tion; and as the work is designed to embody a large number of valuable fac showing the progress of the Church in the great business assigned her by th God of heaven, he may be indulged in the farther request, that this almana may have a different fate from that which attends most almanacs, and be ke after the year has expired, that by comparing succeeding numbers with the past, a distinct view may be obtained of the prosperity of Zion, and of the yearly advances of her King to put an end to her mourning, and make her the joy of the whole earth. "Let, us therefore, daily act under the impression, that we are doing business, not merely for ourselves and for the life that now is, but for hundreds, and per haps millions, of our fellow men-for generations yet unborn-and for eternity. We are acting in the presence of God, of angels, and of men. Let us, then, lay aside every weight, and run with patience the race set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Captain of our salvation. He alone can enable us to war a good warfare, and make us more than conquerors. Though our enemies be mighty, there is one mightier than they; and though they be numerous, there are more with us than with them. Nothing from without can endanger us, if all be right within. The church is safe, so long as her sons watch, and pray, and act This they must all do, before she will extend her boundaries from sea to sea, and from pole to pole;-this some must do, or the church will die. indeed done wonderful things for his church, and he will yet do wonderful things for her;-but, let it be forever remembered, that the vigorous, persevering, and prayerful exertions of his children, are the only means, which he has engaged to use, or to bless, in perpetuating, enlarging, and beautifying the church on earth." God has Besides what have been mentioned, there are twenty-six short articles, containing anecdotes, arguments, facts, &c. all in accordance with the great design. There are, also, five short pieces of religious poetry. Several of the last pages are occupied with a list of courts, stages, roads, &c. We earnestly recommend this little work to the patronage of all, who wish to have the minds of the rising generation early habituated to contemplate the progress of divine truth, as the most interesting sight which this world will ever present. We recommend it to all, who purchase tracts for gratuitous distribution. Benevolent individ uals should see, that every tavern has a copy, to be hung up in the bar-room; and that the cabin of every vessel is furnished with one. Such pains should now be taken by the active and intelligent friends of missions, that, in future years, this almanac may be called for, much more extensively than at first can be expected. We conclude by quoting an anecdote, entitled, Liberality of Converted Hottentots. "Bethelsdorp, in South Africa, is about 600 miles east of the Cape. The number of Hottentots belonging to the settlement in 1815, was not far from 1200. During that year, these Hottentots paid taxes to government to the amount of three thousand five hundred dollars. This seems rather a large amount for taxes. But in the same period of time, they contributed to the funds of the London Missionary Society, five hundred and thirty-two dollars eighty cents;were building, at their own expense, a School-Room and a Printing-Office, under the same roof, (70 feet by 80,) and made collections for the poor every Sabbath, the amount of which was one hundred and seventy-seven dollars! It is natural to inquire, how many towns are there in our land, of the same number of inhabitants, which do so much for charitable objects, as the poor Huttentots of Bethelsdorp?" N ΕΙ T er of T T T T T THE MISSIONARY HERALD. No. 11. NOVEMBER, 1820. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. VOL. XVI. ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS. THE eleventh annual meeting of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, was held in Hartford, Conn. at the house of Henry Hudson, Esq. on the 20th and 21st of Sept. 1820:-Present The Hon. JOHN TREADWELL, LL. D. The Rev. ALEXANDER PROUDFIT,D.D. The session was opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Lyman, and on the following day by the Rev. Dr. Morse. Minutes of the last annual meeting were read. Letters were communicated from sundry members expressing re gret, that they were unable to attend this session of the Board. The accounts of the Treasurer were exhibited, as certified by the Auditor, and were accepted and approved. The report of the Prudential Committee was read, accepted and approved. On Wednesday evening, at 7 o'clock, attended public worship, when a sermon was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Nott, from Mark xvi, 15, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. The report of the Agents of the Foreign Mission School was communicated, accepted, and approved. Gen. Van Rensselaer and Drs. Worcester and Proudfit, were appointed a committee to present the thanks of this Board to the Rev. Dr. Nott for his sermon delivered before them, and to request a copy for the press. The following gentlemen were chosen officers for the ensuing year; viz. The Hon. JOHN TREADWELL, LL. D. President. Rev. JOSEPH LYMAN, D. D. Vice President. Rev. JEDIDIAH MORSE, D. D. Hon. WILLIAM REED, Rev. LEONARD WOODS, D. D. Rev. SAMUEL WORCESTER, D.D. and JEREMIAH EVARTS, Esq. Prudential Committee. Rev. Dr. WORCESTER, Corresponding Secretary. Rev. CALVIN CHAPIN, D. D. Recording Secretary. ASHUR ADAMS, Esq. Auditor. VOL. XVI. 64 Governor Smith, Mr. Hooker, and President Day, having bee appointed a committee to consider the subject of a periodical publica tion, which shall belong to the Board, reported; Whereupon Resolved, That it is expedient, that a periodical publication, such as is described in "Proposals for continuing by subscription the Missionary Herald," should be established at the expense of the Board, and that the Prudential Committee be requested to carry this vote into execution. In the course of the annual meeting it was resolved, That the next annual meeting of this Board be holden in Spring. field, (Mass.) on the third Wednesday of Sept. 1821, at 19 o'clock, A. M. and that the Hon. John Hooker, and the Rev. Samuel Osgood be a committee of arrangements for that meeting. That this Board is gratefully impressed with the liberal and increasing patronage of the Christian public extensively afforded to this institution, its measures, and objects; and that the Prudential Committee be directed to express the thanks of this Board to all societies, churches, congregations and individuals, from whom donations have been received. That the thanks of the Board be presented to Henry Hudson, Esq. for the accommodation and hospitality, with which he has provided for the meeting; to other individuals and families, whose kindness and hospitality have been experienced by the members; and to the choir of singers, in the Brick Church, for their services: That it shall be the duty of the Prudential Committee to compile and publish a report, including their report for the last year; the report from the Agents of the Foreign Mission School; a statement of the Treasurer's accounts; such a detail of donations as may be found useful; extracts from the minutes of the present session; and such other information as they shall judge expedient. The Rev. Dr. Proudfit having been appointed to preach at the next mecting, the Rev. Dr. Morse was appointed to preach in case of his failure. The meeting was closed with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Proudfit. BRETHREN, REPORT OF THE PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE. It is after the labors of ten years, that, by the favor of our Master and Lord, we are assembled to-day in this bower of Zion, to review the operations and mark the results; to erect our memorials, to refresh our spirits, and to gather strength and counsel for the prosecution of our work. The various recollections and endless associations of the occasion-running back to the past and forward to the future-mingle themselves with whatever is dear to our best affections and interesting to our best hopes; and open to us a lively and extended participation in the holy fellowship, that gathers together in one all things, which are in heaven, and which are on earth. Of the eight individuals, who at first composed this Board, threeof the thirty-seven, who have been enrolled as chartered members. six-have been advanced, as we humbly trust, nearer to the central glory of the same Divine Fellowship. The former three, DwIGHT. HUNTINGTON, and SPRING-loved and revered names-have been in preceding years affectionately recorded. The other three, LANGDON, APPLETON, and PAYSON-names also revered and loved, and worthy of like affectionate record, have, in quick succession, been removed from us since our last anniversary. They rest from these labors; but have not ceased to have an interest in them. They are labors for eternity; and the results, we may humbly assure ourselves, are for joy and grateful celebration, in the highest of the heavenly places. It seems most suitable to the design of the present Report to observe,' in the view to be submitted, the chronological order of the several missions. BOMBAY MISSION. As this is not only the first mission of this Board, but the first mission ever sent from this Christian country to any foreign heathen land, or portion of the unevangelized world, it cannot but be regarded by all, who wish well to the best interests of mankind, with peculiar interest. The circumstances of its origin and early history are too deeply impressed on the minds of those, who were immediately concerned in them, ever to be forgotten. For a year and a half the Prudential Committee had been looking with anxious earnestness for an opportunity and means for sending forth the young men, whose solemn dedication of themselves to the service of Christ among the heathen had, under the wise ordering of Providence, given rise to the deliberations, which issued in the formation of this Board. It was in the days of that mighty and dreadful conflict, which shook the pillars of the world, and filled all hearts with dismay and all minds with perplexity. Our vessels were not permitted to go from our ports, and no way was open to any part of the Pagan world. All was gloomy suspense, and the prospect seemed to be growing stil darker, when, on a sudden, intelligence was commanicated of a vessel preparing, under special permission, to sail for Calcutta. It was on the 27th of January, 1812, that the Prudential Committee met at Newburyport, to consider and act upon the question of sending the missionaries; and the Harmony was appointed to sail from Philadelphia, on the 10th of February. The missionaries had not been ordained; their outfits were not ready, and very little money had yet come into the treasury. It was an hour of intensely serious deliberation. It seemed to be the will of Him, whose servants they were, that the missionaries should be sent; and, with reliance on his aid, the decision was taken to send them. It was not a vain reliance. The necessary arrangements were made; the requisite means were supplied; and, by the whole scene of the preparation and departure of this first American mission, an impulse was given to the missionary spirit, to which, under Providence, are in no small measure to be attributed its subsequent diffusion, activity and productiveness. The destination of the mission was not fixed; but, with such instructions to the missionaries, as were deemed proper, was referred to the determination of Providence. Providence, ever wise and ever good, enveloped itself for not a short season in darkness; and put the faith and patience of the missionaries, and their patrons and friends, to severe trial; and it was not until the former part of the year 1814, about two years from leaving this country, that, after repeated repu ses and various adversities, the mission was quietly settled at Bombay. Many months before this time, Messrs. Judson and Rice had separated themselves from the mission; and Mrs. Newell had been taken from it, that every where she might plead for the cause with irresistible eloquence. And about a year and a half after, Mr. Nott, enfeebled by disease, came to the determination to return with his wife to his native land. Only Mr. Hall and Mr. Newell now remained:-and this was only five years ago. "In point of numbers," said they in a letter at the time, "we two missionaries are to the people of Bombay-to say nothing of the millions in sight of Bombay-what two ministers would be to the whole population of Connecticut, were the people of that state all heathens, and the two ministers far removed from all ministerial intercourse and Christian counsel." Not only were they the only missionaries then at Bombay, or on all the hither side of India, but, so far as appears, Roman Catholics excepted, they were the first ministers of Christ, who had ever preached the Gospel in the native language of Bombay, and the extensive provinces adjacent, containing a more numerous population than the whole of the United States. In the knowledge and use of this strange and difficult language, the two missionaries, at the time now referred to, had but just attained to such proficiency, as to begin to speak and preach in it to the people. Of course, they were but just prepared to commence their system of operations; having as yet no permanent school, no printing press, no Bibles or tracts for distribution. In the Report, made at our last anniversary, the narrative of this mission was brought down to the latter part of the preceding May. 'Your Committee regret to state, that they are now able to bring it down only to the fore part of January, about seven months later, and for this the materials are comparatively scanty. While our merchants were trading at Bombay, communications from the missionaries were frequent and copious; but since that trade has ceased, no conveyance is afforded, but what is circuitous and precarious, and the communications are infrequent. The entire period, then, of the active operations of the Bombay mission, now under general review, is only a period of about four years and a half; viz. from the summer of 1815, when Mr. Nott left the mission, and the two who remained were just prepared to begin to act, to the beginning of 1820. It is Your Committee are the more particular in respect to these dates, and this period of action, as it is apprehended, that they have not been sufficiently adverted to by the community, or perhaps by the members of this Board. It seems a great while-especially to minds more ardent than considerate-since the first missionaries sailed for India. scarcely remembered, that, from the time of their sailing, nearly two years elapsed before they were quietly settled at Bombay; or that then very little could be done, until they had acquired a knowledge of the language of the country. Hence it has happened, that the ba th an F re fo ba T h W C |