can hardly be said to have a character ;|| tians at the East would lift up their eyes assembled as they are from every state || and behold. Could they but see what in the union, and originally from almost we have seen-thousands ready to perevery nation in Europe. The majority,ish, their eye-lids fast closed in spiritual although by no means regardless of re-slumber, and no one to awake themligion, have not yet embraced any fixed Could they but see the sons and daugh. principles or sentiments respecting it.- ters of Jerusalem weeping for themThey are ready to receive any impres-selves and for their children; surely sions which a public speaker may at- missionaries would no longer be wanttempt to make. Hence every speciesing, nor funds for their support. of heretics in the country flock to the "If missionaries could by any means new settlements. Hence also the Bap-be sent into these Territories there are tist and Methodist denominations are various other ways in which they could exerting themselves to gain a footing in be extensively useful, besides their orthe Territories. If we do not come for-dinary labors, in preaching and adminward and occupy this promising field of istering the ordinances of the gospel.usefulness, they will. Indeed they have This country is almost wholly new already taken the precedence. Some ground. Many institutions that conduce portions of this country are pretty tho-to the benefit of society, and to the adroughly supplied with their preachers. vancement of religion,are not yet estab Why, then, it may be asked, should we lished. Much good might be done by exnot leave it wholly to them? We an-erting an influence in favor of schools, swer, the field is large enough for us all. and of the education of children. An inMany of their preachers are exceeding-habitant of the Eastern States can have ly illiterate. And this circumstance, if no adequate conception of the want of some of the most respectable inhabi-schools in this country. It is perfectly tants may be credited, has been a very common to find men of considerable great injury to the cause of Christ in property, whose children cannot read a many places. Besides, there are many word. Much good might also be done Presbyterian brethren scattered through-by a missionary in promoting the estabout almost every settlement. And to lishment and success of Bible Societies, supply them with the stated means of and of other moral and religious instigrace, so far as we are able, is a sacredtutions. In our former communications, duty incumbent upon us. We have al-we have made you, in some measure, ready mentioned a number of places, in acquainted with the dreadful famine of which an earnest desire was manifested the written, as well as preached word to have missionaries sent among them. of God, which prevails in this country.. This was not the desire of a few indivi- We have also laid before you an acdual Presbyterians merely ; but of many count of our exertions and success in of the officers in the civil government of promoting the establishment of associthe Territories, and of some of the most ations for the distribution of the Scriprespectable citizens of various denomi- tures. Should these associations be ornations. The 3 Governors and a num-ganized, still they will need some fosber of the Judges in the respective Tertering hand to support and render them ritories, expressed to us their feelings efficient: otherwise many years will roll upon this subject. Gov. Edwards of Il-away before the sacred oracles will be linois has been for some time endeav-found in every dwelling. The success oring to obtain a Presbyterian preacher with which we were favored, altogether there; and Gov. Posey of Indiana pro-surpassing our most sanguine expectaprosed himself to write to some mis-tions, proves that the happiest consesionary Society to obtain one for his quences might be expected from vigoneighborhood. To be supported by the rous and persevering exertions in procountenance and patronage of such men moting this grand object. Such miswould be a vast advantage to a preach sionaries should be well supplied with er. Are not the fields then white alrea|| Bibles and religious Tracts for gratuiedy to the harvest? Would that all Chris-tous distribution. Undoubtedly they would be so by Societies in the Atlan- ing the importance of St Louis, it seems tie States. In this way their usefulness highly desirable, that one faithful man would be extended far beyond the should be posted there, to labor in that sphere of their personal exertions. We place and its immediate vicinity; while are confident, that our present mission another might be advantageously emis rendered far more useful than it ployed at St. Genevieve, the Mines, and would otherwise be, by the Bibles and other settlements in the Territory. It Tracts with which we are furnished.- seems desirable that missionaries in this Our Bibles are of course beneficial. Our country should pay particular atttention Tracts (chiefly of the collection pub-to the towns and villages. They are lished by the New-England Tract Soci- much more destitute of religious priviety,) have been received and read with||leges than the back settlements. The eagerness. They have been handed illiterate Baptist and Methodist preachfrom house to house; and have been ers of this country find but little encourapproved, so far as we can learn, by all agement to visit them. The inhabitdenominations. Such publications are ants of the towns having been long 80 scarce in this country, that attention || freed from the restraints of religion, is secured to them by that powerful have become much more vitiated in principle-the love of novelty. Secta their morals, than those of the country. rian jealousies and even political preju- The character of Shawaneetown we dices against New-England have pro-have mentioned, not as in this respect moted the circulation and perusal of singular, but as a specimen of almost all our Tracts. Can any good thing come of them. Yet in these places there are but of Nazareth? Come and see. many friends of good order and religion, who would hold up the hands of a respectable and pious minister. In these Perhaps, dear, Sir, we have already stepped beyond our proper limits. Our appropriate business is, to collect in-places we behold the germs of future ciformation, and state facts; not to draw lies. The village, that now contains noconclusions, nor attempt to direct our thing but wretched cabins, will soon befathers in the ministry, and missionary come the dwelling place of thousands: bodies, with respect to their duty. But and those thousands may all be favorably we must ask your indulgence a little affected by the early establishment of farther. From the view we have now religious institutions there. And now, given of the three Territories, it is ap dear Sir, we commend into the hands parent, that at least one missionary to of your Society their brethren in the each of them is indispensably requisite. West. We have done what we could If one or two more could by any means for them. We have endeavored to be obtained, there would be some pe-represent their wretched condition. We culiar advantages in the following distri- have conveyed to your ears their earnbution of them. The settlements in In- est cries for aid. And surely, if there diana lie principally on the Eastern and be any bowels and mercies, their cries on the Western sides of the Territory. will not be heard in vain. It is not A wilderness of about 100 miles inter the voice of strangers and foreigners. The same is the case in Ille. They are members of the same civil nois. The Eastern settlements in Indi- community with us. Many of them ana are sufficiently extensive to require are fellow citizens with the saints and the whole time of a missionary. While of the household of God. Some once the Western settlements of this Territo- enjoyed with delight the Sabbaths, and ry and the Eastern of Illinois, that is sermons, and sacraments of New-Engthe country on both sides of the Wabash, land. And their hearts still retain the might for the present be supplied by relish. Their eyes are constantly look, the same preacher. The other portions ing towards the East. Their prayers of Illinois on the bank of the Mississip- ascend daily, that God would incline pi, seem to demand a distinct laborer. the hearts of their brethren to rememAnd the Missouri Territory should ber them, and send them one to break have one, if not two more. Consider- to them the bread of life. But the an venes. swer of their prayers is long deferred;|| "On our arrival at Natchez, we were and their heart often sickens within a little perplexed on finding that the them. By sending us among them, boxes of French Testaments, directed you have shown that they are not indeed to that place, had not arrived. This inforgotten, and have inspired them with duced Mr. Mills to go directly down a cheering hope. Shall that hope beto New-Orleans to ascertain whether grievously disappointed? "Yours with affection and respect. SAMUEL J. MILLS, DANIEL SMITH. jany had reached there. I tarried a month in the Mississippi Territory, endeavoring to strengthen the hands of the Bible Society there; and collecting information respecting the religious "P. S. Natchez, Feb. 11. My dear state of that country. This Territory Sir, we arrived here on the 6th inst. in affords a very interesting field of misgood health and spirits. The Lord issionary labor, With a population of apleased to deal very graciously with us. bout 45,000, it has only four PresbyteWe were for some time apprehensive, rian clergymen. The city of Natchez that the disturbed state of this country is perhaps as important a station for a might embarrass us, in attending to the missionary as any in the western or duties of our mission. But General southern country. The inhabitants have Jackson has defeated and repulsed the lately erected a very respectable PresBritish. They are still, however, hov-byterian church. (At the request of ering about the coast, and seem to med- the Trustees, I performed the dedicatoitate another attack-at what point is ry service.) But in erecting the buildaltogether uncertain. But we hope we ing the Trustees have exhausted their shall be permitted to attend to the busi-resources. There is reason to fear it ness of our Master's kingdom without will stand unoccupied; or perhaps, that molestation. On our arrival,we found the it will be diverted from its original deFrench Testaments consigned to this sign, and fall into the hands of men unplace had not been received. Brother friendly to the truth. The Trustees Mills therefore proceeded immediately proposed to address your society on the to New-Orleans, to learn if any had ar-subject, and to request you to send them rived there, that we might commence a missionary. They said they would the distribution of them. May the become responsible for his salary; and Lord prepare the hearts of the French if he was a man of popular talents and to receive them." of piety, they presumed he would be The last intelligence received from immediately settled. A suitable person these missionaries is contained in a let-sent to this place, would supply this ter from Mr. Smith, dated at sea, off church, would promote the interests of Charleston, (S. C.) May 2, 1815, and addressed to Mr. Evarts. the Bible Society, which now languishes for want of such a patron, would become a bond of union to the scattered Presbyterian churches and ministers in the Territory, and would probably be the means of bringing in many more missionaries and ministers. "Our last communication, addressed to Dr. Worcester, was forwarded from Natchez, in February last. Since that time, Mr. Mills and myself have been but very little together; and have been so occupied, that we have found it im- "When brother Mills reached Newpossible to continue to give you a de- Orleans, he found 3000 of the French tailed account of the state of the coun Testaments there. The distribution was try through which we have passed, and immediately commenced. The Lord of our exertions in promoting the vari-has wonderfully smiled on this business. ous objects of our mission. That account will be resumed as soon as we meet again, and find a little leisure for the purpose. At present I must beg you to accept a hasty sketch of some of the most interesting occurrences. No sooner was it known that the Testaments were on hand for distribution, than the French began to flock in to receive them. The information circulated with rapidity. In a few days crowds of several hundreds presented The Strait Gate, and the Broad Way. "Then rise from death's benumbing sleep! See, spread beneath the yawning deep! themselves before the gentleman's door, to be distributed. While he was gone, a who had the immediate agency of the || vessel sailed for Charleston. I embradistribution This gentleman was Al-ced the opportunity, as there would fred Hennen, Esq. of New Orleans: probably be no other; and am now, afwho deserves the thanks of Bible Socie- ter a long and somewhat dangerous pasties, and of the French, for his faithful sage, within a few miles of that port. attention to this interesting business. He had more applications than he could = possibly attend to; and he was obliged to send away many from day to day unsatisfied. But they returned again, and were literally "clamorous for the Bible." In one week, more than a thousand copies were distributed. In three or four weeks more than two thousand had been given out in the city, and suitable persons had been inquired out to superintend the distribution of those destined for the different settlements in the country. Often in the progress of our mission, have we had occasion to exclaim, Surely the hearts of men are in the Lord's hands. The principal priest in New-Orleans, Father Antonio, decidedly favors the circulation of the Testament. The administrator of the Bishopric, Du Bourg, although he approved of the plan, and of the version proposed to be circulated, when broth-Thro' vales of care, and streams of woe. ers Mills and Schermerhorn formerly Tho' oft you wander sad, forlorn, consulted him on the subject, now re- The mark of spite, the butt of scorn; fuses to countenance the distribution; Yet your's the sweets, that cannot cloy, on the ground that this is a Protestant The SAVIOUR's peace, the Seraph's joy; version, and that he was not formerly While nurture HEAVEN itself supplies, acquainted with it. Yet he says he And fruits depend, and springs arise; does not oppose the measure, and would And Health and Temperance, sisters prefer that this version should be circugay, lated rather than none. The moral and religious state of New-Orleans remains extremely deplorable. Profaneness, Sabbath-breaking, and vice of every description, prevail to a fearful extent. "Two only paths before you spread; way; Despise the lessening length of "As now at hand the realm appears, Where pains retire, and cares, and tears, Then smooths the rough, the rude refines, "When our business in that city was finished, Mr. Mills and myself began to think of returning to our native land. And as the passage by sea was then open, we thought we should prefer that, to a tedious journey through the wilder-The desert blooms, the steep declines; ness to Georgia. But no opportunityThen bright, and brighter, spreads the presented immediately of going either plain, to Charleston or Savannah. We were Where Love begins her vernal reign. unwilling to relinquish the idea of visit-And sweet as music of the skies, ing those places; and therefore waited When hymns of bless'd Redemption rise, a little to obtain a passage. Mr. Mills Your FATHER's welcome hails you went to the Attucapas country, for a home; few days, where there were Testaments The LAMB, the SPIRIT bid you come; DANIEL'S REFLECTIONS ON DEATH. Dan. And what is death, my friend, that I should fear it? The great assembly of the good and just; Immortal worthies, heroes, prophets, saints! Made perfect by their sufferings ! "Tis to meet My great progenitors! 'Tis to behold Th' illustrious patriarchs; they, with whom the Lord Bless'd Noah and his children, once a world! "Tis to behold, oh, rapture to conceive! Those we have known, and lov'd, and lost below! Bold Azariah, and the band of brothers, Who sought, in bloom of youth, the scorching flames Champions who fought the fight of faith on earth; This is to die! who would not die for this? Who would not die, that he might live forever ?-Sacred Drama. |