of pure necessity, to nurse two of her sick sisters, who were confined at Kailua at nearly the same time, in July and August; so that at the close of their illness, her health was completely ruined and her constitution became a wreck from which she never recovered. Early in September she was attacked with dyspepsia in its severest form, and though every means within our power was resorted to in order to her restoration, yet the disease baffled all the efforts of medicine or change of situation, till finally other disorders setting in she was carried off. She took her final leave of us on the 21st of February last, and now rests in peace in the bosom of her Saviour. But she has left behind her a sweet savour, whose fragrance smells to heaven. She has bequeathed to us her testimony to the worth of religion, and with her dying voice confirmed the truth of what she had most faithfully inculcated in her life. Her acquaintance in the world was not extensive, and her worth little known, except by the select few who knew her best, and even those few have never real ized the full value of her society until deprived of it. Now they can look back and trace the visible footsteps of her labours of love, and ask, "shall we see her like again?" Now they can bewail the breach that her death has made in our number, with little hope that it can be repaired again. To me she was all that I could desire, lovely and kind as ever youthful fancy could picture to the mind. She was my only earthly treasure, and my widowed heart is left desolate and solitary, but not comfortless. The assu rance that her death has proved a lasting spiritual benefit to many who before were without God and without hope, bids me rejoice and give God thanks for the af Aiction. The circumstances attending her death have been instrumental in promoting the most glorious revival of religion of which I was ever a witness. More than 200 persons residing at Kailua, have recently come out on the Lord's side, and taken up their cross for Jesus' sake. Among this number are included almost the whole of her former pupils, who loved her as a mother, and did every thing in their power by kind assiduous attentions, to soothe the pains of dissolution. They heard her dying prayers and exhortations, her charge to meet her in heaven, and injunctions to holiness of life. They firmly believed that she had gone to glory, and when the funeral solemnities were past, they all came to Mr. Thurston and me to make the great inquiry, "what shall we do to be saved?" For the last three months little else but the subject of religion has been the theme of inquiry, and new cases have been daily added to the number of those whose desire it is to be saved. Thus you see, my brother, how the Lord has turned our mourning into joy, and our heaviness into songs of praise. As for myself, I would not have it otherwise, could I by a word recal her back again into this world of pain and sorrow. I feel confident that He who removed from my children their nearest earthly protector, will provide for them a home hereafter. At present I retain my little son, now sixteen months old, with me. He has been sick ever since the 1st of February last, and for most of the time dangerously. I have given up my time to attend upon him, so that I have done little else; nor have I done any thing of consequence for nearly a year, except nurse the sick. I have usually preached once or twice a week, however, though that is a small proportion of the amount of a missionary's duty at these islands. I am now on a visit at Oahu, whither I came in April last to meet the brethren of the mission. I hope to return again soon, and spend the summer in travelling over the desolate places of Hawaii, and preaching salvation to them that sit in darkness. Please to inform Mrs. Codwise that her letter to Mrs. B. has been received by me, and merits an answer as soon as time will permit; she may expect to hear from me by the fall ships. There will now be no farther need of presents to my Eliza. beth, but I have two little orphans who have a claim upon the sympathy of Christians in America, and I should be gratified to receive ready made articles of clothing, hats, shoes, &c. suitable for children of both sexes, between the ages of 3 and 6 years. I remain, my dear Brother, REV. J. SANFORD, Extracted from the Evangelical Church Journal for Sept. 1, 1827. Russia. According to the latest census the following appears to be the proportion of the different religious sects in the Russian empire. Christians-Greeks, 33,000,000; Roman Catholics, 6,800,000; Lutherans, 1,400,000; Armenians, 42,000; Reformed, 20,000; Moravian Brethren, 9,000; Mennonists, 5,000; total 41,276,000. Jews, 500,000; Mahometans, 1,850,000. Heathens-Worshippers of Fire, 600,000; Lamaits, 300,000; Brahmins, 300. Grand total 44,526,300. MISSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. (Continued from page 317.) SEVENTH COMMUNICATION. To the Executive Committee of the Board of Missions of the General Assembly. Lewistown, Pa. Aug. 11th, 1828. Christian Brethren,-On the 7th and 8th days of the present month, I travelled from Philadelphia to this place. On the 9th, in going to and from Meveytown, I rode twenty-two miles; preached to the people of Wayne Church, under the pastoral care of the Rev. James S. Woods; was present at the choice of four new elders and three deacons; and although wholly unexpected by the people, yet ob. tained the names of fifty-seven contributors to our Missionary Fund, together with a donation of seventy-five cents.Yesterday Mr. Woods preached in his Wayne congregation, and received twenty-five additional names. The catalogue of our patrons in this small and feeble congregation, which enjoys the labours of a pastor only half of his time, consists of seventy-five contributors of fifty cents each, and eight of twenty-five cents each, including the Pastor, Elders, Deacons, &c. The whole sum received from the Wayne church, located at Meveytown, commonly called Waynesburg, is $15 50. Yesterday, the 10th inst. I delivered three discourses in the Presbyterian Church at Lewistown; and received as donations from Edmund B. Patterson, M. D. $3 00; from Mr. Kersin, a respectable labourer on the canal, $2 00, from six others, $2 25, and from Mr. Samuel Haller, 62 cents, which he said he had found a few days ago, and thought he ought to return to HIM whose providence sent it. After service in the morning I presented a paper of which the annexed is a copy: "Lewistown, Pa. Aug. 10th, 1828. "The persons whose names are underwritten, have expressed THEIR PURPOSE to pay to the Session of the Presbyterian Church in Lewistown, on or before the 25th day of December in each year, the sums affixed to their names; that the same may be paid as the yearly contribution of the Lewistown Congregation to the Board of Missions of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States." This was subscribed by two of $1 each, 60 of 50 cents, and 6 of 25 cents each. The amount already paid me from the church in Lewistown, is $21 62. To-day, the 11th of August, I have rode 14 miles to and from East Kishacoquillas Church, which is under the pastoral care of the Rev. James H. Stuart; and after preaching on the delightful subject of congregation gave me their names to be turning many to righteousness, fifty of his appended to a form of subscription similar to the one dated at Lewistown. The sum of $12 00 was paid me in hand; and as some showers of rain prevented a full attendance of his people, Mr. Stuart retains the paper, to complete the list of those who are willing to aid our missionary operations. This evening I have addressed the Sab. bath School Teachers belonging to the Church in Lewistown, and have set before them the example of Christ Jesus, the great Sabbath School Teacher; who by his Spirit, teaches his whole church, especially on the Lord's day. Hitherto I cannot but think the Lord has prospered me as the agent of the Board; and I feel grateful that I have uniformly inet with a kind reception. Particularly I am indeb'ed in this region of country to the Rev. Mr. Woods and one of his Elders, Wm. M'Cay, Esq. Yours in gospel bonds, EZRA STILES ELY, Cor. Sec. and Gen. Agent. The Committee have also received $15 00 from a few ladies of Landisburgh, transmitted by the Rev. Joseph M. Olmstead to Mr. Nicholas Murray, and by him paid to the Board. Signed, by order of the Executive Committee. GEO. W. BLIGHT. Sec. of the Executive Committee. EIGHTH COMMUNICATION. The following communications of the 20th ult. and 1st inst. have been received from the General Agent, read, and order. ed to be printed. The Committee acknowledge the receipt of one hundred dollars from Gen. Daniel Montgomery, of Danville, from whose letter enclosing the same to a friend in this city, they have been permitted to make the following extract: "Please hand the enclosed sum to the Secretary of the Board of Missions of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. I am led to believe, that under the new organized state of that Board, much good will be done for the promotion of piety generally, and for the enlargement of our Church in particular." By order of the Executive Committee. G. W. BLIGHT, Sec'ry. Mifflintown, Pa. August 20th, 1828. To the Executive Committee of the Board of Missions of the General Assembly: Brethren,-On the 12th of August, 1828, I arrived in Huntingdon, and discoursed in the evening on the subject of my mission, to more people than the little church now occupied by the Presbyterian Congregation in that place could hold. The people who are under the pastoral care of our fellow-labourer, the Rev. John Peebles, have for more than a year been occupied with purposes and efforts to collect the means for building a new church edifice. Before I had arrived, they had subscribed among themselves about $1400 towards this object, and were ready to lay the chief corner stone. As agent of the Board, I felt it to be my duty to promote in Huntingdon, so far as I might be enabled, this object, and not to attempt at present, procuring contribu tions there for any other purpose. The Christian cause has long suffered in that borough for want of a suitable house of worship." On the 13th, I discoursed to a numer ous concourse of people, assembled to witness the ceremony of depositing a Bible, a Psalm Book, and a record on parchment of certain "memorabilia," in the cavity of the corner stone; and before the audience dispersed, by concert with the Elders, Trustees, and Building Committee, I caused subscription papers to be circulated, on which the aggregate sum of three hundred and eighty three dollars and 78 cents was either paid, or promised, to me as the general agent of our Board, towards the completion of the church. Mr. Jacob Miller also gave me a donation of §10 00, which I paid over in the name of the Board, to the same object. On the 14th of August the Rev. Mr. Peebles took me to his congregation at Hart's Log, and I had at the same time, the pleasure of meeting the Rev. James Thompson, with a part of his congregation of Alexandria. After I had preached to the people, these two ministerial brethren encouraged their congregations to unite with their brethren in other churches, in the fifty-cent contribution. Accordingly I obtained the following subscriptions from the Hart's Log congregation, viz. 27 for 50 cents each, and 6 for 25 cents each, making in all $15 subscribed. Of the Rev. Mr. Thompson's congrega tion of Alexandria, I obtained 27 for 50 cents each, and 2 for 25 cents each, making in all 14 dollars. Could I have visited Mr Thompson's congregation at Shaver's creek, I might have probably obtained sixty subscribers; but he and Mr. Peebles will endeavour to prosecute the business. Considering the destitute state of many places in Huntingdon county, I have promised them, as agent of the Board, that if they will collect half the missionary pay for 1 year, our Board will support such a minister as we shall send them for the other half. On the evening of the 16th ult. I preached in Bellefonte. On the 17th I preached at Lick run, ten miles east of Bellefonte, in the morning, to a congregation under the pastoral care of Rev. James Linn; and obtained a subscription of 135 dollars towards the erection of a new house of worship, which is greatly needed for the accommodation of the people. In the afternoon and evening I preached again in Bellefonte, and obtained for the Board of Missions the following subscriptions to the usual form, viz. 3 for 25 cents each, and 48 for 50 cents each. Col. Richard Thomas gave a donation of 50 cents. The amount subscribed in Bellefonte was $25 25, of which $14 37 were paid to me as agent. August 18. In returning through Lew. istown, I received from 8 subscribers 20 cents each. Of the Wayne Church, I re ceived the same sum from Mr. John Montgomery, and Mr. Wm. Dusart, and $3 50 from John Oliver, esq. for himself and six children. At 5 o'clock, P. M. I reached Mifflintown, and having preached to the congregation under the pastoral care of the Rev. John Hutchinson, obtained the following subscriptions to the usual form, viz. 5 for 25 cents each, and 24 for 50 cents each. The above subscriptions amount to $14 18 cts. of which sum $6 93 were paid to me in hand, together with a donation of 1 dollar, from Mr. James Bryson. —Many of brother Hutchinson's people were absent; but he will promote the great in terests of the General Assembly with fidelity.. On the 19th inst. brother Hutchinson kindly took me eight miles to the Lower Tuscarora Church under the pastoral care of the Rev. John Coulter, in which a large congregation expected my arrival.-After sermon I received the following subscriptions, viz. 20 for 25 cents each, and 40 for 50 cents each, and 1 of one dollar. The above subscriptions amount to $26 50 cts. of which $2 25 were paid to your agent. Brother Coulter is a sound and pious Presbyterian minister, who will cooperate with us zealously. Philadelphia, Sept. 1st, 1828. Brethren,-On the 21st of August, I preached in Harrisburgh, Pa. and endeavoured to excite our fellow Christians there to more active, systematic and persevering exertions for the conversion of our country and of the world to the faith and fellowship of Jesus Christ. The congregation in that place, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Wm. R. De Witt, has lately undertaken to establish two scholarships by a subscription of $75 a year for each, to be paid for a term of years; and the communicants have made arrangements for contributing yearly as much as one dollar for each, to be equally divided between the American Home Missionary Society, and the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. That your agent might not seem to interfere with either of these institutions, no subscription for our Board was solicited in this congregation; which is now more flourishing than at any former period of its existence; and is doing as much again as it would have thought practicable a year ago. An increasing spirit of liberality will probably enable them ere long to collect for us $77, (they have 154 communicants,) without diminishing any of their other religious charities. When Christians generally are as active, diligent, prudent, enterprising and frugal in acquir. ing and saving money for Christ's sake, as they have been, for at least 16 centuries past, in hoarding wealth which may be worse than useless for their sons and daughters; they will be astonished at their own means of usefulness, and a new age will have come indeed, in which the Lord of Glory will receive the first fruits of all our increase. It is becoming more and more a generally received doctrine, and practical principle of action, that sincerity in religion reaches a man's purse no less than his heart; and that a person's profession of faith ought to be distrusted, who is ever ready with his prayers, con versation, confessions and arguments to build up the Redeemer's kingdom, but virtually says "my money belongs to myself and my children." On the 23d and 24th of August, I delivered four discourses in the Presbyterian Church in Reading, Pa. in which the Rev. John F. Grier, D.D. is pastor. One was particularly addressed to the teachers and pupils of two Sabbath Schools in that Borough, 600 of whom were present on the occasion; and nearly filled the lower part of the church. I am happy to inform the Committee, that Dr. Grier, and the Session of his congregation before my arrival among them as agent, had determined to convene all the communicants under their care on the Monday succeeding their next communion season, for the purpose of having their names enrolled on our list of contributors, and for making at the same time the first payment of 50 cents each. Of course the way was happily prepared for me to explain and enforce the measure agreed upon by the Session. Such a "ready mind" as has been discovered here would be most grateful in every congregation in our connexion; and I would earnestly entreat the Sessions of other churches to take order on the subject of aiding our Board, before it will be possible for any messenger of the churches to visit them. So soon as the contemplated meeting of communicants in Dr. Grier's shall have taken place, he will remit me the names subscribed to our usual form, together with the amount of money contributed. On the 28th of August, having occasion to be at Princeton, N. J. to attend the meeting of the Committee of the General Assembly on the subject of Psalmody, I received from the Rev. George S. Woodhull, pastor of the church in that place, thirty dollars for our Board; the same having been collected at the monthly concert of prayer, and by order of the Session paid to our use. In my short agency of about seven weeks I have travelled more than 900 miles and preached 34 sermons. My travelling expenses have been $41 44; and for the supply of my pulpit I have paid $70. The sum of $202 28 paid to me as agent, together with my own subscription of $100, I have paid to the Treasurer of the Trustees of the General Assembly, making $302 28. This is exclusive of $383 78 subscribed for the church in Huntingdon; and of $135 subscribed in Lick Run. The occurrence of a communion season in the church under my care; attendance on the Committee of Examination at the Theological Seminary in Princeton; and preparation for the meetings of Synod, and of the Am. Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, on the 1st of Oct. next, will prevent me from prosecuting my agency with any considerable attention for more than a month. In the mean time, may the blessing of the God of mis. sions come upon all our churches in copious showers, without the co-operation of such feeble instruments as your friend and brother EZRA STILES ELY, NINTH COMMUNICATION. Letter from a Missionary. Little Rock, Ark. Ter. Aug. 1, 1828. Rev. and Dear Brother,-As you were instrumental in encouraging me, after I had formed the design of coming to this remote western station, you will doubt less be gratified in hearing whatever may be encouraging in the prospect of my labours. When I arrived at Little Rock, on the 25th of January last, I found the moral state of society in many respects according to my anticipations,-deplorably wretched. Though there were some fa. milies and some individuals of highly respectable character, they appeared wholly engrossed with the transitory pursuits of time. Eternity, with its incalculable interests, received but little attention from the minds of most. The few persons, who had ever professed attachment to the cause of Christ, in consequence of their long seclusion from the privileges of the sanctuary, had either greatly apostatized, or were exercising their languishing graces in deep obscurity. Though I received every possible attention and favour, both from the kind and excellent family where I reside, and also from every person of respectability in the place, yet as it regarded the "sweet counsel" and intercourse of the children of God, I frequently viewed myself as similar to the lonely pelican, which is seen solitary and silent on the shoals of the Arkansas. : My publick exercises were from the first so generally and so respectfully attended, that I had every encouragement to labour, depending on the Lord to give the increase and I soon had the strongest reasons for believing that my labours were not in vain in the Lord. Not many weeks after I arrived, I found two or three persons of excellent character concerned for the welfare of their undying souls. And it was not long, until they obtained full and overwhelming evidence of their interest in the atonement of the Divine Redeemer. The pleasure which VOL. VII.-Ch. Adv. I received in witnessing the operations of the Holy Spirit on their minds was beyond expression. Never did I see persons who appeared to make a more unreserved surrender of themselves to their Redeemer. And the consequence was, that they enjoyed calm and delightful views of the pardon of their sins, and of the love of Christ, which led them to desire to relinquish every sinful and worldly pursuit, and to devote themselves wholly to his service. Subsequently, two or three others have been operated on nearly in the same manner, and have been enabled to surrender themselves to the same Saviour. They have found the same happy evidence, and evince the same devoted and Christian spirit. Finding it to be their desire to obey the command of Christ, in giving themselves up publickly to him, and knowing it to be their wish to attach themselves to the Presbyterian church, I thought it my duty to organize a church in this town, and admit such as I thought proper subjects. I accordingly appointed last Sabbath for the administration of the solemn ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Seven persons applied and were admitted as members of my church, two of whom had formerly been members; one, of a Presbyterian church in Georgia; and the other, of a Congregational church in New England. other five have all entertained hopes of pardoning mercy since I came to this place. The When the day arrived I baptized two adults and ten children. I then read a few articles containing the leading and essential doctrines of the Bible, which closed in the form of a covenant, in which they publickly expressed their determination, through the aid of their Redeemer, to come out from the world and be separate,-to relinquish the sinful pursuits and pleasures of the world,-and to surrender themselves up to love and serve the Lord Jesus, until they had finished their earthly pilgrimage, and arrived at that world where sin and temptation are ended, and where the service of God will be unceasing and eternal. When this was over they took their seats at the table of their crucified Saviour, and commemorated his dying love. An aged and pious lady of the Methodist church, who had for many years been deprived of this privilege, united with us. You can, my dear sir, more easily conceive than I can express my sensations, while far separated from those with whom I had once partaken of the sacred emblems, I here, in this distant moral waste, looked on these consecrated few, sitting around their Master's board, and with E |