ance of debt against the Institution does The plan is this: to ask one dollar only BAPTIST GENERAL TRACT SOCIETY. THE first annual meeting of this Society was held in the meeting-house of the first Baptist Church in Washington City, on Monday evening, the 28th of February, 1825. From the Report of the Board which was then read, it appears that the prospects of success in the great objects of the Society, are flattering to a degree far beyond the anticipations of its founders. Many of the most enlightened and influential of the denomination, in most parts of the United States, have expressed their unqualified approbation of the undertaking, and their readiness to co-operate in such measures as will tend to its enlargement. Many auxiliary societies are already formed, and depositories are established in several of the States. Nineteen tracts have already been issued, and the number will be rapidly increased. This institution is yet in its early stage of infancy; and if the countenance which it has already received, may be regarded as an indication of its future support, the most happy results may be confidently expected. The officers for the ensuing year are : Vice President, Samuel Cornelius. Recording Secretary, Joseph Thaw. A number of gentlemen connected with the Baptist congregation in Roxbury, convened on the 20th of March, and formed themselves into a Primary Foreign Missionary Society, and made choice of the following officers: President, Rev. William Leverett. On Monday afternoon, April 11, several ladies connected with the same Congregation, formed themselves into a Primary Society for the same purpose, and made choice of the following persons to manage the concerns of the Society. Secr'y. & Treas. Mrs. Mary A. Leverett. Collectors, Mrs. Harriet Griggs, Mrs. Elizabeth Colburn, Mrs. Mary Randall, Mrs. Esther Noyes, Miss Phebe Pratt, Miss H. M. Griggs. which they are engaged. For the Foreign Mission, we shall probably obtain from 100 to 150 dollars. Besides these Societies for the support of the Burman Mission, there is a Ladies' Society for the support of the Carey Mission. The friends of Christ in this place, though few in number, and not burdened with wealth, continue to exhibit a spirit of benevolence and activity, both honouraExperience has so evidently demonstrable to themselves, and worthy the cause in ted the utility of Tracts, that it is almost superfluous to remind the Christian public of the convenience which they offer of doing much good with little expense. In , many instances they have been instrumental in bringing conviction to the minds of sinners, who were not in the habit of going where the Gospel was preached. They have brought sweet consolations to the hearts of God's children, and often supplied the want of the ministry of the word in destitute places. They scatter light upon the pilgrim's path, and carry blessings into the abodes of misery, at an expense so small as to be utterly imperceptible. REVIVALS OF RELIGION. EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM MR. THOMAS Auburn, March 14, 1825. THE Lord is displaying the riches of his grace in this region, in calling sinners from darkness to his marvellous light. In Fleming, Elder Clark baptized between 30 and 40 last year, and the work has ceased in that place, but in Mentz there is quite a revival. More than 40 have been buried in baptism since the first of October last, and many more are inquiring what they shall do to be saved. Some stand ready to go forward soon. O that the Lord would pour out his Spirit in copious effusions, that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified. The Auburn church has been in a backelidden state these two years past, but the Lord has sent his Spirit among them, and they are revived. Jesus has spread his banner over this place, and sinners are brought to bow to his mild sceptre, and cry, What shall we do to be saved?" Five persons were buried in baptism yesterday; there are more expected to unite with us soon, and our meetings are crowded. O brethren, pray for us, that the Lord's work may continue and spread, till the whole earth is filled with his glory. VIRGINIA. ed here; and I hope that the Lord is about to build a house for himself among them. This place is upwards of thirty miles from any church, and there never were any Baptists here before. If I were to judge from the appearance that was produced under the ministry of the word, during my last tour, I should conclude that the Lord was about to do great things for the people in many other settlements. Indeed, I do not think I ever before per|| formed a tour that was so promising.” NORTH CAROLINA. the following extract of a letter from a "The Lord, in his unbounded goodness, is still carrying on his work in this vicinity. We have received, in a few months past, upwards of forty members. We re ceived at one time three, each of whom A ministering brother in Giles county, was upwards of forty years of age. The who has been employed as a domestic brethren hold weekly prayer meetings at missionary in this state, writes to us under night; and, notwithstanding the weather date of December 27th: "On the 11th of is cold, and the inhabitants thinly settled, September we constituted a church of sev- the houses at times are crowded, Two en members, within five miles of Giles of our old members have embarked in the Court House, where the Baptist cause has ministry, and others exhort with warmth been at a very low ebb for some time; and power. My dear brother, the Lord and, shortly after the church was consti- is good, and his works are marvellous in tuted, I baptized two persons, who joined our eyes. The little band, which have it. On Walker's Creek, in Wythe county, been literally frozen for twenty years, are within 14 miles of the Court House, the roused from the spirit of lethargy which prospect is very encouraging. The last has long pervaded them, and now appear time I was there, we received four, who active and zealous in promoting the interwere amongst the most respectable inhab-ests of Immanuel's kingdom. O that it itants of the settlement, and there are sev- may continue to prosper, and his name eral others who talk of joining next Sat- be glorified in the salvation of the sons urday. The people are very much excit- and daughters of Adam!" [Lum. OBITUARY. REV. ASAHEL WOODS. To the Editors of the Am. Bap. Mag. of his brothers is a useful minister of that Is performing a voluntary mission of denomination in Newport, N. H. Of the about four weeks on the eastern side of peculiar dealings of God with Mr. W. the Green Mountains, I became acquaint- while under conviction, I am but little aced with some interesting facts in the life quainted. I understood, however, that of Rev. ASAHEL WOODS, the late dearly he had remarkably deep and affecting beloved and much lamented pastor of the views of the evil of sin, of the lost condiBaptist church in Putney, Vermont. Ition of man, of the native depravity of the send you a few brief notices, derived from living witnesses, which it would gratify at least some of your readers to see inserted in your useful Magazine. Rev. ASAHEL WOODS was a native of Southbury, Mass. His parents were respectable and pious members of the Congregational church in that place, and one unrenewed heart, and of the mighty and effectual operation of the Spirit of God. He was ever afterwards a warm advocate of the doctrine of sovereign and distinguishing grace. In 1812, he was buried with Christ in baptism, and joined the Baptist church in Fitzwilliam, then under the pastoral care. of Rev. Runa Allen. Soon after his pubJic profession of religion, he became a candidate for the great work of the gospel ministry, in which he was through life so arduously engaged. In 1817, he removed to Putney, Vt. and preached on probation to the Church and Society in that place, until the following year. He was then publicly and solemnly consecrated to the ministry of the word, by a respectable ecclesiastical council, convened for that purpose. With this people, although their means were small, and his maintenance scanty, he continued to labour till the close of his life. Poverty could not drive him from his labour of love, nor affluence seduce him from the people of his affection. At the commencement of his ministry, the literary and theological attainments of our deceased brother were limited; but the vigour of his mind, assisted by indefatigable application, soon rendered him an able and acceptable minister of the gospel. Few, if any, in this region exceeded him in sermonizing. His manner was solemn and attractive, and his discourses were always delivered with a good degree of pathos, and remarkable pungency of application. A pious zeal for the glory of God, the good of Zion, and the conversion of sinners, was clearly manifest in the performance of all the duties of his ninistry. As he advanced in life, his ardour increased, and at no time was his anxiety for the eternal welfare of the flock committed to his charge so visible, as within a few months of his lamented death. The many offices he was called to sustain, and the public services he was called to perform, abundantly evince how rapidly he was advancing in the esteem and affection of his brethren in the surrounding region. For many years previous to his death, he had been the clerk of the Leyden Association. In attending an ordination in October last, he took a cold, which was followed by a fever, that terminated his valuable life. From the commencement of his sickness, he seemed sensible that his work was almost finished. At first he seemed to tremble in view of the solemn account he was shortly to render to the Judge of quick and dead. Soon, however, he rose above all doubt, and was enabled with confidence to commit his all to God, through Christ the Saviour of sinners. He frequently said, while referring to the doctrines which he had preached, "I have nothing to take back; of this I have nothing to repent. I am willing to venture my soul in the presence of God, on the system of truth which I have endeavoured to declare." His sickness, which for a part of the time was very painful, he bore with exemplary patience. Most of his time was spent in prayer, specially for the people of his charge. Commending himself, and his mourning wife, into the hands of the glorious Redeemer, he sweetly fell asleep in Jesus on the 17th of November last, leaving an afflicted church, and a large circle of friends to mourn their irreparable loss. An appropriate sermon on the occasion was preached by Elder Bruce of Wilmington. While arranging his worldly concerns, after providing for his bereaved widow, he remembered the Lord's treasury, and gave by bequest at her decease, the one half of his property for the education of indigent and pious young men, called of God to the holy ministry, and the other half for the support of missions. By this it will appear, that his mind soared far above the foolish prejudices of those who suppose that learning will hurt a good man, and that it is wicked to send the gospel all over the world. With this dear and bereaved people, I spent about six days. I find that the death of their pastor has been the means not only of advancing religion in the members of the church, but also of conviction and conversion to many in the society. About fourteen have professed religion since his decease; several of whom expressly acknowledge his life and death as the means of their awakening. His memory seems embalmed in the hearts of all throughout this region. He died in the meridian of life, in the 42d year of his age. I do not recollect ever to have been made personally acquainted with a more useful life, or a more happy death, than were those of our deceased brother. When visiting from house to house, and hearing the people speak of his faithful warnings and advice, and his fervent prayers, I was often led to exclaim, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." A. W. Monies received by the Treasurer of the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions. 1825. March 31. April 13. From the Female Benevolent Society, of North Yarmouth, (Me.) a Box of Clothing, estimated by the donors, at From J. F. Moses, collected at the Monthly Union Concert for prayer, at the Baptist Meeting-house in Exeter, N. H. for the Carey Station, From a female friend, by J. F. Moses, for the Burman Mission, 21. From the Salem Bible Translation and Foreign Mission Society, by J. Moriarty, Esq. Treasurer, 25. From "the New-York Female Missionary Society for For eign Missions." From Miss T. Rogers, Treas. of the Primary Society to aid the Burman Mission," belonging to the First Baptist Church and Soc. in Boston, 33,12 6,30 3,00 300,00 100,00 120,50 g562,92 HEMAN LINCOLN, Treas. Several Obituaries, Ordinations and other articles, are unavoidaby postponed, to make room for intelligence from Burmah MEMOIR OF REV. EMORY OSGOOD, Late Superintendent of the Missionary Station at Oneida Castleton, N. Y. MR. EMORY OSGOOD, the fifth son of Christopher and Hannah Os good, was born in Newfane, Vt. July 24, 1777. His mother died when he was two years old, and in his seventh year his father left this country and never returned. Thus early deprived of the advantages of parental counsel and restraint, he followed the multitude to do evil, and soon became a profligate young man. Much of his time, as he himself has often related, was spent in gambling and profaneness, and not unfrequently did he preach and pray and exhort among his companions, in mockery of every thing sacred. On the 4th of March, 1799, he was married to Cynthia, daughter of Abel and Patience Stockwell. From this time he resolved to reform, and with this view commenced the cultivation of a small farm. In May, 1800, his mind was first - seriously impressed with the importance of religion. His sins were set in order before him, and he was soon brought to the conclusion that he had sinned away the day of grace, and that the mercy of God JUNE, 1825. 66 was clean gone forever. In his dis tress, he was continually inquiring what was the sin against the Holy Ghost; and each inquiry only increased his agony. Thoughts of horrible blasphemy were, as in the case of Bunyan, frequently rushing into his mind, at which as he said afterwards, my blood chilled in my veins, and the hair of my head was erect." This peculiar distress did not however continue more than a few days, though it was about three months from the time of his first impressions that he experienced joy in believing. He was baptized Feb. 28, 1801, in Hinsdale, N. H. by Elder Bumus, who was so strongly impressed with the conviction that Mr. Osgood was intended, by the Head of the church, for peculiar usefulness, that when coming out of the water he made the fol||lowing remarkable declaration: "If this man hath not a work to do, the Lord hath not spoken by me." On the 24th of July following, he united with the Baptist Church in Brookline. "On In the early part of his religious course, God was pleased to make 21 was enabled to submit his case wholly to the Lord. It was not far from this time, that he became convinced by some indications of Providence, that his labours would not be profitable in his then situation. The following passage also was strongly impress him instrumental of awakening two of his former companions, to a sense of their wretched condition, by telling what the Lord had done for his soul. His mind was at all times deeply impressed with the value of immortal souls, and he rarely left a religious meeting, without pointing his fellow sinners to the blooded upon his mind: "They will not of Calvary. receive thy testimony in this place; It was at this time that he be-lo I send thee far hence unto the came deeply impressed with the Gentiles." duty of preaching Christ: but the The finger of Providence seemed magnitude of the work, and the vast to point him to Black River, N. Y. responsibility which the subject in- to which place, after making the volved, together with the smallness necessary preparations, with a small of his knowledge and abilities, of pittance to bear his expenses, he which he seemed fully conscious, directed his course on the 19th of overwhelmed his mind,and inclined March, 1803. He soon arrived at him to shrink back. He also en- Sandy Creek, where he found brethdeavoured to excuse himself, by ren with whom he united, and a pleading the necessities of his fam- vast field for labour before him. ily. But God was pleased to make He returned again to his family in him willing by the rod of correction. | Vermont, after an absence of seven Thrice his companion was brought months. down by sickness to the gate of death, and in mercy restored again. At last, humbled under the mighty hand of God, he promised obedience to his command. In January, 1804, he removed with his family to Ellisburgh, (now Henderson) exceedingly poor in the things of this world. Here he was obliged to labour with his hands, and preach the gospel. The country being new, and the inhabitants In the autumn of 1802, being called upon by the church to improve his talents by preaching, he obey-generally poor, he could have but ed; and, with trembling heart addressed the people from Isa. v. 4, to their comfort and edification. From this time he continued to preach in the vicinity of this church and in Hinsdale, until the 19th of March, 1803. At this time, his pecuniary concerns began to wear a gloomy as pect. In this time of distress, he frequented the throne of grace, and poured out his complaint to God. He felt at first unreconciled to his situation; and although it was suggested to his mind, that "the silver and gold are the Lord's, and the cattle upon a thousand hills;" yet unbelief arose and said, what can I now do? Before long, the following passage, "Be still, and know that I am God," seemed to silence all his complaints, and he || His little prospect of assistance from them; consequently, he was subjected to many inconveniences,common in new settlements. There were only three families in what is now called Henderson, on his arrival there; and he was under the necessity of going three and four miles to labour, to obtain provision for his wife and children. ministerial labours were devoted to different places for two or three years, he travelling on foot twelve or fourteen miles. At this time he was earnestly solicited by the brethren on Sandy Creek, to remove among them; but being convinced that there would soon be a people near him that would need his labours, he declined their proposals. In this he was not disappointed. Having by his industry and perse |