1818.] REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE M. B. M. SOCIETY. 377 [The annual meeting of the Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Society was held at the Second Baptist Meeting-House in Boston, on Wednesday, the 27th. of May, 1818. The services commenced at 8 o'clock, A. M. when an appropriate discourse was delivered by the Rev. Nathaniel W. Williams, of Beverly; after which, the annual business of the Society was transacted. The following is the Report of the Trustees, which we insert entire, on account of the extensive view it presents of the destitute parts of our country.] REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE MASSACAUSETTS BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY. DEAR BRETHREN, AS the time has expired for which we were appointed to manage the concerns of this society, it is proper that we should lay before you a statement of our proceedings. A faithful steward will not hesitate to render an account of his stewardship; and if in the discharge of his trust, he has been successful, it will afford him much satisfaction to present a detail of his labours. We entered on the duties confided to us under an impression that we were the stewards of this society, and with the recollection, that "It is required in stewards that a man be found faithful." We have viewed your funds as sacred to the dissemination of evangelical truth, and have sought that wisdom which cometh from above, that we might make a judicious appropriation of them. It has been our constant aim to promote the object for which this society was established, by sending the gospel to the poor and destitute in our ewn country. In doing this, we have not allowed ourselves to be influenced by geographical distinctions. We have had no local partialities to gratify. We have considered those sections of our country, which were most destitute of the word, as having the most powerful claims on our attention. Hence our missionaries have published the tidings of salvation in very different and distant parts of the land. While some have travelled by the direction of the Board into the District of Maine, and have extended their journies to Nova Scotia; others have passed the Alleghany Mountains, and have occupied missionary ground in Ohio and Virginia. One of our brethren is now fulfilling an appointment for six months, in the dark and distant region of Louisiana. It is reasonable to suppose that the members of this Society wish to know what have been the labours, and what the success of the missionaries employed. We have anticipated these inquiries, and beg leave to present extracts from their letters and journals. Rev. Isaac Case has spent more than six months east of Penobscot Riv-. er, in the District of Maine, in New-Brunswick and Nova-Scotia. "Here," he says, "gospel labourers are much needed. Great attention was paid to the word; many were affected; some, I believe, were pricked to the heart, and others were rejoicing in God their Saviour. The infant church in Sullivan, collected about six years ago, and consisting of 80 or 90 members, has received a second blessing; for about forty have been added by baptism the past summer." In the town of Trenton, where he laboured, between thirty and forty have been added to the church; and as many as twenty more were candidates for baptism. The town is small; but the work has been so general, there is scarcely any left to oppose. He observes, "I visited Eden on Mount-Desert last September. Some mercy drops have fallen on this place. It is thought that about 100 souls have been brought to a knowledge of the truth. I baptized a number of truly penitent sinners; and had the happiness of seeing a Vol. I. 48 church of Christ established, according to the apostolic plan. At Barncoat Island, Castine, Blue-hill, and several other places, the Lord has manifested his saving mercy to the inhabitants. I arrived at St. John's the first of November, and spent the winter in travelling up and down this river, preaching Jesus as I went. I found the people anxious to hear the word. Some travelled 9, 12, and 15 miles in cold winter days, to hear the precious word of life. They were very glad that my Master had sent me that way. It is difficult to conceive how destitute this vast region is; here are thousands who seldom hear a gospel sermon." Rev. Henry Kendall has spent three months in the service of the society. There is reason to believe that his labours in several places were much blessed. At Bakerstown he was very affectionately received by the members of the church, but he found them in a low state. They had not had a visit from a Baptist minister since last winter. He preached to them four times before the sabbath, and visited most of their families. On the Lord's day they met in their log meeting-house, but it was not large enough to contain those who had assembled. This," he observes, "was a solemn day; many eyes flowed with tears, and the people seemed to hear as for eternity." In November, Mr Kendall visited Harpswell neck. Religion had been at a low ebb in that place for 40 years. But his ministrations were attended with "the demonstration of the Spirit and with power," and a revival of religion commenced. He had the privilege of baptizing the first person, that ever was baptized in the waters of Harpswell neck. After a short absence, he returned to this place again, where he found a young man who had been awakened under his ministry, now rejoicing in the truth; others had also received strength to hope in God; and many were impressed with a sense of their lost condition. Before he left them, he baptized three candidates. "Such a day," says he, "was never seen in this place. Several persons from 60 to.80 years of age, were spectators of this solemn ordinauce. who had never seen it administered before. The season was sweet and solemn, and many tears were shed, especially at the water side.” The town of Gardner, which is represented as very poor and destitute, was also visited by our missionary brother. In his journal he informs us, "The Lord was pleased to bless his word; a reformation made its appearance, which has gradually increased. Many young persons have been turned from Satan unto God, and are now praising his name. I have administered baptism three times. On one of these occasions, when it was extremely cold, a little boy of eleven years of age, and a little girl of thirteen, followed their Redeemer into the liquid grave " Rev. Robert Low has been engaged three months as a missionary in the District of Maine. Extracts from his letter to the Board will give you the best idea of the nature and extent of his labours. He preached three Lord's days in Hallowell, and one at Harpswell. At the latter place he baptized one person. It was a solemn day; many wept, and wished to know what they should do to be saved. In an excursion up the Kennebec river, he preached almost every day. While at Canaan be remarks, "I never had greater freedom in preaching than in this place. Such was their hunger for the word, that snow storms, and severe cold weather did not deter the people from attending meetings every day or evening while I was in town. Many desired me to present their thanks to the Missionary Society, and expressed a hope that they should be able to aid its funds. There are so many destitute places in this part of the country, it is difficult to say which is most needy." Rev. Nathaniel Robinson has finished a mission of four weeks. We can give only a short extract from his letter. Having given an account of his labours in Penobscot, Castine, and Johnsborough, he writes thus: "In December, I left home to visit a new and very destitute settlement up the Union River. I was there seven days, and preached nine times.-O! Sir, had you been there, you would have felt much, to see husbands with their wives and families walk five miles, and bring a large babe with them. Some of the men walked eight or nine miles to the evening lectures. While they listened to the word, the tears flowed down their cheeks. There are about fifty families in this settlement, but they are much scattered. I should think that half of them are solemnly impressed with the worth of their souls, and inquiring what they must do to be saved." Rev. John Gibson has been employed six months by the society. He performed his first appointment of three months in Rhode Island. in fulfilling his second appointment, he laboured in New Hampshire. He observes, From various sections of the State, there is truly a Macedonian cry; and regular Baptist preachers are the most acceptable. I have been earnestly solicited to preach in a number of towns, which I could not visit. In several towns, which are now destitute of religious instruction, there are men of wealth and influence, who gladly receive our ministers; and if men of acceptable talents and piety could visit and stay with them, churches and societies might be established." Rev. Phinehas Richardson has laboured six months in the same State. He has chiefly confined his exertions to the towns of Bedford, New-Salem, Atkinson, Hamstead, Chester, and Concord. His time has been occupied in visiting the people from house to house, in delivering lectures, and preaching on the Sabbath. He says, "The fruit of my labours has been encouraging At Chester, a small Baptist society has been formed this season; there are pleasing indications of a reformation. Some appear quite tender in their minds, and anxious for the salvation of their souls. The few brethren and friends at Concord, indulge a strong hope that the time is at hand when a Baptist church will be formed among them.” Rev Isaiah Stone has spent ten weeks under the patronage of the Board. The facts which he communicates are peculiarly affecting, and contain a loud call for our renewed exertions. He has visited a number of towns in New-Hampshire and Vermont, and endeavoured to preach the gospel of Christ to them. He found many pious Christians scattered in these towns, who sit and mourn over their desolate and destitute condition. He has given in his journal the names of 13 towns, in which are 16 places of worship without a settled minister. It is impossible to contemplate such a state of things, with the eye of a patriot or a Christian, without being deeply affected. If we love our country, we must deplore the absence of that moral and religious instruction which exerts such a powerful influence in promoting the order and happiness of society; and if we believe the Bible, we must mourn that so many are perishing for lack of knowledge. It is certainly our duty to make more efficient, persevering and systematic efforts. We ought not to be satisfied that we have done enough, while such a field remains uncultivated. The objections arising from distance of place, the dangers of the journey, and the uncertainty of a favourable reception, so commonly brought forward against "Foreign Missións," can have no weight here. The missionary will not have to travel through deserts, where wild beasts are seeking their prey; he will not have to expose himself to the perils of the ocean before he enters on the scene of his labours; nor will he have any thing to fear from the frowns of a tyrant, whose will is law. This "moral waste" is near home; and he will be sure to meet with friends, who with open arms will welcome him as a messenger of God. He will have no difficulties to encounter in learning a new language, for they speak his own tongue, they are his own people and kindred. Those, then, who question the utility of "distant missions," have here an opportunity of exerting an enlarged and active benevolence. And those who have ascended a loftier height, and from their elevation see the nations which are sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, will not overlook the space which intervenes. They cannot be indifferent to the country which first meets the eye, because it is their own country, and is calculated to awaken the most tender and powerful associations which exist in the human breast. Before we leave the State of New-Hampshire, and shew what has been done in other parts of the "harvest," we cannot deny ourselves the mournful pleasure of mentioning the services of one of our brethren,Rev. William Batchelder, late of Haverhill, Massa. who now rests from his labours, and his works do follow him. He had an intimate knowl edge of the spiritual wants of this State. Being a member of the Board, he often recommended these wants to their special attention. Though from personal observation, his acquaintance with that section of the country was extensive, yet he opened a correspondence with persons in different parts of the State, for the purpose of giving a wise direction to the course of our missionaries The interest he felt for the poor and destitute, did not evaporate in ineffectual wishes. He did not con ceive that he had performed his duty when he had stated their case to the Board. He visited them himself; he entered their cottages, par took of their homely fare, and exposed himself to cold, and storms, that he might do good to their souls. In his death, the destitute inhabitants of New-Hampshire have lost one of their best friends. The Board would not do justice to their own feelings if they were not to say, that they deeply feel the loss they have sustained. They loved him as a fellow-labourer in the vineyard of the Lord. They wish to remember, for their own advantage, the amiable spirit which he invariably manifest ed; his attachment to the cause of missions, and the lively concern which he evinced for the prosperity of our denomination. They thought him valuable while he lived, and have been more impressed with his worth since he died. While reflecting on this painful event, they have been constrained to acknowledge in the language of Young, "Our blessings brighten as they take their flight.” In Vermont, Rev. Charles Brooks has fulfilled the appointments giv en him by the Board for four months. We rejoice in the success which the "Lord of the harvest" has granted to his labours. In several places where he preached, the word of the Lord had free course, and was glorified. During his mission he baptized 43 persons on a profession of faith; and when he left some towns, the appearance of a work of God on the hearts of sinners was very promising. Rev. Samuel Churchill has furnished the Board with an account of his missionary tour for six months. Most of his time was spent in NewYork, and Vermont. He informs us that the inhabitants in the neighbourhood of Plattsburgh are in a very destitute situation. He was the third missionary that had ever visited them. They were very attentive to his ministry. After he had left this region, they sent him an affectionate letter, informing him that his labours had been blessed. In Fairfax, Vermont, he had a pleasant season. He says, "A refor mation commenced in this place last August. It began in a school. A little girl about 10 years of age, expressed great anxiety to her instructer for having told her a falsehood a year before. She asked forgiveness, and begged her prayers. She was deeply convinced of the evil of sin. Divine influence spread from heart to heart, till the general inquiry was," What shall we do to be saved?" Their distress was so great and general, that it was impossible to attend to the business of the school. They sent for a Christian to converse with them, and a God of mercy turned their mourning into joy, and songs of praise. About 17 or 18 youths have made a public profession. The work was not confined to the school; it spread through the town, and in November, 60 had been added to the church. I visited Chateauguay. This has been one of the wickedest places in the world. But a God of omnipotent grace has wrought wonders among the people. Many of the most hardened have been made to bow to the power of truth. One person came to converse with me in great distress, who had indulged a false hope. His present distress took place the day I reached town, from an apprehension that his wife was going to offer herself as a candidate for baptism, and church-membership. He said he should not have felt worse, had he been called to follow her to the grave. This aversion which he felt, led him to suspect his heart was not right. When I returned, he had obtained relief, and a new hope. On Lord's day, he related his experience, and was baptized, with his wife and several others. During this mission, I have had the pleasure of leading 48 down the banks of Jordan." In New-York, Rev. Emory Osgood has performed part of a mission for three months. In a letter to the Secretary he observes:-"I received an appointment from the Board to spend three months in the vicinity of Sacket's Harbour. In December I commenced, and have preached occasionally ever since, in the camp and village. I spend two and sometimes three days in a week; and when I am not preaching, I visit from house to house. The prospect is favourable, both in the camp and the village. The ministry of the word is attended with seriousness. For the honour of Colonel Leavenworth, the commander of the regiment, I wish to communicate, in his own words, his remarks on my first introduction into the camp. After I had closed my observations, he commanded the attention of the soldiers: Said he, I am not a preacher, but this gentleman is, and his motives are of the purest kind; he has come to do you good, he has come to serve you. He is my particular friend, and I wish you to consider, and treat him as my friend. These remarks have secured me the respect of the soldiers, and I am treated with the most particular attention by all the officers, and most of the citizens of the place." The Board mention the kindness of Colonel Leavenworth with very great pleasure. It is their prayer that he may be eminent for those virtues which distinguished the Roman centurion; and which form the fairest and most unfading wreath with which the soldier can be adorned. Rev. Jonathan Stone has commenced a mission of six months appointed him by the Board. A quotation from his letter will shew that he has much encouragement to persevere "I have fixed (says he) on a destitute part of our country, and have spent a few weeks in missionary service. I have the satisfaction to inform you, that there is a revi val of religion in the west part of the township of Canton, Penn. [ visited this settlement for the first time the second week in December. I found a few brethren, but no church. Sin abounded very much; but it pleased the Lord to begin a work of grace in the hearts of some of |