of their children merely because their minister professes to be very sincere in the inculcation of what they believe to be heresy. To demand this would be indeed lording it over conscience. 6. The assertions of Mr. A., that "there is forming and strengthening a combination in New England, to awe the spirit of inquiry and the liberty of conscience and private judgment in regard to the holy Scriptures," and that 'there is substantial evidence in his case of the fact, that a man who presumes to differ from the general opinions embraced by the clergy and churches of Connecticut cannot live in peace, cannot subsist, without assault and perpetual hostility,' are entirely unsupported by fact, and are therefore to be considered as gross slanders. We say they are unsup ported by fact, because we are ignorant of any facts of this nature, and because Mr. A. has not pro duced any; it being taken for granted, that, if he knew of any such facts, he would have produced them. As to the declaration in a public assembly, alluded to by Mr. A., we suppose we heard the declaration intended, and that it was essentially different from the one which Mr. A. has stated. But with what propriety can Mr. A. complain of

"assault and perpetual hostility?" It does not appear from his own narrative, that he ever experienced any assault or hostility. As to the right of conscience and private judgment, we do not believe there is a Calvinistic clergyman in Connecticut who does not claim that right for himself, his brethren in the ministry, his church, and for every individual in Christendom; and we must say, that the rights of conscience have incomparably more able defenders among the class of persons referred to, not only than Mr. A. himself, but than any of his party, so far as the talents of the lattter have been displayed through the medium of the press.

Mr. A. is an entire stranger to us, and we have no disposition to cause him unnecessary pain; but the interests of truth must not be sacrificed out of tenderness to the feelings of a man, who has himself, by the insinuation of groundless charges, disregarded the feelings of a large majority of the clergy of New England, many of whom he will not deny to be his superiors in age, talents, learning, and piety, and whose zealous labors in the ser vice of God, and for the good of mankind, entitle them to the public gratitude.

Though the principal part of the information contained in the following Report has been laid before our readers, yet for the sake of preserving all the proceedings of the Board of Com. missioners, we insert the Report en

tire

THE AMERICAN BOARD OF COMVOL. V. New Series.

MISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN
MISSIONS RESPECTFULLY SUB.
MIT, TO THE GENERAL ASSO-
CIATION OF CONNECTICUT, THE
FOLLOWING REPORT.

THE first meeting of the Commissioners was held at Farmington, in 19

Connecticut, Sept. 5th, 1810. The doings of that meeting were immediately published, and copies of them were extensively dispersed for the information of the public. A copy of the same accompanies this

report.

The executive business of the Board is, by constitution, principally committed to the Prudential Committee. At the second meeting of the Commissioners, which was held at Worcester, in Massachusetts, Sept. 18, 1811 the Prudential Committee made a report which was accepted by the Board, and which presents a view of the measures which had been taken, for promoting the great design of the Board, and of the success of those measures. To that report, a copy of which accompanies this paper, we beg leave to refer the General Association, as containing an important part of the information which the Board have to communicate.

At this last meeting the Board judged it inexpedient to resign Messrs. Judson, Nott, Ne well, and Hall, the four missionary brethren, particularly mentioned in the documents before referred to, to the direction of the London Missionary Society; but to take measures to employ those brethren in a mission to be directed by this Board, as soon as Divine Providence, shall open the door for it. Agreeably to the opinion given in the report of the Prudential Committee, the Board directed their attention to the Birman empire, as presenting, in their view, the most eligible station for the establishment of an American mission in the East. Not knowing, however, what difficulties might occur in the way of establishing or executing a mission in that empire it was voted, that the four missionaries should, as soon as convenient, be employed in Asia, either in the Birman empire, Surat, Prince of Wales's Island, or elsewhere, as, in the judgment of the Prudential Committee, Providence shall direct.

For the purposes of the mission, it was voted to allow to each missionary, if married, one hundred and fifty pounds sterling, and, if unmarried, one hundred pounds sterling, as an annual salary-the same which is al

lowed to a missionary by the London Society; and as an outfit, a sum not exceeding one year's salary.

For a western mission, the Board judged from the information, of which they were possessed, that the Caghnawaga tribe of Indians offered the most favorable prospect. And it was voted, "That this Board will pay particular attention to the condition of the Cagh. nawaga tribe of Indians in Canada, and establish, as soon as practicable, a mission among them; and, to forward this design, that one hundred dollars be appropriated to aid the education of Eleazer Williams, a native of that tribe, and his preparation to enter on that mission: and that this hundred dollars be paid in the present year, and be committed to the man. agement of the Rev. Dr. Joseph Lyman, and the Rev. Richard S. Storrs."

These measures were adopted in the confidence, under Providence, that the Christian public, in this country, would not be backward to supply the funds necessary for carrying them into effect.

At the same meeting, two other young gentlemen, members of the Divinity College, at Andover, viz. Messrs James Richards and Edward Warren, offered themselves as candidates for the missionary service, and solicited to be taken under the patronage and direction of the American Board. Upon the ground of a formal recommendation from the Professors of the Divinity College, the Board very cheerfully accepted the proposal of the two young gentleman, and took them under their patronage, on condition, that they complete their course at the seminary agreeable to its constitution.

This communication from the Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, is respectfully submitted to the General Association of Connecticut, and to the General Association of Massachusetts Proper, with an earnest request, that the exertions of those venerable bodies may be continued, and that their prayers may ascend in union with those of this Board to the Great Head of the church, that he would add his blessing to the humble endeavors of his servants and open an effectual door

for the spread of the Gospel, until all the nations of the earth shall embrace his truth, and be made the partakers of his great Salvation.

JOHN TREADWELL, Pres. A true copy from the Minutes of the Board,

Attest, CALVIN CHAPIN,

Recording Secretary.

ABSTRACT OF RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

The

(Continued from vol. iv, p. 375.) The Missions of the United Brethren have been described in a summary account lately published in England, from which it appears, that the Brethren support about thirty missions, in which 150 missionaries have the care of 20,000 converts. most flourishing missions are those in Greenland, Labrador, Antigua, St. Kitt's, the Danish West India Islands, and the cape of Good Hope. The others are in Upper Canada, in the United States on the Muskingum and among the Creeks and Cherokees, in South America, in and near Surrinam, in Jamaica, in Barbadoes, and among the Calmucs near the Caspian sea. At Bavian's Kloof near the cape of Good Hope, five married and two single missionaries reside in a settlement of 1000 Hottentots. Lord Caledon, the British governor at the cape, is very friendly to the mission, and another settlement has been begun by his desire. The Brethren have been engaged in this good work without relaxing their efforts since the year 1732. For the support of the work no fund whatever exists.

The expenses are about $26 000 annually. Many of the missionaries do much towards supporting themselves by their own exertions; none of them receive regular salaries, but have such necessaries sent out to them as they request. Their children and widows are provided for. The ut most frugality is used at home and abroad.

The Sussex Auxiliary Bible Society was formed at Lewes (Eng.) on the 8th of August, 1811. T. R. Kemp, Esq. M. P. was chosen President. Many of the nobility and gentry of

that county have approved of the institution, and engaged to support it.

The Aberdeen Auxiliary Bible Society was formed in June, 1811; the Marquis of Huntley, President; the Lord Provost of Aberdeen, James Fergu son, Esq. M. P. the Rev. Principal Brown, and others, Vice Presidents.

The Society for Missions to Africa and the East, have a flourishing es tablishment of schools at Bashia in the Rio Pongas, on the western coast of Africa. This society voted $2,200 towards the Eastern translations, and $1,100 towards the support of public readers of the Scriptures in the ver nacular languages of India.

The African and Asiatic Society, of which Lord Barham is president, instituted for the purpose of relieving the wants, and removing the ignor ance of the Africans and Asiatics in London, state in their annual report, that they have relieved 236 cases of extreme wretchedness within the preceding year; and that some good effects have resulted from the religious instruction which they had been the instruments of diffusing.

The Edinburgh Bible Society appears to have been very vigorously engaged, during the year preceding May 4th, 1811, in executing its benevolent pur poses. Besides distributing the Scriptures among the poor and destitute in the neighborhood, and among the the French and Dutch prisoners of war, the Society remitted $3,100 to the parent society, $1,300 to the Hibernian Bible Society, and about $900 towards the Eastern translations.

Among the donations to the society, two are worthy of particular notice; $127 from a regiment of militia, it being a day's pay of the non-commissioned officers and privates; and $88 from a society of female servants, at Aberdeen, who contributed one penny (two cents) a week each.

Mr. Morrison, the missionary of the London Society at Canton, has printed off a thousand copies of the Acts of the Apostles in Chinese. The expense of printing was about $450;

but from the same wooden types, occasionally retouched, 100,000 copies may be taken. Mr. Morrison has begun a translation of Genesis and Psalms into Chinese, having heard that the Gospels and Epistles were translating in Bengal. He has sent home some specimens of Chinese literature from the maxims of Confucius and the history of Foe.

The net receipts of the British and Foreign Bible Society for the year ending March 31st, 1811, amounted to $109,698; and the net payments to $125,789. The income and expenditure for the last year was much Larger.

The Naval and Military Bible Soci ety, of which the sole object is to distribute Bibles among the soldiers and sailors of the British army and navy, was formed in 1780. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the President. The funds of this society are low. During the year embraced in the last annual report the society distributed 1848 Bibles.

A Society has lately been formed in England to extend the benefits of education to the poor throughout the kingdom, on the principles of the Established Church. The Prince Regent is Patron, the Archbishop of Canterbury, President, the Archbishop of York, all the English bishops, and ten lay peers, or privy-counsellors, Vice Presidents. The plan of instruction first invented by Dr. Bell, is to be adopted in the schools of this society.

names, because most of them are familiar to the readers of English Magazines. The speakers, and those whom they addressed, appeared to vie with each other in zeal to promote the great object of their association. All the objections to the Bible Society were shown to be frivolous and visionary. The meetings for the purpose of forming Auxiliary Bible Societies in every part of England assume a new interest. A large num ber of the best informed men in the kingdom, and men of the highest rank and character, take a very active part in the proceedings. Taste, as well as benevolence, is gratified, in seeing noblemen and members of Parliament, dignified magistrates, and highly honored ministers of the Gospel, (both of the Establishment and among Dissenters,) come forward, and avow their attachment to the Bible, and offer the reflections of enlarged and cultivated minds, on the new and unparalleled events which are taking place in the relig ious world. It seems to be the gen eral belief of considerate Christians, in England and America, that the final triumph of Christianity visibly approaches, and that the diffusion of the Bible in all languages will be one great mean of producing that most happy result..

The Suffolk Auxiliary Bible Society was formed on the 10th of December last. The Bishop of Norwich is President; the Duke of Grafton, the Marquis Cornwallis, seven other noblemen, and seven gentlemen of rank and influence, are Vice Presidents. Sir William Dolben, one of the Vice Presidents, formerly for many years member of Parliament for the University of Oxford, being prevented by his age (eighty-four years) from attending, wrote the following letter, the whole of which we quote from the Christian Observer.

"Gentlemen,

I earnestly request you to offer my unfeigned respects to the venerable and patriotic society now assembled at Ipswich for the glorious purpose of disseminating the words of eternal life throughout the known world; for making their sound go forth into all

lands, and their words unto the ends of the world. It does indeed appear to me (looking at the generous cooperation of those who have thought proper to separate themselves from the Established Church, with those who remain in it,) to be the opening of that blessed epoch foretold in the Scriptures, when we shall be 'one fold, under one shepherd, Jesus Christ the righteous.'

"I feel myself highly honored by being thought worthy of a place among the Vice Presidents; but as my age and infirmities will not admit of my personal attendance, I would wish to decline it in favor of one who may be zealous and active in the dis charge of its duties; and have no doubt that my friend Sir James Affleck, (to

whose Christian character I can bear most honorable testimony,) will cheerfully accept and faithfully fulfil them. Should you, however, feel de. sirous of retaining my name for this glorious office, you are at liberty so to do; but in this case you must, I fear, be satisfied with my earnest wishes for the prosperity of your institution, rather than with any active services I can render towards it.

"I have requested my friend Mr. Clarkson, who stands forward in this, as in all other good works, to deliver you these my acknowledgments; and with the most fervent prayers for the completion of this glorious undertaking, I remain, gentlemen, your most honored and grateful servant,

W. DOLBEN,"

The Society for the support of Gaelic schools in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland held its first annual meeting in November last. From the exami nations instituted by this society, it appears, that in many parts of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland a very large part of the population are never taught to read; in some places more than three quarters are of this description. It is found much easier, and much more useful to instruct the children in Gaelic than in English, the former being their native language. The subscriptions and donations to this society amounted to $2,279.

SPEECH OF MR. WHITBREAD.

The following speech of Mr. Whitbread before the Bedfordshire Auxiliary Bible Society was delivered at the meeting, of which an account was given in our number for June, p. 42.

"I cannot express," he observed, "the great delight and satisfaction I time in the course of my life, seen feel that I have this day, for the first publicly realized the great maxims of the Gospel. I have for the first time trovertible truth, without the recog heard acknowledged that great inconnition of which human wisdom is vain, that the Gospel of Christ is able to stand alone-that it requires not the assistance of man to make it penetrate into the heart of man, and that from the propagation of Divine knowledge by Jesus Christ, down to the present day, it is the Gospel, and the Gospel alone, which is designed to speak to the heart, and thereby raise the soul to everlasting glory. Gentlemen, it would ill become me to say much after so much has been said, and so well said, by those who have preceded me, and whose peculiar province it is to propagate the great light which emerges from heaven, and to diffuse it among men; but I may say that I have peculiar satisfaction in witnessing the arrival of this day among you. It has been one great object of my life to direct men to that great precept of Holy Writ, "search the Scriptures"-to discuss them for themselves: they were de signed to be searched by every man for himself, that each might exercise his own judgment on the momentous truths therein contained. Gentle.

men, I am speaking from the sincerity of my heart, from conviction, from experience of a life not short, not inactive, that in the Gospel is contained the compendium of all wisdom, as well as the everlasting source of immrtal happiness; and that if a man be truly in heart a Christian, if he have courage to acknowledge himself such by word and by deed, if he will proceed to transact all his public and private concerns with the maxims of the Gospel in his hand, and engraved