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friendly interview with the New. Stockbridge Indians, under the imme. diate care of the Rev. Mr. SERGEANT, Something was said relative to a mission among some remote tribes of Indians; particularly the Miami and Delaware. Though at present your funds are small, and though few are qualified, and inclined to undertake such a mission, and though yet little is doing, the friends of souls are earnestly looking for the time when a wider door may be opened to preach to the natives the everlasting gospel of the blessed God and our Saviour.

Rev. Messrs. Joseph Field, Samuel Sewall and John Dutton fulfilled a mission, in the whole, of fifty-four weeks, in the counties of Oxford and Kennebec in the District of Maine. Mr. Field preached 83 times; 35 on the Lord's day, and 48 on other days; administered the Lord's supper four times, and seven baptisms, inspected schools and attended funerals. Mr. Sewall rode nearly 1400 miles, preached 133 sermons, visited private families, attended conferences, and performed other missionary labours.

They

Mr. Dutton was equally disposed and enabled to discharge the important trust committed to him. rendered useful services to the Socie. ty; their labours were gratefully received and crowned with success. All your missionaries agree in the utility and necessity of continuing these missions, of increasing the number of labourers, and contracting the field of labour.

The labourers being few and their harvest plenteous, and desirous of doing more good, the field of labour may be improperly extended and the proposed effect diminished. Every thing cannot be effected, and should not be attempted, by a few persons in a short time, embracing a large extent of territory in their commission. Fearing lest they should not do what is expect. ed and allotted them, they are induced to pass rapidly from place to place, and lessen their ministerial services. They cannot do what they would. Could three objects be gained; an increase of missionaries, a contraction of their limits, and a lengthening of their missions, much greater good would be effected. At present necesity restrains your operations. Providence may in time remove these difNo. 5. Vol. II.

ficulties, brighten your prospects, enlarge your funds, and furnish suffi cient numbers to preach in remote parts the unsearchable riches of CHRIST, to the instruction, conversion and salvation of many thousands of precious and immortal souls. Larger contributions have been made to the funds in the new settlements the last year, than before.

The Trustees at their last annual meeting appropriated for the present year, for missions, a sum not exceeding 900 dollars, and for books the sum of 400 dollars. You have now five missionaries in your employmentRev. Messrs. Joseph Blodget, David H. Williston, John Dutton, Royal Phelps and Nathaniel Dutton. Messrs. Blodget, Williston and John Dutton, are employed in Oxford and Kennebec counties, for fifty weeks in the whole. Messrs. Phelps and Nathaniel Dutton, are employed in Onondago and Chenango counties and on the Black river, for fifty-two weeks, making in the whole 102 weeks' service for 856 dollars.

As yet but a few communications have been received from the missionaries; these are of an encouraging and pleasing nature. As in former years the Trustees have attended to the distribution of books. They conceive that this object justly claims much attention, and must claim it in future. In this way continual and rich instruction is easily, cheaply, and extensively diffused. The books which have been sent this year to be distributed will appear by document (A) as will those which are now on hand.

Availing themselves of a large impression of Vincent's Explanation of the Assembly's Catechism, a very valu able work, made at the desire of several Associations, the Trustees have taken for the Society's benefit 700 copies at a very reasonable price; one hundred and sixty of which have been exchanged for 2,000 sheets of Tracts and other works proper for distribution. Bound with Vincent, is a well written address on the subject of prayer and family religion, by Rev. Dr. Trumbull. The neat profits of a good work, called the Panoplist, arising from the sales in this county, have been offered by the Editors for your benefit; and will add between

the

70 and 100 dollars to your funds for the present year. The Trustees state that several donations have been by individuals, well wishers to made William Pillips, Esq. of Boston, has given fifty dollars; which has been acknowledged in a letter of thanks addressed to him. Liberal sums have been received this year from the Female Association': see document (B). It is believed that many streams will yet flow from that source into your treasury, which will benefit and rejoice those who need and desire pious instruction. The charitable contributions made at different times since the last meeting have increased the funds. The annuities have been generally though not wholly paid. Various reasons may have produced a temporary delay, Seasonable payments are useful and enriching to the funds as monies, not soon needed, are loaned. The monies which have been received for the funds, will appear from document (B&C) being 1303 dolls. 34 1-2 cts. The expenditures from document (D) amounting to 1142 dolls 53 1-2 cts. The present state of the Treasury with the report of the Auditing Committee from document (E.)

The Trustees hope they can say, Hitherto hath the LORD owned and prospered the institution. Many have been disposed to advance this great and good work. While some have readily honoured the LORD with their substance, and repeatedly consecrated a part of their carthly treasures to charitable uses; others have Been found and inclined to carry into full effect, the benevolent designs of the Society. The liberal aid afford. ed by numerous female associations for the purchase of Bibles and other suitable books, should not be forgot ten and suppressed. No small praise is due to God for this very thing. It is what might have been looked for from the readiness of pious and charitable women to do good; from their compassion for souls and their earnest desire to spread the truth.

The present state of the funds will not let us doubt of being able to fir. nish future supplies for our distant settlements. But, since continued ef. forts require continued supplies, the •friends of CHRIST and humanity will not discontinue them. Having begun

well, they will go on and further the important design. Many considera tions will powerfully resist fainting and weariness in this acceptable service of Christian love. It will be usc fut frequently to recollect how many societies of Christians are engaged in this work. With what views, in what ways and to what glorious purposes they pursue it: How their love and zeal, their faith and hope grow exi ceedingly. Plans are ripened, means provided and instruments furnished to undertake very laborious, difficult and hazardous enterprizes in the cause of the dear Immanuel. In Eu. rope this work is pursued with unre mitted assiduity and unabated zeal, with sanguine expectation and ever metnorable success.

In this country

too, the same spirit, kindled from above, glows, spreads and strengthens. Almost throughout the United States similar societies are formed, measures adopted, monics collected and persons employed to spread the savour of divine truth far and wide. The gospel of CHRIST is thus preached to multitudes, who, without such benevolent aid, would live destitute of the means of grace, plunge deep into ignorance and error, and probably transmit a dreadful and odious inher itance of ignorance, error and corrup tion to their posterity. It is not easy for those, who have been always fa voured with a fulness of religious advantages, duly to estimate their own mercies or keenly feel for their brethren famishing for want of the bread of life.

It is refreshing and animating to dwell upon the good already produced. The solitary placé hath been made glad, and in the desert they have sung the songs of Zion. Churches have been planted, ministers settled, and the word and institutions of CHRIST have proved the power of God and the wisdom of God unto the spiritual good of perishing sinners. The eyes of the blind have been opened, and the ears of the deaf have been unstopped: the lame have leaped, and the dumb have sung the praises of redeeming love. Christians have been edified, quickened, comforted and sanctified by the truth, ordinances and grace of Christ. This is the work of God; wondrous and joyous to our minds and hearts.

It is an high honour to be workers together with God in forwarding the work of redemption, in building-up Zion,in bringing sinners to the knowledge and obedience of the faith, and preparing them for immortal blessedness.

It is well to reflect that much remains to be done; that much may be done by good people; that much is expected of them; that for this pur. pose God bestows his bounties; that all which they and others call their own is the Lord's; that he demands a portion of what he gives, for his more immediate use. Such an application is acceptable, an odour of a sweet smelling savour unto God. He can abundantly bless you for your labours of love in his cause. He can constantly satisfy liberal and holy souls from his own all-sufficiency and the inexhaustible fulness of Jesus Christ. Animated by such powerful considerations; impelled by such weighty otives, will not the friends of Christ and of mankind persevere in their prayers and liberalities, their services and efforts, until, by the grace of God, the wilderness shall universally be. come bike Eden, and the desert like the garden of the Lord?

DOCUMENT A.

Books sent for distribution into the new "settlements, 1806.

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The Trustees suggest to the Society the expediency of recommending to the several Congregational and Presbyterian Societies in the county, a contribution to aid the funds of the society, to be made on the annual Thanksgiving, or on some Lord's day near, as shall be judged most eligible; and that this Report should be published, circulated and previously read in public. While doing good to others, you may humbly hope that God, who both ministers sced to the sower and bread to the eater, will not let you lack any good thing and that he will increase the fruits of your righteousness; that you may be enriched unto all bountifulness; for which liberality of yours many thanksgivings will be rendered unto God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the name of the Trustees, SAMUEL HOPKINS, F. Pres.

At a meeting of the Society, Northampton, August 28, 1806, read, ac cepted and voted to be printed, distriby the Trustees to the Society. buted and publicly read, as reported

Attest,

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Best way to defend the Bible,

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Watts Divine Songs,

Rigious Tradesman,

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Coleman's Incomprehensibleness,

40

Connecticut Evangelical Magazine,

120

Davidson's real Christian,

Hem, dis. to children,

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Address from a stranger,

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Watts' Divine Songs,

Advice to a young man,

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Coleman's Incomprehensibleness,

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Catechisms,

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Davidson's real Christian,

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All's for the best,

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DOCUMENT B. & C.

Increase of the funds of the Hampshire Missionary Society, from August 29, 1805, to August 28, 1806.

Donations of the Female Charitable Association.

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In Amherst, first parish,

Vivian's Dialogues,

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Whitaker's Address,

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Jife of Faith,

Drep of Honey,

Vincent,

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cust; that there is now in the hands of the Treasurer Vice-President, Secretary, Clerk,

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EVANGELICAL SOCIETY. In the Western District of Vermont, there has lately been formed an Association, by the name of "THE EVANGELICAL SOCIETY," whose object is to aid pious and ingenious young men, in indigent circumstances, to acquire education for the work of the Gospel Ministry. The great scarcity of regular ministers in this thrifty portion of our country, and the recent revivals of religion in that quarter, led to the establishment of this benevolent Institution, which was first organized at Pawlet, March 6, 1804. The officers of the Society are a President,

Treasurer, and a board of nine Trus tees, chosen annually by ballot. The Trustees are empowered to judge of the qualifications and claims of candidates, and to give aid to the extent of their funds. None are to receive assistance but such as are hopefully pious, of orthodox religious faith, and members of some regu lar Congregational or Presbyterian church, and desirous to obtain an ed ucation with a view to be useful as teachers of religion. The Trustees are to direct and superintend the studies and moral conduct of the young men, and when they shall have acquired competent knowledge of theology, and other requisite branches of science, shall recommend them to some suitable board for examination and approbation for the work of the ministry. Such young men as receive aid from the society are laid under obligations to refund the loans, made them without interest, should their circumstances ever after admit.

Persons of good moral character, and sound in the faith, are admitted members by a vote of the society. into the treasury, on his admission, Each member pays one dollar at least and the same sum afterward, annually. The society consists at present of between seventy and eighty mem. bers.

OFFICERS.

Rev. WILLIAM JACKSON, of Dorset, President.

Rev. NATHANIEL HALL, of Granville, Vice-President.

Rev. JOHN GRISWOLD, Pawlet, Secretary,

EZEKIEL HARMON, Esq. do. Trea

surer.

We

The Directors, though their means are yet small, have already given aid to three or four young men, one of whom has commenced the study of Divinity. This seasonable and benevolent institution has our best wishes for its support and success. hope it may be instrumental, under the divine direction and blessing, of drawing from obscurity many young men of talents and piety, who may prove faithful labourers in the vine. yard of our Lord. Of this part of our country, as well as of others, it may truly be said, "The harvest is great, but the labourers are few.”

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