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quence of their united labors, and of the labors of others, from time to time combined with them, they ultimately spread the design throughout a great part of Europe; and embarked in it individuals, at little distances, over almost the whole of that continent.-Their adherents inserted themselves into every place, office, and employment, in which their agency might become efficacious, and which furnished an opportunity of spreading their corruptions. They were found in every literary institution from the Abecedarian school to the Academy of sciences; and every civil office, from that of the bailiff to that of the Monarch. They swarmed in the palace; they haunted the church. Wherever mischief could be done, they were found; and, wherever they were found, mischief was extensively done. Of books they controlled the publication, the sale, and the character. An immense number they formed; an immense number they forged; prefixed to them the names of reputable writers, and sent them into the world, to be sold for a song; and, when that could not be done, to be given away. Within a period shorter than could be imagined, they possessed themselves, to a great extent, of a control, nearly absolute, of the literary, religious, and political state of Europe.

"With these advantages in their hands, it will easily be believed, that they left no instrument unemployed, and no measure untried, to accomplish their own malignant purposes. With a diligence, courage, constancy, activity, and perseverance, which might rival the efforts of demons themselves, they penetrated into every corner of human society. Scarcely a man, woman, or child was left unassailed, wherever there was left a single hope, that the attack might be successful. Books were written, and published, in innumerable multitudes, in which infidelity was brought down to the level of peasants, and even of children; and poured with immense assiduity into the cottage, and the school. Others of a superior kind, crept into the shop, and the farm house; and others of a still higher class, found their way to the drawing room, the university, and the palace. The business of all men, who were of any importance, and the education of the children of all such men, was, as far as possible, engrossed, or at least influenced, by these banditti of the moral world; and the hearts of those, who had no importance, but in their numbers, and physical strength. A sensual, profligate nobility, and princes, if possible still more sensual and profligate, easily yielded themselves, and their children, into the hands of these minions of corruption. Too ignorant, too enervated, or too indulent, to understand, or even to inquire that they might understand, the tendency of all these efforts, they marched quietly on to the gulf of ruin, which was already opened to receive them. With these was combined a priest-hood, which in its dignified ranks, was still more putrid; and which eagerly yielded up the surplice and the lawn, the desk and the altar, to destroy that Bible, which they had vowed to defend, as well as to preach, and to renew the crucifixion of that Redeemer, whom they had sworn to worship. By these agents, and these efforts, the plague was spread with rapidity, and to an extent, which astonished heaven and earth: and life went out, not in solitary cases, but by an universal extinction." (To be Continued.)

From the Panoplist.

Extract from the Report of the Trustees of the Massachu setts Missionary Society, May, 1813.

Messrs. SCHERMERHORN and MILLS caused it to be known to the Board, that they contemplated a tour, for missionary purposes, into the western parts of Pennsylvania; thence through the states of Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee, down to New Orleans; and thence across through the Mississippi Territory, and up through the western parts of Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia. The Board had great confidence in them as men eminently qualified for the missionary service; hoped, that besides being immediately useful to many in preaching the Gospel, they would also, in their tour, collect much important information, respecting the religious state of large portions of our country; and judged it consistent with the great purposes of this Society to patronize their arduous enterprise. At first indeed the commission given was limited to a mission for two months at New Orleans; but afterwards, in consequence of a letter to the Secretary from Mr. Schermerhorn, dated Marietta, Ohio, Oct. 24, 1812, their commission was enlarged. From this and other letters the Board beg leave to introduce extracts in this place, as a part of their report.

In the letter of Oct. 24, Mr. Schermerhorn says; "It was my intention to have written to you before this, but my wish to form a union with Mr. Mills, my companion in labor, in order to give a fuller account of our labors and prospects, has been the cause of so long silence. This is the first place at which we have had the pleasure of seeing each other since we left Andover in May.

"I cannot enter into particulars. The account I shall give will be general. The state of Pennsylvania is far more in want of evangelical laborers than I had conceived. From Philadelphia to Chambersburg, a number of Presbyterian ministers are settled; a small number, however, compared with the extent of country. The district referred to is 150 miles by 70 or 80, containing 347,000 inhabitants, and only 24 Presbyterian clergymen. It must not be understood, that these are the only clergy. The number of German, Lutheran and Reformed Dutch Clergymen is greater.

"Intemperance prevails greatly among the Germans: also profanity and gambling. The Sabbath is not regarded as the Lord's time. "From Chambersburg to Greensburgh, on this side the Allegany mountains, a region of 110 miles by 70 has but one Presbyterian clergyman, and contains 60,880 inhabitants. In this region, there are some Dutch clergymen; but very few. This last region I have districted on my map into three missionary circuits. The people are generally anxious to hear the Gospel and would generally help to aid a Society to support a missionary among them. From Greensburgh to the Ohio river, the country is better supplied. On the north of Pittsburgh from that place to the line of New-York, and eastward of the Allegany river to the east branch of the Susquehannah, I know of but one Presbyterian minister. This is a very destitute reigon. It contains 60 or 70 thousand inhabitants, perhaps 100,000.

After leaving Pittsburgh, I struck the Ohio at Grave Creek, (Vir.) In four counties in Virginia, which lie on the Ohio, viz. Brooke, Ohio, Wood and Cabell, and Mason, containing 20,000 inhabitants, there is only one minister, except a few itinerant Methodists. From Steubenville, Ohio, to Marietta, 110 miles, there is no minister. A good missionary route might be established up and down that river. I have proposed it to the people, who were pleased with the plan, and expressed themselves willing to support such a mission.

"We preach as often as occasion offers and our health will permit. Thus far we have been gladly received. It is doubtful, Sir, whether we shall be able to go on to New-Orleans, on account of being obliged to relinquish going through Indiana territory to St. Louis and New Madrid"

It appears from Mr. Schermerhorn's letter, that the brethren had been useful in promoting the formation of a Bible Society at Marietta; and that they hoped to exert themselves with success in making a similar attempt at Lexington, (Ken.)

In a letter to Mr. Jenks, one of the Trustees, dated Cincinnati, Ohio, Nov. 20, Mr. Schermerhorn states, that in Pennsylvania he found whole counties, containing from 5,000 to 10,000 people, without regular preaching; and that in Virginia, west of the Blue Ridge, a district containing 150,000 inhabitants, only three clergymen were settled.

In a letter dated at Nashville, (Ten.) May 7, 1813, Mr. S. informs that he and Mr. Mills crossed the Ohio in the latter part of November; and that they had labored till the date of his letter in the western country.* "We have preached," says the writer, "as often as we could conveniently collect the people, and as the other object, viz. that of obtaining religious information, would admit, while in Kentucky and Tennessee. On the 10th of January, we started for New Orleans agreeable to our commission. We arrived at Natchez on the 15th of February. I was taken sick with an inflammatory fever, immediately on my arrival; which confined me nearly three weeks and disabled me from preaching while in the Mississippi territory; though Mr. M. and myself were instrumental in procuring the formation of a Bible Society at Natchez. We arrived at New Orleans on the 16th of March. A Baptist and Methodist preacher had arrived a few weeks before us. We immediately united our labors with Mr. Rice, the Baptist, as there was only one place of preaching. In addition to services on the Sabbath, we had two sermons during the week, besides two prayer meetings. The congregations during our stay were large, and very attentive; and I trust much good was done by our going to that place. During our stay, we here also obtained the formation of a Bible Society, which was entered into with much spirit, and with the approbation of the Catholic clergy. When about to leave the place, I was importuned to stay with them until the sickly season commences."

The brethren left New Orleans on the 6th of April, and after a tedious journey of 700 miles, (500 through a wilderness) arrived at Nashville on the 6th of May.

*This letter was received a few days after the meeting of the Society; but its principal contents are now incorporated in the report.

Mr. Pettengill had for several years been settled in the ministry at Champlain, a town upon the west side of the lake of the same name, and on the Canada line: but, in consequence of the war, his settlement was broken up, and his people thrown into a state of confusion and dispersion. Deeply afflicted by the event, and earnestly desirous of ministering to the spiritual instruction and consolation of his people in their distressed circumstances, and of thousands of others on the frontiers similarly situated, he came down and made the case knowɑ to some members of the Board, and the duty of appointing him to the mission appeared peculiarly clear and urgent.

By the communications received from him, it appears, that his labors in the service of the Society commenced about the middle of August, and were continued without interruption into December; and after a suspension of about two months, they were resumed, and continued until the latter part of March; when, finding the travelling extremely difficult, and his strength much exhausted, he judged it expedient to return to his family. His whole time in the service of the Society was about five months. His labors were performed under circumstances and amidst scenes which called for all the wisdom and fidelity of the minister of Christ; but there is reason to believe that he was enabled to commend himself to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

"My mission, (he says) while it was attended with many depressing occurrences, introduced me into an extensive field of labor, and afforded me opportunity for communicating religious instruction to persons, in a great variety of distressing circumstances, who would otherwise have been almost entirely destitute of the means of grace. Though prohibited by my instructions, as well as by a sense of duty, from entering into political controversy, I considered it expedient to use my exertions to prevent depredations and blood-shed among neighbors, now viewed as enemies to one another, being divided by the provincial line. For this purpose I frequently passed into Canada, in such a manner, as not to offend either government, and preached to the destitute British subjects, and urged them by motives of religion, humanity, and personal safety, to restrain themselves, their Indians, and all unprincipled persons, from molesting, under any pretext, our defenceless inhabitants. When it was practicable I held meetings near the line, composed of persons from both sides, and endeavored to address them in an appropriate manner, and impress it upon their minds, that a state of war does not alter the law of Jehovah, which requires us to love our neighbor as ourselves, and to do to others, as we would that others do to us I prayed repeatedly with different companies of the militia, and entreated them to enlist under the banner of Christ; frequently conversed and prayed with the sick and dying; spent considerable time in hospitals, conversing and praying with sick soldiers, and in distributing, among such as were able to read, the Bibles and tracts, left in my care by Mr. Osgood. The distressed, perplexed, forlorn inhabitants-the scattered companies of militia collected from destitute settlements-the loathsome hospitals, filled with the sick and dying, claimed particular attention. I generally met with cordial reception; and I hope that the serious addresses to the young, the

solemn warnings to the impenitent, the declaration of the promises of the Gospel to mourners in Zion, and the great doctrines of grace to thousands of attentive hearers, through destitute settlements extending about two hundred miles, have by Divine blessing produced effects, in some measure answerable to the benevolent design of the Society." In two or three places, Mr. Pettengill witnessed a pleasing prevalence of religious seriousness and inquiry. At a town called Essex, he notes in his journal, “ An unusual attention to religion is manifest in this vicinity. Meetings are frequent, crouded, and solemn. Many are disposed to inquire what they shall do to be saved; some have recently obtained a hope. It is not uncommon to see persons at meeting from the distance of eight or nine miles."

From the Panoplist.

Extract from the Minutes of the General Association of Massachusetts Proper, June, 1813.

On a general review of the narratives, given by the delegates from the several associations within our limits, we find much to awaken the gratitude and raise the hopes of the friends of Zion. In these "troublous times" the walls of our Jerusalem are evidently rising. Harmony in the faith and order of the Gospel prevails; and attendance on its institutions appears to be increasing. Some congregations, which had long been destitute of a stated ministry, have of late been supplied; a growing attachment to evangelical truth is apparent; and sectarian influence, it is believed, does not on the whole increase. With heart-felt gratitude to God would we make mention of the special visitations of his grace to several of our churches. Stockbridge, Belchertown, Amherst, Granby, Munson, Sunderland, Ware, Haverhill, and Bradford have been favored the year past, with rich effusions of the Holy Spirit. Many in those towns have been constrained to bow to the sceptre of Jesus ;-many have subscribed with their hands to the Mighty God of Jacob. In four of them, more than three hundred souls have been added to the churches; and the work has not ceased. In other places, some within, and some without our limits, there have been pleasing refreshings.

While we lift our hearts to God in admiring praise for his gracious remembrance of us, in this trying day, we would not forget humbly to notice and lament the special dangers with which some of our churches are beset; and the fearful declension apparent in others. Two or three on our eastern border are harrassed by sectarians, and are threatened with dissolution. A few others, on account of the pressure of the times, are in danger of losing the stated ministration of the bread of life; and many are slumbering in Laodicean lukewarmness, even though some of them have been visited with distressing sicknes and awful mortality.

We are happy in being able to state that in the past year, several humane and charitable societies have been formed; some for the relief of the distressed; some for the assistance of pious and indigent young men in obtaining an education for the gospel ministry, and

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