WESLEYAN METHODIST MISSIONS. Extracts from an Address to the Public, by the General Committee of the Methodist Missionary Society for the London District. The present age, so fertile in political changes, has been not less strikingly marked by circumstances in the religious world, of a character equally energetic; but the effects of which will outreach them in duration, as they surpass them in beneficence. In efforts of this kind, the Methodists, in the religious connection first established by the Rev. John Wesley, have long taken a zealous part. In 1786, the Rev. Dr. Coke, who was proceeding to America with three Missionaries, of whom one only had been previously destined for the West Indies, the others being ultimately designed to labour in Newfoundland, was driven by stress of weather into the island of Antigua. There the Missionaries found such opportunities of usefulness, as seemed to require their united and immediate exertions; and the Mission being from time to time reinforced, the work of God spread from island to island, and at present employs thirty-one Missionaries. The number of persons in religious society, according to the last year's Report, was 17,002, the greater part of whom are Negroes; who, torn by the hand of violence from their native country, by an over-ruling Providence have been brought within the reach of evangelical instruction, and redeemed from the slavery of vice and heathenish igno rance. As a joyful instance of the blessing of God upon this' Mission, it may be stated, that about 3800 members were, in the last two years only, added to the Methodist Societies in these islands; and that not less than 120,000 Blacks and other coloured people, who once walked in pagan darkness, now attend the preaching of the Gospel. To these cheering calculations, so interesting to every Christian, may also be added the thousands who, in the last thirty years, have died in the faith, blessing the instruments by whom they had received the benefits of salvation. The prescribed brevity of this Address, will only admit of the simple enumeration of some of our other Missions, which otherwise would afford very interesting details. Not only have the Negroes in the West Indies been made the objects of our care, but a Mission has been established at Sierra Leone. In Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland, seventeen Missionaries are employed. The number in society is 1570. From the Western World we now turn our eyes to the East, where a recent decision of the Legislature has opened a more effectual door for the introduction of the Gospel among sixty millions of British Subjects, darkened and corrupted by the grossest idolatry. To that part of the globe, six Missionaries, appointed by the Methodist Conference, have proceeded. Of these, one at least is to be stationed in the island of Java, and the rest in the island of Ceylon. The principal effort will be first made in Ceylon, where there are multitudes of nominal Christians, who are, with very few exceptions, as sheep without a shepherd, and a million of Pagans. Extensive as is this field, it is hoped that it is but a step to the neighbouring continent, where the vast population of Hindostan have a double claim upon our regards, both as benighted Pagans and as British Subjects. A Missionary is also appointed to New South Wales, and is just ready to sail to that important station, from whence a very pressing application has been received. A debt has been contracted, by our extraordinary exertions in sending, in the course of the last twelve months, six Missionaries to the East, one to the Cape of Good Hope, one to New South Wales, one to Sierra Leone, two to Newfoundland, one to Bermuda, and six to the West Indies. Seven of them are married, and accompanied by their wives. We look forward to the time, when we shall not only be relieved from this temporary embarrassment, but obtain such a permanent increase of the funds, as will so far exceed the existing demands, as to furnish a surplus, to be applied in giving a still wider diffusion to the glorious Gospel of the blessed God. It was with this view, that a Methodist Missionary Society was formed, at a General Meeting of the Friends of Missions, held at the Chapel, City Road, London, Dec. 1, 1814; a measure which appeared to be equally called for by increasing opportunities for evangelizing heathen nations; by the excellent example of other Christian Societies; and by the loss of the personal exertions of the late Rev. Dr. Coke, who for years had stooped to the very drudgery of charity, and gratuitously pleaded the cause of a perishing world from door to door. Whilst our little band of Missionaries go forth against the idolatry of the East, and whilst more than one hundred other Methodist Missionaries, in different parts of the world, are immediately engaged in the same contest with the powers of darkness, it devolves upon us who remain at home to furnish the sinews of this holy war. (LONDON) MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Designation of Eight Missionaries. We mentioned the appointment of most of these Missionaries, at p. 479 of our Second Volume. Messrs. Skinner, Dawson, and Fyvie proceed to India; and Mr. Thompson to Malacca, at which place the establishment of a Mission has been strongly recommended by Mr. Morrison. Mr. Barker, Mr. Williams, Mr. Hamilton, and Mr. Evans, are intended for Leetakoo, and other places in Africa to which Mr. Campbell promised to send Missionaries. Foreign Intelligence. NORTH AMERICA.-UNITED STATES. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS. IN our First Volume, pp. 180-182, we gave a sketch of the different Missionary Institutions in the United States. The war which has unhappily subsisted between the two countries, has rendered the intercourse so irregular and uncertain, that very little precise information has been circulated on this side the Atlantic respecting the Missionary Exertions of Christians in the United States. From the sketch referred to, it may be seen that these exertions have received their chief support in the Northern Division of the Union. When our readers have perused the following details of the exertions and prospects of the American Board, they may recur with pleasure to the interesting statements which appear in the Life of Eliot, under the recollection that it was in the very States which are now beginning to signalize themselves by a zeal for Missions to the Heathen, that the ancestors of our American co-adjutors, with Eliot at their head, diffused Christianity among the native tribes which then occupied these regions; and left therein an admirable model of wisdom and zeal for all future Missionaries. 66 A Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions" has been formed several years, consisting of distinguished Ministers and Laymen of the Northern States. It carries on its operations under an Act of Incorporation. We rejoice to see, by communications just received from America, that our Transatlantic Brethren are beginning to take a very active share in the exertions which are making for the conversion of the Heathen. The Fifth Annual Meeting of the Board was held at the Philosophical Chamber of Yale College, Sept. 15, 1814. The Report of Proceedings at this Meeting, and of the Transactions of the year, has just reached us. The following gentlemen were chosen officers for the year ensuing: viz. President,-Hon. John Treadwell. Committee,-Rev. Dr. Spring; Rev. Dr. Worcester; Jeremiah Evarts, Esq. Corresponding Secretary,-Rev. Dr. Worcester. Recording Secretary,-Rev. Mr. Chapin. Treasurer-Mr. Evarts. Auditor,-Mr. Chester Adams. An earnest request was communicated to the Board, from the Delaware Indians, that Missionaries might be sent among them; which request was referred to the Committee; and it was resolved, that it was the opinion of the Board, that the independent and unevangelized tribes of Indians, occupying their own lands, whether without or within the limits stated in the Treaty of Peace between the United States' and Great Britain, are, with other objects, embraced by the Act of their Incorporation. The Committee exhibited their Report, which was adopted: after which Divine Service was held in the Church of the United Society, and a Sermon preached, from Eph. iii. 8, by the Rev. Mr. Richards. Before we proceed to give an abstract of the Report delivered at the Fifth Anniversary, we shall put our readers in possession of the principal parts of the Report of the Fourth Year, as that relates the first attempt of the Board to send Missionaries abroad. Departure for India of Five Missionaries-Messrs. Judson, Nott, Newell, Hall, and Rice.. The Board having come to the resolution of assisting the cause of Christianity in the Eastern World, five young students in Divinity, selected with |