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Two young missionaries, Messrs. Wheelock and Colman, whose hearts are devoted to the cause in which they are engaged, whose desires are to live for the conversion of the Burmans to God, and to die among them, have sailed to join their brethren Judson and Hough in Rangoon.

In this limited view of the proceedings of the Board, it may be observed, that the destitute places of the earth have been sought out, and cultivated by the faithful servants of Christ: the wretched, ignorant, wandering race, whose inveterate habits of savage life have often palsied the efforts of those who were warmest in their cause, are now induced to submit to the fostering hand of civilization, and listen to that gospel which has brought life and immortality to light. The poor African, once as "dark in things divine" as the complexion which Providence has stamped upon him, now beholds the "light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." In personal bondage, he is Christ's freeman; and, without a country in all the world he can call his own, his expectations are raised to one that is heavenly. And the devoted missionaries in Rangoon who have planted the standard of Christ in the empire of darkness, and invaded "the habitations of cruelty," will soon, it is hoped, receive an accession to their number.

Such extended operations, it may well be conceived, could not be carried on without great expense; and the Board, ever regarding economy in the use of the funds by the liberality of the public entrusted to them, have, nevertheless, been compelled by a sense of duty, to make large appropriations for these several objects. The calls of Providence were too plain to be misunderstood. They would not resist; they could not but promote the ardent wishes of those into whose hearts God had infused the holy desire of sacrificing almost every earthly consideration to his sacred cause. They confided in His faithfulness who has promised to accomplish what they are labouring by his blessing to achieve. They trusted, too, that there existed in those who have hitherto favoured them with their patronage, a spirit that would not suffer them to grow weary in well doing; but which, regarding the success that has crowned their efforts, would only find in each renewed demand upon their benevolence, a fresh inducement for contributing to such heavenly purposes.

Much has been done, but more, much more remains to be accomplished. We have only planted our standard on the field; the battle is yet to be fought. The various stations which have been chosen, are only strong positions from which must be carried on a more extended warfare. If we faint here, our strength is small indeed! If

we sit down satisfied with such partial achievements, the laurels already gathered will wither on our brows. If steady, ardent, persevering efforts do not succeed these measures, we have but laboured in vain. What are four missionaries in Rangoon against a host of seventeen millions? and these too under the strong influence of the god of this world, and shielded by the grossest darkness! Take up the map of North America. Trace the range of the everlasting hills' which divide the waters that roll to the Atlantic from those that discharge themselves into the gulf of Mexico. One missionary is stationed there; more solitary than the eagle that builds upon their rocks. From thence look southward upon the vast extent of country inhabited by the Cherokees, Creeks, Chickasaws, and Choctaws, and one or two may be discovered shining like stars amid the general gloom. Then extend your view across the Mississippi to the town of St. Louis; two missionaries have fixed themselves there. But follow this river in its course for thousands of miles; trace its mighty tributary streams, and you will find their banks lined with tribes of Indians, almost as ignorant of the God who made them, as the animals on which they subsist. When shall these "floods clap their hands?" when shall these valleys sing, and the mountains repeat the joyful sound of salvation? Can such mighty effects be produced by the efforts of two men, however pure their aims, however unwearied their exertions?

We repeat it, the work is but in its commencement. Those selfdenying men, who, confiding in the promises of God and the fidelity of his friends, have gone forth to their glorious task, must be ably supported. For success in their endeavours they look to Him whose privilege alone has power to make darkness light, and raise the dead to eternal life; but for the means which shall enable them unceasingly to persevere in their labours, they look to us. And who will refuse "a cup of cold water" to the disciple of his Lord, when fainting with the extremity of toil? Let us rather say, who will not count it a happiness, for which he is bound to give thanks to the Father of mercies, that an opportunity is afforded of participating in that noble design which invites the contemplation, and engages the attention of the happy spirits who "are sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation?”

There is one circumstance which the Board are particularly desirous of impressing upon the mind of every friend to humanity. Our British brethren in India have found, by the experience of more than twenty years, that "civilization and salvation go hand in hand;" and if this be true respecting a people in some degree enlightened,

it obtains with a ten-fold consideration when applied to the aborigines of our country, destitute of a written language and every art of cultivated life. It follows that schools for their instruction must be established if we would do them any real and permanent service; and an additional expense proportionate to these objects must ensue. But let not any one be discouraged on this account. By teaching them to read, and placing in their hands the word of God, which by the power of his Spirit is able to make them wise unto salvation, we shall greatly prepare the way of the Lord, and facilitate the progress of his missionary servants. It is but following the bright path that marks the progress of redeeming love on the fields of Europe and the extensive plains of Asia. By this method such as were ready to perish, even in lands where the gospel had long been known, have been nourished with the bread of life. By this method the heavenly manna distils upon the wilds of Tartary. And it is by disseminating religious tracts, and such portions of the Scriptures as they have, in the short period of their residence in Rangoon, been able to translate into the Burman language, and publish, that our beloved brethren there are diffusing the knowledge of God with success; and their hearts are gladdened with inquiries for "more of this sort of writing."

Brethren of our own denomination! brethren in Christ and friends of humanity of every name! whilst thus we press upon you the mighty objects yet to be attained, we are not unmindful of what you have already done. We thank you, from our hearts we thank you, for the liberal support you have afforded in the common cause of our master; and we feel a pleasure in reflecting that our thanks are the least recompense that shall be given to every one who thus serves him. If we have "used boldness" in urging upon you the necessities of ever increased exertions, it is because we are sensible, that such only can be crowned with success. We ask not your gold or silver for our own purposes, but for His who is Lord of both. Our missionaries, content with what may subserve the ordinary support and decencies of life, prefer to all the charms of wealth, the privations which their duties impose, and find their comforts in the consolations of Christtheir luxuries in doing good. There is, indeed, one subject upon which they are importunate, and we cannot but request your attention to it. Their constant cry is, "Pray for us." This duty a Lazarus may fulfil, and even the most wealthy will find themselves enriched by the exercise. They who cast thei: bread upon the waters shall find it after many days; but the devout supplication of the pure in heart of itself diffuses the joys of heaven through the bosom of man. We close our address with the wish, that in this, as in every good word

and work you may continue to abound; and that all engaged in the glorious enterprise of extending the empire of the Redeemer, may realize the prayer of Moses, the man of God-" Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us; and establish thou the work of our hands: yea, the work of our hands establish thou it."

TO THE CORRESPONDING SECRETARY OF THE BAPTIST BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS FOR THE UNITED STATES.

DEAR SIR,

A MERCIFUL God has preserved me in health and safety through the various journeyings and exertions of another year. While recognizing his great goodness with devout gratitude, permit me to present to you, and, if you think proper, to the Board, the following statements, connected with the services allotted me by that venerable body.

These statements will have reference-1st, to the publishing of the proceedings of the Convention and third annual Report of the Board, and a tour through the western country last summer-2nd, to the circumstances connected with issuing proposals for the publication of the Latter Day Luminary, including a journey to Boston-3rd, to a tour through the middle and western states last fall and winter-4th, to the issuing of the first number of the Luminary, and a late excursion to Virginia and North Carolina.

1st. From the first of my employment in the service of the Board, it has been my endeavour to keep steadily in view, and to prosecute with undeviating perseverance, the great object of effectuating arrangements for keeping up a regular intercourse between the Board and all the Associations and Mission Societies in the United States, as designated in your second annual Report, 1816; combined with efforts to excite the public mind more generally to engage in missionary exertions, and to assist in originating Societies, or Institutions, for carrying the missionary design into execution, as expressed in my original appointment, in 1814. Of the importance of attaining this object, in addition to my confidence in the wisdom of the Board, I have ever felt a deep conviction, and have only lamented, while wearing away the best part of my earthly existence in the business, that it has not been in my power to carry forward these systematic arrangements with greater rapidity, to a larger extent, and with much more vigour and success.

After the publication of the proceedings of the second meeting of the general Convention, and the third annual Report of the Board, and the accomplishing of a general distribution of the same, I proceeded, conformably to instructions, on a tour to the westward. Although so late as the 8th of July before it was practicable for me to set out, and notwithstanding the badness of roads and the extreme heat of the season, I arrived at the Green River Association, in Barren county, Ky. the 27th of the same month. The following Saturday and Sabbath, I was with the Concord Association, Smith county, Tennessee; the next, with the White Water Association, Franklin county, Indiana, but in the evening of the same Sabbath preached in Cincinnati, Ohio, and received a contribution for missionary purposes; and the Saturday and Sabbath after, was again in the south part of Kentucky, at the Stockton's Valley Association, in Barren county, and on Monday, the day following, was at the close of the South District Association, in Mercer county, a hundred miles from the place of the meeting of the Stockton's Valley Association. Here, although brother Welch had received a liberal collection the preceding day, another was willingly offered,

On Thursday of the same week, I set out from Lexington, Ky. for this city, to be present at the quarterly meeting of the Board, the first Monday in September, conceiving it my duty to lay before my honoured patrons various considerations and facts relative to some important modifications of the plan now moving into operation. Nor could I avoid thankfully to mark the event as specially providential, that it should be practicable for me, without losing any opportunity of visiting associations, to meet the Board at a juncture which actu ally formed a crisis of no ordinary moment to the system of intercourse between that body and the baptist denomination throughout our country. I visited just on the bank of the Ohio river, on the Ohio side, the Teass Valley Association, on my way; and, in ten days and a half, having passed the distance of 760 miles, arrived in Philadelphia.

At the White Water Association, a meeting was agreed on for the purpose of forming, in that part of Indiana, a mission society, which was to take place in February; of the result, advices have not yet been received. A meeting was also appointed, before my leaving that quarter, for the purpose of originating a mission society, in the county of Madison, Ky. Brethren Peck and Welch, on their way to St. Louis, were present at that meeting, and a society was organized.

At each of the associations mentioned in the foregoing, as well as at each of those yet to be mentioned as visited by me in the course

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