vigorous, and efficient labourers. We do, indeed, tenderly sympathize with those portions of our church and our country, where the evil of slavery has been entailed upon them; where a great and the most virtuous part of the community abhor slavery, and wish its extermination as sincerely as any others--but where the number of slaves, their ignorance, and their vicious habits generally render an immediate and universal emancipation inconsistent alike with the safety and happiness of the master and the slave. With those who are thus circumstanced, we repeat that we tenderly sympathize.-At the same time we earnestly exhort them to continue, and, if possible, to increase their exertions to effect a total abolition of slavery.-We exhort them to suffer no greater delay to take place in this most interesting concern than a regard to the public welfare truly and indispensably demands.

As our country has inflicted a most grievous injury on the unhappy Africans, by bringing them into slavery, we cannot, indeed, urge that we should add a second injury to the first, by emancipating them in such a manner as that they will be likely to destroy themselves or others. But we do think that our country ought to be governed in this matter by no other consideration than an honest and impartial regard to the happiness of the injured party, uninfluenced by the expense or inconvenience which such a regard may involve.-We therefore warn all who belong to our denomination of christians against unduly extending this plea of necessity; against making it a cover for the love and practice of slavery, or a pretence for not using efforts, that are lawful and practicable, to extinguish the evil.

And we at the same time exhort others to forbear harsh censures and uncharitable reflections on their brethren who unhappily live among slaves whom they cannot immediately set free: but who, at the same time, are really using all their influence, and all their endeavours to bring them into a state of freedom, as soon as a door for it can be safely opened.

Having thus expressed our views of slavery, and of the duty indispensably incumbent on all christians to labour for its complete extinction, we proceed to recommend (and we do it with all the earnestness and solemnity which this momentous subject demands) a particular attention to the following points.

1. We recommend to all our people to patronise and encourage the Society lately formed for colonizing in Africa, the land of their ancestors, the people of colour in our country. We hope that much good may result from the plans and efforts of this Society. And while we exceedingly rejoice to have witnessed its origin and organization among the holders of slaves, as giving an unequivocal pledge of their desire to deliver themselves and their country from the calamity of slavery, we hope that those portions of the American Union whose inhabitants are, by a gracious Providence, more favourably circumstanced, will cordially, and liberally, and earnestly co-operate with their brethren in bringing about the great end contemplated.

2. We recommend to all the members of our religious denomi

nations, not only to permit, but to facilitate and encourage the instruction of their slaves in the principles and duties of the christian religion-by granting them liberty to attend on the preaching of the gospel, when they have the opportunity; by favouring the instruction of them in Sabbath Schools, wherever those Schools can be formed; and by giving them all other proper advantages for acquiring the knowledge of their duty both to God and man. We are perfectly satisfied, that, as it is incumbent on all christians to communicate religious instruction to those who are under their authority, so that the doing of this in the case before us would not operate, as some have apprehended that it might, as an excitement to insubordination and insurrection, but would, on the contrary, operate as the most powerful means for the prevention of those evils.*

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3. We enjoin it on all church Sessions and Presbyteries under the care of this Assembly, to discountenance, and, as far as possible, to prevent all cruelty of whatever kind in the treatment of slaves especially the cruelty of separating husband and wife, parents and children, and that which consists in selling slaves to those who will either themselves deprive these unhappy people of the blessings of the gospel, or who will transport them to places where the gospel is not proclaimed, or where it is forbidden to slaves to attend upon its institutions. The manifest violation or disregard of the injunction here given, in its true spirit and intention, ought to be considered as just ground for the discipline and censures of the church. And if it shall ever happen that a christian professor, in our communion, shall sell a slave who is also in communion and good standing with our church, contrary to his or her will and inclination, it ought immediately to claim the particular attention of the proper church judicature; and unless there be such peculiar circumstances attending the case as can but seldom happen, it ought to be followed, without delay, by a suspension of the offender from all the privileges of the church, till he repent, and make all the reparation in his power to the injured party.

Passed by the unanimous vote of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, and signed by their order by

Philadelphia, June 2, 1818.

J. J. JANEWAY, Moderator.

* The following intelligence has been recently received, and may be relied on as authentic" The legislature of Antigua, having held a conference with the missionaries (of the United Brethren, commonly called Moravians) to induce them to extend their missions there, and finding it out of their power, voted them one thousand pounds to build a church and house, and three hundred pounds per annum for the support of missionaries at one station; granting and offering as much crown land as should be wanted for that or other stations; and in the despatch to Lord Bathurst from the government of Antigua, it is stated, that the legislature lamented that their limited finances prevented their doing more; as they were' persuaded, that to the labours of those missionaries among the negroes they were mainly indebted for a state of profound tranquillity, while other islands had been exposed to revolt and insurrection, The brethren have about twelve thousand negroes in their congregation on that island."

VOL. V.]

Saturday, July 4, 1818.

REVIVAL AMONG THE DELAWARE INDIANS.

[No. 7.

Our readers will doubtless peruse with no ordinary satisfaction the following account of the prosperous state of the Mission of the United Brethren in Upper Canada. It is peculiarly satisfactory to observe this flattering condition of christianity among our red brethren of the woods, at the very time when the American Bible Society is about sending to them a translation into their native language of portions of the Sacred Oracles, by which they may be built up in their most holy faith.

We expect to be able to give in our next Number a more particular account of the worthy Missionary to whom the National Society is indebted for that translation. He has laboured long and faithfully in that part of his Master's vineyard; and the Lord now is giving him "souls for his hire," who, we trust, will be his crown of rejoicing in the great day of accounts.

COMMUNICATED FOR THE CHRISTIAN HERALD.

Extracts of a circular from the Rev. C. F. Schaaf of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, dated Bethlehem, 6th June, 1818-addressed to the congregations of the United Brethren in this country.

We have received letters from Brother Dencke at New Fairfield, in Upper Canada, of the 2d March and 1st April, in both of which he calls upon all our congregations, to unite with him in praising the Lord for the wonders of his mercy to the Indian congregation among whom he resides, which are displayed more and more gloriously; and also in faithful supplications for them, that he would keep them in his grace, and continue to establish them therein. Concerning the blessings enjoyed in the passion-week, and at easter, when the church was daily crowded with attentive hearers, Brother Dencke thus expresses himself: "These were indeed happy days; times of new awakenings, and of new consolations, the like to which I have never before witnessed during my eighteen years service among the Indians. All seem desirous to press into the kingdom of heaven. Nearly all that were formerly excluded on account of their deviations, have been absolved and readmitted to the church privileges; and the candidates for baptism have been all baptised. Pray, dear brethren, that more heathen may come to us, embrace the gospel, and desire baptism; for at present we have no more heathen residing within our settlement!" Brother Dencke mentions also, that at the suggestion of their friend, Mr. John Dolson, a Bible Society had been formed for the county of Kent, in which they live, under the name of the "Kent Auxiliary Bible Society." Brother Dencke, by request, had written an address to the inhabitants of the country, which had been circulated; and many had thereupon become members of the Society, to which also some of our Indian brethren had joined themselves. This undertaking for

the promotion of the kingdom of our Lord, Brother Dencke also recommends to our fervent prayers. At the desire of the Managers of the American Bible Society in New York, Brother Dencke had begun to translate parts of the New Testament into the Delaware language, and had already finished the epistles of St. John, and St. John's gospel. This Society has in view to print these translations at their expense, for the use of our and other Indian missions, and offers to present us with 400 copies ready bound. We wish this truly respectable Society the rich blessings of our Lord, especially that they may have the joy, that their laudable endeavours in the cause of the gospel may be the means of promoting the everlasting happiness of very many souls."

"Brother Richter at St. Johns in Antigua, in a letter of the 27th March, gives an account of the continued prosperous course of the mission on that island. The passion season, and easter, were particularly blessed, through the solemn consideration, of what our Lord suffered and merited for us. Brother Stobwasser and his wife had moved to the new establishment on the east side of the island; and found reason to hope, that by the preaching of the gospel, many souls would also there be gained as a reward for the travail of the soul of our Lord. The meetings are at present held in the newly built dwelling-house, which however will not contain the number of hearers who attend. They were engaged in building a new church there. Since Easter 1817, in St. Johns only, 228 adults had been added to the church by baptism, or reception, and 113 had become participants of the holy communion."

"By later accounts from Antigua it appears, that the brethren Ellis and Taylor, with their wives, arrived there in the month of May from England and Ireland, as new assistants in the mission. Brother Sauter and his wife arrived in the same month in Bethlehem, for the recovery of their health; and brought with them their two youngest daughters, for their further education."

CHEROKEE MISSION.

From the Knoxville Register.

Copy of a letter from the Rev. Cyrus Kingsbury, Missionary to the Cherokee Tribe of Indians, to the Rev. Thomas H. Nelson, dated Chickamaugah, March 27, 1818.

Rev. and dear Sir, I take the liberty through you, as pastor of the Church and Congregation in Knoxville, to address a few lines to those benevolent females, who, more than a year ago, voluntarily came forward to aid by their Charity in establishing this mission. Your liberality deserved a more particular notice, and a more prompt acknowledgment than it has yet received from us. I hope, however, you will excuse our delay, when we tell you, that a pressure of cares, and those indispensable duties which were

necessary to make provision for our large family, obliged us to neglect many other duties which had a strong claim to our attention.

It is not my design at this time to illustrate the beauty and excellence of Christian charity, as a trait of the female character, or to enlarge on that noble maxim of our Saviour, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." I would rather call your attention to the effects which your charity, in connection with that of many others, has been instrumental in producing. We have most substantial grounds for saying, that God has been pleased in his condescending mercy to bless your charity as a means of enlightening these ignorant people, and of bringing more of them to a saving knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus.

The first of this month was but one year since I was here, a solitary pilgrim in this strange land, without one Christian friend with whom I could advise, or to whom I could look for assistance. But the Lord has unexpectedly raised up labourers, whose hearts we trust are warmed with a generous and holy love for the poor heathen, and who are willing to spend and be spent for the cause of Christ among them. Our missionary family is now so large, that some of us are engaged in making active preparations to commence a mission in the Choctaw Nation.

Our little Church which at first consisted of only five members, now consists of fifteen, and three more stand propounded for admission. Five of these are natives, who give pleasing evidence of having experienced a saving change of heart. Pespecting some of these, I must be a little particular.

Katy Brown, a girl about eighteen years of age, whose parents are half breeds and do not speak our language, has been in our family about seven months, and attended our school about five months. When she came, she could read but indifferently in three letters, and was very ignorant as to every thing pertaining to God and divine truth. She did not even know that there was a Saviour, and had never felt that she was a sinner. She was from the first attentive to her book and industrious in her habits, and in about three months was able to read intelligibly in the Bible, and now writes a decent hand, and has commenced arithmetic. She is fair in her complexion, amiable and genteel in her manners. But what endears her to us, and must render her case interesting to every Christian, is her piety. In the course of last fall she became the subject of serious impressions, which have terminated, as we trust, in a saving change of heart. She loves her Saviour, and loves Christians a tender kindness rules in her heart, which is unknown among uncivilized people, except where grace reigns. She expresses her anxious desires for the instruction and conversion of " her poor people," as she calls them, and would gladly spend her days in our family as a missionary, were it not for the duty which she owes to her aged parents. In consequence of depredations which are almost constantly committed on their property by some lawless

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