we have, and many of them are but little better than the grove, and, indeed, inferior in the summer.

Not proud.

present-at least in part. All the churches are struggling to live. Could the friends of the A. H. M. S. stand upon the ground, see and judge for themselves, it would be far more effectual than any appeal that can be presented with ink and paper.

L

MICHIGAN.

From Rev. P. H. Burghardt, Fentonville, Genesee Co., Mich.

Mr. B. is one of ten missionaries sent to

Michigan during the past season. He has been well received, and the prospect of an open door and much labor is such as to encourage the expectation of a high degree of use

fulness.

A little incident will illustrate the advantage of mingling, to some extent, with the people, and being one of them, so as to contradict the very general impression that our ministers are proud, and won't associate with the common people. It happened recently, that I visited a member of the church on a day when a number of his neighbors were helping him to erect a framed house. I went to work as one of them, and when at leisure, interested them by leading and exciting them to useful consideration. After this I was told that a remark from one of this company, of whom none were of our denomination except the owner of the house, expressed the feelings of My labors are divided between the the whole company. He remarked that people of Fentonville, and a place called he "liked Mr. better than he ever Cook's Settlement. My field is large, did, for he is not proud, and does not and quite destitute of moral cultivation. think himself too good to speak to a I have seventeen miles of road in a line, common feller." The impression re- upon which I have visited nearly every ferred to, though erroneous, so far as family. Roads run in almost every diministers in this region are concerned, rection from this main road, on many of has a deleterious influence on multi- which I have to go some four or five tudes in this new country, and is used, miles. In fact, the log cabins are to be too, by every one that from prejudice or found, go almost which way you will. They are filled with souls, that must live for ever, as precious as if they dwelt in princely mansions. They need to be visited and induced to go to the "house of prayer," and they generally can be. The weather has been quite unfavorable during most of the time I have been here, but, notwithstanding, my audience has increased, until I have quite a full house. I find that visiting the people will bring them out. My labors in the cause of temperance have been much blessed. About one hundred and fifty have signed the total abstinence pledge in Fentonville, and one hundred in Cook's Settlement. We have formed two efficient Washingtonian Societies. We hope the temperance movement may prove a kind harbinger of greater good.

envy opposes us.

From Rev. T. C. De Pew, Bristol, Ind.

We have enjoyed a season of protracted services in the Little Elkhart Church, assisted by ministerial brethren in this region. Much good, we think, has been done-the church awakened, difficulties removed, several persons excited to serious inquiry, and some hopeful conversions.

After speaking of the great number of openings for doing good, and the imperious necessity for ministerial labor, Mr. De P. continues:

But who is sufficient for these things? We need the labor of two additional brethren on the field now occupied by but one. But how shall they be sustained? Only by your Society, for the

VOL. XVI.

22

We had in this place three stores, where the poison was sold and drank, now we have but one; the keepers of the others have signed the pledge, and are officers in the society.

From a Missionary.

Faith not disappointed.

My wife and family had gone to New-England for the recovery of their health; and though the period assigned for their absence had expired, and I was in a large field of labor which promised usefulness, and needed the assistance of my wife in the Sabbath-school, with the sick, and in pastoral visitation, &c.; yet, the important question arose in my mind, Is it right for me to recall them, when the amount pledged for my sup

the privations and sorrows of their sisters here. During my wife's absence, I had a course of fever, and tasted largely of missionary trial. But the Lord sustained me, and blessed be his name; and I trust I shall never shrink from any sacrifice I am called to make in his service. This is a destitute region. There are no ministers of our order nearer than fifteen miles, in one direction, and twenty or thirty in any other.

Hanover, Hillsdale Co.

port by the people is so small, and the From Rev. J. Morton, Somerset and hope of obtaining help from the A. H. M. S. has well nigh perished? I had, however, concluded to send for them, and if I obtained no assistance from you, to cast my cares upon Him who hears the young ravens when they cry," and who has said, "Trust in the Lord and do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed." When I received your commission, I found I had not trusted the Lord

in vain.

I supply two churches, twenty-five miles distant from each other. One of them was formed a few weeks previous to my arrival, and the other I have organized during the past summer. In both places we have Sabbath-schools, and the one here promised great usefulness in the early part of the season; but it has been extremely sickly since July, and we were obliged to suspend our labors. Wickedness abounds here, and

Our congregations are not as fluctuating as last year, and the steady attendants have rather increased. It is nevertheless true, that there are many among us that seldom attend religious meetings of any kind, especially those of Presbyterians. They will sooner go to hear errorists than any others. The better I become acquainted with this commumade upon my mind that we shall pronity, the more deeply is the impression bably gain upon them only by little and little. But in this manner I think we have reason for gratitude for the sure advances we are making.

Our Sabbath schools are in a flou

rishing condition, though not large. friends at the East they have been Through the kindness of christian supplied with good libraries, which have given a new impulse to the schools.

Systematic benevolence.

we should become disheartened could we not stay ourselves upon Israel's God. Intemperance is the most alarming vice with which we have to contend, and I fear we shall be ruined un-the Home Missionary Society at S., and less something can be done.

Yesterday I presented the claims of

started a subscription. A committee was appointed to present it to every member of the church, with the hopes of getting something from every individual, if it is not more than one cent.

My pastoral labors are very great, and I am abliged to spend so much time in travelling and visiting, that I have had little or no opportunity for study, which is one of the greatest sacrifices I am called to make, and nothing but the am happy to know that these churches urgent call of duty could sanction. generally feel that God calls upon Oh! how little does an Eastern clergy- them, even in their poverty, to comman know of the labors and sacrifices mence a systematic course of contribuof a minister at the West; and how lit-ting to the benevolent objects of the day.

tle do the churches there who sit from Sabbath to Sabbath upon the cushioned seats, and listen to the deep tones of the organ in their churches, know of

I

It is thus the Gospel shows itself to be essentially benevolent. Such are some of the earliest fruits of that tree which the friends

of Missions are laboring to plant all over the Western soil. Does not God own their labors? and remunerate them, too, in these returns into their helping hands? Can we not see, in these small beginnings, the promise of a state of things similar to that which now exists, through the blessing of God, on Home Missions, in the churches of Western New-York -which whole region was, but a few years ago, missionary ground, and which the statistics of benevolence lately showed to have contributed, in a given year, more than fourteen entire states of the less favored portions

of the Union?

water. Rev. Mr. F. holds meetings on the Sabbath, when he is there, and does what he can for their interest. It would be much better, however, if they had a regular missionary.

The attention of emigrants is beginning to be turned to the Grand River Valley, and the current of population may be expected to set in there rapidly. It is very important that efforts be commenced without delay, to secure an ascendency for truth in the very beginning of the settlements. The habit of doing without the Gospel for a few years, is enough to ruin most persons; and, in fact, very few even professors of religion, ever become again the active and spiritual Christians they were, before they learned to do without the

From Rev. H. E Waring, Grand Ville, means of grace.
Kent Co., Mich.

Grand Ville is my principle point of labor, where I spend three fourths of

Mich.

my time. It is a small village, situated From Rev. M. S. Hawley, St. Joseph, on Grand River, about thirty miles from the mouth, or Grand Haven. There is no other church organized in this place, and no other place of worship within seven miles. The Sabbath-school averages about fifty; Bible-class about twenty-five. The country around is quite thickly settled for so new a county. I have a preaching point out of the village, about five miles, where heretofore they have never had any. The time cannot be far distant, in the usual course of things, when this must be a flourishing village and community, and a large church built up. As yet we have no church edifice, but a large and convenient school-house.

I commenced my labors here the first of October, under somewhat discouraging circumstances. I found a small congregation assembled for worship in a school-house, while a very large part of the population staid away from the house of God, as they do now. The congregation, has, however, from that time to this, been gradually increasing, so that it is now nearly a third larger than when I commenced. Yet still, the majority of the people never hear the preaching of the Gospel.

Description of the place.

The fourth part of my time I spend about fifteen miles down the river, on St. Joseph is a small village of four the opposite side, in the town of Tall- or five hundred inhabitants, situated on mage, in Ottawa county. In this place a bluff on the shore of Lake Michigan, there are a number of Presbyterian fami- at the mouth of the St. Joseph and lies, who are desirous to hear the Gospel, Paw-Paw rivers, and lies at the terminaand are willing to help support it. Ition of the Central rail-road, which will have a stated Bible-class at this place, and a prayer-meeting.

As to Grand Haven, during the winter season, I shall not be able to preach there but seldom, as the road is almost impassable, and a distance right through a forest wholly unsettled-but in the summer season I can preach there occasionally, as I can find conveyance by

be completed next year to within fifty-six miles of the place. During the prosperous times, this place, in common with others, expanded to a wonderful degree; but has since become so contracted that many houses were deserted. The past year, however, has brought accessions, so that all the dwellings are occupied. A number of families are

expected in the spring. The region tiny of a church. Could the Christians of around it, which is almost an unbroken our land view this fact, as the conductors of forest, I am informed, is to receive an this Society are compelled to, they would accession of several families, the en- never leave it without the means of stepping suing summer. This is regarded by in to save a sinking congregation from despair business men, as destined soon to be- and dissolution. come an important place; and now appears to be a favorable time for christian effort.

regularly between this place and Chi-ing us to it, I think, is not to be doubtcago, during the season of navigation.

From Rev. S. Cary, Kensington, Mich. pense with keeping a horse, and labor

is love."
you; yes, infinitely better than you
love yourself. He loves you so that he
gave his infinite Son to save you from
your sins, and make you happy forever."
He wept bitterly. As I left his house,
he hung upon my hand, saying, "Do
come again; never go by." Never
before was I so sensible that a minister
of Jesus should be an incarnation of
divine love.

"Yes, he is love; he loves | And when prayer was offered, they all bowed before God, and by their tears and sighs, evinced their deep interest. O, those were hallowed moments which I spent in that sick room! The funeral, which was numerously attended, was a season never to be forgotten. The text which I chose for the occasion was Hebrews, ix. 27, "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." A brother of the captain, who had been evidently thoughtful for some weeks, I think is now truly a converted man; two sisters are also under deep concern of mind, (one is indulging some hope,) and the captain himself is, in many respects, a changed man!

Fruits of Missionary labor.

Another case was Mrs. F. L. B., who came here from the State of New York a little more than a year since. Both her parents were decided Universalists, and the circumstances of her childhood and youth were quite unfavorable to serious impressions. She came here a respecter of religion, and became a regular attendant on the services of the sanctuary in the Congregational church. She did not, however, manifest any special interest for her spiritual welfare, till last March, at a time when your missionary held a series of evening meet

Mrs. S. S., wife of a captain on the great chain of Lakes, was on the decline for several months, and died in September. She was born and brought up on an island; and the circumstances of her childhood and youth, and all her life, till the arrival of your missionary, were very unfavorable to religious impressions. Last winter and spring, I had several opportunities for personal conversation with her, which I endeavored to improve by urging upon her the importance and necessity of a change of heart. She was always respectful, and gave her assent to my remarks; and whenever a tract was pre-ings. She was among the first who sented, which I thought to be adapted to her case, she would promise to peruse it. About this time, her reading, which had been of the lighter sort, was confined to the Bible, and a few religious works, and (as has been ascertained since her death,) she read a chapter in the Bible and prayed every evening, before retiring to rest. At her request, after she became so weak as to be unable to leave the house, I preached twice at her residence. Her case was mentioned in the prayers, which very much affected her. For a few weeks previous to her death, I visited her as often as I could, and found her ready to converse on the subject of religion, and anxious not to be deceived. I endeavored to be faithful to her soul; and trust she became reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, and died in peace. Whenever I visited her sick room, her husband, his brother, sisters, and many other relatives, all "without hope and without God," were present, and gave apparently earnest heed to my remarks.

manifested solicitude on the subject of religion. She had a deep sense of her sinfulness, and earnestly sought, and I trust she found, reconciliation to God through his Son. She desired to make a public profession of her faith, by uniting with the church. The members were satisfied that she had become a child of God, and accordingly she was received, and having given her assent to the articles of faith, was baptized.

But she too is gone. During her sickness, she suffered much mental derangement, yet she was favored with lucid intervals, in which she evinced unshaken confidence in her Redeemer, and gave evidence of being prepared for the last conflict. Perhaps never has the death of any individual awakened so deep sensibility in this community. To many this dispensation of Divine Providence seems dark; yet to myself, the finger of a wonder-working God, is evident. By Him, without whose "notice not a sparrow falls to the ground," she was brought to this place, to be