persons who were not members were pleased to contribute, as though they were. Let every church in our body do likewise, and that mission may be established, even on a more liberal basis than has been proposed by the Board, without oppressing anybody, and without trenching on the ordinary donations; and finally, in such a way as as to give every member in the whole Church a more personal interest in the mission, as being all stockholders in the good enterprize and adventure. Should you think the plan a good one, it might perhaps be well to notice it in the Chronicle for the purpose of stirring up other churches to the same effort. [The writer of this letter has so fully set forth the merits of the plan proposed, that we need not add any further remarks; except merely to enforce the suggestion, that those who may adopt it should not allow their special effort to take the place of their regular contributions; a result which our brother does not contemplate nor at all desire, and which would be extremely injurious to the interests of the missionary cause.] On the 'Contributions' of persons in Debt. Should persons who are in debt give pecuniary aid to religious and benevolent objects? Many will have an answer ready on the first statement of the inquiry-"No! emphatically. We must be honest, before we are liberal; we must be just, before we are charitable. We must not give away another man's property," &c. whole their farms are becoming more and more valuable every year, the shelves of their stores are better filled, their work-shops are enlarged, their professional gains are more steady and liberal. There are excepted cases, but this, if we are not greatly mistaken, is the general state of things in our country, and among the members of our congregations. And paradoxical as it may seem, the debts of most persons are one evidence of their prosperity in their various callings. The explanation, however, is a very simple one. At the end of a year, or of a few years, a farmer will find that he has some money in hand, or he has credit which, for the time leing answers the same purpose. He therefore purchases another farm, or an adjoining field; pays down part of the purchase-money, and gives his note for the balance. Or he sells the farm he now holds, and buys a better one,-paying in part for the second with the proceeds of the first, and going in debt' for the balance. The same course is pursued in other callings, making due allowance for the difference of circumstances. The merchant, for instance, pays in part for the purchase of a larger stock of goods, and gives his note for the rest. The mechanic adopts substantially the same mode of enlarging his business. Now, the force of all this may be admitted in the case of persons who are in debt beyond their means of paying their obligations--that is, whose debts amount to a larger sum than their property is worth. We do not propose now to enter at all upon the question of the manner in which these ruinous obligations in many cases have been incurred. But in this country, few persons are in such a condition. Many are in debt, but why? Not because they are bankrupt, but because they are actually increasing their worldly estate or in other words, not because they are absolutely poor, but because they are growing rich. Most persons, especially most of the members of our churches, whose religion forbids extravagance and waste, and inculcates diligence and prudence-are increasing their worldly estate; it may be slowly and indirectly, but on the We are far from objecting to all this-provided a wise prudence in contracting engagements be united with an honest intention of fulfilling them; though we cannot write one line to encourage the reckless spirit of speculation in which our countrymen seem so ready to indulge But we ask, does not the mere statement of the actual case of most persons who are in debt in this country, give a sufficient answer to the inquiry with which we commenced? Why are they in debt? Is it not because of the goodness of God's providence towards them, whereby they are enabled to increase their worldly estate? Surely then no truly pious person should think of withholding under these circumstances, his tribute to the cause of Him, by whose kind hand his wants are all supplied; and not only so, but by whose favour he is enabled to multiply around him the comforts and conveniences of life. This were indeed to pervert and abuse the goodness of God. For all this increase of earthly good is bestowed upon us only as Christian stewards, to occupy until the Master comes. We forbear, however, to extend these remarks, only adding our hope, that they may lead those to whom they are applicable, to consider anew their obligations to their Lord and to his cause. DONATIONS TO THE BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS IN DECEMBER. SYNOD OF PITTSBURG. Pby, of Blairsville. 34.29 Fairmount ch. youth's miss. soc. 8; Sharps 863 burg ch. 17, 25.00 353 14 Scotch ch. N. Y. mo. con. Dec., 87; James Morrison, 10; do. sab. sch. to ed. heathen youth in India, 103,67; Canal-st. ch. 'W.' 205 67 SYNOD OF KENTUCKY. Pby. of Louisville. Lawrenceburg ch., "a friend," 10; Shelbyville ch. ann. coll. 91,72, mo. con. 40; Plum cr. ch. 27; Mulberry ch., in part, 18,86; Louisville 1st ch. mo. con., Nov. Dec. 19,80, Pby. of Transylvania. Danville ch., ladies to con. Mrs. CORNELIA C. YOUNG 1. m. 100; coll. in part, (of wh. Dr. Young's children, 12, Mr. Ford's children, 1, Mr. Montgomery's, 3, the fruits of self-denial,) 335, Pby. of W. Lexington. Harmony ch., Mrs. Mira Alexander, 9.50; Hopewell ch., R. P. Kenney, 5; Nicholasville ch. 64,41; Clear cr. ch., A. Logan, 10, 207 38 435 00 SYNOD OF NEW-JERSEY. Pby. of Elizabethtown. Paterson 1st ch. mo. con. Pby. of New Brunswick. Cranberry 2d ch. 44,64; Bound Brook ch. bal. to con. JOHN M. SCHENCK, an elder in said church, 1. m. 15; ladies' benev. soc. to con. Mrs. CAROL. W. RODGERS 1. m. 30; Freehold village ch. mo. con. 10; Frechold 1st ch. "a member," for distribution of the Bible at Lodiana, 20, Pby. of Newton. Easton ch. per E. Green, treas. Pby. of West Jersey. 37 32 88 91 SYNOD OF THE REF. PRESB. CH. Aux. Miss. Soc. Ref. Presb. ch., N. Y. 110 13 LEGACIES. SYNOD OF BUFFALO. Pby. of Steuben. SYNOD OF PHILADELPHIA. Pby. of Philadelphia. Phila. 10th ch., Mrs. and Miss Tate, sub. for 1843, 10; "a member," 5; do. 6th ch. Robert Creighton, 10; do. North ch., "a member," 10, Pby. of New-Castle. New-Castle ch., "a friend of missions," to ed. James Cowper, 20; Jno. Janvier, to ed. Thomas Janvier, 20; children of sab. sch. to ed. John B. Spotswood, 20; ladies' assoc. 40; "a friend," 10; mo. con. 40, Pby. of Baltimore. Taneytown ch. to ed. orphan children under the care of Rev. H. R. Wilson, 60; Frederick ch. 29; Alexandria 1st ch. 70, Note. In receipts for Nov., under Baltimore Pby., for Mrs. M. O.' a lady,', 100,' read, 'Mrs. M.' 6; '☎ lady,' 100. THE DOMESTIC MISSIONARY CHRONICLE. FEBRUARY, 1844. BOARD OF MISSIONS. COMMUNICATIONS FROM MISSIONARIES. WISCONSIN. We have recently received several interesting communications from an itinerant missionary of the Board in Wisconsin. We give below a few extracts from his letters.-ED. **** In my excursions I have found another settlement of people, in the town of Ottoway, Milwaukie county, where I have laboured, and visited from house to house, to obtain a correct knowledge of their condition. They are, for the most part, emigrants from the north of Ireland; they have been so trained in the knowledge of the Scriptures, that they fully and cordially embrace the standards of our Church in preference to any other. They have stood firm against all the efforts of errorists, and I trust the Lord will keep them steadfast in the love of the truth. There are eight families settled in one neighbourhood; a very good beginning for this country, and it would be matter of joy to their hearts, and of gratitude to God, could they be organized into a church in regular manner, and have the Gospel and its ordinances administered to them. My first desire is to explore the whole territory, to ascertain how many more settlements there are that are in similar circumstances, that I may be able, as soon as practicable, to ascertain how many ministers will be needed to supply these entirely destitute settlements, and to feed these scattered sheep of Christ's flock. State of Society, &c. It is important the Board should fully understand the chaotic state in which the people are, when they first come into this new country. They are from many states and countries, and of every religious sentiment. From New-York, the New-England states, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan; also from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Prussia, and all the German states; from France, Switzerland, England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland; from all which places I have seen emigrants myself, and from others I have learned there are emigrants here from Spain and Italy. Every ecclesiastical institution is therefore to be made up of new things, and fitted together here on the spot. This state of things renders necessary the intervention of missionary aid for some time, and a degree of patience, perseverance, and self-sacrifice, which none, except those who come here, can imagine. This is missionary ground as much as the distant fields of Paganism. The professors of religion are few, and those who are here, in a short time seem to become lost in the world; and they confess to me, that the longer they are destitute of the Gospel, the less do they care about it. And again, no one in the older states can imagine the poverty, and absolutely depressed state of the people generally, which renders them at present unable, not so much from unwillingness as from real inability, to give anything for the support of the Gospel. Instead of helping the missionary to the means of subsistence, the missionary is called on to help them. From the great contrast between the condition of the people here and that of those in our older states, it is hardly possible for the members of your Board to conceive the vast importance of the cause of domestic missions. Oh, that every East- compare There are many Roman Catholics here in various parts of the territory, and they have priests to supply them; in some parts of the territory they are more numerous than the Protestants; and while Protestants are without a house of worship, Catholics are building churches. Want of good Religious Books and Tracts. abroad, far and wide, our own valuable works, which so well sustain the unadulterated Gospel? I have distributed pamphlets and tracts from my own private store, and this will speedily be exhausted. I would distribute much more liberally, if I had them, or the means by which to procure them, for I have never seen a place where books and tracts are so readily and thankfully received. And why? because the people have only here and there a book which they brought with them; and not a single book, or scarcely a newspaper, have they since received that is new. **** This is a wide field for usefulness, and it is " my heart's desire and prayer to God to be continued in it while life remains," and to see rising up in this land churches that shall be filled with people, who are taught of God the true “way of life" through Jesus Christ, and who shall truly enjoy that rich teaching which is from heaven and not of men. May the you, and grant you much of divine success and comfort in your allimportant labours! Lord be with FROM A MISSIONARY IN THE WEST. Fruits of Missionary Aid. As the connexion between the Board and this church is now to terminate, the church being now able to sustain the Gospel without further aid, I wish in their behalf to return the sincere thanks of this people for the favours they have received in times past. And as God has blessed In my travels through the ter- the church, and added to its numbers unritory I have seen only one copy of "The til they have nearly doubled, it is hoped Confession of Faith," and that was an old the people will ever manifest their gratione from Scotland. The number of our tude by contributing to assist others who shorter catechisms is very limited, only are feeble, as they once were, and thus here and there one, in the old-fashioned help to increase the streams of the Presbyterian families. Other denomina-church's benevolence, until they shall tions have taken some pains to circulate flow over all those moral wastes which their creeds and confessions. If, then, the visible church is to be extended by religious books, whether more or less sound; if they are thus liberally scattered by other denominations, how zealous and prompt should be our own efforts to send are found in so many portions of the land. I think I can say, that the benefactions which have been received through the Board, will ever be remembered by this people with grateful hearts, while their prayer shall continually be, that the Church, bought with blood, and animated this scanty supply, and will not desert their post-they will not think strange that even their cast-off garments are most thankfully received. Besides, made-up clothing is of peculiar value to us, on account of the difficulty of getting help in this country to make it. with the spirit of her Redeemer, shall continue to increase and swell the tide of her benevolence, not only until every feeble church shall grow into manhood, but until every moral waste in our beloved land shall be brought under the influence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. ILLINOIS. FROM A MISSIONARY. Death of the Rev. J. Montgomery. **** Our dear brother Montgomery, one of the missionaries of your Board, died last month of the prevailing fever, after a sickness of one week. His wife died last spring, and he has left four orphan children in needy and dependent circumstances. He was universally beloved because of his excellent character. He has been a neighbour to me for seven years, and have laboured much with him, and can truly say, he was a most devoted and faithful minister. Doctrinal Tracts. **** The doctrinal pamphlets which you were so kind as to present to me last spring, from some of the benevolent people of Philadelphia, for distribution in this part of the country, have been received, and are read with the greatest interest; nothing could be more appropriate. Of their happy influence, I hope to be able to tell you more at a future day. Box of Clothing. **** We received a box of clothing from the ladies of Waterford, N. Y., to be distributed among the missionaries in northern Illinois. By letter we learn from them, that it was through your recommendation that the box took this direction. We thank the Lord, and them, and you, for this seasonable and valuable supply of our real necessities. Could the friends of missions know the embarrassments of their missionaries, receiving from the Board $100, and perhaps $100 from the people, among whom they labour a year, and in debt, because they cannot live on OHIO. FROM A MISSIONARY IN ALLEN CO. Encouraging. Since my last report, we have had a communion season, which was, in many respects, a precious season. The Lord was evidently present to bless his people and give effect to his word. Three were admitted to the church; and there were eight young persons who appeared to be deeply anxious for the salvation of their souls. Another evidence of the presence and blessing of God on that occasion is this: A new and strong impulse was given to the congregation to build a new house of worship, which they have thought of and talked about for some time; since then, notwithstanding difficulties, the work has steadily and rapidly progressed, "for the people have had a mind to work." The state of things, on the whole, in the field of my labours, is encouraging. Peace and harmony prevail; Christians manifest an increased determination to devote themselves more entirely to the service of Christ, and I trust still richer blessings are in store for this people. When we compare the state of things here now with what it was a short time since, the change for the better is great and decided. ARKANSAS. There is probably no state in our Union which stands in greater need of good ministers and Gospel privileges, than Arkansas. The number of ministers of any denomination of Christians, we believe, is small, and comparatively small success seems to have attended the labours of most who have gone there. But we hope the day is not far distant when the number of faithful labourers will be greatly increased, and when the whole moral aspect of things will be changed. We give here an extract from a report of one of |