find a family, who, though too destitute || cessity, and the wise adaptation of the to attend church, had apparently become American Home Missionary Society, to pious all alone. The man and his wife the exigences of our country. At the could give but little or no account of same time, the wide moral wastes which what awakened and led them to Christ. still exist in large portions of the field They were impressed that they ought here represented, and those still larger, to be Christians and follow Christ, and which lie spread out from our borders, they set about it, by reading the Bible, far reaching toward the setting sun, and prayer, in their feeble way. They imperatively call for an unprecedented now attend family prayers, and appear and hitherto uncontemplated augmentaas sincere and decided in their religion tion of missionary effort in this direcas any people I ever saw. A son has tion. So, almost literally, may it be made a public profession of religion, said, that every church in our respecbut the parents, and a large family of tive connections, with all their evangelismall children, are too destitute to attend cal subsidies, the Sabbath-schools, tract church. Their religious history is pe- distribution, Bible agencies, &c., is a culiar; showing that "God will have witness of the beneficent action of Home mercy on whom he will have mercy." Missions. The same remark is substantially true of all those benign and salutary christian influences, which proceed from all our theological seminaries, our colleges, and our common schools. CLEVELAND CONVENTION On Home Missions. It is generally known to the Christian public, that a Convention of Presbyterian and Congregational delegates, principally from the West, was held at Cleveland, Ohio, in July. It was composed of upwards of one hundred and fifty members, and is regarded by those who attended it as promising great good to the churches, from the discussion of important topics, and the harmonious conclusions at which the members arrived. Meetings were held in behalf of various benevolent objects. The following is the action of the Convention in reference to Home Missions: REPORT ON HOME MISSIONS. The committee on the subject of Home Missions respectfully submit to the convention the following report: No formal commendation of Domestic Missions can be requisite from this convention. Gathered from the broad field comprised in the Valley of the Mississippi, and the Basin of the St. Lawrence, and representing most of the ecclesiastical bodies on this field, connected with the constitutional General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, and the orthodox Congregationalists, the convention itself, and the churches which it represents, are, in fact, the monuments of the efficiency, and the testimonials of the indispensable ne If then, any can tell, what the population, holding in their hands the destinies of this country, would by this time have become, without the Gospel; what they would have made the country, by their influence in the councils of the na tion, and by the unrestrained developmercial transactions; what, moreover, ment of the selfish principle in its comwould have been the character, which, by the accelerating accumulations of depravity, they would have transmitted to the multiplied millions of the next generation; and what, beyond all, would have been the destiny for eternity of the men of the present, and the untold millions of succeeding ages; then may they begin to estimate the importance to the West, and to our whole country, of the cause of Home Missions. But before they can approach a computation of the real magnitude and importance of this enterprise, they must calculate the influence which our nation is yet to exert upon the world. The statistics on which these views are based, are too familiar to intelligent Christendom, to need a recapitulation here. Shall the enterprise, the wealth, the talents of the great American family, be consecrated to the diffusion of the blessings of salvation throughout our lost world, to pouring the light of life sin ruined over its benighted and population, to advance, by a progress onward from its present position, the Kingdom of our Divine Redeemer; or, far hence down the track of time, when the seat of the Beast shall have been established here, the night of infidelity succeeded, or dark forms of degrading idolatry have besotted the minds of the people, our churches and colleges, and seminaries and common schools demolished, or made the engines of superstition, or the nurseries of vice, shall it be for after ages to commence the work of evangelizing America? These are substantially the questions which God, in his holy providence, seems to have thrown upon this generation to solve, and to solve pre-eminently by the manner in which they meet the rapidly augmenting demand for gospel labors in the West. The committee, therefore, recom mend to the convention the adoption of the following resolutions : 1. Resolved, That a very large majority of the Congregational and Presbyterian churches in the Western States and Territories, and of our most important colleges and seminaries of learning, are the direct result of Domestic Missionary operations. 2. Resolved, That the increasingly vigorous prosecution of the Home Missionary enterprise, is indispensable to the continuance of our religious prosperity, and the salvation of our land from the domination of infidelity and the most delusive errors. 3. Resolved, That in view of the present condition of the West, and its certain relations to the destiny of our country and the world, there is a present imperative call for the operations of the À. H. M. Society on this field to be increased many fold. Appointments by the Executive Committee of the A. H. M. S., from June 1st to July 1st, 1844. Not in commission last year. Rev. R. S. Kendall, to go to the West. Rev. C. H. A. Bulkley, to go to the West. Rev. Thomas Castleton, Northern Indiana. Rev. Daniel Smith, Richmond, Wis. Rev. J. A. Northrop, Bloomfield and Newmanville, Wis. Rev. H. B. Benson, to go to Wisconsin. Rev. L. L. Radcliffe, Randolph and Troy, Pa. Re-appointed. Rev. E. D. Kinney, Darien, Ct. Rev. George Turner, Mount Hope, N. Y. Rev. B. L. Lane, Troy, N. Y. Rev. E. Buckingham, Coshocton, O. Rev. C. A. Williams, Hadley and Hickory Creek, III. Rev. George Barnum, Sylvan, Mich. Rev. S. Cochran, Brighton and Green Oak, Mich. Rev. M. Harrington, Morrisville, N. J. Rev. J. W. Smith, Eaton Rapids, Mich. The Treasurer of the American Home Missionary Society acknowledges the receipt of the following sums, from June 1st to July 1st, 1844. INDIANA Thorntown, Presb. Ch., by Rev. T. Bird, ILLINOIS Bloomingdale, Cong. Ch., by Rev. H. S. Colton, Newburgh, by Rev. C. B. Barton, St. Charles, by Rev. L. Foote, MICHIGAN Barton's Settlement, Coug. Ch., by Rev. Dover, Cong. Ch., per Rev. H. Root, Portland, Cong. Ch., by Rev. L. M. S. Raisin, Cong. Ch., by Rev. H. Root, WISCONSIN Beloit, Cong. Ch. coll., by Rev. S. Peet, Geneva, M. Goodell, $10; Presb. Ch. 10 00 9.00 4 03 9.21 10 00 1 87 2.38 2.00 5.00 1 50 5 62 9.15 2.55 9.00 30 00 coll., $10, by do., Pewaukie, Rev. W. A. Gates, by do., 20 00 2.00 Platteville, Rev. J. D. Stevens, Prairie du Sac, Rev. P. W. Nichols, by Rev. S. Peet, 25 00 5 00 10 00 Salem, by Rev. A. Harwood, 22 00 Meriden, Legacy of the late Rev. Eras tus Ripley, by B. Andrews, Executor, 481 02 South Prairieville, S. Hinman, by Rev. S. Peet, 10 94 Montville, Miss Elizabeth Raymond, by W. A. Dolbeare, New-Haven, W. G. Hooker, 1.00 10.00 Northford, Sab. sch., by C. M. Fowler, Soc., $55; Ladies' Assoc., $30, Ridgefield, Elisha Hawley, Stratford, Cong. Soc., by H. Holden, Vernon, H. M. Assoc., by N. O. Kellogg, West Woodstock, by Rev. B. Ober, NEW YORK Brooklyn, First Presb. Ch., John Ran kin, $50; James How, $10; Mr. Third Presb. Ch, Mon. Con. Coll., by Fifth Presb. Ch., J. A. Dayton. $20; E. J. CORNING, Treasurer. E. P. Hastings, Esq., Detroit, Mich., acknowledges the receipt of the following sums: 39 59 23 00 200 April 23d to June 13th, 1844. Coventryville, by Rev. C. Wright, Elbridge, Juv. Sew. Soc., $10; Coll., $15 12; six individuals, to coust. Rev. L. W. Hamlin a L. M., $30, Fayetteville, Fem. H. M. Soc., to const. Mrs. Ann Cleaveland a L. M., by Miss Sophia W. Hutchins, Treas., $30; Coll., by J. Watson, Esq., $31, Lafayette, by L. Baker, $22 91; Lenox, by H. R. W. Bruce, $8, 24 18 55 19 61 00 30 91 Westfield, by Rev. T. M. Hopkins, 6 00 NEW-JERSEY Elizabethtown, D. C. Davis, 10 00 Newark, First Presb. Ch., Young Peo Manlius, F. H. M. S., $30 of which is to const. Mrs. Azariah Smith a L. M., 39 43; for freight on box of clothing, 2; Coll., by G. Smith, $59 53, 100 96 ple's Miss. Soc., by A. Carter, to const. John R. Weeks a L. M. New-York Mills, 25 25 6 10 Legacy of the late Nancy H. Roberts, by S. W. Magie, Executor, Oneonta, by F. Harrington, 18 75 100 00 Otisco, Fem. H. M. S., Mrs. Silence J. Rev. A. Converse, $10; Dr. Ashmead, by Mr. Purves, $5; G. F. Dale, to const. Mrs. Catharine Sparhawk a L. M., $30; Joseph B. Lapsley, $100; A. P. D.. $5, Fifth Presb. Ch., Philadelphia, Ladies, by Mrs. Throckmorton, $45; by Mr. McClel land, $6 50; Thomas Earp, $10; “X.,” by Mr. McClelland, 3; G. Henderson, by Mr. Montgomery, $5, 150 00 69 50 Vernon Village, a friend, 58 29 5.00 $644 52 Snowhill, Md., Presb. Ch., Miss. Soc., by Clinton-st. Presb. Ch., Philadelphia, La- 16 15 126 93 26 61 Temple, 5 50 27 00 Brookline, 24 95 Mercantile Lib. Co., Philadelphia, rent of West Boscawen, 12.00 office, 10 00 Washington, Dr. M'Question, 15 00 Allentown, Pa., Presb. Ch., coll, by Rev. Plainfield, 6. 00 Chichester, for 1841, 10 00 Hillsborough Bridge, 5 27 30 00 18 67 12 25 Boscawen, East, Dr. Peach, Gilmanton Centre, Mrs. Francis S. Moody, 2.00 1 00 5.00 First Presb. Ch., Carlisle, Pa., a member of 7 00 4 75 Grafton Co. Conference, Merrimack Co., Conference, Portsmouth, Cent Soc., 170 70 Fitzwilliam, do. 17 00 Eleventh Presb. Ch., Philadelphia, Mr. 2.00 Williamsport, Pa., Presb. Ch., coll., by Sumpterville, S. C., Rev. J. F. Bartlett, by Rev. A. Converse, First Presb. Ch., Southwark, coll. in ch., Cedarville, N. J., a friend, by Rev. A. Central Ch., N. L., Philadelphia, Mon. Con. Coll., and various persons, by Rev. 12.50 6.90 90.00 6.00 107 08 14 02 9.36 29 15 Hebron, do. 3.50 New Vernon, N. J., Presb. Cb., coll. in Contoocookville, do. 1 79 church, $30, of which to constitute the 33.96 13 00 Rockaway, N. J., Presb. Ch., balance of coll., by Rev. B. King, 51 50 Danbury, do. 7 47 Second Presh. Ch., Patterson, N. J., coll., 20.00 Epsom, do. 21 07 Smithport, Pa., Cong. Ch., coll., by Rev. do. Bristol, Concord, South, Mrs. B. P. Stone, Western Presb. Ch., Philadelphia, coll., by Harrisburg, Pa., Presb. Ch., Mon. Con. Lewes, Del., Presb. Ch., balance of coll, Wilmington, Del., Hanover-st. Presb. Ch. 7 94 S. T. Babbit, 2.00 5.00 36 00 The plan of a Log church, published in the Home Missionary of December, shows that a neat building can be erected by almost any congregation, without involving themselves in debt. But where the Log church could not be built, brick dried in the sun might be used, which are said to be better for walls than any other material at the same expense. We have taken the pains to collect all the accessible information on this subject for the consideration of those who may be disposed to try the experiment. [Communicated for the Home Missionary.] "UNBURNT BRICKS," says the Encyclopædia Americana," are of great antiquity. They are found in the Roman and Grecian monuments, and even in the ruins of Egypt and Babylon. They were mixed with chopped straw, and dried in the sun, to give them tenacity. On account of the extreme heat and dryness of the climate, they acquired a great hardness, and have lasted for several thousand years." As they have been supposed unsuitable for northern latitudes, burned bricks have generally been used. for about twelve years they have been introduced into Canada West, where they can be seen finished in various ways, in and near Toronto, that country churches and school houses are there erected with this material on account of economy and durability—that farmers, though in the midst of abundance of timber, prefer the house and stable of unburnt brick, to those constructed of logs, and that where fencing timber is scarce, these bricks supply the deficiency." In Geneva, N. Y., several houses have been put up of this kind of brick. The making of the brick and putting them in the wall, But are they unsuitable for northern cli- has cost less than the common red brick would mates? An intelligent Englishman informs have cost. There is less timber in them it is me, "that houses of this material have stood said, than in other kinds of buildings, and as centuries in various parts of England-that no lathing or studding is necessary for walls VOL. XVII. 9 |