།། pulation of 4000, whose whole wardrobe and || porizing counsels of those who cannot household furniture taken together, would deeply sympathize with the best interests of amount to twenty dollars. the cause of Christ. We would urge it on all our missionary congregations-and we have no fear that the advice will be disapproved by men of age and experience-" be sure to build only such houses of worship as you can pay for, without either resorting to foreign aid or running in debt. Build a school-house-build it of logs-any thing, however humble, to an "Iought, perhaps, to state that, during the progress of our building, the members of the church contributed at monthly concerts to the amount of $240, in various articles, such as tapas, malos, etc., which was divided monthly among the school teachers, who at that time had no provision made by government for their support. swer the present purpose, rather than encounusual monthly contributions at our concerts averaged about fifteen dollars, from the ter a debt. Have a house of your own withfemales alone. That of the men was de-out partnership with other denominations." voted to the building. The The whole property of a family in this region usually consists of a canoe, worth from ten to thirty dollars, a hog or two, a grass house, worth from ten to forty dollars, (more houses are worth ten dollars than can be found worth forty,) a few mats, in value perhaps worth three or four dollars; a few calabashes, say worth two dollars; a shirt a piece for each male and sometimes one pair of pantaloons; one loose dress for each female, with a few tapas to sleep in. They rarely have seats in their houses, and still more rarely any dishes or pots, except one wooden dish for the whole family. Their mats form seats, tables, and often beds. Axes are very rare. A few of them have fish-nets, and but here and there one." Let efforts be made by our frontier churches in this spirit of sacrifice and labor, and every congregation will soon have, at least, a log church, convenient and comfortable for the worship of God. The oft repeated complaints of this species of destitution, and frequent appeals for aid to erect the material house will cease to be heard; and the sympathy of the older churches in behalf of the new settlements, may all be available for building the spiritual temple, of which Jesus Christ is the chief corner stone. We are aware that in answer to all that is said above, many congregations will urge the old plea, that "their case is peculiar"-that “unless they build a handsome house, and one that will be an ornament to the place, many of those whose good feelings they wish to enlist, will stand aloof, and give their influence and their aid to other denominations." But experience abundantly shows, that the hope of building up a congregation, by a policy so worldly in its character, is utterly delusive. Far better is it to adhere rigidly to the dictates of principle, and trust for success the blessing of God, than to the tem to Our readers will of course understand from these remarks, that if any missionaries of the A. H. M. S. have for a time laid aside their appropriate work, to solicit assistance in building churches, they have done it on their own responsibility, and without the concur rence of the Society. The Committee claim no right to prevent their missionaries from following the dictates of their own consciences in this matter; but the funds of the Society are not, and cannot be properly applied to the support of missionaries, while they are absent from their people for this object. Explanation of the Plan. The accompanying sketch is intended to show the structure and appearance of a log edifice, resembling a Grecian Doric temple. It may be erected as follows: viz.-Lay sills around the area of the building on which to erect the columns. The columns should be attached to the sills, either by a tenon and mortice, or let into a gain, and fastened with a wedge-formed key. The walls of the house may be formed, either by laying up logs notched together at the corners, in the usual way, before the columns are set up, or by first erecting the columns, and fastening the logs to them by means of wooden pins. The columns support a plate. The roof should be made to rest on the columns, and is almost the only part of the structure where a knowledge of carpentry is needed. For all the rest of the external structure, the axe, saw and auger, are the only tools required. The mode suggested above, of attaching the logs of the wall to the upright columns, is as follows: Straighten the upper and lower surfaces by a line, so as to bring the logs in contact. Where they touch the columns, cut If the adjacent surfaces of the logs be straightened as above suggested, no chinking will be needed, and but little mortar, to make a perfectly tight wall. An excellant mortar for this purpose may be made, by mixing fine sand or yellow loam with exhausted ashes, from the log heap or from the leach tub. them half through and pin them on with two || work may advance on all sides of the buildpins, the points of which shall diverge, which ing at the same time. will prevent the possibility of the logs falling off. One advantage of this way of putting up the walls, is, that the logs may be in short pieces, requiring only that they be long enough to reach from one column to another. The necessity of procuring straight timber of great length will thus be obviated, and consequently the labor of procuring the materi als will be much reduced. Fewer hands will be needed to put up a log; the notching of the corners may be dispensed with; and the The whole should be whitewashed within and without, and surrounded by a plain post and rail fence. IOWA. Correspondence. It may not be uninteresting to many of your readers to know something of this new and extensive district of country. Last October, Gov. John Chambers, as Indian agent, held a treaty with the chiefs of the united Sac and Fox Indians, at the old agency, near the Des Moines river, in the south part of the new purchase, and the chiefs in council agreed to cede to the United States about seven millions of acres of land, lying on both sides of the celebrated Des Moines river, and west of the cession of 1837—for which the Governor, on behalf of the United States, agreed to pay them, in annuities and otherwise, the sum of one million and fifty thousand dollars. The Indians reserved the western half of the purchase for three years from the 1st of May, 1843; and at that time the east half came into possession of the whites. Combining soil, timber, rock, minerals, water, health, and beauty of situation, this purchase cannot be exceeded by any in the valley of the Mississippi. The laws of Iowa Territory were extended over that part of the purchase which is now held in possession by the United States SISTERS OF CHARITY.-Fourteen ladies of the above religious order, arrived here a few days ago. These, added to those before here, we believe, makes the number nineteen. They are, we learn, to remain here during the next winter, when they are to be divided and sent to different points.-Ib. memorable night, the 1st of May, in shantees | year in the city, has been full fifty per cent. and wagons, ready to renew their marking, in his line. For the future, this ratio, we be and retake possession of their respective lieve, is to be accelerated, and not retarded. claims. At the hour of midnight, at the firing Here is an immense extent of country back of guns (clocks and watches were had to point of us that is fast filling up with substantial out the hour) the claim-making commenced farmers, who will make this their principal in good earnest. Torches were used for lights, point of commerce, from necessity, conveand all the formalities of by-laws or territorial nience or interest. To show the progress of laws were generally observed, in taking formal the settlement of the country, we are told possession of the claims. Priority of posses- there has been received at this Land Office, sion, under certain regulations, guarantys to since last February, between sixty and seventy the possessor a certain right up to the land thousand dollars. The most important feature sales of this land; and, under the pre-emption about this, is, that the land has, we may say, law of congress, to one quarter section for all been taken in small tracts, and is now, or one year beyond the land sales. The lines soon will be, under actual improvement. of the claims are laid irrespective of the points Dubuque Trans. of compass. The settlers have an internal regulation by which each man is to hold within the lines of his claims, by an interchange of deeds after the land sales. In consequence of the lateness of the spring, when the purchase came into possession of the whites, and the uncommon badness of the spring from wet and cold, but little corn or other grain will be raised this season here. The crops in the old purchase are tolerably good, but there will not be enough raised in the whole territory to support the inhabitants and stock that are now here, and movers are coming in daily. Many will be compelled to beat back into Illinois for support. There is much prairie breaking going on here this season, and "log cabins" are going up fast; and there will next season probably be plenty of grain raised to support the people and stock. Most of the settlers here now are poor people, and money is scarce indeed. There is not much hiring done here, and hundreds that calculated to get into employment for cash to pay debts elsewhere, are disappointed. Provisions and grain are scarce and dear here, and there is but little money to buy with; and many are in a fair way to see hard times before another year shall have rolled round. The country is in a general state of excitement from disputed titles, and high-handed violence, that, in the absence of regular law, is used here. Dubuque. The business of this place is now on the increase. An intelligent merchant gives it as his opinion, that the increase within the past From Rev. J. D. Holbrook, Dubuque. When I look back a year and a half to the time when I first entered this field, I am ready to exclaim, "What hath God wrought!" At that time there was a little church here of twenty-seven members, with barely a name to live, and struggling with a thousand difficulties which seemed almost insuwas with fear and perable; and it trembling that I accepted their call to become their pastor. But relying on the promise of God, I entered upon my duties, and was soon cheered by seeing some fruit of my labors; and there continued to be additions to the church at nearly every communion season through the year. But still we desired to see, and prayed for a more general revival of religion, although such a thing had never been witnessed in this place, and many felt even that it could not be expected, at least at present. But near the close of the year I preached a series of sermons on revivals, which seemed to strengthen the faith and the hopes, and to quicken the prayers of the to the afflicted parents, who were called church. Installation and Protracted Meeting. At length the period arrived when my installation as pastor was to take place, and we determined on connecting with that event, a special effort for the conversion of sinners. I accordingly entered upon a series of evening meetings, immediately following the installation services, assisted by Br. Stevens, which was continued for four weeks. At the end of two weeks he was obliged to leave me, but such was the interest awakened in the community that I dared not close the meetings, and continued to preach every evening but two, for two weeks longer. We closed the effort with as full and solemn a congregation as had been assembled at any previous period. The result has been happy. The church has been strengthened, and our prospects have brightened. During the year and a half which has elapsed since I came here, the church has nearly doubled, and now numbers fifty members. Most of the additions have been by profession, and there are several others who give evidence of conversion, who, we expect, will unite with us. Five also, in part the fruit of our revival, have united with other churches. The weekly prayer-meeting has been generally sustained with interest, and often numbers as many in attendance as used to be present at public worship here two or three years ago. Incidents. During the past quarter, one or two incidents have occurred, the mention of which will illustrate the life of a western missionary. One day I had been absent, and returned about dark, and had just taken care of my horse, when a physician called to say that a child was about dying in the family of a member of my church, who lived about eight miles distant, and who was anxious I should visit them that night. I accordingly, as soon as I had partaken of some refreshment, saddled my horse and rode out, arriving there about 11 o'clock, where I spent the night and was happily able to administer some consolation to close the eyes of their beloved child before morning. Not long after, another physician called with a request from a man who lived sixteen miles distant, and who was apparently at the point of death, that I would visit him. It rained until noon, and it was necessary I should go and return as soon as possible on account of other engagements. In the afternoon I started in company with the doctor, reached the place a little before night, and found the man in great distress of mind. I prayed with him, and spent some time in directing him to the Lamb of God for the pardon of his sins, and he professed to repent and believe in the Savior, as did also his wife, who also promised, as soon as possible, publicly to acknowledge Christ, and to dedicate her children to God in baptism. I then left the house, and returned home about midnight, to prepare to attend a meeting some twenty miles distant, where I had engaged to be present. The scene at this house was exceedingly interesting, and, I hope, resulted in the salvation of both man and wife. The man, who seemed then near his end, has since recovered, and I expect soon to visit him, when I hope to find him disposed to fulfil his vows, and engage publicly in the Lord's service. What added to the interest of the scene, was the fact, that, when I arrived, I found a man weeping and praying by the sick bed, and endeavoring to point the apparently dying sinner to the Savior, who himself was converted a few months previously at a meeting in Cassville, where I was present. He had come a considerable distance from the other side of the Mississippi to visit his sick friend. I mention these cases, not as remarkable at the West, but to show how different are the situation and the labors of your missionaries here from those of ministers at the East, who are surrounded on every side by their brethren, and who are never called out of the bounds of their township or village to visit the sick or the anxious. But here, the sick must often send ten, fifteen, twenty, or even thirty miles for a minister, and often cannot procure his aid at all. I can travel an unlimited distance north or west, and not infringe on the parish lines of any other minister of our connexion, or, in fact, of but one | five or six Presbyterian or Congregational minister I believe of any denomination. ministers within a distance of about one A Tour in Iowa. A missionary gives the following results of his observations during a tour from the northeast portion of Iowa to the capital of the territory in September last. Since this letter was written, the reinforcement of missionaries sent out by the A. H M. S., has arrived on the field. During my journey to attend this meeting, I had an opportunity to see a portion of our territory which I had never before visited, and to learn more fully its religious wants and condition. I returned more deeply impressed than ever with the vast importance of present efforts to plant the institutions of the Gospel here. It is a most delightful region which I passed over, intersected every ten or fifteen miles with beautiful streams, well timbered on their banks, and affording abundant water power, and the land capable of sustaining a population as dense as any other on the globe. I crossed four fine rivers from the Mississippi to the Iowa, at the termination of my route. The neigborhoods of these streams are thickly settled, and one county, through the corner of which I passed, is said to be one of the best, if not the best in the territory, for agricultural purposes, and contains a large population. The county seat is a pleasant village, and, I was told, had ten lawyers and eight physicians, but no minister of our connexion, although one occasionally preached there from a neighboring county. One of your missionaries, however, has since gone there. I mention this to show how much more readily than ministers, professional men of other classes are found to supply, and more than supply, the wants of the West, notwithstanding the hardships and privations of a new country. Between this place and lowa city, ninety miles, there are but two Presbyterian or Congregational ministers. The reinforcement, however, which is now understood to be on the way from the East, we hope, will aid in supplying this deficiency. At present there are but about hundred miles south or south-west of Dubuque, and none west or north of that place. The more I contemplate the field, and the more I see and know of the importance of the West, and of the future influence which it must inevitably exert upon our country and the world, the more I feel that Home Missions is emphatically the great cause which should occupy the attention and secure the prayers and contributions of the American churches-not that Foreign Missions, or other benevolent enterprises,should be over-looked and neglected-but this is of vital importance to us as a nation, and to the final success of all the rest. Romanism in Northern Iowa. A correspondent writes us as follows: The Roman Catholic strength is here increasing. There are those, I know, who smile at the idea of danger from the extension of their influence in our land. But did they reside here, and did they see and know all that I do, I am sure their opinion would change. It is almost incredible what efforts are being made, and what deep laid plans are maturing, and even now in course of execution, for securing the ascendancy in the West, especially in this territory. It is said that, not content with their beautiful cathedral, they are about to give it up solely to the German Catholics, and erect another still more splendid on a fine commanding site. They have already, at Dubuque, two flourishing schools, one for males and the other for females, consisting of from 30 to 50 scholars. The latter is under the care of the "Sisters of Charity," recently arrived here, of whom there are at present 19, but part of whom, it is said, are to be distributed ultimately to other points in this region. The following is a part of their advertisement: "St. Mary's Female Academy, Dubuque, Loras. The Sisters of Charity of the Blessed I. T., under the patronage of Rt. Rev. Bp. Virgin will teach all the branches which are taught in the best schools in the country. |