Committee, has accepted the appointment || churches are far from being sufficiently of Superintendent of Spencer Academy impressed with its importance. among the Choctaws, a station of much in fluence and importance in the present condition of their affairs-see some statements concerning the proceedings of the Choctaw National Council on the subject of Education, at pp. 6, 9, above.

The Missions of the Board.

The other missionary fields are substantially four; for we may class China and Siam as one general field of labour; partly because such vast multitudes of Chinese are resident in Siam ; and more particularly because the Buddhist religion so prevails in both those countrics, that an effective blow struck against that system in one, would be

These are in five gencral fields of la- deeply felt in the other.

bour:

I. Texas.

II. Indian Tribes.
III. Western Africa.
IV. North India.

V. China and Siam.

Now we ask our readers to look seriously at these missionary fields;-ponder earnestly their condition. The Indian tribes— surely they should be objects of our Christian compassion. The very ground on which we tread might cry out against us, if we should refuse to pity those whose foreTexas stands by itself the only Chris- fathers were its only owners; and whose tian country in which the Board has mis- diminished numbers now proclaim the sions. The General Assembly of our vices, not to say the cruelty, of our counChurch has committed the oversight of trymen. What we do for them, we must Missions in it to the Foreign Board, because do quickly. Then there are Western and it is, in some respects, a foreign country. Central Africa, India, China; the three It is a country of great natural resources, densely populous regions of the earth, conand will probably have a vast population, ||taining themselves more than one-half of which will assuredly exert a great influ- the inhabitants of the world; lands fair to ence on our own States, being separated behold, and teeming with the useful and from them merely by a geographical line, the beautiful things of the earth, but yet and a still more important influence on the lands that have been for ages desolated by Mexican and other Spanish-American the evils of paganism; evils alike ruinous to States. This is but one point, though one the simple-minded African, the polished of great interest, in the case of Texas. It Hindu, or the vigorous Chinese. And let has many strong claims on our attention it be borne in mind that the inhabitants of for its own sake. Indeed, substantially the these countries are not decreasing; the same reasons call for our prompt and effi- || Africans and the Hindus may be, perhaps, cient missionary action in that country, as stationary in their numbers, but the Chinese in our Western States; and when we re- have increased wonderfully during the last member how little has yet been done in century, and are still multiplying, and that field, it seems quite clear that we swarming over the neighbouring countries. have not done our duty to its 150,000 Let it be remembered also, that these na. inhabitants. Many of them are mem-tions are capable of improvement in every bers of our own communion, and have, department of bodily or mental application, therefore, peculiar claims upon us; all of and by no means, as some have ignorantly them need the sound principles of our asserted, a people too effeminate to be clechurch-system, to be their help, if not their vated. They are all an improving people, guide, in laying the foundations of their especially the Chinese; and to a greater excivil government; and assuredly, they all tent than many are aware, the Africans need the truths of the Gospel as we preach also we speak of them as they are in them. as their safest and happiest means of their own country. Let it be considered, salvation. We have thus adverted sepa-further, that a light kindled in a dark place, rately to some of the aspects of the Texan missionary field, because it is a peculiar one, and the remarks which follow do not apply to it; and also, because we fear the

even though it be a feeble one, shines abroad with a distinctness never witnessed in an atmosphere filled with the rays of the sun. The conversion of a heathen is a great

MISSIONS OF THE BOARD.

21

event; it forms an era in the history of we conclude by avowing our conviction his family, or it may be, of his city. How that, as a Church, we have great reason to erroneous, therefore, the notion of those be thankful to God for permitting us to who would dissuade us from enlarged cf-enter on these missionary fields. We have forts for the conversion of the heathen, be- great reason, also, to be encouraged by the cause they make poor Christians, and exert but little influence! Who can estimate their influence? And at any rate, what a reason for a Christian to give for not using his utmost efforts to save the souls of the heathen! But especially let us remember, that God commands us to carry the Gospel to the millions of Africa, India and China; and by his Providence, he is now calling on us to enter at once, and with our might, upon this great work.

may,

present condition, or by the promise of all our The Texas and China missions, missions. owing to the recent transfer of the former field to the Foreign Board, and the remark. able general changes in the latter country, are yet in a forming state; but their prospects are full of encouraging interest. The Indian Missions were never so full of As to promise as at the present time. Africa, is not Ethiopia stretching out her sable hands to welcome the ministers and These things we would often meditate teachers of the Gospel? And as to India, upon seriously; and we have adverted to what hath God already wrought through them, at present, in order to give force to the missions of our Church? The Presbythe remark we now make, and to which teries of Allahabad, Furrukhabad, and we ask the consideration of our readers. Lodiana may have few churches and few The mission fields of our Church are few in converts; but they are there, fully organ. number, perhaps too few; but they are, forized, already attended with the divine blessthat reason, the more easily conducted; ing, and full of hope as to the future. These are the missions which our churchand the missionary strength of the Church therefore, be readily concentrated, es are engaged to support and carry forand thereby most effectively employed in ward. They connect us with more than the Lord's work; while, at the same time, half the population of the world. They these fields have either such peculiar claims enable us to give the Bible to our dying upon us-witness Texas and the Indian neighbour on the burning plains of India, or tribes or else have such vast multitudes of within the crowded streets of Bangkok. They the human race as their inhabitants, that appeal to our best judgment for the approval the Church may, and ought to, enlarge her of their location, their policy, their general exertions for their salvation to the utmost of proceedings. They appeal to the deepest reliher ability. These two things-concen.gious feelings of our hearts, for such support, tration of effort and enlargement of influ- for such enlargement, for such vigorous pro. ence are both brought to view in the lo-secution, as shall make them instrumental in cation, policy, and promise of our missions. And they are both, in a high degree, im. portant. All our missionary brethren in Upper India might be planted on some island of the sea, where there are fewer munion. people than are to be met with in Furruk-really consider and lay to heart the case habad or Delhi; and then they might be too of these missions of the Church, and let few for the conversion of the islanders, and our people be made acquainted with their their labour might be well expended for condition, progress, wants, and prospects; that object; but who does not see that and they will never be suffered to languish. their position would be far less fraught with for want of adequate support. interest in the work of man's salvation,their labours far less likely to bring a great

the salvation of myriads of our fellow-men who are now perishing. Shall they appeal in vain? If so, we have altogether mistaken the character and spirit of our comLet our clerical brethren but

multitude of souls to the Lamb that taketh Missions that should not be forgotten. away the sin of the world?

We would recall to the attention of our readers two Missions that were proposed by

There are other considerations of weight in this connection, but our limited space forbids our extending these remarks. And the Board in 1839, and which received the

approval of the General Assembly of the same year;-we mean the Missions to France and to the Jews.

churches would probably have been twenty fold more liberal. Certain it is, at any rate, that these 1200 church members can do more, and we are sure they will do far more, than they have done during the last year. And we hope this remark may be truly made in very many cases.

of

All this, however, by the way;—we have adverted to these points only to guard our readers against thinking that, as a Church, we can do no more for the cause Christ. No more for the cause of Him who for our sakes became poor, that we, through his poverty, might be rich, and who is so highly favouring us in his good providence ! Believe it who will-we cannot.

The pecuniary difficulties of the country, which began to be more severely felt in that year, and which have hardly yet passed away, seem to have withdrawn these missions from the attention of the churches; or rather, to have prevented those contribu. tions of funds, without which they could not be undertaken. It was considered by many to be doing well, if we could sustain existing operations. We fear, however, that too much has been conceded to this feeling. In some parts of the country it has been very difficult to obtain money for any purpose; but in other extensive districts, We know, indeed-and nothing do we there has been, at all times, an abundant admit with more regret-that with the supply; and it can hardly be doubted, that present income of the Board, it is impossible with greater self-denial, and deeper love for to undertake new missions; the present Christ and for the souls of men, a larger missions of the Church are poorly sup amount of funds might have been conse. ported, and if the funds appropriated to mis. crated to missionary objects. We are per- sionary objects do not increase, it may be. suaded, moreover, that there is, in many come necessary, notwithstanding the disascongregations, a far deeper regard for these trous and mortifying nature of such a meaobjects than is shown by their pecuniary sure-it may even become necessary to give gifts; and we account for the smallness of up some of the existing missions. May that the latter by the want of information necessity never come! Nor will we indulge among the people as to the claims of the the apprehension of it. We do not believe missionary cause; and, perhaps, the want that our Church has done anything like of opportunity to respond to those claims. all that she could to spread the gospel of We have our eye on a Presbytery, for ex- the grace of God in the world. And we ample, containing upwards of 1200 church- hope for better days, for a more general members; many of whom are in most com- support of this work of God, for greater fortable circumstances, while none are abso-liberality, for a united and holy effort to lutely poor, and all have the means of ob- glorify God in the salvation of both Jews taining money beyond their actual wants and Gentiles. We have, therefore, endea. whose entire contributions to this cause du-voured to direct the attention of our readers ring the last year were less than fifty dollars. to the importance of the existing missions Now we would not by any means do these of the Church, and we would now point to congregations of God's people the injustice other fields of labour. A great work is to of making their contributions the test of be done in the world for Christ and for the their zeal for the salvation of the heathen. salvation of men, and it is our privilege and We presume that either their pastors and our duty to take a part in it to the full sessions allowed other objects to "crowd measure of our ability. out" the missionary collection; or more probably, that merely a collection was taken in the church-a plan which almost universal experience has shown to be a very poor one. If the subject had been carnestly presented from the pulpit, and then a personal application had been made to cach member by the pastor or the elders, or some suitable persons appointed by the session, the contributions of those

Now as to the Jewish and French missions, we do not intend to go into a full statement of the merits of either, but we wish to keep them both before the minds of our readers.

We ought to have a mission for the Jews, that we may share as a Church in the privilege of causing Jacob to arise, and of helping to graft the natural branches into their own olive tree. The hearts of many

pious people among us would rejoice to help || prudent enough to avoid all ostentation; forward such a good work. And would and who should have such confidence renot God smile upon our sincere endeavours posed in him, (and be worthy of it in order to promote an object which occupies so to have it,) that statements for the public large a share of the thoughts of his own in- press in this country should not be required finite mind, if we may reverently form such from his pen, giving his plans and the reaan opinion from the space allotted to it in sons of them, soon to return to embarrass his sacred prophecy? Nor can we appreciate proceedings there. Such a man, by conversathe bearing of such a mission on all our tion, by seeking the confidence and co-operalabours for the salvation of the Gentiles: tion of leading Protestants, by employing and sce Rom. xi. 12. Nor ought a pure and superintending pious native labourers as primitive Church like ours to acquiesce in col-porteurs or as preachers, by using the the idea put forth in certain quarters, that press in various ways, by watching the "as far as man's agency is concerned, the movements of the Man of Sin, might quietconversion of God's ancient people, or at ly but effectively advance the cause of least the work of preparing them for con- truth and pure Christianity. And he version, appears to be reserved to our own would be doing this in a nation of more Church," viz. the Church represented by than thirty millions of people, the most inthe Bishop of London. We do not think fluential of all Roman Catholic, perhaps that this even now "appears," though we of all European countries. Efforts comhonor the zeal of the English Episcopalians. menced on a moderate scale, might meet The exclusive Bishop might have remem with such encouragement as to authorize bered that others are already labouring the enlargement of the mission, and its effectively for the same object; and we influence might soon become extremely useventure to hope that many others will be ful in promoting the spread of the Gospel engaged in the same work, and amongst in the old world. the number, our own communion. We cannot dwell longer, however, on this fruitful subject.

We would have a mission directly among the Romanists, so that we might bear an earnest though only a Christian part in the great struggle which is now agitating Christendom; the struggle between the religion of forms and the religion of the heart; the religion of the priest and the religion of the Lord Jesus. Such a mission might probably be planted in France, though much prudence would be needed. It is believed that the door is open for a discreet and faithful missionary, who should be humble enough to labour without wishing to attract any notice to himself or to his work, and

But we must again limit our remarks, and we only ask, What can be done? What ought to be done? What will we try to do? The salvation of immortal souls may depend on our being faithful as instruments in God's hands. The Lord, whose we are, and whom we serve, will accept our services if sincerely, humbly, and faithfully made, and he will crown them with his blessing. The time is short; and now we stand on the threshold of another year, to many of us the last. Eternity will disclose the results of our endeavours. May it be our blessed reward, having turned many to righteousness, to shine as the stars for ever and ever!

SYNOD OF WHEELING. Phy. of Washington.
Florence ch. 60:- Thos. Yates, sen. 5;