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I will let you know. This place is 100
miles a little west of south from St.
Louis, and directly on the road to the
Cherokees.

To-morrow I attend the Illinois association, 16 miles east of this place, where I shall propose the subject of missions, education, &c. and in two weeks the Missouri association, above St. Charles.

FROM MR. PECK TO THE CORRESPONDING
SECRETARY OF THE BOARD, DATED

St. Louis, Dec. 7th, 1818.

ON Nov. 3d, I left St. Louis, passed through Herculaneum, St Genevieve, and the Barrens, where I had several opportunities of explaining to individuals the objects of the society. I reached the vicinity of Jackson in season to attend the quarterly meeting of the Bethel association. Here I was happy to find some worthy brethren, whose hearts had been touched with the spirit of missions. Saturday and Sabbath were spent here, during which time opportunity presented to plead the cause of missions, and a collection of $32 37 cents was received. Considering this as the first effort, and in a land where never before a missionary sermon was preached, or money raised for such a purpose, I could not hesitate to acknowledge the fostering hand of God. At the same time, I enjoyed the pleasure of receiving several annual subscribers for the "United Society," &c. and of forming the " Cape Gira deau Mite Society Auxiliary," &c. which promises to grow into a useful institution.

Nov. 10th. Passing through the town of Cape Giradeau, I preached at 12 o'clock to a small but solemn assembly, and from thence eight miles further, where I preached in the evening, and aided in forming the "Tywappity Mite Society Auxiliary," &c. Returned to Jackson the next evening, where a sermon was delivered at the house of hon. R. S. Thomas, and the "Jackson Female Mite Society Auxiliary," &c. was formed. This society, consisting, when organized, of 17 amiable ladies, presents the encouraging hope, that, as it is the first female institution ever formed west of the Missisippi, it may prove the forerunner of many more.

Leaving Jackson, I proceeded towards the interior, and spent the following Sabbath with the Providence church near St. Michael, St. Gene

VOL. II.

vieve county, where a small collection was received. Tuesday following, brought me to Cook's settlement, where I had the satisfaction of seeing formed the ry," &c. and $30 subscribed to its funds "Liberty Mite Society Auxiliain a few moments. Returning to the vicinity of St. Michael on Thursday, Nov, 19th, the "St. Michael Mite Society Auxiliary," &c. was organized. While in this region, the idea passed my mind to attempt something for such ministers as are already preaching to churches, or settlements around. Accordingly I drafted a subscription paper on the behalf of Rev. Mr. Farrar, which I proposed for circulation. The success attending the first attempt not only taught me the practicability of the object, but that similar measures. might be pursued elsewhere with simg ilar results.

Nov. 21st. and 22d. were spent in the settlements down and on the west side of St. Francois. Here is a small church, and a preacher by the name of Street. Returning over a very rough broken country, it was not without considerable exertion I was enabled to reach my appointment in Doe-run settlement, where I preached on Monday evening. Here are several professors, and a church will probably be constituted next spring. The next day brought me to Bellevue, where I spent two days, preached three times, and left arrangements to form an auxiliary society next.

season.

Returning towards St. Louis I preach-. ed in Herculaneum on Friday evening, where the state of things presents the encouraging prospect of an auxiliary society at some future time. Going from thence to Gravois, where I preach ed the following Sabbath, I had the misfortune to lose my path, and for hours the following evening and night I was compelled to wander over hills and gullies, through thickets and brambles, till at last a kind Providence brought me to the place of destination. In Gravois, ten miles from St. Louis, there are some favourable indications of seriousness, and it is hoped one or two instances of conversion.

Sabbath evening, Dec. 6th, I embrac ed the invitation of some of the members of the legislature now sitting, and preached a missionary sermon in their hall to a large and respectable assembly, from whom was received in collection $26 75 cents. This was the first attempt to collect for the mission in St. Louis. In reviewing this tour I find much cause of gratitude for the encouragement afforded the mission, and feel confident that God, the Parent 14

106

MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.

of all mercies, will give success to the infant society which we have been enabled to form.

In this journey I spent 27 days, travelled 466 miles, preached 24 sermons, assisted in forming five auxiliary societies, left constitutions for three others to be formed next spring, attended three church meetings, one communion season, was present at ane baptizing, visited all the schools in my rout, Desides calling on families as I passed along, with a view to religious instruction, and in various ways endeavoured to promote the general objects of the society. Considering the vast increase of population in this territory, (estimated by the legislature at more than 100,000 souls, the almost unlimited field, especially in the southwest, towards the Red river country, and the impossibility of two missionaries and a few local preachers even visiting all these extensive settlements, much less affording any thing like occasional supplies, the Board will forcibly realize the importance of additional missionaries in this extensive harvest. The necessity of this will be more readily felt when it is understood, that the funds of the "United Society" will soon be competent to employ one or two itinerating missionaries at least a part of the year, and no suitable persons who can be spared are yet found to enter their service.

FROM MR. WELCH TO THE CORRESPOND-
ING SECRETARY OF THE BOARD, DATED

St. Louis, Nov. 1, 1818.

ACCORDING to previous intimation to the Board, I left St. Louis on the 22d of June, on a missionary tour down the Territory below, passing through Herculaneum, St. Genevieve, and Cape Giradeau, a distance of about 120 miles, visiting and preaching to the destitute neighbourhoods that intervene.

About the middle of July I passed over into Illinois, and thus on to Kentucky, for the purpose of visiting some of the associations. The particular object in view was to make collections for the erection of our meeting house in this place, as well as for missionary purposes. The object of my visits from place to place was rendered less auspicious by the almost universal exertion among the Baptist churches in that part of the State for building large houses for public worship, seven or eight of which are now erecting, while others are receiving enlargement and repair. Although my success was thus circum

scribed, yet it was matter of rejoicing
to see the prosperity of the churches
through this interesting portion of our
country. Agreeably to their wonted
liberality, in the space of about ten
weeks, the time actually devoted to this
service, they put into my hands the sum
of 430 dollars, besides my expenses.
I take the liberty of mentioning the
names of Rev. Messrs. Jeremiah Var-
deman and Walter Warder, to whose
influence much of my success is indebt-
ed.

On the 28th of August it was my satisfaction to aid in the formation of "The Female Missionary Society of Richmond auxiliary to the Madison Missionary Society of Kentucky." It will be understood by the Board that the Madison Society was constituted last fall, and stands connected with the general body. A similar pleasure was enjoyed, on the 11th of September, in the constitution of "The Female Missionary Society of Lexington, auxiliary to the Baptist Board of foreign Missions for the United States." By the kindness of the "Preserver of Men," I arrived in St Louis again on the 15th of October, and found all the mission family well.

Agreeably to arrangements made last spring, I attended, on the 23d of October, the formation of the "Friendship Baptist Church," constituted on the north side of the Missouri, about 60 miles above this village, and at the place where old Col. Daniel Boon now lives. On this occasion, the same number of disciples as was called to accompany the Saviour while on earth, manifested a desire to enjoy the privileges pertaining to the people of God in a church relation. A sermon was delivered from Psalm cxxxiii, 1. "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity;" and after the church covenant and articles of faith were read, &c. the right hand of fellowship was offered, and the blessing of God solicited, that it might "flourish as the vine, and shoot forth its branches like Lebanon."

This is truly a destitute region of country. The harvest is great, and the labourers are few: pray ye, therefore, that the Lord of the harvest would send forth more labourers into his vineyard.

The 24th and two following days were spent at the meeting of the Missouri association on Femme Osage, 15 miles below, in the bend of the river; at the close of which was formed the "United Society for the promotion of the Gospel and common Schools, both among the whites and Indians."

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You are not mistaken in your views of the importance of the field we "occupy in the region of St. Louis and the surrounding country," and the necessity of persevering efforts to maintain this position, rather than leave it for more distant and uncertain prospects. Though my mind has been led to contemplate the situation of the Indians, and the favourable openings that are presenting for Missionary labours, yet I have never felt disposed to relinquish

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EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM MR. ROWE AT DIGAH, TO THE TREASURER OF THE BAPTIST BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS, DATED

this field, unless some one else would ENGLISH BAPTIST MISSION. enter this part of the harvest. For some months past we have been getting things into a kind of settled train of operations, and to open a respectable school, where the expense of rent, &c. will not take the best part of the profits, as in St. Louis. We have at last fixed on St. Charles, a flourishing village on the north side of the Missouri, and 20 miles from St. Louis.

Our much esteemed brother, Rev. James Craig, who came into this country last fall from Ohio, has settled in St. Charles, and opened a large school. This he proposes to relinquish to the

Concern, and enter into a connexion with as to establish a respectable Academy and boarding school. Arrangements have been made, and operations will begin on the first of April, when I shall remove and take charge of the establishment. A great field is open for preaching in every direction from that point. Brother Welch will continue in St. Louis, and maintain this

post.

One circumstance which renders

our school system indispensable, is the efforts of the Catholics in the same way. They have a school in St. Louis, and are establishing a Nunnery in St. Charles. The Bishop is a polite man, and is quite active. We have formed a Bible Society in St. Louis the past winter, and another in St. Charles, both auxiliary to the American Bible Society.

We hold a special meeting for coloured people on Sabbath afternoon. Yesterday was a very solemn time. I do not like to be sanguine, but it really appears as if God was about to perform a work amongst them.

If you would exert your influence to dispose some of our young brethren in the ministry, of fervent piety, liberal education, and popular talents, to visit this territory, or the Illinois, to establish Academies, you could not render us a

May 14, 1818.

THE troops returned from the field. have had a large attendance at Dinaabout six weeks ago, since which we pore. On the 4th of last month, we baptized five men belonging to his Majesty's 24th foot, and there are several men and women of this regiment, who dates for baptism. God is doing great have proposed themselves as candiingly on their account. Brother Chamthings for them, and we rejoice exceedberlain has lately baptized Nyan Sook, a young Brahmin, who had been with us a long time as an inquirer. I hope, ere long, he will become useful as an ren are pretty active. Sometime ago itinerant preacher. Our native brethwe had an inquirer who lives in a village thirty or forty miles to the north of Digah; on returning home, he made known the gospel as far as he understood it, to his relatives and neighbours; they received him, though they knew he had lost his cast by eating with nahim to invite some of our native brethtive Christians; and have since sent ren to go and instruct them,

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM MR. ROWE
TO A YOUNG LADY IN NEW-YORK,
DATED
June 5, 1818.

AFTER mentioning the conversion and baptism of several persons in his Majesty's 24th regiment of foot at Calcutta, Mr. Rowe says, "they were forined into a Baptist

church, with pastors and deacons chosen from among themselves. About four years ago they left Calcutta for Dinapore, the church then consisting of about eighty members. Soon after their arrival at Dinapore, their first pastor, an excellent man, was removed by death. On their first arrival, they attended our worship at Digah, on the morning and evening of the Lord's day; but finding it inconvenient to come so far in the heat of the day, they obtained permission to build a place of worship in the rear of the barracks at Dinapore. After obtaining permission, they soon made a collection among themselves, and erected what we call ed the Grass Tabernacle, which would hold about 250 persons. Here we used to preach twice on Lord's day, and twice in the course of the week. We soon got this place filled, and many were added unto the church. Some months after their arrival, they were engaged in a war with Napaul; and were kept in the field two seasons. This was a great trial, both to them and to us; but in the end it proved the means of bringing them back to Dinapore again. During a part of the time they were absent, the women belonging to the Regiment remained here, and we got a considerable number of them to attend worship; and two or three other Regiments were also here for a short season, and we have reason to hope our labours among them were not in vain. While the 24th remained on the frontiers of Napaul, about 90 miles to the northward of us, I paid them a visit, and spent three Sabbaths with them. There they had built a neat and commodious place of worship, about the size of the Grass Tabernacle, nearly in front of their lines; and a lovely thing it was to see them going in company over a beautiful plain, to the house of God, every morning and evening. While with them, I administered the ordinances of Baptism, and the Lord's Supper. Having no river near the place of worship, they dug a baptistery in the ground and lined it with mats, which answered very well. After staying the proposed time, I left them with much regret. About eight or ten months after this, they returned to Dinapore again to our great joy. By this time many of their members, having served their time, returned to England; others had died; and some had fallen off into drunkenness, the great besetting sin in the army, by which the church was reduced to 30 or forty members.

After their return to Dinapore, the Congregation increased greatly, and the

Grass Tabernacle became much to small. They then took it down, and erected another place which will hold between three and four hundred, and on Sabbath days we have this pretty well filled. A few months after this was finished, they were called to take the field, about 150 miles to the southward of us. During their absence, we had a pretty large congregation from the women who remained behind. The Regiment continued in the field till about the end of March last, when they again returned to Dinapore. Since their last return, five have been added to the church by baptism, and several fallen members have been restored. The Congregation is increased, and several men and women are now proposed as candidates for baptism. They have now about 80 members, and I trust God is with them of a truth. The Colonel of the Regiment is very indulgent to them, and he now and then comes to hear us preach. Persecution seems to have ceased, and a great moral change has taken place in the Regiment in general. Walk through the barracks at almost any time of the day, when duty does not interfere, and you would see hundreds at their books. It is wonderful to see what a number of good books they have in this Regiment. Few country ministers have half the number. We have lately formed a Branch Baptist Missionary Society in the Regiment, a printed account of which you will probably see. Their subscriptions amount to 60 or 70 dollars monthly. The Society was formed on a green before my house; and I am sure you would have been delighted, if you had been present on the cccasion.

Among our members, we have Sergeant Major Murray and his wife, whose letters your father is so kind as to forward to Quebec. Mrs. Murray is a most excellent woman, and has charge of the female Regimental school. He expects a commission in the course of a week or two, when she will be necessitated to give up the school, in which she has been very useful. Her experience is exceedingly affecting; I have it in writing, and shall probably send it you some time, if you continue to send us a good supply of interesting news. The master of the band and his wife are also members; she will probably take the school when Mrs. Murray gives it up. The Sergeant who has charge of the Hospital,and his wife, are likewise members. The Regimental school-master and his wife stand proposed as candidates for baptism; and we hope the Drum Major, and his wife, as also the Quarter Master Ser

geant, and his wife, will soon come forward. I fear you will charge me with having a little pride, and of labouring to display my knowledge in military concerns, by giving you such a list of military distinctions. I will therefore have done. If you were here, I would take you in to see them all; and I would whisper in your ear, "There is a member that was once considered the great est boxer in the Regiment;" "there is another who was once the greatest drunkard;" and "there is another who was the most noted for his profaneness.",

"The openly profane in the Regiment are astonished at the change which has taken place in some of these notorious characters."--I would also add, "there is a female member who was once noted for swearing, and beating her husband, brought to sit at the feet of Jesus, in her right mind;" "and there is another who once threw her husband's dinner out into the gutter, because he had been to the house of prayer, clinging to the cross of Christ." Yours very sincerely,

Religious Intelligence.

The following Queries did not come to us soon enough to be inserted under the head of "Religious Communications." Their importance, we trust, will justify our answering them in this place.

Editors.]

J. ROWE.

they have any connexion whatever with the churches which are considered in regular standing in the Baptist denomination?

An answer to these inquiries will oblige several of your readers, and par For the American Baptist Magazine. ticularly one who considers himscif an ORTHODOX BAPTIST.

Messrs Editors,

THE other evening I took up a publication called the "Christian Disciple;" which is conducted by gentlemen of Unitarian principles. Being myself a Baptist, the first article which I was induced to read, was a review of "Reasons offered by Samuel Eddy, Esqr. for his opinions to the first Baptist church in Providence, from which he was compelled to withdraw for heterodoxy."

With feelings which are very natural, the writer seems to take for grant ed, what he wishes to be true, that Unitarianism is rapidly gaining ground Hence as might be expected, Mr. Eddy receives a high share of praise for talent and intrepidity of mind, in emancipating himself from the supposed errors of the day. It is further stated that many of the Communion of Baptists have received it, (Unitarianism) and some of high literary name among them." But that which most excited my surprise, and has occasioned me to address you, is, the assertion, that "in the town of Boston there is a society of professed Unitarian Buptists.” Ás I have had considerable acquaintance with the Baptist churches in Boston for several years, and never heard any thing of the kind before, I should be much gratified, if, through the medium of your Magazine, you would inform the public, whether there be a society bearing this name? Whether they have any pastor? What is their number; and whether

In answer to the queries of "an Orthodox Baptist," we can only say, that we never heard of a Society of Unitarian, Baptists in Boston, until we read the publication to which he alludes. Since we received the above communication, we have made inquiry, but can find no society of Baptists of any description, who have avowed Unitarian sentiments.

The writer of the article in the Christian Disciple, most probably referred to a small society, which was some years since collected in this town by Messrs. Elias Smith and Abner Jones. These people are commonly called Free-will Baptists. But denying all creeds and distinctive names, they call themselves Christ-ians. As they violently declaim against creeds and articles of faith, it would appear somewhat singular should they profess themselves Unitarian Baptists."

With a view to ascertain the fact, we have conversed with one of the leading brethren of that community, who denies their having ever avowed the Unitarian sentiment. The most we can learn is, that a few individuals approximate in their sentiments, (if they have any) towards the Unitarian sys

tem.

What precise views this society have of the character of Jesus Christ, we know not; but if we are correctly informed, they constantly invoke the Lord Jesus in prayer, and offer their thanksgivings to him, which would be

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