From Rev. R. N. Wright, Belvidere, nion. Some have already united with Boone Co., Ill. We have witnessed the wonderworking power of God's Spirit; and though the number of converts has not been large, yet the blessing is great, and one for which we shall have occasion for ever to be thankful. As early as in October, an unusual earnestness in prayer was observable in our social meetings. Soon, some among the impenitent were known to be awakened. In November the indications of the presence of God were more apparent. The prayer-meetings of the females were spoken of as peculiarly refreshing seasons. The brethren began to visit from house to house to inquire after the spiritual welfare of the people, particularly of the church members. Meetings were multiplied, and for a considerable length of time there was preaching every evening Many of the members of the church seemed desirous to come up to the work, and were manifestly refreshed. The impression was sought to be made that no mere temporary effort was demanded, but a permanent state of holy living, or rather a continual advance in seeking after and exercising the gifts and graces of the Spirit, so that the path of the Christian, from that time to the hour of his final exit, might be indeed as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. anew. In some instances members of the church appeared to be convicted of sin, humbled before God, and converted Backsliders, who for years had neglected to perform christian duties, were reclaimed, and a number of others became the hopeful subjects of renewing grace. On the first Sabbath in January the Lord's supper was administered in the presence of a large assembly. Eleven individuals were received, and entered into solemn covenant with God and this branch of the church, four of whom had never before sat down at the sacramental board, and another not for years, having strayed far away from the fold of Christ. A number of others, the fruits of this revival, may be expected to seek admission at the next commu other churches. Results of four years' missionary aid. In the review of God's dealings with us we find abundant cause for gratitude, and we all feel that not the least of his mercies is the favor shown us through Society. The results of support for the instrumentality of the A. H. M. Home Missions, even in this place, are such as are adapted to encourage the friends of that Society, and in other places the results are doubtless far greater. This church has received missionary aid for four years. Without this aid it could not have enjoyed the regular ministration of God's word and ordinances: with it, for four years, the Gospel has been preached in a new settlement. During this time eighty-five persons have been gathered into the church, their faith in Christ. Two precious twenty-nine of them on profession of inestimable value to the church and the seasons of revival have been enjoyed of world around, and whose happy results can be measured only in eternity. Besides this, a commodious church edifice of brick, thirty-six by forty-eight feet, has been built. A Sabbath school has been maintained, and the temperance cause advanced, tracts have been distributed, and tract volumes circulated. With the co-operation of others, the entire county has been twice explored, and every destitute family supplied with the Bible. The monthly concert, and other prayer-meetings, have been sustained, and contributions made in aid of Home and Foreign Missions, the Bible Society, and other benevolent objects. The sick have been visited, the careless invited to the house of God, newly arrived immigrants looked after, and efforts made to rekindle the dying spark of piety in the breast of many of them, who either well-nigh lost their religion by the way, or sought to bury their talent on their first arrival. These labors are not mentioned by our missionary boastingly. They are a part of the ordinary work of all missionaries and ministers of the Gospel in new settlements. And without energetic laborers to supply this department and do this work, what society would be in all our new settlements, it needs no prophet's tongue to disclose. The friends of Home Missions may well rejoice that the moulding of the new settlements is now in their hands. God has put it in their power. The success he has granted their incipient laborers are few. May the Lord of the harvest send more laborers into his harvest! Athens Co., O. efforts shows on whom he has laid the respon- From Rev. L. C. Ford, Hocking City, sibility. Will they shrink from it, or be encouraged to go forward, and be the saviors of the nation, and the medium of blessings to mankind, You will rejoice to learn, that God is with us. The silence of death, which has so long reigned around us, has at length been broken by the song of salvation. The darkness and gloom which From Rev. John McCutchan, West- have enshrouded us, have been dispel Mill-Grove, Ia. led. God has caused his face to shine upon us, and we are enjoying a season of refreshing from his presence. forehand to expect and receive a blessing. The Sabbath was "a day long to be remembered." We had anticipated the day with interest and anxiety. The people of God humbled themselves and cried mightily to him, and their prayers were heard and answered. Many souls were convicted of sin, and before the meeting closed, the next Thursday, eight were rejoicing in hope. But while the meeting was in progress at one place, a prayer-meeting was held at another every evening, by such as could not attend at the former; and several were converted here before the public meeting closed. I sit down with pleasure to tell you what the Lord has done for us since my Assisted by Brother Edwards of Bellast report. When I last wrote, we pre, we held a series of meetings, in conwere laboring to get one room of our nection with our sacrament, on the 3rd church ready for use. It was so far Sabbath of January. The church apfinished that we held our weekly pray-peared in some measure prepared beer meeting in it on New-Year's night, and worshipped publicly in it the first Sabbath in January. The stated meeting of our Presbytery was held at our place on Tuesday, Jan. 21. The Lord was evidently with us. Every meeting appeared to produce saving effects on the people. The Presbytery closed its session on Thursday night; but the good work, then begun, gradually went forward. The Sabbath was very solemn. The roads became so muddy, and the nights so dark, that we thought it best not to continue our meetings. But the work has been regularly progress ing. Every thing is still and solemn -no excitement whatever. We had a communion season yesterday, when we received 13 on examination. Seven united by letter when the Presbytery met; in all twenty, since our last report-so that if we had two more, our little church would be just doubled since New-Year. We think the good work is still on the advance. May it not cease until every house becomes a house of prayer, and every heart a temple for the Holy Spirit! Several new family altars have been erected within a few weeks. There is more or less attention to the subject all around us, and I have no doubt that, with proper labor there might be a great harvest gathered in this region. Truly, the harvest is great, but the The work has been steadily advancing until the present time. The congregations have been good. Between 30 and 40 have expressed a hope in the two places. More than 50 in this place have attended our meetings for inquiry. The interest is extending, and I expect to see many more brought into the fold of the Redeemer. Among those, who, we hope, are converted, are many heads of families, some far advanced in life, and those who have for many years been endeavoring to satisfy themselves with Universalism. In several houses, the altar of prayer has for the first time been set up. I trust, that what we have already witnessed, will be but the beginning of a general work in this desolate region. From J. G. Kanouse, Saline, Mich. Jehovah, in his abounding goodness, has in some degree broken in upon the slumbers of this church, and given us a small degree of the spirit of repentance. In fact, there has been a more general engagedness in the things of religion in this church than ever before; and in one neighborhood, where I have spent my time for two weeks, some 20 souls have been inquiring what they shall do to be saved. A number of them have expressed hope in the pardoning mercy of the Gospel,-others of them will, I trust, be conducted by the divine Spirit to the "Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world." With one exception, this work has been confined to heads of families, and in a neighborhood where heretofore we have had no strong hold. Thus God may enlarge our borders in a direction where we least expected it. Pray for us, that we "faint not in well-doing." IOWA. From Rev. D. Jones, Keokuk, Iowa. The good done by a missionary in a community like this, is not to be measured by the number immediately gathered into the church. Nothing short of an actual residence where there is such a state of society, can give our eastern friends any just idea of the counteracting influences with which we have to contend. Our congregations are fluctuating. It is rarely, if ever the case, that our morning and evening audience is composed of the same persons, but if it is a little unpleasant, or there are other attractions, our meetings will be thinly attended. The people will at one time be at preaching with a degree of regularity, and at other times they are absent for many weeks together. From this cause my meetings last summer were large, but during the fall, from sickness and indifference, they were for a time discouraging, but now there is again a more promising state of things. The same unsteadiness is seen in other things. While any thing has the charm of novelty it may excite attention, but it requires persevering effort to keep alive any enterprise that has nothing to commend it but its own native excellence. From this whole community I have at all times received the most respectful treatment, but it is painful to witness the indifference which they manifest in regard to the things that concern their best interests, for time and eternity. Within a short time a door of usefulness has been opened at Montrose, a village directly opposite the city of Nauvoo. Till very recently it has been entirely under a strong Mormon influence, but there are now some Presbyterian families there, and I preach there once in three weeks. Brother Clark, from Fort Madison, also occasionally visits them. New Purchase. From Rev. W. A. Thompson, Fox P. O., Davis Co. In making this, my first report in the new year, I would commence by recording my gratitude to Almighty God, and under him to your Society, for their generous aid in supporting the Gospel in this remote part of our common country. It was under the auspices of your Society that the only church of our order in the territory west of the Des Moins was organized some two or three years ago, and had it not been for the fostering hand of the same Society, it must have remained until this time destitute of the regular ministration of the word. Owing to the great number of sects, and to the sectarian feeling that prevails, ny congregations are usually small. The majority of professors are members of the Methodist Church, and but few of them are seen at our meetings. They have their class-meetings at the same hour that I preach. The Mormons have meetings occasionally, there being one family of them two miles distant. They have but little influence as a sect in this vicinity. The Campbellites hold their meetings less frequently in this neighborhood. Their principal preacher in this county having held meetings for some time near one of my preaching places, and having the rock four miles, with which to made no converts, at length seemed to stone it-I can now say we are comgrow impatient, and preached his fare-fortably "fixed." well sermon. Only one Sunday school, of about 25 This portion of Iowa being very new, and members, is continued through the win-remote from mechanical conveniences, the ter. In this there seeins to be a considera- work of building a shelter for his family was ble interest. By the generosity of Chris- both indispensable and difficult. Probably, tians at the East, we have received, at the East, where there are sympathisince my last report, a box of books zing friends around, and the requisite facilities from the A. S. S. Union. As I hope to of materials and labor, a minister might build have six or seven schools in the spring, a good frame house at less expense of time these will be very seasonable. I have and personal effort, than the cabin above decheering evidence that the S. S. books scribed occasioned to the missionary in the are doing much to create a taste for New Purchase. reading, and awaken an interest in reference to Sabbath schools. Had we a few more faithful and competent teachers, the usefulness of our schools would undoubtedly be greatly increased. I have established Bible classes at my principal stations for preaching, four in number, which are pretty well attended. Since my last report another day school has been opened, making two now in the county. We hope there will be one or two more in the spring. Land sales. WISCONSIN. From Rev. C. H. A. Bulkley, Janesville, W. T. Rejoicing in the missionary work. I cannot restrain my emotions of gratitude, nor withhold their expression from you, at the retrospect of the way along which my Master has led me. If I know my own heart, and am not too self-confident, I may say, "Here, O Lord, let thy servant abide." I am sure I can exclaim with one of old, "I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth which thou hast showed unto thy servant." Much excitement has existed among the people in regard to the land sales that were expected to come on in February. Not one in ten or fifteen was prepared to pay for his land, and much anxiety was felt. But at length the news came that the sales were indefi-" nitely postponed-news most welcome to the majority, but not so to those who were prepared to enter their land. But I must speak of Mount Zion, beautiful for situation"-the central eminence of a vast prairie and woodland circumference. A communion season, rich to me in enjoyment, and pleasant as well as profitable in its remem Our people have commenced building a log school-house in Troy, which is alsobrance, was spent in the little temple to be occupied as a house of worship. With gratitude to God am I able to say, that we now have a comfortable house to live in, and a good well of water. During the last spring we were literally drenched with the rains. I had no other alternative, if I remained in the county, but to build or repair a house. I concluded to repair a loghouse, (there is but one frame house in the county,) and having put on two more logs round, to make room for a chamber, put on a shingled roof, and a good tight loft floor, besides pointing (putting mortar between the logs) it anew; and having dug a well-hauling there erected to the Lord, and that too for the first time. On that occasion there were admitted by letters from eastern churches, seven members, five of whom were part of a large family, being the parents and three daughters. Our church building is not entirely completed, nor sufficiently warmed, to exclude the piercing prairie winds, and render it comfortable for worship; yet, notwithstanding this, we have ordinarily from 60 to 70, and sometimes 100 attendants-a congregation, which is quite large for the country around. Six months ago, there was no clergyman residing here, no afternoon services, no ence upon your fostering care, the knowledge of their success may afford encouragement, and stimulate to greater devotion to this labor of love. prayer-meeting, no church organiza- your Society, and principally in dependtion but the Methodist, and but little heed given to religious matters. Now we have three resident clergyman; services three times on the Sabbath; four church organizations; a Sabbath school; a weekly prayer-meeting, and withal a singing school, in all which an interest is now evidently increasing. Church formed. On the 11th of January a meeting was called for the purpose of forming here a church, at which brother Peet was expected to be present. By some mistake he did not arrive in season, and I proceeded to effect the organization, which was done orderly and harmoniously. The number of members enrolled is fifteen; small, indeed, but which yet, by the blessing of God, may in time become a thousand. It is now a little more than a year since I came into the "Mining Region," and about 10 months since I took up my abode in this place. I commenced preaching at Fairplay, Hazle Green, (late Hardscrabble,) and New Diggings. church edifice, or school-house, and Except at F., there was neither church, less than $100 could be raised on the whole field for the support of the Gostial church and school-house united, 26 pel. Since that time, a neat, substanby 30, has been erected at Hazle Green, and that place with Fairplay has been made the field for a new minister, towards whose support they will contribute from $150 to $200. New Diggings, where I am now preaching is a new field. When I came here, there was no regular preaching of any denomination in the place. I From Rev. John Lewis, New Diggings, found a few scattered Presbyterians Wis. Mr. L. was one of the company of Missionaries who went to Wisconsin in the autumn of 1843. His original field, Fairplay, Hardscrabble, (now Hazle Green,) and New Diggings, has been divided, and Mr. L. gives his whole attention to the last named settlement. The good already accomplished by this mission should encourage the friends of Christ to attempt greater things in behalf of the Mining Region. With the return of the New-Year, my thoughts have been busy with the past. Of trials I have nothing to say. I have had a share of these blessings. The work is no where without them. They are here different, but perhaps not greater than the minister of Christ is often subjected to in the highly favored East. To my own mind, the review of the past has afforded abundant encouragement, to persevere in the effort to build up the cause of Christ in the "Mines" a region long noted for its impiety and forgetfulness of God. Of these causes for encouragement, many cannot, from the nature of the case, be communicated to you. Yet as these ef forts have been made in connection with and Congregationalists, and commenced preaching to about a dozen people half a mile from the village. It was in a small dilapidated log cabin, about the best, and indeed the only place which could be obtained. The Sabbath was awfully desecrated, hardly being recognized except as the chief day in the week for business and dissipation. The stores, groceries, (i. e. grog-shops) and gambling-rooms were all open, and crowded above most days of the week. Intemperance was very general, and gambling almost universal. As a consequence of this state of society, fighting, often very severe, was common. But while truth compels me thus to speak of the state of morals among the miners in this region, it allows me to say, at the same time, that they have many redeeming traits. A more open-hearted, shrewd, intelligent class of men can hardly be found in our land. We have indeed, some from foreign climes, not a few deluded adherents to a system of false religion, which teaches that "ignorance is the mother of devotion." Here, too, are men of highly cultivated minds, physicians, lawyers, teachers, mechanics, merchants, all delving in the bowels |