BOARD OF DOMESTIC MISSIONS.

Business Officers of the Board. Corresponding Secretary-Rev. C. C. JONES. Assistant Secretary-Rev. R. HAPPERSett. Treasurer-SAMUEL D. POWEL.

Address, Mission Rooms, 265 Chestnut st. Philadelphia. LETTERS relating to Missionary appointments, and other operations of the Board, including CHURCH EXTENSION, should be addressed to the Corresponding Secretary. DONATIONS and SUBSCRIPTIONS should be sent to the Treasurer; or, if more convenient, to the following per

sons:

J. D. WILLIAMS, Pittsburgh, Pa.
ANDREW DAVIDSON, Louisville, Ky.

advantages, chiefly for the reason that the religious, the Christian cultivation of this field had been in Popish hands, the lines of separation were removed by a righteous Providence, and the doors opened wide for the entering in of Protestant cultivators for this ample and splendid domain.

Mark the change! I admit that peculiar circumstances have conspired to produce this transformation, particularly in the enterprise and progress of secular business. But it is quite evident that another class of stewards have come into possession. And they have brought with them their wonted intelligence, enterprise, and skill; and in circumstances so prompting to effort, they are here searching out the many and extended hidden stores of wealth. Among these new comers are many who have brought with them their Bibles and a cherished love for its truths; they have not lost their regard

WILLIAM RANKIN, JR. Mission House, 23 Centre street, for the Sabbath, the sanctuary, and the gospel min

New York.

CALIFORNIA.

Present condition and obligations of Protestantism. We have within a few days received a communication from our esteemed brother, Rev. ALBERT WILLIAMS, of San Francisco, California, of great interest and value, but its length prevents its insertion entire in the Record. It has however been published entire in the papers of our Church, and will thus reach not only the eyes of our ministers and people, but their hearts also.

istry; these blessed divine instrumentalities, already in so gratifying a degree furnished to the thronging immigrants to this land, are fostered and sustained with a justly commendable zeal.

palians, six; Cumberland Presbyterians, four; Oldschool Presbyterians, nine.

An interesting commencement has been made in the supply of California with the gospel. The beginning was small, It is now four and a half years since the first Protestant clergyman came to residence, and of ministerial labour. Six months this country, who has made it a permanent place of afterwards five others joined him in his work. Gradually the number of ministers and organized churches has increased. At the present time, the whole number of evangelical clergymen is one hundred and eleven. These are distributed among the Certain is it, that with all the excitement which different branches of the Church in the following the acquisition of California, and the discovery of its proportions:-Of the Methodist Church, North, thirimmense mineral wealth has created throughout the y-eight; Methodist Church, South, twenty-six; Congregationalist, nine; Baptists, five; New-school PresUnited States, and we may add, the world, correct byterians, eight; Associate Presbyterian, one; Reinformation relative to that wonderful land, in res-formed Dutch, one; German Reformed, one; Episcopect to its mineral and agricultural resources, its civil, social, moral, intellectual, and religious condition, is not as much diffused among us, as it should be. Particularly, as Protestants, we are not aware of the importance of California as a strong hold of Protestantism. Mr. Williams in his communication gives a brief history of Popery in California, from the period that the first emissaries of that religion Still the country at large is very inadequately suptook possession, down to the present time. Misera-ities. To the ministers and members, therefore, of plied with spiritual and educational instrumentalble and fruitless have been the results of their labours. The entire population of California by the late official census is 224,435, and the increase in two years more than ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND! San Francisco has a population of 34,876! It must now be about 40,000.

We insert the closing part of Mr. Williams's letter, which will furnish much information, and presents the true state of the religious world in California, and points out our responsibilities as Protestants. Where are the ministers who will go-and go qualified for the work to be done there, and go with a DETERMINATION TO STAY AND FIGHT THE BATTLE OUT? While, therefore, it is true that the teeming resources of this goodly land had not been developed, and the civilized world was kept in ignorance of its

Some of the above ministers are engaged in teaching; a few in agencies for benevolent Societies; all are, more or less, and the greater part distinct church organizations does not differ much exclusively employed in preaching. The number of from the aggregate number of ministers, probably they are somewhat fewer.

our own branch of the Church, the appeal is made with earnestness, to look after the home interests of with the enlightening and saving influences of the this field, in furnishing it, as far as we are able, Protestant evangelical faith. At the beginning, we were "not a whit behind" other denominations; but that prominence which we then had has not been maintained, but has since been lost in the superior zeal of those who far out-number us. We want more preachers; and we want more teachers. It is high time to enter actively into schemes of education, and begin to lay the foundation of one or more collegiate institutions. What, with the foundation already secured in primary schools, we should at once have a beginning made towards a regular, chartered, liberally endowed, and commanding university; and this, as well to preserve the consistency of our Presbyterian reputation, as the friends and promoters of useful learning, as also to meet the wants of the rapidly multiplying population.

ALBERT WILLIAMS.

MORE MINISTERS NEEDED.

Our Roman Catholic neighbours, though so lag- blessing may not be withheld, is the desire and gard in the cause of education when they exclusively ardent prayer of Yours truly, possessed the field, are now, with all their might and skill, seeking to extend their influence, by the educational facilities they offer to our youth. With their usual boastfulness, they parade their qualifications, economy, and transcendent merit; and some of our Protestant friends are caught in the snare. The Jesuit seminary they have founded is an effect of their being brought into contact with Protestant Christian enterprise; it is also a proof that, in the view of its proprietors, there is an object to be gained. Let the stimulus of such competion, as well as other motives, prevent us from failing to furnish to the youth of California the best educational advantages which can be afforded.

These two objects, then, the interests of evangelical religion, and of sound literary and scientific learning, through the instrumentality of the Church, cannot be too earnestly and strongly commended to the members of our communion. We have churches in California, but we require more of them. We have no college, but we forthwith need one. When, therefore, our brethren in the older States are turn ing their attention and their faces towards us, let them think of the wide field which is open to the teacher and professor, as well as the preacher. Let them stir themselves to enter with zeal into the work which will, more and more, fill this land with healthful and elevating moral influences. If they have not capital to invest in the cause of education among us, let them come, bringing what is better, and what is especially requisite in a new undertaking, much of self-denial, fortitude, faith, and perseverance. Let them come, not needing nor willing to build on other men's foundations. Many a new field of Christian enterprise is yet open among us, to those who covet to be useful. Let the whole Church feel, that upon it as a body rest peculiarly strong obligations to send forth labourers into this inviting field. Let not our friends at a distance excuse themselves from a service, at once so promising and so urgent in its claims.

Much more I might add in direct appeal, to my ministerial and Christian brethren, to induce them to continue, more and more, to feel a kindly interest in the religious welfare of California, and materially and efficiently to aid in preventing the spread of infidelity, and the prevalence of impiety in our communities; the fear of which is even now sufficient to cast a darkening gloom over our prospects.

We publish below a short extract from a letter which we recently received from the Rev. J. S. Armistead, of Cumberland county, Virginia. It makes an earnest appeal for more labourers, and alludes briefly to the kind of men needed, and where the Church must look in this extremity for influences to enlarge and build up Zion. That we all need to cultivate more of the spirit of our Master, there can be no doubt; and just in proportion to our peculiar situation, and the great mission God has given us as a Church to perform, do we need these gracious influences. God's people needs to be waked up to see-in a measure at least-the greatness of the work to be accomplished, as well as the great need of faithful labourers. Shall there not be more prayer to the Lord of the harvest? He surely encourages us to make this petition.

"What is to be done to supply our vacant churches with the ministry of the gospel? and how are our borders to be enlarged? We receive frequent applications to send ministers, but we can find none to send. Really things do look gloomy for our beloved Zion. We have now quite a number of vacant churches in our Presbytery, and yet a large territory to be occupied, and we have looked in every direction for ministers to do the Lord's work, and sec as yet no prospect of a supply. I trust that the feeling is becoming general among our ministers and people, that we must pray more to the Lord of the harvest, and that we must labour with more faith and zeal to build up the kingdom of our Master. I am persuaded that the present pattern of our ministry, and of the piety of our people, must be altered, before much will be done to supply the present awful destitution of ministers in our Church. The great question is, how shall we get our ministers and people wide awake to the actual condition of things? I am thinking of trying at the coming meeting of our Presbytery, to get a Protestants have nominally succeeded Papists in meeting of inquiry, or a convention, or an extended the possession of this field. The latter are now in free conversation on the state of religion in our an inferior position, as to numbers and influence-churches, so that we may see the necessity of more Protestantism is in power, and ought to maintain vigorous efforts, and more earnest prayer, to get the and improve its ascendercy. It remains to be shown Lord's people on some better ground. The fathers whether this stewardship shall be more faithfully and acceptably executed than the former. Let us think that it will be a poor substitute for the gospel, and the saving influences of Protestantism, to rear here our commercial marts for the traffic of nations; to concentrate wealth and power to compare with Phoenician or Babylonian greatness; to have schools and colleges and libraries-for these we shall have -and to accumulate all the refinements and luxuries of the world. Without the gospel, with all our gold and other teeming riches, we can be only poor. Our true riches cannot be brought out of our fertile soil, nor dug out of the mines; but the great King in Zion alone can give us the true riches, through the instrumentality of his Church, the unsearchable riches of the knowledge of Christ. That this great

of the Presbyterian Church laid its foundations by earnest prayer to the God of salvation, and by vigorous and self-denying effort; surely we may, and ought to build it up, by the same means. The Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save: his ear is not heavy, that it cannot hear.

FROM AN ITINERANT MISSIONARY IN
OHIO. MORE LABOURERS NEEDED-WHO
WILL GO?

Rev. and Dear Sir-The first quarter of the present missionary year has just closed, making it necessary for me to report to the Board; and in doing so I have only to say that my labours in this field have been

die to-day," said a wicked man present.

for the quarter as heretofore reported. The churches therein. And then, when it was said that it was all and missionary stations in connection with them I of the head—that there was no heart, and that there endeavour to supply as much as possible on the was no, or very little piety in the Presbyterian Sabbath. On this account, my labours on the Sab- Church-that their religion consisted in cold dogbath are necessarily very much divided-too much mas-God called that dear brother up from his field so for the good of the several churches, and entirely of labour in his visible church to the church triumtoo laborious for me to continue to do so much phant. On his death-bed he witnessed to the power longer. I have now been more than five years in of the doctrines he had preached to sustain the soul this field as an itinerant missionary of the Board, in the hour of death. The wicked stood by his without having my ride greatly lessened at any one death-bed in amazement. Is this religion? said they. time, or my labours materially decreased. I have How can he part with his young and beloved wife induced two brethren, and only two, to take, at dif- and infant child (little Toney) so cheerfully? They ferent times, a part of the territory occupied by were told-"he believes in the Saviour crucified, and myself the first year. One of these has, now, in the in justification and eternal life through him, as he mysterious providence of God, been called to his re- has preached to you." "And how can his wife enward, (the Rev. James H. Anderson,) the other, Rev. courage him-keep your eye on the Saviour-forgetD. S. Anderson, has been called to take his broth-ting herself, so soon to be a widow?" They were er's place in the Academy under the care of this Pres- told " she fully believes these great eternal truths bytery, so that I am again left alone as a constant herself." "Could I die as he dies I would wish to labourer in all that part of our Presbytery lying on the north side of the Maumee river. You, dear Those who had said his religion is all of the head, sir, and the Board, will at once perceive the neces- were obliged to confess "he truly is a Christian." sity of exerting your powerful influence to induce The labours of that dear brother are still visible. some of our young men, say from Princeton, to come How true, "and their works do follow them." The to this field, and to our relief. A few more hard-opposition to this church still exists, although shorn ships and exposures, such as have caused, it is in a great degree of its strength. The church has believed, the premature death of our dear brother been supplied with one year of steady preaching Anderson, may be the means of removing another from Mr. -, and with this exception they have of us from this field soon; and then the Maumee been destitute, except as they have been supplied by Presbytery must be dissolved, and our Zion long the brethren of the Presbytery; and they to do so mourn, because no one was found with sufficient have made great exertions, some travelling over one self-denial to "go out into the highways and hedges" hundred miles. of this Presbytery. We need assistance, and must have it, if we would maintain the ground we now occupy. As the matter now stands, I have little hope of benefiting to any considerable extent, the churches among which my labours are so much divided. It is impossible for me to attend prayer meetings, monthly concerts, Sabbath schools; get up and attend Bible and Catechetical classes, and give as to form no inconsiderable class, whose benevothat interest to them all, in all the churches, neces-lence possesses the remarkable quality of being genesary to their advancement. Nor is it possible for ral, without including any particulars! Or, in anme to visit and instruct from house to house, which other aspect, it is a sentiment, highly beautiful and I know to be necessary to the proper discharge of virtuous in appearance, but incapable of any practiduty, on account of the distance to be travelled cal applications. It is illustrated in graphic and every week to meet my appointments. We have affecting delineations of human misery and human now two vacant churches, and no one to preach to happiness-very artistic "dissolving views" of these them even on Sabbath. Others must become vacant realities, but unaccompanied by any available plan, soon without more labourers. O that the Great or even plausible theory, for man's relief from the Head of the Church would direct the steps of some infelicities of his condition. Nor is this serious defaithful brother to this field! fect the only fault we find in this spurious benevolence. It indulges in captious criticism of the plans and efforts of true benevolence, and utters obloquy against both the measures and motives of the Christian philanthropist, on account of incidental circumstances connected with his works, not peculiarly, but in common with all human undertakings.

Yours very truly,

J. M. C.

FROM A MISSIONARY IN WISCONSIN. Dying Testimony to the Gracious Doctrines of our

Church-A promising Missionary field.

The early history of this little church, with which I have laboured since the middle of November last, you are probably well acquainted with. You know the opposition from those around, to its organization in its present form and ecclesiastical relation. But it is with great satisfaction that I have reviewed the providence of God, as seen in its organization and history up to the present time, as I have learned it from its members.

Probably no other man could have effected its organization as it is, than our lamented brother Stuart. He faithfully instructed them in the doctrines of the word of God, and established the church

For the Home and Foreign Record.

AN OBJECTION TO MISSIONS.
There are persons, reckoned by some so numerous

These tender-hearted persons utter pathetic laments over the loss of life and treasure in carrying on the work of missions; and they could almost blame the church for persisting in an enterprise in which so many precious lives have been lost, and so many precious dollars have been expended. They shudder at the recital of the perils encountered by the missionary-perils by sea and land, perils by noxious climates, perils by barbarous men-and they grieve for the expenditure of money in conveying them to their fields of labour, and in supporting them there. They confess themselves shocked at the idea of talented young men, and amiable and refined young women, exposing themselves to the privations and mortifications of such a life, and

love, that animate his soul in labours, and cheer it even in death,

"All-bearing, all-attempting till he falls,

And when he falls writes victory' on his shield ?""
J. F. MCLAREN.

Allegheny City, April 1, 1853.

ARY LIFE.

One of our missionaries now labouring in an interesting field in New Jersey, among the foreign population, himself a Foreigner, and an excellent, laborious brother, thus writes us:

especially when they consider how much money it takes to sustain them. Indeed, it is not easy to decide, whether their feeling of humanity, or their principles of financial economy are most disturbed. The objections would approach nearer to validity, if the missionary enterprise claimed to have for its workmen an immunity from trials, privations, and death. But death is the common lot of our race, and expense for subsistence is not incurred in the AN INTERESTING INCIDENT IN MISSIONmissionary's case alone. The world has its enterprises too. And what sacrifice of life and treasure has occurred, in carrying on the world's missions of empire and aggrandizement! The road to California may be traced by the graves that border it, as readily as the thoroughfares of our country by the telegraph wires. Death, in all the appalling forms of disease, exhaustion, violence, and starvation, has "I must now give you an account of a singular filled those graves with the young and hopeful sons marriage, such as I never had during the adminisof our land. Yet the living current still flows on-tration of my office during the last twenty-four in the same grave-girt channel. Shipwrecks do not years. A little while since I married a pair, of abrogate marine commerce; financial embarrass, which the bridegroom was a Frenchman, who underments do not terminate trade; mortality does not stood neither German nor English, the bride, on the supercede, it rather stimulates the activities of life. contrary, was a German, who understood neither That men suffer and die in the missionary service is French nor English. I was therefore obliged to perno better reason for abandoning that work, than the form the ceremony, and propose the usual questions same circumstances would present against the pro-in both the French and German languages. May secution of any other. And the same remark applies they be united in faith and love, in a common to the matter of expense. Men cannot live without cost in any position. And it is ridiculously absurd to complain of the expense of supporting men, in an enterprise that cannot be carried on without men.

Saviour."

HONORARY MEMBERS.

C. R.

The sum of Fifty Dollars constitutes a person an Honorary Member of the Board of Missions.

the Board, and engage in their deliberations, but have no Honorary Members have a right to sit in the meetings of right to vote. A copy of the Annual Report is sent to them every year.

FORM OF A DEVISE OR BEQUEST.

To the Trustees of the Board of Missions of the Gene

But why is such puerile objections urged against the work of missions? Benevolence is the pretended basis, and reason the avowed form, of the objection. Yet it is as irrational as it is void of benevolence. It is not urged against the world's enterprises; one perilous expedition after another has proceeded to the Arctic seas, amid the plaudits of mankind. Why then this objection here? It is because the objector does not, in reality, value the object contemplated in Christian missions. It is not that he loves the missionary more, but his mission less. The conver-ral Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United sion of sinners is, in his esteem, a less important work than the construction of railroads, or the draining of unproductive lands. It is because the love of the world and of the things that are in the world, is a stronger passion than the love of Christ. I trust no Christian will entertain this hypocritical benevolence, or yield the slightest respect to the weak sophistries which it suggests. The work of Persons making bequests to the Board of Missions missions, whether in our own or in foreign lands, is are requested to be careful in adopting the above form. a noble one. It was planned by the Son of God, and revealed, in its simplicity, by his mandate, “Go

States of America, and to their successors and assigns, I give and bequeath the sum of, or I devise a certain messuage, and tract of land, &c., to be held by the said Trustees, and their successors for ever, to and for the uses, and under the direction of the said Board of Missions of the said General Assembly, according to the provisions of their charter.

ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every ACKNOWLEDGMENTS OF RECEIPTS.

creature." And is there not a laudable heroism in facing the dangers and bearing the hardships connected with its execution? A pure and exalted

TREASURY AT PHILADELPHIA.

the month of April, 1853.

SYNOD OF ALBANY.

benevolence stimulates and cheers the Christian Receipts into the Treasury of the Board of Missions, during missionary, as he goes, not to enrich himself, but to bless others, to raise up the debased, to enlighten those who sit in darkness, to proclaim salvation through Jesus Christ to the lost. He may long Phy of Londonderry.-First ch, Newburyport, to labour and suffer, or he may early die at his post; the enterprise is not dishonoured by his trials or his death.

O, Christian, will you not sustain this good cause? Will you not ascribe to their true source the benevolence, the self-denial, the heroism of the missionary,

"By pleasure unsubdued, unbroke by pain ?"

con RUFUS SMITH and ELIZABETH CUSHING hon

SYNOD OF BUFFALO.

Pby of Steuben.-Sparta Second ch
Phy of Wyoming.-East Bethany ch

And will you not share the faith, and hope, and Pby of Michigan.-Lyon ch

8. D. POWEL, Treasurer.

Pby of Carlisle.-Mercersburg ch 33 60; Paxton
ch 93; Millerstown ch 20; Newville ch addl 11 157 60 was an error, and should have been as above, Wm. Hay.

The former acknowledgements were printed Peter Hay-this