have been graciously shed down on some parts of Maine, the year past: particularly at Machias, under the labors of the Rev. Mr. Steele, and at Chesterville; on which account I have made return of more labors perform ed at the latter place, than otherwise I should have felt myself justified in performing there. Also at Providence and Scituate, in the state of Rhode Island, there is some special attention to religion."-"I hope, from all I can gather, that God has graciously made my labors, during the year, useful in the conversion of some Souls from the power of Satan to God, in watering the destitute churches, and edifying the children of God; and in some instances in softening the prejudices of those who are opposed to truth and Gospel order," "On the whole the prospect bright ens. There have been several good ministers settled in the District of Maine in the course of the year; and there is a prospect of some other vacancies being filled. If exertions be continued, there is ground for the hope that good effects will still fol. low." ces Mr. Badger found a remarkable ardor to hear the word preached. In Lebanon, a small settlement of eleven families, the most of whom had heard no preaching on the Sabbath since they left New England, though the day was stormy with rain and snow, most of the people came together, as they did also from Rome, a neighboring place. Mr. B. mentions a neighborhood in Salem, where the people were not only the most of them poor, but so far as he could learn, did not possess a single Bible, or other relig. ious book." They abound," says he, in that sort of morals which generally prevails where the word of God is not read." He also observes, that in general, where people are destitute of Bibles, they are also destitute of all other religious books. Their children of course are growing up in most deplorable ignorance. "I often," says Mr. B. "find children eight, ten, and twelve years of age, and ask them, 'My child, who made vou?' 'I don't know.' -'What is the chief end of man?' 'I don't know.' 'Can you read?' No.' ” These people are in a remote region, in a new country; and have really no means of obtaining books. They are to be remembered with compassion. The Rev. Mr. Badger accepted, and has executed his mission. He speaks of being gratefully and seriously received in most places; but gives a most affecting account of the deplo. rable necessities of the people for the the means of religious instruction. Though in several of the places which he visited, churches are formed; yet they are without a pastor, many of them almost without the Bible, and without any considerable number of other religious books. Preaching at Worcester:-"All the people," he says, "came together. I found some persons disposed to make serious inquiries after truth; though they were destitute of a Bible, and of other religious books, excepting a Testa. ment"-At Aurora:-"The last season there was a pretty general atten. tion to religion in this place, and a church has been gathered of about 30 members. Most of these people were from Hampshire and Berkshire coun ties, (Mass.) and among them there is a precious number to whom Gospel truths are refreshing."--In other pla-tled The Rev. Mr. Burbank found it necessary to relinquish his mission before he had completed the term of his appointment. He was in the service of the Society only seven weeks and four days: During that time, "I travelled," he says, "457 miles, preached 56 times, visited 48 families, administered the Lord's Supper twice, baptised two children, visited the sick, and attended to the other usual duties of a missionary-'I had not the satisfaction of seeing any special attention to religion where I travelled; but the people were quite as attentive to my appointments, as I have ever found them on missionary ground."-"The people in the region where I labored are generally poor. Their morals are poor. They stand in great need of missionary labors. For about seven thousand square miles, in the north cast part of New York, there are but three or four set. ministers," Mr. Parker accepted his appointment, and performed the duties of his mission, we believe, with fidelity. In his journal he says: "Though in most places, where my labors have been employed, the ways of Zion mourn, and iniquity abounds, yet I hope I have not labored altogether in vain. In two places which I visited, God in mercy has done great things. In Warsaw, between thirty and forty persons, during the winter past, have obtained hope of salvation through the Redeemer. At Athens, also, in the northern part of Pennsylvania, a considerable number have been hope. fully brought to the knowledge of Christ, and the good work continues." "Large districts in this region are destitute of the Gospel ministry, and have never been visited by missiona. ries." "In The Rev. Mr. Hitchcock labored in the service of the Society, agreeably to his appointment, 17 weeks, in the Counties of Grand Isle, Franklin, Chittenden, Jefferson, and Orieans in the state of Vermont; preached 70 sermons, made 143 family visits, baptised ten children and one adult, and assiduously employed himself in the various duties of a Christian mission. ary. "Respecting my success," he says, "I can give no information which will be very interesting. In almost every place which I visited, religion appeared to be on the decline." this northern region, there are many deistical characters-many 'professed deists. I should judge that more than half the youth are growing up in the principles of infidelity! In almost every town which I visited, however, there are a few warm friends to the Gospel; a precious few, who shine as lights in a dark place." "Though ma. ny will not attend the preaching of a missionary, yet those who came to hear generally gave solemn attention. I met with some who, I have reason to think, had recently become subjects of renewing grace; and others who appeared to be seriously inquiring the way to Zion." The Rev. Mr. Lawton had the hap. piness to be employed in a more pleasant field. His labors were in the vi cinity of Windham, in the southern part of Vermont; and they were abundant and successful. "I have the pleasure to inform you," he says, "that a work of Divine grace has been manifest in three of the towns where I have labored, Windham, JaIn these three maica, and Stratton. towns more than 150 have been brought out of darkness into light. The work still continues in Stratton where it last begun, and is very general through the town." At large, however, his field presented various aspects. "Some places," he says, "especially where they have experienced awakenings, the people make great exertions to supply themselves with preaching part of the time. Others seem to be contented in a total neglect of the means of grace. Where there has been no special attention, there appears to remain a great degree of stupidity respecting spiritual things." The Rev. Mr. Sawyer fulfilled his appointment. His labors were chiefly performed in Garland, (where he re. sides,) and the vicinity; and his journal affords pleasing evidence of fidelity and usefulness. In a paper addressed to the Board of Trustees, dated at Garland, and signed by a Committee, it is said: "We gratefully acknowledge your benevolent attention to our best interest, in affording the kind aid, without which we could not have been privileged with the Gospel preached in any constant way. We think there are very evident manifestations of a Divine blessing upon the missionary labors amongst us, and while we acknowledge the peculiar favor received, knowing your desire to promote the kingdom of the Redeemer, we would humbly ask a continuance of attention. It is but little that we can do,' in these new settlements, to support the Gospel." From the Rev. Mr. Burge, no return has been received. Such, Brethren, is the view which we are able to give you of our arrangements for the furtherance of your great and good design, of the labors and success of your missionaries, and of the moral aspects of various portions of our beloved country. Considerable has been done; but much, very much remains to be done. The harvest truly is plenteous, and holds out every inducement to persevering exertion. From extensive regions of our country, from thousands of our brethren ready to perish, with their children, for lack of the word of life, the cry is heard, loud, impressive, and affecting, "Come-and help us!" This cry will not be heard in vain. We believe, brethren, that to send the Gospel to the poor is the work of God-a work which he prompts, and on which he will smile; and we bless his name in the confidence, that this work, proceeding, or commencing, with so much ardor in the different parts of the Christian world, will proceed, till our glorious Redeemer shall be known for salvation to the ends of the earth, and all peo. ple shall call him blessed. While we gratefully rejoice that devoted ser vants of the Lord Jesus, burning as we trust, with apostolic zeal, have gone from our shores to carry the Gospel of unbounded grace to far distant heathen, we devoutly hope that their exemplary devotedness, and the uncommon spirit of exertion and lib. erality which has appeared in favor of their mission, will provoke a holy emulation in favor of missions to the destitute of our own country. The silver and gold, men and their talents are the Lord's, and he will employ them to build his house. May this Society ever be found forward in his cause, and successful in his service. The business of the meeting was conducted with great harmony and Christian affection. The Sermon, by the Rev. Dr. WooDs, was from Luke x, 2, "Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye, therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest." It was a seasonable, able, and impressive discourse. The Officers of the Society for the present year are, Rev. DANIEL HOPKINS, D. D. President. Rev. SAMUEL WORCESTER, D. D. Secretary. JEREMIAH EVARTS. Esq. Treasurer. The PRESIDENT ex officio, Mr. JOHN JENKS, THE NEW HAMPSHIRE BIBLE SOCIETY. ON Wednesday, June 3, 1812, the New Hampshire Bible Society was organized at Concord. The Constitution of the Society is as follows, viz. 1. The Society shall be called THE NEW HAMPSHIRE BIBLE SOCIETY. The sole object of the Society is to promote the more extensive distribution of the Holy Bible. This ob ject is to be invariably pursued by procuring and distributing, gratuitously, among the destitute and needy, or selling at reduced prices, according to the discretion of the Board of Directors, Bibles or Testaments, in the English lauguage, of the present received version, without note or comment; and by aiding, in case the funds of the Society shall admit, in translating and printing the Holy Scriptures, in other languages, for charitable distribution. 2. Every person, who advances forty dollars, shall be a member of the Society for life: and every person, who gives his name to the Secretary, and annually pays either two or three dollars, shall be a member, until he signify to some officer of the Society his desire to withdraw. So long as persons pay their annual sub. scription, a member who pays two dollars shall be entitled to one Bible annually; and every other member shall be entitled to two Bibles annually: Provided that these Bibles are applied for at the time of the annual payment, or within a year afterwards. 3. The Officers of the Society shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and four Directors, to be chosen annually by ballot. Of these Officers, the Vice-President, Secretary, and two of the Directors, only, shall be ministers of the Gospel. 4. The abovenamed Officers shall be a Board of Directors; five of whom shall be a quorum for transacting business; but a less number may adjourn from time to time as shall be necessary. This Board shall meet immediately after their appointment, and afterwards upon their own adjournment, and also when requested by the President or Vice-President. They shall manage all the concerns of the Society and exert themselves to promote its object. For this purpose, they shall appoint agents, in different places, for procuring subscriptions and donations, and for distributing Bibles; and shall also adopt whatever rules and measures, they may judge expedient, which are compatible with this Constitution. At every annual meeting, they shall exhibit to the Society a written report of their proceedings, together with such information and sugges. tions, as they may think deserving the consideration of the Society, and calculated to animate their exertions in distributing the Holy Bible. 5. The Society shall annually ap. point two persons, to be Auditors of the Treasurer's accounts, and report to the Society. 6. In case the office of Secretary, or Treasurer, or Auditor, should become vacant, the Board of Directors shall appoint some person to fill such. vacancy, until the next annual meeting. But no member of the Board shall ever be appointed an Auditor. 7. The annual meeting of the Society shall be on the Wednesday following the third Tuesday in September, at 5 o'clock, P. M. in the same place where the New Hampshire Missionary Society shall hold their annual meeting; unless the Society shall determine to meet at some other time and place. Notice of the time and place of such meeting shall be given by the Secretary in such manner, as the Society shall direct. 8. All sums which may be given, beside those which constitute membership, will be gratefully received, and devoted to the sole object of the Society. He 9. The President, or in his absence, the Vice-President, or in their ab. sence, the senior Director, present, shall preside in all meetings of the Society and of the Board. The Secretary shall record their proceedings, and correspond in their name. shall also keep an account of all mon. ies which shall be paid to the Treas. urer, and of all orders drawn on him. The Treasurer shall give receipts for all the money which he receives, and shall make no disbursements without an order drawn on him, by direction of the Board. 10. Any article in this Constitution, except the first, may be altered or amended, at an annual meeting, by the vote of two thirds of the mem. bers present. The following persons were elect. ed Officers of the Society, viz. His Excellency JOHN LANGDON, Esq. President. Rev. SETH PAYSON, D. D. Vice-President. Rev. JOHN H. CHURCH, Secretary. JONATHAN WILKINS, Esq. DANIEL EMERSON, Esq. Treasurer. Directors. Rev. ABRAHAM BURNHAM, The annual meeting of the Society will be at Hollis, in September next, Agents and places of deposit have been appointed by the Board of Directors, and Bibles will soon be procured and transmitted to agents for distribution. The Secretaries of other Bible Societies are respectfully solicited to transmit copies of their printed Reports to the Secretary of this Society, at Pelham, New Hampshire. Pursuant to a vote of the Society, the following address is now offered to the people of the State, on the importance of a more extensive distribution of the Holy Bible. But men are evidently in a fallen state, and have lost that knowledge of their Creator, which is so natural to the perfectly holy. Sin has filled their minds with moral darkness, and given them a disrelish for the knowledge of the Holy One of Israel. Hence they have chosen to grope in darkness. Even when light has come into the world, they have preferred darkness before the light, because their deeds were evil. The best informed among the heathen have felt and acknowledged the necessity of having a teacher from heaven, to give them correct views of God and divine things. With all their learning and philosophy, they were in doubt or in ignorance of most important truths. The world, by wis dom, knew not God. Heathen philos ephy, in its highest state of perfection, could never enable any to know God and Jesus Christ, so as to have eternal life. And Pagans even to this day, are covered with gross darkness. They are deplorably ignorant of the true God; they have no knowledge of Jesus, and his salvation; and they are practising idolatry, the most irrational and absurd, and marked with impurity and cruelty. Many thousands travel a great distance to wor ship a block of wood, of a frightful visage, with a distended mouth of a bloody color. we But we are highly distinguished, by having the oracles of divine truth. While five sixths of the human race, remain without the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, have the Scriptures, which are able to make us wise unto salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus. The advantages, we derive from the Bible, are immensely great. If we say nothing of a future state; yet we must confess the Bible to be of unspeaka. ble importance as to the present life. It has great and very beneficial influ ence on the conduct of men, and on civil society, so as to render the situation of a christianized nation, vastly preferable to that of the most civiliz ed Pagans. The settlement of New England, and the exalted privileges here enjoyed, are to be attributed, in a high degree, to the influence of the Gospel. Where will you find a people more highly favored than we have been, or whose obligations are greater, to communicate the word of salvation to the destitute and perishing? But even in our own land, there is great want of Bibles. Many are destitute of the Scriptures, either in whole or in part; that is, some have no Bible, others have only parts of the Bible. Many families, in low circumstances, are not furnished with Bibles or Testaments, so that their children can have this most instruc tive book to read in school. Many of the youth are consequently grow ing up in great ignorance of God and his holy word. As we extend our views abroad, we find vast multitudes, who have not the good word of God in their habitations. In two provinces of the Russian empire, 400,000 families are destitute of the Holy Scriptures. Is it not in our power, dear brethren and friends, to favor some of our fellow creatures with the Bible? Can we, in truth, say that we are not able to do any thing towards it? The widow's mite will be accepted. In what way can we more effectu. ally promote the best interests of our fellow men, than by furnishing them with the Bible? What can we put |