158 Society with the Church of England; ascribing to God alone all glory and praise for the success of the Society's labors, and looking to his Spirit and blessing as their only hope of future usefulness. Receipts of the year, £12,458; expenditures, £10,868. Rev. J Wolff, just returned from Malta, gave an ac count of his extended journeys. Professor IRISH EVANGELICAL SOCIETY. The 21st annual meeting of this Society The attendance proved that the public continue was held May 12, T. Walker, in the Chair. to take interest in the evangelization of Ire. land. The report was read by Rev. A. Tidman. whose pastoral care 22 Christian churches are The agents employed last year were 48, under Tholack stated as an undoubted fact, that more Jews have been proselyted within the placed. They are all missionaries, their cirlast twenty years than before, since the first cuit of itinerancy extending from 5 to 20 miles: ages of the church. There has been astonish. They have preached the Gospel in at least 200 ing success in Germany, Poland, and the capi-cities, towns, and villages. They are active tal of Silesia. In the University of Breslaw promoters, in Ireland, of the Bible, Temper. there are three Professors who were formerly cation. They have been opposed both by ance, and Tract Societies, and Scriptural edu Israelites-Professors of Philology, Chemistry: Romanists, and prejudiced Protestants. The and Philosophy, besides a clergyman; at Halle, no less than five-one of Medicine, one report bore honorable testimony to the selfof Mathematics, one of Law, and two of Phi- denying labors of many of the evangelical lo.ogy. All apparent conversions are not real; clergy of the Irish church. yet of thousands who have embraced Chris. tianity, doubtless hundreds are true Israelites, CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTION SOCIETY. baptized, not only with water, but with the The 10th anniversary of this Society was Holy Spirit. The children of those who pro- held May 5, the Earl of Chichester in the fess Christianity are educated in the true Chair. The report was read by Rev. J. faith. Professor Tholack's theological lec- Blackburn. It stated, that the Society had, tures at Berlin were always attended by Jews. during the year, circulated 566 copies of the Conversions have occurred among distinguish. Scriptures-visited and relieved 1662 cases of ed Jews. Dr. Neander, of Berlin; Dr. distress—and brought 2976 children under reBrainis, of Breslaw; and Dr. Stahl, of Erlan-ligious instruction in Sunday Schools. It has gen, are persons of the highest scientific reputation, and now faithful followers of Christ. SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION. now 75 associations, 1630 visitors, 91 prayermeetings, and 40,666 families under the reli gious care of its agents. The Committee have provided 50 loan-libraries, of 50 volumes each. Many jails and poor-houses have been brought under the notice of the Society. The receipts have been £1041; the expenditure £1024. BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIETY. The 30th anniversary of this Society was held May 11, Lord Brougham in the Chair. The report was full of animating details. It noticed the legacy of £2000 by J. B. Wilson, Esq., the enlargement of the Society's premises, the prosperous state of the model. school, superintended by Mr. Cronwell; the aiding, preparing and sending forth of 103 agents to stations of usefulness, the union of Churchmen and Dissenters in the work, £6800 from the grant of Parliament, and the assis tance afforded to 59 schools, in which 7250 children are instructed in the great principles of the Bible. Receipts £2445; expenditures The annual meeting of this Union was held May 7, T. Challes, Esq., in the Chair. Two rooms were crowded. In Denmark, grants have been made to two Sunday Schools. At Corfu, 3 Greek and one English S. School are prosperous. At Cape Town, S. Africa, are ten schools, and 575 scholars. On Van Dieman's Land, there are 5 schools, 27 teachers, and 320 scholars. At Huahine, Mr. Barff has translated the Parable Catechism into the Tahitian language, which has been printed on the island for the use of schools. In the W. Indies, there is great demand for elementary books. The cry is, "Spelling Books more Spelling Books!" Mr. Knibb writes, that 10,000 primers have been disposed of in his neighborhood, and 10,000 more have been ordered. At Home, grants have been made to 19 p.aces, amounting to £330, to aid in erecting school-houses. Mr. Wilson, a travelling agent, has passed over 9 countiesvisited 11 existing Unions-formed 4 new LONDON ITINERANT SOCIETY. Unions, and held the usual meetings at 7 con. siderable towns. The returns made to the held May 11, T. Livesey, Esq., in the Chair The 36th anniversary of this Society was Union show 11,811 S. Schools, 128,816 teach-The report, read by Rev. G. Evans, stated, that ers, and 1,224,404 scholars, in Great Britain two new stations have been opened, and most and Ireland. of the spheres occupied presented features of £3482. peculiar encouragement. The debt had been reduced to £105. Rev. Mr. Stutevant stated the pleasing fact, that there are from 8000 to 9000 pious men itinerating weekly in the vil. lages of England. A pious clergyman of the Church of England had intimated, that, if the Home Missionary Society would send a mission into his district, he would subscribe ten guineas annually for his support. PROTESTANT SOCIETY FOR THE PROTEC- NAVAL AND MILITARY BIBLE SOCIETY. This Society held its annual meeting May held May 12, Marquis of Chalmondeley, PresiThe 55th anniversary of this Society was 16, Lord Brougham in the Chair. The spadent, in the Chair. Receipts £2991: pay cious room was crowded to excess; which showed the deep interest of the Christian public in the vital question of religious liberty. The noble Chairman, in an cloquent speech, discussed the grievances which yet affect Pro testant Dissenters-church rates-exclusion from the universities-the necessity of repairing to the national church for the celebration of marriage, &c., and touched with emphasis ments, £2978. Issues to the army, 3589 copies of the Scriptures, making a general total to the army during the last ten years, under existing regulations, of 51,568 copies. Issues to his Majesty's ships, 2062 copies. Total of the year, 12,968; making a grand total from the beginning of 297,038 copios. (To be continued.) GENERAL RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE, Price 64 cents single, or $3 a year. In 16 The Volume Enterprise.-At the annual meeting of the American Tract Society, May, 1835, it was unanimously resolved, that "the Society will endeavor, as soon as practicable, to supply with its STANDARD EVANGELICAL VOLUMES the entire accessible population of the United States." From an Extra of the Tract Magazine it appears that this enterprise meets the cordial approbation of numerous distinguished clergymen and laymen in different parts of our country. Some of the principal volumes are the following: viz., Doddridge's The Shorter Catechism in Sabbath Schools.Rise and Progress, Wilberforce's Practical The Mass. S. School Society has published, to View, Edwards on the Affections, Bunyan's be used in Sabbath Schools, the 1st American, Pilgrim's Progress, Baxter's Saints' Rest, from the 6th Edinburgh edition of a work enBaxter's Call to the Unconverted, Baxter's titled "Exercises on the Shorter Catechism, in Dying Thought's, Baxter's Life, Life of Brainerd, Life of Henry Martyn, Alleine's Alarm to the Unconverted, Pike's Religion and Eternal Life, Pike's Persuasives to Early Piety, Pike's Guide to Young Disciples, Fla- A Polyglott Bible is published by Mr. Bagvel on Keeping the Heart, Keith's Evidences ster, an enterprising bookseller in London; of Prophecy, Life of Rev. Samuel Gilpin, Cot-containing Prolegomena, by Lee, Professor of ton Mather's Essays to do Good, Beecher on Hebrew; the Samaritan Pentateuch; the HeIntemperance, Family Hymns, Temperance brew Bible with points; the Peschito Syriac N. Testament; the Greek Septuagint, and the Volume. Standard Works on Infidelity and Roman-Greek text of the N. Testament; the Latin ism.-A Society for diffusing Christian Knowledge has been formed at New York, of which Dr. Brownlee is President. One object is, to reprint the best works on the Infidel and Ro. man Catholic controversies, of a popular and interesting character. The numbers are issued weekly, in a royal 12mo pamphlet of 24 pages. which the answers are minutely dissected, and, by a paraphrase and explanatory notes, may be explained and reconstructed by the learner; to which are annexed select proofs." It is Vulgate; the Spanish, French, Italian, and Conversion to the Protestant Faith.-On the means of its wonderful extension are foreign24th of May last, at Holzhausen, in the Grand foreign subscriptions for the erection of houses Duchy of Hesse, Germany, a Roman Catholic of worship, to be tenanted by foreign priests, priest, with all the members of his congrega- and devoted to the inculcation of doctrines action, made their public profession of the Pro-knowledging the supremacy of a foreign head testant faith; on which, they were all received-subscriptions raised in Austria, the divider into the Protestant church. So great a' con- of Poland, and the most despotic country on course of people had flocked together from all carth! In Austria, last year, above $100,000 quarters, that it was necessary to perform the were collected and transmitted to the United ceremony in the open air. States, with the avowed intention of propagating the doctrines of the Romish church! The Bibles in the London Depository are stated to be sufficient, if placed one against Roman Catholic Societies.-The Journal of another, to reach 1200 miles. Two of the Commerce states sixteen startling facts, in re largest ships in the British navy would not be lation to the efforts used to establish Romancompetent to bear up the weight of the Bibles ism in our country; of which we mention the now ready for distribution. Fifty-nine tons following: That a Society, embracing Austria have been shipped to Antigua and Jamaica; and other despotic states, has been organized, and, that every negro may possess a copy, it is to undermine our civil and religious liberties necessary to ship 100 tons more. Van Die--that the agents of those foreign despots are man's Land has contributed £3000 to the funds of the Bible Society. Jesuits Suppressed.-A royal order was issued, July 4, in Spain, for the suppression of the order of the Jesuits; giving an annuity of 25 cents a day for the priests and monks, and 15 cents for the lay-brethren. They will not be permitted to re-unite in any body, under any pretext. The temporalities were to be taken possession of without delay-estates, effects, furniture, and movables. mostly Jesuits-that Roman Catholic emigration to this country, and the increase here of Catholic cathedrals, churches, colleges, convents, nunneries, &c., are astonishing-that numerous Roman Catholic Societies, especially among the Irish emigrants, are organized in various parts of our country, and united by correspondence; the design of which is at least suspicious-and that an attempt has been made in New-York to organize a military corps of Irishmen, to be called the O'Connell A Commentary on the Epistle to the Ro-Guards; thus commencing a military organimans has been published by the Rev. Dr. zation of foreigners! Hodge, of the Princeton Theological SeminaA Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowry; which is noticed by the Presbyterian as ledge has recently been formed at Canton, containing "a brief syllabus of the contents of China, by merchants, literary men, and miseach chapter-an analysis, pointing out the sionaries; of which J. Matheson, Esq., is Preprincipal matters discussed-a commentary, sident, and Rev. Messrs. Brigman and Gutzcontaining the obvious and intelligible results laff, Secretaries. It is intended to promote of a thorough critical examination-a brief the intellectual and moral improvement of the summary of the doctrines; and finally, practi cal remarks." A Narrative of the Visit to the American Churches, by Rev. Drs. Reed and Matheson, has been published in New-York, by Harper and Brothers, in two volumes 12mo; which embodies much information of our institutions, and will be read with interest by American Christians. Chinese, by publishing and circulating such books as may enlighten their minds, and teach them the arts and sciences of the West, and the Christian religion. Decline of Mohammedanism.-Rev. T. Dove, Wesleyan missionary at Gambier river, West Africa, says, the system of Mohammedanism is rapidly declining, and must soon fall before Miami Ministerial Association. It is stated ed several copies of the Arabic Scriptures; and the light and force of truth. He has distributin the Standard, that a Society of this title has incalculable good is likely to be the result. been recently formed, the object of which is to The people, who can read, are anxious to obimprove its members in their ministerial and tain copies. Some of the Bibles, Testaments, Christian character. It is composed of minis- and Psalms, have been carried hundreds of ters belonging to the Presbyteries of Cincin-miles into the interior. Some of the priests nati and Oxford. It meets quarterly at different places. Sermons, essays, and lectures, on say with great candor, the white man's relisubjects previously appointed, are read or de-gion must prevail and overthrow their system. livered; and are subject to severe criticism, both as to matter and manner. Alarming Statements of the increase of Roman Catholicism in our country, are made by the New-York Courier. If it continue to spread, it will speedily become dangerous, if not destructive, to our institutions. The Decease of Mrs. Wilson.-Died of bilious fever, July 18, at Luk-jah-tah, Choctaw Nation, in lively hope of glory, Mrs. SARAH B. WILSON, consort of Rev. Henry R. Wilson, missionary of the American Board. FOREIGN MISSIONARY CHRONICLE. VOL. III....No. 11. PITTSBURGH, NOVEMBER, 1835. WHOLE No. 32: WESTERN FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. APPOINTMENT OF CORRESPONDING SE CRETARY AND GENERAL AGENT. der to you my resignation of the office of Corresponding Secretary of our Society, and to refer to you a revision and an ultimate decision of the case. by the First Presbyterian Church in the borough of Allegheny, with the circumstances in which it has been made, and the peculiar claims of that congregation, will, I presume, if requisite, be fully laid before you by those who feel especially interested in it; and I shall therefore advert only to such general considerations as have respect to my own convictions of duty, irrespective of other subjects. The First Presbyterian Church of Allegheny having prepared a unanimous call for To give in detail the reasons on which this the pastoral labors of Rev. Elisha P. Swift, conviction is founded would probably be inexCorresponding Secretary of the Western Fo-pedient. The call which has been preferred reign Missionary Society, the path of duty became to him, in his circumstances, a subject of serious consideration. At a meeting of the Executive Committee, held August 10, he requested the advice of his brethren in relation to his resigning the office which he held in the Board, and accepting the call of said church. And, after some conversation, it was agreed that he should be permitted to do so as soon as some suitable person could be obtained as When, in the progress of the operations of his successor in the office of Corresponding our Society, it became requisite that its CorSecretary and General Agent of the Society. responding Secretary should be one who was At a meeting, held September 1, the Commit- able to devote his whole time and services to tee, on motion, Resolved, That the Vice Presi- it, and when I received that appointment dent, Rev. Thomas D. Baird, be requested to call anew with the expectation that my pastoral a special meeting of the Board of Directors, to charge would be relinquished, I expressed, as be held in the Lecture Room of the First Presyou will recollect, great doubt as to my adapt byterian Church in Pittsburgh, on Thursday edness to certain parts of the service required, the 24th of that month, at 3 o'clock, P. M., to and consequently great hesitation as to the exconsider the propriety of appointing a Corres-pediency of its acceptance. ponding Secretary and General Agent of the Society, in the room of the present incumbent, who was about to resign that office whenever the interests of the Society would permit. At a meeting of the Board of Directors, convened at the call of the Vice President, the following communication was received from the Corresponding Secretary, viz.: PITTSBURCH, September 24, 1835. The Board of Directors of the Western Foreign Missionary Society. FATHERS AND BRETHREN: I expressed the fear that there were important respects in which I might possess less qualifications than most of my brethren; while there was reason to fear that the unanimous vote of the Board and a strong attachment to the cause itself might lead me notwithstanding to form an erroneous decision. The enterprise, however, was then regarded by many as but an experiment; and it was properly enough thought, that, if it were destined to prove a failure, one who had urged its practicability might be justly expected to make the trial and meet the issue. To this consideration, in connection with a deep personal interest in the glorious results to which it was hoped it might lead, my decision at that time is to be chiefly referred. The solemn, and to me important and responsible question of my continuance in the office which I have held under your direction for nearly four years past, has been, in the course of Divine Providence, unexpectedly We owe it to the God of missions, respected brought before my mind, and under circum- and beloved Friends, to say that, through his stances to require anxious and prayerful con- undeserved goodness, the experiment has been sideration. After deliberate consultation with now happily issued. He has kindly owned your Executive Committee, and other Fathers our feeble efforts. He has raised up for us a and Brethren in the church, and I hope an ho- goodly number of Missionaries of excellent nest and conscientious use of all practicable character. He has inclined the children of means to ascertain the mind and will of Christ, Zion to meet our pecuniary wants; and perit has appeared to be the course of duty to ten-mitted us to establish one or two promising missions. The countenance and co-operation | ter of the Rev. E. P. Swift, tendering his reof many of the Presbyteries and churches of signation of the office of Corresponding Secreour body; and, more recently, the action of the tary. That committee, having considered the General Assembly empowering its committee subject, presented the following report, viz. : to adopt the Society as its own, under the understanding of a vigilant prosecution of the work, go to confirm us in the belief that our church has the way now opened to the fulfilment of a glorious part in the most grateful of all the offices of Christian philanthropy. It is also a source of thankfulness to our blessed Redeemer that our operations have been car ried forward thus far, without any but the most amicable relations, and a happy state of feeling between the American Board and our own Society. In view of the success which has attended Mr. Swift's labors in behalf of the Society hitherto; and in view of the opening prospects and enlarging operations of the Board at the present time, nothing but a clear call in Providence could justify him in resigning, or the Board in accepting his resignation. There has never been a period in the history of our Society, when the talents, zeal, and experience of Mr. Swift seemed to be more needed. He has, however, in the Providence of God, been called to a different field of labor in circum The aspect of the world and the circumstances so peculiar, that the committee would stances of the Society, therefore, present the not dare to say he ought not to retire from a strongest incentives to go forward, more and station which he has fulfilled so much to the more abounding in the work of the Lord; and, advantage of the Society and satisfaction to in order to this, it seems requisite that every the church; especially as he has pledged himfacility should be given for its more enlarged self that, so far as may be compatible with prosperity, in the acquisition of an officer well pastoral engagements, he will gratuitously fitted both for its secular and its spiritual du- fulfil the duties of the office until a successor ties. Those of you, with whom I have been is ready to relieve him. And, even after the accustomed familiarly to confer on this subject appointment of a successor, the location of Mr. from the beginning, can bear witness that it is Swift in the immediate vicinity of this place, not from any decay of interest in the cnter-will, we trust, enable him to render important prise itself, or any weariness of its duties, that services to the Society. The committee, thereI have formed the conviction now expressed; fore, recommend, that Mr. Swift's resignation but from the honest and long-cherished convic. be accepted, and that measures be immediatetion, that, while my habits and domestic re-ly adopted to secure the services of a suitable sponsibilities might render a continuance in successor. the service more difficult for me than many; that service itself might be much profited by the possession of a more skilful officer. In some other form, it may hereafter be in my power to aid in sustaining the great objects for which all hearts and hands should be united and combined until the knowledge of the Lord covers the earth as the waters cover the sea. For the indulgence and co-operation which has been experienced from ny brethren, and the churches, during the period of my official ser. vice, I would offer my most grateful acknowledgments; and also add, that so far as it may be compatible with pastoral engagements, I shall be willing, gratuitously, to fulfil the duties of the office until a successor is ready to relieve me. With my earnest prayers to God, for his blessing upon this endeared Society and cause; for his presence and guidance in your deliberations, I remain, with respect and affection, Yours, &c. E. P. SWIFT. The Board then proceeded to the consideration of the said report; whereupon, on motion, Resolved, That the report be adopted, and the resignation of the Corresponding Secretary accordingly accepted. The Board then proceeded to the election of a Corresponding Secretary and General Agent; when, on taking and counting the ballots, it was found that the Hon. WALTER LOWRIE was unanimously chosen. Mr. Swift was re-appointed Corresponding Secretary, pro. tem., and authorized to an nounce to Mr. Lowrie his election. The decision of this important question now rests with Mr. Lowrie; and should he accept the appointment, it is hoped that his talents, his extensive knowledge of men and things, his habits of strict and systematic attention to business, and his regard to the honor of God and the best interests of mankind, will render his labors in the cause of Foreign Missions highly acceptable to our churches, and eminently useful, under God, in forwarding the grand enterprise of evangelizing the world. MISSION TO NORTHERN INDIA. The Executive Committee have recently received very full and satisfactory communications from Mr. Lowrie, embracing 1. Letters, giving intelligence of the state of his health, the prospects of the mission, &c.-2. The Journal of his visit to the Court of Lahore, his reception there, subsequent proceedings, and his return to Lodiana-3. Notes concerning |