MISSIONARY NOTICES. The people Congo-town chapel. were much and graciously affected. Many came to the love-feast without tickets; but not belonging to us, we were obliged to deny them admittance. But though they were denied admittance, they continued round the chapel all the time. On Thursday evening I preached to a very serious congregation in Soldier's-town; after which two soldiers of colour were brought to me by one of the brethren, who informed me that they wanted to find peace with GOD, and to be admitted into society. After some conversation with them, I was convinced of their having a sincere desire to flee from This day two the wrath to come. other persons from the same town came to inform Brother Baker that they had received much good since Thursday last. Indeed, in every place where our people meet for public worship, I have noticed what is worthy of the attention of all who love to see the grace of GoD mani hungry and Rise, crown'd with light, imperial Salem, rise! Exalt thy towering head, and lift thy eyes! Walk in thy light, and in thy temple bend. WEST INDIES. Extract of a Letter from Mr. NELSON, dated Barbadoes, Our congregation at Bridgetown is to the work of the ministry which we We are con In our private visits to the people, we endeavour to promote their religious improvement. vinced that visiting from house to house is an important duty; a part of the great business of our lives. Jesus, : who, when on earth went about doing good, and the Apostles, who so eminently trod in the footsteps of their divine Master, have set us the example; and the most holy ministers of modern times have been remarkably diligent in this labour of love; perhaps none more so than the pious Baxter, whose conduct we would humbly attempt to imitate. As our society is small, we generally visit our members once a week, and it is our endeavour to speak a few words to each individual in the family. Sometimes it happens that none of them can read in that case, as there are no words like the words of Gon, we generally read and explain to them, in a familiar manner, some plain portions of the Sacred Scriptures. In these delightful exercises we often prove the truth of that word, "The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." In order that we may, in some, small degree, supply the want of general access to the slaves, we embrace every favourable and proper opportunity of pointing individuals whom we meet to the LAMB of GOD. On the three estates where we preach, our prospects are somewhat encouraging; some of the seed sown, we think, will prosper. On one estate we have formed a class of adult catechumens, thirteen in number, who we think are promising; and when they are sufficiently acquainted with the first principles of our holy religion, repentance toward GOD, and faith in our LORD JESUS CHRIST, we intend solemnly and publickly to baptize them, and receive them into the pale of the Christian Church such an event will be novel in Barbadoes, and calculated to draw the attention of the public to the special object of our mission. On these estates we also constantly catechize the children, whose number on the whole is from 90 to 100. O that God may realize our expectations, and succeed our efforts among these poor, ignorant, and wretched outcasts of men. The instruction of the rising generation, we are sensible, is no unimportant part of our ministerial duty: from among the young are to be trained up those who shall constitute the future members of the Church of CHRIST; and, before sinful propensities are matured into inveterate habits, we may certainly more reasonably expect success in our endeavours to lead them in the ways of righteousness. Before the heart becomes callous and unfeeling, we may the more confidently hope it will yield to the impressions of the sacred word; hence it is with pleasure we inform you, that our Sunday-School is gradually increasing. Our teachers are regular and diligent, and the scholars attentive and well-behaved-they now amount to fifty-two. In the garrison also, we have a prospect of usefulness, and from among the soldiers of our earthly sovereign, we hope to enlist many into the army of our heavenly King. A respectable serjeant of the Royal Miners, a short time since, willingly offered his house to preach in, provided permission could be obtained from the commanding officers; we waited upon the commandant, who kindly received us, and after some conversation, freely gave us leave, adding, that "he had known several of our missionaries in the different stations he had had the honour to command, and he never knew a bad man among them." Thus have we endeavoured to give you a plain statement of our pros pects, &c. and shall only add, with gratitude to the Gop of Missions, that, upon the whole, we feel ourselves somewhat encouraged to go forward in our Missionary career, humbly looking unto JESUS for wisdom to direct, and strength to persevere in the heavenly path, conscious that, in due time, we shall reap, if we faint not. Extract of a Letter from Mr. MORTIER, dated St. Vincent's, Dec. 5, 1820. In the leeward part of the circuit, especially at Chateaubelair, the societies are in a good state. Two of our members, who were slaves, died a few days ago very happy, one of whom (a young woman) I visited; but being exceedingly weak, she could not speak much. She died, as I am informed, the next day after I was with her on the estate, in great peace. The other died triumphantly. When his fellow-slaves, or the doctor, or any one, went to him, he ceased not to praise GoD, and exhort them to seek the LORD. O! I think sometimes, how will the friends and supporters of Missions exult in the great day, to see these sable converts to CHRIST at the right-hand of him who shall say unto them, "Come, ye blessed," &c. I was conversing with one a few days ago about the things of GOD, and asked several questions, the answers to which gave me great satisfaction. Among other things he said, "Master, for me to speak about trials would be to no purpose, only, that I always find grace sufficient for me; I look for them as my daily bread, because my Master has said, 'In this world ye shall have tribulation.'" Since I have been here, I have formed the leaders into two classes: the women I meet on Monday afternoon, and the men on Friday evening; hereby I have a better opportunity of ascertaining their state, and of giving them suitable advice. Extract of a Letter from Mr. MOSES RAYNER, dated St. Vincent's, I have been prevented from writing, by the sickness and death of our first and only child, which took place in July last; and by my many engagements this year in building a dwellinghouse at this place, and enlarging our chapel, both of which are just finished. The chapel is a good framed building, very suitable to the congregation, and it is well attended; and the dwelling-house is comfortable, and stands in a situation not to be excelled by any mission station that I know of, for pleasantness and health. It is situated about half way between Kingston and our society most to windward, so that I am not more than about twelve miles from them; but before a missionary resided here, we were not less distant than twenty-four miles. This measure will be of great use to this mission. There are now three societies more immediately under my care, which consist of about thirteen hundred members, and we have six hundred negro children under catechetical instruction. Our chapels are crowded; and although we have been under the necessity of expelling some members for immoral conduct, or neglect, and many have died, yet I have good reason to conclude that our number increases, and there can be no doubt but that the regulations we have made, and the rigid discipline we have endeavoured to enforce, will, by the blessing of GoD, be productive of much good to the societies in St. Vincent. We lament to see so much unconcern in the people about spiritual and eternal matters; and it is not an easy task to prevent them from trusting for salvation in being baptized, and having a Christian burial. Butmany are of a different description; they live by faith in the Son of GOD, and die happy in his salvation. May GOD in his mercy increase the number of such! The gentlemen in this part of the Island are favourable to our mission. They are very kind to the Missionaries in general, and I do not know that they throw any obstacles in the way of our people attending the chapels, but such as are occasioned by their regular duties upon the plantations: and I am persuaded that many of the gentlemen planters would rather urge their peo ple to attend chapel than prevent them. So far our prospects are encouraging in this part of the Island. I have been happy in being assisted this year by our good brother Mortier, and we have laboured with that affection that might be expected from our being the only two in your service, out of six who came out six years ago. Extract of a Letter from Mr. CHAPMAN, dated Parham, Antigua, Our congregations in Antigua are large and attentive; I think our mem bers are gradually growing in grace; seriousness and stability distinguish them in general. My work in Parham is great, in preaching, baptizing, and visiting the sick. I have to ride several miles nearly every night, and to preach in some crowded place or other, and then return home. I have five country places, where I regularly preach, besides Parham. In Parham and its neighbourhood we have upwards of one thousand members, and, thank God, they are weekly increasing. I have lately taken on trial as many as 12 or 14 in one day. We have lately completed our Sunday School in this place, and it is an excellent building, 60 feet by 25. It has cost us about five hundred pounds, the greater part of which we have collected from the respectable inhabitants of the Island. We have now four hundred scholars in our new school at Parham, white, black, and coloured; indeed, the school is crowded nearly every Sunday: and we have an excellent superintendent, whose heart is in the work, and who glories in the cause. We have a number of good teachers both white and coloured, who are very attentive, and every prospect of much good is presented by this institution. Already there are several of the teachers who are very desirous of joining the society, and for whom we intend shortly to form a class. The two schools in St. John's are also in a prosperous state. I believe we have between five and six hundred scholars, and in the whole of the Sunday Schools on the Island, upwards of a thousand. However, we expect to have our report ready in February, and shall forward it by the first opportunity. I am sorry to inform you that our dear brother Whitworth has, of late, been called to pass through scenes of sorrow; on the 29th of November, sfter a lingering sickness, his dear wife departed this life, happy in the faith, and rejoicing in prospect of the glory of GoD. A little before she died, I asked her the state of her mind, to which she replied, All is well; I have peace with GoD. I am going to be for ever with CHRIST." The Sunday following, I preached a sermon on the occasion. The congregation was large, serious, and attentive, and we have reason to believe that impressions were then made that will not be easily effaced. Now GoD has, by death, taken away after the mother, the dear little child. To-day we have committed its remains to the dust. Mr. W. bears his affliction with patience and fortitude, and resigns himself to the will of God. Extract of a Letter from Mr. SMEDLEY, dated Searborough, Tobago, I avail myself of the earliest opportunity of informing you that I have been recently called to pass through the deep waters of affliction; such affliction as I once thought myself unable to endure. In the short space of four days, I have been deprived both of my invaluable wife, and of my truly excellent colleague. Mr. Larcom left me, for a better world, on the 22d of November, after an illness of only four days; and Mrs. Smedley on the 26th, after an illness of about eight days. Oh the mystery of Providence! How unsearchable are the ways of GOD! A stroke so unexpected and severe has almost paralyzed me; I scarcely seem to be the same person I was two months ago. The loss the mission has sustained, in this unspeakably painful event, is truly deplorable, but mine is irreparable." O LORD! now my soul is overwhelmed! lead me to the Rock that is higher than I." Brother Larcom was an exceedingly promising missionary, and the more he was known in the colony, the more he was esteemed and beloved. Both in public and private, I have ever found him an example of faithfulness and diligence, truly worthy of my imitation. From the commencement of his short illness, he appeared strongly impressed with an idea that his sickness would be unto death," and said, with a great degree of firmness, he was convinced he should never leave his room again alive. For several hours previous to his departure, he became delirious, and evidently suffered very much from his disorder 66 He conversed a great deal, and very loudly, during his delirium. And though what he said was wild and incoherent, it nevertheless shewed very clearly the pious state of his soul. On the 23d of November, the day after his death, I committed his remains to the silent tomb, surrounded by a weeping multitude. It was, however, with great difficulty I got through the painful ceremony. My grief overwhelmed me, as I had every The foregoing letters from the West Indies are highly gratifying, as they show the increasing prosperity of the good work in the stations from which they are dated. This also is the case throughout the West Indies in general, and it calls for our grateful acknowledgements to the "LORD of the harvest." But this feeling must be mingled with very deep regret at the losses which the Mission has lately sustained in the death of several valuable Missionaries, or wives of Missionaries, from the peculiar unhealthiness of some of the islands, and other causes. More earnestly than ever ought the friends of Missions to pray, that Almighty GoD in his goodness would preserve those who have gone, or are going out, to fill up the ranks broken by the fall of our dear and excellent brethren whose deaths we have had lately to record; and to "spare useful lives" which have been by them, without any hesitation, put to hazard, in unhealthy climes, for the sake of the LORD Jesus, and the "testimony of his gospel." reason to believe another rising sun would shed his cheerless rays on the grave of my then departing wife. Mrs. Smedley, however, contrary to my expectation, lived till the following Sunday. It is to me a source of unspeakable consolation, in the midst of my distress, to know that my union with so holy a woman, though so soon dissolved, conduced much to the prosperity of the work of God in this Island. Brief View of the Proceedings of other Missionary Societies; extracted from their latest publications. BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Extract of a Letter from DR. CAREY to DR. RYLAND, dated Calcutta, April 25, 1820. I think the cause of our Redeemer is evidently on the increase; we are seldom a month in Calcutta without additions, and the next month I expect to baptize three persons, one of whom was a devotee at Kalee-ghaut, where he actually kept a vow of silence for four years. A pamphlet, I think sent out by Mr. Townley, affected his heart and opened his mouth. When he first came to me he had the most singular appearance imaginable, being covered with charms and amulets; he wore a necklace made of snakes' bones; and so far were the Hindoos of Calcutta from thinking of is conversion, that when he first walked along the street with John Peter, several of the chief natives ame out of their houses and prosrated themselves at his feet. One of he others is a Telinga Brahman, and he other a Dane, the first of that ation we have yet baptized. In a reek or ten day's more I expect to aptize three soldiers in the Fort. At Beerbhoom a good number has been baptized the last year; at Moorshedabad, or its neighbourhood, brother Sutton has baptized several, and has much encouragement. A greater number has been baptized at Dinagepore and its vicinity than in any other place. Brother Smith has baptized several at Benares; and a letter from him received to-day informs me that three others are soon to be added to the church there. At Dacca there have been additions; and at Chittagong the Mug Christians have now kept together, have maintained the worship of God, and edified one another, for three years, without a pastor to reside among them. Brother Peacock lately went to them, and his account of them is highly encouraging; so much was he encouraged, that he seems now determined to visit them frequently, and do his utmost to help forward their spiritual concerns. Brother Chamberlain has been very ill, but is considerably better. The |