The brig on board which the five missionaries, four of them with their wives, are to embark, is now in a state of advanced preparation; and is expected to sail from Newburyport, in three or four weeks, directly for Ceylon.There it is intended that the brethren should be left, with instructions to exercise their sound discretion, in view of the circumstances which may be presented to them upon the spot; whether to establish themselves in some station or stations upon that Island, or to go, ail or a part of them, to Bombay, Cochin, or elsewhere,as Divine Providence shall Propitious heaven smiled on the day. Warren and Mr. Meigs distinctly to A vast concourse of people assembled, state, that although they had long conand gave every attestation of deep in-templated India as the future scene of terest. After the usual ordination so- their labors and turned all their missionlemnities, about seven hundred com-ary desires and thoughts towards that municants of different churches sat interesting field; and although when it down together at the table of their was proposed to thein to take a destincommon Lord and Savior, gratefully to ation in all respects so different as that commemorate that dying love which of a mission to the western Indians, was displayed in the great propitiation they felt at first no small degree of for the sins of the whole world, solemn- painful disappointment; yet, after atly to testify their joint participation in tentively considering the subject, in the the heavenly design of imparting the light in which it was presented to them blessings of salvation to the perishing by the committec, they yielded to the heathen, and unitedly to set their seal proposal with a spirit of cheerful acquito the prayers, and thanksgivings, andescence, which afforded a highly gratiVows, and sacred transactions of the [fying evidence of their sincere devotedday. The scene throughout was most ness to go whithersoever Divine Proviinteresting, impressive, and refreshing, dence might direct. and was a precious earnest, as we may devoutly hope, of immortal blessings to many in distant lands, and of the holy joys of that day when they shall come from the East, and from the West, and from the North, and from the South, and sit down together in the kingdom of God. Without delay, arrangements were made, in the hope that the Missionaries would soon depart to the scenes of their respective destinations. But unforeseen hindrances have occurred, and Divine Providence, in the mean time, has overruled one considerable part of the Committee's original plan. In two or three days after the ordination, Mr.scem to direct, & to Divine Providence, Warren was affected with a bleeding at the lungs, which rendered it for some time painfully doubtful whether he would ever be employed in missionary Though, for the reasons before statlabors, and decisively took him off froin el, your Committee have found it nethe contemplated western mission.-cessary to suspend, for the present, the Through the mercy of God, however, design of a western mission; yet they he soon appeared to be slowly conval-would by no means have it understood. escent; and in pursuance of special and that the design is ultimately relinquishvery respectable medical advice, it was ed. It is cherished indeed under a vedetermined by your Committee to sendry sacred sense of duty and with inhim out with his brethren to the East creasing ardency of hope. From the as the most hopeful means of reestab-best information which the Committee lishing his health, and securing his fu- have been able to obtain, and they have ture usefulness. The destination of Mr. Warren being thus providentially changed, it was judged expedient to change that also of his associate, Mr. Meigs; and they are now both of them destined to go out with the other three brethren to the East. It is due to Mr. infinitely wise and infinitely good, this Board will commit them with the most affectionate and devout benedictions. taken care to obtain such as they think may be relied on as substantially correct, they estimate that within the United States and their Territories, there are about two hundred and forty thousand Indians, divided and subdivided into about seventy tribes and clans. Nearly one hundred thousand of these | Mr. Blackburn's plan, at different sta guage, Christian in their religion, and civilized in their general habits and manners? One rising generation being generally initiated in the rudiments of English learning, and the principles of Christianity; the next generation would come forward under vastly increased Indians are on this side the Mississippi; tions, so as to accommodate the whole and of these the four Southern tribes, tribe, and these schools supplied with the Creeks, Choctaws, Chickesaws, and good instructors and placed under the Cherokees, comprise about seventy superintendence of a few able missionathousand; more than one fourth part of ries, who, besides the care of the the number of Aborigines within the schools, should be employed in other jurisdiction of the United States. These missionary labours; would it be chifour tribes seem to claim very particu-merical to calculate, that in a course of lar attention on account not only of years not very long, the tribe at large their comparative numerical impor- would become English in their lantance; but also of their geographical situation, in a fine country and climate, and in the neighborhood of a rapidly increasing white population; and moieover of the disposition and habits, especially of the Cherokees, Chickesaws, and Choctaws, tending towards a state of civilization, and favorable to the re-advantages; and the third might be able ception among them of missionaries to carry on the design with little exand other instructors. In 1804 the traneous aid. The Committee would Rev. Gideon Blackburn, whose praise respectfully submit to this Board, and should be in all the churches, instituted beg that it may be submitted to the under the auspices of the General As- Christian public, whether the probability sembly of the Presbyterian Church, a of success in such a design, together mission among the Cherokees, which with the vast importance of the end, be he conducted in person and with very not sufficient to justify and to demand inadequate assistance and support ;* and an earnest, vigorous, and persvering exwithin about five years, between four periment. That not only the Cheroor five hundred young persons of both kees, but their neighbors, the Chickesexes were so instructed as to be able saws, and Choctaws, have dispositions to read with a good degree of facility in and habits in no small degree favora. the English Bible; were proportionably ble to such an attempt, we have very advanced in spelling, writing, and arith-satisfactory evidence: and the plan metic; and at the same time were once established among them, and taught the principles of the Christian the happy results of it made manifest, religion. Many Bibles and religious it might be extended, as Providence tracts were distributed, and several in- should open the way, to the less tractadividuals, some young, and some of ma-ble Creeks, and other tribes, with inture age, became hopeful and exempla-creased facilities and augmented enry Christians. The Cherokee tribe is couragement, estimated at twelve thousand souls. If we suppose four thousand of them to be of an age, suitable for attending schools; and four or five hundred of these, nearly an eighth part, were bro't forward to the state of improvement now described, in the short period of five years, by the exertions of one man: what might not be effected, with the blessing of God, by a combined, well supported, and well conducted effort? Were schools to be established upon * The Committee of Missions of the Gen-five who have offered themselves, with eral Assembly appropriated annually only 500 dollars. Whether we turn our eyes to the East, or to the West, or to the South, we cannot avoid being deeply impressed with the conviction, that the harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few. At the same time, there is evidence which claims the most grateful recognition, that the Lord of the harvest is not unmindful of the present spiritual wants of mankind. Besidos our eight Missionaries, gone and now going to their scones of labor, there are very satisfactory testimonials, to be employed by this Board: Mr. Burr Bald win whose health has been so much im- || port. Our expenditures, therefore, for paired, as to keep him back from ac- the year to come must be more than tive employment, but is at present in a they have been in preceding years; hopeful state, two students at the Theo- and must increase with every addition logical Seminary at Princeton, (N. J.) to the namber of our missionaries, and and two at Andover. Nor should it be to the extension of our operations. overlooked, that the late remarkable With this consideration, it is highly effusions of the Holy Spirit on our Col-important, that the friends of Missions leges, afford the animating hope, that throughout the country should be imnot a few young men will be inclined pressed; and what method should be soon to offer themselves for the service adopted to make the due impression, of God in the Gospel of his Son, both and turn it to the best account for the in our churches at home, and among security of a permanent supply of funds the heathen abroad. may deserve the attentive consideration of the Board. The concerns of this Board are becoming from year to year more and Your Committee and all the memmore weighty, and the care, the labor,bers of this board are aware that there and the expense are proportionably in- are other objects, besides those which creasing. The care and the labor must our institution directly contemplates, be ours, with humble reliance on the which demand and urgently demand, all-sufficiency of God; for means of de-the charitable attention of the Christian. fraying the expense, we must chiefly Domestic Missionary Societies, Bible depend under Providence on the liber Societies, and Societies for aiding the ality of the Christian public. This de-education of young men for the minispendence, we have reason to believe, try, Tract Societies, and Moral Sociewill not be in vain. Hitherto the an- ties, have all of them objects of incalcunual subscriptions and occasional bene-lable importance, objects, which we factions have exceeded our expendi- would by no means hinder, but by all tures. There are at present in the dif- means promote. These objects, indeed, ferent parts of our country more than together with ours, are all in their nathirty Auxiliary Societies, whose annu-ture harmonious and closely allied. al contributions have amounted on an There need be no jealousy, no interferaverage for four years past, to about ence; no other strife than to provoke five thousand dollars. Besides these one another unto love and good works. there are about 50 female associations, There need be no fear that any one of formed under different names for the these objects will exhaust the liberality same purpose of supplying funds for of individuals or of the community.this Board. The benefactions other-We have a noble example before us. wise contributed during the last year The several Societies in Great Britain, amount to more than $5,000; and besides their home missions, employ the proceeds of our funds at interest to not less than two hundred missionaries about $560. The legacy of thirty thou-abroad in different parts of the world.sand dollars, bequeathed by our bene-The British and Foreign Bible Socicfactress of grateful memory, the latety issues annually more than 200,000 Mrs. Mary Norris, and held so long un-Bibles and Testaments in various lander perplexing and expensive litiga-guages, and expends annually more tion, has at length been adjudged to the than two hundred thousand dollars in Trustees and is now, with the deduc-promoting its great object in the four tion of the expenses of the suits, held quarters of the globe. Besides the more by them, subject to the direction of the magnificent institutions, there are in the Board. This, if well invested, will same kingdom many other of similar constitute together with our other stock spirit and of no inconsiderable consea permanent fund, whose annual pro-quence, among which is a Religious ceeds will be considerable. We have Tract Society, which circulates among now, however, eight Missionaries, in-different nations and different languages, stead of three, dependant on us for sup-more than a million tracts in a year. 1 The FIFTH REPORT of the Directors of the Oneida Bible Society, exhibited at the annual meeting in Ulica, Jan. 17, 1816. THE Directors agreeably to the constitution respectfully submit the following Report. The contributions to those Societies, |siness. The Rev. ASAHEL S. NORTON, notwithstanding the incalculable ex-D. D. Vice President in the chair. The pense of the wars in which that king-Report of the Directors was read by the Rev. John Frost, and is in the words dom has been engaged, have from year following: to year been constantly increasing. In the last two years the annual receipts of the Church Missionary Society rose from about twelve thousand dollars to about fifty thousand; and this with the other principal Missionary Societies are continually receiving great accessions of strength and of resources, and eontinually extending their plans and their operations. A similar spirit is rising in this country and by proper means may be advanced to a proportionable activity and productiveness. Nor is there any danger that by this spirit of liberality the community will be impoverished. It is estimated that the total annual expenditures of all the Missionary and Bible Societies in England do not amount to the annual expense of supporting a single ship of the line, What we have most to fear is, that the princi-To the Directors counterfeit pal functionaries of the Board will not be able, with their other occupations, to bestow upon the continually accu IT appears from the Treasurer's account, which has been audited and approved, that the receipts of the last $605 05 Balance due the Society at the date of the last annual Report 11 22 year amounted to 616 27 Your Treasurer has paid over to the To Merrell & Camp, for print- bill notes on interest to the a- mulating business, that attention which He has still in his possession, under the direction of Him in whom al! This report the Committee beg leave to submit, in the full confidence that the Board will perceive in it many reasons of devout thankfulness to God, and many inducements to pursue our great object with unremitting zeal. Hitherto the Lord hath helped us.-The work is in his hand, it depends for its success entirely upon his blessing. SAMUEL WORCESTER. Clerk of the P. C. THE annual meeting of the ONEIDA BIBLE SOCIETY, was held at the Presbyterian Meeting-house in Utica, on the 17th day of January, 1816. An excellent Sermon was delivered to the Society, by the Rev. AZEL BACKUS, D. D President of Hamilton College. After which the Society proceeded to bu 16 93 3.00 616 27 438 00 With pleasure we learn from the above account that the receipts for the last year are $138,79 more than those any preceding year. of The Purchasing Committee had in their hands, at the date of the last annual Report $232 00 Received of Treasurer They have paid the last year Leaving a balance in their 596 34 828 34 625 00 200 00 57 34 882 34 828 34 54 00 The Distributing Committee, at the date of the last annual Report, had in their hands Bibles for distribution Since that period they have received from the Purchasing Committee Mis Georgia, 1; Ohio, 6; Kentucky, 1; Tennessee, 2; Louisiana, 1; Mississippi Territory, 1; Indiana Territory, 4; souri Territory, 1; Illinois Territory, 1. The New-York Bible Society have distributed the last year, 1258 English Bibles and 1894 copies of their new edition of the French Bible. Most of the 15 latter have been sent to the French in20 habitants of Louisiana and Canada. 322 81 75 1300 1375 Herkimer, Oneida, Madison, Lewis, Cayuga, St. Lawrence, Counties west of Geneva, Distributed themselves to ob. jects of charity 79 Whole number distributed the last year 21. The whole number of Bibles distri93 buted by this Society since its forma25 tion, including 800 copies of the French 100 Bible, sent to the Bible Societies of 25 Connecticut and New-Jersey, is 14,006. This Society are taking measures for printing the Scriptures on stereotype plates, in a brevier letter and large duodecimo form, to make about 1056 pages. They have also by vote expressed an opinion, that it is expedient to call a 594 convention of delegates from different The whole number of Bibles distribu-Bible Societies, to consult on the proted since the formation of the Society, is 3356. Leaving in their hands for dis tribution 781 priety of forming a General Bible Institution for the United States. This vote Believing it would aid the great ob- has been communicated to the Presi ject in view, the Directors, at their late dent of the New-Jersey Bible Society, meeting in Whitesboro', the 2d inst. ap-as the most proper person to call such pointed a number of agents to receive convention. and distribute Bibles, and also to solicit The labors of the Rev. Samuel J. and collect subscriptions for the society. Mills and Daniel Smith, who the last The Directors rejoice in saying, that year have performed a missionary tour this Society continues to rise in impor- through the south-western part of the tance. The demand for Bibles, instead United States, have been attended with of diminishing, increases with the in- the most happy effect in the formation crease of its means; and we are thus of Bible Societies, and in furnishing adenabled by God, still to share with oth-ditional information respecting the spirers in the inestimable privilege of giving itual wants of the inhabitants. to the poor and destitute that holy book While we rejoice to behold the inwhich contains the charter of salvation.creasing zeal and activity of our brethThe exertions of similar institutions ren in this country, let us turn to the in this country, and, indeed, wherever Eastern World. Our attention is first they have been established, continue arrested by that stupendous Institution, unabated. New societies are constant- the British and Foreign Bible Society, ly springing up. At the date of the last which has by its unparalleled exertions, annual Report, 62 societies were known drawn to it the eyes, and excited the adto exist in the United States. From miration, the love and the gratitude of the best information that can be obtain all who pray for the prosperity of Zion. ed, the whole number at present in the From the 11th annual Report it apUnion, is 108; viz.-in New Hampshire pears, that the receipts, including the 2; Massachusetts, &; Rhode-Island, 2; || sale of the scriptures, were £100,000 Connecticut, 2; Vermont, 10; New-sterling, of which the auxiliary socieYork, 25; New Jersey, 5; Pennsylva- ties contributed nearly £62,000. nia, 13; Delaware, 1; Maryland, 5; During this year it has issued 126,156 District of Columbia, 1; Virginia, 13; Bibles, and 123,776 New Testaments. North-Carolina, 1; South-Carolina, 2; "Since its formation it has circulated Z 1 |