Chiefs came in, and about thirty other persons, principally young people belonging to the tribe. They took their seats very orderly, and commenced singing by rule, in their native tongue, using the patent notes. Their music was of the best kind. Their lips and hearts seemed exactly to tally. Indeed they sung "with the spirit and with the understanding also." Nothing of wildness of behaviour was seen. The lion and the lamb seemed feeding together. One of the Indian Chiefs commenced the meeting by extemporary prayer, in his native language. It was not only in word, but in power and energy. Another of the tribe concluded the meeting by prayer. A worthy example for singing masters. During the evening they sung a number of beautiful tunes and carried all parts. Better melody and sweeter harmony I believe I never heard. I was both delighted and surprised. My mind was led to wonder, and my soul to adore that Almighty Being who has thus turned the "Barren wilderness into a fruitful field," and changed war whoops and savage yells into tuneful hosannahs. Surely, "According to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought?" "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord."

Many of the tribe seem to be very devout and deeply pious. They are building a small Meeting-House among themselves, principally at their own expence. Surely these things should excite a sacred emulation among us to carry the gospel to those remaining scattered tribes and families, on the west and south western frontiers of our continent, who are perishing for lack of knowledge.

Our brother Alvis lives at home in the tribe, and conducts, I believe, with propriety, is quite useful, and takes an active part in teaching the young persons of the tribe the way of salvation; and is thought to be more useful here than he would be elsewhere. Here is a very good work under our charge on this circuit. There have been four or five new societies raised within its bounds. One of which was formed by brother Somerville, in Ridgaway, numbering between twenty and thirty. They appear to be very flourishing, growing as the vine, and reviving as the corn, and we trust they will spread forth their branches as Lebanon. A number more have been added to our other societies on this circuit.Elder Case informs me in a letter, that our missionaries to York and the new settlements in Upper-Canada, are doing wonders among the people. Sometimes for want of horse feed, and on account of bad roads in the new towns, they travel on foot through the woods, and preach to the scattered population of these new settlements. This looks like leaving all for Christ's sake. ELIJAH BOARDMAN.

Yours, &c.

SUMMARY OF RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

NOTHING can be more delightful to the pious mind than to contemplate the mighty exertions which are making in every part of the Christian world for the spread of gospel truth and holiness. As if impelled by one common impulse, the various denominations throughout Christendom are collecting their forces, and arranging them under the Captain of their salvation, evincing a determination never to ground their arms until the strong holds of Satan shall be demolished. This is no time, therefore, for inaction. To be indifferent at such a time of general and generous movement, manifests an apathy of soul at once disgraceful and criminal. If those who are not on the Lord's side are against Him, and if no man can speak lightly of Jesus who performs a miracle in His name, then certainly we ought to rejoice in the labours and success of all those who evince the smallest attachment to His cause: because Christ is preached we do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

While we confess ourselves most cordially attached to our own Church, and that from a choice made upon mature deliberation, we cannot suffer that contraction of heart which shuts up the avenues of the soul against receiving an accession of joy from witnessing the happy results of the evangelical efforts of others. And while some are indulging a splenetic disposition by snarling at every thing not coined in their own mint, and not bearing the image and superscription of their own party; and while others are wasting their time and strength with shooting their venom at those whose elevation bids defiance to their malevolence, we will enjoy the unmolested satisfaction of participating in the joy of those brave souls who are gathering fresh laurels by their intrepidity in the common warfare, and who are determined to die rather than yield to the enemy.

These thoughts have been suggested by reading the various accounts of Bible and Missionary exertions in the different parts of our globe. The first that we shall notice is,

The Palestine Mission.-The country of Palestine, where the ancient Jewish prophets received their inspiration, where Jesus Christ performed his wonders, preached his doctrine, and died to atone for the sin of the world; where the first Christian society had its birth, and where the first heralds of salvation received their commission to publish the resurrection of their Lord and Master; but where, alas! thick darkness has long since prevailed, even to the utter extinction of the light of Christianity, by the smoke and clouds of Mahometanism and Paganism; even here is the sound of a Missionary's voice heard, echoing through the hills and valleys of this once favoured land. And should the power of the Turkish empire be weakened and destroyed by the Russian and Persian monarchs, might we not then anticipate the sudden downfal of the religion of the Arabian prophet, and through the medium of Bible and Missionary societies, the establishment of Christianity in its place? Let us pray for this desirable event, while we use all the means in our power for its accomplishment.

South Sea Islands.-From the Evangelical Magazine it appears that the work of reformation is still progressing in these Islands, under the superintendence of the Missionaries who labour there.

United Foreign Missionary Society.-Since our last publication, no information has been received from the Union or the Tuscarora Missions.

From the Great Osage Mission we have been favoured with several letters, and with the Journal of the Mission from the 13th of June to the 6th of December, inclusive. In our last we announced the death of Mrs. Montgomery and of four infant children. It is now our painful duty to record the departure of Mr. Seely. He was seized with the pleurisy on the 11th of November, and expired on the 22d of the same month. The Journal, under the date of the 26th of November, mentions that Doctor Belcher was then very low, and his case extremely doubtful. On the 6th of December it is stated that the sick were recovering, and that the prospect then was that the family would soon enjoy a comfortable state of health; and Miss Weller, in a letter of the 21st of that month, remarks that the health of the family was still improving.

We have also received a letter from the Rev. Mr. Harris, enclosing the Jour. nal of the Seneca Mission from the 1st of January to the 8th of February.— American Missionary Register.

VOL. V.

20

METHODISM IN THE WESTERN COUNTRY.

We have received a copy of the Minutes of the several annual Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church, published by the Book-Agent at Cincinnati, which includes the account of four Conferences, viz. Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee, which have had their sessions since the publication of the annual minutes at New-York. From these minutes it appears that they have had an increase of (including the Mississippi Conference) eleven thousand and fifty-four members during the year ending November, 1821. Sixty-nine preachers were admitted on trial, seven were located, seven are returned as supernumerary, four superannuated, one expelled, and two had died; so that the increase to the number of effective travelling preachers is forty-eight. How satisfactory to the friends of Jesus to behold the march of pure and undefiled religion keeping pace with the progress of the new settlements in our western wilderness!

The next Ohio Conference is to be held at Marietta, Sept. 5, 1822.
Kentucky, at Lexington, Sept. 25, 1822.

Missouri, at St. Louis, Oct. 24, 1822.

Tennessee, at Ebenezer, Green county, near Greenville, East-Tennessee, Oct. 16, 1822.

Mississippi, at John M'Rays, Chickasawha, Dec. 5, 1822.

New-Haven District.-By a letter from Rev. Samuel Merwin, presiding elder of that district, it appears that the Lord is "carrying on His work in different parts of the country. On Amenia circuit there is a great and glorious revival of the work of God, which has extended to almost every appointment on the circuit. A reformation commenced in Miss Thompson's school, in Goshen, and that circuit is highly favoured. They are doing well on Reading circuit, and at Bridgeport. They have had a gracious visitation on Stratford circuit; but in consequence of the sickness of some of the preachers, that circuit has suffered for want of ministerial labour." "Though I cannot," says the writer, "do much in this part of the country by forming Missionary societies, yet I rejoice that you are prospering in that blessed work."

Annapolis Auxiliary Missionary Society.-We have received the first annual report of this society, by which it appears that their yearly and life subscriptions amount to $177, subject to the order of the Treasurer of the parent institution. The information contained in this report respecting the appointment of missionaries, and the field of their labours, has been already before the public; but we cannot deny ourselves the privilege of presenting to our readers the following extract on the duty of contributing to the support of missionary institutions :"The Board of Managers cling to the hope that all those who would love the Lord their God, with all their heart, and mind, and soul, and strength, require not to be reminded of the claims which the benighted heathen world has upon their purses.

"The requisite funds, though indeed great in amount, could easily, and without inconvenience to themselves, be raised by Christians, if their hearts were properly interested in the missionary cause. If the amount of many unnecessary expenditures was appropriated to the support of missionaries, the funds which are wanted could with ease be had. And can it be, indeed, that those who desire to know, and to love, and to obey God, will not contribute, and cheerfully, as much of their money to carry to the Pagan world a knowledge of the unsearchable riches of Christ,' as to idle, if not vicious pleasures?

"The Managers do not mean to speak of the pernicious tendency of many amusements which are fashionable among us, and to inquire if they be not indeed sinful and poisonous to the soul. Let the most favourable judgment be formed of them, yet all must grant that to incur these expenses are not among the duties enjoined by Him who is the ruler of all, and will be the judge of all. But to spread the knowledge of the Redeemer-to aid, as far as our aid is necessary, in giving to those who yet live in the grossest superstition, a knowledge of their God and of his will-to cause that the command, to preach the gospel to all people, be obeyed, is explicitly enjoined upon us; and none can question the duty without questioning the authority of God to command. Must it not then be truth incontrovertible, that there can be no real love of God, no real love of faith in those who decline to contribute to the support and growth of religion at least as much in the course of the year as they pay for fashionable amusements ?"

New Mariner's Church in Charleston.-On Sabbath, the 10th ult., a Mariner's Church in Charleston, S. C., was first opened for the service of our heavenly Father. An eloquent and appropriate discourse was preached by the Rev. Dr. Palmer, from Psalm cxlii, 4—“No man cared for my soul."—Seaman's Mag.

Michigan Territory.-A letter from Rev. William Case, dated Detroit, Feb. 12, 1822, states that at a quarterly meeting held at the river Resin, five persons professed to experience the pardoning love of Christ, and many more were brought under awakenings. On the river Rouge there are two societies, consisting of about sixty-five, forty of whom have been brought to religious experience in the six months past.

Mission among the Creek Indians.-The following letter, dated Augusta, Feb. 28, 1822, directed to the Corresponding Secretary of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, will shew the state of this mission :

DEAR BROTHER-You have been informed of the agreement entered into by the South-Carolina Conference with the Creek Indians, and some of the circumstances under which that agreement was concluded. Later accounts evidence the importance of the undertaking, and give increasing encouragement to prosecute it. The buildings at our first establishment are so far advanced as to admit the opening of a school immediately, and the good disposition of the Indians has increased with the progress of the work.

From the present Conference we send two missionaries into this important field. Our venerable brother, the Rev. Isaac Smith, who in the year 1786 was associated with the first missionaries to South-Carolina, now offers himself for the Indians! He goes in charge of the mission, and with him his excellent wife.Brother Andrew Hammill, an elder, is associated with them. These were not chosen without much prayer; and heartily offer themselves, and are most cordially approved by us for the great work upon which they are embarked.

In the west of Georgia two other missionaries (Gideon Mason and John J. Triggs) are employed. Their mission covers an extensive frontier, lately acquired from the Indians, but already inhabited by thousands of our citizens. We look anxiously into Florida, and cry to enlarge our coast. When shall the gospel take the wings of the morning, and fly to the uttermost parts of the earth! For this we will increase our efforts with the approaching time.

Yours, in the bonds of the gospel,

WILLIAN M'KENDREE.

Reading Circuit Auxiliary Missionary Society.-The Corresponding Secretary of the parent institution has received a letter dated Reading, Feb. 15, 1822, announcing the formation of this auxiliary society. The writer observes" We are happy to learn that missionary fields are opening among the aborigines of our country, and that our church is taking so important a part in the work of their salvation. We wish to cast in our mite with you, in aid of the general cause of missions, and hope that your zeal will provoke very many to this best labour of love. By order of the society, I herewith send you a copy of our constitution. The society was organized at our quarterly meeting, on Saturday, the 26th of February, 1822, and $26 were subscribed.-Yours, &c.

"HAWLEY SANFORD, Sec'ry."

Article vi. of the above constitution reads thus:-"The funds of this society, after paying the necessary incidental expenses, shall be transmitted to the Treasurer of the parent institution for the purposes expressed in the first article of this constitution;"-which is, " to assist the several annual conferences to extend their missionary labours throughout the United States, and elsewhere."

"Article xi. This constitution shall be subject to such alterations as may be made and agreed to by the General Conference in the constitution of the parent society."

We insert the above articles to shew the friends of the Missionary Society, which is under the patronage of the General Conference, that this auxiliary has, without any reservation, devoted its funds to the same benevolent purpose as the parent institution has always had in view.

NEW-YORK BETHEL UNION.

PRAYER MEETINGS IN BOARDING HOUses.

Extracts from the reports of the Bethel Committee.

February 6th, 1822.-At Mr. B's, No. 275 Water-street, at 7 P. M. The room was filled with seamen and a few of the neighbours. Singing, prayer, reading the Scriptures, and exhortations, occupied the evening; and some seemed to feel the powerful influences of the Divine presence. Mr. B. was almost constrained to cry out for mercy: he requested that some of the committee would come and converse with him about his soul, and said he would have another meeting in his house whenever the committee could make it convenient.

Friday, 8th.-Meeting at No. 243 Water-street. The Rev. Mr. Chase conducted the exercises: a larger number of seamen present than usual.

Tuesday, 12th.-At Mr. W's, No. 317 Water-street, 7 P. M. The room was soon filled with seamen: every one brought a solemn countenance. A prayer was offered up to Almighty God for the object for which we had met; bearing on our hearts, at the same time, twelve seamen present, who were to sail the next morning in the ship Constitution for Liverpool. We never saw more order, attention, and solemnity. The 107th Psalm was read, followed by an exhortation. We had three prayers, three exhortations, and sung the whole of the above psalm. About thirty seamen present, and not one left the room until we finished our exercises. We then left some tracts, reports of the Bethel Union, and circulars of the Marine Bible Society.

Friday, 15th.-At No. 243 Water-street. Mr. Chase read a portion of Scripture, and made some remarks. A seaman engaged in prayer. Two seamen, from different vessels, applied for Bibles, saying there was none on board their vessels for the use of the men. They were directed to the committee of the Marine Bible Society.

Tuesday, 19th.-At No. 65 Front-street. Prayer by Captain Prince. The exercises of the evening were, reading the Scriptures, exhortation, praise, and three prayers. There were ten or twelve seamen present: among the number was one in bed in the same room, who had fallen overboard in the afternoon; and from the account given us, he had sunk two or three times: when taken out of the water, appeared nearly dead. They brought him to this house: he was recovering as we assembled. What a providence was this, that a man so near changing worlds should be carried to a sailor boarding house, where a prayer meeting was held; and as he was recovering, to see around his bed strangers, and to hear them supplicating the Father of Mercies for his recovering, and his soul's salvation. He appeared sensible, solemn, and attentive. Who knows what the fruits of this evening may be?-They were generally attentive, orderly, and some appeared very serious, particularly three seamen just arrived from London. One of them had attended the Bethel meeting in England. They appeared desirous to attend the prayer meetings and the Mariner's Church, which we expect they will do while in port.

Tuesday, 26th.-The committee met at No. 318 Water-street. About thirty seamen and six or seven females were present; all of whom, except one man who appeared intoxicated, behaved with the greatest decorum. Three of the brethren engaged in prayer. The Rev. John Ellis, and one of the brethren, delivered short addresses from the 1st Psalm, which appeared to be well received. Some tracts were left for distribution, and an appointment made for Tuesday evening next, at No. 275 Water-street.—Seaman's Magazine.

Pee-Dee District.-The following communication, though received some time since, being misplaced, has been unintentionally delayed until now.

To the Editors of the Methodist Magazine.

Lamberton, Nov. 15, 1821.

DEAR BRETHREN-As one object of our excellent Magazine is to give more extensive publicity of the work of the Lord in different parts of these United States, as well as in foreign lands, I send you a sketch of the work of God in the bounds of Pee-Dee district; which, if you think proper, you may insert.Though the outpouring of the Divine Spirit has not been so powerful and uni.