glowed even to rapture while I told him of Jesus Christ my Lord, and I should not regret coming to India, if it had been only to tell this man of Him whose blood cleanseth from all sin.

From the Boston Recorder.

MAINE MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of this Society was holden June 24, in New-Gloucester.

The report gave a very interesting view of the operations of the society the last year. It was highly gratifying to the society as well as to the spectators, to hear from the missionaries themselves, accounts of the success of their labours in different places. At Bethel a very considerable revival crowned the ministry of Mr. Hilliard, who was employed as a missionary for some time in that place.

The receipts the present year amount to about $1700 exclusive of considerable sums expected from the towns on the Penobscot river, which were not represented on account of distance. Capt. Ladd, of Minot, gave, himself, $30, and Mr. R. Cobb, of Portland, $50. While the members of the Society were happy in hearing of the success of their missionaries, they could not but be deeply affected with the cries of numerous fellow Christians, scattered through the wilderness, who are hungry and thirsty, and cannot be supplied. The Society, which at its commencement, was like a little stream, scarcely perceived, winding its course through the forest, has now become a powerful river. But the operations of this Society increase the applications for aid. Those who taste of her waters desire to drink again, and, like the woman of Samaria, bring others with them.

The officers of this Society for the ensuing year are the following:-Rev. Kiah Bailey, President-Rev. Eliphalet Gillet, Cor. Secretary-Rev. David Thurston, Rec. Secretary-Hon. Ammi R. Mitchell, Treasurer.

The missionaries will this year be instructed to establish Sabbath Schools wherever they labour, and to encourage stated meetings on the Sabbath, and the reading of suitable sermons when they are gone.

SUNDAY SCHOOL ANECDOTES.

A few days since, a young man, about 19 years of age, called at the British Consul's office, in New-York, and made himself known as one, whom, but a few years before, the Consul had taken into his own Sunday School, in the North of Ireland, as a poor, little, helpless, wretched outcast. No nuptial tie had consecrated the birth of this child of misery, baptized in tears.-No father owned him for a son. But the Sunday School was to him as a father, and a mother, and a sister, and a brother. The precepts of religion and

morality which he learned there have stricken deep root into his heart, have blossomed in beauty, and are now ripening into an abundance of fruit. He poured into the Consul's lap more than a hundred dollars, the little earnings of his bodily toil in this land of liberty, this asylum of affliction, to be remitted to his destitute mother, the forlorn daughter of shame and sorrow."

Extract of a letter from the Rev. Justin Parsons, dated Pittsfield, June 20, 1818.

"I have opened six Sabbath Schools, (viz.) one in Pittsfield, two in Stockbridge, two in Bridgewater, and one in Hancock. In the whole there are about 500 scholars. In Pittsfield, where it was first set up, it begins to have some serious effects. The following anecdote may serve to illustrate the happy effect of these schools on the minds of children. Two little boys came to a blacksmith's shop to get work done; while the smith was doing the work he noticed the boys engaged in conversation the outside of the shop; he listened and found they were conversing on the deity of the Saviour. One says, Mr. says, Jesus Christ is not God, only a creature." The other replied, "the Bible says he is God." (then run over the texts he had learned at the Sabbath School) now says he, "which shall we believe, Mr., or God?"

Monthly Extracts from the correspondence of the British and Foreign Bible Society, for April, 1818.

FROM CHARLES STOKES DUDLEY, ESQ.

Haddenham, near Thame, January 31, 1918.

SINCE my last of the 3d instant I have been engaged in forwarding the design of the Society in Lancashire, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, and Buckinghamshire. I have had ample cause for humble gratitude to Him whose blessing has manifestly descended on the work.

It will afford the Committee pleasure, to learn that the interest excited in the important district of Liverpool and its vicinity, has extended to Manchester, Warrington, Chester, and other places, wherein measures are already adopting for the establishment of similar Institutions.

The Committee of the Liverpool Auxiliary Bible Society has been sub-divided into eight District Committees; one of which, composed of gentlemen connected with shipping, was specifically attached to the Marine Department. The deficiency of means for supplying sailors, resorting to the second port in the empire, with the Holy Scripture, had strongly attracted my attention; and it became an immediate subject of care, on the organization of the

Committee. In furtherance of this object, a general meeting of ship owners, captains, and sailors, was held in the noble Marine School, on the 13th instant, James Cropper, Esq. in the chair; which was highly interesting, and rendered still more so by the unexpected address of a blind sailor, who, in a touching manner, declared, that "no one was more suitable to second a motion for supplying seamen with Bibles, than a sailor who had been mercifully brought to a knowledge of the Bible, by the loss of sight!"

On the 20th I attended the public establishment of the Northampton Ladies' Association, in the County Hall, which was crowded to excess: Lady Althorpe has accepted the office of Patroness, and Lady Euston that of President, of this Association: and I anticipate the formation of several new Societies in that County.

On the 23d I attended two most interesting meetings at Worton, when a regular Female Association was established. The Committee will better appreciate this comparitively humble Society, when I say, that it embraces fifty-six villages within a circle of fifty miles, of which Worton is the centre. The zeal, cordiality, and christian animation with which the peasantry enter into the cause is truly delightful. A venerable old man, whose head was white with age, as he grasped my hand, exclaimed: "We have sent you 50%., Sir, to buy Bibles for those poor foreign creatures; but we hope to do a great deal more this year. We have had two thousand Bibles and Testaments ourselves, and now we must think more about those poor folks abroad, whose souls are of as much consequence as ours." And what is it that has excited this fine, this generous, this British, this Christian spirit throughout the country? The simple, single, but majestic design to place the Sacred Volume of inspired truth in every hand.

On the 24th I met, by special invitation, the Committee of the Oxford Ladies' Association. The Countess of Jersey has become Patroness, and Lady Lock, Treasurer of the Association, which is proceeding with consummate prudence and vigilance. They have already about 1100 subscribers, and collected nearly 501. in the first month.

Proceeding into Buckinghamshire, on the 27th instant, I attended the first public distribution of Bibles and Testaments, by the Aylesbury Ladies' Association, of which the Countess Nugent is Patroness, and Lady Mackintosh President. The meeting was held in the great County Hall, which was completely filled. This Association is proceeding most prosperously.

On taking a survey of the Auxiliary, two Branch Societies, and eight Ladies' Associations, which now ornament the Vale of Alyesbury, I rejoice to behold all flourishing, proceeding with regular and harmonious order, and productive of the happiest effect.

Extract from a Speech of the Right Reverend Johann Wingard, D. 1). Bishop of Gothenburg, delivered at the Annual Meeting of the Gothenburg Bible Society, March 31, 1817.

ANOTHER year has elapsed since we last assembled at this place for the delightful and edifying object of concerting the most effectual measures for the diffusion of the Holy Word of God. Important indeed have been the events of that year, as well in the world at large, as in God's kingdom upon earth. If the better informed part of mankind previously languished under those shackles of tyranny which affected all their proceedings, the perturbation of mind, the agitation, when the fetters were burst asunder, were not less keenly felt. The conflict of opinions is not easily composed; and the wounds of society take a long time to heal. A want of the chief necessaries of life raised also mournful complaints in most parishes; but "the Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble." May he be our strength, and our support, and our refuge!

That God who can subject all things to his mighty power has wrought various remarkable changes. Heathens renounce their idols, and pay adoration to the living God. Jews bend their knees before the cross; Christians return from the error of their ways to their Father's house, which, like the prodigal son, they had forsaken. Although the enemy is, no doubt, active in sowing the tares of discord, deceit, and hypocrisy, still we must admit, that in general, a purer seed is sown in the fields of the church of God. The bright rays of truth have long since dispelled the gloom of superstition and although in the conflict between truth and unbelief, the success has varied, yet, He who is both the "Counsellor," and the "Mighty God," continues his victorious career; and the weapon in his hand is, "the sword of the Spirit," which is," the word of God."

In all parts of the earth, the most active exertions are carried on for making known the counsel of God for our salvation. Even within the sphere assigned to us, the distribution of the Holy Scriptures has been greater than at any other period. But "let him that glorieth, glory in the Lord."-For, "He is worthy to receive the praise, and the power, and the glory."

The duties more particularly incumbent on us, are, first, to encourage and uphold a spirit of charity, so essentially necessary for supplying the means of attaining our praise-worthy end: secondly, to exercise judgment and discrimination, in selecting the objects; and lastly, to maintain a well regulated zeal in husbanding and apportioning the funds which the hand of benevolence confides to our charge for this excellent purpose. But in this cause, which is in a peculiar manner the cause of God and our neighbour, it might be assumed, that the admonition of a mortal is superfluous.-Yet, who would not avail himself of the opportunity of acting his part, even though it be superfluous, who feels, that this will probably be the last he shall ever be indulged with? I am become old, and

Monthly Paper of proceedings of the Russian Bible Society. 243:

satiate with living; I am full of days, and upon the verge of my 80th year, and soon will my now faultering voice be lost in the silence of the grave. My calling has been a preacher's work; and, although my age has precluded me from the active labours of that holy office, yet the Lord, in his mercy, has for some years past permitted me, as on this occasion, to pay my tribute of regard to a beloved assembly of friends. This too, it is likely, the infirmities of age will no longer admit of. I therefore take my leave of you, with this heart-felt wish, that you may cling with all your love to the word of God, give it your most serious consideration, and follow its dictates as his obedient children; and that, through your charity, it may be plentifully distributed among your brethren and sisters in Christendom. O may you, and, through you, a multitude, guided by his divine doctrine, become wise unto salvation. Amen.

From the Monthly Paper containing the Business of the Committee of the Russian Bible Society, at their Meeting, December 20,

1817.

THE desire after the reading of the word of God is increasing day by day. Poor people are incessant in supplicating us to let them have the Bible gratuitously; and when they have received a copy, are unable to express sufficiently the high sense they entertain of its value, and their gratitude for the gift. A Bailiff at Ranenburg, writes, "I am now completely happy, and enjoy the hours of leisure from business in the circle of my family, by partaking of the delightful food which the reading of the word of God affords me. May the merciful God grant, that this seed may spring up in me, and my children, and bring forth heavenly fruit."

A peasant in the government of Saratoff, writes, among other matters, as follows:-"The gift of the Bible is to me an invaluable treasure, and my soul quenches its thirst from the fountain of eternal life just as the parched earth is refreshed by the rain from heaven.

The correspondent of the Society in their branch at Keiff, in a letter full of joyous feelings at hearing of the progress of the Russian Bible Society, expresses himself in the following terms: "What pleasure must it afford to that pious Association, to behold well organized Societies spreading over continents and islands, among cultivated nations in populous districts, and among wandering tribes; in countries near to us, on which the light of the Gospel has long shone; and in the most remote ones, which have not yet beheld a single ray of that light; among men whose minds are cultivated by science, as well as those who have not had an opportunity of obtaining such knowledge for the improvement of their intellectual faculties! What joy must they not feel on observing, that among these various classes the word of God is dwelling rich