it respects them, we do feel grateful to God that we have "neither run in vain, nor laboured in vain." It has pleased God also lately to bless the word to the awakening of a few souls; though such instances have not been numerous. Some who have joined us in the last quarter, are crying out in the bitterness of their souls, "What must I do to be saved?' and from what we can discover, they seem to be not far from the kingdom of God. If our members, generally speaking, are remarkable for any thing that may be considered as worthy of imitation, it is, for their love to the means of grace. Our early meetings every morning are exceedingly well attended: all seem desirous of getting a blessing in the sanctuary, before they engage in the worldly business of the day. There are very few of them who lounge in bed till seven or eight o'clock in the morning. It is also the custom of several of them to meet in class two or even three times in the week: that is, they sit in the chapel while other classes are meeting, besides those to which they belong, that they may hear some advice though not given directly to them. We had, how ever, to exclude three members the last quarter for neglect; for no member who is absent from class three times, without a sufficient reason, is suffered any longer to reniain amongst us. Since the appointment of brother Goy for this island, great have been the exertions of our people to meet all the expences occasioned by the stationing of a second missionary amongst them. The Hon. John R-, at whose request an additional preacher was appointed, has been very liberal, and is still disposed to aid to the uttermost the designs of our mission. He has given us a horse, for which he paid 891. currency. seat to spare; they are all occupied. Judge ye what our feelings are, when we often hear of many who say, We should be glad to attend the chapel, but we can not find any room, We appeal, now, respected brethren, unto you: ought we not to enlarge our borders? If the place is too strait for us, should we not make it more roomy and commodious? We now wish to state what has been our success, and what are our principal hinderances to more extensive usefulness amongst the slave population of this island. Nearly all the estates on which we preach are under the direction of Mr. R, whose friendly disposition towards the Missionaries is now well known in Grenada. When we visit the country to preach to the negroes, we generally have a good number to hear the word of God. On some estates we preach to thirty, forty, or fifty; and on others that are larger, to nearly 200: and on each of the largest estates Mr. R. designs gratuitously to build us a chapel for the people to assemble in to worship God. Considering the extreme ignorance of the poor slaves in this colony, we should have hardly thought it advisable, had any of them desired it, to have admitted them immediately into society. The most serious of them, who were desirous of saving their souls, and of being farther instructed in the principles of the Chris tian religion, we have formed into classes of catechumens, and each time we visit the estates after preaching, we instruct them by the means of a short and easy catechism, suited to their capacities. We also generally require all the grown children to be present, that these may in their youth be made acquainted with those truths which are able to make them wise unto salvation. The number of adult catechumens is sixty; some of these we hope will in time become members of society: the number of children perhaps about 100 or 120. When we behold the marked attention that is paid to the word, especially by some individuals, we are encouraged to hope that in due sea, son we shall reap, if we faint not. Our congregation in St. George's still continues to be very large. Every sabbath evening we have many more than the chapel can contain; and almost every week, applications are made for pews, or at least sittings in the chapel; but we are obliged to reply, we have not got a single St. Kitt's. By a letter from Mr. GILGRASS, dated Oct. 26, 1818, it appears that a malignant fever was prevalent in that island. Mr. G. has had the affliction to lose one of his children by this disease, an only son. The account of the work of God is favourable. Republic of Hayti.-A recent letter from Mr. BROWN gives favourable accounts of the Mission. Both he and his colleague continue their visits to the mountains, and find the people attentive to the word. They continue their attentions to the School at Port au Prince. Kingdom of Hayti. We have great pleasure in stating, that, after some delays and disappointments, the Committee have obtained two Missionaries, with suitable qualifications, for this important station; where it is hoped a mission may be established, and, under the Divine blessing, be the means of extending the influence of religion and morals in that rising colony. BRITISH AMERICAN COLONIES. Newfoundland. Mr. CUBIT has returned to England for want of health. The following is an extract of a communication from him, a little prior to his leaving the island. Herewith are copies of an address we have recently presented to Sir Charles Hamilton, our new Governor, and of the answer which we have received from his Excellency. ADDRESS. To his Excellency Sir Charles Hamilton, Bart. Vice Admiral of the Blue, Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the island of Newfoundland and its dependencies. May it please your Excellency, We, the undersigned, in the name and on the behalf of the Missionaries in Newfoundland, acting under the direction of the British Conference of the people called Methodists, of the connection established by the late Rev. John Wesley, beg leave to congratulate your Excellency on your safe arrival in the island, to the government of which you have been appointed by his Majesty; and to express our sincere desires, that your Excellency's administration may be no less pleasing to yourself, than, we trust, it will be generally beneficial to the inhabitants of this settlement. Of the Society with which we are connected, it is a fundamental rule, that in conformity to the apostolic injunction, we should submit ourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether it be the King as supreme, or to governors as unto those that are sent by him, for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well;" that we should "honour the King," as well as "fear God." If we might be permitted to indulge in the foolishness of boasting, we would say, that our conduct has with steady uniformity corresponded with our profession. The character of the Methodist preachers has long been before the publick; nor have occasions been wanting in which it has been exposed to severe scrutiny, but the result has been always the same; and though perhaps there may have been some who have maligned us, yet our loyalty has ever been found unimpeachable. In most of the British colonies, the Methodist Missionaries have long and assiduously laboured, we trust, not unsuccessfully and for a considerable number of years, some of them have been employed in different parts of this island. We are willing to hope that our labours have, in some measure, conduced to the diffusion of religious and moral Extract of a Letter from Mr. HENRY POPE, to the COMMITTEE, dated Fort George, May 28, 1818. Upper Canada, REV. AND DEAR FATHERS, From Christmas-day, 1816, till February 13th, 1818, I laboured in the Cornwall, (now Fort Wellington,) circuit; during which time the gracious influences of heaven attended the word, and rendered it effectual to many souls. I joined 104 into societies, most of whom seem the hopeful subjects of a genuine work of grace; many of them indeed could frequently bear a noble testimony in behalf of vital religion, and rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. At our District meeting, held in Montreal, last February, my brethren were unanimonsly of opinion that I ought to visit York, and the Niagara country, the latter of which I now occupy. York lies in the way to Niagara: it is a considerable village, containing about 600 inhabitants, situated about 400 miles from Montreal, and is at present the seat of government for this province. I found it pretty well supplied with spiritual instruction: an Episcopal minister 4 preaches there once, and a Presbyterian minister twice every sabbath day. It is also supplied once a fortnight by Methodist Ministers from the United States. After spending a few days at York, I directed my course towards Fort George, which is by land about 500 miles from Montreal, being obliged to travel round the head of Lake Ontario. This is a very fine country, and susceptible of great improvement. The population is great, and in general in good temporal circumstances; though many of the inhabitants suffered severely from the enemy during the late hostilities between England and the United States. The town of Niagara (or Fort George, as it is sometimes called, because of the contiguity of the Fort,) was entirely burned by the enemy; and frequently I have to ride over and among the ruins of houses, orchards, and gardens, which now only remain as so many monuments of the desolating ravages of war; and those fields and lanes which were as many aceldamas, places of blood, during the unhappy war, are now as many golgothas, places of sculls. I commonly see the fences of the fields cut with balls, and the graves of the unhappy vic tims adjoining them. As it respects spiritual subjects, little attention has been paid to them since the commencement of the war: and the good seed which was sown in this part many years ago, by Methodist Ministers from the United States and others, seems to have nearly all perished in the general scene of confusion. How much war is to be deprecated! How destructive is it, not only to the property and bodies of men, but also to their morals and their souls! How zealous and persevering ought we missionaries especially to be, in diffesing the knowledge of that gospel, the uniform characteristics of which are leve, and peace, and good-will towards I have already formed a circuit, consisting of nine preaching places; several of which are respectable villages, or little towns, situated from five to eight miles distant from each other. Some of these places were deplorably deficient, and others entirely destitute of any preaching, or other means of grace whatever. Under such circumstances, what the prevailing moral conduct of the people is, may be easily inferred. The principal town in this quarter, is that of Niagara, or Fort George, which is reared upon the scite of that destroyed by the enemy. It is very advantageously situated for provincial commerce; it being a promontory always accessible to vessels of the largest size, that sail from Kingsten, or from any part of Lake Ontario: and is therefore considered as the emporum of the southern side of the vast range of Upper Canada. Its present population does not exceed 600; but it is continually increasing both in magnitude and importance. An aged Episcopal minister preaches generally on the sabbath morning in a very inferior building, which is substituted for a church: but being so infirm as scarcely to be heard, few attend the service except the military. A Presbyterian minister keeps a school here, and preaches in his school. house once a fortnight, and once a month goes a few miles into the country to preach. I preach once a fortnight here on the Sabbath-day, to about two hundred hearers, who regularly attend, and evince a feeling interest in what is advanced. Many of them are from Europe, and are well educated and intelligent people. I have already formed a little Society here, consisting of seven persons, who express an ardent desire to devote themselves to God, and to enjoy a mean of grace so highly beneficial to their souls. The little town of Queenston is the next place in point of importance, to which I direct my attention. It is situated on the frontier, seven miles from the town of Niagara, at the edge of the water communication from Lake Erie, and is about eight miles from the awfully grand, and justly celebrated Falls of the Niagara. Queenston is memorable by the severe battle fought in it, at the com mencement of the late war, and by the lamented fall of General Brock, who fell here while bravely disputing the landing of the daring invaders. This place contains many friendly inhabitants, most of whom are from Scotland, who seem to be in good temporal circumstances. But in a religious point of view they are very poor, having neither priest, altar, nor sacrifice. The above-mentioned Presbyterian minister, I am informed, has preached here occasionally; but evidently without much good effect: for on my first visiting this place on the Sabbath day, I fouud many devoted to sinful pursuits: some were playing with the bail, and others were shooting at wildfowl. I preach here every other Sabbath morning, to large and attentive congregations, who express great satis. faction at my arrival, and strongly solicit my continuance with them. There are seven other places in which I preach once a fortnight; which were almost or entirely destitute of any means of grace. There are only three Episcopal, about the same number of Presbyterian, and a few Methodist ministers from the United States, to supply a country pretty well inhabited, to the extent of several hundreds of miles. Surely this extensive and increasingly important country, affords a scene for labour for at least ten additional missionaries. But if only half of that number can be sent us, we shall feel very thankful; and there is not the least room to doubt of their being instrumental in saving many precious souls. The Methodist Brethren from the United States scarcely make an attempt in many of the most populous and important places on the frontier; as the resentment which was kindled in our people by the injuries received from the enemy, was not extinguished by the termination of war. Neither is it likely that ministers from the United States will be acceptable on the frontier, as long as there are so many mementos of the extreme sufferings that many of our people endured from repeated invasions. But in the interior of the country they are more acceptable, and in many places very useful. Through the abundant mercy and goodness of God, I enjoy good health of body, and peace of mind. I feel determined, the Lord being my helper, to pursue more vigorously personal holiness, and unremittingly persevere in the great work in which I am engaged. Any communication from England will be highly welcome, and prove as a cordia! to the spirit. I hope my dear Fathers will favour me with a letter. Any letter will probably come safe, if directed to me at Fort George, Upper Canada. Requesting a remembrance in your prayers, and praying that the Lord may continue to bless you, and grant that wisdom which is profitable to direct, I remain, your's, &c. HENRY POPE. We think it necessary to remind our friends, that at this season of the year, when the Missionaries appointed by the Conference are sent off to their respective stations, the expenses of their passage and outfit are to be provided, and that of course a peculiar pressure is made upon the fund; and that it is necessary that all monies paid into the hands of the Treasurers of Branch Societies, should be immediately forwarded to the District Treasurers, who will of course transmit them to the General Treasurers in London. The fund is now in considerable arrear, and the Treasurers are under acceptances to a large amount, which will speedily become due. We have no doubt but that the exertions of our friends, this year, will be adequate to the expenditure of the year, if the same zealous endeavours which are making in many places are adopted every where. For this the great and encouraging openings in different stations afford the best and most pressing mo tives. The Committee have considered them calls from God, and have therefore resolved to meet the most important of them. Suitable persons having at length offered for the kingdom of Hayti, specifically impressed in spirit to go to this station, the Committee could not delay the appointment to such a mission. The schools in Ceylon having become so numerous, and so intimately connected with the spiritual objects of the mission, it has been found necessary to introduce into them the me chanical improvements of the new systems of instruction, in order the more effectually to communicate knowledge to the natives of that island; and two additional Missionaries have therefore been appointed, who are to be first previously instructed in London, to qualify them to introduce these improvements into the Ceylon schools, and afterwards to pass into the regular work of the mission. Recent letters from the West Indies, announcing the death of one Missionary, and the retirement of another from want of health, have also reudered it necessary to look out for two additional Missionaries to keep up the complement in the West Indies. These are circumstances which we hope will be powerfully felt as reasons for steadfastly conducting the plans of Missionary Societies, and enlarging the number of subscriptions. There is a benevolence in the public mind, specially interested, too, by Missionary objects, which only needs an application and opportunity, in order to engage it in support of the work of Christ abroad. In this case, a few sacrifices in labour and time are all that is necessary to obtain for our Missionary Fund a supply, not only equal to these extended engagements, but which will encourage future efforts for the salvation of a world, yet but very partially visited, and which yet exhibits its unhappy millions perishing for lack of knowledge. We commend these considerations to the attention of all who love the Lord Jesus. A calculation has been made, that if every member of the Methodist Societies, in England and Scotland only, were to subscribe or collect for the Missionary cause but one penny per week, a sum of upwards 40,000l. a year would be raised for the support of our Missionaries. And surely this is not an extraordinary exertion in any place, when the larger sums of so many of our generous subscribers are taken into the estimate. Surely such an effort can bear little proportion to our personal obligations to Christ, to our obligations to "make the savour of his name manifest in every place!" Much more than this is already done in many districts, and an equality of exertion through the whole Connexion, appears to be demanded by equal obligations, equal ability, and an equal and laudable desire to share the honours of the zeal and devotion of the churches to the cause of the common Saviour. The General Treasurers particularly desire that all monies in the hands of the Treasurers of Branch or Auxiliary Societies, may be transmitted as soon as possible. Contributions to the Missionary Fund. T. E. Dicey, Esq. Sunning Hill, donation, by J. H. Butterworth, Esq. £. s. d. 550 150 0 0 |