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Spain. 8vo. pp. 303. Boston: Thomas B. Wait & Son. 1827.

A Defence of" our Fathers," of the Original Organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church, against the Rev. Alexander M'Caine, and others; with historical and critical notices of early American Methodism. By John Emory.

Travels in North America, in the years 1780-81-82. By the Marquis De Chastellux. Translated from the French, by an English Gentleman, with Notes by the Translator. 8vo. pp. 416. New-York: White, Gallaher & White.

1827.

MONTHLY RECORD.

Revivals among the Heathen.-Recent intelligence from our Missions among the Indians at the south is highly interesting and encouraging. In Mayhew there has been very considerable excitement for several months. Eight have been united with the church; one of them a full blood Choctaw, and one a half breed. Several others, among whom are two Indian boys, give good evidence of a change of heart. At Tikhun-na village, an aged Choctaw has hopefully passed from death unto life. Many in that village are still inquiring the way of life.

In the Chickasaw nation, serious attention to religion has prevailed for six or eight months. Before the present revival, the church at Monroe contained more than twenty native members. About that number are expected soon to be added; making in all forty native members of that church. The work still goes on in that nation. Schools and all worldly concerns are thrown entirely into the back ground by the missionaries there; and the conversion of the souls of the heathen is the grand object.

The labors of our Methodist brethren among the native tribes of our country are unwearied; and their success may well stimulate us to greater exertion. Our Missions, say the Bishops of the Methodist Church in a letter to the British Conference, have been

attended with extraordinary success, both among the white population of our extensive frontiers and recently acquired territories, and the Indians in different parts of the States, and in the province of Upper Canada.

Seven new missionary establishments have been made among various tribes since the last session of the General Conference, and their progress has been attended with the most encouraging circumstances.

Other important missions among these people are in contemplation. A great and effectual door is opened to carry the gospel of salvation to them. We have pressing invitations, yea, even entreaties, from distinguished chiefs, to establish missions in their nations, with assurances that their utmost influence shall be employed to protect, encourage, and aid the great work.

God is evidently raising up native Indians to be "workers together with us" in spreading the influence of the gospel among these outcast people. A distinguished warrior of the Cherokee nation, who was among the "first fruits" of our missionary labors in that tribe, after having given the most satisfactory evidence, not only of a genuine conversion, but also of a gracious influence moving him to proclaim to his countrymen "the unsearchable riches of Christ," has been employed in the missionary establishment, and is travel

ling through his nation, under the direction of the superintendent, preaching Jesus' in the native language.— Other natives are usefully engaged, in a less extensive way, in promoting this blessed work.

We have now, in the United States and Canada, about one thousand of these people in Society, most of whom have been brought from the grossest ignorance, and deepest degradation and wickedness. In these we have a demonstration of the mighty power of the gospel. They are sober, chaste, and industrious-cultivating the habits of civilized life, and the virtues and duties of Christianity.

The

American Home Missionary Society. The field which is open to the operations of this Society is vast, and is every day extending; and the multiplied calls for assistance are constantly becoming more loud and pressing. managers of this noble institution have yielded to the demands upon its resources, hoping and believing that its treasures would be replenished by its friends, until their engagements to laborers employed are in advance of the means of discharging them in the full amount of $14,000. We are fully convinced that this Society holds a place of very high importance among the benevolent objects of our time, and has a claim to a large share of patronage. We are glad to learn that the Congregations in New-York are beginning to awake to the subject. That under the care of the Rev. Dr. Mathews, as we learn from the New York Observer, has lately formed an Association, auxiliary to this Society; and at the end of one week had raised a subscription of about one thousand dollars.

Central School at Batticotta. From the Third Annual Report of this interesting institution, contained in the Missionary Herald for November, we make the following brief extracts.

The present number of students is fifty-two, and of the number, twentytwo are members of the church. These generally give pleasing evidence that they sincerely believe the Gospel, and sacredly regard its injunctions. One member, however, was suspended from the church for the term of six months, which was subsequently extended to mine he will probably soon be restorVOL. I.-No. XII.

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ed to his former privileges. We have witnessed the best effects resulting from church discipline. This appears to be even more necessary, if possible, in a heathen, than in a Christian country.

In the course of the year, the school has been favored with three seasons of special religious excitement. On these occasions, many have been awakened to a very serious attention to the concerns of their souls, and begun in good earnest to seek the Lord. The good impressions of some have been abiding; but those of others have been like the morning cloud, and early dew. During these seasons of special excitement, which usually continue several weeks, it often happens that those who had been previously awakened, but had become comparatively thoughtless, are again aroused, obtain clearer and more impressive views of divine truth, and give satisfactory evidence of genuine conversion. This was the case with some of those, who, in the course of the year, have been received into the church. Thus the latter as well as the former rain of the Spirit appears to be necessary before the good seed of the word can yield its fruit.

These occasional revivals are most salutary to the members of the church. All who are heartily engaged in the welfare of the mission, becoming actuated by a stronger faith in the promises of God, and by more raised expectation of witnessing still brighter displays of divine grace, redouble their diligence in the good work. This increased diligence and zeal on the part of the students not unfrequently attracts the attention of the surrounding heathen. Some of them are constrained to acknowledge, that these things are true, and important; but others " gaze, and admire, and hate the change."

The members of the school are becoming a very useful medium of communication between the missionaries and the most learned and influential of the heathen. Hitherto learned natives have stood very much aloof, and regarded the school with contempt. Believing the only object of it to be the propagation of Christianity among the people, they would on no consideration assist the missionaries in procuring copies of their most valuable books on science and religion. But the members of the school, by solving mathematical ques

tions, and by inquiries of these men on various subjects, have greatly awakened their attention. In self-defence, they are obliged to be communicative with the students, and their views respecting the school are in some respects altered.

The subjects proposed and the statements made on the subject of astronomy, create much uneasiness in the minds of some. It is a very common notion among the Tamulians, that the system of astronomy and religion are inseparably connected.

They suppose that their system of astronomy is sufficiently proved to be true, by their accurate calculation of eclipses; and consequently that their system of religion must be true also. A pandarum in this neighborhood, who appears to be set for the defence of heathenism in this village, recently observed to the principal of the school"If you will only prove the earth is round, and in motion, we will all come over to your religion." Though this remark was made partly in jest, it is very evident that the confutation of the prevailing notions of astronomy would be highly conducive to the propagation of Christianity. Such a refutation is much more difficult than many might suppose it to be; for, with the exception of those who are under the influence of missionaries, all who are capable of understanding the proofs by which the prevailing system might be refuted, are interested to perpetuate

error.

For reasons, which will appear obvious in view of the preceding remarks, the members of the first class entered upon the study of astronomy at a much earlier period in their course of study, than they would have done under other circumstances. As they are pursuing the study of this branch in the presence of those who strenuously deny the truth of what they learn, they are strongly urged to apply themselves diligently to the subject, and to exercise their own judgment in the investigation of it. They must be able to defend the new system they are learning, or be put to shame in the presence of the people. This state of things, which is highly conducive to the improvement of the students, renders it necessary that they be thoroughly instructed. They are now noting down the points of difference between the two systems,

that they may as soon as possible put them to the test of observation and experiment.

A new contest is evidently begun, by which it appears that a general diffusion of the light of science will in various ways be highly conducive to the best interests of the people; and it is equally evident that the youths instructed in the school will exert a far more extensive influence on this subject, than could be exerted by the same number of missionaries from foreign lands.

The hopeful piety of nearly one half of the members of the school, must be considered as an encouragement of the highest order. It justly demands a tribute of gratitude and praise from all who are interested in the prosperity of the mission. It is obviously most important, in itself considered, and in its bearings upon the general objects of the mission. It well corresponds with the professed object of the institution, which is to teach the knowledge of God;" and also with the means proposed for the accomplishment of this object, which is, to honor the word of God as the grand repository of wisdom, by making it in an important sense the text book in the institution.

In carrying forward the object of the school, it is obvious many difficulties must be encountered, and disappointments experienced; much expense must be incurred, and many losses sustained; strenuous efforts must be made, and the patience and perseverance of all concerned be put to the test: some on whom much labor and expense have been bestowed, will probably be dismissed in disgrace, and become more wretched than though they had never been received into the school.

But the object of the school is important, and must be accomplished. It is to educate, in the midst of this heathen population, a body of men in all respects qualified to carry forward that system of means, which God has appointed to be used for the conversion of the people. This object, if accomplished, will to a great extent supersede the necessity of sending missionaries from foreign countries, and will, even in accordance with the concessions of the enemies of missions, lay a broad foundation for propagating correct principles of science and religion.

The difficulties therefore to be en

countered, and the disappointments to be experienced, though numerous, are not worthy to be named in view of the contemplated object.

DONATIONS.

To the American Bible Society, dur

ing the months of September and October, $10,802 75.

To the American Home Missionary Society, from the 23d of October, to the 20th of November, $2,108 40.

ORDINATIONS AND INSTALLATIONS.

Oct. 4.-Rev. RICHARD PECK, was admitted to the holy order of Priests in Calvary Church, Berkshire, by Bishop Griswold.

Oct. 8.--The new meeting-house built by the first Presbyterian Church in Utica, was solemnly dedicated to God.

Oct. 10.-Rev. LEWIS M'DONALD, was ordained Priest in Trinity Church, Shelburne, Mass., and instituted Rector of the Parish.

Oct. 10.-Rev. OSIAS S. EELS, was installed Pastor of the Churches in Fowler and Johnston, Trumbull Co., Ohio. Sermon by the Rev. W. Andrews.

Oct. 11.--Rev. WELLS ANDREWS, was installed Pastor of the Church in Hartford, Trumbull Co., Ohio. Sermon by the Rev. H. Coe.

Oct. 19-Rev. GEORGE W. BETHUNE, as an Evangelist, in the Presbyterian Church, Pearl St. N. York. Sermon by Rev. Dr. M'Murray.

Oct. 23.-Rev. Messrs. N. B. LITTLE, J. N. HOFFMAN, S. HOSHOUR, E. KELLER, and J. G. MORRIS, were ordained at Frederick, Md., by the Ministerium of the Evangelical Lu: theran Synod of Maryland and Virginia.

Oct. 24.-Rev. BARON STOW, late Editor of the Columbian Star, at Washington City, was ordained over the First Calvinistic Society in Portsmouth, N. H. Sermon by Rev. Mr. Babcock, of Salem.

Oct. 24.-Rev. DANIEL NEWELL, as colleague with Rev. N. Church, of the

First Congregational Church in Bridgton, Me. Sermon by Rev. Dr. Allen,

of Bowdoin College.

Oct. 24.-Rev. PETER SPARKS, over the Baptist Church, at Lyons Farms, N. Y. Sermon by Rev. David Jones, of Lower Dublin, Pa.

Oct. 24.-Rev. SYLVESTER COCHRANE, Over the Congregational Church in Poultney, Vt.

Oct. 31.-Rev. MARK TUCKER, was installed over the Second Presbyterian Church in Troy. Sermon by Rev. Mr. Kennedy, of Whitehall.

Nov. 1.-Rev. JOHN M. PUTNAM, over the Congregational Church in Epsom, N. H.

Nov. 6.-Rev. A. C. WASHBURN, was ordained at Dartmouth College. Sermon by Rev. J. Wheeler.

Nov. 6.-Rev. AUSTIN RICHARDS, over the Union Congregational Church in Francestown, N. H. Sermon by Rev. Mr. Lord, of Amherst.

Nov. 7.-Rev. SAMUEL T. BABBITT, as an Evangelist, at Derby. Sermon by Professor Fitch.

Noy. 7.-Rev. ELIJAH DEMOND, was installed Pastor of the Church in Lincoln, Me. Sermon by Rev. Dr. Codman, of Dorchester.

Nov. 7.--A new Baptist meeting house was dedicated at Walton, Ms., and the Rev. Mr. FLETCHER ordained as Pastor of the Church and Society.

Nov. 15.-A new African Church in Hartford, was dedicated to God.

Nov. 21.-A new Unitarian Church was dedicated at Saco, Me., and Rev. THOMAS TRACY was installed Pastor,

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

A paper on the Rechabites" was duly received, but was mislaid. The au thor may expect a further notice of it hereafter.

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COMMUNICATIONS.

ACADEMICAL Education, Defects of, 578
Address at the Grave of M. Vincent de

St. Laurent, 12
Advertisements, English, 127

American Education Society, remarks
on, 241

Answer to the inquiry, What must I do to
be saved? 10

Antidote to dull Preaching, 637
Antinomianism, 631

Ardent spirits, fruit a Substitute for, 521

Baldwin, Rev. Abraham, Memoirs of, 449
Baptism, Roman Catholic, query respect-
ing, 62

Bar-rooms, 529

Bible, duty of possessing, 350

Edwards's view of Original Sin, 625
Effect of First Impressions, 136
Eloquence of Massillon, 131
Essay on Taste, 474

Everlasting Punishment, 617
Example of Christ, 248
Exposition of 1 Cor. xiv. 29; 517
Mat. vi. 11; 397

Extracts from the Common place Book of
a deceased friend, 134, 247

False Charity, 472

First Impressions, effect of, 136
First Rose of Summer, 357

Fixed Principles of conduct, 459

Fruit a substitute for Ardent Spirits, 521
Funeral Customs in N-, 118

influence of on Intellectual char- Gardening ornamental, utility of, 354

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