agreeable would its aspect become. A plain fence, at least of posts and rails, might be set up; the enclosed area laid out in plots and walks, and seeded with grass, and planted with a few of our own beautiful forest trees. Some lady's hand might easily be found, to cherish an appropriate selection of shrubbery; and even children might be taught to rear their flowers within the hallowed enclosure; and their thoughts of religion in after life, be connected with the clean, verdant and shady clap-boards that gave no proof of having ever known paint ;-the steps ruinous; the stoves smoky, or entirely wanting; the pews with high, straight backs and narrow seats; the pulpit a little octagonal box perched just beneath the ceiling; and the whole fitting up so comfortless, so unlike what a man provides for himself when he means to secure enjoyment, that a chill passes over them at the remembrance; and the claims of piety are repulsed by a thousand pre... · judices at the very door of the heart. Now, all this might be easily pre-churchyard, within whose pleasant vented. Without encouraging luxu- precincts they first heard her teachrious sloth, or gratifying the pride of ings. Such associations tend to hudisplay, the interior of our churches manize and soften the rudeness of should be so arranged, that no man our nature. Whatever objects agreeshould be liable to have his attention ably address our taste, cannot but distracted by any physical uneasi- exert a powerful influence on our ness, or offence against good taste. destiny. Are we, then, at liberty to And if a few days' labor in each year throw away so cheap and practicable were bestowed on the grounds a means of usefulness? around the church, how much more (To be continued.) Correspondence of the A. H. M. S. IOWA. From Rev. Asa Turner, Denmark, Around and on this prairie, within the distance of six or seven miles, I found about thirty sheep without a shepherd. These I have gathered into a church. Some have left, and others have come; we now number about 60. God, in his goodness, has visited us from on high, and converted a goodly number considering our congregation. Eight have already united with us by profession-others are expected hereafter. Of those who are hopefully converted, six are heads of families. Two young men of promise, (the fruits of our reviving the past summer,) have already left us to prepare for the ministry. One is the son of a deacon of a church in Connecticut. He thinks it a wonderful providence that he must come to Black Hawk to know what he must do to be saved! Competition. I am preaching occasionally at a little place near me. The last time I was there a grocery keeper brought out his bottle, and said "he would see who would get the greatest congregation." I thought he would have taken the majority of the men in the place. MISSOURI. From Rev. F. R. Gray, New Providence, Marion Co., Mo. REVIVAL. It is with gratitude to the Head of the church, that I can say to your Society, the Lord has blessed us here again by some drops of refreshing, and the ingathering of a few souls to the church militant; such, we trust, as will eventually find a place in the church above. And O! it is delightful work to point inquiring sinners to "the Lamb of God," and to welcome penitent sinners to Christ and the privileges and labors of his church here below. When we have to warn, exhort, and entreat Christians to a faithful discharge of duty, and to live as becometh the Gospel, it is sometimes difficult work; but when the blessing comes, and the Lord's own people feel his presence, their own nothingness, and the worth of souls -then, to hear them pray, as if their souls could not yield without a bless ing, and as if they had rather die than to live and see the church go backward-to witness the strength of their affection for each other, and the ardent desire they feel, for the salvation of their friends and neighbors, and to see the glory of God manifested-this is what angels could rejoice over, and what God's own servants must delight in, as long as they feel any thing of the spirit of Christ their divine master. To some extent, this has been the privilege of your missionary during the last quarter. The persons added to the church were all young persons between the ages of 12 and 25 years. The cases of awakening were also all in the early part of life. "I WAS SICK, AND YE VISITED ME." In a previous number, (p. 57,) under the head of "Missionary toils and privations," we published statements which so interested the heart of some unknown benefactor, as to elicit an extra donation of $20. The Missionary for whose relief it was intended, notices its reception in the following extract. We hardly know how to express our gratitude for the special donation of $20, made by our unknown friend "F." We could but shed tears of joy at the reception of this generous gift, and return thanks to the Lord for his special favors, in a time of special necessity. We hope that by these benefactions bestowed upon us by our brethren and friends, to be incited to glorify God more and more in all we do. The past quarter has been one of deep affliction to us. Sickness has prevailed to an alarming extent in our town and its vicinity during the past summer. We have not escaped. I am just recovering from a series of the chills and fever; and my only daughter died on the 28th September, aged seven years and nine months. The benevolent donor of the $20 above mentioned, may have the satisfaction of knowing, that in that time of illness and grief, he was permitted by his prayers and alms, to visit and relieve this worthy family of laborers in the Lord's vineyard. ILLINOIS. The missionary whose report is given below, is stationed in a region of much prospective importance. It is probable, however, that the Society will be obliged to direct his transfer to some other field. If this shall be done, it will be, mainly, on account of the fact, that the people contribute nothing for the support of the Gospel among themselves. It would be gratifying to the Executive Committee in locating missionaries, to have respect to the intrinsic importance of their stations. But the means at their disposal will not always admit of this. They are reluctantly compelled often to make expense a decisive consideration, and to forego the occupancy of interesting points, because some others can be sustained at less cost. Alas, how much benefit to the next generation will be lost for want of more generosity in this! There is no male member belonging to any Presbyterian church, and but three females. The principle religious influence is Unitarian. And though I preach here half the time, yet I do it under the greatest trials. To preach to please men, I cannot, and yet if I do not, the wicked rage. Certainly, a minister here needs to be "wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove." Meetings on the Sabbath are very unsteady, and on any as our house-a large school-housewill accommodate. Elgin, I think, is one of the most interesting and promising fields of labor in this part of the state. The settlement commenced about four years ago. Three years ago last May the Congregational church was formed. A year ago a comfortable meetinghouse was erected. It is now finish other day or evening, it is impossible to get a congregation, or even a prayer meeting. Some Sabbaths, the court-house is filled to overflowing; and then again, if the day is pleasant, the young people, perhaps get up a ride, which takes away half my congregation to some other village, or to the woods for plumbs and cherries, so that I seldom know what to preach until I get to the place of worshiped. It cost $600-is owned by the and see who are there. They seem to feel it an honor to be able to say "we have a minister," and ought to feel it a dishonor not to support him. And yet I have no prospect of receiving a single farthing from the people here. Say any thing to them about supporting a minister and they are silent. They had evidently rather be without a minister than to support Congregational and Baptist churches. Since we have worshipped in the meeting-house the congregation has been large. The house is even now too small. REVIVAL. In these times of commercial distress, political agitation, and sickness in many portions of the missionary field, it is peculiarly refreshing to see the traces of the Lord's mercy, in the bestowment of his Spirit. Last spring we had a very interesting revival. A general seriousness prevailed, and, I trust, in the course of three or four weeks, fifty or sixty souls were born into the kingdom of Christ. About twenty have united with our church; fifteen or sixteen with the Baptist church; and about as many, or perhaps a few more, with the Methodists. During the last year there have been received to our church about forty-five members-about half of them by profession. The church now consists of 85 members. Our house of worship, until the sickly season commenced, was crowded, and since From Rev. N. C. Clarke, St. Charles then has been comfortably filled. and Elgin, Ill. So The assistance granted by your ciety is very much needed, and very thankfully received. St. Charles is a village less than four years old, con Two young men, subjects of the late revival, have determined to devote themselves to the Gospel ministry. taining about 400 inhabitants. It has From Rev. G. C. Wood, Winchester the reputation in this country of being quite a moral place. Yet there is in it a great deal of wickedness, infidelity, and opposition to the truth. Our church is still small, though we have had a few additions during the year. Our congregation is as large and Manchester, Ill. REVIVALS. Speaking of special efforts for the promo. tion of religion which had been made in several places in the vicinity, Mr. W. remarks, I would say with gratitude to God, that these efforts have been greatly blessed. At each of these meetings we have had precious seasons of refreshing, and numbers of souls have been hopefully converted to God. At Manchester, the prospect has been very encouraging during a few months past; and in no place of my acquaintance, has a greater change taken place. The first important step that was taken there, was to dry up the channels of intemperance. And now, by a vote of the citizens, no ardent spirits can be sold within its limits. Our Sabbath school there has numbered about 80 scholars and has been attended with more than usual interest, and has already been instrumental of great good. About the middle of August we held a protracted meeting. As the fruits of this precious season of refreshing, we have received thirty-five to the communion of the church, and some ten or twelve have been added to the Baptist church. We hope others will soon come forward and profess Christ before men. This church last spring, when I began to labor among them, contained about twenty members; it now numbers more than sixty. God has done much for this people, and to him be all the glory. excellent farming region, settled by intelligent and enterprising citizens, mostly from New-Hampshire, and the interior of New-York. It receives its name from the approach of two bodies of timber to within about one hundred rods of each other. From this point, the view extends N. East, South, S. West and West, 10, 15, 20 and 35 miles, over prairies spotted with groves, like distant islands; embracing, too, Rock River, as it winds its serpentine course through Nature's beautiful meadow. It is without exception one of the most pleasant and healthy situations in Northern Illinois. The popula tion will not vary much from 200; of whom about 50 regularly attend public worship. Rock River Rapids, combines the two towns of Chatham and Harrisburgh in one under the name of Sterling. The town is situated on the north bank of Rock River, from above the head, to the foot of the rapids. It is surrounded by a fertile and beautiful country, which is fast settling with industrious citizens. The present number of inhabitants, within a reasonable distance to attend public worship, does not exceed 200; of these about one fourth usually assemble on the Sabbath. In addition to the usual difficulties experienced in every new settlement, our mission From Rev. A. Gaston, Rock Riverary mentions the want of a regular place for Rapids, and Gap Grove, Ill. In endeavoring to build up the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, there is in this field of labor, and in fact throughout this entire region, many difficulties to be met, many obstacles to be surmounted. At this place every thing is to be done, even to laying the foundation and corner stone. I am the first resident minister in either of these places, and with a few exceptions, have here proclaimed the first Gospel message. Description of Places. Gap Grove, lies 6 miles N. E. of this, though in plain sight. It is an public worship-" One Sabbath, meeting in a private school-room; another, perhaps in a small log cabin, or some unfinished building; in either case inconvenient to the hearer, and prejudical to the health of the speaker." Another obstacle has been the agitation of the public mind with the location of the county seat. "The want of devotedness on the part of professing Christians to the best interests of Zion," is complained of. Finally, my own circumstances have been somewhat embarrassing since I have been here, and in fact, for the two years that I have been preaching on Rock River, I have been without a comfortable habitation for my family, and entirely destitute of any thing like a suitable place to stu dy. The mere pittance I have received, has compelled me to labor a part of the time with my own hands for a support, or abandon a wide and open field to the inroads of error. Here are presented both the attractive and repulsive features of this station. The position and prospective importance of the place, seem to bid the missionary to stay and labor for its future welfare, and call upon the Society to grant the aid necessary for this result. But with an exhausted treasury, how can it be done? We can only state the facts, and leave it with the churches to de cide, by their contributions, whether such points shall be occupied seasonably, or whether the missionaries shall be compelled for the want of a few hundreds of dollars to fall back on the older settlements, and yield the ground to the enemy without conflict. TESTIMONY OF EXPERIENCE. Nothing more fully exhibits the blessed fruits of the voluntary associations, than the timely aid which the American Education and Home Missionary Societies, impart to the infant churches of the West. But for the influence of these twin sisters of benevolence, in first educating, and then sustaining an enlightened ministry, the moral desolation of this great western empire would become appalling. I use no hyperbole when I say, they are two powerful agents in preventing a moral mid. night from spreading its broad pall over the multiplying population of this valley. But for these and kindred associations, the institutions of piety could not keep pace with the reckless, enterprising spirit of the age, nor with the increase of popular vices. If deprived of them, a comparatively intelligent, systematized and furious infidelity, which is daily becoming more visible, would sweep away all the bulwarks which a feeble and unaided church could rear for her defence. bear the infirmities of the weak," and our churches in this new country cannot live. They are the vital principle to the whole moral machinery in this country. I believe no one but a man in the West, can fully comprehend this great theme. When he looks upon the measureless territory around him-when he attempts to compute its resourceswhen he sees a population rushing in at every inlet, and becoming as titude-and when he surveys all the the sand upon the sea-shore for mulconflicting elements which are collecting, the demonstration is complete, that nothing but a vigilance that never slumbers, an energy which can never faint, and a spirit of benevolence that can never be drained, can meet the coming wants of Zion. This subject has long been presented in theory, and appeared in the far distant perspective: but the reality is now at the door. And the church must soon, (sooner than is apprehended by the many,) meet the responsibility which she has been anticipating. But I must not dwell upon this topic. You are familiar with the facts. I wish the church could comprehend them. I wish all, from the infant to the aged sire in Israel, had this picture before their eye, its history upon their tongue, and the spirit of the subject deeply imprinted upon their hearts. Then your treasury would be full enough to meet the wants of the West--the hundredth part of which have never been unfolded. Emigration further Westward. In this connexion I will mention one cause of severe embarrassments to our little churches. I refer to the fluctuating state of society, and the frequent removals which take place among our most valuable members. By this process, which is continually going on, the hopes of a minister may be blasted in a day. By the removal of but one man, a church which was fast rising towards indepenLet the church give up these volun-dence, may be greatly crippled if not ary associations, or abandon the destroyed. principle, that "the strong should Our church has felt the effects of |