in council, Major Ridge, Public Speaker, and Shoe Boot, chief warrior. The council enacted various salutary laws, among others, one against card-playing in the nation, which had been much in vogue during the sittings of the council, particularly among the white people from Georgia and Tennessee and the halfbreed Indians. Every person playing cards after January 1st, 1823, or merely tolerating the practice in his house, shall be liable to a considerable fine. A resolution was likewise passed, not to enter into any negotiations with the commissioners from Georgia, about the sale of the Cherokee land. A white man, bringing a barrel of whiskey to Newtown had it confiscated. Another resolution authorized the building of a new two story council house, next summer, at the expense of the nation. The council committee is chiefly composed of young men of talents, who are masters of the English language. There are secretaries appointed who record all the transactions of council in the English language. A sufficient number of copies of these records are printed and distributed among the best houses in the nation. Dec. 12. Had the pleasure of welcoming our dear pupil Taucheechy, likewise from Cornwall. He is an unaffected and humble follower of Jesus. A young man from the Sandwich Islands accompanied him, who is to go to Brainerd school and appeared quite at home with us He is of short stature, somewhat corpulent, and of a much darker com plexion than the Cherokees. Next morning these agreeable visitors left us. 24. In these days brother Proske and all our people from Oochgeelogy, came to celebrate the Christmas festival here. About one hundred and fifty persons worshipped with us the infant Savior in the manger and attuned their songs to his praise. We had decorated the church with green boughs for the occasion, and at the close of the love-feast distributed lighted wax-tapers among the whole company. Mr. Butrick who had come yesterday from Brainerd to join the celebration, preached an appropriate sermon Christmas day and in the afternoon communed with us at the Lord's table, together with David Taucheechy, Elias Boudinot, and John Vann. Next morning these our dear friends left us, with hearts full of gratitude to the Lord for the blessings here enjoyed. on We conclude this journal with expressing our joyful hope, that the Lord will continue to bring home to his fold many a lost sheep of this nation, inasmuch as he has already collected a little flock here, who cleave to him with full purpose of heart and are grounded upon his death and merit; and inasmuch as the longing inquiry still continues to be excited in the hearts of others: "What shall I do to be saved?" We salute all our dear brethren, sisters, and friends, desiring them to continue to remember us and the work of God entrusted to our care, before the Lord in their prayers. Domestic Intelligence. AMERICAN BAPTIST BOARD. FROM the account of the proceedings of this Board at their meeting in Washington City, in April last, as published in the Latter-day Luminary, we compile a brief statement of the missions under the direction of that body. Valley-Towns.-Among the Cherokees, in Tennessee. Messrs. Roberts and Farrier have discontinued their residence at this station, and the former has been appointed to an agency under the Baptist Board. The number of pupils in the school is limited to 50, and that number is completed, and others are waiting for admission. Carey Station, in the Michigan territory, and Withington Station, in Alabama.—The prospects of these missions are represented as encouraging. Burmah.-Dr. Price appears to enjoy the friendship and confidence of the emperor of Burmah, and of many of the chief members of his court. See Miss. Her. vol. 19, p. 189. Mrs. Judson had not arrived at Rangoon, at the time of this meeting; though intelligence has since been received that she had safely reached that place. Dr. Judson was at Rangoon, and had completed the translation of the New Testament into the Burman language. He had, also, translated select passages from the Old Testament. It was the intention of Dr. Judson, immediately on the arrival of his wife, to proceed to Ava, the capital of the empire, leaving Mr. Hough among the converts at Rangoon. It will be remembered, perhaps, that Mrs. Judson was accompanied, on her return, by the Rev. Jon-phical apparatus, and a large quantity of athan Wade and his wife, as a reinforcement to this mission. Vol. 19, p. 267. Liberia, in Western Africa, the Colony established by the American Colonization Society.-Lot Carey and Collins Teague embarked, as Baptist missionaries, with the first colonists. Mr. Teague left the colony, and went to Sierra Leone, some time since, from whence he had not returned at the latest dates. Mr. Carey was still there; and bad been joined by the Rev. C. M. Waring, a colored missionary from Virginia, of whom the report speaks highly. Columbian College.-A valuable philoso books, were procured by Professor Woods, by solicitations in Europe. The whole num ber of students, who have been admitted to the college, is 140; and the number at present in the institution, is 93. The buildings consist of a large and convenient edifice for the accommodation of the students, situated on a rising ground, about a mile from the city of Washington, from which there is a view of the city; a hall for lectures, apparatus, &c.; and two good houses for the families of the instructors. UNITED DOMESTIC MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Second Report. THE second Annual Meeting of this Society was held in New-York on the 14th of May last. The Report presented on the occasion, has since been published. The commissions issued under the authority of the Society, amounted to 78; and the sum of the periods for which services were engaged, exceeded 50 years! The Report contains the following appeal: To sustain and increase our various operations, we must appeal for aid to the Christian public. There is scarcely a meeting of the Executive Committee, at which we are not forced to dismiss some urgent petition, when only a grant of $100 or $150 might locate the Gospel in a growing neighborhood, and secure it the means of access to thousands. As we confine our efforts to no sectional divisions within the United States, we ask help either by the formation of Auxiliary Societies, or by private donations, of all to whom our Report may come. It is a sacred rule of the Committee, not to allow their appropriations to exceed what they have a reasonable prospect of fulfilling: if the public patronage does not increase, they can do no more than continue to act upon their present scale-they may indeed be forced to retrench--but they have an encouraging conviction that the more their plan is examined, the more will it be approved, and the larger will be the voluntary grants in aid of the Society. NEW-YORK RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY. Twelfth Report. THIS Report was prepared in April last. Among the officers are:-Zechariah Lewis, Esq. President; Dr. James C. Bliss, Cor. Sec.; and Moses Allen, Esq. Treasurer. Income and Expenditure.-The income for the year, was $2,229 18; and the expenditure $2,290 78. Publications.-The number of tracts printed is 254,500, all from stereotype plates. The whole number of Tracts printed by the society since its formation, is 1,561,744. The Board have adopted the plan of hav ing the tracts distributed in public houses, on board ships, steam boats, packets, and other shipping, bound up in small volumes, with paper covers, containing about a hundred pages each; by which means they are longer preserved, and go through a variety of hands before they are ultimately destroyed. Two thousand Tracts were sent, during the year, to Hayti; and many, also, to other parts of the West Indies, and to various parts of South America. REVIVALS OF RELIGION, FROM the report of the Kennebec Conference, Maine, as published in the Portland Christian Mirror, we compile the notices which follow. Fourteen churches belong to this Conference, consisting of 815 members, of whom 60 became such, by a public profession of faith, the past year. Only four excommunications took place. In Augusta, there are some instances of more than ordinary concern, and a few have obtained hope that they have passed from death unto life. In Hallowell, very early in the spring, some unusual attention to the concerns of the soul appeared manifest. This attention gradually increased, and became very general through the month of May; twenty-two have been added to the church; and about as many more, it is hoped, have been made the subjects of that gracious change, which alone can fit them for the kingdom of heaven. In the course of the last winter, an unusual excitement in regard to the subject of religion was manifest in Vassalborough, and some few obtained hope through grace. A degree of solemnity continued through the spring, which gradually increased. A little past the middle of June, it became manifest, that God was in that place. Religious meetings were crowd. ed, many were anxious, and some soon began to rejoice in hope. The attention became manifest, nearly at the same time, throughout the whole extent of the Congregational society; and it is difficult to determine in which part it was most powerful. But very few dwellings were passed by -In several, every adult was made a hopeful subject of grace. The work has embraced those of every age and character; from 75 years, down to 10 or 12; from the most moral and amiable, to those who now regard themselves as rescued from temporal as well as eternal ruin. It has been very rapid and powerful, and yet still and solemn. No boisterous excitement of the passions took place. It may be difficult to state definitely the number, that have become hopeful subjects of the work. Fiftyfive have already offered themselves to the communion of the church, and stand propounded for admission. Forty-nine were united to the Congrega tional church soon after the meeting of the Conference; and about as many more were expected to make a profession of their faith in Christ, within a few months. Before this addition, the church consisted of but 46 members. In Winthrop there is now a pleasing revival of religion. Between 60 and 70 are hoped to have experienced a gracious change. Miscellanies. EXTRACTS FROM RECENT ADDRESSES. Improvement of Negroes in Sierra Leone. I AM thankful to my Reverend Friend, that he has connected me with a motion which relates to Sierra Leone; because I have always thought, and I still think, that history cannot boast, that universal experience cannot mark out, a more extraordinary and encouraging instance of improvement than the records of that colony afford. What was that colony a few years ago?-a slave settlement! --a spot, in which men, and I am ashamed to say British men, and men calling themselves Christians, settled down to carry on a trade in human beings. And when it became a free settlement, who were the first settlers?-the very sweepings of the streets of this metropolis-blacks who had found their way hither, and were left wandering about our city-va grants, who infested the streets of Londonworthless, lawless, and indolent-scarcely to be prevailed on to build houses for their own protection from the weather, or to render any kind of assistance in the work of the infant colony. The second body of settlers consisted of 1,100 negroes from America who had obtained their liberty by joining the British standard in the American war. The third body was the Maroons of Jamaica, who had retired, when we obtained that island from the Spaniards, into the interior, and from thence made incursions upon the settlers: some years since, a truce was formed with them. when they were removed to Nova Scotia; but the climate not agreeing with them, they were sent to Sierra Leone. The fourth reinforcement of settlers was no lesthan fourteen or fifteen thousand human beings, liberated from slave ships, which had been taken by the gallantry of our sailorsnaked, destitute, ignorant beyond concep tion-unacquainted with all the arts of civ ilized life, and of every kind of hope for eter nity. This was their character! [Afier quoting the late Mr Johnson's description of the state in which he found the people at Regent's Town in 1816, r. Buxton proceeded, in reference to the liberated Africans-] Every person who hears me will concur with me, I think, in concluding that there never perhaps was so hopeless an experim. nt as that undertaken at Sierra Leone in 1816. Who would not have said, that ce turies must pass away before we could make any efficient alteration in the state of these savages? That is one side of the picture But tura the other! Out of this strange mass of people, what kind of population has been formed? - a popula tion, which, in order and decency and sobri ety, and in the knowledge and practice of Christian duty, not only may rival, but, I firmly and from my heart believe, exceeds any equal population in the most favored part of this highly favored country [T. F. Buxton, Esq. M. P.-at the Ch. Miss. Anniv. Circulation of Books, the present great Means of Usefulness in China. In China, preaching is not the great means of usefulness; for by it we cannot, AS YET, gain access to the native mind. But proclamations can be made in writing, as well as by the voice. Our Heavenly King sends forth his proclamations of mercy and love to perishing mortals. In China, and Japan, and Cochin China, and the islands of those seas, all the people can read, and are eager for knowledge. There, let millions of tracts be published! The Scriptures are now translated, and passages of the Bible are printed as tracts, and the people receive them with great avidity. In China, the people have a great reverence for books; and they receive, with gratitude, any that are given to them. There are so few persons employed in making known the Gospel in China, that we cannot follow the tracts, or ascertain their effects; but the good resulting from them is morally certain. I have distributed many tracts: some of them have travelled to a great distance: one of them was brought back to me to look at, as a very curious book; and I found that it had been marked all through, by some one who appeared to have read it with attention. Let me relate another fact: a man at Malacca, whose mind was e lightened by the perusal of a tract published by Dr. Milne, told me, that he could not understand what he had read respecting Transubstantiation, in a treatise published by a Roman-Catholic Missionary, but that he COULD understand the tracts which Dr. Milne had published. Milne's Village Sermons, in Chinese, have been extensively circulated; perhaps nearly as much so as Burder's Village Sermons here. [Rev. Dr. Morrison-at the Rel. Tract Soc. Anniv. State & Prospects of West India-Missions. As considerable anxiety has prevailed relative to the West India Missions, I shall be excused for saying a few words respecting them. I have great pleasure in observing, that the general state of the mission cause in the West In ies was never more prosperous than at the present time-that it never received sanction from so many planters-and that it never derived so much help from the public, whether connected or unconnected with the West In dies. Indeed, so truly sensible are many proprietors, of the singleness of heart, and the honest sincerity of purpose, by which we are actuated, in sending forth men to preach the Gospel of Christ to their benighted slaves, that they have come forward to assist in our undertaking. I have, this morning, received a letter from a West-India proprietor, inclosing a donation of 5 ; which, the writer said, was in consideration of the extensive benefit which he had received from the labors of the Society, by their having taught the slaves on his estates the Christian religion. I think it proper to state, that, so far as relates to His Majesty's Government at home, every protection may be expected. The meeting are aware, that, without any sort of provocation, the mission chapel and dwelling house at Barbadoes have been destroyed: and that the missionary, a most excellent man, has been obliged to flee from that island: but he has been received with affection in a neighboring colony, the Island of St. Vincent; and we have the best answer to all that has been said against him, in what has been lately done there-a sum of upward of 6007. currency having been recently subscribed by the principal Gentlemen of that island, toward the erection of a Wesleyan chapel. This is the best answer that could be given to the ac cusations brought against the Missions in Barbadoes. No other colony has followed their example: and we ought carefully to distinguish between the outrageous colonists of one island, and the conduct of other West India Islands. Promising Indications in India. Knowledge, without Christianity, is making great advances in India, and has numerous advocates: and God forbid that we should at all obstruct the diffusion of any light: but God forbid that we should forget, that there is only one light which has life in it! We must follow up the progress of desecrated knowledge, with infusions of Christian knowledge. Many persons imagine that there is a serious obstacle to all such knowledge, in the prejudices of the people of India: but this is mere imagination. Prejudice is not our obstacle: I have seen our Scriptures introduced, in a manner without effort-introduced by Brahmin teachers, and into the schools of native children, where no effort has been used to bring these books into the schools. The bstacle to knowledge is not prejudice against the Word of God as such; for the people receive any knowledge, though perhaps on a bad principle: knowledge, they feel, is valuable; but, that CHRISTIAN knowledge was to be feared, they did not feel, till it was put into their heads to think that there could be harm in knowing any thing. Their religion is not founded on conviction, and therefore it is what mere conviction of its folly will hardly overthrow. Our aim should therefore be, not to promote knowledge merely, but that corrective of knowledge which comes with Christianity. [Rev. Joseph Parsons-at the Ch. Miss. Anniv. Among the heathen, in that part at least of India with which I am best acquainted, there is evidently a breaking down of the power and influence of caste. A remarkable instance of this occurred in Tellicherry, where my duty as Chaplain led me to reside. The Nairs, or principal class of the people on the coast, kept others at a great distance. The second class, or cultivators of the soil, have been specially protected by the British since the establishment of our power, but were long in a state of extreme ignorance. A few years, however, ago. three brothers, belonging to a family of this class, applied themselves zealous and raised themselves to a level with the Nairs, their higher-class neighbors. These brothers established a school, to which some of the Nairs sent their sons, and good scholars were produced there. The brothers are now dead; but eight or ten of the young men who were educated by them have established schools themselves, in a circle of about twenty miles. By such means, the way is preparing among the natives themselves for receiving instruction. With regard to the unhappy affair at Demerara, our Society has there suffered consid erably, in the slaves being restrained from attending public worship during the existence of martial law: but as the Wesleyan Society were not the immediate and chief sufferers, probably I ought not to enter particularly into that affair. Common justice, however, re. quires me to say thus much, that, greatly as I lament the improper conduct of certain slaves. who, instead of waiting for the improvement of their condition contemplated by His Majes-ly to the acquisition of the Sanscrit literature, ty's Government at home, took the law into their own hands-since Christianity ever taught subordination, and discountenanced violence; yet this never could justify the conduct of the local government of Demerara toward the late Mr. Smith bave read the trial with deep attention; and do not hesitate to declare my own opinion, and that of several legal friends altogether unconnected with any missionary society, that a more unjust and il legal proceeding never met with the sanction of any government whatever. It is now generally admitted that Mr Smith was entirely innocent, with regard to the revolt of the negroes: and the seizure of his private papers, written for his own use, and with no view of meeting the public eye, and which, after all, did not criminate him, but shewed him to be a pious and respectable character, was a most unjust and unwarrantable proceeding. I men tion this, feeling, as I do, great respect for the society with which Mr. Smith was con nected; a Society, which I am sure, will never encourage revolt, or violence, or disaffection. [Jos. Butterwoth, Esq. M. P. at the Wesleyan Ann. [Rev. Francis Spring-at the Ch. Miss. Anniv. I solicit your indulgence. while I comply with the call made upon me to state the result of the observations which I have made during my residence in Bengal For six years. I travelled annually 3000 miles. I have, therefore, enjoyed many opportunities of visiting your missionary establishments in that part of India; and, as a member of your Calcutta Corresponding Committee, I have made it my study to become familiar with the labors of your missionaries: and it affords me unspeakable satisfaction to be able to state that they are zealously employed in doing all, in their power to win souls to Christ-that they display a consistent Christian walk-and that they are blessings to the country in which they dwell. This meeting will naturally wish to know the visible progress made in the great work of evangelizing the heathen. I am of opinion that the best interests of this Society require much caution on this subject. That no one may be misled, when state my firm belief that the labors of this Society have been attended with much benefit to India, I must be understood as comparing its present state with what it was twenty-five years ago. The heathen parents, who would have theu been offended at the offer of a Bible of any instruc. tion, are now contented that your missionaries should teach their children out of the Oracles of God. I have seen young Brahmins reading the Bible in your schools; and have heard them reply to the questions put to them, in a manner which shews that they not only remember but understand what they read: A spirit of inquiry, formerly unknown, has, by the blessing of the Almighty, spread itself over the land, and many are now desirous of learning what is contained in the sacred books of Europeans. A degree of confidence is now reposed in Christians, which formerly would not have been credited: and not only the sons of Hindoos sent to your mission schools, but their DAUGHTERS also are sent to be instructed by the wives of the missionaries! I have seen that highly-gifted lady, Mrs. Wilson, surrounded by her numerous female scholars. The want of funds is the only impediment to the increase of their numbers. This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes. I have heard magistrates observe, that a marked difference is perceptible respecting the Brahmins. They formerly entered Courts of Justice-noisy, insolent, overbearing-demanding the utmost deference to their testimony, whoever might be the witness on the other side, and ready to contradict the representations of these men: but now the frown of a Brahmin is no longer formidable, and their falsehoods are often exposed. I have often heard that question proposed, Whether the light of the Gospel could correct the mortai turpitude of the Hindoos; or whether breaking the iron sway of Brahma would not sink them still lower in the scale of society: but this meeting knows that the grace of God in the heart of a Hindoo will lead to holiness of life. I have seen the trial made. I have met with communities of native converts; and I have been told by magistrates, that those professing Christianity within their districts were marked by their peaceable and quiet demeanor: not a single instance had occurred of their being prosecuted in Courts of Justice, while they complained of nobody; and to myself, men of this description have expressed themselves truly grateful that the glad tidings of the Gospel had been communicated to them. But I must remind you, My Lord, that these are but gleams of light in the midst of the spiritual darkness! India still calls on you to redouble your efforts, in sending laborers to dig up the follow-ground. It has been stated, erroneously, that the worship of Juggernaut has decreased. It is but two years since, that I saw at least one hundred thousand persons worshipping that Idol. I saw the dead lying in the roads and the fields; and jackals and dogs collected in vast numbers, devouring the victims of that hideous superstition. If this assembly could behold such a sight, how would it stimulate them to redouble their exertions to commu. nicate to the Hindoos the glad tidings of great joy. [Major Phipps-at the Ch. Miss. Anniv. AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY. Resolution of the Massachusetts General Association. A printed circular on the subject of providing literary, moral and religious instruction for the American colonies in Africa, issued by a committee appointed by a meeting of gentlemen in the city of New-York on the 14th of May last, was laid before the Association. The subject was referred to a committee of Drs. Griffin, and Leland, and Mr. Edwards. This committee, at a subsequent period of the meeting, brought in the following report, which was adopted. "The General Association of Massachusetts are deeply impressed with the obligations of Americans to make one great, united and persevering effort to elevate the intellectual and moral character of the descendants of Africa, and to qualify them for ministers and teachers, and the various civil departments in the colonies. No nation have the same advantages for the education of the African race; no nation are under so great obligations to that injured people; and no other nation can be expected to provide for American colonies. White men cannot serve the colonies without an enormous waste of life; and Africans cannot be fitted for the higher offices of instruction unless they are prepared on American ground. Under these impressions the Association most cordially and earnestly recommend the subject to the consideration of the churches connected with them, and to a benevolent public." GOOD EXAMPLES. THE Baptist Saluda Association, in North Carolina, have set apart the second Wednesday of the next month, as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer; among other reasons, that Almighty God would be graciously pleased to "guide the minds of the people in the choice of a President; so that, with one heart, and with one voice, the citizens of these United States may select the most suitable man, and the one most approved of God, for the high, dignified, and responsible office of Chief Magistrate of this highly favored country." IN consequence of the late visit of General LA FAYETTE at Catskill, N. Y. the children of the place contributed 150 dollars to constitute him a Director for Life of the American Bible Society. |