beauty, there yet remain many "habita tions of cruelty" to be reformed, many dark places to be enlightened, and many a solitary place to be made glad. But by the successful experiment already made, a vantage ground is gained. It is no longer doubtful whether it be practicable to convert and civilize the heathen, nor whether the liberality of the Christian community be adequate to the calls of the destitute. The calls which have been made have not been unheeded, neither has the application of this liberality been without its proper effect. Many have heard the "joyful sound" from the mouth of your missionaries, and are now enrolled among the saints of God. This is a practical result which speaks "long and loud," and demonstrates the happy tendency of missionary enterprise, even to the most incredulous minds. With these examples before us, it is no longer necessary to apologize for mission ry establishments. They carry their own recommendation with them, and in their movements answer every objection against their utility, and silence every murmur which a cold hearted philosophy might mutter against them. Instead, therefore, of entering into argument to refute the calumnies of the lukewarm and parsimonious professors, or to silence the cavils of infidelity, we can point to the savage man, first converted and then civilized, to the reformed profligate, to the "churlish man" who has become liberal-in a word, to the barren deserts which now wave with the lovely fruits of paradise. These are facts "known and read of all men" who are desirous of correct information, speaking a language which cannot be misunderstood. These cheering reflections are, however, somewhat interrupted by the mournful thought that no less than three members of the board have gone to their eternal home since your last anniversary. But even in this mournful thought they are comforted from the conviction that these all died in the Lord, and therefore that their "work of faith and labour of love" follow them as evidences of their fidelity in their Master's work. The brethren, Philip I. Arcularius, aged 78, Paul Hick, aged 72, and Thomas Carpenter, aged 68, have left names behind them that vibrate upon the lips of the pious with sorrowful delight. The living hear of it and rejoice. They long went in and out before their brethren, exhibiting the bright example of constancy and fervency in the cause of God, and in their death gave evidence of the power and efficacy of divine grace to qualify the soul to die in peace, and in the full hope of immortal life. While the board thus pay a mournful tribute of respect to the venerable dead, they rejoice in being able to recognise among the living, "young men who are strong, who have overcome the wicked one," and who are rising up under the influence of the same spirit of faith and of a sound mind, to fill the vacated stations in the church of God. With these preliminary remarks the managers proceed to a brief detail of the operations of this society in its various missionary stations, during the past year. They begin with an enumeration of the missionary stations, with a short notice of their success and present state, as far as has come to the knowledge of the board. MISSIONARY STATIONS. New-York Conference.-Though this conference does not comprehend many of the new settlements in our common country, yet there are many places which might be fairly claimed as missionary ground, where the people are poor and need the renovating power of the gospel to save their souls alive. There has been, however, but one missionary station within the limits of this conference this year. The west end of Long-Island has been continued on the list of missions, though it has cost the society only $2 94, and it is now prepared to be returned a regular circuit, demanding the labour of two preachers, who, with the exception of the sum above mentioned, have derived their support from the people among whom they have laboured. Thirty-five members have been added to the church, and several new appointments for preaching have been obtained which are regularly supplied. New-England Conference.-Many have been the privations endured in former days by the Methodist ministry in this part of our country. And although much has been done in overcoming prejudice, and in establishing truth, there remain yet many places to be brought under spiritual culture. Within the bounds of this conference, two missionaries, the Rev. Messrs. GEORGE PICKERING and JOHN LINDSEY, have been appointed this year, the former at Newburyport and Glouces ter, and the latter at South Hadley and Sunderland. About 100 have been converted in this mission. Canada Conference.-Most of the missions within the bounds of this newly formed conference have been attended with such happy results, in the conversion of souls, that they are now included among the regular circuits, the people being able and willing to support the ministry of the word. But the work, from the nature of the country, continually filling up with new settlements, must be gradually extended, in order to supply these settlements with the word and ordinances of Christ. To meet these increasing demands, the Rev. HENRY RYAN was appointed at the last conference as a missionary to Chippewa, Grand River Falls, and the new settlements in those parts. The mission among the Mohawks on the Grand River in Upper Canada continues to prosper, the school being well attended, and the society among the adult Indians is increasing in number and stability. One converted chief, who can speak both in the Indian and English tongue, promises great usefulness as a native preacher. Ohio Conference.-The managers have received a very interesting communication from bishop Soule, concerning the present prosperous state of the Wyandot mission. It is sufficient to state here, that the anticipations of the Christian community respecting the good effects of the gospel among these people have been fully realized, and they are presented as the "first fruits" of a more abundant harvest of souls from among the natives of our forests. The converted chiefs of this nation continue to edify their brethren by their godly example, and to encourage their hopes by their prayers and exhortations. Their example indeed has "provoked others to love and good works," and the gracious work is extending among some of the neighbouring tribes. Kentucky Conference. Two missionaries, the Rev. Messrs. GEORGE C. LIGHT and BENJAMIN OGDEN, are appointed within the bounds of this conference; the former a conference missionary, and the latter has charge of the Tennessee mission. * Missouri Conference.-The Rev. JESSE WALKER, of this conference, is a missionary to the new settlements between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, and to the Indians in the vicinity of Fort Clark. Tennessee Conference.-There are three missionary stations within the bounds of this conference, all among the Cherokee Indians, called the Upper, Lower, and Middle Cherokee missions.† Mississippi Conference.-A mission was established by this conference at its last session, among the Choctaw Indians, under the superintendence of the Rev. * No information has been received from this mission. The board have received no official information from either of these missions. WILLIAM WINANS. A missionary was appointed at the last session of the conference to New-Orleans, who writes that there are about thirty white and sixty coloured members in society in that place, and that they are now erecting a meetinghouse for their accommodation. From the Pensacola mission the managers have received a very encouraging account from the Rev. Mr. Cook, the missionary, who, it seems, has extended his labours to Mobile, and to several destitute neighbourhoods along the Escambe river. He writes that the people generally evince a great readiness to hear the gospel; that many give evidence of seriousness; and that he has formed a small class in Pensacola. It is ardently hoped that the work of reformation so happily begun in these remote regions of our country, is but the commencement of a more extended and efficient movement towards these southern regions which yet lie in the shadow of death. St. Augustine, to which a missionary was continued last year, is now in the list of regular appointments attached to the South Caroli na conference. The last information tells us that there are about sixty church members in this place, and that some Spaniards are among the steady and attentive hearers of the word. South Carolina Conference.-Many of those heretofore denominated missionary stations in the bounds of this conference, namely St. Augustine, Yellow river, Gwinnett, and Monroe, are now numbered among the regular stations of the confer ence; so successful have been the labours of the missionaries in these newly formed Societies in planting the gospel of Jesus Christ. Others, however, have been added, and some of the old ones retained. Asbury, Fayette, Housten, Tallahasse,* Early, and Chattahooche, are now occupied as missionary ground, and make employment for seven missionaries. Of the Asbury mission among the Creek Indians, the board cannot say much of an encou raging nature. The school, however, continues to present hopes of ultimate success, while most of the adult Indians refuse to hearken to the voice of mercy as proclaimed in the gospel. There are, however, seven of these members of the church, and it is hoped that a patient perseverance in well doing will eventually overcome every impediment, and succeed in establishing the triumphs of evangelical truth and holiness, even among these untractable people. These are all the missionary stations * This mission is in East Florida. which have come to the knowledge of the board. And it is certainly no small cause of encouragement that so many have been struck from the list of missionary stations, not as being abandoned to their former wretchedness, but as having so well succeeded as no longer to need the aid of missionary funds for their support. These, it is hoped, will soon be able to manifest their gratitude for past favours, by contributing to send the gospel to more destitute places. By this means new acces sions of missionary stations will only multiply the means of adding still more, until there shall be no lack in all the land of our Israel, either of men to cultivate the soil, or of produce to yield them an ample supply. AUXILIARY AND BRANCH SOCIETIES. The following are the Auxiliary and Branch societies, viz. 1. The Female Auxiliary Society of 3. New-York. 2. Young Men's do. 4. New Rochelle Circuit Auxiliary. Croton do. 5. Stamford do. 6. Jamaica do. 7. Courtlandt do. 8. Goshen do. 9. Burlington do. 10. Chatham do. 11. Brooklyn do. 12. Albany Female do. 13. Troy do. 14. New Eng15. Genesee Conland Conference do. 16. Canada ference do. 24 branches. do. 17. Ohio do. 18. Tennessee do. 19. Missouri do. 20. Mississippi do. 21. South Carolina do. 13 branches. 22. Virginia do. 9 branches. 23. Baltimore do. 14 branches. Total number of Auxiliary and Branch societies, 92.* The Philadelphia Conference Missionary Society, not auxiliary to this, continues its operations with energy and activity, and appropriates its funds for the same benevolent purposes as this. It is most sincerely hoped that the additional calls for missionary labour, will tend greatly to multiply the number of auxiliary and branch societies throughout our extended connexion. In addition to the stations now occupied among our Indian tribes, and the destitute places among the white population, the managers hope that the time has nearly arrived when it shall be found practicable and expedient to extend the hand of Christian benevolence to the colony of free coloured people now establishing at Cape Messurado in Africa. This subject attracted the *As the managers have received but few re ports from Auxiliary Societies, it is probable the above account may be inaccurate. And they take this opportunity to request the earliest possible information from each of the Auxiliaries, that a full view of all matters relating to our missions may be given in the Annual Report. VOL. VIII. July, 1825. attention of the last general conference, and they recommended this place to the attention of the superintendents, as proper missionary ground, with a request that whenever the funds of the society would justify the measure a mission should be sent to that place. Many of these colonists are our own people, have been members of our church, and therefore have the strongest claims on our Christian benevolence, our pastoral care and oversight. Spanish America, also, as being a part of our continent, has a claim on our exertions. Though this country has long groaned under civil and religious intolerance, the most of it is now happily emancipated from the former, and it is hoped that the latter will soon give way to more enlightened and liberal principles. Whatever impediments may now be in the way, it is the indispensible duty of the Christian community to labour to carry the light of divine truth into these dominions of darkness and desolation. In presenting this sixth annual report to the society, the managers take the liberty to call the attention of its friends and patrons once more to its original objects, as expressed in the first article of its constitution-"To assist the several annual conferences to extend their missionary labours throughout the United States and elsewhere." The character, therefore, of the society, as has been heretofore observed, is both domestic and foreign, looking with an impartial eye to every place where its means will enable it to carry the light of evangelical truth. The only inquiry to be made is, in order to gain the attention of the society, Where are the souls who are perishing for lack of knowledge? To such places, whether among the Indian tribes or the destitute population of our own country within our states and territories, or in foreign lands, so far as the pecuniary means of the society will allow, it is designed to send the word of life. Acting under this view of the society, the superintendents of the church, to whom the selection of the missionaries, as well as the field of their labours, is committed, have been enabled to fill up some vacant places, which has resulted in much good to the souls of the people. By yielding only a partial support the people may have the stated means of grace, until they are competent to their own support independently of missionary funds. And by prosecuting this plan, selecting men adequate to its efficient service, without any view to their temporary accommodation, the general system of itinerancy is becoming 36 282 Sixth Annual Report of the Methodist Miss. Society. more and more consolidated, 'being compacted together by that which every joint supplieth.' But to accomplish this great object, to supply the destitute parts of our own country, to meet the increasing demands among the Indian tribes, as well as to carry the glad tidings of salvation to other lands, a more general and united effort is essential. Auxiliary and branch societies should be multiplied, and the missionaries themselves should be instructed to make collections in every place where they labour, as well as to solicit donations and subscriptions wherever it is practicable. A general and simultaneous movement in this great work of benevolence would produce wonders. Indeed the good which has already resulted from the operations of this society to our brethren of the forest is a sufficient guarantee for the future, demonstrating to every impartial mind the powerful tendency of truth, as preached by your missionaries, to reform the savage heart and to rectify the morals and manners of these children of the deAnd neither have the labours of those men of God, employed under the sanction of this society in other places, been without their correspondent results. Many, who otherwise must have remained in darkness, have seen a great lightthe day-star from on high has visited their sert. hearts. The board would urge the subject with increased earnestness on their brethren and friends. They consider it, indeed, of vital importance to the best interests of men, to the extensive spread of pure and undefiled religion. While they acknowledge, with gratitude to the "Giver of every good and perfect gift," the extensive and lasting good which has been produced by the general itinerant system, they cannot but consider the missionary society, which is interwoven into and inseparably connected with that system, as contributing more than any other one thing to its efficiency and permanent support. A single glance at what is doing by our brethren in Europe is enough to make us blush for our own supineness, while it ought to stimulate us to double our diligence. With a heavy church establishment on their shoulders, for the support of which they have to contribute their proportion, heavy taxes, besides contributing largely to meet their own current expenses at home, they have, during the past year, paid into the treasury of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, for the support of foreign missions, about $176,000. By this astonishing liberality they are enabled to send their missionaries into the four quarters of the globe, embracing many of the islands of the seas. Though we may not expect to equal them in this respect, yet we certainly may come nearer to them than we do. We count more church members than they do. And when we compare our privileges with theirs, as it regards pecuniary burdens, bow much more favourable is our situation. We are burdened (and it is hoped we never may be) with no church establishments, our civil rates comparatively light, and our ministry much less expensive. We are blessed with a fertile soil, an industrious and enterprising population. Under these auspicious circumstances what should hinder the stream of benevolence from swelling into a mighty river? Our means are ample, and all at our own command. Shall it ever be said that we love ourselves better than we love our God, our neighbour,-that neighbour who is now perishing for the want of that gospel which we have it in our power to send him! No, surely. The call is too imperious to remain unheard. And the noble example which has been set by some is too godlike not to have a powerful influence upon others to 'go and do likewise.' Under a conviction that they are engaged in the cause of God, the board of managers look back with thankfulness on what has been done, and rejoice to recog. nise so many co-workers in this glorious cause, while they look forward with bigh expectations to the future, believing that He who has begun the good work will not suffer it to languish for want of an ener getic support from their brethren and friends; and more especially when they consider that they are but the humble managers of an institution sanctioned by the general conference, and therefore recognised by that highest ecclesiastical authority of the church as a branch of the general system for spreading "holiness through the land." Under these impressions they once more commit the cause in which they are engaged into the hands of that beneficent Being, who, they humbly trust, has aided and directed their operations, and to the patronage of that public for whose benefit all their efforts have been applied. Amount of Money received and expended New England do. Conference Canada do. (including the Mohawk mission.) 850 00 350元 59300 REVIVAL OF RELIGION ON COEYMANS CIRCUIT. Dear Brethren,-I am persuaded nothing affords you greater pleasure than to hear of the success and spread of the Redeemer's kingdom. There is no part of your excellent Magazine which affords me greater pleasure or profit than that which is devoted to religious and missionary intelligence. I therefore send you a short account of the work of God in this circuit, which if you judge in any degree calculated to advance the interest of Zion, you are at liberty to insert. Greenville, April 4, 1825. G. LYON. Soon after my arrival on this circuit, our first quarterly meeting was held in the town of Coeymans. I was much pleased in seeing so large a number of our friends assembled for religious worship on Saturday, which to me appeared an evidence of their zeal and piety. In this I was not disappointed; our presiding elder preached with a good degree of liberty, while the people of God were much refreshed and edified under the word. Sabbath morning at our lovefeast the church was filled to overflowing with members and those who appeared deeply engaged for the salvation of their souls. The lovefeast was one of the best I ever attended. God was in our midst, and that in power. Many spoke freely and clearly of the things of the Spirit, not only of justification by faith, but there were also a number of living testimonies of perfect love. My heart was melted into tenderness before God to an unusual degree; and though most of them were entire strangers to me, yet I very sensibly felt that we were all children of our heavenly Father. Oh the unutterable charms of Christian love! Such were the crowds who attended for the public worship of God, that our church would by no means contain half of the congregation. Therefore we were reduced to the necessity of preaching in the grove. The public exercises were solemn and moving on the minds of most present. While the children of God were filled with holy joy, sinners stood trembling, being conscious of their guilt and danger. Some were so powerfully wounded, that they were unwilling to leave the place till He who had wounded should heal. Accordingly they were taken into the church, and prayer was offered up to God in their behalf, till several praised the Lord for his pardoning love. I found the societies generally in peace, union, and spiritual prosperity, there having been a good work of God on this circuit the last year. The doctrine of holiness, or Christian perfection, appeared to be understood, and many in different parts of the circuit had either experienced this blessing, or were fully bent in their minds not to rest short of it. There was a gradual work in most of the classes during the summer season, a number awakened and converted to God. At our second quarterly meeting we were informed that the work of God had commenced in the west part of the town of Catskill, among a few individuals who had been brought by the Divine Spirit to see and feel their danger. Some of them came to our quarterly meeting, and very affectionately invited us to come among them, and preach the word," as they were wholly destitute of any stated ministry. We felt for them; and though we had as many appointments as we judged the state of our health at that |