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meetings, but still they are not entirely I find cause for both gratitude and deep huforgotten or neglected. miliation. Through the kind providence of God, I have been able to preach every Sabbath since I came into this State. The congregation has increased during the season, I should think, one third. Since my last report, nine have been added to the church, seven by letter and two by profession. There are others who will, doubtless, unite with us soon. I trust ere long we shall be able to sustain the ordinances of the Gospel without further aid from the Society.

I have looked with solicitude for some suitable man to appear among us to take a part of this field off from my hands. The people at each of these places are desirous of securing my labors, but I still remain uncommitted to either point, desiring to keep possession of both until another man shall come to my aid. Our prayer is that God will soon send us more laborers. We need a thoroughly furnished, working man of God. May the Lord send us such an one. Our eyes are first unto Him, and next unto the Home Missionary Society as God's agents, in sending out and sustaining laborers in the growing West.

The work of the Society in the West is more and more appreciated, as its operations are enlarged, and its adaptation to the necessities of our country are developed. How many men of God, whose hearts yearn over the West, and are ready to say, “Here am I, send me," would be totally unable to take part in this glorious work, except for the salutary operations of the A. H. M. S. !

Repentance on a sick bed.

I was called to visit a man upon a sick, and, as he supposed, a dying bed. His anxiety of mind was intense. His cries for mercy were constant. I endeavored to direct him to the Lamb of God. His promises of amendment in life, should God spare him, were strong and repeated. His life was spared. But the sequel has shown that but little or no confidence can be placed in sick-bed repentance. I have been repeatedly called to visit the sick, and I am strikingly impressed with the necessity of religion as a preparation for death. Oh what a position is it, to stand upon the edge of time unpardoned, and look along the lengthened ages of eternity!

ILLINOIS.

A Missionary's First Year. From Rev. L. Benedict, Pecatonic, Ill.

One year has now passed since I came to this place; and on reviewing it, I

Withering influence of worldliness.

There is nothing, here at the West, over which the minister of the Gospel is called to weep more frequently and bitterly, or against which more time and energy are demanded at his hands, in order to keep the church from becoming a by-word to the ungodly, than worldli ness. True, there are formidable errorists-there are those who even deny the Lord who bought them-but still, truth will vanquish error, and the doctrines of the cross will overcome every false theory. But there is something in the spirit of worldliness which not unfrequently gets possession of the church, that is calculated to dishearten the minister of the Gospel; for at such seasons the prayer meetings are neglected, and there is such a letting down of watchfulness, and such a want of interest in the spiritual condition of the impenitent, that it cannot but affect the of Zion. He is prepared to expect to heart of the watchman upon the walls see Gospel-hardened men imbibe false doctrine, but he cannot bear to see the professed followers of Jesus forsaking him for the world.

Migration to the West.

The West is fast filling up. During the past season, the roads have been crowded with emigrants from all countries. Very soon this must be a densely populated region; nor is there a region in the world perhaps, where a more dense population could be supported. Some come West with hearts warm with zeal, but more with hearts thirsting for gold. They all need from the

first the institutions of the Gospel, and for the want of them, many an individual who was a shining light at the East, becomes useless here.

An interior view.

it might not be out of place here, to give a brief account of what has taken place under my own eye,and of my impressions, with regard to the missionary work during the two years of residence here.

The Baptists, Campbellites, Chrystians, Methodists and Romanists were organized: the rest were not. There was also a community of English infidels organized pretty nearly on the principles of Robert Owen. This has since gone to pieces and become extinct.

When I first came to Stephenson county, directed, as I trust, by a merciful Providence, I found a population of about three thousand, made up of emigrants Will you bear with me while I say a from New-England, the Middle States, word in relation to the amount of sup- occasionally a Marylander, Virginian port I actually receive from my two little and Carolinian, with a foreign mixture churches. They are always much more of Norwegians, Prussians, Germans, ready to subscribe than able to pay. French, Irish, Scotch, and English. And when I see them struggling to get We are increasing by emigration from the comforts of life for their own fami- all these countries, in a ratio of twenty lies, and unable to do it, my heart al- to twenty-five per cent. every year. ways softens to tenderness, and would There were members of twenty-one prompt me rather to aid them, were it different denominations calling themin my power, than exact of them the pay- selves Christians. Of these the Methoment of pledges for my support. I dists and Roman Catholics were the often wish that our dear friends at the most numerous. East might but pass a night with some of the most liberal supporters of the Gospel in my parish, or others in the West, and partake of the homely fare in the miserable smoked cabin, destitute of almost all kind of furniture, and the inmates of comfortable raiment. Let them then look in the corner of the There were in the county, passing only room in the house, and see the best under the general appellation of Presaccommodations for lodging, the rude byterians, members from Congregationbedstead made of poles, or small sticks al, Associate Reformed, German Refrom the forest, with the bark pealed off, formed, New and Old School, and and made as well as in their power. Irish Presbyterians. Two Presbyterian Let them take a bare look at the bed-churches have been organized, and the ding, coarse, and fast going to decay, most of these gathered in. and all their objections to helping sustain the Gospel in the West would vanish at once. When I see such want among my parishioners, I am ready to say to those trying to collect," Mark Mr. A., B. and C., paid." In this way much of my $100 pledged in the two churches 18 cancelled. The $100 pledged the past year, would not equal to me $50 in cash.

The first was formed a year and nine months since, with fourteen members. It has since increased to fifty-two-forty by letter, and twelve gathered in from the world. Our two congregations, one year and a half ago, numbered something more than a hundred, whom we could regard as pretty regular hearers-they now exceed three hundred attendants. Though the materials of our church are in some respects discordant, we have enjoyed more than a usual degree of harmony and brotherly

From Rev. C. Waterbury, Freeport, Ill. love. Not a case has occurred calling

General aspect.

Aware that the Society, through the aid of which I have been sustained in this field, aims at ultimate effects as well as immediate results, I have thought

for the discipline of the church, and death has not yet removed one of our members. True we have our difficulties; the greatest of these, next to our lack of spirituality, is the want of more frequent intercourse among our members, owing to their being scattered

over such an extent of territory. This prevents us from associating in prayer meetings, and in other labors for the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom, as frequently as is desirable, and, added to the pressing nature of worldly cares experienced in all new countries, greatly hinders the diffusion of the Gospel throughout the community.

Though the mass of our population is so heterogeneous, I have found them generally more accessible to judicious efforts for their good than any community I am acquainted with in the East.

would have preferred an orthodox, learned, and pious ministry; but being deprived of such, they have yielded to the extent of sacrificing their principles, that they might have a ministry rather than see their children grow up without a Sabbath and a sanctuary. But the mass of the people still desire a minis try learned, pious and liberal, but orthodox.

VIRGINIA.

Indeed, diversity of languages, and my From Rev. M. Meigs, near Winches

own lack of ability alone,circumscribe my labors. I have never met with more uniform courtesy and kindness extended to the Gospel minister, apparently out of respect for his office, than among all classes in this community. In regard to privations, I have experienced no more, all things considered, than is common to the lot of those who preach the Gospel every where, or than is needful to remind me, that "while at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord."

ter, Frederick Co.

A Missionary field.

The State of Virginia has much missionary ground. Few fields of labor, if any, can be found more needy; and missionaries must act rather as pioneers, than expect to enter into other men's labors, made ready to their hands, and settle down in the midst of flourishing, long established congregations, with a snug salary, and a prospect of a life of comparative leisure, or of easy labor.

Within eight miles of Winchester, through the persevering exertions of an aged saint, now gone to his rest, a spacious and commodious house of worship has been erected; which was opened and dedicated a_Sabbath or two before my arrival, by Brother Boyd, and the venerable Dr. Hill, the former my coworker in this important field, and the latter, long time pastor of the Winchester church, who several years since resigned his charge, and now labors as a sort of privileged missionary, without fee or reward, wherever Providence

I have already seen enough to convince me, that the importance of the West as a field of christian effort, is not overrated by the churches in the older portions of our country. Compared with the last, we are neither infidel nor sectarian. The mass of the people possess too warm hearts and earnest minds to be satisfied with the cold, gloomy, everchanging teachings of infidelity. They have come to plant and to build, not to pluck up and destroy and as infidelity is only destructive, it finds little that is congenial here. The emigrants, almost without exception, change their habits after a short residence. In many re-opens a door. spects this change is injurious, but in This church stands in the midst of a others favorable. Prejudices yield to dense agricultural population, among the power of new associations. Soon, whom the Gospel trumpet has scarcely an assimilating process commences, been sounded, except by an occasional and they seem determined to find some itinerant Methodist preacher. To this common ground broad enough for Chris- part of my charge, the Hayfield church, tians from different sections to occupy; I have preached, out of season, as well and thus unite without relinquishing the as in season. Since the date of my fundamental principles of the Gospel. commission, we have held two protracted The very errors, which are current, meetings in this neighborhood; one at show this general tendency carried out the new church, which was completely to an extreme. These errors are to a filled, while hundreds at the doors and great extent sustained by those who windows were precluded admission; once professed a pure faith, and who the other, in a grove-a custom main

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tained in Virginia, from the days of President Davies. This meeting was full

MICHIGAN.

wasse Co.

of interest, hundreds from all the neigh. From Rev. S. Hardy, Owasso, Shiaboring country being present. At both these meetings I preached, as well during the week, as on the Sabbath. Quite an interest is felt in the enterprise of rebuilding these wastes. All my preaching appointments have been thronged, and the promise of usefulness is great.

At Cedar Creek I have preached on five several occasions. Although this is one of the oldest Presbyterian churches of Virginia, they have enjoyed the ministration of the word but once a month, till my coming among them.

From Rev. P. Fletcher, Jefferson Co.

In reviewing the year, we find occasion to mourn and lament that so little has been accomplished. Still, we venture to hope that our labor has not been in vain in the Lord. We had a season of interest in the spring, which resulted in two or three cases of hopeful conversion. Our Sabbath school, as we are constrained to believe, has been exerting a salutary influence on the children and youth in this place. A donation of books for the use of this, and the other Sabbath schools in Shiawasse co., has been received from the American S. S. Union; but the reception of the books is so recent we can say but little respecting their influence. I have been constrained to ride out three miles part of the time, to preach to a little church which I have formed at Corunna, our county seat. That little church feel encouraged, and are now anxious to secure preaching half of the time. I am

Wide and important openings. There are many points in the bounds of our Presbytery and Synod, which could be advantageously occupied by men of the right stamp-I mean men of a self-denying, self-sacrificing spirit-searching for a minister to take charge who can willingly and zealously labor for the good of those who have never enjoyed enough of the Gospel to appreciate its worth, or to support its ministry. Could such men be sent and sustained a short time, they would not fail, by the blessing of God, to awaken an interest sufficient to insure support and co-operation. I hope that time is not far distant. At least a brighter prospect is dawning upon us.

Proposed Home Missionary effort in
Virginia.

At the last meeting of our Synod, commendable zeal was manifested in the cause of Home Missions. Nearly fifteen hundred dollars were subscribed on that occasion-mostly by ministers. The plan is to employ an agent who shall devote his whole time to destitute places in our bounds-preaching and holding meetings, and endeavoring to interest people in the support of the ministry-visiting the seminaries, for the purpose of inducing young men to "come over and help us."

of that church, and one or two others which we contemplate forming very soon in the south part of this county. The Owasso people wish my services all the time, and are intending, if the winter should prove favorable for getting out timber, to erect a house to meet in, in the Spring. In this place there has never been as yet any licensed liquor-selling establishment. But last Spring a man came in and commenced dealing out liquor without license. But he has become convinced public opinion in this place does not favor such business, and consequently is constrained to relinquish the traffic.

A youthful confessor.

Our Sabbath school is increasingly interesting. Many children from Universalist families were drawn into it, and such was their attachment that nothing but absolute compulsion could prevent them from attending. The Universalists and others became alarm

Many portions of our bounds are as really missionary fields as any other parted and bestirred themselves to provide

of our country.

a substitute. A Universalist Sabbath

obstacles here, the carnal heart is here, which is eninity against God. The spirit of worldliness-what may properly be termed idolatry-prevails, and, what is most to be deplored, it finds its way into the church of God, and eclipses the objects of faith. Besides we have Campbellism, Universalism and Mormonism here.

school was organized a short time since, and their children compelled to attend. When they came to return their books, and take leave of their dear teachers, it was touching to witness the sobs and tears of the sorrowful little creatures. One of the little girls, the daughter of a bitter enemy to religion, has, as I am credibly informed, been accustomed to retire by herself for prayer at conve- In addition to these obstacles, we nient opportunities while in her atten- labor under much inconvenience from dance at the day school. She told a not having a suitable place for public member of our church, a few days since, || worship. We have occupied a room that her father punished her when she which was fitted up for the purpose, cried to go to our Sabbath school; also until recently, when the owner wished when she prayed, if found out, and was to convert it to other uses. We have told that it was wicked. But, said she, commenced the building of a house, but "I must pray for my father, if he does the sickness has prevailed so extensivewhip me." This explained the reasonly, and our means are so limited, that why M. put the question to her teacher once with so much earnestness: "Is it wicked for a little girl to pray?"

The Universalists have taken away some of our scholars, but they have not diminished the interest of the school; our number is larger than it was before. We devote one half of the Sabbath, once a month, to the Sabbath school concert. It affords a good opportunity to interest the children, and to make them feel, by our special efforts, that God is interested in their conditionthat the Bible, Sabbath school, and youthful piety, will promote their present and eternal happiness.

much depends upon the labor of the members of the society, and the building has been at a stand, and will, I fear, be deferred until another season. These causes have operated unfavorably upon our Sabbath school, and upon the other means of grace. Still we are encouraged to look to the Lord and go forward. This world is given to Christ, and he will possess it from the rivers to the ends of the earth. Truth will prevail. Christ's cause will triumph. We are called upon as was the Prophet to prophecy upon the dry bones, and upon the wind, and we have the same encouragement to obey the command of the Lord.

From Rev. A. W. Bushnell, Galesburg.

Hindrances and hopes.

The good seed germinating.

So far as my knowledge extends, there is in this community a general regard for evangelical religion, and a resI regard this field as an important pect for sound morals. All that is done one, though much labor, patience, per- by the Home Missionary Society for this severance and faith, will evidently be state, will ultimately bring forth an required to cause it to bring forth an hundred fold for the general prosperity abundant harvest to the glory of God. of religion and morals in this country. Every thing here is in its infancy. There are many Christians in Michigan The moral vineyard bears a striking who frequently shed tears of joy when resemblance to the natural. Much has they think of the benefactions of the to be done under the anticipation of Eastern churches, by which the preachfuture good, rather than with the ex-ing of the Gospel is secured to them. pectation of such immediate results as we see under other circumstances. In this fallen world there are many obstacles in the way of advancing the cause of the Redeemer. There are

And the day will come when many of the feeble churches, supplied with the ministry by your Society, will be among the most liberal contributors to your funds.

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