ers, so as to induce them to acquiesce in the murder of their female infants. By the ancient usages, woman is not allowed the rank of a moral agent; and from their very birth, marks of degradation commence, and continue through life. One of their books, of the highest authority, thus speaks of them:

When a son is born,
He sleeps on a bed-
He is clothed in robes.

But when a daughter is born,
She sleeps on the ground-
She is clothed in a wrapper-

She is incapable of either good or evil."

are carried to a common pit without the city walls, in which the living and the dead are thrown together. The proportion at Pekin, however, is small, compared to other places. In some provinces, not one in three is supposed to live; and in others, from information by the Chinese from those places, the difference between the male and female population is as one to ten. The last fact is believed to be limited to the poorer parts of the empire.

"Infanticide is almost exclusively limited to the female sex; and the condition of that sex, when spared, is an evidence, as well as one cause, of the real barbarity and misery of the nation. Without education, crippled from infancy, closely immured, married without These verses are explained in a manner their consent, in some instances even sold by equally strange. "If she does ill, she is not a their parents, and often treated most unfeelwoman; if she does well, she is not a woman; ingly by their relatives and other wives of a slavish submission is her duty, and her high-their husbands, we cannot wonder at the freest praise. Woman is born to serve man; and,quent suicides among them. They are, moretherefore, ought to live or die for him. Man is as much more honorable than woman, as the heaven is higher than the earth. Again. "When a daughter is born, it is called Woo, a hated thing; because the birth of a daughter causes displeasure."

The same spirit is carried into their laws. "If a wife beat her husband, she shall receive one hundred blows. If the husband beat the wife, but does not break her limbs, or maim her, the law shall take no notice of it."

over, not allowed the confidence of their husbands, nor to sit at table with them, nor to have a voice in domestic concerns. Such religion as they have is even denied to them; for they are not allowed to visit the temples where the prayers of the unfortunate are supposed to find access.

"Mrs. Breighton," writing from Penang, observes, "the Chinese have little affection for their female children, and think them unworthy of any instruction; and when females grow up, they are treated like brutes. If a man speaks of his wife, he will say, "my dog," or "my worthless woman within." Let Chris tian females remember to what they owe their advantages, and they will not think any sacrifices too great, so that they may promote the

"A man," says the Rev. Mr. Medhurst, "came to me for medicine, and I asked him about his family in China. He said he had three sons and one daughter, who was married. I had another daughter," he added, "but I did not bring her up." "Not bring her up"-said I-"what did you do with her?" "I smoth-cause of Christ." ered her," he said. "This year also I heard, by letter, that another daughter was born, and I sent word to have her smothered also; but her mother preserved it alive." I was shocked at this speech-and still more at the horrid indifference with which he uttered it. "What," said I, "murder your own children! Do you not shudder at such an act?" "Oh no," said "It is impossible," says the Rev. Mr. Traill, he, "it is a very common thing in China; we "for one, accustomed to behold females in the put the female children out of the way, to save possession of all that estimation and respect, the bringing them up; some people have smoth-which characterize a Christian country, to conered five or six daughters."

Do we turn to India, the shades of the picture are darker still; only it is believed, because more information has been obtained of that land of darkness, and more efforts made to remove the pall of death which covers more than one hundred and fifty millions of immortal beings.

ceive the state of degradation and contempt, in which they are held in India. Some idea may be formed of it, from this single fact, that the only females there, who receive even the common elements of instruction, are those

"Female infanticide," observes the Rev. Mr. Abeel, "we have reason to believe, is very common in China. To what extent the inhuman practice prevails, we have no means of determining. In the imperial city, after allow-profligate creatures, whom a licentious supering more than one half for natural deaths, the number of exposed infants is, according to Barrow, about four thousand a year. Some of the scenes he witnessed, while at Pekin, were almost incredible. Before the carts go round in the morning, to pick up the bodies of infants thrown into the streets, dogs and swine are let loose upon them. The bodies of those found

stition attaches to the retinue of some particular Pagoda. Only suppose the natural corrupt propensities of the human heart, acted upon by a system of superstition, licentious and bloody; a superstition wrought, as it were into the very heart of its votaries, and you have a picture of the moral state of the inhabitants of Hindostan. That is, indeed, the region of the

shadow of death—a land of death-a death of|cause he saw her without a veil; and that her intellect a death of moral feeling. person was not concealed in a kind of sack, "It is a most painful fact," writes the Rev. they are expected to wear out of doors. At Mr. Ward, "that the millions of females in Grand Cairo I have seen a man on the point India are totally destitute of education. Their of shooting several women, for no other reason laws prohibit them the knowledge of their sa-than looking out of a window as some officers cred books, and have doomed them to a state were passing by. of mental subjection. The greatest judgment The Rev. Dr. Philips, in South Africa, obis suspended over the female, who shal dare serves: "Among all savage tribes, the women to acquire a knowledge of the alphabet. Menu, are slaves; and one of the first efforts that atone of the Hindostan Legislators, says, "Wo-tended the labors of the Missionaries, has been man has no business with the Veda; thus is the the amelioration of their condition. So sensilaw fully settled. Having, therefore, no know-ble of this, were the females of the tribe ledge, sinful woman must be foul as falsehood among whom the Rev. Mr. Moffat labored for itself; and this is a fixed rule." Here the two years, that when he proposed returning to legislator first binds the sex fast in the chains the Cape, the females fearing he would not reof ignorance, and then reproaches and punish-turn, after an affecting reference to their formes them for the result of his own law. Hence, er condition, told him that to prevent his going, in India, their state of ignorance and supersti- they had determined "to lay our bodies before tion is most deplorable. A female is despised your wagon, and if you are resolved to leave as soon as she is born. She comes into the us, its wheels shall go over us." world amidst the frowns of her parents and friends, disappointed that the child is not a boy. In childhood and in youth they have no "In New South Wales, their marriages are cultivation of any kind. In the age of com- preceded by violence and outrage. Courtship parative childhood, she is given in marriage, is unknown. Their wives are always selected without having ever seen her husband; and then, from women of a different tribe. Secrecy is indeed, she becomes a bond slave for life. She necessarily observed, and the poor wretch is never sits to eat with her husband, but pre-stolen upon in the absence of her protectors. pares his food for him, waits upon him, and partakes of what he leaves. She never appears in public company; she is, in fact, a mere animal, kept for burden or for slaughter in the house of her husband.

"Such a system of mental darkness has rendered the sex in India the devoted victims of idolatry. What must be the state of the female mind, when millions are found throwing the children of their vows into the river or the sea! When a guard is necessary to prevent mothers from throwing their living children into the jaws of alligators-these mothers standing and watching the monster while it crushes the bones, tears the flesh, and drinks the blood of their own offspring! How deplorable, when superstition thus extinguishes every sensibility of the female, and every feeling of the mother; and makes her more savage than the tiger that howls in the forest, which always spares and cherishes its own offspring."

Space is not afforded in this communication to explain the nature of widowhood in India; or to describe the burning of widows with the dead bodies of their husbands, or burying them alive in the same grave. A few more painful facts, respecting other heathen countries, must suffice at present.

"I have seen," says Lieut. Col. Phipps, 66 women in Egypt, in Arabia, and in India. Their condition is nearly the same in all those countries. In Alexandria, I have known a Turk at midday, in the open street, and in the presence of many British soldiers, cut off a woman's head, for no other reason, than be

The following details are from the descriptions of eye witnesses, of entire credibility.

Being stupefied with blows, inflicted with a club, on the head and shoulders, she is dragged with violence through the woods by one arm. When he reaches his own party a scene ensues, too shocking to relate. This outrage is not resented by her relations, who only retaliate by a similar one, when they find opportunity. After the marriage, the females are mere slaves of the men for life. They bear on their persons sad evidence of the brutal superiority of their masters. Some of these unfortunate beings have been seen with more scars on their heads, cut in every direction, than could well be counted. Their condition is so wretched, that it is scarcely possible for a thinking mind to forbear, on seeing a female infant, from wishing it may never become a woman.'

"In the valley of the river Zaire, in Africa, the cultivation of the ground is entirely the business of the women; the king's daughters and the prince's wives, being constantly thus employed, or collecting the fallen branches of the trees for fuel. They are considered as perfeet slaves, whose persons are at the entire disposal of their fathers or husbands, and may be transferred by either of them, how and when they please.

In Bontan the condition of the women is most menial and laborious. There are no wheel carriages in this country, nor cattle trained to transport loads, and the whole business of carriage is performed by human labor, and principally by the women. They are considered as meant by nature, to relieve the men from the most toilsome offices of life, and

to take the largest share of their daily labors. In Tibet their condition is, if possible, still worse, and more humiliating. The unworthy treatment in both countries, has the effect of rendering them so indifferent to their personal appearance, that they seldom wash either their clothes or themselves."

with the churches at home.

In this connection, permit us affectionately to remind you of the duty and privilege of attending the monthly concert of prayer. How If our existence ended with this life, the can we expect the blessing of God on this great foregoing exhibition of the condition of the enterprise, when such large numbers of proheathen female would of itself be most painful. fessing Christians absent themselves from the But the overwhelming truth is in the conside- house of prayer? Our brothers and sisters, ration, that, after suffering all the evils and whom we have sent to the heathen, do not forwoes of this, to her, most wretched existence, get this day. They look forward to it with she has no hopes beyond the grave. Death is deep interest, and count the intervening hours to her a dreadful and most dreaded enemy- till the churches meet; and rise even in the from his approach she shrinks to the last. Her night, that they may have the privilege of apdeath-bed is surrounded with darkness and un-pearing at the mercy seat, at the same hour utterable despair. Now, dear friends, with this picture compare your privileges, your elevation, your influence in society. The com panion, the equal, the dearest and most cherished friend of man. In all the endeared relations of mother, wife, sister, daughter, your in fluence and your worth may be felt, and known and appreciated in all the other domestic relations, and in all the relations of civil society. Above all, compare the blackness of darkness of her dying bed, with your hopes beyond the grave. To you is given while here, "peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ," and the promise beyond the grave of a holy rest prepared for the whole family of the Redeemer.

In conclusion, let us assure you that the more you are engaged in this labor of love, the more will prosper in your own souls, and in your families, the graces of the Holy Spirit, which are "love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, faith, meekness, temperance." If we trust the word of the Lord, we will certainly experience that "it is more blessed to give than to receive, and he that watereth will be watered also himself."

On behalf of the Executive Committee. WALTER LOWRIE, Cor. Sec. Missionary Rooms, Pittsburgh, Oct. 1836.

CONSTITUTION

AS AMENDED OCT. 1836.

Art. 1. This Society shall be composed of the ininisters, sessions, and churches, of the Synod of Pittsburgh, together with those of any other synod or synods, presbytery or pres. byteries, that may have heretofore, or may hereafter, formally unite with them, and shall be known by the name of the Western Foreign Missionary Society of the United States.

The limits of a letter will not permit us to enlarge further on these deeply solemn considerations. In every sincere Christian, these reflections have an influence more or less active OF THE WESTERN FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY, as grace is more or less active in the soul. It is for you, Christian friends, to exhibit your love to the Savior, and your compassion for the degraded, wretched, and dying heathen, by your active and persevering support for the sacred cause of sending the gospel with all its rich blessings to them. This can be best done by united effort. Let us entreat you, all of you without exception, to join in support of this great work. If you have not already, let no time be lost in forming yourselves into Missionary Associations. The form of the constitution is of little importance, so that all engage in the work-and stated periods, monthly, quarterly, or half yearly, be assigned for contributions. It will give the Executive Com-ertions. mittee great pleasure to have recorded in a Art. 3. The centre of its operations shall be book, provided for that purpose, the female the city of Pittsburgh, at least until such time Missionary Associations of all the churches, as the Board of Directors shall judge that the and to have the contributions regularly entered, interests of the cause shall require a change of from time to time, to the credit of the respective location; in which event the Board of Direcassociations. But whatever be the amount of tors shall have power to designate any other your benevolence, let it come into the Lord's place for the centre of its operations; Provided treasury with a good will-and above all, let that such change of location shall not be made, it be accompanied with fervent, humble prayer except by a majority of the votes of all the to God for his blessing upon it, and a constant members of the Board existing at the time when deep and ever present conviction, that with such change shall be made; and, in the event out the blessing of the Lord all will be in vain. of such a change, then the special provisions

Art. 2. The objects of the Society shall be to aid in fulfilling the last great command of the glorified Redeemer, by conveying the gospel to whatever parts of the heathen and antichristian world the providence of God may enable this Society to extend its evangelical ex

ceive and dispose of its annual reports, give to it such directions and instructions, in reference to future operations, as they may judge useful and necessary. It shall also be their duty to lay before each synod, and cause to be presented to each and every presbytery connected with this Society, an annual report of their proceedings, to propose to each such plans of

of synodical supervision mentioned in this constitution, shall be exercised by the Synod of Pittsburgh, and any other synod or synods, that may have heretofore, or may hereafter, become formally united with the Synod of Pittsburgh in this enterprise. And, in the said event of a change of location, the representation in the Board of Directors, on the part of each synod, shall be the following-operation, and such changes in this constituEach synod shall annually appoint three ministers and three elders, who shall be members of the Board of Directors.

Art. 4. The general superintendence of the interests of this Society shall be confided to a Board of Directors, to be appointed in the following manner:

(1.) Until a change of location, the Synod of Pittsburgh shall continue to appoint two ministers and two elders, annually, whose term of service shall be three years each; and each synod, which may become united with the Synod of Pittsburgh, shall annually appoint three ministers and three elders, whose term of service shall be one year; and, in case of the change of location, the Synod of Pittsburgh shall annually appoint three ministers and three elders, whose term of service shall be one

year.

tion as to them may appear expedient, and to exercise all such powers and duties pertaining to the well-being of the Society, as are not herein otherwise provided for. At every stated meeting of the Board, a discourse shall be delivered in their presence on some subject appropriate to the great object in view, and whenever a special meeting of the Board is called, the notice of such meeting shall be issued from the President, at least twenty days before the said meeting is to occur.

Art. 6. The business of the Society shall be immediately conducted by an Executive Committee, consisting cf five ministers and four ruling elders, beside the Corresponding Secretaries and the Treasurer of the Society, who shall be members ex officio; to be chosen annually by the Board from among its own members; and to them shall belong the duty of appointing all missionaries and missionary agents-of assigning their fields of labor-of receiving the reports of the Corresponding Secretaries, and giving them needful directions in reference to all matters of business and correspondence intrusted to them, of inspecting the accounts of the Treasurer, and authorizing all expenditures and appropriations of money

(2.) Each presbytery in the bounds of the Synod of Pittsburgh, and any presbytery or presbyteries, belonging to any other synod or synods, which may have heretofore, or may hereafter, become regularly united with this society, by vote and actual contribution of its funds, shall be entitled to appoint one minister and one elder annually, to serve for one year. And these persons so appointed shall constitute-and, in general, of taking the supervision of a Board, who shall be styled the Board of Directors of the Western Foreign Missionary Society; and the said Board shall meet annually at such places as it may appoint, on the Tuesday following the third Thursday of May; and oftener, on the call of the President at the request of the Executive Committee, or on that of any three other members of the Board. The election of the Board of Directors shall be made by ballot, and, in reference to those to be chosen by the synods, the rule shall be, after the first election, to make a nomination at least one day previous to that on which the choice is made.

Art. 5. The Board of Directors shall annually choose, out of their own members, a President, Vice President, one or more Corresponding Secretaries, a Recording Secretary, a Treasurer, and an Executive Committee. It shall also have power to elect whatever number of Honorary Vice Presidents, and Honorary Directors, it may think proper; provided that the said honorary members may sit and deliberate, but not vote in any of the proceedings of the Board. To the Board of Directors it shall also belong, to review and decide upon all the doin's of the Executive Committee, re

all the concerns of the Society and directing all its measures, subject to the revision of the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once in every quarter, and oftener on their own adjournments, or on the call of their chairman and either of the Corresponding Secretaries, one of whom shall be ex officio, the Clerk of the Committee. Five members shall constitute a quorum. Whenever vacancies occur in the Committee, during the recess of the Board, the Committee shall be empowered to fill such vacancies, all such appointments being limited to the close of the regular session of the Board, which shall next follow such appointment. As the direct management of the concerns of the Society is intrusted to the Executive Committee, it shall be their duty earnestly and perseveringly to prosecute the great objects of this Institution, to exercise great care in the selection and designation of missionaries, and in the choice of fields of labor, and to secure, as far as may be compatible with the provisions of this Society, the co-operation of the presbyteries and other judicatories of the Presbyterian church.

Art. 7. It shall be proper for any of the synods, or any of the presbyteries, connected

with this Institution, to recommend such plans | to be represented in the Board, by appointing and measures to the Board of Directors, or theas members their commissioners to the GeneExecutive Committee, as to them shall appear ral Assembly. The seat of the operations of expedient: and any synod may, with the con- the Society is at present in Pittsburgh, but the currence of a majority of the synods and pres- Board of Directors may change its location, byteries concerned, give positive instructions when, in their opinion, the interest of the Soto either, in cases where it may seem necessa-ciety will be thereby promoted. ry to exercise a direct interference in its operations.

Art. 8. This constitution may be altered and amended by a vote of any synod, with the concurrence of a majority of the synods and presbyteries concerned, exclusive of those of the synod proposing such amendment; but not otherwise and such alterations shall not be made at the same meetings at which they were proposed, except by a vote of two-thirds of the members present in the synod proposing such amendment.

The Missionaries of the Society, including females, now in the foreign field, are-In Northern India, 14-In Smyrna, 4-Among the Western Indians, 6. They are preparing, and expect to send out during the year, 72 male and female missionaries to the following most important stations-To Northern India, 10-To the Western Indians, 24-To Smyrna, 10-To Africa, 4-To Calcutta, 8-And to China, 18. Of this number, 28 are already engaged, and the reinforcements to Northern India, to Smyrna, and to Africa, will be ready to embark in a short time. To sustain their present missions, and the proposed enlargement, seventy-five thousand dollars will be reSince the amendment of the Constitution of quired. and from the spirit manifested by the the Western Foreign Missionary Society, and churches, it is confidently expected, that they the election of members of the Board of Direc-will not permit the missionaries to be detained tors, by the Synod of Pittsburgh, and since the from the perishing heathen, for want of the subsequent election of officers by the Board, means necessary for their support.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

"If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his."

the Executive Committee consists of the following members: Rev. Messrs. F. Herron, R. Patterson, T. D. Baird, D. Elliot, E. P. Swift, J. W. Nevin; and Messrs. W. Lowrie, J. Han-seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up "But whoso hath this world's good, and nen, A. Semple, S. Thompson, A. Laughlin, and W. M. Lowrie. Rev. F. Herron is Chair. his bowels of compassion from him, how dwellWalter Lowrie, Esq. and Rev. E. P. eth the love of God in him?" Swift, Corresponding Secretaries; and Mr. Samuel Thompson, Treasurer.

man;

ORGANIZATION

AND OPERATIONS OF THE WESTERN FOREIGN

MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

"Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase."

"He that watcreth shall be watered also himself."

MISSION TO NORTHERN INDIA.
EXTRACTS OF A COMMUNICATION FROM REV.
JAMES M'EWEN-Concluded.

Secular Concerns-Suitable Dwelling House-
Expenses.

This Society is formed by a union of synods, and a union of presbyteries, as such, in the work of foreign missions. Each synod appoints three ministers and three elders, and For the first two or three weeks after our each presbytery one minister and one elder, to be members of the Board of Directors. The arrival here, our time was a good deal occuSynods of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are pied in arranging our little matters-making now formally united in this blessed work; and our purchases, &c.-which we found to be no the Synods of Ohio, Kentucky, New York, and easy matter, ignorant as we are of the native New Jersey, have recommended the Society to language and customs. In these things, Brothe churches within their bounds. Twenty- ther Lowrie's short stay was of great advantwo presbyteries have united with the Society, tage, and, since his departure, we have got The friends here are all and are each entitled to two members. The along pretty well.

Board of Directors, at their annual meeting, very kind; and some of them would have enchoose from their own members, the Execu-tertained us at their houses, if we had chosen tive Committee, consisting of five ministers to accept of their invitations. We thought, and four elders, two Corresponding Secretaries however, it would be better for us to reside all and a Treasurer, by whom the business of the together; and Providence has kindly provided Society is conducted. The annual meeting of for us a house exactly suited to our purpose. the Board of Directors is held at the time and It is large enough to allow each family a seplace of the meeting of the General Assembly, parate room, beside a large common parlor, or which enables the most distant synods and hall, and abundant room for our baggage. presbyteries, without expense or loss of time, By thus living together, our expenses are