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kee nation, and proffers to give one hundred dollars per annum for the support of the Mission. Your committee would also seriously recommend this as Missionary ground, and hope our superintendents will try to make some provision for the place in this way.

Convinced of the necessity and importance of attending to the Missionary business with promptness and punctuality, your committee would also take the liberty of recommending the propriety of appointing a Conference Missionary, whose duty and business it shall be, to travel through the bounds of the Conference, form Missionary societies, as branches of the Auxiliary Society in Nashville, collect funds, superintend the Missions, and visit those parts of the work which he may deem most important, as he can make it convenient.

Dear Brethren! we hail with more than ordinary solicitude, the conversion of the heathen to Messiah the Prince of the Kings of the earth, and the spreading glory of the gospel of peace among us in general. Permit us to conclude this hasty and imperfect report by assu ring you, that if our prayers are heard in heaven, the harvest of the ensuing year will be more abundant than that of the past. That the Great Head of the Church may keep us by his power, through faith unto salvation, and bring us at last to mingle our joyful songs with the anthems of the spirits of the just of every land and nation, in the mansions of eternal blessedness, is the prayer of your committee.

THOMAS L. DOUGLASS, Chairman of the Con. Miss. Com.

WYANDOTT MISSION.

Extract of a Letter from the REV. JAMES B. FINLEY, dated Sandusky MissionHouse, Feb. 10, 1824.

GOD is still carrying on his good work. I have just returned from a tour to the north, in company with MONONQUE and GREYEYES, two Indian Chiefs and JOHN POINTER, the interpreter. We had intended to visit the Chippewa Tribe, but on our arrival at Detroit, we learned that they were so much dispersed by the late war, that a visit would be inexpedient at present. We however visited some of the Wyandotts on the River Huron; and also those on the Canara in Canada. In both of these places God owned our labours, but more especially in the latter, where the Lord wrought so powerfully that several were awakened, three converted, and fifteen joined society. These we left in the care of bro. JACKSON.

Since our return the work of grace has so revived among us, that within one month, twenty-seven have been added to our number, which now amounts to two hundred and sixty. Our people are much engaged in the gracious work, and so numerous are our congregations that no house we have will hold them. Our class and prayer meetings are well attended. Never indeed was this Mission more prosperous. Our converted chiefs, like JOSHUA and CALEB, seem determined to go up and possess the land. So convincing is the hand of God in this work, that even the pagans remaining among us, stand astonished and confounded, and almost at every meeting some come over on the Lord's side..

Our school has prospered; and some

of the children are truly pious. Brother WILLIAM WALKER, their teacher, is their class-leader, and they hold their meetings every week in the school-house. I attended the other evening at one of their meetings. One of the boys prayed; and we had not been long on our knees when there was almost an universal cry for mercy. Such a time I never saw amongst children. Some of them came and caught me around the neck, while they praised the Lord for pardoning mercy. I seemed lost in wonder, love and praise, while beholding this scene. Surely if the benefactors of this Mission and School, had witnessed this fruit of their bounty, it must have amply rewarded them for all their kindness.

The children are attentive to their studies, and learn well in spelling, reading, and writing.

We hope the time will soon come, when this Mission will be able to support itself principally. God has blessed the labour of our hands as well as of our hearts. We raised between two and three thousand bushels of corn, and vegetables in great plenty. Our family now consists of sixty-four persons→→→ three labouring men, four girls-brother HOOPER and his wife, myself and wife, and fifty-three children. We have manufactured about one hundred and twenty yards of cloth, and are preparing to be more extensive in this branch of business, and our general stock of provision has been very considerable.

STATE OF RELIGION ON NEW-HAVEN DISTRICT.

Good news from Zion is always grateful to the friends of Zion. The Lord is giving favourable intimations on differ: ent parts of New-Haven district. As usual, we have to meet with much opposition, and to encounter the intrigues and arts of our enemies. But in many places they overshoot the mark, defeat their own purposes, and produce a spirit of inquiry which always terminates in happy results. To accomplish any thing to purpose, much labour, much zeal, much diligence and perseverance, are essentially necessary in this part of the vineyard. A letter from bro. SCHOLEFIELD informs me, that "the work of God is going forward in a number of places on Dutchess circuit; between fifty and sixty have been converted and ' reclaimed from backsliding, since Conference, and prospects still brighten."

Middletown is remembered in kindness by the Great Head of the Church. Brother BowEN says, "the long-looked for period at length has arrived, God is raining righteousness upon us.' Convictions are clear and pungent, justifications bright and glorious. After speaking of several individuals who have experienced the gospel of Christ to be the power of God unto salvation, he says, "The work is spreading." The brethren in that place give glory to God, and strive to get to their several posts to be workers together with Him.

In a number of places on Durham circuit, God is pouring out His Spirit.

In Haddam, and in one of the Parishes belonging to the town of Saybrook of notable memory, the word of truth is taking effect. Sinners are awakened and brought to the knowledge of that Jesus, who by the grace of God hath tasted death for every man

Poughkeepsie is also sharing in the heavenly shower. On several other cir cuits there are favourable indications. The preachers in general are well received, and doing well, and have the spirit of Christian Missionaries.

Our brethren, the local preachers, are happily united, not only among themselves, but with the travelling preachers, and manifest a deep and religious concern for the salvation of souls, and the prosperity of the church of God. At the District Conference, peace, love, life and holy power prevailed. It was a time long to be remembered. It was a continual feast. Every thing appeared to be done in the spirit of prayer, in the spirit of divine and brotherly love. A holy, happy awe encompassed the whole. The brethren parted in peace, fully resolved to be more holy, and to labour more for God and precious souls. Surely the Lord is on our side, and we shall prevail.

In affliction, opposition and persecution, we learn our own weakness and dependence. I am sure if we are humble, God will make us bold and strong and victorious. S. MERWIN. New-Haven, March 17, 1824.

Extracts from the Third Annual Report of the South-Carolina Conference Missionary Society.

AT ASBURY in the Creek Nation, the pleasing intimations, which at an early period encouraged us to hope that our School establishment would become a nursery of pious feeling, as well as of moral principle and civilized habits, have not disappointed us. Under the management of the same zealous piety which would seek by other means to profit the soul, we have realized that our school is no less instrumental in christianising the children, than towards their civilization. And, indeed, thus far in our progress, it has been remarkable that those children who are more improved in the one respect, are so in the other; and that a child usually discovers a veneration for our piety, and concern to be interested in the benefits of re

ligion, before he will be much impressed by the more common distinctions between civilized and savage men.

In giving direction to the early convictions of these tender, untutored minds, we are glad to say that our Missionaries have never encouraged strong and sudden ebullitions of feeling. They have wisely discriminated between these children, whose sensibilities, not yet blunted by a cherished infidelity, nor cauterized by crime, are alive to the importance of a doctrine which they may not distinctly understand-and the general mass of impenitents, who are instructed beyond their will, and are more careful to avoid the sense of duty than to perform what is commanded them. They have assiduously instructed their

pupils in the principles of religion; and have been watchful to ascertain how far they might be able to associate the doctrine of divine influence in repentance and regeneration, with that of obedience, in the appropriate acts of reformation and devotion.

We would not be understood here to mean that no indications of extraordinary religious feeling have appeared at Asbury. Quite otherwise. Many, very many strong cries and tears, have marked the power of a gracious work in some of the children. This, in some who were older, may have operated sympathetically upon others; so that almost the whole family of children have been bathed in tears, and prostrate together in prayer: but in these instances, our Missionaries have employed no alarming denunciations, no violent play upon the passions, to begin or to promote the work; and afterwards they have carefully catechised the subjects of it. We rejoice to add, that after sufficient trial-in which the importance of sealing the Christian profession of young converts was scrupulously guarded— two girls of about fifteen years old, and two other adult persons who were employed in the service of the mission-all of whom profess and evidence that they are "born from above"-have been baptised; and several others of our children, are earnestly seeking the salvation of their souls. We have now a small class at Asbury; and our brethren are no longer exiled from the Church of God.

AT ST. AUGUSTINE, in East-Florida, the Missionary was well received; and has maintained a more numerous congregation, and has preached with better success, than might have been expected. A small Church of "persons having the form, and seeking the power of godliness," has been constituted there. For several years past, our indefatigable brethren on the Satilla Circuit, have carried their labours beyond its former boundary, into Florida: but the appointment of a Missionary to St. Augustine operated with much additional force in favour of the labours of the last year; and the circuit is now so extended, as to include seven preaching places in that territory, with the blessed fruits of thirty-nine members of the Church.

The CHATTAHOOCHEE MISSION, which originally was appointed for the south-western extremity of Georgia, has been largely extended into Florida. It will be recollected that this Mission was

instituted two years ago; and that within the first year of its progress, there were two hundred and forty-one persons admitted into the Church. During the last year, the mission was strengthened with an additional Missionary; and has realised an increase of one hundred and ten members.

The Board cannot take leave of the work in Florida, without expressing their ardent desire, that a separate Missionary District could be formed, which should embrace the present Chattahoochee Mission, in one or two circuits-a Mission to be formed at and above St. Marks, including the newly designated seat of government-another above St. Andrew's Bay, probably along the Chippola river-and another at Pensacola. These points describe, as we are informed, the most valuable parts of the territory; and will probably attract a numerous population. We express our hearty wish to follow the first influx of emigration into this interesting country, but we cannot be confident that it will be so. Extended as our Conference District is, from the Cape Fear river in the north-east, to the Chattahoochee in the south-west; and from the French Broad in the north-west, to the St. John's in the south-east-with probably more than one thousand Churches, and thirty-six thousand members-no possible zeal in the preachers, or wisdom of the Bishops, could make such a disposition of one hundred men as would meet every demand. "The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few;" let us, therefore, with greater importunity, "pray the Lord of the harvest that he would send forth labourers into his harvest."

THE MONROE MISSION, embracing Monroe, Bibb, Crawford, and parts of Pike and Houston counties in the west of Georgia-has experienced much of the blessing of God upon Missionary labours. From this Mission, there were returned to the last Conference seventy-five members of the Church. The present return brings up the number to three hundred and twenty-six. There have been seven meeting-houses built, and the whole number of preaching places is twenty-five.

From the YELLOW-RIVER MISSION-including the county of Henry, and parts of Newton, Fayette and Pike

you hear for the first time. The first year of this Mission, returns three hundred and forty-seven members of the Church. Ten meeting-houses have been

built; and our Missionary statedly this number is proportionate; nor that preaches, every four weeks at twentysix different places.

our labours are so. We lament the fact; and we deprecate its causes. Alas, that Charity should ever have been so unwise, as not to know by what meansto what ends and in what proportions, her efforts might be useful! Alas, that ever she should have forgotten that the body may be served to the ruin of the soul;-and that the Almighty Himself, hath not preferred to redeem mankind from all liability to evil, but only has provided that temporal evils may sub

THE GWINNETT MISSION-embracing the counties of Gwinnett and Walton, and touching on those of Newton, De Kalb, and Hall-returned a year ago eighty-two members of the Church. The present return amounts to four hundred and sixty-two. This Mission occupies nineteen preaching places; and has the benefit of eight meeting-houses. The success of these Missions-the joy and the praise of the South-Carolina serve eternal interests. Grieved that Conference cannot be contemplated without strong emotion. Three years have scarcely passed away, since the treaty was concluded, which transferred from the Indians to the state of Georgia, all that beautiful country whither our Missionaries went. Attracted by the lure of its fertile soil, the laborious citizen eagerly succeeded the retiring savage; and before the forest could be converted into fields, or the adventu rous emigrant might feel himself at home, our Missionaries had arrived.Through forests which never knew an eye; and often without a path to guide them—they sought, and they have found, the souls of men. How delightful to many a pious wife and child, who had followed a husband or a father, to this distance from the Church, to greet so early these Messengers of grace! And how reviving to him who had gone thither, not because he loved to wander, but only to provide for a beloved family! That in the numbers returned from these Missions, there are many such, we deem a peculiar enhancement of the value of the Missions. And that this tract of Country is one of the finest within our limits, and must soon become immensely populous-will operate with great force to increase our labours. Two other Missions are immediately wanted; and each of those which are already begun, requires an additional Missionary.

One other subject-sacred to the cause of Christian charity-may not be omitted in this review of our Southern Missions. That we hold in the membership of the Church within our Conference, thirteen thousand negroes, will be admitted as evidence that they are not forgotten among the multitudes whom we serve. But we may not pretend that

evil should exist in an evil world—some
present, manifested outrage, has drawn
from her a voice of pity and condolence,
which, unthinkingly expressed, has been
perverted into the horrid doctrine, that
religion may do murder. With us, and
with you, Charity weeps, and long has
wept, for another cause.
We know no
evil to which the slave is subject, that
may compare with his so frequent, total
destitution of the means of grace. We
honestly believe that all the circum-
stances of his condition taken together,
as they are known to us, the negro in
the Carolinas and Georgia, might on no
temporal account, envy the peasant of
some other Christian countries. Yea,
more: we believe that many thousands
of them are both better fed and clothed
and labour less-and are better attended
to in sickness, than many of the white
population of this, happiest of all coun-
tries. We long after a free, unsuspect-
ed, universal access to them. We long
to realize the rich returns of a separate
department, which should exclusively
be directed towards their spiritual wel-
fare. In the present economy of our
labours-although we preach daily—it is
usually but one day in seven that they
can share the benefit; and even on this
seventh day, we can preach to but a
few of them. In the formation of our
circuits, we have been led-perhaps too
much-by the white population; and it
might seem that the negroes, where they
have our ministry, are served rather
accidentally than by primary intention.
Ought not this to be corrected? Might
it not be pleasing to God that we begin
to do something separately in this work,
even although it could not be done
without subtracting from our accustom-
ed duty to the circuits?

Extract of a Letter from the REV. FRANKLIN METCALF, dated Perth, UpperCanada, Jan. 28, 1824.

"Ar the last Genesee Conference, I was appointed as a Missionary to this new settlement, of which Perth is the principal village. With the assistance of brother WALDRON, my worthy oolleague, I have formed a four weeks circuit; and notwithstanding our difficulties have been many, and even discouraging, we have succeeded in establishing a society of upwards of one hundred in this place, and of forming societies in other parts of the circuit. In one neigh

DEAR BRETHREN,

bourhood a gracious and powerful work has been wrought, and a society of about forty has been formed, several of whom had been Roman Catholics.

"Among these happy subjects of grace, is an elderly lady upwards of fourscore years of age, at the time of her conversion. To hear her expressions of gratitude to God for His pardoning mercy, is truly delightful and encouraging. May God carry on the gracious work."

Obituary.

To the Editors of the Methodist Magazine.

Kinsale, Virginia, December, 1823.

A desire to perpetuate the memory of the righteous, and to see the triumphs of Christian virtue exhibited to the public eye, prompts me to present you with the following memoir for publication. MURDOCK MURPHY.

MR. JOHN P. NEWTON, late of Lee-Hall, right between me and my good God. Westmoreland County, Virginia, was I had a view of my beloved Redeemer born of highly respectable parents; and before your arrival. He is gone to preat an early period he was committed to pare a mansion for me." After a pause, the care of a pious mother, now a mem- he said, "O! He is preparing a glorious ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. mansion for me." After being raised He, like most young men in affluent sit up in bed he requested that we should uations, had the allurements of the have prayer. He joined (although too world to contend with, which but too weak to talk except by short sentences) effectually prevented him from thinking in singing, and added a hearty amen, to seriously on his latter end, until he had almost every sentence, and humbly attained to manhood in June, 1822. He thanked his God that there were praywas married to an amiable young lady ing brethren, to pray for him. After this in whose society he no doubt antici- exertion he fell into a dose, when openpated enjoying all the felicities, the ing his eyes, he looked with sweet surworld could afford; but alas! how de- prise, and exclaimed, "O what a scene lusive were his prospects; but a few opens before me! Brethren I have had months elapsed after his marriage before a glorious manifestation of the Holy he was visited with the pulmonary con- Trinity!" He then paused, and appeared sumption, which he soon recognized as to gaze with rapturous delight, until he from the hand of the Lord. He now fell into another doze. Upon awaking, became deeply concerned for his future he proceeded to tell us what glorious safety, and believing he was guilty in prospects awaited him. His strength the sight of his God, betook himself ear- here failed so far as to prevent further nestly to prayer and reading the sacred remarks. Still his countenance eviscriptures. He clearly saw that he had dently indicated the happy state of his hitherto done no good thing. He now soul. resolved to seek the salvation of his soul, and he did not seek in vain; for he soon found Him of whom Moses and the prophets did write.

Soon after this happy change, I made my first visit to him. He observed to me, "I thought ere this I should have been in eternity. I am dying, but I do not fear death My God, for his Son's sake, has forgiven all my sins-all is

On entering his chamber, he said, "I am almost gone." I asked him if he still possessed an unshaken confidence in his God?" O yes! O yes!" was his reply, "I think I shall get to him to night. O my brother, pray for a poor creature, I am almost gone; but I know my Jesus will never forsake me." After a short doze he observed, "I feel that God is satisfied with my sufferings,

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