principles, and formed to the virtues of the gospel. Having completed a collegiate education, he engaged in mercantile pursuits, and his diligent application to business was rewarded with success.

Possessed of a vigorous and independent mind, and of a sound judgment, he early attracted general notice, and was introduced into publick life. He was raised to office, as well by the suffrages of his fellow-citizens, as by the appointment of the supreme Executive of the Commonwealth. None of these distinctions originated either in a mean compliance with the will of the ruling power, or an unmanly condescension to popular prejudice; but they resulted from a confidence which every class in the community placed in his inflexible integrity, his unyielding justice and persevering rectitude. For many years, he sustained the office of a magistrate, through the Commonwealth, and of a Judge on the bench of the Common Pleas, in the County of Worcester. From 1796 to 1810, the period at which he was elected into Congress, with one exception, he was chosen into the Senate of Massachusetts. The character of a citizen, a legislator, and a judge, he sustained with personal dignity; he manifested a vigilant attention to the appropriate duties of these relations, and uncorrupted fidelity in their execution. To him may be applied the sentiment of the Roman Poet,

"Justum et tenacem propositi vivium
Non ardor civium prava jubentium,
Nec vultus instantis tyranni
Mente quatit solida."

Judge Brigham, while a young man, made a profession of religion, and through life, gave an exemplification of the piety and righteousness, the benevolence and charity, which become the Christian. Governour of a respectable literary

As a

Institution in his vicinity, he seduously promoted the interests of intellectual and moral education. This society can bear witness that he devoted himself to his duty, as their President. Pure in his manners, and social in his disposition, he no less adorned a private than a publick station.

In the honourable execution of his trust, as a member of the National Council, without having felt the infirmities of old age, or the distress of languishing sickness, and while in the full possession of every domestick endearment, of the affection of numerous friends, and of the respect and esteem of the wise and good of his countrymen, he was suddenly summoned to render his account to his God, to whose service he had devoted the talents committed to his management.

The memory of the just shall be blessed.

In the management of the concerns of the Society, the Trustees have, by all the means in their power, sought the promotion of its great objects.

Some inconvenience having arisen from the Rev. Messrs. Nurse and Warren's depending for that part of their support, which the people of their charge could not pay, upon two different Missionary Societies, a conference was holden by a Committee of your Board of Trustees, and a delegation of the Society for Propagating the Gospel. And it was agreed between them, that in future, Mr. Nurse should exclusively depend upon the last mentioned Society, and Mr. Warren depend solely on us.

The Trustees feel painful emotions at the separation from Mr. Nurse and the people of Ellsworth. Under the auspices of this Society, Mr. Nurse began his successful instructions in that place; their annual donations having greatly assisted to ripen measures, which

have already been attended with beneficial effects, and which, in future, promise still greater blessings. But with pleasure they inform the Society, that adequate assistance will be furnished to the people of Ellsworth, to enable them to prosecute their plan; and they will devoutly rejoice at the genuine effects of Christian charity, through whatever hand it may flow.

The Trustees have appropriated one hundred dollars towards the support of Mr. Warren, the present year. In consequence of the release of the payment of any part of the salary of Mr. Nurse, the Trustees would gladly have taken a new field of Missionary labours ; but they were not able, in season for the present year, to fix upon the most eligible place, nor to obtain the suitable candidate. But several applications for assistance have recently been made, and there is a fair prospect, that the Trustees of the ensuing year may successfully attempt the formation of a Christian Church and Society, among a people to whom the gospel is not preached.

The Trustees view schools, and the distribution of religious and school books, as objects of high consideration, they have accordingly appropriated sixty dollars to schools, and thirty-eight dollars for books. The school money has been equally divided between the towns bordering on Ellsworth, under the direction of Rev. Mr. Nurse; and the plantation of Jackson and Washington. These are exclusively designed to aid in the maintenance of female instructors, and for the instruction of young children.

The following books and pamphlets have been distributed, viz. To Jackson, under the care of Rev. Mr. Warren, six copies of Nos. 3, 5, 8, and 10, of the Christian Monitor; four copies of Doddridge's Rise and Progress; ten copies of Por

teus' Evidences; four dozen copies of Worcester Catechism; twenty copies of the seven first numbers of the Christian Disciple, for 1814. To Ellsworth, under the care of Rev. Mr. Nurse, six copies of Nos. 5, 6, and 10 of the Christian Monitor; four copies of Doddridge's Rise and Progress; ten copies of Porteus' Evidences; four dozen copies of Worcester Catechism, and twenty copies of the seven first numbers of the Christian Disciple, for 1814. To the Rev. Mr. Mason of Castine, six copies of numbers 3, 6, and 8 of Christian Monitor; four copies of Doddridge's Rise and Progress; four copies of Porter's Evidences; two dozen copies of the Worcester Catechism; and ten copies of the seven first numbers of the Christian Disciple, for 1814.

The whole fifty copies of the seven first numbers of the Christian Disciple, for 1814, were presented to the Society by the Rev. Noah Worcester, of Brighton.

Forty-seven dollars, the donation of individuals in Ellsworth, remain on hand, appropriated to schools, but to be expended under the direction of the Society,

The pecuniary concerns of the Society will appear from the following statement, from the Report of the Treasurer this day exhibited.

While Christians, in every region and of every considerable sect, are now strenuously engaged to disseminate the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ among the idolatrous nations of the earth, and are united in exertions to send the word of life to those, who are perishing for lack of vision, while the friends of Christianity through the world manifest this active endeavour to extend the glorious gospel in its purity and efficacy, the Trustees congratulate the Society on being pariakers of the same spirit, and engaged to effect the stated preaching of the Gospel in places, where it has seldom been heard, and to furnish destitute people with the means of improvement in Christian knowJedge, and attainments in Christian virtue. And they unite with them in sentiments of devout gratitude and praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for this general revival of the Christian spirit, and

these encouraging presages of the approach of the promised triumphs of the gospel, in every section of the inhabited globe. Although our means and efforts have been bumble and limited, they have not been without salutary and encouraging effects. By the blessing of God, we bave cause to rejoice in success, and to be animated to perseverence in similar exertions.

EZRA RIPLEY, Vice-Pres.
Attest,

S. RIPLEY, Cor. & Rec. Sec'ry.

At the late annual meeting of the Society, they chose for their officers, the ensuing year,

Hon. Christopher Gore, Pres.
Rev. Ezra Ripley, D. D. V. Pres.
Rev. Samuel Kipley, Cor. and
Rec. Sec'ry.

Hon. Benjamin Heywood, Treas.
Rev. Francis Parkman, Assistant
Treasurer.

Trustees.
Rev. Aaron Bancroft, D. D.
Hon. Joseph Allen
Deacon John White
Rev. John Foster, D. D.
Deacon Moses Coolidge
Rev. Asa Packard
Thomas W. Ward, Esq.
Rev. Richard R. Eliot
Rev. Nathaniel Thayer
Isaac Fiske, Esq.
Rev. Isaac Allen
Mr. Josiah Bridge.

The Society will hold their next annual meeting at Templeton; in the County of Worcester. The Rev. Wilkes Allen is the first, and Rev. Jonathan Osgood the second preacher.

FROM a tract kindly presented by the Editor of the Panoplist, entitled "Summary view of the pro

ceedings of the Missionary Socie, ty," we have collected the following important facts.

The Society was formed in 1795, on the liberal principles of admitting serious Christians without any distinction of sect or denomination, and of leaving it to the heathen, "whom God may call into the fellowship of his Son, to assume for themselves such form of government as to them shall appear most agreeable to the word of God."

"The first efforts of the Society, were directed to the Islands of the South Pacifick Ocean." The missionaries were called to endure many trials and discouraging circumstances; but by perseverance they gained an establishment. In 1812 Pomare, the king of Otaheite, avowed himself a Christian. "Since that time many of the natives have followed his example, and diligently attend the ordinances of religion, and are distinguished by the name of the praying people. About three hundred attend the worship of God, and nearly as many attend the adult school. Several chiefs in adjacent islands have also joined them, and wish instructors to be sent to their people."

In 1798 several missionaries were sent to Africa. "A flourishing Church of converted Hottentots has been formed consisting of several hundred persons Among a people who were savage, ignorant, and idle, a settlement is now established in Caffraria which "consists of nearly 1200 people, with a large quantity of cattle."

From year to year other settlements in different and distant parts of Africa have been formed. There are now more than twelve different places in which religious instruction is offered to different nations of Africa.

The exertions of this Society have extended to India, China, Can

ada, Newfoundland, and the WestIndies.

In about fifty different stations, the Society employs seventy or eighty missionaries.

"Their Missionary, Mr. R. Morrison, has translated the whole of the New Testament and some parts of the Old, into the Chinese tongue; two editions of which have been printed and widely circulated through different parts of the empire."

Those who believe in the truth and value of the Christian religion. and who read with candor what bas been actually effected by missionary exertions, will lay aside their doubts, as to the utility of the efforts to spread the gospel throughout the world. The liberal ground adopted by the Society in London is truly commendable; and the less there is of Sectarian doginas and prejudices associated with missionary exertions, the greater, in our opinion, will be the prospects of real advantage both at home and abroad. By a letter published in the Recorder, October 8, it appears that the missionary exertions at Otaheite have been wonderfully blessed and prospered, that "the Taheitan nation have changed their false gods for Jehovah the true God;" that "the majority of the people of Eimeo, near a thousand, have renounced their idols and professed themselves worshippers of the true God;" that in one school there is six hundred and sixty scholars; that the "priests publickly burn their gods; the chiefs destroy their Morais, pull down their sacred altars, and cook their victuals with the materials;" and "group after group" are seen "flocking to the missionaries, giving themselves up to the Lord."