they would not trade with any vessel or boat || cial importance. There is a number of small that should bring ardent spirits to their shores. vessels, from twenty to thirty-five and forty Officers were appointed to examine every tons, built among the islands by the natives boat that came to their part of the island, and themselves, some of which they have sold, if that boat had spirits for sale it was ordered others are retained by them, and employed in away, as the people would not trade with it. fetching cargoes of pearl shell from a group Mr. Orsmond followed, and was equally suc- of islands about two or three hundred miles to cessful in his endeavors to stem the torrent of the eastward, which they bring to Tahiti and iniquity that threatened, at one time, to carry dispose of to the English and American away in its fury all the good that had been traders, who touch continually at the islands. effected by the labors of the missionaries. Paofai, the secretary of the Tahitian Auxiliary Missionary Society, and his brother Hitoti, lately built a small vessel, with which they entered into an agreement with the commander of an American vessel to supply him with a certain number of pearl shells: they filled the vessel, and in less than three months cleared about £300. There was one drawback to the interest of the circumstance, they were obliged to take fire bundred dollars' worth of American rum, or filthy stuff called by that name, in part payment for the shells. These two intelligent chiefs have since joined the Temperance So The chiefs and people of other districts, seeing the favorable results of abandoning the use of that destroyer of human happiness, began to follow the good example; and before I left the islands, the effect had been so great that instead of an importation of rum to the almost incredible amount of 12,000 dollars, which had been the case at Tahiti during the previous year, not one third of that quantity had been thus expended, during an equal period, since the formation of our temperance societies. Since my arrival in England I have receiv-ciety, and it is hoped, from their good sense, ed letters from my esteemed brethren, containing the most pleasing intelligence in reference to the beneficial effects that have resulted from the temperance societies. One of my brethren says, "The queen and most of the governors have joined the Temperance Society. The Iriti Ture, or lawmakers (these are persons delegated from each district annually, for the purpose of framing, arranging, and modifying the laws) are now assembled at Papara, (the queen's district or head-quarters). They have just enacted a law to prohibit the importation of spirits: those who have spirits on hand are allowed till the 14th of May to dispose of them; all remaining on that day is to be thrown away. I trust Tahiti has been at its worst. The queen has cast off her former followers and is now attended by chiefs of respectability and character." Another brother says, "Ardent spirits are now prohibited by law. Tahiti is a very different place from what it was when you left us." Prior to the introduction of ardent spirits, the people were making very rapid improvement in habits of industry, in the erection of neat and comfortable dwellings, in the preparation of oil and arrow-root, for the purpose of purchasing European clothing for their wives and children: these praise-worthy and useful employments were in a measure suspended as the pernicious habit of drinking increased. The energies of the people were directed to the means of obtaining spirits, and instead of devoting the proceeds of their diminished labor to procuring articles of clothing for themselves, their wives, or their families, they actually (hundreds of them) sold the clothes they had obtained, with those of their wives and children, to obtain that to which they had become so much attached. Notwithstanding these disadvantages, the people have been rapidly advancing in the arts of civilized life, and rising into commer from the interest they take in the welfare of their country, as well as from religious motives, that they will continue to countenance the utter abandonment of that deadly evil. The queen has two vessels, about thirty-five tons each, which she employs in the same way. Several of the chiefs have small sugar plantations. At Eimeo, Mr. Simpson's station, they make several tons of rope in the year, and dispose of it to whaling and other vessels touching there. While I feel convinced that every step that prudence and good sense can devise, and zeal for the cause of Christ can carry into execution, will be adopted by my excellent and highly-esteemed brethren, I also feel deeply that the influences of the Spirit of God, who alone can implant holy principles in the hearts of the people, are absolutely necessary to give stability and permanency to their civil improvements and religious institutions. May God in his mercy grant them a rich and copious effusion of his gracious influences! I think that in the present state of the islands, purer churches can be formed than it was possible to form when all the excitement of novelty existed. Persons, generally, are more likely to be influenced by simple and holy principle than formerly. Noticing the effect of Christian instruction on the inhabitants of Raiatea, he adds Justice compels me to say that the Raiateans and people of Huahine acted worthy of their Christian profession on that very trying occasion; they used every method of conciliation that could be devised, and when obliged to have recourse to arms, they acted only on the defensive. When attacked in the night they committed themselves to God in prayer, and had some good men praying the whole of the time they were engaged in battle. As soon as the opposing party yielded, orders were issued that no individual should be pur sued or injured, the wounded were all not only || spared, but taken by the victors to their own houses and treated with kindness and attention and a great part of the spoil returned to the conquered party. Thus the beneficial effects of Christianity upon this people were exhibited in a striking light in this distressing event; if we contrast the results which followed the engagement, with those that followed those bloody, sanguinary, and extermi nating wars in which they were so frequently engaged prior to the reception of the gospel. Happy should I be if I could conclude my account of the Raiateans here; but they also, with the people of Borabora, have fallen into the vortex of dissipation. While the good old chief lived, the use of ardent spirits was prohibited; for on embracing Christianity he made a vow that he would never again taste ardent spirits. I had opportunities of almost daily intercourse with him, with but few interruptions, for upwards of fifteen years, and I believe he kept that Vow most sacredly. Thus, while the churches and congregations of my brethren were suffering the dreadful evils arising from dissipation, we were enjoying comfort and prosperity by a prohibition of the use of ardent spirits; but our turn came at last; our good old chief died; his son and successor who had been residing at Huahine, was much addicted to this woeful practice; a person from Botany Bay, taking advantage of my absence on a missionary voyage, brought a cask of spirits to the island; this rekindled the hitherto-suppressed appetite, and encouraged by their chief, the people gave way to almost universal dissipation, and actually prepared stills, and were distilling spirits from the ti, a native root. On my return from a voyage to the west I found the people in this distressing state. I staid with them on that occasion about six weeks, and at their own request used my influence in effecting the destruction of the stills, and a law was enacted, inflicting a heavy penalty on any one who should be found engaged in the work of distillation. I visited them again a few months after, and found that they had not renewed the formation of stills, but were engaged in erecting a spacious and substantial place of worship. They were exceedingly urgent that we should forego our intention of going to England, the chief promising that if we would reside again at Raiatea, they would abandon the use of spirits altogether, and he would walk in the steps of his father. They were all urgent that I would form a temperance society, but not being about to remain to superintend its operations, I did not think it prudent to do so. And I have no doubt but had it been our lot to have remained, that in a few months things, to outward appearance, would have been much as they formerly were. At Huahine, my excellent brother Mr. Barff is laboring with exemplary diligence. The use of spirits at Huahine was confined principally to those who made no profession VOL. XXXI. of religion; he has some exemplary persons, among whom are the chiefs Mahine, Maihara, and others; these, with other leading individuals, remaining firm in their adherence to their profession of Christianity, have countenanced and supported the plans of my excellent brother. I have no doubt that he, by this time, has formed his temperance society, and that it has been attended with the same beneficial effects as at Tahiti. This beautiful little island is an important station. Twenty or thirty vessels visited Huahine last year; on one occasion there were eleven or twelve ships in the harbor at the same time, these all procured their refreshments, refitted, and were thus enabled to prosecute their voyages. DOMESTIC. THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE WESTERN FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Mortality of Missionaries.-Within the little circle of our own consecrated band, out of seven ordained ministers of the gospel, and eleven other assistants actually in the field, at our last annual meeting, three of the former and one of the latter, have closed in death their missionary career when just upon its threshold; and five others, from the change thus produced, from impaired health, or other causes, have been withdrawn from the field of action; thus making the additional laborers actually sent into the field during the past year, to exceed only by three or four the number then reported. NORTHERN INDIA.-One station and one missionary; one missionary and one female assistant having died during the year, and one female having returned. Two additional missionaries and their wives, and one female assistant are on their way to reinforce the mission. WEST AFRICA.-One station at Liberia and one missionary; two missionaries and the wife of one having died during the year, and one missionary having returned. NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS.-Weas, one missionary, and some assistants. Ioways and Omahaws.-Two male and two female assistant missionaries. CANDIDATES FOR MISSIONARY SERVICE. -Besides two or three assistants, the committee have under their care, including one student of theology, six ordained ministers of the gospel and licentiates, devoted to the missionary work, and a number of others are known, who will become connected with the Board, as soon as their preparations shall have approached sufficiently near their anticipated entrance upon the work to make it expedient to form the connection. RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.-The re ceipts of the year, including a balance from the preceding year of $4,965, were $22,641: and the disbursements were $12,009. 45 "That we beg leave humbly, and earnestly also, to recommend to his majesty's benevolent care the state of the Hottentots and free people of color of every denomination: and that we cannot forbear to indulge the gratifying hope, that, by the gradual diffusion of the blessings of education and of moral and religious knowledge among them, they will be rendered not only useful members of the colonial community, but valuable subjects of the British empire. "That it is, in our opinion, an imperative act of justice toward the Hottentots, to restore to them, in addition to the enjoyment of freedom and security of property, the means of subsistence on that land which has been emphatically designated “as originally and exclusively their own;" while it is, at the same time, a measure of the soundest policy toward the colored classes in general, to stimulate them to exertion, by giving them motives of industry, and to endeavor to elevate their character by encouraging and rewarding the industrious. "That we earnestly recommend, that whatever lands now remain available for this purpose throughout the colony, may, with as little delay as possible, be granted in absolute possession to the Hottentots, and other free people of color, according to such rules as to the colonial government may appear necessary; reserving a sufficient portion of land for the use of a clergyman or teacher, and the erection of a church and school, wherever a number of the families of the free colored people are settled." THE following forcible statement of the nature of the duty of preaching the gospel to all men, and of the ground on which the obligation is maintained, is taken from the report of the Auxiliary Foreign Missionary Society of Litchfield County, Con., presented in February last. It places the missionary spirit on its proper, and the only stable, foundation. This cause, in which we again solicit your renewed and increased co-operation, is no other than the cause of our Lord and Master. We advocate it as "ambassadors for Christ, as though God by us did beseech you." It is on the firm ground of moral obligation that we stand. The position we maintain is this,— To aid in propagating the gospel throughout the world, to the utmost of their ability, is the indispensable duty of all who hear this gospel. 1. This is a duty which is enjoined by express divine command. When the Redeemer of men ascended up on high, after having finished the work which the Father had given him to do, he left behind him this parting injunction; "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." This precept is universally binding. Would you limit its application to the disciples who first received it? With as much propriety might you thus limit the application of every other precept of the divine code, and maintain that the law which forbids murder, adultery, theft, etc., has no binding force, except on those to whom it was originally given. Why then should it not be distinctly understood and felt by every hearer of the gospel, that God will no more hold him guiltless who disobeys this precept, than he will any other transgressor of his law? 2. This is a duty which we owe to the Redeemer of our souls. For all the efforts and sacrifices which it is possible for us to expend in extending his kingdom, he has richly paid us in advance. A life of toil and anguish. and a death of ignominy and torture, was the price with which he purchased our services. Cold and ungrateful must be the heart, perverse and unjust the character, that is unwilling to acknowledge and meet the debt! Can those whom the Lord has "bought with a price," refuse to lend him their necessary aid in securing an object so dear to his heart as the salvation of the uttermost parts of the earth? 3. This is a duty which is urged by the claims of humanity. The Father of the human family has made adequate provision for all his household. From the store-bouse of nature, and from the fulness of his grace, we may draw ample supplies for the wants both of the body and the spirit. But these stores of God's munificence can be no benefit to the children of his household, any further than they are distributed. If those stewards to whom his treasures are committed lock them up from the greater part of mankind, instead of "giving to each one his portion of meat in due season," in vain to the neglected part of this family will it be that God is good and gracious. Now, it is a fact with which all are familiar, that the provisions of divine grace, infinitely the richest and most important class of God's supplies, have yet been distributed only to a minor part of the human family;-that millions of this family are now starving and dying in their sins for want of this "bread of life." It is also a fact, that those who hold "the oracles of God," are "stewards of the mysteries of God," on whose humanity and faithfulness all the other members of the family are dependent for the "living bread" which is necessary to save them from the agonies of the second death. Proof of this fact, if required, might be adduced in abundance from the testimony of history, and from the testimony of God. "How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" The claims of humanity, then, in this case, are urgent beyond what we can describe or conceive. There is balm in Gilead; there is a physician there. The blood of Christ is a healing stream for the mortal wounds of sin, just as far as those who are intrusted with the diffusion of it will suffer it to flow. 4. This is a duty which is essential to the Christian character. It is the very conduct which marks and constitutes the christian character. "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." But it is impossible to adopt the example of Christ, and possess "the same mind," and become a "partaker of his nature," a follower of his steps, and a co-worker with him, without being like him, embarked, heart, and soul, and mind, and strength, in labors and sacrifices for the salvation of a lost world. that wait on the Lord shall increase their strength." The debility of many a languishing church too plainly indicates that it needs the pure air and exercise of God's wide field of benevolence to invigorate it. What is essential to the character and improvement of an individual Christian, must be equally so to collective bodies of Christians. Certain it is, that the revealed design of Christ, "who gave himself for his church," was, that it might become "zealous of good works." It is on this "zealous" spirit of benevolence that a church must rely also for the improvement of its physical resources, as well as its spiritual strength. A mistaken policy it is, which courts the alliance of the selfish passions to secure its outward prosperity. With such combustible materials for its basis, a disastrous explosion, sooner or later, must be expected. Like a city built upon a volcano, you may read its approaching catastrophe in the rumbling of the elements beneath it. Preach to congregations the self-denying duties which God inculcates, rather than the indulgence which the selfish heart desires, if you would secure their support to your own religious institutions. 6. The service required is a duty, because the spirit which it cultivates, is a spirit which spreads and multiplies the institutions of the gospel in our own land. We have proof of this in the religious history of our country for twenty-five years past. It was the foreign The duty is necessary also for the improve-mission enterprise, conceived in a few such ment of the christian character. The spiritual man, in order to attain to "the fulness of the stature of a perfect man in Christ Jesus," must have its appropriate employment, in which to exercise and invigorate its faculties;|| and this employment the great work of reclaiming a world lying in wickedness furnishes. Here is a field in which the two great principles of the christian character-piety to God and benevolence to man-find ample scope for exercise and cultivation. A dwarfish, narrow-minded, and selfish christian must he be whose moral powers have never been expanded and invigorated in this wide field of christian benevolence. Equally necessary is this employment to true christian felicity. The spirit of love which it both marks and cultivates, is the flame which burns in "the wrapt seraph," which illuminates the palaces of heaven, and which lights up "the joy unspeakable" of every holy heart. Would you participate in these fruits of grace? Then you must participate also in the labors which produce them. "He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." hearts as Mills, and Hall, and Newell, and presented to the American churches, that first waked up that spirit of christian benevolence which has since been filling the land with Bibles, and tracts, and gospel ministers. The claims of patriotism then call upon us to cherish this spirit of foreign missions,-to fill up this fountain until its swelling streams shall overflow the nation. This spirit is emphatically the spirit of Christ; and the more of it we can infuse into our churches, the more will its streams of christian beneficence diffuse their blessings over the land. Dry up this fountain, and its streams would cease to flow. To attempt to repress this spirit of foreign benevolence, for the purpose of turning its accumulated streams into a domestic channel, would be disastrous in its effects upon our own destitute population. 7. The duty is one which is necessary to the accomplishment of the Redeemer's purpose. To say that this almighty Agent cannot secure the object for which he gave himself a sacrifice, without the agency of man, is only asserting his immutability. This agency is a constituent part of his established plan for the redemption of the world. Strike out this agency, and you destroy his plan. Just so far as man neglects to perform the part assigned him in this work of redemption, it is all in vain that Christ's blood is shed, and his Spirit sent down, and the sword of the Spirit sharpened for execution. It is a plain gospel fact, and a fact which ought to ring through all 5. This is a duty which is essential to the prosperity of our churches. A church must have very erroneous views, both of duty and interest, to consider itself excused from this labor of love, because it is already weak. Weak it must continue to be, both in moral and physical resources, so long as it neglects to employ the means which God has appoint-churches, that these divine agencies, all ed for imparting health and vigor. "They prompt to execute the Father's will, are wait our ing only the dilatory movements of those who hold the sword of the Spirit, to bring the uttermost parts of the earth into the possession of the Redeemer that bought them. When they shall obey the mandate of their King, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature,"-then, and not till then, will Christ "see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied " The point of duty thus established, the folfowing practical conclusions are subjoined. 1. It is a duty which the faithful minister of the gospel cannot fail to inculcate on his hearers. To preach a gospel of which this essential constituent of the gospel of Christ, and of the christian character, should form no part, would be to preach "another gospel." If faithful as a minister of God's word, he will not neglect to repeat its mandates. If faithful to his Master, he will not fail to urge his claims, nor neglect to advocate his cause, as the cause of foreign missions emphatically is. If faithful as a "steward of the mysteries of God," he will do what is in his power to effect the distribution of this "bread of life" to all the members of the family for whom it was provided. If faithful to his people, he will apprise them of this gospel requirement, and this essential trait of the christian character, and labor to imbue them with that benevolent spirit of Christ which constitutes the chief blessedness of all holy beings. If faithful to the church, the bride of the Lamb, he will seek to adorn her with that pure spirit of active love which is the chief glory of the Bridegroom. Truly, then, may he adopt the emphatic language of Paul, "Necessity is laid upon me, yea, woe is me, if I preach not this gospel." 2. It is a duty of the first importance. Is it a fact, that the salvation of millions of immortal beings is absolutely suspended on its performance?-that those to whom the oracles of God are committed, are indeed stewards of this grace?-and that the universal distribution of this bread of life, waits only their tardy execution of this trust? Then what duty can take precedence of this? What more important trust, brethren, has God committed to your hands, than the work of saving a world of immortal beings from the agonies of the second death, and of executing the sublimest purposes of redeeming love? What gives additional importance to the duty is, that it is essential to the dearest interests of the benefactor, as well as the beneficiary. Its relative importance among other duties, Christ himself has established. "Seek first," his decision is, -not "what shall we eat? or what shall we drink?" "but seek first the kingdom of God." What provision can you make for your own household even so durably rich and beneficial, as to train them up in the spirit and habit of seeking first the kingdom and the glory of God? 3. To the importance of this duty our present labors and sacrifices in the cause are immensely disproportionate. This is the ultimate conclusion to which we are brought. We leave it with conscience and facts to decide, whether the practical regard which the subject has hitherto commanded from us, bears any just proportion to the magnitude of the interests concerned? It is common to estimate the value of things in the standard coin of our country. What is the relative value at which we thus appraise the salvation of the world? How does the price we pay for it compare with what is paid for personal and even selfish gratification? What rank does this object hold in our affections, judging by that true criterion,-the sacrifices we are willing to make for it? Some few, we hope there are, who can meet these inquiries with an approving conscience. Would to God that their number were greatly increased! If we cannot do it, how shall we answer for our delinquency at the bar of God? Oh how will the fact appear in judgment, if we shall be found to have willingly paid a higher price, both of money and sacrifices, for objects of mere worldly gratification, than we could be persuaded to bestow for the salvation of a dying world; if it shall there appear that a little "shining dust" was of more value in our estimation, than the redemption of the undying soul? Compare your estimate, brethren, of the value of this object with the price which the Redeemer paid for it. What toils, privations, and sufferings did he esteem it worth? Are you his disciple? How do you follow your Master? Afar off," indeed! And are there two different paths of duty for the disciple and for the Master, so wide apart, that while a life of toil and sacrifice is required of the one, a life of ease and self-indulgence may properly be allowed to the other? Did Paul so learn Christ? Compare what we are doing in this cause with the efficiency of the apostolic church in the same service. On what principle do we excuse ourselves from the "labors more abundant" to which their powers were devoted? With what plea shall we be able to justify ourselves in their presence, when we shall be judged together, for declining those sacrifices which they were required to endure? Compare our religious benefactions with those which God's ancient people, the Jews, were accustomed to make. Let Christians now appropriate to the service of God only one tenth part of the bounties which his munificence is pouring into their bosoms-a standard of benevolence far below that of the apostolic church-and how greatly would it augment the treasury of the Lord, and multiply the labors so much needed in his wide spreading harvest! And do the wants of God's kingdom require less of its subjects in this gospel age, when the conquest of the world is before it, than it formerly did to maintain the institutions of religion within the narrow bounds of Palestine? Surely nothing less than Jewish beneficence can satisfy an enlightened christian conscience! Compare our religious appropriations with those which are made for secular objects of general interest. The overflowing resources which such an object can at any time command, is proof sufficient, that the ability is not |