of many miles; the chapel is crowded, and many listen at the doors and windows. More than a thousand attend on Sunday morning; not fewer than 5000 negroes attend in rotation, a great number of whom learn the Catechism. They have established among themselves an Auxiliary Missionary Society, composed of people of colour and of slaves, whose subscription, inserted in the last report,

amounted to 1891.

Berbice, commenced in 1814. John Wray, Missionary.

Trinidad, commenced in 1809. Thomas Adam, Missionary. Mr. Thomas Adam preaches regularly at the town of Port of Spain, and once a month at another place at a distance.

Tobago, commenced in 1808. Mr. Elliott laboured here for several years, but removed to Demerary. At present the Society has no Missionary here.

SOUTH SEA.

Otaheite and Eimeo, commenced in 1797. John Davies, James Hayward, William Henry, Wm. Scott, Saml. Tessier, Charles Wilson, Henry Nott, and Henry Bicknell, Missionaries. At this first station of the Society the Missionaries arrived 6th of March, 1797, and were favourably received; they laboured with little apparent success till lately; but after fifteen years perseverance there is reason to believe that many are converted. About 300 per

sons have desired their names to be inserted in a book as worshippers of the living and true God, having renounced idolatry. They attend the preaching of the Gospel, and observe the Lord's day. They are distinguished from their countrymen by the name of "Bure Atua," or the Praying People.

There are, also, in the school nearly three hundred persons, chiefly Adults. Many of the Chiefs are among the number who have renounced idolatry, and the Chiefs of several other islands are desirous of receiving Missionaries.

Four additional Missionaries are now on their voyage, viz. J. M. Orsmond, Charles Barff, Launcelot Edw. Threlkeld, Wm. Ellis, Seminary at Gosport.-There are now 16 Students under the tuition of the Rev. David Bogue, preparing for Missionary labours, and several others are accepted for the work.

Auxiliary Societies, Congregations, Boarding Schools, Sunday Schools, &c. England, 230; Wales, 23; Scotland, 26; Ireland, 7. Foreign-Cape of Good Hope, Bethelsdorp, Stellenbosch, Madras, Bellary, Newfoundland, Demerary, 7. Total 293.

Historical Sketch of the Society for Propagating the Gospel among the Indians and others in North America.

The origin of this society may be traced back to the year 1762, when a number of gentlemen associated for the purpose of establishing a Society for the promotion of Christian knowledge. In prosecution of this benevolent and pious design, they collected a considerable fund, and obtained from the colonial government an act of incorporation. When this act was sent to England for allowance, the Archbishop of Canterbury obtaining a negative from the King, it fell, of course, and nothing more was heard concerning it until after the war, which established American Independence. In 1787, a number of gentlemen in Boston and the vicinity, received a commission from the Society in Scotland for promoting Christian knowledge, to superintend the funds of the Society, which were devoted to the purpose of Christianizing the Indians of America.

The board of commissioners, excited by the exemplary zeal of their European brethren, revived the plan, which had before proved abortive; and forming themselves into a Society similar to that in Scotland, were incorporated in November 1787, by the name of "The Society for propagating the Gospel among the Indians and others in North America."

On the recommendation of the legislature a Brief was issued by Governor Hancock in 1788, for a collection in all the religious societies of the state. The amount of the collection was 1561 dollars; and this original fund was greatly increased by private Subscriptions among the members of the Society, and other pious and benevolent persons. Among the first and most generous contributors were, the Hon. John Alford, Esq. James Bowdoin, Esq. (afterwards Governor of the Commonwealth,) Moses Gill, Esq. afterwards Lieutenant-Governor,) William Hyslop, Esq. Hon. Samuel Dexter, Esq. Hon. Thomas Russell, Esq. Hon. Jonathan Mason, Hon. Wm. Phillips, and Eben. Storer, Esq. At later periods, the Rev. Eliakim Wyllys, and others, have made additional donations. The Hon. John Alford, Esq. of Charlestown, in his last will, devised a large sum to be devoted to the purpose of spreading the knowledge of the Gospel among the heathen; and, on the incorporation of this Society, his executor, Richard Cary, Esq. transferred to it ten thousand six hundred and seventy-five dollars.

The Society, for several years, received generous annual grants from the legislature, and its funds have been greatly augmented by the frequent and liberal donations of its President, the present Lieut. Governor of the Commonwealth.

In the application of the portion of the funds devoted to the Indians, the Society have consulted the best interests of a people, whose character and habits are extremely adverse to moral and religious improvement. They assisted in the support of the Rev. Mr. Mayhew, at Martha's Vineyard, of Rev, Mr. Hawley, at

Marshpee, and of Rev. Mr. Sergeant, at New-Stockbridge; all of them Missionaries to the Indians.

The corporation of Harvard College, having funds for Indian purposes, had united with the Society in supporting these several Missionaries, until 1809, when, by agreement, the entire charge of the Marshpee and Vineyard Indians was assumed by the corporation; and the Society engaged to pay the same sum that had usually been paid by the corporation towards the support of the permanent Missionary at New-Stockbridge. For some years the Society employed a Missionary to the relics of the Narraganset Indians.

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In 1812, a school house was erected for them at Charlestown, R. I. the place of their residence, at the expense of the Society; and a school-master has since been employed there, with encouraging success. On Martha's Vineyard the Society have supported a number of small schools for Indian children, and have furnished to the schools at Marshpee, Oneida, and New-Stockbridge, books, paper, and other necessaries. They have supplied the inhabitants of New-Stockbridge with many implements of husbandry, such as ploughs, chains, and hoes; assisted them in building school-houses, and a house for their minister; defrayed the ex pense of printing the Assembly's Catechism; which had been. translated into the language of these Indians; and furnished them with a competent supply of practical religious books. The attempts of the Society have hitherto been confined to those tribes interspered among the white inhabitants, or living in their neighbourhood; but it is their wish, as their means and opportunity will admit, gradually to disseminate Christian knowledge among more distant tribes. The notices given of those tribes in a recent report from Mr. Schermerhorn, who travelled through the Indian territories, will not fail to receive their attention. Their labours may now be more intelligently directed, and especially should they receive what the writer of the report has encouraged them to expect," A view of the religious notions, the state of morals, the peculiar customs and manners, and the government of the Indians : together with his views of the best manner of conducting Misşions among them." Besides an attention to the natives, the Society has employed Missionaries, distributed books, and assisted schools, among the white inhabitants in the frontier settlements, and in other parts of the country, as exigencies have required. The District of Maine has been the principal object of these charities; but they have occasionally been directed to various desti tute regions of New-England and parts adjacent. Five Missionaries are now employed in the District of Maine; and several others receive an allowance, as ministers, or teachers of youth: "The Missionaries have generally been ordained ministers. Upwards of 33,000 books and tracts have been distributed by the Society.

Recorder.

COMMUNICATED FOR THE CHRISTIAN HERALD.

Extract of a letter from a distinguished Clergyman in England, on a tour through the country, for the purpose of establishing Bible Societies.

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On the Monday after my return, I proceeded with my excellent colleagues for Norwich, where a numerous and respectable meeting was held on Wednesday, in a very spacious and commodious hall.

"The Mayor Presided--The Bishop spoke with great decision and equal liberality; and the result of the whole was the estab lishment of the Norfolk and Norwich Bible Society. About 700!. were subscribed, and one happy, amiable sentiment appeared to pervade the company. My colleagues and myself adjourned to Eartham, (about two miles from Norwich,) the residence of the late John Gurney, where we had passed the preceding day, and where we witnessed the emanations of piety, generosity and af fection, in a degree which does not often meet the eyes of mortals. "Our host and hostess were the Gurneys Quakers, who with their guests amounted to 34.

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"A Clergyman, at the instance of one of the family, and I presume with the cordial concurrence of the rest, read a portion of the Scriptures morning and evening, and twice we had prayers. I should have said thrice, for before dinner, on the day of the Meeting, the pause encouraged by the Society of Friends, was succeeded by a devout address to the Deity, by a Female Minister, Elizabeth Fry-whose manner was impressive, and whose words were so appropriate, that none present can ever forget the incident, or even advert to it, without sensations alike powerful and pleasing. The first emotion was surprise, the second awe, the third pious fervour. As soon as we were readjusted at the table, I thought it might be serviceable to offer a remark, that proved the coincidence of my heart with the devotional exercise in which we had just been engaged. This had the desired effect-Mr. Owen and others suggested accordant sentiments, and we seemed generally to feel like the disciples, whose hearts burned within them, as they walked to Emmaus. The days passed in this most excellent family were opened with joy, and closed with regret-few such days will occur again. Yet when devotion shall cease to be measured by days, pleasure far more intense shall spring up for ever fresh; and all the Members of the vast Household of Faith shall behold each other, in a scene where purity is unblemished, and harmony uninterrupted, and bliss complete and everlasting. "When shall I wake and find me there."

BIBLE SOCIETIES.

"The Methuen Domestic Female Bible Society," was organized the 19th June last, in the Rev. J. W. Eastman's parish in Methuen, (Mass.) Mrs. Mary Eastman, President; Mrs. Betsy Fry, Treasurer. The number of members is about 50.

The Columbian County B. S. (N. Y.) instituted 7th October last, at Claverick, auxiliary to the American B. S.

The B. S. of the District of Columbia, has also become auxiliary to the same These make the number of auxiliaries to the Am. B. S. to be~65.

THÈ

CHRISTIAN HERALD.

VOL. II.]

Saturday, December 21, 1816.

[No. 13.

It is truly gratifying to observe the increasing zeal and activity displayed by Christians in various parts of the world, in labouring to remove two great obstacles to human happiness, ignorance and vice.

It is also an interesting sign of the times, that men of different religious creeds, and opposite politics, are in a good degree disposed to act in concert in furthering the great objects of the common salvation, and the best happiness of mankind. Such harmonious co-operation in advancing these noble ends furnishes a delightful anticipation of the predicted era, when there shall be one Lord, and his name one throughout the earth.

We have the satisfaction to lay before our readers the following pleasing accounts of the efforts making in our vicinity to promote the interests of religion and humanity.

On the first Monday of this month, an Institution was organized on Staten Island, called

THE RICHMOND COUNTY SOCIETY. Its objects are as comprehensive as their plan is liberal. Its design is to embrace

The protection, care and instruction of orphans, and children abandoned, or whose improvement is neglected by their parents: The establishment of Sunday Schools, Lancasterian Schools, and Libraries, to facilitate the acquisition of useful knowledge, and the circulation of religious books, and especially of the Bible:

The discountenancing and suppression of vicious and immoral practices punishable by the laws of the country; and affording suitable aid in promoting the execution of those laws in particular which strike at the great vices of Sabbath breaking, profane swearing, duelling, gambling, horse racing, and of revelling, and intoxication practised at disorderly houses, whether taverns or stores; and, in general, all those open and flagrant vices which disturb the peace and comfort of the decent and orderly part of society, in violation of the laws of God and man. The manage

ment of the concerns of this Society is intrusted to thirty-four Directors-viz. a Patron, a President, four Vice-Presidents, a corresponding Secretary, a Treasurer and a Librarian, together with twenty-four others, to be elected annually by ballot.

The present Board is composed of men of every religious denomination, and a portion taken from every town of the county, seVOL. II.-No. 13.

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