aries, and appropriations respectively made | twenty-eight children; new applicants for their relief by the Executive Committee. are almost daily refused. Br. Pratt To Mr. Stevens and family, whose entire thinks he could get seventy-five as ensily as twenty-five. All are well at property had been consumed, including his present. valuable library, $500 had been voted by way of outfit. In reply, Mr. Stevens writes : Your letter expressing the sympathy of the Board, in our loss by fire, has been thankfully received; and Mrs. Stevens and myself beg that you will present to them our sincere acknowledgments for their kind remembrance and their generous donation of $500 to renew our outfit. The Executive Committee, will, I am sure, be glad to learn, that so liberal have our friends here proved on the occasion of the fire, that our outfit is already, to a very considerable extent, renewed; at least so much so, that we feel that we should be happier not to draw upon the treasury for the $500; and, therefore, beg the Executive Committee to consider that sum still at their disposal, to appropriate to the different purposes of the mission, as their judgment inay direct. In respect to my manuscripts, I am not sure that I have mentioned that almost every one of much importance has been recovered, in consequence of copies having been distributed among the former pupils of the school and the preaching assistants. These have gradually come to light, and I cannot but acknowledge in their preservation a protecting Providence. Shawanoe Mission. Meeker. Mr. and Mrs. Wade at St. Helena.—Let- It gives us much pleasure to publish the following spontaneous tribute of Christian affection and confidence from the Baptist Church of St. Helena to two of our en deared missionary laborers whom Provi dence had cast upon their hospitalities. We had intended it for our last number, in connection with the notice of Mr. Wade's return, but it was necessarily deferred. For some account of the St. Helena church, see the next article. Christian Brethren, beloved in the Lord, We, the pastor and elders of the Baptist Church, St. Helena, cannot allow this opportunity to pass, without expressing our deep sense of gratitude to the Great Governor of the universe, and Head of the Church, for sending amongst us, in the order of his provi dence, your missionary, the Reverend Mr. Wade and his good wife, particularly at the very time he did. Their presence and labors greatly encouraged the timorous, and strengthened the faith of the weak converts; making them bold to come out, in the face of a gainsaying world, to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, in the solemn act of baptism. This Christian ordinance met with the greatest opposition from the Letter of Mr. members of the Church of England,this being the first Baptist and only Dissenting church ever established in this island. I left Ottawa on Thursday, the 10th inst., to attend a protracted meeting at Delaware; which commenced on Friday evening, the 11th, and continued until to-day (Monday) at 12 M. The meeting-house was more than filled; -brethren Barker, Pratt, Cusick and Meeker, attended. We had religious professors from eleven different nations; with addresses and prayers in Stockbridge, Tuscarora, Wyandott, Ottawa, Shawanoe, Delaware and English. Four backsliders were restored, and five persons baptized; one more was received to be baptized next Sabbath. The Delaware school appears to be in a very prosperous situation, with It is impossible to speak too highly of the piety and labors of both Mr. and Mrs. Wade, while sojourning amongst us. Though in great bodily weakness, still they ever manifested that it was more than their meat and drink to do the will of their Heavenly Father. Their names will be ever embalmed in our memories, and written in our hearts. We hold such in reputation, who have counted not their lives dear unto them, so that they might win Christ and testify the gospel of the grace of God. As a church, we part with them with deep regret; and we can say, in deed and of a truth, that they go away from this island leaving BAPTIST CHURCH AT ST. HELENA. In our last Magazine, p. 363, and at other places incidentally, the attention of our readers has been directed to the labors of the Rev. Mr. Bertram, and to the work of grace which God has wrought by his instrumentality, on the island of St. Helena. The following particulars in regard to the origin and progress of the work have been kindly furnished by Mr. Wade at our request. Alluding to his detention at St. Helena on his late return passage, Mr. Wade says: We spent the first week at the very hospitable mansion of Mr. Carrol, the American consul. In the course of the week we were made acquainted with several pious persons, seals of Mr. Bertram's ministry. Mr. Bertram had left England with the intention of laboring at the Cape of Good Hope; but learning there the spiritual destitution of the people at St. Helena, he felt a strong conviction that it was his duty to go there. His friends dissuaded him from the attempt. "There are there," said they, "two chaplains, the colonial and the military, who are sustained by the strong arm of Government; and the entire population of the island is in religious matters under their immediate supervision. They will, of course, oppose your efforts; none will dare listen to you; every thing is dear on the island, and you will have no means of support." "The Lord," said he, "is stronger than men, and he hath promised to do all things for them that believe,-I will go; God will help me." He did go. When he arrived, he knew not a person on the island; but he was not diffident; he soon formed some acquaintances, and procured a private house to be opened to him for preaching; his congregations became large; the chaplains were disturbed, and reported him to Government; he was called before the governor and his credentials demanded; these were produced; His Excellency said they were legal, and he was dismissed. His congregation now increased; numbers of the most respectable families attended. The chaplains made another effort against him on the charge of holding unlawful assemblies. This obliged him to purchase and license a chapel. He was now safe from government annoyances,-his popularity increased, until, at length, he gave out the astounding notice that at such a time he should preach on the subject of baptism, and undertake to show from the bible that "immersion of the whole believers the only subjects, of Christian body in water is the only mode, and baptism." From this time many turned back and followed no more after him; others, whose hearts the Lord and requested baptism. had touched, gladly received the word, This was the state of things when Mrs. Wade and myself arrived on the island. Mr. B. was preaching the gospel with all boldness, and the Holy Ghost was making it the power of God unto the conversion of souls. Religious meetings for preaching or prayer were held almost every evening in the week; it was in fact a time of revival. Soon the baptistery was finished, and its waters consecrated by the immersion of about forty candidates on a profession of their faith in Christ. One of the earliest of these converts was a Mr. Janisch, a young married gentleman, of German origin and excellent education. His father, now deceased, had been for many years the Dutch consul on the island, and had educated this son for the English army; but he, since his conversion, has devoted himself to the ministry of the gospel. Mr. Carrol spoke of him in terms of the highest commenda tion, and I was much edified by the sermons which I heard him deliver. At his earnest solicitation, we spent two weeks at his house. Subsequently we were invited to spend some time in the country with a very pious lady who was an American. Here we staid six weeks, and as the Lord was pouring out his Spirit upon the people of the neighborhood, we had many delightful meetings and witnessed many hopeful conversions. Three of the new converts were members of the family, and several others were brought into liberty in that house while we were there. About sixty in all were baptized, and some twenty more were expecting to be baptized soon. The greater part of the native inhabitants are exceedingly ignorant, having scarcely any knowledge of science, or of the world beyond their own little island, and still less of religious truths beyond what is contained in the book of Common Prayer. Many are quite as ignorant of God and religion as Burmans or Karens. But we saw there, also, some of the finest specimens of Christian character, as exhibited under suffering of pain or want, that I have ever seen in any country. One who had been reduced from affluence to poverty, now a widow, old, and almost suffocated with dropsy in the chest, was calmly waiting till her change should come, and blessing God for every thing. Several young ladies had been repeatedly beaten by their parents or other guardians, to prevent their attending the meetings. Others had been turned out of doors by those on whom they were dependent, because they would follow Christ in baptism; but they remained firm under their sufferings, nor did we hear them complain. St. Helena is truly missionary ground; but, as in other places, it is mostly among the poor that the gospel finds its way to the heart; and the little Baptist church which has been begun there, claims the prayers and sympathies of the churches in more favored lands. And they need a sympathy which extends beyoud the mere sound of words. Their chapel is not yet free from debt; their pastor is wholly dependent on them for support, and their means are small; but if their chapel were free of incumbrance, they would feel quite happy; for if they lose this, they will be again exposed to the annoyances of govern ment. The number of printing establishments is 11, and of type foundries 7. Number of pages printed last year, 46,173,345 ; total from the beginning, 635,040,844. The number of churches is 75, communicants 25,939; added during the year, 1,838. The number of seminaries is 12, pupils 586; other boarding schools 18, pupils 541; free schools 302, pupils 10,718. During the past year there have been sent forth to the missions 14 missionaries, 1 male and 17 female assistant missionaries, in all 32; besides 4 missionaries, 1 male and 4 female assistant missionaries, who, after visiting their native land, have returned to their several fields of labor. Ten of the missions have in this way been strengthened and enlarged, viz., those in Southern and Western Africa, that to the Armenians, that to Syria, those to Canton and Fuchau in China, that to the Sandwich Islands, and those to the Choctaw, Cherokee and Sioux Indians. During the same period the Committee have appointed 18 missionaries, 2 physicians, 1 male and 18 female assistant missionaries, 40 in all; of whom 3 missionaries, 1 male and 9 female assistant missionaries, have already been sent to their respective fields of labor. Publications. The monthly issues of the Missionary Herald have been 16,700 copies, of which above 9,000 copies are sent gratuitously to donors and others. Of the Dayspring 47,000 copies have been published and circulated each month. About 46,000 copies of missionary papers and tracts of various kinds have also been printed and distributed by agents and others. Receipts and Expenditures. - The whole amount received into the treasury of the Board the last year, is $254,056,46, exceeding that of the year before by $42,653,70, being an advance of more than 20 per cent. The expenditures for all purposes, during the same period, amounted to $282,330,38, being $17,546,55 more than those of the last year, and $28,273,92 more than was received into the treasury and, of course, increasing the indebtedness of the Board by that amount. The excess in the outlay was owing to some unexpected expenditures in distant missions. The debt, which at the last annual meeting was $31,616,86, was, on the 31st of July last, $59,890,78. Receipts from Coöperating Societies. man Reformed Church, American Bible Society, American Tract Society, $8,493 55 1,100 00 East Smithfield, ch., Samuel Far well tr., 2,00 6,000 00 Monongahela Asso., C. 5,000 00 Vance tr., 30,90 Pittsburg Asso., col. at annual meeting 15,37 Western Conv., do. do. 7,11 Mount Moriah, ch. 7,00 Pittsburg, Howard Lar comb DONATIONS Received in August, 1848. Penobscot For. Miss. Soc., J. C. 20,00 Brattleboro', ch. Windsor, "from the purse of a child deceased" 3,00 Philadelphia, "a widow, Ohio. THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY MAGAZINE. VOL. XXVIII. NOVEMBER, 1848. NO. 11. "THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL OF THE BLESSED GOD.”—1. TIM. 1:11. (Continued from p. 166.) It gives us great pleasure to be allowed in continuation to present to our readers further extracts from Dr. Eaton's Missionary Discourse. Our first consists of a portion intermediate to the two main divisions of the discourse, and may be entitled GENIUS OF THE GOSPEL. The "glad tidings" are for the whole race of man, without distinction of nation, birth, character, or condition. This universality of design and application, in a system of religion, is a peculiar characteristic of the gospel of Christ; and its introduction in our world constituted an entirely new era in the history of our race. All previously existing systems of religion were either suited alone to particular nations, climates and conditions, or were so restricted by special enactments as to prevent their universal spread. This last was the case with the only true religion in the earth before gospel times. The religion of the ancient people of God was manifestly not designed to be the universal religion of man. Although it held forth invitations to the surrounding heathen to cast away their dumb idols and worship and serve the God of Israel, the only living and true; yet the divinely fixed locality of its worship, the limitation of territory assigned to its worshippers, its rites and public observances, with other peculiarities, clearly show that it was a religion for a particular nation and not for the whole race. But the gospel overlooking all the accidents which vary human conditions, disregarding national and climatic peculiarities, and all the barriers which separate one portion of the race from another, is addressed to universal man. "I bring you glad tidings of great joy," says the angel," which shall be to all people." This peculiarity of the gospel has been justly regarded as among the strongest internal evidences of its divine origin. The originality and vastness of the conception, the wide-sweeping scope and grandeur of the design, and the wisdom and benevolence of the adaptation, point to an infinite, not a finite intelligence. The intelligence that knows how to separate the essential and the immortal from the accidental and the temporary, in the complicated nature of man, and to create a system adapted peculiarly to the former, is not human. This of itself would be a sufficient evidence to our mind, that the gospel was from Heaven and not of men. None but He who created man and hence knows what is in man, can so distinguish between the common and universal principles |