as readily and sing as correctly as boys, scope for the exercise of heart and whose parents are not singers in civilized lands. No one has yet been in school a year without becoming able to sing correctly by note. In an intellectual view we think they lose nothing by the attention given to this branch; and we should be extremely unwilling to dispense with the influence it exerts in taming the scholars, and rendering them docile and happy. Mr. Thurston when here, two years since, pronounced them better acquainted with the principles of music than any other Hawaiian choir with which he was acquainted. Of the congregation and church at Hilo, and the aspect of religious affairs generally at that station, Mr. Lyman writes With regard to the state of things in this field I need not speak particularly. The violent opposition, which, at the date of my last, had shown itself in some parts of the district, mostly disappeared soon after. In the vicinity of the station, at least, a stupidity and indifference to religion and its ordinances seems to be the prevailing characteristic. At lectures during the week, if I mistake not, the audience has been as small the last, as during any year of my residence at the station. And even on the Sabbath, if 1,500 is not a large estimate of the congregation now, the estimates for the years 1833 to 1836 must have been considerably too small. The field for labor here, is wide. There is no probability that the people will become more accessible by delaying to fill it with laborers, but much reason to expect the contrary. Romish priests have not yet come among us. They are doing something by native agents. What, how much, or how little, it is not convenient to ascertain. It is reported that they are making arrangements for the erection of two houses of worship in Hilo. LETTER FROM MR. BOND, KOHALA, 18TH NOV., 1842. Sphere of Labor-Congregation-Papists -Means of Support. MR. Bond has entered the field lately occupied by Mr. Bliss on the island of Hawaii. This letter was written but a few months after his arrival and entrance on his missionary labors at the islands. We find our situation a very happy one in all respects, affording ample hands. The people are very kind, though exceedingly stupid in the things of religion. The field is situated very favorably for efficient effort, no portion of it being more than four or five hours' ride from the station. As you may already be aware, the population is between six and seven thousand souls, embraced within a territory of fifteen by twenty miles-the extreme width and length. Multitudes of these would be a church-going people, were the house of God to open its doors near enough to their dwellings, and beyond doubt would fill five or six large churches, with motives as pure as our churches are filled at home, and probably no purer. As it is, however, our Sabbath congregations Bliss and others who have worshipped are very large and very orderly. Mr. with us, estimated it at from 2,000 to 2,500, which I should judge a safe estimate-and many of these come from six to twelve miles. Our Sabbath school also is well attended, scores of the children coming the distance of more than ten miles, and of course always on foot. The average attendance is between six and seven hundred. Our meeting-house at present is a large grass-house, re-built since our arrival, which, in the course of a year or two, will, we hope, give way to a larger stone house, to be commenced next month. The largeness of our congregations particularly has made me desirous to preach to them personally the words of life. Thus far, however, I am able only to read sermons, from the volume recently published by the mission, and in our week-day meetings to talk to them very imperfectly from some portion of sacred truth. Peculiar circumstances have prevented myself and Mrs. Bond from making so rapid progress in the language as we were hoping to; and the want of some one to correct my efforts has also impeded us a great deal. In company with Mr. Ives (who spent the first fortnight with us here,) I visited a portion of the field, and completed the tour with Mr. Lyons, several weeks subsequent to its commencement, examining the schools, etc. etc. I was a good deal gratified with the apparent opportunities for doing good to the rising generation, for which, I am persuaded, the great effort should be made, especially now, as danger is so imminent from the papists, who are deluging Waimea and Hamakua, adjoining us, and watching with eagle eye every favorable opening or sign. May the Lord save this poor peo-ed with this imposition, to its authors disgraceful in the last degree, both in its origin and consequences. But I need not dwell on this subject. ple from this immeasurably worse than heathenish error. The schools in this district are very low, owing, no doubt, in a great measure, to the inefficiency The media through which affairs are of the teachers, who are possessed of seen here and at home, are very differknowledge enough to be just above the ent, and of course matters wear very difmajority of their scholars. Of our thirty-ferent aspects. At home, for example, three schools, the teachers of two only are from the seminary. After next year,|| however, we shall have an annual increase to our teachers from that source, which is the only thing that can add permanent interest to the schools. I ought to say in speaking of the danger to be apprehended from the ingress of Romanists, that our head-man, Lunakanawai, is a bold and an avowed opposer to the entire Romish interest; and so far as the tender mercies of French law will suffer, will labor to shut them from Kohala. This, however, is little, nor can any native of these islands, not even the king himself, do any thing effectually to prevent the intrusion of this abominable system, even though he might most fervently desire it. Shameless violation of national rights! One's blood boils with indignation, to see the nation, in its incipient but noble efforts to rise from its degradation and witness the dawning light, trammeled and fetter many of the church suppose the natives able, had they the will, to support their missionaries, and therefore little expense should be devoted in future to this field. A feeling akin to dissatisfaction was excited in many minds, in consequence of our designation to this field. My only wish is that all such could cast a single glance over the whole field, for there is no essential difference in their ability, unless it may be in Honolulu, and see for themselves. The proposal, in this field, for example, to support the teacher, would appear to every man, supremely ridiculous; and yet this district is very fertile. Food of all sorts superabounds, and the people would do something, but there is no possible opportunity to exchange their food for cash or any other article, unless it be incidentally; and where and how could $400 be raised among a people whose whole property, food aside, would not command that sum, thus situated? Proceedings of other Societies. FOREIGN. ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHURCH MISSIONARY THE annual sermon at the 42d anniversary of Resolved, That this meeting is deeply impressed with the urgent necessity of prayer for the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit upon even the advanced missions of the society, in order to produce conviction of sin upon the minds of the numerous inquirers after christian instruction, so that they may be enabled to leave all and follow Christ; and in order also to establish, strengthen, and settle the feeble graces of the sincere converts to the faith of Christ. Since the adoption by the society of certain regulations, connecting it more closely with the established church of England and Ireland, it has received the approbation and patronage of the archbishops of Canterbury and York, eight bishops of England, and two colonial bishops. Students.-Fifteen have been received into the institution during the year, and twenty-nine still remain under preparation in it. Decease or return of Missionaries.-The committee have to lament the death, during the past year, of one catechist, and five wives of missionaries and catechists. Seven missionaries have returned home on account of ill health. Missionaries sent out.-In the course of the year there have been sent forth fifteen ordained missionaries and four catechists; including eight missionaries who have returned to their stations, and one whose services have been transferred to another mission. Fifteen of these being married, the total number of individuals sent out is thirty-four. Ordination of Missionaries.-Seventeen of the society's candidates have been admitted to holy orders during the past year, at home and abroad. State of the Finances.-At the last anniver sary of the society the state of its finances was such as to occasion the committee much solicitude. That solicitude was increased as the it is the sustentation of that scriptural, protestant, and evangelical tone throughout all their ministrations; it is the upholding of the Bible, and the Bible alone, as the foundation and rule of faith; upon which the blessing of God has year advanced. The necessity of reducing the || ty, without compromise and without reserve; expenditure of the society became apparent. Committees of the society at different periods during the year, after examining fully into its financial situation and prospects reported that means be immediately taken to reduce the expenditure of the society in the Malta, New-rested, does rest, and ever will rest. Zealand, Trinidad, and Jamaica missions: also the immediate reduction of the scale of the society's annual expenditure to a sum not exceeding £85,000; the laying aside certain parts of the income of each year for the extinguishment of debt, and for the accumulating a capital fund equal to one third of the society's annual income; and the appointment of a finance committee, without whose sanction no increase of expenditure beyond the sum above specified should take place; which were substantially adopted. It was with extreme pain and regret that the committee came to a decision narrowing the society's operations to so serious an extent. In the actual situation of the society, however, the duty of doing so was plain and imperative. On closing the accounts of the year on the 31st of March, its financial position stood thus: Receipts on account of general fund £90,821; expenditure £110,808: showing an excess of expenditure within the year of £19,987. In explaining this excess of expenditure over income, the committee have to observe, that the amount on account of sick and disabled missionaries, their widows and children, exceeded the amount of the preceding year by upware of £1,600. The total amount of debt, on closing the year's accounts, was about £13,500-[about $66.000.] There has been received, in the course of the year, £866 on account of the disabled missionaries' fund, and £1,514 on account of the capital fund; making a total of receipts within the year, from all sources, of £93,202-[about $460,000.] Contrasting the financial embarrassments of the society with the bright prospects which are opening in almost every part of the missionary field, and earnestly calling for aid, the committee say "If," says the bishop of Calcutta in his last ordination sermon, "the spirituality of our missions be gone; if a scheme which substitutes self, and form, and authority of office, for weight of doctrine and activity of love, be imbibed, Ichabod-the glory is departed-may be inscrib ed upon our church in India; all real advances in the conversion of the heathen will stop; our scattered christian flocks will miss the sound and wholesome nourishment for their souls; our converts will quickly dwindle away to a nominal profession; our native catechists and missionaries will be bewildered; and nothing in the whole world is so graceless, as the eminent Gericke once observed, as a mission without the spirit of Christ." Nor less are all hopes of success dependent upon the constant fervent prayers of christian friends at home, that the Lord may be pleased to pour out his Spirit upon our works, which alone can arouse the christian church to a sense of the greatness of the occasion-which alone can prosper the labors of our missionaries abroad-which alone can embolden the persecuted and timid inquirers after christian truth to profess the faith of Christ-which alone can support the feeble graces of those infant churches, which need to be cherished as a nurse cherisheth her children. May He who hath the residue of the Spirit inspire the hearts of his people with these prayers, and speedily accomplish the number of his elect, and hasten his kingdom! EIGHTEENTH GENERAL MEETING OF THE PARIS EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY SOCIETY. THE meeting of the society was in Paris, 21st April, M. Admiral, Count Ver-Huel, the president, in the chair, who also opened the meeting with an address. The report was then read, showing, among other encouraging matters, that the number of the friends and patrons of the so ber of churches in France from which it received contributions was 172; while it is now 216. It then was countenanced by 193 pastors; and now by 223. And the number of auxiliary associations has risen from 103 to 118. The 25,000 francs asked for last year for the special purpose of defraying the expense of outfit and passage of four new missionaries have been nearly all collected. If any one be disposed to blame the commit.ciety is steadily increasing. In 1839, the numtee for having been too lavish of the resources placed at its disposal-for having pushed its missionary operations too far-let such an one pause, and consider some of the instances in which the committee have stopped short in the work and withheld their aid. It is right that the society should know, that during the last year many earnest and touching calls for assistance have been made to them, and made in vain; that prospects have opened before them in which the good hand of the Lord seemed manifestly to be beckoning them forward; but they have felt compelled to draw back. The missionaries of the society, fourteen in number, are laboring at eight stations, the Having adverted to a number of those calls, oldest of which began to be occupied in the the committee add year 1830. At these stations more than a thousand pupils attend the mission schools; 250 infants of christian parents have been baptized; 230 native converts have been received to the churches; and 160 others are inquirers and candidates for church fellowship; making 1,640 persons in all, who have been within so few years brought under the direct influence of the gospel. The ordinary pecuniary receipts of the year amounted to 87,668 fr.; and those from special sources to 22,121 fr.; making the total to be 109,789 fr.: which is 38,670 more than those of the previous year. The expenditures of the year were 77,001 fr.; and as there was at the beginning of the year a balance in the treasury of 32,126 fr., there remains in the treasury at the end of March last, 64.913 fr. The collection at the close of the meeting was 464 fr. THE 48th general annual meeting of the society was held in Exeter Hall, 12th May, the honorable W. F. Cowper, M. P., in the chair. The meeting is pronounced by the society as being remarkably spirited and interesting, and upwards of £900 were collected at its close. After an address by the chairman The Rev. A. Tidman, one of the secretaries, read an abstract of the annual report, containing numerous facts showing that the state and progress of the society both at home and abroad, had, during the past year, been most encouraging. The total amount of income for the year had been £80,874; the total expenditure £87,551; leaving a deficiency, as compared with the outlay, of £6,677. An adjourned meeting was held on the evening of the same day, at Finsbury Chapel, W. A. Hankey, presiding. At both these meetings spirited addresses were delivered by Rev. Messrs. Lacroix, Pritchard, W. G. Barrett, Moffatt, Gogerly, and Buyers, returned missionaries, and others. were On the Sabbath preceding the anniversary of the society eighty-eight sermons preached in London in its behalf, besides three on Monday and Wednesday. THE annual meeting of the Board was held on the 17th, 18th, and 19th of May, in the city of Philadelphia. The receipts have been $60,324 32, subject, however, to the large discount, owing to the derangement of pecuniary affairs, of $2,416 03. The balance from last year in favor of the treasury was $276 76, and the expenditures of the year were $59,039 82, leaving a balance against the treasury, on the 1st of May, of $854 77. Besides the sums acknowledged above, $2,000 have been received from the American Bible Society, and $2,000 from the American Tract Society, to be expended for the purposes of those institutions. VOL. XXXVIII. The Missionary Chronicle, a monthly publi cation of 32 pages, now the organ of the Do5,260 copies. Nearly one third of its circulamestic and Foreign Boards, has a circulation of tion consists of free copies, sent to clergymen and to annual contributors of ten dollars and upwards. Eight new missionaries and assistant missionaries have been sent to different fields of labor during the year. Under the care of the Board are ten missions, embracing twelve stations; of which there are among the Iowa and Sac, the Chippewa and Ottawa, and the Creek Indians, where are laboring three missionaries, three male and five female assistant missionaries. One mission is in Texas, where is one missionary and his wife. One is in West Africa, where are two missionaries, two females, and three colored teach ers. At Singapore are two missionaries, two females, and one physician. In Siam one missionary and his wife. In Northern India three missions, five stations, 17 missionaries, three male, and 18 female assistant missionaries, and three native helpers. In all 26 missionaries, seven male assistant missionaries, including a physician, 29 females, and six native helpers. A new mission-house has been erected in the city of New York, for the more convenient transaction of the business of that Board. of a small monthly paper, similar in its object The Board is also beginning the publication and terms to the Dayspring. PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF EDUCATION. THE whole number who have been aided by the Board is 1,245. The number of new candidates received during the last year is 91, being more than double the number received during the preceding year. The whole number aided the last year is 300: 109 in theological seminaries, 122 in colleges, 50 in preparatory courses, and 19 engaged in teaching. The whole number of beneficiaries now in a course of education in the Presbyterian church is estimated at from 350 to 400. During the last year 35 beneficiaries have been licensed to preach the gospel, the largest number ever reported as entering the ministry in one year, from under the care of the Board. Three have been suspended from aid; two have abandoned their studies; two have died; and seven have ceased to need aid. The aniount received to the treasury during the year was $26,628 66; and the disbursements were $23,725 14; leaving in the treasury a balance $2,903 52. The receipts of the last year exceeded those of that which preceded it by nearly $5,000. 44 American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, RECENT INTELLIGENCE. MADRAS. Mr. Winslow writes on the 22d of April, that Doct. and Mrs. Scudder and their children left Madras in the ship Washington, on the first of that month; and that Mr. and Mrs. Hutchings, of the Ceylon mission, had removed to Madras and were occupying the station at Royapoorum, during the absence of Doct. S. CEYLON. Of the mission families recently added to the mission, Mr. Meigs is stationed at Batticotta, where Mr. and Mrs. Smith, on account of the ill health of the latter, are to remain for the present. Mr. and Mrs. Whittlesey are to reside at Manepy, vacated by the removal of Mr. Hutchings to Madras: Mr. and Mrs. Wy Vyman reside for the present at Batticotta. SANDWICH ISLANDS.-Mr. Gulick writes from Koloa on Kauai, January 1st, 1812, that the Spirit of the Lord appeared to be carrying forward his work in the congregation at that place. Thirteen were about to be received to the church. On the 14th of January Mr. Armstrong wrote from Honolulu The subject of a native ministry is one of the first importance, and of growing interest. No one acquainted with the state of things in the islands can fail to see the pressing need of more help, in order to fill this land with the combined advantages of a sound literature, the elements of useful science, and the light of Christianity. I believe we are all doing our best now; nay we are sinking under our burdens, and yet there is much land to be possessed, and thousands are perishing for lack of vision, especially in remote districts. The enemy, too, is assailing us on our flanks, front, and rear, and many are falling into his hands because we have not a sufficiency of disciplined officers to go out to the battle. My own mind, therefore, is made up to advo cate the establishment of a class or school in theology at our next general meeting, unless my views should greatly change before that time shall arrive. Still the subject is attended with some difficulties; among which the most prominent in my view are, the want of funds, want of stability in the native character, and the want of a suitable man to take charge of such a department. Of Mr. Locke's manual-labor and self-supporting school Mr. Armstrong writes devoted to cultivating the soil. The little farm looks more like yankee thrift than any thing else on Oahu. You see some fifteen acres eovered with corn, beans, and sugar-cane. The growth is pretty good, and in some places luxuriant; and not a weed or crooked row is to be seen on the whole premises This last is sufficient evidence of improvement to any one acquainted with the natives of these 1-lands, as they have no idea of straight in any thing till they are taught it. The visit was a very pleasant one to me, and the ride over the plains and up and down the precipices for thirty miles, in company with some of my fellow-laborers, was very refreshing, especially at this season when all nature smiles in consequence of the frequent rains. Of the decease of Haopili Wahine, widow of Hoapili, former governor of Maui, Mr. Armstrong furnishes the following notice, writing 20th of January I have just heard of the death of Hoapili Wahine. The particulars are not yet received. She died at her residence in Lahaina a few days since. The last of the old family of chiefs is now laid in the grave; and I might say the best of them too. The old lady was a mother in Israel. For fifteen years past her heart and hand have been in every good work. Her name is precions to all in the Islands who love the cause of the Redeemer. Many, very many of the poor and needy call her blessed, and mourn their loss as those who have lost a kind parent. We, too, as a mission, will not soon cease to feel our bereavement. In trouble we always had a tender-hearted friend in Hoapili Wahine. Blessed be God for her pious life and happy death. Under date of December 7th, Mr. Coan writes from Hilo on Hawaii The state of things here is more encouraging than when I last wrote. Our congregations are fuller on the Sabbath; many wanderers seem inclined to return, and simmers whose hard hearts withstood all the influences of the great and continuous revival, are now gradually being gathered in. All noise and physical excitement have long since ceased; but there is still a gradual, though less powerful work of the Spirit here. Cases of discipline in the church are Very few have, as yet, turned to Romanism in very few of late, and our schools are prosperous. Hilo; but a fiery trial is doubtless before us in this matter. Our new meeting house is about ready to be raised, and would perhaps have been covered before this time, had not our carpenter been absent for two months past. Doct. Andrews, writing from Kailua on the same island, December 6th, says Yesterday I returned from an examination of Mr. Locke's school. Seventeen boys and one girl were examined and appeared very well. The schools at this station are prosperous. Their studies are geography, arithmetic, natural The new school-law has infused new vigor into theology, writing, etc. They were clean and the system. The number of pupils has inereasneat in their dress, and civilized in their whole ed from 300 or 400, to about 1.000. I confidentappearance. As they are supported by their ly expect that the approaching examination will own industry, much of their time is, of course, show a great increase in the number of readers. |