ashamed of its being heard, than when you sung the songs of Satan. 3. Sing modestly. Do not bawl, so as to be heard above, or distinct from, the rest of the congregation, that you may not destroy the harmony; but strive to unite your voices together, so as to make one clear melodious sound. 4. Sing in time: whatever time is sung, be sure to keep with it. Do not run before, nor stay behind it; but attend closely to the leading voices, and move therewith as exactly as you can: and take care you sing not too slow. This drawling way naturally steals on all who are lazy; and it is high time to drive it out from among us, and sing all our tunes just as quick as we did at first. 5. Above all, sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to this attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve of here, and reward when he cometh in the clouds of heaven. SINGULAR CONVERSION OF AN IRISH ROMAN-CATHOLIC. (Communicated by DR. ADAM CLARKE.) BRYAN M'MAKEN was a poor ignorant Roman Catholic, who acted as herd for a number of families near Newtown Stuart, in the county of Tyrone, North of Ireland. The Methodist Preachers visited the place to which he belonged; and BRYAN, under the preaching of Mr. JOSEPH ARMSTRONG, was so deeply convinced of his sinful state, that when he returned to his cabin, after the sermon, he was unable to conceal his distress from his wife. On her inquiring into the cause, he said, "I think God Almighty is looking at me every minute, and is angry with me." She did her utmost to make him quiet, but to no purpose; and, as a last resort, she advised him to go to the Priest on the following morning. He took this advice; and having told his case, the Priest said to him, "O, you have been hearing these Methodists; nothing better could come of it." "Oh," said BRYAN, "it is they that have done it upon me; but, Sir, what shall I do, for I cannot live this way." After scolding him, the Priest said, "Well, I will tell you what to do, and you will be well enough: go to the dance, which is to be at JOHN's to-night: and when you return home, take a hearty glass of whiskey, and get MADGE [his wife] to sing you a song; and all will be well." In obedience to this advice, BRYAN and MADGE went to the dance; but he had not been long there before he started up, saying to his wife, "MADGE, come away! I am worse and worse. On his return home, however, he took the rest of the advice, drank the whiskey, and heard the song; but to no purpose. In the morning, far from being relieved, his distress was greatly increased; and MADGE advised him to go once more to the Priest. He went the next morning, and told his Reverence that he was no better, for God was "still looking at him," and was "angrier and angrier!" He was then ordered to go to Lough-Derg, and heavy penances were prescribed, so many crossings, genuflections, stations, walking on his bare knees, &c. Having accomplished this task, he returned, and told the Priest that he was no better. "Then," said the Priest, "you may go to the Devil; for I can do no more for you: but, mind, you must never go near the Methodists again." "O," said BRYAN, "there is no danger of that; they have done enough upon me already." Notwithstanding this resolution, being a short time after drawn by his employment to the preachinghouse, during the time of divine service, he ventured to the door to listen to the singing, then heard the prayer, in which he thought there could be no harm, and lastly ventured in. The Preacher, knowing nothing of the case of BRYAN, was led to describe the state of awakened sinners, and the advice sometimes given to such, to relieve them from their distress. BRYAN, having, by this time, got near the pulpit, exclaimed, "That is just what he said to me:" and there and then, before the congregation, he detailed the whole of what had passed between him and the Priest. The Preacher told him that he could never be happy until he was converted, and obtained the forgiveness of his sins; adding, "Kneel down, and we will pray for you." The whole congregation then fell upon their knees, calling upon God to have mercy upon the penitent. After some time, he leaped up, clapped his hands, and said, "I have got it, I have got it! I know he is not angry with me now! O, Sir, will you come and convert MADGE?" The preacher replied, that he would go and talk with her next morning; but BRYAN could with difficulty wait so long. As soon as he got home, he exclaimed, "O, MADGE, sure I am converted; God is not angry with me now. "BRYAN dear," said his wife, "who converted you?" "O," said he, "it was the Preacher." "Would he convert me?" said she, "for I am as bad as you." "He would convert all the world," said BRYAN. The Preacher visited MADGE, and explained to her the plan of salvation by Christ Jesus, and she also was soon brought to enjoy the power and comfort of religion. BRYAN could not rest now without telling the Priest. He was advised not to go; but go he would; and in the face of the congregation, in his own way, told the Priest of the happiness of his soul. The Priest ridiculed him, and threatened him with excommunication; to which BRYAN replied, "You may save yourself the trouble; you could do nothing for me in my distress, and I will never come near you more." BRYAN and MADGE Suffered much from their bigotted neighbours; but they held on their way, and are long since lodged in the Paradise of God. They brought up their children also in the fear of the Lord; and one son became a respectable Local Preacher among the Methodists.-ib. Religious and Missionary Intelligence. DEAR BRETHREN, To the Editors of the Methodist Magazine. I am instructed by the Tennessee Conference, to transmit the following Report to you, to be made use of as you may think proper. With assurances of genuine respect, I am, Dear Brethren, yours in Christ, To the Tennessee Annual Conference. DEAR BRETHREN, Your committee appointed to examine into the progress and prospects of our Mission among the Cherokee Indians, beg leave to report as follows, viz. From the best information we can obtain, we understand that in the spring of 1822, Mr. RICHARD RILEY, a native of the Cherokee nation, living twelve miles south of Fort Deposit, requested the Rev. RICHARD NEELEY, the assistant preacher on Paint-Rock circuit, to preach at his house, to which he consented, and in the course of the summer, with the assistance of the Rev. ROBERT BOYD,who travelled with him on that circuit, raised a society of thirty-three members, of which Mr. RILEY was appointed leader. The Rev. WILLIAM M MAHON, Presiding Elder of Huntsville district, held a quarterly meeting at this place a few months previous to Conference, at which time the power of God was manifested in a very extraordinary manner among the natives, several of whom, professed to find peace with God through Jesus Christ, became members of his church, and have continued since that time to evince the sincerity of their profession, by an upright walk and conversation. At our last Conference, the Rev. ANDREW J. CRAWFORD was appointed to this place as a Missionary. He arrived at Mr. RILEY'S the 7th of December, and made known the object of his mission, and was cordially received. As soon as convenient a council was called, consisting of the principal natives in that part of the nation, who gave their approbation for the establishment of a school, which commenced the 30th of December, under favourable circumstances. He began with twelve children, and the number soon increased to twenty-five, several of whom commenced in their letters, and in a few weeks were able to spell in three and four syllables. In the course of the summer, some on account of their crops, and others through a want of inclination, declined attending, especially THOMAS L. DOUGLASS. the children of parents not under religious impressions. Most of those who sent their children, are highly pleased with the establishment, and have proffered to aid in building a boarding house, provided they could be supplied with teachers sufficient to carry on the institution. The good effects which havé resulted from this small attempt are so visible, that your committee are of opinion that much of what might be considered opposition at first, is now removed; and that a school would be much more prosperous another year. At this time there are fifteen regular scholars. Our Missionary has been more successful in his attempts to preach the gospel, than in teaching the children. At first he met with some opposition in preaching, but through the influence of Mr. RILEY this was removed, and the natives soon built a comfortable house to preach in, where they had regular service on Sabbath, besides being visited once in two weeks, by the preachers who travelled Paint-Rock circuit. At Mr. RILEY's request, they took the mission into their tour round the circuit, and he was so kind as to make provisions to pay their ferriage over Tennessee river, which they had to cross in making their visit. On Saturday the 18th of January, several preachers met the Rev. THOMAS STRINGFIELD, who attended the quarterly meeting for the Rev. WILLIAM M'MAHON, the presiding elder. Lord favoured them with a peaceful and happy time, and many felt that their faith stood not in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God. The natives attended Lovefeast on Sabbath morning early and punctually. The Lord was in the midst, and it was truly a feast of love to the souls of his children. The ministers present were much delighted to hear their Indian brethren speak of Jesus in their own language, for although they could not understand their words, yet there is among these converted happy children of the desert, such a divine sim The plicity of manners, and fervency of devotion, that no person who sees them can doubt the sincerity of their profession: indeed sincerity has a language of its own, and it requires more art and refinement to ape and counterfeit it with success, than these honest simple hearted people possess. After Lovefeast was concluded, brothers STRINGFIELD and CRAWFORD preached The Lord attended his word with power, and crowned the congregation with his presence and grace. Three precious souls found peace with God, and have continued since that time to give the most convincing evidence of their real and solid conversion to God. The promise of a two days meeting at this place in the latter part of the summer, having been given by brother M'MAHON to brother CRAWFORD, the propriety of having a camp-meeting was suggested, and after consulting brother RILEY and some others of the leading characters among the Indians in that neighbourhood on the subject, it was mutually determined on, and the time appointed. Accordingly, on Thursday, the last day of July, they met on the ground, where they found brother RiLEY, with his brother, and several others, encamped. There was a neat and commodious tent prepared for the accommodation of the preachers, well furnished with clean good beds, (indeed the tents and accommodations were all good) and all who attended the meeting were lodged and fed generously and comfortably. Many of the natives at tended on this occasion from a very considerable distance. Some from thirty to sixty miles, and one who travelled fifty miles and who could neither speak nor understand the language of the whites, was powerfully converted to God, baptized in the Christian faith, and returned home a new creature in Christ Jesus. This was a time of the mighty power of God, and of the gracious outpouring of His Holy Spirit. Thirty-one souls professed to find peace through our Lord Jesus Christ. Twenty five adults, and twenty children were baptized. During the whole time of this meeting, the most profound attention was paid by the Indians to every part of divine service, and to the rules of order and decorum; indeed they manifest a disposition to comply in every instance, with the directions of their ministers. When the meeting was about to close on Monday morning, and the congregation was actually dismissed, twenty or thirty of the natives, who had attended VOL. VII. during the meeting, and were seriously impressed, came into the altar, and requested the preachers to instruct them how to get religion, or, as they would say themselves, how they could obtain the favour of the Great Spirit, and be happy like their brethren who were praising God; and on their request being complied with, by one of the preachers addressing them through an interpreter, it was really a circumstance stamped with marks of the introduction of primitive Christianity among the heathen, to see them bang with seriousness and delight, upon the speaker's lips, and appear as if they would never be tired of hearing about Jesus, and the way to Heaven. When the meeting finally closed, it was with the greatest reluctance these friendly people parted with their ministers; and one of them, a man of wealth and piety, was so delighted with the meeting, that he seriously proposed to his brethren to return to the camp ground, throw in all their property and stay on the ground as long as it lasted. From this meeting the work of God has spread and revived in a glorious manner; two other societies are now flourishing in that part of the nation, one of which has been formed since the camp-meeting, and the other greatly increased. Your committee lock upon these openings of Divine Providence as special and loud calls to our Conference, our superintendents, our ministers, and members in general, to unite their zeal and exertions, to afford this destitute people the means of salvation. O brethren! come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty. What has God already wrought, and how plain and simple the means by which he has performed the mighty work. Only consider, but two years ago a Methodist preacher had never preached in this part of the Cherokee nation. Our worthy and pious friend, Mr. RILEY, as has been stated, invited brothers NEELEY and BOYD to cross the Tennessee river and preach at his house, and these zealous and pious young men, who had just been called like Elisha from the plough to the pulpit, embraced the invitation, and flew upon the wings of love to plant the gospel among the Indians, believing that a Methodist preacher is never out of his way when he is searching for the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and bringing sinners home to God. ROBERT BOYD is no more! he is gone to his reward; but he lives in the hearts of these pious Indians, and never, no, never, while their memory is left. 25 them will they cease to remember RoBERT BOYD. We now have one hundred and eight regular members of society in this part of the nation, and a number of the children can read the word of God, and some of them can write a tolerably good hand; and the whole amount of moneys expended does not exceed two hundred dollars. Indeed your committee are of opinion, that a great parade about Missionary establishments, and the expenditure of many thousands of dollars to give the heathen science and occupation, without religion, is of but little advantage to them. For after all their acquirements they are still savages, unless their hearts be changed by the grace of God, and the power of the gospel; but this blessed gospel, which is the power of God to the salvation of all that believe, whenever and wherever its divine influences are implanted in the heart by the efficient operations of the Holy Ghost, makes man a new creature, and fits him for his place in society. Your committee has at this Conference, witnessed a very striking instance of the influence of moral and divine truth on the heart and conduct of one of the members of the society at brother RILEY'S. POLLY SMITH, a converted indian, some twelve months ago, found a piece of calico in the nation. This honest and pious woman, instead of concealing the property or applying. it to her own use, took it to the nearest store, and asked the merchant if he had sold such goods, and to whom, and be ing informed that he had sold such calico to some Creek Indians, she has kept it sacredly and inquired for the owner until now; but not finding an owner, she came to this place, and applied to brother M MAHON, the presiding elder, to know what she should do with the property. What spirit but that which is of God, could make a Cherokee Indian in America so much like a primitive Christian at Jerusalem! Your committee are happy to learn from the best authority, that these Indians are not converted merely to forms, names, and ceremonies, but that love to God and good will to all men, are the ruling and governing principles of their hearts and lives. That this blessed work of evangelical purity and holiness may be generally diffused (among these people, we would suggest the propriety of establishing a Missionary Family, or at least a boarding house for children in this part of the nation, so soon as it may be thought expedient. Many, very many of their children and young men would have attended the school during the past year, and received the instructions of our Missionary, but they lived at too great a distance, and there could be no provisions made to board them for the want of means. Dear Brethren, we call upon you once more, and we know we shall be heard, for our call is the call of mercy and humanity, for your prayers and exertions to save this dear people from perishing for lack of knowledge. We have two very good exhorters in this part of the nation, brothers GUNTER and Brown. Brother BROWN is a young man of pretty good English education, speaks his own language with great facility, is a very good interpreter and bids fair to be eminently useful to his nation. He is willing to give himself entirely to the work of the Mission, and he can already repreach a sermon delivered by our Missionary to the natives in their own language without loosing either the substance or force of what he communicates in this way. A divine unction attends his word, the Missionary fire is communicated and kindles in his feelings while speaking, and the hearer feels its sacred influence. If we cannot at present engage in this important work upon as large a plan as we would wish, we recommend most earnestly that the Mission be continued in the same way as it was the past year. Your committee cannot conclude this report, without calling your attention to the gracious work of reformation which has lately taken place in another part of the Cherokee nation, about one hundred miles from the Mission at RILEY'S.— About two years ago, Mr. Coopy living on the main road leading from Nashville to Georgia, near Ross' Post Office, invited some of our travelling ministers to preach at his house, which they readily complied with, and their labour of love was not in vain. A society was soon formed, and his house was continued as a preaching place. Your committee regret that they have not the necessary information relative to the progress of the work of God at this place, to give it in detail. We can only state that at this time there are more than eighty regular members of society in that part of thenation. Our worthy friend, Mr. CoODY, was made a subject of converting grace soon after the gospel was carried to his house. He is a good exhorter, a pious leader of the church which is in his own house, and a very useful man to his brethren. He requests that a Missionary should be sent to that part of the Chero |