1822.] REPORT OF THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF MASS. charitable Societies, whose objects are, to meliorate the conditions, and to enlighten the minds of our fellow-beings, have we improved all the opportunities which we have for doing good? Have we adopted the most effectual measures for raising up men, who may stem the torrent of skepticism and libertine principles, which threaten to sweep away all the foundations of revealed religion, and to carry us back to a state of Pagan darkness? We do not suppose that every pious youth who receives the advantages of a good education, will make a Fuller, a Carey, a Marshman, or a Hall. This is not necessary. But to produce a continued succession of a few such men, we must extend these advantages Lo many. In aiding suitable young men to prepare for the sacred ministry, our brethren in England have set us an example worthy of imitation. They have already produced many bright and shining lights, that will shed their lustre on distant ages of the Church, and will shine as stars of the first magnitude in a superior world. If we should be the humble instruments of making any one a more able defender of the "faith which was once delivered to the saints," or of bringing into the public service of our divine Master any faithful servant, who might otherwise have remained in obscurity, nothing will hereafter afford us more sincere gratification, nothing perhaps, which we can do, will tend more to the advancement of the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom. Yours, &c. OBSERVATOR. REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY Ir is now twenty years since this Society held its first meeting for the choice of its officers, and the transaction of other business connected with the objects for which it was established. And though several highly respected ministers of Christ, who took an active part on that occasion, have long ago en tered into rest; yet there are a few spared, who remember with feelings of lively interest, the circumstances which attended its organization. They were permitted the honour of bestowing on this Institution, in its infancy, their fostering care; and have observed its growth from year to year, until it has arrived at a state of maturity which gives them peculiar pleas. ure. Indeed, none of us can have a correct knowledge of the rise and progress of this Society, with out feelings of gratitude for its past success, and confident expectation of its future prosperity. We have abundant reason to thank God, and take courage; to continue the work which our venerable predecessors commenced; and to persevere in well doing, seeing, that in due time we shall reap if we faint not. That the Society may understand how their funds have been appropriated; what missionaries have been employed; and what fields of labour they have occupied; the Trustees would lay before them the following REPORT. Rev. Henry Hale has fulfilled a missionary appointment of three months, which had been given him previous to the last annual meeting. Most of this time was occupied in the province of New-Brunswick. After mentioning several towns which he had visited, he remarks; "This week I spent on Schoodick river, preaching lectures in different places. Having passed the sabbath in the town of St. Andrews, I rode to Magguadavick river, where I spent four Lord's days. The settlement on this river is about nine miles in length, and the inhabitants quite numerQus. There is a small Baptist, church here. I found them very low in religion, and the people extremely wicked. I trust I felt more than a common concern for their spiritual welfare. I visited and preached frequently in different parts of the settlement. I soon discovered some special attention to religion. Christians manifested greater zeal for the cause of Christ, and several who had before been entirely thoughtless, appeared to be under deep concern for their souls. While I tarried with them, the attention to divine things seemed gradually to increase. Before I left them, one young man gave satisfactory evidence that he had found the "Pearl of great price." On his return, Mr. Hale visited and preached in several towns in the State of Maine, where his labours were kindly, received; and it is hoped, attended with a blessing. The Trustees have to record with gratitude, the success which has accompanied the missionary exertions of their faithful brother, Mr. Isaac Kimball. At their meeting last May, they gave him an appointment for six months. A few extracts from his letters will be sufficient to shew that he has not laboured in vain. He observes, "Truly I may say, goodness and mercy have followed me all my days. Since I saw you, I have witnessed many delightful and animating scenes, and have, I think, reason to bless God that I was sent by Him, and the Society to Claremont. I have spent my time mostly in that place. I have, however, Occasionally visited and preached in Charlestown and Unity. I have also spent two Lord's days in Plainfield, and have had the happiness to see that church beginning to revive. I endeavoured to excite the brethren to put forth their efforts to gather a society; and have since beard they were doing so with very good success. But my labours for the last three months have been principally confined to Claremont. After the constitution of the church there, the work of the Lord gradually increased, and filled many a heart with joy and gladness. I attended meetings in different parts of the town almost every evening, except towards the latter part of the time, when, on account of my ill health, I was obliged to relax in my exertions. Satan did not, however, allow the subjects of his empire to renounce his service without a struggle. Mr. Kimball states, "that the irreligious part of the community manifested a virulence and malignity in their opposition which he had nev er before witnessed. Threats were incessant, insomuch that some of the brethren were concerned for my personal safety. In repeated instances, our opposers fastened and nailed up the school houses where we held our meetings; and in some cases, came into the meetings contradicting and blaspheming; and once they so disturbed the service, that we retired from the school house to a private habitation. But they followed us, and were expelled from the house by muscular strength. Still the glorious work went on and spread from heart to heart, and from house to house. I have, since the formation of this church, which then consisted of seventeen members, baptized sixteen, and several have been added by letter. But a small part of the hopeful converts have yet professed religion. The number of those who have hopefully passed from death unto life is about sixty. Various have been the ways in which God has been pleased to call up the attention of sinners in this place. The preaching of the word, private conversation, and the administration of baptism, have been means which God has blessed. The good work is still going on, and it was with great reluctance, I left the place at this interesting season." In a subsequent letter, he adds, "I have spent ten weeks in Claremont. As the state of that infant church seemed to require particular attention, I spent my sabbaths mostly with them, so that they were left destitute but once. I have usually held a third meeting in Charlestown, Unity, or Cornish. Besides the above towns, I preached in Newport, Windsor, Weathersfield, Springfield, and Chester, in Vermont In this tour, I have preached fif ty times, besides attending conference meetings. I baptized thirteen persons in Claremont, who were added to that church, increasing their number to more than fifty. There are a considerable number more whom we hope to see come forward before long to declare what God has done for their souls. In Unity the cause is rising. Two persons have been added to the church the summer past by baptism, making their addition eight since I first went there." In a communication, dated December 26, 1821, which brings Mr. Kimball's journal to a close, he says, "I bave spent the time chiefly in the same region I did before. I have ridden in the prosecution of my duties previous to my leaving the missionary field, between five hundred and six hundred miles; preached eighty times; and attend ed many other religious meetings. I have administered the Lord's Supper three times; and the ordinance of baptism to seven persons. In Claremont, the most fruitful spot in my missionary field, things still wear an encouraging aspect. The brethren continue their meetings regularly, whether they have preaching or not, in a commodious Hall which they have obtained in the centre of the town. On the 26th of September, I had the happiness of witnessing the acceptance of that infant church, formed with seventeen members a few months ago, into the Woodstock Baptist Association, consisting of fifty-five members. Three have been since added to that number. On November 14, I had the satisfaction to assist in the formation of a Female Benevolent Society, whose object is, " to aid with money and clothing, or other necessary arti cles, the education of pious young men for the ministry, missionary exertions, and Indian schools." In Charlestown, after long and anxiously watching the prospects of a revival, we have at length been permitted to witness something of the work of the Lord, and the triumphs of his grace. The number of hopeful converts is twelve or fourteen. The church in Unity appears to be gradually rising. I drafted a constitution, and assisted in the formation of a "Female Benevolent Society," similar in its objects. to the one in Claremont. On both occasions I preached, shewing the necessity and utility of such pious benefactions. Bradford has experienced a revival of religion; in which about thirty souls have been hopefully converted to God. Such as had correct views of gospel doctrine and church order, I encouraged to become embodied as a church. And on the 11th day of December, a church was regularly organized, consisting of eight males, and seven females; all heads of families except one, and all in the prime of life. In Hillsborough is an infant church, formed with sixteen members, August 31, 1820. The Lord has been graciously pleased to grant them his continued smiles, and they have increased to fiftyone, containing an unusual propor tion of brethren, apparently respectable both for talents and property. On my return to this place, I spent four days with them, including one sabbath. Besides the above places, I have, as formerly, made short itinerating excursions into other towns, and have preached in Newport, Sutton, Fisherfield, New-London and Washington, and in two or three neighbouring towns in Vermont. Rev. Gideon Cook, nominated to us by the New-Hampshire Missionary Society, has fulfilled a mission of three months. His labours were chiefly confined to Strafford county, New-Hampshire. The towns of Wolfborough, Ossipee, Taptonborough, Milton, and Eaton, were favoured with his ministrations. In Eaton he assisted in the constitution of a church; but being unable to support a minister, they beg the assistance of this Board. In Wolfborough, Mr. Cook was instrumental in forming a Female Society for pious and benevolent purposes. During this tour he preached sixty times; visited and conversed from house to house; and received thirty-three dollars in donations and subscriptions. This worthy missionary informs us, "there are not less than twelve towns in that region, which are destitute of the gospel, and many who had not heard a sermon for nine years. Their 66 cry is, come over and help us." We do not wonder he should add, "May you think on their situation, and the Lord give you wisdom." Rev. Jesse Coburn has furnished us with an account of eleven weeks service performed in the western parts of Windsor, Washington, and Orange counties, Vermont. His labours, especially in the township of Roxbury, seem to have been blessed. In one section of this township, the pious people had not heard a sermon from a Baptist preacher for fifteen months. He says, he found a number of sisters praying the Lord of the harvest to send forth labourers into his harvest. None can conceive the gratitude they manifested to God for his goodness to them. Within a few weeks the work of God has commenced in this neighbourhood, and several persons have been hopefully converted. Our Missionary brother had the satisfaction of baptizing fifteen persons on a profession of their faith. He remarks, "the Lord is truly visiting the wil derness and solitary places, and making the desert to blossom as the rose. If ever I enjoyed the divine presence, it has been on this mission. Although I have been fatigued in body, yet I have felt willing to spend and be spent in the service of my Redeemer." Mr. Coburn preached in eight towns, and found them in a very destitute condition. And such he observes is the deplorable situation of that portion of country to the extent of forty miles square. Rev. John Ide has been employed as our missionary for three months. He preached in the towns of Jay, Westfield, Polton, Troy, Newport, and Derby, Vermont. In Jay he was induced to spend four sabbaths, as there appeared to be a solemn sense of the importance of religion on the minds of the people. Before he had finished his mission, he baptized ten persons; six others also gave evidence of piety. Besides the above mentioned towns, he says, "I have visited Irasburg, Sutton, Burton, Brownington, and Salem. In the last mentioned town a seriousness is visible, and there are one or two instances of conversion." By another communication from Mr. Ide, we are favoured with an additional account of his labours. At Newark he advised a few pious but feeble people, to establish meetings on the sabbath, and also weekly conferences. They consented, and have attended these meetings regularly since. At a place ten miles south of Newark, be assisted in the formation of a small church, consisting of seven men and one woman. Others were expected to unite, but the severity of the weather prevented them from coming together. In a number of instances, where he preached, there is reason to hope that the messages which he delivered, were not in word only, but in demonstration of the Spirit and with power. It is very evident from his statements, that the people are perishing for lack of knowledge. They have no one to warn them of their danger, or point them to the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world. To the south of Coventry, he says, "there is only one preacher with in eighteen miles-to the east there is only one within forty-to the west there is not a preacher nearer than thirty-six miles-and to the north there are only two ministers between this and unknown lands. Surely a people thus sitting in darkness, and famishing for the bread of life. should share largely in our sympathies; and we ought to consider ourselves under weigh ty obligations to send them the everlasting gospel. At Montgomery, where they had calculated to contribute to the missionary funds, but were disappointed; the whole congregation expressed their thanks to this Society, by rising up. They had no money to spare, but they shewed they were not insensible to the great kindness of the Society in sending them a minister of Christ. In this mission, Mr. Ide travelled five hundred and fifty miles; preached seventy-five sermons; attended four church meetings, and three conferences; assisted in organizing one church; and also administered the Lord's Supper, and Christian, baptism. In this place, the Board would introduce a letter which was enclosed in the journal of Mr. Ide, and signed by a number of pious females. It describes so feelingly the spiritual wants of that section of our country, and expresses such a warm glow of gratitude to their more highly favoured sisters who assist in supporting the missionaries of the cross, that we think it cannot be read without interest. It is addressed to the "Female Missionary, Mite, and Cent Societies of Massachusetts." 66 BELOVED SISTERS, We reside in our smoky log cottages, surrounded on all sides by an almost impenetrable wilderness, where, until within a few months, the blessed name of Jesus was never proclaimed, nor the celestial sound of the gospel ever heard, We know but little of the great and momentous transactions which are transpiring in the more popu lous and refined parts of our coun try; but we have precious and immortal souls, which we trust, have recently been redeemed by the efficacious blood of the Lamb. Our hearts were sensibly affected, when we learned by elder Ide, that our female friends in various parts of our land were contributing of their substance, to send the glad tidings of salvation into our needy and dark settlements. We would offer our most elevated expressions of gratitude to God, who has disposed the hearts of his children to cast in their mites to send the news of peace to unthinking mortals. And, dear sisters, we would hereby present our unfeigned thanks to you, for uniting your endeavours to favour us with the word of life. Indeed, the language of this feeble tribute is too languid to express those sensations of gratitude with which our minds are impressed. Perhaps, were it not for your generosity, as the means by which God has vouchsafed to send his gospel among us; we should now have been covered with the shades of moral darkness, and sporting thoughtlessly upon the brink of ruin. |