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REVIVAL OF RELIGION IN HINSDALE, PITTSFIELD CIRCUIT.
Extract of a Letter communicated by the REV. B. HIBBARD.

THIS work commenced in the hearts of a few professors of religion, who agreed to meet every Wednesday evening for prayer. After continuing their meetings through the principal part of the summer, they began to witness answers to their intercessions, by a gradual increase in their number, a more engagedness of mind, and an increasing solemnity among the people generally. On Sabbath a sermon was preached on Luke xiv. 17, “Come, for all things are ready." On the following Wednesday evening, at a general prayer meeting, many appeared under conviction for sin, and six or seven young people gave evidence of having obtained pardon in the blood of Jesus.

From this time the gracious work of conviction and conversion, mightily prevailed. I will mention one instance, as being somewhat extraordinary. A young man being absent from home, was seized with such horror of mind, that on his return to his home, he could not sleep. The family was much alarmed. A Bible was carried into his chamber, and a friend read to him the gracious promises made to penitent sinners; after struggling in extreme agony of soul for some time, the Friend of sinners spoke peace

to his troubled soul. He immediately went to his parents, and told them what God had done for him.

The succeeding Wednesday evening, the congregation was still larger, and the meeting was enlivened by the presence, and the pointed testimonies of those recently converted. "The word of God mightily prevailed" at this meeting. Sighs and tears were witnessed in every direction, and some praised the Lord for the wonders of redeeming love. This, indeed, was a glorious season. Sinners trembled, and saints rejoiced. To particularize all the instances of conversion would require more time than I have to spare, and, perhaps, would not be interesting to readers in general, though to those who are immediately concerned it might be desirable. Suffice it, therefore, to say, that in this part of the town more than forty have, as we humbly hope, obtained an interest in the Redeemer, twenty-five of whom have united themselves to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and six to other denominations. Thus far, those who have professed religion, have manifested a consistency of character and conduct. May they endure to the end! Hinsdale, Nov. 1822.

WORK OF GOD ON NOLACHUCKY CIRCUIT. I will give you a short account of the work of God on Nolachucky circuit.

Two years ago I was appointed to this circuit. It was large, and some very difficult cases occurred. In general, religion was rather low, but through the mercy of God things took a favourable turn in the spring, the old members began to stir up; and the neighbouring people began to attend our meetings in ' the summer and fall. We had three Camp-meetings, which the Lord made a blessing to hundreds At these three meetings two hundred and sixty-three were added to our society. At the Camp-meeting near Newport, we had the pleasure of seeing upwards of eighty in the altar at once, who professed conversion at the meeting. Upwards of five hundred and fifty members have been added to the societies in this circuit for this year, and the most of them in the possession of the direct witness of the Spirit.

Last fall I was again appointed to the same circuit, with two others, J. RICE

and D. CUMMINGS. We enlarged the circuit to six weeks; and the work of God still continued to revive through the year and still goes on with great success. We had about eight hundred members when I was appointed to the circuit; we now number more than eighteen hundred. The Lord indeed is doing wonders for Nolachucky circuit.

There is also a good work in some parts of the Holston district. I attended two or three Camp-Meetings in that district this fall. At the Camp-meeting near Jonesborough, there were two hundred and two joined society; and at the one held near Rutledge, seventy-four were united to the society. In this revival there has been a number of the respectable and wealthy, from the General down to the poor African. This is the work of the Lord, and it is marvellous in our eyes; and our hearts will say, "Not unto us, but unto thy name, O Lord be the glory."

Yours, &c. GEORGE EKIN. Greene County, Ten. Nov. 5, 1823.

STATE OF RELIGION IN

Bridgetown, Dec. 9, 1823.

DEAR BRETHREN,

BRIDGETOWN, NEW-JERSEY.

I rejoice to inform you that the Lord is favouring this part of our Zion with an out-pouring of his Holy Spirit. Since our last Conference we have received about thirty-five probationers, most of whom are young men, of good standing in society, and who promise fair to be both the ornament and strength of our Church. Our increase has been gradual, averaging about five every month. We have a general class-meeting the first sabbath in every month, at which time only we receive probationers, and admit members.

This plan I have found profitable both here and elsewhere. It is admirably calculated in my opinion to promote a spirit of union amongst the different classes, and to give interest and solemnity to the reception of members.

attention and deep solemnity; and not unfrequently, does their heart-felt anguish and sorrow for sin, show itself by showers of tears, mental groanings, and earnest cries for mercy and salvationnot long since for the first time, I gave an invitation to mourners to surround the altar, to implore the Divine mercy in the forgiveness of their sins; and to my astonishment, in less than one minute the altar was crowded, while the congregation generally seemed to experience something like an electric shock. The next time I invited the mourners forward, I had the two front benches cleared, and they filled the altar, the two seats, and required more room. Upon the whole, I think, I am safe in saying that the Lord is working powerfully in many hearts.

I shall conclude this by requesting your prayers for our prosperity, hoping Our prospects lately have become that the God of love will add to our more flattering than they have been.- numbers and to our graces, and bless Our congregations evidence their attach- you with all spiritual blessings. ment to the word preached, by fixed

C. PITMAN.

MISSIONS IN WESTERN AFRICA.

RIVER GAMBIA.-MR. MORGAN has lately been up the River Gambia with MAJOR GRANT, whose object was to form a settlement considerably in the interior. The following are extracts from his Journal.

natives coming on board with palm. wine. The Thermometer, in the cabin, was 84; but held in the sun, on the deck, it rose to 103. The King of Codiger came on board with palm-wine.

ON March 15th, 1823, we passed the attention of the sailors, and some Lemon-Island, which is recommended by the King of Calubah for our settlement. (Thermometer 76.) The river here appears beautiful. The trees on the banks are more various in their foilage, and are interspersed with shrubs in full bloom; and the ground behind appears, by its natural produce, to be of an excellent quality. The land is beautifully diversified with mountains, and large majestic trees. The river here is about two hundred yards over: its surface is as glass; and its course between this and Yannemuroo is frequently interrupted by islands, which enliven the scene. The banks are thinly peopled; and thousands of acres of land, which would pay the husbandman a thousand fold of this country's grain for his labour, are unoccupied, except by reptiles and beasts of prey.

16th. At eleven o'clock we held divine service on the deck, but I was much interrupted while preaching; the vessel being under way, which engaged

18th-We came to anchor at Finde fulle, in the King of Barda's dominions. A messenger was sent to invite the King to meet MAJOR GRANT, but he was afraid to come. His General, however, a great warrior, and two other men, came, and said that the King was engaged with a great Marraboo, endeavouring to settle the war. object in coming up the river was, to The Major told them that his show them his wish to maintain friend ship with them; and having made them a present, he appointed to meet their King on our return. We then went ashore at Findefulle; which consists of a factory, belonging to Mr. JowER, and two or three huts. Here we found many gold-merchants, who gave the Major much information concerning the country and the river. They seemed

particularly guarded in giving their opinion as to an English settlement being formed in the King of Woolly's land. An old man, in reference to the King, said, That it was possible, by a gift, to get a surly dog to come to you, but a small thing would make him bite the hand that feeds him. I asked them, if I should come to live in that part, if they would consent to have their children instructed by me. The Tillibo men replied, that they should be glad of it, if I would teach them to weigh gold, which I promised them I would do. The King of Bardar, who yesterday refused to come to us, when he saw the present which the Major had sent him, concluded he was on friendly terms; and travelled after the vessel on the bank of the river, till he overtook us. He had brought two bullocks as a present, and came on board with his suite. The Major told him that he was come up to secure the friendship of the Kings, and to take notice of the manner in which the Traders were treated by them; and that he designed to form a settlement as far up as he could, and asked him concerning different places. He seemed of opinion that no situation further on was so eligible as Findefulle.

20th.-This morning, the thermometer was at 80; it was very pleasant on deck before the sun rose. We all have abundant reason to be thankful to GOD, that we have so far enjoyed uninterrupted health. I was informed by a man who is much up the river, that it is more healthy here than nearer the coast. The people were sitting on the banks of the river, some of whom were much astonished at the appearance of the schooner, having never before seen any thing but small craft or canoes. One of them inquired if the masts of the vessel were trees which grew up from the bottom.

The Foollahs seem to be a scattered race of people, and are found in every direction. They reside among different nations, by permission of their Kings, They employ themselves in keeping cattle and growing corn, of which the Mandingoes demand of them as much as they please, being, as I am informed, almost entirely dependant for these articles upon the Foollahs, as they are themselves too indolent to cultivate the land. The act for the Abolition of the Slave-Trade seems to have made a

happy change in the circumstances of the Foollahs. An old Marraboo said, that when he used to trade up and down the river a few years ago, if a Foollah was then caught by the river-side, it was, considered by a Mandingo a sufficient transgression to warrant his selling him for a slave; but now they come and go where they please, without fear. They bear a nearer resemblance to Europeans in the form of their features, than any I have yet seen in Africa. The nearest to them, in this respect, are the Loobies, a distinct race of people, who seem to have no settlement, but are constantly wandering from place to place, and make bowls and calabashes. I inquired, if the Foollahs were related to the Loobies, and was informed that they had a tradition, that the chiefs of these tribes were originally white; two sons of one father. The Father of the Foollahs having always shown himself industrious in cultivating the land, and taking care of the cattle, his father, at his death, left all he had to him: but Looby being idle, had nothing given him but an axe, with which he went into the woods to work for his living; and both tribes have continued in their respective occupations ever since.

At three, P. M., we set off for the King's Town, with Cah Munsong, or the River Alcaide, who was our guide. We found a great part of the town burned, as had been reported to us. The women and children fled from us, as though we were monsters, they having never seen a white man before. One young woman, however, distinguished herself from the rest by running for a calabash of water, and falling on her knees, she presented it to the Major on our entering the town. I learned afterwards that the women present nothing to their friends, nor even to their husbands, but in the same humble and reverential posture. The Alcaide conducted us first to his own house, and thence to the palace, where the King sits under e tree to hold his councils and administer justice. A man who is at all acquainted with the Bible, cannot observe the manners and customs of these people without remarking many things which remind him of the Patriarchs and ancient Jews; the primitive simplicity, together with many ancient customs, being retained among them.-Wesleyan Meth. Mag.

DEAR BRETHREN,

Obituary.

To the Editors of the Methodist Magazine.

Philadelphia, Nov. 17, 1825.

By an early insertion of the following letter in the Magazine, you will oblige your friend and brother in Christ, S. SHARP.

DEATH OF MRS. M'ARTHUR.
Philadelphia, Feb. 6th, 1809.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

I again resume my pen to assure you of my continued friendship, to express the most tender sympathy, and to alleviate as far as possible the grief your loss must have occasioned; by making you more fully acquainted with the happy circumstances of your sister's death. I am urged to this melancholy and joyful task by her request, and will make it known in her own words, being more expressive than any I can use. "Sister B. when I am dead write to my sister Jemima and tell her I have gone to glory." Even this assurance replete with satisfaction; yet as you had not the privilege of being with her, I am sensible it will afford you great consolation to have the particulars of her exercises through the last of her illness. I am deeply conscious of my inability to do justice to this subject, and feel a diffidence that almost urges me to silence: but her request and the satisfaction it will afford you induces me to proceed.

I will begin from the night I wrote you last. I mentioned that she had received the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, was not very comfortable, much tempted and harassed with the "fear of death," complained of an unbelieving heart, conscious she was not prepared for Heaven, and that she said her afflictions rendered ber incapable of being as much engaged as she desired. When reminded that she had been a follower of the Lord in health, and that He would not forsake her in the "trying hour" of sickness, her usual answer was, "I have been a feeble follower indeed "

On Friday at noon she was very ill and inquired with visible alarm, if we did not think her dying: we assured her she was not. In about an hour she was better, and I concluded to go home to get some sleep. When making ready she called me, and said, "I have one request to make, and that is, that

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you will never leave me." I told her I would not. In the evening her spirits seemed better, and she conversed freely. While sitting alone with her I mentioned the satisfaction it must afford her that her babe was gone. She said she had reflected on it with pleasure, and began telling me two dreams she had while at New-Mills last summer. She said, "in part I can explain one: my Margaretta and little Jemima* are gone, what do you think of the other part? can you explain it?" My answer was, I know of no other interpretation than that you will soon get your feet fixed upon the Rock of Ages.'" "O!" said she, "you are a most flattering interpreter, how happy would I be if this should be the case.' She then began talking of the other dream. I said little, fearing she was too weak to converse so much. She told me she felt strange. I made no answer. O! said she, 66 come here." I hastened to her bed-side and she repeated again, "Oh how I feel." In vain I attempted to compose her by telling her she was only a little fatigued by conversing too much. "No," said she, "I am dying and that without hope.' stood a moment reflecting she may be going, shall I call the family? a second thought occurred, not the family now, and involuntarily she broke out into prayer, and called, "Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!" and before she had three times called on the all-prevailing name of Jesus the cloud burst and her theme was changed to "Glory! Glory! Glory! I am going to glory." She shouted and clapped her hands, those feeble hands, which for several days she could scarcely raise, she would clap, and with them clasped me in her arms, "with strength renewed." She seemed as if she would be out of bed, and continued shouting, "Glory! I am going to glory. O! that

*Jemima was the daughter of Rev. Solomon Sharp.

you could go with me." I now thought of the family and opened the door to call them to witness her joy. Scarcely was the door opened before they heard her in the store and kitchen. They were so astonished that they were hardly able to get up the stairs.

Now you may imagine your happy sister surrounded by her weeping and yet rejoicing friends. The scene surpasses all description. After these transports had in a measure abated she requested us to pray. We kneeled down by her bed, and she broke out in prayer, but such a prayer I never heard. She plead the promises with such an holy boldness as is indescribable; she conversed with her adorable Deliverer as a man with a friend, often saying, "how good thou art!" "none ever sought Thy face in vain." Her bodily pain now returned, she seemed to suffer more than ever, and again broke out in prayer for resignation, patience and suffering grace. About an hour after, she again broke out in praises, "a miracle! a miracle!" she now began to cry, "I am a miracle, my soul and body both healed, I have not a single pain, here is glory in my soul." She then repeated,

"When Satan appears to stop up our path, And fills us with fears, we triumph by faith: He cannot take from us (tho' oft he has tried) The heart-cheering promise, The Lord will provide."

She then repeated the third verse of the first hymn," Jesus the name that charms our fears," &c. She called her sister, and said, "O! my dear Theodosia will you seek the Lord? will you promise to get religion? O! do get it now, I want you to begin to pray, you must my dear sister, I want you to help me praise the Lord." To her brother-in-law she said, "you too my dear Malchom must get religion. O do begin now." She kissed him, saying, "I love you, you must seek the Lord: O! I want you all to go to glory." She then called the young woman and exhorted her to be faithful, saying, “you Nancy have got religion, O! help me to praise the Lord." Embracing her mourning husband, she said, "O that you could go to glory with me.' To her esteemed friend, the Rev. Mr. Bartine, she said, "Don't you want to go to glory too?" After this she was tempted to fear it might be a delusion, and it was suggested to her that Satan bad transformed himself into an angel of light. She mentioned this, but said, "he could not have given me the strength I had to praise the Lord; he would not have made me call on Jesus

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as I did. Again, she said, "'tis made known unto me, 'Thou shalt die and not live;' and she repeated over and over, 'Thou shalt die and not live,' saying, "it is a solemn sound." After laying calm awhile she began praising and repeating, "Glory!" and requested the family might be called to see her go. I asked her if this was delusion. "O! no," she said, "it is a reality and I am going to glory." Scarcely had the family entered the room when she turned to me with a most disappointod look, and said, "O! I thought I was going to glory, but my spirit has come back. 0! that I may be resigned and willing to wait."

On Saturday she continued composed until night, when she was a little flighty. She told me she supposed this was occasioned by not sleeping after taking a dose of laudanum. On Sunday she continued much the same. All the following week she was delivered from her bodily sufferings, so that I almost flattered myself with hopes of her recovery. She appeared as if her work was done, and with lamb-like patience she only waited for the coming of her Lord. No fears, no doubts, all tranquil, all serene. The language of the Poet forcibly occurred to my mind ;

"Then ask the monster where's thy sting? And where's thy victory boasting grave?"

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For my own satisfaction I inquired if she remembered Friday evening? Her answer was, yes, and when I called you to my bed and told you I was dying without hope, you stood silent a moment; I thought you had no hope of me; but when you broke out in prayer I felt encouraged and began to call on Jesus. How soon the answer came! it was like lightning. Are you not pleased that you stayed with me to witness the goodness of God to one of His most feeble followers? O! none ever sought His face in vain." On Tuesday evening she was evidently dying, and lay composed about an hour and I thought her speechless. She then began to repeat, "Glory! Glory? I am going to Glory." She continued in this way until a few minutes before she expired, which was on Saturday morning at five o'clock. During all this time she did not sleep, to my knowledge, but continued day and night praising God and repeating, Glory!" and Amen. "Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." "Behold the Saviour of mankind, Nailed to the shameful tree," &c. but changed the words to "Behold the glory of

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