These afflictions have operated | is increased considerably in numbers. as a discouragement to the settlers, Punctuality can hardly be secured, in many respects-one of which is when the community are not trained the support of the missionary. Some to it. The subject of temperance is of the subscriptions will partially, not less interesting than formerly to and others wholly fail of being paid. this community; but to our great The present prospects of the farmers mortification, a tippling house has are dark, as the great canal in the been set up in our village. It is as vicinity does not progress as was ex- poor as poverty, for it can only sell pected. Produce does not find a drams of poison, and not a substantial ready market. There is already a article is to be found in it. diminution in prices of 50 per cent. But your missionary is not yet discouraged, though his wife has been ill ever since her arrival, and he has suffered in his own health, while the people have omitted or have been unable to meet their engagements.

IMPORTANCE OF MISSIONARY ASSISTANCE

PUNCTUALLY PAID.

I shall make a draft on you of this date for $25. In saying this, I am led to remark, that were it not for the Home Missionary Society, I know not how I could have preached the blessed Gospel to this people the past year. And I am sure the people are also grateful for this important aid.

How many necessaries and conveniences will not $100 supply to a missionary! One quarter of it will buy him a cow, which is so needful in this part of the country for the support of a family. The cost of keeping one is very little; but I am not yet in a condition to apply your bounty in the purchase of one, from

I would say with regard to the year that is past, that it has been one of the shortest of my life. The labors of it have been pleasant and encouraging. During the last half, I have been much hindered from my appropriate labors, by the afflictions of my family. I hope hereafter to have better facilities to labor, and to be more useful in the good cause.

Since I commenced my labors as your missionary, there have been added to the church, by profession, seventeen-by letter, one. Adults baptized, ten-children, twenty-four. One Sabbath school has been organized, or rather revived, by a pious young man who is teacher of a day school; and I have lately commenced

a Bible class. Our church edifice has been erected and finished, except plastering. It is laid overhead with loose boards, and we worship in it. Although it is uncomfortable, we are somewhat encouraged by the increased attention to preaching.

previous engagements. But I do not From Rev. R. Kirkwood, Whitehall,

inurmur under the many privations and hardships attendant on locating

Greene Co., Ill.

LABOR.

in this wilderness. If Providence ARRIVAL AND COMMENCEMENT OF shall give health to me and mine, we can bear much of these for a season, if need be.

After a tedious, expensive, and I may add, painful journey, we at length arrived at Whitehall, my designated place of labor, on the 15th

From Rev. J. Porter, Waynesville, of November last. Our travel on the

Ill.

STEADY PROGRESS.

Since I last wrote, I have organized a Bible class, and some individuals enjoy the instructions with apparent interest. The Sabbath school

Ohio fell, unfavorably, on a season when the river was approaching and arrived at its lowest stage of water, which rendered our expenses double what I expected. In addition to this, my wife, rather feeble in health before, sickened on the river, so that

we were obliged to land at Evansville, Ind., where we were detained more than three weeks; which prolonged our journey from Pittsburgh to St. Louis, from the 2d October, to the 10th November. I was unable to find boarding in the village for my family, and had to rent the only house I could find, at $6 a month.

66

already members of the little church, I have found about eighteen professing members, scattered around, as sheep without a shepherd," and apparently ready to take hold, as soon as our affairs shall have assumed some order. The denseness of the population in the vicinity-perhaps the first farming section in the country

seems fully to justify our undertaking, and to afford the prospect of a respectable Presbyterian society. But alas, the indifference to religion, and fondness for trifling amusements, almost discourages me. I feel sometimes utterly disqualified for the work. But I remember Paul himself exclaims, "Who is sufficient for these things?" And again, I feel that the same hand that held him up, can uphold me, the least of all. O for more humility and absolute dependence on omnipotent grace!

The Lord has been pleased to try my faith and patience considerably on entering the field, both by the unusual inclemency of the weather here, and by the want of a place of worship. Our object now will be to resuscitate a little church, reduced in number to one elder and six members. The history of this little church is briefly the following. It was founded by the labors of two missionaries, viz., Rev. Owen Catlin, and Rev. David G. Sprague, and organized on the 30th April, 1823, by the name of The First Presbyterian Church in Greene Co., Ill. In process of time, the church in Carrolion was formed, which took off a number of its members. Since that, it has been neglected, till by removals and deaths it From has been reduced to its present low estate. It is still recognized by the presbytery of Illinois, and its only place of worship has formerly been the house of the present elder, on Apple Creek, and has been occasionally supplied by Br. Barr of Carrollton. There is a handsome church edifice in the village of Whitehall, built by general contribution, but as there was a Baptist church existing previously, they have obtained the control of it, and occupy it half of the time. While they do not occupy it, it is free to other evangelical denominations, and thus we have the use of

TENNESSEE.

Rev. H. Patrick, Tellico
Plains, Eust Tenn.

I have visited about with the people of my charge, and preached on every Sabbath, and also at night, as often as opportunity offered, and as appeared proper and judicious.

A Sacramental Meeting.

In September I attended a sacramental meeting at Madisonville, about 10 miles from this, with several of our preachers. As this meeting was not held within our church, a particular account of it could not be it. here expected. It was the first reIn regard to family visiting, my la-vival of religion I have witnessed for bors have, necessarily, been very limited. But so far as I have been able to attend to it, there is reason to be encouraged even more than when I was here in the summer, previous to my removal. Several other Presbyterian families have moved here from the East, and a large proportion of the whole are from New-Jersey. I am much pleased with the spirit of a number of them. Besides the six

some time past. Many, say 40 or 50, were among the anxious, and a considerable number, perhaps 20, professed a change of heart, if I have not been misinformed. It is a very solemn thing to be in the midst of a revival of religion; the things of this world, for a while, lose their power and hold upon the mind; and the solemnities and retributions of the eternal world, as seen by the eye of

faith, occupy the whole field of vision, and are estimated and regarded as of superlative importance.

Early in September, I went to Knoxville, about 45 miles from this, where there is a Tract Society, and.

experienced a change of heart. Two stand propounded before our church for admission.

drew the amount of tracts due me From Rev. R. E. Tedford, Cleave

land, Tenn.

THE LABORERS ARE FEW.

for four years, as a life member. The tracts I have been distributing about, wherever I thought I could do good with them. There are some two or three distilleries in our own neigh- The field in which I am laboring borhood, and I have circulated tracts is very large; of course, my labor on the subject of distilling and using is very much scattered. I have five ardent spirits as a common drink, and different places at which I preach also preached on the subject. It re-statedly; at three of them on Sabquires much discretion to present baths; at the other two during the the truth on this point and yet avoid week. Perhaps you may think my giving offence.

labors are distributed over too large a field, to be very profitable. This I feel in some degree, and should like to have it otherwise. But situated as I am, without any Presbyterian min. ister except myself, in this and the two adjoining counties-and the county in which I am living, is about 40 miles long and 20 broad-and finding Presbyterians living in different parts, and in densely settled neighborhoods, where they want preaching, I cannot deny them an occasional visit.

There is generally, very good attention given to the means of grace. On the fourth Sabbath of October, I had a communion season in Columbiana church. Christians were stirred up, strengthened, and encouraged in the service of the Lord; sinners were pricked in their hearts, and made with anxiety to inquire, what they should do to be saved. Some six or eight were brought, as they hope, to their hearts to the Saviour.

To avoid the evils of a hasty admission of members into the church, the session and myself, after deliberating on the matter, have agreed to require applicants to stand propounded as candidates for admission, at least for a time, to afford opportunity to become acquainted with them, and to test the genuineness of their religious impressions and feelings. This is not the usual practice of ministers and churches in this country-give though of this you have doubtless been informed long ere now. It shall be my aim to let persons stand before the church as candidates, for a reasonable time, and meanwhile I shall seek them out, converse with them freely about their religious feelings, and read to them such religious books and tracts as are adapted to their case. My labors have not been in vain. There are as many as 7 or 8 persons with us, anxious for their souls. Three or four are indulging a hope for themselves, that they have

Apostate Professors.

Whilst there are some things to encourage the children of God, there are many to discourage them. We have some in this new country, who profess to be Christians, and, when they lived in the older settled parts of the country, where going to church was common, and religion popular, were thought to be Christians; but alas for them now! they have laid aside even the name; and have

turned with "the sow that was wash- || suddenly cut down. He was coned to their wallowing in the mire."

INDIANA.

From an afflicted Missionary.

sidered a moral and industrious man; but all his calculations were for this world, never speaking of death or preparation for heaven. His wife said it would have been a gratification to her if she had ever heard him speak of death in a serious manner. His parents, I believe, were members of the Baptist church. During the Summer, he labored every Sabbath as on other days. His hour, at last, arrived. He came in from his work on Saturday evening as usual. Before retiring to rest he was taken with cholera-morbus, and so severe was the disease, that he was soon deranged, and continued so till his death, which occurred on Monday evening. Thus, in the space of about forty-eight hours, the strong man is laid low, and his soul ushered into the presence of the great God. His wife with her father and a mother, are of the number who came to this country and abandoned their christian profession. How much they added to his hardness of heart, God only knows. Will not the impenitent sinner and backsliding professor, take warning, when God thus speaks in

On the fifth of August, Mrs. and our little daughter were taken to their beds; myself and eldest son were taken on the seventh; about the eighteenth, the remaining members of our family were taken down. My companion and daughter were brought nigh to the grave. We were three months confined to our beds and house. But through the kindness of our Heavenly Father, we are all raised up again. Our people did what they could for us, many of them had afflictions in their own families, and one of the elders was near death. When I took sick, there was an interesting state of feeling in the church, and the congregation was increasing. The Sabbath after I was taken, we had a communion. Assistance failed, and I had to perform all the service. And though I did it amidst chill and fever, it was a bles-judgment? sed season, one of deep interest. Two interesting individuals united with us for the first time. The day was stormy, and when the services were over, I was unable to return home to my sick family. During the evening, it was one discharge of thunder after another, in quick_succession. At sun-set, commenced one of the most terrific storms I have witnessed; the clouds seemed to gather in every direction, and for two hours there was one continuous glare of lightning, with loud peals of thunder, and high winds. Conceive of my feelings after the fatigues of the day, unable to travel a mile to my own home, and while the storm raged over me, to know that my sick family were driven into one corner of the house for shelter.

ENCOURAGING PROGRESS OF A YOUNG
CHURCH.

From a Missionary in Indiana.

The church noticed below is one of the numerous communities which have been violently riven from their former connexions by ecclesiastical convulsions.

The division in the church at R. last spring, was unexpected. Thirtyeight united with us. Soon after, at

the request of the elders, I spent two weeks with them, trying to give shape and a proper direction to their movements. Afterwards, Br. S. preached for them one Sabbath, and Br. H. one. Then Br. T. and I attended a communion there, at which time I engaged in their service for a year. About that time we received.

5 members, at our next communion ance, and our best wishes for their success, 14 were added to our number. And is all we can promise for the present.