company, visit us to converse with us. They show us their crucifixes, rosaries, reliques, &c. and ask our opinion concerning them, (it becomes pretty generally known that we cry down these things,) and some with the utmost simplicity and apparent docility confess their ignorance, and ask us what they should do. This affords us a good opportunity of instructing them, and giving those who can read, religious tracts; and I have observed with pleasure the big tear roll down their sable cheeks, whilst I have been expatiating on the great love of God in sending his Son to save them. What they learn, I believe they do not conceal. Our Saturday evening congregation is generally swelled by a train of country people; and last Sunday I remarked several present both at morning and evening service. A few weeks ago, a man from a retired spot, far up in the mountains, who in case of necessity fills the functions of a priest, in burying the dead, and chanting mass for their departed souls, &c. came to our house, bringing with him a bone crucifix and a roll of papers containing the pictures of his tutelary saints, &c. expressly, as he said, to ask my opinion of them, and to receive instructions. I entered fully into the subject with him, and he promised to relinquish his dumb idols. Saturday gone a week, an old man came from Grand Fond, a long half day's journey, having no other errand to Port-auPrince, but to see us, and be instructed. He told us that his son having had of us a New Testament and a religious tract, is in the habit of collecting his neighbours together every Friday and Sunday, and reading to them. This old man staid till Monday morning, and attended public service three times. Mons. Pierre Bremond fell in with him at the morning Sabbath School. I had retired to put together a few thoughts for a sermon, and overheard their conversation without interrupting it. Brother P. began with insisting on the necessity of keeping holy the Sabbath. The old man drew from his pocket a crucifix, which he had been in the habit of wearing suspended at his neck, and told him what I had said of it the day before. Mr. P. replied, what I had said was the word of God. He then descanted on the terrific manner in which God announced the law, to Moses, repeated the commandments, in verse, returned to the second, enlarged upon it, and brought it home by showing God's indignation against idolatry, manifested by the punishment inflicted on the children of Israel when they worshipped the golden calf. The conversation lasted, I suppose, half an hour. His animated and natural eloquence, the simplicity in which the Creole spoke, together with the striking manner in which he applied Scripture history, affected me so that I could not refrain from shedding tears, especially when I considered that this advocate for the law of his God has been raised up as a seal to our missionary labours. Whilst he was talking to the old man about his crucifix, a country woman who was listening exclaimed, Jettez le donc ! Jettez le done! Throw it away! Throw it away!

The existence of a piece of what I take to be African idolatry, viz. the worship of a serpent, which the Creoles call Couleuvre, is

what I was slow to believe. But from good authority we have been informed that an overlooker of an estate in the mountains where this idolatry was practised, having heard preaching at our house, returned home, demolished his idol, and resolves in future to worship the one only true God.

MISSION TO JERUSALEM.

It is with feelings of peculiar pleasure, we learn that the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, in consequence of late and very interesting intelligence, have just established a mission to Jerusalem, and have appointed Rev. LEVI PARSONS and Mr. PLINY FISK as their missionaries. America has thus commenced the first mission to that city, so dear to the hearts both of Jews and Christians as the city of David, the city in which the first temple was erected for the worship of Jehovah, where the God of Israel gave for many centuries a visible manifestation of his presence; where the living oracles were communicated and preserved, and where almost all the prophets lived, and prophesied, and died; and so much dearer still to the hearts of Christians, as the place where the REDEEMER OF MANKIND published the gospel to a ruined world, and offered up himself a SACRIFICE for their sins; and from which the Apostles went forth proclaiming to the nations of the earth, that God is in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them." It is most proper that such a mission should be begun by the American people. We alone, of all the nations of the earth, can stand up and say, that we have never been engaged in persecuting the Jews. Among us the children of Israel have the same rights and privileges as those of us who are Gentiles. It is here, for the first time since the destruction of Jerusalem, that they have ceased to be an offscouring, and a by-word, and a hissing among the nations. Boston Recorder.

ONEIDA INDIANS.

From the Utica (N. Y.) Patriot.

On Sunday, 13th Sept. the Right Rev. Bishop Hobart visited the Oneida Indians, for the purpose of administering the sacraments and ordinances of the church. On this occasion, the Morning prayer was read in their own language by Mr. Eleazer Williams, a young man of Indian extraction, who has been regularly educated, and who is licensed by the Bishop as the religious instructor of the Indians. The Indians present joined in the services with great solemnity and devotion, and many of them repeated the responses. They were addressed at considerable length by the Bishop, Mr. Williams acting as interpreter; who also interpreted to them the various offices of baptism, confirmation, and the Lord's supper,

which the Bishop administered. Twenty-four children were baptized, 89 Indians, young persons and adults, confirmed, and 24 received the holy communion. None were confirmed but those who had been previously prepared by Mr. Williams, and among the number were several of those called the second Christian party, who about two years since solemnly professed the Christian faith. This renunciation of Paganism was the result of repeated and long continued conferences with Mr. Williams, on the evidences of Scripture, and on the nature of the doctrines and duties of Christianity.

The place of worship being nearly filled by the Indians, the white people were necessarily excluded. But the few who were admitted were much impressed with the solemnity.-The reverence and devotion with which the Indians joined in the confessions, the supplications, and praises of the Liturgy; the solemn attention with which they listened to the instructions and exhortations of the Bishop; the humility and thankfulness, evidenced by their prostration on their knees, and by the tears which flowed down the cheeks of several of them, with which they devoted themselves, in the apostolic "laying on of hands," to the God who made them, and the Saviour who shed his blood for them, powerfully interested the feelings of all present.

The Oneidas amount to above a thousand souls, and it must afford high pleasure to every benevolent mind, to hear that the labours of Mr. Williams, under the authority of the Protestant Episcopal Church in this State, for the spiritual improvement of his unfortunate countrymen, are thus attended with the divine blessing. We understand that the Bishop is fully satisfied with the piety, the prudence, and the laborious zeal of Mr. W. and with his other qualifications for the instruction of his countrymen.

In the afternoon of the same day the Bishop officiated in the unfinished church which is erecting for the Indians, to a large congregation of white people, who were necessarily excluded from the services of the morning, and administered confirmation. The same ordinance was administered the next day at Manlius, and on the succeeding day at Onondaga Hill, where a new church was consecrated.

STATE OF RELIGION IN VERMONT.

Report of the Committee appointed to take narratives of the state of religion, by the General Convention of Congregational and Fresbyterian Ministers in Vermont, at the late session at Peacham, September 8, 1818.

In tracing the history of the churches, during the last year, it is manifest that God has not forsaken his Zion, though the showers of his grace have not been so copious and extensive as in the year previous.

In the southern part of the State no special revivals of religion have been witnessed, yet, the fruits of former revivals, in some instances, have been considerable.

The churches in Windham Association have been enlarged by the accession of about 200 members; about 20 of these have united with the church in Londonderry, which is destitute of a stated pastor. In this Association the churches are generally harmonious and prospering. The members of the Cent Societies amount to 700, the funds of which are mostly appropriated to the support of Foreign Missions.

In Pawlet Association the moral state of society is improving, and Charitable Societies are multiplying. A Bible Society has recently been formed in the county of Bennington, with hopeful prospects. Considerable additions have been made to some of the churches in Pawlet Association, mostly fruits of the general revival in the section noticed in our last Report. The churches which have received the principal accessions of numbers, are Tinmouth, Rupert, Peru, and Manchester. The two last mentioned towns have witnessed the displays of divine grace in the conviction and conversion of sinners since the commencement of the present year.

Within the limits of Orange Association the churches are harmonious; sectarian influence is declining, and the cause of truth is advancing.

In Rutland Association pleasing fruits of the former revivals are visible; a Bible Society has recently been formed; and many are bringing their offerings to promote the various charitable objects which are presented to the Christian public.

A rising attention to religion is noticed in Royalton Association, which affords great encouragement to ministerial and Christian fidelity, in labouring for the good of souls, especially among the youth.

From Addison Association we learn, that no special revivals exist. The churches are, however, generally increasing in numbers, and pa-tors have been ordained over the churches in Weybridge, Vergennes, and Charlotte, with hopeful prospects of much good to Zion. The church in Bridport propose to defray the expense of a collegiate education for one young man of hopeful piety, whose object is the ministry. May others go and do likewise.

During the year past about 70 have been added to the church in Cambridge, within the bounds of the North Western Association. In the extensive bounds of the Coos Association, the General Conrention find much to deplore, and much to gladden their hearts. Only three active settled ministers are found in twenty-five churchIn passing up Connecticut river to Canada line, a distance of more than 40 miles, darkness covers the land, and gross darkness the people. Here a missionary scarcely has been seen, and churches are desolate, raising the Macedonian cry to their more favoured brethren. Yet within this Association, God has made the most signal displays of his glorious grace, and caused this wilderness to

es.

bud and blossom as a rose. Revivals have existed, and churches have been formed in the towns of Barton, Glover, Irasburgh, Troy, Westfield, Lyndon, and Wolcott, in which the total number of memers is 173. Here, and in various other towns, the labours of mission ies from the Societies in this State, New-Hampshire, and Connecticut, have been signally owned and blessed. The few professed followers of Christ, who have been urged by the increasing expenses of a rising family, or driven by adverse providences, or induced by other causes, to remove from the land of their fathers into these new settlements, have long been sighing and mourning for those religious privileges which they had left, and their cries have entered the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Yet these churches, and numerous others, are destitute of stated pastors, and are only occasionally favoured with the dispensation of the word of life. Their importunate applications to the few heralds of the cross, (who occasionally visit them, to preach unto them the unsearchable riches of Christ,) are truly affecting, and the more so, because they far exceed the means o supply. To the church in Walden 24 have been added, to Hardwick 29, and to Greensborough 52. In the latter place, the revival commenced in a Sabbath School, and out of the mouths of babes and sucklings God has perfected praise. The cup of the church in Danville has been mingled with joy and sorrow. As the fruits of the revival mentioned in the report of last year, 51 have been added to the professed followers of the Lamb. Their minister has been dismissed and silenced. This event seemed, for a time, to distract the church, but through the good hand of their God upon them, who brings good out of evil, they are recovering from the shock; and harmony and brotherly love are in a good measure restored. The cloud, which was rising over Peacham, according to the report of last year, has afforded an abundant and refreshing shower, and the church has been strengthened by the addition of 200 members. Here the hearts of fathers have been turned to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers.

In taking a general view of the state of religion within their bounds, the General Convention find abundant cause to praise the great Head of the church, especially for the success which he hath granted to missionary labours; and although God hath not blessed us with many signal revivals, yet hath be gladdened our hearts by exhibiting other footsteps of his grace. The Convention have, too, thankfully beheld the kind charities of pious females, making their ministers members for life of various benevolent Societies, and an increasing disposition in all to cast something into the Lord's treasury. Sabbath Schools are springing up, in all parts of our State, as the first-fruits of the millennium waving before the Lord. The Monthly Concert of Prayer is attended in most of our churches. We hail, with no common sensations, the rise of the VERMONT JUVENILE MISSIONARY SOCIETY, as a light to cheer and enlighten our dark places.