SUMMARY.

Oct. 1835 Thomas

As a fitting supplement to the preceding Tables, we subjoin the following extracts from the 26th Annual Report of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.

Claims of Six Hundred Millions. It is now about twenty years since (the American churches) heard of the Claims of Six Hundred Millions of heathens and Mohammedans, and since that time this Board has sent forth in answer to these claims more than (two) hundred missionaries and assistant mis

sionaries.

millions on the islands, and say to how many of them the gospel has come with demonstration and power.

*

It is said that the nations of protestant Christendom have now, in various parts of the heathen world, about seven is a less number than is deemed neceshundred preachers of the gospel. This sary, for the two million inhabitants of christian New England; and what can they be supposed to have done to di minish the number of the unevangelized, spread over three quarters of the earth's surface, and embracing two fact enough only to be torch bearers, to thirds of its population? They are in show how dark and extended are the regions of night. who goes abroad, by the light which he Every missionary sheds on the field of his labor, makes the call for coadjutors in the work more loud and urgent than that which drew him forth. By all the missionaries now laboring abroad a tolerably correct knowledge of the doctrines and precepts of the Scriptures may have been com

The reports of these missionaries have told of the Bible translated and printed and distributed in many languages; of religious tracts, school books, etc., scattered abroad through many districts and tribes; of thousands of pupils collected and taught in christian schools; of the gospel proclaimed in the chapel, by the way side, and on itineracies through extensive territories; of churches established and numerous converts gathered into them. They have told too, that many of the heathenmunicated to ten millions of heathens. were ashamed of their superstition and credulity; that idolatry was on the wane; and that light was spreading around from every station. If these statements are true, and their truth cannot be doubted, how is it, it may be asked, that we hear of the "Claims of six hundred millions," still? After all this has been accomplished, does the work yet to be performed remain the

same?

But do those to whom it seems as if great progress has been made toward Converting the world, reflect on the

vastness of the work?-Think for one moment of the great geographical surface to which christian labor must be applied. To say nothing of Europe, half of which is as destitute of a reli gion adapted to sanctify and save, as Hindoostan or China, there is the entire continent of Asia, the entire continent of Africa, three-fourths of the continent of America, and every island of the Pacific and Indian oceans. What selfmultiplying or expanding power has the instrumentality employed possessed, to bear efficiently on any considerable portion of this almost immeasurable surface? Think again of the myriads of human beings spread out, densely or sparsely, over these regions, the mind of every one of whom must be approached and affected by the truth. Count up the five hundred millions of Asia, the fifty millions of Africa, the thirty millions of America, and the unknown

six hundred millions who were hea How little does this detract from the thens twenty years ago!

We tell of the hundred thousand converts from heathenism now members of Christian churches; but this number is bers in the single state of New York. less than the number of church memWe tell also of the four hundred thousand pupils enrolled in christian schools, established by missionaries; but this is less than are enrolled in the free schools of the same state.

which have been printed and distribut-
We tell of the great number of books
ed in heathen nations; but if a copy of
each book of an enlightening and truly
christian tendency, which has been pub-
lished in any heathen language during
the last thirty years, could be obtained,
and all were collected into a library, it
would be found to be less in the amount
of reading matter furnished, and far less
in variety, than is found on the shelves
of almost every intelligent man in our
There are single cities in
country.
our own land where tenfold more print-
ing is executed every year, than can be
executed at all the printing establish-
ments in the employ of all existing mis-
sionary societies, in all parts of the hea-
then world.

The disciples of Christ, then, it must be admitted, have only begun the work of converting the world to God. They entered on the duty late; they have prosecuted it tardily; and their advance

ried to the consciences of individual young men, and they be made to feel that the questions, in what manner, and to what extent, they will obey the last command of Christ, are questions which they must personally, and in the fear of God, decide. Christians must look forward further, even than this; and parents must begin early to instruct their children on all the parts of the mission

in it is small. -Compared, however, with the inherent difficulty of the work, with the obstacles to be removed out of the way, and with the limited means employed, the beginning has been most auspicious, and the progress such as could not have been anticipated, except by faith in the promised aid and co-operation of Him who assigned the task. Still it is only a BEGINNING; and after the American churches have been send-ary work, and train them up for bearing ing missionaries to the heathen twentyfive years, and the churches of Great Britain forty years, there is no kingdom, or even district of the heathen world, if perhaps, a few small islands of the Pacific Ocean, and the remnants of a few tribes of the North American aborigines, less than one million in all, be excepted, where Christianity has the ascendant, or where even a knowledge of its doctrines and duties has reached any considerable portion of the popula-ed, in view of the command of Christ, tion. ******* and the rescue of the nations from death in sin and woe.

But what is the church actually doing, to raise up the thousands of missionaries who ought to be sent into the field during the next ten years? Is she not permitting things to take pretty

a part in it;-teach them to regard the conversion of the world to Christianity as the noblest work in which they can engage, and to burn with zeal to be qualified for and engage in an enterprize so benevolent and honorable. Parents can, in their hearts and in their prayers, consecrate their children to this cause, and make them feel how little the endearments of blood, and friendship, and home, are to be regard

THE ATTARAN.

Since Mr. Cutter's return to Maulmein, near the close of 1834, part of his time has been employed in the study of Burman, and in occasional itineracies in the neighbor. hoods of Maulmein and Amherst. The fol lowing is his journal of a tour up the Attaran, a river never ascended before by a mis sionary.

much their own course, without great JOURNAL OF MR. CUTTER'S TOur up effort, or anxiety, or thought directed to this vital point? Every one who honestly pleads this cause is authorized by the Lord Jesus to enjoin it upon the churches to bring forth the young men as workmen in this vineyard, and to enjoin it upon the young men to come forth and consecrate themselves to this work. Why should there not be a day of solemn fasting and prayer appointed by each church, in view of the guilty and perishing condition of the world? Why should not each church take into sober consideration what is its proportion of the men requisite to evangelize the world? Why should not the minister, the elders and deacons, or other approved and judicious persons, meet by appointment and look over the church catalogue, and select the specific number from those young members who possess the fundamental gifts and graces?

April 3, 1835. Left Maulmein for a tour up the Attaran, for the purpose of distributing tracts, and encouraging the assistants in making known the gospel. I believe no foreign missionary has ever been up this river before, and I humbly hope some good may be accomplished, through the means which may be used. I take with me three assistants, beside two other men, to help man the boat. One of the assistants is Ko Myat Kyaw, a faithful old deacon of the Maulmein church, who speaks and reads Burman, Taling, and Karen; and another deacon, Ko Man-poke, who speaks and reads both Burman and Taling.

Have concluded not to stop at any of the villages going up, excepting when the tide is against us.

It will fatally retard the progress of the gospel over the world, to leave the work of obtaining missionaries to the slow action of education societies and agents, or to the influence which can be exerted over young men by general appeals. The individual branches of the church must feel a responsibility, At half past 5, reached the village of and themselves perform an important Nanté, composed of two hamlets divided duty; the whole must be taken up more by a creek. Stopped at the west side, in detail, and the appeal must be car-containing about a dozen houses. Gave

in Burman, Taling, and Karen, for the space of an hour.

Being informed there was another village about a mile and a half further west, we set our faces towards it, and arrived about two o'clock. Went to two or three houses without obtaining admittance, but finally, entered a house where the man and his family listened attentively. Several of the neighbors came in, and Ko Myat-Kyaw preached to them also. In the mean while, the good woman of the house cooked us a dinner of rice, curry, fish, &c. I offered to pay her for her trouble, but she would receive nothing.

the necessity of believing in him in order to be saved.

Tha-ny-tong-Kyke-ma-raw-Prim-prau. 8. Started on the tide at two this morning, and arrived at the village of Tha-ny-tong about 8. We went immediately to the chief's house, and spent some time in talking. He appeared however to take but little interest, and, rizing abruptly, said he must go away. On inquiry, he said he did not wish any of our books. In the course of an hour or so, however, he came down to the boat and spent some time -asked for a book, and I gave him the Taling tract. He read three pages, on the spot, and listened attentively while I read part of the View and made some remarks. He said he would consider the subject, and wished me to give him one or two tracts, and also to come up to a zayat, where his men were collect

Went on a little further, and found a house where there were upwards of a dozen collected together. They were all Karens, but understood Burman and Taling, very well. Most of them had never heard these tidings before, and were very attentive and inquisitive. We talked to them in Burman and Ta-ed together making an umbrella for an ling til near sun-down, and I cannot but hope some good will result from these endeavors. As there was no place where we could sleep in this village, we set our faces towards the chief's house. It was sun-down before we left the village, and our road lay through more than a mile of thick forest, filled with tigers, &c.; but the Lord suffered nothing to harm us, and we reached his house in safety, where were provided with comfortable lodgings.

we

This morning at an early hour we started for the boat, which we reached about 8 o'clock. On our way, (which was through jungle) saw the prints of the feet of large tigers.

At Wen-raw found several strangers, who all heard the gospel.

At half past one, left with the tide. Passed one or two small villages of Karens, two or three miles from the river, but was told we should not be admitted, as they had stopped up the road to prevent the small-pox from being introduced into their villages. Yesterday, after we had entered the places above mentioned, the villagers stopped up the roads to prevent any more from entering.

Stopped about sundown at a place where there was one house, to which the assistants went and preached salvation through Jesus Christ. In the course of the evening, a boat with 4 men came along side, and they were not permitted to sleep till they had heard about God, the creation of the world, the fall of man, the appearance, life, death, and resurrection of the blessed Savior, and

offering to the pagoda. I gave him two or three tracts, and a copy of the New Testament. In a little while we accordingly went up to the zayat, where were three gentlemen of the yellow cloth, beside all the men of the village. We all endeavored to do what we could, and spent two hours, I trust, to some profit. The chief paid deep attention, and immediately requested me to "say more."

At half past two started with the tide. Sun about an hour high, anchored off the village of Kyke-ma-raw, which is situated about half a mile from the river. We went over, and staid till dusk, and had considerable talk with the chief of the village around whose house a goodly number assembled to hear. I proposed coming over again in the evening, but he made several objections, and said it would be better to come over in the morning, if we were at leisure.

The village contains 25 or 30 houses; the inhabitants are Talings, some of whom could not speak Burman at all. It has a Kyoung or monastery, a pagoda, and two or three fanes filled with images. The largest building contained a huge gilt image of Gaudama, made in a sitting posture as we sit in chairs. I never saw one in this position before. Gave away a few tracts.

9. Early this morning I set out for the village again, accompanied by the three assistants. On arriving, I could not find a single individual who would set down and talk, or receive a tract. The chief had gone away, and his wife