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Relating principally to the FOREIGN MISSIONS carried on under the Direction of the METHODIST CONference,

WEST-INDIA MISSIONS.

IT is a most gratifying fact, that in many parts of the West-India colonies we may find an ample compensation for the years of toilsome exertion, and the large amount of property expended, in procuring the liberty of the labouring population. In certain localities where the Missionaries had been allowed to instruct the people, the subsequent improvement in their moral and religious condition, and the increased number of the regular congregations and communicants, are striking and satisfactory; and, at the same time, the inhabitants of the more remote and rural districts, which formerly could not be brought under Christian instruction, are now anxiously desirous of the means of grace. Mr. Waymouth's letter from Dominica is a full confirmation of these remarks, as are also Mr. Harding's and Mr. Seccombe's, from Jamaica. The statements contained in these letters must tend to raise the inquiry, whether, with the opportunities now known to exist for the diffusion of the saving knowledge of Christ among this once-degraded people, we have exhibited an adequate concern for their improvement, and have made the sacrifices and exertions for their welfare, which may be reasonably demanded from us.

We have much pleasure in drawing the attention of our readers to the readiness with which our West-India societies contribute to the support of the ministry of God's word among them, and to the erection of their chapels; and particularly to the grateful memory they entertain of their happy emancipation from slavery, and the pious liberality by which they celebrate its anniversary on each returning 1st of August. As a specimen of these celebrations, we give insertion to the letters of Mr. Hodgson, of Jamaica, and Mr. Ranyell, of St. Vincent's.

A painful contrast to the encouraging scenes depicted in the forementioned letters will be found in the letter from the island of St. Lucia, where no Mission has yet been commenced, but where a member of the society, having gone to reside, has given vent to the feelings and desires of his heart, in a letter addressed to Dr. Bunting. Some of the details of the letter have been omitted; but enough is retained to afflict every Christian and benevolent mind. The people perish for lack of knowledge; and it is painful to reflect, that the Society has at present no prospect of being able to send a Missionary to St. Lucia. It is earnestly and humbly hoped, that the commencement which has been made in that island will have the divine blessing, and that means may be ultimately found for meeting the appeal thus made to the Society.

NEW OPENINGS FOR USEFULNESS: ADDITIONAL MISSIONARIES WANTED. DOMINICA. Extract of a Letter from the Rev. W. T. Waymouth, dated Roseau, Dominica, August 19th, 1842.

Under these circumstances

I AM but just recovering from sick- to my work. ness, and am yet unable to return fully I plead for help. My friends around, VOL. XXI. Third Series. DECEMBER, 1842.

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and my family at home, are importunate with me to relax my efforts; and the undefinable sensations now remaining, (although, thanks be to God, the fever is gone,) which cannot but remind me of the powerless dust of Nunn, Rigglesworth, and Cameron, close by, seem to say, "Be prudent." And yet what is to be done? O that I could be heard in the Institution, or in Bishopsgate-streetwithin! Here are multitudes ready to hear us; numbers who are joined to us already, and the children of the whole of them, for whom nothing can be done if your Missionaries are prudent, and but little even if they sacrifice their health and life to one or two years' labour among them. In taking this station at the last District-Meeting, I received many solemn warnings and injunctions from my brethren respecting over-exertion, and I could join in such warnings were I at a distance; but when on the spot, a man who desires to do a little good in his time is drawn, before he is aware, into more than his constitution will support.

Having given a little attention, a few months since, to a society ten miles distant, at Layou, the work assumed such an aspect, that it required imperatively an enlargement of the chapel. This, by the blessing of God, is nearly accomplished; and it will be seen that the chapel accounts are not to be burdened by any expense connected with it. But here, as elsewhere, success creates its subsequent difficulties. That chapel stands in a valley, which in itself would employ one Missionary. Hillsborough, Clarkehall, and York-Valley, are populous English estates; and the people are ours, if we can seek them. We have already a society there of one hundred and thirtyfour persons, but no school; and it is only once in six or eight weeks that your Missionary can visit them; and there is no one to perform any pastoral work in that valley besides the Roseau Missionary. And then, nearer the town, there is another fruitful valley, Cane-field, River-estate, Mount-Pleasant, and several smaller settlements, nearly all English. Those that are members belong to the Roseau society, and attend the chapel sometimes; but they want means of grace and schools among themselves; they have none, and there is no one to attend the sick, aged, and dying, except the Roseau Missionary.

A new call has reached us from a dis. trict called Souffriere. Several who were members of the society in other places have settled there. Many others, doubtless, would hear, and fear, and turn to God, if there were any to speak the word with power. The distance is three hours' ride from Roseau, and would be visited by the Roseau Missionary if he had time. I will not now speak again of Castle-Bruce, ten hours' perilous ride across the mountains; Grand-Bay, four hours' in another direction, already under the care of the Roseau Missionary; nor of the pastoral work connected with a large society at Roseau, added to the cares of the whole station devolving on the Roseau Missionary as Superintendent. I am not asking that another Preacher should be stationed in Roseau; but my petition is, that we should have a third Missionary, that one may be stationed at Prince-Rupert's. It is utterly impossible for one man to supply Lasoye, the whole windward coast, and Prince-Rupert's, quite the other side of the island. There were a thousand members at Prince-Rupert's when a Missionary resided there; and I doubt not that a numerous church would be formed there again by the faithful exertions of a devoted Missionary. Two or three hours every second Sunday is all that the Lasoye Preacher can afford, after riding that terrible journey, which can only be known by trial. The town itself is populous, and the estates in its neighbourhood are not only open to us, but our evangelizing labours are earnestly sought both by people and employers.

Suffer

Whilst I am writing, the Catholics are at work, and a Priest is getting a residence there to reap what we have sown; and if we do not gather our own harvest, the Catholics will. I see no hope of getting a third man from the District-Meeting, unless he be sent out from home. me to entreat you, not by our failing health, but by the cries of thousands, not of those who merely want the Gospel, Christians being judges, but of those whom Christians have taught to feel their wants. Send us help before it is too late! The people are really worthy of help. Look at their subscriptions, the highest, without exception, in the whole District. They would soon meet the additional expense of a third Missionary.

JAMAICA.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Richard Harding, dated Port-Royal

Mountains, Jamaica,

A SHORT time since, in compliance with earnest invitations from persons re

August 19th, 1842.

sident in the neighbourhood, I visited Cocoa-Walk, which is distant from our

preaching-place here about ten miles, and is situated on the banks of Yallah'sRiver, in the parish of St. David. After about three hours' ride over narrow mountain-roads, steep and dangerous, I reached the place, and called at one of the first houses I came to on the wayside. The poor man who occupied it kindly received me into his house; and, at my request, called his neighbours together, to whom I declared the Gospel of the blessed Jesus, which they heard with considerable attention. On leaving this people, I engaged to be with them again in two weeks' time on the same day (Saturday). In this visit I observed that very few of the inhabitants ever attend a place of worship; that they are extremely immoral, the majority living in open disregard of the seventh commandment, and many unblushingly defend the practice; that the population is dense, and greatly on the increase; and that they have no place of worship within ten or twelve miles. Meeting with several gentlemen of considerable respectability and influence in the neighbourhood, I introduced my self to them, and told them the object of my visit. Most of them not only expressed their entire approval of my proceedings, but seemed grateful that some hope was now presented that they might have a place of worship in their own neighbourhood; at the same time they did not conceal their regret that they had not been thus favoured at an earlier period. One said, "I have not been in a place of worship for four years;" another said, "I have only attended three times since I came to the island;" and a third, an interesting young man, deplored his inability to attend the distant places of worship as often as he would. After giving, as I was able, a word in season to each of these, I proceeded on my way. Some whom I afterwards met and conversed with, spoke in a similar spirit and manner. The next time I visited the place, I had a larger audience; and

nearly twenty children, with some adults, were brought, and applied for baptism.. These, in consequence of the parents living together in an unmarried state, I was obliged to refuse; at the same time assuring them, if they broke off their sins by marriage, gave their hearts to God, and themselves to his church, I would with pleasure administer the ordinance to their children. The adults I also examined, and promised, if they continued to seek the Lord, to baptize them in the course of two or three "moons."

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Having made arrangements for the supply of my Sunday appointment, I visited "Cocoa-Walk on the Sunday, and preached under a large spreading tree to a respectable and orderly congregation. After the preaching, I invited those who desired to flee from the. wrath to come," to retire with me to a neighbouring house, where I would converse with them individually. Many followed me; and, after some conversa-. tion with them, fourteen of the number were formed into a society. These I commended to the blessing of God, and departed. A few days after this I received an invitation from the Honourable J. Leslie, Member of the House of Assembly for the parish of St. David. As soon as possible I waited on him. After some inquiries respecting my object in visiting that part, my religious connexions, &c., he kindly offered me the use of a large house for preaching, which he holds in the neighbourhood of Cocoa-Walk. I expressed my gratitude, and left him. In a short time after my interview with the Honourable Gentleman, I opened the house for preaching, when a large company was present. this occasion, I baptized some children and two adults, one of whom is a cripple, and not able to walk, and near eighty years old. The service was interesting and impressive. After the service, more were added to the society; so that now our number is about twenty. To God be all the glory. Amen and Amen!

JAMAICA.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. William Seccombe, dated Southampton, near Brown's-Town, Jamaica, September 26th, 1842.

SINCE I last wrote you, the important question of obtaining another Missionary for this extensive Circuit has been well considered, and frequently discussed, by our leading church-officers and members. The question has been taken up in a spirit so Christian, and upon a scale so liberal and extensive, as I never anticipated. It has gone forth to every part of the Circuit, and from every point has

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On

been echoed back upon me, "ANOTHER MISSIONARY!" so that, upon this matter, we are "perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. At our last Quarterly-Meeting, composed of Stewards, Leaders, &c., about fifty in number, the question was formally introduced; and, I assure you, excited great interest, aud called forth some noble bursts of eloquence; not,

indeed, of an artificial and polished description, but, nevertheless, eloquence, -the eloquence of piety, of thought, and feeling,-equal to what might have been witnessed at home, had some London or Manchester Quarterly-Meeting been about to petition Conference for an additional Preacher. After an hour spent, not in discussing the necessity of an additional Missionary, but the measure or measures to be taken, in order to induce the Committee to comply with our request, the following Resolutions were unanimously adopted, every individual present starting upon his feet to express his hearty concurrence in them :

"Resolved, 1. That this Meeting, tak ing into consideration the number of preaching-places in the Circuit, to be supplied every Lord's day, and during the week; the great distances at which these places are situated from each other; the steady numerical increase in our societies and congregations; the prospect of a still more rapid increase, provided further ministerial aid could be obtained; the utter impossibility of our Ministers' performing so much as one-half of the labour this Circuit requires; and the certainty that no further pecuniary assistance from the Mission-Fund would be required in consequence of an additional Preacher being sent; earnestly and respectfully implores the Committee to send us another Missionary without delay, so that he may be here in the early part of January, 1843.

"Resolved, 2. That after maturely deliberating upon the numerous and urgent appeals which have been made to the Committee for Missionaries from various parts of the heathen world, but with very partial success; the serious financial difficulties which at present check the progress, and fetter the operations, of the Society; and anticipating the possible, if not the probable, failure of this application, in consequence of these financial difficulties; the Meeting resolves to raise from among themselves, and the more affluent members of our societies and congregations, by a special effort, the sum of £50 sterling: the amount they deem requisite to pay the expenses of a single man's voyage from England to Jamaica.

"Signed on behalf of the Meeting, "WILLIAM SECCOMBE, Minister, "A. C. MORTICAN, Circuit-Steward."

There are two or three points in these Resolutions upon which I judge it proper to offer a few remarks.

1. The "certainty " expressed “that no further pecuniary assistance would be required from the Mission-Fund in consequence of an additional Missionary being sent." Independently of a saving which would be effected in some assistance now rendered to me, I am confident, from what I know of the disposition and ability of our people generally, that the circumstance of your sending into this field of promise a second labourer, would

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encourage and, under the divine blessing, improve our people in knowledge and grace, that you may most reasonably calculate on such an increase in our Circuit-income, as to be more than adequate to meet the increased expendi. tare. Indeed, I have no doubt, should my life be spared, I shall, within a short period, have the honour of placing this Circuit, as I had a short time since the Falmouth Circuit, upon the list of inde pendent Circuits.

2. The next point to which I wish to direct attention, is the "special effort" to raise the £50 sterling. This will be, strictly speaking, a "special effort;" and not at all interfere with our regular Missionary operations. I should inform you, that, within the last month, we have held our three Annual Missionary Meetings, at which we were edified and blessed by the speeches of our excellent Chairman, and the brethren Samuel and Randerson. Better Meetings I have not witnessed for the last seven years in Jamaica.

The chapels were crowded to excess; scores, if not hundreds, had to return home again, not being able to gain admission for the press. Already our Missionary receipts exceed, by several pounds, the receipts of last year; so that, if every Circuit in the Connexion would carry out the same principle of proportionate increase, you would realize, at the end of the year, an addition to the Society's annual income of from £12,000 to £20,000. Our increase will be perfectly independent of our £50 special effort. And is not this the time to make strenuous exertions in behalf of the perishing Heathen? Who can read the eloquent and masterly productions of Drs. Alder, Harris, and others, without resolving to come forth with vastly-increased supplies

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to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty ?" I know the Committee will place confidence in the members of our QuarterlyMeeting, that the £50 promised will be forthcoming as soon as the young Minister arrives in this Circuit; otherwise, I should most cheerfully offer to become personally responsible for the amount.

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