from their hunting, requested to be re- tion. The awakening is prevailing in ceived, and were admitted into the so- several families. We have twelve in ciety. The society now consists of twen- society here. In the townships of Rainty-nine members, three of whom are ham and Walpole, there are still good white persons. We have also a Sab- appearances. Indeed at most of my bath School of Indian children, consist- appointments we have the presence and ing of about twenty, who are learning blessing of the Lord; so that our Misto read. Some young men having kindly sionary friends will have no occasion offered their services to instruct them. to repent the prayers they have offered This good work is about fifty miles from -the money they have expended, and the mouth of the Grand River-about the tears they have shed in behalf of six miles from the Mohawk village, the once miserable and forsaken sin and four miles north of the great road leading from Ancaster to Longpoint. About twelve miles from the mouth of the Grand River, another gracious work is commenced among both Indians and whites.* About twelve have found peace to their souls, among whom are four of the Delaware tribe. This awakening first took place in the mind of a white man, a notorious sinner. It was in time of preaching that the power of God arrested him. He wept and trembled like Belteshazzar. After meeting he came to me, saying, "I don't know what is the matter with me. I never felt so before: I believe I am a great sinner, but I wish to do better, what shall I do to be saved?" I told him the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, to convince him of sin, and he must repent and turn to God. There is evidently a great change in this man, who we hope may be an honour to the cause of religion in this wicked part of the Reserva * A small settlement of white people on the Indian lands, here borders on a settlement of the Delaware Indians. ners, but now happy and blessed converts on the Grand River. Much labour is now necessary, and I would gladly have assistance; but my health is good, and I would not increase expenses. In weariness my mind is comforted, and my soul is delighted in feeding these hungry natives with the provisions of the gospel. O I could endure hunger, or set down thankfully to their humble fare, or lie down in Indian wigwams all my life, to be employed in such a work as this, and especially if favoured with such consolations, as at times I have enjoyed since I commenced my labours in this Mission. I hope for ever to be grateful for his mercy in thus blessing his word for the conversion of these poor perishing sinners. Dear Sir, a letter of instruction and counsel would be thankfully received. I hope I have an interest in the prayers of my brethren. Farewell, very affectionately yours in the gospel of Christ. ALVIN TORRY. Grand River, U. C. Oct. 2, 1823. Letter from the REV. WILLIAM CASE. In my letter of the 27th of August, I great solemnity, observing a profound mentioned that an awakening had taken silence till the service commenced.* place among the Indians on the Grand River, and promised a more particular account of the work, after my next visit among them. But as brother Torry has sent you a pretty full account, a few remarks will suffice. On the 24th of September, in company with a religious friend, we passed into the wood and arrived at the Indian dwellings, about 9 o'clock in the morning, a time at which, they generally hold their morning devotions. We were received with cordial kindness, and the shell was blown as a call to assemble for religious service. Soon the people, parents and children, were seen in all directions repairing to the house of prayer. When they arrived they took their seats with Having understood that they were in "O sa và ner Tak gwogh sni yè nough, * Silence and solemnity become an assembly on entering upon the service of God. The noise of talk in the place of worship, the passing out and in, in time religious service, are irregularities of which an Indian would be ashamed. After the sermon, several addressed Christian, will be as conspicuous as in the assembly in the Mohawk, and the any other people of similar advantages. meeting was concluded by prayer, from The Indians here are very desirous of obone of the Indians in his native tongue. taining education for their children, and By the accounts which brothers Torry, they are making such efforts as their low Crawford, and others have given of this circumstances will allow; for this purreformation, as well as from the steady pose a school house is commenced, -а uniform deportment of the religious Sabbath School is now in operation since their conversion, the work of grace where about twenty children are taught appears to have taken a deep impression the rudiments of reading, and we are on the minds of this people. The use not without hope of seeing a day school of ardent spirits appears to be entirely established for the ensuing winter. Cerlaid aside, while the duties of religion tainly this Mission has been attended are punctually and daily observed. The with the divine blessing beyond every bour of prayer is sounded by the blowing expectation. It was not at first comof the shell, when they attend for their menced with the professed design of morning meetings with the regularity of converting the natives, (though they their morning meals. The Indian cha- were had in view) but for the benefit of racter, I am persuaded, has been but lit- the white inhabitants scattered over the tle understood. The worst of vices Indian lands. The merciful Lord how have been introduced among them by the immoral whites while the excellencies of the Christian virtues have been neglected and contemned in their sight. But let these people possess the advantages of Christian example and instruction, and they are as capable of instruction and good impressions as any nation, and from plain example before us at the several Missionary stations, we have every reason to believe, that all the amiable virtues of the friend and the ever has been pleased to endow the Yours in the cause of Missions, Niagara, U. C. Oct. 7, 1823. WESLEYAN METHODISTS. W. CASE. We have received the Minutes of the Eightieth Annual Wesleyan Methodist Conference, held in Sheffield, July, 1823, from which we select the following items of intelligence. The joy arising from mutual gratulations on their coming together, must have been mixed with sorrowful recollections on receiving information of the sudden death of two of their number, GEORGE SEARGENT and EDWARD B. LLOYD, who were killed by the upsetting of the coach in which they were coming to the Conference. Respecting these, however, they did not sorrow as those who have no hope; for though their death was sudden and unexpected, the one, Mr. Seargent, while stru struggling in the agonies of death, was heard to say, "Happy, happy;" and of the other who "lingered nine days in extreme pain," it is said that he "bore it with Christian fortitude and resignation in the full triumph of faith." The deaths of fourteen others are recorded, who departed from the field of labour to the promised inheritance with joyful expectations tations of everlasting re wards. 242601 If we add to these the number in the Methodist Episcopal Church, consisting of 312,540 members, and 1226 preach745 ers, it will make the whole number of Methodists throughout the world to be five hundred eighty-seven thousand, six, hundred and thirty-five. In Ireland: BIBLE SOCIETY OF FRANCE. of our nature? But what can temporary resistance effect against the Divine protection, which has so plainly signalized itself in favour of the cause which we have adopted ?" THE Fourth Annual Report of this our way; but what human enterprise is Society has just reached this country. not opposed? When has the principle of It forms a volume of two hundred and goodness shewed itself upon earth when fifty pages, and contains much interest- it had not to meet the evil inclinations ing matter, particularly that portion of it which relates to the distribution of the Scriptures in France. The meeting took place on the 16th of April, and the Marquis de Lincourt, a Peer of France and President of the Society, took the chair. It was opened with a prayer by M. Marron, which was succeeded by an address from the President, and some extracts from the Report of the Committee, by the Baron de Staehl: after this the speeches were made, &c. In the course of the year preceding, the Society distributed 1627 Bibles, and 5,196 Testaments; 13 new auxiliary societies or branches have been formed, and more than 30 Bible Associations. It was further stated in the Report, that the pecuniary resources of the Society, which are supplied by the zeal of inhabitants of the country, have more than doubled in that time; and that the amount of donations received from their friends in the departments, and by contributions from auxiliary ary societies, has quadrupled. "Such success," remark the Committee, " surpasses all our hopes; and there is none of us who has not fervently blessed God on hearing of it, that he has deigned to make choice of us as the instruments in so noble a work. Some obstacles have indeed been encountered in our progress, and may yet impede It appears from the Report that the Government have permitted the importation of many Bibles, intended for the poor, free from duties, and it is hoped that the same indulgence will be continued towards the Society. According to the plan adopted by other Bible Societies, they publish monthly Reports, and this has rendered the addition of an appendix to their yearly volume, quite superfluous. In short, the Society is stated to be prospering in every particular, and to receive the most cordial co-operation of the Societies of Christian Morality, Religious Tracts, and Missions among Heathen Nations. Among the persons mentioned as having been present at Meetings of the Committee, are professor Everitt of Boston, Dr. Spring of New-York, Mr. Wilson of Malta, Mr. Latrobe Secretary of the Church of the United Brethren, William Mullen the Philanthropist, General Macauley "his rival and friend," Mr. Thomas Erskine, Mr. Money member of Parliament, Dr. Pinkerton, and Mr. Wilks, minister of the American congregation in Paris. The following paragraph concerning one from our country, lately resident in France, we translate entire : "We are to be deprived for some time of the happiness of seeing among us Mr. Wilder, the assessor of your Committee, whom urgent business has called to America. In whatever country he may be placed by Providence, religion will be his motive and his object; but, convinced as we are that his Christian virtues can, in no other part of the world, be of such important service to the cause of the Gospel as in France, we hope he will not be long absent from a land in which he is attached by so many spiritual bonds, and where he inspires so much respect and affection." After a survey of the operations of the foreign European Bible Societies, we find the following remarks, under the head of the United States. "It is with Great-Britain, that we began the hasty picture of the Christian world-and it is another free country, which is to form the last link in this wonderful chain. What more irresistible argument, can we offer to those who would insure the spirit of this age, by pretending that it is not in harmony with the spirit of the Gospel; and that the power which impels mankind to the acquisition of improvement and liberty, is capable of estranging them from that holy doctrine, which is the first source of modern liberty and civilization. "The American Bible Society continues to honour us with a fraternal benevolence. It has now given us a new proof of it, by sending into the midst of us, as its representative, the Reverend Mr. Summerfield, a young minister of the Gospel, hardly twenty-five years of age, who has come to our climate to establish his health, enfeebled by the too early and assiduous exercise of his uncommon talents for preaching." The principal facts contained in the report of the American Bible Society, are then enumerated, and the portion of the Report devoted to foreign societies, concludes with some general remarks beginning in these words: "We have now rapidly passed over the inhabited surface of our globe. From Iceland to the Cape of Good Hope, from the Peninsula of India to the Western Coast of Africa, from the United States of America to the Pacific, there are few points accessible to Eu ropean commerce, which Bible Societies have not embraced in the cosmopolitanism of the Gospel. Hard indeed must be his heart, and blind his spirit, who can look on such a spectacle without emotion. The Bible has been offered to men of all classes and people, in all the degrees of the social scale; the ignorant and the philosophical, the statesman and the poor artizan; the polished nations of our old Europe, and the wandering tribes in the forests of the New World; the African under the Torrid Zone, and the Esquimaux, who disputes his doubtful existence with the eternal ice of the Pole; all have received the Book of Life. How wonderful! the manners, the political institutions, the literature, the forms of worship, the systems in philosophy, in short, every thing is different among those people; it is with difficulty, that the most simple ideas extend from one to the other; and behold, here is a book, which embraces the immensity of the moral world, which rises to the highest questions in metaphysics, and descends to the most humble details of daily life; this book, speaks to all the same language, and is understood by all. Still more wonderful! It adopts itself to the degrees of human nature; and while it inculcates the same truths, it developes the same feelings in all hearts. If, after this, any doubts should dare to rise, concerning the divine inspiration of the scriptures, what more lively proof can we give them? All the interpretations, all the commentaries, call up new commentaries and new interpretations; not a profession of faith, written by the hand of man, but gives room for new dissension; not a mode of worship, but dissatisfies some of those who profess it; not a sect so inclusive, but sees the shades of opinion dividing the members of which it is composed. But remark, on the contrary, all those, who in countries the most diverse, in situations the least analogous, read the Bible with a sincere and humble heart, all those, who drink at this divine fountain, soon have but one heart and one soul. Distinctions disappear, and different communions approach each other. 'There is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision, nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free, but Christ is all and in all.'-Religious Chronicle. DEAR BRETHREN, Obituary. To the Editors of the Methodist Magazine. Owego, September 30, 1827. I take the liberty of sending you the "Bradford Settler" of August 9th, containing an obituary notice of the Rev. ELIHU BUTTLES. I was not able to collect any thing respecting the circumstances of his death till I obtained this paper, which was only a day or two since. Brother BUTTLES was a man of deep and uniform piety, and very acceptable talents as a preacher. The publication of this notice in your Magazine, will no doubt be highly gratifying to his numerous friends in this country and the New-England states. Yours respectfully, F. REED. DIED,-at Orwell, on the 24th of He preached his last sermon, as I am July, aged forty-six years, our highly esteemed and much lamented friend and brother, the Rev. ELIHU BUTTLES. His funeral rites were performed on the following day, in the afternoon, and a discourse preached by the Rev. Jeptha Brainard, from Mark xiii. 36, 37, to a large and respectable congregation. Mr. Buttles had been, for upwards of twenty-three years, a respectable and an acceptable member of the Methodist Episcopal Church; most of which time, he served the church in the capacity of a local preacher. He was licensed a local preacher in the state of Connecticut, in A. D. 1805-in 1811 he was admitted to deacons orders, and ordained by F. Asbury, Bishop of said church, in New York, May 23, 1811. About seven years ago, he emigrated from New-England to this county, which was the place of his residence, until his decease. In 1821 he was recommended by the District Conference as a suitable candidate to receive the office of an Elder, and on the 28th day of July 1822, was ordained Elder, by R. R. Roberts, one of the Bishops, at Vienna, New-York, at the Annual Conference. In these several relations, which he sustained to the church, he so demeaned himself as to give universal satisfaction. He had the confidence and the affection of the church, of which he was a member; and also, as we have reason to believe, the good will of the citizens, generally, composing his numerous acquaintance. informed, in Columbia, (Pa.) on the 6th day of July, from Rev. xxii. 2, to a very crowded congregation, who witnessed with the utmost attention, his ardour and zeal for the cause of Jesus, in his discourse. In all his sermons he attended to the charge which Christ, in effect, gives to all his ministers, "Feed my sheep, feed my lambs." Hence, his manner of preaching was so plain, as to be equally understood by both children and men in understanding. He did not attempt to entertain his hearers with empty and unprofitable speculations; but, with a mind well informed, his matter carefully arranged, and his heart glowing with holy zeal, he preached the gospel of salvation. It affords real comfort in the midst of bereavement to hear it so often said, "he is gone, but he was truly a peacemaker, a good man, and an ornament to the house of God." "The memory of the just shall be blessed." As it is said, (Acts xiii. 2,) "Devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him," so four of the brethren were his pall hearers. He has left a widow and a numerous family of children and acquaintances to mourn their losss, yet they "sorrow not as those who have no hope." "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth; yea saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them." |