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NEWS FROM THE CHURCHES.

For this purpose it is contemplated to have a very liberal and extensive course of scientific studies-and to give to the sciences, both physical and mental, a space proportioned to their relative value and importance in the intellectual and moral development and improvement of the human faculties. As preparatory to, or in consummation of this, we will want a library, a philosophical apparatus, and a museum. Amongst the friends of humanity, social improvement, and the advancement of science and civilization, there are some philanthropists who could present to the Institution books, minerals, shells, various specimens of the arts, natural curiosities, &c. &c. more readily than donations in money, or even in addition to such contributions; and would thereby greatly enlarge the facilities of the Institution.Persons having small cabinets or bureaus in the departments of mineralogy or conchology, might make them more useful to the world, more promotive of the great interests of science and the useful arts, by placing them in this Institution, than by either retaining them or making any other disposition of them. We ask from all authors and booksellors one copy of every new book issued from the press, and from all the benevolent such donations above specified as they may have it in their power to confer on our infant Institution, sought to be made a public and lasting benefit to the youth of our country. A record will always be kept in the College of every donation, large or small, and of whatever kind, with the names of the donors, for the gratification of all who may hereafter desire to know to whom the Institution may be indebted for its means of doing good. Gentlemen, moreover, who have no natural heirs, may, in their last Will and Testament, make to themselves heirs of the youth of Bethany College in the disposition of their libraries and cabinets of science and art.

A. C.

News from the Churches.

Cold Brook, Warren county, Illinois, May 29, 1841. Brother Young and brother Davenport have lately visited our section of country. They immersed three in our county, (all Methodists,) and left a good impression on the public mind. Brother Ross is now with us. Be has immersed one, and prospects seem good for more.

We want laborers here-self denying men, filled with heavenly devotion, who partake not of the general mania for heaping up treasures on earth, as though this were our everlasting home

All the brethren with whom I have conversed in this section of country, are well pleased with the sentiments expressed by several brethren on the subject of periodicals; but how is the subject to be managed? is the question. And a grave and a serious one it is; yet it is a practical one.

J. B. RAYNOLDS. Fayette, Missouri, March 30, 1841. At the solicitation of several brethren I address you, in order to communicate the pleasing intelligence that the congregation in this place has lately been strengthened by the addition of seventy-eight persons, making its numbers of disciples, say two hundred. On Friday before the last Lord's day in January the brethren commenced a meeting which continued for ten days, during all which time, to the credit of our citizens be it spoken, they gave the most marked attention to the word, which was proved to be "the power of God, efficiently dispensed by his servants Elder Thomas Smith, of Kentucky, Thomas M. Allen, M P. Wills, and J. P. Lancaster, of Missouri. At the close of the meeting 59 had united, and 19 have since come in, 7 of whom I had the pleasure to im merse only four days ago. Of the whole number 62 were from the world, 8 from the

Methodist, 6 from the Baptist, 1 from the Presbyterian, and 1 from the Episcopalian churches It would have rejoiced your heart if you could have been present and wit nessed the interesting spectacle of husband and wife together; yea, of entire families, presenting themselves as candidates for heaven, desiring to confess and obey the Lord. I am in the reformation, and rejoice to be counted worthy to suffer with those who have been advocating its principles. I only regret that I did not examine and understand for myself at an earlier day, having been for twelve years in the Methodist church, ten of which, according to my ability, I preached the gospel. I felt it to be my duty to with draw from the church, which I did at a quarterly meeting conference in this vicinity, on the 10th day of January. About three weeks thereafter I became one with the congrega. tion of Disciples at this place-my wife and two daughters also.

I might mention honorable exceptions, but I am greatly mortified that so many of my former brethren seem determined to pursue with so much bitterness, one that has always loved them. Some of them, it seems, would pour out upon my devoted head "wrath to the uttermost." And for what? Because, in the exercise of an undoubted right, in view of my future responsibility, I informed them I could no longer be a Methodist. I pay the debt I owe all such in the following manner: "O God, create within them clean hearts." We have here but a few laborers in the vineyard, and the hands of most of them well nigh tied Oh! my brother, how much we need in Missouri a few affectionate, spiritual, and withal, intelligent proclaimers of the gospel! Can you send us one-two-or three? The terms are constant employment, moderate wages on earth, but eternal honor with God in heaven.

Your own presence is needed; and though we are conscious the brethren would be glad to see you in all directions, yet we trust you can visit us this year. Can you come? If so, signify it, that the friends may make the proper arrangements and conduct you from point to point. You ought to come if possible.

I do not know how other ministers serve you; but this I do know, that many of the Methodist preachers do you great injustice-whether designedly or not is known to them. They represent you as guilty of altering the word of God to advance your own interests; as teaching that water, a material element, can cleanse an immaterial spirit; that even unimmersed infants are damned in hell; and mothers are movingly exhorted against this uncharitable doctrine And even almost infinitely worse yet, some of them teach their people that you believe the blood of Christ possesses no more efficacy than the blood of a common animal. No wonder is it, then, that so far as the foregoing statements obtain credence, you are regarded as being a man of very doubtful moral character, and the brethren generally as first cousins to his Satanic Majesty-the Devil. However, the truth will triumph, even as Gamaliel taught-error will fall; and in both we rejoice, thank God, and take courage.

H. L BOON.

The Lord bless our brother Boon in his own person, in his family, and in all his pious labors in the vineyard of the Lord of hosts! Nothing but the great undertaking now on hand, and the excessive labors of many years, prevent my being present with you in your grand enterprize. But I must reserve that pleasure for a coming day, if the Lord will. A C.

Austintown, Ohio, May 10, 1841

I have had the pleasure of seeing about 43 make the good confession since I parted with you in Wellsburg last January. We held a meeting in this place of four days, two weeks ago, when eleven obeyed the gospel. Brother Green and brother Lanphear were our speakers The people thought they spoke well. On the whole, they are good pleasant fellows, and have great room for improvement. We have had four discussions on baptism within a few months. All passed off well, and no one hurt The churches are still reforming in many respects. The temperance cause is fast gaining converts of all classes, and evil spirits are no more well spoken of by the people, and we trust the great seathing pot will soon cease to boil corn

There is an evil under the sun of which even Solomon, I believe, has not spokennamely, the brethren are always writing to us to come and preach for them, and they forget to pay the postage Hence my litter-tax costs me more every year than my clothing. Will the brethren reform, and not lay a burthen on us that neither our fathers nor we are able to bear.

JOHN HENRY.

Davidson county, Tennessec, May, 1841.

We had a good meeting at Hanner's Ford, in this county, some two weeks ago. Eleven noble souls confessed the Lord, and were immersed, (one from the Methodists who had been immersed,) making in all twelve additions. It was a happy time. Brethren Foster, Claborn, and J. C. Anderson were the prime speakers. Prospects are good for more at that point, and we hope for better times in this country. May the Lord bless and prosper the truth! is my prayer.

WM. R. HOOTEN.

Schuyler county, Illinois, May 11, 1841. The good cause is gaining slowly in this county. I have immersed some five or six since March, and prospects flattering. The harvest is great and the laborers are few, and we cannot as yet get them by praying for them. What can we do? We have no money to pay them. We do all that we can in teaching, and have good attendance, and we convince them of the gospel facts, and yet they will not obey. However, we think we can account for that: it is owing to the order of the Disciples; for the Disciples here are not enough for the Lord, but too much for the world."

WILLIAM E. TRUE.

Norton, Ohio. May 7, 1841. I visited Austintown, the residence of brother J. Henry, in company with brother Wesley Lanphear, about a week ago, and spent four days with them; at which meeting eleven made the good confession and became obedient to the faith. The people are getting more awake to the subject of religion than they were formerly; but it will take some time yet to get rid of the effects of the political intoxication that so strongly raged

last fall.

Our religious opponents in this section this year are putting forth a double effort to make proselytes. The Methodists last fall held a protracted meeting, and gained about 45 converts within a mile and a half of me. After which their preacher delivered a dis. course on what he called water baptism. He told of several persons that had been drowned or strangled to death in being immersed; and after telling a great many such terryfying stories, he sprinkled a few persons; but there was one that could not be scared so easily, and the preacher had to go down into the water and bury the candidate. He had previously given a challenge to debate the disputed points of infant baptisin and immersion. I accepted the challenge, when the preacher sought refuge behind a substitute. We met on the 7th of April, and spent three days in the discussion The result was full as happy as we could have expected. The next Lord's day I immersed a Pedobaptist who had attended the debate, and we have not heard of them sprinkling any of our brethren since We have reason to bless the Lord that truth loses nothing by inves tigation. A. B. GREEN. Albion, Illinois. May 15, 1841.

We have the labors of brother Goodwin, of Mount Vernon, with us about once a month, who is a very efficient and successful evangelist. There have been no less than three churches of Disciples formed in this county within the last nine months, taking the Bible alone for their faith, rule, and practice; and, indeed, in several counties above us the the old gospel plan is making way forth in spite of all opposition. I know from the variety, abundance, and extent of your labors it is hardly reasonable to suppose you will visit this part of the union; but I believe were you ever to preach either with us or for some miles around this neighborhood, curiosity if nothing else, would lead infidels and sectarians of every grade to hear the proclamation of the gospel from your lips, and who can tell but some of the seed sown may not fall on good ground an I bear a rich harvest to the glory of God. Ourselves and friends would spare nothing in our power, either in expense or in any other way, to have you amongst us. Should you come to the yearly meeting at Springfield, you might land at Mount Vernon, and with brother Goodwin pass through these counties on a direct road to Springfield. Do try.

The plans for your College at Bethany are, in our opinion, excellent; but from the situation of money matters in this country at this time, I fear you will not be able to raise funds sufficient to carry it into effect. We have been surprized you did not go to England and attenrpt collections there. Immense amounts have been collected there by sectarians of all sorts from this country. I believe your plan would be so much approved of in England, that not only Baptist friends, but almost all sects, except Episcopalians, would offer you their churches to preach in, and assist you in making collections; for there is not that excessive bigotry among the sects there as in this country

Brother Crange,

DANIEL ORANGE.

Peace be to you and yours! I desire to see your country and the brethren there as much as any of you could desire to see me. But I have hitherto been prevented. I wish to see England too; but to ask the Anglo-Saxons in England to build up an institution for the Anglo-Saxons in the United States, I could not, believing that we are just as able to build up our institutions as they are to build up their own; and to honor them by crossing the Atlantic to tell them that though we are richer than they, they are more liberal and benevolent than we. I could not, I say, be the bearer of such a message at present, till I have fully proved the fact that we are less Christian than they: for I know hundreds of brethren in our connexion that could, by appropriating only a hundredth part of their earthly means to a work which all confess to be both great and good, do all that we ask for this most desirable and necessary object.

In the good hope of immortality, yours,

A. C.

Victory, New York, May 21, 1841. The cause in this country is steadily advancing. Conversions are being made steadily, though not rapidly. But what may be considered better, perhaps, the Disciples are growing in zeal and piety. During the last year I immersed 50. Since the present year Commenced I have immersed 17, two of them in the city of New York, from which place I have just returned. J. MILTON BARTLETT.

Louisville, Kentucky, June 5, 1841. A meeting of thirteen days continuance has just closed at Jeffersonville, Ia. Brother Newton Short and myself did the preaching; but we had the hearty and efficient cooperation of other preachers and the church in Jeffersonville. The disciples there have been long living in peace, and increasing in knowledge and holiness. They so demeaned themselves that their fellow citizens have confidence in them. To this, together with their prudent and well directed efforts during the meeting, is the glorious result of the meeting to be mainly ascribed I never attended a protracted meeting with which I was so well pleased. There was 10 animal excitement from the beginning to the close. We preached the truth. We spoke much on the subject of gospel faith and repentance We showed what they are, and contrasted them with those spurious things often mistaken for them. Instead of urging the people to come forward and confess the Lord from the impulse of the moment, we guarded them against self-deception, and insisted on their having correct views of themselves, and God, and the plan of salvation,-and proper feelings, repentance, a change of heart, love to God, &c. &c. Such was our course.The result was the confession and immersion of fifty-six persons-of whom an unusual number were in the meridian and decline of life, and very nearly an equal number of males and females Fifteen were from the Methodists, one from the Presbyterians, one from the Lutherans, and the rest from the world. One Baptist also united.

As I had to come home almost every morning, I always preached in the evening at candle-lighting, and brother Short in the forenoon. My ferriage cost me nearly three dollars, and I received about thirteen dollars for my services. Brother Short, I presume, received as much, and I hope more. Hereafter I intend to report the amount received at each meeting I attend upon the information of the brethren generally, that all may see we are not preaching for money.- Yours fraternally, B. F. HALL.

Mount Vernon, Ohio, April 30, 1841. The churches of Knox and Licking counties, Ohio, have called me from the practice of medicine to evangelize for them during the present year. I have obeyed their call, and up to the date above have immersed fifty penitents, and gained one from the sects. WM. HAYES.

Georgetown, Kentucky, June 1, 1841.

I have just returned from a trip to Cynthiana and Falmouth, where we had a pleasant time with the brethren. Brother Brown was with us at both places. We gained thirteen converts in all, three of whom were obtained at Cynthiana. At this latter place brother Brown had a debate with a Mr. Hodgeman of the Presbyterian church, upon the subjects of Regeneration, Total Depravity, and Baptism. I forbear to say any thing of the re sults at this time. J. T. JOHNSON.

Gosport, Indiana, April 25, 1841. The good cause is progressing in Monroe county Since the first of February last some 75 have put on Christ in immersion, and a goodly number who had been previously immersed united with the several congregations in the county. The principal laborer was our much esteemed brother Newton Short Since my return to Gosport to Bloomington, I have immersed two persons under the following circumstances:-A young man who had been afflicted with some sort of nervous complaint for nearly two years, so that he was confined to his room, and had been for a long while, sent for me. As soon as I entered the room he informed me that he was convinced of his duty before he was taken sick, and that he had formed a resolution to obey the gospel so soon as he should read the scriptures and form a more extensive acquaintance with the system But he was immediately taken sick, and he had been waiting ever since to see whether his health would not get better. But now, despairing of this, he had resolved to go on. I encou raged him; and a cistern being filled with water, I buried him with his Lord in immersion. It was truly an impressive scene! The young man's health has since improved considerably The same day as I was returning home, a Presbyterian lady who had for some time wished to be immersed, but was hindered by her husband, demanded immer. sion of me, (her husband being absent;) and I immersed her, only four or five persons being present. Prospects are good. The Lord be praised! I expect shortly to devote my whole time to preaching. J. M. MATHES. Bethany, Virginia, June 12, 1841. After an absence of some five months, in which myself and family suffered much affliction, I am again at Bethany. My journey was protracted greatly beyond what I expected when I left for the East.

To my very great satisfaction I found my numerous relatious (with a few exceptions) alive and well. The meeting of a mother and son after an absence of 15 years, is no every day's occurrence, and is more a subject for poetry than prose.

I visited the churches of Richmond, King William, King and Queen, Essex, Caroline, and Fredericksburg, and must say that I never saw more harmony and pure benevolence than I found to exist in the Old Virginia churches.

Richmond, the great city of hospitality, must, at some day, not very remote, be the leading city of the Reformation, My reason for this conclusion is simply this, that the Virginians are independent, and will think and act for themselves, the clergy to the con trary notwithstanding Independence of thought being the birthright of Virginians, Richmond, her capital, must, of course, possess it in a pre eminent degree. So let the brethren continue faithful and they have nothing to fear for our Master's cause in Richmond

The Rappahannock church in Essex sustains an evangelist, and I need hardly observe that there was not a church that I visited in the Old Dominion but might do the same. Brother J. D. Ferguson, the evangelist of Essex county, is a young and talented proclaimer, and has done much to allay prejudices in his field of labor.

I had the pleasure to see and hear our beloved brethren Coleman and Henshall. Their manners are very affable, and style chaste, well becoming the old Virginia taste-unques. tionably as good, if not the best in this respect, to be found.

The brethren of Virginia I can never forget. They have made the most lasting im pressions upon my memory. The affectionate regard shown to myself and family by the Henleys, Duvalls, Wares, Brays, Davises, Glenns, Braggs, Wallers, Booths, Woodforks, Mills, Johnsons, Campbells, and hundreds of others, can never be forgotten.

Leaving old Virginia, I came to Baltimore, staid one night, and proceeded according to promise, to Beaver Creek Church; where, in company with old brother Furguson and Caldwell, we labored three or four days. The church at this place was once very prosperous; but unfortunately a division took place, which prostrated the usefulness of the evangelist in this section. The causes which led to this state of affairs, I. of course, do not know, only as they were related to me by different persons. That which seems to have been most conducive to the division was the willingness of a part to fellowship the doctrines of a certain Mr. Hubble, which are said to be highly prejudicial to the peace of any church. I will here observe that I know nothing of this gentleman only as I heard, having never seen him. I was informed that his conduct, so far as morality was con cerned, was unexceptionable, but that he persists in doctrines and teachings untaught in the word. At any rate, the brethren in Old Virginia would not fellowship him unless he would abandon his speculations; which, for the peace and good of our Master's cause, I trust he will do. But, to return to the case of the church, it must be remarked that the whole church at first agreed to receive him; and then, shame to say, divided about it. Our object, however, was to unite them again if we could; and to the lasting honor of those to whom the charge of Hubbleism had attached, they unanimously agreed to with. draw their fellowship for Mr. Hubble unless he would abandon his speculations. We consequently succeeded in restoring six or eight, who will, I hope, prove faithful until death I will here say to evangelists travelling that way, that they will find a very happy reception from brethren Kratzer, Bell, Funk, and others of this little church, six miles east of Hagerstown, Md.

From thence I came direct to Red Stone, 9 miles west of Uniontown. Stopped at brother Shotwell's, continued six or eight days, and proceeded to Pittsburg; staid four or five days; thence to see you at Bethany. And now, sir, in conclusion I have to say, from what I have seen and heard, that all we have to do is to let speculations alone, preach the word, live up to our high profession, and the Bible must triumph over the religious systems of men. In my travels and preaching I had the pleasure of seeing many additions to the saved: to whom, with all that fear, love, and obey the Lord, may eternal blessings be multiplied!

A. P. LAW.

Centreville, Kentucky, June 2, 1841. Since our most interesting meeting at Lexington, I have been busily and successfully engaged for the Lord. At a four days meeting at Antioch, in this county, embracing the third Lord's day in April, eight confessed the Lord. Brothers Rogers and Weekly were with me. On the 4th Lord's day, in the same month, a young man made the good confession at Cooper's Run. On the 1st in May two most interesting youths at Lees burg professed faith. Brother J. Irvin was with us there. On the 3d Lord's day in May I was with brother Rogers at Clintonville, in this county. The meeting continued until Tuesday evening following. Eight rallied to the standard of Immanuel. On the next Lord's day I spoke near Winchester. Mrs Cunningham made a public avowal of her faith, and was immersed. On Friday before the 4th Lord's day we commenced a meeting at Cooper's Run, near Paris, which continued six days. Éleven volunteered in the service of our glorious Lord. Last Saturday, the 29th ult. we began another meeting at Republican, on Beaver in Harrison county. Brother J. Irvin was present. We labored on until yesterday evening. Twelve in all surrendered to the Prince of Peace. I may say for the last 18 days I have labored in the good cause incessantly, save 3 days, and have seen 32 volanteer in the service of our conquering Leader. This only, however, embraces the three last named meetings. The Lord being, as he has been, my Almighty helper, I want, when you hear of my falling into the tomb, should you survive me, that you should also hear I fell triumphing in the hope of a joyous immortality. JNO, ALLEN GANO.