HAMPSHIRE

CONDUCTED

BY AN ASSOCIATION OF GENTLEMEN.

FOR THE YEAR

1824.

VOLUME VI.

NEW-HAVEN:

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY

S. CONVERSE.

7830 147-4

CAMBRIDGE, MASS.

1824

THE

CHRISTIAN SPECTATOR.

No. 1.]

JANUARY 1, 1824.

[VOL. VI.

Keligious Communications.

For the Christian Spectator.

History of the Connecticut Missionary Society.

of the cross.

Origin, design, and plan, of this Society.-THE energetic and enterprising spirit which sustained the first colonists of this country through all their severe trials, has to this day continued to characterize their descendants. The adventurous sons of New-England have imprinted their foot-steps on almost every corner of the earth, as they went with the design of bearing the flag of commerce, or the holier purpose of unfurling the banner Soon after the termination of the Revolutionary War, this spirit led many of the inhabitants of Connecticut to emigrate to the North and West, more particularly into the States of Vermont and New-York. These States were then almost an entire wilderness, and uninhabited by civilized beings. Tracts of country which then contained only a few pious people, are now inhabited by a population of more than two millions. Most of the first emigrants were in low circumstances; but with the hope of improving their condition, they left the homes and institutions of their fathers, and mingled with the yearly increasing tide of emigration which was rolling and emptying its burden into the wilderness. After arriving at their place of destination, it was often a long time before they could erect comfortable dwellings; and they saw no period in prospect, when they could hope for schools, for Sabbaths, and Pastors. Many of

these people were pious; most, if not
all, had been religiously educated.
They were now far from their friends
and from christian society, and were
exposed to all the trials and tempta-
tions incident to their situation. They
hailed not the dawning of the Sabbath
as they were wont to do when they
enjoyed it with those who kept "ho-
ly time." The stillness of the forest
was never broken by the "church-
going bell." The pious mother, as
she taught her little prattlers the
names of God and the Sabbath, had
no sanctuary to which she could lead
them-no baptismal font, in which
she could dedicate them to her Sav-
She could only baptize them
iour.
with her tears, and kneeling with
them, suffer the wild winds to bear
her sighs to heaven, that God would
send them the bread of life.

In this situation, individuals and neighborhoods made applications to their former Pastors, stating their growing necessities, and beseeching

them in the most earnest manner, to visit them in their solitary condition, and preach to them the glad tidings of salvation.

These entreaties were

frequently repeated, were loud and
Scarcely a breeze came
urgent.
from the wilderness without being
loaded with them. What could be
done? Could these ministers close
their ears and harden their hearts
against such appeals? The
from those who were their brothers;
-for the pious Pilgrims who found-
ed the American church on the rock
at Plymouth were the fathers of all.
They were not strangers-they had

came