ness. their minds, and they were astonished at their former ignorance, and darkHe informed us that a change had taken place in his mind, that had enabled him to give himself up to the Lord, that since then he had felt as if he were in a new world. He expressed an unusual joy and satisfaction in receiving religious instruction, and said his whole mind was constantly employed in meditating on God, and the things of another world; he enjoyed much comfort in prayer, his mind was continually engaged in it; while at work and when walking about, he often found himself uttering aloud accents of praise to the Redeemer. It appears he has been very active in communicating the light he has received, to the other Indians. He said his wife, and her mother, were thinking seriously on the subject of religion, and asked if they might be permitted to come to our morning service; their mother, he said, wanted to come and see how white people worshipped God. On being informed we should be pleased to see them come, they were early at the house of God, and were as attentive as though they could understand every word." ANNIVERSARIES IN BOSTON. During the last week in May, numerous benevolent institutions cele brated their anniversaries in Boston, which called an assemblage of ministers and brethren from the various sections of the State. The interviews were highly interesting to the friends of the Redeemer, and had a happy influence in elevating religious joys, and increasing Christian activity. It is believed that many returned to their different fields of labor with quickened zeal and enlarged philanthropy. MASSACHUSETTS BIBLE SOCIETY. The annual meeting of this Society was held at the Old South Meeting House, on Monday evening, May 25. The Report of the Executive Committee was read by Dr Wisner, and stated that the Society purchased the last year 1208 Bibles and 2030 Testaments. There have been distributed in the same time 96 large Bibles, 1102 small, 122 large Testaments, and 2433 small ones. Honorable mention was made of the efficient labors of the La dies' Boston Distributing Bible Association, in judiciously circulating the sacred Word through the different wards of the city. Dr Codman, Mr Palfrey, Mr Potter, and Mr Malcom, severally addressed the meeting, and urged weighty and animating considerations to excite to continued and increased efforts for diffusing the Word of life. THE EVANGELICAL TRACT Met at the house of the Secretary, on Tuesday afternoon. At this meeting it was voted that a portion of the Society's Tracts be gratuitously distributed, and that 2000 pages be granted to each Baptist minister who shall call in season to receive them. In the evening an appropriate sermon was preached before the Society in the Third Baptist Meeting-House, by Rev. which a collection was taken to aid in A. Fisher, jr. from Eccl. ix. 10. After printing Tracts in Burmah. FOREIGN MISSIONS. clock, Rev. Ebenezer Neison, of West On Wesnesday forenoon, at 10 o' Cambridge, delivered a Sermon at the Federal Street Baptist Meeting-house, on the interesting subject of Foreign Missions, from Matt. xxviii. 18-20. Our limits will not admit of an analysis of this interesting discourse; but it was heard with a fixed attention, and the disciples of Christ in a manner exhibited the claims of this cause on calculated to excite awakened zeal and holy ardor in this noble enterprise. MASSACHUSETTS BAPTIST CHARITABLE SOCIETY. This Society held its annual meeting at 12 o'clock on Wednesday, at the Federal Street Meeting-house. Its object is to render pecuniary aid to the widows and children of deceased Baptist ministers in the State of Massachusetts. As many of the ministers of Christ obtain only sufficient means for their annual support, it is apparent that their families must generally be left in destitute circumtancess at their decease. It is therefore earnestly hoped that the funds of this Society may be greatly increased. The Boston and Salem Associations, and probably some others, have transferred their funds to this Society; and it is desirable that each Association in the State should make this Society the depository of their funds and annual contributions, and make a general effort to extend its means, and enlarge the sphere of its usefulness. GENERAL CONFERENCE. On Wednesday afternoon, at 3 o'clock, a General Conference of Baptist ministers and brethren was held at the Federal-Street Baptist Meeting-House. Rev. Joseph Grafton, Moderator. The important subjects of State Conventions, Sabbath Schools and Bible Classes, Literary Institutions, Prayer for the increase of ministers, and Pastoral Duties, were urged with Christian zeal and fervid eloquence on the numerous congregation which mingled in the services. The Rev. Messrs. Jonathan Going, C. O. Kimball, C. P. Grosvenor, D. Sharp, and H. Loomis, severally took a part in the addresses on this occasion. Much important information was communicated; the season was productive of animated pleasure; and a deep conviction appeared to be impressed on the audience, of the importance of unreserved devotedness to the interests of Immanuel's kingdom. BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSEETS. This Society met on Wednesday evening, at the Federal Street Baptist Meeting House. Dr. Sharp, the Secretary, read the following Report: In performing the service intrusted to us at the last anniversary of this Society, we appointed the Rev. John Haynes as our Missionary for three months in the State of Maine. The manner in which he has fulfilled his appointment has been highly satisfactory to the Board. A small church at West Hebron have expressed to us their grateful acknowledgments for the seasonable visits they received from him. The Board have heard with much pleasure that a member of that church has erected a house of worship at his own expense, which cost about twelve hundred dollars. It is believed, that with a little aid, this congregation will become permanently established, and may be the means of doing much good. Mr Haynes spent three weeks at Hamblen's Grant, where a revival of JULY, 1829. religion commenced a year ago. At that time, a church was organized consisting of 13 members. It is now increased to 36. "Often," he says, "in my visits to this place, has my spirit been refreshed. My hands have been strengthened in my work when I have seen the numbers who would flock together from the neighboring hills, under very unfavorable circumstances, and the eagerness with which they would listen to the word of life. The secluded and indigent situation of this people renders it impracticable for them to do much for the support of the ministry. I view them in the fullest sense, objects of charity, and on them your beneficence has not been bestowed in vain. They wish me to be their organ to express their gratitude to the Society, and to solicit a continuance of your liberality." This Missionary brother also laborHere ed several weeks at Woodstock. he had the satisfaction of witnessing a work of grace; and was called upon almost at every visit, to administer the The church ordinance of baptism. has increased within the past year, from fifteen to thirty-seven. At Hebron and Woodstock, Mr H. succeeded in establishing Bible Societies, so that, to use his own language, "the prospect now is, that their destitute will soon be supplied with that precious book." At Paris he spent one Sabbath and baptized 8 persons. The work of God still prevails in that place; and it is expected that a church will soon be constituted. Vermont. Mr Peter Chase has been employed by the Board as their Missionary for 6 months. His sphere of action has been chiefly limited to two towns. In a letter to the Secretary, dated last September, he remarks: "I have succeeded, with the blessing of God, in gathering two little companies of disciples in Williston and Huntington. I have generally visited Huntington once in two weeks, and have almost every time had one to baptize. The number has increased since last winter, from 8 to 20, all heads of families. There is no meeting-house in the town; but the prospect is good, that with continued exertion we shall have one soon." Williston it was proposed to build a house 30 feet by 40, the upper part of which was to be used as an Academy, 34 At Agreeably to a request of the Board, our esteemed brother, Wm. Bentley, visited Billerica, and remained there seven weeks. His conversation and preaching were attended with a divine blessing. Many, it is believed, were turned from the error of their ways, and received the gospel. He had the happiness of baptizing nine persons, on a profession of their faith, and of assisting in the constitution of a church consisting of twenty-seven members. Rev. John Peak has spent 3 months in the service of the board. In Har wich and vicinity he labored 5 weeks, preaching and visiting from house to house. He found professors of religion in a declining state. They were scattered as sheep without a shepherd. His age and experience qualified him to set in order the things that were wanting. And in a good degree he succeeded. He attended three church meetings, and administered the Lord's Supper to a people who had not enjoyed this privilege for 18 months. Since this visit, the Society have taken down their old meeting-house, removed it to the centre of the town, and erected it anew. He concludes his journal by stating, that, during his mission, he has preached 59 times, attended church meetings, administered the Lord's Supper 6 times, and made pastoral visits to more than 100 families. He experienced much consolation in dispensing the gospel to the destitute, in conversing with established Christians and anxious inquirers, and in praying with the afflicted and dying. States bordering on the Mississippi. In these States there is an immensely important field for Missionary labor. The tide of emigration has long been flowing to the West, and there are thousands of new settlers in the fertile and extensive Valley of the Mississippi, who have no suitable means of religious instruction. Your Board have often been deeply affected with the statements they have received from that portion of our country. But they have been able to do little more than to mourn, and to pray the Lord of the harvest that he would send forth laborers; for truly the harvest is great, but the laborers are few. For several years, however, Mr John M. Peck has been aided by this Society. His services in Missouri, Illinois and Indiana, in the Bible, Tract, Sabbath School and Missionary cause, have been great and successful. It has long been with him the sowing time, but he now begins to reap the harvest. In a letter received from him since the above was written, giving an account of three months' labor under the patronage of the Board, he expresses great confidence that his efforts to promote the interests of literature and religion will be followed with the blessing of God. He writes, that "within two years, more has been gained to the cause of Christ in improving the condition of society and bringing forward plans of usefulness, than in the former period of six or eight years. Years have been employed in toils, privations and difficulties, to break up the fallow ground, and prepare it for the reception of the crop, which now begins to produce the blade, and the ear, and now we look forward with full corn in the ear." joyful prospect to a future harvest of the Society will be gratified to learn It is presumed that the Literary and Theological Seminary at Rock Spring, established by the laudable efforts of Mr Peck, is in successful progress. On the last Sabgiven hopeful evidence of their conbath in April, six of the pupils, having version, were baptized, and joined the church lately constituted there. A religious weekly newspaper has also been established at Rock Spring, the Mississippi." Judging from the called, "The Pioneer of the Valley of character of the two numbers we have received, we confidently expect that its influence will be salutary. The Board have made appropriations to two Auxiliary Mission Societies, one in Illinois and the other in Missouri, with a view of encouraging their pious and charitable efforts. From the Missionaries employed by these two Societies, under the direction of your Board, the most gratifying intelligence has been received. But as this has already been published in the American Baptist Magazine and the Christian Watchman, it is deemed unnecessary to repeat it. It may be sufficient to say, that in several districts where these pious men have labored, interesting revivals of religion have taken place. Permit us to express the earnest hope that the wants of this vast region will call forth more than they have heretofore, the sympathies, the prayers, and the liberality of those who are statedly favored with the word and ordinances. The friends of religion and morality in that far distant section of our country, look to the East, and with supplicating voice entreat help. It is our heart's desire and prayer to God, that they may not look and ask in vain. The following persons have also been appointed Missionaries for the periods respectively affixed to their names:-Benjamin Oviatt, 3 months Simeon Crowell, 3 months-Ferdinand Ellis, 2 months-Eliab Going, 3 months. Aid to Churches. The Trustees have made donations the past year amounting to more than one thousand dollars, in aid of poor and destitute churches. We have good reason to believe that no part of our funds has been more usefully appropriated. The Pastor of one Society thus assisted, remarks, "I write by request of the Baptist Church in this place to express their sincere thanks to the Baptist Missionary Society of Massachusetts, for their sympathies and liberal assistance in the time of need. They now appear to feel more than usually interested in the Missionary cause. And poor as they are, they propose to form themselves into a Missionary Society auxiliary to yours. Sinners are converted, and backsliders reclaimed. Seventeen have been lately added to our number. I expect to baptize several next Lord's-day." We might give similar extracts from other churches that have been aided, of an equally encouraging character. Last summer, the Board received a communication from the Ohio Baptist State Convention, giving an account of their organization, and requesting, should we deem it expedient, that we would aid them in their attempts to supply the destitute, with the preaching of the gospel. As we had frequently employed missionaries in that State, we considered it a more desirable arrangement to enable the Convention to perform this service, and, therefore, appropriated $100 for that purpose. This token of our interest in the objects of that Convention and of our desire for their prosperity, was very kindly received. In acknowledging the donation, the Secretary says, "Please tender our thanks to your Board, our hearty thanks; it will encourage us much in the work in which we are engaged." American Baptist Magazine. The Treasurer has received since the last anniversary, 378 dollars, as profits from this publication, while it was under your immediate patronage and control. It is now the property of the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions. Yet we may be permitted to express our earnest desire for its more extended circulation. As a repository of sound theological sentiments, and a herald of religious and missionary intelligence, in which our denomination are particularly interested, we do most especially recommend it to their perusal. Christian Watchman. The Proprietor of the Christian hundred dollars to this Society. The Watchman has again presented one their funds. This, however, is the least Board are grateful for this accession to part of the aid which the "Watchman" renders to the Missionary cause. The principles which from week to week it inculcates, and the heart-stiring appeals which it so frequently makes in favor both of Foreign and Domestic Missions, give it a value as an auxiliary to these objects, that is above any pecuniary estimate. The Trustees would also mention with gratitude to Him who disposes his people to support his own blessed cause, that Elizabeth Allen, late of Salem, Mass. kindly remembered this Society in her last Will and Testament, by bequeathing to it the sum of three hundred dollars. We trust that others, who can do it consistently, will imitate her praiseworthy example. Much is yet to be done. And the Board in closing their Report, would respectfully suggest whether more systematic, efficient and general measures ought not to be adopted, for the accomplishing of those great and desirable objects for which this Society was originally established. They feel persuaded that were our churches in New England alone, fully awake to their duty and obligations, they might enable this Society to enlarge its operations and usefulness to an almost inconceivable extent. DANIEL SHARP, Sec'ry. The Rev. Mr Babcock moved its acceptance, seconded by Heman Lincoln, Esq. who severally adverted to |