DISTRICT COLUMBIA Washington City, Ladies' H. M. S., by Mrs. H. Goodrich, VIRGINIA 100 00 | Jaffrey, Mrs. Edith Parker, Keene, Cong. Ch., $61 25; mon. con. coll., 10 00 Troy, Cong. Ch., $21 33; Ladies' Benev. Winchester, Cong. Ch., Harrisville, Mon. con. coll., 10 75 Rindge, Cong. Ch., $24 32; Young Men's Benev. Soc., $10; Ladies' H. M. S., $25 75, 60 07 Roxbury, Cong. Ch., 12 38 Sullivan, Cong. Ch., $30; Deac. S. Frost, $3, 33 00 Swanzy, Cong. Ch., 11 50 Soc., $5 23, Epsom, Cong. Ch., Dover, Cong. Ch., 56 00 Hillsborough Center, legacy of Mr. S. Gammel, 10 00 Portsmouth, Cong. Ch., 31 78 |