cefsfully, and is convinced of the to the churches-His fermon on need and utility of difcreet Miffionary fervices. ftedfaftnefs in religion, and two fermons on the Chriftian Sabbath They all agree that much good-Doddridge's Rife and Progress may refult from Miffions, and af--the feveral fermons which have fure us, while the field of labor is been preached before the fociety large and the harvest is plenteous that the laborers are few. Conftrained from love to fouls and animated with the pleafing profpect of ferving them, the Trustees have profecuted their work, and have now four Miffion aries in their fervice: Rev. Meffrs. Fish, Cooley, Crosby and Strong. -The three first for the term of 18 weeks-the 4th, being the laft procured, for 14 weeks. The two firft are employed in the counties of Herkimer, Oneida, Onondaga and Chenango, in NewYork: the others in the diftri& of Maine. To avoid interference with other focieties, and to profit ourfelves of the knowledge which we had gotten and of the favorable impreffions which we had made, they were directed to take the fame route, to obtain, if able, fuller information-make deeper impreffions of our fincere defire to afford them the bread of life and make them a people prepared for the Lord. In the few letters received, they affure us of their kind receptionof the large fields of labor which are before them of their fair profpects and hopes, and of their defire and purpose to do what is expected, trufting in Chrift for frength and fuccefs, and earneftly entreating the prayers of thofe who wifh well to Zion, The diftribution of books is again made an object. The lift of the last year has been increased -as the port of the Trustees Dr. Lathrop's vol. on the Epiftle to the Ephelians-His fermons on baptifm and Chrift's warning alfo divers other small tracts, as -Plain Truths, Two Shoemakers, Repofitory Tracts No. 7 and No. 8, Familiar Inftructions, Extracts from Henry's life, Hemmenway's Sermon to Children, Vivian's Dialogues, Addrefs from a Stranger, Whitaker's Addrefs, Friendly Vifit. Different books, calculated to promote the leading object, appeared moft eligible. A variety of entertaining, ufeful and religious reading fuits different taftes enkindles a thirst for information-prompts to a good ufe of leisure hours-animates to emulation and ends in greater improvement. The selection of the Tracts, it is thought, has been judiciously made. The other and larger works are generally known. All the books purchased have not been diftributed. The remainder is referved for future years. That there fhould be a deftitution of books in a newly fettled and uncultivated country will be eafily fuppofed, and readily accounted for, when the neceffaries and ordinary comforts of life first and for a confiderable time engross the attention of the inhabitants. is not then ftrange that the difperfion of books is fo commonly gone into by religious focieties. In this way more good is effected than only by employing Miffion It *On hand, Bibles 52-Select Sermons 10-Doddridge's Address 400Lathrop's Six Sermons 316-On the Tracts, about 1000-The Trustees' reChriftian Sabbath nearly 1000-The port and inftructions, not exactly ascertained. aries. Extenfive and permanent | dom enjoy them, or are wholly good accrues from it. deprived of them? It is very conceivable, that in a new country many, who would be glad to hear the word and attend on all the adminiftrations of the fanctuary; who once heard and The prefent ftate of the funds will be laid before you as by document A.* The report of the Auditing Committee--with our expenditures and difbursements fince the last meeting as by docu-attended cheerfully and profitably, ment B, and the contributions feel unable to fpare even a small which have been made, and the fum to attain those valuable obprofpects which we have of being jects. Neceffity conftrains them further ferviceable to the caufe of to apply what they procure to the Christ. fubfiftence of their families. UnFrom the ready patronage aided, they muft for years experiwhich the good people in this ence a famine of the word of life. county have given to this benevo- For how fhall they hear without lent inftitution, and the very im- a preacher? How preach unlefs portant objects which it embraces, fent? Who fend them but Chrift, the Trustees fatter themselves with and who furnish the compenfation a continuance of their charities. for their labors but the wealthy What has been freely given, they and liberal? There may be othtruft, has been acceptably anders, who, for want of fuitable in-beneficially applied: That many ftruction, imbibe hurtful if not in the new fettlements have reap-deftructive errors. How fhall ed and still reap the bleffed fruits of Miffionary fervices, and of the ufeful books which have been diftributed among them. We be- Thofe who live long without lieve that the good Lord has the word and ordinances of Christ, owned what has been done, and are expofed to lose a lively sense accepted the alms which have been of their utility and high excellence, confecrated to his ufe. Oppor- to cherish a Gallio fpirit, and to tunities often prefent to do good apply what they have altogether to our fellow men. But how can to worldly purposes. To prevent we do them more good, or fo all this fomething must be done, much, as by affording them the and done by those who judge corineans of religious inftruction? rectly, who duly appreciate gofpel To what higher and better ufe bleffings, and who have the abili can any apply the wealth which ty to reward those who preach Providence beftows on them, than the truth. The condition of our by fending to the deftitute and infant fettlements is meliorating. poor the difpenfation of the gof-To this defirable change Miffionpel of the grace of God? In what eftimation do we hold our religious advantages? With what extreme reluctance would we part with them? How then must our bowels yearn over thofe, who fel *Note A. P. † Note B. P. this evil, which may be a growing one, be refifted but by the labors of orthodox and pious teachers? ary focieties have doubtless contri- be will, doubtlefs, ftill exift, and require our exertions in this way. Te this we may be powerfully moved by the good which has been effected; by the more fteady conduct of individuals; by the orderly management and religious education of private families; by the peace and harmony of towns; the organization of churches; by the more careful obfervation of the Lord's day; by a growing conviction of the value of gofpel inftitutions; by the fettlement of ministers, and by a divine influence accompanying the miniftry of the word, producing, as we hope, the converfion of finners and the enlargement of Zion. abound in hope and faith thro the power of the Holy Ghost. May thefe animating confiderations ftill operate upon our hearts, and on many others, who need only to have their attention turned to this fubject and their charity folicited. God is able to make all grace abound, towards those who with well to this very thing-who labor diligently and beftow freely for the inftruction and falvation of precious fouls; that fuch may have an all fufficiency in all things and abound in every good work; and being enriched in every thing to all bountifulnefs, thankfgivings and praises may be offered by ve ry many unto God. The Trustees would fuggeft to the fociety, that the following votes be paffed-which were ac VOTED, That a Committee be appointed to form a plan of a legal incorporation of the fociety, and report the same at the next annual meeting.* We fhould be moved by the abundance of good which may yet be effected by diligently and vigorously and difcreetly profecuting what we have begun. Hav-cordingly paffed. ing done fo much, let us go on; -that we may not lofe what we have gained. Let us ftill exert ourselves without fainting and weariness and reluctance, and give and do as we are able; accordingVOTED, That the feveral Chur. ly as God giveth to us; who lov-ches and Congregations belonging eth a cheerful giver. Let us anto the fociety, be requested to imate our hearts to this good and make a public contribution to the glorious work, by confidering funds of the fociety upon the next what benevolent efforts are ftill annual Thanksgiving. made in various parts of our country, and in various parts of Europe, to spread the light of divine truth and enlarge the borders of Chrift's kingdom-by confidering what large numbers are employed in it-how cheerfully they contribute towards it-how harmoni.. oufly they pursue the work-how ardently and inceffantly they befiege the throne of grace for direction and fuccefs, and how remarkably their defigns and labors have been owned of their Father in heaven, and how wonderfully the God of hope causes them to VOTED, That the above report be printed and fent to each Minifter of the fociety or, if vacant, to the deacon of the church, with a request to read it publicly to the congregation. SAMUEL HOPKINS, Vice President. It was after propofed and voted, that the committee fhould report to the Society on the fecond Thursday in January next. That the committee That Rev. fhould confift of feven. Williams, Haftings, Billings, Phelps Meffrs. Dr. Lathrop, Dr. Lyman, S. and Jonathan E. Porter, Efq'rs, fhould be the committee. 4. MONIES received by the Hampshire Miffionary Society, fince the report of the Trustees A. D. 1802. MONIES received by the Hampshire Miffionary Society, from August 1802, to August 1803. B. THE Committee appointed by the Hampshire Miffionary Soci ety, at their meeting at Northampton, on the twenty-fixth day of Auguft laft, to examine into, and report to the Society the state of their Treasurer's accounts-ask leave to report as follows: THE Committee find that all the monies for which the Treasurer has become chargeable up to this day amount to twenty-two hundred fifty-four dollars fix and an half cents. Thirteen hundred forty-four dollars twenty and an half cents he has by regular and proper documents proved to have been duly expended, under the direction of the Committee of the Trustees, for the purposes of the fociety. Eight hundred thirteen dollars and fixty-two cents are loaned to fundry perfons and fecured with intereft, for the benefit of the fociety. There are now in the Treasurer's hands in cash ninety-fix dollars and twenty-four cents. The three laft mentioned fums make in the whole the fum of twenty, two hundred fifty-four dollars fix and an half cents, for which the Treasurer was accountable. C. EXPENDITURES of the Hampshire Miffionary Society, fince the Report A. D. 1802. To complete the pay of Miffionaries A. D. 1802.. To Rev. Samuel Taggart, A. D. 1803, in advance, To Rev. Peter Fish, To Rev. Timothy M. Cooley, 90 To Rev. Joshua Crosby, 64 To Rev. Jofeph Strong, For books. Four Bibles, 3 15 15 Select Sermons, Aug. To Dr.Lyman, carriage To Mr. Hale, paper and ad- To Mr. E. Cook, for entertain- urer, For printing letter and plan of In the foregoing account are feveral books, valued 10 dollars and 87 cents, which, being donations, are not brought into the account of the Treasurer. Alfo 18 dollars of the charge for Doddridge's Rife, are yet due from the Society, and may be paid by a return of the books. The other 20 dollars were fent to Albany expecting to purchafe 18 of Doddridge's Rife, and 12 of Fuller's Gospel its own witnefs. The refult is not yet known. The books to which no price is affixed, it is expected, will be of no expenfe to the fociety, being paid for, by printing large impreffions of Dr. Lathrop's fermons on the fabbath, his fix fermons, and his fermon before the fociety. Large fums have been paid out of the treafury to the printer, but, being due from fubfcribers and purchafers, will be replaced as foon as collected. |