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RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

AMERICA.

Extraol of a Leiler from Mr. Reid.

Glengary, Upper Canada,
Jan 5, 1807.

THE prospect of usefulness in this country is not at all discouraging, though, as in every place, it is not free from obstacles. Through the whole of Lower Canada, and till you come up, perhaps, 40 miles above Montreal, you would be surprized at seeing so many splendid churches, much more numerous than they are in Scotland, all possessed by Roman Catholics, without any Protestant place of worship, except in Quebec and Montreal.

The county of Glengary, where I have taken up my station, is all inhabited by Highlanders, a few English and Dutch excepted; of whom the one half, if not more, for I cannot be certain, are Roman Catholics. These are divided into two large parishes; in each they have a chapel and a priest. The others are Presbyterians. The lat ter have four places of worship, but only one minister.

In order to give you some notion of my proceedings, and a general view of the religious state of this country, I shall transcribe a part of my Journal, though it is but uainteresting.

I came to Montreal the 6th of October, 1806. During my stay there, I was introduced into the company of various people of different sentimoats; and some, as it appeared to me, of no religious sentiments at all, except " that God is infinitely good, therefore he will not destroy his creatures for their frailties, which are unavoidable."Among these, some would disparage my design with a sacer, others would affect to applaud it; but recollecting, that not by might nor by power the temple was to be rebuilt, but by the Spirit of God, I remained as I was before, unmoved. In consequence of having got cold, coming up a part of the river in a boat from

Quebec, without a bed, I was not able to undertake preaching the Lord's Day I staid in town, except once in the evening to a number of Gaelic people I got collected. These listened to the word with very great

attention.

Oct. 16. Left Montreal, and came to Williamstown, in the county of Glengary, on the 20th. Here I called on the person whose letter ap、 peared in the Missionary Magazine for April, 1806. He gave me a lamentable account of the state of religion in the country. After resting myself a day or two, I called on the minister of the place, and asked liberty to preach in his meeting-house on the Lord's Day, which he readily granted. Accordingly word went out, that a New Minister from Scotland, as they called me, was to preach to them on Sabbath; and a great many came to hear. They heard with very great attention, and some were in tears. I could scarcely see any Bibles or Psalm - Books among them, A great number of them, particularly those that came from Bredalbane, exulted with joy. that I came to preach among them, A new enquiry now began through the whole country respecting me Whence I had come? who sent for me?-who was to support me? -and what was my religion? To all these questions they would give answers, among themselves, with the certainty of an oracle. Some said I was a Methodist, &c. When they were going home, after hear. ing me the first day, one of them said to his neighbour," I was telling you that he is a Methodist,' His neighbour replied, How do you know it now? - and what know. ledge have you of the Methodists?" The man confessed he never heard a Methodist; and the reason why he supposed that I was one was, that! proved every thing I said from the Scripture,

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Nov. 2. Preached in the Indian Land, which is at the distance of ten miles from the place where I first preached, to about 250 hearers,

the greater part of whom are from Perthshire. Good attention was given to the word, and some were in tears; but I lay no manner of stress on either tears or groans. I do not view these as symptoms of any good being done, unless I see that they have received the knowledge of the gospel of salvation. They were remarkably glad that I came to the country. I distributed Tracts among them; which they received most thankfully. After I had gone through this part of the country where Protestants live, I purposed to visit another Gaelic settlement, called Glenelg. The people there are from Glenelg, in the north of Scotland; and, if their means of instruction when at home were scanty, they are now destitute altogether Few of these, alas! are able to read the Bible. Having a letter of introduction to a person that stays there, I came to his house and presented it to him: on receipt of which, he told me, though they had much need of a churchman (to use his own phrase) yet they were not fond of me, because I was not of their religion. He, however, brought me to his house, and entertained me very hospitably. He asked me, What could my religion be, when I was neither a Papist, nor an Episcopalian, nor a Protestant ? I told him that I was a Protestant; and expressed my surprize if he heard any thing to the contrary. I then stated my reason for oming to this country, that it was solely on purpose to preach the gospel of salvation to my countrymen, who, I understood, were very destitute of the means of instruction; and that I would preach nothing to them but the plain doctrines of the Bible. When they heard it insinuated, that they were in need of the gospel, they gave thanks to God that they had no reason to complain. On Sabbath, however, about 150 came together; and were apparently well pleased. After service was over, they thanked me for my trouble; and requested me to come again.

-

Though I have been going up and down through the country since I came, I have got no notice of any

prayer-meetings that ever were held in the country, nor of many families by whom family-worship is observed.

Extract of a Letter from Mr. Dick

Quebec, March 17, 1807.

MR. REID'S application for a supply of Bibles, &c. is a favourable omen. When the people in any place begin to enquire after the Bible, it shows that their teachers call their attention to the Scriptures, and that their minds are some way engaged with what they have heard. Nothing but the word of God will be the mean of opening the blind eyes, and of turning men from darkness unto light; yet we may see the great advantages of sending preachers into those places where the people are living without the knowledge of God. These people were not seeking the Scriptures until our brother went among them; and though some of them might wish to have them, yet they did not perhaps know how to ob tain them. This should animate the minds of the brethren who have the spread of the gospel at heart, to exert themselves to the utmost of their power, in sending out Missionaries to the destitute parts of the world; when they consider that it is not merely the instructions which such Missionaries administer from which they may look for success, but that they have also good reason to expect the natural effect of scriptural preaching, viz. attention to the Scriptures themselves, which will naturally lead them to seek to hate copies of the Bible. preacher or two sent to a destitute corner, by preaching the doctrines of the Bible, they become like the leaven hid in the measures of meal, by which many, it is hoped, will be leavened. The consideration of this should encourage such of our brethren as have received gifts for pub4 ic instruction, to go forth to the help of the Lord,- to the help of the Lord against the mighty.

Thus a

I think there is good reason to believe, that many more teachers will soon be wanted in that quarter where brother Reid is now labour.

t

ing. Indeed, many more are wanted already; but it would not perhaps be prudent to send too many at first, as the people would not be able to give them support. Yet this difficulty could be removed by little and little. I think, however, that one Gaelic brother should be sent out the first summer, if possible, to assist Mr. Reid; and I ardently wish that one English brother could be found to come out with him, who would either go to Elizabeth Town, er remain in Quebec, and let me go to it.

I mentioned in a letter I sent home last year, that I thought, by the blessing of God, it might be of great service to the interest of religion, if you could get one or two preachers to go as itinerants through the upper provinces of Canada, and the western parts of the States. I received no information from the brethren, whether they intended to adopt any thing of the kind or not. I take this opportunity of mention ing to you, that I am still of the same mind as when I then wrote. I am fully persuaded, that such a plan raight be productive of many happy consequences; and I think it could be carried into effect with very small expence.

I have another object to which I beg leave to call the attention of the churches; that is, the situation of a number of our fellow-creatures who live in the south and west sides of Hudson's Bay, and who are altogether without the means of religious instruction. A few days ago, two young men called on me, and told me that they had lately ceme from that place, where they had been residing for three years. They wanted some Bibles and other religious books. I was sorry that I had no Bibles to give them: I gave them some tracts; and told them that I expected to have some Bibles in the month of May. They gave me an account of the situation of the place where they had been; which was truly affecting. On that side of the bay there are six factories; in each of which there are about 60 men, who have originally come from Britain, besides women

The

and children, and also a number of Indians, some of whom can speak a little English. The women who are there are mostly all Indians. English have them as their wives, though I understand they are not married, having no person to perform that ceremony. These women learn the English tongue; and the children all speak English. In all these six factories, there is neither preacher nor schoolmaster.

Now you may easily imagine what a deplorable state these poor crea tures must be in, from ignorance and wickedness. Several hundreds of our own countrymen, several hundreds of women and children, and still a greater number of Indians, all without any religious instruction. In some of the factories, the gentleman who acts as Gover nor, reads the Common PrayerBook on the Sabbath - day; and some of them who have lately come from Britain have Bibles: but the young men told me, that Bibles were very rare among them. They mentioned also, that some person brought a few religious tracts, and gave them away among the people; which they received very gladly.

Some days ago, I had a letter from Mr. Pidgeon, Missionary at New Carlisle; in which he mentions the situation of the people in Hud son's Bay in the same terms almost with the persons who called on me. He had his information from some people who had also come from it of late.

Now I think, if a proper person could be got to go out there, it would be a great blessing to the poor people. It would be necessary for him to act as a schoolmaster as well as a preacher. He might not only be useful among them who understand English, but he might learn the Indian tongue; for I am told, that all the Indians who meet there speak the same language; which is not the case in many parts of America. I am also told, that from the simple and limited nature of their language, it is very easily acquired. To be able to speak to them in their own dialect would be a noble a☛quisition,

Betract of a Letter from Dr. Rogers, of Philadelphia, to Dr. Ryland, of Bristol.

MAY 24, 1807. Last Lord's Day Dr. Staughton and myself attended, with two other ministers, a yearly meeting in one of our churches, about 40 miles distant from Philadelphia:

we had preaching on Saturday, Lord's Day, and Monday. On the Lord's Day the house was crowded; 2 or 300 were about the house, and it is supposed, as many went away for fear of the rain which came on, and which prevented our preaching in the woods. On the fourth Lord's Day of last month our city was visited by Messrs. Morrison and Gordon, two Missionaries from the London Society, the former destined for China, the latter for India. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon spent a night and part of a day with us; Mrs. R. and myself were particularly pleased with their company and conversation.

I have received a few letters lately, from which I will make two or three interesting extracts. Brother Parkinson, of New York, on the 8th of this month, wrote thus: "The cause of our blessed Master still flourishes at New York. Many yet seem to be solemnly enquiring the way." He adds, "I understand there is a glorious and remarkable revival within the bounds of Dover Association in Virginia."

Brother Furman, of Charlestown, South Carolina, on the second of this month, thus addresses me: seems, by late accounts, that a revival has begun at Savannah."

"It

Brother Richards, of Baltimore, on the second of April, imparts the following information: " Although I have no religious news to communicate from Baltimore, yet, blessed be God, I have from the north

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ern neck of Virginia.' A letter to Brother Richards, dated in March, says, "With respect to the revival under Brother Toler, &c. it exceeds every thing I ever heard before, both in its extensiveness and in its seriousness. People of all ages and descriptions pressed to hear the word, which is generally attended

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Extract of a Letter from Mr. Carey at Serampore, to Dr. Ryland, dated Nov. 11, 1806.

ABOUT three weeks ago, a schoolboy came to me on Lord's Day morning, and told me that an Israelite was in the school. I went; and found a Jew reading the Hebrew Bible with great fluency. He was born at Hebron; left Judea fourteen years ago; - ten of which he resided in Persia, and four in Cabul. with shawls, when a Seik Chief plunHe was going from Cabul to Surat dered him of every thing. He came into the English dominions, where he met with Mr. G―, who gave him a Hebrew Psalter. He is going to Jerusalem in an Arab ship. He says that the Jews are not oppressed by the Turks, but that the Persians use them very ill. He confirms Sir W. Jones's account of the Afghans, whom he lived in Cabul. I among had much talk with him. He repeatedly acknowledged to me that Jesus Christ is the true Messiah; that his nation knew him not; and, therefore, rejected him; on which account, the wrath of God has been on them ever since. He expects him to come again, and restore the Jews to their own land.

After seeing and conversing with some of our native brethren, be exclaimed, "Now I see the glory of Messiah's kingdom; and its power in turning these idolaters from their idolatry "He is a very interesting person. Last week, he introduced to me another Jew, born at Babylon, ' a good Hebrew scholar. We treated the first Jew, Isaac Ben Mordecai, with all the attention we could. O that he might carry a favourable impression of the gospel with him! I must conclude, &c.

8 I

DISTRESS IN GERMANY.

OUR readers will remember, no doubt, the distressing details of the misery of the Germans, which appeared in some former Numbers of this Magazine; nor can they forget the efforts of British generosity in their behalf. More than Twenty

one Thousand Pounds have been advanced towards their relief.

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The Committee in London, who have generously and prudently coilducted this business, have recently published a paper, expressive of their ardent desire of renewed exertions; for "new scenes of woe, new objects of commiseration, have presented themselves, as appears from the selections they have printed from their voluminous correspondence."

Counsellor Dommes, of Hanover, says. "I again entreat you to apply to the benevolent Committee in London, for some additional charitable Aid to the establishment of the Widows and Orphans of the Ilanoverian Military, which must be ruined, as all former assistance is totally exhausted; and I have no hope here of procuring wherewith to satisfy their pressing wants."

A letter, dated Luneburgh, July 4, 1807, says, "We beg leave once more to wait upon our generous benefactors in England, imploring their further assistance; without which, we shall not be able any longer to relieve a great number of starving families, who have lost every thing in a ruinous war of four disasterous years.

"Ever since the beginning of January, we have had nearly 60,000 French, Dutch, and Bavarian troops, and 20,000 horses, quartered upon us 3000 Spaniards are daily expected; a French hospital has been established in our town; new requisitions are raised every day; taxes are doubled; and a load is imposed on our poor shoulders, under which the greatest part of our fellow-citizens must sink, if not supported by the charity of your Committee.

** General and private distress has never been at such a height as at present. England is the only place

in the world to which we can fly for
protection and assistance,-the land
the wretched and forsaken.
of liberty, the sacred asylum of
The in-
habitants of Luneburg, entirely de-
prived of all those sources of in-
dustry, trade, and opulence, which
made them formerly the happiest
and most thriving of his Majesty's
Hanoverian subjects, and incessantly
barrassed by the exorbitant demands
of a victorious and relentless enemy,
are on the very brink of ruin and
despair. To British benevolence
alone they look up for support; -
the recollection of the generous as-
sistance of the London Committee is

the only ray of comfort that can find its way to their oppressed minds."

Extract of a Letter from M. Nh

buhr, dated Memel, March 1, 1807. "Prussian Oberland and Ermeland have, since the commencement of the present year, been desolated by the successive marches of the hostile armies to a degree, of which modern history affords no similar instance. In almost the whole district of Prussian Eylau and Ortelsburg, the inhabitants have lost all their property. All the provisions, both for man and beast, have been consumed by friends and foes; and the money paid by the former will indemnify only for a very small part of the damage. Necessity has even occasioned the demolition of the peasants cottages, in order to employ the poor materials of which they were constructed, - the straw for litter and the wood for fuel. Even the wood-work of the ploughs has been taken for this use. The ravages committed by the enemy have not been occasioned by unavoidable necessity, nor even directed by any advantage they themselves could derive therefrom. The ferocious soldiers seemed to have been even more delighted by the despair and boundless misery into which they plunged the inoffensive inhabitants, than by the wretched plunder they could make amongst them. The meanest articles of clothing have been seized upon; stoves and windows systematically

* 7000 Spaniards are at this time quartered upon Luneburgh!

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