MAKOON'S KRAAL, &C.

Mr. Campbell having given the people of Malapeetzee and Makoon's Kraal reason to expect that Missionaries would be sent them, one of the brethren determined, as soon as possible after arriving at Lattakoo, to pay them a visit. It appeared, that the Corannas had left Malapeetzee, and removed to the Matslakoo River. The Missionary was received with open arms, and the people immediately flocked to hear the word. They declared that they had waited impatiently for the fulfilment of the promise made them four years ago; that they had tried to live without the word of God, but found it impossible, and insisted upon the Missionary continuing with them; they had heard, they said, that the word was going to every nation, and they were afraid of being too late. The Missionary could not possibly stay with them, but promised to send a preacher very shortly.

Makoon also was most earnestly desirous that the Missionary who visited them from Lattakoo should abide with them; which being impracticable, they were rejoiced when Cupido agreed to stay with them. One of the chiefs appears to be a man of prayer, and worships God devoutly with his family; and such was his attachment to the word, that he had resolved to accompany the Missionary to Lattakoo, but was providentially hindered. Cupido was, by solemn prayer, separated to the work at this station; and it is hoped he will become the instrument of much good. Thus far the Society has endeavoured to fulfil the promise made to these poor heathen, that Missionaries should be sent to preach to them the word of life.

BETHANY.

(In Namaqua Land, about two days' journey North of the Great River.)

By a letter from Mr. Schmelen, dated 10th March, 1817, we are informed, that on his return from the Cape, whither he had been on business, he learned on the road, that he should not be able immediately to proceed to his distant station, in consequence of the want of water for his oxen, which were wearied out; he therefore wrote to his people at Bethany, to send more oxen to help him onward. In the mean time he proceeded to Pella, to settle the affairs of the Mission there.

At the place from which he writes, formerly called Byzondermeid, but now Steinkopff, he informs us, that there is among the people a general desire to hear the word, and that a praying spirit prevails among them; a place of worship is built, and service regularly performed, morning and evening. But of the state of the Mission at Bethany, we have not received any particulars.*

* On his journey Mr. Schmelen met a Namaqua chief, who was going to the Cape, there, if possible, to procure a Missionary for his people, when Mr. Shaw, of the Wesleyen connexion, who had resided some time at Cape Town, and was travelling with Mr. Schmelen, agreed to accompany that chief to the place of his residence (Camies Mountain) and abide with the people, which he accordingly did; and we gladly learn that his prospects are very pleasing.

JERUSALEM.

(Formerly called Peace Mountain, and Africaner's Kraal. Mr. Ebner, who resides at this station, informs us, that about 400 people attend the place of worship, which is now too small for the accommodation of all who wish to hear. "Since I came," says Mr. Ebner, "to Africaner's kraal, which I have named Jerusalem, I have baptized 40 persons, converts, and their children, and married about 40 couple. I have received 100 Bibles and 100 Testaments from the British and Foreign Bible Society, for the use of those who can read the Dutch language. He reports several instances of the converting grace of God, and says, that the converts continue to be much attached to the gospel, and to himself as their teacher; and that they maintain among themselves social meetings for prayer and conference, in which they express their religious views and feelings with remarkable animation.

Civilization, which always accompanies the introduction of the Gospel, is also making progress. Mr. Ebner has introduced potatoes, and other useful vegetables, which prosper beyond his expectation; he speaks also favourably of the crops of corn, and rejoices, in hope, that the natives will soon reap abundant advantage from the increase of the comforts of life among them, as well as from the superior blessings of the Gospel grace: and thus is presented to the world another proof of the truth of what one of the Missionaries before asserted, that in Africa "the Bible and the plough go together." On a review of the state of our Missions in Africa, we find occasion to sing both "of mercy and of judgment." With grief we have heard of the lamentable fall of one of our Missionaries into immorality, and learn, at the same time, of a few instances of less flagrant misconduct in others; but the feelings excited by this afflictive intelligence have since been alleviated by intimations of repentance on the part of the offenders, which it is hoped will be followed by satisfactory evidence of its reality. It has, consequently, been the painful duty of the Directors to mark their detestation of the faults committed, in such a way as will, it is hoped, maintain the honour of the cause, and prove an admonition to others. They also trust, that some irregularities in the management of our affairs in that part of the world will be fully remedied by the wisdom and prudence of the Deputation, which they hope soon to send to Africa.

When we consider the numerous perils and strong temptations to which our Missionary brethren in Africa are exposed, we cannot but recommend them to the constant and fervent prayers of all the members of the Society. Let them not be forgotten in your daily supplications. They greatly need them; they earnestly entreat them. O! pray that God may keep them, by his mighty power, through faith, unto salvation!

MALTA.

MR. LOWNDES, who arrived in Malta in November, 1816, has continued there, as at first proposed, for the purpose of acquiring

the Italian and Modern Greek languages. While thus employed, he has embraced every opportunity of preaching the Gospel, and, we have reason to think, not in vain. Several persons appear to have derived solid advantage from his ministry; and he is very desirous that, when he leaves Malta for the Greek Islands, another minister from England may fill his place. It is probable, that he will soon be enabled to proceed to Corfu or Zante, to pursue the original object of his mission-the revival of pure religion in Greece and in the Greek Islands. The Directors intend soon to send another Missionary to Malta.

BAVARIA.

It must afford to every friend of religious liberty great pleasure to learn that the new constitution for this country is distinguished by its liberality, and, as stated in the preamble, granting to the people liberty of conscience, with a scrupulous distinction between what belongs to the state and what to the church; liberty of opinion, (but guarded against abuse,) and, what is more remarkable, an equal right to all native subjects to every rank in the public service, and to all the distinctions due to merit; equality of laws, and of citizens under the law; impartiality and promptitude in the administration of justice, &c.

That such a constitution should be enjoyed by a country, containing, we suppose, two millions of inhabitants, and in which the Roman Catholic religion has long predominated, must afford gratification to all benevolent minds.

GREENLAND.

Ever since the year 1734, the Moravian Brethren have had missionaries resident in this inhospitable clime, who have laboured, amidst difficulties unimaginable, and with great success, for the conversion of the heathen to Christianity, and for their civilization, and the amelioration of their temporal circumstances. Nearly the whole population of Greenland is Christian. On account of the disproportioned deaths among the men, from innumerable dangers on sea and on shore, in seeking food for their families, Greenland is, more than any other country perhaps, a land of widows and fatherless children. These are frequently reduced to the uttermost distress, having none to care for them, and being unable to gain subsistence. The Moravian Missionaries are themselves too scantily and too precariously furnished with the necessaries of life to afford much relief; indeed it may be said that they afford none without dividing their own bread and raiment with these destitute creatures. The following extracts of letters from Greenland will furnish our readers with a knowledge of the circumstances of these Missions, in the most compendious and impressive form. Brother Conrade Kleinschmidt writes thus to the Rev. C. F. Ramfiler:

"Having for some days been occupied with various heavy and distressing considerations, on account of the excessive indigence of

many of our widows and orphans, whereby a continually increasing load of anxiety devolves upon us, their teachers, a thought sudden. ly came into my mind, which immediately cheered and comforted me in some degree, though it referred to a still uncertain futurity. I will communicate it to you, dearest brother! As this (Lichtenau) is the most numerous congregation of believing Greenlanders, it is easily to be conceived, that we have many poor widows and orphans, whose providers have either died a natural death, or what is very frequent, have lost their lives at sea, when in pursuit of a livelihood.

Having no fund for the assistance of the desolate and the fatherless, the burden falls upon us; but where have we the money for it? Certainly it is very hard to see such objects of compassion without relieving them, and to shut up our bowels against their entreaties. The only remedy, therefore, is to sell from time to time our own allowance of coffee to the Danish traders, though this coffee is only meant for the supply of our personal wants, and those of our families. By the produce of this sale we procure tobacco for the relief of the needy; for this article is as the current coin of the country, with which they may purchase food, and skins for raiment. As neither I nor my family make any use of tobacco, from our allowance, within a short time, I have bought tobacco to the amount of seven dollars and a half, which was presently consumed."

DOMESTIC MISSIONS.

General Association of Massachusetts Proper.

The last meeting of this body was held at Middlefield, on the 23d of June last. The Rev. J. Lyman, D. D. was chosen Moderator, the Rev. J. Keep and the Rev. D. Huntington, Scribes. The Associations represented, were the Berkshire, Mountain, Franklin, Hampshire, Central, Hampden, Brookfield, Westminster, Union, Salem and vicinity. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, the General Association of Connecticut, and the General Convention of Vermont were also represented.

Among the doings of the General Association, we notice with pleasure the following resolve:

Resolved, That this Association rejoice in the establishment of the Connecticut Asylum for the Education of Deaf and Dumb Persons, and would ascribe humble and fervent praise to the Giver of every good and perfect gift, for having crowned with such signal success the efforts already made to communicate moral and religious instruction to a portion of that unfortunate class of our fellow beings. They very cordially recommend the Asylum to the patronage of the Christian public, and to their pecuniary aid especially; that the benevolent objects of this institution may be more effectually accomplished. Also the following vote,

Voted, That this Association approve the proposition to form a Domestic Missionary Society, and that the following Constitution, having been reported by the Committee, and examined article by article, be adopted as the Constitution of said Society:

CONSTITUTION.

1 The Society shall be called the Domestic Missionary Society of Massachusetts Proper.

2 It shall consist of the members of the General Association of Massachusetts Proper for the time being, and of such other persons as shall either be duly elected, or subscribe the requisite sum for constituting membership.

3 The object of the Society shall be to assist needy churches and parishes, and waste places, within the limits of Massachusetts Proper. 4 Any person may become a member of the Society by subscribing two dollars, to be paid annually: and any person a member for life, by paying into the Treasury, at any one time, twenty dollars.

5 The Society shall meet annually on Thursday, in the week of the annual meeting of the General Association of Massachusetts Proper, at nine o'clock, A. M.

6 Beside the Moderator and Clerk of the annual meeting, who shall be the same as the Moderator and Secretary of the General Association for the time being, the officers of the Society shall be twenty-four Directors, twelve clergymen, and twelve laymen, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and an Auditor; the two last always to be laymen, all of whom shall be chosen by ballot at the annual meeting.

7 The Directors shall meet annually, at the time and place of the meeting of the General Association, and at such other times and places as they shall appoint; and may adopt such rules, and appoint such Committees, as they inay judge conducive to the object of the Institution, &c. &c.

STATE OF RELIGION IN MASSACHUSETTS.

Report of the Committee appointed to prepare an account of the state of Religion within the limits of the General Association of Massachusetts Proper.-June, 1818.

It has been the painful duty of the friends of the Redeemer, even in the purest times, to mourn over the iniquities of the openly impenitent, and the coldness and failures of professing Christians. In this favoured section of the church, and in this eventful and prosperous period, there is much to excite emotions of grief. The church has survived her conflict with infidelity, and is rising upon its ruins; but her warfare is not yet accomplished. There is within our limits a manifest and lamentable departure from the truth; and error in its various forms is assiduously and successfully propagated. Some cherish a hope of impunity in a course of habitual transgression, saying, "We shall have peace, though we walk in the imagination of our hearts to add drunkenness to thirst;" others" deny the Lord that bought them, and count the blood of the covenant an unholy thing." Such opinions affect the heart and practice. Under their deceptive influence, some substitute a general decency of behaviour, in the place of vital and experimental