What shall be done to repair these munities. These waste places must be attended serve the fostering care of the stronger com desolations? Evidently, no approved method of doing good, however humble, can be dispensed with. There is work for all; every private christian may find an ample field for his efforts. As a S. School teacher, he may be a missionary to a dozen children, and through them to the families with which they are connected. As a member of the church, he may, by a godly life, shut the mouth of infidelity; and, by kind and judicious address to the consciences of his neighbors, may win many a soul to righteousness. As a colporteur, he may carry the Scriptures, and other printed messages of mercy, to the secluded cabin of the mountaineer, and into the pit of the miner. These and kindred forms of christian exertion, may aid the work of evangelization. But something more is needful. To render the results of all these efforts permanent, there must be a living ministry. "There must be settled 'pastors, men of intelligence, and piety, and devoted zeal; who, while they shall labor directly for the conversion of souls, will identify themselves with the religious and social interests of our country; and be able to gather up and garner the results of every benevolent enterprise, and employ them in giving an impress to our social character, and a direction to our national destiny." Every thing else is ephemeral; but this species of agency is permanent in its effects, since it was originated by the special command, and is sustained by the promise of Christ himself. VERMONT. Every consideration that should move the heart of christian philanthropy to abound in alms and efforts for the heathen world, and for the destitute West, equally teaches the duty of sustaining a high degree of evangelical influence in the older portions of the land. We confess, we are pained to see so little interest felt in the eastern states for their own desolations. Much has indeed been done, but still there are many feeble churches, and discts where there are no churches, that de to. They contain many precious souls; they may be made the nurseries of pious men and women, the agents of immeasurable good; or they may be the refuge of false teachers, the hot-beds of heresy and vice, engendering, spreading and perpetuating the poison of sin. We have no hope, that the new states can be furnished with a sufficient supply of godly ministers, well sustained by an adequate support and all the necessary facilities for their work, unless the eastern churches shall apply themselves in earnest to the care of their own neglected vicinage. The amount of work of this kind that is yet undone, may be judged of from the following brief notices, taken from authentic sources. In Vermont, nearly one half of the Congregational churches and societies are said to be so feeble, as to be unable to support a pastor without assistance from abroad. Some of these churches, it might not be advisable to retain in existence, if it must be done at the expense of christian charity; but the majority are such, that judicious persons would not hesitate to pronounce, that they are required by the cause of Christ's kingdom, and ought to be upheld. Some of these are in places of considerable population, of urgent religious want, and of encouraging prospects of future efficiency, if they can only receive a needful portion of temporary support. But this cannot be given— at least to the requisite extent-for there are so many others whose very existence depends on the Missionary Society, that but little can be done for any one. As the result of the restricted sympathy and aid which they receive, they sink into discouragement and inaction, and do not half develope their own resources. The stimulating effect of adequate assistance they never know. Again: the last Report of the Vermont D. M. S. states, that there are communities in which, if possible, something should be done, where there is not even a church. One town in the state, of near 1,400 inhabitants, has no church and no minister of any evangelical denomination. About 65 towns, with an aggregate population of about 40,000, have no Congregational church, and in many cases, no church of much efficiency and strength. In some towns thus almost without religious influences-moral wastes in Vermont-the population out from home.' Another remarks-'I hope other missionaries in the State have more liberal support than I do; if not, it appears plain to me that the Board of Directors should at once dismiss one-half (and I would cheerfully be one), that the others might be supported, and is not small; in one such case it is more than 1,700. "To places of this kind the attention of your Secretary is often called, and he is asked if something cannot be done for them. The Society is sometimes severely censured for leaving such communities without a minister; and sometimes the censure comes from pas-give themselves to the work of the ministry. tors whose churches are doing very little for Domestic Missions. There is no straw given to your servants, and ye say, Make brick, and behold your servants are beaten, but the fault is with your own people.' To send missionaries to such places, where nearly the whole support must be furnished by theisters. One very serious difficulty is, that Society, would very soon exhaust the Treasury. Churches already aided, are aided quite insufficiently. Missionaries now employed are very insufficiently sustained; and what can we do more, without more means? 'The trials of the missionaries are known only to themselves and to their God. Pastors of the independent churches cannot have a proper view of their sufferings.' Such pecuniary difficulties interfere, in many ways which we need not mention, with the usefulness of min they cannot supply themselves with books, or even with needful good periodicals. Said one to your Secretary: 'For sixteen years I have spent but $20 for books, and this I took when it seemed absolutely necessary to spend it for other things in the family, because I felt that I must have those books. I have al with my small support, that I cannot own a library.' This is the case with many. They have not and they cannot get the books they need. Others if they had books, are obliged to perform so much manual labor, as greatly to interfere with study; and many find their minds often perplexed, and their spirits oppressed, by their pecuniary circumstances. And here, in the wants of ministers, we find another ground of earnest appeal to the churches for increased contributions to this ob-ways felt it to be the greatest trial connected ject. If we would have a studious, able and efficient ministry, that ministry must receive a competent support—must be unembarrassed in pecuniary circumstances. But many in Vermont have not a competent support. Says one missionary, writing for money, 'I will not trouble you with a detail of my circumstances. Suffice it to say, I am miserably poor.' Says another, 'It is a uniform thing even now,They find it very difficult even to be just ;every Sabbath morning, for my children to cry to go to meeting, because we are obliged to tell them they have not clothes fit to wear very difficult to avoid, in their pecuniary transactions, giving occasion to the enemy to triumph and blaspheme." hope for better things ere long. There are as yet in that place but three dwelling-houses. We hope soon to esta blish a Sabbath school. I have just received a box of S. S. books from Boston, containing new books to the amount of $31, from three Sabbath schools in Massachusetts and Connecticut, besides a goodly number of second hand books, including question books, which are much needed. I feel truly grateful and greatly encouraged, that our friends at the East are so ready to aid us in our endeavors. We are greatly in want of good Sabbath school teachers. Had we teachers of a suitable character, a number of schools might be established, in addition to those we already have. At present there are only about 150 connected with our schools, while there are in Davis county at least 1000 of a suitable age to be instructed in Sabbath schools. Another great deficiency among us is in respect to common schools. There has, as yet, been only one school in the county. If one or two good teachers from the East would come out, and cast in their lot among us, engaging in teaching a common school through the week, and on the Sabbath lend a helping hand in the Sabbath school, they might be very useful. Could I have the co-operation of such helpers, I should feel that my own usefulness would be thereby greatly increased. One great discouragement here is that love of excitement-that disposition to seek for something new, which leads the people to rely too much upon what they call "big meetings," and to expect too little from the ordinary means of grace. During the last quarter, I have spent one Sabbath in Clarke county, Mo., which lies in the north-east corner of the state, and is, as you are aware, a part of the vast region in northern Missouri destitute of any minister of the Gospel of our order. I found there a church of about 60 members. I have also spent one Sabbath 10 miles east of the Des Moins, with a little church of about 10 members, where they had had no preaching for the last five months. They were as sheep without a shepherd, cold and worldly, having neglected to sustain among them religious meetings even on the Sabbath. From Rev. D. Jones, Keokuk. Sickness. In rendering my quarterly report, I would not forget to give thanks to the Father of mercies, who has graciously enabled me to perform without interruption the regular duties of my calling, during a time of unusual sickness and mortality. With the exception of a few days' sickness, from a slight attack of fever, my health has been excellent, so that all my appointments have been met, while others have been laid prostrate on beds of sickness in great numbers, and many have been carried to their long home. Since my last report there have been 11 deaths in this village, among a population of some two or three hundred, and several have been very suddenly cut down in the prime of life; yet the living do not appear to lay it to heart. On account of the sickness, my congregations have of late been small, but before it commenced they were quite encouraging, and our Sabbath school appeared unusually prosperous. A large portion of my time has been spent in visiting the sick, and in attending funerale-duties which there would have been no one to perform had it not been for the aid granted by the A. H. M. S. in supporting the only minister that has occupied this portion of the Lord's vineyard. Still it is a painful truth, that it is rarely the case, that the minister is requested to visit the sick, so that it often happens that persons are sinking in death before I learn that they are sick. Spirit of inquiry excited. Those who take a deep interest in religious matters, and attend on public worship from principle, are but few in number, and weak in faith; and for this reason it is almost impossible to get any great number to attend meeting except it be on the Sabbath. I have recently introduced an additional exercise on Sabbath morning, at the close of the Sabbath school, which I hope may be profitable. Each of the older scholars is required to note down any thing that appears difficult in his reading during the week, to be submitted to his interests of religion, and in agreement with the design of the Gospel; accordingly they gave me a call to settle with them, and I was installed the first Sabbath in October. It was a most solemn and interesting time. I think the impression made upon the minds of the people was good. We have long felt teacher on the Sabbath; and each of the teachers is desired to do the same, that any difficulty which they may meet, together with all difficult questions that are proposed by the scholars, may be submitted to me, and answered in the presence of the whole school. I wish to excite the people to habits of reflection, being assured that an in-the need of a larger and more convetimate acquaintance with the Scriptures is the best antidote against the prevailing errors of the times. The amount of open infidelity is great here, as in all places at the West, and for this reason I have wished that any objection to the inspiration of the Bible that the people may have heard, be made the subject of inquiry. It is true that the cavils of infidels are usually of the most flimsy character, yet they often perplex the minds of good people. nient house of worship, and efforts have been made to erect one, but hitherto have failed; but we now have a subscription out, and $200 or more on it; and I trust we shall now succeed. I know that your Society has done great things, and is still disposed to do far more if the means can be secured. Without your aid, the churches in the West-or most of them-would wither and die; and many at least of the members of the churches feel this, and yet. they can do but little to help you. They have fertile land, and can raise wheat and corn, etc., but those who live back from the rivers 40 or 50 miles, cannot From Rev. C. Burnham, Washington afford to carry their grain to market for Struggles of a new congrégation. I have presented the interests of Home Missions to the congregations to which I minister, and have taken up collections in the churches, one $3 65, the other $1 40. Total $5 05. I feel almost ashamed to say that so little has been collected, and yet I would not despise the day of small things. Many of our people can almost literally adopt the language of Peter, "Silver and gold have I none." They find it difficult to procure the necessaries of life. Our churches are subject to great fluctuations, sometimes the prospects look peculiarly cheering, and in a few months many of the members remove to newer places, and these changes are frequent. Some five or six have removed from this church the present season, and another is about to go. Notwithstanding these things, I trust, that in some respects we are gaining ground. There seems to be more spirituality, and an increasing purpose to live for God. Installation. The church feel that a permanent ministry is best adapted to promote the the price it bears. In other words, the expense of raising it and getting it to market, exceeds the price of the graim, wwe presume this will not always be ne case, but so it is at present; and while this state of things continues, I do not know how very much can be done. From Rev. Wm. Saller, Makoqueta. In the kind providence of God, I am brought to the termination of my first year's missionary labor in the service of your Society. The country is rapidly filling up, and the necessities for missionary labor increasing. My congregations in the various settlements are generally larger. I held a very interesting and profitable sacramental meeting with the church at Andrew, on the last Sabbath. Six united with the church on profession The members of this church are scatmaking its present number nineteen. tered over the county. Two of them live two miles from town, and the rest at distances of six and twelve miles. This makes it impossible to sustain church prayer meetings, and generally prevents the attendance of all the church on the Sabbath. The prospects of the church at Makoqueta are rather encouraging. We are situated on a beautiful prairie, in the neighborhood of a very extensive body of timber, and we must soon be surrounded by a large settlement. My great object here is to have the foundation of society laid upon the principles of temperance, virtue, Sabbath-keeping, and of the experimental religion. This prairie has never yet been disgraced by a grocery for the sale of liquor, and I am endeavoring to impress upon the minds of the people, that it is much easier now to prevent the evils of intemperance, than it may be hereafter to remedy them. Those who have not united with our Temperance Society are a small and uninfluential minority. I am very much straitened in my labors for the want of convenient and comfortable places of meeting, both here and at Andrew. Our people are all living in unfinished houses, or in small cabins. Land sales. The news has just arrived that the lands in this county are to be sold in January next. It was unexpected by the people, and they are unprepared, an impression having generally obtained, that these lands were connected with the mineral reserve, and would not be sold until Congress decided to sell the mineral lands. Our settlements are thrown into considerable excitementhardly any thing else is talked about. The excitement will continue and increase until the sales are over. There is but little money in the country, and many will find difficulty in obtaining enough to secure their claims. I have dreaded these land sales, though only for the time being. I have no doubt, that in the end, they will tend to the peace and prosperity of the country. WISCONSIN. the exercises of which I superintend. I have labored to make our Sabbath school flourishing, but as our congregation have no place to which they can retire during its exercises except the wide prairie, it has been sustained under embarrassments, and will shortly be discontinued until spring. No marked success has as yet attended my labors. I cannot but hope however that better days are about to dawn on this church and people. Indeed there are some indications of a promising character. About the first of September, I commenced preaching in the evening. These meetings are well attended, and recently the people have been more solemn than I before noticed. Christians are beginning to examine their hearts. Several have told me they could not live, and approach nearer the grave and bar of God, without clearer evidence of their acceptance with God. Universalists, who made a great noise soon after the organization of our church, and the commencement of my labors, are now silent. A few who were profane and Sabbath breakers, are becoming constant in attendance at meeting. From Rev. O. P. Clinton, Jefferson Co. The last quarter of my commissioned the timely aid of the A. H. M. S., I year has now expired. Under God, by have been enabled to publish the Gospel of Jesus Christ the past year to ments of this interesting portion of this the intelligent and enterprising settlerising territory. This last quarter has been a period of no extraordinary success, and yet not without encouraging ed regularly in the town of Aztalan. circumstances. I have as before preach Our congregations at Lake Mills and Atkinson, have generally been as large as the capacity of our places of meeting, and always respectful and attentive. Our Sabbath schools are in a forming state, or in their infancy, and promise good. The truth is still counteracted From Rev. D. Smith, Richmond, Wal- by worldliness, and "spiritual wicked worth Co. ness in high places." Our members are so few and scattered, that it is very We have an interesting Bible class, difficult to sustain prayer and conference |